Some Local News of 1910

Some more area news from the Celina Democrat in 1910.

Chattanooga
Miss Bertha Carver, the blind girl of near Salem, Ind., whose wonderful voice has won for her the name of “The Blind Soloist,” and who is giving a series of concerts at the different towns in the surrounding territory, so that she may receive funds with which to continue her musical education, has arranged to give one of her concerts in the Evangelical Church at Chattanooga this (Friday) evening, to commence at 8 o’clock. No admission will be charged but a collection will be taken.
(2 Sep 1910)

2 September 1910, Celina Democrat

That event was probably held at the Reformed North Church on Tama Road, about a mile east of Chatt.

Some miscellaneous items from the same 1910 newspaper:

Mendon will open her new canning factory tomorrow noon in a public manner and with much eclat. State pure food officers will witness the affair.

By a fall on a shovel Wednesday afternoon the little son of Mr. And Mrs. Charles Swallow, Mill street, sustained a bad cut across the left temple. Dr. Wintermute was called, who found it necessary to administer anesthetics in sewing up the wound.

Veteran Wm. J. Short, of East Market Street, who had an eye removed a few days since on account of a cancerous affection, is reported getting along nicely.

Lewis Alt, of Liberty Township, has the distinction of being the first man to make his annual school settlement with Auditor Morrow. He was in yesterday.

Otto Wendel, of Liberty township, made this office his annual call Monday, fixing up for his winter reading by adding daily Post and Ohio Farmer, our greatest clubbing offer.

Mrs. A. J. Jackson of Route 2, was in town Tuesday to attend the funeral of her old neighbor, Mrs. Botkin, brought here for burial, and left an annual renewal for their old home paper before returning home. She reports Mr. Jackson, who has been in ill health a year or more, but slightly improved. (2 Sep 1910)

A September 1910 obituary, from Blackcreek Township:

Mrs. Lucetta Vining, aged 51 years, widow of the late Robert M. Vining, of Blackcreek Township, died at her home two miles north of Chattanooga last Friday evening, shortly after five o’clock. Deceased was born in Darke County, March 8, 1859. In 1878 she was united in marriage to Mr. Vining in Darke County, and five years later they moved to this county, locating in Blackcreek Township. Mrs. Vining’s illness took serious form last June, when she was operated upon at Ft. Wayne, Ind., for gall stones and it was also found that she was a sufferer from cancer. She recovered sufficiently to be able to return home the first of last month, but her condition kept growing steadily worse.

She is survived by eight children Mrs. Dora Beam, of Robinson, Ill., Irvin Vining, of Indianapolis, Ind., Haskell Vining, residing two miles north of town; Mrs. Halley Brush, of Center, and Mrs. Golda Mambrick and Clarence, Floyd and Earl Vining, all of Blackcreek Township. She is also survived by four step children, Hon. S. J. Vining, of this city; and Mesdames Ida Michael, Jennie Kuhn and Anna Detro, of Blackcreek Township.

Funeral services were held at East Bethel Church last Sunday morning, followed by interment in the cemetery nearby. (9 Sep 1910)

Lucetta Vining obituary, 9 Sep 1910

There were a number of accidents in December 1910. A few of them, as reported:

The Celina Democrat, 1910

Henry Bruhns, [sic] of Rockford, will likely loose his entire left hand as the result of having it caught in the rolls of a corn shredder, while working for George Lillick on the Oliver Putman farm, north of Rockford. All but the thumb and first finger were torn completely off and these so badly mangled that is feared they can not be saved.

Arthur P. Dull, of Rockford, was seriously, if not fatally injured last Saturday afternoon, when he was caught between a heavily loaded wagon and a wall of the Rockford Milling Co’s elevator and his chest crushed and collar bone broken. It is also feared he suffered internal injuries. Dull only recently escaped serious injury when he was buried under several feet of corn in one of the elevator cribs.

Orlando Stump, of Rockford, an employee of the Lewis Bros. Lumber Co, had a finger of his left hand torn off when he caught it in a jointer last Saturday afternoon.

Mrs. Louis Alt, Sr, and daughter, of Chattanooga, were bruised up but luckily escaped serious injury, when thrown from a buggy in a runaway Wednesday afternoon. Their horse frightened at an automobile near the Ben Bacher home, upsetting the buggy. (23 Dec 1910)

A 1910 obituary with a Liberty Township connection:

Aaron Keifer was born in Green County, Ohio, June 7 1832. He grew to manhood in Shelby County, Ohio, and learned the cooper trade at Springfield. On the 30th day of March, 1860, he was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Ellis, near Troy, O. A few months later they moved to Celina, where he accepted a position with the late Wm. Dickman.

In 1884 he moved to a farm in Liberty township, where he remained until three years ago. Feeling the infirmities of age creeping upon him, he, with his aged wife, moved back to Celina, where he passed away Thursday, April 28, aged 77 years, 10 months, 21 days.

He was the father of seven children, three of whom died in infancy.

About eight years ago he united with the Society of Friends, at the Friends Home church, west of Celina, and has lived a consistent Christian life. Often at night, while others were asleep, he was heard praying. He leaves an aged and loving wife, one son, 3 daughters, 28 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. The children are Mrs. John Woods, Mrs. John Alexander, Mrs. Wm. Hull and Ellis Keifer, of Indianapolis, Ind.

Funeral services were held at the Beaver Chapel Church last Sunday afternoon, conducted by Mrs. Elmira Brock. (6 May 1910)

Obituaries, The Celina Democrat, 6 May 1910

Another 1910 obituary, with a Willshire connection:

Sylvester Brock, Co. A, 71st Ohio Volunteer Infantry, son of Rev. Wesley Brock, and brother of Leonard  Brock (who died last July) and Orlando Brock, who resides west of Celina,. Born Nov. 15, 1839, the third son of a family of seven boys, four of whom are still living. Rev. Brock came with his boys to Mercer Co. about fifty-six years ago.

Sylvester Brock was united in marriage to Katherine Shaftner, [sic] of Willshire, Ohio, and went to Zuay, [sic] Oklahoma, about fifteen years ago, where he died Jan. 11, 1910. He leaves a wife, one son and two daughters. He was a faithful and Christian husband and father. (6 May 1910)

Newspapers certainly reported a variety of items back then, many the type of news we would never read in a newspaper today. But when you think about, at that time the newspaper was the best way to report and circulate any and all news. Particularly in a small community, the small, incidental, local news, some of which you might even call gossip, was as interesting and important to read as the national and world news. You might say the local newspaper was the social media of that time.

2 comments

    • Deb Miller on September 23, 2022 at 8:48 pm
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    Karen I really enjoy your publications.

      • Karen on September 26, 2022 at 12:23 pm
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      Thanks, Deb!

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