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Newspaper
Ashton Gazette
Location
Ashton, Illinois, United States of America
Date
Dec 10, 1908
Page
1
A dangerous blaze sweeps an entire block in Great Dan ger causing alarm and prompting swift response from firefighters. No injuries reported as crews contain flames and assess structural damage. Local residents evacuate as flames engulf multiple homes and businesses.
A Tuesday noon fire destroyed Samuel Zeller’s unused barn near several neighboring barns owned by Mrs. Garrett Robert Knapp and John Walters. Firemen saved the adjacent structures with water from Knapp’s cistern and no injuries reported. The unins ur ed Zeller barn is a total loss to owner E B Arnould with cause still a mystery.
Illinois Central plans to order many all steel passenger cars to replace aging wooden units. The Rock Island company is also considering switching to steel, likely the first western line to adopt the new construction. Steel costs more, but final pricing awaits detailed specifications from car builders.
Editor Ralph Dean, long in the grip of a typhoid fever, has passed the crisis and is slowly improving. It will be some time before he returns. Mrs. H. C. Blanchard of Blair Nebraska and Mr. Dean's father from La Moille are aiding in his care.
Excursion rates published for travel to Omaha for the National Corn Exposition. Que and one half fare for the round trip from Dec 12 through Dec 17 with return by Dec 22. Full particulars available from ticket agents, 4013.
Mr and Mrs W D Knapp were surprised Friday evening by sixty five relatives and friends honoring their 15th wedding anniversary. An oyster supper followed and silver presents were given. The couple, unaware of the upcoming date, enjoyed a pleasant gathering.
The Methodist Episcopal Sunday School board met at Mrs. Howard Quick home on Monday December 7 elected officers and teachers for 1909. Officers include A J Nickey superintendent R J Dean assistant superintendent E Billmire secretary Sara Batchelor assistant secretary Wm Leslie treasurer plus Lib Miss Myrtle Zeller and other named staff. A list of teachers and organizers follows with names and roles.
The IC announces a bakery sale on Saturday at Moore and Glenn's. Doors open at 10:30 AM with pastries and homemade candies for sale.
About twenty youths gathered at Clarence Barnhart’s home last Friday evening for games and refreshments. Copies of stock lines are ready for Christmas gift selections at Gazette Book Store in Ashton. William Killmer plans a combination sale soon. contact Killmer’s Livery Barn for listings. A three spring two horse Democrat wagon capable of a ton is for sale.
Samuel Good sixteen year old son of E H Good pro pret or of the hotel of this city was struck and killed by a passing train at the depot area Wednesday evening. Coroners inquest Thursday at the hotel returned a verdict that he died from injuries received while a west bound freight passed as a passenger train went by. The funeral was held Friday afternoon at the hotel with services by Rev J Abel and interment in Ashton cemetery. Samuel is survived by his parents a sister Nora and two brothers Joseph and Harold. Witnesses named include George Benton Lewis Wood P J McMillan George Baker and local grainmen.
Postmaster Chadwick reports Washington has approved a new rate between the United States and Germany. Beginning January 1 the rate drops from five cents to two cents per letter by weight. Ashton has no known German correspondence but expected more letters, potentially offsetting the lower rate through increased volume.
Mr and Mrs William Dixon Friday negotiated a sale of Boule's farm in Reynolds township at 140 dollars per acre. The transaction includes eighty acres joining Mr Vogeler's farm and Walters takes the 160 acres with the buildings.
SE WATCH FROZEN IN ICE in this week at G. W. Jonxer Jeweler. The "South Bend" watch demo shows heat and cold tolerance, with a complete line on display. Also a reminder on kindness to the aged and duties of care, urging gentle support for elderly parents.
The monument to the late Congressman Robert R. Hitt stands in Oakwood Cemetery west of Mt. Morris. Crafted from three white granite stones from Hallowell Maine, it rises twelve feet six inches on a seven by seven by two foot base. Its simple inscription notes his birth January 16 1834 and death September 30 1906.
A humorous piece on speech and gender roles precedes a notice that the Washington Grove Ladies Aid Society will hold a bazaar and oyster supper at D. O. Reed's home on the evening of December 18. Everyone is cordially invited.
On Wednesday at 3 PM Carl Smith wed Dora Menz at her mother's home. The couple, dressed in gray voile and black, had about eighty guests and shared a dinner before a Wyoming Iowa honeymoon visit and return nearby. Out‑of‑town guests included Henry Fehr and son from Olivia Minnesota, P J Zahmean of Chicago, John Smith and son of Fairdale Illinois, Henry Menz family of Rochelle, and Sophia Weigle of Dixon.
To the kind friends and neighbors who assisted us during the death of our beloved son we express heartfelt thanks to those sending flowers and helping with the music E. H. Goop and Family.
The Senior class was entertained last Friday evening by Mrs Hartzel. Roy was not surprised. The evening featured various games with light refreshments served around 10 30. After supper more games followed until about eleven o clock when all departed praising Mrs Hartzel as an excellent entertainer.
Ashton N early 20th century ad promotes Star Dye Works on the second floor of the Commercial building offering cleaning re pairing and pressing. Ladies specialize in skirts rebound and mend ed. Coats overcoats and jackets re lined at very low price this week.
Peter S. Peterson of Pontiac found a near five pound prehis toric molar, likely a mastodon, in a dredge ditch. The specimen measures about eight inches long and four inches wide. Peterson plans to visit Minnesota and Iowa with the tooth for study.
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