28 Dec 1916
Page 1
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Newspaper
Ashton Gazette
Location
Ashton, Illinois, United States of America
Date
Dec 28, 1916
Page
1
Lee County reports 275 miles of permanent highways in a detailed annual summary by the county highway superintendent. The document outlines road lengths, maintenance needs, and upcoming repair priorities across townships and main arterial routes.
Arch Utz and wife of Franklin Grove were Ashton visitors Tuesday. Lee County reports 118 miles of dirt roads graded, 16 miles new macadam or gravel, 6 miles old macadam resurfaced, and 2 miles sand road coated with clay. Forty-eight and a half miles have been treated to oil, totaling 50 miles of surfaced roads.
Wilbur Dale Wetzel aged a little over one year died Saturday at his parents home in Franklin Grove from inward spasms and bowel trouble after a day and a half illness. Born December 15, 1915, he is survived by Fred and Olive Wetzel and relatives. Funeral services were held at the home by Rev. J G Eller of the United Evangelical church. Interment followed in Ashton cemetery.
Ashton and Franklin Grove youths who spent a week at Glen Park last August held a reunion at the Ashton Methodist parsonage. About six of forty were absent. attendees shared news, games, and camp-fire songs, with plans for another trip next year and early applications. A farm auction notice follows.
A Lee County tax comparison by County Clerk Fred G. Dimick shows Ashton’s tax rate per $100 value at 5.34 with notable improvements over the past five years. Neighbors in DeKalb and nearby villages run higher rates, while Ashton claims 100 cents value for money spent amid steady growth and efficient local officials.
Miss Mrydle Hutchinson of Dixon visits sisters over Christmas while many local residents return home for the holidays. The big grain wreck cleanup draws section men to Agnew. Students from DeKalb and Cornell return home for vacation. Local elevators and business ventures open or operate as families host gatherings and celebrations. A ninth birthday party and a concert by Maude Stevens mark festive events amid holiday travel and town activity.
The Methodist church announces a choir meeting on Thursday night to discuss organizing for more effective singing. Christmas Eve exercises drew universal praise with remarks on inspiring carols and the star’s effect. Credit is given to the committee and decorators. A public sale for the George Sandrock Estate is set for January 16, with bills to be posted soon.
Willie Hart visited the high school on Friday while the Senior English class tested on Burke's Speech on Conciliation. Returning seniors Orva Miure Celesta Kersten Floyd Schafer Roy J. Krug Orno J. Kersten and M. B. Griffith spoke to the Physics class about their year. A Vesper service drew two hundred attendees and Miss Nellie Griffith donated two Victrola records for the school’s music program.
Miss Alta Heibenthal and Arthur Water wed Christmas Day at the bride’s grandparents home due to the groom’s father’s illness. Rev W H Manshardt officiated. Bride wore white silk chiffon. groom in blue serge. A Christmas bouquet and white carnations decorated the home. The couple will reside on the groom’s father’s farm southeast of Ashton. William Wallace and Kaleel Durston were home from Dayton, Ohio for Christmas.
Streets and walks iced over as electric current failed all day due to heavy ice load. Snow and rain persisted from late Friday through Sunday with temperatures plunging to 15 degrees below zero earlier in the week. Utilities suffered, phone service limited, and gas supply surged as Marshal Farrer wired the gasoline plant to keep power running.
Dr H J Kiekhoefer will preach Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday at Reynolds Evangelical Church with services also at Ashton chapel Sunday afternoon A quarterly conference follows Saturdays service and missionary aid events noted Revival meetings arranged for Ashton efforts ongoing Musicianship may be led by Mr Umbach Definite announcement to come The pastor is W H Manshardt Gifts Adam Krug John Krug and Miss Marguerite Wholly Rochelle. Mrs Christina Gonnerman and children Dixon were Christmas guests at the Krug home
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