USA > Indiana > Adams County > Standard history of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana : An authentic narrative of the past, with an extended survey of modern developments in the progress of town and country, Volume I > Part 21
USA > Indiana > Wells County > Standard history of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana : An authentic narrative of the past, with an extended survey of modern developments in the progress of town and country, Volume I > Part 21
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40
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FIRST EVANGELICAL CHURCH
The Evangelical Association was one of the first religious organi- zations to conduct services in Adams County. Ministers of that de- nomination commenced to preach at various points outside of Decatur, in the late '40s, and organized societies among the Germans of Preble, Union and St. Mary's townships. When Rev. S. S. Condo commenced to preach to members of the faith in the old court house, in 1871, four or five churches had already been formed in those see- tions of Northwestern and Northeastern Adams County.
The First Evangelical church of Decatur was organized by Rev. George Frehafer in 1872 and in the following year a frame meet- ing house was erected on the east side of Winchester Street. In 1887 the church building was remodeled and greatly improved both in ap- pearance and comfort, and in March, 1916, a massive and tasteful edifice was completed to meet the growing demands of later years. It cost $17,000, and has a seating capacity for 500 people.
Among the early pastors of the First Evangelical, following Rev. George Frehafer, were Rev. John Baughman, Rev. James Wales, Rev. Joseph Fisher, Rev. I. B. Fisher, Rev. J. M. Dustman, Rev. A. R. Shafer and Rev. J. E. Stoops. The first parsonage, just south of the church, was built in 1883. The Decatur charge beeame a mission about 1890. During the past twenty years the following have served the First Evangelical church as pastors: Rev. W. H. Mygrant, 1898- 1900; Rev. D. Martz, 1900-01; Rev. S. I. Zechiel, 1901-04; Rev. E. B. Haist, 1904-08 ; Rev. D. O. Wise, 1908-12; Rev. J. H. Rilling, 1912-17; Rev. W. S. Mills, present pastor. The society now numbers over 200 members.
OTHER RELIGIOUS BODIES
The Christian Church of Deeatur was organized in Mareh, 1881, and Rev. Myron Gleason was its first pastor. The house of worship was purchased of the Methodists on Front Street and its site is now occupied by the Opera House. The new church at the corner of Fifth and Monroe streets was built about thirty years ago. Among other early ministers may be mentioned Revs. Grant Lewis, Harry Sutton, J. H. O. Smith and Charles Scoville. Rev. W. Paul Marsh is the present pastor.
The United Brethren Church of Decatur was organized in 1885 and two years later a house of worship was completed on the corner of Ninth and Madison streets. It has a present membership of over
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300 and the following have served as pastors: Reverends Wilgus, 1885-86; T. Coats, 1886-88; Jacob Miller, 1888-90; D. A. Boyd, 1890- 92; Shepherd, 1892-97; Kline, 1897-1901; Pontius, 1901-04; Luke, 1904-06; Stangle, 1906-07 ; Kessinger, 1907-08; Imler, 1908-12; Love, 1912-14; Harmon, 1914-17 ; C. J. Miner, 1917-18.
The Church of Christ, while under the pastorage of Rev. Monroe E. Hinz, erected a brick house of worship in 1902, corner of Eleventh and Monroe streets. The society is now in charge of Rev. J. Elmer Cook.
SECRET AND BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES
The Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Knights of Colum- bus, Elks and Moose, with their respective auxiliaries, have strong organizations at Decatur, the I. O. O. F. taking precedence, chron- ologically, of all the secret and benevolent orders locally represented.
THE ODD FELLOWS
St. Mary's Lodge No. 167, I. O. O. F., was organized on Septem- ber 1, 1859, by six charter members-W. G. Spencer, David Stnda- baker, Thomas J. Pierce, Daniel Miller, Timothy J. Matheny and John McConnehey. First officers: Mr. Pierce, N. G .; Mr. Miller, V. G .; Mr. Spencer, secretary; Mr. MeConnehey, treasurer. During the earlier years, the lodge met in the upper rooms of the Honston build- ing on Second Street, but in 1875 occupied its new hall at the corner of Monroe and that street. The Odd Fellows' building was then the most expensive structure in the business district. The present mem- bership of the lodge is 132, with the following officers: District Deputy Grand Master, Homer H. Knodle; Noble Grand, William Mc- Cague; Vice Grand, Reuben Lord; Recording Secretary, Edwin Macy ; Financial Secretary, John Logan ; Treasurer, John MeCrory.
Olive Lodge of the Rebekah degree dates from 1872. Its first members were Mrs. Mary E. Spencer, Mrs. Mary Simcoke, Mrs. Har- riet Stndabaker, Mrs. Catherine Gillette, Mrs. Sophie Reider, Mrs. Victoria Hill, W. G. Spencer, Dan Miller, F. J. Gillig, David Stnda- baker and G. Reider.
Decatur also has an encampment of Odd Fellows which was organ- ized under dispensation in October, 1875, with the following mem- bers : William G. Spencer, W. P. Moon, A. J. Hill, B. H. Dent, Henry Winnes, Dietrich Reider, Jeremiah Archbold, Jesse Butler, D. O. Jack- son, D. J. Spencer and F. J. Gillig. That organization was known
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as Decatur Encampment No. 136. It was reorganized October 17, 1893, as the Reiter Encampment No. 214, I. O. O. F., with the fol- lowing offieers : W. G. Spencer, C. P .; B. HI. Dent, J. W. ; J. P. Moon, S. W .; J. Archbold, H. P .; Henry Winnes, treasurer ; and A. J. HFill, seribe.
THE MASONS
Masonry had its rise at Decatur in the chartering of Lodge No. 252, A. F. & A. M., about 1860. Its original members were Samuel Mickle, Augustus Gregory, George Il. Martz, Washington Steele, Thomas T. Dorwin, J. E. Teele and Washington Kern. The lodge first met in a hall on the east side of Second Street, which was after- ward occupied by the Good Templars and the Knights of Pythias. In 1870 the Masons commeneed to meet in the hall over Dorwin's Drug Store, and the lodge now in the work, which was organized in 1884, still meets in Dorwin's block.
Decatur Lodge No. 571, F. & A. M., was chartered May 27, 1884, with Jonas Coverdale as W. M .; John D. Hale, S. W .; and Benjamin W. Sholty, J. W. It was organized under dispensation June 9, 1883, with the same officers as under the charter, except that Robert S. Peterson was senior warden instead of Mr. Hale. Old Decatur Lodge No. 254 surrendered its charter in May, 1882.
The past masters of Decatur Lodge No. 571 have been as follows : Jonas Coverdale, 1883-88; John D. Hale, 1889; James T. Merry- man, 1890; Lewis C. Miller, 1891-97 ; John W. Tyndall, 1893-4; Wil- lard B. Suttles, 1898; David E. Smith, 1899-1901; John II. Len- hart, 1900; Lewis C. Helm, 1902; George Kinzle, 1903; Phillip L. An- drews. 1904: Henry B. Ileller, 1905; N. G. Lenhart, 1906; D. E. Smith, 1907-12; Charles Dnnn, 1913; D. E. Smith, 1914-17; George Kinzle, 1918.
The lodge has a present membership of 180, with the following elective offieers : David E. Smith, W. M. ; Levi L. Baumgartner, S. W. ; Richard D. Myers, J. W .; Calvin E. Peterson, S. D .; Harry Frit- zinger, J. D .; E. B. Adams, seeretary; George T. Burke, treasurer ; Barney Kalver, tyler.
Decatur Chapter No. 112, R. A. M., was organized under dispen- sation granted November 20, 1895. It was chartered October 22, 1896. First officers of the chapter: Lewis C. Miller, I. P. : John W. Tyn- dall, K .; John D. Hale, S .; David E. Smith, C. HI .; Jonas S. Cover- dale, P. S .; Charles A. Dugan, R. A. C .; Dan Sprang, G. M. 3rd V .; Benj. W. Sholty, G. M. 2nd V. ; John W. Vail, G. M. Ist V. ; D. French Quinn, treasurer; Godfrey Christen, secretary.
Vol. 1-14
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Past High Priests: Lewis C. Miller, 1896-1904; Philip L. An- drews, 1904-05; Lewis C. Miller, 1907-08; P. L. Andrews, 1908-10; Lewis C. IIelm, 1910-12; David E. Smith, 1913-18.
Present Officers: David E. Smith, H. P .; Lewis C. Helm, K .; Jonas S. Coverdale, S .; Levi L. Baumgartner, treasurer; Roy Arch- bold, secretary; Henry B. Heller, C. H .; Phil L. Andrews, P. S .; William P. Schrock, R. A. C .; Arthur Suttles, G. M. 3rd V .; Arthur Ford, G. M. 2nd V .; Earl Adams, G. M. 1st V .; Barney Kalver, guard.
The chapter has now about ninety members.
The first chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star at Decatur was known as "The Family of Constellation," and was organized in 1869. It was dissolved a number of years before the one now active was chartered. Mrs. Sarah Blackburn, the oldest living member of Decatur Chapter No. 127, O. E. S., was identified with the original organiza- tion.
The present chapter (No. 127) effected a preliminary organization on July 18, 1892, when Special Deputy Todd, of Bluffton, assisted by the officers of Crescent Chapter No. 48, of that city, installed the fol- lowing: Mrs. R. S. Peterson, W. M .; D. E. Smith, W. P .: Mrs. Hannah Moore, A. M .; Mrs. Barbara Winnes, treasurer; Miss Rose Christen, secretary ; Mrs. J. D. Hale, cond. ; Mrs. J. B. Ford, assistant cond .; Miss Dora Peterson, Warder; Barney Kalver, sentinel; Ethel Hale, Adah; Mrs. Emanuel Brown, Ruth; Anna Winnes, Esther; Alice Peterson, Martha ; Mrs. John Peterson, Electa.
The charter of the chapter was granted April 26, 1893, and the following have been its past worthy matrons: Fannie Peterson, 1893-4; Nellie Ford, 1895-6; Monta Hensley, 1897-8; Mary Tyndall, 1899; Nora Parrish, 1900; Olive Peterson, 1901; Angeline Archbold, 1902; Minnie Reid, 1903-4; Mary Stoneburner, 1905; Nellie Black- burn, 1906; Lettie Ernst, 1907; Mrs. George Kinzle, 1908-9; Mrs. Olive Peterson, 1910.
The worthy patrons of the chapter have been D. E. Smith, L. C. Miller, Dr. J. S. Coverdale, J. D. Hale and G. T. Burk. Mr. Miller was serving his thirteenth year in that office when he died in 1907.
The principal elective officers now serving (December, 1917) : Mrs. Olive H. Peterson, W. M .; G. T. Burk, W. P .; Mrs. Ethel Smith, Asso. M .; Mrs. Flora Kinzel, treasurer ; Miss Anna Winnes, secretary ; Miss Nellie Blackburn, conductress; Mrs. Mamie Myers, asso. con- ductress; Mrs. Martha Burk, warder; Mrs. Laura Crill, sentinel; Mrs. Nellie Sholty, chaplain. The chapter has a membership of about 130.
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KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS
Kekionga Lodge No. 65, Knights of Pythias, was instituted in the Good Templars' Hall on Second Street opposite the court house, on August 20, 1875, with these charter members: C. T. Dorwin, God- frey Christen, W. S. Congleton, N. Blackburn, A. R. Bell, M. Burns, J. P. Quinn, Fred Shaffer, W. W. Van Ness, Frank Railing and D. L. Phelps. For years the lodge met in the Derks Building next to the Odd Fellows block, but for some time has occupied its fine club house and home near the corner of Seeond and Monroe streets, completed January 20, 1910, at a cost of over $12,000. It is a beautiful two- story brick building, with tile roof. The lodge has a membership of over 200.
THE ELKS CLUB
The Elks Club No. 993, of Decatur, was organized in Septem- ber, 1905, with fifty-eight charter members. Its sneeessive heads have been H. L. Couter, D. E. Smith, A. P. Beatty, W. A. Lower, David Studabaker, H. J. Yager, J. J. Helm, Charles N. Christen, Albert L. Colehin, W. R. Dorwin and Clem Vogelwede. The elub, as consti- tuted in December, 1917, had about 140 members, and was officered as follows: R. C. Parrish, E. L. K .; Wiley Austin, E. L. K .; Albert L. Colehin, secretary ; C. S. Niblick, treasurer; W. R. Dorwin, esquire; P. L. Macklin, tiler; Shaffer Peterson, ehaplain; J. B. Meibers, I. G .; W. R. Dorwin, E. F. Gass and D. M. Hensley, trustees.
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
The Knights of Columbus, No. 864, organized in February, 1905, and have since increased their membership in Decatur to over 270. The first grand knight of the local organization was E. X. Ehinger, who served two years; C. N. Christen, one year; H. J. Yager, one; Dynos Schmidt, one; Martin J. Mylott, two; Joseph Lose, present grand knight, two years. The other elective officers in service are : Martin Smith, D. G. K .; D. M. Nibliek, F. S .; H. M. Gillig, R. S .; Julius Heideman, chancellor; Peter Miller, warden; C. S. Niblick, treasurer.
THE MOOSE LODGE
Adams Lodge No. 1311, Loyal Order of Moose, although young, is strong, having a membership of more than 250. It was organized in
W. J. BRYAN SPEAKING DURING OLD HOME WEEK
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May, 1914. Its first officers were 11. S. Lachot, M. E. Hower, S. E. Brown, S. E. Whitman, and G. Il. MeNamara. E. II. Faust, A. C. Foos, A. W. Tanvas, Leo Bogner, William G. Kist, R. V. Miller, Richard Roop, Clyde Berry, G. E. Kinzle, Lawrence Green, Irwin Elzey and H. M. Gillig are now in office.
OLD HOME WEEK
Among the events most talked about in Adams County because of its wonderful and complete success is the Old Home Week held Octo- ber 14-19, 1912. From every state in the union came the sons and daughters of the old county, including many who had won fame and fortune, for a week of reunion and a visit with the old friends. The program included a street fair, with parades, display of live stock, numerous attraetions, features of various kind, including balloon races, speeches by famous men, a visit to the eity by Governor Marshall and his staff and a general good time. The City of Deeatur where the event was held was paeked every day, the largest erowd on Friday being estimated at 25,000. The week closed Saturday night at mid- night with hundreds marehing the street singing, "There's No Place Like Home." The event was given by a committee of eitizens includ- ing F. M. Sehirmeyer, chairman, and E. X. Ehinger, C. A. Dugan, J. H. Heller, H. R. Moltz, H. J. Yager, Freneh Quinn, C. N. Christen, C. C. Sehafer, Will P. Schrock, seeretary, Morton Stults, and C. S. Nib- liek. The most important feature of the week was the formal opening on Wednesday of the first sugar factory in the state, participated in by city, county and state officials and representatives of the Holland- St. Louis Company.
CHAPTER XII
TOWN OF BERNE
LEADING MENNONITE CENTER IN AMERICA-ORIGINAL SWISS-GERMAN COLONY-BERNE FOUNDED-DESCENDANTS OF ORIGINAL FAMILIES- THE FIRST STORE-EXTENSION OF TOWN AREA-BERNE OF TODAY- THE PIONEER SCHOOLS-THE BERNE POSTOFFICE-HOTELS-THE MILLS-THE DOCTORS AND LAWYERS-BERNE CORPORATION-STA- TUS OF LOCAL MATTERS IN 1887-A GERMAN PROHIBITION TOWN- MUNICIPAL ROSTER-THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM-FIRES AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT-MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC LIGHT PLANT-AS A SHIPPING CENTER-BUILDING MATERIALS-BANKS OF BERNE- MENNONITE BOOK CONCERN-THE BERNE WITNESS-RELIGIOUS BODIES-THE EVANGELICAL CHURCH-FIRST MENNONITE CHURCH- THE GERMAN REFORMED CHURCH-THE MISSIONARY CHURCH- JOHN A. SPRUNGER AND HIS ORPHANAGE-THE LOCAL LODGES.
The town of Berne, in the southern part of the county, represents one of the most moral and thrifty communities in the state. The basis of its substantial life as an American village was laid more than half a century ago, when a colony of about seventy Swiss Mennonites from the region of the Jura Alps arrived in the vicinity of Berne and took up cheap lands in a tract of lowlands and white oak woods. That was in the spring of 1852. To the average American farmer the out- look would not have seemed bright, but to these hardy immigrants accustomed to the barren mountain slopes, the tough clay soil of their newly acquired lands which lay level before them teemed with possi- bilities. They were not only trained to meet exposures, hardships and unremitting toil, but were sustained in their labors by the religious faith that they were working for God as well as themselves. Strength- ened by such racial stalwartness and deep faith they, and their de- seendants after them, could not conceive of failure; and the result has been, as is widely known, a noteworthy center of material prosperity and striet religious inspiration.
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LEADING MENNONITE CENTER IN AMERICA
Specifically, Berne is the leading center of Mennonite propaganda in the United States and in the world. It has acquired that position largely through the activities of the Book Concern, the official publish- ing house of the church, and the Berne Witness, with printing and publishing facilities of an extensive and high order.
ORIGINAL SWISS-GERMAN COLONY
The original colony of Swiss immigrants, who formed a slowly in- creasing community near the present site of Berne, were from the Commune of Moutier, Switzerland, where they had been renters of small mountain farms. Within the succeeding twenty years, in spite of many seasons of fever and ague and malarial diseases, their faithful and hard labor had resulted in transforming an unattractive and un- productive countryside into an area of neat and richly-yielding farms and gardens, dotted with elean and comfortable houses and out-build- ings. Most of the original company were members of the Sprunger family and its relatives by marriage ; nearly all brothers, sisters and cousins, and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law. As the years passed, other relatives from the Jura region of Switzerland also joined the Adams County colony, which therefore retained its distinet stamp of unfailing thrift and an unflinching stand on matters of religious observance and discipline.
BERNE FOUNDED
In the early part of 1871, when it became certain that the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad would build through the county from north to south, coming up from the south by way of Geneva and striking Decatur to the north, the members of the Swiss colony had visions of a thrifty new town to be centered in a plat adjacent to the railroad station. The Crawford brothers, Josiah and John, had been residents of the county since 1839, and were among the first to bring live stock to this section from Darke County and the older settled districts of Ohio. Josiah, especially, took much interest in the projected town, and when it was certain that it would be platted suggested that it be called Crawford, Crawfordsville and a variety of other names which should perpetuate his family. He had held the office of county com- missioner sinee 1856, was very popular and of sufficient general prom- inence to give forec to his suggestion, but it happened that the State
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of Indiana was overburdened with the names of villages and post- offices which commenced with "Crawford," and as a repetition was against the law he was completely blocked in his attempt to thus honor the family name. But as the great preponderance of the local settlers were Swiss, Mr. Crawford gracefully receded from his forlorn hope, and became an earnest champion of the name which the railroad town finally adopted. Thus Berne it became, in honor of the capital of the beloved little republic; and there has been no appeal from that decision. That name was first inscribed on the original town plat of August 15, 1871, but was not recorded until April 5, 1872. Mr. Crawford died in the early '90s.
DESCENDANTS OF ORIGINAL FAMILIES
The proprietors of the original site of Berne were Abraham Leh- man and John Hilty, and the first settlers upon it were Mr. Lehman, who located in the southwestern section, Peter Sprunger in the north- western, Christian Schneek in the northeastern and Christian Liechty, in the southeastern. Not a few of the pioneer Swiss families are still represented in Berne by numerous descendants. There are nearly sixty Sprungers, including E. H. Sprunger, editor of the Berne Wit- ness ; thirty-four Lehmans, including J. F. Lehman, president of the Mennonite Book Coneern ; sixteen Reussers, and three Hiltys.
THE FIRST STORE
The first building erected on the village site was a frame storehouse built by Thomas Harris in August, 1871. Mr. Harris kept a general stock of merehandise for a year or so, and then sold to J. J. Hirschy & Company. The original lot was bought of Abraham Lehman and, within a period of a dozen or fifteen years, was occupied by the Ellen- berger Meat Market, the old store building then being used as a shed in the rear of the brick structure. The Harris store preceded the platting of the town by several weeks, the original site of which ex- tended from the railroad west to the present Bank of Berne.
EXTENSION OF TOWN AREA
As stated by the Berne Witness: "This plat was rapidly occu- pied by enterprising business men and additional plats were made in rapid succession by Messrs. Lehman, Liechty and Hilty and built up rapidly. In ten years the town had grown westward to the People's
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State Bank, eastward to John Martz's residence, northward to Water Street and southward to the Stock Yards, with a population of about two hundred. The next ten years the town stretched out its wings northward to the present northern limits one-half mile from Main Street, and westward along Main Street to the Mennonite Church, and the population trebled. The former farms of Peter Sprunger and Abraham Lehman (now owned by Isaac Lehman) were rapidly cov- ered with town residences to the present limits." It is said that Berne has had more additions-sixty, or over-than all the other towns of the county together .. Its site now covers about a square mile, nearly all the south half of section 33, and portions of the north half of see- tions 4 and 5, in Monroe and Wabash townships.
BERNE OF TODAY
Berne is located almost ou the ridge of the watershed of the Saint Lawrence Valley and the Gulf of Mexico, seven and a half miles from the eastern boundary of Indiana. Its natural surroundings are poor, but its thrifty citizens have counteracted all disadvantages by their industry and energy and the neat, well-paved streets, and handsome brick buildings; its well-financed banks, fully-stocked stores and sub- stantial churches and public structures, are but striking reflections of its people. There are few other communities of its size which ean claim a mile of good briek pavement and a mile and a half of macadam. The shipments of grain, hay and livestock from Berne are large. It has several lumber yards, plants for the manufacture of briek and artificial stone, overall and shirt factories, a milk condensing plant, a mill, and, in the line of business, about twenty general, drygoods, hardware, grocery and other stores.
THE PIONEER SCHOOLS
The log schoolhouse, built by "Grandpa" John Sprunger during 1856 in the northwestern part of town, is typical of Berne: has been stamped by many of its old-time residents as "where Berne got its start." It was the first district school in the neighborhood and not a few founders of the town were taught their A, B, C's therein by the late Abraham J. Sprunger. In May, 1859, it was the scene of the wedding of Miss Elizabeth Sprunger to Ulrich Amstutz.
This really historie building was razed about fifteen years ago and stood on the farm which, for many years, was the home of Daniel Welty and is now owned by Carl Lehman. It had been used for a
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carpenter shop and a variety of other purposes. It was occupied for school purposes only a short time, as District School No. 8 of Monroe Township and No. 2, of Wabash Township, were soon opened and filled with children. In 1879 the first public schoolhouse to accommo- date the pupils of the growing town was completed and was afterward remodeled for religious purposes. It came successively under the ownership of the German Reformed and Missionary churches, and is now devoted to the "movies." Robert E. Christen was the first teacher in this pioneer public school, and among others who held forth
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THE BERNE PUBLIC SCHOOL
at an early day therein were Joel Welty, H. S. Michaud, Levi L. Baumgartner (now city engineer of Decatur) and John C. Lehman.
THE BERNE POSTOFFICE
Berne did not have a postoffice of its own until after it had become a railroad station on the Grand Rapids & Indiana line. The postoffices in the southern part of the county at the time were the Limberlost, at what is now Geneva, and the Canoper, which was maintained at the homes of various farmers east and northeast of the present town of Berne. Some of the postmasters of the Canoper office were Jacob Ruble, John R. Burdge, Lewis Mattax and A. B. McClurg. When the passenger trains commenced to run on the Grand Rapids & Indiana, the mails were carried by the railroad. Limberlost and Canoper post-
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offices were dropped, and Geneva and Berne substituted. Philip Sheets, who was a grain merehant and storekeeper at the latter place, was appointed the first postmaster at Berne, and among his successors have been Andrew Gottschalk, William Sheets, Joel Welty, Harvey Harruff, William Waggoner, HI. S. Michaud, J. F. Lehman, John H. Hilty and Earl K. Shally. The bulk of business transaeted by the Berne postoffice is noticeably large, chiefly on account of the wide- spread activities of the Mennonite Book Concern and the Berne Wit- ness.
Berne was made a money-order office July 10, 1883. The first order was issued to Adolph Huffer, the same day, in favor of L. Bremes & Company, Fort Wayne. The first order paid was on August 8, 1883, to James Young, issued from Troy, Ohio.
HOTELS
The first hotel in Berne was built by Daniel Luginbill in 1873. About two years afterward Mont Rose erected what was known as the Cottage Hotel. Some years afterward Mr. Rose obtained control of the original inn and re-christened it the Cottage Hotel. It was long quite well known among the hostelries of this section of the state, but has for some time been occupied as a residence. The Alpine Hotel now furnishes the local accommodations in that line.
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