NEWS: Cambria Freeman; 9 Feb 1912; Ebensburg, Cambria Cnty., PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Patty Millich Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/ _________________________________________ Cambria Freeman Ebensburg, Pa. Friday, 9 Feb 1912 Volume 45, Number 6 Local and Personal Lewis Schroth, an employee of THE FREEMAN office, this week moved his household effects from Gallitzin into the Margaret Davis property on Horner street where Mr. Schroth and his family will shortly take up housekeeping. Charles Neeley of this place left Wednesday for Jacksonville, Fla., where he has secured a job of work in his line which will keep him until April, when he expects to return to his home here. Mr. and Mrs. Francis Ebig of Cresson and Aaron Litzinger and George Eckenrode of Gallitzin were among the Ebensburg visitors Monday. Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Barker left Wednesday for a two weeks visit in Philadelphia, New York and other eastern cities. Mr. and Mrs. H. R. Tompkins of this place spent the past week with friends and relatives in New York City. Harvey Stineman of South Fork was among the visitors to THE FREEMAN office Monday. Allen Barker has returned home from a weeks' visit with friends in Pittsburg. Dr. Robert Davison of Johnstown paid Ebensburg friends a visit Tuesday. Round Up of the County News The celebration of the centenary of the birth of Charles Dickens this week recalls to the minds of older citizens the time the great novelist passed through Cambria county in 1842. At that time, so say people who have their facts on reliable authority, Mr. Dickens intended visiting Ebensburg, where he wished to see an American turnpike in operation. Owing to some fault of the old Portage railroad, the novelist was unable to make the visit. Dickens registered at the American house in Hollidaysburg one night in 1842. It was while he was mingling with the throng in the hotel that evening that he heard of the immense overland travel to be witnessed on the old state pike, which ran from Pittsburg to Philadelphia, passing through Ebensburg. He was advised that it would be worth his while to leave the Portage railroad and come overland to Ebensburg to witness this sight, but when the time came he found it would be impossible to do so. The great literary man was enroute to Cairo, Ill., where an English syndicate of which he was stockholder, had money invested. He spent a day in Hollidaysburg, visiting out in the country and that evening took the old Portage road over the Mountains to Johnstown. In his book, "Martin Chuzzlewrit," some of his experiences in Hollidaysburg are depicted. In his "American Notes" Mr. Dickens also speaks of Hollidaysburg, describing the quaint old town. Some of the older residents of Hollidaysburg remember the visit, although at the time they were of tender years. Umbrella Routs a Footpad Plucky Pennsylvania Young Woman Beats Bold Purse Grabber Till He Runs Away Altoona, Pa. Instead of screaming and then fainting when she was held up by a bold highwayman while on her way home with half a month's pay in her purse, Miss Margaret Dixon, a pretty auditor in a shoe store, courageously repelled the insolent fellow. She was carrying a closed umbrella and when the footpad attempted to wrest her handbag from her grasp she bravely began beating him over the head. The attack took him by surprise and he was on the run before he knew it and there was not a single pedestrian in sight. Doing Well in the West Cambria County Boys at Head of Big Land Firm Cambria county friends of Messrs. Jesse E. and John B. Ferguson, sons of Robert Ferguson, a well known citizen of Ebensburg, formerly of the Blacklick region, will be interested in knowing of the progress those two young men are making in the West, where they have been for the past six years. Indications of their success are found in a copy of the Sioux City (Ia.) TRIBUNE, just received, which gives notice of the incorporation of the Ferguson-Abel Land company, with a capitalization of $100,000. The Messrs. Ferguson are two of the three members of the company and the other is A. R. Abel, formerly judge of Kingsbury county, South Dakota, for two terms. It is stated that the capital of the company is fully paid in and that the stock is worth easily $125 per share. It is all held by the three members of the firm. When it is recalled that Messrs. Ferguson went West only half a dozen years ago with $700 each, some idea can be gained of the prosperity they have enjoyed. They have been engaged successfully in the mining and feed business, in agriculture and finally, in dealing in Western farm lands which they have found the most profitable of all. Last year their business amounted to three-quarters of a million dollars and indications are that this record will be eclipsed in 1912. Apologies - Extracts Former Ebensburg Pastor Sued for Large Sum and Begs Man's Pardon It Was Rev. Anderson The following from the St. Louis TIMES concerns the Rev. Merle H. Anderson, for a number of years pastor of the Presbyterian church in this place and who is well remembered by members of the local congregation. The suit for $25,000 alleging libel, filed by Rev. Jacob E. Meeker, pastor of the Compton Hill Congregation church, against Rev. Merle H. Anderson, former pastor of the King's Highway Presbyterian church, in November of last year, has been taken out of the courts, following the receipt of a letter from Rev. Mr. Anderson by Rev. Meeker several days ago. C. Porter Johnson, attorney for Meeker, who withdrew the suit Monday said Meeker wanted only an apology and as it was contained in the letter, Meeker was entirely satisfied. [Snip] Rev. Meeker charged in his suit that certain statements were written by Anderson and published in which it was the intention to "injure and discredit him and to deprive him of the benefits of public confidence. expose him to public hatred, contempt and ridicule." Some of the statements in which Rev. Mr. Meeker took exception were that he was highly regarded by politicians and was ignored by the Christian forces of the city; that it was pretty generally understood in St. Louis, his church was generously supported by a prominent brewer and that he was discredited by the church people of St. Louis because of his open stand for the brewery interests. Fire near Barnesboro Fire early Wednesday destroyed the home of Francis Ellis near Barnesboro. The flames had made such headway before their discovery that the members of the family were obliged to make a hasty exit from the building and only a small portion of the contents of the home was saved. The loss is in the neighborhood of $2,000, partly covered by insurance. An overheated stove is believed to have caused the blaze. Meanest Man Found The meanest man has been discovered. Charlie Johnston is now the proud possessor of that unenviable title and all others are barred. After being fed at the Salvation Army barracks, South Main Street, Charlie swiped a $12 bible, which he sold and got drunk on the proceeds. He is now in jail figuring out when his twenty day sentence will expire. {Greensburg ARGUE} An Inhuman Mother Nant-y-Glo, Feb. 6 Mrs. Adam Sheetz or a woman who heretofore has been known by that name, was this afternoon committed to the county jail for trial at the March term of court on a charge of having punished her 3½ year old stepson by burning the tender parts of his body with a hot iron. The hearing before Justice Keating developed conditions of a most revolting nature and indignation ran high for a time. It was not until after Constable Campbell had taken the woman to the county jail that the excitement abated. It developed in the course of the hearing that Mrs. Sheetz, as she was known, (although the woman declared at the trial that she was not married to Sheetz), had frequently punished the child, the hot iron system being one of her favorite methods, but that the child feared to tell his father of the torture she had inflicted. Crushed Leg Amputated Jacob Blanco, a Twin Rocks miner, had his left leg so badly crushed at work Wednesday that amputation of the member was necessary after the injured man had been taken to the Memorial Hospital Wednesday evening. Blanco is 42 years of age. Court News – Extracts Allen J. Burnett of Johnstown Wednesday petitioned the court for leave to adopt John D. W. Park, minor child of R. Wilbert and Mary Park, aged 6 years. The prayer of the petitioner was granted. Mrs. Minerva Biss presented a petition asking leave to adopt Hattie G. Biss, a minor child now in the custody of Probation Officer Dr. Bertha Caldwell of juvenile court. [Snip] Subpoenas in divorce were issued in the cases of Emma Sheats Helman vs. Harry J. Helman and Andy Kerckes vs. Rosi Kerckes. Can't Recover Body Dr. A. Davis who left Altoona a week ago to recover the body of his uncle, the Doctor Davis of Lancaster which has reposed in the mountains of Mexico the last three years, is returning to Altoona unsuccessful in his efforts. The body of Doctor Davis lies in a remote corner of the state of Chihuahua which is now in the state of revolution. When Davis presented his passports the Mexican government refused to permit him to make the journey unless he was willing to take all risk. The officials informed him that there was strong likelihood of his never getting back to the United States alive and for this reason he abandoned the trip. Doctor Davis, who was the leading advisor of State Health Commissioner Mr. Samuel Dixon, died of heart failure while hunting in Mexico in October 1908 and since that time his body has reposed there, his companion having been unable to transport it over the rough mountain passes. Mr. Davis will make another effort to claim the body as soon as the strife in Mexico is over.