NEWS: The Democrat, July 3, 1889, McConnellsburg, Fulton County, PA

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Selections from The Democrat - McConnellsburg, Fulton County - July 3, 1899

We regret to learn of the continued illness of Mr. D. H. Patterson, which has 
confined him to his room for some days past.  We hope to hear of his early 
recovery.

We learned on Monday that ex-Sheriff D. F. Chesnut of Dublin whose illness has 
been noted is growing weaker.  It is feared that he cannot long survive.  His 
sons have been telegraphed for.

Dr. John J. Brown, member of the legislature from Adams county, was found in his 
office in Gettysburg on Tuesday night of last week, in an unconscious condition 
from the effects of a narcotic that he had taken with suicidal intent.  He died 
on Thursday.

Mrs. Libbie Curtis McCune, wife of E. J. McCune, Esq., of Shippensburg, died in 
Baltimore on Tuesday of last week, in the 51st year of her age.  Mrs. McCune had 
been an invalid for years, and ten days before her death had been taken to 
Baltimore for treatment.  She was an estimable Christian lady.

WEDDING BELLS. - Mr. C. F. Fendrick and Miss Virginia Shannon were married 
Thursday morning at 7 o'clock in Trinity Reformed church, Mercersburg, the 
ceremony being performed by Rev. A. D. Gring.  Many friends and relatives of the 
contracting parties were present.  The bridal couple left on the morning train 
for a tour to the eastern cities and several watering places on the Atlantic 
coast.

PASTOR RESIGNS. - At the close of praise service in the Methodist church on 
Sunday evening, the pastor, Rev. John Vrooman, requested the official members of 
the church to remain after the congregation was dismissed as he had an 
announcement to make.  To the surprise of every one present he stated his 
intention of leaving for Washington Territory in August next, where he expects 
to labor in his ministerial capacity.  Presiding Elder Pardoe and Rev. J. C. 
Deibel were present when the announcement was made.  The elder was as much 
surprised as the rest at the expressed intention of Mr. Vrooman.  It is probable 
that the pulpit will be supplied by the Elder as soon as the present pastor 
leaves.

MURDERED IN PITTSBURG. - On the 20th of June Dr. Charles H. Miller, son-in-law 
of Mr. D. H. Miller of Tod township, when getting off a train in Pittsburg while 
on his way from his home in Kansas, to Philadelphia was knocked down, 
murderously assaulted and robbed of all his money and all the valuables upon his 
person.  He was taken to the hospital where he died the next day.  He was able 
to dictate a message to his brother-in-law, Mr. J. B. Miller in Philadelphia who 
at once went to Pittsburg but the doctor was dead.  He was buried at Pittsburg 
on Sunday, June 23d.  Doctor Miller leaves a widow and five bright children at 
Hutchinson, Kansas.  His wife was a teacher in the public schools in this county 
years ago, having been a pupil in the normal schools taught here by Mr. Hiram 
Winter.  Mr. D. H. Miller has had his share of misfortunes.  He is almost 
deprived of his eye-sight because of an accident received years ago.  Last 
August a son was killed at Covington, Kentucky in a fall from a bridge, and now 
his son-in-law meets a violent death at the hands of a murdered who has not yet 
been discovered.

Miss Alice Prosser is spending some time with friends near Hancock.

Mr. Geo. W. Ludwig, jeweler and optician of Chambersburg, spent Friday in town 
on business.

Mrs. Potterfield, who has been visiting ex-Sheriff Pittman's family, returned to 
Baltimore on Saturday.

Mrs. Ormond Greathead and sister, Miss Emily, spent Sunday with friends in Clear 
Spring, Md.

Mr. John Bender will spend the Fourth in Hagerstown, and will see the big parade 
of bicyclists in that town.

Miss Annie K. Mock of Tod township is home again after spending some weeks with 
friends in Fannettsburg.

Mrs. Zullinger and Miss Sarah Burtsfield of Chambersburg have been visiting Mr. 
John Burtsfield and family in town.

Mr. Harry Reisner of Salisbury, North Carolina is in town visiting his mother 
and his brothers, J. G. and G. W. Reisner.

Presiding Elder, Rev. H. C. Pardoe, of the Harrisburg District, was holding 
quarterly Conference, on the M. E. charges in this county on Friday and 
Saturday.

M. R. Shaffner, Esq., returned from Huntingdon county on Saturday evening.  He 
had been detained there for some time by the illness and death of his mother.

Mrs. John W. Fields is home on vacation from the State College in Centre county. 
- the exchange from Mathematics to hay making will no doubt be somewhat trying.

Misses Minnie and Laura Burtsfield, daughters of Samuel Burtsfield, of 
Shippensburg, were visiting their grandfather Mr. John Burtsfield, of this 
place, last week.

Pr. J. P. Barton of the C. V. Normal will spend his summer vacation with friends 
in Minnesota.  He will attend the State Teachers' Association in Altoona and go 
from there directly west.

Mr. Conrad Glazier of Tod and his son-in-law, Mr. W. H. Duffey of Dublin are 
spending the week at Gettysburg and in that vicinity.  They propose to spend 
several days on the battle field, which have made that town historical.

Mr. and Mrs. J. Calvin Mann left on Monday morning for Allamakee county, Iowa, 
where they expect to make their future home.  They are a worthy young couple and 
carry with them the respect and highest wishes of our people.  May success 
attend them.

Miss Fannie Lamberson one of the C. V. State normal graduates of '89 has been 
elected to the principalship of the public Schools, in Manns' Choice, Bedford 
county.

Miss Mary Hull, another member of the same class will, we believe, teach in this 
county.

Miss Nellie Skinner has returned home from Mount St. Mary's College at 
Emmitsburg, Md., where she has been a student during the spring months.

Miss Ida Ringel of Camden, N. J., is visiting Captain Skinner's family at Big 
Cove Tannery.

Jerry Keefer has the contract for carrying the mails between McConnellsburg and 
Fort Littleton.  He made his first trip to our town on Monday.  He was on foot 
and when we saw him he had the mail sack under one arm, and his umbrella on the 
other.  His trips will be 20 miles a day three days in the week.  It is needless 
to say that if Jerry sticks to his resolution to carry the mails on foot, at the 
end of four years he will be the champion long distance walker of the county.

The following items are taken from last weeks' Gettysburg Compiler:
  Rev. Robert F. McClean informs the New Bloomfield Democrat that his aunt, Mrs. 
James P. McConaughy, whose death, by the flood at Johnstown, we have mentioned, 
breathed her last in her husband's arms after their house was struck.  Her body 
was recovered and buried.  Wallace, a son, is still missing.  Mr. McConaughy and 
three of his daughters were carried half a mile from the site of their home and 
were pulled out of the awful wreck there destitute of all their clothing.  The 
father has since died of his injuries.  The eldest daughter was blinded for a 
time and is still ill, and the other daughters, though able to wait upon their 
father while he lived, are also much injured.  Of seventeen houses owned by Mr. 
McConaughy, not a brick or board remains.

Body Found. - The Johnstown Tribune, of Monday, June 17, has this among its 
reports of bodies found:
  "The remains of Wallace McConaughy, son of James P. McConaughy, were blown out 
of the wreck at the stone arch bridge to-day.  The body was torn to pieces and 
would never have been identified save for a receipt from W. J. Rose & Son, which 
he had in his pocket.

AN UGLY CUT. - On Monday the little son of Mr. Charles Sloan who with his mother 
is visiting his grandfather, Mr. Jno. M. Sloan, near town, pulled the sickle bar 
of a mower down on him and cut a long, deep gash in one of his legs.  Dr. Balbey 
was called in and he sewed up the wound.

KILLED BY LIGHTNING. - Benjamin Morgal, a farmer near Greencastle was struck by 
lightning and instantly killed, on Friday a week, while he was driving his 
mower.  The horses were also killed.  Mr. Morgal leaves a wife and several 
children.  He was a son-in-law of Mr. Phillipy for whom he was farming.

COMMENCEMENT OF THE C. V. STATE NORMAL.
THE CLASS OF 1889.

Thursday morning came bright and cheery, and within the institution all was 
early astir for the closing exercises.  At 9.15 the Clonian orchestra in the 
large chapel struck up the Commencement march and the family, graduating class, 
trustees and ministers moved up the aisle and took their positions upon the 
stage.  The chapel was filled to overcrowding at this early part of the 
exercises, and the crowding in the aisles and corridors became oppressive as the 
exercises continued.
  At the conclusion of the Overture, "Crowns of Victory," Rev. J. K. Fisher 
invoked the divine blessing upon the occasion and the class, whose commencement 
in life was this day begun.
  Ezra Lehman, of Chambersburg, opened the regular program with an oration, 
whose text was Hamlet's quotation, "About, my brain!"
  Miss Jennie Moul, East Berlin, read a pleasing and charming essay on "Lily, 
Thistle, and Shamrock."  Miss Moul's appearance and ease of delivery enchanted 
the audience as she told the tale of each emblem and its national and political 
significance.
  "Vashti," was declaimed by Miss Mary Long, of Middletown.  This magnificent 
poem lost none of its wonted interest in this production.
  H. M. Roth, Fayetteville, was the next speaker, and was happy in his choice of 
subject, "Success," which his earnest thoughts and enthusiastic delivery fully 
exemplified.  Mr. Roth is a prominent figure in his class.
  "What the Seasons Say," an essay by Miss Unger, of Foltz, Franklin county, had 
many excellent and instructive points, and the fair reader presented it in an 
attractive and tasty style, which received a hearty commendation from the 
audience.
  A. C. Lackey, of Duncannon, presented in forcible and elegant language a fine 
conception of "The Hero."
  Miss Annie Schwartz, of Cashtown, read a learned essay on "Chivalry, - False 
and True," which was well received.  She presented a pleasing sketch of 
Chivalry's rise and fall, and filled in the production with many poetical and 
historical features.
  Mr. Kitzmiller, of Shippensburg, recited "Spring House cleaning." This 
humorous selection lightened up the heavier parts of the program and was 
pleasantly delivered and well received.
  Miss Lamberson, of Hustontown, Fulton county, presented many gems of thought 
and beautiful ideas in the development of her essay on "Meccas."  She has a 
pleasing address and winning manner, which speaks well for her in her chosen 
calling.
  Miss Lehner, of Chambersburg, read an elaborate essay on "Faded Roses."  It 
was full of poetical allusions.
  J. A. Underwood, Sheperstown, Pa., next declaimed a selection entitled "The 
Last Charge of Ney."  He possesses a good voice but lacked animation in his 
delivery of this fine selection.
  "The Tendencies of this Age" was the subject of an oration by Mr. Charles of 
Shippensburg.  Religious enthusiasm is abating, and political power and mere 
intellectuality are on the high tide.
  Miss Kyner's essay on a "Study from Lowell," as a very pleasing sketch.  It 
was tastily prepared and delivered and was concluded with a short recitation 
from her favorite author.
  The charming elocutionist of the class, Miss Flo Walters of Shippensburg, 
recited in glowing style the poem, "How Congress fought for Sheridan."  Her 
voice and expression were fine, and gestures very pleasing.  She was warmly 
applauded and her happy selection and her excellent rendition made a neat ending 
to the graduating part of the program.
  Principal Eckles then conferred the degree of B. E. upon the class of forty-
two members.  His remarks were aptly fitted to the occasion and were delivered 
with considerable feeling and enlisted the rapt attention of the audience.