NEWS:  Cambria Freeman; 9 Feb 1912; Ebensburg, Cambria Cnty., PA

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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.