Shelby  County  Indiana
Newspaper  Articles

Trees

The  Shelbyville  Republican
Monday, September 21, 1925
--------------------
Society
--------------------
Birthday Surprise.
----------

          The family of  Mrs. Sarah Trees  gathered at her home in Waldron on Sunday to give her a surprise dinner and to spend the afternon.  Mrs. Trees celebrated her eighty-seventh birthday a few months ago.  She is the daughter of  Mr. and Mrs. Greenup Stafford,  who lived two miles south of Shelbyville on the Norristown pike back in the pioneer days.  She is perhaps the oldest person living in the county who was born in the county.  She spent this summer in Indianapolis with her son,  A. N. Trees  and his [the article continues in this column, but my copy doesn't]...
[column 2]
Mr. and Mrs. Claue Pherigo,  Mr. and Mrs. Glen Pherigo,  Mr. and Mrs. Joe Pherigo,  of this county;  A. N. Trees,  Mr. and Mrs. Ed Major,  Mr. and Mrs. Harry Huey,  Cell Stafford,  of Indianapolis;  Mr. and Mrs. Russell Brooks, Greensburg;  Mr. and Mrs. Ora Bone, of Southport.
Copied by Phyllis Miller Fleming


The  Shelbyville  Daily  Democrat
March 12, 1912
Page 1   column 4
----------
RECEIVED  SEVERE  INJURY  TO
ANKLE  MONDAY  AFTERNOON
----------
Earl Trees, of Washington Township,
Wrenched Right Limb When His Horse Ran Into Fence.
----------           Earl Trees,  who lives on the  S. L. Major  farm in Washington township, received a very painful injury to his right ankle yesterday afternoon between five and six o'clock, when he undertook to ride one of the horses from the barn to the watering trough with only a halter to guide the animal.
          When the horse left the barn it became frisky and started to run and in this playful mood it ran into the barnyard fence, catching Mr. Trees' right foot between the norse and the [?].  Mr. Trees at first thought his leg had been broken and the family physician was called.  Upon a close examination of the limb it proved that the ankle had only received a severe wrench, the ligaments being torn loose.  The ankle is causing him much pain and he is not able to bear any weight on the injured member.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

The  Shelbyville  Democrat
Shelbyville, Ind., November 2, 1911
------------------------

       Mrs.  Sarah  Trees,  of Noble township, is visiting her daughter,  Mrs.  Angelina  Brooks  of Waldron.
Copied by Phyllis Miller Fleming

An  Unknown  Newspaper
Between 1905 and 1911*
----------
Mysterious Family in Case
-------------------------
Mrs. Geo Hensley, Formerly Mrs. Rebecca Eck,
Gives Story of Trees Affair
----------------------------
SAYS  AN  INDIANAPOLIS
FAMILY  ASSISTED  ADAM
----------------------------
She Also Gives Full Story of
How Smooth Stranger Played Brother.
----------------------------
CASE  BEFORE  GRAND  JURY
-----------------------------

From Thursday's Daily
           Further developments in the buncoing of  John Trees  by a man claiming to be his long lost brother Adam are daily coming to light.  The latest story of the affair comes from  Mrs. George Hensley,  formerly  Mrs. Rebecca Eck  of west Hendricks street, who is a distant relative of the Trees family. 
           Her story is something like this, "Along in the latter part of January a man came to the home of  Michael Zoble, in Shelby township from Waldron in a buggy, having come to that place from St. Paul according to reports from that direction.  At Waldron he asked  Ora McColley  of the where-abouts of the  Trees  family and gave his name as  Shontz.  He was directed to the home of Mr. Zoble, whose wife is a sister to  John Trees, the man who was swindled.  When he arrived at the Zoble home he asked if  Mr. Goble  lived there and was informed by Zoble that their name was Zoble instead of Goble.  He purported to be a lawyer who was settling up the business affairs of  Adam Trees,  but Mrs. Zoble said,  "Why you're Adam yourself."   At first he denied that he was, but finally gave in that he was really Adam.  To her husband he admitted in private that his right name was  Frank Stone, but said that since they wanted to think he was Adam Trees they might do so.
          "His arrival at the Zoble home occurred on Thursday and on the next Sunday,  Shelby Trees,  who boarded with me went to the home of the Zobles to see his "long lost brother", Adam.   He did not think the man resembled his long lost brother, Adam.  He made arrangements to come to this city to look after his brother Shelby, pay his board and provide for some clothing for him.  It seems the man had by this time begun to act the brother in earnest. 
          "I went to the home of Michael Zoble on Monday afternoon and met the "long lost" Adam.  I didn't think he resembled Adam Trees, who I knew before he left, as he was a second cousin.  While I was there he went to the home of  George Zoble  and on his return he told me he was really Adam and that he owned a farm of 3,?00 acres near Fresno, California, and had an interest in a gold mine and several pieces of town property.  He wanted me and my husband to go home with him and said he could soon make a fortune on his farm.
          "On Wednesday evening he came to our house with  Frank Zoble,  a son of Michael's and ate supper.  I told him to go see my father,  Joseph German,  but he didn't seem anxious to do so.  While at our house the matter of dividing up with him what had been received from the estate of their parents was talked of. 
           It seems from the talk at our house that  Jacob Trees  had told the supposed Adam that John would give him his share, and the fact that John was carrying quite a sum of money was also told to him in the conversation.
           "John Trees was in Indianapolis at the time of " Adam's" coming and  Bont Trees  of that city told him he was here.  He came here and went to Zoble's to see Adam. And on Friday John and Adam came to my house for supper.  While here they talked of each of the family giving their part to Adam as they began to think he was really their brother.  They made arrangements to buy some clothes for Shelby and Adam asked for change for $50.  We did not have it and my daughter  Maude  let him have $5 thinking it was to be given to Shelby.  I afterwards learned that he got $5 from John and the same evening, and on that day $10 from Mike Zoble to whom he then admitted being Adam. 
          "He was a fine looking man, light hair and complexion, smooth face, wore good clothes and was well built.  His hair made me doubt his being Adam as Adam had sort of reddish colored hair.  He was about five feet, eight inches in height and looked something like  Jack Hartman.  He was, or claimed to be, and Elk and K. of P. and wore an Elk's head.
          "From our home they went to the home of  Frank Borgen  where they spent the night.  They went out to Zobles on Saturday and on Monday went to Indianapolis to make preparations to go to California.
           "When they got to Indianapolis was when “Adam" asked John to let him take care of the money.  John wouldn't tell me just how much he let him have but he had something over $3,000 with him and I think "Adam" got it all.  He sent John to New Castle to see his brother  Newton  about going to California and when he returned Adam had gone away.
          "He came back to the city after that so I understand as he registered at the Ray Hotel afterwards as  Frank Stone, so they tell me.  After the happening John spoke to me concerning the affair and said something about a family in Indianapolis helping the supposed Adam to fleece him, but he didn't tell just what it was." 
          Though an effort was made to get Mrs. Hensley (Mrs. Eck) to tell concerning the mysterious family at Indianapolis she would say nothing.
          She was positive in her statement of the sum of money being larger than what was first reported and said the smooth customer who played Adam had really come from California as he was acquainted with the country around Fresno as he showed in conversation with  Scott Hancock,  who boards with Mrs. Hensley and has an uncle in this part of California and asked "Adam" many questions which he answered intelligently.
          Mrs. Eck talked freely of the matter and when asked if she had been called before the grand jury stated that she had but would not state that she was there on this case.
          It is learned also that other parties concerned were brought before the grand jury and it is thought that the case is being given attention.  The mysterious family at Indianapolis may figure in the case.
Contributed by Janet McColley Franklin
* Note from John German:  Becky Eck married George Hensley on 24 November 1904.  Joseph German died 19 March 1910.

The  Kokomo  Daily  Tribune
Kokomo, Ind.
Tuesday Evening January 28, 1896
Page 5 col:3
----------
John Trees Burned Out
----------
Everything destroyed except
----------

...ies and the lodge which was burned, will make the loss considerably more.  Trees has rented a vacant store room and will start up immediately in that, where he will sell goods until he can rebuild.
For further information, please contact the contributor, Lora

The  Shelby  Democrat
February 25, 1892
Page 3
----------
City and County.
----------

          Jacob Trees  drove into the city on Monday with a ground hog which he killed last week.  Mr. Trees has now settled the ground hog question and has furnished evidence that when the ground-hog came out on the 2nd inst. he saw his shadow and remained out.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

The  Shelbyville  Daily  Democrat
December 24, 1891
Page 4   Column 3
==========
LOCAL  NEWS.
==========

          Estrayed from my premises in Washington township, about three weeks ago, a Poland boar, wight about two hundred pounds, black with some white spots. Any information leading to its whereabouts will be thankfully received at the Cave Mills or  Floyd & Trees  grocery store.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

The  Shelby  Democrat
December 17, 1891
Page 3
----------

          The votes which elected  Dr. Tresse, of Smithland, as secretary of the County Board of Health, were cast by Commissioners  Oltman  and  Linville.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

The  Daily  Republican
Friday Evening
July 6, 1888
----------------

          Jacob Trees  and  Ed Eason  were each assessed $6 by  Squire Craycraft  yesterday for fighting.
Copied by Phyllis Miller Fleming

The  Daily  Evening  Democrat
Thursday, April 13, 1882
----------
LOCAL  NEWS
----------

          Dr. J. W. Trees,  of Manilla, is in town.
Contributed by D. Darlene Palmer

The  Daily  Evening  Democrat
Tuesday, January 3, 1882
Page 4   column 1
----------
L O C A L     N E W S.
----------

          Dr. Trees,  W. E. Inlow  and  "Codge" Hungerford  of Manilla, are in the city to-day.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

The  National  Volunteer
Shelbyville, Indiana
~ * ~ * ~ *~ * ~ * ~
December 2, 1853
----------

          Estrays - - taken up by Emmanuel VanTrees of Sugar Creek Township, one bright filly and one dark brown horse colt.  Appraised at $ 40. and $ 30. by  W.W. Lockridge and P.F. Lockridge.  William Stewart, Justice.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

Newspaper Index       Main Page

To contact researchers listed above, use the  Surname Index