Monday, October 31, 1927
Page 1
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FRAME SCHOOL BUILDING BURNS
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State Fire Marshal Asked to Investigate
VanBuren Township Fired
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FIRE STARTED ON OUTSIDE
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No Blaze on Interior of Building When
Earl Buck Entered to Save Books.
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The blaze is believed to have been of incendiary origin. Frank E. Rohm, VanBuren township trustee, today requested the office of the state fire marshal to make an investigation of the fire. A letter was sent to the fire marshal by the township trustee.
The fire was discovered about five o'clock Sunday morning by Earl Buck who lived near the building. When he arrived at the building, the blaze was on the outside, eating its way up the wall to the roof. Mr. Buck attempted to break open the door, but being unable to gain an entrance in that manner entered the building through one of the windows. He stated that when he got into the school house, there was no fire on the inside. He was able to remove practically all of the school books.
As the alarm was spread through the community a number of men gathered to fight the fire. They were unable to save the school building but saved the coal shed and about seven tons of coal.
Mr. Rohm stated today that he is convinced that the building was set on fire, but is at a loss to account for the act. He state that Miss Bessie Sleeth, who was the teacher of the school, had informed him that there was a small fire in the stove at the building Friday morning, but that it had been allowed to go out during the day. There was no fire in the stove Saturday.
During recent years some of the .... of the school had petitioned ... [the article continues; my copy ends here - pmf].
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming
Friday, March 1, 1901
Page 6
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News from All Over the County.
From Our Special Correspondents.
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SOUTH VAN BUREN.
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Van Buren Township.
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Miss Roxie Nigh visited relatives of Union township last week.
Mr. Ira Miller and family visited Mr. Ary Nigh and family Sunday.
Most of the boys of this place have secured a place to work for the summer.
Miss Georgia Fortner spent part of last week visiting relatives in Shelbyville.
Reports seem to have it that peaches were uninjured up till this last spell of cold weather.
It is not likely the much talked of spring term of school to be held at Jericho will be a go.
Walter Rhoades spent Saturday night and Sunday with his cousins, Orville and Bennie Nigh.
We still have a word of praise for the faithful service which is being performed by our mail carrier, Mr. Kenton.
Several of the teachers of this township have recently shown the interest felt by them in a bill that has been brought up in our Assembly.
Some of the schools of VanBuren township will be out this and the coming week. So far as we know none are preparing for entertainments.
Several of the friends of Mrs. Bassett attended the carpet taking given by her the latter part of last week. They report a good time as well as lots of work.
Several of the boys of this vicinity are still making their old rounds on Sunday evening. We think part of this will soon stop. Don't you hear those bells?
Some may wonder why Cloverleaf should come to life at such a time as this. They should remember the words of Mr. Taylor: "Things work in a mysterious way."
Our trustee, G. L. Rafferty, transacted business in Shelbyville Saturday. From the way Mr. Rafferty has commenced business we will certainly be proud of him as our trustee for the coming four years.
The farmers of this locality report that the cold weather is doing great damage to their wheat crop, in places. Should the weather continue as it has been the wheat crop will be no better this year than it was last.
Miss Josie Wicker, of this place, attended teacher's examination Saturday for her first time. Miss Josie is know by all her schoolmates and teachers to be an earnest, straight forward pupil. We wish her success in her work.
We understand that G. R. Linville has recently purchased a farm near Jericho, of Gran Oldham, the writings having been made last Saturday. Mr. Linville seems to be hard to suit. Probably he has found the right place at last.
Van Buren Township is bounded on the north by Hancock County, on the east by Hanover Township, on the south by Marion and Brandywine Townships, and on the west by Moral Township. This township was organized in September, 1841. The first settlers of this region were
David Kepley
Jacob Youngman
Hugh and Samuel Hamilton
William Arnold
James Kitchen
Rev. Samuel Loudan
George Bass
Joshua Campbell.
The soil is of various qualities; in part it is black, in other localities, gray and fravelly. Brandywine River runs through nearly the center of the township from north to south. There are three tile factories in successful operation here, and a great deal of ditching has been done. There are two grist and three saw mills in the township. There are eight schools, one of them a graded school. The churches are Fairview Methodist Episcopal, Concord Methodist Episcopal, United Brethren at Windfall, and Christian and Methodist Episcopal at Fountaintown. The Methodist Episcopal Church at Fountaintown was organized in the year 1857 by the Rev. P.I. Rosecrans and Rev. Thomas Ray. It had for its first Class Leader, Isaac Robertson, and for Steward, Ezra Fountain. A house of worship was begun in 1874 and finished in 1876. This has been and is a useful and popular organization. The Cincinnati, Hamilton & Indianapolis Railroad passes through the northeastern corner of this township, and upon this railroad is located Fountaintown. This place was founded by Ezra Fountain, December 23, 1854. It contains a post office, railroad station, a steam flour-mill, three stores, a tavern, several blacksmith shopes, a two-story graded school building, and two churches, one Christian and one Methodist Episcopal. It is a pleasant and thriving town. There are some excellent improvements in this township, with substantial houses and barns. Among them may be mentioned those of
St. Clair Ensminger
Robert Hughes
Joseph Myers
Daniel Kopple
Ellis Noe
A.J. Dowring
Nathan Moore
G.W. Davis
Francis Leggett
Leonard Lasher [/Lisher - pmf].
Among residents of this township who were honored
with public offices, we mention Messrs. G.W. Davis and St. Clair Ensminger.
From the Atlas of Shelby Co., Indiana, Chicago: J.H. Beers & Co, 1880, page 14.
April 14, 1864
Page 3, col 2
Township Elections -- Official.
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Union Copperhead
VAN BUREN.
Trustee.
Jerome Cole........110 J. S. Gillespie....74
Constable.
James R. Seward.....97 .....................
Arthur Webb.........53 .....................
John Trimble........25 .....................
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