Jtslton VOLUME 11 McCONNELLSBURG, PA., OCTOUEU 14, 1909. NUMUER 4 CAPTAIN SKINNER DEAD. Died at the Scotland Industrial School List Thursday Morning, After an Illness of Several Months. FUNERAL' AT CHAMBERSBURQ MONDAY George Washington Skinner, or 88 he was more familiarly known, Captain Skinner, was born m Path Valley, Franklin county, on the 13th day of Janu ary, 1846, and was a son of David J. and Catherine (Barclay) Skin ner. Hs was educated in the public schools in the Valley, at Milnwoud Academy at Shade Gap, and at Washington and Jef ferson college at Washington, Pa. It was while at Washington V,, , mm. Capt. Geo W. Skinner. and Jefferson that he became so inspired with patriotism, that although only a boy of sixteen years, he ran away from the col lege, and enlisted in Company A, 77th Pennsylvania Volunteers on November 1, 1862. Despite his tender years he made an excel lent soldier and was prompted to sergeant July 5, 1864; to first lieutenant September 8, 1864, and to captain on August 1, 1865. Captain Skinner served with his company in the severe cam paign in Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama, in 18G3 and 1864, and in 1865, after the surrender of Gen eral Lee, he went to Texas and assisted in suppressing the last remnants of the hostile Confed erutes. He was mustered out with his company on December 5, 1865. After the war Captain Skinner returned to his home in Path Valley, ' Franklin county. Al though a seasoned veteran of many battles and severe engage ments he was but twenty years old. Having already attained an enviable record as a soldier, and before he was of age, Captain Skinner, entered politics. He was nominated and elected treas urer of Franklin county, and serv ed the full term of two years, 1868-69. In the latter year, and again m 1870, he was elected rep resentative for ' the counties of Franklin and Perry in the State Legislature, and served on the most l m por tan t com m itteea of the House. In the Legislature he distinguished himself for his ar dent advocacy of the Border Raid Claims bill. In 1872 Captain Skinner re moved to Fulton county, where he continued to reside for more than a quarter of a ctntury. In 1875 and 1876 be was journal clerk of the Pennsylvania House of Represeutatives. From 1876 to, 1880 the soldier and statesman turned newspaper man and was one of the owners and publishers of the Fulton Democrat, being the principal editor. While writ ing strong editorials upholding the principles and advocating the Democratic party, Captain Skin ner, was studying law, and he was admitted to the Franklin county bar on May 7, 1879, and to the Fulton county bar on Jun,e 9, of the same year. ' During his residence in Fulton county he served four terms as representative in the State Legis iatore, 1889-04 and 1800-1UOO. Be tween bis terms as representa tive, he was United States dla- Dursing pension agent at Pitts burg, serving from August 23, 1893, to January 1, 1898, by ap pointment of PresidentCleveland. On July 1, 1900, he was appoint, ed superintendent of the Scotland Soldiers' Orphans' Industrial School and by his wise adminis tration of that institution made it a model school. Because of his varied lines of activity during his entire life, Captain Skinner learned to kuow thousands of citizens, from the lowly to the high in life. He was personally acquainted with a long line of Governors and State of ficials, prominent G. A. R. men, Legion of Honor members. De spite this Captain Skinner was thoroughly democratic and his greeting for the honest man in a lowly estate was just as cordial as to a man high in office. Capt. Skinner was married Jau uarv 10, 1872, to Ida M., only daughter of James II. and Mary A. Parker, of Reading, Pa., who survives him.- He is survived by the following children: Nellie Parker, born March 29. 1873, married April 12, 1899, married E-'gar G. Cnswell, of Pittsburg, Pa., now of Brook lyn, N. Y., business manager and associate editor of The Cross, an Episcopal Church paper. Mary Hazel, born Aug. 23, 1882, wife of H. V. Slack, Chambersburg. Parker Ringel, born May 1, 1885, residing at home, and Donald Xerper, born Oct. 10, 1892, also at home. He is also survived by his mother Mrs. Catherine B., widow of David J. Skinner, of Dry Run, Pa , and the following brothers and sisters: Mrs. J. F. Burke, Dry Run, Pa.; John M., and Wil liam B., Mount Vernon, Mo.; McClellan D., Fort Shaw, Mont.; Mrs. J. E. Lutz, Salina, Kans.; Miss Lizzie C. and Mrs. E G. Jones, Pittsburg. Pa.; Miss Ada B , Dry Run and Mrs. W. F. Skinner, Chambersburg. Exceedingly simple but most impressive were the funeral ser vices over tho remains of Captain Skinner at the Scotland School 3 o'clock Sunday afternoon. Be fore the services the body lay in state in the main corridor of the Administration building, and was there viewed by scores of the dead captain's comrades and friends. The services were held in Cur tin Hall, and every seat in the large auditorium was taken. Back of the family and relatives sat the faculty, and next in place were the 400 boys and girls, who looked upon the man, whose form lay still, as a foster father, which in truth be was. It was touching to Bee the grief of the children as it expressed itself in shy, down cast eyes or in open weeping. In the rear sat comrades and friends from Chambersburg, and people of Scotland and nearby who had learned to know Superintendent Skinner as a good neighbor. Chaplain S. K. Wine, of the School, was in charge of the memorial services, which began by the assembly singing "Lead Kindly Light." The Rev. Mr. Wine th,en read tho 90 Psalm, and foltowed.witb a touching prayer, The cougregation sang "Abide With Me," and Mr. Wine then made a very short address, in which he paid trioute to the Cap. tain Skinner he had known, the brave and fearless soldier, tne honest and useful citizen, the able and excellent superintendent. Tbe services closed with ' the benediction 'pronounced by Mr. Wine. After the exercises at Scotland Sunday afternoon, the remains were taken to the Lome of his sister, Mrs. Skinner, "vife of Dr. W. Frank Skinner, at whose home the concluding funeral services were held at 11 o'clock Monday morning, and notwithstanding the rain, the attendance was far beyond the cipacity'of the bouse. The floral tributes were mag nificent and in great profusion auU the musio very tweet and touching. The ministers official- Dirthday Surprise. A very pleasant and complete surprise party was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus Wag ner, near Cito, September 25th, in honor of Mrs. Wagner's birth day. Mr. Wagner, knowing all about the affair, took his family to McConnellsburg. On return ing home at a late hour in the ev ening, Mrs. Wagner was surpris ed to find about 60 neighbors and friends making themselves com fortable in her home. Tin large table in the dining room was soon put in order and was laden with plenty of ice cream and cake, to which all did ample justice. Those present were John llein baugh and wife, William Bivens, wife and daughter llolen, Cjnrad Glazier, wife and daughter Thel ma; Geo-ge Seiders and wife, George Butterbaugh and wife, Samuel Mellott aDd wife, G. W. Mellott and wife, Harvey Unger and wife, John Carbaugh and wife, Russel Carbaugh aud w.fe, Elmer Seiders and family, Mrs. Harry llohman and daughter Bessie, Abram Wagner and daughter Elsie, Jf.hn Seiders, Dott Dickey, Clara Cooper, Bes sie Hobman, Edna Swisher, Bes sie Heinbaugh, Marjorie Etter, Oilie Mellott, Mamie Mellott, Nora Summers, Kate Heinbaugh, Elmer Cirbaugb, Cam Mellott, Andy,David,and John Heinbaugh, Russell and Kenneth Glazier, Carl and Snively Mellott,Edmond Kreg. After having spent the evening enjoying many plays, all return ed home, wishing Mrs. Wagner mnny more birthdays. One Who Was There. Peanut Crop Will Be Short. The peanut crop in Virginia and North Carolina will show a big decrease in yield this year, according to reports from differ ent sections of these two states. The average yield of these two states in previous years has been about two millions bags of Virgin ias, of four bushels each, and about five hundred thousand of Spanish nuts. It is estimated that the crop of Virginias this year will be about seventy per cent., while the yield of Spanish nuts will be slightly below seven ty per cent. The decreased av erage is due to a prolonged spell of wet weather during the plant ing season, and a drouth at a lat er date, affecting the seed planting. Are Still Missing. A farmer living up near Orbi soma finding an automobile horn in tbe road one day, took it home determined to turn it to some nse. So he taught his poultry to gather for meals at its toot, and all went well until one morning a motor car passing the farm yard blew a loud blast. The- full strength of the j.oultry yard in stantly ran out into the road and begiu to pursue the automobile at top speed. Some of the chick ens gave out at the end of the third mile, but sixteen pullets, three roosters and a setting hen are still missing. ing were Rev. John Allan Blair, pastor ol Falling Spritg Presby terian, and Rev. A. E Race, rec tor ot Trinity Episcopal. Miss Hitchcock of Wilson Col lege sang a solo. ' King Post 305, G. A R. of Mc Conuelluburg, of which Captain Skinner was a member, was rep resented by Cjmrades Thos. Ham 11, David A. Gillis, Adam Clevenger, Henry Taylor, and Hon. J. Wesley Hoop. The interment was private in Cedar G rove cemetery. 1 lousu m Post G. A. R. No. 809 attended in a body and paid the last sad iites Is to a beloved Comrade. While Captain Skinner removed to Chambersburg several years ago, his long residence here greatly endeared him to our peo ple who mourn his death as that of a warn personal friend, EIGHT YEARS IN THE PEN Is the Sentence Imposed by the Court Last Saturday on Samuel M. Clevcngcr'i Assailants. i TIME TO REFLECT ON RASH DEED. Last Friday the Court imposed on Frank Strickler and Peter Mertz, the two men who had been convicted earlier in the week, of burglary, assault, and larceny, two sentences one of eight years and ono of four years to run concurrently, which means that the period of eight years covers both sentences. Sheriff Harris and Deputy Sheriff A. D. Hoh man, took the prisoners to the western penitentiary on Satur day, and they are now reflecting on the rashnets of their folly. The other business of the Court following the report in last week's news, is as follows: Petition of citizens for the ap pointmentof viewers to vacate public road between Pigeon Cove road and Tonoloway creek road in Belfast township, presented and Frank Plessinger, B. W. Logue, and David H. Fore ap pointed viewers. Petiiion of citizens of Bellast toweship for appointment of view er8 to locate a road from near Stillwell Truax's barn to a point in public road at John Garland's resideuce. Court appointed Jon as Lake, Thomas Hollinshead, aud Wm. B. Stigers, viewers. Rule granted to show cause why judgment of Lewis Yonker vs. L3titia Hixson should not be opened. Rule awarded return able at January term. Case of Amos Seville vs. Etna line Seville, libel in divorce, a., v., m. Subpoena awarded, return able to January term, 1910. Petition of citizens of Belfast township asking for an election to determine the sentiment of the township id reference to the col lection of road tax. Order grant ed as prayed for; thirty days no tice to be given before the hold ing of saicf election. Petition of John Rasp, a minor, for appointment of guardian, presented, and S. W. Kirk ap pointed guardian. J. Milton Unger vs. Annie E. Unger. Subpoena in divorce. F. P. Lynch appointed master to take testimony and report facts. Estate of Robert A. Kerns. Tetition of John T, Kerns etal., child l en and heirs-at-law of said decedent for citation and award of issui, etc., and same awarded, returnable at next term. , Assigned estate of Daniel Knauff. Return of order of Bale of real estate presented, read, and ordered to be tiled. Sales as made were confirmed, and as signees authorized and directed to make deeds to the respect've purchasers. S. A. Nesbit and W. L. Nace, guardians of Pryor Witter and Lucy Witter, were granted per mission by the Court to join in a deed conveying the interest of the said wards in a certain tract of land to A. N. Witter, Esq. In the case of W, L. Moseby vs. D. C. Fleck et al., when it was learned by the plaintiff that the defendants had amended their pleas, the plaintiff pleaded sur prise, and tbe case was continu ed at the cost of the defendants. The case of George Keefer vs. Rowe Mellott was tried Wednes day. George Keefer owns a tract of land about half a mile north of Big Cove Tannery on which is situate the property known years ago as the "Sumac Mill," later as the "Bone Mill," and used at other times for grind ing grain. It is located on Cove creek between the Chambers saw mill, and the dam used to furnish water for power at tbe Big Cove tannery. The tannery property Is owned by Rowe Mellott Tbe business ol tanning having been abandoned several years ago at that place, Rowe Mellott a few years ago leased the property to W. J. Gunning, who engaged in the manufacture of handles, McConnellsburg School Reports. PRIMARY, v i . mumoer enroueu, ou: average attendance, 48 per cent, of at tendance, 98. Those present ev ery day during month, Beulah Johnston, Myrtle McQuade, Net tie Mellott, Winnie" Mellott, Ruth Peck, Mary Scott Pittman, Helen Steach, Helen Washabaugh, Mar ion Bender, Amy Clevenger, Ed na Doyle, Mazie Hamil, Erma Kennedy, Margaret Mellott, Eth el Stevens, Martha Taylor, Inez Black, Jessie Gress, Delia Gress, Ethel Tntle, Ruth Taylor, Mil dred Hull, Ted Hamil, Francis Houpt, Elgin Mann, Frank Shini er, Chester Woodal, Carl Gris singer, Carl Houpt, Malcolm Kirk, Donald Nace, Horace Pitt man, Bruce Ray, Floyd Sipes, Vincent Stevens Elwood Wilkin son, George Mosser, Piero Nau gle, Lester Gress. Mixnik Rbisnek, teacher. intermediate. Number enrolled, 30; average attendance, 35; percent of attend ance, 97. Those who attended every day during month: Lucy Alexander, Mildred Hixson, Ellenora Sin nott, Lucille Grissinger, Minerva Pittman, Dorothy Hamil, Rozella Stevens, Anna Mary Sipes, Helen Bender, Goldie Tntle, Raymond Grissinger, Pierce Henry, Hollis Wible, Frank Thompson, Robert Fassold, Ross Hamil, Willis Dan iels Dwight Steach, Harry Steach, Thomas Woodal, Herman Hixson. Gertrude Hoke, Teacher. L. I. Deshotig, of Harrisonville, was a business visitor at the County Seat last Friday. From the testimony, it appeared that Gunnings did not have suf ficient water to run his plant, and so raised the breast of the tan nery dam abou a foot. This back ed the water onto the water wheel at the bone mill, and of course, reduced the power there, The case was given to the jury about 11 o'clock, Thursday and they stayed out until about 5 in the afternoon, when they return ed with a verdict of $35 in favor of Keefer. The point settled in the case was, that the defendant must not at any time raise the dam high enough to interfere with the power at the bone mill. On Saturday morning the case of the School District of McCon nollsburg vs. the School District cf Ayr, was taken up, This was a suit brought to recover $21 per pupil for the term of 1905-6, and $16.50 per pupil for the term 1906-7. During the first term mentioned 7 pupils from Ayr township had attended the Mc Connellsburg High School, and during tbe second term, 11 pupils This suit, of course, means that the McConnellsburg Board is trying to make the Ayr board pay for this tuition. The defendant refuses to pay on the plea that McConnellsburg does not have such a High School as is contem plated in the act of assembly of 1905, which says, "That children residing in school districts in which no public high school is maintained, may attend a high school in some other district, lo cated near their homes; provided tbe consent of tbe directors of the district in which said high school is located be first obtain ed; the cost ol tuition and school books, which shall not exceed that of the tuition and school books of children in the same grades and courses in tbe dis trict maintaining such high school, shall be paid to tbe dis trict receiving such children, out of the moneys raised by taxation for public school purposes in the district in which tbe children re side: Provided, That, before ad mission to a high school, such pa pils shall be examined and found qualified for high school work, by the principal of such high school." Tbe Court took the papers along borne, with him, and will render a decision from chamber, Apple Leaf Rust. A box, containing fruit and leaves taken from an apple tree, of the Summer Rambo variety, was sent from Perry county, to Protessor II. A. Surface, State Zoologist, Harrisburg, for an ex planation as to the cause of the red rust with which both fruit and leaves were covered. Professor Surface wrote in reply: "I have received and examined the apple leaves which you sent to us, and find these leaves in fected with the Apple Leaf Rust. This disease, in order to come to perfection, must live part of the year on one kind of plant aud part of the time on another. The red cedar, which is one species of junip?r, is known as the alternat ing host. Thus, if the red cedar trees be cut down in your neigh borhood, it will help to suppress this pest. It sounds at first like nonsense, to say that the destruc tion of red cedar trees will help to prevent apple pests, but this particular fungus disease, known as Rust or 'Red Rust of the Ap ple,' cannot exist throughout the year without having a season in which it lives on the red cedar in the form of a litlle brown or dark ball often seen thereon, and com monly called cedar apples.' Du ring a favorable time in summer, little long filaments come out of these cedar balls, or apples, and produca a dust, which consists really of great n u m ber s of spores microscopical seeds. These are carried by the wind to the leaves and fruit ot the apple trees, where they penetrate the tissue and cause the disease you have seen. Spraying apple trees with Bordeaux mixture would also be found efficient in preventing this disease and preserving the health of leaf and fruit." ABOUT PEOPLE YOU KNOW Birthday Party. The home of James A. Layton in Whips Cove was tbe scene of a delightful social occasion last Sat urday evening, when a large num ber of persons assembled in hon or of the sixty-first birthday of oimon Layton. Of course, Si mon was kept in the shade until everything was ready, and then when the surpuse was sprung upon him, he hardly knew wheth er he was coming or going; but his friends were all in such good humor, and everything was so nice, that he could not help be very much pleased. The re freshments were very nice, and every booy enjoyed themselves, and Mr. Layton got a lot of very nice and useful presents. Those present were D. C. Mellott, wife, and sons Wallace and Allen; E.A. Hoopengardner, wife, and daugh ter Tillie and son Bruce; O. D. Morris and wife; B. W. Morris and wife and sons Raymond and Guy; Chester W. Layton, Isaiah Layton and wife, Cecil Clark, Grace Layton, and Carrie Diehl. One Who Was There. dame Plentiful. "Game will be plentiful this fall, from all indication," says Secretary Kalbfus, of tbe Game Commission. "I have not heard much about squirrels yet, but bear, deer, turkeys, rabbits, pheasants, and all kinds of game birds will be found in larger num bers than for many years. This fact is due to the enforcement of the game laws. "There were more bears killed last year than buck deer," he said, "and over 400 of each were killed in Pennsylvania. The num ber has been a surprise to many people, who believed that bears and deer were practically extinct In the State." McCullougb Meyers. Lncy, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson R. Meyers, and James McCullough, of Han cock, were quietly married in Berkley Springs, on Sept 26, 1909. They are very estimable young people and have the best wishes of their many friends. Snapshots st Their Comings and Goings Here for a Vacation, or Away for a Restful Outing. NAMES OP VISITORS AND VISITED Miss Mary Graves, of Hancock, Is visiting her niece, Mrs. Geo. A. Harris in this place. Mrs. Anna Dellart, of this place is spending the time this week visitingrelatives and friends in Chambersburg. Cyrus Kelly and family are this week moving trom the Henry Scott house on South First street to Chambersburg. Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Lockard, who had been visiting the latter's parents, Rev. and Mrs. W. M. Hann, returned to Altoona Tues day. Mrs. Charles R Steach and children, of this place spent last Sunday in the home of Mr. and Mrs. V. R. Sipes at the toll-gate near Foltz. Mr. and Mrs. Howard Zimmer man and two children Iva and Mary, of Hancock, Md., were guests of Mrs. Grace Bei.der, while in town last Friday. Rev. and Mrs. John M. Diehl, Miss Molhe Seylar, and E. U. Kirk are among those attending tne State Sunday school conven tion in Harrisburg this week. Miss Lillian DeHart, a former employe in the News office, has secured employment at Wilson College, Chambersburg, and en tered upon her new duties this week. Merchant C. W. Trueax, of Em maville, accompanied by his mother, Mrs. Geo. E. Trueax, spent the time from Sunday un til Tuesday in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Hixson in this place. Rev. Luther W. McGarvey and iarnily, of Harrisonville, took din ner last Thursday with Mr. and Mrs. Bert Sipes, and were guests of Rev. and Mrs. Harry Moyer at the parsonage at Hus tontown, Thursday evening. Mr. and Mrs. Jesse B. Heefner and little daughter Olive spent last Saturday in town. Mr. Heefner has been slightly crip pled since the Isaac McClam fire. In trying to save a pile of lumber, some one punched one ot Jesse's ribs loose with a big scantling. Mr. George Spade, wife and son Vernon, of Lexington, Ne braska, were guests of Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Schetrompf, on South street, from Monday morn ing until Wednesday, when they left for Em maville, Fulton coun ty, to visit Mr. Spade's mother. Everett Republican. Mr. J. W, Steach, of Altoona, spent the time from Tuesday un til Thursday with his father and brothers in this place. From here he went down to Camden, N. J., to see his daughter tJessie, Mrs. Arthur Seal, whose hus band is In failing health, and on account of which, they are re moving to California. Ex-County Superintendent Clem Cnesnut, spent last Thurs day in town. In addition to con ducting an undertaking business, and running a store carrying a large stock, of furniture, stoves, carpets, hardware, oils, farm ma chinery, Ac, he has recently re ceived the appointment, and is now postmaster at Huston town. Geo.-II. Wilson, near Fort Lit tleton, was in town last week ar ranging for tbe advertising of his publn sale which will be held on the 23rd of this month. Mr. Wil son is busy with the erection of a fine new dwelling bouse on his farm, to take tbe place of the one that has done service for so many years. Tho new one is a 2 story fume building, and is being built with a view to com fort aud con venience. BeriChne has charge of the carpenter work, which, of course, means a good job;
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