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LaGrange County Historical Society, Inc.
P.O. Box 134
LaGrange, Indiana  46761
lagrange_history.com

Can You Believe That?

Here are some fun clips from the LaGrange Newspapers of old!!  If you have one you would like to share please email it, along with your name, and the source to : lagrange_history@yahoo.com


"Dr. Miles Family Medical Guide, Elkhart, Indiana, undated

Averge Weight of Male Child, in lbs.
Birth - 6.8
1 month - 7.4              
2 months - 8.4
3 months - 9.6
4 months - 10.8
5 months - 11.8
6 months - 12.4
7 months - 13.4
8 months - 14.4
9 months - 15.8
10 months - 16.8
11 months - 17.8
One Year - 18.8

It should be noted that some slight loss of weight commonly occurs during the first few days after birth.


"Dr. Miles Family Medical Guide, Elkhart, Indiana, undated

First Aid in Poisoning


Arsenic - give a tablespoon of mustard and salt in a glass of warm water or 30 grains of Zinc Sulphate, or evacuate the stomach with a pump

Ammonia & Caustic Potash of Soda - Give a dilute acid of lemon juice in water or vinegar

Bichloride of Mercury - give a tablespoon of mustard and salt in a glass of warm water or 30 grains of Zinc Sulphate

Carbolic Acid - flour ad water or a stomach pump, or one ounce of epsom salts or 2-4 ounces of whiskey

Chloral & Chloroform - keep head low, use stomach pump friction to body or hot black coffee

Cocain - brandy, aromatic spirits of ammonia, black coffee and external friction


"Dr. Miles Family Medical Guide, Elkhart, Indiana, undated

"Weaning Young Infants"

When a mother is compelled to wean her child before it is a year old, the following formula is recommended.

From upper 24 ounces of a quarter of milk - 12 ounces
Milk Sugar - 3/4 ounces
Lime Water - 1 ounce
Gruel - 4 ounces
Water - 3 ounces

Give five ounces at a feeding and feed at three hour intervals.  If the child becomes constipated give strained orange juice.

Don't give baby a pacifier.  Nothing can be said in favor of pacifiers.  They are only an easy ways for lazy or careless parents to take care of their children.  They carry infection and dirt into the mouth.  They cause the palate to arch up and the gums to get out of line.  They furthermore fill the stomach with an excess of saliva.  They frequently distort the mouth for life.






Preserving Your Family Heirloom Photographs
 by Charlotte Hill Edsall, 2008



Plato Store Fire -  One lantern, one small boy, and a gasoline tank at the A H. Coax general store at Plato resulted in an explosion last Saturday evening about half past seven, and a blaze that damaged the building to the amount of one hundred dollars or more.

- Wednesday Morning Fire Alarm - An alarm of fire called the dept. to the John D. Rerick residence on West Lafayette st., Wed. morning about half past seven, where a burning furnace chimney looked menacing for a few minutes.  Fortunately no material damage was done.


Source:  "The LaGrange Standard," LaGrange, Indiana, April 11, 1919


Last Saturday evening the Ancient Order of Gleaners, to the number of 37, drove to the Eleaser Sears home to spend a few hours in merrymaking and visiting.  It was surely a jolly crowd.  Mr.. and Mrs. Sears are certainly royal entertainers.  Music was furnished by a large phonograph and also the piano.  Ice cream and cake were served with the fine supper Mrs. Sears had so kindly prepared, to which all did ample justice.  Then after all had gathered in the parlor and sung some of the gleaner songs, we returned home feeling very thankful to Mr. and Mrs. Sears and hoping to enjoy many more such happy occasions. - "The LaGrange Standard," LaGrange, Indiana, March 10, 1910




Hayward, LaGrange County, Indiana

Hayward, Sept. 25. - As many do not know the particulars in reference to the new town of Hayward, it may be well to state that it is situated on a branch of the Wabash Railroad, upon the banks of the Big Turkey Lake, LaGrange Co., state of Indiana, one-half mile from the cement works, which will be the largest of the kind in the United States.  The owners of the cement industry are young and energetic men, financially strong and possessed of superior business ability which insures entire success to the undertaking.  They have purchased several hundred acres of marl land in the vicinity and also valuable clay beds near by.  Their supply of marl will not be exhausted in many hundred of years.  The output of the cement mill will not be less than one half million dollars in value the first year, and the works will be arranged so that it can be increased to one million per year.  A large number of people will be required to perform the labor, who will become citizens of the town of Hayward.  It can be plainly seen that Hayward cannot remain a village for any great length of time, but will soon become a prosperous city, as it not only has near it the cement plant but also a rich and prosperous country surrounding it, and will be connected with adjacent towns by telephone lines and daily railway trains.  Big Turkey Lake, lying near, having deep and pure waters, with banks easy of access, encircled, by beautiful groves, offers unusual attractions as a summer resort, and it is expected that the railway company will erect extensive ice houses as the opportunity is unsurpassed for securing during the inter an unlimited amount of ice, suitable for any purpose.  Thus all things combine to make the location especially desirable, not only to persons who wish to establish a permanent and paying business, but also for people of wealth and leisure.  Anyone desiring a promising location will do well to invest here.
- "The Standard," LaGrange, Indiana, Sept. 28, 1899




"The LaGrange Standard," LaGrange, Ind., January 21, 1909

"That electrical display in the store room of the Hotel Ruick building with the LaGrange Electric Light Company in charge, is one of the interesting and enjoyable places of the town.  Mr. Avis, the owner, and Mr. Young, the superintendent, are to be congratulated.  What can be done with electricity, the utility of the power we feel but cannot see, is the the means of the display."


The following information is from Jean and John McKibben on the McKibben Family

"My father, J. Scott McKibben, was the LaGrange County Historian for many, many years.  He was proud of his personal collection of memorabilia of the county, much having been passed down through the family as many generations of McKibbens and extended family have lived in this area.
    James H. McKibben served the duration of the civil war and returned home to his wife and two daughters who had been managing all those years without him.  They had owned the Brick House in LaGrange and resided there for many years prior to their deaths.  His brother, Joseph Allen McKibben, who is listed on the website under the Civil War Soldiers Honor Roll, received wounds at Chickamauga, after the Battle of Stones River, and died one or two days after returning home to LaGrange County.
    The McKibben Homestead, built in 1881 in Valentine, is the home of my oldest son Carey and his family.  We live just south on part of the land purchased in 1850 by John's gr-gr-grandfather, John McKibben.  One of our projects is to enroll our farm with the state of Indiana as a sesquicentennial farm. The village of Valentine was platted out of land from the farm.  We are very interested in genealogy and history, and have traced our McKibben line back to
Ireland and England in the mid 17th century.  We have obituaries or other documents for some of these relatives who resided in LaGrange county if you are interested -  (surnames of McKibben, Newell, VanKirk, Scott, Thurston, to name a few)."



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This following information was taken from the personal Scrapbook of Homer Brown's estate (Brushy Prairie) that was donated to the LaGrange Historical Society by Mr. & Mrs. Cecil Hayward.  Some dated were written on the articles while others had nothing.  Most articles came from LaGrange or Steuben County papers.



Copper Toed Boots

"They are but Memories Now, But Many of Us Wore 'Em Once"
    Staid granddads of today can likely hark back to the supreme joy of early youth when they first donned a pair of copper-toed boots, some three score years ago.  It is interesting to learn that their inception was due to a Canadian, one Newman Silverthorne, whose brain was quickened in this direction by his own exigencies in tramping through wild country.  Naturally, boot makers did not wax enthusiastic over an innovation that lengthened the life of their wares at such a small extra cost and it was only by his own exertions in advertising that he created a market for a production that received the benediction of many paterfamilias, though his exclusive enjoyment of the patent it lasted but six years and was then promptly shelved by manufactures.  Mr. Silverthorne is still enjoying a green old age, under the loving care of a daughter. (1917)


Brushy Prairie - August 6, 1096

Gleaner Picnic, Saturday, Aug. 1
Homer Brown lost a horse last week.
Walter Gravit is visiting New York State
W. A. Austin was on our streets Wednesday.
Please mail any items of interest to Royal Appleman.
Erastus and Will Brown are visiting at Warren Brown's.
Mrs. S. H. Newman returned home from Missouri last week.
Strange how some of Brushy common school graduates ranked last year.


"Recalling Billy Williams"
"The Newspapers last Friday contained a notice of the deal at a hospital in Lafayette of Harry  E. Williams, aged 63, formerly an actor of prominence.  He was the son of "Billy" Williams of Warsaw, Indiana, who represented the old Tenth district, including LaGrange County, in the national congress from 1865-1873, and was minister to Uruguay and Paraguay during the Garfield administration.  Old Settlers remember the Billy William campaigns for congress as very uproarious affairs.  Especially was there a great debate between Billy and his Democratic opponent, Andrew Ellison, in the old frame schoolhouse at LaGrange.  The building was then unfinished, and the crowd, after filling the floor, climbed up on the girders."


"ERNEST TALMAGE HURT"
SEPT. 1923 - BRUSHY PRAIRIE, IN
E. TALMAGE OF NEAR BRUSHY PRAIRIE, WAS INJURED ONE DAY LAST WEEK WHILE HELPING TO FILL A SILO ON THE CLIFFORD GOODSELL FAR,.  IT SEEMS A BOLT CAME LOOSE, WHICH CAUSED THE CUTTER TO BREAK AND THE PIECES FLEW FORTH WITH TERRIFIC FORCE HITTING TALMAGE IN THE BACK.  HE WAS KNOCKED TO THE GROUND.  HIS INJURIES WERE DRESSED BY DR. A. G. GRUBB OF LAGRANGE.  SEVERAL STITCHES HAD TO BE TAKEN TO CLOSE THE WOUNDS.


"106, HE FORGETS HIS BIRTHDAY"
BALTIMORE MAN SURE, HOWEVER, THAT WHISKEY IS BEST MEDICINE.  NICHOLAS HARTMAN OF NO. 713 ST. PETER ST, BALTIMORE, MD, IS SO OLD HE HAS FORGOTTEN HIS BIRTHDAY.  SOME TIME IN MARCH 1917 HE WAS BORN IN OHIO AND THIS MONTH HE WILL CELEBRATE HIS 106TH BIRTHDAY.  HE HAS 5 CHILDREN LIVING AND TWO DEAD, 18 GRANDCHILDREN, 28 GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN, AND 3 GREAT-GREAT-GRANDCHILREN.  HE DREAMS FONDLY OF THE OLD DAYS WHEN THERE WAS "LESS LAW AND MORE ORDER."  A MODERATE DRINKER ALL OF HIS LIFE, MR. HARTMAN IS STRENUOUSLY OPPOSED TO THE 18TH AMENDMENT.  HE THINKS WHISKEY IS THE "BEST MEDICINE ON EARTH," AND CONSIDERS IT UNFAIR AND WRONG TO ENFORCE A LAW THAT DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE BETWEEN HABITUAL DRUNKARDS AND MODERATE USERS. - 1923




The Standard, LaGrange, IN, Aug. 19, 1921
- Cider Mill Running - My cider Mill at Brighton will be open every Tuesday until further notice.  Charles Good
- C.C. Rozelle, M.D. LaGrange, Indiana
   Over Streeter & Chesbro
            Jewlery Store
   Office Hours - 1 to 4 and 7-8 p.m.



LaGrange Daily Standard, LaGrange, Fair Week 1873

S. Blough - blooded mare colt
J. J. Gillete - 3 year old colt
Reuben Deter - 3 year old stallion
N.Blough - Durham cow
John Robbins  - Durham bull
James Clugstone - farm roller
G. Van Kirk - cabbage and pumpkins
F.W. Dragoo - beets & potatoes
Mrs. James Clugston - butter
Amanda Shelby - quilts
C. U. Wade - double light harness
Mrs. Sade Dragoo - boys' mittens
Mrs. Mary Ruick - knit stockings

"Nobody but farmers should water their stock."

Note: Mrs. A.R. Gillette of Wolcottville had saved this paper and she lived as a girl in what is now "the Brick House" in LaGrange.  She was the daughter of L.D.Hughes, well known in those early years (of LaGrange).




LaGrange Standard, LaGrange, Indiana, March 27, 1890
- Dr. Whitefeather, a full Indian, will lecture in the U. B. church this evening.  His subject is, "Lost American History."  Admittance is 10 cents.


LaGrange Standard, LaGrange, Indiana, May 1890
-The few who remain of the very old settler of the county, and those who by the recession of the settlement into the past again title to the same honorable designation year by year, will meet at LaGrange next Thursday to recount tales of the past.  They should be cordially and hospitably entertained.  They will find many things to suggest a contrast of the old times with the present LaGrange.  Although she has not been remarkably rapid in growth of population, she has kept pace with the improvement and the intelligence of the day in a manner unexcelled by any Indiana or Michigan town, in this belt of God's own land.  It is interesting to remember that fifty years ago, LaGrange was just beginning and at that time the old veteran, Charlie Holmes, who is indispensable a the Old Settler's meetings, kept the only store and was the postmaster and the justice of the peace at William Wigton's warehouse, which stood where Will's block now is and was the only business building in town.  To the front of him were a few cabins, and roundabout were brambles and frogs innumerable.
-The Odd Fellow will observe the decoration day of the order Tuesday, June 10th with appropriate ceremonies.  The following committee on flowers has been appointed:  Misses Mary Sloack, Edith Sefton, Orpha Rowe, Maude Hoff, May Scott, Veva Beecher, Anna Yarwood, Maude Preston, Lulu Hissong, Mabel Rowe, Matie Bradford, Maggie Machan, Rosana Rowe, Etta Mather, Delia Gallup, Bertie Hayes, Mary Case, Mmes Kate Smith, C. Crocker, and Geo. Eyler.


LaGrange Standard, LaGrange, Indiana, April 1890
- O.L. Ballou has a new typewriter.  There are now eight first-class machines of this kind in use in the town.
- The Pansy Club will hold a "Gypsy Festival" at Ruick's Opera House Thursday evening, May 1st.  Admission  10 cents.  Doors open at 7:30 p.m.
- The butter tub factory, one of the leading industries of the town, is doing a thriving business under the superintendency of Levi Hays.
 - The LaGrange Flour has taken the lead wherever it is sold.  It is carefully made from the best grain.  It is clean, pure, healthful and nutritious.  Use LaGrange Flour.


LaGrange Standard, LaGrange, Indiana, January 22, 1880
- The new carpets have been put down in the court-room
- L. D. Hughes sold one hundred acres of his Wolcottville farm to Charles Barrows on Monday.  Price, $50 an acre.
- The Ontario Collegiate farm at Ontario was sold this week to Mr. Chase of White Pigeon who owns an adjoining farm.
- G. W. Sefton shoes a horse all around with new shoes for $1.25.
- Prof. Mohler's wife has the advantage now.  She has been on a visit two or three weeks, and the Professor is attempting to keep house for himself.  He has got his meals reduced to one a day.  If a man will cook but one meal a day for himself, why should a woman cook more than that for him?  It is bad policy for husbands to try to board themselves and let their wives find out their capacity of living without eating.


Wolcottville Herald, Wolcottville, Indiana, January 25, 1899
- F.P. Sanders will put in a gasoline gas plant in his store room.  This will be quite a stride in the direction of modern improvement.  We hope there  will be others who will adopt a similar plan of lighting.
- The Wolcottville Herlad of last week contained some pictures of the old and new school house, recently finished to replace the one that burned down Oct. 7, 1897.   - Topeka Advance
- Dr. J.H. Derbyshire, Dentist, Permanently located.  Teeth are extracted without pain - Wolcottville, Ind.
- Johnston Bros. have put a new switch board in their telephone exchange to accommodate their increasing number of patrons.  The old one will be taken to Topeka where it will do service in the exchange at that place.
- Rome City: Several of the boys from this town went to Ft. Wayne Saturday night to load ice.

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