Letter from A Former Pike County Citizen
Interesting
Is This Letter from a Former Pike County Citizen.
E. L. BARCH Writes Interestingly
Blue Springs, Neb. April 27, `08.
Editor Waverly Democrat:-
The cut of Geo. W. Baker, appearing in the last issue of your paper I recognized quite readily, thou not well acquainted with him. Better acquainted was I with the other ex-sheriff, T. J. Jones recently deceased, a likeness of whom with his deceased wife appeared so recently in The Democrat. I was a clerk in the late James Emmitt's store at the time of the execution that took place in the jail in company with a few others whither we had gone to sing and pray with the convict, when Sheriff Jones came in with the white gloves for the man who was to be hung within an hour. I did not witness the hanging, thou I might have done so, I suppose, had I accepted the ticket of admission, that my father-in-law, the late D. H. Bishop at that time Mayor of Waverly, did not care to use himself. However, I recall now that my brother George was among those who did witness the execution.
In a recent issue of your paper, you referred to the 74th birthday of Mr. John Helfenbin; I turned to Mrs. Barch and said, "the editor of the Waverly paper says that John Helfenbin is 74 years old, we both smiled for at first we were not just prepared to believe it, but when we called to mind that we had been gone from Waverly 22 years, we allowed it to be so. I recall, too, that in our day, John was always the first man at a fire, or the semblance of a fire and sometimes when there was no fire at all; for instance: When the Rev. A. F. Hixon was the Methodist pastor in Waverly back in the `70s, he instituted during a revival season in the winter, early 5 o'clock-morning services; I was among those who went early to the church and had not far to go, my home there being in the Stahler property opposite Peru Hutt's drug store; but when I reached the church who should I find on the church corner other than our old acquaintance, John Helfenbein. I informed John that there was no fire at all, but that the bell had rung for "meeting". My folks say, I am the first man at the fire here; and I confess, too, that if a fire must be "pulled off" I want to see it, and yet I am somewhat cured of that since going to Beatrice some years ago, a city of some 10,000 population where I could not answer to ever fire, many of which would be a couple of miles away.
Nor can I realize Uncle John Kelklison to be 86 years of age when I think of his activity and agility. My first recollection of the Kellisons - John, Bruce and Alec in connections with Mr. Puffer, Major Downing's father-in-law, was during war times; how I used to scamper off down the alley to water street where that martial music began; and no music today arouses my patriotism like the fife and drum.
While I was not present at the marriage of Mr. Al Underwood, which event you alluded to a while ago, and stated that there were but few of the witnesses now living,
I do have a faint recollection of the occasion, being at that time twelve years old. However, I do have a vivid recollection of Al and his good wife in later years. I call to mind, too, that Al was one of my good patrons when in the grocery and queensware business in the building now occupied by the Democrat, and I am reminded also of the time when a number of us boys - Austin Hutt, Peru Hutt, and Nimrod, I suppose, my brother Will, Jimmie Emmitt, son of David Emmitt, and others, probably, were brought before Judge Underwood, Al's father, to answer the charge of swimming in the canal, inside the corporation. I can see myself now going down the alley to canal street to Judge Underwood's office, which was in J. J. Kellison's brick building. I don't remember much of the proceedings, except my fright. I don't think any of our fathers had a fine to pay, but rather were we let off with a promise not to do it again. I wish you might get Dr Austin Hutt's version of this affair.
Well, Mr. Editor, I observe you are still holding up for Bryan, and I think you ought, and if I were a Democrat, I should, I know. While I have never voted for Mr. Byron, I am a sincere admirer of him. He is more popular in his own state than ever before, and is believed here, if he is nominated, that he will carry Nebraska in the election.
I will not write at too great length, this time, but wish to speak in the near future of an incident in my clerkship experience in the late James Emmitt's store. Besides you may remember I never wrote you the last chapter of "Reminiscences of My School Days in Waverly," the first chapter of which you published some five years ago. I must give you that last chapter some of these days.
Very truly,
E. L. Barch.
Copyright © 2008
Pike Co. Genealogy & Historical Society
P. O. Box 224, Waverly, Ohio 45690