October News from "3" Years

October news from the "3" years from a large political rally in 1863 to a Daye Hardware Ad in 1973 includes new owner for New Vienna Mill (1893), a liquor referendum (1913), death of Mayor West (1943) and nomination of Billy Flint for Postmaster (1953).

* * * * * * * * * *

1863 Oct 1 - A write-up taken from the Cincinnati Gazette describes the Union Meeting held in New Vienna on Sept. 25.  This political rally brought "six or eight thousand ... from every portion of the country, to demonstrate in favor of [John] Brough" [Union Candidate for Ohio Governor who ran against anti-Civil War candidate Clement Vallandigham.]  One of the largest delegations,  was about 700 people from Clark township.  The rally was held in a farm grove.  [Hillsboro Highland Weekly News, Oct. 1, 1863 p.3]

1873 Oct 4 - For Sale - A bakery and confectionery, cheap.  Address: Bakery, New Vienna. [Cincinnati Enquirer Oct. 4, 1873 p.3]

12 Oct 1893 - John Boden purchased the New Vienna flour mill after it had failed with several owners.  [Clinton Republican Oct. 12, 1893]

1893 Oct 13 - The Ohio Board of Pardons is considering the case of 20 year-old Austin Moore of Highland County, who pleaded guilty to murdering his father near New Vienna in 1891. [Marion Star Oct. 13, 1893 p.1]

1913 Oct 28 - Under the Beal Law an election was held yesterday in New Vienna.  The "drys" won by 128 to 92.  [Cincinnati Enquirer Oct. 28, 1903 p.2]

1923 Oct 18 - Margaret Elton [1870-1964] of New Vienna, is appointed matron of the girls' industrial school in Delaware, after standing highest in the recent civil service examination for the position.  She has taught school in Highland County for 13 years and was five years matron of the Highland county jail as well as nine years chief matron of the Soldiers' and Sailors' orphans' home near Xenia, where her husband, J.P. Elton was superintendent. [Mansfield News Oct. 18, 1923 p.11]

1943 Oct 8 - Mayor of New Vienna Stricken - James R. West, 69, mayor of New Vienna for 12 years, suffered a cerebral hemorrhage at his home Tuesday about 6 P.M. and died Wednesday at 1:30 A.M. A native of near Lees Creek, Mayor West had spent most of his life in New Vienna. [Hillsboro Press-Gazette Oct. 8, 1943 p.2]

Found on Newspapers.com
1953 Oct 8 - Horse Racing:  Lovely H. owned and driven by John McDonald of New Vienna won both heats of the featured Class B pace at the Lebanon Raceway's harness race meeting last night. [John, 1910-1992, father of Jeannette Laymon] [Newark Advocate Oct. 8, 1953 p.20]

1953 Oct 21 - Charles G. Blackburn, farmer of 270 acres near New Vienna said farmers "shouldn't cry 'gimme' to everything within our reach," in an article titled Farmers Differ on Government Aid. [Coshocton Tribune Oct. 21, 1953 p.6]

1963 Oct 23 - Billy L. Flint, New Vienna, nomination for postmaster submitted by President Kennedy to the Senate. [Lancaster Eagle-Gazette Oct. 23, 1963 p.32]


1973 Oct 2 - Ad for Daye Hardware, New Vienna, offering Console Stereo for $169.95. [Hillsboro Press-Gazette Oct. 2, 1973 p.2]

1973 Oct 11 - Glenn L. McElwee, 55, died in Knoxville, TN, following a heart attack.  He was born at Fort Hill in Highland County in 1918, and had taught school for 33 years in Wilmington and NewVienna where he was also a track and basketball coach.

Found on Newspapers.com

1962-64 Linda Hughes - Peace Corps

Linda Hughes NVHS'59 Collage.  Left to right: 1957 Cheerleader, 1958 Homecoming Attendant; 1957 FFA Queen; 1959 Graduation Picture.

The Peace Corps was officially started in 1961 by President Kennedy and a year later two NVHS graduates were serving: Linda Hughes (NVHS'59) in Ethiopia and Doug Bernard (NVHS'61) in Brazil.  Any other New Vienna people who were part of the Peace Corps?

Found on Newspapers.comNew Vienna Girl Joins Peace CorpsLinda Hughes, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Hughes, New Vienna, Rt. 3, is Wilmington College's third graduate to enter the Peace Corps.
Having received her degree with a major in education and English in June, Linda expects to teach English or geography in Ethiopia.  She has left for training at Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., where she will study Ethiopia and Amharic, its major dialect, and American politics.  After her training there is completed she will leave Sept. 4 for Africa.* * * * *
The above clipping is from the front page of Hillsboro's Press-Gazette, July 13, 1962.

* * * * * * * * * *

The letter that follows was sent to the Uible family during Linda's second year in Ethiopia. Transcription follows, as does a synopsis of Linda's life after the Peace Corps.  Thanks to the Hughes family for assisting me in this post, and especially to Laura "Weegie" Hughes Page for providing the biographical write-up.

 

 

Tuesday

October 22, 1963

Hello,

I want to thank you for the interesting letter you sent me in June.  And I'm ashamed of myself for not finding time to answer it before now, but if you've read any of my summer letters you'll realize I had a pretty exciting time.

I'm assuming that perhaps you've hard something about it, so I won't go into any detail.  The most interesting part was meeting so many different people and observing the ways of Egyptians, Cyprians, Jordanians, & Sudanize.  They resembled the people of this area in ancient dress and ways, but the signs of progress were much greater than in Ethiopia.

I am now sitting in the teacher's room of the school during my free period.  We don't have any study hall, but we do have an empty room which will be a library and a good one thanks to the Wilmington Community Project.  Those books haven't arrived, yet; but we're eagerly waiting.  I'm sitting here rather oblivious to what is being said by the others, because they're speaking in Tigrinya – one of the 6 local languages.  Two of the women teachers speak English, so they translate for us.  They've just been teasing me about putting holes in my ears, rings in my nose, & tatooes [sic] on my hands, feet & forehead.  These women don't follow these old customs, but their mothers & friends do.

The students understand English so much better and teaching is just so much easier in this second year.  I'm sure the same would be true if I were in the U.S.  As my roommate & I were walking down the street to the post office a man perched on his camel went trotting by only a couple of feet from us.  We remarked at how common place this sight was and how at home we now felt in this once strange land.  It makes me wonder what will be my feelings when I returned to the land of plenty – America. 

How is your sprouting family?  If each has grown as much as Weegie I'm sure I won't recognize them.  Though I hated to see the school lose their identification & personableness, I feel consolidation will bring more advantages and great challenges.  I'm so happy there is now a kindergarten, as I haven't met many people my age who didn't go to kindergarten, and it's about time they had one at New Vienna.

My family wrote that they're preparing another program on Ethiopia – I'm pleased that people are so interested, but wonder if it isn't becoming repetitious for you.  I've never seen any of my pictures on screen, so I don't have a very good idea of how they look.

I would certainly enjoy hearing from you and send my best wishes to all the Uibles.

Sincerely,

Linda

* * * * * * * * * *

Linda Hughes, New Vienna HS of '59, graduated from Wilmington College ('62) and immediately entered the Peace Corps. She was stationed for two years In the Eritrea area of Ethiopia.

After returning from Africa via a trip through the Far East, Linda taught elementary school at New Vienna (1964-5) and subsequently in the Milford and Woodlawn schools in the Cincinnati area. Linda married William C. Wilson in 1966. She received her Masters degree in elementary guidance and counseling from Xavier University in 1968, and her Rank I in 1982 from Northern Kentucky University.

Linda and Bill relocated from Cincinnati to Williamstown, Kentucky, which was Bill's hometown. They were the parents of three children, Todd, Nicole and Stacy.

An enthusiastic planner and organizer, Linda continued being involved in education support at the local, county, and state level. The Grant County (KY) school parent volunteer organization, the Williamstown (KY) United Methodist preschool, and the Grant County Library children's story hour were all founded and developed by Linda based on her love of children and commitment to early childhood education.

Linda passed away at age 43 on October 6, 1984 after a 20 month battle with breast cancer, still orchestrating children's church activities and lesson plans in the last weeks before her death.

1923 NV Canning Factory Destroyed

Clipping obtained from the Clinton County Historical Society and transcribed below, is presumed to be from the Wilmington News-Journal, September 24, 1923.  The writer of the article is unidentified, but the phrase "nothing that savors of definiteness" seems fitting.  Interesting that the night watchman made "the rounds . . . shortly before being awakened by the fire."  Was he sleepwalking??
 
The canning factory was rebuilt after the fire though no details are currently available on that construction. The canning factory was constructed in 1916, seven years prior to the fire: "C.L. BAUGH [Carlton Baugh 1878-1937] is building a new canning factory at New Vienna at Railroad tracks.  John HULL has contract." --Clinton County Democrat 27Apr1916 as abstracted by Josephine Williams & Adrian Roberts.  In 1963 the property was sold by the New Vienna Packing Co. to the New Vienna Farmers Elevator, a mill operated by Mac LAUGHLIN and Charlie HART.  See below.

NEW VIENNA CANNING FACTORY DESTROYED BY FIRE; LOSS HEAVY

Fire of Unknown Origin Sweeps Plant; Warehouse is Saved

- - - - - - - - - -

Fire of unknown origin swept the plant of the canning company, at New Vienna shortly after midnight Saturday, and by early Sunday morning the plant was completely destroyed, entailing a lost of approximately $25,000, about 50 per cent of which was covered by insurance.

Efforts of the volunteer firemen, who were favored by the direction of the wind, resulted in saving the warehouse, in which was stored the portion of this year's crop which had been placed in tin, but the flames wiped out the main factory building completely, destroyed the scales and the silo, and ruined beyond repair all the fine machinery which had recently been installed in the plant.

Watchman on Duty

A watchman was on duty and his report to the owners of the plant –– George M. NEFFNER, Dr. MATTHEWS and James R. WEST –– was that he had made the rounds of the factory only a short time before he was awakened by the flames, and found that the discovery of the fire came too late to save the plant.  The fire was first detected about 1 o'clock in the morning, and the plant was soon burned to the ground, the flames licking up the wooden building and its contents in amazingly quick time.

Investigation has failed to show a cause of the fire.  It is pointed out that recently all the electrical wiring had been inspected and much of it renewed, and danger in that direction was not thought possible.  Whether spontaneous combustion could operate in such a circumstance, with so little storage, is doubted, it is said.  However, to date nothing that savors of definiteness can be found by the investigators of the catastrophe.

In Midst of Season

The factory was in the midst of a very busy season.  The crop of corn was said to be unusually good this year, and fully 350 acres of fine corn are yet outstanding, one of the owners said today.  An effort is being mad to secure the co-operation of canning plants in neighboring towns, and a call has been sent to the Bates plant, in Wilmington; to the Swaim Cannery, at Sabina; to Clarksville and Leesburg for help in putting into tin the immense crop of the New Vienna country.

"We understand that all these plants have their hands full with their own corn," said Mr. Neffner to a newspaper questioner, "but we feel that by dividing the crop around it may be possible to handle it without loss to the growers."

Had Cut Insurance

When the plant was reconditioned a short time ago, with everything put into ship-shape, the owners decided to cut the insurance, and $3,000 was taken off, it is admitted by the owners, who now argue that they should have added that much to the sum carried, rather than deducted it.  The plant has been under the management of James R. West, as one of the owners, and Charles ELLIOTT had been assisting Mr. West.  The men are at a loss to explain how the fire could have started.

The local firemen did valiant work and saved the ware-house, but so far advanced was the fire when it was discovered there was not chance to save the plant.

Hope is being expressed that the efforts to get help from neighboring canning plants may succeed and thus solve the problem of saving the fine crop that the farmers of the New Vienna country were rushing to the factory.

* * * * * * * * * *

New Vienna Ohio Cannery c1940, Pictured in front row behind the "L" is David MARTIN.  

Image Courtesy of Larry Martin.

The cannery was a noisy and smelly place, but a chance for seasonal employment for many New Vienna area residents.  The Hakes family was also involved in the operation of the cannery during the 1940s and 50s according to Phyllis Tilton White.

Other cannery tidbits:

1939 - H.G. BATES has an interest in canning factories at New Vienna, Wilmington, Spring Valley and South Charleston.  His son, C.E. BATES, owns the Blanchester canning factory. --Hillsboro Press-Gazette, 20Jun1939, p3

1942 - Charles ELLIOTT, New Vienna, is financing a new tomato canning factory in Lynchburg. --Hillsboro Press-Gazette, 27Jan1942, p1 

1944 - Homer, WILLIAMS, New Vienna, has been named to manage the Lynchburg tomato canning plant this year. --Hillsboro Press-Gazette, 11Apr1944,p1

1952 - W.T. CREAMER, Wilmington, part owner and operator of the New Vienna Packing Co., said that this year's [corn] crop was larger than last year's in spite of the drought damage to early corn.  The New Vienna plant closed last week. --Hillsboro Press-Gazette, 19Sep1952, p1

1963 - Transfer of Real Estate from New Vienna Packing Co. by C. T. VANDERVORT and W.H. ROBINSON to New Vienna Farmers Elevator, Inc.  Another parcel was transferred to the Elevator from Mary Elizabeth CREAMER. --Hillsboro Press-Gazette, 8Oct1963, p12

1976 - William E. COVERT & Sons advertise their lawn and garden tractor business located at the old canning factory. --Hillsboro Press-Gazette, 29Oct1976, p8

Doc Noble's Drugstore 1924-1967

When Norman Cyril [later "Doc"] Noble was born on November 24, 1893, in Orange, Ohio, his father, John, was 33 and his mother, Inez, was 29. He married his first wife, Leona S. Baker Noble, on July 27, 1920, in Macon, Missouri. About 1953 he married his second wife, Jennalou Green Engle Noble, in Ohio.  Marrying Jennalou, Doc Noble became step-father to Eugene Engle (NVHS 1962).

Doc Noble at New Vienna Drug Store 1956.  Image Courtesy of Mike Whited.

Noble was a registered pharmacist, and owned and operated Noble's Drug Store in New Vienna for 43 years, 1924 to 1967. He died in March 1967 in New Vienna, Ohio, at the age of 73, and was buried in Lebanon, Ohio.

The drug store during Doc Noble's tenure was a dimly lit space with a magazine rack near the front window and though Doc Noble generally sat behind a counter in the middle of the store, he kept an eagle eye on anyone looking at the magazines or comic books.  He was known to call parents if young eyes wandered to the more racy magazines or acted at all suspiciously.  There were many glass cases around the walls, small tables (at one time there was a soda fountain), and shelves going up to the ceiling along the walls.  There was a postcard rack with New Vienna and other local scenes depicted.

Doc Noble's sister, Alma Nease Noble, 1901-1992, had a PhD in romance languages.  She taught French and Latin at the college level.  In 1985 she established at Ohio State University College of Pharmacy, the Norman Cyril Noble Memorial Scholarship Fund for academically successful students who show financial need.

In addition to the apartment above the drug store, Doc Noble also had a farm on Noble Road where he had Belgian Horses.

* * * * *
Sources:
Ancestry.com info about Norman Cyril Noble.

New Vienna Drug stores & Druggists

The 1976 booklet, Historic Buzzard's Glory: New Vienna, Ohio 1827-1976, lists one druggist (Rogers) in 1856, 2 drug stores in 1876, and one in 1976.

New Vienna Drugstore, known later as Noble's Drugstore and then as New Vienna Pharmacy, was in operation as a pharmacy from the 1880s until the 1970s.  The drug store was a long narrow building in the center of the downtown block on the south side of Main Street.  In 2013 the former drug store location is on the west side of the Sunrise Bakery which is owned/run by the daughter of Doc Noble's stepson.

The drug store during Doc Noble's tenure was a dimly lit space with a magazine rack near the front window and though Doc Noble generally sat behind a counter in the middle of the store, he kept an eagle eye on anyone looking at the magazines or comic books.  He was known to call parents if young eyes wandered to the more racy magazines or acted at all suspiciously.  There were many glass cases around the walls, small tables (at one time there was a soda fountain), and shelves going up to the ceiling along the walls.  There was a postcard rack with New Vienna and other local scenes depicted.

There were at least four pharmacist/owners:

1. William Henry 1880s -1890s
2. Unknown(s) 1890s - 1900s
3. John M. Bettetao (Battelas, or Bettatas) listed on 1900 census as 55-year-old druggist/proprietor in New Vienna.  No other information found on him other than he was single and living in the Fealy Hotel (later Wells Mfg. building).
   
   Fairfax West (1844-1927) is listed as a druggist in New Vienna in 1900; a pharmacist in 1910 and a drug store clerk in 1920.
   
   Also on the 1900 Census, Richard Mason Williams is listed as a druggist as he was on the 1880 census. Possibly he ran one of the two drugstores listed as being open in 1876.
4. William Cushing Higley 1900s - 1924 
5. Norman Cyril Noble 1924 -1967
6. Charles Henderson 1973 - about 1977

Frank Hussey drowns
Hillsboro News-Herald July 28, 1887 p. 7

William Henry had a New Vienna drug store in the 1880s.  In 1887, one of his clerks, Frank Hussey, son of the deceased Simon Hussey, drowned while bathing in an old gravel pit on the Conard farm near Auburn Meeting-house in Penn Township.  He was with two or three other young men about his same age (21 or 22), but none of them were able to swim, and Frank evidently got beyond his depth. [Hillsboro News-Herald, July 28, 1887.]  In 1900 the census records show the Henry family, which then included six children, living in Greenfield.  Daughter, Della C. Henry Dunlap, graduated from NVHS in 1892.  Henry's wife, Leanna Hussey Henry, born in New Vienna in 1854, was the daughter of Nathan Hussey.

Fairfax West, son of Joseph Benson West and Sarah Olive Grice West, was born in Wayne Township, Clinton County in 1844.  After serving in the Civil War, he married Mary Lurena Susannah Wilkinson in 1866, and worked as a druggist in New Vienna for the rest of his life.  They were the parents of nine children including: Edmund, Effie, Sarah, William, James, Martha, Olive, Zilpha (NVHS 1897) and Fairfax, Jr., West.

Richard Mason Williams married Margaret Adelia Rulon in 1871 and they were the parents of Guy Rulon Williams 1872-1940.  Guy graduated from NVHS in 1889.  Margaret was born in New Vienna in 1849.  Richard was born in Virginia in 1846 but his family moved to Green Township, Clinton County in 1849.

William Cushing Higley, operated a drug store in New Vienna from the early 1900s until 1924, when he died at age 71.  His family, which included a daughter, Mamie, born 1898, lived in Penn Township in 1910 and in Green Township in 1920.  Mamie was a pharmacy student in 1920 but was not a graduate of NVHS as far as can be ascertained.  Prior to moving to New Vienna, Higley was a druggist in Coolville, Ohio, Athens County, where he was later buried.  Ancestry details on him can be found at this link.

Norman Cyril "Doc" Noble – see separate blog post.

In 1973 the New Vienna Pharmacy reopened after renovation by Charles Henderson, a registered pharmacist-manager, who operated the store for a limited period of time.  Little is known of Charles Henderson and his efforts to continue operating a drug store in New Vienna.  Possibly he was from Hillsboro.  There was an ad in the Dec. 1976 Hillsboro newspaper for the New Vienna Pharmacy but nothing can be found after that date.

* * * * *
Sources:
Ancestry.com info about William Henry
Ancestry.com info about Fairfax West
Ancestry.com info about Richard Mason Williams
Ancestry.com info about William Cushing Higley