PARTY FOR MARY BELLE LATTA

PREFACE: The yellowed clipping does not give a date, but the party must have been between 1894 and 1897 (possibly Mary Belle Latta s 21^st birthday in 1895) because the guests included Mr. and Mrs. T.L. Latta who were married in 1894 (Thomas Leroy Latta and Mary Burris), single cousin Anna Latta who married W.F. Turner in 1897, and Mary Belle s sister Louisa ( Lou ) who was also still single at this time but married to Chris Matz in 1901. My references to the article always included a note that it was probably from the Spirit of Democracy (because I was unaware of other newspapers in the area at the time), but when it was published in the Monroe OGS Navigator in 1999, editor Karen Romick attributed it to the Foxhollow column in the Monroe Gazette. (Preface by Betty Latta Kitchen)

One of the most pleasant social events of the season was the surprise birthday party given by about one hundred of the young people to Miss Mary Latta, on May 25^th. The surprise was complete. The beginning of the evening was spent in social chat, interspersed with instrumental music by J.T. and sister and brother, after which came the ice cream supper (with cake and lemonade to prevent taking cold.) During supper J. T. Latta gave us some fine comic songs, with banjo accompaniment. The following are some of the presents: Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Latta, black serge dress pattern; F.F. Haren, silkaline apron; Albert Yunkus*, fancy hair-pin and silk mitts; V.T. Sluser, silk mitts; Miss Clara Kremer, fancy hair-pin; C.E. Peters, bottle of cologne; Miss Laura Vincent, pair of hose; Miss Anna Latta, cracker dish; Miss Sallie Christman, sugar bowl; Mrs. Alice Carpenter, fruit dish; Miss Belle Morris, individual salt dish; Davy Latta, fancy hair-pin; Miss Mollie Ruble, fruit dish; Miss Lydia Morris, butter dish; Miss Julia Hardesty, two handkerchiefs; Greg. Haren, pair of towels; J.T. Latta, silk handkerchief; Clem. Standt, side combs and silk handkerchief; Mr. And Mrs. T. L. Latta, water pitcher; Miss Anna Claus, handkerchief; John Christman, 50 cents; Wm. Wall, 25 cents; Miss Lou Latta, lamp; Miss Katie Christman, silk handkerchief; Miss Rosa Burkhart, apron; H. J. Landefeld, 25 cents; George Christman, 25 cents; Misses Tillie and Louisa Claus, apron; Gus. Standt, 50 cents; Miss Emma Steel, 25 cents; J.W. Ruble, fruit dish; Lewis Landefeld, 25 cents; Geo. Christman, silk handkerchief; Miss Ida Haren, apron; Miss Lou Keller, apron; Adam Weiscent, pair gloves; Miss Sadie Burris, white shirt waist; Clem Weiscent, red blouse pattern; Mr. and Mrs. D.W. Latta, tea set and silk handkerchief; Fred Christman, bottle of perfume in casket; Ray Murray, silk scarf; Ben. A. Haren, fancy chair tidy. Several other presents were received without names. After supper was over, a few enjoyable games were played, after which we all went home, wishing Miss Mary many happy returns of the day or rather evening.

....... ........

Miss Etta Brownfield is at Quaker City.

Miss Mary Latta has been visiting friends at Atlas.

Messrs. T.L. and J.T. Latta made a business trip to Barnesville, Monday.

Messrs. Abraham, Walter and Lewis Landefeld have just finished a new barn for Mr. H.H. Claus.

Tobacco plants are scarce, but peaches and cherries are scarcer. Corn and potatoes pretty badly nipped.

Misses Lou and Mary Latta were in Barnesville last week.

Messrs. Ben. and Greg. Haren were at Woodsfield, Saturday.

Misses Rosa and Julia Burkhart visited friends and relatives at Fulday.

A few of the young people attended a ball near Monroefield, Saturday evening.

Albert Younkus* thinks some of the Foxhollow girls know how to bake cake.

Miss Mary Brownfield is visiting friends and relatives at Malaga.

Well, boys, do you know what you ll do if you come down to Foxhollow? We do. You ll get stuck on A PRETTY GIRL.

* Same person: The name is interchangeably spelled Yunkus and Younkus by different authors.

Note: The material below the dotted line above was not part of the article about the party, however, it was in the same edition of the newspaper and clearly intended to add information about the people who attended the party.

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