Great-Uncle Demands $3,000 in Slander Suit

Located the following article regarding my paternal great-uncle and a slander lawsuit while conducting newspaper research.  It seems great-uncle Gerald was slandered and took the man to court in Adams County, Indiana.  Will have to add research of these court records to my list of 'to-do' items to find out what happened.

JAY COUNTY MAN DEMANDS $3,000 IN SLANDER SUIT

Decatur, Ind., Mar. 13 - Gerald W. LeMaster of Jay county, has filed suit in the Adams circuit court against Oswin F. Gillom of Berne, demanding judgment for $3,000 for alleged slander.  The plaintiff states in his complaint that he is an insurance agent.

He alleges that on January 31, 1929, in Jay county in the presence and hearing of Daniel Corle, M.V. Hutchinson and other persons, the defendant falsely and maliciously spoke concerning the plaintiff as follows: "Such a crook as Mr. LeMaster could not work for any company any length of time for he would be fired." and "a justice of the peace was asking for G.W. LeMaster at Redkey."  LeMaster alleges further that the defendant made the following remark in the presence of George W. Bailey: "He (meaning the plaintiff) was fired from the service of the Prudential Insurance company."

Garrett Clipper (Garrett, Indiana).
14 March 1929., page 8

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Gerald was an older brother of my grandfather, the son of Luman Cooper and Barbara Isabel (Wehrly) LeMaster.  I was not aware that he sold insurance, as occupations listed his as an auto salesman, mechanic or garage operator.

Eva Briody household, 1940, Warrick County, Indiana

Located the 1940 census record of the Eva Briody household in Warrick County, Indiana.  Eva was Corinne's maternal 2nd-great grandaunt, the widow of Sylvester Briody.  Their common ancestors were Miles Chevalier and Louisa Jane Boyer.  

1940 U.S. census, Warrick County, Indiana, population schedule, Yankeetown, enumeration district (ED) 87-1, SD 8, sheet 4B, household 83, ; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 22 January 2017); National Archives, Washington, D.C..

At the time of the enumeration, Eva was living in Yankeetown. The census states that Eva owned her home and that the value was $250.  Eva was 59 years old and born in Indiana.  Her residence in 1935 was the same place.

The record shows that Eva had completed the 8th grade.  Eva's occupation was listed as the W.P.A., Head supervisor at Y.H.S. [Yankeetown High School].

Also living in the household was her son, Sylvester, aged 17, born in Indiana, who had completed 2 years of high school.

If you have any additional information or are related to this family, I'd love to hear from you.

Great-Grandpa Escaped With Only a Few Bruises

Muncie Star Press
Muncie, Indiana
August 14, 1914, page 12

My paternal great-grandfather, Luman Cooper LeMaster, was a rural mail carrier in Salamonia, Jay County, Indiana area.  I located this newspaper article while searching online that details how he was injured while on his route.

RURAL CARRIER INJURED

Horse Takes Fright at Auto and Wagon is Wrecked

Portlnad, Ind., Aug. 13 - L. C. Lemaster, carrier on rural route No. 1, from the Salamonia postoffice, was slightly injured this morning when his horse took fright at an automobile driven by Bryant parties, near the Murray farm, in Pike Township.  The wagon was overturned into a deep ditch and wrecked.  Lemaster escaped with only a few bruises, and after procuring another rig was able to continue his trip.

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