LOOKING BACK: From our files for Oct. 21, 2012

100 years ago — 1912 

The marriage of Ruby Lee Wilkerson and William E. Hobbs, which recently was solemnized, marked the closing chapter in a romantic meeting and courtship. Mr. Hobbs was a United States soldier en route to the Phillippine Islands during the Spanish American War when he struck up a chance acquaintance with Miss Wilkerson, a handsome young lady of Lincoln County. Since the meeting, the young people have corresponded continually up to the time of their wedding. Mr. Hobbs, who is a native of Missouri, went through the war uninjured and later returned to Kentucky for his bride.

Jake Bonta, who lives just over the Mercer County line in Boyle County, has an interesting relic of the days of the Ku-Klux Klan. It is the breast plate that was worn by Jim Murphy, the captain of the local Klan, a fearless leader through whose order was restored just after the Civil War. 

Before the war, Murphy was a school teacher at the Martin school near Perryville. When the war ended, Murphy became the leader of the Ku-Klux Klan and was known by the title of “Judge Lunch.” He was a heavily built man, with massive jaws, piercing gray eyes and always wore a suit of jeans with a round short jacket. He frequently came to Harrodsburg with two big pistols buckled around his waist and he always attracted as much attention as a circus parade. The breast plate he wore extended from the collar button and covered all his chest and no doubt it saved Murphy’s life many a time. 

Frank L. Saunders, husband of Mrs. Saunders, the former Danville milliner, surrendered to the police in Cincinnati. He said that he embezzled $3,000 from the Rock Island Railroad several months before locating in Danville, and that his conscience so nagged him that he could no longer hold out against it. His real name is Frank L. Galle. However, in Danville he married Mrs. Russell Skelley under the name of Saunders, therefore he was never legally married.

While in Danville, Mr. Galle, alias Saunders, was the bookkeeper for the Danville Electric Light Company. The manager there said Mr. Saunders was one of the most accurate men he had ever known, keeping his books in perfect condition. He was sober and industrious and conducted himself in Danville in a gentlemanly way and made many friends.

Mrs. Saunders purchased the restaurant of E.A. Hood about 18 months ago and after selling out of the stock and fixtures, she established a millinery store.

75 years ago — 1937 

The Danville branch of the Goodall Company, which will eventually employ 600 people, will enter its new building at Alta and Stanford avenues on Nov. 1 and start the tailoring of Palm Beach suits. The building was recently completed and is the most modern of its kind in the United States.

“I’m thrilled to death to be home with my parents again,” said winsome Margo Kaelin, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Kaelin of Alta Avenue and proprietors of the Rathskeller in the Henson Hotel. Miss Kaelin, has been on the stage for the past four years. Coincident with her arrival here, is the fact that the first motion picture in which she appeared is to be shown at the Kentucky Theatre this week. She is appearing in “Cocktail Hour” a feature short which will be run in connection with the showing of “Lost Horizon.” Miss Kaelin, is also a well-known acrobatic dancer.

50 years ago — 1962

A project has been set up by the Inter-County Rural Electric Cooperative Corp. which will benefit the Boyle County Fire Department, as well as rural residents. A manager of Inter-County explained that since crews are constantly traveling over the isolated and far-flung parts of Boyle County, as well as other counties, the men have ben instructed that whenever they notice smoke or evidence of a fire burning or starting, they shall use their radio equipment to notify the Inter-County RECC office and give the location. The personnel at Inter-County will then promptly notify the Boyle County Fire Department.

A $500 mink stole and possibly two or three other valuable gifts will be awarded to voters in Boyle County who go to the polls and vote on Nov. 6, according to plans announced by the sponsors of the project which are Radio Station WHIR and the Hub-Frankel Company. The project is arranged solely to stimulate interest in voting in the election and that it is hoped that the percentage of registered voters in Boyle who go to the polls will be substantially increased over the 14 percent who voted in the 1961 election.

A group of organized women in the county will be at each of the polling precincts on election day, observing all election laws, and handing out slips to be signed by each voter, regardless of how he votes. These slips will be in duplicate and the voter will retain one copy and put the other copy in a box. After the polls close at 5 p.m. all the slips will be taken to the courthouse and the names of those to whom the gifts go will be determined. A recipient does not have to be present to win.