THE HUNTINGTON
HERALD-PRESS
Sun. July 3, 1938
BENJAMIN F. BILITER
Ben F. Biliter, aged 82, native of the county, teacher, publisher, editor, banker, church man, Rotarian and worker in movements for the civic good, died Friday night at his home on William street where he had lived since 1883 when he and Mrs. Biliter were married. He had been in failing health for several years but was seriously ill on only a short time before he was taken by death.
Mr. Biliter was born March 18, 1856, in Jefferson township, to William M. and Arcadia Biliter. He attended the district schools and taught for five years. During that time he attended Valparaiso University and a business college at Keokuk, Iowa, and spent part of the winter following the Iowa schooling in Kansas teaching penmanship and clerking in stores.
Auditor's Assistant
In 1880, Mr. Biliter became an assistant in the office of County auditor Harvey C. Black, and was continued in that office under the successor. He was married March 25, 1883 to Lissie Cummings, who survives him. They moved into the residence where Mr. Biliter died.
In 1885, Mr. Biliter bought the interest of Col. Isaac B. McDonald of Columbia City in the Huntington Democrat, then a daily paper. He became sole owner in 1889, the same year that he started publishing the "Breeder's Gazette," which soon became the Farmers Guide. The first edition of this eight-page paper was carried to the post office on Mr. Biliter's shoulder in a grain sack. In 1893 he sold his newspaper to Robert J. Day and turned his attention entirely to the Farmers Guide. The Guide acquired its first plant in 1895 in what was know as the Whitelock building south of the Huntington Mill on South Jefferson street. Later it was moved to the present quarters on West Market Street, built especially for the Guide's use. There the business continued to grow and it became a corporation with employees and executives as stockholders and directors.
In 1917 the Guide acquired The Indiana Farmer and changed its name to The Indiana Farmers Guide. In 1923 Mr. Biliter and his associates sold the Guide to B. Kirk Rankin, Nashville, Tenn., who published it for a short time before re-selling it to a local corporation in which Mr. Biliter was interested to some extent.
Mr. Biliter maintained an office in the Guide plant for some time but later became more and more interested in banking. He was a stockholder and director in the Citizens State Bank and served for a time as its president. He was one of the heaviest stockholders when the institution ceased business.
During the active part of his career Mr. Biliter served nine years as secretary of the Farmers National Life Insurance company which had its home office in this city and executive offices in Chicago. He was prominent in the Presbyterian church as a deacon and elder and a member of the Rotary club.
Following retirement from publishing the Guide Mr. Biliter devoted a large amount of time to developing a dairy farm which was stocked with Jersey cattle. One farm was made a memorial and was turned into forest land by the planting of walnut and poplar trees.
Mr. and Mrs. Biliter took great pride in their home and the flowers that surrounded it, continuing their loving care of their friends in nature of the present time. With friends or alone they took many trips, particularly automobile trips to points of interest in the United States, bringing back interesting stories and pictures.
The body is at the residence, William and South LaFontaine Street, where it will lie until the hour of the funeral at 10:30 a.m. Monday. Mrs. Biliter Saturday asked that friends make no floral testimonies of friendship. The Rev. D.R. Hutchinson, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, will officiate at the funeral services. Interment will be in Mt. Hope cemetery.
-----------------
Funeral services for Ben F. Biliter, founder of The Indiana Farmers Guide and a leading Huntington citizen for many years, were conducted at the residence, 583 William street, at 10:30 o'clock Monday morning.
Officiating ministers were the Rev. D.R. Hutchinson, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, Dr. H.B. Hostetter, Indianapolis, and Dr. Thomas B. Terhune, New Albany. Dr. Hostetter is executive secretary if the Synod of Indiana in charge of national missions. Mr. Biliter was a member of the synod board of national missions and a contributor to the work. Dr. Tehrune was formerly pastor of the local church.
Pallbearers were Sam Nave, Adolph Ackerman, C.L. Raymond, E.E. Woolery, D.A. Perviance, Eben Lesh, Tom Wheeler and Tom Ewing. Burial was in Mt. Hope cemetery.
HERALD-PRESS
Sun. July 3, 1938
BENJAMIN F. BILITER
Ben F. Biliter, aged 82, native of the county, teacher, publisher, editor, banker, church man, Rotarian and worker in movements for the civic good, died Friday night at his home on William street where he had lived since 1883 when he and Mrs. Biliter were married. He had been in failing health for several years but was seriously ill on only a short time before he was taken by death.
Mr. Biliter was born March 18, 1856, in Jefferson township, to William M. and Arcadia Biliter. He attended the district schools and taught for five years. During that time he attended Valparaiso University and a business college at Keokuk, Iowa, and spent part of the winter following the Iowa schooling in Kansas teaching penmanship and clerking in stores.
Auditor's Assistant
In 1880, Mr. Biliter became an assistant in the office of County auditor Harvey C. Black, and was continued in that office under the successor. He was married March 25, 1883 to Lissie Cummings, who survives him. They moved into the residence where Mr. Biliter died.
In 1885, Mr. Biliter bought the interest of Col. Isaac B. McDonald of Columbia City in the Huntington Democrat, then a daily paper. He became sole owner in 1889, the same year that he started publishing the "Breeder's Gazette," which soon became the Farmers Guide. The first edition of this eight-page paper was carried to the post office on Mr. Biliter's shoulder in a grain sack. In 1893 he sold his newspaper to Robert J. Day and turned his attention entirely to the Farmers Guide. The Guide acquired its first plant in 1895 in what was know as the Whitelock building south of the Huntington Mill on South Jefferson street. Later it was moved to the present quarters on West Market Street, built especially for the Guide's use. There the business continued to grow and it became a corporation with employees and executives as stockholders and directors.
In 1917 the Guide acquired The Indiana Farmer and changed its name to The Indiana Farmers Guide. In 1923 Mr. Biliter and his associates sold the Guide to B. Kirk Rankin, Nashville, Tenn., who published it for a short time before re-selling it to a local corporation in which Mr. Biliter was interested to some extent.
Mr. Biliter maintained an office in the Guide plant for some time but later became more and more interested in banking. He was a stockholder and director in the Citizens State Bank and served for a time as its president. He was one of the heaviest stockholders when the institution ceased business.
During the active part of his career Mr. Biliter served nine years as secretary of the Farmers National Life Insurance company which had its home office in this city and executive offices in Chicago. He was prominent in the Presbyterian church as a deacon and elder and a member of the Rotary club.
Following retirement from publishing the Guide Mr. Biliter devoted a large amount of time to developing a dairy farm which was stocked with Jersey cattle. One farm was made a memorial and was turned into forest land by the planting of walnut and poplar trees.
Mr. and Mrs. Biliter took great pride in their home and the flowers that surrounded it, continuing their loving care of their friends in nature of the present time. With friends or alone they took many trips, particularly automobile trips to points of interest in the United States, bringing back interesting stories and pictures.
The body is at the residence, William and South LaFontaine Street, where it will lie until the hour of the funeral at 10:30 a.m. Monday. Mrs. Biliter Saturday asked that friends make no floral testimonies of friendship. The Rev. D.R. Hutchinson, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, will officiate at the funeral services. Interment will be in Mt. Hope cemetery.
-----------------
Funeral services for Ben F. Biliter, founder of The Indiana Farmers Guide and a leading Huntington citizen for many years, were conducted at the residence, 583 William street, at 10:30 o'clock Monday morning.
Officiating ministers were the Rev. D.R. Hutchinson, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, Dr. H.B. Hostetter, Indianapolis, and Dr. Thomas B. Terhune, New Albany. Dr. Hostetter is executive secretary if the Synod of Indiana in charge of national missions. Mr. Biliter was a member of the synod board of national missions and a contributor to the work. Dr. Tehrune was formerly pastor of the local church.
Pallbearers were Sam Nave, Adolph Ackerman, C.L. Raymond, E.E. Woolery, D.A. Perviance, Eben Lesh, Tom Wheeler and Tom Ewing. Burial was in Mt. Hope cemetery.
THE HUNTINGTON
HERALD-PRESS
Sun. July 3, 1938
BENJAMIN F. BILITER
Ben F. Biliter, aged 82, native of the county, teacher, publisher, editor, banker, church man, Rotarian and worker in movements for the civic good, died Friday night at his home on William street where he had lived since 1883 when he and Mrs. Biliter were married. He had been in failing health for several years but was seriously ill on only a short time before he was taken by death.
Mr. Biliter was born March 18, 1856, in Jefferson township, to William M. and Arcadia Biliter. He attended the district schools and taught for five years. During that time he attended Valparaiso University and a business college at Keokuk, Iowa, and spent part of the winter following the Iowa schooling in Kansas teaching penmanship and clerking in stores.
Auditor's Assistant
In 1880, Mr. Biliter became an assistant in the office of County auditor Harvey C. Black, and was continued in that office under the successor. He was married March 25, 1883 to Lissie Cummings, who survives him. They moved into the residence where Mr. Biliter died.
In 1885, Mr. Biliter bought the interest of Col. Isaac B. McDonald of Columbia City in the Huntington Democrat, then a daily paper. He became sole owner in 1889, the same year that he started publishing the "Breeder's Gazette," which soon became the Farmers Guide. The first edition of this eight-page paper was carried to the post office on Mr. Biliter's shoulder in a grain sack. In 1893 he sold his newspaper to Robert J. Day and turned his attention entirely to the Farmers Guide. The Guide acquired its first plant in 1895 in what was know as the Whitelock building south of the Huntington Mill on South Jefferson street. Later it was moved to the present quarters on West Market Street, built especially for the Guide's use. There the business continued to grow and it became a corporation with employees and executives as stockholders and directors.
In 1917 the Guide acquired The Indiana Farmer and changed its name to The Indiana Farmers Guide. In 1923 Mr. Biliter and his associates sold the Guide to B. Kirk Rankin, Nashville, Tenn., who published it for a short time before re-selling it to a local corporation in which Mr. Biliter was interested to some extent.
Mr. Biliter maintained an office in the Guide plant for some time but later became more and more interested in banking. He was a stockholder and director in the Citizens State Bank and served for a time as its president. He was one of the heaviest stockholders when the institution ceased business.
During the active part of his career Mr. Biliter served nine years as secretary of the Farmers National Life Insurance company which had its home office in this city and executive offices in Chicago. He was prominent in the Presbyterian church as a deacon and elder and a member of the Rotary club.
Following retirement from publishing the Guide Mr. Biliter devoted a large amount of time to developing a dairy farm which was stocked with Jersey cattle. One farm was made a memorial and was turned into forest land by the planting of walnut and poplar trees.
Mr. and Mrs. Biliter took great pride in their home and the flowers that surrounded it, continuing their loving care of their friends in nature of the present time. With friends or alone they took many trips, particularly automobile trips to points of interest in the United States, bringing back interesting stories and pictures.
The body is at the residence, William and South LaFontaine Street, where it will lie until the hour of the funeral at 10:30 a.m. Monday. Mrs. Biliter Saturday asked that friends make no floral testimonies of friendship. The Rev. D.R. Hutchinson, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, will officiate at the funeral services. Interment will be in Mt. Hope cemetery.
-----------------
Funeral services for Ben F. Biliter, founder of The Indiana Farmers Guide and a leading Huntington citizen for many years, were conducted at the residence, 583 William street, at 10:30 o'clock Monday morning.
Officiating ministers were the Rev. D.R. Hutchinson, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, Dr. H.B. Hostetter, Indianapolis, and Dr. Thomas B. Terhune, New Albany. Dr. Hostetter is executive secretary if the Synod of Indiana in charge of national missions. Mr. Biliter was a member of the synod board of national missions and a contributor to the work. Dr. Tehrune was formerly pastor of the local church.
Pallbearers were Sam Nave, Adolph Ackerman, C.L. Raymond, E.E. Woolery, D.A. Perviance, Eben Lesh, Tom Wheeler and Tom Ewing. Burial was in Mt. Hope cemetery.
HERALD-PRESS
Sun. July 3, 1938
BENJAMIN F. BILITER
Ben F. Biliter, aged 82, native of the county, teacher, publisher, editor, banker, church man, Rotarian and worker in movements for the civic good, died Friday night at his home on William street where he had lived since 1883 when he and Mrs. Biliter were married. He had been in failing health for several years but was seriously ill on only a short time before he was taken by death.
Mr. Biliter was born March 18, 1856, in Jefferson township, to William M. and Arcadia Biliter. He attended the district schools and taught for five years. During that time he attended Valparaiso University and a business college at Keokuk, Iowa, and spent part of the winter following the Iowa schooling in Kansas teaching penmanship and clerking in stores.
Auditor's Assistant
In 1880, Mr. Biliter became an assistant in the office of County auditor Harvey C. Black, and was continued in that office under the successor. He was married March 25, 1883 to Lissie Cummings, who survives him. They moved into the residence where Mr. Biliter died.
In 1885, Mr. Biliter bought the interest of Col. Isaac B. McDonald of Columbia City in the Huntington Democrat, then a daily paper. He became sole owner in 1889, the same year that he started publishing the "Breeder's Gazette," which soon became the Farmers Guide. The first edition of this eight-page paper was carried to the post office on Mr. Biliter's shoulder in a grain sack. In 1893 he sold his newspaper to Robert J. Day and turned his attention entirely to the Farmers Guide. The Guide acquired its first plant in 1895 in what was know as the Whitelock building south of the Huntington Mill on South Jefferson street. Later it was moved to the present quarters on West Market Street, built especially for the Guide's use. There the business continued to grow and it became a corporation with employees and executives as stockholders and directors.
In 1917 the Guide acquired The Indiana Farmer and changed its name to The Indiana Farmers Guide. In 1923 Mr. Biliter and his associates sold the Guide to B. Kirk Rankin, Nashville, Tenn., who published it for a short time before re-selling it to a local corporation in which Mr. Biliter was interested to some extent.
Mr. Biliter maintained an office in the Guide plant for some time but later became more and more interested in banking. He was a stockholder and director in the Citizens State Bank and served for a time as its president. He was one of the heaviest stockholders when the institution ceased business.
During the active part of his career Mr. Biliter served nine years as secretary of the Farmers National Life Insurance company which had its home office in this city and executive offices in Chicago. He was prominent in the Presbyterian church as a deacon and elder and a member of the Rotary club.
Following retirement from publishing the Guide Mr. Biliter devoted a large amount of time to developing a dairy farm which was stocked with Jersey cattle. One farm was made a memorial and was turned into forest land by the planting of walnut and poplar trees.
Mr. and Mrs. Biliter took great pride in their home and the flowers that surrounded it, continuing their loving care of their friends in nature of the present time. With friends or alone they took many trips, particularly automobile trips to points of interest in the United States, bringing back interesting stories and pictures.
The body is at the residence, William and South LaFontaine Street, where it will lie until the hour of the funeral at 10:30 a.m. Monday. Mrs. Biliter Saturday asked that friends make no floral testimonies of friendship. The Rev. D.R. Hutchinson, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, will officiate at the funeral services. Interment will be in Mt. Hope cemetery.
-----------------
Funeral services for Ben F. Biliter, founder of The Indiana Farmers Guide and a leading Huntington citizen for many years, were conducted at the residence, 583 William street, at 10:30 o'clock Monday morning.
Officiating ministers were the Rev. D.R. Hutchinson, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, Dr. H.B. Hostetter, Indianapolis, and Dr. Thomas B. Terhune, New Albany. Dr. Hostetter is executive secretary if the Synod of Indiana in charge of national missions. Mr. Biliter was a member of the synod board of national missions and a contributor to the work. Dr. Tehrune was formerly pastor of the local church.
Pallbearers were Sam Nave, Adolph Ackerman, C.L. Raymond, E.E. Woolery, D.A. Perviance, Eben Lesh, Tom Wheeler and Tom Ewing. Burial was in Mt. Hope cemetery.
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