Gypsies in Adams Township - 1894

From the Defiance Democrat - November 1, 1894

In the social column...

"ADAMS.

A. Pessefal has a fine brick cellar completed.

The Coressel Bros., J. P., Al and Jake, allowed their fine black mustaches to succumb to one of the whithering frosts of last week.

John Walk and sister, Mrs. Sophia McNamara of The Bend were guests of Mrs. Henry Co, Henry Coressel Sunday last.

Several natives of the Transylvanian Alps passed through here last Sunday accompanied by a number of bears.  They were very dirty and begging was their profession.

The nomadic "gypsies" were usually from Romania or surrounding areas and were greeted with skepticism by the locals.

The appearance of the Catholic cemetery on the Ridge was improved by the construction of a new fence and a general cleaning up of the grounds.  The work was done last Monday.  The members of the congregation turning out en masse.

On October 20th, Ferd Mikus (Mekus) was up before Squire Sheets to answer to a charge of assault and battery preferred by John Moser.  It seems that on sundry occasions Moser had assumed pugnacious attitudes toward the defendant and even plainly intimated that he 'lied' about certain things, whereupon Ferd, consulting his manhood, literally 'mopped the earth' with said Moser.  Hence his appearance before justice.  Ferd pleaded guilty to the charge and paid a fine of five dollars and costs, amounting to ten dollars in all.

Next Tuesday is election.  It is expected that every voter in Adams township will be out as the question of 'relief' for P. J. Schwartzel, treasurer who was caught in the wreck of the defunct Savings bank, is to be voted upon."