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Author: Dennis Godsey

Arthur Beyers

One of Perry Township’s most remarkable people was Arthur Beyers.  Mr. Beyers, after living a very amazing life, died on September 23, 1973, at the age of 92.

Arthur Beyers was blind 82 of his 92 years of life.  As a boy he suffered an eye injury while playing with his brother.  The attending doctor administered a medication into both eyes which rendered him blind. The tragedy only strengthened his resolve to develop his potential to the fullest.

Mr. Beyers developed his senses to the finest, well developed degree.  His sense of hearing and smell were so well developed, it was said that he could hear a snake moving through the grass.

He was interested in everything – local, state, national, and world.  He possessed a quick mind and absorbed everything readily.  He was interested in people and enjoyed being with them.  He had a background of county history and geography that ranked him as a foremost historian.  He loved politics and throughout his life was a Republican.  He was always on hand for the election returns.

Mr. Beyers lived alone, never having married.  He prepared his own meals and did various jobs on his farm, such as cutting wood for his stove and cleaning fence rows.

At one time he was a rural mail carrier, delivering mail by horseback.  No assistance needed.  He also was a sales representative for a fertilizer company for many years.  His brother drove him as he made his calls.

There are many stories about this remarkable man.  His is a story of courage and fortitude, that should make everyone walk a bit taller.

–Taken from the Book:  Springville, Indiana – Village on Spring Creek (Sesquicentennial Edition) Compiled and Written by Jay Wilson, Jr.

A valuable find of Lithographic Stone near Springville

Taken from The Bedford Mail, February 12, 1892……

 Lawrence County has proved herself rich in the most valuable stone from which she is known the world over.  Not withstanding her inexhaustible supply of the finest Oolitic Limestone in the world, a yet more valuable stone is discovered in the western hills.  On the farm of F. B. Sutherland, in Perry Township, two miles west of Springville, in a cave whose extent is not known now, and perhaps never will be, and which until recently, has never been explored, but is of remarkable peculiar geological formation, is discovered a ledge of what is pronounced by a Chicago expert who visited this cave to be the finest quality of lithographic stone.   The entire length is 1,200 yards and the thickness is ten feet.  Its extent into the hill is yet to be determined.  The stone is one mile from the railroad, which can be extended to it at a minimum of cost.

It is known that all lithographic stone used in this country is imported from Germany at enormous expense.  This is certainly a fortune in the hands of Mr. Sutherland.

*Article taken from Jay Wilson, JR. book  “SPRINGVILLE, INDIANA  VILLAGE ON SPRING CREEK”