The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-02-26
Rural Happenings.
Grange Items.

RUTLAND Feb. 1O.-Feb 10th will long b
remembered by many of us as the day
which occurred the heaviest snow storm
the present winter as the night also that wa
70 call many away from comfortable tireside
70 attend lecture delivered by Brother Mort
mer Whitehead who had been master OF ID
state grange of New Jersey, and lecturer
the National GraHgc, and at present associat
editor of tho Grange Bulletin, paper put
lished at Cincinnati. To do him simple jus
tice it would seem that he was possessed OF al
,nexhaus.,ble fund of information concerning
the rise and progress Of the grange. lher
was present q "buuch" Of the solid men o
Rutland, representing property to the amour
of half a million dollars, not many OF then
though that claimed to belong to the Order
The speaker was introduced to the audience
by Jackson II. Shaver, Esq, as chairman U
the meeting, who said that the recent agitation
IN defense Of the Illinois and Michigan cana
received its first impetus in the meeting OF the
"Rutland Grange" The speaker first dwell
upon the pioneer times" when they were
struggling for Just recognition and met with
little else than insolent rebuff, but they multi
piled until they might be counted as the
sands of the sea-" and statesmen and legisla
tors lent them listening ear; citing the down
fall Of the sewing machine monopoly as que
TO the 100000 grangers whose petition was
filed against an extension Of their patents, re-
sult,ng in saving of more than 800, 900, DOC
70 purchasers already. The speaker advocated
direct dealing between the farmer and manu-
facturer," thereby saving from twenty to
thirty.fiye per cent We buy sewing machines
for eighteen dollars, and spring tooth sulky
rakes for twenty dollars; you pay forty dol.
lars for the former and thirty dollars for the
latter. And q like reduction can be secured
on all farming implements by purchasing
through their state agent. He diaied some
what upon transportation topics-fhe producer
was suffering from the unreasor p. exactions
Of the railroad kings, who were -. possession
Of power sufficient to control legislatures in
their interests. The audience paid close at
tentlon until the close, and bore away most
favorable opinion Of the abilities OF the lee
turer OF the principles enunciatcd, all farm.
ers having due regard to their interests should
subscribe thereto. The Rutland Grange"
was organized some six or seven years age,
and started out with somewhere near seventy.
five members. They have less than twenty
members in regular attendance at this time
chow are the mighty fallenD They OCCASION
ally order q few ounces OF spices through
their agent; sometimes few bars of soap are
required, and in a small way save an "honest
penny" This may be all right but what OF
the thousands of dollars invested in necessary
farming implements! Whom did they purchase
Off or the manufacturer? No; but invarla
bly, Of the superhuous middle man, and they
have paid him the full price. An effort IS be
ing made to fill up their ranks again. The
Prophet Moses made the same attempt with
the children of Jacob, who had turned aside
in their rebellions; the serpent was lifted up
that all who would look at him might find
favor with God. Those of our people who
have belonged to the grange Will receive full
pardon by returning to the fold Of the faith.
full" In the mean time the "souless cOrpo.
rations," the railroad kings" and the super.
fuous middle man" wakes fat and defes any
one to interfere with them In their schemes TO
fleece the verdant granger. History repeats
itself, and the grange people stumbling amid
impractical eXpedieIts for the betterment of
their condition, will We, be led forth from the
wilderness after forty years by some Joshua,
more wise than his fellows, who will secure to
them all they have hoped for worked for. and
waited for V.
Allen Items.
RANSOM, ILL.,, Feb. 90, lea1-Aatripo,
aia1--On Feb. 10th, at ten o'clock, at the st.
Columbanus church OF Kinsman, Grundy Co.,
ILL.,, Mr.. John J. O'Mara and Miss Anna J.
MeaghcI we're united In mutual copartner.
ship, Rev. J. A. Hemlock, p. p, officiating
After the ceremony they returned to the BRIDES
home where, in the evening, a fine supper
was served. The occasion was made enjoy.
able by dancing. Congratulations were be-
slowed upon the happy pair by about three
hundred guests. The presents were very nu.
merous and costly. They were as follows
John O'Mara, the groom, beautiful silver table
castor; Anna O'Mara, bridesmaid, large cake
stand with cover; Thomas OMara, set of sill
yer teaspoons; Katie O'Mara, handsome tidy
John Ryan, brides uncle, preserve dish; Mrs
John Ryan, six tumblers and pair OF towels
Aggie O'Mara, pickle castor; Mr.. and Mrs
Kelley, fancy table spread; Jennie Ryan,
large preserve dish aud six small ones, B. d.
Walsh. toilet set; MIR. and Mrs. J. Phelan,
shade lamp; Ed. Smith, three silver napkin
rings; Mrs. kearns, set of cups and saucers
Mr.. and Mrs Ed. Phelan, stereoscOpe and
views; Mary Walsh, set Of vases; Mr. and
Mrs. James Deagan, glass water set; Nellie
DeVine. silver Outter knlle ana pickle fork
Mr.. and Mrs. J. Devlne, toilet set; of Allen
Rev. Father Hemlock, grand bureau mirror
VIM. Meagher, father Of BRIDE, Mason & Ham.
lin organ; Dennis Meagher, brides groom,
rocking chair; VIM. Meagher, Jr., wash.stand
Mrs VIM. Meagher, Jr, set of silver vases
Mollie Meehan, pearl card case and cards; of
Kinsman. Sister NJ. Genevlevc O'Mara, Sa
cred Heart of Jesus, and Rev. Mother pair of
scapulars, both from Visitation Academy, Du
buque, Iowa. Katie Meagher three large
chromos; ThOs. Ryan, set Of glass sauce dish.
es: Mrs Thos. Ryan, set of glassware; Lyde
heagher, six goblets; Thomas Meagher silk
tie; Nellie Mesgher. half dozen goble,s and
noy; iheresa Meagher, lamp; Lizzie Cody,
large shade lamp; Mr.. and Mrs. Comeford,
glass set; Katie Lamb, cake stand; Mr.. and
Mrs. j. Mulhall, white linen table.spread and
hall dozen napkins; Bridge, Donohoe, mirror
Set In silver case; Mamie Barry, fancy box oil