The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-01-14
Grand Rapids and Fail River.


Grand Rapids and Fail River.
GRAND RAPIDS, Jan. 12, 1SS2.-After an alb
sence OF about two years, 1t is pleasant to not'
the improvements everywhere visible in oul
towns Everywhere new barns are visible, bu
not much improvement in dwelling houses
It looks as if our farmers thought more o.
their hogs and mules than they do of theil
patient, hard working wives and babies. Il
some of our farmers would lay out little
more money in providing decent home, and
little less on gaudy barns and outbuildlngs
there would be more solid happiness among
them.
John Center takes the cake on hogs. He
sold eleven this week that averaged sos pounds
apiece. One large porker kicked the bucket
and Mr. Center Is out about $40 on him.
Mrs. Pat. Harrgan went out to Iowa few
weeks ago to visit the Burrel johnson family
a notorious crowd formerly of Fall River
They succeeded in beating the old lady out OF
about 5000 In money--all she had-and sent
home again.
Somebody dug up Tom Farrel's pole again
That pole has been great deal OF trouble to
Tom. 1t has been dug up, blown up, sawed
up, pulled up and fired up. Tom suspected
the assessor, first of the devitry, the west Fall
River tax liars, and now he has settled IN Yale
Methodist in southwest Fall River. Tom
never drinks anything strong himself, but his
neighbors get as full as boiled owls. so Tom
floated his prohibition banner to the breeze on
the aforesaid pole, and intends to keep there
until there isn't man IN Fall River who loves
blue Refer" better than butterm,lk
PERsoNAL.-Some Of the old birds are flock
ing home to roost. Amasa Wilson Is home
again. He says he isn't married. Mr.. Dick
erman IS also home. Louis Soule Is in Wayne
county, n. Y. Mr.. Thompson is at Bealsvllle,
Pa Miss Eta Wilson in Susquehanna, Pa.
Mr. Moore is just adding the finishing
touches to the steeple of his new house. 1t Is
a highly creditable job. Miss Tlllie Moore
has just returned from Bellflowcr, Ill.
There is TO be an entertainment tonight at
the Chase school house at which articles are
20 be voted to the most popular men, young
ladies, etc Jimmy Wilkinson and Ed. llar.
rigan are the principal contestants for the for
mer, while the north Grand Rapids bachelors
are good seconds. All the Grand Rapids bellies
are up for the latter.
Oscar Stevens has been hltched IN the bonds
of matrlmony to one Of Grand Rapids falrest
daughters. Here's luck to you Os-may you
be happy and have lots of little Stevenses.
All of the old "bums" were out at fox hunt
The other day. They went bawling through
the woods like pack of Modocks, trighten
ing innocent women and children out of their
wits, and running their poor horses almost TO
death After whooping around the country
Tor half a day they scared out John fosts two
pet foxes, killing one and bagging the other
Next day they let the poor little lame thing
out, and all the prize infants In the communi.
~ took after it, Mr.. Yost intends to prosecute
every one of them, and if they all could be
hauled up before the Grand Jury it would be-
good thing Both OF the foxes were about
as big as small cats, and Mr.. Yost's children
Hau tutH ioi pcto'
hod Price is gong west He'll be greatly
missed IN west Fall River. C.
Rutland.
RUTLAND, Jan. 13, 1SS2.-We were not lit
tie surprised, last Friday evening, on meeting
at the residence of Mr. Samuel Parr, (Which
was illuminated and most beautifully decorat-
ED the large assembly of young and
middle-aged people who had met in the old
fashioned way to enjoy a social evening, tol
chat and listen to the vocal and instrumental
music for which Rutland is of late becoming
renowned. Though the value of music is un-
dercstimated, there are many who are becom-
ing converted TO the belief that music is one
of the grandest arts that has ever exercised
the ingenuity of man. The neighbors, after
listening to the singing class for some time,
which was accompanied by Miss Dora Trum.
DO at the piano and Mr.. o. c. Thompson, call
ed on Mr.. s Millikin to play Old Zip Coon, to|
which be reluctantly responded. The orches-
ira then prepared to entertain the company,
and especially those who came TO trip the
light fantastic toe, and many joined IN the
lance. Mr.. PAR SAID his house was at the