Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1893-06-15
CHARLESTOWN.

cHARLEsToWN.
improvements are being made on the
Paul Cummings estate recently pur-
chased of Mrs. M. j. Putnam.
DIR, JIM Whitaker had a paralytic
shock last Thursday. He was more
comfortable Monday evening.
Deacon Hunt, who has been in poor
health for several months IS Sill! quite
feeble, Others who have been Ill are
improving.
The members of Hoyt's "a Temper
ance Town." had narrow escape from
the burning hotel in Worcester, Mass,
Saturday morning.
The ellison family are to be the guests
of Miss Annie Barrett at her pleasant
summer home, until their recent pur-
chase, the Wing cottage, can be oc-
cupied.
Mrs. Samuel Fletcher has an excellent
garden which was planted by herself, she
has also done the hoeing which entities
her to be classed among the smart elder
ly people of the day.
w. E. Way, travelling agent in charge
of the New England department for
walker, Stratman & Co., is travelling for
that firm in central New York and along
the Hudson river valley.
Next Sunday will be observed at the
Congregational church as Children's
day. All willing, who have flowers or
plants for decoration, will please con-
tribute the same early on that morning.
C.. Davis and wife were guests at
the home of w. E. Way Monday, to-
pether with Mr.. Albert and Miss Carrie
Davis, who have been visiting IN Massa-
chusetts and southern New hampshire.
Miss Abbie Robertson accompanied
Roswell Robertson and wife to Chicago
last week for visit to the Worlds fair.
Miss Ollie Adams and Mrs. Davidson
started for the exposition last week
Wednesday.
Charles Adams makes lots Of young
sters and little people happy by giving
them a ride in the chariot drawn by the
ssTexas Steersn owned by Charles H.
Hoyt. They are said to be triplets, and
are beautiful well-trained creatures, as
free in harness as horses.
William Holden is constantly with DR..
j. NJ. Whitaker as valued nurse and at
tendant. Mr.. Holden returned from Ne
braska in May, where he had passed the
winter with his sons, Fred W. and Mel
vim r. Holden, who went to Nebraska IL
years ago. Many things related to the
writer by him are of great interest to
those engaged in farming here and else
where. The Holden brothers went, |
think, from Bellows Falls, the eldest be-
ing 81. For two years they worked out
and then bought up claims of their own,
which they made into ranches for sheep
raising, but finding sheep were far less
profitable there than cattle, purchased
cattle and are now extensive ranchmen,
owning upwards of 1000 acres, all sur
rounded with wire fence, which is some
thing unusual, entailing considerable
labor. "A frame and sod house are en-
closed in the home lot and near by are
long reaches of cattle sheds and three
acre sscorral.' Two hundred head were
wintered by them the past season and GO
or more calves. These are reared for
eastern markets and during the summer
they take in large number OF cattle to
pasture for others. The moving lot con-
tains about 800 acres and the hay is pre-
served in huge stacks, which remain
fresh until used. Many tons are left un-
cut, so abundant is the supply. Mr..
Holden in December left Charlestown
for Linscott, Neb., and found farmers in
that locality preparing to sow the WIN
ter wheat. Mr.. Holden tells graphically
of calling on old neighbors, and neigh
bors in that region do not live with
in ssstone's thrown" of each other, but
from IL to 20 miles apart; the distance
between places is reckoned is sections
not miles and the collection of houses is
termed town instead of village. The
nearest railway station is two miles dis
tant from the ranches, and there are two
passenger trains only in a day to accom-
modate travellers, so the freight conduc-
tors obligingly halt to take up passen-
gers. Anselmo is Is miles distant and
seven miles farther lies the thriving
town of Merna, six years old, situated in
the beautiful valley of Merna, where II
years ago the brothers camped. 1t is
beautiful and productive tract, one OF
the loveliest in the region and is Is miles
from the capital of Custer county called
Broken Bow, which contains more square
miles than all New Hampshire. This
valley is surrounded by chain of sand
hills containing some of the most fertile
farms in the west, some of the most noted
being owned by James Wood of Eng
land. Mr.. David and Mr.. Kellenbarger.
MIR. Woods, was once a member of the
police force in Boston, Mass, and his
genial wife was native of Nova Scotia.
These men are all model farmers, and bid
fair to rank with the most noted land
owners of the great west. Merna
though but six years in growth con-
tains two stores, Baptist and Meth
odist church, tin-shop, school.
a graiu-elevator, and notably to be COM
mented upon, not single saloon. That
there are unprosperous farmers, Mr.. Hol-
den does not deny. Those who would
not prosper here. will not there and for
the same reasons usually. Some have
mortgaged heavily and the loan compan-
les get the loaf, sometimes through fall
ures in crops or acknowledgment or both.
In addition TO the extensive ranches
owned by the Holden brothers they have
the use by fencing in. as understand 1t,
a large quantity of government land
for feeding ground. Tine women OF this
wonderful country. are as enterpi lsing as
the men. They can harness and drive TWO
or three horses to NOW, reap, or LOT any
purpose in the cultivation of the soil or
crops, and yet are interested in all the