The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-04-28
THEY LIKE THE WEST
SHAKERS WILL ESTABLISH COLONIES
IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION.
An Agent Nv Move hooking For suitable
Locations Quaint Rules That Govern
the Mc,ubers of This Singular Sect.
THEY Personal characteristics.

In the United States there ale about +,
1000 Shakers, embracing 8 societies. I
The families extend west only as far as
Indiana, there being no Simon pure
Shaker at home in any of the western ,,
country. To promote the growth toward ,
the Pacific coast of this sect Of people, ,
the business representative of the Union
Village society of Shakers, Ohio, and the
assistant leader of the entire settlement
is now touring the west.
He is known as Elder William Q.
Aver and is looked upon by his people
as the one competent man TO look after
their interests. 1t is the intention of
Mr.. Aver TO obtain possession of large
tract Of good land, ranging i'll size from
10000 10 40, 600 acres, i'll Colorado or
southern Wyoming, TO place tenants
thereon and handle il ON shares with
the devotces of the Shaker belief now
living in the eastern states. Efforts will |
then be made to increase their ranks |
with recruits and tc take the initial |
step which will result in,eXtending col |
onies in various parts Of the Rocky |
mountain region.
When questioned recently as to his
intentions, he said: ut is my work to
select large tract of agricultural land
somewhere in the west and then sell the
same to Shaker families on shares. BY
this means colony will spring up, and
other societies will be formed as the
numbers warrant them. There Is one
draw back, however, and that Is the re-
ports of the SHOWS. If my mission proves
successful, we would wish ground upon
; which can be raised to advantage corn,
wheat and rye. Moreover, we would
take to breeding cattle, but from what
| have already heard the biizzards III
this section prove disastrous to such en-
terprises
''This may hinder me In selecting
suitable tracts, but the matter may not
O be so serious as it is pictured. OF course
v i'm Ohio we do not have to irrieate,
d while in Colorado we would be compel
led TO do so. This could be overcome II
other advantages were placed at our dls-
} posal. l see that land is comparatively
. cheap, so l anticipate no difficulty III
getting possession of desirable tract,
ID providing, of course, am not handicap
ped in some way or other.
" The town called Shaker is located IL
Warren county, o., and has postofhct
I" named Union Village. There are about
"a inhabitants in this place, and theil
It homes extend over about A, 800 acres
4 The employees Of the colonists III SOM
cases are not of the same bellef, bu
homes are entertained Of their ccnver
re sion. The society in question has for 1t
N head minister, assisted by trustees
whose duty it is to attend to all the IN
"S terests of the flock.
The customs of the Shaker are pecul
"e lar when compared to the averag
o. brusoue American Both sexes live III tn
err same homes, but the brethren occup
DO one side of the building, while the sl'
:" ters conduct their affairs III the othel
There is no marriage, and the bl
Shaker family relies on conversions
the belief from the outside world
ms strengthen its forces. The people a
CIV peaceful, strictly attentive to the rui
d a of their villages and industrious. "A pc
way feet system of living is adhered to, mu'
after the style of the Quakers, VIII
his however. believe in marriages. IL
;, same yea and may" are wholly use
Il and i'm conversation the Shaker mas
, , peculiar soft, melodious manner OF
livery which seems to stlfie al
PLY thoughts OF anger OF teihpcs'"o'' ~
so. breaks.
''We have great faith in the spread
our principles said Elder Aver, a
the customs of the country, we opserN
With are gradually conforming themselves
the those in vogue among us AT this I'll
ure. the GREAT family of Shakers, comprise
y 80 about ?, 900 meVbers IS not growing
,,ar- decreasing in numbers. 1t Is holding
nav own We care not for the hustle a
the hustle of city life, preferihg d qui
pher peaceful existence, with monetary y
tlao as IL side issue. a..
too I'm the state Of Ohio there are III
our societies. while New York has an
po, five The estimated wealth OF the en-
ncb. Shaker population is tens OF mlillo
"a ali earned through strict economic pi
tices Their occupations vary, Dut
G are ordinary Shaker arises at any tlme
f its tween 4 and in the morning, ACCORD
itues TO his particular calling IL Is heeu
ghts TO saw that retirement at Is adop'e
citis' The Shaker has almost entire con
J, t oU IF the medicinal herb, and through
, and tbriftiness the panacea for bodily III
or 10y largely in evidence all over tho VIZ
get The family has exclusive custody
'ings, control of perhaps the largest Vliley
pos in the east. 1t is situated III hor'l
cure Ohio. near Lake Erie, and last
lG ,.S. 100. 600 baskets of grapes were siiil
.n n,s' tberefrom. Over $1,000 gallons Oh aN
,stnrd were also produced. This season 'Oo
hen baskets and 20, 900 gallons VIII De |.
rk, or from the yard. if predictions come
d the II will take on an average four carr
< for day to harvest the enormous :
lake With this marked sign OF inu,
YORK among the families it is reasonao :
snnnose that, in the event Oh
Ayers mission proving successful
f fine large tract purchased will be con''
her from a monotonous waste 10
in the Garden. Rocky Mountain NEWS
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