The true northerner., 1898-01-12
The party of Knights of Pythias that

iirst and third ranks, an elegant ban.
quet was served.
Mr. Bryan Stanton died at his home
in Mattawan, Sunday evening, January
o, aged ninety-eight years and six
months. Mrs. Thomas Tnckey and
Mrs L. A. Whitman of Paw Paw are his
daughters. The funeral was held at the
house, Tuesday at 1870 a. IN.
Cass county will vote at the spring
election on the question of building a
new SIC, 900 court house. Van Buren,
county seems contented with the dis
graceful old shells that we call court
house and Jail. ST. Joseph county will
also vote on the new court house ques-
tion in the spring.
The influence of such a concern as +.
Smith x Co. is powerful one in draw
ing trade to a town. The keynote of
their wonderful success i'm the clothing
trade, is right prices for goods that are
right, and careful attention to every
detail of their business. The immense
stock TO select from makes this store
famous.
The w. G. Il. u. will meet with Mrs
Eli Wise on Thursday, January 13, at
2:30 O'clock; subject to be discussed,
Scientific Temperance instruction in
our Common Schools" Miss Willard's
remarks on that subject at the national
convention held in Buffalo last October
will be read and discussed A full at
tendance is desired.
Hereafter, Township Treasurer Shep-
ard will be at his Office for the collection
of taxes on Saturdays only. He took in
a little over $500 Monday, the last day
for payment without the added per-
centage. The largest days collection
was that of last Friday, when he re-
ceived 81 roo The total payment up
to Monday night was S11 ,600-about
the same proportion as was paid last
year before the same date.
The past year has been very salts
factory one for our business men. In
nearly all cases the amount of business
done is greatly in excess of 1896. III. &.
Waters & Co., hardware firm, have re-
Gently finished their annual inventory;
they report an increase in business of
20 per cent over the preceding year.
Judicious advertising, completeness of
their stock and courteous treatment are
largely responsible for their success.
There will be railroad NEE ting at
the council rooms in Paw Paw, Thurs
day evening, January 13, at 7:30 p. m.
Messrs. A. ii. Patterson, A. A. Patter-
son, +. b. Benton, DR.. McOmber and
others representing the new manage
ment of the South Haven & Eastern
railroad will be present, and desire to
meet all who are interested in the i'm
provement of the road. Let every one
attend this meeting, as matters of i'm
portance will be discussed.
Paw Paw has an excellent volunteer
fire department, and the services of the
boys each year are of great value to the
town. They serve without compensa-
tion, and now that they are to give their
annual ball, the public has an oppor-
tunity to show appreciation of their
work. Let every person who thinks
the fire department worth anything,
buy ticket. If you do not care for the
dancing and do not care to promote it,
at least give to the boys dollar. They
deserve it.
On the first day of June, 1897, Messrs.
Rix & Campbell filled $40 claim against
the county for the burial of an INDECENT
soldier. The claim was passed into
the hands of the committee on claims
at the October session of the board of
supervisors, but was not reported by
the committee-the board was in a
great hurry-and so the claimants did
not get their money until the January
session, when the claim was allowed for
the full amount claimed and an order
drawn. One of Van Buren's alleged
newspapers, one that delights in using
choice billingsgate, says the Northerner
lied when it called attention TO this fact.
1t is very easy to say ''you lie" and is an
argument often resorted to by those
who have nothing better to offer. We
do not care to retort in kind.
A monthly auction sale is new
scheme that has been inaugurated in
this village. The first one is to be held
Saturday, January 30, and on the last
Saturday of each month thereafter, at
Hinckley & Sons barn. Farmers and
stockmen who have horses, cattle, inn
plements, household goods or other
property they wish to dispose of, will
| find these sales of immense advantage.
II. w. McCabe will be auctioneer, and
will make the terms known to any who
may apply. Big bills have been widely
distributed announcing the sales. The
Northerner wishes these sales might be-
come a permanent feature of Paw
Paws business activity, and believes
they might be made profitable to the
business men of the town and to the
farmers of the country round. Let all
take hold and make the first sale sue
cess.
AT the annual meeting of the Farmers
Mutual Fire Insurance Company, held
in this village yesterday, /. Monroe of
Lawrence and w. G.. Lindsey of De-
catur were reelected as directors. The
annual statement, which will be pub
lished in full in the Northerner next
week, shows the company to be in re-
markably good condition. The total
member is now 1,517 an increase of SO
from a year ago. The resources of the
company are 81 ,s3096 cash on hand
and S14S.47 uncollected assessments,
with no liabilities whatever. During
the year losses hvae been paid to the
amount of so, ,053 90, of which 81, ,122 OF
were for losses of the prior year, leav
ing all losses for '97 only 1891 80. There
was also paid during the year note OF
1895, carried from the previous year, sc
that of the moneys paid out 81, 1897 07
was for the previous years business
Now there are no liabilities TO carry
/ a a II