Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-01-23
A PLACE WHERE THINGS HAPPEN

SOlI cSpOuOcIICc VI lie AulCd&O IOSt.
Congressman Robert Roberts Hit
made a speech in a little church out in
Palmyra township the other day. The
church was the particular edifice in
which the only preachers strike chrOn-
icled in history took place. The church,
the occasion Of the speech and some in
cidents Of the immediate country sur
rounding furnish material for a story of
more than usual interest.
Congressman Hit had been invited
to speak at the dedication of a grave
yard. The United States government had
recognized the occasion by sending a big
cannon, to be placed within the Enclosure
of Palmyra cemetery. Besides Mr.. Hit.
other government officials took part in
the exercises. n
In the cemetery rested all the pioneers
of the township. The burying ground had
been furnished up and rearranged. with
q creditable attempt at landscape art. In
one corner a great granite block marks
the grave Of Charles Page, who during
the Civil war became a wal correspond
ent of an eastern paper, and was finally
appointed consul to Switzerland by Pres
ident Lincoln. While Page was abroad
he learned the process of ~cOndensing
milk. He sen for two or three Of his
brothers, all of whom took advantage
of the opportunity. married Swiss wives,
and came back to America to make Lee
county famous in producing a food ar
ticle now known throughout the world.
The Pages became immensely wealthy,
and some of them lie buried in this lit
lily was the first male child born in the
county.
The church in which the speeches We're
made is a neat two-story building, the
first floor being used as a district schools
house and the second, or upper part, a
substantially furnished church room.
This was the scene of the famous strike
Of the preachers, which occurred only a
few years ago. The congregation was
one of the union order, in which Meth
odists, Baptists, Presbyterians and Con-
gregatiOnaliSts were concerned - a
preacher of each denomination rotated
in preaching, the compensation being SIS
a Sabbath.
One fateful day the preachers came
together. and after earnest discussion
signed an agreement not to preach for
less than $40 a Sunday. The matter on
being communicated to the congregation,
composed of wealthy farmers. raised a
cOmmotiOn. 1t was at once determined
that the increase should not be u
tenanced. The four preachers were OBJ
durate, and in consequence the church
was closed for a year.. An inquisitive
stranger who happened in the neighbor-
llOOu uuI1I1S lAlo g Cotu
the story by n Of the former worship
pers, who added: "It simmered down to
a question of hell or $40, n we wouldn't
give up the TEN"
Not far from his church is the former
abode of William Meyers, known to ev-
erybody in Lee county as prophet"
Meyers, who had become impressed with
the belief that he owned the earth. He
made and set up in his dooryard a num-
Der of images, including Adam, Eve and
the serpent. It is said to have been a
motley collection. People would drive
rs miles to see the prophets display.
When Hayes was ~inaugurated president
the prophet" suddenly appeared in
Washington. He called at the White
House and demanded the keys of the
Executive Mansion, saying that the whole
of it belonged to him. He was hustled
off to Jail, but not before some n from
Lee county had seen and recognized him.
He was quietly liberated and sent off to
his home in Palmyra township.
Some time ago a postal inspector was
| sent out here to go over a route Sc
lected for rural free delivery. The old
| Sterling road forms part of the route.
! The official was at a loss to know what
| had broken loose in the neighborhood.
He saw people walking along on stills. a
woman wheeling a w~heelbarrow and in
/ Vulnerable ragged n emaciated bicycl-
| lists. "Where on earth are all Of these
people coming from and what are they
doing?" he asked.
"Oh, this is an every day occurrence"
was the answer. ''These are freaks going
| around the world. This is the great pub
lie highway across the state, and they
| all come this way"