davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1904-02-26
FATHER FOUGHT IN
revolutionary WAR.
Two OF Gratiot's Oldest Pioneers
Who Helped hew Out Our
Prosperous County.
He IS IN THE 88TH
YEAR OF HIS LIFE.
His COMPANION is Seven Years Young
er and the Two are Living at the
Home of Youngest Son.

Recently representative of The
Record had the pleasure Of visit with
Mr.. and Mrs. Lafayette Church at the
home of their youngest son. Fred, who
resides two miles southeast Of Alma.
Mr.. and Mrs. Church celebrated the 9th
anniversary of their welded life on the
Goth day of January last, number Of
their children and grandchildren being
present TO make the event a pleasant
one in their memory, and being in a
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1904-02-26

reminiscent mood in telling OF the
story OF his life along with that Of his
aged companion. There are few left
living in Gratiot today who came here
when this couple did, and few indeed
who have by hard work and manifesto
tion of public spirit assisted in making
this county what it is at the present
time.
Lafayette Church by birth was from
that good old Puritan stock that is felt
all over the land even at this age. He
was born in Wayne county. n. Y, July
16, 1916 His father, Willard Church,
was a native Of Connecticut, and had a
record TO be proud of by his defendants.
He served in the Revolutionary war
with distinction. The most memorial
engagement in which he participated
was the storming Of Stoney Point Fort
on the Hudson ,on the night Of July 10Th,
1919. under Gen. Anthony Wayne, when
he was one Of two hundred volunteers
to proceed in advance of the main army,
with unloaded guns but fixed bayonets,
70 draw the fire OF the fort while the
storming force made the grand assault
during the time the enemy were reload
ing their guns.
During early boyhood the subject Of
this sketch wore in the summer the tow
and linen of that period and in the win
ter the good old homespun wearing
apparel was his attire. Where he lived
there was at that time a tannery ,hattery,
shoemaker blacksmith shop, and a dis
tillery. He was the youngest Of nine
children and his educational advantages
were very limited. most of his time being
spent in work upon farm. When he
was Is years of age he left the parental
roof to seek his own livlihood and was
! first employed in drug store al Pro-
violence, Il. l., where he remained about
three years, improving his leisure hou rs
at study and attending school to some
extent. Hs later returned TO his parents
where he remained one year then coming
TO this state in the fall of 1886 and spent
the winter in Oakland county. The
next spring he went to Ionia, then a
mere village OF a hundred or so inhabi-
tants. Afterwards he was employed in
Clinton county, returning again to
Ionia
On the Goth of January, 1S40, at Lyons
Mich, he was united in marriage to
Sophronia Benjamin, daughter Of
Nathan and Chloe Benjamin. Her
parentsge was OF English and Irish
extraction. She was born in Wayne
county, Ohio. October 90, 1923. and
when small child moved with her
parents to Oakland county in this state.
From there she went with her parents
to Ionia county where she lived until
her marriage. Her father drove the first
wagon over East Plains, OF that county,
and also the first wagon into Maple
Rapids
Mr. and Mrs Church lived at Lyons
for seven years and then went to Hills
dale county, where they remained until
/ 1854 In the winter OF that year they
came 20 Gratiot county and purchased
/ from the government so acres OF land,
located two-miles and one-half southeast
Of where the village OF Alma is now
situated. At that time there was only
] one house built here, that Of Gen Ralph
Continued On Eighth Page.)
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1904-02-26
The Map of the World.

A beautiful map, valuable for refer
ence, printed on heavy paper, AZ Ga
inches, mounted on rollers; edges bouno
in cloth, showing our new island posses
sions. The Trans Siberian Railway,
Pacific Ocean cables. railways lines and
other features Japan. China, Manchuria
Korea aud the Far East. Sent on receipt
of 25 cents in stsmps by W.B Kniskern
Z L M. Chicago q North Western r.
Chicago. Ill. 90
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1904-02-26

good enough to be given a prominent
place in ones scrapbook of choice liter
ary productions. Here is common
place subject, treated in very uncom-
monplace manner, and the author knows
whereof he speaks, for few men In
this country are as familiar with what
the COW of America has been, what she
is now and what she is likely to become
during the next quarter Of century.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1904-02-26

1t appears to us the above eulogy is
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1904-02-26

auctioneer in Michi-
gan, and therefore
passes many lonely
hours. W h / c h he
usually improves by
working out all kinds
of difficult problems.
Recently, while TAX
ing a twenty mile
drive, with the ther-
mometer below zero.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1904-02-26

~OL. o L CHANDLER, the big
auctioneer of Butternut, Mich,
who has no doubt conducted more
auction sales and covered more miles be-
hind span of horses than any other
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1904-12-29
RURAL MAIL SERVICE.
Ranchers end Miners on Upper
Jump-o off. Joe Benefited.

Josephine county is in the march of
progress and Ia soon to have its first
rural mail route. An application
was made some time since for a rural
mail route ont of Grants Pass to en-
brace the Jump-off-Joe section, and
Friday, Z. c. Clement, rural route
inspector for the Pacific Coast
States, was over the route, and while
not definitely committing himself,
yet he gave out that the proposed
route met the DEPARTMENTS require
ments as to passable condition Of
road, distance and number of patrons.
1t is quite certain that the route will
be established aud the service begun
early in the spring The route will
be by the upper road to Jump-off-Joe
and thence down that stream to the
lower road to Grants Pass. which
will be used for the return trip. This
rural mail service will eliminate
Wlnona post Office and cut off con
siderable mail from the Merlin and
the Hugo Offices. The route will
not reach all the miners and ranchers
on upper Jump-off-Joe, but will be SO
near that they can get mail from it.
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1904-12-29
ROAD BRIEFS.

What Various states Are Doing to
Improve Their Highways.
New York viii establish Il state plant
to be operated by convict labor at Sing
Sing to crush stone for use in con
structlng good roads
The Chicago Automobile club has or
gonlzed II camera club to travel
throughout the country around the
city and take pictures Of the bad roads.
At all the road conventions held dur
Ing the last ye0r the quesuon Of co
operation in road building between the
federal government and Tie states has
been a leading topic Of discussion, and
every convention held up to this time
has lndorsed the plan with practical
unanlmity.
The farmers Of Vermont are asking
half million dollars for good roads
next year
During the past tom yeurs Massachu-
sotts has shown m Increase OF S35,-
OoOoo0 ia farm values, and It Is at.
tributd mainly 90 good roads
1t is said that q horse can pull 6.27O
pounds on q level macgdauized road.
and It takes 1--WE horses 10 pun the
same load on an ordinary dirt road
ana ten horses 90 pull the load IN loose
sand or mud
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1904-12-29

Before the next issue Of the
Courier, the bells will have sounded
to announce the birth of the new
year. We take this opportunity to
wish our friends and patrons, one and
all, happy and prosperous New
Year, with success tor their under
takings and "a generous share Of con-
tentment ana happiness IN their lives.
For the liberal support given by its
patrons in the past and preceding
years, tho Courier extends appreoia-
tion and sincere thanks. The past
year has seen the most substantial
increase, both In the subscription list
and in the volume OF business in
other departments, of any year of the
Courier's existence. Though we are
beginning the present year under
serious mechanical difficulties az u
result Of tho Courier plant being
cramped up In CONSTRUCTED space in one
room on the second floor, while build
ing operations are going on below,
these difficulties are only temporary
and 1t will not be long until the
Courier will be permitted TO occupy
its new quarters at the old location,
where 1t will be more conveniently
and commodiously situated than over
before and in IA better position than
ever to give Its patrons the best in ali
departments Of the printing line. I,
The Courier's policy in the future rs
In the past, will be TO give its patrons
a paper that IL clean, reliable and /
fair, giving the news while 1t is yet
news and covering as completely as
possible the local field OF its district. |
In its subscription list, itsJ adyertis.
Ing columns and tho job printing dc.
partment, the Courier leads all its
competitors by considerable margin
and SUCCESS is the best proof OF excel.
lence. In the coming year as in past
years our aim is toward constant
progress and improvement and 1t is
our intention to make the 1905 volume
OF the Courier, the best thus faI OF
the series.
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1904-12-29

neotisn with their seighbors and with
the tsvns, would save them much
time and trouble in making trips that
now have to be made ON matters that
could be transacted over the tel3-
phone.
Following is the statement of Su.
perintendent Oium regarding rural
telephones:
" In order 10 extend the telephone scr
vice into the rural districts, | will
pay special attention and devote
my spare time to the faimers inter.
osted in the building OF lines into
Grants Pass TO connect with the ex.
change here. This will give them
free switching to 242 subscribers in
Grants Pass, night. or day, direct
communication with doc tors and busi.
Pass men.
" The company Will furnish special
make OF telephone, which will ring
through resistance Of 1000 ohms and
will give hrst-olass service with 20
telephones on one line We will
rent these phones to farmer line sub.
scribers at 30 cent per month, payable
semi-annually s3 in advance and the
cost OF one position on the switch.
board divided among the subscribers
Of the line. Farmers can build their
own limo TO city limits to suit them.
seives; company will build metallic
circuit no connect at city limits.
Company will keep in repair all
telephones when brought to the Grants
Pass off1ce free Of charge. Farmers
at Korby say they must be connected
with the world, why not the farmers
here' No more driving In rainy
weather or rough roads when you can
get to use a phone for less than two
cents a dsy. For any information,
call on or address,
G. o. OIUM.
County Manager, p. 8. I. g. T. Co.
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1904-12-29

regular mud blockade during several
weeks or months OF the year. The
following are a few simple rules the
observance Of which would go far to-
ward betterlng the roads of this coun-
try:
First.-The road should be 50 located
and constructed as to avoid steep
grades down which the water rushes
during heavy rains, tearing up and
washing away the road material
second--The foundation of the road
should be thoroughly drained by open
side bitches which will carry of the
water and where necessary tile drains
should be laid in the foundation Itself.
Thlrd.-The surface of the road
should be bard and smooth and have
sufficient slope toward the sides to
shed the surface water.
Fourth.-Iuts and holes on the sur
face Of the finished road should be
filled as fast as made, so that no water
can lie on the surface to be worked up
into mud.
These rules are simple and easy to
follow, and any one who gives any Sc
rious thought to the matter can see the
wisdom Of following them. Sull, they
are almost universally ignored, as the
condition Of our roads abundantly
proves. The bad roads Of the United
States are blight, curse, a Disgrace,
and all patriotic, progressive citizens
should make a grand united effort to
wipe them out nnd put our nation on
level with the advanced nations OF
Europe In the matter Of roads.
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1904-12-29
TELEPHONES SOC A MONTH
Miners and Farmers Can Have
Cheap First Glass Service.

1t is more than likely that by q
year hence all the mining districts
and farming sections Of Josephine
county will be connected by telephone
lines with the long distance lines and
the Grants Pass exchange. The
Pacific States Telephone & Telegraph
Company, which now has all the
towns in this county connected by
telephone and a local exchange in
each town, is now undertaking to OK
tend their Telephone service TO cover
all the rural districts Of this county.
AS will be seen by the subjoined
statement by G.. o. Oium, manager
for this district, the company is
offering low rate 10 the farmers aud
miners who wish to put in tele-
phones. These rural telephone lines
are not expensive to build for the
poles would cost the farmers nothing
and the labor Of cutting and setting
the poles could be done during the
winter months when there is no rush
OF farm work. Wire and insulators
would cost about sl5 per mile. The
phones are supplied by the company,
but the expense of installing them
and of stringing the wire has to be
borne by the subscribers This work
does not require an electrician for IL
is 80 simple that any bright person
can learn the business with II tto
study, and Supt. Oium will teach
persons how to do the work. These
rural tolpehone lines would be Of
very great advantage to farmers and
miners for in addition to being
convenience In having telophonio con.
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1904-12-29

The placer miners Of Appiogate are
glad to see the rainfall; they are all
ready and fully prepared to send the
gravel away twice as fast as before.
The Christmas treo on Missouri Flat
was a grand success. Everybody was
delighted to see old Santa and espec.
tally the children, who received many
nice toys.
Applegate is full OF salmon and the
people are glad to see them for it has
been several years since wo have seen
fish this far up the river.
Tho Mountain Lion Mining Com
pany Of Missouri Flat are doing con.
siderable work They have several
men employed and are taking out
some very rich rock, They intend to
start the mill before long.
j. I. Layton, a placer miner Of this
section, is running in full blast; he
intends to make his mine bring him
twice the dividends Of last winter and
lac Is fully prepared 10 make it win.
George Dunlap is clearing his place
and getting II in nice shape He is
going to add several acres to his aIfal.
IA field in the spring. We would be
glad to see some Of the other farmers
follow his example,
Hemond Messenger, young
bachelor Of Provolt, who hAs recently
become tired Of his own ceooking, n.
turned home from Grants Pass last
Sunday with his young bride, former .
ly Miss Matte Dunlap, who is one of .
Applegate's popular young ladies' We |
are glad to welcome her as Mrs. Mes
singer and | suppose the boys are too.
from the laundering noise of giant
powder and the rustling of old tin
cans that was heard that night
l.. Q. Hyde aud wife gave a Christ
mas tree for the children Christmas
Eve; everyone present seemed to have
gooa time Beta.
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1904-12-29
Golden Oleanlngs.

Happy New year to all.
Stock looks fat and fine
W. n. Ruble has plante an acre of
straw berries.
Mr.. Coffman went to Grants Pass
last week on business.
We all had happy Christmas and
good time in Golden.
II. Gross is keeping the Golden
hotel Good meals % cents.
This snow and rain looks nice to the
miners, as it looks wintry now.
William Ruble went to Ashland to
spend Christmas with his family, q
About six inches of snow on the
hills. 1t looks nice to see the trees
covered with snow.
The wondering Daisy of Wonder,
says the second crop of hollyhocks are
in bloom. How manay times a year
do they bloom?
Q. Bennett, our groceryman was in
Grants Pass last week. He has Just
moved into his new store. He has
large stock of goods.
Times are lively around Golden
now, W. N. Ruble has his grizzly
moved and ready to begin piping. He
will run night and day as soon as
water comes.
Gli...
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1904-12-29
Merlin Notes.

Mrs viii Mason has been quite sick
for a week,
The Christmas tree at tho Baptist
church was given up
Rev Clark Of Wildoryillo occupied
the pulpit Of the Nj, L, church sun.
day,
The young child Of Arthur Hussey
was reported quito sick first Of the
week.
Miss Josephine Grow, our primary
teacher will spend Christmas at homo
at the ranch.
Mr. and Mrs A $, Roscnbaum, the
5. p. agent aud wife, are contemplat.
ing an extended visit to Los Angeles.
after Christmas.
= j, E. Loomis, storokeepcr at Galice
has sold out to tho Rand Company,
who will take charge and put in u
large stock Of goods
Tho Merlin Galico road is being re.
lNlleu III hcpts tlNt II Will be- above
high wator mark by tho time the
heavy rains como ON.
The time for new resolutions and
good cheer is nearly here, In the
abaonce OF a public entertainment aud
Christmas tree, nearly every family
had a homo Christmas tree.
Harley Kcyto, Carl Yaucoy and Bur.
Icy Green returned lately from Cali
tornia, whero they have been work.
inF The past summer aud fall.
Tho basket social given at McCon.
noll hall by the Laiios Aid Society Of
the NJ. Il. Church, ON last Friday
evening, was fine success The neat
sum Of $50 was realized.
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1904-12-29
WOndNllln Nnlrs

W. Hall of Ashland is here calling
on old friends.
The Christmas tree at the Prcsbyt,r. ?.
ian church was a good success
Mr., and Mrs. John Bagloy spent
Christmas with friends in Ashland.
W. o. Jones, our general merchant
returned from his mine to spend
Christmas with his family.
The marriage of r. r. Stevens and
Miss Lulu McCord, Of Grants Pass.
took place Saturday evening at the
Presbyterian parsonage, Rev. r. Tweed
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1904-12-29
THE DRAINAGE OF ROADS
Water Is the Greatest Enemy Of
Good Highways

Among the elements and forces Of
nature there are several enemies of
good roads, but the greatest Of them is
water. 1t washes away the material
of the road. II soaEs into the road
and softens It so that the wagon
wheels cut into the surface making
RUS and holes-, IL permca,es and
softens the foundation 80 that the sur
face Of the road sinks or breaks up.
In the winter the water that Is in the
road freezes, expands and loosens and
disntegrates the read material.
The most important thing IN the
building Of roads Is TO lessen or pre-
vent the rayages Of water. Yet no fea-
ture Of tie work Is so neglected as
this. Many local road supervisors seem
to give no consideration TO the ques-
ton OF drainage, and the result is a
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1904-12-29

Homo and its protection is the basis
Of all government That citizen who
has the love Of home and fealty to
home interests is a worthy representa-
tive Of any commonwealth. 1t is the
mass Of such men that are the back
bone Of any community and liguratlye-
ly the manstay and the rock upon
which nations ure founded, says the
Home Trade Advocate. Whoever lives
IN community and fails to support
the public institutions and does not as
sist in the building up OF industries
that add to the greatness Of that com
munity is Ike an alien. While he lives
In one place his heart Is IN another.
He Is not the Ideal citizen, for he Is not
In harmony with those who are his
neighbors. 1t is the duty Of every resi-
dent Of q town or community TO do hls
utmost to advance lts interests. BY
thus doing he not alone assists him.
self, but his neighbors, his town, his
county, his state and his nation.
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1904-12-29
VISITS HIS B0YH00D HOME
Mr. Jewell Finds Many Cha ges
In South.

Stephen Jewell is homo from an ex-
tended trip East, during which he
visited the Worlds Fair ana various
sections Of the South, but spent most
of his time ut the homo OF his boy
hood in Mayield, kentucky. 1t has
boon 80 years since MIR. Jewell came
west and in that time many changes
took place Rt his old homo, especially
Of tho people, but the village school
stood as of yorc with no great changes
except in teacher and pupils MIR.
Jewell visited tho school aud made "A
short address to the scholars.
Maydeld was within tho limos OF
the Confederate army and Mr.. Jewell
had four brothers in that service
Ho was rather too young for a soldier
and was left at homo by his brothers
TO care for their mother Two of his
brothers wero killed in battle, one at
shiloah aud the other before Atlanta.
Another brother who was in Genornl
Forests old regiment the Seventh
Tennessee, was shot through the body
at tho battle of Franklin, the bullet
lodging under tho skin Of his back,
from whore it was cut out hy tha sur.
geons He survived and died only
few years ago The bullot was given
by the family TO MIR. Jewell, who
brought 1t back with him. He also
has u number OF other relies which he
picked up on some of the battle folds
he visited. He also brought back
with him u bloodstaiued lottur found
on the body of his brother killed at
Shiloah. The brother was orderly
sergeant and having no other paper,
the letter was written on Loaf from
the oompany's roster book. 1t isaI
tender, manly, we'll writton lcttcr
that was addressed to his parents, aud
the lew lines OF war nows that IL
contains tells Of tho scarcity of proyi
siops. clothing and money aud Of the
battles they had lost, and of the
likelihood that il tho South lost that
the Conederates would have to suffer
for what they had done But the tone
OF the letter was hopeful, tho younc
man having the Same American
spirit of determined courage that
animated the soldiers Of both aumies
and which huoyed mp the Con.
fedorates through all thcir roycrscss
until they finally laid thoir arms
down at AppomattoS Mr. Jewell SAYS
ho found no animosity against the
North in the South and the Ex.Cou. /
foderates whom ho met are now q, 1
loyal TO the Union as are the old sol. |
diers Of the North. Tho idustral. |
progress and prosperity Of the South
was a revelation to Mr Jewell. Big
cotton and other factories were mum. /
erous and the people were prosperous .
and oontented.
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1904-12-29

Many towns have one drawback to
their prosperity, ana this Is the lack OF
good roads, whereby they may be
reached by the business and profe5-
sional men from the cities who every
year during the summer season arc
prone to seek the mountains for health
and pleasure As matter OF business
such towns should take steps to make
their roads so that they may he easily
Travelled by automobiles. coaches and
every other means Of transportation.
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1904-12-29

The Woman's Civic improvement
league Of Kalamazoo, Mich. enforces
cleanliness in the bacl, yards of untldy
citizens by sending a photographer to
make a picture Of m kempt quarters
II copy Of the picture does not set
The owner OF the premises to cleaning
up the picture Is put on public exhibit
ton, but this proceeding is seldom nee.
eSsary.
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1904-12-29
THURSDAY. DEcEMBER 20, 1904.

japan is raising new army of 500,
600 men for Marshal Oyama besides
providing defense for Formosa and
other islands against the second Pa
ciic squadron Of Russia. 1t appears
AS though the Russians would have
to operate their single track railway
to the limit to Offset the power which
Japan will throw into the field.
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1904-12-29

Lot 2, Block 60, Railroad Addition
to Mrs A. NJ. Mckinney.
ohas' Patrick and wifo to Mrs Jen.
ME Ems. lots . aud 6, Block Is, Ori.
ginal Townsito
Inc above SALES were made through
the Real EstateAgonoy of Joseph Moss