The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1904-07-07
CORRESPONDENCE.
ODELL.

q
with the passing of the Fourth of
July, the spirit OF patriotism IN Tie
hearts of true Americans runs high.
The music of the band and the popping
of firecrackers in the hands of the
small boy tends 10 heighten 1t and 1t
is well that 1t should be thus, and II
always will be, for the love OF country
Is akin and next to the mothers love.
Most of our people who did not at
tend public celebration took their
families and lunch baskets and went
to the falls, or to some retreat in the
depths Of the forest and spent quiet,
pleasant day.
The writer Of these notes and wife
received the sad intelligence last FRI
day of the death of a dear sister In
Yamhll county, and taking the early
morning train in company with Broth.
er Troy Shelley arrived at the house OF
mourning late in the evening. Our
sister, Mrs. Mary L. Sitton, widow of
N. X. sitton who died about two years
ago, was n pioneer of l84S and spent
her whole life ON the border. When
the funeral hour came on Sunday at
IL q. m there were over 10 carriages
carrying friends and relations, who
accompanied the remains to the last
resting place ON hill overlooking the
valley Of North Yamhill Mrs. Sitton
was devoted mother as well as de.
vout christian, as was demonstrated
In her every day life and attested by
scores of relations and friends during
the last sad parting hours Rev. Co.
berg and A, j. Hunsaker of McMlnn-
Vile officiated. The floral offerings
were profuse and OF the choicest Varl-
cites, being presented by loving hands
from different points In the state,
There were children present from three
different families: her own, those OF
her first husband, James i. Laughlin.
and those of her second husband and
first wife, Mr.. and Mrs. N. X. Sitton,
and five children being the fruit Of the
second marriage with N. X. Sitton.
Then there were grandchildren and
great grandchildren, all anxious to
pay last tribute Of love to the mem
ory Of one whose whole life work had
beer q work Of love and sacrifice, No
more fitting monument could be reared
over the grave Of any one than was
manifest on this occasion, and as an
unworthy brother we pause aud drop
a tear over the bier, containing one
who was both mother and sister TO us,
as well rs mother to my motherless
little ones during the last decade.
There are left Of the Shelley family,
which was Mrs Sitton's maiden name,
four brothers and two sisters. whose
hearts are shadowed with grief, as fol-
lows. Hon. j, NJ. Shelley Of Eugene,
Rev. Troy Shelley and Roswell Shelley
Of Hood River, and Rev. II. l.. Shelley
OF Montesano, Wash, Mrs. John Som
mervile Of Edmonton, Alta. Northwest
Territory and Mrs. Walter Huston Of
Harrisburg, Or. There are IA heirs
representing the Daughlin and Sitton
families, representative citizens OF a
respected ana honored pioneer family
to share the large estate Of their hon
ored parents Il. W. Sltton has been
sheriff of Yamhill county. The three
older half brothers are farmers and
stock raisers az we'll as younger one.
oldest son Of N. X, Sltton, and who
died several years ago, was present to
lend sympathy TO the bereaved ones.
Charles II. sltton was an old resident
of Portland and for years was Gonnec-
ted with the Skidmore Drug company
there, Mrs, Sltton is prominently
connected with good work. She is
president of the board OF directors In
her school district and president Of the
baby home on the East Side.
Perhaps there Is an apology due your
readers for such an extended notice ms
the above, but the only one | offer Is
that such lives make up large part Of
the history of dear old Oregon, and
consequently should be carefully
guarded IN our memory as citizens Of
our fair and progressive state.
The spring crops in the valley Of the
Willamette are exceedingly short on
account of the absence Of rain during
the spring season, but wlthal the coun-
try looks good to one who has spent
the best portion Of his life there. Not
wlthstanding IL was u sad message that
called us back, yet TO walk over the
same consecrated places OF childhood,
the same old meadows fragrant with
the new-mown hay, to linger and listen
to the music of the peaceful waters OF
the same old brook, then looking up
ward and beyond the evergreen hills
to the silent, towering, grand snow
capped sentnels pointing upward
piercing the very heavens, pointing US
to that place beyond and above all
earthly troubles, whore our tears are
dried and where the scales Of Justice
balance. To one whose early life was
spent In Oregon, and who has been
called to other places for years and
then returns to the old haunts, there is
an lndescribable fellowship In the
grand old mountains rs well as the val
ley scenes There is an inspiration In
all OF these uplifting scenes that must
be felt for II is beyond the power of the
pen or artists brush to describe. The
pioneer of Oregon is to be honored In
( life and his memory cherished after
death, for his bravery and courage IN
paving the way to the splendid achieve
ments that Oregon Is today transmit.
ting to the native sons.
r. j. Tucker, who is connected with
the Oregon Lumber CO., and resides at
ingalls,, Or, was out at his place one
half mile south of the Little White
Store, last Tuesday, looking over his
ranch with a view Of making II his
future home soon, His father III, b.
Tucker, has demonstrated beyond ques-
tion that apple growing pays.
Robert IL. HARRISON aud family called
at the Little White Store the Fourth on
returning from trip TO Willow Flat
and Dukes Valley. Although Mr.,
HARRISON has spent years In Hood Riv.
er valley, it was his first trip to Dukes
Valley, He Is thoroughly imbued with
the thought that 1t is great privilege
to be permitted to live in Hood River
valley, Mr., HARRISON gave us a good
report Of his brother Sam, who owns q
large farm in Linn county near Tan
gent.
Hay is turning out well and the
prospective. price is all that could be
expected.
Prof. V, V. Willis, who has been EN-.
ployed as principal in the 0dell school,
has about made up his mind to pur-
chase small tract of land near here
and build house before school opens.
The professor, like all men who study
the conditions here, has sufficient faith
in the country to cast his lot with us.
We welcome all such.
4