The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1905-03-17
A "Reminiscences.


A "Reminiscences.
Editor Owosso TINES and kind read
ers;-Often l have been requested to
write what shall call, my recollections
of Owosso and her grand old characters
as remember them fifty years ago. l
shall write from memory only, SO exact
dates need not be material.
Fifty years ago the writer of this arti-
Gle first saw the now most beautiful of
Cities Owosso, and today there lives
but three Of the grand, rugged charact-
ers of that long, long ago-Collier.
Dewey and Turner-all the rest are
gone out to the shore of eternal good.
M. L. Stewart-It is my good fortune
to have known for the half of a century,
this pre- eminent man, with the brain
and soul of king, with heart as pure
and sweet as child, and can write
nothing more fitting than that which !
wrote, when they told me he was
dead, over the bounds of life, out to the
shore of eternal good he has gone. one
whom we loved in life, one we shall re-
we're in death. Oft have come to his
place poor in pocket, sad at heart,
blinded with tears, always to come
away comforted, relieved. Let us keep
his memory green.
For he came our way and the clouds
grew golden
Where they had been gray.
He came our way, the skies took bright
er hue,
He made us glad he came, how glad he
never knew.
Blessed indeed are the pure in heart.
Father of Osburn Sons-Long before
the advent of the old Ramshorn Rail
road into Owosso, 1 remember this
grand old man. l claim no personal
acquaintance for he was man of few
words. His masterful mind seemed
conferred in his gigantic business. When
few years ago they told me he was
dead / said in my heart, no, for a man
who has raised to noble man and wo-
manhood family like his, can never
die. And the gate of the golden city
will stand wide for him, no matter
what his creed, for God is just.
DR.. c. p. Parkill-Genial, genuine,
old Dr. Parkill, man who in truth
took his life in one hand and those old
saddle bags in the other, taking the sun
shine of his dear old face into the
little shanties and the log cabins of the
fifties. Who does not remember that
old blackboard and little brown horse,
that sulky with wheels about eight feet
high. Aye, many times he came in the
gloom of the midnight, with wolves on
his track, when we stood face to face
with death, as a new life had come to
our homes. God bless him always, we
pray.
NJ ,rtin Hansman-In my memory Of
this genial, kindly friend 1 find many
sunny spots. For in the long ago when
muskrats were legal tender, this man
would not only give full price but was
sure to know hungry boy at sight,
And wonder if that goodly wife of his
can make such cookies now. In him
was truly the right spirit.
George Collier-I do not think the
subject of this remembers me. But
long years passed have seen the hard
steel and shining brass grow into things
of beauty under his master hand in the
old foundry by the river.
A. J. and B. o. Williams-Happy in
deed should any one be who was able to
hear the stories Of these wise old Spar
tans Many glad hours have spent in
the old gun shop of Wood 81 Blair,
when it stood on South Washington,
listening to the tales of B. o. of his
great hunting trips and trading with
Mr.. Copperskin. And l remember of
his telling me forty eight years ago, to
always pray for wisdom. 1t seems to
me now that they absorbed into their
natures the grandure and ruggedness of
their surroundings, in all events they
were my ideals.
Reader, when l started to write this
article had forgotten that | never saw
the inside of a grammar and ignored
the fact that I had not been to school in
fifty years. l might write for a week
and not tell half of what can remem-
Der of these noble men. Almost all
haye gone down into the valley and out
of the hills beyond. Let us cherish
those that are left.
Retrospect-For in the past, almost
hidden by the mist of years, l remember
q mill on little brook. We often went
there with corn to be made into meal
for our daily Johnny bread. They
ground by the pond full, so when the
pond was out we got no meal. Kind
reader l rise to remark the pond is out.
Good night,