davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-04-30
LETTER FROM OLD TIMER
Recalls the Early Pioneer Days
and Persons

Oberlin, Ohio, April 16, 1908.
WOOD COUNTY REPCRTER:
Through the kindness of Mrs Mary
j. Warren / have received a late copy
of your paper which so revives my
memory of early times in Grand
Rapids and Wood county that I am
constrained to communicate my re,
membranes to you hoping that they
may be Of interest to your readers.
In the summer of 1856 l engaged to
go to Frenchtown in the capacity of
bookkeeper and general manager for
the firm of Edwards g. Clinton a
newly organized firm who were about
to build a mill, put in dam, boom,
piers and other appliances for the ex-
tensive manufacture of lumber.
During the summer and following
winter we built mill with all the
necessary outfit and had it ready for
operation when the logs came down
the river in the spring.
l.
was large log building on the
premises and an old frame structure
which was converted into a dwelling
for my family. | remember a few
families who lived near there at the
time, HeZaIzia Ripley who was fore
man of the construction gang. Moses
VarBunker, the PARISHES and man
by the name of Canning. When my
year of engagement expired l bought
property at Grand Rapids, moved
there and entered into partnership
with Levi P. Powers in the law and
land agency business.
Wood county was organized about
this time and the Hon. Joseph Wood,
for whom the county was named, was
our first assemblyman.
Some allowance must be made for
lapse Of memory but as | now re-
member Levi 2. Powers was the first
chairman of the county board of su-
pervisors, the first county judge. He
was rather an indolent man but had
more brains and executive ability than
any other man in the county and
some said than all the rest put to-
gether.
Lemuel Kroner was the first regist.
er of deeds, ]. 81. Lang acting as
clerk of the circuit court, Ben Buck
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-04-30

Der of the House or Senate who has
no private income and who hesitates
about accepting low fees or other out
side emolumentS, however clear they
may be of commercial taint, is often
hard pressed to maintain a dignified
appearance in the world. He is ex-
pected to attend an average of about
ten months out of every two years on
the sessions here. That leaves him
fourteen months away from Washing
ton.
Records show that the 57th congress
lasted ten months and five days in
actual sessions Dec. 2, 1901, to July |.
1902, first session: Dec. I, 1902 to
March 3, 1903, second session. The
58th congress lasted eight months and
twenty-five days, with intervening
vacation period. The 59th congress
occupied nine months and twenty-nine
days out of two years. With only
$4,000 pay for these average l0-month
periods it was found impossible to
make both ends meet so as to carry
, through the long vacation seasons to
happiest advantage. So last year
Congress raised the salaries of its own
members so per cent, bringing the pay
up to Sl5, 900 each for ten months
actual attendance, with $4,000 addi-
tional for personal clerk hire to be
used adlibitum, and a few other trifl-
ing perquisites.
Fourteen million dollars are being
expended on two beautiful white
marble buildings, which will supply
private office for each Senator and
each Member of the House, all COM
fortably furnished and conveniently
located. An underground subway is
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-04-30
the first sheriff and Emanuel Dutruit
the first county treasurer.

the first sheriff and Emanuel Dutruit
the first county treasurer.
The settlements and hamlets in the
/ county were Frenchtown, DeXterville
on Yellow river run by George Hiles,
little gathering around the sawmill
| OF futile and Streetor son Hemlock
and the Reed settlement in Rudolph.
| now recall a few of the early
settlers who were pioneers in making
openings in the dense forests. There
| were Blake and Clark on the Bear
lcreek, Harkness, Parkhurst, Turner,
Hecox and Whitman in Rudolph,
Brown, Aber Me- Farland and Tenant
on -Four Mile creek There were
quite number of Germans, Irish,
Sweedes and Norwegians scattered
over the county carving out homes in
| the wilderness.
The leading business of the county
| if not the only business was lumber
ing and everything else depended up
on that. The principal lumber firms
in the county that depended upon
running their product down the river
for market were Howe and Rablin,
Edwards and Clinton, Hurley and
Burns, Francis BirOn, Orestes Garri-
son, Henry Reed, George Neeves
George Hiles.
There were two hotels, the Grand
Rapids House kept by John Compton
and the Wisconsin House kept by Geo
Neeyes.
The principal business firms were
T. B. Scott and 1, L. Mosher, general
merchandise: Miller and Fegley,
grocers: Joseph Homier, hardware:
saloons were too numerous to mention.
The ferry was owned and run by E.
Layigne, Attorneys Webb and Witter
and L. p. Powers.
In addition to those before men,
toned, Irecall the names of some who
were engaged in smaller enterprises
but reputable citizens, David Baker,
Abijah Pierce, M. G. Warren, William
Kline, ]. X. Searls, James McGraw
Matthew McCraith, Joseph Cotey.
1t must be remembered that this
was more than fifty years ago and the
substantial growth of population and
business began about that time. Our
courts were held in the second story
OF l. L. Mosher's store, presided over
by George w. Cate, the circuit Judge.
The only church or religious body
was the Catholics who had small
church edifce. There was but little
religion among US and what there was
was not worked at to any extent.
The Rev. Jesse Edwards used to come
down from Ployer and hold occasional
services in the schoolhouse. | left
Grand Rapids in 1865, having put in
ten years of the hardest work of my
life,
1 have longing to visit the old
stamping ground once more and find
the old section corners and quarter
posts with which | became so familiar
in my surveying days.
But this article is long enough for
this time and personal anecdotes for
future article and "reminiscences must
be left. ]. III. Lang.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-04-30
PomainviIle, Aldermen. Steib. Ellis,

Pomainville, Aldermen, Steib, Ellis
Jackson, Hill.
On motion, the above appointments
OF the mayor were unanimously con
tirmed by the council.
On motion, alderman Jackson was
unanimously elected president of the
council.
On motion, the bonds of the city
treasurer and city clerk were fixed at
the same amount as last year,-towit,
$50, 900 for treasurer and $1,000 for
clerk.
On motion, the clerk was,ipstructed
to get bids from the newspapers for
city printing and from the banks for
the city depository.
On motion, the city attorney was
instructed to draw the proper or
dinance covering the organization of
the board of review under the present
law, the number of persons to conSti-
tute the board of review and their
compensation to be left blank. the
same to be determined at the regular
meeting of the council in May.
Motion made and carried that the
council resolve Itself into the board
of health with the mayor, health
commissioner and city clerk as the
executive committee and the health
commissioner aS health officer,
On motion, the council adjourned.
e. e. BoLEs, FRANK PoMAINvILLE,
Clerk. Mayor.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-04-30

and direct appointment under the
merit system. Itshows how little q
fellow can progress depending on his
own Endorsements alone and merely
proving himself qualified Again
thanks for the congratulations.
The much discussed Aldrich
currency bill passed the Senate recent.
ly carrying two amendments by
Senator LaFollette. According to
Representative Hill. of Connecticut, "a
member of the Iouse committee on
banking and currency, something
more will now happen to that bill in
the body that claims to stand closest
to the people. He has stated that
1.-THE effect of the elimination of the
railroad bond provision will make it
all right, and now The House can wipe
out the balance of the measure and fix
it up in good shape" 1t will un-
doubtedly be handled in the House as
an amendment to the Fowler bill, al
ready reported from the House cur
rency' committee.
From the Herald:-When Senator
Aldrich, without warning, ac-
cepted an amendment to the cur
rency bill proposed by Senator LaFol-
lette, nobody breathed for fully half a
minute. Even the Senator from Wis
consin was surprised The Senator
from Wisconsin is too radical to find
many Of his own party in the Upper
House who share his opinions, and the
fact is not lost upon the Senator or up
on the galleries
But Mr.. Aldrich did accept that
amendment, whether in moment OF
mental alteration or not is not known.
And when Mr.. LaFollette had
awakened to the fact he made haste to
offer another.
But the chairman of the Finance
Committee had come to himself by
that time, and the second amendment
was not accepted.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-04-30
CARSON BURT WILL
BE THE MANAGER

The Nekoosa Telephone station is
to be moved into the r. NJ. Williams
building within a short time. Carson
Burt, of Grand Rapids, formerly To-
Gated in the barber business, having
accepted the position as local manager
and decided on the Williams building
as the location for the station.
Mr.. Williams intends to close up his
photograph gallery and will remodel
the building for the convenience of
Mr.. Burt and family who will reside
there.-Wood County Times.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-04-30

-Kodol For Dysdepsia has. helped
thousands of people who have had
stomach trouble. This is what one
man says of it. ''E. G. Dewitt s. Co.
Chicago. Ill.--Gentlemen- 1897
! had a disease of the stomach and
bowels. I could not digest anything
Il ate and in the spring of 1902 /
bought bottle Of Kodol and She
benefit l received from that bottle all
the gold in Georgia could not buy. ]
still use little occasionally as l find
it fine blood purifier and a good
tonic. May you live long and prosper.
Yours very truly c. N. Cornell, Rod
ing, Ga, Aug. q, 1906
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-04-30
VOLUME 81, NUMBER Is

! The Wausau Paper Mills Co, has a
crew of log drivers at work on Copper
river. The drive on Copper this
spring is a very large one. the Paper
Mills Co. alone having $4,000, 900 feet
banked on that stream. The company
has several million more in Trappe.
Pine and other streams. The Stewart
Lumber Co, has drives on the WiScon-
sin, Newood, Copper and other rivers.
Log drivers are busy on all up state
streams. The water is very low for
this time of the year, but the warm
days of the past week is melting the
snow and ice in the woods and
swamps and rains can be expected at
most any time Wausau Pilot
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-04-30

-Kennedy's Lax ative Cough Syrup
the cough syrup that tastes nearly as
good as maple sugar and which chill
dren like so well to take. Unlike
nearly all other cough remedies, it
does not conStipate, but on the other
hand it acts promptly yet gently on
the bowels, through which the cold is
forced out of the system, and at the
same time it allays Inflammation.
Always use Kennedy's Laxative
Cough Syrup. Johnson & Hill Co.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-04-30
Why We do This

1st By writing our name hundreds of times you wi
never forget it.
2nd. You will remember that sell Kingsbury Pianos
3rd. You will remember that Kingsbury Pianos al
OLD RELIABLE PIANOS
SPECIAL-Owing to the fact that the postals sent
by the company fail to accommodate the demand the ord
nary postal cards will be accepted stated below many
them already having been received Be careful to follow til
rules given below Anyone wishing to the piano
given away, call Mrs DAILY at her home, 9O3 Gardne
Street and 9Th Ave-
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-01-23
Not Wanted TO Build Railroads in
Manchuria.
vICEROY IS URGING BIG LOAN
Chinese Government Determined to
Test the Pledges Made by Japan
In the Matter Of the Restoration of
Manchuria.

PEKIN, Jan. 22.--The intimatior
that Japan is ready to permit exten-
sioh OF the Hsin Min Tun Railroad tc
the north with Japanese capital ha'
aroused renewed opposition on Tho
part OF the Chinese government
which is determined to test tho
pledges made by Japan in the matter
OF the restoration Of Manchuria.
The governors OF the three prov
inces OF Manchuria have joined with
Hsn Shih Chang, viceroy of Man
churia, in again urging the throne &c
sanction a loan OF ten million taels
for the purpose OF increasing the ef.
6eacy of the new Chinese administra'
ton of Manchuria, This administra'
tion is trying to make itself independ,
ent OF Japanese assistance.
China has entered a protest against
the installation at Harbin OF munich
pal government by Russia.
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-01-23
TROUBLE IN VANCOUVER.

VICTORIA, B, C., Jan, 22.-'Some
Nstrong language was used by mem
bers for Vancouver in the British
Columbia parliament yesterday dis
cussing the proposed legislation
aimed TO restrict Japanese emigra-
ton. Mr.. MacCowen, Vancouver
stating that the situation was grow
ing desperate at Vancouver, and II
the aggression continued It might be
possible that resort to arms might
occur for self-prcseryation.
He said the Japanese Of Vancouver
were thoroughly armed and i steps
were not taken to disarm them, Van
couvcr citizens would arm themselves,
Dir. MacGuire, OF Vancouver, sug-
gested that the amount OF $20,000,00O
held to be due British Columbia
should be used to provide armored
cruisers which would assist TO de-
fend the Pacific seaboard Of Canada
and urgent steps should be taken
whether Japan opposed or not to ex-
clude the Japanese.
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-01-23
Interstate Commerce Commls-
sion Gives Figures for Third
Quarter Of 1907.
THIRTEEN HUNDRED KILLED
Property Loss Over Forty-three Mil
iions--Worst Accident Where rs
People Lost Their Lives Was
Caused by Dispatcher's Error.

WASHINGTON, Jan. o. - Start
ling figures appear in the accident
bulletin just issued by the Interstate
Commerce Commission covering the
months Of july, August and Septem-
Der. 1907. The report shows that
the number Of. casualties on railroads
during the quarterly period we're 23,-
063 including 1889 killed and 2l,724
injured.
This II an increase OF ls7 in the
killed and $3.50 in the number injured
as compared with the corresponding
period Of 1900.
Collisions and dcrailments in the
quarter numbered 4759, including 224s
collisions and 2034 dcrailments, OF
which 800 collisions and 222 derail-
ments affected passenger trains. The
damage to cars, engines and roadway
by these accidents amounted to 49,
605,696. This shows an increase in
the number OF collisions and derail-
mcnts OF 607 over the corresponding
period OF 1906.
1t is stated by the commission that
the worst accident in the record
which caused the death Of 26 persons
and the injury OF SO was the result Of
a collision between an east-bound
passenger train and west-bound
freight train and was due to an error
in sending or repeating the number
designating one of the trains in a
order.
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-01-23
MAY HAVE GONE TO PIECES

VANCOUVER, B. C., Jan, 22. =
Vancouver shipping men do not be-
licye that there is a chance that the
steamer Wadso, which went ashore at
Cape Lazo Friday morning, will have
survived the gale that swept the
Gulf of Georgia late last night and
this morning. One of the Vadso's
passengers who left the steamer Sat
urday afternoon arrived here today,
and does not believe that there is any
chance but that the new Northern
steamer practically pounded the bot
tom out of herself last night She
struck at full speed in clear weather.
Mate Smith was on the bridge and
was running three st-quarters Of mile
from shore when he should have been
a mile away.
The boat struck an hour after high
tide. She hit a boulder bottom and
rested her entire length on the rocks.
Her after hold filled with water and
her engine room was flooded out.
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-01-23
NORTHWESTERN COMING.
Surveys Have Been Completed to
Miles City, Mont.

BUTTE, Mont, Jan. 22.-The Chi
cago & Northwestern Railroad pro-
poses the extension of its system
from Belle Fourche, S. D., to Miles
City, Mont, and west on to the
Pacific Coast.
While none of the officials now in
the city would state that their visit
had anything to do with the contem-
plated extension, the trip through the
Northwest is very closely connected
with il.
Those in the party are Ed Brigham,
general freight agent; c. "A. c. Cairns,
general passenger agent, both Of the
Northwestern; E. B. Obern, general
freight agent, St. Paul and Omaha.
G. R. McRee, local passenger agent
Of the same road which is a part Of
the Northwestern system. The North
western completed its line to Belle
Fourche the past year. Surveys have
been completed to past Miles City,
and ties and steel sufficient to build
to Miles City have ben collected at
Belle Fourche.
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-01-23
PARKER ON BRYAN.
Says Il Would be Better TO Make
Statement al Earlier Date.

ALBANY, nj X, Jan. 22---ln com
mcnting on Bryan's statement before
the Kentucky legislature yesterday,
that Parker Ia 1904 was "rhe man
above all others do not want"
Judge Parker said that II was because
Of Bryan's statement that he would
bolt Cleveland. Hill, German and
Gray. but would support Parker iha,
induced Parker to change his lifc's
work and take the nomination. When
the tide was too strong TO be breast
ed, and Bryan found that he could
not stop Parker's nomination, Parker
says Bryan then started out on his
famous tour Of denupciation. Parker
says that il would be very much bet
ter for the party had he said in 1908
as he says now Parker is the man
above all others do not want"
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-01-23
Tenement Distric. in Chelsea is
in Flames.
MANY PEOPLE HOMELESS
Tenement District Surrounding Large
Rendering Plant Being Devastated
East Boston Fire Department
Appealed to.

BOSTON, Jan. 22.---What threat
ems to be the most destructive fire in
the history Of Chelsea-is raging this
|afternoon in the tenement district
surrounding the rendering plant Of
John Lawlor at Auburn and Maple
streets. Hundreds Of families are
homeless and it is feared that more
than one body may be in the ruins.
The East Boston fire department
has been appealed to to send appara-
tus. A number of tenement -dwellers
were overcome by smoke but were
rescued by firemen and neighbors.
The fire started in one of the tene-
ments and before it could be gotten
under control had spread to nearly
the whole district. Many OF those
overcome by the. smoke were at
tempting to save their effects. No
bodies have been recovered and at
this time it is impossible to estimate
the number of fatalities. The FIRE has
not reached the rendering plant yet,
and it is hoped that it can be saved.
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-01-23
EARTHQUAKES BLOCK MINES

NEW YORK, JAM o. Earthquake
shocks which have caused the shutting
down Of the Glendon Mines, owned by
the Wharton Steel Company at Hiber.
MIA, N. j., are believed to indicate that
the mountain range on which the mines
are situated, extending through Morris
country from Northwest to Southeast,
Is undergoing q settling process. The
shocks have caused the cracking Of rock
formations in the mine and caused the
blocking Of the tunnel leading to the
workings forcing the stoppage Of opera
tions. The shocks, It Is said, have been
felt at intervals for almost 20 years but
1t is only recently that they have
caused damage.
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-01-23
Suggested That Hall Could Use
His knowledge Of Alleged H.
legal Acts Of Sieiwer.
HAD INTERVIEW WITH HALL
Hendricks Went on Stand and Testi-
fed That he Visited ex-U. 5. Dis
trict Attorney Hall and Convcrsed
on Operations Of Butte Company.

PORTLAND, Jan. 22-Hamilton
| III. Hendricks, co-defendant with
John II. Hall, Edwin P. Mays, w. w.
Steiwer, A. c. Zachary and others of
less prominence in the land fencing
case for which Hall and E. P. Mays
are now on trial in the federal court,
pleaded guilty to the charge against
him this morning when Judge Hunt
took his place upon the bench.
G. B. Zachary, another Of the de
PENDANTS. was in the corridor of the
courthouse at the same time awaiting
an opportunity to enter his plea oi
guilty, but was not natiied and there
fore did not make his appearance.
Following plea Of guilty, ex-United
States Commissioner HI. H. Hend-
ricks and Clarence B. Zachery, a
member of the Butte Creek Land
Livestock & Lumber Company, CO.
defendants in the so-called Hall Mays
conspiracy case now being tried in
the United States court here, Hend-
ricks went on the stand and testified
that in May, 1900, he visited ex-United
States District Attorney Hall at
Halls office in this city and after a
preliminary conversation in Halls
main Office regarding the operations
of the Butte Creek Company he went
into the attorneys private office,
where Hendricks suggested that Hall
could use his knowledge of the al
legged illegal acts of w. w. Steiwer,
then candidate for and afterwards
elected state senator, who was also
member of the Butte Creek Com
pany to influence Steiwer's vote for
United States Senator. The govern
ment also introduced in evidence for
the purpose OF showing Halls alleged
friendliness for the Butte Creek
Company a letter to the attorney
general in which Hall asked for
Tive" special agent to investigate the
alleged fencing of government land
in Eastern Oregon.
In this letter, Hall specifically mem
tions FIVE counties in which he de-
clared that illegal fencing was going
on, but omits, the government con-
tending that such omission was de-
signedly done, counties Of Wheeler
and Gillian in which the alleged
wrongful acts of the Butte Creek
Company are declared to have taken
place.
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-01-23

the Saratoga Association the schedule
for the summer time track meeting
was made up and the offering 81
stakes and purses representing a total
estimated sum of more than $330,000
decided upon. The chief change was
made n the great republic stakes,
which we're for two year $4,000
race.
Last season X was reduced TO a
$4,000 event Yesterday further
change was decided upon and while
its general conditions and distance
remain the same, the great Republic
for 1908 will be sweepstakes, with
$4,000 added money, still leaving it
the chief event Of the meeting for
maturcd horses.
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-01-23
METHODS ARE CORRECT.

WASHINGTON, Jan. %. - Rear
Admiral Capps, chief of the bureau of
construction. United States navy,
yesterday spent some time with the
house committee on naval affairs III
defending, denying and controvertinG
some Of the various charges brought
by newspaper and magazine writer's
against navy methods Of battleships
construction. The gist Of Admiral
Caps statements was that the meth
DDS Of construction employed IN the
navy are correct in principle and
highly successful in results.
The two main subjects considered
were armor belt and free board.
Charges that the six to sixfand one
half foot arrnor belt width in use in
its placement insufficient to protect
the vital parts OF battleship from
high explosives were taken up in de-
tail and denied in all points by Ad-
miral Capps, who said the bureau Of
construction contemplates no changes
IN this regard, either as result Of
published criticism or professional
experience Coincidentally he remark
ed that the perfection of armor hard
ening processes in the last IL years
has enabled the reduction Of armor
belts from the lo inches used on the
Indiana to the 10 inches Of present
day construction.