davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-05-13
GEO. SHARRAR' 5 HONE
Struck by Lightning Monday
Evenins-MedIer's Grocery
Store and Convis & Convis
TOUCHED BY ELECTRIC FLUID
Fire Department Called Out at 6;iS
and Ouench the Blaze with
Two Streams OF Water

The citizens of Alma were treated
with an old fashioned electric storm last
Monday evening The storm began to
gather during the afternoon, rain COM
mencing to sall about 3 o'clock, at 7
O'Clock the storm broke III all its fury
and the streets of the city were
soon filled with water. AT O'Clock
flash of lightning more intense than any
of its predecessors was followed by a
crash of thunder the equal Of any heard
in Gratiot County in years. AS of in
tuition the fire men over the city crawled
into their fire fighting apparel awaiting
the fire alarm which every one seemed
to feel was the next thing ON the pro-
gram and they were not disappointed
for within very short space Of time the
ringing of the fire bell and the shrill
notes of the whistle were heard. 1t
to ok only a short time for the depart
ment to make the run to the corner OF
State and Superior Streets, were con-
nections were made with the hydrant
anu stIedIu VI WdteI was sOou pihyihS
on the roof of the residence of George
Sharrar, where the lightning had en-
tered and set the roof afire. The
flames looked so threatening despite the
heavy rain and city water that another
line of hose was stretched from the
Downey street hydrant with the aid of
which the flames were soon extinguished
but not until damage estimated by Mr..
Sharrar at $700 to $500 had been done.
The lightning entered the home via the
chimney and electric wiring, entering
room occupied by Miss Pearl Walker
who was made aware of its presence in
no uncertain manner In this room a
large hole was torn out of the partition
wall and the fire giuen start The
electric current passed down the
chimney, blew out the range stove pipe
and scattering SCOT throughout the
room Although damage was done
Mr. Sharrar has every reason TO be
thankful that his family escaped with
out injury.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-05-13
ASHLEY'S POSTMASTER

NJ. W. Coon received notice Monday
morning that he had been appointed
postmaster to succeed David Duncan,
resigned. Miss Maize Coon will act as
clerk under the new administration
and began work Immediately under
the instruction of the ex-postmaster.
The appoin tment we believe will
prove general satisfactory.
Postmaster Duncan and wife have
served the people faithfully for sew.
eral years, and retire from the work
on account of Mr.. Duncan's health,
which had made the position quite
burdensome. Ashley World
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-05-13
THE PIONEER FARM
Paper Prepared by Mrs. Edward
Hannah And Read Last Sat.
urday at the
centennial GATHERING
Held on the Gee Farm in Seville Town
ship-Paper Full OF Interesting
Facts.

From this cabin on the 10th of May
1857 George Gee brought his wife of
sixteen summers to her future home.
1t was beautiful morning. A speck
led patch of sunshine pushed its way
through the arcading branches and lay
across the winding road, above the
birds fitted to and fro from tree to
tree, sending forth their hymenal
chorus. In concordance was thei r
spring time greeting, for they too
were home builders and their trlum-
phantal chant re-echoed through the
forest. Adder tongues. spring beautys,
and violets skirted the roadsides and
bloomed profusely through the woods.
Their oderous scent greeted the bride
and groom, as after oxen in a we'll
loaded wagon they iolted along The
road laid well on the high lands. wind
Ing zigzag over lands which now are
fenced in fields. A days journeying
brought him to Pioneer Farm. This
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-05-13
ST. LOUIS APPOINTMENTS.

At the council meeting Monday
evening May Bird. Mayor Alger made
the following appointments which
we're concurrred in by the councill:
CITY Atty. C w. Giddings
Auditor w q. West
Marshal-Wm. Caswell
Night Police VIM. Townsend
Street Commissioner-E Mclean
Fire Chief. G. Newton
Asst. Chief-George Null
Health Officer--G. W. Pettey
Pound Master-Wm. Caswell
Surveyor-John Burns
Drive Fire Team-Lewis Rumsey
Park Comm rs. "A. II. Wheeler. F,
G. Henry.
b. of p. ". H. b. Giddings.
getty Scavenger-S. A. Holmes.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-05-13
INTERESTING INFORMATION

A bulletin has just been issued y
the bureau of labor and statistics OF
the state giving much interesting In
formation relative to the raising OF
sugar beets in Michigan. Among
other things the report gives statistics
of investigation made and opinions of
growers of beets.
The special commissioner says in the
report:
My estimate of the number of women
and children employed in the wedding
and topping of sugar beets in the state
of Michigan is no less than four
thouasnd. These consist chiefly of
Belgians. Russians aad Hungarians
drawn from our large cities, in addi-
tion to those living on the farms and
in neighboring villages The labor is
usually done by contract between the
grower and the sugar company, bat
in many sections the farmers prefer to
hire their own help, and employ the
children in the nearby villages, carry
ing them out to the fields in the
morning and bringing them back to
their homes at night. The children
seems to be able to do the wedding
better and more swiftly than adults.
but of course need some older heads
with them to see that the work is
done correctly. 1t is healthy work
and source of considerable profit to
the family, the children being able
to earn from 75 cents to one 81 per
day.
The best sugar beet land seems to
be what is known as clay loan, found
in parts of the thumb, Bay, Saginaw
and Shiawassee counties, although
from experiments made in the last
few years near Deckerville and Cross
well and on the Prairie farm near
Saginaw. it is shown that the low
lands, more especially swamp lands
are capable of producing not only
heavy tonnage but extra large per-
centage of sugar beets. Our sand
land in Michigan produces the best
beets, most sugar and most tonnage of
any land we have except for the
difficulty of getting the plant started.
The plant comes up nicely, but the
spring wind caused the sand to so beat
against the small plant that 1t turns
black and dies. -
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-05-13
| out injury

At the same time that lightning fred
the Sharrar residence it entered the
Medler grocery via the electric wiring
system, jumped from the east wall of
the store room to the chandelier in the
centre of the room where ornamental
paper placed on the light fixtures was
soon ablaze.
Lou Convis of Convis & Convis the
furniture dealers was sitting near the
telephone at the time that the lightning
was playing in the block. Lou who is
a recognized hustler is said to have
moved quicker than it was thought
possible for mortal man to move when
the electric fluid entered the building
burned out their telephone and lifted
every mantle from their gasoline light
ing plant leaving the store in total
darkness all in the twinkling of an eye.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-05-13
Bert Henderson, Popular Acad-
emy Student. Not Seen Since
Monday Night.
WENT OUT IN HIS CANOE
Which Drifted Ashore Without It's
Owner-No Trace of the Young
Man Has Been Found.

Townspeople and students at Alma
are greatly wrought up over the disap-
earance-of Albert II. Henderson, stu
dent in the academy
On Monday afternoon he took his
canoe after 10 classes were excused
and started for Turck's woods. across
the river from Wright Hall, to gather
violets He was seen rowing across the
river about five. About six O'Clock a
thunderstorm which had been gather
ing all Afternoon. broke, and the canoe
was seen drifting across the river.
where it landed. An alarm was raised
and students began searching the neigh
borhood. The search continued all
night and the next day Launches
were out on the river. dragging for the
body but nothing has been found.
The brother of Henderson was sent
for and came to Alma last night.
A peculiar feature of the disappear
ance is that the canoe and its contents
arrived on the north bank of the Pine
perfectly intact, and.holding only so
much water as might have rained in.
Bert" Henderson-entered the Acad-
emy Department of Alma College
year ago last September with the in
tention of preparing for the ministry.
This spring he was to have graduated
and would have taken up work in the
college next year. Henderson had the
reputation of regularity and industry
among his fellow students and was
sincere friend of everyone. His char
acter as a gentleman was above re-
proach and he was active in all lines of
Christian activity, being interested in
Y. Nj. c. A. and Sunday-school work.
He was about 2I years of age and his
home was in Detroit, where bis par
ents and brothers received the news of
his disappearance. During the present
year his brother, Arthur has been with
him at college, preparing for a medi-
col course. News of the disaster was
received by the student body with
greatest grief. Monday evening about
nine O'Clock. searching parties secured
the woods and called at the nearby
farm houses, but the only traces that
could be found were the canoe and
footprints leading from and back to
the place, where Henderson had gone
ashore to search for flowers in Turck's
woods.
The canoe itself was found on the
shore opposite the woods, having blown |
over during the night
Hope for his life was abandoned |
early Tuesday morning. when no clues
could be found except those that In
dicsted he had met death in Pine
River. No classes were held Tuesday,
faculty and students spending their
time in futile efforts to recover the
body.
8 The water in the river is being lower
ed this. Wednesday, morning in order
to hasten the finding of the body.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-05-13
KENNEDY BANQUET TOASTS

The toasts to be responded to at the
Kennedy Banquet on May 22nd in st.
Louis, as far as can now be an
nounced are:
''Dr. Kennedy as the Young mans
friend" " Dr. Drake. Breckenridge;
''Dr. Kennedy as a man and citi-
zen'. Jas. X. Wright. st. Louis.
Physician and patient. Mrs.
Frances E. Burns, st. Louis.
Personal friends of DR.. Kennedy
will be admitted to the banquet, (75
cents). Those wishing to attend
should notify the secretary, DR.. Day,
Alma, by the 18TH so that plates may
be engaged for them.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-05-13
GENERAL CONFERENCE
Now in Session at Baltimore f
L Convis Represents The Ian.
sing District Of Michigan
METH0D|sTs PRESENT FROM
All Over the World-Mr. Convis AS
signed to Two Important
Committees.

The general conference of the Method
ist Church, now in session at Balti-
more, is composed of representative
men of the entire world. Several
governors, many congressman, United
States Senators, college presidents and
representatives Of foreign governments
are iucluded among the delegates Our
townsman, +. l.. Convi who was
chosen at the Michigan Conference at
Albion to represent this the Lansing
district, left last Monday in company
with his wife for Baltimore, where the
conference opened last Wednesday. A
letter received from Mr.. Convis says
in part
"Our journey was very pleasant
one and greatly enjoyed by us both.
DR.. and Mrs. Potts met us at the depot
in Detroit and took us to their home for
dinner. We spent the afternoon doing
little shopping and completing ar
rangements for the balance of our trip.
We left Detroit at 7:25 Monday evening
and arrived in Baltimore Tuesday at
ing and has rained ever since until to-
day, and it looks as though it might
clear up for good. The season here is
nearly month in advance of Michigan
and that makes the season delightful.
Baltimore is a quaint old city in many
respects with many beautiful spots,
especially for Methodists as it was here
the First Methodist General Conference
was held just 100 years ago. 1t has
not been my privilege to meet any of
the Brethren that was here at that time
bat we are shaking hands with people
from all over the world of every tribe.
color and tongue, India, Japan, Korea,
Philippine Island, Siberia and nearly all
the isles of the seas. 1t is not time
for recreation as many might suppose.
attend the morning session which
adjourns at 1890 and then have from
two to three committees to meet after
dinner, which usually meets in different
parts of the city so nearly every minute
of day light is consumed We have a
lecture by Bishop @. b. Galloway to-
night aud the l2th we have Quayle on
Faust" the 10Th, DR.. Robt. Mcintyre
ON "Buttoned Up People, " and the 10Th
we have the Hon. William Jennings
Bryan. We have changed our location
and are now located at 1929 Mccullough
Street and are nicely situated and en-
joying every minute even when we
Sleep"
Mr.. Convis is chairman of the COM
mittee on Temporal Economy and a
member of the committee on Deacon
ess work and Evangelism" w p.
French Of Lansing, Presiding Elder of
this district is a member of the COM
mittee on "Episcopacy." Saturday of
this week the members of the conference
go to Washington in body, where they
are to be received by President and
Mrs. Roosevelt.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-05-13
LETTER CARRIERS MEET.

The Gratiot County Rural Letter
Carriers Association held their regu-
lar monthly meeting in this city last
Saturday evening Carriers were
present from Breckenridge, Wheeler,
st. Louis. Elwell, Ithaca and Alma.
The meeting was held in the Wood
man Hall and after the business ses-
sion the Alma r. f. ID. carriers served
the entire company with refreshments.
That all present had good time is
evidenced by the fact that it was we'll
toward Sunday morning before the
company dispersed
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-05-13
NEW LINE TO DETROIT

Our citizens who have occasion to
talk with Detroit either for business or
pleasure will be pleased to know
that the Union Telephone Company
have completed their lines to that city.
A direct line now connects Alma with
Detroit, the operator in this city presses
the button and Detroit answers.
The Independent Co in that city have
5000 telephones installed and are rapidly
forging to the front. The Record will
tell the readers more of this next week.
BY using the Union telephone you can
get as quick connection with Detroit as
yon can with any village or city in
Gratiot county.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-05-13
UNITED IN MARRIAGE

Frederick John Scott and Miss Bertha
Spicer were married in Chicago Thurs.
day, May 7th and are now the guests OF
Mr.. and Mrs. Ed Hannah of this city.
Mrs. Scott is we'll known in Alma where
she attended the city schools, later TAX
ing a commercial course at Alma college
and being for nearly year in the en-
ploy of the old firm of Sharrar & Null
holland. Mr.. and Mrs. Scott will make
their home in Milwaukee. Mr.. Scott is
travelling auditor for the II. w. Johns
Manville Asbestor Co., of New York.
There many Alma friends extend best
wishes.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-05-13
ADVERTISED LETTERS.

Advertised letters for the week end
ing May 9th, 1905; Mr. Lauren Brad.
Mrs. Rose Barnes, Mr. L. Beckman,
Mr.. Albert Brayton, 2. Mr.. Britten,
Miss Lucille Brown, Mr.. Walter Brown
Mrs. George Burnet. Mr.. r. d.
Glow, Mr.. ELY Engsole, Mr. Charley
Mosher, Geo. A. Pierce. Mr.. ice Shan
non, s. Spaulding, Mr.. W. A. Van
Lon. Mr.. Hugh wyeth, 3. The above
If not called for will be sent to the
Dead Letter Office May 25h, 1908.
G f. Brown. p. NJ.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-05-13
SENIOR HONORS

The senior class last Friday elected
four of its members to complete the
number of the eight orators to take
part in the exercises of Thursday,
June Is, four being appointed by the
faculty. Those elected were Miss
Helen Cook, Mr.. ii. N. Morse, Mr..
Robt Craig and Mr.. q. ID. Sutton.
Those appointed by the faculty were
Miss Edith Cook, Miss Elvena Hoover.
Mr.. Lester Sharp and Mr.. Francis
Cobb, valedictorisn. .-Almanian
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-05-13

farm fifty years ago A small clearing
had been made and new log cabin
stood on rise of ground surrounded
with stumps. What is now the door
yard was then a swamp hole filed
with croaking frogs. The bride was
pleased with this new home with the
glass windows (which was considered
quite luxury and the board floor.
and food. pork. flour and potatoes.
Before this in the fall of 1854 George
and Isaac Gee from North Plains
Ionia county. with an experienced
land-looker came twenty miles by
com pass through wild forest aid To-
Gated in this section $50 acres of land.
which was bought under the grad
uation act" paying 81. % an acre.
This was divided between the three
brothers. George, Isaac and Joseph,
Georges share being 400 acres. The
next April they brought Mr.. and Mrs
Michel Mcnamara. erected shanty
consisting of one large log with a
smaller one on top for our side several
logs for the other side with covering
of shacks "poked down" and with n
puncheon floor. Here Mrs. Nc
Namara kept house while the men
made a small clearing. 1t was not
long before their son. James was
born and he has the distinction of
being the first white child born in
Sumner township and probably the
first male child in the county. The
first infantile crys resounded from Pi-
oneer Farm soon to be echoed in
many homes and again in this. for
in less than year after George Gee
brought his wife here Jay gladdened
the hearth.
Whea he was six months old the
new parents made their fisrt visit out
side of the county. With OK team and
wagon, minus spring seat. they jolted
over miles of rough jagged corduroy,
travelling two days before reaching
North Plains, their distinction. In
comparison Mrs. Gees son in an auto.
mobile took her from here to the sane
place last summer in two short hours
Most noticeable are the changes of
fifty years and the pioneer knows
best how to appreciate each new i'm
provement. In those days and years
afterward Mr.. and Mrs. Gee had Mr..
and Mrs. Mcnamara for neighbors.
They built a cabin and lived one half
mile west. Many time has the good
carried three pals of wa
ter, one of her head and one In each
hand, from here to her home. Togeth-
or with spinning, sewing, knitting
and cooking. the women found little
time to spend In idle moments Hands
were ever busy. : nevertheless with
needles clicking along the length of
Continued on page Two.)
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-05-13

To answer your questions about
California, can never recommend
anyone even though they should have
many thousands of dollars as income
or investment to sell their home and
change without having spent one year
In the country. California, to see how
they like it and how it agrees with
them. II feel that way about one
who has competency would do my
very best to discourage family. the
head of whom must work for a living,
Continued on page Two)
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-05-13
MARRIAGE LICENSES.

Glen Ballard, %, Lansing
Lucy Drayer, %. Ithaca
Hugh Harvey. 23, Sumner
Samantha NJ Duffield. 20. Ferris
Milo Phillips. "a. Maple Rapides
Ella Kline, Is, Fulton
Joseph McNabb. 20, New Haven
Grace SchaulI, 20, North Star.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-05-13
ATTENTION

According to city ordinance
chickens are not allowed to run at
large in the city limits Complaints
have been made and from now on said
ordinance will be enforced.
Elmer Sprague. City Marshal.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-05-13

Additional local news on
pages 2, ;, 6 and z.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-07-14

us fast as possible to young eucalyptus
trees six or eight inches tall. Several
hundred acres Of this vast tract have
been set out already, and fully ninety
five per cent. of the trees have taken
hold in good shape and shown signs Of
growth.
One of the most interesting things
about the Eucalyptus is its varieties,
OF which there are at least $50 good
species, with prabably third as many
sub. species which are not commonly
listed in the catalogues.
They grow to be OF great sizei in
Australia individuals of some yarietiet
have been known to attain a height OF
800 feet. In California. where treet
were planted about some Of the old
haciendas forty years ago, they ara
still growing and their ultimate size
is entirely problematieal.
At eighteen years of age a tree will
cut into at least two railroad ties. A
blue gum six or eight years old, if cut
to-the ground, will send up shoots that
will be seventy-five or one hundred
feet tall in another eight Harry
II. Dunn, in Technical World for Aug
urt.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-07-14
FOURTH CELEBRATIONS
PAY FINES IN COURT.
Many Boys Make Up For Damage
Which They Did on The might
Before" in EnosbuIg and
Vicinity.

fnosburg Falls, July 14.--Yesterday
WAS banner day for police court eoses,
the majority being those Of 10 boys
WHO celebrated the Fourth as they had
no business TO. The trials were con.
Quoted by City Judge N. y. Post of
St. Adams and States Attorney +. S.
Upper OF the same city prosecuted
FJr breaking into the Methodist church
at West Enosburg ringing the bell
end doing considerable damage, eight
youths of that village were arrested
By Deputy Sheriff W. r. McFeeters.
Seven pleaded guilty and were fined 81
and costs. The respondents were Har.
leg. Howard and Clyde Ovitt, Arthur
Bcgue, Garland Page, Fred and VIII
liam Tfansticl and Albert Kettell. the
case against William Tfsautiel being
mol pressed. Three from this village
pleaded guilty to similar mischief at
the Episcopal church here aud were
fined like sum, the costs in the ten
cases averaging 81 each. The village
boys were Olin Drso Harold Mitchell
and Eyeroy Blair
Richard Erwin, ST., arrested for in
toNication Saturday evening, pleaded
guilty yesterday and was fined IS and
costs Of S10.55, which he paid John
Donnolly pleaded guilty TO charge of
intoxiation but could not pay fine and
costs amounting to $3.50 and will
serve the alternative sentence in com-
ty jail at st. Adams. He also pleaded
guilty to the charge Of furnishing and
was fined $500 or three months in Jail
which he win probably serve at the
end OF his present sentence.
Charles Blair was arraigned on the
charge Of cruelty to animals but the
case was continued few days owing
to the absence OF witnesses.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-07-14
TALK OF THE TOWN

New song at the Comique tonight.
Excursion to st. Anne de Beaupre, see
adv. on page 2.
Cash paid for watches. diamonds, gold
and silver jewelry. Burr. the Jeweler.
The cate Real Estate agency has some
new bargains on the market. Sec adv.
Stone cutters glasses. All prices from
90 cents 10 $500 each. L. r. Austin,
the watch and clock man.
Clairyoyant. and Thursday,
D. m. to o D. M, Mira. n. Il. Ellis, 60
spaulding street, telephone 1861.
Heyl Mr.. FIsherman-Rexall Skeeter
skoot will keep them away SO that you
can give you whole attention to tie
festive trout.
You can got first class groceries at
reasonable prices and 5 per cent. off for
cash. or red stamps, at j. i. Browns,
337 North Main street. If you have
dairy butter for sale, You can get cash
for il at this store. Tel. lila
+ aperta una infermerIa per cayalli Q
uer cam al No. II Cottage stbeet; dove
vengano operate sgin sorta ii operaris
nj. CAM, sui cavalli g sui gatti l. in
fermeria aperta Ii giosuo di motto.
Juno contenere comodamen to 10
oavalli 20 cant. TIE dott Arthur II. II.
Lewis, d. v. s.. ed il unove laurando 0.
Z. Barr, graduate sal collegio di On.
tsrio. assistente. Origin sarta di ejer-
arianoi nj irossono fare vrezzi miti.
I'll curano lutte lie malab tie degli ami
mali sccando | sisteni juni nader nj.
Teleforno, 212-12.
Notice TO association football clubs.
4 five.a.side association football con-
test for the championship of Vermont
will be played at the Clan Gordon picnic
at Caledonia park on Saturday, August
I. Clubs wishing to enter the contest
may do so by communicating with
James r. Coutts, sec, Clan Gordon, 20
Academy street, Barre, W. Entries
should be made at once to avoid dis
appointment, as there will be only
time for limited number of teams to
compete.