davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-12-17

his own expense. He sold the pews,
SO far as purchasers could be induced
to buy, the remaining pews being left
on his hands. Mr.. Blake was quoted
as being a nan amiable of disposition.
modest, unassuming and exemplary in
department; a good man and a faith
full minister. He went from here to
Scion and died Sept. 10, 1882 in Wor-
%cester, Mass, at the age of 80 years.
Probably the first minister to preach
in the new church was Rev. Edward
Hotchkiss, who began his ministry at
Scion in 1880 and came to this town
in 1886, where he remained for one
year. 1t was during that year, that
the building was completed at the cost
of $500.
The church occupied what is now
the present site of St. Mary's Catholic
Church on Water st. but at that time
there was considerable of a ledge on
that spot, and consequently the build
ing occupied quite an elevation. Its
proportions were quite like those of
st. Mary's Church of today, and it is
related how the evening services often
time were held in the gallery of the
building. Among the pious men who
lifted up their voices in praise and
supplication at those meetings were
such men as the generous Mr.. Dins-
more; that diligent Methodist, Joseph
Patten as heretofore mentioned,
Thomas Ross and Daniel Ross, uncle
and father, respectively of Chas. A.
Ross, a present merchant of his town.
The structure also had another dis
tinction, which was that of being the
first westinghouse built in Milburn or
Skowhegan, for the other churches
had been built across the K%ennebec,
either in Bloomfield or Canaan. 1t
was in 1886 that the town took it's
present name. and it is so designated
for the first time on the minutes, dur
ing that year. Rev. Mr.. Hotchkiss re-
NAMED here for the one year and then
went to Winthrop. In 1843 he was
transferred to the Genessee Confer
ence.
Following Mr.. Hotchkiss in 1887.
came Rev. David Hutchinson to serve
the Mcthodists. He began his first
charge in 1913 at Readheld and closed
the duties of a regular pastorate, ten
years after leaving Skowhegan at
Sidney. He died June %, 1859 in
Winslow at the age of Is years. Rev.
P. p. Morrill, succeeded Mr.. Hotchkiss
in Skowhegan preaching here from
1888 to 1889. He began to preach in
Eliot in 1927 and died Sept. 1, 1864.
Next came Rev. A. Sanderson who
preached the gospel from 1924 to 1877,
occupying the Skowhegan charge one
year of that time and that in 1840.
His last charge was at Lisbon and he
died at the age of SO years in Mon
mouth on the ninth of February, 1886.
Rev. c. P. Bragdon came to Skowhe-
gan in 1841 from Hallowell. The
Maine Conference met here for it's ses-
sion that year in July with Bishop
Hedding presiding. The conference
occupied several days most of the
time in trying the cases of two mem
bcrs who had been suspended by a
council on charges of immortality.
of the accused members was expelled
and the other suspended for one year.
A report was adopted on slavery
which plainly indicated n strong and
unanimous anti-slavery sentiment in
(To be continued next week
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-12-17

Autos were plenty on this road
Sunday.
Mrs. Clara McKinnon was in
Skowhegan Friday with Ida Knights.
Mr.. and Mrs. Forrest Farley were
callers here n day last week.
Mr.. and Mrs. Startling spent Sunday
at John Lfoyd's.
Miss Bessie Lloyd is visiting her
friend Addie MCGEE.
Mr.. and Mrs. Fred Stevens called
on Mrs. Startling Friday.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-12-17

as far as we have been able to follow
the course of his ministry, his final
location seems to have been at East
Rumford. He remained to preach the
gospel in what is now S~kowhegan for
n year and during that year a Sun
day School was organized. 1t ap-
pears that in 1929, Isaac Lord was
sent here as a supply. He died in
Biddeford, May 25, 1885, aged 80 years.
Rev. f. Drew according to records
also seems to have been another early
preacher in the Methodist pulpit as
was Rev, Greenleaf Greeley, who was
noted as having preached here and at
Norridgewock from 1880 to 1881. 1t
seems too that Rev. John Perrin, a
man Of great memory was also sta
toned here during the year 1880.
Rev. Ezekiel Robinson, who had
previously organized a class mere
came to this circuit in 1881 as a
preacher remaining for one year. His
death occurred Sept. 2, 1873. He was
listening to the reading of the even
ing paper when he stepped into an
adjoining room and in an instant pass
ed away. His age was then 70 years.
In 1892 John Whitney was the
preacher in charge and there seems
10 have been only a moderate increase
in membership up to this time. The
meetings had been held in a school
house, which for years was located on
what is now Madison Avenue, near
the present home of E. B. Chase, but
in later years has been moved away.
The social meetings were held at the
home of Joseph Patten. During the
year of 1892 there moved into the
place James Dinsmore, who before his
coming to this town had been a Con-
gregationalist. While living in Nor
ridgewock, in a great revival, his
children experienced religion and
united with the Methodists, so accord
ingly after his removal here he Joined
with the same body of religious work
ers. Mr.. Dinsmore besides being in
terested in the cause, was a man of
considerable wealth, and he took
measures to build a house wherein
the little band might worship. This
gentleman was the grandfather of
Harry A. Dinsmore, a music composer
and dealer. whose business location Is
on Water St, and who follows in the
footsteps of his ancestor, inasmuch
as he is a loyal and influential Metho-
dist. 1t has been said, hal more
than any other man, Mr.. Dinsmore
might justly be called the father of
the Methodist Church in Skowhegan.
This devout Christian passed to his
heavenly home September IL, 1861.
In the meantime Rev. Asa Heath took
up the work in Milburn (S~kowhegan)
Church in 1888 and it was during this
same year that Milburn was set off
from the Norridgewock circuit. He
had been in the ministry since 1898
and his last charge was at Gray. He
died in Standish, Sept. l, 1860 at the
sge of 81 years. His ministry covered
about forty years.
Rev, Benjamin Follett was the next
minister, preaching here in 1884. This
seems to have been his last and only
charge, as he vas Discontinued in 1885.
Rev. S. P. Blake, came here to serve
as pastor in 1885 from Arson. Dur
ing his stay Mr.. Dinsmore accom-
plished what he had desired to regard
ing the erection of a church building
by assuming the entire responsibility.
The house being entirely completed at
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-12-17
THE BLUE DEVILS
OF INDIGESTION

Are put to rout by Dys-pep-lets, the
simple effective digestive tablets,
oval, sugar-coated, prepared by C. I.
Hood Co, Lowell, Mass.
They give the most gratifying relief
In soul stomach, distress after eating,
%belching, nausea, heartburn, etc. Per-
fectly safe, perfectly reliable, per-
fectly free from narcotics.
One or two crushed in the mouth
and swallowed slowly-that's all.
You'll not think of your stomach
again. Try them. Ten or twenty
five cents or a dollar.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-12-17
SOROSIS MEETING
Particularly Interesting Papers Read
at the Meeting Last Tuesday Even
ing

Sorosis held an interesting meeting
Tuesday night in Library parlors. Two
able papers were read one the
Growth of Woman's and Girls Clubs
by Mrs. Martha Griffin and the other
upon Campfire Girls" by Clara b.
Varney. A reading Whose Afraid
by Miss Gertrude Carter a much ap-
preciated as were the musical num-
bers which included a piano solo by
Miss Prudence WadsWorth and a vocal
by Miss Alice E.. Written and
Miss Helen Merriam. The program
was directed by Miss Varney and the
hostesses were Mrs. Georgia Goodwin
and Mrs. Annie Gilfllan.
The next meeting will be a Christ
mas one and will occur on Dec. 20.
Each member is privileged to invite
one guest and bring two gifts, one
with the name of the guest and also
a slip of paper, bearing the name of
member handing in the same. The
.hostesscs will be Mrs. Adelaide Ord
way and Mrs. Annie Hackett, the pro-
gram to be directed by Mrs. May
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-12-17
OUINNEBASSETT

The Longley school began Monday
morning with Albert Parsons teacher.
S. X. Boone has purchased the
house known as the Almiran Moore
place.
Charles w. Longley is stopping at
IL. G. Walkers.
Clyde Rogers went to North Arson
Saturday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Henry Ackert of N. S.
are visiting at Xavier Wierrmann's.
Several neighbors and friends met
at the home of Mr.. and Mrs. Samuel
Jakins and passed an enjoyable even
ing last Saturday. Mr.. Jakins will
soon move to the house which he has
recently purchased in Madison.
H. l.. Head took the train for Lew
iston Monday noon, where he will at
tend the sessions of the State Grange.
We are sorry to report hat Mrs.
Mary Longley is not in her usual
good health. Her many friends hope
for her speedy recovery.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-12-17

Thus spoke the seraph-and forthwith
Appeared a shining throng
or angels. praising God, who thus
Addressed their joyful song:-
All glory be to God on high,
And TO the earth be peace;
Goodwill hence-forth from heaven to
men
Begin, and never cease"
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-12-17
SOLON

All bills due the firm of Tuscan G.
French must be paid on or before
January /, 1915, or they will be left
for collection.
Fred Drury has been a recent Wis
itor in Skowhegan.
Miss Minnie Manson of Madison was
the guest of Mrs. Flora Dobson at
she Caratunk House over Sunday.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-12-17
DGE

Mr.. and Mrs. Jack Hill are the pa
rents of a seven pound son, born Dec.
18th.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-12-17
COLLECTORS NOTICE OF SALE

Unpaid taxes oil lands situated IN the town of Mercer, in the County of
February 1915. al 8 o'clock A M
he following list of axes IN real estate Of non -resident owners in the
town of Mercer, for the year 1914, committed to me for collection for
town on the Fifth dy OF May, 1914 remains unpaid: nd notice is
given that If said taxes interest and charges are not reWousy paid,
so much of the real estate taxed as Is sufficient to pa the amour due
Hall. in said town sUhe same being the place Where the asst preced-
ing annual TOW meeting of said town was heidi OF the first Monday of
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-12-17

after which refreshments were serv-
ed and a very enjoyable social time
followed.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-12-17
BINGHAM

Miss Lila Rowe is glad to return to
Bingham after having spent several
months in Massachusetts, as book
keeper on a large dairy farm. We
understand that she will make her
home for the present with Mrs. Marta
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-03-02

for the serene peace OF rivers and hills
and forests. Yet on almost any line
with heavy travel, the coarse appeal
to dollars thrusts itself at you In the
most srotesque form, shutting out the
hoped-for message from mother ma
ture.
On some lines there Is an almost
continuous succession Of these obnox-
ious and ugly notices. People pay down
good money for the refreshment of
country scenes, and are solicited
against their will to buy some ones
corsets or tooth paste.
A great many people conceive a
strong feeling OF dislike against the
company that chooses this method of
advertising One would think that
publicity seekers would begin to think
that they are not buying the good will
of the public when they choose a meth
cd OF advertising that is so unpop-
ular.
Meanwhile the end of this tiresome
litigation in St. Louis will encourage
a host of Improvement societies and
civic associations, which have always
believed that billboards could be out
lawed or greatly curbed through legal
means.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-03-02
SWINGING SIGN NUISANCE.

Damage wrought by the wind of Sat
urday evening serves as another re-
hinder that swinging sign is always
a menace in the streets of city. The
fastening inevitably wears and event
ually, unless replaced, it will give way.
! In a wind such as that of Saturday
evening the hangingS are given Sc
we're test, even If in good shape to
Withstand ordinary conditions. The
heavier che sign the more rapid the
wear On its fastenings and the great.
er the damage liable TO result if 1t
falls.
In Saturdays storm several swing
ing signs were torn entirely or partly
loose and others were damaged. AS
it happened nobody was struck by
failing parts. Had any such accidents
occurred the city would have been
liable Jointly with the owners OF the
signs.
Then there Is the matter of sightli-
ness. Any sign which projects over
the sidewalk mars the appearance of
the street. The more there are and
the larger the greater the offense to
the eye. A street full of signs might
be expected in jay town but not in
a city which has metropolitan aspira-
tons
Individually business men who use
swinging or projecting signs are not
to blame. Others do it and in self
defense they feel compelled to go as
far as their neighbors to attract at
tention. But as a class they should
be ready to cooperate in the observ-
ance of a rule for their removal apply
ing to all alike. Rock Island at one
time enforced such an ordinance.
All projecting signs should be done
away with. If such rule will work
hardship a date, say a year hence,
should be set for the enforcement of
the regulation The very least that
the city should do is to abolish the
loose, swinging sign and prescribe and
enforce reasonable limitations as to
height above the sidewalk and dis
lance of projection from the property
line.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-03-02

James, might marry divers young
wife, whom Oliver was reported to
have given $4,000.
"After he married her. said Oliver,
James learned that there was no
truth in the report that 1 had given
her 100000, or any other large sum
o. money, and &C. after mistreating
her cruelty, he left
Oliver vas FORMS" president of
the bank at Climax, A1a., ar spec
tacular figure in this section. Ac-
cording to Oliver, it was his half
brother and not himself who perpe-
trated the offenses that have been
laid at his door. He intended to enter
the banking business again. His wife,
or former wife, has Already entered
into negotiations to see if he will allow
her to return to him.
Il am going to locate right here in
Americas" he said, land 1 want the
people to know all about me before
begin business. l am not going to
try to hide my past in the least, for
l am not ashamed of it. 1 am not
guilty of the crime for which I was
sentenced. 1t sounds funny for a man
who has been messed up in the courts
to say he is going into the banking
business, but that's just what 1 am 60
ing to do. 1 don't ask anybody to
deposit a cent in my bank unless he
wants to-"
Oliver was arrested in November,
following the escape from a prison
at Aberdeen of L. Charles Harding,
whom Oliver resembles Oliver claims
that Harding is his half-brother. The
latter is now said to be safe in Hon
duras. After serving several months
Oliver obtained a writ of habeas cor
pus. He was taken before a chan
cellary, where he established an alibi
His release was thereupon ordered
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-03-02
THE MECHANICS HAND.

Machinery now does for US a thous-
and and one things which formerly
could be done only with our hands.
The result is that the deft, skillful
mechanics hand, trained by long years
of practice to do some particular work
with the greatest efficiency, is a far
rarer thing than it used to be.
Many fine specimens of mechanics
hands still exist, however, as is shown
by the remarkable collection of hand.
casts recently presented to Dartmouth
college by Kendall Banning, who has
made the study of hands a hobby and
has collected many interesting facts
about them.
The hands of mechanic, says Mr.
Banning, are more easily read than
those of a poet. The hand of an all
around mechanic should be square,
with the same width at the base of the
fingers as at the base of the thumb,
and as long from the end of the wrist
to the beginning of the fingers as It is
wide-literally square.
THE fingers should be broad, short,
approximately square, and neither fat
nor rounded. The cushions opposite
should be broad and well developed.
for such fingers indicate ingenuity, a
natural aptitude for mechanics and O
love OF mechanical work for itself.
The thumbs and fingers should not be
turned backward, for this means care
lessness and instability.
And above all mechanic should
know how to pick up book or any
other object This he should do by
turning the point OF his thumb in with
balance hold instead of grasping It
with the ball of the thumb, which
makes the thumb only a clamp instead
OF pincer. With this you have q
good mechanic.
In telling the character, and from q
mechanical point OF view. the thumb
is important. The loss OF the right
thumb is held at 80 PEI cent Of tho
value OF the whole hand; of the left,
Is per cent. The index finger is rated
next on the right hand at 20 per cent.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-03-02
STATES POWER PERVERTED

=. The manager of a Colorado strike
breaking agency, Felts by name, has
admitted to mine strike probers that
the machine guns used on the armored
trains run through the miners settle
ments were given to the state of Col
orsdo by the operators and worked by
a lieutenant of militia on pay.
The degradation of state Is COM
plete when it accepts from capital
weapons OF war as a gift and then
turns these weapons, In the name Of
law and order, but in reality IN the
service OF capital, against the men and
women and children who are seeking
? little larger share of their own crea-
fion that they may live a little better.
Edward Bellamy placed the future
civil war in Colorado, We may never
have that on larger scale than has
been witnessed, but We will have what
approximates 1t SO long as the military
arm OF the state is In the service of
those who have and are intent upon
holding.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-03-02

Americas, Ca, March 2-What is the
legal status of the former wife of "A.
D. Oliver. now that he has been re-
leased by the Mississippi authorities
on the ground that he is not l.. c..
Harding, in whose name he was serv-
ing a penal sentence? This is the
question that is worrying Miss Rose
bud English, the former Mrs. Oliver,
now the divorced wife of Mr.. James,
whom she married after the courts
of Georgia had declared her marriage
to Oliver illegal on the ground that he
was Harding and Harding was a biga-
mist.
If Oliver is not Harding-and the
Mississippi authorities have released
him on the ground that he is victim
of mistaken identity-why is she not
now his legally welded wife? The
marriage was annulled under the be-
lief that he was Harding and Hard
ing is known to have had another
wife. 1t is now legally established
that he is not Harding, although he
served a complete term for bigamy
under that name. These are ques-
tons on which the young woman is
now seeking legal advice.
1t will be recalled by those who at.
tended the habeas corpus proceedings
in Thomasvile, when Oliver was try
ing to prevent the Mississippi author
tiles from taking him into that state,
that he told of visit his former wife
had paid him while he was serving a
term for bigamy, as Harding, in the
Lee county convict camp. He said
then that the bigamy charge had been
trumped UP against him by a man
named James, who was a wildcat min
ing stock salesman, in order that he,
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-03-02

Civil service examinations VIII be
held April IS to fill % fourth class
postoffices In the Fourteenth Illinois
congressional district.
The fourth class Offices to be filled
in this congressional district are as
follows:
Andalusia, Bardolph, Basco, Birming-
ham, Cameron. Carman, Coal Valley,
Co.mar, CoIusa, Denver, Eivaston, Fer
ris, Gladstone, Little York, Lomax. Lee
dia, Millersburg, New Philadelphia,
Pontoosuc, Sciota, Swan Creek, Wa
tertown
Examination for any of the above
offices may be taken April IS at any of
the following cities: Aledo, Bushnell,
Carthage, East Moline, Galesburg, Ma
comb, Moline, Monmouth, Quincy,
Rock Island, or Burlington, Iowa.
An applicant for examination for ap-
pointment at any postof1ice must re-
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-03-02
Rudeness About Doors.

Never mind if you do not happen to
know the person who is coming be-
hind you. Hold the door or gate open
for him just the same. OF course the
next in order may be several steps be-
hind, or you may be obliged to save
two seconds to catch your train. You
may in cases like these feel compelled
to slam door or gate in the face of
an innocent fellow being. But in
scores of instances recently observed
doors and gates have been slammed in
the faces of those following by boorish
men and women, apparently out of
sheer clownishness. Sometimes the
person thus insulted may happen to be
one whom you may wish to please. 1t
filys to be a lady or gentleman, even
when you think you are among stran-
gers.-kate Epson Clark in Leslie's.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-03-02
Examinations for 18th District Postmasters

side in the territory supplied by such
postoffice.
The application form may be secur-
ed from the postmaster at any OF the
Offices for which the examinations are
held. the United States civil service
commission, Washington, d. O., or the
postmaster at the place at which the
examination is to be held, and should
be properly executed, indicating there
in the examination point at which the
applicant desires to be examined, and
should be Immediately forwarded to
the United States civil service com
mission, Washington, d. c.
Persons who, for any reason, are
unable to forward their applications
to the commission in time to receive
written authority to enter the exam
ination, will be examined, subject to
the subsequent approval of their ap-
plications. if they appear for examin-
alton at place where the examina-
tons are to be held.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-03-02
REGULATING BILLBoARDs.

& The city of st. Louis has finally won
IN litigation extending over nineSyears
against the operations of billboard
combine. The statute was moderate.
merely limiting height OF such board
ings TO Ia feet and q maximum area
Of 500 square feet II snch regula-
lions are not established, there will be
no limit to the deformed advertising
that will grow up in vacant city lots
and suburbs
IL 1t Is constitutional to limit bill
boards to certain heights and lengths.
Why can not this Limitation be- carried
indefinitely IN the interest of the pub
tic goodg
To travellers on American railroads
one of the most disgusting sights is
ssthe way advertising bilIboards thrust
themselves against country scenery.
EWhen one escapes from the routine of
home scenes or the restless crowding
cities, one looks with anticipation
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-03-02
The Daily Story j
THE HAPPY HUNTING eRouND-BY F. A. mitchell
by Eurean - =
COPYRIGHTED Associated Literary

Miss Leila Rathbone was born
firt-an unconscious firt. She didn't
know that she was flirting even when
she was deliberately drawing some
youth into her tolls. Nevertheless she
was not surprised when she got him
there. 1t did not occur to her that she
had anything to do with his being
there. All the other fellows got there.
Why not he? This commenced when
Miss Rathbone was fourteen years OLD
if not earlier-and lasted till she was
double that age. The game was 50
plentiful that she had no idea that
there would ever be dearth of it.
Miss Rathbone, as have said, began
to bring down youths at very early
age and continued it as long as her
heyday lasted, which was about the
same duration as that of most girls.
Sne had comfortable home, and it