davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-09-22
VAST FORTUNE
MAY Be DIVIDED
IN NEAR FUTURE
ESTATE OF FREDERICK AND
CHARLES MAYBEE MAY BE
PROBATED
OWNERS OF PROPERTY
DIED MANY YEARS AGO
Had Many Relatives in This City, in
Orleans and in Ionia
County

An estate of many million dollars is
liable to be distributed among a few
of the heirs in this city and county
of Ionia of Frederick Maybee and
bachelor brother, who died many years
ago in Canada, leaving enormous
wealth.
The father of the Maybee brothers
came from Holland to New York about
100 years ago, where he conducted a
very large shipping and mercantile
business and amassed great fortune.
From New York the Maybees moved
to Canada and had large holdings of
land and business interests near Sim
coe, Charlottsburg and Long Point.
Frederick Maybee, bachelor and
his brother, Charles, who also never
married, carried on the business, in
creasing the fortune by successful
business activities. Finally they died
and the enormous estate for some
reason never was settled up but re-
mains i'm the probate courts and banks
of the Canadian and German govern
ments.
The Maybee brothers, both of whom
died without ever having married, left
one sister, Lovina Maybee, mother of
Fred Simmons, who lives in Orleans
township on a small farm near Raw
ellis mills. She lived with Fred for
nearly thirty years, until she died at
a ripe old age. She was also the moth
er of Mrs. Joseph Brown of his city,
the late Miranda Walker of Chicago
and Mrs. Charity Powers of Ionia. Mr..
Simons says his mother often spoke
of the inheritance which she was en-
titled to but could not prevail on any
one to take up the case and push her
claim to the estate.
Since her death which occurred a
few years ago, +. J. McAuley, an at
torney and dentist residing in Cincin-
natl, whose wife is one of the heirs
has taken up the matter with both the
German and Canadian governments
and for the past year has been look
ing up the heirs of the Maybee mil
lions. His investigation, he says, re-
veals the fact that the estate will total
more than twenty million dollars and
that with the investments which the
Maybees made, the stocks, bonds and
money now in banks and in the clear
ing house in Berlin, it is still rapidly
accumulating. Mr.. McAuley has re-
Gently obtained a power of attorney
from Fred Simons and his sisters.
Austin Dexter of this city, who is one
of the heirs, being a grandson of Mrs.
Walker, has also given his consent.
Mrs. Alice Krause of Chicago, Mrs.
Smith Nichols of this city, Mrs. John
Morton of Alma and Mrs. j. w. Stan
ton of Sparta are also heirs and come
in the line of sharing in the distribu-
ton when it is made. +. j. McAuley,
who has spent much time and money
in his Investigations, does not ask the
heirs for any money to help
carry the case along, but stipulates in
the power of attorney given him that
he is to have ten per cent Of the money
awarded to each heir. He is optimis-
tic and says the great fortune will GER
tainly be distributed to the rightful
heirs.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-09-22
REDEEMING STATION
AT C0NNEll'S STORE

ConnelPs drug store has been sell
ected as the headquarters of the
United Retail Merchants Association,
who are locating distributing
branches in more than one hundred
cities and towns in Michigan. When
they decided to place Redeeming
Station in Belding, giving due i'm
portance to the location, reputation,
character of business, convenience
and accessibility to the public, having
under consideration several of our
most progressive stores, the choice
finally rested on II. j. Connell and
he will have charge of the special
features and free distributions offere>
by the United Retail Merchants As
sociation in connection with the Re-
deeming Station.
More than that. The one hundred
and fifty national manufacturers in
New York, Chicago and elsewhere
whose products will be sold through
the United Retail Merchants Associa-
ton, after due investigation, are
much gratified with the selection of
II. J. Connell to operate the Redeem
ing Station in Belding.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-09-22
BELD|NG'S s THIRD
bASEMAN RECEIVED
WELL At HOME CITY
BERNIE MAHONY WAS FEATUR-
ED BY YONKERS DAILY PAP
ER BEFORE GAME

Lat Fridays issue of the Daily
News of Yonkers, New York contained
full body picture Of Bernie Mahony,
who played third base on the Belding
base ball team this summer. The cut
line to the picture was as follows
Bernie Mahony, player who starred
in Belding, Michigan, this summer and
who will be behind the plate for the
Brady's Sunday"
The picture was used in connection
with an article telling of a deciding
game to be played between the Bra
dy's. Yonkers team, and the Chip
pewas, team from Cedar, on the fol-
lowing Sunday. In the body of the
article the writer had the following
to say regarding Mahony: "Those
who reckon the Brady's to be weak
er team than the Chippewas by rea-
son of their defeat at the hands of
the Cedars last week should speedily
undeceive themselves.
at must be remembered that Man
ager Gus Roth has added one Of the
best players onkers has ever pro-
duced in his lineup-Bernie Mahony.
Bernie, as all close followers Of the
game know, has been playing this
summer with the Belding, Michigan
team at third base, where he put up
a sensational brand of ball, fielding
near the 1000 mark and hitting like
house afire.
That his hitting has improved since
last year, was noted by those who
watched Bernie with the Holy Trinitys
last week. Bernie went to the plate
four times and in each trip slapped
out clean single. Mahony is to do
the catching dutied for the Brady's un-
less Manager Roth makes a change
before Sunday"
In several other issues of the Yon-
kers daily Mahony has received fav-
orable mention.
Monday mornings Grand Rapids
Herald contained lengthy description
of the work of Bailey and Siner with
the Lowell team in double-header
last Sunday. There is no doubt but
that Belding has made a hit with the
ball team the past summer. Neither is
there any doubt but that each indiv-
idual player is showing up good on
anti season work with other teams.
With the same players held together
here another year Belongs line would
be practically invincible.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-09-22
RURAL RESIDENT
SUGGESTS WAY OF
HELPING SHOPPING
CONDITIONS FOR DEPOSITING
PRODUCE AND ARTICLES PUR-
CHASED SUGGESTED
AUTOMOBILES SHOULD
HAVE PARKING PLACE
The Banner and Merchants Always
Welcomes Suggestions for
Betterment

We are in receipt of letter from
one of our rural subscribers telling
of few things that the farmers would
like TO have corrected in Belding to
better their marketing and buying
conditions while here. Such criti-
cisms are always welcomed by the
merchants of Belding and the Banner.
1t is our purpose to foster the most
friendly feeling between all the mem
bers of the community, and it is
through these criticisms and sugges-
tions the wrongs may be righted.
Within few weeks it is hoped the
streets will be paved and then the
people will find it much easier to get
from place to place. After the streets
are paved other things will be taken
up and corrected to make conditions
better.
The Banner is always glad to re-
ceive letters like the one given be-
low as it helps to correct the wrongs.
We only ask that the writer sign his
or her name TO the article, so that we
may know it is written in good faith.
The writer's name will never be used
if it is requested Withheld. Below is
the letter written this week:
Editor of Banner:
/ wish to write you a few lines of
disapproval of conditions in Belding.
| would like to call attention to con-
ditions in Belding as seen by some of
the farmers.
Belding people have provided hitch
ing places for horses back of Fales'
livery barn. We appreciate heir
thoughtfulness, but it is very incon-
venient if a lady drives into town
alone. She can not find a place to
leave her horse long enough to take
the produce out of her buggy and take
it into the store. She has to go to the
place arranged for her to hitch her
horse, then make several trips to car
ry her produce to the store. Then
when she has purchased the groceries
and other needed things she can make
several more trips to the hitching
place and deposit her belongings. 1t
is not hard work? If you do not
think so try it.
To be sure there are hitching posts
on the side streets, but at every hitch
ing post there is an automobile stop
ped in front of it. AS an automobile
does not need hitching | would sug-
gest that Belding citizens could have
a place to park them some other be-
side in front of all the hitching places.
Some suggest driving up the alley to
the back Of the stores. / for one if
can not go in at the front of store
will not go in at all. The farmers
pay for their things and have to de-
liver their own purchases; where peo-
pie in town if they only purchase one
half of pound of anything must
have it sent up.
From one who tried these conditions
last Saturday.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-09-22
SMYRNA BUSINESS
MAN IN HANDS Of
LAW At PONTIAC
A. Il. SPINNEY CHARGED WITH
IMPROPER WORDING OF
A NOTICE

DR.. A. B. Spinney of Smyrna, on
Thursday afternoon at Pontiac was
convicted of placing improperly word
ed advertisements in a Holly paper.
He will be sentenced Monday. He
asked to be discharged, claiming the
state law was unconstitutional, but
the court overruled his attorneys con-
tention. DR.. Spinney is the aged
owner Of the sanitarium at Smyrna,
and similar complaint stands
against him in the Ionia circuit.
DR.. Spinney is getting well along
toward his eighty-second birthday
and has probably been in the active
practice of medicine and travelled
more miles in the state of Michigan as
a specialist, demonstrator and a
lecturer than any other man in the
state. For a number of years he was
located in Reed City where he oper-
ated sanitarium. Ten years ago he
came to Cooks Corners and fitted up
the old hotel which was used as a
sanitarium until it burned few
years later, after which he purchas-
ed hte hotel property in Smyrna and
made many improvements to the old
building which is now known as the
Spinney Sanitarium. The doctor has
been down and almost out several
times but has never quit a-going. His
vitality and persistency i'm pushing
business is remarkable
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-09-22
ANNUAL MEET B. B. |.
STOCKHOLDERS

The annual meeting Of the Belding
Building and Loan Association was
held at the secretary's Office Monday
night, September 20, pursuant to the
call issued by Secretary George E.
Wagner.
A quorum of the stockholders was
present with large representation of
the share held either in person or by
proxy.
The report of the last annual meet
ing was read and a detailed state
ment of its affairs for the year was
given by Mr.. Wagner, showing the as
sociation to be in excellent finan-
cial condition and its business NOV
ing along in a very satisfactory man.
ner.
Directors for three years were elecs
as follows: Henry j. Leonard, F. A.
Washburn, w. l.. Cusser.
The board reelected the old officers:
president: F. A. Washburn. vice
president, w. P. Hetherington;
treasurer, w. l.. Cusser; secretary,
and attorney, G. E. Wagner.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-09-22
FOUR POTATOES
PRODUCED THREE
PECKS OF TUbERS
j. f. WEAVER SECURED AN EX-
CELLENT YIELD FROM
LIGHT SOIL

j. f. Weaver harvested an unusu-
ally good crop of potatoes from a
choice variety last week. The new
potato is called the Number Nine.
From four potatoes, which he planted
last spring Mr.. Weaver has gathered
over three pecks of tubers. They are
all of good marketable size. Many of
them were from two to three inches
in diameter.
The seed was planted on light soil.
With the yield of this year apparent,
Mr.. Weaver is sure that the new var
iety will be one of the best for this
section of the country. To his know
ledge there is only two or three people
in this section of Michigan that have
eyre grown the Number Nine potato
Mr.. Weaver expects to use this
years complete crop for seed next
year The quality is of the best.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-09-22
FROM
THE GRAND RIVER
DISTRICT TO MEET
ASSOCIATION WILL MEET IN
BELDING OCTOBER 5th
AND 9th

The annual Grand River Baptist as
sociation meeting will be in Belding,
October > and 6. Programs are out
telling of the good things to be given
during the meetings. 1t promises to
be the best meeting of the association
ever held in the district. Representa-
tives will be here from many of the
surrounding towns and cities, as well
as Baptists prominent in the church
from out i'm the state.
Rev. w. A. Bliss of this city is as
sociated superintendent He and the
Baptist church members have extend
ed cordial welcomes to pastors and
churches in the association to come to
Belding with a feeling that they are
perfectly at home here. Supper will
be served Tuesday evening and a din
ner on Wednesday. A program of the
meetings will be given next week.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-09-22
bELD|NG WOMAN
WRITES GOOD POEM
FOR PUBLICATION
MRS. LURA LAFLER SUBMIT
TED EXCELLENT VERSES
THE CHRYSALIS"

Mrs. Lura LATER living on James
street has been having good success
writing poetry. Several of her selec-
tions have been received by state pap
ers and she has been receiving favor
able comments on them. Mrs. Laf-
ler's last poem, THE Chrysalis," is
given below. 1t is with pleasure that
we are able to give these verses to
our readers. Besides being written
by one of our own city's residents, the
sentiment of the poem is excellent.
Every reader of the Banner should
read Mrs. Lafler's poem, "The Chry-
sails" Here it is:
Down in the depths of an ill-smelling
earth,
Crawls a thing that is ugly and blind (;
Writhing and twisting its loathsome
way
Through a world that is rife with its
kind.
But, lol There's a flash in the sum-
mer sun,
The dark ugly garment is riven,
And with a simmer of golden wing,
A butterfly mounts high to Heaven.
And so like a worm grovelling deep in
the dust
How blindly we grope for the light.
The beautiful soul, meath dark gar
ments of sin
Is hidden away from mans sight.
When, 10 From the depths scars a
soul pure and white,
Made perfect by faith in Gods plan.
A soul that is made to the likeness
of God,
With Gods love for each fellow man..
-Lura Lafier.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-09-22
BANNER COLUMNS NOT
OPEN TO SUCH ADS

The Banner was in receipt last week
of letter from Pittsburg adyertis-
ing firm, which read as follows:
Banner, Belding, Mich.
Gentlemen:
Please quote us at earliest conven-
ience gross rate on 800 inches of dis
play, plate matter, to be used in time
of one year, high grade whiskey adj
vertising.
We would appreciate your reply by
return mail.
Very truly yours,
This is only one of the many letters
from these and like concerns which
the Banner receives. We do not give
our space at any price to such con-
Germs, as we devote to the best inter-
ests of Belding and community as we
see it. We do not believe that it
would improve our other advertisers
patronage to admit advertising of a
kind that we could not recommend to
our columns. The Banner wants the
support of the best people in the COM
munity in fight for the right.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-09-22
CIVIC LEAGUE WILL
EXHIBIT WORK At
CITY HALL SATURDAY
CONTESTANTS IN CHILD'S GAR
DEN CLUB WILL HAVE
SHOWING
MOVEMENT STARTED IN
SPRING--DOES WELL
Comprised of Local Civic Bodies:
Teachers, Business and Profess
siOnal Men

The citizens of Belding and COM
unity are aware that a civic league
was organized and started during the
closing months Of school last year
and that by this organization an at
tempt was made to promote civic
pride and industry among school chill
dren.
Back of this organization is the
board of education, the Ladies' Liter
airy Exchange Club, the Teachers
Club, the business and professional
men of the city. This work has been
and is being successfully carried on in
many other places. Already splendid
results are being shown in our city
and it is hoped that with not only the
cooperation of the above named or
ganizations, but with that of every
good loyal citizen, the work may go
on. Some minor changes are planned
in order to distribute the work of or
ganlzation and supervision more even
ly, but in the main the work will be
planned along the same lines.
The work as outlined in the pamph-
let complied and distributed at the
time of organization, covered several
Essays and Diaries, Grounds and
Gardens, Room Displays, Flower Ex-
hibit and Vegetable Exhibit
Substantial prizes have been offer
ed for the best in each Of these de-
partments and competent judges
been named. The judges of grounds
and gardens have given much time
and effort to this work during the
past summer and have done their
work WELL
The flower and vegetable exhibits
will be held in the city hall on next
Saturday, September 25, as arrang-
ed. Children are asked to have flow
ers and vegetables at the city hall not
later than 8 o'clock Saturday morn
ing.
The judges will Judge these dis
plays from 10 to II o'clock and the
exhibit will be open to the public at
100 p m. 1t is hoped the citizens
will patronize the exhibit freely thus
lending helping hand to the work
and also enabling it to become more
efficient in the future. We feel that
too much can not be said in praise of
this work and it should merit the
help of all loyal citizens.
The rules and regulations laid down
in the pamphlet referred to above
will govern entries and must be fol-
lowed as closely as possible.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-09-22
SECRETARY GONSOLUS
GUEST OF ITHACA men

Secretary X. c. Gunsolus of the
local board of commerce was in Itha-
ca Tuesday attending meeting of the
citizens there, who are expecting to
organize a board of trade in that
city. Mr.. Gunsolus was invited there
by the citizens to give them a talk
on the important needs of board of
commerce in city.
Secretary Gunsolus was also the
guest of the business men of Ithaca
at dinner held for the purpose of
boosting the organization. The trip
was made at the expense of Ithaca's
business men.
AS a result Of the meeting of Tues
day night the merchants of Ithaca are
now re-organized into a live CONNER
cial organization. They will employ
an outside secretary. There was big
attendance at the meeting.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-09-22
FORMER BELONG
PEOPLE PARENTS OF
WINNER IN CONTEST
MR.. AND MRS. SOLON Nj. MOORE
ARE BEING CONGRATULATE
ED ON THEIR FORTUNE

Mr.. and Mrs. Solon M. Moore of
Detroit, former residents of this city,
are being congratulated by their
many friends because their son Solon
Harry Moore won the prize in the bet
ter babies contest at the state fair
in Detroit last week, as being the
most perfect specimen of a baby out
of two hundred registered in the con-
test. Mr.. Moore is a son of Mrs.
Louise n. Moore of this city.
In its write-up of the event the De-
troit Press asys; Fully 200 babies
were in the grand stand in the\grove
when the award was made. A hush
fell on the admiring throngs when
DR.. Stevens was about to call the
name of the champion baby. Whom
would it be? Every parent in the
contest hoped it would be his own off
spring.
"Solon Harry Moore, two years old,
son of Mr.. and Mrs. S. NJ. Moore of
35 Whitewood avenue, 80 and $40
perfect, called DIR. Stevens.
"A beautiful boy baby, radiant with
health, smiling with the good nature
of his physical condition, utterly un-
conscious of the honor he had won,
was led forth by. his mother, and a
pretty white ribbon pinned on him.
Solon was really interested then.
"See pretty ribbon" he lisped with
smiling face turned to his mother.
Everyone was looking, but really
Mrs. Moore couldn't help it, She
stopped and printed kiss on her
man-boy's forehead. Tears were in
her eyes that she turned to pick her
husband from the crowd which cheer
ed and aplauded the most perfect
baby Of the year.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-09-22
OPENING GAME FOOT
BALL HERE SATURDAY
BELDING HIGH SCHOOL WILL
TAKE GRIDIRON WITH
GRAND LEDGE

The football season will be opened
Saturday, September 20, by a game
with Grand Ledge on the home field
at Leonard park.
When school opened it was doubtful
whether football was to be on the
list of sports this year, but after con-
siderable debate the school board COM
promised on six games, three on for
eign grounds and three at home. Be
70 re it was decided, however, the fell
lows showed the proper spirit by get
ting out on the sand burr patch and
precticing enthusiastically for the
past three weeks and have made con-
siderable progress and good show
ing. The backs have shown plenty of
speed and courage while the line is
the heaviest it has been in years.
The following men are picked to
play for Belding Saturday:
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-09-22
EXPERT MARKSMEk WILL
GIVE EXHIBITION HERE

On next Tuesday, September 2S, a
shooting contest will be featured in
Belding under the auspices of the T.
Frank Ireland company. On that date
tow expert marksman, Messrs. Cole
and Linsea will be here and give an
exhibition of their skill with firearms.
The meet will be held ON the flats be-
tween the Pere Marquette depot and
the river, and in the afternoon only.
The t. Frank Ireland company is
telling more about this meet in their
advertisement on another page of the
Banner.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-09-22
STEPPED ON RAKE TOOTH:
HIS FOOT WAS PIERCED

Tyler Blount, son of Mrs. J. j.
Fowler, suffered serious accident last
Friday when he stepped on a garden
rake which was lying on the porch
with the teeth up.
He was barefooted and one Of the
teeth pierced his right foot just back
of the fleshy part of the big toe, pass
ing through and breaking the skin on
top. The wound was on ugly one, and
although quickly cared for and dress
ed by his mother, it is giving him a
great deal of pain.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-09-22
GOOD STRIP OF ROAD
BEING BUILT IN 0TISC0

Much coment is being made regard
ing the stretch of road that is being
constructed in West Otisco township.
Directly opposed to the usual practice
of leaving the garvel loose on the new
ly made roadbed, John Kohn, under
whose direction the road is being
built, is seeing that the gravel laid
each day is thoroughly pack before
leaving it for the night.
The quality of the material, which is
being used, is also being watched to
see it is the best to be obtained. When
completed the road will be one of the
best in the country.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-09-22
Zerba-Bau Nuptials

Mr.. James Walter Zerba of this city
and Mrs. Jennie Ball of Lowell were
united in marriage at the home of the
groom's parents Mr.. and Mrs. j. G.
Zerba on York street Thursday even
ing, September 16.
The ceremony was performed at
o'clock by f. b. Lapham, esq.,, in the
presence of Mr.. and Mrs. Zerba, Mr..
and Mrs. Chas. Conklin of Lowell, Mr..
A. Gill, Mrs. Isaac Wells and the
Misses ella and Della Wherry of this
city.
The happy couple will reside in
Belding for the present but later will
move to Mr.. Zerba's farm nerth of
the city. The bride has been resi-
dent of Lowell for several years.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-09-22
Mrs. Bower Recovering

Mr.. and Mrs. James Ranger motor
ed to Belding from Butternut last
Sunday bringing with them Mrs. Jno.
Boyer and Mrs. Lib Evans to spend
the day with Mr.. and Mrs. Fred Boy
er. Mrs. Boyer has been confined in
the city hospital because of an opera
ton, and Mrs. Evans and Mrs. John
Boyer, both sisters of Mrs. Fred Boy
er, came especially to visit her. Mrs.
Evans remained here. She will stay
until Mrs. Boyer is recovered from
the operation. Mrs. Boyer was taken
home Monday, and is recovering very
nicely.