davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-03-03
A. f. WETER TELLS
OF CONDITIONS IN
bELD|NG IN 1870
ONLY NINE FAMILIES LIVED IN
THE VILLAGE At THAT
TIME

Among the toasts given at the an
nua1 roll call of the knights of Pythias
week ago was one on the subject
Thirty Years Ago given by A. r..
Weter. Mr. Weter has lived in and
around Belding all of this life and in
talking on the subject he told many
interesting things concerning early life
here. Since his topic is of general in
terest We are pleased to reproduce IL.
In beginning Mr.. Weter said: Honor
able POSTMASTER, brother Knights and
friends, the subject assigned for me 70
talk on tonight is Thirty Years Ago.
In gathering together several rem
iniscences of that period l am taken
back several years beyond even my
subject. ON April !, 1871 with a wife
and one child | came to this place. II
was then a hamlet Cor such IL might
be called) although it was not wholly
excluded from the world. There were
at that time nine families, including
my own. The only ones OF these fam
lilies now living here outside my own
family are Mrs. Sarah Knapp and J.
Il. Vincent
The name of our post office then
was Patterson's Mills The mail was
father OF Byron +. Brown We had
free delivery then as well as now. The
only difference was that we went to
the hotel sitting room to get our mail
The papers were all put in a box on
the top OF a stand and the letters were
placed in similar box just above il.
We sorted out our own mail and then
went our way. Postal cards were not
.rsa1 ha,N
delayed long in sorting.
The only industry We had at that
time was a flour mill owned and oper-
ated by w A. Knott. and a blacksmith
shop owned by Alfred Rose. Our rail-
road accommodation was limited to
the old u. l.. 4 y. which ran through
Kiddville. The said railroad was com
pleted in 1863
About this time great interest was
manifested by the Bedding brothers,
especially II. II. Belding and also his
father. II was their Intention To make
this their future home and place of
note on the map. Through the agency
of the Bedding brothers other people
were interested in the place ana came
into the settlement. They succeeded
in interesting VIM. a. Luther, -. r..
and r. NJ. Wilson. who came here and
began business In partnership
called Wilson, Luther n Wilson. They
came about the middle Of the summer
of 1871 and began To build a large
lumber mill During that summer the
village grew until we had 3 families
During that summer We succeeded in
getting our school district established,
We had II school children and drew
public money for running the school
Continued on Page -
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-03-03
r. C. JAMES TO RUN FOR
SCHOOL COMMISSIONER

f. G. James, formerly superintendent
of schools here, will be succeeded next
year as superintendent OF the Hart
schools by Arthur Dondineau former
principal OF the high school at Hart
and now a post graduate student at
the U. OF NJ. Mr. James has consented
TO allow his name TO be used at the
primary today for the nomination on
the democratic ticket for the office Of
county commissioners of schools and
slips have been provided for the pur-
pose OF placing him In nomination.
The statement relative to Mr.. James
candidacy for school commissioner is
made on the authority OF the Ionia
Standard.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-03-03
BANNER PRESS AGAIN
POUNDING OUT PAPERS

Last week, on Wednesday afternoon
just at press time, break in the
mechanism of the Banner press made
1t impossible 10 print the final pages
OF our edition in our own office
Through the courtesy OF Mr.. O. f.
Webster we were permitted the use Of
the press Of the Herald Publishing Co.
and thus the Banner got TO its readers
In almost every instance on time.
a telegram was Immediately rushed
to Rhode Island where the Banner
press was built and Monday by express
we received several parts 10 replace
those which had been broken. The
work of adjusting the parts was be-
gun at once and this week We once
again are enabled to print the Banner
on our own press with the exception
of pages 7 and 3 which were printed
on the Herald press Next week all
of the banner will be printed in our
own office
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-03-03
MRS. LIZZIE PETERSON
WAS SICK ONE WEEK

Lizzie Belle Peterson, twenty-eight,
and wife of Milo Peterson living at
S33 Morton avenue, died Tuesday
morning after a weeks suffering with
la grippe and other complications.
Lizzie Peterson was the daughter Of
Mr.. and Mrs. Eugene Fox. She was
born in Chadwick and lived in Chad
wick and Belding all her life. She
was married to Milo Peterson Decem-
ber Is, 1910. TO this union were born
two children. Donna and Margaret,
who beside her husband survive her
Mrs Peterson is also survived by her
mother and father and two brothers.
Fred and Roy Fox and several other
relatives. Brief funeral services will
be held at the late home Friday morn
ing In charge OF Rev. w. A. Bliss. Fol-
lowing this funeral services will be
held at Green's church. Interment
vii be made in Green's cemetery. Mrs
Peterson was an active member and
worker in the Baptist church.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-03-03
BELDING REPRESENTED
IN PASSENGER FARES

Representative Warner presented a
petition in the house last week signed
by +. a. Washburn and 2s other citi-
zens Of Bedding in favor of an increased
rate of passenger fares on the rail-
roads of the state. He also presented
a petition from Ionia signed by Chas.
A. Ireland and SO others one from Or
leans signed by j. NJ. Lane and 35
others: one from Lyons signed by VIM.
q. Hawley and - others; and one
from Smyrna signed by Edward In
sley and II others Like petitions
came from all parts OF the state and
they were all referred to the Commit
tee on Railroads.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-03-03
BANNER WANT ADS
FURNISH FINE CHANCE
To GET BARGAINS

The Banner management is plan
ming 10 help you and ourselves az the
same time. We are going TO tell
YOU about the value Of using
the classified department Of the
Banner. Have you any idea of the
money you could make If you were to
let all the people in this section
through the want column OF the Ban
ner know what you had for sale? Do
YOU know that no matter how ap-
parently useless some article has
grown, some other person has a use
for that article and will buy it?
But he cannot buy it if he does not
know where to get IL. In the big cities
the classified departments OF the news
papers are as interesting as the news
columns, In fact they contain real
live news. And those who use them
are reaping great advantages
the buyers and the sellers
OF late the smaller papers are push
ing their classified departments into
more prominence. The other day we
picked up weekly. published in a
small-sized town I'm Wisconsin. It's
classified column was "a wonder" APP
parently everyone in the locality was
using and reading it. Lack Of space
prevents us from reproducing it, al
though we would like 10 do so But
here are few OF the things that were
advertised for sale by the farmers and
the townspeople: Houses. lots, farms,
glass cupboard, chickens. sewing ma
chine, turkeys, rugs, eggs, upholstered
goods, crockery. geese, butter, corre-
spondence school course, cheese, feath-
ers, manure, incubator. horses, finger
ring, automobile, Jars of fruit. fence
posts. hogs, tplain and fancy, em-
broidery lessons, suit OF clothes and
fur overcoat, home made bread, a colt,
library Of 100 volumes, home knit
socks, cream separator, two calves.
concrete block machine. tame bear,
gasoline engine, heating stove. hay.
rag carpets. home cured hams and
bacon, wind mill, a general store, soy
beans. alfalfa meal desk and chair,
typewriter. cabinet organ. short horn
bull, bird dog. hay stacker. rake and
loader, five tons OF coal and gun.
If you have any of the above named
articles for sale--or anything like them
let us know and we will run a classi-
fled ad in the Banner. The cost is very
small, only one cent per word with
a minimum charge Of ! s cents. Many
are already using Banner want ads
With good results. Why not you?
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-03-03
LETTERS TO READERS
FIND GOOD RESPONSE

During the past several weeks the
Banner has sent out 10 it's subscribers
a large number of letters relating tn
subscription matters. The letters have
met with very gratifying reception
and the response has been very excel
lent indeed. The Banner wishes TO
express its appreciation not only for
the remittances but also the care with
which the information blanks have
been filled out and returned. From
now on letters will be sent 10 all sub
scribers whose subscription expires
within the year.
AS 10 when ones subscription ex-
pires is very easy matter To deter
mine. Just look at the label on the
paper. If for instance IL reads July
Is. then your subscription expires July
1915. IL il reads Jan. 16 then you
are paid up until Jan. 1916.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-03-03
n. J. C0NNELL ANNOUNCES
BIG SPRING OPENING

gist, has half page adv on page four
this week which should prove Of gen
eral interest. Mr. ConnelI has almost
CO. coo rolls OF wall paper in new and
exclusive designs now ready for your
inspection. Never in the history of
his business has he displayed such a
splendid line. No store in Ionia or
MontcaIm counties can approach this
line either in price or showing Of
desirable decorative wall papers. Read
his adv and see what he has TO say not
only on wall paper but on paints and
finishings
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-03-03
RESIDENCE PROPERTIES
ARE BEING PLANNED

with the advance OF spring several
local parties are working on plans pre-
paratory 10 building residences If the
present plans are carried out choice
residence properties will be construct
ed. No one has as yet definitely de-
cided to build although in several in
stances architects are working on the
plans and only minor details are yet
TO be worked out.
The outlook for building this year is
good. Lumber is cheaper now than it
was at this time last year. The Beld-
ing Lumber company is especially able
TO quote much lower prices on western
shingles. Builders hardware is also
cheaper than a year ago. This is GER
tainly good time TO plan on building
and repairing.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-03-03
DIR. JOHN BROWN
Of NEW YORK WILL
COME To BELDING
OTHER MIN OF NATIONAL RE
PtTE WILL ATTEND v. VI. &.
\. CONFERENCE

The second annual Boys Confer
ence to be held here March 26, 81 2S
Will be one of the best in the state this
year. The primary purpose of the con-
ference is TO bring the boys of all
parts of the country together TO dis
cusS their moral problems, to give and
receive experiences concerning forms
of work and activities and TO get in
spiration that will enable them TO 90
back home To do larger service to
their home committees. Michigan
leads the world in Boys Conferences,
both in number of counties organized
and in number OF active attenders at
the regular Y. NJ. G. A meetings.
The program this year in Belding
will be exceptionally strong. Both
national and state speakers will be
present. one Of the principal speakers
of national reputation, who will be
here is Or. John Brown Jr. of New
York. Dr Brown is international sec
retary of physical work. He is good
authority on atheletics of all kinds
At the present time he is preparing
a bulletin for the United States govern
ment on Games and Plays" This
bulletin will be sent ont TO every rural
community in the United States. An
other we'll known speaker will be ]
y. Van Dis. state boys secretary, G..
l. Rowe, state county work secretary.
will also be here and will talk 10 the
boys on matters OF vital interest. I'm
addition TO these speakers w. II. Gay
of Grand Rapids. member of the firm
of Berkey & Gay and president of the
state boys work committee will attend
and will be one of the speakers.
Many groups in the county have al
ready elected their delegates to at
tend the meeting
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-03-03
Coming Events

March 4, Thursday. afternoon. Ladies'
Literary Exchange club meeting at
the home OF Mrs. Earl French.
March s. Friday afternoon, high
school room, address by Pres Grawn
OF Mt. Pleasant Normal
March s, Saturday. evening. supper at
NJ T.. church by l.. a. s.
March 10, Wednesday, evening, meet
ing of the Belding Equal Franchise
club. city hall.
March 10, Saturday. evening, Night
School Banquet.
March is. Monday, evening. Methodist
church, Military Girls, entertain
ment course attraction.
March 20. Saturday, evening, supper
by Catholic Ladies'. Miilard Hall,
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-03-03
ORGANIZED MINING
COMPANY WEDNESDAY

a meeting was held at Hotel Belding
last Wednesday evening TO form pre-
liminary organization for opening "A
zinc and copper mine near Joplin, Mo.
Temporary officers were elected at the
meeting and they were instructed to
proceed with the organization of the
company. The name OF the organiza-
tion is to be the kersey Mining com
pany, and the mine which the company
will operate VIII be known as the
kersey mine.
The officers elected at the meeting
Wednesday evening were: President,
T.. G. Lloyd; secretary, Clyde Knapp;
treasurer. w. S. Lambertson.
1t Is expected that the plant will be
constructed on the site and that actual
operations will begin within ninety
days. The company has "A lease Of
fifteen acres OF land from w. w. Ker-
sey. lie will hold an interest In the
All OF the stock necessary
to organize and operate the mine has
been subscribed. Local business men
will hold a majority OF stock.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-03-03
EAST 0TISC0 FARMERS
CLUB Is WIDE-A-WAKE

The East Otisco Farmers Club is
one Of the thriving organizations Of
this community and the members are
alive 10 the needs Of the day The club
holds meetings once a month and be-
sides the excellent social features af-
forded by these meetings are programs
of general interest ond value to the
members. During the coming year
the club will discuss such topics as
The Farmers Garden, The Farmers $
Place in Politics The HOUSEWIFE :
Burden and How to Tighten It. The
Farmers Vacation and How Best To
Secure 1t, Agriculture and the Profess
sions Which Render the Most Service
TO the World, What Should be the Re-
lation Between the Farmer and the
CityMan. Consolidation of the Rural
Schools. These topics will be discuss
ed by members Of the club and also
by some of the business men OF Beld-
ing In addition 10 the topics given
above the club has a picnic children's
day and many other things of interest
and benefit
A program Of the meetings all
through the year is printed by the
club and distributed TO all of the
members. The program for 1915 has
just been issued.
The officers Of the East Otiseo
Farmers Club are =. T.. Chickering
president; j ID. Strain, vice president; ;
Ida hummer, recording secretary;
Mrs. Ernest Anderson, corresponding
secretary; S. ID, Chickering, treasurer.
Mrs. A. J. Kohn is the head of the
flower committee. The program com
mittee is composed Of Ida hummer.
Ernest Woodbridge and Clyde 4.
Co0uar
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-03-03
GRfENV|LLE HAD
SEVERE FIRE LOSS
ON SUNDAY NIGHT
FACTORY ~" COMPLETELY DE
STROfED; BUILDING DID
NOT HAVE SPRINKLERS

The Ranney Refrigerator company
of Greenville suffered a heavy loss by
fire Sunday evening when the factory
building known as factory a" was
totally destroyed. The loss is estimat-
ed at Sl50,000 two-thirds Of which is
covered by insurance.
The tire was of uncertain origin but
is supposed to have started in the
tanning room from spontaneous com
bustion. The fire started so near the
dry kilns that the fire spread 10 the
lumber on the kiln cars before il could
lac checked. The lumber was so dry
that il was soon completely in flames.
The whole building, which is 400 by
$50 feet and built of brick, was swept
by the flames and laid in ruins Soon
after the fire alarm was turned in
varnish away from the building TO
prevent its exploding Several barrels
of material of an explosive nature
blew up, however, and added spectac-
ular phases 10 the burning building as
their contents famed high in the air
President r. T.. Ranney and Secre-
tary f.. " Ranney began Monday
morning 10 rearrange factory "B' for
tdktHe care ol the excess OF work
which Will be thrown into it because
OF the burning Of the larger building
As soon as arrangements can be made
they will run a double shift IN the
one building 10 take care OF the, orders.
Factory A. was built in 1890 for
a starch factory but the enterprise
was not profitable and it came into
possession Of the Ranney Refrigerator
company two years later. The factory
did not have an automatic sprinkler
system. one hundred and nifty men
were thrown out Of work
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-03-03
MILITARY GIRLS WILL
CLOSE LECTURE COURSE

The Military Girls, who will appear
here March 5. as the last number of
the Belding Entertainment Course,
have a distinct newness of work in
their revival of old things. Six refined,
attractive girls who are thoroughly
trained for their work. compose this
company.
These girls appear in one act as a
fife and drum corps, and later as an
orchestra. They also give solos and
reading. Everybody likes them.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-03-03
0RL0 MORSE & COMPANY
PUT ON BARGAIN SALE

Continuing until Saturday night
March t3 Orlo Morse & Co will sacri-
flee "A big lot of up-to-date shoes, rub
Der goods and hosiery at big bargains
10 the purchaser Just read this COM
panys adv in the Banner this week
and you will be convinced that the
prices are right down To rock bottom.
No old style shopworn stuff is being
offered. $. & r. green trading stamps
given on purchases, with double stamps
each Thursday during the sale
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-03-03
PLAN TO BOOST CITY
MEETS WITH APPROVAL

The idea of an organization Of men
interested in the welfare Of Belding
seems 70 be meeting with general APP
proval. a meeting will probably be
called during the coming week 20 take
definite steps toward forming the or
ganiZation. There is "A great opport-
unity for such body of boosters here.
Othor townt have found such. or
CARNATIONS highly useful. Belding
will not be an exception,
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-03-03
RLg Attraction NJ Star

Thursday evening. March II. Mana
ger r. II. Warner OF the Star theatre
will put on the film feature One Won
derfui Night. This is story thrilling
In the extreme. II will feature Fran
els X. Bushman known throughout
the world for his splendid acting in
Essanay photo-plays. BE sure to see
this attraction.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-03-03
BILL TO AMEND BANKING
LAW PASSED HOUSE

Representative Warmers bill to
amend the state banking law SO that
state banks may come under the federal
banking laws has been passed by the
house. Under the present law state
banks cannot hold stock in another
banking corporations, which provision
excludes them from participating in
the membership Of federal banks. III
Mr.. Warmers amendment becomes a
law such membership will be a pos
sfbility
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-03-03
Equal Franchise Club 20 Meet

A meeting OF the BeldinG Equal
Franchise club will be held in the
city hall Wednesday evening, March
10 Seventeen states are at present
considering ia their legislatures
amendments 10 the present suffrage
laws and some OF these amendments
will undoubtedly be discussed at the
coming meeting. Everyone interested
i'm equal suffrage is invited to attend
this meeting.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-03-03
Mr. I.cssitcr Entertained

The ladies' OF the Social Circle Of
the Baptist church met at the home
of Mrs, Sarah Lessiter of Masonic
avenue. Friday afternoon. The "a.
members present as well as the hostess
were honored by the presence OF the
pastor. Rev. w. A. Bliss. Mrs Lessiter
furnished several jew's-harp solos.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-03-03
Tentative Chautauqua Dates

The Hastings papers state that their
chautauqua will begin this year on
August s. Undoubtedly the Belding
chautauqua will begin on the following
day. This has not been definitely de-
cided az yet. however
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-03-03
Miss Lulu Reynolds,
Dear Friend.

ll3 Stanley ST.,
Accrington.
Miss Lulu Reynolds,
Dear Friend:
We in England have had a taste of
what the Germans are-once with
their warships and once with their
airships all on undefended towns
There were mostly women and chill
dren killed one little babe six months
old was killed in its cot and children
were killed on their way To school.
They came with their air ships at mid
night and people were killed in their
beds They have put notice in the
paper that they will pay us another
visit in the near future but the next
I time they are coming To Lancashire.
that is where we live. But we are
not afraid OF them. They will f4d
out that they can't strike terror TO us
as easy as they think. They will have
10 pay big price when the time
comes for peace
our town is still fun of soldiers and
such a lot OF Belgians and French
The men that have been training here
are going away to the front next
month but they are enlistirg every
day and they are coming ont If other
TO board with ne Anybody lat has
a spare room has got TO take them in
They pay at the rate OF six Il )llars a
week for each man. 1T is ve-y hard
TO see the wounded men around. There
is one Belgian soldier in the hospital
and they tell me that they can't keep
him in bed he is so anxious to get
back 10 the front.
My brother and Mr.. Dew whirst's
brother have both joined the army and
| should not be surprised If Mr.. Dew
hirst went any day / have Just got
Il letter from my brother. He says he
is "oing 70 the front in two weeks.
God knows IL he will ever come back
again. ] suppose they are going to
sink all our ships after next Thursday
but we don't fear what they can do
because they would have done IL long
ago If they could What do the Ger
mans think about il over there?
suppose they hold out for Germany.
Wei can't blame them because as
said before the people in Germany
are not altogether TO blame. The peo-
pie here did not wish for any war. In
fact England was not ready for war;
the men had to be trained after II had
started but now every man and woman
is determined 10 go through with it
and see that the Beleians get their
own country back. | shall be glad
when it is over as food and everything
is So high and we have to orGcr our
coal Il week before we need il because
so many Of the men out OF the coal
nuHes have Joined the army. a gentle
men told me to-day that seven hun
dred had gone ont OF one mine
Dear friend, often wish someone
would send me a Belding Banner once
in a while. You know ] can never
forget the friends | made over there
Has Mrs. Shaw got back if so give her
any kind regards and also to all the
old girls often look at my postal
card album and the first thing I see
is the pass and the penny post card
Mr.. Helm put in. You know / have
laughed over that pass.
Well really must close now with
best wishes for the future and hoping
to hear from you again soon, / re-
main your sincere friend,
Ada Dewhirst
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-03-03
Chnutanana Meeting

a meeting OF the guarantors and
boosters OF the Chautauqua has been
called for this. Wednesday evening, at
the City Hall. Officers OF the local as
sociation will be elected for the coming
year and other plans will be discussed.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-03-03
NOTICE

All persons who left repair work
with Mrs. a. b. Hull before Dec. /,
1914. please call for same within 20
days from Feb %. 1918.
Mrs A. Il. Hull,
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-03-03

Mrs. w. B. Reed went to Morley
today to Visit relatives.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-03-03
MRS. ADA DEWH|RST
TELLS Of HOW WAR
AFFECTS ENGLAND

Mrs. Ada Dewhirst a former resident
OF Belding has written from England
to Miss Lulu Reynolds OF this city the
following very interesting letter In
which she tells of conditions in Eng
land:
February 10, 1915.
ll3 Stanley ST..
ApcripUtan