davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-09-27
c. ]. wendell AND PARTY
IN AUTO ACCIDENT
Two Machines Pile Up On Mercer
Road While Returning from Fair

Charles Wendell, proprietor OF a
laundry in this town. Nellie Drawn,
Philip Nadeau and Edward Hurst, all
of Skowhegan, narrowly escaped with
their lives Wednesday night when the
auto in which they were riding was
struck by another machine The ac-
cident happened near Mercer village
and as a result both autos are wreck
ed. The other machine, a Ford, had
as occupants, man and woman who
said they lived in Benton No one
was severely injured other than
scratches and bruises
A member of the Wendell party
says, I'VE were coming home from the
Fair and as there were many heavier
and speedier machines than ours, we
kept well out near the ditch to allow
them to pass We were going along
about eight miles an hour when we
noticed a Ford car containing man
and woman, coming toward US. There
were no DINNERS on the Ford ma
chine and as ii came within about
four feet of the car which We oeeu-
pied the driver turned directly into
us Then it was all over hut the
shouting Front wheels on both ma
chimes crnmpled like paper and We
We're thrown far into the ditch"
That is the story told the Reporter
by am occupant of the Wendell ma
chine. He says that the Ford did not
comply with the law regarding dim
mers, in so far as he could see. At
ter recovering thcir eomposurc, both
parties to the accident hailed passing
machines and all were taken to their
several homes The wrecked cars
were left by the roadside until Thurs
day morning.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-09-27

Palmer Merrill was taken into bust
ness by his father, in 1861, and the
firm remained r. II. Merrill & Son
from that date till the close of its
business, altho the senior member
died in 1895.
John Palmer Merrill, above referred
to, the son of Richard Hussey Merrill,
was born in Dexter, January 2S. 1S49,
He was the next to the youngest of the
family. The mother was the daugh-
ter of the Rev Robert Coburn. uncle
of Abner afterwards governor of
Maine) and Philander Coburn. The
other children. brothers and sisters of
J. Palmer Merrill, were Mariah, Jane,
Alonzo, Coburn and Ivan Or these
Alonzo, died in the army. Mariah
married and passed most of her life
in Dexter and died there. Jane made
her home in Skowhegan, with her
brother, j Palmer Ivan died many
years ago. Richard Hussey Merrill,
so many times mentioned in this ac-
count, was twice married, his second
wife being Miss Jennie L. Allen of
Bloomfield (now Skowhegan) to whom
he was united, January "a, 1860 She
was a sister to the late Mrs. Amos
Tobey. Her death occurred in Show
hegan, May 13, 1878.
J. Palmer Merrill was married, in
1888, to Miss Elizabeth Powers of
Stetson She was the daughter of
George H. and Loantha (Goodwin)
Powers. Two sons were born to
them, Alonzo, who died in June, 1914,
and Maurice P, now prominent
Skowhegan attorney
The ancestor, John Merrill, above
mentioned came thru from Raymond,
N. H. on foot and settled on Hilton
Hill. on what is now the Sheldon H.
Beal place, cleaning about six acres Of
land and building a log cabin. He
returned to Raymond for his wife and
the couple came back to their Som
erset county home on horseback 1t
should also be noted regarding this
couple and their thirteen children that
when the youngest was Sc years
old, both parents and their children,
making a family of fifteen in all, were
living
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-09-27

married Betsey (Hussey1 Doore, of
Dover. \. II. in 1896. She was born
In 1777 and died in 1871 She had 13
children. Asa, Hannah, John H., Ru-
fns, Betsey, James, Martha, Eli, Rich
ard Hussey Jos. Palmer, Benjamin
Bisbee (twins), Mary and Russell,
Edward n Merrill, of this place, born
in Harmony, was the grandson of John
and Richard Hussey. whose name was
the most prominent in the above men
toned firm, was long a resident of
Skowhegan and spoken of by his
friends as "Hussey' Merrill. His
son, John Palmer, was long in bust
ness with him
OF the above mentioned, Richard
Hussey and Asa were both shoe maxi
ers and resided in Dexter, Asa mar
ried Betsey Emerson and their chill
dren were Eliza, Roxanna, Catherine,
Estha, Alonzo, Allen and Ithamar b.
Allen married Ann Hussey and con-
Quoted a livery stable in Dexter for a
good many years and died there about
1910 Ithamar b. was a life long
resident OF Dexter and his death oc-
Cured there in May 1917, at the age
of Sc He was a shoemaker and, even
In the last year Of his life, was said
10 do work equal to any of his con-
temporaries He married May A.
Toward and they had one son and two
daughters: DR. f. d. Merrill of Fox
croft. Maude, wife of r. W, Hughes
Of Foxcroft, and Edna, wife of c. F.
G Marsh, OF Winchester, Mass.
It is Asa's brother, Richard Hussey
Merrill, that we are to consider chief
~ He lived on the east side of
Grove street, in Dexter, on the site of
the present Grange store and kept a
cobler shop and shoe store on Main
ST. in the building now owned by his
Son j. F. Merrill of this place, occu-
pied in recent years by ]. F. Kerby
who had a confectionery store, On
this side, for many years was the
'springell Drug Store, afterward used
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-09-27
LOCAL JUNK DEALER IS
DEFENDANT IN SUIT
1t Was Alleged That Harry Cohen
Broke Contract and Sold the Goods

This has been rather quiet week
at S. ]. Court, many of the cases on
the trial list having been disposed OF
without coming before the jury Mon
day morning the court convened at
II o'clock and Immediately both
juries were dismissed until Tuesday
morning at $50 So in truth Mon
day was quiet day
On Tuesday morning the court as
sumed an attitude of business and
the case of Myron Z. Gutterson and
Edward S. Gould of Lawrence, Mass.
VS. Harry Cohen, Skowhegan junk
dealer, came up for trial. Merrill
& Merrill appeared for the plaintiff
firm and Butler and Butler for the de-
fendant. Action was brought to re
cover damages for the alleged break
ing of contract between the com
pany and Cohen. It was claimed that
the company bought a consignment OF
scrap iron from the defendant and
that it was not delivered but sold to
other parties The defense denied
allegations concerning the contract
stating that the junk was not disposed
nf rs a5rcC,,i ~ tho plaintiff
The case went to the jury which
body returned With a verdict for thu
plaintiff in the sum Of >N12i
DISPOSITION OF CASES
Many cases on the trial list being
settled outside, court officials had lit
tie to worry them the first of The
week Among the eases disposed of
we're the following; Hoa,cr Fertil-
Ter co. VS. Emerson, detmlted by
agreement; Brown vs. Smell 4 TT.
neither party, no further action;
Turner. Admrx. VS. Trllton. contnu-
ed Wright vs. Gardner ct al default
ed; First National Bank Of Skowhe-
gan VS. Mrs. Emma Weston, default
ed by agreement; Hussey ct al vs.
Barrett, Judgment for plaintiff with
ont costs; LaWry Bros. Co. vs. Gerald,
neither party, no further action; Holt
ct al VS. Glidden, continued; Estes VS.
Brown, defauted by agreement;
Steward ct al VS. Brown, defaulted by
agreement: Wescott VS. Brown, de
faulted by agreement
Following the GuttersonCohen
case. the next action was that of
Charles p. Whittemore of Skowhegan
vs. Ernest c. Butler Tr. with Cover
and Butler & Butler as attorneys
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-09-27

little groups and commented on the
Fair. watched the aeroplane, the
races, completely satisfied and seem
inglv glad that they had come Up
and down the midway money seemed
valueless and the many fakirs reaped
a golden harvest from the crowd All
We're out for a good time and all got
what they came for
Il Was amusing TO watch the crowd
The little children seemed mach
amused by the monkey speedway;
young men took their chance at the
bowling games and the various games
of skill and luck Many an cid
patriarch was seen to gaze loncnely
at the hula hula exhibition NOT dar-
ing 10 enter lest the neighhors hat
home should star. scandal And
SO for two whole dass the fan ean-
tiuued aud the crow departed only
after the grounds had been cleared
of rhe last ycstiee of The thiar~ which
go Ia make mp rcal county Fdr
AERoPLANE WEECNEp
Walter Bu'loek. the young aviator.
proved to be thu goods He came
here hiehly recommended and gave
the peoIe several excellent cNhHi-
tiou= His para E. the entertainment
ended only with the wrechfn- ot his
,,.a1,t,,. I--ff.#.. n,,11..,l- -....l.. +.4...
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-09-27
Athletic Association Elects Officers

Following the regular session We'd
nesday the entire student body of the
Skowhegan High school, concurred
for the purpose of forming an ath-
letc association for the year 1917
1918, Much enthusiasm was shown
by the students and all are optimistic
as to the success of the school year
in so far as athletics are concerned
officers were elected as follows
President, Francis Croteau, IS; vice
president, Irving Symonds, 10; secre-
tary, Lyle Stinchfeld, Is; treasurer,
Prof. r. w. Leighton. Following
the meeting the football schedules
were distributed among the students
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-09-27
FIFTY MORE MEN CALLED
BEFORE LOCAL BOARD
Required That Fifty More Be Called
to Make Up the Quota


And still the required Somerset
quota has not been reached When
the last number of conscripts we're
examined it was felt certain that 1t
would not be necessary to call more.
but facts are facts and more were
called Fifty men were summoned
to annear hofare the Local beard yes
terday wednesday, and from reports
it seems that but few of them are
passing the rigid test.
The men included in the new CON
signment are those numbered from
551 to 800 inclusive and their names
appear below: Josephfe Adelbert,
Madison; Henry G. Corey, Skowhe-
gan; Joseph L. Delaware, Madison;
Paul e. Chamberlain, Jackman; Will
lie A Brooks, Pittsfeld; Douglas
Howe, Long Pond; Jean Bizier.
Jackman; Guy d. Hooker, Cornville;
Arno L. Padham, Bingham; James T.
Staples, Skowhegan; Leon E. Cot
trell, Skowhegan; Clarence A
Brooks, Pittsfield; Harold v Dunlap,
New Portland; Frank B. Adams,
Solon; Fred p Roullard, Skowhegan;
John e. Sinclair, Pittsfeld; Hiram e.
Hoyt, Anson; Hollis w. Brown,
Athens; Lloyd Hensbee, Madison;
Mark Howieson, Jackman; James
Boyd, Skowhegan; Cecil C. Cooley,
Cornville; Parker Sands, Moose Riv-
er; Elmer J. Loomis, Skowhegan;
Joseph Phillipon, Moose River; Louis
V. Laplant, Fairfield; Gedeon Corri-
veau, Jackman; Manuel H. Perry,
Anson; Edward NJ Shibley, Fairfield;
Lennie Il. Smith, Madison; Thomas
Cady. lockwood; James H. Thorne,
North Anson; Harold Richardson.
Hartland; Roy Otis Moore, Starks;
Ralph l.. Padham, Solon; Alton +
Rolphe, Canaan; Joseph |. Robinson.
Fairfield; Lindon l.. Diyall Norridge-
wock; George Webber, Madison
Frank e. Brown, Pittsfeld; Edward
Jarvis, SkoWhegan; Ora NJ. Sawyer.
Moose River; Erwin II Lasky. Skow-
hegan Wiltred YeilleuX. Jackman.
Philippe Nadeau, Jackman; Omaire
l.acasee, Jackman; Warren T. Dixon.
Fairfield; Leo II. Butler, lockwood;
Leone Y. Walker. North Anson; Jules
Boutin. Iackman.
The Somerset County Exemption
Board have received from the district
board, division ,, Bangor, The list OF
men, recently examined who have
been selected for military service.
They are, Willie Gagne, SkoWhegan:
Walter A. Ladd, Fairfield; Hiram b.
Hurd, Pittsheld; Willie Libby. Rock
Carlton A, Bunker, Fairfield; Charles
E. Nutter, Hartland; Casper Bryant,
Palmyra; Charles V. Look, Skowhe-
gam Earl l.. Patten, st. Albans; EN-
bert Ramsey, Pittsfield; Oryille w
Hewett, Lexington Guy S, Perkins,
Madison; Erlon G. Herrick, Har-
mony; Percy f. Norton, Anson.
Exemption claims were taken up by
the local board and the following re
suits were given ont Friday. Ex-
emptions disalloWed of Michael Kee-
ban, Fairfield and Edwin J. Wahl.
Dead River. Exemption claims al
lowed: Forrest e. Wescott. Skow-
hegan, wife and three children; Ar
thur G. Stoodlcy, Skowhegan, wife
and two children; Michael Patrick
Anson, alien; William II. Oakes, Fair
field, wife and three children Fred
Morrison, Jackman, alien.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-09-27
ATHENS FAIR TO-DAY
Governor Millikcn and Stan viii be in
Attendance

The Athens Fair opened this
Thursday morning with prospects
for one of the most successful exhi-
bitions ever held. Among the feat
ures attendant upon this Fair will be
the presence of Governor Carl r
Milliken and Staff, who will visit the
Fair during the afternoon
Cattle, sheep and poultry exhibits a
large and the midway compares fav-
orably with that Of much larger fairs
All roads lead to Athens today. TO
the annual Cattle Show and Fair
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-09-27
A. F. F. W. Work to he Continued

Upon advice of the national body
and after due consideration by the
local members it has been decided to
continue the work of the American
Fund for French Wounded and the
headquarters. over the Skowhegan
Trust Company, are to be kept open
as heretofore The above action is
by agreement with the National Red
Cross.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-09-27
Annual Meeting of Water Board

The annual meeting of stockholders
Of the West Skowhegan Aquednct Co.
will be held in the office of John II.
Mcclellan, next Thursday evening
Oct 4th at p. m "'he principal
matters OF business to come before
this meeting will be the election of a
treasurer to fiji the vacancy caused
by the death of the late Herbert
Wentworth and to see what action
will be taken by the stockholders in
regard to raising the water rates
Big bunch old paper, this Office, SC
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-09-27
Memorial to Charles COburn Smith

In sending generous donation in
gold, to the Skowhegan Branch of the
American Fund for French Wounded,
Mrs. Grace Coburn Smith writes the
following letter:
My Dear Mrs Atwood
This money has been given
for French aid in memory Of our
son Charles Coburn Smith, and
represents what would otherwise
have been spent upon hot house
flowers. About half of the
amount of the gift comes from the
"U. S Geological Survey, includ-
ing the field party in New Hamp-
shire of which Charlie was a
member. Only part OF the
money sent by them was used for
flowers, and the remainder at our
suggestion is gladly contributed
to this good cause.
The remainder of this memo
rial gift has been given by near
relatives who knew OF Charles
great interest in all war-relef
work
Yours very sincerely,
GRACE COBURN SMITH
Sept "a. II.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-09-27

the Methodist church. 1t
is recalled that he sent this latter
society a substantial sum at one time
to provide the principal auditorium
with a chandelier.
On the retirement of Mr. Hoyt, J.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-09-27

At noon, Thursday last, the grand
jury rose after being In session since
Tuesday forenoon and reported Is in
dictments County Attorney Ander-
son has made public ten Of them as
follows.
State VS. Charles Ward Of Lynn.
Mass, arson, (for burning storehouse
of Great Northern Paper Co a Pitts
ton farms, above Rockwoodl State Us
Manford Galway. Skowhegan. alleged
assault with intent to kill Same
taking place at time of his recent
break from county Jail; State rs Man
ford Galway, escaping from county
Jail; State vs. Alphonso Galway, as
sisting in escape; State VS. Manford
and Alphonso Galway, arson, three in
dictments, viz, setting fire to the Ran
dali H. Nye. Mrs. Clara Brown and
Norris Cleveland homesteads; State
vs. Julius E Caffot, breaking. enter
ing and larceny at Bingham railroad
station; State VS. Abraham Lineman,
breaking, entering and larceny in
company with Caffot above mention
ed; State vs. George Watson. break
ing. entering and larceny in COM
pany with Caffot and Lineman. above
mentioned
The indictments against Manford
and Alphonso Galway are no surprise
to the citizens who are aware of the
depredations caused by one of the
number at least, during the past few
months. Alphonso Galway does not
appear to be so deep in trouble as
his brother. but the indictments
against both were preordaned before
the sitting of the grand jury
Busy SESSION At COURT
Conrl officials and inrymeu haye
had a hqsl Nock for allho no cases
af great importance have come up
or considerations many ciyil cases
have been Disposed of Proceedings
II the court house have run along
very smoothly and no time has heaa
wasted in the disposition of os-es
Several on the civil docket have teep
disposed ot without fral T." at
which are given below.
In the case of Rel + HhiteanA ys
irwin l. TibhettS. in which the bank
ruptcy of the defendants had heen
previously suggested, The entry Of
neither party was ordered The case
OF the Gardiner News Company Us
" l.. Piuman and Ralph Woodbury.
assigned for trial on the first day of
the April term and continued. was
again continued at the September
term James NJ Dysart y John
Callahan and Mary Callahan. in which
the death Of John Callahan had pre-
viously been suggested, was continued
In the eases of d. a Adams and c. 4
Whiting against Frank f Smith. the
administrator Charles r Miller,
comes into the case as defendant
The case Of Melvin Bessey Ys Chas.
y. Newell was continued as were the
eases of Frank Padham vs. Philip X.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-09-27
i. PALMER MERRILL SHOE STORE SOLD
To LOUIS SCHR|RO OF WATERv|LLE
Transaction Involving Many Thousand Dollars
Closed in Payment of Cash by Above Party

Louis Schriro of Waterville has
purchased the shoe store formerly
owned and occupied by j. Palmer
Merrill
The transaction, involving thous-
ands of dollars was consumated Tues
day afternoon in the Office of Maurice
p. Merrill and by the deal Mr..
Schriro exchanged cash for the stock
and fixtures of this store and leased
the property for several years. He
would have opened for business i'm
mediately but owing to a Jewish holi-
day he is now out of town and will
hold his opening about the teRth OF
October.
During the past few months, in
fact since the retirement of ]. Palmer
Merrill from business life, many par
ties have endeavored or contemplated
the purchase of this store. Under
the supervision of Mr.. Merrill, who
always carried an excellent stock,
financial conditions at that house of
business were flourishing Tho
many have tried to purchase the busi-
ness it fell to Mr.. Schriro to close
the deal
The new owner is a man we'll
yersed in the shoe business, a man
who is DrOnrietOr Of Several other
stores of the same kind and one who
has been successful in his business
ventures. A filling in of this vacan-
cy on the main street of the town will
do much to further its appearance
and will add to the reputation of the
town as a business center.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-09-27

The above account relates to an
event SO important, in the business
history of Skowhegan, as to call for
a rather elaborate story of the Merrill
family John Merrill, of the sixth
generation from the immigrant anccs-
tor. (Nathaniel Merrill, who settled in
Newbury. Mass, about 1860 was the
second son of Levi and Hannah
Beam Merrill and was born August
20. l775. in Raymond, n. H. and died
in Harmony, in February 1857. lie
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-09-27

An ad in Everybody's Column costs
little; does much See rates Page 4
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-09-27

Big bunch old paper, this office, sc.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-09-06
Omitted Press Lensed wireJ

PETROGRAD, Sept. Ger
many called on her navy today to
add speed to her Riga offensive.
Official dispatches from the
front reported the arrival in the
Gulf of Riga Of fleet of German
warships, whose guns presumably
were cooperating with the Teu-
tonic land forces in the drive.
The war office announced fur
Their retirements in this sector to-
day.
An official announcement earl
Ter in the week stated German
war vessels were Smelling a mum.
Der of villages fronting on the
Baltic.
Civilians Captured
Thousands of Russian civilians
waited too long before obeying
orders to flee from Riga. They
were captured by the invading
Germans.
Refugees from the Baltic city
arriving included some who were
aboard the last train to leave. I'M
mediately after they pulled ont,
while several trainloads of others
were assembled, the Germans cut
across the railroad from the east.
All remaining in the city were
bottled up.
AS far as could be ascertained
from the American embassy no
Americans were In Riga when the
Germans occupied the city.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-09-06
CENTER FIGHT
ON INCOMES

WASHlNGTON, ID. c., Sept. 8.
Senate wealth conscriptionists
shifted their attack today from
war profits to proposed heavy
levies on big incomes.
The fight begins on an amend
ment by LaFollette seeking 50
per cent of all incomes in excess
of $47,500. The Simmons-Pen1
rose plan proposes such q levy
only on 100000 incomes.
Half dozen other amend
ments, growing less and less
drastic. will follow II this pro-
posal meets expected defeat. The
Borah-Johnson group hopes to
force the committee to make SUBJ
stantial concessions rather than
to carry their own amendments
to victory.
This method succeeded in the
war profits combination where
the committee raised it's average
rate from rs to 81 per cent when
the radicals attack grew hot.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-09-06
TAKEN
CAPTIVE AT RIGA

Next to Riga, the public's III
terest centered today in the active
pursuit by the government of
plotters in the royalist count rev.
olution conspiracy. Scores of ar
rests turnout all of Russia was
reported.
Official announcement declared
the government was In possession
of all details of the plot. The
prisoners already number some of
those who in the old days welded
autocratic power of life and death.
Several members OF the royal fam
lily have been arrested.
Gen. Gurko, who switched al
legiance from the old regime and
for time was a popular hero, fell
in the undermining Of the plot.
With his wife, the former army
chief was today ordered under
escort to the frontier, there to be
expelled from Russia.
Careful investigation was being
made today of the astonishing rise
in the value of the rouble imme-
diately before the Moscow confer
ence and its correspondingly
amazing drop from the meeting.
The fluctuation was attributed to
many financ!ers having an inkIing
of the counter revolutionary plot
to seize Kerensky and his minis
tiers at Moscow. Many manipula-
tors, it was believed, gambled
heavily on the success OF the
conn
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-09-06
ASKS SPARGO
TO VISIT US

Rev. Frank Dyer sent. a telc-
gram Thursday to John Spargo.
chairman of the social-demo cratic
league. and socialist, inviting him
to visit Tacoma again to tell Ia
eomans of the principles and plat
form Of the American Alliance for
Labor and Democracy.
The telegram was sent to Min
neapolis where Spargo is attend
ing the first confereDte of the
American Alliance. and where he
is reported today to be forming a
new political party.
Spargo addressed Tacoma au-
dience, last winter and was warm
ly received. He was then an Of
ficer Of the socialist party. from
which he resigned because OF its
anti-war activities
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-09-06
STEEL PLANT
COMING SURE

Official announcement that
Puget Sound has been selected
for the location of a great steel
plant, which, together with its
subsidiary enterprises, will re-
quire a capital of -$25,000,000,
was made by Bart l.. Thane,
Alaska mining man, yesterday.
1--WE are working right along.
There is a lot of engineering
work still to be completed. We
are compelled by war conditions
the high price of all materials,
difficulties of transportation and
the scarcity of labor-to> defer the
beginning of construction work
until a more favorable time. The
steel plant will be built and at
the time when 1t should be built.
In the meantime We shall con-
tinue the preliminary work which