The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1920-07-09
PASSING OF OLD TIMERS.

The warning HE who enters here,
leaves hope behind" might appropri-
lately be blazed over the entrance of
the county farm. Not because those
who enter there are not properly
treated. for We understand the farm IL
run on humane principles, but as a
rule, those who are forced to take
jshelter at the farm are the unfortu-
nate derolicts left stranded in their old
age from misfortune growing out Of
their own improvidence, or through
circumstances over which they had
no control. We cannot help but feel
keen sympathy for these unfortunates.
no matter II the fault lies with them
selves, and woull urge all young men
to take the lesson of these human
failures to themselves and by practic-
ing thrift, economy and the saving
habit make provision for old age.
when the ability to provide has passed
away These thoughts come to us from
the fact that within the past week two
old timers in this county have died
while inmates of the farm, which fur
ther reminds us that several old men,
and in every case pioneers of the west,
from the north part of the county.
have died at the county farm within
the past year or two. A brief item In
the Okanogan Independent says: "Two
old timers of this county died at the
county farm last week. VIM. Norton. a
long time resident of Loomis, was one
of the deceased, and the other was
named Allen"
We knew both of these men, one for
many years. Both went to the farm In
such poor health that death was only
a question of a few weeks. Bill Norton
has been character at Loomis ever
since that camp came into existence.
He was an old man when he elected to
make his home at Loomis. Without de-
pendents so far as known without
relatives, he lived alone in a small
shack, doing odd Jobs, never over ex-
erting himself, as he claimed to belong
to the order of Never Sweats, yet for
all that, law abiding, kindly, accom-
modating man who never did a single
soul harm and who had not a single
enemy in the camp. Everybody liked
Bill Norton, and for months after he
commenced failing the good people OF
the town contributed to his comfort
and support until his condition was
such that he had to have constant care
and it was not until then that he
sought shelter at the county farm.
The Allen mentioned was o. s. Allen
who went to the farm from Oroville a
few weeks ago. Mr.. Allen was one of
the oldest residents of the county. He
lived in Ruby when that camp was In
the heyday of its prosperity, and has
been a resident Of Okanogan county
OF fand on ever since that early per-
iod. He lived in Oroville for a number
of years, and while here was married
to Mrs. Anna Mitchell, who preceded
him in death only about a year. While
working in the smelter at Northport
iously affected by the fumes and re-
turned to Oroville very much broken
in health. He at last became almost
helpless and applied for admittance
to the county farm and was accepted.
Mr.. Allen has daughter by a previous
marriage to that with Mrs. Mitchell,
who lives in the county. Whether he
has other relatives, or as to his anti
cedents, we know nothing. 1t was plain
to be seen when he left here that he
had but a short time to live. It Is
exceedingly fortunate that in cases of
this kind there exists such haven as
the county farm where these unfortu-
mates may receive the care and atten-
tion that they need, and for which
there is no other means of providing.