The producers news., 1927-04-01

for any political preferments, and
needless to say, never received any,
He has at times slept on a pillow stuff
fed with Republican platforms. Since
the death. of Mr. Reed of Culbertson
a few years ago, Mr.. Nelson is doubt
less the oldest editor IN time of SER
vice in what is now Daniels, Roose-
velt and Sheridan counties, in the
newspaper field. He has been faith
full to the cause for over eighteen
years.
Mr.. Adolph Riba, commonly known
as "Gus" Riba also came in the fall
or summer of 1908. How &C. S." and
Gus" happened to come about the
same time is difficult to determine.
They themselves will not tell. Mr..
Riba, was also actuated by burning
desire to be useful He brought
along a wife and little capital from
North Dakota. He had no relatives
here that any one knew of, except
the Democratic Party. The party did
not do so well here on account OF
George Bolster, Peter Marron and
George N. Ator George Mccoy new
er said very much but attended
strictly to his sheep and voting ac-
cording to the dictates of his con-
science. Mr.. Mccoy however was a
firm believer in a high protective
tariff on wool only.
In the fall of 1908, Mr.. Riba used
a small amount of his capital and
erected a small building. This build
ing he named The Bank Of Plenty
wood. 1t will perhaps never be known
how much actual cash there was IN
this building. The same building is
now located on Main Street in Plen-
tywood and is used by the Johnson
Abstract Company just north OF Mr..
Riba's beautiful stone bank building.
Mr.. Riba was also interested in 9TH
er commercial activities in those
early morning hours of PlentywoOd.
He was the proprietor of the first
lumber yard, and was associated with
one M. M. Johnson in the first hard
ware store. To my recollection he
also owned the first automobile that
was ever owned by a resident Of
Plentywood. 1t was an old time
Buick. Henry Ford was not very
we'll known in those days.
There was also a United States
Commissioner here by the name of
Sigurd Anker. Not much is known
of him, except that he got married,
left the country and never returned.
Mr.. Anker was succeeded by one AL
bert r. Chapman.
Mr.. Chapman always reminded me
as being a direct descendant of John
Bunyan. His office was located on
the right hand side just as one
crosses the concrete bridge dividing
the old from the new townsite in
leaving town. Part Of the writer's
law office now, was formerly Mr..
Chapman Commissioner office. Mr..
Chapman was a product of the
OZarks in Missouri and when he once
made up his mind was invincible.
He was a great lover of flowers, and
like Peter Bell could see in them
thoughts that too often lie too deep
for tears. Like all good Missourians
he was a Democrat by profession,
and labored hard at times to keep Mr..
Riba interested in the principals of
Democracy. His worst fault was
hobnobbing with some of the old Re
publican war horses of those days.
AS already indicated above Plen-
tywood had 4 hardware store as early
as 1908 operated by Mr.. NJ. M. John
son and Mr.. Riba, as co-partners.
However, in the conduct of the busl-
ness Mr.. Johnson was Mr.. Johnson,
and Mr.. kIba was Mr.. Riba, with the
result of a dissolution Of the partner
ship on the first of january, 1910.
Mr.. Riba then retired from the bust
ness and Mr.. Johnson went it alone.
About the time that Mr.. Johnson
started for himself, Mr.. L. G. Zeidler
also started a hardware store, and
then there were two.
A tonsorial artist appeared in Plen-
tywood in the summer of 1909 in the
person of Otto Stadig. Mr.. Stadig
was a real nice boy. He some
how reminded one of the Evolu-
tionary theory-slow but sure and
not considered very seriously by
some people. Barber shops in those
days were not patronized by ladies
because there were no "bobs." All
the beau brummels made his shop
their common meeting place. Otto
has evidently liked Plentywood for
he still is with us as one of the prom
inent citizens.
A restaurant known as The Gem
Restaurant and Bakery conducted
and operated by one Severt Olson
was another one of the first business
institutions Of Plentywood. Mr.. Oh