davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Arkansas State press., 1949-04-08
McGEHEE

The Red Cross Drive ended sue
cessful. Every leader reported 100
per cent for their zone. Mrs. Jen-
ME B. Marbles and Mrs. Lois Par
kins reported almost $4,000 for
the oup......Mlss Patsy Graves.
Home Economist of FILA and Ocie
Lee Smith, special representative
for FILA, spent 2 days here work
ing with the Home Management
Supervisor. Miss Graves is from
Washington, D. c, and very
pleasing person. She was the guest
of the Modern Matrons Club at
the residence of Mrs M B. Jackson
while in McGehee ....... Mrs. E. A.
Peet and Miss Dorsey Jones,
and Mrs. Jennie Marbles rendered
a program at St. Peters Church on
Sunday, March o. Miss Dorothy
Long gave two readings. Rev. j.
j. Burnes is the Dean of the Min
sterial Alliance.
Arkansas State press., 1949-04-08
kINGSLAND
1Ri1a n Jenkins

The membership of the First
baptist Church of Fordyce Sunday
Baptise Church visited the First
a,ight,- The membership Of the
l. James AME Church were
happy 10 greet their pastor, Rev.
r. Lunon, after a brief illness.
The Spring Rally for st, James
AME Church was climaxed Sum-
day. Visitors to the church were
Rev. Ward and congregation of the
Draughon Baptist Church, The
Church of God in Christ, Mrs. T.
l. Ellington and the Gospel Chorus
Ct St. John Anne Church, Fordyce.
Amount raised during the day was
az24.36 The First Spring Social
u the Kingsland Public School
W0 well attended and enjoyed by
1he young group of Kingsland.
Mrs. l.. A. Green was the sponsor
opach.
Mes. Ella Irester has returned
- her home in Las Vegas. Ne
'VadA after several weeks visit
with her sister, Mrs. Pearl Riley
and Mrs. Virgie Harper The
Kingsland Basketball Team visited
the Mt Olive team of ingalls,
Tuesday, Mrs. L. A. Green is the
Arkansas State press., 1949-04-08
FORT SMITH

The NAACP met at the First
Baptist Church Sunday afternoon.
The meeting centered around the
verdict of the killers of Mr.. Hen
dirk, resident of this city.
The funeral of Leonard Mills was
held at the First Baptist Church
Friday afternoon. The Lincoln
High School PTA was well attend
ed Wednesday evening. DR.. Whit
taker was the guest speaker.
Arkansas State press., 1949-04-08

ness trip to Pine Bluff Monday.
Mrs. Curlie Smith and Peter
Hudspeth are visiting their mother
and family Pvt. Leon Jones is
visiting his mother, he is stationed
at Fl. Knox, Ky.,,.,The Second
Quarterly Conference was held at
TTee Temple AME Church Sum
day. Rev. c. M. Mankins, p. E.
and Rev. j. ID. Harris, pastor.
Arkansas State press., 1949-04-08
JACKSONVILLE
Moses Franklin

Missionary Henderson was pre-
sent at the Sunday School Sun
day and gave an inspiring address
to large crowd. Rev. S. l.. John
son preached at the II o'clock SER
vice. Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Norr-
is of Little Rock were Jackson
vile visitors Sunday Miss Pau
line Huff. a student at the Ark
ansas Baptist College, visited
parents and friends on the week
end Mr.. and Mrs. Monroe Fulton
are the proud parents of twins, a
Arkansas State press., 1949-04-08
NASHVILLE

David Dixon, one of Nashville's
outstanding citizens, passed. His
funeral was held Friday at the
Baptist Church. Appearing on the
program We're Mrs. Susie Newton
Reverends |. P Parter, E. J. Gall
away, Miss Corine Williamson. Mrs
Susie Galloway, Arts Whitmore
Mrs. Ethel Odds, Mrs. Bertie Lew
is. Eulogy was by Rev. J. L. Gaz-
or. Surviving are a brother.
Thomas Pollard an uncil, Ezekiel
Brown, 6 children, Joe Eddie,
Cleo, Luther, Mrs. Dora Lomax,
all of Nashville Mrs. Ellen Dixon
of California, Mrs Freddie Gil
more of Memphis, Tenn. two ME
ces, several grandchildren and a
host of friends. The Good Samar-
itans were in charge Mrs. Le-
nora MCGEE who now lives in
Cleveland, Ohio is at the bedside
of her brother, r. B. Williamson,
who recently underwent an opera
ton.
Arkansas State press., 1949-04-08

boy and girl. Congratulations are
going out to Mr.. and Mrs Omar
Ferguson, the latest married cou-
pie Mrs. Lille Mae Jones has
returned from Chicago, Illinois.
Arkansas State press., 1949-04-08
AUGUSTA

Mrs Mary Harris daughter of
Ohio is in the City. She plans to
sell their property and return
with her mother to Ohio..,..Mr
Samantha Wilson has returned
home after spending almost two
Arkansas State press., 1949-04-08

Depriest Campbell

Dcpriest Campbell
Mrs Rubie l.. Hanie is making
her home in Chicago, Illinois with
her children Mrs. Aline Ellis
has ungone an operation in
Little Rock hospital. Her aunt,
Mrs. Nancy. is at her bedside.
Jessie Jordon of Little Rock spent
Arkansas State press., 1949-04-08

Oes Arc
Rev, F. d. Gipson. Pdesiding
Elder Of the Augusta District, held
the second quarterly conference at
Bethel AME Church, Rev. w. T.
Arkansas State press., 1949-04-08
Jessie Kare mill match
your hair per1ec1ly...

FAGE BOY. y .-.-.'<-.s
This most useful hair piece blends
in with your own hair and keeps
the rough ends even. Fitting from
ear to ear and shoulder length, the
JESSIE KARE Page Boy makes
your new hair length look so nat
ural that no one can tell the diff.
ference .$3OO
Arkansas State press., 1949-04-08

This JESSIE KARE back Of the
head cluster can be worn in eight
other styles as cluster or plain.
You do away with the use Of hot
irons, thereby giving your hair time
to regain its strength.
Laurel outlook., 1949-10-19
Two From Laurel Are
Named To ROTC Posts
,e In BOzeman

Bozeman, Oct. 10. Eugene Z.
Coombs of Laurel has been ap-
pointed cadet colonel and reserve
officers training corps commander,
and James w. Sherrow of Laurel
has been appointed cadet captain
and commander of squadron B of
the reserve officers training corps
at Montana State college. The ap-
pointments were made by 1t. Col.
Leon j. d. Rouge, professor Of
military science and tactics, who
has just completed reorganization
of the ROTC unit here into the
separate branches Of the service.
In previous years the ROTC has
been organized as a battalion of
infantry. The unit is now organ
lied as a regiment composed of
corps headquarters, an infantry
battalion, an air force group of
five squadrons, the ROTC band
and the Sabrettes, a ladies' drill
team.
Laurel outlook., 1949-10-19
ASSOCIATION SETS
GIRL SCOUT. GOALS

The coming years work was or
ganized and last years was re
viewed with pleasure by the Cir
Scout association which met Tues
day evening at z at the home o.
Mrs. Margaret Huntington. Stand
ing committees, through whom
most of the future work will b.
performed, were appointed. They
and their members are:
Executive-Mrs. Alice Hamlet
president; Mrs. Marie Miller, vice
president; Mrs. Inez Vaughn, Sec
rotary, and Mrs. Gertrude Bur
dett, treasurer.
Troop Organization-Miss Eliza
beth Cooke, Mrs. Emil Ebersyiller
Mrs. Karl George, Miss Mary
Starkweather, Miss Marie Tomal-
La, Mrs. George Andrews and Mrs.
Harry Defines.
Program-Mrs. /. A. Leland,
Mrs. Ina Anderson, Miss Vera
Anderson and Mrs. Clara Getz.
Leader Training-Mrs. Roberta
Jackson and Mrs. Florence Berk-
land.
Camp-Mrs. Gene Williams,
Mrs. Marshall Huntington, Mrs.
Marie Miller, Mrs. Maxine Baker,
Mrs. Saschia Herman, Mrs. George
Wombolt and Mrs. C. j. Whitfield:
Finance-Mrs. Frances Stickel-
berger, Mrs. Helene Burke, Mrs.
T. ]. Hartley, Mrs. Herman Sch
neider, Mrs. Grace Foos, Mrs.
Herman Michael, Mrs. Herman
Frank, Mrs. Tom ~Schessler, Mrs.
Leo Eberhardt, Miss Eileen Hoff-
man and Mrs. Art Sherrow.
Public Relations - Mrs. Inez
Vaughn, Mrs. John Glantz and
Mrs. Carl Brenden.
Card Index-Mrs. Elsie John
ston and Mrs. Alice Hamlet.
An officially sanctioned drive
for funds for the Laurel Girl
Scouts will be conducted between
Oct. 80 and Nov. 5. The period
is nationally observed Girl Scout
week.
The camp that Laurel and Co.
lumbus had together last summer
was reviewed in a report submit
ted by Mrs. Gene Williams, who
had been the Laurel camp chair
mar. Additional information was
furnished in a letter from Mrs.
Harry Turner, professional direc-
tor for the weeks outing.
Before adjournment the associa-
ton set its next meeting for Nov.
s at 7 p. m. at the home of Mrs.
Alice Hamlet.
Laurel outlook., 1949-10-19
Booster Magazine Of 80 Years Ago Tells
About LaurePs Rich Soil, Many Railroads,
Hopes For Making 1t Hub Of Apple Raising

the Clarke-Fork and Rock creel
valleys with their rich soil anC
extensive coal deposits, with Lau.
rel as the natural outlet. To the
north is the Lake Basin country
which is rapidly developing into
fine wheat country by the dry lane
method of farming.
Laurel is situated at the new di,
vision and transfer point on the
main line of the Northern Pacific
railroad and at the terminals of
the Great Falls branch of the Great
Northern and the Denver and Gulf
line of the Burlington system,
thus completing a system of rail-
roads radiating in all directions.
Lines with their junction point at
Laurel and extending to Billings
and Huntley on the east; the fruit
valley and coal valley of Carbon
county on the south; extensive
farming areas to the north and
gold and copper mines of Cook
City on the west.
Laurel has a population of 1900,
has two public schools, one high
school, one German school, six
church buildings, two banks,
seven hotels, one creamery, water
and sewer systems under construc-
ton, electric sub-station, 100000
horse power available, al shops
and roundhouses employing $50
men.
The following is taken from a
report of the bureau of agricul-
ture, labor and industry of the
state of Montana:
Irrigation is an interesting
chapter of Laurel's prosperity
which can be read from the once
blank page of waste land and SUM-
baked lands, which now tells in
flaring lines of the farmers pillow
furrow, illustrated by beautiful or
chards and fields of waving grain.
Oats grown in the vicinity weigh
Al pounds to the measured bushel,
or as per cent heavier than the
standard, and there is a certainty
of a crop every year, for with irri-
cation we have no droughts."
To the eastern farmer who de-
ponds entirely upon the caprice of
the weather for the proper proper
ton of moisture and sunshine nee
essary to the growing crops, the
idea of irrigation and the absolute
Continued on Page Ten)
Laurel outlook., 1949-10-19

While recently going through
some of the many ~keepsakes and
interesting items collected by her
mother, the late Mrs. Sam Clare
Mrs. Gerald Scammon of the Byam
community came across a copy OF
Marvellous Montana, a magazine
like booster publication that Mrs.
Clare had preserved because of
a write-up it contained about Lau-
rel. The date was April 1911.
The editor of the publication pro-
duced and distributed from Great
Falls was Sam w. Teagarden.
The Laurel story, n of many
of similar nature concerning towns
throughout the state, was Illus
trated with pictures. These were
of the then new Laurel roundhouse
and car shops of the Northern Pa
cific, the Congregational church IN
South Laurel, the Merchants hotel
(pow the Merchants apartment
house at Montana avenue and East
First street,, the Laurel State
bank (now the Laird apartments
at Third avenue and West Main
street,, the high school building
(now North school) and the LenoX
hotel block at Third avenue and
West Main street. Standing IN
front of the bank was a high
wheel open-type automobile, one OF
the few then operating in Laurel
and vicinity. The Chapple drug
store, a branch of the the Billings
store, was also in the bank build
ing, and the Bell telephone system
had its exchange upstairs.
The story accompanying the pic
lures said:
Laurel is located in the Southern
part of the state in the center
of the famous Yellowstone valley,
being one of the largest and most
fertile agricultural and hortlcul-
tural sections of the great west.
The irrigated orchard lands are
mines of wealth; the soil is of
proven fertility; the water for ir-
rigation is abundant and cheap
and harvests are a certainty. With
in a radius of 10 miles r $4,000
acres of irrigated land, watered by
nearly 100 miles of canals. In
this case, irrigation means wealth,
for it means the raising of sugar
beets as well as grain, alfalfa, veg
etables and fruit.
Immediately to the south are
Laurel outlook., 1949-10-19
HAMLET NAMED
M|WAN|S HEAD
DR.. Beane Lectures At SEES.
sion Of Club On CrinOids
Found In Iowa

H. Lee Hamlet, principal of
North school and active in Kiwanis
affairs since organization of the
club here, was nominated and
unanimously elected president for
the coming year at the meeting
of the Laurel Kiwanis club
Wednesday evening. Also elected
were Walter Menello, formerly of
Brooklyn, N. Y, vice president,
and AL Shaffer, Hugh Sweeney
and Allie Dolven, new members of
the board. Ray Stevens, r. B.
S~turtevant, DR.. E. c. Hall and
DR.. r. j. Rosselot are hold-over
members of the board. j. Willard
Baldwin, president this year, and
Neil Baker, secretary, become
members by virtue of their offices.
The new officers will assume their
duties early in 1850.
DR.. w. A. Mccormick, past pres
i6ent and chairman of the nomin-
ating committee appointed a few
weeks ago by President Baldwin,
Continued on Page Ten)
Laurel outlook., 1949-10-19

SCIENTISTS AND OIL MEN
HAVE WORKED TOGETHER -.
In fact, the drilling of Americas
first successful oil well 80 years
ago was due largely to one of
the nations distinguished chemists
of that period, Prof. Benjamin Sill
Imam, Jr., of Yale college. The
connection between science and the
industry has continued to the pre-
sent, with the above refinery at
Laurel as an example. The plant
here is owned and operated by
Farmers Union Central Exchange,
Inc., through its Independent Re-
filming company division. It's per-
sonnet includes chemists specialize
ing in petroleum and others who
are engineers. The superintendent
is C. A. Cromwell.
Professor Silliman's connection
with the petroleum industry began
in 1854 when two New York law
yers, George H. Bissel and Jona-
than Eveleth, SKINNED crude oil
from a spring on a farm they had
acquired at Titusville, Pa, which
they believed was valuable. Before
a company to produce and
market the liquid they enlisted the
interest of Stillman, who had made
nationwide reputation as the
first man to lecture on the use
chemistry in agriculture.
He agreed to make an analysis
for $1,000. Though his clients
were unable to raise the money
promptly he became so interested
that he proceeded with the work,
and turned in a report in 1855
which said in part:
at appears to me :. your COM
oany has :. a raw material from
by simple and not expensive
process, you may manufacture
,ery valuable products Nearly
Continued on Page Ten)
Laurel outlook., 1949-10-19
DR.. SMITH OUTLINES
HISTORY OF WRITING

The English language, rich as il
is in its own heritage and long q
borrower and adapter from others
owes much to its ancient and
sometimes unknown forebearers of
other lands and ages, DR.. Charles
Smith, archeologist at Rocky
Mountain college, Billings, indi-
Gated to Laurel Rotarians in an
address delivered here Tuesday at
the clubs weekly meeting. Deviat-
ing from his favorite topic, archie
ology, which he had previously
discussed for the benefit of the
club, he sketched a brief history
OF the transference of thought by
means of writing.
The earliest forms as now
known, dating back some six or
eight thousand years, were of the
order of photographs in which
the writer drew more or less crude
outlines of well-known objects. AL
though their sequence, or order of
appearance, would convey a gen.
eral impression of the thought the
writer intended to convey, they
we're a language of nouns, lacking
the spoken verb words of action,
or state, until a later and more in
genious writer began including
word pictures conveying the idea
Continued on Page Two)
Laurel outlook., 1949-10-19
Oil Industry Celebrates Its
90 Years With Progress Week

This is the story of the fish
that didn't get caught and Of
the beginning of an era of pro-
gress. This is the story of how
the oil industry was born 80 years
ago.
According to the best records of
the petroleum industry, a black
smith and we'll driller named
"Uncle Billy" Smith had planned
to go fishing with his sons on a
Sunday in August 1859. But that
morning they found oil when they
made a cursory examination of
a well they had drilled to a depth
of 69k feet. The discovery can
celled Sundays fishing expedition
and marked the beginning of the
petroleum industry.
This week, soil Progress Week"
in Laurel and in other commune
ties all over the country, oil men
are re-telling the story of how
Uncle Billy brought in Americas,
and the worlds first oil we'll. They
tell how it was the dereliction of
some other we'll drillers that plac-
ed "Uncle Billy" in the pages of
history. Or, they explain, maybe
hose other well drillers just had
no confidence in the idea that pc
;roleum could be found by drilling
/ we'll like those which they drilled
'or salt.
A retired railway conductor, Col.
Edwin l.. Drake had been commits
stoned in 1858 by the Seneca Oil
Laurel outlook., 1949-10-19
'REBEKAHS NAME LOCAL
WOMAN DISTRICT HEAD

A number of Laurel people at
tended the thirty-seventh annual
meeting of Rebekah district II
in Columbus, Oct. Is, with Still
water lodge No. 125 of Columbus
and Jenny Lind No. 70 of Absaro-
kee as hostess lodges.
Preceding the regular business
meeting, a joint session was held
with the Odd Fellows. Welcomes
were extended to all by Mrs. Helen
Reifkofski, noble grand of Still
water lodge and Mrs. Minnie Rick
man, noble grand of Jennp Lind
lodge. Mrs. Ann McFarlane of
Zelda lodge of Billings responded.
Various committees were ap-
pointed by the district president,
Mrs. Eva Flaskerud of Red Lodge,
on which several members from
Laurel were asked to serve. All
the lodges in the district were rep
resented.
The past district presidents were
presented with corsages, a gift
from Mrs. Flaskerud.
Members of Zelda lodge present
ed a memorial service.
Mrs. Ann McFarlane of Billings
was elected president of the dis
trict for the ensuing year; Mrs.
Louise VanNice of Laurel, vice
president; Mrs. Evelyn Harrison
of Columbus, secretary, and Mrs.
Winnie Hickman, treasurer.
Following a banquet in the par
lors of the First Congregational
church, the group witnessed an
impressive candlelight exemplifica-
ton of the degree by Evergreen
Continued on Page Two)
Laurel outlook., 1949-10-19
DISTRICT SELLS TWO
SCHOOLS, TEACHERAGE

School district No. Z sold two
outlying schoolhouses and a teach
erage Saturday at public auctions
conducted at the properties. At
tending the sales we're about 200
people.
B. A. Sherrow, Sr., bought the
schoolhouse in the Spring creek
school area. 1t is located on Sher-
rows land and will be converted
into a modern home, Sherrow said
after the sale. E. w. Coombs
bought the Hawthorne teacherage,
which will remain on his land. The
Webster school was purchased by
Mrs. Thelma Berkland, who will
move it and add it to her home a
quarter of a mile distant.
Laurel outlook., 1949-10-19
Unity Joins Those
Who Would Entertain
Kids At Halloween

Mrs. Roscoe Shay was appoint
ec Thursday at a meeting of the
Unity Garden club to represent
her fellow members at a conven-
ton of Laurel organizations who
would join in entertaining children
at Halloween. The Unity meeting
was at Mrs. j. G. Mace's home,
preceded by the clubs customary
luncheon at 1:30. Members at roll
call told of gardens they had Wis
tied.
The meeting to be held at the
home of Mrs. H. Larson will have
Mrs. r. j. Rosselot as hostess.
Roll call will be "a True Ghost
Story" Mrs. Jack Goick will pre-
sent a paper.
Laurel outlook., 1949-10-19

company to drill for oil at Titus,
vile, Pa, near where oil otter
appeared on the surface OF
streams and pools of water. Never
before had anyone proposed that
oil existed in such fashion under
ground that it could be found and
brought to the surface by drilling
a well.
When Colonel Drake arrived in
Pennsylvania, he decided that he
should hire some of the local ex-
perts who were drilling salt wells.
A of three that he employed
never showed up. There dereliction
was the chance that made uncle
Billy" famous.
When his drillers didn't report
for work, Colonel Drake borrowed
q horse and headed Tor Pittsburgh
and Tarentum, Pa, to talk to
William A. Smith, a blacksmith
whose reputation as a well driller
was highly spoken of by salt
people. The Colonel hired "Uncle
Billy" on the spot, but was great
ly ~chagrined when the driller in
sisted that he could rot come to
Titusville before the late spring
of 1859-he had too many jobs
already lined up in and around
Tarentum, he told the colonel.
Smith arrived as scheduled on
April 9, 1859, and drilling started
in May. Work progressed slowly.
The drill was down only a few
feet when quicksand was struck.
They drilled through the sand
readily, but when the drill was
withdrawn, the sand filled the hole.
1t was Edwin Drake who came
up with the solution. He sug-
gested they push down a heavy
pipe through the quicksand until
rock was struck. Then they could
remove the sand from the pipe
and and continue drilling opera
tions through the pipe. This held
up drilling until financial arrange
ments for the pipe could be made.
The pipe arrived in August, 1859,
and they quickly drove it through
the sand to the rock below.
On that historic August 81, 1859,
the cursory inspection had reveal
ed, just a few feet below the
surface was the black, magic
petroleum. A new industry
had been born and a new era
n mans progress begun. "Uncle
cancelled his plans to go
fishing that day with his sons
James and Samuel, who had helped
1rill the well.
The 80 years since that first
veil was drilled are significantly
he 80 years of the greatest pro-
yress in America. Along with the
of oil fields and the
subsequent development of new
Uses for oil products have come
machine age, the automotive
age, the flying age, the communi-
;ations age and many modern
narvels unknown less than 80
years ago.
Laurel outlook., 1949-10-19
Commissioners Let
Contracts For Two
Water Improvements

Contracts for furnishing sup
plies and contracting two special
water improvement districts con-
tiguous to the city of Billings were
let Wednesday by the Yellowstone
board of county commissioners to
Long Construction company. The
improvement districts are Nos. 112
and 113. Three other bidders sub
mitted proposals for the two dis
tricts.
The Long bid was So per foot
for six-inch cast iron water pipe
for district 112; 81 for eight-inch;
500 each for six double-gate
valves; $3.50 each for eight-inch
double-gate valves, and $50 each
for cast iron water boxes.
The concerns proposal for dis
trict 113 was Sd per foot for the
eight-inch main; $3.50 for an
eight-inch double gate valve, and
eight-inch cast iron valve boxes
at $50.