The Polk County post., January 03, 1919, Image 1

T he P olk C ounty P ost
VOLUME 1.
(TWICE A WEEK.)
* NUMBER H D
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JA
9
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-4M.SS- Alj ________
» wh * m » M i n
INDEPENDENCE, OREGON, FRIDAY, r, vj JVUtH*efc*2019.
NUMBER SC.
THE FINAL SUMMONS The
'
Hulda J. Bennett
Post Is To Be
CITY COMMENCES DRIVE AGAINST INFLUENA
Owing to the death of several persons in this city from
Enlarged, Improved influenza,
extra precautions are now being taken to stamp
Hulda J. Bemiett died at her home in North Independ­
ence the first of the week of complications due to old age.
Interrment was made at the I. 0. O. F. cemetery. Besides
her husband, S. C. Bennett, she is survived by three sons The Post is to be improved and enlarged within a few
of a former marriage, J. W. Ball and E. A. Ball of Port­ weeks. New equipment and materials will be added and
land and L. P. Ball of Dallas.
competent mechanical assistance seems assured. The
Post will do what it intended doing several months ago
Lieutenant C. F. Cropp
but
was prevented by war conditions. Country news­
Lieutenant C. F. Cropp of Independence died in Salem papers
bore the brunt of depression during the conflict
last Monday of influenza after a week’s illness. He was
here on a furlough and while enroute to Salem was taken and many of them went under during the period. While
sick on the train. In a brief period of seven days this ro­ the price of all commodities advanced, the country news­
bust specimen of manhood had succumbed to the epidemic.
continued to be operated on pre-war incomes and
It was Lieutenant Cropp’s intention to resume the prac­ papers
in
addition
many, many columns of space were given for
tice of medicine in Independence as soon as he received his patriotic purposes
without favor or price. Then the city
discharge from the army. A number from Independence dailies encroached upon
the country paper’s territory for
attended his. funeral in Salem where he was buried.
the people correctly forgot everything but the war and
C. I. Barclay
its outcome. Local events became secondary to the war
C. I. Barclay, whose parents live in Benton county, died and the daily took first place in the homes. But with the
at the Beaver hotel in Independence on Thursday morning return of peace and its glorious victory, conditions will
of influenza. He had been here for a few months buying return to normal and prosperity abound everywhere.
live stock. The body was taken to his home in Benton Now is the time for every business concern to find its
county for the funeral and burial.
place in the sun. Those who fail to do so will become stag­
Warren R. Foster
____ nant or go down under present day competition.
Warren R. Foster, commonly known as “ Buck”, died The Post thinks a whole lot of Independence and its
in Portland Tuesday of influenza at the age of 29 future. It believes that it is within the power of its live
years. He had gone to look after his parents, residents of citizens to accomplish winders if the proper “stuff” is
Portland, who both had the disease. Warren made his
behind the blows. Independence has made its
home with his aunt, Miss Jessica Foster, at Oak Point. placed
great error in soothing and pacifying its knockers and
grumblers.
It has erred in considering them part of the
Henderson W. Murphy
Henderson W. Murphy died in Vancouver, Wash., one natural scenery and because of a sense of home industry
day last week, aged 82. At one time Mr. Murphy owned given them patronage. If other mistakes have been made
the Wigricli hop ranch south of Independence.
they were errors of judgment rather than pure cussed­
ness. ,
Annie Tetherow
Post like the nation will be obliged to have its era
Mrs. Annie Tetherow, a native of Polk county, died of of The
reconstruction during which time it will print two or
influenza in Portland one day last week, aged 47 years. three
that may be shy on local news, after which
She was visiting in that city at the time of her death. She comes issues
the bigger, better and blighter Post.
was buried in the K. of P. cemetery after the funeral at
Monmouth Tuesday.
Mrs. Tetherow was a daughter of the late William Ire­
THE BOYS ARE COMING HOME
land and a granddaughter of Stephen Staats, pioneers.
After her marriage to Columbus Tetherow she lived on Dean Girard of the bombing squad of the marine avia­
the Tetherow donation land claim in the Luckiamute val­ tion corps was an arrival home during the holidays on a
ley. They had no children.
furlough at the expiration of which he will probably have
to
report at Fort Oglesthorp, Georgia. During the late
Harold L. Fitchard
unpleasantness
the Huns, Dean was stationed in
When the news of Harold L. Fitchard’s death became Northern France with
Calais and Dunkirk, Belgium,
known last Wednesday, heart-felt grief at once spread w here he played an between
important
part in making it lively for
over the town. Grief for a friend who had passed so sud­ the enemy in that section. While
Dean’s particular duty
denly, for a friend who was a friend indeed, for Harold was not to fly over a German fortification
and drop a bomb
Fitchard was a friend to every one alike with malice on it, he was attached to that squad and assisted
prepar­
toward none. He was generous in all his deeds and char­ ing for such attacks. He has gone up on several in occasions
itable in all his remarks. A little more than a week before and looked down upon old Mother Earth from the clouds.
his passing he was stricken with the prevailing malady in­
his stay overseas he did not see a single person he
fluenza, which developed into double pneumonia and soon During
knewr
in
America. Happy to be home again and feeling
severed the life cord of the young man. Specialists from fine and dandy,
he thinks he has had enough experience
Portland and Salem were called to consult with the local to last him a life time.
was all very interesting and edu­
physician but it was his time to go and all the skill avail­ cational and he is very It much
pleased to have gone thru it
able could not stay his call to report for duty in the realms all.
beyond.
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Harold L. Fitchard was born in Clinton, New York, Feb­ ‘ With several sliarpnel scars upon his body, Dewey Steel
ruary 10,1890 and died in Independence, Oregon, on Wed­
returned home after many months of active service
nesday, January 8, 1919. When but a mere child he mov­ has
with
the Canadian army during which time litf has gone
ed with his parents to Utica, N. Y. In May 1912, he was thru many
battles and has had a number of narrow
married to Miss Margaret Retzer of Utica. They soon escapes. In hard
one
he was gased. Dewey can
went to Los Angeles where Mr. Fitchard engaged in the furnish an evening engagement
for those interested
automobile business for a year, moving from that city to in the adventures of ©f the entertainment
boys
over
there.
Independence where he has since been successfully en­
gaged in a similar business, being owner and proprietor
DALLAS SALEM ROAD TO BE PAVED
of Fitchard’s Garage. Besides his widow, he is survived
by one son. Robert Lewis, his father and mother, Mr. and A delegation of Dallas citizens appeared before the
Mrs. Charles L. Fitchard, one brother, Sargeant Thomas state highway commission one day this week and induced
N. and a sister, Miss Dorothy, all of LTtica. Only a few
august body to provide for the paving of the Dallas-
weeks ago, his father, mother and sister came from New that
Salem
road this year. This is taken by wiseheads to mean
York to spend the winter here. While their visit has been that Dallas
is to give up itg chance for a place on the West
a sad one indeed it has proven such a comfort for them to Side Highway
and this thoroughfare will go from Rick-
have been with their son and brother in his last days here. reall via Monmouth
to Independence; that the Commis­
Harold Fitchard was the embodiment of life, health, sion to reconcile Dallas
to its Lite gave it a paved road to
strength and vigor. He keenly felt his country’s call to Salem.
service and made several attempts to enter the aviation
branch, being refused each time because of his over
ARCHIE DAVIS KILLED IN ACTION
weight, but now he has been accepted for duty and has
passed to where a new life begins and where he will take
an active part in the Great Service.
Archie Davis of Albany, well known in this section hav­
He was a member of the Masonic fraternity being at­ ing been employed here by Verd Hill and Clark Hembree,
tached to the local lodge. The body will be taken to Port­ 1ms been reported as killed in action in France.
land Monday for cremation.
Rueben Troxel
Reuben Troxel, age 37, died at his home in North Inde­
pendence yesterday of influenza. He is survived by his
widow, who was formerly Miss Ida South, three children,
his father, James Troxel of this city, one brother, Gail,
(Continued on Page 4.)
out the. disease. A strict quarantine against all homes
where any of the inmates are afflicted has been inaugur­
ated and city officials declare it will be enforced strictly.
Signs have been posted upon all houses quarantined and
people are supposed to kuow that it means “Keep out!”
Any person removing or tearing down one of these signs
is subject to arrest and fine. The city council at a special
meeting last night declared vigorous warfare against the
flu and passed an ordinance giving the city power to deal
with the situation as it is deemed best for the public good.
Loafing in the stores and offices about town has been pro­
hibited and once again card ahd pool playing stopped.
The proprietors of places where crowds are in the habit of
loafing have been requested to order their guests to move
on. In the past week there has not been so much loitering
in the postoffice lobby. If influenza is a “ crowd disease”
as alleged, the postoffice lobby has been thg principal place
of contagion.
T he Post shares the opinion of many that if the influen­
za is a contagious disease, as it certainly appears to be,
the only way to stamp it out is to isolate the cases and
quarantine them so tight that there will not be a hole left
for the smallest germ that ever wiggled to crawl out thru.
But the influenza being somewhat‘of an enigma, even
to the medical profession, it is a hard problem to know
exactly what to do to beat it. The return of the epidemic
to Independence is not the fault of any one. It paid a
second visit everywhere. Our death rate has been small
compared to other places for which we are thankful.
It is presumed and very plausibly reasoned at the pres­
ent writing that the worst is over; that the epidemic has
reached its high mark and is now receding. This is the
opinion of those who have been “ close up” to the local
situation. They are very hopeful that in two weeks, the
diseiise will no longer be a public menace. While there
may be a few cases left, the authorities will have them so
well in hand that the city may return to normal conditions
and resume its activities.
NEW CITY ADMINISTRATION NOW REIGNS
The old city administration went out with the old year
and the new one came in with 1919. Other than a few taps
of the fire bell, the change was made without advertise­
ment. W. H. Walker seated himself in the mayor’s chair,
a place he occupied with credit for two years once before,
and J. S. Bohannon, W. E. Craven, W. H. Cockle, C. D.
Calbreath and G. G. Walker were ushered in as council-
men. W. M. Huff, the sixth councilman-elect, failed to
appear to claim the honor and A. L. Thomas was awarded
the place by the other five. Messrs. Bohannon and Craven
with Recorder Swope are what remains of the war ad­
ministration. In the drawing to determine the tenure of
office, Messrs. Bohannon, Walker and Thomas were the
recipients of four years terms. The three C’s, Craven,
Cockle and Calbreath got the booby prizes—two years
each.
F. R. Arrell was re-elected chief of police but the mayor
and council failed to agree upon a city treasurer.
IT IS NOW JUDGE ROBINSON
Asa B. Robinson was sworn in as county judge Monday
and is now entitled to wear the prefix “Judge.” The peo­
ple of Polk county will receive a prudent, honest and ec­
onomical administration of public affairs from Judge Rob­
inson.
Floyd Moore succeeded to the clerkship and T. H.
Graves took the place of C. W. Beckett as county commis­
sioner.
WALTER SMITH AND ALDA GILLESPIE MARRY
Two well known and popular young people, formerly of
Independence, were married at Oregon City during the
holidays when Walter Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. Layton
Smith of Cordova, Alaska, took" for his bride, Miss Alda
Gillespie, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. N. F. Gillespie
of Centralia, Wash. Their large number of friends in In­
dependence certainly wish them all the happiness and
prosperity possible.
After a short honeymoon, Walter left for Mare Island
where he is stationed as a member of the U. S. Navy and
Mrs. Smith resumed her duties as a nurse in a Portland
hospital. When Mr. Smith receives his discharge from
the navy some time soon, the happy young pair will estab­
lish a home after going to Alaska to visit his parents.
LIEUTENANT FLOYD TRIED TO ESCAPE
Lieutenant Ralf A. Floyd, in a letter to relatives here,
tells of his escape from a German prison, how he skulked
1mlf starved for ten days in an effort to reach France or
(From the Youth’s Companion.)
Sam, Sally Sanders stolid spouse, spurns supper. Sally Switzerland, how he was re-captured and placed in soli­
tary confinement. But he is now in France and well, con­
sobs, Sam soothes, still sups sparely.
sidering what he has gone thru, and expects to see Ameri­
“ Sweet stuff soon sickens,” says Sam, succinctly.
ca and home soon.
(Continued on Page 4.)
SALMON SALAD