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About Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927 | View Entire Issue (March 26, 1915)
VOL. 27 . (THE HOME PAPER) DALLAS, FOLK COUNTY, OREGON, FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 1915. (TWICE-A-WEEK) NO. 7 READS LIKE ROMANCE POLK COUNTY MAN FALLS HEIR TO A FORTUNE. Ed. A. Eaton of Hopewell Unexpect edly Finds Himself Worth About $100,000. To have lost all one possessed, in a material sense, through sickness and leath in the family and . to ' have knocked around making an honest liv ing as best he could for himself and daughter for several years and then to awaken one bright spring morning to, find that he had unexpectedly faljen heir to properly in-the east to the approximate value of $100,000, is a state of conditions which would bring gladness and rejoicing (o the henrt of almost any human being and such has fallen to the lot of Ed. A. Eaton, who has been ekeing out a living by buy ing and selling all kinds of farm pro duce in the village of Hopewell, in Polk county, and his daughter, Mrs. Lizzie Smith, who now lives in Chi cago. Not many years ago Mr. Eaton, a man of about 50, was a prosperous citizen of Illinois, happily possessed of a little home and surrounded with all of the little blessings that make life worth while, but the happy household was stricken with disease and when the "grim spectre" finally eame to reap his harvest Mr. Eaton awakened to Hie realization that he had lost his beloved wife and helpmate, that his little fortune had been exhausted and he was thrown out upon the world to start all over again with an aching heart and a little girl to bring up and educate in the world. lie went to California, where lie performed such work as he could find to do, and, two years ago, come to Salem. Although possessed of a good edu cation, having had good schooling in his youth as an adopted son of a well-to-do Illinois farmer, he did not' stay in the city but struck out for the country where he could be close to mother nature and away from the frivolities of city life. He left his daughter in the east, to finish her ed ucation. He started out to buy poul try, eggs, butter, nnd, in fact, all kinds of farm produce which he ship ped to the cily mnrkels until he met up W. C. Miller, nn old and prosper ous farmer of Iiopevell, who provided him with living quarters and olflce nnd storeroom in which to carry on his commission business nnd with work during the cultivating and har vest seasons, and there he has made his home for nearly two years. In this way he managed to pick out an honest living for himself and an edu cation for his danghter since the day he lost his wife and home and met up face to face with adversity. , . One day recently he received a hi legal looking package through the mails and when he opened it he found that he and his daughter had fallen heir to the fourth of an estate in Illi nois, left by an aunt by adoption, Mrs. L. J. Eaton, and thai their share would amount to about $100,000. For his share of the fortune, which he is to divide with his daughter, he will receive an 80-acre farm near Aurora, Illinois, fully improved, including a modern two-story farm dwelling; two lots with houses in Springfield and some valuable real estate in the city of Chicago. The farm land is worth .$250 per acre on Hie market, besides a coal right which goes with the farm, the value of which is' inestimable. Afler scltling up all of his affairs Mr. Eaton departed from 'Salem yes terday morning for California, on his way back to claim the eslalc and to be reunited with his daughter, who was happily married last Sepiember fijul who is preparing to move back. Is Springfield upon one of the properties of the estate. Mr. Eitun has fallen in love with Oregon and its 'matchless climate, however and when he gets h;s business straightened in the east and converts some of the properly into, ready cash, he will return to Hope well where he has taken an option upon a valuable tract of farm l:i'id and where he expects to spend the balance of his life. f-'atrm Journal 1 An Incipient Bli-e. Fire was discovered in t.'ie fuel bin at the sawmill of the Willamette Val ley Lumber company at 6 o'clock Tuesday evening, but prompt action prevented any loss of consequence. The fire department responded to an alarm, turned in frombe plant. The mill shut down temporarily for re pairs. Some Tree, This. There is in the Dallas city nark a poplar the circumference of which is twenty-cine feet This measurement is accurate. It was made by Kev. Geo. H. Bennett, and has no connec tion with his flsh stories. The tree may be seen the big one got away. There are a considerable number of poplars in the municipal playground but this particular populus alba is of gigantic proportions, a beauty and good to look upon. ' Ailments Lessen Attendance. Superintendent Ford's monthly re port for the school month ending March 20 gives an' average daily ait- tendance during that period of 508, somewhat smaller than for the prev ious month. This is accounted for by the fact, that mumps, chickenpox and la grippe have been prevalent. Prune Outlook Is Bright. The Armsby Packing company of this city reports the present oullook for' a bumper prune crop as being e.r ceptionolly bright. The weather thus far has been ideal. Peaches .were nip ped in some places by the frost of Tuesday night, but it is not thought that material damage will result. ARE STILL INCOMPLETE VERD HILL ADVISES PEOPLE TO ATTEND FAIRS LATER. ; Polk County Man Returns From Ha waiian Islands and Big Expositions. The Hon. Verd Hill of Indepen dence has returned from Honolulu, San Diego, and San Francisco, whith er he was accompanied by his bride, and while at Albany the other day was interviewed, by a representative of the Herald, through whom he ad vised all Orcgoninns intending to visit the expositions to wait at least two months, both being incomplete at this time. Many of the exhibils are not in place, and those of foreign coun tries have not been even started, in some instances. Speaking of the country in Califor nia Mr. Hill stated that vegetation in Southern California was not any further advanced than here in the Willamette .valley, and .at. ill, saiBPox-)b.iectfa."-'''Thats' "nil fighf.;r'' time remarked that the Willamette valley had not experienced the dam aging rains that had infested that sec tion of the neighbor state the past winter. Winter crops of all kinds have been completely ruined hut 1 lie California people w hom he character ized as "loyal to the core" refuse to allow any statements damaging their section of the country to receive any larger circulation than possible. Ev erybody is a booster. The t'vost has damaged the orange crop there this year to a considerable extent but this fact is kept quiet. Mr. and Mrs. Hill were members of the party that were on their way to the. famous volcano on tlio island Haii when the two Portland women were killed by the grade giving way under their aulo. He was an eye witness of Ihe accident in which Mrs. Bell, wife of Captain Bell who was for many years in charge of Willamette river steamers. W30 IS CELLING BOOZE? City Onicials Receive Complaints That Law is Being Violated. Mayor Van Oi s lei and Alderman Young hive ;t his week received anony mous letters 'in which complaints that there is drinking in certain places within the city are entered. One of the f-oipiiiuniciitioiis bears the signature of "W. C. T. U." and the Other "Mother," While, li. tie atten tion -shoi-.hl be" paid lo complaints coining finrn nn anonymous source, generally speaking, an investigation is being made by tile rfc ' nents, and if the li(Uor aw i? being violated an attempt will lie made to bring the guilty ones to justice. , Rural Home Damaged. ; The residence of D. Shepherd at Bridgeport Was slightly damaged by fire la3t. Sunday, the destroying ele ment having its origin from a defec tive flue. The' paper on the walls of ore room and the carpet on the flooi constituted the loss. ' i Another Ca p EsVlished. -Another logging camp h.is been es tablished by the Spaulding Logging company at its Black Rock camp. This second camp was ..necessary in order to secure .a sufficient supply of logs to keep the mill running regular. Committed to Reform School. Ho Matthews, a fourteen-year-old lsd living with an oHer brother near Ballston, was sent to he reformatory on Monday by Judge leal, the boy be ing incorrigible. His mother resides in Portland. HELD TO GRAND JURY DALLAS MAN HELD BY UNCLE SAM FOR SWINDLE. Federal Detectives Assert Ha Used Mails in Clever Scheme to Defraud. Another clever scheme for separat ing the unwary from their coin crum bled under the weight of the law Saturday evening when Deputy Uni ted State? Marshal, Harrmann and a postal inspector arrested W. E. Fox here on Saturday on a charge of us ing the mails to defraud. When ar raigned i at Pprtland gn Tuesday, Fox waived his preliminary hearing be- f Ore Commissioner 'Frederick' , H. Drake. He told the commissioner he wanted to plead guilty and start his sentence, but owing to the federal regulations lie will not be allowed to plead until a grand jury has passed on his case. . The postal authorities say that Fox advertised in the Seattle papers for mechanics, machinists, locomotive engineers and the like to go to work on the construction of a large sugar mill in Honduras. Write to the In formation, Sales company at .Dallas, advised the advertisement, giving a -ecord of the persons you have work ed for during the last year. No fees charged, but now comes the joker: Inclose fiO cents to pay for investiga tion of your record. If yon prove satisfactory your transportation will be paid to Honduras anil you will be guaranteed six months' employ ment. The postoffice authorities, it has been brought out by the govern ment sleuths, delivered from thirty to fifty letters a day to the box of the Information Sales company, per J. T. Bennett. ' Investigation followed. Saturday, when the inspector and the deputy marshal grabbed Fox, at first he pleaded ignorance. One J. T. Ben nett, he said, was running the busi ness. "Hop into our auto and we'll go get Bennett," said the inspector eheerilv. "Bennett's out of town, returned the inspector. "Come on We'll get Bennett if he's anywhere in the United States. In fact'," he ob served, scrutinizing Fox closely, "we've got him now." Fox went with the officers to his home where a number of uncashed money orders were found, also an order which hehad drawn to pay an advertising bill from a Seattle p-iper. The inspector says that Fox's method was simply to open the letters, talc out the 50-cent pieces, and throw the rest in the fire. When a self-address-! ed inclosure bore a stamp the little red seal was torn off and saved. The writer never heard anything from the Information Sales company. . Fox was in charge of the Portland Cement company's property near Dal las, from where he prosecuted his op erations. His family is now there. He is quite well known in this cily, hav ing hnd business denlings with a con siderable number of people, some of which was not with the utmost satis factory results. MRS. BRIEDWELL DEAD MEMBER OF YAMHILL PIONEER FAMILY PASSES AWAY. Amity Woman Who. Settled in Ore gon in 1865 Victim of Poor . Health of Several Years. Mrs. George W. liriedwell. wife of a prominent farmer and business man of Amitv, died Mondav afternoon at St. Vincent's hospital, in Portland, where she underwent a serious opera tion last January. She'was a mem ber of a well-known pioneer family of Yamhill county and had a large number of friends in Polk county, as well as in Amity. Mrs. Briedwell. then Miss Olive L. Maddox. arrived with her parents in Yamhill county in I8fi5. They came from Monroe county, Missouri, where Mrs. Bried well 'was born August 20, 1850. She was married November 28, 1882. She marie her home continuously at Amity with1 the exception of four years. Mr. Brieilwell served as county clerk when the family lived in Lafayette. Mrs. Briedwell during the greater part of her life had been an active member of the Christian church. Mrs. Briedwell was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Maddox. Besides Mr. Briedwell she is snrvived by daughter, Mrs. Norris B. Stone, of Portland; two sons, Glen L. and Paul R., of Amity; two sisters, Mrs. R. W. Lancefield of Amity, and Sirs. I. 3. Sawyer of Portland, and a broth er, B. W. Maddox of Rosebnrg. TALK BEFORE STUDENTS MRS. GERLINGER AND PROF. BUTLER INTEREST PUPILS. Scholarship Fnnd Urged By Dallas Promoter of Education Min ing Course. Two very interesting talks were giv en m the high school assembly last week by Mrs. George Gerlinger of this city and Prof. G. H. Butler of O. A. C. Mrs. Gerlinger spoke in the interest of a student scholarship fund to be raised by the students and awarded eacn year to some deserving student to assist him in meeting the expense's of a college course. Somt of the larger schools are now raising such a fund. Mr. Butler's talk was chiefly to in terest the boys of the high school in the course in mining engineering of fered by O. A. C. He presented some very alluring facts regarding this lint of work, but at the same time insisted that results in tins work, as in all others, could be accomplished only by diligent effort. In his general re marks before the student body Mr. Butler rather surprised his hearers by saying that he would not advise all of them to attend college, but would advise some of them not to. If they had frittered away their time in high school, as some students in all schools do, they would probably waste another four yenrs in college. He emphasized the f'aot that habits formed in high school will greatly influence the future of the pupil. PROF. TEATS TO MAKE CHANGE Independence Secures Sheridan's Su perintendent of Schools. Prof. B. A. Teats, now superinten dent of the schools at Sheridan, has accepted the superintendency of the Independence schools, and will this week sign a contract with the board of education of that place for two years. Mr. Teats formerly taught in ,the high school at Independence, af terward accepting a position in Dal las?:' He is -a successful edueatorrtmd the school interests of Independence are to be congratulated upon securing his services. Children Are Entertained. The annual entertainment given by the Eastern Star lodge to the children of the members under 18 years of age was held in the lodge rooms in the Masonic temple on Tuesday evening. The evening was very pleasantly spent in playing games and other amuse ments. A short program was given. At a late hour a banquet was given at which both the children and their parents partook. About ninety guests were present. ' Paraphernalia Attached. When Barnum, the hypnotist, de parted from Dallas about ten days agq he failed to liquidate his- printing and advertising bill with The Observer. This account was forwarded to the Merchants' Credit Exchange of Hood River, where Barnum operated last week, and on Saturday bis parapher nalia was attached before payment could be secured. OFFICERS ARE ELECTED CHET. COAD OF DALLAS GETS THE SECRETARYSHIP. Association Now Ready for Work, and More Than Half of Stock and Acreage Taken. Mr. C. G. Cond of this cily was on Tuesday elected secretary of the Ore gon Hop Growers association, suc ceeding Fred N. Stump of Silver, who acted temporarily, and who declined to stand for the permanent position. Mr. Coad was also made a member of the executive committee,- he and .-.Mr. Stump being the Polk county men represented in the organization. The other officers are: President, M. L. Jones of Brooks; vice-president, J. I,. Clark of Springfield ; treasurer, Ladd & Bush; executive committee, chairman, M. L. Jones; secretary, C. O. Coad; J. L. Clark, J. R. Kirk wood, Sheridan; Fred X. Stump, Su ver. It was the unanimous opinion of the members of the board that the financial affairs of the association should be conducted through the lo cal banks and that the loans be se cured by the association. The as sociation is now fully organized and more than half of the capital stock of $150.0(10 has been subscribed. About 12.000 acres of the 20.000 de voted to hops in Oregon are repre sented in the association. It will sell the hops of all its members and will aid those who need financial help to produce tneir crops, bimitar . asso ciations are being organized in Cali fornia and Washington, the ultimate purpose being co-operation on the part of the associations of the three states. Headstones for Union Soldiers. The Dallas Grand Army post wants the names- of all Union soldiers bur ied in local cemeteries that they may be forthwith reported to the national government, which supplies free of charge headstones to mark their last resting place. ; About a year ago the post undertook to secure these names, but relatives and friends of the dead heroes failed to report, and now it is making another effort. Peter Green wood, commander of the post, should be notified. The first game of the season at the Christian church's tennis court was played last Saturday. The grounds have been put in excellent condition. POLK AT THE RIG FAIR GOOD EXHIBIT IN PALACE OF EDUCATION FROM HERE. Many Eastern Visitors to Exposition Show Interest in Oregon and This 'Valley. (By Dr. H. C. Dunsmore.) Oregon Building, San Francisco, March 23 California has at least re deemed herself as regards her weath er, as for the past two weeks it has been all that could be desired. How ever, it requires considerable sun shine and pleasant weather to make one forget the continuous rain and gloom throughout almost the entire month of February. The exposition seems to - become more and more attractive each day, and the continuous special events en tertain and interest the crowds. In dividual California counties have their special days, each evidently try ing to surpass the other in their par ades and programs for the entertain ment of the public and their own ex ploitation."" Special interest connected with the early days of this week has been the visit of Vice-President Marshall as special representative of the president of the United States. The battleships anchored in the bay in front of the Oregon building, viz: The Oregon, Col orado and Maryland, along with num erous torpedo boats, cruisers and sub marines, were gaily decked with flags and bunting and as his excellency passed from One ship to another, their great guns bellowed forth the presi dential salute of twenty-one guns un til the air was thick with the smoke of their explosions. ui me crowds that daily pass through the Oregon building, we find many who are actually interested in Oregon and eager for information. While, of course, the great .majority are simply curious sightseers, we find many who really want to know. Ev ery day I talk with from one to half a dozen people who have come from the middle or eastern states, with the express purpose of seeking a new lo cation. If only a small percentage of those whom we try to point the right way should eventually settle with us the money spent in advertising our county will have brought us vast re turns. I was proud and more than pleased to notice the large part Polk county has in the state exhibit in the Palace of Education. Although the entire ex hibit is small, as compared to some others, yet more than one half.of it relates to Polk county. I am sure we are all proud of the advance move ment of our rural schools under our able and efficient county superinten dent, Mr. Seymopr, who has certainly established a reputation for advanced methods along these lines. And this reputation is not confined simply to Oregon, for in the current number of World's Work we find a most interest ing article from the pen of Assistant Suierinteiident Carlton on "Polk louniy s nurai ocnool svsiem. The efficiency of our rural schools is a strong argument in favor of Polk county and this is plainly shown in the exhibit in the Palace of Educa tion, where Dr. Bell of Corvallis ex plains to visitors the workings of the system. It is a pleasure and privilege to talk and work in the interests of Oregon. One does not need to in dulge in extravagant eulogv, or bom bastic boastings. The plain, simple truth is sufficient, and when one has exhausted his powers of description and explanation, even fhen "the half has not been told," for one must see in order to appreciate the excellences and advantages of the Willamette val ley, in general and of Polk eounty in particular. THREE OUT FOR MAYOR MR. KIRKPATRICK. LATEST TO SEEK HIGH HONOR. W. L. Barber and George McBee Can didates For Councilman-at-Large. The Others. Mr. E. C. Kirkpatriek is a candi date for mayor of Dallas, and the man who defeats him will have to go some. His petition is now in circula tion, and is meeting with willing sign era. The throwing of his headgear into the arena, again gives the quali fied electors of the bailiwick three candidates, Mr. Kirkpatriek filling the gap left vacant by the withdrawal of Dr. McCallon. Those now in the run ning are Messrs. Mose Manston, Hugh Black and E. C. Kirkpatriek. All arc well known citizens, each having his individual ideas of how the affairs of the local government should be con ducted, and it will be up to the voter to choose according to his light. Mr. W. L. Barber, now representing the second ward in the city council, is a candidate for councilman-at-large, U. S. Loughary, whose friends sought the place for him, having de clined to make the race. One familiar with Mr. Barber's work in the coun cil during his term of office can but endorse his candidacy. As chairman of important committees, notably the street committee, he has labored dili gently for the good of his constitu ency, and his return to the alderman- ic body as councilman-at-large would only be a deserving compliment, and an acknowledgement of appregintion of valuable services rendered. Mr. Barber's candidacy is opposed by Mr. George McBee, an old resi dent of the commuiiiity, and one in whom the people have confidence, but whose ideas concerning certain mat ters of government are in conflict with what is taken to be prevailing senti ment, and this attitude necessarily les sens his chances for election, though he will doubtless poll a large vote. Mr. John Miller, the present in cumbent from the third district, and ,, who attempted to sidestep further service as a municipal legislator, has been induced by his ward neighbors to carry their banner in the approach ing election, and will be returned without opposition. Mr. Miller was appointed to the aldermnnic job when Alderman Sibley resigned upon ac cepting the appointment of county at- torney, since which time he has been one of the most active members of the council. As a committeeman he has shirked no responsibility, and has depended upon his own thinking ap paratus for his opinions, which have been expressed fearlessly and con scientiously. John Miller has a good aldermanic record. Mr. Joseph M. Card would be alder man from the second ward, and up to this time has no opposition. He will probably become a "municipal dad"' without a struggle, there being no dis position on the part of residents of his district to urge the candidacy of another. In the drat ward Mr. John L. Sween ey and Rev. C. C. Curtis are con tenders for aldermanic honors, and there proniises to be a hotly contested campaign. While the latter is mak ing no personal effort, being in the hands of his friends, he has a con siderable follow ing, as has also bis op ponent, and the result of the vote would be difficult to forecast. Mr. Sweeney has the advantage of having resided in Dallas for lo, these many years, and probably has a wider per sonal acquaintance, than has the rev erend gentleman whose petition was circulated by friends in his behalf. The vote will be drawn from some what differing elements, and the pre dominating influence will likely be shown by the ballot. Both men are capable to discharge the duties de volving upon them. Charles Gregory will continue to wear the title of auditor and police judge another term, he having no op position for that position. Mr. Greg ory is efficient in every particular, and his guidance of the council in many important matters, made possible by close application to every detail in connection with city affairs, may be considered in the light of an invalu able asset. Free Trips to Exposition. Two Polk county ladies will visit the Panama-Pacific exposition at the expense of The Observer. These free trips to the big show are offered in the subscription contest now barely under way, being only two of the twenty-two prize. In addition to the free round trip ticket to the fair, the winning contestants will receive $25 in gold for expense money, besides tickets to the exposition grounds.