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About Jacksonville miner. (Jacksonville, Or.) 1932-1935 | View Entire Issue (May 20, 1932)
T he J acksonville M iner 2 bits of silent evidence of that far away day on April 28, 1890, when it was placed with careful hands to bide its time down through the years, helping to serve those de vout people who saw their ambi- j tions being fulfilled on that day, By MAUDE POOL and who made religious worship the An idle rumor that $5 was con highlight of their life. There was a cealed in the cornerstone of an old little red Bible to tell its story. Al church house found welcome lodg though in a good state of preser ing in some individual’s mind, and vation, its corners were worn, pnd as a result an attempted robbery the cloth-bound cover was streaked and removal of the stone was made with mildew from the years it had some weeks ago at the quaint old lain untouched beneath the old church standing deserted in a church. It belonged to May Matney, wooded spot on the highway a short then 14, who later became May distance below Ruch. The rock Roundtree. Midst the soft leaves of foundation on which the stone set the old book lay a verse placed had been pried to pieces, and the there by this girl, who it seems stone itself bore marks of heavy might have had a presentment of blows from a sledge or other tool her calling beyond, which occurred in an attempt to break it. A neigh about 16 years later: boring resident has since removed the stone and has taken it to his Just as J am, though tossed about home for safekeeping. With many a conflict and many The old gray slab contained many a doubt; With fears within, and fears with out— F red J. Lamb of God I come. Thief Pries Stone; Dislodges History McPherson Candidate for Republican Nomination for SHERIFF of Jackson County- Subject to Primaries May 20, 1932 “For Lower Taxes Through Rigid Economy Vote for W. E. “S horty ” MORRIS Republican Candidate for County Commissioner ▼ Subject to Primaries May 20 Mark X53 for J udge C. B. Lamkin Republican Candidate for County Judge Who is qualified by practical experiences, a few of which are listed below: Iowa Offices Held Board Supervisor (5 years) State Legislator (1904, dur ing term of Hon. A. B. Cummings, when economy and retrenchment were the rule) Came to Oregon 1908 School Board Member Mayor of Ashland (6 years, during World war period) Nine petitions were circu lated asking Mr. Lamkin to serve a fourth term At same time police judge Reduced tax levy from 22.3 to 18.7 mills in Ashland; also paid off $154,500 in city debts Appointed present County Judge by governor without any solicitation whatever Other verses lay in the protecting pages of the red book, one of which was given by Margaret A. Matney, then 45: Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth. A beautiful verse for the divine guidance of her children was put in the Bible by Mrs. A. Throckmorton, and there w-as a calling card there bearing a scripture verse which had belonged to Rev. H. B. Swaf ford. Others who chose to leave their names and sentiments for posterity were Manda Matney ■ (Bridges), Mollie Matney and Mrs. M. M. Jeffrey, mother of Robert, Anna, John and Mary Jeffrey. In another page of the Bible lay the following list of names: P. C. Chay I and R. W. Kennedy; the remaining people, some of whom lived on Wil liams creek, were listed as trustees of the church: C. B. Matney, E. B. McKee, Henry Janes, T. J. Hartley, L. O. McGee, Edgar Cox and James Cox. Mr. Hartley still resides on Williams creek. Another interesting article found in the cornerstone was a discipline containing the regulations of the church, which had a publication date of 1882. Somebody else had left a half cent coin bearing the date of 1829, and an English cent piece dated 1845. With the resurrection of these sacred relics of the past, there stirs within the memory of several peo ple the historical element of the tottering old building and the vig orous spirit of the church itself. One day in ’89 or ’90 several Ap plegate people were returning in their wagons from a long trip to town, and happening to stop near one another on the old Jacksonville hill to let their teams rest, began a neighborly chat. It was Jeff Mat ney, now a resident of California, who said: “Uncle Bill, we ought to have a church house.” “Alright, let us do,” Uncle Bill replied, who was E. B. McKee. “It would be a good thing to have.” Both men were reflecting the meagre efforts of the serious-mind ed folks of their community who were struggling for spiritual bet terment at that time. Sunday school was being held in the Drake (Ruch) school house, and circuit riding ministers often held sermons there. Some fine congregational singing resulted from this early day meth od of training by these circuit rid ers who would draw the music staff on the blackboard and teach the notes. Attendance at these meetings was large. Some time passed before Mr. Mc Kee and Mr. Matney met again. Both had been thinking on the sub ject. “Are you still in the notion, Bill?” “Indeed I am, Jeff,” Bill an swered. So it was from that casual GEORGE W. PORTER As Candidate for Republican Nomination for REPRESENTATIVE of Jackson County If nominated at primaries and elected at the fall ballot I will discharge the duites of the office to the best of my ability. remark mude by the roadside thut plans began to take shape. These two ambitious men obtained money from the people of the neighbor hood for the undertaking. For a week they camped in the nearby hills, cutting and hewing out foun dation logs for the building. Lum ber was obtained from a mill on Forest creek, and the building was erected on an acre of land donated by Win. Ray, deceased. Carpenter work was supervised by R. W. Ken nedy, past minister, and through donation work the house was soon completed. Split nails were used throughout the entire structure. The cornerstone was obtained from a ledge of rock in a bend of the river near the old Matney place. The urge for religious advance ment was so strong that even when the building was being constructed, Sunday school was held bseide the new church house under the shelter of the trees. The church itself finally became established in the South Methodist denomination, and the building was known as the Matney chapel, named after Jeff Matney, who had forseen the need of the community, and who had been instrumental in guiding the endeavor through to the end. The organization wel comed any denomination which might care to make use of the building, and it enjoyed a large membership. Many a time the church house was filled from door to pulpit, which marks a strong contrast to the spiritual attitude of many of the rural communities of today. Rev. H. B. Swafford, who resided at the Williams creek par sonage, was the presiding elder.’R. W. Kennedy of Uniontown, past minister, presided during the ab sence of Rev. Swafford. Oftentimes people from Williams creek came to the new church to worship. In the last years of the church’s ex istence Mr. Kennedy came back to it to conduct services when he was an old man, and Rev. Robert Ennis of Jacksonville was one of the last to hold services there, coming from the mining town with a horse and cart. Even today old time residents can recall incidents not altogether FOR County Commissioner VOTE FOR L. M. Sweet THE TAXPAYERS’ FRIEND V He warns the people to arouse and salvage their HOMES, INDUSTRIES and PAY ROLLS and care for the POOR and NEEDY. of u divine nature, which suggest that in the days of old youth had to express itself as it does now. For many months a parasol graced the topmost limbs of a pine tree, which had been deprived of its lower branches. A very devout brother suffered the chagrin of having his saddle put on backwards. Even the maidens often giggled in church. After 1902 people of the com munity gradually moved away, and the old church spirit dwindled down. In later yours Mrs. J. B. Rice, now of Phoenix, picked up the remain ing threads of spiritual Interest and organized a Sunday school in the community, which continued for a number of years. About five years ago a neighboring rancher bought the old building for its lumber, but has neglected to wreck the struc ture. It still contains its old home made seats. So it stands today in its rustic wood thicket setting, a mute reminder of the colorful bit of history which it can supply to the romantic past of southern Ore gon. ■ 4. ... 1918. We saved the allied nations from worse thun defeat, forgave them many billions of dollars we loaned them to make war, loaned them many billions more to muke peace with, and then found our selves on the short end of the greatest wave of ingrutitudo the world has ever known.’’ ■ — BENEFITS OF W AR The magazine Plain Tulk says very truthfully: “We had our lesson in the years which have followed Delilia Stevens Meyer Candidate for the REPUBLICAN NOMINATION for County Clerk • If nominated and elected, I will continue to conduct the office efficiently and eco nomically, as my record shows I have in the past. ▼ You Would Hire Competent Help You wouldn’t hire a blacksmith as your dentist nor a carpen ter as your doctor; neither would you hire a farmer as your law yer. Your county judge should be a lawyer able to handle legal matters coming before the county court. He should also be capable in busi ness administration. You hire officials by voting for them. WILLIAM E. PHIPPS Candidate for County Judge “Z Want to Be Your Hired. Man” FACTS About Coroner’s Office Special stress is being laid upon the fact that L have held the office of coroner for two terms. I would therefore ask each voter to pause and consider what firm held this office for four consecu tive terms before I took over its duties. Then if my services have been satisfactory, I shall appre ciate your hearty support. H. W. CONGER I
