Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 22, 1960)
George Putman Celerbating His 88th Birthday Today; Dinner Planned Br DOTTIE HARBISON Eagle Point-George Fran cis Putman, beter known as "Dad," is celebrating his 88th birthday today with a family dinner of all his children and grandchildren who live in the valley. He was born in McNary county, Tennessee, Feb. 22, 1872, to Mr. and Mrs. Jere miah Michael Putman, the oldest of two sisters and one brother. While a boy at home, Put man learned the milling busi ness from his father as they made the two stones for flour and corn meal grinding. At 14, he started his own butch er shop in Black Rock, Ark., and operated it until he was forced to leave by law. Owed Him Money Putman said a man and his two sons owed him a bill of S4.000.40 and refused to pay. Putman knew he had the money and was a friend of the bank cashier who notified him when the man deposited $12,000 one Saturday morn ing. Putman wrote out a check for the exact amount owed him and paid a call on the three men about 9 p.m. that evening, asking him to sign the check he placed on the table. He finally gave him five minutes to sign the check or he would use the six gun he leveled on the boy's father. Four and one half minutes ticked by and Putman warned him he had just 30 seconds left. When he warned them he just had 15 seconds to live the boys yelled to sign the checK Putman left town and re turned to cash the check Monday morning and the man followed him in the bank. Putman informed him his gun was still loaded and he would use it if he opened his mouth. Putman had the reputation of being one of the fastest and straightest men with his six gun in that terri tory so he cashed the check before the man coma siop payment on it. Marshal Also Friend The marshal was also a fripnrl of Putman and sent him word by a mutual friend that a warrant had- been sworn out against him, and to lay low, so he went to the sheriff's home about three miles from the court house and about 2 miles from town, and the sheriff hid him in his house. A reward of $1,000 was put out for his arrest and remained there un til he was 37 years old and the man died. This man also had an old widow sign what she thought was a paper to sell her home and turned out to be the deed to her home. The sheriff was in contact with Putman every day this reward was in force, Putman said. Indian Territory Putman left Arkansas and went into the Indian territory in Oklahoma just outside of Tulsa, where he cowboyed for six years. At the time a three-year-old steer was being sold in Kansas City at top price for S7.50 apiece. Putman became straw boss in his fifth year of cowboymg fnr the Mashed Toe ranch in hrhich his father owned 6 of the 10 shares and no one knew he was related to the The ranch was located in Texas and the cattle deliv- frpH to him in Oklahoma They sold the stock for $3.00 apiece for 3 year old steers. Putman tells of the time the wranglers changed his brand on 500 head of baby calves to the Buckle J brand one year so the next year they confiscated 750 head of his calves and put Brown's brand on. No one, not even Brown, was aware that had happened. Putman moved to north urAet Missouri where he learn ed the roll business of milling and married Miss Minnie Geuyer Nov. 30, 1899. Then oldest son, Ed, was born there. Move to Nebraska The Putmans moved to Ne braska where he took four years as an apprentice in the flour milling work and owned his own mill for 23 more years. He quit the mill a year before World War I broke out and went to Lex ington, Mo., and to Lake Charles, La., where he work ed for 3i years in an avia tion camp, and then moved to Orange, Tex., and New Or leans in the shipyards for the government during the war. All surplus goods and mate rials were sent there for re selling. Putman remembers having to dump a whole car load of good bacon in the bay to prevent hurting the price of the local meat market. While still in Kansas, Frank, Louis and Christina were added to the family and Florence and Minnie were la ter born in Kansas. Putman moved to southeast Missouri, to Minnesota, and back to Missouri. The family moved from Popular Bluff, Mo., to Riverton, Minn., with two wagons and a hack and this is a trip none of the fam ily ever forgot. Dad Putman was required to walk ahead of the group and buy supplies in order to get them. This was the period in history where everyone was scared by gypsies as they had been kidnaping small youngsters etc., and the min ute they came within sight of towns everyone grabbed the youngsters and let out the cry of gypsies the doors were slammed shut and locked as everyone grabbed the young sters and ran inside. Help Drive Wagons At one town the grocery clerk asked Dad to stay with her until the gypsies went by. The oldest two youngsters had to help drive the wagons and hack, and the roads were full of deep holes in. which they had to get out and actu ally lift the wheels out of the holes in order to proceed. The last leg of the journey saw them approaching with their wheels wired together on the wagons, and one of the horses became lame so a large horse was paired off with a small one, making them look more gypsyfied. The return trip to Missouri found them riding in cars. Putman sold their propery in Missouri and he and his family moved to Oregon. The family arrived in Med- ford Aug. 13, 1925, and have lived in the valley since. Put man went to work for Owen Oregon or what is now Med ford corporation, and worked for three years. His son, Ed, worked there for 12 years, Frank for 14 years and Louis for 7 years. They went on a farm just above Eagle Point across the Rogue river in 1928 but lost $1,200 the first year so they moved to Phoe nix where he made a success at three years of farming, Move lo Eagle Point He moved to Eagle Point Nov. 20, 1932, with farming once again in mind but while riding by the old building which is now Putman Broth ers Feed and Seed store, cold storage plant, and the Burr or stone ground flour mill, Putman agreed to assemble the machinery that was lay ing all over the floor for a couple of perplexed men try ing to move it. With the aid of his sons they had just about completed the job when Mrs. Campbell, the owner, approached him with an offer to buv the mill and three quarters of an acre of ground for $600. Putman didn't have the money but Mrs. Campbell ac cepted the note signed by his two sons and himself, present ed him with the deed, and Putman immediately set to work and each silver dollar he received was stored for payment of the note. He kept the interest paid on the note and Aug. 13, 1933, Mrs. Campbell asked him if he tould pay the note. He told her the next morning he had all of it to come pick it up which she did three weeks later and found a bucket of silver dollars too heavy, to lift. Divides Money Putman divided the money in two buckets and carried BOB WALTERS. Regional Editor CORRESPONDENTS: Applegate Valley Maude Ziegler. TW 9-1333 Butte Falls Mary Jo Harris. TO 5-2126 Central Point Doris Hughes. NO 4-1106 Eagle Point Dottie Harbison. HI 6-3274 Gold Hill-Sams Valley Mary Kell, UL 5-1126 Hilts Mrs. M. F. Cavin Hornbrook Katherine Chapman, GR 5-3586 Illinois Valley Margaret Crowl Jacksonville Betle Hoskins. TW 9-1209 McLeod Caroline Harding, TR 8-2260 Meadows Nellie Bergman, HI 6-1267 Phoenix-Talent Joe Cowley. KE 5-2918 Prospect Frances Ring, UN 9-2211 Shady Cove Evalyn Watson. TR 8-2351 Table Rock R. E. Nealon. TA 6-2097 Tiller-Drew Viola Rogers Yrtka-Montague Carol Petersen ODAIE MfUETT, BurWer Ashiand, Oregon C .IwJiWa "Electric heat is a definite I selling point in a home." t p.. . Aa&li.S gftSgFi F anphti Wof wtiw h ' III Mill EWricHeatMlCOPCO fSCT Mk!ifiy per MOrt Ekclriul Duttf. I Z-ZZJ . Wmi.u: i"- gaBBg them to the car for her. She was all prepared to tell them at the bank that she had robbed a bank to get the mon ey but when she took the money up, waiier louns, cashier, just blinked a couple of times, counted out tne money ana assea no ques tions. Mrs. Campbell was also president of the bank at that time. Two years later at the time of Mrs. Campbell's deatn, Victor Hay, a school teacher, was telling Putman of the strange and cold money she had deposited at the bank and no one knew where she got the money. Putman laughing ly told them where she got it and for some time when he deposited his money and checks at the bank they asKea him if he had any more of that cold money. The first taxes Putman paid on his property in Eagle Point were $1.86 and his present taxes are just a little higher at $1,111.34, but Putman stat ed he had no mortgages, notes or debts. Has Heart Attack Putman's wife died at their family home on the Browns boro rd. just a short distance from the mill Dec. 11, 1937, after 37 years and 11 days of married life with Putman. He had a heart attack Jan. 26, 1942, and has had several since including a severe one when the family were all home for Thanksgiving last year. The doctor ordered him to bed for six months and Dad says he is still alive because he "did what the doctor told him not to do." All of his children have lived close to Dad all their lives except Minnie, and her family who moved to New Mexico about three years ago. A grandson, Jerry Warren, and his family lives in Suth erlin, and a daughter, Mrs. Band Concert Draws Crowd at Days Creek Tiller-Drew - A large crowd attended the band concert at Days Creek last week spon sored by the student body of Days Creek school. The Willamette university concert band were given a chicken dinner in the school cafeteria at 6 o'clock furnish ed by mothers of the students. The concert began at 8 j o'clock in the school gymna-j sium with the 44 piece band playing nine numbers. After the concert, four members of the band played music for dancing. The band is under the direc tion of Maurice W. Brenner, and Roy Chapin is the man ager. BUILDING PERMITS Central Point Two build ing permits for new homes were issued at the city hall recently. They are to build homes in the Faber - Crater subdivision, and will be con structed by Petrehn and Pur dy Construction company. Clifford (Florence) Roush and family live in Medford, but the rest of the family all live in Eagle Point. Putman has nine grandchildren and has made and is making plans for increased work in the future. Regional Calendar Applegate Valley Mrs. Francis Krouse and Mrs. George Brown will discuss synthetic fabrics at a joint meeting of local extension units at Upper Applegate Grange hall Tuesday, Feb. 23, at 10:30 a.m. There will be potluck dinner and child care. Gold Hill - The executive committee of the Gold Hill Parent Teacher association will meet- Tuesday, Feb. 23, at 2 p.m. in the cafeteria at the Hanby Elementary school to outline preliminary plans for a safety program, accord ing to Mrs. Ogden Kellogg, president. Eagle Point The Home Economics club of the Eagle Point Grange will meet at the home of Mrs. C. C. Hoover on Gregory rd. at 1 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 24. Mrs. Tom Vestal will be cohostess. Gold Hill - Amethyst Re bekah lodge will sponsor a luncheon and card party Wednesday, Feb. 24, begin ning at noon at the Odd Fel lows hall on Fourth ave., Mrs. Clarence Parsley, ways and means chairman, said. Gold Hill - Mrs. Wilmer Bailey will be hostess at her home on Fifth ave. for a meet ing of the Past Noble Grand's club of Amethyst Rebekah lodge, Thursday, Feb. 25, at 8 p.m. Mrs. Bailey said those who have Amethyst secret friends should bring a Valen tine gift for exchange. Sams Valley - A silver tea will be held in observance of Founder's Day at the meeting of Sams Valley Parent Teach er association Thursday, Feb. 25, at 8 p.m. at the school, according to Mrs. Alfred Gowen, publicity chairman. Past presidents will be hon ored. Tiller-Drew - Tiller-Drew PTA will hold its Founder's day tea in the school gymnas-. ium Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. Mrs. George Stone is program chairman and Mrs. Howard Midkiff is refreshment chair- ATTENTION ALL FOOD CLERKS! ASHLAIID-HEDFORD-GRAIITS PASS Monday, February 22nd Medford Hotel 9:15 P.M. GUEST SPEAKERS WILL DISCUSS: Local Union Operation z Health and Welfare u Union Contracts This Meeting Sponsored by RETAIL CLERKS UNION, LOCAL 265 AFL-CIO A SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER WILL BE BROTHER H. L. WEINGARTNER, FINANCIAL SECRETARY, LOCAL 1364, RETAIL CLERKS UNION, AFL-CIO OF REDDING, CALIFORNIA Sp&egion'al I mm Mens Crater Agriculture Gold Hill - Delmar Smith, Crater High Future Farmer of America reporter, said stu dents of the agriculture 1-A and 1-B classes will enter shop courses for the first time beginning this six weeks. They will be taught several skills. Welding will consist of Hornbrook Resident Attends Bureau Meet Hornbrook - Mrs. Marion (Elva) Grieb attended the meeting of the Shasta Valley Farm Bureau Women at the home of Mrs. Beverly Ash craft in Little Shasta Satur day. Highlights of the program were colored slides and a talk on Alaska presented by Mrs. Laura Cawley, who made a trip to Alaska last year. During the business meeting it was announced that the next joint meeting of the Shasta Valley and Edgewood Farm Bureau Wo men will be held in the Edge wood Center building in Edgewood in April, the exact date to be announced later. Also discussed was the com ing annual Farm Bureau party to be held Saturday night, March 5 at the Monta gue auditorium. Volunteers Working On Recreation Kali Hilts Work has been start ed here to remodel the com munity center building to serve as a community recre ation hall. Crews are work ing from 6-10 p.m. each week day and from 8 a.m. until noon each Saturday. Overseeing the crews on a rotation basis are M. E. Bar ron, Al Simmen, Warren Fox and Glen King. Materials are being fur nished by the Fruit Growers Supply company, and all la bor is voluntary. SPECIAL ELECTION MEETING Students to Start learning how to make a but- weld, which must withstand blows with a sledge hammer. In oxo-acetylene cutting, the student must cut a 316 piece of metal that will be judged by smoothness of the cut edge. They also will learn the knowledge of brazing, which he Said is useful when work ing with metal that is too thin to weld and also in cast iron work. Increased Need Because of the increased need for carpenter skills on the. farm, students will be taught the proper use of crosscut-saw and rip-saw. The stu dent will be given one board 6 inches by 2 feet and will be required to cut a 6 inch by 9 inch rectangle from it. Two holes must also be drill ed in the board with a brace and bit. Although few people use Couple Called South Because of Death Eagle Point Mr. and Mrs. Merle McGraw was called to San Louis Obispo, Calif. Wed nesday, Feb. 17 by the death of Mrs. McGraw's father, Theodore Veaulieu, 85. Mr. Veaulieu was an early resident of Jackson county and had made his home with his daughter in past years. During the winter months, he visited his son in California. Mr. Veaulieu attended the Shady Cove Our Lady of Fa tima Catholic church and Sac red Heart Catholic church, of Medford. He was an orchard ist and managed several pack ing plants in the Medford area. GIRL SCOUTS MEET Gold Hill Local Girl Scouts have been meeting at the homes of the members once a week to earn clocking badges, Mrs. Floyd Taylor, leader said. Meetings are held after school Fridays. Courses in Shop a forge any more, students will learn this skill. They will be taught tap and dye work and the skill of sharpening tools. Each boy has completed a rope halter. Larry Ryerson, news bulle tin editor, and Gary Meade, assistant editor, announced that the February edition of the News Bulletin had been mailed to more than 150 per sons in this area. LOSES FINGERS Shady Cove - Jimmy Ford, Butte Falls, son of Mrs. Johnie Minor of Shady Cove lost two fingers in an accident while he was working at Medford Corporation last week. He was admitted to a Medford hospi tal, and released later in the week. Your blood is precious.. whether you need it in the form of a transfusion ... or whether you are a donor Your GiEO CROSS distributes blood to everyone ... AT NO CHARGE Won't you help us to keep ample supplies of blood on hand? The loodmobiDe will be at the KEED CROSS BUILDING 60 Hawthorne St. February Phone Rural Reflections By MAUDE ZIEGLER Applegate Valley - If evi dence is any criterion there will be a rounding up of cougars here some day at a bounty rate of $60 from coun ty and state. Charlie Williams discovered a huge track in the back yard. He poured it full of plaster and took the cast to Medford, where it was identified as a cougar's. The Otis Buck's report a cougar was seen in day light near their ranch, and a deer it was credited with killing was found near by. Don Moulton of the forest service scaling station near Ruch says a cougar which he thinks lives in the Forest creek back country chased a deer into the road near the station one day. Grace Pearson still is a little breathless from hearing a cougar's cry on the moun tain close by about 4:30 one morning, which she describes as the wierdest, creepiest sound combining the qualities of a human's scream with that of a cat and a red-tailed hawk. COUPLE RETURNS Applegate Valley - Mr. and Mrs. M. W. Milam have re turned from Long Beach, Calif, where they visited their son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Apostalo. 23, 1:00 Till TUESDAY SIP 3-3313 Medford Mail Tribune .3 District 6C to Hold Speech Event Gold Hill - A bulletin has been sent to teachers in Dis trict 6C announcing prelimi nary plans for a speech festi val, which will be sponsored by the speech department at Crater High school under the direction of D. E. Lacy, speech instructor. Seventh and eighth grade students of Hanby, Sams Val ley and Central Point schools will be invited to participate in the festival, which is slated for Friday, May 6, and Sat urday, May 7, at Crater High school. There is a possibility that fourth, fifth, and sixth grades of the schools might be in cluded. Whether or not they will participate will be de cided and announced later. Most events will take place Saturday, May 7. However at this time it is planned that some will be held Friday to allow more than one round of speaking for each contest. It will be possible for cen testants to listen to other events when they are not in volved in a round of their own. 6:00 p.m. Make it a "date" now! MAIL TRIBUNE, Medford, Or. Monday, Feb. 22, 1960
