What Stocktonites Were Doing 98 Years Ago
The friends and neighbors of James R. Beckley proved themselves real Samaritans last Thursday when they assembled at the Beckley farm and harvested Mr. Beckley’s corn. Mr. Beckley was taken to the Concordia Hospital several week ago and is suffering with an attack of Bright’s disease. The neighbors, knowing of his condition and the harvest to be done, volunteered assistance and in a few hours shucked 1,500 bushels of corn. There were forty-five men, with thirty-five teams and wagons. The wives came along bringing baskets of good things to eat, and at noon the workers set down to one of the greatest dinners that they ever had the privilege to attend.
After a hard struggle of several months’ sickness, John C. Pulley passed away on Thursday morning at his home near Webster. Mr. Pulley has been in failing health for a long time. He is counted among the pioneer residents of the county. Funeral arrangements have not been completed at this time.
A number of Woodston’s musical talent has organized a band and are now practicing. They meet on Monday nights for practice in the Rooks County State Bank building. The organization has for its officers: Fritz Borgeson as director, Fred Shutts as manager, and E. J. Hollen as secretary/treasurer. Mr. Shutts is teaching a class of beginners and says they will probably be ready to join with the band in three or four months.
The J. B. Byars Store has been making some very noticeable changes and improvements in their storeroom. Additional shelving has been added to accommodate the large line of spring shoes arriving. A fresh coat of paint on the ceiling and re-papered walls later will brighten the room.
Ed Hageman is planning some very nice improvements and changes for his store. This week they are rearranging most of the stock on the “Help Yourself” plan, making it convenient for the customer to wait on their self. Some good substantial improvements will be made later when plans are completed.
Lee Holms and Miss Louise Gauthier slipped down to Stockton from Hill City on Monday evening and were married. They returned that night and the next morning it was Mrs. Holmes that went out to Mt. Vernon School as the teacher. Lee went back to work in the Karst Barber Shop and thus without excitement, fuss or romance this “great adventure” in their young lives was assumed. We join their many friends in extending them our congratulations and best wishes.
Val Schneider of Damar bought a Chevrolet truck of the Stockton Motor Company last week.
The fire department was called out at 5:00 a.m. on Saturday morning by a blaze at the John Toelkes, Sr. residence. It had been started by an oil stove. And it was out before the fire department arrived. As the fire siren was put out of commission by the cold and sleet, Cental had to call members of the department by phone.
Friends of former District Judge C.W. Smith and wife, who for several years past have made their home in Topeka, will be interested to know that the Judge has largely recovered from his stroke of paralysis. Recently, he and Mrs. Smith went to New York on business, then to Washington, D. C. where they visited Mrs. Smith’s sister who has been in the government employ some thirty years. While in the nation’s capitol they met President Coolidge, who seems to be a very popular man.
Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Bedard of Damar celebrated their golden wedding anniversary last Sunday. Over two hundred relatives and friends were present. There were seven children, twenty-six grandchildren and eleven great-grandchild. The ceremony started at the St. Joseph Church in Damar. Mr. and Mrs. Paul Bedard were the best man and lady. Two of Mr. and Mrs. Bedard’s little granddaughters acted as flower girls and sang two songs. They were Zella, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Zif Bedard and Stella, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Med Bedore. All marched from the church to Art Bedard’s hall where there the celebration was held. Reverend F. Diss of Damar, Reverend Mattingly of Zurich and Reverend Henry of Plainville attended the dinner and supper and delivered very appropriate addresses. Reverend Diss presented Mr. and Mrs. Bedard a nice bag containing $100.00 in gold from their friends as a token so they may remember their golden wedding. The afternoon and evening was spent in singing and dancing. All of their friends departed wishing Mr. and Mrs. Bedard a much longer married life and that they keep their good health so all will be able to be with them at their diamond wedding. The wedding cake was a three-layer gold colored, trimmed in white with fifty gold candles.
The only oil lease that had been put on record in Rooks County last week was the recent oil excitement recorded by the Farmers State Bank of Salina on a quarter south of Codell.
From the Woodston Argus: The Revival services at the U. B. Church are progressing nicely with fifteen conversions up to the present writing….J. J. Campbell shipped two more cars of baled alfalfa this week…. Word was received here last Saturday that Miss Zoe Brickell, formerly of this place, was married to a Mr. Lawrence of Cheyenne, Wyoming. The bride has many friends in this neighborhood who will join with the Argus in wishing her a happy and prosperous wedded life. ….A number of Stockton people are hauling ice from the river here during the latter part of last week.
