l)e jftttton Cotmtg
-. -
.'.V. JL .i" -
VOLUML 9
McCONNELLSBUKG, PA.; JANUARY 1), 1908.
THE OTHER SIDE OF IT.
NEW COUNTY OFFICIALS.
Oklahoma Cillien Replies lo AfflcU Puh
lished i.i News Recently.
I see a letter in your raper
from a Mrs. Fisher, who is not
satisfied with thiugs out hore.
Now, while those may bo worthy
pjoplo iu their place, they are not
th i kind who made Pennsylvania
what it is, and who are making
Oklahoma what it will be one of
the richest states in the' Union.
They complain of the wind
that blows enough o that we dov
er have a night that is too hot for
comfort, and seldom a day too
windy for comfort, and always
enough to pump our water for all
purposes from a well on good
ground; and we don't have to
farm rough land in order to live
by a spring. They complain of
scarce water; but I have traveled
this country from the Gulf to
Canada, and have seen notiver
one per oent. of the country but
what water could be found in
abundance at from 3 to 40 feet;
and I have seen people like these
hauling water from A mile to 5 or
() miles sooner than get down
and dig.
So far as cyclones aro concern
ed, I think more people die of
consumption every year in Penn
sylvania, than are killed by cy
clones in the West in ten years
Pennsylvania is a good state to
live in, but experience in loth
places convinces me that the
West is. as good, or better, as a
poor man has a i otter chance to
own some of it. But a "quitter"
is of no use here. They belong
back with their wive' people,
flood land there that would bring
Hto2 tons a year, was worth
$100 an acre. But 1 think 40 per
cent, of the land in Kansas and
Oklahoma mil bring from U to 9
tons of alfalfa an acre worth just
as much, or more, tor feed and
never needs re sowing, if proper
ly cared tor, which is vei y little
trouble. There are plenty of
Pennsylvanians here, but made
of good stuff. The Indian left as
fine land, but no wells, fences, or
buildings and these things don't
grow in this climate, and they are
not built in a day and hardly in
one man's lifetime; but 1 will ven
ture to say that this country has
improved more in the last eight
een years since the "opening"
than Pennsylvania did in the first
150 years of her settlement
I have no land to sell, but many
are selling good a.falfa land for
$25 to $35 an wc.ru, 'hat Is worth
$100 if ever land was worth it.
One neighbor here, this year,
raised 150 tons of hay, and 100
bushels of seed (worth $10 a bush
el i.i town) off only 25 acres. Last
year there was no seed.
The shrinkage of values they
complain of, has come, but noth
ing like as fierce as they tell it.
I have been to a dozen sales since
the panic, and prices are nearly
at good as before except on pigs
and shoats. Wages are the same
and the price of cotton makes the
crop worth from $20 to $50 an
acre.
Now, brother Editor, if I am
nut asking for too much space in
your valuable paper I would like
your leaders to see a paragraph
from "The Farmers Mail anj
Breeze" of December 21, 1007,
published atTopeka, Kansas:
"E. Cassil is another farmer
who har cut five crops of alfalfa
this year. Mr Cassil lives near
Canton and has 65 acres in this
crop. From the five cuttings he
got 595 tons of hay being about
!t tons from each acre. This hay
is worth $8 per ton as it stands
or a total of $4,700 for the- lot.
Without joking, this alfalfa plant
going to put Kansas clear
is
above-anv othar state in the Union
in the farming line. Just stop
and figure a minute and you will
see how it is going to do it."
Kansas, you know is an adjoin
ing state with soil and climate
conditions much same as ours
and what is true of alfalfa there
is true of it hero.
Now, dori't tveryoue come at
once. L. ok before you leap, and
if you do i't like it, you don't have
to take it there are plenty who
Will. 11. A. KkynoUk,
R 8i Kingfisher, Okl i.
the
the
en-
de-the
First Week of January Brings Usual
Change of Managers of County
Affair.
The first week in January has
witnessed the stepping down and
out of tho county officers whoso
terms had expired, and the in
duel ion of those chosen at the
last November election to fill the
offices thus made vacant, during
the current term.
James G. Alexander and his
deputy, Villiam H. Nesbit, hand
ed over the keys of the Sheriff's
office to Jefferson Harris and his
duputy, Albert D. Hohman of
this place, and it might not be
amiss just here to drop the hint
to evil doers that both the new
sheriff and his deputy are butch
ers used to the smell ot blood
and it will be no use to try to get
away from them. Jimmy Alex
ander, as he u familiarly known,
and Will Nesbit, have roven
most acceptable officers, ai.d go
back into private life with
t'l.-tiilis of the people and
best wishes for their future
terprises.
Adam C. Lauer and his
puty Geo. B. Mellott stuffed
County's money bag into Charlie
Stevens' pocket Monday, and the
latter will take care of the Coun
ty 's funds during the next three
years Adam proved a most ac
ceptable officer always courte
ous and obliging and Mr. Mel
lott, who had fillrd the position
for three years on his own ac
count, was familiar from the be
ginning, with every detail of the
work; and, of course, the -accounts
tallied to a pj inny. The big vote
given Mr. Stevens last fall show
ed that the people of this county
are not afraid to trust him with
the cash, and his being a success
ful young business man, will in
sure the affairs of the treasurer's
office to be handled honestly and
efficiently.
Frank P. Plessinger was in
town last Wednesday, and quali
fied for the position of County
Surveyor to which he was elect
ed lest November. Mr. Pies
singer is one of the cleanest
young men in the County, and
is in every way qualified to dis
charge the duties devolving upon
him. He succeeds J nas Lake,
who has held that position for
many years, always discharging
his duties with fidelity. He is
now filling a State appointmei t.
This coucty, with its well
known propensity for economical
management, has been doing with
out a coroner for several yeais,
perhaps to save the expense of
printing the name on the ballot;
but now that office is tilled by Dr.
Geo. M. Robinson, a well known
young physician of McConnells
burg, and the important work
that sometimes falls to that office
will be attended to in a way that
will be creditable to the county.
As District Attorney, Prank P.
Lynch succeeds himself. He was
appointed last spring to Ml the
vacancy caused by the death of
Geo B. Daniels, and the flatter
ing vote given Mr. Lynch at the
election last November, shows
the extent to which he has been
acceptable to the people.
Public officers are public ser
vants; and after they have,been
elm .or in an open political con
test and sworn into office, it is
the duty of tho people without
respect to party affiliation, to up
hold them, unless they show
themselves wilfully deserving of
censure Aud the officers should
remember that in the discharge
of their duties, all men should
look alike to them whether they
oe men who supported them or
who opposed them at the election.
The Fort Littleton Christmas
service was a grand success, and
all deserve credit, who, in any
way, contributed toward making
it such. Among many others,
the hum tor was kindly remember
ed, beiug presented with tin dol
lars fiva fron the Sunday
school, and five from an individu
al njambor of the Sunday school.
DEATH RECORD.
Abram Covall, Native of This County,
Dies at His Home at Bedford.
Bkutha. CotiA Mock.
Miss Bc:tha Cora Mck, in the
twenty-fourth year of her ago,
died at the home of her parents,
Mr. and irs. George Mock in
Path Valley, on the 2th of De
cember, 1907. After a few days'
illness of diphtheria, death releas
ed her from suffering, and her
spirit went to God. Miss Bertha
was everything in the home so
capable, so useful, so helpful.
Her pai ents are distracted with
grief at their great loss, but while
their loss is hard to bear at liom,
the church feels its loss. She
was a member of the Methodist
Episcopal church, and a faithful
teacher in the Sabbath school.
But, we may say to the parents
that while human sympathy can
not reach the seat of this great
sorrow, God's spirit and grace
can heal the wounded heart. She
said to her mother, just before
she died, that she had given all
things over into the hands of the
Lord. We feel that she has gone
on before to a brighter clime. O
what a company that must be
gathered on the other side. We
shall have them, bye and t o, at
home forever. Ri:v. W. M. C.
Ahuaham Covalt.
On Monday, December 30,
Abraham Covalt, a successful
general merchant of Bedford,
died at his home in that place
aged 74 years, 10 months and 15
days. Mr. Covalt had been in
poor health for some time but
was able to be iu his store on Fri
day and his death was uncxpect
ed.
Deceased was a son of Ephraim
and Rajhel Covalt and was born
in Thompson township, this
county, Pebruary 14, 1833. He
learned the carpenter trade and
was later empjoytd in a store
at Hancock, Md. In 1803 he
went into business for himself at
Warfordsburg, remaining there
until 1869, when he returned to
Hancock. Two years la tor he
removed to Broad Top and about
1873 went to Bedford. While at
Hancock he formed a partner
ship with J. M. Hedding, under
the firm name ot A. Covalt &
Company. In 1882 they built a
planing-mill at Bedford conduct
ing it until 1895 when the part
nership was dissolved. At one
time this firm did the most ex
tensive business in the county.
Mr. Covalt started a general
mercantile business in Bedford
in 1897.
April 24 1862, he was married
to Miss Annie Dorrance who,
with two children, James A.
Covalt, general manager of the
Everett Electric Light Company,
and Miss Eva L. at home; he also
leaves four sisters: Mrs. Lavina
Brewer and Mrs. Annie Funk, of
Pulton county; Mrs. liachel Peck
and Miss Mary M., of Martins
burg, W. Va. The funeral took
place Thursday, conducted by
Rev. H. B. Townsend. Mr.
Covalt was an honest, upright
citizen, a member of the Presby
terian church of Bedford, and a
member of Bedford Lodge No.
320 F. aud A. M., whih organiza
tion had charge of the funeral
services.
CHARLIR GRISSINNER HOME.
SUNDAY MORNING BLAZE.
CONSUMPTION LEADS THE LIST.
It Caused One Tenth of All Deaths In
The State Last Year.
Ouce more consumption has
reaped its mighty harvest of
deaths in Pennsylvania. Iu 1906
tuberculosis victims comprised
one tenth of the iota I deaths in
the state. Here are the records
of the principal death onuses as
compiled by the State depart
ment of vital statistics :
Tuberculosis 10,760
Typhoid fever 3,917
Diphtheria 2,588
Canoer 4,1908
Scarlet fever 577
The total number of deaths in
1900 was 128, 182. The death rate
prr 10 J ) wa-i H.5.
Reached Here New Year's Evening, After
a Journey of Three Thousand Miler.
Charlie Grissinger, a notice of
whoso illness in California, was
given in the News two wcksago,
is r.ow at the home of his parent,
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel L. tirissing
er, ou East Water street.
When Charlie made his last '
visit home, prior to his coming
this time which was about nine
years ago, he was the very pic
ture of health stout and robust'
aud weighed, perhups, 180
pounds. He weighs now, prob
ably not over ninety.
The change came to Charlie,
while traveling one very cold w in
ter in Canada about four years
ago. He contracted a very se
vere cold, which settled on his
lungs, and since that time be has
been in tho grasp of that much
to bs dreaded disease consump
tion. Following the advice of his phy
sician, he left Canada three years
afro, and went to Los Angeles,
California There he went into
the tobacco business; but last
spring, he was compelled toaban
don that and go to the mountains.
He selected Victorville, a mining
camp, 105 miles from Los Angel
es, and went there in the hope
that the higher altitude and dry
er climate would bring to him the
much desired relief. It is at Vic
torville that the Darbys well
known in this place are eugag
ed in the management of the Call
fornia '..iniDg and Milling Com
pany. The elder Darby was there
all the time, and did everything
possible for Charlie's comfort,
but all to no avail.
About four weeks ago, Charlie'.
father sent Olive (Mrs. A. D. Hoh
man) and Hal sister and broth
er of Charlie, toCilifornia to take
personal charge of their sick
brother. Shortly after their ar
rival at Victorville, they were con
vinced that it would be best to try
and remove Charlie from the
place, and summoned a physician
seventy-five miles distapt, to go
and see Charlie andladvise as to
the propriety of attempting to
move Charlie to Los Angeles. Af
ter the physician had sean Char
lie, he said Charlie was not able
to stand the trip, and advised
against the attempt.
After the physician had gone,
Charlie begged his brother aud
sister to start home with him
Neither he nor they expected
that he would live to see the end
of the three-thousand mile jour
ney; but Charlie felt that the at
tempt would mean more than all
else to him and that if his lite
should bi spared until hi should
again cross the threshold of his
father's house, and look once
more into the face of his loved
parents, brothers and sisters-he
could then die.
Without further waiting, a sec
tion in a parlor car was secured,
tender hands assisted in carryiug
the sick young man to the train,
and the party wore off. After
four days anjLfour nights of con
tinuous travel, he was permitted
to realize his fervent w ish the
wish to be safe in his father 's
tome.
He endured the long trip re
markably well, but the reaction
that would naturally follow such
ac effort is now being felt, and
Charho is very weak, tut happy
in the thought fiat ho is at home
MATRIMONIAL KNOTS.
FlfttliiKH on the Hill.
Tboro wore (piito a number of
Hitting ou Court House Hill lust
week.
On Thursday ex-Sheriff Alexan
der moved from tho juil into the
Goldsmith house opixisite.
The same day the now Sheriff,
Jefferson Harris, moved into the
juil.
Churlos Goldsmith und aister,
Miss Mary, moved into their new
house adjoining their old dwelling.
Will llluck has moved from the
t'oinnoi house on West Walnut
street, to the Trayor house in the
extension.
The Residence of Thomas F. Sloan Nar
rowly Escapes Destruction by Fire.
Our quiet town was startled by
the cry of fire about 8 o'clock on )
Sabbath morning when a frame!
kitchen attached to the brick rooi
kene of T. F. Sloan, om , on
West Water street, was dic .errd !
to he on tire. In a vriy short tin e ,
ijuite a crowd had gathered, and
the tire wus located between the
roof and ceiling of the building.
The wind was blowing hard nt the
time and the residence of the fami
ly of S. M. Robinson, which is in
close proximity, was threatened,
tfiV llames from the burning build
ing leaping almost to said building.
Hose attached to the hydrants in
the houses of Mr. Sloan and Mr.
H. U. Nace soon began playing on
the building and by this time the
hose-carriage with the town hose
arrived and a stream from this
hose was turned on. The fire was
so situated tha it was almost im
possible to reach it, being between
a shingle roof covered with heavy
roofing paper and a steel ceiling.
After considerable time holes were
cut through the roof and the wa
ter turned in when the tire was
soon under control. The tire
caught from a stove pipe which
was run through the roof. The
entire roof was torn off ; the bal
ance of the building being saved.
Had it not been for the heroic
work done by some of the men,
the Robinson house, H. I'. Nace's
and Dr. Dulbev's would certainly
bave been burned, und possibly
scverl others, as the wind was
blowing a perfect gale which would
have carried the Haines in that di
rection. Mr. Sloan's loss is cov
ered by insurance.
We have no hesitancy in saying
thut there is not a town in the
State that hus better tire lighters
thun McConnellsburg, and we feel
that it wus through the efforts of
a numbe r of our citizens that a
disastrous fire was uverted.
BOLD ATTEMPT AT BURGLARY.
Timely Discovery Prevent Villain from
Entering the Window of Squire
Daniel E. Fore's Dedroom.
If the plan of some wickedly
disposed person had not miscar
ried at the home of Daniel E.
Fore, an aged farmer in Tod
township on New Year's night,
there is no telling just what
kind of a story we might now r e
telling of robbery and, perhaps,
murder.
The family that evening con
sisted of the Squire, his son, Dr.
Holla B. Fore, and his daughter
Miss Kat'c. About ten o'clock,
Dr. Kolla stepped out into the
darkness, and was surprised to
rur into the clutcher of a power
ful man. Kolla, who is a man of
no mean muscular powers, soon
disengaged his assailant, when
the latter broke into a violent run
dashing himself against the yard
fence with much violence as to
tear the boards off. In a mo
ment, however, he was over the
fence, aud continued runnuig un
til he came to the little creek in
the meadow east of the house,
whon ho fell headlong into the
water, he lost no time in gather
ing himself together and contin
ued his flight until he was out
of beariug of Kolla who still
stood in the yard.
Kolla then went back into the
house, secured a. lantern, and
went out to examine the premis
es, when he found that the in
truder, had gone into the entry
at the barn aud gotten a ladder
used to ascend from the ontry
into the haymow, and which had
been there for years taken the
ladder to the house and plaood it
at the window of the Squire's
bedroom.
The incident ended at this
point, but our readers may imag
ine what would have happened if
Roll had not happened to go out
into the yard just at the right
uaomaut.
Wtll Known Young People Who Have Re
cently Entered into Life Partnership.
Pauk Snydkh
At the Lutheran parsonage in j
this plnco, on tho first day of Jan I
uary, 1908, Kev. J. C. Fassold
unite in marringe, Miss Rickie
Viola Snyder, daughter of the
late Fred Snyder and his widow,
of Tod township, and Mr. Boyer
S. Park, of Maploton, Hunting
don county.
Swoi'K Dkhhonc.
At five o'clock on New Year's
evening, at the hotei at Harrison
ville, occurred a most interesting
social event, when Mr. Edward
W. Swope, a promising young
farmer of Licking Creek town
ship, led to the altar Ml-i Ella
Deshong, a daughter of A. W.
Deshong, of the same township
The ceremony was performed by
Rev. S. J. Pittenger, in the pres
ence of only the immediate rela
tives and friends of the contract
ing parties.
The bride gowned in a gray
traveling suit, looked very pretty.
The attendants were Muis Nellie
G. Palmer and Mr. Amos N. Mel
lott. Immediately after the cere
mony and congratulations, a
sumptuous wedding dinner was
seryed in the hotel dining room.
Later in the evening, the Caii
thumpians appeared, and right
well did they calithump, thus at
testing to the popularity of the
happy young couple.
Mr. and Mrs. Swope are now
at home t their friends on the
farm owned by the groom, ana,
of course, have the very best
wishes of their numerousdriends.
The hotel parlors iu which the
mterestiug event occurred, were
still in their Christmas decora
tions, the beauty of which aded
much to the general effect of the
happy event.
Stkait Gordon.
One of the'pretticst weddings of
the season took place at the home
of L. P. Gordon, West Newton,
Pa., when his sister, Alice Edith
Gordon was united in marriage to
Mr. H. M. Strait, by Rev. Rich
ard 11 Cuthbert, jmstc r of tho M.
E. Church of that place.
The wedding took place on Xnias
duy, ut high noon. Only the im
mediate fumily of the bride were
present which were as follows:
Mrs. Alice D. Gordon, mother of
the bride, Ft. Littleton, Pu., M.C.
Goidon, Indiana, Pa., J. S. Gor
don and wife, of Natrona, Pa , H.
E. Gordon, Johnstown, Pu., E l
ward Gordon, Coalport, Pa., Mi.
and Mrs. .1. A. llurkhart. West
Newton, Pa., sister and brother-in-law
of the bride, E. P. Gordon,
and family at whoso home the wed
ding took place, und Mr. Lizzie
Roberts of Pittsburg.
After the ceremony and con
gratulations were over, the party
retired to the leuding hotel of the
town where a splendid dinner wat
served, after which the bride und
groom took the truin for Wash
ington, D, 0. where they spent
their honey moon.
The bride was gowned in an
Alice Blue Aeoliun silk over white
silk trimmed in white ull over luce
und ribbon.
The bride and groom are former
residents of this county, the bride
being one of Fulton's teachers a
few years ago, but for the past
few years has been engaged in
stenographic work and recently
graduated from the Spencerian
Nusiuess College, Cleveland, Ohio.
The groom is now employed by
the F. 11. Dickerson Compauy of
Detroit, Michigan, us general
agent and field niunugor for the
western purt of the State.
They ure now ut homo, 342 Som
erset i-treet, Johnstown, Pa.
NUMliliR 17
ABOUT PEOPLE YOU KNOW
Snapshot at Their Comings and Going
Here for a Vacation, or Away
for a Restful'Outing.
NAMES OF VISITORS AND VISITE0
S(uiro Wible and Superintend
cut Eainbcrson wont to Harris
hurg Monday.
Arthur Woodcock, of Taylor,
spent a few hours at tho County
Seat, Monday.
Mrs. Anna Woodcock, of Belle
fonte, is visiting the family of T.
r . Sloan, e-).
County Treasurer, C. B. Ste
vens, was called to Clear Kidge,
Thursday on private business.
The Misses Bess and Kit Nes
bit, of the Cve, are visiting their
aunt Ida at Blain, Ferry county.
D. A. Garland, of Belfast
township, culLd at the News
Oltice a fow minutos while in town
last Thursday.
Mrs. Dr. W. L. McKibbin. of
Amaranth, was the guest of her
son. H. L McKibbin of this
place over Sunday.
Mrs. Lillian A. Bernhardt, of
Three Springs, has gone to
Florida to spend the balance of
the winter. She is staying at
the Dowling Park Hotel, Dcwiiug
Park, Fla.
Mr. Lewis Yonkei, treasurer
of the Fulton County Mutual
Fire Insuranco Comany, one of
Bethel township's prominent
farmers, was iu town attending
to business Monday.
Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Bolinger,
of Dublin Mills, passed through
this place last Saturday on their
way to visit the family of Samuel
Bedford at Foltz Franklin coun
ty. Mrs. Bolinger is a sister of
Mr. Bedford.
William Cutchall, of Waterfall,
was in town Monday on business.
He was accompanied by his
brother John Cutchall, who left
in the noon hack for Shippens
burg, where he is attending tho
C. V. S. N. school.
Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Peck, and
Mr. and Mrs. J. P. McKee, of
Gem, were in town Monday.
Mr. Peck sold to Mr. McKoe the
piece of land known as tho "long
bottom" near the Iron Bridge,
and the sale was completed aud
the deed delivered Monday.
James C. McKee aud George
N. Sipes of Taylor township were
among others who struck a bad
day Tuesday to go to McCon
nellsburg. They were not in a
bad humor about it, however,
and both dropped into the News
office for a little chat with ye
Editor, and both left some of the
"needful",
Mr. D. R. Strait, a former
teacher in this county, was in
McConnellsburg a few hours on
New Year's Day, on his way to
visit the colleges in the eastern
part of the State, after having
spent a few days with his moth
er Mrs. Mary Strait in Licking
Creek township. During the
past five years, Mr. Strait has
been with the Dickerson Punish
ing Compauy, Detroit, Michigan,
and is no v a general traveling
gent at a good salary.
Subscribe lor the "Nows, ' only
$1.00 a year.
Francos M. Doyl j is rot the on
ly one to find a snake in midwin
ter. Amos Plessinger, of Bethel
township, while working in the
woods a few days ago, found and
killed a large snake. It is cer
tainly unusual to iind ecakes this
season ot the year, an i it would
scorn to indicat i an open winter.
Big Porker.
On New Year's Day, G. L.
Fischer and Levi Crawford butch
ered for J. Clayton Hixson, of
Buck Valley, a h g half Poland
China and half Berkshire, twen
ty three months old that weigh
ed 560 pounds. The hams trim
med 54 lbs. each; shoulders, 55
lbs., and the backbone at the
shoulders, measured :'. inches
in depth, aud the hog turned out
a huudred pounds of lard, Nextl
Teddy Bear Craie Dying Out.
Toy dealers report that the
Teddy near craze is dying out.
I .s.s t season the merchants could
not get euough of them, but this
year they wero a drug on the
market.
Subscribe tor tho
only 11,00 a y ar.
"New;"