USA > Illinois > McDonough County > Bardolph > History of Bardolph, Illinois > Part 4
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"OLD RINK" -- THE PRESENT "NEWS" OFFICE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Wichita, Kan., having spent much of his life after leaving Bardolph in newspaper work.
The next journalistic venture in the town was made by Bert Max- well in 1893. Bert, who was then less than 17 years of age, conceived the idea of starting a newspaper in the village. To many persons the idea seemed visionary and the project was met with more discourage- ment than encouragement. Bert persisted in his efforts, however, and man- aged to impart enough of his faith and confidence to the community to secure the names of some three hundred persons as subscribers at $1.00 each, "the same to be paid at the delivery of the first issue of the paper." Thus he became sole proprietor, which proprietorship he maintained until the spring of 1895. Upon the payment of this "dollar" depended the suc- cess or failure of the enterprise at its inception. for the young editor hadn't
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HISTORY OF BARDOLPH, ILLINOIS
a cent to his name and was without wealthy connection. Having secured his pledge of three hundred subscribers, he purchased a modest plant on time. The plant was first set up in the building now occupied by the News, which was at that time occupied by the post office. Bert's training for news- paper work consisted of a few weeks' practice in the office of the Macomb Eagle. A number of the staff of that publication assisted in setting the first forms of the new paper. On August 30, 1893, the venture culminated in the issue of No. 1, Vol. 1, of The Bardolph News.
The new candidate for public favor was kindly received. The mer- chants were most liberal in making use of the advertising columns of the paper. The subscription list began to enlarge rapidly and Bert's "visionary scheme" seemed fair to become a substantial reality. The indebtedness in- curred in launching the enterprise was discharged and the News was es- tablished on a prosperous and profitable basis. In the spring of 1895 Bert Maxwell sold out to his brothers, Fred H. and W. Kee Maxwell, who had been serving an apprenticeship at newspaper work on the News since its founding, Bert soon after going to Smithfield, where he established the Smithfield Sun. In July, of 1896, Fred H. bought W. Kee's interest, the present proprietor of the paper. Fred H. Maxwell is located at Macomb where in addition to his newspaper work, he is engaged in the real estate and insurance business. As before stated, Harry V. Maxwell is the active manager and publisher of the paper, the editorial work being in charge of H. A. Maxwell.
Harry V. Maxwell, the present manager of the paper, became con- nected with it soon after it started and has been engaged on it, with the exception of a short interval or two, ever since, and during the past six years has had almost sole management of the business. In April, 1896, the News plant was removed to a building on the main street of the village, located on the present site of the blacksmith shop. About two years later the plant was removed to an adjoining building, previously occupied by George Rigg as a harness shop. This building was involved in the big fire of September, 1901, and the entire News plant was destroyed in the con- flagration. Fortunately the plant was insured and the proprietor, Fred H. Maxwell, as soon as he had collected his insurance, went to Chicago and procured another outfit. The issue of the paper remained unbroken, how- ever. The new plant was located in the second story of the building at present occupied by the News, where it remained about three years, when it was removed to its present location. Of the former publishers of the paper, Bert Maxwell, its founder, is now owner and publisher of the Brigh- ton Blade at Brighton, Colo .; W. Kee Maxwell is now associate editor of the Peoria Herald-Transcript. The Bardolph News commands the respect of its newspaper colleagues throughout the country and enjoys a patronage which would be creditable to a newspaper published in a much larger town.
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HISTORY OF BARDOLPH, ILLINOIS
FRED H. MAXWELL
AS born Feb. 6, 1875. He attended the Bardolph schools, after which he took the position of clerk in the Wilcox Bros. hardware store, then doing business in this place. In 1895 he resigned his position and together with his brother, Kee, bought the News from their brother, Wm. Bert Maxwell, the original founder of the News, which in- terest he still retains. He has held a number of township offices, and in 1902 ran for county treasurer on the democratic ticket, running better than 800 ahead of the ticket, which speaks somewhat of his popularity. In 1896 he was appointed deputy county clerk, which office he held with credit for four years. March 11, 1897, he was united in marriage to Miss Nelle B. Massey, daughter of R. H. Massey, one of the pioneer blacksmiths of Mc- Donough County. Three children blessed this union, Ralph Henry, who died in 1906, Robert Frederick, aged ?, and Helen Bess, aged 4. At present time Mr. Maxwell is engaged in the abstract and real estate business in Macomb. He is a member of several fraternal orders.
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HISTORY OF BARDOLPH, ILLINOIS
COMMERCE
HILE Bardolph is closely encircled by shipping points, the village enjoys a fair share of railroad commerce. Through the courtesy of W. W. Cox, the Burlington agent at Bardolph, we are enabled to give figures showing the freight business of the station for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1911:
CAR LOADS FORWARDED
Grain 75
Live stock 105
Hay, straw and miscellaneous. 64 .
Total. 244
CAR LOADS RECEIVED
Lumber 17
Coal
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Miscellaneous 64 123
Total car loads handled. 367
LESS THAN CAR LOAD LOTS
Forwarded
100,000 lbs.
Received 857,546 lbs.
Total 957,546 lbs.
Elevator, Bardolph, JI1.
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HISTORY OF BARDOLPH, ILLINOIS
CONTRACTOR AND BUILDER
J. B. LANDIS, one of our most prominent builders and contrac- tors, moved into the vicinity of Bardolph a few years ago from Adair, where he had plied his trade for a num- ber of years, and later removed into the village where he had previously erected a fine residence. Mr. Landis has lived in McDonough County most of his life and his reputation for honesty, as well as for the despatch of work, has gone far and wide, having had calls from other states to erect residences and other buildings. Being honest and particular in his work, contracted jobs are contin- ually waiting their turn. Having erected several residences and buildings during JAMES LANDIS the past year in the vicinity of Bardolph, he is now engaged in the erection of the Walker Bros. large store rooms and M. W. A. Hall.
Mr. Landis is one of our exemplary citizens and a member of the M. E. church and of several fraternal societies.
Photo by A. M. Beal
J. B. LANDIS' RESIDENCE
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HISTORY OF BARDOLPH, ILLINOIS
THE NEW HARDWARE STORE
HE newest establishment in Bardolph is the Walker Bros. hardware and lumber business, 1911. This firm, composed of Messrs. Glenn and Perry Walker, sons of H. B. Walker, are two of Bardolph's most exemplary young men, and are not only well known, but very popular in the community, held in the highest esteem by every one who has had the pleasure of their acquaintance. Their place of business is on the corner of Main street, just east of the hotel, and south of the elevator, where they are erecting a fine, large store room of concrete blocks. This two-story building is to be 80 feet long, 26 ft. wide, with a 14 ft. ceiling below, and a 12 ft. ceiling above, both ceilings to be of steel. The lower por- tion of the building will contain two rooms, the front or main room. 60x26 ft., with an extension room, 20x26 ft., which will be used for storage purposes. There will be a basement under the building, 26x36 ft. which will consist of two rooms. The building will be heated by a furnace and lighted by the latest up-to-date plant of some kind. The M. W. A. lodge, which owns the upper story, will not only use it for a lodge room, but make it a place for public gatherings and entertainments of various kinds. This room or hall, will also be heated and lighted by the heating and lighting apparatus of the first floor. Beside the regular store building, the firm will have a lumber shed 54x70 ft. with a 30x20 ft. open ell shed. The firm will begin business about November 1st, having bought the entire stock and business of Douglas & Bethel. General hardware, paints, oils, stoves, tinware, fencing, farming implements, etc., together with lumber, will be sold in large quantities throughout the surrounding country. In- deed, we would most heartily recommend this firm to any who are in need of anything in their line, and we bespeak for them courteous treatment and a square deal at all times and in all things, being a firm of which we are justly proud.
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HISTORY OF BARDOLPH, ILLINOIS
BARDOLPH RESIDENCES
H. N. JACKSON'S
U. G. SMITH'S
JOHN PARVIN'S
WALTER MINER'S
R. F. BLYTHE'S
DR. WM. W. HENDRICK'S
Photos by A. M. Beal
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HISTORY OF BARDOLPH, ILLINOIS
FIRES
ARDOLPH suffered greatly from fires during the period from 1893 to 1903. On the morning of April 1st, 1893, a fire occurred that de- stroyed Jackson's store, located on the corner opposite of the present hotel, Knapp & Randolph's drug store, and the Masonic Hall, above, Ho- gan's barber shop, with Dr. H. B. Sikes' office above, Fluke & Wilcox hard- ware store, Throckmorton & Casner meat market, John Hindman's restau- rant, and the post office building, located where the J. T. Parvin building now stands, the Presbyterian church building, and Wm. Stanley's barn.
In November, 1896, a fire occurred which destroyed the large Hibler general store and opera house above, the Wilson hotel, and J. E. Jackson's barber shop. New buildings had been erected on the ground devastated by the first fire, and in September, 1901, another fire occurred destroying Jackson's store, with the Masonic and Woodmen's hall above, a vacant store building belonging to H. J. Faulkner, and the Bardolph News build- ing and plant, Dan W. Jackson's barber shop and Arthur James restaurant.
The last serious fire occurred on January 29, 1903, destroying W. A. Grove's hardware store, Vincent, Casner & Goss grocery and meat market, and the dwelling of A. W. Knock. This fire roused the citizens of the vil- lage almost to desperation, as it was generally believed that the fire, as well as some previous fires, were of incendiary origin. On this supposition, W. A. Grove, owner of the hardware stock where the fire originated, was arrested on a charge of arson. The case was tried before a Macomb mag- istrate, the trial exciting intense interest. The evidence was not deemed sufficient to make a case and the accused man was dischargd. After all, the fires were blessings in disguise, as new buildings have taken the place of those destroyed. All these fires combined, however, were not as destruc- tive of the business interests of the village as was the burning of the Bar- dolph Tile Works in November, 1892. This institution employed a large number of hands, all of whom resided in the village and patronized Bar- dolph's merchants. The destruction of this plant left the village without any manufacturing advantages and inflicted upon its business interests a blow from which it has been a long time recovering.
Bardolph, owing to its close proximity to Macomb and Bushnell, en- larges somewhat slowly, although it has a gradual and substantial growth. The village is possessed of many beautiful and well-kept homes. Good brick walks line the village streets. Its business buildings are modern and well kept. Its people are peaceable and moral and among them are none of the shiftless class that are so frequently found in the towns and villages. It is a rare thing for a Bardolph family to become an object of public char- ity. Upon the whole, Bardolph is considered, not only by her own citizens, but by outsiders as well, to be a nice, clean village and a most desirable place to live.
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HISTORY OF BARDOLPH, ILLINOIS
FIRE DEPARTMENT
A T a meeting of the Village Board of Trustees on May 5, 1902, it was voted to submit to the voters of the village a proposition of appro- priating the sum of $850 and issuing bonds for the amount for the purpose of buying fire-fighting apparatus. An election was called for May 27, 1902. After a bitter fight by both those in favor and those against it, the proposition was voted down by a majority of 6 votes. On March 2, 1903, the Village Board of Trustees voted to submit to the voters of the village the proposition of issuing bonds for the sum of $1,000, the money to be used in buying fire-fighting apparatus. The question was voted on at the regular village election held April 21, 1903, and after another bitter fight for and against the proposition, it was carried by a majority of ? votes. The ballots showed 41 votes for and 34 against the proposition and two defaced ballots. The Village Board of Trustees then purchased a Howe chemical fire engine, run by hand power and using either chemicals from a 60-gallon tank attached to it, or using water from a well or cistern. The engine was manufactured by the Howe Engine Company of Indianapolis, Ind., and cost $850. The remainder of the $1,000 bond issue was used to build a house for keeping the engine in. A meeting was called Sept. 17, 1903, for the purpose of organizing a fire company. The meeting was called to order by Fire Chief John Early, who was chosen to act as tem- porary chairman. Guy Norcross was chosen to act as temporary secre- tary. The following officers were then elected: President, E. H. Hen- dricks; Vice President, J. R. Pugh; Secretary, M. H. Creel; Treasurer, G. A. Goss. A committee of three consisting of F. H. Maxwell, R. F. Blythe and W. A. Groves was appointed to draft a constitution and set of by-laws. W. A. Groves being unable to act on this committee, his place was filled a few days later by T. W. Everitt. The constitution and by-laws were adopted March 10, 1904. Under this constitution the "Bardolph Fire Company" was to consist of not more than 20 able-bodied and legal voter members. It was to be a volunteer company without pay. They were to have complete control over their own membership, being free to accept or reject anyone they chose to. They elected their own officers, but the chief must be approved by the Village Board of Trustees. They were to have a business meeting once each month, the last Tuesday in each month, and a meeting for drill as often as the chief thought necessary to call one. The first roll of members consisted of the following citizens: E. H. Hendricks, M. H. Creel, J. R. Pugh, F. H. Maxwell, John Early, T. W. Everitt, W. B. Gregory, Fred Butler, C. L. Harris, F. L. Cadwallader, J. E. Jackson, C.
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HISTORY OF BARDOLPH, ILLINOIS
W. Duncan, W. A. Lucas, N. G. Casner, J. F. Douglas, Guy M. Norcross, R. F. Blythe, John Bell. The Village Board of Trustees then decided to exempt the members of the fire company from payment of poll taxes ($1.50 per year) in payment of their services. The fire company was conducted under this system for several years, during which time they held several picnics, box suppers and the like, using the money they cleared for fixing the interior of the engine house, buying chairs, lamps, a bell and buying repairs for the engine. In July, 1909, owing to a bitter fight which had been carried on between different factions in the village at each election since the purchase of the engine, and which had resulted in making the fire engine and the fire company the bone of contention, the Village Board of Trustees decided to change the company. They decided to reduce the membership from 20 members to 11 members, one of whom should be chief. They also decided to change the pay and instead of allowing each member to be exempt from payment of poll taxes, to require each member of the com- pany to pay his poll tax and they would pay each member $2.00 per year in cash, except the chief, and he should receive $10.00 per year. (This plan of payment is still in force.) The following have been the chief and pres- ident for each year since the company was organized :
1903-Chief, John Early; President, E. H. Hendricks. 1904-Chief, John Early; President, E. H. Hendricks. 1905-Chief, John Early ; President, M. H. Creel 1906-Chief, J. R. Pugh ; President, M. H. Creel. 1907-Chief, J. R. Pugh ; President, M. H. Creel. 1908-Chief, C. L. Harris; President, J. E. Jackson.
1909-Chief, C. L. Harris ; President, J. E. Porter.
1910-Chief, May 1st, 1910, to Jan. 1st, 1911, J. E. Porter ; Jan. 1st to May 1st, 1911, M. H. Creel ; President, C. W. Duncan.
1911-Chief, May 1st to Aug. 1st, 1911, Fred Runkle; Aug. 1st to May 1st, 1912, J. E. Jackson ; President, C. W. Duncan.
Officers for 1911-Chief, J. E. Jackson; Assistant Chief, C. L. Harris ; President, C. W. Duncan; Vice President, M. H. Creel; Secretary, H. A. Merkey. Treasurer, H. V. Maxwell.
Members other than the above officers are as follows : John Early, Fred Butler, R. E. Potts, W. B. Gregory.
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HISTORY OF BARDOLPH, ILLINOIS
FAVORITE QUOTATIONS OF BARDOLPH PEOPLE
"This above all, to thine own self be true; and it must follow as the night the day-
Thou canst not then be false to any man."
BERT HOLCOMB, Good Hope
May you ever be able to look forward with pleasure, and backward without regret. J. H. CHIDESTER, Bushnell
Who gives himself with his gifts, feeds three, himself, his hungry neighbor and me. ROY HUNTER, Bardolph
It is not as we take it This mystical life of ours, Life's field will yield as we make it, A harvest of thorns or of flowers. MRS. J. A. BREWBAKER, Bardolph
What's worth doing at all, is worth doing well.
RALPH CHIDESTER, Bushnell
Too low they build who build beneath the stars.
MR. WILSON WINTERS, Bardolph
Count that day lost, whose low descending sun, Views from thy hand no worthy action done. M MRS. JAMES WATSON, Macomb
We live our lives as a tale that is told.
MRS. GERTIE JACKSON, Bardolph
"Honor and shame from no condition rise, Act well your part, there all the honor lies." ELSIE SWITZER, Macomb, R. F. D.
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HISTORY OF BARDOLPH, ILLINOIS
There is no school that disciplines mind and broadens thought like contact with mankind. JESSIE ELLIOT, Bardolph
Full many a gem of purest rays serene, The dark, unfathomed caves of ocean bear ; Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, And waste its sweetness on the desert air. MRS. ANNA JACKSON, Bushnell
"Smile awhile, And when you smile, another smiles, And soon there's miles and miles of smiles, And life's worth while, Because you smile."
AGNES WILCOX, Macomb
Life is a leaf of paper white, upon which each of us may write his line or two ; and then comes night. Rightly begin, though thou hast time but for a line. Not failure, but low aim is crime.
MRS. SWISHER, Bardolph
Truth crushed to earth shall rise again. MRS. EVA WILCOX, Macomb
"Do the duty that lies nearest you; that thou knowest to be a duty, And thy second duty will then have become clear." MRS. ED. BEAL, Bardolph
"As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." LENA FULLMER, Macomb, R. F. D.
"Everything which God wishes us to do, and which enters into the course of occupation suitable to our position, can and ought to be offered to God; nothing is unworthy of Him but sin. When you feel that an ac- tion cannot be offered to God, conclude that it does not become a Christian, it is at least necessary to suspect it, and seek light concerning it." MRS. JESSIE CHIDESTER, Bushnell, R. F. D.
There is so much good in the worst of us, And so much bad in the best of us, That is behooves all of us To speak good of the rest of us. D. W. FULLMER, Macomb, R. F. D.
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HISTORY OF BARDOLPH, ILLINOIS
"Oh, that thou couldst in vision see The man God meant, And thou no more wouldst be The man thou art content to be." ZOE SMICK, Bardolph
"Never give up."
ARCHIE HECK, Bardolph
"But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day."
MRS. NANCY PORTLOCK, Bardolph
In battle or business, whatever the game, In law or in love, it is ever the same ; In the struggle for power, or the scramble for pelf, Let this be your motto, "Rely on yourself." For whether the prize be a ribbon or throne," The victor is he "who can go it alone."
REV. SWISHER
"Study to be good."
ELLSWORTH HECK, Bardolph
"God will gather them again, In His garden they will grow On that green and lowly plain Where the crystal waters flow, Nevermore to lay their head Faintly on the cold earth-bed." MRS. REBECCA J. PUGH, Bardolph
"Blessed are they that have not seen, yet have believed." MRS. "BILLY" JACKSON, Bardolph
"For in the time of trouble, he shall hide me in his pavilion, in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me, he shall set me up upon a rock." MRS. WILSON WINTER, Bardolph
"The heights by great men reached and kept, Were not attained by sudden flight ; But they, while their companions slept, Were toiling upward in the night." MRS. GERTRUDE GREGORY, Bardolph
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HISTORY OF BARDOLPH, ILLINOIS
"True pleasures abound in the rapturous sound, And whoever hath found it, hath paradise found ; My Redeemer to know, to feel His blood flow, This is life everlasting, 'tis heaven below." MRS. MAZIE PUGH, Bardolph
"A sacred burden is this life ye bear. Look on it, lift it, bear it solemnly ; Stand up and walk beneath it steadfastly ; Fail not for sorrow, falter not for sin, But onward, upward, till the goal ye win." ELSIE K. BREWBAKER, Bardolph
"To err is human; to forgive is divine." THERESSIE E. RADENBAUGH, Bardolph
"All's well that ends well." MRS. G. A. SWITZER, Macomb, R. F. D.
"An hour of triumph comes at last To those who watch and wait." MRS. D. S. HECK, Bardolph
"I shall pass thro this world but once; any good thing, therefore, that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow-being, let me do it now ; let me not defer it nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again." AUDRE SMICK, Bardolph
"If God be for us, who can be against us." MRS. E. H. HENDRICKS
"Let the lower lights be burning, Send a gleam across the wave ; Some poor fainting, struggling sinner, You may rescue, you may save." ROY PUGH, Florida
It ain't no use to grumble and complain ; It's just as cheap and easy to rejoice, When God sorts out the weather and sends rain. Why, rain's my choice. BLANCHE CHANDLER, Adair
An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest. CATIE SMICK, Bardolph
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HISTORY OF BARDOLPH, ILLINOIS
CHURCH HISTORY
Photo by A. M. Beal
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
HE Presbyterian Church of Bardolph, known at first as the Hopewell Church, was organized in the Wolf Grove schoolhouse, Oct. 29th, 1852, by Rev. Ralph Harris and Elder Joseph Wyne, this making the church at present in its 60th year of activity. The following is the list of charter members: O. M. Hoagland, Isabelle Hoagland, William Mc- Candless, S. H. McCandless, W. W. McCandless, Sarah Ann McCandless, Alex Harris, Sara McBride, E. N. Sawyer, Lewis Smick, Martha Smick and Mrs. Creel, there being but one of these left, so far as we know, who is Mrs. Isabelle Batterton Hoagland Creel, known better by the citi- zens of this place as "Aunt Belle" Creel, who has resided most of her life in this locality.
Services were continued within this schoolhouse, which stood on the John C. Kepple estate, south and east of town, for about one year, when in the spring of 1853, a church building was erected on the southwest cor- ner of the two lots donated for church purposes by W. H. Hendricks and W. H. Randolph. This first church building occupied the same ground as the present one, but faced the south instead of the west, it being about two blocks south of the C. B. & Q. R. R. track. O. M. Hoagland kindly do- nated the timbers from his place, now owned by the Kepple Bros. The men of the congregation next offered their willing hands and hewed them out, while the ladies of the church generously served the most bountiful
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HISTORY OF BARDOLPH, ILLINOIS
dinners for all. This building con- tained but one room, nevertheless with its limited membership at that time, it was a promising little church. Rev. J. M. Chase being the first pastor.
Religious zeal burned brightly. Time was freely given, as well as money, by those who had it, in order to have the best for Christ's work. In fact, here, as well as elsewhere, in the early days people seemed eager to show their love for Christian work. Nothing seemed too hard, no work too great, to these good people, if only it advanced their Master's cause. They Photo by A. M. Beal ·REV. A. A. PRATT Present Pastor had discouragements to meet, the country was sparsely settled, real workers were few, but they shoul- dered their burdens heroically, trusting in God for support, and doing thus, victory always crowned their efforts.
Tho few in number, they soon began to grow, and by means of a few real old-fashioned, rousing revivals, the society grew so large that after a number of years they were so cramped for room that new plans had to be made.
One of these revivals, and the greatest one known to the church, was in this building in 1846, which originated on Thanksgiving Day from a prayer meeting which was held at the parsonage, Rev. Mullen's at that time, presided over by the pastor, which continued for a period of six weeks, there being as a result about seventy conversions. It is wonderful what answers are granted thru continued prayer. The interest at this time was in- tense. They had no tele- phones by which to advertis? the meeting, but a number of young men-so great was the religious feeling among them -went on horse back thru out the country telling peo- ple of the wonderful meetings and urging them to come. Instead of interest slacking in a short time, it spread like fire. All were talking of the Photo by A. M. Beal PRESBYTERIAN MANSE
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