The Chesaning Argus, December, 1877

Thanksgiving is now behind us, and a good time was had by all.

Merit Parshall and Guy Van Gorder went out hunting, Wednesday last, after their thanksgiving turkey, and succeeded in killing a large fat gobbler, which was relished, we imagine, with great gusto.

The Thanksgiving ball, given by Mr. G. Post, was well attended, and an enjoyable evening was passed. Those who tripped the light fantastic toe unites in their praise of the music and the manner in which things were conducted generally.

The Christmas season is now upon us, and local merchants are starting their preparations for the holiday.

A picture is the finest present that can be given for a Christmas present. Johnstone has a lot of chromes and frames cheap.

Those child's furs at Gould & Oliver's are just the thing for a Christmas present.

Countless gatherings and celebrations were organized, and everything appears to have gone well this holiday season.

Notwithstanding the inclemancy of the weather the party at the Waverly House, under the management of the Andress Bros., was a decided success.

A good time was that at the German church on Christmas eve. Although we were not present, we know that it was by the great number that attended, and the heaps of presents.

Miss Morley and Mrs. McArthur are deserving of much credit for the successful manner in which they conducted the Christmas tree at the town line school house. The crowd was large and the crowd immense, and many were made to feel that they were still in the good graces of some one.

The Christmas tree in District No. 8, in spite of the rain and mud, was a huge affair. The committee on arrangements with their business-like activity, had things in tip-top order. The house was filled at an early hour, to its utmost capacity. And the children gazed in amazement and wonder at the magnificence of the tree. There was some fine singing executed by singers present together with able remarks by D.W. Milk, on the event for which the day is celebrated. At this time Old Santa-Claus bounced in the room and carried everything by storm. Many fine presents adorned the tree, which gave the recipitants much rejoicing.

The affair will long be remembered by those who participated therein.

Not everything was Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men, however, as an ugly conflict raged throughout the entire month of December. One that pitted neighbor against neighbor.

SPENCERVILLE - Charles Schaupp, of this place, has a common red beet weighing eight pounds; can Brady best this.

BRADY - We noticed in the last number of the Argus, a statement from "Jasper Jack," that Chas. Schaupp had a beet that weighed eight pounds; and he (Jasper) asked if Brady could beat that? Why, yes, Jasper, Mr Robinson, in Brady District No. 3, has a common red beet that beats that beet by 3 pounds; his common red beet weighs eleven pounds. Now. if that beet don't beat all the beets that Jasper can find at Spencerville, then I will give up that his beet beats all the beets, of the common red beet in Brady.

SPENCERVILLE - I noticed in the last issue of the ARGUS that Brady beat us on the common red beet by three pounds. And "Beat Beet" says if "that beat don't beat all the beets in Spencerville he would give up that he is beat." Now Mr. Beat Beet, although your common red beet beats our beet, yet I will bet we have an uncommon dead beet in our place that beats Brady's beat by about 159 pounds. If you don't believe it try to beat him on a bargain, and see which party is beaten.

BRADY - Well, Jasper: I am informed by "Beat Beet," that you have an uncommon dead beat in your place, that beats Brady's beat by 150 pounds, and you propose a bet on it. "Beat Beet" says he has been making inquiry about dead beets, and dead beats, but his is unable to find any such beets or beats in Brady, so we suppose the beet question is now settled.

Happenings

At present we can think of nothing that is more dangerous, or apt to take from some family circle a loved child, than that of skating on the ice, just above the dam. Yesterday we noticed several boys skating there and the ice only extended about ten or twelve feet from the shore. Parents should look to it that their boys are kept from this dangerous amusement until the ice is safe.

We defy any village in the State of its size to produce more youthful tobacco smokers to the square Inch, than can be found in this place.

Gould & Oliver will occupy their new store about Dec. 25th. They intend to put in the largest and most complete stock of goods ever before shown in Chesaning and which will be sold at the lowest living prices. Call and see us.

A young bear was shot, Monday, in the vicinity of Chas. Schoock. There were signs of others in the vicinity.

In our last issue we stated that Bently had a new clerk, leaving an impression that the old one had retired, which is not the case, as Ab still meatures groceries and weighs out calico, etc.

A tramp in search of employment accosted one of our citizens in the following dramatic style: "You don't known of nobody around about here that don't want to hire nobody, don't you." "Yes," replied the citizen. "There is a Mr. Nobody, living up here in the town of Nothing, that would be nowise glad of your services, and if you hurry on you will find him in less than no time." Exit tramp.

R. Curtis is making improvements on his mammoth building.

The good people of the M. E. church are building a shed for the accomodation of those from the distance.

Wm. Kettler, who broke his arm some time since while threshing, is doing finely under the charge of Dr. Marsh, and we notice him on the streets once more.

Many things we have noticed in our time, but we challenge anybody to produce anything equal to the following: One of Mr. Bentleys hens have been observed to alight on a limb of a tree that is situated in his yard and thence from this elevated perch lay an egg and drop it to the ground below. She makes a daily practice of this; and on the completion of her task descends and cackles as joyfully as any other of the numerous hens that Mr. B. owns and struts around much superior to the "earthly mortals" that is doomed to lay and hatch their eggs in some obscure barrel or hen house.

Messrs. Crofoot and Wilson cut a bee tree yesterday, on the farm of George Chapman, and although the amount of honey did not come up to their expectation, they greatly amused a bold Nimrod by the activity they displayed in brushing the bees from around their necks, the hunter in the meantime standing behind them with a straw.

Crime

We have a communication from J. Emay, stating that his trunk was broken open and several valuables taken there-from, at the depot on Friday, the 14th.

Misfortune

A.P. Trefry is afflicted with two canes. A lame knee is the cause of it.

J.M. Rodgers met with a serious accident last Saturday morning. A vicious horse bit him in the wrist, raising him up body and breeches, and disposited him in the manger. We are happy to say that he escaped uninjured beyond a few slight bruises.

James Westfall met with a narrow escape by a tree falling on him. A log being in the way kept the tree from crushing him. He did not know anything for several hours; but now is doing finely. His escape was miraculous, and shows the danger that wood choppers encounter while falling trees.

I Guess You Had to be There

If you are not acquainted with the location of the ARGUS office, just listen to the toot of George's horn. It leads direct.

Two things our town excells others in, that is, pretty girls and small men with large feet.

A gentleman in attempting to climb the hill of science, finds that he has lost a valuable article, to witt: One pound of ambition. Any one finding the above named article will please return it as the gentleman will be unable to proceed without it.

The Greenback club on the townline North has gone where the wood bine twineth. Mack's version of it, is that he likes green corn, green cucumber, etc., but when green boys who know nothing of finances, talk about greenbacks, they are mistaking there calling and had better go huckle berrying.

I think that I might actually understand this one…

Greenback clubs were local affiliates of the Greenback Party. This was part of a protest movement that began after the end of the Civil War and pushed for populist economic reform.

The phrase “gone where the wood bine twineth” would seem to indicate the group has disbanded. This young man “Mack” has presumably returned to green corn and green cucumbers (i.e. tending to his farm chores), and decided to leave the politicking to others.

The devil has been caught, enquire of Alexander for further particulers.

Arriving

Mr. Libby has removed his paint shop to the Leonard building, and is ready for business again.

Departing

Charles Bostwick has again gathered together his effects, and moved to other quarters. This time he locates in Ithica, in Gratiot county. We wish you success Charles.

Our friend E. V. Andress, is going to move to California soon. We really wish you wouldn't Ed, but if you must, why we will submit to the inevitable.

Ed Andress leaves for California a week from next Monday. We also learn that Wilson Andress is also to take up his home in the same locality.

Births

Ten pounds and one half, all boy, Wm. Smith Jr. is the happy father. Ain't he jolly?

And now it is our joyful duty to chronicle one of the great evens of the day. E. E. Richmond has just received a large fortune. It weighs 10 pounds and is a boy.

Did you ever? Fifteen and one-half pounds, and he is to learn the trade at Ed. Hewit's blacksmith shop. Of course it is a boy.

Marriages

There was a wedding at the parsonage a week ago last Saturday, but we failed to get it in time for publication, and as it is old now we will let it pass. They were both of St. Charles.

Deaths

Died in Albee, Saturday, Dec. 2, 1877, of diphtheria, son of Mr. Greenwell, aged 8 years.

Died of consumption, in Chesaning Township, Dec. 4, 1877, daughter of Miles and Sarah Nuton, aged 8 years.

This was a terrible year for the Newton (Nuton) family, as in addition to losing their daughter Emma Newton (1869-1877), their son Herbet Newton (1855-1877) had drowned himself in a well last June.

I believe that F.M. Ferguson is Frances Ferguson, née Weir (1850-1924), a resident of Albee Township, and that the subject of this memorial poem was her son.

I have no record of an Eddie Ferguson, other than a tombstone bearing this name and the date April 12, 1877 that stands in Wildwood Cemetery, near to the grave of Frances and her husband George Ferguson (1842-1906).

Brady

Mr. Bennett has the upright of his house roofed, but the cellar is full of water, and as the ice has now frozen over it, the boys think it will make a good skating park.

Charley Culver shot a deer a few days since. Mr. Culver was among the first settlers in Brady. He had to underbrush his own road some distance, to where his house now stands. He wended his way in the deep snow to his premises, and had to shovel away the snow to make a site for his house.

And he slept the first night under loose boards, but in two days, by the assistance of a relative, had a house with a roof on to move into.

Little Dick Wells came near dislocating his neck; but report says, he is in a fair way for getting well.

Oakley

Oakley has two good hotels. One the Oakley House, by S. B. Wallace, and the Brady House, by P. Hendricks, both good houses, we should judge. Also three stores, kept respectfully by Messrs. Sackrider & Huffman, Chester Wright, and James H. Smith, all industrious, enterprising business men.

Messrs. Mickle & Snow have a well stocked hardware store.

It also has a good supply of drugs, doctors and law, the latter well represented by Mr. Abbot.

Spencerville

Dwight Spencer and wife, we believe, intends moving in their new house this week. Correct. Dwight. We'll be over after a square meal, one of these days.

Drias Stevens, an old settler, was buried last Saturday. He died of typhoid fever, and two of his children are very sick of the same disease and it is thought they cannot recover.

Wm. McCrory has completed the fine part of his new house, and is now ready to enjoy winter, provided he is not again visited by fire.

Geo. Spencer is selling off his full blooded Patridge cochin chickens at a lively rate.

Sunlight Corners

This settlement long known by the smoky title of Indiantown, has arrived to the dignity of a high toned name, and well it deserves the change; for now but few of the aborginees remain, and thrifty farmers are taking their places.

Jared Freeman is having a large tract of land cleared, and will have a splendid farm here soon, and rumor has it that he is soon to start an ashery on his farm. We hope this may be true, for with this and a store and postoffice, Sunlight Corners will be complete.

That great blaze on the marsh did no harm.

The Chesaning Argonaut