Grand Haven, Mich. March 1893
3/1
The mysterious Van Wormer affair is still the topic of general discussion. Mrs. Van Wormer stated today that she believed that Mr. Van Wormer was still in the city. He left her with 50cts. in money and among strangers. The whole trouble she states arose from Mr. Van Wormer wanting her to send her 7 year old daughter back to her father or to some orphan asylum. This she told him she would never do under any consideration.
During a temperance revival at Ludington the other night 217 people signed the pledge.
Court House.
MR. EDITOR: As the local press of Ottawa Co. is not discussing to any extent the great importance of the vote soon to be taken in reference to the building of a new court house, I take the liberty to offer a few reasons why the voters of Ottawa county, in the coming spring election, should declare in favor of building a court house that would be a monument of pride to every patriotic citizen.
First, then, as a county, we are well to the front in the many leading and varied industries of this great commonwealth, also as regards our educational institutions, we are not behind our sister counties.
Second, our immense advantages in the line of shipping and commerce, also as regards the location of manufacturing plants.
All of these advantages combined invite capital and immigration in this locality.
But what have we to say in regard to the inviting appearance of our county buildings. Does not every intelligent citizen, while showing his visiting friends through our attractive county seat, when asked the question, “Where is the court house?” I point with shame to that remarkable old edifice; and have not dealers in real estate more than once been told while showing up the advantages of Ottawa county to capitalists or investors, that if the present court house was a fair gauge or test of the intelligence of the citizens of Ottawa county, they did not care to make any investments.
And we ask the voters of Ottawa county if the point would not be well taken. Again the objection has been raised by some that the erection of a new court house just now would be a heavy tax on the people. We answer with a term of years for this tax to be raised by the people, the burden will be greatly lightened and scarcely felt by the tax payers.
Again, as the city of Grand Haven has come nobly to the front and given a bonus of $15,000 towards the erection of a new court house, certainly every citizen of Ottawa county ought to vote for the erection of the same with patriotic pride.
Again, it is very important that we build the coming season, as the World’s Fair is at our doors and will soon be here.
And we as the voters of Ottawa county, is it not worth anything to us as regards the future growth and prosperity and record of our county to be able to point with pride to our prospective court house in process of erection to the many thousands of interested visitors who will come to our shores from the World’s Exposition this coming season.
Certainly every intelligent citizen must answer the above question in the affirmative. Voters of Ottawa county, let us in view of the above facts, act intelligently. Let us show ourselves not bigoted, but patriotic and by our vote and by our means erect a court house that will be an honor to our county, and that will invite emigration and capital within our borders.
WALTER PHILLIPS.
The Van Wormer affair is being well advertised. The Detroit Tribune mentions it under its heading “Marriage a Failure,” and the Grand Rapids Democrat “The Honeymoon Waned Quickly.”
Grand Haven is situated 620 feet above sea level. Montague in Muskegon county is 650 feet above.
One more day of Republican administration.
These moon shiny nights are just the kind for sleigh riding.
People here think $2 a cord for wood pretty steep. In Detroit the same wood is cheap for $7.
A sleigh ride party will probably leave this city tonight with the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bolkens of Muskegon the objective point.
A party of men are traveling through the state looking for a suitable location for a paper mill. Grand Haven should get after them.
The sleighing season has been longer this winter than for several years previous. It began the week before Christmas and just now appears to be waning now.
J. C. Furnival of Detroit will take a position as one of the office force in the D., G. H. & M. depot. He will move here with his family the latter part of this month and will occupy the large residence of Mr. Wm. Mieras in the 4th ward, better known as the Mansfield place.
February went out like a lion and March came in like a lamb.
This looks like the last week of sleighing. We’ve had it two months and a half.
Howard street kids chartered a sleigh last evening and made night hideous all along the line.
School house hill and also the hill running down 6th St. from Washington are filled with coasters every evening.
C. Ver Menlan fell through the ice while skating yesterday and consequently cannot attend the sleighing party tonight.
One of Muskegon’s crack manufactories has gone to Battle Creek. The intake to their water works is still frozen up. Their finest winter harbor is buried under solid ice, so thick that it rests on the bottom. No boats, no opening in sight. Poor Muskegon, you have Grand Haven’s sympathy.
Mr. L. Van Drezer met with a serious accident yesterday afternoon. He was walking in the rear of the City Hotel when he fell on the slippery walk striking the small of his back. Mr. Van Drezer is around, but his back pains him quite a little yet. His many friends wish him a speedy recovery.
The Roanoke will be something of a stranger when she arrives.
N. Robbins, Jr., returned from his five weeks’ trip to Vancouver, Oregon and California last evening.
E. L. Wormer, a Grand Haven restaurant keeper, married Mrs. Strope of Oxford three weeks ago Tuesday. He tired of connubial bliss and departed for more verdant pastures.―G. R. Herald.
NOTICE.
I forbid all persons trusting my wife on my account as I will not pay and debts of her contracting from this date.
Dated Grand Haven, Mich., February 27, 1893.
E. L. VAN WORMER.
For its size Grand Haven ranks above all others for its large number of social gatherings, and social life generally.
The oldest person in attendance at the teachers examinations today is 44 years of age. The youngest are four of 15 years of age, three of whom are from Berlin.
Muskegon has a freak in the semblance of a young calf with a dog’s head, ears, feet and tail, while the body is that of a calf. The lower jaw extends about one and one-half inches further than the upper jaw. The ears, though not very long, lop over like a dog’s.
Wedding Bells.
The marriage of Cornelius VanderNook to Miss Nellie VanderPloeg occurred last evening at 7:30 o’clock at the home of the bride on Columbus street. Rev. DeBruyn of the First Reformed church officiated. Mr. Fred VanderNoot of Grand Rapids, acted as best man and Miss Katie VanderPloeg as bridesmaid. The wedding was a pretty one and was witnessed by scores of friends of the happy young couple.
After the marriage Mr. and Mrs. VanderNoot gave a reception at which about 150 of their friends were present. A merry time was had until tow o’clock this morning when the party dispersed wishing them a happy and profitable future.
Mr. and Mrs. VanderNoot received a large number of beautiful presents; cook stove from Co. F, set of dishes from Grand Haven fire department, of which organizations Mr. VanderNoot is a member. Also the following list from their friends: plush rocker, celluloid box with silver spoons, three centre tables, two lamps, album stand, chenille spread, silver teaspoons, gold lined cream spoons, paper holder, two cuspidors, Bible, table cloth, six fruit plates, two fancy bread plates, fancy cracker dish, granite coffee pot, castor, eight towels, tray cover, glass water set, and a fancy broom.
Mr. and Mrs. VanderNoot will make there home on Columbus, near 7th St.
It is said Potts will have a cupola and cuspidor in that new house of his on Franklin St.
William Asman’s business has increased to such an extent that he took a partner this morning. Mother and son doing well.
A bill now before the state legislature provides that barber shops shall be closed on Sundays or suffer a fine or 30 days imprisonment.
Mrs. D. F. Hunton died last evening at 9 o’clock after an illness with consumption of several years. She leaves a husband and four children. The funeral will occur Sunday afternoon at 2:30 from the M. E. church.
[David Fletcher Hunton was Grand Haven’s famous attorney poet. His wonderful poems can be seen on the Sand Hill City site at:
http://www.sandhillcity.com/d_f_hunton.htm ]
Dan Swartz the hustling fish dealer, accompanied Capt. Lysaght on his trip to St. Joe today. Asked when he would return, Dan said that he was going to follow the Captain. “The trip might extend a day or might extend a month. Hard telling.”
The steamer Roanoke is wind bound at Milwaukee.
A sleighing party to Crockery and also one to Agnew last night, leaving here at 8.
James Murphy and James Ward, vags, were sentenced to eight days in jail by Justice Pagelson today.
The Vandella Ry., has gone out of the lake steamboat business.
The young showman who fell at the post office door this afternoon, was afterwards overheard inquiring as to who were the fellows who laughed at the incident. A good roast on those fellows will probably be given at the play tonight.
A sleighing party from Muskegon came down last night and had a good time at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bowman.
Eastmanville merchants are already prepared to move out their goods at a moment’s notice in expectation of a bad flood.
The Cutler & Savidge Lumber Co., it is said, will have their Canadian lumber shipped to Spring Lake this season for dressing and continue the yard there.
Mr. Ed. Blair met with an accident yesterday which will lay him up for a few days. He had been over to see his old neighbor Mr. C. W. Gray, which upon returning he fell on the icy walk, spraining his ankle.
The latest marriage in high life is that of Simon Pokagon, chief of the Potawatomies and Victoria Quintis, a native of that tribe. The chief is 62 years of age and the blushing bride 42. They will make their home in the township of Lee, Allegan county, where the chief has his home.
Chas. Patty a drunken individual was arrested by marshal Klaver this morning. The fellow was walking through the D. & M. yards and had to be arrested for his own personal safety.
R. Mabee contemplates taking charge of the Washington house after the 1st of May. Mr. John Young who has been proprietor for many years, it is stated, will go to Racine, providing he cannot find a suitable opening here. Mr. Maybee will not discontinue his harness shop, but will continue to run both.
An enterprising Allegan dentist advertises to do dental work for logs and lumber as payment.
Next Wednesday being Day of Prayer among the Holland people, the grocery stores will be closed for the day.
Jacob Newhouse of Grand Rapids is in the city today looking for a location for a hennery which he contemplates starting.
Mr. Curtis Gray, who has been lying at the point of death for several days, was this afternoon still alive, though very low.
A large party of ship carpenters arrived here this afternoon from Michigan City. They will calk the government scows lying here.
Mr. John J. Danhof, sr., suffered a slight stroke of paralysis yesterday. He is better today as his many friends will be pleased to learn and there is every hope of a speedy recovery.
In the early 50’s a boat named the Roanoke made regular trips between here and Chicago. Among the other boats of that early period which came in here were the Empire, Algoma, Vermont, Gen. Harrison and Minnesota.
[Complete lists of ships entering and leaving the harbor during this period can be found in the Grand River Time beginning in July 2, 1851 both on microfilm at the Loutit Library and recreated early in this project beginning in the July, 1891 online section.]
The car occupied by the peanut butcher on the D., G. H. & M. was broken into here Friday night. A number of articles of small value such as fruit and cigars were stolen. No clue to the thief or thieves.
Peter Klaver received a dispatch from Sturgeon Bay yesterday asking him to come at once to do the decorative and fresco work on the handsome new Congregational church there. Mr. Klaver won a reputation as a fine artisan while a resident of that town a short time last winter. Because of much work here he will probably be unable to go.
Death of John Osterhous.
Died on Saturday night at 9:40 o’clock at the residence of his sister Mrs. Solma, Mr. John Osterhous after a long illness.
The deceased was 48 years 2 months and 11 days. He leaves four young children, and aged father, four sisters and one brother, besides a host of friends to mourn his death.
Mr. Osterhous for many years held an important position in the lumber business for Sherman H. Boyce. He belonged to the order of the Maccabees.
The funeral will be held Wednesday morning at eight o’clock and his remains will be taken to Stanton and buried by the side of his wife who died five years ago.
An Old Resident Gone.
FRANCIS H. GROOTERS.
Francis H. Grooters one of Grand Haven’s few remaining early pioneer citizens passed peacefully away last Saturday night. About a week ago, people who passed by his little shop on Second St., near Columbus, remarked it queer that his place was closed and the curtains drawn. Probably none of them knew or even thought that the old proprietor was on his death bed. For years they had seen through the windows, his well known form as he sat patiently pegging away at the cobbler’s bench, and they could not realize there is an end for everything.
Mr. Grooters was born on July 29, 1818, in Mydrecht, Province of Utrecht, Netherlands, and was there for almost 75 years of age. [miss-print?]
When 29 years of age he immigrated to this country landing in New York on the 25th of July 1847 after being on the ocean 52 days. Directly from there he started for Milwaukee by way of the Great Lakes, arriving in the future Cream City on the 11th of August. From Milwaukee he went to a small settlement in Wisconsin called Holland. He remained there a short time and then returned to Milwaukee.
On the 26th of May 1851, he went to Holland, Michigan, and from there came to Grand Haven in the spring of 1852. Being unable to find work at his trade here he was about to leave for Milwaukee again and was already on the dock ready to take the boat across the lake when he was approached by Rev. William M. Ferry and was given a station. This was the beginning of a long and useful life in Grand Haven. On October 10, 1852 he was married to Amelia Leenhoute of Milwaukee.
Mr. Grooters took a great deal of interest in church work. He was a member for 40 years of the Presbyterian church and taught a Sunday School class for a number of years.
He worked for Wm. M. Ferry and also for Clark B. Albee for many years, after which he opened a shop for himself. He has been located at the present shop for about 10 years.
He leaves a wife and two daughters, also a sister who lives in Amsterdam.
Mr. Grooters carried in memory’s store house a vast fund of reminiscences of early Grand Haven days. Nothing he liked so well as to talk of those days and the visitors to his little workshop he would regale with stories of the Ferrys, Albees, Pennoyers and other pioneers.
He worked at his trade for 60 years beginning as an apprentice when a small boy of twelve. Many of the old residents he has made boots for and continued to do so up to the time of his death.
His peaceful dissolution was typical of the simple and purely Christian life which he has always led. Honest in his business dealings and respected by all, his memory will linger in the hearts of all who know him.
The funeral will take place tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon at 2:00 0’clock from the Second Reformed church. The services will be conducted by Rev. Kennedy and Rev. Van Zanten.
There are many kinds of wooden shoes worn by the peasants in Europe, but none are more clumsy and heavy than the “kloompers” of the Hollanders. They are boat-shaped, with high wooden protection to the heels, and a curious little upward twist to the toe like a Chinese junk. But heavy and awkward as the shoes are, the Dutch children run about as lightly as if they were shod in Cinderella’s glass slippers, and do not seem to object in the least to the clicking sound made by the shoes on the pavements. One of the most extraordinary sights in the world is a line of little Dutch boys playing leapfrog in their great, noisy wooden kloompers.—Detroit Free Press.
Awnings are being put up all over town.
Mr. Wm. Mieras received his commission as Notary Public today.
The ice and snow in the lake is the worst of the winter.
A sleighing party will go from this city to Crockery tonight.
Several street workers are employed in cleaning the big snow drifts form the sides of the sidewalks.
Ald. Joseph Koeltz is prominently mentioned by his friends for the Mayorality.
A. M. Ferguson expects to move his restaurant into the old post office shortly.
Sherman H. Boyce and ex-Mayor Scofield are talked of as possible candidates for Mayor.
A. J. Nyland has now had the management of the Grand Haven Leather Co., for about 6 years.
Geo. Hancock is having built another large green house. One of these green houses takes nearly $200 worth of glass to cover.
The condition of Mr. Curtis W. Gray is about the same today as yesterday. He is very low and death can be expected at any minute.
Ed Pennoyer now limps along with a crutch and a cane as the result of coming in contact with a pair of bobs last night. His foot was badly injured.
If the amount of ice in the lakes is any criterion as to the early opening of navigation, there will be no lumber shipped out of Muskegon in April this season.
The candidates for Marshal this spring so far as the talk goes now, seem to be the old contestants of last spring, John Klaver and Andrew Verhoef.
Auction sale at Van Wormer’s former restaurant, Thursday at 2 p.m. Two heating and one good cook stove and other useful household goods. These goods must go at any prices as Mrs. Van Wormer must have money.
Jake De Glopper and Lou Van Drezer will probably do no more skating this winter. Both thought of McGinty when they fell through Sunday.
Is there to be a St. Patrick’s Day Ball this year. for the past five years now a successful one has been held upon that day, but thus far this year no talk has been heard upon the subject.
The City Election.
Local politics are just beginning to be talked about, caused by the mild spring weather, and it’s reminder that election is not far off. Election day will be April 3.
The retiring officers of the city are: Mayor, Thomas W. Kirby; Supervisor 1st Dist., Wm. Sleutel; Spervisor 2nd Dist., Simon Stuveling; Justice, Geo. A. Farr; City Treasurer, Daniel Gale; City Marshal, A. J. Klaver; Alderman, 1st ward, Merean Kamhout; 2nd ward, Wm. Thieleman; 3rd ward, John Bryce; 4th ward, Cornelius Nyland.
It devolves upon the new council to elect a city attorney in place of Walter Lillie, whose term expires; street commissioner to succeed Jos. Palmer; Director of the Poor to succeed John Baker; and a city physician to succeed Dr. J. B. McNett.
Evidences of spring are looming up everywhere. Snow is going, awnings are being put up in front of business places and even wheels are beginning to take the place of runners.
Fifth St. hill down across Fulton is said to be a particularly dangerous one for coasters. The other day a boy sliding there went right underneath the team of of the G. H. Leather Co. The big sleigh dragged him along, aways, but luckily he was not injured.
From Our Correspondent.
LUNA, March 4, 1893.
MR. EDITOR:―It is a long time since you have had a letter from the Man in the Moon, and I confess I have been a little negligent about writing you, but it is not because I have had my eyes shut to what is going on among you denizens of earth, but because I do not want always to be finding fault or criticize my neighbors. I like to commend what is at all commendable, and I am glad to know that your citizens are getting sick of that shabby old court house of yours, and are anxious to build one, more worthy of your beautiful city and county. I think that is right. You owe it to yourselves. You ought not to live in this slipshod, penurious manner, since you are abundantly able to do better. You have rascals enough to look after and, protect yourselves against, and you have now and then a quarrelsome man, or a meddler with other man’s business, who will go to law, and you must have courts, judges and juries, and county officers who need comfortable places to do business, and more than this you want a safe place for the records of your county. By all means therefore let your court house be built.
But do you know my usually placid face has looked redder than usual lately? It is because I have been ashamed of your city. I did not send that terrible crop of ice which has covered you from top to toe with glittering condemnation almost all this severe winter. If I could have roared out the indignation I felt, you would have heard the welkin ring and trembled, with what you would have thought was thunder in a winter sleet storm. It is an outrage upon respectability of such a city as yours, to allow such icy sidewalks. Do you know how many persons have broken their limbs or their heads by falling upon these slippery walks? Shame on the lazy men who tolerate such walks in front of their stores and shops and dwellings. If I were living there, I would not call on a family or trade with a merchant or patronize a mechanic who would threaten with a slip-down and perhaps a broken limb in this manner. And while I think of it what are your city authorities doing about it? I have no ill will against your Mayor or the Common Council, or the Marshal, or any of his deputies, but if strictly retribution justice were done, they would all be piled in a heap, and their groans could be heard in all the streets. Let those who by their neglect, or laziness, or penuriousness, have suffered this disgraceful state of things to exist and continue, be the first and principle sufferers, and my opinion is this nuisance would soon be abated.
MAN IN THE MOON.
The glass factory laid off today as the result of a broken steam pipe.
The business part of the city presents an almost Sunday stillness today with the stores all closed.
Gerrit Bottje mourns the loss of a valuable hunting dog; the victim of some dog poisoner.
The tug Kaiser Wilhelm which sank two years ago in Spring Lake is now on the Wisconsin side of lake.
If all other signs fail there is one that never has. The small boy is playing marbles at every street corner and spring has surely come.
In justice to the party named it should be stated that Jacob DeGlopper fell through the ice Saturday instead of Sunday.
Jacob VanWeelden will become a member of the life saving station this coming year. He has purchased one of the cottages across from the station and will make his home there.
The contract for building the paint shop and ware house for Silas Kilbourn & Co., has been let to the firm of Heiftje & Arkens, their bid of $245 being the lowest. The new building will be 260 feet long, 32 feet wide and 24 feet high.
J. F. Reed an elderly man and a new employee at the Kit factory had the tips of the fingers of his right hand taken off while working at the shaper Monday. He was taken to the City Hotel where he had been boarding, and had his hand dressed and then left for his home in Grand Rapids. He will return to this city again Saturday with his son.
DEATH OF CURTIS W. GRAY.
One of the Oldest Citizens of Ottawa County.
Mr. Curtis W. Gray departed this life at an early hour this morning after a short illness. He was taken with a cold only a few days ago which developed into grippe, resulting in his death.
Mr. Gray was born near Brookfield, Connecticut, in Fairfield Co., on Dec. 15, 1802. When still a boy of only five or six years of age, his father moved to Troy, New York. The trip was made by wagon and Mr. Gray still vividly remembered how when fording the broad Housatonic river, the water crept into the wagon box, wetting the straw on which the family lay. His father engaged in lumbering in Troy and when Curtis was 16 years of age he proceeded to learn the tanner’s trade.
In 1837 he came to this state, settling first in Battle Creek. Six years later he moved again, this time to Grand Rapids. In 1852 he came to Grand Haven and continued to reside here ever since. During his first three years of residence here, Mr. Gray worked in the C. B. Albee’s tannery, then one of the principal manufacturing institutions of the city.
Mr. Gray took and important part in Ottawa county public affairs in those years and in 1856 became sheriff of the county. The sheriff’s position was by no means an easy one then as Ottawa county contained a large number of disorderly ruffians of the backwoods period. Mr. Gray was sheriff eight years.
He also has been Deputy U. S. Marshal for a long term of years and in the office which people of the present knew him best, that of Coroner he served over 20 years.
Mr. Gray was first married when 26 years of age and had two children. Mrs. William Wallace of this city and E. L. Gray, a prominent attorney of Newaygo. He married his present wife 35 years ago. Mrs. Gray is herself nearly 80 years of age.
Mr. Gray despite his years has been around up to within a few days of his death. The neighbors have often thought it remarkable to see him leap the fence around his house. He retained his mental faculties up to his last sickness.
Mr. Gray celebrated his 90th birthday last December at which a large number of his old friends were present. He was as lively and as cheerful as a majority of men of middle age.
Mr. Gray was a member of sixteen years standing of the Presbyterian church, to which a majority of the old pioneers belonged.
He was also a member of the Pioneer Association of the Grand River Valley. Although far past the age of three score and ten, regrets are heard on every side of the death of the kindly old gentleman.
Funeral tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 from the residence.
"Who We Want.”
A little less than four weeks more and the annual election of officers of our city will be held, and it seems to me that it is high time that our citizens awaken themselves by a more general agitation of the question. “Who shall we place at the tiller of our municipal government?”
Agitation is the life of good government. Nothing so destroys the strength of the secret, stealthy politician as agitation. The politician always avoids it. His machinations are always operated on the buttonhole and “saloon sinking fund” systems, and, if the great body of our intelligent citizens sit idly by and leave the selection of party candidates to ward politicians, good government soon gives way to corruption and boodling. The present year is to fill an important place in the history of Grand Haven. Our city being one of the “main entrances” to the city of the World’s Fair, a year of general activity, growth and prosperity is anticipated by our citizens and it behooves us to see that the government of our city is in the hands of the right kind of men; for good government is an essential factor to the growth of a city. Capitalists and manufacturers will not invest or locate in places where thirty or forty thousands of dollars is spent in experimenting, to ascertain the capacity of a well. Our municipal government must be placed in the hands of men who have good business ability and reasoning powers. Plenty of such men can be found and it is the duty of every citizen interested in the welfare of Grand Haven to see that only such men are nominated this spring. Politics and factional quarrels should be put aside. The great question involved is the securing of an administration of this city’s affairs which in it’s intelligence, strength and economy shall best sub serve the ends of good government. For this office of mayor several names have already been mentioned as good candidates by the Tribune. Among them are W. C. Sheldon, A. J. Emlaw, Jos. Koeltz, Sherman Boyce and L. Scofiled, but as all of these are or have been more or less connected with the so-called Cutler and Kirby factions, it seems to me that other men could be found just as fitting and without factional prejudices.
Before naming the man who I would like to see as the candidate of the people, I desire to say that he does not seek office nor does he know that I am to mention his name in connection with the nomination, nor is he a candidate now, but it may be assumed that a sense of duty would compel his acceptance of a nomination tendered by representative popular sentiment. The name of the man I mean is Jas. P. Armstead.
The writer does not know his (Mr. Armstead’s) politics nor does he care, but I believe that all the intelligent citizens of this city will unite with me in the choice of Jas. P. Armstead as the candidate of the people.
The steamer Michigan went down eight years ago yesterday.
John Neil, Wm. Callister and others are still at work in the Saugatuck shipyards.
Do not fail to call on Madame Lyons, the clairvoyant and fortune teller, at the Andre House.
Isaac M. has decided and Don M. has conceded that Dud Watson shall be collector of customs at Grand Haven.—G. R. Herald.
Curtis W. Gray and his father rode on the first successful steamboat in the United States. The trip was made in 1807 down the Hudson river from Albany to New York on Robert Fulton’s boat Claremont.
Eddie Fleming, teacher of school No. 1 Fruitport, Will Woodbull and Fred Clydesdale, enjoyed a trip on skates, to Grand Haven, Monday evening―while there they consulted Mr. Lane in regard to books for the Sabbath school there.—Muskegon Chronicle.
Madame Lyons the World’s Greatest clairvoyant and Gypsy Fortune teller, is now located at the Andres House, for a short time only. She tells you the past, present and future. Your whole life is an open book to the Gypsy Queen. She reveals mysteries, locates hidden treasures, stolen property. Brings lovers together. Consult with the Madame and be convinced of her wonderful powers of revelations. CONSULTATION FREE. Charges very moderate: hours, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m..
Judging from the way Messrs Turner and Lillie ate dinner after the judicial convention in Holland yesterday one would believe that they were keeping Lent in every detail.
The manager of Madame Lyons, the clairvoyant and test medium, was formerly a member of the Grand Haven Fire Department. He is better known by the fire boys of eight or ten years ago by the sobriquet of “Johnny Come Lately.”
A gang of Chicago ship carpenters are at work caulking and repairing the seven government dump scows at the ship yard. Grand Haven ship carpenters were to have been given the work, but none are handy just now and the work had to be done immediately.
Yesterday the broad telephone patents through which the Bell telephone company controlled telephone business for the past twelve years expired. Today the only competitor of the Bell company actually in the field commences business by the opening of their first exchange in McKeesport, Pa. This company, the Shaver corporation of 1 Broadway, was organized in 1887 and now has a capital of $2,000,000. The corporation owns a duplex telephone system.
Mrs. D. F. Hunton.
The funeral of Mrs. Hunton, who passed quietly away last Thursday evening, took place at the Methodist church on Sunday last and was conducted by Rev. Bennett, prayer by Rev. McLlenghlin with Hon. Geo. W. McBride, Walter I’ Lillie, Ex-Senator Farr, Judge Soule, and Chas. T. Pagelson as pallbearers, and was laid out quietly in Lake Forest cemetery.
Mrs. Hunton was born in West Wadsborough, Vermont in 1851 and was 42 years of age. Many years of her bright girlhood were spent among her loved Green Mountain cities. Some 26 years ago her parents, the late William S, and Hannah D. White, came west to this city where they resided till their deaths and which she has ever since made her home.
In 1869 she, then Frances A. White, was united in marriage by Rev. J. Morris Cross, to David F. Hunton, at that time a young and prominent lawyer of the city. Some few years before Mrs. Hunton’s failure in health, she took a prominent part in the Methodist church and was one of its most active members.
Being a refined and cultivated lady, she was loved and esteemed by all who knew her and leaves many friends to mourn her loss.
She leaves in her family a husband to regret her loss. And although after two years of illness and suffering many will be surprised to hear of her death.
She leaves also four loving children, Bertha A. (now Mrs. R. C. Graves) Frances C., Mildred E., and Rothie F., her little seven year old son, to mourn the loss of a devoted and idolized mother, and two sisters living in Grand Rapids and Saginaw.
Mr. R. C. Graves (the late Mrs. Hunton’s son-in-law), who was expected here to attend the funeral, was called to Canada by the death of his loving father, who died the same night and was buried the same day as Mrs. Hunton. It is a double affliction to Mr. and Mrs. Graves that in the hour of need and trouble they must be separated.
Card of Thanks.
Mrs. R. C. Graves, Bertha Hunton and Mildred Hunton tender their sincere thanks and gratitude to the many kind friends and neighbors who so generously showed their friendship to them in and during their loving mother’s last illness. May they some day be fully recompensed for their kindness, is the wish of her children.
Henry Bloecker Takes Exception.
Ex-alderman Henry Bloecker takes exception to the article published in yesterday’s TRIBUNE signed Independent, and headed “Who we Want.” Mr. Bloecker said “I do not want you to understand that I am opposed to Mr. Armstead; in fact I could not ask a better friend than Jim. It is the style of the article in which I take exception. The writer speaks of the secret, stealthy politicians and button holers.” Mr. Bloecker then went on to say, that the writer probably in speaking of the politicians means the men who meet at the caucuses each year. Because they are doing their duty and exercising their supreme right, men like the writer call them “politicians” and “caucus-packers.”
Mr. Bloecker said that at many of the 1st and 2nd ward caucuses there were only three or four present, hardly enough to constitute a body. Yet in the eyes of the writer these men who are doing their duty are the politicians.
Mr. Bloecker also objected to that part of the article speaking of the “saloon sinking fund.” He said that he knew that the saloons and saloonkeepers of the city did not spend a cent to further candidate’s interests at election time.
Mr. Bloecker in concluding said that such articles would do a great deal more hurt than good to the man they were intended to be complimentary to. The man who wrote the article he said was probably one of those class who never attend a caucus themselves, and then kick when they do not find satisfaction at the result of it.
The water of Grand River is two feet above the usual level at the Rapids.
Painters, bricklayers, masons and carpenters are getting ready for a large season’s work.
Not a single marriage license was issued in Ottawa County this week. People seem to be spring poor, after so hard a winter,
The locomotive on the Chicago & Grand Trunk fast trains are carrying electric headlights and light up the track several hundred feet away.
N. Robbins Jr. has made extensive improvements on his dock property this winter, making it as good as new. The building formerly occupied by Enboy’s restaurant he purchased and converted into one of the finest little steam boat stations on the lakes. It will be used for the passengers of the Goodrich steamers bound to and from the World’s Fair. Nat is one of the city’s hustling young business men and is always work in it’s interests.
The steamer Roanoke cleared early this morning for Milwaukee with the largest load of west bound freight out of here via the D., G. H. & M. steamers in a number of years. The load aggregated 550 tons. She brought in on her last trip 1038 tons.
The tug Emma Bloecker, Capt. VanderVeere expects to go out tomorrow and set the east gang of nets. The other tugs will not begin until next week.
Clean the snow off your walk. The rain and sun can do it, but it will probably take some weeks.
The city marshal should probably see to it that ashes and other rubbish is not thrown in the streets. Besides being unsightly it is just such dirty piles that the germs of cholera and other diseases lurk in. Clinton and 4th streets is said are fit subjects for a cleaning up. Enforce our ordinances.
In the building fitted up by N. Robbins, Jr., the room on the corner of Water and Washington streets will be occupied by Mr. Robbins as an office. It will make a very neat and cozy room. Messrs. VanDongen & Jonker are building a fire place today. The room adjoining will be fitted up as a station for the Goodrich steamer passengers.
The School flag was run up Tuesday for the first time in a long while, it was on account of the good news received from Ottawa Co. Examining Board.
Asst. P. M. Wells put on his good clothes Wednesday night and started to go out and see his best girl. He reports skating on his pants in the water and ice part the way down.
A fine new flag has been placed on the residence of Henry Baar.
The dog poisoner appears to be around again.
A dog protective association has been formed at Grand Rapids. We ought to have one here.
Peter Klaver has decided to go to Sturgeon Bay, where he was called a few days ago to do the frescoing in the Congregational church of that place.
The residence of Hezekiah Smith (colored) of Ferrysburg, burned last night. Loss $1,000 with no insurance. The flames were plainly visible from this city.
The People’s Party convention was not largely attended today, only thirteen delegates being present. Twelve delegates from Holland would have been here but missed connections.
Jacob Baar, while in Washington, met and shook hands with President Cleveland.
The Ludington crew has been selected by the United States life saving service as the one to make an exhibit at the World’s Fair.
During the three days ending February 25, the car ferry steamers succeeded in making a round trip between Kewaunee and Frankfort every fifteen hours.
Valuable dogs belonging to G. A. Bottje, John Koolman, Mr. Kinney, L. Veenstra and Peter Ball have been poisoned the past two or three days. The dog poisoner if captured should be given a month at hard labor on the public streets.
The steamer Wisconsin left for Milwaukee at four o’clock this morning. Some time this forenoon she became stuck in a narrow field of thick ice. Her flag of distress was displayed and the tug Merick went out and pulled her off. A channel about the length of the tug had to be put out before she was freed. At last reports she was headed north.
Not a Candidate.
In an interview with President W. C. Sheldon of the Corn Planter Works today in regard to the mentioning of his name for Mayor. Mr. Sheldon said that he was not a candidate for the office and would not take it under any circumstances. “My time” he said “is taken almost wholly with the Corn Planter’s Works and for the important office of Mayor I think a man should be selected who will give proper attention to the office.”
People’s Party Convention.
The People’s Party County convention was held today at the Court house. The convention was called together at 11 a.m. and Walter Phillips was chosen chairman.
[This article can be seen in it’s entirety on the Tribune microfilm at Loutit Library.]
The experience of Capt. Cochrane exactly twenty years ago the present season constitutes the most remarkable episode in the history of winter navigation on Lake Michigan to date. Capt. Cochrane commanded the steamer Messenger during the winter of 1872-73, and in company with the steamer Manistee spent 67 days of imprisonment in the ice between ten and twelve miles off the east shore. The month of April was reached before the ice broke up and released the two steamers. The story of the experience of the steamers and their crew in the ice is replete with trilling interest and would make a fair sized book.—Evening Tribune.
We are creditably informed that there are upwards of one hundred fishing nets set in the pods and bayous around Spring Lake and if something is not done to stop this illegal business, there will be no fish in our waters in a little while.
Capt. Van Toll is getting the tug Stickney ready for the season’s work.
The tug Auger expects to set her nets tomorrow.
The fish tug Miller was launched into the river Saturday all ready for the season’s work.
T. Knight now has one of the handsomest delivery wagons in Grand Haven.
The Grand Haven post office supplies mail to a territory comprising 8,000 population.
The D., G. H. & M. bridges are in serious danger at Ionia on account of the flood.
The Innes Rifles of Grand Rapids intend to march to Chicago this summer.
Yesterday the river at Grandville was only three feet below the highest known mark.
A dog belonging to Adrian VerBerkimoes has succumbed to the dog poisoner.
The steamer Mary H. McGregor will run between Escanaba and Fruitport furnaces this season.
The Grand Haven Ship Building Co., are getting out timber near Sullivan, Muskegon Co.
Capt. James Davidson expresses it as his opinion that this will be a prosperous season for the lake marine.
A man was detailed to watch the D., G. H. & M. bridge last night, to report if there were any danger to the structure in case of much ice coming down the river.
Work on the extension of the north pier in St. Joseph will be commenced by Contractor Crosby of Muskegon as soon as navigation becomes practicable and material can be shipped.
Henry C. Sanford is undoubtedly the first person in Grand Haven to receive an official letter from the Cleveland administration. He has received one from President Cleveland through Private Secretary Thurber.
Grand River is a on a great rampage just now and Eastmanville, Grandville, Grand Rapids, Muir, Lyons and other towns are feeling the effects of it. Grand Rapids Electric Plant was flooded and the city was without light last night.
The last issue of the Police Gazette contains a portrait and sketch of that well known Grand Haven drummer, Con DeVlieger. It mentions him as a representative through the south and, west of a large Milwaukee house and says that he is one of the most popular of the boys on the road. It also speaks of his literary attainments and his work, “The Drummer’s Last Trip.” Con gives the city quite and advertisement.
The ice on the Spring Lake bridge carried off the telephone cable yesterday.
Local pugilism has been dull lately but the sports are now talking of a glove contest soon to take place between “Phinney” Hicks and Otto Schroeder.
Mr. R. C. Robinson, who has held an important position in the Challenge Corn Planter Factory for a number of years, has resigned. Poor health in this locality induced him to leave.
Capt. Bob Finch, of Grand Haven, gave us a call this morning. He is attending the G. A. R. encampment at Benton Harbor. Capt. Finch did dredging in this canal and harbor as early as 1868. He shows that he has been to war as he has one eye shot completely out.―Benton Harbor Palladium.
Jerry Boynton the railroad pusher is in town today. Jerry says he is still alive.
It was only about 10 years ago when the big boom was still extant, that one of the worst floods in Grand River nearly carried it away. As it was many logs were lost. A boom of 150,000,000 feet of logs belonging to C. C. Comstock and stationed at Grand Rapids broke away the same time. Many of them were caught near the big boom, but a large number went as far as Spring Lake.
Saturday evening Capt. Frank Yates was to have fenced with Prof. Henri Dauriac again in Chicago. The Chicago Herald speaks of the match as follows: It was expected that the event of the evening would be the fencing match between Capt. Frank Yates and Prof Henri Dauriac. It proved a great disappointment. The men were to fence until one had scored 9 points or until 20 minutes had elapsed. Col. Monstery the famous swordsman was chosen referee. When Capt. Yates had scored 4 points to his opponent’s one, within 10 minutes the latter left the stage claiming that he had scored 3 points and his opponent the same number. Capt. Yates was seconded by Capt. Avery and Dauriac by R. C. Dodge. Dauriac also claimed that Dodge was not up on fencing and did not claim the points that he scored. Monstery made the hit of the evening by pointing to Capt. Yates and announcing “My pupil has won.”
The dock at the old Beech Tree mill is under water.
The tannery has resumed its ten hour working day.
Martin Kieft suffers largely from the flood submerging his lands.
The railroad bridge stood the test of the freshet all right last night.
If the river raises much more some of the fish shanties are in danger of being flooded off.
Wm. Speckling a laborer was drowned in the flood at Ionia yesterday.
Walter Fisher will command the tug Meister this year and Capt. Obeke the Anna.
The rising river reached very near the Corn Planter works, but no damage was done there.
The Western Union Telegraph Co. cables across to Spring Lake were broken and no messages were sent from here today.
The celery land of A. Ver Berkmoes is strewn with valuable timbers and logs which floated from up the river.
An island of sod and earth about a half acre in extent came down the river yesterday afternoon on its way to the lake.
Captain Muir of the steamer Barrett, said yesterday that the water was within two feet of being the highest it has been in forty-one years.
The valuable celery land of A. Ver Berkmoes and C. Bos, back of the Corn Planter works, is inundated with water to a depth of several feet.
Marshal Klaver shot the big Newfoundland dog belonging to Wm. Kelly yesterday. The animal had bitten Joe Kirby in the arm and is reported had snapped at others.
Mr. Aart Donker who lives on the river bank in the Fourth ward says that the river at that point is nearly as high as the memorable summer of 1883. It is nearly 5 feet above its usual level.
Several enterprising fellows devoted themselves to capturing the logs that came down the river today. Their operations were confined mostly to that part of the river between the shipyard and fish shanties. The work was hard but many a valuable log was hooked.
The Spring Lake election yesterday hinged on a peculiar issue. Lucius Lyman the Republican candidate for President of the village was in favor of keeping cows off the street, in pastures, while John Mulder the Democratic candidate was in favor of having them run at large. Mr. Lyman won by 40 majority.
The spur track that runs on the northern edge of the city, past the Corn Planter factory is covered with water for some distance near C. Bos’ land.
Probably there will be no nets set by fishermen this week because of the great abundance of ice in the lake. Some fears are expressed as to the condition of the gang set by the Bloecker last Saturday.
The scene along the river front near Grand Haven Leather Co.’s tannery is said to have been a wild one late yesterday afternoon. About four o’clock the ice in the channel began giving away and at 5 a wild torrent was rushing past at steamboat speed. Many a stout spile (about the only thing now extant of former mill days) was broken by the ice dashing upon them. The din upon the river was something that has not been heard for several years.
Millhouse Bayou bridge in Grand Haven township and Stearns Bayou bridge in Robinson were carried away yesterday. Pottawattamie Bayou bridge is covered with jumbled up ice.
A man that comes to a city and represents himself as an agent with cut advertising in the papers is generally a fraud and people should be careful in doing business with him.―Exchange.
A home in Robinson township belonging to a a man named Lewis and situated on the river’s bank floated away yesterday. It was not learned whether his household goods were saved.
It is reported that Dan Swartz will embark in a new enterprise this year in the manufacture of a fertilizer from the many fish leavings from the fish shanties. Dan is in Chicago now to get the necessary apparatus for that purpose.
Owen C. Pearl was brought before Judge Pageslon yesterday afternoon and plead guilty to the charge of rape. He will probably be sentenced either today or tomorrow. His crime admits of a sentence of life imprisonment or any number of years. A long term of years or even life would be the prisoner’s just deserts.
The case of the people vs. Fred Lockard for perjury took up the time in Circuit Court today. John Vandongen, Mrs. John VanDaongen, John Klaver and Chief Keppel were on the witness stand during its procedure. W. I. Lillie is attorney for the defendant.
Spring Lake Bridge In Danger.
A rumor started on the streets yesterday afternoon that the Spring Lake toll bridge was in danger of being washed away by the rising and turbulent Grand.
The rumor proved not to be without foundation. The large quantity of ice in the river had begun to move and the water was already several feet above its usual level.
Several Grand Haven teams which were in Spring Lake were compelled to remain there and no wagons were allowed to cross.
One at a time the moving ice was jamming far above the driveway of the bridge and there was imminent danger of the structure going. As it was the toll house was knocked off some during the night. The Spring Lake approach to the bridge is badly damaged, as are also the abutments, but the swing is said to be in sound condition.
The bridge has been swung open so as to give the jumbled and high packed ice a free chance to escape through both channels on the north and south side of the bridge, which would put the structure in considerable danger.
If the Spring Lake bridge goes the railroad bridge would undoubtedly go with it.
The bridges over Millhouse and Pottawatomie bayous are under water several feet and farmers in that section are obliged to come around by Beech Tree road in order to reach this city.
“I heard that our warehouse had become loosened and floated down stream a mile or more or less and so I will come down and see about it” said J. F. Craig of Toledo, secretary of the Craig Shipbuilding Co. and principle owner of the river steamer Valley City, in the Morton yesterday. “One end of the house has become loosened and can easily be repaired. The boat itself is all right. While I am here I am making arrangements for next season. Unless we can do this we shall probably take the Valley City away, as we have a splendid place to put her. However, I do not imagine that there will be any necessity of it. We shall begin work as soon as the Goodrich people begin to run. There will be no starting until they do. I have no doubt that we can do a good business this season. We can easily make a round trip a day until August anyway, then we shall run one boat down one day and up the next.—G. R. Dem.
The many green houses in this locality are about all in full blast, growing celery plants of which a large amount will be planted out in this vicinity.
The snow is about all off the ground and the fruit buds and grape vines are in good condition, which no doubt will insure a large crop of small fruits and grapes.
We trust the farmers may not be so busy this Spring but that hey will take time and give a rousing vote for anew court house in the near future.
E. G. Crosby & Co’s boats of Muskegon are being fitted out and ready for the early spring campaign.
There is a prospect of the steamer Valley City being taken off the Grand River route this year.
Telephone connection can now be made with all of the outside world, with the exception of Spring Lake and Ferrysburg.
Richard Barlow who is employed at Bloecker’s foundry fell through a hatch way in the steamer Wisconsin yesterday and was badly bruised.
About 150 feet of the north approach to the Spring Lake bridge was carried away by the rampaging Grand.
It was not until yesterday afternoon that Capt. Kirby discovered that one of the boxes of his dry dock had gone out with the flood. It was carried away Monday.
The river is gradually going down.
Grand Rapids physicians predict that typhoid will follow in the wake of the flood.
G. Vanden Bosch & Bros., received a $5 bill enclosed in an envelope through the Post Office last week. The money was probably from some person who had taken goods unawares and his or her conscious having been troubled the value of the goods was returned. This was the supposition at least.
Twenty Years Hard Labor at Jackson.
Owen C. Pearl was brought before Judge Pagelson this afternoon and asked if he had anything to say for himself. He said, “No.” The judge then spoke of his beastly crime and sentenced him to twenty years at hard labor at Jackson prison.
The crime for which Pearl was convicted was one of the most insidious ever committed in the county. It had been reported that Pearl, who lived near Holland, had criminal relations with two of his daughters, aged 16 and 18 years. The sheriff worked hard to make a case against the fellow, but the daughters at first denied having such relations and it was only through a clever ruse of the sheriff that they at last confessed. Pearl was arrested and had his hearing before Judge Pagelson a few weeks ago. He was remanded to circuit court and taken to jail in default of heavy bail.
The charge first placed against him was incest which was changed to rape because of certain circumstances.
Pearl has never given any trouble while confined in jail and it is thought he will make good time in prison. Good time will leave him out in about 15 years or when he is about 60 years of age.
The sentence was approved by everybody. Pearl had no friends in this community.
N. Robbin’s New Office Burned.
Fire was discovered in Nat Robbins’ Jr’s new office and passenger station at 1 o’clock this morning. A fire alarm was sounded and the department responded promptly and by good work saved the building from entire destruction.
The photograph car which stood on the track not far away was pulled to a safer position on the other side of the street during the course of the fire.
The building is badly damaged, both the station and the prospective office.
It was formerly occupied by Enouy’s restaurant but was purchased by Mr. Robbins some time ago and he has made many improvements upon it.
One side was to have been his office and the other used as a station for the Goodrich steamer passengers.
The fire started undoubtedly from a hole, (left in the chimney leading from the fire place) into which a pipe from the other partition was to have run. A tin had covered the hole but it probably fell out.
The building was not insured.
The marriage of Kate VanDongen to Fred Lockard has been declared void because the girl was under age.
Harry Oakes, Chas. Christmas, John Peck, Frank Kaatz, Jacob Bakker, Abram Peck, John Wiering and John Y. Huizenga were granted full citizen papers at this term of court.
Fred Lockard just after being released from the county jail, stated that Katie VanDongen swore false the witness stand, not through dislike of him but because she was compelled to by her parents.
There seems to be a general feeling among the bicycle manufacturers that there is a brilliant future in store for the wooden wheel. It has been adopted by many of the leading manufacturers of this country on account of its durability, lightness, the fewer number of spokes and its construction and the total absence of the possibility of a bucked rim, as in the wire wheel.
Fred Lockard Not Guilty.
Grand Haven’s latest local sensation is history now. Fred Lockard was acquitted of perjury this afternoon.
The case of the People vs. Lockard for the above mentioned crime occupied the time of the court all day yesterday. The prosecuting Attorney and W. I. Lillie the respondent’s lawyer made the closing arguments late yesterday afternoon. Court was then adjourned until 9 this morning, the jurymen being admonished to have no intercourse with anyone concerning the case.
Promptly at 9, court was called and Judge Pagelson charged the jury. He read the law concerning the issuance of marriage licenses and described what would constitute a perjury, in a fair manner. He told the jury to go through the case carefully, especially that part where there was conflicting testimony. The jury retired at 9:30.
A large crowd of curious onlookers remained in the court room all the forenoon, waiting for the verdict, but it was not until 1:30 this afternoon that the foreman rapped at the door and stated that an agreement had been reached.
The jury was brought out and the foreman declared the prisoner not guilty.
Lockard went to the jail and procured his clothing and walked out a free man.
The verdict seemed to have given general satisfaction and the majority of people who heard the trial expected nothing else. One of the jurymen said the case was a bad mess to untangle from the fact that there was nothing to it; accounting for the length of time to reach an agreement.
A vigilance committee is to be formed here to tar and feather the dog poisoner.
The swing of the Spring Lake toll bridge is in such condition that it cannot be turned.
The Spring Lake bridge will probably not be ready for traffic until April.
Jail life seems to wear on Owen C. Pearl as he has lost considerable since confined there. How will he stand it in Jackson?
A large banana tree in Hancock’s green house gives promise of bearing bananas are long. The tree is about 12 ft. in height.
The rails on the approach to the railroad bridge are firmly strapped to the rails on the draw to prevent either from being thrown out of line.
The swift current of the river has weakened and caused to settle about 100 feet of the government pier near what is called “the bend.”
Five new chandeliers, each containing four lights, will be placed in the Presbyterian church. The present lights are insufficient for the growing congregation.
Wm. Mieras received today a piece of olive wood finely polished, direct from Mount Olive at Jerusalem. The wood is a gift from the famous clergyman Rev. DeWitt Talmadge.
The high water in Muskegon river has carried away the Croton dam, nine miles above Newaygo. At the booms just above Newaygo it is said there is an ice jam two miles in length with about 2,000,000 feet of logs in it.
The Goodrich Co. will probably place the steamers Atlanta and Racine on the Chicago-Grand Haven route, the first part of the season as usual, and then when the World’s Fair traffic begins, put on the additional boat.
N. Robbins, Jr. is already at work on his burned office and station. The building will be rebuilt and the rooms will be under one roof this time. Work will be hurried so as to have it ready by the time the Goodrich boats get to running, if possible.
Spring vacation is not far off.
Dr. A. Rysdorp is having his gasometer repaired.
The river is still falling a few inches but a very swift current still prevails.
A bill passed in the state senate yesterday authorizing the city of Grand Haven to bond itself for the erection of a court house.
The Detroit News has a portrait and the following sketch of Henry Pennoyer: “The pioneer democrat of Ottawa county was Henry Pennoyer. He was born at Norwalk, Fairfield county, Conn., Feb. 8, 1809. When 10 years of age he moved to Cayuga county, N. Y., where he remained until 1834. Then he went to Chicago, Ill. He remained in that town about two years, married Harriet Kells, of Mentz, and moved to then territory of Michigan, settling at Muskegon, then in Ottawa county. On the organization of Muskegon county he was elected sheriff. Being a good democrat, he was afterwards honored by being appointed the first postmaster of Muskegon, his commission bearing the date of Jan. 3, 1838, and being signed by ‘Amos Kendall, P. M. G.’ He continued in the office until 1843, when he moved to Grand Haven, and in 1856 the local newspapers of that day refer to him as the leading hotel man of the town. His first wife died in 1852 and in 1853 he married Miss Aletta Teepla. While in Grand Haven he held the office of justice of the peace, supervisor, county treasurer, deputy collector of customs for western Michigan, representative in the state legislature in 1849, and was the last democrat state senator to represent Ottawa and Muskegon counties previous to the political revolution of 1860. he retired to a farm in the township of Crockery in 1861 where he died April 25, 1889. Shortly after his death his wife, though past 60 years of age, went to Oregon, took up a timber claim and perfected her title to it by living six months alone in a shanty upon it, eleven miles from any settlement.
Report says another German church society has been organized in the township.
Pete Klaver and assistant Tony Baker are painting and papering in very neat style the large room in the post office block, soon to be occupied by Fergusen’s restaurant.
The whole Irish world celebrates today in memory of a priest by whose labors their whole race was converted to Christianity. He died March 17th, 493, or 1400 years ago.
It would seem from a note published in another place from Miss Kate VanDongen, that Fred Lockard has not as much influence over her as he would like people to understand.
Dan Swartz expects the apparatus for his fish fertilizing plant shortly. He intends to make it an important adjunct to his fishing business. Mr. Swartz has not yet decided where he will locate the plant but it will be across the river somewhere.
J. Ball for Mayor.
MR. EDITOR ─ Kindly allow me through the columns of your paper to suggest the name of Mr. Jurrien Ball for mayor. Mr. Ball is a successful businessman, a large tax payer and well qualified to administer the affairs of our city strictly and in an economical, lawful and safe manner. I believe Mr. Ball will earnestly work to advance the welfare of the this city where his interests are all centered and serve all the people faithfully and in a manner to meet their just approval. Let us have Jerry.
Taxpayer.
MR. EDITOR ─ In the announcement in your paper of the 15th last, it was stated that I was telling a falsehood through the influence of my parents. It was not true, for I have absolutely told the truth. Fred Lockard stated in your paper that it wasn’t that I disliked him. In vindication of myself I will say, that I despise him, because he has ruined me.
KATE VAN DONGEN.
The Public Kindergarten.
By a regulation of the schools, beginning pupils are received only during the months of September and April. The latter month invariably brings sixty or more new pupils into the school. As all the primary schools area as full as they can be managed to advantage, the Board of Education has decided to enlarge the kindergarten for the spring term by adding another room.
The Sunday School room at the rear of the Episcopal church has been secured for this purpose. Miss Hotchkins will have general charge of the work. Misses Julia Soule and Louis Reynolds, who have been her assistants since September, will each have immediate charge of a room while others desiring to learn the work will be secured to give assistance. For the coming term beginners will be received only at the kindergarten, at Jackson St., and at Beech Tree St. schools. Those who wish their children to enter the kindergarten are required to inform the superintendent before the close of the present turn.
E. L. BRIGGS, Supt.
Boer & Bolt lay claim to the handsomest delivery wagon in this city.
The steamer Sampson, which lies at Eastmanville, had a very narrow escape from being crushed during the flood.
The fire department was called out at 9 o’clock this morning by the burning out of a chimney on baker’s photographic gallery.
Grand Haven Telephone renters can now converse over the wires with Ferrysburg and Spring Lake.
Alderman Koeltz has received a card from Representative Norrington announcing the passage in both houses of the Grand Haven court house bill.
A prominent democrat says that Mr. Henry Bloecker will be the choice of the Democratic city convention for Mayor. The Grand Rapids Democrat is requested to so announce.
The Best on the Lakes.
The flood and high water of Grand River the past week has served to form a bar at the mouth of the harbor. There is nothing at all serious in this and by Monday, boats of 20 feet draught will be able to get in and out. Where the bar was yesterday, there is already two or three feet more water today. The Wisconsin arrived this morning and the Roanoke this noon, with as large a cargo as she has had any time this winter. She experienced no trouble in the least.
In the future as in the past Grand Haven will be The harbor of the east shore.
The Grand Rapids Democrat stated today that the Roanoke was compelled to return to Milwaukee. The Roanoke’s presence at her dock does not seem to indicate this. The Democrat also says that boats draw