ED. REVIEW: Since my last the directors of this district have made arrangements with Prof. Edgar E. Smith to teach our fall and winter school, greatly to the satisfaction of a large majority of the patrons.
    Our great [sic--grist?] mill is running night and day, grinding ten to twelve thousand pounds a day, and still the demand cannot be supplied. Most of the mills in the valley are laying still on account of the scarcity of water.
    The warehouses at the different places along the R.R. are being literally packed with wheat for shipment. The wool market has opened at 18 to 20 cts. per pound and some wool has changed hands at these figures, but I have no heard of no large sales as yet.
    Central Point is building up very rapidly, and everything presents the appearance of thrift and energy.
    So much sickness at Eagle Point has caused a momentary stagnation in business, and some of our citizens are moving away. T. B. Higinbotham has sold his house and lot to our enterprising miller, A. J. Daley, and intends to move to the hills, and J. F. Davis is going to [the] Blackwell mines.
    The demand for lumber was never so great, and the mill on Big Butte that has steam power is doing but very little, and what little they do saw is taken green from the mill. If some enterprising man would put up a portable saw mill in our forests I think he would do well.
    Joseph Rader cut his foot very severely the other day and last Saturday had a valuable horse fall into a well, causing his death before he could be taken out.
    The United Baptists are building an elegant church near James Matney on Dry Creek. Roseburg Review, October 8, 1886, page 3.  "Uno" was A. C. Howlett.


Rogue River Courier, Grants Pass, November 5, 1886, page 3


Rogue River Courier, Grants Pass, November 19, 1886, page 3


    Little Butte precinct, Jackson County, has a new Baptist church.
"Oregon News," The Eye, Snohomish City, Washington, November 20, 1886, page 3


    T. J. Clopton's store, at Brownsboro, Jackson County, was destroyed by fire, together with its entire contents.
"Oregon News," The Eye, Snohomish City, Washington, August 13, 1887, page 2


    A son of Wm. Gregory, aged fourteen years, was drowned in Butte Creek, Jackson County.
"Oregon News," The Eye, Snohomish City, Washington, August 27, 1887, page 2


    Mr. A. J. Daley of Eagle Point precinct was in town Thursday. Mr. Daley has charge of the flouring mills at Eagle Point and is looking up business therewith connected.
"Local and Personal," Rogue River Courier, Grants Pass, September 2, 1887, page 3


    Harvesting has commenced.
    Our merchants here are doing a lively business.
    Our fruit is getting ripe and the leading question with us, is what will we do with all of our fruit and grains this year?
    Since my last, Dr. Clark has moved his family into our thriving town and from the appearances will be quite an acquisition to our neighborhood.
    P. Simon, our pioneer hotel keeper as well as one of our leading farmers, has had a part of his wheat cut and before we are aware of what is going on the threshers will be humming in this part of the valley.
    A number of our citizens spent the fourth in Ashland, among whom were Prof. A. L. Haselton and Miss Lizzie Wilson, G. B. Mathews and Miss Amy Safford; but a few were content with going to Medford where they had a very pleasant time.
    Revs. McLean and Williams held communion service here Sunday and Mr. McLean delivered a very logical and impressive discourse to a large and attentive audience. During the services a collection was taken up of $5.35 for home missions.    DICK.
    July 16th, 1888.
Valley Record, Ashland, July 19, 1888, page 3  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.
 

    Wild blackberries going, but the huckleberries are coming.
    Report came this week that Dr. R. L. Parker, an old resident of this section, fell and broke two of his ribs.
    Geo. Beale and a huge black bear are both laying claim to a blackberry patch, and to all appearances will end in a bloody tragedy yet.
    There is considerable sickness here at present, several families being down with some kind of fever, which is thought to be either the scarlet or mountain fever.
    Charley, son of C. C. Parker, while playing with the brake of a wagon, was suddenly struck by the brake flying back and hitting him in the temple. Though not considered dangerous, it is a very severe wound.
    Messrs. Carson and Temple accompanied by their families and Miss Florence McDonald, all of Central Point, are rusticating on Big Butte. They speak highly of this country, claiming it has the best stock range that they have ever seen, and think Big Butte will be the place yet.
    Seeing a statement in the Record some time since, that R. V. Beall of Central Point had each a fine crop of oats which he thought could not be surpassed, we want to say that we can just beat that a little on the Beall Bros.' ranch on Big Butte of which he is a part owner. Fifty acres being in oats. The height from 6 to 7 feet and yielding 133½ bushels per acre. Now beat that, Vint.
Valley Record, Ashland, August 16, 1888, page 2


    Health is generally good.
    Our merchants are doing a lively business.
    A. J. Daley has been repairing his grist mill.
    Our boss blacksmith has been painting his residence.
    Mrs. Cochran has erected a large shed on her place.
    Wm. French has been supplying the market with a choice variety of watermelons.
    A number of our citizens are hauling lumber, some for fencing and others for building.
    Threshing has commenced in earnest and the yield of grain exceeds the expectations of the farmers.
    Mr. Jonas has commenced to build for himself a large residence on the land lately purchased from E. Emery.
    James Bell is one of the happiest men in this part of the country--his wife presented him with a fine son on the 7th inst.
    W. W. Parker has sold his house and lot to Dr. Rivers; consideration, $375. I understand that he intends to open a drug store.
    The good people of Eagle Point have reorganized the Sunday school with Dr. Clark as superintendent and Miss Emily Brown as assistant, and Miss Cecelia Brown as secretary.
    One of our leading fruit raisers, J. J. Fryer, has peaches that measure 11 inches in circumference, and he says that he defies Ashland, Switzerland or any other land to excel this place, in richness of flavor, size and fineness of grain, of either peaches or prunes, or in fact any other kind of fruit.
    T. A. Newman, of this precinct, is putting up a large dryer, so that he can save his large crop of fruit, especially his prunes. Speaking of prunes, a lady friend of mine picked eighteen large prunes from one twig not over one half inch in diameter. How does that correspond with the product of the older states?    DICK.
    August 13th, 1888.
Valley Record, Ashland, August 16, 1888, page 3  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    Jas. Culbertson of Little Butte has had to buy him a new Cleveland hat; for the reason look under the head of births.
    Gus Clemens and family, formerly of this place but now of Goose Lake Valley, are here, the guests of A. J. Daley.
    A. Pool, proprietor of Eagle Point Hotel, has gone to Salem, in company with Mrs. Saltmarsh, to visit his daughter.
    Our town is still showing signs of life, for our merchants are doing a good business, and A. J. Daley has had to put more hands in the Butte Creek mills to meet the growing demand for flour.
    The Nichols Threshing Machine Co. have just finished their part of the threshing in this immediate neighborhood, having threshed 24230 bushels, and now they have about a week's run above here.
    Mr. Newman, one of our enterprising orchardists, met with a very severe loss, in having his dry house with about $25 worth of fruit burned to the ground on the night of the 17th, which leaves him with a large quantity of fruit on hand that he is unable to handle. Loss $200.
    Rev. M. A. Williams failed to come to his appointment on the 3rd Sunday and Rev. Mr. Howlett preached in his place to a very attentive audience. It was announced at the close of the services that the district school would commence on the 24th inst., but for some reason, not generally known, the intended teacher, A. L. Haselton, packed up his trunk and started for Idaho on the morning of the 18th, so we are left without a teacher.
    A gentleman was here list week, traveling in the interest of Page & Co. of Portland, trying to buy fruit, and he expressed his surprise to see such a quantity of fruit, of such a delicious quality, and when he was told that he could spend three or four days traveling in every direction from Eagle Point and still find the same kind of fruit and that the land was offered cheap, remarked that he knew of a number of men of means, with the nerve to invest, that would jump at the chance to buy if they only knew of the advantages found in this country.
    Sept. 24th.    DICK.
Valley Record, Ashland, September 27, 1888, page 3  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    Geo. Michaels of Lake Flats is lying very low.
    Died, near Bear Creek, infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Linn Grigsby.
    Born, the 30th day of Oct., to the wife of John Rader, a daughter.
    Died, Nov. 2nd, on Little Butte Creek, Simon Klingle; aged about 55 years.
    The new saw mill of Parker & Son on Round Top has commenced sawing lumber.
    Some improvements still going on at Eagle Point. Dr. Rivers is painting his residence. Robt. Potter has built a nice flue for his house. Mr. Jonas has done likewise.    DICK.
Valley Record, Ashland, November 8, 1888, page 3  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    The farmers are busy.
    Grass is getting good, and stock is looking well.
    The members of the Eagle Point Sunday school decided to have a Christmas tree for the benefit of the little folks.
    Wilbur Ashpole, one of our merchants' sons, met with a serious accident a few days ago while working with a cow. By some means she struck him in the eye with her horn and inflicted a severe wound.
    Hogs are in demand; Ezekiel Lewis, the Central Point butcher, was here a few days ago wanting to buy five hundred head for the San Francisco market, and another man is here buying hogs for the Medford market, paying five cents gross.
    I learned from Mr. Hermann Meyer the other day that a company had been formed for the purpose of taking water out of Little Butte Creek, near the Kringle ford, and bring it onto the desert and Big Sticky, and that work had already commenced.
    While returning from the funeral of Mr. Mauzey's little boy on the 20th of last month Mrs. Robinett came near meeting with a serious accident. Her son was driving a span of horses hitched to a spring wagon, and in passing through a fence a rail caught in one of the hind wheels of the wagon, tipping it so as to throw the seat off, precipitating them both to the ground, and as she is very heavy, weighing over 200 lbs., came near breaking her neck, but fortunately she caught on the wheel, breaking the fall and consequently no damage was done.    DICK.
Valley Record, Ashland, December 13, 1888, page 3  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    In spite of the rain and mud our citizens are still making improvements.
    On Sunday after Sabbath school the scholars met at Inlow & Ashpole's hall and practiced their pieces for Monday night.
    A short time ago little Octavia Howlett met with a severe and painful, though not serious, accident, in being scalded on the head with boiling water.
    Last Saturday our town was thronged with people and consequently our merchants were more than ordinarily busy selling a large variety of goods to load the Christmas tree.
    Everybody is busy and our merchants are complaining that the weather is so warm that they cannot keep the butter that is being brought to market. How is that for Christmas?
    Sunday night a large congregation collected at the school house to hear Rev. Quimby preach but he failed to make his appearance, so A. C. Howlett, our Prohi preacher, was called on to fill the vacancy.
    Last Saturday Mr. Meeker of Big Butte precinct left here for home and about two hours afterwards his horse was found and upon search being made he was found in an insensible condition, covered with blood, in which condition he was carried home and at last account he was no better.
    On Monday night the hall began to be filled with anxious children, and by 6:30 everything was in readiness and the exercises were opened by singing Merry Christmas by the Sunday school scholars, then prayer by A. C. Howlett followed by a song, and then a short address by A. C. Howlett, songs, recitations, etc. Then came Santa Claus and the distribution of presents which occupied some time, but the pleasure of the occasion was marred by a lady fainting and consequently the latter part of the program was necessarily omitted. We feel that the thanks of the community are due to the Misses Brown, Mrs. Taylor, Mrs. Whitney, Mrs. Hubbard and others, for the active part they took in the entertainment.    DICK.
Valley Record, Ashland, December 27, 1888, page 2  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    George, the 15-year-old son of Geo. Brown, of Eagle Point, met with a sad fatal accident in that section last Tuesday afternoon. He was out hunting and carried a powder horn along; while crawling through some brush his shotgun went off, at the same time striking the pouch which exploded, driving both the load and the horn pouch into his leg which tore a terrible hole in the region of the thigh. J. J. Fryer, who was driving in a wagon not far distant, heard a hallowing noise, at first thought nothing of it, but finally went to the brush and found the boy about dead with a pool of blood about him. Nothing could have saved him from death, as the wound was too great.
Valley Record, Ashland, January 10, 1889, page 3


    Miss Gladius Fryer is at present the guest of Millie Howlett.
    Robt. Potter is closely confined to his house on account of the advent of a new baby boy, Dec. 31, 1888.
    You have probably heard of the death of Mr. Samuel Centers before now. He was one of our old and respected citizens.
    Since my last, Mrs. J. J. Fryer and daughter Lelah have gone on a visit to Mrs. F.'s oldest daughter, Mrs. John Green, of Napa Valley, Cal.
    The farmers are very busy plowing and sowing grain, and the prospect is that there will be a larger amount of grain sown this season than ever before.
    Geo. Wiley, of Antelope, gave a birthday party last night, it being his fourteenth birthday. A large number of his schoolmates and friends met at his father's and spent a few hours very pleasantly.
    We are sorry to have to record the fact that Dr. L. L. Whitney has sold his neat little place and contemplates leaving our midst, but such is fate. The M.D.s will starve out on account of our healthy country.    DICK.
Valley Record, Ashland, January 10, 1889, page 3  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    There has been a lawsuit between two of the citizens of this precinct, Dahack vs. Wilson, over a horse valued at $50, and I understand that the costs already amounts to about $400, and the end is not yet.
    Our village and the surrounding country are excited now over a big lawsuit between Dr. R. L. Parker and Horace Ish, over a calf worth about $5. They had nineteen witnesses. The costs amount to $100, thus far, and there is a fair chance for another suit for damages.
    Notwithstanding the fact that the roads are muddy and the lumber green, we are still making improvements. The Mathews Bros. are making such improvements that the old homestead hardly looks natural. David Hendry has very materially improved the sidewalk facing his residence.
    Young folks are having a great deal of amusement, sleigh riding, snowballing, etc. We had the pleasure of witnessing a pitched battle between a boy and girl, aged 15 and 16 respectively. All the bystanders kept clear and for the space of about 20 minutes they fought like young Spartans, neither of them willing to give up. Finally some of the bystanders proposed to call it a tie and quit, which they both cheerfully agreed to.
    Since my last our quiet little village has had a sad and fatal accident to occur in its midst. I refer to the death of Master George Brown. When his death was announced a gloom seemed to settle over the entire community; he was a boy that was beloved by all who knew him. On the Thursday following his death his remains were taken to the Jacksonville cemetery followed by a large number of his old schoolmates from this place, and when the Jacksonville church bell began to toll about 150 of his schoolmates (for he for years attended the public school in Jacksonville) joined the procession, and all marched to the cemetery where the burial service was conducted by Rev. Miller of the M.E. church assisted by Rev. Quimby of the M.E. church, south. One of the greatest eulogies that could be pronounced was delivered by Mr. Miller, i.e.; "he was a good, quiet, peaceable and obedient boy beloved by all that knew him."    DICK.
"Eagle Point Notes," Valley Record, Ashland, January 24, 1889, page 3  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    Rev. A. C. Howlett will preach at the school house next Sunday at 7 o'clock p.m.
    The farmers are all very busy sowing grain and improving the beautiful weather in getting in their crops, and the prospects are good for a very large yield of wheat the coming season.
    Young folks of Liberty school district living near the school house have organized a literary society, electing Miss Wiley, president; Gus. Williams, sec'y.; John Matney, treas.; Jas. Wiley, critic. So you may expect to hear from there occasionally.
    Some of the citizens of Eagle Point have taken a new departure--they have built a neat footbridge across Butte Creek opposite Mr. Adair's residence, thereby saving a walk of nearly a quarter of a mile in going to the school house for Sunday school and preaching.
    Our people were treated to an exhibition last week at Inlow & Ashpole's hall to a good house, and although some of our leading business men predicted that the young folks would make so much noise that we could not hear the lecture, we wish to record, to their credit, that they surprised themselves; one could hear almost every word that was said. Miss Amy Safford was decided to be the handsomest lady, and received the album with crimson cheeks, and the cane was awarded to Claud White as the homeliest young man present. He thought that he was going to take it and walk away with it, but no, that presentation speech. Well, Claud said the next day that he would not pass through such another ordeal for $20, and keeps the cane to remind him that he is the ugliest man in the community.    DICK.
Valley Record, Ashland, February 7, 1889, page 3  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    Rev. A. C. Howlett was unable to fill his appointment on the 2nd Sunday owing to a violent attack of tonsillitis.
    Elvin Adams wants the tariff taken off of dress [sic], for the reason--look under the head of "Born."
    The farmers are all very busy finishing up sowing wheat, and some are through and have commenced sowing oats.
    J. J. Fryer met with quite a mishap the other day. His team was standing hitched to his wagon loaded with corn in the ear, when all of a sudden they seemed to take flight, and started to run. After running about one hundred yards they came in contact with a heavy board and wire fence, through which they passed, breaking one of the posts off and one string of the wire, and pulling out enough of the staples to let the other string of wire fall to the ground so that they could pass over it, then running about a quarter of a mile further they ran into Mr. Hubbard's fence, which proved strong enough to stop them, and strange to say no damage was done to wagon or horses, but the corn was badly scattered.    DICK.
Valley Record, Ashland, February 21, 1889, page 3  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    Since my last your correspondent has had the pleasure of visiting your beautiful city [Ashland], the first time since last fall, and I must say I never saw a place improve so rapidly--one would think that it would be necessary for our legislature to meet semiannually instead of biannually, if for no other reason than to amend the charter of your flourishing city, for the way it is growing it will soon absorb Dunsmuir and Talent and consequently the charter will have to be amended to meet the emergency.
    We have had a fine rain in this part of the country, and farmers are confident of good crops.
    One cause of rejoicing among our farmers is on account of the new sawmill being in full headway cutting lumber, right in hearing of our town, and the sound of the whistle seems to impart new life and vigor to our community.
    J. J. Fryer had another runaway the other day, but no damage was done, except tearing the cultivator to pieces.
    Mr. Jones, an old and experienced teacher who has been secured to teach the school at this place, expects to begin the term on the 25th inst.
    Mr. John Pelling, one of our best citizens, met with quite a mishap a few days ago by being run over by some loose horses that happened to go into his stable while the door was temporarily left open. Although he was knocked down and run over by three or four horses, his injuries are not serious.
    Miss Cora Brown is visiting friends in your city.
    A. J. Daley has been putting some new machinery in his flouring mill and, consequently, is turning out an excellent quality of flour.
    Mrs. Cochran and daughter, Belle, have returned from their visit to Mrs. Cochran's daughter in Nevada. They say there is no climate like that of Jackson County, Oregon.
    Eagle Point, Mar. 18.    DICK.
Valley Record, Ashland, February 28, 1889, page 1  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    I hear that at a Washington's birthday dance at Butte Creek, American patriotism had to get up and request a few boisterous young men to go out doors and dance.
"Keno Kernels," Valley Record, Ashland, February 28, 1889, page 3


    Since my last your correspondent has had the pleasure of visiting your beautiful city, the first time since last fall, and I must say I never saw a place improve so rapidly--one would think that it would be necessary for our legislature to meet semi-annually instead of bi-annually, if for no other reason than to amend the charter of your flourishing city, for the way it is growing it will soon absorb Dunsmuir and Talent and consequently the charter will have to be amended to meet the emergency.
    We have had a fine rain in this part of the country, and farmers are confident of good crops.
    One cause of rejoicing among our farmers is on account of the new saw mill being in full headway cutting lumber, right in hearing of our town, and the sound of the whistle seems to impart new life and vigor to our community.
    J. J. Fryer had another runaway the other day, but no damage was done, except tearing the cultivator to pieces.
    Mr. Jones, an old and experienced teacher who has been secured to teach the school at this place, expects to begin the term on the 25th inst.
    Mr. John Pelling, one of our best citizens, met with quite a mishap a few days ago by being run over by some loose horses that happened to go into his stable while the door was temporarily left open. Although he was knocked down and run over by three or four horses, his injuries are not serious.
    Miss Cora Brown is visiting friends in your city.
    A. J. Daley has been putting some new machinery in his flouring mill and, consequently, is turning out an excellent quality of flour.
    Mrs. Cochran and daughter Belle have returned from their visit to Mrs. Cochran's daughter in Nevada. They say there is no climate like that of Jackson County, Oregon.
    Eagle Point, Mar. 18.    DICK.
Valley Record, Ashland, March 28, 1889, page 1    "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    Miss Amanda James is attending school at the Antioch school house.
    A. C. Howlett has been putting out a choice variety of fruit trees on his place.
    F. B. Inlow, one of our merchants, has been to Talent to attend to his interests there.
    Miss Nada Inlow, who has been attending school at Talent, has returned to our midst.
    One of Jackson County's old settlers, by the name of Allen [Haselton], has returned and settled in our midst.
    N. A. Young and sons are putting up the fence around the Catholic meeting house of this place.
    Mrs. P. Simon, the landlady of the Pioneer Hotel, has been quite sick but we are glad to state that she is convalescing.
    Mrs. H. T. Severance, mother of the Nichols brothers, has been in poor health for some time but is gradually improving.
    Prof. A. L. Haselton, our former pedagogue, has returned from Eastern Oregon and has been engaged to teach the school at Brownsboro.
    Prof. Jonas opened our school last Monday with a good attendance and bids fair to prove a very acceptable and popular teacher, and the children are consequently happy.
    Dr. L. L. Whitney, of Central Point, formerly of this place, was called to see Mrs. Marvin Woods the latter part of last week, and his old friends were glad to see him looking so hale and hearty.
    I wish to congratulate you on your success in securing another correspondent, "A Reader," and hope he will continue to keep us posted in our adjoining neighborhood. We extend our [hand].
    A boy by the name of Chas. Matney came to the Antelope literary society last Saturday night, hitched his "mustang" to a picket fence, and by a sudden jerk tore the panel of fence away, frightening the horses of Miss Mary Wiley and her brother George, causing the latter to be thrown, while Miss W. escaped by jumping from her horse, and the last heard of the mustang he was scattering pickets as he went, but was soon lost sight of in the darkness.
    April 2, 1889.    DICK.
Valley Record, Ashland, April 4, 1889, page 3  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    Wm. Miller, manager of the Butte Creek grist mill, has moved into the old Purdin house.
    Strangers are continually visiting our thriving village. H. G. Shock has moved into our town.
    John Ashpole, one of our leading merchants, is sick so that he is unable to attend to business.
    Mrs. Marvin Woods has been staying in Central Point under the care of Dr. L. L. Whitney, formerly of this place.
    We are still having fine showers so that we feel sure of enough of the productions of the soil to make everybody happy.
    The railroad is coming; one old man has been looking out a route for it to run through his garden; another has a ¼-acre lot and he is talking of platting it and selling it by the foot.
    John Adair, one of our best citizens, has gone to Carson City, Nev., his old home, whither he was called on business. We regret to see him and his amiable wife leave our midst; but so it is.
    John Adair has sold his lot to J. J. Fryer; con., $550. J. J. Fryer to J. K. Green, of Napa Valley, California, 320 acres; con., $7500. Joseph Davis to Harbaugh and Slinger, 160 acres, a part of the old Stowe place; $3000.
    There is considerable excitement here over the post office, there being two petitions in circulation, one in favor of the present incumbent, F. B. Inlow, which is being extensively signed, and the other in favor of A. J. Florey, our J.P., and their respective friends are at work.
    Mr. D. Cingcade, who lives on the old Tinkham place, met with an accident a few days ago that came near proving fatal. He was working in his well and among the debris was a stick about 2 feet long, and in drawing it up it caught on the curbing, thereby throwing out a stone which fell about 35 feet, striking him on the side of the head, cutting a severe gash. He was drawn out covered with blood.
    More anon.    DICK.
Valley Record, Ashland, April 25, 1889, page 2  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    Big Butte schools are flourishing.
    Miss Ada Bishop is visiting relatives here.
    Plenty of spring showers the past week.
    One of Jim Standley's little girls is very ill with erysipelas.
    Frank Hays, who split his foot wide open with an ax about a month ago, is slowly recovering.
    Asbury Beall and Chris. Beale are in Jacksonville this week as witnesses in the Dahack case.
    The Mt. Pitt district will have eight months school this coming summer. How is that for the backwoods?
    It is reported that Ben. Edmondson has sold his ranch to some capitalist, who will erect a sawmill, which is very much needed up here.
    C. A. Chapman has sold one of his quartz mines in Colorado for $5000. It was rather a surprise to him, as he never expected to get a dollar out of it. He will remove to Ashland soon to engage in business. We regret his departure very much and Ashland will find him a business and upright man.
    The stockmen of Big Butte met to discuss some plan of preventing the fatal disease of blackleg spreading among the cattle. It was resolved to distribute salt and saltpeter freely over the range. It is said to be fatal to sheep, so sheep men had better be rather cautious in bringing their sheep to this part of the country.
Valley Record, Ashland, April 25, 1889, page 3


    A. C. Howlett lost an animal of the equine species this week valued at $100.
    Miss Emily Brown has gone to Washington Territory to visit relatives.
    Our M.D. looks "blue" on account of the unusual good health of our neighborhood .
    Mrs. Geo. Daley, of Big Butte, has been visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Simon.
    Mr. and Mrs. Chauncey Nye, of Flounce Rock precinct, are here visiting their daughter, Mrs. A. J. Florey.
    J. J. Fryer is taking the preparatory steps to fence a tract of land of about 20 acres lying on both sides of Butte Creek, thereby making a continuous lane from desert to desert.
    We have had a new preacher here by the name of Wood, recently from Texas, who preached to us with considerable acceptability. He comes well recommended and we wish him abundant success.
    Speaking of the P.O. brings to mind the fact that one of the many aspirants for the position of postmaster, A. J. Florey, Esq., consoles himself with the thought that if he succeeds in securing the position he has a deputy already; for particulars look under the head of "Born."
    Mrs. "Dick" says don't say anything about the rain this time, so I will say that the extreme moisture we are having in this part of the valley is making the little lambs skip and the cows rejoice on account of the abundance of grass and fine prospect for a large surplus of hay and grain.
    The Eagle Point boom is causing quite a sensation. Every day strangers are here inquiring about our land, products, etc. Lewis Rees sold a tract of land on Butte Creek about 2 miles above here for $1900, being $11.87½ per acre, to a Californian by the name of Henry, and Wm. Wooley sold 80 acres to John Pelling for $1000.
    We greatly need a daily mail from this place to a R.R. point; the amount of mail matter that passes through this office would justify the change. If we have business at the county seat and mail a letter on Saturday noon, we cannot get a reply until the next Friday, as our letter will not leave this office until Tuesday morning, reaching Jacksonville that night, but before a reply can reach Medford the next morning the mail has left for this place and the reply cannot come on until Friday.    DICK.
Valley Record, Ashland, May 9, 1889, page 3  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


Eds. Valley Record:--
    Being at Trail Creek on the 4th of July, to our surprise the citizens of that mountain region had arranged a celebration to be held in a delightful grove, which had been improved and made complete and pleasant by the concerted action of the citizens of the valley, at Mr. Oliver's. At an early hour the people commenced gathering till it became a surprise us to where they all came from. The program consisted of music by the audience, after which O. J. Willard delivered an oration of considerable length, giving a full and very interesting account of the cause and events that led to the liberty and grand privileges of the citizens of our glorious Republic. After the oration the table was spread with an abundance of eatables that could not be surpassed on any public occasion of the kind. Being the first event of the kind in this locality, the ladies of this section did themselves great credit in the elegance and taste displayed in the preparation of the eatables. In the evening the young folks enjoyed themselves in a social dance at the school house, where Miss Jennie Oliver, of Ashland, is conducting a successful school.
Valley Record, Ashland, July 11, 1889, page 3


    Wm. Wiley has been building a new granary.
    Health around Eagle Point is universally good.
    Our town presents the appearance of a live town once more.
    Miss Mamie Wiley has been sick but is some better at present writing.
    Miss Celia Brown is very sick. Dr. Pryce, of Medford, is in attendance.
    True Cox had the misfortune to break the axle of his steam engine last Friday.
    Wm. Miller, the manager of the Butte Creek mills, is having a well bored on his lot, on which he is building a residence.
    Miss Mattie Taylor, daughter of our county commissioner, started for Victoria last Sunday in company with Wm. Hanley, where she intends to remain and attend school.
    W. W. Parker, while running the planer in his mill on Round Top, got his hand caught and badly cut, severing two of his fingers and otherwise injuring his hand. He has our sympathy.
    Our new P.M., A. J. Florey, says that he feels like a new married man, for his wife and babies have returned from their visit to the mountains, where they have been visiting Mrs. Florey's parents in Flounce Rock precinct.
    "Ma, what makes John Daley walk so high? I never saw him look so happy," was the question propounded the morning of the 19th of August by a girl to her mother. "Why, they have a fine girl and I suppose that is the reason, born on the day before."
    Born--In Eagle Point, August 21, 1889, at the residence of A. J. Daley, to the wife of Ed Simon, nee Miss Frances Daley, a ten-pound boy. Ed intends to teach him to vote the Democratic ticket, and he thinks he stands a good chance to be U.S. Senator.
    J. J. Fryer, the indefatigable, is making some extensive improvements in the way of tearing down, moving, rebuilding and making new. He has torn away the old porch on the Jim Davis house, moved the main building back, and [is] getting material on the ground to create a neat and commodious residence.
    There is considerable excitement in our community over the prospect of having a new roller flour mill erected in our town on Fryer's addition opposite the Catholic meeting house, by a joint stock company of farmers, to be a farmer's exchange mill, thus utilizing our inexhaustible supply of water and making business more lively in general.
    A. J. Daley, the owner of the Butte Creek mills, is supposed to be the happiest man on Butte Creek, if babies could make a man happy; when his family is all together he can dandle on his knee FOUR babies, all his grandchildren. When he came in the other day and looked around, saw three beds with babies in then he turned to his wife and inquired if there were babies in all the beds, and receiving an affirmative answer, he decided to send to England and get an old-fashioned English carriage, go to Ashland and buy four Shetland ponies and start out to exhibit four of the prettiest babies (their mothers think so) in the universe.
    August 26th, 1889.    DICK.
Valley Record, Ashland, August 29, 1889, page 3  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    Two men by the name of Geer have been in this community, drilling wells for a number of our citizens.
    Mrs. Bilger, of East Portland, formerly of Jacksonville, and Mrs. Geo. Love have been visiting friends in this neighborhood.
    J. J. Fryer is pushing his new house to completion as fast as possible, and when completed it will be one of the finest houses, outside of the cities, in the county.
    A. J. Daley, our enterprising miller, is receiving a large amount of wheat and running the mill on full time. He is turning out some of the finest flour in the valley, if not in the state.
    We have had some accessions to our village since I wrote last. A family by the name of Alford and another named Maxum have moved on the Dr. Whitney place, and from all appearances they will prove a blessing to the community.
    Riley Meyers, living on the north side of Rogue River, about two and one-half miles north of the Antioch school house, had the misfortune to have his barn with all its contents burned to the ground last Wednesday morning about 7 o'clock. The whole thing is wrapped in mystery, as he was away from home at the time on the road to Akin's sawmill, and Mrs. Meyers assured me that none of the family had been to the barn that morning, but that the dog had kept barking during the morning. Her little boy, 8 or 9 years old, went to the barn to sec what the dog was barking at, and to his horror discovered that the hay in the opposite corner from the house was on fire. Mrs. Meyers, being rather a delicate woman, was powerless, and had to stand and see the barn and contents, including a new farm wagon, spring wagon, plows, etc., consumed. Mr. Meyers has the sympathy of the entire community, and it is hoped that those who have will divide with the unfortunate man.    DICK.
Valley Record, Ashland, September 26, 1889, page 3  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Daley are here visiting their parents.
    A professional painter from Medford is doing the painting on J. J. Fryer's house.
    The fine rain has purified the atmosphere and the people are generally happy.
    Miss Celia Brown is convalescing after a long spell of sickness, we are pleased to state.
    Mr. and Mrs. Chagnon, of Tuscarora, Nev., is visiting Mrs. S.'s mother, Mrs. Cochran.
    Miss Etha Griffiths has returned home after teaching a successful term of school in Flounce Rock district.
    A. L. Haselton has purchased a house and lot from R. H. Brown in Eagle Point, and Mrs. Digman has gone to live with him and his wife.
    Mr. Luseby and wife are in from Klamath County, visiting Mrs. L.'s sister, Mrs. John Williams. Also, Thos. Culbertson and Fred Luseby are in visiting relatives.
    There is considerable building going on in this part of the valley. Mr. Story and Mr. Ewing are each building nice two-story houses on the tract of land they purchased from R. H. Brown recently.
    We had a wedding in high style last Sunday, the 6th, on Rogue River, at the residence of the bride's parents. Mr. E. Baltezore, of Umatilla County, and Miss Asenath Musty, of Jackson County, were the contracting parties, Rev. A. C. Howlett officiating.
    Mrs. Cochran came near having a burnout one day last week. Some clothing caught by being laid against the stovepipe, thence catching the roof, but the fire was discovered by the time it had burned through the roof, and by prompt action the flames were extinguished.
    There is to be a big mass meeting at this place next Saturday in Inlow & Ashpole's Hall, to open the books and organize a company for the purpose of building a roller mill here. There is considerable interest felt in the movement, as the leaders intend to have it a farmers' exchange mill.
    Some of our citizens are much elated over the prospect of a railroad from Jacksonville, via Medford, to this place, thus connecting our thriving village with the "defunct" metropolis of the county, running from here to the heavy belt of timber on Big Butte and Rogue River. The train to be propelled by electricity taken from our beautiful and never-failing stream, Little Butte.
    Eagle Pt., Or. Oct. 8, 1889.    DICK.
Valley Record, Ashland, October 10, 1889, page 3  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    Born--To the wife of J. A. Jonas, of Eagle Point, Oct. 15th, a son.
    Frank Lewis is here looking for a situation and thinks of purchasing property here.
    Miss Nada Inlow commenced her school near the mouth of Big Butte Creek last Monday morning.
    John Green and family, of Napa Valley, have arrived and taken charge of the farm recently purchased of J. J. Fryer.
    The boom has come and strangers are here looking at the many advantages we have over other towns in our valley.
    J. J. Fryer has purchased the old Mike Foreman house and lot and the J. G. Grossman house and lot; consideration unknown.
    J. A. Jonas has just finished a successful school in Big Butte district, and pronounces it the most desirable neighborhood he ever taught in.
    One of our prominent business men was regretting that he sold some of his lots as soon as he did, but thinks that the remaining lots will increase in value so that he will not lose much in the outcome.
    A prominent business man of our town predicts that Eagle Point will soon be more of a business center than Ashland! So yon may look out and make your arrangements to start a branch Valley Record in our thriving, prospective city.
    Our community was thrown into a fever of excitement over the advent of a party of surveyors, making a preliminary survey for a narrow-gauge railroad from Central Point via Eagle Point to the heavy belt of timber on Big Butte Creek and Rogue River.
    Died--On Trail Creek, Oct. 15th, of typhoid fever, Johnny, son of J. G. Briscoe, after a protracted illness. The bereaved family have the sympathy of the entire community. But they sorrow not as those having no hope; they look forward to the time when the deceased and loved ones shall be reunited beyond the confines of the tomb, robed in immortality.
    While friends were preparing to inter the remains of Johnny Briscoe, a horse that was hitched to the vehicle containing the coffin stepped into a yellowjackets' nest and a large number of persons present were badly stung, especially the children. Miss Nannie Briscoe was so badly stung that she was hardly able to go home, and George Lynch, while trying to unhitch the horses, was kicked and knocked senseless. It was over an hour before the corpse could be interred.
    Riley Meyers, who had his barn burned about two and a half miles north of the Antioch school house, is rebuilding. He says he is going to have his new home insured. Shortly after his barn was burned he had a pen about twelve feet square with some feed in it, about 200 yards from the house, set on fire, but he made out to save some lumber that he had there. He says he has a very good idea who the incendiary is, and the young rascal better make tracks for some other country or it may get too hot for him.
    Eagle Point, Oct. 21.    DICK.
Valley Record, Ashland, October 24, 1889, page 3  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    Our town is presenting an appearance of life and vigor, and everybody seems to be busy and, consequently, happy.
    Our merchants seem to be doing a lively business and our grist mill is running night and day, turning out about 12,000 pounds of extra fine flour daily, and still the demand for flour cannot be supplied. Wheat is constantly pouring in by the thousands of bushels.
    Speaking of grist mills, I spoke of a move being on foot to build another big roller mill, but someone has spoke of the babe being asleep, and some of the incredulous have pronounced it dead. But the sleeping, lifeless corpse has begun to kick and show signs of life that are startling to some of our old mossbacks, who thought the great water power of Butte Creek was doomed to lie dormant, and the lands forever remain unfenced. Yes, sir, Eagle Point is to have a new $10,000 roller mill, a planing mill, a big store (a new one, I mean) in spite of the old croakers. A ditch has been surveyed and the plot of land decided on to build the mill.
    Rader Bros. have made some considerable improvement in the way of fencing, and judging from the amount of timber, posts, shakes and shingles that are being sold at this place, there will be a great deal of improving this fall and winter, for the time has not yet come to make fence, as the ground is too dry to drive posts.
    The farmers are all busy plowing and sowing grain. I learn that Mr. Givan and son have already put in eighty acres of wheat up to Monday morning.
    Two of Mrs. Perry's daughters from Big Butte, Misses Emma and Lizzie, are here attending school, and others are making arrangements to attend as soon as places can be secured to board.
    A few of our enterprising citizens met at the school house last Friday night for the purpose of organizing the Eagle Point literary society, and in the course of President John Ashpole's remarks, he tried to stimulate the citizens of this place to greater effort by referring them to the society in Antelope school district, of which he spoke in the highest terms.
    What has become of "A Reader"? Is he sick or has he gone up on Rogue River to secure a timber claim? We miss his notes.
    J. K. Green has taken charge of his farm, and judging from the way he is tearing up things and building anew, he intends to make his mark in the neighborhood, as he is tearing down some of the old buildings, remodeling and making the old place have the appearance of life and beauty.
    The Rader Bros. have put up a fine lot of steers to fatten for the market this winter.
    J. G. Briscoe and his daughter, Miss Nannie, are here, Miss Nannie intending to remain several days to try to recuperate her health.
    John Inlow, our young mechanic, who has been working in the defunct planing mill at Central Point, has returned to our town on a visit.
    Master Arthur Morrison, who has been stopping with Josiah Hannah, on Rogue River, has returned to Eagle Pt., and intends to attend school in Antelope district--Prof. Raymond, teacher.
    Eagle Pt., Or., Nov. 4, 1889.    DICK.
Valley Record, Ashland, November 7, 1889, page 2  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    Frank Lewis has moved from Jacksonville into our midst, where he expects to permanently reside.
    A prominent business lot near the new mill site is engaged, but the consideration is not yet to be made public.
    John Ashpole, one of our popular merchants, has built a new wood shed. T. B. Higinbotham is building a shed for A. J. Daley to protect his stock.
    Uncle Johnnie Lewis has moved into the old Grossman house and is building a barn and has the material on the ground to put a fence around the lot.
    Geo. Brown has sold another house and lot to Mrs. Digman; consideration, $350. Also Eber Emery to J. J. Fryer a number of lots along the banks of Butte Creek; consideration, $200.
    Mr. A. Pool, proprietor of the Eagle Point Hotel, has put a very nice portico on the front of his hotel, Mr. Phipps doing the carpentering and our young mechanic, John Inlow, doing the painting, which reflects credit on his ability as a painter.
    Speaking of painting, Mr. Jack De Flannie, of Central Point, has done one of the neatest jobs of painting on Mr. Fryer's house that we have seen in the valley and Mr. Bursell, the carpenter, has made a bay window that is said to be one of the most beautiful in the valley, having done all the work himself.
    The Eagle Point Literary Society elected new officers last Friday night. A. J. Daley, president; Miss Cora Brown, secretary; Miss Lelah Fryer, treasurer. About twenty names were placed on the roll and the prospects are favorable for a number of pleasant entertainments during the winter. J. J. Fryer made an eloquent speech that reflects credit on his early teachers in elocution.
    Times are lively around here; everybody is up trying to do something. The railroad surveyors are around; millwrights have been making an estimate of the probable cost of the new mill to be erected; carpenters are all engaged, painters are all busy and the prospects are very favorable for a grand boom the coming summer. Real estate is changing hands, people are coming to our town and neighborhood, and you can see a broad grin on our popular merchants' faces across the street by moonlight.
    Among the real estate transactions, J. K. Green has paid in full $7500 to J. J. Fryer, got his deed, has full possession and has gone to work in earnest to improve and beautify his place. He has a stump puller from Central Point and is clearing some of his brush land, aiming to get it in cultivation this season. He has concluded to let the old log house, in which his wife was born, stand, it being one of the oldest houses in the county, reroof and re-rustic it, so that his grandchildren can see the house in which their grandmother first saw the light
    Nov. 18, 1889.    DICK.
Valley Record, Ashland, November 21, 1889, page 3  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    Shoveling snow is the principal occupation.
    Wm. Wooley's barn gave way, but the damage is not known.
    Mr. Schnider's shed gave way, but the damage is not known.
    Men are riding in every direction looking for stock of all kinds.
    A. Pool's shed gave way Sunday night and crippled a number of horses.
    The roof on our bridge gave way, and about one-half of it is a complete wreck.
    The young folks have had a great deal of fun sleighing, but the snow is so deep now that their fun is spoiled.
    The Rader  Bros. sold twenty-five head of beef steers to Ed Hanley, and now have about 200 head of stock cattle up feeding.
    Since I last write, A. J. Florey, our enterprising chief justice, postmaster, school clerk, etc., has opened a cigar and candy shop and expects business lively.
    John Williams' barn, on the old Brown place, now owned by Mr. Ewing, gave way under the pressure of the snow, killing five head of cattle, a large number of hogs, and breaking his hack to pieces.
    The snow makes things look rather gloomy; twenty-two inches on a level. Stock that is not fed are sure to suffer, and everybody that have any stock are doing all they can to get them where they can be cared for.
    The Valley Record had hardly been taken out of the mail bag before the owner of the lost butter mold was found, and it proved to be a widow, so the old bachelor got his wish, and now if the finder will take it to Mrs. Digman, she will make necessary explanation.
    Little Lelie Rice, infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Rice, met with a very serious, though not fatal, accident about a week ago. She sat down in a five-gallon can of boiling slop, scalding her all over her hips, back, legs and bowels, but she is getting along as well as could be expected. And while on the subject of burns, I will send you a recipe that was used and gave immediate relief--one that has been used in our family for some time: Take unslaked lime, slake it and wet the burn with the water; then take the lime water after it has settled and mix with linseed oil until the mixture looks like thick cream, then wet thin cotton batting, apply to burn and let remain until well unless it comes off. If it gets dry and stiff apply the ointment.
    Eagle Point, Jan. 13, '90.    DICK.
Undated clipping from the Valley Record, Southern Oregon Historical Society Research Library 1962.223.2  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    George Daley and family have removed from Big Butte precinct to the Britt property, near Eagle Point, for the summer.
"Here and There," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, March 20, 1890, page 3


    We are sorry to chronicle the fact that Thos. E. Nichols has been very sick. He is improving slowly.
    We have had a death in our neighborhood since my last, Mrs. Eliza Mathews, consort of the late John Mathews, one of the early pioneers of Jackson County. She was about seventy years of age and leaves a large train of relatives to mourn her loss.
    We are sorry to say that our townsman, W. W. Rivers, M.D., has decided to leave this country permanently, as his health is such that he is not able to perform the duties of his office, thereby leaving vacant a fine situation for a good physician.
    J. K. Green has been moving out his fence on to the bank of Butte Creek and I understand that he has closed a road that has been traveled for the last twenty-five years, thereby discommoding a number of citizens in going to and from the grist mill, post office, etc.
    Last Thursday was the day fixed upon to have a meeting for the purpose of organizing a company to build a new roller mill here, but owing to the sickness of one of our prominent citizens and the heavy losses of others, the meeting was postponed until some future time.
    Our enterprising miller, A. J. Daley, has procured the services of an experienced mechanic, L. Roush, to put the rollers in his grist mill, and he has started to Leavenworth, Kansas, and Peoria, Ill., to procure the very best machinery that can be had, as he does not intend to have a mill in the valley that excels his in the manufacture of flour. It is expected that the machinery will be here by the first of May and the work will be pushed on to completion and be ready for the new crop of grain.    DICK.
    Eagle Point, March 31.
Valley Record, Ashland, April 3, 1890, page 3  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    ARTICLES FILED.--Articles of incorporation were filed today in the secretary of state's office by the Eagle Point Roller Mill Company, with J. J. Fryer, F. B. Inlow, J. K. Green, John Ashpole, J. A. Jonas, incorporators; capital stock, $15,000; place of business, Eagle Point, Jackson County.
Capital Journal, Salem, April 8, 1890, page 2


    Articles of Incorporation of the Eagle Point Roller Mill Co. Limited, were filed in the office of the county clerk April 7, 1890. The enterprise the corporation proposes to engage in is to purchase, own and hold the necessary lands, mill site, and water power near Eagle Point, and to build, furnish, and equip thereon, mills for the manufacture of flour and other manufacturing purposes. Place of business, Eagle Point, Jackson County, Oregon; capital stock, $15,000; shares, $100 each. Incorporators: J. J. Fryer, F. B. Inlow, J. K. Green, John Ashpole, J. A. Jonas.
Valley Record, Ashland, April 10, 1890, page 3


    Grandma Daley, mother of our miller A. J. Daley, is lying very low.
    Mr. Meeker is preparing to move onto his place near the mouth of Little Butte.
    Mrs. N. M. Holmes, nee Emily Brown, of Jacksonville, is here visiting her relatives.
    Wm. Wiley and family have moved from Medford onto their farm on Antelope Creek.
    James Wooley, one of the old settlers, died April 8, 1890, of heart disease, aged 60 years.
    Dr. Geary of Medford was out the other day to visit William Wooley, who is in poor health.
    Rev. M. A. Williams preached here last Sunday to a large audience, and steps were taken to reorganize the Sunday school with Mr. Johnson as superintendent.
    Miss Nada Inlow, daughter of F. B. Inlow, a young lady that has been raised in our village and one that we can justly feel proud of, is teaching the "young ideas how to shoot" in the Antelope school district and is giving universal satisfaction, as she [is] a favorite with both parents and pupils.
    The Democratic primary was held here last Saturday, and a large number were present. Dr. W. W. Rivers was elected chairman and A. L. Haselton secretary. Thomas E. Nichols, A. Pool, John Thomas and Ed Simons were elected as delegates to attend the county convention.
Valley Record, Ashland, April 17, 1890, page 3


EDITOR VALLEY RECORD:
    As your readers are already apprised, a company has been organized to build a new roller mill at this place, and if not out of order I would like to offer a few thoughts for your numerous readers to reflect upon concerning mills, milling, etc. I see in an article published in the Times, in which the writer, or rather the dictator, is trying to throw cold water on the enterprise by endeavoring to make it appear, 1st, that this is not a wheat-growing country. That about all of the available wheat land is in cultivation and that there is not, nor can be, wheat enough raised to keep the mills that are already here running half of the time. I am sorry to see anyone that has his "all" in Eagle Point speak so disparagingly of our surrounding country, while the  facts are plain to be seen that there are hundreds of acres of good wheat land now uncultivated and even unfenced that would produce good wheat, and will be cultivated whenever the time comes that the farmer can procure a remuneration sufficient to pay a fair profit on his labor. But the way that our mills are conducted, the farmer has little or no say as to what he shall have for his labor.
    Second, "Reasoner" claims that there are six or eight mills within a half-day's travel. Now, let us see how that statement will stand scrutinizing. We have one at Eagle Point, a good one, but in the fall of the year, when the farmers want to haul their flour to market or home for family use, the mill is always so crowded that the poor farmer that can pay his store bill in flour has to wait and wait until the roads are too muddy to haul, and then he could get a load occasionally. I say could, but what is the prospect in the future? The Ashland Milling Company control the Eagle Mills, and the Medford Milling Company own the Phoenix mills, and they will not exchange unless it is a little for family use; and we fear that after the rollers are put in the Butte Creek mills they will adopt the same rule, and then what will the farmer do with his wheat? He can haul it to the mill, sell it to the miller at his own price, and buy his flour from the miller at his own price also; and he will receive 50 cents or 55 cents per bushel and pay, as they have to now in Medford, $2.50 per hundred for flour. And still "Reasoner" says that we have enough mills without building a new one!
    But the farmers are waking up to the situation, and the time has come when they must and will act. "Reasoner" forgot that last fall a number of Butte Creek farmers tried for days and weeks to sell their wheat so that they could pay their store bills, but there was too much wheat for the demand. The farmers all over the country are intensely interested, and the universal verdict with them is that we have a new mill, that we must have a new mill, and that we will have a farmers' exchange mill.
    But "Reasoner" sees the new mill in his dreams, and then indulges in an offshoot on education, and sees the new mill without any wheat, the massive iron rollers taken out and the old, or rather new, building converted into a mammoth school house. And that led as to think that the writer knew more about schools and school houses than he did about mills and milling.
    Another thing that "Reasoner" forgot is that there are thousands of bushels of wheat sent out by rail every year, and if we have mills enough to grind all the wheat then we can keep down the trusts and monopolies in breadstuffs. More anon.    DICK.
    Eagle Point, April 19, 1890.
Valley Record, Ashland, April 24, 1890, page 1  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    H. C. Lewis, our enterprising sawmill man, has erected a new mill on Bear Creek and has it in full blast.
    A. J. Daley is having his grist mill overhauled and [is] getting ready to put in the rollers as soon as the machinery comes.
    Dr. R. L. Parker and son, W. W. Parker, have disposed of their mill property on Round Top to ex-sheriff A. S. Jacobs and a man by the name of Cormack; consideration, $2650.
    The young folks meet regularly at the Antelope school house to hold their literary society, and some of the young men have adopted the plan of copying poetry to read to the young ladies on the way home as a pastime.
    The summer fights have commenced. A. Pool, the constable of this precinct, and G. W. Heckathorn, but the two combatants were separated by the bystanders, greatly to the joy of both the fighters. No damage done except a little blood from Heckathorn.
    J. J. Fryer, our energetic, enterprising, go-ahead townsman, expects to start on a tour among the farmers to work in the interest of the new flour roller mill in the near future. A gentleman of large experience and extensive acquaintance assures us that the farmer» in his neighborhood (on Big Sticky and south above Medford) are anxious to go into the mill, as they begin to think that "self-preservation is the first law of nature."
    We had a very serious accident happen in our midst on the evening of the 19th. The infant son of Mr. J. K. Green, about 14 months old, by some means got hold of some Rough on Rats, supposed to have been thrown out while cleaning out the milk house, and had it not been for the timely efforts of Dr. Rivers, would undoubtedly have proved fatal, as the poison had taken such a hold that he lay in a continuous spasm for about six hours. But I am glad to be able to state that the child is convalescent and received no perceptible injures.
    The political "tea kettle" is whooping and as primaries have been held, every man that wants office is very busy congratulating the mothers on the beauty of their children and assuring the farmers that they are the exact ones that ought to fill the various offices in the county and state. Although Butte Creek is very modest in her demands, as there are only five or six that are extremely anxious to serve the dear people, two for sheriff, one for clerk, one for assessor, one for school superintendent and one for legislative honors.
    A large number of our citizens met at this place and held the regular primary meeting. Peter Simon was elected chairman and A. L. Haselton secretary. The following were elected delegates to the county convention: John Ashpole, Henry Brown, Dr. W. W. Rivers and C. W. Taylor. At the close of the meeting Dr. Rivers was called on for a speech, and in his usual smooth and impressive manner he gave a speech that was calculated to impress the audience with the necessity of union and a spirit of forbearance. He is a fine talker, and if he could be prevailed upon to remain with us would be a strong man in the Democratic ranks.
    The announcement in the Record that Dr. W. W. Rivers intended to leave this part of the country for his old home in Arkansas and that a good opening was left for an M.D., brought a doctor but as he had never been on a horse's back and was in poor health, he thought the country most too rough for him to undertake, so he left in a few days. And now we want a good physician with a family to come and buy the residence of our present incumbent, Dr. Rivers, situated opposite where the new mill is to be built, and settle down for life, as this is a very desirable locality for a physician and a very good--pleasant, I mean--community in which to live.    DICK.
    April 28, 1890.
Valley Record, Ashland, May 1, 1890, page 3  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


EDITOR VALLEY RECORD:--
    We have had a fine rain, which will ensure good crops.
    Born to the wife of A. L. Haselton, May 9th, 1890, a daughter.
    Mrs. John Pelling, who has been in poor health for some time past, has gone to Portland, to St. Mary's hospital, for medical treatment.
    Dodge & Co. have abandoned the idea of drilling a well for J. K. Green on account of the hardness of the rock and I understand that the Creed Bros. are going to undertake to finish the job.
    Allow me, and through me, almost the entire community, to congratulate you on your delivery from the hands of your persecutors. and triumphant vindication of the doctrine of free speech and free press.
    The machinery for A. J. Daley's mill has been delayed and has not arrived yet. In removing the old machinery from the grist mill, the workmen let a stick of timber fall on the turbine wheel and broke it so that it was necessary to send off for a section to repair the damage done, costing $35 or $40.
    The Democracy are. so far as I can learn, generally satisfied with the nominations made by the county convention except for Senator; they feel that they have been imposed upon, and I have heard a number of them say that they would not vote for Charles Nickell under any circumstances, as he has always worked for self against the interest of the laboring classes.
    May 13, 1890.    DICK.
Valley Record, Ashland, May 15, 1890, page 3  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    The young folks had a high old time last Friday night, at the dance at this place.
    H. C. Lewis has moved his family from the farm to the mill to spend the hot days of summer.
    Crops are looking, generally, very well, and the prospect is that there will be a very large crop of corn raised this summer.
    I understand that Mrs. John Pelling has returned from Portland, and that the physicians of St. Mary's hospital pronounce her case incurable.
    The machinery for H. J. Daley's mill has arrived, and it will not be long before we have a first-class roller mill here and a good prospect for another in the near future.
    Mr. Worthington is building a house and barn for Thomas Riley on a tract of land he purchased from Mart Hurst. Mr. Riley is also preparing to build considerable fence, as he has engaged 20,000 feet of fencing lumber from H. C. Lewis & Co.
    Dr. W. W. Rivers expects to start to his old home in Arkansas next Thursday with his wife and children to visit Mrs. R.'s mother, thereby leaving us without a physician. So if we need any assistance in that line we will have to go to Central Point or Medford. He leaves a good field for an M.D.
    Our village has been thronged with office seekers and their friends (you know "money makes the colt go") and we have had lively times for the last few days. Cameron, Alford, Charles Nickell and George Bloomer may be mentioned as among the office-seekers that have been trying to convince the dear people that they are the very ones to be their servants; and by the time this reaches you, Sam Holt, of the union party, will be here and address the citizens on the leading issues of the day.
    The calculations are that Cormack & Jacobs will start their sawmill by the time this reaches you, and we expect to have good lumber, as they are men who understand the sawmill business. Speaking of sawmills, your correspondent took the time last week to spend a few hours in and around H. C. Lewis' mill, situated on Bear Creek near Central Point, and found the mill doing excellent work, as it is run up to its full capacity, turning out from 12,000 to 15,000 feet of lumber per day, of a very good quality considering that the logs are all "bull pine." The mill was visited last Friday by a number of experts in the mechanical line, and they pronounce it and its management a complete success.
    One of our prominent citizens on Butte Creek is advocating the idea of having the successful candidate pay each one of the voters for the time it takes from his business, paying in proportion to the amount of his income from the office that he fills, as the candidates are selected by the "bosses," and the voters have nothing to do but walk up to the polls and vote for the men that are put on the ticket. By this means a large number of voters might vote that stay at home because they feel that none of the candidates are their choice. I remember that four years ago next election, we (I mean the clerks and judges) counted some ninety voters that did not come to the polls to vote, because they did not feel interest enough in the election to lose their time. But have it understood that every voter who votes is entitled to a fair compensation for his time, and then the laboring classes would vote and put down this "ring monopoly."    DICK.
    Eagle Point, May 25, 1890.
Valley Record, Ashland, May 29, 1890, page 3  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


EDITOR VALLEY RECORD:--
    Haying is in full blast--there is a great calm in the way of news.
    H. C. Lewis came near being thrown from his cart last week, striking his arm on the wheel and bruising it badly.
    A. J. Daley is getting his machinery in his mill in good shape and expects by the 15th to be under full headway again.
    J. A. Jonas was elected J.P. of this precinct without opposition, and A. Pool, our old constable, and Charles Edmondson were the candidates for constable. Chas. E. was elected.
    The election passed off quietly at this place. We at first opened the polls in Inlow & Ashpole's warehouse, but it was soon ascertained that we would suffer with the cold so much that we decided to move to Pool's hotel, where we could have more comfortable quarters. We labor under great advantages in this precinct for want of a suitable place to hold elections, want of proper tables, etc., but the worst inconvenience is the want of a larger ballot box and the necessary election laws, as the latest copy we have was published in 1872 and consequently we are eighteen years behind the times.
    Mr. J. A. Jonas closed his three months school last Friday, the 6th inst., at this place, giving very general satisfaction, and one would think that the directors had the most implicit confidence in his ability as a teacher by the number of times they visited his school during the term, for by looking over his report I see that they have not visited the school at all. The county superintendent has also been very derelict in the discharge of his official duty. Perhaps he was sick! According to his report the whole number of pupils enrolled is 48---24 boys and 24 girls; average attendance, 32. Quite a number of visitors were in attendance the last day of the school, among them Prof, A. L. Haselton and wife, Mrs. F. B. Inlow and her niece, Miss Sarah Ragsdale of Sams Valley, Miss Brown of this place, and many others.
    Your correspondent left the county seat last Saturday afternoon, and from what he could learn we are to have two very conspicuous, if not important, companies pass through our little village on their way to Salt Creek (Salt Creek empties into Butte Creek a few miles above this place). As I understand the program the first company will be composed of all the candidates that were on the union-labor ticket. They are to march in double file, headed by Hon. Enoch Walker and Mrs. Josephine Crocker, with their banners flying and singing "The better days are coming by and by," etc., while the citizens along their route are to cheer them by their presence and words of condolence and the assurance that victory will yet perch on their banners. The second company is to be composed of a motley crowd of disappointed office-seekers of all political creeds and a host of hangers-on that have been using the public teat for a long tine. They are to walk in single file, with poor Ed. Charles N. [Nickell] in the lead chanting the doleful dirge "The election is past and the campaign is ended, and we are left, boo hoo, boo hoo," etc. And the masses of the voters are to hiss them, and tantalize them for putting up such men on the tickets.    DICK.
    Eagle Point, June 9, 1890.
Valley Record, Ashland, June 12, 1890, page 3  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    F. B. Inlow started to Talent with his family last Sunday, and broke the axle of his hack, so had to postpone his visit indefinitely.
    Mrs. Roush, who has been sick with typhoid pneumonia, I learn has just died. Dr. Lee of Central Point was in attendance, but could not save her life.
    David Hendry, our cobbler, is confined to his bed with an old sore on his leg, which causes him a great deal of pain. Dr. Lee, of Central Point, is in attendance.
    Claude White, while trying to manipulate the lines of A. J. Daley's mule team, let them get the advantage of him, so we had a first-class runaway, breaking the wagon and tearing things up generally.
    Died at the family residence, June 11th, 1890, Mrs. Fannie, wife of John Pelling, aged 59 years, 10 months and 24 days.
    The subject of the above notice was a native of Ireland, from whence she removed to Nova Scotia, married Owen Clark and moved to Oregon, living with him for nineteen years, and raising a family of five children, three boys and two girls, one of whom now sleeps with her father and mother in the Catholic cemetery at Jacksonville. Two of the boys are doing  business in Grant County, while the remaining daughter, Mrs. Penning of Gold Hill and R. Emmet Clark are residents of this county. She has been living in this neighborhood ever since her marriage to John Pelling in 1878, and her loss will be felt by her many friends who mourn her demise. She was buried according to the rites of the Catholic Church, of which she was a member.    DICK.
    Central Point, June 16, 1890.
Valley Record, Ashland, June 19, 1890, page 3  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


EDITOR VALLEY RECORD:--
    Some of my fellow census enumerators report trouble in many cases. After my pleasant experience, I| am surprised to hear such complaints.
    I was out the entire month of June among the people of Big and Little Butte and received the most courteous and kindly treatment by all. Everyone I visited seemed ready and more than willing to answer every "applicable" question on the various schedules. The men who own and operate mills and shops in my field took especial pains to give full and complete answers to the questions propounded. Safes and books were opened, and every item hunted up. A. J. Daley gave me three hours of his time, when his business affairs were exceedingly pressing. Messrs. Pool, Florey and Robinett showed the same spirit.
    Sawmills are especially difficult to dispose of by enumerators. Jacobs & Cormack of Round Top sawmill, if possible, outdid everyone else in kindness. Every employee in the mill followed suit and made my stay overnight one of the most pleasant of the whole sojourn. The proprietors of this mill are worthy of success, and I expect to hear of a lively trade at Round Top this season. They are a first-class firm, paying first-class wages to a first-class set of men, who have first-class timber from which first-class lumber is produced, and sold at low prices.
    The Butte Creek people stand high with your correspondent.
Valley Record, Ashland,  July 17, 1890, page 1


    Peter Simon is building a new granary.
    A. L. Haselton and H. G. Shock have put neat picket fences around their lots.
    Everybody is busy harvesting. The wheat crop is better than at first expected.
    Mr. McNeal is putting up a new house on his place in the upper end of our town.
    F. B. Inlow and one of our merchants have gone to Talent, for the purpose of building a barn on his property there.
    James Lewis, the engineer in H. C. Lewis' mill, quit the mill last Saturday and returned to his farm on Little Butte
    J. A. Jonas, our pedagogue, is teaching school in the Big Butte district. His family accompanies him, leaving home Monday morning and returning Friday evening. They have engaged rooms with T. B. Higinbotham.
    A. J. Daley has got his new roller mill under headway but is out of wheat. He is arranging to build a large warehouse adjoining his mill. He is also building a new hog pen. You, or rather we, know that all grist mills must have a hog pen as an attachment.
    Peter Simon, one of cur old pioneers, started a few days ago via Portland for Germany to visit his sisters that he has not seen for forty-two years, and will try to improve his health that has been failing for some time past. He was accompanied as far as Portland by his daughter Sophia.
    Dennis Simon had the misfortune to be thrown from his horse while coming down a hill on the road from J. B. Welch's mill with a load of lumber, falling in a bunch of oak grubs and hurting one of his eyes so badly that he was compelled to leave his wagon on the road. The cause of the accident was an iron bar on the brake giving way, causing the wagon to push onto the horses.    DICK.
    Eagle Point, July 21, 1890.
Valley Record, Ashland, July 24, 1890, page 3  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.




    Miss [Ella] Brown, of Roseburg, has been engaged to teach our public school.
    The Misses Bailey and Brown, of Roseburg, have been the guests of Hon. A. J. Florey but are now visiting Mrs. F.'s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Chauncey Nye of Flounce Rock precinct.
    I sec that J. K. Green has been tearing down the old barns and sheds on his place, greatly improving the looks of the premises.
    I forgot to mention in my last that A. J. Carlton and family and Miss Clara Rader returned from their trip to Crescent City greatly improved in health and weight, and from the way the trip has affected them I think that if you, Mr. Editor, would take a trip to the sea shore it would perhaps build up your emaciated form.
    I see in the last Record the statement that John B. Williams, the mail contractor, has purchased property in Medford, etc., and I am requested to state authoritatively that it is not John B., but Isaac F. Williams, son of Isaac B. Williams of Central Point.
    Miss Cora Brown and her brother Frank and Miss Amy Safford and Wilbur Ashpole have gone to the McAllister soda springs.
    Hon. A. J. Florey, our accommodating P.M., has received the appointment of notary public and was sworn in last Saturday, August 2nd, so that we will not have to go to Jacksonville to attend to all of our business.
    Last Wednesday night Mrs. A. R. Riggs, president of the W.C.T.U., favored our town with a lecture on her favorite theme, the cause of temperance and morality vs. the saloon, and although there was but a few hours' notice given, still I learn that she had a fair audience and made a very favorable impression, as your sub-reporters speak in very high terms of her as a lecturer.    DICK.
    Eagle Point, Aug. 4, 1890.
    (Balance of items continued in our next.)
Valley Record, Ashland, August 7, 1890, page 3  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


(Continued from last issue.)
    Since my last communication for the Record, your correspondent has once more had the pleasure of visiting your thriving city [Ashland] after an absence of over a year, and for me to say that I was surprised to see such a marked change for the better does not fully convey the idea, for I am unable to understand how so much improving can be done in so short a time, when times are so dull and money is so scarce, and how so many people can live and wear good clothes where so little producing is done.
    Last Thursday morning your correspondent started out on to foot take a view of the city, and he walked until he reached the Record office. Found the publisher, proprietor and editor had not yet put in an appearance but found the typesetter at work at his case, spent a few moments with him very pleasantly and started for the depot in search of the editor. Failing to find him I started in a southerly direction, bearing west, and walked and walked, still seeing new sights ahead, until I came to the deliberate conclusion that a man that would try to take in the city of Ashland, the metropolis of Jackson County, on foot needs more than one short day in July to accomplish the feat. So I turned my course toward my stopping place, hitched up my team and took a fresh start; drove up one street and down another and finally started off on the Boulevard, passing fine residences, beautiful scenery, excellent orchards, gardens, etc., where but a few years ago there was nothing but a chaparral jungle--showing what skill and energy can do. Returning to the business portion of the city, I made another call on the Record office and this time found the editor in. Transacted a little business, spent a short time in pleasant chitchat and soon thereafter took our (for Mrs. Dick was with me) departure for our home, bidding farewell to our friends for another season.
    We have another New Departure in our neighborhood. Ever since the memorable campaign on the woman suffrage amendment our school directors seemed to have the idea irrevocably fixed in their minds that the man was right when he told his prospective mother-in-law that after his marriage the place for his wife was to stay at home and tend to the chickens and children. They seemed to think that a woman was absolutely incapable of doing anything that required brains or muscle, and the idea that a woman could teach our school--pshaw! But time brings changes and we are getting a class of men in our country that read, and they read that about 95 percent of the teachers in our large cities are ladies, so they have came to the conclusion that our children might be taught by a lady. And another thing they have discovered and that is that the lady who has applied for our school stands a round [i.e., rung] higher on the literary ladder than anyone else we have had to teach our school, as the highest grade any of our teachers have had is a state certificate, But, lo! Miss Brown of Roseburg comes with a state diploma, so our directors have employed her to teach our fall term of school and we look for a decided improvement in the management of the same.    DICK.
    Eagle Point, Aug. 4, 1890.
Valley Record, Ashland, August 14, 1890, page 1  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


EDITOR VALLEY RECORD:--
    Mr. Geo. Nichols, son of T. E. Nichols, met with quite an accident last Sunday. He had got a rig from Medford to take his best girl out riding, I understand, and the team got frightened and ran away, demolishing the buggy some considerable.
    The Wiley boys and Jas. Pew have gone to the McAllister soda springs, and intend to go to Fish Lake, Twin Lakes, etc., before they return.
    There was quite an excitement in the vicinity of Brownsboro last week. The infant child of John Burge [Burch?], aged about 18 months, was missing about 9 a.m. and the father and family began search but nothing could he found of it. So the neighbors were called and the quest continued all day until dark, when lanterns were procured, and the hunt was continued until midnight, when it was suspended till next morning. In the morning when Master Harry Carlton started out from home he found the child standing quietly on an old straw stack, looking as though nothing happened, fully a mile from its home.
    Our citizens were shocked Monday morning on learning that the variety store of our postmaster, A. J. Florey, had been broken open, robbed and then fired. The flames were first discovered by Mrs. Geo. Brown as she was up in the night taking medicine, about midnight, when she gave the alarm, but the fire had gotten such a headway that nothing could be done but try to save the surroundings. In spite of all their efforts A. J. Daley's warehouse was consumed. Loss to A. J. Florey about $500, insured for $400; A. J. Daley's loss unknown--possibly $150 or $200. Almost the entire community sympathizes with Mr. Florey, as he is afflicted with rheumatism so that he is unable to work a great part of his time. The loss is irreparable as all of the mail matter was consumed together with his books, all the district school records and other things belonging to the school district.    DICK.
    Eagle Point, Aug. 12, 1890.
Valley Record, Ashland, August 14, 1890, page 3  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    M. S. Wood is building a large barn.
    The grain yield is hardly up to average.
    Thos. Coy has moved into the old Purdin house.
    A. Pool is putting a rock foundation under his blacksmith shop.
    A. J. Florey, our accommodating P.M., is preparing to build again.
    Newt. Lewis and family are here from Applegate, visiting their parents.
    Lightning struck a tree on the line of Mrs. Rader's fence, burning quite a number of rails.
    John Ashpole, one of our merchants, has been putting an addition to his residence and otherwise beautifying his home.
    Miss Etha Griffith, who has been to the McAllister soda springs, has returned and reports that the recent hail storm did a great deal of damage on Salt Creek.
    Mr. Cingcade's little boy is sick with typhoid fever. Dr. Pickel, of Medford, is in attendance. Speaking of sickness, we have but little in our immediate neighborhood but considerable in the surrounding country, and if some good doctor would locate here he would find a good practice.
    The farmers are generally busy threshing, hauling off their grain, etc., so that there is but little of interest to write. This year Phipps, McDaniel & Co. are doing the threshing for this neighborhood, and are giving better satisfaction than any machine that has been in this part of the country for a number of years.    DICK.
    Eagle Point, Aug. 26, 1890.
Valley Record, Ashland, August 28, 1890, page 3  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    Mrs. J. G. Shock got a fall a few days ago, bruising her limb and side very badly.
    Peter Simon, who has been on a trip to Germany, is expected home today, Monday.
    A. J. Florey has four men at work on his new building, and it will be quite an addition to our town.
    Mr. Mosier is sick, so that he had to have a surgical operation performed by Dr. Geary of Medford.
    The post office inspector was over looking after the interest of the post office department one day last week.
    Emanuel Clark, son of the late Mrs. John Pelling, has been in from Burns, Harney County, looking after his mother's estate and visiting relatives.
    Miss Nada Inlow has gone to Ashland to attend the state normal school, as she is determined to succeed in making herself a first-class teacher. We wish her abundant success.
    Miss Ella Brown, our new teacher from Roseburg, commenced school last Monday, and her traveling companion, Miss Frances Bailey, has secured the school in John Obenchain's neighborhood on Big Butte (a new district, I have forgotten the name).
    We are pained to be under the necessity of chronicling the death of Frank, son of David and Mollie Cingcade, who departed this life Sept. 8, 1890. Deceased was born in Mono County, Cal., Jan. 25, 1880, being 10 years, 7 months and 13 days old.
    Since my last this neighborhood came very near having a destructive fire. About midnight a burning sawdust pile at H. C. Lewis' sawmill branched out and ignited a pile of stove wood near the cutoff saw and from thence to the main building. A young man named Berry discovered it almost reaching to the roof, gave the alarm, and raised the mill hands and the family in a big hurry by breaking in the door of Mr. Lewis' bedroom. The excitement came near scaring Miss Millie Howlett, who was there visiting, out of her wits.    DICK.
    Eagle Point, Sept. 8, 1890.
Valley Record, Ashland, September 11, 1890, page 2  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    Mrs. Mauzey's mother is here on a visit from the Willamette Valley.
    Flora Hurst, who has been in Medford for some time past, has returned home.
    There will be preaching next Sunday at the church, Rev. Aleridge will preach.
    George Rice, who has been down on the railroad, will return in a few days on a visit.
    Mrs. James Bell and family, who have been visiting with relatives near Medford, have returned home.
    Thomas A. Mauzey and family have moved to I. B. Williams' place, which they have rented for a year.
    Miss Ellen Bursell is teaching the school in this district, and will give general satisfaction we believe, as she is an excellent teacher.
    Joe Rader and his mother and sisters, also Harry Carleton, Rachel Stanley and Lin Clemens, returned yesterday from a trip to the soda springs and reported having had a splendid time.
    We had one of the most enjoyable occasions in our midst a short time ago. I refer to the marriage of Mr. James Lewis and Miss Sarah Howlett on the 3rd inst. I hardly know where to commence, or how to describe the occasion. On Monday the invitation cards were sent out, and by 10 o'clock a.m. of the 2nd the guests began to arrive and by 12 m. about twenty-five or thirty of the friends and relatives of the family had arrived. The host, meeting each one in his usual affable manner, made everyone feel that they were welcome and at 12:15 the party congregated in the parlor, where the contracting parties, accompanied by James R. Williams of Central Point and Miss Mamie Wiley as bridesmaid and groomsman, entered and took their places, when the venerable father in his usual easy and graceful manner pronounced the ceremony making them man and wife. He made one serious blunder, however, as he forgot to kiss the bridesmaid until some minutes after; then he rectified his mistake and all went merry as ever. One thing we will say, if ever we get married again we will be sure to have Mr. Howlett say the ceremony, notwithstanding the blunder. The groom was dressed in conventional black, and the bride--well, she looked as neat and--well I will try and describe her appearance. She was dressed in a tan color cassimere trimmed with cream-colored silk and ribbon. It was made in the latest style and was exceedingly lovely. After the ceremony was over dinner was announced, and oh, my! such a dinner. The tables were loaded with everything that could tempt the taste. The bride's cake, which was baked by Mrs. Howlett, was the finest we ever saw. I will not try to tell what we had, only to say that we had almost everything that could be thought of. If you had seen the way we all ate you would have thought we had been fasting for several days. After dinner was over then each vied with the other to see how much could be enjoyed, and all seemed to pronounce the occasion a grand success. There were several handsome presents given to Mr. and Mrs. Lewis. From Mrs. G. M. and Mrs. Jno. A. Love, a lovely glass set; Nada Inlow, fruit stand; Anna Inlow, water pitcher; Mr. and Mrs. Inlow, glass set; Mamie Wiley, glass berry bowl; Geo. Love, basket of grapes; James R. Williams, mustache cup for the groom to drink coffee out of; Aletha Mauzey, cup and saucer for the bride to drink tea out of; two lovely bouquets from Nada and Ama Inlow. About 3 o'clock the guests began to depart and in the evening the happy bride and groom took their departure for their home, with the congratulations of all wishing them a long life of prosperity and happiness.    A READER.
    Eagle Point, Sept. 8, 1890.
Valley Record, Ashland, September 11, 1890, page 3


    A. J. Daley, our enterprising miller, has erected a new warehouse adjoining his great mill.
    Mrs. Digman is having a well bored on the lot she bought of Geo. Brown. A. Pool has built a new wood shed.
    W. W. Miller, who has been the manager of the old burr mill before it was changed to a roller mill, has accepted a position in the new one, we are glad to learn.
    Mr. Kirkpatrick has moved from Big Butte to our town, to take advantage of our school. Miss Edmondson, also from Big Butte, is here taking advantage of our school.
    Our efficient road supervisor has had a large lot of lumber hauled out to repair our bridge across Butte Creek. Mr. Robinett has moved his blacksmith tools into Inlow & Ashpole's shop.
    Miss Brown, our efficient "school marm," taught for two weeks, just long enough to show the old mossbacks that a woman can teach our school, was taken sick and had to close, but we are glad to state that she is able to resume her position and is now governing her school, as usual, by the law of kindness, and progressing finely.
    Since my last we have had considerable improvement going on in our town. A. J. Florey has about completed his new store and residence combined. a neat two-story building adjoining the lot whereon the old "boss" blacksmith shop stood, but he tore that down to make room for the new building and now instead of seeing an old dilapidated shanty we see a new house and surroundings that reflects credit on our efficient postmaster.
    Mr. Ed., I have been "scairt" so badly that I hardly knew whether to try to write or not, for I see that that ponderous literary compendium of knowledge, that wonderful production that emanates from the "Times" office WEAKLY has so far descended from its high and "conspicuous" place and position as to criticize an article that was published in the Record signed by your occasional correspondent from Antelope, "A Reader," because forsooth he left out an "H" in spelling the name of an article of dress, when perhaps it might have been a typographical error. But no, it happened to be a daughter of a man that helped to send him up Salt Creek, and he thought he could vent his malicious spite, but we could expect little more from a man so small as "poor Ed. C." And now Mr. Editor, enough of this, for he must fill up his contemptible sheet and as he has no correspondent from Butte Creek he could do no better.--(It was an error in the typesetting.--FOREMAN.)    DICK.
Valley Record, Ashland, October 9, 1890, page 3  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    Mrs. Virgil is here visiting friends.
    Geo. Brown has just returned from Portland.
    A. J. Daley has been to Grants Pass on a business trip.
    Miss Anna Inlow has returned from a visit to her aunt in Sams Valley.
    John and Artie Nichols have returned from a business trip to Lake County.
    Thos. E. Nichols drove a band of beef cattle to the Ashland market last week.
    The candy-pulling given by Miss Cora Brown last week was a pleasant affair, of course.
    John Black passed through town Monday with a small drove of beef cattle for market.
    McNeal & Johnson, with a number of assistants, are repairing the bridge and getting it ready for future usefulness.
    A. J. Florey has moved into his new quarters on the north side of the creek. He has also replenished his stock of goods greatly, to the joy of the little ones.
    John Ashpole, one of our leading merchants, of the firm of Inlow & Ashpole, has just returned from Portland, where he has been to buy in their fall stock of goods.
    I rather think that it would be to the interest of a large class of citizens in and around this place to have a good physician locate among us, and not necessitate us to go to Medford for medical aid.
    Miss Brown, our schoolmarm, is teaching the best school we have had for a long time, and those who visited the school last Friday say that the declamatory exercises were superior to any we have had in Eagle Point for years.
    Miss Amy Safford has been able to resume her studies at school, after a spell of typhoid fever. Dr. Pryce was in attendance. The doctor has also so far succeeded in restoring Mrs. H. G. Shock to health that she is able to get up without help.
    I inadvertently omitted to state in my last that Peter Simon, one of our old-time citizens who had been to Germany to visit his relatives and regain his health, had returned, after a visit with relatives and friends in Pennsylvania. We are also pleased to state that his daughter, Miss Sophia, is convalescent, after a long siege of typhoid fever, thanks to the skill of Dr. Pryce, of Medford.
    Mrs. H. Lewis, of Medford, has been visiting relatives on Butte Creek. Her brother, James M. Lewis, had a runaway last Sunday. His horse broke loose while hitched to a cart and ran over a mile through the woods, over a plank and wire fence, across Butte Creek up into our town, with scarcely a scratch and without breaking anything. The animal was finally captured by Scott Pool and Arthur Nichols.    DICK.
    Eagle Point, Oct. 20, 1890.
Valley Record, Ashland, October 23, 1890, page 3  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


EDITOR VALLEY RECORD:
    Mr. Upham and family have gone to California.
    J. A. Jonas has been engaged to teach school at the mouth of Butte Creek.
    Prof. Shepherd and wife, of Ashland, were here last week on a business trip.
    Mr. Scott and family, of Central Point, are visiting the family of Chas. Griffith of this place.
    The literary society in the Antelope school district has started up again for the long nights.
    Mr. Inlow, one of our leading merchants, is at Talent superintending the construction of a building on his property there.
    The entertainment given by the school on the 7th inst, by universal consent, is said to have been one of the best that has ever been in Eagle Point.
    David Cingcade is preparing to build a new wood shed, in the place of the one that was blown down. A. C. Howlett is also building another wood shed, as his present one is too small.
    A committee was appointed at the last meeting of the L.S. [literary society] to arrange a program for an entertainment at the Methodist church on Antelope, Christmas eve, and we anticipate a fine time.
    Since my last the workmen have finished the county bridge across Butte Creek. It presents a fine appearance, and we feel safe in saying that the roof will not give way soon from the pressure of snow.
    J. J. Fryer has been enlarging his enclosure by making some new fence. Chas. Griffith has also been making some improvements in that line and Mr. Hubbard has been making some improvements on his dwelling.
    We have another new departure in our village. Our enterprising and accomplished teacher, Miss Ellie Brown, has introduced the question-box, where questions on almost all subjects are asked by the pupils and the answers are read on Friday afternoon.
    The most of the farmers have been sowing their fall wheat for the last two or three weeks, and now they are uneasy for fear that the long continued drought will cause it to rot in the ground or to dry out so that that which has sprouted will not grow.
    Mr. Ashpole, of the firm of Inlow & Ashpole, has finished his residence and the young folks gave them--Mr. and Mrs. A.--a surprise party last Wednesday evening, where they spent a few hours in social amusements and then quietly repaired to their homes.
    The "Eagle Point Educator," published monthly by Miss Ellie Brown and edited by Miss Amy Safford, the first number of which was issued Nov. 7, 1890, and if it was not that I fear I would be transcending the bounds of a local correspondent I would clip a few items from it, but sufficient to say that the paper presents a fine appearance and reflects credit upon the publisher, editor and correspondents.    DICK.
    Eagle Point, Nov. 18, 1890.
Valley Record, Ashland, November 20, 1890, page 3  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


EDITOR VALLEY RECORD:
    Miss Jennie Smith, of Ashland, is now the guest of Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Florey.
    Miss Nada Inlow, who is attending school at Ashland, was home on a visit last week.
    A. C. Howlett has been sick for several days past, but is not considered dangerously so.
    Mrs. Stewart and Mrs. Wright, of Central Point, have been here visiting the family of F. B. Inlow.
    The young folks had a dance in Inlow & Ashpole's hall on Thanksgiving night. About thirty numbers were sold.
    The dry weather is causing considerable uneasiness among the farmers, for fear that the early sown grain will dry and freeze out.
    We had a week's vacation in our school last week while Miss Brown, the teacher, attended the institute at Ashland. I understand that she was very favorably impressed with your city.
    A. Pool came near having two fires last week. The first broke out in the upper floor where the stove pipe passes through and was discovered by a girl of the house, who quietly reported it to a lady visitor, when the alarm of fire was given. There was no material damage done except that Miss Amy Safford, Mrs. Pool's daughter, had her hands badly burned while trying to extinguish the flames. A few days after the above related occurrence Mrs. Pool's little boy, about four or five years old, got some matches, lit a candle and by some means set fire to the window curtains, which quickly ran to the ceiling, but fortunately did no damage.
    Miss Millie Howlett gave a carpet-tacking last Friday night, and had an extraordinarily fine time. There were twenty-eight of the neighbors, mostly young folks, came in and sewed and tied carpet rags until about ten o'clock, when lunch was served and the rest of the evening was spent in playing, talking, etc., until about 12 o'clock, when they all retired to their respective homes with the understanding that they would all return in the near future and sew the rest of the rags. One remarkable incident occurred, however, while Mrs. H. was busily engaged sewing. One of the young men, F. M., was desirous of having a very large ball so he kindly wound what she sewed on his ball. But that was considered legitimate by Miss M., as everything is fair in lo-- or rag-tacking.    DICK.
    Eagle Point, Dec. 2, 1890.
Valley Record, Ashland, December 11, 1890, page 1  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    Born to the wife of Mr. Ewing, near Eagle Point, Dec. 11th, a daughter.
    There is considerable sickness, mostly epizootic or la grippe, but none of [the] cases seem to be serious.
    Born to the wife of True Cox, on Big Sticky, Dec. 13th, a daughter. Sorry to say the mother is in a very critical condition, but the M.D. has hopes of her recovery .
    There is but little improvements going on. J. J. Fryer is having a chimney built in the center of his new house. J. K. Green has put a new gate in the place of the old one near the ford.
    The young folks in the vicinity of the Antelope M.E. church are making big preparations for a Christmas tree and we anticipate a grand time, which we will report if "A Reader" don't return from his trip to the timber belt, or somewhere else, and make a report.
    Rev. Aleridge preached here last night from "What is a name," and held the audience spellbound for about one and a quarter hours. One of the "oldest settlers" said that "he was the first one we have had here for a long time that could hold the boys (and girls) level," but I have seen as good order before.
    The Demorest contest for a silver medal, arranged by Mrs. J. G. Johnson and Miss Ellie Brown, fell through with on account of one of the contestants backing out. However, a good temperance meeting was had; three of the pupils, Misses Gladius Fryer, Amy Safford and Anna Inlow each rendered some fine pieces, and Miss Ellie Brown's power of delivery moved the audience. Rev. M. C. Aleridge was called to the stand and favored his hearers with a talk on his favorite subject. The house was crowded.
    During the last week it was announced that a Mr. Rader, from Michigan, would address the citizens of this place and the surrounding country on the subject of building a flume from upper Rogue River (the sugar pine belt) to this part of the valley, for the purpose of bringing the lumber, after it is sawed, to this place or some other, the terminus to be decided in the future. But for some reason he and his colleagues failed to put in an appearance, greatly to the disappointment of the crowd that assembled. But although he, or rather they, failed to speak, the subject has been brought to the front and at no distant day the project will be a reality.    DICK.
    Eagle Point, Dec. 22, 1890.
Valley Record, Ashland, December 25, 1890, page 4  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    There is some sickness in this neighborhood, mostly colds.
    Miss Mary Wiley is visiting her cousin John Wiley, near Phoenix.
    A. Pool has been making some improvements in the way of building.
    G. W. Rice returned from working on the railroad in Cow Creek Canyon last Saturday.
    Miss Millie Howlett, Miss Laura Nichols and Miss Anna Carney have gone to Medford to attend school.
    There is some improving going on. J. J. Fryer has been making some more fence, subdividing his place and arranging it with walks and a driveway. From present appearance he is going to have one of the finest flower gardens in the valley. J. K. Green, his son-in-law, has gone to California and left his farm in the care of Mr. F.
    We had a wedding on the sly Sunday evening, the 25th ult. The contracting parties were Joseph Rader and Miss Rachel Stanley. Everything was kept so still that it was not known until last Sunday, a week, that they were married, and then an attempt was made to raise a charivari party but the boys were so incredulous that, after working for several hours and riding several miles, they succeeded in raising a company of five, and the bride said they did not make noise enough to wake the children that were in the house, but they bled Joe to the tune of one dollar apiece.
    I have been waiting for something to turn up of interest to your readers but have been waiting in vain, for news are as scarce as $20 pieces. But we expect to have plenty of them when Merritt gets his bill through giving us or somebody else that $12,000 to build a road from here to Klamath. Oh! won't that be nice. We can just get on our mule and go right along. And then we are going to have that flume also. It is decided that Eagle Point is to be the terminus, and then we are going to have the railroad from the county seat, via Medford. Some of our farmers below here are getting uneasy for fear that the water from the flume will swell Butte Creek so that it will be like the Nile of Egypt--overflow all the banks and ruin their farms; but let it come. Some of us are so elated over the prospect of a large manufacturing city that we can hardly wait for the Hon. J.W.M. to get his bill through.    DICK.
    Eagle Point, Feb. 3, '91.
Valley Record, Ashland, February 5, 1891, page 3  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    G. W. Heckathorn is able to be around again, but does not look natural.
    T. L. Linkswiler is able to be around again after a long spell of sickness.
    S. A. Potter has taken a contract to clear a tract of land for Thomas Riley.
    John Nichols is quite sick with acute rheumatism. Dr. Stanfield is in attendance.
    Mrs. Robinette is suffering very much from a swelling of the limbs and rupture of a blood vessel.
    I learn that Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Fredenberg lost their oldest child--about two years of age--on Big Butte the last of the past week.
    Since my last, B. A. Potter has had the misfortune to cut his hand while trying to put in an ax handle, but is now able to resume work.
    Hezekiah Mathews, who has been in Canada for a number of years, returned to the old homestead a few days ago, to visit his relatives, his grandmother being in her 91st year.
    Green B. Mathews has been to Portland to Drs. Darrin for medical treatment. He was accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. John Ashpole of this place. He is improving very rapidly.
    C. Griffith, the inimitable, has been making some more improvements in the way of fencing and beautifying his premises; he has been getting some new furniture and it is whispered around among the knowing ones that the services of a clergyman or J.P. will be needed before long.
    I see by the Record of the 19th inst. that Brother Dean of Talent has been showing up some evangelist that has been trying to show the people of that neighborhood the way they should go, and your correspondent interviewed an evangelist in Medford and he said he supposed that reference was had to him. "Well, ain't you going to reply?" "No." "Why, the columns of the Record are open to you." "Yes, I know, but I heard of a gentleman who kicked a skunk to death, but his boots were never worth anything afterwards, so I sha'n't undertake the job." So Brother Dean can go in lemons and no danger of getting squeezed.
    We had our regular annual school meeting today, and a large number was out to vote and see what was done, as a great amount of interest was felt as to who should teach the school this summer, and I learn one or two were so much interested that they visited everyone in the district that they thought they could influence to try to get a director and clerk to suit themselves, and get the old clerk out, but they signally failed, for A. Poole was elected director, and the old clerk, A. J. Florey, was reelected. There was an effort made to get an expression as to whether we should employ home talent or import teachers from a distance, so that we could keep the money at home; but after some considerable talking, a motion was made to adjourn--carried. And the directors immediately employed Miss Ella Brown, the same young lady from Roseburg that taught our school last fall, at $[illegible] per month for three months, greatly in the satisfaction of a large majority of the patrons of the school.
    March 2.    DICK.
    Eagle Point, Feb. 3, '91.
Valley Record, Ashland, March 5, 1891, page 3  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    A. C. Howlett had a fall from the barn loft, a few days ago, which came near breaking his arm.
    We are glad to be able to state that John Nichols is improving, under the treatment of Dr. Stanfield.
    Mrs. J. H. Caton, living on Rogue River, is quite sick. She is under the treatment of Dr. Waite, of Medford.
    Horace Ish met with a very painful accident a few days since, spilling a pan of hot grease on his foot, making a severe burn, so as to confine him to his room.
    Miss Ella Brown., our former teacher, has arrived and commences her school this (Monday) morning. I understand that she is to have a number of pupils from outside districts, which speaks well for her as a teacher.
    There are some improvements going on. David Hendry has torn away part of his old building and has been improving the appearance of his place very much. Mr. Williscroft is putting up buildings on the land he bought of R. H. Brown.
    Miss Millie Howlett, who is attending school at Medford, came home on a visit last Friday week and on Saturday night a number of her old friends gave her a genuine surprise party. They spent the evening and had a good time generally, dispersing about 1 o'clock in the morning.
    A word of caution politically. You know that Gov. Pennoyer vetoed that famous road bill appropriating $6000 to build a road from this place to Klamath County. Well, in conversation with a business man of our place a few days ago he referred to the act and assured me that [that] cooked the governor's goose so far as his presidential aspirations are concerned, for this precinct would go almost solid against him. I tell you this confidentially, so that you can put him on his guard.
    Some of the citizens of our town are very much wrought up on account of the Central Pointers claiming that place as the terminus of the flume and a determination on their part to leave our town out in the cold, and by way of retaliation some of our leading citizens are threatening to have a railroad extended from Medford via this place up to the timber belt, and then have the S.P. tear up their track from Gold Hill and run a line on the north side of Rogue River to a point above the lower Table Rock, crossing the river at that point and intersecting the road from Medford to this place; and some are so indignant that they threaten to have all the county roads abandoned and leave them without even a county road.    DICK.
    Eagle Point, March 16, 1891.
Valley Record, Ashland, March 19, 1891, page 3  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    H. R. Brown has sown a big crop this year. The big ditch has raised quite an excitement in this section. Quite a lot of the grip has arrived; but the next time it comes we want it to come on the cable car line. On the 6th inst. there was called from our midst another estimable old pioneer, J. M. Farlow, aged 62 years. He crossed the plains in 1859. His remains were buried at Brownsboro the 8th inst.--J.H.L.
Valley Record, Ashland, April 16, 1891, page 3


    Miss Amy Inlow paid her folks a visit last Sunday, accompanied by some of her Medford friends.
    Miss Belle Cochran's old friends were glad to see her in our midst again after her long visit to Nevada.
    The exercises of Arbor Day were indefinitely postponed, on account of so many of the children being sick with la grippe.
    Prof. A. L. Haselton has been making some more improvements in the way of subdividing his lot--making three compartments.
    Miss Ella Brown, our efficient teacher, was compelled to close her school last week on account of there being so much sickness in the neighborhood.
    There are very few well persons in this community, in some families not enough well persons to wait on the sick; and our M.D., Dr. Stanfield, is kept quite busy.
    Miss Anna Carney has returned home from Medford, where she has been attending school, and is now a pupil in our school. Miss Millie Howlett has also left the Medford school and has resumed her studies under Miss Ella Brown, our popular teacher.
    You no doubt have wondered why it is that your Eagle Point correspondent has been so long silent, but if you could see him as he sits at his desk now trying to write, you would be surprised that he would even try to write or do anything else unless it would be to try to sleep, for he has been having the--well, some call it la grippe, but he thought that it was about the fifth stage of the glanders from the way it has treated him.
    Last Saturday J. M. Lewis and wife had a runaway in Central Point. The lines became foul so the horses could not be managed and they ran over a large log some two feet thick, upsetting the wagon and throwing them both out and bruising them very badly. When Mrs. Lewis was picked up she was perfectly unconscious, but there was no serious harm done.
    Speaking of Miss Brown's school, some of the old chronic grumblers who were opposed to her teaching predicted that she would not have twenty scholars and that she could not teach large pupils have had to throw up the sponge, for she has thirty-nine names on the roll and a number of them are grown young gentlemen and ladies. Quite a number are coming from outside of the district.
    We have another scare now on hand. Some of us were afraid that the S.P.F. Co. would empty the contents of Rogue River and its tributaries into Butte Creek and submerge all the country below here. But now the fears are that the Rogue River Valley Irrigation Co. will take all the water out of Butte Creek and leave us without any, and some are proposing to raise a purse to test the constitutionality of the law, while others fear the big reservoir they contemplate building at Fish Lake may give way and we have another Johnstown affair. But we will wait and see.
    George Stevens, who is working on Mr. Bradshaw's farm, had a runaway a few days ago with a span of horses hitched to a harrow. They had a lively time but no serious damage. We also had a couple of runaways in our town one day last week. A man from Lake County had his horse run away with a cart, knocking the dashboard in and breaking both shafts, and while our wheelwright was looking at the wreck and devising means to repair the damage another man, from Medford, drove up with a span of horses hitched to a covered buggy and just as he came opposite the wrecked cart the horses took fright, whirled short around, threw the driver out and dragged him under the buggy, bruised him up badly, broke the tongue off and one singletree, thus disengaging themselves from the buggy.    DICK.
    Eagle Point, April 14, '91.
Valley Record, Ashland, April 16, 1891, page 3   "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    Thinking the news from this part of the country would be of some interest to your many readers, I venture to make a few remarks.
    First, and of most importance, we are glad to say is the abating of that prevailing disease, la grippe, which has been quite severe in several families. John Obenchain was quite low with it for some length of time, but has recovered so as to be about again.
    A. S. Jacobs is suffering with nervous chills. Improving slowly. Hopes to be on duty in a few days superintending the Jacobs & Cormack sawmill, which was started to run a few days ago with Mr. Dusenberry as head sawyer, Herbert Cooper engineer and a very good crew of men to rush the business along. John and George Justus are the loggers, working quite successfully. The company expects to saw one million feet of lumber this season. They have already engaged their first and second grade lumber to the S.P.D.&L. Co., to be delivered at Central Point for cash at a very good price.
    Mr. Mann, from San Francisco, is making John Obenchain's (the Big Butte postmaster) his headquarters, and locating claims for different parties in the sugar pine forest on Big Butte Creek. I understand he gets $100 for each claim he locates.
    The late rain makes everything look lovely. Grass on the range and elsewhere never was better, old settlers say.
    Mr. Edsall is having a very large and commodious barn erected on his famous mountain ranch.
    Everybody is hopeful of better times in the near future.
    A. S. Jacobs and wife will reside for the summer at the Obenchain place.
    Mr. Holt, a young man from Medford, is teaching quite a successful school in this district.
    J. N. Stevens, cousin of A. S. Jacobs, lately of Nebraska, and family are going to spend the summer at J.&C.'s sawmill.
    Mr. Holt, alliance organizer, will meet the farmers of this section at Brownsboro next Saturday for the purpose of forming an alliance at that place. Very little opposition to the organization in this neck of the woods. Low tariff is the prevailing opinion here. So mote it be.
    Mr. Sargent, late of Bonanza, is putting in a nice stock of goods at Brownsboro, which is greatly needed. May success follow his efforts.
    And success to the Record. Yet a few words for the good people who profess to be Christians, and aim to live it also. Your correspondent is a firm believer in pure and undefiled religion, yet does not uphold any teacher of the Word that does not bear a good reputation at home, and also abroad.    DICK.
    May 6, 1891.
Valley Record, Ashland, May 14, 1891, page 1  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    A wild man has been seen several times of late in the vicinity of John Obenchain's, near Big Butte, Jackson County. He is naked and takes to the woods every time he sights a human being. The nearest he was seen to the haunts of a human being was at a country school house, where it was supposed he was prowling around for some waste lunches left by the school children.
    One theory is that the party is the missing Uncle Sam Colver, the last trace of whom was  found seven miles north of Linkville, some months ago.
Valley Record, Ashland, May 21, 1891, page 3


    The question of a wagon road from Ashland to intersect the road that taps the Butte Creek section is again before the people. This will be a great aid to the people living in that section to have easy access to this city, and the business interests of Ashland demand that it should be put through. It is the most practicable and best route and is entirely satisfactory to all the residents and property holders, who will donate the fencing thereof to the county. The only opposition comes from Mr. J. C. Durkee, who is out with an opposition road in order to defeat the really meritorious one. The proper place for Mr. Durkee to present his grievances is before an impartial set of viewers, appraisers or the county court, where the matter may be adjusted. The people of Ashland cannot afford to let the grievances of Mr. Durkee, though he be an enterprising and industrious citizen, stand in the way of the public good and the best business interests of Ashland.
Valley Record, Ashland, May 21, 1891, page 3


    J. S. Howard has compiled his preliminary survey of the R.R.V.R.R. from Medford to Eagle Point. The line as surveyed is 11¾ miles in length and extends through Eagle Point to 100 feet beyond the bridge of Little Butte. The proposed line after crossing the McAndrew place runs parallel with the county road, one-half mile west of it, until it strikes the northeast corner of the Crants place on the desert. It crosses Antelope just below the bridge. Mr. Howard is now engaged in setting his grade stakes, having left with his party this morning.--Medford Mail, 14th.
    The articles of incorporation for $500,000 as the Rogue River Valley Railway and Improvement Co. with the above object in view were filed with the secretary of state recently by W. Honeyman, E. J. De Hart, W. A. Buchanan, T. T. Honeyman, Francis Fitch.
Valley Record, Ashland, May 21, 1891, page 1


    The R.R.V.R.R. & Imp. Co. have set the figure of their bonus to build from the S.P. line to Eagle Point at $12,000. They estimate the cost of building, etc., at $90,000. The Howard survey from Medford is 10⅞ miles, and Applegates from Central Point 9½ miles. A preliminary meeting was held at Medford Saturday for the purpose of bonding the town for $7500 for that bonus.
Valley Record, Ashland, May 21, 1891, page 3


    The railroad excitement has abated.
    We see quite a number of strangers on our streets.
    David Hendry has returned from a trip to Waldo.
    Miss Jessie Langell of Jacksonville is here visiting friends.
    Wm. Miller, formerly of the Butte Creek mills, has moved to Ashland.
    The Matthews Bros. started with about 125 head of horses, Sunday, for Idaho.
    Johnny Nichols, son of T. E. Nichols, has just returned from a business trip to Klamath County.
    Chauncey Nye, one of the oldtimers, has been here with his family visiting his son-in-law, A. J. Florey.
    A number of the farmers have bonded their farms to an eastern company for a limited time, but I hear of no sales of real estate.
    Wm. Brown of Drain has been here visiting his sister, our teacher, and other relatives. He returned to Douglas County Sunday.
    Elvin Adams and Aaron Beck tried to excel each other last Saturday a week ago, the 23rd, in being pappy. They were each presented with a new baby, both boys. Mothers and boys doing well.
    We celebrated Decoration Day in a very becoming manner at this place. The Antelope and Liberty schools joined with ours and we had an excellent time notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather. Owing to the heavy rain the night before the citizens of this place decided to postpone the picnic until next Saturday. But the people from the country districts were not so easily daunted so they came on and then Miss Brown, our teacher, had to gather her school together, so that the procession was not formed until 1 o'clock p.m. Then they marched from the school house, led by the Eagle Point band with martial music, through the principal streets and thence to the grove on Butte Creek, where we had an excellent dinner. The exercises were opened by Hon. A. J. Florey of the G.A.R. delivering a short address, rehearsing some of the scenes through which the brave soldiers passed during the period between '61 and '65. The music by the Eagle Point choir was excellent. The literary exercises by the different schools was splendid, the only trouble being that, owing to the lateness of the hour when these exercises commenced, there was not time for all so that several of the best pieces had to be left out. The building of the floral monument by Miss Brown's school, representing the forty-four states, was one of the most interesting features of the occasion. But it will not do to particularize, for it would take too much time and space. The universal verdict of the community is that the children did splendidly.    DICK.
    Eagle Point, June 2, 1891.
Valley Record, Ashland, June 4, 1891, page 2   "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    J. A. Jonas has men at work on his barn.
    Peter Simon is in a very low state of health.
    J. J. Fryer has gone to California to the bedside of his son-in-law, J. K. Green.
    H. J. Burrell, a gentleman from Portland, has been here on business for some days.
    A. Pool is repairing the old barber shop and putting it in shape for an office for our new M.D., Dr. Rohr.
    George Jackson has had eleven men at work for some time past thinning the fruit on his trees and one of the men, Frank Lewis, told me that he picked off ten peaches at one handful. How does that that do for the fruit prospect?
    The farmers are all busy cutting hay and cultivating their corn. The late rains have brought out the hay crop as well as the grain. The grain crop will not be as good as some have anticipated, but better than the two preceding years.
    Since my last, we have had a regular treat in the way of a musical entertainment. The brass band from Medford came out, according to previous arrangements, bringing their dinners with them, and a number of our citizens met with them at the grove on Butte Creek and we had a splendid time. The universal verdict was that they played splendidly for a newly organized band. Come again, boys, and the next time bring the girls with you.    DICK.
    Eagle Point, June 16th, 1891.
Valley Record, Ashland, June 18, 1891, page 3   "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    Henry R. Brown died last Thursday at his home at Brownsboro, in this county, of typhoid fever. The funeral was on Friday, the interment being in the Brownsboro cemetery under the auspices of the Odd Fellows' lodge of Jacksonville, of which the deceased was a respected member. Mr. Brown was a native of England, 64 years of age, and leaves a wife and a family of grown children well provided for, as he amassed among other wealth 2800 acres of land in one body. Mr. Brown came to Jackson County in 1852, and a large circle of friends well remember his many traits of good character.
Valley Record, Ashland, June 25, 1891, page 3


    J. G. Grossman of Medford has been visiting old friends in this place.
    Mrs. F. B. Inlow and daughter, Miss Nada, visited the old home last week.
    Dr. Rohr, our M.D., had a professional call to Portland but has returned to our midst.
    W. W. Parker of Big Butte has been visiting old acquaintances in this vicinity for the last few days.
    Mr. Simon is still very low, having taken no nourishment for the past nine days, and now he cannot take even cold water.
    Thomas E. Nichols and Mr. Simon have each bought a twine binder, and Mr. S. has already commenced to cut his wheat.
    Mrs. Stewart, sister to Mrs. Taylor, wife of Commissioner Taylor, has been here on a visit for some time but has returned home.
    Thomas Culbertson of Klamath County is here visiting relatives and friends. He expects to start home tomorrow, accompanied by his mother.
    John Matney is in from Lake County visiting his father and family. He expects to return in a day or two, accompanied by James Wiley.
    Charley Carney has quit coming to Eagle Point. Cause--he has to stay at home and play with his new daughter, a 10-pounder born June 27th.
    Quite a number of the young folks from Antelope took a trip to Colestin on the Fourth. The day passed off quietly here; a few went to Jacksonville, but a number went a-berrying and picnicking.
    Misses L. Nichols and Maggie Edmondson had a runaway with a horse and cart a few days ago, demolishing the cart to some extent and wounding Miss E. in one of her limbs, but not seriously.
    Since my last we had some very warm weather and consequently the corn is growing finely and the grain is getting ripe. But this morning (Tuesday) it is raining again, so that we feel like we were living in Oregon once more.
    A dispute arose between two ladies as to whether you, Mr. Editor, was a married man and I am requested to ascertain through the columns of the Record.
    [The Record editor is single, quite innocent, but very fond of the smiles of likely ladies (widows not excepted). May Van Alystine, a Brooklyn, N.Y., elocutionist in Ashland last summer, said he reminded her very much of Henry Ward Beecher. The editor will be on exhibition at the district fair, so if the Butte Creek girls want to see a really handsome fellow, they should be on hand early.--FOREMAN.]
    We have had an artist with us for a few days and some of the young folks had a regular Kentucky treat. Some of the young men invited a number of the young ladies to sit with them and have a picture of a group of eight or ten taken, to which proposition they consented and lo! after they were taken, the young gentlemen bought one apiece for themselves--and left the ladies to pay for their own. Such is life in the far West.    DICK.
    Eagle Point, July 7, 1891.
Valley Record, Ashland, July 9, 1891, page 3 "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    Harvesting is in full blast.
    Frank Taylor, living above here, had a runaway a short time ago.
    Mr. Newman and wife are visiting Wm. French.
    Born July 16th, 1891, to Mr. and Mrs. Chris. Wooley, a son. Dr. Rohr was in attendance.
    Miss Anna Carney met with the misfortune to be thrown from her horse last Friday, but was not seriously injured.
    Mr. French has been making some extensive improvements in the way of taking in more land and extending his orchard.
    Born to Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Rice July 20th, 1891, a daughter--a 10-pounder. The mother and child are doing well but poor George--well, he may live over it. Fortunately Dr. Stanfield was on hand and so everything went well.
    On the 9th inst. we had a regular railroad meeting in the interest of the R.R.V.R.R. Co. There was quite a number of visitors from Medford and other places. Among the visitors were Drs. Geary and Pickel, J. S. Howard, Ben. Webb, J. W. Grayborn and the railroad company's attorney, Mr. Fitch. The meeting was called to order by A. J. Daley who introduced Mr. Fitch, who was, of course, prepared to make a speech. He told us that he, as attorney for the company, had no definite proposition to make as to the amount of subsidy the company would require but it was estimated that the road from Medford to Eagle Point would cost $90,000, and that the company wanted to know the feeling of the citizens on the subject. He assured us that the object of the company was to reach the timber belt and that the subsidy that they would ask for was to be paid in three installments, Oct. 1st '91, '92 and '93, and that the railroad company was to build one-third of the road before they called for one dollar of the subscription. He then called on A. J. Daley to read the subsidy agreement, and when it was read it proved to be a petition from the citizens of this vicinity to the aforesaid company to build and operate a railroad between the towns of Medford and Eagle Point and pledging themselves to pay to Vawter & Howard at the bank at Medford the amount in gold coin, set opposite their names, provided the company commences construction. Now their attorney said that the company was to build one-third of the road before they received any money, and he seemed to have anticipated trouble over that "commences construction," so he assured us that the company could not collect one cent unless they completed one-third of the road, and that all the lawyers in Jacksonville and Medford agreed with him. But we have the verbal statement of an attorney on the one hand and the printed agreement on the other, and some of us are a little tenderfooted about promising to pay on such conditions. If the railroad company intended to do the fair thing why does their hired attorney take pains to tell us that the company can't get one dollar, and that all the attorneys in Medford and Jacksonville agree with him, when the printed agreement says that they shall have one-third, provided they commence construction. Now according to agreement they can "commence construction" and draw one-third, and then next year they can "commence construction" and draw another third and then the next year draw the other third and then have an indefinite length of time to complete the road. In addition to the money subsidy the company require the citizens of Medford and Eagle Point and the intervening country to secure the right of way from one point to the other. Such is life under the McKinley bill.    DICK.
    Eagle Point, July 20, '91.
Valley Record, Ashland, July 23, 1891, page 3  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    Harvesting is in full blast and everybody is busy.
    John Rader was thrown off of a header wagon a few days ago and badly hurt on the head and shoulders.
    Mrs. James Wooley has returned to her farm near Eagle Point.
    Mr. Burk of Douglas County is visiting his niece, Mrs. A. J. Florey of this place.
    Mr. and Mrs. Virgin of Central Point are visiting friends here.
    Mr. Graham has been securing the right of way for the R.R.V.R.R. Co. from Medford to this place. I understand that he is securing all the timber he can in the great timber belt on Rogue River and Big Butte.
    H. T. Severance had the misfortune to have his barn and all his outhouses, including his buggy, horse, all his tools except a monkey wrench, two sets of double harness and one of buggy harness, 17 tons of hay, all of his chickens, in fact everything that would be found on a small but systematically kept farm, burned on the night of the 29th, at 1 o'clock a.m. There can be no clue found as to the cause of the fire. As Mr. S. is one of the most careful men in the whole community and he is not known to have an enemy, who would have done so mean and cowardly an act as to burn an old man's barn. When he discovered the fire he ran to the stable door and found that all the inside of the stable was on fire and his poor horse was completely enveloped in the flames. I learned that the property was covered by an insurance of about $200. He has bought all of the lumber he could get at Eagle Point and intends to rebuild immediately. If the wind had not been from the north he would have lost his residence also, but by hard fighting that was saved. Some of the cinders were found one mile north of where the barn stood. The entire community sympathize with him.
    Eagle Point, Aug. 4, 1891.    DICK.
Valley Record, Ashland, August 6, 1891, page 3  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    J. G. Grossman has been visiting his old friends at this place.
    H. G. Shock is reported down with the typhoid fever. Dr. Rohr is in attendance.
    H. T. Severance has completed his barn on the ground where the old one was burned. John Inlow was the boss workman.
    I learn that J. J. Fryer had the peaches stolen off three of his trees. The suspected parties are watched and some morning your correspondent will have to chronicle a shooting affair.
    I understand that a railroad party passed through our town a few days ago and secured the services of John Daley as guide to look out a way for a railroad to the big timber, and into Klamath County.
    The Farmer's Alliance man that was billed to speak here last week, I have not his name, did not speak as the small audience was composed of the citizens of our town and not farmers, so he proposed to speak at some future time.
    Geo. Givan, while he was attempting to get into a header wagon, had his team start, throwing him off his balance, and sticking a tine of a pitchfork in his ankle, near the instep, passing out in the upper part of the heel, causing a very painful and serious wound.
    Mr. Savage, from near Grants Pass, is in the neighborhood with his steam thresher, also Phipps & Reace are at work with their horsepower machine, and Nichols, Mathews, Pool & Co. are doing some work with their H.P. thresher. The grain is not turning out as well as was anticipated.
    Mrs. Howlett, while on her way to see a sick woman in the neighborhood, discovered a large rattlesnake. Alighting from her nag, she gathered stones and dispatched his snakeship to the land of good snakes and good Indians. He had eight rattles and a button. John Rader also killed a large rattlesnake in his dooryard a few days ago that had twelve rattles and a button.
    One of our leading citizens who has had the fruit stolen by some petty thieves concluded that this year he would save it so he took his bed out to the orchard and slept there three or four nights, and one day as he had nothing particular to do thought he would go out to his bed and read awhile. In a short time his attention was called to an unusual noise and upon looking around discovered a large rattlesnake in close proximity to his bed, so he concluded that the fruit might go if he had to sleep with rattlesnakes, and like one in olden times, he took up his bed and walked; and that very night his fruit was stolen.    DICK.
    Eagle Point, Aug. 17, 1891.
Valley Record, Ashland, August 20, 1891, page 3  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    Our post office is soon to be made a money order office.
    Our P.M. and express agent reports considerable business in the express office.
    We are pleased to state that the proprietor of the Eagle Hotel, A. Pool, is improving in health.
    Geo. Brown, one of our merchants, has just returned from Portland where he has been to attend to business.
    Miss Jennie, daughter of Geo. Heckathorn, has gone to Washington to visit her sister, Mrs. David Bull, to remain several months.
    C. W. Taylor has sold the Dr. Rivers property to a lady from Nebraska. I have not learned her surname. Consideration, $650.
    John Young, our efficient and accommodating road supervisor, has laid a new floor in the bridge across Antelope Creek, on the road leading from here to Central Point.
    In our trip from Round Top we passed by ex-Sheriff Jacobs' sawmill and from appearance has been sawing a fine lot of lumber, and from the amount of lumber on the road somebody must be building, although there seems to be a lull in building in our town.
    A short time ago a Mr. Dodge was driving a team across our bridge and a part his well-boring machine was sticking up too high when it caught against one of the crossties in the roof, tearing it loose, which frightened the horses causing them to run away, thereby tearing them almost all out; but he repaired them in a few days, so that there was no damage done.
    Married at the residence of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Cormack, Oct. 18th, 1891, on Round Top, Big Butte precinct, by Rev. A. C. Howlett, Mr. William N. Marlow and Miss Fannie Cormack, all of Jackson County, Oregon. And your correspondent by special invitation was there to participate in the pleasures of the occasion and assist in trying to do justice to one of the best dinners that has been served in the precinct for lo, these many years. The guests began to assemble about 11 o'clock a.m., and by the time for the ceremony to be performed, about thirty-five of the particular friends of the bride and groom had met to bid them good cheer on their voyage through life, and at precisely 2 p.m., the friends being collected, the happy couple were pronounced husband and wife. After the usual congratulations we all filed into the dining room for dinner. But before we mention anything about the dinner I would like to give a description of the happy couple's appearance, but you know I am not an expert in that line but will say that the bride looked so SWEET that, in spite of the embarrassing surroundings, the groom snatched the first kiss. Well, the dinner--just such a one as Mrs. Cormack could get up, everything that could tempt the appetite. Well, I, or rather we, for your friend Cormack as well as your correspondent wished you could have been there and enjoyed the season with us. We lingered until after 4 p.m. and then gathering up the little Dicks and Mrs. Dick started for home, reaching there at 8 p.m.    DICK.
    Eagle Point, Oct. 20, 1891.
Valley Record, Ashland, October 22, 1891, page 2  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    S. A. Carlton of Jackson County, Oregon, had a costly experience with the hot October sun last week. In driving a bunch of 120 fat hogs from his place near Brownsboro across the "desert" to Central Point for shipment he lost twenty-five head, valued at about $300. It was an exceptionally hot day and the fat creatures, overcome by the heat, lay down and died.
Del Norte Record, Crescent City, October 24, 1891, page 3


    Mrs. John K. Green has gone to San Francisco.
    George W. Rice has sold his farm near this place to George E. Brown; 160 acres for $1370.
    A. J. Daley, our Butte Creek miller, is receiving a large amount of corn to grind this winter.
    Geo. Rice has moved from the place he sold onto the farm of his father-in-law, Jas. Matney.
    Mrs. Woods, sister to Mrs. J. J. Fryer, who has been visiting relatives, has gone to Missouri to spend the winter.
    Our school is progressing finely and quite a number of pupils from other districts are here attending school.
    Mrs. M. A. Roundtree and her two daughters, from Washington, are here visiting the family of Jas. Matney.
    We anticipate a feast on venison for two of our nimrods; Walker Lewis and Ralph Newman have gone to the mountains on a big hunt.
    David Cingcade has built a new and commodious smokehouse, and from the looks of his hog pen he intends to make considerable bacon.
    Mrs. J. N. Thomas has moved into the house formerly occupied by Dr. Rivers and purchased by her daughter, Mrs. Chappell of Coos County.
    There is some kicking against the three-mill tax that was levied for school purposes. Perhaps the next time the taxpayers will turn out and not let a handful do the voting.
    One of our promising young men, B. A. Potter, has left our community and gone to Ashland to reside and I wish to caution the young ladies of your city to be careful how they cast shy glances at him, for when it was announced that he had determined to leave us the sad countenances of some of the girls told too plainly that it was sad to be severed.
    We have another "new departure" in our community. One of the honorables of Jacksonville commenced suit against a citizen of this precinct and served an attachment on certain property, but it appeared to the satisfaction of the plaintiff that the property belonged to his wife et al. so ordered the sheriff to release it from custody. The court rendered judgment for the amount and costs; but lo, now the man has gone to work for his wife and she is to pay him up in full every Saturday night so that the money cannot be garnisheed in her hands. So that somebody besides him will have to pay the costs, and let the judgment stand.    DICK.
    Eagle Point, Nov. 1st, 1891.
Valley Record, Ashland, November 12, 1891, page 1  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    Gus and John Nichols, sons of T. E. Nichols, returned from Eastern Oregon some time past.
    Mr. and Mrs. Gates (nee Lizzie Matney) are here from Washington on a visit to her father.
    Everybody that can is plowing, sowing wheat and getting ready for an abundant harvest next year.
    James Wiley, John and Lewis Matney have returned to their respective parental roofs from Klamath County.
    Mr.and Mrs. Roundtree have returned to their home in Washington with their family, who have been on a visit to Jas. Matney.
    Prof. Haselton has opened a night school for the benefit of some of the young gentlemen and ladies, where he is teaching bookkeeping.
    Eagle Point has honored itself by placing a neat footbridge in the place of two logs that were placed across a dry hollow between Inlow & Ashpole's store and the Eagle Point Hotel.
    We are pleased to state that through the influence of our accommodating P.M., A. J. Florey, the citizens of Antelope and vicinity have a post office established in their midst at the residence of Mr. von der Hellen.
    The Eagle Point literary society is becoming an interesting institution in Jackson County, and as the world stood still awaiting the result of the discussion of the question as to pleasure derived from pursuit or possession we are pleased to state that the question is finally settled in favor of possession; so we may reasonably expect a number of captures in the next year, as it is divisible by four.
    The neighborhood south of us had an old-fashioned quilting at the residence of Jas. Matney on Dry Creek, where a large number of the friends met and spent the day quilting, eating, chatting, etc., and at night the young folks had a play party. One, and perhaps the most interesting, feature of the quilting sociable had to be omitted on account of a slight shower of rain, and that was a foot race between two ladies whose aggregate weight amounts to 437 lbs.    DICK.
    Eagle Point, Dec. 1, 1891.
Valley Record, Ashland, December 3, 1891, page 2 "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.


    Happy New Year to all; adieu for this year.
    Born to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Rader, Dec. 13, 1891, a son.
    Born to Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Newman, Dec. 13, 1891, a daughter.
    Miss Grace Stanfield of your city is visiting her father of this place.
    Mr. Gates has returned from Washington and brought another man and two blooded hounds with him. They are the guests of James Matney.
    Christmas Day we, that is myself, Mrs. Dick and the little Dicks were invited to a Christmas dinner, with a few others, at S. A. Potter's, son of Wilson Potter of your city, and if you had been there you could have filled that 3-foot aperture in the front of your cranium, for Mrs. P. spared no pains nor expense to get up a first-class dinner and we all enjoyed it hugely. Wish you could have been there.
    Xmas has come and gone. We had a very nice entertainment connected with our Christmas tree that reflects credit on the young ladies of our town, who were the prime movers in the movement. The Xmas tree was loaded as usual with presents for the old as well as the young. You have heard of the boy who won the elephant at the raffle? Well, our M.D., Dr. Stanfield, got four on our Christmas tree, three large ones and one small one, so he proposes to go into the elephant business and sell them at four bits apiece. This is not an ad.    DICK.
    Eagle Point, Dec. 29, 1891.
Valley Record, Ashland, December 31, 1891, page 4  "Dick" was A. C. Howlett.