Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 79, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 April 1913 — SHORT BUT PLEASANT VISIT IN RENSSELAER [ARTICLE]

SHORT BUT PLEASANT VISIT IN RENSSELAER

Tom Barton Recalls Old “Liberal Corner” and Other Landmarks of Early Seventies. • Tom Barton, of Lapwai, Idaho, has left for Ais home after a, very brief visit with his cousins, the Healy brothers, and with some of the Makeever families. Mr. Barton is almost a.half century old and he left Rensselaer in 1874 wheri only 11 years of age and went to Benton county. Four years later his father. Patrick Barton, took his family to California and later he moved to Lewiston, Idaho, where Tom resided until recently, when he moved to the small town of Lapwai, 12 miles from Lewiston. Mr. Barton’s recollection of the people, the old buildings and the" various landmarks of the early seventies was not shaken by the long years of his absence and the old friends whom he met found great enjoyment in recounting the events of the early seventies. Tom’s father, Patrick Barton, was a blacksmith and had his shop where Hamilton & Kellner’s establishment now is. His residence was across the street about where B. K Zimmerman lives. The old mill was operated by water power and was run by C. D. Hopkins or one of his brothers. Mr. Barton owned the “Libera^ bojner,” a frame building located Where the K. of P. building now stands. It was occupied by Reese Goddard’s bakery, Johnny Coates’ cigar store, C. C. Starr’s grocery and the Masonic hall was on the third floor. The old “Shanghai” building occupied ;he ground where the Ellis theatre building now is. The post office was in that building. John Aus;in, father of W. B. Austin, had a rarae hotel where the Rensselaer louse is now located and Ludd Hopkins occupied the building where the poultry yards of the Rensselaer Producing Co; are now. Marsh Rhoades had his barber shop next door to the Liberal J ‘Cor ner .and Norman Warner’s carriage shop occupied the same location that C. A. Roberts now has. The old race was at the rear of the shop. The “coal oil”, well was then the chief point of iqorest in Rensselaer and all the young folks and many of the older ones went there almost every evening during ’ the “good old summer time” to get a refreshing quaff from the flowing well. On Sunday afternoons it was a gathering place for the people bf i;he town and country. It is probable that many of the newer residents of the city of Rensselaer and the surrounding country have never known of the existence of i;his well. It was just west of the Simon P. Thompson, now the Harry Kurrie, residence, and gave’forth a iberal stream of cold water until a few years ago when the stream failed and when the river was dredged the flow seemed to stop altogether, indicating that the water seeped through crevices in the rock. Mr. Barton was greatly disappointed to find that this “dear old ipot” had been so He insisted on visiting tire place- and much to his pleasure rouqd that ;he well was flowing again, doubtess owing to the high waters. He said he felt sure it was on his account and he procured a bottle and filled it and. will take it back to Idaho to his wife and three boys. Mr. Barton recalled an incident of his boyhood that has doubtless lad a parallel in the life of almost* every town youth following the visit of a circus to the town. Norman Warner had an old gray horse and this was the sole live stock and the center about which Warner Bros.’ Big Circus was founded. Tom Barton was one of the performers. The show was held on the corner lot west of Mr. Warner’s residence where Hale Warner’s residence now is. The price of admission was 10 pins and .half the town was out to see the “menagerie.” \\ 'j Mr. Barton was twice elected sheriff of Nez Perce county, Idaho, and could have had the office longer had he so desired. He says it was some wild but never so bad as related in novels and moving pictures. Mr. Barton’s uncle, Denins Barton, died recently in Lafayette, leaving an estate estimated at $60,000. and certificates of deposit in Lafayette banks totaling $32,000. Dennis Barton was a widower without children and the estate is to go to his nephews and nieces and It was to look after that that Mr. Barton came east. Indications are that the estate will not pay out that much, owing to some complications in business that he had not straight ened out before his death. Stewart. Hammond & Simins, of Lafayette, are looking after the interests ol the heirs and Mr. Barton will re turn to the west. He is a fine look ing man and very pleasing in ad

dress and his visit was fc greatly ap preeiated by alb his old friends who had an opportunity to meet him.