Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 June 1908 — IN GOOD OLD PIONEER DAYS. [ARTICLE]

IN GOOD OLD PIONEER DAYS.

Jerry Beaty after renewing acquaintances, and talking over old times until Friday morning, went to Wheatfleld, a town never thought of when he left this county, and Will spend three or four days there. Mr. Beaty is a great practical joker, and related one while here that will bear repeating. On one occasion, away back in the sixties, he had paid a visit to Lafayette, and while there purchased a suit of clothes, then slipping back to Rensselaer .he tied his horse to the limb of a tree down by the “creek,” as it would not stand hitched to the rack, and made for the only barber shop in town. Here he ordered the barber to shave off his beard, which heretofore he had worn full, long and flowing, after which he proceeded to visit every store and office in town. He was not recognized by anyone until he finally visited the office of Tom Spitler. Here he applied for a position as a law student. Tom talked as though he would give him a position, but after looking him over carefully, the fraud he was practicing was discovered, and Tom with a considerable number of remarks that would not look well in type, chased him out of the office. Tom’s tiff did not last long, as they were the' best of friends, and no doubt a little later the matter was fixed up satisfactorily to both parties at the 5-cent refreshment counter that existed at that time just east of the postoffice, where a concoction composed of race water and some other ingredients was sold at bargain prices, that would bring the answer quicker than anything ever handled in Rensselaer.