Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 January 1909 — Prospering In Their New Homes. [ARTICLE]

Prospering In Their New Homes.

Spokane, iWfsh., Jan. tO, ’O9. To the Editor of The Republican: As I have been away from Rensselaer for a little over two years, I thought a letter through your paper might be -interesting to the many friends still there. 1 Mr. Vernie Thornton was living here when we canie, he was working for the Washington Water Power Co., and has continued with them ever since working his way up to a first class lineman, receiving $4 per day. Mr. Theodore Lang, Vernie’s brother-ih-law is also with the same company and receiving same wages. Mr. Sam Thornton is living in Spokane temporarily, working for the same company as a groundman. He has a claim down close to the Columbia river.* Mr. J. A. Crisler has lived here a good many years, he has seen Spokane grow from a small village'to a city of over 100,000 population. Mr. Crisler Is comfortably fixed, owning a large ranch and two good properties in the city, living in one of them. Mr. Arnott and family have done well since they came t 6 Spokane, all of the boys getting good salaries and saving some money. , . Mr. Ed Hurley has also, done we’l since he came west making $4 and $4.60 per day at carpener work. Mr. Alfred Sea has done fine, he has a 40 acre farm only 9 miles from Spokane. His son Herbert is manager of the boys’ department in a large department store. His department carries a $12,000 stock and Herbert does most of the buying for his department I was in to see him last night and he is getting along fine. Mr. Blaine Wood has also prospered building a house here and paying for it at stone work, he has bought a relinquishment on a home-stead lately and moved upon it in Stevens county, north of hero. Mr. Sam Norman has lived In different parts of Washington since he came west, but now lives over in Idaho about 55 miles from Spokane. He says he wouldn’t think of going back east as he likes this country so JVell. I was up there hunting this fall and ate my first venison. Mr. James Adair lives close to Mr. Norman’s and has a farm of 160 acres.

Mr. Robert Hopkins lives on a ranch close to Spokane. I don’t see him very often, but I think he Is doing well. Two of Mr. Thomas Crockett’s sons are out here, following carpenter work but I haven’t got very well acquainted with them. Rev. A. C. Downing, who was raised in Rensselaer and went to school in the old framo school house, lives here and is pastor of the Pacific Ave., Christian church. He owns a nice home close to the church, and is one of the many Rensselaer people may be proud of. We found Mr. Grant Hinkle here, one of Jasper county’s boys, who has done well, ho is a reporter and ad. writer. Mr. J. D. Brosnahan, who married John English’s daughter,lives out on the electric road on a fine farm with abundance of fruit, he also owns a brick block in Spokane which brings him in big rent. Mr. Pullins lives south of Spokane and has a fine ranch. I have tried to mention all of Jasper county people living here, that I know of, now I will try and give a sketch of myself and family, which may be a little longer as I am more familiar with eaeh one.

We have lived in Spokane ever since we left Rensselaer, and 1 am very glad wo come as Mrs. Thornton’s health has been exceptionally good for her ever since we come west I have been lucky since we landed ’here; 1 went to work at electric wiring for $4 per day before 1 was here a week, and it lasted until Christmas, then I took it easy until spring, enjoying myself and getting a quaiuted with the people. I went to work In the spring and soon got $5 per day, the Bame wages continued through the winter but 1 only worked about half of the time. This last summer I went contracting with Thos. E. Willey, and this fall one of the contractors I had worked for gave me $6 per day for about 10 weeks, while his foreman was back east; then I bought a half interest in a repair shop, making a specialty of picture machines and motors, which keeps me very busy this winter. Mr. Willey retains the electrical contracting, being all located in the same shop, in the main part of the city. I have bought a lot and am planning to build a $1,200 residence In the spring. Mr. Wiley married our daughter Nora since we came west, and they are getting along very nicely; he bka bought quite a bit of property lately in Spokane. Mrs. Willey, his Btep-mother, and brother Is staying with him, tho latter going to nigl.t school. Henry, our oldest boy, Is floormanager on the main floor in one of the large department stores bate. Albert la with the Fleshman Yeast Co. and baa been for over a year. Emerson works in the office of The

Spokane Press, and all of them re-' ceive good salaries. - The boys have all been attending the Y. M. C. A. night school. Howley Ramey is making his home with us, ho came out last September, but hasn’t any permanent position at present. Mr. Thomas Camba, who lived at Remington, came out with us and has made his home with us ever since; he follows painting. Charley Thornton, Schuyler’s boy, has been heie two years and done well, he has just bought a small house and lot I think this Is a great country and a fine class of people out here, Some of them have made immense fortunes in a short time in land, timber, mining and business of different kinds. This is the greatest country for fruit to grow I have ever seen, spring comes early to be so far north, the grass being nice and green as soon as the snow goes off in February or March, but the nights are usually cool all summer. I like the winter better here, although it is about as cold, we do not have so much wind and the changes in temperature are slower. Spokane Is one of the most beautiful cities in the country. It is natural that I should like this place as I have done better out here than I eVer done. While all of the people I mentioned have done better by coming out here, I wouldn’t advise people back there, that are satisfied, to sell out and come out here thinking they can make big money, for if they don’t happen to strike it right they could blow in a thousand or two very easy. 1 have seen a few get up against it good and hard since I have been here. I do not believe in trying to induce people to come out here just because 1 like it. Two daughters of Mrs. Lang arrived in Spokane a little late hR| all O. K. Wishing my old friends and the Republican, which I still Hkfe to read, success, I remain, Very Truly Yours, C. L. THORNTON.