Death has again been in our midst, taking the beloved sister of Mr. and Mrs.
A. W. Taylor, Miss Anna Smith, who departed this life Monday, Jan. 25, aged about 72 years.
Mrs. Taylor has been quite sick but is some better, while Professor lies in a
very critical condition at the present.
DIED IN HIS WAGON.
Another good man has entered into his reward. Mr. Theron Hunter (July 24, 1815- Nov. 13,1892) died Sunday morning, after an illness of several months. Uncle Theron, as everyone called him, was one of the pioneer settlers of Crockery. His neighbors always found him an honest and upright man in all his dealings. He was an honored member of the Masonic Fraternity, many of whom gathered to pay their last respects to their departed brother. He leaves a large circle of friends and a widow to mourn his death.
COOPERSVILLE OBSERVER, APRIL 24,1896
NUNICA NEWS:
Three of our young hopefuls left town about three weeks ago to find more congenial climes. But like the cat---"They came back."
J. Muzzall is building a large barn on his place. (Oscar Hecksel farm in 1995) It was raised last Saturday and the dimensions are 40x60 with 24 foot posts.
Burke & Witham were obliged to suspend business at their sawmill last week on account of a breakdown, but resumed business again on Monday.
The services held last Sunday for the I. O. O. F.,was well attended. The sermon was excellent and impressive and was listened to by an appreciative audience.
Mrs. James Rae has a very fine Lady Washington (Geranium) in bloom, which would be hard to find an equal. It stands about four feet high, and has 99 blossoms on it. It is a beauty.
A surprise party was given to Miss Jessie Curtis, by the Good Templars, consisting of about twenty. Water and light refreshments were served and a pleasant time with it.
Messrs. Bond, Needham, Gleason, Jubb, J. Pickett Jr.,Gordon and Gibbs went as delegates to the county convention on Monday. J. Pickett Jr. was elected delegate to the state convention.
The play given by the scholars of the high school last Thursday and Friday evenings was a success in all its make up. The unusual expression of the audience was that "they did well." We understand that $18 was netted.
The exhibition at the Lawrence school Wednesday evening, was largely attended and very much appreciated. The scholars performed their parts in a very creditable manner. This exhibition closes a very successful term of school taught by Miss Maud Seymour.
NUNICA, APR. 15, 1899
John Palen had a pair of pants and coat stolen from his house last monday while he was in Fruitport.
Two carloads of potatoes were shipped from this place this week.
There will be ice cream given by the Congregational ladies at the town hall one week from tonight, April 22nd.
John Holland's house burned last Thursday night about midnight. They were unable to save hardly anything and some of the children escaped scantily clothed. The fire caught inside from some cause unknown.
Mr. John Holland is suffering with a severe attack of pneumonia caused from exertion during the burning of his house last Thursday night.
Died, on Saturday, April 8th, Monroe Seymour, aged 40 years at his home near Ottawa Center. He leaves a wife and three small children to mourn his loss. Funeral last Tuesday at the Taylor school house.
Sidney Lawrence, long time resident of the Nunica area, was born July 16th, 1821, in Genessee county, New york, and died Jan. 25th, 1900, at Nunica, Mich.
There was a very happy event at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Bartholomew Wednesday, Aug. 22, at 2 p.m.,when their daughter, Miss Isabel (Belle), was united in marriage to Mr. Thadeus H. Libbey of Chicago. Rev W. W. Slee of Spring Lake performed the ceremony before a gathering of around one hundred guests. After the ceremony ice cream and cake were served and the newly married couple expect to leave on the evening train for a short wedding tour.
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The first marriage licences of the Twientieth Century were issued by Clerk Chas. K. Hoyt to Egbert H. Edwards and Emma Hering of Nunica; Herman Kreger of Polkton and Bertha Hayward of Nunica. (1901)
NUNICA, DEC.21, 1901
Zero weather and plenty of snow has been the program for this past week and men are improving the good sleighing, drawing saw logs to our new saw mill.
The Sunday school of the two churches have united in a Christmas tree this year to be held in the M. E. church next Tuesday evening. The young ladies of of both schools have selected a pretty program and all are expected to join in the yule-tide.
Mr. W. Maebius of Warren, Ohio, and Miss Florence Gordon of this place were married at Spring Lake December 18th and started for their new home at Warren, Ohio, where they will be at home to their many friends after January 1st.
Frank Davison will ship several car loads of fine oak logs to Grand Rapids next week
NUNICA, FEB. 16,1902
Ten degrees below zero Friday morning.
There will be a measuring social at the Spoonville chapel Friday, Feb. 22. Come one and all and enjoy a good time with us and we will treat you to a piece of Scripture cake. By order of com. Bertha Sanders
Ed Brown entered upon his duties as postmaster Thursday night.
Road grader agents have been canvassing the townships and the three northeastern road districts have united in the purchase of one.
About fifty friends and neighbors both young and old, enjoyed a surprise party at the home of F. M..Brown last Thursday evening. The house being unable to hold the crowd, the younger portion repaired to Palen Hall where they enjoyed themselves with music and dancing.
NUNICA, OCT. 11, 1902
Quite a nomber of our citizens attended the Berlin fair last Thursday.
A car load of poultry was shipped from this place last Thursday. This is becoming quite a shipping point for poultry; this being the second car this fall and another will be shipped in November.
Fremont Brown has sold out his store (later Westover's) to Wm. Barbrick and Charlie Jubb, who took possession last monday. (Charlie Jubb, Orie Jubb's father, worked as butcher for Fremont Brown and drove a meat route in the area and as far north as Sullivan)
The Reading Room fund is still growing, the contributions having increased to nearly eight dollars. Following are names of contributors since October 1: Mrs. E. Brown, G. Gould, Leo Gould, Mr. and Mrs. Castle, Mr. and Mrs. Jubb, F. Douck Jr., Mrs. B. Dell and Mr. and Mrs. J. Gibbs.
The W. R. C. will serve supper at the Maccabee hall, Oct. 18th, at five o'clock. All members of Bartholomew Post are requested to be present.
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Mrs. Pearl Plant Mills, formerly of Nunica, an Iroquois Theater Victim.
Mrs. Pearl Plant Mills, of Chicago, a well known former Crockery young lady was among the victims of the Iroquois theatre catastrophe in Chicago. The fire occured on Dec. 30, 1903 and killed 639 patrons.
The deceased was well known in Coopersville and throughout all Ottawa county. She was born in Nunica 32 years ago, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Plant.
Nunica, April 23, 1908.~Mrs Ann Carpenter died at her home in Nunica yesterday, aged 72 years. She is survived by her husband, M. C. Carpenter, and six children. (The Carpenters were early settlers in Nunica and owned the area where the fire barn, Carpenter Park and Sam Brown's house are now located in 1995)
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NUNICA, JULY 1910
The weather just at present is a little too cool nights for crops, but a week or more ago the temperature was up in the 90s. Altogether the season has been all that one could wish and it has been many years since trees mace such a growth as this year and small fruit promises an abundant crop.
The high school alumni banquet a week ago Saturday night passed off very pleasantly with 49 guests.
John Spencer, eldest son of Medad Spencer, who has been gone from here about twenty years, wandering through the west and Alaska, also in the Klondike, has returned home for a visit with parents and relatives.
Mr. Ed Lawrence lost his pocketbook a week ago last Monday, somewhere about town. It was returned to him on Tuesday by John Pickett, for which Mr. Lawrence feels very grateful and expresses his thanks to Mr. Pickett through these columns.
Frank Palen, the only child of Mr. & Mrs. Drury Palen, and Miss Edna Edwards, daughter of Egbert Edwards, were married Saturday, July 3rd and immediately left for a trip to Indiana.
Old resident of Ottawa Center, Samuel Smith, died Nov. 27, 1910 aged 86
years.
Funeral services for Mrs. Drury Palen were conducted by Rev. Parsons on Wednesday afternoon and were largely attended. Mrs. Palen was born in 1861 on the same farm on which she died. (Henry Rosin farm on 112th ave in 1994) Her marriage with Mr. Palen occured in 1882. She passed away on Sunday, April 25, 1920 and was buried at Ottawa Center.
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Percy Withey took a load of baled oat straw weighing 4500 pounds, to Grand Haven, Monday.
Dont miss the opportunity to vote Tuesday, November 2, and the dinner at the hall.
Mr. and Mrs. Apollis Griswold, of Muskegon, were in Coopersville Tuesday, where Mrs. Griswold was having dental work done.
George Bartholomew and family will spend the winter here in town with Mrs. Amanda Castle.
The Congregational Society will hold their meeting at the church on Thursday, November 4, to tie off a quilt. Each lady bring your lunch for dinner and meet there at 10 a. m.
Schools were closed Thursday and Friday this week for the meeting of the State Teachers Association in Grand Rapids.
RIVER ROAD RUMBLINGS, OCT. 29, 1920.
Charles Werly was on the sick list last week.
Philip Werly, who has been in Minnesota the past three months, returned home Sunday.
Last Saturday as Charles Wyman was driving down the Ball Hill, the steering gear broke and the car went over a bank of fourteen feet. The car was badly damaged but Mr. Wyman was unhurt.
The program for Nunica Grange Saturday evening, May 8 is as follows: Monologue, Wm. Halleck; dialogue, S. Pull; instrumental music, Ernest Plant; a few tricks, Egbert Edwards; something different, Mrs. E. Plant; a few recitations, Matilda Peterson; charade, Bertha Pryer; acrostic, Ned Spencer; contest, Mattie Hering; straw vote, Fred Gordon; a few jokes, Nora Post. Coffee, cake and sandwiches will be served.
NUNICA NEWS, NOV. 12, 1920
Charlie Jubb left for the North woods Monday the 8th and was accompanied by Earl Baldus and George Green.
James Wildey and Fred Allison Sr. are also off to the woods deer hunting.
E. Riley Porter, aged 74, passed away at his home on Nov. 3 as result of an attack of neuralgia of the heart. He was an old soldier of the Civil War, an Odd Fellow and, with his wife, a member of the Rebeka Lodge. He had lived in this community for many years and was respected by all.
George Waite, who was born in Colburn, Ontario on October 30, 1840, died at the home of his son, in Nunica, on Nov. 7, 1920. Funeral services were held in the Congregational church on Nov. 9th with burial in the Nunica cemetery.
RIVER ROAD RUMBLINGS, NOV. 12, 1920
At this writing, Fred Warnke is under the doctors care.
Art Nash of Grand Haven and Orie Jubb of Nunica, were Sunday visitors at Fred Warnke's.
Wm. Hecksel and family, from across the river, have moved to their new home recently purchased of Jake Van Weelde. Mr. Van Weelde and family have moved to their home near Coopersville.
Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Bartholomew moved to Nunica Wednesday.
COOPERSVILLE OBSERVER, FEB. 3, 1924
William Mines, aged eighty four years and six months, and who for many years was a resident of this locality, died Sunday morning at his home here.
Mr. Mines was born in Germany, came to America at the age of thirteen years and has lived in this part of the County ever since coming to the United States. Since 1905 he has lived in Coopersville,
Funeral services were held at the home Tuesday conducted by Rev. H. Hoffs. Interment in Nunica, in charge of the Masonic Lodge, of which he was a member.
Note: Mr. Mines was a pioneer settler in Nunica and at one time built and operated a general store (later J. Borchers) here in Nunica.
FOURTH OF JULY HINTS.
Always hold dynamite crackers in the hand when exploding them. This will put you beyond any danger of being a celebrator next year.
If the cannon doesn't go off on time you can make it do business immediately by looking into the muzzle. This never fails.
Always carry a lighted piece of punk in the pistol pocket of your trousers. This will save a lot of time, even though it doesn't save the trousers, but what is a pair of trousers when a country's freedom is at stake? Your revolutionary ancestors would never have stopped for that.
Always point the skyrocket at the house across the way. It may not kill anybody, but it will scare them to death so you will accomplish the same ultimate result.
Throw your fire crackers in the dry grass right next to the house. The house will make a grand illumination, if the night is dark, and add much to the glory of the occasion.
Always remember that a skittish horse is dead in love with patriotism in the form of firecrackers and never let one go by in the street without giving him a salute.
If the dynamite cracker doesn't go right, hold it up to the mouth and blow on it. You will never have anything more to say on any subject.
Roy K. Moulton
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An experienced dairyman recommends the following for a cow that is tough to milk:
Animal Husbandry; early 1900s.
(Mar. 30, 1892)
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The Ladies Union Aid Society will give an ice cream social at the town hall, Saturday evening, May 2. All are invited.
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SIDNEY LAWRENCE MEMORIAL:
Time like an ever rolling stream
Bears all its sons away.
They fly forgotten as a dream
Dies at the opening day.
"That death is but a covered way
Which opens into light
Wherein no blinded child can stay
Beyond the Father's sight.
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NUNICA, AUG. 1900
NOTE: Thad Libbey served as Crockery Township clerk for many years.
Mrs. James Rae, Editor.
Mrs James Rae, Editor
Mrs. James Rae, Editor.
Coopersville Observer
January, 1904
Mrs. Mills and her sister walked from Grand Haven to Chicago during the Worlds Fair days (1893) and attained considerable notoriety because of the exploit.
Her funeral took place on Sunday afternoon, in Nunica, with burial in the Nunica cemetery. (Lot 92)
(MRS. E. M. RAE EDITOR)
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AUTOMOBILITIS.
Oh, touring car, to thee I sing,
You surely are a wondrous thing.
Before you start, I grasp your crank
And give it such a vicious yank
That it flies back and deftly wrecks
The region of my solar plex.
Then I get mad and yank some more
And all I get is just a snore,
A sort of rumbling, puffing sound
That seems to come out of the ground.
Then you give one discordant snort,
One single snort and then stop short.
And then I have to crank again
Till every muscle is in pain.
And in an hour, or there about,
I find the batteries are out.
I get some new ones, put 'em in
And with a glad, contented grin,
I hear your engine start to throb
And off we go, yes, siree, Bob.
I brag about you to my friends,
But long before our journey ends
They're next to both of us, all right,
The way you act is sure a fright.
When I'm alone you burn the road,
But not when I have got a load.
Your tires give out, you pant and wheeze
And run so slow you make no breeze.
You amble on by fits and starts,
It seems as though each of your parts
Has got an ailment of its own.
My friends converse in whispered tone.
When finally you give out flat,
Ten miles from home as quick as scat.
Your engine gasps and then runs down.
My friends and I hike back to town.
Oh, touring car, to thee I sing,
Thou vicious and ungrateful thing.
--Roy K. Moulton.
Little drops of whiskey
Put in on the sly,
Makes a soda water
A lovely thing to buy.
-Cleveland.
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.NUNICA NEWS, APR. 29, 1920
NUNICA NEWS, OCT. 29, 1920
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RIVER ROAD RUMBLINGS, NOV. 2, 1920
His funeral took place on Nov. 5th with burial in the Nunica cemetery.
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FOR A HARD MILKER
"Make a plug of slippery elm, two inches long and the thickness of a match at the thinnest end. Let the other end have a head on it similar to that on a horseshoe nail. Tie a piece of silk thread around the head, slip the plug in the teat which milks hard and let it stay until next milking. That teat will will give a full, easy stream, but if at any future time it should milk hard then give it another application. The elm plug swells in the teat. The large head at one end is to hinder further entrance into the teat, as it might by accident get out of sight, in which case the silk thread will be handy to take hold of for withdrawal of plug.
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The above information was obtained from the scrapbook of Mrs. J. D. Pickett, loaned to us by Laura Pickett, for which we are very grateful.
"The Crockery History Group"