The Chariton Patriot of Jan. 16, 1884, for example contained correspondent reports from Benton (township), Derby (village), Newbern (village), English (township) and Freedom (village).
The report from Benton, signed only "A Subscriber," was the longest and the most detailed. This a family neighborhood of mine --- the Daniel Myers mentioned was my great-grandfather; Abraham Myers, his brother; several others, brothers-in-law. All of the Redlingshafers and Hupps were related, too, via my great-grandmother, Mary Belle (Redlingshafer) Myers. The family patriarch, Jacob Myers, had died during 1883, so there are reports concerning the dividing of his farms as the estate was settled; and Mt. Carmel Church had been dedicated during November of 1882.
The 1896 land ownership map of southern Benton Township shows where some of these people and places were located. The poor quality photo of Mt. Carmel Church was taken when it was in decline, but the final image --- of a Mt. Carmel Sunday school class about 1905 --- was taken when its members were resplendent in their Sunday best.
Here's the report:
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The last two years the seasons with us have been rather discouraging to farmers, but at the same time we think "it is a long thoroughfare that has no change of course," and "that it's an ill wind that blows no good." During that period the latter adage seems visibly verified in repairs and permanent improvements. There being less farm work, "willing hands" found ample employment in putting public as well as private domains in order, fencing, painting up, as well as building to some extent.
During that time there has been erected on the Jacob Myers homestead an elegant church edifice, at a cost of between $1,300 and $1,400. The grounds have been nicely graded and enclosed with a neat fence, the latter of which is well protected by ample hitching racks. The fence and exterior of the house have been painted white and the shutters, green. The center aisle of the sanctuary is lighted with large chandeliers and the sides with large lamps supplied with reflectors. The pulpit is supplied with a beautiful carved table, book rest and large Bible, and is surrounded with a portable walnut altar, and carpeted with a shade to blend with the shutters. Two large stoves stand on either side of the central aisle. The wreaths and bouquets of everlasting flowers, the appropriate mottoes and elegant Sunday school banner, used in decoration, were mostly the handiwork and contribution of the young ladies of the neighborhood. The prominent members of the committee were Misses Lizzie Hupp, Nancy, Allie and Rena Redlingshafer, Lavina Holmes, Annie and Addie Myers.
As the grounds were graded as much as circumstances would permit, the edifice was named "Mt. Carmel," the same as the noted promontory on the coast of Palestine so frequently visited by the prophets Elijah and Elisha, and upon which was the destruction of the priests of Baal, as recorded in the book of Kings. We have regular services in this church, conducted alternately by two ministers, and prayer meeting the entire year on Sunday and Wednesday evenings, when not conflicting with other appointments. We have a good Sabbath school on Sunday morning the entire year. We have a township Sunday school convention which holds a two or three days session semi-annually, at points previously designated.
During the less hurried interval, Mr. G.W. Redlingshafer has put up a fine bank barn at a heavy expense. Mr. Lafe Smith has painted his dwelling white; Mr. Abe Myers repainted his residence white with window shutters a deep green. Messrs. Tom Gookin, Congdon, J.G. Merrill, Abe Myers, Ed Arnold and G.W. Redlingshafer have clothed their barns in an attire of red; also Mr. Widiman and Cyrus Scott; and Chas. Gartin has put up a fine barn attiring it in the same hue. Most of this painting was done by Mr. Elisha Hickle who, for industry, honesty and substantial work, has few superiors.
During the past season most of the farmers having timber land lying cut enclosed it for pasture, among which were Mr. Farber, G.W. Mitchell, Clark and Tom Gookin, Jno. Hickle, Abe Myers, and the same belonging to the Jacob Myers homestead was converted into a like utility.
Mr. Daniel Myers gave out a $100 job of grubbing late the past fall. The employee was Mr. David Smith, who commenced work with a will and at the close of the season for that work he had his undertaking over half completed.
Daniel Myers recently bought 100 acres of the farm land formerly belonging to the Jacob Myers homestead, Abraham Myers, 120 acres, and Mrs. Chas. Houck, 80 acres of timber land belonging to the same. The transaction amounted to something less than $7,000.
Mr. Jos. Smith, thinking of farming with Abraham Myers this combing season; David and George Smith of farming the widow Myers' place. Josiah Hupp talks of farming with Daniel Myers; Geo. S. Carnahan with James Parsons or Chas. Gartin, and Geo. D. Redlingshafer with his father. With the advantage of science, their enterprises will be likely to cause a boom, and be marked with success.
Miss Minnie Redlinghafer is teaching at the Gartin (school) this winter; Miss Nettie Hopkins at the Myers; and Mr. Jonathan Smith at the Hill. They all seem to be proceeding nicely.
Mr. John Redlingshafer was down from Des Moines during the holidays to visit friends and attended the enjoyable sociable held at John Rosa's, Esq.; during the same time, Mr. and Mrs. Foster Palmer visited her father, J.K. Keaton, near Newbern.
Misses Addie Myers and Jennie Adams are taking music lessons this winter.
Mr. and Mrs. Everett Merrill and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Palmer have been made happy by the addition of a son to each family, which I believe has not yet been reported.
Misses Lizzie Hupp and Allie Redlingshafer are pursuing a better course in their home school and are getting on nicely.
We have several very good private libraries in our township. Abraham Myers have recently added a valuable work to theirs, viz. "Lippincott's Revised Dictionary of Biography and Mythology," by J. Thomas, A.M., M.D. and LL. D., containing between 2,300 and 2,400 pages and published in 1883.
Most of our farmers who have formerly been stall feeders are taking a rest this winter, among whom are J.G.Merrill, W.H. Palmer, G.W. Redlingshafer and several others.
Miss Rena Redlingshafer is still visiting with her aunt,Mrs.Lizzie Banschbach, nee Redlingshafer, in Princeton, Ill.
Last winter was a pretty severe test on the vitality of tender varieties of apple, and trees that were impaired were assailed during the summer by insects. If orchards were treated to an application of crude carbolic acid and soft soap or of fish brine, tobacco and soft soap each spring, I believe that the growth of the trees would not only be promoted, but a great many might be saved which otherwise would be lost.
As poultry has become an important staple, and fowls are so liable to the ravages of the cholera, from my experience I will say that if fowls were kept as much as possible from corn and a beverage of salted milk kept before them, they would be healthier, particularly if they perched out doors in all reasonable weather.
Not knowing that I would have opportunity of writing again accounts for the length of contribution and inclemency of weather, for delay in publication. (signed) A Subscriber, Dec. 31, 1883.
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