EARLY DAYS IN THE TOWN OF LYMAN
by Bela Foster
Continuing . . .
by Bela Foster
Continuing . . .
In 1876 the weather was wet and the roads were muddy but people got around enough to be excited about the coming election. Charles Pierce was a strong republican. He lived across the road from the Fairley farm. He was quite excitable. There were many green-backers here and a few democrats. It was fun for the boys when they saw Mr. Pierce to "Hurrah for Peter Cooper." They were sure to start something and also to get a political speech. Mr. Pierce was injured at a railway crossing at Terre Haute, Indiana, and died soon after. Mr. Pierce had three sons and one daughter. I visited the homes of two of his sons near Milford in 1895. The have since died, so has their mother. One son Charles, and his sister, Mrs. Wm. Dale lived near Terre Haute, at that time.
(Editorial note: We believe that one of those sons visits Roberts frequently. If we are not mistaken he asked us a few years ago to locate the farm on which he was born so that he might visit his birthplace. We also believe that he has been in the Herald office within the past month. -- The Editor).
John Bunker came to Lyman township about the time Roberts was started. I remember seeing him help to put a smokestack on the Meserve elevator. They had a long beam standing on end and Mr. Bunker was atop of it. The beam was guyed and so was Mr. Bunker (by the crowd). Mr. Bunker did much work over the township. He graded many roads and cut ditches. He was a sailor and a civil war veteran. Mr. and Mrs. Bunker had two sons and two daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Bunker have passed to their reward. One son and daughter live in North Dakota; one son in western Wisconsin. One daughter, Mrs. Luella Fairly live in Lyman Township.
Albert M. Haling was born near Hartford, Connecticut. He was highly educated and understood political organization. He came here when the quality was needed. A fluent talker he could adjust himself to people of any age with interest to the listeners. He was considered wealthy but was a common man among men. I knew him from my boyhood days. I worked for him and received good wages and his thanks which meant much to me in those days. I herded cattle for him riding the horse that his daughter Kate had saved from the fire several years before. He held public office nearly all the time after Lyman township was organized. He served one term in Congress from the Eighteenth Congressional District. Mr. and Mrs. Haling and their daughter Amelia and James Love, a boy they raised moved to Nebraska in 1882. From there they went to Roseland, Louisiana. Mr. and Mrs. Haling died there. Amelia married James Love and several years ago they moved to Los Angeles, California. They have two children. We hear from them occasionally. Mrs. Love is the only survivor of the Haling family. She and I started school at the same time. Our teacher was Mrs. Mary Ayer. She lived on what is now the Remsburg farm. They moved from here soon after she taught school here.
A. C. Maxson moved here in 1858 from Connecticut. His brother-in-law, Mr. Pierson came here and selected the northwest quarter of section fourteen for himself and Mr. Maxson. He erected the home on the Maxson farm.
--1884 Lyman Township Plat
When Mr. Maxson came Mr. Pierson returned to the east. Mr. Maxson was a sailor having made many trips over the briney deep. His family consisted of his wife and two girls when he came here. One daughter and three sons were born here. Bertha (Maxson) Ward of Bloomington is one of the oldest living persons born in Lyman township. Miss Effie Maxson still lives here. Her oldest sister lives in New York. Arthur, the oldest boy, lives in Indiana. The younger boys are dead. Pierson died a few months ago and Wilbur several years ago. He left a widow and daughter who live in Iowa.
I remember Mr. Maxson from my childhood days. When I was a child he was quite a magnet to me. As I grew older he became dearer to me. Not only he but the whole family were among my best friends. Will and I were the closest of friends. He was always so obliging. the boys were all so very courteous. I never had money to jingle in my pockets therefore when one was kind to me I knew it was not for lucre. That is a blessing the rich cannot enjoy.
--Roberts Herald. 29 May 1935. Bela Foster.
(Editorial note: We believe that one of those sons visits Roberts frequently. If we are not mistaken he asked us a few years ago to locate the farm on which he was born so that he might visit his birthplace. We also believe that he has been in the Herald office within the past month. -- The Editor).
John Bunker came to Lyman township about the time Roberts was started. I remember seeing him help to put a smokestack on the Meserve elevator. They had a long beam standing on end and Mr. Bunker was atop of it. The beam was guyed and so was Mr. Bunker (by the crowd). Mr. Bunker did much work over the township. He graded many roads and cut ditches. He was a sailor and a civil war veteran. Mr. and Mrs. Bunker had two sons and two daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Bunker have passed to their reward. One son and daughter live in North Dakota; one son in western Wisconsin. One daughter, Mrs. Luella Fairly live in Lyman Township.
Albert M. Haling was born near Hartford, Connecticut. He was highly educated and understood political organization. He came here when the quality was needed. A fluent talker he could adjust himself to people of any age with interest to the listeners. He was considered wealthy but was a common man among men. I knew him from my boyhood days. I worked for him and received good wages and his thanks which meant much to me in those days. I herded cattle for him riding the horse that his daughter Kate had saved from the fire several years before. He held public office nearly all the time after Lyman township was organized. He served one term in Congress from the Eighteenth Congressional District. Mr. and Mrs. Haling and their daughter Amelia and James Love, a boy they raised moved to Nebraska in 1882. From there they went to Roseland, Louisiana. Mr. and Mrs. Haling died there. Amelia married James Love and several years ago they moved to Los Angeles, California. They have two children. We hear from them occasionally. Mrs. Love is the only survivor of the Haling family. She and I started school at the same time. Our teacher was Mrs. Mary Ayer. She lived on what is now the Remsburg farm. They moved from here soon after she taught school here.
A. C. Maxson moved here in 1858 from Connecticut. His brother-in-law, Mr. Pierson came here and selected the northwest quarter of section fourteen for himself and Mr. Maxson. He erected the home on the Maxson farm.
--1884 Lyman Township Plat
When Mr. Maxson came Mr. Pierson returned to the east. Mr. Maxson was a sailor having made many trips over the briney deep. His family consisted of his wife and two girls when he came here. One daughter and three sons were born here. Bertha (Maxson) Ward of Bloomington is one of the oldest living persons born in Lyman township. Miss Effie Maxson still lives here. Her oldest sister lives in New York. Arthur, the oldest boy, lives in Indiana. The younger boys are dead. Pierson died a few months ago and Wilbur several years ago. He left a widow and daughter who live in Iowa.
I remember Mr. Maxson from my childhood days. When I was a child he was quite a magnet to me. As I grew older he became dearer to me. Not only he but the whole family were among my best friends. Will and I were the closest of friends. He was always so obliging. the boys were all so very courteous. I never had money to jingle in my pockets therefore when one was kind to me I knew it was not for lucre. That is a blessing the rich cannot enjoy.
--Roberts Herald. 29 May 1935. Bela Foster.
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