Jones Co. TX - Newspapers - The Stamford American: April 3, 1925 *********************************************************** Submitted by: Dorman Holub Date: 28 December 2019 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tx/jones/jonestoc.htm *********************************************************** The Stamford American April 3, 1925 Sunday final day of Hogg-Williams revival campaign at the Methodist church. Call to organize for city baseball league. Carlton Couch and O.B. Norman of Haskell and R.V. Colbert and R.B. Bryant of Stamford have bought controlling interest in First National Bank of Rotan and taken the institution over. Opening service Central Presbyterian new church will be Sunday morning. H.S. Abbott, father of Haskell Abbott, died suddenly at Long Beach, California, Wednesday night. Haskell left for Fort Worth and was joined by Walter Abbott and wife another son of the deceased. Mrs. L.B. Davis of Dallas, a daughter was wired. Mr. Abbott lived in Stamford for a number of years and was joint owner with R.B. Spencer in the Spencer-Abbott Lumber Co. He sold his interest to Spencer and removed to California a few years ago. Oscar and Adolph Olson, have put in a new general store in Ericksdahl. Stamford Battery Co has been sold this week to J.R. Billington who will continue the business. C.W. Kight had formerly owned the business. Jack Townsend and wife of Aspermont have been in charge of the cafe on the south side for over a week, "Jack's Cafe". Cafe was formerly owned by W.P. Flowers. History of Stamford Mill & Elevator by Beatrice Burrow One of the most beautiful lawsof all creation is the law of progress and adaptation no matter how far the world advances, no matter what the world needs, or how much it needs to carry on the work of civilization, there is always room for improvement. No other law of science better teaches the doctrine of preparedness than does the law of progress and development. No incident in the history of Stamford was so great a factor in the molding of all Jones county, as was the establishment of the Stamford Mill and Elevator Company. In February of the year 1900, our beautiful little city, Stamford, was contemplating as to whether or not they should build a Flour Mill. Their decision was in the affirmative, and almost before the citizens of Stamford could realize it, a special train from Albany had been unloaded with lumber and materials, and a foundation had been laid. Since a great number of people were busily engaged in establishing themselves here for life, naturally much attention was given to the construction of the Flour Mill. It was completed in February 1900. Mr. Reynolds, a former resident of Stamford, was the first owner of the mill. His son-in-law, Mr. W.A. Lee, was chosen as manager, and proved to be a very good one. Mr. Joe Murphy, who lived in Stamford at that time, was the first miller, and was a very capable and efficient one. The mill at first just an 80 barrel capacity, but improvements were made every year and in a short time the capacity was increased from 80 to 100. Everything went on smoothly for some time until Mr. W.A. Lee, the manager, died. This was 1905. Immediately after Lee's death, his father-in-law, Mr. Reynolds sold the mill to a stock Company composed of John Hellums, J.Scott, U. Hellums and W. Scott. This Stock company has owned the mill ever since 1906. When this change had taken place, the first things to do was to select a new miller. He happened to be Mr. J. Von Steenwyk, a man whom everyone knew and liked. Mr. John Hellums became the new miller, due to the fact that Mr. Murphy resigned. The engineerman has been from that time until now, Mr. W.F. Burrow. When these offices had been filled, and the employers, numbering about 12-15 men in all, had been selected, everyone settled down and business was in full swing. For several years no change was made, but it became necessary to have a road salesman, Mr. John Hellums, our miller, was selected for that place and went on the road in 1915. The next year was a year of improvement. New warehouses and elevators were built and a short distance from the main building a new grain house was constructed. A steam engine was used until 1918, but they found it necessary to install a larger machine. An electric motor was used from this time until 1920. This machine was also too small for the grain and an oil engine was put in. This engine is just the right one for the mill. It is 165 horsepower machine and certainly does the work. The mill was at first a 30,000 bushel elevator capacity, but in a short time its bushel capacity will have increased by 10,000. Every day one carload of flour and grain is shipped away and the gradual improvement will soon make it impossible to ship more than two carloads every day. I think the mill makes up one of Stamford's greatest industries. It presents one of her greatest opportunities to serve not only Stamford, but the whole section of Jones county with materials for which there is a demand every day. The history of the Stamford Flour Mill is as interesting as a romance, but these facts are just minor characteristics - not details. What a fine thing it would be for Stamford if a part of the time spent in our school on the wars and bloodshed of our foreign nations was spent in studying the natural history of our own wonderful resources. Rev. and Mrs. P.M. White celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Monday, March 30th at their home on East Hamilton Street. They were married in Warren, Ark., March 30, 1865, just at the close of the war. Bro. White had just returned from active service in some of the greatest battles of that tragic conflict between the states. He was active in the ministry of the Methodist denomination for over 30 years. Children are: J.C. White and Mrs. Ben Irby of Fort Worth; Mrs. H.B. Painter of De Leon; A.H. of Snyder; R.A. of Healdton, OK; Mrs. G.C. Allison of Dallas; Mrs. S.A. Cranfill of CO; H.D. of Avoca; and Jesse A. of Stamford. Tuesday afternoon at 5:00, Mrs. R.T. Jackson passed away at the home of her son W.J. south of town. After sieges of pneumonia, she and her husband and son Alton went to the Plains three months ago hoping to benefit her. She had been converted to the Church of Christ when a mere girl. As Miss Susan Arizona Rasco she was married to Mr. R.T. Jackson almost 44 years ago and six children survive: Mrs. Carl Morris and Mrs. Ed Rorie of Anson; Mrs. W. Martin of Sour Lake; three sons - R.F. of Lamesa; W.J. and Alton of Stamford; 4 brothers - Joshua Rasco of Corsicana; Joe, Hampton and Will of AR; 3 sisters - Mrs. J.E. Jackson of Lamesa; Mrs. Rachel Montgomery of Corsicana; Mrs. Mollie Rankin of Austin. Funeral took place at the Church of Christ at 4:00 Wednesday afternoon with J.D. Harvey former preacher conducting with interment at Highland cemetery. Betty Jo Gambill, the little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Gambill died as a victim of tonsillitis and pneumonia at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Saturday morning. Funeral was conducted in Abilene Sunday by Dr. Nelson of Eastland and Dr. Jenkins of Abilene interment as the family plot in Abilene. Otis Jared and family moved to Lueders from Anson. Mr. Jared is to run the filling station at Judge Hansen's shop. Mrs. Jared is the daughter of Mr. Gifford of north of town. Lueders is to soon have a paper. Mr. Elliot of Moran will establish one soon. Fred C. Hardin, foreman of American Printing Co., plant has bought a home on South Swenson for himself and is inviting his mother and sisters to live with him.