FLAT RIVER PEOPLE ESTABLISH CHURCH
AT RIVER ROUGE, MICH.
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Rev. F. S. Stamm, pastor of the Christian Church here, is at present at River Rouge, Mich., where he is engaged in a meeting in the interest of the people of this district who have moved to Michigan during the past few months. The following letter was received from Rev. Stamm this week:
The Lead Belt News:
We have finally reached our destination. After visiting relatives in Illinois and Indiana, we went to Cincinnati, Ohio for the International Convention, Diciples of Christ, where we enjoyed a feast of good things for several days. Leaving Cincinnati Friday evening, we came to River Rouge (Detroit) where the Flat River bunch were looking for us and made preparation for a meeting. A building has been rented, a piano, seating and lighting all in order.
When we stepped off the cars we saw that the advertising committee had been busy for we saw our folders and cut in store windows and on telephone posts; in fact they were in evidence everywhere.
The meeting was advertised to begin Sunday, October 19. When the time came for the morning service, the people (mostly from Flat River) began gathering in until the house was almost filled. There was plenty of interest and old-tome [sic] enthusiasm. All were happy and it seemed more like a "home-coming" than a religious meeting.
The evening service was also a good one, the house being well filled. The expression generally was that we would need more room.
This is a great field and we hope to establish a church here in this community of at least 20,000, and only two protestant churches.
Will the good people of Flat River pray for the success of this enterprise, as we are undertaking to extend the "Kingdom of His Grace" in this part of the world.
F. S. STAMM.
Related Articles:
The "Ford Man," a semi-monthly paper published at the Ford factory in Detroit, for the benefit of their employees, has taken notice of the exodus of Flat River citizens to the "Flivver City." The following is from the July 17th issue of the Ford Man:
"When work in the lead mines of Flat River, Mo., became slack recently, the male inhabitants bade farewell to their women folks and started for Detroit. There were about 50 in the first group that arrived at the Michigan Central Station. They inquired the way to the Ford Ship plant and without first hunting up lodging made their way en-masse direct to the Eagle Plant.
Charley Taylor, Employment Manager, was hiring men that morning, so he hired most of the men from Flat River. More of them have been arriving ever since. When asked why they all come to apply for work at the Ship Plant, one of the men said, "Well, we have heard so much about the Ford Motor Company and the Eagle Plant that when work became slack out'n Flat River we just decided to come down and work for Henry Ford."
Practically all of Flat River has now arrived in Detroit with the exception of the Mayor and the Postmaster, and Charley Taylor says that he expects them most any day now."
The exodus of men from the Lead Belt during the past few weeks to Detroit, Texas, and other points where unusually high wages are being paid, is assuming alarming proportions so far as industry in this district is concerned. Unfortunately, for the Lead Belt, the vast majority of the men leaving have for years been numbered among our very best citizens. No man can be blamed for going where he can do the best, but this is a time when earnest consideration should be given to a move of this kind. Considering working conditions in this district from a steady standpoint, year in and year out, there are few industrial districts that are any better than the Lead Belt. This is especially true so far as mining is concerned. It is true that in many districts much higher wages are paid than the usual Lead Belt scale, but in many of those districts frequent close downs occur, so that in the long run men who leave this district on account of the attractive wages paid in other districts at certain seasons, do not better themselves much and almost invariably drift back to the Lead Belt where they are sure of steady work the year round.
For years many of the younger element of the Lead Belt mine workers have kept the trail hot between the Lead Belt and the Joplin and Oklahoma mining districts. Often they were able to secure higher wages, and so long as the lead market remained steady and the product was in demand, everything went well, but the moment the bottom started to drop out of the market, the mines in those districts, instead of curtailing production, closed down and wages ceased altogether. When this would occur it was time to hit the trail for the St. Francois County Lead Belt.
We have been informed by men who have recently returned from the Oklahoma district, that mining there, with the exception of the very richest claims, was at a standstill. Never in the history of the country were industrial conditions in such a disturbed condition, and it is a good time for careful consideration before making any radical changes.
A number of persons left Saturday for Detroit. Within the past few weeks dozens and practically hundreds, of people have left the Lead Belt for Detroit. The majority of them have obtained employment, and have stayed. A few of them have came back. Men are not leaving the Lead Belt because of the lack of employment, but are giving up their positions here, and going because of the attractive wage-scale in Detroit. Among those who went Saturday were I. W. McDaniel and his son Sterling, Leslie Nipper, Tom Halbrook, John Sullivan and Elmer Sutterfield. Mr. and Mrs. L. G. Fatchett also went.
Included in the list of those who have left the district are many of our best citizens, men who have been here for many years and who own their own homes. These men will be hard to replace and their departure from the district is a source of considerable regret.
A large number of those who have moved from Flat River to Detroit during the last
few months swooped down on Mr. and Mrs. Charles Rehkop at their home there Thanksgiving
day and remained for both dinner and supper. They went laden with well-filled baskets.
According to a letter from Mr. Rehkop they had a most pleasant day. In the party were:
| Guy Lawson Rich Robinson Hurst Wilson F. B. Kelly W. P. Crump A. A. Clay J. McGee R. McGee Corbin McGee George Lawson D. Moon Charles Smith Ed Crump Leonard Lawson Cecil Freeman Salida Cole J. B. Crump J. T. Green L. Thompson Hyman Rogers Fred Brewen Kennett McGee Seth Rehkop Charles Rehkop Woodrow McGee Glenwood McGee Dearel McGee Everett McGee Clyde McGee Donald McGee Elmo Rehkop John Howe Arthur M. Smith Nedra Smith Nadine Smith D. Laws Ardena Laws |
Delwen Thompson Norval Crump Waldo Crump Mary F. Kelly Alberta Kelly Glenda Moon Lee Crump Clyde Robinson Lavetta Robinson Dale Robinson Jesse Lawson Barbara Lawson Grtna Rehkop Charles F. Rehkop Emily Rehkop Naomi Rehkop Pearl White C. Cole Bell McGee Carrie Rehkop Effie Brann Ida Smith Pearl Thompson Iva Howe Mable Laws Emma Green Mary Crump Ada Crump Gertrude Kelley Hester Moon Edith Crump Effie Clay Jessie Wilson Cora Robinson Jessie Lawson Ruth Rehkop Mrs. Charles W. Rehkop |
The annual picnic by the Missouri Club of Michigan will be given on Sunday September 15th at River Rouge Park near the Plymouth entrance where it was held last year. This picnic is for the purpose of getting all former Missouri residents who now live in Michigan and their friends together to renew old friendships and make new friends. A basket dinner will be spread at two o'clock and various games and items of entertainment will be furnished by the committee in charge. There is no charge of any kind, the only requirement being that you bring a well filled basket and all the family and friends for a real old southern good time. C. A. Smith, Telephone Hogart 0055 is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Charles A. Smith migrated with his family from Farmington,
Missouri, to Detroit in 1916. Prior to leaving St. Francois County, he attended
Carleton College in Farmington, and was married to the former Ida Florence Green in 1911.
The following is his obituary which was published in Northville, Michigan in
February of 1985. This obituary was contributed by Anita
Kindall who advises that Charles A. Smith was a half-brother of her great-grandfather,
Leo F. Smith. Charles A. Smith's parents were Arthur Marion Smith & Martha
Elledge Smith (2nd wife). Leo Smith's parents were Arthur Marion Smith & Mary
Ann Ferguson (1st wife). |
