Originally ran in the March 2, 1972 edition of the Illinois Valley News
I have been reading a gift book entitled “The Nineties” and found some interesting statements about bicycles. There were cycling clubs, but they were only for the rich. To quote a few lines from one paragraph; “Such pleasure is sinful on the Sabbath, and the sport is clearly not for ladies.” “Cycling is ripping good fun. The new safety bicycle, with equal-sized wheels and cushioned rubber tires can attain an exhilarating fifteen miles an hour even when propelled by an amateur!” “But bicycling is still an urban sport, depending on macadam (roads).” “Bicycles were called wheels, and while there were no 10 speed bikes, there were racing models in the later 90’s. My father, Francis Henry, and his twin brother won a number of races in various towns in California. Bicycle races were very popular at that time.”
Thoughts of the early day bicycles were brought to mind when I was driving on Holland Loop Road. A family out for a bike ride seemed to be having so much fun. Colleen was ahead of the others, then Leslie and Eddie, and Ed Podoll was catching up with them. They were laughing as they waved to me. Later I asked Colleen how far they rode. She said they went to visit Pam Freitas, rested there for a while, and home again. About 5 miles round trip.
After the popularity if the wheels in nineties, and the early part of the century, not many bicycles were seen for years. And now the pendulum has swung again in their favor, but this time it is a sport for the whole family, and the rich and poor alike-and the doctor says it is healthful exercise.
Mrs. Lillian Fantus of Petaluma, California came to visit her son and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Fantus, who have recently moved from Petaluma to operate the Kerby Trailer Court. Wes Koladalchuck, a former employee of the Fantas’, brought Mrs. Fantas to Kerby. Lillian came to visit, but with a little persuasion, and a new trailer house, she decided to leave Petaluma and move to Kerby to be near her son. The trailer will be moved next to the one where Mrs. Helen Eastman lives. Mildred Peterson, mother of Mrs. Fantas, makes her home with her daughter and son-in-law.
Bob and Nova Cheney, Hummingbird Lane, attended the wedding of their granddaughter Lorenda Strite, Colusa, California, and Carl Vernon Borges of Sacramento. They were married February 12th in the Methodist Church in Colusa. The Cheneys were only gone 11 days, but they really did some traveling and visiting during that time. In Carmichael they visited their friend, Mrs. Harriet Kersey. While visiting Ken and Elzie Lohoff in Sacramento, they were thrilled to see the movies taken in South Africa when the Lohoffs toured that country last October. It was a pleasure to stay with their daughter and family, Joe and Marilyn Scalzi, and the five grandchildren, who live in Fulsom. They enjoyed the trip to Lake Tahoe where they visited Floyd and Virginia Schwartz. During their stay with those friends, they saw movies of Europe. The Schwartz’ have recently returned from a tour of several European countries. On their way home, Bob and Nova stopped in Sunnyvale and brought their daughter, Mrs. Arlene Young, to stay with them for a while.
Cecil and Ruby Culbertson of Grants Pass were recent guests at the Phayo Pfefferle home on Takilma road.
Roy and Flourilla Nelson and daughter Cheryl came last Friday to visit Flourilla’s parents, Jim and Viola Higgins, Rockydale Road. They returned to their home in Arcata, California on Monday.
Other relatives who have visited the Higgins recently were Viola’s sister Edith Woolridge, niece Glennda and husband Marvin Lowe, and son Montie.
Freida Thayer, Rockydale Road, accompanied her daughter Ruth and husband Earl Pfaendler and son Tom of Grants Pass when they went to Tigard last Thursday to visit their son Bob Pfaendler, wife Gay, and little daughter Angie. Angie is Freida’s great granddaughter. The occasion for the family get-together was Ruth and Earl’s 30th wedding anniversary. There were four generations present at the celebration.
Freida also went to Portland to visit her cousins Dottie Himes and sister Grace. Dottie used to live in the Valley and will be remembered as Dottie Whipp.
Since the Illinois Valley News has county-wide circulation, there early county statistics should be of interest to all residents. The 1865 census of Josephine County shows there were 329 legal voters, 342 men over 21 years of age; 44 boys over 10 and under 21; 118 boys under 10; 127 women over 18; 35 girls under 18 and over 10, and 119 girls under 10.
The population of the county in 1865, according to this return, appears to have been 504 males and 281 females, or a total of 785 persons. It is not probable that it is really accurate because many miners were in the county and it would have been almost impossible to make an accurate check in the sparsely settled regions.
The Chinese were not counted in this census but they had to pay poll tax of $5 each. In 1865 the poll tax collected was $2,184, so there must have been 433 Chinamen in the county.
There were 2,812 acres under cultivation on which were raised wheat, oats, barley, rye, and hay, also potatoes and apples. Not many sheep in the county because only 30 pounds of wool was listed.
Gold dust seems to have been the most important item of commerce. In the year 1865, according to the census, 16,033 ounces of gold dust were produced.
But no lumber was manufactured. How times have changed!