LOOKING BACK in the Early Files by Lora Stull

The Beaconsfield high school basketball team won another victory Friday night when it defeated the Grand River team 19-30 on the Beaconsfield court. This was the first time in the history of basketball that the Beaconsfield high school team has ever defeated the Grand River team.

Marriage: November 14, Ray Dady and Marcella Huntsman.

Birth: November 18, a daughter, Jean, to Mr. and Mrs. Harry Liggett.

Obituaries in this edition: Frances Ellis, Carolyn Alexander and Dr. W.B. Thompson.

Once a week the Record News did stories of Great Indians. Copyright 1922 Western Newspaper Union Warrior Tecumseh Became a British General.

In the year 1768 Meetheetashe, wife of Chief Pukesheeno of the Shawnees, gave birth to triplets. One of them, Tecumtha or Tecumesh, “The Shooting Star,” a name strangely prophetic of his meteoric career, was destined to be called by many historians “the greatest American Indian.”

Tecumseh distinguished himself in battle early. Although he was a great warrior, he was not a cruel one and due to his influence, the Shawnees gradually gave up the practice of torturing captives. He was a proud chieftain, too. At a council with General William Henry Harrison, governor of Indiana, in 1810, the interpreter handed Tecumseh a chair with the remark, “Your father requests you to take this chair.” “My father? The sun is my father and the earth is my mother and I will rest upon her bosom,” replied Tecumseh haughtily as he took his place among his warriors on the ground.

Tecumseh had come to protest against the cession of Shawnee lands under the Treaty of Fort Wayne, but his objections gained him nothing. He travelled throughout the Middle West gaining recruits for his confederation. His scheme failed.

While he was absent, his brother, the loud-mouthed Prophet, rashly precipitated and attack on Harrison and the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811 ended Tecumseh’s dream forever. He immediately enlisted in the service of the British, who, at the outbreak of the War of 1812, made him a brigadier general. Once while he discovered some of his Indians butchering helpless captives, he hotly rebuked General Proctor for allowing it.

“Sir,” replied the general, “Your Indians could not be restrained.”

“Begone!” shouted Tecumseh. “You are not fit to command. Go home and put on petticoats.”

Later in the campaign retreating Tecumseh forced him to make a stand on the Thames river in Ontario. He seems to have had a presentiment of death for he discarded his general’s uniform and went into the battle wearing the deerskin garb of a Shawnee warrior. He was killed in battle.

His had been the career of a shooting star, truly. From the Mad river in Ohio, his birthplace to the Thames, it had been only 45 years. But in that short time Tecumseh made his place in history.

“Live Your Life” by Chief Tecumseh is a powerful poem that emphasizes living with purpose, respect, and acceptance of death.

So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart.

Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, and demand that they respect yours.

Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life.

Seek to make your life long and its purpose in the service of your people.

Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide.

Always give a word or a sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend, even a stranger, when in a lonely place.

Show respect to all people and grovel to none.

When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the food and for the joy of living.

If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies only in yourself.

Abuse no one and nothing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools and robs the spirit of its vision.

When it comes your time to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way.

Sing your death song and die like a hero going home.

Ted McGehee, who was seriously wounded Sunday afternoon in a hunting accident, remains in a critical condition at the Decatur County Hospital in Leon.

Sixteen years of age and a junior in the Mount Ayr community high school, Ted is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth McGehee.

Jerry, four year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Knight, suffered three fractures of the leg and bruises Tuesday evening of last week when he fell from a tractor, being driven by his father on the farm south of Mount Ayr.

Fire of unknown origin completely destroyed the drug store in Grand River early Tuesday morning and damaged the locker plant and grocery store.

The loss to the drug store, owned and operated by Frances Carnes, was estimated at $15,000, which was partially covered by insurance.

United Food Market Weekly Specials: Tendersweet Catsup, 14 ounces, 19 cents; Creamy Whip Peanut Butter, 15 ounces, 33 cents; Texas Seedless Grapefruit, 10 for 39 cents; Boston Butt Pork Roast 29 cents a pound; Pork Steak, 43 cents a pound; Crisco, 3 pound, 89 cents; Sausage, 29 cents a pound.

Births: Nov. 26, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Laird.. Nov. 24, a daughter, Vicky, to Mr. and Mrs. Daryl Wagoner.. Nov. 18, a daughter, Darla, to Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Schrodt.. Nov. 22, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Hansen.. Nov. 11. a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Oren Campbell.

Obituaries in this edition were: Z.I. Grout and Mrs. Willard Stranahan.

Leonard Schlapia, local maintenance employee of the Mount Ayr post office, will retire Saturday November 29. He began his duties with the Mount Ayr post office January 3, 1961, when he was appointed to the position of janitor.

A 1965 Oldsmobile belonging to Kenneth Reed of Tingley disappeared from a parking place in front of Harvey Brothers garage in Mount Ayr sometime during the night of November 19. The car was recovered in Brooklyn over the past weekend.

David Allen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Merlyn Allen, has been named the Good Citzen of MACHS senior class by the Nancy McKay Harsh Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Marriage: October 4, Laura Thompson and Mike Brown.

Birth: November 24, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Vance Briner..November 20, a son, Edward, to Mr. and Mrs. Ed Adams.

Obituaries in this edition were: Burr Caldwell, Zilpna Ellen Chandler, Dixie Elizabeth Edwards Miller, Albert Roy Page, Elvis Leroy Mercer, John “Jack” Monaghan.

Mount Ayr community high school’s drill team will be taking part in the 2001 Iowa State Dance/Drill team championships in Des Moines Saturday.

The members of the drill team include captains Rachel Haley, and Kayla Bender and members Becky Poppe, Sheryl Dolecheck, Ashley Hensel, Holly Meester, Lacy Meester, Rachel Sobotka, Brooke Gepner, Laurie McGhee, Courtney Cannon, Natalie Golliday, Kelsey Greenman and Andrea Taylor.

Making the change to the new 641 area code for Ringgold County telephone numbers becomes mandatory Sunday December 3 in the central Iowa region which has been split into the 515 and  641 area code.

Marriage: August 12, Michelle Saville and Bryan Bradley.

Obituaries in this edition were: Inez Mae Marshall Kneedler, Selma Irene Petersen Mosier and Darrell Samuel Werner.