CHILDHOOD FRIEND REMEMBERS CBK'S BOYHOOD

CHILDHOOD FRIEND REMEMBERS CBK'S BOYHOOD

Benton Harbor News

March 4, 1961?

ALEGAN—Ethol W. Stone, at 84, dean of Alegan's practicing attorney's was in a reminiscent mood this week, prompted by the recent death in Arizona of his boyhood chum, Clarence Budington Kelland,

Kelland, 83, was one of America's best known and most prolific writers of light fiction. In his heyday he turned out more than $1 million worth of serials for the Saturday Evening Post alone, and was said to have conditioned Americans to believe "the good guys always win."

According In Mr. Stone, there were plenty of "good guys" around Portland, Mich., where he and Kelland were raised in' the same neighborhood.

CAREFREE YOUTH

"Portland was a wonderful little town to grow up in, and a big part of the fun was in having a friend like Clarence Kelland to grow up with," Stone said.

Kelland himself once wrote^, "Anybody who was not an active country boy in the 1880's missed one of the finest gifts nature ever had to bestow."

A few years ago Kelland wrote an entire column for a Phoenix Arizona newspaper about the joys of autumn nut gathering. In the article he said "This occupation was very important in the economy of the Portland boys back in 'those golden days." Stone carries a worn clipping of the article in his wallet.

The Allegan lawyer has many similar memories and most of them involve Kelland.  Stone's intense bloc eyes, undimmed by the years, sparkle with the mischievous spirit that must have motivated many of the adven­tures the two families shared.

ADVENTURES

Stout recalls a certain Dr. Smith's barn which he and Kelland undertook to rid of rats. After baiting the barn floor with corn, they waited in the hayloft, rifles at the ready. Soon Kelland suggested it would be more of a challenge to use fishing spears as weapons and both boys became quite adapt at spearing the rodents while poised high above on the rim of the loft.

According to Stone, Butternut Island, on Grand River, was the old swimming hole. One wadded a branch of the river and undressed on the edge of deep water, "There was always a big white doorknob we used to throw into the clear cold water and dive for, and across, on the opposite bank, was the lovely farm of the Kimball family where we were unfailingly welcome at meal time." Stone adds that often when they came back for their clothes, someone had tied them into intricate knots.

Kelland's father ran a shoe store and his mother was a milliner. Neither was much at home to keep track of Bud, Stone recalled. He added that his own father, William H. Stone, was the town druggist for 30 years, and his mother taught a Sunday school class of about 4 active boys. "But none of us ever did anything we thought would hurt her feelings because we had too much respect for her."

NOTES RESEMBLANCE

Stone concurred with the opinions of many that Scattergood Baines, Mr. Deeds and Mark Tidd--all homespun characters whose adventures were chronicled in Kelland's stories--bore remarkable resemblances to many of Portland's residents.

Kelland and Stone held their last reunion at Portland in 1944 where, refusing to be lionized, the writer sought out old friends just to chat with them, Stone remembered.

The Kelland family moved from Portland about .the time their son entered a Detroit law school, working at the Detroit News part-time to earn his way. Stone says Kelland never graduated, choosing to devote all his time to writing.

Two popular magazines of the day, The Youths' Companion and the American Boy were the first to publish Kelland's works. From these he went on the Saturday Evening Post, The American, and many others. His most famous character, Mr. Deeds, the lawyer said, found his way into the movies with the all-American young man of Gary Cooper, in the title role.

Although not as widely known as his imaginative friend, Stone's 64 year career has been equally marked .with success. The law firm of Wilkes & Stone and coordinating abstract office of Dunn & Wilkes both date back almost 100 years. Since the death of his uncle, Charles Wilkes, some 40 years ago, Stone has managed both firms alone.

Serving the Allegan community in many capacities, stone has been or is currently on the boards of directors of the Allegan State Bank, Griswold Memorial Building, Allegan Health Center and various area industries, primarily in the field of paper production.

Following a family tradition, he has been a faithful member of the Episcopal Church of God Shepard, serving as an officer of the vestry for many years.

Allegan residents regard Stone's unusual vitality At 84 as quite remarkable. He's at his office every day and often walks up the hill to his home on Marshall Street for lunch. He is a familiar figure along Hubbard Street, in the block between his office and the court house.

Together with Mrs. Slone he has enjoyed many interesting trips, in this country and abroad. But none, it seems, could compete in sheer joy with those barefoot expeditions around Portland at the age of 14, with Clarence Kelland at his side.