125 years ago

october 30, 1885

Drs. Hannaford and Werthner went to Hillsboro Wednesday to see three other children supposed to have the small-pox, in the same family as the one mentioned last week. They both pronounce it small-pox, though some folks up there insist that it is only chicken-pox. Doctors, of course, may make mistakes in diagnosing diseases, but in cases of this kind it is always safer to take the opinion of two experienced physicians like these than to follow the notions of people who know little or nothing about such matters, and so we hope the house will continue to be quarantined and the usual care observed to prevent the spread of the disease, whatever it is.

Five years ago, Mr. Hunsperger bought a quarter section of land fifteen miles north of Marion for which he paid five dollars per acre. A year ago, he bought another quarter, paying therefore at the rate of eleven dollars per acre. A few weeks ago, he sold this land for twenty dollars per acre, cash. As large as this profit was, we venture to predict that if the new railroad is built the purchaser can double his money on the land inside of the next five years, yes, in less time than that.

Marion’s big new three story, sixteen thousand dollar stone hotel looms up.

Some boys went hunting Friday evening, the object being to surround and capture a coon. The animal captured though was black with a white stripe down its back. The boys did not skin the animal but hied themselves away to a more congenial atmosphere.

Mr. Levi Billings is building a dwelling house on his sheep farm three miles southeast of Marion.

John Leachman has opened a meat market in the frame building opposite Miler’s Boot and Shoe store. John is a “good one” in this business.

Mr. Goldstein, the new clothier, has rented the neat little Benward cottage across the railroad.

The Y.M.C.A. social at the hospitable home of Mr. A.E. Case, last Friday night, was quite well attended and was an enjoyable affair. Good singing with the accomplished Mrs. Tilson at the piano, interspersed the programme. Lawyer King favored the company with a thoughtful, kindly talk, and Misses Bena Busby and Hattie Hodge, and W.J. Craig recited humorous pieces and recited them well, exceedingly well. Then came the pumpkin pie and coffee refreshments, and after all this came the collection which amounted to four or five dollars.

There appears to be a little unpleasantness out in Wilson township. It is complained that an interesting lyceum at the stone school house, best known as the Whipple school house, was unceremoniously turned into a dance at the meeting last week. We know nothing of the matter further than this.