125 years ago

april 17, 1885

Who says Marion does not lead the van? “If such there be” let him stop a moment in front of the Marion Marble Works, and note the varieties of elegant monuments without and within. Messrs. Jex & Town have introduced an attraction in their business, namely, granite from Nova Scotia and other points on the Atlantic seaboards. It is believed that they are the only firm in the state that has obtained a supply of this very superior and beautiful material. A traveling gentleman from Chicago recently expressed the opinion that this enterprising firm was doing the best business west of the Missouri. Seven men are employed, and now here comes Mr. Wm. Jenkins, an expert in marble work from New York, to lend a helping hand. These gentlemen, while estending the reputation of our city, will, we hope carve out success for themselves.

Grazing is a little backward. None of the town herds has as yet started.

Mr. S.P. Bown keeps on improving his fine premises. He is now erecting a splendid barn, of stone.

Will Bates and Henry Bessler have formed a partnership and will run the cigar manufactory and confectionery jointly hereafter.

Lewis and Hoops have been awarded the contract to erect two new stone-arch bridges in this county, one in Wilson and one in Gale townships.

With two barber shops and two public bath establishments in town, you have no excuse for not keeping clean—that is if you are not financially embarrassed.

Work is progressing upon the cellar and foundation of the new Christian parsonage. It is being erected on the north portion of the church lots, fronting east, and is to be a handsome building, a credit to the church and an honor to the town.

Mrs. O.O. Monohon, whose culinary skill and success as a caterer to the public appetite is well known in Marion, has fitted up the Park Hotel in nice style, christened it the Hotel Restaurant, and invites the patronage of the public. Mrs. Monohon is a deserving lady and her house will undoubtedly become very popular.

A youth, some twelve years of age, named Kaufman, residing at Burns, concluded last Tuesday evening that he would see how flat pins could be mashed by laying a lot of them on the railroad track and examine them after the cars had passed over. While doing this, two fingers of his left hand were severed and another injured, the cars passing over them. Guess he will not try that experiment the second time.