125 years ago

may 1, 1885

Advertisers on the front page of this issue included the following:

A.E. Downes, dealer in staple and fancy groceries

First National Bank of Marion, W.H. Dudley, Cashier

The Cottonwood Valley Bank, Levi Billings, president

Marion Carriage and Wagon Works, James H. Hoch, Proprietor

Jno. F. Carter, dealer in lumber

Barrows & Tidyman Furniture Store. Undertaking will be made a specialty

Case & Billings, Real Estate Agents

A.D. Billings & Co., Furniture and undertakers’ goods, etc.

A company has been formed in Peabody for the manufacture of gypsum into plaster, and they are making preparations to begin work at once. This will be a good enterprise for the town, as it is certain that there is an abundance of the raw material nearby, and it is equally certain that it make good plaster. Score one for Peabody.

The immigration to Kansas this spring is immense, and Marion county is getting a large share of it. As a rule, those who are now coming are men of means. We believe Kansas is today the most prosperous state in the Union, and that it has within its borders more of the elements of growth and development and future wealth than any of the “galaxy.”

The ordinance forbidding the erection of wooden buildings or additions on Main street lots is violated quite often.

The only cigar manufactury in Marion county resumed business yesterday, next door to the RECORD. Bates and Wessler, proprietors.

Mr. Stanforth’s Square Hotel has been considerably enlarged the past few weeks, and its capacity greatly increased. Mr. and Mrs. Stanforth know “how to keep a hotel.”

The loads of lumber that are daily going to the country means more and better farm houses, larger granaries, greater comfort. It means prosperity also, among the farmers, and that means prosperity for everybody, for after all, the farm is the primal source of all our prosperity.

We have heard nothing this spring from the pestiferous little intruder who went into winter quarters in Kansas wheat fields last fall—the Hessian fly. True, the damaged condition of many pieces of wheat is attributed to this unwelcome guest, but this is problematical. It is not known whether the fly or the severe winter is to blame for this.