100 years ago
AUGUST 22, 1902 — Don't forget to attend the Educational Picnic at Marion, on Monday, Aug. 25. The addresses will be interesting and instructive, and the ball game between school officers and teachers promises to be very close. Free dinner will be served those participating in the game. I am authorized to say that those desiring to exchange text books on that day can do so, as new books are beginning to arrive and will be ready to exchange at that time. Everybody come and have a joyous preparatory day. — L.M. Knowles, County Superintendent.
A 23-pound catfish, caught in the Cottonwood by a twelve year old boy, was on exhibition on Main street, last Monday.
Inclement weather and poor train service interfered with the Ohio Reunion last Wednesday, and yet quite a large crowd was in attendance, and the affair was very enjoyable to those who were there. The Peabody delegation was unable to attend because of the great delay of the Rock Island trains, that day. The address of welcome was given by Rev. Dr. Thompson and the response was made by Mr. F.W. Frazer. Short talks were made by Albert Tooker, Mrs. Tooker, Jefferson Terry, Joshua Johnson, R.S. Claney, Thos. Dickerson and perhaps others. W.O. Hannaford sang a very appropriate solo entitled "My Dear Ohio Home." The following officers were elected: President, R.R. Mitchell, of Florence; Vice Presidents, T.C. Thoburn, W.W. Loveless, R.S. Claney, Joshua Johnson; Secretary, W.O. Hannaford; Treasurer, J.C. Watson. About twenty-five new names were added to the roll of membership. Over four hundred names are now on the roll.
The Methodist church at Aulne was struck by lightning last Wednesday night and considerable damage was done.
Al Baxter, who has tried Mount Vernon, Washington, doesn't like it out there, and is coming back to take his old place in Loveless & Sons' grocery department. Al is a mighty fine young man, and the RECORD is awfully glad to announce that he and his good wife are coming back to old Marion.
Another Pioneer Gone.
About ten o'clock last Sunday night, Mrs. Keziah Billings, one of Marion's pioneers, departed this life. The death was sudden but peaceful.
Mrs. Billings was born in New Jersey, on July 15, 1820, and was therefore eighty-two years, one month and two days of age when she died. Her maiden name was Griffith, and she was a sister of our fellow-citizens, George and Jack Griffith. When she was a child her parents moved to Ohio, where she grew to womanhood and where she married William B. Butterfield in 1838. To them were born five children, Elizabeth, Harriet, Hannah and Charles, who survive her, and Mary, who died in infancy. Her husband died in 1857. In 1860 she came with her children to Marion. In 1863 she was married to Esquire W.H. Billings, one of the sturdy pioneers who laid the foundations of the civilization we enjoy. Mrs. Billings shared the thrilling experiences of frontier life. She was a woman of great intellectuality. She united with the Baptist church more than a quarter of century ago, and remained a faithful member until her death. She had a kind, loving disposition, and was always ready to speak a kind word or do a kind deed to those in distress. Funeral services were held at the home in which she had lived for more than forty years, Tuesday afternoon, conducted by Rev. Dr. Thompson.
Rosse Case is mighty proud of a job of cement walk put in for him by John Wright. It is an inside walk — forty-odd running feet of it — and Rosse thinks it is a boss job. But that's the way that man Wright does things.
A number of people have inquired as to the tuition charged by the city schools for those who live outside the limits of the school district. The fee is one dollar a month for attendance in one of the grades, and a dollar and a half in the High School. School will open Sept. 15.
On Wednesday, Aug. 13, the members of the Ladies Aid Society went picnicking to Chingawasa Springs. The picnic was a surprise on their President, Mrs. Dr. Rogers, who with Mrs. D. Smith, is camping at that beautiful place. The day was spent in resting by some, and some waded in the cool water of the riffle. In the afternoon it was announced that we were to have a clam bake, but it failed to materialize. The dinner was a bountiful affair, and the supper even more so, if possible. While at supper, two picnickers were saddened by the discovery that their horse had decided to go home without them. But "all's well that ends well," and the day was ended by a beautiful moonlight ride home, all vowing that their President had entertained them uncommonly well.
In Justice Eby's court, last Monday, the oft-continued case of Dr. Cady, charged with cruelly whipping little Fred Knoblauch, was decided against the defendant, and fine of $25 imposed.
A jolly crowd of young people enjoyed a hay ride yesterday evening. Those in the party were Misses Bertha Glover, Florence Saggau, Birdie Kline, Mamie Robinson, Lola Hoch and Laura McKiel, and Messrs. Murdock, Roy Myers, Ernest Terkhorn, Clarence Waring, Taylor Riddle and Harvey Uhl.
Lawyer J.T. Dickerson and extensive family are camping at Chingawasa.
Mr. F.V. Rouse has gone to New Mexico to take a prominent railroad position. It will seem strange not to see Fred on our streets. He has lived here from boyhood and was Santa Fe agent for nearly a quarter of a century. His many Marion friends regret his departure but wish him great success in his new and distant home.
Rev. A.J. Donaldson died at Pond Creek, Oklahoma, last Saturday evening, after an illness of about two months. Some months ago while working on a church he was building, he fell and hurt his side seriously, an abscess forming and giving him much trouble. Fever set in and the skill of physicians and the care of friends availed not. A.J. Donaldson was a good man, one of the most conscientious and consecrated men, in fact, we ever knew. His religion was reflected by his face and by his life. He was a Free Methodist preacher, and had been successful in the ministry. He leaves a wife, but no children. He was a brother, as our people know, of Mr. George T. Donaldson. The burial occurred at Chelsea, in Butler county, where father and mother and other relatives are buried. The deceased was forty-four years of age.
The editor of the RECORD has been away from home so much, recently, that he has necessarily neglected some things, among them a mention of the magazine Tom McNeal and Albert Reid and F.R. Aldrich are to start in Topeka. It is to be called Push, and we will take pleasure in helping push the project along.
(Copied by Joan Meyer from the 1902 microfilm files of the Marion Record)
