100 years ago
NOVEMBER 7, 1902 — Robbers broke into the bank at Tampa early Wednesday morning, and secured quite a large sum of money — we understand, $3500. Mr. Cook, the bank president, and the Sheriff arrived Wednesday evening to examine into the condition of the bank, and probable clues.
Henry Kable lost a fine carpenter's level between Marion and Ramona. If the finder will return it he will give a reward. It was probably lost in Marion or on the road close to town.
Washington, D.C., Oct. 11, '02
EDITOR RECORD: Being very much delighted with the Kansas exhibit made here during the G.A.R. encampment, thought it might be of interest to many of your readers to hear something about it from an outsider. The exhibit really is a grand one and a complete success, eclipsing the attempts made by any of the other states. The people were very much surprised at Kansas producing such fine specimens of cereals, fruits, etc., and it was quite interesting to me to overhear their remarks of praises for the State, many of them still having had the idea that Kansas was almost a wild country.
The exhibit was admirably located, being at the Oxford hotel, right in the heart of the city, the building decorated from top to bottom with flags and bunting, having many streamers with wording such as "Kansas Headquarters," "Kansas Exhibit," "250,000,000 bushels of corn raised in Kansas this year," etc. The exhibits were made on the outside of the building, both in front and on side, the whole having made an excellent display, attracting the attention of the people from quite a distance, and the people continually all day long and as late at 10:30 at night looking at the specimens, making inquiries, keeping Mr. Fred Lewis and Mr. Dave Lucas busy all the time in giving their willing, cheerful and explicit information about Kansas. The people were really amazed to see with their own eyes by the productions exhibited that Kansas must be one of the leading agricultural states of the union.
By the way, I will also state a little incident which happened which may probably be of particular interest to — well, probably not quite all of your readers. A gentleman, while looking over the exhibits, making inquiries, etc., asked Mr. Lewis why he only told of the good things of Kansas and did not say anything of the bad things, such as cyclones, blizzards, grasshoppers, etc., to which he replied: "Dear friend, I am sorry to tell you that we have had something in our state which has been much worse and has done more damage than all the cyclones, blizzards and grasshoppers combined, and that was the Pops."
Yours truly, E. H. Good
I.R. Myers, the weatherman, tells us that five inches of snow fell in Montana day before yesterday.
Kane Hutchens advertises a public sale of cattle, horses, hogs and corn at his place, six and one-half miles west of Lincolnville on Wednesday, Nov. 12. John McCarty, auctioneer.
Death of M.O. Billings
Brief mention was made in last week's RECORD of the death of our old friend, Rev. M.O. Billings, which sad event occurred at his home in Guthrie, Oklahoma, of heart trouble, Oct. 29.
M.O. Billings was the son of Levi Billings, a Marion pioneer, and was born in Indiana in 1861. The family moved here in 1864, and "Mellie" grew to manhood here. He was educated in the Marion schools, and later in the State University. An accident which happened to him in childhood injuring his spine, deformed him for life, and greatly handicapped him. But he made a heroic effort to succeed in spite of this affliction, and succeeded grandly.
In 1887 he started the Cottonwood Valley Times in Marion, which he conducted with much ability, but which he sold in a year or two, to enter the ministry of the Methodist church. He preached in Colorado and Utah for two or three years, after which he attended the Garrett Biblical Institute at Evanston to equip himself for his sacred calling. He maintained himself there for several years by preaching for suburban churches, graduating with high honors.
In 1897 he went to Guthrie and entered the office of his brother-in-law, U.S. Marshal C.H. Thompson, as cashier, at the same time serving as pastor of a church at Mullhall, a town north of Guthrie. He leaves a wife and two small children, both boys. The funeral services were held in the Methodist church in Marion, and were conducted by Rev. Mr. Cohagen, of Guthrie, assisted by Rev. D.D. Akin. The eulogy of this noble man by Mr. Cohagen was one of the best ever delivered in Marion. He spoke of the splendid abilities of the deceased of his self sacrificing nature, of his tireless efforts in behalf of every good cause and of the high esteem in which he was held in business circles as well as in ministerial circles throughout Oklahoma, for he was prominent and popular in both. The burial occurred in the family lot in Highland cemetery, where sleep others of the family.
For thirty years we knew intimately the subject of this sketch. The news of his death came to us while far away from home, and we deeply regretted our inability to be present to pay the tribute of our presence and sympathy to this old friend of ours. We can hardly realize that he is gone, and that we shall never again in this world look into his kindly face, or clasp his friendly hand, or hear his cheery voice. Good-bye, Mellie, good-bye!
Have you heard from Lost Springs! The township has been Popocratic heretofore. Well, this year J.E. Evans, Republican candidate for sheriff, received 82 majority. And the rest of the Republican ticket received a majority of about 50. Bully for Lost Springs!
The vehicles around the Pleasant View area are moving around without horses, after night. Last Sunday morning H.G. Kyle found his buggy at the church. A.J. Clark's was at Mr. Kyle's strawstack.
(Copied by Joan Meyer from the 1902 microfilm files of the Marion Record.)
