100 years ago
MARCH 17, 1904 — When the great train of a dozen cars, bearing delegates from the Republican State Convention returning to their homes pulled into the Rock Island depot in Marion last Thursday morning, a great sight greeted their vision. Acres of people were gathered about the depot to welcome E.W. Hoch, Republican nominee for Governor to his home. Old soldiers were in line, four or five hundred school children were there, citizens on foot and citizens in carriages were there, old and young, black and white were there, people of all parties were there. The stores had closed and the whole populace, it seemed, had turned out to do their fellow citizen honor. It was an impromptu affair, gotten up in a few hours, almost entirely unknown to the candidate. Again on Friday night the town and surrounding country turned out to a more formal reception at the Elgin hotel, where cordial hand shakes thrilled the heart of the recipient of this kind reception, and where congratulatory speeches almost smothered him. Major Tom Bown, a pioneer, who had known Ed Hoch for more than thirty years presided. Fine talks were made by Alex Case, the first man to welcome the young immigrant here in the early seventies, John H. Smith, Superintendent Knowles, Dave Wheeler, J.S. Dean, H.S. Martin, and several visiting guests. Sheldon's Cornet Band played on the outside at the beginning of the reception and Sheldon's Orchestra furnished fine music during the entire evening. The ladies of the town served refreshments, free.
There will be entertainment given in the Presbyterian church Friday night, April 1st, at which Miss Margurette Martin will give numerous recitals, Mrs. Rowe will sing and Mrs. Tilson will render piano selections. Admission will be 25 cents.
Do you appreciate as you should the Rest Room and Library which some modest, worthy women are maintaining in this town? Country women are showing their appreciation more and more of the Rest Room, which affords them a comfortable place to spend idle time while in town. Every town needs such a place. Men can loaf on the street corners, in the shops and offices, in the hotels, and they can rest on the curbstones, but the ladies have no place while their husbands transact their business, or to rest when tired without feeling that they are intruders. The Rest Room furnishes such a place. It is a splendid thing. And then the Library in connection adds to its attractiveness and is growing more popular all the time. But all this costs. The ladies have to pay rent for the room, the book, magazines and papers cost money, the attendant must be paid. So far with their Exchange sales, sociables, fees, etc., they have been able to maintain this excellent institution. But have you, reader, appreciated their efforts and helped all you could or should? The RECORD would like awfully to see a building erected for the exclusive use of the women of the town, and believes this wish will be realized, some time.
The earth was just about covered with snow Sunday morning, but it was all gone in a few hours. By the way, we never saw such little snow here as we have seen this winter in thirty-odd years. There has not been enough to track a rabbit.
E.F. Sheldon has commenced the erection of a stone and brick business building on the lot on main street now occupied by the frame building in which he has his jewelry store. The building will be 25x40 feet, two stories high, the first story will be of stone and the second of brick. Mr. Sheldon will use the lower story for his jewelry store, and the upper story will be fitted up for his family to live in.
The girls' Pansy Club of the Baptist church will conduct the Exchange at the Rest Room Saturday, March 19.
Street Commissioner Adkins has done another good thing. Doing good things is one of his regular official habits. The thing to which we now refer is the fixing of that nook near the stone arch bridge for a flower bed. Some ladies requested it, and he hauled dirt to fill up the low place, built a wall on the north, fixed up the fence, and got it ready for the ladies to make a beauty spot of it. It has always been an unsightly spot, and its prominence made it offensively conspicuous. Now it is to be made attractive. Good for the ladies! Good for Adkins!
Mrs. Helen Miesse and children visited over Sunday in Peabody with Mrs. Miesse's sister-in-law, Mrs. Griffith.
Remember the social at the Morning Star school house, District 21, Saturday evening, March 26th. Mr. Fred Spicer will be there with his fine phonograph and furnish some fine music as Mr. Spicer knows how to handle it. Come and bring your boxes and girls and enjoy the evening.
Horace Waring expects to go to Salt Lake City, soon, to take a position with S.L. Billings in the lumber yard. The fact that Horace is a nephew of ours shant prevent us from saying that he is a mighty fine and worthy young man.
On last Friday, at noon, Mr. Fred E. Bunte, of Halstead, Kansas, was married to Miss Carrie Salser, of this place. The ceremony occurred at the Methodist parsonage, and was impressively performed by the pastor, Rev. D. McCormick. The happy and worthy couple left on the afternoon train for their future home in Halstead, where the groom is prominent and prosperous. The RECORD extends hearty congratulations.
Mrs. A. E. Downes entertained a number of lady friends at a one o'clock luncheon Tuesday afternoon. Mrs. Downe's entertainments are always delightful.
(Copied by Joan Meyer from the 1904 microfilm files of the Marion Record)
