100 years ago
November 16, 1903 — In 1888 William Austin was an humble stone cutter in Marion. His shop was just across the stone arch bridge on Main street, where Dunham's feed store is now located. In those days William Austin was an intelligent, plain working man, who had a cheery word and a pleasant smile for every passer-by. He was happy. One day it was whispered around town that Will Austin had fallen heir to a fortune of more than a quarter of a million dollars. At first the story was not believed but in a little while it was confirmed and William Austin was rich. For a while under the law of momentum, he kept on pecking away at the marble, and passers-by tarried a little longer than usual at his door. People with financial schemes poured their plans into his ears. Finally, he disposed of his little shop, and moved to Emporia, and plunged into the Percheron horse business, with some speculators down there. He bought a large stock farm and erected magnificent buildings. He made several trips to France and brought home not only finest animals but master pieces from the art galleries as well. William Austin had no personal vices. He was generous — too generous for his own good. He did not squander his money in "riotous living," but lavished it upon every good cause. He was a great admirer of Rev. Dr. Hendy then President of the Emporia college, and took the elegant gentleman with him on one of his European trips, paying all expenses. Incredible as it seems in four brief years, William Austin's fortune had dwindled like a snow ball in June, and he had only a big bundle of worthless notes to show for it all. Then began a pathetic struggle. Health failed. But with a huckster's cart he sold vegetables from door to door to support his large family. Last week William Austin died, penniless. Austin Chapel, in Emporia College, is one of his best monuments, but not the best. His unselfish nature, and the Christian faith and courage with which he faced failure and battled with adversity are his best monument. That he was too trusting, that he had too much confidence in his fellowmen, that he was unwise in his financial ventures, that he was too public spirited, that he was too generous, even, to good causes, may be admitted, but one finds it hard to condemn him very seriously for these things. But poor Austin is dead! How the clouds hovered above him during the past few years! Truly, the tragedy of real life is stranger and more pathetic than any fiction.
Archie Searles, a Marion boy, found a couple of small pearls, recently, while fishing down the Cottonwood, on the George Coble place, He sent them to New York and was offered twenty-five dollars each, for them, which he promptly accepted. Pearls are found in shells of various kinds.
Mr. A.E. Case and wife left,
Tuesday, to eat Thanksgiving turkey with O.L. Clarke and wife in Texas. They expect to stay several weeks.
Truant officer Gutsch visited the Ramona school Monday. He was looking up the stay at home cases. It seems some have the impression that they can keep the children at home a day or two each week if needed for work and still be within the law. This causes the teacher to report these cases, hence the trouble. Children needed to work on the farm a week or two in the fall or spring who have had a good record will not be molested, otherwise they will have to attend the fall term. As we understand it, it is the duty of the Truant officer to enforce the law. Why not make an effort, parents, to get the children to school in time that the monthly report will read, neither absent nor tardy?
Mr. Peter P. Magathan and Miss Nancy Pearl Harter were married Monday evening at the home of Porter Good, in Marion. Rev. R.W. Woodside officiating. The RECORD extends best wishes.
Mrs. Caroline Quantrell died yesterday at the Ohio Odd Fellows' home in Springfield, Ohio at the age of 80 years. She was the mother of the noted guerrilla leader, William C. Quantrell, who, with a band of border raiders, burned and pillaged Lawrence, Kan., August 23, 1863, when 183 people were killed. It was the old lady's greatest grief that her son had run away from home to join the rebel army and that he had been identified with the bloody scenes in the Kansas troubles.
Stop at F.C. Utting's store and see the china tea set received by Mrs. S.E. Richardson with DeFrame coupons. Try a package of DeFrame tea. None better.
Practical Christianity was finely exemplified in the Methodist Sabbath school last Sunday morning when twenty dollars and sixty cents were dropped into the contribution box for the benefit of a needy family in no way connected with the school or church except by the ties of a common sympathy. It was a happy thought on the part of Superintendent Bryan and a generous response on the part of the school.
We are pained to learn of the death of Miss Frances Bales, daughter of our good friends, Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Bales. She died of appendicitis, after an operation in Wichita last week, and was buried in the Florence cemetery Monday. The many Marion friends of this excellent family will join the RECORD in heartfelt sympathy. Frances was born at Youngtown, in this county, April 8, 1889, and was therefore in the fifteenth year of her age. She was a lovely girl. In early childhood she became a Christian, and her sweet voice was often heard in the Junior Endeavor meetings and in the prayer circle around the family altar. She was a great sufferer for a few days, but cheerfully submitted to the tortures of the surgeon's knife, which, alas was of no avail. The bereaved loved ones are solaced with the faith that their loss is her eternal gain, and with the deep sympathy of many friends. The funeral services were held in Friends University, and the sermon was preach by President Stanley.
(Copied by Joan Meyer from the 1903 microfilm files of the Marion Record.)
