125 years ago

july 24, 1885

The directory on the front page of this issue offers information on the following businesses:

A.E. Downes, dealer in staple and fancy groceries, provisions, cigars, tobacco, etc. Highest market price paid for country produce of all kinds. Give me a call before purchasing elsewhere.

Marion Carriage and Wagon Works. James H. Hoch, proprietor, shop east of stone arch bridge. Fine work a specialty. Buggies & wagons made and repaired. All kinds of blacksmithing done, except horse-shoeing.

Jno. F. Carter, dealer in lumber. Sash, doors, blinds, spouting, moulding, lath, shingles, hair, etc., etc., etc. Office on Second Street, near the Marion mills.

Furniture at the old stand including the splendid folding bed. A.D. Billings & Co. Keep constantly on hand Queensware carpets, undertakers’ goods, etc., and all kind of furniture. Repairing promptly attended to.

New Furniture Store! Barrows & Tidyman. Have just received a large and well assorted stock of new furnitures, which have been opened up in the south room of Rogers’ Block. You are cordially invited to call and examine. You will find a great variety of parlor suites, bedroom suites, ladies’ rockers, bed lounges, gents’ easy chairs, center tables, extension tables, kitchen tables, kitchen safes, bureaus, sofas, etc. Undertaking will be a specialty. A fine hearse is kept in connection with this department and will be furnished where desired.

Also listed are the Cottonwood Valley Bank, the only incorporated bank in the city. Levi Billings, president; J.N. Rogers, vice president; A.E. Case, cashier; and First National Bank of Marion, W.H. Dudley, cashier.

Mr. Joel Good is erecting a building at the east end of the stone arch bridge in which he proposes to open a feed and produce store. A good place for a good business, and in a double sense a good man to run it. Success to him.

Next to a mouse and a snake, a toad is probably the greatest terror to the average feminine heart. One of these ugly varmints jumping toward a bevy of beauties on a certain veranda, the other evening, was the cause of the screams that startled the editor as he passed.

Just before going to press this Thursday noon, this sad telegram is laid on our table by our obliging agent, Mr. G.F. Roberts: “Grant died at 8:08 this a.m.”