125 years ago

october 16, 1885

City Schools

The first month of the Fall term of Marion’s superb schools has been a period of great activity. A majority of the teachers, including the Principal, are new to the schools, but they have rapidly mastered the situation, and everything is running smoothly as if there had been no change in instructors.

The following report for the month is a gratifying showing: Primary—No. enrolled, 164; average daily attendance, 124.

Intermediate—No. enrolled, 95; average daily attendance, 79.

Grammar—No. enrolled, 119; average daily attendance, 103.

Scientific—No. enrolled, 92; average daily attendance, 74.

High School—No. enrolled, 12; average daily attendance, 12.

Total enrolled, 482; average daily attendance, 392.

Mother Chapman is building a neat house on her farm, 7 miles southwest of Marion.

Put Marion down for over two thousand population at the next census. Mighty near that many now.

New houses continue to sprout, despite the frosty mornings and approaching winter. Marion’s building boom is a hardy plant, and don’t you forget it.

When the iron horse on the OA&W railroad comes snorting down through Marion next year, as it is pretty certain to do, then this booming city will boom as it has never boomed before. Yea, verily.

Mr. Isaac Pavey, of Grant, left at this office, samples of a variety of corn with double husks or shucks. That is the ear is not only encased in ordinary husks, but each grain is also clothed in the same way. He says they raise lot of it “back east,” where he came from, and that it makes excellent feed for stock, combining fodder and grain is a wholesome way.

Attorney R.L. King has bought from Lee Riddle what is best known as the new Bowlby residence, north of Albert Down’s, on the brow of the Luta. Mr. King is becoming more and more a fixture in Marion, all of which we are glad to note, for he is a good citizen, a pleasant gentleman, and a good lawyer.

Our revered friend, Dr. A.G. Huffman, of Peabody, had his pocket-book filched from him at the Topeka reunion ‘tis said, though we’ve seen nothing of it in the Peabody papers. Marion still leads, however, for the good Doctor’s purse only contained $3, while our Father Mullineaux’s, which was gobbled about the same time, was fat with $70. Marion never allows any little town to get ahead of it, even in matters of this kind.

State Treasurer Howe has been visiting his folks here this week. Mr. Howe is one of the directors of the OA&W railroad and expresses great confidence in the building of the road.

There was a good soaking rain Monday and heavy frost several nights since.