125 years ago

september 11, 1885

Marion Co. Mineral Well

The credit of the grand discovery of mineral water in Marion County is entirely due to Walter Sharp. He was drilling for coal, at Marion, and when down 150 feet the bubbling of water, which rose nearly to the surface, attracted attention. The escaping gases have ever since continued to agitate the water. Five baths and a pond are supplied by means of a windmill. The water has been analyzed and found to contain valuable mineral properties. Its curative properties are attested by many physicians and clergymen and Sharp’s mineral well will soon make Marion a popular health resort. Mr. Sharp has refused $7,000 for his well.

The ladies of the Christian church have decided to have a fair and festival at the Rink, Thanksgiving Day, and will devote the time between now and then to preparations for the event. They are anxious to clean off the debt on their beautiful parsonage, and the proceeds will go toward that worthy object.

Hon. J. Ware Butterfield recently presented the Florence public library with one hundred and forty-six volumes of valuable books. A town is fortunate that contains so public-spirited a citizen.

H.S. Hutchinson & Co. has made a success of the ice business in Marion this season. They put up about five hundred tons last winter and have supplied customers all summer, this being the first season, if our memory is correct, that the ice supply had not been exhausted before the summer was over. These enterprising gentlemen are well enough satisfied with their ice experience to justify them in securing even a larger quantity this coming winter.

Our excellent young friend, Sam Burkholder, of Canada, this county, expects to start for Lawrence today to re-enter the State University. He has “put in” his vacation canvassing Morris County for General Grant’s Memoirs, taking nearly one hundred orders, and making enough money to help him greatly in his ambition to acquire a university education. Such energy and ambition is sure to win for this fine young man honorable success in life.

Mrs. Tilson went to St. Louis Tuesday morning to purchase millinery goods. Oh, what a flutter there’ll be ‘mong the feminine hearts of Marion when she returns with all those nice “fixings.”