Old Settlers' Stories
(Items taken from the 1888 Record)
Our excellent friend Orley Billings came near finding a watery grave last week. He was skating all alone down below the old sugar factory when suddenly he went kerchug through thin ice
Mr. J.D. Tilson has withdrawn from the furniture firm of A.D. Billings and Co., and Mr. Lafe Brundage has succeeded him in the firm.
Esquire Edson Baxter has at last won his long fought suit against the AT&SF railway. It was a land suit involving 120 acres of fine land in this county and was first homesteaded by Mr. Baxter
Sheriff Ben R. Davis is racking up to the time his friends made for him in claiming he would make one of the best sheriffs, especially in office work, that the county ever had. Last Thursday morning he got the papers, drove nine miles in the country, appraised some property, drove back, wrote out his sale notice and had it is the hand of the printer before night.
Mrs. V.S. Pratt was the victim of a very painful accident Sunday. Coming to town in a vehicle driven by her little boy and driving fast to get to town in time for Sunday school, a sudden turn of the team near the mineral well, threw the little boy out. The horses now without a driver, the lines on the ground, threatened to dump the vehicle in the stream, when Mrs. Pratt with a little child in her arms jumped out, breaking the bones of one ankle so badly that they stuck out through the flesh.
Capt. Fred Lewis returned this week from a visit with his long lost brother in St. Louis. The story sounds like a romance.
While a well was being dug by the Edsall brothers about 20 miles north of Marion last week, a two foot vein of coal was discovered at a depth of 20 feet from the surface.
Dr. Freeland of the Rink Livery has fitted up a fine street sprinkler and has kept the dust properly subdued this week.
The newest firm in town is that of Clark & Mason real estate.
Marion became a city of the second class in 1888.
