From Melrose - 1882

17-JAN-1882    Not seeing anything from this place for some time, I thought I would drop you a few lines.    Brownsville is among the things of the past.   H. L. Baker has moved his store to Melrose.   He is now in the Red store, where he is doing a lively trade.   He is a first class business man.   The Rowe Brothers mill is doing a lively business and Melrose is a lively place.   Dr. Booth has moved to the burg.   The medical faculty is Dr. Wilkins, Luky and Brother;   blacksmiths, Joe Kelms and Knops and Company;   carpenters, Knops and Company;   shoemaker, Jesse Stanfield.   Alfred Cowden swings the birch at Melrose.   McClure has got the wind part of a new railroad done.   He is out with papers in hand preaching Greenback doctrine. 21-FEB-1882    Melrose was visited last week by the death angel and Dr. R.W. Leckle was called to his reward.   The Doctor came to Melrose during the late unpleasantness from eastern Tennessee and had many warm friends in the community where he died.   The Cottonwood School closed on the 9th after a five month term, Mr. William E. Huffington, teacher.   Mr. H. was educated in Indianapolis, Indiana.   He is a young man of fine talent and other qualifications, such as an unblemished moral character. 7-MARCH-1882    There is only about one more week of Mr. Cowden’s school yet and I must say to Mr. C’s credit, that he has taught us the best school that we have had for several years.   I have heard scarcely a word of complaint from any one and believe he has the good will of the entire school.       Melrose will grow in spite of the hard times.   C. W. Rooks and Charles Rowe are building some substantial fences around their lots.   Dr. Wilkin and Joe Knapp have built sidewalks from their gates to connect with other walks, and John Rowe has moved the office formerly used by Dr. Wilkin around on main street, where it will be fitted up for a milliner shop.    21-MARCH-1882    Melrose is still on the high road to prosperity.   Business of all kinds is flourishing.   The indications are that Melrose in time will furnish her quota of speakers for the legislature.    The extension of the railroad to this point is a settled fact and lots are being taken rapidly in anticipation of Melrose being a second Chicago.   C. F. Rowe is still alive, but meetings, spelled schools, are things of the past with him since he got married.   Wilbur Fisk returned last week from his flying visit to Indiana.   E. M. Metcalf is making quite an improvement on his farm west of town.   He has erected a dwelling and barn, set out two hundred fruit trees, besides doing all his farming.   A new picket fence surrounds the old hovel occupied by F. G. Hastings.   We would be glad to see a mansion in corresponding with the fencing.   Miss. Mollie Handy, of Reno County, Kansas, is visiting her multitude of friends at this place.   Lee Morland has gone north expecting to manipulate in manual labor this year.   John Crosby gave an entertainment at his residence south of town last Thursday night.    26-APRIL-1882    Brax. Cox and Levi Wells were in town last Sunday.   Our subscription for the proposed railroad now foots up $525 and we are confident this can be double if this becomes necessary.   Our people appreciate the advantages of a railroad through our county and are determined to have one if any reasonable exertion on our part will secure it.   About three-fourths of the land owners along the line have already signed the right of way and many more have expressed a willingness to sign it.   The recent cold snap killed all the peaches and cherries in the vicinity.   Joseph Hedges was re-elected school director at the school election last Saturday.   This makes the third term for Mr. Hedges and certainly entitles him to a pension. 16-MAY-1882 The dwelling house of Jonas Spraker, of Orange Twp, was burned yesterday afternoon, with nearly all the contents.   The insurance had run out a short time ago.   John S. Wells, of Martinsville, was visiting his sister, Mrs. Dr. Wilkins, last week.   He has a very sore hand caused by a hatchet, with which he was splitting kindling, coming off the handle and striking his hand. 27-JUNE-1882 Rook Bros. will have the addition to their store room completed in a few days.   They have four or five workmen employed on the job and the sound of the hammer is heard from early morning until evening.   Our enterprising merchant, H. L. Baker, keeps his eyes on the wants of the people and carries a varied stock of dry goods and groceries.   Our old friend W. Porter, of Martinsville, candidate for superintendent of Schools, was in this neighborhood last week.

Source: The Clark County Herald, submitted by Ron Cornwell If you have any other information about any of the persons or incidents in these articles, please send it to ortmank@yahoo.com.