The Peabody Gazette gives us some real insight into life in Plum Grove in the late 1870’s and early 1880’s. In this weekly newspaper we find columns entitled “Plum Grove Items.” These colurnns were mostly submitted by two authors. The first contributor signs his name “A Star Cus” and it is easy to deduce from the way the columns are written and the similarity of the name that this is Starchus M. Spencer. The other contributor signs his name “Num Skull.” We are never given a clue as to the identity of Num Skull. Both of these authors give us a lot of infomation about the people, the area and the climate in and around Plum Grove.

PLUM GROVE And VICINITY.

Editor Gazette:—I send you another communication after a long delay. Our little burg has not much stirring.

—Stark still dispenses goods to his numerous customers. 

—Mrs. Heckadon is very ill, caused by an injury received on the fairgrounds at Peabody in 1877.

—Mrs. Strasser, of Milton township, is not expected to live; disease, brain fever. 

Mr. Roop, of Clifford township, is prospecting for coal; they are at present about 70 feet below the surface. Hope they may be successful. 

—’The Methodists have been holding a protracted meeting at the school house at the Grove, for the past two weeks, Rev. Cain presiding.

—Now I should like to ask “A Star Cus” what material difference it makes to the readers of the Gazette whether “Num Skull ” goes to Reno county or not; he seemed to fear in his last that the bad weather would prevent us going. We will say for his benefit that we went in spite of the weather, and would advise him hereafter to attend to his own affairs or we may.

—Drs Seaman & Knowles have purchased the drug store formerly owned by Dr. Davis.  

—Hoping you will forgive us for our long delay, and promising to do better in the future, we are as ever,

NUM SKULL.

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