Note: The Peabody Gazette gives us some real insight into life in Plum Grove in the late 1870s and early 1880s. In this weekly newspaper, we find columns entitled “Plum Grove Items.” These columns were mostly submitted by two authors. The first contributor signs his name “A Star Cus,” It is easy to deduce from the style 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. In these bi-monthly columns, both of these authors garner a lot of information about the people, the area, and the climate of Plum Grove and vicinity.
PEABODY GAZETTE
January 12th 1880
PLUM GROVE, BUTLER CO., KANSAS, January12th 1880
EDITOR: Gazette
PLUM GROVE ITEMS.
Plum Grove Items. The
A big excitement exists at this place on the prospects of striking oil; during last month, Mr. Wilder and Mr. J. G. Morgan commenced boring for coal; at a depth of fifty-nine feet, they found petroleum in small quantities. They are confident that they will find coal in less than two hundred feet or strike petroleum in paying amounts.
👉🏻 Last Saturday, the schoolmarms of this portion of Butler county met at this place with Mr. Shelden, county Superintendent, to get the necessary papers qualifying them to teach; there were nineteen applicants present. Three weeks from last Saturday, the Butler County Teachers Association meets at this place.
👉🏻The Literary of Plum Grove meets every Friday evening. The society publishes two spicy sheets.
👉🏻 Born, on the 15th inst. to Mr. I and Mrs. Hattie Long, a daughter.
A St✶r Cus.
𝚨nything for A Quiet LifeΩ 