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

February 6th 1880

PLUM GROVE, BUTLER CO., KANSAS, February 6th 1880

EDITOR: Gazette

👉🏻 He died On Jan. 24th, Jacob Farnie, after a long spell of sickness. Mr. Farnie had only been living among us about one year; he had made many friends during that time.

👉🏻 On Jan. 31st, born to L. B. Spencer’s house, a son, also, on the same day, a daughter to Joseph Dailey; even on the same day, an additional heir to Joseph Morton’s estate; each: child and mother are doing well.

👉🏻Mr. Thomas S. Ferrier, of Clifford, is v ery sick.

👉🏻 The only question that agitates the minds of the people of Butler County at this time is the proposition to vote $4,009 per mile in Bonds to an R. R. Company. We are willing for a company to build as many railroads in this county as they wish; we are also opposed to county voting bonds to help any company build a railroad. Butler County is out of debt; if the bonds are voted, it will be more detrimental to it than the railroad will benefit it. Nearly the first question asked by a stranger looking for a location is this: Is your county in debt, or has it railroad bond indebtedness? If told it has, he is very sure to purchase land in some county that is not bonded.

👉🏻 On last Monday we noticed on our streets Mr. Matthews and Mr. Dave Mckain. of your city.

👉🏻 Rev. Budd has just closed a protracted effort three miles south of this place; seventeen joined the church.

👉🏻 Montgomery Bros. has the material on the ground for a two-story wagon and blacksmith shop.

👉🏻 In our last communication, we forgot to mention that while we were in Denver, we partook of the hospitalities of Mr. Joseph Delaney; he told us it was impossible for him to have good health if he did not receive the Peabody GAZETTE regularly.


Yours,

A St✶r Cus.

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