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
05 MARCH, 1880
PLUM GROVE, BUTLER CO., KANSAS, 05 MARCH, 1880
EDITOR Gazette:
It is with sorrow we pen our regular communication this week, knowing that our old friend, Walker, stands no longer at the helm of the GAZETTE. Although we sorrow for Walker, yet we can wish you, his successor, may fill his place and keep the paper what he has made it, one of the State’s best local papers. Although Walker did not catalogue us, Butler county, with the rest, in his farewell, yet the GAZETTE has become a friend to many of us that we should hate to part with. Hoping that you and the Gazette may prosper and that Walker may never regret leaving the sanctum, we will give a few new items and close.
👉🏻 Our coal hole has resumed its journey Chinaward.
👉🏻 The Plum Grove Theatrical troupe will give a series of entertainments next month for the benefit of the Parson.
👉🏻The farmers in this section advocate the burning of all the prairie grass around their farms, thinking to destroy the chintz bugs that have taken up winter quarters therein.
👉🏻 The Plum Grove Theatrical troupe will give a series of entertainments next month for the benefit of the Parson.
👉🏻We needed rain worse than we did the late cold snap. Will you please tell the weather clerk to take due notice and govern himself accordingly.
Yours,
NUM SKULL.
𝚨nything for A Quiet LifeΩ 