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 its vicinity.
“Since the late rains, our farmers carry smiling countenances. The grumblers have concluded that this portion of Kansas Is neither too hot nor too cold. Too dry, nor too wet, too windy, or too calm, since they have heard of the destructions of lives and property in other States by the storm which occurred last month, the day that we shall never forget as the ‘blowy day for Kansas.’
Nonetheless, the grumblers are now saying we are having too much rain.”
A STAR CUS
THE PEABODY GAZETTE
FRIDAY, 28 MAY 1880
PLUM GROVE, BUTLER CO., KANSAS, FRIDAY, 28 MAY 1880
EDITOR Gazette:
PLUM GROVE ITEMS.
We have a sad accident to report which occurred near Towanda last Sunday. Mr. Wait and Pikens put a blast in the bottom of a well that they were digging late on Saturday night, on Sunday morning wishing to see the execution of the explosion. Mr. Wait was lowered down, and after reaching the bottom, he was noticed to fall. Mr. Pikens then told some friends to lower him down quick, and he would bring him up. However, before he reached the bottom, he called for them to draw up. When about halfway up, he fell over, and when taken out, his neck was found broken.
We have given the above as reported to us by one of Mr. Wait’s neighbors.
👉🏻 The grumblers now say we are now having too much rain.
👉🏻 P. M. Morgan, the gentleman that bought S. M. Spencer’s hay, is now busy pressing.
YOURS,
A STAR✬CUS
𝚨nything for A Quiet LifeΩ 