140 years ago

may 9, 1879

All the preliminary matters are going arranged as fast as possible for the construction of the railroad, and work on it will be booming shortly.

Increase of cultivated acres in Marion county from 1877 to 1878, 47,326. Value of crops for 1878, $793,439. Increase of population from 1870 to 1878, 7,538.

Many think Mr. Kellison’s new building will be, when finished, the handsomest residence in town. The body of the building is constructed of a peculiar kind of yellow stone and the corners of a beautiful white stone, making a striking and happy contrast.

There is hardly a man in town who is not expecting to build something. If all the houses are built here this season that are being “figured on,” Marion Centre will nearly double in size this year. And we believe that will be the case whether the present calculations are carried out or not.

The Lehigh Colony is the name of the new colony soon to come out from Pennsylvania, and to occupy the five thousand acre tract recently purchased for them in Risley township.