This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Weast, Boyd, Byers, Ringo, Martin, Jones, Johnson, Hutchins, Hutchings, Hotson, Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/zMB.2ACI/975 Message Board Post: IRON COUNTY REGISTER, Ironton, Iron County, Missouri, Thursday, January 24, 1889. LOCAL BREVITIES. Pay-day Saturday. A conference of the M. E. Church, South, will likely be held in the Valley this coming spring. Nos. 652 and 653 will be discontinued to-day. Nos. 605 and 606 doing the work of the first named trains. A honey-suckle in full bloom in the flower garden at ye editor's residence last week. How's that for January?" The man who is saving money on wood this winter would do well to lay it away to meet those ice bills next summer. Our young friend, Robert Weast, has removed to Des Arc, where he has purchased a blacksmith's shop and will do business on his own account. Bob, success and happiness! The young folk of the Valley indulged in Terpsichorean festival at the Academy of Music Monday night. Some fifteen couples attended and all seemed to enjoy themselves. The beautiful weather of the past week has greatly improved the roads, which are now becoming fairly passable, but the mud holes yet remaining show that there is plenty of repairing needed. Rev. Dr. Boyd, of Poplar Bluff, filled the pulpit in the Presbyterian last Sunday morning and evening. We understand that our Presbyterian friends have about concluded not to make any effort to secure a pastor before next spring. We're happy to be able to announce that Mrs. W. H. Byers, who, at the time of our last issue, was dangerously ill, is now convalescing and, with no relapse, promises to be in her usual health soon. H. N. Hutchins, recently returned from a trip to Dunklin county, made a call Tuesday. Mr. H. reports things along the "Cotton Belt" booming over the prospect of that road's early securing an inlet to St. Louis. Mr. Hotson has built a dam across Stout's Creek adjacent to his ice house so that in the event the frigid weather does come it will take him but a short time to get a house full of ice. Present prospects, though, are mighty slim. An extra south-bound passenger engine ran into the rear end of a freight train a short distance south of the Pilot Knob station last Sunday afternoon. A badly demolished caboose and somewhat disfigured locomotive were the results. Hon. Mann Ringo has been made Chairman of the House Committee on Normal Schools. A wise selection, as Mr. R.'s several years' attendance at the Southeast Normal has well acquainted him with the uses, abuses and needs of these institutions. It is reported that the contract has been let and the Iron Mountain Railway will soon have a double track between St. Louis and Bismarck. The running of the Cotton Belt trains over the I. M. makes a double track between the points named almost an absolute necessity. One day last week the St. Louis Republic stated that it was generally conceded by both parties that U. S. Marshal Emerson would not be disturbed by the incoming administration, but would likely serve until the expiration of his commission, which has about three years to run. We publish in this issue, the full text of a bill introduced by Senator J. Perry Johnson, providing that railroads be compelled to furnish facilities for competing express lines. It ought to become a law, for the people are being outrageously gouged by the present monopoly. A couple of distinguished gentlemen arrived in Ironton from the south last Friday night and we turned over all contributions awaiting them at this office. However, as we monkeyed with the buzz-saw once in the past and came near losing gore therefore, we refrain from further remarks. The revival is still in progress and the end evidently is afar off. Presiding Elder Martin was here and pushed things along for a day or two last week. From what we hear the brethren are especially hard set against that portion of his satanic majesty's vineyard which they conceive is found in every ball room. Dr. H. M. Jones has awarded the contract for completing his lately acquired residence, east of the railroad, to Baldwin Bros., and work will commence as soon as the weather becomes sufficiently settled to allow plastering. With judgment and work the Dr. can easily convert this proeprty into one of the pleasantest and most picturesque homes in the Valley. The faintest rumor resched our ears of a swell banquet in town last Saturday night. As we did not attend - for reasons not necessary to name - we are not prepared to give an authentic or extended account thereof, but from what we learn from the grocer who furnished the edibles we feel warranted in saying it was indeed an elaborate affair. The menu was oysters, crackers, pickles, salt and pepper, with a nice red apple and a glass of pure cold water for dessert!