Just to remind everyone -- Charlotte's Pearls are now archived permanently at http://www.rootsweb.com/~ote/usa_genealogy/mo_newspaper.htm -------------------------------- Jefferson Democrat Hillsboro, Jefferson County, Missouri Part II WEDNESDAY, 8 OCTOBER 1884 DEATHS and BIRTHS - The following deaths were reported the past week: Date Name Age September 8 Eddie MANION 6 years September 29 Letitia WATERS 84 years September 1 Mrs. X. ARNOLD 45 years September 10 Mabel LUCKEY 1 year BIRTHS Date Name of mother Sex August 29 Mrs.A.F. SHEARLOCK boy September 30 Mrs. J.H. ROGERS boy September 28 Mrs. Watson OGLE boy September 20 Mrs. A.J. REBHOUG(?) girl September 1 Mrs. F.X. BISHOP boy September 6 Mrs. Charles HIGGINBOTHAM boy September 28 Mrs. J.W. NUSBAUM boy September 3 Mrs. George GRAHAM girl September 17 Mrs. B.W. CORNELL boy August 21 Mrs. Charles WIDEMAN girl July 16 Mrs. Jacob HAMMERS boy DE SOTO OF TODAY - BRIEF SKETCH PENNED BY A VISITOR - Judging the future by the past, it is but the embryo of what it will be. Like a new-born empire she is slowly and steadily moving forward. It is from here the Iron Mountain railway company saw fit to erect their great machine shops and here vast numbers of artisans are given employment the year round. The land that is occupied by the machine shops was donated by the people of De Soto. The shops are beautifully situated and add to the appearance of the town. A glance at the map of the State of Missouri reveals the fact that the town is situated in the center of the Mississippi valley. With a desire of obtaining a birds-eye view of the pretty little town of De Soto and the surrounding country, I ascended the hill overlooking the town. As far as the eye could reach, the thickly populated agricultural districts, rendered lovely by the soft, enchanting veil of distance and handsomely diversified with fine mineral lands and highly cultivated farms, presented a scene that might well inspire the pen of a poet or the pencil of an artist. E.C. RANKIN is one of the leading merchants of De Soto. His establishment is located in the upper end of Main St. The building is a handsome structure. The stock handled by this gentleman is one of general merchandise. Mr. RANKIN has been in business some fifteen years and his close attention to his business has gained him the respect and confidence of the people of this section of the county. In the field of politics, Mr. RANKIN has always been a consistent Republican, his party having honored him several times in their conventions. He is still a bachelor. His parents are both living and in excellent health. The RANKIN's are amount the oldest and highly respected people of the county and town. In anything that will enhance the interests of the town, you will always find Eugene to the front. OTTO HERMAN - Among the many citizens of De Soto, none can boast of more enterprise than can this gentleman. He is the only and leading brick-maker and building contractor in this section. Mr. HERMAN has been in De Soto for the past fifteen years and from the first year his business has been on the increase. His steam brick works are located in the northern part of the town and cover two acres. He makes machine brick and employes something like eighteen hands. The capacity of these works is twelve thousand to fifteen thousand daily. During the season he turns out from 1,000,000 to 1,200,000. He can point with pride to a number of buildings he has erected here that have improved the appearance of De Soto. He like, others of his townsmen, has held positions of trust. Mr. HERMAN is a public spirited citizen and one that is a credit to DeSoto. E.S. PYLE & Son - Not a stone's throw from the depot is the establishment of E.S. PYLE & Son, painters and paper hangers; also dealers in oils, paints, varnishes, glass, etc. The older member of the firm has been a resident of De Soto for twenty years back. It is only during the past few years that he and his son have been engaged in business but during that time they have built up a trade that would put shame to older houses. They carry a most complete stock of everything in their line - fancy as well as ordinary wall-paper. They are at all times prepared to fill orders. The people of the town and surrounding country have, but to call and give them orders to find I have not misrepresented E.C. PYLE & Son.