St. Clair County Democrat
Osceola, MO
20 February 1889

Winter has made its appearance at last.

Mr. H.T. Cline shipped his cattle and hogs last week.

Miss Eva Miles, of Henry County, is visiting her aunt, Mrs. Wm. Pope, this week.

The Wheel at the Lewis schoolhouse is rolling to the front, new members being initiated every week.

We understand that Parson Warren was actually seen at work on his farm a few days ago. That accounts for the recent snowstorm.

We learn from good authority that we are to have an oyster supper in the near future. If any of aunt Julia’s folks are present we anticipate a stirring time.

H.R. Hammond is making some valuable improvements this spring in the way of fencing. Harden says that when a fellow gets married its no dream, he’s got to hustle.

Some of our farmers are talking of starting a cheese factory. There is nothing he would mine profitable to the farmers of this section of the country than a cheese factory.

Miss Jessie Donahue, who has been teaching in the southern part of the county for the past six months, returned home yesterday. We learn from the young man across the way that she came to stay.

Oyer.
The days are growing longer.

Sam Burnsides is improving.

D.P. Motley will move across the river on Henry Bin’s farm.

Will Oyer and John Frasier traded horse and mules. Both got beat.

Mr. Welsh, living near Roscoe, lost a very fine gray mare, a few days ago. Too bad.

Look out for that dreaded disease that is making its appearance in our Land – spring fever.

Bob Hayes, of Roscoe, has gone to Arkansas to hunt a location for a post office. Bob, go it while you are young.

W.B. Beslisle bought a piece of land from W.R. Linley, and sold the same to Bud Yates. Who says land is not changing hands in St. Clair County?

Bro. Farmers, now is the time to get your plows out of the fence corners and get them in good running order for it will not be long ere you will want them.

Beslisle is one of our live stockmen. He has at present about seventy-five head of cattle, forty-five head of hogs and forty-three head of stall fed heifer calves to sell.

B.F. Walden, living four miles east of Roscoe, will lecture on temperance at Pleasant Spring church, Monday evening, February 25th, providing the weather will permit of his coming out.

Died. – Rhoda E., daughter of S. and J. Cole, at her home near Pleasant Spring church. The deceased was sick but three days with diptheria and croup. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. W.B. Beslisle.

The prayer meeting at Pleasant Spring church last Wednesday evening was one of the best ye scribe has attended in a long time. Several young folks from Roscoe were present. Come often and you will always find the latch string on the outside of the door.

Osage.
The exhibition at the close of our school was a grand success.

We hear no complaint of the scarcity of feed in this neighborhood.

Jonathan Lasater now occupies the snuffer house.

O.C. Binns and John Barnett had a hard struggle with their petitions for road overseer of this district. They managed to get about forty names each and there are only about sixty voters in the district. Hurrah for both!

Nathan Allison has caught a very bad cold; we fear it is the result of staying out at night.

The Wheel rolled into this neighborhood last Friday night, and met with a good reception. Mr. Crump organized a Wheel at Prairie Home with sixteen members. The society will meet every Thursday evening. Come in, gentlemen, every spoke makes the wheel stronger.

L.H. Boots says the very thought of oak or hatchecoon makes him sick – awful sick, but the thought of the brindle cow that captured his lunch makes him sicker.

Collins.
R.A. Long is on the sick list, this week.

Hart Bros. have received their spring goods.

Mat Orr visited in Hickory County last week.

Rev. Bunch, of the Christian denomination, preached here several nights last week.

Joseph R. Johnson united with the Christian brethren at this place Friday evening.

Dr. Sitton, our home physician and coroner, was called to Osceola on official business Friday.

Our accommodating barber, J.A. Coffee, returned from Maries county Friday, where he was attending to business.

As we announced, the Clipper came out on Friday last and to tell the truth, she am a daisy. Wells & Long are just the men to make it such.

Those that attended the valentine drawing and oyster supper given in the country, by G.L. Black, were Miss Minnie Sitton, Miss Della Long, Misses Ora and Ite Burchett. All report having had a fine time and lots to eat.

John Gordon, of Foster, Bates County, formerly a resident of this place, is visiting in and around town this week. John says he has sufficient hopes in the future prosperity of the town to improve the residence property he has here.

Robert Keller went on the section last week and worked one-half day and quit. Bob got down in his back, but Dr. Sitton applied a mustard plaster to the back of his neck and kept it from entering his head. Nevertheless Bob says he has got enough of railroad life.

Our station agent, Joseph Johnson, took the 4 o’clock passenger for the south Sunday evening, where he went to see his girl, returning the same evening on an extra. He must have strained his eyes looking at her, for we took notice the next morning that he was wearing goggles.

Mr. Wanamaker is thus quoted in a Philadelphia letter to the Chicago Tribune, “When I came to my desk, last Wednesday morning,” said John Wanamaker, the merchant, “I was naturally thinking about the Christmas trade which we had. During the ten days previous to Christmas our sales hovered about $100,000 per day. The grand total for the ten days falls only a few dollars under a million. I spend $5,000 a week in advertising, and I pay a skilled man – a former newspaper editor and a good one, $1,000 a month to do it for me. I make money by it. Advertising is the leverage with which this store has been raised up. I do not see how any large and successful retail business can be done without liberal advertising. I advertise in every issue except Sunday, of every daily paper in Philadelphia. Continuous advertising, like continuous work, is the most effective.”

Mormanism In the South.
While the government is making no move to suppress Mormanism, the people of the southern states are determined that their nefarious doctrines shall not be promulgated among them nor their ranks filled with the recruits from that section of country. Following dispatch to the Globe Democrat, bearing the date of February 17, and coming from Atlanta, Georgia, tells of the methods used to rid the country of these so called “elders”.
For over a year Mormon elders have been making converts in parts of Warren, Columbia and Glascock Counties. They have been making large numbers of converts, and the most obnoxious feature is that they do not send these converts away, but seem intent on building up a colony here. On the fourth Sunday in January last, two Mormon elders, stationed at the Shoals baptized five persons in Fort Creek, on the county line road, on the Glascock side. These persons were Brit Moore and wife and Wm. Hathaway, wife and sister. On the Saturday following, Mont. Hawkins was baptized at the same place by the same persons. Thus six persons were obtained in one settlement. An association of young men calling themselves the “Friends of Honor”, was organized for the purpose of protecting the unwary from the impositions of these elders. They concluded that the time had come to put an end to the proceedings there. They visited the elders at midnight and requested their departure quietly, notifying them if they did not go they would hear form them again. The elders defied them and remained several days longer, going from house to house. The “Friends of Honor” waited until the elders were located at the house of Brit Moore, when they called upon them, fully prepared to enforce their demands. The elders took the big road and ran, followed by the young men, who ran them out of the county. Notices have been served on the converts that if they talk Mormonism or encourage the return of the elders that they will be flogged on their bare backs until they show sufficient repentance. There are now scattered throughout that section about 150 Mormons. Of course they make no attempt at polygamy, but their presence has a demoralizing effect upon the whole community. The “Friends of Honor” are banded together for the purpose of breaking up the proselyting of ignorant people by oily-tongued disciples of Joe Smith.
Friday night two Mormon elders reached Louisville, in Jefferson County, where they proposed to put up. They were at once waited upon by a committee of eight prominent citizens and escorted out of town and told to keep straight ahead.

New Enterprises for Osceola.
The Blair ravel works, for which boats and barges are now in the course of construction.
Lime and brick works, to be operated by a Kansas City company. The arrangements for this enterprise have been completed and work on the kilns and machinery will soon begin.
A gas well, which will be sunk to a depth of 1200 feet by a company, of which J.H. Lucas, of Osceola, W.T. Johnson and W.H. Lucas, of Kansas City, are members. As soon as the weather will permit work will be commenced, and the well sunk as rapidly as possible.
The Frowein Red Sand Stone Company, composed of A. Frowein and W.C. Wallace, of Clinton, has purchased 60 acres of red sand stone land near Slat Creek Springs, and machinery is now ordered to work this material into marketable shape.
The St. Clair County Stone Company, to which belong J.H. Lucas, W.H. Lucas and W.T. Johnson, will operate a large red sand stone quarry north of Osceola. The switch has been contracted for, and a large amount of machinery will be put in.
The Thornton Paving Company will operate a large number of hands all summer getting out paving stone for the streets of Clinton. Work has been begun by this company, and when the switch is laid will be pushed vigorously.
These works are all assured and will employ, collectively, large numbers of men. The benefits to Osceola cannot be fully realized at a glance, but that they will be far reaching there can be no doubt.