Rensselaer Republican, Volume 24, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 April 1892 — Rensselaer in 1866. [ARTICLE]

Rensselaer in 1866.

A copy of the Prairie Telegraph, of the date of Jan 81,1866,has been handed us by Mr. Henry “Bruce. The paper was published by R. B. James, and it was a precursor of The Rensselaer Republican, and was the only paper then published in Jasper County. As was usually the case in those days, when papers were all “home print” and literally edited by the shears and the paste-pot, the copy referred to is almost totally devoid of local news. Considerable imformation as to who was in business or official life in Rensselaer at that time may be gleaned from the advertising columns, but as for local news proper, there is absolutely nothing, except a paragraph stating that sleighing was good: another tells us that “The Pbilomathean Lyceum” at school No- 4 (Watson’s) on Thursday evening last called a out a large attendance. Crinoline was jambed. Beauty was packed; gallantry mustered sleigh-bells and genius was stimulated to oratory ; and once more it was decided that Lo, the poor

Indian bad suffered greater evils at the the hands of the white man that had the ebon hued race of Ham. The marriage in Gillam tp., of Miss Nancy A Faris to Mr. Richard R., Freshour is announced, and a paragraph or two is given to “The Cattle Business ” Further than this there is no local news. By referring to the advertising columns, we find that G. J. Green & Son run a general store in the “Shanghai” building; Stackhouse Bros. & Co. keep the “Spread Eagle” furniture store; the “City Drug Store” was managed by W. Thompson. W. J. Laßueit. Co., in the “Stone Store” handle just about everything; L. and N. W. Hopkins have just moved into their new storey near the bridge, and sell groceries, harness &c.;| Stackhouse

Bros., (I. M. & C. D.)have the Rensselaer Hardware <fc Agricultural store; the/ 1 Old Line tirug Store” is kept by Harding & Hemphill; and J. W. and S. O. Duvall keep a livery stable and run daily hack-lines to Remington and Bradfcfrd. In the ines, tile firm s are Hammond and Spitler and Dwiggins & Thompson. The dcctors arc»Wm. H. Martin <fc Son; Dr. Loughridge, Dr. G. A. Moss, and Dr. James Ritchey (on the “Tom Clark Farm” four miles south of town.) A. McCoy and Alfred Thompson keep the only bank. In the official directory we find that D. I; Jackson was clerk, Chas. Platt, sheriff; D. T. Halstead, auditor; Thos. H. Burroughs, treasurer; Ezra Clark, recorder; R. B. James, surveyor. ' In those days there were two courts. The circuit court, Chss. H. Test, of Lafayette, judge, two term» a year; and the court of common pleasWm. C. TalcOtt, of Porter Co. judge, four terms a year . The paper was just half the size of The the subscription price was $21.00 in advance, or $2.50 within the year, or $3.00 at the expiration of the year.