Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-11-10

Touring mill Of Hugh Smith & Sons,
also Ironton men. James Greason, an
other Ironton man, is connected with
this enterprise. and learn it is max
ing money for them all.
1 was also assured that new barrel
factory was about being erected that
will employ one hundred men or more.
The Court House is q very large and
commodious brick structure, contain
ing ample room for all the officers of
the county.
And speaking of officers, I cannot help
referring to two of them especially, the
present Circuit Clerk, Thos. D. Fergu-
son, and the County Clerk, Geo. II. KEEL
ley. They are both young men, natives
of the Bluff; both left orphans when
SIN all boys, and by force of the true
American pluck and grit within them.
have earned the confidence of the peo-
pie, and the honors they have won.
Two more capable, honest, and reliable
officers are not possessed by any county
in the State. The last time held court
here these now responsible young men
were little tow-headed boys, timidly
making their way, now and then, in
side the courtroom door, with fear and
trembling, to see what the august
court was doing!
Dear me! am I really growing old. or
what is the matter that the world is
rushing along with such accelerated
speed lately?
There are several hotels here, but the
Morris House is the chief one, new
and fine three-story brick structure
containing over forty rooms. If you
want to learn all about fish and game
in this lower country, Dan Morris, it's
manager, can give you the informa-
ton.
The stock yards here feed and ship
about 400 car-loads-or say IL, 900 head
per month. The feed bills amount
to about $1,000 to $1,000 per month.
This alone makes a good market for
hay and feed. They are managed by
E. M. Smith, Esq, worthy and ell
terprising man.
The finances of Butler county have
heretofore been in q somewhat disor-
dered state; the bonded Indebtedness
ran up to nearly $50, 1000, drawing ten
per cent. interest, but by the good and
skillful management of Judge John
son, County Clerk Kelley, and some
Others who are deserving of the lasting
gratitude OF Butler county, this large
Indebtedness is now reduced to about
$40, 900 in six per cent. bonds. They
have forty-five miles of railroad in the
county, on which the taxes this year
amounted to $4,000. So you see it
will be but very few years until But
Ter county will be out of debt, when it
can turn it's attention to making good
roads and other internal developments.
The Improvements in Poplar Bluff
during 1881 are by far the most marked
Of any preceding year. The solidity of
the structures indicates the utmost
in the future Of the young city.
Ferguson & Co. have erected an i'm
mense store and hall, two stories high,
AZ by 80 feet, and built Of pressed brick.
The store room is one of the largest and
best finished in Southern Missouri, and
is filled with a $4,000 stock of fresh
goods. These young men do a SIS, 900
business, and must be making money.
hoJ <In u
story, and is finished most elegantly,
having an ample stage, and capacity
to seat at least five hundred persons.
It is credit to the proprietors, and a
boon to the town, which I have no
doubt the people will duly appreciate.
The other new brick buildings are: B.
+. Reynolds store, % by 80, one story
and basement, and occupied by Helti-
brand & Higdon, all Ironton men; B.
Duncan & Co.'s elegant store and resi-
dence, % by 80 feet, two stories and
basement; and w. F. Meals store and
residence. two stories, AZ by 80 feet
the brick in all of them being of a bright
and lively shade. The new Masonic
Hall. two stories, 80 by Sc, the lower
story of which is owned by Judge
Johnson, and used for the Citizen
printing office. Mr.. Geo. Begley has
erected an elegant store. about 80 by so
feet, and has it well filed with stock
of general hardware. There are many
other improvements which I cannot
note.
The fine residences in town are those
Of Judge Thos. NJ. johnson, editor of
the Citizen, and Charles Hendricks,
S. M. Chapman, ESQ.,, and I. M. Dav-
idson, Esq, prominent attorneys.
w. T. League, Esq, who married
DIR. Bartlert's pretty daughter land I
must tell tho young men that the Doc
tor has more pretty girls), rising