The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-06
HISTORY OF I0NIA
Has Been Trading Point i'm Sixth
District Sinch 1871.
Is Now One of Jewell COunty's
Thriving Little Towns.
BANK DEPOSITS HEAVY
On Line Of Proposed North and
South Railway.
BANK DEPOSITS HEAVY
Big improvements Expected
When Road Becomes Assured.

Ionia, Kan, Nov. 6.-As early as
1871 there has been trading post
here. Some one named the town
Ionia, the same name of a town in
Michigan. 1t is beautifully located
! between the banks of the east and
west Lin estone creeks. A few times
in its history these creeks have over
flowed their banks, but little damage
was done. The country is so rich in
agriculture, and the location so
charming, that the few times the wat
er has overfiowed has been almost
forgotten.
Ionia is located in Jewell, one of
the best corn producing counties in
the state, and many times has been
the first county in number of bushels
raised. 1t is an inland town, that is,
1t has no railroad or a trolley line to
help build it up. 1t is II miles from
Jewell City. Without these advan-
tages it has grown up to be busy
trading town, and for several years
the commercial tourist as well as her
nome people and her thickly settled
farming section surrounding have
truthfully referred to Ionia as one of
the very best centers, although small
in population.
Bank Deposits Increase
A few years ago, in 1904, the Ionia
prospered every year showing increas-
ed business, until today the deposits
aggregate more than $4,000
One of the business houses, the
iona Mercantile Co., is doing bust
ness in building $50 feet deep. and
every foot of it is occupied with goods
About two miles from Ionia is the
nome of Fred Beeler, who located in
the Limestone valley in 1871, and
pulIt the hrst house of logs, and it
OF n ID
and hearty, and he has at all times
been one of the most prosperous far
mers and stock raisers. He owns l.
2o0 acres of fine Jewell county lands.
ana 4,VoO acres of pasture lands in
Mitchell county. He is rebuilding his
mouse and making it modern. One
never hears Fred Beeler giving Jewell
county black eye. He has made a |
nnanclal success of farming and stock
May Get Railroad.
AFTER so many years without trans |
,crtation facilities except nv oyer and
.orses, surveyors are at work survey
ne railroad from Beloit to Kearney. |
\eb.' and Ionia is on the proposed route
ne people OF the town have literally
upScrioed ana put up their quota of |
ash Tor the preliminary survey, and |
VII double it If necessary. If there ever
vas town deserving railroad facilities |
is Ion1a- The country is thickly set
ieQ up ana the farmers raise grains |
nd stock to ship out. Certain it is |
nat country as rich as this and so
asy to get will not be long without a |
abroad. The people of Ionia are un-
rlmous for the railroad, and their en-
huslasm reaches tC the top round of
he ladder
Soon as it is known that Ionia is 90
ng to have railroad men with capital
re ready to put in at least two ele
ators. The country raises so much
Italia that a mill is already projected.
'elolt, Jewell City, Mankato and other
owns see the Importance of the build
1g Of this road to Ionia, though some
these towns are 10th to believe it
ill be built. Despite the fact that
onla has three churches, good school.
ank, two general stores. hardware and
IMPLEMENTS, furniture. drugs, hotel and
very, the building of this road will
ouble her population and business in a
cars time.