The social news or gossip columns in the old newspapers are always fascinating to read. A special section in the newspaper was devoted to the social media of the day. The whereabouts of local people and events were often featured in these columns. Here are a few from the News Messenger of Lyon County on Nov. 29, 1900:

Mr. Joseph Kemna of Ghent leaves this week to visit his old home and his mother in Rhineland, Germany, and will spend the winter there. He has been there but once since first coming to America and that was 14 years ago.

It is reported in Marshall that Ed. S. Reishus was married last Saturday to Miss Rear, daughter of Ole Rear of Marshall, in St. Paul.

Mr. and Mrs. C.B. Tyler left on Wednesday for an absence of two or three months, and perhaps longer. They spent Thanksgiving day with their son Harvey and family at the farm near Revere, going from there to St. Paul for a day or two. Their winter headquarters will be at Melbourne, Florida, though they will visit other parts of the south.

Thanksgiving Day was less marked by the customary observances and social gatherings in Marshall this year than has been usual, owing to the unfortunate presence of contagious disease in the town, and the natural precautionary conditions. The usual Thanksgiving services were not held in the churches, there was no general gathering of people in the village, and fewer dinner parties. Other than that, there was nothing to indicate the difference from any previous Thanksgiving day. There were a few people in from the country in the morning, and the stores were open until noon, closing for the rest of the day. The output of turkeys was more than ever. Nearly everyone could doubtless find something to be thankful for.

Tom Davis has gone to the city emergency hospital for care. His condition is not alarming. E.J. Harrison’s house is the last one quarantined, and quarantines have been removed from fourteen houses this week. Also, Milo Fiske and Alex Hood have been released from the hospital and from quarantine. Miss. Trixie Watson will be released next week.

Mrs. C.H. Whitney came from Cookeville, Tennessee, last Friday, and until Tuesday was with her daughter, Mrs. Schneider, leaving that day to visit some time with her daughter at White, S.D., Mrs. Fred White. Later she will return to Marshall, her old home, for a lengthy visit with old friends. C.H. was up here a month ago hunting for old landmarks and finding a few but he saw such changes and admired “his” town so much, that Mrs. Whitney was sent northward upon his return to see the city where they were the first settlers, living in a sod house, over thirty years ago. Mrs. Whitney who gave the town the name of Marshall, named for the late Gov. Marshall of Minnesota. Mrs. Whitney has not been here for ten years or more. In that time she has become a little more gray, a little shorter, but no older.

The photograph featured this week is from a downtown Marshall historic walking tour I led for members of the Adult Community Center in 2017. We are standing by the Mrs. Alicia Whitney statue. The museum doesn’t have a photograph of Mrs. Whitney in its collection. The Lyon County Historical Society is a non-profit, member-supported organization. For more information on membership, research, volunteering, or the museum’s collection, please contact us at 537-6580 or director@lyoncomuseum.org. Like our page and follow us on Facebook.