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 July 15, 1898:

G. Fossum, landlord of the Great Northern hotel at Cottonwood, was in Marshall last Saturday, accompanied by Mrs. Fossum.

Charlie Laudenslager was laid up the first of the week, and it was feared would have an attack of typhoid, but he reported for duty Tuesday.

The young people of the Sunday school of the Presbyterian church had a picnic at Eastman’s grove on Wednesday that was very much enjoyed by all present. A baseball match between the married and single men was a feature of the day.

A “John Robinson’s” circus car passed through Marshall on the Northwestern Saturday, from Canby, where the show is billed to appear soon, jumping from that village to Kasson.

How many are going from Marshall to Tracy next Tuesday to see Ringling’s circus? Probably a good many. You can’t see the street parade unless you drive to Tracy, but the Northwestern makes a rate of $1.20 for the round trip which includes a 50 cent circus ticket, and leaving here at 11.55 one gets to Tracy in plenty of time for the afternoon performance, which will be out in time to take the regular passenger train home at 4:45.

Married, at the Congregational parsonage June 29, Rev. Geo. M. Morrison officiating, Ole A. Karbo and Carrie Hill, both residents of Lyon county.

It will be news, though two weeks old, to Marshall people, to learn of the marriage on July 4th of Mr. D.T. McArthur and Miss Addie Peck, of Tracy. Mr. McArthur, who is cashier of the First National Bank of Tracy, is almost as well known here as at home, political and fraternal missions frequently bringing him to the county seat, where he has many friends who will be pleased that Tom as averted the apparently impending doom of bachelorhood, and will congratulate him upon his alliance with one of Tracy’s popular young ladies.

Corrie Thurston, one of the Marshall graduates, class of ’97, is one of the new recruits of the 14th regiment Minnesota volunteers, and is now at Camp Thomas, Chickamauga Park, Georgia.

Thanksgiving services were held in Marshall churches last Sunday in response to President McKinley’s request for thanksgiving services for our victories and small loss of life in the nation’s battles, and commemorative of the gallant soldiers who have fallen. All over our great land last Sunday prayers were offered, asking for divine guidance, and victory of America’s arms, and peace, and the release from Spanish rule of her suffering colonies.

The photograph featured this week from the Lyon County Museum’s collection is three Spanish American War veterans from Lyon County. They are identified as John Stanke, Arthur P. Rose, and Joe Whitney. The Spanish-American War was a conflict in 1898 between the United States and Spain that ended Spanish colonial rule in the Americas and resulted in U.S. acquisition of territories in the wester Pacific Ocean and Latin America.

The Lyon County Historical Society (LCHS) is a non-profit, member-supported organization. LCHS operates the Lyon County Museum at 301 W Lyon St in Marshall. The Lyon County Museum is open year-round to visitors. To contact us, visit our website: www.lyoncomuseum.org, call: 507-537-6580, email: director@lyoncomuseum.org, or on our Facebook page.