125 Years Ago – 1896
The mercury measured over 80 degrees both Saturday and Sunday.
Dr. T.R. Muller of Omaha has decided to locate in Marcus to practice medicine. He has lots of experience and is well recommended.

110 Years Ago – 1901
Mr. Radcliffe reports that the tree planting project is showing progress.
A gong for the hose cart and a new lock and key were ordered for the Marcus engine house.

105 Years Ago – 1916
L.J. McGivern of Davenport, an attorney at law, has rented rooms over the new Exchange Bank building. (now the Marcus News Office)
The Exchange Bank is now doing business in its new home on Marcus Main Street. There are 10 office rooms in the second story with Dr. M.F. Joynt occupying 4 of the front rooms with his practice.
Miss Camilla Evans and Stanley Smith were attendants at the Maude Smith-Gilbert Evans wedding. Miss Marie Walsh sang “Ave Maria” and played the “Wedding March”. The newlyweds departed from Cleghorn on a 10 day wedding trip to eastern Iowa. They will make their home in Marcus.

95 Years Ago – 1926
George J, Kuhl, proprietor of the City Meat Market, plans to build a new two story, eight room modern house on his lot on Locust Street. Locust Street is one of the most desirable residence sections in Marcus.
Harold Wood of Stewart, IA was elected principal of Marcus Public High School. He was chosen from over 60 applicants.
George Pitts and Charles Swindle departed for the west to visit relatives scattered from Tacoma, WA to California.

90 Years Ago – 1931
Wilma Raetz and Evelyn Collins substiuted for Miss Judd, in the second grade room, Monday and Tuesday. Miss Judd was ill.
James Meehan, 22, was struck by lightning while driving a team of six horses hitched to a disc, Saturday on the Robert Frank farm. Two of the horses were killed and James was unconscious and burned severely. It is thought he will survive.
Meriden Main Street is being graveled and the businesses are paying for it.
Mr. and Mrs. Emil Anderson are moving to the Billings farm east of Marcus.

85 Years Ago -1936
The Carl Hagey Lunchroom, The Inn, has been sold to Joe Galvin. He will take possession soon and Mrs. Floyd Swanson will continue as the cook. Their slogan is: “We eat our own cooking!”
Marcus Public High School will have 33 graduates; Marcus Holy Name will have 3 and Grand Meadow has 11.
E.R. Glines has closed his shoe repair business after many years of fixing foot apparel.
Clark Gable, Jean Harlow,and Myrna Loy, star in “Wife vs Secretary” showing in the American Theatre in Cherokee.

80 Years Ago – 1941
Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Benedict, Mary Helen and Frances Lou, visited with Mrs. Benedict’s father, Frank T.Walsh in Sioux City Sunday. Both girls are registered with the Birthday Club at Bishop’s Cafeteria so they all had dinner there. The Cafe furnished a lovely birthday cake with candles on a musical plate in honor or Frances Lou’ s birhtday.
Fred Collier states that he came to Marcus in 1876 when there were only 25 houses in town, including the business places. He was a furniture dealer and undertaker and Dr. Failing tended the sick. Jack Hyndman had the grocery store. The Wilmont Hotel and Orr’s Blacksmith shop were the other business places. The post office was in the depot and A. H. Dwight was both depot agent and postmaster. Main Street was just a track with grass growing knee high or more.
Miss Ella Belle Ralston and Junior Barwick were married April 26 in the bride’s parental home in Grand Meadow Township. Both young people are employed by Dorr Hatchery in Marcus and they will make their home in the upstairs Jenkins apartment.

75 Years Ago -1946
The Senior Class of Marcus Public High School will present the play, “Don’t Keep Him Waiting” with Lorraine Schroeder, Clarence Beck and Mary Bork playing the leading roles.
The Roof Garden on beautiful Lake Okoboji will hold its Grand Opening Sunday, May 12 with Sam Campbell and favors for everyone.
T-5 Edward Schnoes is on his way home from Germany where he has served 16 months.
Bernardine Jenkins and Mary Bork did their practice teaching in Marcus # 6 with Miss Charlotte Rae.

70 Years Ago – 1951
Warren Reed, a 1941 graduate of Marcus High, and Delmer Vernia of Ida Grove have purchased the Walnut Bureau, a newspaper, at Walnut, Iowa.
The Senior Class of Marcus Holy Name will present “Meet Me In St. Louis” Thursday evening, May 10. Robert Meehan and Lorraine Collins play the roles of Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
Mr. and Mrs. Ray Goebel are the parents of a daughter born Friday, April 27. The new arrival has a sister and a brother at home.

65 Years Ago -1956
Mr. and Mrs. Tom McClintock are the parents of a 7 lb. 10 oz. daughter born Thursday, April 19. She is named Julie Ann.
Mr. and Mrs. John McIntosh returned to their Cleghorn home after a 3 month vacation in Florida.
Mrs. Lloyd Hendrickson and June arrived Monday to spend a few days in the home of Mrs. Hendrickson’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Dorr. They had spent the winter months in Florida and were enroute to their home in Lake Benton, MN.

60 Years Ago – 1961
Fifty young people will receive their diplomas from the local schools. Marcus Public will have 34 graduates, Holy Name will have 13 and Grand Meadow 3.
Mr. and Mrs. Larry Holmes are the parents of their first child, a 6 lb. 13 oz. son, born April 30. He is named Jeffrey Alan.

55 Years Ago – 1966
A group of about 60 young people attended the organizational meeting of the Catholic Youth Group Thursday evening, April 12. Officers were elected and the group will meet each month. Mrs. Clyde Means is parish chariman with Mrs. John Barry, Jr. as assistant.
Linda Greene of Marcus and Larry Kohn of Quimby announce their engagement and approaching marriage.
A group of good neighbors of Mr. and Mrs. Emmett Wolf of Cleghorn, gathered at their farm with tractors and prepared and plowed land for them. They suffered the loss of a barn, calves and a tractor in a recent fire.

50 Years Ago – 1971
Dennis Seel and Debbie Gotto, both of Monrovia, CA are planning an October wedding in LeMars, IA. She is s former resident of LeMars and Dennis is from Marcus.
Joe Hammon returned to his Cleghorn home after spending 6 months in Texas.
Wade, Gentry and Colter Berger rode the ICC passenger train from LeMars to Cherokee Tuesday evening and visited their Grandmother, Hattie Kruse in Cherokee.
45 Years Ago – 1976
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Waller of Sioux City are the parents of a 7 lb. 8 oz. son born April 24. He is their first child and is named Scott Richard. Richard is a 1964 graduate of Marcus Community High School.
The Marcus Garden Club planted a Liberty Tree on the grounds of the Marcus Medical Center on Friday, April 30, Arbor Day. It is a graceful Europian white birch.
Thirty-one graduates will receive diplomas at Meriden-Cleghorn May 16th in the Cleghorn gym.

40 Years Ago – 1981
The property in the Claude Grey Garage was sold at public auction Saturday, May 2. Following the sale of tools,etc., Lots 4 and 5 of Block 8 in the First Addition to the town of Marcus were also sold.
Tennessee Ernie Ford will appear at the Corn Palace Sunday, Sept. 27. Kenny Gordon of Meriden will take reservations.
Mrs. Joe George of Cherokee, Cheri Ryan of Denison and Mel and Margaret Greene of Marcus spent the Easter weekend at Mount Vernon, IL visiting in the Glen Greene home and with other relatives.

35 Years Ago – 1986
Gordon Roese of Marcus was the 1000th person to get a Cardtrol Credit Card at Marcu Community Co-op. He won a 100 gallons of gas.
Lori Gerrietts of LeMars and Bob Hoefling of Marcus were married April 19 in Marcus Holy Name Church. They will make their home in Ames where Bob attends ISU and works. Lori works in child care there.

30 Years Ago – 1991
Kyle Wallinga and Rita Meyer are planning a June 14th wedding in Hull, IA.
Former residents, Boots and Betty Wallin, now of Hackensack, MN, write of their appreciation of the Cleghorn Centennial Book. Boots spent 14 years of growing-up in Cleghorn and could remember and enjoy many of the stories.

25 Years Ago – 1996
Tom and Becky Leavitt are the parents of a 7 pound 6 ounce son, born April 25. He is named Hunter Harlan and has a brother,Sawyer, at home.
Twelve students from MMC Middle School participated in the Iowa Talent Search. Four of these, Hans Bindner, Tom Cronin, Ben Mohning and Matthew Wilberding, will be honored as Commended Scholars.

20 Years Ago – 2001
Lisa Pearson and Gerry Alesch are planning a June 22, 2001 wedding in Marcus at Holy Name Catholic Church.
Galen Rupp was presented with a certificate and volunteer pin as April Volunteer, by Laura Letsche, Marcus Chamber President. He has a long line of working with young people, helping our town with many projects, as well as the annual Marcus Fair.

15 Years Ago – 2006