125 Years Ago – 1896
The railroad company is digging a large well just west of the depot. The big tank will furnish water for railroad use and the stockyards.
A large delegation of farmers gathered at the Opera House to discuss the possibility of a cooperative creamery. Another meeting will be held Mar. 7.
Mrs. Lewis Ulstead fell down cellar recently and died from the injuries received.

110 Years Ago – 1901
Joseph Beck informs the News that his suit against the Illinois Central Railroad is for $500 instead of $5,000 as the News reported.
The Marcus Horse Company, Nagle, French & Co., will buy and sell all kinds of good sound horses. See us at the Livery Barn, one-half block east of the depot.

115 Years Ago – 1906
Mrs. Countryman writes from Kennebec, S.D., that they have a nice town started one-half mile from their farm. Eggs are bringing 30¢ per dozen. Winter has been fine, with a low of 25. The reservation will be open soon. Their oldest daughter, Mabel, is teaching school, which lasts for seven months.
Miss Anna Heinis of Marcus and William Richards were united in marriage on Wednesday, Feb. 28, in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Philip Schmitt. They will make their home at Morris, MN.

105 Years Ago – 1916
William Snyder of Sioux City and Lyda Kelly were joined in marriage at Holy Name Church with Rev. E. O’Reilly officiating.
Fonda, the little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Turner, accidentally fell on a hot cook stove and burned her hands and face quite badly.
John Barry and family of Audubon County will move to the Billings place northwest of town which he purchased last year. The farm consists of 231 acres.

95 Years Ago – 1926
Mr. and Mrs. H.G. Sexton have issued invitations for the marriage of their daughter, Eleanor, to Francis LeRoy Swindle Saturday at noon.
The Carey Drug store has had some very artistic work done in the store’s interior. New linoleum has been laid and a frigidaire installed where frozen delicacies can be kept.
Mr. and Mrs. J. Stowater have issued Invitations for the Saturday noon wedding of their daughter, Esther, to Albert J. Grauer at Trinity Lutheran Church.

90 Years Ago – 1931
W.E. Willey purchased the grain elevator just east of Main Street and plans to operate the same.
Thomas Roberts of Marcus and Lillian Huber of Cherokee were united in marriage at the Methodist parsonage with Rev. E.J. Plummer officiating.
Butter and eggs are beginning to bring a better price for their producers, 32¢ a pound for butter and 17¢ a dozen for eggs.

85 Years Ago -1936
Classes were resumed at Marcus Public School Monday morning after a two day enforced vacation due to a fuel shortage.
Charles D. Reed, federal meteorologist, reported that the present stretch of cold weather is the longest and coldest this state has known in 117 years.
Mr. and Mrs. George Neir moved to the farm northwest of Marcus vacated by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Neir.
Charles Addy is working at the Marcus Oil Co., replacing George Neir who has moved to the country.

80 Years Ago – 1941
Mrs. Albert Rupp, 38, of Cherokee died of blood poisoning in Sioux Valley Hospital. Survivors include her husband and ten children, the youngest is ten weeks old.
Forty-seven new cars and trucks have been registered in Cherokee County during the month of February. Eight new cars are at home in. Marcus to W.J. Roethler, J.F. Collins, J.B. Snyder, Mrs. A.I. Birch, Stanley Addy, Forrest Drefke, Albert Hohbach and Alfred Polson.
Coach Birney reveals that Lee Barnes had a total of 96 points for the season on the varsity team. Jim Smith led the second team with a total of 49 points.

75 Years Ago -1946
Bette Sand and William Horstman, Jr., were united in marriage Tuesday morning, Mar. 5, at Holy Name Church. They will be at home on the Sand farm one-half mile north of Marcus.
Mrs. Mary Gingerich was honored on her 93rd birthday on Feb. Eighteen friends brought lunch and gifts and enjoyed an afternoon of bingo.

70 Years Ago – 1951
Miss Flossie Seegar, former Marcus resident, passed away in Sioux City after a five month illness. She is survived by a brother, Bernard, of San Diego, Calif. He arrived to make arrangements for the funeral.
Marcus citizens will discuss blacktopping several streets here at a Mar. 16 Town Meeting.
Francis Jaminet is advertising his Mobil Service Station in Marcus for sale. They have already moved to a farm two miles north of Jay Peters corner east of Meriden.

65 Years Ago -1956
Donald Hendrickson left by plane for Chicago where he has accepted a position with the Western Electric Company.
Mr. and Mrs. Ray Geringer visited with his sister, Mrs. Carl Kolp, in Paullina Sunday. They helped Ollie celebrate her Feb. 29 birthday.
A3/c Gene Strief and Spic Paul Beck, both Marcus boys, met recently while each was on leave in Tokyo. Gene is stationed at Wake Island and Paul at Okinawa.
Father J.T. Fitzpatrick was honored at a farewell party Thursday evening, Feb. 23, in the Holy Name gym. He will take over the Milford parish.

60 Years Ago – 1961
Larry’s Lanes of Marcus, operated by Mr. and Mrs. Larry Slagter, will hold open house this Saturday afternoon with free coffee and doughnuts and door prizes.
Ardys Marie Deichmann of Marcus and Dean Ulrichson of Alma, Neb.; are planning a summer wedding.
Olville “Jim” Galigan, 57, died at his home Thurs., Feb. 23, after a long illness. He is survived by his wife and one daughter.
The Calumet basketball team trounced Marcus High 86 to 48 and Holy Name Wildcats 82- 31 in sectional and district play.

55 Years Ago – 1966
Mrs. Nora Conley and Mrs. Carl Heesch were injured in a three car accident near Sheldon recently. They were hospitalized in the Sheldon hospital.
Commander Francis Johnson of Marcus has returned to the States after an 18 month tour of duty in Viet Nam.
Marcus Eagles lost to Cherokee Immaculate Conception basketball team 75 to 65 in the first round of the district tournament. Jim Irwin, Ron Galles, Clark Rainboth, and Neal Waller played their last game for Marcus High.

50 Years Ago – 1971
Mrs. Hans Delaney’s diamond from Ken’s Foodland proved to be the real one out of 2,000 imitations. It will, be mounted at Hogue’s Jewelry.
Shirley Cave, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jim Cave of Marcus, is the Marcus High School 1971 Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow.
Steve Geringer, a student representative, presented the Senior Citizens with a $20 check.
Mr. and Mrs. Art Nielsen returned home Saturday from a two week vacation in Florida in company with Mr. and Mrs. Jim Coleman and family of Indianapolis, Ind.

45 Years Ago – 1976
Jim’s Used Cars & Campers of Marcus has the franchise for Forester Camping Trailers and he will continue to sell the PlaMor Campers.
Steve Stodden placed third in the State Wrestling Tournament in Des Moines in the heavyweight class.
Mr. and Mrs. Albert Grauer will celebrate their golden wedding anniversary Sunday, Mar. 7, with an open house at Trinity Lutheran Church, hosted by their sons, Curt and Allan and his wife.

40 Years Ago – 1981
Brad Benton and Doug Glackin were named to the War Eagle Conference first team. Charlie Cave received honorable mention. For the girls, Roxanne Schmillen and Jody Moser were named to first team and Ann Roethler and Paula Knudson got honorable mention.
Steve Hueser has been accepted for the 1981 fall quarter at Iowa Lakes Community College in the Farm Equipment program.

35 Years Ago – 1986
The Marcus Eagles girls basketball team made it to State and will play their first game Tuesday, Mar. 11, at 6:30 p.m. A pep bus and an adult bus will be available.
The Paul Park Co. of Storm Lake is the apparent low bidder for the construction of a new Library building in Cleghorn to serve the MC communities.

30 Years Ago – 1991
Ira Hinspeter, 86, Marcus, died Feb. 25 at Plymouth Care Manor in LeMars after a long illness. He was a lifelong Marcus resident. Ira is survived by his widow, Edna.