during the proprietorship of editors Garter, Heck and Schmitz, all partisan Democrats. Today there again seems to he near equal representation in the two parties.

The Ossian Cemetery Association was formed on September 13» 1872. The capital stock of $500 was raised by the selling of shares at $10 each. G. S. Faust was named as president, James Steinson, secretary and R. N. Sawyer, Edwin Flagler and E. Pennington as trustees. The following were stockholders;

Pursuant to a notice circulated by Judge DeCow, a few of the prominent farmers about Ossian held a preliminary meeting in that place for the purpose of considering, and determining, the feasibility of erecting a cheese factory in that area.

The meeting was called to order by J. DeCow. Nathaniel Cornell was elected as chairman and G. L. Faust, secretary.

The following committees were selected; Corresponding—to elicit all information possible pertaining to the business; J. DeCow, McKenzie Hall, N. Cornell and G. L. Faust; Ways and Means—to consider site, and ascertain the amount of stock which would probably be taken; McKenzie Hall, E. Flagler, J. Murray and V. Vance; Canvassing—to ascertain number of cows tributary to such a factory; L. Freeman, J. Cameron, J. DeCow, V. Vance, N. Cornell and O. Halverson.

The next meeting will be held on the evening of the 18th, at the same place, when many interesting facts will be elicited concerning the business and prospects. This enterprise is in thorough hands and if investigation about the business of cheese making shows it to be lucrative, a building will be pushed to completion early in the spring, and every facility perfected to engage in the business. All parties interested are cordially invited to be present and participate in the next meeting.

This cheese factory was organized on April 21, 1873, with $1500 capital raised by selling shares for $50. John DeCow is listed as president; J. E. Vance, vice president; G. L. Faust, sec'y; and David Jack, treasurer. Directors were; R. N. Sawyer, W. H. Nelings and G. L. Faust. The plant was built on the farm of David Jack, located two miles north of town.

The following account appeared in the May, 1874 issue of the Republican; "The cheese factory, we learned, was to start yesterday, with the milk from about 150 cows. This number will be increased to 200. It is a joint stock association, and will buy milk for its use. They propose to pay 7¢ per gallon for milk on the farm, or 9¢ delivered at the factory. The former price is the same paid at the Orleans factory last season, and the latter is one cent more than the Burr Oak factory pays. Nine cents is as high as Eastern factories are paying where the prices of cows are double what they are in Iowa, and land costs four to six times the price of Winneshiek farms. This is very favorable for farmers who can deliver their milk, and we hope it will prove profitable for the factory. Seven cents on the farm seems to us to be an equitable price. The factory has a territory tributary to it capable of supporting a large operation. The officers say they do not expect a profit the first year; they are looking to the future.”

The cheese factory seems to have been a short-lived enterprise. We find no further account of its existence.