Ossian markets for this year were: eggs--9¢; butter—18¢; flour--$l.25 per sack; lemons & oranges--25¢ doz.; hogs—$4.40 cwt.; and cream—16¢ an inch.

The editor complains bitterly about Republican Ole Thompson's appointment to the postmastership replacing James Malloy. F. E. Malloy will be retained as assistant. The postoffice will be moved to the Thompson hardware store.

The Bee reported that a team became frightened by blowing paper thrown in front of a business house. A runaway was averted only by the alertness of the driver. This dangerous practice is strictly forbidden by ordinance.

An item in April of 1889 states that since January upwards of 70 people have left Ossian to seek their fortunes elsewhere.

H. T. Klisart purchased the hardware store of R. N. Sawyer this year. This is the site of the present Leonard Schroeder tavern.

G. H. Blanchaine has moved his drug stock into the brick building recently purchased from E. Schoonmaker. Mr. Schoonmaker is moving his merchandise into the vacated drug store. The brick structure (present Buege residence) was built by F. J. Bort in 1875 for his drug business. His father, Ben Bort, bought the property and re-sold to Anderson & Knutson, who conducted a general store on the premises. Mr. Knutson purchased Anderson's interest, later selling a partnership to Mr. Schoonmaker with full ownership passing to this gentleman in 1887.

Fire of undetermined origin destroyed the Milwaukee depot and six grain warehouses. Damage is estimated to exceed $10,000.

The Bee reported that an estimated 700 hogs have died from the ravages of a swine disease. Was this epidemic the first outbreak of hog cholera in N. E. Iowa?

THE OSSIAN RACE TRACK

The first mention we find of Ossian's race track appeared in the spring of 1884: "For the past two weeks, men and teams have been busily engaged on our race course and fair grounds. They will be fenced and buildings erected before July 4th. Upon completion, application will be made for the county fair."

Shortly thereafter, another item read: "C. W. Williams now has five trotters. As our race course is now completed, these steppers will doubtless get sufficient exercise."

Charlie Williams, the proprietor of the Ossian and Postville creameries, and owner of the large hog and poultry raising operation in Ossian, was destined to a prominent role in sulky racing in America. He raised, trained and raced, two of the fastest trotters in the world; both broke many track records.

Mr. Williams moved to Ossian in 1879 and established this community's first creamery. This factory was located to the rear of the present Staska apartment building on Mechanic street. The churn was operated by horsepower. A horse, hitched to a boom, would walk in a circle until the butter was made. The brick Staska building was utilized by Mr. Williams as an egg buying and packing house.

An enterprising entrepreneur, Williams was credited with being the first to package butter in pound containers. Old accounts tell his walking from door to door in Chicago, peddling samples of his butter and eggs to this city's housewives .

After his creamery was destroyed by fire, he rebuilt at the site of the county park south of town. This factory was sold to the Beard Brothers in 1888. We believe he left Ossian that year and following the sale of Axtell, the pride of his stable, for a record price of $105»000, Williams built his famous race track complex in Independence. It was called the "Lexington of the North" by harness racing enthusiasts.

The. bank reported that during his years in this community, Mr. Williams'