Lexington Political Views

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LEXINGTON - The background of Lexington is the heritage of a very fascinating experiment in area constructing. Its inception was practically concomitant with the erection of Morrow County, and the animating goal of its founder was to build a town which really should contest with Heppner for the honor of becoming the seat of authorities of the new political division. The land upon which the city was constructed was the homestead of William Penland, the sheep king of the county, and a guy of fantastic resourcefulness and power, backed by huge wealth. Despite the fact that the put was but small around a year old when the contest got here to its focus of settlement, so speedy experienced been its growth that it was a most formidable rival of the pioneer place. The prize was won by Heppner by only a narrow vast majority, so slim indeed that it was and still is a subject of doubt in many minds as to regardless of whether Lexington was legitimately beaten or not. But as this issue has been totally handled elsewhere, more dialogue is pointless here. The preliminary creating of the spot was, as it so frequently is in agricultural cities, a blacksmith look, and to Jack McRay belongs the distinction of getting very first wrought at the anvil in Lexington. He was succeeded as village smith by William Estes, now a resident of Heppner. The very first standard merchandise retailer was opened up by Homer McFarland for E. B. McFarland, his uncle, but prior to its establishment, a hardware and tin look obtained been began by Oscar Tibbett, who later bought to T.W. Halley, the developing erected for its accommodation being the 2nd in the town. It stood on the web site of the current Hotel Barnett. Shortly following the hardware arrived the consuming-home of Mrs. Rusk, opened up in a constructing that belonged to William Penland, but which was bought by him to Mrs. Summers, who for numerous a long time has been its proprietress. About this time, also, a saloon was commenced by William Plinn. The very first residence, except non permanent log structures, was built by the Barnett Brothers. The pioneer church of the city was Congregational in title, and though Rev. E. R. Seaside was a single of the prime movers in raising funds for the erection of this building, the fantastic credit is also due to the individuals of the place and to the Congregational church Creating Society, for its existence at the early date. From them the indicates were secured. The town was also blessed earlier in its background with an essential manufacturing establishment, the grist mill of Rice & Davis. As nearly as can be ascertained there ended up in the town in the fall of 1886 the hardware keep and tin retail outlet of T. W. Halley; the general shops of McFarland & Firm and Davis & Workman; the groceries of William Blair and W. B. McAllister; the implement shop of N. A. Thompson; the drug retailer of W. W. Harris, postmaster, with E. Finton's jewellery store in connection; a meat industry, run by Cooley & Hodson; the millinery retailer of Mrs. T. W. Halley; Dave Letsinger, Jack McRay and William Estes, blacksmiths; the saloon of Henry Keat; the livery secure of Reaney & Son; a feed property belonging to"Tex" Croft; the furniture store of E.T. Carr; the Palace restaurant; the Allen & Tibbett accommodations; Joe Gibson's barber store, and a newspaper, the Bunchgrass Blade. There were also two halls, the Armory, in which college was maintained, and a big hall over McFarland's store. Virtually unbounded prosperity prevailed at this time and funds was plentiful, but clouds of misfortune have been gathering thick all around the prosperous tiny city.

lexington citynews