WALNUT ITEMS FROM THE AVOCA DELTA
Before Walnut Had Its Own Newspaper
(December 10, 1874, p. 2)
A grand festival and social hop will be given at Walnut on next Wednesday evening, December 15th, for the benefit of the Catholic Church. All the saloons will be closed and a good and sober time is expected.
A young man at Walnut, having arranged with his girl to enter into a state of connubial felicity, went to Atlantic to procure the necessary documents. He got the license and returned to Walnut to glad the heart of his intended. On Friday, the justice was called on and they twain were made one flesh, and everything was as serene and lovely as a summer cloud. Alas, how true it is that every cloud has its somber hue as well as its silver lining—that there is no rose without its thorn. The next morning the blushing bride awoke to the painful consciousness that her marriage was not legal and she hung sobbingly around on the “ragged edge,” like Jacob, refusing to be comforted, until the Justice took them six miles out on the prairie and again married them in Cass county. On their return to Walnut it was discovered that the J. P., being an officer of Pottawattamie county, had no jurisdiction in Cass, and that they were very little more married than the night before. This was not satisfactory to the bride, and the next morning they went to Atlantic, where the license was issued, and were firmly and severally bound together for life, and the lady’s commendable persistence was satisfactorily rewarded, after being thrice married. We heartily wish them happiness and success in life. (Thursday, December 10, 1874, p. 3) [Ed Note: Thanks to the Cass County Genealogical Society for finding the marriage of Joel DeCou, 24, and Ann Eliza McMiccin (likely McMican or McMicken), 23. The license was issued on December 3, 1874.]
The new Catholic Church at Walnut will be completed with the New Year. (December 24, 1874, p. 3)
LAYTON TOWNSHIP
This township was organized in January 1874 out of eastern Knox. It is one of the most flourishing townships in the east half and is settling with astonishing rapidity. It is well watered and its lands are as rich as cream. The assessed valuation is $430,234. The flourishing town of
WALNUT
is in this township, and lies on the Rock Island railroad about six miles east of Avoca. It was platted in 1870. During the first two years of its existence it grew but little, there being only three or four buildings in the town until the spring of 1873, in which year it grew considerable. During the year 1874 just closed it has grown with astonishing rapidity. Several new business houses have been erected, also a hotel, a fine school house, a Catholic Church, and a number of fine private residences. It has a fine steam flouring mill, and an extensive trade in dry goods, groceries, hardware, and lumber. During the past year $75,000 have been expended by her enterprising citizens in various improvements. (January 7, 1875, p. 1)