Mooreland, one of the young and progressive towns of Henry county is eight miles by rail and ten miles by public highway from New castle.
      When the Big Four Railroad decided twenty years ago to construct the Peoria branch as one of its feeders, the town of Mooreland was born, and it has been making a rapid growth and spreading out over considerable territory, until from a small railroad station it has expanded until its inhabitants feel like putting on airs.
      Surrounded by a rich and productive country that is second to no other agricultural district in the state, with splendid gravel roads leading east, west, north and south, well tilled farms, fine residential buildings, telephone and rural route connections, excellent water and building material, is it any wonder that Mooreland is being populated by people who are up to date, happy, prosperous and contented.
      In this brief mention the readers of The Democrat will pardon us if we do not mention the attractive home and business residences built to modern style and painted artistically, so all present a new appearance.
      The general stores that are filled with an attractive and useful line of merchandise are those of Bouslog & Daniels, A. A. Chamness and S. D. Christner. We found these gentlemen affable and polite with large consignments of everything you need.
      The hardware dealers are William Jones and Pearl Koons. These gentlemen have all the modern iron and steel merchandise found in stores of this description and they have a fair patronage.
      Oscar White and Melvin Wood each have blacksmith shops. These gentlemen are skilled workmen and are kept busily employed pounding iron and steel into shape for customers. It is said they can shoe fractious animals without cussing by the Koran.
      The livery barns are managed by Lewis Wrightsman and R. E. Lane, where commercial tourist can be accommodated with rubber tired rigs and fast steppers at reasonable figures.
      The flouring mill owned by Replogle & Co. turns out a brand of flour that causes the ladies who make it into bread to "smile a smole" and be thankful they are so easily suited.
      J. A Mouch, a brother of Charley Mouch of New Castle, is the proprietor of elevator No. 1, and by the way he is popular and has the confidence of a business man. This elevator's capacity is 8,000 bushels. It was erected in the autumn of 1895. Mr. Mouch handles all kinds of grain besides a full stock of coal, salt and hay. The grain is shipped to eastern markets.
      Clint Houck is the saw mill man and he is only too happy to rip a log or fill an order on short notice.
      W. D. Adams, knowing the wants of the human family, came to the relief of the Moorelandites and erected a novelty shop, which turns out so many useful things that we will not attempt to enumerate them.
      One of the busiest men in the town of Mooreland, and a man who is not an ornamental figure head but who is wanted every working day of the week is Lewis Hazelton, the transfer dray man. He surely understands his business, hence his services are constantly in demand.
      H. B. Tally is known for miles as the tinner, and all declares he is no tinkerer, but does good honest work at reasonable prices.
      The leading builders and contractors are A. L. Waltz and M, W, Hoffman. These gentlemen have been instrumental in putting up many of the attractive cottages both in town and in the country, and are kept so busy they can hardly spare the time to attend prayer meetings are to black their shoes.
      A. D. Brown and & Sons are the popular druggist. They are erecting a new business room opposite the depot. Our limited knowledge prevents us from stating positively that the doctors, druggist and undertakers have entered into a combine or trust to depopulate Blue River natives.
      J. L. Wright and S. O. Sanders have meat markets where those who can afford it can get full dinner pails of juicy beef, mutton or pork. They want your patronage and will weigh sixteen ounces for a pound.
      As Mooreland has no host or hostess in hotel building, transient and hungry "cusses" having the spot cash can be accommodated at restaurants run by P. E. and T. P. Harris who are clever caterers.
      The paperhangers, decorators and house painters who have much to do towards beautifying the interior and exterior appearance of many Mooreland and suburban homes are Mort Bales and Bro. R. H. Koons, Clem Miller and Pearl Howell. As all are strangers to this writer we make no distinction.
      When it comes to buggy repairing and painting, Ford Chamness is in the ring and no complaints are heard of his work.
      Occasionally when the men and young America desire to improve their personal appearance and they wish to squander a dime to look pretty, they call on John Gwinn or Robert Culbertson who are experienced tonsorial artist and have never been known to intentionally cut a man's throat.
      The church organizations are the Friends, Disciples and Christians. Religious services are held every Sunday and their presence has much to do as civillizers. The ministers are earnest workers and their work has much influence on regulating the moral atmosphere of town and country people. The ladies aid societies and Y. P. C. E. are auxiliaries and have many members.
      Mooreland has a commodious high school building, where young ideas can be instructed in the English branches, and if attentive and studious can store their minds with an unusual and practical education. Prof. Charles Swain is the principle. The 6th, 7th and 8th year students are presided over by U. T. Moore. The 3rd, 4th and 5th grades by Lizzie Chamness, and the 1st and 2nd year juveniles are taught by Ethel Rifner. The attendance is excellent.
      One of the benevolent orders which is established to make men more social and humane is an Odd Fellows hall with a Rebekah auxiliary that is in a prosperous condition. If we are correct Frank Waters is Noble Grand, Jacob Beck is Vice Grand, Ed Taylor is Recording Secretary and William Brown is Permanent Secretary.
      Lamar & Huffman pride themselves as having under control three fine-blooded stable horses, whose strains of blood have pedigrees equal, if not superior, to anything on the race tracks of America.
      Postmaster Dora Haynes is Uncle Sam's literary agent at Mooreland, and from the large amount of mail handled the people find time to read matter that appears in print, The Democrat being one of the newspapers taken.
      The resident pill and powder peddlers who portion out medicine to suffering humanity, who look at your and feel of your pulse and look wise as owls, who size up your anatomy and your purse are Dr. Blossom and Dr. Spitler. They are hale fellows well met, and will take their own medicine, I was informed. As we did not see any prescriptions and their services were not needed, we can not speak advisably of these necessary adjuncts to health, but from reliable sources learned they have been known to breast winter storms and to plunge through darkness to attend professional calls.
      Joseph Sherry is the polite depot agent and courteously answers all questions about the going and coming of trains.
      N. D. Jester has recently opened out a harness and repair shop in the Huffman block. He will furnish you a whip, blanket or robe and make you happy at small expense.
      Mrs. Fred Chamness has charge of the telephone exchange, and don't you think for a moment this lady has any leisure for gossip. She manipulates the plugs for other people who have important consultations by wire.
      The ladies of Mooreland are conversant with the very latest styles and fashions of dresses and headgear for Mrs. Nora Woods, E. J. Holaday, Retta Wise and Miss. Louie Davis are the milliners who keep the very latest attractions. Space will not permit us to mention their display this time.
      One of the largest and imposing structures just completed is the Huffman building. The first floors are used as a State bank, buggy sales room, harness shop and one large business room north of the bank not occupied. The dimensions of Huffman hall or auditorium are 41 x 70 feet with self-supporting roof. The stage proper is 41x20 feet and dressing room is 18x30 feet.
      The Moorland State bank officers are as follows: President, Henry Brown, Directors, Eli Holaday, F. G. Bouslog, T. B. Millikan, Henry Brown, Elisha Shaffer, D. W. Kinsey, W. M. Pence, George R. Koons, Vice President and George F. Keever, Cashier. Capital stock paid $19,050.00, deposits first day, $13,788.00, loaned $7,000.00. Judging from the prominent list of names connected with this financial institution, we feel confident a more trustworthy and reliable lot of gentlemen will be difficult to find in this section of the grand old Hoosier State. In behalf of The Democrat will take the liberty of suggesting to farmers and businessmen to become depositors in the Mooreland State Bank.