130 Years Ago
November 24, 1894
The formation of a partnership between C. F. H. Carrithers, Esq., the well known attorney, and Edgar A. Agard, recently of Streator, but for several months residing in Fairbury, has been announced during the week.
J. W. Morris has placed an elegant new French plate mirror in his restaurant this week. He has also added a new cigar case.
Weston — We are creditably informed that John Brown has leased the Joseph Adam farm for the coming season. We are also informed that Mr. Adam thinks of going into the bee-raising business.
Cropsey — H. L. Barnes has sent for the stone for the new elevator. Cropsey will have to have more side track as there is hardly room now to do business on the east side.
School Notes — The high school room has been provided with new song books and there is promise of good singing in the future.
120 Years Ago
November 25, 1904
A petition was circulated and extensively signed this week requesting the city council to pass an ordinance prohibiting boys and girls from staying out on the streets at night after eight o'clock. That it is a good ordinance no one will dispute and if passed every citizen should assist the council and officers in enforcing it. Stop the night street "gadding" of boys and girls and you will raise them up to be better men and women.
Dr. J. R. Rayburn has added to his dental rooms, a gas machine of the latest and most approved pattern, and now when you want your aching tooth extracted all you have to do is to take a little gas which puts your mind off the subject temporarily and when you recall it your tongue finds a vacancy where the tooth was and there has been no pain connected with it whatever. It is a valuable addition to Dr. Rayburn's fine dental outfit and makes it as complete as any dental parlor in this part of the state.
Cropsey — Henry Fleming is the owner of a fine bearskin lap robe of which he was very proud until Sunday night, when his horse got scared of it and used his new buggy pretty badly. No one was hurt. J. L. Ward has lost two fine steers which he had just put in the feed lot. D. W. Barnes, of Fairbury, was shaking hands with old friends here Wednesday. The Cropsey schools closed Wednesday for the rest of the week. The teachers spent Thanksgiving at home.
110 Years Ago
November 27, 1914
One of the most terrible automobile accidents that ever occurred in this section of the state happened a little after one o'clock Thursday afternoon, three miles east of Forrest, when the inbound passenger train due here at 1:46, hit an automobile load of young people, killing four.
The Phi Chi Psi Fraternity has added a new pool table to their equipment. The table is one of the best and goes well with the billiard table they purchased two years ago.
The Phi Chi Psi Fraternity held its annual dance at the Fairbury Opera house Thanksgiving evening, with fifty couples participating. The grand march was led by Miss Charlotte Bailey and Perry J. Keck, assisted by Miss Roxana Hill and Will C. Mundt.
Miss Agnes Broadwell is home from Northwestern University to spend her Thanksgiving vacation with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. L. E. Broadwell.
100 Years Ago
November 28, 1924
About forty of the neighbors and friends of Dr. and Mrs. W. A. Roth surprised them at their home Tuesday evening, in celebration of their fifteenth wedding anniversary. The company gathered at the evening dinner hour and took with them the provisions for a feast.
Another automobile made its get-away in the dark Tuesday evening after running into Lee Meister's car. This accident occurred on Fifth Street near the Chestnut Street intersection. The fellow who made his get-away was running his car without lights, and kept on going after hitting the Meister car. The Meister car had its steering apparatus broken and a fender bent.
Braving a strong and chilly west wind that blew throughout the entire afternoon, the Forrest H.S. and Fairbury H.S. football elevens battled to a 9-9 tie at Lewis Field yesterday afternoon. The two teams were as evenly matched as any two football elevens could be, although the locals were crippled by the loss of Werdling, tackle, and Jones, stellar halfback. Had these two stars been in the fray, the score would undoubtedly have been different. Fairbury was saved from defeat only by the time-keeper's whistle at the end of the game. The Forrest team was resting on the locals' 2-foot line and just as they were ready for the next play, the game ended. Had the game been one minute longer the locals would have gone down in defeat.
90 Years Ago
November 23, 1934
A gag stuffed into his mouth by robbers who held him up, all but snuffed out the life of Fate Piercy, clerk at the Illinois Hotel. The only thing that saved his life being the timely arrival of help. The assault and robbery occurred Monday morning between 1:45 and 2:30 o'clock. The two robbers got around $8.50 for their trouble. When found, bound and gagged, life was so far gone from Piercy that his pulse could not be felt and his body was cold. A doctor was summoned, and while the condition of Piercy was serious for several hours and he was confined to his bed for a day or two, he has recovered from the shock.
Charles Wantland, 49, who appears to be a demented man or to have gone loco following a spree, assaulted ex-Policeman John Hummel with a rock Wednesday morning, had his ear soundly smacked with a shovel and landed in the county jail. Local witnesses are to appear against him today, says the Chatsworth Plaindealer of last week. Mr. Hummel had just crossed Route 24 and was walking south past the Price residence when he met the man and greeted him with a how-do-you-do. No sooner had they met than the stranger hurled a large rock which struck Mr. Hummel on the head, stunning him momentarily and bringing him to his knees. The assailant reached for another rock, which he had in his coat pocket, but was too slow on the draw. Mr. Hummel was carrying a shovel with which he delivered a sturdy blow across Wantland's left cheek and ear. The prisoner set up the ridiculous claim that Mr. Hummel had crowded him off the walk, and that was the only excuse he had for the assault.
80 Years Ago
November 24, 1944
Dr. G. G. Seitman, physician and surgeon, who had been located in Forrest for the past 4 ½ years, and was a member of Fairbury Hospital's staff and board, has enlisted in the U.S. Army Hospital service., and for the present he will be stationed at Dearborn, Mich., government hospital, a first lieutenant. He will report there next Thursday. Dr. Whiteside, from the southern part of the state, will look after Dr. Seitman's practice and occupy his offices during his absence. Mrs. Seitman and children will make their home with her parents at Kalamazoo, Mich., until such time as Dr. Seitman is permanently located.
Dr. E. M. Gerdes learns from an Associated Press photo in the Chicago Daily News of November 7 the whereabouts of his brother, Pfc. Leroy Gerdes. The caption, "Filipino Gives Yank Smoke." The photo showed Pfc. Gerdes giving a light to a cigarette to a native on the Island of Leyte. Glen Wilken, Melvin Bushman and Ralph Zimmerman are in the same company.
Miss Maxine Ada Lange, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Lange, Fairbury, is a member of the Canteen Aide class at Illinois Wesleyan University. The major project of the Canteen is to serve food to service men as they pass through the Alton railroad station. The Aides wrap sandwiches, polish apples and make hot coffee. Servicemen have expressed their appreciation of this service and the Aides thoroughly enjoy their work which is done on a voluntary basis. After the completion of ten hours of work, the girls are entitled to wear the Canteen Aide uniform. Miss Lange, a senior in the music school, is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota sorority, band and the university chorus.
70 Years Ago
December 2, 1954
Four members of the Fairbury Fire Department dropped in for dinner at the Floyd Stafford home Sunday, but got nothing more than a burnt offering for their trouble. It all came about when Mrs. Stafford put her dinner on to cook and then went out into the garage to busy herself with other chores. When she reentered the house, it was full of smoke. Floyd arrived home about the same time, and after turning in the alarm, both made a search of the house to locate the cause. Just before the fire truck drew up in front, the Stafford's isolated the trouble – Mrs. Stafford's dinner. The firemen went home, and we assume, the Stafford's went out to dinner.
A letter from Peggy Hoffman, who is in New Zealand under the International Farm Youth Exchange program, to her folks, told of a recent parade she attended. It had floats the same as an American parade would. One of the floats illustrated her coming to New Zealand. It was decorated with violets, the state flowers of Illinois. On the float was a farm girl dressed in blue jeans surrounded by farm animals. Signs on it read: "Welcome, Miss Hoffman." The float tied for first place which made her feel very good.
C. B. Ziegenhorn and John Wink and six friends from Chicago and Chenoa went to Cairo during the weekend and did some goose shooting. The group brought back eight geese.
60 Years Ago
November 26, 1964
Winds clocked at 70 miles per hour through this section of Illinois reached their peak Friday afternoon just before 4 p.m., when they blasted in the west gable wall of Isaac Walton School in Fairbury, dumping tons of bricks onto the ceiling of a 3rd grade class room, just 15 minutes after 25 pupils of Mrs. C. A. Beer had left the room for the day. The attic flooring and joists buckled, and the plaster and tin roof erupted, but no bricks came into the classroom.
Thanksgiving 1964 holds special meaning to Margot and Gerhard Heppner of Fairbury, who on Tuesday, November 24, 1964, became legal citizens of the United States. The formal act took place in the Post Office building in Peoria, seven years, eight months, and 15 days after their arrival in this country. Several Fairburians traveled to Peoria to see the Heppners gain their citizenship. Margot, Gerhard and their infant daughter, Erica, received their first glimpse of Fairbury on March 9, 1957. They arrived by train in Forrest after having traveled by plane from Cologne, Germany to Chicago.
Steve Laub, quarterback for Illinois Wesleyan University at Bloomington, has directed the university to a 7-1 record and the College Conference of Illinois football championship. He is the first sophomore in the school's history to be selected as the most valuable player. Steve is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Loren Laub of Colfax and a graduate of Octavia High School.
50 Years Ago
November 28, 1974
A 100-acre tract of farmland between Cropsey and Anchor sold last week for $2,525 per acre, a total of $252,500. The transaction came just at a time when some observers were saying "this farmland is on the skids." The acreage, known as "the Baxter land" was bought by Mrs. Fern Ummel, who reportedly owns land adjoining. The sale was by sealed bid at the Citizen's State Bank of Cropsey on Nov. 14. A total of 15 bids were received and opened, with attendance being limited to those submitting written bids. An auction was then held among those 15 parties, with the sale starting at the highest of the sealed bids, which was $1,500.
The grand marshall of Fairbury's 1974 Santa Claus parade will really be a grand Marshall! To lead the six-band parade, the committee has selected Dr. W. A. Marshall, 86, now retired after more than a half-century of medical practice here. The 1974 parade, on Saturday afternoon, Dec. 7, will feature 103 units making this one of the largest holiday displays in recent years. Both Dr. Marshall and another Fairbury doctor, Dr. H. C. Sauer, with whom he was associated with, were asked to serve as grand marshalls. Dr. Sauer is a patient at Fairbury Hospital and is unable to be in the parade.
SP4 Randy Bauman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Hershel Bauman, Strawn, was selected as Soldier of the Day on Nov. 11, 1974. Bauman is serving in Europe with the 3rd Battalion of the 68th Armor Division.
40 Years Ago
November 22, 1984
Cindy Helmers, Francis Haberkorn, Roger Brown, Jim Paternoster, Keith Henrichs, Art Lehmann and Richard Zehr were named Monday night as slated candidates for the newly-combined FSW-Fairbury-Cropsey-Chatsworth school board. Selection was made at a joint meeting of the three existing school boards at Forrest. The seven people named are all members of current boards. The election of a new school board will take place Feb. 26; the board election is not restricted to the seven slated persons, but slating was done to guarantee that experienced people would appear on the ballot.
Seaman Kelly Kinate left on Friday after a 10 day leave from Norfolk, Va., where he is stationed on an Amphibious Destroyer, outside of Norfolk. He was here to visit his wife and grandparents, Dr. and Mrs. J. H. Langstaff. On Nov. 4, his first baby daughter, Heather Elizabeth was born at Rantoul Air Base Hospital, weighing 5 pounds and 6 ounces.
Larry Thompson of Evanston, formerly of Fairbury, competed Sunday morning in the "Run the Boulevard" 12K road race from Chicago's Standard Oil building. Larry placed seventh overall and won first place in his age division.
Members of the Fairbury-Cropsey Tartar volleyball team were honored Thursday night in a ceremony held at the high school. Runner-up in service points with a total of 228 was Shelley Weber. Voted most improved was Julie Thompson. Voted most valuable player and having the most service points (229) was Carol Ward. Ward also made the SVC All Conference team with a unanimous decision.
30 Years Ago
November 23, 1994
When you've been a volunteer on a fire department for 42 years, it's time you were recognized for your dedication. That's why on Saturday, Dec. 3, 88-year-old Ed Hohulin will be honored with a ride on a decorated fire truck in this year's "Victorian Christmas" parade in downtown Fairbury. When Hohulin joined the department in 1952, there were two fire engines, an "old Chevy" and "the old Maxwell." The number of volunteer firemen has also grown from 15 to 29 in those 42 years, and there are now six trucks.
Kimberly Mies recently received the Parents Club scholarship from Eastern Illinois University. Mies, a 1991 graduate of Prairie Central High School, is a senior majoring in elementary education at EIU. Scholarship recipients were chosen for their success in academics, contributions to the quality of life at Eastern and the local community and efforts to meet their financial needs.
Pvt. Mark Travis of Fairbury, a 1994 Prairie Central High School graduate, completed and graduated basic training on Nov. 3 at Fort Benning in Columbus, GA. He is the son of Martin Travis of Fairbury and Colleen Montgomery of Texas. Attending the graduation ceremonies and Family Day were Steve and Darlene Bahler, Dawn, Michelle and Erin Watkins and Steve Kruszwicki. Travis is presently attending airborne school at Ft. Benning and will graduate Nov. 23.
20 Years Ago
November 24, 2004
Members of the 2004 Christmas Court for the annual Fairbury Christmas Celebration are Miss Merry Christmas court Kylie Kafer, 6, daughter of Kent and Amy Kafer of Fairbury; Allison Cagley, 6, daughter of Dale and Julia Cagley of Fairbury; Katie Reis, 6, daughter of John and Jan Reis of Fairbury; and Adriana Macias, 7, daughter of Juan and Tracy Macias of Fairbury. The Jack Frost court includes Braytin Friedman, 5, son of Jeb and Connie Friedman of Forrest; Paul Garcia, 7, son of Ernie and Geri Garcia of Fairbury; Nic Brown, 6, son of Terry Brown of Fairbury; and Taylor Jones, 4, son of Doug Jones, Fairbury, and Jennifer Jones of Fairbury.
Stacen Jones of Colorado Springs, Co., formerly of Forrest, retired from the U.S. Army as MSgt. Sergeant/E8 on Aug. 31, 2004. He entered the Army in August of 1984 after graduating from Forrest-Strawn-Wing High School. His parents are Kathy Haab Hannah of Smyrna, Tenn., formerly of Forrest, and the late Fletcher Hannah. Oneta Haab of Forrest is his grandmother. His last assignment was at Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas, where he served as the noncommissioned officer in charge of the patient administration division. He recently accepted a position as a practice manager for a large urology physician group in Colorado Springs.
Raymond and Marjorie Mishler of Fairbury will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on Nov. 25, 2004. Mishler and the former Marjorie Lewis were married Nov. 25, 1944 at Bloomington. They are parents of Linda, Longmont, Co.; Roger, El Paso; and Robert of Champaign. They also have two grandchildren. The couple retired from farming in 1996.
10 Years Ago
November 26, 2014
Randy and Jill McCulloh of Chenoa will celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary on Nov. 23. McCulloh and the former Jill Steidinger were married Nov. 23, 1984 at the First United Methodist Church of Fairbury. They are the parents of Trevin (Krystal) McCulloh of Fairbury; Carlee (Andrew) Gerber of LeRoy; and Tanner McCulloh of rural Sibley. They also have four grandchildren, Madison and Mason McCulloh of Fairbury and Brynlee and Boston Gerber of LeRoy. He is employed at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home and she is employed at the Livingston County Health Dept.
Fairbury's October blood drive fell just short of its goal of 71, with 67 units collected. The drive was held Oct. 22 at the Fairbury United Methodist Church. The drive featured four first-time donors. They were Jane Gerdes of Saunemin, Jesse Leman of Forrest, Zach Lawrence of Fairbury and Alec Fannin of Pontiac. Others reaching milestones were Jason Leman, Fairbury, and Carol Taylor, Chatsworth, two gallons; Glen Waibel, Forrest, six gallons; Kelly Kinate, Fairbury, nine gallons; and Darna Dearth, Pontiac, 12 gallons. Donors came from Cullom, Saunemin, Chenoa, Strawn, Colfax, Fairbury, Forrest, Pontiac, Chatsworth and Cropsey.
The extremely cold temperatures last week did not stop workers from Tarter Construction as they continued to install roofing on the Brian J. Munz Safety Complex. Construction of the building complex, that will house the Fairbury Fire Department and Southeastern Livingston County Ambulance Service (SELCAS), is moving right along with completion expected in the early months of 2015.
(Looking Back from Kari Kamrath is sponsored each week on Fairbury News by Duffy-Pils Memorial Homes with locations in Fairbury, Chenoa and Colfax)
