"Salem Times-Commoner"; Salem, IL - "A Peek at Our Past" by Dr. George Ross - "Alma, the early years"  - Part I & II

"The Republican"; Salem, IL; July 9, 1908

Fire Loss at Alma; Immense Cannery Burned as Result of Fireworks Display

The celebration of the Fourth of July at Alma was without doubt the most expensive thing of the kind ever before attempted in Southern Illinois. To be sure all of the fireworks that took place that evening were not on the bills or there would have been careful watching to see that it did not occur. Sometime after midnight of that day, the immense cannery belonging to Dr. W.S. Shrigley caught fire and burned to the ground. While it is not known positively, it is believed that the fire resulted from the display of fireworks given in the village that evening. It is presumed that the stick from a sky rocket carried sparks to the building where they smouldered for several hours before igniting and causing blaze sufficiently to be noticed.   

About two o’clock, one of the nearby residents was awakened by the light from the burning building and even though the flames had gained such head-way that the total destruction of the building was foreseen, especially when then there were no facilities at hand with which to fight. The residents were absolutely helpless and they watched the destruction of their chief industry with saddened hearts.

This property passed to the control of Dr. W.S. Shrigley several years ago and he at once put it in condition for successful operation, and every season since that time it has increased in importance until it was reckoned as one the best enterprises of the kind in Illinois, and through it thousands of dollars found their way annually into the pockets of the producers and the workers of that vicinity. Dr. Shrigley carried insurance on the building and equipment to the extent of $10,000 and $250 on the stock on hand.

Hours before the fire had ceased burning the proprietor had decided on the immediate rebuilding and word to that effect had passed along the line. It is a remarkable spirit of thrift that is not daunted by such a disaster and Dr. Shrigley is insistent that the new plant will be completed in ample time to care for the present years crop. That is the spirit that will net down and Alma citizens are to be congratulated upon the possession of such a citizen.

"The Republican"; Salem, IL; Dec. 31, 1908

ALMA IS BURNED; Business Section of Village Swept Away; ONE STORE REMAINS

Loss Will Reach Several Thousand Dollars and is Severe One

The little Village of Alma, seven miles north of this city, was visited by a disastrous fire Monday afternoon and nearly the entire business section of the town was swept away by the flames. A total of fourteen business houses were destroyed including the Post Office building. The fire is believed to have originated in the hay barn of J.R. Clow which stood at the rear of his property on the street leading south along the Illinois Central Railroad. A large quantity of hay was stored in the barn and it is thought to have ignited by spontaneous combustion. The flames spread quickly to the large store building owned by Mr. Clow and then swept up the street running west from the Illinois Central depot. The large implement warehouse of B.G. Pullen, which stood south of the Clow hay barn, was also burned together with the contents. The losses as were given out Monday night are as follows:

B.G. Pullen, building and stock, $4500, insurance, $1100. I.O.O.F.P. Lodge, loss $600, insurance, $300; Citizens’ Bank building and Square, $1750, insurance, $400; J.R. Clow, large hay barn and contents, $3300, insurance and contents, $1600; J.R. Clow, store and buildings, $5500, insurance $2250; E.G. Ford, fifty tons hay, no insurance; Mrs. Jennie Dean, restaurant, loss $400, insurance, $400; J.W. Broom, merchandise, loss $7000, insurance $3000; Roy Gregory, restaurant, loss $400, insurance $250; C.M. See & Co., merchandise and building, loss $8500, insurance $2500; Berch & Fuller, Basket Company, loss $4000, no insurance; C.D. Tomlinson, barber shop, loss $500, insurance $300.

The post office building was entirely destroyed but Postmaster Winks succeeded in saving all the mail and equipment including stamps and money order forms.

After the fire had been under headway for some time, the Kinmundy fire department was appealed to for aid and they hastened to the scene of the disaster. The timely arrival doubtless saved the residence portion from destruction as the flying embers fired the roof of the Baptist church and other buildings were carefully watched until the flames burned out.

This is the second disastrous fire the little village has suffered within six months. On the night of July 4, the large cannery of W.S. Shrigley’s was burned to the ground. This was Alma’s chief industry and the loss was felt very heavily during the season. The fire Monday was even worse than the destruction of the cannery for the reason that very few of the owners of the establishments are prepared to stand such losses. Coming in midwinter as it did, the work of rebuilding is likely to be retarded owing to the probability of bad weather. Several of the persons were suffered in the recent fire have announced the determination to rebuild at the earliest possible day. They are an enterprising set of fellows in Alma and the little city will rise from it’s ashes, and will be the busy little mart that it was before.

"The Centralia Sentinel"; Centralia, IL; Aug. 6, 1910

p. 122; The Village of Alma

The village of Alma was laid out and platted by John S. Martin in 1854. Additions have been made since by J.S. Martin, M. French, Samuel J. Tilden, S. McCullough, L.C. Pullen, N.D. Laughlin, L.C. Pullen, N.D. Laughlin, and J.W. Ross. The village is situated in sections 6 and 7, Alma township. The first stone house on the site of the original town was built by Dr. T.O. Hatton, father of Mrs. C.M. See. The town was first named Rantoul. As there was a town in the state by that name, the postoffice was named Grand Mound City in 1855. The town and postoffice were changed to Alma

Dr. T.O. Hatton was the first doctor, the first merchant, and the first postmaster. Other postmasters have been: J.S. Martin, R.C. O’Bryant, J.R. Sloane, H.L. Allmon, C.M. See, T.E. Mayes, N. Warner, MV. Helton, I.A. Sprouse, T.B. McCartan (incumbent), H.P. Winks.

The first teacher in Alma public schools was Hugh Moor. Alma has had as teachers, J.B. Abbott, J.E. Whitchurch, and J.S. Knisley - in all four men who were county superintendents of schools.

The first preacher in Alma was of the Methodist Episcopal denomination, by the name of Jefferson Hawkins. The first church was built by the Disciples, and was 40 X 30 in size in 1868. It coast $1,200. The Methodist Episcopal church was built in 1871 at a cost of $1,600, size, 36 X 46. The trustees were Josiah Gibson, Richard Wilson, J.W. White, J.B. Abbott, and John R. Sloane. Both the above buildings have since given way to modern structures. The Missionary Baptists also have a very comfortable house of worship.

Since Dr. Hatton, the following physicians have been resident practitioners here: J.B. Johnson, M.B. Losey, Dr. Boisdell, A.J. Hays, Dr. W. Noruski, Dr. Dean. S.L. Laswell is the present physician.

(A picture of Alma Main Street accompanied this article.)

J.W. Broom

General Merchandise

Motto - Quick Sales and Small Profits

This store is better known as the SQUARE DEAL. Starting in a small way, Mr. Broom has grown to be one of the leading, if not the leading store in Alma. While he has only been in the mercantile business four years, he had a varied experience of twelve years on the road and this fact coupled with his unusual foresight as a business man and trader has made his success very rapid. He was burned out December 28, 1908, during the big fire at Alma, and after that the I.O.O.F. put up a big brick building which is the pride of the town and is now occupied by Mr. Broom. His greatest asset in business is his daughter, Miss Carre, who is very frequently left in full charge of the business for many days at a time. Mr. Broom deserves your patronage.

(A dark picture accompanied this article.)

"Centralia Evening Sentinel"; Centralia, IL; March 3, 1913

Alma; The Lively Little Town in the North Part of the County Which is Growing and Thriving

The village of Alma is situated in the northern part of Marion county in sections 6 and 7 of Alma township. The history of the village dates back to 1854. It was laid out by John S. Martin, and later other additions were added by J.S. Martin, M. French, Samuel J. Tilden, S. McCullought, L.C. Pullen, N.D. Laughlin, and J.W. Ross. The first store house on the site of the original town was built by Dr. T.O. Hatton, father of Mrs. C.M. See. Dr. Hatton was the first postmaster, the first merchant. Among other postmasters were J.S. Martin, R.C. O’Bryant, J.R. Sloan, H.L. Almon, C.H. See, T.E. Mayes, N. Warner, M.V. Sefton, I.A. Sprouse, T.B. McCartan, T.P. Winks, Mrs. C.D. Pollock, the present incumbent.

The first teacher in the public schools was Hugh Moor. Alma has since had as teachers, J.B. Abbott, J.E. Knisely, all of whom have been county superintendent of schools.

The first preacher in Alma was of the M.E. Church by the name of Jefferson Hawkins. The first church was built by the Disciples in 1868, at a cost of $1,200. The Methodist was built in 1871 at a cost of $1,600. Both the buildings have since given way to modern structures. The Missionary Baptists also have a very comfortable house of worship.

While Alma has shown a marked progress during past years, the town has sustained the loss by death of several leading and respected citizens whose loss has been felt in business as well as social circles. Among the names are: Dr. W.S. Shrigley, who was wealthy and influential in the moral and business interests of the community. It was he who established a cannery some years ago, which was destroyed by fire.

W.S. Ross, who introduced the Alma Gen melon, which proved to be one of the most popular and profitable products in the community. He also encouraged fruit growing in many varieties.

Mrs. N.A. Winks, also Ed French, well known and respected, have recently passed away.

The public schools of Alma are excellent. The building used was formerly the Industrial College which was purchased by the school board.

F.B. McCartan is the principal, ably assisted by his daughter, Elizabeth.

The farming country around Alma is fertile and productive of small fruit and vegetables in abundance.

The fruit industry calls for baskets and packing cases, and these are manufactured right here by I.A. Sprouse. During the fruit season, Alma is one of the busiest little towns in the country. Shipping pears and apples are the principal products. Whole grain loads of fruit shipped from this point. In one season as many of 240 car loads of pears, 50 car loads of apples, tomatoes in large quantities, and good varieties are raised here.

Alma has a good banking institution which is doing a splendid business with a capital of $10,000. It’s officers are E.G. Ford, President; Joseph Mazanek, cashier, and C.M. See, Assistant Cashier.

Alma’s Business People

The business people of this thriving little village are prosperous, and their stores of well selected merchandise are kept in good condition.

There are four general stores, two hotels, a restaurant, lunch room, a lumber yard, livery stable, a basket factory, blacksmith shop and three churches. There are all the natural advantages here to be found in any town of its size and many small factory or other enterprise will receive encouragement.

J. Mazanek, General Merchandise

Among Alma’s mercantile establishments is Mr. Mazanek’s where is offered Dry Goods, Groceries, Hardware, and Specialities for Field or Garden.

Mr. Mazanek’s experience in the mercantile business gives him knowledge of buying that has saved his customers many a dollar.

While the prices at his store always reasonable, no article leaves his store unless it is in every way dependable and worth what is paid for it.

Mr. Mazanek is also interested in farming and stock raising in some degree.

The Square Deal

Mr. J.W. Broom, the proprietor has been a resident of Alma for about 13 years, starting in business here a little over 5 years ago. His business has grown to be one of the largest general merchandise stores in town. His years of experience as a traveling man coupled with his unusual foresight and business ability together with the able assistance of his daughter, Miss Carrie, has made his success rapid.

His motto is "The lowest price for good goods".

T.E. Maulding, General Merchandise

About one ago, Mr. Maulding purchased a stock of goods from C.M. See & Co., and continues the business at the same stand. He was reared in Alma but for ten years prior to purchasing this business, was located in East St. Louis, engaged in railroad work. Mr. Maulding now has a well stocked store, consisting of Dry Goods, Groceries, Clothing, Shoes and in fact everything usually found in any general store. In addition, he is handling flour in car lots, and has built up a splendid business.

R.E. Gregory, Gasoline Lighting Devices

The people of Alma need not go away from home for modern lighting devices, fixtures or accessories. Mr. Gregory will install the very latest in your home or store, furnish fuel or repairs at moderate prices. Mr. Gregory conducts a restaurant and confectionery where the public may be served with good things to eat.

J.M. Haslet, Livery

Mr. Haslet first came here from Beecher City about fourteen years ago after which he found a location. In Kinmundy in livery and boarding business, a few years, returning to Alma about a year ago and is doing well here. He is also interested in farming to some extent.

Alma Lumber Co.

The Alma Lumber Co. is one of Alma’s leading institutions, with Mr. R.E. Walters as manager. The members of the firm are R.W. Walters, C.W. Hall, Henry Bellamy, all of Sandoval and R.E. Walters of Alma.

The prosperity of the community has resulted in many improvements and the construction of new homes, and this company has supplied these improvements in an assortment of building materials, builders’ hardware.

They also handle grain, hay and coal. Mr. Walters is now prepared to do undertaking.

Alma People Who Have Gone to the Front

Young men from Alma who have made good in various vocations:

Among the most prominent in the ‘60s was Hon. Hale Johnson, son of Dr. J.B. Johnson of Alma, Ill. Hale Johnson was a candidate for vice president of U.S. on the prohibition ticket 12 years ago.

Some years before this, John Gibson, who afterward gained great wealth in a Philippine land syndicate and railroad; at present treasurer of the Coliseum of Chicago, Ill.

Later - George Shreffler, interested largely in Ohio oil fields; at present of a concrete factory at Freemont, Ohio.

Others of note are:

- Dr. S.C. Wilson - Located at Lincoln, Neb. for a number of years; later 10 years at Spokane, Wash. Present location in Vancouver, B.C.

- Dr. Samuel Wilson, dentist, Chicago, Ill. - For some years, state president Christian Endeavor Society; for the last ten years, Supt. Sunday School Woodlawn Park M.E. Church.

- Wm. F. Wilson - Lawyer, politician, and also teacher in public schools, Chicago, Ill., for past 15 years.

- Dr. J.D. Wilson, dentist - Located at Danville, Ill., for past eight years.

- Jesse Kline - State President, Y.M.C.A. work of Wisconsin for 18 years.

- J.H. Meneely, Supt. of Public Schools, Brooklyn, New York.

- Alonzo Abbott - Professor of Chemistry; address unknown.

- Dr. H.E. Wilson - Practicing physician, Centralia, Ill.

- Rev. Frank O. Wilson - Pastor M.E. church, Altamont, Ill.

- Zachariah Taylor - Postmaster, Colfax, Ill.

- Thomas Clow - inspector of Weights and Scales for the E.J. & E.R.R., Joliet, Ill.

- J.W. Ross - Florist, Centralia, Ill.

- Thomas McNeill - Train Dispatcher I.C.R.R., Champaign, Ill.

- Dr. Noah Deane - Practicing physician, Sumner, Ill.

- Dr. Clarence S. Lee - Located at Frederick, Okla., 1907; died 1908

- Edwin Wormley - Agent I.C.R.R., Kinmundy, Ill.

- George McNeill - Conductor I.C.R.R., Champaign, Ill.

- John R. McNeill - Building Contractor, Salem, Ill.

- Samuel McNeill - Building Contractor, Ormund, Fla.

- Mark Ross - Traveling wholesale salesman, Chicago, Ill.

- Walter N. Pullen - Furniture dealer and undertaker, Waynesville, Ill.

- Charles McCartan - Operator I.C.R.R., Odin, Ill.

- Charles Gammon - Agent I.C.R.R., Laclede, Ill.

- Rolla McCarty - Operator I.C.R.R., Farmer City, Ill.

- A.R. See - Agent I.C.R.R., Union Stock Yards, Chicago, Ill.

- Frank Coffin - Electrical Engineer, Chicago, Ill.

- Clifford Coffin - Supt. of Rates, Illinois Salt Works, Chicago, Ill.

- Ed Rainey - Editor "Marion County Democrat", Salem, Ill.

- Harry Coffin - Undertaker and embalmer, Centralia, Ill.

- Dorsey Sprouse - Fruit commission merchant, South Water Street, Chicago, Ill.

- Geo. W. Smith - Express messenger, American Express Co., Chicago, Ill.

- H.P. Smith - Illinois State Adjustor for The Home Insurance Co., Alma, Ill.

- T.E. Maulding - Transfer Supt., Southern R.R. East St. Louis, for a number of years. At present dealer in general merchandise.

- Roy Warner - Bank cashier, Vinita, Okla.

- Arthur Purcell - Chief of Police, Sapulpa, Okla.

- Morris Harvey - Clerk, I.C.R.R., Union Stock Yards, Chicago, Ill.

- Charles Claytor - Supt. Schools, Mason, Ill.

- Joseph Mazanek - Cashier, Citizen’s Bank, Alma, Ill.

- Rev. Clark Yost - Pastor M.E. church, Alton, Ill.

- Fred Clow - Purchasing agent for "Rothschild", Chicago, Ill.

Some young women worthy of mention are:

- Miss Bertha Purcell - Government nurse, New Mexico

- Miss Clara Hefton - Nurse, Henrietta Hospital, East St. Louis, Ill.

- Miss Rhea White - Nurse, Wesley Hospital, Chicago, Ill.

- Miss Anna Roberts - Deaconess Hospital, Great Falls, Washington

- Miss Ethel Hefton - Operator, I.C.R.R., Effingham, Ill.

- Miss May Schermerhorn - Purchasing agent, Seattle, Wash.

"The Centralia Sentinel"; Jan. 4, 1934

Alma "Hospitality Day" in Centralia, Sat., 6^th

Alma, Flourishing Marion County City, Situated In Midst of Big Fruit Area

Alma is a lively little town of 368 persons on State Highway No. 142 and the Illinois Central railroad that is located in the midst of a large acreage of peaches, pears and apples, which have become widely known. One of the largest and most modernly equipped fruit packing sheds in the state is located in Alma.

Besides the many persons who are employed in the cultivation, care, harvesting and marketing of Alma community’s fruit, the Gregory Orchard Supply Company, employing four men, is a well known industry of the city, while the A.M. Wilson poultry concern likewise employs four men.

Mr. Wilson is mayor of Alma, Alderman are E.L. Laswell, J.F. Neary, Leo Wikenhauser, William Gregory, John Mazanek, Jr., and H.E. Helm. Edward McWhirter is the police officer.

Alma’s high and grade schools are housed in one building under the superintendency of Earl Purdue. Members of the faculty in addition to Mr. Purdue are Miss Mary Pullen, Miss Anna Arnold, and Miss Lulu Foster.

Three churches serve the religious needs of the community. They are the M.E. Church with Rev. Dycus as pastor, the Christian Church with Rev. Marteny as pastor, and the Baptist Church with Rev. Wright as pastor B.G. Pullen.

Leading business firms include those of J. Bowen, C.E. Rainey, and B.G. Pullen.

Two parks, the school park and the Gregory Park, are available for recreational facilities.

The village is on the northwest corner of the township. It was first laid out by John S. Martin, in 1854, and the Martin, French, and Tilden addition was platted about the same time. It was named Rantoul, after an officer of the railroad, but another town in the state had appropriated that name, and it was changed to Grand Mound City, but in 1855 the name was changed to Alma.

Doctor Hutton built the first store house in 1853, and was the first postmaster. Smith and Hawkins conducted the first blacksmith shop and John Ross was the first Christian preacher. Rev. Ross was instrumental in building the first church in which he preached for several years. The Methodist Episcopal Church was built in 1871.

The first school house was burned and the second one was built in 1866 and 1867. It was a two-room building. Some of the members of the Christian Church conceived the thought of a Christian college at Alma. The Rosses and others gave land and money and a good two-story structure was built and a college opened. After a few years’ struggle, the property was sold to the district for public school purposes.

On December 28, 1908 fire broke out in a large hay barn and destroyed the entire business part of Alma. Several stores, warehouses, shops and the restaurants were burned and as all were of frame, the loss was total. Before the ashes were hardly cold, the debris was cleared away and preparations for substantial brick buildings were underway.

In the spring of 1908, the large fruit cannery of Doctor Shrigley was burned, being a serious loss to the village of Alma.

The Ross name has been associated with Alma history since shortly after the founding of the village. The family of William S. Ross, father of J.W. Ross of Centralia, came to Alma from the northern part of Illinois in 1866. In 1871, the Ross family moved westward, eventually settling in Texas where it remained until 1885 when it returned to Alma.

In 1881, the netted Gem melon, a small, oval, heavily netted, green fleshed fruit was first introduced to the public. This variety was destined to revolutionize the melon industry in America. It was tested for a few years and in 1885 was grown for market in a small way by William S. Ross, at Alma, and by J.W. Eastwood of Rocky Ford, Col. The melon seeds had been brought back by the Rosses from Texas.

Having more melons than his local market could consume, Ross shipped two barrels to Chicago in August, 1885. These were the first melons of this type ever seen on the Chicago market, and they were the occasion of considerable amusement on South Water street when the barrels were opened. The melons seemed ridiculously small as compared with the Hackensack and other melons then on the market. However, after the flavor had been tasted, the melons were readily sold, and an order received for all that could be furnished.

The next year Ross planted 20 acres and a few years later, 90 acres. Soon a number of his neighbors began planting and the industry grew at Alma until the shipments reached from 10 to 15 carloads a day. In 1900 from Alma alone, 253 carloads of "Alma Gems" were shipped. In the meantime, the industry had spread to other points in Illinois, including Anna and Balcom in the southern part of the state. Most of the Illinois melons were shipped in one-third bushel Climax baskets.

As the growing of Gem melons spread to other sections of the state and the markets became supplied with melons from those sections, the people of Alma and vicinity turned to growing other fruits, principally pears and apples, although there are a number of large peach orchards there. There are still some melons grown and shipped, but the industry today is only a shade of what it was formerly.

Alma Township

Alma township was originally mostly prairie, but nearly all of the land now is under cultivation. The Illinois Central railroad passes across the northwest corner of the township while the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad crosses it from the north to the south.

Marshall Wantland settled on Section 25, and his brother, John, on section 36, in 1826. They were from Tennessee. James Beard, another Tennessean, settled on Section 23, but stayed only a few years. James Chance, a blacksmith from Tennessee, settled in Salem in 1822 and after serving as sheriff, moved to Section 11 in Alma township, where he lived for many years.

The township was first named Pleasant, but later changed to Alma.

The Baptists built the first church in the township in 1848. It was a small frame house. The first preacher was N.R. Eskridge.

The first school was held in an old abandoned cabin and was taught by Isaac Kagy. It was a subscription school and the subscriptions were paid in produce, which in turn was bartered in at a store.

In 1842, the first school house was built on the site of the Pleasant Grove Methodist Church. It was of the pioneer type, log cabin with clapboard roof, held on with roof poles.

On section 35 the early settlers established a burying ground. It was used about 15 years and then closed. The cemetery was known as the Mound graveyard.

This township was among the first to introduce imported stock.

The first doctors were Thomas L. Middleton, William Haynie, Doctor Baker, T.B. Lester and John Davenport.

The post office at Alma, established upon the completion of the Illinois Central Railroad through the town, was the first in the township.

In 1841, John Hammers opened a strip coal mine on a vein two feet thick, but when the railroads brought coal to Alma, the mine was abandoned.

(A picture of downtown Alma accompanied this article.)

"Salem Times-Commoner"; Salem, IL

"A Peek at Our Past" by Dr. George Ross

Alma, the early years

Of the many communities in Marion County, it appears that Alma has maintained a continuous unique character throughout the years - its citizens have been a thrifty, independent, hard-working people whose love and respect for the land when coupled with muscle and sweat have brought forth the best of that which Mother Earth had to offer. So it was from the beginning; the Wantland brothers - Marshall and John - the first settlers in the township, carried with them a spade, turning over the earth as they traveled from Tennessee in 1826, and stopping in Alma where they said they found soil which had no equal. Other early township settlers included James Beard (1830), James Chance (about 1832), Letitia Duncan (1833), William Tully (1835), Thomas Berthert (1836), Peter Bretz (1838), Solomon Smith (1836), Wiley Garner (1836), Jeremiah Allmon (1836), John Lynch (1837), John P. Wilson (1837), Robert Phillips (1839), Tunis A. Spitler (1840), J.W. White (1841), Samuel Wilson (1842), and John P. French (1855). The standard histories indicate that Rutherford, Gillam and James Duncan, sons of Letitia, widow of a veteran of the War of 1812, improved the first farms in Alma Township. Dr. Isaac Kagy taught the first school in 1840 in a deserted log cabin on the Marshall Wantland farm. It was a subscription school and the teacher was usually paid in either local products or services. Bishop Roberts preached the first sermon in the township in 1841 at the Pleasant Grove schoolhouse. The Old School Baptists built the first church in 1848 with Nathaniel Eskridge as pastor. William Tully built the first mill (operated by horse power) in 1836. John Beck kept the first store in the township beginning in 1851 at the home of Squire Siple. E. Heaton operated the first dairy, winning the blue ribbon for his cheese at the State Fair in Central City in 1858. According to Brink-McDonough, "John Cunningham introduced the first blooded horses, English Draft, ‘Falcon’, about the year 1852. Durham cattle were introduced by John and Andrew Hite in 1840. Hogs of the Berkshire breed were first brought here in 1841. In 1856, Thomas White introduced the first graded sheep of the Southdown breed." Early justices of the peace included Solomon Siple, Tunis Spitler and John B. Abbott. Josiah Hull built the first carpenter shop about 1850, and the first blacksmith shop was erected by Jacob L. Smith in 1841. John Hammers uncovered a two foot vein of coal, six feet below the earth, in Section 10. It was worked from 1841 until coal was brought in by the Illinois Central Railroad in the late 1850's. When townships were formed, this was known as "Pleasant Township", but was soon changed to Alma.

Surnames of families living in the Alma area in 1860 besides those previously listed include Ange, McCullough, Micheal, Mitchell, Galman, Beaver, Berry, Furry, Foster, Finley, Hoss, Huster, Warner, Powell, Allen, Hults, Sheifer, Griffin, Rose, Hartley, Alexander, Winks, Hudson, Cope, Harlin, Oyler, Sabin, Davis, Mast, Simmons, Houton, Newson, Wilhoy, Literal (Luttrell), Harris, Howard, McCarty, Haden, Cummings, Daniel, Patterson, Burrows, Wilky, Beats, Elder, Crane, Brown, Miller, Marcus, Stokely, Heaton, Bodine, Larydale, Purcell, Craig, Branson, Merrith, Clow, Senprenand, Beaudin, Slane, Tilden, Winings, Shepherd, Spencer, Adams, Bass, Martin, McConnel, Cowden, Taylor, Malone, Graves, Rush, Hainy, Bond, Hughes, McGuire, Arnold, Lovell, Cantine, Simonson, Davis and Baker.

"The Village of Alma is in the northwest part of the township on sections six and seven, and was laid out and platted in 1854 by John S. Martin, with additions by J.S. Martin, M. French, and Samuel J. Tilden. It was at first named ‘Rantoul’, in respect to a railroad official, but as there was a town in the state by that name, the post office was called ‘Grand Mound City.’ In 1855, the name of Alma was given to both town and post office," according to Brink-McDonough. It is believed that it was named for a battle fought in the Crimean War. Dr. T.O. Hatton, who was the first physician and postmaster, built the first store house in 1853. The April 19, 1855, Salem Advocate contains an advertisement announcing the opening of John S. Martin’s new store in Alma. Mr. Martin was the father of four Civil War veterans - Gen. James S., Capt. Robert, and Pvts. Thompson G. and Benjamin - all who later lived in Salem.

Later additions to the original village were laid out by S. McCullough, L.C. Pullen, N.D. Laughlin and J.W. Ross. Later physicians living in Alma were Drs. J.B. Johnson, M.B. Lacey, Boisdell, A.J. Hays, Fred Wnorowski, Dean, and S.L. Laswell. The first post office was established in 1854 and in addition to Dr. Hatton, John S. Martin, R.C. O’Bryant, J.R. Slane, H.L. Allmon, C.M. See, T.E. Mapes, N. Warner, M.V. Hefton, Isaac A. Sprouse. H.F. Winks and T.B. McCartan were early postmasters.

The village took much pride in its school - four of Alma’s schoolmasters became county superintendents of school; Hugh Moore (the first teacher), J.B. Abbott, J.E. Whitchurch, and J.S. Knisely. A Miss Cooper was the schoolmarm in 1865 and Miss Hannah Dean taught in 1866. The first schoolhouse burned so another was erected in 1867. The first school directors were F. McConnell, J.W. White and T.W. Purcell.

The first church was built in the village by the Christian denomination in 1868 with Elder John Ross as its first pastor. The Methodist Church was built in 1871 under the supervision of the following trustees: Josiah Gibson, Richard Wilson, J.W. White, J.B. Abbott, and John R. Slane. The first minister in the village was Jefferson Hawkins, a Methodist. John Leeper followed.

In 1855, the first blacksmith and wagon shop was erected by Smith and Hawkins. John Ross built the first mill in the village in 1870 and it was both a grist and saw mill. The April 22, 1877, issue of the Salem Advocate tells that A.D. Tomlinson was operating the Tomilson House - the Alma hotel.

The Brink-McDonough history written in 1881 tells of Alma at that time, "The surrounding country is known to be an excellent fruit region. As many as two thousand boxes of peaches and three hundred barrels of apples have been shipped by here in one day. The population of the town is one hundred and fifty. The surrounding country is known to be an excellent fruit region. As many as two thousand boxes of peaches and three hundred barrels of apples have been shopped from here in one day. The population of the town is one hundred and fifty. The following shows the business of this enterprising place: General Merchandise - H.L. Allman; Millers - L.B. White and W. Perrin; Blacksmith - Granville Gammon; Painter - E.D. Johnson; Physicians - J.B. Johnson and M.B. Lacey; Grain Buyers - H.L. Allman and S.M. McCullough; Hotel - A. Tomlinson; Station and Express Agent - C.M. See; Shoemaker - A.F. Kline." J.R. Dunlap served as the township’s first supervisor in 1874, followed by J.H. Kagy, J.W. White and Tunis A. Spitler. The same publication lists, as prominent township farmers and stockgrowers, the following: J.W. Brown, W.L.S. French, Richard J. Holstlaw, S.M. Marshall, J.P. Shriver, G.W. Shriver, Andes Tulley, William D. Wilson, J.W. White, and Samuel E. White.

Activity and prosperity continued to increase in Alma and this will be covered in next week’s column, "Alma: The Middle Years."

Sources: (1) Brink-McDonough, "Combined Histories of Marion and Clinton Counties, 1881"; (2) Salem Advocate, April 19, 1855 and April 22, 1877; (3) Centralia Sentinel, August 6, 1910.

"Salem Times-Commoner"; Salem, IL

"A Peek from our Past" by Dr. George Ross

For the first few decades, Alma remained a rather sleepy little hamlet with less than 100 inhabitants. It was probably W.H. "Uncle Billy" Ross who contributed most to bringing new life to the village. Ross came with his family to Alma from northern Illinois by way of Texas where he learned a great deal about horticulture. The June 3, 1887 issue of the Salem Herald-Advocate records that W.H. Ross and son have put in 90 acres of watermelons. Shortly after they produced a succulent cantaloupe, unique in both size and flavor which was dubbed the Alma Gem. The melons caught on in Chicago, resulting in a ready market. In 1890 the editor of the Salem Republican reported after visiting Alma, "At one time Monday, 125 teams were at the trains to unload melons. Tomlinson and McNeely shipped 105 baskets one morning and 65 the next out of the same patch of ground. In addition to melons, other fruits and vegetables were grown and shipped from Alma. The Centralia Sentinel of May 1, 1911, reports that "Alma is said to have 600 acres in apples, 400 in pears and 175 in peaches." The same article reports on the harvest of daffodils and the growing of tomatoes.

"Uncle Billy Ross was the man who started the flower industry in the Alma area. He made his first planting with Emperor daffodils, imported from Holland in the 1890's. For years he and his son, Andrew, had a forty acre field southwest of Alma," said the Centralia Sentinel on April 15, 1961. Peak acreage of the daffodils, which were shipped to Chicago, was about 75 acres. Charles and John Mazanek, Eugene and Andrew Winks, H.D. Krutsinger and D.E. Gammon were among those who grew these symbols of spring.

As Alma grew to become a harvesting and shipping center, other economic institutions developed. By 1889, R. Wilson was operating a molasses mill and in 1892, Isaac Maulding was operating a butcher shop and Warner and Mazanek had a grain purchasing and storing operation. By 1898 Alma had three factories which manufactured baskets for the picking and shipping of fruit run by J.R. Clow, L.C. Pullen and H.P. Winks. In the March 29, 1899 issue of the Centralia Sentinel we read that "Clow and Telford are erecting a cannery (which was in operation by August) which will employ 150 and produce 25,000 cans per day. W.S. Ross and R.G. Pullen have an evaporator which employs 30 hands. The Village Council has just put down sidewalks." On June 12, 1903, the Sentinel reports that Alma has a new Building and Loan Association with L.C. Pullen as president. During 1906 there was a flurry of speculation about oil in the Alma area. During that same year the bank opened at Alma with R.F. Mallott as president and Jesse Evans as cashier. In July of 1908, disaster struck when the cannery now owned by Dr. W. Shrigley burned to the ground with a total loss of over $25,000. The fire was caused by negligence in igniting a fireworks display. It was quickly announced that the cannery would be rebuilt but plans changed and Salem was chosen as the new location. By 1911, Alma had a grist mill, and in 1917 it boasted a pickle factory.

In 1896 it was determined that there would be advantages to the incorporation of Alma which was granted on December 10, 1897, according to the Marion County Democrat. The results of the first election, as reported in the January 13, 1898, Salem Republican, gave victory to M.O. Allmon (president), John Mazanek, H.P. Winks, J.R. French, G. Gammon and R. Edwards, plus a tie between John R. Ross and William Harvey as trustees. In 1902 Alma voted to continue as a "dry" town and elected J.R. Clow (president), J.T. Claytor (clerk), M.V. Hefton, N. Henthorn and John R. Ross (trustees). By the time of the 1910 census, the population of Alma had grown to 380.

In 1896, the erection of the Alma Township House was completed at Brubaker. Several farmers in the vicinity of Alma experimented with methods of maintaining good roads when automobiles became a reality. A "dragging" operation on these thoroughfares was conducted by George B. Wakefield, George Headley, Fillmore Nichols and Robert Lambert plus their faithful "teams".

Educational, cultural, and entertainment activities were not neglected during those years. In 1894, a minstrel show by a traveling troupe was performed at Pullen Hall. In September of 1896, the Marion County Soldiers and Sailors held its annual reunion and encampment at Alma. From 1896 to 1900 the Southern Illinois Christian College operated in the village, bringing with it a myriad of educational and cultural activities. Clark Braden, president of the college and a renowned debater, engaged I.N. White, one of the 12 apostles of the Mormons, in a verbal conflict in 1899. The Plow and the Hammer, a newspaper espousing the cause of the Farm-Labor Party, was published at Alma during the late ‘90's. In 1915 a new 17-piece brass band was organized by Walter McLeod and concerts galore were given for the pleasure of local citizens and those of surrounding towns. In 1916, Alma hosted its first agricultural fair which operated for several years as the county fair. Exhibited were farm animals, crops, products and ladies’ fancy goods. Thousands of county residents made their way to these pleasant gatherings. An Odd Fellows Lodge was instituted in Alma in 1897 and for many years was a social force in the community.

In 1900, a new Methodist Church was dedicated and in 1907 the Baptist Church was erected. The January 31, 1901, Salem Republican reports that "Religion sweeps Alma ... 66 have joined the Methodist Church and 31, the Christian." Revivals or protracted meetings were customary with the churches at this time.

Notice was given during the years to the disappearance of Alma landmarks. The March 9, 1914 Sentinel reports that "Alma’s oldest house - built in 1850 by Marshall French - is being torn down." The November 11, 1915 issue of the same newspaper tells that "Gammon is tearing down his old blacksmith shop at Alma which as built in 1864 by N.A. Winks as a residence for John Robb."

Alma’s greatest setback occurred on December 28, 1908, when the business district was swept by fire. According to the Sentinel, "The fire originated in the hay barn of J.R. Clow and was soon too hot to combat and the adjoining buildings were also soon in flames. There being no provision for fighting fires other than buckets and common pumps, the fire met little opposition in spreading. Alma, like most towns along the Illinois Central, is situated on both sides of the railroad right of way and the business houses were strung along facing the railroad ... The falling embers and intense heat soon had the buildings on both sides in flames." Losses were sustained by B.C. Pullen, Odd Fellows Lodge, Citizens Bank, J.R. Clow store and barn, E.G. Ford (hay), Mrs. Jennie Dean’s Restaurant, J.W. Broom’s store, Roy Gregory’s Restaurant, C.M. See’s store, Berch and Fuller’s Basket Factory, Charles D. Tomlinson’s Barber Shop and the post office. The Sentinel of March 26, 1910 records that "Eight new buildings are going up in Alma."

An article in the March 1, 1913 issue of the Sentinel described Alma of that date. F.B. McCartan was in charge of the school, assisted by his daughter, Elizabeth. The Alma Bank was operating with E.G. Ford as president, Joseph Mazanek, cashier, and C.M. See, assistant cashier. The town had four general stores, 2 hotels, 2 restaurants, 1 lumber yard, 1 livery stable, 1 basket factory, and 1 blacksmith shop. Three churches - the Methodist, Christian and Baptist were active. Owned largely by Sandoval citizens, the lumberyard was managed by R.E. Walters, J.M. Haslett ran the livery stable, J.W. Broom had named his general store the "Square Deal".

The same paper carried an account under the caption "Alma People Who Have Gone to the Front", and listed the following: Hale Johnson (Prohibitionist candidate for vice president in 1900), John Gibson, (amassed great wealth in land and railroads in the Philippines), George Shreffler, Drs. S.C., Samuel, J.D. and H.E. Wilson, Atty. W.F. Wilson, Jesse Kline (head of Y.M.C.A. in Wisconsin), J.H. Meneely (superintendent of schools, Brooklyn, NY), Alonzo Abbot (chemistry professor), Dr. Noah Dean, Dr. Clarence Lee, Zachariah Taylor, Thomas Clow, J.W. Ross, Thomas McNeill, Edwin Wormley, George McNeill, John R. McNeill, Samuel McNeill, Mark Ross, Walter N. Pullen, Charles McCartan, Charles Gammon, Rolla McCarty, A.R. See, Frank Coffin, Dorsey Sprouse, George W. Smith, H.P. Smith, T.E. Maulding, Roy Warner, Arthur Purcell, Charles Claytor, Joseph Mazanek, Rev. Clark Yost, Fred Clow, Bertha Purcell, Clara Hefton, Rhea White, Anna Roberts, Ethel Hefton and May Schermerhorn.

"A Peek at Our Past" by Dr. George Ross; March 16, 1994

A Visit to the Alma Cannery

Early in the history of Marion county, its settlers began producing fruits and vegetables in abundant quantities. With the development of necessary equipment, canneries were introduced here. One of the first was introduced in Alma. This operation was described in the Salem Republican of October 5, 1905.

Alma citizens are justly proud of the Shrigley canning factory which as been in full operation there during the season just closing. This enterprise means much to the citizens of that village and the surrounding community. The vast sums of money that has been put into the channels of trade through the operation of this concern cannot be fully estimated until the season’s work in finished and there is a general summing up of details, which is no easy matter in a plant of such vast proportions.

"Imagine if you can, a string of wagons extending five or six blocks on a street in this city; not only that but they are standing two or three abreast, and off on a nearby vacant lot there is a jam of loaded wagons. The bringing of tomatoes to the cannery is likened unto a circus parade for there is a crush and jam and hurry that always accompanies such. Do you wonder that Alma prospering when such scenes have been the daily occurrence for months. The tomato growers are jubilant; the thrifty housewife is content for there is ample funds for the children’s schooling. This has been a wonderful season for Alma and the citizens round about have recovered from the effects of last year’s failure."

Dr. W.S. Shrigley, the proprietor and general manager of the cannery, is responsible in great measure for the abundantly prosperous times at Alma. He has provided a market for the products of the farm and given labor a chance to earn a weekly stipend. Everyone desiring work was given a chance, the amount of their earnings depending entirely upon their own efforts."

"A trip through a plant of this kind is worth going miles to see and it scarcely can be pictured. The first scene which greets a visitor is the weighing in and unloading of the tomatoes. The vegetable is contracted for by the bushel and 20 cents is the contract price. The grower who neglected to contract is not so fortunate as he receives only 18 cents per bushel. From the store room, the tomatoes are put through the scalding process and then carried to the peelers. For peeling, the price is 3 cents per bucket, and many of the ladies who do this work earn $1.50 per day. The fruit is then taken to the filler and then the remaining part of the work is done by the perfected machinery. The can is filled with the proper amount and then it is passed on to the capping and soldering process after which the can passes through a vat of hot water to ascertain if there be any leaks. If one is discovered, the can is taken out, resoddered and again tested. It is next placed in the processing tubs where the vegetable is subjected to cooking for thirty minutes, then removed to the warehouse, and ricked for ten days before labeling and shipping."

"The great ware room is already filled to overflowing but a few more ricks of shining cans are put in and this continues until a car is loaded for shipment. The immense amount of work, the untiring energy necessary to the successful operation of such an extensive concern cannot be appreciated. During the present run, 120 persons were employed daily and each one had a place to fill to make complete the full operation of the plant."

"The cannery has a capacity of 15,000 cans daily and nearly every day for three weeks from 1,000 to 1,500 bushels were consumed. Ten cars, with a capacity of 24,000 cans to each car, have already been shipped to market and yet the amount of stock on hand seems scarcely touched. The season has been an exceptionally good one and the plant will certainly be made to realize handsomely for the proprietor."

"The great burden of the work in this plant necessarily must fall on the superintendent and Dr. Shrigley is fortunate in securing the services of Freeman Eagan for the place. He understands the management of affairs quite thoroughly and he has been tireless in his efforts to keep the machinery moving so there would be no waste of time or material. The cannery is certainly a boon to Alma, and citizens of other places have cause to look on it with envious eyes."

In the spring of 1908, the larger cannery belonging to Dr. Shrigley burned to the ground - a serious loss to the village - a center of fruit and vegetable production.

(A picture of "Alma before the fire of 1909" accompanied this article.)

Salem Times-Commoner; Salem, Illinois; June 7, 1995

"A Peek at Our Past" by Dr. George Ross

Alma: Early 20^th Century; Wagons lined up at Alma to unload "Alma Gems" melons prior to 1909

The village of Alma was laid out in 1854 by John S. Martin simultaneously with the laying of the rails of the Illinois Central’s Branch Line to Chicago. The settlement was located at the northwest corner of the township at a point said to be one of the highest in the area. This spot located on a ridge or divide gave excellent drainage of water to both the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. The population largely supported by the farming, fruit, and flower industries declined slightly in the village going 380 in 1910 to 366 in 1920 and then to 334 in 1930.

Alma, throughout it’s history, has been considered a patriotic village and township. It’s citizens have been quick to answer our nation’s call in times of war. In the four cemeteries located in Alma township - Alma Village, Mounds, Wilson, and Yost - and in Martin, which though lying in Foster township is the resting place of many Alma citizens, lie the remains of many who have fought and some who have died for their country. These include: an unknown soldier of the War of 1812; MEXICAN WAR - Alan Jones; CIVIL WAR - S.E. Shipley, C.L. Loyd, James A. Wilson, John McNeill, C.M. See, Early Marshall, Robert Sprouse, John Wilson, James Boyd, Dr. J.B. Johnson, James H. Shreffler, Joseph Shaffer, Louis Bender, Samuel C. Claytor, A.D. Tomilson, I.A. Sprouse, Nathan Winks, Isaac Maulding, John Wesley Spain, N.T. Stoner, Henry Sanders, Joseph Brown, Eli Headley, Thomas J. Boring, Vernal Prewitt, John Sprouse, George Mundwiler, W. Harrington, James Wright, George High, John Boring, Robert D. Easley, John A. McCarthy, J.M. Campbell, Francis Day, Obediah Thornton; Spanish-American War - Kirk A. Williams, John A. McCarty, and Arthur Shreffler; WORLD WAR I - Lester Dorr, Willie Reynolds, Andrew I. Ross, George McWilliams, Gordon A. Shreffler, James Arnold, Edwin B. Cheatum, John S. Ford, Walter Voyles, Otis G. Hines, William E. Williams, Sherman J. Lewis, Ernest Harris, Francis Ross Day, Oscar N. DeFord, John H. McIntosh, Benjamin Jenkins, George L. Clark, Edwin Boring Hopper, Archie C. Arnold, Charles Bee, Ralph E. Davis, Henry L. Powell, Frank M. Rainey, Joseph G. Bilek, James E. Campbell, John Doudera, Will Eagan, Frank Roller, Wm. L. Ruddell, and John Sanders; WORLD WAR II - Allen L. Brasel, W.A. Broom, Henry Hinkley Jr., Carl E. Purcell, Noah C. Williams, Wm. J. McWilliams, Loyd Hines, Calvin Coe Smith, Marshall A. Tolliver, Ralph E. Davis, Aaron A. Shreffler, Henry H. Hayden, Fred J. Moody, Bruce F. DeWeese, James H. Sanders, Lyle Shreffler, Bryant McIntosh, Harold J. Morris, Doyle Berry, George Black Jr., Samuel Casner, Merle Headley, Russell Howard, George McClurg, John Parker, L.T. Richardson, George Schuler, and Walter Slater; Korea - George Black Jr., Dwayne E. Butts, Charles L. Williams, and Doyle Berry; and VIETNAM - Douglas M. Shoreck.

Shortly after the Southern Illinois Christian College failed in 1900, the major building was sold to the Alma schools and was used until it burned in March of 1913. The Salem Republican of June 21, 1913, recorded that "Alma was building a new brick building school consisting of three rooms in two stories and costing $4,000. It is located on a five acre plot and will be ready for use in the fall."

"Alma Township", according to the Salem Times-Commoner in 1973, "consisted of two communities, Alma and Brubaker, and nine neighborhoods, generally surrounding schools. They were Shriner (northeast), Wilson (north central), Pleasant Hill (northwest), Happy Hollow (west central), Allen (east central), Elder (extreme east), Redlick (south east), Kagy (south central), and Union (south west).

The Alma Citizens State Bank which began operations in 1906 was held up in March of 1914, but the attempt was foiled. A second robbery on July 10, 1919, however was successful as was a third one in 1925 when $2,000 was stolen. The bank was forced to close in 1931 at the onset of the Great Depression.

In 1913 the old wooden sidewalks were replaced with new ones made of concrete and in 1915 the village installed 13 new gasoline lamps. The agricultural fairs first held in Alma in 1916 were moved to Matt Allmon’s grove in 1919.

Lilacs and Christmas trees were added to the list of Alma exports during the teens. W.S. Ross who was shipping the holiday trees gave one to every family in Alma in 1919.

C.A. Glore bought out the Henry Hall lumber yard in 1918, and it operated many years in Alma.

Much game hunting was pursued around Alma. In 1913 Mayor Carter Harrison of Chicago and the top officials of the I.C. sidetracked their private railroad cars while they hunted on the Joseph Telford farm west of Alma.

(A picture of the wagons lined up unloading melons was included with this article.)

"A Peek at Our Past" by Dr. George Ross

Alma continued to thrive as the 1920s began

Nestling among the fruit orchards of Marion County, Alma entered the ‘20s, the decade known for normalcy, with little fanfare. Although there was little indication of growth, the little village continued to thrive.

Local politics held a fascination for many Alma residents, and from time to time village elections became spirited contests. The local officials elected in 1923 included W.E. Donoho, president, and J.H. Yost, Nabe DeFord, W.E. Wright and Frank Day, trustees. Elected in 1925 were Jason Owens, president; L.G. Downing, treasurer; Q.E. Huchison, clerk; and Ira Jackson, Harry McCarty and Doc Slagley, trustees.

Both the grade school and high school in Alma were sources of pride for the community. Teachers included T.B. McCartan, Pearl McCartan, Elizabeth Claytor, and Anna Mazanek, 1920; Earl Jackson, Rita Ross, Kathryn Laswell, and Lulu Foster, 1924; Delsie Malone, 1927, and W.G. Featherly and Anna Arnold, 1928. B.F. Farthing served as custodian much of this time.

The Christian and Methodist churches ministered to the spiritual needs of the community in many ways. Much of the social life of the town was centered in the churches, and the Christian churches became known for their annual homecomings, which drew folks from far and near. Some of the pastors assigned to the Methodist Episcopal Church during the ‘20s included J.P. Watson, C.C. Yeck, J.T. Clower, C.C. Mays, A.A. Farrell, and C.R. Wise.

Alma’s industries included Winks Basket Factory; the pickle factory, operated by M.J. Laux, the "Pickle King of Alma", who shipped many railroad cars each year; and the factory operated by R.F. Gregory, which manufactured spray for fruit trees. A number of local citizens were employed at the Sexton Clothing Factory and the Brown Shoe Factory in Salem.

Business events in the community were sometimes recorded in the Salem and Centralia newspapers during this decade. C.L. McMackin and Son opened a branch of their Salem furniture store in Alma in 1926. Mrs. K.A. Williams bought the Walter Schoonover store in 1927, and J.C. and A.M. Wilson opened a feed store in 1929. N.J. Rhoads was operating a hotel here.

Mrs. Delsie Malone succeeded O.N. DeFord as Alma postmaster in 1929 and served until 1924, when Mrs. Roy Telford replaced her.

For a small town, Alma seemed to have numerous social and recreational opportunities. Lodges of Odd Fellows and Modern Woodmen offered fraternal and insurance possibilities. Beginning in 1921, the County Fair was held in Allmon’s Grove and drew many visitors. Among its many attractions were horse races and a baby show. A lyceum offering cultural opportunities was first offered in 1922. Alma was proud of its baseball team, the Jollywoods Stars, which had an outstanding season in 1925. Leon "Pete" Rhodes graduated to baseball’s minor leagues and signed with the Cleveland Indians in 1931 for a short time. The LaMont Circus, headquartered in Salem, frequently gave performances at Alma.

The October 25, 1928, issue of the Salem Republican announced that the contract for paving the road north from Salem to Alma had been negotiated. Work began in March of 1929 using 40 mules and was completed on Aug. 29, 1929. The overhead at Allmon’s Crossing on this road was opened on Nov. 27, 1930. The dirt road from Alma to Kinmundy was oiled in 1929, and the pavement was completed on Oct. 30, 1930. This stretch of road was a part of Route 142 until 1935 when it became U.S. Route 37.

The remains of Willie Reynolds, an Alma soldier killed in World War I, were returned for burial. Notable deaths of this decade included W.S. Ross, fruit grower and nurseryman, known for developing the Alma Gem muskmelon, who came to Alma in 1866, but spent 1876 to 1885 in Texas, and died in 1923; John E. McNeill, and N.T. Stoner, Civil War veterans, who died in 1924; the Rev. K.A. Williams, crusader against bootleggers, who died under mysterious circumstances; and Charles M. See, a Civil War veteran and Alma’s representative on the Executive Committee for County Reunion, who died in 1925; and John Wesley Spain, a Civil War veteran, who died in 1929.

The ever faithful Dr. S.L. Laswell continued to care for the health of Alma residents. He died in 1937.

Alma fruit growers in 1923 included Dr. Laswell, Smith, Brooms, William Hester, Prof. Brock, D.D. Purcell, Shrefflers, Telfords, W.S. Ross and J.G. Day. The Alma Gem was no longer grown in such quantities as it was at the turn of the century when it was consumed by the guests at the Waldorf-Astoria and the Palmer House. Reasons given for its gradual demise here were that rotation had not been practiced; the appearance of rust; they were shipped too green; and it was necessary to work on Sunday. The Keifer pear also experienced a decline. J.A. Broom, C.M. See, Archie Kyle, Mel Shreffler, and William Hester had been early growers. When spraying became necessary in 1918, they dropped most of the pears and turned to apples and peaches.

(The third and final installment about Alma will be published in the Feb. 4 Morning Sentinel.)

"The Salem Times-Commoner"; June 21, 1995

"A Peek At Our Past" by Dr. George Ross

Alma: The Depression Years

Alma, according to the Sentinel at Centralia on Jan. 4, 1934, "is a lively little town of 368 persons on State Highway No. 142 and the Illinois Central Railroad that is located in the midst of a large acreage of peaches, pears, and apples which have become widely known", according to the Centralia Sentinel of Jan. 4, 1934.

"One of the largest and most modernly equipped fruit packing sheds in the state is located in Alma. Besides the many persons who are employed in the cultivation, care, harvesting, and marketing of Alma’s community fruit, the Gregory Orchard Supply Company, employing four men, is a well known industry of the city, while the A.M. Wilson poultry concern likewise employs four men." Cider and vinegar were also Alma products.

"The leading business firms include those of J. Bowen, C.E. Rainey, and B.G. Pullen." It should be noted that the Keifer pear made a come back and by 1934, Alma became known as the "Keifer Pear Capital of the World" having shipped 350 railroad cars.

The "hard road" brought some new businesses to Alma. By 1930, M.E. Griffin operated a garage and Texaco gas station while Roy Holt, opened a Sinclair station on the corner west of the depot. Pete Rhoads operated the Standard Station which he later relinquished to Loren Williams. In 1930, Mrs. Alice Boyce opened a restaurant in the B.G. Pullen building.

Earl Jackson, former school principal, operated the C.A. Glore Lumber Yard during these years handling building materials, hardware, paints, and roofing materials. He was the victim of a hold-up in 1932.

An account in the July 12, 1930 Sentinel tells of G.B. Welch, a 90 year-old Alma resident. "He is very fortunate in having his daughter, Mrs. Mary Dugan to minister to him in his old age. His daughter is the proprietor of quite a nice little store next to their home and this makes it very convenient for her to wait on the customers and also take care of her father’s wants."

Vernon and Fletcher Gragg opened a grocery store in the location which formerly housed S.G. William’s barber shop. Vernon Gragg also operated a feed store in Salem.

Electricity came to Alma in 1930 delivered by Central Illinois Public Service. R.E. Davis and served as agent for the I.C. Railroad.

The Alma Citizen’s State Bank opened in 1906 and in 1930 it’s officers included George E. Crist (President), A.E. Hutchinson (Vice President), and L.C. Downey (Cashier). The bank closed in 1931.

Village officials in 1930 included R.E. Davis (President), R.F. Gregory, J. Donoho, J. Mazanek, William Featherly, W.E. Sullens, and Ham Stipp (trustees). 1934 officers were A.M. Wilson (President), S.L. Laswell, J.F. Neary, Leo Wikenhauser, William Gregory, John Mazanek, Jr., and H.E. Helm (trustees), and Edward McWhirter (Police officers).

Alma’s high and grade schools were housed in one building built of brick. The teachers of 1930 were William Featherly, Anna Arnold, Grace Jackson, and Lulu Foster. Teachers from Alma attending institute in 1931 were Edith Hines, Ava Mathews, Lulu Foster, Bessie Hiestand, Anna Arnold, J. Scott Knisely, Rada Garrett, Edna Williams, Ethel Fyke Knisely, and Grace Jackson. Earl Purdue became principal in 1932 with Mary Winks, Imogene Foster, and Lulu Foster as teachers. The rural teachers of Alma township in 1934 were Lester Howell (Shriver), Mrs. Ethel Knisely (Wilson), Grace Jackson (Pleasant Hill), Dorothy Stratton (Happy Hollow), Mrs. Bessie Hiestand (Allen), Helen Wantland See (Elder), Lana Baker (Red Lick), Ruth Conley (Kagy), and Merle Baker (Zion).

Despite "hard times", Alma residents found ways to enjoy life and entertain themselves. Picnics and dances were frequent occurrences at Jollywood Park. The annual community homecomings were replete with speeches, music, baseball games, and mounds of food. The days of the Great Depression gave rise to the popular 4-H Club movement for young people in rural areas. Boys were concerned with farming, while girls focused on cooking and sewing. There were two Alma sewing clubs in 1930 - the Busy Bees sponsored by Mrs. Guy Featherly and the Alma Junior Club sponsored by Mrs. Mary Hines.

An interesting sidenote to this period was the witnessing by Hilary Smith of Alma, of the assassination of Mayor Cermak of Chicago and the attempted assassination of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933. Smith had been vacationing in Miami, Fla.

(A picture accompanied this article of the "Methodist Church and parsonage at an earlier time".)

"Sesquicentennial of Marion County, IL (1823-1973)"

Alma History

Alma is located on State Highway 37 and the Illinois Central, in the midst of what used to be a big fruit-raising area, known far and wide for its peaches, pears, and apples. One of the largest and most modernly equipped packing sheds in the state was located in Alma in the 1930's.

The village was laid out in 1854 by John S. Martin. Originally named Rantoul, it was discovered another town in the state had appropriated that name, so it was changed to Grand Mound City, but in 1855, the name was once again changed - this time to Alma.

The first storehouse was built in 1853. Smith and Hawkins conducted the first Blacksmith shop, and John Ross operated the first grist mill. Rev. Jefferson was the first Methodist preacher and Rev. John Ross was the first Christian minister.

On December 28, 1908, fire broke out in a large hay barn and destroyed the entire business part of Alma. Several stores, warehouses, shops, and restaurants were burned. Before the ashes had hardly cooled, preparations had been made to reconstruct the buildings with brick.

In the spring of 1908 the large fruit cannery of Doctor Shrigley was burned and was a serious loss to the community.

The Ross name has been associated with Alma history since shortly after the founding of the village. The family of Wm. S. Ross, father of J.W. Ross of Centralia, came to Alma from the northern part of Illinois in 1866. In 1871, the Ross family moved westward, eventually settling in Texas where it remained until 1885 when the family returned to Alma.

In 1881, the netted German melon, a small, oval, heavily netted, green-fleshed fruit, was first introduced to the public. This variety was destined to revolutionize the melon industry of America. It was tested for a few years and in 1885 was grown for market in a small way by Wm. Ross at Alma and J.W. Eastwood of Rocky Ford, Colorado. The melon seeds had been brought back by the Rosses from Texas.

Having more melons than the local market could consume, he shipped two barrels to Chicago in August, 1885. These were the first melons of this type ever seen in the Chicago market and they were the occasion of considerable amusement on South Water street where the barrels were opened. The melons seemed ridiculously small as compared with the Hackensack and other melons then on the market. However, after the flavor had won the approval of customers, the melons were readily sold.

The next year Ross planted 20 acres and a few years, later 90 acres. Soon a number of his neighbors began planting and the industry grew at Alma until the shipments reached from 10 to 15 carloads per day.

As other parts of the state began growing the melons, the people of Alma began raising fruits, principally pears and apples.

Alma Township was originally prairie, but nearly all of the land is now under cultivation. The Illinois Central passes the northwest corner of the township while the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad crosses it from the north to the south.

The Baptist built the first church in the township in 1848. It was a small frame house. Rev. N.R. Eskrid was the minister.

The first school was held in an abandoned cabin and was taught by Isaac Kagy. The first school was built in 1842 on the site of the Pleasant Grove Methodist Church.

In 1841 John Hammers opened a strip coal mine on a vein two feet thick but when the railroad brought coal to Alma, the mine was abandoned.

In 1938, Alma had three general stores, each employing three persons, two restaurants, four filling stations, a lumber yard and several other establishments. In addition to its fame as a fruit growing center, Alma was also known for the flowers raised in the area.

In 76 years, a fellow sees a lot of things happen, but certain ones stands out more than others in his mind.

That’s been the experience of Earl Allmon, Alma’s busy barber, who has lived in and around Alma for more than three quarters of a century.

One vivid picture that has stayed with Allmon all these years was in 1898, when he was a boy, during the Spanish-American War. About 15 or 20 volunteers from Alma were standing on the railroad platform, waiting to leave, and the Alma band played a stirring farewell tribute which was apparently very moving to all. He still remembers the tears in the eyes of those boys as they listened to the band play, right before they left.

His happy school days at Happy Hollow over on Brubaker Road, when they moved outside of town, also left an impression on Allmon. His teacher was Harry Rainey, a farmer in the Brubaker community. There were about 60 students enrolled in the eight grades at the time, the biggest enrollment the school ever had, he believes.

The big fire in 1908 which destroyed Alma’s business district is another sight he hasn’t forgotten. He can still recall the piles of merchandise and canned goods in the streets where they had been moved hurriedly out of the stores. As all business buildings on both sides of the streets were wooden structures, they all went up in flames and every business was burned out. It was never rebuilt quite the same.

Acres and acres of pears, muskmelons, peaches, apples, tomatoes, and flowers are a sight still fresh in Allmon’s memory, when Alma was a fruit and flower center. Long lines of wagons winding down the street and around the corner, waiting to get to the depot, are something he well remembers.

"Our muskmelons were sweet and nice, with a small center," he reminisces. "I’d like to have one now. They were called ‘Alma Gem’"

There was even a canning factory in Alma then, but it burnt down one fourth of July when some fireworks set it off. There was also a basket factory and a pickle factory.

Alma had three different names - Mound City, Rantoul, and then Alma. It was finally named "Alma" because of the Battle of Alma in the Crimean War, says Barney Craig.

We couldn’t figure out how the Crimean War got over here, but Craig believes the name was bestowed by one of the early settlers, Uncle Billy Ross, a preacher in the Christian Church. Uncle Billy was of British background, probably Scotch, judging by the name. He also helped establish the fruit and flower industry here because he brought the original seeds and bulbs for the pears and Easter flowers.

Uncle Billy brought the Christian Church here too, and no doubt was influential in establishing the Christian Church College in 1896 for training preachers. Part of the old cottage building is still in use where Alma Grade School now is.

(Pictures included were: Methodist Church and parsonage; R.F. Wyatt, rural mail carrier on a country road near Alma, Illinois; a street scene in Alma in 1938; and the Christian Church.)

"The Centralia Sentinel"; Centralia, IL; Aug. 6, 1910; p. 102

Kinmundy, One of Marion County’s Best Towns

Kinmundy is one of the larger towns of Marion county, and also one of its most prosperous and thriving. It has about 1,500 people, is situated on the Chicago line of the Illinois Central railroad, and has many modern stores and a large number of most progressive people.

Kinmundy was laid out in April, 1857, near the center of the township of that name in the northern part of Marion county. W.T. Sprouse laid out the city, and Isaac Eagan laid out the addition in 1858. In 1895 Kinmundy got its second railroad, the Chicago & Eastern Illinois. W.E. Eagan built the first house in 1857, in which he kept a general store, and was also postmaster. The Illinois Central erected a depot in 1856. Another of the earlier stores was that of Willis Wilburn, in 1855, built in the south side of town. Dr. Skilling kept the first drug store and Dr. William Elliott was the first physician. Henry Eagan was the first village blacksmith, and a Mr. Sprouse added a saw and grist mill in 1858, which was later moved away and another took his place in 1864. Songer Bros. built the present brick mill in 1868. This too, was moved away, and 1877 saw the needs again supplied, which is now operated by C. Rohrbough. The first bank was that of W.T. Haymond & Co., organized in 1870 with a capital stock of $45,000. On the death of Mr. Haymond in 1899, the bank was reorganized as a national bank. There is also a private bank operated in the city. Kinmundy suffered two disastrous fires, one in 1901, destroying about half of the town, and the other some time later, taking more of the town. In place of the buildings burned, better buildings grew, Phoenix-like, out of the ashes, and today Kinmundy presents a most thriving appearance with it’s modern buildings. Six churches give Kinmundy it’s places of worship; good schools are there for the children, and a high school gives a finishing course.

Kinmundy is enjoying steady growth and is a good, solid business community.

(A picture of Kinmundy Streets accompanied this article.)

E.A. Snelling; Kinmundy, Illinois

Confectionery. Home Made Candies. Best Ice Cream in the City.

Mr. Snelling is a living representative of one of the oldest families, coming here, from New Hampshire when a mere child. His family consists of his wife and two sons, of whom they are very proud, and who are mechanical draftsmen of Chicago.

He is now and has been keeper of records and seals in the Knights of Pythias lodge for seventeen years, and is also a member of the order of Modern Woodmen.

Being a man of genial disposition and easy of approach, he has made many warm friends during his business career.

(A picture accompanied this article/advertisement.)

Kinmundy Milling Co.: Kinmundy, Illinois

Manufactures Gold Seal, Songer’s Best and Oven Lifter Flour

W.C. Ingram, the president of the above company, is happily assisted by his two sons, R.L. and J.D. Ingram, who have the positions, respectively, of vice-president and secretary-treasurer.

Inquiring into his history, we find he was at first a farmer and carpenter. He erected his first sawmill and began the production of lumber more than thirty years ago. Besides Kinmundy, he at different times conducted his business as a wood sawyer in Louisiana and Oklahoma. In each instance, we find him returning to Kinmundy. Subsequently for a period of five years he had a mill in Brubaker, six miles from Kinmundy, but upon buying out A.W. Songer in 1907, he returned to his place, where his flourishing business goes forward with the able assistance of his two sons.

This firm, as you see from the business card, manufactures three brands of flour. The Gold Seal is a high patent and first class flour. Oven Lifter is a second patent and is considered as good as the first patent made by many firms. Songer’s Best is a straight grade flour and equal to many patents, and is a leader, giving perfect satisfaction wherever sold.

William Holeman is the traveling salesman for this firm, and has built up a good trade in Marion and Fayette counties. Mr. Holeman is a gentleman of rare qualities and believes in honest methods in business.

(A dark picture of the mill accompanied this article.)

E.S. Combs & Son; Kinmundy, Illinois; Lumber Merchants

In fact, in everything in the Building Material Line, we are a Step Ahead in Quality, a Step Behind in Prices;

Estimates Cheerfully Furnished

Messrs. Combs & Son, whose business card appears above this paragraph, have been for twenty-five years identified with this business in this state. Mr. Combs successfully engaged in the lumber trade in Finly, Ill. before moving to Kinmundy. Since establishing himself here, both the capital stock invested and the territory reached has largely increased, until he has at present an invested capital approximately $15,000.

The senior member of this firm maintains his implement store at Finly, and in addition is a stockholder and director in O.H. Paddock Lumber Company, with headquarters at Pana, Ill. He is also president of the Paddock Lumber Company, with headquarters at Pana, Ill. He is also president of the Paddock Sawmill Company of Nokomis, Ill., and also has a mill at Caddo Gap, Ark. He is president of the First National Bank of Finly, Ill.

Mr. Combs is a self-made man, who made all from nothing, a fact largely due to his energy, careful business training and honest business methods.

E.S. Combs was married to Miss Ida M. Merris of Macon, from which union seven children were born - six boys and one girl, namely: Clarence, 26 years; Earl, 24 years; Edmund, 22 years; Mabel, 18 years; Claud, 12 years; Albert, 6 years; Clyde, 4 years. Edmund, who is married, lives at Finly, where he is bookkeeper for his father’s buggy and implement business.

C.A. Combs, the junior member and a son, was raised in a lumberyard and knows every detail of his father’s growing business, and though a close student of business, Mr. Combs as a young man is a social leader and a popular young man of the town.

(Pictures accompanied this article.)

C.L. Williams: Kinmundy, Illinois

Kinmundy’s Photographer

Also Keeper of a Restaurant, Ice Cream Parlor, and Confectionery

Mr. Williams was formerly a farmer in the vicinity of Laclede, coming there from Newman, his former home. His first venture in business was in buying out a restaurant from E.L. Foster. His brother took a half interest with him, but afterward sold out to Lewis Lacey, who in turn sold out to the present owner. He further added a photograph gallery upstairs over the restaurant the past year.

He began has successful career with about $150. His motto has been to "Give every man a square deal", like our President.

His wife is manager of the restaurant and ice cream parlor, where three assistants are required.

Both he and his wife will be found courteous and agreeable to all who enter their place.

Mr. Williams has now invested in his business about $2,000, which fact, considering the short time in business and small capital at first invested, shows he is a business man of no mean ability.

(A picture of Mr. Williams accompanied this advertisement/article.)

T.M. Smith; Hay and Grain Stock Buyer and; Livery Stable

Mr. Smith represents one of Kinmundy’s leading industries as a hay and grain dealer and stock buyer. He ships by the carload, and by fair dealings with all the farmers in the vicinity of Kinmundy he has built up an immense trade. He solicits your patronage on the merits of his past record as a business man and gentleman of the highest standing.

(A dark picture accompanied this article/advertisement.)

F.J. Nirider; Pharmacy; Kinmundy, Illinois

Drugs and Medicines, Toilet Articles, Paints, Oils, Etc.

The subject of this sketch, Mr. F.J. Nirider, who was born in Fort Wayne, Ind., formerly agent for the I.C. Railroad, later postmaster under Cleveland’s administration, is now a prosperous druggist, well known as an energetic, courteous and successful business man.

The large constituency of friends was made during his career as agent at Farina and Kinmundy, who have remained steadfast as patrons to the present.

Mr. Nirider, who is himself a registered pharmacist, is ably assisted by his son Gilbert, who is a very valuable asset to his father’s growing business.

"Sesquicentennial of Marion County, IL (1823-1973)"

Kinmundy

An early entry was made by Wiley Burton in Section 28, March 1, 1839 and there were doubtless many other settlers whose names were not encountered in compiling this book. It does not appear just how the transfer was made when the Illinois Central was given the land grant, but the site of the present town was sold by the I.C. to John Blurton on June 23, 1853 and he sold it to Wm. T. Sprouse in March 1857. Sprouse then laid out the original 15 block plat on April 10, 1857.

On Sept. 20, 1850 President Millard Filmore signed the bill making the first grant of public lands to help construct a railroad. The land in Illinois was fertile and had fine prairies and timber lands but except near the rivers it was sparsely populated. There were few roads and no way of marketing your crops after you raised them.

This land grant gave the State of Illinois certain areas of government land to be sold, and the money to be used to build a railroad. This land was to revert to the government if a railway was not started within 2 years, and finished within 10 years, of the enactment of the bill. Word of this was sent by the new invention, the telegraph. The state of Illinois lost no time in turning this land over to the Illinois Central Company, who set about building the railway. Much difficulty was encountered but the main line was completed in 1855.

It reached from Freeport to Cairo. The Chicago Branch had been started to connect Chicago with Centralia and on September 27, 1856, those building from the north, met those from the south at the site of the present town of Mason.

This completed the "Charter Lines" of the railway, making 705 and one-half miles of railway reaching from Dunleith on the Mississippi west of Galena, to Cairo where the Ohio and Mississippi meet and from Chicago to Centralia where the branch joined the main line on to Cairo. This was the longest railroad in the world at that time. At the same time the railroad was being built, the Illinois Central Telegraph Co. was formed and its lines ran along the rail lines, dispatching the trains and making communication possible between the settlements.

Stations were made every few miles so that all areas would be able to ship their produce north to Chicago, or south to the Mississippi and then on to New Orleans and world markets. These stations were named for railroad officials and other persons. Kinmundy was named for the hometown in Scotland, of one of the London representatives of the I.C. It is supposed to have originally been Kilmundy, and in the 1868 Guide book put out by the railway is spelled that way in some instances. It is the only town in the United States to have the name.

On June 23, 1853, John Blurton purchased from the I.C.R.R. the north half of the southeast corner of section 22, town 4 north, range 3 east. On March 1, 1957, William Sprouse purchased the tract from Blurton, and on April 10 of that year, platted the original town of Kinmundy.

This contained 15 blocks and extended from First street now Highway 37, south to 4^th Street and from Washington Street on the east to one-half block west of Monroe Street on the west. These were divided into 169 blocks. The first purchaser was Jerry Bissonnet who bought on July 1, 1857 lots 123, 124, 163, 164, and 165. Nothing further is mentioned about him, whether he built or not. On July 14, Lorenzo Hart bought lot 137. He was the second merchant to settle on the west side of the railroad. He had had a store in a building built by Willis Wilburn on the east side, south of the town plat in 1855. C. Spafford opened up a restaurant on the west side and later a general store in connection. His name is not on the original plat so perhaps was below it.

Then in October, W.B. Eagan with Samuel and Augustus Bond, bought lots 119, 125, 126, 127, and 128. On lot 119 he built what is listed as the first building in the new town. It was house, general store and post office as he was the first postmaster. The house now occupied by Miss Luella Parrill is built around the original building.

Willis Wilburn bought lot 133 at the same time. He is credited with keeping the first hotel but it was probably in a building south of the townsite.

Between the years of 1857 and 1869, the original lots which were platted in Kinmundy were gradually sold. Families moved from near and far and lots were resold as others moved away. Only 2 lots were sold in 1870, lots 27 and 28 to Isaac Eagan, and in 1871 the last 2 lots of the original townsite were sold, lot 57 to Ed Herrick and Henry Hall and lot 58 to J.F. Barnard, both sold on April 14.

Meanwhile other subdivisions were being opened on all sides, Sprouse to the south, Goodwin to the east, Eagan to the north, and Snelling to the southwest. On Fremont Street in Snelling addition were some of the early homes, Snelling, Thrane, Nelson, Porter and French. The French family are the only ones of the original settlers who still live there.

In the early days before transportation became so swift, a small town had to pretty much self-sufficient. There were mills, bakeries, barrel and basket factories, banks, mines, brickyards, and casket makers. Early bakers were Bill Cawrey and Charles Swander. The Ross brothers had the first bread mixing machine, about 1910 in the building where the Express now is. The last bakery here was Ener Zimmer’s, where Crain’s café is now.

McCreary and Monger had a banking business in 1867, and T.W. Haymond & Co. bank was organized Jan. 1870, Tilman Raser, president. In 1899, the Merchants & Mechanics Bank was established and later became the Haymond State Bank. R.P. McBryde had a small private bank but went with the First National as cashier, when it was organized in 1902. Capt. Rohrbough was first president. In 1906, Henry Warren & Sons started a private bank, later changed to Farmer’s & Merchant’s Bank. The Building & Loan Co. was organized Aug. 12, 1887.

A brickyard was started by Jonathan Walls in 1891; the Kinmundy creamery began operation Dec. 23, 1892. The Coal mine was organized in Feb. 1884 with $12,000 capital, and in April, Zard Frost contracted to sink the shaft. The engine house burned in Feb. 1886, but on March 25, "the diamond drill strikes coal" says the Express. This was a shallow vein but on June 3 they struck a vein 5 ft. thick at a depth of 867 ft. and the Express got out a special edition. About 1900 operations became too costly and it was abandoned.

When the city hall burned in 1903 it was thought that all city records were lost, but this year the council found the minutes of the first meetings, from the time of organization on April 10, 1867 to June 17, 1874. This book, written in several Spencerian hands, provided much information. It gives a picture of a small community, building board walks and plank roads to get up out of the mud, making fire prevention laws, building a jail, and in general having all the struggles that city councils have.

From the first, there was a battle between the temperance group and those who favored saloons. We have handbills advertising huge temperance meetings sponsored by Royal Templars of Temperance, and one time, a lady took her hatchet, like Carrie Nation, and went down and wrecked a saloon. Histories tell us that drinking was a great problem in the middle west in pioneer days. There was an attempt every year to vote the town dry but it didn’t really make it until about 1908, and since then liquor licenses have not been issued.

The Kinmundy Express got out a special Christmas edition in 1889, with a glowing word picture of Kinmundy and drawings and short biographies of prominent citizens. We have space to list them: Geo. West, farmer; James C. Haworth, merchant; James H. Gray, farmer; Mrs. Elizabeth Boothe Gray; Thos. Williams, farmer; Giles Songer, mill.; John M. Rotan, real estate; A.W. Songer, miller; O.N. Tyner, photos; Dr. E.G. Forshee; J.F. Donovan, mayor; J.P. McBryde, merchant; J.M. Brenner, lumber yard; S.J. Allen, A.M. Allen, carpenters; W.L. King, merchant; Rev. W.T. Brannum, M.E. Church; G.W. Gillmore, merchant; M. Deiwert, merchant; Dr. Charles Dennis, dentist; J.F. Croft, boot and shoemaker; R.F. Lawson, editor; Charles Ryan, livery man; S.M. Stokely, salesman, machinist; Mrs. M.R. Lawwill, hay press; Dr. W.O. Smith; J.N. Street, Supt.; F.A. Pruett, Anna Chalfant, Katie Grove, Mrs. A.E. Whittaker, teachers.

E.S. Mendenhall, nursery; J. Nelson, watchmaker; P.O. Thrane, tailor, G. Fenster, restaurant; Miss M.A. Songer, merchant; H.F. Green, druggist; W.M. Chapman, grocer; Mrs. M.E. Hollister, druggist; E.C. Bargh, druggist; D. Gunn, grocer; C.H. West, farmer; Dr. J.D. Camerer, Rev. J.D. Brown, M.E. Church south; J.G. Wilson, Supt. Coal mine.

A clipping in an old scrap book tells of the discovery of natural gas about 50 years ago 6 miles west of Kinmundy on the farm of Samuel Holt. He was drilling for water with a steam drill and at 83 feet the water began to bubble and boil. When they discovered what caused this, the family decided to use it for cooking and lighting. Mr. Holt said he had found the same thing when he dug his well 30 years before but didn’t know what to do with the gas. In spite of much exploration in this area, no oil boom has developed here, but the big field near Salem gave Kinmundy the lift it needed after the depression. New people came to live here and have helped much in the town’s life.

The small towns of today are suburbs of the nearest large town or city. They have their schools and churches, their groceries and general stores, their drug stores, post office and filling stations just as the shopping centers in the cities. There is no need for the clothing stores and other businesses which were important when towns were isolated and self sufficient. Since the closing of the mine, Kinmundy depends on agriculture and not on industry. Larger factories elsewhere now make the baskets for the fruit so there are no basket factories or cooperages.

There are pleasant homes, lovely gardens, and friendly people. All around us are prosperous farms and beautiful countryside. New homes are being built and old ones remodeled. We can be pleased and proud of the only Kinmundy in the U.S. A.

(Pictures included were as follows:

- Last family picture of the Eagan clan at the old home before torn down for the C. & E.I. railroad between back door and smoke house. Located near the cemetery in Kinmundy.

- Public school, Kinmundy, Ill. (pre-1911)

- Picture of Kinmundy before the fire destroyed the downtown

- The home of Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Humphrey, 1902. They were parents of the late Harriet DeVore and Grandparents of Mrs. Florence Franklin who still resides in Kinmundy. The home place was located 3 miles south of Kinmundy and is now owned by Dan Hiestand. The original home burned many years ago. The home had eight fireplaces and four chimneys like the one in the picture. The Humphreys came to Kinmundy from Cincinnati, Ohio in 1872.

- 1957 Winner of the beard contest at the Kinmundy Centennial.)

Sesquicentennial of Marion County, IL (1823-1973)

Historical Sketch of Kinmundy Methodism

Among the early settlers of Illinois came many Methodists, from eastern states and from the old world. The "Circuit" system of Methodism made it peculiarly adapted to the situation in those days and the "Circuit Rider" was a familiar figure in this and all other communities in the state while yet the settlers were "few and far between". It is therefore impossible to tell just when or by whom the first Methodist meeting was held in this vicinity.

According to our best information, "The Grand Prairie Mission" was formed in 1830, "including all of the territory between the Little Wabash and the Okaw from Maysville to Vandalia", and Rev. Simeon Walker was placed in charge. It is said that he preached the first Methodist sermon ever delivered in Salem by a regularly appointed pastor and also organized the first society there.

The portion of country now occupied by Kinmundy and surrounding villages was for years a part of the Salem Circuit.

Before the railroad was built or the town of Kinmundy located, there were a number of regular "preaching places" in the adjoining territory. One of these was the home of Mr. Hugh Gibson at Mr. Liberty, 3 miles east of where Kinmundy now stands. Here "Uncle Jimmy Woolard" and others proclaimed the Word of God to the early settlers and some meetings were held at the home of his brother, John Gibson.

Meetings were also held in the home of Mrs. George Dillon in the same neighborhood, Sandy Branch, Fosterburg, and Pleasant Grove were among the early preaching points.

Dr. Elliott, a local preacher from Salem, preached in Kinmundy in the summer of 1858. In the fall of the same year, a "class" was organized in 1862 with Elias Neil as Superintendent. His widow still lives within a block of the new church and his son, ex-mayor, W.W. Neil, is one of the building committee.

Kinmundy Circuit was formed in 1863 and Rev. P. P. Hamilton was appointed pastor. During this year the frame house was erected which still serves as a house of worship and is to be replaced by the present brick structure which is being built. The church was dedicated by Rev. T.F. Houts, Presiding Elder.

Kinmundy charge at first comprised several outlying appointments among them Pleasant Grove and Alma, Mt. Liberty, Parrills, Asbury Chapel, Omega, Siloam, and Doolen’s. In 1867 it was made a station, Rev. I.N. Stagg being appointed pastor and Rev. J.S. Barnes placed in charge of the circuit. The next year Rev. Winfield Scott Sly was placed in charge.

The following year the circuit was once again attached and thus remained until the second year of Brother Brannum’s pastorate when Kinmundy was again made a station and so remains to the present time.

Presley P. Hamilton, the first pastor of Kinmundy charge, was a young man of great energy and zeal. Much credit is due him for the success of the first church building enterprise. On the day of dedication, in order to free the building from debt, he advanced $500 out of his own personal means. This sum, however, was later returned to him with interest by the church. He died at Litchfield, Ill., in 1869.

Kinmundy St. Philomena Church

"Sesquicentennial of Marion County, IL (1823-1973)"

The centennial of St. Philomena’s Catholic Church in Kinmundy was observed Sunday afternoon, November 8, at 4:00 p.m. with a concelebrated mass.

St. Philomena, like most all churches, has had her good years and her lean years. Just twenty-five years ago, there was a problem whether the church should be continued or discontinued. But through the insistence of Bishop Althoff’s encouraging words to the congregation to continue in the labor of love and his personal donation toward the building of a new building, gave the parishioners new hope.

At that time, the building was old, having been built in 1870, in the northeast part of Kinmundy on land donated by Isaac Eagan. Before the building was erected, as early as 1866, the Franciscan Fathers from Teutopolis were holding religious services in the area, in private homes.

The present structure, a beautiful brick building, was erected in 1951 under the pastorate of Fr. A.B. Schomaker. In 1968, under the pastorate of Fr. Arthur Niemeyer, the catechetical building built adjoining the church on the south. This building is being used for religious instructions and as a fellowship hall. The land for the new church was donated by the late Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kleiss and the land for the catechetical building was donated by their daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Kleiss.

(A picture was included: Greetings from the churches of Kinmundy with scenes from earlier days in the town.)

Kilmundy original name of Kinmundy; by Anne McCarty

Village platted 122 years ago in 1867

Much of Kinmundy’s history can be learned by looking at the city’s architecture. The old houses built by some of the area’s early settlers seems to reflect the character and ancestry of it’s builders. Influenced by the separate cultural backgrounds brought from European countries, the early builders sought to create masterful structures.

The first to settle in and around Kinmundy were English, Scottish and Irish Protestants who came from the southern and southeastern states in the 1820's. In the 1840's Catholicism was brought to Kinmundy by the later Irish and German settlers.

The advent of the railroad proved to be the key in the opening of the Illinois prairie land for the pioneers. On September 20, 1850, President Millard Fillmore signed a bill which provided for the first grant of public lands to help finance a railroad. This land grant bill gave certain government land to the state of Illinois to sell and the proceeds to be used to construct a railroad.

On September 27, 1856, the Chicago Branch railroad which connected Chicago with Centralia was completed. The branch joined the main line of the railroad which reached all the way to Cairo. This was the longest railroad in the world at that time.

To provide communications between the many settlements which mushroomed along the railroad, the Illinois Central Telegraph Company was established. The telegraph lines ran the entire length of the rail.

On June 23, 1853, John Blurton purchased a parcel of land from the Illinois Central Railroad which consisted of the north one half of the southeast one quarter of Section 22, Township 4 north, Range 3 east. On March 1, 1857, Blurton sold this land to William Spouse who platted the original town of Kinmundy on April 10, 1857. The original plat contained 15 blocks and was divided into 169 blocks.

The origin of the name "Kinmundy" is shrouded in clouds of doubt and misconceptions. The old story of "I kin’t Sunday, but I kin Mundy", is dispelled by an 1868 Illinois Central Directory of towns along the railroad. The directory lists the town as "Kilmundy". This was the original name given the settlement by a London representative of the railroad who named the site after his hometown in Scotland. Somehow the name was transformed into "Kinmundy". However, this change came about, Kinmundy has the distinction of being the only community in the United Sates with that name.

The city of Kinmundy was incorporated on March 26, 1867. In 1868, the IC Directory wrote well of Kinmundy possibly because the railroad still had plenty of land for sale there at $7 to $13 per acre. The directory listed Kinmundy as having a population of 2,000. This may have been exaggerated since no other town along the railroad had a population of more than 1,200.

The directory also attributed Kinmundy with having a railroad office, two attorneys, a barber, a blacksmith, a carpenter, a dentist, two druggists, seven dry goods and general merchants, a flour mill, five grocers, two hardware stores, a hotel, three livery stables, a lumberyard, four millineries, a house and sign painter, four physicians, a saddle and harness shop, a newspaper, three saloons, two shoemakers, a stationary, and a wagon and carriage maker. Also listed in the directory were a sawmill, a tobacco factory, a woolen factory, a sorghum mill, cabinet makers and coopers.

Ten years after Kinmundy was originally platted, a city council was organized on April 10, 1867. At that time a Justice of the Peace administered oaths of office to a Mayor, a City Clerk, a City Marshal, a Street Commissioner and two Aldermen for each of the four wards.

Kinmundy had all the makings of a city. To promote culture, Kinmundy boasted an Air-Dome (an open-air movie) and Hayworth’s Opera House. Class plays and graduations were held at the Opera House. Also performing there were stock companies who toured in the days before radio, movies and television. Over 70 years ago, colored lantern slides were shown at the K.P. Hall to the delight of Kinmundy residents.

The first newspaper in Kinmundy was the Kinmundy Telegraph which started March 13, 1867. Also a religious monthly, the Pastoral Visitor, was printed there. On January 1, 1875, the Kinmundy Bulletin was organized. This paper was quite popular for awhile in its advocation of retrenchment and government reform. However, the Bulletin was only published 13 times.

The Kinmundy Register followed in 1879, printing 26 issues. Advocating the greenback policy was the Reform Leader from Sandoval in 1881. The Kinmundy Express started printing on November 8, 1883, and is still published weekly.

An agricultural fair, very popular in the 1890's, was organized at Kinmundy October 1, 1894. The event was a great success with demonstrations by the University of Illinois. The fair was held annually for many years. From agri-fairs such as this, came the ideas for instituting agencies such as the Farm Bureau, the Home Bureau, and the 4-H Club.

In the late 90's, Kinmundy had a ‘light plant’ which furnished electricity from dusk to 10 or 11 p.m. Since at that time, residents heated their irons, cooked on coal or wood and cooled with ice, electricity was not needed during the daytime. It only was needed to furnish light until bedtime.

The light plant provided DC current made by a dynamo which was turned by a coalfired steam engine. One hundred customers were served by the plant. The city of Kinmundy also had electricity to light their street corners with carbon lamps.

In the late 1800's and early 1900's, north and southbound trains stopped in Kinmundy both morning and evening. This was the common mode of transportation. Many passengers traveled the rails. Also, salesmen brought new merchandise into rural areas by train.

A large lake was built in Kinmundy to provide water for the steam powered locomotives. This further enhanced the Kinmundy train stop.

As the railroad helped to build the small towns such as Kinmundy, the railroad also aided the decay of these same towns. Shopping excursions on the train became the rage. Centralia merchants would buy a round-trip ticket with the purchase of $25 or more in merchandise. The train would go down at 9:30 a.m. and return at 8:22 at night. Not only did the shopper get the goods he wanted, he also was treated to the excitement of a journey. Mail order houses also were offering a more extensive line of merchandise at cheaper prices than the local stores. The small towns could not compete.

In 1903, Kinmundy was ravaged by fire. Almost all of the downtown area was destroyed. Some of the businesses rebuilt, but others already failing, gave up in defeat. Still enough people remained in Kinmundy to rebuild and form a city again.

Today Kinmundy lies in the center of agricultural productive land. It has hung on its root, but is ever progressing due to the hard work by its loyal citizenry. Kinmundy with eyes toward the future stands as a tribute to its early pioneers.

(A picture of the Cheatum home accompanied this article with the following caption: "The Home of Elwin Cheatum originally belonged to the Captain Calendar Rohrbough family who came to Kinmundy after the Civil War. The house was built around 1877. The bricks used in construction of the house are said to have been made in Kinmundy’s own brickyard and the lime used in the mortar was burned near Omega. Although the house has been modernized, it has still retained its original appearance.")

"The Kinmundy Express"; Sept. 17, 1992

"Sandy Branch West" column by Marvin Bassett

"Foster Township History"

Foster Township is a typical rural township located in the northwest quarter of Marion County with survey numbers town 4 north and range 2 east and named after it’s first settler, Hardy Foster, who moved into this county in 1823. This township was settled first by southerners from Georgia, Tennessee and Kentucky and later folks from other states joined them along the north fork of the Kaskaskia and along the east fork and other tributary creeks as water and timber were necessary for survival. The next settlers were the Widow Mary Jones and sons, Joseph A., Eli W., Samuel B., and daughter Elizabeth. They were encouraged to move here by another son, James Jones, who was a militia member guarding the surveyors as Marion county was platted into six mile square townships. James Jones married Laura K. Llewellyn at Keysport in 1823, and later moved into the township joining the rest of his family as Hardy Foster had married his sister, Mary "Polly" Jones. Others from the south began to settle and build farm homes in the wilderness land with great hardships but with a vision of a great place to live and raise a family. Moses Garrett, a Georgian, moved in to the township on Section 10 in about 1827. John F. Holt, Isaac Eagan, and Isaac Nichols established homes in 1830, and in 1836 Mark Cole, Jonathan Green, Jesse and Daniel Doolen settled along the north fork and called their neighborhood North Fork. Jonathan Arnold, the founder of the numerous Arnold family, came in 1844 settling just west of Sandy Branch cemetery. By this time many others were migrating to Foster township. Before the end of the nineteenth century, there was or had been a home on nearly every 40 acres.

Hardy Foster, most prominent of the settlers who became a member of the legislature and a County Judge, laid out Fosterburg and it was a thriving settlement until the railroads came through east and west of the Township. Then many residents began to move to Kinmundy and Vernon and start business operations. Lester then became the only business location with a store, post office, school house, and a church building after the Civil War. Fosterburg was well known for many years as the place where Company D of the 111^th Illinois Infantry Volunteers were to be organized with Captain John Foster, son of Hardy Foster, as Company Commander.

The first school teacher was Thomas Moon, who settled on Section 16, who provided a schoolhouse near his cabin. By 1920, the Township had eight one room schools: Chance, Zion, Doolen, Arnold Chapel, Jones, Green Ridge, Sandy Branch, and North Fork. With the coming of school consolidation about 1950, the east half of Foster township maintained a school district with students attending at Green Ridge and the west half went to town at Patoka and Vernon. But after a few years and improved roads, the east half joined into a Kinmundy-Alma District, and since 1990, a part of South Central School.

The early church services were held in homes with two of our early settlers as preachers, James Jones and Jesse Doolen the most noted. Sandy Branch shelter was the first place of worship and then a building at Fosterburg was erected and moved later to Lester and became Arnold Chapel, then Zion in Section 19 and Green Ridge Chapel. The dominant protestant faith of the early settlers was Methodist Episcopal.

The cemeteries of Foster Township number eight public burial grounds and one small family plot reflecting the need of the heavily populated rural area. Sandy Branch is the most historical with many of the pioneers and war veterans buried there. Martin, Doolen West, Doolen-North Fork, and Jones are all well kept and used for burial sites. The Caldwell, Holt, and Conant cemeteries are dormant, not having a burial in the last twenty years. A small family plot on A.H. Foster land has been removed from use by the Patoka Conservation Lake expansion.</