"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.

The first township supervisor was John Wesley Arnold, eldest son of Johnathan and Elizabeth Webb Arnold, who married Nancy Jones, daughter of James and Laura Jones. The local township government has always been adequate to the needs of the people. The present Town Supervisor is Danny L. Garrett, a direct descendant of pioneer Moses Garrett, thereby holding to a tradition of electing native residents to office. Foster Township has the best improved roads of the area, with a state highway running east to west and several miles of county maintained highway, and with the Township roads well maintained, they are second to none.

Rural mail carriers from post offices in Alma, Kinmundy, Patoka, and Vernon deliver mail to the local residents.

During the last decade of the twentieth century, two small churches are all that remain as a place of worship. They are Wesley United Methodist and Greenridge Chapel. The most notable changes to the standard of living came to Foster township in the 1940's, as many of it’s sons went away to service in World War II. During that period, rural electric power came to the area with Tri-County Electric Co-Op formed to supply and services rural Marion County. This made a drastic change in the lifestyle of all rural residents making life in the country comparable to suburban life. Electric power made an impact on the homes and farms, they were able to modernize with appliances and power equipment, and expand their operations to new heights.

Today, in 1992, there has been a great exodus of family farmers during the past twenty years and now only a few large operators till the farmland. Many new homes have been built to replace the old homesteads that once meant so much to our heritage. Probably 90 percent of the local residents of Foster township have outside employment, are retired senior citizens, or part-time farmers.

Whitetail deer, wild turkeys, and quail are plentiful, and most farm ponds are stocked with fish. Our fertile farms and gardens furnish a bountiful supply. Foster township is the home of less than three hundred residents.

Written by J. Marvin Bassett; Residing in Section 22

Salem Times-Commoner; Salem, Illinois; October 12, 1994

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

Foster Township Settlers

Though it has received little public attention through its long history, Foster has proved to be one of Marion County’s most productive townships. The early settlers found the area surface to be largely covered by forest lands with but little prairie. Below the surface, early explorations revealed the existence of sandstone, shale, and coal. The township is drained by North and East Forks.

Nearly every Foster township settler prior to 1850 came from the South - hardy, industrious, and law abiding citizens who with the eruption of the Civil War proved their allegiance to the Union by providing more than their share of men to fight in it’s defense.

The township was properly named for its first and most prominent citizen, Hardy Foster. This rugged pioneer left his Georgia home in 1814 and, after a short stay in Tennessee, settled near Lebanon in St. Clair County. He frequently made trips into Marion County in quest of bears, deer, and bees. In 1823, he and his brother-in-law, James Jones, established a camp in Foster township on Section 17 situated on the Vandalia-Salem road. By 1831, he moved further north to a spot on the road nearly equidistant between the two towns and constructed a stagecoach stop in Section 8. Here from 1833 until his death in 1863 was housed the post office known as Fosterburg of which he served as postmaster. Foster served in several county offices and was elected to the state assembly in 1838. He was present when Abe Lincoln was said to have jumped from the second floor of the State House in Vandalia rather than vote on a motion to remove the capital to Springfield. He and his wife, Mary (Jones) were the parents of 10 children.

James Jones, likewise, had settled in Foster township by 1827 on Section 6. His family also came from Georgia. He served as a security guard while the surveyors were doing the original survey of the State of Illinois. He went to Missouri where he spent a year before returning and making his permanent home in Section 9.

Mrs. Mary (Whaley) Jones came in 1826 to settle with her nearly grown children on Section 18. Her large family, in addition to James and Mary (Jones) Foster included Rachel Morris, Thomas, Elizabeth Holt, Eli, Joseph A., and Samuel B. Descending from intrepid pioneer mother have been literally hundreds of Foster township citizens. She genuinely left her mark.

Isaac Nichols arrived in 1830 followed by Mordecai Smith in 1831. Born in North Carolina, Mordecai, who came to Salem in 1829 with his father, Alexander, and brother, Britton Smith, settled on the state road near East Fork.

Moses Garrett and his wife, Hannah (Morris), came to Foster township in 1831, buying undeveloped land in Section 10, which was turned into a productive farm. Their children included Winnie Cole, Thomas, Mary Atkins, James, Sarah, Elizabeth Swift, Cynthia Foster, Benjamin and Frances (Fannie) Lansford. Squire Garrett served as a justice of the peace for many years. He died October 3, 1875, and Hannah died on June 29, 1873. They are buried at Sandy Branch Cemetery.

Andrew H. Foster, a nephew of Hardy Foster, settled in 1833 on Section 21 where he resided until his death. Twice married, he was the father of ten.

In 1834, Thomas Moon came to Section 10 where he built a cabin. A school teacher from New York, Moon constructed the first schoolhouse in the township near his home. After several years, he moved on to Missouri.

Mark Cole from Tennessee, Mary Doolen with her sons, Daniel and Jesse from Kentucky, and Johnathan Green from Tennessee, came to the township and settled near North Fork about 1834. Here they developed the land and became farmers - all raising families.

About the same time Ross Jones, who had come from Tennessee and lived a short time in Salem, purchased land one mile north of East Fork on the Vandalia-Salem road and improved a good farm. His sons, Jackson C. and H.B., also became prominent farmers.

John Warren was an early settler in the south-east corner of the township. Coming from Kentucky in 1840, he improved a farm. "He was handy with tools; could stock a plow; make a wagon-bed; he made a good many of the first coffins that were needed in this part of the county", according to Brink-McDonough’s history.

John Arnold who had come from Georgia and was a prominent citizen of the area, constructed a horse mill of East Fork near the eastern boundary of the township in 1844. He also farmed considerable acres. He and his wife raised a family of twelve children, among whom were John W., James A., Felix W., Esther Holt, Nathan, I.A., Nancy Nichols, and Adaline Nichols. The eldest son, John W. improved one of the first prairie farms in the area.

(This account will continue next week.)

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

Foster Township - II

Hardy and Mary Foster were Foster township’s first settlers in 1823, and, along with their offspring contributed much to its development. Their children included Martha, Mahalia Smith, Sallie Doolen, John, William, Annie, Isabella Morgan, Thomas, Mary (Polly) West, Harmon, and Elizabeth (Bettie) Nevelle. Settlers continued to arrived until the time of the Civil War when nearly all the land in the township had been claimed.

The first death in the township was that of Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Morris, in 1827. According to Brink-McDonough, the neighbors "split out puncheons and dressed them up and made a box." In this crude coffin, this young woman was laid to rest on the first farm settled by Hardy Foster. The first birth in the township was that of Mrs. Sallie Doolen, daughter of Hardy and Mary Foster, in 1824.

When the first settlers arrived in the township, they voted in North precinct - one of the county’s two units. In 1832 they were placed in North Fork precinct which consisted of the northwest quarter of the county. In 1867, the growth of population made the Foster precinct possible, and the township was formed in 1874. From assorted sources, some early office holders were identified: John and A.H. Foster, justices of the peace and G.M. Melton and Eli W. Jones, constables of North Fork precinct in 1861; David Doolen, David Nichols, and James Hitchcock, highway commissioners and Thomas J. Foster, Alfred Doolen, and William Chance, election judges, Foster precinct in 1871; J.W. Arnold (1874-6), Noah Curse (1876-9), Thomas J. Foster (1879), W.M. Chance (1880), W.H. Ballance (1881), Henderson Jones (1885), Samuel Jones (1886), H.G. Holt (1890), A.I. Eagan (1896-7), supervisors, Foster township; E.W. Jones (clerk), Thomas Foster (assessor), David Headley (collector), W.H. Ballance and W.M. Chance (justices), Arthur Irwin and Mack Robb (constables), and Charles Lowe, Mack Robb, and S.R. Irwin (commissioners), Foster township, Foster township 1885; and H.A. Hopkins (clerk), B.F. Lowe (collector), and James W. Arnold (school trustee), Foster township, 1886. In 1886 a proposition to move the townhouse near to the center of the township carried. Eli W. Jones of Foster township served as Circuit Clerk of Marion County from 1872 to 1876.

Nearly all of the residents of Foster township were farmers - first engaging in raising corn and livestock, later wheat, and still later, soybeans, while some may have had a second occupation, all of the township’s householders in the 1860 census listed farming as their chosen work except for Thomas Jones (merchant), Jeremiah King (carpenter), W.J. Wellsborough (blacksmith), Richard Massey (M.E. preacher), and James R. Ryman and Robert W. Elder (doctors). The 1870 census indicated that the only non-farmers were A.G. Durmond and Henry Reynolds (millers), and James Ryman (doctor). The 1880 census revealed that Joseph G. Knight, a wagon maker, was the only household head not engaged in farming.

When the Civil War interrupted trade, a number of Foster township farmers experimented with raising crops with which they had been familiar in their native South - cotton, tobacco, and peanuts. They met with a fair degree of success. Charles A. Grubb was still raising peanuts in 1906. Louis Peacock operated a molasses manufacturing mill in the 1880's.

The Salem Herald-Advocate of Jan. 14, 1887, reported that a neighborhood in Foster township was referred to as "Bohemia" after the nationality of its settlers. Among these were the Mazaneks, Douderas, Jezeks, and Bileks.

It was recorded that peddler wagons made frequent trips through Foster township - selling staples and purchasing produce. One of the regulars was from the William K. Simcox had resided for a few years in Foster before moving into Patoka.

(This account will conclude next week.)

NOTE: In the first column in this series on Foster township, the father of Mordecai and Britton Smith was incorrectly listed as "Alexander". It should have been "Abraham".

Resources: (1) Brink-McDonough, Combined Histories of Marion and Clinton Counties, 1881, (2) Brinkerhoff’s History of Marion County, 1909, (3) Footprints in Marion County, Vol. 1, No. 3, Winter 1977.

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

Foster Township - III

Three post offices existed in Foster township during its history. A post office known as "Foster" was opened at Hardy Foster’s stagecoach stop in 1833. The post office known as Fosterburg began operations when the town was laid out by Hardy Foster on March 6, 1854. He had settled on March 6, 1854. He had settled on the old Salem to Vandalia road when it was but a track through the county. William Doolen built a house in 1854 and put in a stock of groceries, according to Brinkerhoff, who continued, "The year before, Samuel Jones, William Eagan, and A.H. Arnold had put up a sawmill which they ran for many years. William Ritter and James Arnold afterwards built another mill near the same place. Daniel McConnel, S.B. Jones, Thomas S. Jones, and J.W. Arnold were storekeepers. At one time, Fosterburg was one of the most prominent towns in that county. It had three stores, a blacksmith and wagon shop, a mill, an M.E. Church, a physician, Dr. William White, and was a post town." Edward J. Doolen wrote in Brinkerhoff’s history, "Here was the manse of the Methodist circuit rider; here dwelt the Justice; here was the singing school, the spelling school, prayer meetings, preachings, and all things social. On the common, now covered by a orchard, men as raw volunteers were marched and countermarched by Capts. Waddell and John Foster and by William Crowder, once a colonel of the Tennessee militia. I have seen many men who when young hauled grain and drove turkeys to St. Louis and Belleville from this place." In 1878, John Puleston and Coleman Nichols of Odin opened a new store in the village but it was on the decline and by 1900 nothing visible remained of Fosterburg which had ceased to be a post office in 1863 - when Hardy Foster died.

Lester was probably more a state of mind than a physical reality. It was never platted nor did it become a unit of government. Yet it was a genuine community and neighborhood. Lester, located east of Fosterburg, served as a post office from 1864 to 1879 and from 1889 to 1904. Among the postmasters were J.T. Arnold (1889-1891) and A.I. Eagan (1891-1901). The Arnold’s Chapel church and school provided for the spiritual and educational needs of the settlement. General stores were operated in the 1880's by James W. Arnold and in the 1890's by A.I. Eagan, Mills belonging to Mr. Horseman and James W. Arnold were located at Lester.

The Salem Republican on July 21, 1898, announced that a new post office had been established in the northeastern corner of Foster township at Alva. This operation served the Sandy Branch area briefly and was closed in 1901.

Schools in Foster township other than the initial effort by Thomas Moon in 1834, included: Doolen (laid out 200 feet north of his home by Alfred Doolen about 1845 in Section 7), Arnold Chapel (at Lester in Section 10), North Fork (Section 11), Zion (Section 20; building later moved to Patoka, and became the novelty shop known as the Schoolhouse), Jones (Section 21), Oklahoma (at Sandy Branch in Section 23), Chance (Section 31) and Greenridge (Section 35).

Foster township churches included: North Fork (Presbyterian in Section 11), Arnold Chapel (Section 10, at Lester, Northern M.E., among the circuit pastors were J.R. Ryman and James H. Dickens), Zion (Southern M.E., erected in Section 20 of white oak, 34 by 32 feet), Sandy Branch (Section 23, open pavilion, all denominations, scene of camp meetings), and Greenridge (Baptist in Section 35).

Located in the township are the following cemeteries: Doolen/Conant (Section 7), Holt (Section 10), North Fork (Section 11), Frizzel (Section 17), Foster (Section 21), Sandy Branch (Section 24), Jones (Section 28), Caldwell (Section 29), Martin (Section 36), and Peacock.

Although Foster township has had no population centers for many years, distinct neighborhoods have existed and were identified in the October 2, 1973 issue of the Salem Times-Commoner; North Fork, northeast in the township; Arnold Chapel (or Lester), north center; Doolen, northwest; Zion, west center; Jones, center; Sandy Branch, east center; Greenridge, southeast; and Chance, southwest.

The residents of Foster township, like all Americans, made great sacrifices during wars and suffered during the depressions. They were particularly hard hit by the epidemics of small pox in 1915 and influenza in 1918.

On August 20, 1994, the first annual "Lesterfest" was staged at the crossroads where the settlement had stood. Under the leadership of Ken Wadkins, Jack Cox, Richard Jones, John Jones, and Randy and Carol Comer the celebration, which included a program, parade, dinner, and dance, attracted nearly 800 descendants and friends of the settlers of the Lester neighborhood.

NOTE: In the first column in this series on Foster township, the father of Mordecai and Britton Smith was incorrectly listed as "Alexander". It should have been "Abraham".

Resources: (1) Brink-McDonough, Combined Histories of Marion and Clinton Counties, 1881, (2) Brinkerhoff’s History of Marion County, 1909, (3) Footprints in Marion County, Vol. 1, No. 3, Winter 1977.

November 9, 1994; "A Peek at Our Past" by Dr. George Ross

Recollections of Henry Holt

A biographical sketch of Henry Holt of Patoka township found in the Centralia Sentinel on March 6, 1888, provides local historians with a most colorful and accurate account of life in the earliest days of Marion County. "Harmon Holt, father of Henry Holt, was originally a Georgian, and with his family moved to the north in the year 1817. He landed in St. Louis, and not being well pleased with the surroundings, removed to Washington County, this state, and after a short sojourn there and in Clinton County near Carlyle, moved into Marion County. Here he located permanently, having secured a location in Patoka township, some two miles east of what is now known as Vernon." Brinkerhoff’s History of Marion County states that Harmon Holt was the first man to settle in Patoka township in 1826.

"Henry Holt, the subject of this sketch, was then seven years old when his family came north, having been born in Georgia, December 30, 1810. At the time his father settled in this county, the country was in its wildest state, there being very few scattering settlements in the surrounding counties. The land was like a wilderness, the prairie grass reaching the shoulders of a man on horseback, and the timber almost impassable, owing to the dense undergrowth.

"At that period there were still a number of Indians in Illinois, and the settlers were compelled to keep their firearms in readiness at all times to protect their homes and families against the depredations of the redskins; but filled with the energy which is vastly shown in his son, Harmon Holt determined to use it to advantage in this wild Illinois prairie.

"Since that time Henry Holt has been a permanent resident of Patoka township. Here he has passed the bright days of boyhood, the mixed period of middle life, and drifted into old age with many happy reflections of the past, and yet is a fair specimen of good health, though age tells how soon his labors here may terminate. He is a man who cannot help but interest whoever may be in his presence and length of time. He was not in early days blessed with even a common school education. What little book learning he did receive was given him through the inconvenient access of a tutor several miles distant, and when log cabins served in the place of what are now pleasant school buildings.

"His memory is more vivid with regard to events of the early days than of a more recent period, and he can relate many pleasing incidents in connection with his early life, both private and public, and seems pleased with recounting them.

"In conversation with your correspondent, he mentioned the fact that where Salem now stands was the scene of one of the last Indian breakouts in Southern Illinois (Actually the skirmish took place east of Salem in Stevenson township), there being a number of the now almost extinct tribe of Black Hawk followers in the locality, and they became hostile toward the whites whom they considered were encroaching somewhat on the rights of the redman. Hence the settlers became aware that they were not safe, and the authorities at St. Louis were notified. A band of rangers were sent here, and after skirmishing, the Indians were driven to the west, leaving the whites in full possession of their former hunting grounds.

"Mr. Holt was married in 1832 to Miss Sally Nichols near the old Zion Camp Grounds east of Patoka. He relates the ups and downs of his married life from first to last with variations, covering a period of 53 years; his wife having died January 21, 1885. Though their hardships were many owing to the disadvantages with which they had to contend, their union was one of great pleasure and abundantly successful. They were blessed with a family of 10 children, four girls and six boys; tow of the former and four of the latter having crossed the mystic stream, while the remainder are still living in this county with the exception of one son in the far west.

"The aged gentleman occupies the old home farm, living with the family of his son William, and is passing his final days with all the comforts adequate to his happiness, spending a great portion of his time visiting among those of his family left to comfort him in his declining days."

(This account will conclude next week.)

"The Kinmundy Express"; June 12, 1997

"A Walk Around Alma" by Sue Hulsey

Shall we continue our walk in memory around our little Alma town? There are no signs, we never needed them. We could find our way blindfolded through the streets and alleys. This one is High Street, according to the old Martin, Tilden and French plat. The sidewalk is in pretty fair shape. Aunt Myrt Day has finished her morning’s work and is relaxing in her porch swing before dinner. Frank will be home soon from his carpenter’s job with Jim Kennedy. Dinner is a twelve, supper at six and lunch is carried in a pail to work or in a basket to a picnic.

Here comes Mrs. Winks from the Christian Church with her white pocket book and matching shoes. She’s been up to something constructive.

Raymond and Allie Eagan are in their garden. Peas are already climbing and look at that lettuce, calling for green onions, hot vinegar and bacon drippings. Their only son, Russell, was lost to polio. Perhaps there will be a cure for that awful disease before long.

Other back yard gardens are in various stages. Jim Johnston has made his annual trip to town and his wonderful team of horses and newly sharpened plow, making quick work of each plot. Some of us consult the Farmer’s Almanac or discuss the correct signs for planting with knowledgeable neighbors before dropping a seed. Family youngsters, pressed into the duty of planting cabbages or seed potatoes are always more interested in the fishin’ worms turned up by the plow. The promise of a trip to Hester’s pond or Bilek’s "Crick" when the job is finished serves as an incentive. Supper this evening might very well be bluegill dredged in cornmeal and fried potatoes.

Some families have a chicken yard, or at least an old "settin hen" with her brood of pom-poms on little stick legs. The Sunday dinner of choice around here is chicken. Before being plattered and presented in all its crispy goodness, a fowl must have it’s neck wrung, be scalded, have it’s feathers and innards removed, be cut into pieces, flour-seasoned and fried in a dutch oven - all by the lady of the house.

Emma Rainey is doing her spring cleaning, and so are her neighbors - mattresses are dragged out of the back door - (not an easy task) - setup on saw horses in the sun, turned to air out all sides - curtains are laundered and put on stretchers to dry, and carpets are flung over clothes lines and hit mercilessly with a wire carpet beater, sending clouds of dust into the air. Windows made smokey by winter wood and coal stoves are cleaned and polished to a diamond shine with a cake of bonami and an old cotton Rockford sock.

Well, those washday beans probably need tending and there’s the cornbread to bake, so let’s head back home. Got a penny? Let’s get a stick of gum from Tubby’s machine outside the restaurant‘s front door. There’s Leone peering through the windows. Dan Rainey and Shine Wilson are standing outside their grocery and hardware across the street. Customers have gone home or to Jessie Slagley’s for dinner. There’s Beth Rainey planting bluebells beneath her red-bud tree - and Miss Ann Arnold in her sun bonnet leaving the post office.

All this walking has made me hungry. Great aromas waft from the kitchens along the street. The Wrights must be having liver and onions, Nina Middleton has baked bread today without doubt. Kids on bicycles hastily pedal home in time for dinner as instructed, calling each yapping dog by name as they pass it’s house; "Go home Popeye, go home Puddles - "Get!" Smokey. The canines dutifully obeyed. Old Champ, Judy’s dog who enjoys a midday nap in the middle of the street, is avoided with reverence by bikes and cars alike.

It must be quilting day at the Methodist Church. Lelia Ford’s wonderful laugh can be heard from the open window.

Here comes Harry Smith across the tracks, carrying his push lawn mower over his shoulder, as if it were weightless.

As you read the names of these dear old ones whose voices have been long stilled, I hope their faces become clear, however briefly, as they did to me, and as we turn each corner, others come to mind with their influences, just by living as our neighbors, on our young lives. One of the very best, who just left us, is to be remembered with much respect and gratitude, "Miss Kathryn" Williams. We have recently lost another childhood friend, Bob Middleton, "Pud" as we knew him.

Gone for several years now, but never to be forgotten for the wonderful father that he was, by Becky, Sue and Jim, I selfishly mention Bill Hester.

So - dear friends, if you remember collecting a set of dishes from Duz detergent, chalking the corner, privies along the alleys, party lines, playing "Andy Over", the school fire escape, or as Sylvia mentioned, the sound of those safety pins that held the sheet stage curtains for Mrs. Jackson’s plays being scraped across that wire - can we talk?

"The Kinmundy Express"; Kinmundy, Illinois; Oct. 26, 1916

Early Settlers of Kinmundy

rief History of Early Days Prepared by D.C. BEAVER with Assistance of others.

At the request of a number of the older citizens of Kinmundy, I have endeavored to present a little of the early history of Kinmundy as I remember it. I am indebted to Grandma NEIL, MILLICAN, and GRAY and others for assistance. I have endeavored to present the facts fair and impartial; mistakes and omissions are regretted. - D.C. BEAVER.

We are indeed grateful to Mr. BEAVER for his permission to print this history which as been prepared at a great cost of time and labor. Those wishing extra copies of this issue may have the same by calling or writing this office. - G.A. SPITZE, Editor.

The City of Kinmundy is located on the N.E. 1/4 of the S.E. 1/4 Sec. 22, T. 4, R. 3, east of 3d Prin. Mer., Marion County, Illinois.

Laid out in April 10, 1859, by Barnard, Watson, and Sprouse, Barnard and Watson were non-residents, SPROUSE was a resident and owned part of the land on which the town was located. The first plat consisted of 15 blocks of about 170 lots to which the following additions have been added: Isaac EAGAN’s first and second addition on the north; GOODWIN’s addition on the east; SPROUSE’s on the west; SNELLING’s on the west; DUMOND, STUART and JOHNSON on the west, and Mary E. EAGAN’s on the north.

First Businessmen (General Stores): W.B. EAGAN, E. HALL, J.W. BOOTH, L.S. HART, Robt. RULE, W. ROCKHOLD, SWENEY & BUDLONG, C.H. MUNGER, and C. SPAFFORD.

The first hardware store proper was conducted by C.H. MUNGER & Co., the firm consisting of C.H. MUNGER, D.C. MOORE, and J.W. POWER.

The first furniture store was conducted by J.W. ROBB and D.C. MOORE. The first drug store by Dr. I..S. SWEENEY and L.D. SKILLING. First grocery by POLLARD & COLEMAN. The first harness and saddle maker was J.C. HAWORTH. The first milliner, Mrs. Martha WOLFE. The first shoe shop was conducted by Stoddard RUSSELL.

The first doctors were Drs. E.W. BOOTH, I.S. SWENEY, R.M. and U.M. HUMBLE, W.W. ELLIOTT, and T.O. H.P. HATTON.

The first mechanics were:

Carpenters - John D. YOUNG, John S. HILL, A.M. YOUNG, Tillman RASER, Elias NEIL.

Blacksmiths - Bayard CHALFANT, Clinton WOLFE, Jas. WOLF, Henry EAGAN, Hugh PUFFER, Rilan WELCH, John ARMSTRONG. These were the days when they made almost everything the farmers used. Woodworkers, Jefferson CHALFANT, J.C. MOORE, and G.A. MILLER.

The first tailors were John CLARK and Martin SCHOENBORN. The first barber was Chas. MISSELBROOK, the second was Dan LOVELL.

Post Office: The first postoffice in this part the county was located about four miles east of Kinmundy and was called Mount Liberty, but was generally known as Crackers Neck. H. GIBSON was postmaster; he also conducted a general store on the north side of the road and H. ROCKHOLD one on the south side. After the railroad was built, this office was discontinued and moved to Kinmundy and W.B. EAGAN was appointed postmaster. He was succeeded in 1861 by L.D. SKILLING and he by Elder B.H. PEARSON, and he by W.O. BRYANT and others.

Mills: The first was a horse mill located near the old EAGAN residence and operated by Barney EAGAN, father of Isaac EAGAN. He ground corn only.

The first flouring mill was built and run by JACKSON & CHASE, was built about 1858 or 9. They run this mill for a few years, sold out to Col. BOOTHE and returned to their first love, preferring the hills of New Hampshire to the broad prairies of Illinois. Capt. SPROUSE and Capt. RENO each operated a corn and saw mill for a time on the site where the light plant is now located. About the year 1867 or 68 the SONGER Bros. came to Kinmundy, burned the brick, and built the large brick mill now owned and operated by the Kinmundy Milling Co. This mill has been a great boom to Kinmundy.

Schools: The first school house was a log structure located near the EAGAN homestead, without windows, with clap board door, puncheon floor, large fire place and stick chimney. The first school house built in town proper was located in the west part of town about 1858. Among the first teachers we recall was a Mr. PAYNE, N.S. (Put) HUBBARD, Miss Carrie HERRICK, now Mrs. Guin WILSON who taught here in 1861-2. In the fall of ‘62, W.J. POLLARD and wife taught a school in the C.P. church, the school house becoming too small for the number of pupils. They taught two years and were succeeded by Mr. VINCENT and Miss Anna BUTTS of Farina. In 1865 the new school house was built. Judge SNELLING and Capt. SPROUSE were the directors; Tilman RASER was contractor.

In 1865-6 Simeon WRIGHT was principal of the school; he was a man of culture, well educated, a fine instructor, but this was the last school he ever taught.

Churches: The first church built in town was the Cumberland Presbyterian built in 1859, Isaac EAGAN being the principal mover in the enterprise. Among the first ministers to occupy the pulpit were J.W. WOOD, Wm. FINLEY, W.E. McMACKIN, M.C. GASTON, H.W. EAGAN, F.A. WITHERSPOON, F.M. GILLMAN, J.E. SHARP, J.N. HOGG, and others. Among the first ministers of the M.E. Church who preached in town were Rev. WAGONER, John THATCHER, P.P. HAMILTON, J.H. LOCKWOOD, and others. In 1863 the first M.E. church was built, during the pastorate of P.P. HAMILTON who gave $500 of his own means for the enterprise. The house was dedicated by T.F. HOUTS, then presiding elder.

The Presbyterian Hall was built about 1865 and among the ministers who served this church were Revs. SHRLOCK, THOMPSON, BUCK, Adam JOHNSON.

Sunday Schools: A Union Sunday School was organized in the C.P. Church about 1859 with Hiram CHAPMAN as superintendent.  In the fall of 1862 the M.E. brethern moved their appointment to the old school house and a Sunday school was organized with Eliss NEIL as superintendent.  A Sunday School was organized in the Presbyterian Church about 1865 with John B. KING as superintendent.  The M.E. Church South and the Catholic churches were built about 1868.

County Offices: Among those who have been honored with county offices are Judge ROSER, County Judge SNELLING; Associate Judge D.J. DOOLEN; H.R. HALL, Sheriff and Circuit Clerk; C.R. HOLT, County Judge; W.W. NEIL and J.T. ARNOLD each County Treasurer; J.S. KNISLEY and M.A. THRASHER each County Superintendent of Schools. Tillman RASER and W.R. HUBBARD served a term each in the State Legislature, and W.R. HUBBARD was the first Mayor.

A Call to Arms: Col. RANSOM of Farina raised a regiment of 90 days, men and a number of our boys joined this regiment which was the11th Ill. Vol., Elder B.H. PEARSON was Chaplain. In August 1861, Col. BOOTHE raised a regiment made up from Kinmundy, Loogootee, Omega and surrounding country. They joined the 40th Regt. under Col. Stephen G. HICKS. A number of our brave boys joined this regiment. Col. BOOTHE was elected Lieut. Col. and was a brave and efficient officer. He served for little more than a year when he fell sick, was sent home and soon died. A number of our boys joined other regiments and did faithful service for their country, but most of them have answered the last roll call.

The first newspaper was launched by Col. J.W. FILLER, of Effingham, about the year 1866 and was called The Kinmundy Telegram. Since then a large number of persons have engaged in this business. We may mention a few of them, A.W.O. BRYANT, Edw. FREEMAN, G.W. RUTHERFORD, J.F. DONOVAN, R.F. LAWSON, N. LINGENFELTER, Jas. BARNES, F.O. GRISSOM and the present incumbent.

Kinmundy Centennial Booklet

"Kinmundy"

Railway to Thruway; 1857 - 1957

Dedication

To those early Kinmundians who founded this community, and to those who continued building it; to those whose names are listed here; and to those whose names did not reach us in time to be included, we dedicate this book. To those present day citizens, who have joined in making this hundredth birthday party a time to remember, and whose wonderful spirit of cooperation promises much for the future of our community, we dedicate this book.

William Warren and Minnie Headley Lowe, David and Hannah Cole Headlev. Michael and Nancy J. Carrigan See, E. C. Huggins, William and Effie Ford, Calvin Chester and Imogene Ford, Charley Chester and Magdalene Ford, John and Lillian Ford, Byron and Minnie Parrill Siple, Frank Howell, John A. Holt, Hubert Morgan Fisher, Dr. H. L. and Martha Jane Gray Hanna, B. L. (Bud) Hanna, Gray Davis, David and Mary Williams Hanna, Ben and Fina Garrett, William Gramley, Frank and Jane Howe, Martin and Margaret Gramley, Barnett W. Blakeslee, Rev. John and Frances Morgan Ballance, Tom Ballance, James and Mamie Songer Brown, Charles F. Pruett, Walter S. Pruett, J. Lem and Stella Ballance, Eli and Josie Robb, J. T. and Hattie Arnold, Anton J. Young, Robert J. Smith, Mary E. Shriver, Thomas J. and Gertrude Dillon Wade, William Smith & Agnes Morgan Conant, George Selby Conant, Richard Smith Conant, John Bart and Martha Doolen Morgan, H. Clay Devore, Helen Devore Brownrigg, Dr. W. O. and Amelia Songer Smith, Matthew and Mary Rowan Humphrey, John Mac Humphrey, Arthur and Florede Eagan Humphrey, W. B. and Mary Haymond Eagan, Ellis Wainscott, David and Polly Ann Hatton Shultz, E. Oliver and Julia Steen Shultz, Thomas C. and Elizabeth Osborn Killie, Henry (Joe) and Fannie Killie Eagan, John B. and Rebecca J. King, Thomas and Anna King Bagott, John F. and Ellen King Donovan, Alexander and Mattie Hart Millican, Lou R. and Amanda Millican Davis, Daniel P. and Margaret O'Brien, The William Rooney Family, Mr. and Mrs. Tolley P. Mendenhall, Dr. J. D. and Annetta Bradley Camerer, Dr. and Mrs. W. W. Bradley, I.T. and Sarah Wilson Dillon, T. M. and Bessie King Smith, Fred J. and Elizabeth Tomlinson Nirider, Mr. and Mrs. F. A. Pruett, Miss Mollie A. Songer, Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Songer, Christian J. and Elizabeth Feller Hiller, Leander C. and Elizabeth Lydick Matthews, John M. and Martha Tucker Rotan, Martin and Barbara Phillips Schoenborn, Charles E. and Kate Schoenborn Buswell, R. C. and Hannah Robb, Mr. and Mrs. Eli Conant, Mr. and Mrs. James Harvey Gray, Clarence and Virginia Gray Hanna, Clarence Schooley, Capt. and Anna Moore Rohrbough, Edwin and Katherine Groves Wormley, The Melvin Downs Family, Mr. and Mrs. E. G. Mendenhall, Mr. and Mrs. John Merchant, Gilbert Ward Morgan, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hargrave, Mr. and Mrs. James T. Sexton, Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Warren, Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Bosley, Louis M. and Jennie B. Rotan, Mr. and Mrs. Denton Gray, Elroy and Jennie Hallett Snelling, David P. and Hannah A. Snelling, George and Emma Snelling, F. D. P. and Martha Rutherford Snelling, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Banning, Lew A. and Ethel Wantland Alderson, Barney Alderson, Charles B. and Annie G. Rohrbough, Rev. and Mrs. William R. Bradley, John H. Nelms, Dr. Charles H. Dennis, D.A. and Susanna Fairall Porter, Charles E. and Hazel Dennis Siemer, Moses and Elizabeth Green Swift, Charles M. and Mary Elizabeth Neavill, Frank V. and Brenice Young Davis, Mr. and Mrs. Harry E. Miner, A. S. and Ellen Doty Schermerhorn, A. V. and Belle Dillon Schermerhorn, Gottlieb and Rachel Hope Fenster, S. R. Wooley, Roy Fenster, Gustin L. and Jennie D. Eagan, Charles H. and Rose Dillon West, Jesse and Louisa George, Owen and Dovey Gray George, Walter S. George, Ray George, William and Elizabeth Holt Morris, Pleasant F. Robnett, Anna Chalfant, Mr. and Mrs. Noah Robnett, James E. Williams, Riley Williams, Mr. and Mrs. Oliver P. Vallow, W. W. and Frances Gunn Neil, Xon Harlan, Charles and Adora Lowry Schufeldt, Henry and Ida Shriver Warren, J. Oscar Cox, George and Elizabeth Brammer West; James B. and Elizabeth Parker McBryde; J. P. and Sallie McBryde Steen; Richard P. and Mary E. West McBryde; Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Wilkinson; Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Telford; William L. and Harriett Forshee King; Will and Nellie Reynolds; Oscar N. and Gertrude Tyner; M. A. Snelling Babcock; William Coleman; Erasmus and Mary Jane Jones Eagan; Isaac and Athaline Eagan; J. F. and Mary C. Hockaday; The Storrs Family; A. M. and Sallie Howel Allen; Edwin Charles and Nellie Holbrook Bargh; George Holbrook Bargh; John and Mary Fancher Hammer; Dick Atkins; George Dillon; John R. Dillon; Howard L. Robb; John and Lois Nelms Robb; F. M. and Julia Lowe Robb; James Harvey Gray; Mary Gray Ingram; Robert Lee Ingram; Jennie Bascom Grissom; Levi C. and Sarah King Rohrbough; The Emmett Porter Family; Dr. A. J. G. and Julia Gould Hall; George P. and Anna Foster Tomlinson; S. J. and Elzora Ray Allen; James O. and Anna Humphrey Fish; The Scawthorn Family.

Dedication:

to Mrs. Harriet DeVore, "Aunt Harriet," who was born in Ohio in 1852. She remembers as a little girl, the Civil War and. Morgan's raiders, and recalls the day when a neighbor told her family of Lincoln's assassination. After the death of her husband in 1891 she brought her nine children to Kinmundy, where her parents had moved in 1872. She was the baby nurse of the community and most young mothers of this area asked her to be with them when their babies were born. July 24 is her 105th birthday, and if her health permits, she will receive old friends during the Centennial, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Florence Franklin, where she now lives.

to Miss Luella Parrill, who celebrated her 94th birthday by baking her own cake and inviting the neighbors in. She is the only one of these ladies who have been able to participate in the Centennial activities, and has been an honored guest at the Fund raising dinner, and other celebrations. She lives alone and does her own house keeping. Born in Meacham township, she moved with her family to Kinmundy in October 1907. She worked in Chicago for many years and returned to her old home in 1930.

to Mrs. Elzora Dennis Nelms, who was born in Zanesville, Ohio, in October, 1863 and came to Kinmundy with her family, the Alec Porters, when she was a year and a half old. She was in the millinery business for 20 years, a milliner for 10 years in the shop of Miss Mollie Songer and then in her own shop in her home, on Madison street. She now lives near the Methodist church, of which she is a lifelong member, with her brother, Frank Porter and her daughter, Mrs. Hallie Combs.

to Mrs. Nan Whisnant, who would have been 97 on August 26, and intended to celebrate before that by riding in the Centennial parade. She was born in Jennings Co., Indiana in 1860 and moved with her parents to a farm near Salem when she was about a year old. After her marriage in 1879 to David C. Whisnant, she moved to a farm near Kinmundy and later to town where she lived alone after Mr. Whisnant's death in 1926. A few years ago she was forced by failing health to give up her home and live with relatives. A recent serious illness caused her to be moved to a nursing home, tho she was able to go to a family reunion on June 15. A short time later she fell, breaking a hip and arm. She did not recover.

to Mrs. Sara McGee Miller, who was born in Carol County, Virginia, on March 11, 1859. Her family came west in a covered wagon when she was a child. When one of their horses died, they stopped at a small mining town near Washington, Indiana where they lived for some years, her

father working as a miner. Later they moved to Sandoval, where she married Theodore "Pete" Miller in 1888 and moved to Kinmundy where Mr. Miller worked in the mine till it closed. She died on March 1, 1957, at the age of 98.

Board of Directors: (Picture was included) Members of the Centennial Board, left to right, standing, Rodney Schooley, Carl Dunlap, Lewis O'Dell, Mrs. Maxine Robb, treasurer, Jesse George, Dr. Dwight Hanna, president. Seated, Mayor E. E. Jahraus, Mrs. Lura Robnett, secretary.

COMMITTEES

FINANCE: Harvey Hanna, Mrs. Effie Grain, Ray Vandeveer, Emmett Gray, Bud Robnett, C. R. Alderson.

GOVERNOR'S: E. E. Jahraus, Mark Arnold, Arno Miller, Elwin Ingram, Robert Marshall, Ellis Johnson, Fred Miselbrook.

PARADE: Mrs. Pola Robb, Pauline Bagott, Mrs. Marge Boyd, Gene Ernst, Jesse George, Rev. Rufus Gerkin, Dwight Ingram, Mrs. Maxine Robb, Glen Johnson.

HOSPITALITY: Mrs. Lillian Grissom, Eino Brown, Miss Dorothy McCulley, Orous Leach, Mrs. Amelda Vallow, Mrs. Dorcas Miller, Alta Bagott, Mrs. Pearl Fisher, Mrs. Mildred Brown, Mrs. Ferdie Leach, Fred Grissom, Arno Miller.

CONCESSIONS: Fred Gammon, Fred Kleiss, Dan Hicstand, Roy Doolen, Wayne Robb, R. R. Atkins, George Feather

PUBLICITY: Mrs. Adina LeMa.y, Elizabeth Killie, Mrs. Phyllis See, Orous Leach, Arno Miller, Mildred Kleiss, Russell Williams, Mrs. Bertha Johnson

FIREWORKS: Jesse George, Ray Vandeveer, Virgil See, Wayne Robb, Dwight Day, Virgil McKitrick, Orville Gordon Jr., Robert Geiler.

TRAFFIC SAFETY AND PARKING; Harvey Brown, Tom Helpingstine, Norman Blackburn.

VETERAN'S: R. R. Atkins, Roy Doolen, E. E. Jahraus, Mrs. Roy Doolen, Merle Jackson, Wyett Colclasure, Fred Boyd.

I.C. R.R.: F.O. Grissom, Ray Maulding, Dwight Ingram, R.R. Lee.

GUEST ACCOMMODATION: Mrs. Ruth Alexander, Mrs. Louise Feather, Mrs. Bernice Alderson, B. F. Linton.

CENTENNIAL DINNER FUND RAISING: Mrs. Ferdie Leach, Mrs. Maxine Robb, Bill Green, Jesse George, Dwight Hanna, Wayne Robb, Cecil Bailey. Harvey Hanna, Lloyd Bailey.

FUND RAISING DINNER: Mrs. Huffy Hanna, Mrs. Maxine Robb, J. N. Vallow, Katherine Wormley, Mrs. Effie Crain, Mrs. Lura Robnett, Mrs. Tillie Hulsey, Fred Kleiss, Mrs. Pearl Hanna, Mrs. Wanda Eagan, Mrs. Edith Hammer, Mrs. Millie Bassett, Mrs. Imogene Hammer.

FUND RAISING DINNER DECORATIONS: Mrs. Alice Lewin, Mrs. Maud Holt, Mrs. Lou Neathery, Mrs. Alma Ernst, Wilma Boughers, Mrs. Lora Ingram, Mrs. Virginia Montgomery,

Mrs. Mary Esther Jones, Mrs. Florence Weiss, Mrs. Fern Ballance.

FARMERS DINNER: James Eagan, Howard Hammer, Wayne Robb, Gilbert Doolen, Bill Green, John Phillips, Gene Ernst, Dwight Hanna.

HISTORICAL DISPLAY: Mrs. Elizabeth Lux, Mrs. Ruby Linton, Mrs. Bertha See, Mrs. Huffy Hanna, Mrs. Grace Mendenhall. Elizabeth Killie, Glenn Jahraus, Mrs. Dorothy Schooley, A.C. Dunlap.

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES: Jamie McGee, Fred Kleiss, Fr. Strzelec, Rev. Earl Phillips, Rev. Rufus Gerkin, Rev. A.C. Martin, Mrs. Bertha See, Mrs. Lewis O'Dell, Mrs. Dorothy McCulley, Mrs. Lillian Grissom, Mrs. Ferdie Leach, B. J. Rotan, Mrs. Margaret Shuteldt, Mrs. Thelma Bailey, Leland Brasel, Emmett Gray, Gilbert Doolen, Russell Williams, Mrs. Amelda Vallow, Gene Ernst, Mrs. Maxine Robb, John Wm. McCulley, Tom Helpingstine, Fred Gammon, Fred Alexander, Ray Ingram, Paul Montgomery.

HOMECOMING: Mrs. Margaret Shufeldt, F.O. Grissom, J.B. Maxey, J.R. Mahan, Mrs. Bertha Pruett, Mrs. Florence Franklin.

CENTENNIAL BALL: Wayne Robb, Mrs. Alecia White, Mrs. Pola Robb, Merle Jackson, Bill Lux, Charles Bassett, Ray Olden, Frosty Jones, George

BEARD AND COSTUME: Charles Bassett, Mrs, Alecia White, Glenn Doolen, Mrs. Fola Robb, F. A. Motch, Harry Boyd, Wayne Whitney, Harry Geiler.

CITY CLEANUP: B. F. Linton, D. J. Alexander, Emmett Gray, Bill Doolen, Mrs. Thelma Bailey, Chris Jasper, Edgar Jones, Mrs. Lillian Grissom, Mrs. Erma Ingram, Mrs. Mildred Bargh,

Mrs. Mildred Brown, Marshall Williams, F.O. Grissom.

PAGEANT: Mrs. Thelma Bailey, Mrs. Kathleen Day, E, E. Brown, Katherine Wormley, Mrs. Alma Ernst, Glen White, Mrs. Alice Lewin, Enno Lietz, Bill Pottebaum.

MUSIC: Bill Pottebaum, Rev. Vance Comer, Mrs. Rufus Gerkin, Lloyd Bailey, Mrs, Erma Ingram, Mrs. Jessie Vallow, Mrs. Louise Feather, Mrs. Pauline Johnson.

QUEENS: Mrs. Nora Olden, Mrs. Marge Boyd, Mrs. Effie Crain, Mrs. Thelma Bailey, Mrs. Mildred Bargh, Mrs. Pola Robb.

ENTERTAINMENT: Cecil Bailey, Katherine Wormley, Dwight Day, Herbert Vandeveer, Dwight Hanna, Mildred Kleiss, Mrs. Maxine Robb, Mrs. Ferdie Leach, Tom Helpingstein, Raymond Swift, R. R. Atkins, Gene Williams.

SOUVENIR: Mrs. Lura Robnett, Mrs. Vera Maxey, Mrs. Stella Pruett, Mrs. Grace Mendenhall, Byron Sill, Mrs. Jessie Vallow, Gilbert Doolen, Ina Mac Tate, Mrs. Ann Jackson, Mrs. Mary Hechler.

TEEN AGE: Butch Boyd, Charles Boyd, Carolyn Alberson, Kaye Hammer, Ruth Rohrbough, Mrs. Bernice Alberson

SI'EAKERS PLATFORM CONSTRUCTION: Ivan Devor, Oran Alderson, Don Rogerson, Fred Collett, Bd Green, Gene Helm, Winifred Yearin, W. R. Wisher.

STREET DECORATION: R. R. Lee, Alva Olden, Clifton LeMay, John Wm. McCulley, John Phillips, Harry Suggett, John Ilg.

RESTROOM CONSTRUCTION: Rodney Schooley, Gene Jahraus.

AGRICULTURAL EXHIBITS: Carroll Garrett, Bill Lux, Fred Wilson, Leland Brasel, Merle Kllne; Glen Brasel, Bob Green, Glen Jahraus,

CONDUCTED HISTORICAL TOURS: Mrs. Lillian Grissom, Elno Brown, Mrs. Mildred Brown, B. J. Rotan, Harry Dennis, Mrs. Olga Alderson, Mrs, Pearl Fisher, Mrs, Maud Holt, Pauline Bagott.

HISTORICAL HOUSES: Ray Suggett, Mrs, Florence Franklin, Mrs. Erma Ingram, Mrs. Ferdie Leach, Lloyd

STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL: Mrs. Lillian Grissom, Emmett Gray, Fred Kleiss, Fred Alexander, Bert Garrett, Mrs. Olga Alderson, Mrs. Ferdie Leach, Mis. Ruby Linton, Mrs. Ruth Doolen, Mrs, Florence Franklin, Mrs. Alecia White, Mrs. Lols Alderson, Mrs. Dorothy McCulley, Mrs, Georgia Soldner, Mrs. Marjorie Green, Mrs. Fern Ballance, Mrs. Margaret Shufeldt, Mrs. Mildred Brown, Mrs, Bertha See, Orous Leach, Virgil See, Eugene Shufeldt, Eino Brown, Mrs. Sam Lowe, Mrs. Bert Garrett, Mrs, Maud Holt, Mrs. Bessie Diss, Mrs. Emma Ballance, Mrs. Effie Robb, Leiand Brasel, Tom Helpingstine, E. E, Jahraus, Harvey Hanna, and George Feather.

A long time ago, the Woman's Club planned a history of Kinmundy for the Centennial and almost a year ago, they asked me to take over the job. It has been difficult, but rewarding, and we hope it will preserve the memories of earlier days for those who did not experience them, and show the changes that have occurred in. the century passed. Our deepest thanks to everyone who helped us with their scrapbooks, old pictures, memories, and other valuable material.

We have used the given names of everybody, married or single, since in our town, that is the custom.

Bill Larimer gave us the data on real estate, Carl Dunlap did wonders with old photographs, including prints from some 50 year old plates made by the late Hugh Spencer, and Bill Sechrest did the new photographs.

Some material is from the History of Marion and Clinton County - 1881, Atlas of the United States, 1876, and Atlas of Marion County, 1915. We hope you'll forgive the mistakes and enjoy the rest.  - Elizabeth Killie

Early History

Mr. Byron Rotan has an atlas of Illinois that was published in 1876. Toward the front is a map of this state in 1822. It had then been a state four years. The southern counties that bordered on the rivers were organized but Marion county would not be formed till the next year. Trails or coach roads cross the lower part from Vincennes to St. Louis - from Shawneetown to Alton. Vandalia had been chosen state capitol in 1819 and would bear that title for twenty years, when it would be moved to Springfield.

As you can see in the little drawing, all land above Clark County was Indian territory. Between the Illinois and Mississippi rivers were bounty lands to be awarded to soldiers from the Revolution and War of 1812. Chicago was Fort Dearborn, and Melwakee, an Indian camp. Kaskaskia, originally an Indian village, a French Mission in 1685, was even then over 100 years old. It was incorporated as a town in 1725 by Louis XV, and was the chief settlement between the French in Canada and New Orleans.

The wide territory fanning out through Southern Illinois was known as the American Bottoms and there were large prairies between the stretches of woods. Our area was part of the Grand Prairie.

In 1762, the French ceded it to the English; in 1778 the English surrendered to George Rogers Clark, and it became part of Virginia, and that state ceded it to the United States in 1784. After being part of the Northwest territory, it was created the 22nd state in the Union by an act of Congress on April 18, 1818. Kaskaskia was the seat of the first civil government in Illinois.

Marion county was organized on January 24, 1823, and named after General Marion, the Swamp Fox, famous in Revolutionary War. It’s settlers came from Tennessee, Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia and Pennsylvania, and were protestants in contrast to the French Catholics of Kaskaskia. The first land entered in the county was the west half of the southeast quarter, section 9, T2N, R2E which would be near Texas Corner. It was entered by non-residents, Smith, Lee and Lambert on Dec. 8, 1819. Between this date and January 23, 1823, 1,040 acres were entered in four different townships, however 95 of the 100 families in the county, remained squatters, whose average possessions were worth about $27 per person. Scarcely any land was entered between 1823 and 1836.

The first census was taken in 1825 and showed 557 persons, 104 were heads of families, five of these being widows. There were 117 voters. Of the 557, there were 273 white males, 282 white females, 1 colored male slave, and 1 colored female slave. Hardy Foster, who founded Fosterburg on the old Post Road and for whom Foster township was named, was listed in the census, and also John Nichols who seems to have been the first to settle near the Kinmundy townsite, according to the History of Marion and Clinton County. He later moved to Meacham. Another list shows Arnolds and Jones in Foster township in 1823.

In 1826 Henry Howell from Tennessee settled on Howell’s branch. He raised a large family; some of his descendants still live in this area. Moses Garrett, who was born in 1805 and Hannah Morris, born 1811, were married in Georgia, and also came to Illinois in 1826. He drove a team of oxen and she rode horseback, with her baby in her arms. They settled in section 10, Foster township and had 9 children.

It is said that Sandy Branch is one of the oldest cemeteries in this area and that it dates back before Illinois was a state. That site was one of the earliest settled and some say it would have been a town, if the railroad had not passed by it, both to the east and to the west. Daniel Doolen Sr., who was born in Ireland in 1765, married Mary Bridges in Georgia, moved to Kentucky, had 9 children and died. His widow and sons, Jesse and Dan Junior, came to Illinois and settled near Fosterburg, about 1830. Northwest of Kinmundy is the Shanghai district and in its cemetery are men who fought in the Mexican War. One of these is Eli Robb, ancestor of numerous Robbs, and Fishers. He died in 1854.

To the east in Meacham, Mt. Liberty was a Post Office in 1840 tho it was generally called Cracker’s Neck. (Who knows why?) H. Gibson was the postmaster and also kept a general store. Across the road was another store run by H. Rockhold. After the railroad was built, the postoffice was moved to Kinmundy.

Others in Meacham were the Dillons; George, born in 1808 and his wife, Sally McKee, who came from Kentucky. The earliest land grant to that family was Oct. 10, 1840. Their second son, Isaiah Tevis, who served in the Civil War, and wife, Sara Wilson lived to celebrate their golden wedding in 1905. They moved to Kinmundy when they retired.

Also to the east was the Cockrell settlement in the 1840's and the Scrutchfields at Miletus in 1835. Near Omega was Capt. Elders store before he and his family became early settlers of Kinmundy.

James K. Craig was born in Kentucky in 1824 and came to this area in 1836. His father and mother were John and Savilla Craig, and Savilla was the sister of Nancy Hanks, who was Abraham Lincoln’s mother. James K. and wife settled southeast of Kinmundy, on what is now the Kline farm. They had 8 children, the youngest, John E., was the father of Eula Craig of Kinmundy.

Robert Pruett entered the land west of the present Illinois Central reservoir, east half, northeast quarter of section 28 in 1839. His wife was Minerva See of Mason County, Virginia (now West Virginia), and she wrote her mother about the fine land available for $1.25 per acre, so the See and Shelton family came too. They are said to have plowed corn right thru what is now the town site. Samuel Robb also entered land just southwest of the present town, probably about the same time tho the dates are not shown in the entry book in the courthouse. It is said that this house was where the Methodist church now stands, and his family saw the Headley family arrive, driving their team of oxen. One ox was white which was very unusual.

In 1828 three Gray brothers came from Tennessee, James, Joseph, and William. James settled on section 10 acquired more land in section 15 and other sections. He was the first J.P. in the township and filled that position till his death in 1835. This farm was known as the Harvey Gray place and was the scene of many wiener roasts in the 1910-20 era, when it was occupied by the Luther Davis family. It is now the property of Lewis O’Dell, principal of Alma-Kinmundy High School. Sons of James Gray were James Harvey and Isaac D. both married Hanna girls. The Robert Hanna family went to Kentucky from South Carolina in 1820 and in 1848 came to Marion County. The youngest son, David was the grandfather of Dr. Dwight Hanna who is president of the Centennial board. A descendant of Isaac and Dovey Elizabeth Gray is Jesse George, also of Centennial Board.

In 1828 Abner Stewart, another Tennesseean, built a cabin on land which is now part of the town of Kinmundy. He entered the second tract of land in Kinmundy township on Dec. 21, 1839, west half of the northeast quarter of section 22 or from route 37 north to and including Harvey Hanna’s farm, and from the C&EI to Monroe Street. He had eight children but they all moved away.

Isaac Eagan came from Tennessee with James Gray in 1828. He drove a stage for a while, married and bought a farm on Feb. 13, 1837 which was the first land entered in the township. He bought more land, some being the Stewart tract in section 22. For awhile he operated the horse mill started by Stewart. He had eight children and in the Illinois State Gazetteer and Business Directory for 1864-65, Marion County lists 12 organized townships; one called Eagan. W.B. Eagan, the oldest son, built the first house in the original plat of Kinmundy, and ran a store there. The original Eagan homestead was out in the Stewart tract east of the C&EI and across from the cemetery, and the Eagans ran a store there before the town was laid out. Isaac died in the old home in 1873. The place was still standing until the C&EI railroad was built. Hugh Eagan from Tennessee spent 1829 with Gray but moved near Salem.

Other early entries near town are part of section 27 by Charles Floyd Jones in 1852, George Ehenger also in section 27 in 1853, Chester C. Ford in section 22 in 1856, and Capt. Wm. T. Sprouse, the part just below the town in 1860. One of the largest land owners was Isaac Eagan, who held nearly all that adjoining the townsite.

An other 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, 1950, President Millard Fillmore 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. Some older people today remember hearing their grandparents tell of hauling grain to St. Louis by wagon.

This land grant bill 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 was named in honor of Col. Roswell B. Mason who had been in charge of the work since its inception. This completed the "Charter Lines" of the railway, making 705½ miles of railway reaching from Dunleith on the Mississippi west of Galena, to Cairo where the Ohio & 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 quarter 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 4th street and from Washington street on the east to ½ 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 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 Willborn 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. Other purchases in 1857 were lots 144, 145, 146 and 147 by Chase, Goodwin, Jackson and Halsted in November; and lots 148 and 149 bv James Nevils, and 151, 152 by Lorenzo and John Allmon, 162 by W. C. Mitchell, these later ones in December.

1858 saw many purchases - Jan. 27, lot 156 to Chas. A. Montross, Feb. 1, lot 161 to W. B. Eagan, March 10, lot 154 to Canada Allmon. In June of that year James W. Booth bought lots 1, 4, 37, 43, 46, 49, 56, 62, 89, 101, 103, 113, 120, 166, 167, and 168. D. P. Snelling bought part of lot 2, he later in 1866, opened his own addition, and built the big house on the hill where Suggetts now live. George Watson bought part of many lots, 35, 36, 39, 42, 50, 57, 59, 69, 93, 105, & 141. John F. Barnard bought parts of lots 5, 16, 41, 44, 53, 90, 94, 97, 102, 107, 138, 139, and 142. John Tuder lot 158 and Geo. P. Hull lots 159-160 in July. Wesley Bockhold bought lot 121 in October and thal finished the season for the year.

In 1859 Wm. Willard purchased lot 153, Jan. 5, and Chas. Montross lot 169 Jan. 25. April 12, lot 154 to L. S. Hart, June 6 lot 138 to same man. Also on June 6 Presley Wilborn bought lots 134-5-6, and Ed Stiles, lot 99. On Aug. 24, lot 140 was sold to John Robb, and on Oct. 4, lot 143 to Isaac and Thos. Sweney. On Oct. 10, lot 67 to J.F. Barnard and Georgia Watson Cormick; Oct. 29 to the Watson estate and Elias Ferguson, lots 129-30-31-32, B F. Fallon, lot 39; on Nov. 12, lots 113-118 to Mary Locke and the last for that year - lot 15 to Clinton and James Wolfe on Dec. 7.

There were only 3 lots sold in 1860, lot 18 to John Moon on Jan. 2, lot 96 to Simeon Bishop on Jan. 19 and lot 14 to James Wolf on Feb. 23. In May, 1860. Sprouse bought the tract adjoining the town plat to the south and later sub-divided it. 1861 saw the beginning of the Civil War and then were few lots sold that year; lot 19 to John Moon or July 31, and on the same day ½ lot 95 to J. R. Smith; lots 115-116 to W. B. Eagan on Aug. 3.

In 1862 Tilman Raser bought the other half of lot 95. He was a man who would be very active in the new town. In 1863 Abram Elder bought lot 108.

In 1864, April 25, lot 100 to James Nevins; May 23, lot 91 to Frederic Emmet; June 10 the Trustees of the Methodist Church bought one third of lot 59 and that is where the church still stands; Oct. 13, lot 102 to A. J. Swan and lot 104 to F.H. Green. Nov. 27, lots 69 and 70 to Matison P. Tilden, and lots 77, 78 to Bayard Chalfant, also lot 52 to D.C. Moore; on Nov. 28, lot 105 to Daniel Kelly.

The Civil War ended in April 1865 and people began to come home from the front and others to move west and north. On Jan. 28, Mary Eagan bought lots 109, 110; Feb. 2, lot 141 to Henry Eagan; on July 5, Thomas and Washington Culley purchased lots 87 and 88. Aug. 5, lot 86 to John Steinman and Geo. Eger; Aug. 18, 117 to W. B. Eagan, 122 to Wesley Rockhold, and lot 51 to David C. Moore; Aug. 25, lot 64 to Martin Beaver; Nov. 18, lot 13 to J. O. Dumond; Nov. 22, lot 84 to James Barrett, lot 85 to John Steinman; Nov. 23, lot 71 to William Becker and lot 50 to Moses French. On Dec. 28, Munger and Moore bought lot 83.

In 1866 on Jan. 2, lot 44 to Claris Grott; Feb. 12, lot 81 to Charley Misselbrook; Feb. 17, lot 42 to James H. Gray, Sr.; March 16, lot 41 to Isaac D. Gray; March 19, lot 61 to C. B. Hollister; April 9, lots 106 and 107 to A. C. Elder; April 16, lot 3 to Michael Hoar and lot 114 to L. D. Allmon; June 22, lot 72 to Edward Freeman, lot 80 to J. C. Haworth, and lot 82 to Mary A. Valentine; July 10, lot 98 to Christopher Houts; Oct. 27, lot 93 to Stoddard Bussel; Nov. 23, lot 94 to Tillman Raser; Dec. 6, lot 68 to Nelson Graves and H. C. Freeman; and on Dec. 13, lot 97 to Tillman Raser.

In 1867 Chas. Montross bought lots 73, 74, 75, and 76 on Jan. 3; lot 45 to Claus Grott on Jan. 5; Jan. 16, lots 7 and 8 to Rob't. Sprouse; lots 9 and 10 to Sam’l McCloud; lots 11 and 12 to Amos Jackson and lot 79 to James Barratt. On April 2, lot 34 to Joshua Goodwin and lot 37 to Ed. Herrick. On May 8, lot 60 to David W. Johnson; on July 24, lot 48 to Mattie Kepley; on Oct. 23, lot 57 to Henry Hall, lot 157 to J. W. Howard and Franklin Russell, and on Oct 30, lot 23 to Thos. H. Parker and lot 55 to Anna Marie Schmidt.

In 1868 only three lots were sold, lot 47 to Mary Ann Valentine in Feb. 19; lot 24 to Wilber Deuel on Aug 29; and lot 22 to Fanny Miselbrook on Dec. 8.

In 1869, June 29, Washington Culley bought lots 5 and 6, and John B. Elder bought lots 111 and 112; on Sept 20, lots 29 and 30 to Martha Hart, lot 31 to James M. Kenton, and lots 32 and 33 to Geo. L. Brenner.

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 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 be pretty much self sufficient. There were mills, Bakeries, Barrel and basket factories, banks, mines, brickyards and casket makers. Early bakers were Bill Cawrey and Chas. 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. 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" said 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 till about 1908, and since then liquor licenses have not been issued.

On April 10, 1867, just ten years after the town had been platted the city council met to organize. The oath of office was administered by Tilman Raser, a Justice of the Peace, in and for the County of Marion and the State of Illinois, to the following officers: W.R. Hubbard, Mayor; U. M. Humble, City Clerk; A.R. Swan, City Marshal; Robert Nevins, Street Commissioner; Alderman for 1st ward, Clinton Wolf and I.C. Haworth; for 2nd ward, T. O. Hatton and Tilman Raser; for 3rd ward, I.S. Sweney and C. H. Munger, and for 4th ward, W. B. Eagan and W.T. Sprouse. A seal with the words "City of Kinmundy" and "Incorporated March 26, 1867" on it was ordered. It was voted that all ordinances of the old town which were consistent with the city charter should remain in effect until revised or repealed.

On April 13 the council met at Tilman Raser's office, appointed committees, passed ordinances concerning tie votes, and bonds of city officers. The mayor suggested that a map or chart of the city be drawn and street corners established. Stated meetings were to be held on the first Monday of each month, and ordinances were to be published or posted, whichever was deemed best. On April 22, C. H. Munger was elected City treasurer. They proceeded to meet very week for some time and the most frequent business to be considered was building streets and sidewalks, unsanitary conditions of streets and alleys, the licensing of places where liquor was sold, animals running at large in the city, and boys jumping on and off moving trains. A frequent expense was paying for the removal of dead hogs. No wonder Dr. Skilling called attention to the unsanitary conditions, this was referred to the Committee on Health.

On May 27 the financial report of W. C. Dorris, (town treasurer) was accepted and he turned over to the city $759.63. On May 31, Aid. Raser presented a resolution that the Mayor appoint a committee to "investigate and inquire into the propriety of erecting a city prison." The mayor agreed and appointed Sprouse, Haworth and Raser.

On June 17 the council voted $3 each to 4 special policemen for their work on the day of the circus, June 13. The resolution to build a city jail carried and a committee was appointed to deal with specifications and contracts. It was also voted to pay Aid. Raser $36 for the year for the use of his office and furniture as a council meeting place. Madison street was to be graded from the south side of Second st. to the north side of Third.

On June 21 the committee on the jail was authorized to negotiate for a lot. On July 8 Aid. Raser reports lot purchased and negotiations with Wm. Fuqua to build. At a special meeting on Aug. 12, Aid. Raser presented a bill for $100, for the lot for city jail, which was paid. A resolution was passed to enclose the jail grounds with a suitable fence. On Sept. 6, Wm. Fuqua presented his bill for building the jail, $395.00, plus $36.08 for extras. W. M. Motch presented an order for $18.00 in favor of James Haworth for painting the jail. The marshal was instructed to get a table and two chairs for the use of the marshal at the city jail. The council minutes do not give the lot's location, so we do not know where the first jail was situated. Raser was not the first owner of lot 144 where the "calaboose" was.

In November a petition was offered asking for a sidewalk on the south side of Third street between Monroe and Madison. D.P. Snelling petitioned a sidewalk on Fremont street and citizens of the second ward wanted one on First street. These sidewalks were, according to one set of specifications, "good lumber not less than 1" thick, laid on 3 stringers not less than 2"x4". walks to be 4' wide." The druggists were praying for the repeal of the druggist's license and 3 liquor licenses were issued.

In December they were ordering sidewalks on east side of Monroe from First to Third street, and south side of Third from Madison to Monroe. In January the street commissioner reported names and number of days delinquent on labor on streets and it totaled 100 days. Only those who worked the required number of days on the streets were allowed to vote. On March 7, 1868, L. B. French presented a bill for $5 for 2 tubs for the jail. The city assessor presented his bill of $12.50 for taking census. A motion was made to publish the reports of the council, treasurer's report and census in the Kinmundy Telegram. Mayor issues proclamation of city election to be the 2nd Monday in April 1868.

On April 6 the bids for laying street crossings were opened and John B. King, who bid 19c per foot, was awarded the job. April 20, 1868 - election results: I.S. Sweney, mayor; Montgomery Wilson, treas.; U. M. Humble, clerk; J. L. Smith, marshal; Robt. Nevins, street comm.; John Robb, surveyor; H. H. Chesley, assessor; aldermen, D. C. Moore, H. R. Hale, E. Freeman and W. B. Hubbard. They wanted the I.C.R.R. to make a crossing on First street and change the Third street crossing to accommodate Jefferson, too. In June they passed an ordinance regarding shade trees and it seems that you could plant trees instead of working on the streets. (These are the trees that have about reached their prime and are breaking down all over town.)

In the following months they tried in vain to open Van Buren street. (Where it was we don't know but from the map it might have been the alley between the Christian church and Arno Miller's. That was the boundary of the original plat.) They spent $4.60 for stars for the policemen to wear, these must have been the special police for 4th of July and Circus day. They fenced the jail, built wells, complained to the I.C.R.R. about the north-bound freight blocking the crossing. Thirty citizens petitioned for an election to vote on the question of subscribing for $50,000 worth of stock in the proposed Kinmundy & Pana railroad.

In 1869, N. S. Hubbard, mayor. There were petitions for gravel crossings; to open Sycamore from Monroe to Madison; make a sidewalk on the east side of Madison from 2nd to 3rd; and always the problem of cattle and hogs as well as dogs running at large. Tilman Raser agreed to be city attorney and represent the city in all except the supreme courts, for $100 per annum. The property owners of Madison street requested that it be graded and macadamized from 2nd to West street.

In 1870, I.S. Sweney, mayor, they hired a night watch for $10 per month. They accepted the deed from the cemetery trustees and voted $50 for improvements, later they recorded the deed, surveyed and platted it and had deeds for the lots printed. They voted to allow permanent residents to sell lemonade, ice cream and soda water on the 4th of July, for payment of clerks’ fees only. The finance committee was to have control of who should erect stands on the grounds where the celebration was held. They voted to dig a good deep well at the corner of 2nd and Madison and furnish it with a pump and good substantial cover.

In 1871, Haworth mayor, they got costs for building a bridge over the railroad at 2nd street. They moved that the cemetery committee should buy a bier and other articles necessary to bury the dead. Appointed a special committee to confer about buying Shelton's grove for a city park. The mayor "called attention to the approaching national anniversary", appointed a committee to license ice cream and other stands on the grounds and instructed the marshal to see that there were no stands on the city streets. On Aug. 7, the finance committee showed a balance of $27.95 after defraying the costs of celebration and moved to hold it for future celebrations.

More petitions for sidewalks; a well built by D. C. Moore opposite his property on 3rd street (this should be the one in the picture on page 20). They rented a lot to build a city pound. (This was for all stray animals and later Capt. Reno was sued for breaking in and recovering his animals). A resolution to license a bowling alley at $5 per year was decided out of order. Wetter asked permission to move his saloon to new brick building on corner of 2nd and Madison.

In 1872, D. C. Moore, mayor, but resigned and was succeeded by E. Freeman. Petition for sidewalk to extend to M.E. Church south, on Adams street.

In 1873, Mayor Haworth. Ordinance passed licensing groceries. Extra land was purchased for cemetery; resolution to purchase new pump for public well, paint the fence around it, and clean the yard for "as little expense as possible." Groceries petitioned against heavy taxes. Street commissioner was instructed to work out all who have not paid or worked, within the next 30 days.

In 1874, G. M. Songer, mayor. Opening of South street was referred to committee. Resolution that the board "should pledge united and individual influence against selling or giving away of intoxicating liquor to minors or habitual drunkards." The city to spend not more than $300 on repairing and building sidewalks. Ald. Raser moves to procure lamp posts and lamps before fall and they vote to procure not more than 10 street lamps, provided they cost not more than $10 each erected. This is the last entry in the minutes of the book recording the first meetings of the Kinmundy City Council.

The Illinois Central Directory for 1868 writes very glowingly of Kinmundy. (It still had lots of land to sell in the vicinity for from $7 to $13 per acre.) The following people advertised in the book so we have their names: N. S. Hubbard, American Express and I.C. R.R., H. H. Chesley and Tilman Raser, attorneys; C. Miselbrook, barber; B. Chalfant, blacksmith; W. Graves, carpenter; Scott Shrigley, dentist; (full sets of teeth, $10) ; J.O. Hatton and Price & Denby, druggists; W. B. Eagan, A. C. Elder, John Brenner, Rohrbough & Moore, Solomon & Co., C. Spafford, Wilson & Elder, dry goods and general merchandise.

Capt. Reno and Songer Bros., flouring mills; Herrick & Hall, W. A. Howell, Hume & King, Geo. K. Jenkins, J. H. Landrum, groceries; W. B. Eagan, D. C. Moore, hardware; E. Eagan, hotel ($2 per day); J. H. Robb, J. P.; W. Culley, livery stable; C. A. Montross, lumber; Miss M. M. Hart, Mrs. A. Parker, Mrs. J. B. Smith, Songer & Leever, millinery; E. Freeman, house and sign painter; T. W. Forshee. J. M. Fox, U. M. Humble, L. D. Skilling, physicians; J. C. Haworth, saddles & harness; A. W. O’Bryant, Kinmundy Telegram; Pat Mullins, H. H. Robertson and C. Wetter, saloons;

John Coleman and Winnie James, shoemakers; E. Mendenhall, stationery; wagon & carriage makers, William Becker, J. C. Moon, and F. Seiser. Besides these, they say, there are sawmills, tobacco factory, woolen factory, sorghum mills, cabinet makers and coopers, and more than 50 homes were erected in 1867.

The Kinmundy Independent for 1876 has ads for: Geo. Craig and S. VanArnam, shoemakers; Dan Lovell, barber; Eagan & Porter, livery stable; Mrs. V. A. Brown, dressmaking & tailoring; B. Blakeslee, plows & cultivators; Songer Bros., flour; Edward Freeman, real estate, newspaper; Wm. B. Fish, Kinmundy market; Spring & Reeder, hardware, tinware, etc.; J. H. Gray and W. C. Squier, hotels; Dr. W. O. Smith and E. G. Forshee, M.D.; J. F. Donovan, B. B. Smith, attorneys; Wilson & Boothes, McBryde's gen. mdse.; Hollister's drugs, Simpson’s groceries.

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 and birthplace, only: Geo West, from Philadelphia, farmer; James C. Haworth, merchant, Ind.; James H. Gray, farmer, Tenn.; Mrs. Elizabeth Boothe Gray, Ind.; Thos. Williams, farmer, Tenn.; Giles Songer, mill, Ind.; John M. Rotan, Tenn., real estate; A.W. Songer, miller, Clay co.; O.N. Tyner, photos, Dr. E. G. Forshee, Ohio; J. F. Donovan, mayor, New York city; J. P. McBryde, merchant, Ala.; J.M. Brenner Bavaria, lumber yard; S. J. Allen, A. M. Allen, carpenters, Ohio; W. L. King, merchant, Ohio; Rev. W. T. Brannum, M.E. Church, St. Clair co.; G. W. Gillmore, merchant, Ky.; M. Deiwert, merchant, Effingham co.; Dr. Charles Dennis, dentist, Ohio; J. F. Croft, boot & shoemaker, England ; B. F. Lawson, editor; Chas. Ryan, New York, livery man; S. M. Stokely, Pa., salesman, machinist; Mrs. M. K. Lawwill, hay press; Dr. W. O. Smith, Ind.; J. N. Street, Montgomery co., School Supt.; F. A. Pruett, Anna Chalfant, Katie Grove, Mrs. A. B. Whittaker, teachers;

E.S. Mendenhall, England, nursery; J. Nelson, watchmaker, Denmark; P.O. Thrane, tailor, Denmark; G. Fenster, restaurant, Germany; Miss M. A. Songer, merchant, Marion co.; H.F. Green, Ohio, druggist; W. M. Chapman, grocer, Marion co.; Mrs. M. B. Hollister, Wayne co., druggist; E. C. Bargh, druggist; D. Gunn, Richview, grocer ; C. H. West, farmer, Ind.; Dr. J. D. Camerer, Edgar co.; Rev. J. D. Brown, Ind.; M.E. Church south; J. G. Wilson, Scotland, Supt. coal mine.

A clipping in an old scrapbook 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 and in this Centennial year we can be pleased and proud of the only Kinmundy in the U.S.A.

In an old scrap book we found obituaries of early citizens who should be mentioned, since they were unusual people and since they left no descendants to remember them. Dr. A.J.G. Hall was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1819 and died in Kinmundy April 1, 1909. He was graduated from the Medical College of Bochas, Germany, and spoke seven languages. He came to the United States in 1849 and married Julia Gould in Washington Territory in 1865. They came to Kinmundy in 1869. Mrs. Hall was born in London and went on the stage at the age of five. She was a pupil of Balfe and appeared in his "Bohemian Girl" and other operas. After coming to this country, she made three trips to the west coast, appearing on the stage in the early days of California. She taught music and painting in Kinmundy and there are still paintings around that were done under her instruction. Mrs. Hall died at 68 but Dr. Hall lived to be almost 90.

Also, Mr. W. H. Brewer, who always carried the flag in the Decoration Day parade because he was six feet seven inches tall. He was born in 1841 in Bear Creek, Alabama, and came to a farm near Eastland cemetery southwest of Kinmundy, shortly after the close of the Civil War. Later he moved to the last house on East Fourth street, in Kinmundy, where he lived many years. He died in Biloxi, Mississippi, at the age of 92, and was buried in Eastland cemetery which he had helped to found.

In an old part of the cemetery near the graves of Col. Booth and Capt. Sprouse is a grave with a plain headstone, and the inscription reads, Ennis Taylor, Hampshire Co. Virginia. A confederate soldier. This was for a long time Kinmundy’s unknown soldier. The story goes that during the Civil war a prison train stopped in Kinmundy on its way to exchange prisoners, and one young lad, who had died en route, was buried hastily in a shallow grave by the tracks. Isaac Eagan, discovering this, had the boy properly buried and the grave marked. Many years later a Kinmundian, who had come from West Virginia, recognized the name and got in touch with the family.

In a letter, received by Mrs. Pearl Fisher, in 1941 when she was head of the Cemetery Association, a sister-in-law wrote that a cousin had been on the same prison train and had told the family of the death and burial and they expected never to be able to find the grave. They were overjoyed when they were told and could come to Kinmundy about 1920 and find the grave. They were touched by the kindness shown them and their loved one and later sent money to have the grave put in perpetual care. On Decoration day it is not forgotten by people who know the story.

ENTERTAINMENT

The earliest entertainments were the husking bees, barn raisings, quiltings and such. Candy and box suppers were continued until the present. Taffy pulls were popular in the early 1900s, as a way to raise money for a lodge or church, and then there were the church dinners and ice cream socials.

The Eureka Reading Club was founded in 1875 and gave private readings until 1877 when they began to give plays and public entertainments. They disbanded in 1883 with a banquet at Squires Hotel.

Top row, E. R. Hensley, F. W. Killie, Homer Foster, Paul Sandhofer, O. N. Tyner. Second row - J. H. Nelms, Ellis Vallow, Chas. Beaver, Hershel Vallow. Third row, Chas. Vallow, J. B. Brenner, E. A. Snelling, G. W. Snelling, B. Bruce. Bottom row, W. D. Reynolds, F. S. Songer, Orval Foster, J. B. Garner. Picture taken about 1896.

The location of Eagan’s Hall has not been discovered, but it was the site for the early graduation ceremonies, and other meetings and entertainments. Then there was Hayworth’s Opera House which burned in the fire of 1903. It was rebuilt on the same lots and again burned in 1916. This last one was the scene of class plays, graduations, and the stock companies who used to tour in the days before radio, movies, and television. The Reynolds and Tyner Stock Companies were welcomed as artists and hometown folks. They played in the Opera House in the winter and in tents in the summer. Speaking of tents, remember the Chatauqua? It was held in the Park and for one week gave afternoon and evening performances which ranged from famous speakers, preachers, and chalk talks to music of all kinds. One of the favorite acts was the Swiss Bell Ringers, a group who performed behind a long table on which bells were arranged harmonically. They would play anything from Poet and Peasant to Annie Laurie, dashing up and down to ring the bell or group of bells with the proper notes.

About 50 years ago "Uncle T" (Mr. Tyner) showed colored lantern slides at the K.P. Hall. The K. P.s also had a wonderful contraption which could be placed in front of a piano and by inserting a roll and pumping the pedals you could play a tune. This was replaced by a player piano and those syncopated numbers - "Eileen", "Florene", "Nights of Gladness". "Uncle T" also played them for us in his music store while we danced outside on the sidewalk. There were movies, too, with colored slides of songs, and "The Perils of Pauline" or "The Million Dollar Mystery" every Saturday afternoon.

From earliest days Kinmundy seems to have had bands and orchestras. In the oldest papers there are piano advertisements, music teachers, and recitals. E. A. Snelling was one of the early band directors and the old band stand, which was recently torn down, was built in 1883. Mr. Snelling and the merchants of Kinmundy were amateurs in the true sense of the word, they played for the love of it, practicing after they closed their stores for the evening, and giving a concert on Saturday night. Ben Phillips, with his cornet, was the leader about the time of the first war, and he always closed the program with "Till We Meet Again."

A high school band was organized in 1930 by Mr. Tessman. In 1935 Mr. Frank Hickman created much interest in bands and there have been been bands since then. In 1951 music was added as a school course, a chorus was organized and the band reorganized. The students have done well in competition and have given very good concerts under the guidance of Bill Pottebaum, this last season. He has composed a Kinmundy Centennial March which will be used in the Celebration. He leaves this year to continue his studies at the Eastman School of Music.

The BAND BOOSTERS were organized on May 19, 1953, with 40 charter members. Carl Broeker, who was band instructor at the time, was the first president. (Mrs. Nila Colclasure, vice president; Mrs. Lura Robnett, recording secretary; Mrs. Elizabeth Lux, corresponding secretary; and Virgil See, treasurer.) They work to earn money for band activities and provide new instruments and other necessities. Under their auspices the band presents three concerts, one at Easter, one at Christmas, and the summer ice cream social and concert. The membership has increased to 80 and they meet once a month. Mrs. Alta Diss is president, Mrs. Bertha See, secretary.

Communications

NEWSPAPERS

In his trip through the United States during the Civil War, Anthony Trollope was amazed at the number of newspapers which were printed. Everyone read newspapers. Kinmundy has had its share, too. The Kinmundy Telegram was started on March 13, 1867 by Col. J.W. Filler who sold it to H.H. Chesley and in 1868 it was bought by two printers, O'Bryant and Pyles. O'Bryant bought out Pyles and changed it to the Kinmundy Democrat and supported Seymour and Blair in the campaign but after the election, in November it was changed to the Kinmundy Independent. Edward Freeman bought this in 1873 and continued it for at least 10 years as we have copies of one dated 1876 and another dated 1883. The latter carries his obituary and notes that his sons will now continue the paper. The Pastoral Visitor, a religious monthly edited by Rev. N. B. Cooksey for the M.E. church, was also printed by the Independent. During this time Pyles started the Kinmundy Bulletin on Jan. 1, 1875, advocating retrenchment and reform in government, and democratic principles for the country at large. This published 13 numbers only.

W. L. Arnold started the Kinmundy Register in 1879 and it lasted 26 issues. In 1881 G.W. Rutherford moved the Reform Leader from Sandoval to Kinmundy. It had quite a circulation as an advocate of the greenback policy.

R. F. Lawson started the Kinmundy Express on Nov. 8, 1883, as he stated in the paper’s slogan - "in the interests of Dick Lawson and Kinmundy." In 1890 he bought the double brick building which was later to house the company store. He crusaded for a bridge over the I.C. R.R. on 2nd street. Miss Evelyn Killie remembers setting type for him. She and Mrs. Pearl Fisher later worked for Grissom when he bought The Express. In 1898 F.O. Grissom came down from Farina to help get the paper out one week and never went back. He bought the Journal which had been brought from Patoka and for a while published both till he merged them after the fire of 1903. His shop burned again the following July in the block where the filtering plant now is.

He then moved into a house east of the Illinois Central depot (now Arnold’s.) There he sold it to Gus Spitze, formerly a teacher in Kinmundy high school. Spitze moved it down to the old Wetter building (now gone) and sold to Lem Ballance who sold to Norris Vallow. Vallow moved it one door south into the building he still occupies. Besides the Express, Vallow prints a Methodist paper, a Gideon paper, and the Marion Co. Farmer.

Early newspapers were large sheets of paper folded in half and then folded again making 8 pages, or folded once making 4 pages. In the 1900s they were still made in the same way and only part was local news, in hand set type, the rest, being more like magazine articles on world affairs, jokes, home remedies and recipes. They received these large sheets, already printed on one side. Since type is set by linotypes and not much by hand it is now possible to make up the entire newspaper locally.

TELEPHONES

The first mention of telephones found when compiling this history was in an 1883 paper which stated that on Nov. 15 E. Herrick and B. Blakeslee had gone to Salem to work up a telephone. For the rest of this information we are indebted to Will Ross. The earliest phone he remembers connected Andy Young's hardware store with his house. The store was the now vacant room south of Jesse George's and the home was on the north side of the highway across from the park where Frank Davis lived, and Glenn Doolen now lives.

Eb McBryde had also rigged up some sort of speaking arrangement between the McBryde store (now Jesse George’s) and home (now Harvey Brown's). Whether it worked by wire or not is not known. The apparatus of Young’s used wire and batteries and the speaker signalled and then hung up till the person at the other end signalled back, then the conversation was carried on. In these early days there was a local long distance line from Mt. Vernon to Effingham with a booth in the Ryan Hotel, a phone in the Company Store and probably one at the mine which were both projects of Chas. Hull at that time. Mr. Hull built the first local exchange in 1898. It was located over the Company store (empty lot south of Dunlap’s).

About 1904 Mr. Hull moved his exchange to the Hultz home (now Harvey Brown’s). He had perhaps 15 lines running in to this switchboard and Katie Hultz was the operator. Hull at one time owned or controlled all phones of Marion County except Centralia Bell. About 1905 Will Storrs started a new mutual exchange which he built up to180 phones and went into competition with Hull. This was on the second floor of the Masonic Temple.

In this era you bought your own instrument, strung your own wire to the city limits and the exchange did the rest. This was the age of Mutuals and there were groups in Salem, Odin, Patoka, Sandoval, Vernon, luka, and Omega, the latter being one of the big ones and having 400 members. A salesman would come through and sell everyone in the area a phone and the new company would be started.

On October 11, 1910, Will Ross bought out Storrs, and continued operating in the same building. In1913 the first real toll line from Salem Commercial Telephone and Telegraph Co. was installed. Before this open wires were used and service was not very clear but this was a No. 9 metallic circuit which was a big improvement. The Bell Company brought in a toll line from Centralia about the same time.

In 1920, Ross sold his exchange to the Commercial Telephone and Telegraph Company of Salem and went to Salem as Manager for their Salem and Kinmundy exchanges. In 1924 this company sold out to Bell. They moved the Kinmundy exchange to the first floor of the now vacant building on Madison Street just below Dunlap’s. There it remained until 1955 when the dial system was installed and a new building was built on Jefferson street next to the Fire Department.

ELECTRICITY

In the late 90s when Leander Matthews was mayor, the city of Kinmundy set about to build its own light plant. They inspected plants in other towns and then built one of their own on the site of Reno’s mill on Jefferson and 4th street. This furnished DC current made by a dynamo which was turned by a coal-fired steam engine. They had about 100 customers and the streets were lit at the corners by the old carbon lamps. W. G. Sims was the first superintendent. About 1909, J. C. Lee bought the plant from the city for $10,000 to be paid in Installments for ten years. During the first war coal cost five times what the price had been when the contract was made, so Mr. Lee was unable to fulfill his agreement and sold it back to the city. He continued to operate it for them until 1937 when it was sold to Central Illinois Public Service company and the city signed a 25 year contract to buy power from that company.

In the 1920s the plant was overhauled and changed to AC current. More electric equipment was being used and it became necessary to standardize current so that irons, fans, etc. could be used anywhere. The many electrical appliances that we now use did not become practical in small towns and country until the big power lines went through.

WATER

In 1953 Kinmundy built its own water plant. This was especially useful last year when many wells were dry because of the drought. The water is pumped from the I.C. reservoir to the filtering plant (used to be the old calaboose) and then to the tank which stands where Washington and East street join. There are 250 customers.

Fifty years ago houses with running water had tanks in the attic and water was pumped from well or cistern up to these, and then fed by gravity into the water system. Later windmills, then gasoline engines and finally electricity did the job.

Fraternal Organizations and Clubs

KINMUNDY LODGE NO. 398, A.F.&A.M. was chartered on October 5, 1864, and held its first meetings in the home of Col. Booth on West Fourth Street. There were nine charter members, B. H. Bodwell being Worshipful Master. As more members were added the meeting place was changed to the hall over Blakeslee's Store on the southwest corner of Third and Madison. After several other meeting places on Madison Street, they built a temple of their own on the site of the present temple and dedicated it on Jan. 10, 1902. This burned in the fire which destroyed that block on Dec. 2, 1903. They met temporarily in the K.P. hall but planned to rebuild and moved into the present building in September, 1904.

They celebrated their Diamond Jubilee in 1940, with 135 members. The present membership is 178. James Stricker is Worshipful Master.

The MAYFLOWER CHAPTER OF THE ORDER OF EASTERN STAR was founded Sept. 11, 1891. All of its records were lost in the fire of 1903. On Feb. 11, 1908, a meeting was called in the Masonic hall by 20 dimitted members of the Mayflower Chapter asking for a charter for Kinmundy Chapter No. 606. A.M. Allen acted as chairman, and Bessie King was secretary. The charter was granted April 7, 1908, and Farina Chapter No. 112 O.E.S. instituted the new lodge. The first officers installed were Worthy Matron, Ellen K. Donovan; Worthy Patron, Raymond Walters; secretary, Bessie King; treasurer, M. A. Babcock. This chapter is still active having a membership of 125. Mrs. Marge Boyd is Worthy Matron.

The MODERN WOODMEN was established August 30, 1889, but it no longer holds meetings. Their women's affiliate, the ROYAL NEIGHBORS OF AMERICA was organized March 13, 1897, by Deputy Supreme Oracle D. C. Kingsley and was one of the first camps ever organized. They still meet, though they are not a large group any more. Mrs. Betty Wagoner is Oracle.

The I.O.O.F. ROSEDALE LODGE NO. 354 was chartered Oct. 9, 1867, with eight members. It was very active for many years and owned its own building, but that was lost in the fire of 1903. It no longer meets in Kinmundy, members from here go to the Farina or Salem Chapter.

The ROSEDALE REBEKAH LODGE NO. 371 was instituted Nov. 20, 1895, by the Salem Lodge with 34 charter members. Miss Mary Shriver was the first Noble Grand. Lois Heaton of Pueblo, Colo., and Lib Humphrey Gramley of Westwood, Calif., are the only charter members now living. The group still meets and takes care of its organizations. It is now the oldest organization in Kinmundy. Mrs. Carrie Yeager is Noble Grand.

Organizations in the early days were the Royal Templars of Temperance, Fidelity Lodge No. 24, organized in 1880, and the Kinmundy Lodge 1091, Knights of Honor, organized May 31, 1878, with 13 charter members. In the early 1900s the Knights of Pythias Clipper Lodge No. 413 with its Pythian Sisters took a most active part in the town's social life. None of these meet now.

The AMERICAN LEGION POST 519 was first organized about 1921 but the records are lost and they seem to have disbanded after a few years. They reorganized in November, 1929, and have been active ever since. In 1954 they bought the first floor of the Masonic Temple building and occupied it, as their first permanent home, in August 1955. They have been most generous in lending it for meetings and activities for the Centennial. With the Ladies Auxiliary they maintain several wheelchairs and hospital beds which are available free to any person in the community who needs them. The present Commander is Gilbert Doolen, and there are 110 members.

Kinmundy has had soldiers in all wars, Indian, Mexican, on both sides of the Civil War, Spanish, World Wars I and II and the Korean conflict. These graves are remembered each Decoration Day by the Legion.

The LADIES AUXILIARY OF POST 519 was organized on Oct. 16, 1947, with 33 charter members, 27 new and 6 who transferred their membership from Salem, where they had belonged while there was no Auxiliary in Kinmundy. Mrs. Pearl Fisher acted as temporary chairman till the new officers were elected. The first president was Mrs. Maxine Robb. The present president is Mrs. Lela Mae Doolen and there are 83 members.

The KINMUNDY WOMAN’S CLUB was organized about 1911. Mrs. George H. Mayer was its first president. She was treasurer of the Illinois State Federation that year and in 1914 was delegate for the 23rd district to the Biennial Convention of the General Federation in Chicago. It was a very active club in those years and seems to have continued till 1940.

The present club was organized on July 12, 1946, with Mrs. Richard Broom, president, and 46 members. Throughout the years they have accomplished much for the community. In 1951 the children’s choir, under the direction of Mrs. F.O. Grissom, won honor for the club and Kinmundy at the State convention in Chicago. Mrs. Eugene Shufeldt served as recording secretary of the 23rd district for 1952-54 and Mrs. W. A. Franklin was county president in 1956. This Centennial Book was a club project originally and they have done much for the Centennial Celebration. Mrs. Huffy Hanna is president. The Junior Woman's Club, which was organized in 1955, is also known for its civic work. Mrs. Henry J. Steinlicht is president.

The PARENTS AND TEACHERS ASSOCIATION, with 188 members this year, is one of the strongest organizations in the community. It is believed to have begun about 1914 and was instituted by the late Mrs. Fannie Simpson Schwartz (originally a Kinmundian) who started the PTA in Marion county. Mrs. Annie Young was the first president. About 1936 it became very active and began its fine health program, giving diphtheria and scarlet fever shots in the schools; and its Summer Roundup, which is a medical examination, including eyes and teeth for children of pre-school age. It was instrumental in getting the equipment for the school cafeteria, and the latest project was the handsome new curtain for the stage in the new High School gymnasium. Mrs. Margaret Shufeldt is the outgoing president and Mrs. Lura Robnett, the new president.

4-H CLUBS train young people in homemaking and agricultural pursuits and are under the direction of the County home and farm advisors. Pioneers in this work in Kinmundy were Katherine Wormley and Mrs. Jessie Vallow, who were group leaders for many years, and organized the Menuettes. From this group Kay Greenwood won recognition at the State Fair for her clothing projects.

This year the Kinmundy Menuettes 4-H Club is a group of 25 girls whose leaders are Mrs. Dorothy McCulley and Mrs. Lora Ingram. Sue Ernst is the president and Carol George the secretary-treasurer. They meet twice monthly at the Home Ec room in the High School. This year they all have food projects and will study all phases, from baking to freezing foods, and meal planning. A demonstration and talk is given at each meeting.

The Wide Awake 4-H club has agricultural projects and was organized in 1949 by Gene Ernst. The first club had 9 members and Betty Ernst was the president. Members of this group have won recognition at various fairs: Nolan McKitrick for public speaking on safety, and Warren and Robert Shufeldt for their entomological display at the 1956 State Fair. Carry Ernst had Grand Champion Angus steer in Marion County in 1956 and 8th place for an Angus heifer in the Land 'o Lincoln contest.

The PLEASURE HOUR CLUB was organized March 27, 1923 by a group of young married couples who met once a month at each others' homes for an evening of pleasure. It is still very active and is fortunate that in its 34 years it has lost only three members by death, A. J. Young, Hubert M. Fisher and Walter S. Pruett.

The JOLLY GIRLS CLUB was first organized in 1944 by Mrs. Clifton Lemay and was called the Friendly Circle. It was abandoned about 1946 but reorganized in 1948. At present it has 14 members, who, at each meeting, help their hostess with household tasks, such as ironing, mending, quilting or such tasks.

The WEST SIDE THIMBLE CLUB was a social and fancy work club (started by Mrs. Dora Brenner and Mrs. R. P. McBryde it is said) which flourished in the early 1900s when ladies had time and inclination for things embroidered and crocheted. The membership was kept to 24, and at the Christmas party, each member gave, and received 24 presents, perhaps a chamois with ribbon and lace, hand whipped around the edge. (For those who don't remember, these were the fore-runners of the powder puff.) The ladies were always willing to teach any child how to make the things they were making and are part of the past we remember fondly.

The SIX G'S (whose name was never explained) was also a social club but this one was noted for the elegance of its entertainments and members vied with each other for unusual decorations and refreshments. It is believed to have originated with Mrs. Will Gray, and its members were the social leaders of the town. It is no longer active.

This community was settled as an agricultural community, and has remained so, though many changes have come about. When the early settlers came, the prairie was covered with 6 foot high grass that had never been cut. They settled near the creeks, and cleared spaces in tile woods for cabins, and fields to grow only what they, or their neighbors would consume. If they did grow any surplus, it was hauled by wagon to St. Louis, to be sent by boat to New Orleans, or back up the Ohio to the east. It was the custom, they say, for farmers in this area to have "drives" in the fall. Neighbors would collect all their livestock, poultry, butter, anything they had to sell, and set out for St. Louis. The chickens were in coops, the butter in barrels, and these were hauled by wagon, while cattle and other livestock, even turkeys, would be driven on foot, the whole party camping at night along the way. The railroads changed all that. They made it possible to get produce to market, so it became profitable to raise some to sell. Railroads were useless without freight to haul, so they early encouraged agricultural pursuits.

Agriculture

With the invention of reapers and mowers, and plows strong enough to break the prairie sod, more farms were opened. In the 1850s a great tide of people from Europe came to the United States. With the building of railroads they were able to settle on farms throughout the middle west and many settled near Kinmundy, and their names: Kolb, Mettzgar, Stock, Nachmann, Bilek, Jessmann and Tschudi are old names around this area.

Early crops were hay, grain and wheat. Timothy was important as hay and was first grown by James H. Gray in Section 15. Hay was shipped in great quantities, there being several "hay presses" in Kinmundy which baled the hay before shipping. Now it is done by the farmer as he cuts it. In the 80s orchards and small fruit began to be important. Apples, peaches, pears, strawberries, cherries, and mushmelons, as well as vegetables were raised for the market. Later refrigerated ears were developed which rushed the produce to the markets.

One story, explaining how Southern Illinois came to be called "Little Egypt", tells of the 2 or 3 year drought and crop failures in Northern Illinois, which caused the upstate farmers to come south for grain. This was in 1818, the year Illinois became a state, and the wagon train went as far down as Clinton and Jefferson Counties, some say down the Effingham-Kinmundy road which later became the Egyptian Trail, then Route 37.

In 1818 there was no Marion County; it was still part of Jefferson, and Clinton was part of Bond and Washington. This area was then the land of plenty, but by the early 1900s, the soil was becoming overcropped and poor. There had been no need for rotation of crops or conservation when there was plenty more land to use as the first became worn out. Fifty years ago it was the saying around Kinmundy that we didn’t need any college boys to tell us how to farm, but after some of the farm boys went to college and came back with ideas that were pretty helpful, and as new ideas were spread through Farmer’s Institutes and County Fairs, practices were changed and the land built up again. The Limestone Club was formed and its members subscribed for 100 carloads of limestone. This was one of the early steps in what now is regular procedure, putting back into the soil what you take out.

Modern equipment has made great changes in farming in this area. Before combines were used, a threshing crew, with a steam engine, toured the countryside. The neighbors helped one another, men on the wagons, bringing the grain from the field to the machine; women in the kitchen, cooking wonderful meals for the men (and assorted children who were lucky enough to be there). Who can forget the fried chicken, chicken and dumplings, and country ham; and the pies and cakes which topped off the meal?

Tractors have probably changed things most, by speeding up the work. Fields can be cultivated, planted, reaped, and brought to town in much less time than with horse drawn equipment.

One man alone can accomplish what used to take many. So farming this area reflects the great changes that have come during a century: from a bare sustenance for each family to vast quantities for world markets; from hay and wheat to corn and soybeans as cash crops; and about every 20-25 years a return of strawberries.

F.A. Pruett and sons, Charles and Walter, shipped produce from Kinmundy starting in 1892. In the 1920s they specialized in eggs and in one peak year shipped 300 carloads. They also shipped fruit and jobbed flour, feed, etc. The 1956 assessor's census shows 153 farms in Kinmundy township, 4681 acres of soybeans, 3826 acres of corn, 1279 acres of wheat, 1135 acres of oats, 777 acres redtop, 585 acres clover hay, 259 acres rye, and 40 acres of barley. Ingram’s elevator shipped 374 carloads of various grains that same year.

There have been Agricultural fairs in Illinois since the early 1850s according to old record books. Kinmundy organized one on Oct. 1, 1894, and held one annually for many years. Old clippings in scrap books tell of the great success of these affairs. In the years before the first World War, the Farmers Institute was an event looked forward to by all. New ideas in farming and homemaking were demonstrated by people from Illinois University, and from these came the ideas for the Farm Bureau, Home Bureau and 4-H movements. From the pioneer with his poor hand tools to the modern farm and farm house in one hundred years is an amazing step. From oxen to crop-dusting with airplanes!! Changes come more rapidly each year - and who can say what comes next?

Some of the members of the Limestone Club, who were the first to start rebuilding the worn out land around Kinmundy. Left to right: front row, George Snelling, Harmon Lenhart, Billy Maxey, I.R. Widdis, George Spies, Jerome Embser, Billy Morris, Russell Lenhart, Will Gray, Chas. Hull, Lish Hammers. Back row, John Holt, T. Wilkinson, Chas. Shufeldt, Will Shriver, Ed Dillon, Fred Kleiss, J. T. Arnold, George Newell, Percy Blake, Lloyd Hammer.

The Marion County Farm Bureau began in 1918. A committee was appointed on Jan. 21 of that year, two members from Kinmundy being Wm. Gray and J. Lem Ballance, and on Feb. 4 it was organized with 79 members. C.W. Vursell was acting secretary at the meeting. Joe Schwartz of Salem was elected president. Its purpose was to hire county agents or farm advisors for counsel on technical problems which were increasing as farming became more scientific. They also founded cooperatives, insurance groups, etc. The first county agent was Fred Blackburn and one of the early problems was control of chinch bugs which were a menace at that time. John Holt of Kinmundy and Frank Norris of Meacham were members of that committee. The Farm Bureau works with Illinois University which is a land grant college. This means that it was founded with money from the sale of public lands, and in return must foster agriculture and mechanic arts. The bureau has no local chapters but embraces the entire county, with directors from each township. It now has 1,998 members. Roy Doolen was president for last year. The Kinmundy Unit of the Home Bureau was organized in 1945. Only four of the original number are still in the group - Mrs. Wilma Vandeveer, Mrs. Jessie Vallow, Mrs. Margaret Shufeldt and Katherine Wormley - and since Katherine has just moved to California, that leaves three. They meet one evening each month and a lesson is given on some household subject, cooking, sewing, crafts, homemaking, health, etc. These lessons are first given by instructors from the University of Illinois Extension bureau, at the Country headquarters, to two or more from each unit and they in turn, instruct their fellow members. The ladies suggest a list of subjects they would like to study and the programs are made up from the most popular items. The present president is Mrs. Huffy Hanna, and the unit has 18 members from both town and country homes. Last year a group of young women organized another unit called the Joy Belles, with the assistance of Mrs. Ruby Shatter, then County vice-chairman. They have 8 members and their chairman is Mrs. Jane Lowe. They study the same lessons as the other groups. Both clubs work with the 4-H clubs, the Kinmundy Menuettes, Wide Awakes, Meacham Worthwhile, and others.

Transportation

Like many other towns in the mid west, Kinmundy has been greatly affected by changes in transportation. The pioneers came in covered wagons and used oxen for heavy work. In the minutes of the early city council there are payments listed for working on the city streets with ox team. Our grandparents remember when produce was shipped in wagons to St. Louis or some river port and then on by water to New Orleans or farther. After the covered wagon, the stagecoach was the method of travel, unless you walked or rode horseback.

With the coming of the railroads that was changed. People were able to get from one place to another, and more important, were able to send their produce to market and get finished goods in return. From the peddler who sold what he could carry on his back, as he walked through the country, or traveled in a wagon with a little bit of everything to sell, we changed to the frontier store, then to the general store.

The Illinois Central created little towns all up and down its length wherever it put stations, though the stations were probably placed where there was a settlement or a good location for one. It had lots of land to sell and did lots of advertising to get people to settle in Illinois. In its guidebook for 1868, which has descriptions of all towns on the railroad, it lists Kinmundy as having 2,000 population, which seems exaggerated; no other listing found was more than 1,200. Tonti was built to service Salem which as yet had no railroad. Freight was hauled by wagon between Salem and Tonti.

After 1850 the whole country went wild building railroads. Many small ones were built which were afterwards acquired by the larger companies and merged into networks. In the city council minutes for May 19, 1869, there is a petition from 30 citizens, asking that the council order an election to vote on subscribing $50,000 worth of stock in a line to be called the Kinmundy Pana railroad. The Chicago, Paducah and Memphis railroad passed through Kinmundy in 1896 when tracks were laid from Altamont to Marion. This road was acquired by the C. & E.I. in 1887, and that company proceeded to connect Shelbyville and Altamont, and in 1899 extended its line to Thebes on the Mississippi, thus the length of the state.

Mail order houses sped the decline of the small town store. Then the railroads offered excursions for shopping. If you bought about $25 worth of merchandise the merchants of Centralia would buy your ticket both ways. You could go down at 9:30 in the morning, return on old 8:22 in the evening. Gradually the stores in small towns were not able to compete with the larger places which had become so accessible.

Changes came to the railroads, too. An 1876 newspaper lists one mail train north and one south daily except Sunday, and express and three freights both ways daily. In 1883 the listing shows not only the Illinois Central, but the Vandalia Line connections in Effingham for St. Louis or New York, Cincinnati and Louisville; and the Ohio and Mississippi connections in Odin for both east and west. After 1896 when the C. & E. I. was built you could go to Centralia on the I.C., return to Salem on the M.& I., ride across town in a horsedrawn hack, and come home on the C. & E. I. In these years the hacks met all the trains in Kinmundy too, and brought people to town and to the hotels.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s the drummers (salesmen they call them now) came to town by train and stayed at one of the hotels. They hired a rig from the livery stable and made their calls on small stores in the surrounding territory, that were not on a railroad. In those days there were morning and evening trains, both north- and south-bound that stopped here. If you wanted to go to Chicago the fast train would stop, or you could leave at 9:30 with your lunch (fried chicken and deviled eggs) and get to Chicago in time for supper.

During this era the railroads were growing, more traffic meant bigger locomotives and that meant more water for steam. A larger lake was built, (the present one), and most trains going south or north stopped for water. That grade from Tonti to Kinmundy is still one of the toughest ones on the route, and gives the diesels trouble, too. This waterstop caused one of the bad wrecks which people still remember: one midnight train plowed into the other one which had stopped for water, and killed 4 railroad officials whose private car was at the rear. At this time a block signal system was being installed to prevent just such occurrences. When the first autos came to Kinmundy there were no roads except dirt ones. After the fall rains started, you put your car up on wooden jacks in the garage (it was still called the barn) and you left it there till next summer. Dr. Miller and Dr. Camerer each had cars about 1912, the kind you cranked. These models had acetylene lamps which had to be lit with a match at dusk. It was a long trip to Centralia and a real journey to St. Louis, and Chicago. There were no marked routes and it was easy to loose your way in strange territory. Then two men in a buggy came along one day, down the road from Effingham and painted black and orange triangles on every other telephone pole. This marked the Egyptian trail which became Route 37, in 1931.

Then came the trucks and buses. Gradually they took business from the railroad, especially passenger and short hauls, and now the streamliners go roaring through without stopping and the small town depends on truck, bus and private car. Many people have never ridden on a railroad, which was true long ago but for a different reason, Nowadays they don't need to. With good highways and faster cars you can live in Kinmundy and work elsewhere, so people who are not on the farm, do not have to move to the city for employment, and the small town is again a nice place to live. You can drive to St. Louis for a show or ball game or shopping. With the new thru-ways, places even farther away will become more accessible. At least one resident has his own plane, and several fly planes from the Salem Airport. Perhaps the plane will do for the automobile what the automobile did to the railroad. The next hundred years will tell.

CHURCHES IN THIS AREA

The first settlers in this community were of English or Scotch and Irish protestant groups and came from southern and southeastern states: Baptists, Methodists and Presbyterians. Catholicism was brought by the French to Kaskaskia as early as 1685, but it did not reach Kinmundy till the Irish and German settlers came in the 1840s.

CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

The first Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized at the home of James Eagan, Sept. 7, 1840 by William Finley. It was called Mt. Carmel but took the name of Kinmundy after the town was founded. In 1842 a camp meeting grounds was established near the townsite .and out of these meetings grew most of the Cumberland Presbyterian congregations in the country.

After the town was platted, Isaac Eagan gave to the congregation lot 5 block 3 in Eagan’s first addition for a church site, and was instrumental in organizing the group, affiliated with the Mt. Vernon Presbytery. This church was erected in 1859 and is said to be the first church built in Kinmundy. The building still stands, and is now used by the Church of God.

On August 19, 1865 the First Presbyterian Church was organized by the Alton Presbytery. This was a different group from the Cumberlands. They bought lots 64-65 in the original town and the building on them which had been used as a school house till the new building was built. This building known as Presbyterian Hall was later moved to Madison and Second street where it stood for many years. The congregation united with Cumberland Presbyterian, and the united congregation was known as the First Presbyterian Church of Kinmundy. When it became too small to support a church, they disbanded in the 1920s and the members went to other churches.

BAPTIST CHURCH

The Baptists are one of the earliest sects in the county. The Liberty Baptist church was a log house 4 miles northwest of Kinmundy. Elder Dickens, a pioneer in this county, probably organized this church before 1826. According to the History of Marion and Clinton Counties they were still holding church in the log house in 1881.

Harmony Baptist church was located about 1½ miles southwest of Kinmundy and was named, by the settlers who came from Mason County, Virginia, for their church back home. This group of See, Shelton and Martin families met in the See schoolhouse on March 13, 1852 and organized, and later built a church on a lot donated by R.E. Shelton. This church was damaged by a tornado about 1902. It was dismantled and rebuilt in Alma later that year. When the congregation grew too small to support a church they sold the building to the Primitive Baptists who now use it.

In 1866, 8 members organized a church in Kinmundy but it was dissolved in 1873 and several reunited with Harmony. On April 9, 1904 the Trustees of the First Baptist church bought a lot on south Fremont street from W.B. Ross and wife. There a church building was erected. After using it for several years it proved to be too far from the congregation and they moved to the Southern Methodist building on, Adams Street to hold their services. In 1922 the building was sold to T.M. Smith. In the last year the building was torn down and a dwelling building on its foundation. There is no congregation now in Kinmundy.

METHODIST CHURCHES

Circuit Riders were preaching Methodism in this area before Kinmundy was a town. Their stations were Sandy Branch, Fosterburg, and Pleasant Grove. James Harsha was pastor of the Salem Circuit in 1833, and preaching was held at the station as well as in private homes. In the summer of 1858 Dr. Elliott, of Salem Circuit, preached occasionally in Kinmundy. Rev. James Wollard, of the same circuit, was the first regular pastor. He organized the first class whose members were Waller Hensley and wife, Samuel Lawrence and wife, George Marshland and wife, Melinda Sprouse, Clara Russell, Sarah Fish, Marshall Gee and Wm. Blurton.

In 1863 the Kinmundy Circuit was formed, P. P. Hamilton, became pastor, and through his efforts the first church, a white frame building, was built, on lot 59 in the Original town plat, and where the present church now stands. Elias Neil was the first superintendent of Sunday School. In 1904 plans were made for a new building and the following committee was appointed: Capt. C. Rohrbough, Chairman; F. A. Pruett, Miss Molly Songer, W.W. Neil and W.H. Gray. In July the contract was let and Samuel Ingram, the oldest member, turned the first spade of dirt.

The new brick building with beautiful stained glass windows, was dedicated the next year. It is still a fine church and has been improved during the years by the congregation.

This year, 1957, a new parsonage was built across the street from the church and the old one was sold, to be torn down. A worthy project of this church is "God’s Acres," forty acres of land bought by the Methodist Men and farmed by them for the benefit of the church.

A Southern Methodist Church was active from 1869 to the early 1900s but they disbanded and the members joined with Cumberland Presbyterians or Methodists. Their church, which stood on block 9 on Adams Street was torn down after having been used by the Baptist congregation for some time.

ST. PHILOMENA'S CATHOLIC CHURCH

Many Catholic families came to this area when the railroad was built and as early at 1866 Father Killian Schlosser was saying mass in the homes. In 1870 a church was begun, Isaac Eagan donated 2 acres of land and Patrick Carrick on his death bed bequeathed a note with interest amounting to $809 which was to be used for the building. This is the old building in northeast part of the town, and the summer festival is still held on its grounds.

The first trustees were Martin Schoenborn and James Mahon. For the first ten years it was in charge of the Franciscan fathers of Teutopolis, then in 1878 the Diocesan clergy were sent once a month to hold mass. In 1931 with the completion of Route 37 more people were able to attend and one pastor was able to serve the church at Salem, as well as Kinmundy, and hold mass every Sunday.

In 1940 the congregation grew larger with the coming of people attracted by the oil boom. In 1945 it celebrated its 75th year Jubilee and plans were begun to build a new church. This lovely brick building was dedicated in 1951 and stands on a site donated by Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kleiss.

CHRISTIAN CHURCH

About 1900 the Christian congregations of Centralia and Salem lent their ministers. Rev. Smart and Rev. Rowe to hold a meeting in Kinmundy. The results were very encouraging and a congregation was organized. On July 4th of the next year, E. C. Bargh bought the lot on the corner of Third and Monroe from D. C. Beaver, whose house was located there. The house was then moved to the lot on the south of the High School Ag building, where it now stands. They immediately set about building a church, and on June 1, 1902 the present brick building was dedicated. According to old records there were about 41 charter members; Mercer, Bargh, Lovell, Lynch, Nelms and Matthews families being among them.

Rev. F.O. Fannon was the first minister and served for about twenty years before accepting a call to Centralia.

They have always been active in mission work and at present are helping to support Kiamichi Mission, working with the Indians in Talihina, Oklahoma, and the Burnside family who are near Honolulu, Hawaii. The present minister is Rev. Rufus Gerkin.

CHURCH OF GOD

The Church of God was organized about, 1925 with a membership of 20, by Rev. Sam Miller. The first trustees were Noah Robnett, Harry Warren, Frank Kline and Mrs. Albert Maxwell and they bought the Cumberland Presbyterian church building which had not been used for some time, since that congregation disbanded. The new church grew to about 40 members but there was a change in membership, some original leaving, others joining with 45 or 50 for Sunday School. The present minister is Rev. A. C. Martin.

SCHOOLS

The first settlers taught their own children or one, who was more educated than the rest, taught all the neighboring children. The first school in this area was a log house with a puncheon floor, large fireplace with stick chimney, and no windows. It was built northwest of Kinmundy in 1837 and was taught by Samuel Whiteside. It was later moved to the lot, just west of the C.&E.I. railroad and south of the cemetery turn, and classes were held there until 1857. Miss Annaline Pruett taught in 1856.

After the town was laid out, Judge D.P. Snelling donated a lot on Fremont street, just north of the French home, and a new building was erected there. This was frame, 36'x24' with a hall. Classes were taught by James P. Smith of Hudson, New Hampshire. Later teachers were W.R. Hubhard, Dr. L. S. Skilling, N. S. Hubbard and Miss Carrie Herrick.

This building became so crowded in the 60s that the directors rented a hall on lot 64 in the original town, and held classes there for the older pupils. Professor Pollard was instructor and he was followed by Professor Vincent of Farina. When the new school was finished this hall was bought by the Presbyterians who used it as a church and Sunday school.

In the 80s "Select School" was held here. This was a spring term in March and April after the Public school closed in February. Pupils paid $1.00 per month tuition. The hall was later moved down town to the corner of Second and Madison street, where it stood many years.

In the fall of 1865 a new four-room frame building was erected on the site of the present high school. This opened in October, with Prof. Simeon Wright, ex-soldier of the Civil War, as principal. He came from Bloomington, Illinois. Miss Permelia Elder taught the grammar department, Miss Amelia Woodruff the intermediate, and Miss Matilda Young, the primary. The contractor was Tilden Raser; W. C. Smith was one of the carpenters. In 1883 it was necessary to enlarge this and two rooms were added on the north, making six rooms in all.

This was torn down in 1910, and a two-story brick building erected, which served both grades and high school until 1955, when a new grade school was built on the Kinmundy-Louisville blacktop east of town. High school and junior high continue in the old building.

In 1912 our school was accredited by the University of Illinois so that our pupils can enter university without entrance examinations. In 1924 a gymnasium was built at the north end of the school grounds and served for all school functions, as well, as town affairs, until the new and larger one was finished this last year.

Early rural students walked miles through snow and mud, rode horseback or stayed during the week with townspeople, and were the baby sitters of that era. After the automobile became standard equipment, country roads were improved and in1940 school buses were instituted to bring country pupils to school.

This was the death knell for the one-room country school, and now North Fork, Arnold Chapel, Maple Grove, Shanghai, Wilson and other country school pupils ride in to Kinmundy school. The buildings have been sold and are converted into town-houses, community centers or even dwellings.

In 1941, High School District 25 was enlarged into Community High School District 500, and in August, 1953, the Kinmundy-Alma Consolidated District 301 was formed. With all this growth, new buildings have been added, a cafeteria and home economics building in 1949, and an Ag building in 1954. The newest addition is the new gym.

Fires and Fire Department

The first mention of a fire department is in the City Council minutes of a special meeting Sept. 16, 1867, when the mayor was instructed to procure 5 dozen buckets, either india rubber or leather, also half-dozen ladders and half dozen poles with hooks for fighting fire. In Sept. 1870, the mayor appointed a committee to inspect all flues in the business part of the city, and report on defective ones, and in October, a special committee was empowered to enter any house or building in the city, between sun up and sundown, on any week day, to examine any hearth, chimney, stove, oven, boiler, etc., and notify owner of the danger and that he should correct it. Failure to comply was subject to $50 fine and costs and $5 for every day the danger continued.

In December, 1873, an ordinance to establish fire limits was introduced and 2 dozen buckets, a 30 ft. ladder and necessary rakes and poles and other implements were ordered. In March, 1874 they voted to procure a wagon, and a place to keep it, and the implements ready and safe for use in case of fire. There were many bad fires - the lumber yard - the Mendenall Evaporator and others in the 90s.

In 1903 the business section was destroyed from the Masonic Temple to the bank and west to Dr. Camerer's office. The list of losses were: the Masonic temple, Weisberg clothing store; Gunn and Killie Grocery; M. A. Songer, drygood and Millinery; First National Bank, their safe remained in the fire but the contents were found to be unharmed; the offices above the bank, the I.O.O.F. and Rebekah halls on the third floor; John Spillman barber shop; C. T. Middleton grocery; J. P. Whitson Harness shop; Haworth Opera House; Gramley Bros., Meat market S. L. Bundy, clothing and shoes; Express Journal newspaper; S. R. Woolley, real estate; C. W. Witwer, real estate and building; W. H. Gray, building ; and the City Council who lost all the town records, or so they thought, till this year when the minutes of the very first meetings were found and lent us for this book.

The bucket brigade saved the buildings on the opposite side of the street, but were powerless to stop the blaze, till they tore down Dr. Camerer’s office and the building' next to it. The Effingham fire department came down on a freight train, and made the run in 35 minutes but arrived too late to save the buildings. The next year the buildings to the south burned, and the Express was again destroyed.

In 1916 the Opera House which had been rebuilt, burned again, and this time there was a pump cart and hose to aid the bucket brigade, but it was not enough. Those buildings have never been rebuilt since that time. About 1919 a small Ford truck was purchased and that was used til 1940, when the city got a bigger Ford pumper. Almost immediately, there was another big fire which took the whole south side of the block of Third street between Madison and the alley. At this time the fire companies came from St. Peter, Farina and Salem. This block was never rebuilt.

In 1955 the Kinmundy-Alma fire protection district was organized. This takes in quite a bit of territory outside of the two towns and acts to lower the insurance rates for farmers living in the district. In addition to the old pumper the department now has a new and bigger Ford triple combination, low pressure, high pressure and combination ladder. A siren has replaced the old bell and light plant whistle, whose frightening sound we remember so well.

KINMUNDY-ALMA VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT

OFFICERS: Jim Alexander, Pres.; George Feather, Vice Pres.; Gilbert Doolen, Secy.-Treas.; Carl Dunlap, Fire Chief; Jesse George, Assistant Chief; P. H. Robnett, Captain; James Lane, Lieutenant

MEMBERS: Vernon Allen; R.R. Atkins; James Brasel; D.C. Day; Lowell I. Devore; Edward Elston; Fred Gammon; Robert Geiler; E.B. Jahraus; B.R. Lee; John W. McCulley; Everett Tate; O. Yates Jr.; E.O. Zimmer

HOUSES SHOWN ON HISTORICAL TOUR

PARRILL RESIDENCE

The Parrill residence is said to be the first house built after the was platted in 1857. It was used as a house and store and post office by W.B. Eagan. It is mentioned in the minutes of early City Council meetings when W. B. petitioned to build scales in front to weigh hay and grain. He sold it when he built the larger home to the east and it passed through several hands before it was bought in October, 1907 by the Parrill family when they moved to town from Meacham. It has been their home ever since. It has been extensively remodeled several times. Miss Luella lives here alone since the death of her sister, Evangline.

LEACH RESIDENCE

This hundred year old house, which stands east of Kinmundy, was built by Michael Wolfe of Louisville, Ky. about 1857. It's outside walls are 18" thick and made of brick. Most of the material was brought from Kentucky. Some think it might have been planned for a hotel, since all the rooms had outside entrances and were large enough for several beds The custom in those days was for a family to stay in a hotel until their home was built on the newly claimed land. It was first occupied by Wolfe and his sister’s family, the Absalom Tuckers. She was the grandmother of Byron Rotan and the great-grandmother of numerous Boyds and Rotans and Wades. Wolfe died a bachelor, leaving no will, so the property was sold to settle the estate, and in 1868, George West, who came from Indiana by way of Galena, III., bought and remodeled it for his family home. In 1885 he sold it to his son, Charles, who added many acres, named it Hereford Park and raised fine cattle there until 1903. It went through many hands, Henry Greening, Wm. H. Meeks, Ayers Conant, John Merchant, and finally in 1920, Tony Young, who had extensive orchards in the neighborhood bought it. After his death it was sold by his widow to O.I. Leach, the present owner. The first purchaser of the land was Isaac Eagan who bought it from the government in 1852 sold it to W.J. Sprouse, in 1856, and one month later it was bought by Michael Wolfe. Eleven owners since it was government land.

SUGGETT RESIDENCE

This house built by Judge David P. Snelling nearly a century ago is now the residence of Helen and Ray Suggett, formerly of Chicago. Judge Snelling was born in Maine and worked in the ship building business in New Hampshire as a youth, which may account for the cupola with windows on all sides which in the old days adorned the roof. After joining the gold rush, going to California by ship and across the Isthmus of Panama on foot and horseback, he returned home the same way and decided to settle in the middle west. He chose Kinmundy, and built this fine old home, which is one of the community’s showplaces, since the Suggetts bought and remodeled it.

GRISSOM RESIDENCE

This house was originally the home of Capt. Calendar and has been lived in by those two families only. Capt. Rohrbough came to Kinmundy with his family after he returned from the civil war. He built this house about 1877. The lime for the mortar was burned near Omega and presumably the brick were made here as there as a brickyard in Kinmundy in the early days. Capt. Rohrbough died in 1909, and was buried from the Methodist Church across the street, whos new building he had lived to see completed. After Rohrbough’s death, Mr. Grissom acquired it from the estate about 1923, and has lived there ever since. It has been modernized and remodeled but looks much the same. Mr. Grissom formerly edited the Kinmundy Express and is now the Mayor of the town. Mrs. Grissom teaches voice and is directing the chorus for the centennial.

INGRAM RESIDENCE

This house, now the residence of Mr. and Mrs Elwin Ingram was built by Abram Songer for his bride, Margaret Nelms, when they came to Kinmundy from Xenia soon after their marriage in 1868. Mr. Songer was a prisoner in Libby Prison during the Civil war, and was one of a group who tunneled out, and made their way home. Mrs. Songer was a school teacher in Marion and Clay county during the war and received her education from the Southern Illinois Female College in Salem. With his brother, Giles, Mr. Songer built the Songer Mill which is nearby, from brick they made themselves. This house originally was a small one-story affair but in 1893 the two story part was added in front and the whole house remodeled. After Mrs. Songer’s death, her daughter, "Miss Mame" (Mrs. James Brown) lived there with her husband, father and aunt, Miss Mollie Songer, who was one of Kinmundy’s early storekeepers. After they were all gone, it belonged to Bert Garrett who sold it to the Ingrams. It has been remodeled and modernized but still has the look of the old place. Mrs. Ingram is a collector of antiques and has filled her home with them.

BAILEY RESIDENCE

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Bailey is about 100 years old and was originally the home of the George Rutherford family. It is said to have been put together with wooden pegs instead of nails, but has been extensively remodeled since them. The southeast room is where Mr. Rutherford taught shorthand to the many young people of the town, who then went to Chicago to get jobs. In the 80s he published the Reform Leader, an early newspaper, devoted to the Greenback party, and later the Kinmundy Register. He was also an osteopath and was known as the "rubbing doctor". The daughters, Sue and Ida, both went to Chicago, but later came back and remodeled and landscaped the place. It was bought by the present owners in 1943 when they came here at the time of the oil boom. They have modernized and improved the house and grounds.

Please note!!! The articles on this web site were originally reported in weekly editions of "The Kinmundy Express" (also known at one time as "The Marion County Express") which are now located on microfilm at the Illinois Historical Library in the Microfilm Depository in Springfield, Illinois. Please note that the gleanings listed within this compilation do NOT represent entire articles in most cases, but instead, general and summarized information with special interest being focused upon data which is significant to genealogical research.

Compiled, transcribed, and printed by Dolores Ford Mobley. (February 2003) Questions, comments, suggestions should be directed to the e-mail address below.    Permission to copy,  is requested.