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SEPTEMBER 24 • 25 • 26
ASSUMPTION, ILLINOIS
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ASSUMPTION
CENTURY OF PROGRESS
ASSUMPTION. ILUNOIS
Thursday, Friday, Saturday
September 24-25-26
1953
COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN
Finance :
C. C. OWENS
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Ejitertainnieiif :
DON KUHLE
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History:
C. G. WYSONG
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Dance :
RAYMOND DUNCAN
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Adxeriising :
WM. E. FEUERHAN
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PuhXicxty:
W. R. PRICE
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Corresvondxng :
LESLIE STAUTER
^^^^^^3H^K .^^^^^^I
Free Meals:
JOHN W. VAN SYCKEL
Coordination of Orpanizations:
MRS. JEFF RHOADES
JOHN D. MALHOIT
Concessions :
H. J. HARPOLD
General Chairman
Antique and Hobby Shop:
MRS. BEN A. MICHAEL
Children's Activities:
EMILY BOND
Bah)/ Beauty Contest:
una. c. c OWENS
PAUL PARK, Secretary
HUGO BRIX, Treasurer
COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN
Brothers of Brush :
BUD STRINGER
1-0115 Skirts:
MRS. ALBERT ROOT
Decoration:
PAUL PARK
Commtinity Sales:
CLARENCE CURRY
Electrical:
KRVIL A. BRANYAN
Fhntograplty:
DOUGLAS COYNE
Police:
ORLANDO LOWRANCB
Parade:
LESTER SPRINKLE
Raffle :
FRANK WOOTERS
lit gist rat ion:
MRS. JEFF RHOADES
Style Shoic:
MRS. RICHARD WORKMAN
RLTH STEIN
Olil Fiddlers' Contest:
WALTER W. GRAU
Stram Engine Show:
RALPH FISHER
WE WELCOME YOU
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Springfield
William G.Stratton
Governor
August 25, 1953
My heartiest congratulations to everyone in the
Assumption area on the occasion of your centennial cele-
bration.
The colorful history of your community, from its
inception as an Illinois Central railroad station known
then as Tacusa, through its evolution as a settlement of
Canadian and Pennsylvania colonists, gives ample reason
for your just pride in the integral part Assumption has
played in the development of Illinois.
Sincerely,
Governor
911.32/
jjy ' ^ ,m. W-. Xu^
^ DEDICATION
To the early settlers of Tacusah and Assumption who,
by their foresight, courage, endurance, faith, industry,
integrity, and thrift, have made it possible for the people
taking their place to enjoy the comforts, freedom and all
other benefits found today in Assumption, this humble
history is reverently dedicated.
PUBLISHED BY
PRAIRIE STATE TRIBUNE
ASSUMPTION, ILL.
THEN AND NOW
By Coleman G. Wysong
The hundred years from 1853 to 1953
have seen many changes, most of which
have been progressive.
We talk of the good old days but few
people care to return to them.
Where Assumption stands was an open
prairie with no trees. It is said that every
tree we have was planted here.
The surrounding country was largely
swampy end many people believed it
would never be fit for farming.
Cultivated fields have replaced these
swamps.
Walking plows, cradles, hand sickles
and scythes have given place to combines,
tractors, automatic balers and other effi-
cient implements.
In 1853 there were trails — mud roads
which now are replaced by concrete and
black-top highways and oiled lateral
streets and country roads.
The ox cart and prairie schooner have
been displaced bj^ luxury Pullmans, visa
dome coaches and airplanes. Of course,
not all of these run through Assumption,
but the best are within easy reach.
Rafts and rowboats have given way to
steamers and barges.
Bridges, ferries, tunnels replace fords.
Early settlers ate "hog and hominy,"
buried vegetables and dried fruits. Now
we have fresh vegetables and fruit
brought in winter from warm regions.
Canned and quick frozen products, refrig-
eration and deep freeze cabinets help to
maintain good health.
The one-room cabins with open fire-
places have been supplanted by modest
cottages, mansions; central heating by gas
and coal stokers; gas and electric ranges
with model kitchens and new furniture.
Candles and lamps have given place to
neon and indirect ceiling and floor lamps.
Errands on foot or horseback could not
compete with the telephone and telegraph.
City certified water plants have taken
the place of wells and springs.
The general store filled its need but we
now prefer the supermarket and depart-
ment store.
We have few blacksmith shops but
many garages and machine shops.
Home nursing and home remedies gave
way to hospitals, clinics, medical special-
ists, toxine, shots, wonder drugs, amazing
surgery, blood banks, and psychiatry.
Radio, television, concert series, cathe-
drals, university extension courses, movies,
night clubs, taverns, gambling palaces,
etc., have supplanted the little country
church, spelling bees, taffy pulls, picnics,
hay rides, bob sled parties and wakes.
In 1853 most clothing was made by
hand sewing or on the early foot-pedalled
machine. In 1953 our clothing is made by
piece work in great factories valued at
millions of dollars. The shoe cobbler has
surrendered to the great shoe factories.
The one-room school to which pupils
trudged in all kinds of weather with a
cold lunch is followed by great fireproof
buildings with school buses, hot meals,
and indoor toilets. However, many noted
and noble citizens managed to get an edu-
cation for service and happiness. Do all
our pupils today benefit from their super-
ior advantages?
Birth control and economic conditions
have reduced the size of families.
Gas and electric motors make the tread
mill unwanted.
Power washers and laundry service
have made the washboard and tub out of
date. Lye soap is now less valued than
detergents.
Sanded floors or dirt floors have given
up to hardwood floors, linoleum, broad-
loom carpets, oriental or domestic rugs.
Slop jars, privies, and "white owls'
have surrendered to bathrooms. Showers
and bath tubs are more used than the
"crick" or wash tub.
There are more conducted tours than
path finding. Luxury travel is a contrast
to the covered wagon, ox, mule and horse
caravans of pioneer times.
Motels, hotels, and restaurants have re-
placed the inn.
Bathing suits, strapless gowns and nylon
have replaced the bustle, hoops, crinoline,
corsets, ruffles and cotton of 1853.
The 1953 drug store that sells every-
thing including a few drugs is a contrast
to the apothecary shop of 1853.
Chain stores, cooperatives, stock mar-
kets, and daily market reports have had
a marked effect on the small merchant
and individual buyer.
We now have mail delivery, parcel post,
air mail and special delivery where no
mail or weekly mail was the rule.
Scrub animals with a few choice herds
of livestock, open pollinated corn, and hit-
or-miss agriculture have evolved into
purebred animals, hybrid corn, scientifi-
cally crossed animals and poultry. Artifi-
cial insemination has increased champion
milk producing and beef cattle.
Hoarded wealth once necessary may
THE OLD STAGE COACH ROAD
By Stan
- The modern movies have used the Stage
Coach so often in western pictures with
the excitement of hold-ups and gun
battles of The Old West that the younger
people of the last two generations little
realize that our local town and villages of
the Early Days were accommodated by a
Stage Coach Route extending from Shel-
byville to Springfield. This route angled
across country in a northwesterly direc-
tion. We will pick it up first at Prairie
Bird, (now called Henton) in Ridge
Township. We have been told the Bushy
Fork Creek was crossed on a ford of logs
near the Henton Cemetery and most like-
ly followed the present crooked road to-
now be placed in banks with insured de-
posits. Checks replace cash transaction.
Infant mortality once so common with
many litttle gravestones in old cemeteries
shows the advance in medicine, better liv-
ing conditions and nursing when we see
most babies thrive and live.
The life span has been greatly increased.
These are but a few of the changes from
1853 to 1953 in Assumption and America
in general.
The reader is asked to meditate a wh'le
before reading further. He may then ap-
preciate more fully the steadfastness and
courage of our forefathers under priva-
tions and the lack of many things we
deem essential.
ley Smith
ward another angling road in Rural
Township, passing the Old Jenkins place
now occupied by Herbert Jordan and the
Andy Craig place, now occupied by Frank
Southern. The Craig place was the loca-
tion of what was called a Stage Stand.
There the horses or ponies were changed.
A stable was maintained for the tired,
steaming team, and the fresh horses were
hitched in their places to carry on the
hurried trip in the direction of Spring-
field. However, the next stand was at
Rochester, which was also prominent as
the location of the Grist Mill. It seems
that the law required a fresh team should
be hitched on every forty miles.
As the route threaded its way through
the woods and prairie grass toward As-
sumption, it left its marks on many fields
of our present neighbors. Lake Fork
Creek was crossed on a wooden bridge
near the home of the late Heber Kiern,
more easily described as the land now
owned by Lela Rowley. A tavern was
supposed to be located on the McClure
land on the west bank of Lake Fork. The
route carried on going right through the
back yard of the present home of Sam Mc-
Clure; thence westerly, likely taking in
the Old Slough Corner west of the Clyde
Cazalet home. That corner was graced by
a mud hole, even in the later generations,
that was a problem for a man on a horse,
much less a stage coach.
PICTURE OF FRONT (Chestnul) STREET TAKEN IN 1866
Reading from right to left of the picture, locations at that time were as follows:
Maher's pig pen; First South street; J. F. McKee, groceries; V. Evans, shoe shop;
Bixby, dry goods and groceries; Dutch John, jewelry; Herdman & Moore, drugs;
Morehouse, hardware; F. O. Pigeon & Bros., dry goods and groceries; DuBoce, photo
gallery; Cancer, harness shop; D. LaCharite, dry goods and groceries; A. Cazalet,
general store; Campbell, furniture; Crisher & Granier, harness; H. Myers, barber;
Baltzley & Cogill, hardware; Byron Barrett, dry goods; Dr. Barrett, drug store;
Second South street; H. L. Reans, groceries; Dr. Benepe's office; Etnire Hotel; P.
Almonrode, gallery; W. McKnight. groceries; Hoyt, dry goods and post office; Mrs.
Aldrich, millinery.
SOME EARLY ASSUMPTION PEOPLE & THINGS
By Coleman
In 1787 the United States formed the
Northwest Territory consisting of Illi-
nois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan
and a part of Minnesota.
To tnis great region settlers came from
eastern and southern states and from sev-
eral foreign countries.
Illinois received her share and Christian
County a part of these pioneers.
Some of our oldest families were among
these energetic and hardy people.
In 1840 Ireland had a famine. One mil-
lion people died and a million came to
America. Assumption still has New Eng-
land, Virginia, Southern and French
names with some Irish names in its pres-
ent population.
Many Irish helped build the Illinois
Central.
In 1856 Col. Elisce Malhiot came from
Assumption Parish in Louisiana. He
bought railroad land which he sold to col-
onizers from Canada and Louisiana. Some
of these spoke no English.
From these thrifty French, rugged Irish,
and later sturdy Germans with the Amer-
ican stock from east and south has grown
a prosperous and hospitable present pop-
ulation. Many of our people bear with
honor and worthy pride some of these old
names.
We extol the virtues of our forefathers
not forgetting their human frailties and
lapses. Some were sharp traders, some
were too fond of liquor. For example, one
man said to another as they sat drinking,
"She's pizon, Jim, but we love it."
Families were large. There was a close
home life. The conflicting and counteract-
ing influences of today were not known.
The church had few rivals as a meeting
place socially and these people, while
probably no more devout than their de-
scendants, did build churches according to
their choice and attended them well.
Schools came later. An early law re-
quired teachers to be able to teach the
common branches. School houses finally
covered the county about two miles apart.
These were frequently used as community
centers. Spelling bees, debates, and some-
times religious services filled them to ca-
pacity.
An early Assumption school was held in
an upstairs room in a building that stood
at the corner of Main and Samuel Streets.
On one occasion the stove failed to draw.
A volunteer tried burning soot from the
pipe with paper. The soot blew into the
room, not up the flue. The children clat-
G. W ysong
tered downstairs with black faces.
The great American Trinity which is
home first, church next, and school third
has left its mark on our town and sur-
rounding community. No one of these can
fail without wrecking our civilization. We
do indeed owe much to our far-sighted
forefathers. Because of our mixed blood
Hitler called the Americans a nation of
mongrels. Time proved no discredit to this
blending of the blood of venturesome and
liberty-loving peoples from many cult-
ures.
It is not possible in a history book of
this size to write biographical sketches of
our early prominent men and women.
These may be found in large volumes
published in 1880 by Brink, McConough &
Co. of Philadelphia and in 1918 by Mun-
sell Publishing Company of Chicago.
A few people living here today remem-
ber when there was a common between
Greenwood Cemetery and the F. T. Wal-
lace home. There was open range where
the Rivard farms now lie.
Poor roads made Taylorville a day's
round-trip journey.
Drainage was poor. Much of the low
ground now drained by Big George was
a swale covered with many kinds of wild
flowers. Many people believed that this
and other swamp land would never be fit
for farming.
Ancestors of the Harley Mohr, Hazael
Harpold and T. P. Myers families took
oxen and mold board plows and plowed a
furrow where the low land permitted.
This furrow formed Big George.
Tile drainage followed in time. Now
some of the best farm land in the town-
ship lies where these slews were thought
worthless.
Our paved business and residence
streets were once a loblolly in wet weath-
er or inch deep in dust when dry.
The main business block once consisted
entirely of wood buildings.
The town was without trees. Some
people staked their milk cows on the
streets. One old lady objected to another,
saying they made the flies bad. She re-
ceived this reply, "Go in the house and
shut the door. The flies won't blow ye."
Every small town has had its characters.
Every generation has its outstanding in-
dividuals. Assumption has produced its
successful farmers, businessmen, doctors,
chemists, musicians and its full share of
those who gave their all in several wars.
To all these we take off our hats.
HISTORY OF ASSUMPTION
By the late H. C. LaCharite about 1900
All history is a record of past events.
The early pioneers are nearly gone and
their names and what they did and en-
dured would soon be forgotten unless
some record be made.
A little more than fifty years ago this
little town was a swamp, unfitted for the
habitation of man or beast. The land was
so level and the growing vegetation so
rank that the falling rain would scarce-
ly find its way to the sluggish streams.
There were no roads and the tall grasses
were so high that a man riding horseback
(the usual way of traveling) could
scarcely see above them.
In 1852 the Illinois Central Railroal Co.
laid out what now constitutes the central
part of the town of Assumption, in lots
and blocks, under the name of Tacusah.
Shortly after that time Col. E. E. Malhiot,
who had purchased most of the lands in
the vicinity owned by the Railroad Com-
pany, laid out what was then called As-
sumption, virtually making one town with
two names. In 1866 the name Tacusah was
abandoned, and the new survey was call-
ed Assumption.
This town is situated upon the line of
the Illinois Central Railroad, Section 2,
Town 12 North, Range 1 East of the 3rd
Principal Meridian. (The first election of
Trustees was on the 31st day of March,
1866.)
Col. E. E. Malhiot, friend of Gen. Beau-
regard and Gen. Banks, who were inter-
ested in the Illinois Central Railroad,
brought a colony from Canada in 1857.
The name Assumption was given by Col.
E. E. Malhiot, after a town in Canada. At
this time there was nothing but a railroad
warehouse and in this the colony was
sheltered.
Mr. Lambert (father of Jos. L. and my
great-grandfather) being a carpenter,
erected the first house in the town on
what is known as Samuel Street. His wife
(my great-grandmother) was the only one
of the emigrants who could speak English,
having learned it in Canada. However,
they were a resolute people who had come
here to make homes and they founded an
enterprising town which stands as a mon-
ument to their labors and perpetuates
their memory.
All products were raised under many
difficulties, but as the years passed the
pioneer conditions were replaced by those
of a more advanced civilization.
Dr. R. W. Johnson was another pioneer
coming here with his parents in 1852, he
DR. AND MRS. H. C. LA CHARITE
being 2 years old. Deer and wild game
were plentiful and they used five yoke of
oxen to a plow to cultivate the land. Grain
was cut with a sickle and cradled. Corn
was cultivated with a walking plow and
the seed was dropped by hand and cov-
ered with a hoe. Corn was shelled by
hand at night, put in sacks or tied up in
sheets, and it was sold for 10 or 12^/2
cents a bushel.
In March 1866, commissioners reported
that Christian County, the name substi-
tuted for that of Dane, because many of
the people had come from Christian, Ky.,
had been divided into 17 towns and Mr.
Jacob Overholt of this town was one of
the first Supervisors.
In 1857 the Catholic Church was organ-
ized.
Also in May 1857 the Presbyterian
Church was organized at the home of
Marcus Barrett.
In 1877 there were 300 people living
here. The early settlers were of a
religious turn of mind and they soon
organized the Methodist, Baptist and
Christian churches. As time passed
churches and a school house were built
and teachers were required to have a
knowledge of reading, writing, arithmetic
and an elementary knowledge of history
and geography.
The first newspaper was printed in
Pana and brought to Assumption. The
first number was issued on April 22, 1871,
with R. M. Carr, publisher and J. M.
Birce, local editor.
The first brick and tile yard was on
what is now known as the Fitch Wallace
home, then moved to the Balliett prop-
erty, then to the site it now occupies but
not in operation.
In 1880 there were two brick buildings
on what is known as Front Street, the
rest were small frame buildings.
Dr. Johnson, one of the first physicians,
was located where Dr. Brown's drug
store was on Front Street. He built the
first 12-foot sidewalk in front of his place
and laid out the east part of town. He
also organized the Hackberry Camp Mod-
ern Woodmen of America. A. Cazalet ran
the first dry goods and grocery store. La-
Charite and Lambert's store stood where
Chas. Owens now is, Dewey's Drug Store
where First National Bank stands, Grain
Store where The Leader stands. Silas
Shafer had an implement store, Henry's
Livery Barn was where the Middleton
property is, Hillabrant's blacksmith and
LaFolett wagon shop where the hotel now
stands. The jail was where the Boy Scout
rooms are with Cleve Little as the first
night watchman. Simon's eating house
was where Picker's store was.
In 1883 Benj. F. Hight and Silas Moore
came from Macon, 111., and organized the
first bank. These men drew up the papers,
in order to sink a coal mine in 1887 and
1888 and secured subscribers to incorpor-
ate it and become stockholders. They also
formed the telephone and electric light
companies.
The first Post Office was run by Squire
Reans on the Benderoth site. The town
grew to have 1800 inhabitants with city
water works and all things modern. The
hard road runs through the edge of town.
We have library, hotel, high school, Cath-
olic school, and grade school.
The credit for early settlers of this town
is not due to the man alone but to the
woman of that day also. Perhaps they
were entitled to even more credit for the
men could relieve the monotony of the
routine work by the many excursions to
the mill or to market, but the wife and
daughters were compelled to remain at
home and in practical solitude during the
early days of anxiety.
But it was a work of love in that it
bequeathed to those of us who have come
after, all the wisdom gathered from the
experiences of those who were here yes-
terday but today are gone.
Note: This account should be read while
keeping in mind that it was written about
fijty-three years ago.
TWO OF OUR EARLIEST
BUSINESS MEN
BENJAMIN F. HIGHT
Started first bank, telephone company,
electric plant and was instrumental in
sinking of Assumption coal mine.
JOHN W. HILLABRANT
First to erect store in Tacusah.
THE ILLINOIS CENTRAL
By Aaron M. Wysong
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'OLD NUMBER ONE" — FIRST ILLINOIS CENTRAL ENGINE
TO ENTER ASSUMPTION. ILLINOIS
The Main Line of Mid America was
chartered February 10, 1851.
The oldest portion, the West Feliciana
Railroad in Mississippi and Louisiana, was
proposed in 1828 during the presidency of
John Quincy Adams.
At the outbreak of the Civil War 1700
miles of the present Illinois Central lines
were in operation.
It has never been in receivership, never
undergone i-eorganization, nor defaulted
on any of its bonded debt.
It was the first land grant road in the
United States.
In the early days of Assumption it was
practically the only means of connection
with the outside world, bringing and tak-
ing people, mail and freight.
During the Civil War its northern por-
tions served the Union and the southern
sections served the Confederacy.
The road was first incorporated by a
bill introduced in December, 1835, at a
meeting of the lUinois General Assembly
in Vandalia, then the Capital. The sponsor
was John S. Hacker of Jonesboro and
support was given by Lincoln and his
partner, John T. Stewart.
Stock was authorized to the extent of
$2,500,000 but no one could hold more
than five shares.
The Charter provided that in place of
taxes the road was to pay the state 5
per cent of its gross operating income plus
a state tax of about 2 per cent. This rev-
enue paid off the state's debt of $16,627,-
500. This payment applies, however,
only to the original 705 and a half miles
of land grant lines.
The state gave the railroad about 2,595,-
000 acres of land along its right-of-way
which it could sell to farmers when the
government sold alternate sections within
the land grant zones.
Original Charter lines in 1856 ran from
Cairo to Galena.
Assumption now has no passenger
trains but much freight, especially coal,
passes through.
The company has extensive lines to
Sioux City, Iowa, and to Kankakee, La-
Salle, Freeport, Urbana, and service from
Chicago to New Orleans.
When the original 705 mile charter line
was undertaken, Illinois was still a wild-
erness. Towns were small, few and far
between. Vandalia had 360 people. Six
hundred lived in Decatur and 1594 in
Bloomington. Primitive transportation
was by river boats and stage coaches over
mud roads. The Illinois Central when fin-
ished was the longest I'ailroad in the
world.
In 1855 the ninety-seven mile gap from
Decatur to Sandoval was completed to
Ramsey Creek in Fayette County. Two
days later the fi st passenger train operat-
ed to Mendota over the Burlington to
Turner Junction and over the pioneer Ga-
lena and Chicago Union to Chicago.
Today Assumption lies on the Spring-
field Division with headquarters in Clin-
ton. Assumption Woman's Club was re-
sponsible for the rose garden replacing
two-block-long junk yards along its track.
The elementary school Parent-Teacher
Association, led by Coleman G. Wysong,
school principal, secured warning signals
with lights and gongs at the main cross-
ings.
The road serves 14 states, 2200 commun-
ities and has 6500 miles of track.
In Christian County it employs 37
people with a payroll of $136,000.
Pioneer Harness Maker
PETER YOUNG
One of Assumption's early settlers, who
was born in Quebec, Canada in 1861 and
came to this community with his parents
when one year old. He learned the leather
business and trade of harness making
at the age of 13 years and established his
own business a few years later. Mr. Young
married Stella Mae Winter of Owaneco
and they were the parents of two chil-
dren, Beulah and Lowell E. Beulah pass-
ed away in 1904 and Mrs. Young in 1933.
Mr. Young spent his entire life in As-
sumption in the leather business, retiring
at the age of 85 years. He was active until
a few months before his death in 1949 at
the age of 88 years. His son, L. E., con-
tinues in the leather business in this city.
W. F. MILLER & SON
ASSUMPTION
COMPLIMENTS OF
PHONE 215 —
ILLINOIS
McCORMICK-DEERING FARM EQUIPMENT
CONOCO PRODUCTS
SIMPLICITY GARDEN TRACTORS
HENDERSON LAWNMOWERS
BRIGGS & STRATTON GAS ENGINES
NATIONAL SAFES
INTERNATIONAL TRUCKS
ASSUMPTION OFFICIALS
WARREN MAGEE
President of Ihe Board of Trustees
of Tacusah in 1853
ISAAC L. LONG
Secretary of the Board of Trustees
of Tacusah. in 18Sa
WALTER B. STEIN
Present Mayor
of the City of Assumption
GEORGE HUTCHISON
Early City Marshal
TO
ASSUMPTION'S 100 YEARS OF PROGRESS
CELEBRATION
•
We are happy and proud to be a part of this
Great Community and Celebration
31 YEARS Eil^lf' d DEALER
Sf E YOUR M-M DEALER
Plymouth — DeSoto
°- KUHLEBROS. ^--^
OUR SINCERE
CONGRATULATIONS
to the folks who have made Assumption
the splendid city it is . . . and have made
our 25 years of business here so enjoyable.
jo»V^^
John Deere Farm Machinery
GENERAL ELECTRIC APPLIANCES
Sloan Implement Co
ASSUMPTION POST OFFICE
By D. H. Stephens
Chief Post Office Inspector, Washington. D. C.
GEORGE W. HILLABRANT
First Poslmasler of Tacusah
ESTABLISHED AS: Tacusah, Christian County, Illinois, November 9, 1855.
NAME CHANGED TO: Assumption, March 10, 1858.
Postmasters:
George W. Hillabrant
Fredric A. Seymour
John A. Bridge
Robert W. Cartmell
John W. Moore
William T. Wallace
Horace L. Cushing
Edward C. Watson
Karl Hight (acting)
Ernest C. Foster
E. J. Cushing
A. D. Michael (acting)
J. L. Cushing
Fred W. Baxmeyer (acting)
Archie C. Etchison
Earl W. Nichols (acting)
Earl W. Nichols (regular)
Francis P. Ryan
Francis P. Ryan (military leave)
Miss Mary A. Ryan (acting)
Francis P. Ryan (restored)
Louis L. Pierson (acting)
John W. Duncan (acting)
Date of Appointment
November 9, 1855
June 8, 1859
September 7, 1877
September 28, 1885
December 5, 1888
October 25, 1893
October 26, 1897
February 10, 1902
September 14, 1912
September 24, 1912
July 11, 1913
February 15, 1921
October 20, 1921
October 1, 1925
January 28, 1927
April 6, 1931
January 7, 1932
May 19, 1936
October 14, 1942
October 15. 1942
March 15, 1946
January 31, 1951
June 30, 1953
City Delivery established: November 1, 1918.
Domestic xMoney Order inaugurated: July 15, 1872.
International Money Order inaugurated: July 1, 1902.
COMPLIMENTS OF
D. J. DOMAS
PHILCO...
TELEVISION
RADIO
HOME FREEZERS
REFRIGERATORS
Phone 13
Assumption
COMPLIMENTS OF
ISOME'S
Lois — Charley — Barbara — Jacqueline — ???
777
1929 1953
PARIS CLEANERS
— 24 Years of Service —
MR. and MRS. WAYNE H. MICHAEL
SOME EARLY PEOPLE AND EARLY BUSINESS
By Mrs. Ben Johnson
Mrs. Minnie Hillabrant Gushing, wife of
Irvin H. Gushing, and mother of Mrs.
Ruth Gushing Johnson of Assumption, and
Mrs. Mildred Gushing File of Decatur, was
the first child born in Tacusah, July 23,
1858. Mr. Irvin H. Gushing was the first
child born in Tacusah Township, April 19,
1857, in a log cabin across the road to
the north of Edwin Johnson's home. Ed-
win is his grandson.
Mr. Williams and John Hillabrant were
the first to erect a store in Tacusah in
1854; they later sold the establishment to
Marcus L. Barrett. John Hillabrant oper-
ated, after the sale of his former estab-
listment, a blacksmith, wagon, paint, and
upholstery shop, where the Gommunity
Building now stands.
George Hillabrant, who was Mrs. Karl
Right's father, was the first postmaster of
Tacusah in 1855.
W. E. Gushing and his wife moved from
Greene Gounty in the spring of 1857 to a
farm three and one-half miles northwest
of Assumption. Three sons were born to
this union, namely: Irvin H., Horace L.,
and Samuel E. Irvin married Minnie Hil-
labrant, Horace married Dora Pitzer, and
Samuel married Lena Kinkead.
• In the fall of 1875 the family moved to
the village of Assumption, where W. E.
Gushing with John E. Hunt and Guy H.
Kinkead formed a pai'tnership which was
known as J. E. Hunt and Gompany. With-
in a month Mr. Kinkead, the only exper-
ienced business man of the firm, died.
For a year Hunt and Gushing continued
the business when Mr. Gushing bought the
interest of Mr. Hunt and took as a part-
ner his oldest son Irvin. Within the first
year they sold a one-third interest to J.
W. Moore, who remained in the firm
about one year, at which time Mr. Gush-
ing purchased his interest. Horace was
made a partner and Samuel followed in a
short time, forming the firm which was
known for many years as W. E. Gushing
and Sons. They began the business in a
one-story frame building, which was lo-
cated one door south of the present loca-
tion of the First National Bank.
In 1883 they began to enlarge their
business by building their dry goods room
with the opera house above, and in a few
years added the lower story for their gro-
cery room. Finding their space was still
too limited, they made this room two
stories, placing the stock of clothing up-
stairs. Still their business increased, and
they found it necessary to purchase the
adjoining two-story building on the west,
which they occupied below with groceries
and above with carpets, cloaks, trunks,
etc. Their entire line then consisted of six
departments.
When they sold their entire stock to R.
S. Bohon of Decatur, on December 5, 1905,
they had been in business for thirty years.
After they had sold the business Irvin and
Horace, with their families, moved to De-
catur. Samuel continued in the grocery
business in Assumption.
Horace's wife, Dora Pitzer Gushing, who
has attained the age of 91 years, lives in
St. Petersburg, Florida, with her daugh-
ter, Mrs. Madge Pahmeyer.
EARLY ASSUMPTION BUSINESSMEN
W. E. Gushing and sons Irvin, Horace and Samuel
Trulock Chevrolet Co,
ASSUMPTION, ILLINOIS
We are happy to be a part of the
Centennial Celebration
May Assumption grow and prosper for a
Bigger and Better Celebration in 2053
— WE WILL LOOK FORWARD TO GROWING WITH YOU —
OLIVER
A\ITIJ5>R|ZED
COMPLIMENTS OF
Associated Garment Co.
ASSUMPTION
PANA — SHELBYVILLE
1853 CONGRATULATIONS 1953
TO OUR FAVORITE CITY . . . ASSUMPTION
On Her One Hundredth Birthday
%\\t prairie ^tatc 'Cribune
— YOUR HOME TOWN PAPER —
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK
By Robert D. Corzine
INTERIOR VIEW OF FIRST NATIONAL BANK IN OLD LOCATION
First National Bank in corner building on Second South and Chestnut Streets
now occupied by the Tribune Office. A. H. Corzine behind teller's window with
Gus Conner, another bank employee, standing in the lobby to the left.
In the early spring of 1900, a group of
local citizens started the organization of
a national bank for Assumption. As a re-
sult, in May, 1900, the First National Bank
of Assumption was opened for business
with the following officers: President,
August Cazalet; Vice President, C. C. Cor-
zine; Cashier, A. H. Corzine; Assistant
Cashier, "Gus" Conner.
The bank was located in the building
now occupied by the Prairie State Tri-
bune where it continued in business until
1929. After purchasing and remodeling
the building where the bank is now locat-
ed, it moved there in the fall of 1929.
During the depression of the early 1930's,
this bank was one of three out of twenty-
one banks in Christian County remaining
open. It is now the oldest of six banks in
Christian County, having celebrated its
fiftieth anniversary three years ago.
From a small beginning its total re-
sources have now grown to over three
and one-half million dollars. The pres-
ent officers are: President, L. C. Corzine;
Vice President and Assistant Cashier,
Hugo Brix; and Cashier, D. C. Corzine.
Congratulations to a Fine Community
C. A. (Guinea) LUPTON
COMMISSIONER OF HIGHWAYS
ASSUMPTION TOWNSHIP
FIRST
NATIONAL BANK
OF
ASSUMPTION
Ghrist'ian (Poiintys Oldest T^anh
ORGANIZED IN 1900
Member Federal Reserve System
Deposits in this bank insured up to $10,000.00 each,
in the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
ASSUMPTION COOPERATIVE GRAIN CO.
By Carleton G. Simcox
Prior to Oct. 1, 1929, there were three
grain companies in Assumption, namely,
Assumption Elevator Co., Farmers Grain
Co. and LaCharite Grain Co. The stock-
holders of these three companies organ-
ized an operating company known as the
Assumption Grain Co. This procedure
eliminated any competition in the grain
markets of Assumption.
In August of 1934 a group of farmers,
feeling that we should have a competitive
market, held a meeting and decided that
Farmers Cooperative Grain Company
should be organized and they proceeded
to perfect an organization which was in-
corporated in September of 1934. This or-
ganization was set up under the Federal
Law known as the Capper-Volsted Coop-
erative Act.
The first step taken by the new com-
pany was an attempt to purchase one of
the existing grain elevators, but they fail-
ed in this. They then proceeded to estab-
lish an office in a garage building, install
a set of scales, bought a dozen scoop
shovels and during the next eight months
they scooped 280,000 bushels of grain into
railroad cars.
The new company was started by bor-
rowing $1,000.00, fourteen farmers signing
a note for same. In 1935 a lease was se-
cured on Illinois Central Railway prop-
erty on which they erected an office and
a 10,000 bushel elevator. This operation
was financed by selling stock in the
amount of $5,925.00 and borrowing
$6,000.00 from the St. Louis Bank for Co-
operatives. The business grew much fast-
er than anticipated by its members and
it was necessary to build another 16,000
bushel storage in 1937. Again in 1939 it
was necessary to add more capacity and a
26,000 bushel addition was constructed.
Again in 1939 it was necessary to add
more capacity and a 26,000 bushel addi-
tion was constructed. Again in 1943 they
built two concrete tanks with a capacity of
42,000 bushels. In 1944 the company pur-
chased the Farmers Grain Co., (it was a
Farmers Grain Co. in name only) and the
LaCharite Grain Co. This brought their
total grain capacity to 197,000 bushels. In
1949 four, 25,000 bushel concrete storage
tanks were constructed making a total
capacity of 297,000 bushels, the largest
country grain storage in the State.
The company has operated at a profit
every year of its existence. The first divi-
dend was paid June 1st, 1941; prior to this
all profits were invested in the facilities.
At the annual meeting of December 6th,
1939, it was voted to retire all preferred
stock leaving only Patronage Stock out-
standing. The patronage stock has no par
value, and is not transferable.
Under the by-laws of the company each
patron is entitled to one share of common
or patronage stock and each patron has
one vote in the transaction of business of
the Company.
As of June 1, 1952 the Assumption Co-
operative Grain Co. has made a net profit
of approximately $420,000.00; of this
amount $220,000.00 has been returned to
the patrons and the balance is invested
in the property. A complete record in the
office shows the amount of each individ-
ual's share of the profits invested. These
investments are paid to the patron if he
ceases to be a producer of grain, or in
the case of death, said profits are paid to
the estate of the deceased.
Several years the company has handled
more than a million bushels of grain an-
nually, the largest volume being 1,444,000
bushels.
The Board of Directors consists of seven.
The following men have served on the
Board: H. J. Harpold, C. G. Simcox, A. J.
Richards, Oscar Workman, J. W. Van-
Syckel, Lewis Kuhle, Elmer Potter, C. C.
Cazalet. Henry Schwab, Sam Mink, Earl
Bilyeu, Paul" Uffelman, J. F. Himes,
Wayne Rowley, D. C. Davidson, James
Malhoit, Philip Hebert, L. H. Kuhle, Ar-
thur Barror, C. C. Owens, Robert Riley
and Earl Damery. C. G. Simcox has serv-
ed as Manager the past eighteen years.
ASSUMPTION CO-OP.
GRAIN COMPANY
THE FARMERS OWN COMPANY
1934
1953
FREIGHT HAULED BY WAGON IN OLDEN DAYS
The Illinois Central station in Assumption with a fence around the park. There
was only a single track, no switch track. Freight had to be unloaded into dray-
man's wagon. Pictured here are Moses Stutsman, driver; Charles Padgett, in
straw hat; man in center is I. C. brakeman. Box car was No. 3965.
TTTTT^
k'JMI
YEAR AFTER YEAR
ORDER YOUR SEED EARLY
C. E. CURRY — ASSUMPTION, ILL.
ASSUMPTION COOPERATIVE GRAIN CO.
VOUR FUnH'S C-HVBRID DERLER
HISTORY OF THE MEMORIAL PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH IN ASSUMPTION
By Don Edicin Johnson
As the village of Assumption was first
called Tacusah, so was the church called
Tacusah until the towns of Tacusah and
Assumption united under the name of As-
sumption. Since that time until 1921, when
the name was changed to Memorial Pres-
byterian Church, it was known as the
Assumption Presbyterian Church.
Marcus L. Barrett was the first Presby-
terian who became a resident of Assump-
tion, and as he was strongly and faithfully
devoted to the church of his choice, and
was able by his keen foresight to see the
advantages of this church to this new
settlement of Tacusah, he soon had a
meeting arranged and a minister invited
to preach to the few scattered inhabitants
that made up this new settlement. At that
time only a very few houses could be seen
from the depot of the Illinois Central Rail-
road, that was then in its infancy of dili-
gent service to the surrounding country-
side. The Presbyterian Church was the
first Protestant Church to serve this set-
tlement. It was organized in the residence
of Marcus L. Barrett, which was the de-
pot, on the 27th day of May, 1857, by the
Reverend Mr. H. R. Lewis of the Sanga-
mon Presbytery, who was invited to at-
tend this special work. The congregation
was gathered from miles around, and it
was organized with twenty-four members.
The first Elders of the Church were S.
C. Sheller and William G. Calhoun. The
first communion service was held May
8th, 1859, in Mr. Overholt's warehouse
with the Reverend Mr. Lewis officiating.
Elder W. G. Calhoun was appointed the
first delegate to the Synod of Illinois in
1860, representing the church for the first
time.
The first church edifice was erected in
1861, and it was dedicated on June 23rd
of that year. The building was erected at
a cost of one thousand dollars; the ground
upon which it stands having been donated
by E. E. Malhiot. A manse was construct-
ed on the same lot ai the church in 1876,
at a cost of seven hundred fifty dollars.
In the year of 1878 the Assumption
Presbvterian Church shared services with
the Bethany Presbyterian Church, the
pastor preaching in Assumption in the
morning and at Bethany in the afternoon.
Reverend Maynard was the pastor at this
lime.
In 1888 the Trustees sold the church
MARCUS L. BARRETT
building and moved it off the church
grounds, and erected a new church build-
ing at a cost of four thousand dollars. On
October 25th, 1888, the church was incor-
porated under the name of the First Pres-
bvterian Church of Assumption. In 1902
the church building was enlarged by the
addition of an annex for the use of the
Sunday School, which addition was built
at a cost of twenty -four hundred and fifty
dollars. This edifice was removed in 1919
for the erection of the present church.
Thirty-one years after the erection of
the second building. Miss Mattie O. John-
son, whose generosity and great devotion
to the service of her God and her fellow-
men will be cherished forever, presented
to the community of Assumption one of
the most modem and adequately equip-
ped church edifices to be lOuud in a town
of its size. An excellent and imposing pipe
organ was given to the church by Mrs.
Clara Myers, Mrs. L. B. Farrell, Mrs. C.
G. Wysong, all deceased, and Thomas P.
Myers. This organ has added greatly to
the impressiveness of the services and it
is always a pleasure to hear the melodious
strains that it brings forth. Both gifts
were properly and impressively dedicated
Sundav, June 5th, 1921, at which the Rev-
erend Dr. W. H. Penhallegan of Decatur
delivered the dedicatory sermon, with the
pastor, Reverend Elmer S. Martin, offici-
ating in the formal dedication ceremony.
In sacred memory of Miss Mattie O.
Johnson, who presented the church to the
congregation, they voted unanimously to
the change of the church name from ""Fhe
First Presbyterian Church of Assumption"
to "The Memorial Presbyterian Church of
Assumption" at a congregational meeting
on the 19th of October, 1919. This third
church was erected at a cost of fortj'-five
thousand dollars, and it has proved suffi-
cient to meet the requirements placed
upon it by the past.
With the numerous improvements and
redecoration when necessary, the church
will be quite able to meet all the require-
ments placed upon it by the years to come
and it will remain as a guiding light and
a bastion of faith to the endeavors of the
community'.
The succession of ministers who have
been connected with the labors of the
church is as follows: H. R. Lewis, 1857-60;
Clark Louden, from 1861 to 1866; B. E.
Mayo, 1866-68; Washington Maynard, took
charge of the church as a supply in 1868
and was installed as pastor, September 24,
1873, which pastorate ended in Septem-
ber, 1875; R. M. Neill was employed as
supply on January 1, 1876, for one year,
but owing to adverse circumstances he
was forced to leave in August of 1876.
Washington Maynard again occupied the
pulpit, beginning October 1, 1876, and he
left the charge after a number of years
of diligent and faithful service. He was
followed in the charge by Reverend Laf-
ferty; O. P. Galloway; L. B. Dve; A. M.
EUiot; L. M. Coffman; William" MacKay;
J. N. Strain, 1902-04; J. F. Fetteroff, 1904-
05; C. H. Ticknor, 1905-06; J. F. Rogers,
1906-10; H. G. Duzenbury, 1910-13; W. A.
Sears, 1914-19; W. H. Penhallegan, 1919-
20; Elmer S. Martin, 1920-23; E. E. De-
Long, 1923-28; John Meeker, 1928-32;
Philip R. Coen, 1932-38; John P. Emig,
1938-42; James W. Rankin, 1943-44; Ken-
neth Brown served as pulpit supply from
May of 1944 to Reverend Rankin's return
from the service of his country in April
of 1946. Reverend Rankin remained as
pastor until 1950 when Howard Strong
became the pastor of the church and he
remains in that position today.
The Memorial Presbyterian Church of
Assumption has grown from its humble
origin in the town's first depot to a haven
for the weary of heart, spirit, and faith.
As the City of Assumption has grown, so
has the Presbyterian Church and it will
always remain as a haven of rest in this
world of turmoil.
Chimes were presented to the church in
1949, bv Leonard and Donald Kuhle, as a
memorial to their father and mother. The
sweet and resonant chords of these chimes
may be heard throughout the community
on many occasions.
LEWIS KUHLE FORD AGENCY ON FIRST STREET
In building now occupied by Central Illinois Feed & Supply. The late Mr. Kuhle,
local Fold dealer in the early "gas buggy days", is pictured on the right with Sam
Hallowell in the center and Bill Moore on the left.
OLD RESIDENTS OF COMMUNITY
John L. Ryan was born in Assumption,
Illinois, December 1st, 1865. His parents
came to Assumption from Ireland in 1858.
His father was section foreman on the Illi-
nois Central Railroad and lived in the
section house which stood on the corner
where the State Bank Building now
stands. It was in this house Mr. Ryan was
born.
In the year 1869, his father bought the
farm southeast of Assumption (part of
which was purchased from the Govern-
ment), where Mr. Ryan and his family
still reside.
In his early manhood Mr. Ryan was a
railroad telegrapher and station agent for
the Chicago and Alton Railroad, stationed
at Carrollton and Jacksonvilie, lU. In
Jacksonville he met and married Miss El-
len Cullen. They celebrated their Golden
Wedding Anniversary in 1947. They are
the parents of seven living children.
Mr. Ryan is a member of St. Mary's
Catholic Church and a lifelong Democrat.
He takes an active interest in the affairs
of the farm and is an avid baseball fan.
JOHN L. RYAN
Aged farmer residing southeast of town
PETER F. PIERSON
Assumption's oldest citizen who is 94
years of age. He was born at Canton, Ohio
in 1859, to Mr. and Mrs. Louis Pierson,
and moved to Blue Mound, Illinois with
his parents in 1869. He was married to
Carrie L. Reis and moved here with his
family to the Myers farm north of As-
sumption in 1897. He retired in 1930 and
now resides with his son and daughter-
in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Louis L. Pierson.
G. J. ADELHART
Assumption's oldest business man,
having conducted a meat market
and grocery store here for the
past fifty years. He is 80 years old
and also numbered among our
oldest residents.
CONGRATULATIONS
ON
CENTURY OF PROGRESS
DECHY'S MARKET
FRESH MEATS and GROCERIES
COMPLIMENTS
— of —
Norman C. Huss, M. D.
Assumption, Illinois
Compliments of
Wilfred S. Miller, M. D.
Assumption, Illinois
Compliments of
Dr. G. P. Walker
— DENTIST —
Assumption, Illinois
Compliments of
C. A. MARKWELL
TILE DRAINS
. . . or . . .
SUMPS FOR FIELD TILE
CONGRATULATIONS ASSUMPTION
ON OUR 100th ANNIVERSARY
THE BEAUTY SPOT
LEONA RICHARDSON. Prop.
COMPLIMENTS
— of —
JONES GROCERY
GROCERIES and MEATS
— Open Every Night —
CONGRATULATIONS
TO ASSUMPTION
— A Great City —
FATSO'S BILLIARDS
Congratulations to Assumption
On Your Hundred Years of Progress
HUGO'S TAVERN
FINE DRINKS and SANDWICHES
CONGRATULATIONS
to
"The Old Home Town'
MR. and MRS. A. D. DAY
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH OF ASSUMPTION
By Rev. Dr. C. T. Stolze
irz^
The Catholic Church of the Assumption
undoubtedly gave the City of Assumption
its present name. This church was estab-
lished in the year of 1857, when thirty-
five families of French Canadians came to
Tacusah, as Assumption was then known.
The leader of these early settlers was a
Colonel Malhiot. These early families
were joined about the same time by sev-
eral families from the County of Assump-
tion in Louisiana. Together these early
beginners settled the land of virgin prairie
which was almost submerged in swamps.
Colonel Malhiot donated the land on which
they built a little log church, which they
named for the beloved Mother of God, the
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
This first church was built on the north-
west corner of what is now known as the
Adelhart farm.
From 1857 to 1868, all the priests were
natives of France. The first priest was
Father Venissa. In quick succession came
Fathers Gonant, Dutour, Magne, Vogt,
Bedard, Recouvreur and Jacque, all from
France.
On Oct. 17th, 1858, four records of bap-
tisms are found in our present baptismal
register. The first to appear is that of
Mary Bergeron; next Augustina Rose Ce-
sar; then Mary LaFlamme, and then
Francis Xavier Malhiot, all baptized by
Father Gonant. The records are beauti-
fully written in Latin and very legible. It
is evident from this fact that visiting and
neighboring parishes supplied the spirit-
ual wants of the early settlers for the first
year, 1857.
The present church was built in 1870 by
Father Jacque. There followed in order
the following priests: Fathers Withoff,
Kempen, DeChene, Leufgen, Pennartz,
Ader, Mahoney, Carroll, DeChene. Father
DeChene remained the longest, for 22
years. It was under his leadership that
the present convent and school were built
in 1903, and given over to the care of the
Dominican Sisters, who have served unin-
terruptedly ever since. Three of the sons
of the parish school have become priests
and eleven daughters have entered the re-
ligious life as nuns.
Father D. J. Higgins remained for 13
years and made many improvements. The
present rector is Rev. Dr. C. T. Stolze,
who has been here for the past twenty
years, coming in the year 1932. Since then
all the buildings have undergone a com-
plete remodeling. The church has under-
gone a complete renovation costing $50,-
000.00 with all the latest equipment,
marble floors, the latest electric pipe or-
gan and beautifully decorated murals
done in oil, which rank this church with
the best far and wide. This renovation was
completed in 1938. In 1949 the new $90,-
000.00 parsonage was constructed. The
home as it stands today is one of the most
beautiful and attractive residences in this
part of the State.
The parsonage is eighty by fifty feet,
and consists of eight rooms, all on one
floor, three complete baths, floors of con-
crete with carpeting to the walls; win-
dows, screens and storm-windows are all
of aluminum; the roof is green tile with
copper guttering; heated with the latest
baseboard hot water radiation. The pas-
tor's suite comprises a library, lounge, liv-
ing room and bedroom. A spacious dining
room will accommodate thirty or more
priests. The sixty-foot basement consists
of recreation room for priests, laundry
room and furnace room with oil burning
furnace.
The parish consists of 200 families of
energetic business and farm families.
MRS. JOHN F. BEHL
At the age of 17 years when she came to
this locality in 1872. She passed away June
22, 1947, shortly before her 93rd birthday.
Her children are Lee J., A. J., and John A.
Behl, and Veronica Michael.
CITIZENS BAND OF ASSUMPTION
Front row, reading left to right: Martin Watson (drums), Corwin Neal, Alhime,
Frank Gandy. Middle row: C. A. DuBoce, Herman LaCharite, H. J. Harpold, Wayne
Hight, Pete Randall, Waldo Long, Leland Watson, Floyd Holler. Back row: Fred
Null (leader), E. A. Tobias, L. A. Tripp, Karl Hight, Holland Lambert, Virgil Fen-
ton, Elmer Tripp, Albert Lipp, E. C. Foster, Ira Tobias, Walter Short (manager).
ASSUMPTION METHODIST CHURCH
By Mrs. Ervil Branyan
The Assumption Methodist Church had odist Church in Decatur
its beginning in the year I860 when eight
members banded together to form what
they called the "M.E. Society." Joel H.
Abbott was chosen "leader" and the De-
Mottes, J. L., Ann and William, J. P. and
Ann Stark, Hulda Cushing, and J. K. Mor-
ton comprised the class. For some time
this society held its meetings in a carpent-
er shop which stood on the corner of Sec-
ond South Street and the alley.
In 1868 they started the building of a
church which was completed in 1869 at
a cost of $4,000. In 1376 a parsonage was
built for $750. H. B. Tobias was chosen
as Sunday School Superintendent by this
group of earnest workers. The official
board consisted of Ames Kerr, steward
and trustee; E. W. Mohr, steward and
trustee; E. J. Fribley, steward; Isaac
Campbell, J. A. Wemple, and H. H. To-
bias, trustees. The Reverend J. M. West
came to be their pastor in 1871. There
were twenty-two pastors in the years fol-
lowing his appointment up to 1904 when
J. M. Bennington arrived to be the last
pa-'tor to officiate in the old frame church.
Since the old church was no longer ade-
quate for the growing congregation, the
members decided to build themselves a
new one. The last morning sermon in the
old church was given on August 26th.
1906, by the Rev. Gay who had been pas-
tor of the church in 1881. He expressed
appreciation for the help given him dur-
ing his pastorate and gave special thanks
to Mrs. A. H. Keller. He also thanked Mr.
and Mrs. Isaac Campbell, Mr. and Mrs. H.
H. Tobias, Mr. and Mrs. Fribley, Mr. and
Mrs. Eli Mohr, Mr. and Mrs. S. A. Shafer,
Mrs. E. J. Adams, Arthur Wemple. Mrs.
William Reading, Mr. and Mrs. Moses
Padgett, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Keirn, and
Mr. and Mrs. Amos Kerr. Pastor Benning-
ton preached the evening sermon and Cor-
win Neal sang "Tell Mother I'll Be There."
On Monday morning a group of
young men, including William and Ever-
"ette Thomas, H. M. Wemple, and A. E.
Stanley, supervised by Rev. Bennington,
started tearing down the old church. On
Tuesday morning the bell was taken down
much to the dismay of the many pigeons
who had made the belfry their home.
Rev. C. M. Barton of Waverly delivered
the address at the "ground breaking" on
the following Monday.
The cornerstone of the n?w church
building was laid on October 23rd, 1906,
in the afternoon. The address was given
by Rev. Van Cleve, pastor of Grace Meth-
The stone was
laid by Rev. B. F. Shipp, presiding elder
of the Decatur District. There was an an-
them by the choir and a solo by Miss Fitz-
simmons. Placed within the cornerstone
was a Bible, a hymnal, a 1904 Discipline,
a church directory, pictures of the old
church, a picture of Isaac Campbell, a
1906 penny, plus copies of church papers.
The new church was dedicated on July
21st, 1907. The opening meeting was a
Sunday School Rally with many former
ministers as guests. I. L. Long was Super-
intendent of the Sunday School. The To-
bias orchestra played at the opening exer-
cises. There was a large crowd attending
the morning worship service. Ushers were
A. Corrington, Hollis Christopher, Corwin
Neal, Waldo Long, Earl Robinson, John
Baltzly, Rolla Beilsmith, Howard Tobias,
and Elton Jones. Page boys were George
Fleck, Paul Christopher, Frank Tobias,
Wilbur Crouch, Lisle Haverfield, Warren
Lock, Orland Neal, Harry Jenkins, and
Virgis Jones.
Rev. W. D. Parr of Kokomo, Indiana,
preached the morning sermon from the
text "Love Never Faileth." Mrs. Leroy
Johnson sang a beautiful solo. There was
a great money-getting campaign at this
service and during the day, and the
amount of $12,187 was given. Karl Hight
was treasurer of the board and he ap-
pointed Mary Hollett and Rev. H. B.
Montgomery as clerks. At 2:30 p.m. there
was a "Children's Hour" with Rev. Shipp
speaking.
Miss Lulu Hildreth sang "Just a Little
Pansy." Children ware baptized at this
service. The evening service was taken
over by Rev. Parr and at the close of his
dedicatory declaration the congregation
and choir broke forth into "Praise God
From Whom All Blessings Flow."
So, they built our present church, and
forty-six years have passed. The people
who worked so hard have many of them
gone on, leaving someone else to fill their
places, all working for a common aim, to
spread abroad the love of God.
Our present minister is Robert Boley,
and preceding him were Arthur Scott,
Dean Sharp, Charles Liston, A. E. C.
Pentland, Lewis D. Hopper, John Decker,
Rev. Henry, A. J. Powell, J. Fred Melvin,
Milton Wilson, and many others. Members
of the church with the longest continuous
service are Mrs. Alta LaCharite and Karl
Hight, who both joined the church in 1893,
under the ministry of Peter Slagle.
CITY OFFICIALS
W. B. STEIN, Mayor
KARL HIGHT, City Clerk
BELLA GRANT, Treasurer
CHAS. SLOAN, Police Mag.
— ALDERMEN —
W. R. PRICE
ALBERT ROOT
A. D. MICHAEL
WILLIAM CRAFT
WAYNE BRACKETT
WILBUR TANKERSLEY
from
Township Officers
SEWARD LONG
SUPERVISOR
CHAS. W. ISOME
TOWN CLERK
KARL HIGHT
ASSESSOR
J. A. MYERS
EMMETTE ISOME
JUSTICES OF PEACE
W. B. STEIN
CONSTABLE
COUNTY OFFICIALS
:-^_ r.
H. R. (Reg) TURNEY, County Clerk and Probate Clerk
EARL R. LANCASTER, Circuit Clerk and Recorder
JAMES CASHIN, County Treasurer
LEONARD (Doc) NORRIS, Sheriff
CLOYD WRIGHT, County Superintendent of Schools
ASSUMPTION COMMUNITY BUILDING
By Coleman G. JVy song
COMMUNITY BUILDING
The building now owned by Assumption
Township and used by the community as
a place for elections and other public
meetings was for many years a hotel.
It was built for a hotel and as a mem-
orial to Philip Kemmerer by his wife,
Sarah, and was dedicated in 1908.
All prominent people of Assumption
were guests at this dedication and many
were speakers or took other parts in the
ceremonies. Caterers and waiters were
brought from St. Louis for the elaborate
banquet.
Some of our professional people made
Hotel Philip their temporary heme when
first coming to Assumption.
It served as a hotel and still houses the
Public Libraiy, Boy Scout Room and Rot-
ary Room. Other groups meet in it, also.
For some years it had a gymnasium and
a club room for the Y.M.C.A.
Then, with the elimination of passenger
trains through Assumption, and the in-
creased travel in automobiles by travel-
ing men, it ceased to pay as a hotel and
stood idle for a time.
Due to the foresight and public spirit
of Dr. B. F. Zobrist, several interested
citizens saw possibilities in this building
which was on the verge of being sold f^r
salvage.
It was purchased at Master's Sale Oc-
tober 29, 1937, by Charles Spence, realtor,
for these citizens who signed a note guar-
anteeing its payment.
On March 25, 1938, at a special election
the voters of Assumption Township decid-
ed it should be a recreation center and
become public property. Bonds for reim-
bursing the guarantors were voted at this
election. The last was retired in 1951 on
November 1. It is now supported by a
nominal tax. It has great possibilities and,
no doubt, will be maintained properly-
Few small cities have a public building of
such fine appearance and utility.
Present trustees of the Assumption
Community Building are: B. F. Zobrist,
Roy Jones and Claus Rohweder.
F. T. WALLACE
Retired farmer and business man, who is
one of our oldest citizens.
DR. B. F. ZOBRIST
Prominent physician of Assumption, who
recently observed his fiftieth year in the
medical profession. He is a former mayor
and has always taken an active part in all
affairs for the betterment of our com-
munity. He is a veteran of World War I,
BEST WISHES
ON A
SUCCESSFUL CENTENNIAL
RUTH'S BEAUTY SHOP
RUTH LOCKART. Prop.
COMPLIMENTS
— of —
CECILE'S
LADIES' and MEN'S WEAR
HARRY and KONITA
HILDA
COMPLIMENTS
— of —
RALPH FISHER'S
Welding - Blacksmithing
SUCCESS ON OUR
CENTURY OF PROGRESS
BUDDY'S TAVERN
Compliments of
WAYNE MIDDLETON
STOCK FARM
CHESTER WHITE HOGS
COMPLIMENTS and BEST WISHES
NAVE'S
Body & Paint Shop
— Phone 124 —
DUNCAN
BARBER SHOP
IS WHERE ALL PARTICULAR MEN
GET THEIR HAIR CUT
COMPLIMENTS and BEST WISHES
ON A SUCCESSFUL CENTENNIAL
RADFORD GRAIN CO.
Phone: Assumplion 2I9R
Compliments of
DONOVAN
COAL YARD
GREEN MARKED COAL
— Phone 62 —
Compliments of
FRED C. MILLS
. . . YOUR . . .
PRUDENTIAL REPRESENTATIVE
Assumption, Illinois
KEMMERER ORPHANS' HOME
By Rev. Peter Fisch
KEMMERER HOME
Mr. Philip B. Kemmerer, a kind-hearted
citizen of Assumption. Illinois, willed most
of his estate, consisting of 420 acres of
land in Christian County, two and one-
half miles south of Assumption, besides
notes and money, to found and sustain a
home for friendless, dependent or orphan
children of all denominations. His will
provided that said Home should be under
the control of the Presbyterian Churches
of Central Illinois and his widow, Sarah
A. Kemmerer, was named as executrix to
carry said will into effect.
Mr. Kemmerer died on Christmas Day.
1905, and his will was contested by heirs-
in-law. After a long- expensive litigation,
involving the loss of more than $10,000
and nine years in lime, the Supreme
Court sustained the will and held that the
Churches of Central Illinois meant those
of the Mattoon and Springfield Presby-
teries. Shortly after l'J14 the Presbyteries
appointed by the Supreme Court assumed
control of the trust and a Constitution was
adopted. A Board of Control consisting of
five members was created and conducted
the affairs of the Home until the ye^i 1939
when there was a revision of the Consti-
tution and By-Laws, and the former
Board of Control became known as the
Board of Directors.
The present brick building was erected
and furnished in May, 1914, at a total cost
of $13,353.30 — encumbered by a debt of
$4,000.00.
The early years of operation were diffi-
cult and discouraging times. The farm
land had to be drained and fertilized and
cost several thousand dollars. At first
there were only a few children and no
field worker for the institution. The first
Field Representative was employed in
1920 and accomplished a great deal to-
ward building up the Orphanage. In 1923
Miss Emma Rhea became Field Secretary
and it was due to her tireless efforts that
the Home was placed on a paying basis.
er. Superintendent
Mi.ss Mary Louise Elder assisted Miss
Rhea for some time and later became act-
ing State Secretary, in which office she
acted for some thirteen years. Rev. Peter
W. Fischer, formerly Superintendent of
the Presbyterian Orphanage of Missouri,
and a Presbyterian minister, came to
Kemmerer Home as General Superinten-
dent in January, 1950.
The Board of Directors still controls the
affairs of Kemmerer Home but in 1951 the
number of members was increased from
five to nine. The following officers and
directors are serving on the Board at
present:
President and director. Rev. Horace
Batchelor, Mattoon; treasurer, W. R. Mc-
Gaughey, Millikin Bank, Decatur; secre-
tary and attorney, James S. Baldwin,
Millikin Bank Bldg., Decatur. Directors:
Rev. J. Frank Janssen, Jacksonville; Rev.
Roscoe Coen, Vandalia; Rev. Richard
Graebel, Springfield; Howard Ainsworth,
Mason City; Harry Jenuine, Greenup;
Carl Simcox, Assumption; Mrs. Harry
Hershey, Taylorville; LeGrand A. Flack,
Effingham. Carl Simcox, director, of As-
sumption has also been appointed as
trustee of the farm lands by the Christian
County Court and he is responsible not
only to the court but to the Board of Di-
rectors as well.
In January, 1939, a non-profit, charit-
able corporation was formed under the
laws of the State of Illinois and the name
of this corporation was Kemmerer Or-
phans' Home. A charter was obtained
from the Secretary of State and was ap-
proved by the Department of Public Wel-
fare. The board was organized by electing
proper officers and has been in effect ever
since. This reorganization plan is believed
to set forth a legal entity capable of re-
ceiving gifts either personal or real prop-
erty and of legally holding such gifts for
the purpose set forth in its charter. The
institution is securely under the control
of the Mattoon and Springfield Presby-
teries and its stability and legal status
cannot be questioned.
Kemmerer Home is located on the
northeast corner of the original Kem-
merer home farm and we have about 8
acres for our own use. We have spacious
yards surrounding the Home building and
several large garden patches, small orch-
ard spaces, and chicken and stock yards.
The rest of the 420 acres is tenant-farmed
and is supervised by Mr. Simcox.
During the fall and winter of 1947-48
the original Orphanage Building was re-
modeled and enlarged. The addition in-
cluded a large laundry room in the base-
ment; a large, well-lighted, modern kitch-
en and back porch on the first floor,
and four bedrooms and a bath on the sec-
ond floor. This construction was complet-
ed at a cost of $33,415.74. With this addi-
tional space we are now able to care for
26 dependent or orphan children. Most of
the time we have our full quota and as a
general rule we have to turn away many
boys and girls during the year due to lack
of room in which to care for them. Dur-
ing this same period of building a cottage
was built west of the institution at the
cost of $11,000.00 for use by the superin-
lendent and his family.
At present we have outlined tentative
building plans whereby we will have suf-
ficient room to care for at least 56 more
children. We hope to use the cottage plan
in our program.
The resident children of Kemmerer
Home are admitted after careful and com-
plete investigation of their case history.
Our children come here either by court
order, through the churches, or are sent
by voluntary' arrangement with the par-
ent. Our Home is supported by gifts from
churches, individuals, bv bequests, by
county courts who partially pay for their
own children, or by income from our farm
lands. There is a definite age limit — 2^2
to 13 years of age. Children are allowed to
remain here at Kemmerer Home until
they reach majoiity, until such time as
they can be reunited with their family, or
until footer homes can be found for them.
Our boys and girls attend the Assumption
Town Schools and are encouraged to get
a higher education. They are active in all
school functions and our staff members
are interested in all P.T.A. activities.
We attend the Memorial Presbyterian
Church in Assumption. Our boys and girls
and some of our staff take active part in
the church activities. We observe our own
religious services here at the Home and
have an appropriate chapel service each
Friday evening. Our matron. Miss Lura
Vincent, holds a Master's Degree in Reli-
gious Education and leads our children in
a '^^ine religious program.
We have 10 people on the staff hero
at Kemmerer: the Superintendent and his
wife, the Reverend and Mrs. P. W. Fischer,
the matron, a boys' housemother, girls'
housemother, secretary and bookkeeper,
caseworker, cook, maintenance man and
the laundress who comes in four days per
week.
We publish a paper quarterly, "The
Kemmerer Khronicle," in which we try to
L;i\e you some interesting items and pic-
tures of the children in some of the acti-
vities and life here at Kemmerer.
We are always glad to welcome visitors
and the children arc thrilled to have
"cf mpany". Visiting hours are usually on
Sunday afternoon but we are always glad
to have folks stop in and visit with us and
make a rour of the Home whenever it is
convenient for them.
MR. AND MRS. PHILIP B. KEMMERER
ASSUMPTION RACE TRACKS
ASSUMPTION FAIR RACE TRACK
This race track located on Myers section, north of present Poteet residence, furnish-
ed much enjoyment to residents of this community about 68 years ago. Big George
ran through the center, dividing the bleachers on the left from the track. Access
to the track was made by way of bridge.
JOHNSON'S OLD RACE TRACK AT NORTH EDGE OF ASSUMPTION
Charles Craft, driver at the Johnson race
track, who now operates a truck line, haul-
ing drayage between Decatur and Pana.
MYERS BARBER SHOP
W. Harmon "Red" Myers. Prop.
OVER 30 YEARS OF
CONTINUOUS GOOD SERVICE
— WELCOME OLD-TIMERS —
If we don't know you — We'll know
someone who does
The late Merton Johnson
with Lyn Gould, well known racer.
STEWART'S
SHELL SERVICE
Wheel
Balance
Armstrong
Tires
BRAKE SERVICE
Phone 85 - - Assumption, 111.
COMPLIMENTS
of
DR. A. C. ETCHISON
VETERINARIAN
— Phone 120 —
COMPLIMENTS
— of —
LYNN Mcelroy
BULLDOZING
DITCHING — CLEARING
Phone 15 Westervelt, Illinois
Compliments of
HOWSE REPAIR SHOP
AWNINGS — CANVAS WORK
AUTO TOPS
— Phone 56 Green —
C. ROHWEDER
DRUG STORE
THE REXALL STORE
ASSUMPTION. ILLINOIS
GREAT SUCCESS
ON YOUR CENTENNIAL
McLEOD SHOE STORE
and REPAIR SHOP
SHOES FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY
ROUTE 2 GARAGE
WILBUR TANKERSLEY & SON
AUTO REPAIRING — ACCESSORIES
Road Service
Phone 265 U.S. Route 51
R. L. WEMPEN LUMBER
COMPANY
"FOR YOUR BUILDING NEEDS"
Phone 125 - - - Assumption
CLARA V. LAMBERT
EQUITABLE LIFE ASSURANCE
SOCIETY OF THE U.S.
• — and —
GENERAL INSURANCE
COMPLIMENTS OF
PRICE
FURNITURE STORE
EVERYTHING FOR THE HOME
— Phone 57 Red —
COMPLIMENTS OF
ADELHART & BRULE
QUALITY GROCERIES
and MEATS
— Phone 97 —
ASSUMPTION CHRISTIAN CHURCH
From An Old Record
OLD CHRISTIAN CHURCH
In the autumn of 1870 Elder J. M. M.r-
gan held a meeting in the Baptist Church
and baptized several people. They, with
several others of the same faith, number-
ing twenty, met in different homes on the
Lord's Day and observed the Lord's Day
or communion. The gospel was frequently
preached by J. M. Morgan and A. D.
Northcutt.
In the spring of 1874 D. J. Watson, Dr.
S. M. Benepe and J. J. Benepe were
chosen trustees. The following year D. J.
Watson gave the lot on which the present
church stands and a building was begun
in October, 1875. It was dedicated by
Elder N. S. Haynes of Decatur on the sec-
ond Sunday of January, 1876. It stood in
a grove of maples and was 54 by 36 feet
with an 18-foot ceiling. The spire was 85
feet high. The church seated 325 and cost
$3800.
Following a meeting in which 41 per-
sons were added, a full organization of
the church was completed. W. P. Mauzy
and D. J. Watson were ordained elders.
William Abbott, Dr. Benepe and J. J.
Benepe were deacons.
From then on there was rapid growth.
Other early ministers were O. Q. Oviatt,
J. O. Henry, G. F. Adams, F. M. Gwinn
and D. P. Henderson.
Officers were J. R. Milligan, S. M. Coon-
rod and E. E. Cowperthwait.
In 1880 there were 112 members and a
Sunday School of 90 with J. M. Birce
superintendent and A. G. Chilton, secre-
tary.
The building was remodeled in 1916
with basement and heating plant added.
In 1953 the church was redecorated. It
is doing good work and over the yea's has
numbered many outstanding citizens
Emcng its members.
Present pastor is Ed Armstrong and of-
ficers are: EMers, Robert Carroll, Leslie
Stauter, Ivan Trulock, Lerov Trulock,
Robert Corzine. Deacons are Bob Hallas,
Milliard Long, Merle Beard. Melvin Ma-
thias, Fred Hott, George Bryant, Fred
Durbin, C. C. Owens and Claus Rohweder.
Trustees are K. P. Branyan, C. C. Owens
and Claus Rohweder.
<ftfr^
OLD TILE AND BRICK YARD LOCATED IN SOUTHEAST ASSUMPTION
ASSUMPTION
CENTURY OF PROGRESS
ASSUMPTION, ILLINOIS
Thursday, Friday, Saturday
September 24-25-26
1953
P^LO<yva4n
(All limes listed are Central Standard Time)
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
CENTURY OF PROGRESS CHURCH SERVICES
Please attend the Church of Your Choice in Centennial Costume
7:30 P.M. Century of Progress Sing — Water Tower Park
All American Quartet
Local Talent
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
12:30 P.M. OFFICIAL SALUTE
12:30 P.M. Judging of Flower Show — Community Building
1:00 P.M. Assumption Band
1:15 P.M. Organ Music — Mr. John LaMothe
Mr. John D. Malhoit, President of Century of Progress
Mr. Walter B. Stein, Mayor of Assumption, Illinois
Senator Lloyd E. Davis, 40th District
Honorable Everett M. Dirksen, United States Senator
Honorable William G. Stratton, Governor of the State of Illinois
Officials of Illinois Central Railroad
Organ — Mr. John LaMothe
2:00-3:00 Free Acts
CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES — Square Dance Platform
2:30 P.M. Candy Kiss Scramble Pre-School Ages
Isi 2nd Srd
2:45 P.M. Wheelbarrow Race, boys 12-14 $ 3.00 $ 2.00 $ 1.00
3:00 P.M. Bubble Gum Contest, largest bubble Girl, $3.00; Boy, $3.00
1st 2nd Srd
3:15 P.M. Sack Race, boys and girls 6-9 $3.00 $2.00 $1.00
3:30 P.M. Frog Race, any child with frog 3.00 2.00 1.00
3:45 P.M. STAGE FOR FREE ACTS ON STREET—
Cracker Eating Contest, all ages 3.00 2.00 1.00
4:00 P.M. FREE BARBECUE
School Band — Organ — Dance Orchestra
7:00-8:00 Free Acts
8:00 P.M. CENTURY OF PROGRESS BALL — Dance Floor
Crowning of King and Queen of Century of Progress
8:30 P.M. SQUARE DANCE CONTEST— 1st 2nd 3rd
Best set Adult Dancers $24.00 $16.00 $8.00
Best set Costumed Dancers 24.00
Best set Children to 14 24.00
Best Costumed Dancers to 14 24.00
Fxee Square Dance
STEAM ENGINE SHOW AND DEMONSTRATION
North End of Chestnut Street
ANTIQUE SHOW — Sloan Building :
FLOWER SHOW — Community Building
DOLL SHOW—
1st 2nd
Prettiest Doll $3.00 $2.00
Ugliest Doll 3.00 2.00
Most Unusual 3.00 2.00
16.00
8.00
16.00
8.00
16.00
8.00
FRIDAY. SEPTEMBER 25
12:30 P.M. Registration of Old-Timers
1:00 P.M. Organ Music — Mr. John LaMothe
1-15 P.M. CHILDREN'S PARADE — Led by High School Band
1st 2nd 3rd
Pre-School Kids $10.00 $5.00 $2.50
Ases 6-9 10-00 5.00 2.50
Ages 9-12 10.00 5.00 2.50
Ages 12-14"'"'"' 10.00 5.00 2.50
(Every child in parade will receive a treat)
2:00 P.M. Organ — Mr. John LaMothe
2:15 P.M. BABY BEAUTY SHOW—
In memory of "Aunt Bet" (Mrs. A. H. Corzine) — Water Tower Park
Class 1 — Girls, 1 month and under 1 year
Class 2 — Boys, 1 month and under 1 year
Class 3 — Girls, 1 year and under 2 years
Class 4 — Boys, 1 year and under 2 years
Class 5 — Girls, 2 years and under 3 years
Class 6 — Boys. 2 years and under 3 years
Class 7 — Twins, 1 month and under 3 years
Class 8 — Girls, 3 years and under 4 years
Class 9 — Boys, 3 years and under 4 years
Class 10 — Girls, 4 years and under 6 years
Class 11 — Boys, 4 years and under 6 years
Class 12 — Twins, 3 years and under 6 years
Class 13— Girl's Sweepstakes, any age, 1 month to 6 years
Class 14 — Boy's Sweepstakes, any age, 1 month to 6 years
Prizes for 1st, 2nd, 3rd places — Loving Cups for Sweepstakes
3:00 P.M. Steam Engine Show — County Line Hot Shots — Added Entertainment
4:00-5:00 Free Acts
5:00 P.M. Judging of Store Windows
7:00 P.M. Free Acts
7:30 P.M. FREE STYLE SHOW — Athletic Field
Organ Music , ^ . , _ ,
1st 2nd 3rd
Baptismal Gowns, oldest $5.00 $2.50 $1.00
Girl's Costume, oldest 5.00 2.50 1.00
Boy's Costume, oldest 5.00 2.50 1.00
Ladies' Costumes —
100 years 10.00 5.00
75 years 10.00 5.00
50 years 10-00 5.00
25 years 10-00 5.00
Wedding Dresses — ^ ^^ ^ „^
Oldest 10-00 5.00
Most Beautiful 500 2.50
Couple's Real Wedding Clothes—
Oldest 1500 10.00
Men's Clothing—
Oldest 10-00
Handsomest 5.00
War Uniforms —
Civil, Blue 5.00
Civil, Gray 5.00
Spanish- American 5.00
World War I, Army 5.00
World War 1, Navy 5.00
Bathing Suits—
Ladies', oldest 5.00 2.50
Men's, oldest 5.00 2.50
Capes, Shawls, Bonnets 5.00 2.50
Twirling Exhibition — Charlene Beard
Organ
9:00 P.M. Free Square Dance — Water Tower Park
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
10:30 A.M. BIG STREET PARADE—
Isl 2nd 3rd
Organization Floats $50.00 $25.00 $15.00
Business Floats 50.00 25.00 15.00
Individuals 50.00 25.00 15.00
Church Floats 50.00 25.00 15.00
Ox Team Floats 50.00 25.00 15.00
Horse-Drawn Floats 30.00 20.00 10.00
Horse-Drawn Singles 30.00 20.00 10.00
Most Original Old-Time Float 30.00 20.00 10.00
Best Looking Family 25.00 15.00 10.00
Novelty Bands 20.00 15.00 10.00
Best Comic 15.00 10.00 5.00
Old Cars 15.00 10.00 5.00
Saddle Horses, riders to dress 12.00 8.00 6.00
Ponies, riders to dress 8.00 5.00 3.00
Bicycles, decorated 5.00 3.00 2.00
1 :00 P.M. Organ — Mr. John LaMothe
1:30-2:30 Free Acts — Big Stage
HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC FIELD—
2:45 P.M. Catch the Greased Pig, age 14 Prize, Pig
3:00 P.M. Greased Pole Climb, age 14 Prize, $5.00
3:15 P.M. Rooster Chase, ages 12-14 Prize, Rooster
1st 2nd 3rd
3:30 P.M. Three-Legged Race, ages 9-12 $3.00 $2.00 $1.00
3:45 P.M. Tug-of-War, boys, ages 10-14 Prizes to each boy on u^inning team
CONTEST ON FREE ACT STAGE— 1st 2nd 3rd
2:00 P.M. Ladies' Nail Driving Contest $5.00 $3.00 $1.00
(Bring your own hammer)
2:30 P.M. Steam Engine Show — County Line Hot Shots — Entertainment
3:30 P.M. Old Fiddlers' Contest
4:00 P.M. Organ — Mr. John LaMothe
6:00 P.M. JUDGING LONG DRESSES— Isl 2nd
Best Family in Centennial Costurre $15.00 $10.00
Most Beautiful Genuine Centennial Costume.. 5.00 2.50
Most Beautiful Reproduced Centennial Costume 5.00 2.50
Most Handsome Couple in Centennial Costume 10.00 5.00
Most Handsome High School Couple in Costume 10.00 5.00
Most Handsome High School Couple in Old,
Original Costume 5.00 2.50
Most Beautiful High School Girls in Repro-
duced Costume 5.00 2.50
Girls, 13 years of age and under, in Centennial
Costume 5.00 2.50
Boys, 15 years of age and under, in Centennial
Costume 5.00 2.50
Best Home-made Calico Dress 10.00 5.00
JUDGING BEARDS—
Fanciest Beard 15.00 10.00
Ugliest Beard 15.00 10.00
Longest Beard 15.00 10.00
High School Boy with Best Beard 15.00 10.00
(No false beards or imitations will be judged)
7:30-8:30 Free Acts
8:30 P.M. Free Square Dance
10:30 P.M. Century of Progress Car given away at Intermission of Square Dance
BAPTIST CHURCH
The (Old) Stonington Branch Church
was organized March 12, 1865, at the
Union Schoolhouse, northwest of As-
sumption, according to the following reso-
lutions: "Resolved, That those members of
the (Old) Stonington Baptist Church who
desire to unite in sustaining religious
meetings at the Johnson schoolhouse,
have our unqualified approbation. Resolv-
ed, That we recommend said members to
associate together as a branch of the Ston-
ington Church and to exercise all the
rights and privileges of a church except
in matters of discipline and the reception
or dismissal of members."
"March 12, 1865: Met according to ap-
pointment and after a sermon by Brother
Maxwell the following received the Right
Hand of Fellowship by Brother J. M.
Cockran; To- wit: James Ridge, M. P.
Webster, Thomas Tucker, Sarah Ridge,
Mrs. Susan Cushing, Lizzie Soge, Mrs. I.
Pierce, and Mrs. J. T. Webster. M. P. Web-
ster was chosen Clerk and James Ridge,
Deacon. Sister Jane Harris and Sister
Rachel Lovering were received by letter.
On July 16, 1865. Richard Palmer was
received as a candidate. On May 13, 1865
Sister Nancy Coonrod was received by
letter. On November 10, 1867, W. E. Cush-
ing was in the group baptized and re-
ceived into full membership. Rev. J. H.
Maxwell, the first regular pastor, and his
wife were received by letter January 11,
1868."
Through the interest and efforts of the
members of this Stonington branch-
church, Rev. R. R. Coon and some Bap-
tists in and around Assumption, the Bap-
tist Church of Assumption was organized.
As the directors wished to dispose of the
old schoolhouse, W. E. Cushing and James
Ridge, as a committee, were able to pur-
chase this building and it was moved to a
lot procured from Col. E. E. Malhiot. The
building was repaired and remodeled with
funds secured from Baptists and friends.
The building was dedicated and the
church organized with seventeen mem-
bers and recognized as a regular mission-
ary Baptist Church August 17, 1870. The
church was constituted February 27, 1870,
and recognized by Council August 27,
1870, and received as a member of Sisri-g-
field Association September 2, 1870. Rev.
R. R. Coon was the first pastor; James
Ridge and W. E. Cushing, deacons; and
Charles Beeman, clerk.
In 1893, Rev. H. F. Jordan was sent here
as a missionary pastor by Springfield As-
sociation. Under his supervision and
through the prolonged effort, physical and
spiritual, of the members, a new brick
building was erected. It was 36 feet by 60
feet and cost $3500. Rev. Bowyer preached
the dedicatory sermon and Rev. Coon,
who had been the first pastor, gave the
prayer.
The first offering to Foreign Missions
was made in October, 1875. The Ladies
Aid was organized in 1894 and Mrs. Susan
Cushing was the president. The parsonage
was completed in 1896 with the members
doing the greater part of the work. These
included W. E. Cushing, Joe Harpold and
Frank Barton, all experienced carpenters.
During the pastorate of Rev. C. L. Berry
extensive repairs were made to the church
and two Sunday School rooms added.
These were dedicated June 20, 1909. The
Women's IVIi^-sionary Society was organ-
ized September 12, 1911, by Miss Inga
Patterson, a returned missionary from
Japan. It has proved to be one of our most
helpful and inspiring organizations. One
of our daughters, Mrs. Mae Cushing How-
ard, served as a missionary-teacher in
Rangoon, Burma, for a period of years.
A basement was put under the entire
building in 1922 when Rev. W. L. Mark-
land was minister. Several of our sons
have served in World Wars I and II and
our service flag bears some gold stars.
Rev. D. H. Blakeney is now pastor, tak-
ing up his work on March 29, 1953.
The records made by the fathers of
years ago show that whatever elements of
weakness were peculiar to the church,
they also had elements of strength. The
church has gone through seasons of suc-
cess and also seasons of discouragement,
but always the faithful few, earnestly
contending for the Faith, once delivered
to the Saints, as they understood it.
—Approved bv the Church, March 22,
1953.
W. F. MILLER
One of our oldest business men. Served
as Mayor of Assumption for two terms.
ST. PAUL CHURCH
By Rev. T. H. Hosto
St. Pai'.l Evangelical and Reformed
Church, familiarly known as the "DoU-
ville Church," is one of the landmarks in
Shelby County. It was founded in 1865 by
a group of people, mostly of German de-
scent, who had come to this locality
earlier from parts of Ohio and Indiana.
Under the leadership of one Matthias
Galster, who had studied in Germany and
was gifted as an orator and organizer, the
small group of thirteen families banded
themselves together and met for a few
years to worship in the home of the Rev-
erend Mr. Galster. The house, located a
mile and a half northeast of the present
church, is still standing and is owned by
Ervel Pierce.
In 1869 the charter members assisted in
erecting the first church building, on an
acre tract of land donated by one of the
group, the late Jacob Weber. The struc-
ture, built largely of home-made soft
brick, is still used as a meeting place for
church and community gatherings.
The present church building stands on a
prominence at the crossing of two old
county roads. It was erected in 1887 when
the congregation was at its peak, and is a
commodious structure, seating about 300
people. Some of the old timers say that
the church was often filled to capacity on
special occasions.
The congregation also owns a large par-
sonage for its resident minister, with all
modern conveniences. It is located on a
two-acre tract of land purchased between
1880 and 1884. Another tract lying south-
east of Dollville was purchased about the
same time to serve as a cemetery.
In the 88 years of its existence seven
ministers have labored among the mem-
bers of St. Paul Church. They are as fol-
lows: Matthias Galster, 1865-1880; F. Gra-
bau, 1880-1884; from 1884-1887 there was
no minister; G. Bleibtreu, 1887-1888; Phil-
ip Wagner, 1888-1904; Karl J. Mueller,
1904-1939; D. E. Werner, 1939-1942; T. H.
Hosto, 1942 to the present time.
The officers of St. Paul Church in 1953
are: president, Charles Rau; vice-presi-
dent, William Brunken; secretary, Julius
Metzger; treasurer, Albert Munzenmaier.
The other members of the church council
are: Walter Gerhold, Arthur Christopher,
Fred Doll, J. F. Himes and John Gerhold,
Jr. Mrs. J. F. Himes and Mrs. Roscoe Vin-
cent serve as pianists. The officers of the
Sunday School are: J. F. Himes, superin-
tendent; Mrs. Mildred Conner, assistant
superintendent; Mrs. John Weber, secre-
tary; and Fred Doll, treasurer.
Three women's societies are busy with-
in the congregation and have contributed
much to the support of the local churcii
and the denomination, besides aiding in
every worthy cause in the county and
community. They are: Sewing Circle, with
Mrs. Harry Metzger as president, Mrs.
Raymond Smith, vice-president; and Mrs.
Earl Cook, secretary-treasurer. Women's
Guild: Mrs. Ed. P. Metzger, president;
Mrs. Fred Galster, vice-president; Mrs.
Fred Doll, secretary; Miss Rose Weber,
treasurer. Ladies' Bible Class: Mrs. F. J.
Himes, president; Mrs. Clarence Barring-
er, vice-president; Mrs. John Weber, sec-
retarv; Mrs. Julius Mautz, treasurer.
COMPLIMENTS OF
BECK'S PAINT STORE
EARL R. PETERS. Proprietor
WALL PAPER
PAINTS
VARNISHES
EARLY PICTURE OF ASSUMPTION'S MAIN STREET
Frame building in foreground to the right is old lumber yard conducted by Staple-
ton & Mitchell, with I. C. freight house just to the north of it. On corner across the
street to left is building where Prairie State Tribune is now located. Beautiful Rail-
road Park now occupies spot where lumber yard and freight house were situated.
WATT & DUNCAN BLACKSMITH SHOP
Located on corner north of present Trulock Chevrolet Co. Pictured,
are: Bob Branyan, Alex Watt (holding horse), and John N. Duncan.
left to right.
HISTORY OF THE NAZARENE CHURCH
On the twenty-fifth of July
In Nineteen Twenty-three,
A big brown tent was put up
And some people came to see
Just what was going to happen;
They did not understand
That God had in mind to start a church-
A loyal holiness band.
A preacher and some singers
Had been sent to tell to all,
Of Jesus' love and mercy
And redemption from the fall;
They preached and prayed and shouted
And some folks heard the word.
They loved the Gospel message
And trusted in the Lord.
For one month the meeting lasted
Through storm and wind and rain;
Of course, some days were sunny
To relieve Jhe stress and strain;
They then decided it wa^ time
To organize a church; . --
They feared the preacher would depart
And leave them in a lurch.
On Sunday, August twenty-sixth,
As in camp meeting day.
They gathered at a building
Built the tabernacle way;
The preacher then did dedicate
That place for God and right;
Some people said, "We're going to join
And walk in all the light."
A pastor then was sent to tell
The people how to walk,
And serve the Lord in righteousness —
It must be more than talk;
The church began to prosper
And many came to hear
The preaching of God's Holy Word,
Their hearts to warm and cheer.
For four long years they worshipped
In this building though 'twas small;
They were faithful in attendance
And in loving one and all;
God blest them in their labors
And gave a vision true —
A better church we now must have,
Let's get a building new.
Through sacrifice and labor
And friends standing by them, too,
A new church soon was finished
And God proved what he could do;
The people with rejoicing
And joining hand in hand,
Dedicated this new building
For holiness to stand.
Well, thirty years have come and gone,
Many things have happened, too.
But mid the struggles and the tests
To God they have been true;
Some members had to move away.
Some left this vale of sorrow.
But some day we shall meet again
With the coming of tomorrow;
Where pain and death are never known
And heartaches come no more,
We'll dwell with Christ forevQrmore
On that happy golden shore.
BEGINNING OF ASSUMPTION'S COAL MINE
CONGRATULATIONS ASSUMPTION
... ON OUR CENTENNIAL
MYERS COAL YARD
STOKER AND LUMP COAL
— Phone 66 White —
CONGRATULATIONS
TO A FINE COMMUNITY
CRAFT'S CAFE
FINE FOODS - FOUNTAIN DRINKS
COMPLIMENTS
— of —
ASSUMPTION OIL CO.
MARATHON GAS and OILS
FIRESTONE TIRES - ACCESSORIES
Compliments of
VAN DEVENTER'S
SEWING MACHINE CENTER
20 YEARS OF SERVICE
DEAN and DOROTHY
CONGRATULATIONS
AND BEST WISHES
RYAN'S TAVERN
J. T. RYAN AND FAMILY
COMPLIMENTS
— of —
Doris' Snappy Service
Beauty Shop
DORIS NICOL. Prop.
COMPLIMENTS
— of —
HAFFNER PHARMACY
MARY and JOHN
BEST WISHES
ON A
SUCCESSFUL CENTENNIAL
SCENIC THEATRE
MR. AND MRS. BOB JOHNSON
CONGRATULATIONS . . .
ASSUMPTION
On Your Hundred Years of Progress
ASSUMPTION
FEED MILL
CONGRATULATIONS
AND BEST WISHES
J. A. BANTNER & SON
HARDWARE — FURNACES
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES
PUBLIC UTILITIES
By Wendell R. Price
In all places of human habitation the
first requirement is a source of water
suitable for drinking and cleansing. When
cur forefathers first settled in this com-
munity they found that water could be
obtained by digging wells in nearly any
place to depths from 20 to 60 feet which
made it possible for families to establish
homes in town and in the farming area
around Assumption. Such wells furnished
the water for domestic use from the time
of the first settlers until the early 1900's,
when a series of disastrous fires in the
lesidential and business district made it
obvious that a more reliable supply of
water was needed.
Consequently, the city authorities re-
solved to erect an overhead water tower,
with mains and hydrants distributed over
town, and this was done in 1912, during
the administration of Mayor Arthur La-
Charite, when a 70,000 gallon storage tank
with an altitude of 100 feet was erected in
the City Park. A number of hydrants
were located about town, and the tank
was filled from local wells, with the idea
of keeping it merely as a fire protection
supply. Business houses and residents
soon desired to tap these mains for "piped
in" water, and a permanent source of sup-
ply was needed. A number of local sources
were tested and found inadequate for the
growing demand, and in 1913 a source
near Spring Creek, about 3 miles south-
east of Assumption, was tested and sup-
plied water at the rate of 100,000 gallons
per day. A six-inch main was laid from
this source to town, and a pumping plant
erected drawing water from a group of
17-foot drilled wells. The water was
found to be pure and soft and free from
mineral, and this source continues to sup-
ply the water for all public use. From
time to time new or additional wells and
pumping equipment have been added, and
the plant modernized, being now semi-
automatic in operation, with power pur-
chased from the Central Illinois Public
Service Company.
In 1947 a treatment plant was built and
put into operation, to remove the iron and
to soften and chlorinate the water. This
plant, built at a cost of about $15,000,
makes the water supplied to the public
very palatable and with a high degree of
purity and bacteriological safety. Speci-
mens are analyzed and tested regularly
by the State of Illinois, and a careful
check kept of the condition of the water
from day to day.
There are now about 450 properties
served, with 40 hydrants, and with mains
within easy reach of practically all points
within the city limits. The pumping and
treating plants have a maximum daily
capacity of 180,000 gallons of water, al-
though the ordinary daily demand runs
from 70 to 125 thousand gallons. The sys-
tem is owned by the City of Assumption,
and produces a net revenue, after main-
tenance, operation and depreciation, of
over $2,500 annually, which is at present
obligated to the payment of $8,000 of rev-
enue bonds. It has been the policy of the
present and most past City Administra-
tions to use the profit from the Water de-
partment to extend and improve the sys-
tem, although from time to time it has
been deemed necessary to use some of the
net revenue to supplement the general
fund.
Sewer Syslem
After a public water supply became
available in 1912, a number of citizens
realized the advisability of creating a
public sewer system. A bond issue was
floated, and a complete system of combin-
ation storm and sanitary sewer was built,
having mains and laterals adjacent to
every property in the city limits. This sys-
tem has been very satisfactory until the
present, but sanitary considerations make
it appear advisable that a sewage disposal
plant be built in the near future. Consid-
eration is being given to this matter at
present.
Fire Protection
From the earliest date protection
against fire has been a necessity, and in
the late 1880's a hand-power fire engine
was purchased and used for this purpose.
About 1900 an engine driven horse-drawn
engine was bought, and with improve-
ments was used until 1937 when a pumper
truck was purchased, having a tested ca-
pacity of 500 gallons per minute. In 1949
a Fire Protection District was created, in-
cluding the city and 68 sections of agri-
cultural territory. The Fire District pur-
chased an additional 500 gallon pumper
and built a fire house, which now gives
Assumption and the neighboring com-
munity exceptionally good protection
against fire and other public calamity.
THE LATE MR. AND MRS. JOSEPH MALHOIT
Old-time residents who took an active part in all community affairs. They were
the parents of Joseph, James and John Malhoit, Irene Smith, Nora McNeil and
Mae Teets.
A
^ec /S-loi
./aaiv. 40 »-
'."f^
OLD TYPE FARM WAGON WITH HIGH SIDEBOARDS
Seated on wagon containing big load of corn, weighing 9300 pounds, is Alfred Tapp.
On ladder beside him is Peter Young, who sold the wagon with the guarantee that
if the load broke the wagon he would replace it with a new one.
HISTORY OF CENTER METHODIST CHURCH
By Mrs. Harry Weiland
On April 3, 1860, Shelby County was
divided into townships, Rural Township
being divided into two equal parts. The
road running north and south in the
center of the township was the dividing
line, the East District being styled as No.
1 and the West District as No. 2. At this
time a schoolhouse was standing near
where the Empire School stood later near
the home of Elmer Potter. A dispute arose
in the community and the building was
sold to a group of people and moved to
the location where Center Church now
stands. It was used as a church, being the
first public building on that corner. Cen-
ter Schoolhouse was built in 1870 and was
used as a voting place until the town
house was built by Henry Stutsman in
1890. S. M. Harper can remember his
father telling him how they couldn't cross
the bridge near his home with this school-
house and they had to go around through
fields.
Traveling ministers held meetings at
the church until in 1871. The church was
organized with Rev. Smithson as presiding
elder and Rev. Daniel McKinney as pas-
tor and was called Center Class, Shelby-
ville Circuit, Gosport District, Illinois
Conference of the M. E. Church. One of
their rules was "Remember to fast and
pray on the Friday previous to each quar-
terly meeting."
These people were charter members:
James Himes, George Bender, Elizabeth
Russell, Emanual Mose, Sarah Himes,
Mary A. Himes. Mary Bender, Anna Rus-
sell and Nancy Mose.
Those that joined a little later were:
Thomas Lowe, S. M. Myers, John W.
Rhodes, Lucinda Myers, Mary J. Burk,
Loretta Lowe, R. R. Rhodes, W. M. Myers
and Clark Burk.
These parents were followed by their
children and many of these have passed
on. Now some of the grandchildren and
great-grandchildren are helping to carry
on the work. In 1878 the Center Society
was organized in the name of Center
Methodist Episcopal Church South. At
this time there were 30 members register-
ed and they had around 80 in attendance.
During 1903 it was decided to build a
new and larger church. Rev. J. W. Reeves
was pastor at this time. On May 8, 19C4,
the church was dedicated with Rev. Wes-
cott as elder and Rev. Reeves as pastor.
This church was blown down by a cyclone
which passed through the community on
Saturday afternoon. May 26, 1917. In the
late summer of 1913, the church trustees
bought the Grace Evangelical Church that
stood just across the line in Christian
County on the northeast corner of the
farm now owned by Paul Uffelman and
the home of Dale Sloan and family. This
church was moved by being divided into
two parts, and much credit can be given
the trustees and members at that time for
our present place of worship which was
dedicated June 28, 1919, with Rev. Hum-
phry as elder and Rev. G. W. Green as
pastor. No record is found as to when we
were placed in the Waverly District, but
we were in this district until the unifica-
tion of the Northern and Southern Meth-
odist Churches a few years ago. It is now
called Center Methodist, Henton Charge,
Decatur District, Illinois Conference.
Early in 1950 the men of the commun-
ity started digging out the basement at the
church, with the Young Married People's
class as sponsors. With good cooperation it
proved to be a success. John Seigfried was
employed and with the help of the com-
munity the basement was finished. The
W.S.C.S. ladies bought two gas stoves, one
for cooking and the other for heating. S.
M. Harper made a nice counter with
shelves and drawers to hold dishes and
utensils. Several tables were donated and
tables were made from boards by Frank
Southern and helpers. On Sunday after-
noon, November 12, the basement was
dedicated by Dr. Hurst of Decatur, the
District Superintendent.
It's been hard going all these years with
hard times, cyclone and all. But we are
proud of our church and thank all those
in the earlier days for their sacrifices that
we might have a nice church to worship
COMPLIMENTS
— of —
Post Office Employees
•
John W. Duncan, Acting Postmaster
Elmira Baumgardt Fred Temperley
Francis Swinnen Robert Brownback
Lyle Nicol James Jackson
STAUTER
FUNERAL HOME
Day and Night
AMBULANCE SERVICE
— Phone 248 —
TALBOTT'S
LG.A. FOOD STORE
GROCERIES and MEATS
Fresh Frozen Fruits and Vegetables
COMPLIMENTS
ROOT'S CAFE
ON HIGHWAY 51
'Where Friends Meet Friends'
YOUNG'S
BILLIARDS
— and —
FIRST-CLASS SHOE REPAIR
Over 100 Years in the Leather Business
Congratulations to Assumption
On Your Hundred Years of Progress
FISHER'S JEWELRY
DIAMONDS — WATCHES
FINE JEWELRY
CONGRATULATIONS ASSUMPTION
... ON OUR CENTENNIAL
DOROTHY'S
BEAUTY SHOP
DOROTHY STANDLEY, Prop.
MEET YOUR FRIENDS
woodV tavern
COLD BEER OUR SPECIALTY
PAUL ADOLPHINE TONY
COMPLIMENTS
— of —
JOHN C. DAVIS
PONTIAC SALES and SERVICE
— Phone 36 —
Compliments of
EDWIN JOHNSON
and SON
REGISTERED
HAMPSHIRE and CHEVIOT SHEEP
SCOTCH SHORTHORN CATTLE
CONGRATULATIONS . . .
ON ASSUMPTION'S 100th BIRTHDAY
HIGHT SERVICE
ANYTHING IN INSURANCE
Karl Hight A. E. Bean
ROUND GROVE CHURCH
By (Gladys Harper Myers
Robert Harper, a Scotch-Irish Presby-
terian, became a member of the Prairie
Bird (Henton) Presbyterian Church in
1854. He and his family later attended the
Presbyterian Church in Assumption, going
in all kinds of weather by the usual meth-
od of travel — the wagon, later the spring
wagon. When his health began to fail and
he could no longer stand the exposure, he
became interested in establishing a church
near his home. This resulted in the build-
ing of Round Grove Church just across
the road from his home in 1878. The char-
ter members were Robert Harper and his
four daughters, Mary, Ella, Laura, Agnes.
and a niece, Allie Brinley. It was a very
large church and beautifully built on the
inside. In the 80's and 90's it had a large
membership with such family names ap-
pearing on the church records as McClure,
Cochran, Dowler, Elmore, Will Himes,
Jenkins, Oaks, Houston, Gregory and
others.
Singing-schools were held at the church
and as James W. Fritz, who lived on the
Ridge once commented, "People came to
the Round Grove singing-school for miles
around, because 'Uncle Bob' Harper was
an unusually good singing teacher. It is a
pleasure to remember him as he led the
singing-school". Outstanding programs
were given during the 80's and 90's. Some
of these during the 90's were printed pro-
grams. On one of these appeared a male
quartet by Charles and Elmer McClure,
Alonzo (Bud) and Robert Harper. Among
the weddings held was a double wedding
on Christmas Day, 1894, when Dr. J. E.
Harper and Iva Potter, John McClure and
Carrie Harper were married.
Early ministers were O. B. Huston, J.
Bernard, G. E. Clark, William Mackay, C.
F. Rogers, Bert Rogers, Fred Mansfield, J.
S. Walls, W. R. Johnson, the last being
William Jobe. With the advent of the
automobile, Round Grove went the way of
many country churches, being too near
town. In 1933 the church was taken down,
board by board, by a minister who was
also a carpenter, and rebuilt in Casey, 111.,
where it has been a thriving church, hav-
inp, sent out several promising young min-
isters. •
BIG CROWD AT LEADER DEPARTMENT STORE
Sale day in the "Good Old Days'" at The Leader Store, conducted by Edward Ram-
sey, Sr. and O. P. Galvin, in location now occupied by Associated Garment Co.,
on corner of Second South and Chestnut Streets.
COMPLIMENTS OF
Assumption Elevator Co.
SOUTH ELEVATOR — PHONE 19
Grain and Soybeans
FAULTLESS FEEDS
Field Seeds — Inoculation — Bean Meal — Fertilizer
Automobile — Fire
Extended Coverage
INSURANCE
Prompt Attention to All Losses
K. E. BUGG
Phone 280 White - Residence Office
CONGRATULATIONS . . .
ASSUMPTION
On Your Hundred Years of Progress
Seldum
Idll
Farm
•I*
Mr. and Mrs. John D. Malhoit
ML PLEASANT CHURCH OF GOD
(Dedicated to Mr. A. C. Foltz cf Assumption, Illinois — only living Charter Member of
the Mt. Pleasant Church of God)
The Mt. Pleasant Church of God, locat-
ed 5-lt miles east of Assumption, became
an organized church Jan. 29, 1887 as a
result of a protracted revival meeting,
held by Elder O. B. Huston in what was
known as Independence School House, U
mile east and 1 mile north of the present
church site. The original charter consisted
of 27 members from the community.
On March 10, 1890, a special meeting
was held to make arrangements for erect-
ing a Bethel in the northeast corner of the
William Beckett farm, the present location
of the church. Mr. Beckett donated the
plot of ground on which the church and
cemetery are located. This building was
completed and dedicated August 10, 1890,
at which time it was named the Mt. Pleas-
ant Church of God.
For several years the Round Grove
Church (located about 4 miles southeast
of Assumption until removed to Casey,
Illinois, to build a new church there) and
the Mt. Pleasant Church were on the same
circuit and served by pastors on half-time
basis.
During the year of 1929 the present
building was erected as the result of a
windstorm which damaged the original
Bethel to the extent it had to be rebuilt.
The church has shown considerable gain
in spirit and number of members the past
five years under the pastorate of Rev.
Gordon Jenkins to the extent that more
seating capacity, basement rooms and pas-
tor's study are badly needed. Early in 1953
plans were made to enlarge the present
Bethel by approximately one-half. Actual
starting time of construction began July
20, 1953.
The following have pastored the Mt.
Pleasant Church in past years:
Rev. Gordon Jenkins, present pastor;
Rev. G. E. McDaniel, now pastor at
Wichita, Kansas;
Rev. A. F. Jenkins, now pastor at De-
catur, Illinois;
Rev. O. J. Acklin, now pastor at War-
rensburg, Illinois;
Rev. A. E. Mowry, now pastor at Mar-
tinsville, Illinois;
Rev. Ernest English, deceased;
Rev. Chester Hix, retired;
Rev. William Jobe, now pastor at De-
catur, Illinois.
Others whose location at present are
unknown or who have gone on to their
reward: Rev. Davidson, 1917; Rev. W. B.
Johnson, 1913-16; Rev. John Bernard,
1912; Rev. Primrose, 1910; Rev. O. B. Hus-
ton, 1911; Rev. Mansfield, 1908-09; Rev. B.
H. Rogers, 1905-07; Rev. R. S. Mackey,
1902-03; Rev. I. H. Richmond, 1901; Rev.
C. F. Rogers, 1898-1900; Elder O. B. Hus-
ton, 1897; Rev. W. R. Johnson, 1896; Rev.
F. W. Hatch, 1894-95.
Mr. A. C. Foltz of Assumption, Illinois,
is the only living charter member of the
Mt. Pleasant Church of God and his faith-
ful 3"ears date back to the original organi-
zation of the church in 1887.
/ .
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LAYING CORNERSTONE OF HOTEL PHILIP FORTY-FIVE YEARS AGO
Leads Again for 1953
We welcome everyone to . . .
ASSUMPTION'S CENTURY OF PROGRESS
Assumption Motor Sales
You Are Always
Welcome At ... .
Chapman s
Tavern
Fine Drinks
Sandwiches
BEST WISHES
ON A
SUCCESSFUL CENTENNIAL
RUHL
BUICK CO
PANA, ILLINOIS
BUICK
V
'It's a Good Rule
to Trade with Ruhl"
ASSUMPTION SCHOOL HISTORY
By C. J. Myer
The first teacher in Assumption was
Luceba Barrett Loomis. She was a daugh-
ter of Maicus and Nancy Peebles Barrett.
She arrived in Assumption on April 15,
1857. She taught the first school in a pri-
vate home on the north side of West
Samuel Street about seventy-five yards
west of the Main Street pavement.
The first school to be constructed in As-
sumption was l:cated on the site of the
present Baptist church. It was constructed
in 186''.. A new grade school was built
near the location of the present grade
school and was called the West School.
The school was used for High School stu-
dents and Grade School students.
Another school building was construct-
ed on the present site of the Sloan Imple-
ment Company. This building was called
the East School. The High School was
moved to the building and the high school
occupied the upper floor and the first and
second grades occupied the lower floor.
The remainder of the grade school stu-
dents were in the West School.
In the minutes of the Board for a meet-
ing held Sept. 6. 1898, the addition to the
West Side School was accepted.
The oldest copies of contracts found
were signed in September, 1898, and the
salaries ranged from $80 to $35.
On May 11, 1899, the Board made a mo-
tion to pay the East and West Side jani-
tors $25 per month.
The oldest High School grade records
found were for the graduating class of
1902-1903. The oldest grade school records
found were for the students in 1907-1908.
There was a great need for a new High
School and the cornerstone for the present
tuilding was laid in 1913.
In 1917 the West Side school was torn
down and the cornerstone for the present
grade school was laid. During the time
that the West Side school was being con-
structed, school was held in the East
School and the Mitchell Hall.
In 1925 and 1926 the gymnasium was
added to the High School building.
The Vocational Agriculture building
and school bus garage was completed in
1950.
The rural school building northwest of
town, known as the Union School, was
moved into town and put south of the
High School building and is now used as
the Band building. It was moved in dur-
ing the summer of 1951.
In the summer of 1952, the large Millot
building located southwest of Assump-
tion, was moved in and placed belwee?i
the High School and Band building. It is
used as a Junior High school for the 7th
and 8th grades. The basement is used for
the School Cafeteria and the Junior High
Industrial Arts classes.
'^k''^"'
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OLD EAST SCHOOL
OLD WEST SCHOOL
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ASSUMPTION HIGH SCHOOL
• >" mi... .'''♦L *'^|
' Hiler Hardware
— AND —
Implement Co. I S
Farm Equipment
•
New Holland Hay Tools
G.E. Television
Hotpoint Appliances
Maytag Washers
Seigler Oil Heaters
Amana Home Freezers
PHONE 99
ASSUMPTION
M. R. ZEITZ
DEALER
LARRY GUINN
CONSIGNEE
R. C. (Chet) WOLFE
SALESMAN
Community's First Teacher Early Tacusah Resident
LUCEBA BARRETT LOOMIS
Luceba D. Barrett was born in Virginia,
the second of a family of thirteen, on the
5th of June, 1830. In April of 1857 she
moved to Tacusah with her brother, sis-
ters and parents, Marcus L. and Nancy
Peebles Barrett. Luceba started the first
school in the settlement of Tacusah and
Assumption in the fall of 1857 and she
continued teaching for about five years.
The location of this school was on Samuel
Street, about a half block west of Main
Street.
After the War of Secession she married
Jason Loomis and moved to his home in
Kansas. She lived there until her hus-
band's death in 1910 when she returned to
Assumption. She died on the 21st of Aug-
ust, 1911, at the home of her sister, Emma
C. Pitzer, and she was buried on the Bar-
rett lot in Greenwood Cemetery.
EMMA BARRETT PITZER
Emma C. Barrett was born in Pennsyl-
vania, the thirteenth child of Marcus L.
and Nancy Peebles Barrett, on the 28th
of June, 1854. The family moved to Tacu-
sah in April of 1857 before Emma was
three years old. The family lived in the
Illinois Central Railroad Station until
their home was completed across the
street from the Presbyterian Church.
Emma married Horace J. Pitzer of this
city in 1873. Their children were Eulalia,
deceased, Stanley M. and Lalia A. Pitzer.
Her husband died in 1909 and she died
many years later on the 31st of December,
1947. She is buried on the Pitzer family lot
in Greenwood Cemetery.
BUD STRINGER & SONS
LIMESTONE and PHOSPHATE
V-C and BUHNER FERTILIZER
Equipped for Spreading
Bud 9R11
— PHONES
Tom 296 Red
'Abe" 79 White
ASSUMPTION GRADE SCHOOL P.-T. ASSN.
By Mrs. E. C. Coatney
Sometime prior to the year 1911-12, an
attempt was made to organize a Parent-
Teachers Club, at a meeting held in the
East Side School building. This, however,
was a failure.
In 1911-12 the Assumption Woman's
Club under the leadership of Mrs. Jennie
Wright, president, invited the Grade
mothers to meet with them at the Hotel
with Mrs. Ella Vogel. This attempt was
also a failure, as the mothers seemed to be
afraid to come; consequently the organi-
zation was not completed as had been the
hopes of Mrs. Wright, Mrs. Vogel and
other members of the Club, who had for-
seen the need for such an organization.
Nothmg further was done until on Fri-
day afternoon March 28, 1917, when the
Parent-Teachers Organization of the As-
sumption Grade School was formed at a
meeting of teachers and mothers held in
the eighth grade room of the old West
Side School building.
The puipose of this organization was:
to establish a better understanding be-
tween home and school; to create a great-
er interest in public education, and for
better community welfare.
The association started with the follow-
ing enthusiastic persons: Mrs. N. A.
Crouch, Mrs. John Howk, Mrs. Herman C.
LaCharite, Prof. C. G. Wysong, Miss Ella
Cronin, Miss Ruth Bennett, Mrs. Mary
Clark, Mrs. Estelle Reber, Mrs. Faye Barr,
Miss Ruth Cheshire, Miss Sue Clark, Miss
Clara Clayton, Mrs. F. E. Taylor, Mrs.
Karl Hight, and Mrs. C. A. DuBoce.
The officers elected were: president,
Mrs. N. A. Crouch; vice president, Mrs.
John Howk; secretary, Mrs. H. C. La-
Charite.
In 1953, after long months of discussion
and after more than 35 years of Congress
membership, the Grade School and the
High School P.T.A.'s merged into one
group in hopes that increased interest and
attendance would result.
Tribute and appreciation should be
given to the long list of active, hard work-
ing members, men and women, who
throughout the years contributed time,
talents, money and hard work toward
making this association and our town a
better community for boys and girls to
grow up in. Space does not permit names
to be listed — but "by their works shall ye
know them" for they live in the hearts
and minds of our townspeople.
ASSUMPTION GRADE SCHOOL
D. A. R.
By Mrs. Edivin Johnson
The National Society of the Daughters
of the American Revolution is an associa-
tion of American Women, organized in
Washington, D. C, on the ninth day of
August, 1890, with only three members
and now it has grown to the point that
more than one hundred seventy thousand
public spirited women are within its ranks.
This Society was organized with the
purpose of upholding the American birth-
right, protecting Americans in their be-
liefs of freedom, and educating America's
citizens in their responsibilities to her.
The objects of the Society as stated in its
Constitution shall be: To perpetuate the
memory of our illustrious ancestors who
fought and died for the cause of freedom;
by the preservation of all documents and
records pertaining to the acquisition of our
freedom and the celebration of ail events
pertaining to this acquisition; to carry out
the mjunctions of Washington and there-
by afford to the American people all the
advantages of their freedom; and to aid
all mankind in the preservation and ex-
tension of its blessings of liberty. The So-
ciety believes in true and undying pa-
triotism, loyalty to our government that
leaves no room for communism, a true
love of peace, and a living faith in God.
Membership is restricted to women who
are direct descendants of those who ac-
tively fought for American independence,
providing the applicant is personally ac-
ceptable to the Society.
The National Society owns an entire
city block in one of the most beautiful
sections of Washington. Three splendid
buildings for distinctly different purposes
occupy this block, namely. Memorial Con-
tinental Hall, the Administration Build-
ing, and Constitution Hall. This is the lar-
gest group of buildings in the world built
and financed entirely by a woman's or-
ganization.
The Society has collected many histor-
ical relics, which, with the society's fine
genealogical library of more than 32,000
volumes (not including thousands of pam-
phlets and manuscripts) is housed in the
Washington headquarters. The Society
supports many schools in underprivileged
areas for the diffusion of knowledge
among men and it continuously strives for
the preservation of true Americanism.
The Society publishes The National His-
torical Magazine, as well as a series of
lineage books containing the record of the
ancestory of members of the organization.
The Assumption Chapter of the N. S.
D. A. R. was organized in 1937 and was
named the Peter Meyer Chapter to pay
homage to Peter Meyer, a Revolutionary
patriot, who came to America from Ger-
many and took the oath of allegiance and
fidelity in 1777 to defend his chosen coun-
try. Five of the original twelve members
of the local chapter are proud to be de-
scended from this patriot. Peter Meyer's
grandson Peter was one of the earliest
settlers of Assumption, and it was in his
grandson's home where this Chapter was
organized. At this meeting the following
officers were installed: regent, Mrs. Hat-
tie Long Myers; vice regent. Miss Velma
Waddle; secretary. Miss Helen M. John-
son (now Mrs. Jeff Rhoades); treasurer,
Mrs. Mary Louise Pitzer Johnson; regis-
trar, Mrs. Ethel Shafer Pitzer.
Other members at this time were: Mrs.
Carrie Leavitt (now deceased), Mrs. Nina
Shafer Foster, Mrs. Elsie Watson Harnly,
Miss Eva Long, Miss Edna Waddle (now
deceased), Miss Clara Margaret Myers
(now Mrs. Harry Allen), Miss Dotha My-
ers (now Mrs. George Hiler).
At present the chapter has 31 members,
six of these being charter members.
Since the day of the organization, the
members have taken an active part in all
D.A.R. programs, have supported all state
and national special projects, and have
made a special effort in supporting Ap-
proved School work, American Indian
work, Ellis Isle and the Good Citizenship
Pilgrimage program.
PHOTOGRAPH
FAMILY
This picture shows Mr. and Mrs. P. L.
Myers, early settlers, with P. L. Myers, Jr.,
9 months of age. Mr. and Mrs. Myers
were grandpai'ents of Thomas P. Myers,
prominent farmer of this community. The
mfant is his son, Paul. The elder Mr. My-
ers helped organize the Assumption Mu-
tual Building & Loan, the coal mine and
Assumption Fair and served as president
of each. He was among the early members
of the Masonic Lodge here and a trvistee
of the Presbyterian Church.
COMPLIMENTS OF
Central Illinois Feed & Supply
YOUR PURINA STORE
EDWIN JOHNSON
COMPLIMENTS OF
O- H. Paddock Lumber Co.
ASSUMPTION
117
— Telephones
PANA
1230
COMPLIMENTS OF
Assumption Variety Store
MR. and MRS. WAYNE MOLZ
Quality — Production
Leading Bloodlines
REGISTERED
CHESTER WHITE
BOARS and GILTS
FOR SALE AT ALL TIMES
Bud Royer & Son
ASSUMPTION, ILLINOIS
FOR...
Every Growing
Plant Need
Floral Design
OR
Gift Item
— VISIT —
WcufUcL
ASSUMPTION. ILLINOIS
(Formerly Foster Florist)
— Phone 282 —
MASONIC LODGE
By Leslie Stauter
THOMAS P. MYERS
50-Year Member of Masonic Lodge
Bromwell Lodge No. 451, Ancient Free
and Accepted Masons, was organized in
Assumption in 1865 and named in honor
of H. P. H. Bromwell who died that year
while serving as Grand Master of the
State of Illinois.
The first Masonic Lodge Hall was locat-
ed on the site where the present City Hall
is located. It burned in 1901. The next
was a building purchased from Lyman T.
Watkins and was located where Ryan's
Tavern now exists. In 1924 this building
was sold and the present location estab-
lished.
During the 88 years of existence, 36
Worshipful Masters have been elected, the
lirst being the late A. B. Hammer and
the present, George Hiler. Leonard A.
Tripp and Frank M. Gandy, both Grand
Lecturers in the State of Illinois, have
been District Deputy Grand Masters for
several years each. There are two 50-year
Masons in the Lodge at the present time,
Russell Campbell and Thomas P. Myers.
The Lodge enjoys a membership of a little
over 100 members.
THOMAS P. MYERS
AGENT FOR
United States
Fire Insurance Company
NEW YORK, N. Y.
Organized 1824
CASH CAPITAL $2,000,000
THE LATE MRS. A. H. CORZINE
Affectionately known as "Aunt Bet" by
young and old in this vicinity. Prominent
club woman and sponsor of many chil-
dren's activities.
MRS. HENRY HARPOLD
Member of the well known Adams family
of north of Assumption. Resided here for
many years before her death. Mrs. C. C.
Owens and H. J. Harpold are her children.
ASSUMPTION NURSERY
TIME TO ORDER TREES
FOR FALL PLANTING
VISITORS ALWAYS WELCOME
Glad to discuss your landscaping
pi'oblems with you
Have on hand numerous kinds of
EVERGREENS
SHRUBS
SHADE TREES
HEDGES
ROSES and RAMBLERS for Spring
I am also a dealer for
ANCHOR CONCRETE STEPS
and
ROTO-HOE and SPRAYER CO.
W. A. MARKHAM, Dealer
THE FARM AGENCY
Consult us for
DEPENDABLE ASSISTANCE in
Farm - Fire - Casualty
INSURANCE
Frank M. Gandy Geo. J. LaCharite
COMPLIMENTS
— of —
Compliments of
HUFFER'S GROCERY
MEATS and GROCERIES
— Phone 211 —
Assumption Building and
Loan Association
Servicing good loans for
past 64 years
Officers
THOS. P. MYERS, President
C. C. OWENS, Vice-President
FRANK M. GANDY, Secy.-Treas.
Directors
F. T. Wallace G. P. Walker
G. E. Lovering W. R. Price
C. C. Owens Thos. P. Myers
K. P. Branyan C. Rohweder
G. J. Adelhart
BEST WISHES FOR A
SUCCESSFUL CENTENNIAL
HOTEL COLONIAL
COMMERCIAL
A. J. BEHL, Owner and Manager
PHONE 535 - TAYLORVILLE, ILL.
COMPLIMENTS OF
TAYSTEE BAKING CO.
and SALESMEN
COMPLIMENTS OF
SALLY ANN
MATTOON, ILLINOIS
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS COUNCIL No. 1026
By George LaCharite, Edmond Galerno, Louis Vilmur
In the early part of 1900 interest in the
Knights of Columbus was first evidenced
by the activity of Attorney M. J. Fitzger-
ald and Henry LaCharite, who were quite
enthused about joining the Knights and
forming a Chapter in Assumption. How-
ever, before the Assumption Chapter was
formed, Attorney M. J. Fitzgerald, H. B.
LaCharite and Joe Myers, in the early
part of 1904, joined the Pana Council of
the Knights. Also before the Assumption
Chapter was started, and on November
20, 1904, twenty-three men from the As-
sumption area joined ihe Pana Council of
the Knights and took the three degrees
of the Order, which were at that time
given at the Roley Opera House m Pana.
The exact records of those that joined
have been lost, but a few of the older
Knights of Columbus have given the fol-
lowing names as a partial Hst of those
who joined in Pana on November 20, 1904:
Louis Vilmur, Fr?d Vilmur, Sr., Edmond
Galerno, Joseph Galerno, David LaCha-
rite, H. B. LaCharite, J. A. LaCharite, E.
J. Gushing, Fr. Joseph Dechene, N. L. La-
Rochelle. T. J. Connolly, Thomas Devlin,
Adam Fleckenstein, Nelson Lambert,
James Connolly, Octave DeMars and
Theodore Hebert.
On July 16. 1905, the Assumption Coun-
cil No. 1026 was organized at Assumption,
and all of the former men who had en-
tered the Knights of Columbus Council
at Pana transferred t3 Assumption and
became charter members along with a
new class of candidates, which went into
the Order in July of 1905. The records ->f
the new members who joined in July of
1905, outside of the transfers from Pana,
have been lost but some of the older mem-
bers of the Knights gave a partial list of
those who joined as follows: Louis Vilmur,
Fred Vilmur, Sr., Edmond Galerno, Adam
Fleckenstein, Nelson Lambert, James
Connolly, Octave DeMars, Theodore He-
bert, John Behl, Dr. G. J. Rivard, Wm.
Tex, John E. Cashin, J. N. Richard, James
Willette, T. J. Michael, John E. Smithers,
Michael Lawlis, Theodore Malhiot, Joseph
Galerno, J. L. Ryan, C. Connors, J. B.
Cashin, James O'Brien, C. F. Young, John
J. Matthew, John W. DeBrun, F. E. Des-
pres, James Perry, Wm. H. Smallwood,
Theo. Despres, James Mulligan, John
Horn, Benjamin Meyer, E. G. Wagner,
John Riley, J. B. Tomhnson, Fred Bant-
ner, F. B. Despres, John A. Bantner, D. C.
Ryan, John Armstead, Joseph Simons,
Sr., Albert J. DeMars, Lee J. Behl, John
Adelhart, Jr., Delmas Domas, H. B. La-
Charite, Albert Chatman, Fr. Jos. De-
chene, David LaCharite, J. A. LaCharite,
Thos. H. Devlin, Terrence J. Connolly,
N. L. LaRochelle, Alphonse Pannitone,
Edward Gushing, Edward Royer, John
Moran, Frederick Adelhart, E. J. Cocagne,
John Connolly, Daniel Davy, Leonard
Fleckenstein, Thomas Hogan, Vincent E.
Michael, Frank A. Michael, Alphonse A.
Michael, Patrick McGuar, Jeffrey Norris,
Charles C. Wilson, Henry J. Vilmur, Al-
bert Vilmur and Julius P. Vits.
The new class of candidates in July of
1905 received their three initiative degrees
in the Columbia Hall and the banquet cel-
ebrating said organization was given in
the evening at the Opera House, now the
second floor of the present National Bank
building.
The first and second degrees were given
by the Decatur Council of the Knights,
and E. J Morrissey and staff of Alton
were in charge of the third degree cere-
mony.
The first Grand Knight of the Council
was M. J. Fitzgerald and the first Finan-
cial Secretary of the new Council was J.
A. LaCharite; the first Lecturer was T. J.
Connolly; and the first Warden was Louis
Vilmur, who held this office from the or-
ganization of the Council until 1940. The
first meeting place was upstairs over As-
sumption's present Post Office, which re-
ports indicate was at that time owned by
M. J. Fitzgerald. The first death of any
of the Knights of Columbus after the or-
ganization of the Assumption Council was
that of Adam Fleckenstein.
The Assumption Council had their lodge
rooms up above our present Post Office
for about fifteen years and about 1918
moved to the second floor of the Herschel
Travis Hardware store, and was in that
location until 1933, when the Travis Hard-
ware building burned to the ground one
bitter cold night in February. Tlie Council
then took up quarters over tiie Domas
Grocery where they remained until May
of 1953, when they purchased their own
building, the former LO.O.F. building on
North Chestnut (Front) Street. Their new
headquarters have been extensively re-
modeled and redecorated.
Over the years the Council has had
many social and religious programs,
and many interesting noted speakers, and
has proved to be a fine organization for
the Assumption community.
One of the highlights of the Council's
history was when Attorney M. J. Fitzger-
ald arranged for an address to the Coun-
cil by U. S. Senator James Graham of
Springfield. The Council has for years had
dances, card parties and of recent years
formed a blood bank, which until a year
or so ago, was quite active.
It is noteworthy that several men over
this period of fifty years were, no doubt,
responsible for keeping the Council alive
and going, and for thai matter special tri-
bute should be given to Attorney M. J.
Fitzgerald, who died in 1938, who was
very active in Knights of Columbus work,
not only in Assumption, but throughout
the State of Illinois, serving es a Stats of-
ficer. Also to be given special note was
Edmond Galerno who served for years as
Financial Secretary of the Assumption
Council.
The exact list of Past Grand Knights is
also impossible to get, but the following
names will cover most of the Grand
Knights who served over this period of
48 years: M. J. Fitzgerald. T. J. Connolly,
J. A. LaCharite, B. A. Michael, Thomas
Bantner, Darvin Domas, A. L. Michael,
John Barry, T. J. Lacy, Thomas J. DeBrun,
Joseph G. Chasco, A. M. Jackson, Barrel
Cocagne, Ernest Schwab, Paul McGuar,
Lyle Connors and Joseph Cocagne.
The present officers of the Knights of
Columbus are as follows: Grand Knight,
Joseph Cocagne; Deputy Grand Knight,
John Rever; Chancellor, Roy Grant; Re-
corder, Gerald Ryan; Financial Secretary,
Ernest Schwab; Treasurer, James Jack-
son; Lecturer, Ernest Schwab; Advocate,
Joseph Dunn; Warden, Karl Wikowsky;
Inside Guard, C. Aderman; Outside Guard,
Patrick Jackson; Trustees, Paul McGuar,
Patrick Dunn and Lyle Connors; Chaplain,
Rev. Clem T. Stolze.
EARLY PICTURE OF LOCAL MERCHANTS
D. J. Domas and E J. Galerno, who entered gro-
cery business in partnership 45 years ago. Later
Domas purchased his partner's interest and still
continues in the business having added a line of
television, radios and electrical appliances. Mr.
Galerno conducts a neighborhood grocery on the
west side of towrt
TWO OF ASSUMPTION'S EARLY PHYSICIANS
t^
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Ufv^
■
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;-i
DR. GEORGE J. RIVARD
DR. R. W. JOHNSON
WORLD WAR I RED CROSS WORKERS
Bottom row, left to right: Regina LaCharite, Eva Dickson, Mrs. Robison, Mrs. Coon-
rod, Mollie Patten, Mary Lovering. Top row: Edith Hight, Maggie Hight, Luella
LaCharite, Minnie Wilson, Eula Gandy, Alice Conner, Mollie Travis, Mrs. William
Smith.
CONGRATULATIONS ASSUMPTION . .
On a Hundred Years of Progress
Assumption, the home town of the
Sprinkles for more than 85 years, is
located in the midst of some of the
most fertile farming land in the great
State of Illinois and is inhabited by the
finest of people who make good citi-
zens, excellent neighbors and the best
of friends. May I always be worthy of
your confidence.
Clarence [.Sprinkle
STATE REPRESENTATIVE
BEST WISHES TO ASSUMPTION ON
YOUR CENTURY OF PROGRESS
Lloyd E. Davis
State Senator
FORTIETH DISTRICT
OLD RESIDENTS OF COMMUNITY
JOHNSON FAMILY
The late Mr. and Mrs. Leo Johnson and
their children, Leola, Ben and Robert.
FRANK MITCHELL
Old-time lumber and furniture
dealer in Assumption.
SILAS SHAFER
Pi-ominent in coal circles in this
area in the early days.
> SAM HAVERFIELD
Served as city clerk for many
years.
FIRST NATIONAL BANK
PANA, ILUNOIS
Capital Surplus and Reserves $SOO.OOOM
MEMBER FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
MEMBER FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION
COMPLIMENTS OF
Ronchetti Distributing Co,
PANA, ILLINOIS
DISTRIBUTORS OF
Budweiser and Stag Beer
TEX BROS.
HOME FURNISHERS
PANA, ILLINOIS
BEST WISHES FOR A
SUCCESSFUL CENTENNIAL
E. A. BRANYAN
ELECTRIC SERVICE
Assumption, Illinois
THE KUHLE CHILDREN WITH THEIR PET GOAT
Pictured here are four children of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Kuhle with their pet
goat and wagon. Driving is Herman with Leonard standing behind. The girls
are Hazel and Florence awaiting their turn for a ride in the wagon.
— ESTABLISHED 1869
GEO. V. PENWELL & SONS CO
DEPARTMENT STORE
PANA, ILLINOIS
Sincere Congratulations , . .
to the active sponsors of the Century of Progress and I hope your
interest shall continue to make Assumption the outstanding com-
munity of Christian County, Working together enthusiastically
for a common good assures any community wholesome good
government.
3a^ a4. Pn^elltl
HISTORY OF ASSUMPTION WOMAN'S CLUB
By the late Mrs. Julia LaRochelle
As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of
the Assumption Woman's Club our mem-
ories take us back to the fall of 1902 when
a group of women met and organized a
Chautauqua study class, consisting of
14 members. They took for their study
course, the "Hall in the Grove", which
when completed in four years, would en-
title them to receive their diplomas, and
these diplomas gave them the privilege to
walk through the gates of the "Hall in the
Grove," in Chautauqua, New York. Five
of the members have had that honor.
The first meeting of this group was held
in the room upstairs, now owned and oc-
cupied by Dr. Miller. The building was at
that time owned by Mr. Silas Shafer, who
offered it to them for a meeting place
rent free. Since the room was not furnish-
ed each lady was asked to bring her own
chair with her.
In March, 1907, this same group of
women with others held a meeting in the
home of Miss Ivah Fear. The purpose of
this meeting was to organize a Woman's
Club. On Ma.-ch 29, 1907, the Assumption
Woman's Club was organized with four
departments: Chautauqua Literary and
Science Circle, Music, Domestic Science,
and Civic. The first president of the club
was Miss Ivah Fear (now Mrs. Boulware
of Cody, Wyoming).
It was State Federated the same year.
Not long after its organization it adopted
for its motto — "Knowledge, Virtue, Char-
ity, Truth; United We Stand, Divided We
FaU."
For its club flower it chose the carna-
tion; the cjub colors are pink and white.
So the C.L.S.C. was the trunk of the
tree from which all other branches grew.
Now that the organization of the Wo-
man's Club had been completed and the
four departments had their work outlined
and the work was going according to
schedule, the Assumption Woman's Club
began to look around for something
worthwhile to do for the good and better-
ment of our town and its community.
In 1903 a small Public Library had been
started in the C.L.S.C. study room, which
housed it for five vears, where it struggled
along with donations of books and per-
sonal gifts. When in 1908 Mrs. Sarah
Kemmerer, a prominent citizen, gave a
gift of money to build a Hotel, she speci-
fied in this gift that the Public Library
should have a permanent home within the
hotel building. When the cornerstone of
the Hotel Philip was laid, the Assumption
Woman's Club was asked to take part.
Miss Ivah Fear, our first president, placed
the first trowel of mortar with which the
cornerstone of the Hotel was laid.
When the Hotel was completed and the
Public Libiary moved into its new home,
the Assumption Woman's Club, as its pro-
ject, took over the responsibility of its up-
keep. To do this it .sponsored Tag Days,
gave suppers to create interest and co-
operation ior the Library. This it did until
1938 when it received its tax money and
now we arc very proud of our Public Li-
brary.
From 1907 to 1925 the Assumption Wo-
man's Club still had its four departments.
In 1926 the Junior Department was added
to the club. In 1929 to 1930 the Garden
Department. In 1930 to 1931 the Progres-
sive. In 1935 to 1936 the Dramatic, making
eight Departments and with the member-
ship growing.
In the year of 1917 to 1918 the Assump-
tion Woman's Club leased the Illinois
Central Railroad's two blocks running
north and south along Front Street as its
second project and began its beautifica-
tion.
It was in the years of 1927 and 1928 that
the Salute to the Flag, American Creed,
Club Collect were printed in our year-
book.
The Assumption Woman's Club has had
the honor of having three District Presi-
dents and two County Presidents selected
from its membership.
"All things worthwhile from small be-
ginnings grow.
As did our club dreams of forty years
ago."
SEE YOUR
STATE FARM AGENT
for
AUTO — LIFE — FIRE
Insurance
LYDIA POTTER
— LOCAL AGENT —
Phone 138 Blue
OUT MOTORING IN 1911
C. A. (Hank) DuBoee and Leonard Tripp enjoy a spin in the DuBoce car.
CI^iiiNG READY FOR PAVING
Work underway on First (Short) Street preparatory to laying pavement. Guy Taylor
driving the Gushing delivery wagon, Dave Burkhart with teami and grader in the
center, other driver is unidentified.
AUGUST CAZALET
Born in Ganges, France on December 25,
1828. He spent his youth and early man-
hood in his native country. He served an
apprenticeship at the stone mason's trade,
later becoming a contractor and builder.
In 1853 he was married to Julia Galliac.
To this union two children were born,
Leona, a daughter, and Leon, a son. In
1858 Mr. Cazalet brought his wife and
two children to this country on a sailing
boat. They came at once to Ottawa, Illi-
nois, where he established a stone yard
and engaged in contracting and building.
Later, in 1862, they moved to El Paso,
where Mr. Cazalet entered in merchan-
dising with his brother. He sold his in-
terest and moved his family to Assump-
tion in 1865 and engaged in merchandising
here. During his business career in As-
sumption he acquired about one thousand
acres of land, built fourteen business
houses, five of them brick. He made three
trips back to France to import Percheron
and French Coach horses. He died in 1915.
J. A. "Art" LACHARITE
J. A. "Art" LaCharite, long, associated
in business and farming pursuits of the
Assumption community, died in 1927 at
the early age of 52. He had been associated
with the Illinois State Bank of Assump-
tion for 31 years, and through the bank
had made a wide and extensive acquaint-
ance in this area. He was also an officer
of the Assumption Coal Co., and had al-
ways extended every effort to keep the
mine in operation. He served as mayor
two terms, during the first paving and
water system improvement. He was the
oldest son of David LaCharite, who like-
wise had been associated with the State
Bank and the Assumption Coal Co. Mr.
LaCharite married Anna Cronin who pre-
ceded him in death in 1918, leaving six
children, Edwina, Leon, Charles. Mar-
garet, Rosalie and George. George lives in
Assumption and practices law here. "Art"
LaCharite will long be remembered by
the farmers and business men of the corn-
munity, with whom he had worked in
connection with their banking and finance
problems.
FRIBLEY & LaCHARITE
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
Phone 3300 — Fribley Building
Pana, Illinois
JOHN W. FRIBLEY
GEORGE J. LaCHARITE
THE ASSUMPTION NEWS
Herbert Bixby, publisher; Alice (Fanson) Clark, assistant; Shorty Adams, printer's
devil. Office was located in one-story building on First (Short) Street in location
now occupied by Nave's Body Shop.
OLD FUNERAL HEARSE
Belonging to the late J. C. Shafer, long-time funeral director in Assumption.
THANKS . . . .
When a community undertakes to celebrate its 100th birthday
and to commemorate the deeds of those who played a part in its
founding and development, nothing is more important than the will-
ingness of public minded citizens to accept individual responsibility
and to offer their best in cooperation and sacrifice. Of equal import-
ance is the willingness of organization groups to lend the constructive
force of combined effort, and to these individuals we owe our thanks.
To the many advertisers who have shown their faith in the cele-
bration by their financial support, we give first thought.
To all of the committees who served so faithfully, without any
complaint on their part, we wish to say we thank you. We know our
forebearers would have been proud of these people and their accomp-
lishments.
We wish to express our thanks to all individuals, all religious,
civic, veterans and social groups, who worked so hard with personal
sacrifice to make this possible.
It is our hope that we all have received a better understanding
of our own people and their problems that we may be a better united
community for the good of its people.
The universal acceptance of the Century of Progress is evidence
of our determination to build a bigger and better Assumption.
J
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA
Q77 Ifll&^VQ C001
ASSUMPTION CENTURY OF PROGRESS, ASSUMPTl
3 0112 025397917
