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1874 


CISCO 
ILLINOIS 


"rrrsTssfsmmmmi 


1974 


mmtRS/iRn 


CISCO 


^^^H  II 


Bird's-eye  view  of  Cisco,  looking:   east. 


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■ii:-.^ 


-a^^s: 


PREFACE 

Great  are  the  changes  that  generations  have  seen  and  their  hands  have 
aided  in  bringing  about.  We  are  heir  to  the  yesterdays  that  our  ancestors 
developed,  and  indebted  to  them  for  today  and  for  what  is  hoped  for  tomorrow. 

This  Centennial  book  is  an  attempt  to  give  an  insight  into  Cisco  1874-1974, 
though  it  really  began  before  1874.  A  book  of  this  type  involves  the  cooperation, 
enthusiasm,  support  and  suggestions  of  many  people.  It  is  not  easy  to  try  to 
record  history  for  many  facts  and  ideas  must  be  omitted  and  many  are  unknown 
or  are  remembered  in  various  ways. 

We,  the  preparers  of  this  book,  hope  that  it  serves  as  a  reminder  of  the  past 
telling  how  the  people  lived,  while  instilling  the  desire  to  look  forward  to  another 
century  for  the  Cisco  community,  though  the  future  cannot  be  told.  We  believe 
that  it  will  help  preserve  "happenings"  which  would  soon  be  lost  to  the  ages.  We 
express  our  gratitude  to  everyone  and  apologize  for  any  omission  or  untruth. 

We  would  like  to  express  a  special  "Thank  you"  to  Vera  Root  for  her 
informative  material  and  many  hours  of  research. 


«^ 


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"Clouds  Over  Cisco"  by  Clementine  Marquis. 


IM'  H^. 


Cisco  started  as  a  farming  community  and  remains 
as  one  today,  for  most  of  the  businesses  are  farm 
related.  Many  of  the  townspeople  commute  to  other 
work  in  Decatur  or  Monticello.  This  story  of  Cisco 
has  tried  to  reach  back  through  the  past  100  years 
to  learn  more  of  our  town's  history  and  the  events 
that  have  shaped  it  as  it  is  today. 

The  first  white  people  to  arrive  in  Piatt  County 
found  Indians,  not  dangerous  ones,  but  friendly  Dela- 
ware, Kickapoo  and  Potawattamie  tribes.  Arrow- 
heads and  other  Indian  artifacts  have  been  found 
throughout  the  area.  On  some  of  the  farms  are  indica- 
tions of  buffalo  wallows,  as  well  as  areas  called  "The 
Dead  Sea."  Few  white  people  had  been  in  this  area 
before  Illinois  became  a  state  in  1818,  as  they  had 
been  settling  in  the  southern  part  first.  Settlers  began 
moving  into  the  northern  section  in  1825. 

In  1838,  Edward  Ater  came  to  the  area  which  is 
now  Willow  Branch  Township  to  complete  a  land  pur- 
chase made  by  his  father,  Thomas  Ater.  Among  those 
he  found  here  were  Emanuel  Clover,  Michael  Dillow, 
Thomas  Henderson,  John  Moore,  William  Piatt,  James 
Reber,  John  Sea,  Mr.  Shuman,  John  West  and  Wash- 
ington Zinn.  Soon  Samuel  Havely  and  the  Arms- 
worths  came.  When  Ed  Ater  arrived,  he  went  to  the 
Clover  home  to  get  a  night's  lodging,  but  they  were 
all  ill  with  the  Ague.  He  went  on  to  the  Reber  home, 
then  the  John  West  home,  still  encountering  the  Ague. 
He  continued  to  the  James  Piatt  cabin  in  Monticello, 
where  the  family  graciously  opened  their  home  to  the 
stranger,  although  Mr.  Piatt  was  in  his  last  illness 
with  typhoid  fever.  Peter  Croniger  came  from  Ohio 
in  1839,  making  the  trip  in  nine  days.  He  drove  three 
horses  to  a  wagon,  accompanied  by  Isaac  Faylor. 
Within  a  few  months  he  had  130  acres  of  his  land 
"under  fence,"  using  oak  rails,  had  dug  a  well  and 
built  a  house. 

The  early  settlers  made  their  homes  along  streams, 
shunning  the  prairies  because  they  believed  them 
unfit  for  farming,  and  Willow  Branch  is  prairie.  The 
settlers  needed  timber  for  their  homes,  fuel  and  barns. 
The  easiest  way  was  to  cut  the  trees  for  a  clearing, 
build  their  cabin  and  use  the  surrounding  cleared  area 
for  crops. 

A  settler  brought  with  him  an  ax  and  rifle.  With 
the  help  of  his  neighbors  he  built  his  cabin,  usually 
14  to  16  foot  square  and  without  glass,  nails,  hinges, 
and  locks.  A  fireplace  was  built  in  one  end,  and  pelts 
lined  the  ceiling.  A  log  was  left  out  along  one  side  and 
sheets  of  strong  paper,  well  greased  with  coon-grease 
or  bear-grease  were  tacked  in  place,  to  serve  as 
windows.  Everyone  was  his  own  carpenter,  and  some 
used  considerable  ingenuity  in  the  construction  of 
tools,  utensils  and  furniture. 

Horse  collars  were  often  made  of  braided  husk  of 
corn  sewed  together.  They  were  easy  on  the  neck 
of  the  horse  and  would  last  a  long  while. 

Women  made  nearly  all  the  clothing  worn  by  the 
family  and  every  home  had  a  card-loom  and  a  spinning 
wheel.  Dresses  were  made  plain  with  four  widths  of 


n^terial  in  the  skirt.  The  waist  was  short  and  sleeves 
were  large  and  tapered.  Many  ribbons  and  bows  were 
worn,  but  little  jewelry.  The  men  wore  light  colored 
"jeans"  and  lindsey  woolsey  hunting  shirts. 

Wild  meat  was  plentiful,  and  small  patches  of 
Indian  corn  were  raised  and  a  meal  ground  to  make 
a  coarse  but  wholesome  bread.  Johnny  cakes  and  pones 
were  served  for  dinner  while  mush  and  milk  was  a 
favorite  supper.  The  garden  furnished  roasting  ears, 
pumpkins,  beans,  sijuash  and  potatoes.  Coffee  and  tea 
were  used  sparingly  while  maple  sugar  was  much 
used  and  honey  was  only  5c  a  lb.  Butter  and  eggs  were 
cheap,  and  chickens  were  seen  in  great  numbers 
around  the  cabin. 


Feeding  thr   ihickin-.   in    1909. 

The  amusements  of  that  day  were  quite  athletic. 
Dancing  was  a  favorite,  along  with  foot  racing,  target 
shooting,  jumping  and  wrestling.  Quilting  and  spin- 
ning bees  were  favorite  activities  of  the  women  and 
girls,  as  well  as  being  practical. 

For  many  years  the  settlers  made  no  effort  to 
cultivate  the  prairie,  because  they  thought  it  was  not 
fertile,  since  it  did  not  grow  trees.  The  prairie  grew 
grass,  often  taller  than  a  man's  head,  and  there  were 
prairie  fires.  Mr.  P.  C.  Young  came  to  Willow  Branch 
Township  in  1863  as  a  four  year  old.  As  a  child  he 
used  to  herd  cattle  on  the  site  of  Cisco.  When  he 
was  a  grown  man  he  built  a  log  cabin  on  the  prairie 
across  the  road  from  the  present  Bud  Barnhart  home. 
In  those  days  of  log  cabins,  prairie  fires  were  greatly 
feared  for  the  home  would  burn  readily  and  fire 
spread  through  the  grasses  faster  than  a  horse  could 
run.  The  soil  around  the  cabin  was  plowed  to  protect 
it.  Men  working  in  the  fields  would  set  fires  to  burn 
off  an  area  for  themselves  and  their  horses,  if  a  fire 
occurred.  They  would  place  themselves  and  the  horses 
inside  the  burned  off  area  for  safety. 

If  the  early  settlers  could  see  their  farm  land 
today,  they  eyes  would  probably  pop  for  there  have 
been  so  many  changes.  Their  early  attempts  at  farm- 
ing were  made  under  extreme  hardship,  clearing  the 
forest  areas,  which  meant  cultivating  around  the 
stumps  and  on  the  slopes.  As  time  went  along  they 
would  try  to  remove  the  stumps,  which  could  be 
dangerous.  In  the  early  1900's  James  Hendrix  lost  his 


First  binders  in  the  Cisco  area. 


sight  blasting  stumps.  Their  plowing  was  done  by 
hand.  The  corn  was  cut  and  shocked,  being  husked  as 
needed  and  shelled  by  hand  or  small  hand  mill.  Wheat 
and  oats  were  cut  with  a  scythe,  stacked  in  shocks  and 
threshed  by  a  flail.  To  go  to  a  mill  for  grinding  was 
a  long  trip  to  Decatur  or  Danville.  To  market  the 
grain  was  a  similar  trip  or  one  to  Chicago  by  horse 
and  wagon. 

The  pioneer  farmer  had  to  drain  his  land  if  he 
was  to  use  the  prairie,  for  it  was  a  swamp  in  the 
rainy  season.  Some  one  invented  a  molelike  contrap- 
tion with  a  cutting  blade  that  went  ahead  of  the 
mole  which  when  pulled  through  the  ground  made 
smooth  packed  runways  for  water.  Thus  they  were 
able  to  drain  the  prairies,  making  good  farm  land. 
These  lasted  for  years.  In  the  1880's  tile  was  manu- 
factured and  put  in  for  drainage.  Drainage  ditches 
are  used  to  help  carry  the  water. 

Changes  in  farming  came  with  new  implements, 
though  corn  was  still  husked  by  hand  until  the  1930's. 
Farm  wagons  were  fitted  with  "bump  boards"  making 
an  extension  to  the  height,  keeping  the  corn  from 
going  over  the  wagon,  when  the  walking  husker  pulled 
the  ears  of  corn  from  the  husk  and  stalk,  and  threw 
them  into  the  wagon.  The  horses  pulling  the  wagons 
walked  along  as  though  they  knew  their  job.  Until  the 
corn  dump  was  invented,  the  husker  had  to  scoop  the 
corn  into  the  crib.  Extra  helj)  was  usually  needed  at 


shucking  time,  and  each  fall  a  number  of  fellows  came 
from  southern  Illinois  and  Kentucky,  to  help  with  the 
work.  They  were  paid  by  the  bushel,  and  given  room 
and  board  while  they  were  shucking  corn.  There  was 
competition  as  to  who  would  pick  the  most  bushels  a 
day  among  the  fellows.  This  led  to  shucking  contests. 
Now  we  find  the  mechanical  corn  picker  giving  way 
to  the  combine  sheller,  as  man  gave  way  to  the  picker 
or  the  horse  gave  way  to  the  tractor. 

Instead  of  the  threshing  of  the  wheat  and  oats 
by  a  flail,  the  grains  began  to  be  cut  and  bound  by  a 
binder,  shocked;  and  threshed  by  steam  powered 
threshing  machines.  The  community  was  divided  into 
threshing  rings  with  the  gang  following  from  farm  to 
farm.  The  farmers  worked  in  the  field,  their  wives 
worked  in  the  kitchen,  and  the  kids  had  fun.  A  lavish 
meal  was  served  at  noon,  so  the  saying  that  someone 
had  "cooked  enough  for  threshers."  The  straw  was 
made  into  a  stack  and  used  for  bedding  and  feed. 
Sometimes  it  was  baled.  The  hay  was  done  in  this 
manner  or  put  in  the  mow  loose.  Now  wheat  and  oats 
are  combined. 

Piatt  County  was  formed  in  1841,  because  it  was 
too  far  to  go  to  the  county  seat  in  Decatur.  It  had 
been  a  part  of  Macon  County.  Willow  Branch  was 
known  as  Liberty  Precinct  until  the  townships  were 
organized  in  1860.  The  first  supervisor  was  Elias  Hall. 


Plowing 


David  Swarts  and  Preston  Reed  with  a  load  of  hay. 


Hauling  com 


Unloading  corn  in  1912  on  the  Will  Davis  farm. 


Old  engine  at  threshing  time. 


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w^^ttmif^i  9 


Horse   drawn   binder   and   shocking   wheat    at   McKinneys. 


Thresher    and    crew:     Charles    Olson,    Ernest    Wikowsky, 
"Sebe"  Sebens,  Ernest  Richardson  and  . 


But<-hering  day  at  Harve  Koyse's  in  19U:   Mary  Ellen  Boyse,  Mary  Stillabower,  Josie  Olson,  Jess  Stillabower,  Oscar  Olson, 

John  Royse,  William  Bruns,  Harve  Royse  and  John  Goken. 


April  1913  —  ready  for  market  —  average  1270  lbs.   and   brought  $8.48/100  wt. 


Mule  team  at  John  Royse's  in  1917. 


Stanley  Mackey  and  teams. 


The  name  of  Willow  Branch  was  derived  from  the 
fact  that  early  settlers  settled  near  the  tributary 
called  "The  Branch,"  and  forded  the  Sangamon  River 
near  a  large  Willow  Tree.  All  were  in  the  same  area. 
This  ford  is  where  the  Hog  Chute  Bridge  is  located. 

Other  landmarks  are  Wolf  Run  and  Wild  Cat 
Creek,  both  tributaries  to  the  north,  and  Stringtown 
Lane  to  the  north  of  the  township. 

In  1860  before  Cisco  became  a  town  there  was  one 
house  on  the  present  town  site.  It  was  built  by  Dr.  S. 
V.  Purdy. 

As  with  most  towns,  Cisco  grew  where  it  did  be- 
cause of  a  railroad.  The  Monticello  Railroad  was  incor- 
porated in  1861  just  prior  to  the  Civil  War.  The  war 
curtailed  most  construction  for  the  duration.  In  1867 
the  company  secured  deeds  to  the  right  of  way.  By 
1869  the  law  permitted  Townships  without  a  railroad 
to  vote  bonds  and  assist  in  building  one.  The  Monti- 
cello  Company  planned  to  build  a  railroad  from  Cham- 
paign through  Monticello  to  Decatur,  there  to  join  with 
the  Decatur  and  East  St.  Louis  Line  to  be  completed 
shortly.  However,  five  years  later  no  track  had  been 
laid.  A  contract  was  let  in  March  of  1871  but  there 
was  difficulty  in  raising  the  money.  By  1872  this 
company  finished  the  road  from  Champaign  to  Monti- 
cello. The  line  from  White  Heath  to  Havanna  and  the 
in  1873  by  the  Havanna,  Mason  City,  Lincoln  and 
Eastern.  For  the  next  several  years  the  road  led  a 
precarious  existence.  It  first  became  a  part  of  the 
Indianapolis,  Bloomington  and  Western  and  the  orig- 
inal plat  of  Cisco  so  labels  the  railroad  as  the  LB.  & 
W.R.R.  (In  1973  it  is  the  New  York  Central.)  Some  of 
the  men  who  worked  on  the  railroad  as  it  went  through 
Cisco  boarded  with  Mrs.  Patsy  Reardon,  mother-in- 
law  of  John  Jeffords,  the  harness  maker. 


Cisco  Depot  and  the  Livery  Stable. 

It  was  in  1874  that  the  depot  was  built  with  E.  F. 
Dallas  the  first  ticket  agent. 

Later  the  line  became  a  part  of  the  Wabash,  St. 
Louis  and  Pacific  and  in  1886  when  the  latter  was 
falling  apart  the  Illinois  Central  entered  into  an 
agreement  with  Harriman,  who  was  picking  up  the 
pieces  at  bargain  prices.  They  were  looking  forward 
to  getting  the  "Pea  Nut  Line",  so  named  by  James  C. 
Clarks,  president  of  the  Illinois  Central.  Jeffrey,  gen- 
eral manager  of  the  Illinois  Central  had  written  to 


President  Clarks  stating  that  because  the  I.C.  was 
losing  business  to  this  line  that  the  "Pea  Nut  Line" 
was  "the  most  desirable  piece  of  railroad  for  us  to 
acquire  in  the  Corn  belt."  The  I.C.  finally  got  control 
in  January  1887.  Men  who  worked  on  this  branch 
called  it  the  "Hack  Line."  Other  names  for  the  line 
were  "Puddle  Jumper"  and  "Old  Barney."  The  name 
was  derived  from  "Barney  Maloy  from  Cisco,  Illinois," 
an  employee  of  the  railroad. 

It  was  April  24,  1874  that  the  station  Cisco  was 
platted.  Four  men  owned  the  land  that  cornered  up 
to  the  center  of  the  town.  They  got  C.  D.  Moore, 
the  Piatt  County  Surveyor,  to  plat  the  village  of  Cisco 
on  February  4,  5,  6,  and  7  of  1874.  These  landowners 
were  Hiram  Dodge  who  owned  640  acres  to  tthe  north- 
west of  the  center,  E.  F.  Dallas,  who  owned  80  acres 
extending  north  a  half  mile  from  the  center  of  Cisco, 
Thomas  Watson,  who  owned  the  80  acres  extending  a 
mile  east  from  the  town's  center,  and  Abraham  Runkle 
who  owned  40  acres  to  the  southwest. 

Recorded  in  the  Piatt  County  Courthouse  at  Mon- 
ticello, Illinois  is  the  original  plat  of  Cisco.  Also 
recorded  there  in  beautiful  script  is  the  following: 

"Know  all  these  men  by  these  presnt,  that 
we,  Hiram  Dodge  of  Watseka,  Illinois,  E.  F. 
Dallas,  Thomas  Watson  and  Abraham  Runkle  of 
Piatt  County,  Illinois  have  authorized  the  lay- 
ing out  of  the  Town  of  Cisco  as  described  on 
the  annexed  plat,  certified  by  the  Surveyor  of 
Piatt  County,  Illinois,  and  we  do  hereby  re- 
linquish and  donate  to  the  use  of  the  public  the 
streets  and  alieys  in  said  Town,  as  in  said  plot 
specified.  In  testimony  whereof  we  have  set 
our  hands  and  seals  this  24th  day  of  April,  A.D. 
1874. 

Hiram  Dodge   (seal) 
Erastus  F.  Dallas   (seal) 
Abraham  Runkle  (seal) 
Thomas  Watson   (seal) 

I.  L.  Bond,  Notary  Public  in  and  for  said  county 
and  state. 

April  A.D.   1874." 

Since  these  men  had  no  seals  they  drew  a  rectangle 
of  "e's"  and  wrote  SEAL  inside  it. 


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'  -  uJ    rri  f-1  "^  rrlm  n,rr  ■pjj, 


Orig:inaI   Plat  of  Cisco 


On  the  plat  the  surveyor  indicated  the  exact  loca- 
tions where  he  had  stones  placed  for  future  measuring. 

One  should  notice  that  the  town  was  named  before 
the  foregoing  agreement  was  signed.  There  are  sev- 
eral stories  as  to  how  the  town  got  its  name  but  Mrs. 
Prudie  Huffmaster  told  Vera  Root  repeatedly  that 
her  father  always  said  the  town  was  named  for  the 
mother  of  Erastus  F.  Dallas.  She  was  Francisco 
Dallas,  a  highly  respected  woman  who  always  helped 
others  in  the  community  in  their  hour  of  need.  The 
last  of  her  given  name  was  used  for  the  town  name. 
Another  story  has  it  that  it  was  suggested  by  one 
of  the  men  doing  the  surveying  for  the  railroad.  He 
had  surveyed  for  a  town  in  Nevada  for  the  Union 
Pacific  by  that  name.  You  may  have  heard  the  story 
that  Cisco  in  Spanish  means  "copper"  but  persons 
who  know  Spanish  say  they  never  heard  of  that. 

At  the  time  Cisco  was  platted  in  1874  there  were 
50  persons  living  on  the  site. 

The  first  station  agent  was  E.  F.  Dallas.  The  next 
agent  was  Nannie  Moffett,  and  since  she  was  a 
woman,  men  of  the  village  would  gather  to  help  unload 
freight  when  a  train  came  in.  Gabe  Davenport  came 
next  and  about  this  time  Lee  McGinnis  operated  a  dray 
service  to  haul  freight  to  business  houses.  When  the 
streets  were  muddy  in  the  early  spring  or  after  a  hard 
rain,  or  when  the  roads  had  deep  frozen  ruts  in 
winter,  Lee's  tram  had  a  hard  time  hauling  the 
freight.  King  Pattengale  came  to  Cisco  in  the  early 
1900's  and  he  served  in  this  capacity  for  several  years. 

At  that  time  there  were  four  trains  a  day  that 
would  carry  passengers.  The  arrival  of  a  train  was 
always  an  attraction  and  townsfolk  went  to  see  who 
came  to  town  and  who  left  town. 

In  1902  the  train  schedule  read  as  follows: 
Trains  Pass  Cisco 

No.  726  going  East 8:00  o'clock  a.m. 

No.  725  going  West 9:45  o'clock  a.m. 

No.  722  going  East 4:07  o'clock  p.m. 

•     No.  703  going  West 9:45  o'clock  p.m. 

In  1911  the  Cisco  Telegrapher  and  Operator  was 
paid  $55.00  a  month.  The  fare  between  Cisco  and 
Clinton,  if  you  went  first  class,  was  $1.20  one  way. 
If  you  went  by  coach  a  one  way  fare  was  80c.  As 
autos  became  more  prevalent  there  were  fewer  pas- 
sengers and  so  passenger  service  through  Cisco  was 
discontinued  in  1939.  When  the  Service  was  in  opera- 
tion in  the  earliest  days  one  bought  his  ticket  at  the 
station  but  later  paid  his  fare  after  boarding  the 
train.  Train  fare  between  Monticello  and  Cisco  one 
way  was  25c  first  class  and  20c  by  coach.  One  way 
fares  between  Cisco  and  Argenta  were  20c  first  class 
and  15c  by  coach. 

The  stations  on  the  railroad  branch  between  White 
Heath  and  Decatur  were  Monticello,  Amenia,  Cisco, 
Argenta,  Oreana,  and  Green  Switch. 

In  the  year  1943  the  Cisco  Station  Operator  was 
paid  43c  an  hour.  As  freight  was  hauled  more  and 
more  frequently  by  truck  the  job  as  station  agent 
became  a  part  time  one.  Small  parcels  were  no  longer 
handled  after  April  15,  1963  and  only  carload  lots 
were  carried. 


Train  Time 

Sam  Berkler,  Don  Stewart,  and  Barney  Giffin 
were  station  agents.  Mrs.  Greenfield  served  both  Cisco 
and  Argenta  for  a  time.  Dale  Riggins  began  here  in 
1963.  He  served  from  12  to  14  stations  using  his  truck 
to  work  from.  His  reporting  headquarters  was 
Decatur. 

Village  Government  and  the 
Town  Hall 

A  copy  of  the  Municipal  Code  of  the  Village  of 
Cisco  that  was  revised  and  adopted  on  June  4,  1906 
tells  us  of  the  village  officials  and  ordinances  at  that 
time.  The  officials  were :  President,  six  members  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees,  Clerk,  Treasurer,  Marshal  of 
Streets,  and  Police  Magistrate.  Other  chapters  set 
forth  the  ordinances  on  village  limits;  inspection  of 
flues  and  chimneys ;  health  department ;  the  corporate 
seal  (the  corporate  seal  of  Cisco  is  circular  and  says 
on  the  outside,  "Village  of  Cisco,  Piatt  County,  111." 
Across  the  middle  it  says,  "Corporate  Seal.")  ;  fire 
limits;  concrete  sidewalks;  finances;  streets  and 
alleys;  sidewalks  and  public  grounds;  railroads; 
licenses;  nuisances;  misdemeanors;  recovery  of  fines 
and  penaties.  At  the  time  this  code  was  adopted  Levi 
A.  Weddle  was  the  Village  President  and  Arburthnot 
Hugh  Lyons  was  Clerk.  The  booklet  was  published 
August  25,  1906  by  the  Republican  Printing  Company 
of  Monticello.  Ruby  Leach's  older  sister  recalls  that 
she  wrote  a  copy  of  the  ordinances  in  a  new  ledger 
for  Bert  Lyons  when  she  was  in  school. 

In  the  Historical  Encyclopedia  of  Illinois  and  His- 
tory of  Piatt  County,  Francis  Shonkwiler  says  that  in 
1899,  Jason  Simer  was  President  of  the  Board,  King 
Pattengill  was  Clerk,  S.  L.  Grove  was  Commissioner 
of  Highways,  A.  L.  Lyons  was  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
and  Edward  Salsbury  was  Constable.  Those  who  had 
served  on  the  County  Board  to  represent  Willow 
Branch  Township  were  Peter  Croninger,  David  Moyer, 
W.  F.  Stevenson,  Thomas  Ater,  Thomas  Mintun, 
James  Ownby,  F.  H.  McCartney,  E.  L.  Croninger, 
F.  S.  Weilepp,  W.  W.  Parish,  Chas.  Baker,  George  W. 
Widick,  and  Charles  T.  Parr. 


The  President  and  six  members  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  were  elected  and  their  salaries  were  set  by 
themselves  and  were  not  to  be  changed  for  a  year. 
Four  trustees  and  the  President  would  constitute  a 
quorum.  If  at  any  meeting  a  quorum  was  not  present, 
the  President  was  to  direct  the  Marshall  to  go  for 
the  missing  members.  Any  Board  member  who  had 
absented  himself  without  just  cause  such  as  illness 
was  to  be  arrested  and  fined  $10  if  he  refused  to 
attend  the  meeting.  Any  trustee  so  disorderly  could 
be  expelled  by  a  two  thirds  vote  of  the  board. 

The  Village  Marshall  was  appointed  by  the  Presi- 
dent and  held  office  one  year.  The  Police  Magistrate 
was  to  be  elected  beginning  in  the  year  1908  and 
every  year  thereafter. 

Some  of  these  ordinances  make  interesting  read- 
ing. Here  are  some : 

"No  boy  nor  any  other  person  shall  carelessly  or 
heedlessly  cast  or  throw  any  stone,  brick,  brick  bat, 
clod,  or  other  missile  from  or  into  any  public  or 
private  house,  street,  or  other  place,  nor  shall  in  any 
wise  injure  or  deface  any  buiding,  fence  or  shade 
tree,  or  shall  meddle  with  or  injure  any  public  well, 
cistern  or  pump  within  said  village,  under  a  penalty 
in  each  case  of  not  less  than  one  dollar  nor  more  than 
fifty  dollars  upon  conviction." 

Any  person  who  "shall  keep,  offer  for  sale  or  sell, 
or  in  any  way  circulate  or  distribute  any  obscene  or 
indecent  publication,  book,  pamphlet,  paper,  print, 
picture,  model,  illustration,  cast,"  shall  be  fined  not 
less  than  five  dollars  nor  more  than  two  hundred 
dollars  for  each  offense. 

"Whoever  shall  purposely,  heedlessly,  rapidly  or 
immoderately  ride  or  drive  any  horse,  mule,  cattle  or 
other  like  animal,  or  any  team  in  such  manner  as  to 
be  dangerous  to  person  or  property,  in  said  village, 
may  be  stopped  by  any  person,  and  shall  be  stopped 
by  the  village  marshall,  and  shall  upon  conviction,  be 
fined  not  less  than  three  dollars  not  more  than  fifty 
dollars  for  each  offense." 

"Whoever  shall  ride  or  drive  any  horse,  mule, 
cattle,  or  the  like,  or  lead  the  same,  or  drive  any 
carriage,  wagon,  cart  or  vehicle  for  pleasure  or 
burden,  on  or  across  any  sidewalk,  boulevard  or  lawn, 
where  there  is  no  regular  approach  to  the  same,  shall 
be  fined  in  any  sum  not  less  than  three  dollars  nor 
more  than  twenty-five  dollars  for  each  offense." 

No  person  shall  engage  in  any  game,  sport  or 
amusement  or  put  up  any  exhibit  that  will  frighten 
horses  or  teams  or  interfer  with  persons  using  the 
streets  or  sidewalks.  Fine  from  $1  to  $25. 

Other  ordinances  forbade  hitching  horses  to  trees, 
creating  a  disturbance  on  a  Sunday,  doing  unnecessary 
business  on  Sunday,  allowing  any  "horse,  mule,  ass, 
cow,  sheep,  goat,  swine  or  goose  or  any  like  animal  to 
run  at  large  within  the  limits  of  said  village,"  nor 
should  any  be  staked  out  in  any  public  place. 

"It  shall  be  unlawful  for  any  person  or  firm,  or 
any  agent  to  sell,  offer  for  sale,  give  away  or  keep 
any  cigarettes  or  cigarette  paper  within  the  corporate 
limits  of  said  village,  and  any  person  or  persons  who 
shall  violate  this   section   shall   be   subject  to  a   fine 


of  not  less  than  five  dollars  nor  more  than  twenty- 
five  dollars  for  each  offense." 

Other  ordinances  of  that  day  concerned  stables, 
pens,  ditches,  slop,  dead  animals,,  barbed  wire  and 
hedge  fences. 

Licenses  were  required  at  fifty  cents  for  business 
establishments,  for  any  show  or  exhibit  other  than  for 
home  benefit,  pool  or  billiards,  drays,  hawkers,  or 
peddlers. 

One  ordinance  banned  having  any  amusement  open 
on  Sunday  including  baseball  grounds  and  the  fine 
for  disobeying  was  from  three  to  one  hundred  dollars. 

"It  shall  be  unlawful  for  any  boys  or  other  persons 
to  trespass  upon  any  school  property  within  the 
village,  at  any  time  when  there  is  no  school  or  to 
loiter  about  or  congregate  thereon,  under  a  penalty  of 
not  less  than  two  dollars  nor  more  than  fifty  dollars 
for  each  offense." 

The  above  ordinances  are  still  on  the  books  in  1973. 

There  is  no  Village  Marshall  at  the  present  time. 
Meetings  are  held  on  the  second  Monday  of  each 
month  at  7:00  P.M.  at  the  Town  Hall. 

The  present  Town  Hall  was  built  in  1936  by  the 
WPA  and  Mr.  Harry  Lyons  was  foreman  on  the  job. 
The  third  WPA  project  at  the  time  was  to  take  up 
the  brick  sidewalks,  clean  the  bricks  to  use  in  build- 
ing the  Town  Hall  and  put  in  concrete  sidewalks.  The 
building  was  to  be  equipped  with  steel  lockers,  chairs, 
and  tables.  The  second  floor  was  to  be  used  for  Village 
Board  meetings  and  the  first  floor  for  a  polling  place 
for  town  and  township  elections. 

During  the  1940's  the  fire  engine  for  the  fire 
district  was  kept  on  the  first  floor.  When  an  election 
was  to  be  held  the  fire  engine  was  run  out  so  the 
first  floor  could  be  used  as  a  polling  station. 

The  present  Cisco  Board  is: 

Jack  Drew,  Mayor  Otto  Mazzei 

Charles   Winters,   Clerk  Larry  Edwards 

Gene  Pirtle,  Treasurer  Delbert  Williams 

Sam  Clark  Earl  Wright 


Entering  from  the  west  in  1974. 


The  Telford  Building 

William  H.  Telford  built  Cisco's  largest  store  on 
the  northwest  corner  of  Main  and  Dodge  Streets.  It 
was  a  frame  building  124  foot  long  and  24  foot  wide. 
It  had  3  rooms  on  the  first  floor.  The  room  to  the 
south  took  up  two-thirds  of  the  building  with  the 
remaining  one-third  divided  into  2  rooms. 

The  second  floor  of  the  building  was  divided  into 
two  large  halls  named  Castle  Hall  and  Areli  Hall. 
These  could  be  reached  by  an  enclosed  stairway  on 
the  east  side  of  the  building  from  Main  Street. 

There  was  a  loading  platform  on  the  west  side 
of  the  building.  Merchandise  came  to  town  on  the 
train  and  a  horse  and  dray  would  haul  it  to  the  load- 
ing platform  of  the  store. 


Teleford  building  and  restaurant. 

Pictures  of  this  building  show  that  wooden  planks 
held  up  by  blocks  of  wood  or  tile  provided  seats  on 
the  Main  Street  and  Dodge  Street  sides  of  the  build- 
ing. Here  the  weary  could  rest  or  sit  and  visit. 

The  Telford  building  burned  in   1910. 


The  Hitchins  Building 

G.  W.  Hitchins  rebuilt  a  one  story  brick  building 
on  the  above  mentioned  site  extending  about  two- 
thirds  as  long  as  the  previous  Telford  Building.  A 
general  store,  Armsworth's  Hardware  and  our  present 
day  antique  store  have  all  been  located  here. 

Just  north  of  the  Telford  on  the  west  side  of  Main 
St.  there  was  a  small  building  in  which  there  was  a 
millinery  shop  and  later  a  grocery  and  a  doctor's 
office.  The  Town  Hall,  which  was  built  as  a  W.P.A. 
project,  is  now  located  in  approximately  the  same 
site. 

West  of  the  Telford  building  on  Dodge  St.  was 
the  Opera  House.  This  building  was  the  re-modeled 
first  church  built  for  the  Methodist  congregation  of 
Cisco.  It  was  bought  for  $100  in  1899  and  moved  from 
the  church  site  to  its  up  town  location.  This  was 
really  used  as  a  community  center.  This  building  also 
burned  in  the  big  fire  of  1910. 

West  of  the  Opera  House  was  a  building  which 
had  a  restaurant  and  ice  cream  parlor  in  it.  It  burned 
in  1910. 


Street  scene  on  West  Dodge  Street. 

The  building  on  Dodge  Street  just  west  of  the 
restaurant  was  also  destroyed  by  the  1910  fire.  This, 
at  one  time,  housed  the  newspaper  office  and  a 
barber  shop. 


The  Swam  Building 

Fred  Swam  built  a  large  brick  building  of  two 
rooms,  two  doors  north  of  the  bank,  in  the  center  of 
the  block  on  Main  Street  in  1910.  The  north  room 
has  served  as  a  garage  and  the  electric  plant.  The 
south  room  was  a  blacksmith's,  a  movie  house,  auto 
sales  and  a  grocery.  Clem  Colgan  used  the  building 
from  1947-1965  as  an  office  and  warehouse  for  his 
seed  business.  The  building  is  presently  owned  by 
the  Cisco  Co-op  Elevator. 

In  the  only  frame  building  left  of  the  early  Cisco, 
next  door  to  the  bank,  has  been  a  restaurant,  a  mil- 
linery shop,  a  creamery  and  bakery.  Dr.  Rhodes' 
office  and  previous  and  present  day  barber  shop. 

Across  the  street  east  of  the  Telford  building  was 
the  Bank  Building.  It  was  built  in  1897.  It  has  also 
been  used  for  a  grocery  and  Post  Office,  the  Cook 
and  Doane  electrical  business  and  is  presently  owned 
by  the  Cisco  Co-op  Elevator. 


REMEMBER  WHEN? 

Cisco  village  census  1920  (345),  1910  (379),  1900 
(360),  and  Willow  Branch  Township  1920  (1133), 
1910  (1518)  and  1900  (1579). 

Style  change  in  1874 :  "Only  recent  change  in  the 
style  of  wearing  the  hair  is  the  addition  of  the  coronet 
braid.  Also,  gauze  dresses,  chatelaine  pockets,  impro- 
vised bracelets,  silver  mounted  fans  and  sleeveless 
dresses." 

1874:  "The  railroad  question  is  a  national  issue  — 
in  regard  to  interstate  railroads,  to  provide  cheaper 
transportation,  secure  safety  and  comfort  of  passen- 
gers, reform  abuses  and  promote  general  efficiency  of 
railroads  —  " 

"The  U.S.  furnished,  in  1897,  more  than  one-half 
the  wheat  recjuired  by  Europe." 

When  corn  was  selling  for  10c  a  bushel  and  a  loaf 
of  bread  was  5c? 


10 


Main    Street,   Hotel,    Shaft    Drug    Store    and    Odd    Fellows 
Building. 

The  Odd  Fellows  Building 

The  Odd  Fellows  Building  was  a  2-story  brick 
structure  that  stood  two  doors  south  of  the  hotel. 
There  were  three  tall  windows  on  the  second  floor  and 
above  the  middle  one  was  a  stone  inset  which  said 
"No.  599  I.O.O.F."  About  1920  this  building  burned. 


The  W.  H.  Jones  Building 

In  the  early  1890's  William  H.  Jones  built  a  build- 
ing on  the  east  side  of  Main  street.  It  as  a  frame 
one  with  a  part  of  it  having  two  stories.  It  had  a 
roof  that  extended  over  a  wooden  sidewalk  for  its 
entire  length  of  100  feet.  Mr.  Jones  sold  paint,  carpet, 
furniture,  hardware,  tin  ware,  windmills,  stoves, 
pumps,  Oakland  and  Reo  cars,  and  farm  implements. 

A  large  tin  shed  was  on  the  southeast  corner  of 
Main  and  South  Streets  and  was  used  by  Mr.  Jones 
for  implement  storage. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jones  lived  in  a  house  behind  the 
store  for  many  years  until  they  built  the  largest  house 
in  the  village  which  still  stands  today  at  the  south 
edge  of  town.  We  know  that  Mr.  Jones  was  in  business 
here  in  1899  and  until  after  1915.  He  sold  out  and 
went  to  Decatur. 

About  1920  the  Odd  Fellows  Building  burned  down 
and  the  Jones  Building  south  of  it  was  damaged.  Some 


Main    Street   Drug    Store,   I.O.O.F.    Building,   W.    H.   Jones 
store. 


recall  how  men  on  top  of  the  Jones  building  doused 
the  roof  with  water  to  prevent  its  being  destroyed. 
Boys  from  the  town  helped  to  clean  mortar  off  the 
bricks  of  the  ruined  building  so  they  could  be  used  to 
rebuild  the  one  used  now  as  a  Post  Office.  The  Jones 
building  was  torn  down  in  the  1930's. 

At  one  time  there  was  a  building  between  the 
Jones  Building  and  the  corner  that  now  has  a  service 
station  on  it.  This  house  had  two  rooms,  one  was  a 
shoe  repair  and  the  other  a  doctor's  office.  A  photog- 
rapher also  used  it  at  one  time.  The  building  was 
torn  down. 

Runkle  Building 

South  of  the  railroad  tracks  and  on  the  southeast 
corner  of  Main  and  South  Railroad  Streets  was  a  2- 
story  frame  building  painted  yellow,  built  in  1874. 
It  was  built  by  Abraham  Runkle,  one  of  the  original 
four  who  donated  land  for  Cisco.  The  upstairs  was 
reached  by  an  enclosed  stairway  on  the  north  and  it 
was  called  Runkle  Hall.  School  was  held  upstairs  and 
also  the  Methodist  Church  started  here  in  1874. 

The  brick  buiding  which  replaced  the  Runkle 
Building,  at  first  had  three  rooms  on  the  first  floor. 
Among  the  various  businesses  that  have  been  active 
here  are  a  restaurant,  the  Post  Office  and  grocery, 
an  implement  dealer,  a  pool  hall,  a  drug  store,  Weddle 
and  McKinley  grocery,  and  now  contains  the  field 
office  for  the  state  engineers.  Wilfred  Johnson  is  the 
present  owner. 

The  U.  S.  Post  Office 

Cisco's  first  Post  Office  was  in  the  middle  room 
of  the  Telford  Building.  Oscar  Harper  was  the  first 
postmaster  and  was  the  second  grocer,  having  bought 
out  E.  F.  Dallas.  Other  early  postmasters  were  James 
St.  John,  John  McGinnis,  who  walked  two  and  a 
quarter  miles  to  and  from  town  daily  to  his  home, 
and  John  Jeffords.  Florence  Crandall,  niece  of  John 
Jeffords,  Sr.,  came  to  live  in  his  home  and  assist  in 
the  post  office.  Miss  Esther  Coay  and  Miss  Goldie 
Daves  were  also  postmistresses.  Mrs.  Sam  Clover 
served  as  postmistress  when  her  husband  had  a  store 
in  the  south  room  of  the  rebuilt  Runkle  Building.  The 
Post  Office  was  on  the  southeast  side  of  the  store. 
When  he  moved  to  the  Bank  Building,  the  Post  Office 
was  located  there  also.  Mable  Lyons  was  assistant 
postmistress  for  thirty-two  years. 

Later  the  Post  Office  was  in  the  elevator  office 
on  the  west  side  of  Main  Street.  From  here  it  was 
moved  to  the  Shaft  Building  which  stood  between  the 
hotel  and  Odd  Fellows  Building.  In  1947  the  Post 
Office  was  moved  into  the  Bank  Building.  Jim  Giesler 
was  postmaster  from  1946  to  April  15,  1949,  when 
Everett  Giesler,  Jim's  father,  became  postmaster  and 
Jim  took  a  rural  route  carrier  job.  Rural  delivery 
started  in  1902.  At  one  time  there  were  two  rural 
routes  out  of  Cisco.  Mail  carriers  were  Oscar  A. 
Rinehart,  Sam  Clover,  Simon  Gisinger,  Harry  Lyons, 
Harry  Mintun,  Francis  Swarts,  David  Swarts.  These 
routes  were  later  combined  into  one.  Beginning  late 
in  March  of  1973  —  the  Cisco  rural  route  is  out  of 
Bement,  starting  and  ending  there. 


1  1 


At  the  Post  Office:  Mr.  Jeffords,  Lastler  Coay,  Francis 
Swarts  and  Oscar  Rinehart. 

The  Post  Office  was  moved  into  the  rebuilt  brick 
building  on  the  site  of  the  Odd  Fellows  Building,  May 
1958.  This  is  a  one  story  structure  built  by  Scott 
Armsworth. 

CISCO,  PIATT  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS 
Established  on  June  11,  1874 

Appointment 
Dates 


Postmasters 


Oscar  Harper  June  11; 

Leo  J.  Wienstein  December  30 

John  M.  Dashiell  August  2 

George  W.  Reynolds  April  23 

Jesse  B.  Irwin  October  20 

James  B.  St.  John  October  29 

Daniel  H.  Clow  July  29 

William  McGinnis  December  29 

Jesse  B.  Irwin  October  17 

William  McGinnis  April  13 

J.  F.  McGinnis  (failed  to  qualify). ..December     8, 

Jesse  B.  Irwin  July  12 

John  H.  Jeffords  October  11 

Esther  C.  Coay  (named  changed  to  Hawley 

by  marriage  on  December  16,  1911 J    May  22 

Dorothy  G.  Daves  January  15 

Marilla  Clover  January  29 

James  A.  Giesler  (acting) January  31 

(assumed   charge) February     1 

(confirmed)    July     1 

Everet  L.  Giesler  (assumed  charge) April  15 

(confirftied)     June  29 

Jackie  Lee  Floyd  (assumed  charge) May  31 

(confirmed)    March  14 


1874 
1874 
1877 
1883 
1884 
1885 
1886 
1886 
1891 
1893 
1896 
1897 
1899 

1911 
1913 
1915 
1946 
1940 
1947 
1949 
1950 
1964 
1966 


Schools 

The  first  schools  for  children  in  the  country  were 
rural  schools.  If  one  has  not  attended  or  taught  a 
country  school,  one  can  not  appreciate  them.  In  the 
early  times  the  teacher  lived  in  the  district  or  lived 
with  one  of  the  families.  Tne  teacher  went  early,  built 
a  fire,  swept  the  floor,  carried  cobs,  coal  or  wood, 
cleaned  and  dusted.  Then  it  was  time  to  start  to  teach 
the  students.  Classes  were  many,  all  subjects  for  all 
grades  represented  or  alternating  some  grades  each 
year.  It  certainly  developed  independence  and  initi- 
ative. 

School  was  held  in  14  or  so  rural  schools  but  as 
the  population  decreased  and  transportation  became 
easier,  these  schools  were  closed  and  the  children 
were  transferrd  into  Cisco. 

The  first  school  in  Willow  Branch  Township  was 
taught  by  Judge  Edward  Ater,  about  1840  in  a  log 
schoolhouse  on  the  Willow  Branch.  Among  some  of 
the  early  teachers  at  Willow  Branch  were  Robert 
Barton,  J.  Hull  Brown,  Caleb  and  Riley  Tatman,  the 
Suver  sisters  and  Thomas  Lamb,  Jr.  The  school  was 
extensively  repaired,  new  seats  put  in  and  a  well 
sunk  in  1902. 


Oak  Grove  School 

Oak  Grove  School  was  among  the  early  rural 
schools  of  this  area.  It  was  built,  3  miles  southeast 
of  Cisco  in  1890.  Dorr  M.  Simer  received  $1340  for 
teaching  there  in  1920.  In  1935,  fourteen  students 
were  in  attendance.  Elaine  McCartney  and  Marjorie 
McCartney  were  among  the  many  teachers. 

Excelsior  school  house  stood  on  the  south  side  of 
Stringtown  Lane  just  2  mile.s  west  of  Wilo  Cat  Creek. 


V^  f^     (^ 


Girls'  bask<  tliall  team,  1912-13. 


New    Union    School.    Kdwin    Pilchard     (teacher),    Mildred 

Mcintosh,   Berlyn   Brown,   Karlc    Mcintosh,   Homer    Doane, 

Clifford  Wcddle. 


1  2 


New  Union  School  was  located  northeast  of  town 
just  off  Stringtown  Lane.  In  1898  enrollment  was  19 
and  average  attendance  was  17.  C.  W.  Briggs  was 
the  teacher.  Carl  Pattengill  received  $900  for  a  year 
of  teaching  here  in  1920.  Helen  Borchers  was  among 
the  many  who  taught  here. 

Havely  School  was  located  3  miles  southwest  of 
town  at  the  edge  of  the  county.  It  is  named  for 
Samuel  (Captain)  Havely  who  lived  and  owned  a 
half  a  section  here.  He  was  an  early  comer  and  was 
in  the  Mexican  War.  Elizabeth  Reeves  and  Lois  Bald- 
ing are  among  the  teachers  here.  This  is  now  the 
residence  of  the  Slifer  family. 


Havely  School,  190".  Bottom  row:  Roy  Marvin,  Viola  Elkins, 
Owen   Dodd,    Cecil    Kainey,    Ira   McCartney,    Orris    Marvin. 

Second  row:  Ward  McCartney. ,  Clinty  Dodd,  Goldie 

Elkins,    ,    WlUard    Dodd,    Wayne    McCartney,    Jim 

Edwards.  Third  row:  Minnie  McDa>itt  (teacher),  Kathiyn 
Bynim,  Tot  Bouncer,  Lois  Kairiey,'  Sylvia  Elkins,  Goldie 
Edwards,  Alice  Miller,  and  Bill  Dodd. 

East  Cisco  was  built  in  1901.  It  was  located  2 
miles  straight  east  of  town  on  the  north  side  of 
the  road.  Esther  Bevelhimer  received  $1080  for  a  year 
of  teaching  in  1920.  Leora  Miller  served  as  teacher 
in   1937-38. 


!  k^ 


Pleasant  Ridge  School.  Front  row:  Paul  Niles,  Kenneth 
Garriot,  Mary  Garriot,  Ronald  Reeves,  Lois  Reeves;  Second 
row:  Eugene  Garriot,  Patricia  Rannebarger,  Harold  Dean 
Cheatham,  Frances  Reeves,  Robert  Niles.  Back  row:  Mrs. 
Garriot,  Blanche  Niles,  Maxine  Cheatham,  Ruth  Reeves  and 
Clarice  Cornell  (teacher). 

Pleasant  Ridge  School  was  located  just  inside 
Macon  County  on  Stringtown  Lane,  3  miles  northwest 
of  Cisco.  It  was  built  in  1855.  This  school  served  hot 
lunches  before  it  consolidated  into  Cisco,  the  teacher 
being  Clarice  Cornell  Dresback.  Margaret  Pattengale 
was  also  a  teacher  here.  Competitive  spelling  "bees" 


were  held  between  country  schools.   Pleasant   Ridge 
carried  home  the  honors  in  1898. 

Prospect  School  was  built  on  the  county  line  four 
miles  northwest  of  Cisco.  In  1911  the  old  building  was 
moved  to  the  rear  of  the  lot  so  that  school  could  con- 
tinue while  a  new  schoolhouse  could  be  erected.  The 
new  building  was  considered  quite  modern  with  its 
new  basement.  E.  0.  Martin  and  his  daughters,  Gen- 
eva and  Juanita  were  teachers  here.  Lois  Ward  was 
the  last  teacher. 

Enterprise  School,  built  in  1873,  was  situated 
across  from  the  Enterprise  M.E.  Church,  five  miles 
northeast  of  Cisco.  The  building  itself  cost  $750,  while 
the  coal  house  and  fences  cost  $130.  Among  some  of 
the  teachers  were :  Elizabeth  and  Bert  Reeves,  Lola 
Huisinga  and  three  of  the  Grethe  sisters  —  Antonia, 
Jeanetta  and  Ottaline.  Three  generations  of  Kingstons 
served  as  school  directors.  In  1945  this  school  con- 
solidated and  students  went  to  Weldon,  Deland  and 
Cisco. 


Enterprise  Grade  School,  1912.  Front  row:  Mary  Smith, 
Ellen  Royse,  Margaret  Carr,  Benicc  Olson,  Oressa  Goken, 
Florence  Stillabower,  Wayne  Royse,  Lotus  Carr,  Opal  Royse, 
Geneva  Goken,  Eva  Cloud,  Perley  Stillabower.  Charles  Carr, 
Earl  Cloud,  Aileen  Royse;  middle  row:  Dora  Carr,  Josie 
Olson,  Mollie  Kingston,  Cora  Davis,  Helena  Royse,  Ordella 
Goken,  Lillie  Owen.  Mrs.  Poppywell,  Dora  Hatch,  Alice 
Stillabower,  Bert  Reeves  (teacher),  Carl  Kingston;  back 
row:  Johnny  Kingston,  William  Davis,  Charles  Carr,  Sr., 
James  Floyd,  John  Goken,  Mr.  Poppyvvell,  John  Stillabower 
holding  Frances,  Verner  Hatch,  Louis  Dammerman,  Ray 
Kingston,  William  Stillabower,  Harvey  Stillabower,  John 
Royse,  Harve  Royse. 

Other  schools   in   this   district  were:   West   Cisco, 
Shady  Nook  and  Wild  Cat. 


Shady  Nook  School:  Gene  .\llen,  Ruby  .Alien  Higgins.  Elmer 
Rhodes,  Ceril  Cacket,  John  Benjamin,  Paul  Lawson,  Harry 
Allen,  Martha  Gill,  William  Gill,  Irwin  Swam.  Freda  Benja- 
min Marvel.  Lois  Gill,  Floyd  Gill,  Edwin  Swam,  Mary 
AUen  Fish. 


13 


CISCO  PUBLIC  SCHOOL,  1921 


Front  row:  LilUe  Alexander,  teacher;  Dean  Wiseman,  Herb 

Reason,  ,  Walker,  Lawrence  Gisingrer,  Harley 

Swarts,   Paul   Pattengale,   Elwin   Eubank,  Jeanette   Cornell, 
Hildred  Lyons,  Elizabeth  Dye,  Gladys  Bush,  Paul  McKinney, 

Geneva  Walker,   Frances   Rinehart,   Beasley,   Marlin 

Reed,   Lawrence   Blue,   Lloyd    Gisinger,    Curtis   Clow,   Paul 

Dean  Sullivan,  Ervin  Swam,  lleen   Coon,  Remmers, 

Evelj-n    Ater,    Willard    Dial,    George    Miller,    Forest    Boss, 

Boss. 

Second    row:    Steve   Mintun,   janitor;    Helen   Jones,   Esther 
Bevelheimer,  Jessie  Parr    (teachers),  Harold   Paugh,  Edwin 

Swam,  Daniel  Weddle,  Paul  Miles,  Donald  Whisnant, , 

Hunsley,  Wilmer  Reason,  Katheryn  Barnhart,  Mary 


Catherine  McKinney,  Mable  Olson,  Opal  Eubanks,  Mildred 
Rannebarger,  Othella  Taylor,  Don  Walker,  Kenneth  Wise- 
man, Ralph  Minton,  Thelma  Miles,  Leland  Clover,  , 

Geneva  Dial,  Elsie  Boss,  Bina  Lyons,  Myrtle  McAtee,  Lorene 
Sullivan,  Lois  Rannebarger,  Helen   Paugh,  Clarice  Cornell, 

The  first  school  in  the  village  of  Cisco  is  reported 
to  have  been  a  subscription  school  held  in  the  Runkle 
Building.  This  meant  that  each  parent  who  sent  a 
child  made  direct  arrangements  with  the  teacher  for 
paying  for  teaching  the  child.  Ada  Nogle  (Weilepp) 
was  one  of  the  early  teachers. 

The  first  schoolhouse  in  the  village  was  a  wooden 
frame  building  of  one  room  erected  on  the  site  of  the 
present  school.  A  recently  found  newspaper  clipping 
dated  July  31,  1885  says  that  R.  L.  Dickerson  of  Cisco 
was  awarded  the  contract  to  build  a  Cisco  school  for 
$1,000.  The  item  says  this  bid  was  $10  less  than  any 
other  bid.  It  also  states  that  Cisco  people  were  pleased 
that  a  local  builder  got  the  job. 

A  2-story  two  room  school  was  built  on  this  same 
site  in  1887  and  was  used  until  1900.  The  second 
building  was  moved  by  using  a  horse  and  capstan  to 
take  it  south  on  Eldon  Street,  across  the  tracks  into 
an  area  on  the  west  side  of  Eldon  and  South  Railroad 
Street  (this  is  north  of  and  behind  Larry  Edward's 
house  in  1974).  Harry  Lyons  recalls  it  was  used  as  a 
horse  barn  with  the  blackboards  still  in  it. 

In  1900,  a  brick,  2-story,  four  room,  well  lighted, 
heated  by  a  furnace,  and  well  ventilated  building  was 
erected  on  the  same  site.  The  total  cost  was  $6,000. 
The  building  was  not  ready  for  use  when  school  opened 
in  the  fall,  and  the  children  attended  classes  in  the 
Runkle  building.  The  primary  grades  attended  classes 
in  a  room  on  the  first  floor,  and  the  upper  grades  in 
the  hall  upstairs.  The  two  teachers  at  this  time  were 
Susie  Merker  and  Lillian  Grey.  Ruby  Leach's  sister 
recalls  these  facts  as  she  started  to  school  that  year. 
She  also  remembers  that  the  children  were  taught  to 
write  by  placing  corn  kernels  over  the  letters  written 
with  chalk  on  their  desks. 


Enid  Haneline,  Emma  Gisinger,  Mary  Clover. 

Third   row:    Park   Simer,   ,  Hunsley,   Gerald 

Wiseman,   Byron   Bainey,   Roy   Hoover,   ,    Gertrude 

Coffin,  Nellie  Rannebarger.  LaVeme  Barnhart,  Oneta 
Beasley,  Thelma  Conrad,  Pauline  Rannebarger,  Judy  Lyons, 
Gertrude  Hoover,  .  Jeannette  Shaft,  Maxine  Stack- 
house,    Stella   Rannebarger,    Margaret    Pattengale,    MardeU 

Conrad,    ,    .    Floyd    Rannebarger,    , 

,    Fern 


Dick    Reason,    Evelyn    Patterson,    Mildred    

Ensign. 

Fourth    row:    Leonard   Rinehart,   Roy   Rannebarger,   James 

Thomas,    ,    Harold    Ensign,    Byron    Clover,    Pearlie 

Reason,  Berlyn  Sullivan,  Ethel  Albert,  Leora  Eubanks, 
Edythe  Brame,  Hazel  Taylor.  Marj  McCartney,  Margaret 
Kistler,  Hildred  Armsworth,  Vira  Mintun,  Bethel  Taylor, 
Hugh  Gadbury,  Leroy  Conrad,  Raymond  Shull,  Freddie 
Paugh,  Loren  Pattengill,  Lawrence  Coon,  Ralph  Shaft, 
Virgil  Miller,  Roy  McCartney. 

Another  interesting  sidelight  concerning  this 
building  is  that  it  was  built  of  bricks  made  in  New- 
burg.  Mrs.  Dottie  Giesler's  father  owned  the  brick 
kiln  and  the  bricks  were  hauled  by  team  and  wagon 
to  Cisco. 


Cisco  School 

Two  years  of  high  school  were  offered  in  the  new 
brick  building  and  later  three  years  were  taught. 
Students  could  transfer  for  the  fourth  year  to  the 
school  of  their  choice.  Some  went  to  Weldon,  Monti- 
cello,  Argenta,  Decatur  and  Cerro  Gordo.  Families 
had  to  furnish  the  student  transportation.  There  were 
a  few  car  pools,  but  many  were  forced  to  take  room 
and  board  in  the  other  towns  and  return  home  only 
on  weekends. 

Wooden  board  sidewalks  were  built  south  of  the 
school.  They  were  raised  and  were  in  bridge  fashion 
because  water  stood  so  deep. 


14 


Cisco  Grade  School.  First  row:  Park  Simer,  Grace  Gisinger, 
Mary  Oxley,  Erma  Dooley,  Frances  Williams,  Gladys  Ater, 
Ruby  Clover,  Bertha  Dooley,  Bernard  Pattengale,  Walter 
Hott.  Standing:  Phoebe  Coay,  Lettie  Eubanks,  Jessie  Parr, 
Irene  Widick,  Dorr  Simer,  Cecil  Young,  Jessie  Young,  Lillie 
Coay,  and  Irene  Kingston. 


i    i  .  '-     I 


Cisco  High  School,  1924-25.  Front: 


Cynthia 


Niles,  Nellie  Rannebarger,  Jeanette  Shaff,  Margaret  Patten- 
gale, Pauline  Scott,  Pauline  Rannebarger.  Middle  row:  Dean 
McCartney,  Byron  Rainey,  Dorothy  Haynorth  (teacher), 
Stella  Rannebarger,  Juanita  Martin,  Ma.\ine  Stackhouse, 
Virginia  Auten.  Ambrose  Turner.  Back  row:  Lyie  Barn- 
hart,  Frank  Wrench  (principal),  Roy  Hoover,  Wayne  Royse, 
Wilbur  Allnian,  Earl  Brame,  Kenneth  Ensign,  Byron  Clover 
and  Gerald  Wiseman. 


Cisco  Grade,  1927-28,  grades  6,  7,  8.  Back  row:  Thelma  Miles, 
Frances  Binehart,  Herb  Reason,  Harry  Allen,  Ray  Hatfield, 
Wilmer  Reason,  Don  Whisnant,  Lloyd  Gisinger,  Phyllis 
Cornell.  Second  row:  Leo  Scott,  George  Miller,  Genenieve 
Dial.  Illeen  Coon,  Freida  Benjamin,  Faith  Garver  (teacher), 

Sullivan,  Hildred  Lyons,  Evelyn   Ater,   Mabel   Olson. 

Third  row:  Elizabeth  Dye,  Doris  Sullivan,  Elmer  AUman, 
Paul  Pattengale,  "Shorty"  Goken,  Paul  Dean  Sullivan, 
Marlon  Reed,  Paul  B.  IWcKinley,  Ralph  Brame,  Delora 
Whisnant,  Katheryn  Bamhart.  Front  row:  George  Bene- 
field,  James  Geisler,  Danny  Weddle. 


The  Cisco  School  in  1927-28  was  District  93  and 
the  school  year  was  8^/2  months  long.  For  that  year 
the  high  school  teachers  were  Frank  Wrench,  Helen 
Hall  and  Mildred  Blan.  They  taught  Math,  Science, 
History,  English  and  Music.  The  teaching  of  Math 
and  Science  paid  $2,000  and  History  and  English 
$1,232.50.  There  were  three  grade  teachers:  Lillie  C. 
Alexander  taught  1  and  2;  Dessie  Troxell  taught 
grades  3,  4  and  5;  and  Faith  Garver  taught  grades  6, 
7  and  8.  Their  salaries  ranged  from  $1,020  to 
$1,060.50.  The  Cisco  Board  at  the  time  were  James 
Heath,  W.  S.  Armsworth,  and  W.  S.  Ater. 


Third,  Fourth  and  Fifth  Grade,  1937.  On  the  bench:  Tom 
Rannebarger,  Betty  Edwards,  Marj'  Shull.  Front  row: 
Peggy  Hoff,  Wilma  Parr,  Bill  Vannote,  Eugene  Pirtle,  Bill 
Miller.  Second  row:  Lora  Mae  Gisinger,  Linday  Coe,  Alice 
Vannote,  Betty  Calvin,  Jim  Pride.  Third  row:  Da\id  Swarts, 
Betty  Ater,  Kathleen  Shull,  Russell  Sullivan,  Bob  Pride. 
Fourth  row:  Elizabeth  Calvin,  Jean  Shall.  Clifford  Eubank, 
Pauline  Wangler,  Bill  Rannebarger.  Hfth  row:  Everett 
Pride,  Pauline  Schoolcraft,  Dean  Ripperdan,  I^ora  Benja- 
min. 

In  1936-37  an  addition  of  a  gymna.sium  and  four 
classrooms  were  added  to  the  school  with  the  labor 
provided  by  W.P.A.  This  addition  contained  a  gym 
with  a  playing  floor  74  ft.  by  44  ft.  and  an  ample, 
well   arranged    stage.    The    gym    can    be    used    as    an 


Cisco  High  School,  1939.  Top:  Mr.  Hoke,  Evelyn  Mooney, 
A.  B.  Weddle,  Marj  Reeves,  Jean  Cain,  Francis  Chapman, 
Don  Ater,  Maurice  Doane,  Eugene  Mills,  Robert  Mills,  Leon 
Benson.  Second:  Miss  Skeet,  Jeanne  Leach,  Evelyn  Dowdle, 
Mary  Gisinger,  Helen  McKinney,  Marilyn  Hoff.  Harold 
Briggs.  John  Schoolcraft,  and  Mr.  Wrench.  Third:  Zelma 
Schoolcraft.  Virginia  McCartney,  Emma  Lou  .Johnson,  Rose 
Marie  Brame,  Chrystyne  Sullivan,  Burt  Mcintosh,  Jack 
Clifton,  Beulah  Huisinga.  Fourth:  Gene  Mills,  Wayne 
Phipps,  Robert  Leach  and  Harold  Swarts. 


15 


auditorium  and  will  seat  500  people.  The  total  cost 
was  $30,000.  E.  L.  Dowdle,  W.  S.  Armsworth,  Jason 
Ripperdam  and  Bert  L.  Reeves  were  on  the  Board. 
Frank  Wrench  was  the  Superintendent  of  the  School. 

In  1945,  all  of  the  high  school  students  began  to 
attend  Monticello  High  School  and  Cisco  became  an 
8  grade  school.  At  this  time  Clifford  Weddle  became 
a  board  member  of  Monticello  High  School. 


Cisco  Grade  School  Basketball  Team  and  Cheerleaders,  1947. 
Front:  Jack  Miner,  "Bed"  Miller,  John  McFeeters.  Second 
row:  Marilyn  Zindar,  Loretta  Ludwick,  Jack  Benton,  Bill 
Sago,    Bon    Beeves,    Jack    Burton.    Third    row:    Bay    Bade- 

macker    (coach),    Delmar    Clow,    Duane    Woodall,    , 

Principal  Jackson. 

The  Monticello  Unit  District  was  formed  in  1948. 
The  Havely  School  and  Enterprise  School  closed  and 
their  children  came  to  town  as  was  earlier  done  by 
other  country  schools. 

When  the  Unit  was  formed  there  was  one  school 
board  for  the  four  grade  schools  and  one  high  school 
which  included  Cisco,  White  Heath,  and  Monticello. 
The  Board  was  to  have  two  members  from  each  of 
the  three  participating  towns.  At  the  time  of  its 
formation  the  members  representing  Cisco  were 
Francis  Lynch  and  Lyle  McFeeters. 

For  some  years  a  noon  hot  lunch  program  was 
served  in  the  rented  basement  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  Church  that  was  no  longer  used  as  a 
church  but  was  the  property  of  the  Masonic  Lodge. 
The  school  children  were  taken  next  door  south  to  the 
church  at  noon  to  get  their  lunches. 


First  grade,  1952-53,  front  row:  Donnie  Floyd,  Eugene  John- 
son, Mike  Swarts,  Donny  Campbell,  Diana  Clifton,  Joe 
Mackey,  Larry  Burton,  Bobert  Pearl,  Billy  Shull;  second 
row:  Melvin  Moyer,  Larry  Bailey,  Jerry  May,  teacher, 
Kathryn  O'Conner. 


Piatt  County  Baseball  Champs,  1948.  Loren  Lewis  is  Coach 
and  Principal. 


Cisco  Grade  School  Heavyweight  County  Champs,  1952: 
Back  row:  John  Gregory,  "Bed"  Spurling,  John  Mackey, 
Gene  Statnian  (coach),  Waj-ne  Beinhart,  Baymond  Shafer, 
Dale  Mclntyre;  front  row:  Gregory  Howard,  Joe  Knupp. 
Bussell  Floyd,  John  Howard,  Don  Cole. 

In  1956,  an  addition  was  added  to  the  south  and 
west  sides  of  the  school  providing  three  more  class- 
rooms, an  office,  nurse's  room  and  a  lunch  room  with 
kitchen. 

Some  of  the  principals  of  the  school  were:  Will 
Underwood,  C.  C.  Walsh,  J.  E.  Nichols,  George  N. 
Dunham,  D.  C.  Shaff,  Chester  M.  Echols,  John  C. 
Hall,  T.  H.  Pease,  E.  S.  Jones,  J.  R.  Simer,  Henry  C. 
Gross,  Mr.  Glazier,  Mr.  Mosgrove,  Parke  Simer  in 
1920,  Frenk  Wrench,  Lillie  Alexander,  Mr.  Jackson, 
Loren  Lewis,  and  William  Herren,  the  present  prin- 
cipal. 

Men  who  have  served  on  the  Unit  School  Board  to 
represent  Cisco  include  John  Whitlow,  A.  B.  Weddle, 
Jr.,  Clem  Colgan  and  Bill  Armsworth.  Fay  H.  Root 
went  on  the  board  in  1952.  became  President  in  1955 
and  continued  in  that  capacity  until  retirement  in 
1971.  Frank  Hoffman  and  Jack  Drew  are  the  present 
board  members. 


16 


Piatt   Countj-   Championship   Team.    1966-67:    Roger   Oliver, 

Scott  Hoffman,  Mark   Swarts,   Kioli   BIythe,   Duane   Robson, 

John  Miller,  Steve  Catlin,  and  Coach  Sam  Clark. 


Class  B  track  team,  1972,  first  in  District.  First  row:  Pat 
Weber,  Dick  Haun,  Robert  Ford,  Dennis  Hoffman,  Bruce 
Haun,  and  Mark  Fair.  (The  relay  team,  two  Hauns,  Ford 
and  Hoffman,  placed  first  in  county,  district  and  sectional, 
then  placed  fifth  in  the  state  meet).  Second  row:  Kenny 
Wright,  Kenny  Bolson,  Mike  Elson,  Randy  Baker,  David 
Huisinga,  John  Howland,  Coach  Sam  Clark. 


It  was  just  a  quiet  little  street 

But  as  I  passed  that  way 
I  thought  of  those  who  had  lived  and  loved 

And  worked  there  day  by  day. 

From  such  simple  homelike  streets 

Have  come  leaders  who've  had  their  say 

On  just  such  quiet  little  streets 
Tomorrow's  statesmen  now  play. 


The  Willow  Branch  Library 

The  Cisco  Woman's  Club  began  a  project  of  collect- 
ing books  for  a  library.  Mrs.  P.  C.  Young  was  presi- 
dent at  the  time.  Mr.  Robert  Allerton  made  a  grant 
in  1918  to  assist  in  collecting  a  nucleus  for  such  a 
library.  The  first  books  collected  were  housed  in 
Shaff's  Drug  Store  under  the  care  of  Mrs.  Fred  Shaff. 
She  kept  the  subject  before  the  community  until  finally 
the  voters  of  the  township  voted  a  II/3  mil  tax  to 
support  a  free  public  library.  Then  in  1920  the  Willow 
Branch  Township  Library  was  organized  with  direc- 
tors Mrs.  Warren  Ater,  Mrs.  P.  C.  Young,  Mrs.  Dillard 
Bowman,  Mrs.  Scott  Armsworth  and  H.  B.  McKinney. 
Jack  Mullins  was  the  first  librarian.  The  first  library 
was  on  the  west  side  of  Main  Street,  the  fourth  house 
from  South  Street.  This  had  formerly  been  a  dwelling. 

A  few  years  later  the  library  was  located  on  the 
north  side  of  North  Street  and  the  second  house  west 
of  Main  Street.  Bessie  Hitchens  served  as  the  second 
librarian.  She  served  for  many  years.  Some  of  the 
other  librarians  were  Irene  McKinley,  Goldie  Cornell 
and  since  1958  Katheryn  Sites. 

This  library  became  a  part  of  the  "Rolling  Prairies 
Library  System"  in  January  of  1973.  The  present 
library  board  consists  of  Sam  Clark,  Kay  B.  Drew, 
Helen  Dowdle,  Marilyn  Mackey,  David  Swarts,  Joyce 
Slifer  and  Robert  Williams. 


Present  Library 


The  Baptist  Church 

The  Southern  Baptists  established  a  church  in 
Cisco  in  1951  with  fifteen  charter  members.  The  first 
minister  was  Olen  Cooperider,  a  Sangamon  Valley 
Associational  Missionary,  who  was  here  for  six 
months.  Arthur  Sutton  served  a  year,  Lester  Dean 
served  two  years  and  then  Olen  Cooperider  returned 
for  two  years.  Gregory  Osborne  was  pastor  for  ten 
years.  Dale  Pease  came  next  for  a  short  stay  of  sev- 
eral months.  Anthony  Roy  of  Deland  has  also  served. 

About  1953  to  1955  the  attendance  ran  from  65  to 
70  of  a  membership  of  80.  Some  members  moved  away 
or  took  their  membership  elsewhere.  One  of  the  most 
joyous  occasions  was  the  burning  of  the  mortgage  in 
1958. 

The  church  closed  its  doors  January,  1974. 


17 


The  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church 

The  Presbyterians  in  the  eastern  part  of  the 
country  believed  the  ministers  in  the  churches  should 
be  schooled  in  theology.  They  .required  four  years  of 
college  plus  seminary  training.  They  soon  realized 
they  did  not  have  enough  men  so  well  trained  to  supply 
the  frontier  churches.  Other  denominations  were  using 
untrained  men  and  the  Presbyterians  decided  to  do  so 
also;  but  they  would  indicate  a  church  with  a  less 
trained  minister  as  a  Cumberland  Church.  The  word 
Cumberland  was  taken  from  the  Cumberland  Gap 
which  was  the  gateway  to  the  West.  The  Presbyterians 
built  a  one  room  frame  building  in  1875  that  was  very 
similar  to  the  Methodist's.  The  church  was  located 
south  of  the  present  school  and  on  the  same  side  of 
Main  Street.  A  second  church  that  was  larger  and 
finer  than  the  first  church  was  built  on  the  same  site. 
The  corner  stone  for  it  was  laid  June  27,  1908. 

Some  of  the  families  that  belonged  to  this  church 
were  Rainey,  Staats,  Mintun,  Goken,  Coon,  Jones, 
Lyons,  Oxley,  Clow,  Graves,  Russell,  Reinhart,  Coay, 
Pape,  Evey  and  Prahm. 

The  building  committee  for  the  second  church  was 
composed  of  five  members:  W.  H.  Jones,  E.  McGinnis, 
Joe  Rainey,  W.  H.  Ennis  and  F.  M.  Coffin.  During 
the  planning  for  this  building  the  question  arose  as 
to  whether  or  not  it  should  have  a  basement.  Some 
who  felt  there  should  not  be  one  pulled  away  from  the 
church,  led  by  Rev.  Tuttle,  the  pastor.  This  group 
held  separate  services  in  one  of  the  halls  in  the 
Telford  Building. 


Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church 

Unfortunately  the  earliest  records  of  this  church 
are  lost  and  only  the  minutes  of  the  sessions  were 
available.  Bert  Reeves  in  his  History  of  Cisco  names 
as  ministers  of  this  denomination  —  Bankston,  Tuttle, 
Hemp  and  Shaeffer.  Since  Rev.  Tuttle  was  here 
during  the  split  of  the  church  in  1908,  we  presume 
these  other  men  were  early  pastors. 

Following  are  the  ministers  who  served  this 
church:  H.  D.  Trickey  1911,  G.  D.  Humphrey  1911- 
1913,  F.  L.  Gould  1913-1915,  George  D.  Humphrey 
1915-1916,  M.  E.  Mor.se  1917-1918,  G.  D.  Humphrey 
1919-1920;  (there  is  no  record  from  March  1920  to 
April  1924),  M.  C.  Cockrum  1924-1925,  J.  W.  Elder 


1926,  F.  C.  Carpenter  1928-1929  (he  was  married 
while  serving  here),  F.  A.  Gageby  1930,  Abrim  G. 
Bergen  1931,  W.  M.  Clark  1934-1940,  and  R.  S.  Kieser 
1940.  (He  also  had  the  Argenta  Presbyterian  Church. 
He  was  blind  and  used  a  seeing-eye  dog).  In  April 
1941  the  local  congregation  joined  the  Argenta  Church 
while  Rev.  Kieser  was  still  minister. 

At  a  December  1912  service  a  Jubilee  Meeting  was 
held  and  the  paid-off  note  for  $4,000  was  burned. 
In  June  that  year  a  hail  storm  damaged  some  of  the 
church  windows.  It  is  interesting  to  note  that  in  1917 
the  minister  with  a  family  of  four  children  received 
$1,200  and  the  use  of  the  manse  for  his  services. 

In  1917-1918,  Jeff  Ennis,  Mrs.  Lee  Ennis,  Opal 
Ennis,  W.  H.  Jones,  Eva  Cloud  and  Charles  Hunsley 
held  positions  in  the  church.  W.  H.  Jones  was  a 
strong  supporter  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and 
since  he  had  a  pen  of  deer  at  his  home  —  he  donated 
a  deer  so  the  ladies  of  the  church  could  serve  venison 
as  well  as  chicken  at  their  fall  chicken  fries. 

A  newspaper  clipping  for  March  1928  tells  of  the 
celebration  at  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  a  Golden 
Wedding  Celebration  for  five  Cisco  couples.  Three  of 
these  couples  who  celebrated  their  Fiftieth  Anniver- 
sary were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Steven  Mintun,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
L.  E.  Kistler,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  F.  M.  Coffin.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Simon  Gisinger  celebrated  their  fifty-first 
and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Taylor  Oxley  their  sixty-second. 

The  church  was  reorganized  in  1932  with  the  fol- 
lowing elected  to  office:  John  Reed,  Harry  Lyons, 
Ray  Mills,  Mr.  Coffin,  Mrs.  Reed  and  Mr.  Benjamin. 
The  Cisco  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  joined  the 
Argenta  Presbyterian  congregation.  Perhaps  the  last 
services  ever  held  in  this  church  were  the  funerals  of 
Taylor  Coon  in  1937  and  Lucy  Coon  in  1939. 

About  1942  the  building  was  bought  by  the  Cisco 
Masonic  Lodge  No.  965  A.F.  &  A.M.  The  son  of  W.  F. 
Weilepp  gave  the  land  to  the  lodge  since  it  had  to  be 
returned  to  the  estate  of  his  father,  if  no  longer  used 
for  church  purposes.  In  the  late  1940's  the  school 
board  rented  the  church  basement  and  carried  on  a 
hot  lunch  program  there  until  the  lunch  room  w^as 
built  at  the  school  in  1956.  The  lodge  used  the  building 
until  it  was  affiliated  with  the  Argenta  Masonic 
Lodge  in  December  1965. 

The  Monticello  Unit  School  Board  bought  the 
site  from  the  Masons  with  the  understanding  that  the 
building  was  to  be  removed  by  the  Lodge.  The  con- 
crete basement  floor  to  the  building  still  remains 
about  two  feet  under  the  soil.  The  site  was  seeded 
and  added  to  the  school  playground. 


The  Cisco  United  Methodist  Church 

The  Cisco  Methodist  Church  is  the  outgrowth  of 
the  uniting  of  two  country  churches,  the  Centenary 
Chapel  located  three  miles  southeast  of  Cisco,  and  the 
Pleasant  Ridge  Church  located  three  miles  northwest 
of  the  village. 

Before  the  Centenary  Chapel  was  erected  in  1865 
and  '66,  services  were  occasionally  conducted  by  Cir- 
cuit riding  ministers  in  the  homes  of  Samuel  Miles 
and  Felix  Watson  and  in  three  schoolhouses.  After  a 


18 


revival  in  the  Shady  Nook  School,  the  Centenary 
Chapel  was  built.  This  church  was  called  Centenary 
because  it  was  built  in  the  centenary  year  of  Meth- 
odism in  America. 

The  Pleasant  Ridge  Society  was  organized  in  the 
home  of  Hiram  and  Rachel  Chandler.  Its  first  public 
services  were  held  in  a  new  barn  2V2  miles  south  of 
Cisco  on  land  now  owned  by  Opal  Coon.  Later  that 
same  year  Pleasant  Ridge  schoolhouse  was  built  three 
miles  northwest  of  Cisco  and  services  were  held  there. 
Packs  of  wolves  sometimes  surrounded  the  school 
during  Sunday  School.  Parents  told  the  children  the 
wolves  were  attracted  by  their  singing.  Later  the 
church  was  erected  near  the  school.  It  was  at  first 
independent,  later  Presbyterian  and  finally  Methodist 
due  to  the  Chandler  influence. 

Early  churches  were  often  grouped  into  circuits  so 
that  one  minister  could  conduct  services  in  several 
communities.  Cisco  seems  to  have  been  in  the  Friend's 
Creek  Circuit  in  1865  through  1867  and  for  a  time 
in  the  Cerro  Gordo  Circuit.  It  was  in  the  fall  of  1874 
that  the  Cisco  Circuit  included  the  Centenary  and 
Pleasant  Ridge  societies,  the  Wesley  Church  south- 
west of  Cisco,  the  Bell  Prairie  Church  near  Argenta, 
which  met  in  the  schoolhouse  by  the  same  name,  and 
the  church  at  Deland.  The  Rev.  Joseph  Winterbottom 
was  the  first  pastor  on  this  circuit. 

The  Centenary  and  Pleasant  Ridge  Churches 
united  into  the  Cisco  Methodist  Church  on  Nov.  30, 
1874.  Sunday  School  was  held  in  the  Hall  of  the 
Runkle  Building.  Samuel  Miles  was  the  first  Sunday 
School  Superintendent. 

In  the  winter  of  1874  and  1875  a  subscription  was 
started  to  build  a  new  church.  This  church  was  a 
one  story  frame  building  with  five  single  windows 
on  each  side  and  with  a  bell  tower.  The  building  cost 
about  $2,200.  It  was  built  on  the  present  site  of  the 
church  and  dedicated  on  July  4,  1875  with  Rev.  Horace 
Reed  of  Decatur  making  the  dedication  address.  W.  T. 
Beadles  was  appointed  pastor  in  1875.  A  daughter. 
Bertha,  was  born  in  Cisco  during  his  pastorate  here. 

Exactly  one  year  after  the  church  was  dedicated, 
on  July  4,  1876  a  windstorm  moved  the  church  on  its 
foundation. 


In  1890  a  parsonage  was  built  during  the  ministry 
of  C.  R.  Carlos.  This  building  is  no  longer  owned  by 
the  church  and  is  presently  the  residence  of  Ray 
Hatfield. 

During  the  1890's  there  were  three  church  wed- 
dings and  they  were  all  held  at  the  close  of  the  regular 
morning  service.  This  was  quite  unusual  at  that  time 
for  it  was  customary  for  a  wedding  to  occur  in  the 
home  of  the  bride. 

The  church  membership  grew  to  200  by  1898  and 
a  larger  building  was  needed.  The  church  building 
was  sold  in  1899  and  moved  to  the  north  side  of  Dodge 
Street  where  it  became  the  Opera  House.  Although  a 
new  building  had  been  the  subject  of  conservation  for 
many  years,  it  was  not  until  Rev.  A.  D.  Moon  came 
to  the  circuit  in  1898  that  a  movement  was  started 
toward  getting  a  bigger  facility.  Rev.  Moon  and  his 
co-workers  raised  $6,018.  The  building  committee 
consisted  of  L.  A.  Melvin,  F.  S.  Weilepp,  P.  B.  Max- 
heimer,  Daniel  Weddle  and  E.  L.  Croninger.  These 
men  traveled  to  Tolono,  111.,  to  see  a  new  church  just 
completed.  They  liked  the  plans  made  by  C.  S.  Bainum 
of  Champaign  and  Richard  and  Landis  of  Cerro  Gordo 
got  the  contract  to  build  the  church  for  $4,965. 


M.   E.  CHURCH.  CISCO.  ILL. 


Methodist  Parsonage  on  Main  Street,  1897.  Cecil  Stevenson, 
Enock  Austin,  Bev.  and  Mrs.  W.  F.  Stevenson. 


•Second  M.E.  Church 

This  second  church  was  erected  on  the  same  site 
as  the  first  one.  The  corner  stone  was  laid  on  July 
12,  1899  with  Rev.  W.  H.  Wilder  as  presiding  elder. 
Dedication  was  Dec.  3rd  by  Bishop  C.  C.  McCabe. 

Gifts  to  the  new  church  included  a  dozen  little 
red  chairs,  the  corner  stone,  an  office  chair,  a  com- 
munion table,  and  a  Bissel  Carpet  Sweeper. 

The  .second  church  was  much  larger  and  finer  than 
the  first  church.  This  one  had  a  basement  and  to 
enter  the  sanctuary  one  went  up  either  of  two  sets 
of  steps.  There  was  a  separate  door  at  ground  level 
on  the  north  into  the  basement.  One  could  not  get  to 
the  basement  from  inside  the  church.  It  was  planned 
this  way  so  when  serving  a  church  supper  to  make 
money  the  sanctuary  was  in  no  way  connected  to  the 
room  where  money  was  e.xchanging  hands.  The  build- 
ing was  an  L-shaped  building  with  a  large  bell  tower 
built  over  the  two  entry  doors.  The  large  church 
windows  were  stained  glass.  There  was  a  hitching 
rack  at  the  south  side  of  the  church  yard.  A  well  with 
a  hand  pump  was  located  near  the  northeast  corner 
of  the  church  lot.  A  gas  street  light  was  on  the  terrace 


19 


at  the  northeast  corner.  Some  of  our  ladies  recall 
pumping  and  carrying  all  the  pails  of  water  down  the 
steps  for  their  church  suppers. 

The  church  had  chicken  fries  which  saw  many  a 
chicken  being  eaten.  What  large  kettles  were  used  and 
how  both  the  men  and  women  worked.  Another  way 
money  was  earned  was  by  having  strawberry  festivals 
when  the  berries  were  ripe.  There  is  a  record  of  the 
Cisco  Band  playing  at  one  in  1900.  Bazaars  were 
another  way  the  church  ladies  helped  to  defray  church 
expenses. 

During  an  electrical  storm  in  1910  the  church  was 
struck  by  lightning  and  burned  to  the  ground.  There 
was  no  fire  fighting  equipment  available  at  the  time. 
The  Presbyterians  graciously  invited  their  sister 
church  to  use  their  basement  for  their  Sunday  School 
and  to  combine  the  worship  services  in  their  sanc- 
tuary. 

A  building  committee  for  a  third  church  was  or- 
ganized. Members  of  this  committee  were  Rev.  J.  C. 
Enninger,  Dr.  Pattengill,  Charles  Croninger,  Edward 
Ater,  Walter  Miller  and  Fletcher  Irwin.  The  present 
red  brick  building's  corner  stone  was  laid  in  the  fall 
of  1910  and  the  dedication  was  in  June  of  1911  with 
Rev.  T.  D.  Madden  officiating. 


Present  United  Methodist  Church 

The  present  parsonage  was  built  on  the  southeast 
corner  of  North  and  Eldon  streets,  across  the  street 
from  the  church  in  1920.  The  land  was  donated  by 
W.  C.  (Dick)  Reeves. 

In  1923-24,  Enterprise  Church,  which  was  located 
5  miles  northeast  of  Cisco  closed  and  brought  their 
membership  into  the  Cisco  Church.  The  Enterprise 
Church  building  had  been  built  in  1893-94  on  ground 
given  by  Hiram  Royse.  It  was  a  frame  building  seat- 
ing 200  people.  The  church  building  was  abandoned 
and  finally  sold  to  the  Farmer  City  Christian  Church 
in  1933.  Until  1923  Cisco  and  Enterprise  had  been  on 
a  2  point  circuit.  Rev.  Harold  Thrall  was  the  minister 
when  the  churches  combined. 

In  1937  the  people  were  able  to  afford  to  redecor- 
ate the  sanctuary.  In  1943  the  choir  added  dignity  to 
the  service  by  wearing  choir  robes.  During  1944  a 
nursery  to  care  for  small  children  during  the  worship 
service  was  started.  Also  that  year  Rev.  Nollsch  bap- 
tised a  class  of  24  babies,  children  and  adults  and 
several  were  received  into  church  membership. 


Enterprise  Church 

New    carpeting    and    a    Wurlitzer    organ     (as  a 

memorial  to  Alice  Williams)    were  added  in   1948  to 

enhance  the   beauty  of  the   sanctuary.   This   year  of 
1948  was  noted  for  seven  church  weddings. 

In  November  of  1949  the  church  celebrated  its 
75th  anniversary.  At  that  time  a  booklet  was  published 
entitled,  1847-1 9i9  Seventy-fifth  Anniversary,  First 
Methodist  Church,  Cisco,  III.  A  pageant.  The  Story  of 
Our  Church,  was  written  and  directed  by  Mrs.  Vera 
M.  Root. 


Mrs.    Lutle    Parr,    oldest   member    of   the    Cisco    Methodist 
Church  during:  their  75th  Anniversary  in  1949. 

During  1961-63  the  church  was  refurbished  exten- 
sively and  services  were  held  for  a  short  time  in 
the  Grade  School  auditorium.  In  1967  the  organ  was 
replaced  with  a  new  Baldwin  Organ. 

At  the  present  time  Rev.  Charles  Fradenburgh 
has  been  serving  since  1971.  In  1973  the  church 
kitchen  and  the  room  used  by  the  high  school  young 
people  has  been  remodelled  and  refurnished. 

Mr.  L.  A.  Melvin  served  as  Sunday  School  super- 
intendent for  25  years.  Many  others  served  in  this 
capacity  with  the  present  one  being  Stanley  Mackey. 


20 


Over  the  years  activities  of  the  church  have  in- 
cluded choirs,  Christmas  programs,  Children's  Day 
programs,  Bible  school,  Christmas  sings,  Epworth 
League  or  M.Y.P\,  Bible  study  classes,  mother- 
daughter  banquets,  and  father-son  banquets. 


Mrs.  Root's  Methodist  Church  Junior  Choir  in  1952.  Top: 
Martha  Eubanks,  Da\id  Whisnant,  Jim  Geisler,  Tom  Boot, 
Connie  Forcum,  -Marilj-n  Benjamin.  Second:  Norma  Kem- 
mers,  Jim  Boot,  Sue  Miller.  Loren  Hiser,  Karen  Craig. 
Third:  Joyce  Mackey.  Sharon  Gregory,  Mike  Melvin,  Gerry 
Conner,  Dennis  Miller,  Judy  Zindars,  Karen  Mclntye. 
Fourth:  Janice  Miller,  Janet  Sago,  Lucia  Coon,  Linda  Craig, 
Delores  Conner,   Beth  Johnson. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  Pastors  who  have  served 
this  circuit  and  or  church:  Joseph  VVinterbottom  1874, 
W.  T.  Beadles  1875-77,  Joseph  Montgomery  1878, 
Jacob  Kagey  1879,  B.  Bartholow  1880-81,  James  Muir- 
head  1882,  A.  B.  McElfresh  1883,  W.  H.  Swartz  1884- 
85,  E.  M.  Jeffers,  1886,  J.  A.  Burks  1887,  J.  C.  Collins 
1888,  C.  R.  Carlos  1889-90,  J.  T.  Humphrey  1891,  W. 
A.  Boyd  1892,  D.  C.  Brickett  1893,  W.  F.  Stevenson 
1894-97,  A.  D.  Moon  1898-99,  W.  D.  Best  1900-01,  T. 
S.  Mitchell  1902,  E.  A.  Hedges  1903-04,  J.  E.  Strevey 
1905,  W.  D.  Mcintosh  1906-08,  J.  C.  Enninger  1909-11, 
D.  H.  Hartley  1912-14,  H.  F.  Powell  1915-18,  Harold 
L.  Thrall  1919-22,  Harry  A.  Cochran  1923-26,  Laverne 
Barcley  1927,  0.  R.  Spreckelmeyer  1928,  J.  Dewey 
Muir  1929-30,  Donald  Gibbs  1931-32,  O.  L.  Clapper 
193.3-36,  H.  F.  Higgins  1937-38,  0.  C.  Penticoff  1939- 
40,  E.  Lowell  Dunavin  1941-43,  Henry  Nollsch  1944, 
J.  F.  Long  1945-48,  Harold  R.  Halfyard  1949-51,  Lee 
M.  Baldwin  1952-53,  Kenneth  Winters  1954-59,  Ralph 
Moorhouse  1959-60,  Nevin  Smith  1961-63,  Mac  L. 
Ricketts  1964-65,  Vernon  L.  Saldeen  1965-67,  Thomas 
H.  Brown  1968-71,  Charles  A.  Fradenburg,  Jr.  1971 
to  present. 


Ordained  Ministers  from  Cisco 

Thomas  Miles  is  probably  the  first  man  from  this 
vicinity  to  enter  the  Christian  ministry.  Howard  Au- 
gustus, Seymour  Williams,  James  Ennis,  a  Mr.  Hedges 
and  Reuben  Hathaway  are  others.  Burt  Mcintosh  and 
Winston  Burton  were  the  last  ones  from  Cisco. 


United  Methodist  Women 

Woman's  Society  of  Christian 

Service 

Ladies'  Aid  Society 

Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Society 

A  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Society  was  organ- 
ized with  sixteen  charter  members,  by  Mrs.  A.  D. 
Moon,  the  pastor's  wife  on  May  24,  1900.  Mrs.  L.  A. 
Melvin  was  the  first  president. 

In  about  the  same  period,  a  Ladies'  Aid  Society 
was  also  formed.  Elected  the  first  treasurer,  Mrs. 
Melvin  served  until  her  death.  Later,  the  Woman's 
Society  of  Christian  Service  was  formed  by  combining 
the  two  groups.  This  action  was  taken  at  a  joint 
meeting  in  August  1940. 

The  71  charter  members  desired  to  "help  to  develop 
and  support  Christian  work  among  women  and  chil- 
dren around  the  world;  to  develop  the  spiritual  life; 
to  study  the  needs  of  the  world ;  to  help  -strengthen 
the  local  church;  improve  civic,  community  and  world 
conditions;  to  enlist  others  in  this  Christian  fellow- 
ship and  secure  funds  for  the  activities  in  the  local 
church  and  the  work  undertaken  at  home  and  abroad 
for  the  establishment  of  a  world  Christian  com- 
munity." 

The  first  officers  to  direct  this  organization  were : 
president,  Hazel  Pirtle;  first  vice  president,  Gladys 
Doane;  second  vice  president.  Myrtle  Whisnant;  third 
vice  president,  Elma  Waggoner ;  recording  secretary, 
Nellie  Wiseman;  corresponding  secretary,  Edna  Ben- 
jamin; treasurer,  Prudie  Huffmaster. 

Other  secretaries  of  work  were  Bertha  Coffman, 
Jennie  Miller,  Ella  Guyot,  Othella  Remmers,  Dorothy 
Mills  and  Lutie  Parr. 

The  W.S.C.S.  members  held  quiltings,  chicken  fries, 
served  for  the  Red  Cross,  had  food  stands  at  farm 
sales,  and  held  turkey  suppers  and  bazaars  for  some 
of  their  many  fund-raising  efforts. 

The  Reverend  0.  C.  Penticoff  was  serving  the 
Cisco  church  when  the  W.S.C.S.  was  organized. 

In  October  1973  the  Woman's  Society  of  Christian 
Service  name  was  changed  to  the  United  Methodist 
Women  with  the  following  purpose :  The  organized 
unit  of  United  Methodist  Women  shall  be  a  com- 
munity of  women  whose  PURPOSE  is  to  know  God 
and  to  experience  freedom  as  whole  persons  through 
Jesus  Christ;  to  develop  a  creative,  supportive  fellow- 
ship; and  to  expand  concepts  of  mission  through  par- 
ticipation in  the  Global  Ministries  of  the  church. 

■>■<• 

Wesleyan  Service  Guild 

The  Wesleyan  Service  Guild  of  the  Cisco  Methodist 
Church  was  organized  in  January  1946,  for  women 
working  outside  the  home  and  those  with  young 
children  who  found  it  difficult  to  attend  afternoon 
meetings,  but  who  wished  to  be  a  part  of  the  W.S.C.S. 

The  first  officers  were:  president,  Juetta  Hiser; 
vice  president,  Mary  Carolyn  Chapman;  secretary, 
Edna  Whisnant;  corresponding  secretary,  Maxine  Mc- 
Kinley;  treasurer,  Vernette  Miller. 


21 


In  1954  the  name  of  this  group  was  changed  to 
the  "Ruth  Circle",  and  in  1960  this  group  merged 
with  the  main  organization  and  the  Ruth  Circle  be- 
came one  of  four  circles  of  the  afternoon  W.S.C.S. 

The  Opera.  House 

The  Opera  House  was  the  remodelled  first  Meth- 
odist church.  It  was  really  used  as  a  community  build- 
ing. There  was  a  stage  at  the  north  end  of  the  build- 
ing. Some  of  the  events  held  here  included  Road 
shows,  home  talent  plays,  band  concerts  and  the  Com- 
munity Christmas  party.  Ruby  Leach  can  still  sing  a 
song  that  she  sang  in  a  home  talent  play  given  by 
local  people  in  this  Opera  House. 

Some  of  the  Cisco  oldtimers  recall  a  hypnotist  who 
gave  a  program  here.  He  hypnotized  a  young  woman 
who  lay  in  the  window  of  the  Telford  Building  until 
night  when  she  was  brought  to.  A  man  was  hypno- 
tized and  his  rigid  body  was  placed  with  his  head  on 
one  chair  and  his  feet  on  another  with  a  limestone 
block  placed  on  his  chest.  Cain  Clow,  a  strong  man  of 
the  community,  broke  the  block  with  a  sledge  without 
hurting  the  subject.  Still  others  were  hypnotized  in 
comical  situations. 


Roads 

Stringtown  Lane  began  at  the  northwest  corner  of 
Monticello  and  extended  across  the  river  at  Benders 
Ford,  following  the  section  line  out  of  the  county  to 
Maroa.  It  passed  Excelsior,  New  Union  and  Pleasant 
Ridge  Schools.  Some  say  it  was  a  part  of  a  road 
extending  to  Mt.  Pulaski.  Before  there  were  paved 
roads,  the  Old  Wabanse  Automobile  Trail  followed 
Stringtown  Lane. 

Another  old  road,  though  not  in  complete  use 
today,  passed  Shady  Nook  School  House  and  near  a 
brick  house  (in  1865)  belonging  to  Solomon  Ater. 
Miss  Emma  Piatt  said  this  was  the  first  brick  house 
built  in  Piatt  county.  About  one  half  mile  southwest  of 
the  brick  house,  the  road  crossed  a  north-south  road. 
In  this  area,  going  across  Hog  Chute  Bridge,  was  the 
Centenary  Methodist  Church,  Ater  Cemetery  and  a 
Town  Hall  building  used  as  a  voting  place  for  Willow 
Branch.  Also  near  here  was  the  tile  and  brick  yard 
operated  by  Jim  Armsworth  in  the  1870's  and  1880's. 


Southwest  of  here  the  road  branched.  One  road  went 
by  Oak  Grove,  and  on  to  the  county  edge  —  to  Dan- 
town  and  Newburg.  The  other  branch  ran  through 
Clover  land  (just  north  of  Clover  Lake)  to  the  section 
line,  and  turned  west,  crossing  the  present  Cisco- 
Cerro  Gordo  road  and  going  past  the  Havely  School. 

In  February  1898  a  news  item  from  the  Piatt 
County  Republican  says  that  "It  has  been  years  since 
our  roads  were  in  such  a  muddy  condition  as  they 
have  been  in  the  past  two  weeks."  They  had  received 
a  large  amount  of  rainfall.  Then  two  weeks  later  — 
"Mud  prevails  everywhere.  Ten  days  ago  when  the 
roads  were  frozen  an  immense  amount  of  corn  was 
moved,  so  much  in  fact  that  the  elevator  found  diffi- 
culty in  handling  it,  but  since  the  moderation  in 
temperature  it  has  been  impossible  to  haul  anything." 
The  roads  influence  the  marketing  of  grain.  The  days 
referred  to  above,  found  Crocker  Elevator  Co.  buying 
35,000  bu.  of  corn  at  24c  a  bushel  that  week.  Roads 
were  often  so  bad  that  wagons  and  buggies  were 
abandoned. 

Willow  Branch  has  had  good  roads  once  they  won 
"the  battle  of  the  mud."  At  one  time  Walter  Miller, 
Charles  Doane  and  Roland  Salyers  were  road  com- 
missioners when  it  took  three  to  take  care  of  the 
work.  They  were  the  commissioners  when  the  grade 
was  first  built  up  to  the  Sangamon  River  in  1914. 

Clarence  "Dutch"  Cornell  was  the  first  one-man 
commissioner.  After  his  death.  Ace  Cornell  was  com- 
missioner, followed  by  Jason  Ripperdan,  Waldo  "Rip" 
Dowdle  (17  years.)  and  Delbert  Williams.  Rip  worked 
a  total  of  34  years  on  Willow  Branch  roads.  Harry 
"Shine"  Shull  has  helped  Rip  and  Delbert  with  the 
road  work  for  many  years. 

In  1913,  Elmer  Rainey  says  the  road  was  so  wet 
north  of  Cisco  he  used  a  four-horse  hitch  to  haul  4 
wagon  loads  of  corn  a  day  to  the  elevator  crib  south 
of  his  present  home.  He  had  to  scoop  the  corn  off 
the  wagon  into  the  crib.  Then  in  1914  he  helped 
spread  oil  —  using  a  four-horse  team  again.  They 
dragged  the  roads  rather  than  grading  them  as  they 
do  now,  and  put  just  one  strip  of  oil.  This  was  about 
the  first  or  second  year  for  oil  on  our  roads. 

Gypsies  were  a  part  of  the  way  of  life  in  the 
1800's  and  early  1900's.  One  of  the  places  they  came 
to  was  the  Pleasant  Ridge  School  yard.  Every  summer 
at  least  one  band  would  come  through  the  area.  They 


■f  V  ..,,     ;- 


Building  the  levee  at  the  Sangamon  River. 


22 


usually  were  trading  horses,  asking  for  hand  outs 
or  offering  to  tell  fortunes.  Everyone  kept  their  eye 
on  their  children  and  possessions,  because  of  tales  of 
kidnapping  and  theft.  They  were  often  dressed  in 
gaudy  colored  ragged  clothes.  They  had  dark  com- 
plexions and  they  traveled  in  dilapidated  wagons 
pulled  by  horses  in  all  states  of  health.  The  latest 
gypsies  to  come  to  town,  camped  southeast  of  town 
and  came  by  car,  truck,  etc. 

Tramps  came  to  town  and  country,  causing  uncom- 
fortable moments  for  some.  The  people  usually  gave 
them  something  to  eat,  some  in  fear,  others  for  some 
service  and  others  just  gave  them  the  food. 

Many  peddlers  sold  through  the  area,  selling  this 
and  that.  Those  who  usually  came  each  year  were 
missed  if  they  did  not  show  up. 


W.  E.  McCartney  round  bam 


Cisco  Elevators 

Cisco  has  had  one  to  three  elevators  at  all  times 
since  it  began.  In  the  early  1870's  an  elevator  was 
built  on  the  east  side  of  Main  Sreet  and  north  of  the 
railroad  racks.  A  second  elevator  was  built  by  Mr. 
Crocker  on  the  west  side  of  Main  Street  across  from 
the  first  one  in  the  1880's.  A  third  one  was  con- 
structed by  Suffern  and  Hunt  at  the  west  edge  of 
town,  south  of  the  railroad  tracks. 

E.  F.  Dallas  was  a  grain  merchant  in  the  late 
1870's.  A  grain  receipt  that  has  no  name  of  the 
elevator  as  a  heading  and  dated  September  8th,  1879 
shows  that  the  weigher,  H.  T.  Morrison  paid  to 
Joseph  Parr  18c  a  bushel  for  3/100  bushels  of  white 
oats  weighed  on  a  Fairbanks  Standard  Scales  at  Cisco, 
Illinois. 


Shellabarger  Elevators 

An  elevator  was  built  on  the  west  side  of  Main 
Street  in  the  1880's  by  a  Mr.  Crocker.  Percy  Jones 
was  associated  with  this  elevator.  In  the  Piatt  County 
Republican,  February  10,  1898,  it  was  stated,  "The 
Crocker  Elevator  Company  bought  35,000  bushel  of 
corn  at  24c/bu.  last  week."  Later  another  elevator  was 
built  on  this  site  by  the  Shellabarger  Elevator  Com- 
pany. During  the  earlier  years  of  this  elevator.  Bud 
Weddle,  an  employee,  met  a  tragic  death  when  his 
clothing    caught    in    a    swiftly    turning    shaft.    Scott 


Armsworth  managed  it  until  he  became  the  manager 
of  the  Cisco  Farmers'  Elevator.  Stephen  Mintun  suc- 
ceeded him,  followed  by  William  Kile,  Reed  Barnhart, 
and  W.  E.  Miller.  In  the  late  twenties  the  Evans  Ele- 
vator Co.  bought  Shellabbarger  elevator.  Walter  Miller 
was  a  manager,  followed  by  .Albert  (Tom)  Leach.  In 
1930  the  elevator  burned  and  Tom  was  transferred  to 
Oreana  bv  Evans. 


Suffern  and  Hunt  Elevator 

In  the  early  1900's  Suffein  and  Hunt  erected  an 
elevator  at  the  west  edge  of  town  just  south  of  the 
railroad  tracks.  The  first  manager  was  a  Mr.  Malone. 
The  A  and  O  Grain  Company  used  it  for  grain  storage 
and  sold  it  to  the  Cisco  Co-op  in  1954. 

About  1882  F.  S.  Weilepp  came  from  Forsyth  and 
bought  grain  for  Day  Sons  and  Company.  In  1886, 
John  Frantz,  who  came  to  Willow  Branch  Township 
five  years  earlier,  became  a  Cisco  lumber,  coal,  and 
grain  dealer.  In  1889  his  son,  Charles  O.  Frantz,  went 
into  partnership  with  his  father. 

In  1889  F.  S.  Weilepp  bought  the  interest  of  Day 
Sons  and  Company  in  connection  with  Mahlon  Cron- 
inger.  Mr.  Weilepp  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  out- 
standing grain  dealers  in  this  part  of  the  country. 
Mr.  Weilepp  was  a  stockholder  in  the  Croninger  Bank. 
He  built  the  house  on  the  northwest  corner  of  Dodge 
and  Eldon  Streets  and  it  was  considered  one  of  the 
finest  homes  of  the  time. 

The  F.  S.  Weilepp  Grain  Company  sold  out  to 
the  Farmers'  Elevator  Company  in  1908.  At  that 
time  the  officers  were:  L.  A.  Melvin,  president;  E.  E. 
Dallas,  secretary;  C.  L.  Croninger,  Edward  Ater,  W. 
E.  McCartney,  Edward  Reeser,  and  C.  T.  Parr.  The 
Farmers'  Elevator  leased  the  Suffern  and  Hunt  Ele- 
vator in  1910  at  $50  a  month  in  order  to  provide 
more  handling  and  storage  room.  In  1912  they  pur- 
chased the  coal  business  from  Cisco  Lumber  Com- 
pany. This  firm  re-organized  in  December  1918  to 
become  Cisco  Co-operative  Grain  Company. 

The  first  manager  of  the  Farmers'  Elevator  was 
J.  T.  Holderman.  He  was  succeeded  by  W.  S.  (Scott) 
Armsworth  in  1909.  who  served  until  1930.  Earl  Steele 
was  manager  from  1930  until  1943.  The  Company 
bought  the  Home  Oil  Company  in  1940  and  Sangamon 
Oil  Company,  both  from  W.  S.  (Scott)  Armsworth. 
In  1950  the  company  became  jobbers  for  Marathon 
Petroleum  Products.  Truck  drivers  for  this  operation 
were  H.  G.  (Pete)  Benjamin  who  served  until  1944 
when  Eldon  Webb  took  over  until  1973  when  Greg 
Nolan  became  the  driver. 

There  was  a  demand  for  more  storage  so  the  board 
of  directors  erected  a  22,000  bushel  tank  in  1940.  A 
new  brick  office  for  the  elevator  was  built  in  1941 
at  the  east  end  of  Dodge  Street,  facing  Main  Street. 
The  board  of  directors  at  that  time  were  C.  T.  Parr, 
president,  J.  H.  Barnhart,  secretary,  Charles  Olson, 
J.  W.  McCollister,  and  P.  C.  Young. 

Three  more  storage  tanks  were  built  in  1950  and 
two  more  in  1954,  making  a  total  capacity  of  185,000 
bushels.  That  same  year,  1954,  the  company  bought 
the  elevator  on  the  west  side  of  town  from  A  and  0 
Grain  Company.  This  elevator  and  its  contents  were 


23 


destroyed  by  fire  on  the  night  of  September  8,  1954. 
Luckily  there  was  no  loss  sustained  as  it  was  com- 
pletely covered  by  insurance.  In  1955  the  company 
became  a  representative  of  the  A.  E.  Staley  Company 
by  adding  commercial  feeds  to  their  line  of  products. 

A  new  elevator  was  constructed  on  the  west  side 
of  Main  Street  in  1956.  A  steel  Butler  flat  storage 
warehouse  was  built  in  1957.  It  was  60  feet  wide, 
120  feet  long  with  20  foot  side  walls.  A  new  concrete 
elevator  of  250,000  bushel  capacity  replaced  the  orig- 
inal frame  building  in  1964.  A  tract  of  land  was 
purchased  from  R.  H.  Oplinger  at  the  east  edge  of 
town  and  two  large  storage  warehouses  were  built  on 
it.  In  1965  the  government  bins  on  this  land  were 
bought  which  gave  the  company  a  total  storage  of 
1,150,000  bushels. 

The  years  1950  to  1965  embrace  the  major  e.xpan- 
sion  in  storage.  The  directors  holding  office  during 
these  fifteen  years  were  Loren  Pattengill,  Lawrence 
Coon,  Ralph  Rannebarger,  Warren  Ater,  Bert  Huis- 
inga,  Frances  Edwards,  Donald  Whisnant  and  Gerald 
Miller.  In  1958  the  elevator  celebrated  its  Golden 
Anniversary  with  a  dinner  for  all  stockholders  and 
wives  at  Potrafka's  Cedar  Knolls  in  Oreana. 

The  Argenta  elevator  was  bought  September  15, 
1972.  This  gave  the  Cisco  Co-operative  Grain  Com- 
pany an  additional  100,000  bushel  capacity.  The  com- 
pany sells  small  seeds  such  as  beans,  clover,  and  corn. 
They  also  mix  and  dry  seeds  at  the  Argenta  facility. 
They  continue  to  handle  Marathon  Products. 

The  Board  of  Directors  in  1974  are  Dale  Huisinga, 
president,  D.  James  Burns,  secretary,  Keith  Wester- 
man,  Don  Padgett,  Melvin  Gulley,  and  Gerald  Hiser. 

Managers  for  the  Cisco  Co-opei-ative  Grain  Com- 
pany are  as  follows:  W.  S.  Armsworth  1909-1930, 
Earl  J.  Steele  1930-1943,  Walter  Fisher  1943  to 
August  1944,  John  Witlow  1944  to  summer  1962, 
Merle  Chapman  1962-1967,  Grant  Appell  1967-1971, 
William  (Bill)   Sago  1971- 

The  bookkeeper  from  1926-67  was  Hildred  Webb 
who  still  helps  out.  Kay  Drew  became  bookkeeper  in 
1967  and  has  been  office  manager  since  1971.  Part 
time  personnel  are  Joyce  Bennett  and  Mikki  Burns. 
Every  year  a  dinner  is  held  at  the  annual  meeting 
for  the  stockholders. 

The  Stockyards  and 
The  Cisco  Shipping  Association 

Early  settlers  devoted  much  time  and  attention  to 
cattle  and  hog  raising,  .so  with  the  coming  of  the 
railroad,  stockyards  were  developed.  The  stockyards 
were  east  of  Main  Street  beside  the  railroad.  In  the 
April  25,  1905  Cisco  Press  a  news  item  reads,  "Four- 
teen cars  of  stock  were  shipped  from  here  Sunday. 
J.  N.  Dighton  had  5  cars  of  hogs  and  1  of  cattle; 
James  Hendrix  had  5  cars  of  cattle  and  1  of  hogs 
and  Mack  Ashton  had  1  car  of  cattle  and  1  of  hogs. 
An  extra  train  was  sent  from  Champaign  to  get  the 
stock." 

In  W.  S.  Armsworh's  annual  report  in  1921  he 
states  that  since  August  1,  1920  he  has  shipped  out 
16  cars  of  livestock.  This  is  a  total  of  111  hogs,  59 
cattle  and  29  sheep.  He  paid  farmers  consigning  this 
stock  $25,500.  The  average  cost  of  shipping  was  63c 
per  cwt. 


Blacksmiths 

On  the  southeast  corner  of  Main  and  South  Streets, 
a  buggy  builder  had  a  shop  in  the  early  days  of  Cisco. 

Mr.  John  Jeffords  had  a  harness  making  business 
on  the  balcony  of  the  Opera  House.  It  too,  was  de- 
stroyed by  the  fire  of  1910.  Other  harness  makers 
were  Mr.  Bigalow,  and  Mr.  Ralph  Allman. 

On  the  east  side  of  Main  Street  there  was  a  black- 
smith shop  until  in  the  1940's.  Cisco's  first  black- 
smith, James  Click  had  his  shop  on  the  south  side  of 
town.  Later  Neal  Caldwell,  brother  to  Dr.  Caldwell  of 
Syrup  of  Pepsin  fame,  was  in  with  Mr.  Click.  In  the 
1890's  Dan  Cripe  had  his  shop  followed  by  James 
Sullivan  and  then  George  Hitchins.  The  last  black- 
smiths to  use  this  shop  were  James  and  Wilmer  Clif- 
ton who  lost  it  in  a  fire  in  the  1940's. 

There  was  another  blacksmith  shop  in  the  village 
in  the  1890's  besides  Dan  Gripe's.  In  the  second  block 
east  of  the  bank,  L.  A.  (Tebe)  Weddle  ran  a  black- 
smith shop  for  many  years. 

Around  1910  Jason  Vaught  had  a  smithy  in  the 
south  room  of  the  Swam  Building.  Mr.  Vaught  was 
expert  at  shoeing  race  horses  and  he  did  a  good  busi- 
ness for  there  were  race  tracks  in  both  Monticello  and 
Decatur.  Outside  of  the  south  wall  there  were  origin- 
ally rings  for  tying  up  horses  while  awaiting  service. 

Cisco  blacksmiths  did  a  fine  business  about  the 
turn  of  the  century  because  the  means  of  transporta- 
ion  used  then  was  the  horse  and  buggy.  At  that  time 
the  farm  machinery  was  pulled  by  horses.  In  the 
winter  when  the  roads  were  rough  the  farmers  needed 
well  shod  teams  so  they  would  bring  them  to  town. 
Sometimes  business  was  so  brisk  that  one  had  to  wait 
for  his  turn  a  half  day. 

One  hundred  seventy-five  feet  of  hitchrack  was 
erected,  west  of  Main  Street,  in  the  north  part  of 
town  in  1902.  This  was  grealy  needed  because  the 
racks  to  the  south  did  not  nearly  supply  the  demand 
on  "busy  days". 

A  village  watering  trough  was  located  on  the  south 
side  of  Dodge  Street  and  across  from  the  Cisco  Press 
Office.  Water  was  pumped  for  this  tank  by  a  wind- 
mill located  south  of  the  railroad  tracks  on  Eldon 
Street.  (In  1974  the  windmill  would  have  been  just 
north  of  Larry  Edward's  home.)  At  the  turn  of  the 
century  when  most  Cisco  residents  had  had  horses 
and  buggies  for  transportation,  and  some  even  had 
cows,  they  took  their  animals  to  the  village  tank  to 
water  them.  Young  boys  often  earned  a  little  money 
by  hiring  out  to  widows  or  others  to  perform  this 
chore. 

As  a  small  boy  David  Swarts  recalls  that  his 
grandfather  led  the  cow  and  David  led  the  calf  to 
the  watering  trough  daily  and  that  he  had  a  special 
fondness  for  his  calf.  One  day  the  butcher,  Shively, 
bargained  with  the  grandfather  to  sell  him  the  calf. 
David  felt  very  sorry  to  lose  it.  Sometime  later  Mr. 
Shively  offered  some  weiners  as  a  treat  to  David  but 
the  boy  refused  them  for  he  was  sure  they  were 
made  from  his  calf. 

In  later  years  the  trough  was  filled  by  the  town 
pump  located  at  Dodge  and  Main  Streets. 


24 


Livery,  Sale  Bam,  and  view  of  the  town. 


Livery  Stable 


A  livery  stable  was  located  to  the  west  of  and 
behind  the  Runkle  Building  on  South  Railroad  Street. 
Two  services  were  offered.  The  "Tie  In"  service  tied 
your  horse  inside  the  building  leaving  it  hitched  to 
the  buggy.  The  "Feed"  service  included  unhitching 
your  horse,  putting  it  in  a  stall  and  feeding  it  at 
noon.  Owners  of  the  stable  included  William  Mintun 
and  John  Luker,  who  was  the  last  one.  The  stable 
burned  in  the  1920's  and  was  never  rebuilt  as  by  this 
time  the  car  was  replacing  the  horse. 


Mrs.  Sarah  Higgins  who  was  the  last  to  run  a  Cisco 
Hotel.  Carpenters  stayed  there  while  they  were  re- 
building the  Shellabarger  elevator. 

When  Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  P.  Briggs  bought  the  hotel 
they  ran  it  as  a  restaurant  for  twenty-five  years.  After 
the  death  of  her  husband  Perry,  Mrs.  Briggs  ran  it 
several  more  years  then  sold  out  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Stiltman.  The  last  owners  were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leisch- 
ner  who  ran  it  a  short  time  and  went  out  of  business 
in  1972  and  have  been  using  it  as  a  residence  since 
then. 


Boarding  Houses  and  The  Hotel 

Mrs.  Patsy  Reardon,  mother-in-law  to  John  Jef- 
fords, the  harness  maker  boarded  some  of  the  men 
putting  in  the  railroad  in  1873.  About  1897  Mrs.  Peter 
Stuckey,  who  lived  on  the  southeast  corner  of  North 
and  Main  Streets,  ran  a  boarding  house. 

A  hotel  was  built  at  the  southeast  corner  of  the 
intersection  of  Main  and  Ellis  Streets,  possibly  by 
Samuel  Nogel  since  he  was  the  first  to  operate  it.  Mrs. 
Patrick  Hassett  ran  it  next  while  her  husband  was  a 
section  foreman.  In  1887  Edward  Clow  operated  it 
until  he  sold  to  Colonel  and  Mrs.  Ayers.  They  were  in 
operation  before  1899.  When  four  of  their  patrons, 
including  Ernest  Croninger  and  Dr.  Pattengill,  went 
to  board  with  Mrs.  Peter  Stuckey  it  made  quite  a 
decrease  in  the  income  of  the  hotel  and  they  sold  out  to 


M.  Croninger  Bank 

The  bank  building  was  built  in  1897  by  Mahlon 
Croninger.  F.  S.  Weilepp  was  a  principal  stockholder 
as  were  C.  L.  Croninger,  Nellie  Pattengill,  William 
Dighton  and  H.  L.  Timmons.  Ernest  Croninger  was 
cashier  until  his  health  broke,  then  he  looked  after 
his  father's  farming  interests  and  his  brother  Charles 
succeeded  him  at  the  bank.  In  1911  the  bank  was  or- 
ganized as  a  state  bank  called  "Croninger  State  Bank 
of  Cisco."  In  1914  C.  L.  Croninger  retired  from  the 
bank  presidency  and  E.  O.  Martin  of  Weldon  filled  the 
vacancy ;  Charles  Doane,  vice-president  and  Bernard 
Pattengale,  asst.  cashier.  In  1917  capital  stock  was 
$50,000;  deposits  $175,000;  loans  $200,000.  In  1911 
Bruce  Rinehart  became  cashier  until  1916  when  he 
returned  to  a  Deland  bank  where  he  had  been  previous 
to  coming  to  Cisco.  Thomas  Hardin  became  a  cashier 


25 


Croninger  Bank 

then.  After  Martin  ran  the  bank  for  a  few  years,  John 
Reed  became  cashier.  Some  of  the  bank  directors  were 
E.  V.  Rannebarger,  Mack  Ashton,  E.  A.  Ater  and 
Charles  Parr.  Others  associated  with  the  bank  over 
the  years  were  Jon  Rank,  Herbert  Ridgely,  Ira  Mc- 
Cartney and  Mrs.  Hildred  Webb. 

Sometime  in  the  1920's  there  was  an  attempted 
bank  robbery.  The  bank  was  running  low  on  cash  and 
ordered  a  shipment  to  be  sent  out  from  Decatur  on 
the  evening  train.  However,  the  shipment  went  on  to 
Champaign.  Since  the  money  was  not  delivered,  the 
Cisco  bank  ordered  another  shipment  the  next  day  and 
both  shipments  arrived  the  same  day  in  Cisco. 

Behind  the  bank  was  the  telephone  office  building, 
which  in  those  days  required  a  local  operator.  Simon 
Gisinger  served  as  night  operator.  Mr.  Gisinger's  son 
Ancil,  better  known  as  "Pop,"  tells  the  following 
story  of  that  night. 

Ancil  lived  next  door  to  his  father  Simon.  Late  in 
the  night  Ancil's  wife  was  awakened  by  a  bang.  She 
roused  her  husband  who  had  not  heard  the  noise. 
Shortly  he  heard  a  bang  too,  went  to  the  window  and 
looked  toward  town  but  could  see  nothing.  There  was  a 
third  bang.  So  he  dressed,  grabbed  a  dash-board  lan- 
tern and  went  next  door  to  see  if  his  mother  had  been 
disturbed.  When  he  got  on  her  front  porch  he  realized 
she  had  not  heard  it,  so  he  decided  to  see  if  his  dad 
was  alright.  When  he  got  to  Dr.  Pattengill's  corner  he 
saw  four  or  five  men.  He  saw  Dewey  and  Perry  Briggs 
fire  a  gun  up  in  the  air.  The  streets  were  torn  up  at 
this  time  because  drainage  tile  were  being  put  in.  He 
saw  Dunkel,  the  barber,  standing  in  the  doorway  to 
the  barber  shop.  When  the  men  saw  Ancil  start  across 
the  street  they  called  to  him  that  they  feared  a  rob- 
bery. Thinking  only  of  his  father,  he  kept  on  going. 
He  could  see  the  glass  in  the  windows  of  the  bank  had 
been  blown  out.  The  explosion  had  awakened  Simon 
who  had  been  sleeping  in  the  bedroom  which  was  on 
the  north  side  of  the  telephone  office.  He  had  hurried 
to  the  window  toward  the  bank  and  had  stubbed  his 
toe  on  the  swivel  chair  used  by  the  switch  board 
operator.  A  voice  called  in  to  him  to  get  back  to  bed 
and  stay  quiet  or  they  would  shoot  him.  When  Ancil 
arrived,  he  found  his  father  in  bed  and  scared  to  death. 
When  he  tried  to  call  the  sheriff  his  hands  shook  so 


that  his  son  had  to  do  it.  It  was  about  4:00  A.M.  by 
this  time.  The  robbers  had  not  been  successful  in  blow- 
ing the  safe  open  as  there  was  a  time  lock  on  the 
bottom  of  the  door.  It  was  pried  open  the  next  morning 
with  crowbars  and  each  pry  brought  a  pop  from  the 
nitroglycerine  and  smoke.  The  robbers  had  tried  to 
blow  the  bank's  vault  door  open  with  nitroglycerine. 

The  robbers  made  their  getaway  by  stealing  Will 
Jefford's  Buick  from  the  garage.  This  car  didn't  run 
far  so  they  stole  an  Essex  belonging  to  Mayor  Bud 
Kistler.  It  was  found  abandoned  in  Champaign. 

No  one  was  ever  convicted  of  the  attempt  to  rob 
the  bank  or  steal  the  cars.  Simon  Gisinger  thought  he 
recognized  the  voice  that  ordered  him  to  stay  quiet 
but  he  never  revealed  a  name  to  anyone.  Years  later  a 
man  caught  on  another  charge  claimed  that  Singer 
Sewing  machine  salesmen  were  in  on  it.  Ancil  says  he 
believes  there  were  at  least  four  men  in  the  attempt. 

The  bank  closed  in  1927  and  did  not  reopen. 


Lights 

An  electric  light  plant  was  installed  by  Mr.  Swam 
in  the  north  room  of  his  building  and  it  gave  Cisco 
its  first  electric  lights  in  1915.  The  plant  consisted 
of  wet  batteries  that  were  charged  by  a  two-cylinder 
engine.  This  engine  was  built  by  the  International 
Harvester  Company  and  ran  on  coal  oil  (kerosene). 
Mr.  Swam  went  broke  when  he  could  not  pay  for  his 
electric  plant  and  Frank  Coffman  bought  him  out. 

Ancil  Gisinger  recalls  that  it  was  a  German  engi- 
neer who  taught  him  how  to  operate  the  electric  plant. 
At  the  time  his  plant  could  supply  all  the  needs  for 
there  were  few  electrical  fixtures  that  required  more 
than  one  bulb.  Most  rooms  were  lighted  by  a  single 
bulb  at  the  end  of  a  long  cord  suspended  from  the  ceil- 
ing. At  the  time  Simon  Gisinger  ran  the  plant  the 
engine  was  started  at  dusk  and  ran  until  11:00  P.M. 
The  wet  batteries  would  produce  enough  current  for 
overnight. 

When  homes  began  using  electric  washing  ma- 
chines and  electric  irons  the  power  plant  was  run  on 
Monday  and  Tuesday  mornings.  When  Scott  Arms- 
worth  sold  the  plant  to  the  Illinois  Power  Company 
in  1927  they  brought  in  electricity  by  high  line  from 
Cerro  Gordo. 


Telephone  Exchange 

On  July  2H,  1897  the  telephone  opened  in  Cisco. 
By  January  1898  the  telephone  rage  had  struck  Cisco. 
Some  half  dozen  phones  had  been  put  in  by  private 
individuals  between  their  places  of  business  and  resi- 
dence. Then  as  now  weather  could  cause  a  disruption 
of  service.  In  a  January  K?,  1898  Piatt  County  Re- 
publican it  notes  that  "Telephone  lines  between  De- 
catur and  this  point  are  down." 

A  telephone  system  was  installed  in  Cisco  in  1900. 
An  exchange  building  was  erected  to  the  east  of  the 
bank  building.  W.  H.  Jones  had  the  first  telephone 
installed.  Switchboard  operators  were  Pearl  Weddle 
and  Belle  Mintun.  Other  operators  were  Audra  and 
Edith  Weddle,  Grace  Gisinger,  Kathryn  Widick,  Ber- 


26 


nice  Clow,  Hazel  Pirtle,  Ruby  Leach,  Wanda  Guyot, 
and  Ruth  Leach.  Pay  for  operators  in  1928  was  9c 
an  hour  and  it  was  raised  to  about  I2V2C  about  1932. 

James  Duddleson  was  the  first  manager,  followed 
by  Simon  Gisinger  who,  also,  acted  as  night  operator. 
Ed  Brown  was  the  next  manager.  The  system  was  sold 
in  1925  to  L.  J.  Wylie  of  the  Macon  County  Telephone 
Company  of  Decatur.  It  was  later  sold  to  the  Illinois 
Commercial  Telephone  Company  who  in  turn  sold  it 
to  the  General  Telephone  Company  of  Illinois.  Dottie 
Giesler  began  working  at  the  telephone  office  in  1922 
and  continued  to  work  there  until  dial  phones  were 
installed  in  1954.  Long  distance  dialing  began  in  1964. 
Since  1954  there  has  been  no  need  for  a  telephone 
office  and  the  building  has  been  torn  down. 


Water  System 


About  1919-20  a  large  storm  sewer  was  laid  in 
from  the  south  side  of  town  branching  to  the  east  and 
west.  These  were  then  directed  north.  The  west  branch 
turned  back  east  a  little  north  of  the  Methodist 
Church  to  go  back  to  Main  Street  and  north.  Though 
we  still  have  water  this  was  a  great  improvement. 

In  1950  a  contract  was  let  to  W.  L.  Hall  for  the 
waterworks  system  and  the  construction  was  done  in 
1950-51.  Before  that  water  had  been  from  private 
wells  and  cisterns,  or  the  town  well. 

The  Cisco  Press 

The  building  on  Dodge  Street  just  west  of  the 
restaurant  was  a  room  with  a  barber  chair  in  the 
front  and  the  press  for  the  "Cisco  Press"  toward  the 
back.  This  was  a  weekly  newspaper  started  by  W.  W. 
Austin  about  1902.  The  subscription  rate  was  |1.00 
per  year.  Some  interesting  things  about  the  town  can 
be  learned  from  the  paper.  Copied  from  an  April  28, 
1905  paper  are  the  following  items: 

A  full  line  of  curry  combs  and  brushes  at 
J.  Jeffords.  John  Dighton,  Jr.,  and  Ed  Moffit 
of  Monticello  were  here  Sunday  shipping  cattle 
and  hogs  for  Mr.  Dighton. 

For  Sale:  Well  equipped  blacksmith  shop  in 
thriving  Illinois  town.  Is  a  money  maker  and 
will  stand  investigation.  Price  is  right.  Address, 
"Blacksmith"  in  care  of  PRESS,  Cisco,  111. 

Bring  your  harness  to  Jefford's  and  have  it 
repaired,  greased,  and  have  it  put  in  shape  for 
the  season's  work. 

For  Sale:  Several  residence  properties.  Also 
livery  barn  for  sale  or  rent.  Please  call  and  get 
terms. 

The  copy  of  the  CISCO  PRESS  from  which  the 
above  was  taken  belongs  to  Jess  Lyons  who  graciously 
loaned  it  to  us. 

The  Cisco  Index 

An  even  earlier  paper  was  printed  in  1902.  It 
consisted  of  four  pages,  was  published  on  the  15th 
of  each  month  and  a  subscription  was  25c  a  year. 
Its  motto  was  "Published  in  the  Interest  of  Cisco  and 
Its  People".  The  publisher  was  W.  H.  Jones.  The 
copy  reviewed  here  is  for  April  15,  1902. 


It  gave  the  scheduled  services  for  the  Methodist 
and  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Churches  and  the  lodge 
meetings  as  listed  under  the  discussion  of  the  Telford 
Building. 

Under  a  section  callled  "Some  Happenings"  some 
of  the  people  mentioned  are  William  Marlowe,  J.  H. 
Reeves,  Frank  Donovan,  Mrs.  F.  Lewis,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
S.  Hinson,  R.  E.  Staats,  P.  B.  Maxheimer,  Mrs.  Best, 
Norah  and  Pearl  Parish.  Other  items  under  the  same 
heading  are: 

Simon  Gisinger  has  been  having  his  res- 
taurant repaired. 

Saturday  is  a  school  election.  The  ladies 
have  a  vote. 

A  big  assortment  of  bulk  garden  seeds  at 
W.  H.  Jones  &  Co. 

F.  M.  Arnold  was  in  Normal  part  of  the 
week  buying  nursery  stock. 

Aaron  Goodale  has  moved  his  barber  shop 
into  the  vacant  Russel  building. 

The  I.O.O.F.  are  painting  and  papering  the 
inside  of  their  store  building. 

James  Mintun  has  begun  the  erection  of  a 
four  room  dwelling  for  L.  A.  Weddle. 

L.  E.  Stuckey  has  purchased  the  lots  just 
north  of  the  school  building  of  S.  Hinson  and 
will  erect  a  nice  two  story  residence  in  the 
near  future.  (This  is  where  Harry  Lyons  lives 
in  1974). 

The  copy  of  "The  Cisco  Index"  from  which  this 
was  taken  belongs  to  Lucia  Wilkin.  It  did  belong  to 
her  aunt  Mabel  Lyons. 

"The  Cisco  Review"  was  run  by  Hanson  Andrews. 

Hardware  Stores 

Walker  and  Carter  were  the  first  hardware  dealers 
in  Cisco.  E.  W.  Rinehart  was  an  early  hardware  dealer 
but  where  the  business  located  seems  to  be  unknown 
at  this  time,  but  it  might  have  been  in  the  two  story 
part  of  the  Jones  Building.  The  following  is  a  copy 
concerning  him  found  in  DeWitt  and  Piatt  County, 
Illinois  published  in  "DeWitt  and  Piatt  County,  111." 

"E.  W.  Rinehart  commands  the  best  trade  in 
Cisco,  Piatt  County,  in  the  line  of  goods  in 
which  he  deals.  He  handles  hardware,  queens- 
ware,    and    furniture,    and    his    sales    average 


Armsworth  Hardware  Store 


27 


110,000  to  $12,000  per  annum.  He  carries  stock 
worth  about  $3,000  and  occupies  a  building  40' 
by  50'  in  dimensions,  favorably  located  and 
tastefully  arranged.  Mr.  Rinehart  began  busi- 
ness in  1880  at  his  present  stand,  which  has 
become  widely  known  as  a  place  in  which  goods 
can  be  obtained  and  courteous  and  honorable 
treatment  always  received.  He  came  to  Cisco 
from  Iowa.  He  was  born  December  3,  1858  in 
Ross  County,  Ohio. 

Bill  Jeffords,  son  of  the  harness  maker,  John  Jef- 
fords, had  a  hardware  store  on  the  north  side  of 
Dodge  Street  and  immediately  west  of  the  Hitchins 
Building.  However,  there  was  a  vacant  lot  between  the 
two  buildings.  Bill  had  his  wares  to  the  front  of  the 
building  and  his  father  had  his  harness  making  to  the 
back  of  the  building.  It  is  believed  that  it  was  the 
Jeffords  who  rebuilt  this  building  after  the  fire.  Rus- 
sell Pheneas  managed  a  hardware  store  here  called 
"Cisco  Mercantile  Co."  for  the  Midland  Lumber  Com- 
pany from  1928-1931.  For  a  time  Albert  Miller  ran 
such  a  store.  The  Parish  Brothers  had  a  hardware 
business  for  a  time  in  the  south  room  of  the  Runkle's 
Building. 

About  1942  Scott  Armsworth  started  a  hardware 
store  here.  He  passed  away  in  1943  and  his  son  Bill 
was  in  the  service  at  that  time,  so  Bill's  wife,  Betty 
and  Bill's  mother,  Effie  Armsworth  ran  the  business 
until  Bill  returned  in  1946.  He  ran  it  as  a  hardware 
store  for  years  and  later  added  electrical  appliances. 
He  was  a  good  business  man  and  did  a  good  business 
here  but  moved  it  to  Monticello  in  1965. 

A  number  of  people  ran  johnny  hacks  or  drays  at 
Cisco  —  Preston  Reed,  Harry  "Mad"  Walker,  George 
Scoles,  Bur  Rinehart,  Elwin  Eubanks,  Lee  McGinnis, 
John  Gosset  and  John  School. 


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Helen   Dowdle,  "Jap"   Phillips   and   "Shine"   Shull   with  the 
Implement  Co.  in   1939. 


Cisco  Implement  Company:  Wilmer  C.  Clifton,  Harry  Shull, 

Pauline    Wangler,    Keith    Forcum     (mgr.),    Basil    Wattles, 

Dale  Wolfe,  Jack  Clifton. 

The  Implement  Business 

In  the  1890's  A.  H.  (Bert)  Lyons  and  Charley 
Lyons  had  an  implement  business  in  a  building  that 
stood  on  the  southwest  corner  of  Main  and  North 
Streets.  In  1899  the  Parish  Brothers  Implement  Store 
was  on  the  west  side  of  south  Main  Street  south  of  the 
Runkle's  Building.  They  advertised  as  selling  wagons, 
buggies,  hardware,  tinware,  stoves,  wind  mills,  pumps 
and  oil.  After  several  years  they  migrated  to  Idaho 
along  with  several  other  families  from  Cisco. 

W.  H.  Jones  sold  all  kinds  of  agricultural  imple- 
ments at  his  store  on  the  east  side  of  Main  Street.  He 
sold  out  to  Fred  Mcintosh,  who  was  bought  out  by 
Orville  Ennis  and  James  Heath.  In  a  few  years  this 
partnership  dissolved,  Jim  Heath  going  to  Monticello, 
and  Orville  Ennis  moving  to  Canada. 

In  the  late  1920's  Walter  Miller,  Albert  Miller, 
Scott  Armsworth  and  Charlie  Olson  started  a  hard- 
ware and  implement  store  on  the  north  side  of  Dodge 
Street,  where  the  Fire  Department  and  American 
Legion  are  now.  Later  this  store  was  purchased  by 
the  Midland  Co.  and  managed  by  Russel  Pheneas.  It 
was  sold  to  Howard  Clodfelter  and  managed  by  Keith 
Forcum.  Lloyd  Jones  purchased  the  business,  but 
never  operated  it.  He  sold  it  to  Don  Ater  and  Harold 
Mclntyre.  After  a  few  years  they  sold  out  to  Lyle 
McPheeters,  who  sold  International  farm  equipment. 
Then  he  moved  his  business  to  his  new  store  at 
Monticello. 


Restaurants  and  Ice  Cream  Parlors 

West  of  the  Opera  House  there  was  a  restaurant 
and  ice  cream  parlor  about  1900,  run  by  Phillip  Gi- 
singer.  He  sold  homemade  ice  cream  that  he  made  in 
five  gallon  freezers  cranked  by  hand.  Later  Mrs. 
Braden  and  her  son-in-law,  Mr.  Wycoff,  had  a  res- 
taurant here.  They  bought  their  ice  cream  in  large 
freezers.  Some  recall  the  ice  cream  parlor  furniture 
with  the  twisted  metal  legs. 

According  to  an  advertisement  in  the  1902  news- 
paper. The  Cisco  Press;  Bert  Rankin  ran  a  "Restaur- 
ant and  Confectionary."  (This  is  the  way  confec- 
tionery was  spelled  in  all  advertisements).  His  adver- 
tisement read,  "I  carry  a  complete  line  of  good  fresh 
candy.  HOT  LUNCH  AT  ALL  HOURS.  Decatur  Ice 
Cream  made  by  Morris  Candy  Co.,  also  first-class 
Candies.    I   also   have   a   Barber   Chair   in   connection 


28 


with  my  restaurant.  Yours  for  a  share  of  your  trade. 
Bert  Rankin,  Cisco,  Illinois." 

Another  restaurant  location  was  in  the  north  room 
of  the  building  recently  occupied  by  McKinley's  Store. 
Tom  W.  Creekmur  had  "The  Depot  Restaurant"  in 
the  Runkel  Building  in  1902  and  he  advertised  in  The 
Cisco  Press  as  follows:  "LADIES  AND  GENTLE- 
MEN. We  are  prepared  to  wait  on  our  customers  in 
the  best  of  style.  We  have  placed  in  some  nice  clean 
stock  of  Candies  and  Cigars.  We  are  also  prepared  to 
serve  Ice  Cream  in  many  ways.  Our  Soda  Fountain 
is  in  good  shape.  Give  us  a  call.  DEPOT  RESTAUR- 
ANT. T.  W.  Creekmur,  Mgr.,  Cisco,  Illinois." 

Clarence  Cornell  operated  a  restaurant  in  this 
same  location.  So  did  Phillip  Gisinger,  Frank  Lyons, 
Cy  Dare,  and  in  1929-30  Herman  and  Jennie  Rose  had 
such  a  business. 

Henry  Burkler  had  another  restaurant  located  a 
door  north  of  the  bank,  in  the  building  that  is  a  barber 
shop  in  1974. 


Drug  Stores 

Mr.  J.  E.  Hamilton  was  the  first  druggist.  Jesse 
Miles  was  a  druggist  for  several  years.  A  wooden 
building  south  of  the  hotel  was  John  Shaff's  Drug 
Store  with  Dr.  Pattengill's  office  in  rooms  at  the 
back  of  the  store.  When  John  Shaff  left  to  go  to 
medical  school  his  brother  Fred  took  over  the  drug 
store.  When  the  new  big  brick  building  across  the 
street  was  completed,  Fred  moved  into  the  middle 
room.  Aileen  Rannebarger  recalls  a  very  fine  marble 
soda  fountain  in  this  store.  Fred  Shaff  died  in  1942. 
His  was  Cisco's  last  drug  store.  Some  drug  items  were 
carried  in  both  the  Weddle  and  Don  McKinley  general 
stores. 


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Some  of  the  other  store  keepers  were  Mr.  Slate, 
Wash  Havely,  A.  W.  Scott,  Ed  Coffman,  Dan  Weddle, 
Weddie  &  Ed  Stuckey,  E.  E.  Dallas,  Mart  Osborn, 
Harvey  Robbins,  Mr.  Loveless,  Loton  Williams,  G.  W. 
Hitchens  and  son  Clarence.  After  this  followed  Wayne 
Coon,  Elmer  Dallas,  Barnhart  &  Leach,  then  briefly 
Frank  Lyons. 

Mrs.  Aileen  Rannebarger  recalls  that  at  the  open- 
ing of  the  G.  W.  Hitchens  store  souvenirs  were  given 
away.  Each  person  was  presented  with  a  two-inch 
square  box  that  contained  a  Belch's  chocolate  candy. 
She  was  also  impressed  with  the  spaciousness  of  the 
store.  At  one  time  Elmer  Dallas  gave  away  numbered 
tickets  with  purchases  during  the  week;  then  on  Sat- 
urday night  a  lucky  number  would  be  drawn  and 
the  person  holding  a  ticket  with  that  number  received 
some  dishes. 

In  1928  Sam  Clover  had  a  grocery  store  in  the 
empty  bank  building.  His  wife  ran  the  Post  Office 
there  at  the  same  time.  E.  Lee  "Skinny"  McGinnis 
ran  a  grocery  in  the  south  side  of  the  Swan  building. 
Wilmer  Clifton  worked  for  him.  They  made  grocery 
deliveries  in  a  Model  T  Ford.  In  the  south  part  of 
town  Bill  Wheeler  had  a  grocery  store.  Some  recall 
that  a  child  could  buy  the  most  candy  for  a  penny  at 
this  store  and  that  he  sold  brown  sugar  (which  was 
a  rarity  at  that  time). 

Peter  Stuckey,  father  to  George  and  Ed  Stuckey, 
had  a  meat  market  in  Cisco's  early  days  in  the  room 
farthest  north  in  the  Telford  Building.  He  was  fol- 
lowed in  the  same  location  by  a  Mr.  Russell.  Mr. 
Shively  had  his  meat  market  for  a  time  in  a  small 
building  south  of  the  re-built  Runkle  building,  in  a 
room  which  one  entered  from  a  door  on  South  Rail- 
road Street.  Mr.  Stillabower  also  had  a  meat  market 
in  a  small  building  west  of  Main  Street  on  the  north 
side  of  South  Street.  Later  on  meats  were  sold  in  the 
general  stores. 


On   South   Main  Street 


^ 

BR 

M 

,1  , 

r 

^M 

Hj^ 

^ 

m^ 

fflMO"^ 

^ 

m 

■r 



Stores 

In  1885,  Theodore  Ivens  started  a  business  with  a 
stock  of  $3,000  of  general  merchandise.  His  two  bro- 
thers, Ira  and  Aaron,  were  associated  with  him  — 
also  a  Mr.  Wilhoit.  In  a  few  years  their  stock  had  in- 
creased to  between  $7,000  and  $8,000  in  value.  They 
sold  dry  goods,  carpet,  groceries,  boots,  shoes,  etc. 
They  did  an  excellent  business  and  had  a  reputation 
for  financial  integrity.  Their  trade  amounted  to  from 
$25,000  to  $80,000  annually. 


E.  E.  Dallas  store  in  the  comer  of  Dodge  and  Main. 


Shoe  Repairman 

About  1900  Joe  Miller  had  a  shoe  repair  shop  in 
his  home  on  Main  Street.  Mr.  Bigelow,  father-in-law 
to  Dr.  Capps,  had  a  shoe  repair  shop  in  the  north 
end  of  the  Jones  Building.  Ralph  Allman  was  about 
the  last  shoe  repairman  or  cobbler  in  Cisco. 


29 


Fire  Department 

Reporting  a  fire  in  the  early  1920's  was  a  matter 
of  calling  the  local  operator  at  the  telephone  office. 
She  would  then  open  the  window  and  ring  a  bell  that 
was  attached  to  a  pole  outside  the  window.  This 
alerted  all  the  town  people'.  Persons  in  the  country 
were  alerted  by  a  continuous  ring  of  the  phones  along 
the  lines.  If  the  fire  was  at  night  the  operator  would 
call  each  home  where  there  was  a  young  man  able  to 
fight  the  fire. 

While  someone  went  to  the  telephone  office  to 
learn  the  location  of  the  fire,  others  were  busy  get- 
ting the  chemical  wagon  out  of  the  Cisco  garage.  The 
chemical  was  a  long  tank  set  on  a  single  axle.  At  the 
front  of  the  tank  were  two  long  bars  which  ended  in 
a  T  shape.  This  enabled  two  men  to  hold  onto  it  and 
pull  the  wagon  while  other  men  pushed.  On  top  of 
the  tank  was  a  fire  basket  that  held  buckets  for  the 
men  to  use.  There  was  also  a  bottle  which  held  the 
chemicals  of  acid  and  soda  attached  to  the  tank. 

If  the  fire  was  in  town  the  wagon  was  usually 
pulled  by  hand  to  the  fire,  but  if  it  was  in  the 
country,  men  would  hold  onto  the  handle  and  crawl 
onto  the  back  of  a  car  or  truck  and  pull  the  wagon 
to  the  fire.  The  vehicle  was  limited  to  a  speed  of  10 
to  15  miles  per  hour  because  of  the  swaying  of  the 
tank.  Later  the  tank  was  put  onto  a  two  axle  cart 
which  helped  in  transporting  it. 

When  they  arrived  at  the  fire  a  bottle  of  acid  and 
soda  was  broken  and  poured  into  the  tankful  of  water. 
The  chemical  reaction  caused  pressure  to  build  in  the 
tank.  When  the  gauge  indicated  that  the  pressure  was 
high  enough  the  hoses  were  used. 

Because  of  the  slow  speed  the  chemical  wagon 
was  forced  to  travel,  many  fires  were  beyond  control 
before  the  firemen  arrived. 


John    Whitlow,    Dewey    BriKKN,    Ix>ren    Patteneill,    Eugene 
Conner,  and  Harold  McKinney. 


In  1947  the  Cisco  Volunteer  Fire  Department  was 
formed  with  its  main  object  to  be  to  protect  the  Cisco 
Fire  District  against  losses  by  fire.  Three  trustees 
were  named  to  govern  the  business  of  the  district. 
They  were  Loren  Pattengill,  J.  D.  Briggs,  and  Harold 
McKinney. 

Several  men  were  the  first  members  of  the  depart- 
ment. Monthly  meetings  were  held  to  give  instructions 
on  fire  fighting  and  how  to  use  the  fire  equipment. 
William  Armsworh  was  selected  as  the  first  fire  chief. 
In  June  of  1947  a  new  fire  truck  was  purchased.  A 
group  of  men  made  the  trip  to  Saginaw,  Michigan  and 
drove  the  truck  to  Cisco.  It  was  an  International  KBC 
Chassis  with  a  pump,  tank,  hoses,  and  other  acces- 
sories. This  first  truck  and  other  equipment  were 
housed  in  the  Town  Hall. 

In  April  of  1950  an  auxiliary  pump  was  mounted 
on  the  rear  of  the  Fire  Truck  to  pump  water  from  a 
pond  or  cistern  into  the  truck.  It  also  would  pump 
water  out  of  the  truck  which  made  it  a  more  versatile 
unit  of  this  piece  of  equipment. 

As  the  Fire  District  grew  in  resources  and  equip- 
ment, a  larger  place  was  needed  to  house  the  depart- 
ment's equipment.  In  February  of  1954,  the  west  part 
of  the  building,  belonging  to  the  McFeeters  Imp.  Co. 
was  purchased  and  reconditioned  to  serve  the  depart- 
ment as  the  Fire  House. 

Other  trustees  were  A.  B.  Weddle,  Eugene  Conner, 
Thomas  Edwards,  Roger  Briggs,  Ron  Reeves  and 
Jack  Drew. 

By  1957  the  Fire  Department  needed  another  Fire 
Truck  to  supplement  the  one  they  had,  so  in  1957  an 
International  190  was  purchased.  It  was  equipped  with 
a  front  mounted  pump  and  this  allowed  the  truck  to 
move  at  the  same  time  it  was  pumping  water.  They 
were  continually  acquiring  new  equipment  which  was 
needed  at  the  fires  and  it  was  transported  in  a  van 
purchased  in  1960.  This  van  was  nicknamed  the  "dis- 
aster wagon"  and  to  some  it  was  a  disaster  to  try  to 
drive  it.  In  1966  a  1000  gallon  tank  truck  (a  600 
Ford  chassis)  was  purchased  to  help  supply  water  to 
the  pumper  trucks  when  they  were  at  a  fire  and  the 
water  supply  was  short.  It  also  is  equipped  with  an 
auxiliary  pump  and  could  serve  as  a  pumper  in  an 
emergency  situation. 

In  1970  the  "disaster  wagon"  was  replaced  by  a 
1970  Ford  Van.  It  was  equipped  with  a  siren,  flashing 
lights,  and  a  loud  speaker  to  use  to  give  instructions 
at  a  fire.  A  resuscitator  was  purchased  by  this  time, 
to  be  used  to  help  supply  oxygen  to  people  overcome 
by  smoke,  a  person  who  is  strangling  or  a  heart  attack 
victim  and  has  been  used  several  times. 

The  firemen  have  contributed  to  other  community 
activities,  helping  support  the  Boy  Scouts,  and  helping 
to  finance  a  high  school  boy  from  the  Cisco  community 
to  attend  Boys  State  several  times.  A  meeting  is  held 
once  each  month  for  instruction  of  how  to  use  the 
equipment  and  for  keeping  the  fire  equipment  in  good 
working  order. 


30 


i 


CISCO     fire:    protection    district 


tsli^HTH 


KEY 

eWTGR  PHI-SC     -5<irt<S>tf'U 

RURAL  f^RK  -itZYtOOU 
wE^r  C\SC£»  tc*c&\^ 
CAST     ci^ce    ■SCtkS^U 

«MAPy    wc»tf>K   -ic^ac^. 

ATTKr      CEME-WRir 
*LC?      TtfWW      )(Al_L 


Fire  district,  schools,  cemeteries  and  land  mAiic  map. 


31 


INDEX. 


NO.  9 


GO  TO 

'>.  W.  CRIPE 


I  liuvr 


eoeral  Blai-ksniUliiii^. 
a  new  4j  h(ir>e  pnwer 
.,    -.     shop  L-qiiipped  widi  power  hnin- 
'''<'.    il«i  and  eniiry  wheels,  which  are 
by  niv  ensioe.     I  sharpen  ilislis  hy 
aniineilni;,  whirli  is  aeknowkilsed 
,  ,  the  hesi  wav.     Bring  yonr  work  lo 
And  i  will   do    it    right  and    on    short 
tice.     Wood  woi-k  and  hor>eshocins 


D.  W.  CRIPE. 


HAYING 

^  Bought  my  partner  s  in- 

K  terest  in    the    Blacksmith 

K  shop,  you  will  still  find  me 

■  04^  fhn  <Ad  Stand  prepared 

I 


ri.i'iiySt.  l-i'-^'  »t  ti 

Uii'  IfatlioltB   t'llUi   «i>il 
>t'iihu   i!OD«l»t«iit  uicm 

lt.JWBVv  b"  Ha'>ei.i.llii''l  doMly  to  hl« 
boine  uimI etWUnoil  liM  <lhuroh  nofaiK  Id 
It*  vUUgo  wbtPMbO  r«Wwi.  PnUtOr 
Lot  WM  n.  htnd  iiu«t>»u(l  sod  Inth'T,  '■<■ 
WHS  H  BMiJ  oIUbto  n"d  r«»r«-'i"'IlfT  >ill. 

bf  Rts:  3.  B»ru«pl  r^t  Xi^Mitit  Mid 
bal<l  lit  tbc  ChuMb  pt  r.wl  Iti  Ui«  prt*- 
.««!.  of  ■lumftttod- «rn|'**t'bli^na   AU' 


/.u'iJ  0  /f'f  7 


Civic  Groups  Analyze  Effect 
Of  Oakley  Reservoir  Here 


Hi'rtr(«<n"nl«ti 


'    MnnMr^llft  I  wfti<>r     frnm 


ig 


have  sclccleci  a  lot  ■ 

These  we  will  din 

Men'»\Wo^  Frock  SuiU.  ni 

Hivb'  Su!i»,  Hitis,  16, '17,  18 ■ 

Cliitdrcn'»  Suits,  3  to  i.l  y««n 

red  ridiculouB  V>ric« 


Jos^epl^L   . 

CHy\ 


32 


,.,.  THJi  C1S(()   INDKX 

JT,    — . 

MtlMin*. 

'7 


-?  / 


nr)I.L.lRSan,l  Crnl^ 

for  mthfirriptioit  to  thr 

"DEGATUK  SATIIKDAY  HEKALl) 

188!.  tn^/^ay  z  r  1S» 

J2.  A,  iJu-,  <- 


RI-STAUKANT  k'^^X) 

roM-HCTlONERY. 

I        I   Carry  a    complete 
in^-"^^  of  good  fresh  candy. 

LUNCH  AT  ALL  HOURS. 

P'-Mlur  Ire  Cn-ain  iiind.' I.v  Morri- Candy  ('..         ... 
Iirsi-tlass  t'andii's. 


I  also  have  a  ItnrlK-r  I'hair  in 


>lnni^cti^n  with  tny  ^ 


Yours  For  a  Share  of  Y.     .    .:„ 

Bert  Rankin 


The  Big  Baby  Revue 


SPONSORED  BT 

CISCO  p.  T.  A. 
FRIDAY-  MARCH  IS 
tst  SHOW- 7:30  P.M. 
2nd  SHOW -9:00  P.M. 

CISCO     SCHOOL     GYM 

CAST  OF  CIUAACTERS 

PlAOUt    ,.,*,. 

Bulta-   _  

B4r>-  rinefeithers 

Percy    

Baby  Soooks  

Sufv  Bun 


Sally    lUnd    

-lig£s  and  Maggie 
Al  Jolson    


\ix%.   Rool 

.- John  WhiUow  . 

Loren  Lew^ 

Charles   "Junior"   Cook  > 

Rip  Dowdle  ' 

- A.  B.  Weddle 

Gerald    Hisrr 


.  Don  Zindftr  aod  Paul  Craig  - 
.   Gene  Connors  i 


Mi«  Cisco  o£  1M9 Lyle  McFev:e 

"^'"^n     Burt     Mflcin:. 

Frank  Sinatra  D^v*  Sj,j 

Tw«tie   Pie .„. ™"."rZ."."."."Ern«t   Burlu^ 

Honey  Chile La«rrence  Coon 

""l^*^'   - - -  Everm  Geisler 

Gypjy  Roae  Lw „... George  Mill«A> 

Bmg  Crosby jjl^nn  r„„^ 

UJ....    D..1.    U..l^  ^^ 


Miss  Hula  Hula 
Miss  GUmour 

Cuddles 

Snookum    

Bride    _ 


Minister • 

Aunl    Jemima    

Buttercup    .... 

Mae  West 


.  BUI  Arms  worth 
.  Orvillc  Ludwick 

Roger  Bhggs 

...    Keith  Snydei 

Sam    Lovett" 

...Don    McKinley 
...i   Orville  Sago  • 

Dale   Wolfe 

Bill    Guyot 

...  Dewey  Bnggs 


Did. 
&  Co.  coui 
';iyour   walls.  ^ 

smooth  Giiisli  a^    \- 
can  furnish  you  \ 
furniture  stain  or  e. 
now  line  ofcarpet  ar. 
from  which  we  order  a» 
j;in.     Vic  also  have  a  new 
shades,  all  prices.     Don't  y«. 
one   new    piece   of  (urnilnre 
hrishten  up  the  old? 

Come  in,  wc  will  fit  you  out. 


dUi^. 

Ve  are  aibo  prepared./* 
ve    Ice  Cream   in*-' 
^  \vays.    Our  Soda" 
IS   in     good 


tif  RcmiiDiiiyT 


33 


Doctors 

Before  the  town  of  Cisco  existed  there  were  doc- 
tors in  this  vicinity.  In  the  1850's  a  Dr.  Foster  lived 
three  miles  southwest  of  the  Cisco  site  in  Macon 
County,  and  a  Dr.  Gueran  lived  at  Newburg,  a  defunct 
town  near  Argenta.  During  the  Civil  War  a  Dr.  Bur- 
dick,  who  lived  north  and  east  of  Cisco,  and  a  Dr. 
Darling  who  lived  north  and  west,  served  here.  The 
latter  was  musical  and  had  a  singing  school  in  an  old 
school  house.  Dr.  J.  W.  Porter  came  some  time  later 
and  was  here  until  1865.  Dr.  S.  V.  Purdy  built  a 
small  dwelling  on  the  Cisco  site  in  1871.  In  the  "Piatt 
County  Conservative"  of  April  19,  1871  he  announced 
his  arrival  as  follows:  "Dr.  S.  V.  Purdy,  Eclectic 
physician  of  Willow  Branch  Township,  having  located 
in  the  above  territory  for  the  practice  of  medicine,  I 
would  respectfully  offer  my  services  to  the  afflicted 
of  the  surrounding  territory.  Special  attention  given 
to  chronic  diseases  and  midwifery."  A  note  in  the 
diary  kept  by  I.  McCollister,  father  of  J.  W.  Mc- 
Collister,  tells  us  how  those  early  doctors  were  paid 
partly  in  commodities  and  partly  in  money  for  the 
entry  says,  "July,  1871,  Dr.  S.  V.  Purdy  to  I.  Mc- 
Collister debtor  cash  $17.60;  oats  six  sheaths  and 
about  two  and  a  half  bushels  of  corn."  The  doctor 
died  very  suddenly  about  1874,  the  year  Cisco  was 
platted,  leaving  a  wife  and  two  daughters. 

Dr.  Leo  J.  Weinstein  came  from  Ohio  to  the  new 
town  of  Cisco  in  1874  and  was  associated  with  J.  B. 
Hamilton,  the  druggist.  He  left  here  in  1878  and  went 
to  Indiana  where  he  practiced  until  his  death  in  1909 
at  age  61. 

Dr.  William  B.  Caldwell  studied  in  Ohio,  Iowa  and 
Rush  Medical  College  in  Chicago  before  coming  to 
Cisco  in  1875.  He  stayed  until  1885  when  he  moved  to 
Monticello  where  he  had  a  drug  store  with  his  office 
above  it  located  on  the  northwest  corner  of  the  square. 
It  was  there  in  1893  he,  Allen  F.  Moore  and  John  Hott 
formed  a  company  and  made  and  sold  Dr.  Caldwell's 
Syrup  of  Pepsin.  Later  the  company  became  a  sub- 
sidiary of  the  Sterling  Drug  Company.  When  he  was 
sixty-seven  years  old  in  1906,  Dr.  Caldwell  developed 
gangrene  in  a  foot  which  had  to  be  amputated  above 
the  knee.  He  recovered  nicely,  secured  an  artificial 
limb  but  he  never  learned  to  walk  again.  His  last 
years  were  spent  in  a  wheel  chair.  He  passed  away 
September  22,  1922  at  the  age  of  eighty-three. 

The  only  doctor  who  spent  all  of  his  professional 
life  in  Cisco  was  Dr.  Leslie  T.  Pease.  He  spent  thirty- 
two  years  in  medicine,  all  of  them  in  Cisco.  He  was 
born  in  Sangamon  County,  Illinois  and  graduated  from 
Keokuk  Medical  School  in  1878.  He  had  a  rough  time 
when  he  first  came  to  Cisco  as  Dr.  Caldwell  was  well 
established  in  the  community.  He  was  a  good  country 
doctor  but  never  cared  to  mingle  with  other  doctors 
and  seldom  ever  attended  county  medical  meetings.  In 
the  early  1870's  he  married  Mary  Halstead  of  Decatur. 
They  had  nine  children,  two  died  in  infancy.  A  son, 
Rollin  B.  Pease,  began  taking  photographs  in  Cisco 
and  later  moved  to  Decatur  where  he  established  the 
Rembrandt  Studio.  He  married  a  Cisco  girl,  Mary 
Niestraht  in  the  early  70's.  The  doctor's  wife  died 
in  1905.  Dr.  Pease  remarried  in  June,  1906,  making 
Hester  Burns  his  second  wife.  Doctor  Pease  died  sud- 


denly  in   1910   at  age  fifty-seven   and   is  buried   in 
Croninger  Cemetery. 

Dr.  B.  C.  Graves  came  to  Cisco  in  1885  after  grad- 
uating two  years  earlier  from  Missouri  Medical 
School.  He  also  practiced  in  Macon,  Dalton  City  and 
Argenta.  He  passed  away  in  Argenta  in  1919. 

Dr.  Ira  Pace  came  to  Cisco  in  1891  after  grad- 
uating at  Burlington,  Vermont.  He  stayed  only  two 
years.  Dr.  Holcomb  came  the  same  year  from  Indiana 
but  soon  left  because  there  was  too  much  competition. 

Dr.  Morrell  Pattengill  graduated  from  Rush 
Medical  College  in  1895,  served  as  an  intern  for  one 
year  at  Jacksonville,  came  to  Cisco  to  practice  in  1896. 
Before  entering  medical  school  he  taught  school  two 
years  in  Illinois,  and  two  years  in  Ohio. 

A  professional  card  of  his  appears  in  the  souvenir 
programme  of  the  second  church  the  Methodists  built. 
It  says,  "Dr.  M.  Pattengill,  Physician  &  Surgeon, 
Cisco,  Illinois."  The  same  one  appears  in  the  "Cisco 
Press." 

The  doctor  began  to  taper  off  his  practice  when 
his  wife  Nellie,  became  ill.  He  finally  devoted  all  his 
time  to  her  until  her  death.  Dr.  Pattengill  continued 
to  live  in  Cisco  and  always  retained  his  interest  in 
medicine. 

Dr.  Jessie  Taylor  McDavid  came  to  Cisco  in  1907 
and  lived  where  McCabe's  live.  He  graduated  from 
Illinois  State  Normal  University  at  Normal,  Illinois 
in  1900,  from  Barnes  in  1904,  married  Olga  E.  Keck 
of  Decatur  in  1908.  He  moved  to  Decatur  in  1909 
because  of  the  bad  roads  in  this  vicinity.  He  served 
his  country  in  World  War  I  leaving  the  service  with 
the  rank  of  Major  in  the  Medical  Corps.  After  the 
war  he  returned  to  Decatur  where  he  continued  to 
practice  as  a  surgeon. 

Dr.  P.  G.  Capps  was  in  this  community  for  two 
years  from  1910  to  1912.  He  was  a  graduate  from 
Barnes  Medical  School  in  1908.  When  he  left  here  he 
served  in  the  Medical  Corps  in  the  Canal  Zone. 

Dr.  Robert  N.  Hathway  worked  on  a  farm  in  this 
locality  before  he  went  into  medical  training  at  Drake 
Medical  College  from  which  he  graduated  in  1909. 
He  came  to  Cisco  in  1910,  married  Antonia  Grethe  of 
Deland,  moved  to  Farmer  City  in  1916  and  took  a 
post-graduate  course  in  Public  Health.  In  1929  he  was 
located  in  Pulaski  County,  Illinois  under  the  Rocke- 
feller Foundation.  Later  he  entered  private  practice  at 
Hamilton,  Illinois. 

Dr.  Benjamin  Perry  came  from  Chicago  in  1915 
but  could  not  stand  the  quiet  nights  here  and  soon 
returned  to  Chicago. 

Dr.  George  Kerr  came  next  but  only  stayed  seven- 
teen months.  He  later  practiced  in  Chicago  Heights. 

Dr.  John  O.  Cletcher  graduated  from  Normal  and 
then  from  the  Chicago  College  of  Medicine  and 
Surgery  in  1912.  He  had  a  year  of  interning  at  the 
Francis  Willard  Hospital.  He  came  to  Cisco  from 
Penfield.  He  was  here  for  seven  years  and  did  con- 
siderable work  in  surgery,  in  which  he  was  very 
interested.  He  moved  to  Tuscola  in  1923  in  order  to 
be  near  a  hospital  so  he  could  devote  more  time  to 


34 


surgery.  Jessie  Wilson  became  his  wife  in  1926.  They 
had  one  son,  John  0.,  Jr. 

Dr.  James  Weaver  Blan  came  here  from  Camp 
Point,  Illinois.  He  was  a  graduate  from  Keokuk 
Medical  School  at  Keokuk,  Iowa  in  1902.  The  Doctor 
was  married  to  Miss  Mollie  Goehring  in  1903  and 
had  two  daughters,  Dorothy  and  Mildred.  This  was  a 
musical  family,  the  doctor  being  a  trombone  player 
in  the  Shrine  Band  and  Mildred  taught  public  school 
music.  Dr.  Blan  rather  shocked  some  people  when  he 
let  it  be  known  that  he  expected  pay  for  his  services. 
Mrs.  Blan  died  in  January  of  1930  and  the  doctor 
moved  to  Monticello.  Later  he  was  appointed  to  a 
position  in  the  Veterans'  Hospital  in  Chicago.  The 
climate  there  was  unfavorable  and  he  was  transferred 
in  1952  to  Shreveport,  Louisiana.  The  doctor  had 
remarried,  this  time  to  Nellie  Haneline.  She  passed 
away  in  1964.  The  doctor  was  retired  at  the  time.  In 
1966  he  lived  with  his  daughter  Dorothy  in  Kankakee, 
Illinois. 

Dr.  M.  K.  T.  Blanchard,  a  woman  physician,  was 
practicing  in  Cisco  in  the  early  1930's.  About  1940 
she  moved  to  Decatur. 

Dr.  G.  G.  Rhodes  took  his  internship  at  Jackson 
Park  Hospital  in  Chicago  and  completed  residency  at 
Decatur-Macon  County  Hospital.  Cisco  had  been  with- 
out a  doctor  for  several  years  after  Dr.  Blanchard  left 
to  practice  in  Decatur.  So  in  January  1942  Dr.  Rhodes 
came  to  Cisco.  His  practice  grew  rapidly,  soon  out- 
growing the  small  remodelled  quarters  he  had.  In 
1944,  he  and  his  wife  (his  assistant)  and  son,  moved 
to  Maroa  where  he  practiced  medicine  about  10  years. 
At  present  he  is  with  La  Mesa  Medical  Center  of 
Albuqurque,  New  Mexico,  specializing  in  obstetrics 
and  gynecology. 


Nellie  Croninger 

Undertakers 

In  the  early  1900's  Chris  Minick  came  to  Cisco. 
He  lived  in  the  house  on  the  northeast  corner  of  the 
intersection  of  Eldon  and  Dodge  Streets.  He  served 
the  community  as  an  undertaker  and  he  housed  the 
hearse  in  a  barn  behind  his  home. 


Maurice  Augustus,  who  lived  on  a  farm  southwest 
of  town  owned  a  fine  team  of  black  horses  which 
were  used  to  pull  the  hearse. 

Mr.  Minick  served  in  this  capacity  until  advancing 
age  caused  him  to  retire. 

In  the  1890's  W.  H.  Jones  worked  as  an  undertaker 
for  this  community.  Mr.  Jones  worked  with  J.  A. 
Eyman,  a  mortician  from  Argenta. 

John  Benjamin  recalls  that  at  one  time  an  under- 
taker had  used  the  upstairs  in  the  two  story  part 
of  the  Jones  Building. 


-J»H- 


Millinery  Business 

On  the  west  side  of  Main  Street  there  was  Fannie 
Yeoman's  Millinery  Store  from  which  the  ladies  could 
buy  their  hats.  Other  Cisco  milliners  were  Russell  & 
Weddle  —  Millinery  and  Dressmakers,  Miss  Ada  Hig- 
man  and  Mrs.  Ed  Rinehart  who  had  their  shop  in  the 
north  room  of  the  Runkle  Building.  Mrs.  Ed  Stuckey 
later  had  a  shop  in  the  building  just  north  of  the 
bank.  She  was  succeeded  by  Mrs.  Elmer  Dallas  whose 
niece,  Miss  Bertha  Loveless,  assisted  her  and  made 
her  home  with  her  aunt.  All  these  ladies  did  a 
thriving  businss.  A  newspaper  in  a  nearby  locality 
said,  "the  ladies  in  Willow  Branch  Township  are  well 
served  by  the  Cisco  milliners." 


Feather  Cleaners 

At  one  time  a  feather  cleaning  machine  was  set 
up  by  two  young  men  for  cleaning  feather  ticks.  A 
feather  tick  was  a  huge  sack  the  size  of  a  bed  that 
was  filled  with  feathers  and  was  put  on  top  of  the 
straw  or  shuck  tick.  When  one  retired  into  it  one 
sank  down  into  the  feathers  and  stayed  warm  in  the 
unheated  rooms  in  the  homes  of  the  early  part  of  the 
twentieth  century.  At  times  the  tick  was  opened, 
feathers  cleaned,  ticking  washed  and  when  dry  it  was 
refilled  with  the  feathers.  The  two  young  men  who 
came  to  Cisco  had  two  light-frame  wagons  they  used 
to  collect  the  feather  beds  in  the  country.  They 
brought  them  into  Cisco  and  cleaned  them  and  then 
delivered  them  back  to  the  owners.  This  business 
lasted  only  a  few  months  and  then  they  moved  on. 

Cream  Stations 

Joe  Williams  sold  cream  separators  here  in  1906. 
This  was  so  superior  to  skimming  off  cream  by  hand 
that  soon  all  farmers  were  using  them.  They  were 
then  sold  at  hardware  stores.  The  farmer  separated 
from  the  whole  milk,  put  in  five  gallon  cans  and 
shipped  it  to  the  creameries  in  Decatur  and  Cham- 
paign. 

Later  creamery  stations  were  established  in  small 
towns  for  testing  for  butterfat,  weighing,  and  paying 
the  producer.  Then  the  station  shipped  the  cream  to 
the  creameries.  Thus  the  farmer  received  his  pay  for 
his  cream  much  sooner.  Later  the  farmers  specialized 
as  either  grain  or  dairy   farmers  and  such  stations 


35 


were  no  longer  needed.  Mrs.  Albert  Weddle  ran  such 
a  station  in  the  north  room  of  the  building  north  of 
the  bank.  From  1925  to  1935  Mable  Lyons  collected 
cream  for  the  Benson  Creamery  of  Decatur,  using 
various  locations  as  her  collecting  center  such  as  the 
barber  shop,  the  Jones  building,  the  little  building 
that  stood  south  of  Weddle's  Store  and  the  old  office 
building  for  the  Crocker  Elevator.  The  Barnhart- 
Leach  grocery  was  also  a  collecting  station.  Before 
1943  Emma  Lou  Johnson  ran  a  collecting  station  in- 
side Weddle's  Store.  Mrs.  Isenberg  collected  for  Swift 
and  Company  from  1943-1948  in  a  small  building 
south  of  the  Weddle  Store. 


The  Lumber  Yard 

John  Franz  was  a  lumber,  coal  and  grain  dealer 
in  Cisco  in  1886.  He  took  his  son  into  business  with 
him  in  1889  and  in  a  record  of  DeWitt  and  Piatt 
County  it  says  of  Charles  Franz,  "is  classed  among 
the  leading  young  business  men  of  the  place  and  is 
gaining  prominence  each  year." 

Marion  Williams  operated  an  early  lumberyard 
in  the  west  part  of  town  near  the  west  elevator,  later 
operating  a  lumberyard  in  the  east  part  of  town. 

In  the  1930's  the  Midland  Lumber  Company  was 
here  for  several  years.  In  1940  Huff  and  Sons  owned 
the  lumberyard  and  Don  McKinley  was  the  manager. 
Walter  and  Art  Neuendorf  owned  and  ran  a  lumber- 
yard. The  Wilkinson  Lumber  Company  were  the  next 
owners  with  Don  McKinley  as  manager  until  the 
operation  was  discontinued  in  1962. 


Garages 

The  north  room  of  the  Swam  building  was  a  garage 
operated  by  Fred  Swam,  and  his  sons  until  he  sold  the 
building  to  Frank  Coffman.  Later  Frank  Coffman 
sold  out  to  Bill  Coffman  who  handled  Hudson  cars. 
Then  came  Donahue,  Heinz  and  Cotton,  Carl  Runkle 
and  Lukenbill  as  partners,  Lukenbill  alone,  the  Ben- 
jamin Brothers  Hip  and  Wessel,  Wessel  alone,  Troxell 
in  1924  who  sold  Star  cars,  Pete  (Russell)  Sullivan, 
then  Albert  Miller  for  a  short  time  with  Ford  Agency. 
Late  in  1931  Scott  Armsworth  bought  it  and  Ollie 
Benjamin  worked  for  him  as  a  mechanic.  At  that  time 
it  was  called  the  "Cisco  Garage  and  Supply  Co."  and 
when  Hip  Benjamin  came  into  the  business  in  1933 
they  sold  Plymouths  and  changed  the  name  to  "Cisco 
Auto  Sales  Company."  In  1934  they  acquired  the  Ford 
Agency  and  in  1935  they  dropped  the  Plymouth.  Scott 
Armsworth  passed  away  in  1943  and  following  his 
death  Scott  Dobson  bought  the  business.  Later  the 
Gisinger  Brothers  and  their  father  Ancil  ran  the 
garage  until  they  moved  to  Cerro  Gordo  where  they 
still  have  a  garage  and  Ford  Agency. 

When  autos  first  began  to  be  used  in  the  Cisco 
area  gas  was  sold  at  the  hardware,  Jefford's  harness 
shop  and  Heinz  and  Cotton  garage.  In  the  late  1920's 
Ed  Brown  built  a  service  station  on  the  northeast 
corner  of  South  and  Main  Streets,  former  location  of 
the  Kile  home.  After  his  death  it  was  operated  by 
his  widow  for  several  years.  Frank  Dent  operated  it 


Armsworth's  Garage 

in  1949  and  sold  to  Calvin  Vannote,  who  operated  it 
from  1950  until  1972.  Since  then  it  has  been  owned 
and  operated  by  Hubert  Norfleet.  When  Route  47 
went  through  Cisco  in  1941,  J.  A.  Phillips  built  a 
Standard  Oil  station  at  the  north  side  of  town.  In 
1946  he  leased  it  to  Everett  Geisler  and  Harold  Mc- 
Kinley for  a  year.  Orville  Ludwig  followed  and  bought 
the  station.  Dale  Wolf,  the  Scrimmanger  Brothers, 
and  Bob  Wisehart  also  ran  this  station.  In  1967,  Wil- 
ford  Johnson  bought  the  station  and  is  still  operating 
it.  Both  present  service  stations  carry  food  items  for 
the  convenience  of  the  local  residents. 

At  one  time  a  man  who  was  a  junk  dealer  lived  on 
the  east  side  of  South  Eldon  Street  between  South 
and  First  South  Streets.  Cy  Hubbard  at  one  time  had 
a  junk  business  on  South  Eldon  Street.  Ray  Hatfield 
had  a  used  car  business  from  1945  to  1960  at  his  place 
on  North  Main  Street.  Parts  were  salvaged  and  sold 
for  car  repairs  and  the  rest  cut  up  and  hauled  to  the 
Decatur  Junk  Yard.  Two  and  three  cars  were  so 
disposed  of  a  day.  Robert  Weber  collects  old  cars, 
mostly  Hudsons,  and  sells  parts. 

Mr.  Ray  Hatfield  has  had  a  dealer's  permit  since 
1935  but  started  selling  here  in  1942  handling  only 
used  trucks.  His  display  area  was  on  the  southeast 
corner  of  Main  and  St.  Charles  Streets.  About  1943 
or  1944  he  began  to  also  handle  used  cars  as  well  as 
trucks.  There  were  several  years  when  he  did  not 
carry  on  the  business  but  became  active  again  in  1971. 


The  Miller  Trucking  and  Bus 

Business  and  It's  Influence  on  the 

Cisco  Area 

A  trucking  business  was  begun  in  Cisco  in  1924 
when  Albert  E.  Miller  started  a  mik  route,  picking 
up  milk  at  farms  and  taking  it  to  Union  Dairy  in 
Decatur.  Milk  was  then  hauled  in  ten  gallon  milk 
cans.  The  only  method  of  cooling  the  milk  was  to  put 
the  can  in  a  tank  of  cool  water  to  remove  the  heat. 
At  that  time  there  was  a  cream  buying  station  in 
Cisco,  operated  by  Mabel  Lyons.  The  cream  was  sent 
to  Benson  Creamery  in  Decatur.  Quite  a  lot  of  their 
butter  was  brought  back  to  Cisco  to  customers.  The 
trucks  also  hauled  groceries,  hardware,  the  Sunday 
papers,  both  Decatur  and  Chicago,  back  to  Cisco  for 
delivery. 


36 


Drivers  during  this  period  included  Albert  Miller, 
Virgil  Miller,  Carl  Coon,  Earl  Cloud,  Jerry  Sites, 
Harry  Cook,  Homer  Doane  and  Elmer  Cloud. 

The  roads  were  not  improved  at  the  time  except 
Route  10  from  Champaign  to  Decatur  via  Cerro 
Gordo  (now  route  105).  The  Cisco  to  Cerro  Gordo  road 
was  one  of  the  better  roads  but  in  the  spring  thaw 
it  became  impassable  for  a  car  so  people  would  follow 
the  milk  truck  through  and  use  the  ruts  until  they 
became  too  deep. 

From  the  milk  routes,  other  trucking  business 
developed  such  as  a  weekly  trip  to  Bloomington  to 
bring  groceries  from  the  large  wholesalers  there  to 
stores  in  Argenta  and  Cisco,  hauling  grain  from 
shellers,  threshers  and  finally  combines  to  the  ele- 
vators, hauling  gravel  (loaded  and  unloaded  by  hand), 
coal  from  the  coal  yard  to  homes,  field  tile  from  the 
railroad  to  the  farm  where  it  was  to  be  used. 

An  ice  business  was  operated  for  several  years. 

In  1928  when  Ford  started  building  the  Model  A, 
trucks  got  larger.  This  made  livestock  hauling  prac- 
tical and  soon  trips  to  Chicago  and  Indianapolis  stock 
yards  became  a  major  part  of  the  business.  Farmers 
bought  their  own  trucks  for  grain  and  geneaal  haul- 
ing. Larger  trucks  were  needed  for  livestock  so  Mr. 
Miller  built  a  semi-trailer.  In  1934  he  bought  a  new 
tractor  and  a  second  semi-trailer.  For  several  years 
they  hauled  livestock  to  Chicago  from  Cisco  and  the 
surrounding  area.  On  return  trips  they  hauled  hard- 
ware for  Remmers  Harness  Shop  at  Weldon  and  for 
some  time  brought  back  groceries  for  Weddle  Gro- 
cery. If  they  had  nothing  else  to  haul,  they  could 
always  pick  up  a  load  of  limestone  at  the  quary  at 
Kankakee  and  sell  it  to  area  farmers. 

The  milk  and  ice  business  were  phased  out. 

During  the  off  periods  other  trucking  was  done 
such  as  machinery  and  furniture  moving  and  general 
freight  hauling  for  Decatur  Cartage  Company. 

As  livestock  raising  in  the  area  decreased,  so  did 
the  trucking  business,  and  was  just  about  finished 
in  1944  when  Cisco  High  School  was  closed  and  stu- 
dents were  to  go  to  Monticello  High  School.  Rather 
than  have  several  carloads  of  students  driving  to 
Monticello  daily,  some  of  the  parents  asked  Albert 
Miller  if  he  coul  get  a  bus.  He  bought  a  34  passenger 
bus  and  transported  students  from  Cisco  and  those 
who  lived  along  the  road  between  Cisco  and  Monticello 
to  school  each  day,  with  the  parents  paying  the  cost. 
This  seemed  to  catch  on  and  in  1945,  Monticello  High 
School  decided  to  transport  all  their  out  of  town  stu- 
ens  and  contracted  with  Mr.  Miller  to  operate  five 
buses  for  them,  Cisco  Grade  School  contracted  two 
buses  for  their  students.  Some  of  the  drivers  that  year 
were:  Jap  Phillips,  Darrell  Spencer,  Ray  Hatfield, 
Lois  Johnson,  Hildred  Pirtle,  Paul  Timmons,  Emmett 
Johnson,  Wilford  Johnson,  Jerry  Sites  and  Edward 
Allen. 

George  Miller  was  discharged  from  the  army  in 
1946  and  became  a  partner  in  the  business.  In  1947 
the  operation  was  moved  to  Monticello  to  be  near 
more  of  the  business.  After  his  father  died,  George 
continued  the  business  in  partnership  with  Jennie 
Miller,  until  he  bought  out  her  interest  in  1954. 


In  1948,  Monticello  Community  Unit  School  Dis- 
trict No.  25  was  formed,  almost  as  it  now  is,  taking 
in  the  White  Heath  area  and  requiring  more  buses. 
For  the  next  several  years  13  and  14  routes  were  run 
to  serve  the  district.  Although  school  enrollment  has 
increased  since  that  time,  so  has  bus  capacity,  so 
there  hasn't  been  need  for  any  more  buses.  However, 
there  had  to  be  buses  available  for  activity  trips  and 
adult  tours,  so  by  1973,  there  were  25  buses  in  the 
fleet. 

In  1973,  George  Miller  sold  the  whole  operation 
to  Bruce  Pinks,  who  now  operates  the  business  as 
Monticello  Bus  Service.  The  continuous  operation  of 
the  trucking  and  bus  business  owned  and  operated  by 
Albert  E.  Miller  and  his  son  George  0.  Miller  thus 
ended  after  49  years. 


Mr.  and   Mrs.   H.  B.  McKinney  and  Mr.   and   Mrs.   Warren 

Ater. 

Insurance  Business 

Reed  Barnhart  had  an  insurance  business  in  Cisco 
in  the  1940's  and  1950's.  He  wrote  all  kinds  of  insur- 
ance for  his  clientele.  In  1957  the  business  was  sold 
to  Don  McKinley.  Perry  Brigg  and  Jack  Drew  also 
sold  insurance  for  a  time. 

Electric  and  Plumbing  Business 

Charles  Doane  and  Harry  Cook  moved  their  plumb- 
ing and  electrical  business  from  their  first  location  in 
the  John  Shaft  Drug  Store  into  the  bank  building 
which  they  had  bought.  In  1931  they  had  formed  this 
partnership  which  lasted  until  Mr.  Doane's  death  in 
1958.  Harry  continued  as  a  licensed  plumber  and 
electrician  until  he  retired  in  1969.  The  building  was 
bought  by  the  Cisco  Co-op  Grain  Co.  in  1972. 


Do   You  Remember  .  .  . 
When  mud  was  axle  deep  on  a  Model  T  Ford? 

When  the  trains  got  stuck  in  snow  drifts  2  miles 
east  of  Cisco? 

When  Dad  Ragsdale  came  to  town  selling  water- 
melons at  4  or  5  in  the  morning? 


37 


Seed  Business 

About  1917  Joeph  W.  Williams  (Daddy  Joe)  who 
had  moved  into  Cisco  in  1906  and  sold  cream  separa- 
tors, built  a  warehouse  for  storing  seed  corn  on  the 
west  side  of  Eldon  Street  between  South  and  First 
South  Streets.  Ears  of  corn  for  seed  were  picked  by 
community  farmers  from  standing  field  corn  stalks. 
At  first  these  ears  were  impaled  on  nails  driven  into 
the  walls  and  later  were  suspended  from  rafters  in 
racks  that  held  each  ear  separately.  The  corn  dried 
over  the  winter,  was  shelled  by  Mr.  Williams  and 
made  ready  for  spring  planting.  Later  he  added  farm 
fanning  mill  and  cleaned  wheat,  oats,  and  beans  for 
seed.  When  hybrid  corn  came  on  the  market,  Mr. 
Williams  took  farmers  of  the  community  to  visit  test 
plots  of  the  new  varieties  and  encouraged  their  pro- 
duction. He  sold  the  business  in  1947  to  Clement  J. 
Colgan  and  Robert  Reuter  who  added  more  equipment 
and  increased  their  volume  of  business.  Reuter  left 
the  firm  in  June  of  1953.  Clem  Colgan  continued  and 
dealt  in  small  farm  seeds  and  soybeans.  At  one  time 
he  harvested  and  prepared  blue  grass  seed  from  Aller- 
ton  Park.  Clem  Colgan  procesed  seeds  for  F.S.  for  two 
years  before  a  plant  was  built  on  Dodge  Street  at  the 
west  side  of  town  in  1967.  That  year's  crop  was  the 
first  processed  in  the  present  F.S.  plant.  At  this 
time  twenty-five  people  work  at  this  plant.  Work 
begins  at  seven  each  work  day  and  runs  until  twelve 
at  night,  operating  continuously.  Over  a  million 
bushels  are  processed  annually.  This  includes  750,000 
bushels  of  beans,  140,000  bushels  of  wheat,  and 
15,000  to  16,000  bushels  of  oats.  From  5,500  to  6,000 
bushels  are  bagged  daily. 


Cob  fire  in  1963 

Memphis,  Tennessee,  where  furfural  was  made  from 
them.  Furfural  is  used  in  making  nylon,  synthetic 
rubber,  charcoal  briquets,  paint,  commercial  solvents, 
plastics,  and  in  refining  lubricants.  The  firm  sold  out 
to  Walter  and  Eugene  Pirtle  in  1951.  The  cobs  are  no 
longer  ground  but  are  shipped  as  they  come  from  the 
sheller.  From  500  to  600  cars  of  cobs  are  annually 
shipped  from  Cisco.  On  the  corner  of  Main  and  South 
Streets  W.  H.  Jones  tin  shed  was  last  owned  by  Walter 
Pirtle  and  used  by  him  for  cob  storage.  This  building 
was  torn  down  in  1968. 


■r*-r: 


Pearl,  Wilma  and  Milt  Padgett  with  a  John  Deere  tractor 
binder. 

There  have  been  many  people  who  have  threshed 
and  shelled  in  the  Cisco  area.  Threshing  was  done  by 
Ed  Salsbury,  Frank  Painter,  Hank  and  Emery  McKee, 
Gisingers,  Albert  Miller,  Charlie  Olson  and  Dick 
Wangler.  Those  reforted  to  have  ran  shellers  are  Ed 
Salsbury,  Frank  Painter,  Charlie  Olson,  Dick  Wang- 
ler, and  Jake  Miller.  Jakie  also  has  a  trucking  busi- 
ness which  his  sons  are  involved  in. 


The  Corn  Cob  Business 

Walter  Fisher  and  H.  G.  (Pete)  Benjamin  started 
in  the  business  of  grinding  corn  cobs  in  1944.  The 
cobs  were  ground  in  a  hammer  mill  and  shipped  to 


Ira  McCartney  on  their  first  tractor,  "Old  BuU." 

Edwards  Farm  Supply  Co. 

The  Edwards  Farm  Supply  Company  was  formed 
in  1954.  They  handle  fertilizer  and  farm  chemicals 
such  as  insecticides  and  herbicides.  Tom's  son  Larry 
became  associated  with  the  firm  and  has  made  his 
specialty  that  of  chemicals.  This  firm  was  a  pioneer 
in  liquid  fertilizer  and  was  associated  with  the  second 
manufacturing  plant  to  make  liquid  fertilizer  in 
Illinois.  Liquid  fertilizer  has  become  major  source 
for  supplying  fertilizer.  Since  this  company  is  in  the 
heart  of  Corn  Belt,  the  community  has  been  greatly 
benefitted  by  their  location  here  for  corn  yields  have 
risen  from  a  50  bushel  per  acre  annual  yield  to  over 
125  bushel  an  acre  yield  in  the  20  years  this  company 
has  been  in  operation.  Besides  the  Cisco  operation  this 
company  has  a  Maroa  Plant,  Cerro  Gordo  Plant,  and 


38 


in  early  1974  expanded  to  four  other  plants  in  Illinois. 
Their  wholesale  division  covers  most  of  Illinois.  Ed- 
wards Farm  Supply  presently  employs  sixteen  people 
and  since  1954  this  Company  has  progressed  from  one 
1948  Ford  truck  to  a  fleet  of  115  licensed  vehicles. 
Members  of  this  company,  Thomas,  William  and 
Larry  report  that  they  feel  that  the  chemical  and 
fertilizer  business  is  in  its  infancy  and  they  hope  to 
see  Cisco  thrive  because  of  this.  They  say,  "We  are 
proud  to  be  part  of  Cisco."  It  might  be  of  interest 
to  people  that  Ira  McCartney  was  Edwards  Farm 
Supply's  first  customer. 


Barber  Shops 


Usually  Cisco  has  had  one  or  two  barbers.  Frank 
Watrous  operated  a  shop  from-  the  1890's  to  the 
1900's.  Part  of  the  time  Joe  Ripple  had  a  shop.  Elmer 
Dallas  had  such  a  business  for  4  years.  Others  were 
Pete  Beasley  and  Abel  Price.  The  latter  had  a  daugh- 
ter, about  15  years  old,  who  used  to  shave  men  in  her 
father's  shop.  Harry  Cooney  had  his  shop  in  the 
Runkle  Building.  In  1902  an  ad  in  the  Cisco  Index 
shows  that  Bert  Rankin  had  a  barber  chair  in  his 
restaurant.  Albert  Weddle  had  a  shop  in  the  present 
building  from  the  early  1920's  to  1928.  Harold  Mc- 
Intyre  ran  it  from  1928  to  1946.  Rolla  Van  Matre 
from  1946  to  1948  and  it  has  been  Warren  Clark's 
since  the  early  1950's.  Other  barbers  were  Carl  Dunkle 
and  Pearly  Humphrey. 


Johii  iit'iijaniin  picking  corn  in  1938. 

Antique  Store 

It  was  in  1969  that  Bud  Barnhart  began  an  antique 
business.  Later  Gene  Pirtle  became  an  associate  in 
the  business.  In  1972  the  business  e.xpanded  and  used 
part  of  the  building  west  that  had  been  used  for 
storage  of  school  buses.  The  motto  or  slogan  for 
"Bud's  Barn"  is,  "In  the  heart  of  downtown  Cisco." 
Bud  reports  that  they  do  business  all  over  the  coun- 
try. For  example,  they  have  recently  sent  items  to 
the  east  and  west  coasts.  Many  visitors  come  from 
near  and  far  away. 


Beauty  Parlors 

One  of  the  first  beauty  parlors  was  run  by  Ruth 
(Kistler)  Aber  in  the  1940's.  This  was  located  in  the 
building  north  of  the  bank  where  the  barbershop  is 
now.  Mrs.  Putnam  had  a  beauty  shop  on  the  front 
porch  of  her  home  which  was  on  the  northeast  corner 
of  Main  and  North  Streets.  (Walt  Pirtles  live  there 
now).  Nadine  (Doane)  Cook  worked  as  a  beautician 
from  about  1924-1930. 

Hildred  (Armsworth)  Webb  ran  a  shop  in  her 
home  several  years  after  1930.  Then  in  1956  Leora 
Clifton  opened  an  addition  at  the  rear  of  her  home, 
called  "Le  Jak's  Beauty  Parlor"  and  this  is  still  in 
operation.  Paula  Chumbley  presently  has  a  beauty 
shop  "The  Village  Boutique"  just  east  of  her  house. 


'■'mmMM&mr 


iV'^i'r^' 


W.  A.  Goken  and  "Colonel"   (note  trappings). 


39 


Avis'  Ceramics 

Since  1967  Mrs.  Avis  Bennett  has  a  ceramics  work- 
shop at  her  home  at  the  intersection  of  Sherman  and 
St.  Charles  Streets.  As  a  part  of  her  equipment  she 
has  molds,  a  slip  machine  and  two  kilns.  Mr.s.  Bennett 
teaches  an  all  day  class  and  Ruby  Leach  teaches  in 
the  evenings. 


Hazel's  Ceramics  and  Gift  Shop 

Hazel  Pirtle  opened  a  shop  at  her  home  on  the 
northeast  corner  of  the  intersection  of  Main  and 
North  Streets  in  1970.  Articles  she  sells  in  her  shop 
are  all  items  she  has  made. 


Dave  Wiseman  Pool  Hall,  1946 

Pool  Halls  and  Recreation 

The  Pool  Hall  was  located  on  the  east  side  of  Main 
Street,  site  of  the  present  Post  Office.  Everett  Giesler 
and  Dave  Wiseman  both  ran  one  for  years.  Then 
later,  Marion  "Cookie"  Cook  ran  a  pool  hall. 

A  skating  rink  was  run  by  Dave  Wiseman  in  the 
Runkle  Building  where  there  was  a  tavern  also. 
Dances  were  held  at  night  in  the  skating  rink.  A 
story  that  a  number  of  people  recall  about  the  tavern 
is  that  one  night  a  bunch  got  a  bit  carried  away  and 
someone  suggested  that  they  throw  out  the  stove  and 
the  men  did  just  that.  That  about  finished  the  tavern. 

Movie  House 

One  entered  the  movie  house  from  Main  Street  by 
a  door  that  led  into  a  narrow  corridor  to  the  back 
of  the  theatre.  The  screen  hung  on  the  west  wall.  A 
door  at  the  southeast  corner  of  the  room  was  the 
exit.  Frank  Coffman's  son,  Guy,  operated  the  engine 
to  generate  the  electricity  to  run  the  projector  which 
Virgil  Cotton  operated.  About  1918  Mrs.  Walt  Troxell 
and  Mrs.  Guy  Coffman,  who  was  nicknamed 
"Peaches",  sold  the  theatre  tickets. 

Ancil  Gisinger  recalls  that  one  night  a  tragedy 
was  averted  when  the  large  engine  belt  broke  and  hit 
the  wall  with  terrific  force  but  injured  no  one.  How- 
ever, it  ended  the  movie  and  people  left  in  total  dark- 
ness. 


Open  .\ir  Movie  House 

Pete  Benjamin  recalls  attending  movies  here.  It 
was  the  usual  thing  to  run  serial  .stories  with  an 
episode  each  week.  One  such  picture  was  "Helen 
Holmes  and  the  Lumberland."  In  those  days  the  movies 
were  in  black  and  white  and  were  silent.  They  were 
known  as  "flicks".  Pete  also  recalls  that  his  favorite 
comedian  was  Jerry  Sweet  who  preceded  Charley 
Chaplin. 

Free  street  movies  were  held  in  the  1920's  and 
through  the  later  years.  They  were  held  south  of  the 
east  elevator,  south  of  the  Runkle  Building  (Mc- 
Kinley's  Store),  and  south  of  the  present  Post  Office. 

Cisco  had  tent  shows  or  Percy  shows  and  even 
circuses  in  town  for  the  enjoyment  of  young  and  old. 

There  was  an  Open  Air  movie  house  west  of 
Hitchen's  building.  The  closed  front  allowed  for  an 
entrance,  ticket  window  and  projection  tower. 


Hors.-biick    riders;    Don    Hall,    Milt    radm-lt.    Merle   Zimmer- 
man, Jim  Davis,  Tom  Leach  and  Kalph  Kannebarger. 

Do  you  remember  fishing  for  tadpoles  and  craw- 
dads  in  the  Section  ditch? 


40 


Present  town  map 


a 


>  -v-J;.'. 


Centenarians  of  Cisco:  Harry  White   (1869-1970)   and  John  Briggs  (1871-     ). 

41 


Tei-nage  Baseball  Club,  1947.  Front:  "Ked"  Miller,  Dale 
Norfleet,  Duane  Woodall,  Sonny  Bently,  Bud  Schull.  Back: 
Perry    Briggs    (coach).    Junior    Miller,    Maurice    Beckhart, 

Cisco  has  been  a  baseball  town  from  back  in  1920 
or  before.  At  one  time  we  had  baseball  and  softball 
and  different  age  teams.  One  year  all  the  Cisco  base- 
ball team  were  hired,  except  Rip  Dowdle  and  John 
Gisinger.  They  were  hired  from  Champaign,  Decatur 
and  Clinton.  Harry  Lyons  played  on  early  teams. 
Games  were  played  east  of  town  and  south,  before 
the  diamond  in  town  was  formed.  The  first  lights 
were  bought  by  donation,  hooked  up  by  Harry  Cook 
and  the  reflectors  made  by  Pete  Sullivan.  Rip  Dowdle 
graded  McGinnis  berry  patch  to  form  the  diamond 
at  the  school. 

Cisco  had  a  band  in  the  early  1900's.  The  leader 
was  Fred  Warrick.  Sam  Clover  was  a  drummer.  They 
practiced  in  the  Opera  House,  and  gave  concerts  on 
the  street  during  the  summer  months.  They  also 
played  a  picnics  held  in  the  grove  on  the  school 
grounds.  Interest  finally  died  down  and  the  group 
disbanded. 

Social  events  included  the  strawberry  festival,  4th 
of  July  celebration,  church  chicken  fries.  Homecom- 
ings, and  bean  suppers.  One  person  remembers  when 
there  was  a  basketball  game  followed  by  a  boxing 
match  at  one  Homecoming. 

Other  entertainment  not  listed  otherwise  were 
"Play  Parties,"  treasure  hunts,  chivaries,  box  socials. 
Play  parties  are  what  the  name  implies,  parties  where 
people  played  games.  Treasure  hunts  had  two  main 
periods  of  popularity  in  Cisco.  Clues  were  hidden  in 
town  and  out  and  the  winners  for  one  time  furnished 
the  refreshments  for  the  next  time.  The  drivers  of  the 
cars  pulled  quite  interesting  antics. 

Chivaries  were  parties  given  "newlyweds,"  a  sur- 
prise party. 


Kalph  Harbart,  C'het  Woodall,  Fred  Benjamin,  Mike  Van- 
note,  Bill  Isenburg,  Dean  Hall,  Dale  Sheets,  Jack  Floyd, 
and  Jack  Larrick  on  the  shoulders. 

Box  socials  were  held  to  raise  money  for  some- 
thing or  just  for  fun  with  an  organization  benefiting 
from  the  proceeds.  The  lady's  would  fix  a  meal  for 
two  in  a  pretty  box  and  then  the  box  would  be  auc- 
tioned off.  The  lady  would  eat  with  whomever  pur- 
chased her  box. 


Little  League  Baseball 

Little  League  Baseball  was  organized  in  Cisco  dur- 
ing the  year  of  1963.  Several  interested  people  got 
together  to  make  plans  for  the  formation  of  a  program 
and  renovate  the  ball  diamond.  That  same  year  we 
were  asked  to  join  a  league  that  included  Weldon, 
DeLand,  Bondville,   Seymour  and  White  Heath. 

Since  some  of  these  towns  had  two  teams  entered 
in  the  league,  Cisco  decided  to  enter  two  teams  also. 
The  two  teams  just  barely  could  muster  up  enough 
boys  to  field  a  full  team.  Cisco  had  always  been  com- 
petitive in  the  league  with  at  least  one  of  the  teams 
and  finally  won  the  league  in  1972  after  forming  only 
one  team  due  to  a  shortage  of  players. 

Cisco  Little  League  has  never  had  a  sponsor,  but 
is  made  up  of  an  association  of  interested  parents. 
The  teams  have  been  self-supporting  due  to  a  con- 
cession stand  that  was  built  in  1964  and  a  voluntary 
five  dollar  ($5.00)  donation  by  a  participating  family. 

The  following  people  have  been  managers  or  of- 
fered leadership  since  its  beginning:  Merle  Chapman, 
Sam  Clark,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frank  Hoffman,  Bill  Sago, 
Bill  Guyot,  Jim  Giesler,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Essell  Miller, 
Patricia  Ford,  Glen  Bol-sen,  John  Miller,  Delbert  Wil- 
liams, Jack  Clifton,  Don  Reed,  John  Mackey,  Jack 
Drew,  Stan  Mackey,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dale  Huisinga, 
Eddie  Elson,  Dwight  Marquis  and  Shorty  Shafer. 


42 


THE  CISCO  BAND 

EARLY  1900'S 

The  Cisco  band  is  the  finest  band 

I  nearly  ever  saw. 
The  very  first  piece  they  always  play 

Is  "Turkey  in  the  Straw." 
Now  I  will  tell  you  what  I  can 

About  this  little  Cisco  band. 

There's  Willie  Jeffords,  Johnnie  Malone. 

And  "Bunco"  so  they  say. 
Uncle  Sam,  he  plays  the  snare  drum 

To  drive  his  troubles  away. 
Keen,  with  his  old  bass  horn 

Sounds  just  like  "Barney"  before  a  storm. 

Mr.  Stuckey!  Oh  how  hard  he  tries! 

A  nd  if  you  watch  him  closely. 
You'll  see  he  makes  those  goo-goo  eyes. 

Ah!  there's  Phillip,  he  cuts  quite  a  swell 
And  when  he  plays  that  little  horn. 

The  girls  all  say,  "Don't  he  do  swell." 
Young  Coffin,  as  you  understand. 

He  got  married  and  left  the  band. 
Rollie  Evey,  as  you  all  know. 

Is  right  in  the  front,  wherever  they  go. 
I've  said  all  I  have  to  say 

So  I  guess  I'd  better  go. 
For  there's  no  use  for  Sousa's  band 

To  play  against  Cisco. 

— By  Blonnie  Clover  and  Zora  Ater 


43 


Social  Clubs 

Royal  Neighbors  Lodge  No.  1986  met  the  second 
and  fourth  Saturday  evening  in  Castle  Hall.  The  Cisco 
Knights  of  Pythias  Lodge  No.  180  met  Wednesday 
evenings  and  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  met 
2nd  and  4th  Friday  evenings  in  Castle  Hall.  The 
Royal  Circle  Lodge  and  the  LO.O.F.  met  in  Areli  Hall. 
In  "the  early  years  there  was  a  club  called  the  Three 
C's,  representing  Cisco  Crochet  Club.  The  Cisco  Gar- 
den Club  was  very  active,  but  disbanded  during  World 
War  n.  They  had  large  and  well  attended  flower 
shows. 


Cisco  Lodge  No.  965,  A.  F.  and  A.  M. 

The  Lodge  was  formed  in  1913  with  W.  Reed 
Barnhart  as  the  first  Worshipful  Master.  The  Lodge 
first  met  in  the  Odd  Fellows  Hall  until  it  burned.  This 
was  located  where  the  Post  Office  is  now  on  the  east 
side  of  Main  Street.  After  the  fire  the  Lodge  moved 
across  the  street  to  the  second  floor  of  what  was  later 
known  as  the  Weddle  Store  building.  In  the  1940's 
the  Lodge  purchased  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church  building  where  they  met  until  consolidation 
with  the  Argenta  Lodge  No.  871  on  November  10, 
1965,  under  the  charter  of  the  Argenta  Lodge.  William 
C.  Sago  was  the  last  Worshipful  Master  of  the  Cisco 
Lodge. 

The  Masters  of  the  Lodge  were  W.  Reed  Barnhart, 
Jesse  O.  Weddle,  Charles  Doane,  Harold  McKinney, 
Ray  Statts,  W.  S.  Ater,  King  Pattengale,  W.  E.  Ater, 
William  E.  Wheeler,  Walter  V.  Leach,  T.  Head  Mc- 
Cartney, C.  Homer  Doane,  Ward  McCartney,  Charles 
G.  Leach,  George  Brown,  William  Craig,  J.  E.  Brame, 
E.  L.  Augustus,  Edgar  Dowdle,  E.  L.  Giesler,  J.  D. 
Reed,  Lawrence  Coon,  Loren  Fattengill,  Harley  Miles, 
Dillard  Mansfield,  John  Griswald,  R.  W.  Dowdle, 
Donald  McKinley,  Paul  W.  Craig,  E.  F.  Wikowsky, 
Orville  Sago,  Robert  Ater,  Donald  W.  Hall,  Eugene 
Conner,  Glenn  Howard,  John  Whitlow,  C.  Orville  Lud- 
wick,  Charles  M.  Cook,  Jackie  L.  Floyd,  Ross  Rudisill, 
Kenneth  Frye,  Dale  Liestman,  Roger  Briggs,  C. 
Eugene  Gowler,  and  William  C.  Sago. 


Cisco  Chapter  No.  849  O.  E.  S. 

The  preliminary  meeting  was  held  on  September 
24,  1920  in  the  Old  Masonic  Hall  over  the  (.Loveless 
or  Dallas)  grocery  store  where  the  Post  Office  is 
now.  Then  they  met  in  the  Hall  on  the  west  side  of 
the  street  over  the  McKinley  grocery  store  location. 
The  chapter  was  instituted  December  11,  1920  with 
Delia  Loveless  as  Worthy  Matron  and  Harold  Mc- 
Kinney, Worthy  Patron. 

Other     officers     were     Associate     Matron,     Viola 

Doane;    Associate    Patron,    ;    Secretary,    Olive 

Reed;  Treasurer,  Homer  Doane;  Conductress,  Gladys 
Doane;  Associate  Conductress,  Bessie  McKinney; 
Chaplain,  Anna  McCartney;  Marshal,  Willard  Ater; 
Organist,  Naomi  Dallas;  Adah,  Helen  Ater;  Ruth, 
Lavina  Weddle;  Esther,  Alice  Coffin;  Martha,  Bertha 
Shaff;  Electa,  Pearl  Miller;  Warder,  John  Reed; 
Sentinel,  Wm.  E.  McCartney. 


Charter  members  were  Delia  Loveless,  Sam  and 
Marilla  Clover,  Park  H.  Simer,  Roy  and  Alice  Coffin, 
King  and  Anna  Pattengale,  Elsie  Goken,  Charles  and 
Viola  Doane,  Harold  and  Bessie  McKinney,  Effie 
Armsworth,  Albert  Von  Leach,  Warren  and  Zora  M. 
Ater,  John  and  Olive  Reed  Earl  V.  Rannebarger, 
Bertha  Shaff,  Wm.  E.  and  Anna  McCartney,  Evan  and 
Elizabeth  Brame,  Ray  Staats,  Permella  Staats,  Ruth 
A.  Pattengale,  Homer  and  Gladys  Doane,  Ferdinand 
and  Rilla  Elizabeth  Mintun,  Frank  Coffman,  Raymond 
E.  and  Gladys  Rannebarger,  Nadine  Doane,  Willard 
and  Helen  Ater,  Lavina  Weddle,  Wm.  Ward  Mc- 
Cartney, Naomi  Dallas,  Oscar  and  Bertha  Winzen- 
burger,  Pearle  Wiggins,  Walter  and  Pearl  Miller, 
Gashen  and  Leda  Cox,  Bertha  Coffman  and  Alma 
Rainey. 

This  organization  has  supported  many  national 
and  state  projects. 

After  many  years  of  activity  Cisco  chapter  merged 
with  Argenta  Chapter  No.  819  Order  of  the  Eastern 
Star  on  December  1965. 


Cisco  Woman's  Club 

A  group  of  women  met  and  organized  the  Women's 
Club  of  Cisco,  111.,  at  the  home  of  Mrs.  Katie  Young, 
March  12,  1916.  The  charter  members  were  Mrs. 
Katie  Young,  Mrs.  Cora  Pape,  Mrs.  John  Fort,  Mrs. 
Alice  Williams,  Mrs.  Bessie  McKinney,  Mrs.  Robert 
Dent,  Mrs.  William  Jeffords,  Mrs.  Ethel  Bowman, 
Mrs.  Elmer  Clow,  Mrs.  Bertha  Shaff,  Mrs.  Kit  Clow, 
Mrs.  Dorothy  Daves  and  Mrs.  Edith  Barnhart. 

The  club  was  Federated  with  the  District  April 
6,  1923.  It  was  State  Federated  March  8,  1926,  then 
in  November  it  became  General  Federated. 

The  club  was  first  called  "Woman's  Club  of  Cisco, 
Illinois"  and  met  on  the  first  Friday  of  the  month. 
Now  it  is  called  "Cisco  Woman's  Club"  and  meets  the 
first  Wednesday  of  the  month.  In  the  beginning  the 
local  dues  were  $.25  a  year,  now  regular  dues  are 
$3.00  a  year. 

The  object  of  the  club  is  to  promote  the  general 
welfare  of  the  home  and  community. 

In  the  early  years,  if  a  member  was  absent  from 
more  than  two  consecutive  meetings,  she  would  pay 
a  ten  cent  fine. 

The  past  presidents  are  Katie  Young,  Bessie  Mc- 
Kinney, Gladys  Remmers,  Olive  Reed,  Mrs.  Ralph 
AUmon,  Zora  Ater,  Gladys  Doane,  Bertha  Shaff, 
Hazel  Pirtle  Mrs.  Amos  Fahrnkopf,  Helen  Ater,  Mrs. 
James  Ater,  Ethel  Bowman,  Elizabeth  Reeves,  Lucille 
Edwards,  Aileen  Rannebarger,  Leota  Robeson,  Beulah 
Williams,  Opal  Coon,  Florence  Mansfield,  Ruth  Leach, 
Ruth  Zindar,  Audra  Myers,  Juetta  Hiser,  Patricia 
Ford,  Edythe  Weddle,  Wilma  Hall,  Blanche  Niles. 

The  club  has  had  three  county  presidents;  Mrs. 
Walter  Pirtle  1934-1936,  Mrs.  Bert  Reeves  1946-48, 
and  Mrs.  Patricia  Rannebarger  Ford  1966-68. 

Among  their  activities  are  the  founding  of  the 
local  library;  Health  Clinic;  contributing  to  the  build- 
ing of  the  Cross  on  Bald  Knob,  purchase  of  a  pro- 
jector for  the  school  with  the  P.T.A. ;  landscaping  the 


44 


library  yard,  before  the  board  did  it;  planted  shrubs 
west  of  town;  planted  trees,  etc.,  for  the  school  and 
the  Methodist  Church ;  gave  summer  music,  conserva- 
tion and  art  scholarships;  and  war  effort  activities. 

The  library  was  first  put  in  the  Shaff  Drug  Store 
under  the  supervision  of  Mrs.  Shaff.  The  club  finally 
interested  Mr.  Allerton  and  the  township  in  the 
library. 

They  celebrated  their  50th  Anniversary  with  a  tea 
on  April  6,  196G. 


Scouts 

From  the  Cisco  news  of  the  Piatt  County  Repub- 
lican, December  30,  1920  issue,  "At  a  meeting  held 
Tuesday  evening  in  the  basement  of  the  church  — 
preparations  were  made  for  the  organization  of  Boy 
Scouts  here.  Mr.  Kinister  of  Decatur  made  an  inter- 
esting talk  on  the  subject  of  the  Boy  Scouts.  Rev.  H. 
L.  Thall  of  the  M.  E.  Church  is  to  be  local  Scout- 
master. About  16  boys  have  already  signed  up  to 
become  scouts."  In  1918  there  were  14  scouts  repre- 
sented by  Leo  Ulman  at  a  program  at  the  Presby- 
terian Church.  Leaders  over  the  years  included  Rev. 
Cockran,  Pete  Benjamin,  Rev.  Clapper,  Dean  Mc- 
Cartney, Bob  Reuter,  Dale  Wolfe,  Burt  Mcintosh,, 
Harold  Benjamin,  Larry  Edwards,  Bert  Tritchler, 
Paul  Slifer  and  Glen  Bolson.  The  Cubs  are  under 
the  direction  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Don  Stevens  and  are 
active. 


South  Birthday  Club 

On  Feb.  14th,  1925,  the  following  invitation  was 
sent  to  twelve  neighborhood  ladies  to  form  a  club 
called  the  "Birthday  Club".  Now  it  is  called  the  "South 
Birthday  Club." 

"With  an  hour  full  of  task 

Your  presence  I  ask. 

To  grace  a  jolly,  hearty  party. 

We'll  laugh  and  we'll  play 

As  long  as  you  stay. 

A  welcome  awaits  you  most  heartily." 

The  members  that  joined  that  day  were:  Katy 
Young,  Elizabeth  Brame,  Nora  McCartney,  Daisy  Tay- 
lor, Mildred  Yates,  Blanche  Niles,  Bessie  McKinney, 
Anna  McCartney,  Myrtle  Whisnant,  Olive  Reed,  Lutie 
Parr  and  Lilly  Leach. 

Mrs.  Blanche  Niles  was  the  hostess.  Members 
drew  the  month  for  entertaining  and  also  a  name  for 
a  gift  for  each  hostess. 

We  did  all  kinds  of  needlework  supplied  by  the 
hostesses  such  as  quilting,  knotting  comforts,  hem- 
ming dish  towels,  rug  rags.  We  made  garments  for  the 
Red  Cross,  war  babies  and  whatever  was  needed.  We 
are  in  our  48th  year. 

Our  friendship  has  been  a  token  of  remembrance 
all  through  these  years.  We  never  would  of  visited 
our  neighbors  as  much  had  it  not  been  for  the  Birth- 
day Club. 


The  North  Birthday  Club 

The  North  Birthday  Club  was  organized  February 
14,  1929  in  the  home  of  Mrs.  Blanche  Niles.  The 
ladies  organized  as  a  social  and  handworking  group. 
As  well  as  their  embroidering,  knitting,  sewing,  etc., 
they  sewed  baby  clothing,  lap  robes,  etc.,  which  they 
gave  to  the  Red  Cross  during  W.W.  II,  even  meeting 
for  extra  hours. 

The  charter  members  included  Blanche  Niles, 
Edythe  Weddle,  Aileen  R.  Rannebarger,  Prudie  Hamil- 
ton, Gladys  Doane,  Lavina  Weddle,  Pearl  Miller,  Thada 
Olson,  Margaret  Mcintosh  and  Nettie  Clow.  The  chil- 
dren attended  the  meetings  and  looked  forward  to 
them.  The  ladies  had  many  clever  meetings  as  the 
time  they  had  a  mock  wedding.  Four  ladies,  Blanche, 
Edythe,  Aileen  and  Gladys,  still  belong.  Other  present 
members  are  Audra  Chapman  Myers,  Ruth  Reeves, 
Juetta  Hiser,  Florence  Mansfield,  Beulah  Williams, 
Lotus  Briggs,  and  Patricia  R.  Ford. 


Cisco  4-H  Clubs 

In  1928  a  group  of  girls  organized  as  the  "Jolly 
Juniors"  4-H  Club  under  the  leadership  of  Mrs.  Bertha 
Shaff,  assisted  by  Mrs.  Mabel  Ripperdan.  After  a 
time  it  divided  into  two  clubs,  the  "Cisco  Circle" 
and  the  "Kitchen  Klatter  Club."  In  1939  it  was  de- 
cided to  form  one  club,  making  an  older  girl  responsible 
for  helping  a  younger  one,  and  they  named  the  com- 
bined group  the  "Big  and  Little  Sisters  Club."  This 
was  a  large  group  and  met  all  day  at  the  Methodist 
Church  for  many  years. 

An  example  of  a  days  activities  as  taken  from  a 
June  1941  program  would  be:  the  business  meeting; 
talks,  "Cookies  in  General,"  "Kinds  of  Cookies,"  "Ways 
of  Using  Cookies,"  "What  To  Do  First  in  Making 
Cookies,"  "Hand  Sewing,"  "Refinishing  Furniture," 
"Ingredients  for  Yeast  Bread";  and  demonstrations, 
quick  bread,  dairy  food,  pattern  alteration,  plain 
seams,  shaping  light  rolls,  flower  arrangements,  judg- 
ing cookies,  and  how  to  take  a  hem. 

The  club  had  a  band,  led  by  Marjorie  Reeves,  with 
band  uniforms.  The  band  played  at  church  and  other 
functions  and  in  1941  played  in  Lincoln  Hall  Theatre 
at  the  Annual  4-H  Club  University  Tour.  A  few  years 
later  the  club  had  a  choir. 

In  the  1942  Piatt  County  4-H  News  Letter  it  was 
stated  that  "In  the  August  National  4-H  Club  News 
Mrs.  Jason  Ripperdan  and  the  Big  and  Little  Sisters 
4-H  Club  were  recognized  as  an  outstanding  leader 
and  club  in  the  United  States,  all  over  the  world  for 
that  matter,  because  this  is  a  NATIONAL  Magazine. 
There  was  a  long  article  about  the  kind  of  participa- 
tion the  club  takes  in  the  church." 

Through  the  years  many  girls  were  selected  State 
Outstanding  and  from  these,  four  were  elected  as 
delegates -to  the  National  4-H  Congress  in  Chicago. 
They  were  Gladys  Reason,  Georgia  Briggs,  Margaret 
Scott  and  Carolyn  Campbell.  Girls  and  their  projects 
have  represented  the  club  and  county  at  the  State 
Fair  many  times.  At  the  first  State  Fair  after  World 
War   II,    Frances    Reeves   and    Patricia    Rannebarger 


45 


were  selected  to  represent  the  county  and  received  an 
A  rating,  giving  the  demonstration  twice  at  the  fair. 

Ohers,  who  led  the  Big  and  Little  Sisters  Club  at 
Cisco,  were  Georgia  Briggs,  Audra  Briggs  and  Eliza- 
beth Reeves.  Many  other  adults  helped  with  the  4-H 
through  the  years.  When  Mabel  Ripperdan  moved, 
she  took  the  club  name  with  her  to  Monticello.  During 
its  lifetime  the  Big  and  Little  Sisters  Club  received 
many  honors  and  had  many  outstanding  members. 

In  1953,  Mrs.  Gerald  Miller  organized  the  present 
Cisco  Busy  Beavers  4-H  Club  with  the  projects  being 
foods  and  clothing.  Ruth  McFeeters  and  Doris  Ann 
Sago  helped  as  junior  leaders.  The  leaders  have  been, 
Mrs.  Miller  (1953-1960),  Mrs.  P.  C.  Barnhart  (1960- 
1961),  Mrs.  C.  E.  Gowler  (1962-1967),  and  Mrs.  Roy 
Kleven  (1967  until  present).  Others  that  have  served 
as  leaders  are:  Janet  Frye,  Joy  Zimmerman,  Joyce 
Mackey,  Mary  Blythe,  Marilyn  Mackey,  Marjorie  Wil- 
liams, Peggy  Nolan,  Jean  Neuendorf,  Linda  Blythe, 
Beulah  Robson,  Mary  Catlin,  Shirley  Sievers,  Pauline 
Vannote,  Mrs.  Thomas  Brown,  Sue  Weber,  Diana 
Hoffman  and  Martha  Edwards. 

The  club  celebrated  their  20th  anniversary  last 
summer,  being  one  of  the  oldest  clubs  in  the  county. 
All  the  people  who  had  helped  through  the  years  were 
asked  to  come  plus  the  HEA  ladies.  After  the  program 
there  was  a  birthday  party  with  Mrs.  Gerald  Miller, 
the  first  leader,  as  an  honored  guest. 

In  1971,  an  IFYE,  Mia  Jueken  from  the  Nether- 
lands, visited  our  club.  While  here,  she  stayed  with 
the  Roy  Kleven  family  and  made  a  Dutch  dessert  and 
taught  the  girls  Dutch  games  at  a  meeting. 

There  is  no  record  of  how  many  girls  have  gone 
to  state  fair,  but  for  the  past  several  years  at  least 
one  has  gone.  Judy  and  Susan  Vannote  did  an  out- 
standing demon.stration  at  state  fair  when  Illinois  was 
celebrating  its  150th  anniversary.  They  made  bread 
with  a  starter  and  wore  old  fashioned  clothes.  The 
girls  from  the  club  who  have  earned  the  Key  Club 
Award,  the  second  highest  award  given  in  4-H  are: 
Jean  Mackey  (1956)  Susan  Miller  (1957),  Joyce 
Mackey  (1959),  and  Virginia  Kleven   (1973). 

The  Cinderella  4-H  Club  was  organized  in  1966  in 
Monticello  with  Mrs.  Pat  Lubbers  and  Mrs.  Yvonne 
Howland  as  leader.  In  1969  Pat  moved  to  the  Cisco 
area.  That  year  they  had  a  club  project  of  ceramics, 
which  Mrs.  Avis  Bennett  helped  them  with.  By  1970 
the  club  branched  into  many  different  areas. 

The  club  has  had  one  or  more  girls  and  projects 
go  to  the  State  Fair  each  year.  Among  those  going 
are  Kathy  Howland  and  Deborah  Lubbers. 

Some  of  their  activities  have  been:  cooking  for 
their  parents,  dairy  promotion.  State  4-H  Week,  over- 
night campouts,  tour  to  Tolly's  Bakery,  McManus 
Florist,  Ken's  IGA,  Meadow  Gold  Dairy,  Romano's 
Pizza,  Artistic  Yarn  Shop,  Zimmerman  Fine  Fabrics, 
etc.,  and  helping  with  the  Earth  Day  at  Cisco. 

4-H  for  boys  in  the  Cisco  area  started  about  1937, 
Bob  Ater  being  the  first  leader.  In  1938,  Rueben 
Anderson  became  leader  of  the  "Cisco  4-H  Club"  for 
the  next  6  years.  Some  of  his  helpers  were  Robert 
"Peachy"  Leach  and  Corwin  Kingston.  This  club  went 
camping  down  by  the  river  for  a  couple  of  nights 
every  summer.  Mrs.  Anderson  and  Mabel  Ripperdan 


would  bring  them  big  freezers  of  homemade  ice 
cream.  With  the  old  mare  of  Mr.  Anderson  and  an 
old  buggy  given  them  by  Bert  Reeves,  the  boys  were 
all  over  town  picking  up  paper  and  scrap  metal  during 
W.W.  II.  The  paper  was  taken  to  the  old  grain  eleva- 
tor office  where  it  was  shredded,  baled,  and  then 
sold  in  Decatur.  The  money  earned  from  the  drives 
was  given  to  the  Red  Cross  and  used  by  the  boys  for 
baseball  equipment. 

After  Mr.  Anderson,  Don  Whisnant  was  leader 
followed  by  Orville  Sago.  Other  known  leaders  are 
Harold  Frye,  Orville  Frye,  Stanley  Mackey,  who  lead 
for  15  years,  James  Burns,  Frank  Hoffman,  Dewey 
Briggs,  Roger  Briggs,  Clifford  Davis,  Dale  Bennett, 
Jr.,  and  Roy  Kleven  (present  leader). 

Shortly  after  W.W.  II  there  was  camping  at  4-H 
Memorial  Camp  in  Allerton  Park.  The  project  list 
available  to  the  boys  has  enlarged  from  livestock  and 
garden,  so  there  is  a  project  for  all  boys  interests. 


Cisco  Homemakers  Extension 
Association 

Piatt  and  Douglas  counties  united  in  December, 
1930,  to  participate  in  the  organization  known  as 
Home  Bureau  whose  aims  are  to  help  the  housewife 
with  her  problems  in  the  home  and  with  her  family. 
This  partnership  with  Douglas  County  was  dissolved 
and  in  1965  the  name  was  changed  to  Homemakers 
Extension  Association. 

Monthly  meetings  of  the  local  unit  were,  and  con- 
tinue to  be,  held  in  the  homes  of  members.  There  were 
five  members  that  first  year:  Mrs.  Walter  Miller,  Mrs. 
W.  E.  McCartney,  Mrs.  Clifford  Weddle,  Mrs.  Robert 
Dent,  and  Mrs.  Lavinia  Weddle  Gould.  Mrs.  Gould  had 
the  distinction  of  being  county  board  member.  She 
made  the  trip  to  board  meetings  in  Tuscola  by  driving 
her  son's  new  car. 

There  are  now  24  members  in  the  Cisco  Unit. 
Present  officers  are:  Mrs.  Robert  Williams,  chair- 
man; Mrs.  Gene  Gowler  and  Mrs.  Roger  Briggs,  first 
and  second  vice-chairman;  Mrs.  James  Burns,  Jr., 
secretary-treasurer;  and  Mrs.  Roy  Kleven,  county 
board  member. 


The  American  Legion 
Craig-Reed  Post  1181 

The  American  Legion,  Craig-Reed  Post  1181  was 
named  for  two  men  from  the  Cisco  community,  who 
were  killed  in  World  War  II,  Forrest  T.  Craig  and 
John  David  Reed.  Forrest  T.  Craig  was  lost  in  Asia 
while  flying  supplies  over  the  mountains,  known  as 
the  Hump,  between  India  and  China.  John  David  Reed 
died  during  the  Bataan  Death  March  in  the  Philip- 
pines. John  David  was  returned  after  the  war  and 
buried  in  Weldon,  111.  Forrest  was  never  found. 

The  Post  was  formed  in  the  fall  of  1948  and  a 
temporary  charter  was  applied  for  on  November  26, 
1948,  with  Daniel  J.  Weddle  as  the  commander.  The 
names  on  the  application  were;  Robert  C.  Zimmerman, 
Gerald  J.  Sites,  George  0.  Miller,  Max  L.  Cornell, 
James  A.  Giesler,  Daniel  J.  Weddle,  Wilmer  L.  Clifton, 


46 


m 


I 


Veterans  of  three  wars:  Frank  Lyons,  World  War  I;  Martin 
Westbay,  Spanish  American  War;  and  Bill  Davis,  Civil  War. 

Jack  C.  Clifton,  Robert  J.  Dowdle,  William  S.  Arms- 
worth,  Edward  L.  Johnson,  Ellis  B.  Zimmerman,  Merle 
E.  Adams,  Burt  A.  Mcintosh,  Rolla  E.  Van  Matre, 
Clement  J.  Colgan  and  Arthur  A.  Neuendorf. 

On  April  2,  1949  the  permanent  charter  was  ap- 
plied for  with  the  following  officers:  commander, 
Gerald  J.  Sites;  vice  commander,  Paul  P.  Reed; 
adjutant,  Jack  C.  Clifton;  finance  officer,  Clement  J. 
Colgan;  chaplain,  Lester  Guyot;  sergeant-at-arms. 
Max  L.  Cornell;  historian,  Donald  W.  Hall;  service 
officer,  Charles  G.  Leach;  publicity  officer,  Harvey 
Jenkins. 

The  Post  first  met  on  the  second  floor  of  the 
Town  Hall.  They  soon  moved  to  quarters  over  Weddle's 
Store  and  remained  there  until  1954  when  the  present 
building  was  bought  from  Lyle  McFeeters,  for  the 
Post  home.  The  Post  has  been  active  in  the  community 
over  the  years,  presenting  Memorial  Day  services  each 
year  and  holding  an  annual  fall  festival.  The  Post 
has  sponsored  many  young  men  to  Boys  State  and 
has  carried  many  other  Legion  programs. 

The  commanders  of  the  Post  were:  Daniel  J. 
Weddle,  Gerald  J.  Sites,  Paul  P.  Reed,  Jack  C.  Clifton, 
Walter  Eugene  Pirtle,  Robert  J.  Dowdle,  Robert  C. 
Zimmerman,  Kenneth  L.  Carroll,  Lester  Guyot,  Jackie 
L.  Floyd,  Roger  E.  Briggs,  James  R.  Edwards,  David 
W.  Swarts,  W.  Eugene  Pirtle,  Kenneth  L.  Carroll, 
Jackie  L.  Floyd,  Delbert  D.  Williams,  Paul  P.  Reed, 
Dale  E.  Leischner,  Larry  D.  Leischner,  Larry  W. 
Coon  the  present  commander. 


American  Legion  Auxiliary 

The  Craig-Reed  Unit  1181  held  its  first  organiza- 
tional meeting  May  6,  1949,  in  the  home  of  Hazel 
Pirtle.  Assisting  with  the  meeting  were  the  District 
President,  Hazel  Cannon;  the  District  Secretary, 
Eloise  Mount;  the  Post  Commander,  Jerry  Sites;  and 
the  Post  Adjutant,  Jack  Clifton. 

There  were  45  charter  members.  They  are:  Betty 
Armsworth,  Dorothy  Colgan,  Leora  Clifton,  Mary 
Carolyn  Chapman,  Helen  Dowdle,  Dottie  Giesler, 
Wilma  Hall,  Ruth  Leach,  Ruby  McGinnis,  Ruth  Mc- 
intosh, Hazel  Pirtle,  Olive  Reed,  Jennie  Snyder,  Mar- 


jorie  Van  Matre,  Dorothy  Walker,  Effie  Armsworth, 
Virginia  Cornell,  Helen  Clifton,  Lula  Craig,  Dorothy 
Dowdle,  Ella  Guyot,  Bessie  Hitchens,  Mabel  Mills, 
Mary  Lee  Poling,  Mabel  Ripperdan,  Bonnie  Sites, 
Myrtle  Weddle,  Emma  Lou  Zimmerman,  Mabel  Lyons, 
Frances  Mcintosh,  Lotus  Briggs,  Anita  Carroll,  Vera 
Clifton,  Cora  Cook,  Jean  Giesler,  Jean  Guyot,  Louise 
Isenberg,  Maxine  McKinley,  Marilyn  Mcintosh,  Nora 
Rose  Jackson,  Flossie  Reed,  Betty  Ripperdan,  Louie 
Swarts,  Marilyn  Weddle,  Hildred  Pirtle. 

On  May  31,  1949,  the  Auxiliary  and  Legion  held 
a  joint  installation  service  in  the  high  school  gym- 
nasium. 34  members  were  initiated.  Hazel  Pirtle  was 
the  first  auxiliary  president.  Meetings  were  held  in 
the  Town  Hall  until  the  next  May,  when  they  started 
using  the  top  floor  of  Weddle's  Store.  The  present 
Legion  Hall  was  purchased  in  1954. 

This  organization  has  always  been  a  service  or- 
ganization, and  therefore  has  done  many  things  for 
the  community.  Some  of  the  community  services  in- 
clude giving  aid  to  needy  families  (food  and  clothing;, 
sponsoring  community  Christmas  parties,  serving 
meals  for  farm  sales,  and  providing  meals  when  a 
death  occurs  in  the  community.  Servicemen  are  re- 
membered at  Christmas  time  with  gifts  and  cards. 

The  Veterans  craft  exchange  and  the  poppy  pro- 
gram provide  a  means  of  support  for  some  of  the 
hospitalized  veterans.  The  unit  sponsors  a  Poppy 
Poster  Contest  and  an  Americanism  Essay  contest  to 
help  make  our  young  people  more  aware  of  their 
heritage.  Coupons  are  collected  to  help  purchase 
needed  equipment  for  the  hospitals,  for  example,  dog 
food  seals  are  saved  to  purchase  seeing  eye  dogs.  The 
unit  helps  support  the  girls  cottage  at  the  Illinois 
Soldiers  and  Sailors  Home  at  Bloomington  with  spon- 
sorship money,  Christmas  gifts,  and  spending  money 
for  the  girls.  Hospitalized  veterans  are  remembered 
with  tray  favors,  clothes,  books,  puzzles,  cards,  sta- 
tionery kits,  etc.  Numerous  other  projects  and  pro- 
grams are  carried  out  by  the  auxiliary  each  year. 

The  first  Fall  Festival  was  held  September,  1952, 
on  the  school  ball  diamond.  A  chili  supper  and  games 
were  featured.  It  was  such  a  success  that  it  became 
an  annual  affair.  In  1954,  the  menu  was  changed  to 
cornbread  and  beans.  It  wasn't  until  1956  that  they 
were  able  to  have  it  in  the  present  Legion  Hall.  Dances 
on  Wednesday  evenings  were  sponsored  to  help  raise 
money  to  pay  for  the  building. 

The  Junior  Auxiliary  was  first  activated  in  1953 
with  Jean  Neuendorf  as  their  Senior  advisor.  Their 
program  has  remained  much  the  same  through  the 
years.  They  make  tray  favors  for  Danville  Veterans 
Hospital.  Joke  books,  stationery  kits,  and  crossword 
puzzles  are  also  made.  Grave  decorations  are  made  and 
placed  on  veterans  graves  in  local  cemeteries. 

Our  Gold  Star  Mothers  to  date  are:  Mrs.  Lula 
Craig  (deceased),  Mrs.  Charles  Parr  (deceased),  Mrs. 
Olive  Reed,  and  Mrs.  Leora  Vannote.  Gold  Star  Sisters 
are  Nora  Rose  Jackson  and  Mrs.  Lucille  Gulley.  Mrs. 
Joan  Vannote  is  a  Gold  Star  Wife  and  Miss  Susan 
Vannote  is  a  Gold  Star  Daughter. 

From  45  charter  members  in  1949,  the  auxiliary 
has  grown  to  a  membership  of  95  seniors  and  22 
juniors,  a  total  of  117  members  in  the  1973-1974  year. 


47 


Cisco  Junior  Woman's  Club 
Cisco  Evening  Woman's  Club 

Seventeen  women  in  the  Cisco  community  formed 
the  club  on  November  7,  1933.  At  this  time  the  club 
became  affiliated  with  the  district  and  state  federa- 
tion. 

The  object  of  the  club  was  and  is  now,  mutual 
counsel  and  sympathy,  unity  of  action  in  case  of  need, 
and  the  promotion  of  higher  social  and  moral  condi- 
tions. The  club  motto:  "Be  Ye  Workers  of  the  Club 
and  Not  Members  only." 

The  charter  members  were:  Martha  Allmon, 
Dorothy  Dye,  Elizabeth  Dye,  Maxine  Giesler,  Ruth 
Harvey,  Mary  Johnson,  Leora  Miller,  Doris  Sullivan, 
Thelma  Swarts,  Norma  Taylor,  Othello  Taylor,  Irene 
Weddle,  Frances  Rinehart,  Laverne  Evey,  Norma  Rose 
Reed,  Delora  Whisnant,  and  Kathleen  Sullivan. 

During  the  1949-1951  period  the  club  name  was 
changed  from  Cisco  Junior  to  Cisco  Evening  Woman's 
Club. 

Past  presidents  of  the  club  are:  Othello  Taylor, 
Lelah  Cornell,  Betty  Reeves,  Virginia  Wiseman, 
Maxine  Giesler,  Opal  Coon,  Hildred  Drew,  Helen 
Dowdle,  Margaret  Weddle,  Edith  Barnhart,  Doris 
Connor,  Vionne  Ater,  Carolyn  Chapman,  Vernette 
Miller,  Edna  Whisnant,  Wilma  Hall,  Dorothy  Colgan, 
Ruth  Harms,  Marj  Carr,  Virginia  Norfleet,  Kay 
Goeggle,  Jo  Ann  Vannote,  Kay  Drew,  Joyce  Bennett, 
Helen  Miller,  Peggy  Clark,  and  Shirley  Sievers. 

Through  the  years  the  club  has  given  time  and 
money  to  the  betterment  of  the  community.  Funds 
have  been  used  for  magazines  for  the  school ;  needed 
articles  for  the  library,  county  nursing  home,  church, 
and  school;  summer  camp  scholarships  in  art,  con- 
servation, and  music  to  area  students;  and  the  County 
Blood  Bank.  The  club  has  canvassed  for  the  March  of 
Dimes  and  Mental  Health  Drives.  Sponsored  "Com- 
munity Sing"  for  several  years  with  the  Senior  Club, 
and  donated  cookies  to  the  Rantoul  U.S.O. 

To  honor  the  servicemen,  a  bronze  plaque  bearing 
their  names  was  placed  at  the  entrance  of  the  Cisco 
Methodist  Church. 

For  the  past  three  years  a  $200  scholarship  has 
been  awarded  to  a  senior  graduating  from  Monticello 
High  School. 


Sewing  Club 


It  was  in  1947  that  a  group  of  ladies  formed  the 
sewing  club  to  do  all  kinds  of  handwork  for  them- 
selves. Some  did  sewing,  mending,  crocheting  or 
knitting  while  they  visited.  They  meet  once  a  month 
and  have  a  pot  luck  dinner  with  no  meetings  for  the 
months  of  August  and  December.  This  club  is  still 
active  in  1974.  The  original  members  were:  Helen 
Ater,  Gladys  Doane,  Geneva  Kistler,  Lucille  Edwards, 
Effie  Armsworth,  Aileen  Rannebarger,  Evelyn  Mc- 
Intyre,  Elizabeth  Reeves,  Ruth  Pattengill,  and  Ruth 
Zindar. 


PTA  Board  (1949-50).  Standing:  Helen  Dowdle,  Vera  Root, 
Edna  Whisnant,  Jean  Giesler,  Geneva  Huisinga,  June  Sago, 
Hildred  Webb,  Loren  Lewis.  Seated:  Florence  Melvin, 
Helena  WTiitlow,  Helen  McFeeters,  Vernette  Miller  and 
Gerald  Hiser. 

Cisco  PTA  History 

The  Cisco  PTA  was  organized  in  1948  with  Ruth 
Zindar  as  president.  There  were  82  charter  members. 
Pat  Lubbers  is  the  1974  president.  Others  that  served 
as  presidents  are:  Helen  McFeeters,  Wilma  Hall, 
Twilia  Mackey,  Vernette  Miller,  Edna  Whisnant,  Mary 
Carolyn  Chapman,  Edith  Barnhart,  Audra  Gowler, 
Dorothy  Colgan,  Peggy  Nolan,  Marge  Williams,  Vir- 
ginia Norfleet,  Florence  Hoffman,  Shirley  Seivers, 
Nancy  Huisinga,  and  Carol  GuUey. 

Some  of  the  things  the  PTA  has  done  through  the 
years  are:  honored  Founders  Day,  given  scholarships 
to  band  and  vocal  students,  run  concession  stand  at 
state  musical  contest,  helped  with  pre-screening  of  3 
and  4  year  olds,  members  volunteered  as  chaperones 
at  Step-in  in  Monticello,  room  mothers'  parties  for 
Halloween,  Christmas,  Valentines  Day  and  Easter, 
publicity  book  to  state  many  times,  talent  and  male 
style  shows  by  members,  contributed  to  Educable 
Mentally  Handicapped  in  Piatt  County,  honored  Lillie 
Alexander  on  her  retirement,  redecorated  school 
library  and  purchased  record  player. 


Remember  the  Cisco  basketball  team  coached  by 
Frank  Wrench,  the  principal?  The  boys  practiced  in  a 
very  small  "gym"  on  the  third  floor  of  the  old  grade 
school  building.  And  what  a  thrill  it  was  when  we 
finally  got  a  real  gym  and  had  games  there. 

Remember  the  girl's  basketball  team  which  used 
to  play  short  games  before  the  boys  games? 

Remember  Alicia  Skeet,  the  music  teacher,  who 
came  out  from  Millikin  to  teach  and  .struggle  with 
our  small  band? 


It's  the  common  ordinary  folks, 

The  ones  like  you  and  me. 

That  get  most  out  of  living 

In  a  small  community  .  .  . 

The  ones  who  work  the  whole  day  through. 

But  evening  brings  them  rest. 

Sweet  peace  and  being  all  together, 

The  envy  of  the  best. 


48 


II  iiiy;ii\(ii!=yH\\ 


ir\A!=yii=ii= 


RtCHARD  REnnERS-N 
HERLE  ADAHS-N 
EDh'ARD  JASPER -A 
nERWiN  SULLIVAN -A 
ROBERT  L  ATER  -  A 

ICEORCE  BENEFIEL-A 
nELVlN   LONG -A 
ROBERT  niLLS  -A 
DONALD  BOWMAN -A 
DAN  UEDDLE-A 
VIRGINIA  niLLS  -N 
HAROLD  BRIGGS-A 
DEANE  TURNER -N 
EARL  FERRY  -A 
EDITH  BRIGGS-A 
CLIFTON  BROWN -N 
JERRY  SITES  -A 
PAUL  REED  -  A 
ROBERT  CLIFTON -A 
LrNN  SHULL-A 
IVAN  0  RIPPERDAN-N 


BRUCE  BURNETTE-A 
ROBERT  LEACH -A 
Wn.  ARnSWORTH  -N 
DEEN  UISEHAN  -  A 
ROBERT  niLES-A 
HAX  WEDDLE  -  M 
GENE   niLLS-A 
PAUL  n^  KINNEY -A 
GEORGIA   BRIGCS-N 
HAROLD  FOUGHT,  JR.- N 
JOHN  GREGORY -A 
GENE   FISHER -A 
JAMES   DYE  -  A 
DAVID   SWARTS-N 
ELHER  REASON  -N 
ROBERT   DOWDLE  -A 
J  DAVID  REED -A* 
ROBERT  BLYTHE  -A 
ELDON  CHAPMAN -A 
C  n.  DAVES  -A 
RUSSEL  SULUVAN.JR.-N 


EDWARD  JOHNSON -A 
PHILLIP  ARCHER -A 
EVERETT  JASPER -A 
JAMES  GIESLER-A 
LYLE  BARNHART-A 
PAUL  SULLIVAN -N 
ROYCE  BENEFIEL-A 
CHARLES  GREENWOOOA 
HERALD    SWARTS-A 
PAUL  ZIMMERMAN  -A 
LORIN  CISINCER-N 
CLIFFORD  EUBANK.JR-A 
JOHN  SCHOOLCRAFT-A 
JACK  CLIFTON -A 
MAURICE  DOANE-M 
PEARLEY   REASON -A 
HAROLD    DENT-A 
JAMES   DAVIS  -  A 
BERLE  BLACK -A 
RICHARD  GREENWOOD -A 


ROBERT  M  CARTNEY-A 
HERSCHEL  MILLS -A 
JAMES  HECKMANN-A  ♦ 
ROBERT  ZIMMERMAN-A 
JOHN  VANDEVENTER-A 
SMITH  GREENWOOD -A 
LEWIS  WHtSNANT-A 
WINFRED  TURNER -A 
PAUL  PATTENCALE-A 
LAWRENCE  CISINCER-A 
BRUCE  RINEHART-A 
JOE  RANNEBARCCR-A 
LEON  CLIFTON -N 
FORREST   CRAIC-A 
MAX  CORNELL -A 
EDWIN   DOANE-A 
ANDREW  CULLISON-N 
RAYMOND  PIRTLE-A 
FRANCIS  CHAPMAN- A 
HARTFORD  REMMERS-A 


Honor   Roll   for   World   War   II,   painted   by   Doris   Conner. 

BIBLIOGRAPHY 

The  Cisco  Index   (newspaper)    1902 

The  Cisco  Press   (newspaper)    1905 

Standard  Atlas  of  Piatt  County  Illinois   (1911) 

Historical  Encyclopedia  of  Illinois  and  History  of  Piatt  County  (1917)  Edited  by 
Francis  M.  Shonkwiler 

History  of  Piatt  County  Illinois  (1883)  by  Emma  C.  Piatt 

Dewitt  and  Piatt  County  Portrait  and  Biographical  Album   (1891) 

Past  and  Present  of  Piatt  County  Illinois   (1903)   by  Charles  Mcintosh 

The  Good  Life  in  Piatt  County   (1968)   by  Jessie  Morgan 

A  History  of  Cisco   (1966)    compiled  by  B.  L.  Reeves 

The  Biggest  Little  Town  (1973)   by  Myrtle  Grace  Paugh 

Some  Notes  on  Early  Roads  in  Piatt  Co.   (1954)   by  Harvey  Harding 

Municipal  Code  of  Village  of  Cisco 

Post  Office  Records 

Willow  Branch  Library  Board  Minutes 

Souvenir  Programmes  of  M.  E.  Church   (dedication,  75th  Anniversary) 

Minutes  of  Sessions  of  Cisco  Presbyterian   Church 

Tape  recording  made  by :  Harry  Lyons,  Ruby  Leach,  Elmer  Rainey  and 
Guy  Sparrow  (1973) 

Miscellaneous:  Interviews,  local  centennial  histories,  local  newspapers  and 
records,  clippings,  scrap  book  items,  receipts,  checks,  bills,  etc. 


49 


REMEMBER 


m~^ 


Patteng:ill  Deer 

Doctors  travelled  by  horseback  and  horse  and 
buggy  to  make  their  calls.  According  to  a  journal 
kept  by  Dr.  Pattengill,  house  calls  were  a  dollar,  medi- 
cine usually  twenty-five  to  fifty  cents  and  deliveries 
ten  dollars. 

— j= — 4— 

How  many  remember  setting  hens  and  hatching 
chickens  ? 

Who  remembers  when  Effie  Armsworth  took 
peeled  apples  to  church  for  Bill  to  eat  during  the 
service  so  he  would  be  quiet? 


Chandler  Reunion  at  the  "Ole  SHimniin'  Hole"  in  1910: 
Louis,  Henry,  and  Bryon  Melvin,  Edgar  Martin,  Mabel 
Melvin     Uonavon,     Georg:e     and     Myrtle     Whisnant.     Helen 

Melvin,  Maude  Melvin  Harland,  ,  Lucille  and  Lloyd 

Parr. 

Riding  in  the  water  wagon  at  threshing  time  and 
those  wonderful  threshing  dinners. 


When  road  machinery  was  a  tractor  with  drive 
wheels  about  8  feet  high  and  the  jumbo  grader  for 
pulling  the  dirt  to  the  center  of  the  road. 


.i'^SBBUdt 


-"Jl?i*^ 


Helping  a  neighl>or  in  need. 


In  1914  over  100  goats  were  bought  by  Earl  Kanne- 
barger  to  clean  up  the  brush.  He  sold  them  to  Mac 
Ashton,  who  gave  one  to  Lawrence  Coon.  Lawrence 
trained  it  to  drive.  Mac  sold  the  herd  to  Scott  Arms- 
worth,  who  sent  them  to  Chicago.  The  men  all  lost 
money  on  the  goats. 

The  days  when  Charlie  Roderick  had  a  Huckster 
Grocery  Wagon? 

.c J^_ 

Do  you  remember  Mohawk  haircuts? 

Who  remembers  hunting  prairie  chickens  but  had 
no  deer  or  pheasants? 

When  we  didn't  know  what  soybeans  were  as  a 
crop? 

Who  remembers  getting  baking  powder  in  a  hob- 
nail, milk  glass  candy  dish? 

One  evening  in  the  late  1920's,  a  little  after  4  P.M., 
the  main  street  in  Cisco  became  devoid  of  any  form 
of  human  life.  Usually  at  that  time  of  day  things 
were  pretty  busy,  but  not  in  this  instance.  Every 
person  had  raced  to  get  behind  closed  store  doors,  etc., 
but  all  were  crowded  up  to  and  peering  out  every  avail- 
able window.  The  reason?  A  very,  very  large  skunk 
had  come  down  the  exact  middle  of  the  street  from 
way  up  north  and  was  headed  south.  He  went  straight 
ahead,  humping  leisurely  along,  with  an  utter  disdain 
for  the  watchers.  Suddenly,  to  the  horror  of  the  on- 
lookers, Charles  Leach  came  striding  from  the  old 
board-walk  area  on  the  east  side  of  the  main  street. 
His  destination  was  Barnhart  and  Leach's  General 
Store,  but  the  path  of  the  skunk  was  not  favorable  for 
this.  Unheeding,  his  head  down  in  thought,  Charlie' 
was  fast  closing  the  distance.  Nobody  had  the  courage 
to  open  a  door  or  window  and  yell  at  Charlie,  because 
skunks  can  hear,  too.  We  just  knew  Charlie  would 
start  angling  across  the  railroad  tracks  and  there 
would  be  a  most  catastrophic  meeting. 

But  luckily,  in  the  nick  of  time,  Charlie  raised  his 
head.  Now,  Charlie  had  long  legs  and  they  served  him 
well  that  time.  I  don't  remember  whether  he  took 
off  east  or  back  south,  but  he  was  out  of  sight  in  a 
flash!  The  skunk  reached  the  depot  where  King  Pat- 
tengale  was  in  hiding,  too,  and  then  seemed  to  sort 
of  fade  away.  Maybe  he  took  the  next  "puddle-jumper" 
out  of  town.  He  was  never  seen  again. 

The  old  livery  stable  and  when  it  burned? 


SO 


THINGS  I  STILL  REMEMBER  ABOUT  CISCO,  ILLINOIS 

by  BERTHA  M.  JONES 

My  parents  were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  P.  G.  Jones.  My  father  owned  the  grain  elevator  on  the 
west  side  of  Main  Street,  across  the  street  from  the  Weilepp  elevator.  They  were  always 
friendly  competitors.  Mr.  Weilepp's  laugh  was  deep  and  friendly  and  a  vital  part  of  him  and 
contributed   to  the   feeling  of  friendliness   in   the  town. 

January  12,  1889  I  was  born  in  a  large  white  house  near  the  railroad,  just  east  of  Main 
Street.  We  called  the  train  "Barney,"  and  it  was  called  tri-weekly,  "It  went  west  one  week  and 
tried  to  get  back  the  next."  Our  permanent  home  was  built  a  few  blocks  south  of  this  home. 

The  important  buildings  in  Cisco  that  I  remember  are  the  Methodist  Church;  the  big 
school;  the  general  store  owned  by  Mr.  Seeley,  and  later  Theo  Evins;  Dr.  Pease'  office;  and 
our  home.  Mr.  Seeley  and  Mr.  Evins  were  fine  merchants  and  carried  a  large  stock  of  modern 
items.  There  was  a  large  hotel  on  the  corner  across  from  the  railroad  station.  The  place  that  is 
still  dearest  to  me  is  our  home,  with  its  barn  and  the  grove  of  trees  west  of  it.  In  our  back- 
yard we  had  a  cave,  where  its  coolness  kept  milk  at  a  good  temperature. 

One  summer  day  I  was  lying  in  the  thick  grass  watching  the  clouds  making  new  shapes 
like  things  I  had  seen.  Then  I  began  to  wonder  how  the  earth  got  here.  Suddenly  I  felt  that 
thought  was  too  big  for  me.  However  I  have  lived  long  enough  to  see  men  walking  on  the  moon. 

One  day  a  few  neighbors  came  in  with  the  news  that  men  were  drilling  for  water,  but 
got  gas  instead,  and  one  man  in  the  well  died.  Now  I  wonder,  with  the  fuel  shortage  if  it 
could  give  Cisco  gas  for  their  homes. 

Two  activities  at  the  church  stand  out  as  special.  The  first  was  a  Christmas  Eve.  Many 
families  drove  in  from  the  country.  Townspeople  carried  lanterns,  making  a  procession  down 
the  center  of  the  street  to  the  well  lighted  church.  When  we  entered  the  front  door,  what  a 
wonderful  sight  we  saw!  A  Christmas  tree  reaching  to  the  ceiling,  was  covered  with  large  red, 
lighted  candles.  There  was  a  program  of  songs,  and  speeches  given  by  the  tiny  ones  to  the 
adults.  Then  suddenly  sleighbells,  and  Santa  with  his  pack  came  dashing  in.  There  were  gifts 
for  all  the  children.  The  big  store  had  been  filled  with  new  toys,  and  most  everyone's  gift 
was  appropriate. 

Then  there  is  the  Easter,  when  the  church  seemed  filled  with  sunshine.  But  what  was 
most  unusual,  and  memorable  was  that  all  the  women  who  had  canaries  brought  them  to  the 
church  and  opened  the  cages.  The  birds  flew  out,  and  the  church  was  full  of  colorful  canaries 
flying  above  the  congregation.  The  music  had  competition.  But  when  the  service  was  over,  each 
bird  flew  to  his  cage.  This  was  a  once-in-a-lifetime  Easter  service. 

The  first  day  of  school,  Helen  Seeley  (lives  in  California  in  1974)  held  my  hand  all  the 
way  to  school.  Miss  Edwards  was  our  teacher.  She  had  excellent  training  at  Normal  and  made 
our  lessons  most  interesting.  One  day  we  went  to  the  pump  in  the  school  yard  and  learned  how 
to  fill  different  sized  measuring  utensils.  Then  we  studied  physiology,  we  heard  about  the  bones 
in  our  body.  On  her  way  home,  Bertha  Jones  stopped  at  Dr.  Pease'  office  and  he  explained 
different  sizes  of  bones  and  where  they  were  located  so  she  had  the  answers  to  take  back  to  the 
class.  But  there  was  something  else  she  saw  on  the  wall,  and  Dr.  Pease  said  it  was  a  telephone. 
His  sons  nailed  a  cigar  box  to  the  wall  and  wires  led  to  the  Pease  home  nearby,  so  they  talked 
by  phone  and  saved  time  and  steps. 

When  I  was  eight  years  old,  our  home  and  the  elevator  were  sold  and  we  moved  to 
Champaign,  Illinois. 

There  were  three  girls  in  our  family:  Ethel  (deceased  at  four),  myself,  and  Frances  (1895- 
1930).  Frances  married  Charles  R.  Little  and  had  four  children.  Frances,  her  husband,  myself 
and  their  children  all  graduated  from  the  U.  of  I.  I  own  a  cottage  in  Suncoast  Manor  at  St. 
Petersburg,  Florida.  My  parents  are  buried  in  the  Belleflower  Township  Cemetery.  When  my 
father  died,  letters  written  by  our  Cisco  friends  were  read  at  his  funeral  in  (Champaign.  I 
will  miss  attending  the  Cisco  events,  but  I  hope  to  hear  about  it. 


51 


The  Armsworth  Family 

Scott  and  Samuel  Armsworth  were  brothers  who 
came  from  Ohio  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Piatt  County. 
Samuel  married  Celia  Ater  in  one  of  the  first  wed- 
dings in  Piatt  County.  Their  children  were:  Noah 
married  Eliza  GuUiford,  James  married  Emily  Gulli- 
ford,  Rebecca  married  Abraham  Ater,  Catherine 
married  George  Matchler,  James  married  Elizabeth 
Hitchens. 

Noah  Armsworth  (1848-1890)  married  Eliza  GuUi- 
ford in  1870.  She  came  to  America  in  1855  from 
Somersetshire,  England,  a  voyage  of  34  days.  They 
had  three  children :  Sadie  who  married  Samuel  Parr, 
Charity  who  married  John  Mitchell,  and  Winfield 
Scott  who  married  Effie  Weddle. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Scott  Armsworth  had  two  children, 
Hildred  and  William  Scott.  Hildred  married  John  T. 
Drew  in  October  1932  and  had  two  children,  Yvonne 
and  Jackson  Scott  Drew  (the  present  Mayor  of  Cisco). 
Yvonne  married  Raymond  Howland  and  they  have 
three  children,  Kathy,  Randy,  and  John.  Jack  married 
Kay  Foster  and  they  have  three  children,  Pam,  Christi 
and  Robert.  John  Drew  died  in  February  1935  and 
Hildred  married  Eldon  Webb  in  1946. 

William  Scott  Armsworth  married  Elizabeth 
Steele,  daughter  of  Earl  J.  and  Marie  Steele  in  August 
1941.  They  have  three  children:  James  Scott  married 
to  Dee  Palmer,  Mary  Beth  married  to  Craig  Pillatsch, 
and  Jean  Ann  at  home. 

Scott  Armsworth  resided  in  Cisco  all  his  life.  He 
taught  school,  served  as  manager  for  the  Shellabarger 
Elevator  Co.  and  the  Cisco  Grain  Co.  He  owned  the 
local  light  plant  which  was  sold  to  the  Illinois  Power 
Company  in  1927.  He  was  a  stockholder  in  the  Cron- 
inger  State  Bank,  owned  the  Home  Oil  Co.  and  the 
Sangamon  Oil  Co.  He  was  also  a  partner  in  the  Cisco 
Implement  Co.  Scott  was  school  director  at  the  time 
the  gymnasium  was  added  to  the  school  in  1937.  He 
had  the  Ford  agency  and  ran  a  hardware  store.  After 
his  death  in  November  1943  the  hardware  store  was 
taken  over  by  his  son  William  who  ran  it  until  1965 
when  he  moved  to  Monticello  and  opened  the  Arms- 
worth  Appliance  Store. 


Ashton 

The  Mac  Ashton  family  were  residents  of  the  Cisco 
community  during  the  early  1900's,  living  on  the 
Rannebarger  farm  two  miles  west  "and  three-fourth 
miles  south  of  Cisco  for  25  or  30  years,  before 
retiring  and  moving  to  Argenta.  Mac  was  a  dealer  in 
livestock  many  years,  buying  and  trading  hogs  and 
cattle.  He  bought  locally  and  from  the  west,  then 
shipped  to  Chicago  and  Indianapolis.  Later  he  was 
joined  in  that  business  by  E.  V.  Rannebarger.  In 
1918,  when  the  Armistice  was  signed  Cisco  had  quite 
a  celebration  with  a  barbecued  beef  south  of  where 
the  school  is.  Mac  was  one  of  the  cooks  and  helped 
serve  those  that  attended.  He  was  one  of  the  directors 
of  the  Croninger  Bank  when  it  closed  in  1927. 

Mac  and  Minnie  Kaiser  Ashton  had  four  children. 
Edward  married  Florence  Augustus  and  Ruby  Patter- 
son. Josephine  married  Delbert  Hardin  and  Phyllis 
married  Thomas  Huston.  There  are  six  grandchildren, 
ten  great-grandchildren  and  two  great-great-grand- 
children. 


The  Ater  Family 


Scott  and  Effie  Weddle  Armsworth 


Mr.  Thomas  Ater  was  born  in  Loudon  County, 
Virginia  in  1795.  When  he  was  seven  years  old  his 
father's  family  migrated  to  Ohio.  He  married  Eliza- 
beth Brown  in  1813.  Their  five  children  were  born  in 
Ohio:   Solomon,  Edward,  Willie,  Celia  and  John. 

In  1827,  Thomas,  with  his  family  started  for  Illi- 
nois. They  reached  Vermillion  County  the  same  month 
and  camped  out  until  a  homestead  was  procured.  They 
settled  on  raw  prairie  and  unbroken  timberland,  to 
clear,  cultivate,  and  improve  which  required  energy, 
strength  and  persistence.  After  living  in  Vermillion 
County  for  several  years,  the  entire  family  moved  to 
Piatt  County  and  settled  in  Willow  Branch  Township. 
He  died  in  1852  and  was  buried  near  his  last  home 
southeast  of  Cisco.  His  wife  survived  him  many  years, 
and  died  in  1877. 

Solomon  Ater  married  Martha  Ann  Fisher  in  1853. 
To  this  union  were  born  five  children :  Willis,  Ann, 
David,  Edward,  and  Elizabeth.  His  first  wife  died  in 
1863.  He  later  married  Margaret  Hott.  One  daughter. 
Ally  was  born  in  1864. 

Edward  W.  Ater  (1858-1941)  married  Amanda 
Freeman  Miner.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Ira  and 
Mary  Ann  Bruffett  Miner  of  Piatt  County.  They 
were  the  parents  of  three  children :  Warren  Solomon, 
Willard,  and  Gladys.  Edward  farmed  and  raised  live- 
stock one  mile  south  and  one-half  mile  east  of  Cisco. 
He  was  a  charter  member  of  the  Cisco  Masonic  Lodge 
No.  965.  He  was  also  a  charter  member  of  the  Cisco 
Cooperative  Grain  Company  and  served  as  director  for 
several  years.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Cisco  Metho- 
dist Church  Building  committe  when  the  present  brick 
structure  was  built  and  a  member  of  the  board  of 
directors  of  the  M.  Croninger  and  Company  Bank. 

Warren  Solomon,  the  son  of  Edward  and  Amanda 
married  Zora  Williams    (see   Williams  history). 

Willard  Ater  attended  school  in  Cisco  and  two 
country  schools.  He  married  Frances  Helen  Jones  in 


52 


1912.  They  lived  on  the  farm  where  Willard  was  born 
and  raised.  Two  daughters  and  a  son  were  born  to 
this  union:  Evelyn,  Margaret,  deceased,  and  Donald. 
Willard  will  be  83  years  young  in  November  and  is 
in  good  health.  He  lives  with  his  son  Donald  in 
Louisiana. 


Edward  .\ter  Family,  front  row:   .Amanda  Miner  Ater  and 

Edward  .\ter;  back  row:  Willard  E.  .\ter,  Gladys  Ater  and 

Warren  S.  Ater 

Evelyn,  daughter  of  Willard  and  Helen  lived  all 
but  a  few  years  of  her  life  in  Cisco.  She  married 
Paul  Edgar  Timmons,  son  of  Gurnie  Jackson  and 
Mary  Summers  Timmons.  After  living  in  Lodge  a 
few  months  they  moved  to  Cisco.  Three  children  were 
born  to  this  marriage;  Carol  Joanne,  Shirley  Jean, 
and  Roger  Paul.  Paul  Edgar  died  in  1947  and  the 
family  soon  moved  to  Monticello. 

Carol  Joanne,  after  graduating  from  high  school 
and  attending  MacMurray  College  married  Robert 
Wayne  Otis  of  Champaign.  They  have  four  children : 
Victoria  Lynne,  Kimberly  Rene,  Kathryn  Denise,  and 
Robert  Sherman.  The  family  now  resides  in  Cham- 
paign. 

Shirley  Jean  graduated  from  Monticello  High 
School  and  married  Charles  F.  Sievers.  Born  to  this 
union  were  two  daughters,  Pamela  Jo  and  Debra  Jean. 
In  the  spring  of  1965  the  family  moved  from  Monti- 
cello to  a  farm  northeast  of  Cisco.  The  farm  has  been 
in  Mrs.  Sievers  family  for  four  generations.  Their 
daughter,  Pamela  Jo  became  the  bride  of  Mark  Ed- 
ward Morgan  in  1973. 

Roger  Paul  Timmons  after  attending  school  in 
Monticello  entered  the  service  in  1958.  He  married 
Janice  Vianne  Kitson.  Four  children  were  born :  Brian 
Paul,  David  Mark,  Gary  Alan,  and  Marci  Lynn.  Th* 
family  now  resides  in  Phoenix,  Arizona. 

Donald,  son  of  Willard  and  Helen  spent  his  child- 
hood days  in  the  Cisco  community.  He  continued  on 
with  the  family's  farming  interest.  In  1938  he  mar- 
ried LaVonne  Chapman.  They  have  five  children: 
Marcia  Kay,  Donald  Willard,  Susan  Lynette,  Edward 
William  and  Alan  Ray.  Don  had  an  International 
Harvester  Implement  store  in  Cisco  for  a  few  years. 
In  1958  they  moved  to  Louisiana  where  they  continue 
to  farm  and  now  live  in  Ferriday.  Don  is  involved  in 
several  other  successful  business  interests. 


Gladys  Ater  (1896-  ),  daughter  of  Edward  and 
Amanda,  lived  in  or  near  Cisco  her  entire  life.  She 
married  Raymond  E.  Rannebarger,  son  of  Earl  V. 
and  Mellie  Hendrix  Rannebarger,  in  1917.  She  is  a 
charter  member  of  the  Eastern  Star;  a  member  of 
the  Argenta  Birthday  Club,  and  the  United  Methodist 
Church  of  Argenta. 


Family  oj  Joseph  Hendricks  Barnhart 

Joseph  Hendricks  Barnhart  (1871-1948)  spent  his 
boyhood  on  a  farm  east  of  Mansfield,  Illinois,  and 
received  his  education  in  the  rural  schools  of  Cham- 
paign and  Piatt  Counties. 

He  married  Emma  F.  Hummel  of  Monticello,  Illi- 
nois in  1904.  (Emma's  father  migrated  from  Hum- 
melstown,  Pennsylvania.)  They  farmed  northeast  of 
Cisco  from  1904  until  1945.  He  took  an  active  interest 
in  local  politics  and  the  Methodist  Church  at  Cisco. 
He  was  a  director  of  the  Cisco  Grain  Company.  Emma 
was  a  successful  chicken  farmer,  keeping  up  with  the 
latest  information. 

In  1945  they  purchased  a  home  in  Monticello.  They 
developed  a  large  flower  garden  where  he  was  sud- 
denly stricken  while  mowing  around  a  bed  of  flowers. 

They  were  the  parents  of  two  children,  Opal  and 
Lyle. 

Emma  lived  in  Monticello  until  her  death  in  1964. 

Opal  Barnhart  Hough  (1904-1946)  was  born  near 
Cisco.  She  was  educated  in  the  Piatt  County  Schools, 
graduating  from  Monticello  High  School  in  1922.  She 
was  educated  to  be  a  grade  school  teacher.  In  1924-26, 
she  taught  in  the  school  at  Cisco,  Illinois. 

In  1929  Opal  married  David  I.  Hough.  They  resided 
in  Sandwich,  Illinois  until  1939.  Four  children  were 
born:  Marilyn  Jean  (1930),  Patricia  Louise  (1931), 
Rose  Marie   (1934),  and  Gary  David  (1938). 

In  1939  they  moved  to  live  on  the  Barnhart  farm 
near  Cisco.  Opal  taught  at  New  Union  for  a  few 
vears.  In  1944  they  moved  near  Mahomet. 


Joe  and   Emma  Barnhart 


53 


Lyle  Barnhart  was  born  in  1910  near  Cisco.  He 
was  educated  in  the  Piatt  County  Schools,  graduating 
from  Monticello  High  School  in  1927.  In  June,  1939 
he  married  Barbara  Ramseth  of  Chicago.  They  have 
two  sons,  Byron  James  (1950)  and  Warren  Stephen 
(1952). 

Since  1945  Lyle  has  lived  in  Fulton,  Illinois,  em- 
ployed as  an  actuary  for  a  life  insurance  company. 


Reed  Barnhart  Family 

William  Reed  Barnhart  (1881-1956)  a  son  of  John 
C.  (1837-1922)  and  Susannah  Drum  Barnhart  (1841- 
1923)  was  born  in  Cerro  Gordo,  Illinois.  There  were 
six  children  in  the  family,  two  dying  in  infancy.  His 
parents  came  from  Ohio  and  Indiana.  His  father 
served  as  a  First  Lieutenant  in  the  Civil  War  and 
was  a  cabinet  maker.  Some  of  the  walnut  furniture 
he  made  is  still  in  the  family. 

Reed  married  Edith  Mae  Young  (1886-1969), 
daughter  of  P.  C  and  Katie  E.  Stuckey  Young,  in 
Decatur,  Illinois  on  June  17,  1908.  When  they  met,  she 
was  taking  courses  at  Millikin  University  and  he  was 
clerking  in  Folraths  Shoe  Store.  After  a  short  time 
in  Decatur  they  moved  southwest  of  Cisco  and  farmed 
with  her  father.  Later,  in  about  1912,  they  lived  one- 
half  mile  south  of  Cisco  in  a  house  built  by  P.C. 
Young  and  kept  in  the  family  until  1969,  when  it 
was  sold. 

In  1921  Reed  and  Edith  moved  into  Cisco  and 
lived  just  south  of  the  M.E.  Church.  He  worked  for 
the  Cisco  Grain  Company  and  later  owned  a  grocery 
store  with  Charles  Leach.  The  last  several  years  be- 
fore his  death  he  sold  insurance. 

He  was  First  Master  of  Lodge  No.  965  and  served 
as  Potentate  of  the  Ansar  Temple,  Springfield,  111., 
in  1954. 

Three  children  were  born  to  them.  Mrs.  William 
(Helen  LaVerne)  Patrick  in  1910  and  living  in 
Downers  Grove,  Illinois.  Mrs.  Gerald  J.  (Inez  Kath- 
eryn)  Sites,  born  in  1915,  and  P.C,  born  in  1920, 
both  living  here.  Gerald  Sites  passed  away  in  1971. 
He  was  an  electrician  at  Allerton  Park  and  resided 
in  this  area  for  many  years. 


Reed  and  Edith  Young  Barnhart 


Katheryn  has  five  children,  namely,  Larry  Reed 
Bartram  living  south  of  Bement,  Illinois ;  Wendell 
Terry  Gregory,  Springfield,  Missouri ;  John  William 
Gregory,  Edwardsville,  Illinois;  Edith  Sandra  (Greg- 
ory) Petro,  Monticello,  Illinois;  and  Mrs.  John  (Loria 
Sharon  Gregory)  Daily,  living  south  of  Arthur,  Illi- 
nois. There  are  thirteen  grandchildren. 

P.C.  married  Edith  Margaret  Davenport  in  1942 
and  they  have  three  children:  Mrs.  Larry  (Deanna) 
Metzer,  Warrensburg,  Illinois;  Mrs.  William  K. 
(Mary  Jane)  Dickman,  Jr.,  Freeport,  Illinois;  and 
Ronald  Barnhart,  Cisco,  Illinois.  There  are  two  grand- 
children. 


Fred  Benjamin  Family 

Fred  Benjamin  was  born  at  Pekin,  111.,  in  1873 
and  Grace  Bolsen  was  born  at  Hartsburg,  111.  in  1875. 
Both  sets  of  parents,  Fred  and  Hattie  Stackhouse 
Benjamin  and  John  Wessel  and  Jennie  Remmers  Bol- 
sen, came  to  the  United  States  from  near  Emden, 
Germany  around  the  years  of  1860  to  1872. 

Fred  and  Grace  were  married  in  1895  and  moved 
to  the  Cisco  area  living  in  the  Kentuck  neighborhood 
on  Stringtown  Lane.  In  1927  they  moved  into  Cisco 
in  the  house  in  which  Ruby  Leach  presently  lives.  In 
1929  they  purchased  the  Russell  Sullivan  house. 

Fred  began  his  job  as  janitor  of  the  Cisco  Grade 
School  in  the  fall  of  1932  and  was  employed  here  until 
1943.  Many  of  the  students  at  this  time  may  remem- 
ber, he  had  a  thumb,  index  finger  and  middle  finger 
missing.  When  he  was  a  young  man  he  was  running 
a  wood  shaper  in  a  wagon  factory  at  Pekin,  when  his 
glove  was  caught  in  the  machinery  and  the  fingers 
were  cut  off  down  to  the  knuckles. 

The  children  of  Fred  and  Grace  are:  Fred  E. 
(Hip),  Harold  G.  (Pete),  and  John,  living  in  Cisco. 

Hattie  (1896)  married  John  Giilespey  and  they 
reside  in  Decatur.  Their  children  are:  Fred,  Marion, 
Paul,  Bernice,  Evelyn,  Calvin  Joan,  Mary,  Robert  and 
Janet. 

Wessel  (1898-1961)  married  Mildred  Cofferly. 
Their  children  are:  Jacob  (deceased),  Richard  and 
Phyllis.  He  later  married  Maud  Webb.  Wessell  served 
in  W.W.  I. 

Jennie  (1899)  married  Herman  Rose  and  lives  in 
the  Chicago  area.  Their  children  are:  Grace  (de- 
ceased), Alice,  Allen,  Thelma,  Don,  Lloyd  and  Sharon. 

Grace  (1906)  married  Aaron  Woodall.  They  lived 
in  Cisco  for  several  years  while  Aaron  was  employed 
by  the  Cisco  elevator.  They  now  live  in  Monticello. 
Their  children  are:  Chester  (deceased),  Duane, 
Juanita,  Ralph  and  Mildred. 

Oliver  (1909-1951)  married  Edna  Thompson  and 
they  are  the  parents  of  Barbara  (deceased),  Phillip, 
and  Jerry  {deceased). 

Hazel   (1904-1907). 

Freda  (1914)  married  Charles  Clow  of  Cisco  and 
their  son  is  Delmar  Dean.  She  later  married  Wiley 
Marvel  and  they  live  in  Texas. 


54 


Fred  E.  "Hip"  (one  of  ten  generations  of  Fred 
Benjamins)  and  Magdalena  "Lena"  Himmelbaur  mar- 
ried in  1925  in  Indiana.  When  they  moved  to  Cisco 
in  1933,  they  had  three  children:  Leora  (1926),  Fred 
H.  (1930)  and  Roy  (1932).  Hip  was  working  with 
Scott  Armsworth  as  a  car  salesman.  They  moved  into 
the  home  now  owned  and  occupied  by  the  Jack  Clif- 
tons.  Roberta  (1936)  was  born  here.  The  family  then 
moved  to  Gilman  where  Jack  (1937)  was  born.  They 
returned  to  Cisco  and  worked  for  Armsworth  again 
in  1938.  Rosemary  (1940)  was  born  here.  When  auto 
production  stopped  in  W.W.  II,  Hip  worked  for  a 
roofing  firm  at  Wilmington,  111.,  but  the  family  re- 
mained in  Cisco.  He  worked  for  Perfect  Potato  Chips 
Co.  in  Decatur  for  25  years,  retiring  5  years  ago. 

Leora  married  Jack  C.  Clifton,  the  son  of  Wilmer 
and  Vera  Clifton.  Their  children  are  Diana  Lyn  and 
Jack  II   (see  Clifton  history). 

Fred  H.  married  Emily  Marigell  in  New  York  and 
have  two  children,  Fred  and  Lisa. 

Roy  married  Eileen  Tauber  of  Decatur.  Their 
daughters  are  Karen,  Ann  and  Kathleen. 

Roberta  married  Leroy  Sheets  and  they  live  near 
Cerro  Gordo.  Their  children  are  Terri,  Tammy  and 
Cody. 

Jack  married  Delores  McGlade  and  have  a  daugh- 
ter, Lena.  He  later  married  May  Mathis  and  is  now 
living  in  Florida. 

Rosemary  married  Alfred  Williams  of  Warrens- 
burg.  They  have  a  daughter,  Lynnette,  and  live  at 
Carmi. 

Harold  G.  "Pete"  (1902)  began  driving  the  oil 
truck  for  W.  S.  Armsworth  in  1926  and  later  worked 
for  Midland  Lumber  Co.  and  the  Cisco  Grain  Co.  He 
married  Edna  Krall  of  Cerro  Gordo  and  a  son  Harold 
E.  was  born  in  1936.  Harold  married  Anna  Mae  Buck, 
daughter  of  Melvin  and  Leona  Buck  of  Cisco.  Their 
children  are  Curtis  and  Ginger.  Harold  E.  works  as  a 
Pinkerton  Guard. 

In  1944,  Pete  and  W.  R.  Fisher  went  into  the  cob 
business.  He  also  worked  for  the  Willow  Branch 
Township  and  Wilkinson  Lumber  Co.  In  the  1950's,  he 
started  working  for  the  Weddle's  IGA  Grocery  Store 
as  a  meat  cutter.  He  worked  there  until  they  sold  it 
to  Don  McKinley  and  then  retired  when  the  store 
closed  in  1972.  They  have  lived  in  their  present  home 
40  years. 

John  (1911)  married  Mildred  Smock  in  1934  and 
farmed  in  the  Farmer  City  community  until  1944, 
when  they  and  their  oldest  child,  Marilyn  Irene 
(1940)  moved  to  Cisco.  Russell  Dean  (1944)  was  born 
in  Cisco  and  John  Leslie  (1948)  and  Donna  Arlene 
(1951)  were  born  after  the  family  moved  here.  All 
the  children  attended  Cisco  Grade  School  and  grad- 
uated from  Monticello  High  School.  John  works  for 
Kelly  Potato  Chip  factory. 

Marilyn  graduated  from  Illinois  State  University 
with  a  B.S.  degree  in  education.  She  married  John 
Mackey  and  they  live  southwest  of  Cisco  with  their 
children,  Byron  Stanley,  Craig  John  and  Karen  Irene. 


Russell  married  Cherly  Rogers  of  Monticello  and 
have  a  son,  Robert  Dean.  They  live  in  Galesburg,  111., 
where  Russ  teaches  art  and  coaches. 

John  L.  spent  one  year  in  Viet  Nam  with  the  U.S. 
Army.  He  married  Frances  Daugherty  of  Maroa  and 
lives  in  Argenta  with  their  son,  Travis  Jay. 

Donna  gaduated  from  Patricia  Stevens  Career 
College  and  married  Gary  Chandler  of  Maroa.  They 
live  in  the  home  which  was  her  Grandfather  Ben- 
jamin's. 

Mrs.  Addie  Smock,  mother  of  Mildred,  makes  her 
home  with  the  John  Benjamin  family.  Being  born  in 
1888,  she  is  one  of  the  older  residents  of  Cisco. 


Fred  and  Grace  Benjamin   and  their  granddaughter, 
Marilyn. 


Dale  Bennett  Sr.  Family 

Dale's  grandfather  was  Joseph  Bennett  and  was 
married  to  Elizabeth  Wilson.  They  immigrated  to 
Fulton  County  from  Ohio.  James  Bennett,  Dale's 
father,  married  Carrie  Valentine  in  1894.  Dale  was 
born  in  1906  at  Fullerton,  Illinois.  Dale  married  Avis 
Kuhns  from  Ivesdale.  They  moved  to  Cisco  in  1958. 
Dale  is  a  retired  farmer  and  carpenter  and  Avis  is 
employed  at  Allerton  House,  University  of  Illinois. 

Dale  and  Avis  have  three  children :  Mrs.  David 
(Patricia)  Swarts,  Dale  Jr.,  both  living  in  Cisco  and 
Mrs.  Peter  (Darlene)  Macklin,  living  in  Levittown, 
New  York.  There  are  ten  grandchildren. 

Dale  Winfred  Bennett,  Jr.,  and  Joyce  Marie  Stain 
were  married  at  the  Methodist  Church  in  Monticello 
in  1953.  In  1956  they  moved  to  Cisco  and  lived  in  a 
mobile  home  until  1965  when  they  built  a  new  home. 
Dale  and  Joyce  have  three  children :  Randy  Dale 
(1955),  Robert  Dean  (1961)  and  Scott  Eric  (1969). 
Dale  is  employed  at  Caterpillar  Tractor  Co.  in 
Decatur. 


Did  you  ever  see  Jason  Ripperdan  with  his  milk 
bucket  on  his  arm,  head  for  the  elevator?  Why? 
Because  the  day  after  Halloween  he  always  knew 
where  his  cow  would  be. 


55 


Bay  and  Florence  Blythe  in  1915. 

Blythe  History 

Florence  May  Andes  and  Ray  Isiah  Blythe  were 
married  in  1915  in  Mattoon,  111.  They  moved  to  Kansas 
for  five  years  and  two  children,  Helen  and  Forrest 
were  born  there.  The  family  moved  back  to  Illinois, 
where  their  three  other  children,  Robert,  Dwight, 
and  Doris  were  born.  In  1936  they  moved  near  East 
School  at  the  edge  of  Cisco,  on  land  owned  by  P.  C. 
Young.  In  1938,  the  family  moved  to  Deland  and 
worked  for  George  Trenchard.  In  1942,  they  moved 
to  John  Huisinga  land  north  of  Cisco  and  in  1944 
moved  to  the  Joe  Barnhart  home  place  and  farmed 
until  1969. 

Due  to  a  broken  marriage,  they  adopted  Stephen 
and  Beverly  Blythe,  children  of  Forrest,  in  1944. 

Helen  married  Arthur  Stain  who  died  in  1974. 
Helen  and  her  three  daughters  live  in  Cisco.  Joyce 
Marie  married  Dale  Winfred  Bennett,  Jr.  (see  Ben- 
nett history),  Delores  Jean  married  George  "Eddie" 
Elson  in  1959  and  moved  to  Cisco  in  1967.  They  are 
buying  the  home  previously  owned  by  George  Lyons. 
Their  children  are  Michael  Joseph,  Rebecca  Jean,  and 
Samuel  Eddie.  Florence  Aleen  married  Gary  Lee 
Walters,  and  have  children:  Cynthia  Ann,  Kimberly 
Sue,  Roy  David,  Douglas  Ray  and  Melissa  Aleen. 
Helen's  three  sons  are  Arthur  David,  Billy  Ray  and 
Paul  Dean. 

Dwight  married  Mary  Bridges  in  1947  and  moved 
into  the  Barnhart  tenant  house.  In  1954,  they  moved 
to  the  Oressa  McQueen  property.  Their  children  are 
Linda  Sue  married  to  Larry  Dyson  of  Monticello, 
Rickey  Joseph  and  Rusty  Allen.  Linda  and  Larry 
live  northeast  of  Cisco  and  have  a  son  Corey  Lee. 

Ray  retired  from  farming  in  1969  and  moved  into 
Cisco.  Ray  died  in  1970  and  Florence  still  resides  here. 

Bowman  -  Mansfield 

Dillard  Cox  Bowman,  the  son  of  Martin  and 
Amanda  Taylor  Bowman  was  born  in  1882  in  Rich- 
mond, Kentucky.  He  was  one  of  eight  children.  His 
parents  both  passed  away  at  the  age  of  49  years. 
Their  youngest  children,  sons,  ages  6  and   10  found 


a  good  home  in  the  Masonic  Home  where  they  learned 
the  trade  of  printing  with  which  they  earned  a  living 
until  thy  retired.  They  made  Kenucky  their  home. 

The  oldest  brother,  Jim,  came  to  Illinois  and  later 
got  a  job  for  Dillard  as  a  farm  hand  on  the  Morris 
Augustus  farm.  One  by  one,  one  brother  and  two 
sisters  came  to  Illinois,  married  and  raised  their 
families  here. 

Dillard  married  Florence  Reeves  in  1906.  She 
passed  away  in  1913.  He  later  married  Ethel  Hinson, 
daughter  of  Sol  and  Emma  Carter  Hinson.  She  was 
born  in  1882  and  graduated  from  Springfield  Mem- 
orial Hospital  as  a  registered  nurse. 

They  retired  from  farming,  moved  to  Cisco  and 
bought  a  grocery  store  in  partnership  with  Roy 
Coffin.  Because  of  Roy's  ill  health  they  sold  it  to 
Barnhart  and  Leach.  Dillard  then  worked  for  the 
lumber  yard.  He  also  kept  busy  sharpening  saws  until 
his  eyesight  began  to  fail. 

They  moved  to  Argenta  in  1951  where  they  lived 
until  his  death  in  1957  and  her  death  in  1970. 

Dillard's  nephew,  Dillard  Mansfield,  and  his  wife, 
Florence  White,  moved  to  Ethel's  farm  northwest  of 
Cisco  which  they  farmed  until  her  death.  Dillard  sold 
hybrid  seed  corn  in  both  Macon  and  Piatt  counties 
for  30  years.  They  moved  to  Cisco  in  1969. 

Their  son  Eugene  married  Barbara  Barnes  August 
13,  1966.  They  have  one  son,  Larry  Lee.  They  moved 
to  the  Rannebarger  farm  southwest  of  Cisco  in  1967. 


John  Evan  Brame 

Evan  Brame  (1879-1960),  son  of  Jacob  and  Emmie 
Coburn  Brame,  was  born  at  Portsmouth,  Ohio.  He 
came  to  Illinois  at  the  age  of  sixteen.  Worked  on  a 
farm  in  Cerro  Gordo  area.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Primmer,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Minerva  Davis  Prim- 
mer in  1902.  He  started  working  for  Jacob  Hiser, 
sixty  days  later  the  same  year,  Mr.  Hiser  sold  his 
farm  machinery  to  Mr.  Brame.  He  continued  to  farm 
the  land  for  several  years.  Then  rented  the  Robert 
Blood  land  until  1917,  moved  to  the  F.  Irwin  farm 
uniith  of  Cisco,  then  to  a  Pattengill  farm. 


Elizabeth  and  Evan  Brame  in  1902. 


56 


Mr.  Brame  bought  one  hundred  twenty  acres  south 
of  Cisco  in  1922.  In  1924  he  moved  on  his  own  farm 
where  he  had  built  a  new  home. 

They  are  the  parents  of  five  children :  Everett, 
Edythe,  Frank,  Earle  and  Ralph.  Everett  married 
Helen  Vinson  of  Indianapolis.  Indiana.  Edythe  mar- 
ried Clifford  Weddle  of  Cisco,  Illinois.  They  are  the 
parents  of  John  Maurice  and  LaVerne  Elizabeth 
Weddle.  Frank  married  Ethel  McCoy  of  Decatur, 
Illinois.  They  are  the  parents  of  Rose  Marie  and 
Richard  Brame.  Earle  married  Esther  Coffey  of  Ston- 
ington,  Illinois.  They  are  the  parents  of  Mary,  Robert 
and  Karen  Brame.  Ralph  married  Orleen  Brahm  of 
Richmond,  Indiana.  They  are  the  parents  of  Shaaron 
Brame. 

Mrs.  Brame  died  in  June,  1956. 


-f=-i- 


The  C.  L.  Briggs  Family 

John  Wesley  Dallas  was  born  in  Virginia  (1812) 
and  married  Henrietta  Brown  in  1835.  They  were  the 
parents  of  four  children;  Erastus  Fletcher,  Drusilla 
Evaline,  Jeremiah,  and  Sarah  Elizabeth.  Sarah  Eliza- 
beth married  Thomas  Williams. 

Drusilla  married  Charles  C.  L.  Briggs  in  1862  and 
they  were  the  parents  of  six  children.  Of  interest  to 
this  Cisco  history  are :  Clark  Walter,  born  near  Circle- 
ville,  Ohio  in  1863,  married  Eugenie  Phillips  in  Kansas 
in  1893:  Mary  Etta,  born  in  Piatt  County  in  1865  and 
married  Thomas  Lee  McGinnis  at  Cisco  in  1891 ;  and 
Ida  Roselle,  born  in  1871  and  married  Edgar  L.  Coff- 
man  in  Cisco  in  1892. 

By  coincidence,  Ida  and  her  first  cousin  Grace 
Williams  (Martin)  were  married  in  the  Cisco  Metho- 
dist Church  the  same  day  to  men  with  the  same  first 
name  (Edgar). 

Clark  Walter  taught  in  Piatt  County  schools  and 
lived  with  local  families,  but  he  would  take  to  each 
house  his  own  special  chair.  He  went  to  Kansas  where 
he  married  Edith  Eugenie.  Their  children  were: 
Charles  Perry,  George  Dewey,  Mary  Edith  and  Clark 
Walter  Jr. 

George  Dewey  Briggs  (1898-1970)  was  named  after 
Admiral  George  Dewey.  Dewey  entered  military  ser- 
vice upon  graduation  from  high  school.  He  came  to 
Illinois  in  1919  and  transferred  his  membership  into 
the  Methodist  Church.  He  sei'ved  many  offices.  He  was 
a  Mason,  member  of  the  Bloomington  Consistory  and 
Ansar  Shrine.  He  was  president  of  Piatt  County  Farm 
Bureau;  president  of  the  Weldon  State  Bank;  helped 
organize  the  Fire  Protection  District;  treasurer  of 
the  Illinois  Association  of  Fire  Protection  Districts 
and  a  director  of  Federal  Land  Bank  Association. 

He  married  Lotus  Martin  in  1921  and  began  farm- 
ing in  Champaign  County.  Later  they  moved  northwest 
of  Cisco.  There  children  are:  Georgia,  1923;  Betty, 
1925;  Audra,  1929;  Roger,  1930;  and  Miriam,  1936. 


Georgia  served  in  the  USNR,  being  mustered  out 
in  1946.  She  attended  college  and  married  Robert 
Junior  Mills  in  1948.  They  have  two  children  and  re- 
side in  Manteno. 

Betty  graduated  from  the  University  of  Illinois, 
qualified  as  a  commerce  teacher.  She  married  William 
M.  Abbott  of  Morrison.  They  farm  in  Whiteside 
County.  Their  four  children  are:  Linda,  Charles,  Al- 
fred and  Louis. 

Audra  attended  the  University  of  Illinois,  married 
C.  E.  (Gene)  Gowler  and  live  on  a  farm  northwest  of 
Cisco.  Gene  served  in  World  War  II.  They  have  five 
daughters:  Carol  (Mrs.  John  Drayton)  ;  Sandra  (Mrs. 
Christopher  Wright)  ;  Vicki,  a  graduate  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  Illinois;  Patsy  (Mrs.  John  Whitlock)  with  one 
son;  and  Lisa  a  student  in  Champaign. 

Roger  took  short  courses  in  Ag  and  served  in  the 
U.S.  Marine  Corps.  He  married  Gertrude  Massey  in 
1952  and  they  farm  northwest  of  Cisco.  Their  children 
are;  Annette,  Randall,  Gregory,  and  Scott. 

Miriam  graduated  from  Monticello  High  School. 
Her  older  sisters  and  brother  were  graduates  of  Nixon 
Township  High.  She  attended  business  school  and 
married  Stanley  Seevers  in  1956.  Stanley  is  a  car- 
penter and  millwright.  Their  children  are:  Janece, 
Jodi,  and  Jonathan.  They  live  northwest  of  Cisco. 


John    Briggs    Family,    1892,    front:    Sarah,    Levi,   John    and 
Arthur;    standing::    Robert,  Jennie,  John   O.,   Elmer,   Edith. 

John  Briggs  Family 

The  Briggs  family  came  from  Scotland  early  in 
the  nineteenth  century  when  Andrew,  who  lived  102 
years,  a  Protestant  innkeeper,  was  driven  by  religious 
persecution  to  Ireland,  settling  near  Belfast.  Among 
his  three  sons  was  Thomas  (1815),  a  flax  farmer  and 
linen  weaver,  who  married  Mary  Armstrong,  of  Scot- 
tish descent,  and  they  had  ten  children.  Because  of 
the  large  payments  demanded  by  their  English  land- 
lords, they  sought  a  place  of  more  freedom,  and  in 
1861,  the  eldest  son,  John  (1840-1931)  came  to  Amer- 
ica, settling  near  Bloomington,  Illinois.  As  soon  as  he 
earned  the  fares,  he  sent  for  his  father  and  brothers. 
John  married  Sarah  Osborne  (1854),  in  1871,  and  they 
had  ten  children,  three  dying  in  childhood.   In   1885, 


57 


the  family  came  to  Cisco,  and  lived  one  mile  north 
and  two  miles  east  of  town.  Besides  farming,  John  did 
tiling  in  the  area.  Sarah  died  in  1898,  and  John  mar- 
ried Anne  Burge,  who  did  not  live  long.  John  then 
made  his  home  with  his  daughter,  Jennie  Miller. 

John  and  Sarah's  children  are:  John  O.  Briggs 
(1871-  )  married  Lena  Dresback  of  Deland  in  1898. 
He  was  a  teacher  most  of  his  life.  They  had  two 
daughters,  Lora  (1902)  and  Thelma  (1906)  who 
married  Dimiter  Ramandonoff.  They  and  their  son 
David  are  musicians.  Lena  died  in  1947,  and  John,  a 
retired  teacher,  now  lives  at  Evenglow  Lodge,  Pontiac, 
and  is  nearing  103  years. 

Edith  Briggs  (1873)  married  Harry  Miller  (see 
George  Miller  history). 

Jennie  Briggs  (1874-1973)  married  Albert  Miller, 
brother  of  Harry  (see  George  Miller  history). 

Robert  Briggs  (1882-1942)  married  Blossom 
Axrell.  They  and  their  six  children  lived  in  Wash- 
ington. 

Elmer  Briggs  (1884-1962)  married  Katherine 
Greer,  and  there  were  two  children. 

Arthur  Briggs  (1886-  )  married  Gertrude  Den- 
nison  in  North  Dakota  in  1914  and  they  had  one  child. 

Levi  Briggs  (1889-1936)  married  Lela  Andrews 
in  1920.  There  were  seven  children  and  they  lived  in 
Chicago. 

Carl  Briggs  (1894-  )  married  Laura  Dennison, 
sister  to  Arthur's  wife.  They  have  two  children  and 
also  live  in  Great  Falls,  Montana. 


Burns  Family 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  D.  James  Burns  and  son,  Jim,  moved 
to  Cisco  in  February  of  1953  from  Clinton.  They 
moved  on  the  Pattengill  Farm  where  they  reside  in 
the  Croniger  Homestead.  In  December  of  1954,  their 
second  son,  Paul,  was  born. 

In  the  21  years  of  living  in  Cisco,  James  and 
Mildred  have  been  active  in  many  organizations. 
James  belongs  to  the  Piatt  County  Farm  Bureau, 
Pork  Producers,  a  4-H  Leader,  served  on  the  4-H 
Council  and  chairman  of  the  4-H  Fair,  and  is  a  direc- 
tor of  Cisco  Cooperative  Grain  Co.  Mildred  has  been 
active  in  Home  Exten.sion  and  South  Birthday  Club. 
The  family  attends  St.  Philomena's  Catholic  Church  in 
Monticello.  Of  course,  they  spend  the  biggest  part  of 
their  time  farming,  raising  cattle  and  feeding  hogs. 

Jim  has  farmed  with  his  father  since  graduation 
from  high  school.  He  married  Michelle  Vermillion 
from  Clinton  in  February  of  1969.  They  have  one 
son,  Chad,  age  4,  and  one  daughter,  Stacey  Ann. 

Paul  is  attending  the  University  of  Illinois, 
majoring  in  animal  science. 


The  Burton  Family 

Ernest  Burton  and  wife  Ruie  with  their  two  sons, 
Winston  (1940)  and  Larry  (1944),  moved  to  Cisco  in 
1948  from  Ohio. 

Ernest  lived  on  a  farm  near  Monticello  with  his 
parents,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crave  Burton.  His  mother, 
Millie,  lived  in  Cisco  as  a  child  and  she  and  her  older 
sister.  Charity,  attended  Cisco  school.  Then  her  family 
moved  to  Kentucky  where  Millie  married  Crave  Burton. 
They  moved  back  to  Illinois  in  1927  when  Ernest  was 
nine  years  old.  Ernest  graduated  from  Mahomet  High 
School  and  married  Ruie  Tarter  of  Nancy,  Kentucky. 
They  lived  on  a  farm  near  Monticello  later  moving  to 
Indiana  and  Ohio.  They  returned  to  Cisco.  Ernest  was 
a  carpenter  for  Simmons  Construction  in  Decatur  and 
is  now  school  custodian  at  Washington  School  in  Mon- 
ticello. Ruie  is  employed  at  Kirby  Hospital. 

The  children  graduated  from  Cisco  Grade  School 
and  Monticello  High  School.  Winston  married  Phyllis 
Cornelison.  He  is  now  an  Elementary  School  Principal 
and  Pastor  of  a  Baptist  Church  in  Fordland,  Missouri. 
They  have  two  children,  Melissa  and  Carol  Anne. 
Larry,  after  graduating  enrolled  in  Southwest  Baptist 
Junior  College  in  Missouri  in  1962.  Then  in  1963, 
Larry  lost  his  life  in  a  plane  crash.  Rebecca  Lynn 
(1954)  married  James  W.  Hanson  of  Monticello.  They 
are  living  in  Cisco.  She  is  a  receptionist  at  an  Insur- 
ance company  and  Jim  works  in  Champaign. 


The  Campbell  ■  Kleven  Family 

In  1894,  William  Campbell  and  wife,  Lucinda 
Jackson  Campbell,  loaded  their  possessions  and  small 
2  year  old  son,  Roy  H.  Campbell,  into  a  covered  wagon 
and  headed  west  for  Nebraska.  After  two  years  of 
heartbreak  and  failure,  my  grandfather  sold  every- 
thing but  the  horses  to  buy  a  saddle  and  two  tickets 
on  the  train  back  east.  Dad  and  Grandma  Campbell 
came  back  to  Lane,  Illinois  on  the  train.  Grandpa 
rode  one  horse  and  led  the  other  home. 

For  several  years  the  Will  Campbell  family  lived 
near  Lane,  Illinois.  About  1906  the  family  moved  to  a 
John  Warner  farm  south  of  Deland.  For  most  of  his 
adult  life  Roy  did  chalk  talks  for  entertainment.  He 
was  often  called  on  to  give  a  picture  at  a  school  or 
church  program. 

In  1915,  Roy  H.  Campbell  and  Geneva  Martin, 
daughter  of  E.  O.  Martin  and  Grace  Williams  of  Wel- 
don,  married  in  her  parents'  home,  the  house  where 
Lotus  Briggs  presently  lives.  The  Martin  family  is 
related  to  the  Chandlers,  Melvins,  Parrs,  as  well  as 
the  Williams  and  Reeves. 

In  1934  my  parents  moved  to  the  farm  where  we 
presently  live.  I  grew  up  here  on  the  farm  with  my 
sisters,  Maxine  Poff,  Weldon,  and  Wilma  Goble  of 
Clinton,  and  one  brother  Martin  who  is  deceased.  My 
parents  celebrated  their  58th  wedding  anniversary  in 
Dec.  1973.  They  still  reside  in  Weldon. 


58 


I  married  Roy  J.  Kleven  in  1955.  Roy  and  I  met 
each  other  while  attending  the  University  of  Illinois 
from  which  we  both  graduated.  We  have  five  children, 
Virginia,  John  (deceased),  Brigetta,  Mark,  and  Philip. 

— by  Carolyn  Kleven 


today.  The  abstract  records  that  this  80  acres  was 
conveyed  by  deed  by  General  Warranty  in  1864  for 
the  consideration  of  $3, GOO.  William  served  in  the 
Civil  War  in  Company  B  of  the  107th  Illinois  Volun- 
teers. William  and  Jane  had  si.x  children:  Etta  May, 
Oliver  Mark,  Edgar  Otto,  Luther  M.,  Winfred  Byrum 
and  Manfred  Robert. 


Camic  Family 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Curt  Camic  moved  to  the  Robert  S. 
Ayre  farm,  southwest  of  Cisco,  from  Bethany,  111.,  in 
1961. 

Curt  was  awarded  a  certificate  of  merit  in  1965 
for  outstanding  accomplishment  in  soil  conservation. 

Ellen  teaches  second  grade  in  Mt.  Zion  Unit  and 
was  voted  "Teacher  of  the  Year"  in  her  district  for 
1973.  She  is  a  member  of  Cisco  Woman's  Club,  South 
Birthday  Club  and  United  Methodist  Women  of  Cisco 
church. 

They  have  one  daughter,  Mary  Brown,  who  teaches 
primary  class  of  Cisco  Methodist  Church.  Her  two 
children  are  Robin  and  Chris  Brown. 


Chandler 

Hiram  Chandler  and  Rachel  Manlove  were  married 
in  1841  in  Indiana  but  they  soon  moved  to  Illinois 
and  settled  in  the  southeast  corner  of  DeWitt  County. 
Gary,Goble,  a  descendant,  and  his  family  live  in  the 
Chandler  homestead  now.  Hiram  was  the  first  white 
man  to  occupy  this  land  and  so  he  was  turning  virgin 
sod  when  he  plowed.  Hiram  was  Nixon  Township's 
first  supervisor  and  also  treasurer  and  kept  large 
sums  of  money  in  his  house  which  made  his  wife  most 
uneasy. 

Rachel  (1818-1899)  was  a  member  of  the  Quaker 
Church  until  soon  after  her  marriage  when  she 
joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  She  held 
Sunday  School  in  her  home.  This  was  the  beginning 
of  the  Pleasant  Ridge  Society  which  later  combined 
with  two  other  religious  groups  to  form  the  Cisco 
M.  E.  Church.  She  was  a  member  of  this  church  for 
60  years  and  served  as  a  member  of  the  Quarterly 
Conference  —  in  those  days  that  was  an  unusual 
position  for  a  woman.  Traveling  preachers  found  her 
home  a  safe  and  sure  retreat  for  many  years.  The 
renowned  preacher,  Peter  Cartwright,  was  a  guest 
several  times.  She  contributed  the  land  for  the  Chand- 
ler Cemetery  that  is  still  being  used  today. 

They  had  seven  children :  Mary,  Jane,  Martha  (see 
Melvin  historij),  Flora,  Jasper,  Walter  and  Wilbur. 
Mary  who  died  in  1862  is  buried  in  Chandler  Ceme- 
tery. 

Jane  Mehitable  married  William  Stribling  Martin 
in  1866.  She  moved  %  of  a  mile  across  the  fields  to 
the  Martin  Homestead  where  Lotus  Martin  Briggs 
now  resides.  William  S.  had  bought  his  80  acres  in 
1864    and   this   land    remains    in    the    Martin    familv 


Chandler    Reunion:    Lloyd    Parr,    ,    Bryon    Melvin, 

Geneva  Martin,  Harlan,  Helen  Melvin,  Lucille  Parr, 

Juanita   Martin,   ,   Louis   Melvin,   Lotus   Martin.   In 

the  background  is  Lutie  Parr. 


Edgar  Martin  and  Grace  Williams  were  married 
in  1892  in  the  Cisco  Methodist  Church.  Grace  was  the 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Sarah  Elizabeth  Dallas 
Williams  of  Cisco.  The  Williams  children  were:  Clair- 
ette  Rose,  Marion  F.,  twins,  Anna  Grace,  Charles  B., 
John  B.,  Abbie,  Maurice  G.  Lewis  Boyd,  and  Shelby. 
Edgar  and  Grace  lived  on  several  farms  north  of 
Cisco  before  moving  to  the  Martin  family  home  north- 
west of  Cisco.  Edgar  taught  in  the  schools  of  Piatt 
and  Macon  Counties.  He  was  president  and  cashier 
of  Croninger  State  Bank.  After  retiring  from  farming, 
they  moved  to  Weldon.  Children  of  Edgar  and  Grace 
Martin  were  Elbert,  Geneva  (Mrs.  Roy  Campbell), 
Lotus  (Mrs.  G.  D.  Briggs),  and  Juanita  (Mrs.  John 
C.  Kriegsman). 

Elbert  Martin  (1893-1973)  married  Bertha  Cooley 
(1897-  )  in  1918.  He  joined  the  Army  in  1918  and 
served  in  the  "Suicide  Squad."  In  1920  he  and  Bertha 
moved  to  Stringtown  Lane,  where  they  lived  until  they 
retired  to  Decatur  in  1950.  In  1958  they  moved  to 
Monticello.  Elbert  and  Bertha  had  seven  children : 
Elbert  Jr.  (1918-1938),  LaVerne  (1920-  ),  William 
(1922-  ),  Bernice  (1923-  ),  Imogene  (1927-  ), 
Mary  Louise  (1932-  ),  and  Joanne  (1934-  ).  La- 
Verne  and  Bob  Conell  have  two  children.  William  and 
Dorothy  Musick  have  two  children,  Steven  Randall 
(1955-  )  and  Bonita  Kay  (1957-  ).  Bernice  and 
John  Anderson's  children  are  David  ( 1947-  ),  Richard 
(1949-  ),  and  Barbara  (1951),  and  Diane  (1952-  ). 
Imogene  and  Lonnie  Smith's  children  are  Connie  Lea 
(1947-  ),  twins  Michael  and  Martha  (1950-  ),  and 
Russell  (1952-  ).  Mary  Louise  married  Louis  Oliver 
and  they  have  three  sons  and  a  daughter.  Joanne 
married  Willis  Nicholson  and  they  have  two  boys 
and  two  girls. 


59 


Elbert,  Geneva,  and  Lotus  attended  Enterprise 
and  Prospect  schools.  Later  Geneva  taught  at  Prospect. 

Lotus  Martin  (1901-  )  was  born  on  the  farm 
north  of  Cisco.  Her  family  moved  to  the  homestead 
when  she  was  8  years  old.  Lotus  was  taught  tatting 
and  knitting  by  her  grandmother  Jane.  She  finished 
her  formal  schooling  in  Decatur.  Besides  Lotus,  other 
students  making  the  early  Monday  morning  train  trip 
from  Cisco  to  Decatur  were  Ira  McCartney,  Ralph 
Reeves,  and  Carl  Pattengale,  all  graduating  from 
Decatur  High  School  the  same  year  {see  Briggs 
history) . 

Juanita  Martin  attended  Prospect  School,  Cisco 
High  School  and  graduated  from  Weldon  High  School 
and  the  U.  of  L  She  worked  in  banking,  taught  school 
and  assisted  her  father  in  business.  Juanita  married 
John  C.  Kriegsman  in  1940.  They  developed  a  resi- 
denial  area  in  Pekin,  where  she  is  active  in  church 
and  community  affairs.  Their  children  are  John 
Martin,  oldest,  and  Richard,  youngest,  who  are  in 
the  Pekin-Peoria  area  with  their  father's  business, 
and  Jim,  who  lives  in  Hong  Kong  with  his  wife, 
Michele. 


Chapman  History 


Francis  Marion  Chapman,  Jr.,  of  Cerro  Gordo, 
111.,  married  Audra  E.  Weddle  in  1920  at  Cisco.  They 
were  married  in  the  Methodist  Parsonage  by  Rev. 
Harry  Thrall  (later  Dr.  Thrall j.  The  parsonage  was 
later  moved  to  the  Homer  Doane  farm.  They  had 
three  children. 

Ruth  LaVonne  was  born  in  Cisco.  She  married 
Donald  Ater  and  they  now  live  in  Ferriday,  Louisiana. 
La  Vonne  will  be  the  National  President  of  the  Cow- 
belles  Association  in  1975    (see  Ater  history) . 

Francis  Marion  Chapman,  III,  was  born  in  1922 
in  Cisco  and  is  living  on  the  family  farm.  He  married 
Mary  Carolyn  Parsons  of  Monticello  and  they  had 
two  children,  Francis  Mark  and  Laura  Jane.  Jane 
lives  in  California  and  Mark  farms  with  his  father. 

Marilyn  Elizabeth  Chapman  was  born  at  Dalton 
City  in  1927.  She  married  Robert  Lieb  and  they  live 
on  a  farm  near  Monticello. 

Francis  Chapman,  Jr.  died  in  1933.  Audra  Chap- 
man and  family  moved  back  to  Cisco  in  1936.  She 
retii'ed  from  farming  in  194G  and  moved  to  the  Brad 
Moore  estate  in  Monticello  where  she  resides  today. 
Audra  maried  Rev.  L.  P.  Meyers  in  1954. 


Clark 

Samuel  James  Clark  was  born  in  Bement,  Illinois 
in  1938,  the  son  of  Selby  and  Lotha  Clark.  He  married 
Peggy  Westray,  daughter  of  Russell  and  Lucille  West- 
ray  on  August  28,  1960,  in  Bement. 

They  moved  from  Hammond,  Illinois  to  Cisco  in 
August  of  1962.  Mr.  ""lark  became  the  8th  grade 
teacher  and  coach  at  Cisco  Grade  School  in  September 
of  that  same  year. 


Mr.  Clark  served  as  secretary-treasurer  to  the 
Cisco  Little  League,  president  of  the  Library  Board 
and  is  an  active  member  of  the  Cisco  Volunteer  Fire 
Department,  PTA  and  Cisco  Town  Board. 

Mrs.  Clark  started  working  at  the  Cisco  School 
as  the  school  secretary  in  August  of  1966.  She  is  a 
member  of  the  Cisco  Evening  Woman's  Club  and  the 
PTA. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark  are  the  parents  of  two  daugh- 
ters, Cynthia  Lyn  (1961),  and  Angela  Beth  (1964). 


The  Clifton's 


James  Clifton  (1877-1949)  was  born  at  Camargo, 
111.,  a  son  of  the  Joseph  S.  Cliftons.  Isabelle  Sullivan 
was  born  at  Cerro  Gordo.  They  were  married  in 
1895  at  Newburg,  111.,  and  had  three  children:  Dottie, 
Wilmer  C.  (Buck)  and  Gilbert.  They  came  to  live  in 
Cisco  in  1904.  His  wife  "Belle"  died  in  1935.  He  then 
married  Minnie  Eaton  and  they  had  three  children: 
Betty  Mae,  Mary  and  Patsy.  James  operated  a  black- 
smith shop  and  garage  in  Cisco  for  45  years  with 
the  help  of  Buck.  The  business  was  destroyed  by  fire 
in  the  winter  of  1944.  James  then  moved  his  family 
to  Decatur.  • 

Dottie  married  Evert  L.  Giesler  in  1915.  They  had 
two  children,  James  and  Maxine  (see  Giesler  history). 

Gilbert  married  Effie  Austin.  They  had  two  chil- 
dren, Robert  Dale  and  Mary.  Effie  makes  her  home 
with  Mary  in  Rantoul.  Gilbert  later  married  Ethelda 
Stratman  and  they  had  two  sons,  Ray  and  Roy.  They 


.>F.- 


James  Clifton,  1949. 

lived  in  Monticello  at  the  time  of  Gilbert's  death  in 
1958.  Their  son,  Roy,  married  Donna  Hatfield,  daugh- 
ter of  Ray  and  Jennie,  and  they  had  a  son  Steven. 

Wilmer  C.  "Buck"  and  Vera  White  were  married 
in  1921  in  Cisco.  He  worked  with  his  father  and  later 
for  the  Cob  Company,  the  Cisco  Implement  Co.  and  for 
International   Harvester   in   Oreana,   as   a   mechanic. 


60 


They  have  three  children:  Wilmer  Leon  (1922),  Jack 
C.  (1924),  and  Adeline  (1938).  Both  boys  are  veterans 
of  World  War  II. 

Leon  married  Helen  McKinney,  daughter  of  Harold 
and  Bessie.  They  have  a  son  Jeffrey.  They  now  live 
south  of  town  and  Leon  farms  and  works  at  Cater- 
pillar. 

Jack  married  Leora  Benjamin,  daughter  of  "Hip" 
and  Lena.  They  have  two  children,  Diana  Lyn  and 
Jack,  II.  Jack  and  Leora  have  been  active  in  the 
American  Legion.  He  works  for  Fehrenbach  Chevrolet 
in  Decatur  and  Leora  has  run  a  beauty  shop  in  her 
home  for  17  years.  Diana  Lyn  maried  Richard  Hoff- 
man and  has  one  son,  Sean.  They  are  living  in  Cisco. 
Jack,  II,  is  now  a  sophomore  in  pre-med  at  the  Uni- 
versity of  Illinois.  He  was  named  to  Who's  Who 
Among  High  School  Students  in  1972. 

The  third  child  born  to  Buck  and  Vera  was  a 
daughter,  Adeline.  She  now  lives  in  Chicago. 


-J— «- 


Cloud  Family 


Permelia  Robinson  and  Mordecia  Cloud  married  in 
1857  in  Circleville,  Pickaway  County,  Ohio.  They  came 
to  Illinois  by  covered  wagon  several  years  later,  set- 
tling first  in  DeWitt  county  near  Weldon  and  on  to 
the  Cisco  area.  There  were  six  children :  Mary  Eliza- 
beth, David,  William,  Susie,  James  and  Elmer.  In 
later  years  all  the  children  moved  to  Iowa  except  James 
and  Elmer,  who  spent  their  entire  life  around  Cisco. 

The  family  are  all  deceased.  (Elmer  was  the  last 
of  the  family) .  He  died  in  1971  at  the  age  of  96.  Emma 
Rainey  became  his  wife  in  1900 — she  lived  until  1922. 


They  had  two  children :  Eva  married  Wayne  McCart- 
ney, and  Earl.  Wayne  and  Eva  lived  near  Cisco,  later 
in  Monticello  where  Wayne  died  in  1973.  There  are 
two  grandchildren,  Robert  McCartney,  Indianapolis, 
and  Mrs.  Beulah  Mattson,  Decatur.  Eva's  brother.  Earl 
Cloud,  died  in  1931  at  the  age  of  25. 

-5-4- 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Elmer  Cloud,  1900. 


John  and  Harriet  Jimison  Clover 

John  Elmer  Clover 

In  Virginia,  Jane  Campbell,  born  in  1820,  and 
John  Barton  were  married  and  lived  for  several  years. 
Here  three  children  were  born.  They  decided  to  "go 
West"  by  the  way  of  Kentucky.  They  often  spoke  of 
the  "wilds  of  Kentucky."  In  Adair  County,  Mary  Jane 
Barton  was  added  to  the  family  circle.  They  continued 
westward  into  Illinois  by  the  way  of  Winchester.  One 
last  move  brought  them  to  Cerro  Gordo  in  1866.  John 
Barton  passed  away  in  1896.  Jane  Barton  lived  for  a 
few  years  in  Cisco  in  the  home  of  Mary  Barton  Clover. 
Later  she  went  to  live  with  a  daughter  in  Jacksonville, 
where  she  passed  away  March  28,  1906  at  the  age  of 
86  years  and  3  months. 

The  family  history  of  Israel  Clever,  has  not  been 
well  documented.  It  is  known  that  his  father,  Em- 
manuel Clover,  came  to  Illinois  from  Ohio,  settling  in 
the  Cisco  area.  There  is  little  known  of  Israel's  mother 
other  than  that  her  name  was  Florey.  There  is  a  bro- 
ther David  Clover  and  a  sister:  also  there  is  mention 
of  a  half  brother  and  sister. 

Israel  Clover  (1847-1915)  was  born  in  Piatt 
County  and  married  to  Mary  Jane  Barton  Feb.  28, 
1867.  In  1868  they  purchased  a  small  farm  one  mile 
south  of  Cisco.  Here  John  Elmer  Clover  (1872-1962) 
was  born. 

He  lived  most  of  his  childhood  on  this  farm.  On 
August  1,  1892  he  was  married  to  Harriet  Jimerson 
of  DeWitt  County. 

The  poor  crops,  very  low  farm  prices  (corn  at  10 
cents  a  bushel)  convinced  him  farming  was  not  for 
him  and  he  moved  to  Cisco,  Illinois,  where  he  lived, 
with  the  exception  of  two  years  in  Iowa.  However,  he 
was  associated  with  farming  indirectly.  He  worked 


61 


for  other  fanners  at  times.  He  operated  the  Cisco 
Grain  Elevator  during  the  regimen  of  Mr.  Wm.  Kyle 
and  under  Albert  Leach.  At  one  time  he  assisted  Mr. 
Joe  Williams  in  the  selection  and  preparation  of  seed 
corn. 

After  Harriet's  death  he  lived  alone  in  his  home 
until  his  health  caused  him  to  enter  the  Piatt  County 
nursing  home. 

His  remaining  children  are  Blondella  Hawver  of 
Concord,  California;  Russell  Clover  of  Rialto,  Cali- 
fornia; Ruby  Leach  of  Cisco,  Illinois;  Lillie  Leach  of 
Cerro  Gordo,  Illinois;  Mary  Nihls  of  Beecher  City, 
Illinois.  There  are  7  grandchildren  and  11  great  grand- 
children. 


-J=-4- 


The  John  Clow  Family 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Clow  moved  into  Cisco  in  the 
early  30's  from  their  home  on  Stringtown  Lane,  north 
of  Cisco.  They  had  five  children:  Ken,  Charles,  John, 
Bernice  and  Elnora.  When  they  moved  to  town  there 
were  only  two  children  still  living  at  home,  Bernice 
and  Elnora. 

John  and  Nettie  celebrated  their  50th  wedding 
anniversary  on  Nov.  30,  1955  in  their  home  with 
seventeen  of  their  children  and  grandchildren  present. 
They  lived  in  this  same  house  until  Nettie's  death  in 
1964.  John  then  moved  into  the  Piatt  County  Nursing 
Home  in  1969.  He  died  in  1971. 

Their  house  was  sold  to  their  granddaughter,  Mrs. 
Sue  (Duvall)  Hall  and  her  husband,  Willie.  Willie 
and  Sue  are  still  living  in  the  house  with  their  two 
girls,  Chrissie  and  Kathy.  Willie  is  employed  at 
Superior  Welding  Co.  in  Decatur  and  Sue  works  at 
FS  Services  of  Cisco. 


/ 


'ra! 


!i 


L 


^ 


Frank  and  Annie  Coffin 


Coffin 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Clow  on  their  50th  Wedding  Anniversary. 


Francis  Marion  (Doc)  Coffin  and  Cynthia  Ann 
Hughes  Coffin  moved  east  of  Cisco,  soon  after  their 
marriage  to  the  old  Dodd  Farm.  They  cared  for  Mr. 
Dodd  until  his  death  then  inherited  one  half  of  the 
farm. 

To  this  union  were  born  five  children :  Mrs.  James 
(Jenny)  Ensign,  Mrs.  Jake  (Elma)  Waggoner,  Mrs. 
Earl  (Pearl)  Wiggins,  Frank  who  married  Lena 
Wiggins,  and  Roy  who  married  Alice  Reed.  There 
were  fifteen  grandchildren. 

Jake  and  Elma  Coffin  Waggoner  farmed  in  the 
Clinton  and  Cisco  area.  To  this  union  were  born  three 
children,  Lloyd  and  Myrle  deceased,  and  Dorothy 
living  in  the  East.  Two  grandsons  survive. 

In  1935  they  moved  to  the  home  place  taking  care 
of  Elma's  mother,  Ann  Coffin,  until  she  died  in 
1942.  Jake  and  Elma  then  moved  to  their  farm  south 
of  Argenta.  When  they  retired  they  moved  back  to 
Cisco. 

The  family  was  active  in  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
When  the  church  united  with  the  Methodist  Church 
Elma  was  active  in  the  church  and  Women's  Society. 

Jake  passed  away  in  1965.  Elma  moved  to  Argenta 
and  passed  away  in  1970. 

Earl  and  Pearl  Coffin  Wiggins  lived  east  of  Cisco. 
Earl  was  killed  at  a  Cisco  railroad  crossing  when 
delivering  milk  in  Cisco.  Pearl  later  married  Harry 
Williams  in  Decatur  moving  to  Des  Moines,  Iowa. 
After  his  death  Pearl  moved  to  California  and  is  the 
only  surviving  member  of  the  family. 


Do  you  remember  when  hogs  were  driven  down 
the  roads  and  streets  to  the  stockyards? 

The  Franklin  Coffman  Family 

Franklin  Coffman,  the  son  of  Benjamin  and  Eliza- 
beth Swick  Coffman  came  to  Piatt  County,  Illinois 
from  Staunton,  Virginia,  in  a  covered  wagon  with  his 
widowed  mother  and  four  brothers. 


62 


Franklin  married  Mary  Jane  Chance  at  New  Hol- 
land, Illinois,  where  they  farmed  a  while,  later  coming 
to  the  Cisco  area.  They  lived  1  mile  west  and  1  mile 
north  of  Cisco. 

Eight  of  their  nine  children  were  born  at  this 
homesite.  They  were  Edgar,  Louella,  Viola,  Bertha, 
Elizabeth,  Augusta,  Lora  Glen,  Alva,  and  Guy.  He 
farmed  and  did  custom  threshing  and  corn  shelling 
along  with  raising  strawberrys,  raspberrys,  and  black- 
berrys. 

The  children  attended  West  Cisco  School. 

He  retired  from  farming  and  moved  to  Cisco 
where  he  bought  the  Charles  Croninger  home.  He 
and  his  son  Guy  operated  a  garage  and  ran  the 
electric  light  plant  and  movie  theater. 

Mary  Jane  died  in  1919  and  Franklin  died  in  1929. 

Edgar  married  Ida  Briggs  and  lived  south  of 
Decatur.  They  had  3  sons,  Gilbert,  Eldo,  and  Everett. 

Louella  married  Andrew  Jimerson.  He  farmed  at 
Cisco  and  Rossville,  Illinois,  where  she  taught  school. 
They  adopted  a  daughter,  Helen. 

Viola  married  Charles  Doane  {see  Doane  hisiory). 

Bertha  married  Earl  Bragg.  They  were  divorced. 

Elizabeth  married  Charles  Long,  a  farmer  and 
they  had  one  son,  Kenneth. 

Augusta  married  Henry  Neiwold,  a  farmer  of  New 
Holland,  Illinois,  and  they  had  one  son,  Errol. 

Lora  Glen  married  Oscar  Jones,  a  Cisco  farmer, 
who  later  moved  to  Rossville. 

Alva  married  Harley  Miles  (see  MUes  history). 

Guy  married  De  Morse  Conrad.  They  had  one 
daughter,  Georgia  Margaret. 


The  Conner  Family 

Edgar  Eugene  Connor  was  born  in  Deland  in  1914, 
the  12th  child  of  a  family  of  14  children.  His  parents, 
George  Luther  Connor  and  Dora  Ann  Talkington  moved 
to  Deland  in  1913.  George  worked  as  a  carpenter,  later 
moving  his  family  to  Hammond,  where  Gene  graduated 
from  Hammond  High  School.  Gene  married  Doris 
Sullivan  and  they  lived  on  a  farm  southwest  of  Cerro 
Gordo.  In  1940  they  moved  to  Cisco  and  bought  the 
home  of  Doris's  parents.  Gene  was  manager  of  the 
Weldon  Lumber  Company  and  later  worked  for  Cater- 
pillar. He  was  employed  at  Borg-Warner  in  Dectur  at 
the  time  of  his  death  in  1965. 

Doris  Sullivan  Connor  was  born  in  1916,  the 
daughter  of  Russell  and  Gladys  E.  Six  Sullivan.  Her 
parents  moved  to  Cisco  in  1917.  Doris  graduated  from 
Cisco  High  School  in  1931.  Cisco  had  only  a  three 
year  high  school  at  this  time  and  she  attended  Argenta 
High  School  her  senior  year.  She  worked  for  the  Cisco 
Mercantile  Company,  helped  Gene  at  Weldon  Lumber 
Co.  and  worked  at  the  Monticello  Lumber  Co.  She  also 


Doris,  Delores,  Jon,  Gene  and  Gerald  Conner  in  1961. 

taught  accordian  in  Cisco  and  the  surrounding  towns. 
She  currently  works  at  the  Circuit  Clerk's  office  in 
Monticello. 

They  have  three  children.  All  three  attended  Cisco 
Grade  School  and  Monticello  High  School.  Gerald 
Eugene  served  in  the  Army  and  now  works  for  the 
N  &  W  Railroad  Co.  He  is  married  to  Anna  Ellison. 
Delores  Marlene  married  Vincent  Kuetemeyer  and  is 
living  in  Louisiana.  They  have  two  children,  Gail  and 
Scott.  Jon  Robert  is  managing  a  small  used  merchan- 
dise store  in  Champaign,  Illinois. 


Coon  -  Ayers  Families 

Abraham  Coon  (1772-1855),  son  of  a  Revolution- 
ary War  soldier,  moved  his  family  from  Pennsylvania 
westward  thru  Ohio  to  Illinois.  He  fought  in  the  War 
of  1812  and  arrived  in  what  is  now  Piatt  County  in 
1849.  His  sons  had  already  established  their  homes 
here  as  early  as  1841.  Abraham  and  his  wife,  Cath- 
erine Hensil  (1777-1855),  lived  with  their  son,  John 
Henry.  There  were  seven  children  of  this  union. 
Lawrence  Coon  (1805-1846]  was  born  in  Pennsylvania 
and  moved  with  his  parents  to  Ohio.  He  married 
Elizabeth  Hubbard  and  had  at  least  three  children. 
After  coming  to  Piatt  County,  Lawrence  died  in  1846. 
His  wife,  Elizabeth,  then  married  Emanuel  Clover  in 
1848:  they  came  to  live  in  Willow  Branch  Township. 
Elizabeth's  great-great-grandson,  Larry  W.  Coon  is 
presently  living  at  the  same  location. 

Mr.  E.  Clover  raised  the  Coon  children:  Richard 
Hensil,  Isabell  and  Lydia.  At  the  death  of  Abraham 
in  1855  Lawrence's  children  each  inherited  $12,821/2. 

Richard  (1835-1919)  married  Deborah  Catherine 
Dodd  (1845-1891).  She  died  of  pneumonia  and  he 
later  married  Anna  Creekmur.  His  children  with 
Deborah  were  Sarah  and  Isreal  Taylor  Coon. 

Isreal  Taylor  Coon  (1865-1937)  was  born  in  Piatt 
County.  He  married  Lucy  Amelia  Ayres  and  farmed 
in  Friends  Creek  Township.  He  spent  many  years  in 
a  wheel  chair  and  died  at  the  age  of  71. 


63 


Lucy  Amelia  Ayers  (1869-1939)  was  a  descendant 
of  Walter  Sleighter,  a  farmer  of  Dutch  descent  and 
a  veteran  of  the  Revolutionary  War.  He  married 
Amelia  Bullis  and  seven  children  were  born  to  this 
marriage.  A  daughter,  Alzina  Sleighter,  married 
Seymour  Ayers.  They  had  twelve  children.  One  of 
these,  Andrew  Jayerio  Ayers,  married  Mary  Susan 
Hull  of  Cisco.  To  this  union  eight  children  were  born. 
Andrew  purchased  the  Cisco  Hotel  in  1887  and  ran  it 
for  several  years.  It  was  sold  to  Sarah  Higgins.  Lucy 
and  Isreal's  children  were:  Wayne  Hensil,  Carl  Jess, 
Wilbur  Mayo,  Mabel,  Margie  May,  Ruth  Ann,  and 
Lawrence  Edgar. 

Wayne  Hensil  (1891-1936)  married  Erma  Dooley, 
a  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Mary  Cornell  Dooley.  Erma 
died  in  childbirth  in  1916.  Wayne  farmed,  ran  a 
restaurant  and  a  grocery  store  in  Cisco.  After  Erma's 
death  he  married  Hazel  Brodson. 

Carl  Jess  (1894-1955)  was  a  farmer.  He  married 
Margie  Oxley,  daughter  of  John  and  Cora  (Clow) 
Oxley.  A  daughter,  Ileen  Coon,  was  born  to  this  mar- 
riage. Ileen,  a  life  long  resident  of  Cisco,  is  married  to 
Glenn  Vest.  They  have  a  son,  LeRay.  After  Margie's 
death  in  1914,  Carl  married  Grace  Gisinger.  They  had 
three  children. 

Wilbur  Mayo  (1897-1959)  worked  on  the  home 
farm  for  several  years  before  his  marriage  to  Bernice 
Braden.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Calvin  and  Mary 
Braden.  Bernice  worked  in  the  newspaper  office.  They 
married  in  1916  and  after  a  brief  stay  in  Detroit, 
they  returned  to  Cisco  where  Wilbur  helped  his  bro- 
ther, Wayne,  in  farming.  Later  they  moved  to  Decatur 
and  he  worked  for  Staley's  for  38  years.  They  had 
two  sons. 

Mabel  (1899-1969)  worked  at  the  cream  station 
which  was  run  by  her  cousin.  Hazel  Painter.  She  met 
Harry  Lyons  (1896-  )  when  they  both  performed  in 
a  play  given  at  the  Presbyterian  Church.  The  play 
was  entitled  "Over  the  Hill  To  the  Poor  House."  Mabel 
and  Harry  were  married  in  1922  at  the  church  in 
Springfield  that  Abraham  Lincoln  had  attended  (see 
Lyons  history). 


The  Coon  Family,  bottom   row:   Margir.    Taylor,  Lucy  Ayt-rs 

Coon,   Ruth;    top   row:    Wilbur.   Carl,   Wayne,   l-aurence   and 

Mabel. 


Margie  May  (1900-1972)  married  Ray  Mills  and 
had  two  children,  Hershel  and  Kathryn  Virginia.  They 
lived  in  Cisco  for  several  years  and  later  moved  to 
Clinton,  111.  Margie  later  married  Perry  Clary.  They 
resided  in  Clinton  until  death. 

Ruth  Ann  (1903-1964)  married  Walter  Kaufman. 
They  farmed  for  many  years  east  of  Argenta,  111., 
until  retirement  when  they  moved  into  Argenta.  Five 
children  were  born  to  this  family.  Three  sons:  LeRoy, 
Norman,  and  Harold  live  in  or  near  Argenta  in  1974. 

Lawrence  (1905-1968)  attended  Pleasant  Ridge, 
Cisco  Grade  School  and  Argenta  High  School.  He  was 
the  only  one  of  the  family  to  get  a  high  school  edu- 
cation. He  married  Opal  Marie  Geer  in  1936.  Lawrence 
and  Opal  lived  at  the  home  place  north  and  west  of 
Cisco  with  Lucy  Coon  until  her  death.  Opal  (1906-  ) 
graduated  from  Weldon  High  School.  In  1928,  she 
graduated  from  Jackson  Park  Hospital,  Chicago,  111., 
as  a  registered  Nurse.  After  moving  to  Cisco  she 
helped  in  the  farming  and  took  care  of  many  neigh- 
bors and  friends.  She  later  worked  for  Macon  County 
until  retirement  in  1970.  The  children  of  Lawrence 
and  Opal  are  Lucia  Ann  and  Larry  Wayne,  who  both 
graduated  from  Monticello  High  School.  Lucia 
(1944-  )  married  Richard  G.  Wilkin.  They  have  two 
sons,  Charles  Scott  and  Brian  Clark.  Larry  Wayne 
(1947-  )  is  married  to  Ellen  M.  Vanderbeck  of  New 
Jersey  and  they  have  two  children,  Timothy  Shannon 
and  Tamahra  Marie.  Larry  served  in  the  United 
States  Marine  Corps  and  is  presently  helping  Richard 
in  the  farming  of  land  near  Cisco  and  Ivesdale. 


Cornell  Family 

There  were  members  of  the  Cornell  family  living 
in  the  Cisco  area  for  many  years.  Names  and  dates  of 
the  first  Cornells  to  move  to  the  area  are  not  known. 
The  earliest  date  known  to  be  authentic  is  1845. 
Charles  Cornell  was  born  near  Cisco  in  1845.  He 
married  Catherine  Burns  in  1881.  They  farmed  in  the 
Cisco  area  where  four  sons  and  one  daughter  were 
born.  In  1893  the  family  moved  to  Olney,  Illinois,  but 
returned  to  Cisco  in  1905.  Charles  Cornell  died  in 
1912  and  his  wife  in  1921.  Cloyd,  the  first  son,  home- 
steaded  in  North  Dakota.  He  married  Lena  Erickson 
in  1911.  Twins  were  born  to  this  union.  He  died  in 
North    Dakota. 

Lee  married  Goldie  McArty  of  the  Monticello  area 
in  1915.  They  were  the  parents  of  a  daughter,  Lelah, 
and  a  son,  Max.  The  Lee  Cornell  family  farmed  in 
the  Cisco  area  and  then  moved  to  the  Argenta  area 
where  Lee  died  in  1932.  Goldie  taught  school  in  the 
Argenta  area,  moving  to  Cisco,  until  she  went  to 
Tucson,  Arizona  to  make  her  home  with  Lelah  (Mrs. 
Wayne  Wait).  Max  married  Virginia  Mills  of  Cisco. 
They  have  two  daughters  and  are  living  in  Normal,  111. 
Goldie  died  in  1970. 

Acy  (1886-1942)  returned  from  duty  in  World 
War  I  in  time  to  nur.se  the  Clarence  Cornell  family 
through  a  bout  with  the  flu.  In  1919  he  married 
Minnie  Higgins  of  Cisco.  They  farmed  in  the  Cisco 


64 


The  Clarence  Cornell  Family,  left  to  risht:  Jeanette.  Clarice, 
Clarence,  Fay  and  Phyllis. 

area.  He  was  Township  Highway  Commissioner  from 
1933  until  his  death.  The  Acy  Cornells  had  one  daugh- 
ter, Maxine,  who  married  Richard  Adams  of  Weldon, 
Illinois.  Richard  and  Maxine  had  one  son,  Francis. 
Maxine  died  while  living  in   Florida. 

Clarence  (1888-1933)  was  the  first  son  to  be 
married.  He  married  Fay  McArty,  who  was  teaching 
school  in  the  Willow  Branch  area,  in  1910.  They 
farmed  in  the  Cisco  area  and  then  moved  to  the 
village  of  Cisco.  Clarence  worked  on  the  highways  for 
a  few  years  and  was  elected  Township  Highway  Com- 
missioner in  1922.  He  held  this  job  until  his  death. 
Fay  died  in  1932.  Clarence  and  Fay  were  the  parents 
of  three  daughters  and  one  son :  Clarice,  Mrs.  Howard 
Dresback,  taught  at  Pleasant  Ridge;  Jeanette,  Mrs. 
J.  F.  Querry;  Phyllis,  Mrs.  Robert  Abner;  and  Clar- 
ence Lyndon,  who  lived  only  two  months.  Jeanette 
and  her  husband  are  the  parents  of  three  daughters, 
grandparents  of  four  boys  and  three  girls.  Phyllis  and 
her  husband  are  the  parents  of  a  daughter  and  one 
son  and  the  grandparents  of  two  girls. 

Glenna,  the  only  daughter  of  Charles  and  Catherine 
Cornell  and  the  youngest  child,  married  Elmer  Rainey 
in  1913.  They  farmed  in  the  Cisco  area  for  more  than 
forty  years  before  retiring  and  buying  a  home  in 
Cisco.  They  celebrated  their  golden  wedding  anniver- 
sary in  1963.  Glenna  died  in  1967.  Mr.  Rainey  is  a 
well  known  retired  farmer  still  living  in  Cisco. 

Henry  and  John  Cornell  were  brothers  of  Charles. 
Some  of  their  descendants  are:  Lynn  Rainey  of  the 
Bement  area.  Pearl  Rainey  Stone  of  Decatur,  111. 
(their  mother  was  Nettie  Cornell  Rainey)  ;  Willard 
Morton,  Bement  area,  Knox  Morton,  Cerro  Gordo 
(their  mother  was  Alice  Cornell  Morton)  ;  Harold 
Peck,  Monticello,  whose  mother  was  known  as  "Sis" 
Cornell  Peck;  and  Bertha  Winzenberger,  Bement,  111., 
whose  mother  was  Mrs.  Molly  Dooley.  All  of  these 
descendants  spent  part  of  their  lives  in  Cisco  or 
Willow  Branch  Township. 


Craig  Family  History 

William  "Bill"  Craig,  his  wife  Mary  and  son  Paul 
B.  moved  to  the  Cisco  area  from  Corydon,  Indiana  in 
1917.  In  1918  another  son,  Forrest  T.  was  born.  On 
February  2,  1929,  Bill  moved  his  family  to  a  farm 
east  of  Cisco  which  was  owned  by  Mrs.  Anne  Melissa 
Williams.  In  1932,  he  began  farming  the  320  acres  that 
his  son  Paul  farms. 

Paul  married  Marjorie  Ellen  Bentley  from  Bement, 
Illinois  in  1938.  In  1941,  they  moved  from  Monticello 
to  the  tenant  farm  belonging  to  Walter  Miller.  They 
had  three  daughters,  Karen  Lee  (1941),  Linda  Louise 
(1944)  and  Paula  Jean  (1955).  Marge  passed  away 
in  1971. 

Karen  married  John  Tatman  Jr.  in  1959.  They  live 
at  White  Heath  with  their  children;  Margaret  Ellen, 
Jonna  Lynn,  Karri  Louise  and  Christopher  John. 

In  1963,  Linda  married  Bruce  Jordan  of  Bement. 
They  live  in  Monticello  where  Bruce  operates  his 
barber  shop. 

In  1941,  Forrest  enlisted  in  the  United  States 
Army  where  he  trained  as  a  radio  operator.  In  1942 
he  married  Norma  Bailey  of  Decatur  and  they  had  one 
son,  Steven  born  in  1943.  On  August  10,  1945  Forrest 
was  reported  missing  in  action  while  serving  on  board 
a  cargo  plane  flying  over  the  Hump  of  Indo-China,  one 
year  later  he  was  declared  dead.  Norma  later  married 
Virgil  Schroeder  of  Decatur  and  she  and  Steven  live 
there. 

In  1950  Bill  Craig  purchased  the  Kanode  farm 
southeast  of  Cisco  and  Paul  moved  his  family  to  this 
farm.  Later  father  and  son  traded  farms  and  the  Paul 
Craig  family  moved  to  the  home  farm. 

In  1957  Mary  Louise  passed  away.  In  1959  Bill 
married  Nellie  Wiseman  of  Cisco  and  moved  to  town. 
Bill  passed  away  in  1961. 


^ 


^ 

t 


L 


■j 


M 


Do  you  remember  the  lion  hunt  at  Cisco? 


Bill  and  Lula  Craig  in  1947. 


65 


The  Williams'  farm  has  been  the  family  home 
of  the  Craig's  for  45  years,  and  owned  by  the  same 
family  for  138  years.  The  farm  was  originally  pur- 
chased in  five  sections  for  $1.25  an  acre  from  the 
Federal  Land  office  of  Danville  by  Wm.  Stage.  It  is 
now  owned  by  Mrs.  Charles  "Ella  Williams"  Monfort 
who  nov  lives  in  Kirkwood,  Missouri. 


Charles  Luther  Croninger,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Cisco 
in  1872,  the  son  of  Mahlon  and  Anna  V.  fRinehart) 
Croninger.  In  1896  he  married  Ivaye  Maud  Kyle. 
He  was  a  farmer,  dealer  in  real  estate,  and  a  banker. 
He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Methodist 
Church.  It  was  here  that  their  children,  Harvey, 
Gracie,  and  Charles  Luther  Jr.,  were  born.  Gracie 
died  at  the  age  of  two. 

When  Harvey  and  Charles  Jr.,  were  teenagers 
they  moved  with  their  parents  to  Chicago  where 
Charles,  Sr.,  dealt  in  real  estate,  retaining  the  owner- 
ship of  farms  in  central  Illinois. 

Harvey  was  married  to  Caroline  Davis,  and  they 
lived  for  a  time  near  Cisco,  returning  to  Chicago. 

Charles,  Jr.,  married  Wilma  J.  Tuvell,  of  Cerro 
Gordo,  in  1922.  They  lived  in  Chicago,  Cerro  Gordo, 
and  in  Cisco,  and  it  was  in  Cerro  Gordo  that  their 
daughter,  Helen  Patricia,  was  born  in  1922.  Their 
son,  Charles  Croninger  III  was  born  in  1937  in  Chi- 
cago. In  1943  he  family  moved  to  California. 

Charles  Croninger,  Sr.,  died  in  Chicago  in  1949, 
and  his  wife  Ivaye  moved  to  California.  She  died  in 
California  in  1953.  Her  elder  son,  Harvey,  died  there 
in  1948,  and  Charles,  Jr.,  died  in  Carson,  California, 
in  1968.  His  wife  Wilma,  still  resides  there. 


-5-4- 


Mahlon  Croninger  and  Annie  Virginia  Croninger. 

Croninger  Family 

Peter  Croninger,  Sr.  was  of  German  ancestry, 
having  been  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  an  early 
settler  of  Ohio.  There  were  seven  children.  One  of 
them  was  Peter,  Jr.  (1818-1895)  born  in  Pickaway 
County,  Ohio. 

Like  so  many  people  in  those  times,  in  1839  he 
came  West  along  with  two  of  his  friends  and  bought 
some  land  north  of  the  Sangamon  river.  The  next 
year  he  came  back  to  settle.  In  May  of  that  year,  he 
took  as  his  wife,  Cynthia  Madden,  daughter  of  Ros- 
wald  and  Martha  Marquiss  Madden.  Peter  continued 
to  buy  more  land,  cleared  it,  raised  livestock  as  well 
as  farming  his  land.  Their  son,  Mahlon  Leonard 
(1841-1903)    helped  his  father,  Peter,  Jr. 

After  Peter  Jr.'s  frame  house  burned,  they  built 
a  two-story  brick  house.  The  same  year  Mahlon  Cron- 
inger married  Annie  Virginia  Rinehart,  daughter  of 
James  and  Catharine  Rinehart. 

About  1887  Mahlon  organized  the  Croninger  Bank. 
Later  his  oldest  son  Ernest  assisted  in  this  business. 
Land  was  given  by  Mahlon  for  Croninger  Cemetery. 

Mahlon  and  Annie  raised  four  children:  Ernest 
(1870-1903),  Charles  L.,  Nellie  Grace  (1875-1910) 
and  Pearley  F.  (1877-1905).  Ernest  and  Pearley  did 
not  marry  and  lived  at  home.  Nellie  married  Dr.  M. 
Pattengill  and  lived  in  Cisco. 

The  next  history  is  about  Charles  L. 


Doane  -  Cook 

Noble  and  Samantha  Doane,  natives  of  Connecticut, 
were  the  parents  of  8  children:  Annie,  Rebecca,  Ellen, 
Fred,  Sally,  Henry,  John  and  Edwin. 

Edwin  Doane  was  born  in  Circleville,  Ohio  in  1838. 
He  was  a  farmer  in  Ohio  till  1871,  when  he  moved  to 
Piatt  and  bought  land  in  Piatt  and  Dewitt  counties, 
which  he  operated  until  his  death  in  1910.  In  1868, 
Edwin  Doane  was  married  to  Nannie  E.  Shaft,  born 
in  Ohio,  a  daughter  of  Frederick  and  Nannie  Jordan 
Shaff,  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  Missouri  respec- 
tively. Edwin  and  Nannie  were  the  parents  of  three 
sons:  Claude,  who  lived  in  Indiana,  C^lement  Jr.,  who 
lived  in  Dewitt  county  and  Charles  who  lived  in  Cisco. 
Nannie  died  in  1918. 

Charles  Doane  (1873-1958)  married  Viola  Coffman 
in  February  1896.  He  served  as  Willow  Branch  High- 
way Commissioner,  as  a  Director  of  the  Croninger 
State  Bank  and  of  the  Cisco  Cooperative  Grain  Co; 
was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church,  and  a  50-year 
Mason.  Viola  was  a  Methodist  and  a  Charter  Member 
of  Cisco  Chapter  0.  E.  S.  She  was  a  member  of  a 
ladies  quartet  called,  "The  Big  Four"  with  Margaret 
Mcintosh,  Lavina  Weddle  and  Jennie  Miller.  Viola 
died  in  1927. 

The  Charles  Doane  children  were  Homer  (1897-  ) 
and  Eva  Nadine   (1903-     ). 

Homer  Doane  married  Gladys  Miller  in  1918. 
Homer  farmed  in  Cisco  area,  retiring  in  1962.  He  is  a 
Charter  Member  of  Piatt  County  Farm  Bureau,  Cisco 


66 


Masonic  Lodge  and  0.  E.  S.  849  serving  as  Worthy 
Patron  five  times.  They  belong  to  the  Cisco  United 
Methodist  Church.  Gladys  is  a  50-year  Charter  mem- 
ber and  Past  Matron  of  Cisco  O.  E.  S.  849  and  a  50- 
year  member  of  Cisco  Woman's  Club.  They  have  three 
children ;  Edwin,  Marguerite  and  Maurice. 

Edwin,  a  mail  carrier  in  Decatur,  married  Lelia 
Handley  in  1941  and  have  a  daughter  Deborah  Kay. 
Marguerite  married  Gilbert  Betzer  in  1941,  an  Argenta 
farmer,  who  is  a  plumber  in  Decatur  and  also  operates 
a  hardware  store  in  Cerro  Gordo.  Maurice  married 
Irma  Hopkins  in  1947.  He  is  sales  manager  of  Tryco 
Agri  Mfg.  and  Irma  is  an  anesthetist  at  Decatur 
Memorial  Hospital.  Their  daughter,  Patricia  Doane 
Wheaton  is  an  R.  N. 

Eva  Nadine  Doane  married  Harry  Edward  Cook, 
son  of  Clarence  Marion  and  Mary  Elizabeth  Jordan  in 
1927.  They  have  two  children,  Charles  Marion  Cook 
and  Helen  Marie. 

Harry  Cook  was  born  and  raised  on  a  farm  in 
Indiana,  before  he  came  to  Cisco  to  work  for  Harley 
Miles.  Later  he  became  a  partner  in  the  Electrical  and 
Plumbing  business  with  his  father-in-law,  Charles 
Doane,  which  he  continued  until  retirement  in  1971. 
After  the  death  of  Mr.  Doane  they  farmed  the  Dewitt 
county  land  and  bought  land  in  Macon  county.  Harry 
and  Nadine  belong  to  Cisco  United  Methodist  Church 
and  she  is  a  50-year  Charter  Member  and  Past  Matron 
of  Cisco  0.  E.  S.  849. 

Chares  Marion  Cook  lives  in  Monticello.  He  is 
employed  at  Armsworth  Appliance  Store,  is  a  member 
of  Monticello  City  Council,  is  President  of  Piatt 
County  Historical  Society  and  belongs  to  the  Masonic 
Lodge.  Helen  Marie  Cook  married  Essell  W.  Miller  in 
1949.  They  live  in  Cisco  and  have  four  sons:  John 
Douglas,  Ronald  Eugene,  Gary  Edward  and  Terry 
Wayne.  (Jacob  Miller  hisiory) 


Charles  Doane  Family  ready  for  a  ride:   Nadine,  Viola, 
Homer  and   Charles. 


Remember  When  .  .  . 

At  Thanksgiving  time,  Elmer  Dallas,  who  had 
the  general  store  across  from  the  bank  would  throw 
turkeys  off  from  the  roof  of  his  store  for  townspeople 
or  whoever  was  lucky  enough  to  catch  one. 


:*.^ 


"Rip"  Dowdle  and  "Dutch"  Cornell  with  a  new   road 
grader  In  1930. 

Dowdle 

Ralph  Waldo  Dowdle,  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Port 
Dowdle  was  born  near  Forsvthe,  Illinois  February 
19,  1904. 

The  family  moved  to  the  Cisco  community  when 
he  was  about  two  years  old,  while  engaged  in  farming. 

As  a  hobby  "Rip"  has  been  so  interested  in  playing 
baseball,  at  sixteen  he  was  playing  with  the  men's 
team  and  continued  until  he  was  thirty-seven  years  of 
age  and  was  instrumental  in  building  about  six  dia- 
monds around  Cisco. 

He  was  first  employed  by  Willow  Branch  Township 
in  1924  under  Clarence  Cornell,  first  one-man  com- 
missioner elected.  He  was  appointed  commissioner  and 
served  eighteen  years. 

He  married  Helen  Sites  of  Cerro  Gordo  in  1929. 

Rip  and  Helen  retired  in  1969,  Rip  having  served 
a  total  of  thirty-four  years  with  the  Township  and 
Helen  having  taught  twenty-five  years  in  Cisco  Grade 
School. 


Dye  Family 


The  Charles  Dye  family  moved  to  Cisco  from 
Campbellsville,  Ky.,  in  the  spring  of  1918.  Mrs.  Dye 
was  Geneva  Brockman.  Her  father,  John  Brockman, 
lived  around  Cisco  for  several  years.  A  sister  Clara 
and  two  brothers,  Tandy  and  Dechard,  also  lived  here 
several  years. 

There  were  three  daughters  in  the  Dye  family: 
Alma,  Mr.  Dye's  daughter  by  a  previous  marriage, 
Elizabeth  and  Dorothy.  A  son,  Robert,  lived  in  Ken- 
tucky. A  son,  James,  and  daughter,  Jeannette,  were 
born  in  Cisco.  The  Dyes  moved  to  the  property  now 
occupied  by  Jack  Drews.  During  this  time  the  at- 
tempted bank  robbery  occurred.  When  Mr.  Dye  heard 
an  unusual  noise  that  night  in  this  otherwise  quiet 
town,  he  got  up,  quickly  stepped  into  the  yard.  But 
he  was  immediately  ordered  back  into  his  house  by  a 
gunman  who  was  patrolling  the  street  north  of  the 
bank. 


67 


Mrs.  Dye  died  at  age  47  in  Monticello  at  the  home 
of  her  daughter,  Jeannette.  Mr.  Dye  then  made  his 
home  with  Dorothy,  where  he  died  when  84  years  old. 

Alma  married  George  Grant  and  they  had  five 
sons  and  two  daughters  and  lived  around  Cisco  for 
15  years.  Elizabeth  married  Lloyd  Gisinger  of  Cisco, 
had  three  daughters  and  later  moved  to  Cerro  Gordo. 
Dorothy  married  George  Mills  of  Decatur.  They  still 
live  in  Cisco  and  have  a  son  Michael  who  married 
Phyllis  Luster.  Two  sons  were  born  to  them:  Chris- 
topher and  Chad.  Chad  died  in  infancy.  James  mar- 
ried Bernice  Churchill.  They  had  one  son.  Later  he 
married  Alice  Kingligh  of  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  where 
they  still  live.  Jeannette  married  Merle  Adams  of 
Cisco.  They  have  three  children.  Merle  died  suddenly 
in  1973  while  pitching  a  ballgame  in  Maroa.  Jean- 
nette and  the  children  are  in  Maroa. 


The  Thomas  Edwards  Family 

The  Thomas  Edwards  family  moved  from  a  farm 
near  Forsyth  to  the  Rivard  farm  northwest  of  Cisco 
in  1954.  Tom  and  Bill  started  the"  Edwards  Farm 
Supply  in  that  same  year  in  the  former  site  of  the 
west  elevator. 

In  1960,  Thomas,  his  wife  Donna,  their  son  Larry 
and  daughter  Valeria,  moved  to  their  new  home  in 
Cisco.  In  the  spring  of  1972,  Thomas  and  Donna 
realized  their  long  time  dream  of  owning  and  living 
on  a  farm,  where  they  now  live  north  of  Milmine. 

In  1961,  Larry  married  Martha  Johnson,  daughter 
of  Wilfred  and  Edna  and  lived  in  Cisco.  Larry  is  em- 
ployed at  Edwards  Farm  Supply.  They  have  three 
children:  Kimberly  Ann,  Kevin  Thomas  and  Kristi 
Lynette.  In  1968  they  built  a  new  home  then  in  1972, 
they  moved  into  the  former  home  of  Larry's  parents. 

Valeria  Mollis  now  lives  in  Champaign,  where  she 
works  at  the  University  of  Ilinois. 


Francis  Edwards 

In  1934  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Francis  Edwards  and  Betty 
came  here  from  Centralia,  Illinois  and  moved  to  tha 
farm  just  south  of  Cisco  where  they  still  reside.  Also 
in  1934  Dr.  and  Mrs.  F.  M.  Edwards  (Francis'  par- 
ents) bought  the  large  white  house  which  adjoins  the 
farm.  They  came  here  every  summer  until  his  retire- 
ment when  they  moved  here  to  make  their  home.  When 
Dr.  Edwards  passed  away  in  1955,  Mrs.  Edwards 
moved  back  to  Centralia  to  make  her  home  with  her 
daughter  Elizabeth. 

Betty  was  married  to  Robert  Evensen  of  Shabbona, 
Illinois,  and  they  have  four  children.  They  are  now 
living  in  Appleton,  Wisconsin. 


.:M 


''-.». 


Wkt^tht'i'l'I'^iSB^^^^ji;. 


.i   3or 


The  Francis  Edwards  Turkey  Farm. 


Did  you  know  Edgar  Martin  used  a  hiding  place 
among  his  beehives  on  a  few  occasions  when  he 
needed  a  safe  place  to  keep  money  overnight? 


The  Ennis  Family 

The  Ennis  family  originally  came  from  Ireland. 
There  is  a  town  in  Claire  County,  Ireland  named 
"Ennis".  They  first  settled  in  Maryland,  then  came 
to  Menard  County,  111.,  in  covered  wagons.  Handy 
Ennis  came  to  Piatt  County.  His  first  wife  was  Eva- 
line  Houk  who  died  shortly  after  their  first  child, 
James,  was  born.  He  later  married  Martha  Jane  Houk 
(sister  of  Evaline).  They  lived  in  the  Enterprise 
neighborhood  and  later  moved  to  their  farm  north- 
west of  Cisco.  Handy  and  Jane  were  married  in 
Pekin,  111.  Their  married  life  was  spent  around  Cisco. 

They  were  active  in  the  community.  Their  children 
attended  Pleasant  Ridge  Country  School.  Jane  went 
out  to  help  in  cases  of  illness  and  especially  where 
there  was  a  new  baby.  On  Sunday  evenings  the 
neighbors  would  come  over  to  gather  around  the 
family  organ  to  sing. 

They  were  the  parents  of  nine  children:  William, 
Evaline,  Thomas  Jefferson  (Jeff  or  T.J.),  Mary, 
Louie,  Lee,  Handy,  Cora  and  Lester. 

James  married  Armetta  Daves  and  he  became  a 
minister. 

William  married  Estella  Rannabarger  and  had 
three  children :   Leta,   Orville  and  Opal. 

Evaline  married  Ollie  Martin  and  had  six  children : 
Erma,  Gladys,  Bernice,  Lawrence,  Granville  and 
Winfred. 

Jeff  married  Jessie  Dresback  and  had  si.\  children : 
Geneva,  Lois,  Ava,  Arthur,  John  and  Wayne. 

Mary  married  Emery  McGinnis  and  they  had  one 
daughter,  Zella. 

Louie  married  Carmi  Parish  and  they  had  three 
daughters:  LaVerne,  Ayleen  and  Juanita. 


68 


William  Handy  Ennis  and  his  wife,  Martha  Jane  Ennis. 

Lee  married  Pearl  Gaines  and  they  had  two  daugh- 
ters, Lenore  and  Virginia. 

Handy  married  Edith  Engle  and  they  had  five 
children:  Louis,  Leslie,  Jane,  Mary  Louise  and  a 
baby  boy  who  died  in  infancy. 

Cora  married  Clarence  Pease  and  they  had  seven 
children:  Ennis,  twins  Everett  and  Merrit,  Winni- 
fred,  Phyllis,  Handy  and  Mary  Elinor. 

Lester  married  Louise  Weilepp  and  they  had  one 
son,  Max. 

The  Ennis  children  all  found  their  mates  from 
Cisco  and  the  surrounding  aea.  Eventually  the  families 
became  scattered.  Some  are  now  living  in  Florida, 
Ontario,  Canada,  Illinois,  Louisiana,  Idaho,  and  Mon- 
tana. Several  grandchildren  are  still  living  in  Illinois. 

William  Handy  Ennis  and  Martha  Jane  are  buried 
in  the  Ennis  family  lot  in  Croninger  Cemetery  at 
Cisco. 


Remember  When  .  .  , 

Weddings  of  the  bygone  era  posed  unusual  prob- 
lems such  as  keeping  the  flowers  during  cold  weather. 
This  really  happened  —  the  wedding  flowers  were 
purchased  in  Decatur  and  on  the  cold  trip  home  in  a 
buggy  they  froze,  so  the  flowers  were  placed  in  a 
cold  upstairs  bedroom  where  they  stayed  frozen  until 
just  before  the  wedding.  That  way  they  did  not  turn 
dark. 


John  S.  Eubank  Family 

John  S.  Eubank  was  born  near  Somerset,  Kentucky 
in  1853.  He  came  to  Illinois  with  his  parents,  James 
and  Nancy  Ann  Spencer  Eubank  when  he  was  three 
years  of  age.  They  located  about  six  miles  southwest 
of  Cisco. 

He  married  Mary  Alice  McGuffey  on  March  19, 
1891.  In  1898  Mr.  Eubank  and  his  family  moved  into 
Cisco,  where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his  life.  There  were 
ten  children  born  to  this  union:  Lettie,  Dorsie, 
Leapha,  Jack,  Ernst,  Velma,  Clifford,  Leora,  Opal 
and  Elwin.  Mr.  Eubank  was  a  carpenter  by  trade. 


Evey 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Michael  Evey  were  the  parents  of 
twins  Franklin  Pierce  and  William  McKinley  (better 
known  as  Frank  and  Mac;,  Samuel,  Ernest,  Rolla 
(who  died  as  a  young  man),  Stephen  Douglas  (Doug;, 
Roxanna  (married  James  Greenfield;,  and  Ella  (mar- 
ried William  Wallace) . 

Douglas  married  Blondella  Jimerson  (Delia)  and 
they  had  one  son,  Elmer  0.  Douglas  farmed  northwest 
of  Cisco  till  1912,  when  Elmer  married  Grace  Lich- 
tenberger  and  they  made  their  home  on  the  farm. 
Douglas  retired  to  Cisco,  but  later  when  his  wife  died 
in  their  family  home,  he  lived  with  his  son  and  family 
back  on  the  Evey  homeplace. 

Elmer  had  four  daughters,  Evelyn,  Dorothy, 
Phyllis  Eileen   (died  in  infancy),  and  LaVerne. 

When  Elmer  died  at  the  age  of  59,  Douglas  lived 
with  his  granddaughter,,  Dorothy,  till  his  death, 
lacking  just  one  month  of  being  90  years  old. 

Grace  Evey  Obermiller  is  living  at  the  DeWitt 
County  Nursing  Home  at  Hallsville.  Evelyn  married 
Ralph  Mintun.  They  had  one  son,  Paul  Ralph.  She 
has  taught  in  the  DeLand-Weldon  School  Unit  since 
1952.  Dorothy  (deceased),  married  Melvin  Long. 
Their  children  were  Phyllis  Anne,  Phillip  and  Larry. 

LaVerne  married  John  Followell,  Jr.  They  have 
two  sons,  Kenneth  and  John. 


Frye  History 


The  Fryes  came  originally  from  Germany  in  the 
early  1800's,  settling  in  Ohio.  Jonathon  Frye  (1829- 
1924)  was  born  in  Ohio,  and  married  Rebecca  Newton. 

Several  years  after  the  Civil  War,  Jonathon  and 
Rebecca  came  from  Ohio  in  a  covered  wagon  to  Louis- 
ville, Illinois.  They  raised  their  family  of  seven 
children. 

One  of  these  children,  James  Newton  Frye  (1870- 
1950;,  was  united  in  marriage  in  1891  to  Ollie  Blair. 
To  them  were  born  eight  daughters  and  three  sons : 
Iva  Cloe,  Dollie  Mae,  Sarah,  Retta  Evelyn,  Rachel, 
Ruth,  Orville  Pear,  Nellie  Edith,  Gladys  Mildred, 
Charles  Dale,  and  James  Newton,  Jr. 

When  the  family  was  still  quite  young,  James 
came  to  the  Central  Illinois  area.  He  noticed  the  better 
quality  of  ground,  and  decided  to  move  to  Tolona. 
When  James'  first  wife  passed  away  he  returned 
to  Louisville  and  married  Allie  Fender  Pointer.  James' 
younger  children  stayed  in  the  Central  Illinois  area 
with  their  older  sisters  so  Orville  Frye  was  in  the 
Monticello  area  when  he  was  about  19  years  of  age 
and  married  Katherine  Harper  in  1925.  The  Harpers 
are  a  pioneer  family  who  settled  in  Piatt  County  in 
the  early  1800's. 

Orville  and  Katheryn  Frye  first  settled  in  Piatt 
County,  renting  farms  in  several  different  locations. 
One  interesting  note  on  their  early  years  in  Piatt 
County,    Orville    won    the    County    Championship    for 


69 


corn  husking  in  1936  and  again  in  1940.  His  picking 
average  was  more  than  40  bushels  for  an  80  minute 
period. 

The  family  moved  to  Cisco  in  1948  and  stayed  for 
23  years.  During  this  time  their  descendants  grew  to 
15  grandchildren  and  2  great-grandchildren.  They 
moved  to  the  Clint  Harper  home  place  (Katheryn's 
father)  in  1972  and  Orville  retired  from  farming. 
Katheryn  passed  away  in  1973  at  the  age  of  65. 

Six  children  were  born  to  Orville  and  Katheryn. 

Two  died  in  infancy.  The  others  are:  Margaret,  who 

married  Eugene  (Cotton)  Wright  in  1946  and  they 
are  the  parents  of  five  children. 

Harold  married  Betty  Fombelle  in  1948.  Their 
children  are  Greg,  Susan  and  Cindy. 

Orville  (Toby)  married  Ellen  Umbarger  in  1951. 
Their  family  consists  of  three  boys :  Jerry,  Randy  and 
Tim. 

Kenneth  married  Janet  Jones  in  1954.  They  lived 
in  Cisco  about  seven  years  and  now  live  on  the  "Old 
Waggoner  Farm".  Their  children  are  Vicki,  Linda, 
Kenny  David  and  Kevin  Michael. 


Giesler  History 


Evert  Giesler  (1884-1967),  a  son  of  Albert  James 
and  Sarah  Carter  Giesler,  came  to  Cisco  in  1914  from 
Iowa,  working  on  a  dredge  boat  constructing  the 
section  ditch  north  of  Cisco. 

Evert  and  Dottie  (1887-  )  met  and  married  in 
1915.  He  worked  for  various  places  in  Cisco  before 
owning  and  operating  a  pool  hall. 

He  became  postmaster  on  April  16,  1949.  They 
have  two  children,  a  son  James  and  a  daughter 
Maxine. 

James  married  Jean  Cain.  They  lived  in  Cisco 
until  1973  when  they  moved  to  Bement.  Prior  to 
moving  to  Bement  he  was  rural  mail  carrier  for  the 
Cisco  area.  He  is  now  mail  carrier  for  Bement  and 
Cisco. 

They  have  three  children.  Jim,  their  eldest,  is 
employed  at  Caterpillar  in  Decatur.  Janice  married 
Lee  Bensyl.  Her  husband,  Lee,  is  a  state  trooper.  They 
have  one  son,  Rodney  Lee.  Jerry,  their  youngest,  is 
attending  college  in  Bloomington. 

Evert  and  Dottie's  daughter  married  Donald  Mc- 
Kinley,  who  at  that  time  managed  the  Wilkinson 
Lumber  Co.  in  Cisco.  He  then  managed  a  lumber  com- 
pany in  Argenta  until  he  bought  the  IGA  grocery 
store  in  Cisco.  They  sold  out  in  1972  and  now  own 
a  Gambles  Hardware  and  Appliance  store  in  Mt.  Zion. 

They  have  two  children.  Their  eldest  is  Roger  who 
is  married  to  Carol  Parrish  Rogers.  They  have  two 
daughters. 

He  is  employed  at  Caterpillar  in  Decatur. 

Their  daughter  married  Robert  Chumbley.  Paula 
owns  and  operates  the  Village  Boutique  beauty  salon 
in  Cisco.  They  have  one  daughter,  Lynley  Dawn. 


History  of  Gisinger  Family 

Four  Gisinger  brothers,  Daniel,  Jacob,  John  and 
Samuel,  arrived  by  boat  in  1750  from  Germany  and 
settled  in  Bucks  (bounty,  Pennsylvania. 

Samuel  had  a  son  Abraham.  Abraham  had  a  family 
of  four  sons,  George,  John,  Phillip  and  Samuel. 

Phillip  Gisinger  (1833-1873).  To  Phillip  and  his 
wife  Elizabeth  were  born  the  following  children: 
Simon,  Amney  Ann,  Mary  Eve,  Joseph,  Hannah  Re- 
becca, John,  Seymour,  Cindorilia,  Phillip,  and  Sarah 
Jane. 

Phillip  and  his  family  lived  on  a  farm  southeast 
of  Cisco. 

Simon  and  Mary  Gisinger  moved  into  Cisco  in 
1895,  moving  from  a  farm.  They  had  seven  children: 
Edith,  Arthur,  Phillip,  Myrtle,  Ansel,  Grace  and 
Ferrill   (Johnny). 

Mr.  Simon  Gisinger,  when  first  coming  to  town, 
operated  threshing  machines  and  corn  shellers.  He 
later  ran  a  grocery  store  and  meat  market  with  his 
son  Phillip.  They  later  ran  a  restaurant.  About  1916 
he  went  with  the  telephone  company  which  was  known 
as  The  Standard  Telephone  Company.  He  managed 
the  office  and  was  the  night  operator  for  many  years. 

Probably  one  of  the  most  memorable  nights  was 
the  night  that  Croniger  Bank  was  robbed  next  door 
to  the  telephone  office.  He  heard  the  noise  of  the 
safe  being  blown  and  got  out  of  bed  to  see  what  was 
going  on  and  in  doing  so  bumped  a  chair  and  made 
a  noise.  Two  shots  were  fired  into  the  office  and 
someone  on  the  outside  told  him  to  get  back  in  bed 
and  stay  there.  Mrs.  Goldie  Gisinger  heard  the  shots 
and  noise  uptown.  She  awakened  her  husband  Ansel, 
who  went  next  door  to  his  mother's  home.  They  tried 
to  phone  Simon  at  the  telephone  office  and  got  no 
answer.  Ansel  walked  to  town  carrying  a  lantern  to 
see  if  his  Father  was  alright.  When  he  got  up  town 
the  robbers  had  disappeared,  but  smoke  was  still 
coming  from  the  bank  building.  Other  people  had 
gathered  on  the  streets,  including  Scott  Armsworth, 
Earl  Rannebarger,  Perry  Briggs,  Dewey  Briggs  and 
Carl  Duncan. 


Simon  Gisinger  Family,  hark  row:  Mary  Jane,  Simon,  Edith, 
Phillip,   Arthur;    seated:    Myrtle,   Ansel,   Grace   and   Ferrill. 


70 


Phillip  was  married  to  Anna  Hott.  They  had  three 
children,  Renard,  Mary  and  Emma.  Anna  died  and 
Phillip  later  married  Hattie  Saltsgaver,  and  a  son 
Nyle  was  born  to  them. 

Edith  was  married  to  Jesse  Carver  and  they  lived 
in  Decatur. 

Arthur  married  Tabitha  Ellen  Edwards.  They  lived 
in  Cisco  until  1944  when  they  moved  to  Cerro  Gordo 
with  Lloyd  Gisinger  and  his  family.  They  had  no 
children  but  raised  Lloyd  (Ansel's  son).  Arthur  and 
Ansel  also  ran  corn  shellers  and  threshing  machines. 
They  also  worked  in  the  grain  elevators  of  Cisco. 

Myrtle  was  married  to  Harry  Mintun.  They  had 
one  son,  Ralph. 

Ansel  was  married  to  Goldie  Edwards  and  they 
had  a  family  of  nine  children:  Lloyd,  Laurence,  Lynn, 
Lorin,  Beulah,  Mary,  Lewis  (Bill),  Lora  Mae  (Toonej, 
and  Edith    (Dolly). 

Grace  was  married  to  Carl  Coon  and  their  family 
consisted  of  three  children,  Donald,  Helen  and  Paul. 

Ferrill  (Johnny)  was  married  to  Cloa  Higgins  and 
they  had  four  children.  Dale,  who  was  killed  in  World 
War  II,  Lucille,  Pauline  and  Ray. 

Ansel  and  his  sons  Lloyd  and  Lynn  worked  in  the 
Ford  Garage  owned  by  Scott  Armsworth.  In  1944, 
after  Mr.  Armsworth's  death,  Lloyd  and  Ansel  bought 
the  contents  of  the  garage  and  shop  equipment,  ob- 
tained a  Ford  Contract,  and  moved  the  garage  to 
Cerro  Gordo.  The  garage  has  been  a  family  business 
with  Ansel,  Lloyd,  Lloyd's  wife  (Elizabeth),  Laurence 
and  Lynn  having  operated  it  for  thirty  years  Feb. 
14,  1974. 

Grace  and  Ansel  are  the  only  surviving  children  of 
the  Simon  Gisinger  family. 


Remember  When  .  .  . 

On  Halloween  night  the  farm  boys  would  all  come 
to  Cisco  to  do  their  thing.  They  rode  mules  and  horses 
which  they  tied  up  to  the  hitching  rack  across  from 
Jefford's  Hardware  Store.  One  of  the  tricks  I  willl  not 
forget  was  when  the  Claude  Stine  boys  poured 
sorghum  molasses  on  the  saddles. 

John  Goken 

John  Goken,  son  of  Goke  and  Grace  Goken,  was 
born  in  Rysum,  Germany  in  1874  and  came  to  the 
United  States  in  1884  on  a  ship  named  "America" 
with  his  parents  and  family.  There  were  six  children 
in  the  family :  Mender,  John,  Ben,  Goke,  Jennie  and 
Grace.  They  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  northeast  of 
Cisco.  The  father  died  shortly  after  coming  to  Piatt 
County,  leaving  the  mother  to  raise  the  family,  but 
with  the  help  of  the  children  they  managed  to  make 
a  living.  They  later  moved  to  DeLand  to  make  their 
home. 

John  Goken  married  Ordella  Royse,  a  daughter  of 
George  and  Mary  Royse  February  14,  1900  and  started 
farming    northeast    of    Cisco.    Here    Geneva    Goken 


Huisinga  was  born.  They  moved  to  the  George  Royse 
farm,  where  Oressa  Goken  McQueen  was  born.  Mr. 
Goken  and  his  family  were  members  of  the  Enterprise 
Methodist  Church,  later  moving  their  membership  to 
the  Cisco  Methodist  Church.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
board  of  Trustees  at  the  Enterprise  and  Cisco  Metho- 
dist Churches.  He  was  a  director  of  the  Cisco  Grain 
Company.  Mr.  Goken  died  in  1930.  Bert  and  Geneva 
Goken  Huisinga  moved  to  the  George  Royse  farm  in 
1931  from  the  John  Goken  farm  north  of  Cisco,  when 
Ordella  Goken  decided  to  move  to  Monticello.  She 
died  in  1951.  Bert  and  Geneva  lived  there  until  their 
son,  Dale,  was  married,  then  moved  a  half  mile  east. 


William  A .  Goken 

William  A.  Goken  (1885-1952)  known  by  everyone 
as  "Bill"  was  born  northwest  of  Cisco  in  1885.  He 
was  the  son  of  Berend  and  Alverta  Goken,  with  five 
brothers  and  one  sister.  Berend,  who  came  from  Ger- 
many, and  Alverta  were  married  March  12,  1878  at 
the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Cisco.  The  family  out- 
grew the  first  house  on  the  farm,  so  they  moved  to  a 
larger  house  on  Stringtown  Lane  on  the  same  farm. 
This  is  the  house  the  family  calls  the  old  home  place. 
Years  later  Bill's  parents  moved  to  Argenta  and  Bill 
took  over  the  farming. 


Owen  and  Angelina  Westbay,  1921. 

Bill  drove  his  horse.  Colonel,  to  court  Elsie  A. 
Wilson,  daughter  of  John  and  Ida  Wilson.  Ida  Wilson 
was  the  daughter  of  Owen  and  Angeline  Westbay,  who 
lived  in  Cisco  for  many  years.  Bill  and  Elsie  were 
married  in  1910.  They  had  two  sons,  William  Lee 
(1911-  )  and  Owen  Edward  (1915-  ),  who  went  to 
Pleasant  Ridge  School.  Here  is  where  Owen  got  the 
nickname  "Shorty".  Both  boys  went  through  their 
junior  year  at  Cisco,  then  graduating  from  Argenta. 
Following  the  boys  graduation,  Bill  and  Elsie  moved 
to  the  brick  home  of  Bud  Kistler  west  of  Cisco  for 
twelve  years  before  retiring  to  their  home  in  Decatur. 
Finding  time  on  his  hands,  Bill  worked  at  David's 
Food  Market.  Elsie  and  her  mother  did  clothing 
alterations  and  fancy  work  until  they  died;  Ida  Wilson 
in  1960  and  Elsie  Goken  in  1973. 


71 


Owen  married  Mable  L.  White  of  Argenta  in  1934. 
They  have  two  children,  Marita  and  Richard,  and  five 
grandchildren.  Lee  Goken  married  Minnie  Sheipe  of 
Toledo,  111.,  in  1934.  They  have  one  son,  Garold  Lee 
and  three  grandchildren. 


William  Goken  Family,  batk  row:   William  and  lilsie;   t. 
row:    Lee,  Ida   Wilson,   and   Owen. 


Hamilton-Huff  master 

John  W.  Hamilton  (1847-1930)  married  Miliah 
Hinson  Cain  (1844-1898),  a  widow.  She  had  a  daugh- 
ter. Nellie,  who  married  Edward  Huston.  John  and 
Miliah  had  one  daughter,  Prudie  (1880-1968).  She 
grew  up  on  the  farm  north  of  Cisco.  In  1918  she 
bought  a  Saxon  roadster,  which  delighted  her  to  drive. 
Prudie  was  active  in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  then 
later  in  the  Methodist  Church.  She  belonged  to  the 
Woman's  Club  and  the  North  Birthday  Club.  She  was 
a  very  witty  person  and  could  make  the  French  Harp 
talk.  In  1930  she  married  Wallace  Huff  master  (1879- 
1954).  They  lived  on  her  home  farm  for  a  few  years, 
then  moved  to  a  new  home  in  Cisco. 


Prudie  Hamilton  Iluffmaster 


The  Hardwick  Family 

Ed  Hardwick,  Jr.,  was  born  in  1923  in  Somerset, 
Kentucky.  Part  of  the  farm  on  which  they  lived  was 
where  one  of  the  battles  of  the  Civil  War  was  fought. 
In  farming  the  land  he  found  many  articles  from  the 
War.  Twelve  miles  north  of  the  farm  a  second  battle 
was  fought  where  over  one  hundred  and  forty  men 
plus  a  General  Zollie  Coffer  were  all  buried  in  one 
grave. 

In  1939  he  moved  to  Nancy,  Kentucky  where  he 
met  and  married  Ruby  Dalton  in  1941.  They  have 
three  children:  Elizabeth  Ann,  Betty  Marie  and  Mar- 
garet Kay.  They  moved  to  Cisco  in  1955.  All  three 
girls  graduated  from  Cisco  Grade  and  Monticello 
High  School.  Ruby  now  works  for  the  Kirby  Hospital 
Annex  and  Ed  began  working  at  the  Cisco  Grade 
School  in  1958  and  is  also  a  Knapp  Shoe  Counselor. 
Ann  married  Bob  Burton  and  they  have  two  children 
and  reside  west  of  Shelbyville.  Betty  married  Karl 
Harper  and  has  one  daughter.  They  live  in  Bement. 
Kay  married  Ernie  Woodrum.  They  live  in  Mt.  Zion 
and  have  two  children. 


The  Hatfield's 

Oliver  Hatfield  (1894-1967)  was  born  in  Jabez, 
Kentucky.  He  married  lola  Johnson  in  1912  in  Ken- 
tucky. They  were  the  parents  of  three  sons.  They 
moved  to  the  Cisco  area  in  1921.  Oliver  farmed  for 
Roy  Campbell  for  approximately  12  years.  They  later 
moved  to  Gibson  City  and  then  to  Rockford  where 
lola  still  lives. 

Ray  Hatfield  was  born  in  Shelbyville,  Ind.,  and 
now  resides  in  Cisco.  He  has  operated  his  used  car 
business  in  Cisco  since  1936.  He  married  Jennie 
Seaton,  daughter  of  Claude  and  Inez  Seaton.  They  had 
two  children:  Donna  R.  and  Ronald  Lee.  Jennie  Hat- 
field died  in  1968  and  Ray  later  married  Nell  Evans. 
Donna  R.  married  Roy  Clifton  and  they  have  one  son, 
Stephen  Roy.  She  is  now  married  to  James  J.  Marshall 
and  has  a  daughter,  Jennifer  Louise.  Ronald  Lee  is 
employed  by  the  Monticello  School  District  and  serves 
as  maintenance  man  at  the  Cisco  Water  Dept.  He 
married  Rita  Boyer  Bliss  in  1966  and  has  one  .step- 
daughter, Veronica  (Ronki)  Bliss.  Rita  is  employed 
as  a  clerk  at  the  Cisco  Post  Office. 

Charles  Hatfield  married  Marge  Holfredder  and 
had  two  sons,  Charles  and  Billy.  He  later  married 
Mary  and  had  one  son,  Mark. 

Paul  Hatfield  married  Joy  Brennan  and  has  five 
children :  Jackie,  Paul  Dean,  Jerry,  Janice  and  Joan. 

The  Heidkamp  Family 

Margaret  Wiegard  Heidkamp  (Mrs.  Fred),  orig- 
inally from  Modoc,  Illinois  moved  to  Cisco  in  1955 
with  six  of  her  seven  children.  (Loretta  was  married 
in  1954  to  R.  K.  Whitlow.)  The  Heidkamp  family  re- 
sided in  the  two-story  white  house  owned  by  Edward 
Ashton  until  1959  when  the  family  built  a  new  home. 


72 


In  1962,  Betty  was  married  to  Dale  D.  Leach  of 
Monticello.  They  still  reside  there  with  their  three 
daughters,  Cynthia,  Teresa  and  Nicole. 

Del,  Bob  and  Ed  are  employed  at  Caterpillar.  Joyce 
is  employed  in  the  business  department  at  Monticello 
High  School. 

In  1969  Bob  married  Nancy  Swikle.  They  live  east 
of  Cisco. 

In  1970  Peg  married  Ronnie  D.  Parsons  of  Monti- 
cello. Peg  was  employed  as  an  elementary  physical 
education  teacher  in  the  Monticello  Unit.  Ron  is  em- 
ployed as  cable  splicer  for  the  General  Telephone  Co. 
Their  daughter  is  Jennifer  Margaret  (1973). 


Hendrix 

John  Milaneous  Hendrix  (1829-1905)  married 
Mary  D.  Black  (1828-1920)  in  1849  in  Tennessee.  In 
1855  they  moved  to  Arkansas,  where  he  was  joined 
by  his  parents,  brothers  and  sisters.  In  1864  he  moved 
to  Macon  County,  Illinois.  The  story  is  that  he  was 
a  spy  for  the  north,  living  in  the  south,  so  the  time 
came  to  move  north.  The  family  has  a  lock  which 
was  broken  off  the  barn  door  where  his  horses  were 
kept.  In  1869  he  bought  a  farm  in  DeWitt  County, 
one  mile  west  of  where  Shiloh  Church  stands.  Their 
children  were  William  Henry,  John  Westly,  James 
Milford,  Theopolis,  Sarah  Francis  Hendrix  Nelson, 
Celia  Ann  Hendrix  East,  Benjamin,  Minerva  Ann 
Hendrix  Cramer,  Mary  Emma  Hendrix  Hardin, 
Joseph  Edward  and  Nellie  May.  The  three  oldest  were 
born  in  Madison  County,  Tennessee.  The  three 
younger  were  born  in  Illinois,  and  the  others  in  White 
County,   Arkansas. 

James  Milford  Hendrix  (1854-1929)  married 
Melina  Elizabeth  Massey  (1858-1937)  in  1875.  Melina 
Elizabeth  was  the  oldest  daughter  of  Jacob  A.  and 
Lucy  Allen  Masssy.  Her  brothers  and  sisters  are 
George  T.,  John  L.,  Ida  Coffman,  Lucy  Evans,  Jacob 
A.,  James  F.,  and  William.  Jim  and  Melina  had  two 
children,  Mellie  ( 1878-1969 j  and  Arthur  James  '1882- 
1940).  Mellie  was  born  in  DeWitt  County  and  Art 
was  born  where  Jim  and  Melina  established  their 
home  3V2  miles  northwest  of  Cisco.  The  farn.  was 
made  by  many  purchases,  the  first  being  in  1879. 
James  raised,  fea  and  shipped  cattle,  as  well  as  farm- 
ing. While  dynamiting  a  tree,  James  Milford  lost  hi.'; 
sight  about  1909,  so  they  moved  to  Argenta.  He 
requested  that  Mellie  and  her  husband.  Earl  V.  Ranne 
barger,  move  from  their  farm  southeast  of  Croninger 
Bridge  to  her  home  place.  The  part  of  Friend's  Creek 
Regional  Conservation  District  Park,  where  the  picnic, 
camping,  etc.  area  is,  was  part  of  this  farm  until 
taken  over  by  the  Macon  County  Conservation 
District. 

Arthur  J.  Hendrix  married  Opal  Reeser  (1887 
1967)  in  1907.  Their  children  were  Mabel  Laurine, 
Lucille  Mellie,  Dorthea  Irene,  Pauline  Freida  and 
Jam.es  Edward.  Mabel  and  Milburn  Parrish  have  two 
children.  Lucille  married  Wayne  Walker,  who  is 
decojded.  Dorthea  married  Fon  Moore  and  they  had 


two  sons.  Fon  and  Fon,  Jr.,  were  killed  in  an  auto 
accident.  Pauline  and  Michael  Mulligan  have  three 
children.  James  and  Alberta  have  two  boys.  Art  and 
Opal's  children  were  all  born  in  Macon  County.  Lucille 
and  Dorothy  live  in  California  and  the  others  live  in 
Colorado. 

Mellie  married  Earl  V.  Rannebarger  and  they  had 
two  sons,  Ray  and  Ralph   (see  Rannebarger  history). 


James    M.    and    Melina    Elizabeth    Massey    Hendrix,    Earl 

Rannebarger,   .Arthur   HendrLx   and   Mellie   Hendrix   Ranne- 

barg:er  in  front  of  Mellie's  home  place. 


Hiser 

Gerald  Hiser,  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Homer  Hiser, 
and  Juetta  SchroU,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Roy 
Scholl  of  Forsyth,  were  married  in  1937  and  moved 
in  the  spring  of  1938  to  a  farm  one  mile  west  of 
Cisco  (known  as  the  Coffman  farm)  where  they  still 
reside. 

Homer  Hiser  had  purchased  the  farm  in  1935 
from  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  Parr  and  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Carl  Weilepp. 

Gerald  and  Juetta  have  one  son,  Loren  (1941-  ). 
Loren  married  Melinda  J.  Grider  on  October  6,  1963 
and  they  reside  with  their  two  daughters  Tamara 
Kaye  and  Nancy  Ann  in  Oreana,  Illinois.  Loren  is 
employed  at  Caterpillar  Tractor  Company  in  Decatur. 

Gerald  and  Juetta  have  been  active  in  the  work  of 
the  United  Methodist  Church  and  other  community 
activities  throughout  the  years. 

Gerald  is  serving  on  the  board  of  the  Cisco 
Elevator. 


Remember  the  treasure  hunts  the  young  people 
had?  Clues  were  placed  at  different  points  in  the 
community  and  the  couples  went  in  their  cars  and 
looked  for  them.  When  they  were  all  found  there  was 
a  prize  for  the  winners.  Refreshments  were  usually 
served  at  the  restaurant  owned  by  Frank  Lyons. 


73 


The  Hoffman  Family 

Frank  P.  Hoffman  (1875-1954)  was  born  in  Cam- 
den, Ohio.  He  came  to  Illinois  when  he  was  18  years 
old  and  worked  for  Robert  Allerton.  He  later  farmed 
some  of  his  land.  Frank  met  and  married  Mary  Rudi- 
.sill  (1872-1935)  daughter  of  Marion  Rudisill.  She  had 
four  brothers,  Jake  and  Joe,  John  and  a  twin  brother 
Boman,  two  sisters  Lydia  Varner  and  Sara  McDeivitt. 
Frank  and  Mary  had  two  sons,  Carlos  and  Roland. 
Frank  married  Eula  Vaughn  in  March  1937,  she  died 
in  1951.  Frank  Hoffman  lived  on  or  near  Stringtown 
Lane  for  45  years. 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frank  Hoffman  and  son  Carlos  in  the  baby 

seat. 

Carlos  Hoffman  (1900-  )  lives  in  Monticello  with 
his  wife  Leila  (Dolly)  Welch  Hoffman.  They  have 
three  children:  Mrs.  Fenimore  (Marion)  Buchanan, 
Mrs.  Helen  Summers,  and  Charles. 

Roland  Hoffman  (1906-  )  was  born  in  the  brick 
house  southeast  of  Cisco.  He  married  Edith  Heckman 
of  Cerro  Gordo  in  March  of  1927.  She  was  born  in 
1907  to  Elmer  Heckman  (  son  of  Daniel  Heckman  )  and 
Mary  Etta  Peck  (raised  by  Willi.s  Armsworth)  of 
Cerro  Gordo.  Roland  and  Edith  have  three  children. 

Harold  Eugene  (1927-  )  married  Norma  Jean 
Cook  of  Taylorville.  They  have  four  children :  Debbie, 
Randy,  Rick  and  Ronnie. 

Mary  Hoffman  (1929-  )  married  Robert  Catlin 
of  Monticello.  They  have  four  children :  Steve,  Cindy, 
David  and  Gregg.  Robert  works  at  General  Cable  in 
Monticello.  Mary  and  Cindy  operate  the  Boka  Shoppe 
in  Monticello. 

Frank  Hoffman  (1932-  )  married  Florence  Kraft 
of  Monticello.  They  have  three  sons,  Scott,  Jeff  and 
Dennis. 

All  of  the  Hoffman  grandchildren  have  attended 
Cisco  Grade  School.  Roland  retired  in  1973  from  farm- 
ing. Eugene  and  Frank  now  live  on  University  farm 
number  one  and   farm  together. 


Remember  the  night  that  Pete  Benjamin,  Jerry 
Wiseman,  Raymond  Pirtle  and  Earl  Brame  rode  on 
the  chassis  of  a  car  and  hit  the  bridge  east  of  town 
while  on  a  Treasure  Hunt?  No  one  was  hurt  and 
they  continued  in  the  game. 


Glenn  Howard  Family 

In  1941  Glenn  and  Catherine  Howard  and  four 
children,  Evelyn,  Ronald,  John  and  Gregory  came  to 
Cisco  to  help  Glenn's  uncle  with  the  farming  on  a 
Pattengill  farm  south  of  Cisco.  In  1950  Ralph  was 
born.  The  children  all  graduated  from  Cisco  Grade 
School  and  Monticello  High  School. 

After  leaving  the  farm  in  1952  Glen  was  employed 
by  Picture-Craft  in  Decatur,  111.,  for  about  ten  years. 
Glenn  was  appointed  in  1972  to  fill  the  vacancy  of 
Town  Clerk  upon  the  death  of  Jerry  Sites.  He  was 
elected  Town  Clerk  in  April  1973. 

When  first  moving  to  Cisco,  Glenn  sang  in  the 
choir  of  the  Methodist  Church  and  was  associated 
with  quartettes  in  and  around  Cisco.  He  is  Past 
Master  of  Cisco  Lodge  and  a  member  of  the  Bloom- 
ington  Consistory  and  a  member  of  the  Shrine 
Chanters. 

Catherine  (Kate)  is  a  Court  Reporter  in  Piatt 
County,  a  member  of  Eastern  Star  of  Argenta  and 
Glenn  and  Kate  are  both  members  of  the  Methodist 
Church.  Evelyn  Howard  VanDercook,  Jr.,  lives  in 
Washington,  D.  C,  Ronald  in  Maryland,  John  in 
Springfield,  111.,  Gregory  in  Maryland,  and  Ralph  in 
Monticello,  111.  There  are  seven  grandchildren. 


5=-4- 


The  Jenkins  Family 

We  were  married  in  Springfield  by  Rev.  Hildegard 
in  1925.  We  lived  in  Decatur,  111.,  and  then  moved  to 
our  farm  in  Shelby  County  where  we  stayed  until 
1943.  We  then  went  to  Mooseheart  to  work  as  house 
parents. 

In  1946,  we  bought  our  home  here  in  Cisco.  Harvey 
worked  for  the  Miller  Bus  Service  as  a  School  Bus 
Driver  for  17  years  until  his  health  failed  and  he 
retired. 

Harvey  was  born  in  Sullivan,  111.  He  was  a  World 
War  I  vet. 

We  have  one  daughter,  Eloise  Martin.  She  has 
five  children.  Sandra,  our  first  granddaughter,  spent 
a  lot  of  time  here  with  us.  In  1947,  we  took  two 
foster  sons,  Joe  and  Paul  Knupp.  They  both  graduated 
from  Monticello  High  School.  Joe  and  his  family  live 
in  Chicago,  111.,  and  Paul  and  his  wife  and  daughter 
live  in  Wisconsin. 

Harvey  passed  away  in  1962. 

Mrs.  Harvey  (Alta)  Jenkins 


Johnson  -  Isenburg 

The  William  D.  and  Louise  Walter  Johnson  family 
moved  to  Cisco  from  St.  Louis,  Missouri  in  1919.  They 
lived  on  one  of  the  Pattengill  farms  and  worked  for 
Thomas  Sago.  Mr.  Johnson  was  Mrs.  Minnie  Sago's 
brother.  Two  years  later  they  moved  near  LaPlace  and 


74 


farmed  there  for  four  years.  Returning  to  Cisco  they 
settled  on  the  Pattengill  farm  now  occupied  by  the 
James  Burns  family.  Mr.  Johnson  died  in  1927. 

The  family  had  six  children,  Wilfred,  Loren,  who 
died  while  living  in  St.  Louis;  Emmett  of  Argenta; 
Mary  McGillivray,  Cary,  Illinois;  Edward  who  lives 
with  his  mother  in  Cisco;   Emma  Lou  Bilbrey,  Cisco. 

Mrs.  Johnson  remarried  VVm.  Isenburg  in  1929. 
She  has  one  son,  Wm.  Isenburg,  Jr.,  who,  a  Lieutenant 
Commander  of  the  United  States  Navy,  lives  in 
Virginia. 

John  Wilfred  Johnson  married  Edna  Blickenstaff 
of  Cerro  Gordo  in  1930. 

Wilfred  and  family  farmed  for  several  years.  Later 
the  Johnson  family  moved  to  Cisco  by  the  quonset 
garage  where  Wilfred  ran  a  repair  shop  for  farm 
machinery,  cars  and  trucks.  He  sold  Case  farm  ma- 
chinery and  International  trucks.  In  1970  he  purchased 
the  Shell  service  station. 

The  couple  have  four  children.  Lenita  Madden 
Sheese,  who  lives  in  Terre  Haute,  Indiana.  Donald, 
lives  in  Nashville  where  he  will  graduate  from  Bap- 
tist Bible  College  in  May  1974  and  enter  into  active 
ministry.  Martha  Edwards  married  Larry  Edwards. 
Eugene  and  family  live  in  South  Elgin,  Illinois.  Wilfred 
and  Edna  have  eleven  grandchildren. 


Ardath  C.  Kendall  and  Dorothy  L.  Whisnant, 
daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Noah  G.  Whisnant,  Argenta, 
111.,  were  married  in  1946  and  lived  in  Argenta  until 
moving  to  the  George  Parr  farm  in  1950,  which  is 
located  in  the  Cisco  Fire  District.  This  farm  would  be 
remembered  by  many  Cisco  residents  as  the  former 
residence  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tom  Kistler. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ardath  Kendall  are  the  parents  of 
three  sons:  Ardath  Dean,  Ronald  and  John  who 
attended  Argenta  schools  and  graduated  from  Argenta 
High  School. 

Having  lived  in  the  Argenta  School  District,  we 
have  participated  in  more  of  Argenta  activities  than 
Cisco  naturally.  However,  as  we  look  back  through  the 
23  years  we  have  lived  here,  we  can  remember  many 
pleasant  dealings  with  Cisco  folks,  such  as  taking  the 
boys  to  Clarks  Barbershop,  shopping  at  Weddles  Gro- 
cery, Armsworth  Hardware,  McKinley  Lumber  Yard, 
Johnson's  Garage,  Leora's  Beauty  Shop,  Clem's  Seed 
Co.  and  still  enjoying  all  the  folks  at  Cisco  Elevator 
Co.,  where  we  sell  all  our  grain. 

Harold  married  Jean  Walker,  in  December  1942, 
and  they  have  lived  in  Argenta-Decatur  area  until 
moving  to  Florida.  They  are  parents  of  three  children. 

Mrs.  John  Kendall  still  resides  on  the  farm. 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Kendall 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Kendall  moved  to  the  Cisco 
area  from  Decatur,  111.,  in  1934,  on  the  Tom  Miller 
farm. 

Mr.  Kendall  worked  as  an  engineer  for  the  Wabash 
Railroad  until  his  retirement  in  1951.  He  passed  away 
in  1968. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kendall  are  parents  of  two  boys, 
Ardath  and  Harold.  Both  boys  served  in  World  War  II. 


Ethel  and  John  Kendall 


John   W.   Kingston 


Kingston's  Centennial  Farm 

John  Wesley  Kingston  (1827-  )  was  born  in 
Peoria  County.  His  parents  were  George  (came  from 
Ireland)  and  Susan  Miller  Kingston.  John  Wesley 
married  Sarah  M.  Bunting  (1832-  )  in  1852.  They 
had  seven  children:  Sarah  Rosie,  Susan,  George  W., 
John,  Ancel,  Ellis  and  Virginia.  They  moved  to  Piatt 
County  in  1867.  John  W.  and  Sara  Kingston  bought 
the  Centennial  farm,  80  acres,  in  1871  when  he  bought 
200  acres  for  $22.00  per  acre.  John  Wesley  gave  this 
80  acres  to  his  oldest  son,  George  Wesley.  George  and 
Mary  Ann,  his  wife,  had  five  children :  Alva,  Dora, 
Bertha,  Ray  and  Carl.  When  George  and  Mary  Ann 
died,  Carl  was  willed  the  80  acres,  where  he  lived  all 
his  69  years. 


75 


Carl  and  his  wife,  Ruby,  were  married  nearly  fifty 
years  when  he  died.  They  had  three  sons:  Corwin, 
graduated  from  the  U.  of  I.  and  was  in  the  Army; 
Franklin,  who  served  in  the  Army  and  farms;  and 
Robert  is  a  draftsman.  All  graduated  from  Weldon 
High  School.  Carl  Kingston's  wife.  Ruby,  lives  on 
the  Centennial  farm  and  her  son,  Franklin,  farms  it. 
A  grandson,  Kevin,  has  worked  on  this  farm,  making 
five  generations  to  work  on  this  farm.  There  are  five 
grandchildren. 

John  Wesley  Kingston  (father,)  George  Wesley 
(son),  and  Carl  (grandson)  served  as  directors  of 
Enterprise  Grade  School. 


Tom  lived  around  Cisco  all  of  his  life.  He  married 
Geneva  Peck  from  Cerro  Gordo,  111.  in  1909,  Geneva 
passing  away  in  1955.  They  had  two  children,  Ruth 
and  Evelyn.  Ruth  lives  at  Hudson,  111.  Evelyn  mar- 
ried Harold  A.  Mclntyre  and  still  resides  in  Cisco. 
Evelyn  and  Harold  had  one  daughter,  Karen,  who 
married  Ronald  Mull  and  lives  in  Cerro  Gordo,  111. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  L.  E.  Kister  purchased  a  home  in 
Cisco  and  moved  into  town  in  the  early  1920's,  Mr. 
Kistler  passing  away  in  1936  and  Mrs.  Kistler  in 
1938. 


Remember  When  .  .  . 

Did   you   know   the    early    high    school    basketball 
teams  practiced  outdoors? 


Tom  and  Geneva  Kistler 

Kistler  Family 

Mr.  Lewis  E.  "Bud"  Kistler  was  born  near  Chilli- 
cothe,  Ohio  in  1855.  He  came  overland  to  Illinois  in 
a  covered  wagon  with  his  parents  when  a  small  boy. 
They  settled  on  what  was  known  as  the  Van  Trees 
place,  which  is  about  halfway  between  Cisco  and 
Argenta.  This  was  later  purchased  by  "Bud"  KisUer. 

"Bud"  Kistler  married  Mary  "Mollie"  Piper  in 
1878.  She  was  born  in  Decatur  in  1862.  They  had  six 
children,  Byron  passing  away  in  1941,  Bert  in  1938, 
Tom  in  1954,  Inez  in  19(!7,  Bess  in  1971,  and  Margaret 
now  living  in  Charleston,  Illinois. 

Bess  lived  in  Cisco  all  her  life  and  was  married 
to  C.  W.  Hitchens  who  died  in  1951.  Mrs.  Hitchens 
helped  organize  the  Willow  Branch  Township  Library 
and  served  28  years  as  their  librarian.  They  had  no 
children. 


Leach  Brothers 

Walter  Leach  (1886-1970)  came  to  Cisco  from  St. 
Elmo  in  1909  and  husked  corn  for  Louis  Kreger.  He 
returned  each  fall  to  husk  corn  until  1916,  when  he 
came  here  to  stay.  He  worked  for  farmers  around 
Cisco  including  P.  C.  Young,  Bud  Kistler  and  Warren 
Ater.  He  got  his  call  to  go  into  service  in  1918.  He 
went  from  Monticello  with  a  group  of  100  Piatt 
County  men.  He  was  sent  to  France  and  was  on  a  hike 
to  the  front  when  peace  was  signed.  He  was  in  the 
Army  of  Occupation  and  returned  to  Cisco  in  October 
1919.  In  1920  he  married  Ruby  Clover.  They  went  to 
live  on  the  P.  C.  Young  farm  south  of  Cisco,  where 
their  daughter,  Lucille  was  born.  After  a  year,  they 
moved  to  the  Fred  Mcintosh  place  north  of  Cisco,  later 
moving  to  the  Charles  Parr  farm  south  of  Cisco.  They 
rented  the  Bill  Grove  farm  and  moved  to  Cerro  Gordo. 
After  farming  in  the  Cerro  Gordo  vicinity  for  thirty 
years,  they  retired  to  Cisco  in  1958.  and  moved  ino  his 
brother  Charlie's  home.  Lucille  Leach  married  Donald 
Churchill  in  Louiseville,  Kentucky,  where  they  were 
working  in  a  defense  plant.  They  moved  to  Chicago 
and  there,  their  three  children  were  born;  Shelia,  a 
nurse,  Donald,  a  teacher,  and  Douglas. 

Otto  (Dollie)  Leach  came  to  Cisco  in  1907.  His 
first  job  was  on  the  farm  of  Lou  Kreger.  He  worked 
for  various  farmers,  among  them  P.  C.  Young  and 
Reed  Barnhart.  Later  he  worked  at  the  elevator  for 
Reed  until  he  entered  military  service  in  1918.  He  was 
in  the  Battles  of  St.  Mihiel,  Meuse  Argonne  and  the 
Defensive  Sector,  returning  in  1919.  Dollie  married 
Lillie  E.  Clover  in  1920,  brothers  marrying  sisters  on 
the  same  day.  Dollie  rented  the  Jessie  Young  farm 
then  the  P.  C.  Young  farm,  in  1928  he  rented  the  C.  R. 
Grove  farm  southeast  of  Milmine,  farming  there  for 
32  years.  They  retired  to  their  property  in  Cerro 
Gordo,  where  he  lived  until  his  death  in  1972. 

Charlie  Grover  Leach  came  to  Cisco  in  1916.  He 
worked  on  several  farms  in  the  area  until  1920,  except 
for  the  time  he  served  in  the  army  during  World  War 
I.  He  then  worked  as  a  clerk  in  the  Coffin  General 
Store  until  January  1924.  At  this  time  he  and  W.  Reed 
Barnhart  formed  a  partnership  and  bought  the  store. 
It  was  known  as  the  Barnhart  and  Leach  General  Store 
and  was  located  in  the  building  that  now  is  occupied 
by  Bud's  Antiques.  In  1942  he  was  hired  as  the  grade 
school  custodian.  A  position  he  held  until  his  death  in 
1958. 


76 


The  Leach   brothers:   Walter,   Breck,   "Dolly",   Charlie,   and 
"Tom." 

In  September,  1922  he  was  married  to  Ruth  Alice 
Pattengale,  daughter  of  King  and  Anna  Elizabeth 
Pattengale.  They  had  two  children  Robert  Forrest  and 
Martha  Jeanne.  Robert  married  Lucille  Hocheratt  of 
Osborne,  Kansas,  where  they  live.  They  have  four 
children,  Bill,  Jim,  Mary  Anne  and  Don.  Martha 
Jeanne,  a  graduate  nurse,  married  Victor  Hogan  of 
Dalton  City.  They  reside  at  DeLand  and  have  six 
children,  Vicki,  Steve,  Jeff,  Tim,  Kristi  and  Kerry. 

Albert  Von  (Tomj  Leach  (1899-1950)  came  to 
Cisco  sometime  after  the  death  of  his  parents,  James 
Miner  (1851-1915)  and  Mary  C.  (1860-1911),  joining 
his  brothers  Charlie,  Walter  and  Otto.  He  worked  with 
his  brothers  and  farmed  in  partnership  with  Walter. 
He  served  as  a  grain  buyer  for  Evans  Grain  company 
in  1925  at  Cisco,  Forsythe,  Moweaqua,  coming  back  to 
Cisco  in  1929.  After  the  Evans  elevator  burned  he  was 
transferred  to  Oreana,  then  to  Radford  in  1943. 

Tom  married  Opal  Royse  (1902-1967),  daughter  of 
John  Aaron  and  Helena  Bruns  Royse,  in  1928.  In  1930 
their  son,  Thomas  Royce  Leach,  was  born.  Opal  had 
been  active  in  the  Enterprise  and  Cisco  Methodist 
Church  before  her  marriage.  She  taught  school  before 
marriage  and  after  Tom's  sudden  death.  She  was  the 
first  teacher  to  die  in  service  of  the  Argenta-Oreana 
School  District.  Royce  graduated  from  Yale  and  is  a 
stock  broker  in  Chicago. 


Do   You  Remember  .  .  . 

When  the  Armistice  was  signed  in  year  1918  they 
had  a  three-day  celebration.  Barbecue  pits  were  dug 
in  the  school  yard  for  barbecuing.  William  Stillabower 
who  had  the  butcher  shop  in  Cisco,  took  charge  of 
the  butchering  and  Mack  Ashton  did  the  barbecuing. 


Leischner  History 

The  farm  of  James  H.  Leischner  has  an  interest- 
ing history  all  its  own.  The  original  area  of  the  farm 
was  in  two  separate  tracts  of  land.  One  section  was 
obtained  in  1837  from  the  United  States  Government 
by  Philo  Hale.  By  1840  the  William  Madden  family 
bought  the  land.  This  section  was  left  to  his  heirs. 
Later  it  was  sold  to  Michael  and  Hattie  Shaff  in  1872. 

The  second  section  was  purchased  by  Charles 
Carpenter  in  1849.  This  was  sold  to  Lytle  and  Clarissa 
Faurote.  They  sold  to  William  Madden  in  1852.  It  too 
was  left  to  the  heirs  of  William  Madden.  In  1859  the 
land  was  divided  into  five  separate  tracts  of  15 V2 
acres  for  each  of  the  five  Madden  children.  The  re- 
mainder of  the  land  went  to  his  widow.  In  1909 
Michael  Shaff  owned  the  full  102  acre  tract  of  land. 
Before  he  had  obtained  it  all,  it  had  passed  through 
many  hands,  sold  several  times  for  taxes,  and  even 
traded  between  brothers  without  legal  registration 
of  it  being  traded  (one  tract  of  15 '/2  acres  for  another 
tract  of  15^2  acres).  Michael  Shaff  had  to  buy  each 
15^/2  acre  tract  separately  and  straighten  out  lines  of 
each  by  buying  other  land  adjacent  to  the  property, 
and  correcting  registration  of  transaction  not  re- 
corded. Finally  he  had  the  correct  acres  of  102. 

These  people  have  owned  the  Leischner  farm: 
Philo  Hale,  Chester  Carpenter,  Lytle  and  Clarisa 
Faurote,  William  Madden  and  wife,  John  T.  Madden, 
Francis  M.  and  Lydia  Madden,  William  W.  Madden, 
Cynthis  A.  Madden,  James  N.  and  Melinda  Madden, 
Mary  J.  Madden,  Sarah  A.  and  John  Hallstad,  Nicholas 
H.  Devore,  Stephen  and  Almini  Huffines,  Wm.  W. 
and  Grace  Madden,  Israel  and  Mary  Jane  Clover, 
Emmanuel  Clover,  Rachel  and  Samuel  Havely,  Henry 
V.  Moore,  Ella  F.  Reason  and  four  children,  Martin 
P.  and  Mary  P.  Murphy,  Michael  and  Hattie  Shaff, 
Laura  B.  and  George  W.  Denning,  Emma  G.  Cham- 
berlin,  Mary  Chamberlin,  George  H.  and  Polly  A. 
Chamberlin,  Francis  Graham,  Cynthia  A.  and  Thomas 
H.  McCartney,  W.  E.  Lodge,  Isaac  Young,  Jerred 
Mallernee,  Sarah  J.  and  Henry  T.  FuUerton,  Josephine 
and  Cal  Travis,  Alice  and  David  McWhorter,  Anna  E. 
and  Heny  C.  Foster,  M.  Croninger,  Richard  H.  and 
Anna  Coon,  Jessie  and  Emma  Albert,  Frank  R.  and 
Ella  Albei't,  Jessie  and  Irene  Hainline,  Taylor  and 
Lucy  Coon,  Albert  E.  and  Jennie  Millerm,  James  A. 
and  Ida  May  Stout,  B.  F.  and  Ada  Simonton,  Robert 
C.  and  Ola  E.  Kirk,  James  H.  and  L.  Virginia  Leish- 
ner  and  tracts  for  sons  Dale  E.  and  Irene  and  James 
C.  and  Delores. 

The  farm  has  contained  a  kiln  for  firing  bricks 
made  from  the  clay  on  the  farmland.  The  original 
house  which  still  stands,  was  made  from  some  of 
these  bricks.  It  has  a  history  as  a  place  where  Abe 
Lincoln  often  stopped  to  rest  overnight  and  visit  with 
the  owners,  when  on  his  Circuit  rides. 

In  1947  James  H.  and  L.  Virginia  Leischner 
bought  the  farm.  They  had  three  sons :  James  C, 
Dale  E.,  Larry  D.  and  a  daughter  Linda  K.  When  they 
bought  the  restaurant  in  Cisco  they  moved  there,  ran 
it  from  1970-1971,  still  live  in  the  same  building. 

James  C.  Leischner  joined  the  Navy  in  1954  and 
is   a   Navy   Recruiter   in    Decatur.    He   and   his   wife 


77 


Delores  L.  built  a  home  on  the  farm  and  have  three 
children :  Melody  A.,  Duanna  G.,  and  Sherman  J.  and 
a  foster  son,  Gary  A.  Riggs.  Her  parents,  Sherman 
D.  and  Evelyn  Hubler  moved  their  trailer  on  the  same 
3  acres.  Dale  served  in  the  Navy  also.  He  works  for 
Caterpillar  Co.  in  Decatur.  He  and  his  wife,  Irene, 
have  built  a  new  house  on  their  3  acre  tract  on  the 
farm.  They  have  a  son,  John  E.,  born  in  1971.  Larry 
and  Dawn  Leischner  have  lived  near  the  area  since 
he  returned  from  the  Navy.  Now  he  works  as  an 
engineer  for  Norfolk  and  Western  Railroad.  They 
have  five  children:  Wendi  J.,  Larry  D.  II,  Dana  R., 
Tracey  L.,  and  Robert  D.  Linda  K.  lives  in  a  trailer 
on  the  farm  with  her  son  James  A.  She  is  an  operat- 
ing room  technician  at  St.  Mary's  Hospital  in  Decatur. 


The  Lesher  Family 

Harry  James  Lesher  and  wife,  Mary  Patricia  En- 
sign, came  to  Cisco  to  live  in  1948.  Harry  was  for- 
merly a  resident  of  Cerro  Gordo,  111.,  and  Pat  was 
originally  from  Cisco.  They  had  three  daughters, 
Teresa,  Chris,  and  Jean.  Teresa  and  Chris  are  now 
married.  Harry  and  their  youngest  daughter,  Jean, 
age  16,  both  reside  in  Cisco. 

Harry  has  done  a  lot  of  "ditch  digging"  for  the 
people  around  Cisco.  He  is  now  employed  at  Cater- 
pillar Tractor  Co.  and  has  been  there  for  19  years. 
Harry  has  been  a  resident  of  Cisco  for  26  years  and 
likes  the  small  town  very  much.  He  will  remain  in 
Cisco,  the  rest  of  his  life. 


The  Lyons  Family 

A.  H.  (Bert J  Lyons  and  Carrie  Jimmerson  were 
married  in  1893  in  Monticello.  He  came  from  Coscho- 
ton  County,  Ohio  and  Carrie  came  in  a  covered  wagon 
from  Missouri.  The  Bert  Lyons  family  lived  northeast 
of  town.  Bert  and  his  brother,  Charlie  Lyons,  had  a 
small  implement  business  in  Cisco  in  1894.  Bert  was 
the  Township  Accessor  and  the  Village  Clerk.  He  also 
worked  for  John  Luker  in  the  livery  business.  To  this 
union  was  born  three  sons  and  five  daughters.  Bert 
Lyons  passed  away  in  1921. 

The  three  sons  born  to  this  marriage  were  George, 
Harry  and  Frank.  All  three  of  them  served  in  World 
War  I. 

George  married  Maree  Burchard.  They  lived  in 
Decatur  where  he  served  on  the  police  force  with  his 
uncle.  He  also  worked  for  10  years  at  the  Union  Iron 
Works.  They  moved  back  to  Cisco  when  he  retired  and 
lived  here  until  his  wife  passed  away  in  1969.  George 
is  now  living  in  Maroa. 

When  Harry  Lyons  and  Mabel  Coon  were  married 
they  made  ('isco  their  permanent  residence.  Harry 
worked  for  five  years  at  the  Cisco  Midland  Lumber 
Company  and  for  twenty  years  at  the  Union  Iron 
Works  in  Decatur.  Mabel  ran  the  cream  station  (1925- 
1935)  and  then  worked  for  32  years  in  the  Cisco  Post 
Office.  She  passed  away  in  1969.  Harry  has  retired 
and  is  still  living  in  Cisco. 


The  youngest  son,  Frank,  had  a  restaurant  in  town 
and  when  the  young  people  would  have  their  treasure 
hunts  they  would  come  to  the  restaurant  for  refresh- 
ments after  the  hunt  was  over.  Afer  his  marriage  to 
Lena  Applegate,  they  started  a  grocery  store  which 
they  ran  for  a  year  or  so.  They  then  moved  to  Califor- 
nia. Both  he  and  his  wife  worked  in  a  clothing  store 
there  until  he  became  ill.  He  passed  away  in  1953. 


George,  Frank  and  Harry  Lyons 

Julia  and  her  husband  Howard  Stymets  worked  on 
a  farm  near  Cisco  for  John  Taylor.  After  their  daugh- 
ter Shirley  was  born  they  moved  to  Decatur.  Howard 
worked  as  a  driver  on  a  delivery  truck  for  the  Wolfe 
Furniture  Store.  He  is  now  retired. 

Grace  and  her  husband,  Harry  White,  lived  on  a 
farm  south  and  east  of  Cisco.  They  had  three  sons 
and  three  daughters.  After  moving  into  town  where 
they  lived  for  years,  tJrace  passed  away  in  1964.  She 
left  5  children  and  9  grandchildren.  (See  Harry  White 
History) 

There  are  three  daughters  of  the  Bert  Lyons  family 
still  living. 

Jessie,  who  after  years  of  work  as  housekeeper  at 
the  Allerton  House  in  Monticello,  retired  and  is  now 
helping  out  at  the  antique  shop  in  Cisco.  She  too  lives 
here  in  Cisco. 

Sabina  and  her  husband,  Oscar  Massey,  worked  on 
a  farm  near  Weldon  for  years  for  his  mother  and 
father.  To  Bina  and  her  husband  were  born  thirteen 
children.  They  are  all  living  but  one.  She  and  her 
family  are  living  in  Weldon  now. 

The  youngest  daughter,  Hildred  and  her  husband 
Raymond  Pirtle,  live  in  Cisco.  They  have  two  children, 
a  daughter  Reta  Ann,  who  lives  in  California  and  their 
son  Roy  Eugene,  who  lives  in  Blue  Mound,  111.  with 
his  family. 


78 


Stanley  Mackey  Family 


Melvin 


Stanley  D.  Mackey  was  born  in  1015  near  Mans- 
field, son  of  John  and  Bessie  Groomes  Mackey.  Twilia 
N.  Mackey  was  born  in  1916,  near  White  Heath, 
daughter  of  John  and  Callie  Artman  Valentine. 

In  1937,  shortly  after  their  marriage,  they  moved 
north  of  Cisco.  John  Stanley  (1937)  and  Phyllis  Jean 
(1938)  were  born  while  the  family  lived  here.  The 
family  moved  to  the  Valentine  farm  north  of  White 
Heath  in  1942.  Joyce  Ann  (1942)  and  Joe  Ervin 
(1946)  were  born  on  the  same  farm  where  their 
mother  was  raised.  They  now  reside  on  the  Pattengill 
farm,  moving  there  in  1949. 


The  Mackeys:    John,  Jean,  Twilia,   Stanley,  Jojce,  and  Joe. 

Stanley  and  Twilia  have  been  active  in  the  Cisco 
United  Methodist  Church  and  4-H.  Stanley  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Farm  Bureau  and  Twilia  is  active  in  W.S.C.S., 
Home  Extension,  and  PTA.  All  of  the  children  grad- 
uated from  Cisco  Grade  School  and  Argenta-Oreana 
High  School. 

John  married  Marilyn  Benjamin  in  1962.  They  and 
their  children  Byron  Stanley  (1965),  Craig  John 
(1968)  and  Karen  Irene  (1972)  live  on  the  Whisnant 
farm  southwest  of  Cisco. 

Jean,  a  registered  nurse,  married  Richard  Clarke 
in  1961.  They  and  their  sons,  Brandt  and  Kurt,  live 
in  California. 

Joyce  graduated  from  Patricia  Stevens  Career 
College  and  lives  in  St.  Louis. 

Joe  married  Kay  Anderson  in  1967.  They  live  in 
Meredosia,  111.,  where  Joe  teaches  physical  education. 
Both  John  and  Joe  were  in  the  U.S.  Army. 


Lewis  A.  Melvin  was  born  in  Ohio  in  1848,  the 
.son  of  John  and  Eliza  Melvin.  He  came  to  the  Cisco 
area  shortly  after  the  Civil  War,  being  only  16  years 
of  age  when  he  enlisted.  He  married  Martha  Ann 
Chandler  in  1872.  They  were  married  in  the  Chandler 
farm  home  in  DeWitt  County  northwest  of  Cisco. 
Martha  Ann  Chandler  was  the  daughter  of  the  pioneer 
family  of  Hiram  and  Rachel  Manlove  Chandler.  Hiram 
died  at  the  early  age  of  48  and  left  his  widow,  Rachel 
with  eight  children.  Martha  Ann,  being  one  of  the 
eight,  told  of  times  when  they  drove  in  a  wagon  to 
Clinton,  111.,  a  distance  of  20  miles  to  buy  groceries 
and  necessities  to  last  a  year,  (see  Chandler  history) 

Lewis  and  Martha  lived  west  of  Cisco  and  to  them 
were  born:  Lutie  (Mrs.  Charles  Parr),  Henry, 
Earnest,  Maude  (Mrs.  Ed  Harlan),  Mabel  (Mrs. 
Charles  Donovan),  Myrtle  (Mrs.  George  Whisnant). 
All  attended  West  Cisco  School.  Both  were  active  in 
church  work.  Lewis  was  president  of  the  building 
committee  when  the  second  M.E.  Church  was  built 
in  1910  and  he  served  as  Sunday  School  Superinten- 
dent for  25  years.  He  died  in  1918.  Martha  was  the 
first  president  of  the  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary 
Society  when  it  was  organized  in  1900.  The  Ladies' 
Aid  Society  was  formed  the  same  year  with  Martha 
elected  as  treasurer  and  serving  until  her  death  in 
1914. 

One  daughter  survives,  Mabel  Donovan  of  Arling- 
ton, Texas,  as  well  as  seven  grandchildren. 

Henry  Melvin  (1871-  )  married  Alma  Olson,  and 
to  them  were  born  three  children:  Byron  (1904-  ), 
Helen  (1905-  j  and  Louis  (1907-1972).  All  are 
deceased.  After  Alma  died,  Henry  married  Grace 
Wheeler  (1879-1969)  in  1914.  They  raised  the  young 
family.  Byron  had  two  children.  Helen  married  Clif- 
ford Footit.  Louis  married  Florence  Schrack  (1910-), 
a  graduate  nurse  and  they  have  two  children:  Mike 
(1943-  )  and  Martha  (1945-  ).  Mike  and  Mary 
Alice  have  two  children.  Gary  and  Martha  Melvin 
Goble  have  two  children  and  live  on  the  Melvin  farm. 


Do  you  remember  when  Mac  Ashton  and  Earl 
Rannebarger  would  ship  cattle  by  train  to  the  Cisco 
stockyards.  When  the  pens  were  opened  for  the  drive 
home  it  was  wall  to  wall  cattle  going  down  the 
streets.  One  of  the  times  they  had  sent  the  cattle  to 
Cerro  Gordo,  on  the  cattle  drive  to  Cisco  some  of  the 
cattle  got  into  a  family's  garden  and  cabbage  became 
worth  $30.00  per  head  in  damages. 


-4- 


The  Robert  Malone  Family 

In  July  of  1973  Bob  and  Barbara  Malone  moved 
to  Cisco  from  Decatur.  Bob  moved  to  the  area  in 
1969  from  Olney.  Barbara  is  the  daughter  of  Bill 
Edwards  of  Edwards  Farm  Supply  Co.  Bob  is  the 
equipment  supervisor  at  Edwards  Farm  Supply.  They 
are  the  parents  of  one  son,  Shawn. 


Miles 

In  1855  Weston  and  Sam  Miles  came  to  Piatt 
County  and  bought  160  acres  each,  for  five  dollars  an 
acre,  both  east  of  what  is  now  Cisco.  Sam  stayed 
here,  but  Weston  returned  to  Moorefield,  West  Va., 
until  the  spring  of  1863.  The  war  got  so  bad  that 
Weston  decided  to  leave  for  Illinois.  His  horses  were 


79 


stolen  by  the  south  when  he  KOt  ready  to  travel.  He 
went  to  a  fellow,  who  was  able  to  get  them  back,  so 
they  hitched  up  and  left  during  the  night.  They 
loaded  two  wagons,  one  a  two  horse  wagon  and  the 
other  a  heavy  four  horse  wagon. 

Weston  and  Martha  Miles  had  ten  children:  Ed- 
ward, John,  Mary,  Ann,  Mortimer,  Trout,  Charles, 
Jess  (dug  wells),  Tom  (David  Thomas  was  a 
preacher),  Gertrude,  and  one  died  in  infancy.  Ger- 
trude married  Fred  Neistraht  and  their  daughter, 
Mary,  married  Rollin  Pease,  son  of  Dr.  L.  Pease.  The 
two  oldest,  Edward  and  John,  joined  the  Federal 
Army  and  Martha  stayed  in  Virginia  with  the  two 
youngest,  until  Weston  got  to  Illinois  with  the  other 
six  children. 

Weston  and  the  si.x  children  left  with  the  wagons 
from  Moorefield  in  March,  1863  and  arrived  here  in 
May,  18G3.  Near  Seymour,  Illinois,  the  wagons  became 
stuck  in  the  mud,  so  Weston  and  part  of  the  children 
rode  on  to  brother  Sam's,  leaving  some  of  the  children 
overnight  with  the  wagons.  The  next  day  he  took 
e.xtra  horses  back  to  pull  them  out.  Sam  and  Weston 
gave  land  for  a  railroad  right  away  when  the  railroad 
went  through  what  is  now  Cisco.  Sam  and  Weston 
married  sisters  Mary  and  Martha  Simmons.  Sam  and 
Mary  had  ten  children,  too. 

Trout  Miles  married  Almira  Fredrick  and  they 
had  two  sons.  Cloud  (1882-  )  and  Harley  (18'.»1-  >. 
Harley  married  Alva  Coffman.  Their  children  are 
Thelma,  Paul  and  Robert.  Thelma  and  J.C.  "Shake" 
Turner  have  two  children,  Bill  and  Mary.  Paul  was 
married,  having  four  children :  Shirley,  Ronald,  Rose 
Marie,  Joy.  Then  he  married  Mary  who  had  three 
children,  Kathy,  Debbie  and  Butch.  Robert  married 
Dorothy  Peterson  and  they  have  one  child.  Robert,  Jr. 
Harley  and  his  family  lived  near  and  in  Cisco  many 
years  before  moving  to  Bement.  Harley  helped  get 
the  drainage  for  Cisco. 


George  Miller  Family 

George  Miller  (1844-1918)  and  Ann  Hunsley  (1847- 
1928)  were  married  in  1867  in  England.  They  lived  at 
Wombwell,  a  coal  mining  district,  where  their  first 
five  children  were  born.  Since  at  that  time,  all  young 
men  were  retiuired  to  serve  an  apprenticeship  in  the 
mines,  George  brought  his  family  to  America  in  1881. 
They  settled  north  of  Decatur,  and  the  children  went 
to  school  on  North  Water  street.  They  came  to  Cisco  in 
1885,  and  farmed  two  miles  south,  where  two  more 
children  were  born.  The  children  attended  Ilavely 
school.  In  1898  they  moved  to  Texas  taking  the  three 
youngest  children  with  them.  George  died  there.  Ann 
died  in  her  daughter's  home  in  Washington. 

Eliza  Ann  Miller  (1871-  )  married  William  Ewan. 
They  lived  in  England  then  came  back  to  live  in  the 
northwest.  They  had  thirteen  children.  They  both  died 
in  Washington  about  19l'.(). 


The    Georgre    Miller    Family.    1889,    seated:    George,    Walter, 

Bertha,    Oliver,    Ann;    standing:    Eliza    .4nn,    Harry,    Albert 

and  Katherine. 


Harry  Miller  (1872-1953)  married  Edith  Briggs 
in  1893  and  they  had  six  children.  They  lived  near 
Cisco  for  a  few  years,  then  went  into  the  northwest, 
where  they  homesteaded  in  Montana.  Edith  died  in 
1959. 

Albert  Miller  (1875-1947)  married  Jennie  Briggs 
(1874-1973)  in  1897,  and,  except  for  a  few  years  in 
North  Dakota,  lived  in  the  Cisco  area,  where  he 
farmed,  was  co-owner  of  an  Implement  Company  in 
Cisco,  then  began  trucking.  (See  article  on  trucking.) 
His  was  a  Methodist  family  and  he  and  his  wife  were 
active  in  the  work  of  the  church,  in  the  choir,  and  the 
women's  organizations.  He  was  a  member  of  a  male 
quartet  which  served  the  community  for  many  years. 
Jennie  was  a  life-time  cripple  due  to  a  childhood 
disease.  They  had  five  children :  Gladys,  Cecil,  Thelma, 
Virgil  and  George. 

Kate  Miller  (1878-1940)  married  William  Briggs 
in  1902  and  they  lived  in  Minnesota.  There  were  four 
children.  William  died  a  few  years  after  Kate. 

Walter  Miller,  (1880-1946)  married  Pearle  Reeves. 
(Walter  Miller  story.) 

Bertha  Miller  (1883-1966)  married  Alfred  Stokey ; 
they  had  one  child,  then  divorced.  She  married  Elmer 
Shuffleberger  and  they  had  nine  children.  This  family 
were  victims  of  the  Kansas  dust  bowl,  and  they  went 
to  California,  where  both  died. 

Oliver  Miller  (1886-1963)  married  Agnes  Wend- 
ling.  They  had  three  children  and  lived  in  Texas.  Agnes 
is  still  living. 

Gladys  Miller  (1898-  )  married  Homer  Doane,  a 
Cisco  farmer  in  1918.   (See  Doane) 

Cecil  Miller  (1900-  )  married  Ruby  Severns  in 
1922  and  they  have  always  lived  in  Batllecreek,  Michi- 
gan. They  have  a  daughter,  Lois  Jeanne,  married  to 
Lee  Weiderman  in  1961. 

Thelma  Miller  (1901-  )  married  Perry  Briggs  in 
1921.  Their  children  are  Harold,  Dorothy  and  Virginia. 
They  operated  a  restaurant  in  Cisco  for  many  years, 


80 


and  after  Perry's  death  in  1959,  she  continued  it  foi' 
seven  more  years.  She  married  William  Sommers  in 
Tucson,  Arizona  in  1967.  He  died  there  in  1970,  and 
she  still  lives  there  as  do  her  daughters.  Harold  ( 1924) 
married  Betty  Beisanthal  in  1954  and  their  children 
are  Kimberly  (1958)  and  Jeffry  (1963).  Harold  man- 
ages a  hardware  store  in  Danville.  Dorothy  (1926) 
married  John  Kettlekamp  in  1948.  John  is  in  insurance. 
Their  children  are  Rebecca  (1949)  married  to  Robert 
Fergu.son,  Richard  (1951)  in  the  military  service  and 
JoEllen  (1958).  Virginia  (1929)  married  Lynn  Meece 
of  Monticello  in  1949.  They  have  four  children,  Mark 
(1954),  Pamela  (1956),  Kathryn  (1961)  and  Deborah 
(1962).  Lynn  is  a  letter  carrier. 

Virgil  Miller  (1905-1957),  born  in  North  Dakota, 
married  Marguerite  Moore  of  Argenta  in  1925.  She  is 
now  married  to  Milford  Miller  (no  relation)  and  living 
in  Arkansas. 

George  Miller  (1916-  )  was  born  in  North  Dakota 
and  married  Blanche  Foltz  in  1938.  They  have  been 
active  in  the  Methodist  Church  in  Monticello,  and  he 
is  fond  of  choir  work  and  quartet  singing.  He  is  a 
Past  Master  of  the  Masonic  Lodge  and  they  are  Past 
Officers  of  the  O.  E.  S.  He  has  been  a  trucker  and 
school  bus  operator.  (See  article  on  trucks  and  buses) 
They  have  two  children.  Jane  (1942)  married  Larry 
Casey  in  1965.  They  have  a  son,  David  (1967)  and 
three  children  by  Larry's  first  marriage,  Dianne, 
Deborah  and  Douglas.  They  live  in  Newton  where 
Larry  is  Farm  Advisor,  and  Jane  teaches.  John  (1943) 
married  Linda  Truitt  in  1968.  They  have  a  daughter, 
Jacqueline  (1971)  and  live  in  Indiana.  He  is  with  a 
farm  machinery  manufacturer  and  Linda  teaches. 


The  Jacob  Miller  Family 

Jacob,  (1878-1943)  son  of  George  and  Mary  Miller, 
was  born  in  Lane,  111.  He  married  Daisy  Dean  Glen, 
(1877-1953)  the  daughter  of  William  and  Minerva 
Glen,  who  was  born  in  DeWitt. 

In  1927  they  moved  to  Cisco  with  their  three 
youngest  children  —  twins  Dorothy  Fay  and  Doris 
Ray,  and  Jacob  Eplor  (Jakie),  born  in  Clinton.  The 
two  older  children,  Marshall  and  Nettie,  were  both 
married  and  living  in  Lane,  111.  Marshall  later  moved 
to  Cisco.  While  living  in  Cisco,  Jacob  worked  at  con- 
struction and  also  helped  with  corn  shelling  while 
working  for  Dick  Wangler. 

Marshall  married  Jessie  Mae  Campbell  Fisher  and 
they  had  four  sons,  William,  Essell,  Marshall  Jr.,  and 
Richard.  Jessie  died  in  1951  and  Marshall  later 
married  Ann  Wittig  of  Deland.  Marshall  has  farmed 
all  his  life,  as  well  as  worked  with  his  brother  Jakie 
corn  shelling.  William  married  Sheredith  McCready 
and  they  had  one  son.  He  later  married  Edna  Jones 
and  they  live  in  Bloomington.  Essell  married  Helen 
Marie  Cook  and  they  have  .sons  John  Douglas,  a  grad- 
uate af  Parkland  College,  Ronald  Eugene,  attending 
Parkland,  Gary  Edward  and  twins  Terry  Wayne  and 
Larry   Duane.    (Larry   being  deceased.)    Essell   is  an 


Electronic  Technician  at  Caterpillar  Tractor  in  Deca- 
tur and  also  farms  north  of  Cisco.  Marshall  Jr.  mar- 
ried Jane  Logan  and  they  have  four  children.  Marshall 
Jr.,  a  graduate  of  Eastern  Illinois  College,  is  Athletic 
Coordinator  at  Illinois  State  University.  Richard 
married  Opal  Blackwell  and  they  adopted  a  son. 
Richard  later  married  Rose  Medeiros  and  they  have 
four  children.  Richard  is  retiring  from  the  Air  Force 
to  Indiana. 

Nettie  married  Coleman  Arthur  and  they  had  ten 
children.  Ruby,  Raymond,  Hazel,  Vernelle,  Homer, 
Charles,  Rosetta,  Virgil,  Mervin,  and  Laura.  Nettie 
and  Coleman  are  now  deceased. 

Dorothy  married  Clifford  Eubank  and  they  had 
two  children,  Herchel  Dean  (deceased)  and  Martha 
Kay.  Clifford's  son  Clifford  Jr.  lived  with  them.  Clif- 
ford is  now  retired  after  having  worked  a  number  of 
years  for  Model  Brass,  in  Decatur.  Clifford  Jr.  mar- 
ried Melba  Luster  and  they  had  two  children.  He 
later  married  Geraldine  Newman.  He  is  retired  from 
the  Air  Force.  Martha  maried  Norman  Richard  and 
they  have  one  son.  Martha  and  Norman  are  teachers 
and  live  in  Texas. 

Doris  is  making  his  home  with  Dorothy  and  her 
husband. 

Jakie  married  Ethelene  Hill  and  they  have  two 
sons,  Thomas  Jakie  (TJ),  who  is  married  to  Angie 
Stoerger,  and  Donald  Lee  who  is  still  at  home.  Jakie 
and  his  sons  run  the  Miller  Trucking  and  Shelling 
Service. 


Jacob  and  Daisy  Miller. 


Remember  when  they  had  the  Free  Movies  every 
Saturday  night  in  Cisco?  Between  the  depot  and  the 
grocery  store  they  would  set  drain  tile  in  the  middle 
of  the  road  and  then  put  boards  across  them  to  form 
seats.  The  movies  were  shown  on  the  side  of  the  gro- 
cery store. 


81 


Walter  E.  Miller  Family 

Walter  Edwin  Miller  (1880-1946)  was  born  in 
England.  He  came  to  the  United  States  with  his 
parents,  George  Miller  and  Ann  Hunsley  Miller. 

During  Walter's  early  years  his  family  lived  in 
Cisco.  In  1904  Walter  Miller  and  Pearl  Reeves  were 
married.  To  this  union  were  born  Geneva,  Gerald  and 
Leora.  Geneva  died  as  a  young  child. 

Besides  farming,  Walter  was  (iuite  active  in  the 
community  affairs,  being  a  road  commissioner,  singing 
in  a  quartet  wth  Head  McCartney,  Scott  Armsworth, 
and  Albert  Miller,  working  in  the  Cisco  Methodist 
Church  and  Sunday  School. 


Gerald  A.,  Pearl  and  Walter  Miller 

Gerald  Miller  farmed  with  his  father  then  took 
over  the  farms  in  his  father's  business.  In  his  opinion, 
there  was  no  better  place  to  live.  In  1939  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Vernette  E.  Mitchell,  a  school  teacher  from 
Argenta,  from  Albion.  Gerald  Miller  passed  away  in 
1971  at  the  age  of  59. 

Mrs.  Walter  Miller  (Pearl;  worked  at  Kirby 
Hospital  in  Monticello  after  her  husband's  death.  At 
the  age  of  seventy-five,  and  still  on  duty  at  the  hos- 
pital, she  suffered  a  heart  attack  and  died  in  1961. 

Vernette  Miller  returned  to  teaching  in  1960  at 
Maroa-Forsythe  High  School.  Gerald  and  Vernette 
Miller  had  four  children.  Dennis,  an  electrical  engineer, 
lives  in  Wisconsin  with  his  wife  Suzanne  Neimann 
Miller  and  two  sons.  Susan  Miller  Dresback  is  a  libra- 
rian at  Oakton  Junior  College  and  lives  in  Evanston. 
Janice  Miller  Olson  and  husband  James,  an  engineer, 
live  in  Chicago  Heights  with  daughters  Angela,  Kelly 
and  Tanya.  Walter  Thomas  Miller,  wile  Kandra  Eagan 
Miller,  and  son  Jeremy  live  in  St.  Joseph  where  Walt 
manages  the  grain  elevator. 

Leora  Miller  married  Max  Weddle  in  1938.  During 
the  first  few  years  of  marriage  Max  farmed  for 
Walter  Miller  and  Leora  taught  school.  Max  has  been 
in  the  Air  Force  for  thirty  years.  They  live  in  St. 
Petersburg,  Florida.  They  have  one  son,  James,  who 
is  in  the  Air  Force,  he  is  married  and  has  two  children, 
Gary  and  Tammie. 


History  of  Robert  C.  Mills 

Robert  C.  Mills  was  a  young  man  of  19  when  he 
came  to  the  Cisco  area  from  southern  Indiana.  In  the 
spring  of  1918  he  was  inducted  into  the  Army  and 
spent  a  year  serving  in  the  Medical  Corp.  After  serv- 
ice, he  returned  to  Indiana  where  he  attended  Oak- 
land City  College.  In  1922  he  married  Mabel  Hawkins 
of  Milltown,  Indiana.  Bob  moved  his  wife  and  two 
sons,  Robert  (1923)  and  Gene  (1925)  to  the  Cisco 
community  in  1928.  In  the  years  that  followed  he  was 
employed  by  area  farmers.  He  also  helped  build  the 
present  post  office.  Two  daughters  were  born  to  this 
couple,  Anita  (1930)  and  Carol  (1934).  In  1941,  the 
family  moved  north  of  Cisco  to  the  Charles  Doane 
farm.  In  1968,  Bob  and  Mabel  moved  Va-mile  north 
of  Cisco. 

Robert,  Gene  and  Anita  graduated  from  Nixon 
Township  High  School.  Robert  and  Gene  joined  the 
Army  in  1943,  serving  until  1946.  In  1948,  Robert 
married  Georgia  Briggs.  He  has  his  Master's  Degree 
and  is  teaching  agriculture  in  Manteno,  Illinois.  Their 
children  are  Faye  and  Marvin. 

Gene  married  Jean  Conover  in  1944  and  have  two 
children,  Dennis  (1945)  and  Janice  (1947).  Gene  and 
Jean  have  made  Decatur  their  home. 

Anita  married  Kenneth  Cook  in  1948.  They  reside 
in  Chillicothe. 

Carol  graduated  from  Monticelllo  High  School  and 
married  Donald  Padgett.  They  now  reside  north  of 
Cisco  on  the  farm  owned  by  Charles  Olson.  Their  two 
daughters  are  Terri  (1957)  and  Kim   (1959). 

Bob  and  Mabel  have  been  active  in  local  organi- 
zations. Bob  is  a  charter  member  of  the  Cisco  Ameri- 
can Legion  Post  and  belongs  to  the  Masonic  Lodge. 
Mabel  is  a  member  of  the  Cisco  Home  Extension  and 
an  active  member  of  the  WSCS  of  the  Cisco  Methodist 
Church  where  both  are  members.  Mabel's  hobby  over 
the  years  has  been  raising  flowers. 

In  August  of  1972,  friends,  neighbors  and  rela- 
tives helped  this  couple  celebrate  their  50th  wedding 
anniversary. 


Miner 

Blanch  Carper  Chapman  married  John  Roy  Miner 
in  1929.  They  lived  on  several  farms  in  the  Monticello 
area  before  moving  to  Cisco  in  1939  where  they 
farmed  until  their  retirement,  at  which  time  they 
moved  to  Cerro  Gordo.  Their  five  children,  Dwight, 
Virginia,  Velma,  Jack  and  Alan,  all  attended  Oak 
Grove  School  until  it  closed  in  1943.  They  then  at- 
tended Ci.sco  Grade  School.  In  1944  the  Cisco  High 
School  consolidated  into  Monticello  unit.  All  the  chil- 
dren graduated  from  that  high  school. 

Dwight  now  farms  where  his  folks  lived  and  works 
at  Caterpillar.  He  married  Mary  Achterberg  from 
Texas  and  they  have  six  children. 

Virginia  married  Dale  Norfleet,  son  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Austin  Norfleet  who  live  on  the  Studebaker  land 
north  of  Cisco.  Dale  and  his  brother  Gary  are  partners 


82 


and  farm  in  the  Cisco  area.  Dale  and  \'irKinia  lived 
on  a  farm  at  Cisco  until  three  years  ago  at  which 
time  they  moved  on  a  farm  west  of  Monticello  witli 
their  four  children. 

Velma    Cadbury    lives    in    Champaign    with    her 
four  children. 


^-^ 


Roy  Miner 

Jack  and  his  wife,  Faye  Houser,  farm  east  of 
Monticello.  Their  family  consists  of  four  children. 

Alan  Miner  married  Carolyn  Lubbers.  He  farms 
one  of  his  father's  farms  at  Fisher  and  is  Assistant 
Manager  at  Champaign  Production  Credit  Corpora- 
tion. They  have  three  children. 


Mint  tin 

Stephen  Mintun  was  born  in  1856.  He  married 
Rosella  Lewis  in  1877.  A  short  time  later  they  moved 
to  Nebraska.  Their  childrden  were:  John  William, 
born  in  1878;  Harry,  1881;  Lena  Maud,  1886;  Jessie 
Belle,  1888.  In  1894  they  decided  to  return  to  Cisco, 
111.,  starting  Oct.  1,  1894,  traveling  in  two  covered 
wagons  and  camping  and  cooking  their  meals  along 
the  way.  At  one  point  the  hor.ses  became  wearied  and 
a  little  off  feed.  A  very  kind  farmer  invited  them  to 
camp  in  his  barnyard  for  a  little  rest,  after  which 
the  family  as  well  as  the  horses  were  much  refreshed. 
They  arrived  in  Cisco  Oct.  30,  1894. 

John  William  married  Jessie  Rinehart.  Their 
children  were  Berlyn  Dwight  (1902);  Vira  Laurine 
(1906).  Harry  married  Myrtle  Gisinger.  One  child, 
Ralph  H.  was  born  in  1910.  Lena  Maud  maried  Charles 
Hunsley.  Their  children  were  Harwin  Merrill  (1909), 
and  Milford  Charles  (1913).  Jessie  Belle  married 
Walter  Coffin.  Their  children  were  Varlen  (1910), 
Vivian  L.  (1914),  Dale  Stephen  (1920),  Nina  Rosella 
(1922). 

After  retiring  from  farming,  Stephen  and  his 
wife  moved  into  Cisco  where  he  did  carpenter  work 
and  worked  in  the  Grain  Elevator.  His  last  job  was 
that  of  janitor  at  the  Cisco  School.  Mrs.  Mintun  died 
in  1930  and  Stephen  Mintun  in  1936. 


Ralph  H.  Mintun  married  Evelyn  Evey  and  lives 
in  Bement.  They  had  one  son,  Paul  Ralph,  who  died 
in  infancy.  Ralph  owns  and  operates  a  general  auto 
repair  business. 


Munson  Family 

Richard  D.  Munson  was  born  in  Cerro  Gordo  in 
1936.  His  parents  were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rolley  Munson. 
Richard  married  Mary  Lou  Patten,  daughter  of  the 
Ralph  L.  Pattens,  of  Cerro  Gordo.  After  8  years  in 
the  Air  Force,  Richard  moved  his  family  from  Arthur 
to  Cisco  in  1970.  He  works  at  McClure's  in  Monti- 
cello. The  next  year,  Mrs.  Maude  Munson,  Dick's 
mother,  moved  to  Cisco.  The  Munsons  set  up  a  new 
double-wide  trailer  in  1972. 

Dick  and  Mary  Lou  have  four  children :  Rick,  born 
in  New  Mexico  in  1957;  Gloria,  born  in  Decatur  in 
1960;  Joyce,  born  in  Alaska  in  1962;  and  Brenda,  born 
in  Decatur  in  1964.  Mary  Lou  worked  part-time  at 
Don  McKinley's  Grocery  Store,  and  since  1972  is  cook- 
ing at  the  Cisco  Grade   School. 


Charles  W.  McArty 

Charles  Wesley  and  Mary  Jane  McArty  farmed 
west  of  Cisco.  Part  of  the  land  now  being  farmed  by 
Stanley  Mackey.  To  this  marriage  six  children  were 
born: 

Marion — who  rode  with  Teddy  Roosevelt's  Rough 
Riders  up  San  Juan  Hill. 

Emma  McArty  (1869-1957)  was  never  married  and 
lived  in  the  home  provided  for  her  by  her  brother 
Charles  Roy. 

Chattie  McArty  (.1871-1957)  was  married  to 
Charles  Daves.  Chattie  and  Charlie  lived  on  the  old 
McArty  farm  and  there  Charles  died.  They  had  five 
children;  Winnie,  who  died  at  the  age  of  4;  Goldie, 
one  time  postmistress  of  the  Cisco  post  office  and  was 
married  to  Charles  Parr ;  Opal ;  and  Chauncey.  Chattie 
was  a  prominent  member  of  Cisco  Woman's  (Illub. 

Abbie  became  the  wife  of  J.  R.  Staats.  In  the  early 
spring  of  1898,  Abb  was  getting  the  meal  when  she 
proceeded  to  shake  the  ashes  of  the  coal  stove  down — 
leaving  the  draft  open.  She  was  standing  too  close  to 
the  draft  and  caught  fire.  She  ran  out  of  the  house  to 
keep  the  house  from  burning — as  Wade,  the  baby,  was 
sleeping.  All  her  clothes  burned  off  before  Bob  Staats 
could  get  to  her.  She  lived  only  a  few  days  after  that. 
Bob  remarried  and  he  and  his  new  wife  raised  the 
baby  and  her  own  son  of  the  same  age.  They  had  two 
daughters  of  their  own. 

Charles  Roy  (a  twin  sister  died  at  birth)  was  born 
in  1883  at  Cisco.  He  married  Lura  Bessie  Stevens  in 
1909.  To  them  were  born  two  sons  and  one  daughter; 
Charles  M.  McArty  (1912),  Joy  S.  McArty  (1916), 
and  Betty  June  McArty  Hoegsted  (1921).  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Charles  Roy  McArty  and  children  lived  in  Cham- 
paign from  1912  to  1957,  when  Mrs.  McArty  died. 


83 


The  Thomas  McCartney  Family 

Head  McCartney  was  a  descendant  of  the  Madden- 
McCartney  union.  His  mother,  Cynthia  Madden,  and 
her  family  homesteaded  the  family  farm.  She  was 
born  in  the  house  southeast  of  the  present  homesite. 
His  father  Thomas  Holden  McCartney  came  to  this 
community  with  his  parents  from  Circleville,  Ohio  at 
the  early  age  of  8  or  10  about  the  year  1856.  They 
settled  just  south  and  east  of  the  Madden  homestead. 

Thomas  (1848-1919)  was  born  in  Ohio  and  Cynthia 
(1851-1932)  was  born  on  the  home  place.  They  were 
united  in  marriage  in  1869.  This  union  combined  some 
of  the  farm  from  the  two  homesteads.  They  went  to 
housekeeping  in  a  small  house  on  the  corner  2  miles 
south  of  Cisco  where  the  present  McCartney  home 
stands.  They  had  seven  children;  Lillie;  twins  Noi-a 
and  Ora;  Pearl;  Thomas  N.  Head;  Piatt  (now  de- 
ceased) and  Glee.  All  of  the  children  were  born  at  the 
family  homestead  except  Piatt.  After  the  two  older 
children  were  born  the  family  home  was  rebuilt  and 
enlarged  to  a  two  story  eight  room  home  with  a 
summer  kitchen  at  the  south  end.  The  NE  corner  of 
the  present  home  is  the  original  house  that  Thomas 
took  up  housekeeping  in. 

Lillie  married  George  Widick  and  settled  on  the 
Widick  farm  west  of  Willow  Branch  school.  Head's 
grandson,  Jeff  McCartney,  lives  in  the  present  Widick 
house. 

Nora  and  Pearl  McCartney  married  the  Parish 
brothers  who  were  school  teachers.  Nora  married 
Walter  and  Pearl  married  Will.  After  their  marriages 
they  settled  in  Cisco  and  started  the  Parish  Implement 
Business.  In  1901  the  families  moved  to  Idaho  and 
homesteaded  farms  there. 

Glee  McCartney  married  Will  Norris  and  lived  with 
her  mother  in  Monticello. 

Head  McCartney  married  Nora  Wheeler  in  1911 
and  started  housekeeping  in  the  same  place  his  folks 
had  started.  Four  children  were  born  to  this  union. 
Thomas  Head,  who  died  in  infancy;  Edna  Elaine; 
Thomas  Nathanial;  and  Cynthia  Elizabeth  who  died 
in  infancy.  Elaine  married  James  Van  Matre.  They 
have  two  children,  Elizabeth  and  James.  Elaine  and 
her  husband  now  own  the  McCartney  farm  and  resi- 
dence and  Burl  Van  Matre  farms  it  along  with  the 
Glee  Norris  farm  that  joins  it  on  the  south.  Thomas 
N.  married  Margaret  Hendri.x.  They  have  4  children; 
Noble  T.,  Jeffry  Lynn,  Mary  Margaret  and  Ruth  Ann. 

Head  served  for  over  30  years  as  Secretary  of  the 
Masonic  Lodge  and  both  he  and  Nora  were  members 
of  the  Methodist  church.  They  also  belonged  to  the 
Eastern  Star  Chapter.  He  was  elected  and  served  30 
years  as  town  clerk  of  Willow  Branch  Township. 


William  McCartney 

William  A.  McCartney  (1845-1914)  was  of  Scotch- 
Irish  ancestry  and  one  of  eight  children  born  to 
William  McCartney,  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  Angeline 
(Head)  McCartney,  a  native  of  (Jhio.  He  was  born  in 
Coshocton   County,   Ohio.   Hi.s   boyhood   was  spent   in 


Ross  County,  Ohio.  Members  of  his  family  residing  in 
Piatt  County  were:  Caroline,  wife  of  A.  E.  Parr  and 
Emma,  wife  of  Solomon  Hinson,  and  a  brother  Thomas 
H.  In  1865,  he  and  Thomas  journeyed  to  Piatt  County 
and  after  three  years  he  became  the  owner  of  farm 
land  in  Willow  Branch  Township.  He  was  married  in 
1869  to  Ann  Virginia  Scott  Miles,  daughter  of  Samuel 
and  Betsy  Miles  who  were  among  the  early  settlers  of 
Piatt  County.  The  McCartneys  were  the  parents  of 
one  son,  William  E.  McCartney,  born  in  1870.  William 
A.  McCartney  and  his  wife  took  an  active  part  in  social 
affairs.  In  later  years,  they  left  the  farm  and  moved  to 
Cisco.  His  wife  died  in  1912. 

The  son,  William  E.  McCartney  attended  the  neigh- 
borhood school  and  went  to  business  college.  In  1896 
he  married  Anna  E.  Miner,  daughter  of  Ira  F.  and 
Mary  A.  Bruffet  Miner.  The  first  home  of  the  William 
E.  McCartneys  was  located  west  of  Havely  School.  In 
later  years,  they  moved  to  his  father's  farm  which  was 
located  across  the  road  from  the  present  farm  home. 
In  a  few  years  Mr.  McCartney  purchased  a  160  acre 
farm  located  two  miles  south  of  Cisco  from  Sam  Sher- 
man where  he  built  a  modern  brick  home  and  a  brick 
round  barn  in  1909  and  1911.  The  farm  was  later 
named  "Maple  Tree  Farm."  They  were  the  parents  of 
seven  children,  namely;  W.  Ward  (1897),  Wayne  C. 
(1898), Ira  M.  (1900), Roy  S.  (1904),  Mary  0.  (1905) 
Dean  M.  (1910)  and  Mildred  A.  (1913). 

Ward  married  Mildred  Mcintosh  in  1918.  They  had 
three  children,  two  deceased  early  in  life  and  Virginia 
McCartney  Ganter.  Mildred  died  in  1928  and  he  later 
married  Lois  Primmer  in  1934.  To  this  union  were 
born  three  children,  one  deceased,  William  Ward  and 
Eileen  McCartney  Blythe.  Wayne  married  Eva  Cloud 
(1901-  )  in  the  year  1919.  Their  children  are  Robert 
and  Beulah  McCartney  Matson.  Ira  married  Marjorie 
Hamilton  (1913-  )  in  1940  and  they  have  two  sons, 
Steve  and  Mike.   Steve  with  his  wife,   Maureen,  and 


Grandma  .\nn  Virginia  Miles  McCartney  and  three  grand- 
sons, Ira,  Ward  and  Wayne. 


84 


daughter,  Kelly  Jo,  reside  southeast  of  Cisco.  Michael 
is  employed  in  St.  Louis  and  is  home  on  weekends.  Ira 
and  Marge  hae  been  very  active  in  the  Methodist 
Church  and  community  affairs.  Roy  was  married  to 
Harriett  Crabb  in  1932  and  they  have  two  children, 
Scott  and  Sue  Ann.  Mary  married  Frank  Kossieck  in 
1940.  Dean  married  Viola  Bartison  (1912-  )  in  193G. 
Their  three  children  are  Patricia  Ann  McCartney 
Borelli,  Luella  McCartney  Doss  and  Edwin.  Mildred 
married  Leroy  Berney  in  1945.  There  are  twenty-two 
great  grandchildren. 

The  William  E.  McCartneys  were  active  members 
of  Cisco  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  serving  on  the 
Board,  Ladies  Aid  Society  and  other  capacities  where 
needed.  They  were  charter  members  of  the  Order  of 
Eastern  Star  849,  and  he  was  active  in  Masonic  Lodge, 
Markwell  Chapter  58,  Beaumanoir  Commandery,  the 
Bloomington  Consistory  and  Ansar  Shrine  of  Spring- 
field. He  served  on  the  first  Board  of  Directors  of  the 
Piatt  County  Farm  Bureau  and  was  an  active  member 
of  Cisco  Cooperative  Grain  Co.  The  McCartney  chil- 
dren were  educated  at  Havely  and  Oak  Grove  Elemen- 
tary Schools,  Cisco  two-year  high  school,  Decatur  and 
Monticello  High  Schools. 

William  E.  McCartney  died  in  1948  and  his  wife 
died  in  1944.  Since  his  death,  four  of  the  children  are 
deceased.  The  Maple  Tree  Farm  is  occupid  by  Ira 
McCartney.  The  other  remaining  children  are  Dean  of 
White  Heath  and  Mary  Kossieck  of  Decatur. 


Margraret  and  Fred  Mcintosh. 

In  1918,  Mildred  Mcintosh  married  W.  Ward 
McCartney.  They  had  three  children;  Eugene  William, 
Francis  Harold  passed  away  in  infancy,  and  Virginia 
Louise   (1924;.  Mildred  died  in  1928. 

Earl  Mcintosh  married  Ruth  King,  from  Indiana, 
in  1925,  and  there  were  four  childen :  Burt,  Frances, 
Marilyn  and  Shara.  The  family  now  lives  in  Clinton. 


Do  you  remember  taking  singing  lessons  at  the 
Methodist  Church  in  the  evening  from  Prof.  Olds  from 
Millikin   University? 


Williams  -  Jones  -  Mcintosh 

Margaret  Williams  was  born  in  1873.  Her  parents 
were  Andrew  Jackson  Williams  and  Violet  Elizabeth 
Hurst  Williams.  They  settled  in  Piatt  county  in  18G0, 
coming  originally  from  Pickaway  County,  Ohio.  (See 
Andrew  Jackson  WiUiams  History.)  Margaret  married 
Frank  Jones,  son  of  A.  H.  and  E.  J.  Jones,  in  1891. 
They  lived  in  Decatur  awhile,  where  a  daughter 
Frances  was  born  in  1893,  then  settled  on  a  farm 
southwest  of  Cisco.  Frank  Jones  passed  away  in  1903. 
Margaret  Jones  then  married  J.  F.  Mcintosh  of 
Onarga  in  1904. 

J.  F.  Mcintosh  was  first  married  to  Florence  Wil- 
cox. They  had  twins.  Earl  and  a  girl  who  died,  and 
Mildred.  Florence  died  of  pneumonia  in  1902.  These 
children  lived  with  their  grandparents  till  the  J.  F. 
(Fred)  Mcintosh  —  Margaret  Jones  marriage.  The 
family  soon  came  to  Cisco,  living  on  a  farm  north  and 
east  of  town.  They  moved  belongings,  including  ma- 
chinery and  livestock,  by  rail.  The  land  had  originally 
been  purchased  for  $1.00  per  acre,  consisting  of  some 
swamp-land.  Later,  Fred  ow-ned  a  general  store  which 
he  sold  and  returned  to  the  farm.  He  had  one  of  the 
first  tractors  and  the  first  combine  in  this  area. 

Helen  Jones  married  Willard  E.  Ater  in  1912.  (See 
Ater  History.) 


Mc Kinney  Family 

The  McKinneys  were  early  identified  with  Piatt 
county.  They  were  descendants  of  Scotch-Irish  Pres- 
byterians. After  arriving  in  the  United  States,  they 
moved  to  the  Appalachin  area.  In  1847  John  McKinney 
came  to  Piatt  county,  Illinois,  settling  southwest  of 
Cisco  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  the  Wilmer  L. 
Cliftons,  she  being  the  daughter  of  the  late  Harold 
B.  McKinney. 

Two  years  later,  Andrew  and  James,  sons  of 
Alexander  McKinney,  settled  on  sections  just  north  of 
Uncle  John.  Their  father,  Ale.xander,  came  to  Illinois 
in  1852  and  settled  on  a  farm  just  north  of  Cerro 
Gordo. 

The  ground  that  James  McKinney  settled  on  was 
granted  to  him  by  President  Fillmore  in  1851.  He 
married  Emily  Diantha  Chapman  and  they  had  five 
children,  with  only  one  surviving,  Orlando  Boyd 
McKinney.  He  married  Jennie  Schoolcraft,  a  teacher 
of  Cerro  Gordo,  in  1882.  He  farmed  southwest  of  Cisco, 
later  moving  to  Urbana,  then  Decatur.  There  were  two 
sons  born  to  this  union:  Harold  B.  and  Roland  B. 
Orlando  died  in  1923.  Jennie  McKinney  made  her  home 
with  her  son  Harold  and  family  until  she  died  in  1941. 

Harold  attended  the  University  of  Illinois,  Then  he 
went  to  Chicago,  worked  at  Marshall  Field  &  Co.  and 
Western  Electric  Co.  He  later  returned  to  Cisco  and 


85 


Harold  and  Bessie  McKinney. 

farming.  Bessie  I.  Williams  became  his  bride.  They 
had  three  children:  Mary  Kathryn,  who  passed  away 
in  1931  at  age  18;  Paul  B.  and  Helen  Louise. 

They  lived  for  most  of  their  married  life  on  the 
farm,  were  members  of  the  Order  of  Eastern  Star 
849  and  Harold  served  as  First  Worthy  Patron.  He 
was  active  in  community  affairs,  served  as  Willow 
Branch  Township  supervisor  for  several  terms,  one  of 
the  trustees  for  Cisco  Fire  Protection  District  from 
the  time  it  was  organized  until  the  time  of  his  death 
in  1957. 

Bessie  was  a  member  of  the  W.S.C.S.  of  Cisco 
United  Methodist  Church,  a  charter  member  of  the 
Cisco  Woman's  Club,  a  50-year  member  of  the  Order 
of  Eastern  Star,  a  member  of  the  Birthday  Club  and 
the  Cisco  Home  Extension.  She  passed  away  in  1973. 

Paul  McKinney  is  presently  living  in  Valley  City, 
North  Dakota.  He  married  Beulah  Rotenberry  of 
Decatur  in  1938.  They  have  two  children  and  one 
granddaughter. 

Helen  Louise  married  Wilmer  Leon  Clifton  in  1948. 
They  have  one  son,  Jeffrey  Leon,  born  in  1955.  {see 
Clifton  History.) 

Fred  Niles  Family 

Fred  and  Minnie  Niles  (both  deceased)  moved  to 
Cisco  and  worked  for  Clem  Doane  and  Charley  Cro- 
ninger.  They  purchased  property  from  Roy  Coffin  in 
1928  in  Cisco  and  lived  there  until  Mrs.  Niles  death. 

Mr.  Niles  was  born  in  Germany  and  came  with  his 
parents  to  the  United  States,  when  he  was  nine  years 
old.  Fred  and  Minnie  had  six  children;  Mable  (de- 
ceased) married  Wm.  Bush  and  had  five  children, 
Alice   and    Guy    Compton    have    two   children,    Harry 


(deceased)  married  Blanche  Barclay  of  Weldon  and 
they  lived  in  the  Cisco  community  for  22  years. 
Though  living  near  Oreana,  Blanche  is  active  in  Cisco 
activities.  They  have  two  sons,  Robert,  married  to 
Jane  Orr  of  Onargo,  and  Paul,  who  is  married  to 
Sandra  Crowe  of  Oreana.  Each  has  four  children,  but 
Robert  has  one  deceased.  Everett  (deceased)  married 
Vada  Goken  of  Weldon  and  lived  there.  Henry  married 
Stella  Rannebarger  of  Cisco  and  they  have  one  son. 
Cynthia  and  Glenn  Tozer  (deceased)  have  two  sons. 


The  Noecker  Family 

The  Noecker  brothers,  Sylvester  and  Nate,  came  to 
the  Cisco  area  on  horseback  with  covered  wagons  in 
the  mid  1800's.  They  left  Pickway,  Ohio,  to  come  to 
Illinois. 

Sylvester  married  Ann  Eliza  Agustus,  daughter  of 
Clark  Agustus,  in  1872.  The  Agustus  family  had 
traveled  to  the  Argenta  area  from  the  same  county  in 
Ohio  as  the  Noecker  brothers.  Sylvester  and  Ann  Eliza 
settled   on    land    purchased    from    Henry    Noecker    in 


Sylvester  Noecker  home,  Mary,  Ann    (Mrs.   Sylvester)    and 
Bertha. 

1874.  Sylvester  then  acquired  more  land  in  1876  and 
1903  to  make  his  farm  a  total  of  240  acres.  They 
built  the  house  pictured  in  the  1880's.  The  Ruch 
family  are  living  in  the  house  as  it  now  stands. 

There  were  seven  children  born  to  Sylvester  and 
Ann.  They  were  William  Peter,  Harry,  Clarence,  Ber- 
tha, Grace,  Mary,  Harrison.  After  farming  his  land 
all  of  his  life  Sylvester  retired  and  moved  to  Argenta 
in  1909.  He  died  the  following  spring.  The  eldest  son, 
W.  P.  Noecker  moved  back  on  the  home  place  with 
his  wife,  Lula  Harkelroad  Noecker  and  their  children, 
Ray,  Doris,  Elbert,  Lucille,  Cyril,  Harry,  Clark, 
Thelma  and  Jean.  They  lived  there  until  the  early 
1930's.  The  farm  was  then  sold  and  W.  P.  Noecker 
and  his  family  moved  to  Monticello  and  then  on  to 
the  Hammond  area. 

The  children  of  W.  P.  Noecker  and  his  wife  Lula, 
arc  all  living  with  the  exceptions  of  Ray,  Elbert, 
Harry,  and  Clark.  Ray's  widow.  Vera  Scott  Noecker, 
lives  in  Cisco  at  this  time  as  do  their  daughters, 
JoAnn  Noecker  Shafer  and  Marilyn  Noecker  Sago.  A 
son,  Don,  lives  in  Jacksonville,  Illinois. 


86 


Nolan  Family 


The  Bernard  Nolan  family  moved  to  the  J.  T. 
Whitley  farm  northwest  of  Cisco  in  February  of  1951. 
Bernie  and  Peg  had  three  children:  C.reg,  Charlie, 
and  Kathleen.  Margaret  and  Mary  were  born  after 
the  move  to  Cisco  and  this  completes  the  family. 

All  of  the  children  have  attended  Cisco  Grade 
School  and  are  graduates  of  Monticello  High  School. 
Greg  is  a  graduate  of  Loyola  University,  Charlie  a 
graduate  of  U.  of  I.,  Kathleen  a  graduate  of  Illinois 
State,  Margaret  a  senior  in  pre-med  at  U.  of  I.,  and 
Mary  is  a  freshman  at  St.  Francis  School  of  Nursing 
in  Peoria,  111. 

Greg,  his  wife  Cathy,  and  their  two  children, 
Gregory  James  and  Kevin  Michael,  have  lived  in  Cisco 
since  March  1973.  Greg  operates  the  Marathon  tank 
wagon  for  the  Cisco  Coop  Elevator.  Greg  served  in 
the  army. 

Charlie  and  his  wife  Gail,  live  in  Carmi,  Illinois. 

Bernie  and  Peg  have  kept  busy  with  their  family, 
the  farm,  their  church,  school,  and  civic  activities. 
Bernie  and  Greg  are  both  members  of  the  Cisco  Fire 
Department.  Peg  is  a  member  of  the  Cisco  Home 
Extension.  Greg's  wife  Cathy  is  a  member  of  the 
Cisco  Evening  Woman's  Club.  The  family  are  all 
members  of  St.  Philomena's  Catholic  Church  in 
Monticello,  Illinois. 


Charles,  Mabel  and  Thada  Olson. 


History  of  Charles  Olson 

Charles  Olson  was  born  in  1879  to  James  and 
Christina  Olson  of  Deland,  Illinois.  Thada  Lane,  born 
in  1885,  married  Charles  Olson  in  1914.  In  1917  the 
couple  moved  to  a  farm  one  mile  north  of  Cisco.  The 
house  on  this  farm  had  been  moved  to  this  site  by  a 
former  owner,  John  Reardon,  from  the  Weddle  farm. 

During  the  years  that  followed  Charles  farmed 
1500  acres  with  a  stable  of  40  horses.  He  took  great 


pride  in  his  horses,  often  showing  them  at  fairs.  He 
raised  many  of  his  horses.  His  show  horses  were 
Percheron.  He  sold  a  team  of  these  to  Budweiser 
Company,  in  St.  Louis. 

Being  one  of  the  more  progressive  farmers  of  his 
day  he  was  one  of  the  first  in  the  area  to  farm  with 
tractors.  He  was  also  one  of  the  first  in  this  area  to 
plant  the  crop,  soybeans,  then  called  the  "wonder 
bean".  He  owned  a  Case  steam  engine  which  was  used 
to  power  a  Reeves  thresher.  He  also  owned  a  Sandwich 
corn  sheller. 

Born  to  Charles  and  Thada  was  a  daughter,  Mabel. 
Mabel  became  secretary  for  the  Cisco  Grain  Co.  Later 
she  was  employed  by  the  Gerber  State  Bank  of 
Argenta.  She  married  William  Weirich  and  moved  to 
Phoenix,  Arizona,  where  she  now  resides  with  her 
husband  and  two  children,  William  and  Christine. 

Charles  died  in  1946  and  Thada  remained  on  the 
farm  until  1957  when  she  moved  to  Scottsdale,  Arizona 
near  her  daughter.  Thada  died  in  July  of  1973. 


-5=-4- 


ff^ 


\ 


Helen,  Milt,  Jo  Ann  and  Don  Padgrett. 

History  of  Milton  Padgett 

Milton  Padgett  was  born  in  Wayne  City,  to  Virgil 
and  Rebecca  Padgett  in  1905.  He  married  Helen 
Cheatham  in  Clinton  and  moved  to  the  Cisco  area  in 
1932.  He  worked  for  Ralph  Rannebarger  for  several 
years.  During  this  time  two  children  were  born  to  Milt 
and  Helen.  Don,  was  born  in  1932  and  JoAnn  was  born 
in  1936.  The  family  then  moved  south  of  Cisco  where 
Milt  rented  land  fom  Loren  Pattengill.  In  1949,  the 
family  moved  north  of  Cisco  to  farm  the  Charles  Olson 
land. 

Don,  a  graduate  of  Argenta  High  School  enlisted 
in  the  Air  Force  in  1951  and  served  four  years.  He 
married  Carol  Mills,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robert 
Mills  in  1952.  He  was  discharged  in  1955  and  returned 
to  the  Cisco  area.  Two  daughters  were  born  to  them, 
Terri  and  Kim. 


87 


JoAnn,  a  graduate  of  Monticello  High  School  and 
the  University  of  Illinois  married  Gary  Verhey  in 
1964.  She  now  resides  with  her  husband  and  two  sons, 
Greg  and  Brian,  near  Spokane,  Washington. 

Milt  died  in  September,  1964.  Helen  continued  to 
live  in  the  Olson  house  until  she  remarried  in  1968 
when  she  moved  to  Monticello. 


charter  member  of  the  Woman's  Club  and  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Church.  The  Pape's  had  no  children, 
but  raised  Mrs.  Pape's  granddaughter,  Ileen  Coon, 
born  in  Cisco  in  1913.  Ileen  was  married  to  Glenn  Vest 
in  1936.  They  have  lived  in  and  around  Cisco  since 
their  marriage  and  have  one  son,  Lee  Ray,  who 
married  Anna  Tate  in  1958.  There  are  two  grand- 
children. 


Pearl  Padgett  Family  History 

Pearl  Padgett  and  his  wife,  Serelah,  moved  to  the 
Cisco  community  in  1923.  They  lived  with  and  worked 
for  Ralph  Rannebarger.  In  1924  a  daughter,  Wilma, 
was  born  to  the  Padgetts.  In  1926  they  moved  to  the 
Statts  farm.  In  1928  Pearl  and  family  moved  to  the 
Loren  Pattengill  farm  southwest  of  Cisco.  Wilma 
attended  Havley  School,  then  transferred  to  Cisco 
Grade  School.  She  went  to  Cisco  High  School  two 
years  and  graduated  from  Cerro  Gordo  High. 

In  the  summer  of  1941,  Wilma  married  Donald 
Hall  of  Cerro  Gordo  and  they  moved  to  Peoria.  The 
Padgett's  moved  to  the  Scott  farm  north  of  Cisco  in 
1942.  The  Hall's  moved  back  to  Cisco  to  help  with 
the  farming.  In  1943  a  son,  Tom,  was  born  to  Don 
and  Wilma.  Padgett's  rented  the  Charles  Olson  land, 
however  after  Don  was  discharged  from  service  in 
1946,  Padgett's  bought  the  Hollorand  Farm  from 
Audrey  Chapman  and  the  Hall's  moved  there.  A 
daughter,  Donna  Lea,  was  born  to  Don  and  Wilma  in 
1947. 

A  tragedy  struck  the  family  in  1948  when  Pearl 
Padgett  was  killed  in  an  automobile  accident  in 
Springfield.  Milt  Padgett,  a  brother  of  Pearl,  moved 
to  the  Olson  farm.  Serelah  built  a  home  in  Cisco  and 
the  Hall's  moved  to  the  Scott  Farm.  Another  tragedy 
struck  the  family  in  1952  when  Serelah  Padgett  and 
Donna  Lea  Hall  were  both  killed  in  an  automobile 
accident  at   Forsythe. 

Tom  Hall  graduated  from  Cisco  Grade  School  and 
Monticello  High  School.  In  1961  he  married  Sonia 
Strohl.  He  finished  college  at  Millikin.  They  live  in 
Clinton  with  their  two  children.  Amy  and  Craig.  Tom 
is  Assistant  Manager  of  the  Dewitt  County  Savings 
and  Loan.  The  Don  Hall's  resided  on  the  Scott  farm 
until  1970  when  they  moved  to  Arizona  where  Don 
is  associated  with  Amelco  Electric  Corp.  and  Wilma 
is  with  the  First  National  Bank  of  Arizona. 


Pape  Family 


Thomas  Pape,  born  in  1830  in  England,  and  Eliza- 
beth Boyland,  born  in  18:53  in  New  York,  were  married 
in  1852  and  had  four  children. 

Henry  A.  Pape  1864-1948)  was  born  near  Cisco. 
He  attended  East  Cisco  School.  He  farmed  80  acres 
north  of  Cisco,  and  moved  into  Cisco  in  1926. 

Cora  Clow  Oxley  (1869-1962)  was  born  in  Louden 
City,  111.  She  married  Henry  Pape  in  1905.  Mrs.  Pape 
was    a    50    year    member    of    the    Rebekah    Lodge,    a 


Andrew  Parr  Family 

The  first  member  of  the  Parr  family  to  settle  in 
the  Cisco  area  was  Andrew  Elliot  Parr.  He  was  born 
in  Ohio  in  1842.  His  father,  Hiram  Parr  was  born  in 
Lickin  County  and  his  mother,  Sarah,  was  a  native 
of  New  Hampshire.  At  age  18,  he  came  to  Illinois 
and  for  some  months  worked  in  Macon  County.  After 
the  outbreak  of  the  rebellion,  he  was  not  content  to 
remain  in  the  North  while  others  were  braving  hard- 
ships and  danger  so  he  entered  the  army  and  served 
in  Company  E,  116th  111.  Infantry.  He  served  under 
General  Sherman  and  marched  from  Atlanta  to  the 
sea. 

When  the  war  was  over,  he  returned  to  Piatt 
County  and  married  Caroline  McCartney.  She  was 
born  in  Ohio  in  1840.  Her  paternal  ancestors  were 
Irish.  When  her  father  died  in  Ohio  in  1865,  she 
came  with  her  mother  and  sisters  to  the  Cisco  com- 
munity. After  their  marriage  they  lived  in  various 
places  near  Cisco  and  finally  bought  320  acres  east 
of  Cisco.  They  had  eight  children.  The  survivors  were 
Charles  T.,  Samuel,  Maude,  Chester  and  Perley. 

Charles  T.  Parr,  the  eldest  child,  was  born  north- 
east of  Cisco  in  1870.  His  youth  was  spent  in  this 
community  where  he  attended  country  schools  and  a 
term  at  Brown's  Business  College.  In  1896,  he  married 
Lutie  A.  Melvin.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Lewis  and 
Martha  Melvin   (see  Melvin  history). 

Charles  and  Lutie  lived  north  of  Cisco  where  their 
two  children  were  born,  Lloyd  and  Lucille.  In  1899, 
they  moved  into  the  home  of  the  paternal  parents, 
Andrew  E.  and  Caroline  Parr  who  moved  to  Monti- 
cello to  retire.  Caroline  Parr  died  in  1916  and  Andrew 
died  in  1925.  Charles  and  Lutie  built  the  present  home 
which  is  now  the  home  of  their  grandson,  Melvin  H. 
GuUey. 

Mr.  Parr  was  an  active  citizen  of  the  community 
serving  on  the  Grain  Co.  Board  from  1908  to  1947. 
He  was  active  in  the  Methodist  Church,  the  Lodge  and 
Masons.  Mrs.  Parr  was  active  in  church  and  D.A.R. 
in  Monticello.  Lloyd  died  during  a  flu  epidemic  when 
he  was  stationed  at  Great  Lakes  Naval  Training  Sta- 
tion during  W.W.  I.  Their  daughter,  Lucille,  was 
married  in  1924  to  Sanford  J.  Gulley  of  Urbana,  111. 
They  now  reside  in  Decatur.  Their  children  are  Bar- 
bara, who  married  Dean  A.  Robb  and  now  lives  in 
Michigan,  and  Melvin,  born  in  1930,  and  married  to 
Carol  Franklin  of  Decatur.  There  are  six  great- 
grandchildren. 


88 


Daniel  Perry  Parr 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Daniel  Perry  Parr  moved  to  Cisco 
in  1904.  Mr.  Parr  lived  near  Weldon  and  was  the 
son  of  Oliver  and  Jemima  Parr.  He  married  Nora 
Shaffer  of  Argenta  in  1882.  Mr.  Parr  was  a  retired 
farmer  due  to  illness.  They  Jiad  five  daughters.  One, 
Ada,  died  in  infancy.  Sylvia  was  maried  to  Charles 
Humphrey  from  Missouri  and  spent  most  of  their 
married  life  in  or  near  Laramie,  Wyoming.  Eunice 
was  married  to  Lloyd  Bryant  of  Bloomington  and 
spent  their  married  life  near  Dunbar,  Wisconsin.  Olive 
was  married  to  John  Reed  of  Kentucky  and  spent 
their  married  life  in  and  around  Cisco,  Bement  and 
Cerro  Gordo.  Jessie  was  married  to  Parke  H.  Simer 
of  Cisco  and  spent  most  of  their  married  life  in  the 
Chicago  area.  They  both  taught  school  in  Cisco  before 
they  were  married. 


U.^ 


Nora  Parr,  Olive  Parr  Reed,  Jessie  Parr  Slmer,  Eunice  Parr 
Bryant  and  Daniel  Perry  Parr  in  front  of  their  home. 


King  Pattengale  Family 

King  Pattengale  and  his  wife  Anna  (Simen)  Pat- 
tengale moved  to  Cisco  in  1906,  with  their  four  chil- 
dren. Later  on  two  more  children  were  born.  The  chil- 
dren were:  Bernard  (deceased)  ;  Ruth  (Mrs.  Chas. 
Leach),  Deland,  Illinois;  Carl,  Grandview,  Missouri; 
Clarence  (deceased);  Mai-garet  (Mrs.  Berlie  Hart), 
Bradenton,  Florida;  and  Paul,  St.  Louis,  Missouri. 

King  came  to  Cisco  to  be  agent-operator  for  the 
Illinois  Central  Railroad  and  held  that  job  until  his 
retirement.  In  those  days  the  railroad  played  a  vital 
part  in  the  economy  of  the  community.  The  telegraph 
was  also  very  important  and  on  election  nights  King 
would  stay  at  the  depot  all  night  receiving  the  results 
of  the  election  by  wire.  Any  news  of  importance  was 
passed  along  by  other  operators  including  weather 
reports. 

King  passed  away  in  1942  and  Anna  in  1952.  At 
the  present  time  no  member  of  the  family  is  living  in 
Cisco. 


The    King    Pattengale    Faniil.v.    back    row:    Clarence,    King, 
Bernard,   Carl   and   Paul;   front  row:   Anna,   Margaret  and 

Ruth. 


Pattengill  Family 

Dr.  Morrell  Pattengill  was  born  in  1868  at 
Wheelersburg,  Ohio,  the  second  son  of  Smith  and  Alice 
Littlejohn  Pattengale.  They  were  of  English  lineage. 
The  eight  children  were:  Smith,  Morrell,  Ira,  King, 
James,  Oscar  Lewis,  Lydia  and  William  Channing.  In 
1880  the  family  moved  to  Oconee,  Shelby  County. 

Dr.  Pattengill  came  to  Cisco  in  1896  to  practice 
medicine.  He  graduated  from  Rush  Medical  College. 
Nellie  Grace  Croninger  became  his  bride  in  1899.  She 
was  the  daughter  of  Mahlon  Croninger.  They  built  a 
house  on  Main  Street  where  Sam  Clarks  live  now. 
Doctor  and  Nellie  had  one  son,  Loren  Morrell,  born 
in  1907.  They  spent  some  time  travelling  in  the 
warmer  climate  of  the  south  during  the  winter,  be- 
cause of  Nellie's  health.  She  died  in  1910  at  age  35. 
Soon  after  this,  the  doctor's  mother,  Alice,  came  to 
live  with  he  and  Loren.  She  was  a  loyal  worker  with 
the  societies  of  the  M.E.  Church  until  her  death  in 
1929.  Another  member  of  the  family  was  Rosa  Koonce 
(cousin  to  Minnie  Sago)  who  came  to  Cisco  about 
1911.  She  now  resides  in  Mattoon. 

The  Doctor  helped  look  after  the  farming  interests 
and  his  hobbies  were  gardening  and  raising  roses  and 
new  varieties  of  peonies.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
building  committee  for  the  third  M.E.  Church  in 
Cisco  and  was  a  charter  member  and  a  fifty-year 
member  of  Masonic  Lodge  No.  965  of  Cisco.  He  was 
87  when  he  died  in  1955. 

In  1931  Loren  Pattengill  married  Ruth  E.  Drys- 
dale,  (1907-  ),  daughter  of  Cornelius  and  Sarah 
Martin  Drysdale  of  Blue  Mound.  Ruth  was  a  hospital 
dietitian,  trained  at  Presbyterian  Hospital  in  Chicago 
and  served  as  a  dietitian  at  Cook  County  Nurse's 
Home,  then  later  at  Decatur  Macon  County  Hospital. 
Their  only  child  was  Shirley  Beth,  a  Millikin  graduate, 
born  in  1932.  They  moved  in  1938  to  the  red  brick 
house  on  Main  Street  which  was  built  by  Loren's 
uncle,  Charles  Croniger,  Jr.,  in  1912. 


89 


Dr.  and  Mrs.  Morrell  Patteng^. 

Loren  was  active  in  community  affairs,  serving 
as  mayor;  on  board  of  directors  and  president  of 
Cisco  Coop.  Grain  Co.;  president  of  board  of  trustees 
of  Cisco  Fire  Protection  Dist. ;  a  director  of  North- 
town  Bank  of  Decatur;  and  vice  president  of  Gerber 
State  Bank  of  Argenta.  He  belonged  to  the  Masonic 
Lodge  of  Cisco,  Ansar  Shrine  and  Royal  Order  of 
Jesters  of  Springfield.  Besides  his  farming  and  live- 
stock interests,  he  owned  and  operated  an  apple 
orchard  and  raised  white  deer.  Loren  passed  away  in 
1970. 

Their  daughter,  Shirley,  married  Lawrence  A. 
Hamilton  of  Decatur  in  1955.  Larry  is  a  stock  broker 
in  Champaign.  They  live  in  Monticello.  Their  three 
children  are :  Angela  Rene,  William  Morrell  and  Loren 
Todd. 


Paugh  Family 


Hardie  T.  Paugh,  wife  Emma  and  five  children, 
moved  to  Cisco  from  DeLand  around  1914.  He  was 
elected  road  commissioner  and  also  had  a  well  digging 
machine,  with  which  he  drilled  a  large  number  of 
wells  in  Piatt  county.  Later  he  ran  the  garage  which 
was  located  on  Main  Street  in  Cisco.  After  that  he 
had  one  back  of  his  house  on  Main  Street. 

In  1921  he  moved  his  family  to  Wisconsin  where 
he  purchased  farm  land.  The  children  are  all  married. 
Fred  lives  in  California  and  is  retired.  They  have  one 
son.  Florence  Paugh  Beamer  is  a  widow  and  lives  in 
Monticello.  She  worked  at  Shriner's  Hospital  and  Chil- 
dren's Memorial.  In  later  years  she  was  a  department 
manager  at  Goldblatt's  in  Addison,  111. 

Harold  is  retired  and  owns  and  operates  a  camping 
court  near  Cloverdale,  Ind.  He  was  a  department  man- 
ager for  a  Sears  store  in  Anderson,  Ind.  He  has  two 
sons,  Jerry  and  David.  Willard  is  partially  retired 
and  lives  in  Marinette,  Wis.  He  was  a  store  manager 


for  National  Foods.  He  has  two  sons,  Willard,  Jr. 
and  Steven.  Helen  Lewis  is  partially  retired  from 
Mercy  Hospital,  Champaign,  and  lives  in  Pesotum. 
She  has  one  daughter  who  lives  near  Metropolis. 

Hardie   and    Emma    Paugh   both   passed   away    in 
1965  and  they  were  in  their  eighties. 


Peck  Family 


The  first  record  of  the  George  Peck  famliy,  which 
was  of  Dutch  origin,  was  a  George  Peck  who  lived  in 
Augusta  County,  Virginia  before  1750.  There  is  no 
data  on  him,  other  than  that  he  took  part  in  the  Clay- 
pool  Rebellion  and  fought  in  the  Revolutionary  War. 

His  son  George,  born  in  1762,  was  married  to  Mary 
Lancisco.  To  this  union  were  born  nine  children. 
Henry,  Jacob,  Matilda,  John,  Nicholas,  Enoch  who 
married  Elizabeth  Ater  in  1827,  Adonijah,  William 
and  Daniel. 

Enoch  Peck  came  to  Illinois  in  1839  from  Pick- 
away, Ohio,  by  team  and  wagon  to  a  settlement  along 
the  Sangamon  River  in  Willow  Branch  Township. 

Monroe  Peck,  son  of  Enoch  and  Elizabeth  Ater 
Peck,  was  born  and  raised  in  Willow  Branch  Town- 
ship. He  married  Mary  Margaret  Williams,  who  was 
also  born  in  Willow  Branch,  in  1869.  Monroe  would 
buy  as  many  as  three  or  four  acres  at  a  time  until 
he  had  89  acres  where  the  family  home  stood.  To 
this  union  were  born  four  sons:  Otto,  Irving,  Everett 
and  Oren.  Otto  and  Oren  remained  in  Willow  Branch 
Township. 

Otto  Peck  married  Mary  J.  Cornell  in  1902  and 
farmed  in  this  same  community.  Here  they  raised 
their  three  children:  Sylvia  "Sib"  Higgins,  Oreana; 
Harold  E.  Peck,  Monticello,  the  present  Piatt  County 
Sheriff;  and  Helen  Manges,  Sterling.  Also  living 
descendants  are  two  grandchildren,  William  Higgins 
and  Donald  E.  Peck,  and  six  great-grandchildren,  Jeri 
Higgins  Berneking,  Steven  Higgins,  Donna,  Jody, 
Steven  and  Marcia  Peck.  Otto  Peck  passed  away  in 
1942  and  Mary  J.  Peck  in  1968. 


The  Phillips  Family 

Jasper  (Jap)  Armstrong  Phillips  was  born  in 
1885,  at  Newburgh,  Ind.,  the  youngest  of  ten  children 
of  Price  and  Emily  Van  Phillips.  Jap  first  came  to 
Illinois  at  the  age  of  13  and  worked  on  a  farm  near 
Springfield.  He  later  went  into  business  with  his 
brother  in  Springfield.  He  then  went  to  Wisconsin 
as  a  manager  for  Jewel  Tea  Co.  and  later  worked  for 
H.  J.  Heinz  Company  in  Michigan,  Wisconsin  and 
Minnesota.  He  returned  to  Illinois  to  start  farming 
near  Maroa.  He  married  Anna  Belle  Gentry  Floyd  in 
1915.  Jap  moved  to  the  Cisco  area  in  1923  where  he 
farmed  until  1936  when  he  moved  to  Monticello.  While 
farming  he  was  well  known  for  his  race  horses  which 
were  raced  at  county  fairs  in  Illinois  and  Indiana. 

While  farming  near  Cisco  he  bought  the  first  com- 
bine in  the  area  in  1929  from  Albert  Miller,  the  dealer 
for  International  Harvester.  He  was  told  the  combine 


90 


would  not  work  in  Illinois.  One  of  these  scoffers  was 
J.  R.  Heath,  who  later  sold  the  machines  all  over 
central  Illinois.  The  combine  proved  so  good  in  the 
wheat  harvest  Jap  bought  the  second  machine  that 
fall  for  soybean  harvest.  The  next  year  he  bought 
the  first  mechanical  corn  picker  sold  in  Cisco  from 
J.  R.  Heath. 

In  1938,  Jap  moved  to  Cisco  as  manager  of  the 
Implement  Company.  When  Route  47  was  built,  he 
built  and  operated  the  service  station  at  the  north 
edge  of  town.  He  served  on  the  Cisco  School  Board, 
was  Mayor  and  served  on  the  Fire  Department  for  20 
years.  After  selling  his  business  he  drove  a  school 
bus  for  16  years. 

He  has  one  step  son,  W.  Ottis  Floyd,  who  married 
Margory  Olson  and  now  lives  northwest  of  Cisco  in 
the  Shiloh  church  area.  There  are  seven  grandchildren. 
A  grandson.  Jack  Floyd,  lives  in  Cisco  with  the  Phil- 
lips at  the  present  time.  Jack  is  the  present  Post- 
master. He  has  been  active  in  the  American  Legion, 
serving  three  times  as  Post  Commander,  Post  1181, 
and  as  Piatt  County  Commander  and  as  19th  District 
Commander.  Jack  is  also  a  Past  Master  of  the 
Masonic  Lodge  No.  965  and  a  charter  member  of  the 
V'.F.W.  of  Piatt  County,  Post  5346. 


William  G.  and  Frances  Waesoner  Pirtie 

Pirtle 

In  1904,  William  and  Francis  Waggoner  Pirtle 
moved  from  Chrisman  to  Cisco  with  their  son,  Walter. 
Newton  and  Raymond  were  both  born  in  Cisco.  For 
many  years  the  Pirtles  farmed  and  lived  in  the  farm 
house  where  Paul  Craig  now  lives. 

Walter  married  Hazel  Taylor  in  1925  and  they 
have  one  son,  Eugene.  One  Sunday  afternoon,  about 
three  years  after  their  marriage,  their  house  was 
ransacked,  and  many  of  their  possessions,  including 
the  rug  on  the  living  room  floor  and  the  bed  clothes 
off  the  bed,  were  stolen. 

Walter  has  worked  in  this  area  all  his  life,  doing 
mostly  cornshelling  and  hauling.  Walter  and  Hazel 
had  the  restaurant  for  about  a  year. 


Hazel  has  always  been  very  active  in  community 
affairs.  She  was  the  first  president  of  the  WSCS  of 
the  Methodist  Church,  and  the  first  president  of 
the  American  Legion  Auxiliary.  She  was  a  member  of 
the  Women's  Club,  and  the  Garden  Club  when  gas 
rationing  forced  them  to  disband.  She  has  had  many 
hobbies.  Her  most  memorable  job  was  being  a  tele- 
phone operator.  She  started  working  for  9c  an  hour, 
and  worked  up  to  top  wages  of  I2V2C  an  hour.  She 
also  worked  at  Tylac  in  Monticello  during  World  War 
IL 

Their  son,  Walter  Eugene,  married  Audrey  Athey 
in  1956.  They  have  two  children,  Jean  Ann  and  Gary 
Eugene. 

From  1948  until  1964,  Eugene  had  a  Star  mail 
route.  He  also  had  a  freight  route  established  at  the 
same  time.  He  owned  Dancey  Brass  Co.  in  Decatur 
until  he  started  devoting  full-time  to  the  Cisco  Cob 
Co.  Bud's  Barn  Antiques,  which  started  ou  as  a  hobby 
for  Eugene  and  P.  C.  Barnhart  about  4  years  ago. 
now  requires  a  lot  of  his  time. 

Newton  Pirtle  married  the  former  Bessie  Hilbrant. 
They  had  two  boys. 

Raymond  Pirtle  and  Hildred  Lyons  were  married 
in  1935.  They  have  two  children,  Reta  Ann  and  Roy 
Eugene. 

Raymond  did  trucking  and  cornshelling  in  the 
community  until  he  entered  the  Army  in  1944.  Return- 
ing home  in  1946,  he  started  hauling  grain  again  and 
did  a  lot  of  construction  hauling  on  the  interstate 
highway  system.  He  owned  his  own  trucks  until  1972, 
when  he  sold  out  and  retired. 

Hildred  drove  a  school  bus  for  corn  detasseling. 
She  also  worked  at  the  Cisco  phone  company,  the 
grocery  store,  and  is  now  part-time  clerk  at  the  Cisco 
Post  Office. 

Reta  Ann  lives  in  California  and  has  taught  at 
Brentwood  College  for  seven  years. 

Roy  Eugene  at  the  present,  is  working  at  General 
Electric  in  Decatur.  There  he  met  Willa  Arnold,  and 
they  were  married.  They  have  four  children. 


Rainey  Family 


Alexander  Rainey  and  Sara  Ewing  were  married 
in  Antrim  County,  Ireland  in  1867.  A  few  years  later 
they  came  to  America. 

They  first  lived  in  DeWitt  County  near  Weldon, 
Illinois.  In  later  years  they  moved  to  a  farm  which 
they  bought  northwest  of  Cisco,  Illinois,  which  is  now 
the  Ralph  Rannebarger  farm.  They  had  a  family  of 
eleven  children,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy  and 
Maggie,  who  died  at  the  age  of  5. 

Elizabeth,  the  eldest,  was  born  in  Ireland.  She 
married  W.  O.  Wilson.  Joseph  married  Alma  Staats. 
William  married  Nettie  Cornell.  Mary  married  C.  E. 
Parr.  James  married  Mary  Ralston.  Emma  married 
Elmer  Cloud.  Cleve  married  Anna  Rinehart.  Elmer 
married  Glenna  Cornell. 

Mrs.  Rainey  passed  away  in  1902  and  Mr.  Rainey 
in  1911.  They  were  members  of  the  Cumberland  Pres- 
byterian Church  near  Argenta.  All  the  family  lived 


91 


near   Cisco  and   Central    Illinois,   except   James,   who 
lived  in  Iowa  for  a  number  of  years. 

All  have  passed  away  except  Elmer  of  Cisco  and 
Cleve  of  Champaign,  Illinois. 

The  children  attended  Pleasant  Ridge  School  and 
later  Elmer  was  a  School  Director  of  Pleasant  Ridge 
for  many  years. 


Rankin 

In  1855  James  Ezra  Rankin  (1851-1950),  age  4, 
came  from  Guernsey  Co.,  Ohio  in  a  covered  wagon 
with  his  parents,  William  and  Lucinda  Minerva  Bow- 
man Rankin,  and  three  sisters  to  Logan  County.  Later 
they  moved  to  DeWitt  Co.,  where  five  other  children 
were  born.  In  1874  James  Rankin,  then  of  Macon  Co. 
married  Hulda  Bear  (1856-1928)  of  Bearsdale,  Illinois. 
The  next  year  they  purchased  land  one  mile  north  and 
one-half  mile  east  of  Cisco,  where  their  three  older 
children,  Grace  Rankin  Patton  (1876-1972),  Roy 
(1880-1965),  Nellie  Rankin  Barker  (1882-1971)  were 
born.  In  1883  the  Rankin  family  moved  to  their  farm 
southwest  of  White  Heath,  where  Chester  A.  (1886-  ), 
Florence  Rankin  Kirkland  (1891-  ),  and  Noble  (1894- 
1919)  were  born.  This  remained  the  home  of  the  family 
until  1911,  when  the  parents  moved  to  Monticello. 
Decendants  still  living  in  the  Piatt  Co.  area  are  Flo- 
rence R.  Kirkland,  her  children,  Dale  and  Kathryn 
Kirkland  Barbour;  Jim,  son  of  Chester;  and  Lois 
Barker  Leary,  Nellie's  daughter. 


Uack  row:  Mcllio  Hendrix  Rann»'barf>r<'r  and  Mary  Elizabeth 

Wilson   Kannpbarger;   front   row:    Karl   V.,   Ralph,   Ray   and 

William  Marion   Ranncbargpcr. 


Ranneharger 


William  Henry  Ranneharger  (1826-1898)  was  the 
son  of  Stephen  (1802  1876)  and  Su.sanna  Michel 
(1801-1864)  Ranneharger.  There  were  eleven  children 
born  near  Columbus,  Ohio:  William  Henry,  Adam  M., 
Ann  R.,  Sarah  Elizabeth  Ranneharger  Barber,  Stephen 
T.,  Jr.,  Susanna,  Harriet  Jane,   Phillip  W.,  Mary   C, 


Joseph  G.  and  John.  He  moved  with  his  parents  to 
Springfield  Illinois  in  1851. 

William  Henry  Ranneharger  married  Elizabeth 
Barber  (1822-1892)  in  1847  near  Columbus,  Ohio  at 
the  home  of  her  parents,  Elam  and  Violet  Barber. 
Their  only  son,  William  Marion,  was  three  when  they 
moved  to  Springfield.  In  the  fall  of  1864  they  moved 
to  a  farm  northwest  of  Cisco.  The  site  of  the  home- 
stead is  still  marked  by  ancient  pine  trees  and 
beonged  to  the  Ranneharger  family,  until  it  became 
a  part  of  Friend's  Creek  Regional  Park. 

William  Henry's  sister,  Sarah  Elizabeth,  married 
William  Henry  Barber,  brother  of  Elizabeth  Barber 
Ranneharger.  The  Barbers  had  seven  children:  Wini- 
fred Scott,  William,  Charles  Lafayette,  Elizabeth 
Barber  Munch,  James,  Anna  Barber  Munch.  A  brother 
in  the  area,  Phillip  W.  Ranneharger,  married  Jane 
Carr  and  they  had  ten  children:  Nettie  A.  Ranne- 
harger Liestman,  John  K.,  Stephen  T.,  Maggie  A., 
Stella  A.,  Ennis,  Orrin  P.,  Josie  Mae,  Marion  L., 
Harrison,  and  Nellie  Ranneharger  Hainline  Bland. 

In  1876,  William  Marion  Ranneharger  (1848-1920) 
married  Mary  Elizabeth  Wilson  (1858-1937)  at  the 
home  of  her  parents,  David  Keys  and  Mary  Jane 
Dickey  Wilson,  granddaughter  of  William  Dickey, 
Revolutionary  War  veteran.  William  Marion  and  Mary 
Elizabeth  had  two  children,  Earl  V.  (1877-1951)  and 
Atlee  Pearl  (1880-1888).  Earl  was  born  in  a  log  house. 

Being  childhood  sweethearts  at  Bethel  School, 
Earl  V.  Ranneharger  married  Mellie  Hendrix  (1878- 
1969)  in  1896  in  the  home  of  her  parents,  James  Mil- 
ford  and  Melina  Elizabeth  Massey  Hendrix.  They 
started  housekeeping  a  mile  from  there  on  Stringtown 
Lane,  where  their  two  sons,  Raymond  E.  (1898-1969) 
and  Ralph  (1902-  )  were  born.  They  moved  north  of 
Cerro  Gordo  in  1908,  then  back  to  Mellie's  parents 
place.  Earl  raised  cattle,  sold  and  traded  them.  He 
traded  up  and  down  the  road  and  often  went  out  west 
or  south,  shipping  in  by  rail.  At  the  age  of  forty-two 
Mellie  and  Earl  retired  to  Cisco.  They  were  active  in 
the  Methodist  Church.  Mellie  rode  the  train  to  Eastern 
Star  in  Decatur,  before  the  chapter  in  Cisco  was 
chartered.  She  belonged  to  Woman's  Club  and  Garden 
Club.  Earl  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge,  Ansar 
Shrine,  Cisco  Eastern  Star  (Charter),  Director  of  the 
Cisco  Co-op  Grain  Co.  and  Director  of  the  Gerber 
State  Bank.  He  sold  U.S.  War  Bonds  during  World 
War  II. 

Both  sons  continued  their  father's  interest  in 
farming  and  cattle.  They  both  belonged  to  the  Masonic 
Lodge,  Ansar  Shrine,  Shrine  Club  and  Argenta  Lions. 
Ralph  received  his  50  year  pin  in  the  Masons.  They 
are  members  of  the  Cisco  Methodist  Church. 

Ray  married  Gladys  Ater  (1896-  )  in  1917  and 
they  lived  where  the  boys  were  born.  Gladys  and  Ray 
were  charter  members  of  Cisco  Fasten  Star. 

Ralph  married  Aileen  \'elda  Royse  (1905-  )  in 
1928  at  her  sister's  home  in  Moweaqua.  Aileen,  a 
graduate  of  Decatur  Macon  County  Hospital  School  of 
Nursing  has  been  active  in  the  community,  belonging 
to  the  Enterprise  Church  then  Cisco  Methodist,  Gar- 
den Club,  Woman's  Club,  Eastern  Star,  North  Birth- 
day Club  and  Sewing  Club.  Ralph  is  a  past  director  of 


92 


the  Cisco  Co-operative  Grain  Company,  past  director 
of  Pleasant  Ridge  School,  director  of  the  Gerber  State 
Bank.  Ralph  still  has  Black  Angus  cattle.  The  first 
time  Aileen  remembers  seeing  him,  he  was  going  by 
her  home  before  school,  on  horseback,  and  her  father, 
John  Royse,  said,  "There  goes  Earl  Rannebarger's 
boys  after  John  Goken's  cattle."  He  was  about  9  years 
old.  Their  daughter,  Patricia  Ann  Raimebarger  Ford 
(1931-  ),  a  Millikin  graduate,  was  a  teacher.  Now 
she  and  her  son,  Robert  Ralph  Ford  (1958-  )  con- 
tinue the  past  generations'  interest  in  farming  and 
cattle.  They  all  live  on  Stringtown  Lane. 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel  Reason,  1909. 

Samuel  Reason  Family 

Samuel  W.  Reason  was  born  in  Tennessee.  After 
his  father  died,  he  and  his  brother,  Pearley  0.  Reason, 
came  with  their  mother  to  Illinois.  She  later  remar- 
ried. The  boys  by  then  were  old  enough  to  leave  home 
and  find  work.  Pearly  lived  with  Samuel  until  his 
death  in  1946.  They  had  two  step-sisters,  now  de- 
ceased. 

Samuel  Reason  married  Ruth  Boyd  in  Decatur  in 
1902.  (She  was  born  in  Kansas,  moved  to  Missouri, 
then  Illinois.)  They  lived  south  of  Cisco  in  the  Havely 
school  area.  He  worked  on  a  farm.  While  they  lived 
there  six  sons  were  born:  Elmer,  Wayne,  Pearley, 
Floyd,  Wilmer  and  Herbert.  One  son,  Wayne,  died 
when  22  but  all  the  rest  saw  service  in  either  the 
Army  or  Navy,  Wayne  serving  22  years  in  the  Navy. 
All  are  now  deceased. 

In  1910  they  purchased  a  lot  in  Cisco  with  a  small 
home  on  it,  then  later  a  new  one  was  built.  Two  girls 
were  born  to  them:  Gladys  (Mrs.  Paul  Brighton)  and 
Avis  (Mrs.  James  Eastham),  who  is  deceased. 


Don  Reed  History 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Don  Reed  came  to  Cisco  in  1958 
from  Monticello,  where  they  were  engaged  in  farming. 
They  resided  in  the  Paul  Brighton  home  on  Dodge 
Street  until  they  purchased  the  A.  B.  Weddle  home. 


Don  Reed  is  park  attendant  and  part  time  night 
security  officer  at  Allerton  Park.  He  is  a  member  of 
Cisco  Craig-Reed  Legion  Post. 

Lucille  Reed  began  community  service  in  the  Meth- 
odist Church,  Legion  Auxiliary,  Cisco  Woman's  Club 
and  is  presently  teaching.  Their  children,  Mary  and 
Gary  Reed  both  attended  Cisco  and  Monticello  schools. 
Mary  is  working  at  Burnam  City  Hospital,  Cham- 
paign. 


John  David  Reed,  III 

John  David  Reed,  III  (1889-1973),  was  born  in 
Madison  County,  Kentucky,  the  son  of  John  David 
Reed,  II,  and  Rosa  Reeves  Reed. 

John's  father  was  drowned  in  the  Kentucky  River 
when  John  was  three  years  old.  They  swam  the  river, 
which  was  at  flood  stage,  as  there  was  no  bridge,  and 
his  horse  threw  him  off.  His  mother  and  John,  with 
his  brothers  Everett  and  Guy,  moved  in  with  their 
grandfather.  They  lived  with  him  until  she  married 
again.  They  moved  to  Kentucky  until  John  graduated 
from  Irvine  High  School,  attending  college  at  Berea, 
Ky.  He  taught  school  in  the  mountains  of  Kentucky 
where  they  paid  their  teachers  by  the  number  of 
students  going  to  school. 

His  brother  Everett  worked  in  Illinois  and  wanted 
him  to  come  to  Illinois.  He  came  and  worked  for  Drew 
Statts  for  a  year  and  met  Olive  F.  Parr  and  they 
were  married  in  1912.  Their  first  son,  John  David, 
IV,  was  born  in  1917  in  Cisco.  He  graduated  from 
Argenta  High  School  enlisting  in  the  Army  Air  Corps. 
He  was  sent  from  Chanute  Field  to  Nichols  Field  in 
the  Philippines  in  1939.  He  was  there  two  years  when 
the  war  broke  out.  The  boys  were  promised  reinforce- 


John  III  and  Olive  Reed. 


93 


ments  which  they  never  received,  so  they  fought  a 
losing  battle.  John  David  was  captured  on  Corregidor 
and  went  through  the  Bataan  Death  March,  dying  at 
Camp  O'Donnel,  a  Japanese  prison  camp  May  29, 
1942.  He  is  buried  at  the  Weldon  Cemetery. 

Nora  Rose,  our  daughter,  was  born  in  Wyoming 
in  1919.  John  was  asked  to  come  back  to  Cisco  to  be 
Assistant  Cashier  of  the  Croninger  Bank.  The  family 
moved  back  to  Cisco  in  1919  where  John  bought  an 
insurance  agency  (Reed  and  Reed)  and  sold  insurance 
with  his  bank  work.  Nora,  a  registered  nurse,  is 
married  to  Russell  C.  Jackson,  a  retired  Air  Force 
officer.  They  live  in  Cerro  Gordo  and  have  three 
daughters  and  six  grandchildren. 

Paul  Parr  Reed  was  born  in  Cisco  in  1921.  He 
served  in  the  Army  Air  Corps  in  World  War  II,  en- 
listing at  Chanute  Field  in  1942.  He  was  sent  to  the 
Philippines  and  Japan.  He  married  Flossie  Maurer 
from  Kenney.  They  live  near  Cerro  Gordo  and  have 
two  sons  and  one  grandchild. 

John  was  cashier  of  the  Croninger  Bank  in  Cisco 
from  1919  until  the  bank  closed  in  1927.  John  and 
Olive  then  moved  to  the  country  near  Cisco  until  1939 
when  they  moved  to  a  farm  near  Cerro  Gordo.  They 
retired  in  1948  and  moved  to  Bement,  later  moving 
to  Cerro  Gordo. 


Preston  and  Lucinda  Reed 

Lucinda  Swarts,  daughter  of  David  and  Anna 
Swarts,  grew  up  southeast  of  Cisco.  She  married 
Preston  Reed,  a  worked  at  Decaur's  Staley  factory 
for  many  years. 

Cindy  attended  Normal  School  at  Normal,  Illinois 
(Illinois  State  University)  after  graduation  from  8th 
grade.  She  taught  at  Havely  School  for  several  years. 


Lucinda  and  Preston  Reed. 


The  teacher  usually  roomed  with  a  family  living  close 
by  and  Lucinda  did  that.  Morals  and  manners  were 
included  as  a  great  part  of  the  curriculum.  She  incor- 
porated these  teachings  with  her  Sunday  School  and 
church  activities. 

"Aunt  Cindy,"  as  many  in  the  community  knew 
her,  was  very  active  in  the  Methodist  Church.  She 
taught  Sunday  School  to  many  of  the  grownups  of 
the  present  community. 

Marlyn,  their  only  son,  attended  Cisco  and  Argenta 
Schools.  Soon  after  graduation  he  married  Dorothy 
Hanson  from  Maroa.  After  being  employed  a  few 
years  in  Decatur  he  went  to  Peoria.  From  there  he 
moved  to  Canton  and  does  automotive  work. 

Marlyn  and  Dorothy  had  two  children,  Billie  and 
Jimmy.  Dorothy  died  in  early  1970.  Preston  died  in 
1965  and  Lucinda  in  the  fall  of  1970. 

Edward  Reeser 

Ed  Reeser  came  from  a  large  family  who  lived  on 
a  farm  in  Pennsylvania  at  the  edge  of  the  Gettysburg 
battlefield.  The  strict,  hard-working  Quaker  mother 
and  father  taught  the  family  the  value  of  thrift  and 
hard  work.  The  big  brick  house  built  by  this  family 
over  100  years  ago  is  standing  and  in  good  repair  as 
is  the  stone  and  wood  house  constructed  by  Ed's 
grandfather  Daniel,  with  the  help  of  Indians. 

Life  along  the  Susquahanna  River  proved  too  un- 
eventful so  Augustus  and  Edward  (the  youngest)  went 
to  Kansas  and  took  up  a  claim.  They  lived  in  a  dugout 
for  two  years,  but  after  reckoning  with  drouth,  grass- 
hoppers and  locusts  they  pulled  up  stakes  and  came 
to  Illinois.  They  had  learned  the  art  of  tile  and  brick 
making  in  Pennsylvania  and  established  a  brick  yard 
on  ground  southwest  of  Friends  Creek  Cemetery. 
In  the  meantime,  Ed  m.et  Mary  Catherine  Williams, 
daughter  of  Jackson  and  Lavinia  Williams.  Mary  was 
organist  at  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church 
which  was  in  Friends  Creek  Cemetery.  They  married 
and  moved  into  a  three  room  house  on  the  present 
Reeser  farm  west  of  Cisco.  Mary  had  inherited  part 
of  the  original  Joseph  Long  (her  grandfather)  land 
from  her  mother  and  she  and  Ed  bought  adjoining 
ground  in  the  years  to  come.  They  built  a  new  home 
and  barns.  Both  were  active  in  school,  church,  lodge 
and  many  other  local  activities. 

Ed  Reeser  was  on  the  first  Board  of  Directors  of 
the  Cisco  Grain  Company  and  was  a  director  of  the 
Croninger  Bank  in  Cisco.  He  was  very  active  in  lodge 
work  and  was  a  32nd  degree  Mason. 

For  many  years  Mary  Reeser  was  a  director  of 
Rural  Park  School  (which  she  named).  All  their  chil- 
dren and  several  grandchildren  attended  school  there. 
Often  the  school  teachers  boarded  at  the  Reeser  farm. 

The  Reeser  children  were  Opal,  Herbert  and  Irene. 
Opal  married  Arthur  Hendrix  and  they  raised  a  family 
of  five  children.  Their  children  are  Mable  (Parrish), 
James  Edward,  Pauline  (Mulligan),  Lucille  (Walker), 
and  Dorothea   (Moore). 


94 


£dward  Reeser,  1925. 

Herbert  married  Jessie  Sellig  of  Niantic,  Illinois, 
who  taught  at  Rural  Park  School.  Herbert  farmed 
extensively  and  raised  livestock  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
home  farm  all  his  life.  He  farmed  Rannebarger  half- 
section  southwest  of  Cisco  32  years,  also  farming  his 
own  farms  and  the  home  place,  in  later  years.  Herbert 
and  Jessie's  children  are  Mary  Lotus  (Moore),  of 
Decatur,  Jacqueline  (Westermanj  of  Argenta,  and 
Larry,  who  passed  away  in  1972.  In  1952  Herbert  and 
Jessie  remodeled  the  Reeser  home  and  Jessie  lives 
there  now.  Keith  Westerman,  Jacqueline's  husband, 
farms  the  place. 

Irene  lived  for  several  years  in  California  and 
married  Re.x  Horning  there. 

After  coming  to  the  farm  west  of  Cisco,  Ed  lived 
on  the  same  farm  the  rest  of  his  life.  Mary  lived  her 
last  few  years  in  Denver,  Colo.,  with  their  daughter. 
Opal. 


The  Reeves  Family 

William  C.  (Dick)  Reeves  was  born  in  a  log  cabin 
east  of  Cisco,  in  1861.  His  parents,  John  and  Angeline 
Ross  Reeves  were  married  on  a  steamboat  on  their 
way  west.  They  eventually  .settled  in  Piatt  County. 
When  asked  by  her  father  to  move  farther  west  to 
Kansas,  Angeline  refused,  saying,  "We  are  going  to 
be  Illinois  folks!" 

Dick  Reeves  married  Eva  Longenbaugh  in  1888. 
They  had  three  children,  Bert  L.,  Everett  and  Ralph. 
Dick  lived  near  Cisco  for  many  years  and  farmed  with 
horses  all  his  life.  On  at  least  one  occasion,  he  bought 
a  lame  horse  for  25c,  doctored  it  until  it  was  well 
and  sold  it  for  25  dollars.  His  horses  were  well 
trained.  When  plowing  corn,  he  would  start  them 
down  the  row,  then  take  a  nap.  At  the  end  of  the 
row  the  horses  would  stand  until  he  woke  up,  turned 
them  to  start  on  another  row  and  the  routine  would 


start  again.  His  motto  was,  "If  you  can't  ride  faster 
than  you  can  walk,  you'd  better  get  off."  Just  three 
days  before  he  died  at  the  age  of  84,  he  had  ridden 
several  miles  on  horseback.  Dick  and  Eva  celebrated 
their  50th  anniversary  in  1938. 

Bert  L.  Reeves  married  Anna  Elizabeth  Cosby  in 
1916.  Bert  served  as  teacher,  principal  and  superin- 
tendent in  Illinios  schools  for  26  years  before  retiring 
to  a  farm  near  Cisco  in  1936.  While  in  Cisco  he  served 
as  director  of  the  Piatt  County  Farm  Bureau,  and  the 
Piatt  County  Service  Co.,  and  as  Chairman  of  the 
Piatt  Co.  ACSC.  They  were  active  in  church.  Elizabeth 
(Betty)  was  a  music  teacher  before  moving  to  Cisco. 
In  later  years,  Bert  and  Betty  were  active  in  Eastern 
Star.  Betty  was  a  choir  director,  member  of  Woman's 
Club,  Home  Bureau,  and  Sewing  Club.  They  had  four 
children :  Bert  L.  Jr.,  Elizabeth  Jean,  William  C. 
(Bill),  and  Marjorie  Ann. 

Jean  was  an  instructor  in  the  College  of  Veterinary 
Medicine  at  the  Univ.  of  111.  for  many  years.  She  lives 
in  Cisco.  Bill  attended  the  Univ.  of  111.  He  died  sud- 
denly at  age  42  in  1963.  Marjorie  graduated  from  111. 
State  Univ.  and  has  an  M.S.  degree  from  George  Pea- 
body  College.  She  is  the  area  specialist  and  teacher 
consultant  in  vocal  music  for  the  Springfield  Schools. 
She  is  listed  in  the  1973-74  edition  of  "Outstanding 
Educators  in  America." 

Everett,  son  of  Dick  and  Eva  Reeves,  graduated 
from  Illinois  State  Univ.  and  taught  in  Illinois  schools 
until  his  death  in  1927.  He  married  Cassie  N.  Cross 
in  1917.  She  was  selected  "Mother  of  the  Year"  in 
1957.  Everett  and  Cassie  had  four  children :  Colin, 
Richard,  Margaret  and  Robert,  and  thirteen  grand- 
children. 

Ralph  (1900-  ),  the  third  child  of  Dick  and  Eva 
Reeves,  was  born  on  a  farm  northwest  of  Cisco  and 
lived  there  till  his  death  in  1969.  He  married  Ruth 
Dressier  of  Weldon  in  1930.  They  were  parents  of 
three  children,  Frances,  Ronald,  and  Lois.  Ralph 
served  on  the  School  Board  for  several  years  and  also 
was  quite  active  in  the  Methodist  Church. 

Frances  graduated  from  Normal  University  and 
has  a  master's  degree  from  the  U.  of  I.  She  and  Louis 
Kallenbach,  Jr.,  have  four  children:  Larry,  Lynn, 
Donald  and  Darren  (deceased).  Frances  teaches  in 
the  Deland  Weldon  school  and  Louis  is  the  co-owner 


Eva  and  William  C.  Reeves. 


9S 


of  the  Deland  Locker  Plant.  Ronald  married  Jan  Ruby 
and  they  have  two  children,  Rhonda  and  Shawn. 
Ronald  is  a  farmer  and  still  farms  the  Reeves  home 
place,  purchased  in  1886.  Lois  married  Bruce  Cripe. 
Bruce  was  killed  in  1972  and  Lois  and  their  three 
children  live  on  a  farm  southeast  of  Cerro  Gordo. 


Peter  Remmers,  married  Fannie  Lubbers  and  their 
children  are  Ann  Wood,  Opal,  Mrs.  Park  (Pearl)  Erd- 
ley,  Pete  Jr.,  and  La  Verne.  Anna  Remmers  married 
Eike  Lubbers  and  had  five  children.  Katie  Remmers 
married  Otto  Lubbers  and  had  two  children.  Fannie 
Remmers  married  Lub  Lubbers.  Jennie  Remmers  mar- 
ried Talbert  Heller.  Henry  Remmers  married  Gladys 
Souders  and  their  children  are  Imogene  and  Richard. 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jurko  Remmers  in  their  1917  Chalmers. 

Peter  Remmers 

Peter  Remmers  and  Anna  Bruns  were  born  in 
Germany,  met  in  the  United  States,  and  married.  In 
1881  they  moved  from  Logan  County  to  a  farm  north- 
west of  Cisco  where  they  lived  until  they  retired  to 
DeLand.  Their  son,  John,  and  his  wife  moved  to  the 
farm.  Their  son,  Harold,  still  lives  on  the  same  farm. 
Peter's  son,  Peter  and  family,  lived  on  a  farm  east  of 
Cisco.  Later  they  bought  a  farm  near  Milmine  and 
moved  there,  when  Henry  married  Gladys  Souders. 
He  moved  to  the  farm  east  of  Cisco  and  lived  there 
until  John  Remmers  bought  the  farm  and  his  daugh- 
ter, Evelyn,  and  her  husband,  Max  Campbell,  moved 
there.  Their  son,  Danny  Campbell  and  family  live 
there  at  present. 

Jurko  Remmers,  the  oldest  son,  lived  on  String- 
town  Lane  for  16  years  and  then  moved  to  their  farm 
east  of  Cisco  where  Floyd  (Bud)  Remmers  now  lives. 
The  only  Remmers  living  in  Cisco  at  this  time  are 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fred  C.  Remmers  and  their  son,  Joe 
and  his  family.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bert  Huisinga,  Jr.,  lives 
north  of  Cisco  as  does  his  son,  Dale,  and  his  family; 
and  daughter  and  family,  the  Richard  Robsons. 

Peter  and  Anna  Remmers  had  nine  children.  Jurko 
married  Bertha  Wiggers  and  they  had  seven  children : 
Anna,  Clifford,  Bertha,  Wendalina,  Margaret,  Harold 
and  Fred  who  married  Othello  Taylor.  Jurko  later  mar- 
ried Helen  Bowdre  and  their  children  were  Hartford, 
who  married  Virginia  Gillespie,  and  Floyd  who  mar- 
ried Joan  Hilgendorf.  Peter's  oldest  daughter,  Mary, 
married  Bert  Huisinga  and  they  had  eight  children  in 
the  DeLand  area.  Two,  who  live  in  the  area  are  Bert, 
Jr.,  who  married  Geneva  Goken,  and  John  who  married 
Bernice  Olson,  then  Hilma  Bowdre.  Peter's  son  John, 
married  Grace  Swisher  and  had  three  children :  Ernest 
married  Maber  Wohlmyer,  Mrs.  Max  (Evelyn)  Camp- 
bell,   Harold    married    Doris    Gaskill.    The   third   son^ 


Dr.  G.  G.  Rhodes  Family 

When  Dr.  G.  G.  Rhodes  came  to  Cisco  to  practice 
medicine  in  1942,  he  remodeled  the  inside  of  the 
small  building  owned  by  A.  B.  Weddle  just  north  of 
the  barber  shop.  Besides  a  small  reception  room, 
examination  and  drug  room,  there  was  a  small  bed- 
room at  the  back  where  he  lived  for  about  three 
months.  He  married  Eloise  Wilkinson,  R.N.,  whom  he 
met  while  they  were  both  at  Jackson  Park  Hospital  in 
Chicago,  he  as  a  resident  and  she  a  student  nurse. 
She  became  his  office  nurse.  A  son,  Robert  William 
Rhodes,  was  born  in  Cisco. 

The  doctor  developed  a  good  practice.  He  took 
some  of  his  patients  to  neighboring  hospitals,  but  this 
was  at  a  time  when  there  were  still  house  calls  to 
make  and  some  home  deliveries  for  babies.  In  1944 
they  felt  the  need  for  more  room  and  a  modern  office, 
so  they  moved  to  Maroa  for  10  years,  after  which 
he  entered  the  service.  When  that  ended,  he  continued 
his  specialization  in  gynecology  and  obstetrics,  locat- 
ing in  Albuquerque,  New  Mexico,  where  they  reside. 


Burr  Rinehart  Family 

Burr  Rinehart  (1882-1955)  came  to  Cisco  when 
he  was  sixteen  years  old.  He  was  born  near  Argenta, 
being  the  son  of  John  Rinehart  and  Hannah  Gisinger 
Rinehart.  Burr  married  Anna  Adams.  They  had  three 
children:  Leonard  (1907-1953),  Frances  (1912-  ), 
and  Bruce  (1919-  ).  Anna  died  in  1928.  Burr  worked 
with  the  railroad,  was  janitor  for  the  school  and  also 
the  Methodist  Church. 

Leonard  Rinehart  married  Pearl  Nicholson.  Their 
only  son,  Wayne,  married  Jane  Morfey.  Their  children 
are  Waynette  and  Bruce. 

As  their  mother  died  while  they  were  young, 
Frances  helped  raise  her  younger  brother,  Bruce.  By 
her  first  marriage,  Frances  has  a  son.  Dale  Liestman, 
who  married  Doris  Irvin.  They  have  two  children, 
Kim  and  Greg.  Dale  is  with  General  Cable  Co.  Frances 
is  married  to  Melvin  Imel.  She  works  at  Kirby  Hos- 
pital and  Annex.  They  live  in  Cisco.  Bruce  married  an 
English  girl  and  lives  in  England. 


Do  you  remember  I'll  Walk  A  Mile  for  a  Camel 
treasure  hunt  clue?  Also,  when  someone  saw  part  of 
the  clues  being  hidden  for  the  hunt? 


96 


The  George  Rinehart  Family 

George  Rinehart  (1851-1896)  married  Mary  Eliza- 
beth Cloud  (1854-1927).  Their  parents  came  to  Illi- 
nois in  covered  wagons  from  Ohio  and  Virginia.  They 
lived  a  mile  north  of  Havely  School.  They  had  three 
children,  Oscar,  Jessie  and  Anna. 

Oscar  (1879-1954)  married  Florence  Hacker 
(1880-1954).  They  moved  to  Iowa,  where  they  reared 
five  children :  Bertie,  Harold,  Clinton,  Lucille  and 
Nellie.  They  died  within  a  few  hours  of  each  other 
and  had  a  double  funeral. 

Jessie  (1880-1964)  married  William  Mintun.  To 
this  union,  two  children  were  born,  Berlyn  and  Vira. 
William  died  and  she  later  married  Walter  Stack- 
house.  They  had  one  daughter,  Maxine.  He  died,  and 
she  later  married  William  Stilabower.  They  had  one 
daughter,  Bessie  Mildred,  who  died  at  15  months. 

Anna  (1887-1973)  married  Cleveland  Rainey.  They 
moved  to  Iowa  a  few  years,  then  came  back  to  Cham- 
paign. They  had  two  children,  Evelyn  and  Paul,  who 
both  live  at  Champaign  with  their  families. 


Both  Inez  and  Ivan  Dean  attended  Cisco  Grade 
School  and  graduated  from  Monticello  High.  Inez  is 
a  Registered  Nurse  and  works  at  Burnham  City 
Hospital.  She  married  Fred  Werts,  and  they  live  on 
a  farm  south  of  Urbana.  Ivan  Dean  joined  the  Navy 
in  1944.  He  married  Betty  Maple  and  they  have  one 
daughter,  Lanette.  He  attended  mortician  school  and 
now  resides  and  has  a  funeral  home  in  Mulberry 
Grove. 

— by  Mabel  Ripperdan 


-^-^ 


Robb 

In  1912  the  W.  E.  Robb  family  moved  from  Ives- 
dale  to  a  farm  southwest  of  Cisco.  The  farm  was 
known  as  "The  River  Farm."  There  were  ten  in  the 
family.  All  of  the  W.  E.  Robb  family  were  members  of 
the  Cisco  Methodist  Church. 


-=5- 


The  Ripperdan  Family 

Jason  and  Mabel  Ripperdan  came  from  Indiana  in 
1918  to  an  Allerton  Farm  southeast  of  Cisco.  Jason 
worked  on  the  farm  and  I  did  the  housework  which 
meant  cooking,  washing,  and  ironing.  There  were 
eight  in  our  family,  and  four  hired  men.  Cooking  for 
so  many  people  three  times  a  day  took  a  lot  of  food. 
This  was  in  the  time  of  World  War  I,  and  one  thing 
we  didn't  get  much  of  was  sugar;  but  we  soon  learned 
to  use  coi-n  sugar.  One  thing  that  stays  uppermost 
in  my  mind  was  seeing  six  teams  of  four  horses  each, 
come  in  from  the  field  and  the  big  measures  of  corn 
that  it  took  to  feed  them. 

Inez  was  born  in  1919  and  Ivan  Dean  was  born 
in  1926.  The  following  year  the  family  settled  in 
Cisco.  Jason  worked  at  Evans  Elevator  until  it  was 
destroyed  by  fire,  then  he  went  to  work  at  the  Cisco 
Cooperative  Grain  Company.  In  1942,  Jason  was 
appointed  Road  Commissioner.  He  resigned  in  1950 
when  elected  Sheriff  of  Piatt  County  for  one  term. 
Jason  was  on  the  school  board  when  the  gymnasium 
was  built  as  a  WPA  project  and  when  Oak  Grove 
School  was  consolidated  into  the  Cisco  District  No.  93. 
When  Cisco  voted  to  have  water  piped  into  every 
home  in  1950,  Jason  was  the  town  mayor.  The  follow- 
ing fall  we  moved  to  Monticello  where  Jason  served 
as  Sheriff,  then  as  assessor  in  Monticello  Township 
until  he  passed  away  in  1964. 

We  were  members  of  the  Methodist  Church  and 
I  was  Superintendent  of  the  Primary  Dept.  for  years. 
I  was  the  Piatt  County  Chairman  of  Red  Cross  when 
we  entered  the  Blood  Bank  Program  and  have  parti- 
cipated in  4-H  Club  work  for  35  years.  Since  Jason's 
death,  I  spend  my  summers  with  Inez  and  the  winters 
with  Ivan  Dean. 


The  Root  Family  in  1955:  Vera.  Tom,  Jim  and  Fay. 

Fay  H.  Root  Family 

It  was  in  1948  that  Fay  Howe  Root  moved  his 
family  from  Bloomington,  Illinois,  into  the  house  he 
had  bought  on  Dodge  Street  in  Cisco.  Fay  and  his 
wife,  Vera,  had  two  sons,  Thomas  Woodrow  and  James 
Paul.  Fay  had  accepted  the  position  with  the  Univer- 
sity of  Illinois  as  Instructor  in  Camp  Management, 
with  his  office  to  be  at  the  4-H  Memorial  Camp  adja- 
cent to  Allerton  Park.  In  1952,  he  was  appointed 
Assistant  of  Park  and  Camp  Management  and  put  in 
charge  of  the  grounds  at  Allerton  Park  in  addition  to 
the  4-H  Memorial  Camp. 

Both  sons  graduated  from  Monticello  High  School 
and  both  received  Bachelor  Degrees  from  the  Uni- 
versity of  Illinois.  Tom  has  masters  degrees  in 
Forestry  and  in  Botany.  Jim  has  a  masters  in  Infor- 
mation Science.  Tom  taught  at  Blackhawk  Junior 
College.  Jim  is  a  career  man  in  the  Air  Force. 


97 


Tom  married  Mary  Hutchinson  and  they  have  two 
daughters,  Lisa  and  Katie.  Jim  married  Ann  Dyson 
Sykes  in  Dawlish,  Devon,  England  and  they  have 
two  children,  Ben  and  Jennifer. 

Fay  and  Vera  had  both  taught  in  high  school  in 
Rockton,  Illinois.  After  they  were  married.  Fay  also 
taught  in  El  Paso  and  Bloomington,  Illinois.  Fay  was 
a  member  of  the  Monticello  Unit  School  Board  for 
seventeen  years.  He  served  for  a  time  on  the  Village 
Board  and  was  on  the  Willow  Branch  Library  Board. 
He  belonged  to  the  Cisco  Chamber  of  Commerce,  was 
a  Willow  Branch  Township  auditor,  served  on  the 
Steering  Committee  for  Parkland  Junior  College  and 
on  the  Piatt  County  Zoning  Board. 

The  family  members  were  affiliated  with  the 
Methodist  Church.  Vera  was  organist  for  several 
years.  She  directed  several  choirs,  both  adult  and 
children.  In  1949,  when  the  church  celebrated  its 
seventy-fifth  anniversary,  she  wrote  and  directed  a 
pageant  giving  the  church's  history.  Vera  taught  in 
Cisco  from  1956-1972.  After  retiring,  she  spent  five 
months  doing  research  and  interviews  to  help  in  the 
publication  of  the  Cisco  Centennial  Book. 

The  Roots  built  a  home  on  the  west  side  of 
Eldon  Street  in  1954.  This  was  their  home  until  they 
moved  to  Carlock,  Illinois,  in  1973  where  they  have 
completed  a  new  home. 


Back  row:  Ordella  Boyse  Goken,  Geneva  Goken,  Ira  Boyse, 

Esker  Boyse;  front  row:  John  Goken,  Oressa  Goken,  Mary 

Boyse,  George  Boyse  and  Lucy  Boyse. 


George  Royse 


George  Royse  was  born  near  Edinburg,  Indiana  in 
1845,  son  of  Aaron  and  Elizabeth  McQuire  Royse. 
He  was  one  of  thirteen  children.  In  1874  he  attended 
the  National  Normal  University  of  Ohio.  He  married 
Mary  Elizabeth  McKee,  who  was  born  near  Edinburg 
in  1876.  They  started  farming  on  a  farm  northeast 
of    Cisco.    To    this    union    were    born    four    children : 


Ordella,  Lucy,  Esker,  and  Ira.  Ordella  married  John 
Goken,  Esker  married  Fred  Davey  and  Lucy  and  Ira 
never  married.  They  lived  on  the  farm  until  1905, 
when  they  moved  to  Jacksonville. 

John  and  Ordella  Goken  moved  to  the  Royse  farm. 
They  had  two  daughters,  Geneva  Esker  and  Oressa 
Lucille.  Geneva  married  Bert  W.  Huisinga  of  DeLand 
in  1924  and  they  had  two  children,  Beulah  Ledoris 
and  Dale  Bert.  Beulah  married  Lewis  Richard  Robson 
of  Franklin  in  1948  and  live  north  of  Cisco.  They  have 
three  children,  Linda  Kay,  Duane  Richard  and  Mari- 
lyn Ann.  Linda  married  Dennis  D.  Hendrix  and  they 
have  a  daughter,  Jennifer  Lynn.  Dale  married  Nancy 
Lee  Heath  of  Monticello  in  1955.  They  live  northeast 
of  Cisco  on  the  George  Royse  farm.  They  have  four 
children:  Robert  Dale,  David  Alan,  Gary  Douglas  and 
Amy  Jo. 

Oressa  married  John  Leslie  McQueen  of  Normal 
in  1928  and  had  one  son,  John  Leslie.  He  married  Sue 
Pool  and  they  have  two  children.  They  live  in  Ohio. 


S=-4- 


Hiram  Royse 


In  1865  Hiram  (1840-1900)  and  Mary  Ellen  Long 
Royse  (1844-1917)  came  to  the  Cisco  area  after  living 
near  Maroa.  They  came  in  a  covered  wagon  from 
Indiana  accompanied  by  their  brother  and  sister, 
William  and  Marietta  Royse  Long.  Another  brother, 
Phillip  Long,  was  killed  in  the  Civil  War.  Hiram,  the 
oldest  son  of  Aaron  V.  (1818-1887),  grandson  of  a 
Revolutionary  soldier,  and  Elizabeth  McQuire  Royse 
(1820-1902),  were  born  in  Edinburg,  Indiana.  Mary 
Ellen  was  born  in  Ohio,  daughter  of  Young  and 
Katharine  Weaver  Long. 

Hiram  and  Mary  Ellen  had  nine  children :  Emily 
(1863-1943),  Amanda  (1865-1934),  Albert  (1867- 
1929),  Alice  (1869-1957),  Ella  (1870-1878),  Clara 
(1873-1895),  Josie  (1875-1945),  John  Aaron  (1878- 
1950),  and  Harve  (1883-1936).  The  family  lived 
northeast  of  Cisco  for  several  years,  dividing  the 
farm  so  the  boys  were  able  to  farm.  In  1895,  Hiram, 
Mary  Ellen,  Josie,  John  Aaron  and  Harve  moved  to 
Monticello.  Hiram  gave  the  ground  for  Enterprise 
Church.  He  was  one  of  those  instrumental  in  getting 
the  drainage  ditch  through  that  area,  draining  the 
land  to  Friend's  Creek,  John  and  Harve  Royse  were 
musical,  being  self-taught.  John  played  the  violin, 
while  Harve  played  the  accordian,  oboe,  cornet  and 
clarinet.  Harve  had  the  first  cylinder  phonograph  in 
the  area  and  cut  some  of  his  own  records. 

Emily  Catherine  married  Armster  M.  Doss  in  1878 
and  they  farmed  in  the  area  until  his  death  in  1906, 
then  the  family  moved  to  Monticello.  Their  chil- 
dren were:  Charles  (1879-1935),  who  married  Saddle 
Higgins  in  1905  and  had  thne  children;  William 
(1885-1965),  who  married  Tona  Ahlrich  in  1908  and 
had  two  children;  John  (1888-1955)  married  Mable 
Musick  in  1907  and  they  had  two  children;  Marion 
(1889-1923)     who    married    Lula    Leistman;     Bessie 


98 


The  John  Royse  Family,  back  row:  Ralph  Kannebarger, 
Violet  Falck  Boyse,  Wayne  Aaron  Eoyse,  Albert  V.  Leach; 
front  row:  Alleen  Royse  Rannebarger,  Patricia  Ann  Ranne- 
barger,  Helena  Bruns  Royse,  John  Aaron  Royse,  Thomas 
Royce  Leach  and  Opal  Royse  Leach. 


Chicago.  Aileen,  a  graduate  nurse  from  D.M.C.H., 
married  Ralph  Rannebarger  in  1928.  Their  daughter, 
Patricia  Rannebarger  Ford,  and  her  son,  Robert  Ralph 
Ford,  live  near  them  north  of  Cisco.  Wayne  Aaron 
attended  Wesleyan.  He  married  Violet  Falck,  a  grad- 
uate of  Normal,  in  1934.  She  was  from  Melvin.  Their 
son,  Norman  Wayne  (1946),  graduated  from  Sam 
Houston  University.  They  all  reside  in  Houston, 
Texas.  Wayne  retired  from  Brown  and  Root  Electricai 
Engineering  Firm  in  1973  after  26  years. 

Like  his  father,  Hiram,  John  Royse  served  on  the 
Enterprise  School  Board.  John  was  a  director  of  the 
Cisco  Co-operative  Grain  Company.  Helena's  extra 
interests  were  her  flowers  and  chickens.  She  would 
have  said  like  her  daughter  Aileen,  "It  isn't  a  green 
thumb,  but  a  dirty  one."  She  was  a  member  of  the 
Triple  C  Club.  The  family  members  were  active  in 
the  Enterprise  Church,  transferring  to  the  Cisco 
Methodist  Church,  when  the  two  churches  merged. 

Harve  and  his  mother,  Mary  Ellen,  moved  back  to 
the  homestead  in  1904.  Harve  farmed  there  until  his 
death  in  1936. 


(1892-  )  who  married  Earl  Norris  in  1916  and  had 
one  son;  Elbert  (1900-1946)  married  Frances  Wil- 
liams in  1923  and  had  a  son. 

Amanda  (1865-1934)  married  Frederick  Swam  in 
1891.  Albert  E.  (1867-1929)  married  Eulala  Winger 
in  1891.  They  moved  to  Indiana  in  1898.  They  had 
eight  children:  Sylvia,  Edith,  Edna,  Olscoe,  Ray, 
Floyd,  Earl  and  Katherine. 

Mary  Alice  married  John  W.  Stillabower.  They 
had  five  children:  Harvey,  Mrs.  Claude  (Mary) 
Smith,  Perley,  Florence,  and  Mrs.  Charles  (Frances) 
Spainhour.  Harvey  (1892-  )  and  Mary  Stillabower 
Smith  (1896-  )  made  their  home  with  their  Uncle 
Harve  until  his  death.  Clara  married  William  Odaffer. 
Josie  married  Oscar  Olson  and  they  had  two  children, 
Mrs.  John  (Bernice)  Huisinga  (1908-1944),  and  a 
son  who  died  in  infancy. 

John  Aaron  Royse  married  Helena  Bruns  (1880- 
1968),  daughter  of  Herman  Evers  and  Angie  Evans 
Bruns,  in  1902.  Herman  and  Angie,  emigrating  from 
Hanover,  Germany  in  1868  to  Logan  County,  Illinois, 
settled  in  Piatt  County  about  1884,  then  to  Cumber- 
land County  about  1900.  Their  children  were  Aleada 
Bruns  Hershbarger,  Herman,  Helena  Bruns  Royse, 
William  Anna  Bruns  Holsapple,  and  Etta.  John  Aaron 
(whose  names  trace  back  as  family  names  into  the 
1600's)  and  Helena  lived  on  the  home  farm  until  his 
mother  and  brother  returned  to  the  farm.  Then  they 
moved  to  his  farm  northeast  of  Cisco.  They  had  three 
children:  Opal  Elva  (1902-1967),  Aileen  Velda  (1905- 
)  and  Wayne  Aaron  (1908-  ),  who  attended  Enter- 
prise School.  Wayne  attended  the  Cisco  High  School 
and  they  all  graduated  from  Monticello  High  School. 
In  1934  Helena  and  John  moved  to  a  farm  at  Lodge 
for  two  years,  then  to  the  Weldon  area,  retiring  to 
their  home  in  Weldon  in  1948. 

Opal  attended  Normal,  graduating  from  Millikin, 
and  taught  school,  often  driving  on  the  shoulders  of 
the  roads  during  wet  weather.  She  married  Albert  V. 
Leach  and  they  had  one  son,   Thomas   Royse   Leach, 


Sago  Family 


William  Thomas  Sago  (1874-1958)  was  born  in 
Kentucky  a  son  of  Abraham  and  Joanne  Roach  Sago. 
His  wife,  Minnie  Johnson  (1879-1961),  daughter  of 
Wyatt  and  Nancy  McKinnis  Johnson  was  born  in 
White  County.  They  were  married  in  Carmi,  111.  in 
1909.  They  came  north  and  worked  the  L.  E.  Kistler 
farm  in  Macon  County.  In  1911  Tom  started  farming 
on  the  Dr.  Pattengill  farm  southwest  of  Cisco  and 
farmed  until  1933.  They  had  two  children,  Mildred 
and  Orville. 

Orville  Kermit  Sago  attended  Havely  Grade  School 
and  graduated  from  Argenta  High  School.  He  married 
June  Hiser  of  Argenta  in  1930.  They  lived  on  the  farm 
until  1956  when  they  moved  to  Cisco.  They  have  four 
children:  Robert,  who  died  in  infancy;  William  Con 
(1933-     )    who   is   the   manager   of   the    Cisco   Co-op 


Minnie  and  Thomas  Sago 


99 


Grain  Company  which  he  has  been  associated  with 
for  nearly  twenty  years.  He  married  Marilyn  Noecker, 
daughter  of  Ray  and  Vera  Noecker.  They  have  four 
children:  Cheryl,  Sandra,  Jeffrey  and  Jon.  Doris  Ann 
(1937-  )  a  graduate  of  Julia  N.  Burnham  School  of 
Nursing  married  John  Hulett  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
C.  I.  Hulett.  They  have  three  children,  Dennis,  Can- 
dace  and  Derek  and  live  in  Normal.  Janet  (1944-  ) 
attended  Brown  Business  College  and  married  Joseph 
W.  Felts,  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.K.  Felts  of  Monti- 
cello.  They  have  two  daughters,  Malora  Jodene  and 
Amanda  Denise.  Melora  was  born  in  Stuttgart,  Ger- 
many. They  now  live  in  Monticello.  Bill,  Doris  and 
Janet  all  graduated  from  Monticello  High  School. 

Midred  (1913-  )  graduated  from  Argenta  High 
School.  She  married  Orville  Browning  from  Cerro 
Gordo.  He  died  in  1952.  They  had  five  children: 
Robert  Gerald,  Donna  Jean,  Thomas  Mark,  Carol 
Walters,  and  Jon  Rodgers.  Mildred  now  lives  in 
Decatur,  111. 


Fred  and  Bertha  Shaff 


Salisbury 


Ed  Salisbury  and  Lettie  Eubank  were  married 
June  10,  1911.  To  this  union  six  children  were  born, 
two  of  whom  died  in  early  childhood,  Evelyn  Owens 
and  Esther  Votaw  of  Decatur;  Edith  Cox,  Galesburg; 
Maxine  Grady,  California;  and  Lucille  Herring  of 
Delaware. 

Mr.  Salisbury  did  all  kinds  of  machine  work, 
threshing,  corn  shelling,  tiling,  etc.  The  Salisbury's 
left  Cisco  and  went  to  Decatur  to  live  about  193(3. 

— >-4- 


The  Sample  Family 

We  (Glen  and  Catherine)  Sample  are  both  natives 
of  Indiana.  We  moved  from  Homer,  Illinois  to  the 
Cisco  area  in  May  1964.  We  resided  west  of  Cisco 
until  purchasing  the  Preston-Lucienda  Reed  property 
in  October,  1970.  Glen  is  employed  by  the  Norfolk  and 
Western  Railroad.  We  celebrated  our  twenty-fifth 
wedding  anniversary  January  11,  1974.  We  are  the 
parents  of' five  sons.  Glenn  Jaye  (1950J,  employed  by 
Wagner  Castings  and  resides  in  Maroa  with  his  wife, 
Cynthia,  and  daughter.  Alan  Raye  (1951),  a  Norfolk 
and  Western  engineer,  resides  in  Argenta  with  his 
wife,  Mary,  and  daughters.  Jeffrey  (1953),  is  in  the 
United  States  Army  at  Ft.  Sheridan,  Illinois,  living 
in  Waukegan,  Illinois,  with  his  wife  Robin.  Jerry 
(1955)  graduated  from  Monticello  High  School  in 
June  1973,  and  Ronald   (1959). 


U 


cmcmncr 


Will 


There  were  boxing  and  wrestling  matches  held  at 
the  old  livery  barn.  The  keeper  of  the  stable  would 
put  straw  on  the  ground  and  cover  it  with  a  tarpaulin 
to  be  used  as  a  mat. 


Shaij 

Michael  Shaff  (1835-1912)  and  Jennetta,  nee 
Doane  (1830-1899)  came  to  Cisco  in  1872  from  Circle- 
ville,  Ohio.  Michael's  father,  Frederick  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania  and  settled  in  Ohio.  Frederick's  spouse 
was  Elizabeth,  nee  Jordan  who  bore  seven  children, 
one  of  which  was  Michael.  Other  children  remained 
in  Ohio;  a  daughter,  Nancy,  married  Edwin  Doane 
and  also  migrated  to  Piatt  County.  Michael  married 
Jennetta  Doane  in  1860  in  Ohio.  There  were  five 
children:  Ida,  Cora,  John,  Clinton  and  Frederick.  The 
daughters,  Ida  and  Cora,  married  farmers,  George  W. 
Reynolds  and  Elmer  McKinney  respectively.  More 
about  the  three  sons  later. 

As  a  farmer  Michael  chose  to  follow  in  his  father's 
footsteps  and  the  180  acre  place  south  of  Cisco, 
became  his  home.  The  bricks  used  in  building  the 
house  were  kilned  nearby. 

In  addition  to  his  farming  activities,  Michael 
served  as  Township  Road  Commissioner  and  as  a 
school  director.  In  his  later  years  he  moved  to  Cisco 
where  he  resided  at  his  death. 

Michael's  son  John  (1865-1927),  graduated  from 
medical  school  and  became  a  physician  and  surgeon. 
His  wife  was  Josephine  N.  and  their  children  were 
Dwight,  Robert  and  Mary  Jeannette.  Son  Clinton  was 
also  a  physician.  He  chose  to  spell  the  family  name  — 
Schaff,  who  has  a  son  Paul  B.  and  a  daughter  Lois. 

Son  Frederick  (1872-1942)  stayed  in  Cisco  after 
the  other  children  of  Michael  Shaff  left  the  village. 
After  attending  Normal  School  in  McLean  County,  he 
served  an  apprenticeship  in  a  drug  store  his^ older 
brother,  John,  operated  in  Cisco.  He  conducted  a  drug 
store  business  for  25  years  or  so.  The  location  of  the 
first  store  was  on  the  east  side  of  Main  Street.  Later 
it  was  moved  to  the  west  side  of  the  street  where  it 
was  the  middle  of  a  three  store  building.  Fred  served 
as  a  member  of  the  School  Board  and  on  the  Village 
or  Town  Board.  The  drug  store  was  ck)§ed  in  the 
early  thirties.  Fred,  his  wife,  and  RutTi  moved  to 
Monticello. 


1  00 


Fred  was  married  to  Bertha  Ann  Loveless  in  1901. 
Her  home  had  been  in  Effingham  County,  Illinois. 
There  were  three  children:  Ralph  L.  (1907-  ),  Jean- 
nette  N.  (1910-     ),  and  Ruth  V.  (1922-     ). 

In  her  earlier  years,  Bertha  Shaft  operated  a 
millinery  shop  in  Cisco.  She  was  active  in  the  Women's 
Foreign  Society,  the  Women's  Club  and  several  other 
village  activities.  The  Cisco  Public  Library  was 
started  with  several  dozens  of  books  on  about  five 
shelves  in  the  back  of  her  husband's  drug  store. 

Frederick  Shaft's  children  attended  Cisco  schools 
and  Monticello  High.  Ralph  went  to  the  University 
of  Illinois  for  one  year  and  worked  in  insurance  until 
retirement  in  1970. 

Ralph  was  married  in  1935  to  Irene  Emerson,  a 
graduate  of  Normal  whose  home  was  in  Stonington. 
Ralph  and  Irene  have  four  children:  Carla  (1939J, 
Nancy  (1941),  Frederick  (1943)  and  Richard  (1946). 

Jeanette,  later  known  as  Jane,  attended  Normal 
University  and  graduated  at  the  University  of  Illinois. 
She  taught  in  Cisco  and  Cerro  Gordo  public  schools. 
In  1937  she  met  and  married  a  fellow  teacher,  Jewett 
(Kep)  Kepley  of  Kankakee.  They  retired  from  the 
Pendleton,  Oregon,  school  system.  Their  two  children 
are  Judie   (1939)   and  Jan    (1943). 

Fred  Shaft's  youngest  child,  Ruth,  graduated  Phi 
Beta  Kappa  from  the  U.  of  I.,  then  moved  to  Chicago 
where  she  is  employed  by  Peoples  Gas  Company. 


in  Marion  County.  The  three  sons  of  theirs:  Stafford, 
Dorr  and  Parke,  attended  Cisco  Grade  School  where 
Jason  Simer  taught  a  few  years. 

After  leaving  Cisco  for  a  time,  the  family  moved 
to  a  small  farm  south  of  Cisco.  All  three  boys  went 
to  Illinois  State  Normal  School  and  taught  in  dif- 
ferent rural  schools  in  Piatt  County.  Parke  taught  in 
Cisco  3  years  with  1  year  as  principal. 

Stafford  was  first  assistant  superintendent  of 
Piatt  county  schools  under  Charles  Mcintosh.  Dorr 
served  in  the  Army  during  World  War  I  and  Parke 
joined  the  Navy  in  1917.  In  1918  Mary  and  Jason 
Simer  moved  to  Monticello  where  he  served  in  the 
county  treasurer's  office  and  as  an  assessor.  Stafford 
graduated  from  Millikin  University.  Dorr  received  a 
masters  degree  from  University  of  Chicago.  Parke 
obtained  a  Ph.D.  degree  from  the  University  of  Illi- 
nois, where  he  was  later  on  the  medical  staff  as  pro- 
fessor of  anatomy. 

Stafford  married  Helen  Walker  of  Clinton.  Their 
daughter,  Martha,  is  wife  of  Air  Force  Major  Kent 
L.  McDaniel,  Hanscom  Field,  Mass.  Their  children 
are:  Kerry,  Kimlin  and  Kirk.  Dorr  married  Ann  Huis- 
inga  of  DeLand.  Their  son,  Dorr  and  his  wife,  Jean 
Feltz,  of  Chicago,  live  on  a  farm  near  Reason.  Their 
children  are:   Donna,  Dick,  Karen,  Judy  and  Robert. 


Who  remembers  Cranes  and  Herons  being  found 
here,  finding  snail  shells,  hearing  of  Dead  Sea  or 
Buffalo  Wallows? 


Mar}'<   Parke  and  Jason   Simer 

Simer  Family 

The  Jason  Simer  family,  originally  from  near 
Salem,  moved  to  Cisco  about  1902  from  McLean 
County.  As  a  young  woman  (Mary  Bell)  May  Simer 
had  attended  Normal  School  at  Carbondale  and  taught 


The  Snyder-Carroll  Family 

Floyd  Snyder  and  family  moved  to  Cisco  in  the 
spring  of  1941  from  Mt.  Zion.  They  moved  on  the 
Pattengill  farm  south  of  Cisco.  The  Snyders  were  the 
parents  of  two  children,  Keith  and  Anita  May.  Floyd 
died  in  1967. 

In  1959,  Keith  married  Nancy  Reed  of  Strasburg. 
They  live  on  a  farm  near  Lakewood  and  are  parents 
of  three  children. 

In  1942,  Anita  May  and  Kenneth  L.  Carroll  were 
married  while  he  was  serving  in  the  U.S.  Army.  They 
are  farmers  and  lived  one  mile  west  of  Cisco  until 
recently  purchasing  and  moving  into  the  Jerry  Miller 
home  east  of  Cisco.  They  are  the  parents  of  five 
children :   Dean,  Darlene,  Danny,  Elaine,  and  Krista. 

Dean  married  Beverly  Wileaver  in  1965  and  have 
two  children,  Kori  Lynn  and  Darin  Dean.  They  live 
southwest  of  Cisco  on  the  Edwards  farm. 

Darlene  married  Joe  Smith  in  1966.  They  have 
two  children.  Heather  Rae,  and  Jared  Andrew.  They 
reside  in  Kewanee. 

Danny  Carroll,  a  farmer,  recently  married  Barbara 
Dyke  of  Monticello.  They  reside  in  the  home  place 
that  his  parents  just  moved  from.  It  is  the  Ethel 
McCollister  Roberts  farm. 


101 


Stephens  Family 

Don  and  Margaret  Stephens  and  their  two  chil- 
dren, Terry  and  Amy  Jo  moved  from  Decatur  to  Cisco 
in  1968.  In  1971  Brian  was  born. 

Don  was  born  and  raised  in  Argenta  and  grad- 
uated from  Argenta  High  School.  Margaret  was 
born  and  raised  in  Edwardsville,  HI.,  and  moved  to 
Hammond  in  1956.  They  were  married  in  1963  in 
Hammond. 

In  March  1973  they  reorganized  the  Cisco  Cub 
Scouts,  Pack  100.  Don  is  Cubmaster  and  Margaret  is 
den  mother. 


The  William  Stilabower  Family 

William  Stilabower  (.1874-1943)  came  to  Illinois 
from  Indiana.  He  married  Jessie  Stackhouse  (1880- 
1964),  a  widow  with  three  children:  Berlyn  and  Vira 
Minton  and  Maxine  Stackhouse.  They  had  one  daugh- 
ter, Mildred,  who  died  at  15  months. 

Mr.  Stilabower  operated  a  butcher  shop  in  Cisco 
for  many  years.  He  bought  cattle  from  the  local 
farmers  and  did  his  own  butchering  out  in  the 
country.  Big  cakes  of  ice  were  bought  in  Monticello 
and  stored  in  sawdust  in  a  building  behind  the 
butcher  shop.  During  threshing  time  he  delivered  meat 
and  ice  early  in  the  mornings  —  by  horse  and  buggy 
—  to  the  farmers 

Berlyn  (1902-  )  married  Musa  Sheets  (1906- 
1969).  He  lives  in  Wisconsin.  Vira  (1906-  )  married 
Russell  Likins  (1905-  )  and  lives  in  Oreana.  Their 
son,  Gary,  is  married;  has  one  son  and  a  daughter 
and  they  live  in  Decatur.  Maxine  (1909-  )  married 
Joseph  Voightritter  (1906-  )  and  lives  in  Detroit. 
They  have  twin  sons,  Donald  and  Ronald. 


Stuckey  Family 


Peter  and  Julia  Ann  Burget  Stuckey  came  to  Cisco 
from  Asheville,  Ohio.  Peter  was  born  in  Germany  in 
1836  and  emigrated  to  America  from  Bern,  Switzer- 
land at  the  age  of  seven,  along  with  his  parents  and 
one  brother  and  two  sisters. 

They  came  to  Cisco  with  their  five  children :  Sarah 
Jane,  George,  Ed,  Katheryn  (Katie)  and  Mary  Etta. 
One  of  their  homes  was  the  residence  now  occupied 
by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vern  Danison.  Peter  operated  a 
meat  market  in  a  building  next  door  to  the  building 
occupied  at  the  present  time  by  "Bud's  Barn"  antique 
store.  The  two  sons,  Ed  and  George,  operated  a  gro- 
cery store  at  one  time  in  a  building  where  the  antique 
.store  is  now  located. 

Ed  Stuckey  was  married  to  Fannie  Rippel,  who  ran 
a  millinery  store  on  Main  street  of  Cisco.  Later  he 
went  to  Decatur. 

George  Stuckey  married  Emma  Mosgrove  and  had 
five  children :  Walter,  Lewis,  Ann,  Harold  and  Madie, 
who  died  at  an  early  age. 


Katheryn  (Katie)  Stuckey  married  F.  C.  Young 
and  had  one  daughter,  Edith  (see  Young  or  Banihart 
history). 

Sarah  Jane  Stuckey  married  Alexander  Perkins 
of  Cerro  Gordo,  and  had  eight  children. 

Mary  Etta  Stuckey  married  Loton  Williams  of 
Cisco.  They  had  six  children    (see  Williams  history). 


Sullivan  Family 


Clarence  Russell  (Pete)  Sullivan  was  born  in  1892 
to  George  and  Salinda  Barrett  Sullivan  in  the  small 
town  of  Newburg,  being  the  youngest  of  eight  chil- 
dren. Salinda  will  be  remembered  for  the  rugs  sh.> 
wove  on  her  loom.  Pete  lived  there  while  working  in 
the  brick  yards  and  distillery.  When  he  married 
Gladys  E.  Six,  daughter  of  James  Warren  and  Sarah 
Jane  Six,  he  worked  for  Argenta  township,  then 
farmed  east  of  Argenta  before  moving  to  Cisco.  Pete 
was  a  blacksmith  for  a  time,  then  worked  for  the  J.  F. 
Loveless  Co.,  the  W.  H.  Jones  Implement  Co.,  and  A. 
E.  Miller  Trucking  Co.  While  working  for  Mr.  Jones 
and  standing  at  the  top  of  a  windmill  he  was  repair- 
ing, the  ladder  slipped  from  its  mooring  and  he  fell 
to  the  ground  with  it,  receiving  only  a  few  bruises 
and  a  sprained  thumb.  He  managed  the  Cisco  Garage 
for  several  years.  After  living  in  Louisiana  for  a 
time,  they  moved  to  Decatur  where  he  had  his  own 
sheet  metal  shop  with  his  oldest  son. 

Pete  and  Gladys  Sullivan  reared  eight  children: 
(all  three  sons  served  in  W.W.  II)  Paul  Dean  lives  in 
Decatur;  Doris,  widow  of  the  late  Gene  Conner,  lives 
in  Cisco;  and  Kathleene  married  James  R.  Blickens- 
derfer.  They  live  in  Califoi-nia  and  have  three  children. 
Donna  married  Thomas  E.  Edwards  and  they  now 
live  on  a  farm  north  of  Milmine.  Merwin  W.  Sullivan 
lives  in  California  and  has  four  children.  Chrystyne 
lives  in  Cisco  with  her  husband  Earl  Benson.  They 
have  four  children:  David;  Linda  and  husband  Dean 


Sullivan  Family,  1946,  front  row:  Donna  Sullivan  Edwards, 
Kathleene  Sullivan  Blirkensderfer,  Mr.  Sullivan,  Mrs. 
Sullivan,  Doris  Sullivan  Conner;  back  row:  Christyne 
Sullivan  Bejison,  Paul  Dean,  C.  Russell,  Jr.,  Meni-in  and 
Carol   Sullivan  Justice. 


102 


Kerns  live  in  Cisco  and  have  three  children ;  Kenneth ; 
and  Becky.  C.  Russell  Sullian,  Jr.,  lives  in  Indiana  and 
has  two  daughters.  Carol  (Mrs.  George  T.  Justice) 
lives  in  Decatur  and  has  three  children. 


Russell   (Pete)    Sullivan  passed  away 
Gladys  Sullivan  in  1970. 


in  1971  and 


Fred  and  Amanda  Royse  Swam. 

Fred  Swam 

Fred  Swam  (1866-1924)  married  Amanda  Royse 
(1865-1934)  in  1891.  Amanda  was  the  daughter  of 
Hiram  and  Ellen  Long  Royse.  After  their  marriage 
they  farmed  northeast  of  Cisco  in  the  Enterprise 
area,  Fred  having  served  on  the  school  board  in  1890. 
It  was  here  that  their  two  sons  were  born:  Roy  (1893- 
1966)  and  Clarence  (1897-1957).  Before  the  birth  of 
Roy  there  had  been  a  terrible  ice  storm,  so  John 
Royse,  Amanda's  brother,  skated  to  Cisco  to  get  the 
doctor,  who  in  turn  skated  back. 

Roy  married  Lula  Wiggins  and  they  had  two  sons, 
Erwin  and  Edwin.  They  were  born  in  Cisco.  Clarence 
married  Eva  Welch. 

Fred   moved   into   Cisco,   buying   the   Perley    Max 
hiemer  home  to  live  in.  The  built  the  brick  garage, 
known  as  the   Swam   building.   In   this   building  was 
where  the  first  dynamo  that  gave  Cisco  its  first  elec- 
tric lights. 

Later  the  Swam  boys  and  their  families  lived  in 
Uecatur. 


The  Swarts  Family 

Jacob  Swarts  and  wife  Elizabeth  immigrated  to 
the  Cisco  area  from  Virginia  in  the  late  1850's.  Settled 
on  96  acres  as  a  farmer  and  carpenter  in  Willow 
Branch  Township  across  from  Shady  Nook  School. 


To  this  union  was  born  David,  Sylvester,  John, 
Minnie,  and  Alice. 

John  and  Minnie  never  married,  but  stayed  on  the 
home  place  to  farm  after  the  death  of  the  parents, 
Jacob,  who  died  in  1885  and  Elizabeth  who  lived  until 
1909.  Alice  married  Moses  Dodd  and  lived  on  40  acres 
adjoining  the  home  place.  In  the  early  1930's,  Robert 
AUerton  purchased  these  two  farms  and  incorporated 
it  into  his  holdings  where  the  Sun  Singer  now  stands. 

Sylvester  and  David  learned  the  carpentry  and 
masonry  trade  from  their  father  and  several  buildings 
in  the  town  of  Cisco  are  monuments  to  their  ability. 
One  of  the  buildings  now  standing  which  was  built 
by  David  Swarts,  is  the  house  in  the  southwest  part 
of  Cisco  owned  by  Glenn  Howard. 

Sylvester  and  his  family  moved  to  the  Argenta 
community  in  1910. 

David  married  Anna  Eubank  and  to  this  union  was 
born  Francis,  Lucinda,  Arva,  Ina  and  Everett. 

Ina  died  in  early  childhood.  Francis,  rural  mail 
carrier  and  carpenter,  started  carrying  mail  by  horse 
and  buggy  in  1906.  He  was  too  young  to  be  legally 
appointed  as  permanent  carrier,  but  went  ahead  to 
carry  until  he  was  of  legal  age  in  1908. 

He  married  Louie  Cook  from  Argenta.  Their  chil- 
dren were  Harley,  Thelma,  Herald  and  David.  He 
retired  in  1948  after  carrying  mail  42  years  and  died 
in  1959. 

The  Francis  Swarts  family  lived  in  the  house  on 
St.  Charles  St.,  now  occupied  by  the  Delbert  Williams 
family.  All  the  Swarts  children  were  born  in  this 
home. 

These  children  all  attended  Cisco  schools  and  have 
since  branched  out  to  many  communities  and  voca- 
tions. 

Harley  went  to  Louisiana.  He  returned  to  the 
Cisco  area  after  a  few  years  but  now  lives  in  Lincoln 
and  works  for  Pittsburg  Plate  Glass  Company.  His 
son,  Anthony,  is  in  the  transportation  business  and 
daugher,  Sharon,  is  a  nurse. 


The  Swarts  Family,  seated:  David  and  Anna;  standing:  Arva 
Swarts  Wright,  Frances  S.,  Everet  S.  and  Lucinda  Swarts 

Reed. 


103 


Thelma  married  Telvin  Tuggle,  a  teacher.  They 
have  three  daughters.  Linda,  a  registered  nurse,  Carol 
and  Harriett.  Thelma  is  also  a  registered  nurse  and 
works  at  Carle  Hospital  at  Urbana. 

Herald  served  in  the  U.S.  Army  during  World  War 
II.  He  was  wounded  and  received  the  Purple  Heart 
Award,  marrying  Sally  Edwards  from  Weldon.  Herald 
is  in  general  carpentry  and  construction  work.  Their 
son  is  Michael,  who  works  for  Weldon  Fertilizer  Com- 
pany. He  has  two  sons,  Andy  and  Timothy.  Mike  lives 
in  Farmer  City  with  his  wife  Judy. 

David  attended  Monticello  High  School  and  served 
in  the  Navy  during  World  War  II.  He  married 
Patricia  Bennett  of  Monticello  in  1951. 

Their  children  are  Mark,  Brenda  and  Tamara  Dea 
and  Teresa  Lea,  twin  daughters. 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Taylor  on  their  50th  Wedding 
Anniversary. 


John  laylor 


John  and  Daisy  Taylor,  natives  of  Spencer  County, 
Indiana,  moved  to  a  farm  near  Cisco  in  1916  with 
their  four  daughters.  Hazel,  Betty,  Othella,  and 
Norma.  He  farmed  in  the  area  until  1951,  when  they 
retired  and  moved  into  town,  where  they  spent  the 
rest  of  their  lives.  Mr.  Taylor  died  in  1960,  and  Mrs. 
Taylor  in  1963. 

Hazel  Taylor,  the  oldest  daughter,  married  Walter 
Pirtle.  They  live  in  Cisco,  and  so  does  their  only  son, 
Eugene,  who  married  Audrey  Athey.  They  have  two 
children,  Jean  Ann  and  Gary. 

Betty  was  married  to  C.  J.  Clapp,  and  died  when 
open  heart  surgery  was  performed  in  1952.  Their  only 
son,  Ted,  married  Linda  Garner,  and  has  two  sons. 
Ted  is  a  Hospital   Administrator   in   Ft.   Lauderdale. 

Othella  married  Fred  C.  Remmers  and  lives  in 
Cisco.  Their  oldest  daughter.  Norma,  is  married  to 
Bruce  Miles.  They  live  in  Maroa  with  their  five  chil- 
dren :    Debra,   Tammy,   Connie,   Cheryl,   and    Edward. 


Fred  P.  Remmers  is  married  to  Neila  Eads  and  has 
two  daughters,  Medea  and  Yvette.  Joe  Remmers  mar- 
ried Linda  Danison  and  they  are  Cisco  residents. 
Cathy  Remmers  married  Jim  Fink.  They  and  their 
son,  Jared,  reside  in  rural  Cisco. 

Norma  married  Warren  Toon  and  lives  in  Gulf- 
port,  Mississippi.  They  have  two  daughters,  Janice 
and  Betty.  Janice  married  Bruce  Norman  and  lives 
in  Georgia  with  their  two  daughters.  Betty  Maureen 
married  Michael  Coker  and  lives  in  Mississippi. 


The  Turner  Family 

John  Adrian  Turner  was  born  to  Taylor  and  Ellen 
Turner  in  Bradfordsville,  Kentucky  in  1884  and  mar- 
ried Ethel  Jarboe  in  1905  in  Louisville,  Kentucky. 
They  came  to  Illinois  and  he  helped  build  the  air  fields 
in  Rantoul  and  Belleville.  In  1917  they  came  to  Cisco 
and  farmed  in  the  area  the  rest  of  their  lives.  They 
had  eight  children. 

Ella  Mae  is  married  to  Herbert  Kay  and  lives  in 
Arizona.  Ambrose  married  Mildred  Van  Fosson  of 
Argenta.  They  live  near  Hannibal,  Missouri  and  have 
two  children,  Wanda  and  David.  James  C.  (Shake) 
married  Thelma  Miles  of  Cisco.  They  have  farmed  in 
the  Argenta-Oreana  area  ever  since.  They  have  two 
children.  Bill  and  Mary.  Bill  is  married  to  Betty  Jo 
McVey  of  Argenta  and  they  have  two  sons,  Michael 
and  Bradley.  Mary  is  married  to  Jack  Dickey  and  they 
have  a  son,  John.  John  Jr.  is  married  to  Mildred  Dugan 
and  they  farm  in  the  Argenta  area.  They  have  one  son, 
Albert,  who  is  married  to  Rita  Lewis  and  farms  near 
Bible  Grove.  They  have  one  son,  Chad.  Oscar  is  mar- 
ried to  Helen  Hurley  of  Decatur  and  they  have  two 
daughters,  Kathy  and  Laurie.  They  live  west  of 
Decatur.  Joseph  died  in  1953.  Randolph  is  married  to 
Helen  Lake  of  Niantic  and  they  have  two  children, 
Mary  and  William.  Vivian  is  married  to  Robert  Holly 
and  they  live  in  California. 

The  Umbarger  Family 

Mrs.  Dora  Umbarger,  Nellie,  Leonard  and  Harlan 
moved  from  the  Pattengill  Farm  at  Sidell  in  1948  to 
the  Pattengill  farm  southwest  of  Cisco.  After  living 
there  one  year  they  moved  one  half  mile  south  where 
they  now  reside. 

Nellie  is  a  member  of  the  Cisco  United  Methodist 
Church  and  the  United  Methodist  Women's  Society. 
Leonard  served  in  the  Air  Force  from  1942  to  1946, 
some  of  this  time  being  spent  in  France  and  Italy. 
Ralph  (deceased)  and  Ernest  are  sons  of  Dora  Um- 
barger also.  There  are  eleven  grandchildren  and  nine- 
teen great-grandchildren.  Ellen  Umbarger,  a  daughter 
of  Ernests,  stayed  with  the  family,  graduating  from 
Argenta-Oreana  High  School  in  1949.  Ellen  married 
Orville  Frye  Jr.  and  now  resides  in  Tuscola. 

Mrs.  Dora  Umbarger  passed  away  in  1963  and  her 
husband  Samuel  Umbarger  in  1940.  They  are  buried 
in  Clarksville,  Illinois. 


1  04 


Calvin  Vannote  Family 

Calvin  Vannote,  son  of  William  A.  Vannote  and 
Minnie  Swisher  Vannote,  was  born  near  Galesville.  He 
married  Leora  Eubank  on  July  4,  1925.  They  lived  in 
the  Monticello  area  until  1936  when  they  came  to 
Cisco.  To  this  union  five  children  were  born,  two  of 
whom  died  in  early  childhood  and  Michael,  a  member 
of  the  armed  forces,  died  in  heart  surgery.  Alice  is 
living  in  Farmer  City  and  William  is  living  in  Decatur. 

Calvin  bought  the  Marathon  Station  of  Mrs.  Lu- 
cinda  Wheeler  which  he  operated  until  Sept.  1,  1972. 


Walker 

Madison  "Mad"  Walker  (1857j  and  Sarah  Brad- 
ford (1866)  were  married  In  1882  and  farmed  in  the 
Cisco  community  for  many  years.  To  this  union  were 
born  thirteen  children,  two  dying  in  infancy:  Arthur, 
Harry  "Junk",  Goldie,  Viola,  Alice,  Emma,  Oscar, 
Clarence  "Danny",  Hazel,  Walter  "Bad  Egg",  and 
Ethel. 

Arthur  married  Bessie  Redding  and  lived  in  De- 
catur. Harry  married  Mayme  Newberry  Seevers  of 
Farmer  City  in  1915.  Goldie  married  Earl  Parton; 
moved  to  Monticello  where  he  worked  at  the  elevator, 
later  lived  in  Decatur.  Viola  married  Frank  Elsea  and 
lived  in  Decatur.  Alice  married  Cyrus  Edwards  who 
worked  for  Jim  Clifton  several  years  in  his  blacksmith 
shop,  then  as  a  cemetery  caretaker  at  Argenta.  Their 
two  daughters,  Geneva  and  Kathryn  married  brothers, 
Raymond  and  Richard  Moore.  Their  son  Floyd  is 
married  to  Betty  Brockman,  live  in  Decatur.  Emma 
married  Dola  Cline,  lived  in  Decatur  where  he  was 
with  the  Illinois  Terminal  System.  Oscar  joined  the 
Army,  served  in  W.W.  I,  worked  as  a  chef  in  Decatur 
and  California,  married  Frances  Bradley.  Clarence 
married  Anna  Badorek  in  Decatur  and  worked  for 
ITS.  Hazel  married  Oscar  Taylor  of  Decatur  where  he 
was  employed  as  a  machinist  for  Muellers  and  A.  W. 
Cash  Co.  Walter  married  Dorothy  Dechert,  worked  for 
the  Wabash  Railroad.  Ethel  married  Bill  Mclntyre; 
later  married  William  Robinson  and  lives  in  Decatur. 

During  the  years  between  1921-24  Harry  ran  a 
dray  wagon  in  Cisco.  He  went  broke  due  to  extending 
too  much  credit,  so  he  decided  farming  was  a  better 
way  to  make  a  living.  In  1928  they  moved  to  Decatur; 
he  died  in  1962  and  Mayme  in  1973.  His  step-sons 
are  Donald  and  Dale.  Donald  Lee  Seevers  (1911-  ) 
married  Sophia  Avis  Wiggirvi  in  1934.  Their  children 
are  Stanley  Lee  (1936-  ;  married  to  Miriam  Briggs, 
Carolyn  Jean  (1938-  )  and  RoUin  Dean  "Polo" 
(1940-  ).  Stanley,  his  father  and  brother  are  em- 
ployed as  carpenters  and/or  millwrights.  Dale  Arthur 
Seevers  married  Doris  Latch  of  Decatur,  have  three 
children  and  reside  in  Florida. 

Harry  and  Mayme  Walker  had  five  children:  Earl 
Walker  married  Mary  Leach  (a  niece  of  Jersey  and 
Charlie  Leach)  live  in  Decatur,  have  two  children; 
Robert  Walker  married  Marge  Dieler,  have  five  chil- 
dren and  reside  in  Decatur;  Harry,  Jr.,  married 
Kathryn  Mann,  have  two  boys  and  live  in   Decatur; 


Carl  married  Gladys  Koontz  and  had  three  children 
(Gladys  died  in  1963),  then  Carl  married  Ann  Wyland. 
Lorraine  married  William  Spencer  of  Kenny,  lives  in 
Decatur  with  their  three  children. 


Samuel  Weddle 
John  H.  and  Daniel  Weddle 

Samuel  Weddle  and  Anna  Spencer  Weddle  migrated 
with  their  children  from  Kentucky  to  Illinois  in  1845, 
and  located  in  Morgan  county.  The  journey  was  made 
on  a  flat  boat  and  steamer  and  when  they  landed  at 
their  destination  the  father  had  fifty  cents  left.  In 
1856  they  moved  to  Willow  Branch  Township.  Samuel 
bought  a  quarter  section  of  land  for  which  he  paid 
fifty  cents  an  acre.  It  was  in  a  wild  condition  just  as 
the  Indians  had  left  it,  and  at  one  time  Mr.  Weddle 
counted  thirty  six  deer.  He  died  in  1888.  They  had 
thirteen  children,  among  them  being  Mrs.  F.  M.  (Eliz- 
abeth) Shull,  John  H.,  Mrs.  Willian  (Mary)  Talbert, 
Daniel,  Mrs.  William  (Martha)  Wilson,  Mrs.  William 
(Emma)  Marsh,  and  Mrs.  Benjamen  (Melissa)  Stuart. 

John  Weddle  (1844-1931)  was  born  in  Kentucky. 
He  entered  service  at  eighteen  and  fought  in  a  num- 
ber of  battles  in  the  Civil  War  and  was  discharged  in 
1865.  He  returned  to  his  home,  becoming  a  successful 
farmer  and  stockgrower.  The  home  was  a  handsome 
brick  residence,  still  being  used  today.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  1873  to  Amanda  Cain  (1854-1892),  a  native  of 
Adams  County.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Abel  and 
Octavia  Cain.  Seven  of  their  children  were  Minnie, 
Jesse  0.,  Alva,  Arthur,  Wilbur,  Bertha  and  Harrison. 
Amanda  Weddle  died  at  the  age  of  38.  John  married 
Zoa  Irwin  of  Cerro  Gordo.  She  helped  him  raise  the 
children. 


Jesse  Weddle  Family:  La  Vina  and  Jesse,  Clifford  and  Leia. 


1  05 


Jessie  Weddle  (1876-1920)  was  born  on  the  Weddle 
farm  northeast  of  Cisco.  He  attended  a  country  school 
and  Brown's  Business  College  in  Decatur.  He  married 
LaVina  Downs,  daughter  of  George  and  Theodosia 
Meyers  Downs  in  1899.  Jesse  farmed  and  bought  land 
from  his  father,  John  Weddle.  He  bought  the  first 
tractor  in  this  part  of  the  country  and  later  built  a 
tractor.  He  was  an  automobile  dealer  for  Reo  Com- 
pany, and  the  first  man  to  do  mechanical  work  on 
automobiles  in  the  county.  Their  children  were  Clif- 
ford M.  and  Lela.  LaVina  was  a  widow  for  seventeen 
years,  then  married  C.  C.  Goold  of  Yates  City,  Illinois 
in  1936.  She  died  in  1947. 

Lela  Weddle  graduated  from  Illinois  State  Univer- 
sity. She  married  Eldon  Webb  in  1926  and  taught  in 
several  country  schools.  They  lived  on  the  Weddle 
farm  until  Lela's  death  in  1943. 

Clifford  M.  Weddle  married  Edythe  Brame  in 
1923.  He  was  one  of  the  directors  of  New  Union  school. 
He  was  the  first  graduate  of  Monticello  High  School 
to  serve  on  the  High  School  board  and  served  two 
years.  He  retired  from  farming  because  of  his  health 
and  took  up  the  hobby  ot  making  furniture  from 
walnut  wood.  They  are  the  parents  of  John  Maurice 
and  LaVerne  Elizabeth.  Maurice  married  Mary  Mc- 
Culloch,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Horace  McCulloch 
of  Paris,  Illinois.  They  are  the  parents  of  Diane,  Dana 
and  David,  and  live  in  Denver,  Colorado.  LaVerne  mar- 
ried Richard  Gucker,  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Paul  Gucker 
of  Monticello.  Their  children  are  Douglas  and  Charles 
and  they  live  in  Baltimore. 

Daniel,  son  of  Samuel  and  Anna  Weddle,  married 
Clara  McCollister  and  they  had  five  children;  Effie, 
Irene,  Albert,  James  and  Dewey.  Daniel  Weddle  ran 
a  General  Store  on  the  northwest  corner  of  Main  and 
Dodge  from  1899  to  1908  having  had  two  partners: 
first  Ed  Stuckey  and  then  Frank  Kaufman.  His  wife, 
Clara,  died  in  1905  at  the  age  of  46.  Later  he  married 
Hannah  Dohn  and  in  1908  he  moved  to  Oklahoma 
taking  his  boys  with  him. 


Daniel    Weddle    Family,    front    row:     Dewey,    Kffie    Weddle 
Armsworth.    Daniel;    back    row:    Albert   and   James. 

Effie  married  W.  Scott  Armsworth  in  1906  and 
has  resided  in  Cisco  ever  since.  They  had  two  children, 
Hildred  and  William.  Irene  married  Jess  Hainline  the 
same  year.  They  farmed  one  of  the  Pattengill  farms 
until  1920  when  they  moved  to  Idaho. 


Albert  returned  to  the  Cisco  community  with  his 
wife  Myrtle  (Gaines)  Weddle  where  he  ran  a  barber 
shop  from  1917  to  1933.  In  1933  he  started  a  grocery 
store  which,  with  the  help  of  his  family,  he  continued 
to  run  until  1963,  when  he  and  his  son  A.  B.  moved 
their  store  to  Havana,  Illinois  where  they  now  reside. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Albert  Weddle  had  three  children. 
Irene  married  Robert  McKinley.  She  taught  in  the 
Cisco  school  system  a  short  time  before  moving  to 
California.  They  have  a  daughter,  Jill.  Daniel  entered 
military  service  during  World  War  II.  He  married 
Marilyn  Snyder  and  just  retired  from  the  army  in 
1973.  They  have  a  daughter,  Dawn.  A.  B.  married 
Margaret  Brown  and  they  now  reside  in  Havana.  They 
have  two  sons,  Jack  and  Daniel. 


The  Weilepp  Family 

Frank  S.  Weilepp  (1862-1942;  was  an  early  grain 
and  coal  dealer,  banker  and  land-owner.  He  came  to 
Cisco  as  a  young  man  in  1881  from  the  Mowry  Grain 
Co.  of  Forsyth  and  working  for  Mr.  Mowry,  his  life- 
long friend  and  patron.  In  those  eai-ly  days  he  worked 
out  of  a  freight  car  on  the  railroad  siding.  The  grain 
brought  in  by  horse  drawn  wagons  was  shoveled  by 
hand  directly  into  the  bo.\  cars  for  shipping.  He  sold 
his  elevator  to  the  present  day  Cisco  Co-operative  in 
1908. 

Frank  was  associated  with  the  pioneer  Croninger 
family  in  the  Croniger  State  Bank.  He  was  married 
to  Ada  F.  Naugle  whose  parents  came  from  Uakley 
and  ran  the  old  hotel  across  the  railroad  tracks  from 
the  elevator.  They  were  interested  in  the  schools  and 
churches  of  the  village  and  gave  the  land  for  the 
Cisco  school  and  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Their  two 
oldest  children  were  sent  to  Champaign  to  finish  high 
school  and  later  the  University  of  Illinois.  In  1906 
Frank  and  Ada  moved  to  Decatur.  Those  children  re- 
maining in  the  area  retain  interest  in  Cisco  and  grain 
from  nearby  Weilepp  farmland  is  still  being  delivered 
to  the  old  F.  S.  Weilepp  Elevator. 

Frank  and  Ada  had  8  children.  They  are:  Leila 
(Mrs.  V.  G.  Musselman)  of  Quincy;  Carl  N.,  an  attor- 
ney, now  deceased ;  Edward  S.  of  St.  Petersburg,  Fla. ; 
Louise  (Mrs.  Lester  C.  Ennis)  deceased;  Eva  S.  (Mrs. 
E.  S.  Millizen)  of  Decatur;  Laura  E.  (Mrs.  L.  E. 
Bailey)  of  Decatur;  Paul  F.  (deceased)  ;  and  Ma.\  I. 
of  St.  Petersburg,  Fla. 


Do  you  remember  Halloween  in  Cisco? 

All  the  kids  would  get  together  and  move  every- 
thing not  fastened  down  to  the  front  of  the  school. 
The  next  morning  school  would  not  start  until  every- 
thing had  been  returned  to  its  proper  place.  There 
was  always  one  of  Dick  Reeves'  buggies  on  the  roof 
of  the  elevator.  The  "big  kids"  would  take  it  apart, 
take  it  up  piece  by  piece  and  put  it  together  on  the 
roof.  The  last  time  it  was  done,  the  buggy  got  broken 
somehow  —  and  everyone  decided  it  was  time  to  quit. 
It  was  all  meant  and  done  in  good  fun.  The  de.struc- 
tion  of  someone's  property  took  all  the  fun  out  of  it. 


106 


Whisnant  Family 


About  the  time  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  was 
laid,  Lewis  Andrew  Melvin  (1848-1918)  and  his  wife, 
Martha  Ann  Chandler  settled  on  a  section  of  land 
west  of  Cisco.  They  had  six  children:  Ernest,  Henry, 
Lutie,  Delora,  Mabel,  and  Mary  Myrtle.  As  the  Melvin 
family  came  to  adulthood  and  married,  Ernest  moved 
to  North  Dakota,  Henry  lived  on  a  farm  northwest  of 
Cisco,  Lutie  married  Charles  T.  Parr  and  built  a  home 
on  their  land  southeast  of  Cisco.  Mary  married  George 
Edgar  Harland  and  they  moved  to  California,  Mabel 
Donavon  now  lives  in  Texas  and  Mary  Mrytle  mar- 
ried George  Whisnant  in  1910. 

Myrtle  and  George  lived  on  the  Hoover  farm  south- 
west of  Cisco  for  two  years.  They  then  moved  to  the 
family  home  to  care  for  the  Melvin  parents  and  take 
over  the  farm.  Myrtle  attended  Illinois  State  Normal 
and  taught  school  two  years  before  her  marriage. 
George  grew  up,  one  of  a  family  of  four  boys  near 
Kunmundy,  111.  His  father  was  David  Whisnant,  and 
his  mother,  Semelia  Ann.  George  died  in  1948,  and 
Myrtle  continued  to  live  on  the  family  farm  until  her 
death  in  1966.  Both  are  buried  in  Croninger  Cemetery. 

George  and  Myrtle  had  three  children :  Donald 
Melvin,  Delora  Lucille,  and  Lewis  Edwin.  All  three 
chidren  attended  school  at  Cisco. 

Donald  graduated  from  high  school  in  Monticello 
and  attended  Illinois  State  University.  While  teaching 
at  Colfax,  111.,  he  met  and  married  Edna  Fortner. 
Later,  they  bought  the  Hoover  farm,  re-modeled  and 
re-built  all  buidings.  They  had  two  sons:  David 
Melvin  and  John  Robert.  David  Whisnant,  a  U.  of  I. 
graduate,  has  a  doctorate  in  chemistry.  He  married 
Linda  Dyson  of  Monticello  and  is  teaching  at  Ashland 
College,  Wis.  They  have  two  sons,  Clayton  J.  and 
Aaron  J.  John  graduated  and  has  a  law  degree  from 
the  University  of  Iowa.  He  married  Cindy  Smith  of 
Sioux  City,  Iowa  and  they  live  in  Minne.sota  where 
John  is  associated  with  Arthur  Anderson  and  Co. 

On  Christmas  Day,  1961,  Donald  and  Edna  were 
killed  in  an  automobile  accident,  leaving  the  farm  to 
their  sons. 

DeLora  Whisnant  graduated  from  Illinois  State 
University,  and  taught  public  school  music  prior  to 
her  marriage  to  S.  Edgar  Lauther,  a  banker  from 
Iowa.  The  marriage  in  the  Cisco  Methodist  Church  in 
1941  was  the  first  marriage  to  take  place  there  that 
we  know  of.  The  ceremony  was  performed  by  a  J. 
Dewey  Muir,  now  of  Decatur.  Edna  Whisnant  was  the 
matron  of  honor. 

Lewis  Whisnant  graduated  from  the  University 
of  Illinois  School  of  Business.  He  married  Phyllis 
Brown  of  Decatur  and  became  treasurer  of  Mississippi 
Valley  Structural  Steel  Co.  in  Misouri.  Their  son, 
Kerry,  is  enrolled  at  the  University  of  Missouri. 

For  many  years  the  big  yellow  barn  on  the  Melvin 
farm  was  a  landmark  of  the  area,  and  it  had  the  year 
1888  high  above  the  hayloft  door,  which  was  the  year 
of  Mary  Myrtle  Melvin's  birth. 


t '.  •  ;^  ' 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harry  White  on   their  50th  Wedding 
.■Vnniversarj'. 

The  Harry  White  Family 

Harry  and  Grace  White  moved  to  Cisco  in  1943 
from  a  lifetime  of  farming.  Harry,  son  of  Thomas 
R.  and  Diantha  Perkins  White,  was  born  in  1869.  He 
had  six  brothers :  William,  Ernest,  Bert,  Fred,  George 
and  Charles,  and  one  sister  Edith  Garver.  All  are  de- 
ceased. Grace  was  born  in  1884  near  Clinton.  She  had 
three  brothers:  George,  Harry  and  Frank  Lyons,  and 
four  sisters:  Jessie  Lyons,  Hildred  Lyons  Pirtle,  Julia 
Lyons  Stymets  (deceased),  and  Sabina  Lyons  Massey. 
Harry  and  Grace  were  married  in  June  1900. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  White  had  three  daughters:  Bertha 
White,  Beulah  White  Culwell  and  Betty  White  Burton, 
and  three  sons:  Harry,  Thomas  (deceased),  and  Paul. 
There  are  three  granddaughters  and  three  grandsons. 
They  celebrated  their  50th  wedding  anniversary  June 
26,  1950  and  lived  to  have  their  65th  anniversary. 

Mr.  White's  one  desire  and  ambition  was  to  be 
100  years  old.  On  August  26,  1969  he  celebrated  this 
occasion  with  family,  relatives  and  friends  at  his  home 
in  Cisco.  He  received  greetings  from  President  and 
Mrs.  Lyndon  Johnson  and  also  from  the  Governor 
of  Illinois  over  the  years.  Mrs.  White  passed  away  in 
1964,  and  Mr.  White  in  1970. 


The  Victor  R.  White  Family 

Victor  White  (1898-1970),  son  of  Thomas  and 
Etta  White,  came  to  Cisco  in  1916  and  worked  for 
Harley  Miles  on  the  farm.  He  married  Edna  Hoover 
in  1925  in  Decatur.  All  of  their  married  life  they 
lived  on  farms  near  Cisco.  After  Edna's  death  in 
1962,  he  married  Mildred  Pittson  of  Monticello  in 
1966. 

Edna  White  (1898-1962)  was  the  daughter  of 
William  and  Louisa  Hoover.  She  came  to  Illinois  in 
1915  with  her  parents  and  lived  near  Deland  on  the 
Keele  farm.  A  few  years  later  they  moved  to  the  Keele 
farm  at  Cisco. 


107 


They  were  the  parents  of  two  children,  Harold  and 
Lucille.  Harold  was  born  in  1932  and  is  married  to 
Lois  Dobson,  a  registered  nurse,  in  1955.  They  are  the 
parents  of  three  children,  Beth,  Derek  and  Kelly.  They 
live  in  Kansas  City  where  Harold  works  at  Marion 
Laboratories. 

Lucille  was  born  in  1929  at  Cisco.  She  married 
Earl  Wright,  son  of  Ralph  and  the  late  Elsie  Wright 
of  Bement.  They  lived  in  Bement  until  1969,  when 
they  bought  the  Prudie  Huffmaster  home  and  moved 
to  Cisco.  They  are  the  parents  of  two  children,  Alice 
(1958)  and  Kenny  (1959).  Lucille  is  employed  as 
secretary  in  the  United  Way  office  in  Decatur.  Earl 
has  been  employed  with  the  Piatt  County  Service 
Company  for  18  years  and  has  been  an  LP  gas  sales- 
man for  12  years. 

The  Whitlock  Family 

In  1965,  the  Stanley  Whitlock  family  moved  to  the 
Elma  Ater  Estate,  located  southeast  of  Cisco.  They 
moved  here  from  White  Heath.  Betty  Jean  Wendt, 
daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fred  Wendt  of  Bondville, 
and  Stanley  M.  Whitlock,  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  R.  J. 
Whitlock  of  Olean,  New  York,  were  married  in  1948. 
Stan  had  moved  to  Illinois  where  he  graduated  from 
the  University  of  Illinois.  To  this  marriage,  in  1951, 
John  Frederick  Whitlock  was  born. 

John  graduated  from  Monticello  High  School.  He 
married  Patsy  Lee  Gowler,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
C.  E.  Gowler.  They  have  one  son,  John  Shannon. 

Stan  is  involved  in  farming  and  feeding  beef  cattle. 
They  are  both  active  members  of  the  Cisco  United 
Methodist  Church. 


Ernie  and  Alta  Wikowski 

house  in  the  winter  where  we  dressed  out  a  lot  of 
meat,  sausage  and  lard.  The  most  we  did  one  winter 
was  between  500-600  hogs  and  35  beefs.  In  1922  I  got 
started  with  the  honey  bees  which  I  have  kept  for  52 
years.  I  served  for  7  years  as  secretary  of  Piatt  County 
Beekeepers  Assoc.  In  1947  Ethel  passed  away.  Again 
we  had  a  tough  row  to  hoe. 

Alta   Wilson   and   1   were   married   in    1948   and    I 
rented  a  farm  near  Maroa.  I  have  two  step  children: 
Gene  Wilson  (1929-     )  and  Shirley  (1939-     ). 
In  1950  I  served  as  Worshipful  Master  of  the  Cisco 
Masons.  We  built  a  new  home  in  Maroa  in  1964. 

— Ernest  F.  Wikowski 


Wikowski  Family 


I  was  born  in  Ivesdale  in  1898,  attended  school  in 
Vera  (Fayette  county)  and  came  to  Cisco  in  1912  on 
a  small  passenger  train,  walking  four  miles  to  my 
uncle  Herman  Wieland's  house.  I  helped  work  on  farms 
in  the  Shiloh  neighborhood.  In  1919  Ethel  Monroe 
and  I  were  married  in  Argenta.  I  moved  to  Cisco  in 
1933  and  worked  for  Charles  Olson  for  the  next  eight 
years.  It  was  the  depression,  you  could  buy  most  any- 
thing for  a  dime  but  nobody  had  a  dime  in  those  days. 

Ethel  and  I  had  five  children:  Virginia  (1921-  ) 
married  to  Kenneth  Wiseman  and  live  in  Maryland. 
They  have  four  children,  nine  grandchildren ;  Ruth 
(1923-  )  married  to  William  Greeson  and  live  in 
Peoria  where  she  is  a  beauty  operator.  They  have  two 
children,  four  grandchildren  ;  Betty  (1932-  )  married 
to  Clarence  Keil  and  live  in  Peoria.  She  teaches  school 
for  retarded  children.  They  have  five  children ;  Dean 
(1936-  )  and  wife  June,  live  in  Indianapolis.  They 
have  four  children;  Fred  (1938-  )  and  wife  June, 
live  in  Tennessee  and  have  two  children. 

The  ne.\t  eight  years  were  much  better  for  us.  We 
farmed  the  place  where  we  lived.  We  baled  hay  and 
straw    in    summertime,    ran    a    community    slaughter 


The  Andrew  Jackson  Williams 
Family 

Andrew  Jackson  Williams  eldest  son  of  Theo- 
philus  and  Margaret  Ross  Williams,  was  born  in  1836 
in  Pickaway  County,  Ohio.  In  1858  he  left  Ohio  and 
came  to  Champaign  County,  Illinois,  moving  to  Piatt 
County  in  1860.  In  1862,  he  volunteered  for  service  in 
the  Union  Army  at  Camp  Butler,  Springfield,  111.  He 
served  in  Co.  H  107th  Illinois  Infantry.  He  was  dis- 
charged at  Salisbury,  North  Carolina  in  1865,  with 
the  rank  of  Captain.  His  commanders  were  General 
Thomas  and  General  Sherman. 

In  1865,  he  married  Violet  Eliabeth  Hurst,  a  native 
of  Sangamon  ('ounty,  111.  Their  children  were:  Frank, 
Loton,  Viola,  Rosella,  Margaret,  Seymour,  Scott  B. 
Chester  C,  Bruce  B.,  and  Roy  A.  They  lived  and 
farmed  2  miles  east  of  Cisco.  They  left  the  farm  in 
1903  and  moved  to  Monticello.  Andrew  died  in  1904 
and  Violet  died  in  1936. 

Frank  Williams  attended  \'alpariso,  Ind.  Teacher's 
College,  later  teaching  in  the  schools  in  Piatt  County. 
In  1889  he  married  Martha  Ann  Grove  of  Monticello. 
He  invented  several  items,  which  included  an  auto- 
matic farm  gate.  Monarch,  for  which  he  was  granted 


108 


a  patent;  Champion  Grain  Scale,  which  measured  the 
grain  from  a  threshing  machine  before  it  was  dumped 
into  the  wagon;  a  Williams  scoop  board;  and  a  single 
frame  two  row  corn  planter,  for  which  he  received  a 
patent.  He  and  his  family  later  moved  to  Oklahoma. 

Loton  married  Mary  Etta  Stuckey  of  Cisco  in 
1891.  There  were  six  children  born  to  this  union: 
Bessie,  Tiny  who  died  in  infancy,  Esther,  Kenneth 
B.,  Juanita,  and  Carl  Jackson.  Loton  was  a  carpenter 
and  built  one  of  the  homes  they  had  lived  in,  which 
is  now  occupied  by  the  Peveler  family.  He  operated  a 
store  in  Cisco  and  then  went  to  farming  the  "home 
place,"  where  his  father  had  previously  lived  and 
farmed.  Later  the  family  moved  to  Wisconsin,  with 
the  exception  of  Bessie,  who  had  married  Harold  B. 
McKinney  (see  McKinney  history). 

Viola  Williams  married  Clement  J.  Doane  in  1896 
at  Monticello.  They  lived  on  a  farm  northwest  of 
Cisco.  They  both  passed  away  in  1934. 

Rosella  attended  a  teacher's  college  and  taught  one 
year.  She  married  Emmett  F.  Brown  in  1893.  They 
lived  in  MonticeUo  and  Decatur  before  moving  to 
California  in  1912. 

Margaret   Williams    (see   Margaret    Williams- J  ones 
Mcintosh  history). 

Seymour  graduated  trom  the  University  of  Illinois 
in  1901.  He  joined  the  Illinois  Conference  of  the 
Methodist  Church  that  year.  In  1902  he  married 
Jennie  May  Bennett.  He  completed  his  seminary 
training  at  Barrett  Biblical  Institute  of  Evanston, 
Illinois.  They  moved  to  the  Mission  Field  in  Montana 
and  later  to  the  state  of  Washington. 

Scott  B.  married  Virginia  Stewart  in  1908.  With 
his  brothers,  Bruce  and  Chester,  they  operated  a  de- 
partment store  in  Monticello,  where  Kaiser's  are  now 
located.  They  sold  and  moved  to  Decatur,  and  operated 
a  department  store  in  the  building  now  occupied  by 
Carson  Pirie  Scott.  Chester  later  operated  a  shoe 
business  in  Tennessee  where  he  married  Freda  Patton. 
They  later  moved  to  California.  Bruce  Williams  later 
traveled  for  a  shoe  firm  then  located  in  Chicago.  He 
married  Ethel  Westerman. 

Roy  graduated  from  Monticello  High  School  in 
1903.  He  chose  to  continue  his  education  —  later 
studying  violin  in  Paris,  France.  Upon  his  return  to 
the  states,  he  completed  his  Ph.D.  at  the  University  of 
Iowa,  and  then  taught  in  several  colleges  and  univer- 
sities. He  married  Beulah  Pierce.  They  had  one  son, 
Robert  Roy.  After  his  health  failed,  Roy  came  back 
to  Cisco  to  retire,  living  one-half  mile  east  of  Cisco. 
His  son  Robert,  after  attending  Michigan  State  Uni- 
versiy,  farmed  the  land  for  his  father. 

Robert  married  Marjorie  Stone  in  1951.  She  re- 
ceived her  education  from  MacMurray  College,  Jack- 
sonville, 111.,  and  her  master's  degree  in  education 
from  the  University  of  Illinois.  They  have  four  chil- 
dren: Jean,  Jane,  Julia  Ann,  and  James.  Robert's 
family  grew  up  and  presently  live  in  the  home  east 
of  Cisco  vacated  by  Roy  and  Beulah.  Beulah  resides 
in  the  house  ne.xt  door  built  by  Robert  for  his  parents. 


The  Joseph  Williams  Family 

In  1906  Joseph  W.  Williams  and  his  wife,  Alice, 
moved  to  Cisco  from  his  farm  west  of  Cisco.  The 
year  of  1917  marked  the  beginning  of  a  se'ed  corn 
sales  business  that  later  developed  into  a  large, 
modern-day  seed  business  in  the  village.  He  was  also 
known  for  his  ability  to  grow  fruits  and  vegetables 
and  always  had  plants  to  sell. 

Joseph  and  Alice  had  one  daughter,  Zora.  She  and 
Warren  S.  Ater  were  married  in  1912  and  they  had 
one  son,  Robert  (1917-  ).  Robert  named  his  grand- 
dad "Daddy  Joe"  and  this  became  his  nickname.  Alice 
died  in  1920  and  Warren,  Zora  and  Robert  came  to 
Cisco  to  live  with  Daddy  Joe. 

Warren  S.  Ater  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
Lodge  for  55  years  and  served  on  the  Town,  School 
and  Elevator  Boards.  Zora  M.  was  a  Past  Matron  in 
the  Eastern  Star  and  served  on  the  Library  Board. 


"Daddy   Joe"    Williams 

Robert  W.  Ater  and  Vione  Tuggle  were  married 
in  1941  and  they  had  one  daughter,  Alice  Ann  (1943- 
1944).  They  lived  west  of  Cisco  until  1960  when  they 
quit  farming  because  of  illness  and  moved  to 
Decatur  where  they  now  live. 

Daddy  Joe  gave  an  organ  to  the  Methodist  Church 
in  memory  of  his  wife  Alice.  He  died  in  1953.  Warren 
and  Zora  built  a  house  east  of  Cisco  and  lived  there 
until  she  died  in  1967  and  he  died  in  1969. 

Wiseman 

David  O.  Wiseman  and  his  wife,  Nellie  Carter 
Wiseman,  moved  to  the  Cisco  community  from  Leaven- 
worth, Indiana,  in  1918.  They  had  four  children,  all 
born  at  the  Leavenworth  address.  David  Wiseman 
died  in  1954,  and  his  wife  died  in  1970. 

Gerald  Wiseman  married  Helen  Davis  of  Macon, 
Illinois.  After  living  in  Illinois  for  many  years,  they 
now  reside  near  Crawford,  Mississippi.  They  have 
two  children  —  Bill  and  Jim.  Both  children  are 
married. 


109 


Kenneth  Wiseman  married  Virginia  Wykowski  of 
Cisco.  They  have  lived  in  Baltimore,  Maryland,  for 
several  years  and  have  four  children,  all  married: 
David,  Larry,  Terry  and  Sharon. 

Dean  Wiseman  married  Lillian  Seifert  of  Wash- 
burn, Illinois,  their  present  address.  They  have  two 
children  —  Hal  with  the  United  States  Army,  and 
Bob,  still  at  home. 

The  youngest  son,  David  Wiseman,  Jr.,  died  of 
pneumonia  shortly  after  the  family  moved  to  Cisco. 


Pete  and  Katie  Young 

Young  Family 

In  1863  Isaac  (1822-1899)  and  Eliza  (1827-1900) 
Young  came  to  the  Cisco  community  in  a  covered 
wagon  from  Garfield  C,  Ohio.  They  established  their 
home,  a  log  cabin,  south  of  what  was  to  become  Cisco. 

Among  the  children  of  Isaac  and  Eliza  were :  Lewis 
"Bud"  Kistler  (Eliza's  son  from  a  former  marriage), 
Peter  Christian  "Pete"  (1859-1942),  Jesse,  Al,  Emma 
and  Clara. 

Pete  Young  moved  to  Illinois  with  his  family  when 
he  was  four  years  old.  As  a  small  boy  he  herded  cattle 
over  this  territory  before  there  was  a  railroad  or 
town. 

When  Pete  was  fifteen  years  old  he  ran  a  team 
and  slip  scraper  and  helped  build  the  railroad.  Before 
there  was  a  town  they  shelled  by  hand  the  little  corn 
they  grew  and  hauled  it  to  Bement.  There  weren't 
any  roads  so  they  drove  their  wagons  on  high  ground. 

In  the  fall  of  1885  Pete  Young  and  Katie  Stuckey 
(1868-1933)  were  united  in  marriage.  They  had  one 
child,  Edith  Mae,  born  in  1886.  They  farmed  and  lived 
one  mile  southwest  of  Cisco  at  the  same  place  the 
P.  C.  Barnhart  family  lives  today.  Pete  ran  an  ice 
house  in  Cisco.  He  helped  form  the  Cisco  Grain  Ele- 
vator and  was  on  the  board  of  directors. 


Jesse  Young  married  Eunice  Wilson  and  they 
farmed  the  home  place  of  Isaac  and  Eliza  Young 
south  of  Cisco  until  they  moved  to  Decatur  in  1916. 

They  were  the  parents  of  five  children:  Mrs.  Herb 
(Bliss)  Ridgley,  Cecil,  Jessie,  Mrs.  Russell  (Lucille) 
Martin,  and  Lewis.  Jesse  died  in  1944  and  Eunice  in 
1958. 

Edith  Young  married  William  Reed  Barnhart  in 
1908,  and  had  three  children:  Mrs.  William  (LaVerne) 
Patrick,  Mrs.  Gerald  (Katheryn)  Sites  and  P.  C. 
"Bud".  Reed  died  in  1956  and  Edith  died  in  1969. 

P.  C.  Barnhart  has  farmed  for  over  thirty  years 
some  of  the  same  land  his  grandfather  Peter  C. 
Young  farmed.  For  the  past  several  years  along  with 
farming  Bud  has  operated  Bud's  Barn  Antique  Store 
in  Cisco. 


The  Donald  Zindar  Family 

Donald  and  Ruth  Zindar  and  daughters,  Marilyn 
Dee  and  Donna  Ruth,  moved  to  a  farm  southwest  of 
Cisco  in  1946  from  east  of  Monticello. 

Don,  the  oldest  of  four  children  of  Charles  A.  and 
Nina  Jones  Zindar,  was  born  near  White  Heath.  He 
graduated  from  White  Heath  Grade  and  Monticello 
Community  High  School.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Farm 
Bureau. 

Ruth,  one  of  four  children  of  Eugene  and  Jennie 
Rodgers  Bell,  was  born  near  Seymour  where  her 
grandparents  were  early  settlers.  She  graduated  from 
Seymour  Grade  and  Champaign  High  Schools  and 
attended  the  University  of  Illinois. 

The  Zindars  are  active  members  of  the  Cisco 
United  Methodist  Church.  She  was  active  in  4-H  Club 
work,  Eastern  Star,  Cisco  PTA,  Woman's  Club  and 
Home  Extension. 

Their  daughter,  Marilyn  Dee,  is  married  to  Robert 
Cannon  and  they  live  at  Monticello.  They  have  a 
daughter,  Susan  Dee.  Marilyn  is  a  registered  nurse 
on  the  staff  of  the  DeWitt-Piatt  County  Health  Unit. 

Their  daughter,  Donna,  is  married  to  Rolland 
Malone  and  they  live  at  Maroa.  Their  children  are 
Chris  Allen,  married  to  Janis  Richars;  and  Candace 
Sue,  married  to  Donald  Benton.  They  have  one  son. 

Remember  When  .  .  . 

Did  you  know  there  was  an  ordinance  years  ago 
that  prohibited  driving  a  steam  engine  across  the 
sidewalk  unless  boards  were  put  down  across  the 
walk  (or  planked).  Arthur  Gisinger  failed  to  plank 
the  walk  and  was  fined  for  driving  his  steam  engine 
across  the  walk.  He  paid  his  fine  and  went  out,  put 
one  wheel  of  the  steam  engine  on  the  sidewalk  and 
drove  down  the  sidewalk.  When  he  got  to  where  he 
was  going  got  off  his  steam  engine,  went  back  and 
paid  another  fine  and  said  it  was  worth  the  fine  not 
to  have  to  drive  down  the  middle  of  the  muddy  road. 


1 1  0 


steering  Committee,  front:  Jacli  Floyd,  Marjorie  McCart^ 
ney,  Pat  Swarts,  Peg  Clarli,  Irene  Leisciiner,  Opal  Coon, 
Dale  Leischner;  second  row:  Gertie  Briggs,  IVIiriam  Seevers, 
Peg  Nolan,  Betty  Whitlock,  Patricia  Ford,  Audra  Pirtle; 
third   row:   Don   Stephens,   Stanley  Seevers,  Stanley  Whit- 


lock, Charles  Fradenburgh  and  Sam  Clark.  Missing  are: 
Dee  Leischner,  Jack  Drew,  Hildred  Webb,  Othello  Remmers, 
P.  C.  Bamhart,  Florence  Hoffman,  Shirley  Sievers  and 
John  Miller. 


1  1  1 


CENTENNIAL  COMMITTEES 

CO-CHAIRMAN 
Pat  Swarts  Charles  Fradenburgh 

SECRETARY 
Peg  Clark 


SOUVENIRS 

Don  Stephens,  chairman 

Ira  McCartney 

Hazel  Pirtle 

Avis  Bennett 

Stanley  Seevers 

James  Burns 

Wilford  Johnson 
PARADE 

Jack  Floyd,  chairman 

Larry  Coon 

Jack  Clifton 

Ray  Hatfield 

David  Swarts 

Ronald  Hatfield 

Charles  Sievers 

Wilford  Johnson 

Kenny  Wright 

Ron  Sample 

Gary  Miller 

Frank  Hoffman 

Dwight  Blythe 
ENTERTAINMENT 

Audrey  Pirtle,  chairman 

Clarence  Williams 

Margaret  Williams 

Stanley  Mackey 

Sam  Clark 

Doris  Conner 

John  Miller 
PROGRAM 

Dee  Leischner,  co-chairman 

Miriam  Seevers,  co-chairman 
HISTORY 

Patricia  Ford,  chairman 

Lucia  Wilkin 

Ruth  Pattengill 

Charles  Fradenburgh 

John  Benjamin 

Marilyn  Mackey 

Vera  Root 

Katheryn  Sites 

Harry  Lyons 

David  Swarts 

Ruby  Leach 

Aileen  Rannebarger 

Extra  Typists: 

Judy  Seely, 

Florence  Hoffman 

Shirley  Sievers 
CHURCH  SERVICE 

Stan  Whitlock,  co-chairman 

Betty  Whitlock,  co-chairman 

Marge  Williams 

Violet  Winters 
FINANCE 

Hildred  Webb,  treasurer 

Irene  Leischner 

Dale  Leischner 

George  Mills 


ADVERTISING 

Jack  Drew,  chairman 

Twila  Mackey 

Bill  Sago 

Earl  Wright 

Bernard  Nolan 

Greg  Nolan 

John  Mackey 

Ellen  Coon 

Ira  McCartney 

Frank  Hoffman 

P.  C.  Barnhart 

Anita  Carroll 

Charles  Sievers 

Jack  Floyd 
FOOD 

Marjorie  McCartney,  co-chairman 

Gertie  Briggs,  co-chairman 

Dorothy  Mills 

Edna  Johnson 

Margaret  Stephens 

Rita  Hatfield 

Lucille  Wright 

Mildred  Burns 

Ruby  Leacli 

Lucile  Reed 

Helen  Miller 

Mary  Munson 

June  Sago 

Pat  Lubbers 

Beulah  Robson 
PAGEANT 

Othella  Remmers,  co-chairman 

Betty  Whitlock,  co-chairman 

Mary  Brown  Janes 

Shirley  Sievers 

Beverly  Carroll 

Carol  GuUey 

Carol  Padgett 

Helen  Miller 

Ruth  Zindar 
CISCO  BELLES 
BROTHERS  OF  THE  BRUSH 

Irene  Leischner,  chairman 

Ellen  Coon 

Sam  Clark 

Staney  Seevers 

Dale  Leischner 

Linda  Leischner 
ELECTRICAL  AND  GROUNDS 

Dale  Leischner,  chairman 

Dwight  Blythe 

Kill  Sago 

John  Mackey 

Richard  Hoffman 

Frank  Hoffman 

Roger  Briggs 

Essell  Miller 

Dick  Munson 

Andy  Barber  -  I.P.L. 


ANTIQUE,  ARTS  AND  CRAFTS 

P.  C.  Barnhart,  chairman 

Edith  Barnhart 

Joyce  Bennett 

Dee  Elson 

Gene  Pirtle 
PUBLICITY 

Stanley  Seevers,  co-chairman 

Peg  Clark,  co-chairman 

Leora  Clifton 

Jim  Leischner 

Vickie  Gowler 

Sue  W^er 
FIRST  AID  STATION 

Opal  Coon,  co-chairman 

Peg  Nolan,  co-chairman 

Virginia  Leischner 

Linda  Leischner 

Yvonne  Howland 

Doris  Conner 

Rose  Jackson 

Margaret  Peveler 

Gladys  McCullough 

Bertha  White 

Hilda  Webster 
HOSPITALITY 

Florence  Hoffman,  co-chairman 

Shirley  Sievers,  co-chairman 

Barb  Ekiss 

Edith  Barnhart 

Marilyn  Mackey 

Opal  Coon 

Lucille  Edwards 
ROYALTY 

Juetta  Hiser,  co-chairman 

Helen  Dowdle,  co-chairman 

Barbara  Malone 

Alice  Wright 

Ruth  Zindars 

Lucille  Edwards 

Nancy  Huisinga 
TRAFFIC  AND  SECURITY 

John  Miller,  chairman 
SHERIFF 

Sam  Clark 
DEPUTIES 

Bill  Sago 

Wifred  Johnson 

Ronald  Hatfield 

Larry  Edwards 
COOK  BOOK 

Miriam  Seevers,  chairman 

Twilia  Mackey 

Peg  Nolan 

Audra  Briggs 

Peggy  Parsons 

Marilyn  Mackey 

Carolyn  Kleven 

Home  Extension 


1  1  2 


A  special  "Thank  You"  is  extended  to  all  the  following  Sponsors  and 
Advertisers  for  their  contributions  in  helping  to  make  the  Cisco  Centennial 
Celebration  possible. 


Mrs.  Ruby  Leach 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  G.   (Pete)   Benjamin 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  R.  W.   (Rip)   Dowdle 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  A.  Phillips 

Jack  Floyd 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Otto  Mazzei  and  Family 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Muns  Peveler  and  Family 

Del  Heidkamp 

Joyce  Heidkamp 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robert  Heidkamp 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edward  Heidkamp 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ron  Parsons 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Fair 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Earl  Wright 

Kenney  Wright 

Alice  Wright 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Earl  Benson 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dean  Kerns 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Walter  Pirtle 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eugene  Pirtle 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Calvin  Vannote 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Donald  Stephens 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harold  Mclntyre 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wayne  Royse  and  Norman 

T.  Royce  Leach 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Earl  Rannebarger  (memorial) 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  A.  Royse  (memorial) 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Albert  Leach  (memorial) 

John  and  Mildred  Benjamin 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gary  Chandler 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jakie  Miller 

Don  Miller 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  T.  J.  Miller 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clarence  M.  Williams 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Donald  McKinley 

Dottie  Giesler 

Mrs.  Loren  M.  (Ruth  D.)  Pattengill 

Katie  and  Glenn  Howard 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robert  Chumbley 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Larry  Edwards  and  Family 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dale  Bennett,  Jr.  and  Sons 

Mrs.  Gerald  Miller 

Mrs.  Gerald  J.   (Katheryn)   Sites 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carl  Jennings 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Mills 

Mike  Mills  Family 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Glen  Sample 

Jerry  Sample 

Mrs.  Louise  Isenberg 

Emma  Lou  and  J.  C.  Bilbrey 

Charles  Zimmerman 

Edward  L.  Johnson 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Randy  Nelson 

Mrs.  Vera  Clifton 

Mrs.  Helen  Stain 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eddie  Elson 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Essell  W.  Miller 

John  Miller 

Ronald  Miller 

Gary  Miller 


Terry  Miller 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clifford  Eubanks,  Sr. 

Mrs.  Florence  Blythe 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clifford  Davis 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Don  Reed 

Gary  Reed 

Mary  Reed 

Laura  Lynn 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robert  Pearl 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gary  Hunter 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bill  Isbell 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Oscar  Isbell 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fred  Remmers 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joe  Remmers 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Delbert  Williams 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mike  Poling 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Richard  Munson 

Mrs.  Maude  Munson 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ron  Hatfield  and  Ronki  Bliss 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilford  Johnson 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ray  Hatfield 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Garth  Nelson 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  David  Swarts 

Mark  Swarts 

Brenda  Swarts 

Tamara  Swarts 

Teresa  Swarts 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harold  Swarts 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Raymond  Pirtle 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frederick  Seely  and  Family 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jack  Vannote 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dillard  Mansfield 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bert  Tritchler 

Steve  Tritchler 

Fred  Tritchler 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Guyot 

Harry  Shull  and  Family 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ed  Hardwick 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bernard  Evans  and  Family 

Mrs.  Helen  Troxell 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eugene  Mansfield  and  Larry 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jim  Fink  and  Jared 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kenneth  Musick 

Mrs.  M.  M.  Wilson 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  Isbell  and  Family 

Mrs.  Alta  Jenkins 

Miss  Jess  Lyons 

Mr.  Paul  White 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robert  Burton  and  family 

Bertha  White   (in  memory  of  Mr.  and 

Mrs.  Harry  White) 
Mrs.  Beulah  White  Culwell   (in  memory 

of  Mom  and  Dad) 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Glen  Vest 
Mr.  Doris  Miller 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Keith  Westerman 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eugene  Gowler 
Mrs.  Gladys  Rannebarger 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robert  Williams 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gerald  Hiser 


113 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Roger  Briggs  and  Family 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Melvin  Gulley 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ira  McCartney 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Steve  McCartney 

Michael  McCartney 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dan  Campbell  and  Family 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  F.  G.  Edwards 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dwight  Miner  and  Family 

Mrs.  Eva  McCartney 

Mrs.  Dorothy  Hunter 

Mrs.  Gladys  McCullough  and  Family 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Glenn  Bolsen  and  Family 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Roland  Hoffman 

Harlan,  Leonard,  and  Nellie  Umbarger 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dean  Carroll  and  Family 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Donald  Zindar 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Curt  Camic 

Mrs.  Mary  Brown  and  Family 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  M.  Burns  and  Family 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dale  Williams 

James  and  Mildred  Burns 

Paul  Burns 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Melvin  Imel 

Ray  and  Mary  Ahlrich 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Danny  G.  Carroll 

Miss  Joyce  Ann  Mackey 

In  memory  of  Loren  M.  Pattengill 

In  memory  of  Gerald  J.  (Jerry)  Sites 

In  memory  of  Mrs.  Harry  (Mabel)  Lyons 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Richard  Clark  and  Family 

Dale  and  Avis  Bennett 

Elmer  Rainey 

Mrs.  Grace  Black  and  Berle 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Paul  Slifer 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jack  Scott  and  Family 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  J.  Jordan  and  Family 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ardath  Kendall 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dale  Kaufman 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  P.  C.  Barnhart  and  Family 

Mrs.  Opal  Coon 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dale  E.  Leischner 

John  Edward  Leischner 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Larry  Coon 

Timothy  Coon 

Tamahra  Coon 

Charles  Wisehart 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Higgins 

Ronald  Miles  Family 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joe  Raycraft 

Anna  and  Carl  Traster 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Paul  Hannon  and  Family 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Larry  Wildman  and  Family 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robert  Catlin  and  Family 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  David  Whisnant  and  Family 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Darrell  Spencer 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Mackey  and  Family 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  Sebens  and  Family 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clifford  Weaver  and  Family 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bob  Ruch 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Darrel  Vulgamott  and  Family 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vern  Danison 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lewis  Weiss,  Sr. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frank  Lubbers,  Jr.  and  Family 

Mrs.  Jennie  M.  Snyder 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bernard  Nolan 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Herren 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sam  Clark 


Cindy  Clark 

Angle  Clark 

Mabel  Ripperdan 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  C.  Leischner  and  Family 

Linda  Leischner  and  Jamie 

Francis  Chapman  and  son  Mark 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  Homer  Doane 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clifford  Weddle 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Donald  Dyson 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bert  W.  Huisinga 

Mrs.  Blanche  Niles 

Clem,  Dorothy,  Pat  and  Betsy  Colgan 

Ernest  and  John  Remmers 

Dale  B.  and  Nancy   (Heath)   Huisinga 

Rob  Huisinga 

Dave  Huisinga 

Gary  Huisinga 

Amy  Huisinga 

Charles  and  Shirley   (Timmons)   Sievers 

Debra  Sievers 

Mark  and  Pamela  (Sievers)  Morgan 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Roy  Kleven,  Virginia,  Mark, 

Brigetta  and  Philip 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kenneth  Carroll 

Krista  Carroll 

Elaine  Carroll 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harold  Remmers 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Larry  Dyson  and  Family 

Jan  and  Ron  Reeves 

Mrs.  G.  D.  Briggs 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stanley  Seevers  and  Family 

Patricia  Rannebarger  Ford 

Robert  Ralph  Ford 

Aileen  Royse  Rannebarger 

Ralph  Rannebarger 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Don  E.  Edwards  and  Family 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Austin  Norfleet 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Richard  Agee  and  Family 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gary  Goble  and  Family 

Lawrence  and  Juanita  McConkey 

G.  W.  Dixson  and  Family 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dwight  Blythe 

Rick  Blythe 

Rusty  Blythe 

Marjorie  Reeves 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harry  E.  Cook 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  H.  Leischner 

Donald  and  LaVonne  (Chapman)   Ater 

John  and  Kay  (Ater)  Goeggle 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Donald  Willard  Ater 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edward  William  Ater 

Wayne  and  Lynette  (Ater)   Branton 

Alan  Ray  Ater 

Willard  E.  Ater 

Audra  Chapman  Myers 

Rev.  L.  P.  Myers 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leon  Clifton 

Mrs.  Ethel  Kendall 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Whisnant 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  S.  E.  Lauther 

Cisco  PTA 

Stanley  and  Twilia  Mackey 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gary  King  and  Family 

Dave  and  Pam  Carlson 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  E.  Winters  and  Family 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robert  Malone 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dale  Carr  and  Family 


1  1  4 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  H.  Elliott  and  Travis  C. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Don  Padgett  and  Family 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robert  Mills 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frank  Hoffman,  Scott,  Jeff 

and  Dennis 
Mr.  Paul  Craig 
Robert  and  Tricia  Marsh 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jim  ShuU 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Monroe  Robinson 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  L.  Anderson 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bill  Wood 
Connie,  Becky  and  Sheri  Wood 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harold  E.  Hoffman 
Debbie,  Randy,  Ricky  and  Ronnie  Hoffman 
Gladys  Hand 

In  memory  of  Walter  V.  (Jersey)  Leach 
Richard  and  Lucia  (Coon)  Wilkin 
Charles  Scott  Wilkin 
Brian  Clark  Wilkin 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Sago  and  Family 
Mrs.  Vera  Noecker 
Harry  Lyons 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harold  Johnson 
Ralph  (Shorty)  and  Jo  Ann  Shafer  and  Family 
Richard  and  Diana  Lyn  Hoffman  and  Sean 
Mrs.  Jessie  Reeser 
Stanley  M.  and  Betty  Jean  Whitlock 
John  McCabe 
Mrs.  Doris  Conner 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ernest  Burton 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  W.  Hanson 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fred  (Hip)   Benjamin 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jack  Clifton 
Jack  Clifton  II 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Orville  Sago 
Harry  Lesher  and  Family 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Roy  Nelson 
Robert  Nelson 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Don  Smucker  and  Family 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  E.  Hall  and  Family 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robert  Weber  and  Family 


Mrs.  Martha  Wattles 

Cisco  Homemakers  Extension  Association 

Jackson  S.  and  Kay  B.  Drew  —  Pam,  Chris 

and  Rob 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  B.  Gregory  Nolan  and  Family 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harry  Ernst  and  Family 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Humphrey 
Tedder  Realty 
Monticello  Lumber  Co. 
Mull's  Marathon  Service 
Cerro  Gordo  Foods   (IGA,  Smith) 
Cummins  Farms 
Al's  Deep  Rock  Service 
Nixon  Automotive  Co. 
Roy's  Repair  &  Service,  Cerro  Gordo 
E-J's  Restaurant,  Cerro  Gordo 
Clyde  Schumacher,  Cerro  Gordo 
William  Vulgamott 
Dwight  and  Kay  Wilkey 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Elwood  Lanter 
Kaisers 

Wayne  Dobson 
Sheriff  Peck 
Carl  Glasgow 
Journal-Republican 
Eaton  &  Finson 
Arnold  Sievers 
Fashion  Cleaners 
Martins  Grocery 
Ralph  A.  Blacker  Electric 
Corner  Tavern 
Dr.  Joseph  F.  Allman,  Jr. 
Tastee  Freeze 
Robert  Shonkwiler 
Dwight  H.  Doss 
Hales  Gift,  Cerro  Gordo 
Dr.  W.  H.  Shackelford 
Harry  Hambrecht 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Baker 
Weldon  Garage 
General  Finance,  Decatur 


1 1  5 


^ 


.-.»^_ 


1894- 


CISCO  CO-OPERATIVE  GRAIN  CO. 


Elevators  at 
CISCO  and  ARGENTA 

GRAIN,  GAS,  OIL,  FEED  &  SEED 
GRAIN  DRYING  &  STORAGE 


CISCO  PHONE 
(217)669-8771 


ARGENTA  PHONE 
(217)  795-4727 


1974 


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1  1  6 


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ANTIQUES  IMPORTED  &  DOMESTIC 

BUD'S  BARN  ANTIQUES 

INDIAN  RELICS 

In  the  Heart  of  Downtown  Cisco 


Thursday  thru  Sunday  Or  By  Appointment 

Open  Phone 

1:00  til  5:00  CISCO,  ILLINOIS  669-3241   or  669-8781 


Established  1911 

MACKEY  FUNERAL  HOME 

Dial  762-2126 
215  EAST  WASHINGTON  ST.  MONTICELLO,  ILLINOIS  61856 

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1  1  7 


MONTICELLO 
COMMUNITY  FIREWORKS.  INC. 

\^/^  SALUTES  Cisco  ^'/^ 

*>       on  their  first  100  years  wl+h  a  wish         ' 

for  the  next  100  years  to  be  a 

big  BANG  too! 

Don't  Forget  Our  Annual  July  3rd  Celebration 


Compliments  of 

LEIPER  FURNITURE 


ON  THE  SQUARE  IN  MONTICELLO,  ILLINOIS 

Telephone  762-9771 

Carpeting 

Wallpaper 

Furniture 

Draperies 

Bedding 

Interior  Designing  Service 

Linoleum 

Upholstering  Fabric 

1  18 


Sc)t>S 


BERNADINE'S 
FASHIONS 


105  WEST  MAIN  ST. 


MONTICELLO,  ILLINOIS 


v«^^' 


Congratulations  to  Cisco 
On  their  100th  Birthday 

THE    AMERICAN   BANK 

CERRO    GORDO,    II.I.INOIS    SIS  18 

THE 
AMERICAN  BANK 

CERRO  GORDO,  ILLINOIS 


Congratulations  on  Your  First 
100  Years 


KEN'S 
IGA  FOODLINER 

422  SOUTH  MARKET  STREET 
MONTICELLO,  ILLINOIS 


BILL  ABBOn,  INC. 

Telephone  762-2576 
500  W.  CENTER  ST.  MONTICELLO,  ILL 


f 


BUICK 

PONTIAC  DLDSMDBILE 


GM 


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1  19 


J.E.MILLER 


custom 
corn 

shelling  & 
trucking 

cisco,i11inois 


PH 


6698d61°»6^d901 


BOB  COOK  &  SON 

ARGENTA  CAR  WASH 

William  Camfield,   Owner 

PHONE  468-2166                  OREANA,  ILLINOIS 

Contracting 

TRUCKS     •     MACHINERY 

Painting 
Remodeling 

• 

Roofing 

Alunninunn  Products  and  Siding 

ARGENTA                                             ILLINOIS 

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VIOBIN 


VIOBIN  CORPORATION 

ASubiidiarvolA  H  Robins  Company 

Monticello,  111.61856 
V.OB,N  W»»T  ..„.  p.,  .«„„„  „,„,3,e.  „„  ."'/«  C^.c..TB«E  .n.  „»  V.H»T.»M  n ,„.„„■ 


1  21 


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MONTICELLO  FLORIST 

Phone  762-71  13 
1 15  WEST  MAIN  ST.  MONTICELLO,  ILL. 


FLCUERS 

<a>  iviai  cccisioii 

FID  -  TELEFLORA  -  FLORAFAX 
WIRE  SERVICES 

We  Wire 
Flowers  Anywhere  in  the  World 


DOTY'S  JEWELERS 


Marjorie  Do+y 


Jewelry  and  Watch  Repairing 


Phone  762-4061 


109  S.  STATE  ST. 


MONTICELLO.  ILL 


CERRO  GORDO 

COOPERATIVE 

GRAIN  COMPANY 

CERRO  GORDO,  ILLINOIS 


Remmer's  Western 
Wear  and  Trading  Post 


West  Edge  of  Montlcello 
Across  from  Disposal  Plant 

PHONE  762-2395 
MONTICELLO,  ILLINOIS 


122 


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AGEE  &  SONS  SUPPLY 

Bill  Agee 

M-C  DRYERS 

GRAIN  HANDLING  EQUIPMENT 

STORAGE  BINS  FARM  CHEMICALS 

ASHLAND  LAND  SCRAPPERS 

CLAY  LEGS  &  EQUIP. 


Compliments  of 

NORFLEETS  MARATHON 

"Serving  Our  Friends" 

AUTO  NEEDS  GROCERIES 


PHONE  669-8701  CISCO,  ILLINOIS 


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THE  AMERICAN   LEGION 


AND 


THE  AMERICAN   LEGION  AUXILIARY 


CRAIG -REED 


1948  - 1974 


POST  1181 


UNIT  1181 


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124 


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CONGRATULATIONS 


CISCO 


From  Your  Friends 


At 


THE  MILLIKIN  NATIONAL  BANK 

..        ,„^«  OF  DECATUR  .,     ^     ^  „ ,  „ 

Service  Since  1860  Member  F.D.I.C. 


•"■■'""■""'■" tttimwn.i 


1  25 


CONGRATULATIONS  TO  CISCO  FOR  100  YEARS 

OF  PROGRESS 


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NATIONAL 

BANK  OF 
MONTICELLO 


A  Full  Service  Bank  Serving  Piatt  County  and  Surrounding  Communities 


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126 


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FOSTER'S  BOWL  &  LOUNGE 

12  LANES 
LEAGUE  AND  OPEN  BOWLING 
DINING  ROOM  COCKTAIL  LOUNGE 

PACKAGE  GOODS  (DRIVE-UP  WINDOW) 


Phone  762-5726 


ROUTE  105  NORTH 


MONTICELLO,  ILLINOIS 


FOSTER 

NONA'S  SNACK  BAR 

CONSTRUCTION 

At 

Foster's  Bowl  and  Lounge 

Residential  and  Connnnercial 

Construction 

Sandwiches 

and 

W.  G.  Best  Homes  Dealer 

Steaks  -  Seafood  -  Chicken 

Office  at  Foster's  Bowl 

PHONE  762-2051                  MONTICELLO.  ILL 

PHONE  762-5726                  MONTICELLO,  ILL 

127 


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BOKA     SHOPPE 


(Cindy  and  Mary  Catlin) 


FLOWERS  AND  GIFTS  FOR  ALL  OCCASIONS 


PHONE 
762-7514 


300  SOUTH  CHARTER 
MONTICELLO.  ILLINOIS 


COMPLIMENTS  OF 


STATE  BANK  OF  BEMENT 


BEMENT,  ILLINOIS 


FDIC 


Member  F.D.I.C. 


A  FULL 

SERVICE 

BANK^ 


1  28 


BENNETT  TRUCKING 


Happy 

Centennial 

Celebration 


CISCO,  ILLINOIS 


Dale  and  Randy 


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GRAIN 
HAULING 


PHONE  669-8021 


Happy  Centennial  Celebration 


CISCO  COB  CO. 


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129 


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CONGRATULATIONS  AND  BEST  WISHES 


.^^ 


FIRST   STATE  BANK 

OF    MONTICELLO,  ILL. 


Telephone  762-2131 


MEMBER  F.D.I.C. 


A  FULL 

SERVICE 

BANK' 


■ """* ".■■>"n..niiiiiiiiiiniiiuiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuniiiiiitiiiii»mniiitiiimimmmuu, 


130 


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CONGRATULATIONS 


ILLINOIS 


POWER 


COMPANY 


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131 


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Congratulations  Cisco  on  Your  100th  Anniversary 


NORTHTOWN   BANK  OF  DECATUR 

Member  F.D.I.C. 
333  EAST  PERSHING  ROAD  PHONE  877  6000  DECATUR.  ILLINOIS  62526 


A  Bank  for  all  the  People 


WESTERMAN    SUPPLY   COMPANY 

Marion  Wes+erman 

TILE,  SAND  AND  GRAVEL,  DITCHING  CONTRACTING 
BULLDOZING,  SEPTIC  TANK  SERVICE 


PHONE  795-4977  ARGENTA,  ILLINOIS 


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1  32 


DELAND  LOCKER 
SERVICE 


Meats 
Butchering     -     Processing 


PHONE  664-3581 


DELAND,  ILLINOIS 


DELAND 
FARMERS  CO-OP 

DELAND,  ILLINOIS 

Grain  and  Lunnber 


Lumber  Company 
Phone  664-3316 


Grain  Company 
Phone  664-3321 


THE  WORLD'S  MOST 

AUTOMATIC 
iVACUUM  CLEANER! 


ART  LONG 

Authorized  Sales 

And    Service 

217  East  High 


R.  ERNIE  WILKS 

Agent 


-^-r 


w 


Residence    Phone    795-4459 

Office   Phone  877-2830 

283  EAST  PARK  STREET        ARSENTA.  ILLINOIS  62501 


THE  COUNTRY  COMPANIES 

Life  -  Health  -  Homeowners  -  Auto 
Mutual  Funds 


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1  33 


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Serving  Argenta  and  Surrounding 
Comnnuni+ies 


Sincerity       —       Dignity       —       Economy 


DAWSON  &  WIKOFF 

FUNERAL     DIRECTORS 


DECATUR    -    ARGENTA    -    MT.  ZION    -    ILLIOPOLIS    -    MT.  AUBURN    -    MAROA    -    MOWEAQUA 


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1  34 


Compliments  of 

WELDON 

WELDON  CAFE 

STATE   BANK 

Steaks  -  Shrimp  -  Chicken 

Seating   100  Plus 

Member 

Open  Friday  and  Saturday 

F.D.I.C. 

Till  8:00  P.M. 

Reservations  Welcome 

WELDON,  ILLINOIS 

PHONE  736-2256                         WELDON,  ILL. 

COMPLIMENTS 

Compliments  of 

OF 

MIKES 
BARBER  SHOP 

WELDON    CO-OP 
GRAIN  CO. 

Grain                                Seed 

v*^^' 

Drying  and  Storage 

PHONE  736-2346                        WELDON,   ILL. 

PHONE  736-2291                        WELDON,  ILL 

135 


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FREE  ESTIMATES 

WALTER'S 
UPHOLSTERY 

Full  Line  of  Fabrics  and  Vinyls 
Wallpaper  and  Drapery 

Free  Pickup  and  Delivery 


R.R.  I.  CISCO,  ILL 


PHONE  795-4570 


International  Harvester 
Sales  and  Service 

Route  48 
Oreana,  Illinois  62554 


Phones 

Decatur  Oreana 

217-423-0640  217-468-2323 


JENNINGS 
IMPLEMENT  CO. 

Sales  and  Service 


CE3 


Authorized  Oliver 
and  Minneapolis-Moline  Dealer 

Phone  678-3381 
40!  S.  WASHINGTON  ST.,  BEMENT,  ILLINOIS 


We  Appreciate  Your  Business 

DAVE  WHITE 
TRUCKING 

Phone  763-6371 
CERRO  GORDO,  ILLINOIS 


Dave,    Beverly,    Larry,    Art,    Keith,    Danny 


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1  36 


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Complimen+s  of 

Congratulations  to  the  Cisco 

Community  on  their 

B  &  D  MARKET 

Centennial  Celebration 

The  Best  Food 

• 

For  The  Best  Table 

CORN  BELT 

B 

PORK  PRODUCERS 

We  have  specialists  available  to  cook  Barbecued 

PHONE  736-2513                        WELDON,   ILL 

Pork  Chops  at  community  affairs. 

THE  VILLA 

DELBERT'S 

Pat  Taylor,  Owner 

CLOTHING 

"The  Shoppe  of  Nationally  Advertised 
Brands"  for  Ladies  and  Juniors 

Fine  Nationally  Advertised 

Apparel  for  Men  and  Boys 

Open  till  9:00  P.M. 

Wed.,  Frl.  and  Sat. 

Open  Wed.,  Fri.  and  Sat. 

Till  9:00  P.M. 

Phone  217-543-2181 

1345  VINE  ST.                              ARTHUR,  ILL 

123  S.  VINE  ST.                            ARTHUR.  ILL 

137 


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McFEETERS 


In+erna+ional  Harvester 


New  Idea 


Complete  Parts  and  Service 
Hardware 


TELEPHONE  (217)935-3151 

EAST  JUNCTION  ROUTES  10  AND  54 

CLINTON.  ILLINOIS 


TRAINOR  LIVESTOCK 
SALES 

TRAINOR  BROS.  —  Owners 


CLINTON, 
ILLINOIS 


TELEPHONE 
935-6322 


Sale  Every  Friday  Afternoon 


Champaign  Production 
Credit  Association 


WILSON  FIRESTONE 


For  All  Your  Tire  Needs 


RICHARD  D.  POLLOCK 
Assistant  Vice  President 

Telephone  762-4666 
BOX  207,  MONTICELLO,  ILLINOIS  61856 


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Hours: 

Monday  to  Friday:  7:30  A.M.  to  5:00  P.M. 

Saturday:  7:30  A.M.  to  12:00  Noon 

Phone  762-2922 
12  NORTH  STATE  MONTICELLO.  ILL 


Myi.i...Mii  .m»ii»iiiitiitt.tit»titnimim mimniiitintiiiinu»mntitniiitiiinii..»t "■■■■"■■■■■■'■"■lllinillllltlltlHIIITIIIllllltllinmrinrtlmUl 


138 


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RON  WOLFE 
DISPOSAL  SERVICE 

Quality,  Dependable  Service 

Residential  &  Commercial 

Rock  Driveway  Maintenance 

Rock  for  Sale  Dirt  for  Sale 

Tractor  with  End  Loader  and  Blade 

Commercial  Snow  Plowing 

Equipped  to  Handle  Special  Clean-up 
Problems  of  Any  Size 

Call  for  Free  Estimates 

Office  762-3837  —  Shop  762-2231 

513  E.  LAFAYETTE  MONTICELLO,  ILL. 


McCLURE  MOTORS, 
INC. 

Telephone  762-2 1 39 
301  SO.  CHARTER  MONTICELLO,  ILL 


^ 


Chrysler  -  Dodge  -  Plymouth 
American  Motors 


Never  Buy  Another  Car  Until  You  Get  A 
Price  from  McClure! 


SEBENS  STANDARD 
SERVICE 


GORRELL'S  SERVICE 


ZEPHYR  GAS  AND 


MOTOR  OIL 


24-HOUR  TOWING  &  WRECKER  SERVICE 


Phone  762-9104 


WASHINGTON  AND  MARKET 


MONTICELLO,  ILLINOIS 


CERRO  GORDO,  ILLINOIS 


Business  Ph.  763-8501 


Home  Ph.  763-2821 


139 


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Tnna— mil  mil  till  mini  I  mil  Nil  III  B» 


COMPLIMENTS 


i.'-.a^iiiiiiiiiiiimi.iiiiiiui.iauiinr 


OF 


ieneral 


Phone  (217)  762-2151 


P.  O.  BOX  489.  MONTICELLO.  ILLINOIS 


Compliments  of 

BEMENT  GRAIN 
COMPANY 


Cerro  Gordo  Building 
and  Loan  Assn. 

Organized  in  May   1886 


Phone  217-763-3551 
CERRO  GORDO,  ILLINOIS 


A  100  CHEERS  FOR  CISCO! 

From  the  Number  One 
Diamond  Merchant 

CARSON  JEWELERS 

Who  has  sold  over  "MBBT^^^L 

6  Million  Dollars  in  Diamonds        jLm^^l^oP 


In  26  Years  in  Decatur  land 


ni't'i'""""*""""' ' "■■' 


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140 


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GISINGER  AUTO  SALES 


Telephone  217-763-2181 


302  EAST  SOUTH  STREET 


CERRO  GORDO,  ILLINOIS 


MONTICELLO  READY  MIX  CO. 


'^Quality  Concrete  for  Over  20  Years" 


Phone  762-9816 


354  WEST  MONROE  STREET 


P.O.  BOX  186 


MONTICELLO,  ILLINOIS  61856 


141 


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Complimen+s  of 

KIRKWOOD 
AUCTIONEER 


LAKE  CITY 


Compliments  and  Best  Wishes 


THE  DELAND  STATE 


BANK 


DELAND,  ILLINOIS 


Clinton  Farnn  Store 

AND 

Clinton  Radiator  Works 

Allis-Chalmers 

Phone  935-6764 

Paul  Wagner,  Owner 
1515  EAST  MAIN  ST.         CLINTON,  ILLINOIS 


JOHNSON'S  GARAGE 

Congratulates  Cisco 
On  Its  First  100  Years 


WILFRED 
&  EDNA 


BEST 
WISHES 


IIIIITtHII'IM""""""""""""""""""""""""""" 


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142 


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Armsworth 
Appliance 

^MAYTAG  HIS  A 

^^^^^V    AUTOMATIC  WASHEHS  AND  OnVMS  HI      VlL^B^^iliv       H 


TELEVISION 


S<OX>E  Ft 


GENERAL    ELECTRIC 


PHONE  762-7121  MONTICELLO,  ILLINOIS  61856 


143 


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CONGRATULATIONS  FROM 


MEWMAM 


TELEPHONE  429-4176 


259  NORTH  WATER  STREET 


DECATUR,  ILLINOIS  62525 


MOM'S  CAPE 

Open  6:00  A.M.  to  7:00  P.M. 
Monday  thru  Saturday 

HOMEMADE  PIES 


PHONE  795-4731 


ARGENTA,  ILLINOIS 


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144 


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WARREN    MARTIN   AUCTION    CO. 


WARREN  MARTIN 


Auctioneers 
Real  Estate  Appraisers 


Phone  217-935-3245 


LARRY  MARTIN 


701  SOUTH  GRANT 


CLINTON,  ILLINOIS 


E.  T.  ALLEN  and  SONS 


Road  Oil  and  Asphalt 


PHONES:  486-2101  —  486-5931  —  486-5571 


ILLIOPOLIS,  ILLINOIS 


iiiTiiiu]iiiiiimi»iiiiiriiitiirniiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiirinititit;'""""""""""""*'^""""'"iffi 


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145 


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Edwards 
Fertilizers 


are  proud  to  be  a  part  of  Cisco 
in  their  lOOth  year 


itvit.m.mt.».».i»t.mti»>inniiitm,.ti,.i.m..».»...Mi....i.in.iii.ii.».i.iH»itmt .t.iM.,uuiitiiiityiiu,||uiajattiMiruituiriiiiuiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiniiiriniiiiiii"»miiiiiiuiiitiiiinniniiiiiiiiiiiriiiriiiiiiiiiii>iiiiHii^^ 


146 


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COMPLIMENTS  OF 


BETZER'S 


JimlAiilm^ 


HARDWARE 


CERRO  GORDO.  ILLINOIS 


Reliable  Prescription  Service 

at 

RAYCRAFT 
PHARMACY 

J.  A.  Raycraft,  R.  Ph. 


PHONE  IblAlbb 


MONTICELLO,  ILL. 


OSBORNE 
MACHINE  &  WELD 

Repair  and  Fabrication 


PHONE  795-4716 

2  Miles  South  and  2  Miles  East  of  Argenta 
R.R.  I,  ARGENTA,  ILLINOIS 


BODY  REPAIRING 

BEAR  FRAME  AND  FRONT  END 
ALIGNMENT  SERVICE 

PAINTING  WELDING 

WRECK  REBUILDING 

GLASS  INSTALLATION 


Pankau  Body  Shop 

PHONE  762-2851  MONTICELLO.  ILL 


IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIB1IIIIIIIII ^Iil 


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""" .^— .... 


147 


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Compliments  to  the  Village  of  Cisco 
on  their  Centennial 


» 


PRESENT   BANK    REMODELED   IN    1957 


Serving  The  Community^  Since  1887 


The  Gerber  State  Bank 

Argenta,  Illinois 


■.»iMitMii..». '■Mit.iM...»iiMiirtiiiiiirtrtiiriiiniimmiuniiuiiiiiiiiumuuii 


■■■■■■■ » ■»■»■■ ■■.■■■.■■i|.i - »iiiiii»MuiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMtiiiiritiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiimiirtiiiiiimiiiuiiiiinriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiim«miaummmi 


1  48 


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U.  S.  POSTAL  SERVICE  IN  CISCO 


SINCE  JUNE  II.  1874 


JACKIE  L.  FLOYD,  Postmaster 


MILDRED  F.  PIRTLE.  Clerk 


RITA  R.  HATFIELD.  Clerk 


JAMES  A.  GIESLER.  Rural  Carrier 


EARL  WRIGHT 

PHONE  669-818! 
CISCO,  ILLINOIS 


LP  GAS 


PIATT  COUNTY  SERVICE  COMPANY 

A  Farmer  Owned  Service 

PHONES:  762-2133,  678-55! !  MONTICELLO,  ILLINOIS 


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149 


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COMPLIMENTS 
OF 

THE  PINK  LADY 
LAUNDEREHE 

WEST  OF  SQUARE  ON  WASHINGTON 
MONTICELLO,  ILLINOIS 

ECONOMY  DRY-CLEANING  DONE  BY 
ATTENDANT 

SELF-SERVICE  LAUNDROMAT 

SOFT  WATER 


GO 

GAMBLES 

Dwaine  and  Beverly  Merriman 


Phone  762-4376 
1 13  SOUTH  STATE  ST.        MONTICELLO,  ILL. 


Congratulations  Cisco 

On  Your 

Anniversary 


BECKHART 
REAL  ESTATE 

Phone  762-7532 
MONTICELLO.  ILLINOIS 


GUCKER'S 
DRUG  STORE 


MONTICELLO,  ILLINOIS 


a 


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1  50 


DON  MORR 

EQUIPMENT  CO. 

ifTff\ 

1 

HICK5CA5 

Allis-Chalmers 
Sales  and  Service 

HICKSGAS 

1  MILE  NORTH  ROUTE  36  AND 
COUNTY  LINE  ROAD 

MONTICELLO 

R.R.  No.  1 

Phone:  LaPlace                               Oakley,  Illinois 
217-677-4591                               Address:  R.R.  1 

MONTICELLO,  ILLINOIS 

• 

Complinnents  of 

WILBUR'S  ELECTRIC 

JAMES  C.CLODFELTER 
Agent 

&  HEATING,  INC. 

Phone  762-2140 

STAti    IIBM 
INSUDANCI 

R.R.  No.  1 

AUTO    - 

LIFE    - 

-    HEALTH 

MONTICELLO,  ILLINOIS 

HOME  and  BUSINESS 

• 

1 1 2  North  Charter  Street                         Phone 

Monticello,  Illinois                              762-5116 

151 


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COMPLIMENTS 
OF 


DALE  &  GINNY'S 
CAFE 


AND 


DALE'S  TEXACO 


MONTICELLO,  ILLINOIS 


Wilkinsons  Building 

Center  and 
Concrete  Service 


Phone  762-2526 


MONTICELLO.  ILLINOIS 


BRINTLINGERS 
FUNERAL  HOME 

Upgraded 
24-Hour  Ambulance  Service 


Phone  763-222! 


CERRO  GORDO,  ILLINOIS 


CHELNETT  OIL  CO. 


Automotive  Repair  Work 
Brake  and  Wheel  Balancing  Service 


Gasoline 


Oils 


Lubrication 


Phone  762-8106 

FOREST  PRESERVE  PARKWAY 

MONTICELLO,  ILLINOIS 


152 


uuimiiiimiiiiiimiiiiiiiMuiiiiiiiiimiuiiniiiiiiiinuuiiiiiiiiiJiiiiiiimiiiiimiuiimm.niiiiiimmmuiiiiiM       wrnw ""Piniiiiiiiri,,miiii iiiiiiiiiTTiiimriTiiiMiifrriiiiLiimiiiiiiumiiiimt 

PAcheitd  S.  Davidson 

Agent 

THE  COUNTRY  COMPANIES 

Life  -  Health  -  Homeowners  -  Auto  -  Mutual  Funds 

RESIDENCE  PHONE  762-3641  910  SOUTH  BUCHANAN 

OFFICE  PHONE  762-2173  MONTICELLO,  ILLINOIS 


Lawson  Clinton  Mowers  Kohler 

MclNTOSH  IMPLEMENT  CO. 

Tractor  and  Implement  Salvage 

Telephone  762-3987 
ROUTE  47,  R.F.D.  2,  MONTICELLO,  ILLINOIS 

LAWN  AND  GARDEN  TRACTORS 
Cub  -  Cub  Cadets  Toro  Massey-Ferguson 


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iitiiiiiiiiiitiirniiiinrmiiimmia^^^— uuM ■— — ^^^^^m— Bmamii ^ 


1  53 


WARREN  CLARK 


BARBER 


CISCO,  ILLINOIS 


KAISER 

AGRICULTURAL 

CHEMICALS 


<^^^' 


PHONE 
664-3324 


DELAND 
ILLINOIS 


MADDEN  &  TRIGG 
AGENCY 


PHONE 
664-3397 


DELAND 
ILLINOIS 


6 

8 
8 

8 
1 


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1  54 


I 


Congratulations  To  Our  Friends  in  Cisco  in  Their 


lOOth  Yeai 


COUNTRY  CHARM  DAIRY  BAR 


Bob  Millei 


FORD 


MERCURY 


STROHL  FORD,  INC. 


206  SOUTH  MARKET 
MONTiCELLO,  ILLINOIS 


Leasing 


Recreational  Vehicles 


Trucks 


1  55 


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Congratulations  to  Cisco 

MclNNES  FLOWER 
SHOP 

107  WEST  MAIN  —  THE  RED  DOOR 
MONTICELLO,  ILLINOIS 

Phone  2 1 7-762-2 1 77 


"'Biw"mfli"'H'nj'r" i""'TTr*T* 


BILL  HAYES  T.V. 

Phone  762-5944 
818  S.  MARKET  ST.  MONTICELLO.  ILL. 


Admiral  -  Phiico 
Magnavox  -  Motorola 

and 

Norge  Appliances 


Dairii 
Queen 


brazier, 

MONTICELLO  DAIRY  QUEEN 

(On  the  Square) 
MONTICELLO.  ILLINOIS 

Gore/  and  Karen  Spainhour 


Best  Wishes  for  a 
Successful  Centennial 


L  S.  "LOUIE"  FOLTZ 


PIAH  COUNTY  TREASURER 


«■■»■»  nil  ■.imi.niniHtHinn 


1  56 


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PLANT 


1 


HYBRID 

SEED  CORN 


BO-JAC  HYBRID  CORN  CO 


WE'LL  CALL  ON  YOU! 


Z\  HENRY  G.  "Hank"  DYSON 


Phone  217-762-2009 
501  EAST  WASHINGTON  MONTICELLO,  ILLINOIS  61856 

SHAKLEE  CORPORATION  •  Member  Firm  of  Direct  Selling  Association 


HAIL  TO  CISCO 


Greetings  from  one  oldtimer  to  another.  Actually  we 
got  going  a  few  years  before  you  did.  For  us  it  was  1865. 
Day  after  day,  every  day  since  that  time,  we  have 
searched  the  court  house  records  to  discover  what  deeds, 
mortgages,  and  other  legal  instruments  have  been  re- 
corded that  day,  who  has  divorced  whom,  who  has  gone 
bankrupt,  who  is  being  sued,  what  property  is  being  fore- 
closed, etc.  The  list  is  a  long  one.  We  incorporate  this 
voluminous  material  into  our  records  and  thus  keep  books 
on  every  piece  of  real  estate  in  Piatt  County.  After  more 
than  a  century  our  records  have  become  priceless. 

Some  people  don't  understand  why  we  do  all  this  but 
the  answer  is  simple.  If  you  are  buying  a  house  you  want 
to  be  sure  the  seller  who  expects  to  collect  your  hard 
earned  money  really  owns  the  place  and  that  no  one  else 


has  a  claim  against  it.  We  type  up  a  summary  of  all  that 
has  happened  to  the  property  for  review  by  the  attorney 
representing  you,  the  buyer,  and  the  attorney  repre- 
senting the  lender  in  case  you  need  a  mortgage.  If  the 
title  is  good  the  sale  goes  through  and  the  loan  is 
made.  If  there  are  holes  in  the  title  the  deal  must  be 
delayed  until  the  holes  are  patched  up.  If  it  turns  out 
they  can't  be  patched,  your  attorney  warns  you  and  you 
call  off  the  deal.  At  one  time  or  another  we  suppose  the 
security  of  every  title  in  Piatt  County  has  depended  in 
part  on  the  accuracy  of  our  title  searches. 

Cisco  and  our  company  have  been  around  for  a  long 
time  but  it  has  been  a  glorious  experience.  We  have 
lived  in  the  golden  age  of  history  for  no  other  generation 
ever  had  it  so  good.  We  hope  and  expect  that  the  next 
century  will  be  even  better. 


KAISER  ABSTRACT  COMPANY 


110  NORTH  CHARTER  STREET 


MONTICELLO,  ILL.  61856 


157 


Centennial  Greetings 


VETERANS  OF  FOREIGN  WARS 
Piatt  County  Post  5346 


COMPLIMENTS  OF 


NEELY 
Pontiac-American  Motors 

1955  EAST  PERSHING  ROAD  DECATUR,  ILLINOIS 


158 


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PIATT  COUNTY  SAVINGS  & 
LOAN  ASSN. 


<^^ 


Phone  762-2971 


MONTICELLO,  ILLINOIS  61856 


J.  R.  HEATH  &  SON   CO. 


John  Deere  Farm  Implements  and  Repairs 


MONTICELLO,  ILLINOIS 


Sales  and  Service 


© 


PHONE  (217)  762-2534 


iiHiMmiitninHMtti..t.»tmttimiit.m»m« 


IIIIIIIIIIIMI^IIlllItt"""""""""""""""""""""""'""'"""""'"""""""""""""'"'""""""" 


1  59 


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Congratulations  to  Cisco  on  this  Happy  Centennial  Year! 

CORWIN  KINGSTON  INSURANCE 

AGENCY 

Complete  Insurance  Service 

PHONE  736-2519  WEIDON,  ILLINOIS 


Ashland 

ASHLAND  CHEMICAL  COMPANY 

Division  of  Ashland  Oil,  Inc. 

INDUSTRIAL  CHEMICAL  AND  SOLVENTS  DIVISION 

PHONE  (217)  795-4911 
P.  O.  BOX  70  ARGENTA.  ILLINOIS  62501 

1  60 


COMPLIMENTS 

OF 

BUD'S  PLUMBING 

AND  HEATING 

HAMILTON 

AGRI-BUILDERS,  INC. 

• 

BUTLER  BUILDERS 

<#. 

Phone  763-8941 

2 1 5  EAST  SOUTH  ST.       CERRO  GORDO,  ILL 

CERRO  GORDO,  ILLINOIS 

Complimen+s 

AVIS  CERAMICS 

of 

CISCO,  ILLINOIS 

CONLEY  CABINET 

Greenware                   Glazes 

SHOP 

Classes                Gifts 

• 

Everyone  We/come 

CERRO  GORDO,  ILLINOIS 

PHONE  669-3201                       AVIS  BENNETT 

161 


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COMPLIMENTS  OF 

COTTON'S  HARDWARE  MART 

For  All  Your 

Hardware^  Farm,  Yard  and  Gardening  Needs 

NOTARY  BOTTLE  GAS 

HAROLD  "COTTON"  KAUFMAN 
Owner  and  Manager 

PHONE  795-2223  ARGENTA,  ILLINOIS 


THE  KITCHEN  SHOP 

WALT  QUERY,  JR. 

Custom  Furniture  and  Wood  Working 

Kitchens,  Vani+ys,  Formica  Work 


PHONE  795-4737  ARGENTA,  ILLINOIS 


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1  62 


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.IIIIIIUIIIIIIIIIU 


MERCURY 


LINCOLN 


PERRY  THOMAS 
DECATUR  LINCOLN-MERCURY,  INC. 

"The  Home  of  the  Cat" 

Telephone  (2 1 7)  877-3  1 02 
1705  EAST  PERSHING  ROAD  DECATUR,  ILLINOIS  62526 


"Shop  Us  First  —  Shop  Us  Last  —  But  Shop  Us" 


Golden 
Harvest 


THORP  SEED  CO. 
Field  Seeds  and  Seed  Cleaning 


Phone  217-935-2171 


Hybrid  Seed  Corn        rural  route  3 


CLINTON,  ILLINOIS  61727 


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Roosevelt  National  Investment  Co. 


MUTUAL  FUNDS 


*  ♦ 

******* 


Donald  Huisinga 

Residence  Phone  762-4101 
Office  Phone         664-3422 


DELAND 


ILLINOIS 


Roosevelt  National  Investnnent  Co. 

MUTUAL  FUNDS 


******* 

*  *   * 

**  * 

*  * 

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Ellis  E.  "Bud"  Leischner 

Residence  Phone  664-3373 
Office  Phone         664-3422 


**  *  ** 


DELAND 


ILLINOIS 


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GENE  &  JAC  S 
BI-RITE 


MONTICELLO,  ILLINOIS 


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COMPLIMENTS 


OF 


MONTICELLO  AUTO 
SUPPLY 


Phone  762-2911 


313  WEST  MAIN  ST.  MONTICELLO,  ILL 


DIGHTON 
REAL  ESTATE 

JOHN  T.  DIGHTON 
Realtor 

JOANNE  SHIFFER 
Associate 


MONTICELLO,  ILLINOIS 


POLINGHOLTZ 
CHEVROLET  CO. 

For  Better  Service 


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BRIDGE  STREET  ROAD 
MONTICELLO,  ILLINOIS 


762-2158         —         Phones 


762-2 1 59 


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GSCfX 
mid  BUSTERS 

HAVE  THE  REPUTATION 
FOR  PRODUCING 

YIELDS 


CHAMPAIGN  COUNTY 
SEED  CO. 

ST.  JOSEPH,  ILLINOIS  61873 


IRA  M.  McCartney 

Dealer 


Congratulations  fronn 

HARRY  APPELBAUM  STORE 
Men's  and  Boys'  Clothiers 


PHONE  429-4294 
628-632  EAST  ELDORADO  ST.  DECATUR.  ILLINOIS  62523 


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ISBELL 
CONSTRUCTION  CO. 

Bridge  Building 
Dredging  and  Ditch  Cleaning 

Concrete  Work  For 

Farms 

Residential 

Commercial 

Sidewalks 

Driveways 


PHONE  669-8631 


CISCO,  ILLINOIS 


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HATFIELDS 

Used  Cars  and  Trucks 

All  Makes  and  Models 
SPECIALIZING  IN 

Compact  Cars 
and  Pickup  Trucks 


PHONE  669-8541 


CISCO.  ILLINOIS 


HERALD  E.  SWARTS 

C.  O.  FUNK  &  SON 

General  Carpenter 

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and 

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Spray  Painting 

T 

RACTOR 

S 

TRUCKS 

• 

PARTS 

SERVICE 

PHONE  669-8891                    CISCO.  ILLINOIS 

125  W.  BODMAN  ST.          BEMENT.  ILLINOIS 

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CHAPMAN  AGENCY 

Your 
Independent  Insurance  Agent 

INSURANCE  COUNSEL 
EXPERIENCED  -  DEPENDABLE 


TEL  763-4001 


CERRO  GORDO.  ILL 


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Montgomery's 

WESTERN  AUTO 
ASSOCIATE  STORE 

Auto  Supplies 

Radios  and  Television 

Appliances 

Bicycles  and  Sporting  Goods 

Electrical  and  Plumbing  Supplies 

Paint  and  Hardware 

MONTICELLO.  ILLINOIS 


COMPLIMENTS 
OF 


VAN  HORN  HYBRIDS 

"Your  Complete  Farm  Center" 


CERRO  GORDO,  ILLINOIS 


Compliments  of 

Piatt  County 

Republican  Central 

Committee 

Willow  Branch  Township  Committeemen 
Larry  Edwards  Richard  Skagenberg 

Always  Vote 
The  Straight  Republican  Ticket 


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ROBEY'S  VANCO 


PHONE  795-2012 


ARGENTA.  ILLINOIS 


Happy 
100th  Anniversary 


MARY  A.  SHAW 

County  Clerk 


PIATT  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS 


CLOYD  S  FOOD 
CENTER 


We  Specialize 
In  U.S.D.A.  Choice  Meat 


OREANA,  ILLINOIS 


JORDAN'S 
BARBER  SHOP 


1 10  EAST  WASHINGTON  STREET 


MONTICELLO,  ILLINOIS 


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G.  K.  ROLOFSON 
GARAGE 

Official  Truck  Inspection  Station 
24-Hour  Towing  Service 


Argen+a  Pool  Hall 

and 

Custard  Ice  Cream 


PHONE  795-2 1 1 7  ARGENTA.  ILLINOIS 


HAP  AND  STAN  PROPST 


PHONE  795-8982 


ARGENTA,  ILL 


COMPLIMENTS  OF 

WILLOUGHBY 
IMPLEMENT  CO. 


John  Deere 


Quality  Farm  Equipnnent 


CERRO  MIX,  INC. 
POWELL  REDI  MIX 

3380  EAST  WELLES 
DECATUR,  ILLINOIS 


PHONE  543-2132 


ARTHUR,  ILL 


Decatur  Office 
Phone  428-3694 


Cerro  Gordo  Plant 
Phone  763-63 1 3 


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COMPLIMENTS 


OF 


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BURGESS  &  CLINE 


INSURANCE 


MONTICELLO 


ILLINOIS 


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Compliments  of 

MONTICELLO  GRAIN 
CO. 

Since   1903 

Elevators  at 

Monticello  -  Seymour  -  Amenia 

Lark  Siding 


PHONE  762-2163 


MONTICELLO,  ILL 


L  F.  PORTER 
CONSTRUCTION  CO, 


Phone  762-7314 


1 14  EAST  MAIN  ST. 


MONTICELLO,  ILLINOIS 


KNAPP  SHOES 

The  shoe  built  for  comfort  and  support. 
Made  from  top  grain  leather  only.  The  shoe 
with  a  reputation  for  dress,  casual,  work, 
safety,  bowling,  golfing,  Insulated  and 
water  proof. 

Widths  AAA  to  EEEE 

Sizes  2  to  18 

ED  HARDWICK 

Phone  669-8001 
P.O.  BOX  52,  CISCO,  ILLINOIS  61836 


171 


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BEVERLY  R.  BRUMS 

Insurance  Planning  Consultant 


THE  BANKERS  LIFE  ® 


BANKERS   LIFE   COMPANY        DES   MOINES,   IOWA 


Life     -     Hospitalization    -     Keogh     -     Annuities 

Pensions  Group  Life 

Hospitalization  with  Major  Medical 


Congratulations 


To  Our  Friends 


in  Cisco 
* 


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ABBOTT  ;S;FORAN 


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<     ■~^-' OFFSET  LITHOGRAPHY  ANO  PRINTING.- 

•       TELEPHONE      8  77-4491       •      247  5      NORTH      BROADWAY       •       DECATUR,      ILLINOIS 


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UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOISURBANA 
977  3673C497C  cm 

CISCO.  ILLINOIS,  18741974  CISCO,  ILL 


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