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LIBRARY  OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

AT  URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 


977.366 
P97c 


E. 


^J^lstoru    of     VVlalioniet 


MAHOMET  METHODIST  CHURCH 

CENTENNIAL 
1955 


ISABELLE  S.  PURNELL 


1855  CENTENNIAL  YEAR 

THE  METHODIST  CHURCH 


1955 


MAHOMET,  ILLINOIS 


Pastor— Rev.  Selden  L.  Myers 

District  Superintendent — Rev.  Leland  L.  Lawrence,  D.D. 

Bishop — Charles  Wesley  Brashares,  S.T.B.,  D.D.,  LL.D. 


FOREWORD 


This  history  of  the  Mahomet  Methodist  Church  is  being  published  in 
conjunction  with  the  Centennial  Celebration,  1855-1955. 

Much  research  has  been  done  in  records  and  books  of  history  which 
have  included  the  secretary's  records  of  various  organizations,  treasurer's 
books,  legal  abstracts,  altlases,  as  well  as  newspapers,  scrap  books,  and  other 
sources.  Older  citizens  of  the  town  and  former  residents  have  been  very 
helpful  in  checking  letters,  diaries,  etc. 

In  the  beginning,  the  committee  planned  to  write  only  a  history  of  the 
Methodist  Church,  but  as  more  and  more  time  was  spent  rereading  all  of 
the  materials,  the  relationship  of  the  church  to  the  community  and  its 
organizations  became  more  evident.  Life  in  rural  communities  is  so  closely 
knit  that  it  seemed  impossible  to  write  the  story  of  the  church  without 
including  the  history  of  the  town,  its  organizations,  institutions,  and  their 
development. 

Space  does  not  permit  us  to  give  credit  to  the  many  persons  who  have 
assisted  with  this  book,  but  we  do  appreciate  the  help  of  all  who  have  made 
this  publication  possible.  Special  recognition  goes  to  Mrs.  Louise  Purnell 
Jones  who  has  served  as  proofreader.  Those  who  assisted  with  the  adver- 
tising section  were  Mesdames  Florence  Weatherford,  Besse  Miller,  Melvin 
Miller,  Ernest  Turner,  Harold  Sloan,  and  Maurice  Abraham. 

Mention  is  made  within  the  pages  of  this  book  of  all  the  current 
business  and  professional  people  in  Mahomet  who  have  contributed  financi- 
ally to  the  publication  of  this  book.  For  their  help  we  wish  to  give  them 
this  special  recognition. 

Isabelle  S.  Purnell,  Editor 


f11 


(^  Table  of  Contents 

Page 

I.  History  of  the  Mahomet  Methodist  Church 

1.  The  Old  Church   1855-1895  1 

2.  The  New  Church  1895-1955  10 

II.  The  Town  of  Mahomet 

1.  Early  History  of  the  Town  35 

2.  Roadways,  Bridges,  Etc 39 

3.  Churches 

^r  Bethel  M.  E.  Church  42 

^  Mahomet  Baptist  Church    42 

^-y  Shiloh   Methodist   Church   44 

^jV  Presbyterian  Church  45 

United  Brethren  Church  46 

Church  of  the  Nazarene  46 

4.  Cemeteries    47 

5.  Schools    47 

6.  Organizations 

Senior  Woman's   Club   50 

Mahomet  Town  and  Country  Club  50 

Mahomet  Farm  Bureau  Unit  50 

Mahomet  Home  Bureau  Unit  50 

Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  51 

Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution  51 

The  American  Legion  Post  1015  51 

The  American  Legion  Auxiliary  of  Post  1015  51 

Masonic  Lodge  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  220  51 

Mecca  Chapter,  No.  901,  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star  52 

The  Pacific  Encampment  No.  126,  I.  O.  O.  F 52 

Rebekah  Lodge  No.  417  52 

Mahomet  Community  Boosters  Club  52 

Boy  Scouts  and  Cub  Scouts  53 

Girl  Scouts  and  Brownies  53 

7.  Activities 

Fourth  of  July  54 

Mahomet  Fall  Festival  or  Carnival  54 

Farmers  Picnic  56 

Chautauqua   56 

8.  Early    Residences    53 

^  9.  Supervisors    58 

^  10.  Mahomet  Fire   Department  58 

/  11.  Humorous  or  Unusual  Incidents  58 

P^  III.  Business  Houses  of  Mahomet 

\^  1.  Abbott's  Hall  60 

'\  2.  Abbott's  Wagon  Shop  60 

^  3.  Bakeries    61 

y^  4.  Banks  61 

5    ^'         5.  Barber  and  Beauty  Shops  62 

X  ~'  6.  Blacksmith  Shops  62 

y  V  7.  Brick  Yards,  Concrete  Products,  Gravel  Pits  63 

K    '^         8.  Buggy  and  Harness  Shops  65 

»  "^  9.  Contractors  and  Construction  Workers  65 

l/  ^       10.  Doctors  and  Dentists  66 

^        11.  Dressmakers    67 


12.  Drug  Stores   67 

13.  Dry    Goods    67 

14.  Feed  Stores  69 

15.  Garages   '• 69 

16.  Gasoline  Service  Stations  and  Trucks  70 

17.  Grain    Elevators    71 

18.  Grocery  Stores  and  Meat  Markets  72 

19.  Hardware    Stores    73 

20.  Livery  Stables  73 

21.  Lumber  Mills  and  Yards  74 

22.  Newspaper    74 

23.  Millinery  Shops  75 

24.  Mills  75 

25.  Plumbing  and  Heating  76 

A         26.  Post  Office  and  Postal  Employees  77 

27.  Repair  Shops  77 

28.  Restaurants    77 

29.  Rooming  Houses  78 

30.  Shelling  78 

31.  Taverns   78 

32.  Telephone  Service   79 

33.  Theatres    81 

34.  Undertakers    81 

35.  Veterinarians   82 

36.  Miscellaneous    82 

37.  Recreation  Enterprises    83 

IV.  Colorful  Glimpses  of  the  Past  as  seen  through  old  Nevi'spapers 

1.  Items  from  the  Sucker  State  84 

2.  Items  from  the  News  Gazette  87 

3.  Receipts  87 

4.  Newcomb  Township  87 

V.  Champaign-Urbana  Advertisers 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MAHOMET  METHODIST  CHURCH  1855-1955 


X  HE  old  records  of  the  Mahomet  Methodist  Church  were  destroyed 
when  the  parsonage  burned  in  1916  so  all  early  history  is  drawn  from 
newspaper  clippings,  letters,  and  recollections  from  the  older  members  and 
former  residents  of  Mahomet. 

We  find  in  one  of  the  early  histories  of  the  county  (1866)  this  para- 
graph: "On  the  west  of  Champaign  lay  Middletown,  which  was  an  old  town 
and  was  early  visited  by  Methodist  ministers  [in  those  days  called  circuit 
riders].  Middletown  was  connected  most  of  the  time  with  some  western 
circuit;  and  it  is  most  probable  that  it  was  Bloomington  or  Waynesville.  In 
later  years  it  was  connected  with  Monticello  and  Mount  Pleasant  [now 
Farmer  City]." 

It  is  known  that  the  Methodists  of  Middletown  (now  Mahomet)  had 
organized  a  class  at  an  early  date,  probably  in  the  1830's,  and  were 
occasionally  visited  by  the  circuit  riders  of  that  period.  From  1843  to  1855 
Middletown  belonged  to  the  Monticello  circuit.  In  1855,  the  Middletown 
circuit  was  organized,  and  embraced  all  of  the  Sangamon  settlements  in  the 
county.  The  Middletown  circuit  originally  extended  from  Fisher  to  Center- 
ville.    A  house  of  worship  was  completed  in  1856. 

In  his  memoirs  written  in  1906  Robert  Fisher  recorded:  "In  1848,  we 
moved  on  a  farm  father  bought,  one  and  one-half  miles  east  of  Mahomet, 
Champaign  County,  Illinois,  into  a  three-room  house  where  he  commenced 
having  meetings  as  there  was  no  schoolhouse  or  church  to  hold  meetings  in. 
He  continued  about  three  years  before  a  place  could  be  had  in  town.  Father 
helped  organize  the  Mahomet  Circuit  in  1852,  and  then  started  a  subscription 
for  the  Mahomet  Church  which  was  the  first  Methodist  one  built  on  the 
Sangamon  River  above  Monticello." 

The  first  mention  of  "Methodists"  in  this  vicinity  is  made  in  the 
autobiography  of  Peter  Cartwright,  "The  Backwoods  Preacher,"  who  relates 
that  in  the  1830's  he  made  a  trip  from  his  home  in  Pleasant  Plains,  near 
Springfield,  Illinois,  to  the  headwaters  of  the  Sangamon,  holding  meetings 
in  the  homes  of  the  settlers.  One  of  the  pioneers,  "Aunt  Jane"  Davis,  told 
that  Peter  Cartwright  came  to  Middletown,  and  that  she  attended  a  meeting 
held  in  the  home  of  her  sister,  Mrs.  Dr.  Smither.  (This  is  believed  to  be 
about  two  miles  north  of  the  high  school  on  what  is  now  known  as  the 
Henry  Wilson  Farm.) 

Mrs.  Nellie  May  Kilgore  writes  information  taken  from  the  notes 
in  the  old  family  Bible  owned  and  carried  by  Uncle  John  Kilgore  and 
still  in  her  possession — "When  the  first  Methodist  Church  was  oi'ganized  in 
Mahomet,  there  were  but  a  few  families  in  this  community,  and  the  services 
had  been  held  in  the  cabin  of  John  C.  Kilgore,  who  frequently  acted  as  the 
minister  and  led  the  singing.  One  hundred  years  ago,  Thomas  Davidson 
Wiley  Davis,  Sr.,  and  John  C.  Kilgore  organized  and  built  the  first  church, 
along  with  several  other  early  settlers.  The  lumber  came  from  a  saw  mill 
located  about  one-half  mile  west  of  the  Riverside  Cemetery  on  the  old 
Kilgore  farm." 

The  First  Methodist  Church  was  built  in  Middletown  in  1855,  and 
stood  originally  on  Lots  38  and  39  of  the  C.  C.  Hawes  Addition,  now  the  site 
of  the  Mrs.  W.  G.  Babb  residence. 

This  church  rested  upon  ten  large  boulders,  all  of  which  have  been 
removed  except  one  which  was  at  the  northwest  corner  of  the  church 
building  and  can  be  seen  there  today.     Two  boulders  were  removed  several 


Aunt  Jane  and  Uncle  Wiley  Davis 


years  ago  to  what  was  known  as  the  Ford  property.  These,  through  the 
courtesy  of  Guy  Warner  and  Elbert  Morrison,  have  recently  been  moved  to 
the  church  lawn  and  have  been  made  into  a  lawn  seat.  Also,  some  of  the 
bricks  from  the  chimney  in  the  original  house  and  stones  from  the  farm 
where  Peter  Cartwright  conducted  the  first  services  have  been  set  up  as  a 
memorial  on  the  church  lawn.  Two  other  boulders  were  moved  to  the  Paul 
Jones  property.  When  they  were  removing  the  boulders,  Mr.  "Andy"  Hyatt 
noticed  something  shiny  under  the  one  large  boulder  which  had  served  as 
the  corner  stone.  The  tin  box  which  had  housed  the  papers  and  valuables 
had  decomposed,  but  one  coin  was  shining — a  three-cent  piece  dated  1853 
which  no  doubt  was  the  year  that  construction  was  begun.  (Mrs.  Bessie 
Hyatt  has  this  coin  in  her  possession  today.) 


■'"."^^'^Wj. 


Sketched  by  Carolita  Kroner  Turner 
2 


The  church  building  faced  south.  It  had  no 
tower,  spire,  bell,  or  vestibule.  The  building  was 
between  sixty  and  seventy  feet  in  length,  perhaps 
twenty-five  or  thirty  feet  wide,  and  had  two  front 
doors,  one  on  each  side,  the  reason  being  that  in  those 
days  women  occupied  one  side  of  the  church,  and  men 
the  other.  The  seats  were  straight  and  uncomfortable 
with  a  railing  in  the  center.  There  were  shorter  seats 
on  either  side  of  the  side  aisles.  Three-Cent  Piece 

Heat   was  supplied  by  two  large   wood   stoves, 
one   on    either   side      Those  were   the   days   of   wood-cutting   and   hanging 
kerosene  lamps.     As   one  entered   the   church,   there  was   a   large   library 
against  the  wall  between  the  two  doors.     A  platform  extended  across  the 
front  of  the  church. 

Following  are  excerpts  from  a  newspaper  clipping  taken  from  Estelle 
Ford's  scrap  book,  now  in  the  possession  of  Isabelle  Purnell: 

Reunion  of  Middletown  Circuit  September  7,  1882 

The  first  annual  reunion  of  the  pastors  of  the  Middletown  circuit  of 
the  M.  E.  Church  was  held  at  the  Big  Springs  (now  Art  Busch's  pasture) 
last  Thursday.  There  were  not  as  many  old  pioneer  preachers  present  as 
was  expected,  but  those  who  could  not  attend  sent  their  regrets,  with  many 
kind  words  and  blessings.  There  was  at  least  one  thousand  persons  present, 
and  a  glorious  time  was  had  by  the  old  gray-haired  church  members  as  they 
talked  and  cried  over  their  early  struggles  in  trying  to  establish  what  is 
today  one  of  the  most  influential  circuits  of  the  M.  E.  Conference. 

Rev.  M.  D.  Hawes  of  Bloomington,  Rev.  Benjamin  Bartholow  of  Cisco, 
Rev.  Calhoun  of  Farmer  City,  and  Rev.  J.  W.  Lee  of  Mahomet  made  short 
addresses.  It  was  decided  to  hold  an  annual  reunion  September  of  each 
year. 

Tlie  following  is  a  brief  history  of  the  old  Middletown  circuit  and  will 
be  of  interest  to  many  who  live  in  the  four  adjoining  counties  and  though 
given  in  mere  outline  will  be  filled  up  by  the  older  readers  of  this  paper  with 
remarkable  incidents  and  christian  experiences. 

The  Middletown  circuit  was  organized  in  the  year  1855  from  the  old 
Monticello  circuit,  which  formerly  embraced  what  now  forms  a  large  part 
of  Champaign  and  Bloomington  Districts.  Those  instrumental  in  securing 
the  organization  of  the  Middletown  circuit  were  James  W.  Fisher,  B.  F. 
Harris,  John  C.  Kilgoie,  and  Hezekiah  Phillippe.  It  was  in  the  Danville 
District  with  Rev.  Amos  R.  Garner  as  pastor  in  charge.  The  first  year  of 
separate  organization  was  one  of  prosperity.  The  church  building  and 
parsonage  at  Middletown  was  begun  and  completed  the  next  year. 

In  1856,  Rev.  C.  Y.  Hecox  was  pastor,  under  whose  charge  the  circuit 
greatly  prospered.  This  was  the  year  of  great  revivals  throughout  the 
United  States,  and  this  circuit  shared  very  largely  in  the  blessed  results. 

In  1857-58-59,  Rev.  L.  C.  Weems,  son-in-law  of  Peter  Cartwright,  was 
the  presiding  elder,  and  Rev.  C.  W.  Hecox  was  returned.  Bethel  Church 
near  the  farm  residence  of  B.  F.  Harris  was  built  in  1857,  and  the  close  of 
1859  found  the  circuit  prosperous,  over  one  hundred  conversions  having 
been  recorded. 

In  1860,  the  circuit  was  transferred  to  Bloomington  and  named  Ma- 
homet with  Rev.  William  Hindle  and  Rev.  I.  T.  Miller  preachers.  This  was 
also  a  prosperous  year.  At  the  next  conference  the  circuit  was  again  placed 
in  the  Danville  District  and  took  its  original  name,  Middletown;  with  seven 
separate  appointments  with  Rev.'s  William  Hindle  and  H.  S.  Tryon  in 
charge.     The  camp  meeting  of  this  year  was  crowned  with  blessed  results. 

In  1862,  Rev.  S.  Shinn  was  pastor  and  Rev.  F.  B.  Sale  in  charge  of  the 
work  which  prospered  finely.  In  1863,  Rev.  S.  Shinn  was  returned  in  charge 
and  Rev.  S.  C.  Abbott,  a  local  preacher,  was  employed.  In  1864,  Rev.  C.  Y. 
Hecox  and  S.  C.  Abbott  had  charge  of  the  work.  The  church  at  Pancake's 
Point  was  begun  this  year  and  was  dedicated  the  next  by  Rev.  G.  Moody 
and  named  "Shiloh." 

In  1865,  the  Champaign  District  was  formed  with  Rev.  R.  W.  Travis, 
presiding  elder;  and  Rev.'s  C.  Y.  Hecox  and  H.  S.  Tryon  had  charge  of  the 
Middletown  Circuit.    In  1866  and  1867,  the  circuit  was  served  by  Rev.'s  C.  P. 


Baldwin,  N.  S.  Buckner,  and  M.  S.  Curl.  The  Church  at  Centerville  was 
commenced  in  1866-67  by  Rev.  R.  W.  Travis.  The  church  known  as  Wesley 
Chapel  was  finished  in  '68  at  a  cost  of  $3,000.  The  year  was  very  prosperous, 
and  many  gave  their  souls  to  God.  After  twelve  years  the  old  Middletown 
circuit  was  again  divided.  Centerville  circuit  was  organized  in  1868,  in- 
cluding Centerville,  Bethel,  Hedges,  and  Argo. 

In  1869-70,  Rev.  J.  T.  Orr  assisted  by  F.  Pasco  and  J.  B.  Martin  served 
the  circuit.  In  1870,  the  church  at  Fisher  was  built  under  the  endeavors  of 
Rev.  J.  T.  Orr.  The  year  closed  with  such  prosperity  that  the  circuit  was 
again  divided,  and  in  1871  Newcomb  Circuit  was  organized. 

Thus,  in  sixteen  years  a  church  property  valued  at  over  $13,000  had 
been  secured  on  the  old  Middletown  circuit.  With  a  membership  of  800 
members,  scores  have  been  taken  to  the  home  above,  and  influences  sent 
forth  which  abide  to  this  day. 

In  the  Sucker  State  appeared  an  article  about  another  one  of  these 
reunions:  "In  August,  1888,  there  was  held  a  memorable  reunion  here  in 
Mahomet.  Services  were  held  both  morning  and  afternoon,  Rev.  H.  S.  Tryon 
and  Rev.  B.  F.  Sale  giving  the  memorial  addresses.  The  attendance  having 
increased  beyond  the  capacity  of  the  church  to  hold,  and  the  weather  being 
more  favorable,  the  people  proceeded  to  the  Grove  after  dinner.  [The  Grove 
is  where  the  Gladson  Burton  house  now  stands.] 

"At  the  conclusion  of  the  reunion,  officers  appointed  for  the  ensuing 
year  were  D.  A.  Phillippe,  president;  C.  Dyer,  secretary;  committee  of 
arrangements,  F.  B.  Sale,  David  Fisher,  W.  P.  Dick,  E.  C.  Bartholow,  and 
John  H.  Funston. 

"The  only  political  speech  of  the  day  was  delivered  by  Rev.  Horace 
Reed  of  Bloomington  who  (in  the  words  of  another)  'cast  cold  water  upon 
the  occasion  by  making  the  only  political  speech.'  " 

Mr.  Lee  Dale  says,  "I  left  Mahomet  in  the  early  1890's.  However,  I 
well  remember  attending  church  and  Sunday  school  in  the  old  building 
located  in  what  was  at  that  time  the  northeast  portion  of  the  town.  Mrs. 
Newell  was  one  of  the  teachers  of  the  primary  class.  Miss  Jennie  Pittman 
[Jennie  Sorenson]  was  another  teacher." 

Few  people  refer  to  the  old  Methodist  Church  without  remarking 
about  the  sexton,  "Uncle  John"  Morse,  father  of  Mrs.  Florence  Sackriter, 
who  was  sexton  for  over  twenty-three  years.  Mr.  Dale  says,  "The  church 
had  a  sexton  by  the  name  of  John  Morse  that  we  kids  were  scared  of.  He 
called  us  down  frequently  whenever  we  became  too  noisy  or  whispered  too 
much.  We  all  thought  him  really  hard-boiled,  but  now  I  am  satisfied  he 
was  doing  the  right  thing." 

Mr.  William  Johnson  said,  "Mrs.  Sackriter's  father,  John  Morse,  was 
the  janitor  of  this  church  as  long  as  I  could  remember,  but  when  they  built 
the  new  church  he  would  not  go  along  with  them." 

Fred  Stearns  wrote,  "There  were  the  two  Amen  corners — one  for  the 
older  women  [on  the  east  side  of  the  church]  and  one  for  the  men  [on  the 
other  side].  The  organ  faced  the  preacher,  with  the  organist's  back  to  the 
audience. 

"My  mother,  Mary  A.  Stearns,  was  organist  for  years;  then  Tillie 
Kilgore,  with  Irene  Ford  as  assistant.  Choir  members  were:  bass — Jule 
Brown,  J.  C.  W.  Pittman,  Henry  Shively,  J.  L.  Stearns,  Dan  Kilgore,  and 
Andy  Phillippe;  tenors — Jim  Starling  and  William  Neely;  sopranos — Mary 
Stearns,  Irene  Ford,  Estelle  Ford,  Minnie  Scott,  and  Mamie  Pittman;  altos — 
Jennie  Pittman,  Emma  Stearns,  and  Nellie  Kilgore.  Later  the  Women's 
Amen  Corner  was  replaced  with  a  platform  as  high  as  the  preacher's  plat- 
form for  the  choir,  and  that  is  when  Charles  Dale  was  introduced  as  cornetist 
for  the  Sunday  school  and  church  services  and  was  assisted  by  George 
McClure  with  the  alto  cornet." 

4 


S.  J.  Purnell  told  of  the  first-class  fight  over  putting  an  organ  into 
the  church,  for  it  was  believed  that  a  musical  instrument  was  of  the  devil 
and  did  not  belong  in  the  church.  Then  after  the  organ  was  finally  installed 
there  was  another  fight  as  to  who  would  play  it. 

Bessie  Raj^burn  writes:  "In  1884,  the  church  was  a  plain,  straight 
church  and  faced  the  south  with  a  board  fence  all  around  it,  with  maple 
trees  on  the  north  and  west  and  a  hitch  rack  on  the  west.  There  was  a  stile 
at  the  northwest  corner.  Nellie  Watson,  Mary  Kieffer,  and  I  used  to  play 
on  the  stiles  and  walk  the  board  fence.  Brother  and  Sister  West  were  the 
minister  and  wife.  Brother  Bischoff  held  a  revival,  and  the  church  was 
crowded  every  night.  We  used  to  walk  from  the  old  Ham  place  down  to 
church  because  it  was  too  muddy  to  drive." 

Mrs.  Ida  Binkley  Grindley  tells  us  that  she  joined  the  old  Methodist 
Church  in  1888  when  she  was  fourteen  years  old.  "When  I  was  baptized 
here  at  the  old  Methodist  Church  I  was  baptized  at  the  ford  in  the  Sangamon 
River,  and  it  was  so  low  that  I  had  to  get  down  on  my  knees  in  order  to  be 
baptized.  There  was  no  organ  in  the  church  when  I  attended;  just  singing. 
The  Honn  house  as  it  now  stands  in  the  grade  school  yard  [old  Methodist 
Church]  looks  just  like  it  used  to,  except  the  old  church  did  not  have  the 
porch  on  it,  and  the  windows  on  each  side  were  formerly  doors.  When  the 
old  building  was  moved,  it  was  sawed  in  two  so  it  is  a  few  feet  shorter  than 
when  it  was  originally  built.  The  other  part  of  the  house  M.  E.  "Nash" 
Smith  moved  to  his  property.  Uncle  Dave  and  Aunt  Emily  Pittman  always 
went  to  the  old  church.  Uncle  Dave  had  the  blacksmith  shop  and  also  re- 
paired wagons.  Aunt  Emily  was  a  real  little  lady— as  short  as  a  small  child 
and  was  quite  heavy  set.  She  always  sat  in  the  northeast  corner,  up  in  the 
Ladies  Amen  Corner.  Uncle  Dave  had  made  her  a  special  little  stool  which 
she  used  to  get  into  the  seat." 

Mrs.  Anna  Purnell  said  the  baptism  road  was  near  the  old  bridge. 
Methodists  were  baptized  at  the  river,  the  same  as  were  the  Baptists.  This 
road  runs  along  the  north  side  of  the  Geiger  house.  She  recalls  seeing 
"Brother  Simmons"  performing  baptismal  services. 

Mrs.  Purnell  remembers  a  controversy  which  arose  some  seventy 
years  ago  in  the  church.  Two  church  members,  Uncle  Wiley  Davis  and 
James  Park  had  a  dispute  over  a  land  mark  and  a  road  opening.  Uncle 
Wiley  opposed  the  petition  which  was  set  up  by  Mr.  Park  in  the  laying  out 
of  a  new  road  south  from  the  Hume  corner  (where  Wilfred  Wood  now  lives) 
to  the  present  residence  of  Leland  Dollahon.  Uncle  Wiley  (who  lived  where 
Herman  Wyatt  now  lives)  wished  the  road  to  remain  as  it  was  by  going  on 
south  following  the  ridge  past  his  residence.  Uncle  Jim  Hume  wanted  to 
join  the  church,  but  Uncle  Wiley  objected  because  they  had  had  this  dispute. 
Uncle  Wiley  also  objected  to  Jim  Park's  joining  the  church  so  Jim  picked  up 
his  hat,  walked  out  of  the  church  and  never  returned. 

In  the  summertime  the  windows  of  the  church  were  open  and  the 
horses  were  tied  at  hitch  racks  on  the  east  and  west  sides  of  the  church. 
The  horses  would  get  to  fighting  so  most  of  the  congregation  would  turn 
their  heads  to  see  if  their  horses  were  in  on  it.  The  preacher  would  stop 
talking  until  the  owner  of  horses  would  go  out  to  settle  the  fight.  Quite 
often  Mrs.  Stucky  would  come  over  from  her  home  (the  same  place  where 
Mrs.  Hyatt  now  lives)  to  see  that  the  horses  were  not  abused  as  she  was  in 
sympathy  with  the  horses  more  than  with  the  owner. 

Mrs.  Helen  Tryon  Bowditch  writes:  "The  Methodist  Church  of  Ma- 
homet is  very  dear  to  me.  I  was  born  in  the  Methodist  parsonage  when  my 
father  was  pastor,  and  my  mother  carried  me  to  Sunday  school  when  I  was 
but  one  month  old  and  laid  me  in  a  seat  while  she  taught  a  Sunday  school 


class.  When  my  father's  pastorate  ended  there  we  moved  away,  but 
returned  to  Mahomet  when  I  was  nine  years  old,  and  I  lived  there  until 
I  was  married  in  1896. 

"It  was  the  old  Methodist  Church,  and  I  can  see  it  so  clearly  in  my 
memories,  a  beautiful  lawn  with  the  parsonage  in  the  rear.  [This  parsonage 
was  later  sold  to  the  trustees  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  was  used  as 
their  manse.  Later,  it  was  the  old  James  Young  home.]  It  was  in  this 
church  that  I  gave  my  heart  to  God.  'Twas  here  that  I  taught  my  first 
Sunday  school  class  and  'twas  here  I  made  my  first  faltering  prayers  in 
public.  I  remember  so  well  my  dear  Sunday  school  teacher,  Mrs.  Clara 
Hume,  and  Anna  Pippin."  (Mrs.  Hume  and  Mrs.  Mary  B.  Caldwell  taught 
for  many  years.  A  Sunday  school  quarterly  of  Mrs.  Hume's  is  now  in  the 
possesion  of  Mrs.  Anna  Purnell,  dated  1890— subscription  price  six  cents  per 
quarter.) 


Hazel  Purnell  Burns  and  Clara  Hume 

W.  E.  Johnston  tells,  "Mrs.  Silas  'Grandma'  Purnell  had  white 
ponies,  Vic  and  Nell,  which  she  always  hitched  to  a  phaeton  and  drove  to 
church.  If  she  rode  one  pony  and  not  the  other  one,  then  the  remaining 
pony  would  jump  the  fence  and  follow.  Mrs.  Purnell  was  an  untiring 
worker  in  the  church.  They  held  big  church  dinners  and  entertained  the 
presiding  elder  [the  same  as  the  district  superintendent  of  today].  They 
spread  the  dinner  on  boards  placed  across  the  tops  of  the  seats.  There  was 
no  place  to  heat  coffee  except  to  set  the  coffee  pot  on  tpp  of  one  of  the 
heating  stoves. 

"Mahomet  used  to  be  heavily  wooded.  One  fellow  went  to  church  in 
the  winter  time  and  his  team  got  loose.  They  searched  for  his  team  in  the 
heavy  timbers  and  never  found  them  until  the  next  spring.  The  team  had 
got  caught  with  their  sled  and  could  not  get  loose  and  had  starved  to  death 
and  only  the  carcasses  were  found  in  the  timber  just  south  of  the  railroad 
tracks  on  the  west  side  of  Route  47  [West  of  Lisle  Lester's  home]. 

"Mrs.  Tom  Scott  was  a  Methodist  and  taught  small  boys.  Tom  Scott 
was  a  Baptist  and  taught  in  that  church.    Each  was  loyal  to  his  own  beliefs. 

"Johnnie  Carter  [Mrs.  Henrietta  Carter's  father-in-law]  rode  horse- 
back to  church.  Wiley  Davis  drove  a  rig;  he  let  the  women  out,  and  then 
hitched  to  the  post  which  was  next  to  the  stile  at  the  northwest  corner  of  the 
church.    He  allowed  no  one  else  to  hitch  to  his  post." 

6 


'Grandma"  Purnell  and  Vic  and  Nell 


Frank  W.  Taylor  tells  of  going  to  the  church  with  his  father  who 
innocently  tied  his  horses  to  the  first  post — next  to  the  stile  at  the  northwest 
corner.  After  church  Mr.  Taylor  could  not  lind  his  team.  Wiley  Davis, 
discovering  someone  had  tied  at  his  customary  spot,  deliberately  moved  Mr. 
Taylor's  horses,  tying  them  at  some  other  place.  This  made  the  elder  Mr. 
Taylor  angry  so  he  never  returned  to  the  church. 

Fred  Stearns  writes,  "I  can  remember  when  I  was  five  or  six  years 
old.  Mrs.  Newell  taught  us  boys  and  girls  in  the  southeast  corner  of  the 
church.  Peter  Kieffer,  who  lived  southeast  from  the  old  Ernest  Stout  place, 
was  a  worker  in  the  church.  Before  he  was  converted  he  smoked,  drank, 
gambled,  and  probably  was  considered  one  of  the  most  sinful  men  of  his 
day.  He  was  converted  in  Bischoff's  revival,  and  there  was  probably  never 
a  better  Christian  in  Mahomet  then  than  he  was.  He  taught  a  men's  class. 
One  cold  Sunday  morning  he  told  how  the  Lord  had  told  him  to  go  to 
church,  and  the  devil  had  told  him  to  stay  at  home,  and  he  said  he  had  come 
to  spite  the  devil.  One  preacher,  a  good  one,  was  West.  As  I  remember,  it 
was  during  his  pastorate  when  Bischoff  was  evangelist  and  ten  or  twelve 
boys  went  forward  and  on  probation,  then  later  they  joined  the  church. 
I  don't  know  of  a  one  living  today  but  myself.  Others  were  Preston  Carter, 
Vern  Brown,  Billy  Tryon,  etc." 

W.  E.  Johnston  also  tells  of  Peter  Kieffer,  "Old  Man  Kieffer  would 
make  Saturday  preparations  so  that  when  Sunday  came  he  did  only 
what  had  to  be  done.  Once  he  went  to  church  with  only  a  half  dollar,  put 
it  in  the  collection  plate  and  said,  'The  Lord  will  provide';  after  church  he 
met  a  man  on  the  sti-eet  who  had  owed  him  three  or  four  dollars  for  some- 
time and  who  paid  him  right  then  and  there." 

Hazel  Herriott  McTaggart  writes,  "I  have  heard  my  mother  tell  of 
how  devout  a  Christian  Grandpa  Kieffer  was.  He  never  missed  prayer 
meetings  and  often  he  walked  because  he  thought  the  horses  were  too  tired 


to  be  used  after  working  in  the  field  all  day.  Mother  spoke  of  the  Amen 
corner  in  the  church.  She  also  spoke  of  the  long  prayer  and  testimonial 
service  that  followed  the  church  service  each  Sunday  morning  and  often 
held  till  after  one  o'clock.  I  have  a  walnut  jewel  box  [size  IVz  inches  by 
8  inches  by  61/2  inches]  which  my  Uncle  "Dode"  [Theodore]  Herriott  made 
from  the  walnut  wood  in  the  old  church.  I  have  had  the  box  about  thirty 
years." 


Peter  Kieffer  Family 


Stephen  Abbott,  grandfather  of  Nelle  Morrison,  gave  a  silver  com- 
munion service  set  to  each  of  the  three  churches — Methodist,  Baptist, 
and  Presbyterian,  perhaps  in  the  1880's.  Instead'  of  having  the  individual 
glasses  they  used  the  one  silver  cup  and  each  person  drank  from  it. 

According  to  S.  J.  Purnell,  other  members  of  the  old  church  included 
Henry  Orr,  George,  Samuel,  and  Aaron  Pittman,  Samuel  Stern,  Jerry  Har- 
land,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Willis  Hubbard,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Kilgore  and  four 
daughters,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  E.  Cowan  and  daughter  Connie,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Johnnie  Waugh,  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  Davidson,  D.  J.  and  Anna  Ford  and 
daughters  Estelle  and  Irene,  George  Taylor,  Thomas  Wiggins,  John  Hume, 
John  Sterling,  J.  D.  Brown,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Caldwell. 

Mrs.  William  Rayburn  adds  Joseph  and  Celia  Pittman,  Richard  John- 
ston and  family,  Julie  Ann  Scott,  James  Davidson,  Benjamin  McGath 
Family,  J.  D.  Pittman  and  Mary  Abbott,  A.  E.  Smith  and  family,  Thomas 
Dale,  Tenie,  Oscar,  Charles,  and  Lee  Dale;  Betty  and  Hattie  Burcham.  To 
these  Charles  Dale  added  James  Starling,  J.  C.  Pittman,  James  H.  Lott, 
Jerome  Davidson,  Silas  Purnell,  and  Grandma  Newell. 

8 


Lola  Wiles  remembei's  well  Rev.  A.  N.  Simmons,  minister  1890-92. 
Their  son,  about  three  years  old,  jumped  around  so  much  he  shook  the  seat. 
Mrs.  Simmons  vowed  she  was  going  to  break  him  of  that  if  she  had  to  take 
him  out  and  spank  him.  One  Sunday  though  she  did  not  take  him  out,  she 
set  him  down  so  hard  that  it  resounded  all  over  the  church.  The  father 
preached  right  on  as  if  nothing  liad  happened.     The  boy  improved. 


D.  J.  and  Anna  Ford  and  daughters  Estelle  and  Irene 

Here  we  have  a  copy  of  a  church  program  for  the  years  1894-95  when 
the  church  is  referred  to  as  the  Mahomet  Station  of  the  Illinois  Conference, 
M.  E.  Church.  Rev.  A.  C.  Byerly  was  the  presiding  elder,  and  Rev.  T.  D. 
Weems  was  pastor.  Preaching  was  at  11:00  A.M.  and  6:30  P.M.;  Sunday 
school  9:30  A.  M.;  Epworth  League  3:00  P.  M.;  and  prayer  meeting  on 
Wednesday  nighls  at  6:30  P.M. 

Church  officers  were:  J.  A.  Bellinger,  George  Frankenbsrger,  W.  P. 
Dick,  W.  H.  Rittenhouse,  O.  S.  Hyde,  Wiley  Davis,  D.  J.  Ford,  J.  W.  Starling, 
William  Stearns,  and  W.  O.  Dale.  Class  leaders  were  Peter  Kieffer,  Richard 
Johnston,  and  Nathan  Wiles.  Trustees  were  J.  A.  Bellinger,  George  Frank- 
enberger,  Richard  Johnston,  John  Stearns,  Wiley  Davis,  D.  Bailey,  William 
Caldwell,  and  J.  W.  Tanner. 

Temperance,  Mrs.  M.  E.  Scott,  Peter  Kieffer,  and  Mattie  Shively; 
education,  J.  W.  Starling,  J.  H.  Hume,  and  Prof.  F.  D.  Bowditch.  Cliurch 
records,  W.  H.  Rusk  and  the  pastor;  parsonage  and  furniture,  Mrs.  Jane 
Davis,  Mrs.  J.  A.  Bellinger,  Mrs.  M.  E.  Scott;  church  music,  J.  C.  W.  Pittman, 
J.  W.  Starling,  and  Mrs.  A.  E.  Tryon.  Organist,  Mrs.  A.  E.  Tryon  and 
Claudine  Dick,  assistant.  Ushers  were  D.  H.  Hartly  and  William  Tryon; 
collectors,  J.  A  .Bellinger  and  Wiley  Davis. 

(Original  in  possesion  of  Mrs.  Anna  Purnell.) 

9 


Following  is  a  list  of  pastors  who  served  the  old  Mahomet  Methodist 
Church.  1855-1896: 

1855  Amos  Garner    1873-75  H.  S.  Tryon 

1856  C.  Y.  Hecox    1876-77  P.  G.  Carroll 

1860  W.  Hindall  &  I.  T.  Miller    1878  J.  W.  Sinnoek 

1861-64  Amos  Garner    1879-80  J.  Montgomery 

1865     C.  Y.  Hecox    1881  V.  C.   Randolph 

1866  ....  C.  P.  Baldwin  &  N.  S.  Bucker    1882-84  J.  M.  West 

1867  C.  P.  Baldwin    1885-86  W.  Murphy 

1868  J.  T.  Orr  &  F.  Pasco    1887  J.  P.  Denning 

1869  J.  T.  Orr  &  J.  Martin    1888-89  W.  H.  Schwartz 

1870  ....  M.  D.  Hawes  &  T.  J.  Coultas    1890-92  A.  N.  Simmons 

1871  H.  C.  Adams    1893  L.  A.  Powell 

1872  G.  B.  Wolfe    1894-96  T.  D.  Weems 

It  would  seem  that  the  older  folks  wanted  to  stay  on  in  their  old 
church,  with  the  beautiful  old  trees  and  the  plain  simple  building,  the  men 
sitting  on  one  side  and  the  women  on  the  other.  However,  the  younger 
generation  had  a  different  opinion.  They  wanted  to  mix  with  the  boys  and 
girls  from  other  churches.  They  no  longer  felt  the  need  of  segregation  of 
the  men  and  women  within  the  church.  The  days  for  the  old  church  meet- 
ings did  not  have  the  same  appeal  for  them — the  place  for  that  happy 
religious  meeting  ground.  These  young  people  felt  a  new  church  was 
needed,  new  and  young  shade  trees.  They  were  ready  to  lead  forth  into 
the  future. 

"I  recall  the  date,"  wrote  Lee  Dale,  "when  my  father  deeded  to  the 
church  the  lots  upon  which  the  parsonage  and  church  edifice  were  erected — 
the  present  church.      It  was  during  the  year  of  1895." 

The  deed  to  the  property  tells  the  story.  It  was  a  warranty  deed, 
dated  May  2,  1895,  and  filed  June  18,  1895. 

"Beginning  at  the  Southeast  corner  of  Lot  4,  thence  Northeast  along 
the  west  side  of  Lincoln  Street  to  the  Northeast  corner  of  Lot  5,  thence  West 
to  a  point  81  feet  north  of  the  Southwest  corner  of  Lot  3,  thence  south  to  the 
north  side  of  Dunbar  Street,  thence  east  to  beginning,  all  in  Block  4  of  Alan- 
son  Tucker's  Addition  to  Mahomet,  being  the  south  81  feet  of  Lot  3,  all  of 
Lot  4  and  part  of  Lot  5. 

"From  Thomas  Dale  and  his  wife  Maggie  Dale  to  Trustees  of  M.  E. 
Church,  Mahomet,  Illinois.  Trustees:  J.  A.  Bellinger,  Wiley  Davis,  George 
Fiankenberger,  David  Bailey,  Richard  Johnston,  William  Caldwell,  John 
Stearns,  and  J.  W.  Tanner.  Witnesses:  B.  D.  Abbott  and  L.  D.  Weems. 
Deed  recorded  in  Deed  Record  No.  104,  Page  165." 

This  site  was  very  low  and  in  fact  for  twenty-five  years  the  children 
of  the  Village  used  to  skate  in  the  winter  time  on  the  pond.  This  pond  was 
made  by  the  excavating  for  the  clay  which  in  turn  was  made  into  brick  and 
used  in  the  construction  of  the  present  brick  Baptist  Church  in  Mahomet. 
"Cad"  Maxwell  told  that  Isaac  Minnear  helped  haul  the  brick  to  build  the 
Baptist  Church  and  that  the  brick  was  made  on  the  Irle  premises,  south  of 
the  M.  E.  Church. 

Fred  Stearns  tells  of  the  laying  and  dedicating  of  the  corner  stone— 
"The  Thomas  Dale  Lot  was  settled  on  for  the  location.  Farmers  came  in 
with  teams  and  scoops.  Several  of  us  boys  came  with  teams  for  grading  and 
excavating.  Rev.  T.  D.  Weems  was  the  pastor  and  a  fine  man  for  every 
occasion.  The  corner  stone  services  were  held  after  the  basement  was  dug, 
the  walls  up  to  where  the  floor  height  comes.  There  was  a  large  audience 
for  the  corner  stone  laying.    The  trees  were  quite  small  at  this  time.    It  was 

10 


a  hot  day.  Rev.  Byerly  who  gave  the  address  said,  'I  must  keep  my  hat  on 
as  there  is  not  a  liair  betw^een  me  and  heaven,'  and  he  did  so." 

Estelle  Ford  had  a  copy  of  the  program  for  the  corner  stone  laying, 
with  a  notation  on  it  that  C.  N.  Clark  of  Urbana  had  donated  the  stone. 

Programs  of  the  corner  stone  laying  and  the  dedication  of  the  church 
were  carefully  preserved. 

CORNER  STONE  LAYING,  M.  E.  CHURCH 
Mahomet,  Illinois  July  30,  10:30  A.  M.,  1895 

—  Programme  — 

Hymn  Choir  Coronation 

Prayer  Rev.  Graham 

Song  Epworth  League 

Remarks  Bro.  Hartly 

Song   Choir 

Fraternal  Address  Rev.  Talbot 

Song   Choir 

Fraternal  Greeting  A.  F.  &  A.  M. 

Address Rev.  A.  C.  Byerly,  P.  E. 

Collection  Same 

Placing  Box  in  Corner  Stone 
Formal  Laj'ing  Same 
Benediction 

Wiley  Davis,  Sr.         ) 

J.  A.  Bellinger  i      Committee. 

J.  C.  W.  Pittman        \  T.  D.  Weems,  Pastor 


New  Church 

11 


DEDICATION  SERVICES 
January  5,  1896 

Doxology 

Invocation  Rev.  Mr.  Graham 

Hymn  No.  248  Coronation 

Scripture  Rev.  Mr.  Talbott 

Hymn  No.  871,  page  186  Tune  St.  Thomas 

Sermon  Dr.  Earl  Cranston 

Financial  Statement  T.  D.  Weems 

Collection 

Trustees  Present  the  Church 

The  twenty  people  who  contributed  most  for  the  building  of  the  new 
church  were:  J.  A.  Bellinger,  Wiley  Davis,  J.  C.  W.  Pittman,  Ladies  Aid, 
Mary  E.  Scott,  William  Stearns,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Frankenberger,  J.  M. 
Dickson,  Epworth  League,  S.  A.  Fisher,  R.  G.  Rayburn,  George  McClure, 
Lizzie  Davidson,  William  Holzer,  H.  S.  Tryon,  B.  F.  Thomas,  John  Carter, 
Mary  E.  Carson,  B.  F.  Harris,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  H.  Lott.  The  original  cost  of 
the  church  was  $6526. 

Ministers  of  the  New  Methodist  Church 

1894-96  T.  D.  Weems  1916-18  U.  Grant  Johnston 

1897-99  M.  A.  Hewes  1919-21  E.  A.  Hedges 

1900-01  C.  R.  Morrison  1922  C.  H.  Davis 

1902  D.  W.  English  1923  J.  F.  McAnally 

1903-05  T.  S.  Mitchell  1924-28  B.  M.  Petty 

1906-09  E.  L.  Darley  1929-30  B.  D.  Mallinson 

1910  T.  O.  Holley  1931-35  C.  D.  Robertson 

1911-13  C.  W.  Caseley  1936-38  J.  W.  Dees 

1914  J.  E.  Strevey  1939-44  H.  Ray  Funk 

1915  J.  S.  Smith  1945-52  H.  K.  Gaither 

1953-       S.  L.  Myers 

Fred  Stearns  relates,  "The  church  as  it  is  today  had  a  close  call  soon 
after  it  was  finished.  It  was  cold  enough  for  people  to  wear  overcoats. 
The  church  was  being  lighted  when  our  chandelier  fell  to  the  floor,  breaking 
the  kerosene  lamp  and  setting  fire  to  the  building.  Gene  Crocker  happened 
to  be  there.  He  immediately  took  off  his  overcoat  and  smothered  the  blaze. 
He  was  greatly  honored  by  the  whole  congregation  and  afterwards  was 
presented  with  a  new  coat." 

The  Estelle  Ford  scrap  book  carries  an  account  of  the  Martha  Wash- 
ington Tea  which  was  held  February  22,  1898,  with  Rev.  M.  A.  Hewes  as 
pastor  in  charge.    The  names  of  112  persons  were  registered. 

This  same  book  registered  those  who  attended  the  M.  E.  Church  Fish 
Fry  on  April  5,  1898.  There  were  thirty-seven  present  for  the  dinner  and 
sixty  for  the  supper.  The  minister  and  his  wife  were  given  free  dinners. 
The  meal  was  25c  a  plate.  Receipts  for  the  day  were  $24.55  and  expenses 
were:  Fish,  $7.45;  Sucker  State,  57c;  telephone,  55c;  Miscellaneous,  80c, 
making  the  total  expenses  $9.37,  leaving  a  net  profit  for  the  entire  day  of 
$15.18. 

Listed  below  are  some  of  the  articles  contributed  for  the  Annual 
Church  Fair  held  in  1898:  Estelle  G.  Ford,  2  pillows,  2  aprons,  1  medallion; 
B.  F.  Thomas,  Sr.,  cord  of  wood  and  fifty  eleven-foot  rails;  Mrs.  Belle  Bryan, 
wash  stand  set,  doilie,  mirror,  frame;  Mattie  Shively,  1  apron,  4  pincushions, 
toy  trunk;  Mrs.  A.  V.  Purnell,   1  doll,  baby  book,   2  bags;  AlUe  Johnston, 

12 


1  hat  pin  holder,  1  pin  cushion,  1  pen  wiper;  Mattie  Keene,  sunbonnet;  Mrs. 
Thomas  Dale,  2  cups  and  saucers,  3  aprons,  handkerchief  83c;  Mrs.  Wiley 
Davis,  2  head  rests,  combing  apron  and  one  bag  90c;  Mrs.  Pet  Ruhl,  2  ker- 
chiefs, creamer  and  sugar  bowl;  Mrs.  Lizzie  Wright,  3  aprons,  75c;  Nannie 
Hayward,  5  mats,  50c;  Mrs.  Robert  Wright  50c  cash. 

The  next  three  passages  reproduce  newspaper  clippings  taken  from 
Estelle  Ford's  scrap  book: 

1899  Epworth  League  District  Convention  in  Progress  at  Mahomet 

The  good  people  of  Mahomet  are  sleeping  in  hammocks  and  on  cots 
this  week,  and  the  patient  small  boy  of  that  town  is  waiting  for  the  second 
dinner  table,  for  Mahomet  is  entertaining  the  one  hundred  fifty  to  two 
hundred  delegates  who  have  gathered  to  attend  the  annual  convention  of 
the  Epworth  Leagues  of  the  Methodist  Church  in  Champaign  District. 
Mahomet  is  not  a  large  town,  but  there  is  not  a  town  in  the  county  whose 
people  can  come  nearer  entertaining  the  visitors  than  can  Mahomet    .    .    . 

The  opening  session  of  the  convention  was  held  in  the  handsome  new 
Methodist  Church  yesterday  evening,  the  building  being  packed  to  the  doors 
by  delegates  and  citizens  who  had  turned  out  to  hear  the  lecture  of  Bishop 
C.  C.  McCabe.  Tickets  were  sold  in  advance,  and  many  who  had  not  pur- 
chased tickets  were  compelled  to  return  to  their  homes,  being  unable  to  even 
secure  standing  room. 

Bishop  McCabe's  address  was  quite  outstanding.  Only  a  year  or  two 
before  his  death,  Mr.  Charles  Purnell  quoted  McCabe's  text  and  repeated 
parts  of  his  address,  even  though  Mr.  Purnell  was  only  15  years  old  at  this 
time. 

Fred  Stearns  has  the  ribbon  banner  in  his  possession  from  this  Con- 
vention— "Ninth  Annual  Epworth  League  Convention — June  21,  22,  23, 
1899."  (The  Epworth  League  as  an  organization  was  established  May  15, 
1889  in  Cleveland,  Ohio.) 

A  Trip  Around  the  World— 1901 

Last  Saturday  evening  the  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Society  gave 
their  long  looked  for  entertainment,  "A  Trip  Around  the  World."  The  first 
train  started  promptly  at  5:00  o'clock.  It  was  a  little  early  but  for  the  most 
part  was  successful.  The  later  trains  had  more  passengers,  some  having 
more  than  the  desired  number.  The  Riverside  Park  hack  and  a  bob-sled 
were  provided  to  carry  some  of  the  passengers  while  the  rest  made  the  trip 
on  foot,  but  the  ground  having  frozen  by  7:30  o'clock,  walking  was  not 
unpleasant.    Mr.  Oscar  Dale  acted  as  guide. 

The  first  stopping  place  was  America,  at  Uncle  Wilej'  Davis'  house 
where  we  met  excellent  impersonators  of  President  and  Mrs.  Roosevelt, 
Qeorge  and  Martha  Washington,  General  Miles,  Uncle  Sam,  and  Columbia. 
After  being  presented  to  each  one  we  were  invited  to  partake  of  the  national 
dish  of  Boston  baked  beans,  coffee,  and  sandwiches.  Twenty  minutes  was 
the  limit,  for  each  party  had  to  make  way  for  the  one  following.  At  the 
end  of  that  time  we  left  and  proceeded  on  our  tour  to  Japan,  at  D.  J.  Ford's. 

Here  we  were  presented  to  the  Mikado  of  Japan  and  the  Japanese 
Nightengale  and  were  served  with  tea,  wafers  and  crackers  by  Japanese 
ladies,  in  true  Japanese  fashion  on  the  floor.  The  house  was  decorated  with 
Chinese  lanterns.  We  were  also  shown  the  handkerchiefs  which  were  so 
long  in  coming  to  this  place.  They  were  excellent  specimens  of  hand  work. 
We  were  here  given  the  names  by  which  we  weie  to  be  presented  at  the 
next  stopping  place.  There  were  some  noted  people  in  our  crowd.  Pope  Leo 
of  Rome,  Marrietta  Holly,  General  Lew  Wallace,  Trilby  and  many  others. 
At  the  end  of  our  time  we  proceeded  to  England,  at  G.  L.  McClure's  where 
we  were  presented  to  the  King  and  Queen  of  England.  As  each  name  was 
called  he  was  required  to  bow  three  times,  kiss  the  Queen's  hand,  shake  the 
King's  hand  and  back  out  of  the  room.  Most  of  the  party  complied  with 
the  request  except  Pope  Leo,  who  said  that  the  Pope  of  Rome  did  not  have 
to  bow  to  anyone. 

We  were  served  with  scalloped  oysters  and  pickles,  and  passed  on  to 
the  next  place  which  was  Holland  at  Mattie  Shively's.  Here  the  Queen 
of  Holland  and  Prince  Henry  received  us  and  we  were  served  by  Holland 

13 


lassies,  with  a  Dutch  supper  consisting  of  quite  a  variety  of  foods  after 
which  we  passed  on  to  Iceland,  for  ice  cream  and  cake  and  we  were  left  to 
get  home  the  best  we  could.  After  all  had  made  the  trip  the  celebrities 
were  taken  around  and  all  returned  to  the  depot  to  visit  with  each  other. 

In  America,  W.  H.  Holzer  impersonated  President  Roosevelt;  D.  J. 
Ford  George  Washington;  Mrs.  Robert  Wright,  Martha  Washington;  C.  R. 
Morrison,  General  Miles;  C.  A.  Pricer,  Uncle  Sam;  Sarah  Hale  (now  Sarah 
Jahr),  Columbia.  At  Japan,  H.  A.  Davis,  the  Mikado;  Mrs.  H.  A.  Davis,  the 
Japanese  Nightengale.  At  England.  T.  H.  Rea,  King;  Mrs.  G.  L.  McClure, 
Queen.  At  Holland,  Liliie  Lott,  Queen  Wilhemina;  Elbert  Morrison,  Prince 
Henry. 

The  ladies  are  to  be  congratulated  upon  the  success  of  the  affair,  both 
socially  and  financially,  having  cleared  almost  fifty  dollars.  About  two 
hundred  made  the  trip. 

Harvest  Home  Supper — September  15,  1900 

This  harvest  home  supper,  at  the  residence  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  A. 
Bellinger,  two  miles  east  of  town,  Thursday  evening,  was  one  of  the  most 
novel  and  pleasant  social  events  ever  held  in  the  township.  Preparations 
had  been  going  on  for  some  time  and  almost  everyone  knew  the  date  and 
place.  Few,  however,  knew  what  to  expect  or  that  they  would  have  such 
a  good  time.'  At  an  early  hour  people  began  arriving  and  by  the  time  supper 
was  announced  there  were  several  hundred  present  from  this  and  adjoining 
townships.  The  large  new  barn  was  used,  the  broad  driveway  being  con- 
verted into  a  dining  room.  The  rafters  were  hung  with  grains,  vegetables 
and  fruits  as  decorations.  Light  was  furnished  by  lamps  and  Japanese 
lanterns,  and  all  added  to  the  unique  appearance  of  the  surroundings. 

The  place  on  which  most  interest  was  centered,  however,  was  the 
table.  This  was  set  in  the  center  of  the  hallway  and  reached  almost  the 
entire  length  of  the  room.  It  was  loaded  with  the  products  of  garden, 
orchard  and  farm,  prepared  as  only  the  women  of  this  vicinity  can,  to 
please  and  satisfy  the  appetites  of  those  who  had  been  made  hungry  by  the 
drive  through  the  bracing  air.  A  roast  pig,  grown  almost  past  pighood, 
contributed  by  Wiley  Davis,  Sr.,  was  a  pleasant  sight  to  the  older  people 
and  brought  back  the  memories  of  their  younger  days  when  the  dish  was  a 
common  one.  (Mrs.  Edith  Wegeng  says  that  this  particular  event  made 
quite  an  impression  on  her  young  mind,  and  she  can  still  vividly  picture  the 
roast  pig  with  the  red  apple  in  its  mouth.) 

The  supper  was  given  for  the  benefit  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  The 
receipts  were  gratifying  and  speak  well  for  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bellinger  and  their 
able  corps  of  assistants. 

"'"  In  1903-04,  the  Epworth  League 

was  an  active  organization  within  the 
church.  Epworth  Leaguers  who  led 
the  meetings  according  to  the  "topics" 
for  January-June,  1903  were:  Dr. 
A.  L.  Collins,  Mrs.  M.  E.  Scott,  Erma 
Metiers,  William  Boyer,  C.  A.  Pricer, 
Mrs.  M.  B.  Caldwell,  A.  E.  Smith,  John 
Ruhl,  Liliie  Hawkins,  Allie  Johnston, 
F.  C.  Stearns,  Bessie  Starling,  Phoebe 
Metters,  Mrs.  M.  Shively,  Mrs.  Olive 
Wright,  Mrs.  Gertrude  Deacon,  Mrs. 
Forrest  Tanner,  Edna  Fisher,  and 
D.  W.  Shively. 

An  Epworth  League  Rally  was 
held  in  1904.  It  "was  a  grand  and 
glorious  success  in  every  way.  The 
first  regular  service  of  the  Rally  was  a 
song  and  praise  service  under  the 
direction  of  the  chorister,  Irene  Ford. 
Talks  were  made  by  A.  E.  Smith,  C.  A. 
Pet  Miller  Primmer  at  the  Well 


14 


4  . 


c^^ 


R^ 


">. 


i^ 
i^'^ 


15 


Pricer,  A.  L.  Collins,  T.  S.  Mitchell,  Mrs.  Dan  Davis,  Mrs.  Olive  Wright,  Dr. 
Pierce  Collins,  Nellie  Hume,  Claudine  Dick,  Alice  Johnston,  Bessie  Starling, 
and  Estelle  Ford." 

Below  are  listed  a  few  of  the  entries  taken  from  the  Ladies  Aid 
Treasurer's  Book: — December  1902,  sold  the  old  church  carpet  and  received 
$2.00;  April  1903,  paid  F.  K.  Robeson  $94.39  for  carpet  (and  pasted  into  the 
Treasurer's  book  was  the  cancelled  check  made  out  to  F.  K.  Robeson  and 
signed  by  Mrs.  A.  V.  Purnell,  treasurer  of  the  Ladies  Aid);  March  1908,  paid 
$99.90  for  church  carpet  (Mrs.  Frank  Taylor — Louise  Rayburn  at  that  time — 
remembers  quite  well  helping  lay  the  first  carpet  in  the  choir  loft  of  the 
new  church.  Lou's  helper  was  Paul  Stearns.  There  was  much  enjoyment 
in  the  task  so  the  tacks  were  placed  almost  too  close  together);  November 
1910,  paid  $185.00  for  the  church  steps;  September  1912,  paid  Estelle  Ford 
$50.00  for  the  piano;  March  1914,  paid  $10.00  for  the  sidewalk;  1914,  paid 
Lewis'  $145.64  for  carpet;  January  1915,  received  $23.37  from  the  Tom 
Thumb  Wedding  (the  persons  in  this  wedding  were  Lois  Foltz,  Bride;  Frank- 
lin Daniels,  Groom;  Charles  Pricer  as  Best  Man). 


Men's  Baracca  Sunday  School  Class 

First  row,  left  to  right:  Frank  Rayburn,  Albert  Jones,  Elmer  Pittman, 

Price  Brackemyre,  Frank  Taylor,  George  Primmer,  Harry  Herriott 

Second   row  from  bottom,  left  to  right:   George  Lewis,   Matt   Herriolt, 

Ad  Primmer,  Verne  Trinkle,  Clarence  Wright,   Stanley  Brown,   Frank 

Hood 

Third  row  from  bottom,  left  to  right:  Charles  Purnell,  Francis  Hazen, 

George  Rising,  Glenn  Bryan 

Fourth  row  from  bottom,  left  to  right:  Earl  Fisher,  Ed  Lewis,  V.  Hinton, 

Chet  Buckles 

Fifth  row  from  bottom,  left  to  right:  Herschel  Hume,  Chauncey  Fisher, 

Elmer  Miller,  Cecil  Pittman 

Top    row,   left   to   right:   Lew   Voss,    Roy    Primmer,   Fred   Voss,    Calvin 

Rayburn,  Ernest  Stout,  W.  B.  Behrens  (teacher) 

16 


Sometime  before  1914  the  belfi-y  of  the  church  was  struck  by  lightning 
and  damaged  from  a  windstorm  to  such  an  extent  that  it  had  to  be  rebuilt. 
At  this  time  the  belfry  was  changed  in  its  general  style  from  the  tall  pin- 
nacle that  it  was  to  a  lower  structure. 

Can  we  talk  of  the  olden  days  in  the  church  without  mentioning  the 
huge  Christmas  tree  in  the  choir  loft  loaded  with  gifts  for  everyone.  Much 
anticipation  was  experienced  by  all  as  they  sat  through  the  long  program 
(each  child  reciting  his  verse  or  singing  a  song)  and  then  came  Jolly  Saint 
"Nick"  to  distribute  gifts,  candy,  apples,  and  oranges  for  all.  This  was  one 
time  when  the  front  seats  as  well  as  the  back  were  filled  to  overflowing. 

The  Rev.  and  Mrs.  U.  G.  Johnston  are  both  deceased  but  their  only 
daughter,  Catherine,  writes  from  Fort  Leonard  Wood,  Missouri,  "We  only 
lived  in  one  other  town,  Saybrook,  where  we  knew  and  liked  the  people  as 
we  did  those  people  at  Mahomet. .  .  .1  can  remember  the  clean  new  smell  of 
the  parsonage  there  because  we  were  the  first  ones  to  live  in  it,  and  the  day 
some  of  the  men  brought  in  two  small  maple  trees  from  along  the  river  and 
planted  them  in  the  front  yard.  .  .  .1  wonder  if  the  apple  tree  between  the 
church  and  the  parsonage  is  still  there.  Many  is  the  time  that  Dad  had  to 
get  a  ladder  and  rescue  me  from  the  branches  because  I  could  always  climb 
trees  but  could  seldom  climb  down,  besides  I  was  too  sick  from  eating  the 
green  apples  to  make  the  effort.  Then  there  was  the  Sunday  school 
Hallowe'en  Party  that  they  had  at  our  house  and  I  never  will  forget  the 
string  cobweb  on  the  stairs  and  your  father's  (the  letter  was  written  to 
Isabelle  Purnell)  mask  which  frightened  me  half  to  death  even  after  he 
reassured  me  by  taking  it  off.  .  .  .Just  last  week  I  dreamed  of  Mahomet  and 
gathering  bluebells  along  the  Sangamon  and  all  next  day  I  thought  of  all  of 
you  wonderful  people.  At  the  age  of  six  I  had  a  tremendous  crush  on 
Clarence  Rayburn  and  would  make  eyes  at  him  over  the  banister  whenever 

Mother  had  the  Standard  Bearer's  meeting  at  our  house The  First  World 

War  was  going  on  at  that  time  and  ended  while  we  lived  there  and  I  well 
remember  when  J.  C.  W.  Pittman  called  Dad  at  about  4  A.  M.  one  morning 
and  told  him  that  the  war  was  ended  and  Dad  tucking  his  nightshirt  into 
some   trousers    and  running   next   door   to  ring    the    church   bell.  .  .  .Robert 

Wright  (I  knocked  two  of  his  front  teeth  out  once  in  a  fight!) Please  tell 

everyone  hello  for  me." 


Sunday  School  Picnic 

In  reviewing  the  old  ledger  containing  the  minutes  of  the  meetings  of 
the  Official  Board,  notes  of  interest  were  found  and  will  be  dated  with  the 
notation  (OB). 


17 


Many  items  of  news  have  been  taken  from  various  issues  of  the 
Mahomet  Sucker  State.  Such  will  be  designated  by  date  and  the  notation 
(SS). 

1912  (SS).     Musical  and  literary  program  given  by  the   Epworth   Culture 

Club  at  the  Methodist  Church:  Instrumental  solo,  Elsie  Black; 
vocal  solo,  Alice  Collier;  reading,  Mrs.  Ethel  Rayburn;  recita- 
tion, Ella  Herriott;  vocal  solo,  Clelia  Harland;  original  poem, 
Rev.  C.  W.  Caseley;  instrumental  solo,  Freda  Pike;  recitation, 
Audie  Foster;  vocal  trio,  Behrens  family;  reading,  Mrs.  May 
Rayburn;  vocal  solo.  Merle  Hay  ward;  song,  Irene  Ford. 

1913  (SS).     Elsie  Black  was  presented  $10  in  recognition  of  services  during 

the  recent  revival.  .  .  .The  Methodist  Church  has  purchased  a 
new  cathedral  window  made  of  the  best  quality  opalescent  glass 
of  finest  workmanship  and  design.  It  will  be  placed  in  the 
west  end  of  the  audience  room. 

1915  (SS).     A  program  will  be  rendered  at  the  M.  E.  Church  Sunday  eve- 

ning at  7:30  P.  M.  Those  participating  will  be  Rev.  Strevey, 
Catherine  Pittman,  Edith  Trinkle,  Robert  Dale,  Oscar  Dale, 
Viola  Pittman,  Mary  Dale,  Franklin  Daniels,  Nadine  Stout, 
Otto  Honey,  Rex  Davis,  Ralph  Foster,  Gertrude  Smith,  and 
Louise  Purnell.  . .  .The  following  Epworth  Culture  Club  pro- 
gram will  be  given  Friday  evening:  Piano  solo,  Mrs.  Bauman; 
vocal  solo,  Alene  Parker;  reading,  Mrs.  F.  E.  Wright;  piano  solo, 
Eleanor  Herriott;  reading,  Miss  Flagg;  reading,  Ruth  Bishop; 
duet,  Misses  Dickson;  vocal  solo,  Charles  Purnell;  reading,  Mrs. 
Audie  Lindsey;  piano  solo,  Freda  Pike;  vocal  solo,  Marie 
Trinkle;  vocal  solo,  Oscar  Dale.  . .  . 

"Someone  took  my  lantern  from  the  landing  at  the  M.  E.  Church 
and  left  an  old  rusty  lantern  that  looks  as  if  it  had  never  been 
cleaned.  My  lantern  had  a  red  string  tied  to  the  handle  for 
a  matter  of  identification.  Whoever  took  it  would  know  they 
got  the  wrong  and  better  lantern,  and  if  they  are  honest 
will  return  it;  if  they  are  not  honest  they  will  keep  it  and  of 
course  remove  the  red  string.  I'd  rather  be  the  loser  of  a  lan- 
tern than  the  stealer  of  one."  Robert  Wright. 

1916  (SS).     Wednesday  afternoon  the  M.  E.  Parsonage  was  discovered  to  be 

on  fire,  and  within  a  few  minutes  many  people  were  on  the 
scene.  The  fire  had  such  a  start  that  almost  everything  up- 
stairs burned,  including  Rev.  Smith's  library  which  cost  $2500 
and  also  all  of  the  church  records.  The  parsonage  was  insured 
for  $1400.  .  .  .Excavation  for  the  new  Methodist  parsonage  has 
been  completed,  and  W.  E.  Johnston  has  started  the  carpenter 
work. 

(OB).    The  total  cost  of  the  Methodist  parsonage  was  $3,050.45.     There 
was  a  deficit  of  $102  which  had  to  be  borrowed. 

1917  (OB).    Sale  of  coal  house  $10;  sweeping  chimneys  $1.05;  allowed  pas- 

tor's salary  $100  for  the  month  of  December;  janitor's  salary 

(Roscoe  Smith)   for  December  $15 Back  rent  $2.50  paid  to 

Mrs.  Rebecca  Herriott  for  Pastor  Smith's  rent.  (He  lived  in 
Mrs.  Herriott's  house — where  Gladys  Ballett  now  lives — while 
the  new  parsonage  was  being  built). .  .  .Taxes  $20.00. . .  .J.  C.  W. 

18 


Pittman  was  appointed  to  look  after  the  lighting  plant. . .  .The 
President  of  the  M.  E.  Culture  Club  and  the  President  of  the 
Ladies  Aid  Society  were  appointed  as  a  committee  to  arrange 
some  special  musical  and  literary  program,  the  proceeds  of 
same  to  wipe  out  all  indebtedness  against  the  new  parsonage 
.  .  .  .Work  of  enlarging  the  basement  was  started  by  the  Young 
Married  People's  Class. .  .  .A  letter  was  read,  at  one  of  the  Board 
Meetings,  from  Miss  Adah  Quayle,  Secretary  of  the  Chi  Lota 
Literary  Society,  thanking  the  church  for  the  use  of  church 
basement  for  a  school  party  held  there  March  16.  .  .  .At  the 
meeting  of  the  Official  Board  the  secretary-treasurer  reported 
$293.54  on  hand,  with  bills  amounting  to  $228.00,  thus  leaving  a 
surplus  of  $65.54. .  .  .Pastor's  salary  for  the  new  year  was  raised 
to  $1300.  .  .  .Ushers  will  be  Roscoe  Smith,  Charles  Purnell,  Arch 
Herriott,  and  Frank  Taylor. 

(SS).  The  Epworth  League  elected  the  following  officers  Sunday 
evening:  President,  Roscoe  Smith;  vice  presidents,  Lena  Miller, 
Mrs.  Laura  Purnell,  Marie  Trinkle,  Robert  Rayburn;  treasurer, 
Fred  Mohr;  secretary,  Gertrude  Smith;  organist,  Zaye  Mc- 
Cracken;  chorister,  Oscar  Dale,  Jr.  .  .  .The  League  has  an  enroll- 
ment of  forty-five  members,  with  an  average  attendance  of 
thirty-two. 

1918  (SS).  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Elmer  Miller  entertained  the  Young  People's 
Married  Class  of  the  Methodist  Church  in  their  home  Friday 
evening.  The  trip  was  made  to  their  home  at  Rising  in  sleds. 
There  were  48  present.  .  .  .The  Standard  Bearers  met  at  the 
Methodist  parsonage  Monday  night  and  elected  the  following 
officers:  President,  lone  Pricer;  vice  president,  Lena  Miller; 
corresponding  secretary,  Nellie  Stout;  recording  secretary. 
Pearl  Carter;  treasurer,  Robert  Rayburn;  mite-box  superin- 
tendent, Faye  Miller. 

(OB).  Ed  Armstrong  was  hired  as  church  janitor.  It  was  moved  and 
carried  that  we  adopt  and  have  signed  the  written  contract 
"Duties  of  the  Janitor" — one  copy  to  be  held  by  the  Janitor  and 
one  copy  to  be  held  by  Robert  Wright,  Chairman  of  Trustees. 
. .  .It  was  also  decided  to  have  union  services  at  Thanksgiving 
with  the  Baptist  Church.  .  .  .A  letter  was  read  from  F.  H.  Mc- 
Mullen,  Seymour,  tendering  the  pastor  $5.00  and  the  janitor 
$1.00  for  kindness  shown  and  use  of  the  church  for  his  Mother's 
funeral.  By  unanimous  vote  of  the  board  the  pastor  and  the 
janitor  accepted  the  gift.  .  .  .The  pastor's  salary  for  the  new 
year  is  to  be  $1500.  .  .  .It  was  voted  that  the  best  gasoline  be 
bought  for  the  light  plant.  A  graduation  gift  was  given  Freda 
Pike  in  appreciation  of  her  services  as  pianist.  .  .  .The  church 
bought  Rev.  Johnston's  range  (when  they  left)  for  $35  with 
understanding  that  it  was  to  be  left  in  the  parsonage. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that  each  month  the  Official  Board  met,  if  for 
no  other  reason  than  to  vote  that  the  pastor  and  janitor  be  paid  their  salaries. 
Sometimes  there  was  no  money  in  the  treasury,  but  they  voted  that  the 
salaries  should  be  paid  if  and  when  they  did  have  the  money. 

1919   (OB).    Adjutant  Harley  Smith   was  given  $225.77   for  conducting   the 
revival.    Bids  are  being  taken  for  the  wiring  of  the  church  and 

19 


parsonage Must  hire  a  janitor  and  the  Board  has  the  right 

to  reject  any  or  all  bids  for  same.     Mrs.  Nancy  Wilson  was 
hired  as  janitor  for  $20 Paid  $3.82  for  gas  and  mantles. 

There  is  no  record  as  to  when  the  balcony  was  built  in  our  church  but 
it  was  believed  to  have  been  around  1920.  J.  C.  W.  Pittman  paid  for  the 
expense  of  this  room.  The  members  of  the  Young  Married  People's  Class— 
"The  Achievement  Class"  furnished  this  room,  each  member  buying  his  own 
chair.    At  this  time  Mrs.  Olive  McNeil  was  the  teacher. 

Mr.  J.  C.  W.  Pittman  was  Sunday  school  Superintendent  for  twenty- 
four  years.  Mr.  William  Caldwell  was  Sunday  school  Treasurer  for  many 
years— the  exact  number  is  unknown.  Mrs.  Len  Rayburn  taught  the  Be- 
ginners Class  for  many  years.  Each  Sunday  Mrs.  Rayburn  told  Bible  stories 
and  gave  the  children  a  leaflet  with  a  story  in  it  and  a  small  colored  picture 
(3x4)  of  some  Bible  character  and  the  story  on  the  back  of  it.  When  you 
had  attended  regularly  for  so  many  Sundays  you  were  presented  a  large 
10x12  sized  picture  in  sepia.  There  was  only  the  one  teacher  for  all 
Beginners.  Florence  Wigton  Weatherford  remembers  the  many  parties  Mrs. 
Rayburn  held  for  the  pupils  and  her  always  serving  pink  homemade  ice 
cream. 

1920  (OB).    The  light  bill  of  $4.90  was  paid  and  $180  was  borrowed  to  meet 
current   church   expenses.     The  church  was  painted,   and  the 

interior  redecorated,   with  Fred  Roberts  doing  the  work It 

was  recorded  that  the  church  had  an  orchestra  of  twenty-eight 
members  under  the  direction  of  Dr.  E.  A.  Hedges.  This  orches- 
tra played  for  the  regular  services;  they  gave  concerts  at  Ma- 
con, Altlanta,  Mansfield,  and  near-by  towns. 


Methodist  Church  Orchestra 

Top  row,  left  to  right:  Glenn  Shell,  Roy  Keene,  Coy  Warner,  Lee  Brown, 
Virgil  Starkey,  George  Warner,  S.  Starkey,  Fred  Mohr 
Third  row,   left  to  right:    Charles  Purnell,    Frank   Taylor,    Elsie   Davis, 
Nellie  Stout,  E.  A.  Hedges,  Edna  Hoit,  Elmer  Miller,  Roscoe  Smith 
Second  row,  left  to  right:  Eva  Smith,  Dee  Daniels,  Emma  Hedges,  Sadie 
Carter,  Gertrude  Smith,  Freda  Pike,  Ruth  Lindsey,  Zaye  McCracken 
Front  row,  left  to  right:  Verne  McCracken,  Louise  Purnell,  Faye  Miller, 
Mabel  Roberts,  Delia  Wilson,  Cleoh  Dollahon,  Harold  Herriott 

20 


1922  (OB).  There  was  not  sufficient  money  on  hand  to  meet  the  current 
bills  so  the  matter  was  left  in  the  hands  of  the  Finance  Com- 
mittee. 

The  Ladies  Aid  Treasurer's  book  showed  receipts  of  $92.04 
from  the  wolf  drive  on  February  11,  1922. 

1923.  Mrs.    McNeill    became   Sunday    School    Superintendent.      Mrs. 

Estelle  Pugh  began  teaching  the  Achievement  class.  (Al- 
though Mrs.  Pugh  has  not  taught  the  same  class  she  has  been 
teaching  32  years,  missing  only  to  serve  as  Lay  Delegate  at 
Conference  or  some  other  worthwhile  project.) 

(SS).  Rev.  C.  H.  Davis,  O.  M.  Truitt,  Mary  Dale,  Ruth  and  Mary 
McNeill,  Delia  Wilson,  Mary  Miller,  Pauline  Holloway,  and 
Veronica  Davis  attended  the  Epworth  League  Convention  at 
Atlanta  on  Tuesday  and  Wednesday. 

(OB).  A  vote  of  appreciation  was  extended  to  the  men  who  donated 
labor  on  the  church  annex.  (It  is  believed  that  the  annex  re- 
ferred to  is  the  one  over  the  east  basement  steps,  although  it 
does  not  say.)  This  was  built  by  the  Young  Married  People's 
Class. 

Some  of  the  farm  sales  at  which  the  Ladies  Aid  Society  served 
during  the  years  from  1923  through  1929,  and  their  receipts, 
according  to  the  Treasurer's  Book,  were:  December  29,  1923, 
Elmer  Miller— $93.26;  January  23,  1924,  Mohr— $37.37;  January 
24,  1927,  Roy  Clapper— $43.00;  January  26,  1927,  Zena  Keene— 
$78.34;  February  1,  1928,  Mohr— $46.93;  February  28,  1928,  Ira 
Dollah on— $65.50;  February    15,   1929,  Art  McCracken— $42.60. 

1924  (OB).    Roscoe  Smith  was  elected  chairman  of  the  Finance  Committee 

to  borrow  money  each  month  to  pay  the  bills. . .  .The  Official 
Board  discussed  raising  money  for  the  paving  fund. 

1925  (OB).    Many  women  were  present  at  the  meeting  of  the  Board  to  dis- 

cuss remodeling  the  basement.  However,  nothing  was  decided 
except  changing  the  partition  of  the  coal  bins. . .  .Cutting  down 
the  apple  tree  west  of  the  church  was  discussed.  (Isabelle 
Purnell  still  has  two  switches  from  this  old  apple  tree  "a- 
mong  her  souvenirs" — wonder  why?).  ..  .Eight  young  people 
attended  Epworth  League  Institute  held  in  Jacksonville. . .  .It 
was  decided  that  pamphlets  should  be  issued  showing  the  con- 
tributions of  the  members  of  the  church.  . .  .It  was  decided  that 
the  windows  back  of  the  pulpit  should  be  removed,  and  that  the 
church  and  parsonage  should  be  painted.  The  committee  in 
charge  is  made  up  of  the  officers  of  the  Social  Union:  Presi- 
dent, Mrs.  Charles  Purnell;  vice  president,  Mrs.  Ernest  Stout; 
and  secretary-treasurer,  Mrs.  Charles  Patton.  (This  was  the 
first  year  the  organization  was  called  "Social  Union";  formerly, 
it  was  the  Ladies  Aid.) 

1926  (OB).    M.  K.  Busey  was  elected  church  treasurer  on  the  resignation 

of  Alice  Johnston.  .  .  .The  Board  voted  to  raise  the  minister's 
salary  to  $1800  and  to  telegraph  Dr.  Havighurst  on  Monday  to 
return  Mr.  Petty  to  our  charge.  .  .  .Charles  Purnell  was  elected 
secretary  of  the  Official  Board. 

21 


First  Officers  of  the  Social  Union 

Left  to  right: 

Mrs.  Charles  Purnell, 
President 

Mrs.  Ernest  Stout, 
Vice  President 

Mrs.  Charles  Patton, 
Secretary-Treasurer 


The  Standard  Bearers  program  for  1926  showed  the  following 
organization:  Mrs.  PYank  Rayburn  was  leader.  Active  members 
included  Viola  Carter,  Louise  Purnell,  Pauline  Hickle,  Aline 
Dollahon,  Robert  Dale,  Rex  Davis,  Frances  Patton,  Viola  Pitt- 
man,  Isabelle  Purnell,  Mary  Cooke,  Willis  Lindsey,  Nadine 
Stout,  Lois  Davis,  Kenneth  Smoot,  Catherine  Pittman,  Musa 
Roberts,  Amy  Wood,  Frank  Herriott,  Howard  Jones,  Pauline 
Herriott,  Linden  Hinton,  Richard  Foster,  Lois  Davis,  Mary 
Phillippe,  Mary  Campbell,  Franklin  Daniels,  Hilda  Campbell, 
Paul  Buckles,  Elsie  Smith,  Elizabeth  Lewis,  Don  Miller,  and 
Mary  Jane  Lindsey. 

1927  (OB).  The  matter  of  conducting  a  Vacation  Bible  School  as  a  com- 
munity school  was  discussed.  .  .  .The  Board  voted  that  a  petition 
be  sent  to  the  grade  and  high  school  boards,  asking  that  teach- 
ers take  more  interest  in  the  churches. .  .  .The  Board  voted  to 
hold  revival  meetings  for  three  weeks. 

Epworth  Leaguers  produced  plays  each  summer  to  earn  money 
for  expenses  of  attending  institutes  held  annually  at  Old  Salem 
near  Petersburg.  The  play  "Yimmie  Jonson's  Yob"  was  given 
with  the  following  taking  parts:  Willis  Lindsey,  Frank  Her- 
riott, Franklin  Daniels,  Cleoh  Dollahon,  Rex  Davis,  Aline 
Dollahon,  Nadine  Stout,  Isabelle  Purnell,  Lois  Davis,  and  Louise 
Purnell.  .  .  .Twenty-five  members  of  the  Epworth  League  sang 
carols  Christmas  Eve.  .  .  .The  Epworth  League  Topic  Cards  for 
the  months  January-June  showed  the  following  as  leaders: 
Rev.  B.  M.  Petty,  Louise  Purnell,  Franklin  Daniels,  Lois  Davis, 
Elizabeth  Lewis,  Pauline  Hickle,  Aline  Dollahon,  Frances 
Patton,  Victor  Wood,  Donald  Miller,  Amy  Wood,  Mary  Phil- 
lippe, Isabelle  Purnell,  Irene  Gates,  Helen  Rayburn,  Glen 
Gates,  Mrs.  Petty,  Lois  Foltz,  Mary  Campbell,  Helen  Trinkle, 
Howard  Jones,  Blanche  McClellan,  and  Pauline  Herriott. 


22 


1928  (OB).    The  Official  Board  voted  to  continue  our  own  evening  services 

dui'ing   the  summer   rather   than   have   Union   services.  .  .  .Len 
Rayburn  was  elected  church  treasurer. 

1929  (OB).    The  Board  voted  to  raise  $800  by  public  offering  to  repair  the 

church,  plaster,  redecorate,  etc. 


Isabelle  Purnell  and  Sunday  School  Class 

Back  row,  left  to  right:  Margaret  Sloan,  Bert  Hickle,  Jr.,  James  McCall, 
Eugene  Armstrong,  Daisy  Campbell,  Robert  Lindsey,  Phillip  Mohr, 
Gwendolyn  Miller,  Avis  Yancey  and  ? 

Front  row,  left  to  right:  Jannette  Cooke,  Neva  Lewis,  Phyllis  Gulick, 
Louise  Ponder,  and  John  Ponder 


1930. 


(OB). 


A  birthday  party  was  held,  with  Rev.  B.  D.  Mallinson,  pastor,  in 
charge.  Fifty-two  persons  were  listed  with  their  respective 
birth  dates. 

It  was  decided  at  the  meeting  of  the  Official  Board  that  the 
church  doors  should  be  repaired,  and  keys  be  bought  for  the 
west  doors. 


1931  (SS).     Mrs.  Len  Rayburn  entertained  at  a  "Rainbow  Party"  Wednes- 

day.   Guests  were  members  of  the  W.  F.  M.  S. 

(OB).  It  was  voted  by  the  Official  Board  that  $200  should  be  bor- 
rowed to  pay  the  pastor  and  the  janitor,  Roscoe  Smith.  . .  .The 
Board  discussed  placing  a  mortgage  on  the  church  parsonage  if 
it  could  not  raise  the  monej'  to  pay  the  church  debt. 

1932  (OB).    The  Official  Board  reported  a  shortage  of  $843  that  had  been 

pledged  so  a  committee  was  appointed  to  see  about  joining 
with  the  Bondville  Church.  (This  unification  never  took 
place.) 

1933  (OB).    The  Board  voted  that  all  regular  bills   be   allowed   and  paid, 

when  the  money  is  available. 

(SS).     The    Social   Union    Quilt    Exhibit    was    held    in    the   Methodist 

23 


Church  parlors.  Miss  Louise  Purnell  received  the  quilt  for 
having  the  largest  number  of  pieces  in  a  block  nine  inches 
square.     Her  block  contained  425  pieces. 

Social  Union  Treasurer's  books.  Selling  handivvacks  and 
magazine  subscriptions. 

1934  (SS).  One  hundred  forty  mothers  and  daughters  attended  the  Mother- 
Daughter  Banquet  held  Thursday  in  the  basement  of  the 
church.  A  program,  was  given  with  Mrs.  Charles  Pugh  as 
toastmistress.  Invocation  by  Louise  Purnell;  welcome,  Mrs. 
Minerva  Shively;  toast  to  Mother,  Mrs.  Philip  Wegeng;  solos  by 
Mrs.  Roy  Clapper;  address,  Mrs.  Grover  Reeser  of  Farmer  City 
. . .  .The  Epworth  League  installed  the  following  cabinet: 
President,  Lucille  Moore;  first  vice  president,  Edith  Clapper; 
second  vice  president,  Alma  Primmer;  third  vice  president, 
Mary  Purnell;  fourth  vice  presidents,  Doris  Moore  and  Gerald 
Miller;  secretary-treasurer,  Margaret  Wood;  pianist,  Mary 
Phillippe;  chorister,  Frankin  Tickner. 

1935.  These  minutes  of  the  W.  F.  M.  S.  were  taken  from  the  Secre- 

tary's book: 

The  W.  F.  M.  S.  met  at  the  home  of  Mrs.  Kate  Herriott  and 
Eleanor  McCall.  Mrs.  Shively  gave  the  devotions.  Irene  Ford 
reported  that  $100.04  had  been  paid  out  during  the  year.  All 
present  officers  were  re-elected  for  another  year:  President, 
Laura  Purnell;  vice  president,  Fannie  Rayburn;  secretary, 
Lizzie  Truitt;  financial  secretary,  Irene  Ford;  corresponding 
secretary,  Estelle  Ford;  special  work  superintendents.  Hazel 
Stout,  Sadie  Carter,  and  Gladys  Ballett.  There  were  nine 
present;  the  collection  was  seventy  cents. 

(SS).  Following  are  the  officers  of  the  Methodist  Church  for  the  year 
1935-36:  Trustees:  Arch  Herriott,  Charles  Purnell,  J.  R.  Davis, 
Len  Rayburn,  George  Miller,  Ernest  Stout,  W.  O.  Dale,  LeRoy 
Primmer,  and  Wilson  Miller;  Stewards:  LeRoy  Primmer,  Wilson 
Miller,  Roscoe  Smith,  Elmer  Miller,  Charles  Patton,  T.  C. 
Herriott,  Clarence  Rayburn,  Frank  Taylor,  Fred  Rayburn,  John 
Ruhl,  M.  A.  Phillippe,  Ad  Primmer,  Mrs.  Agnes  Blue,  Mrs. 
Bernice  Wright,  Mrs.  Sadie  Carter,  Mrs.  Myrtle  Campbell,  J.  M. 
Dowell;  disbursing  steward,  Mrs.  Fannie  Rayburn;  communion 
steward,  Mrs.  Minerva  Shively;  Sunday  school  superintendent, 
Mrs.  Olive  McNeill;  president  of  Epworth  League,  Joe  Pugh; 
president  of  W.  F.  M.  S.,  Mrs.  Laura  Purnell;  president  of 
Social  Union,  Mrs.  Adah  Sloan. 

The  celebration  of  the  fortieth  anniversary  of  the  building  of 
the  present  Methodist  Church  was  observed  in  conjunction  with 
Rally  Day  and  Homecoming.  Sunday  school  attendance  was 
one  hundred  fifty.  Special  numbers  included  a  talk  by  J.  M. 
Dowell,  reading  by  Geraldine  Herriott,  solo  by  Charles  Purnell, 
special  music  by  Mrs.  H.  A.  Ballett  and  Mrs.  Wilson  Miller. 
At  noon  a  chicken  dinner  was  served  to  about  two  hundred 
people.  The  afternoon  program  consisted  of  readings  by  Doris 
Moore  and  Virginia  Smoot;  solo,  Clair  Kokensparger;  duet  by 
Mrs.  Charles  Dale  and  Calvin  Rayburn;  trio  by  Ernest  Smith 

24 


Clair  Kokensparger,  and  Charles  Purnell.     Speakers  were  Rev 
William  Hampton  of   Shiloh  who  was   sent  from  this  church 
six  years  ago  as  a  local  preacher;  Rev.  B.  D.  Mallinson,  Rev. 
B.  M.  Petty,  Charles  Dale,  and  Mrs.  Robert  Truitt. 

Jitney  Supper  at  the  church  with  all  items  on  the  menu  5c 
per  serving.  .  .  .Sunday  school  officers  for  the  new  year  are: 
Superintendent,  Mrs.  Olive  McNeill;  assistant  superintendent, 
John  Ruhl;  secretary,  Lucille  Moore;  assistant  secretary,  Thel- 
ma  Bryant;  treasurer,  Mrs.  Z.  C.  Keene;  pianist,  Elizabeth 
Davis;  assistant  pianist,  Helen  Lindsey;  librarian,  Mary  Pur- 
nell; primary  superintendent,  Mrs.  M.  A.  Phillippe;  home 
department,  Mrs.  Len  Wigton  and  Mrs.  W.  O.  Dale;  chorister, 
Mrs.  Sadie  Carter;  temperance,  A.  E.  Smith;  missionary  super- 
intendent, Mrs.  Charles  Purnell. 

1936  (SS).  The  Methodist  Sunday  school  will  conduct  a  two  weeks'  vaca- 
tion Bible  school  at  the  church,  beginning  Monday,  June  1st 
.  .  .  .The  Third  Annual  Mother-Daughter  Banquet  sponsored  by 
the  Social  Union  was  held  last  week  with  more  than  two  hun- 
dred persons  attending.  Mrs.  Ruth  Carson  had  charge  of  the 
program,  "The  Garden  of  Motherhood."  Mother's  toast  to  the 
daughters  was  given  by  Mrs.  Len  Rayburn  and  the  daughter's 
toast  by  Mrs.  Clarence  Rayburn.  Group  singing  was  led  by 
Isabelle  Purnell  with  Louise  Purnell  at  the  piano.  Mrs.  Len 
Wigton,  Mrs.  Fred  Moore,  Mrs.  George  McCall,  and  Mrs.  Alva 
Martin  were  in  charge  of  the  kitchen;  Mrs.  Edith  Wegeng  was 
chairman  of  decorations,  and  Roy  Johnson  and  nine  boys 
served. 

1936  (OB).    Voted  to  put  in  a  gravel  street  west  of  the  parsonage  to  the 

garage  so  the  Reverend  could  get  out  under  all  conditions. 

1937  (OB).    The  issue,  '"Shall  the  village  authorize  the  sale  of  liquor?"  was 

to  be  voted  on  at  the  election  so  the  matter  was  discussed  in 
the  Meeting  of  the  Official  Board  on  ways  the  Church  could 
work  towards  its  defeat.     (The  issue  was  voted  down.) 

(SS).  At  the  morning  worship  service  thirty-two  were  baptized. 
Thirty-six  were  accepted  into  full  membership.  The  first 
service  of  the  day  was  the  Third  Annual  Sunrise  Breakfast  and 
Service  of  the  Baptist  and  Methodist  young  people  at  which 
time  there  were  about  sixty  present.  There  were  195  in  the 
Sunday  school  and  more  than  200  in  the  morning  worship 
service.  At  the  Sunday  school  hour,  Louise  Purnell  presented 
New  Testaments  to  nine  girls  of  the  Kola  Class  in  recognition 
of  their  attendance  the  past  four  months.  Those  receiving 
Testaments  were  Daisy  Campbell,  Aline  Herriott,  Alma  Wil- 
liamson, Louise  Ponder,  Lois  Pointer,  Evelyn  Pointer,  Mary 
Jones,  Irene  LeFever,  and  Hetta  Webb. 

The  Annual  June  Convention  of  the  Champaign  District  Ep- 
worth  League  was  held  in  Mansfield  Tuesday  afternoon  and 
evening.  Mahomet  was  one  of  the  three  Honor  Chapters.  Those 
attending  from  Mahomet  were  Misses  Lois  Williamson,  Frances 
Dees,  Virginia  Smoot,  Louise  Purnell,  Doris  Moore,  Frances 
Lindsey,  Hetta  Webb,  Mrs.  Ruth  Carson,  Ralph  Webb  and  Rev. 

25 


J.  W.  Dees.  Louise  Purnell  was  installed  as  a  member  of  the 
Champaign  District  Cabinet. 

Kings  Heralds  met  at  the  church  on  Saturday  and  reorganized 
their  society,  a  branch  of  the  Woman's  Missionary  Society. 
The  following  girls  were  members:  Irene  LeFever,  Mary 
Jones,  Gwendolyn  Miller,  Daisy  Campbell,  Louise  Ponder, 
Betty  Lou  Carson,  Lois  Pointer,  Margaret  Smith,  Phyllis  Jean 
Carson,  Jeanette  Cooke,  Joyce  Cooke. 

The  Methodist  Cook  Book,  sponsored  by  the  Social  Union,  was 
published  in  1936-37.  The  committee  in  charge  was  Mrs. 
Charles  Purnell,  Mrs.  Guy  Webb,  and  Mrs.  Ernest  Stout.  Five 
hundred  copies  were  printed  and  sold  at  50c  each. 

The  Epworth  League  Mid-winter  Institute  closed  with  a  ban- 
quet at  Mansfield  Tuesday  evening,  served  to  one  hundred 
twenty-five  persons.  Certificates  were  awarded  by  the  regis- 
trar, Louise  Purnell,  to  one  hundred  Leaguers.  Twenty-three 
local  people  received  certificates:  Alice  Loy,  Ruth  Truitt, 
Ruby  Lindsey,  Harold  Wyatt,  Aletha  Hale,  Marie  Gulick,  Hetta 
Webb,  Dannie  Scales,  Ralph  Webb,  John  Jones,  Irene  LeFever, 
Nile  Ray,  Lois  Williamson,  Frances  Dees,  Merle  Wyatt,  Philip 
Buker,  Daisy  Campbell,  Frances  Lindsey,  Virginia  Smoot, 
Lenora  Jones,  Bobbie  Roberts,  James  Kroner,  and  Mrs.  Ruth 
Carson. 

Fathers  and  sons  to  the  number  of  112  attended  the  banquet 
sponsored  by  the  Social  Union  Saturday  evening.  J.  M.  Dowell 
served  as  toastmaster.  Roscoe  Smith  spoke,  representing  the 
fathers,  and  Lloyd  Dees  represented  the  sons.  A  quartet  com- 
posed of  E.  H.  Smith,  V.  C.  Kokensparger,  Charles  Purnell,  and 
Gerald  Miller  sang,  with  Louise  Purnell  at  the  piano. 

1938  (SS).  Tlie  Social  Union  Committee  who  served  the  Mother-Daughter 
Banquet  report  a  net  profit  of  $56.56.  .  .  .Seventy-five  attended 
the  Social  Union  Fair  and  Quilt  Exhibit  held  Thursday  after- 
noon at  the  home  of  Mrs.  Charles  Purnell.  In  the  various 
booths  were  Mexican  hairless  pig,  bats  in  captivity,  world's 
fastest  runner,  fortune  telling,  etc.  Mrs.  Dan  Smoot  was  dressed 
to  represent  the  costume  of  "Fair  Day"  in  the  past,  and  Mrs. 
Elmer  Miller,  posing  as  a  blind  lady,  collected  fifteen  cents. 
James  Kroner  and  Richard  Shively,  dressed  as  clowns,  fur- 
nished much  amusement.  Refreshments  of  pink  lemonade  and 
wafers  were  served.  Assistant  hostesses  were  Mesdames  Fred 
Moore,  Len  Wigton,  Harold  Howe,  V.  C.  Kokensparger,  Ed 
Campbell,  Alva  Martin,  George  Dunlap,  Raymond  Primmer, 
Elmer  Miller,  Harry  Herriott,  and  Dan  Smoot. 

Taken  from  W.  F.  M.  S.  Minutes:  The  W.  F.  M.  S.  met  in  the 
home  of  Mrs.  Shively  for  the  annual  missionary  banquet.  There 
were  twenty  in  attendance.  Echoes  from  the  group  meeting 
held  in  Danville  were  given  by  Mrs.  Dees,  Mrs.  Stout,  Mrs. 
Purnell,  Mrs.  Holloway,  and  Mrs.  Wegeng.  The  Mystery  Box 
questions  were  conducted  by  Irene  Ford. 

(SS).     The  M.  E.  Church  of  Mahomet  broadcasted  Morning  Devotions 
on  Radio  Station  WDWS,  Champaign,  from  8:45  to  9:00.     Local 

26 


1939  (OB). 


1940  (OB). 


1941 


musical  talent  was  presented  prior  to  the  message  given  by 
Rev.  J.  W.  Dees. 

Because  of  the  unification  of  the  three  branches  of  Methodism, 
the  church  voted  to  change  the  name  from  Mahomet  Methodist 
Episcopal  to  Mahomet  Methodist  Church.  It  was  moved  by 
Estelle  Ford,  the  oldest  member  present,  and  seconded  by 
Robert  Holt,  the  youngest  member  present.  The  motion  was 
carried. .  .  .At  a  called  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  it  was 
voted  to  install  city  water  in  the  parsonage  and  the  church. .  . . 
It  was  reported  that  $15  is  needed  to  balance  the  budget,  but  it 
is  believed  that  the  money  will  be  raised  in  time  for  the  church 
to  be  on  the  District  Honor  Roll. 

Louise  Purnell  is  to  be  the  church  pianist.  Plans  are  being 
made  to  have  a  breakfast  at  the  church  on  August  25,  preceding 
the  Every  Member  Canvass.  The  pastor's  salary  was  raised 
from  $1200  to  $1400. 

The  Epworth  League  name  was  changed  to  Methodist  Youth 
Fellowship. 

Mrs.  Olive  McNeill,  Sunday  school  superintendent,  reported 
200  on  the  Sunday  school  roll,  with  an  average  attendance  of 
140.  A  new  Young  People's  Class  has  been  organized  with 
James  Parker  as  teacher.  J.  M.  Dowell  is  teacher  of  the 
Achievement  Class.  .  .  .It  was  voted  to  have  union  meetings 
with  the  Baptists  on  alternate  Sunday  evenings  until  June.  .  . . 
The  Board  voted  to  paint  the  church  and  parsonage.  .  .  .This 
year  the  conference  year  will  be  only  nine  months  long  because 
in  the  future  the  conference  year  will  end  in  June  rather  than 
in  September.  . .  .$10  was  subscribed  for  the  church  bulletins. 
(This  is  the  beginning  of  regular  printed  bulletins.) 

A  farewell  pai'ty  was  held  at  the  church  Saturday  evening  in 
the  form  of  a  pot  luck  supper  honoring  Louise  Purnell,  who  is 
leaving  our  community  to  accept  a  position  as  church  secre- 
tary of  the  Chicago  Temple.  Miss  Purnell  has  taught  in  Ma- 
homet for  the  past  eight  years,  and  during  this  time  she  has 
been  a  most  valuable  worker  in  the  church  as  pianist,  counselor 
of  the  Epworth  League,  Sunday  school  teacher,  lay  delegate  to 
the  Annual  Conference,  etc.  Miss  Purnell  was  presented  with 
a  gift  in  recognition  of  her  services. 


j^.-f^' 


Louise  Purnell  Jones  and  Husband 

27 


The  pot  luck  supper  and  Official  Board  meeting  was  held  at 
the  parsonage.  (This  represents  the  beginning  of  the  Board's 
monthly  pot  luck  suppers.) 

1942  (OB).    Harold  Hickle  was   confirmed  as  Sunday   school  superintend- 

ent. . .  .The  Board  voted  to  have  the  coal  bin  filled  because  of 
fear  of  coal  shortage.  .  .  .The  Board  discussed  renting  the  church 
basement  to  the  township  to  hold  elections  when  the  new 
precinct  is  established,  but  this  was  not  approved. 

1943  (SS).     Union    Good    Friday    Services    will    be    held    at    the    Baptist 

Church.  . .  .With  much  work  yet  to  be  done,  the  Methodist 
Church  will  present  a  much  improved  appearance  for  Easter 
Sunday.  It  was  decided  that  the  seats  should  be  varnished, 
and  twenty-six  volunteered  their  services.  The  new  carpet 
arrived  Tuesdaj',  and  is  being  laid  this  week.  . .  .The  Methodist 
Church  reached  its  goal  of  500  members  Easter  Sunday  when 
seventeen  were  taken  in  at  the  morning  worship  service. . . . 
Isabell  Pasley  was  honored  at  the  recent  district  meeting  of  the 
Methodist  Youth  Fellowship  held  at  Mansfield  when  she  was 
elected  as  its  president.  Mahomet  was  also  honored  when 
Darlene  Lindsey  won  the  speech  contest. 

(OB).  The  Board  voted  to  have  a  pot  luck  dinner  to  celebrate  the 
purchasing  of  the  new  church  carpet,  repairing  of  the  floors, 
and  refinishing  the  floors  and  pews.  Folders  are  to  be  pxnnted, 
listing  the  500  members  of  the  church.  .  .  .The  matter  of  re- 
pairing or  razing  the  barn  at  the  parsonage  was  discussed,  but 
it  was  decided  not  to  rebuild  until  later. . .  .Charles  Purnell  is 
Sunday  School  Superintendent. 

1944  (OB).    All  members   of  the  church    who  have  not  attended   services 

during  the  past  year  are  to  be  called  upon.  .  .  .The  minister's 
salary  was  increased  to  $3,000.  .  .  .Dr.  Northcott  of  Champaign 
outlined  to  the  Official  Board  the  "Crusade  for  Christ"  move- 
ment which  is  being  carried  out  in  all  Methodist  churches  of 
the  United  States.  Mahomet's  share  in  the  $25,000,000  fund  is 
$1500. 

(SS).  The  M.  Y.  F.  received  a  pennant  for  winning  first  place  in  the 
artistic  class  at  the  Annual  Booth  Festival  at  Cunningham 
Children's  Home.  Those  who  set  up  the  display  were  Gwen- 
dolyn Miller,  James  Pasley,  Bobbie  Roberts,  and  Peggy  Smoot. 
. .  .The  Good  Cheer  Sunday  School  Class  held  its  Annual 
Christmas  Party  at  the  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jess  Mitchell. 
Officers  for  the  new  year  were  elected:  Teacher  emeritus, 
Mrs.  Minerva  Shively;  teachers,  Mrs.  Edd  Lett;  assistant  teach- 
er, Mettie  Downs;  president,  Mrs.  Len  Rayburn;  vice  president, 
Mrs.  Bert  Warner;  secretary,  Mrs.  Sadie  Carter;  treasurer,  Mrs. 
Emma  Carter;  mystery  pal  secretary,  Mrs.  Ethel  Jones;  visiting 
committee,  Irene  Ford,  Mrs.  Jess  Mitchell,  Mrs.  Ed  Campbell, 
Mrs.  Anna  Wood,  and  Mrs.  Ethel  Jones. 

1945  (OB).  The  Official  Board  voted  to  meet  with  some  from  other 
churches  to  organize  for  the  Wet-Dry  Issue  which  will  come 
up  at  the  spring  election.  .  .  .Hazel  Stout,  Cora  Patton,  and 
Gladys  Ballett  were  appointed  as  a  general  committee  for  the 

28 


fifty-year  celebration  of  our  church. . .  .City  water  was  installed 
in  the  parsonage. 

(SS).  The  fiftieth  3'ear  for  the  present  Methodist  Church  building 
and  the  nintieth  year  for  Methodism  in  Mahomet,  was  cele- 
brated with  Rev.  H.  K.  Gaither.  pastor  in  charge.  A  basket 
dinner  was  served  at  noon.  The  afternoon's  program  was: 
Quartet,  C.  A.  Morehouse,  Calvin  Rayburn,  Charles  Purnell, 
and  Frank  Rayburn;  greetings  from  former  ministers.  Rev. 
B.  M.  Petty,  Rev.  J.  W.  Dees,  and  Rev.  H.  Ray  Funk;  solo. 
Robert  J.  Jones,  Chicago;  history  of  the  Mahomet  Church,  Mrs. 
Philip  Wegeng;  duet,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  A.  Morehouse;  message. 
Dr.  C.  C.  Nordling,  District  Superintendent. 


Tw0  Pictures  Taken  at  a 
Methodist  Men  Meeting 


29 


1946  (OB)  A  committee  was  appointed  to  investigate  plans,  with  costs  for 
an  inside  stairway  to  the  basement.  .  .  .A  goal  of  $1000  was  set 
for  the  repairing  of  the  church.  Rev.  Gaither  was  asked  to 
get  an  architect's  plans  and  estimate  on  the  remodeling  of  the 
church.  . .  .Methodist  Men  was  organized.  . .  .Rev.  and  Mrs.  H.  K. 
Gaither  wer-e  given  a  new  Chevrolet  for  Christmas. 


1947  (OB). 


1948  (OB). 


1949 


Gladys  Ballett  was  elected  secretary  of  the  Official  Board  on 
the  death  of  Charles  Purnell,  who  had  served  in  that  capacity 
since  1926. .  .  .Two  offering  plates  and  candelabra  were  dedi- 
cated in  memory  of  Charles  S.  Purnell. 

The  new  doors  for  the  east  entrance  were  made  memorials  for 
Estelle  and  Irene  Ford.  A  brass  plate  is  to  be  installed  bearing 
their  names. 

The  first  year  for  the  Easter  Sunrise  Services  at  the  Lake  of 
the  Woods. 


Easter  Sunrise  Services  at  the  Lake  of  the  Woods 

1950  (SS).     Men's  Fish  Fry  at  the  Lake  of  the  Woods. 

1951  (OB).    There  is  now  $250  in  the  organ  fund.     Birdie  Bridges  presented 

to  the  church  money  for  an  organ  fund  as  a  memorial  to  her 
mother,  Mrs.  Sadie  Carter. 


1953 


1954 


Further  discussion  of  remodeling  and  rebuilding  resulted  in 
the  following  reports:  Heating  proposal,  $4200;  revamping 
basement  ceiling  and  floors,  kitchen  and  lighting,  $2500;  in- 
stalling rest  rooms  $1500;  basement  stairs  and  outside  steps, 
$1000;  or  a  total  of  $9200.  The  goal  for  improvements  was  set 
at  $10,000.  (Original  proposal  for  improvements  was  $1,000.) 
.  .  .  .Early  Sunday  morning  services  will  be  continued  through 
July.  Some  of  the  Sunday  school  classes  are  meeting  in  the 
grade  school  while  the  basement  is  being  repaired. 

Nine  gospel  teams  have  made  forty  visitations.  A  large  crowd 
attended  the  Easter  Sunrise  at  the  Lake  of  the  Woods.  . .  .The 
average  attendance  at  the  Vacation  Bible  School  was  82;  48 
were  enrolled  in  the  kindergarten.  . .  .Family  Night  Services 
started  and  will  continue  monthly  through  May.  A  motion  was 
made  in  1951  for  the  purchase  of  a  new  communion  tablecloth, 
but  this  was  never  secured  so  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frank  W.  Taylor 
bought  one  and  presented  it  to  the  church.  .  .  .Annual  bazaar, 
country  store,  and  chicken  supper.  .  .  .Our  Church  is  to  pay  a 
four  cents  per  capita  to  the  Methodist  Television  Ministry. 

30 


DECEASED 
OFFICIAL 

BOARD 
MEMBERS 

1916-1950 


J.  A.  and  Ellen  Bellinger 


Mary  Scott 


Robert  Wright         J.  C.  W.  Pittman  D.  W.  Shively  Minerva  Shively 


Alice  Johnston  Anna  Herriott         Mary  B.  Caldwell     William  Caldwell 


Arch  Herriott  Charles  Purnell  Elmer  Miller 

31 


Frank  Jahr 


1955  (OB).  Young  People's  Conference  and  the  Christian  Witness  Mission. 
. .  .Two  activities  have  engaged  the  interest  of  the  members  of 
the  church  during  this  past  year:  Remodeling  the  church  and 
working  on  the  centennial,  the  theme  of  which  is  "Life  is  good 
in  Mahomet.  U.  S.  A."  The  remodeling  has  included  new  oil 
burner  furnaces,  covering  the  old  registers  in  the  sanctuary, 
refinishing  the  entire  basement  in  knotty  pine  with  the 
platinum  finish,  the  installation  of  new  kitchen  equipment, 
rearranging  the  lighting  system,  rest  rooms  in  the  basement,  a 
new  inside  stairway,  rebuilding  the  outside  steps,  new  tables 
for  the  dining  room,  installing  new  folding  curtains  in  the 
basement,  a  public  address  system,  and  other  items  of  modern- 
ization making  the  basement  more  usable  for  religious  educa- 
tion and  fellowship. 

The  Amici  Class  (young  married  people)  is  one  of  our  most 
active  ones.  Just  recently  they  did  a  fine  job  in  landscaping 
of  the  church  premises.  They  have  also  placed  church  signs 
on  the  four  roads  leading  into  the  town. 

The  Centennial  was  held  Friday,  April  29,  through  Sunday, 
May  1. 

The  program  Friday  evening  included  a  pageant  in  four  acts 
written  by  Gladys  Clapper  and  Lulu  Buker. 


Centennial  Reception  Committee 

Left  to  right:  Millie  Young,  Gertrude  Herriott,  Lloyde  Primmer,  Estelle 
Pugh,  and  Laura  Purnell.  Frank  W.  Taylor,  another  member  of  the 
committee,  was  not  present  when  the  photo  was  made. 


32 


As  the  book  goes  to  press  we  learn  from  Mrs.  Bess  Warnfer  that  Mrs. 
Diana  Newell,  grandmother  of  Mrs.  Warner,  taught  the  primary  Sunday 
school  class  until  1895.  When  they  moved  to  the  new  church  Mrs.  Newell 
(a  crippled  lady)  quit  teaching  only  because  the  distance  was  too  great  to 
walk.  Mrs.  Minnie  Clapper  tells,  "My  first  date  with  Frank  Clapper  was  in 
the  old  church  when  I  was  sixteen  years  of  age.  Mr.  Clapper  asked  'Aunt 
Ag'  Blue  to  ask  me  if  I  would  go  with  him  to  the  lecture  at  the  church. 
There  was  a  chinaman  talking  that  night.  There  were  only  two  things  to  go 
to  in  those  days — church  or  literaries.  Frank  let  me  out  at  the  front  stile. 
The  chinaman  talked  so  long  and  it  was  such  a  long  drive  home  with  the 
horse  and  buggJ^"  Charles  Gifford  has  in  his  possession  two  books — the 
old  Methodist  Hymnal  Book  (words  without  music)  which  had  belonged  to 
Mrs.  Mary  E.  Scott  (this  book  was  originally  presented  to  Mrs.  E.  J.  Davidson 
on  October  11,  1879  by  Mrs.  J.  W.  Sinnock)  and  "Memoir  of  Carvosso"  from 
the  old  Methodist  Episcopal  Sunday  school  library  (number  193).  Mr.  Fred 
Stearns  sent  to  us  some  framed  cards  showing  how  the  Methodist  members 
paid  their  dues.  These  cards  were  issued  quarterly  by  the  Minister.  One 
was  the  card  of  George  Pittman  (grandfather  of  Fred)  dated  May  20,  1855 
signed  by  the  Pastor,  J.  J.  Hill.  (Our  records  show  that  the  first  minister 
was  Rev.  Garner  so  we  believe  this  card  was  given  when  the  Methodist 
Church  at  Mahomet  was  on  the  Monticello  Circuit.  The  Middletown  Circuit 
was  established  this  same  year.)  Also  received  were  "Rewards  of  Merit" 
given  to  Jacob  Pittman  by  Mrs.  E.  Savage,  Inst,  and  to  E.  Pitman  by  A.  L. 
Flower,  Ins.  (Perhaps  the  Inst,  or  Ins.  stands  for  Instructor.)  These  cer- 
tificates of  good  behavior  were  given  in  evidence  of  the  standards  the  church 
had  then.  In  those  days  it  meant  something  to  be  a  part  of  the  church — 
then  one's  Christian  character  had  to  match  his  confession  of  faith,  his 
honor,  and  membership  in  the  church.  To  be  all  this,  character  had  to  be 
beyond  reproach  and  the  church  in  recognizing  this,  issued  the  certificates. 


34 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  MAHOMET 


iM 


AHOMET  today  is  a  scenic  little  town  of  some  1000  inhabitants 
on  the  west  bank  of  the  Sangamon  River  at  the  intersection  of  two  paved 
highways,  Routes  47  and  150.  This  location  was  chosen  123  years  ago  as  a 
settlement  of  a  dozen  families  on  an  Indian  trail.  Champaign,  the  home  of 
the  University  of  Illinois,  is  just  ten  miles  from  Mahomet.  Many  of  the 
residents  of  Mahomet  are  employed  in  Champaign. 

It  is  an  old  saying  that  if  anyone  has  ever  drunk  from  the  old 
Sangamon  River,  or  got  his  feet  in  the  Sangamon,  or  smelled  of  the 
Sangamon,  he  will  always  be  back — or  will  never  leave. 

Mahomet  was  first  settled  in  1830.  The  original  plat  of  Middletown 
was  surveyed  and  drawn  up  in  1832  by  Daniel  Porter,  but  could  not  be 
recorded  until  there  was  a  county  organization.  This  organization,  the 
government  land  office,  was  for  this  section  of  the  country,  located  at 
Danville. 

This  location  was  chosen  because  of  two  important  means  of  liveli- 
hood: water  (Sangamon  River)  and  fuel  (timber).  Too,  it  was  halfway 
between  Danville  and  Bloomington. 

This  area  was  early  occupied  by  Indians.  The  original  tribe  of 
Indians  living  in  Champaign  County  were  called  Kickapoos  and  were  one 
of  the  tribes  composing  the  Illinois  Nation,  called  Illini.  Near  the  gravel 
pit  of  what  was  the  Clark  Pfiester  farm  was  the  place  called  "Bloody  Bend." 
The  exact  reason  for  this  name  is  unknown;  however,  we  do  know  that  Mr. 
Pfiester  had  a  fine  collection  of  Indian  arrowheads  which  he  had  picked  up 
on  his  land  which  leads  us  to  think  that  possibly  an  Indian  battle  had  been 
fought  there. 

The  citizens  of  Mahomet  area,  fearing  a  raid  during  the  period  of  the 
Black  Hawk  War,  met  in  the  Jonathan  Maxwell  home  which  was  located  at 
that  time  about  200  feet  south  of  the  bridge  on  the  road  going  by  the  old 
Ernest  Stout  residence  to  make  war  plans;  however,  the  raid^  never 
materialized. 

On  March  15,  1836,  Mr.  Porter  entered  the  southeast  quarter  of  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  15,  and  placed  on  record  a  town  plat  covering 
thirty-eight  lots  of  that  entry  which  he  named  Middletown.  The  area 
extended  from  the  Sangamon  River  west  to  the  present  site  of  the  Masonic 
Building.  The  plat  conformed  to  the  present  Bloomington  Road  and  was 
the  original  of  the  village  of  Mahomet. 

We  cannot  find  a  record  as  to  just  when  the  post  office  was  changed 
from  Middletown  to  that  of  Mahomet,  but  some  are  of  the  opinion  that  the 
change  must  have  been  made  about  1840  because  the  maps  of  Illinois  under 
date  of  1845  called  this  place  Mahomet.  For  many  years  mail  was  forwarded 
here,  addressed  to  Middletown,  Mahomet  P.  O. 

Legend  says  it  had  originally  been  named  Middletown  because  it  was 
halfway  between  Danville  and  Bloomington.  The  name  was  changed  from 
Middletown  to  Mahomet  because  there  was  a  town  named  Middletown  in 
Logan  County. 

There  are  several  different  stories,  some  of  which  are  contradictory, 
regarding  the  name  Mahomet.  Authorities  do  not  agree  upon  the  dates  of  the 
change  from  Middletown  to  Mahomet. 

"It  is  named  after  an  Indian  Chief,"  says  Mrs.  Mae  Rayburn. 

An  article  which  was  originally  printed  in  the  Daily  Pantagraph  in 
1888  and  later  reprinted  in  the  Sucker  State  says:     "Capt.  Brown,  founder 

35 


of  the  Sucker  State,  proposed  the  name  of  Mahomet,  and  said  it  was  as 
heathenish  a  country  as  he  knew  of  and  ought  to  have  a  heathen  name." 
This  is  a  mistake. 

The  post  office  was  named  by  someone  in  the  Post  Office  Department 
at  Washington,  D.  C,  without  so  far  as  we  have  ever  been  able  to  learn, 
consulting  anyone  here. 

The  old  Masonic  Lodge  records  say:  "The  name  Mahomet  was 
selected  because  the  Masonic  lodge  in  Middletown  was  known  as  "Mahomet 
Lodge,  U.  D."  Records  show  that  the  dispensation  was  granted  January  23, 
1856,  by  W.  B.  Herrick,  then  Grand  Master  of  Illinois,  to  open  a  lodge  of 
Masons  at  Middletown,  Champaign  County,  Illinois,  to  be  known  as 
"Mahomet  Lodge,  U.  D." 

When  the  Indiana,  Bloomington,  and  Western  Railway  (later  called 
in  jest  the  "I  Better  Walk  Railroad")  was  built,  T.  M.  Brown  who  was  a 
member  of  the  first  Board  of  Directors,  used  his  influence  to  have  the  station 
named  Mahomet  after  the  post  office  instead  of  Middletown.  He  afterwards 
laid  out  the  "Town  of  Mahomet"  between  the  old  depot  and  the  old  town, 
and  later  the  name  of  the  township  was  changed  to  that  of  Mahomet.  His 
reasons  for  desiring  the  change  were  that  it  was  a  short  name,  easily  spelled 
and  written  and  not  common  (there  is  no  other  river,  mountain,  lake  or  town 
in  the  world  by  the  name  of  Mahomet),  and  it  was  a  nuisance  to  have  two 
different  names  for  the  town  and  post  office. 

The  old  Champaign  County  History  states  "The  name  was  changed 
from  Middletown  to  Mahomet  in  1871.  Then  next  year,  1872,  Mahomet 
became  an  incorporated  village. 

Geologists  tell  us  we  are  located  in  what  is  known  as  "Mahomet 
Valley,"  so  called  because  down  1600-1800  feet  no  strata  of  underlying  rock 
has  been  found.  When  some  drilling  for  oil  was  done  they  found  quick 
sand  over  one  hundred  feet  in  depth,  and  several  hundred  feet  below  a  lake 
of  fresh  water,  seventy-five  feet  deep. 

The  following  information  was  taken  from  an  old  atlas  dated  1878: 
"In  1878,  Mahomet  was  reported  as  having  two  flour  mills,  one  grain  station, 
eight  stores,  one  graded  school  and  three  churches  (Presbyterian,  Baptist, 
and  Methodist).  Charles  Parker  was  the  first  Methodist  preacher;  George 
Cooper  taught  the  first  school;  H.  N.  Adams  was  the  first  practitioner  of 
medicine.  Mr.  Porter  operated  the  first  store  and  was  the  first  official 
postmaster. 

Some  of  the  early  citizens  of  Mahomet  were  John  Egbert,  John  Parks 
(originally  a  Whig  but  since  the  organization  of  the  Republican  Party  he 
became  a  Republican),  Thomas  A.  Davidson  (father  of  Mary  E.  Scott), 
Stephen  Abbott  (postmaster  and  father  of  Laura,  Byron  and  Abijah  C. 
Abbott),  John  and  Joseph  Maxwell,  Fielding  Scott  and  William  W.  Brown 
(constable  of  Mahomet  in  1856). 

The  first  settler  in  Mahomet  township  was  Jess  Thompson,  a  squatter 
on  government  land.  Isaac  Busey  was  the  first  man  to  enter  land  in 
Mahomet  township  which  was  done  at  the  Vandalia  land  office  October  22, 
1832.  John  Meade  (grandfather  of  W.  O.  Dale)  filed  a  homestead  claim  in 
1833. 

A  list  of  some  of  the  early  settlers,  the  date  when  they  came  to  Ma- 
homet as  well  as  their  occupation  was  taken  from  the  Atlas  of  1878  and  is 
given  on  the  next  page. 


36 


I  i 


i  Abtwtt,  S.  C 

\  Abimt,  MivMsry  E. 

f  BolttNit  lUu^ 

\  B^<m«  Mr*.  Mcrjr 

{  Browa,  laliwi  D. 

^  Brows.  Mn.  Id«  L. 

I  Bdli^jer,  f .  A. 

\  B«Utii««r,  Mn.  lQ««»wr 

;  Brown,  W.  W. 

\  Brown,  Mrs.  McrtlM 

f  Canoa,  Robert  P, 

\  Cmnon,  Marf  £. 

ra««,0.  M.         ^*, 

\  Rhteaboate,  J.  S.  gST 

fCartis,CC  Lamed  & 

\  Larsed,  C  G.     Cwrti*. 

i  Oappe^l.  S>  M. 

\  C3i^pe|iwMrs.  f^rasoes 

f  Davis,  jii^<», 

\  Duvit,  Mrs.  MaiT 

\  DawdKm,  F,  T.  S*^* 

f  Dedmas,  E.  C. 

\  Dcdoao,  Mrs.  Aiiot  £. 

/|}«!e,  Hmmiis 

t  Dale,  Mis.  MaiT  E. 

\  l^beit,  Mrs.  £.  A. 
Gatt**,  A,  J, 
fMmam^  Rar.  S.  F. 
GkmMtm,  Mn.S.M. 
€Me«r,  G.  F. 
Gdfer*  Mrs.  Mtty  E. 
HmB^m^  Janes  w. 

iWtestj  Mrs.  S^ary 
Mss.  Mi^ida 
,  Jjtmss  H. 
^     irikf,  M.  D. 
t  Kinky.  T.  |. 
f  Maxw^i,  fo&q>h 
\  Maxwdi,  M?s.  Reeaai^ 
f  Maxrwt^l,  j^.^st 
\  MaxvtiV  l4nk  Mary  T. 
(  Park,  l<^a  W. 
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Wife  of 
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Sec  sj.Fanner  audi  Sloeic  Hidmr  Ma«S»^  €«> ,  0. 2853 


HaofiaRe  CO  Va  1851 
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R.  A.  Gulick  wrote,  "I  remember  the  day  Jim  Cissne  got  the  first 
seltbinder  in  that  locality.  It  first  operated  on  what  is  now  known  as  the 
"Bob"  Davis  farm,  was  pulled  by  six  horses  and  tied  the  grain  with  wire 
bands.  In  1888,  Georgs  Rising  who  lived  one  mile  north  of  Rising  Station 
got  the  first  steam  thresher.  The  engine  only  turned  the  thresher  and  had 
to  be  pulled  by  four  horses  from  one  job  to  another.  About  two  yeais  later 
Mr.  Rising  got  a  traction  engine  for  the  thresher." 


37 


Fred  Stearns  says  that  he  remembers  in  the  1880's  when  living  in 
Mahomet,  "Livestock  ran  at  large  all  over  town.  Cows  were  common  on 
Main  Street.  Some  farmeis  who  lived  close  to  town  drove  their  cattle  to 
town  and  on  down  to  the  river  for  water;  the  cattle  were  usually  driven 
down  what  everyone  called  "the  back  street,"  a  block  north  and  parallel 
with  Main  Street.  Mr.  Adam's  cow  was  a  holstein  with  long  horns  and  had 
a  bell  which  was  different  and  there  were  brass  knobs  on  the  end  of  the 
cow's  horns.  My  father,  John  Stearns,  had  seventy  head  of  hogs  running 
everywhere  in  town.  They  always  came  home  to  eat  and  sleep,  but  many 
times  there  were  fifty  extra  hogs  to  eat  with  Dad's." 

Many  early  citizens  of  the  town  fought  in  the  wars  of  this  nation.  In 
Riverside  Cemetery  there  is  buried  a  general  from  the  War  of  1812.  James 
Q.  Thomas  was  a  veteran  of  the  Mexican  War.  S.  J.  Purnell  was  a  veteran 
of  the  Spanish-American  War. 

June  1,  1861,  in  the  old  Baptist  Church  building,  answer  was  made  to 
Abraham  Lincoln's  first  call  for  75,000  volunteers  for  service  in  the  Civil 
War.  It  has  been  said  that  Mahomet,  according  to  its  population,  furnished 
more  volunteers  than  any  other  community  in  the  state  of  Illinois.  Sgt. 
T.  J.  Scott  was  wounded  13  times  at  the  Battle  of  Chicamauga,  3  bullets 
passing  through  his  legs  and  one  bullet  taking  part  of  his  heal  away.  Mr. 
Scott  was  left  on  the  battlefield  for  dead.  Jim  Ware  crawled  out  on  the 
battlefield  at  night  and  found  Mr.  Scott  sitting  beside  a  brook  bathing  his 
wounds. 

Fred  Stearns  sent  to  us  a  letter  addressed  to  his  father  in  1866  here 
at  Mahomet  during  the  Civil  War  from  a  Mr.  Acree  which  told  of  some  of 
the  marches  they  were  making. 

During  the  Civil  War  the  stage  brought  the  mail  from  Champaign, 
arriving  about  6:00  P.  M.  A  crowd  gathered  in  front  of  the  post  office 
(located  then  in  the  brick  mill)  and  someone  read  the  Chicago  paper  aloud, 
giving  the  progress  of  the  war. 

In  the  Lathrop  Champaign  County  Directory,  published  by  Rand 
McNally  &  Company  for  the  year  of  1870,  it  states  there  were  143  dwellings 
in  Mahomet  township.  In  the  village  of  Mahomet  there  were  148  dwellings 
with  a  pouulation  of  670.  The  highest  wages  paid  to  male  teachers  in  1870 
was  $120  and  female  teachers  $55.  The  lowest  pay  was  $20.  Corn  raised: 
163,260  bushels;  Irish  potatoes  raised:  6,498  bushels;  butter:  23,579  pounds. 

The  last  of  the  original  timber  to  be  cut  down  in  Mahomet  was  that 
of  a  thirty-acre  tract  joining  the  corporate  limits  of  the  village  on  the  norih 
and  later  known  as  the  Dowell  or  Grand  View  Farm.  In  the  spring  of  1879 
this  ground  was  plowed  and  sown  to  wheat.  Men  were  employed  to  harvest 
the  wheat  with  a  hand  sickle  and  not  with  a  scythe  and  cradle,  and  the 
bundles  were  made  and  tied  by  hand.  Harvesting  by  hand  was  necessary 
because  of  the  stumps. 

"The  business  section  of  Mahomet  was  badly  scorched  this  morning 
[June  6,  1902],  the  post  office.  Ford's  general  store,  Donham's  restaurant  and 
drug  store  and  two  blacksmith  shops,  being  destroyed."  The  fire  was 
caused  by  the  explosion  of  a  gasoline  stove.  By  hard  work  of  volunteer 
fire  fighters  comprising  a  bucket  brigade,  the  grocery  store  of  B.  D.  Abbott, 
H.  J.  Morehouse's  undertaking  establishment,  and  the  blacksmith  shop  were 
saved.  Some  who  suffered  losses  were  Capt.  D.  J.  Ford  ($5000),  B.  F. 
Donham  Drug  Store  and  Restaurant  ($1500),  A.  E.  Smith  buildings  occu- 
pied by  drug  store,  restaurant,  ice  house,  and  barn  ($1100),  W.  H.  Holzer 
blacksmith  shop  ($700),  and  Charles  Stidham  blacksmith  shop   ($800). 

38 


Main  Street  in  Mahomet  1910 

Weather  conditions  are  decidedly  different  today  from  those  of  a 
century  ago,  as  shown  by  reports  from  various  sources.  In  February,  1830, 
the  biggest  snowfall  fell  in  Central  Illinois.  It  snowed  constantly  for  four 
days  and  nights  until  the  snow  was  four  feet  on  a  level  while  drifts  were 
twenty  to  twenty-five  feet  high.  On  March  28,  1876,  a  big  snow  fell  and 
drifted.  Farmers  drove  to  town  through  the  fields,  going  over  fences.  This 
same  thing  was  true  again  in  March,  1914. 

The  coldest  day  of  which  there  is  any  record  here  was  on  New  Year's 
Day,  1864,  reported  to  be  forty  degrees  below  zero.  (Records  of  big  sleets 
are  remembered  in  February,  1883,  and  again  in  1893.  On  May  24,  1925, 
a  cold  wave  with  one-eighth  of  an  inch  of  ice  killed  all  gardens  and  corn. 

In  May,  1914,  after  a  heavy  I'ain,  the  Sangamon  River  rose  eight  feet 
in  nine  hours.  The  heaviest  rainfall  at  any  one  time,  on  record,  happened 
on  March  18,  1933;  5.09  inches  of  water  fell. 

Perhaps  the  warmest  winter  day  of  which  there  is  any  record  was  on 
November  23,  1931,  when  the  thermometer  read  72  degrees. 

One  of  the  worst  wind  storms  or  tornadoes  happened  in  June,  1902. 
Originally,  the  farm  home  of  Mrs.  Charles  S.  Purnell  was  a  full  two-story 
dwelling  but  after  this  tornado,  which  took  away  the  upper  story,  the  house 
was  rebuilt  to  a  story  and  a  half. 

Roadways,  Bridges,  Etc. 

The  building  of  the  concrete  sidewalk,  north  of  the  Manuel  Service 
Station  on  Route  47  to  the  Riverside  Cemetery  was  financed  by  proceeds 
raised  from  home  talent  shows  given  in  Abbott's  Hall  in  1913-14.  Citizens 
donated  some  of  the  labor.  The  steel  supports  upon  which  Ihe  concrete 
sidewalk  is  built  over  the  creek  south  of  the  cemetery  came  from  the  second 
wagon  bridge  over  the  river  east  of  Mahomet. 

For  many  years  a  sidewalk  commencing  east  of  the  Masonic  building 
and  ending  at  the  brick  mill  was  elevated  above  the  ground.  Originally,  all 
the  sidewalks  in  town  were  made  of  boards.  Later,  many  of  the  sidewalks 
were  made  with  bricks  from  the  "Julie"  D.  Brown  brickyard. 

The  old  Bloomington  or  State  Road  was  first  an  Indian  trail  that 
branched  off  in  a  northwest  direction  just  west  of  the  present  Masonic 
building. 

Mrs.  Mae  Rayburn  reports  that  F.  L.  Scott  in  1835  took  a  plow  and 
team  and  ran  a  straight  furrow  to  Uibana  because  the  trail  between  the 
settlement  and  Urbana  was  so  roundabout.    Along  the  line  of  Scott's  furrow 

39 


was  formed  the  Bloomington  road  at  a  later  date.  In  1836,  Isaac  Busey  and 
Jonathan  Osborn  were  authorized  to  locate  a  state  road  from  Urbana  to 
Bloomington. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  County  Commissioners  in  1836  a  license  was 
granted  William  Osborne  to  keep  a  ferry  on  the  Sangamon  River,  Osborne 
to  pay  a  $2.00  license  fee.  The  following  ferry  rates  were  established'. 
Ferrying  one  man  6y4c;  one  horse  6y4c;  one  horse  wagon  25c,  etc. 

South  of  the  Big  Four  Railroad  tracks,  below  the  Ernest  Stout  place, 
was  another  road  which  led  off  in  a  southwest  direction  and  was  known  as 
"Lover's  Lane."  Wiley  Davis  who  homesteaded  and  owned  five  hundred 
acres  of  land  where  W.  H.  Wyatt  now  lives,  to  drain  the  water  from  the  road, 
plowed  a  furrow  through  the  woods.  Today,  after  one  hundred  years,  this 
furrow  is  a  deep  ravine. 

Dr.  Hartrick,  a  practicing  physician  in  Seymour  for  many  years,  told 
of  a  man  in  1850,  living  near  Seymour,  making  the  trip  to  Champaign  via 
Mahomet  to  secure  a  doctor.  This  was  necessary  because  there  were  many 
sloughs  and  no  bridges  via  the  Springfield  Road,  and  east  of  Bondville  a 
man  on  horseback  could  not  get  through. 

In  1888,  Jonas  Lester  got  a  contract  from  the  city  to  gravel  Main 
Street  from  Ford's  Corner  to  Geiger's  Corner.  Mr.  Lester  hauled  eight 
loads  in  ten  hours  and  received  $2.40  for  man  and  team  for  ten  hours  of 
work. 

In  1917,  the  diagonal  trail  was  marked  through  Mahomet,  known  as 
the  Egyptian  Trail.  This  was  the  longest  trail  in  the  world,  extending  from 
Washington  to  Florida. 

In  October,  1925,  Route  39  (now  150)  was  opened  between  Mahomet 
and  Champaign. 

The  ford  across  the  Sangamon  River  started  down  just  about  at  the 
cross  roads  east  of  the  bridge  on  Route  150.  During  high  water  a  regular 
licensed  ferry  operated  for  a  number  of  years. 

The  first  county  bridge  over  the  Sangamon  River,  built  with  tree 
pilings  for  a  foundation,  was  built  some  time  during  the  1850's.  For  many 
years  after  the  bridge  was  built  people  continued  to  cross  at  the  ford  to 
soak  up  their  wagon  or  buggy  wheels. 


f  VJif^if 


1 


Bridge  Over  Sangamon  River  East  of  Mahomet 

At  top,  Sam  Stout,  below,  Roscoe  Lindsey 


40 


The  present  wagon  bridge  across  the  Sangamon,  east  of  town,  is  the 
third  upon  this  site.  An  item  taken  from  the  Sucker  State  of  1916  says: 
"The  proposition  for  the  township  to  borrow  $2,813  to  pay  for  the  east  bridge 
carried  at  Tuesday's  election.  The  vote  was:  113  men  and  47  women  voted 
for  and  25  men  and  2  women  voted  against."  (Notice  the  separation  of 
men's  and  women's  votes.) 

"Bill"  Johnston  told  of  the  building  of  the  south  bridge.  "Richard 
Johnston  and  R.  G.  Rayburn  were  commissioners,"  he  says,  "when  they 
built  the  bridge  on  Route  47,  south  of  town.  This  was  the  first  bridge  across 
the  Sangamon,  and  people  strongly  opposed  it  because  they  thought  it 
would  break  up  the  township.  Wilson  Miller  fought  it  bitterly.  R.  G. 
Rayburn  said  'why  it  won't  cost  you  the  price  of  a  pair  of  pants.'  Wilson 
Miller  thought  it  would.  'Well,  have  you  noticed  it  yet  in  your  taxes?'  asked 
R.  G.  'No,'  replied  Wilson.  'Well,  the  money  has  all  been  collected,' 
said  R.  G." 

The  railroad  bridge  over  the  Sangamon  was  first  built  upon  pilings. 
Later,  steel  tressels  were  built. 

Elbert  Morrison  states  there  is  no  positive  information,  but  evidently 
at  a  township  election  held  in  1871  Middletown  Township  bonded  itself  for 
the  sum  of  $50,000  for  the  purpose  of  inducing  the  Indiana,  Bloomington,  and 
Western  Railroad  Company  to  build  its  right  of  way,  erect  and  maintain  a 
depot  in  Mahomet.  Perhaps  "Billy"  Holzer  was  the  first  ticket  agent.  The 
present  depot  was  completed  in  1872.  This  depot  was  originally  south  of 
the  R.  G.  Rayburn  farm  and  moved  from  that  location  to  Mahomet. 


Early  Depot  at  Mahomet 

Patronage  of  the  railroad  was  heavy.  It  was  reported  that  in  one 
day  over  three  hundred  round-trip  tickets  were  sold  for  the  morning  east- 
bound  train  to  Champaign. 

Quoting  from  the  Sucker  State  in  December,  1915:  "There  were  459 
tickets  sold  to  Champaign  last  Saturday  for  train  No.  16.  When  the 
passenger  coaches  were  filled,  men  and  women  were  forced  to  stand  in  the 
baggage  car." 

Some  of  the  agents  for  the  "Big  Four"  have  been  Henry  Shively, 
Tom  Deacon,  Russell  Buckles,  N.  E.  Reece,  W.  E.  Spearman,  Leonard 
Hendrickson,  and  the  present  one  is  a  lady,  M.  C.  Smith. 


41 


INSTITUTIONS 

For  many  years  Sunday  afternoon  preaching  services  were  held  at 
the  Pioneer  School  on  U.  S.  Route  150.  H.  J.  Morehouse  was  the  first  person 
to  address  the  people  there.    The  meetings  were  undenominational. 

S.  C.  Abbott  records  in  his  autobiography  (1853)  the  story  of 
preaching  services  held  in  a  log  schoolhouse  on  the  Bloomington  road,  now 
identified  as  the  Brick  or  Salem  School. . .  .The  circuit  rider  came  around 
once  a  month. 

It  is  recorded  that  Mr.  Harris  built  at  his  own  expense  a  log  school- 
house  which  was  later  used  as  a  church. 

Bethel  M.  E.  Church  was  built  at  the  northwest  corner  of  the  Harris 
Cemetery.  Mrs.  Mae  Rayburn  writes,  "Many  funerals  were  held  in  the 
Bethel  Church,  and  my  father  helped  dig  many  graves.  The  local  Presby- 
terian minister  held  services  at  the  Methodist  Church  at  Seymour  and  also 
in  our  North  School.  I  was  a  member  of  the  church  and  paid  $3.00  a  year 
besides  what  I  gave  to  the  Sunday  school." 

The  Bethel  Missionary  Baptist  Church  1839-1867 
The  Mahomet  Baptist  Church  1867-1954 


Sunday,  June  23,  1839 — A  group  of  Baptists  from  Middletown,  now 
Mahomet,  drove  over  to  Mt.  Pleasant,  now  Farmer  City,  and  organized  the 
Bethel  Missionary  Baptist  Church,  the  territory  reaching  from  6  miles  west 
of  Mt.  Pleasant  to  Urbana,  a  distance  of  over  30  miles. 

September  1839 — The  Church  Organization  was  moved  to  Middletown 
and  Rev.  I.  D.  Newell  of  Waynesville,  Illinois  was  hired  to  preach  once  a 
month  at  a  salary  of  $40  per  year. 

November  1839 — First  authentic  record  of  a  business  meeting  held  in 
the  storeroom  of  Daniel  Porter  on  the  second  Saturday  of  the  month. 

1840- — The  first  church  was  constructed,  a  frame  structure  about 
20'x30'  in  the  northeast  corner  of  the  present  grade  school  grounds. 

42 


February  1850 — On  the  second  Lord's  Day,  quoting  from  the  church 
records,  "A  motion  was  made  by  John  C.  Robertson  and  seconded  by  F.  L. 
Scott  that  there  be  three  trustees  appointed  to  select  a  piece  of  ground  to 
build  a  Missionary  Baptist  Meeting  House  in  Middletown,  Illinois,  Cham- 
paign County." 

July  1852 — It  was  voted  at  a  business  meeting  to  assess  a  $2.00  poll 
tax  against  each  male  member  and  to  appoint  a  committee  to  borrow  the 
money  necessary  for  the  completion  of  the  building. 

August  1854 — The  church  agreed  to  buy  the  property  of  William 
Pickerel  for  a  parsonage  at  a  cost  of  $475.  A  regular  full-time  pastor  was 
secured. 

July  1855 — The  church  adopted  the  following  resolution  at  a  business 
meeting,  "Resolved  that  the  trustees  of  the  church  be  directed  to  have  no 
shows  or  theatrical  performances  in  the  church  house." 

1858 — The  Rev.  J.  R.  Combs  was  called  as  pastor  at  a  salary  of  $700 
per  annum.  In  October  1858,  the  following  resolution  was  passed  at  a 
business  meeting:  "That  the  trustees  of  this  church  not  let  the  church  house 
be  used  for  political  purposes  or  speeches." 

June  1,  1861 — The  church  doors  were  thrown  open  for  the  first  time 
except  for  a  religious  meeting.  Sixty-nine  men  enlisted  in  Company  I  of 
the  125th  Illinois  Voluntary  Infantry  Regiment. 

Sunday,  June  11,  1865 — Ordination  of  Rev.  S.  F.  Gleason,  who  served 
the  church  as  pastor  for  twenty  years. 

March  1867 — The  old  meeting  house  needing  repairs,  a  committee  was 
appointed  to  ascertain  the  cost  of  a  new  church.  Members  of  the  committee 
were  F.  L.  Scott,  I.  C.  Abbott,  and  James  Robertson. 

April  1867 — The  committee  reported  that  a  church  36x52  feet  built  of 
brick  would  cost  $5000  and  of  frame  $4,000.  The  church  voted  that  a 
building  committee  composed  of  F.  L.  Scott,  Joseph  Maxwell,  and  T.  M. 
Brown  be  authorized  to  contract  for  a  church  building,  36x52  feet  to  be 
built  of  brick. 

May,  1867 — $3130  had  been  subscribed.  T.  M.  Brown  donated  three- 
fourths  of  an  acre  of  ground  for  a  church  building  purposes  south  of  the 
graveyard.  The  three  highest  subscribers  were  F.  L.  Scott  $500,  Joseph 
Maxwell  $400,  and  Thomas  J.  Scott  $300.  The  contract  was  let  to  Pittman, 
Stein,  and  Cox  at  $4,300  who  returned  $100  as  a  donation. 

Summer  1867 — Dedication  of  the  present  church,  which  at  that  time 
faced  east  and  had  a  wooden  steeple. 

1895 — The  present  parsonage  was  acquired. 

1901 — Contract  awarded  to  Frank  Wright  to  remodel  the  church  and 
build  a  bell  tower  and  entrance  at  the  northwest  corner  of  the  building. 

1914 — The  basement  v/as  dug. 

1918 — The  original  bell  cracked  on  Armistice  Day.  The  present  bell 
was  secured  from  Mahomet  Presbyterian  Church. 

1925 — The  Sunday  school  room  on  the  north  side  was  added  and  the 
basement  completed  at  a  cost  of  $4500. 

1952 — A  formal  incorporation  of  the  church  under  the  name  of 
"Mahomet  First  Baptist  Church." 

The  Bethel  Missionary  Church  was  known  early  in  its  history  as  a 
"Close  Communion  Church."  The  old  records  contain  many  instances  of 
members  being  called  before  the  Church  for  "Acts  inconsistent  with 
Christian  Character"  and  in  the  majority  of  cases  the  members  confessed 
and  asked  forgiveness  which  was  granted.  Dancing  and  drunkeness  were 
the  subjects  of  much  discipline. 

Pastors  in  recent  years  have  included:     W.  L.   Patton    (1929-1939), 

43 


H.  Q.  Morton  (1939-1945),  C.  B.  Hilton  (1945-1949),  Peter  Siemens  (1949- 
1951),  Maurice  B.  Denham  (1951-1954),  F.  V.  Wright  (interim  Pastor  1954), 
and  the  present  pastor,  D.  J.  Unruh. 

Shiloh  Methodist  Church 


The  Mciii^uisls  ill  i'aiicake  Point  vicinity  organized  about  1854  with 
ten  members.  The  first  year,  church  services  were  held  in  the  home  of  J.  S. 
Hannah.  For  a  time  church  services  were  held  in  the  Lester  schoolhouse 
which  then  stood  one-half  mile  east  of  Pancake  Point.  (This  schoolhouse 
was  a  log  structure  with  home  made  seats  and  rude  walls.)  Later  a 
frame  school  building  was  erected  and  served  as  a  place  of  worship. 

This  Methodist  organization  grew  and  the  membership  felt  the  need 
of  a  church  building.  At  first  a  site  was  decided  upon  near  the  present 
Shiloh  Cemetery,  but  failing  here,  they  secured  the  present  spot  which  was 
deeded  to  the  Church  by  Gabriel  Bryan  so  long  it  was  used  as  a  church 
site.  John  Hubbard  Funston,  who  came  to  Illinois  from  Ohio  in  1851,  did 
much  of  the  carpenter  work  and  managed  and  planned  the  entire  work. 
The  first  Church  was  completed  and  dedicated  July  16,  1866,  by  Col.  Gran- 
ville Moody  of  Ohio,  brother-in-law  of  B.  F.  Harris  1.  This  church  was  a 
single  one-room  building  with  an  aisle  on  each  side.  The  men  and  boys 
sat  on  the  south  side  and  the  women  and  girls  on  the  north  side,  while  some 
of  the  Church  Fathers  occupied  the  Amen  corner. 

The  first  pastor  of  the  first  Church  at  Shiloh  was  Rev.  C.  Y.  Hecox. 
This  was  then  on  the  Middletown  (Mahomet)  Circuit.  In  1870  Shiloh 
became  a  part  of  Newcomb  Circuit,  then  later  in  1877  changed  and  became 
a  part  of  Fisher  Circuit.  Later  it  was  known  as  Shiloh  Charge.  Again  in 
1925  under  Rev.  J.  H.  Singleton  it  was  a  part  of  the  Shiloh  Circuit  but 
shortly  thereafter  it  became  and  remains  a  separate  charge. 

In  1902  the  second  Shiloh  Church  was  completed  and  dedicated  on 
.May  4.  The  old  church  had  been  moved  east  and  was  used  as  a  Township 
Hall.  The  dedication  sermon  was  preached  by  W.  H.  Wilder,  who  for  a 
number  of  years  was  President  of  Illinois  Wesleyan  at  Bloomington.  On 
July  19,  1916,  this  church  was  struck  by  lightning  and  burned  to  the  ground. 
The  present  Shiloh  Church,  a  beautiful  brick  building,  erected  at  a 
cost  of  $10,000,  was  dedicated  May  13,  1917,  free  of  debt.  Bishop  Anderson 
preached  the  dedicatory  sermon.  The  brick  parsonage  which  stands  just 
east  of  the  church  was  built  in  1920. 

When  Rev.  J.  H.  Singleton  disposed  of  his  tract  of  land  to  the  east 

44 


and  north,  a  small  adjoining  acreage,  Shiloh  purchased  it  as  an  addition  to 
the  church  property. 

The  Presbyterian  Church 


The  Presbyterian  Church  was  completed  in  Mahomet  in  1858.  On 
September  22,  1859,  T.  M.  Brown  with  his  wife  donated  Lots  No.  one  and 
two  by  deed,  "To  the  Trustees  of  the  Old  School  Presbyterian  Church  and 
their  successors  in  Office."  Sometime  after  1859,  the  name  was  changed  as 
indicated  by  a  mortgage  executed  April  26,  1882,  by  "The  Salem  Presby- 
terian Church  of  Mahomet,"  in  the  amount  of  $200. 

Two  families  influential  in  the  building  of  the  church  were  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  William  Herriott  who  came  from  Kentucky  in  1840,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
John  Rayburn  who  came  from  Ohio  in  1853.  Also  prior  to  1858  came  the 
James  Graham  family  of  Hensley  Township.  These  families  affiliated  at 
first  with  the  church  at  Urbana,  but  in  1858  they  proceeded  to  organize  a 
church  and  erect  their  house  of  worship  here  in  Middletown. 

Services  were  conducted  weekly  fi'om  the  beginning  until  the  church 
was  disbanded,  except  for  a  few  years  when  the  Christian  denomination  used 
their  meeting  house  under  the  leadership  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  McMillen.  The 
Presbyterians  ordained  Rev.  C.  P.  Graham  to  the  ministry.  We  might  also 
note  that  the  Rev.  Henry  Wallace  served  here  for  awhile,  he  being  "Uncle 
Henry  Wallace"  of  "Wallace's  Farmer"  whose  son  was  Secretary  of  Agri- 
culture. 

A  difference  of  opinion  arose  in  the  Mahomet  Presbyterian  Church 
during  the  political  campaign  between  Tilden  and  Hayes  in  1880,  and  as  a 
result  of  this  dispute,  no  preaching  services  were  held  for  five  years.  At  the 
end  of  that  time  an  evangelist  revived  the  church,  and  it  was  active  until 
1912  when  the  congregation  became  too  sniall  to  support  a  church,  and 
members  transferred  to  other  churches  in  the  village.  J.  G.  Venable,  pastor 
of  the  church  for  seven  years,  preached  his  farewell  sermon  on  May  19,  1912. 

The  last  public  church  service  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Mahomet 
was  held  in  September,  1914. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  bought  the  old  Methodist  parsonage  which 
was  later  known  as  the  Sarah  Young  residence.  H.  E.  Bridges  bought  the 
Presbyterian  Church  building,  partitioned  it  off,  and  for  a  number  of  years 
he  and  his  wife  lived  in  a  portion  of  it. 

The   church   bell    now  in    the   Mahomet    Baptist    Church    tower    was 

45 


A  Group  of  Presbyterian  Ladies 

Top  row,  left  to  right:  Mollie  Herriott  Bessie  Phillippe 
Third  row,  left  to  right:  Hattie  Black,  Nelle  Veneable,  Lilah  Clapper, 
Fannie  Rayburn,  Lloyde  Phillippe 

Second  row,  left  to  right:  Lulu  DeHart,  Hannah  Buckles,  Rebecca  Her- 
riott, Addie  Herriott,  Ella  Phillippe 
First  row,  left  to  right:  May  Rayburn,  Nelle  Watson  Buckles,  Belle  Snell 

originally  in  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

The  "Little  Rebel"  Presbyterian  Church  which  stood  two  miles  east 
of  the  Oak  Grove  United  Brethren  Church  for  many  years  was  very  strong 
in  its  early  ministry.  The  church  was  called  "Little  Rebel"  because  of  so 
many  southern  sympathizers  composing  its  membership  during  the  Civil 
War.  Even  after  the  war  a  great  furor  was  created  when  one  of  its  members 
in  a  prayer  (during  Grant's  administration)  referred  to  "this  rotten  Repub- 
lican cursed  nation."  This  Presbyterian  Church  was  also  called  "Jersey." 
Rev.  Mr.  Venable  was  its  last  pastor. 

The  United  Brethren  Cturch 

The  United  Brethren  Church  at  Oak  Grove  was  organized  under  the 
direction  of  Mr.  Naylor  and  Mr.  Foulk.  The  church  building  was  built 
during  the  summer  of  1880.  Services  prior  to  the  opening  of  the  church 
were  held  for  several  years  in  the  Oak  Grove  schoolhouse. 

Church  of  the  Nazarene 

In  the  early  part  of  1927  the  first  revival  meeting  was  held  in  one  of 
the  uptown  buildings  by  Rev.  Noah  Garvin  and  Rev.  Mamie  Burton. 

The  church  w,as  organized  August  27,  1927,  with  the  Rev.  Mamie 
Burton  as  pastor. 

The  first  building  was  a  small  tabernacle  which  was  moved  here 
from  Tolono  and  erected  just  north  of  Jahr's  store. 

The  ground  upon  which  tl^e  church  now  stands  was  donated  to  the 
trustees  of  said  church  by  Asberry  Adams,  so  long  as  used  for  church 
purposes.  The  present  church  building  was  completed  in  1950,  and  dedicated 
September  24,  1950. 

46 


In  1952  the  church  purchased  for  a  parsonage  the  property  known  as 
the  Ford  place,  next  to  the  old  Ford  brick  home  in  the  west  part  of  town. 

On  February  1,  1951,  Rev.  H.  K.  Burton  became  the  minister  of  the 
church. 

Cemeteries 

Jesse  Tompkins  was  the  first  person  who  died  in  the  township  and 
was  buried  on  what  was  known  as  the  farm  of  Thomas  A.  Davidson.  (This 
is  the  Edna  Herriott  farm.) 

Middletown  Cemetery,  known  as  the  Village  Cemetery,  was  laid  off 
as  a  public  burial  ground  in  1850.  One  marker  in  this  cemetery  shows  that 
a  lady  was  buried  here  when  this  was  English  territoi'y.  In  this  cemetery 
was  buried  the  first  doctor  of  Mahomet,  Dr.  Adams. 

Bryant  Cemetery,  southeast  of  town,  is  a  free  public  burial  ground. 
One  grave  is  believed  to  be  that  of  an  old  Indian  chief. 

Riverside  Cemetery  was  laid  off  as  a  public  burial  ground  in  1854,  the 
original  owner  being  J.  W.  Pancake.  On  July  16,  1870,  the  cemetery  was 
sold  to  James  Davis  for  $100.  In  1869  a  surveyor  made  a  plat  for  the 
cemetery  which  was  not  recorded  until  1883.  This  cemetery  was  sold  on 
August  2,  1921  to  Arch  and  Nancy  Thompson  and  remained  in  their  names 
until  1927  when  Ray  Bailey  fell  heir  to  it.  On  February  10,  1931,  Ray  Bailey 
sold  the  cemetery  to  J.  L.  Thompson.  On  September  24,  1937,  the  cemetery 
was  incorporated  for  endowment  with  seven  members  of  the  Board,  which 
board  is  approved  by  the  County  Judge.  The  cemetery  has  a  State  Charter. 
Ernest  Moon  is  now  President  of  this  Corporation  and  they  have  $12,000 
loaned  out  to  Mahomet  people.  The  interest  from  this  money  is  used  to 
take  care  of  this  cemetery.  James  Smith  has  worked  at  the  Riverside 
Cemetery  off  and  on  since  he  was  about  12  years  old  but  worked  continu- 
ously from  1927  to  1947  at  which  time  he  was  forced  to  give  up  his  work 
because  of  ill  health. 

Schools 

The  first  school  on  the  Sangamon  was  taught  by  Charles  Cooper  in 
1835.  It  was  a  log  cabin  16x18,  with  windows  of  greased  paper.  It  was 
located  one-half  mile  south  of  Mahomet,  then  Middletown.  Pupils  were 
J.  R.  Robertson,  the  Maxwells,  the  Scotts,  the  Osborns,  and  the  Lindseys. 

Bert  Bailey's  residence  was  first  used  as  a  schoolhouse  and  was 
possibly  the  first  schoolhouse  in  the  town  of  Middletown. 

47 


According  to  one  story  told,  the  first  log  schoolhouse  east  of  Mahomet 
stood  at  or  near  the  present  east  line  fence  of  the  Timber  Edge  farm  and 
back  from  the  road  about  two  hundred  feet. 

The  front  part  of  the  house  of  Mrs.  Rose  Adams'  mother,  Mrs.  William 
Lindsey,  was  once  used  as  a  schoolhouse. 

Several  living  persons  recall  a  log  school  at  the  southeast  corner  of 
what  has  been  called  "Rayburn  Corner,"  north  of  the  Frank  Taylor  farm. 
Later  this  was  torn  down  and  a  frame  school  built  upon  its  site  which  was 
later  moved  to  the  site  of  the  Union  School.  Later  Harmony  School,  district 
28,  was  built  one-half  mile  north  of  U.  S.  Route  150.  Cherry  Grove  School 
was  built  in  1870. 

In  Stewart's  history  of  Champaign  County,  page  491,  S.  C.  Abbott 
says:  "In  1847  a  frame  house  was  built  near  where  William  Lindsey  now 
lives,  and  in  1851  a  two-story  frame  schoolhouse  near  where  the  present 
brick  schoolhouse  now  stands.  This  schoolhouse  stood  near  the  site  of  the 
old  well  house  on  the  present  grade  school  grounds.  It  was  later  a  part  of 
the  'Vet'  Lewis  property,  south  of  the  grade  school  grounds  and  known  as 
the  'Flats.'  " 

"When  I  came  to  Mahomet  about  1895,"  says  Mrs.  Ethel  Jones,  "the 
schoolhouse  used  to  be  in  the  Old  Flat  building  which  has  now  been  lorn 
down.  Then  they  built  a  four-room  brick,  two  rooms  down  and  two  up. 
This  was  later  moved  and  is  now  a  part  of  the  house  where  'Nash'  Smith 
formerly  lived." 

Later,  the  four-room  brick  was  torn  down  and  a  new  building  built 
like  the  present  one.  They  went  into  the  building  in  January,  1910,  and  in 
May,  the  day  after  school  closed,  the  building  burned.  The  present  building 
was  built  in  the  same  place  and  exactly  like  the  one  that  burned.  Records 
show  Myrta  Morehouse  employed  as  the  teacher  at  $35  a  month. 


Grade  School  Fire  1910 


In  1914,  according  to  the  Sucker  State,  "Two  gasoline  lamps  have 
been  purchased  for  the  high  school."  In  1916,  "State  Superintendent  of 
Public  Instruction  has  notified  Principal  C.  P.  Bauman  that  the  Mahomet 
High  School  has  now  been  given  probationary  recognition  as  a  four-year 

48 


high  school.     The  tuition  rate  has  been  raised  to  $600,  a  sum  sufficient  to 
pay  one  of  the  teachers." 

"Dad"  Heavins  was  janitor  at  the  grade  school  building  from  1910  to 
1936,  taking  out  one  year  in  1922  to  serve  as  janitor  at  the  high  school.  The 
present  high  school  building  was  completed  in  1921.  Ora  Crowley  was 
janitor  at  the  high  school  building  from  June  19,  1923  to  August  15,  1945. 
"Orie"  was  more  than  a  janitor.  He  knew  all  of  the  students,  and  to  this 
day  knows  the  year  of  their  graduation,  and  the  members  of  the  various 
graduating  classes.  In  February,  1937,  the  north  end  of  the  high  school  was 
completed. 


A  Grade  School  Room 

Front  row,  left  to  right:  Marion  Babb,  Paul  Buckles,  Raye  Maxwell, 
Sidney  Smith,  Virgil  Hyatt,  Kenneth  Smoot 

Second  row,  left  to  right:  Myrna  Daniels,  June  Foster,  Nettie  Sherman, 
Helen  Kimble,  Frances  Patton,  Viola  Carter,  Esther  Beals,  Rosa  Siburt 
Third  row,  left  to  right:  C.  E.  Coffin,  Verna  Daniels,  Zelda  Smith,  Faye 
Maxwell,  Iva  Babb,  Mary  Campbell,  Musa  Roberts,  Elsie  Smith,  Dalene 
Roberts,  Hazel  Beals,  Gertrude  Todd,  E.  E.  Garver 

Fourth  row,  left  to  right:  Milo  Lefever,  Dick  Foster,  Cecil  Pike,  ?  , 
Ed  Record,  Philip  McLaughlin 

Fifth  row,  left  to  right:  Dale  Warren,  Amos  Beals,  George  Irle,  Elmer 
Welch,      ?       ,  Howard  "Casey"  Jones,  Willis  Lindsey 

Superintendent  O.  W.  Osborne  writes  on  the  progress  of  Mahomet 
schools:  "One  of  the  biggest  changes  in  the  schools  of  Mahomet  and 
Seymour  communities  came  with  reorganization  to  form  a  unit  district  in 
1948.  Many  rural  school  districts  were  incorporated  into  a  unit  which 
comprised  ninety  square  miles.  Only  Mahomet  High  School  remained  open 
to  accomodate  the  graduates  of  the  elementary  schools  of  the  unit;  the  three- 
year  high  school  at  Seymour  became  a  grade  school  only.  The  Mahomet  and 
Seymour  Grade  schools  each  enroll  children  in  grades  one  through   eight. 

"With  the  reorganization  came  additional  stress  on  vocal  and  instru- 
mental music,  and  boys'  and  girls'  physical  education.  A  hot  lunch  program 
was  begun  in  all  three  centers,  having  been  started  earlier  at  the  Mahomet 
Grade  School  under  the  sponsorship  of  the  P-T.A.  Additional  equipment 
and  improvements  have  been  added  yearly  until  the  kitchens  are  now  well 


49 


equipped  to  serve  the  boys  and  girls.  Transportation  by  bus  of  all  rural 
children  in  the  unit  has  been  a  natural  outgrowth  of  unit  organization. 

"Within  a  couple  of  years  it  was  realized  that  the  Mahomet  Grade 
School  could  no  longer  provide  proper  facilities  nor  sufficient  space  for  the 
pupils  in  that  center.  Plans  were  formulated  and  a  bond  issue  passed  to 
build  an  addition  to  house  the  first  five  or  six  grades  and  to  provide  a 
cafeteria  and  community  room.  This  building  costing  $225,000  was  first 
used  in  the  Fall  of  1952. 

"Over  the  last  six  years  considerable  improvement  in  educational 
offerings  for  boys  and  girls  have  been  developed  which  were  made  possible 
only  by  the  co-operation  of  the  school  patrons  throughout  the  unit.  Pros- 
pects for  enrollments  for  the  Fall  of  1955  are  estimated  to  be:  Mahomet 
High  School  150-155  students;  Mahomet  Grade  School  approximately  350 
pupils;  Seymour  Grade  School  about  115." 

ORGANIZATIONS 

Senior  Woman's  Club 

The  Senior  Woman's  Club  was  organized  in  the  home  of  Mrs.  J.  O. 
Pearman  on  January  5,  1911.  Mrs.  J.  N.  Black  was  the  first  president. 
There  were  forty-two  charter  members  and  two  honorary  members.  The 
membership  for  1954-55  is  sixty-seven,  with  Mrs.  William  Habberton  as 
president.    Mrs.  William  Johnson,  a  charter  member,  is  Club  Mother. 

Mahomet  Town  and  Country  Club 

This  group  of  ladies  was  organized  under  "Mahomet  Junior  Woman's 
Club"  November,  1937.  There  were  twelve  charter  members  with  Mary 
Dale  Patton  as  President.  In  1954-1955  the  club  changed  its  name  to 
"Mahomet  Town  and  Country  Club."  The  present  officers  are:  president, 
Wanda  Shoemaker;  first  vice  president,  Phyllis  Rayburn;  second  vice  presi- 
dent, Georgia  Hickle;  secretary,  Verna  Armstrong;  treasurer,  Rosemary 
Buker;  assistant  secretary-treasurer,  Isabelle  Parnell.  There  are  forty-eight 
members. 

Mahomet  Farm  Bureau  Unit 

The  Mahomet  Unit  of  the  Farm  Bureau  was  organized  in  1914  under 
Farm  Advisor,  Charles  Oathout,  with  M.  O.  Stover  as  Unit  Director.  We 
have  no  record  of  the  number  of  farmers  who  were  charter  members;  Frank 
W.  Taylor  and  "Colonel"  Phillippe  are  the  only  living  ones. 

In  this  year,  1955,  there  are  150  members  in  this  Unit  with  Keith 
Clapper  as  Unit  Director.  This  is  one  of  the  strongest  units  in  the  County. 
Meetings  are  held  on  the  first  Wednesday  night  of  each  month  at  the  high 
school.  The  members  and  the  wives  are  loyal  to  their  organization  both  in 
attendance  and  in  food  preparation. 

The  Four-H,  an   organization  of  youth,  is   sponsored   by   the  Farm   and 
Home  Bureau. 

Mahomet  Home  Bureau 

The  Mahomet  Home  Bureau  Unit  was  organized  in  1921  at  a  meeting 
held  in  the  country  home  of  Mrs.  B.  F.  Rayburn,  with  seventeen  members. 
Mrs.  Rayburn  was  elected  president. 

The  officers  for  1955  are:  Mrs.  Fred  Mohr,  president;  Mrs.  Elmer 
Woodard,  vice  president;  and  Mrs.  Wm.  Barnes,  secretary-treasurer.  The 
present  membership  is  thirty-six. 

50 


Grand  Army  of  the  Republic 

Post  members  of  G.  A.  R.  of  1884  were  William  P.  Dick,  Reuben  M. 
Bell,  B.  F.  Thomas,  W.  M.  Horney,  W.  H.  McCracken,  James  G.  Watson,  John 
P.  Stucky,  Thomas  J.  Scott,  David  J.  Ford,  S.  C.  Abbott,  Peter  Kieffer,  John 
Lott,  Samuel  Hyde,  M.  Pugh,  Richard  Johnston,  David  Fisher,  T.  M.  Brown, 
William  Hubbard,  Benjamin  McGath,  J.  P.  Starling,  H.  W.  Ellis,  George 
Warner,  Joshua  Smith,  I.  C.  Abbott,  Joseph  Ware,  George  L.  Beaver,  W.  T. 
Holt,  G.  W.  Jackson,  J.  Culver,  and  E.  C.  Bartholow. 

Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution 

Mrs.  Elbert  W.  Morrison  and  Mrs.  William  Habberton  have  been 
members  of  the  Alliance  Chapter  of  the  "Daughters  of  the  American  Revo- 
lution" for  several  years.  Mrs.  Robert  Clapper,  Sr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  Patton 
became  members  in  1954-1955. 

In  September  1952  a  ceremony  was  conducted  in  the  village  cemetery 
when  a  "Real  Daughter"  marker  was  placed  at  the  grave  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Conger  Abbott,  daughter  of  Capt.  David  Conger  and  the  granddaughter  of 
Gen.  Joseph  Jackson,  both  of  whom  served  in  the  Revolutionary  Army. 
Mrs.  Elbert  W.  Morrison  of  Mahomet,  a  great-granddaughter  of  Mrs.  Abbott, 
accepted  the  marker  which  was  the  first  of  its  kind  to  be  placed  in  this 
vicinity  since  few  of  the  "real"  daughters  of  the  Revolution  had  ventured  so 
far  West. 

The  American  Legion  Post  1015 

The  American  Legion  Post  1015,  Mahomet,  Illinois,  was  chartered  in 
1946  with  W.  Paul  Jones  as  its  first  Commander. 

During  the  first  four  years  Post  meetings  were  held  in  the  City 
building  and  in  Don  Robert's  Building.  In  1950  ground  was  purchased  and 
the  Post  Home  was  built  on  the  north  side  of  Main  street  adjacent  to  the 
Masonic  building. 

Past  Commanders  of  the  Post,  up  to  the  time  of  this  publication,  are 
W.  Paul  Jones,  Victor  Wood,  Fred  Grindley,  Wendell  Phillippe,  and  Everett 
Wood.  Harold  Hickle  is  the  present  Commander,  and  the  membership  totals 
109,  an  all-time  high  in  the  history  of  the  Post. 

Since  being  chartered,  the  membership  has  been  active  in  civic  affairs 
and  in  promoting  the  basic  programs  of  the  National  Organization,  namely, 
Americanism,  Child  Welfare,  Rehabilitation,  and  Civil  Defense. 

The  American  Legion  Auxiliary  of  Post  1015 

The  Auxiliary  of  Post  1015  was  chartered  in  May,  1947  with  14 
charter  members  and  Opal  Wood  as  its  president. 

The  Unit  has  actively  supported  the  Legion  Post  in  all  of  its  pi-ograms. 

Past  Presidents  of  the  Unit  are  Opal  Wood,  Mary  Patton,  Hilda 
Kimble,  Geraldine  Hickle,  Sylvia  Swartz,  and  Dorothea  Scott.  Thelma 
Parrett  is  the  president  at  the  time  of  this  publication,  and  the  membership 
of  the  Unit  is  56,  which  is  an  all-time  high. 

Masonic  Lodge 

Mahomet  Lodge  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  No.  220  was  granted  a  charter  from  the 
Most  Worshipful  Grand  Lodge  of  the  State  of  Illinois  on  October  7,  1856. 
The  first  officers  were:  Worshipful  Master,  P.  M.  Parks;  Senior  Warden, 
William  Stewart;  Junior  Warden,  William  Walters. 

The  dispensation  for  this  lodge  was  granted  January  23,  1856  by  W.  B. 

51 


Herrick,  then  Grand  Master  of  Illinois,  to  open  a  lodge  of  Masons  at 
Middletown,  Champaign  County,  Illinois,  to  be  known  as  "Mahomet  Lodge, 
U.  D." 

The  Masonic  Lodge  first  met  in  the  old  Union  Hall,  located  on  what 
is  now  the  grade  school  yard.  The  old  Masonic  building  situated  on  Lot. 
No.  38  was  dedicated  January  1,  1876  and  cost  $1400.  The  new  building,  a 
two-story  one,  located  on  the  same  site  was  dedicated  in  1949. 

The  present  officers  are:  Worshipful  Master,  Raymond  Primmer; 
Senior  Warden,  Virgil  Watts;  Junior  Warden,  Dean  Holderfield. 

Eastern  Star 

Mecca  Chapter,  No.  901,  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star  was  instituted  at 
Mahomet  on  October  2,  1923.  There  were  thirty-three  charter  members. 
The  membership  on  April  1,  1955  was  one  hundred  and  thirty.  Mrs.  Myrta 
Dale  was  the  first  Worthy  Matron,  and  Charles  Patton  the  first  Worthy 
Patron.  The  1955  Worthy  Matron  is  Mrs.  Betty  Moon  and  Worthy  Patron  is 
Harold  Moon.  Mrs.  Nelle  Morrison  was  the  only  Grand  Lecturer  from 
Mecca  Chapter,  and  served  this  Chapter  for  fifteen  years.  She  now  holds 
the  title  of  Grand  Lecturer  Emeritus. 

I.  O.  O.  F. 

The  Pacific  encampment  No.  126,  I.  O.  O.  F.  dates  its  existence  back 
to  1871.  The  charter  members  were  James  R.  Robertson,  H.  S.  Ore,  Wash- 
ington Nebeker,  Samuel  Steed,  Lafayette  Savage,  E.  B.  Smith  and  John 
Beers. 

The  meetings  were  originally  held  in  the  Union  Hall  which  was 
located  at  that  time  on  what  is  now  the  grade  school  grounds.  This  building 
burned  down  in  May,  1876  and  the  encampment  suffered  greatly,  losing  all 
of  their  vestments,  etc. 

In  1892  the  Pacific  encampment  No.  529,  I.  O.  O.  F.  was  formed.  The 
present  officers  are:  Noble  Grand,  George  Brown;  Vice  Grand,  Jim  Hicks; 
Secretary,  George  Lewis;  and  Treasurer,  George  Wills. 

Rebekah  Lodge 

The  Rebekah  Lodge  No.  417  was  formed  November  8,  1895.  The  first 
Noble  Grand  was  Mrs.  Jim  Lott  and  Florence  Pinkston  was  Vice  Grand. 

Charter  members  still  living  are  Jerry  Johnston,  Will  and  Fanny 
Johnston,  Lola  Wiles,  and  Anna  Purnell. 

The  present  officers  are:  Noble  Grand,  Mrs.  Rosa  Hise;  Vice  Grand, 
Mrs.  Bessie  Keller;  Recording  Secretary,  Mrs.  Faye  Carl;  Financial  Secre- 
tary, Mrs.  Effie  Gossard,  and  Treasurer,  Mrs.  Maude  Keene. 

Mahamet  Community  Boosters  Club 

A  group  of  thirty-three  men  were  invited  as  the  guests  of  Clyde 
Taylor,  at  that  time  distributor  of  Dairy  Products  in  Mahomet,  to  a  dinner 
held  in  the  M'ahomet  Cafe,  October  11,  1951.  This  was  the  organizational 
meeting  of  the  Boosters  Club.  J.  E.  Campbell  was  elected  the  first  president, 
succeeded  by  J.  M.  Dowell,  J.  F.  Parker,  and  now  the  president  is  Robert  D. 
Graham,  Jr. 

Some  activities  sponsored  by  the  Club  have  been  Spring  Cleanup,  the 
Summer  Recreation  Program,  the  Corn  Belt  Fire  Protection  District  and 
their  latest  project  involves  an  attempt  to  organize  a  bank  in  Mahomet. 
There  have  been  over  ninety  men  as  members.  The  meetings  are  held  on 
the  second  Thursday  of  the  month. 

52 


Boy  Scouts 

We  have  no  records  of  the  first  Boy  Scouts  organization  in  Mahomet 
but  we  do  know  there  was  a  Lone  Troop  in  1912,  the  members  being  Harold 
Sloan,  George  Miller,  Jr.,  Joe  Miller,  Vivian  Lindsey,  Nathan  Black,  Bi'yan 
Stevens,  and  Ray  Bailey  with  Chet  Morehouse  acting  as  leader. 

Records  kept  show  the  first  Scout  Troop,  organized  May,  1931,  was 
sponsored  by  the  Mothers'  Club  of  the  Grade  School.  Leaders  of  the  Scouts 
•were:  H.  R.  Sparks,  Scoutmaster;  Rex  Davis,  Assistant  Scoutmaster;  Troop 
Committee,  Charles  Patton,  C.  W.  Pugh,  Ernest  Stout,  F.  L.  Kroner,  and 
A.  L.  Blair.  Twenty-two  boys  were  registered.  Troop  25  is  now  sponsored 
by  the  Methodist  Mens  Organization  with  seven  adults  and  twenty  boys. 

The  Cub  Pack  was  first  organized  November  30,  1947,  sponsored  by 
the  Mahomet  Parent-Teachers  Association.  The  Institutional  Representative 
was  R.  Raymond  Primmer;  Chairman,  Herbert  Q.  Cade;  Pack  Committee, 
Paul  E.  Miller  and  Harvey  K.  Gaither;  Cubmaster,  Ray  Budde;  Den  Mothers, 
Hazel  Gaither,  June  Cade,  Evelyn  N.  Miller,  Fay  R.  Fisher,  and  lona  Ruth 
Miller.  There  were  nine  boys  registered.  Pack  25,  now  sponsored  by  the 
P-T.  A.,  have  twelve  adults  and  twenty-four  boys. 

A  Boy  Scout  cabin  was  erected  on  the  banks  of  the  Sangamon  in  1932. 
The  spot  chosen  for  this  cabin  was  that  one  which  had  been  the  original 
site  of  Mahomet  in  1832 — near  the  water  mill,  across  the  road  from  the 
original  post  office,  not  too  far  from  the  "Seven  Gal"  Tavern  and  at  almost 
the  same  place  where  the  old  settlers  left  the  timber  road  to  ford  the  river — 
some  one  hundred  yards  north  of  Route  150. 

The  inside  measurements  of  the  Boy  Scout  cabin  were  20x24;  the 
logs  were  all  white  oak  which  were  cut  from  the  Asa  S.  Chapman  timber. 
Charles  Patton,  Boy  Scout  Commissioner  at  that  time,  donated  all  of 
the  sawed  lumber,  windows  and  doors.  The  cabin  was  the  handiwork  of 
Mr.  Patton  and  fifty  community-spirited  Mahomet  men  who  volunteered 
their  services.  At  the  Mahomet  Fall  Festival  in  1932  (when  Mahomet  was 
celebrating  its  Centennial)  an  antique  and  Indian  relic  exhibition  was  held 
in  this  cabin.  The  cabin  was  later  moved  to  the  Lake  of  the  Woods  and  is 
still  being  used  by  the  Boy  Scouts. 

Mahomet  Girl  Scouts 

Comparable  to,  but  a  different  organization  from  the  Girl  Scouts  was 
the  Camp  Fire  Girls.  We  have  no  record  on  this  organization  but  we  do 
know  that  it  was  an  active  one  about  1915.  A  picture  was  seen  of  these 
Camp  Fire  Girls  when  Martha  Pike  was  their  leader — all  seated  on  their 
horses  in  front  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

(SS) — Camp  Fire  Girls  had  a  farewell  for  Mildred  and  Elmer  Strevey 
who  will  leave  for  Chelan,  Washington. 

A  lone  troop  of  the  Girl  Scouts  was  organized  in  1944 — Mahomet 
Intermediate  Girl  Scout  Troop  1.  This  Troop  was  sponsored  by  the  Junior 
Woman's  Club  with  Lois  Foltz  as  the  leader  and  eight  registered  members. 
In  1951  Mahomet's  Troop  became  a  part  of  the  Champaign  Area  Girl  Scout 
Council. 

In  1951  a  Fourth  Grade  Brownie  Troop  was  organized  under  the 
leadership  of  Shirley  Briere  but  disbanded  at  the  end  of  the  year.  In  1954 
and  1955  a  Second  Grade  Brownie  Scout  Troop  has  been  active  under  the 
leadership  of  Laverne  Cooke  and  Vera  Oliger. 

A  Senior  Scout  Patrol  including  Frances  Busch,  Charlotte  Honn, 
Dianne  Pasley,  and  Janet  Roberts,  all  girls  with  five  years  scouting  experi- 
ence, was  formed  in  1954  with  Frances  Busch  as  the  leader. 

53 


ACTIVITIES 

"I  well  remember  when  Blaine  ran  for  President  of  the  United 
States,"  wrote  Fred  Stearns.  "Mahomet  had  a  parade.  Everyone  carried 
a  torch.  The  parade  started  at  Ford's  store  which  was  headquarters  for  the 
Republicans.  Byron  Abbott  usually  got  excited  on  such  occasions,  and  his 
demonstrations  were  at  times  very  funny  and  to  the  point.  He  was  showing 
the  boys  how  to  fire  cannon  firecrackers  when  one  touched  off  and  blew 
off  his  thumb." 

Fourth  of  July  celebrations  were  often  held  in  Carson's  Woods,  west 
of  Guy  Warner's  present  place  of  business.  July  4,  1895,  was  such  an  out- 
standing celebration  that  Mrs.  Charles  Purnell  says  her  father,  R.  G.  Ray- 
burn,  did  not  even  go  home  in  the  evening  to  do  his  chores. 

The  account  of  this  celebration  which  was  given  under  date  of  July  5, 
in  the  home  town  paper  reads— "Big  Celebration— one  of  the  best  crowds 
ever  assembled.  Four  thousand  people  took  part  in  the  great  event.  July 
4th  is  past  but  Mahomet's  big  celebration  will  be  remembered  for  years  as 

the  best  in  the  history  of  the  township The  grove  where  the  celebration 

was  held  is  one  of  the  prettiest  in  Champaign  or  any  other  County  and  was 

right  on  the  banks   of  the  river [This  grove  south  of  town,  owned  by 

J.  W.  Parks  was  located  on  the  south  side  of  the  Sangamon— the  Harry 
Boyer  land  today.]  Miss  Bessie  Herriott  was  the  goddess  of  liberty  and 
attracted  considerable  attention." 


Cam  Carnival  1910 

Persons  foremost  in  the  picture,  and  to  the  right  are  Mrs.  Philip  Mohr 
and  son,  Carl,  William  Rayburn,  Wiley  Davis,  and  Francis  Caldwell 


For  many  years  Mahomet  held  a  carnival  and  street  fair  in  September, 
lasting  from  one  to  three  days.  Prize  winners  at  one  of  these  included: 
Boy's  riding  contest.  Rex  Davis;  kiddie  car,  Harold  Truitt;  coaster  wagon, 
Franklin  Daniels;  boy's  foot  race,  Ralph  Castor;  girl's  foot  race,  Myrna 
Daniels;  women's  ball  throwing  contest,  Mrs.  Wyatt;  men's  ball  throwing 
contest,  C.  C.  Thurston;  oldest  person  present,  J.  Q.  Thomas;  cookie  eating 
contest,  Keith  Bryan;  bicycle  race,  James  Campbell;  nail  driving  contest, 
Mrs.  Fred  Taylor;   sugar  cookies,   Audie   Lindsey;   white   bread,   Mrs.    Len 

54 


Rayburn;  mixed  pickle,  Mrs.  Cecil  Pittman;  peaches,  Elmer  Hawkins;  apples, 
C.  A.  Fogel;  white  potatoes,  Robert  Truitt;  peanuts,  Douglas  Parnell. 


■;-.>.\-:,---'^:-s^':": 


Men  at  Carnival  in  1910 

Front  row,  left  to  right:  T.  C.  Wilson,  R.  F.  Daniels,  Bill  Hayward,  John 
Hayward,  John  Dickson,  H.  J.  Morehouse,  Robert  Truitt,  J.  C.  W.  Pitt- 
man,  Charles  Dickson,  Douglas  Parnell,  W.  Q.  Hood,  Fred  Barber,  W.  H. 
Holzer,  James  Young 

Back  row,  left  to  right:  Frank  Bryan,  George  Sackriter,  John  Ruhl, 
C.  B.  Hoit,  Ed  Sloan,  M.  O.  Stover,  Ed  Lucas,  Dudley  Herriott,  Will 
Yancey,  William  Wykle,  I.  T.  Bridges,       ? 


Popular  Mahomet  Band 

Front  row,  left  to  right:  Ernest  Quayle,  Jerry  Johnston,  Ernest  Stout, 

William  "Fid"  Connor,  Fred  Quayle,  Harry  Quayle 

Middle  row,  left  to  right:  Tom  Barker,  Charles  "Coxey"  Carson,  Nash 

"Brigady"  Smith,  Ed  Lewis,  "Stub"  Carr 

Top  row,  left  to  right:  William  Adams,  Harry  "Hap"  Metters,  Arthur 

Armstrong,  Elmer  Miller,  Frank  Barber,  Henry  "Hiney"  Voss 


An  article  in  a  newspaper  in  1900  states:  "Saturday  an  all-day  and 
evening  picnic  will  be  held  at  the  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  C.  W.  Pittman, 
west  of  town,  and  an  eflort  is  being  made  to  make  it  a  complete  success  in 
every  way.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pittman  have  a  reputation  as  royal  entertainers 
and  will  leave  nothing  undone  to  take  care  of  all  who  come." 

55 


This  probably  marked  the  beginning  of  what  was  later  referred  to  as 
the  "Farmers'  Picnic,"  held  each  year  in  the  Pittman  Grove  one  and  a  half 
miles  west  of  town.  The  picnic  was  always  held  in  September,  and  people 
for  miles  around  attended  with  their  baskets  of  food.  (These  were  still 
being  held  as  late  as  1921.)  A  good  program  was  planned  for  the  afternoon 
when  everyone  assembled  in  the  shade  to  sit  on  the  "comfortable"  plank 
seats.  One  attraction  was  the  baseball  game.  How  well  we  remember  the 
big  tank  of  water  and  the  tin  cup  hanging  by  its  side! 


Hood  Dinner  Table 

Another  summer  attraction  in  Mahomet  was  the  Chautauqua  which 
was  held  in  a  big  tent  on  the  south  lawn  of  the  grade  school.  Afternoon  and 
evening  programs  were  held  for  about  a  week,  with  much  outstanding 
musical  and  literary  talent  coming  from  all  over  the  country.  The  "water 
fountain"  for  the  Chautauqua  was  the  same  as  at  the  Farmers'  Picnic,  a  big 
open  tank  of  water  and  a  tin  cup.  , 

In  1932.  Mahomet  celebrated  its  centennial.  There  was  a  parade  with 
oxen.  Robert  Truitt  and  Lon  Jones,  Sr.  rode  horses,  decorated  for  the 
occasion.  Albert  "Slim"  Jones  took  the  part  of  "Abe"  Lincoln.  It  is  to  be 
noted  that  Mahomet  was  established  years  before  many  other  towns  in 
central  Illinois  who  are  currently  holding  their  centennial  celebrations. 


EARLY  RESIDENCES 

Between  1836-54,  the  nearest  thing  to  a  settlement  was  Benjamin  F. 
Harris'  Home  Place.  Mr.  Harris  bought  and  homesteaded  all  of  that  south- 
west part  of  Mahomet  township,  consisting  of  more  than  2000  acres  of  land. 
County  histories  record  that  Peter  Cartwright  and  Abraham  Lincoln  were 
often  visitors  in  the  Harris  home. 

On  Lots  25-27  there  was  built  in  1876  by  James  Davidson  a  two- 
story  frame  residence,  later  known  as  the  Silas  Purnell  home.  (This  is  west 
of  the  grade  school  yard.)  At  one  time  it  was  known  as  the  finest  residence 
in  Mahomet;  in  it  was  the  only  bathroom  in  the  town.  The  inside  of  the 
tub  was  all  copper,  and  the  cabinet  which  enclosed  it  was  solid  walnut.  The 
house  was  purchased  by  B.  F.  Rayburn  and  moved  to  his  property  where  he 
lives  today.     (This  copper  tub  is  still  in  Mr.  Rayburn's  possession.) 

Mrs.  Eleanor  Scott  Bellinger  was  born  in  the  house  on  her  father's 
farm  (where  James  Kroner  now  lives).  Fielding  L.  Scott,  father  of  Mrs. 
Bellinger,  homesteaded  this  land  in  1836. 

Byron  Abbott  came  back  from  the  Civil  War  wounded.  Fearing  his 
inability  to  care  for  and  support  his  family  he  bought  land  extending  from 

56 


^^^^KuJ^^^H 

w  '"■  '  w^^- ^^ H         ^  '      '^' 

*• 

* 

Octcgtnaiians  Photographed  in  1939 

Front  row,  left  to  right:  Frank  Stout,  John  Abbott,  Albert  Wright,  David 
Caldwell,  Sylvester  F.  Lewis,  Jacob  Pittman 

Back  row,  left  to  right:  Allen  G.  Foster,  Doctor  J.  O.  Pearman,  Thomas 
Quayle,  James  W.  Herriott,  Henry  F.  Dickerson 

the  Lillie  Thomas  home  on  through  to  what  is  known  as  "Abbott  Row."  In 
this  addition,  Mr.  Abbott  planted  a  large  orchard  believing  he  would  bs 
able  to  make  a  living  from  the  sale  of  his  fruit.  Originally,  these  seven 
houses  were  all  built  alike  and  were  painted  red.  These  four-room  dwell- 
ings were  first  rented  at  five  dollars  a  month. 

One  of  the  oldest  houses  in  this  community  is  the  one  now  located 
on  the  farm  of  Mrs.  Charles  Purnell,  built  in  1861.  It  was  at  this  farm  that 
John  Rayburn  settled  when  he  came  in  a  covered  wagon  from  Ohio  in  1853. 
Originally  there  was  built  a  log  house  and  soon  after  the  lumber  was  cut 
from  the  nearby  timbers  and  the  present  house  was  built,  a  two-story 
structure  (and  as  previously  told  the  top  story  was  blown  off  in  the  tornado 
of  1902). 

When  Mrs.  Purnell  was  a  child  she  would  go  with  her  brothers  and 
sisters  (from  Iheir  homeplace  across  the  field)  to  this  old  house  which  was 
at  that  time  being  used  for  the  storage  of  grain  and  in  play  the  children 
would  tell  each  other,  "Old  Caleb"  (a  familiar  tramp  in  the  area)  "will 
get  you."  Several  years  later  "Old  Caleb"  told  Mr.  Rayburn  that  once  when 
tlie  children  had  been  playing  at  the  house  he  had  actually  been  in  the 
upstairs  at  the  time.  How  frightened  these  children  would  have  been  had 
he  appeared  on  the  scene! 

Mr.  Purnell  said  that  as  a  child  he  would  close  his  eyes  when  driving 
by  this  place  for  fear  the  house  (so  tall  and  situated  on  a  hill)  would  fall  over 
on  him.  Little  did  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Purnell  realize  that  later  the  same  frame 
house  with  its  oak  beams  and  sills  would  be  remodeled  and  serve  as  their 
home  for  thirty  years. 

Mrs.  Ida  Grindley  said  this  Rayburn  house  was  always  referred  to  as 
the  "Weaning  House"  for  as  each  child  got  married  he  would  first  settle 
here  with  his  new  wife  and  would  live  here  until  he  could  more  or  less  get 
on  his  feet  and  move  to  a  better  location.     Mrs.  Grindley  said  her  mother 

57 


would  visit  here  and  they  could  go  out  from  the  door  upstairs,  on  to  the 
portico,  and  pick  cherries  from  the  large  tree  which  grew  nearby. 

Supervisors 

The  following  men  were  supervisors  of  Middletown  Township:  1861, 
H.  L.  Wilson;  1862-63,  B.  F.  Harris;  1864-65,  Washington  Nebeker.  Super- 
visors in  more  recent  years  have  been  John  Hayward,  M.  A.  "Colonel" 
Phillippe,  and  Frank  W.  Taylor. 

Mahomet  Fire  Department 

Mahomet's  first  fire  wagon  was  a  two-wheel  chemical  cart  purchased 
in  1917.  The  cart  had  two  50-gallon  chemical  tanks  which  used  soda  and 
acid.  Later,  the  chemical  cart  was  mounted  on  an  old  Model  T  Ford  truck. 
In  1938-39  the  village  water  system  was  built  and  in  February  1940  the 
village  purchased  800  feet  of  21/2 -inch  and  200  feet  of  lV2-inch  fire  hose. 
Funds  for  the  purchase  of  the  hose  were,  on  the  whole,  raised  by  dances  in 
Don  Robert's  Building  on  Main  Street.  James  Campbell  and  Guy  Warner 
devoted  much  time  and  work  to  the  project.  Don  Roberts  gave  the  village 
a  very  low  rate  for  the  use  of  his  building. 

In  1946  a  used  fire  truck  was  purchased  from  the  City  of  Clinton, 
Illinois,  with  a  pumper  and  booster  tank.  Later  this  pumper  was  discarded 
and  a  new  one  was  purchased  from  the  U.  S.  Government  army  surplus. 

A  volunteer  fire  department  was  organized  in  August  1944.  Vic  Wood 
was  the  first  fire  chief  until  he  was  called  into  service;  then  Harold  Moon 
took  his  place.  A.  O.  Jahr  has  always  been  the  Assistant  Chief.  At  this 
time  21  volunteer  firemen  were  appointed  by  the  Village  Board. 

Donald  Dawkins  was  appointed  Fire  Chief  in  1952  and  in  July  1953 
was  appointed  Chief  of  the  new  Corn  Belt  Fire  Protection  District  with 
A.  O.  Jahr  as  Assistant  Chief.  One  new  fire  truck  was  purchased  in 
December  1953  which  consisted  of  one  500-gallon  pumper  per  100  feet  of 
2 1/2 -inch  hose  and  400  feet  of  11/2 -inch  hose  and  carries  500  gallons  of  water. 
Also  one  1000-gallon  tank  wagon  with  auxiliary  pump  mounted  on  the  rear. 
The  Mahomet  Fire  Department  now  has  two  pumper  trucks  and  one  1000- 
gallon  tank  wagon.  Since  the  new  department  was  organized,  the  law 
requires  the  department  to  carry  28  firemen. 

The  money  for  the  siren  installed  on  the  water  tower  was  obtained 
through  donations  from  citizens  of  the  town. 

Some  residents  recall  the  time  Amos  Beals  took  the  old  fire  truck 
around  the  Post  Office  corner  too  fast  (on  the  way  to  John  Hayward's 
house  fire).     The  truck  upset.     The  house  burned  down. 

Humorous  or  Unusual  Incidents 

A  log  cabin  stood  on  what  is  today  the  "Andy"  Mitchell  farm.  J.  H. 
Hayward  lived  there,  and  James  H.  Johnson,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Merle 
Hayward  Clapper,  died  February  8,  1870.  This  was  during  the  time  of  a 
very  deep  snow,  and  the  roads  were  impassable.  The  body  was  carried 
down  across  the  fields  south  to  the  railroad  tracks,  a  train  was  flagged,  and 
the  body  taken  into  Champaign  for  burial. 

The  calaboose  (jail)  stood  north  of  the  City  Building.  Some  can 
remember  on  Hallowe'en  when  a  wagon  was  set  astride  its  roof.  Others 
recall  when  a  certain  young  man  was  locked  in  the  calaboose,  and  B.  F. 
Rayburn  was  the  guard.  Mr.  Rayburn,  deciding  that  all  was  under  control, 
left  about  4:00  A.  M.  to  go  home  and  to  bed.  Next  morning  it  was  discovered 
that  the  young  man  had  escaped  but  had  tied  Mayor  "Jim"  Herriott's  calf 

58 


in  the  calaboose  to  take  his  place. 

One  Hallowe'en  night  the  boys  were  taking  old  Man  Geiger's  little 
house  (Mr.  Geiger  was  the  Town  Mayor)  down  to  the  Sangamon,  not 
realizing  that  Mr.  Geiger  was  sitting  inside  and  had  been  awaiting  their 
arrival.  Mr.  Geiger  let  them  huff  and  puff  and  carry  the  building  clear 
down  to  the  Sangamon  River  and  then  he  opened  the  door,  stepped  out  with 
his  gun  and  says — "Goosh,  by  Golley,  you  take  this  right  back  and  put  it 
where  you  got  it."  And  they  did!  (This  was  one  of  Charley  Williamson's 
stories.) 

Elbert  Morrison  found  in  Major  Welcheimer's  docket,  when  Mr. 
Welcheimer  was  Justice  of  the  Peace  that  a  suit  for  a  debt  of  $1.60  was 
brought  against  Wiley  Davis.  Mr.  Davis  lost  the  suit.  The  costs  amounted 
to  more  than  the  amount  of  the  debt. 


59 


BUSINESS  HOUSES  OF  MAHOMET 


A 


BBOTT'S  HALL.  This  recreation  hall  stood  on  Lot  No.  29. 
Originally,  it  was  to  be  paid  for  by  public  subscription.  The  amount  of 
money  raised  being  insufficient,  the  building  was  completed  by  S.  C.  Abbott 
in  1882,  at  a  cost  of  $800.  For  over  forty  years  Abbott's  Hall  was  the  center 
of  the  social  life  for  Mahomet  village  and  township.  Elections,  church 
dinners,  medicine  and  home  talent  shows,  the  literary  society  meetings, 
roller  skating  and  dances,  were  held  in  Abbott's  Hall.  Later,  a  motion 
picture  machine  was  installed  and  operated  by  Elmer  Hawkins.  High 
School  Commencement  Exercises  were  held  there  1887-1900  and  again  from 
1909-1914.  For  the  last  few  years  of  Abbott  Hall's  existence,  it  was  used  as 
J.  C.  McNeill's  Garage  and  Repair  ShOp.  Finally,  it  was  condemned  by  the 
State  Fire  Marshall. 


Basketball  Team 

?:.eft  to  right:  Frank  Barber,  Calvin  Rayburn,  Frank  Rayburn,   Robert 
Clapper,  Sr.,  Fred  Lindsey 


Mrs.  Charles  Purnell  has  a  copy  of  the  play  book,  "The  Deacon's 
Second  Wife."  The  characters  were:  Audio  Lindsey,  Roscoe  Smith,  Stanley 
Smith,  Gladys  Bramhall,  Hazel  Stout,  Estelle  Pugh,  M.  E.  Smith,  Elsie 
Black,  Zuma  Gilbert,  M.  O.  Stover,  Charles  Purnell,  and  Roy  Primmer. 

Fred  Stearns  writes  "when  roller  skating  was  very  popular,  'Waxy' 
Pike  and  'Tot'  Carson  were  the  best  skaters;  we  ordinary  skaters  tried  to 
jump  over  barrels  and  play  whip  cracker  with  the  beginners." 

Abbott's  Wagon  Shop.  This  shop,  belonging  to  Ira  Abbott,  was 
located  just  east  of  the  blacksmith  shop  where  Abbott's  Hall  stood. 

60 


in  the  calaboose  to  take  his  place. 

One  Hallowe'en  night  the  boys  were  taking  old  Man  Geiger's  little 
house  (Mr.  Geiger  was  the  Town  Mayor)  down  to  the  Sangamon,  not 
realizing  that  Mr.  Geiger  was  sitting  inside  and  had  been  awaiting  their 
arrival.  Mr.  Geiger  let  them  huff  and  puff  and  carry  the  building  clear 
down  to  the  Sangamon  River  and  then  he  opened  the  door,  stepped  out  with 
his  gun  and  says— "Goosh,  by  Golley,  you  take  this  right  back  and  put  it 
where  you  got  it."  And  they  did!  (This  was  one  of  Charley  Williamson's 
stories.) 

Elbert  Morrison  found  in  Major  Welcheimer's  docket,  when  Mr. 
Welcheimer  was  Justice  of  the  Peace  that  a  suit  for  a  debt  of  $1.60  was 
brought  against  Wiley  Davis.  Mr.  Davis  lost  the  suit.  The  costs  amounted 
to  more  than  the  amount  of  the  debt. 


59 


BUSINESS  HOUSES  OF  MAHOMET 


BBOTT'S  KALL.  This  recreation  hall  stood  on  Lot  No.  29. 
Originally,  it  was  to  be  paid  for  by  public  subscription.  The  amount  of 
money  raised  being  insufficient,  the  building  was  completed  by  S.  C.  Abbott 
in  1882,  at  a  cost  of  $800.  For  over  forty  years  Abbott's  Hall  was  the  center 
of  the  social  life  for  Mahomet  village  and  township.  Elections,  church 
dinners,  medicine  and  home  talent  shows,  the  literary  society  meetings, 
roller  skating  and  dances,  were  held  in  Abbott's  Hall.  Later,  a  motion 
picture  machine  was  installed  and  operated  by  Elmer  Hawkins.  High 
School  Commencement  Exercises  were  held  there  1887-1900  and  again  from 
1909-1914.  For  the  last  few  years  of  Abbott  Hall's  existence,  it  was  used  as 
J.  C.  McNeill's  Garage  and  Repair  Shop.  Finally,  it  was  condemned  by  the 
State  Fire  Marshall. 


Basketball  Team 

{Left  to  right:  Frank  Barber,  Calvin  Rayburn,  Frank  Rayburn,   Robert 
Clapper,  Sr.,  Fred  Lindsey 


Mrs.  Charles  Purnell  has  a  copy  of  the  play  book,  "The  Deacon's 
Second  Wife."  The  characters  were:  Audie  Lindsey,  Roscoe  Smith,  Stanley 
Smith,  Gladys  Bramhall,  Hazel  Stout,  Estelle  Pugh,  M.  E.  Smith,  Elsie 
Black,  Zuma  Gilbert,  M.  O.  Stover,  Charles  Purnell,  and  Roy  Primmer. 

Fred  Stearns  writes  "when  roller  skating  was  very  popular,  'Waxy' 
Pike  and  'Tot'  Carson  were  the  best  skaters;  we  ordinary  skaters  tried  to 
jump  over  barrels  and  play  whip  cracker  with  the  beginners." 

Abbott's  Wagon  Shop.  This  shop,  belonging  to  Ira  Abbott,  was 
located  just  east  of  the  blacksmith  shop  where  Abbott's  Hall  stood. 

60 


The  picture  shown  here  was  taken  of  the  play  cast  when  the  proceeds 
were  used  for  building  the  sidewalk  from  the  business  district  to  Riverside 
Cemetery.  The  characters  from  left  to  right  are:  H.  B.  Hazen,  Ruby 
Lindsey,  Fred  Kroner,  Esta  Rayburn.  Belle  Snell,  Fred  Snell,  Zuma  Gilbert, 
Elsie  Black,  Fred  Voss.     Seated  is  Katie  Wiggins. 


BAKERIES 

The  bakeries  of  Mahomet  were  located  where  Mrs.  Florence  Gilbert 
now  lives.  1914  (SS)  "Six  loaves  of  bread  for  25c  at  Caldwell's  Home 
Bakery."  1916  (SS)  "D.  O.  Caldwell,  the  local  baker,  has  used  fifty  sacks 
of  flour  per  month  this  summer."  Lindsey's  also  operated  a  bakery  for 
several  years  on  this  same  corner.  The  Ladies  Aid  treasurer's  book  shows 
purchase  of  bread  from  Lindsey's  Bakery  in  the  years  1924,  1925,  and  1926. 

BANKS 

The  Mahomet  Bank.  November  3,  1892,  George  McClure  opened  a 
bank  at  Mahomet  just  north  of  the  B.  D.  Abbott  store  building.  McClure 
had  built  and  moved  to  what  was  later  referred  to  as  the  Mahomet  State 
Bank  building  in  1897.  This  was  a  private  bank  but  his  father  had  land 
worth  more  than  the  Capital  Stock.  In  1902,  Jim  Busey  came  to  Mahomet 
to  learn  about  the  banking  business  under  C.  A.  Pricer  who  was  at  that 
time  Superintendent  of  Schools.  On  July  1,  1904,  McClure  sold  to  James 
Busey  who  commuted  from  Champaign  on  what  was  known  as  "The  Plug." 
On  February  17,  1929,  the  bank  was  closed  and  the  assets  and  liabilities  were 
taken  over  by  the  First  National  Bank  of  Champaign.  E.  W.  Morrison, 
as  School  Treasurer,  drew  a  check  for  $17,875  which  closed  the  bank. 

Mahomet  Farmer's  Bank,  also  known  as  the  Home  Bank,  In  1903,  the 
mome  Bank  was  incorporated  and  opened  just  north  of  the  B.  D.  Abbott 
store,  but  in  a  few  months  it  was  moved  to  the  building  just  south  of  the  Post 
Office.  This  bank  was  often  referred  to  as  the  Vennum  Bank.  The  officers 
were:  R.  G.  Rayburn,  President;  J.  N.  Black,  Cashier;  later  George  Marsh 
became  Cashier  and  W.  O.  Dale  became  Vice  President.     When  J.  N.  Black 

61 


left  the  bank,  his  stock  was  sold  to  I.  T.  Bridges. 

The  Home  Bank  was  later  known  as  the  Farmer's  State  Bank.  On 
February  26,  1922,  at  the  death  of  R.  G.  Rayburn,  Mart  Busey  was  appointed 
as  administrator  of  the  Rayburn  Estate,  at  which  time  he  withdrew  $17,000 
and  deposited  in  his  own  bank — the  Mahomet  State.  Almost  immediately 
the  bank,  although  not  forced  to  close,  did  close  because  they  felt  they 
could  not  make  money  on  $65,000.  The  safe  from  this  bank  is  now  in  the 
Patton  Lumber  Company. 

1912  (SS).  "B.  F.  Rayburn  is  acting  as  cashier  at  the  Home  Bank." 
1916  (SS).  "Irene  Ford  is  now  employed  as  bookkeeper  at  the  Home  Bank." 

BARBER  AND  BEAUTY  SHOPS 

The  following  article  was  taken  from  the  Sucker  State  July  5,  1895,  a 
reprint  from  the  Daily  Pantagraph:  "A  man  of  Mahomet  writes  the 
Attorney  General  of  Springfield  stating  that  he  has  a  wheel  of  fortune  which 
he  calls  'The  Fairest  Wheel'  but  having  no  blanks  states  that  every  time  a 
person  drops  a  nickel  in  the  wheel  he  receives  a  cigar  and  sometimes  two. 
He  asked  if  his  wheel  comes  under  the  anti-slot  machine  law.  Assistant 
Attorney  General  Newell  rendered  an  opinion  that  the  wheel  comes  under 
the  law  and  would  be  liable  as  a  gambling  device.  The  'Fairest  Wheel' 
referred  to  is  the  property  of  J.  W.  Heniott,  Jr.  who  has  been  running  the 
wheel  for  several  weeks. 

"He  also  rendered  an  opinion  that  barber  shops  conducted  in  country 
stores  with  other  merchandise  must  remain  closed  Sunday;  that  is,  the 
barber  shop  portion  of  the  store.  Mr.  Herriott  has  always  kept  his  barber 
shop  closed  on  Sunday  so  the  above  decision  does  not  refer  to  him." 

1927  (SS).  "The  Herriott  and  Pike  Barber  Shop  which  has  been 
located  in  the  Belle  Bryan  building  for  many  years  will  move  the  first  of 
the  month  to  the  building  formerly  occupied  by  the  Farmer's  State  Bank." 

July,  1936  (SS).  "J.  W.  Herriott  who  has  worked  at  the  barber  trade 
here  in  Mahomet  more  than  48  years  expects  to  retire  next  month."  During 
this  time  he  did  barber  work  for  six  generations  of  the  James  Davis  family. 

It  is  believed  that  Martha  Pike  opened  up  the  first  Beauty  Shop  in 
Mahomet;  this  shop  was  in  her  home. 

Charmaine's  Beauty  Salon  has  been  operated  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Herbert 
Bennett  since  1951  in  the  building  opposite  the  Legion  Hall. 

The  Dawkins  Beauty  Shop  is  owned  and  operated  by  Gladys  Manuel 
Dawkins  and  has  been  in  operation  since  March  17,  1942.  Gladys  has  the 
shop  in  her  home. 

BLACKSMITH  SHOPS 

Less  than  fifty  years  ago  Mahomet  had  three  blacksmith  shops,  all 
doing  a  good  business.  The  blacksmith  shop  (a  two-story  building)  which 
stood  on  Main  Street  where  the  fire  equipment  is  kept,  was  originally  owned 
by  Hubbard  and  Stearns.  Later,  John  Stearns  bought  out  Hubbard.  At  the 
same  time,  H.  E.  Cowan  owned  a  blacksmith  shop  across  the  street. 

In  1909  Connor  and  Harrah  had  the  blacksmith  shop.  Later  this  same 
shop  was  run  by  Lawrence  and  Kelley.  William  Myers  owned  a  black- 
smith shop  where  the  Sucker  State  office  now  stands. 

In  recent  years,  James  W.  Hicks  operated  a  blacksmith  shop  where 
the  fire  equipment  is  now  kept. 

62 


This  picture  shows  the  Blacksmith  Shop.     In  the  background  can  be 
seen  Abbott's  Hall. 


:<--:-.:.*-rr;.r^;t,*/N>;;* 


>-^-y«;:- — r^r*  -'t-^v-^ 


BRICK  YARDS,  CONCRETE  PRODUCTS,  GRAVEL  PITS 

Possibly  the  first  brick  yard  was  opened  in  1863  by  Alanson  Tucker 
and  stood  east  of  the  village  limits  and  very  near  the  present  barn  on  the 
old  Frank  Knox  or  Benjamin  McGath  place,  now  owned  by  Verne  Ray. 

Prior  to  1870,  there  was  a  brick  yard  on  the  Calvin  Rayburn  place. 
Brick  made  at  this  yard  were  used  by  John  Dale  in  building  the  residence 
known  as  the  Shively  farm,  and  Thomas  Dale  in  1871  obtained  brick 
from  this  same  yard  to  build  his  farm  house,  now  the  residence  of  Estal 
Hillman. 

Tliere  is  knowledge  of  a  brick  yard  having  been  operated  upon  the 
site  of  the  Trie  residence,  just  south  of  the  Methodist  Church.  The  clay 
used  at  this  kiln  was  obtained  where  the  Methodist  parsonage  and  garden 
are  now  located.  Over  sixty  years  ago,  it  is  remembered  that  a  pond  existed 
at  this  place,  which  the  boys  and  girls  used  for  ice  skating. 

The  John  Egbert  Brick  Yard  was  located  just  west  of  Mahomet,  near 
the  railroad.  The  clay  was  obtained  on  the  premises  now  owned  and  occu- 
pied by  Mrs.  Albert  Anderson.  The  George  Sackriter  Brick  Yard  was 
situated  south  of  the  railroad  tracks.  Washington  Nebeker  had  a  tile  yard 
on  his  home  place  which  is  known  to  many  as  the  old  Dick  place. 

Julius  D.  Brown  had  a  brick  yard  located  near  the  Bert  Warner  home, 
one-fourth  mile  west  of  Mahomet  on  U.  S.  Highway  150.  The  Warner  and 
Morehouse  Tile  Yard  in  1886  was  in  Abbott's  Addition.  As  late  as  1875,  a 
brick  yard  was  owned  and  operated  by  Rezin  Boltin  west  of  the  Jonas  Lester 
gravel  pit  on  the  banks  of  the  Sangamon  River.  M.  J.  Dunning  owned  and 
operated  a  tile  yard  for  several  years  near  the  Jonas  Lester  gravel  pit. 

Mitchell  Concrete  Products 

Mitchell  Concrete  Products,  Incorporated,  was  organized  July  1,  1947, 
for  the  manufacture  and  sale,  at  wholesale  and  retail,  of  concrete  block, 
brick,  chimney  block,  and  allied  lines.     The  incorporators  were  Robert   D. 

63 


Mitchell,  Roy  Mitchell,  and  Louise  M.  Mitchell.  Land  was  cleared  and 
modern  manufacturing  facilities  were  erected  on  a  site  immediately  south- 
east of  the  bridge,  one-half  mile  south  of  Mahomet  on  Route  47,  taking 
advantage  of  a  natural  two-level  location  which  facilitated  materials 
handling.  The  company  manufactures  a  full  line  of  masonry  units  in  both 
natural  and  light-weight  aggregates. 

Below  is  pictured  Mitchell  Concrete  Products. 


There  have  been  and  are  now  several  gravel  pits  around  Mahomet. 
Someone  remarked  that  the  old  Sangamon  River  seems  to  have  been  good 
for  something. 

Southwest  of  Mahomet  is  the  Mahomet  Sand  and  Gravel,  Inc. 

W.  H.  Troike  Co. 

Another  gravel  pit  southwest  of  Mahomet  is  the  W.  H.  Troike  Com- 
pany. The  gravel  pit  on  the  C.  L  Pfiester  farm  was  originally  opened  up  in 
1940  by  I.  A.  Sanders  and  his  brothers  who  shoveled  the  gravel  into  their 
trucks  by  hand.  In  May  1941,  W.  H.  Troike  put  a  dragline  crane  in  the  pit 
to  strip  the  dirt  off  and  to  load  trucks.  The  gravel  pit  filled  a  growing 
demand  in  and  around  Mahomet  for  gravel  for  surfacing  roads,  for  building 
homes,  etc. 

In  1946,  C.  R.  Plankenhorn  joined  the  business.  In  1947  a  washing 
plant  was  installed  to  wash  and  classify  the  sand  and  gravel.  This  new 
equipment  gave  the  customers  a  better  product,  and  a  complete  line  of  sand 
and  gravel  for  their  building  requirements. 

In  1949  a  second  and  larger  plant  was  installed  and  in  1950  the 
original  plant  was  rebuilt  and  improved,  as  the  two  plants  were  necessary 
to  keep  up  with  the  demand  for  materials. 

Not  only  has  the  W.  H.  Troike  Company  furnished  Mahomet  and 
surrounding  territory  with  convenient,  quality  building  materials,  but  many 

64 


local  people  make  their  living  by  trucking  sand  and  gravel  from  this  local 
industry. 

Gibson  Bros.  Construction  Company 

Ernest  H.  and  Marvin  Gibson,  partners,  fii'st  opened  up  the  gravel  pit 
on  the  Mabel  McDaniels  property  about  eighteen  years  ago.  After  process- 
ing gravel  here  for  several  years  they  moved  from  this  location  to  the  Frank 
Stout  land  and  later  to  the  Lisle  Lester  property  where  they  are  now. 

The  Gibson  Brothers  not  only  process  the  gravel,  making  what  we 
know  as  crushed  rock  which  is  used  for  roads  and  drives,  but  they  also  do 
excavating  and  drainage  work.  This  company  has  provided  gravel  for  many 
of  the  township  roads. 

BUGGY  AND  HARNESS  SHOPS 

At  the  time  that  the  Mahomet  Bank  was  built  the  building  which 
adjoins  it  on  the  west  was  built  by  Frank  Bryan  for  his  buggy  and  harness 
trade.  1912  (SB).  F.  E.  Bryan  sold  three  sets  of  double-driving  harness  last 
week.  1913  (SS).  F.  E.  Bryan  received  his  second  car  of  buggies  Monday. 
The  buggy  business  seems  almost  as  strong  as  last  year.  1916  (SS).  F.  E. 
Bryan  has  installed  a  new  harness  machine.  With  it  he  is  able  to  sew 
automobile  tires  whereby  he  can  make  one  tire  out  of  two  old  ones.  1917 
(SS).  F.  E.  Bryan's  harness  and  buggy  business  is  being  sold  out  by  Glenn 
Bryan  who  has  managed  the  business  since  the  death  of  his  father, 

CONTRACTORS  AND  CONSTRUCTION  WORKERS 

"Colonel"  Phillippe  and  Sons,  Contractors.  When  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Phillippe  started  housekeeping,  in  the  house  where  John  Cooke  now  lives 
by  the  bridge  on  Route  150,  in  1900,  there  was  just  one  house  on  the  west 
side  of  what  we  know  as  "Silk  Stocking  Row"  and  that  was  Byron  Abbott's 
house  where  Mrs.  Gertrude  Herriott  lives  today.  "Colonel"  and  his  helpers 
have  completely  built  five  of  the  houses  on  this  street  and  "Colonel"  has 
helped  in  either  the  building  or  remodeling  of  all  the  other  houses  except 
that  of  Guy  Warner's.  Around  1911  Mr.  Phillippe  was  the  contractor  for 
the  Bryan  house  where  Len  Rayburn  now  lives,  the  cost  of  this  house  at 
that  time  being  $4200;  the  Ray  McClughen  house  (formerly  the  Pearman 
home)  which  cost  $3800;  the  Ousley  Keene  house  at  a  cost  of  $3500;  the 
house  of  Mrs.  Mary  Herriott;  and  the  one  of  Walter  Breternitz.  Other 
houses  built  between  1900  and  1918  by  "Colonel"  were  those  of  Sarah  Jahr, 
Maude  Herriott,  Mrs.  Sam  Cooke,  F.  L.  Kroner,  Elbert  Morrison  (then  the 
Morehouse  property),  Besse  Miller  (then  the  John  Ruhl  property),  and 
many  others. 

In  1918  Mr.  Phillippe  moved  back  to  the  farm  where  he  lived  until 
1940  when  they  retired — back  to  the  "Metropolis"  of  Mahomet — and  back  to 
housebuilding.  Some  of  the  recent  houses  built  have  been  those  of  Wilbur 
Patton,  Mrs.  Charles  Purnell  (on  "Nylon  Avenue,"  parallel  to  "Silk  Stocking 
Row"),  Homer  Deaton,  Paul  Scott,  Ernest  Stout,  Harold  Roberts,  Dr.  Smith's 
office  (formerly  the  home  of  Mrs.  Betty  Miller)  and  on  and  on  the  list  might 
go.  "Colonel"  and  his  helpers  have  also  built  Jahr's  Store  and  its  new 
addition,  the  Williamson  Shop,  the  Masonic  Lodge  and  the  American  Legion 
Hall. 

Mr.  Phillippe  is  leaving  many  "Tombstones"  or  "Markers,"  in  the  form 
of  houses,  over  the  town. 

Lon  Jones,  another  older  settler  of  Mahomet,  says  he  came  to 
Mahomet  when  he  was  19  years  of  age,  in  the  1880's,  and  at  that  time  there 
were  just  two  houses  on  Route  47 — one  on  the  north  side  of  the  street  by 

65 


the  house  where  John  Holloway  now  lives,  and  the  other  one  was  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  street. 


Building  of  Bryan  House 

Robert  Davis  and  R.  G.  Rayburn 

Dwiffht  Shoemaker  came  to  Mahomet  in  1935  and  has  been  in  the 
Concrete  Construction  work  for  twenty  years.  He  has  been  in  private 
business  for  the  past  three  years. 

DOCTORS  AND  DENTISTS 

The  dwelling  now  on  Lot.  No.  27,  and  for  years  known  as  the  Buckles 
property,  where  Ashers  now  live,  was  first  built  as  a  doctor's  office.  The 
building  where  Bert  Williams  has  his  watch  repair  shop  was  formerly  a 
doctor's  office.  Dr.  John  D.  Gardner,  Dr.  John  H.  Gardner,  and  Dr.  J.  O. 
Pearman  all  had  their  offices  here. 

The  following  was  taken  from  the  "History  of  Champaign  County": 
"The  first  physician  to  locate  in  Mahomet  was  Dr.  N.  H.  Adams  who  opened 
an  office  there  in  1843.  He  remained  there  ten  or  fifteen  years.  About 
1846,  Dr.  C.  C.  Hawes  came  to  Mahomet  and  continued  practice  there  until 
his  death  in  1872.  Early  in  the  1850's,  Dr.  C.  L.  Crane  located  in  Mahomet 
where  he  remained  until  his  death  in  1856.  Dr.  J.  D.  Culver  came  about 
1857  and  remained  in  practice  there  until  his  death  in  1890.  Dr.  John  D. 
Gardner  located  and  practiced  medicine  there  during  the  latter  part  of  the 
1850's  and  in  the  early  1860's.  His  son.  Dr.  John  H.  Gardner,  came  to 
Mahomet  in  the  early  1870's  and  practiced  until  his  death  in  1903." 

Dr.  S.  W.  Shurtz  practiced  here  in  the  early  1900's.  They  lived  in 
the  brick  house  where  Mrs.  Bessie  Keller  now  lives,  and  his  office  was 
located  in  a  house  which  stood  where  the  Maliskas  house  is  now,  just  north 
of  the  Methodist  Church.  Dr.  A.  L.  Collins  was  the  doctor  here  in  1903,  and 
his  wife  also  practiced  medicine.  They  too  lived  in  the  house  where  Mrs. 
Keller  now  lives. 

Dr.  C.  C.  Aubuchon  was  the  town's  doctor  for  several  years,  selling 

66 


his  practice  to  Dr.  C.  M.  Coen  in  1919.  Other  doctors  have  been  Dr.  H. 
Swiser  in  1860,  Dr.  Tom  C.  Wilson,  and  Dr.  J.  O.  Pearman. 

Dr.  R.  H.  Smith  began  practicing  in  Mahomet  in  1932,  living  at  that 
time  in  the  Keller  house  and  having  his  office  in  his  home.  They  later 
moved  to  their  present  home  and  since  1950  Dr.  Smith  has  maintained  his 
office  across  the  street  in  what  was  formerly  the  Betty  Miller  house. 

Dentists  in  Mahomet  have  been  R.  F.  Daniels  and  Fred  L.  Kroner. 

Dr.  Kroner,  a  graduate  in  Dentistry  from  Northwestern  in  1919,  purchased 
the  practice  in  Mahomet  from  R.  F.  Daniels,  at  the  present  location,  and 
began  his  practice  in  September  of  that  same  year.  Dr.  Kroner,  our  dentist 
for  31  years,  had  an  office  in  Mansfield  and  Mahomet  from  1920  to  1924 
when  he  opened  his  Champaign  office  with  Thursday  afternoons  in 
Mahomet. 

DRESSMAKERS 

How  many  can  remember  the  long  hours  spent  having  a  dress  fitted 
at  one  of  these  dressmakers:  Mrs.  James  Ware,  Miss  Laura  Stonebraker, 
Mrs.  Arch  Thompson,  Mrs.  Hattie  Bramhall,  Mrs.  Josie  Trinkle,  Mrs.  Martha 
Pike,  Mrs.  Ombra  Foster,  Miss  Mollie  Herriott,  Mrs.  Lou  Meyers,  Miss  Mattie 
Keene,  and  Miss  Irene  Ford. 

DRUG  STORES 

The  old  Carson  Store  stood  about  due  east  and  across  the  road  from 
where  the  Boy  Scout  cabin  formerly  stood  (northeast  of  the  Ernest  Stout 
place).  George  Lynch  stated  that  at  first  his  house  was  a  store  (maybe 
Carson's),  and  it  also  for  a  time  housed  the  post  office;  the  east  room  was 
for  a  time  used  as  a  saloon.  This  house  which  is  now  being  torn  down  was 
built  in  the  1840's. 

Carson's  Drug  Store 

After  the  Civil  War,  Joseph  Carson  was  for  some  time  in  Swannell's 

Later,  he  opened  his  own  store  near 
Ira  A.  Abbott's  Wagon  Shop  here  in 
Mahomet.  In  the  early  1890's  Joseph 
Carson  expanded  his  business  in  this 
present  location,  handling  drugs, 
paints,  wallpaper,  groceries,  boots  and 
shoes.  For  years  the  east  brick  build- 
ing was  called  the  Rea  Building,  and 
the  west  one  then  and  now  the  Carson 
Store.  Carson's  Drug  Store  is  the 
oldest  business  place  in  Mahomet, 
started  in  1869.  John  Carson  became 
a  registered  pharmacist  in  1921  and 
since  that  time  has  operated  the  drug 
store. 

DRY  GOODS 

On  East  Main  Street  a  brick 
building  stood  on  the  northwest  corner 
across  from  the  gi-ade  school  yard. 
Washington  Nebeker  owned  a  clothing 
store  there.     This  building   was   later 


Drug  Store,  Champaign,  as  a  clerk. 


John  Carson  as  a  lad 


67 


turned  into  a  mill.    As  late  as  the  1930's,  there  was  still  legible  the  sign  on 
the  front  of  the  building  which  read  "Deliver  grain  in  the  rear." 

After  the  great  Mahomet  fire  of  1872,  the  business  houses  moved 
west  on  Main  Street.  At  this  time  Mr.  Egbert  built  for  Mrs.  C.  C.  Hawes 
the  brick  buildings  we  see  today.  The  picture  here  was  taken  from  an  old 
atlas,  dated  1878.  Gloss  and  Rittenhouse  had  one  of  the  first  dry  goods 
businesses. 


ZH 

iiiliij nmuyiiiiiliiii 


mUNCU  *  CURTIS 

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0.J  0AM  iL 
OPtUGOIST 


IHTTESMQilfC 


—  -^irr^'iE-^gjgf  ^c:     .M4-  -j-^ 


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I"  »  ^,  «AJf  t A ,  M^im  m  mam  mmmmm,  0Amrs,ati.s.A^o  sm&SMmm 

Mahomet  in  1878 

On  the  site  of  the  Mahomet  Bank  building,  after  1872,  there  was 
constructed  by  "Cap"  D.  J.  Ford  a  large  store  building  which  burned  in 
less  than  ten  years.  He  then  bought  the  ground  and  built  a  large  building 
on  the  site  of  the  brick  post  office  building.  This  Ford  store  carried  dry 
goods  and  groceries,  with  the  post  office  in  the  far  west  end.  1895  (SS). 
"Fans  for  lean  people,  fans  for  fat  people.  Get  fanned  while  you  buy  at 
Ford's."  The  building  burned  to  the  ground  along  with  two  frame  buildings 
which  adjoined  on  the  south  in  1902. 

What  is  now  Burk's  house  formerly  stood  where  the  post  office  is. 
Then  it  was  moved  to  the  site  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  Building  and  later  to  its 
present  location.  The  second  floor  was  occupied  by  H.  E.  Burness,  Justice 
of  the  Peace.     In  the  rear  was  the  paint  shop  of  Peter  Williamson. 

1912  (SS).  Sadie  Phillippe  is  assisting  in  the  Chicago  Cash  Store 
during  the  absence  of  J.  N.  Black  who  is  taking  his  vacation. 

In  one  of  the  brick  buildings  (east  side  of  the  present  Carson  Drug 
Store)  T.  H.  Rea,  nicknamed  "Cap,"  sold  dry  goods,  notions,  and  clothing. 
Mr.  Rea,  about  1923,  sold  out  to  Roy  L.  Lindsey,  a  competitor  whose  dry 


68 


goods  and  shoe  store  occupied  the  building  where  the  Sucker  State  is  now 
located. 


Men  in  Front  of  D.  J.  Ford  Store 

Front  row,  left  to  right:  Ed  Sloan,  M.  O.  Stover,  Roy  Lindsay,  ?  , 
Robert  Truitt,  Clarence  Herriott,  W.  E.  Vance,  John  Hayward,  James 
Young,  "Dad"  Heavins,  J.  C.  W.  Pittman,  J.  D.  Pittman 

Back  row,  left  to  right:   Jerry  Johnston,  I.  T.  Bridges,  G.  B.  Todd 


1915  (SS).  "Fred  Carson's  exclusive  shoe  store  is  doing  a  good 
business."  At  this  same  time  Sam  Jones  owned  a  dry  goods,  shoe,  and 
clothing  store  in  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  building.  Later,  James  Hicks  operated  a  dry 
goods  store  where  White's  Restaurant  is  today. 

FEED  STORES 

The  old  flour  mill,  located  on  the  corner  northwest  from  the  grade 
school,  was  used  at  one  time  as  a  produce  house  by  Oliver  Smith  and  Sam 
Beals. 

On  the  corner  where  Mrs.  Hazel  Brackemyre  now  lives  was  a  brick 
building  where  J.  Buchanan  operated  a  work  shop;  later  Fred  Snell  owned 
a  feed  store  there. 

Victor  Wood  had  a  Feed  Store  on  Main  Street,  just  east  of  the  old 
bank  building,  from  1936  to  1954,  at  which  time  he  sold  to  Robert  Alvis. 
Mr.  Alvis  also  has  a  trucking  service. 

GARAGES 

About  1909  or  1910  Dan  Smoot  started  to  work  for  the  J.  B.  Busey 
Sales  Company.  At  this  time  "Capie"  Pricer  was  bookkeeper  for  the  same 
company.  Putting  gasoline  in  the  cars  then  was  a  different  procedure  from 
now  for  there  were  no  gas  pumps;  instead  you  poured  it  in.  Later  Mr. 
Smoot  went  into  business  for  himself  in  this  same  building  (which  is  now 
occupied  by  Warner  Products).  Mr.  Smoot  at  the  present  time  has  his  shop 
in  the  garage  on  his  home  property. 

1919  (SS).  "The  Ruckman  Garage  is  advertising  free  air  for  your 
automobile  tires." 

69 


George  Carter  and  J.  A.  Bellinger  owned  the 
first  International  automobile  in  Mahomet 

Dean  Lowman  owned  the  garage,  Mahomet  Motor  Company.  1930 
(SS).  "The  new  Ford  Roadster  $435.  A  stylish,  sporty  car  as  speedy  as  it 
looks.  Beautiful  colors  and  gleaming  metal  parts  of  rustless  steel  emphasize 
its  graceful  beauty.     Its  alert  performance  puts  a  new  joy  in  motoring." 

Others  who  have  operated  garages  have  been  J.  N.  Black,  Fred 
Stearns,  J.  C.  "Jaydee"  McNeill,  Fred  Daniels,  John  Holloway  (from  1925- 
1936),  Royal  "Hap"  Asher,  and  Russel  Duke. 

Henry  Kelley  established  his  own  garage  back  of  the  Asher  home 
on  April  20,  1953.  In  1954  he  built  a  new  garage  back  of  his  residence  and 
has  a  fine  garage  service. 

GASOLINE  SERVICE  STATIONS  AND  TRUCKS 

Fred  Stearns  sold  Standard  gasoline  in  the  building  formerly  occupied 
by  Dan  Smoot's  garage,  now  occupied  by  Guy  Warner's  place  of  business. 
Henry  Wilson  brought  gasoline  from  Champaign  in  a  tank  wagon  and  drove 
a  "foxy"  team  of  horses.  Pictured  in  front  of  his  old  garage  is  F.  C.  Stearns, 
owner,  in  the  seven  passenger  Big  Thomas  Flyer  (105  h.  p.,  6  cylinders — 
cost  $6,000).  The  car  is  decorated  and  the  rear  seat  filled  with  children  for 
one  of  Mahomet's  carnivals. 


Fred  Stearns  in  his  Thomas  Flyer 


70 


Hiram  Pasley  sold  Standard  gas  from  a  pump  in  front  of  the  building 
where  the  potato  chip  business  is  now  located.  Later,  there  was  a  Standard 
oil  pump  and  station  at  the  old  Abbott  Hall,  and  a  year  or  so  later  it  was 
moved  across  the  street  where  Charles  Jackson  and  Jess  Warner  operated 
the  business  for  some  years.  William  Golden  has  run  the  Standard  Truck 
since  March  1,  1955. 

Herriott's  Sinclair  Service 

The  Sinclair  Service  Station  was  built  on  Route  39  (now  150  and  47) 
at  the  same  time  the  hard  road  was  being  constructed.  In  October  1926  the 
Station  was  opened  for  business  by  Matt  D.  Herriott  who  managed  it  for 
twenty-five  years.  In  November  1951  illness  forced  him  to  quit  working. 
Matt  was  buried  November  10,  1952 — exactly  one  year  from  the  date  he  quit 
work.  Roger  who  had  worked  with  his  father  on  a  part-time  basis  since 
1933  and  full  time  since  1940  is  now  the  manager. 

The  first  Sinclair  Station  consisted  of  one  room  and  rest  rooms  and 
three  pumps,  with  an  outside  pit  and  no  lift.  Because  of  the  growth  of 
business  a  new  two-room  Station  was  built  in  1939  with  the  grease  pit  and 
a  lift  inside.  Because  of  the  school  busses  and  larger  trucks  to  be  serviced, 
another  room  was  added  in  1949,  making  the  Station  a  Modern  Super 
Service. 

Myron  "Gus"  Hoit  has  been  driving  the  Sinclair  Truck  since  March 
1928. 

Paul  Grigsby  has  operated  the  Phillips  Sei'vice  Station  "Paul's  66 
Service"  with  the  "Drive  In"  since  May  1952. 

Elmer  Woo'dard  has  operated  the  Champaign  County  Sei-vice  Company 
Truck  since  March  1953. 

C.  F.  "Dick"  Rex  has  driven  a  gasoline  truck  since  October  20,  1923. 
Now  who  can  beat  that  record?  "Dick"  had  Myron  drive  his  truck  for  him 
some  and  thus  taught  him  the  trade.     "Dick"  drives  the  Marathon  Truck. 

The  Berbaum  Brothers  (Henry  and  George)  have  driven  the  Mobilgas 
Trucks  since  March  1942. 

GRAIN  ELEVATORS 

One  of  the  first  scales  for  the  weighing  of  grain  was  located  where 
the  W.  O.  Dale  residence  is  now. 

In  1879  (according  to  the  Abstract)  Thomas  Davidson  was  owner  of 
the  elevator.  Later  owners  of  this  elevator  (at  different  times)  were  J.  N. 
Black,  William  Wykle,  and  Harley  Woolsey  and  Company.  In  1923  this 
elevator,  The  Mahomet  Grain  Company,  became  known  as  the  Inland  Grain 
Company  with  Frank  Rayburn  as  Manager.  The  elevator  did  not  change 
hands  but  the  name  was  again  changed  to  that  of  Valley  Grain  Company  in 
1928  and  was  sold  to  the  Tjardes  in  1936. 

The  Farmers  Grain  Company  (a  corporation)  had  as  its  President, 
Ransom  Hurley  with  John  Hayward  as  bookkeeper  and  F.  E.  Davis  as 
Manager.  This  Company  was  later  absorbed  by  the  Mahomet  Grain 
Company  and  the  old  building  torn  down. 

Parker's  Grain  Elevator 

Historically,  the  local  Country  Grain  Elevator  is  one  of  the  oldest,  if 
not  the  oldest  of  the  commercial  enterprises  in  Mahomet.  It  has  always 
been  in  approximately  its  present  location.     Although  it  is  now  owned  and 

71 


operated  by  one  firm,  it  has  in  the  past  been  owned  by  more  than  one  and 
the  buil'dings  situated  in  more  widely  scattered  positions. 

G.  C.  and  Harry  Tjardes  purchased  the  elevator  in  September  1936, 
during  bankruptcy  proceedings;  they  in  turn  sold  on  January  3,  1939  to  the 
present  owners,  at  which  time  the  elevator  had  a  capacity  of  35,000  bushels. 
In  1939  an  annex  with  capacity  of  20,000  bushels  was  constructed.  In  1949 
another  annex  with  capacity  of  33,000  bushels  was  constructed.  The  need 
for  this  additional  space  has  been  brought  about  through  the  change  in  the 
marketing  practices  of  the  producers. 

The  present  operators  are  happy  to  have  been  a  part  in  the  growth 
and  service  to  the  community  entailed  by   their   business  expansion,   and 
above  all  proud  to  have  been  a  part   of  our  Mahomet  Methodist  Church 
since  locating  in  the  community  on  June  5,  1938. 
The  present  owners:     James  F.  and  Leona  Parker 
Our  Slogan:     "At  Your  Service" 
Our  Staff:    Robert  G.  "Tuzz"  Clapper,  Jr.,  Manager 
Ivan  R.  Bryan,  Grain  elevator  houseman 
Jackie  Bryan,  Coal  man  and  elevator  helper 

GROCERY  STORES  AND  MEAT  MARKETS 

A.  E.  Smith  owned  a  meat  market  where  the  telephone  office  now 
stands.  Other  owners  in  the  early  days  were  B.  D.  Abbott  and  Irvin  Rising. 
On  the  lot  where  the  Barracks  family  now  lives  was  formerly  a  large 
building  where  Dan  Rowe  lived  and  operated  a  meat  market. 

W.  H.  Holzer  operated  a  grocery-hardware  store  in  the  old  Masonic 
building.  Later,  he  built  a  brick  building  west  of  this.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Holzer  were  in  business  in  Mahomet  for  twenty-five  years.  1915  (SS).  "To 
end  the  greatest  money-saving  sale  ever  held  in  Mahomet,  Illinois.  F.  L. 
Tanner  is  to  use  the  building  as  Motion  Picture  Theatre.  All  stock,  hard- 
ware and  groceries,  fixtures  and  all  to  be  closed  out  not  later  than  Saturday, 
December  4.  Big  bargains  on  stoves,  churns,  milk  cans,  lamps,  gate  hinges, 
and  a  large  assortment  of  mortise  locks  at  your  own  price.  W.  H.  Holzer." 

"Irv"  Rising's  store  was  sold  to  Fred  Scott  who  in  turn  sold  it  to 
James  Young.  In  1915,  Mr.  Young  moved  from  the  Phillippe  farm  where 
he  had  lived  for  twenty-eight  years  and  started  his  hardware,  grocery,  and 
furniture  store.  1924  (SS).  "James  Young  needs  more  room  and  has  decided 
to  build  an  addition  to  the  south  end  of  his  store  which  will  make  the 
building  162x26  feet.  All  partitions  will  be  removed,  making  it  all  into  one 
room.  The  brick  work  and  carpenter  work  will  be  done  by  G.  B.  Todd, 
Lawrence  "Governor"  Williams,  and  William  Johnston." 

Originally  there  stood  a  story  and  a  half  frame  house  where  the  Carter 
Building  now  stands  and  this  house  was  used  for  a  restaurant.  A  windmill, 
in  front  of  the  house,  was  used  to  pump  from  a  large  cistern  which  thfe 
people  used  for  drinking  water.  In  the  picture  shown  elsewhere  in  this  book 
of  a  street  scene  in  Mahomet  one  can  see  the  legs  of  the  windmill. 

Carter  and  Pasley  operated  a  grocery  store  and  meat  market  in  the 
old  Carter  building  from  1912  to  1929.  Hiram  remained  out  of  the  grocery 
business  for  about  one  year  but  again  started  in  the  meat  market  of  Jim 
Carson's  grocery  store  around  1930  and  then  later  took  over  the  store  and 
remained  in  the  business  until  his  death  in  1947.  James  Pasley  continued 
with  the  grocery  store  for  the  next  four  years. 

Owen  Truitt  operated  "The  Red  Front,"  around  1923  but  the  exact 
length  of  time  is  unknown.  Charles  Thurston  operated  a  grocery  store  for 
many  years  near  the  depot. 

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More  recent  and  present  grocery  store  owners  include: 

Miller's  Groceries  and  T-V  Sales  which  was  started  in  1951,  the 
F.  E.  Millei^s  came  here  from  Springfield,  Illinois. 

Armstrong's  Grocery  which  was  started  June  1951,  the  Roy  Arm- 
strongs came  from  Champaign. 

Charlie's  Market  opened  by  Charles  H.  Sansom  February  1,  1955,  is 
located  on  Route  150,  across  from  the  Sinclair  Station. 

Brumfield's  Fruit  Stand. 

HARDWARE  STORES 

The  Tanner  Company  of  Indianapolis,  dealers  in  hardware  and  steel 
products,  observed  their  anniversary  in  1954,  and  showed  how  invoices 
were  formerly  handwritten.  A  photograph  of  one  shown  was  dated 
June  15,  1883,  and  was  for  goods  shipped  to  J.  W.  Egbert,  Mahomet, 
Illinois,  for  such  items  as  tin  cups,  pail  covers,   and  sheet  metal. 

Jahr's  True  Value  Hardware 

F.  O.  Jahr  received  his  first  experience  in  the  grocery  and  hard- 
ware business  by  working  for  W.  H.  Holzer  in  his  general  store.  At  the 
time  of  B.  D.  Abbott's  death,  Mr.  Jahr  was  given  first  option  on  the  purchase 
of  his  grocery  store  which  stood  on  the  corner  across  the  street  west  from 
the  present  store.  In  1903  Mr.  Jahr  purchased  the  grocery  and  hardware 
business  from  Conn  Abbott  and  he  remained  in  that  location  until  1910  when 
he  erected  his  building  at  its  present  location.  1913  (SS).  "F.  O.  Jahr  began 
selling  bananas  by  the  pound  on  Tuesday,  in  place  of  by  the  dozen  which 
has  always  been  the  custom." 

In  1937  F.  O.  Jahr  sold  his  business  to  his  two  sons,  Frank  and  Albert. 
At  this  time  they  added  meats,  bottled  gas  and  appliances  to  the  stock.  In 
1943  at  Frank's  death,  A.  O.  Jahr  purchased  the  entire  business  which  he 
continued  to  operate  as  a  general  store  until  1946  when  he  discontinued  the 
groceries.    F.  O.  Jahr  passed  away  December  24,  1949. 

During  the  summer  of  1950  a  new  room  was  added  to  the  old  building 
and  is  continuing  under  the  name  of  Jahr's  True  Value  Hardware,  a  straight 
hardware  operation. 

LIVERY   STABLES 

Some  fifty  years  ago  there  were  two  livery  stables,  and  the  drivers 
met  the  trains   with    hacks,    competition   running   high.      Jack    Stucky   had 


m  liuggy  in  Fiont  of  Stucky  .stable 

Left  to  right:    Pet  Ruhl,  Allie  Johnston,  Ethel  Jones 

73 


one  of  the  stables  and  Elmer  Hawkins  the  other  one.     The  Hawkins  Stable 
was  built  in  1903.     Elmer  Hawkins  ran  it  for  nine  years. 

LUMBER  MILLS   AND  YARDS 

In  S.  C.  Abbott's  autobiography,  under  date  of  1853,  mention  is  made 
that  he  hauled  the  pine  lumber  for  his  house  on  the  Champaign-Piatt 
County  Line  from  Covington,  Indiana.  At  this  same  date  he  stated  that 
the  hardwood  lumber  was  procured  by  him  at  the  Cherry  Mill  north  of 
Mahomet  and  also  some  from  a  mill  being  operated  at  Centerville.  Soft 
lumber  was  brought  up  the  Wabash  River  from  the  southland.  There 
were  portable  saw  mills  which  were  set  up  and  moved  from  time  to  time. 

In  1869,  the  first  lumber  yard  was  established  in  Mahomet  by  John 
Egbert,  very  soon  after  the  railroad  came  through  the  town.  It  was 
located  where  John  Burk's  house  now  is. 

In  1880,  William  Tanner's  Lumber  Yard  Was  located  where  Mrs. 
Walter  Ponder  lives  today.  Lon  Spurgeon  operated  the  lumber  yard  in  the 
same  place  until  1910. 

William  Wykle  owned  the  lumber  yard  for  several  years,  and  then 
sold  it  in  1920  to  Charles  Patton. 

Patton  Lumber  Company 

The  Patton  Lumber  Company  at  first  consisted  of  two  sheds.  The 
main  building,  occupying  the  same  location  as  the  present  business,  was  a 
large  low  building  with  a  U-shaped  driveway  around  which  horses  could 
pull  wagons  for  loading.  The  other  shed,  on  the  south  side  of  the  tracks 
across  from  the  depot,  was  used  to  house  cement  and  steel  products  such 
as  fence.  Also  located  in  this  auxiliary  shed  was  a  plant  for  hand-making 
cement  blocks. 

The  yard  provided  a  great  deal  of  excitement  by  burning  down  during 
the  three-day  carnival  of  1926.  Heavy  dark  smoke  and  debris  were 
carried  by  the  heat  and  a  south  breeze  over  the  town  for  miles  north. 
The  present  shed,  which  has  had  later  additions,  was  built  that  same  Fall. 
Nearly  everyone  in  town  who  has  ever  wielded  a  hammer  has  told  that  he 
helped  construct  the  new  shed. 

Although  Mr.  Patton  is  no  longer  active  in  the  operation  of  the 
business,  he  is  still  the  owner.  At  this  time  it  is  believed  to  be  the  oldest 
business  operating  under  a  continuous  ownership  in  town.  W.  C.  Patton  is 
the  present  Manager. 

NEWSPAPER 

The  Sucker  State 

Quoting  from  History  of  Champaign  County,  Vol.  I,  p.  493:  "The 
Mahomet  Sucker  State,  as  the  local  newspaper  is  called,  issued  its  first 
number  on  October  13,  1879,  a  few  issues  having  been  put  out  as  "The 
Magnet."  As  "The  Magnet"  did  not  seem  to  draw.  The  Sucker  State  was 
substituted.  For  the  past  fifteen  or  sixteen  years  the  paper  has  been 
owned  and  edited  by  Charles  D.  Warner,  C.  W.  Murphy,  C.  M.  Pearson, 
O.  D.  Stiles,  and  C.  W.  Pugh.  During  the  bulk  of  that  period  it  has  been 
in  charge  of  Messrs.  Pearson  and  Pugh." 

According  to  an  item  which  appeared  in  the  Sucker  State  a  few 
years  back,  "The  first  issue  of  the  Mahomet  Sucker  State  appeared  in 
January,  1878.  St.  Clair  Brown  was  the  editor.  For  the  first  few  years  of 
its  existence,  the  Sucker  State  was  printed  in  LeRoy,  Illinois.  The  office 
was  in  a  frame  building  on  the  site  of  what  used  to  be  the  Mahomet  State 
Bank  building  (now  Armstrong  Grocery).     The  first  issues  consisted  of  a 

74 


small  5x9  inch  sheet." 

A  story  and  a  half  building  used  to  stand  across  the  alley  from  Mrs. 
Sam  Beal's  house.  Here  it  was  that  Ed  Lucas  managed  the  paper.  Where 
the  old  Jahr  store  was  located,  William  Murphy  was  editor,  in  1895.  Sub- 
scription rate  was  $1.00,  and  the  paper  consisted  of  eight  pages  and  was 
issued  every  Saturday.  Other  editors  have  been  Charles  Dale  and  Lee 
Maxey.    Later,  the  Sucker  State  was  operated  by  Charles  Pearson. 

Charles  Pugh  became  editor  in  1913  opening  his  shop  where  Otto 
Furnish  now  lives.  His  wife,  Estelle,  became  editor  at  the  time  of  Mr. 
Pugh's  death  in  1950.  She  is  assisted  by  her  son,  Joe.  The  present  circu- 
lation is  690,  and  the  subscription  rate  is  $1.50. 

MILLINERY  SHOPS 

Many  people  remember  Mrs.  "Hen"  Camel's  Millinery  Shop,  located 
just  east  of  Jahr's  store,  and  many  remember  Mr.  Camel's  frequent  usage 
of  "It's  bean." 

Sometime  after  1874  Mrs.  Joseph  Ware  managed  a  millinery  shop. 
Laura  Stonbraker  had  a  millinery  shop  where  Fred  Kroner's  office  now  is. 
At  that  time  it  was  a  story  and  a  half  frame  building. 

In  more  recent  years  Mrs.  Zuma  Gilbert  had  a  millinery  store  in  her 
home  which  was  where  Harold  Moon  now  lives. 

Besse  Primmer  Miller  and  Madge  Primmer  Webb  are  pictured  below 
in  some  millinery  purchased  from  Miss  Stonebraker. 


MILLS 

Many  years  ago  a  flour  mill  was  built  upon  the  present  site  of  the 
James  F.  Parker  Elevator,  and  was  managed  for  many  years  by  Major 
Welsheimer. 

On  the  east  half  of  Lot.  No.  26  and  on  the  corner,  there  was  built 
about  1867-68  a  one-story  brick  building  which  was  occupied  as  a  steam 
flour  mill. 

North  and  west  about  one  hundred  feet  from  the  old  Boy  Scout 
cabin,  and  along  the  banks  of  the  Sangamon  stood  many  years  ago  the 
old  grist  mill.     This  mill  stood  about  due  north  of  the  George  Lynch  place. 

75 


About  sixty  years  ago  a  dam  was  built  across  the  river,  and  the  mill  was 
operated  by  a  waterwheel.  We  understand  that  this  mill  was  also  equipped 
with  a  steam  boiler  and  engine,  in  the  event  the  river  in  the  summer 
months  became  too  low  to  furnish  power. 

The  first  evidence  we  can  find  as  to  authentic  records  of  this  mill 
is  taken  from  the  county  records  in  Deed  Book  C,  page  161,  dated  April  25, 
1848:  "Charles  Haptonstoll  to  David  Canter,  describing  undivided  one- 
half  interest  in  the  following  real  estate  'commencing  S.  E.  comer  of  land 
deed  to  Amas  Crosier  on  which  the  mill  stands.'  " 

We  find  in  Book  9,  page  639  a  deed  recorded  from  Abraham  Cappis 
and  Lydia  Cappis  to  John  Hume.  The  description  of  the  property  con- 
veyed makes  reference  to  "on  which  the  Mill  stands."  This  deed  was 
recorded  January  27,  1868.  The  old  mill  was  razed  and  lumber  used  in 
building  the  barn  which  until  a  few  years  ago  stood  on  the  W.  O.  Dale 
premises  on  Division  Street. 

One  of  the  stone  burrs,  used  for  grinding  grain  in  this  mill,  can  be 
seen  today  in  front  of  the  Lee  Carpenter  (formerly  R.  J.  Rayburn)  home. 

The  maintenance  of  the  dam  at  the  Old  Mill  was  one  of  hardship. 
It  is  reported  that  four  or  five  dams  were  washed  away.  When  John  Hume 
was  the  proprietor,  he  built  a  dam  using  an  estimated  five  hundred  cords 
of  wood  of  four-foot  lengths.  High  waters  oame  again.  Mr.  Hume  called 
for  men  to  help  save  the  dam,  but  to  no  avail.  The  entire  five  hundred 
cords  of  wood  were  washed  down  the  river. 

PLUMBING  AND  HEATING 

Mr.  Geiger  owned  the  first  hardware  business.  The  doors  of  his 
store  were  never  locked.  "Boys"  around  town  played  poker  in  among  the 
binders,  and  often  left  in  a  hurry,  scared  by  Fred  Rising  when  he  came 
to  do  some  work,  and  so  on  Monday  morning  Guy  Williamson,  on  Rising's 
invitation,  picked  up  the  stray  coins,  a  quarter  or  fifty  cents  now  and  then — 

big  money  to  a  school  boy. 

"Irv"  Rising,  Mr.  Geiger's  son- 
in-law,  took  over  the  business  and  it 
was  then  that  Charles  H.  Williamson 
learned  about  plumbing  and  heating. 
Wood  stoves  sold  for  a  dollar  an  inch. 

Williamson  Plumbing  and  Heating 

C.  H.  Williamson  and  son,  Guy, 
started  their  business  in  the  old 
Tanner  building  about  a  block  and 
a  half  south  of  the  Sinclair  Filling 
Station  in  1914.  They  were  located 
here  for  about  one  year  and  then 
moved  their  place  of  business  to  the 
building  now  occupied  by  Guy  War- 
ner's Concrete  Products  and  stayed 
here  for  a  year. 

1914  (SS).  "Your  attention  is 
called  to  C.  H.  Williamson  and  Son 
who  have  opened  tin  work  and  general 
repair  shop  over  Black's  Garage. 
Heating  outfits,  steam,  hot  water,  hot 
air,  and  plumbing  of  all  kinds."  At 
this  time  they  moved  to  the  building 
just  north  of  the  old  B.  D.  Abbott 
76 


Guy  Williamson 


store  (north  of  the  post  office)  where  they  remained  until  July  1929  when 
they  moved  to  their  present  location  on  Main  Street.  C.  H.  Williamson 
remained  active  until  approximately  one  year  before  his  death  in  1948. 

In  1939  Wilfred  entered  into  business  with  his  father  so  we  still  have 
Williamson  and  Son  (Guy  and  "Ferdie").  Wilfred  has  worked  with  his 
father  except  for  the  thirty-nine  months  when  he  was  in  the  service. 

In  1949  the  Williamsons  built  the  present  concrete  block  building. 

POST  OFFICE  AND  POSTAL  EMPLOYEES 

It  has  been  noted'  that  mail  was  received  by  early  pioneers  in  a  make- 
shift manner.  When  a  permanent  settlement  had  existed  for  some  eight 
years,  a  post  office  was  located  here,  designated  as  Mahomet.  This  aroused 
the  ire  of  residents  of  the  Middletown  Plat,  and  for  many  years  mail  was 
continually  forwarded  here,  addressed  to  Middletown,  Mahomet  P.  O. 

The  Post  Office  was  first  located  in  the  old  store  in  what  was  later 
known  as  the  George  Lynch  house. 

In  the  early  1870's  the  village  post  office  was  located  in  the  old  brick 
mill.  At  one  time  there  was  a  building  aci'oss  the  street  west  from  where 
Mrs.  Florence  Gilbert  now  lives,  and  here  J.  W.  Pinkston  served  as  post- 
master.    "Steve"  Abbott  was  postmaster  for  many  years. 

Fred  Stearns  says,  "Mr.  Abbott  would  come  down  town  and  usually 
stop  where  Paul  and  I  were  near  the  front  gate  at  home,  and  tell  me  my 
name  should  be  Silas  and  then  tell  us  a  Bible  story  about  Paul  and  Silas. 
Then  later  would  come  August  Jahr.  He  stopped  and  talked  a  little,  too." 

For  nearly  sixty  years,  except  for  a  short  time  when  the  frame 
building  burned  in  1902,  then  later  in  the  1920's  for  a  short  time,  Mahomet's 
post  office  has  been  on  the  same  corner  where  it  now  stands. 

In  1897,  Irene  L.  Ford  was  appointed  postmistress,  a  position  she  held 
until  1914.  Her  sister,  Estelle  G.  Ford,  was  her  assistant.  Later,  Miss  Ford 
was  appointed  postmistress  in  1924,  which  office  she  held  until  1934.  Others 
serving  in  this  capacity  were  Eva  Carson,  Madge  Lindsey,  Audie  Lindsey, 
James  Carson,  George  Brown,  and  Daisy  Miller.  Mrs.  Miller  has  been  post- 
mistress from  1938  to  1945  and  from  April  1,  1948  to  the  present  time. 

Rural  mail  carriers  have  been  Ed  Lucas,  Frank  Davis,  Ernest  Foster, 
Asher  Herriott,  Roscoe  Smith  (31  years),  and  Ernest  Stout  (46  years). 

Roscoe  Smith  who  carried  the  mail  from  1903-1934  has  been  in  the 
insurance  business  for  many  years,  even  before  he  retired  as  rural  mail 
carrier. 

Ernest  Stout,  the  only  rural  carrier  from  the  Mahomet  office  today, 
started  carrying  in  1905  but  was  away  from  his  job  and  on  a  farm  for  three 
years. 

REPAIR  SHOPS 

August  Jahr  owned  a  shoe  repair  shop  in  a  small  wooden  building 
where  Brown's  Barber  Shop  now  stands. 

W.  C.  "Cad"  Maxwell,  who  always  whistled  while  he  worked,  owned 
the  Shoe  Repair  and  Harness  Shop.  1918  (SS).  "I  now  have  enough  oil  on 
hand  to  oil  fifty  sets  of  harness  at  the  old  price  of  $1.00  per  set.  If  you 
want  it  at  the  old  price,  bring  your  harness  in  at  once.  I  will  have  a  man 
here  the  first  of  the  week  to  assist  me  in  getting  it  out  quick." 

RESTAURANTS 

A.  E.  Smith  owned  a  lunch  room  in  a  frame  building  located  where 
Lake's  Barber  Shop  is  today.     1895  (SS).  "Fifteen  different  drinks  at  A.  E. 

77 


Smith's.  Have  you  tried  those  fine  drinks  that  A.  E.  Smith  makes  with 
cream?    They  are  out  of  sight." 

Various  restaurant  owners  in  Mahomet  across  the  years  include  Justin 
Rayburn,  Ernest  Foster,  C.  B.  Hoit,  Frank  Lindsey,  Sam  Cooke,  Crowleys, 
Iva  Lindsey,  Blanche  Pittman,  Maude  Lindsey,  Mrs.  Dan  Smoot,  Joe  Cooke, 
Tom  Maloney,  and  Barney  White. 

In  connection  with  Phillips  Service  Station,  at  the  junction  of  Routes 
47  and  150,  is  Paul's  Drive  In,  opened  in  May  1952. 

ROOMING  HOUSES 

In  1833,  the  County  Commissioner  fixed  the  following  rates  of  prices 
to  be  charged:  Keeping  a  man  and  horse  for  one  night,  including  supper, 
bed  and  horse  feed,  75c;  single  meal  18 %c;  horse  feed  12 1/2 c. 

Fred  Stearns  says,  "Cowans  sold  their  property  which  was  west  of 
Holzer's  store  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Waugh.  Mr.  Waugh  died  soon  after,  and 
Mrs.  Waugh  kept  roomers  and  boarders  for  a  long  time.  D.  H.  Hartley 
rented  upstairs  and  went  to  school,  graduated  at  Mahomet,  then  on  to 
Bloomington  Illinois  to  college  and  later  became  a  Methodist  minister.  Dr. 
Wall  and  Dr.  Tom  Wilson  were  both  boarders  for  a  long  time." 

The  Pointer  house  that  was  torn  down  (east  of  Jahr's  store)  used  to 
be  a  hotel,  operated  by  Mrs.  Elihu  Hayward.  On  the  corner  where  Mrs. 
Florence  Gilbert  lives  was  a  hotel  operated  by  Mrs.  Rebecca  Herriott.  The 
old  hotel  was  operated  by  Mrs.  Clara  Chapman  for  many  years. 

Mrs.  Agnes  (Aunt  "Ag")  Herriott  kept  "runners"  (traveling  sales- 
men) for  many  years  where  George  Campbell  now  lives.  Mrs.  Rose  Wright 
for  many  years  "boarded"  the  school  teachers. 

SHELLING 

Edd  Campbell  started  in  the  shelling  business  about  1911.  James 
Campbell  took  over  the  "Campbell  Shelling"  in  1921. 

MAHOMET  SHIPPING  ASSOCIATION 

Mahomet  Shipping  Association  was  organized  about  1918  with  B.  F. 
Rayburn  as  president,  Frank  W.  Taylor  as  secretary-treasurer,  and  Gilbert 
Trinkle,  as  manager.  Other  members  of  the  Board  were  John  Rittenhouse 
and  Frank  Thomas. 

TAVERNS 

Dr.  Adams'  Tavern  stood  on  the  north  end  of  Lot  No.  One  and  was 
a  two-story  log  building,  built  flush  with  the  sidewalk.  This  building  was 
later  used  as  an  ice  house,  more  than  85  years  ago. 

Joseph  Lindsey  in  1826  entered  the  land  under  a  government 
certificate  where  Mahomet  now  stands.  It  is  thought  that  Lindsey's  home- 
stead was  on  the  east  side  of  the  Sangamon  River  and  probably  on  the  Old 
Bloomington  Road,  now  U.  S.  150.  There  is  evidence  of  a  dwelling  having 
stood  about  800  feet  east  of  the  Ernest  Stout  corner  and  on  the  south  side  of 
the  road.  It  is  believed  this  Lindsey  homestead  wias  transferred  to  Mathew 
Johnson. 

Quoting  from  S.  C.  Abbott  autobiography,  July,  1847:  "At  LeRoy 
took  stage  for  Urbana,  two-horse  spring  wagon,  carrying  the  mail,  stopped 
at  Middletown  at  Mathew  Johnson's  Tavern,  east  of  town,  laid  over  for  next 
trip  two  days,  got  acquainted  with  the  Taylor  Bros,  and  their  widowed 
mother."    Probably  this  Johnson  Tavern  was  built  originally  by  Lindsey.     It 

78 


was  later  used  for  the  barn  on  the  Fred  Mohr  place;  it  originally  stood 
where  the  residence  is  now. 

This  tavern  became  a  point  of  relay  for  the  stage  line.  "Uncle  Job" 
Miller  drove  the  stage  between  Middletown  and  Urbana.  The  resident  of  the 
"Half-Way-House"  had  two  yoke  of  oxen  which  he  used  to  pull  the  stage 
out  of  mudholes  along  the  line. 

About  one-half  mile  east  of  the  Old  Middletown  Ford  and  upon  the 
site  of  the  present  house  on  "Timber  Edge"  farm  now  occupied  by  J.  C. 
Moore,  stood  the  "Ohio"  or  "Nine  Gal  Tavern."  According  to  Robert  Wright, 
many  years  ago  throughout  western  Champaign  County  there  were  many 
settlers  from  the  State  of  Ohio.  As  to  the  "Nine  Gal"  title,  it  is  said  that 
at  one  time  one  of  the  proprietors  had  nine  red-headed  daughters.  In  the 
1850's  this  tavern  was  owned  and  operated  by  Thomas  Davidson,  and  the 
story  was  told  by  Mrs.  Davidson  that  Abraham  Lincoln  stayed  here  many 
times. 


NINE  6AlTAraN•0lD^1AH0f1E^ 

(From  a  sketch  by  Fred  Hazen) 


About  three-fourths  of  a  mile  east  of  the  "Brick  School"  and  on  the 
old  Bloomington  Road,  there  was  laid  out  in  lots,  a  site  for  the  Town  of 
Bloomfield.  It  is  said  that  the  first  survey  for  the  Wabash  Railroad  was 
made  along  the  road  north  and  south  from  the  Stover  farm.  The  railroad, 
however,  was  built  three  and  one-half  miles  west  of  this  point,  going  through 
Mansfield.  This  was  then  known  as  the  Robert  Rea  farm  (now  the  Parrett 
farm).  This  farm  was  homesteaded  by  the  Rea  family  who  came  from 
Kentucky  in  1848.  The  Rea  home,  also  called  the  Rea  Tavern,  stood  upon 
the  site  of  the  present  house,  but  many  years  ago  this  tavern  was  moved 
across  the  road  to  the  south.  Abraham  Lincoln  stayed  here  many  times 
while  riding  the-Severrth  Judicial  Circuit. 


^ 


TELEPHONE   SERVICE 


Dr.  J.  D.  Culver  had  a  telephone  line  as  early  as  1887  between 
his  residence  and  office.  The  second  private  telephone  line  to  be  installed 
here  was  built  by  Forrest  L.  Tanner  and  connected  the  William  Tanner 
residence  with  that  of  his  lumber  yard  office,  some  500  feet  away.  Then 
later  Tanner  built  the  Joseph  A.  Carson  line  which  was  a  single  wire  be- 
tween the  Carson  store  and  the  home. 

"Bill"  Johnson  tells  that  "Old  Man"  Geiger  was  mayor  of  Mahomet, 
perhaps  in  the  1880's,  and  refused  to  let  the  Bell  Telephone  Company  go 
through  the  town;  it  had  to  go  north  and  around  the  town.     With  the  first 

79 


telephone  lines,  each  person  was  sold  a  book  of  coupons  when  the  telephone 
was  installed  and  each  coupon  entitled  the  holder  to  make  a  telephone  call. 

Elbert  Morrison  was  informed  by  I.  T.  Bridges  that  just  prior  to  1901 
and  in  a  two-story  frame  building  (site  of  old  Carter  building)  two 
toll  lines  were  located  there,  one  from  the  west,  and  the  Home  Company 
from  Champaign.  We  believe  in  1900  the  Bell  Telephone  Company  (long 
distance)  had  their  toll  line  in  the  A.  E.  Smith  Meat  Market  and  Cafe  which 
stood  about  on  the  present  site  of  the  General  Telephone  Building. 

Mr.  Morrison  was  informed  by  I.  T.  Bridges  that  the  first  telephone 
was  installed  in  H.  J.  Morehouse's  office  by  Mr.  Bridges.  In  1915,  the 
"central"  office  was  moved  to  the  present  location,  and  Mr.  Bridges  sold  the 
old  building  which  had  housed  the  telephone  exchange  for  fourteen  years. 
The  first  telephone  operator  was  Zaye  Williamson.  Maude  Herriott  served 
as  night  operator  for  twenty-two  years  out  of  the  twenty-seven  and  a  half 
years  that  Mr.  Bridges  operated  this  Mahomet  system. 

1915  (SS).  "The  Bell  Telephone  Company  now  has  its  toll  line  cut  in 
the  Mahomet  Telephone  Company  switchboard.  This  will  make  it  quite 
convenient  for  the  local  people." 

I.  T.  Bridges  sold  out  to  Illinois  Commercial  Telephone  in  1927. 

Pictured  below  is  Mrs.  Ombra  Foster  by  the  first  telephone  office 
(the  building  that  did  stand  just  east  of  the  old  Hotel).  Also  pictured  below 
is  Mrs.  Foster  (Ombra  Lindsey  at  that  time)  at  the  switchboard  in  the  first 
telephone  exchange  in  Mahomet. 


General  Telephone  Company  of  Illinois  is  a  part  of  the  General 
Telephone  System  which  has  sixteen  operating  companies,  furnishing  service 
in  twenty-one  states,  to  approximately  two  million  stations.  This  Company 
was  incorporated  in  1928  and  was  then  known  as  the  Illinois  Commercial 
Telephone  Company. 

This  is  the  largest  of  the  more  than  350  independent  telephone  com- 
panies in  Illinois  and  is  the  largest  independent  telephone  company  serving 
the  United  States.  Operating  in  66  of  the  102  counties  in  Illinois,  it  is 
serving  over  187,000  telephones  in  651  communities  through  235  exchanges. 

80 


It  is  anticipated  that  all  telephones  will  be  dial  by  1960. 

The  present  chief  operator  is  Millie  DeGroft  who  has  been  here  since 
September  1953.  Mrs.  DeGroft  has  been  a  great  help  in  getting  out  this  book 
of  history  with  her  fine  service  in  the  many  calls  made  to  get  the  needed 
data.    Another  operator  is  Mrs.  Harold  Jones. 

THEATRES 

The  Pastime  Theatre  was  located  where  the  American  Legion 
Building  is  today.  Elmer  Hawkins  operated  the  Pastime  Theatre  around 
1905.  Elmer  sold  the  Pastime  to  Forrest  Tanner  in  1912  and  continued  with 
the  Hall.  Forrest  Tanner  purchased  the  Holzer  Building.  1912  (SS).  "Ernie 
Adams  who  is  traveling  with  the  Elmer  Hawkins  Movie  Picture  Show  is 
spending  Sunday  with  his  parents."  1916.  "The  New  Pastime  Theatre  will 
open  here  Tuesday  evening.     F.  L.  Tanner  is  the  proprietor." 

May  1918  (SS).  "Carpenters  are  working  this  week,  building  a  stage 
in  the  Pastime  Theatre.  They  will  have  the  work  completed  in  time  for  the 
high  school  play  Friday  evening,  May  10.  New  curtains  are  being  made 
and  will  be  hung  Friday  morning." 

Elmer  Hawkins  operated  the  theatre  again  around  1923-1924.  Such 
pictures  as  Harold  Lloyd  in  "The  Freshman"  and  other  silent  movies  equally 
as  entertaining  were  shovm,  with  piano  accompaniments  by  Zuma  Gilbert. 

For  many  years  the  high  school  plays,  class  night  programs,  etc.  were 
held  here. 

UNDERTAKERS 

The  Undertaking,  or  now  modernly  known  as  Funeral  Directing,  in 
Mahomet  has  followed  a  secession  for  over  125  years.  The  first  undertaker, 
"Father"  John  Robertson  came  with  his  family  from  Kentucky  in  1830,  and 
settled  about  one  mile  east  of  the  Champaign  County  Courthouse,  before 
Urbana  was  even  thought  of.  The  said  John  Robertson  is  credited  with 
conducting  the  first  religious  service  in  Champaign  County,  which  at  that 
time  was  in  Vermilion  County,  Illinois.  (Vermilion  County  became  Cham- 
paign County  in  the  Fall  of  1833.) 

"Father"  John  came  to  Middletown  in  1832,  settling  on  his  homestead 
about  one  mile  west  of  Mahomet  on  the  old  state  road — but  not  called  a  state 
road  until  four  years  later.  Today  this  farm  is  owned  by  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Claude  Thorpe.  John  "Squire"  Robertson  (grandfather  of  Cleon  Gilbert) 
was  the  undertaker  prior  to  Joe  Pittman.  He  gave  up  the  undertaking 
business  to  be  Justice  of  the  Peace,  a  rather  lucrative  position  at  one  time. 

Where  "Rondy"  Sanders  now  lives,  was  the  site  of  "Furniture"  Joe 
Pittman's  undertaking  establishment.  1881  (SS).  J.  C.  Pittman  advertises 
"Will  attend  funerals  at  all  times  with  a  first-class  hearse."  "Furniture" 
Joseph  Pittman  took  over  the  undertaking  work  and  for  fifty  years  con- 
ducted a  furniture  store,  making  many  burial  boxes  as  he  was  an  excellent 
cabinet  maker.  Mr.  Pittman  died  in  1897;  then  for  about  one  year  James  W.. 
Herriott  (Barber  Jim)  took  over  for  the  Pittman  Estate.  Mr.  Herriott's  wife 
was  a  daughter  of  William  Robertson. 

In  1898,  Mr.  H.  J.  Morehouse  bought  the  Undertaking  business  and 
building  from  the  Pittman  estate.  Later  Chester  A.  Morehouse  became  his 
father's  assistant  and  remained  in  the  business  until  he  left  in  October  1917 
for  duty  in  the  army.  1917  (SS).  "C.  A.  Morehouse  went  to  Mattoon  where 
he  assisted  in  the  Schilling  Ward,  taking  care  of  the  dead  caused  by  the 
tornado." 

September    15.    1920,    E.    W.    Morrison    purchased    the    business    and 

81 


building  from  his  father-in-law  and  it  became  known  as  the  Morrison  Fun- 
eral Service. 

Blair  Funeral  Home 

The  Blair  Funeral  Home,  under  Eli  W.  and  James  W.  Blair,  opened 
for  business  January  1,  1940.  On  August  15,  1946,  the  Morrison  Funeral 
Service  was  sold  to  the  Blair  brothers  with  Mr.  Morrison  as  Assistant 
Director.  In  August  1952,  E.  W.  Blair  moved  to  Newton,  Illinois  to  take  up 
farming  and  his  brother  continued  with  the  business. 

A  branch  office  of  the  Blair  Funeral  Home  was  opened  on  Main 
Street  in  Fisher  in  1947,  and  later  moved  to  the  Neal  home  on  Highway  136. 


Blair  Funeral  Home  in  Mahomet 


VETERINARIANS 

"Across  the  street  from  the  John  Dickson  home  are  Lots  Nos.  2,  3,  and 
4,  Block  2  (where  Dr.  Smith's  office  is  now  located).  Dr.  D.  E.  Sisk  bought 
these  lots  with  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  veterinary  hospital,  but  Mr.  Dick- 
son was  so  opposed  to  the  idea  that  he  bought  the  lots  from  Dr.  Sisk  for  the 
sum  of  $3500.     Many  years  later  these  same  lots  were  sold  for  $400. 

May  1923  (SS).  "Dr.  A.  L.  Blair,  veterinary  of  Newton,  Illinois,  has 
leased  the  Wright  property  in  the  north  part  of  town,  and  will  move  here  the 
first  of  May." 

MISCELLANEOUS 

Campbell  Industries,  established  November  1947. 

Bert  Williams  Watch  Repair. 

Guy  Warner's  Concrete  Products  established  in  January  1946. 

Richard  Watts  Limestone  and  Fertilizer.  "Dick"  has  been  in  this 
business  since  1933. 

82 


other  places  of  business  in  Mahomet  today  are — Brown's  Barber 
Shop,  Lake's  Barber  Shop,  Wells  Brikcrete,  Marathon  Filling  Station,  Mobil- 
gas  Filling  Station,  Standard  Filling  Station,  Shell  Filling  Station,  Don's 
Potato  Chip  Factory,  Wayne  Armstrong's  Insurance  Office,  Dawkins  Elec- 
trical Shop,  Ola  Poison's  Variety  Store,  Benton  Mahin  Contractor,  and  Don 
Sanders  Landscaping. 

Woodshop,  belonging  to  Dave  Pittman,  was  located  across  the  street 
from  Abbott's  Hall,  but  we  do  not  know  the  extent  of  his  business. 

RECREATIONAL  ENTERPRISES 

Lake  of  the  Woods 

One  of  the  most  scenic  spots  in  Champaign  County,  lying  near  the 
course  of  the  historic  Sangamon  River,  was  selected  in  1948  for  the  establish- 
ment of  the  Lake  of  the  Woods  Forest  Preserve.  The  first  purchase  of  land 
(260  acres)  was  made  in  1948,  and  there  have  since  been  several  additions, 
through  purchases  or  gifts,  making  a  total  of  331  acres. 

The  Lake  of  the  Woods  is  one  and  a  half  miles  northeast  of  Mahomet, 
a  part  of  the  old  Gulick  Homestead. 

From  100  to  200  trees  have  been  planted  each  year— white  pines, 
maples,  willows,  ash,  oak,  and  sycamore.  The  new  plantings  have  enhanced 
the  beauty  of  the  old.  The  trees  in  the  Howard  Woods  area  are  some  of  the 
finest  specimens  in  Illinois.  Thousands  visit  the  preserve  every  season. 
Fishing,  boating,  golf  (18-hole  course),  swimming,  picnicking,  hiking,  and 
other  forms  of  outdoor  recreation  are  available.  There  is  no  entrance  fee 
for  use  of  the  Lake  of  the  Woods  grounds  and  some  of  its  facilities,  but 
concessions  from  rental  of  boats,  from  the  use  of  the  bathhouse  and  swim- 
ming area,  from  golf  fees  and  from  donations  has  approximated  $65,000  a 
year.  Cost  of  all  the  improvements  in  the  Lake  of  the  Woods  area,  including 
the  land  and  the  macadamized,  widened  county  road  leading  to  the  property, 
from  1948  through  1954,  inclusive,  has  been  about  $650,000.  The  Commission 
President  is  H.  I.  Gelvin. 

Champaign  Sportsmen's  Club 

Located  across  from  the  Lake  of  the  Woods,  but  a  private  enterprise, 
is  the  Champaign  Sportsmen's  Club. 

Urbana  Sportsmen's  Club 

A  man-made  lake  is  being  built  just  about  a  half  mile  southwest  of 
Mahomet  which  will  be  the  Urbana  Sportmen's  Club. 

Another  private  lake  is  being  built  two  miles  west  of  Mahomet  on  the 
Abbott  land. 


83 


General  News  Items 
Taken  From  Old  Issues  of  Mahomet  Sucker  State 

1907.  It  is  interesting  to  note  that  "in  1907  the  average  automobile  cost 
$2,121  with  top,  windshield,  and  horn  extra." 

1911.  Fred  Barber  reports  that  he  has  driven  his  Rambler  car  13,221  miles, 
with  the  same  tires  on  it  and  never  a  blowout.  Then  all  at  once  he 
had  the  misfortune  of  having  seven  blowouts  in  one  week.  .  .  .The 
Juniors  entertained  the  Sophomores  at  the  home  of  W.  O.  Dale.  A 
three-course  lunch  was  served.  One  of  the  main  features  of  the 
evening's  entertainment  was  a  butterfly  hunt,  the  butterflies  being 
hidden  in  obscure  places.  A  flashlight  picture  was  taken  of  the  two 
classes.  Those  present  were  Claude  Purnell,  Esta  Rayburn,  Gladys 
McNeill,  Beatrice  Foster,  Mary  Godwin,  Bernice  Downs,  Lulu  Dale, 
Laura  Rowe,  Bernice  Jones,  Lester  Warner,  Guy  Williamson,  Fred 
Kroner,  Vern  Rittenhouse,  Roscoe  Miller,  John  Downs,  John  Carson, 

Orval  Black,  and  Ray  Irle While  C.  A.  Morehouse  and  wife  were 

in  Peoria,  Chester  took  a  picture  of  Walter  Brookins  while  making  a 
flight.     This  is  the  first  time  that  anyone  from  Mahomet  has  taken 

a  picture  of  a  flying  machine Charles  Purnell  is  one  of  the  many 

persons  who  has  recently  purchased  land  in  Michigan. 

1912.  J.  B.  Busey  of  Urbana  was  in  town  Tuesday  with  two  of  the  1913 
model  Warren  Detroit  cars.  They  are  completely  equipped  with  all 
the  latest  conveniences.  F.  O.  Jahr  purchased  one  of  them,  and  now 
is  spending  his  extra  time  learning  to  drive  it.  .  .  .Robert  Davis  has 
stone  vaults  which  range  in  price  from  $10  to  $25,  according  to  size 

Ernest  Stout  has  purchased  a  new  Indian  motorcycle  which  he 

expects  to  use  to  deliver  the  mail Feme  Hoit,  Vira  Bryan,  Julia 

Carson,  Stanley  Spencer,  Sam  Stout,  and  Vance  Hood  will  take  the 

teachers'  exam  Saturday  in  Urbana At  the  [April]  election  several 

of  the  oldest  men  in  the  country  attended.  Among  them  were  J.  Q. 
"Pappy"  Thomas  who  was  83  years  old.  He  has  never  worn  glasses, 
and  has  never  voted  any  other  place;  Jonas  Lester  has  cast  57  votes; 
Thomas  Dale  has  voted  in  this  township  56  times  and  has  missed  but 
one  vote.  .  .  .Baptized  in  river:  Etta  Barber,  Carrie  Stevens,  and 
Merle  Guinn  were  baptized  in  the  Sangamon  River  at  the  Sand  Bank 
near  the  Jonas  Lester  residence  on  Sunday,  immediately  following 
the  morning  service. 

1913.  Township  Spelling  Contest  was  held  at  the  gi-ade  school  last  Satur- 
day. The  following  made  the  highest  grades:  Lisle  Lester,  99;  Zaye 
Gulick,  92;  and  Lenora  Bensley,  91.  .  .  .Otis  Pfiester  drove  his 
National  Roadster  to  F.  O.  Wright's  Sunday,  and  while  there  the  car 
stalled  in  the  mud.  In  trying  to  get  out  a  little  damage  was  done  to 
the  car.  On  Monday  William  Murphy  pulled  it  to  the  J.  N.  Black 
Garage,  and  an  expert  came  from  Champaign  Tuesday  who  did  the 
repairs. 

1914.  The  filling  of  the  ice  house  of  A.  H.  Sperling  was  completed  Thurs- 
day.    The  ice  was  of  fine  quality,  and  was  about  eight  inches  thick 

Ernest  Stout,  Willis  Black,  Ray  Irle,  and  Roscoe  Smith  made  a 

200-mile  trip  Sunday  on  their  motorcycles.  They  visited  Devil's 
Kitchen,  Homer  Park,  Danville,  and  Covington,  Indiana.  They  had 
but  one  blowout  and  two  punctures  on  the  entire  trip Wednesday 

84 


the  deal  was  closed  between  Zaye  Williamson  and  the  village  council 
whereby  the  village  becomes  the  owner  of  the  four  lots  formerly 
belonging  to  Miss  Williamson.  The  village  expects  to  build  hitch 
racks  around  the  entire  purchase,  and  the  inside  will  be  used  for  a 
village  park,  which  Miss  Williamson  reserved  the  right  to  name. .  . . 
J.  J.  Hayward,  being  the  Chairman  of  the  County  Road  and  Bridge 
Committee,  has  been  called  to  Springfield  to  attend  the  letting  of  the 
contract  for  the  first  "hard  road"  in  this  county. 

1915.  After  April  1,  I  will  be  in  a  position  to  furnish  a  limited  number  of 
white  orphington  settings  at  $5.00  per  setting.  J.  W.  Herriott.  .  . . 
Up-to-date  Poultry  House  out  on  Sunny  Slope  Poultry  Farm — Ches- 
ter Morehouse. .  .  .W.  B.  Behrens  and  family  left  Tuesday  for  Char- 
leston where  they  will  make  their  home. . .  .On  the  Harris  farm  one 
engine  is  pulling  two  binders  cutting  oats  while  another  engine  is 
pulling  three  binders.  This  is  being  done  because  the  extreme  heat 
is  too  much  for  the  horses.  This  method  requires  fourteen  men  to 
shock  the  oats.  They  have  700  acres  of  oats  which  it  is  believed  will 
make  over  fifty  bushels  to  the  acre.  . .  .George  Carter  has  completed 
the  filling  of  his  ice  house.  Part  of  the  ice  was  fourteen  inches  thick 
.  .  .  .We  will  have  a  car  of  Gold  Medal  Flour  and  feed  on  track  here 
Friday  and  Saturday.  The  flour  will  be  $5.90  per  barrel,  at  the  car. 
Fred  Snell. 

1917.  During  the  past  few  days  Mahomet  has  been  solicited  as  to  the  num- 
ber that  would  use  electricity  if  brought  here  from  Bondville  or 
Champaign.  . .  .Ice  taken  from  the  river  was  eighteen  inches  thick 
. . .  .M.  E.  Smith  secured  permission  to  set  trees  in  the  village  park.  .  .  . 
A  car  load  of  Fords  arrived  Tuesday,  and  were  immediately  taken  by 
the  following:  Joe  Sylvester,  John  Phillippe,  W.  W.  Vance,  Lonnie 
Jones,  and  Matt  Busey.  . .  .Charles  Purnell  is  driving  a  new  Maxwell 
car. . .  .On  account  of  the  increased  price  of  feed  we  are  forced  to 
raise  the  price  of  milk  to  10c  per  quart  and  5c  per  pint — Sloan's 
Dairy.  .  .  .Mahomet  must  raise  $550  for  the  Red  Cross  War  Fund.  .  .  . 
W.  O.  Dale  purchased  a  new  Reo  automobile.  .  .  .Red  Cross  War  Notes: 
Orval  Black,  Battleship,  Texas,  wishes  to  express  his  gratitude  to 
the  Red  Cross.  Mrs.  Pearman,  Mrs.  Black,  Mrs.  Wilkins,  Mrs.  Clar- 
ence Herriott,  and  Miss  Warbritton  have  all  heard  from  sweaters 
sent.    Irene  Ford  has  heard  from  three  soldiers. 

1918.  The  electric  light  petitions  bore  about  200  signatures  of  residents  who 

favor  lighting  the  village The  sorghum  mill  located  near  the  river 

bridge  on  the  Fred  Barber  land  in  charge  of  Mr.   Barber  and   Mr. 
Douglas  Purnell  is  attracting  a  great  deal  of  attention. 

1919.  Coffee  one  pound  25c. 

1920.  On  Saturday  night,  eighty-nine  automobiles  were  counted,  parked 
on  Main  Street.  .  .  .The  first  American  radio  broadcasting  was  trans- 
mitted from  Station  KDKA  at  Pittsburgh;  it  consisted  of  election 
returns. 

1922.     Ralph  Foster  is  installing  a  wireless  receiving  station. 

1924.  Charles  Purnell  is  making  rather  extensive  repairs  on  his  farm  resi- 
dence east  of  town  which  he  recently  purchased  and  where  he  will 
move  as  soon  as  the  work  is  completed. 

85 


1928.  Frank  Phillippe  made  a  trip  to  town  Monday  evening  in  his  Ford 
motor  car.  It  was  the  first  car  seen  here  on  the  streets  for  some  time, 
owing  to  the  muddy  roads. 

1929.  At  the  village  board  meeting  Monday  night  the  calaboose  was  sold 
to  Walter  Wright  for  $10. 

1932.  At  the  village  board  meeting  a  representative  of  the  I.  P.  L.  was 
expected  to  be  present  to  talk  over  the  street  lighting  proposition. 
At  present  the  rate  is  $94  a  month  for  the  fifty-four  street  lights,  and 
the  Board  feels  they  need  a  lower  rate. 

1933.  The  Merry  Mer-Maid  Club  enjoyed  a  very  successful  camping  trip  at 
the  Purnell  cabin  north  of  Mahomet  on  the  Sangamon  River.  Those 
present  were  Inez  Bagley  of  Champaign,  Pauline  Herriott,  Florence 
Wigton,  Marie  Hickle,  Alpha  Hicks,  Mary  Phillippe,  Louise  and 
Isabelle  Purnell,  and  Lucille  Moore. 

1935.     Extra  good  storm  buggy  to  trade  for  work  horse. — John  Anderson. 

1937.  Charles  Purnell,  while  milking  on  Tuesday  morning,  thought  of  the 
idea  of  Mahomet's  giving  an  entertainment  and  turning  the  entire 
proceeds  over  to  the  Red  Cross  for  flood  sufferers.  He  came  to  town 
and  met  with  such  fine  cooperation  that  a  program  was  immediately 
worked  up.  This  program  will  be  given  at  the  high  school  Wednes- 
day at  7:30.  Admission  of  15c  and  25c  will  be  charged.  The  program 
will  be  as  follows:  music.  High  School  Band;  male  quartet,  Gerald 
Miller,  Ernest  Smith,  Charles  Purnell,  and  Clair  Kokensparger; 
reading,  Margaret  Wicoff ;  cornet  solo,  Paul  Stout;  vocal  duet,  Shively 
sisters;  play,  public  speaking  class  of  the  high  school;  vocal  duet, 
Frances  Dees  and  Gerald  Miller:  music.  Grade  School  Chorus;  instru- 
mental duet,  Doris  Moore  and  Alma  Primmer;  cello  solo,  Lorene 
Jeffers;  skit,  Virginia  Smoot  and  Philip  Buker;  mixed  quartet,  Lorene 
Jeffers,  Grace  Vandervoort.  W.  C.  Coe,  Norman  McClure;  music, 
High  School  Band Frank  W.  Taylor  was  elected  supervisor. 

1938.  C.  W.  Pugh  has  received  a  letter  from  George  P.  "Chicken"  Miller, 
92  years  old  February  13,  about  the  wolf  drive  forty  years  ago.  "I 
hope  you  will  have  better  success  with  your  fox  chase  than  we  did 
with  our  wolf  drive  back  in  1897  or  1898.  I  dislike  to  place  the  blame 
on  the  Newcomb  Township  boys  for  our  failure  to  capture  the  five 
wolves  that  were  seen  by  Andy  Phillippe  that  morning,  but  instead 
of  their  going  south  to  meet  the  Mahomet  boys,  they  went  east  from 
the  bridge,  allowing  the  wolves  to  escape.  Among  those  present  were 
Oscar  Dale,  Frank  Thomas,  Jerry  and  Will  Johnston,  Joe  Rittenhouse, 
Oscar  and  Gene  Smith,  Andy  Phillippe,  and  perchance  some  I  do  not 
recall."  . .  .Mahomet  residents  were  pleased  and  surprised  that  the 
street  lights  were  turned  on.  The  first  system  was  installed  twenty 
years  ago.  .  .  .Lake  Mahomet  was  asked  for  by  the  Planning  Com- 
mission. 

1939.  The  number  of  local  residents  desiring  to  use  city  water  now  appears 
to  be  one  hundred.  .  .  .Three  pounds  of  coffee  for  39c;  ten  pounds  of 
sugar  45c.  .  .  .Mahomet  Waterworks  was  installed. .  .  .All  motorists 
applying  for  license  will  be  obliged  to  take  driving  tests. 

1946.  Morrison  Hobby  and  Antique  Show,  sponsored  by  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
E.  W.  Morrison  was  held  Friday  evening  in  the  high  school.  (Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Morrison  held  these  hobby  shows  in  January  from  1943  to  1949.) 

86 


The  following  items  are  taken  from  a  copy  of  the  Champaign  County- 
News  Gazette,  March  10,  1886,  the  original  copy  of  which  is  in  the  possession 
of  Mrs.  Mae  Rayburn  of  Ithaca,  Michigan.  The  subscriber  was  M.  B. 
Gleason,  and  the  subscription  rate  was  $1.50  a  year,  paid  in  advance.  The 
paper  was  one  sheet,  folded  in  four  parts. 

A  large  party  of  relatives  and  friends  gathered  at  the  home  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Robert  Rayburn  at  Mahomet,  Thursday  evening,  to  witness 
the  marriage  of  their  daughter,  Eda  Belle  Rayburn  to  Louis  Clapper 
of  Mahomet.  . .  .Charles  Lindsey  is  prospecting  in  Kansas.  .  .  .J.  W. 
Egbert  and  family  shipped  for  Fort  Scott,  Kansas,  on  Friday. .  .  .J.  W. 
Tanner  is  building  a  dwelling  house  for  Miss  Scott  of  Champaign. . .  . 
Mrs.  Stout,  aged  87  years,  died  at  the  home  of  her  son-in-law,  Jerry 
Warner.  .  .  .Mrs.  H.  Smith  has  purchased  of  James  Rowe  the  dwelling 
house  just  north  of  the  Presbyterian  Church;  consideration  $550  cash 
. .  .  .Supervisor  G.  F.  Geiger  went  to  Champaign  Monday  and  paid 
$4,000  on  the  $5,000  township  bond  due  July  1,  1886,  thus  saving  to 
the  township  $75  interest.  .  .  .J.  W.  Parks,  Samuel  Ramey,  Phillip 
Cherry,  Mrs.  James  Watson  and  Mrs.  Wiley  Davis  are  seriously  sick 
. .  .  .Married,  on  Thursday  evening,  by  Rev.  Wm.  Murphy,  at  the 
M.  E.  Parsonage,  Mr.  Stephen  Raines  and  Miss  Lizzie  Morse. 


Times  Have  Changed 

Among  the  old  receipts  of  Mrs.  Mary  B.  Caldwell  was  found  one  from 
the  Burnham  Hospital  dated  1910  which  read:  room  and  board  March  15-23, 
$11.50;  medicine,  25c;  operating  room  $3.00;  surgical  dressings,  25c.  Total 
$15. 

Mrs.  Robert  Clapper,  Sr.,  has  in  her  possession  a  receipt,  given  to  her 
great-grandmother  Banes  by  Dr.  J.  D.  Gai'dner,  for  66  V2  bushels  of  oats  at 
20c  a  bushel  ($13.30),  October  24,  1872. 


Newcomb  Township 

Newcomb  Township  was  surveyed  in  1823  and  the  township  was 
named  after  Ethan  Newcom  who  settled  near  Newcomb  Ford  in  1837.  The 
"b"  was  later  added  to  his  name.  The  first  settler  in  Newcomb  township 
was  James  S.  Mitchell  who  settled  on  Sec.  22,  known  later  as  Pancake 
Point.  The  second  settler,  Arnspiker,  only  stayed  a  short  time  and  moved 
on  in  1837.  The  third  settler  was  William  Pancake  who  came  from  Ohio 
in  1837  and  lived  first  in  a  log  cabin  across  the  road  west  from  Shiloh 
Church  on  the  farm  now  known  as  the  Downs  farm.  It  is  from  this  man 
that  we  get  the  name  Pancake  Point  for  the  beautiful  knoll  where  the  Shiloh 
church  and  parsonage  now  stand.  The  first  school  in  Newcomb  Township 
was  in  Jesse  Pancake's  old  log  cabin.  The  first  schoolhouse  was  built  in 
1852  on  the  same  section  as  the  one  where  the  Hannah  school  later  stood. 
In  1875  a  Post  Office  was  established  in  the  home  of  E.  Compton  on  the  hill 
just  south  of  the  Shiloh  Church.  Mail  was  brought  out  from  Mahomet  twice 
a  week,  on  Tuesday  and  Saturday.  Within  Newcomb  Township  we  find  it 
had  several  well-defined  lords  across  the  Sangamon  River — The  Newcomb 
(at  or  near  the  bridge,  State  Highway  No.  119),  the  Thrasher  (on  township 
line  south  of  Fisher),  the  Shaffer  (about  one  mile  below  the  Thrasher  Ford), 
The  Blacker  (about  half  a  mile  above  the  Hazen  Bridge). 


87 


MEMORIAL  ORGAN 

The  goal  was  reached  and  the  new  Baldwin  Electronic  Organ  was  installed 
for  the  centennial.  Most  of  the  money  was  given  as  gifts  in  memory  of 
the  following: 

SADIE  CARTER 

DORA  MILLER 

EVA  ARMSTRONG 

LEN  RAYBURN  FAMILY 

MATT  HERRIOTT 

MR.  AND  MRS.  JOHN  JACOBS 

RICHARD  PARKER 

KEITH  CLAPPER   FAMILY 

DR.  R.  H.  SMITH  FAMILY 

J.  M.  DOWELL  FAMILY 

PATRICIA  LEACH'S  FATHER 

LYLE  GARST 

FRANK  LINDSEY 

THE  PUGH  FAMILY 

FRED  PRIMMER  FAMILY 

FRANK  DAVIS  FAMILY 

ERNEST  MOON  FAMILY 

MERLE  CLAPPER 

CHARLES  PURNELL  FAMILY 

REV.  H.  RAY  FUNK 

SHERRY  HAMMETT'S  FATHER 

MRS.  K.  S.  MANUEL 

JAMES  WILSON  FAMILY 

MR.  AND  MRS.  J.  M.  DICKSON 

FRANK  H.  JAHR 

A  number  of  organ  contributions  were  made  with  no  memorial  designation: 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Roy  Armstrong,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robert  Clapper,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ernest  Moon  Jr.,  Mrs.  Ruth  S.  Carson,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  M.  A.  Phillippe,  Jr., 
Rev.  and  Mrs.  Selden  Myers,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wm  Humphrey,  Mrs.  Florence 
Weatherford,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Len  Wigton,  Mrs.  Audie  Ring,  Mrs.  Adda  Martin, 
Mrs.  Rosa  Thompson,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  O.  R.  Dollahon,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Melvin 
Miller,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frank  Herriott,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harold  Roberts,  Don 
Wyatt,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Herman  Wyatt,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clarence  Rayburn,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Ernest  Stout,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Melvin  Shinker,  Mrs.  Mabel  Hinton, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  R.  O.  Keene,  Miss  Feme  Dale,  Mrs.  Lulu  Buker,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ola  Knight,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Paul  Hildebrand,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lawrence  Scheets, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Lewis,  and  The  Church  Choir 

(Names  listed  as  of  April  25,  1955) 


88 


(^Itampaian-  Ulrbana    (contributors 

Following  are  the  names  of  business  houses  in  Champaign-Urbana  who 
have  contributed  to  the  publication  of  this  book.  We  do  appreciate  their 
co-operation. 

WORDEN-MARTIN,  INC. 
Packard  -  Hudson  6  East  Springfield,  Champaign 


PARIS  DYEING  AND  CLEANING  CO. 
112-114  West  Clark  Street  -  Channpaign 


Compliments  of 
WALLER  BUICK  CO.  -  CHAMPAIGN 


JACK  BELL  GAS  CO. 
2201  E.  University  —  Urbana 


Compliments  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  L.  Pinny,  912  W.  Hill 


MODEL-SOUDERS  LAUNDRY  &  DRY  CLEANING 
518  N.  Neil        Champaign,  III. 


SACKETT'S  -  Quality  Furniture  -  Floor  Coverings 
1  19-123  E.  University  Ave.         Champaign,  III. 


SPRITZ  JEWELERS  CHAMPAIGN,  ILL. 

Watches         Diamonds        Silverware 


VERN  F.  WARNER  AND  SONS 
Phone  2479  Local  and  Out  of  State  Hauling 


V.  B.  LINDSEY 
Painting  and  Decorating,  Phone  6-4436 


LENDALE'S  DRIVE-IN 
Corner  Prospect  and  Springfield 


Best  Wishes, 
EISNER  FOODS 


PARKHILL  MOTOR  SALES 
Oldsmobile  and  Cadillac  702  S.  Neil  St. 


89 


S.  C.  ABBOTT  AND  SON,  FLORISTS 
1501  N.  Prospect,  Champaign 


MEADOW  GOLD  PRODUCTS 
Champaign 


MENDEL  RILEY  MUSIC  STORE 
Everything  Musical         103  N.  Neil 


Anonymous 


Compliments  of 
CHAMPAIGN  COUNTY  SERVICE  CO. 


Best  Wishes 
WING  AND  WHEEL  -  RESTAURANT 


STANNER  SEED  HOUSE 
Seeds 


Best  Wishes 
SHOLEM'S  IN  CHAMPAIGN 


Anonymous 


Compliments  of 
TREVETT-MATTIS  BANKING  CO. 


DO-WELL  AGRICULTURAL  SERVICE 
J.  M.  Dowell 


Compliments  of 
JOS.  KUHN  &  CO. 

Compliments  of 
INTERNATIONAL  HARVESTER  CO. 


Compliments  of 
PAUL  LAUTERBORN  APPLIANCE  SHOP 


Compliments  of  CHAMPAIGN  NATIONAL  BANK 
Member  Federal  Reserve  System 


90 


CHAMPAIGN  CO.  TELEPHONE  SECRETARY 
24  Hour  Answering  Service  207  W.  Clark  (Rear) 

CLIFFORD  V.  LLOYDE  PIANO  CO. 
Corner  Neil  and  Hill  St.,  Champaign 

FIELDS,  7  &  9  Main  St.,  Champaign 
Apparel  for  the  whole  family 

STEVEN'S  RUG  &  LINOLEUM 
If  it  covers  the  floor,  we  have  it 

BROWNIE'S  SHOE  REPAIR 
309  N.  Neil  St. 


ROBESON'S 
Champaign's  Largest  Department  Store 

Compliments  of 
CHAMPAIGN  CLEANERS,  38  MAIN 


Compliments  of 
JORDAN  PAINT  STORE 


SPALDING  BOOTERY 
19  Main  St.        Champaign 


W.  LEWIS  &  CO. 
Champaign's  Leading  Dept.  Store 


Congratulations  on  your  Centennial  Year 
JOHNSTON'S  SPORT  SHOP 


KEMPER  FABERT  MOTOR  CO.,  CHAMPAIGN 
Lincoln-Mercury  Dealer  for  Champaign,  Ford,  and  Piatt  Counties 

JONES  OPTICAL  CO. 
Champaign 


REEDER  AUTO  SALES 
Sales  —  NASH  —  Service 


TWIN  CITY  PONTIAC  COMPANY 
Champaign,  Illinois 


91 


ART  FLORAL  COMPANY 
1 15  W.  Church,  Champaign 


CHAMPAIGN  CENTRAL  LOAN,  INC 
120  S.Neil  Money  When  You  Need  It 


DILLAVOU'S  SERVICE  STATION 
Corner  Washington  and  Walnut 


BUILDERS  SUPPLY  CO. 
30  E.  John,  Champaign 

C.  N.  CLARK  &  CO.  MONUMENTS 
G.  E.  Phillips,  President 


CHAMPAIGN  COUNTY  ABSTRACT  CO. 
Agency  for  Chicago  Title  &  Trust  Co.,  Chicago 

HARSHBARGER  IMPLEMENT  CO. 
219  N.  Broadway,  Urbana 


Congratulations  from  the 
SULLIVAN  CHEVROLET  COMPANY,  CHAMPAIGN 


DANA  HUDELSON,  INC.,  CHAMPAIGN 
Ford  Dealer 


Compliments  of  the 
ILLINOIS  COMMERCIAL  COLLEGE 


COMPLIMENTS  OF  LLOYDE  EICHORST,  INC. 
DeSoto  -  Plymouth  Sales  and  Service 


BACON  &  VAN  BUSKIRK  GLASS  CO.,  INC. 
719  S.  Neil,  Champaign 


Compliments  of 
ILLINI  PEST  CONTROL 


Compliments  of 
RELIABLE  FURNITURE  COMPANY 


COMPLIMENTS  OF  P.  H.  HUGHES  FURNITURE  CO. 
110-112  N.  Walnut 


92 

W.S.S.    PRINT,  MANOMET