USA > Illinois > Kankakee County > Prairie farmer's directory of Kankakee county, Illinois, 1917 > Part 1
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M. L. 77.301 .14pr 555861
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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7 ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02324 398 0
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2013
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FARMERS AND BREEDERS, KANKAKEE COUNTY
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The Aristocrat.of Motordom
K NIGHT Motored cars have always been the aristocrats of motordom.
Today the leading cars in practi- cally every country are Knight- Motored.
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The Willys-Knight Improves with use, Requires no adjustment, Makes beneficial use of carbon, Is powerful, flexible and economical.
You will find no other single car with all of these advantages.
Overland-Mann Company KANKAKEE, ILLINOIS
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Introduction
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N this directory we have endeavored to give Kankakee county farmers a complete and reliable directory of the farmers, breeders and merchants of the county, with such other information as will make the directory a valuable reference book.
The task of calling on every farmer in a county and collecting the information for such a directory is a tre- mendous one. We have received splendid co-operation from the farmers and business men of the county, with- out which the publication of such a directory would be impossible. In a very few cases we have found farmers unwilling to give the information requested, which ac- counts for a few names that do not appear.
A few mistakes are bound to occur in a directory that involves so large an amount of work, but we have spared no effort or expense to make the information complete and accurate, and we believe that the mistakes are very few.
We want to speak a word of appreciation for the adver- tisers whose liberal support has helped materially to bear the heavy expense of publishing this directory, and ask that you favor them with your patronage whenever pos- sible.
We hope and believe that the publication of this direc- tory will be a real service to Kankakee county farmers and in line with PRAIRIE FARMER's policy of service to the farmers of Illinois. We hope that the increased circula- tion of PRAIRIE FARMER in Kankakee county which has re- sulted will help in the movement for better farming, better farm living, and more prosperity for the county, and that our many new friends will become permanent members of the big PRAIRIE FARMER family.
BURRIDGE D. BUTLER, Publisher, Prairie Farmer.
FARMERS AND BREEDERS, KANKAKEE COUNTY
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The Biggest and Most Complete Department Store
In the Kankakee District
K ANKAKEE enjoys the position of being the trading center of Kankakee County and all the surrounding counties-and The Chicago Store is Kankakee city's biggest and most popular retail store.
The Chicago Store is a modern, up-to-date department store which grew up to its present proud position by honest merchandising methods and fair dealing with the public. Efficient, satisfactory service and low prices have always been and are now its chief attractions.
WE WANT YOU TO BE OUR GUEST WHEN IN KANKAKEE Our recently built new store building shown in the above picture is a modern, up-to-date retail store home with every convenience for shoppers. such as elevator service, roomy and spacious isles, modern fixtures, etc. There is a well-appointed public rest room with lavatory connecting on the second floor, with an experienced maid in attendance. We invite visitors to make it a meeting place and use its conveniences after a dusty auto trip from out of town.
KANKAKEE, ILLINOIS
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PRAIRIE FARMER'S RELIABLE DIRECTORY
Directory of the Legal Profession
JOHN H. BECKERS Attorney-at-Law Bell Telephone 198 Ind. Telephone 724 Rooms 22-23-24 City National Bank Bldg. KANKAKEE ILLINOIS
Dyer & Whittemore
Lawyers
WAYNE H. DYER
State's Attorney
H. H. WHITTEMORE
City Attorney
Phones:
Bell 191, Ind. 366
46-47-48
City National Bank Bldg.
KANKAKEE
ILLINOIS
Robillard, Robillard & Henry Lawyers Suite 204-205 Cobb Bldg. AMOS H. ROBILLARD J. HARVEY ROBILLARD CHARLES D. HENRY, Jr. Both Telephones 561 KANKAKEE ILLINOIS
H. K. & H. H. Wheeler
Attorneys-at-Law
Room 3 Bank Building
KANKAKEE
ILLINOIS
Duane P. Cleghorn Attorney-at-Law
Rooms 22-23 Bank Bldg.
Bell Phone 198
Ind. Phone 724
KANKAKEE
ILLINOIS
Gower, Hobbie & Parish Law Offices
33-36
City National Bank Building
Eben B. Gower W. R. Hobbie
Varnum A. Parish
Branch Office at Momence, Ill.
KANKAKEE
ILLINOIS
Granger, Dougherty & Nourie
Law Offices
Legris Building
KANKAKEE
ILLINOIS
SAVARY, RUEL & LAMARRE
Attorneys
Suite 18-19-20 Bank Bldg.
KANKAKEE
ILLINOIS
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FARMERS AND BREEDERS, KANKAKEE COUNTY
Directory of the Legal Profession
ALEX. J. POWELL
Lawyer
Room 214 Cobb Building
Telephone Bell 323
Kankakee, Illinois
Small, Bratton & Schroeder
Attorneys-at-Law
John Small, Luther B. Bratton Werner W. Schroeder Rooms 1-5, First Trust Bldg. 138 South Schuyler Avenue Kankakee, Illinois
MERLE G. FAXON Attorney-at-Law
Office, Both Phones 54
Residence, Bell Phone 890-1 41 City National Bank Bldg. Kankakee, Illinois
Smith & Marcotte Attorneys-at-Law A. E. Smith E. A. Marcotte Legris Brothers' Bank Bldg. 157 S. Schuyler Avenue Bell Phone 1657 Ind. Phone 60 Kankakee, Illinois
Harry S. Streeter Lawyer Grant Park, Saturday and Monday Phone 54 Room 41 City National Bank Building Kankakee, Illinois
Anker C. Jensen Attorney-at-Law
Telephone Bell 323
Room 214, Cobb Building Kankakee, Illinois
Walter C. Schneider Attorney-at-Law
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Phones: Bell 39, Ind. 243
210 Cobb Building
Kankakee, Illinois
C. M. Clay Buntain Attorney-at-Law
Telephones: Bell 55, Ind. 457
401-2 Cobb Building Kankakee, Illinois i
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PRAIRIE FARMER'S RELIABLE DIRECTORY
Physicians' and Surgeons' Professional Directory
Dr. Charles Richard Lockwood Practice Limited to Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Glasses Fitted Hours 9-12, 1-5 Residence, 652 E. Oak Street Res. Phone, Bell 1257 Office Phone, Bell 193 Rooms 25-26 City National Bank Building KANKAKEE ILLINOIS
Edwin S. Hamilton M. D.
509-10-11 Cobb Bldg.
Office Hours, 11-12, 2-4, 7-8 Ph. Office, Bell 124, Ind. 305 Residence, Bell 318, Ind. 305 KANKAKEE ILLINOIS
Drs. Geiger & Roth Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Suite 504-506 Cobb Bldg. Phones, Ird. 29, Bell 1201 Hours 9-12 a. m., 1:30-4:30 p. m. In Chicago Mondays and Fridays
KANKAKEE
ILLINOIS
R. V. THOMAS, M. D. Physician and Surgeon Office Hours
9-12 a.m., 2-5 p.m., 7-8 p.m.
Phone Office 6
Residence 151
MANTENO
ILLINOIS
C. Max Anderson, M.D. Physician and Surgeon Successor to Dr. O. A. Phipps Office Hours 7:30-9 a.m., 1-3 p.m., 7-8 p.m. Phone Office Independent 25 Bell Phone Residence MANTENO ILLINOIS
Drs. C. F. and C. K. Smith Office: Rooms 13-14 City National Bank Building Residence: 859 S. Chicago Avenue Both Phones KANKAKEE ILLINOIS
A. S. Eshbaugh, M. D. Physician
Hours:
11 to 12. 3 to 5 and 7 to 8
Office:
Bank Bldg.
KANKAKEE
ILLINOIS
J. A. GUERTIN, M.D.
Bell Phones
Office 913, Residence 942
Independent Phones
Office 1083, Residence 647
Office Hours
11 to 12 A. M., 1 to 4 P. M.
Cobb Building
KANKAKEE
ILLINOIS
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FARMERS AND BREEDERS, KANKAKEE COUNTY
Physicians' and Surgeons' Professional Directory
J. Archibald Brown M. D. Hours, 1 to 4 and 7 to 8 P. M. Residence Bell 1144-Ind. 795 Office Bell 1028-Ind. 88-R2 Office 123 E. Court St. KANΚΑΚΕΕ ILLINOIS
Dr. K. M. Manougian Physician and Surgeon Office Hours 10 to 12 A. M. 2 to 4 and 7 to 8 P. M. Sundays by Appointment Office and Residence Phones Bell 469-Ind. 353 306-308 Cobb Building KANKAKEE ILLINOIS
D. J. O'Loughlin, M.D. Practice Limited to Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Independent Telephone 704 177 Court Street KANKAKEE ILLINOIS
Dr. C. D. Bergeron All Chronic Diseases a Specialty Eyes Tested and Fitted Correctly Work Guaranteed Office Hours 10 to 12 A. M., 2 to 5 P. M. Except Sunday Telephones Office-Bell 47, Ind. 253 Residence-Bell 1860 City National Bank Building KANKAKEE ILLINOIS
D O YOU LIVE close to a town that is in the ad- joining county? Do you trade there in preference to your own home town?
Remember that a hundred such farmers can easily spend and deposit in the banks of the adjoining coun- ty town a hundred thousand dollars that will make your own county a hundred thous- and dollars poorer than it would be if you traded in your home town.
B. L. Fitz Gerald
Insurance
in all its branches
Mortgages-Loans 5% on Farms
Room 20-21 City National Bank Building KANKAKEE, ILL. Both Phones
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Prairie Farmer's Directory of Kankakee County
Illinois 1917
Complete Directory of the Farmers of Kankakee County, with valuable information about each farm.
Breeders' Directory, giving full classified list of breeders of purebred livestock and poultry.
Business Directory, giving list of all business houses in Kankakee County.
Valuable statistics and general information.
Copyright, 1917
By PRAIRIE FARMER PUBLISHING COMPANY
Compiled and Published by Prairie Farmer Publishing Co. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
STYTIN'Y
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PRAIRIE FARMER'S RELIABLE DIRECTORY
1555861 The Kankakee County Soil and Crop Improvement Association
D OWN in Kankakee County, Illi- nois, the folks have a way of thinking that the Kankakee County Soil and Crop Improvement Association is the greatest organiza- tion of its kind in existence, and some of them fondly believe that it is the highest ambition of like organizations in other counties to be able to say, "We're doing just as good work as John Collier and his Kankakee people."
You will gather this impression whether you ask a Kankakee store- keeper or a Pilot Township farm hand. If you want to strike up a conversa- tion with someone in Kankakee, ask them to tell you a little about the Soil Improvement Association. You'll be lucky if you get away inside of an hour.
Kankakee people are neither ego- tists nor boasters -- they are just as modest as are the rest of the people I know in Illinois. But when it comes to farm advisory work, they just re- fuse to take a back seat to anybody. And this makes us wonder what their soil improvement association is doing to make them so proud of it.
I asked that question of C. E. Pob- inson, president of the association, and this is what he told me: "Oh, we're just a bunch of four or five hun- dred farmers joined together to see if we can't discourage the growing of timothy hay and other such foolish farm practices, and to see if we can't have more alfalfa farmers and fewer timothy farmers." A modest state- ment about a great movement, Robin- son's is, but really about as good a de- scription of it as I know.
It all began back in the late winter and spring of 1912, five years ago. They had been holding farmers' insti- tutes and short courses in Kankakee County for years, and the only com- plaint was that the effect of these meetings didn't last long enough-in other words, the inspiration for better farming received there didn't reach to the plow handles in enough cases. So a few of the farmers began to talk about what a fine thing it would be to get a trained man to come in and spend his whole time with them, ad- vising, answering questions and assist-
ing them generally with problems re- lating to better farming.
Some of the farmers were enthusi- astic, some lukewarm, a good many doubtful and even hostile, but in any event there were enough willing to chance $10 on it to pledge that amount toward the support of the Kankakee County Soil and Crop Improvement Association to get it started. The government put up $1,200 annually, and the board of supervisors a like amount. The board of directors hunted up a modest-looking young man named Collier, who was guaran- teed to know farming both froin the plow and pitchfork standpoint and from the book and science method. Collier began working June 1, 1912, and thus a new line of work was launched in Illinois-the county ad- visory movement which has since spread to 25 counties and which has brought large returns in both better farming and better citizenship every- where it has gone in this state. Col- lier wasn't altogether first in Illinois, as William G. Eckhardt began work on the same day in DeKalb County.
What of the results? To either a casual observer or a close student it is at once apparent that the members have received their money's worth, and more; and how they have done this is told in the rest of this story.
The first big problem which Collier and the members of the soil improve- ment association went to work on was that of increasing the productivity of Kankakee County soils. According to the University of Illinois survey, there are 92 types of soil in Kankakee County, and each one is fundamentally different from the others and requires different treatment.
The most important soil type is brown silt loam, comprising perhaps one-half of the county's area. This area covers most of the northern half of the county and a part of the south- western corner. Most of the brown silt loam lands, because they are so productive, have been grain-farmed ior years and the returns getting smaller gradually but surely. Legumes and raw rock phosphate, one to supply nitrogen and organic matter, and the other phosphorus, are the things
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FARMERS AND BREEDERS, KANKAKEE COUNTY
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TOP NOTCHERS, 1917-Nils Olsen, Pilot twp., general farmer; W. W. Parish, Ganeer twp., cattle feeder; A. G. Goepper, Limestone twp., general farmer; C. M. C. Buntain, Momence twp , general farmer; A. S. Pallisard, St. Anne twp , general farmer.
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PRAIRIE FARMER'S RELIABLE DIRECTORY
needed to build up worn brown silt loan soils, and these have been used by a great many Kankakee County farmers.
M. F. Baker, of Kankakee, is one of the farmers who has been using phosphate. The use of 1,000 pounds of phosphate in the oats dou- bled his sweet clover crop .. J. D. Watkins, also of Kankakee, began in 1911 to use phosphate. In 1916 he got 26 bushels per acre of very poor quality corn where no phos- phate had been applied, and 41 bushels of good quality where phosphate had been used. Watkins also has a two and three-quarters ton clover yield to compare with a three-quarters ton yield. On A. C. Radeke's farm near Kankakee, further effects of phosphate can be seen. Wheat on clover sod made 18 bushels per acre, where manure was added 26 bushels per acre, and where phosphate was applied 38 bushels per acre. These three brief examples serve to show the sort of soil work which is being carried on by members of the Kankakee County Soil and Crop Improvement Association. They are following out the Illinois system of maintaining fertility, which means maximum crops and a produc- tive soil for the next fellow.
So much limestone has been used in Kankakee County that no record is kept. It is used mainly to put on ground in preparation for alfalfa or clover. Very little was used five years ago.
A number of farmers have kept records for Collier on the difference in yields between fall and spring plow- ing. Fred Baur, of Herscher, found 14 bushels per acre advantage in fall plowing for corn over spring plowing. This is one example of what is being done along improvement in methods of tillage.
Another work which the association has encouraged is the bringing in of new legumes into Kankakee County for soil improvement. The majority of farmers are. grain farmers and sow clover for soil improvement. For that reason any clover which produces more growth to plow under than com- mon red clover is one of great value. The association has tried out both mammoth red clover and and sweet clover, and found that both of them fill the bill very well. Over twenty thousand acres of each of these clov-
ers were sowed last year to plow under.
The sweet clover is commonly sown in the spring with a small grain, pas- tured that fall, and let grow the next year to plow under. Some men have found it highly profitable to cut for seed. "It is much better for soil im- provement than for seed," says Collier. Others have found it valuable as a silage crop, mixing one load of straw with four of sweet clover. Nearly 100 farmers followed this practice last year. Mammoth clover is used just the same as sweet clover, except that it has not been used for silage. The two clovers had been grown mighty little in Kankakee County previous to 1912, but now they are making glad many thousand acres of soils by the great volume of organic matter which they are supplying.
The second most important soil type in Kankakee County is sandy loam. . It covers a strip along the south side of the Kankakee river and includes about one-third of the county. This was originally a sandy swamp and much of it still approaches that de- scription, and it varies all the way from a real brown sandy loam to pure dune sand. Its most immediate need is potassium, though it analyzes very low in both nitrogen and phosphorus also. Formerly it was a happy hunt- ing ground of the complete fertilizer agents with their songs about "2-8-2." but the Kankakee Soil Improvement Association doesn't believe in 2-8-2 and it does believe in permanent sys- tems of soil building.
Experiments on the sandy soils soon showed that the application of potas- sium in some economical form like potassium chlorate (muriate of pot- ash) or kainit, turned crop failures into crop successes. It was likewise found that the nitrogen could be added in an economical and profitable way through the growing of legumes, and that after this was done it paid to apply raw rock phosphate.
Enough muriate of potash was used by farmers in 1913 and 1914 to show the soundness of this teaching, but the European war cut off the supply. Since then wood aches have been substituted as the carrier of potash with fairly good results. W. G. Armour, of Kan- kakee, used 200 pounds per acre of po- tassium muriate, and his average corn yields went up from nothing to 40
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FARMERS AND BREEDERS, KANKAKEE COUNTY
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TOP NOTCHERS, 1916-W. H. Lowe, Aroma twp., seed breeder; Geo. Courville, Bourbonnais twp .. dairyman; C. M. Wright, Manteno twp., sheep feeder; Len Small, Kankakee twp. horse breeder; R. W. Wilcox, Pilot twp., general farmer.
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PRAIRIE FARMER'S RELIABLE DIRECTORY
bushels per acre. D. E. Styles, of Mo- mence, got similar results, and his clover yield was increased a third.
In the old days Kankakee County bought from 80 to 100 carloads of complete fertilizers annually. and now four or five make up the total.
Black clay loam spots make up from five to ten per cent of the county's area, scattered here and there a few acres in a place. Other types include peat, muck, and almost everything else in small areas. Different treatments have been used on these. Limestone and potassiumi have been used on peat.
In 1916 there were orders for 6,000 tons of phosphate by members of the soil association, and 100 carloads were actually used. In this respect Kanka- kee County leads every other county in Illinois. There are many stone quarries in the county, and limestone may be obtained in many places.
Another piece of work equally as fundamental and important as the soil fertility work is that of working with improvement of seeds and plants grown.
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One of Collier's first pieces of work was to carry on a demonstration of formalin treatment for oat smut in each township. Less than ten per cent of the farmers then treated their oats for smut. Now it is unpopular for a man not to treat his oats for smut. The use of the formalin treatment has brought, on the average of all cases where records were kept, an average of six bushels increased yield.
An effort was made and work is still being done to get all the farmers to grow one or two varieties of corn, wheat, etc. Reid's, Plowman and Iowa Silvermine have proved the best corn varieties; Big Four, Iowa 103, and Sil- vermine the best oats; Turkey Red the best winter wheat; Marquis the best spring wheat. The association urges all members to grow these high yielding varieties.
More fundamental still is the work of the Kankakee Seed Breeders' Asso- ciation, whose twenty-eight members are devoted to the work of developing higher yielding and otherwise more desirable strains of crops. The rules of this association are very strict, and a rigid system of inspection and exam- ination is used to keep. the quality of its seeds at the highest. Last spring. for instance, members sold 2,500 bush- els of corn at $5.00 per bushel to farmers outside of Kankakee County.
This was especially selected. W. H Lowe, of Aroma, is president. and Nils Olsen, of Herscher, secretary.
Another major line of endeavor is that of livestock improvement. Only a comparatively small amount of pure- bred livestock has been grown in Kan- kakee County, and it has never been regarded as livestock breeders' county. Under the auspices of the association, several local breeders' as- sociations have been formed. The swine breeders hold two sales cach year, and this has been the means of disseminating good stuff over the county very rapidly. M. A. Dupuis, of Manteno, is president, and J. P. Fellows, of Kankakee, secretary. None but purebred breeders are admitted.
There are some Shorthorns, a few Jerseys, and a number of good Hol- steins in the county, and Collier or- ganized a cattle breeders' association among these men. They have been holding a sale each year, but next winter they hope to hold a separate sale for each breed. E. P. Vining, of Kankakee, is president, and Logan Snyder, of Manteno, secretary. Twice a year this association holds a tour. when some of its forty-six members' farms are visited. Good ideas as well as good stock are thus passed on.
A horse breeders' association is an- other part of the livestock improve- ment machinery. Last fall eight local colt shows were held, arousing more horse and colt enthusiasm than had been known for years in Kankakee. This year the same number will likely be held, with a big windup show in Kankakee. J. H. Ader. of Chebanse, is president, and M. E. Hayden, of Grant Park, secretary of this aggres- sive organization.
New crops for livestock have also been part of the association's work. It was found that soy beans in corn made a most excellent crop for hog- ging down, and the association or- dered 600 bushels of seed. enough to plant 5,000 acres, this year. Ebonys and Medium Yellow are used mostly.
A system of supplying farm help has also been started. The method of operation is a secret, but it is sufficient to say that last year over 200 immer- were supplied with experienced Lands.
The big piece of work accomplished by Collier and the association has not been soil improvement, nor grain im- provement. nor livestock improve- ment, but the bringing together of
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FARMERS AND BREEDERS, KANKAKEE COUNTY
Kankakee County farm boys in a movement which is without parallel anywhere in Illinois. This is Collier's pet project, and one from which he regards the greatest permanent good to come from.
There are 830 farm boys from 14 to 26 years of age enrolled in the Kan- kakee County Young Men's Country Club, and this has an aggressive or- ganization in each township or com- munity besides. It has a worthy pur- pose-to get the country boys to- gether, to teach them that the country is the best place, and to get them to help one another.
"We are trying to teach the young men that the soil is the foundation of agriculture, that all else depends on it; therefore, they should learn soil and how to maintain its fertility," says Collier. "We are trying to teach them that seeds, as well as animals, can be bred up to a high degree of produc- tiveness; that brains are needed and will show results on the farm as well as anywhere; and that farming is a business where efficiency is deter- inined by skillful farm management.
"We are trying to teach them that the country which God made is more beautiful than the city which man made; that life out-of-doors and in touch with the earth is the natural life of man. We are trying to teach them that work is work wherever they find
it, but that work with nature is more inspiring than work with the most in- tricate machinery.
"We are trying to teach them that the dignity of labor depends not on what we do, but on how we do it; that opportunity comes to the boy on the farm as often as to the boy in the city; that life is larger, freer and happier on the farm than in the town; that success depends not upon his location. but upon himself; not upon his dreams, but upon what he actually does; not upon luck, but upon pluck. We are trying to teach him to work when he works. to play when he plays. and to give and demand a square deal in every act of life."
Every township has a boys' organi- zation. Guy Grinnel, of Bourbonnais, is president of the county organiza- tion, and Howard Farr, of Kankakee, secretary. The activities of the young men's country club are varied. It runs the annual five-day county short course in Kankakee; it is one of the best factors working toward better farming, much of Collier's work being done through the boys; tours and hikes are held, as well as occasional township social stunts. It gets the boys and young men interested in farming; it teaches agriculture, and through its appeal to the social cle- ment makes better life for them.
The most unique thing brought
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