USA > Illinois > McLean County > Heritage of the prairie : a history of LeRoy and of Empire and West townships, McLean County, Illinois > Part 8
USA > Illinois > McLean County > Le Roy > Heritage of the prairie : a history of LeRoy and of Empire and West townships, McLean County, Illinois > Part 8
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Christian Church and Parsonage, 100 Block N. Walnut St. The Standard Oil Station stands on this site today.
Methodist Episcopal Church. The third Methodist church in LeRoy.
REMINISCENCES ABOUT OLD TIMES
Sept. 27, 1935: Her first Sunday School attended was in the old Methodist Church which stood on the lot now owned by George McFadden. She remembers the first Christmas tree trimmed with popcorn and candles. Each child was given a present by her teacher, hers was a little glass bird, which she prized highly. Her first teacher was Mrs. Roach. The first day-school she attended was called the Fountain of Health, and it stood on the lot now used by the Legion Hall. Her teacher was Theda Gibbs. The next school was on the lot where Morgan's bakery now stands and the teacher's name was Mr. Stanger. Later she attended the seminary where Kelly Schultz' home stands. -- From Mrs. J. B. Patterson
FIRSTS
John Baddeley had the first store in LeRoy.
1895 NEWS ITEM
Feb. 1 - Next week the interior of M. E. Church will be beautified with tasty wallpaper. Electric lights will take the place of present oil lamps. This is a much needed improvement.
At Sunday School after a few remarks by Prof. Blair, it was decided that each class should furnish an electric light for the church building. The lights will contain the name and number of the class.
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Commercial Club meets at Houston Building N.W. corner Chestnut and Cherry.
Fifty-Year Organizations
There are a number of organizations who have celebrated their 50th anniversaries. They are:
I.O.O.F. Lodge No. 140 was duly instituted on May 19, 1854. The charter members were J. W. Van Deventer, M. E. Johnston, B. F. Parks, J. H. Van Deventer, H. West, and W. Dooley. First Noble Grand, J. N. Van Deventer.
LeRoy Lodge, No. 221, A. F. and A. M. charter granted October 7, 1856. Charter members were Dr. D. Chaney, Worshipful Master, Hiram Buck, S. D. Baker, John M. Downing, E. E. Greenman, S. W. Noble, J. W. Hazel. In 1883, the Masonic Lodge was meeting over the King and Parks grocery store, on the Tuesday night before the full moon in each month.
Thomas Riddle Woman's Relief Corps No. 43 was organized April 6, 1886, with 50 members and 8 officers, installed by Comrade J. B. Patterson, commander of the Thomas Riddle Post, Grand Army of the Republic. Mrs. Alexine Murray was the first president.
May Queen Rebekah Lodge No. 210 was instituted May 2, 1888 with 37 charter members.
The Ladies' Longfellow Club was organized in 1895. Three sisters, Mrs. G. W. Simpson, Miss Clara Kline, and Mrs. Lida Tuthill thought that LeRoy needed a literary club just for women as the Shakespeare Club of that time was for both men and women. They called an organizational meeting. Mrs. Simpson was elected first president. The club motto is "Wisely Improve the Present." Mrs. Don Busey is the current president.
LeRoy Mothers' Club was founded November 8, 1904 for mothers in LeRoy. It first went by the name LeRoy Mothers' League, but was changed in 1912. During WWI, the years' activities were centered around sewing and knitting for the Red Cross.
Empire Chapter No. 281, Order of the Eastern Star was organized Jan. 14, 1907. Mrs. Rebeccah Sigler was the first worthy matron. An earlier unit known as the LeRoy Chap- ter, had been organized Aug. 24, 1894, but had disbanded.
Rutledge Social Club was organized Jan. 31, 1907 by six women who were Mrs. S. W. Holderly, Mrs. Charles Brining, Mrs. Henry Baker, Mrs. McLean, Mrs. William Ellis, and Mrs. George Wilson. Mrs. Brining was first president. It is the oldest rural social club in this section of Illinois and was named for Rutledge School.
Empire Social Club was organized in May, 1913. First president was Mrs. Mabel Holderly.
The Womans Country Club - During the first 10 years of Rutledge Social Club, that is, before 1917, a group of members formed a new organization known as the Womans Country Club. This centered around the South Downs area.
LeRoy Garden Club - On February 1, 1916, 16 members of the "Longfellow Club" decided to continue their meetings during the summer months by going on excursions to the woods for wild flowers and having garden parties. The first president was Lida K. Tuthill.
Ruel Neal Post No. 79 of the American Legion was named in honor of Ruel Neal, killed in action at a front line trench on the Meuse River on October 2, 1918. The first post commander was Dr. O. M. Thompson.
The American Legion Auxiliary to Ruel Neal Post No. 79 received its charter in 1923 although it had been meeting for about two years before that. Miss Lyda Beckham was first president.
Sabina Social Club was first organized as a Ladies' Aid Unit of the Christian Church. It became an active service organization during World War I, doing a large amount of knitting, sewing and other work for the American Red Cross. It also adopted two French orphans. Following the war the organization became known as Sabina Social Club.
LeRoy Country Club was started in 1921 with A. J. Keenan serving as its first president. Associate membership fees at that time were $25 per family.
Junior Mothers' Club was organized February 1, 1923. First president was Carrie Griffin.
65
LeRoy GUN CLUB. Front row: Oscar Phares, Harry Van Atta, Louis Moutier, J. Harrison Clarey, unidentified man. Second row: A. J. Sarver, unidentified man [ possibly G. Grant Smith], Mrs. C. R. Keys, Court Keenan, Pearl Sarver, Mrs. Hal Conefy, Mrs. Childes. Back row: unidentified man, C. R. Keys.
LeRoy Community Center where many organiza- tions meet. Purchased by the city from the school for $1.00.
- -
American Legion Post #79
LeRoy Country Club 1976
66
These 45 rabbits and possums were part of the menu consumed by the Ruel Neal Post Legionnaires and their guests at a feast held on Dec. 18. 1939. They were killed at a hig hunting party of members on the Byron Kline and Lee Pray farms. Man at right is Paul Poindexter.
'Boge' Pash and flugh Keys, cooks at the American Legion 'Rabbit and 'Possum Supper'.
The Pash Family
The Pash family should be remembered in LeRoy not because they were one of the few black families, but because Old John lived through a time in history which was a definite test to this nation's strength of unity.
John was a slave during the 1850s. According to an article published in The LeRoy Journal July 1, 1949, "John belonged to a good-hearted slave owner who gave him permission to be married. The negro's marriage was treated with as much respect by the white owner as he would have treated the marriage of his own son."
When the Civil War broke out a regiment of LeRoy volunteers found themselves in the area of the South where John Pash lived. He seemed to form an alliance with their regiment and traveled with them. At the close of the war John and his wife came to LeRoy with the regiment.
John and his wife made their home in this area. John had three children, two daughters and one son. The son of this
man became the father of John "Boge" Pash.
Early in "Boge's" life a tragic accident occurred when Boge and his father were hunting. Boge's gun accidently discharged and his father was killed. Soon after Boge's mother left LeRoy. Left in LeRoy were old John and "Boge."
Around this time old John was asked his age. He replied. "Mighty near a hundred." In 1922 old John suffered a stroke one winter night while out walking. Hle fell into a snowbank where he was found-his hands being badly frozen. He died shortly after from the effects of a second stroke.
From then "Boge" lived in LeRoy by himself. In 1939 "Boge" served as chief when the LeRoy Legionnaires sponsored a possum and rabbit feast. "Boge" modestly told the boys he knew the "only way" to prepare possum.
In 1940, "Boge" moved to Bloomington to join his sister. A few years later news of his death was received in LeRoy. Thus ended the story of one pioneer family to settle in LeRoy
67
--
C
TWEN ,
8: RITE
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68
The LeRoy Schools
14
Washington School entrance was on north side.
--
--
Washington School. New addition was on the south side.
In 1832 the first school in Empire township, the Clearwater school, was built in Buckles Grove in the northern edge of the woods in Section 28. It was built of logs, chinked and daubed to keep out the cold with a log left out on one side, the space being covered with a greased paper for light. The building was used for both school and church requirements many years. The school was kept up by contributions.
The first teacher was William Johnson. He was lame. What he lacked in activity in his legs he made up with his arms and he "walloped" with a hickory stick. "Lame Will" Johnson, as he was called in those days, liked whiskey so at one time he passed it around and the pupils became somewhat intoxicated. At one time the pupils locked him outside the school house. He got on top of the building and covered the chimney until they were smoked out.
Requirements of a teacher were knowledge of reading, writing and arithmetic and to be a strict disciplinarian. The teacher boarded around a week for a scholar and each parent furnished a quarter of a cord of wood to warm the school house. Teachers and pupils would cut wood at noon and recess.
The first school taught in LeRoy was in 1837 in a room where Nelson Humphrey lived at 512 N. Walnut St. First teacher was James Lincoln, thought to be or was, a relative of Abraham Lincoln.
First school house built in LeRoy for school purposes especially was erected in 1839, two blocks north of the park and west, lot 2, block 11. It was a 24x30' building with a loft. One day the pupils fastened all the windows, locked the door and awaited the teacher's coming. To their surprise the teacher dropped himself from the loft. They all took their seats - fun was over for that day.
That school was used until 1850. During the 50s school was held in various buildings. One was a day school called the Fountain of Health, where the American Legion building is now. Another was across east from Stensel's Funeral Home.
Because of the growing demand for better and more advanced learning the Cumberland Presbyterian Church erected at 412 N. Chestnut St. a large two-story building. That is where Mrs. K. B. Schultz now lives. It was built in 1854 and was known as the LeRoy Seminary. It was used until 1859 when it was taken over by the Public School Board and it accommodated both grade and advanced students.
A brick building was erected on Block 112 in Conkling's addition at the north side of LeRoy in 1864. The cost of the lot
was $150 and a two-story brick building 38x48' cost $4,200.
W. A. Monroe was the first principal. In 1872 the directors decided to establish a high school to be placed on the accredited list. Professor M. Jesse was hired as the first superintendent of LeRoy Schools.
During the summer of 1872 two new rooms were added to the north of the old building and this served until 1892. The building, somewhat damaged by fire, was repaired and a stone trimmed brick building was added to the south side at a cost of $11,000. This school was later called Washington School. A circular fire escape was later added.
Several buildings housed school rooms when Washington school overflowed. One was the two-story brick building across east from the Masonic Temple. Another was the building where the Fire Department is now.
Because of over-crowded condition, Eugene School was built in 1906 to house the lower grades. It was dedicated Nov. 6, 1906. It is now used as LeRoy Community Center.
In 1916 LeRoy Community High School No. 333 was organized. The school was conducted for two years by the de facto board of education. The Supreme Court declared the act, organizing this district, illegal in 1918. The district was dissolved. Empire Township High School No. 344 was then organized in 1919. C. E. Jones was superintendent. In 1921 a $330,000 building was completed. An organ, gift from the Universalist Church, was given for the high school auditorium.
Four rural districts north of LeRoy consolidated in the 1940s as well as five districts to the south. On March 13, 1948 all schools in this area, The West Consolidated District and some territory in Downs Township and four rural schools north of LeRoy formed LeRoy Community Unit District No. 2 which presently serves the community.
There were nine rural schools in Empire Township. They were: District No. 34, New Enterprise School; Sterling School No. 35; Empire School No. 36; Bonnett School No. 37; Hickory School No. 38; Fairview School No. 39; West Crumbaugh No. 41; Brittin School No. 42 and Bishop School No. 43. They all became part of Unit District No. 2 in 1948. NEW ENTERPRISE SCHOOL NO. 34
In 1868 the site of the school was chosen because it was the center of the district. For many years it was known as the Cornstalk School. The Sunday School conducted there was Prairie Union. In 1883 a new building was erected and named New Enterprise.
69
Sterling School
.
Guy School.
STERLING SCHOOL NO. 35
School for a time was in the Ballard home. In 1856 a frame building was erected about three miles south of LeRoy. Donated by R. M. Guy it was known as Guy School. Fire destroyed that school in 1866. A brick house was then built on the site from bricks made by William Pfitzenmeyer. The brick building was torn down in 1911 and was replaced by a new frame building, which was called Sterling school.
For many years the "LeRoy Circuit" conducted Sunday School and meetings at Sterling School. A former pupil, John A. Sterling, a member of congress, was proud he got his start there. In his honor, a beautiful sign, Sterling School, was placed above the door. William D. Vance, prominent in county affairs, was a director of the school for more than 30 years.
EMPIRE SC1100L NO. 36
The school was first known as Healea School because it was on the Edward Healea farm. It later was moved to Empire Station, and was named Empire.
BONNETT SCHOOL NO. 37
The Mt. Zion School, built in 1855, extended its territory so in 1869 a building was erecled on what is now the highway two miles southeast of LeRoy. It was named Birney School for Hugh Birney who lived east of the school. An enrollment of from 50 to 60 was not unusual. At one time 97 attended. The first schoolhouse was burned in 1908. The new house was modern. For a long time it was called Bonnett School for Yontz Bonnett who owned the timber lot on which it stood. IHICKORY SCHOOL NO. 38
Hickory School was located on whal is now the highway, one and one-half miles southwest of LeRoy. The many hickory frees in the yard suggested the name. In 1856 the children of the area attended a log school west of the road near the center of Section 31. That school served until 1866. White Oak School and Buckles Grove School united in 1873 to form Hickory District. The modern school was erected in 1903. The enrollment was always above average. Lyon Karr taught there in 1873 and later became county superintendent of Woodford County. Walter Dill Scott, who became president of Northwestern University, had his teaching experience here in 1890 and 1891.
FAIRVIEW SCHOOL NO. 39
Organized in 1863, the first school of the district was called Wolf Mound. The school was moved many times. A new house was built in 1875 north of the center of Section 18. The site was condemned in 1883 because it was low. The district voted to move the house to the hill in Section 7. The school then became known as Fairview. A Sunday School organized in 1874 with Wesley Brown as superintendent was called Pleasant Valley Sabbath School.
WEST CRUMBAUGII SCHOOL NO. 41
A neat frame school house was erected in Section 14 in 1858. The road turned north at the corner then instead of in front of the school. A new school was built in 1893. A new gravel road was extended to the west along the south side of the school in 1937. At one time this was almost entirely a Crumbaugh settlement and enrollment of 13 in the school was all Crumbaughs.
BRITTIN SCHOOL NO. 42
In the late 1850s a frame house was built on a hill south of center of Section 2. The home of Darrell Hubble now is located there. Pupils previously had attended a school about a mile west. It was named for Nathan Brittin who furnished the site. In 1919 it was put to a vote and it was decided to build a new modern house in the center of the district. It was the last of the rural schools to be erected and was one of the finest in the county.
BISHOP SCHOOL NO. 43
In the early 1860s a house was built on a site donated by James Bishop in the southeast corner of Section 10 near the creek. An interesting school was conducted there for many years. A site was selected on the Gilmore land and a house was built in 1879 and was consolidated with Bishop School in 1880. It was moved one-half mile south to the northwest corner of Section 10. Though for many years called Gilmore School the name Bishop was chosen in honor of the donor of the first site. Quite often the school was called Possum Flat.
All of the rural schools were modernized to meet standard requirements before they become consolidated.
In a newspaper article of August 26, 1902 a fifth grade teacher's pay was listed as $42 per month. In 1904 a country- school teacher's pay was $48 per month and a High School teacher's pay was $60 per month.
A January 22, 1915 old school schedule for June, July, August, 1856 listed Dist. No. 5 Bonnett School teacher, M. O. Gibbs, was paid $21 per month.
On December 29, 1954 voters of Community Unit School District No. 2 approved the purchase of Will Kuehling property and authorized building a new elementary school, and an addition to LeRoy High School for physical education and gym, and the issuing of bonds for $597,000 to secure funds to carry out the building program.
LeRoy Elementary School was completed in 1955. Grades were moved to the elementary school during the Christmas vacation.
Board members were: George Staley, Pres .; Clarence Roark, Sec .; Ernest Beecher, William Dooley, Walter Jiles, and Paul Matlock. Past members during building were: Dean Bishop, Wendell Beeler and Eldon McConkey. Loren Nicol was superintendent and Edward Covey was principal.
70
Empire Township
6
5
4
7
8
9
10
11
12
18
17
16
15
14
13
. R.
LE
ROY
19
20
21
23/098
1
+24
ge 8 30
289
7
26
25
31
325
35
36
T. 22 N.
4 36
NIC1
6
4
1
7
9
10
11
12
Sec. 2, T22N - Brittin Sec. 10, T22N - Bishop (Gilmore, Liberty) Sec. 7, T22N - Fairview (Wolf Mound) Sec. 14, T22N - West Crumbaugh
Timber Areas
Schools
Sec. 27, T22N - Bonnett (Birney) Sec. 29, T22N - Hickory Sec. 8, T21N - New Enterprise (Cornstalk) Sec. 4, T21N - Sterling
Sec. 2, T21N - Empire
71
000
The new wing was built in 1964. At that time, Dr. John Ingalls was superintendent and Edward Covey was principal. Donald Robinson followed Edward Covey in August, 1968 and is still principal at the elementary school.
The new LeRoy High School gymnasium was erected in 1956 and LeRoy Junior High School was erected in 1961. It was junior high until it became middle school embracing grades 6, 7 and 8.
In 1971 a wing was added to the southwestern end of the Junior High School providing space for a new concept in grouping pre-junior high and junior high students in a middle school.
Two new additions have been added since 1970 and have been paid for through building fund tax monies without referendum. They are a four-room addition to middle school in 1973 at a total cost of $140,000 and a middle school media center between middle school and new gym at a cost of $75,000.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RESOURCE OPPORTUNITIES
Students are given the opportunity to work with specially trained resource teachers if they have any problems that are interfering with their educational progress. These problems may be in a subject matter, health, social or emotional area.
Psychological and Social Worker Services: Through the Tri-County program services of a qualified psychologist (a person trained to do in-depth educational testing) and social worker are available to the school community as needed.
Speech Therapy Services: Speech correction is offered to all students, kindergarten through fifth, who through a screening process are found to have problems in this area. Each child is continued in the program as long as he or she has a need.
Counseling Program: Title III, ESEA Project "Why Wait?" is a counseling program which focuses on the personal, social, and educational needs of children in LeRoy Elementary School. The aim of the program is to identify and work through problems early before they become major ones.
Media Center (Library): In addition to the regular in-school services provided (checking out books, using library materials, etc.) pupils are permitted to take equipment home overnight.
A pre-school language development program is provided using adult volunteers. Children are given the opportunity to experience a readiness prior to entering kindergarten.
LeRoy Community Unit Schools in 1975-76
Board of education: Kenneth Cassens, Pres .; Kenneth Reeser, V. Pres .; Duane Johnson, Sec .; George Fluegel, Robert Rafferty, Donald Jenkins, Robert Morgan.
P. R. Dardano is superintendent of schools. Terry Park is high school principal. Middle school principal is Thomas L. Birge. Donald Robinson is elementary school principal with Mrs. Evelyn Lewis as assistant principal.
In 1967 LeRoy Community Unit School District No. 2 was given the top school award for schools under 6,000 enrollment in the North Central Region of the U.S.
LeRoy Community Unit School District No. 2 belongs to Parkland Junior College District.
Berry Gymnasium
On February 25, 1969, during LeRoy's last home basketball game the L Club dedicated LeRoy's gymnasium to Dudley C. Berry. Mr. Berry has been one of LeRoy's most loyal fans during his 97 years. Because of his unwavering devotion it was decided to dedicate the gym to him.
He received a plaque with the approved petition. It stated from this day forward the gym would be Berry Gymnasium.
FIRSTS
Will Johnson taught the first school in the township at Buckles Grove.
The first class which graduated from High School (old Washington School) graduated on June 7, 1878.
Leonard A. Mckean.
Coach Leonard A. Mckean, better known as "Mac", came to LeRoy in 1920. Immediately he developed his first unbeaten eleven. Then in 1926 and 1927 he produced two more unbeaten combinations playing against some of the stiffest prep competition in central Illinois. In 1929 he had another powerful team which easily rated along with the best but it dropped one game to Farmer City.
In the 1930s he dropped out of the coaching business for five years but when the war required all the younger coaching men he went back to work and in three years came through with another sensational team. That made five powerful teams for "Mac" in 20 years of coaching for E.T.H.S.
A resolution was passed to change the name of the football field, Fan's Field, to L. A. Mckean Memorial Field in honor of Coach Mckean, also known as LeRoy's Mr. Football. The dedication preceded a game between LeRoy and Mahomet-Seymoure November 4, 1966.
"Mac" was a patient good-natured fellow who was interested in the scholastic and physical welfare of everyone attached to the institution of learning called E.T.H.S. It was he who perpetually kept the fire of "don't give up" burning in the minds of athletes.
Former Superintendents
LeRoy has been successful in the selection of superintendents. Francis G. Blair became superintendent of public instruction of the state of Illinois; Prof. S. K. McDowell, superintendent of schools of Bloomington; Prof. B. C. Moore, McLean County superintendent of schools; Prof. W. A. Goodier, principal of Bloomington High School.
72
West Township
FORT
4
3
1
U. S. CHURCH
7
8
9
10
11
12
18
17
16
15
14
13
SABINA ++20 +
GLEN
AVON 24
I.C.R R
MT. OLIVE CHURCH
+
30
la_ 29
27
26
25
31
32
33
34
35
36M
T.22N
136
6
5
4
3
12
1
150
KUMLER
T2IN
PENN . CRP
7
8
9
10
1
CRR
12
WAT
KINS
WIEEDMAN
Timber Areas
Schools
Sec. 3, T22N - White Star (Snook) Sec. 5, T22N - Love Sec. 18, T22N - East Crumbaugh Sec. 21, T22N - Dockum Sec. 13, T22N - Salt Creek
Sec. 35, T22N - Kimler Sec. 34. T22N - Grizzelle Sec. 29, T22N - Mt. Olive Sec. 6, T21N - Hamilton Sec. 3, T21N - Rosencrans
Sec. 1, T21N - Kumler
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+19
+++ + 22-
-
9
Hickory School, 1910. Top row: Flossie Wagers, Arlo Marlow, Myrtie Reynolds, Florence Valborn, Audry Barnhouse, Hobart Shifflet, Howard McCracken, John Barnhouse, Clifford Dooley, Mr. Ottis Law. Second row: Helen Dooley, Irvin Shifflet, Lestere Gassaway, Norma Reynolds, Fred Valborn, Edna Sigler, John Newby, Cody Reynolds, Glenn Dooley, George Scott. Front: Lola Newby, Eva Newby, Opal Scott, Marvel Anderson, Arlene Denning, Ina Miller [visitor], Opal Shifflet, Woodson Newby, Raymond Scott, Oscar Scott, Amos Wagers, Richard Scott, Lucille Shifflet, Edith Middleton. Standing out in front: Faye Scott, Allene Gassaway.
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