USA > Illinois > Fulton County > Fairview > History of Fairview Township and the village of Fairview : 139th anniversary, 1836-1975 > Part 6
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The cemeteries included under the new plan were Coal Creek Lutheran, Fairview, and Lyons. Foster Cemetery did not qualify for this program as the heirs of Johnathon Smith had given eighty acres of land to the cemetery with the stipulation that the income from the land would be used for the maintenance of the cemetery. The law providing for the e- stablishment of the cemetery association would require Foster Cemetery to give up this land in order to receive tax monies. The committee in charge decided to continue under their original arrangement. The present Board of Trustees of the Fairview Township Cemeteries is Gordon Stout, President; Rich- ard Knickerbocker, Secretary; and Eugene Suydam. Treasurer is Cynthia Knickerbocker. The caretaker is Harry Vollmar? According to a recent law enacted by the Illinois Legisla- ture future Trustees are to be appointed by the Township Auditors, rather than being elected by the people.
The Fairview American Legion Post No.
644 was organized August 1, 1920, by Harry Shellcrosslee at which time twenty-four names were inscribed on the roll as charter members. At the first meeting in the Town Hall the official name of Roy Miller Post No. 644 was selected. Roy Miller, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Miller, served in the Medical Corps in France and passed away May 5, 1919, in a base hospital in France as a result of meningitis. The Post met in var- ious places until September 11, 1947, when the Smith School Building was purchased and moved to town for permanent quarters. The Post has been active in civic affairs, heading drives for a fire engine and securing of a physician for the Fairview community. They have purchased a burial plot in the Fairview Cemetery in which deserving veterans may be buried. The Post maintained for a long time a Memorial Plaque in the Village Park honoring the men of the Armed Services of all wars. This plaque was established by popular subscription, and following World War II the Post maintained the Plaque until recently when it was dismantled because at was beyond repair. At the time the Plaque was dismantled there were a total of 562 names inscribed thereon with the number for each war as follows: Revolutionary, 3; War of 1812, 4; Black Hawk, 2; Civil War, 110; Spanish American, 2; WW I, 81; WW II, 314; Korea, 16; and Vietnam, 30. In early May 1974, the Post erected a new Memorial to honor veterans of all wars. A plaque reading "In Memory of Those Who Served" flanked by two flags and the American Eagle was in- stalled on the wall of the Original Memorial.
The Post has supported the usual Legion activities as well as organizing and support- ing the Fairview Homecoming and Junior Livestock Show which is now in its twenty- first year. The Fairview Homecoming and Livestock Show is an annual event held the Thursday, Friday and Saturday following the fourth of July. The Homecoming started in 1954 when the Fairview Homecoming As- sociation was organized under the sponsor- ship of the Post. The Association, incor- porated under the Legion, is a community affair with everyone being asked to take part in the various activities which make up a homecoming. In addition to the Carnival con- cessions a kiddie parade, tractor pull, horse show, food exhibits, contests, and local and
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professional entertainment adds zest and variety to the event. A Junior Livestock Show is one of the featured events in which mem- bers of 4-H Clubs, F.F.A. or any boy or girl who is interested in livestock may enter and compete for honors and prizes. Dinners and and refreshments are served throughout the three day affair by the Legion Auxiliary. The present commander of the Roy Miller Post No. 644 is John D. Downing, and there are one hundred thirty members on the roll.1
The Fairview American Legion Auxiliary of the Roy Miller Post No. 644 was reor- ganized in November 1948 with thirty mem- bers signing the charter of which sixteen are active members at the present time. The Unit meets monthly in the Legion Home. Among the various community and civic pro- jects of the Auxiliary are maintaining a supply of hospital equipment for loan to any- one needing it; caring for children of deceased veterans of the community; and assisting in the sponsorship of the Fairview Homecoming and Junior Livestock Show. Much effort and work is devoted to the furnishing of supplies to Veteran's Hospitals. At Christmas time a five dollar check is sent to any local boy in the Armed Services. The present officers are Pat Reid, President; Joanne Evans, First Vice- president; Rosalee Soper, Second Vice-pres- ident; Mary Ludwig, Secretary; and Marcella Roberts, Treasurer.2
The Fairview Woman's Club, dedicated to service, education, and culture, was organized in the spring of 1938, and held its first meet- ing September 6, 1938, at the music room of the Fairview Grade School. Mrs. B.H. Taylor, President of the Fifteeneth District Illinois Federation of Women's Clubs, was instru- mental in founding the chapter and was, subse- quently, named an honorary member of the Club. The first president, Mrs. Frank Weaver, also achieved a singular honor: perfect atten- dance of all club meetings during the first thirteen years. Thirty-nine ladies claim char- ter membership in the Club which is affili- ated with County, District, and State Woman's Club Federation. For many years the Fair- view Woman's Club sponsored a Flower and Hobby Show. Community projects include a Memorial planting at the entrance to the Cemetery in honor of Service men, a com- munity Christmas tree, street decorations, and welcoming highway billboards. The Club
marshalled its effort in support of the Wars, assisted in the organizing of the Boy Scouts, and annually send students to Art and Music Camps. As many as 106 members attended meetings which were held bi-weekly until 1954. Monthly meetings are now held in the Reformed Church Chapel. The officers are Mrs. John Martin, President; Mrs. Ercil Little, Vice-president; Mrs. Clark Worrell, Secretary; and Mrs. Raymond Root, Treas- urer.3
The Lodges were also affected by the era of modernization. The interior of the Masonic Building has been completely modernized and redecorated to make it a most pleasant and efficient meeting place. On October 28, 1960, The Fairview Lodge, No. 350, A.F. and A.M., celebrated its Centennial Anniversary with a dinner and open house. The present officers are David Derry, W.M .; Raymond Roselle, S.W .; Robert Siedel, J.W .; John Schleich, Secretary; and Robert Hartstirn, Treasurer.4
The Fairview Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star carried on the usual activities, exchanging visitations with other Chapters, especially with Canton and Farmington where the Electric Interurban was used as a means of transportation. On May 1, 1917, the Chap- ter organized a society to assist the soldier boys as there was no Red Cross or Y.M.C.A. in town. This activity was renewed during World War II. The custom of presenting fifty gold chrysanthemums to any member who celebrates his/her golden wedding anniver- sary has been followed for a number of years. On October 23, 1962, the Chapter observed its seventy-fifth anniversary at which time Hazel Simons was honored as a fifty-two year member. She is now a sixty-five year mem- ber, and has been a member of the Fairview Chapter since 1927. Other fifty year mem- bers are: Nina Abbott, Florence Alpaugh, Don- ald Ekstrand, Charsie Elliott, Lucy Green- well, Louise Jones, Lucille Mengel, Ala- belle Overton, Leila Pugh, Esther Ray, and Hazel Shellcrosslee. The present officers are Mary Anne Schisler, W.M .; Danny Schisler, W.P .; Leota Aden, A.M .; Orville Aden, A.P .; Georgia Schleich, Secretary; and Maxine Hartstirn, Treasurer.5
In October 1942 the I.O.O.F. decided to disband, and they deeded their building to the Rebekahs. Since this time the Rebekahs have improved the facilities and they, often,
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share the use of the building with other civic groups of the community. The present officers are Leonard Cluts, N.G .; Evandne Elliott, V.G .; Mary Cluts, Secretary; and Ruth Mark- ley, Treasurer.1
Mechanization brought many changes to the agriculture industry. Horses were replaced by tractors, wagons by trucks, reapers by combines, windmills by power-driven pumps, two row planters by four or more row plant- ers, and many other changes too numerous to mention. With these mechanical improve- ments farmers were able to accomplish many times as much work as before. Larger farms could be operated with less man-power. Consequently, this was one contributing fac- tor which caused many young people to forego farming, and to go to the city to become fac- tory employees. With the advent of the auto- mobile and all-weather roads, the factory worker did not have to move to the city, but could commute as far as thirty or forty miles to work. Another factor which has contributed to the decrease of the number of farmers in Fairview Township has been the coal mining industry. Through the mining activities much farming land has been taken out of cultivation which has reduced the number of productive farms. Also, mining has furnished many jobs which are appealing to many young men as it assures them of a fixed income, and avoids the large capital outlay necessary for farming today. One other factor which brought many changes to farm life, for the better, was rural electrification. Not only did electricity fur- nish the power to operate many farm devices, but it also provided the energy for many household appliances which alleviated the drudgery the pioneer mother knew so well.
Although there is less acreage in cultivation today, nonetheless, the total production of grains is larger than before due to the use of fertilizers, new varieties of grains, and im- proved farming procedures. Our food produc - tion has never been greater. The mining in- dustry has restored some of the mined land into grazing areas which may indicate a fu- ture activity for Fairview Township, and, to- day, more and more of the mined land is being restored to crop production. Whatever one may think about the changes in agricul- ture and mining, one must admit they have both contributed to the affluent society in which we now live.
Thus far, only the older business houses ex - tending back into the Nineteenth Century have been developed in detail. In the Twentieth Cen- tury there have been, and still are, businesses which have contributed to the social and eco- nomic well-being of Fairview Township. The story of these enterprises should be recorded for future historians while the facts are still known to the citizens of the community.
A west suburban area of Fairview, of the early part of this Century, which is of his- toric interest was the settlement known as White City.
White City was so called from the white houses which were built by an early coal mine operator for the benefit of his work- ers. After Samuel Parr opened his coal mine on January 8, 1900, at what was later called Parrville, there were other mines opened in the general vicinity. An unknown operator built several homes and a boarding house for his workers in the vicinity adjacent to Parr- ville. Later the houses and boarding house were moved to the west edge of Fairview and the area became known as White City. It seems reasonable to assume that these houses were built between 1900 and 1915. One mine being, particularly, remembered by Fairview resi- dents was the Schuler and Long mine which operated from 1919 to either 1925 or 1926. Mr. Long stated these houses were in Fair- view when they opened their mine in 1919. The miners had a baseball team which was still playing in the early 20's. After the mines closed the houses were sold and several of them were moved east on Carter Street. The following map is a consensus of opinion of several Fairview residents who lived here in the 1920's. There was a difference of opinion as to how many houses were there, but most agreed within the range of 10-15.
One of the present businesses in Fairview which has had an economic impact on Fair- view and surrounding community for forty - five years is the Spoon River Hatchery. This enterprise really had its beginning about 1926 in the home of Julius Mahr who lived on State Route 9 near Bushnell. At this time Mahr was hatching chickens in his basement for him- self. Soon some of his neighbors began ask- ing him to hatch chickens for them. Mahr recognized the opportunity in the hatchery business, and in the spring of 1929 he and his son, Merrill, began operations in Fairview
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under the name of The Spoon River Hatchery.
About 1932 they began hatching turkeys in addition to their chicken production. In 1936 larger incubators were purchased. The new incubators could hatch 120,000 eggs every three weeks which included fourteen differ- ent breeds. In addition about 4,000 turkeys were hatched at the same time. Through re- peating the process 40,000 turkeys and 400,000 chickens were hatched during a season.
In 1941 another son, Donald, joined his father and brother in the enterprise. After the death of Julius Mahr in 1955, Merrill and Don became sole owners.
During the depression when money was rather scarce, the Hatchery inaugurated a plan
whereby a person could secure baby chicks to raise. A contract was issued to a person giving him 100, 200 or 300 two week old baby chicks to feed and raise. Six months from date of contract the individual would de- liver to the Hatchery 88 pounds of live-weight cockerels for each 100 chicks received. In lieu of the cockrels the purchaser could de- liver pullets at the market price to redeem his contract. If the purchaser had some mis- fortune with his chicks, or if he preferred, he would pay the Hatchery the sum of $19.00 to fulfill his contract. Most usually, people would take 100 chicks, but some would take 200, or even 300 and the Hatchery had as many as 50,000 chicks out on contract during
5
T
~~ Ellisville
Fairview
3
1. Depot
2. Buckley, Persley Elevator
3. Simpson-Powelson Lbr. Co.
8
4. Farmers Elevator Office
5. Elevator
2
6. Seed House
7. Machine Shed
1
8. Boarding House
9. Ball Diamond
10. Peavine R.R.
X. Homes
9
4
6
WHITE CITY AND ENVIRONS
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a season. This practice was so popular during the depression, and afterwards, that the oper - ation was continued to as late as 1952.
During World War II the Hatchery added a line of food and supplements for chickens and turkeys, which has been expanded to include all feeds and supplements needed by the mod- ern day farmer.
About 1965 the hatching of turkeys was dis - continued due to high cost of production and poor markets. A few years later the hatching of chickens was discontinued, but, today, four different breeds of chickens are purchased from other hatcheries and distributed as re- quested by their customers.
During the years of peak production the Hatchery found time to enter chickens and tur - keys at various County Fairs and the Illinois State Fair winning many blue ribbons. Also, the Hatchery helped many 4-H and FFA boys in choosing, rearing, and showing their poul- try projects at various fairs. Merrill also found time to judge poultry entries at the Fulton County Fair and other local contests.
Like all business enterprises the Spoon River Hatchery has found it necessary to make changes to keep pace with the demands of a changing society. But on any given day you can see many cars and trucks parked in front of their place of business, which tells you that the Spoon River Hatchery is still serving its customers as it has done so well over the past forty-five years.
On January 1, 1912, John Stroman and Theo- dore Miller purchased the implement business of Pfeiffer and Gilmore who were operating in the old Methodist Church Building. About January 1, 1915 Miller sold his interest in the business to Charles Fisher. Upon reorganiza- tion Stroman and Fisher began adding some Ford parts and products to the business, and by 1918 assumed the Ford Agency for this area. At the same time they closed out the implement business and devoted full time to the Ford Agency and general repair and main- tenance of cars.
In 1919 Stroman bought Fisher's interest and operated under the name of J.H. Stro- man. As the business prospered, Stroman made two additions to his building, first adding the east wing and later the concrete block addition to the west. In 1922 Wilbur Locke started working for Stroman, and in 1924 he became a full partner in the business which operated under the firm name of the
Fairview Motor Company.
In 1927 Stroman sold his interest to Russell Savill and until 1929 operated under the firm name of Locke and Savill. In 1929 Locke be- came the sole owner and operated as the W.R. Locke Company until 1946 when he sold the business to E.J. Utsinger and Vick Sur- roz. In 1954 Utsinger sold the building to Lozier and Fengel who handled Oliver farm implements.
Locke started selling Model T's going with the Ford productions to the Model A, B-4, and V-8. Locke noted the Model T's were very popular at the time, but that people welcomed the Model A's and V-8's as roads improved and the public desire for greater mobility increased. During WW II new sales were practically nil, but the necessity of keeping the old cars repaired and in working condition was a full time job.
The Fairview Service Station had its origin back in 1934 when Fred Masocco purchased the old Ike Van Ness blacksmith shop from the estate of Van Ness. During the earlier days when Van Ness operated the blacksmith shop, horse shoeing was his specialty. Later as the automobile and tractor began to re- place the horse, he installed a gasoline pump on the north side of the building and began making repairs on cars.
After the hard road (Route 97) was built, Masocco moved the gas pumps to the east side of the building facing Route 97. He al- tered the blacksmith shop to provide usable working space for the repairing of automo- biles and other mechanical work. Masocco continued from time to time to alter and im- prove his working and service facilities, which included the first calculating pump for gasoline in Fairview, and by the time of the outbreak of World War II he had built up a thriving and prosperous business. Masocco spent four years working for the Armed Ser- vices as an airplane mechanic during which time the business was operated with hired help.
On his return from World War II he en- tered into partnership with Wilbur Schleich, and in 1949 the Fairview Service Station be- came an authorized Chevrolet Agency.
On March 30, 1959, the building and most of its contents were destroyed by fire. Following the fire the Fairview Service Station was incorporated, and a new modern building was erected.
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In May 1967, Masocco sold his interest in the business to Schleich who continued to operate under the same name until July 1, 1973, when he sold the station to Gary Scott, who is continuing the business as the Fair- view Service Station.
In 1939 Laurence Archdale started his trucking business with a straight truck haul- ing livestock to Chicago, Peoria, and St. Louis, and except for one year, when he was recovering from an accident, has been on the road with his trucks since that time. He pur- chased his first semi-trailer truck in 1943, and in 1946 he added a second semi making three trucks in operation. Since 1956 he has kept two semis in operation, and in that year his wife, Della, became a regular semi driver and is still serving as a regular driver.
During the 50's and 60's the principal runs were to Chicago and St. Louis, often making as many as five trips per week to one place or the other, and often using both semis on the same trip. An average load of livestock was about 25 cattle, 75-80 hogs, or 200 sheep. The livestock is picked up within a radius of fifty miles of Fairview. In the earlier days it required about six hours to make a run into Chicago, but later the trip could be made in 4 1/2 - 5 hours due to interstate roads and a better access to the stockyards. The trip to St. Louis was usually an hour less than the trip to Chicago. Around 1970 the Chicago Stockyards were closed, and at the . present time livestock is hauled to Peoria and Joliet. During the war years when Arch- dale went to Chicago he was required to bring a load of something on his return trip, or secure a permit issued through the govern- ment, to return empty. A brokerage firm would assist him in getting return loads, such as iron and steel to Peoria and IHC at Canton, and roofing material and lumber to various lumber yards in the vicinity. Their biggest problem during the war was to secure tires. It was easier to secure gas during the war, than it was in 1973 and early 1974.
The Archdales, Laurence and Della, men- tioned some of the changes occurring in the trucking industry during the past thirty-five years: (1) there used to be twenty loads of cattle a week to one at the present time. Now they haul corn and beans to Peoria, Pekin, or Havana when not needed for livestock hauling; (2) truck licenses formerly cost $350 per
truck, now cost $1194 for the same weight category; (3) in the earlier days he could buy a tractor rig for $1200, where now the same tractor would cost around $12,000; and (4) a Federal Use Tax for trucks of certain capa- city, I.C.C. decals, higher insurance rates, inspection, etc., have added to the hidden costs of the truckers.
In spite of the increasing costs to the truck- er, driving under adverse weather conditions, and being away from home much of the time, Laurence and Della Archdale have many plea- sant memories and friendships during their thirty-five years of service to West Central Illinois farmers, and they expect to continue this service many more years.
The Hartstirn Bros. Trucking and Custom Work began in 1946 when Carl returned from Service in the Navy. He and his brother, Robert, began doing custom work for the farmers in the Fairview area. The custom work included baling, corn picking, plowing, and combining of beans and clover. At one time they spent thirty-six consecutive days baling hay and straw. Some years they pick up to 3,000 acres of corn.
As the custom work was somewhat sea- sonal, they added trucking to their enter- prise. In the beginning of the trucking busi- ness they each had a pick-up truck, then added a one ton truck, and eventually two 2 ton trucks. One phase of the trucking in- dustry was the taking of livestock to the Peoria market, sometimes making two trips a day. On the return trip they would bring back a load of feed to the Spoon River Hatch- ery until the feed warehouse was moved to Bushnell. Two loads of feed per week is now brought to the Hatchery from Bushnell. Rock is hauled from Abingdon to area farmers, and for Township roads. Thus, for 28 years this business has been an integral part of the economic growth of Fairview Township.
The Fairview Collieries Flamingo Mine, a branch of the Ayrshire Collieries Corpora- tion, was located northwest of the Village of Fairview. The mine began operation in this area in 1942 and continued operation until the early 1960's. Its peak production was pro- bably during the late forties and the fifties. At one time the mine was producing 4,629 tons or sixty-eight carloads of coal per day. The tipple has been dismantled and much of the machinery moved elsewhere.
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In 1945 The Ayrshire Coal Corporation formed the Meadowlark Farms, Inc. with 5,000 acres of mined land with a large portion lying within the boundary of Fairview Town- ship. The principal objective of the enter- prise was to reclaim the mined land to re- store it to productive use. In that same year Levi McDaniel was employed as manager of the Fairview Farms and is still serving in that capacity.
In the beginning cattle were grazed over the land with some acreage being cultivated for production of corn and hay. The number of cattle being grazed has remained fairly con- stant from the beginning, but the number of acres restored to cultivation has increased over the years.
In April of each year some 476-500 cattle are brought from Southern Illinois to graze over the land until early September when they are brought into the feed lot for 120-150 days, and then sold to the Producers Commission Company of Peoria, Illinois. McDaniel stated that the average price received over the twenty-five years has been $42.00 per hun- dred. He also stated, that except for one year the Farms produced enough corn to feed out the cattle. At the present time the Farms have the following acreage under cultivation: Wheat, 265 acres; Hay and Alfalfa, 100 acres; Corn, 355 acres; and 90 acres of Beans.
At the start of the operation McDaniel was allowed two helpers, and he still manages the operation with the aid of two men. This has been made possible by the installation of mod- ern feeding and farming equipment. When the cattle are on feed it usually takes one man about one day each week to fill the feeder bins, but then it only takes one man twenty minutes to dispense the daily ration of feed.
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