USA > Illinois > Marshall County > Old Sandy remembers: Evans Township, Marshall County [history] > Part 10
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The old record book also contained field notes, drawings of road surveys and plats for declaring new public highways that are in use today. On April 19, 1851, a tax of 14¢ on each $100 worth of real estate was assessed for roads. On August 9, 1851 a fee of $3 was paid to B. Thos. Patterson, Marshall County survey- or, for surveying a road in Evans Township "vix T. 30 N., R. 1 E of the 3rd. P.M. Md. line." "chainmen" who measured distance by chains were allowed 75¢ per day for assisting the surveyor. Jacob Myers and Alston Bowman were both listed as Overseers of Highways in 1851.
When Henry Flesburg started his tenure in 1939, about half of the roads were dirt, then more were graveled every year. Black- topping was started in 1958 and continued at the rate of about two miles a year until in 1967 approximately 20 miles had been black- topped and 30 miles graveled. Hank recalls that in 1950 there was a bond issue of $40,000 and a gravel crusher and crane were bought to speed the blacktopping prodedure with a gravel base. All grave- el used came from a pit on Fritz Braymen's farm until 1947, then it was hauled from French's land in Section 7, Evans Twp., north- west of Wenona.
Hank remembers that in 1939 he started with one old tractor- drawn grader. In 1967 equipment included a $23,000 Caterpillar grader, three large trucks, a pick up truck and modern snow plows. Each new truck bought was bigger than the previous ones. At first he had one assistant but later two were required. Roads were maintained, improved, widened, and new culverts and bridges were built. The most expensive bridge at the beginning of his regime cost $1100. It was made of iron and wood. In 1966, a bridge of steel and reinforced concrete in the same location cost $49,000. The latter has been crossed by a 45-ton crane and other heavy ma- chinery -- a far cry from the weight of a horse and buggy.
In 1967, Henry Flesburg, a very likeable fellow who did his work well for 28 years, decided he did not choose to run for of- fice again. Victor Volker was elected to succeed him and is the present Evans Township Highway Commissioner.
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LIST PASSENGLA TRAIN ON I.C. ENDS PHASE OF HISTORY April 12, 1935
When the last regularly scheduled passenger train puffed on April Fool's Day through towns along the Illinois Central right of way between Freeport and Clinton, Illinois, it ended a phase of Illinois and LaSalle county history that begon 90 years ago.
There will be no more passenger trains on the line between Freeport and Clinton. In the Strentor are: Wenona, Rutland, Minonk, Lostant, and Tonica and the cities of Oglesby, LaSalle and Mendota are affected. How- ever, passengers are being carried on coaches attached to freight trains which go north and south on alternate days.
For more than 15 years prior to the Civil War there was discussion of the advisability of building a railroad from the southern tip of the state at Cairo to Galena in the hills of Jo Daviess county, where the state of Illinois forms a triangle with Iowa and Wisconsin on the other two sides.
Some of the most prominent men in the nation at that time backed the proposed railroad. Among them were eastern bankers, financiers, pioneer railroad backers, importers, exporters, and members of Congress.
Finally in 1851 the troposed railroad obtained a charter from the Illinois general assembly. In return for land rights the corporation agreed to pay a percentage of its gross annual revenue to the state which agreement is still in force.
There w s not enough idle labor in the country at that time to construct such a large railroad line, over 300 miles long.
So the Illinois Central corportion scoured the British Isles and western Europe for l borers. .ttr ctive offers were made and thousands of Irish, Scotch, and English workmen, with a smaller scattering of French and Germans, came to Illinois to help build a railroad in a foreign land.
The corporation hired young army engineers, some just out of West Point, to draw plans for bridges and rights of way. Among them was a young licut- inant, George B. Mcclellan, "Little Mac" to the soldiers of the Union troops which he commanded in the Civil War. Mcclellan built the Illinois Central bridge which spanned the Illinois river at LaSalle. He w s aided by N.B. Bnaks another man who bec me a Union army general.
Two of the gre test men Illinois ever produced, found themselves, for once on the same side of the fence when the railroad question came up.
One wis Abrahan Lincoln. The other was Stephen A. Douglas. The latter used his powerful influenced in congress to have the line built. Lincoln
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supported the same plan, as a private and very influential resident of Illinois.
A hitch develoned in the railroad plans. The line was first built farther west than it now runs and was to have gone through Peru. Embank- ments were built and space left for bridges to span. small gullies. Then the lime was laid out further east. But the embankments remained and are still to be seen on the farm of the late Charles Mudge, south of Peru.
The first trains ran through LaSalle county in 1852, preceding by months the early Burlington and Rock Island lines, which went east and west across the county.
The line was a powerful aid to the union in the Civil l'ar. Over it passed thousands of troops and vast amounts of war materials for southern battlefields. Had the southern armies succeeded in cutting the line above Cairo, the union armies would have been placed in a precarious position.
One of the tales that has become a part of rich Illinois history con- cerns a terrific snow storm that blocked the Illinois Central lines several days in the winter of 1856.
A passenger train on the line became stalled in the huge snowbanks south of LaSalle. Passengers on board were entertained by a tall man with a stove pipe hat and as inexhaustible supply of stories who alternated his tales with stoking the wood-burning stove in the passenger coach.
He was Lincoln who had been in Ottawa on business before the supreme court, representing the Illinois Central for which he was an attorney.
Probably his last trip through LaSalle county was made over the same road, in July, 1859, en route to Chicago on legal matters for the railroad.
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CHAPTER XII
. WENONA 'S SOCIAL LIFE IN THE EARLY TILNTIETH CLNTURY
The arrival of the twentieth century found Wenona busy and prosperous. A Lacon newspaper in February of 1900 declared her the best business twon in Marshall County. The Chicago and Alton Railroad sent four trains east and four west each day, so Chicago and Peoria, not to mention Streetor, were widely used shopping centers and sources of entertainment. The Illinois Central had three passenger trains north and south each day and often fea- tured special excursion rates. On November 15, 1900 a special theater train to Bloomington and return gave all its patrons an opportunity to see New Dominion by the prominent playwright, Clay Clement at the Grand Opera House, with a return trip costing for the evening $1.50. No culture famino exist.od for the "belles and beaus of the era."
'Modern conveniences were looking up. The first deep city well was operating nicely by 1900 with the pumping done by the new Light and Power Company of Wenona, and the mains were furnishing water throughout the town. The city fathers were discussing the need for building cement sidewalks to supplant the board ones that needed much repair. Telephone lines extended into the country area and in February of 1900 a line connecting Varna to the "Gant's Central" in Wenona was erected. The new City Hall shone forth in its red brick splendor with light brick trim, the Voluntary Fire Depart- ment took its work seriously, and the Wenona Index, on its editorial page, where it advertised itself and the Farm Journal for $1.50 a year, declared that with its three hundred subscribers it was full of gumption and full of sunshine, with an immense circulation among the best people.
Although the removal of the Zinc Works that employed a hundred men occurred in the early years of the new century, The Stanton Hotel, a fine new structure, did a capacity business, and a new steam laundry, called The Sherwood Laundry, with latest and best equipment, gave service and employ- ment to the community. Buying and selling a land was active. In one edi- tion of the Indes two farms of one hundred twenty acres of good black land, each with good house and good orchard were available at $60.00 per acre.
Very active politically, Wenona was honored with the 20th district Senatorial Convention of the Republican Party on June 5, 1900. It was said that at a committee meeting Messrs. Taggart of Wenona and Forte of Lacon eloquently convinced the members from Livingston, Woodford and Marshall counties that Wenona should be the Convention City, so the next senator and two representatives from the twentieth district were nominated in Wenona.
The young lada occasionally performed eye-brow raising stunts in 1900 as they do today. A quote from an Index story rocounts : "Last Friday evening
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Rufus Monk and two young ladies started out to enjoy sleighing and near the new City Hall their sleigh was pounced upon by several town youths. The frail seat gave way, the ladies were thrown to the fro- zen ground and were very distraught. It is reported that several dollars in damage will have to be dug up by our local boys.
As the century rolled on, Wenona continued to prosper. The rich farm land, The Wenona Coal mine working at peak capacity, the fine business houses, two prosperous banks, and good transportation brought wealth to many families. With the wealth came a diversity of social activities. For the young at heart a Dancing Club was organized which was active for over ten years. An account in the Wenona Index in April of 1900 was as follows: : "The Dancing Club held its Friday Night Ball with an attendance of thirty couples who danced to the music of Fenel- le's Orchestra of Peoria. Those present went to Hotel Stanton at mid- night where they partook of a delicious supper prepared for them. "
For the successful business men a Commercial Club was organized. Columbus Kayes and Charles Scott were organizers of the Club. Their quarters on the second floor of the Kane Bros. Pool Hall was richly furnished with comfortable chairs, tables, piano and thick pile rugs. Occasionally the men invited the ladies of the town to a card party and dance in their club rooms. Needless to say these were considered the dress affairs of the season.
For those devoted to the improvement of women everywhere there were active chruch organizations, the Housekeeper's Club and the Wo- men's Literary Club. Two of the programs of 1900 are listed here. One given by the Christian Endeavor Society as follows:
Washington's Birth Social-H ome of T. D. Judd-Admission 10¢ Piano Solo -- Bertha Beckwith
Vocal Duet -- George and Martha Washington
Violin Solo -- Mr. Ashley Judd
Vocal Solo -- Mrs. Wm. Monser Vocal Solo -- Little Elizabeth Monser
And Women's Literary Club Program, March 3, 1900: Roll Call -- Irish Witticisms Vocal Duet -- Mrs. Charles Scott and Miss Cumings Paper -- A Housewife in Germany, England and America Paper -- The Development of the Home as an Aid to Social Progress. Flora Taggart, Secretary.
Wenona had Dramatic and musical entertainments of excellent quality throughout the years, the most ambitious of which was the Temple of Fame, an extravaganza based on famous characters in the entertainment world. Mrs. Mercy Scott, Mrs. Margaret Burgess, Mrs. Hattie Monser were some of the most active workers in this, the pro- ceeds of which went to increase the funds for the Wenona Bond Library. Wenona's public library was one of the few continuous libraries in Marshall County. It was begun in 1905 through the efforts of Mrs. C. K. Wolfe and the Wenona Literary Club.
The Wenona Band under the leadership of D. C. Stateler was a popular organization for twenty years, giving Wednesday night con-
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certs during the summer in Wenona, appearing at the Old Settler's Picnic in Lacon, the Marshall County Fair in Henry, the Chautauquas in Wenona, Implement Fair, Peoria, and celebrations in many other towns in the area.
For several winters in the 1920's and for the pure love of music, a small group of musicians calling themselves The Little Symphony met in their various homes once a week and, shouldering their own expenses, played standard music and donated their services to organizations put- ting on benefit entertainments for Wenona. Among active members were Mrs. Lura Howe, Mr. Leaonard Monk, Miss Mayme Harrington, Mr. E. Clark Harter, Mr. Dewitt Stateler, Mr. Elbert Barker and Mr. Clarkson Brown.
Auction bridge took Wenona by storm and at least two clubs met reg- ularly in homes of members. About once a year the beautiful and spaci- ous homes of such social leaders as Mrs. Robert Burgess Sr., Mrs. Charles Burgess Sr., Mrs. George Hodge, Mrs. Harry Taggart, Mrs. George Monser, Mrs. Charles Burgess Fr., and Mrs. Charles Scott were opened for gala bridge parties. Often as amny as twelve to fourteen tables were set up and unhappy was the bridge player who did not receive an invitation.
For many years a New Years Day "At Home" invitation was sent out two weeks in advance by prominent matrons, and on the day set, the young men and old, attired in their best, presented themselves at the various homes sometime during the day. Sometimes the punch bowl con- tained light refreshments, sometimes loaded liquid, so often by the end of the day the callers were seeing through rose colored glasses. On the whole the delightful custom was most enjoyable, for the men had left their calling cards, had spoken sweet nothings to the charming lad- dies in attendance and had assured themselves of invitations to the nice things in the year ahead. With the coming of World War I this de- lightful celebration passed from the Wenona scene. For all these ma- trons with large homes and elaborate entertaining, maid service was necessary and several men kept gardens and chauffeurs to assist them.
After World War I when the boys returned from France, the commu- nity made every effort to re-create the pre-war life, but the pros- perity of the earlier years didn't return. Many wealthy families in- cluding the John and George Hidges, the Tom and Ashley Judds, the Wil- liam Monsers, and Robert Burgess Sr., had moved to California taking with them their interesting families. Soon the Wenona mine closed down. No new industries came into Wenona at this time, so the comm- nity settled down to catering to the products of the rich farm land.
Things to look forward to in these years were the Jubilesta, a carnival type celebration lasting for three days and sponsored by the business men and the American Legion. The Wenona Catholic Daughters of America sponsored a Holiday Ball midway between Christmas and New Years, and the Fireman's Ball was held in midwinter. This was a big social affair attracting young and old alike, as the ladies vied with each other over the beauty of their gowns.
With the passing of the big fortunes, the depression of the thirties, and the disappearance of the dance bands, Wenona's social life became quite commonplace, but, those who still remember like to talk about Wenonn's grand old days.
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SWEDISH CHEESING
A most interesting tradition that brought country life in close association with the town people was Swedish Cheesing.
It was a custom among the Swedish folks to make Christmas cheeses, a tradition brought by their ancestors from the old "home- land." A month or so before Christmas "chessing parties" were held. Often the first such gathering of the year in the local area was at the Bethany parsonage. Cans of fresh milk were brought by the women and poured into large wash boilers and heated to the right tempera- ture on the old coal range. About ten gallons of milk were used to make one whole cheese weighing about five pounds. Rennet was added and the milk was stirred with large ladles until the curds began to form, then it was left to "set", and the curds separated from the whey. The curds were carefully dipred out and placed in round steamers lined with cheesecloth. The whey was pressed out through the cloth. This was done with great care lest the whey should spurt out through a hole or opening in the cloth and squirt all over the kitchen or the one doing the pressing. The pressed curds, with salt added, were placed in round molds and set aside in a warm, dry place to cure or age until the Christmas holidays.
The "cheesings" were an all day affair which called for a noon meal of food brought by the ladies. Often the children came along as there were no baby sitters in those days. These get-togethers were truly enjoyable affairs and seemingly a "little bit of Sweden" was brought back in memory to these friendly folks.
Bethany Parsonage Cheese Party Photo - 1906
Back Row, left to right: Mrs. Alfred Helander, Mrs. Gust Claussen, Mrs. August Lindgren, Mrs. (Rev.) Gustaf Erickson (holding cheese), Mrs. August Appleton, Mrs. August Bergsten, Mrs. John Swanson, Mrs. Oscar Johnson. Middle Row: Mrs. Ed Nelson, Mrs. Oscar Hylin, Mrs. Algot Flesburg, Mrs. John Holmstrom, Sr., Mrs. C. O. Flesburg, Mrs. Charles Esterdahl, Mrs. Anna Engstrand (holding son Jerome). Children: Elof Hylin (on step above), Leonard Flesburg, Inez and Iner Helander, Mildred and Everett Flesburg.
Swedish Cheesing (Ostkalas) 1906-Wenona, III.
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UPS AND DOWNS OF WENONA BUSINESS
1923 was the year of the big hard-road building in the state. The contract for the Wenona-Minonk piece of Illinois No. 2 was awarded, and the road from Wenona to Streator during the next year or so. This was also the year of the Ku Klux Klan and their fiery crosses, although, evidently, they were not too active in this territory. Prohibition was the law of the land, and the bootleggers were flourishing. The county was quite hard on one bunch of them, fining each one that appeared in court an average of $600 and costs, and forfeiting the bonds of the absent ones. This harsh treatment was not repeated in later years. Slot machines came in for some unfavorable comment.
The Scope Theatre was now open Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday evenings, and the show of the year was "The Sheik," with Rudolph Valentino and Agnew Ayers. The Index was carrying the comic strip " Home Sweet Home" as a weekly feature.
Automobiles were beginning to have a profound effect on the town's business, 's more and more people combined a pleasure trip on a new hard-road with a shopping expedition. Not that the roads were jammed with cars. In fact, one of the favorite methods used by robbers was to place a car crosswise on the road, and then rob the occupants of any car brought to a halt by this roadblock. This was very effective at night.
Wenona had its share of automobile dealers. Goodwin Bros. & Co., was advertising the Ford Touring at $295 and a Tudor, with windows, at $590. E. T. Krantz listed the Buick four-cylinder at $865 to $1,325 and the six-cylinder model from $1,175 to $1,675. W. C. A.xline Garage had the Star agency, and M. N. Holmstrom was selling Chevrolets. Ralph French had one of the early tractor agencies for / llis Chalmers.
In 1933, Wenona was in the depths of the Great Depression, although the agricultural depression and the closing of the mine in 1925 had made it felt six or seven years before. Franklin D. Roosevelt was president, and the first hundred days of his administration made headlines everywhere. The first step he took that affected Wenona directly was the closing of the nation's banks in March, 1933. For the first time in almost 60 years, the town had no banking facilities. There was much talk of the revival of clearinghouse scrip, such as had been used in 1905. Fortunately, the First State Bank, the town's only bank since the Farmers State Bank's voluntary liquidation of several years previous, was in good financial condition and reopened as soon as the law permitted. Late in the year, a published statement of the bank showed assets of $827,900.00.
The state had a sales tax for the first time, and people had trouble distinguishing between the &# sales token and a dime.
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A solution for the farm problem was proposed that would help take care of the surplus grain. It was the manufacture of fuel alcoholfrom grain, and its substitute for gasoline in cars. The alcohol would cost more per gallon but would give more miles per gallon. Several of these plants were opened to make fuel alcohol, and the original plan was to substitute 10% of the alcohol in each gallon of motor fuel. This amount would not affect the functioning of a car motor at all. The plan, although basically sound, aroused little enthusiasm, outside of some sections of the corn belt.
The population of the town had fallen off gradually since 1925, and by 1933 it was about half what the population had been at its peak. Businesses came and went rather rapidly, and the future out- look seemed gloomy. Without any industry, Wenona had to depend on its farm trade and the farmers were far from prosperous. J. H. Aukland sent 29 head of yearling Herefords to Chicago in September, 1933, and topped the market at $6.90 per hundred pounds.
Bremer's were gone, and Jack Zimmerman had the clothing store where they had been. Spencer Snyder had opened the Wenona Variety. Barrett's and Kreider's were still the hardware stores. The grocery stores were Beckmans, Lambours, Crestos and Krogers. W. H. Blakely had the City Fuel Coal Yard, and the Wenona Coal Co. was also selling coal. W. C. Axline still had the Chevrolet garage, and Goodwins, the Ford dealership.
The Illinois Central and the Alton were running passenger trains, but only one each way daily. The Alton did run several excursions to the Chicago World's Fair at least one during the summer of 1933, judging by the news in the local items.
In 1934, the town was really feeling the impact of the second World War. One hundred thirty-nine local men and women were already in the service, and the total number of Veterans was to be more than two hundred and fifty. Those who were left were up to their ears in war work of various kinds. The farmers were turning out huge quantities of food stuffs, without adequate help and with pre-war machinery. If the machinery broke do.m, it was patched up. The men, who were not in service or farming, were working the defense plants, on the ration board, draft board or with the Red Cross. The women were not idle either. There were bandages to be made, blood to be donated and many other types of war work. Rationing was the order of the day. War Bond drives were universally successful, and Evans and Osage Townships always made their quotas, usually exceeding them. Everyone was drawn closer together in a common spirit of sacrifice. The people of "enona and vicinity can be proud of their war record.
The stores in Wenona were prosperous during the war. There was more money in the hands of the people than ever before, and not much to spend it on. As a result, bank accounts grew. The First State Bank had assets of $1,367,000 in 1943, an increase of half a million dollars during the previous ten years. This upward trend in bank assets accelerated during the remainder of the war, and by 1946 the assets were two million dollars.
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The progressive policy of the First State Bank was largely due to the personality and influence of E. Clark Harter, a Wenona area farm boy who graduated from the University of Illinois, served his country as a flyer in the army Signal Corp, acting as instructor at Langley Field, Virginia, during World War I, and returning to Wenona where he began working for the First State Bank in 1922. Hc remained as an officer and director until it liquidated in 1946. He was instrumental in starting the Wenona Stat- Bank as a successor to the First State Bank in 1946, and he served as president until his death in 1954. Mr. Harter was prominent in state banking circles for many years.
Some of the stores in operation in 1943 were Kurrle's Dry Goods, Braymen's Jewelry, Moran's Market, Barrett's Hardware, Cresto's Grocery, Hulett's Hardware, Lambourn's and Krogers, groceries.
1953 -- After the close of World War II, the servicemen came back home, many of them with families. For the first time in many years, Wenona was suffering from an acute housing shortage. New houses sprang up on practically every vacant lot, and old houses were re- modeled. There seemed to be jobs for anyone who wanted to work, either in town or in larger cities like Streator or Peoria. Business houses remodeled and expanded. There were new businessmen also.
The largest project completed after the war was the huge new elevators of the Wenona Grain Company, which hold approximately 150,000 bushels of prain. The l'enona Grain Company has been in business some sixty years, having started out originally as J. H. Taggart & Son.
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