USA > Illinois > White County > Carmi > Sesquicentennial, Carmi, Illinois, 1816-1966 > Part 4
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
In 1927 the Presbyterians celebrated their centennial. A pageant depicted the church's founding, with 21 in the cast. They were: Mrs. Roy E. Pearce, C. S. Con- ger, W. C. Smith, John M. Crebs, Mrs. W. A. Ball, Dr. B. S. Crebs, Joe F. Williams, R. F. Hurley, Z. T. Boyer, Ivan McCallister, Mrs. L. C. Berry, W. A. Ball, R. E. Finch, Mrs. Charles Gibbs, Mrs. Frank C. Sibley, Charles T. Randoph, Miss Lillie Campbell, Miss Mollie Stewart, Herbert Bayley and Mrs. W. G. Boyer.
The "talkies" came to the Strand The- ater in "Broadway Melody." Dr. R. C. Brown moved here from Eldorado.
Oh, it was a tuneful, colorful decade with such songs as "My Blue Heaven," "Girl of My Dreams," "Old Man River," "Stardust," "Tea for Two," "Only a Rose," "Valencia," and "Happy Days Are Here Again."
Do you remember?
Ah, yes, and do you remember the om- inous signs as the 20's faded ? The stock market crashed October 24, 1929, bringing a fearful panic that caused the depression of the 1930's.
From country town to small city
H ISTORY never ends, but books do. This one is coming to a close.
In the 36 years between 1930 and 1966 Carmi changed from a country town to a small city. The population rose from 2,998 to 6,200.
Flappers and "sheiks" of the Roaring Twenties are grandparents now. They've told their children, now tell grandchildren, of the days gone by-when the New Har- mony bridge was dedicated in 1930 jobless men walked the streets in depres- sion years . . . corn fell to 13c a bushel . .. banks closed . . . the WPA, PWA and CCC pumped money into the economy.
Carmi's three banks reopened after a holiday; people played miniature golf, worked jigsaw puzzles, pushed for pro- gress under Mayors Fred J. Reinwald, Kel- ley P. Staiger, Jesse Grissom and Dr. George T. Proctor.
They built two new schools and went through the decade singing "Night and Day," "Easter Parade," "Who's Afraid of the Big, Bad Wolf," "We're in the Money," "Love in Bloom," "Pennies from Heaven," "A-Tisket A-Tasket," "Beer Barrel Polka" and "God Bless America."
Business was gradually improving in the late 30's when-boom!
Oil! Who would have dreamed that a billion dollars in petroleum lay under White County ?
Excitement ran through Carmi like summer lightning. Strangers in western hats and high-heeled boots thronged the town. The courthouse and streets were crowded by lease hounds. Abstract offices and new restaurants opened. In 20 years 6,000 producing wells were completed.
In the midst of this excitement and prosperity, Pearl Harbor was bombed. America was at war again.
For four years the casualty lists pour- ed in. There were war bond drives, scrap metal campaigns, rationing restrictions.
Through the war years C. F. (Bud) Rebstock was mayor, and he was succeeded by A. J. (Gus) Brandt.
IVAN A. ELLIOTT, SR. Attorney General of Illinois 1949-1953
In the midst of blood, sweat and tears, people sacrificed and sang "White Christ- mas," "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To," "Oh, What A Beautiful Morning," "Mairzy Doats," "Surrey With the Fringe on Top," "Cruising Down the River," and "Sioux City Sue."
Hitler killed himself. Germany sur- rendered. Atomic bombs brought the Jap- anese to their knees. Then came the "cold war" instead of peace and it extended through war in Korea and Vietnam.
Roy Clippinger was elected to Con- gress in 1945 and 1947. Harry Truman came to town campaigning in 1948 and Ivan A. Elliott, Sr. was elected Illinois Attorney General.
A modern bridge was built across the Little Wabash. A new municipal building was erected at Main and Main Cross Streets.
J. Robert Randolph took over as mayor. He paved streets, enlarged the util- ity plants, watched Carmi's 1950 popula- tion of 5,522 rise to over 6,200 before the decade ended.
Laurence E. Boehringer, a business man who, was skilled in municipal affairs after years on the City Council, was elect- ed mayor in 1964.
The little log village of 1816 was only a memory.
Ratcliff Inn-before and after! Dilapidated, decrepit, ill-treated and ugly, Ratcliff Inn was to be razed in 1960 and the property converted into a parking lot. The White County Historical Society raised enough money by public subscription to save the historic building where Lincoln lodged in 1840. The Society paid $15,000 for the property and spent $16,000 restoring the building. On the second floor Is the White County Museum. Here members of the Society hold their meetings. Two first floor offices are rented. When the property Is debt free the entire building will be used for a museum. Restoring the inn put Carmi on the Lincoln Heritage Trail, and it is visited by many tourists.
CARMI
18
16
LAURENCE C. BOEHRINGER 29th Mayor of Carmi
Carmi's official flag, designed by James William Henning,
F
Three hundred students in a massed band opened Carmi's Sesquicentennial February 26 with a concert, playing for the first time "The Lincoln Heritage Trail," a concert march composed by Professor Paul W. Shahan, of Murray State University.
10
9
Hail to the Queen and her court! It was style show and beauty time in Carmi March 5. Three chapters of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority and the Home Culture Circle sponsored the event. Celebrating the 150th birthdays of botlı White County and Carmi, all girls of the county were welcomed to compete in the beauty contest. Out-of-county judges selected these winners: Center, Miss Marcella Tate, Grayville, first; left, Judy King, Carmi, fourth; Shar- en Wilson, Grayville, second; right of Queen, Alice Morris, Norris City, third; Martha Morrill, Carmi, fifth.
H
A Sesquicentennial triumph! Just before the Easter season started the Sesquicentennial Chorus presented Handel's "Messiah" to a capacity audience. The oratorio was directed by John W. Brown. Mrs. Ray McCallister was general chairman and Miss Dorothy Mann was co-chairman.
See the dam in the Little Wabash? Close by, the city utilities plants and beyond, a residential area of north Carmi.
The railroad and U. S. 460 meet west of town, showing the plants of Sterling Aluminum and Weeks Manufacturing Co. Beyond, the blute of Griffith Lake and a residential area.
C. F. Rebstock's plane was about to cross South Church Street when he took this picture of downtown Carmi.
The high school and athletic field dominate this picture of a sec- tion of west Carmi. Lower right, College Boulevard of Montgomery Circles. Upper part shows many residences.
Mayors Of Carmi Since 1873 .
1873 Dr. E. L. Stewart, doctor, drug- gist, postmaster.
1875 Ross Graham, attorney.
1877 Leroy L. Staley, miller and gro- cer.
1879 Dr. Christian Cook, physician.
1881 Orlando Burrell, contractor, county judge nine years, sheriff four years, Congressman two years, mayor three more years.
1883 George W. Wissinger, druggist. 1885 Frank E. Hay, banker.
1887 Dr. John M. Minick, physician.
1889 Simon Grant, owner of brick yard.
1891 Simon Grant.
1893 George D. Wheatcroft, owner of sawmill.
1895 Jasper Partridge, attorney.
1897 George C. Ziegler, partner in barrel and stave factory.
1899 Harvey H. Crozier, grain dealer.
1901 Orlando Burrell.
1903 Orlando Burrell. 1905 Orlando Burrell.
1907 F. M. Parish, attorney.
1909 Claude M. Barnes, furniture deal- er, land owner.
1911 Thomas II. Land, grain dealer, farm owner.
1913 John C. Stokes, manager of tele- phone company.
1915 Dr. Frank Sibley, physician.
1917 Dr. Frank Sibley, who resigned to go to army. Vacaney filled on January 7, 1917, by Ralph Ben- son, who was in the milling busi- ness.
1919 Tom W. Ilall, banker.
1921 Dr. Frank Sibley.
1923 W. F. Elliott, auto dealer.
1925 W. F. Elliott.
1927 Fred J. Reinwald, poultry and feed dealer.
1929 Fred J. Reinwald.
193] Kelly P. Staiger, photographer.
1932 Jesse Grissom, poultry dealer, former sheriff, took over Febru- ary 23, 1932, after an election contest.
1933 Kelly P. Staiger. 1935 Kelly P. Staiger.
1937 Dr. George T. Proctor, dentist. 1939 Dr. George T. Proctor.
1941 C. F. (Bud) Rebstock, auto deal- er, oil and gasoline distributor.
1945 C. F. (Bud) Rebstock.
1919 A. J. Brandt, farm implement dealer.
1953 A. J. Brandt.
1957 J. Robert Randolph, engineer, auto dealer.
1961 J. Robert Randolph.
1965 Laurence C. Boehringer, semi-re- tired business man, auto sales- man.
CARMI MEN WHO SERVED IN CONGRESS
Senator John M. Robinson 1831 - 1842 Representative John M. Crebs 1869 - 1873 Representative James R. Williams 1889 · 1895 and 1899 - 1905 Representative Orlando Burrell 1895 - 1897 Representative Roy Clippinger 1945 - 1949
COUNTY AND PROBATE JUDGES
James Ratcliff 1816-1848
Solomon Vories
1848-1852
Reuben Emerson
1852-1856
William P. Garrison
1856-1864
George Williams
1864
William Thomas
1864-1868
Samuel H. Martin
1868-1873
Orlando Burrell
1874-1882
James R. Williams
1882-1886
Albert McCallister 1942-1948
Kenneth Pearce 1948-1952
William South
1952-1956
Henry Lewis
1956-
SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS
John Phipps
1835-1846
Wm. S. Hay
1846-1847
Chester Pyle
1934-1938
Tommy Thomas
1938-1942
Noel Mccullough
1942-1946
Kenneth Cole 1946-1950
J. D. (Bud) Griffith
1950-1954
Kenneth Cole
1954-1958
Norwood F. Proctor
1958-1962
Charles Frazier
1962-
CORONERS
T. W. Stone 1850-1854
T. R. McClelland
1854-1856
Samuel Moore
1856-1860
E. W. Gaston
1860-1862
Wesley Hilliard
1862-1864
M. M. Doyle
1864-1866
Milton B. Gowdy
1838-1840
Thomas K. Wilson
1872-1876
R. F. Stewart
1876-1879 1880
J. H. Shipley
1880-1881
John D. Martin
1881-1888
George R. Williams
1888-1896
John E. Stewart
1896-1900
Charles E. Hill
1900-1908
William Poynton 1908-1916
Otis Downen 1916-1920
Newt Arbaugh
1920-1924
Frank McGhee
1924-1940
C. C. Morris
1940-1944
Millage Carter
1944-1960
J. Gordon Dagley
1960-1964
William Sharp
1964-
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS
R. S. Graham
1860-1863
J. I. Mcclintock
1863-1869
Ahart Harsha
1869-1873
James I. McClintock
1877-1885
Commodore White
1885-1891
Thomas Fuller
1891-1895
Everett McCallister
1895-1907
Val W. Smith
1907-1914
James Smith
1914-1915
Martin Ziegler
1933-1934
William H. Pearce
1870-1880
John R. Kuykendall 1880-1890
William P. Tuley 1890-1899
Edgar Brown 1899-1906
Matthew Martin 1906-1926
Clyde P. Stone 1926-1933
Raymond Austin 1933-1942
Charles B. Lamp
1942-1954
J. T. Gwaltney
1962-
SHERIFFS
Benjamin R. Smith 1816-1820
Daniel Hay
1820-1824
George B. Hargrave 1824-1830
Hosea Pearce 1830-1840
John Phipps
1840-1846
John B. Blackford
1846-1848
Abraham C. Miller 1848-1850
D. G. Hay 1850-1851
George R. Logan 1851-1853
William S. Eubanks 1853-1856
John G. Powell 1856-1858
T. W. Stone 1858-1860
John G. Powell 1860-1862
T. W. Stone
1862-1864
Thomas J. Renshaw
1864-1866
J. D. Martin
1866-1868
D. P. Eubanks
1868-1870
Hail Storms 1870-1874
Thomas I. Porter
1874-1878
D. P. Eubanks
1878-1880
Leroy L. Staley
1880-1886
Orlando Burrell
1886-1890
Wyatt Williams 1890-1894
John B. Hutchison 1894-1898
Gene Ackman 1898-1902
Joe Connery 1902-1906
Jess Grissom 1906-1910
Charles Frazier
1910-1914
George Morgan 1914-1918
Charles Gibbs 1918-1922
Oscar Phillips 1922-1926
Jess Grissom 1926-1930
Charles Gibbs
1930-1934
Henry P. Anderson
1847-1848
Alex F. Trousdale
1848-1851
R. S. Graham
1851-1860
TREASURERS
Daniel Hay 1816-1819
Benjamin R. Smith
1819
John McHenry 1819-1824
James Higginson
1824-1828
George McHenry
1828-1830
David Philips 1830 1832
Nathaniel Blackford 1832-1834
John McCoun
1834-1836
Nathaniel Blackford
1836-1838
William Little 1840-1844
1844-1849
Jonas J. Hon
1876-1878
A. G. Foster 1878-1880
William Truex
1880-1892
Barnabas B. York
1892-1896
R. A. Mayhew
1896-1900
James A. Boyer
1900-1901
George Staiger 1904-1906
Pierre DeLain 1906-1908
J. A. Boyer 1908-1920
Clinton Staley 1920-1924
J. A. Boyer
1924-1928
Leroy Stein
1928-1932
R. C. Brown
1932-1936
Leroy Stein
1936-1942
I. E. Turner
1942-
W. O. Walker 1942-1944
Herman Kittinger
1948 1956
Milas Cozart
1956-1964 1964-
COUNTY CLERKS
James Ratcliff 1816-1848
Isaac Mitchell 1848-1851
R. S. Graham 1851-1864
John G. Powell 1864-1870
Charles Mossberger
1915-1919
D. L. Bovd
1919-1923
R. E. McKinnies
1923-1927
Harry E. Puntney
1927-1939
Hubert Sutton
1939-1951
Walter L. Puckett
1951-1955
Harry E. Puntney
1955-1959
Richard Travis
1959-
STATE'S ATTORNEYS
Thomas C. Brown
John M. Robinson
Edwin B. Webb
Aaron Shaw
Edwin Kitchell
L. J. S. Turney 1851-1852
James S. Robinson 1852-1860
John M. Crebs 1860-1864
Thomas S. Casey
1864-1868
R. W. Townsend
1868-1872
J. I. McClintock
1872-1876
P. A. Pearce
1876-1884
John W. Hon
1884-1888
P. A. Pearce
1888-1892
Francis M. Parish
1892-1896
Isaac Spence
1896-1904
William L. Martin
1908-1912
C. S. Conger, Jr.
1912-1913
Joe A. Pearce
1913-1920
Charles T. Randolph
1920-1924
Joe A. Pearce
1924-1928
James M. Endicott
1928-1932
H. C. Mckinney
1932-1936
Ivan A. Elliott
1936 1942
Benjamin S. Organ
1886-1890
James C. Pearce
1890-1898
John N. Wilson
1898-1906
Thomas G. Parker
1906-1907
Julius C. Kern
1908
John A. Lopp
1909
Julius C. Kern
1909-1914
James M. Endicott
1914-1918
Ulys Pyle
1918-1922
James A. Walsh 1922-1926
F. M. Parish
1926-1934
C. S. Conger
1934-1942
Charles T. Randolph
1942-1946
Max Endicott 1946-1964
January 1, 1964 the County Judge became Associate Circuit Judge. Max Endicott 1964-
CIRCUIT CLERKS
James Ratcliff
1816-1848
Solomon Vories
1848-1856
J. B. Hinde 1856-1868
John D. Martin
1868-1872
Frank L. Stewart
D. Hay 1849-1851
Joseph Meador 1851-1853
1853-1857
Thomas J. Renshaw 1859-1863
1863-1867
Michael S. Brockett
1867-1869
James B. Allen
1869-1871
B. F. Logan
1871-1877
James H. Shipley
1877-1878
E. W. Gaston
1878-1882
A. S. Harsha
1882-1886
S. J. Wilson
1886-1890
Thomas J. Mathews
1890-1894
L. S. Blue .
1894-1898
William A. Raglin
1898-1902
George W. Clark
1902-1906
John Wilson 1906-1910
Jess Grissom
1910-1914
Fred Puntnev
1914-1918
Charles Frazier
1918-1924
Edwin Spence
1924-1926
W. W. Williams
1926-1930
Edwin Spence
1930-1933
Paul A. Ziegler
1934-1938
W. L. Gowdy
1938-1942
Baylus Hargrave
1942-1946
Roscoe Duckworth
1946-1950
Walter Brown
1950-1954
W. D. Morris
1954-1958
Ravmond Spence
1958-1962
John L. Whetstone
1954-
Wesley Hilliard
1866-1874
Gilbert Asbery
1874-1876
James T. Ratcliff
J. B. Byram J. S. Anderson
1857-1859
A. R. Logan
Bernard York
DEDICATION
When Carmi's Bicentennial is celebrated in the year 2016, eyes will turn to this page of Carmi's Sesquicentennial book, "Glimpses Down the Decades."
They will see the names of those who sponsored this book by paying $25 each to help defray the cost of publication. Because of their generosity no advertisements were necessary.
In appreciation, the Carmi Sesquicentennial Commission dedicates this book to them.
Ainsbrooke Corporation Mrs. Douglas J. Ames, Sr. Mr. and Mrs. Allen Ball Mrs. Lizzie Barnes
Mr. and Mrs. Herbert G. Bayley Mr. and Mrs. Laurence C. Boehringer Dr. and Mrs. R. C. Brown Frances Land Calvert
Carmi Furniture Carmi Nehi Bottling Company Carmi Times Mr. and Mrs. Otis Dill Mr. and Mrs. Ivan A. Elliott, Sr. Mr. and Mrs. Ivan A. Elliott, Jr. Elizabeth Crebs Evans Mr. and Mrs. Walter E. Finch Mr. and Mrs. Charles Frazier Mr. and Mrs. Hugh K. Hale Mrs. John O. Hancock and Family Elizabeth Land Harrell Mr. and Mrs. Herman Kittinger Mr. and Mrs. Henry S. Land and Bill Mr. and Mrs. Thomas S. Land
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Lewis Flora Blasker Lichtman Mr. and Mrs. Albert W. McCallister Mr. and Mrs. Herman Pollard and Wayne Mrs. Helen Hanna Pearce Mr. and Mrs. Stewart A. Pearce
The Frank E. Pomeroy Family Mr. and Mrs. James Madison Pomeroy M. Pauline Pomeroy
Judge Ulys Pyle Mr. and Mrs. C. F. Rebstock Mildred Land Reinwald Elizabeth Land Smith
Sterling Division of Federal-Mogul
Dr. and Mrs. Edwin Stocke
Ann Land Taylor
Louise Land Twilla
Two Tony's Smorgasbord East Main Street, Carmi Mr. and Mrs. Henry J. Wallace Mr. and Mrs. Ivan White Williams Amusement Company Senator and Mrs. Paul A. Ziegler
TIMES TO REMEMBER ...
WINTER
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, Carmi Township High School - White County Massed Band Festival, with 300 high school and junior high musicians from Grayville, Crossville, Norris City, Omaha, Enfield and Carmi. Premiere performance of the "Lincoln Heritage Trail" concert march composed for Carmi's Sesqui- centennial.
SATURDAY, MARCH 5, Wash- ington School gymnasium - Style show with old and new fashions, sponsored by three chapters of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority and the Home Culture Circle; beauty contest to choose the Sesquicentennial Queen, Miss Marcella Tate, of Grayville.
SPRING
SUNDAY, MARCH 27, Washing- ton School gymnasium-Community presentation of "The Messiah" two weeks before Easter, with over 100 voices and 15 members of the Evans- ville Philharmonic Orchestra. John W. Brown, director, Mrs. Ray McCal- lister, general chairman, Miss Doro- thy Mann, co-chairman.
MAY 13-15-Spring convention of the Illinois State Historical Society, with tours, receptions and banquets. Principal speaker, Chet Huntley, of NBC News.
SUMMER
MONDAY, JULY 4-All-day cele- bration of old-fashioned Fourth of July at White County Fairgrounds. Sponsored by Carmi Civil Defense. Festivities and barbecue all day, with fireworks display at night.
SATURDAY & SUNDAY, AU- GUST 13 and 14-Old-time thresher- men's reunion at White County Fair- grounds.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17 - Special Sesquicentennial show at White County Fair, headlined by Jo Ann Castle of the Lawrence Welk Show.
FALL
FRIDAY & SATURDAY, OCTO- BER 14 AND 15 - Fall festival with shows, tours, contests, climaxed by Kiwanis Corn Day and historical parade.
CARMI TIMES PRINT
الموارد
Wait
مصر
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 3 0112 050743555
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.