USA > Illinois > Champaign County > Gifford > The Centennial book, Gifford, Illinois : 1875-1975 > Part 8
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worth of goods which were carried and piled at the school house. J. W. McHenry and the Erdwin Broth- ers also saved a part of their stocks. Morse and Company, the bankers, saved their desks and a few of the books which were left outside of the vault. The vault is a good one and it is thought the cur- rency and other contents are not damaged. The owners of the bank have concluded not to open the vault for three or four days yet.
Following is a list of the establishments which went down before the flames: C. W. Ellis' Lumber Yard, office and other buildings together with two large barns - George Rapp's residence - William Fordon's Restaurant - W. T. Pierce's coal bins con- taining 140 tons of coal - three Illinois Central box cars - G. L. Galvond's Furniture Store - Carring- ton, Hannah and Company's two grain elevators - J. H. Hennessey's Hardware Store - Ezra Harrison's Dry Good Store - The Odd Fellows' Building occu- pied by Perring Brothers with a general stock - Wat- son and Reynolds Grain Office - Perring and Woods' Grain Office - Gallagher Brothers Implement Ware- house - Miss Kittie Taylor's building occupied by Erdwin Brothers - C. W. Ellis' building occupied by McHenry's Harness Shop - the Taylor building oc- cupied by Erdwin's Meat Market - H. Steward's Barber Shop - the Morse Bank building owned by Levi Wooldridge who also lost his residence property and barn - Joseph Sheuring's Shoe Shop - and the Bullock Block in which were located Miss Early's Millinery Store, Harry Elmore's Pool Room and George Harrison's Grocery. None of the goods in these latter establishments was saved. Gallagher Brothers saved a few of their implements but their hardware stock was a total loss.
All possible effort was made to keep the fire away from the two grain elevators, but they caught and then fairly melted away under the heat of it. It is estimated that fully 100,000 bushels of grain was stored in the two buildings and while much of it has been wholly destroyed it is feared that all the rest of it has been damaged. Early in the afternoon two traction engines were brought to town and put to work pumping floods of water on the heaps of grain, and before evening it was thought the fire had not entered the heart of the pile. The intense heat from the elevators warped the railroad track out of shape and three box cars which were in position where they could not be rescued were burned. A number of other cars were saved, however, by being pushed out of the way of danger. Michael Collins was also one of the losers. He lost a large double corn crib and 700 bushels of corn. The fire got a start on his
premises when but few were around and it soon got out of control. Heije Busboom, a prominent farmer, had a cornsheller and traction engine standing in the street at the time and both were destroyed before they could be moved to a place of safety.
Men and women alike worked heroically but accomplished very little. The greatest excitement prevailed during the fire. Men rushed into the burn- ing buildings to rescue goods and furniture and carried them into the street only to have them burned there. By 6:00 o'clock the fire had spent its force as nothing was left in its way, and the villagers, who were blackened and burned, went home to their breakfasts. While the fire was practically out, a great heat was rising from the burned district and at times a blaze would start up. Men were on watch and kept the fire where it could do no further dam- age. Between 9 and 10 o'clock last night a brisk wind came up from the northwest, fanning the smoldering embers into life again, and it was feared for a time that the church and residence portion of town might catch fire. The situation was realized, and every man and woman in town was in readiness to resume the fight. A second rally was not neces- sary. Never before in the history of the village was there such restlessness during a whole night. A majority of the people remained up all night on guard duty, and those who did retire slept with one eye open.
Today the excitement has died out and now, in their sober moments the losers from the devasta- tion are just beginning to realize its seriousness. At the best it will be late in the Fall before the burned district can be rebuilt and at present there is no possible way of carrying on business, for no business rooms are left. George Galvone, the furniture dealer, has already decided to open with a new stock in the old Reynolds Tank Shop. Perring Brothers have decided to rebuild with the hope of getting started at once, and a majority of those burned out will follow their example. Morse and Company, the bankers, have set up a desk in the Post Office and are conducting their most important business there. The Perrings are preparing to open with what they have saved of their stock in a temporary building.
It appears almost a miracle that a number of persons were not killed during the progress of the fire. Men appeared to have no fear. They rushed to the top of burning buildings, into them, and into places of greatest danger without the least hesitancy. So far as can be learned, no one was seriously in- jured, although a number were more or less burned. O. B. Sawdey and James Watson were among the
Courtesy of THE BI-LO FURNITURE CO. 110 West Sangamon, Rantoul, Illinois
102
worst burned. Their injuries are not dangerous, as they were able to be about town.
At this time it cannot be told what the exact loss will be, but it is estimated that it will reach over $100,000. As far as it is figured now the total loss is $97,500 on buildings and stock. As far as can be learned now the total insurance amounts to $24,450 but the list of policies is yet incomplete, and the exact figure will not be known for some days yet. Many of the sufferers had no insurance at all. An incomplete list of the losses and insurance is as follows:
Name
Buildings
Stock
Insurance
W. Fordon
800
700
$1,000
H. R. Perring and Brother
8,000
6,000
George Rupp
800
600
George Galvond
1,000
1,800
1,300
Mrs. George Galvond
600
Mckinney and Johnson
800
2,000
Drs. D. R. and J. T. McKinney
2,000
600
John Gallagher
2,500
2,600
2,800
Ezra Harrison
800
4,000
2,400
Mrs. Russell
800
J. H. Hennessey
1,500
1,000
1,500
C. W. Ellis
4,000
7,000
3,500
Perring and Wood
500
Miss Kittie Early (Taylor?)
600
250
H. U. Elmore
150
George Harrison
1,500
800
J. W. McHenry
1,000
500
Erdwin Brothers
500
H. Steward
400
W. Wooldridge
100
Levi Wooldridge
2,500
300
900
Odd Fellows
2,500
2,000
William Stickrod
200
E. J. Morse and Son
100
Heije Busboom
600
James Watson
2,000
Harrington, Hannah
and Company
15,000
25,000
Mrs. A. E. Early
100
MURDER IN GIFFORD ???
"Yes, I shot him four times" the defendant told the sheriff.
"A painful tragedy in the Town of Gifford. The result of a local feud. Thomas Gallagher, a well- known hardware merchant, fatally shoots Charles Taylor, local butcher, then comes in town with his friends and gives himself up to Officers of the Law" -(Champaign County Gazette, February 2, 1894)
Apparently the story was that Johnny Taylor, 18 year old son of the slain man, came into the Gallagher Hardware Store carrying a bottle of whis- key and wanted Mr. Gallagher to have a few drinks with him. (Oh, those terrible teenagers . . . ) Gal- lagher refused and the boy became angry about it. Young Taylor returned later in the day and Gallagher threw him out. All this upset the boy's father, Charles Taylor, who went about town saying that he would kill Gallagher within 24 hours. He showed up outside Gallagher's bedroom window that night armed with a shotgun and calling for Gallagher to come out. Gallagher paid no attention to him (?) and Taylor finally left after firing a few blasts from his shotgun for effeet.
The two men did not meet after that until the day of the shooting. "I had gone to the depot," Mr. Gallagher explained to the Sheriff in Urbana, "and just as I was stepping out of the office I was attacked by the older Taylor who struck me in the face. 1 retained my feet, however, and when he came at me again I pulled my revolver and shot him. ... Then I got on the train and came down here to give myself up."
Gallagher was 35 years old at the time and was doing quite well in the hardware business. Mr. Tay- lor ran a meat market and it is alleged that he drank considerably and that he and his son were quarrel- some and somewhat feared by their neighbors when drinking. Gallagher seems to have been a man of good reputation and was accompanied by his twin brother and two other business men of Gifford on the trip to the Sheriff's office. He spent several days in jail, but was released on $10,000 bond, pending the trial.
"He is Acquitted - Final Results of an Exeit- ing Criminal Case - A Long Seige of Arguments - Followed by the court's instructions to the jury given at extraordinary length - The testimony in the trial of Thomas Gallagher was concluded Friday afternoon. . . . At 5:40 p.m. the jury returned the verdict finding the defendant NOT GUILTY."
(Champaign County Gazette, May 2, 1894)
Courtesy of COLONIAL LIQUORS 219 South Maplewood, Rantoul, Illinois
103
The Courier, November 22, 1938
Four Gifford Buildings Are Destroyed by Fire; Estimate $30,000 Loss
TAVERN STOVE IS BLAMED FOR START OF BLAZE Paxton, Urbana, Rantoul Firemen Aid in 4-Hour Fight
GIFFORD-Fire starting from an overheated stove in the backroom of a downtown tavern swept the west side of one block of Main street here shortly after 3 a.m. today to destroy four buildings and contents valued by owners at between $30,000 and $35,000.
Fire trucks and men from Urbana, Rantoul
and Paxton were called to aid local bucket brigades in the four-hour fight. Firemen were handicapped by the fact that the only water supply was from cisterns
Store Loss $30,00
The fire started in the rear of the tavern oper- ated by Barney Bartell and was swept along by a strong early-morning wind to destroy the two-story building owned by Jerome Hylbert, housing a bar- ber shop and the home of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Varner, the Fay Wooldridge Drug and Jewelry Store, and Joseph Sheuring harness shop.
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RANTOUL TAILORING CO DRY CLEANERS
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WOOLDRIDGE AND SIDDENS INSPECTING THE REMAINS OF THE DRUG STORE THE MORNING AFTER THE FIRE
THIEVES HIT GIFFORD BANK IN EARLY MORNING ROBBERY
(Rantoul Press - January, 1961)
The Gifford State Bank was broken into during the night by burglars, the loss which is as yet un- determined confined largely to the safety deposit boxes. The robbers were only able to break through the outer wall of the safe so were only able to rifle the safety deposit boxes and were unable to get into the vault itself.
Entry was made into the safe by pounding a hole large enough for a man to get through in the double wall of the vault, which is of brick and plaster construction. The authorities have found no evidence of "jimmying" or broken locks and have not determined the means of entry into the bank building itself. Papers from the deposit boxes were strewn all over as the robbers went through them taking any negotiables they could find. This along with the plaster and brick made a shambles of the Bank building.
The break-in was first discovered by Osie Al- corn, who has been Janitoress for the bank for thirty years, as she came to work just before 8:00 a.m. She immediately called for help. Mr. Henry Peters, Gifford Chief of Police, and formerly a member of the Rantoul Police Department, arrived
on the scene just after 8:00 a.m. and notified the Champaign County Sheriff's Office and the FBI.
Richard Davenport, former Chief of Police for Rantoul and now a sheriff's assistant, and three FBI men from Urbana and operating from the Springfield branch office of the FBI were on the scene this morning.
The Gifford residents, following the first flush of excitement this morning, are taking their loss in stride. Mr. D. E. Goodwine, president of the bank, stated, "This is the first time anything like this has happened. We want everybody to know that the safety deposits are insured. It will take some time, however, to sort through the material and identify belongings and determine just how much the loss is."
Mr. Peters, Gifford police Chief, states, "When I was summoned, the room was filled with tear gas-more than a person could stand-which hap- pened when the door to the vault was opened from the inside. Whether this happened as the robbers were leaving or as they needed more room, of course, is not determined." Tear gas was automatic- ally released when the door was opened.
Courtesy of Ludwig's Warehouse Furniture and Bargain Barn Route 136, Rantoul, Illinois
105
THE VISIT OF DIZZY DEAN-1943
And who was Dizzy Dean? Well, in 1943 he held a place in the baseball world about like Hank Aaron in 1974. He was the hero of the time. For him to come and play in a game with the Gifford- Flatville team was about like having Kareem Abdul- Jabbar come and play a couple of quarters in a local high school basketball game. It was a Great Day-as the accompanying pictures show.
ice car
Arcy
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1
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4
106
Courtesy of Miller's Lawn and Garden Route 136, Rantoul, Illinois
A
The youngsters in the first picture: Standing, L to R-Roy Hall, Harry Fox, Henry Crocetti, Dean McCartney, Buddy Schluter and Jimmie Varner Seated - Junior Hoch and Gene Morrison. The girl - Mildred Siddens
Above: Dizzy Dean stops to swap rural jokes with H. V. Hardin, M. E. Rowe and John M. Franzen.
Left: Norman Franzen learns how Diz threw that fast ball.
C
Courtesy of Gordon Hannagan Auction Service Penfield, Illinois - Ph. 568-7126 Champaign County's No. 1 Auction Company
107
GIFFORD FALL FESTIVAL INC.
In 1972 a non-profit corporation was formed by nine Lion's Club Members from Gifford and its surrounding communities. The purpose of the cor- poration are to promote, advertise, manage and operate a Fall Festival Celebration emphasizing the vibrancy and vitality of the greater Gifford area for the benefit and edification of the community. The board of directors forming the corporation were: Theodore Turza, Elmer Bergman, Werner Roessler, Robert Baker, Herbert Sage, Derald Ackerman, Kurt Wheat, Delmar Johnson, and Jack Kaler.
The proceeds from the German Fall Festival Celebrations for the past three years were used to purchase the Ball Park for Gifford and surrounding communities. Future plans of the corporation are to build a community center building to benefit the people and organizations of the Gifford Community and surrounding area.
The Gifford German Fall Festival started out to be an "October Fest" but they scheduled it in September. No end of us worked ourselves to a frazzle to put it on, but credit for the idea and most of the drive to get it done has to go to Ted Turza, owner of the Cabin. The Lions Club helped Turza to nurture and develop the thing until it got too big and had to be splintered off into a separate, not- for-profit corporation. It was intended to renew and increase our community "spirit," to make a little money for a lot of organizations, and for general community betterment-and it worked. Held in 1972, 1973, and 1974, estimates of the crowds attending run as high as 20,000, and the accom- panying pictures give an idea of how it all went.
R
R
Courtesy of Don Barber's Studio and Camera Shop Rantoul, Illinois
108
......
УГП НТ
٠٠٠
ججنده
น
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GIFFORD WAR PRISONER
COMES HOME
There are good days and bad days in the story of a community-as there are in the lives of individuals-and surely one of Gifford's best days was the day Walter Roessler came home from that Communist POW camp on the Man- churian border, Labor Day, 1951.
Corporal Roessler, who was a prison- er of the Chinese Communists for more than two years, was greeted at Midway Airport, Chicago, by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Roessler. He was in a Red prison camp identified as Compound No. 1, among the largest the enemy operated. The happy reunion occurred on Labor Day and the following day the soldier was greeting old friends in the hometown and having the time of his life.
7
FL
E
WELCOME HOME
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HAPPY HOUR ESTORES
WELCOME WALT
Budweiser
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Courtesy of Holland's Men's Wear - Ray and Helen Hayn 339 South Century, Rantoul, Illinois
COUNT SOBIESKI
There really was a "Count Sobieski."
Almost every previous account of Gifford's past has made a point of the fact that a Russian- Polish Count by the name of Sobieski once lived here. Two newspaper accounts of him, prepared at the time of his death, give a dramatic view of his adventuresome life but fail to mention that he ever lived here. For that we rely upon the memory and veracity of some of our older citizens.
The newspaper stories tell us that Colonel Sobieski was the sixth lineal descendant of King John III, the last of the Polish monarchs. His father took part in an uprising against the Russians and was executed for it when "our" Sobieski was six years old. He and his mother were driven into exile in Austria.
Sobieski arrived in the United States as a stow- away at the age of twelve. The key points in his life thereafter are shown in the accompanying inset.
For his help in deposing the Emperor Maxi- milian, a grateful Mexico offered him 10,000 acres of land, but he turned it down. In this country he was a true progressive. As a legislator in Minnesota
in the early 1870's, lie introduced bills favoring such "wild ideas" as the prohibition of alcoholic liquor, the prohibition of capital punishment, and the grant- ing of voting rights to women. These were heresies in his day, and his sponsorship of such far-out things ended his political carrer.
There is a story about his naturalization as a United States Citizen. When the presiding judge asked if he renouneed all princes and potentates and in particular the sovereign to whom he had previous- ly owed allegiance, he didn't know what to say. As an exile since the age of six he did not feel that he had ever owed allegiance to any "potentate," He turned to his lawyer for advice, and then, adopting the lawyer's words as his own he answered the judge, "Yes, sir. I renounce the whole damned bunch."
In the course of the First World War when it appeared that Poland would be restored as a nation. Sobieski was urged to return and become the new Polish king but he refused and spent all of his later years lecturing and working for the causes he had adopted-temperance, woman sufferage, and the abolition of the death penalty.
Dramatic Episodes in Career of Intrepid Adventurer
LINEAL DESCENDANT OF KING JOHN OF POLAND, FORCED TO FLEE WHEN FATHER, COUNTJOHN SOBIESKI, WAS EXECUTED. CAME TO AMERICA AS STOWAWAY AT AGE OF 12.
AT 24 COLONEL IN MEXICAN ARMY. WAS PRESENT AT THE EXECUTION OF MAXIMILIAN.
D
AT AGE OF 22 A BUGLER AT BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG
Colonel John Sobieski
RETURNED TO UNITED STATES AND SPENT REMAINDER OF LIFE AS CHAMPION OF TEMPERANCE AND OTHER REFORM MOVEMENTS.
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OUR CENTENNIAL QUEEN CONTESTANTS
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Left to right:
front row:
Barbara Gehrt sponsored by Gifford Woman's Club
Patricia McFadden sponsored by Gifford United Methodist Church
Patricia Buenting sponsored by German Fall Festival, Inc. Donna Busboom sponsored by Nu Iota of Beta Sigma Phi
second row:
Denise Herbert sponsored by Gifford Lions Club
Kristi Buck sponsored by Corky's Auto-Truck Service Center
Sandra Kopman sponsored by Country Health Auxiliary Robin Busboom sponsored by Gifford Fire Department
third row:
Jody Olson sponsored by Gifford Pool & Lunch
Marla Mennenga sponsored by St. Paul's Luther League
Mernice Mennenga sponsored by Gifford Homemaker's Extension Marci Marikos sponsored by Schenck's Hardware
(Editor's Note- We cannot report who won the crown, for the judging has not yet taken place.)
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Mrs. Ora Stewart and two of the women who worked for her in the restaurant, proba- bly about the early thirties, Mrs. Nancy Al- corn on her right, Mrs. Caroline Sheuring on her left. The picture was taken behind Dr. Axtell's office which now forms the front half of the Gifford Pool Hall.
Editor's Note: From childhood 1 remember Mrs. Alcorn being one of the nicest and surely one of the hardest working women around. She was left a widow and raised a bunch of boys when there was no Social Security, Pub- lic Aid, no Aid to Dependent Children, or anything else. She made her living doing laun- dry for other people-on a washboard, in a tub. And, except for rain water she could catch from time to time in a couple of barrels, she pumped hard water by hand from a deep well and carried it next door to her house. She heated it on a wood stove and went to work. And, of course, she ironed all those clothes-with a flat iron heated on that same wood stove. No "Perma-press" in those days.
et
Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus Hickman in front of their home, about 1915. Mrs. Hickman was formerly Mrs. Burdette and was grandmother to Oscar, Russell and Raymond Burdette and Dora Faye. Were there others? The house is where Alberta Carley now lives.
Courtesy of Doc and Mike's Bicycle Shop Rantoul, Illinois
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The dedication of the 1953 Yearbook of the Rantoul Township High School was to a Gifford man- Eldon Scott.
In Tribute
T O MIR. ELDON SCOTT, KNOWN TO ALL AS "SCOTTY." WE HEREBY DEDICATE THIS 1953 EAGLET. . SCOTTY IS A FRIEND TO ALL AND IS WILLING TO HELP IN ANY WAY. WE SAY "THANKS A LOT FOR A JOB ALWAYS WELL DONE."
W. J. H. - 1923
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Street Scenes
The Centennial Committee sponsored a fund-raising Square Dance on May 18, 1975, in the Knights of Columbus Hall in Rantoul, Illinois. Bob Ackerman and his band provided the music, and it appears that everyone had a good time. No, Leland Albers (left) and John Emkes (center) are not squaring off to fight it out.
Chairperson Brenda Faught has announced another fund - raising Square Dance to be held on July 13th at the same place and with the same wonderful musicians. Don- ald Sjoken is to be the caller. There will be door prizes, cake walks and all the rest to provide a good time for all who will attend.
The "Then and Now" Style Show was held in the Gifford Grade School gymnasium on the eve- ning of June 18th, 1975.
Fashions were modelled from the 1800's to the 1970's. Styles were presented by decades, be- ginning with the oldest ones available. Mrs. Dorothy Henry served as narrator, explaining the background of each item and telling of the present owner.
Humor became a factor in the show when models appeared wearing night clothes or long underwear-and carrying candles. Debbie Chalk modelled a "hustler" dress and sang a song enjoved by all. Mrs. Margaret Ann Herbert presented a lively version of the old-time "Charleston," and barber- shop quartets of local men and boys added to the pleasure of all those present. Those singing were: Pastor Melvin Blobaum, Pastor Dan Cox, Bill Henry, Sr., Maynard Duitsman, Garrelt Duden, Robert Bus- boom, Elmer Bergman, Robert Ackerman, Craig Henry, David Henry and Tim Griffith.
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John and Grace Johnson playing on the farm - 1914
and Miscellaneous
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GIFFORD'S HONOR ROLL
WORLD WAR II
Gifford has had sons in all the nation's wars of the last 115 years, at least. Some of the original settlers were veterans of the Civil War. But there is no satisfactory record of them, and this man, at least, is afraid to tackle the risky job of making up a list. To my personal knowledge we have had men killed in the First and Second World Wars, and in the Korean and Viet Nam conflicts. Someone had the above honor roll prepared for men who served in the Second World War, but no such scroll was made for the service men and women of more recent times -- perhaps because the Korean and Viet Nam conflicts were, themselves, less popular in our na- tion. Be that as it may, surely we all join in paying honor to all those who did serve in any war and in a fervent prayer that no such service will ever again be required.
GIFFORD
*ROLL & HONOR*
WILLIAM JOHNSON
JOHN J. REYNOLDS
WILLIS SIDDENS
GEORGE PANNBACKER HERBERT BOWEN GERD R HEIN
ELMER KUHLMAN BERNELL BERRY FINLEY HAMILTON DOYLE DECKER NAROLD BREITHAUPT MORRIS KING
*GLENN C. BURDETTE BENTLEY BARNETT JARRETT HYLBERT
NERMAN O. ACKERMAN HARLEY JEAKINS WILLIAM BARNES RICHARD SJUITS
* WILLIAM W. ROGERS ROBERT OAVIS GERD J. ALBERS
CHRIS J. FLESNER
ALBERT EHMAN
EUGENE HOCH
ERNEST HEIN
RAYMOND SAATHOFF
GEORGE HEIN
ERNEST HENNENOA
BARNEY SJOKEN
SAMUEL B. ALDRICH
GLENN W. REYNOLDS EMMETT LOCKHART
CHARLES L. HOCH
EUGENE MORRISON
WESLEY ALCORN
JOHN HARPER
GORDON WATSON BERNARD L. EMKES MELVIN CARLEY DONALD WISE BERYL REYNOLDS RICHARD MARTIN · ARNOLD SCHLUTER LOREN WALSTON RALPH CORBLEY FRANK BOYLE MELVIN ROESSLER WILBER VARNER HERMAN ALBERS FREDERICK ACKERMAN EDWARD BRUNS
GIFFORD GERMAN FALL FESTIVAL
>HOFOR V I
Leonard Bros.
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FUNERAL URNITURE
DIRECTORS S
EALERS
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Rantoul, Illinois
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J. D Moree. Pres H. M. Wooldridge. V Pres E R. Wooldridge, C'asluer
BUSBOOM GARAGE
Established 1885 .. Incorporated 1912
Buick, Overland and Willys-Knight Cars
Service Station Philadelphia Batteries Samson Tractors Ford Accessories Delco Light Products
Bosch Magnetos Tires and Tubes
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