USA > Illinois > Woodford County > The Woodford County history > Part 11
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Elevators. In the summer of 1898, Asa and John Shepard built an elevator. It was pur- chased for $7,250 in 1903 by a group of farmers who had organized the El Paso Elevator Company. They later bought the elevator at Enright Station. They also built elevators in Kappa and Panola. The name has been retained, but the business is now
owned by a corporation, with Homer Sturm as manager.
The White Elevator was built by a group of farmers in 1921 and sold to C. C. King- don in 1935. It was purchased by the El Paso Elevator Company in 1953. Metal storage bins were added east of the ele- vator in 1958, and in 1959 additional stor- age was provided by a metal building on the east wye. These elevators are in addi- tion to those mentioned earlier which were destroyed by fire.
J. J. Dauth has operated a blacksmith shop since 1927. Early blacksmiths usually worked in connection with a wagon or buggy factory. James Ross is believed to be the earliest in El Paso, having a shop in 1857.
The Aylward Liquid Fertilizer Company opened a plant in 1959, and since then has increased its facilities. The Schertz Agri- culture Service also began in 1959, and was sold to the Gulf Oil Company in February, 1968.
California Chemicals, Orthe Division, manufactured insecticides at their plant. It began in February, 1965, and in 1967 the plant was enlarged and began year-round operation.
The Behlem Manufacturing Company opened a branch office and distribution center south of El Paso on August 2, 1962. They produce steel buildings for farm and industry. El Paso Pellets Unlimited, Inc. began operation of a feed mill and mixing plant, across the road south of Behlem's, September 1, 1962. It had a daily capacity of 100 tons of mixed feeds in pelleted form, and production has since been increased.
D. C. Diers was distributor for the Dri- Gas Corporation for a number of years be- fore a bulk plant was located on west Route 24 in July, 1950. It was later pur- chased by the Thermo-Gas Corporation, which distributed bottled gas for home, farm, and industrial use.
The Kammerer Cement Products Com- pany, founded by Mathias Kammerer in 1917, was first located at Walnut and Front streets. The plant was moved in 1920 to the area northeast of the Route 24 and 51 in-
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tersection. It was badly damaged by fire November 1I, 1937. The company was moved to East Peoria because transporta- tion was better.
In the late 1940's G. W. Dalrymple of Bloomington opened a feed lot and shipped in cattle from the West to be fed out on Illinois farms. In 195S another change in marketing methods was reflected in the building of a livestock sale barn. Art Feller of Cissna Park and Earl Martin of El Paso were the auctioneers. Sales are held each week, the stock being transported by large trucks to city packing plants. Much of the stock has been raised on area farms, while some has been shipped in for fattening. After several years Mr. Martin moved to Morton, and Mr. Feller continued the busi- ness.
In 1928 Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Hildreth began operation of the Prairie State Hatch- ery, they later added a laying house. Mrs. Hildreth continued the business following her husband's death, until 1951. Ray Whit- wood converted a barn into a laying house. The business was later enlarged by John Baillie, and his flocks produce eggs by the truckload.
James Whiskers built a large laying house and shipped eggs to New York for a number of years. Dale Fever raises broil- ers, being able to care for 10,000. Few farmers now raise chickens, even for their own use, production being confined almost entirely to commercial flocks.
Food Preservation. An artificial pond was created by I. Lemon and his sons in the southeast part of town in the 1570's or SO's, and filled it with water from the city well. It was surrounded by a high board fence and ice was cut there every winter. Mr. Lemon purchased the first building used by the Christian Church, and moved it to the pond about 1895. A well 265 feet deep was drilled to provide water, after several years of drought. The pond was condemned by health authorities in 1910. Later the increased use of artificial ice wrote finish to the business. The first icchouse burned, was replaced in 1927, and that building also burned.
During the years ice was produced on the pond, it was also a recreation center, with professional skaters from as far away as Chicago competing in contests. Brass bands provided music for these contests. which were usually held at night.
R. L. Beshers' eanning factory was first located on the northeast corner of town. then moved in 1925 north of the T.P. & W. Railroad east of Adams Street where he continued until 1939. Beshers built a cream- ery and cold storage plant on Route 24 east of Elm Street in 1922. and rented space for refrigeration of foods, particularly meats. This was the first such service in the com- munity. Frank Cleary later rented the building for a processing plant for his dairy. It is now the office building for Pfister Hybrid Corn Company.
F. L. Tarman added a storage unit to his butcher shop, which was later enlarged by J. W. Mcflugh. The latter processed meat for many farmers who previously did their own butchering.
The Prairie State Canning Company built their plant in 1912. with E. A. Selk as man- ager. Corn was first grown under contract. later by company employees on rented land. This company was discontinued, then operated for three years in the 1930's by the Inderieden Company of Chicago. The plant was remodeled in 1940 by Pfister Hybrid Corn Company, which purchased it for a warehouse.
Hotels and Motels. El Paso's early hotels, with one exception, were destroyed by fire. George II. Campbell built the Campbell House in IS62 on land he leased from the Illinois Central Railroad. The building combined a railroad depot and hotel. Mr. Campbell died in IS96, and his son, Harry, continued the business until 1914. Later a number of companies and individuals leased it, in whole or in part, but the rapid decline of passenger traffic on the railroads made it unprofitable. The building was vacant for several years and was razed in 1938.
The Clifton Hotel. built by W. H. Fergu- son, burned in 1894; was rebuilt; closed its
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dining room in 1938, and has been vacant since 1946.
Mrs. Zilpha Morgan purchased the James Wathen house and, in 1939, opened it as a tourist home. She added a number of cabins later and opened a dining room in 1953. The business is continued by Leland Morgan, who added a large dining room in 1965. "The Elms" caters to clubs and organizations as well as to individuals.
The Corn Belt Motel, opened in 1952 by Mr. and Mrs. Richard Stine; the El Paso Motel, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Everett Treece; and Roger Benson's Stage Stop Motel, built in 1957, provide additional tourist accommodations. Mr. and Mrs. Earl Burroughs discontinued a similar business in 1967, after 25 years of operation.
A commercial trailer court, run by Omer Arbogast, Kilpatrick's Trailer Court, and the Treece Court provide another type of service. The Gala Restaurant, Pierre's, and the restaurant at the City Service station are convenient tourist stops.
In 1952 the first "drive-in" eatery was built by Dale Patterson, and on July 4, 1967 another drive-in opened.
Saloons have been part of the business community, except for a brief period in the 1890's and again during prohibition. In 1968 there are two taverns, package liquor shops, and a elub license in operation.
Service Stations. Four oil companies have storage tanks in El Paso: The Standard Oil Company put up their first tanks in 1894; the Shell and Sweeney companies erected tanks in 1924; and the Mobil Oil Com- pany now owns the tanks which were erected in 1929.
C. L. W. Snyder built the first drive-in service station in 1925. About the same time Clarence Massey installed a gas pump on the lawn at his home. He later built a service station on the corner. Three other stations are also at the intersection, the last located in 1929, though several have had more than one building on the site. There are two other service stations on Route 24, and two more on Route 51.
Clarence Massey erected the first build-
ing actually planned as a garage, later re- placing it with a service station. Louis Knecht's garage was built in 1929, and has been enlarged several times.
John Schlink operated a laundry for a number of years in the early 1900's. About 1906 a Chinese laundry was located at the corner of Front and Chestnut streets, on the ground floor of the building where Smith's Photograph Gallery was located.
On December 26, 1958 Franklin Jones opened a new type of laundry-a laundro- mat. Mrs. Reta Nohren was manager of a second laundromat which opened in March, 1965.
About 1960 the Martin-Marietta Corpor- ation opened a distribution center for Madison silos.
The Heller Farm Store has been on Route 24 since 1953, in quarters which were first occupied by Pfister Associated Growers. The building was enlarged and a complete line of farm equipment is avail- able. MeKinley & Hielscher discontinued their machinery agency November 1. 1967.
The Dunmire Equipment Company, also on Route 24, handles earth moving equip- ment and tractors.
Nursing Homes. Mrs. Myrtle Tegard opened a nursing home in 1947 and later sold it. Mrs. Morris now operates a home for elderly citizens at the original location of the nursing home, as well as two smaller residences on Route 24.
Mrs. Eva Lewis-Hughes has a nursing home and Mrs. Clarence MeDaniel oper- ates the MeDaniel Nursing Home. Another home which operated in the 1950's was dis- continued, and another moved to Gridley.
El Paso in the Wars
Few El Pasoans had any part in the Mexican War. Veterans of that war who are buried here are listed on the American Legion's grave registration.
Of the many men from the area who served in the Civil War, six were killed in action, and 27 died of wounds or disease. Some were buried on the battlefield, none was returned home. This list includes only
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those who were listed from the El Paso community at the time they entered serv- ice, though some who came to the com- munity after the war had also served. Lack of space forbids listing them, with these few exceptions:
Capt. Wingfield M. Bullick, commander of Company E .. 108th Illinois Regiment. went from Eureka, but moved to a farm north of El Paso following the war. He was wounded in the leg in the attack on Span- ish Fort guarding Mobile Bay, and had a pronounced limp until he died.
Ilarry Dewitt Cook, originally from New York. organized Company G of the 4th Illinois Cavalry in August. IS6I. The com- pany was made up entirely of local men. He resigned as a Republican member of the State Legislature to do so. After ad- vancing to major he returned home and was again elected to the Legislature. Re- habilitation work for veterans took him to New York and Washington, D.C. later.
Lt. Samuel T. Rogers was second in command of Company A of the S6th Hli- nois Infantry. The El Paso Post No. 531 Grand Army of the Republic was named for him. Of the 14 El Paso men in this company, four were killed in action in 1864. Two others were captured and died in a Confederate prison. Only four mem- bers were living when the El Paso G.A.R. Post was disbanded.
Henry P. Ore of Kappa lost his life in the Indian campaign in the West, which followed the Civil War. David Hannah, a native of New Jersey, also served in the West, and came to El Paso later where he engaged in farming. Three men from El Paso and another, who came later, served in the Spanish-American War.
Chester Blumenshine, John Lincoln North, Fred S. Skinner, and Nelson Kamp of El Paso lost their lives in World War I.
Women served in the armed forces for the first time during World War II. and 22 from the El Paso area served in various branches of service during that time. Twenty-seven men of the area lost their lives in World War II.
Many men of the community served in the Korean Conflict. Among the first to be called were IS members of an El Paso re- serve unit. Battery A. S31st Field Artillery. Several others, who were members of the 144th Battalion of the 44th Division's Anti- Aircraft Artillery, were also called. Donakl Miller of Kappa, who was wounded Christ- mas Day, 1951. and died after being re- turned to the U.S. for hospitalization, was the only death from this conflict.
Since the Korean episode a number have served in various branches of the armed services, some with the Army of Occupa- tion in Europe. At the close of 1967 others are serving in Vietnam.
Dr. R. E. Gordon
On January 1. 1895 Dr. R. E. Gordon opened his office. Ile had been located in Benson slightly more than a year prior to coming here. The oldest son of Dr. Jerry Taylor and Mary Annas Gordon, he was born in Carlyle, Illinois, September 3, 1873.
Dr. Gordon moved his office to 54 North Central Street after a few years and he maintained it there the rest of his life. He married Della C. Chappelle of Rolla, Mis- souri, July 8, 1894. They had four children: Virgil C., Noel E. (now deceased ), Robert Stanley, and Mrs. Virginia Gordon Wiese.
Dr. Gordon served as alderman from 1910 to 1920, and as mayor in 1926 and 1927.
Professionally he was one who carly recognized the need for special care for tuberculosis patients and, on May 7, 1908, opened the first facility in Woodford County for such care. The "Han-Gon-Tan Tuberculosis Sanitarium" was only in oper- ation for two years, but it helped focus attention on a major health problem.
Dr. Gordon was a member of the Wood- ford and McLean County medical societies and served on the staffs of Bloomington hospitals. He was also a member of the 50-Year Club of the American Medical As- sociation. During his 57 years of practice he delivered approximately 4,500 babies.
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Dr. Gordon died at his home November 16, 1951.
Levi F. Smith
Levi F. Smith opened a photograph gal- lery in El Paso in 1869, and for nearly 60 years he recorded the history of El Paso through his cameras. Though he was only 14 years old he had been employed pre- viously in the shoe trade, in the Journal office as a printer's devil, and later by L. R. Thayer, an early photographer in El Paso.
HIe was born October 7, 1855 in Holden, Massachusetts, the son of Benjamin and Sarah Smith. When he was just past 21 he married Emma Laura Arnold. She was the daughter of Isaac M. and Sarah V. Arnokl, who lived northwest of El Paso. Mrs. Arnold was a talented artist and painted the picture of Andrew Carnegie which hangs in the public library.
Mrs. Smith became an excellent photog- rapher, and worked with her husband regularly. Mr. Smith died on March IS, 1929. The Smith's had two sons: Roy A., who died in his youth, and Max, who was associated with the First National Bank of El Paso, and its successor, the El Paso Na- tional Bank. Mr. Smith is also a talented musician and has played viola with the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra for many years, as well as being a violin soloist on many programs.
First Negro Voter After the 15th Amendment
El Paso operated under a special charter from 1867 to 1890, and under its provisions held the city election on Monday, April 4, 1870, one day earlier than almost all other elections were held. David Strother, a Negro barber, arrived at the polls to cast his ballot. He was accompanied by James H. Wathen, then mayor, and Jacob Fish- burn, who cited Article XV of the United States Constitution, which had been de- clared in effect five days earlier. It was declared that "the right of citizens to vote shall not be denied on account of race, color, or previous condition or servitude."
Communication was not the almost in-
stantaneous medium of the present day, and the judges were not informed, so they denied Dave's request. William Neifing, one of the judges, sent for a copy of the amendment. When he learned that the re- quest was legitimate, Dave was sent for and returned to vote. His brother, Charles Strother, voted later in the day, and as far as El Pasoans have been able to learn, Dave Strother's choice for officers in EI Paso was the first ballot east by a Negro.
David A. Strother was born in Lexington, Missouri, August IS, 1843, the son of par- ents who were slaves. He was a cook on a Mississippi River steamer before becoming a civilian cook with Company G, 17th Illi- nois Infantry. Many El Pasoans had served in that unit and they urged Dave to come to El Paso. Jonathan Parks was one of these men, and he gave Dave space in a corner of his insurance and Justice of the Peace office, to set up his barber chair.
After the building of the Eagle Block, he moved his shop to the basement of the new building. There he was joined by his brother, Charles. Charles died of tubercu- losis in April, 1897, and Dave's wife, Eliza- beth Gaines Strother, died July 12, 1901 from the same cause. Dave had very little formal education, but he read widely and was very well informed. He died of a heart attack March 12, 1905.
In 1954 El Paso Post No. 59 American Legion, aided by a $100 donation from the Women's Society of Christian Service of the Methodist Church, placed a marker on his grave in Evergreen Cemetery, "Believ- ing that his vote the morning of April 4, 1870 marked a milestone on the road to human freedom."
Judge Horace H. Baker
Horace II. Baker was mayor from 1911 to 1917. Horace was also the youngest man to hold the office, having reached his 26th birthday just four days before he was elected.
He was born April 14, ISS4 at Buckley, Illinois, and was the son of Joseph G. and Julia Lincoln Baker.
He was Woodford County state's at-
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torney from 1932 to 1936, and was the first circuit judge to be elected from the county in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit. He served in the office from 1936 to 1939. He was also a member of the Illinois State and the Woodford County bar associations.
On November 25, 1909, he married Glenna Bonar. Their son, Frederick Bonar Baker, joined his father in the law firm of Baker and Baker in 1939. Mr. Baker died unexpectedly on March 2, 1947, following a heart attack at his home.
Other Famous Sons. Judged only on the basis of public recognition of success in their particular fields, two El Paso natives, whose work took them to other areas, should be mentioned.
Bishop Fulton J. Sheen was born in a second floor apartment in El Paso, above his father's store. He is the son of Newton and Delia Fulton Sheen and was christened Peter John, but sometime after he entered the priesthood he dropped his first name, and, to honor his mother, adopted her maiden name. He was ordained in 1919, and continued his studies in Washington, D.C. and Europe, returning in 1926 to be- come professor of philosophy at the Catho- lic University of America.
The long series of sermons he preached on the Catholic Hour over the National Broadcasting Company network brought him to national prominence among people of all faiths. He is a prolific writer, as well as gifted speaker, his books covering a wide range of interests.
Frank H. Shuman, son of George and Lucretia Shuman, graduate of El Paso schools and the University of Illinois in 1921, carried his agriculture know-how half way around the world. He was a farm ad- viser in Jersey and Whiteside counties for 25 years. In 1952 government officials asked him to go to the Technical Institute in Allahabad, India, to work under a Ford Foundation grant for the training of the people in improved food production meth- ods.
The Shumans spent four years in India and two and one-half years in Afghanistan. They returned to the United States and he
announced his retirement. He went back to India, however, in 1964. to help in a co- operative project between six U.S. land grant colleges and the Indian government. He has also helped train Peace Corps per- sonnel at centers in Davis, Colorado, Car- bondale, Illinois, and in Hawaii.
Other El Pasoans who have achieved success in various fields would inchide Rt. Rev. Msgr. Thomas Cleary, 1885-1961, pastor, teacher and historian; Robert Bar- racks, 1898, newspaper editor in St. Louis, Mo., press officer in the Navy, and later at the Office of Information, Washington, D.C .; Walter Rocke Evans, 1892, profes- sional wrestler, and world middleweight champion in the 1920's, later a golf cham- pion; Don Cash Seaton, former Illinois state director of physical education, and later physical education and track coach at the University of Kentucky; Dr. John S. Dyser, a historian, who became president of Northwestern State College of Louisi- ana; Mark Evans, talented organist, teacher and arranger; Brig. Gen. Clay M. Donner, career soldier, serving in World War I and 11; and Cletus Lee Schwitters, known to movie goers as "Bryon Keith" (not to be confused with Bryan Keith), and is now involved with the technical side of the movie business.
Not So Pleasant Events in El Paso History
P. C. Ranson, who was mayor of El Paso in 1877-78, shot and killed Walter Bullock, an El Paso attorney, on May 2, ISSS. The shooting occurred as the result of a quar- rel which began in a political disagreement. Since local feeling ran high against Ran- son, he took a change of venue and was tried in Lacon. In January, 1882, he was acquitted on a plea of self-defense.
Two groups of boys got into an alterca- tion on Route 24, near the intersection with Route 51, on January 28, 1947, and Edward Perry Bennett, a popular member of the El Paso football team, was stabbed, and died before aid arrived. Dewey Cook, 17, of Farina, Ilinois, pleaded guilty to man- slaughter and was sentenced to 14 years in the penitentiary. Edward and Frederick
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Woodford County History
Hollingsworth, who were with Cook, were similarly charged, but were acquitted.
John Seggerman died November 3, 1949, at his home in El Paso, from a shotgun wound inflicted by his wife following a quarrel. She was acquitted of a charge of murder on her plea of self-defense.
Farming and Livestock Raising
The breeding of fine draft horses was an early sideline for many farmers in the area, the horses providing practically all the power available for any farm operation, as well as transportation. Ed Hodgson of El Paso was perhaps the best known breeder in the township, purchasing Clydesdale and Englishshire breeding stock from Europe, for his large stables.
Shorthorn, Jersey, Angus, Galloway. Guernsey, and Holstein cattle, perhaps others, from farms in the area, vied with each other for the blue ribbons at the Woodford County Fair. Cushing Jones was one of the early breeders of Shorthorn cat- tle. More recently the choicest animals from the Angus herd of the late Charles Rundles and son, Warren, have also won prizes at state fairs and others shows. In 1966 Eugene Kline was a member of an Illinois trade mission sponsored by the Farm Bureau, which visited the Mediter- ranean area, and he presented one of his Polled Hereford bull calves to a govern- ment agriculture college in Madrid, Spain. Later he shipped a similar animal to Portugal.
Tons of pork have been produced on farms in the area, but the lardy animal which used to win prizes has given place to a trim line careass, in keeping with the desires of the housewife. Poland China, Chester White, Yorkshire, Berkshire, Du- roc, and Hampshire, and more recently Landrace and hybrids, have all been pro- duced here. John, Gene and Dennis Cleary are one of three-generation families which have been consistent livestock producers and feeders.
The price of land in the area has elimhed steadily upward over the years, though there have been setbacks at various times.
Land in Section 16 in El Paso Township was purchased for $8 per acre in 1854, and in 1860 the price was $22.50 per acre. After the Civil War many farmers had dif- ficulty in completing payments on land they had purchased from the Illinois Cen- tral Railroad, and in order to keep the land under cultivation (which in turn would provide freight for the railroad), a barter agreement was proposed. The railroad took corn in payment of the debt, allowing 20 cents per bushel. A number of farms were saved by this program.
By 1882 the price of land was up to $50 per acre, and the same land was valued from $90 to $120 in 1896. A report on land sales in the summer of 1919 included a farm in Section 19, El Paso Township, for $405 per acre; one in Section 34, Panola Township, purchased one day for $275 per acre and sold for $315 per acre the next day! Another farm in Section 23, Greene Township, which was bisected by a creek sold for $300 per acre. By 1948, $500 per aere was not unusual, and in 1967 the price per acre has climbed to $650 to $800.
Kappa
Kappa is located in El Paso Township, straight south of the town of El Paso. The name Kappa was bestowed on the settle- ment by the Illinois Central Railroad. It was the tenth stop on its route from what is now East Dubuque to Bloomington so the tenth letter of the Greek alphabet was used. There were a couple attempts to change the name in the 50's, however, Kappa prevailed.
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