ROBERTS RAKINGS
Roberts, Ill., Oct. 26th, 1875.
ED. RECORD: -- As our Advocate has departed for greener pastures, and left us at it were without a mouth-piece, I send you a few items.
We last night received another portion of ague pura, which seems to have changed our beautiful fall weather into that of a colder quality.
Times continue very dull, but somewhat improved. Farmers have not yet completed their threshing, and oats and flax come in slowly, and sell at prices not calculated to please anybody very much. Some farmers have commenced cribbing corn, which promises to be a No. 1 crop.
The Litchfield, Ill., car works have put a new fangled corn dryer in the Star elevator of J. B. Meserve & Co., which have failed to give satisfaction, being unable to dry with sufficient rapidity to make it pay. Mr. Meserve has a plan for a drying apparatus which I think, from his explanation, would prove a success if put in operation.
There is a construction train with some thirty men now at work on the Roberts section of the G., C & S. railroad, grading up the low places. Landlord Newman is boarding most of the men . . .
. . . A Congregational Church was organized in this place on Sunday last, by Rev. Dr. Roy, of Chicago. He preached to large audiences in the afternoon and evening.
Thompson and Lyman have bought the furniture of F. E. Pettit, and the building formerly occupied by Mr. P. has been fitted up for a dwelling and meat market by Myron H. Rice, of Wall, who is soon to remove to our town and furnish the citizens with fine roasts, steaks, and sausages, as companion for our nice cheap potatoes, which are only 25 cents per bushel at present . . .
--Paxton Record. 26 October 1875.
Roberts, Ill., Jan. 21st. 1873.
. . . Our town still shows signs of healthy and permanent progress, and although we cannot boast of mushroom growth yet, our place is advancing both in building and business. A large amount of corn, flax, and pork find a market here. The Star elevator handles the largest amount of grain, although other parties are buying and shipping daily. The second grain elevator here will be put up, as soon as the weather will permit it to be erected, by Montelius & Co., who have a branch store here. W. C. Thompson & Co., are soon to put up a new store, with a hall above to be occupied as a drug store, their present quarters being too limited. The Post Office will also be removed to said store, when it is completed. We have nearly every branch of trade represented by the six stores now doing business here, with competition enough to keep "middle men" within proper bounds.
Two blacksmith shops, both overrun with business, are in full blast. One wagon shop and one harness shop are doing a good business
Several dwelling houses are to be built the coming season.
The Congregationalists and German Methodist Societies both ??.
A lodge of Good Templars has recently been organized here, with twenty-eight charter members, showing that king alchohol has no inducements to erect any temples here.
Our hotel is now in running order, and I understand a livery is soon to be opened by the proprietor of the hotel.
Mr. Jos. Hurst, our collector, can be found at the store of Thompson & Lyman ready to receive the taxes for 1872.
The people murmur bitterly against the tax levied to pay interest on railroad bonds, for the reason that the generosity of the people, in voting bonds to aid in building railroads, is repaid in unreasonable discriminations and exorbitant freights and fares. The people in Lyman, as well as elsewhere, are becoming thoroughly awakened to their interests and to the impositions put upon them by railroad monopolies.
A Farmers' Grange has been organized in this town with very favorable prospects. It is composed of intelligent farmers who know their rights and are determined to maintain them. The resolutions adopted by the Farmer's Convention, at Bloomington, meet with a hearty approval.
M. C. Eisenman, a worthy German citizen of our town, died suddenly last week, leaving a family in very indigent circumstances. Supervisor Sackett is looking after the interests of the family.
Waldo, our new station agent, is gaining boats of friends by his gentlemanly treatment of all who have business with him.
In conclusion let me say in the spirit of your Rankin correspondent, we have a beautiful rolling country around us, an elevated site for our town and room for all good citizens seeking for homes in a healthy locality, while ? is our watchword and our motto, "We aspire to rise higher."
Yours, etc.,
Angus.
--Paxton Record. 21 January 1873.
