Early Days in Lyman #11

EARLY DAYS IN THE TOWN OF LYMAN
by Bela Foster

Continuing . . .

The nearer up-to-date I get, the faster the changes come. Perhaps they did not occur any faster but my horizon increased so that more people became my neighbors.

 

 

Foster.  Lyman Plat 1884.

 

In 1874 I went east two miles to drop corn for Mr. J. Davis.

 

 

Davis.  Lyman Plat 1884.

 

He was a widower with three children. Dr. Homer Davis of Genoa, Nebraska, was the oldest. Homer and Sammie used to go to the field with us and ride around until they were tired then get off and lie on a blanket or play in the field. I dropped corn on that planter eight days. It was a hard pull. The plates moved with the hand instead of opposite as in the later machines. Mr. Davis was my Sunday School teacher. I remember my first lesson. It was Healing the Blind Man, as recorded in the eighth chapter of St. Mark. I had never been in Sunday School before. These little things are as magnets drawing me closer to God.
Mr. Davis and family moved to Mitchell, South Dakota in 1884. Mr. Davis was State Representative at one time. Samuel was county Judge and afterward State Representative. Homer is a doctor. He has two boys who are also doctors. They are in Los Angeles, California.

Whitfield Wilcox and family moved west in the late seventies. L. B. Wilcox moved to Dakota in 1884.

 

 

Wilcox.  Lyman Plat 1884.

 

An orphan boy went with this family. He and I were close friends. He and I corresponded until he entered the army. After that our letters grew farther and farther apart. He served in the war with Spain. After the war ended he enlisted this time in the artillery. He went to the Philippines. He said he was going to learn more about the art of "killing men." I wrote him but my letter was returned undelivered after following him around about a year. It was covered with postmarks. About twenty-five years ago he returned from the Philippines and sent word that he would stop here on his way to the east to visit his sister. He failed to stop. He went to his sisters in New York and I have not heard from him since.
The Wilcox family returned to their old home in Lyman Township. Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox have both passed to their reward. Three of the children are living. Ernest in California, Mrs. Bessie Beasley in North Dakota and Mrs. Alice Remsburg in Thawville. L. B. Wilcox taught school in Dist. No. 1, (now 36) in 1872.
H. N. Wilcox, brother of Whitfield and L. B. moved to Onarga in or about 1876. Mr. and Mrs. H. N. Wilcox were regular attendants at Church. Mr. Wilcox's pocket-book was easily opened for Ladies Aid or socials and when a social was there one was assured of a good time. One time at a social there Mrs. Hersperger asked me to do something and said "I will be your aunt." Mrs. Wilcox said, "then I will be your aunt too." From that time on I always called them aunt and they always called me nephew. I have often thought, "If a little like I did could win me two such worthy aunts, what should a really worth while act win for a boy?" They are all gone and I am left to think of them.
Rev. and Mrs. Wilcox and all their children except William who lives in California, have all gone on to their reward. It was a family of purity and that includes their daughters-in-law. Mary Wilcox, a teacher in Dist. No. 1 died in 1871.

Thomas Adamson and family came to Lyman in about 1869. They lived in the northeast corner of section 11.

 

Adamson.  Lyman Plat 1884.

 

They had two boys and four girls. The oldest, Robert, lives in Paxton. He works in the "Consumers Store". He was a conscientious young man and has held to the principles of right living. His father, his mother and his sister, Maggie, have passed to the home beyond. One sister lives in Missouri. Two sisters and one brother live in Michigan. They were all my school mates and were my pupils.

--Roberts Herald. 22 May 1935. Bela Foster.

Early Days in Lyman #10

EARLY DAYS IN THE TOWN OF LYMAN
by Bela Foster

Continuing . . .
Thomas Huxtable who died in Gibson City, April 21st, was one of the early settlers in Lyman Township. He came here when a boy about ten years old. About fifty-nine year's ago his father was accidently killed while out hunting in the Arnold slough.

Fatal Accident Our Roberts correspondent writes us that on Saturday last, Mr. James Huxtable, a farmer and an old resident of Lyman, who resided about four miles north west of Roberts, was instantly killed.  He and his son Samuel were out hunting ducks on what is known as the old slough in that township, and near the residence of Mr. H., in a boat, Mr. H. being seated in front of his son. While reaching for his gun and pulling it toward him by the muzzle, it was discharged, the ball passing through his body near the heart, causing instant death. This is another case of death by the careless handling of firearms. Mr. H. was a kind and obliging neighbor and a worthy citizen, and leaves a wife and six children to mourn his untimely and sudden death.

--Paxton Record.  4 May 1876.

The family consisted of two girls and four boys. There are only two now living, Richard Huxtable of Waukasha, Wisconsin and Arthur of Fort Dodge, Iowa.
It was about sixty years ago that I first saw John P. Smith. I do not know why I did not see him sooner unless it was because the Halings lived between his home and mine. I had often met his brothers David and James but do not remember ever having met John. I had never crossed the section west of us at that time. He went away to school soon after that. I first became acquainted with him when he worked with his father in the store where Anderson & Montelius carried on business. It seems to me that he like T. M. Hubble, banker for J. B. Meserve, had many whiskers.
John Smith gave men a great surprise one day when I hauled a load of oats to J. F. Smith & Son. The oats had to be scooped and he walked right out and did his part with the shovel. The next load he did the same. I had never before seen a merchant leave his counter to help a hauler unload grain. That was new to me but not to John P. Smith. We have had many dealings since that time.
Mr. Smith came to this township before I did and no doubt could do a much better job writing these notes of early history than I can do. He experienced much that I have only heard from others. Mr. Smith has been a successful business man and like his neighbor, Mr. Anderson, has helped many a man to make the ends meet in stressing times. He realized what it meant to be in need. We are glad to have him with us and hope that he may long remain with his advice and good works.
In 1873 the following officers were elected:  Supervisor, O. D. Sackett; Town Clerk A. M. Haling, Assessor W. R. Newman, Collector Joseph Hurst, Commissioner of Highways Patrick Russell, School Trustee H. B. Ferguson, Justices of the Peace G. H. Thompson and Peter Gose, Constables Josiah Paddick and John Orr.
Josiah Paddick lived on the Lyman farm. He came from near Indianapolis in 1869. He lived here five or six years and then went back to his old home. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Lyman and son, Edward moved to Onarga in 1869. They lived there until 1875 when Mrs. Lyman died. Mr. Lyman then went to Paxton to live with his son, Burt who was sheriff. Samuel Lyman died in 1877.
Edward Lyman married a Miss Harding of Onarga. They lived for several years where Edward Kietzman now lives. They had one son who graduated from Roberts High School in 1893. In 1895 they moved to California. None of Samuel Lyman's family are living. G. P. Lyman was a worker in the M. E. Church while here. Edward and family and Mrs. Lyman's sister and mother were some of the best workers in the Congregational Church. Lemuel Harding, a brother of Mrs. Edw. Lyman, was a partner with W. C. Wright in the hardware and lumber business. Burt Lyman's first wife died in 1872. His second wife was a Miss Ramsey. I saw her about twenty years ago. She was with her sister, Mr. S. O. Roberts who lived at Gilk's grove, now the V. Carter place. They lived in Iowa at the time I saw her.
In 1874 election was held in the school house and the following officers were elected. Supervisor H. B. Furgerson, Town Clerk G. P. Lyman, Assessor J. L. Smith, Collector W. H. Thompson, Commissioner of Highways James Bond, School Trustee A. B. Graham, Overseers of Highways B. G. Hersperger, E. T. Havens, H. N. Hawk, John Miller, J. N. McNeil, A. T. Light, W. R. Kennedy, W. Wilson, J. B. Meserve, A. Shaffer, J. Landel. We notice ...a few new names here. B. G. Hersperger owned the August Zick place. He was a blacksmith. His shop was on the farm. He had a son and daughter. His son lives in California. His daughter at Opportunity, Washington. Mrs. Hersperger was a sister of John Davis who lived where John Woodward lives. Both families were a great help to the community and were missed when they moved away. Mr. Davis had two sons and two daughters who are living. Dr. Homer Davis of Genoa, Nebraska, Samuel of Mitchell, South Dakota, until recently of Idaho. Laura of California and Edith of Montana.
I used to hear form Mr. Davis and Mrs. Hersperger regularly until their death. I now keep in touch with the family through D. Davis and Mrs. Clara (Hersperger) Ashton. They were my school mates.
H. N. Hawk lived where L. Kietzman lives. He and his wife died in 1874. John Miller who lived on the Jones farm west of L. Kietzman's was elected overseer to fill the vacancy caused by Mr. Hawk's death. He was the father of Albert Miller who died at Piper City a few years ago.
A. T. Light lived in northwest Lyman. His wife was a sister of John P. Smith. W. R. Kennedy was the father of Dr. Kennedy and the grand-father of Cecil w. Kennedy of Roberts. J. Landel lived where George Uebele lives. He was road commissioner in later years. He was accidentally shot July 4th, 1892.

--The Inter Ocean. Chicago, Illinois. 7 July 1893. Page 5.

He was a stock buyer and thresher for many years. He had one son and three daughters. The daughters and I attended the same school in 1887 and 1888.

 

--Roberts Herald. 15 May 1935. Bela Foster.

Early Days in Lyman #9

EARLY DAYS IN THE TOWN OF LYMAN
by Bela Foster

Continuing . . .

Chis'r Anderson came here in 1866.

 

Christopher Anderson.
--Picture from Jean Fox.

 

He lived a long distance from our place. It must have been one and one-half miles.

 

 

--1901 Lyman Township Plat

 

He was a young man then about twenty-five years of age. I remember seeing him shortly after he came here. He had two small girls with him. They looked like twins. Had they not been with him I think I would not have remembered seeing him. We had a pet crow and they were afraid of it. The girls names were Eupheme and Elizabeth Muir.
I suppose that Mr. Anderson did more for this community than any other of the early settlers, in aiding the people and helping them to pull through the stressing times. His method of dealing with men strengthened them instead of making dependents of them. Many owe their success to Mrs. Anderson and others who encouraged them to move onward and upward.
William Graham was the first teacher in school district No. 5, (now 40). He barely reached manhood when he was called to his reward. He was the first Mason to be laid to rest in Lyman Cemetery.

 

District No. 5 (now 40) would be the school in the village of Roberts. 

William Graham.  Died 12 December 1872.  Aged 22 Years.  Note the Mason symbol on his stone. 

E. B. Beighle came here in 1869. He came to Paxton by rail. Then completed the journey by mud and water. He had a hard time fording the streams and detouring around ponds. His family did much in church and school work.

--1884 Lyman Township Plat

I found this photo on Ancestry.com.  I believe it is the Beighle home.  And I think that is E. B. Beighle standing near the front entrance.  This home would have been on the Thawville blacktop just off of 115. The 1948 plat says John Rock owns the property.  Who is John Rock?  I am going to post on FB to see if anyone remembers the home of John Rock.  Research. Mr. Beighle was a veteran of the Civil War.

 No man in this township did more to make me what I am than E. T. Havens. After my brother went out to work and left me to work the farm Mr. Havens was my harvest partner. We worked together for the interest of each. He was a Christian man all the way through. It was a pleasure to work beside him. He was one of the mainstays of the Thawville Congregational Church and was Sunday School superintendent for many years. He was also school teacher in the early days. Mr. Havens died about seventeen years ago. Mrs. Havens died this winter. Through Mr. and Mrs. Havens I learned much about the early settlers.
Taylor John, John Lyman, and Lyman Peck ran a threshing outfit here at one time. The names were an odd combination. I knew them all.

Roberts Herald. 8 May 1935. Bela Foster.

Early Days in Lyman #8

EARLY DAYS IN THE TOWN OF LYMAN
by Bela Foster

Continuing . . .
After a little digression which ended last week’s installment. I will tell you of the town of Roberts. Of course we did not feel very pleased that they had taken our town of Beset away from us and our doctor; but it was close compared to Onarga where we got our mail. Their doctor, M. Cassingham, remained our doctor as well as theirs, and for twenty odd years cared for the sick of the Town of Lyman. Their merchant, G. H. Thompson was our merchant. Several of the new business men were from our end of the Town. Therefore we quieted down a little and called Roberts “Plugtown.” It did them little injury and gave us satisfaction.
In 1871, George H. Thompson and George Lyman put up a hardware store where George Ensign's garage now stands.

--Paxton Record.  19 June 1873.

William Thompson put up a drug store beside it. Flora & Newman put up a general store on the Anderson Bank corner, facing west. Anderson & Montelius put up the store that William Thompson's poultry business now occupies. Haling & Scott put up an implement building where Dietterle's store now stands. In 1873 fire destroyed the Thompson and Lyman hardware and the William Thompson drug store. I came to town and picked up nails at one cent a pound.
Flora & Newman turned their store around so that it faced the north where Whorrall's restaurant now stands. Thompson & Lyman built a new store where Tarvin's store now stands. William Thompson built his drug store where Foster Brothers store now stands.
The years 1871, 72, 73 were fair crop years. In 71 the chinch bugs were bad in some corn but not so bad as they were here last year. The following winter was colder than the past two winters. The spring was wetter. In 1873 I believe we had a very early frost that nipped the later planting. My father died in the fall of 72. We lost a brother, a sister and father that fall. I remember going for Daniel Woodward in the afternoon. I asked him to come and sit up with father. I did not realize what it meant to have father taken. About twelve years later I sat up with Daniel Woodward being glad to do something for him to repay for his kindness to us in our time of sorrow.
The year 1874 was a very dry year. It was dryer than last year. The farmers did not need much corn room that year. The land would not stand a drought then as it was not tiled. In 1875 we had a promise of a record crop up to July 3rd. I was in Chatsworth the day of the third. About time for me to go home there came up a heavy wind and rain. The oats were very heavy and were laid low. That night another and heavier shower came and finished the job. The farmers could not use reapers. They used mowers and scythes and did their best in one way cutting. We had excellent fall feed on the stubble. Corn was a very good crop. We husked 70 acres of corn on the Hornickel farm that made more than 50 bushels to the acre.
1876 will be remembered for its wetness. It was a duplicate of 1869. It rained so much that nothing but weeds and water grass grew in the low lands. In the fall C. W. Forbes set a fire to burn over a stubble field. The wind was brisk and fire burned across our farm and part of the A. M. Haling farm before it was quenched. Oats made about ten bushels and corn almost nil that year.
J. B. Meserve put up the elevator that stood in the northeast part of town. He also put up a bank building where Zahn's undertaking rooms are. 

After he sold the elevator he put up a flax seed and corn room where the lumber yard now is. That building is now the Anderson and Jensen dwelling in northeast part of Roberts.

This is interesting.  Someone's home was once a flax seed and corn room.  I wonder which one.  Anderson and Jensen dwelling in NE Roberts in 1935.  Research.

I thought much of Mr. Meserve. He was so considerate. When he ran for State Treasurer out west I was asked for a recommendation for him. I was very glad to give my highest regard for the man. Any man who will notice a child as quickly as he will a man with a tile on his head has won one from me. Such was Mr. Meserve. He like most of the men of that day has gone to his reward.
Thomas McNeish and his son, Thomas put up a harness and boot and shoe shop where Gullett & Kennedy's store now is. Thomas Jr. carried on business there until his death in 1892.

My Notes:  I believe this is the Gullett & Kennedy Store.  Mr. Foster wrote this article in 1936.  So this is probably correct.  Gullett & Kennedy sold their store to Mr. Breeden. So this store started out as Thomas McNeish Harness and Boot Shoe Shop. ????? More research.
I just noticed "HARNESS" on this pencil drawing.  But I am not sure of the date or who drew this picture of the Roberts Bank.  I may have read elsewhere the Harness Shop was upstairs.  So I'll have to look for that info.  Because the door way below that says HARNESS is not the entrance for the Gullett & Kennedy Store, but the entrance for the Bank. 
This post on the Roberts Illinois History Group Facebook page from Mary Weakman talks about the entry to the apartment above the Gullett & Kennedy/Breeden Store.  She is describing the Bank:   My Dad started working there in 1953 til after 2000 sometime. There also was a stairway coming down from Breedens apt.above their grocery. The stairs were directly across from the front door in the entryway. Donna Breeden worked there after high school. All she had to do was come down the stairs.

1874 a young man from Pennsylvania clerked for C. Anderson. A few years later he put a building for grocery and dry goods store where the bank now stands. He is the only store keeper of that day who still lives here. He is Mr. R. B. Chambers.

So the R. B. Chambers Store was where?  Mr. Foster is writing this in 1936.  Maybe the location in the drawing above?  I don't think it was in the building of the Roberts Exchange/Zahn Funeral Home building.  But maybe before the first fire?????) See below for the Roberts Exchange Bank location. 

Tinklepaugh & King put up a wagon shop east of the Ortlepp building in an early day. Henry Tinklepaugh came from Livingston County and King from the farm where George Fuoss lives. King married Lucy Larkin. Ivan Brothers put up the first blacksmith shop about where the present shop stands. I think they sold to S. J. Tapp who came from Onarga. He was a man of noble character. He and R. B. Chambers married sisters. Mr. and Mrs. Tapp had no children. They took Grace McNeish after her mother died and reared her as their own. No father could have done more. Frank Butler lived where Frank Fuoss lives. He came to Roberts at an early day. He was a mason. He built a house where Mr. Kristofferson now lives. He left here when the Grahams moved from the Joe Sans place. He married Mr. Graham's daughter. 

--Roberts Herald. 1 May 1935.

Early Days in Lyman #7

EARLY DAYS IN THE TOWN OF LYMAN
by Bela Foster

Continuing . . .
1869 was a very wet year. It was so wet that scarcely anything except grass and weeds grew. Hardly a farmer raised more than one or two hundred bushels of corn. I remember that J. N. Barker worked the Deacon Woodward farm. He was to have half he raised and his board. He raised one load of corn. The boys sat pretty that year. They could go swimming every day if there was no work to do. The flies and mosquitos flourished as did the chinch bugs here last year. The horse fly is very voracious and is not particular about what animal supplies his meals. They hatch in the low lands and have eyes that are large and full of sight. They alight on an animal and when they are filled and they leave the blood flows for a few seconds. If the animal is not well blanketed it is covered red with blood spots before night. They did not bother by entering houses much. Mosquitos were the worst pests as they worked nights and cloudy days. In the evening we would build smudges something like your neighbor does with dry and green grass, on the windward side of the house, as we had no screens in those days. The flies were chased about with green branches and home made extirpators.
These pests multiplied almost any place that year. This year was followed by several years of malaria, starting that year. Some had chills every day, others every other day. The druggist could not supply the demand for quinine, which was used as a febrifuge. It is no wonder that people were sick and many died. The water they drank, the food they ate, the flies and mosquitoes preying on their system, was enough to bring these results. My sister, Martha and I were spared the suffering and therefore came in handy to help those who were sick.
A. M. Haling and others had made an agreement with the G. C. & S. Railway to give them the right of way if they would put a town on his land, the Beset half section. After some litigation the company put in a side track one half mile east of the present Fred Woodruff home. 

My Note:  I have to get a plat for 1935ish, when Mr. Foster is writing these article.

 

--1876 Lyman Township Plat 

Mr. Haling put up an office and a large corn crib and bought corn and sold coal and flour. The company had also promised Alonzo Roberts, Van Stlenbert, Taylor John of Thawville and the people of Melvin, the same thing. When it looked as though the town would be at Beset, George H. Thompson and Doolittle erected a store building just north of Otto Bleich's house.

My Notes:  Otto Bleich is the father of Edwin Bleich per FAG.  And Edwin Bleich is on the 1977 plat. And the side track would possibly be located on what was Ray and Leonard Rock's property in 1977.  Currently owned by John Zick Jr. per the 2016 plat.  And in 2016 Chester Bleich would be the owner of the Edwin Bleich property.  Chester died not too long ago; I posted the obit on the Roberts Illinois Facebook Group page.) So was the Thompson and Doolittle store building where the Bleich home is now standing, just over the tracks off of 54?  And this was the store I believe that was moved from the Beset location, to Roberts, then to Thawville.

 

--1977 Lyman Township Plat

So on the map below Otto has property on the other side of 54.  Ida is Otto Bleich's spouse.  I don't see a home in Section 15, but one is on Ida's property on Section 10 appear.

--1948 Lyman Township Plat

They also put up a temporary building on the east side of the road on the Haling property for a flax seed store house. They carried on the business for about one year, until the chances of a town at Beset was nil.
1871, Dr. Cassingham, then a young man saw the possibilities of a town in Lyman came here and had his office at Conger's who lived on the Tornowski farm on the hill a mile north of the Thompson store.

--1916 Lyman Township Plat.

My Notes:  The Tornowski farm on Section 3 is where we believe the old cemetery is located. Right between Section 2 & 3. The Forbes farm would be Section 2. The old article from 1922 states the Forbe farm is the location of the burial site.  How convenient for the MD to be located near a cemetery???  With the Thompson store being located only a mile south.  Across the highway???  Dr. Cassingham had his office at Conger's who lived on the Tornowski farm on the hill.  Maybe where Daniel Flessner lives???? Kay Schmidt who is part owner of this corner of Section 3 told me she spoke with Wayne Tornowski, and he told her there was a cemetery at this site.

He boarded at Conger's until his family came when he moved into the only residence in the new town which we named Bungtown. When the G. S. & C. began the erection of a depot on the Roberts land the hopes of a town at Beset waned. Bungtown was moved to the site of Roberts. Thompson's store was moved to Roberts and anchored a little north of where the hotel is now.

My notes:  The hotel was located where the Roberts Feed Mill currently sits.  Next to the Congregation Church.  So it would have been very close to the church or in the same spot.  Moved to erect the church???

Dr. Cassingham occupied it for a year or two and later it was put on skids and moved to Thawville. It stands on the south side of Thawville's main street yet but has been remodeled and changed in appearance.

My notes:  Sandra Grohler Kay gave me info on this building.  I need to find that.  On the Thawville History FB page I think.

James R Smith, of Kansas City , Missouri, writes Mr. Foster as follows: "I have been interested in the articles you have written in the Roberts Herald recently, giving a very interesting story of the early days, settlers and settlements of Lyman township and of Ford County."
"It is certainly splendid of you and the editor to give the readers of the Herald, such a plain and accurate account of those old times and conditions, which those first settlers passed through in helping to make Ford County what it is today."
"Many of the names and places mentioned by you were brought back very vividly to my memory, although it has been more than fifty years since I left Ford County, and many of those good old settlers have gone on again to another home. But those old sweet memories will always remain until time with us, also shall be not more. So far as I know, I believe my brother, David B. Smith and myself are the oldest living natives born of Lyman township. Both of us were born near the site of the old school on the Smith farm. Personally I thank you and the editor of the Robert Herald for the articles you have written."

--Roberts Herald. 17 April 1935.

Early Days in Lyman #5

EARLY DAYS IN THE TOWN OF LYMAN
by Bela Foster

Continuing . . .
In 1869 we heard more about the railroad coming. We heard of bonds and right of way. Melvin, Thaw, and quite a lot about the town of Beset, soon to be started. A. M. Haling had his eye on Beset grove and about one half a section of land that was to be crossed by the railroad. It looked a favorable spot for a town.
At the town meeting in April 1869 the following officers were elected: Supervisor, A. M. Haling who lived on the Louis Stiegman farm. Town Clerk, A. A. Haling who lived where Milo Higgens now lives. Assessor, W. S. Larkin, who lived on what is now John Rock's east farm. Collector, Lyman Peck who lived in the house north of Louis Chambers farm. Constable, Sethe Woodward who lived in northwest corner of Section 13, Seward Arnold's farm. Road Commissioners Joseph Hurst who lived where Mrs. Dodson now lives, T. A. Ireland who lived where S. McCorkel now lives. This year the town was divided into ten road districts. The pathmasters were N. G. Barber who lived on the Martin Grohler farm, D. Blakely who lived on the E. Hornickel farm about sixty rods west of the NE corner. His house is now the Henry Onken home. C. S. Pierce who lived on the east end of the Onken farm, N. McNeil who lived where Robert Madden lives, O. D. Sacket who lived where Fred Sturm lives, William Hurst who lived where Bert Moseman lives, R. Pettit who lived in the NE corner of Section 31, C. B. Finch, A. Schaeffer who lived where Edw. Russell lives, Patrick Russell who lived on the hill near the center of the NE quarter of section 26.
The officers this year were pretty well scattered and showed more interest. A special election was called for Sept. 11, 1869, to vote upon R. R. bonds and right of way of the proposed Gilman, Clinton and Springfield railway. There were 42 votes cast, 34 for and 8 against. In giving the right of way 16 were for and 26 against.
William Bentley, son of W. H. Bentley, one of the Connecticut settlers who settled near Onarga was a music teacher, instrumental and vocal, held singing school in Smith School house in 1869 and 1870. Nearly all the young people of North Lyman attended. I did not attend but enjoyed the meetings they had at our house. I remember the membership card he gave his pupils. It read "Come and learn to sing and bring along your lady, For Bentley is the agent for Messrs. Root and Cadey." That was my first winter in school. I remember the teacher very distinctly. he was a corpulent man about the size of Glenn Yackee. One afternoon two young ladies, Maggie and Eliza McDonald from the Smith school visited our school and of course, if I ever received a "paddling" it was when company was present. To make my chagrin more acute, the visitors went home with my sister. Though I may have been black and blue, I could not see, so sat pat.
Some evenings we would collect on the ice. The professor enjoyed skating and was always present and nothing gave me more joy than to see his feet go up and his body come down with a thud upon that part of his anatomy that he paddled on me.
At the town meeting in 1870, A. C. Maxson was chosen moderator. The adopted several rules of government. One of them was in regard to pasturing and cutting hay off the unoccupied land. It was declared unlawful to cut grass or pasture the land without a permit. The fences began to be used at that time. People who had a few cows staked them out and others sent their cattle to herds. Our cattle were few and were staked. I can remember going skidding one time when the cow chain got around my foot. It was fun but hard on the clothing.
The officers elected in 1870 were: Supervisor, P. S. Gose who lived on the S. W. Netherton farm. Town Clerk, A. B. Graham lived where Joe Sans does. Assessor, Joseph Hurst, Collector F. G. Atwood, lived on section 22. Road Commissioner, Patrick Russell, Justice of the Peace J. F. Smith, lived on Section 4. The pathmasters were: John Davis lived where John Woodward does, W. A. Conger lived where Tornowski does, J. B. Jones lived where Roy Stiner does. John Hummel, James Drummond, James Dycus, Horace Lester, F. G. Atwood, A. Shafer, P. Russell.
The next two years were much occupied in surveying and building new roads and bridges. We also notice familiar faces, those with whom I worked.
Next week we will tell you what became of Bungtown.

--Roberts Herald. 10 April 1935.  

Early Days in Lyman #4

EARLY DAYS IN THE TOWN OF LYMAN
by Bela Foster

Continuing . . .
When Ford County was a part of Vermilion county it was called Prairie City Township. In 1857 it was changed to Patton. In 1858 Drummer Grove town was set off from Patton and included all the present Ford County west of Range nine. In 1859 after Ford County was organized all of the panhandle and eighteen sections to the south of it was organized from the town of Patton and known as the Town of Stocton. In 1864 the name of Stocton was changed to Brenton and embraced the present towns of Pella, Brenton and Lyman.
In 1867 the residents of township No 25 petitioned the Board of Supervisors to have a new town made from Brenton which was to coincide with Township No. 25 Range nine. The request was granted and the town was named the town of Lyman in honor of the oldest settler, Samuel Lyman of Section No. 2.

 

 

--http://genealogytrails.com/ill/1840map.html

 

 



--http://ford.illinoisgenweb.org/maps.htm

--1884 Lyman Township Plat

My notes: Not sure exactly where Samuel Lyman lived in Section 2.

The first town meeting was held in the school house in Dist. No. 2 on April 7th, 1868. At that election the following officers were elected.
Samuel Woodward, Supervisor
A. M. Haling, Town Clerk
A. V. Burcham, Asssessor
A. V. Burcham, James Roberts and P. S. Gose, Commissioners of Highways
Samuel Woodward and T. A. Ireland, Justices of the Peace
Daniel Woodward and Daniel Althen, Constables The town was divided into four road districts.
In looking over the list of offices it seems that there was not much interest manifested. So many had to go home burdened with two offices, which meant much work for them. Roads had to be laid out, bridges built, disputes settled and laws made.
In those days every spring would see many bridges washed out. This meant work for pathmasters and road commissioners. Some of the streams that are only a few feet wide used to be twenty rods wider after a heavy rain. In 1869 rains were heavy and frequent. In 1868 Samuel Birdsley put up a blacksmith shop on what is now the Iler farm.

 

 

--1884 Plat Lyman Township.

That same year, I believe, Thomas McNeish a shoe maker settled on the north west corner of Section 14.

--1884 Plat Lyman Township.

He used to go around to measure the feet. I remember his measuring mine. This was for my first pair of shoes in Illinois. In those days one could not judge the number of feet by the size of the home. Our home was 16 by 24 feet with a lean-to 12 by 16 but it contained many feet. Sometimes when I am downtown in the winter I see the boys with the tiniest pairs of pants but they all wear shoes. I wonder if they inherit their little brother's pants as I did my older brother's trousers, sixty years ago.
Many of the Connecticut settlement had "pulled stakes" and gone to other parts by 1870. Some went to Onarga and some back to their native state. Those I can remember were S. K. Marston, Pierson, E. F. Havens, Elmer Esso, and others. A few stayed and made good. During the decade of 1860-1870 the whole of the Town of Lyman was settled. The first German I remember was "Grube". He came to our school district. He had one daughter and two sons. The older son helped to build the present Catholic Church in Roberts. It was then the German Methodist.

My Notes:  A reference to Catholic Church location being where a German Methodist once was sat.

--1884 Roberts

He also helped to build the Gonwa residence (now occupied by the Pendergast family) which was the Grube home.

One of the Peck young men built the Frank Steinman house in its original; Alexander Forbes built the original house where J. H. Talbot lives; G. H. Thompson erected the Mrs. Mae Roberts house. Taylor Blakely built the Henry Onken house. It was built on the Edward Hornickel farm. It was moved many times before it reached its present resting place. Blakely married a Conger girl. They came from Indiana.
Several from Indiana came here about that time. Some went on west. Some returned in a year or two. They came from Hoop-pole township. Posy County. They traveled in covered wagons. There was much talk of a railroad going through Lyman in 1869.
Father and oldest boys put most of our family in a wagon and gave us an outing in the fall. We went to the Del Rey timber to gather nuts. Butternuts and walnuts were plentiful. We saw the first train that we had seen since leaving Wisconsin. We thought how nice it would be to see a train scooting across Lyman. To us the train looked like it was hitched to the sky and as it moved the sky pulled the smoke out of the smoke stack like the big boys at school pulled the little boys in "cracking the whip."

--Roberts Herald. 3 April 1935. 

Thomas McNeish Jr.

 

1916 Business District

Thompson & Lyman Store

--Paxton Record.  9 June 1873.

A dealer in Lumbar, Hardware, Stoves, Tinware, Agricultural Implements, and all kinds of Building Material.
Flour, Salt, Lime, Etc.

Hickey

Jeremiah and Mary Hickey
--St. Mary's Cemetery, Roberts, Illinois.

The Hickey Farm

JERRY AND MARY HICKEY

--The History of Ford County, Illinois, From it's Earliest Settlement to 1908.  Vol. II.  E. A. Gardner. Chicago.  S. J. Clarke Publishing Company. 1908.

https://archive.org/stream/historyoffordcou02gard…

The Rural Schools in Lyman Township

School #1 – Woodward School, in Section 2
School #2 – Smith School, in Sect. 4
School #3 – Lake Shore School, in Sect. 6
School #4 – in Sect. 20 (not on the Survey map)
School #5 – in the town of Roberts (not on the Survey map)
School #6 – Larkin School, in Sect. 14, still exists as a residence
School #7 – Zahn School, in Sect. 35
School #8 – Minch School, in Sect. 33. District #43
School #9 – Schute School, in Sect. 32. District #44

I wonder if school #4 in Section 20 might be the Roeder School, District #42 (#42 according to the sale bill for the property)?

John Caleb Kenward Family

Mr. & Mrs. Houtzel

John and Myrtle (Clark) Houtzel

The 1873 Fire

Roberts was visited by a serious fire early yesterday morning, which seriously impedes the progress and prosperity of that flourishing young village. The firms burned out were Thompson and Lyman dealers in lumbar, agricultural implements, drugs and medicines, together with the Post Office and Dr. Cassingham's medical library, and Bushors' harness and saddle shop. Mr. G. H. Thompson owned the three buildings destroyed, also a barn in the rear of these buildings... which was burned. The loss is estimated at from $8,000 to $10,000; no insurance.
The fire was discovered early in the morning, just after a train on the G. C. & S. road had passed and is supposed to have originated from a spark from the engine.
The families of G. H. Thompson and Mr. Bushor lived in the buildings destroyed, and were burned out, losing everything, even to their clothing.
Mr. Thompson with true western energy will commence at once to rebuild.

--Paxton Record. 19 June 1873.

Burned out:
Thompson & Lyman
Post Office
Dr. Cassingham's Medical Library
Bushors Harness and Saddle Shop

Bressie's Harness Shop

--Paxton Record.  20 January 1887.

Mercantile 1914 in Roberts

 

 

Alexander Lumber Co.

Anderson & Kenward     Mfrs. Tile & Brick

Chambers, Robert B     Grocery Store

Coteaux A     Rest & Confec

Dilks O C     Hotel

Dueringer & Giese     Grocery Store 

Ebert Samuel     Hware, Furn, & Und

Ensign Geo D     Rest, Groceries, Clothing

Foster Bros     Hware, Furn & Harn

Hahn Wm     Wagonmaker

Hamman & Murray     Grain and Coal

Hawthorn Robert     Meat

Kenward Miss P L     Millinery

Linn Frank C     Drugs, Jewelry, Etc

Lyman Telephone Co

Newman's Millinery

Pettit & Gullett     Grocery Store

Roberts Exchange Bank C Anderson

Roberts Farmers Coop Creamery Co

Roberts Farmers Grain Co

Roberts & Gullett     Grain & Coal

Sanders W O     Printer, Etc

Seng & Son     Implts & Machinery

Smith J P     Banker

Wakelin W H     Grocery Store

Yackee A A & Sons     Blacksmiths

Zahn & Co     Hware, Implts, Furniture Etc

Roberts Hotel

Jean Fox posted this article to the Roberts Illinois History Group Page on August 18, 2016.  Her notes state:  An article about the Hotel . . . (1960).

In the article is a mention of the Roberts Livery Stable, which I believe was located directly behind the Hotel.

1884 Map

Roberts Meat Market Changes Ownership

--Roberts Herald. 3 December 1919.

"Monday morning, Sept. 13, 1897, a little more than twenty-two years ago, Mr. Hawthorne began his work in the shop."

The first building says Meat Market.  This is the north side of Green Street.  I think this building was the Meat Market owned by many different individuals.

A Wedding at the Glencoe Hotel

--Paxton Record. 8 December 1881.

I love the listing of the presents: 
Towel and glass tea set from Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Alford.
Glass water pitcher and sauce dishes from W. H. Wakelin
Parlor lamps from Dr. and Mrs. Cassingham.
Silver table caster from N. F. and Miss Josie Davis.
Silver pickle dish and fork from Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Meserve.
Glass fruit dish from Mr. and Mrs. S. R. Alford.
Glass cake stand from Mrs. A. Cheney.
Bed spread and bread plate from Mr. and Mrs. C. O. Hayes.
Tidy ?, toilet set and vases from Miss Nellie Hayes.
Glass fruit dish and salt dishes from Miss Hattie Hayes.
Silver butter knife from Rev. and Mrs. S. P. Alford.
Clocks from Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Rice and Mr. and Mrs. G. P. Lyman.