Roberts News 1874

--Paxton Record. 7 May 1874.  Page 3.

Roberts Rakings

--Paxton Record.  16 March 1876.

18 November 1875

ROBERTS RAKINGS
News of interest in our town is almost as scarce an article at present as the sometimes abused but muchly coveted greenback.
A series of evening meetings is now being held here by Rev. Mr. Wenge, pastor of the Congregational church of Thawville, assisted by Rev. Hart, pastor of the Methodist church, in Roberts. . .
. . . James Gell, Esq, is building a banking office on his lot just east of Anderson & Campbell's.
H. Tinklepaugh is putting up some splendid farm wagons, every part warranted.
Ed. Newman has just returned from Chicago, where he has been after a fresh stock of winter goods, ready made clothing, etc.
Thompson & Lyman now have a practical tinsmith, and are ready to manufacture everything in their line.
Our grain merchants have plenty of greenbacks in exchange for corn, oats, and flax at the highest market prices.
Rice Bros. have opened their new meat market. With two meat markets we have meat enough to spare and potatoes to match.
Miss Montgomery has opened a millinery shop in the old post office building.
John Bunker has a new house nearly ready for occupancy, just north of the school house.
Ed. King is building a house for John McNish who has sold his farm and is coming to town to engage in the manufacture of boots and shoes with his brother.
E. Van Steenbergh shipped a car load of hogs last week which he sold at $7.25 in Chicago.  Joseph Hurst and others contemplate shipping soon.  Mr. Hurst has a very choice lot which will bring him outside prices.
Farmers are uncommonly busy improving the fine weather in husking a big crop of corn.  Some claim an average of 60 bushels per acre.
If any one doubts the soundness of the suggestions of last week's Record in regard to working roads let him tread over the town of Lyman at the present time, roads graded in the fall are hard roads to travel I believe, but we must live and learn, for this is a progressive age in which we live.

 

   

--The Paxton Record. 18 November 1875.

26 October 1875

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.

We took Roberts in on our return trip . . .

We took Roberts in on our return trip and spent a few hours pleasantly among her business men.  Meserve & Hubbard, bankers and grain dealers; Thompson & Lyman, hardware: Floyd & Newman, R. B. Chambers, Pfaat & Gose, and Anderson & Campbell, dry goods; Thos. McNeish, boots and shoes and harness, and A. D. Wyckoff, drugs and books.  The latter is a new comer from Chebanse and will prove a valuable acquisition to Roberts.  We must not forget our brawny armed workers, Taff & Tinklepaugh, who run the wagon and blacksmith shops, and was fat and rich at the same time.  Roberts has a fine country surrounding it and just as fine a set of business men and citizens as any town in the west can boast.
Geo. H. Thompson was at his post again, after a visit of some weeks in the East, and finds the prairies more attractive than the hills and rocks of New York.
The hotel de Newman is a marked improvement over the same house as we remember it several years since.  A dinner enjoyed at that house is not soon forgotten.  We can commend it to the wayfarer as the place where the money's worth is always to be had.
We had contemplated taking Melvin in our route, but wind and weather said no, and we shall be obliged to set apart another day and accept the invitation of our friend Charley Ellis to hunt chickens with him, though we have not the most remote idea that we shall be the death of any.

1875

Meserve & Hubbard    Bankers and Grain Dealers
Thompson & Lyman     Hardware
Floyd & Newman       Dry Goods
R. B. Chambers       Dry Goods
Pfaat & Gose         Dry Goods
Anderson & Campbell  Dry Goods
Thos. McNeish        Boots, Shoes and Harnesses
A. D. Wyckoff        Drugs and Books
Tapp & Tinklepaugh   Wagon & Blacksmith
Newman Hotel         Hotel

 

 

--Paxton Record.  7 October 1875.

4 May 1874

It having been a long time since your readers have heard from your correspondent at Roberts, I send you a few items.
Our town seems to exhibit its usual progress, both as to business and growth.  No material change this spring among the business men, except O. D. Sackett's genial countenance is now seen behind the counter at the old stand of Flora & Newman, he being a member of the firm.  Wm. J. Newman, Esq, formerly of Buckley, is now "mine host: at the City Hotel.  Pettit & Ashman have opened a furniture store.  W. C. Thompson & Co. have just opened in their new store, to which the Post Office is removed.  Thompson and Lyman have sold their lumber yard to a man at Buckley; they still continue in the hardware, store and tinware trade.
Our school has opened for the summer term under the instruction of Miss Ella Bliss, of Thawville.
Our  grain merchants are contracting corn in round lots at ??, and if the present cold weather continues it may go still higher.  Farmers are getting rather impatient at the long delay of spring.  Several proposed improvements and buildings in town are also waiting for favorable weather.  Our Good Templars Lodge is still gaining in number and influence.  The following persons were elected as officers of the lodge for the ensuing year:  Worthy Chief, W. C. Thompson: Worthy Vice Templar, Mrs. H. M. Lyman; Worthy Rec Sec., W. B. Flora; Worthy Treas., Mr. M. E. Thompson; W. F. Sec., T. M. Hubbard; W. Marshal, G. B. Gordon; W. I. Guard, Mrs. M. Hubbard; W. Sentinel, M. Cassingham, Past Worthy Chief, G. P. Lyman.
Hoping to see your editorial phiz, here some day, I am most respectfully yours, etc.,
M.

--Paxton Record.  4 May 1874.

More Observations from 1873

Part 2 of 3

Her little business world is peopled by a genial crew.  J. B. Meserve, (whose absence prevented our scraping his acquaintance) presides over the finest steam elevator on the G., C. & S. Railroad, with J. V. Riggs as assistant, while Thompson and Lyman dispense Lumber and Hardware; Montelius & Co., Gose & Smith and Flora & Newman do the fair thing in the line of Dry Goods and General Merchandise. Tom McNish looks after the good of men's soles, and does the agreeable in a well appointed boot and shoe store.  E. A . Bushor, horse tailor, presides with urbanity over his department, while Samuel Tapp and A. Orr, play the anvil chores to the hum of industry.  Peter Pfaat kills the beef, while H. Tinklepaugh divides his time between selecting the choicest places for the guests of the City Hotel -- of which he is proprietor -- and making and mending the wagons and carriages of his neighbors. Miss E. McMasters supplies those airy nothings, which the ladies dote upon and de?? bonnets, while G. H. Waldo belongs to that much abused class -- station agents.

--Paxton Record.  12 June 1873.

7 March 1872

--Paxton Record. 7 March 1872.

The oldest record of deaths that I have found for Lyman Township burials. Although Find A Grave does not have David Howe listed as a burial in Lyman Township Cemetery, Christian Stutzman the oldest son of C. Stutzman is buried in Lyman Township Cemetery. His stone has fallen, but is still readable and records that young Christian died February 28, 1872. His short life was only 12 years, 3 months and 28 days long.

8 February 1872

LYMAN ITEMS
The protracted meeting is still in progress at the School House in Dist. No. 4. House crowded every night. Quite a number have already joined the church, and the prospect is that a great deal of good will be done.
McClave & Riggs, of Buckley, have put in a stock of dry goods in the room with Thompson & Lyman. J. G. McClave in person attends to customers at this place.
Two individuals of the genus "Drummer" were in town this week: one represented the "Moline Plow" Co., the other talked "Key Stone Planter."
Mr. Barkmeyer of the firm of Barkmeyer & Holch, of Gilman, spent a day in our town, looking at the prospects, we suppose.
Our first drunken man was in town this week, and he imported his liquor.
And still they marry! Our friend Benny Simpson of Peach Orchards, was the victim this time. Rumor also speaks of another couple to be made happy. Oh, yes, certainly.
Taylor John, the proprietor of "Thawville" a new station on this road, was in town several times this week.
W. C. Thompson, our young and genial druggist, departed for Pekin on a visit to his "Cousin;" hope he'll enjoy himself. Our Dr. is on the go all the time; something serious must be the matter.
John Roberts, one of our old and well esteemed citizens, met with quite a serious accident lately, caused by the fall of his horse on his left leg, fracturing the lower part of the "tibia." Dr. M. Cassingham was called to attend the case. He adjusted the parts and reports him doing finely.
A. A. Haling and family left for the East on Wednesday of this week.
A called meeting of the voters of this Township to take some action in regard to R. R. taxes is posted for Saturday the 27th inst.

--Roberts Herald. 8 February 1872.

1872

--Paxton Weekly Record.  14 March 1872. 

Early Roberts Businesses

In 1871, George H. Thompson and George Lyman put up a hardware store where George Ensign's garage now stands. 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.

--Roberts Herald.  1 May 1935.  Bela Foster.  Early Days in the Town of Lyman.

1871
Thompson and Lyman Hardware Store
William Thompson Drugstore
Flora & Newman General Store
Anderson & Montelius
Haling & Scott Implements

1873 Fire Rebuilds
Flora & Newman
Thompson & Lyman
Thompson Drug Store

--Paxton Record.  19 June 1873.

More on Joseph and Mary Leach . . .

Roberts Congregational Church Choir.
Addie Leach in the back row, second from the right.

Joseph B. Leach, the son of Elisha B. and Ruth (Metcalf) Leach was born near Springfield, Mass., 1833. His mother died when he was only three months old. His aunt, Fannie Crane, Of Mormon Hollow, Mass., mothered him. When he was about eight years old he went to live with L. B. Anderson, a farmer of Montague, Mass. He did not have much time for education, about one month in a year. The most of his education in his youthful years was by observation. He would watch for new words... and learn their meaning and thus, little by little, he increased his vocabulary.
When he was fifteen years of age, he started out to make his own way. He had intended to make a mechanic of himself but learned the tinner's trade instead. He worked at his trade until 1861, at the break out of the Rebellion.
He went to Utica, New York, and worked for a manufacturer of locomotive head-lights. He continued with him until President Lincoln issued his call for seventy-five thousand troops. He enlisted and served for two years and six months and was honorably discharged.
On his return after his discharge, he spend a year in the Adirondack Mountains, after which he again worked in Utica, New York.
In 1865, he came to Onarga, Ill., and farmed for one year, then he entered the employ of Cultra and Pearson, in Onarga, with whom he remained seven years.
In 1873 he came to Roberts and was tinner of Thompson and Lyman in the hardware store. He remained in the store though the owners changed until 1888. He had invented and patented an improved roaster and baker which was in great demand. A stock company was formed and a small factory started in Roberts. The factory was moved to Paxton where they had better shipping facilities where it was operated for several years. The income from the pan business was sufficient to give Mr. and Mrs. Leach a good income.
In 1857 Joseph B. Leach married Mary E. Jones, a native of England. To their union was born one child which died in infancy. they had two adopted daughters, Adda and Jennie. Adda married Leonard Wampler and moved to Indiana in 1905. They have two sons. Jennie married William Kenney of Wall Town. Mrs. Jennie Kenney died a short time ago. She leaves beside her husband, several children.
Adda Leach was a good worker in the church. She was greatly missed when she left here. She was always willing to do her part. So she was willing to work in the Congregational Church, so was Mr. J. B. Leach an ever-ready helper for the Methodist Church. He had much talent and was not backward about using it.

EARLY DAYS IN THE TOWN OF LYMAN --Roberts Herald. 29 January 1936. 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.

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.

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

More Roberts Rakings . . .

ROBERTS RAKINGS

News of interest in our town is almost as scarce an article at present as the sometimes abused but muchly coveted greenback.
A series of evening meetings is now being held here by Rev. Mr. Wenge, pastor of the Congregational church of Thawville, assisted by Rev. Hart, pastor of the Methodist church, in Roberts.
James Gell, Esq, is building a banking office on his lot just east of Anderson & Campbell's....
H. Tinklepaugh is putting up some splendid farm wagons, every part warranted.
Ed. Newman has just returned from Chicago, where he has been after a fresh stock of winter goods, ready made clothing, etc.
Thompson & Lyman now have a practical tinsmith, and are ready to manufacture everything in their line.
Our grain merchants have plenty of greenbacks in exchange for corn, oats, and flax at the highest market prices.
Rice Bros. have opened their new meat market. With two meat markets we have meat enough to spare and potatoes to match.
Miss Montgomery has opened a millinery shop in the old post office building.
John Bunker has a new house nearly ready for occupancy, just north of the school house.
Ed. King is building a house for John McNish who has sold his farm and is coming to town to engage in the manufacture of boots and shoes with his brother.

--The Paxton Record. 18 November 1875.