Caroline Tramdberg Johnson

Caroline Antoinette Tramdberg, daughter of Christian Tramdberg and Catherine (Beck) Tranmdberg, was born at Bornholm, Denmark, February 15, 1840, and departed this life at her home in Roberts, Illinois, Monday, March 13, 1922, aged 82 years and 26 days.
For twenty-five years she lived in her home town and then on Tuesday, May 2, 1865, she was united in marriage to James M. Johnson and they began their honeymoon trip to America. They first settled in Washington County, Illinois, where they lived until 1871 when they came to Ford County which has been her home for 51 years. For many years they lived on a farm north of Melvin but several years ago they purchased a home in Roberts and were preparing to move to it when Mr. Johnson met with an accident that cost him his life. Mrs. Johnson and her daughter Miss Mae then moved to the new home and have lived here since.
For the past five years the deceased has been an invalid and has been confined to the house most of this time. She suffered from a fall and has been a constant sufferer for all these years.
She was a member of the Roberts Congregational Church and was an earnest and enthusiastic worker in all the departments of church activities although it was seldom she enjoyed the privileges of attending church services. She was a patient sufferer and a faithful friend to those who knew her best. Only a few weeks ago the Ladies Aid of the Church sent her many remembrances of her 82nd birthday. She was the oldest member of the Roberts Branch of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and was always faithful in her allegiance to that cause.
Mrs. Johnson leaves to mourn her death two daughters, Mrs. Denji J. Nelson of Glenn Ellyn, Illinois, and Mrs. Mae Christopherson of Roberts. Also two grandchildren. Besides these relatives she leaves a host of friends who join the family in sorrow.
The funeral service was held at the home Thursday afternoon, March 16th, Rev. William Hainsworth officiating. The remains were then laid to rest in Melvin Cemetery.

-- Roberts Herald.  22 March 1922.

Roberts Hotel

J. B. Eno

J. B. Eno, for over fifty years a teacher in Northeastern Illinois schools, died at 2:30 yesterday morning at the home of his daughter, Mrs. F.F. Butzow, 912 N. Main street. He was 95 years old. Until two months ago, when he began to weaken rapidly, he had been in good health. He came to Bloomington a year ago to make his home with his daughter and his grandson, Frank E. Butzow, a reporter for the Pantagraph. the body will be taken to Watseka, Ill., where burial will be made.
Jeremiah Bidwell Eno was born November 25, 1836 (?), at Simsbury (?), Conn., the son of a Yankee school teacher whose father fought in the Revolutionary War. He attended Yale College for a short time and then began his career as a school teacher. After teaching in Connecticut and New York schools for several years he came to Illinois and followed his profession in this state for over half a century.
During most of his years in Illinois Mr. Eno resided in Iroquois County, principally at Watseka. His second wife died in 1903 (?). In recent years he made his home with Mrs. Butzow and a daughter, Mrs. M. M. Case of Union, Illinois.
Mr. Eno devoted much of his spare time to horticulture and when possible had a garden for his summer recreation and experiments. He was sturdy and athletic and a keen sportsman, making frequent hunting and fishing trips until he was nearly 90 years old. Swimming was one of this favorite sports and during his later life   he took great pride in his ability as a swimmer. He retained his faculties to a remarkable extent to the end of his life. He never wore glasses.
During the later years of his life Mr. Eno made frequent trips to his old home in Connecticut  and New York. He was the last member of a prominent New England family.
Until late years, when he became more independent in his politics, Mr. Eno was a Democrat. He was a Mason for over seventy years and a member of the Congregational church.
Mr. Eno leaves three daughters, Mrs. Butzow, Mrs. Case and Mrs. F. B. Coleman,Waterloo, Iowa; seven grandchildren, Frank E., Ernest H., and Katherine Butzow, ?13 North Main street; Louise and Horace Coleman, Waterloo, Iowa; Mrs. Robert Coleman, Detroit Mich., and five great grandchildren. --Bloomington Pantagraph.
Mr. Eno was one of the members of the colony which made the "Connecticut Settlement" in Lyman Township in 1857. He was the last of the original members of that colony to pass away. When these people came here they took up a tract of 7,000 acres. Mr. Eno's farm was the one now occupied by Charles (?) Brown.

--Roberts Herald. 24 March 1920.

Congregational Church, Roberts, Ill.

The Roberts Congregational Church was organized October 24, 1875 with ten members. They were Frank Butler, W.S. Larkin, Elizabeth Larkin, Lucy Larkin, John Hummel, Sarah Hummel, G.H. and M.W. Thompson, A.D. Wycoff. Church services were first held in a schoolhouse and later in the town hall.
Rev. R. Weage was the first pastor. Since the Roberts Church was an offspring from the Thawville Church, the first fourteen years the churches had the minister together.
On December 9, 1879 the church was incorporated and a building 40' by 55' was begun. The building was completed in 1880 and dedicated free from debt May 16 of that year. The dedication sermon was delivered by Rev. James Tompkins. In December 1880 the Sabbath School was organized.
Rev. Weage was followed by Rev. Brobst. It was during the the time Rev. Brobst was here that the church was built. Rev. Brobst was followed by Rev. J.B. Johnson. He held the first revival services and many new members were added to the church.
Rev. W. Wilson was a small man and full of energy. One winter day with snow several feet deep, he walked from Thawville to Roberts in the morning to hold services and in the afternoon on his way back stopped at the Woodward home to preach a funeral service.
In 1894 Rev. Richardson came here from Iowa. He had not finished school but said he was called to G.P.C. "Go Preach Christ" but some of his critics said it probably meant to "Go Plant Corn."
In 1897 Rev. J.H. Runnals came and served the church for four years.
In July new manuals and rules were adopted. The first two rules were (1) that services should be held twice each Sunday, morning and evening, a prayer meeting be held each Tuesday; (2) any member who was absent from the meetings of the church for one year and failed to reply to the official letter of the clerk, shall be liable to have fellowship withdrawn. In 1898 four members were dropped.
It was decided an incidental collection should be taken at each morning and evening service. In 1897, $776 was raised in this way. The average attendance in 1898 was 60 for the morning service, 74 for evening and prayer meeting, 11.
In 1890 the bell was purchased from a church at Ludlow. Chris Anderson and F.G. Lohman brought it to Roberts. The steeple was built the same year and dedicated, free from debt, having paid for it by giving entertainment in the Old National Hall. It cost $1 per foot, 75 feet -- $75. In 1907 the sanctuary to the south was added.
Stained glass windows were put in this part in 1914, by the H.M. Hooker Co. from Springfield, Illinois. In 1948 the basement was enlarged and finished.
Due to mergers the church has had four names, The First Congregational Church 1875-1932, The Congregational Church 1932-1961, United Church of Christ 1961-1979, The Congregational Christian Church 1979.

-- History of Ford County Illinois 1985. Page 74.

Repp - Garrelts Wedding

Miss Lillie Elizabeth Repp and Mr. Henry J. Garrelts were united in marriage at the home of the bride's parents north of Roberts Thursday afternoon, February 14, 1918 at two o'clock, Rev. Schumacher of Melvin, officiating.
Just at the appointed time Reuben Ebert played the wedding march and the bridal couple came in attended by Miss Lena Kietzman bridesmaid and Mr. Louis Phelsfield, best man.
The bride is an amiable young daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Repp and has many friends in this vicinity. She was dressed in a beautiful gown of white crepe de Chine and was attended by her cousin, Lena Kietzman who also wore white crepe de Chine. The groom is an industrious young farmer who has spent the past two years near Roberts. He wore navy blue and the best man, Louis Phelsfield, cousin of the groom, also wore navy blue.
Only the near relatives were present. After the ceremony a bounteous dinner was served.
The young bridal pair left that evening for Gilman where they will spend several days, after which they will reside on the farm where the brides parents now live. Mr. and Mrs. Repp will move to Roberts.
The Herald joins the friends in congratulations.
Those from a distance who attended the wedding were:  Mr. and Mrs. William Kietzman and family, Emil Kietzman and Mr. and Mrs. Delford Roberts of Gilman; and Ed Kietzman of Loda.

--Roberts Herald. 2 February 1918.

Colteaux Hospital 1923-1940

The Colteaux hospital is now in complete operation. This may sound like a peculiar statement in view of the fact that it has been in operation for at least six weeks, but until the past week it was only being used as a temporary arrangement.  Now it has each and every room equipped for its special use.  The rooms are all numbered in regular style so as to avoid confusion.  The patients' rooms are nicely furnished with everything for their comfort.  There are rooms and cots for seven patients.  While this may not be sufficient at times, should occasion demand more there will be room available so that no one need fear not finding room there in case of emergency.
In the matter of cost, everybody knows that the doctor purchased this place at a very reasonable price considering the splendid location, the one large building and the potentially beautiful grounds.  We most not consider that this first cost is the actual cost of the place.  There are single rooms with equipment in them that cost more than the purchase price of the building.  Price or cost is one of the things the doctor never discusses but a close observation will show that from a business point of view this hospital represents an investment that will compare favorably with any other businesses in the locality.
Going back to the building it is equipped with all modern improvements with bathrooms on each floor, heating apparatus, laundry, etc. in the basement.  There is a special wire from the local light plant to the hospital so that in case of accident to the village lines the hospital will be the last place to suffer if it suffers at all. The operating room is nicely arranged, has plenty of light, with frosted glass windows to avoid glare and (?) of that element.
The electrical room is equipped with four different machines for electrical treatment.  These are different machines and each for a special use of which a description that we might give would tell but little.  The (?) room is equipped with so many kinds of apparatus that we could not mention all, but there is one combination that we must not miss.  First an aluminum cot under which an X-Ray light is installed.  This light passes through aluminum as ordinary light does through glass.  Then the doctor has a specially prepared head piece to look at objects shown by this light.  This gives him the free use of both hands and is very convenient in taking X-Ray views. Several parts of the combination is of the doctor's own invention. There is also a dark room for developing X-Ray pictures.
Dr. Colteaux, head of this institution, puts in much of his time "on the road" as he always has, but a large practice may now be confined to the one place which gives him an opportunity for much better service.
Miss Stella Davis, head nurse of the hospital, is a native of Thawville. She is a graduate nurse from the Champaign Hospital and has had several years successful experience as a nurse in this county.  She is well qualified for the place and we believe will prove the doctor's good judgment in her selection.
Orville Knight is another employee of the place who should not be missed even in the most casual writeup.  He has driven the Colteaux automobile for so many years that he has rightfully gained a place of distinction here. When the roads were good and when they were bad, on the darkest nights, through the hardest storms, through the deepest mud, through floods, snow banks, and over the roughest roads, day and night, Orville has driven the car through Lyman, Wall, Germanville, Benton, Artesia, Loda and all surrounding townships.  He remains and drives the car and when not on active duty is on the waiting list at the hospital.
There are other employees and there are rooms that we have not described. We must leave them for some future article.  In the meantime the question might be asked, "Will it pay?"  The answer is emphatically, "Yes".  In dollars and cents? "Yes"; but most of all in the satisfaction of "a duty well performed"; a preparation to use the talents that have been for the greatest benefit to his fellowmen.

--Roberts Herald.  21 March 1923.

Lyman Township

Lyman Township was named after Samual Lyman, the descendant of Richard Lyman who came to Connecticut in 1631. Samual, his wife Lucretia (Burt) and five children moved to what was to become Lyman Township and built the first permanent house there in July of 1856.
In 1857 a colony of Connecticut people settled in the area and took up about 7,000 acres. Among the settlers listed in the colony were the following: S.K. Marston, E.L. Havens, Captain A.C. Maxon, S.C. Burt, John T. Forbes, Lyman Peck, J.M. Wyman, G.H. Thompson, G.B. Winter, H.J. Gamble, William S. Rossey, William Bentley, Daniel Hutchinson, Enoch and Moses Morgan, Robert Eggleston, Sam Birdsley, I.N. Newton, N.C. Ball, James Sellick, W.S. Larkin, Reuben Pearson, R.A. Hungerford, and Henry Dennis.
At a meeting of the board of Supervisors held September 9, 1867 a petition was presented to form a new township out of part of Brenton, described as town 25 north, range 9 east of the third principal meridian. The petition was granted and the township took its name after the first resident settler. In April 1868 the first township meeting was held and the following officers were elected: Samual Woodward, supervisor; A.M. Haling, town clerk; Daniel Woodward, collector; A.V. Burcham, assessor; A.V. Burcham, James Roberts, and P.S. Gose, highway commissioners. Samuel Woodward and T.A. Ireland, justices of the peace; Daniel Woodward and Daniel Althen, constables. At the same meeting four road districts and nine school districts were designated.
The first child born in the township was Rosa Bushor. The first marriage was celebrated in 1860 between James Crow and Kate Birdsley. The first death was that of Mrs. Henry Dennis, who was buried on the A.M. Peck farm, Section 4.

--History of Ford County Illinois. 1985.