Looking Back 1.26.22
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25 years ago
January 22, 1997
Calhoun County and surrounding areas have undergone a deep freeze recently enough to ice the Illinois River over. Barge traffic continues in the Hardin area but the Kampsville, Brussels and Golden Eagle ferries have all been closed for nearly two weeks. Temperatures have reached the 50 degree mark a few days this week, but freezing temperatures are in the forecast.
50 years ago
January 27, 1972
Buggy to Auto by Pam Mossman
In the late 1800s, the first “horseless carriages” could be seen chugging over the streets and roads.
In 1914, a man by the name of Al Meyer purchased the first automobile in Calhoun County. Soon, several others followed in buying cars.
In 1924, my grandfather, John Gerdesmeyer, purchased his first car.
At that time, there were three car dealers in the Calhoun area. Bill Narup was employed at Wittmond’s Tavern, but on the sidelines sold Metz cars. Bill Klockenkemper in Batchtown sold Plymouths, while in Hardin, Pete Heiderscheid sold Model T’s.
My grandfather paid a total of $445. The $45 was spent on two extras: an electric starter and balloon tires.
The 1924 Model T had a very simple engine. It contained only four cylinders. The car was shifted by a gas pedal which was located on the floor. It consisted of only two gears, high and low.
Unlike cars today, the accelerator was mounted on the steering column. It was operated by a lever connected to two rods which opened and closed the carburetor and controlled the flow of the gas to the engine.
How very different it was to own a car then compared with a car now.
In order to own a car in the early 1900’s, it wasn’t necessary to have a driver’s license, car license or car insurance.
Today, licenses are only a small part in owning a car. Looking back in the past can be compared with a progress report. It shows how much we progressed or modernized ourselves. It is obvious that we have come a long way in transportation and we won’t stop now.
Everyday, newer methods of doing things are brought up. Man believes that maybe one day air transportation will be available to every individual. I think man just might be able to follow up on his idea of air transportation.
75 years ago
Last Sunday at the Hardin Sunday School, certificates for regular attendance during 1946 were awarded.
Leslie and Roy Bailey each received another certificate for perfect attendance during the past year, as did several students.
Leslie tells us that this makes 27 years straight that he has not missed a Sunday attending Sunday School.
Les is 51 years old, and this makes more than half his life that he has perfect attendance at S.S.
Roy tells us that he has 30 such certificates. They represent 30 years of continuous perfect Sunday School attendance.
We believe these two records will stand up with any in the country.
Another record was that of the Jesse Ringhausen family.
Eight of the 10 members of that family attended Sunday School without a Sunday missed during 1946.
This is all the more remarkable when we consider they have to come two miles each Sunday to church.
100 years ago
January 26, 1922
Since publishing the killing of John Gresham and the hanging of Bartholomew Barnes for the crime, the News, a few weeks ago, we have had several of our readers tell us of incidents that occurred, to their knowledge, when Barnes occupied the jail at Hardin over 50 years ago.
This week, we hear from one of our readers away out in Kansas who tells us that she is the oldest daughter of Christopher Heavener who was sheriff of Calhoun County when Barnes was held in jail here.
The letter explains itself and it is as follows:
St. John, Kansas, Jan. 22, 1922.
Dear Editors of the News: -In reading the article in the News of the hanging of Batholomew Barnes, and seeing where Grant Dewey received a cut on one of his fingers by the slamming of the jail door when Barnes was a prisoner in Hardin over 50 years ago, I thought that I would let you know that I lost a thumb nail along along about the same time in about the same manner.
The cell door of the jail was slammed shut on my thumb, during the time that Barnes was a prisoner in the Calhoun County jail, over 50 years ago, and as a result I lost my thumb nail.
I was then a girl of 11 years and am the oldest daughter of Christopher Heavener, then sheriff of Calhoun County, and if I remember rightly, I don’t think Barnes ate very many meals in the Calhoun County jail but what I delivered to him.
I also supplied him with drinking water and firewood.
I remember well the day he left our jail for Pike County. When he was leaving, he said, “Sadie, aren’t you going to tell me goodbye?” And I said, “no, I hope they hang you,” and he replied, “they will when they take me there.”
Yours truly,
Mrs. J. L. Clowers. St. John, Kansas.
