Pickings from Pike’s Past: 10 YEARS AGO: PIKE COUNTY BOARD IS ALL REPUBLICAN

By Editor | November 1, 2024 |

150 Years Ago

Nov. 5, 1874

The new Barry school is nearly completed and the keys have been handed over to the directors.

It’s too bad we cannot have an official count of Pike County’s votes, just because a schoolmaster in Chambersburg is the one to bring in the polls from that town, and he cannot quit school to bring in the returns until Saturday. Is there no one but a schoolmaster in Chambersburg competent to bring in the poll books from that place? We didn’t know that it required so much larnin’.

The old church building moved from off the lot of Judge Higbee to the south part of Pittsfield was originally built where the Congregational Church now stands., and thence removed on rollers to its recent location. In that removal we youngsters assisted by riding in it and doing the heavy hallooing necessary to move it. In those days hands were scarce and it was moved by moonlight.

125 Years Ago

Nov. 8, 1899

Prosperity struck Col. A. C. Mathews very hard Sunday morning. It comes in the shape of some 50 pounds of honey taken from a bee tree cut on his premises.

The Pittsfield cannery closed a successful season’s run, having canned all the available produce in this neighborhood.

New Canton’s paper that was burned out some time ago in that village’s great fire has arisen from the ashes, but comes in an entire new dress and is christened anew as the New Canton Advance.

Jeffries is still king of the boxers by virtue of a right hook, but he could not knock out Tom Sharkey. The decision was on points. Winner’s profits were $50,000; loser’s share, $20,000.

100 Years Ago

Nov. 5, 1924

A crowd of 2000 attended a Halloween masquerade dance at the Ocean Trail Park in Florence, breaking all attendance records at the resort. More than 200 of them came masked in very imaginative costumes.

Pike County remains Democracy’s only verdant spot—all else is Republican. Illinois and most of the United States went for Calvin Coolidge, but Pike went for Democrat John W. Davis for President. Locally, the Democrats barely retained the court house offices and Democrat Carroll Bush of Pike County will be one of our three State Representatives.

Two hundred and twelve attended the Bible School at the Pittsfield Christian Church last Sunday, bringing an offering of over $11.00. Not as many old people responded to the special service for them as should have.

75 Years Ago

Nov. 1, 1949

Mr. and Mrs. Merle S. Barber, lifelong lifelong residents of Pittsfield, who have spent the past few months in San Antonio, Texas, have been employed as managers of the Pittsfield Community Center.

Pittsfield High’s Saukees were outrushed by the Jerseyville Panthers last Friday night at Jerseyville, and lost their bid in the Illinois Valley Conference race, 33-12.

Nov. 2, 1949

At the regular monthly meeting of the Pittsfield City Council, Gas Supt. Sinclair told the council that the city will not have enough gas to get through the winter, as the situation stands now, and advocated the building of a new six-inch pipe line at once to connect with the Panhandle Company’s main line south of here in Hardin Township.

Miss Bonnie Jean Wendorff, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank G. Wendorff, and Joseph E. Gully, son of Mr. Joe Gully of Barry exchanged marriage vows Friday evening at 8 in the First Methodist Church in Barry. Mr. Gully, a graduate of Barry High School, served in the Army Air Corps during the Second World War. He is now established in the insurance business of his late uncles.

Nov. 3, 1949

Coffee is selling at 75 cents a pound in several Pike County stores. Ten cent coffee has come to the coffee counters in Pittsfield. Some distributors predict that the 5 cent cup of coffee has gone the way of the 5 cent cigar.

A story in the November issue of the Christian Herald acclaims Lyle Hayden, farm bred Newburg boy, as a “shirt sleeved ambassador.” Lyle, who became a teacher of vocational agriculture, was sent to Iran in 1945 by the Near East Foundation to help alleviate conditions in rural villages, where 85 per cent of the people live. In the past few years Lyle has made big improvements in the life of the farmers in the central plateau of Iran, with improved health, education and farming practices.

A move for more paving in the city of Pittsfield, including a 30-foot pavement of Piper Lane, is still awaiting action by the city council. Federal and state money will pay 75% of the cost of the street improvements.

50 Years Ago

Nov. 6, 1974

With a few exceptions, Democrats were the top vote-getters in Pike County Tuesday. They retained firm control of the courthouse, winning all contests there. They also elected all four of the seats on the County Board, maintaining a 7-2 margin there. The winning Democrats for County Board were Vinton Dunham, Derald McGlauchlen, Lester Vincent and Ronald Ehlert. Three Democrats rode into local offices without opposition: Carrol K. Hoover for County Clerk; Charley I. Cheek for Sheriff; and Eldon R. Atwood for Superintendent of the Educational Service Region.

Republican Oral Bethard lost to Dick Hoover for County Treasurer. Pittsfield Republican Paul Findley carried 31 of 35 over his Democratic challenger Peter Mack, and was re-elected to Congress in the 20th Congressional District.

James L. Reed, livestock and grain farmer, was elected chairman of the Adams-Pike Community College board of trustees Tuesday night in Quincy. C. W. Losch of Pleasant Hill was elected vice-chairman and Lynn Stone of Pittsfield was elected secretary.

The East Pike FFA chapter won two national awards at the recent national FFA convention. The officers are Clay Laux, president; Robert McCann, secretary; Ernie Campbell, sentinel; Jamie Thompkins, reporter; Paul Ottwell, vice-president; Andy Bauer, treasurer. Larry Fischer is the FFA advisor and Ed Hoover and Richard Howland were chairmen of the chapter’s community improvement project, which won the national Silver Award.

25 Years Ago

Nov. 3, 1999

For the sixth consecutive year the Pittsfield Lady Saukees find themselves going to state cross-country competition. The runners are Robyn Ebbert, Abby Barton, Anne Riley, Brooke Kattelman, Kate Lagemann, Ashley Welch, Megan Kattelman and Jayme Goewey.

All five Pike County school boards will seat new members next week. Barry will seat Doug Mills and Rick Griffith; Elizabeth Weas at Griggsville-Perry; Alan Brokaw, Bill Ferguson and Mike Gerard at Pikeland; Roberta Dolbeare at Pleasant Hill; and Tamara Orr at West Pike.

Dorothy Jane “Dottie” Awbrey, 86, died Oct. 30, 1999 at St. Luke’s Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. Born Dec. 12, 1913 in Pittsfield, she was the daughter of the late Ira J. and Aileen Jex Brunswick. She married Henry Awbrey June 12, 1940 in Pittsfield and he preceded her in death in 1982. Mrs. Awbrey was a 1932 graduate of Pittsfield High School and taught physical education in Griggsville and Pittsfield schools for many years. Surviving are one son, David Awbrey, wife Marie, and one daughter, Carol.

10 Years Ago

Nov. 5, 2014

Pike County voters elected a new Treasurer and State’s Attorney in Tuesday’s election. Republican Scott Syrcle defeated incumbent treasurer Jeff Gerard and Republican Zack Boren defeated State’s Attorney Matt Goetten. Democrat incumbent Donnie Apps defeated his challenger Patrice A. Mills, and Democrat Sheriff Paul Petty and GOP Supervisor of Assessments, Cindy Shaw both ran unopposed. Republicans won the four County Board seats, electing incumbents Jim Sheppard and Fred Bradshaw and newcomers Carrie L. Martin and Rodger Hannel. For the first time in the history of the county the Pike County Board is all Republican. And in spite of the many years of Democratic dominance in the county, the board was never 100% Democrat.

The Pike Press of Nov. 5, 2014 saluted the nine Pike Countians who were killed in the Vietnam War: Harold E. Myers of Rockport, Howard L. Allen of Pearl, Jay C. Shelby of Nebo, Dale G. Smith of Pearl, Donald W. McKee of rural Pittsfield, John D. Campbell of Pleasant Hill, Joseph M. Williams of Nebo, Johnnie W. Ator of Pittsfield, and Darrell E. Pruett of New Salem.

Compiled by Michael Boren

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