Pickings from Pike’s Past: 75 YEARS AGO: FOUR ACCIDENTS AND FIVE DEATHS IN 10 DAYS ON “BLOODY 36”
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150 Years Ago
Jan. 14, 1875
No snow of any account on the ground. The wheat still survives the winter. The thermometer yesterday failed to get above 10 degrees. God help the poor who are exposed to this cold winter. We can’t.
Next year the census of population is to be taken. Will the young men of Pike who are dilly-dallying and hanging back on the marry see that the county is fairly represented in the returns? From now until a year from next summer is a good while, and the population of the county can be very much increased if our people are only industrious.
Quincy is sad and grieveth sorely. A heavy pall of sadness rests upon that once gay and joyous people, for her court house is burned, and there now remains but the outer walls of the magnificent tabernacle.
J. N. Dewell, ex-county superintendent, had three ribs broken last week by a fall from a young horse, whose tail a dog ran out and seized.
125 Years Ago
Jan. 10, 1900
There has been considerable discussion as to whether this is the 19th or 20th century. We are of the opinion that it is the beginning of the 20th.
Monday and Tuesday we had spring weather; today is cooler and very gloomy.
The ice harvest was on last week and there was no time to lose. Seventy-seven men, a score of teams and wagons and hundreds of tons of ice had to be looked after. By dint of hard work and keeping after it from early Tuesday until Friday night with but 15 or 20 hours of sleep—they cut, handled and housed 750 tons of ice. Five hundred tons is from pure spring water, clear as crystal.
More than 400 partook of the bounteous supper which was served at the dedication of the new IOOF hall in Pittsfield.
A new, large slaughter house is now in operation in Barry. It was a busy place Tuesday. About 50 men were employed about the premises in slaughtering, packing ice, and finishing the buildings. For the present about 100 cattle a week will be killed, besides hogs and poultry.
100 Years Ago
Jan. 14, 1925
Norman Cloninger of Pittsfield, formerly of Pearl, has been named keeper of the county poor farm. He received the most votes by the Board of Supervisors of the seven applicants for the position.
The Pittsfield Lions club entertained the men folks of the Line 14 club at a jolly party. Line 14 is probably the pioneer community club in Pike County. The main part of its work is upkeep of roads in the area. Dinner consisted of tomato soup, doughnuts, coffee, water and toothpicks. There were several special numbers by the Barnyard Quintette, consisting of Harry and Merle Barber, Bobbie Brown, Frank Main and Earl Grigsby. They were voted to be the rottenest musical organization in town.
Dr. F. N. Wells has announced that he is a candidate for mayor of Pittsfield in the April election to succeed Dr. Maynard Nighbert, whose term expires.
75 Years Ago
Jan. 10, 1950
Three young men were killed and two girls were injured in an auto-truck collision on U. S. 36 seven miles west of Pittsfield shortly after midnight Sunday morning. Clifford Kessinger of Valley City, Charles Hildreth of Griggsville and Hayward Patterson of Pittsfield were killed and Shirley Patterson and Claudette Kasson of Pittsfield were injured.
Pittsfield’s Saukees continued their winning ways Friday night, defeating Notre Dame of Quincy 71-36. Lou Dean Predmore, Dick Lacy and tall center Rich Zimmerman were the powerhouses for Pittsfield.
Jan. 11, 1950
Don Winston, Oldsmobile dealer, has had hundreds of callers at his new garage, opened on West Washington Street last Thursday. Robert Reese of Perry purchased the first new Oldsmobile on display and C. W. Kaylor of Pittsfield purchased the other.
David Lee Jenkins, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Jenkins, Jr. celebrated his fourth birthday Dec. 22 by entertaining eight friends at a party.
Jan. 12, 1950
Two Hannibal residents were injured in an accident on U. S. 36 west of Hull. It was the fourth serious accident on route 36 within the 10 days. Five persons have been killed, including two college students from Colorado, in the four accidents on “bloody 36.”
Glenn Ervin, former circuit clerk of Pike County found a dilapidated issue of the Weekly Radical, printed in Pittsfield, Ill. June 1, 1859, edited by Charles J. Sellon. The Radical was started in opposition to John G. Nicolay’s Pike County Free Press (now the Pike County Republican).
50 Years Ago
Jan. 15, 1975
Pike County senior citizens have received a new 12-passenger Ford mini-bus under Title III of the Older Americans Act. Harold Voshall, president of the West Central Illinois Area on Aging board presented the keys to Rev. Frank Claybourne, president of the Pike County Senior Citizens Council. Twelve volunteer drivers have been recruited and they will work in pairs. The drivers include Lillian McAllister, Frances Carroll, Bea McBride, Bernice Daniel, Hazel Moyer, Steve Lang, Esther Goltz, Barbara Bartlett, Mr. and Mrs. Ross Hazelrigg and Mr. and Mrs. Russell Grimes.
Susan and Jane Knipmeyer, teenage daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Knipmeyer, have a new friend. Gislaine Aguirre Rial, age 17, arrived last Thursday from Brazil to spend six months with the Knipmeyers. Her visit is under the auspices of Youth for Understanding. “It was the girls’ idea, said Mrs. Knipmeyer.
The 65th wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. William McCann of Nebo was observed Sunday afternoon when 19 relatives gathered for a surprise visit.
Lowry Park in Pittsfield has an ice skating arena which city employees starting building Friday. Unless winter makes a hasty retreat it will be ready for ice skating by the time this week’s Pike Press comes off the press.
25 Years Ago
Jan. 12, 2000
Glenn Raines of the Orr Research Center reports that January 5, 1999 was the lowest temperature for the year at 26 below zero and that July 27, 1999 was the highest for the year at 101 degrees. He states that 1999 was the driest year on record here since 1979.
The Pikeland Unit 10 school board met for three hours Jan. 5, most of it in closed session, to discuss the vacancy in the district created by the death of assistant superintendent Don Mellon, who was officially classified as part-time.
10 Years Ago
Jan. 14, 2015
Charles “Chief” Ferguson died last week at Illini Community Hospital at the age of 82. His health had been declining the last few years, but his zest for life was ongoing. Ferguson was the agriculture teacher at Pittsfield High School for 37 years. During that time he had 10 students earn American FFA degrees, 52 earn state degrees, six state foundation winners and too many sectional and district foundations winners to count.
Jacqueline Bingham, 2014 Miss Pike County, will compete this weekend in the Miss Illinois County Fair Queen pageant in Springfield. She is the daughter of Wayne and Kristine Bingham of Griggsville. Miss Western Illinois Fair, 2014, Rachel Johnson, a 2012 graduate of Western High School will also be competing with 73 other young women for the state title.
Compiled by Michael Boren
