Looking Back 8/21/25

By Editor | August 19, 2025 |

100 YEARS AGO: PIKE COUNTY DEPUTY SHOOTS AND KILLS CHICKEN THIEF

150 Years Ago

Aug. 12, 1875

There was a terrible fall of rain in the county last Wednesday night, which we are sorry to say was accompanied in some parts with a heavy hail storm. Particularly, this was the case about a mile west of New Salem, where several farmers had their corn crops almost entirely destroyed.

Owing to the heavy rains and the immense growth of vegetation, farmers are finding it necessary to mow the weeds in their fields before plowing for fall wheat. In ordinary cases this would be considered poor farming.

Hon. Scott Wike has removed his office to the rooms heretofore occupied by Col. A. C. Mathews. Judge Higbee’s library has also been removed there.

125 Years Ago

Aug. 15, 1900

It was 93 yesterday afternoon and is heating up today at noon. Rain has promised all the forenoon but it has fizzled. How long, oh Lord, how long!

The damage by the drouth to the corn crop has been very great and yield greatly lessened. Pastures have dried up badly, but plenty of rain will soon restore them.

The Griggsville fair had its ending last week and we are sorry to say was badly worsted by the heat and dust. The attendance seemed very good under the circumstances.

The 35th anniversary of the connection of the editor of the DEMOCRAT, J. M. Bush, Sr., is the occasion for putting in type as a matter of history how he came to be connected with it. The paper was established in 1857 by Milton H. Abbott and conducted by him until December, 1864, when it was taken over by Robert F. Frazier and two other men. J. M. Bush, Sr. assumed publication of the paper Aug. 10, 1865, at which time there were 374 subscribers, four of whom were from Monument, Ill.

Mrs. Sims of Urbana, gave a very interesting temperance talk to the children of the Pittsfield Christian Church Sunday evening. She illustrated her remarks with drawing on the blackboard, thus impressing the truths upon the eye as well as the ear.

100 Years Ago

Aug. 12, 1925

Newt Bell, 65 years old, was shot and killed by Deputy Sheriff Bib White last Friday morning between two and 3 o’clock. Bell and his son, Frank, had stolen some 15 hens, and refused to stop when Deputy White, accompanied by his brother-in-law Earl Hayden, ordered them to halt their team and wagon. The affair took place on the New Salem road, four miles north of Pittsfield. Bell was a scavenger by occupation and had a somewhat well-established record for pilfering. Personal enemies of Sheriff Troutner and Deputy White have denounced White’s action.

A large number of persons living in Florence presented to the presiding judge of the county court a petition asking permission to incorporate approximately two square miles as a village. Judge Riggs has set Aug. 27 as a date for the residents of the area to vote on incorporation.

The Pearl button factory currently employs 28 people, although at times, when a rush comes, the force goes up to 40. It is owned by W. T. Watters and his brother, Frank Watters, who came to Pearl from Louisiana in 1912 and got the crazy idea of opening a button factory after one reliable firm had failed.

Pittsfield has been placed on an important transcontinental route by the interstate road commission, meeting in Washington, D.C. The Ocean to Ocean highway which is now being cemented west of Pittsfield, is one of the main arteries designated by the interstate commission.

The Pittsfield-Barry-Quincy Busway has announced additional passenger service effective Aug. 4, which gives a six-hour service from Quincy to Springfield, via Pittsfield and Jacksonville.

Baylis is the highest point in western Illinois between the Illinois and Mississippi rivers, according to the new state geological survey map, with an elevation of 841 feet.

Nebo will have a home-coming event August 13, 14 and 15.

75 Years Ago

Aug. 8, 1950

Unit 10 has hired the following faculty for Nebo elementary and high school: Hazel Franklin, grades 1-2; Katherine Borrowman, grades 3-4; Eva Norton, grades 5-6; Paul Harpole, grades 7-8; Nettie Ransom, English; Clara Pearson, Commerce; Wayne Zumwalt, Science and Mathematics; V.A. Collins, principal.

Aug. 9, 1950

Pittsfield citizens have watched with interest the repairs being made the past week on the steeple of the 56-year-old courthouse by contractor Wayne Peebles and his workmen. Mr. Peebles says they are replacing all rotten wood in the steeple, putting on new tin where it is rusted out, and then will paint the steeple. Before they could go up through the tower, several sections of 40-foot ladder had to be replaced and repaired, but when all is completed, Wayne says, the building will be in fine shape an no one needs to worry about a wind storm blowing it over. In fact, Wayne says the whole courthouse is a fine building, well put together.

Aug. 10, 1950

The elaborate and dazzling front of the new Zoe Theatre is being installed. The huge stainless steel, glass and plastic marquee is now complete.

Opening Soon, Wimpy’s Drive-In a quarter mile west of Pittsfield on route 36. Watch for Announcement.

50 Years Ago

Aug. 13, 1975

Hiram McKenna resigned Monday as executive vice-president and cashier of Pittsfield’s First National Bank, citing health reasons. McKenna has been associated with the bank for 52 years, moving upward as teller, assistant cashier, acting cashier, and then to his latest position. The board of directors have named Delbert Robinson as interim cashier. He has been with the bank for 18 years.

The superintendent and principal of the Barry schools will remain the same this fall; C. Michael Kovachevich will continue as superintendent and Kenneth Fagan, who served as Barry’s acting principal from January to June of last year will retain that position this year.

The Spirit of 76 has come to Barry. The evidence is all over town—59 fire hydrants, all newly painted red, white and blue. The salute to the American bicentennial was accomplished last week by the young people of the Christian and Baptist churches under the direction of Rev. Ken Dale Finley.

For the second successive year the Webel Feed team won the tournament climaxing the slow pitch softball season operated this summer by the City of Pittsfield recreation program. Team members are: Mark Allen, Emmett Bagent, Manager Greg Pressey, bat boy Mark Pressey, Rich Feezel, Bob Pressey, Jay Carlton, Ray Schumann, Terry Smith, Dan Bess, Keenan Stinebaker, Terry Robertson, Don Bigley, Jr. and Doug Elledge.

Mr. and Mrs. Lindell Burns of Nebo are the parents of a daughter born Friday, Aug. 1 at Illini Hospital. She has been named Kimberly Ann.

Toyia Nicole, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Parker Zumwalt of Pittsfield, was two years old Aug. 9. Her grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. James R. Mitchell and Mr. and Mrs. Parker Zumwalt of Pittsfield.

25 Years Ago

Aug. 9, 2000

The “Tiger Woods of shooting,” Doug Koenig, was crowned “The Master” for the eighth time at PASA Park near Barry. For the second year in a row, he did not miss a single target, to finish with a perfect score of 300.

Pike Press publisher and editor Julie Boren recently celebrated her 25th anniversary with the newspaper. Wednesday, Aug. 2, Boren and the Pike Press staff celebrated with a luncheon at the Red Dome Inn and a small reception at the Pike Press office.

Dr. Dan Speckhart graduated from the Southern Illinois school of dentistry, and in four years, his daughter, Kim and Jessie, will do the same. Both applied to the dentistry school, with more than 500 other students. Only 60, including the two Speckhart girls, made the cut.

10 Years Ago

Aug. 12, 2015

Mike Spann of Milton completed a recent half triathalon, or “70.3” in Springfield. The 49-year-old started bicycling a few years ago to stay fit, but decided to give triathalons a “tri” after being exposed to other bike enthusiasts who had competed in them, and he has accomplished three of them so far this year.

Construction on the Worthington Square geriatric psychiatric unit at Illini Hospital is nearly completed with only a few minor projects left to complete.

Compiled by Michael Boren

75 YEARS AGO: WIMPY’S DRIVE-IN OPENS WEST OF PITTSFIELD

150 Years Ago

Aug. 19, 1875

We had a heavy rain Monday night, which we hope was the clearing up shower. The weather is now very cool and excites lively apprehension of an early frost.

There is very little marrying going on in the county right now. The crops are just not as favorable as they might be.

The steamboat price war on the Illinois River continues, and passenger fares and freights run awfully low.

We were pleased to see so many of the gray-headed, sound, substantial Democrats of the good old times—the real old standbys at the county Democrat convention Monday.

There promises to be quite a number of pupils from abroad for Pittsfield High School, but the great drawback is the want of comfortable boarding houses at moderate rates for such.

125 Years Ago

Aug. 22, 1900

Yesterday Judge Higbee’s spirit thermometer in the shade registered 99 degrees, and, desiring further information, he hung it in the sun, where the liquid ran up the bulb (120 degrees) and then bursted the bulb and shattered the whole concern. The judge offers the broken thermometer as evidence of his statement.

Of a whole flock of thermometers that hung in the shade in a wall in C. H. Harder’s drug store yesterday, each marked a plump one hundred.

Miss Lulu Kiser of Pearl, who is employed as dining room girl at the Oregon House, was prostrated by the heat Saturday and was quite ill for a couple of days.

The annual meeting of the Christian Churches of Pike County will be held at the Pittsfield Christian Church next Tuesday evening and all day Wednesday. Dinner and supper will be served at the church.

100 Years Ago

Aug. 19, 1925

A crowd estimated at 5000 attended the sixth annual Farm Bureau picnic which was held at the Griggsville fairgrounds. Harry Johnson of Perry was the champion hog-caller.

Almost $10,000 has been pledged toward the $15,000 needed for the building of a parsonage for St. Mary’s Catholic Church and the building is now under construction. The pledges range from $25 to $1,000, which was given by a woman who dislikes publicity.

A fair-sized crowd attended the boat show at Pearl Landing Thursday. The vaudeville program on the steamer “French’s New Sensation” was most enjoyable. It was the 53rd season for the show boat, which seats about 900 persons.

The general store of Gene Woodward of New Salem was entirely destroyed by fire Friday morning. A barber shop next door and the post office were saved from the flames by the heroic work of citizens. New Salem has but one other general store, owned and run by Henry Baker.

75 Years Ago

Aug. 15, 1950

Pittsfield’s Dollar Days will be Thursday and Friday of this week. This is a big semi-annual sales event.

The Irick reunion was held Sunday, Aug. 13, 1950 at the Pleasant View community center where many of the family of the late Andrew and Emma Irick attended Sunday School and church when services were held there years ago. Around 100 relatives and friends were in attendance, many from miles away.

Aug. 17, 1950

Wimpy’s Drive-In, owned by three brothers, Dale, Wayne and Lyle Willard, will celebrate its grand opening this Sunday. Dale “Wimpy” Willard is manager. Mrs. Dorothy Bess is in charge of the drive-in service. Harry Finson has charge of the fountain. The drive-in is located a quarter mile west of Pittsfield on route 36, opposite the Kamar company location. Hicks Petty was general contractor for the construction. The hours are daily 11 a.m. to midnight; Saturdays 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.

J. H. Voshall, Superintendent of Pittsfield Community Unit No. 10 announces that the Pittsfield High School is cooperating with the State Board for Vocational Education and the Illinois State Restaurant Association in offering a course in Waitress Training to all restaurant personnel or persons contemplating entering this field in the Pittsfield area.

Square dancing on horseback will be featured at the Pleasant Hill, Pike County Fair.

50 Years Ago

Aug. 20, 1975

Greg Willard, senior at Westminster College, returned home recently after four months on the White House staff as a summer aide. He spoke very highly of President Gerald Ford, “You can’t help being impressed by the man. His sincerity, honesty and openness permeate the entire White House complex.”

Clay Owens, 73, well-known Pittsfield businessman, died Monday, Aug. 18, 1975 at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis. He had been in failing health for several months. Born in Pike County in 1902, Mr. Owens was a son of Charles and Ella (Piper) Owens. He is survived by his wife, Virginia (Johnson) and two sons, Gene and Eddie, both of Pittsfield.

Bob Flynn and Ben Kearns and other members of the East Pike FFA have been involved in assembling and installing new street signs for the village of Milton. They had 17 separate pieces to fit together and no instructions. George Claus, village president supervised the operation.

Mr. and Mrs. Steve Grimes and girls, Mr. and Mrs. Don Mifflin of Seattle, and Mr. and Mrs. Roy Boyle of Colville, Wash. arrived Tuesday to visit relatives in Nebo.

25 Years Ago

Aug. 16, 2000

United States Congressman John Shimkus was a busy man Monday. Shimkus traveled throughout Pike County, stopping at several events, including a town hall meeting at the courthouse in Pittsfield. He started the day at the Lighthouse Restaurant, listening to an agricultural advisory committee and capped off the night with a steak fry at the Pike County Farm Bureau. State Senator Laura Donahue and State Representative Art Tenhouse also attended the steak fry.

Pike County native Justin Dodd has recently experienced a fascinating archeological internship in Chile, which lasted from June 12 to July 17. The site for the excavation was located in the Atacama desert, the driest desert in the world. “It amazes me how well everything preserves in the heat,” Dodd said. “We were able to find grass rope, leather sandals and animal and human hair, all 2000 years old.” Dodd is a student at Beloit College, Beloit, Wisconsin.

10 Years Ago

Aug. 19, 2015

Barry Mayor Shawn Rennecker and Tim McGraw cut the ribbon at the grand opening of Revolutionary Enterprises cannabis research and development facility. An estimated 200 people attended the grand opening and more than 500 were at the job fair for the 75,000 square foot facility.

The Crossing is asking the county to rezone the former wood pallet plant site located between Griggsville and Pittsfield just east of Illinois Route 107 and just north of Interstate 72. The site is currently zoned for industrial use and the church is asking the county to change its zoning to agricultural.

Compiled by Michael Boren

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