Arrowsmith Township

Preface

In presenting this volume we have been compelled to choose only a few of the many subjects which have a rightful place in a McLean County historical publication. From the present time forward, it is the hope of the McLean County Historical Society to publish volumes in close succession so as to finally have in permanent form, all the information pertaining to McLean County history.

Historical Pageant Committees

Early in the year 1930, marking one hundred years after the legal birth of McLean county, citizens of Bloomington began discussing the matter of suitably celebrating this centennial of local history.

2._ Formal dedication of the completed Lake Bloomington, a municipal enterprise creating a never-failing supply of pure water for the city's needs, which had been under debate for two generations.

This committee met on March 28, after making some investigation as to feasibility and scope of the proposed celebration, and thereupon reported that a larger and more all-embracing committee was needed to properly outline the celebration, set the dates and other details. The special committee therefore recommended that Harris K. Hoblit, president of the Association, with Secretary F. D. E. Babcock secure the services of a committee including residents of all parts of the county representing all its interests.

Twelve days later the A. of C. officers reported that they had decided to send invitations to all farm and home bureaus of the 31 townships of the county, and to all the sponsors of the Christmas pageant in Bloomington of the preceding December, to meet as a general committee to consider Centennial plans. The names of Davis Merwin and Perry J. LaBounty were added to those previously announced as the executive committee.

On April 14, the general committee on the suggestion of Wilbur Coultas, county farm adviser, decided to merge the centennial with the annual county farm picnic.

Mayor Ben S. Rhodes of Bloomington named a committee of the city council and officials including Frank Donovan, G. Noble Paxton, Louis F. Wellmerling, C. C. Williams, and Rolla Neal, to cooperate with the citizens committee.

On May 1, it was announced that the probable cost of the celebration would be $10,000. On May 9, at a dinner attended by 200 persons representing varied interests of the county, it was formally voted to hold a four-day celebration, and Chairman Arthur S. Smith said the expenses would be underwritten by 200 citizens.

A committee consisting of J. L. Hasbrouck, William B. Brigham, and Mrs. J. H. Cheney were named to propose a series of historical episodes to be re-enacted at the Centennial Pageant.

A grand historical parade for one or more days of the Centennial was early decided upon as one of the principal features; a committee including Lloyd Eyer, Mark Ethell, Harry Hall, Edward P. Butler, and Edgar Lebkuecher was named to make plans for it. The dates for the four days' celebration chosen were August 27 to 30, inclusive. The Daily Pantograph began calling for old pictures with historical background for publication.

Weldon B. Wade, son of Mrs. Anna B. Wade of Bloomington, then connected with an eastern producing company, was named general director of the Centennial, and he came here from New York early in July to devote his time to plans. Mr. Wade appointed Melvin J. Callahan general office secretary in charge of the headquarters in the former Bulletin building, 214 North Madison street.

County-wide committees were named for various phases of the preparations, and the city council of Bloomington voted $225 for decorating the city buildings during the week.

A month prior to the Centennial, the Daily Pantograph began a course of publicity for the purpose of selecting by popular vote the two young women of the county, one to be named the "Queen" of the Centennial, and the other official hostess for the occasion, named "Miss McLean County." Nominations were invited from all over the county, each name suggested to be accompanied by her picture.

Nominees from Bloomington-Normal to represent the official hostess, "Miss McLean County," were the following: Lillian Houston, Edith Henrietta Heldt, Vauna E. Hutson, Mabel B. Blunk, Frances Kingrey, Florence Larkin, Evelyn Bye, Clara Belle Pepple, Catherine M. Craig, Esther L. Haynes, Crystal Pointer, Mildred I. Dagley, and Lela Jane White.

There were 14,729 ballots cast in Bloomington-Normal for the choice of the official hostess, and 14,518 in the county for the selection of the Queen. The judges, Earl R. DePew, J. E. Smith, B. B. Naylor, and Herman Bock, August 17, announced that Miss Lucille Ward of Colfax had been chosen as "Queen of the Centennial," and Miss Evelyn Bye of 804 South Morris Avenue, Bloomington, the official hostess.

As the month of August approached, increased activity in preparation for the Centennial was seen on every side. Advanced ticket sales for the Pageant of Progress, the spectacular feature of the week, were announced. More than 2,500 invitations were mailed from Centennial headquarters to prominent former residents of the city and county residing in other states asking them to return to their old home to help celebrate.

Good Will tours were organized by business men, motor caravans visiting the communities of Central Illinois and leaving literature regarding the coming celebration.

Singers for the Centennial chorus of 200 trained voices were called to begin rehearsals the second week in August, by Harold Dale Saurer, the musical director.

General Chairman Arthur S. Smith and the Centennial treasurer, Russell Shearer, made several trips by airplane to scatter the information of the coming Centennial. On August 19, J. L. Hasbrouck, editor of The Pantograph, and member of the general committee, broadcast by radio from the state fair grounds a story of the Centennial and extended an invitation to everybody in Illinois to come to Bloomington the following week.

The week before the Centennial the whole city took on gala airs, with decorations of the streets and business buildings in the downtown district. Homes displayed flags and a general festival air pervaded the community.

Opening Night

Tuesday night, August 26, the formal inauguration of the Centennial was held in the natural amphitheatre on the sloping hillside of Highland Park. An audience of 2,000 persons had assembled at the grounds. They found seats on the grassy slope facing the stage. Illuminated by flood lights, the assembly presented a picturesque spectacle.

The orator of the occasion was Rev. Dr. Edgar DeWitt Jones, for 14 years pastor of the First Christian church in Bloomington, then pastor of Central Woodward Christian church in Detroit.

Dr. William J. Davidson, president of Illinois Wesleyan university, presided, and a chorus of 200 voices organized for the musical features of the week's pageants, made their first appearance. Rev. Forrest L. Fraser, pastor of the First Baptist church, gave the invocation; Rev. George W. Bonebrake read the scripture. Other ministers on the platform were Rev. V. E. Birch of the West Olive Methodist church, Rev. Franklin C. Read and Rev. Henry Abraham, retired

The speaker was introduced by William H. (Billy) Shelper, head of the Shelper Mission. Dr. Jones paid tribute to the pioneers who first settled McLean county and to the career of John McLean, first U. S. senator from Illinois, for whom the county was named. He sketched briefly the highlights of history for the county and mentioned some of the many names of distinguished persons who had their beginnings here.

"It was religion," said Dr. Jones, "which sustained the pioneers in the arduous lives." He paid tribute especially to those of the Catholic faith who had so large a part in the foundation of the McLean county community. He mentioned Peter Cartwright, the most noted of the early Methodist preachers of Illinois, and said that men of his firm character and faith without his eccentricities, are needed for the modern world. The moral issues of life today, he emphasized, are no less serious than that of slavery, which cut the country into two warring sections. Men of faith like Abraham Lincoln and the pioneers, will solve present day problems as they solved the issues of their time. He closed with a note of optimism as to the future of this country, state, and nation.

Second Day

The chief attraction of the day was an afternoon pageant in which the history of the county was represented in pictorial fashion by a procession three miles long consisting of floats and other forms of historical or allegorical representation of the chief events and personages of the county's history. The procession had the color and splendor of a gigantic circus parade, with added attractions of numerous kinds.

On the morning of the day of the parade, the formal introductory ceremonies of the Centennial were put on at the court house. A stand had been erected on the east side of the public square, and there took place the ceremony of the crowning of the Centennial Queen. The street had been roped off to prevent traffic, and a crowd of 5,000 people gathered around the stand.

Preceding the coronation of the young ladies a program of speaking was presented. Aerial bombs exploded at 10 o'clock served as formal announcement that the ceremonies of the week were to start. A group of distinguished guests took their places on the platform, including Mayor Ben S. Rhodes of Bloomington, Mayor W. A. Newhauser of Normal, Federal Judge Louis FitzHenry, J. E. Smith of Bellflower, chairman of the McLean county board of supervisors; Eugene D. Funk, president of the Centennial organization; former Governor Joseph W. Fifer and his daughter, State Senator Florence Fifer Bohrer; Harris K. Hoblit, president of the Association of Commerce; and F. D. E. Babcock, secretary; Homer W. Hall, member of congress from this district, and other citizens.

Mr. Babcock first presented Mayor Rhodes, who opened the program with a short talk on the meaning of the Centennial. He was followed in turn by Judge FitzHenry, Mr. Funk, Mr. Hoblit, and Gov. Fifer.

Then was presented John Eddy of Albany, N. Y., who was president of the Association of Commerce just after the big fire of 1900, and who had returned here after many years' absence to attend the

After these preliminaries, the guest orator of the occasion was presented, Gen. Frank S. Dickson, former adjutant general of the state of Illinois. Gen. Dickson expressed a deep sense of appreciation that he had been honored with the invitation to speak on the formal inauguration of the Centennial festival of so great a county as McLean. He referred to the presence on the platform of the distinguished citizens of the county, the former Governor Joseph W. Fifer, who, he said, had coined a choice phrase to describe this county, when he once called it the "breastpin of Illinois." Gen. Dickson said he would offer a broader description and call this community "the dimple of the universe."

Crowning Of The Queen

One of the great spectacular occasions of the week followed the close of Gen. Dickson's address. This was the formal coronation of the Centennial Queen, and the honors paid to her escort, the official Centennial Hostess and their respective maids of honor.

As an aerial bomb signalled the hour for the formal coronation, the crowd gathered nearer to the stands where the speeches had just been concluded. To the echo of cheers and the curious craning of necks in the throng, a handsomely decorated float rounded the corner of Jefferson street and slowly approached the central rostrum.

The float carried the Centennial Queen, Miss Lucile Ward of Colfax and the official hostess for Bloomington and Normal, Miss Evelyn Bye of Bloomington. Miss Ward was seated on a lofty throne. Attending her were a bevy of beautiful girls, one chosen as the prettiest girl from her own township, 29 of them in all.

Homer W. Hall, master of ceremonies in the coronation exercises, stepped from the stage to the float and presented each of the two honored individuals a diamond ring as a reward for having won the popularity contest wherein the Queen and Hostess were chosen.

Then came the formal coronations. Betty Jeanne Cline, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. G. M. Cline, was lifted to the Queen's float and placed upon her head the silver crown. Barbara Ellen Moore, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin L. Moore, performed a similar ceremonial service for the Official Hostess. The rings were provided by the Centennial executive board. Both the Queen and the Hostess also received at this time the Pantograph Medal of Merit as a special mark of distinction.

The Great Parade

The streets of the downtown district were lined with people long before the scheduled hour of the afternoon procession. It was a warm day, and the throngs sought the shady side of streets and the shelter of roofs wherever possible.

The procession contained five bands, a bugle corps, and many of the floats contained groups of musicians with their own methods of making harmony. The bands included Bloomington municipal band, the boy's band from the Illinois Soldiers and Sailors Children's Home, the Chenoa high school band, the Saybrook band, and the Fairbury band. The McLean County Drum corps formed a historical feature, and a bugle corps of Bloomington girls served as heralds for the floats bearing the Centennial Queen and her official hostesses.

Into the procession was placed every form of transportation which had been used from the earliest to the latest date of the county's history. There were horses, singly and in teams, ridden or driven to every kind of vehicle.

There were oxen-drawn carts nearly 100 years old. Stage coaches, old hacks, buggies, hayracks, a horse-drawn street car, old bicycles of every sort, from the high-wheelers to the more modern "safety"; the ancient fire engine of Bloomington, the "Prairie Bird," which had achieved fame by taking part in the great Chicago fire of 1871; followed by the modern motorized fire equipment. A brewery wagon with a great team of handsome draft horses brought up a picture of a past era. There were innumerable kinds of motor vehicles, from earliest makes of steam-driven cars, down to the latest models. Most of the floats were motor-propelled.

The Daily Pantagraph presented a handsomely decorated float with representation of the great Goss press from which the newspapers are turned out. The State Farm Mutual company presented a float carrying eight pretty girls handsomely gowned surrounding the company emblem. Hembreiker's presented a flower float. W. H. Roland one representing latest styled dresses worn by pretty girls. The McLean County Farm Bureau's float was loaded with grains and other farm products. The Kinloch-Bloomington Telephone company's float represented the service of that company. Tire and automobile entries were made by Clay Dooley, Belt Tire service, and Tracy Green.

Louis E. Davis post of the American Legion had a float representing the army and navy and the Red Cross, the decorations being in red, white and blue. The Odd Fellows order had a float decorated in purple and white, the lodge colors, with the three links. Two pink swans were the decorative highlights of the United Photo float. A tiny car decorated in white and green represented the A. G. Carnahan garage.

A flat bed float carrying the emblem of the company represented the Union Gas and Electric company. One of the Oil-O-Matic's service sedans was decorated for that firm's entry, and the Model Laundry float represented "wash day" in the style of 1830, with a contrasting picture of the 1930 style.

In a tiny green street car representing the Illinois Power and Light Corp. were a group of employees whose combined services with that company represented 148 years. They were Ed Shields, Frank Arnold, James Fitzgerald, and H. M. Taylor.

Among the commercial floats, Newmarket entered an elaborately decorated sedan; My Store carried a map of McLean county; C. W. Klemm represented style in women's wear from 1830; Gerhart Shoe company float carried a peacock; A. Livingston & Sons had a handsomely decorated green sedan; The Meadows Manufacturing company had a long truck suitably decorated; The Snow &: Palmer float was done in yellow and lavender.

Many of the prettiest and most striking floats represented outside townships: Arrowsmith by a stockade from the famous Indian battlefield in that township; Danvers, log cabin and rail splitter; Dale, old fashioned carriage drawn by horses; Funk's Grove, an old Victoria carriage; Dry Grove, pioneer camping scene in the woods; Towanda, corn display and golf girls; Mt. Hope, a huge milk bottle representing its dairy interest; Dawson, two ancient fiddlers; Anchor, Indian boy in canoe; Downs, float decorated in natural flowers; Blue Mound, group of farmers in typical attire representing agriculture, religion and military life; Old Town and Gridley, finely decorated floats.

Twenty-two distinguished guests and leaders of the Centennial organization had places on the reviewing stand as the long procession went by. Those on the stand were Mayor Ben S. Rhodes, Arthur S. Smith, general chairman; Gen. Frank S. Dickson, Congressman Homer W. Hall, Eugene Funk, Centennial president, Matt C.

Smith and Lon K. Smith, former old residents; William Merna, William J. Hull of the Trades Assembly; F. D. E. Babcock, secretary of the A. of C, and Mrs. Babcock; Mr. and Mrs. Paul F. Beich, Judge Larry A. Jones; C. C. Wagner, former president of the board of supervisors, and the following other supervisors: W. L. Clark, Towanda, C. R. Stanger, Blue Mound; Varner Longworth, McLean; E. S. Sloan, Danvers; J. D. Shiner, Hudson; Harry Denning, Leroy; J. M. Custenborder of Mackinaw; C. W. Orcutt, managing editor of the Pantagraph.

During the passing of the parade, some two hours, The Pantagraph's airplane, Scoop, circled above the city and line of march, a cameraman taking pictures of the parade from the air.

Time was turned backward for many decades when a band of 27 Indians of the Winnebago tribe, under Chief White Eagle, set up their tent village in the tract of open land east of Bongo park at the opening of the Centennial Week. They brought their tepees with them from their permanent home near Starved Rock, established their own form of life at the park, tethered their horses and parked their automobiles in the vicinity. They bought and prepared their own food in their own way, which had some of the modern frills, it was admitted. Among themselves, the Indians conversed in their native language but they were able to talk English fluently.

Each day some of the band came to the business part of the City and attracted much attention as they wandered among the stores and along the streets. They took part in the historic parades of Wednesday afternoon and Friday night, displaying various forms of conveyance, including the most ancient Indian modes of riding a drag.

Downtown Bloomington was a scene of almost constant interest and animation during the days of the Centennial observance. Sets of apparatus and platforms were set up in the court house yard, where every afternoon and evening troups of professional acrobats or other performers entertained the people free of charge.

The Bloomington municipal band, led by George W. Marion, formally opened the four days' celebration when it struck up the strains of "Illinois" on Wednesday afternoon. A crowd of 1,500 at the start was soon increased to twice that number. This set-up of free acts was repeated each afternoon and evening during the rest of the week, the program being varied somewhat from day to day.

The Pageant Of Progress

On Wednesday night was presented the central pictorial feature of the week's celebration, a grand outdoor allegorical and historical panorama, known as the Pageant of Progress. It was shown in the open air theatre on the hillside in Highland park where a great throng gathered on the opening night to witness the spectacle.

In it participated more than 1,000 persons, men, women, and children. The Pageant was made up of a series of moving scenes and tableaux, depicting different episodes of the history of McLean county, with living persons representing some of the famous men and women of the century in local history, and showing them as they might have appeared in some of the important incidents of their lives.

The "stage" on which this historic cyclorama of local history was unfolded, was in fact the natural greensward, and the action took place against a backstage curtain of special design. All the accessories were of course in life-size form, and in addition to the persons themselves the drama required the services of horses, wagons, mules, oxen, cattle, dogs, and other domestic animals.

Orchestral music and appropriate songs by the Centennial choir of 200 voices blended with the splendid effects of pantomime, the symbolism of graceful dancing, and the actual re-enactment of history in some of the many episodes which made the annals of McLean county during its first 100 years.

While the eyes of the 6,000 persons who composed the audience were drinking in the spectacular scene which unfolded before them, "The Voice of McLean County," speaking through an amplifier, gave an interpretation of one scene after another, so that the audience might grasp the actual and allegorical import of each phase of the story. Dr. Harry L. Howell acted in the role of the "Voice of McLean County," and his sonorous voice reached the farthest stretches of the hillside auditorium.

As the opening act of the drama, the Centennial official hostess, Miss Evelyn Bye, entered the stage upon her magnificent float, and bade her official welcome to the Centennial Queen, Miss Lucille Ward of Colfax. Each of these central figures was followed by her attendants, and after the welcoming ceremonial, to which pages with long gilded trumpets added a royal circumstance, the Queen gave utterance to a fitting response, and all those in the official group took their places in their special reviewing box at the left of the stage.

Prior to the entry of each allegorical group, the Voice of McLean County announced, in verse or prose, the significance of the coming scene.

Episode I. An Indian camp and primitive life of the first white settlers of McLean county. The period represented was from 1800 to 1822. The Indians in this region when the white man came, were mostly Kickapoos, though many belonged to the Delaware and Pottawatomie tribes. They lived by hunting and fishing. The stage scene showed their modes of life. Members of the Improved Order of Red Men, Boy Scouts, and many private citizens, men, women, and children, took part in this scene.

Episode Tiuo. First white settlers. The scene depicted the arrival of the covered wagons with their cargoes of humans and their meager personal belongings; the unloading of their wagons and the setting up of their first camps; their meeting and dealings with Indians who came to visit them. The persons taking part in this scene were members of some of the oldest families in the history of McLean county - the Orendorff, Cruikshank, Rhodes, Riley, Weiting, Hollis, Weishaar, Rust, Foster, and other families.

The first settlers to arrive in the territory to be later known as McLean county reached here in the spring of 1822. They settled at Blooming Grove, first known as Keg Grove, and were John W. Dawson and family, John Hendrix and family, and a man named Segar, who later sold his claim to William Orendorff, who arrived in 1823, with his wife and son Thomas. In 1824 the settlers included Mr. Goodman, W. H. Hodge and William Walker and family.

A friendly chief of the Kickapoos named Machina visited Dawson and his band shortly after their arrival and by sign language told them they were not wanted. However, he and his followers were not hostile and later became friendly.

This scene showed the primitive work and pastimes of the first settlers, hunting and fishing, horse racing, wrestling, card playing, spelling bees, and other amusements. The episode included dealings between the whites and Indians.

Episode Three. This dealt with the formation of McLean county. In 1830, James Allin and some other of the early settlers formed the plan to secure legal organization of a new county. A petition signed by the families at and near Blooming Grove was conveyed to the legislature, and a committee composed of Thomas Orendorff and James Latta took it to Vandalia, the state capital. Mr. Allin could not go, being ill, but he furnished letters for the commissioners to those whom he knew would favor the project. On December 25, 1830, the bill was passed by the legislature incorporating the county, which was named for John McLean, Illinois senator, whose death had occurred shortly before. The commissioners arrived home after several weeks, being detained at Vandalia by the historic "deep snow" of that period. They brought the good news of the formation of the county.

Episode Four. This depicted the first school in McLean county and reproduced incidents of the schools of that era. The first school was opened in 1825 in the home of John W. Dawson, with Miss Delilah Mullins as teacher. It was an elementary school and intended mainly for small children. There were about 16 pupils at first. Later Dr. Trabue, a Frenchman, and W. H. Hodge taught the school very successfully.

The school room depicted was one with very simple furniture, of course, and the exercises conducted by the teacher were primitive in their nature, combining serious and humorous characterizations.

Episode Five. Indians and Religion. Shortly after the arrival of the first white settlers, according to the tradition, a Kickapoo chief named Kaanakuck became converted to the belief of Christianity and afterward became famous for his work among his fellow tribesmen. His labors are preserved in the traditions of the Kickapoos, the remnants of whose tribe now live in Kansas.

A minister, William Walker, visited the Kickapoos in their camp in 1832 and held services there. The Indians had no printed books, of course, but they wrote inscriptions in their sign language on pieces of wood. The scene depicted a public dinner given by the Indians for the visiting white minister, the Indians ranged in a circle while the white preacher addressed them from the center.

Men from the three tribes of the Improved Order of Red Men and women from the Pocahontas lodge took part in this episode. Chief Machina was impersonated by W. A. Wells; chief of the tribe by H. H. McCord; scout on horse by L. W. Lawyer; religious scout, Kaanakuck, by W. C. Lawyer, and the minister by C. Hayden Foster.

In his middle life, Lincoln made his living as a lawyer by "riding the circuit" and practicing in many counties, including McLean. He appeared as attorney in many cases in the county, of which his intimate friend David Davis was presiding judge, and another friend, Jesse W. Fell, one of his fellow practitioners. The most important case in which Lincoln appeared in McLean county was that of "Illinois Central Railroad vs. the County of McLean." Lincoln was the attorney for the railroad and won his suit, receiving the largest fee he ever collected in a case.

The scene depicted Lincoln in various roles, including an address to a jury in the court here. Fred Streble impersonated Lincoln, with remarkable likeness to the original. There were characters representing the northern soldier, the southern soldier, the slave, and other persons who figured in the drama of Lincoln's life.

Episode Seven. This pictured the coming of the first railroad. After the passage of a law by the Illinois legislature donating to the Illinois Central large tracts of land along its entire line in the state, on agreement to pay the state seven per cent of its gross earnings, it was the foresight of Gen. A. Gridley, then state senator, which secured the building of this road through McLean county. The road was completed into Bloomington from the north in 1853, and the first train entered Bloomington the following year.

The scene depicting the laying of a section of the railroad and the ceremonies attending its completion. Men from the Modern Woodmen Camps put on this scene. William Hull and Thomas Ball represented railroad section bosses; James Lyle Horn, water boy, and a large number of the Woodmen were the track layers.

Episode Eight. The Civil war. War talk was first heard in the Lincoln-Douglas campaign for senator in 1858. The campaign was one of intense feeling and excitement. Sentiment in McLean county was solidly against secession, which began to be whispered. The Republican party was formed to prevent the spread of slavery; the Democratic party argued that federal power could not interfere with slavery where it existed. Many marching clubs were formed and torchlight processions held. Uniformed clubs called "Douglas Invinicbles" and "Lincoln Wideawakes" marched and manuevered in public.

Lincoln and to resist rebellion. On April 18th, three days after the call of President Lincoln for troops to put down the rebellion, the first 113 volunteers left Bloomington for Springfield under Capt. Harvey.

The tableaux depicted a ballet of the civil war. The scene in Phoenix hall was depicted in another part of the episode. The call for volunteers and their mustering for service was enacted. The Dance of the South - the Grays. The Dance of the North - the Blues. Battle pictures were represented, and after the struggle the "Spirit of Peace" appeared in tableaux. Other tableaux showed Lincoln the Emancipator; General Grant; General Lee; The Slave.

Episode Nine. The Human Flag. Here was shown the stars and stripes formed by 200 boys and girls, who performed many maneuvers and executed many drill exercises.

Episode Ten. Return of Peace. After the civil war, phenomenal growth took place in city, county, and state. A wealth of natural resources was developed. The wilderness became a garden spot. Great harvests were gathered, and the once wide prairies became cultivated farms with prosperous homes.

Episode Eleven. The World War. This was a series of tableaux depicting scenes re-enacted from the history of the world war in which McLean county men and women took part - World war heroes leaving their cherished homes and loved ones - The Red Cross nurses - The Liberty Loan drives. The Voice of McLean County recited verses from the famous poem, "In Flanders Field."

The scenes depicted the sounding of the alarm of fire at midnight - the shrieking of the whistles, - the mad rush of the fire engines - the gathering of excited crowds - the burst of flames from many buildings all at the same time - Hour after hour the buildings fall in ruins - Appeal is made by Mayor Thomas to Peoria and Springfield for help - More fire apparatus arrives - As dawn breaks, the city is a heap of ruins. Then comes the rebuilding era, when new structures arise from the ashes - the beginning of a new and greater era - the new Court House typical of other modern structures.

Episode Thirteen. The Centennial. This scene depicted modern progress in many stages. Miss McLean County and Miss Bloomington with their attendants were presented in many formations,

Episode Fourteen. The Finale. The climax of the whole evening spectacle was the "Wheel of Progress," in which the participants in the Pageant of Progress all appeared on the stage at the same time in mass maneuvers, presenting one grand panorama of the Centennial of McLean County History.

Thursday

Thursday morning a large crowd gathered at Fans Field to witness a baseball game between teams representing the Farm Bureau of Livingston and that of McLean county. The Livingston team won the game by a score of 15 to 9.

The batteries were: Livingston, Frobish and Wrightman; Mc- Lean, Corper, Weinzierl and Lanier. The other players were: For Livingston, Weber, Wildhaber, Myers, Jacobs, Conroy, Wheatley, Smith. For McLean: Caton, Clarke, R. Weber, Fitzgerald, Davis, Buescher, Flint.

At noon the picnic facilities of Miller park were taxed to the limit, with seven large family reunions and many thousands of other farmers came to enjoy the day's sport, the Centennial exercise and the speeches at the park in the afternoon. A series of games were played by young people representing various townships of the county.

The afternoon address was delivered by Charles A. Ewing of Decatur, president of the National Livestock Marketing association. Mr. Ewing explained the prevailing system of government aid to farmers through co-operative efforts in marketing their stock. He explained the huge volume of the livestock business in the country, both as to production and marketing. The final afternoon feature at the park was a program of sports for farm people directed by C. D. Curtis and Mrs. Spencer Ewing.

Friday

The public attention of Centennial crowds was turned to the air on Friday. A special program at the Bloomington airport north of Normal brought a crowd of 5000 people.

The affair opened with an impressive air parade, in which various types of planes took charge. During the first hour, free rides in The Pantagraph plane, Scoop, were given to the Centennial Queen and the Official Hostess, and to various Centennial officials. Then came the air show. There was a parade of all the planes then on the field, making the take-off in striking order, and circling over the city for the wonder of the people who had stayed at home. Leading the procession was a huge Ford all metal trimotored plane of unusual type.

The pilots flying the ships which took part in the air parade included Art Carnahan, Bill Bennett, Eddie Brooks, Tommie Woods, Leo Jackson, Leo Simmons, Claude Kendall, Arch Baldridge, Franklin Kemp and Ray Loomis. Three glider flights were engineered by Art Carnahan, the glider staying in the air one minute and 35 seconds after being cut loose from its piloting plane. Art Carnahan gave an exhibition of stunt flying, which furnished the crowd plenty of thrills.

The 25 mile air race was participated in by several planes, over a five mile course. The race was won by Ferdinand Schad in a Travelair plane; second Kenneth Rengel, in his Kenneth Curtiss Robin; third, Archie Baldridge in Humphreys' Waco; fourth, Franklin E. Kemp in his Waco. A thrilling parachute jump was made by Eddie Brooks from a height of 2,200 feet, riding aloft in Tommy Woods' plane.

The Friday night parade was featured by the presence of a large contingent of Mystic Shriners from Peoria, with their Oriental band, the Chanters, and a brilliant float finely decorated. The display was meant to illustrate the charitable work carried on by the Shriners in behalf of the crippled children. The historical portraits presented in the floats on Wednesday afternoon were repeated.

A light but continuing rain fell throughout the evening of Friday. Nevertheless, the management of the Centennial decided to hold the parade as planned.

First Division. White oxen, covered wagon, four state highway policemen; color guard, American Legion; Louis E. Davis post and Redd Williams post; four men each; Bloomington band; brown oxen and Swigert's covered wagon; State Farm Mutual Insurance company float, Bevan Dairy, three wagons, three horses each; Grav- Trimble float; Ray Mette, three Dodge cars; loud speakers car and announcer; Brandt's Truck company truck; Centennial Christian church, miniature edifice illuminated.

United Photo Shop, float; Young Men's club; Gerhart Shoe company float; Bloomington and Normal Standard club; O. E. S. kitchen band; Leman Dairy float; Illinois Wesleyan university float; McLean County Fife and Drum Corps; Daily Pantagraph float showing printing press; Val Blatz Brewing Co. beer wagon; Tracy Green, float and two Chevrolet cars; Hawkins studio, decorated car; MaGirl Foundry float; Unemployed camp, showing hobos around fire, on truck; Holland Furnace Co. display of long inflated bag; Johnson Transfer Co., 900 pound lump of coal, five vehicles from old twowheeled truck to most modern; U. S. L. Battery Co., and Franklin auto; Martens Motor Co., decorated car.

Second Division. Illinois Soldiers' and Sailors' Children's School band; Woodmen's drill team; Salvation Army; Indians, six mounted men, including James Reeder, candidate for sheriff; stage coach and Indians; B. & N. horse railway car; ancient styles of bicycles, Elsworth Fenn riding one of them; old fire hose reel, Prairie Bird pumper, steam fire engine and modern motor pumper; 1908 Ford car, by Laurence Rust; one cylinder Cadillac; 1913 Ford car with license plates to date; white mule, comic; Evergreen City Motorcycle club, 10 motorcycles; leader in front and streamers running back to others; 1923 taxi, by Yellow Cab company, and two modern cabs; Industrial Casualty Co., 24 decorated automobiles; Laurence Rust, two decorated cars.

Third Division. Saybrook band; Illinois Power & Light Corporation float, DeMolay, purple and gold decorated car; Royal Neighbors of America, decorated car; Hayes-Custer Stove Co.; A. Livingston & Sons float; Belt Better Tire Service, car; Snow & Palmer party float, Sunlite Bread, Bloomington Baking company, four bread trucks and float; Oil-O-Matic, decorated float, illuminated sign on top; Meadows Washing Machine Co., float; Berner & Conroy plumbing company display; Bloomington Soft Water Laundry float; I.O.O.F. float; Women of Mooseheart, float; Purity Ann Baking company, float with 25 employees dressed in white; Clay Dooley, car; Carnahan Garage, car; Model Laundry float and two company trucks, one of 1892 vintage and one modern; Association of Commerce, decorated car; Funk Bros. Seed Co., float; Bloomington Welding Co., decorated truck; Buck Mann play ground, decorated car; Kiwanis club, decorated car; Tracy Green, Uncle Pay ton Brown, 110 years old.

Fourth Division. Six officers on horse back abreast; Shrine Oriental band; Shrine float with throne carrying officers of the Temple; Mohammed Shrine chanters; Shrine band; Mohammed patrol drill team, section hands, with their handcar, dressed in striped overalls; B. and M. Baking Co., two trucks with float between; Paul F. Beich Co., float with 143 girls and 60 men all attired in white, called the Candy Makers; office force of Beich's marching; C. W. Klemm store, float; Cox Shoe Co., decorated car; Rotary International car, flags of all nations; Yates company, five cars, 1904 Maxwell and four others; Newmarket, decorated car; Pontiac municipal band; Kinloch- Bloomington Telephone Co., big float; W. H. Roland, decorated car; American Legion float; Red Cross showing navy and army service; My Store, float displaying trade territory map; Hembreiker Flower Shop, decorated truck; Illinois Valley Motor Co., two cars; I.O.O.F. decorated cars; Moto-Inn, decorated car; Union Gas Co., float; Schueth Garage, decorated car; Fraternal Order of Eagles, poorhouse float; John A. Beck Co., ambulance; George Edw. Day Paint Co., float with two men painting trellis; and a Johnson Transfer truck with a load of household goods bound for Rockford.

Saturday

Several important memorial and historical features marked Saturday, the closing day of Centennial week. One was the formal program of dedication of Lake Bloomington, the great municipal enterprise which had been brought to completion during the summer of 1930 after two years of planning and two years of construction work. The lake formed the new municipal water supply, being a reservoir four miles long of irregular shape formed by the damming of Money Creek at a point about 12 miles northeast of the city.

Mayor Ben S. Rhodes opened the afternoon program at the lake, and presented Richard M. O'Connell, corporation counsel as chairman. Mayor Rhodes gave credit in his remarks to the work of civic organizations and citizens in making possible the creation of Lake Bloomington, and predicted that it would furnish the city ample water supply for many years.

Mr. O'Connell declared that the private corporation of 25 citizens who made the financing of the lake possible had received not a cent of pay or profit for their part in the enterprise. He then introduced Egbert B. Hawk, who was one of the original proposers of the Lake Bloomington project, who served as chairman of the Bloomington Water company board of directors and was a leader throughout.

In his address, Mr. Hawk gave credit to H. O. Davis, one time publisher of the Pantagraph, for having been among the first Bloomington citizens to dream of an impounded water supply. He told of the formation of the Committee of Fourteen appointed by Mayor Walter Arbogast of Normal and Mayor Frank H. Blose of Bloomington to consider formation of a water project. The Normal members of this committee were O. L. Manchester, A. M. Augustine, and C. E. Clark. For Bloomington the mayor named Noble Paxton,

Mark Hayes, and Charles Lawyer. The committee was to include both mayors. For the Association of Commerce the committee included President Willis S. Harwood, Frank Donovan, and Mr. Hawk. The committee was completed by selection of three business men, Ned Dolan, Paul Beich and William Spafford. Mr. Augustine acted as secretary of the committee during its life, Mr. Hawk as chairman.

Following many months of investigations and preliminary publicity for the project, the Committee of Fourteen filed its report with both city councils. To realize its recommendations, a private corporation was formed known as the Bloomington Water Company, the shareholders which were Charles F. J. Agle, R. C. Baldwin, John J. Burke, W. W. Tilden, Gus Ensenberger, W. S. Harwood, G. C. Heberling, Rogers Humphreys, Julius Klemm, W. W. McKnight, Charles H. Snow, G. B. Read, John Rocke, C. U. Williams, L. G. Whitmer, Roy Chew, Ned E. Dolan, E. M. Evans, E. B. Hawk, Campbell Holton, E. E. Jones, Milton R. Livingston, Dudley C. Smith, Paul F. Beich, and W. C. Spafford. Through death or other changes the corporation later included Prof. W. A. L. Beyer, R. J. Rutherford, Harry K. Dick and Thomas F. Harwood.

W. W. Tilden was first president, and after his death, E. M. Evans succeeded him, and served to the end of the private phase of the enterprise. Mr. Hawk gave credit to the work of Mayor Rhodes and Attorney O'Connell for the project, along with that of Lester H. Martin and James C. Riley as attorneys in the legal labors. As the final words of his address, Mr. Hawk said: "We dedicate you, Lake Bloomington, to the uses for which you were brought into being; and as the years come and unroll into the past, may you continue to serve the people who have learned to love you, to value you, and may you help to bring to them and retain for them health, prosperity, and joyous happiness."

In addition to the formal ceremonies connected with the dedication of Lake Bloomington, there were many interesting features to entertain the large crowd.

Of a sporting character were the series of boat races. Thousands in the throng had never seen a race between power boats, and the contests gave them plenty of thrills. On the west shore of the lake gathered the band of Winnebago Indians who had been in camp south of Bloomington during the week. To the entertainment of the crowd looking on, the Indians put on a program of "war" dances and other rites of their native tribal life. Finally Chief Whitefeather made a speech to the assembled crowd. He spoke in very good English and expressed the feelings of his modern tribesmen in being welcomed to these notable ceremonies connected with the history of a great Illinois county.

Saturday night came, with the closing events of the Centennial festivities. Due to rain on Friday night, the third presentation of the Pageant of Progress had been postponed to Saturday night. The conditions were still somewhat handicapped by wet weather, and the attendance at the final performance was not up to expectations. However, the full schedule of the pageant was put on, with the cast 85 percent complete in every act, a remarkably high percentage, judged by comparison with other places and similar situations.

At the close of the week's ceremonies, interviews with many Bloomington and McLean county citizens voiced the opinion that the Centennial was a great success; it was pronounced the most largely attended, the most colorful and historically interesting celebration which had been held within the memory of those who took part or witnessed it.

The officers and others who took part in the various phases of the Centennial were: Eugene D. Funk, president; Paul F. Beich, vice president; Melvin J. Callahan, executive secretary; Russsll, Shearer, treasurer; Weldon B. Wade, general manager and director.

The general executive committee in charge of most of the detail comprised Arthur S. Smith, chairman; Walter Armbruster, A. H. Belt, Henry Nierstheimer, Perry J. LaBounty, A. A. Ulbrich, Davis Merwin, Blake Holton, Joe Meany, J. L. Hasbrouck, F. D. E. Babcock, Harold U. Lang, C. W. Orcutt, and Lloyd Eyer.

Division of the week's program: Mr. Eyer, chairman of the parade committee and marshal; J. W. Rodgers and Edgar Lebkuecher, commercial floats; Al Hale and George Stautz, civic floats; Will Shelper, fraternal floats; George W. Marton and Mark Ethell, music; Harold D. Saurer, chairman, Mrs. Porter Phillips, choir leader and Kenneth Bradshaw, orchestra leader, for the Pageant; William J. Hull, chairman property committee; B. M. Donovan, Pageant grounds; Mr. Wade, Paul Jefferson, Mr. Holton, Mr. Armbruster, and Al Grabs, Pageant tickets.

William B. Brigham was chairman of the historic relics committee, with Oscar Hoose, Mr. Hasbrouck and Earl Bach; Mr. Brigham, Mr. Hasbrouck and Mrs. J. H. Cheney as historic episodes committee; Mrs. W. W. Tilden, chairman homecoming; Dr. C. E.

Pettitt, chairman religious observance; Mr. Lang, Jake Ward and Art Kane, souvenir programs; Dewey Montgomery, public safety; R. J. Rutherford, traffic manager; Mayor Ben S. Rhodes, chairman public reception committees.

Centennial Ediiion

The Daily Pantograph issued on Tuesday, Aug. 26, the first day of the formal Centennial celebration, a special edition which was larger, more carefully prepared and filled with a greater mass of historical and timely reading matter than any other newspaper ever published in the county up to that time.

The Centennial Edition consisted of 102 pages, divided into seven sections. The first section of 18 pages contained the general news of the day and the current news of the inauguration of the week's Centennial. There were four other sections of 14 pages each, printed in the usual form of black and white.

Then there was a tabloid section of 16 pages containing a carefully written and elaborately illustrated history of McLean county. This was printed in three colors, black, red and blue. The historical sketches enlivening the reading matter were made by Tom Sears, an artist attached to the Pantograph staff.

The final section of the edition was an Artgravure section of 12 pages containing hundreds of pictures of modern Bloomington and McLean county.

The entire edition was prepared by staff writers and picture men of the Pantograph, who had put in many extra days for three months prior to the Centennial. C. W. Orcutt, managing editor, directed the entire project. The county history was prepared by J. L. Hasbrouck; and various department and special features were written by members of the staff, including Fred H. Young, Edward E. Pierson, A. J. Bill, Mrs. Grace Jewett Austin, Stanley Bishop, Curtis Bill, Frank Bill, Joe Green, W. E. Richardson, Haskell Armstrong, Mrs. E. B. Brindley, Miss Catherine Hoobler, Charles Driver, Milton Bluemke, James Hart. The editor of all special Centennial matter was Maxwell E. H. Pyle, a staff member.

Of this special edition, 39,000 copies were printed, and they reached former residents or friends of McLean county people in every State of the Union. The edition consumed 48,000 pounds of paper and 966 pounds of ink, including 120 pounds of red, 100 pounds of blue and 746 pounds of black. There were 2,500 pounds of metal used in making the plates. All the work of every kind, except the Artgravure section, was done in the home plant of the Pantograph. 25

Complete Programme

7:30 P.M. - County-wide Religious Observance Meeting at Pageant Field, Highland park municipal golf course. Speaker, Rev. Edgar DeWitt Jones.

Wednesday, Aug Morning

1:00-3:00 - Historical Parade - Review by McLean County Board of Supervisors, Mayor Ben Rhodes, Aldermen, Congressman Homer Hall, General Frank Dickson, and Federal Judge Louis Fitz- Menry.

Thursday, Aug

7:00 P.M. - Free Acts and Music at Court House Square. 8:00 P.M. - McLean County Historical Pageant of Progress at Highland Park Municipal Golf Course.

Friday, Aug Morning

1:00-2:00 P.M. - Band Concerts at Court House Square. 2:00-3:00 P.M.-Free Acts at Court House Square. 3:00-5:00 P.M. - Air Derby at Bloomington Airport.

Saturday, Aug Morning

9:00 A.M. - Concert at Lake Bloomington. 10:00 A.M. - Free Acts at Lake Bloomington. 11:00 A.M. - Motor Boat Races at Lake Bloomington. 12:00 Noon - Dinner at Lake Bloomington.

Afternoon 1:00 P.M. - Formal Dedication of Lake Bloomington. 2:00 P.M. - Concert at Lake Bloomington. 3:00 P.M. - Boat Racing at Lake Bloomington.

Centennial Of The Stewart House

August 26, 1934 Among the outstanding events in McLean County in 1934 was the celebration of the centennial of the building of a brick house by Samuel Stewart and his sons in 1834. This took place on the Stewart farm southeast of Randolph, August 26, and was in the form of a picnic dinner followed by a memorial program attended by many representatives of the old settlers' families. This house which is still in an excellent state of preservation was the first brick house built in McLean county and is the oldest house standing.

It stands on a hill and faces down the valley. The trees stood so thick around it that when they laid the foundation they could not get a true line on the sun. So it does not stand quite square with the compass. Ninety-five years have swiftly passed away since my grandfather dug and burned and mixed the clay and made the bricks and laid them. Then with an adze he hewed the timbers and thus erected his home. The burning suns of Summer have blazed upon it. The bitter winds of Winter have buffeted it. The driving rain and the pelting sleet have beaten upon it, but still it stands, a monument to his enterprise and skill, the oldest house in the county. Verily, he builded better than he knew. It was brick and full two stories high. It had three flues all coming from different fireplaces, but all converged into one great chimney. Attached to the rear was a lean-to, made of wood. It was also two stories, but the roof was so low that we boys used to lie in bed and put our feet against the ceiling.

I used to fancy that the windows upstairs were eyes and I believed that I could read their expression when I looked up at them. Sometimes, when I had been sent on a hasty errand to the neighbors and boy-like had stopped to try to build a dam, or play with Burt or Ed, I imagined that I could see a distinct scowl in them and they seemed to be watching me as I scurried up the hill. At other times I could detect a distinct twinkle in them and sometimes they seemed to smile.

I can see as but yesterday the great fireplace in the "sitting room" where we all gathered of an evening, a great batch of mush or hominy simmering in the pot which hung from the great crane, cooking for our morning breakfast. Grandmother sitting next the cupboard, her white hair covered by a lace cap. An austere, straight nosed, straight backed woman, decidedly Scotch in her appearance. She was always, always knitting. Father usually sat next to a small table with a lamp on it. Seldom do I remember father when he did not have a book in his hand. Always reading. Then came mother, whom father called "Little Woman." She sat in a low chair always sewing, or mending, or darning. Then ranged round in front of the fire came the five children. Watch, the old dog, lay right in front of the fire and so close that we often wondered that he did not scorch. Talking, studying, reading and singing we spent the short winter evening while the fire place threw long shadows about the room and sang its own song in a deep throaty roar."

The house was decorated with suitable flags and banners, and the rooms were refurnished with seats, tables, carpets, and drapes to make it look as nearly as possible like it must have appeared one hundred years before. A marble tablet had been set in the wall over the front door bearing this inscription:

At a suitable time during the ceremonies this tablet was unveiled by the youngest descendant, Clark Morris. All stood at attention while taps were sounded by Bobbie Chrifield, who was dressed in Boy Scout uniform. Clark E. Stewart presided at this memorial exercise at which suitable songs, recitations, and poems were given by various descendants of Samuel and Jane Handley Stewart. About seventyfive direct descendants were present and among the interesting things exhibited was a family tree in which were shown one hundred and sixty-five descendants of Samuel Stewart, including one great-great-great grandchild, Robert Cutter, of West Hatfield, Mass. Mr. William B. Brigham, County Superintendent of Schools and President of the Mc- Lean County Historical Society, spoke upon Dr. A. E. Stewart's influence in the community. Mrs. J. J. Myers, of Normal, who once taught school in the Stewart home, spoke briefly upon Mrs. A. E. Stewart's personality. Short talks were also given by Gardiner Powell and Lee Rust, referring to the history of the neighborhood and the old settlers. Among the most interesting events of the day was the roll call of descendants of the old settlers who were present at this meeting. The following families of Randolph were represented: Capt. A. M. Stringfield, Matthew Coverdale, Wm. Thompson, fames Bishop, Jacob Bishop, William Kan, George Cruikshank, Harrison Houser, John Rust, Enoch Passwater, John Spaid, Michael Powell, John Filler, Joseph Dorland, Joseph Ryburn, and Gardner Randolph.

"Our subject today, the centenary of this venerable landmark opens up such a vista of startling events, that in order to keep this sketch within reasonable bounds I must avoid repeating known facts and relate as concisely as possible the salient points of pioneer history. It is almost impossible today to bring before our minds the hardships and dangers of the pioneers. There is a tendency today to belittle the dangers that the pioneers faced, but they were very real.

"Here in this neighborhood an Indian chief ordered all the whites to be out of here before the leaves fell or he would scalp every one of them. The threat was ignored, but it must have taken iron nerves to sleep when no one knew when the Indians' righteous indignation would get the better of his judgment. Ague and dysentery were the rule, not the exception, and the six cemeteries in this township grew steadily. The remedies used were often worse than no treatment at all, favorites being poke root, ipecac, calomel, and bleeding.

"The immediate farm where this house stands was purchased from the state government at Vandalia in 1831 by Samuel Stewart. The family consisted of Samuel Stewart, his wife, Jane Handley Stewart, and four stalwart boys and three girls, who arrived from Ohio the winter after the famous deep snow (1830-31) and brought with them, for those times, good horses, wagons, tools and furniture. Nevertheless, everything was so crude that the two oldest boys slept in a wagon the entire first winter with their boots on, and nothing over them but a buffalo robe. The wolves were numerous in this vicinity, and they would howl and sniff at the cracks of the house at night, and only by firing a few shots to drive them away could sleep be obtained. The summer was cold and wet. There came a hard freeze in September before all the crops were in. Families already established in the neighborhood were the Coverdales on the east, the Rutledges and Jacob Bishop on the south, the Passwaters and Gardner Randolph on the south, but there were only treeless, trackless, windswept prairies on the northwest.

"Very soon after the Stewarts' arrival they erected a log cabin and a short time later grandfather and his oldest boys planned and went to work on this present brick house which we are memorializing today. A house that after one hundred years still makes a pretentious appearance as you look at it today, must have appeared very much like a palace in those primitive times. When Samuel Stewart asked his wife to go to Illinois he promised her a house as good as she was accustomed to in Ohio, so he was willing to labor two years in order to fulfill his word.

"The west room in the brick house was designed as a place for day school and was also used for Sunday school, church, quilting bees, spelling matches, and debating clubs to which the Stewarts and their neighbors were very much devoted. Many subjects were analyzed and disposed of by these primitive orators.

"With characteristic energy the Stewarts also erected an immense barn to the west of the house. One big room was used for a threshing floor by the neighbors as well as themselves, and for several years this was the neighborhood threshing floor for all their grain.

"Samuel Stewart was six feet in height, spare, had brown eyes, rather light hair, not very muscular, had a mild, pleasant expression on his countenance, a man of few words, and frail health. So it was grandmother, Jane Handley Stewart, who had to furnish the foresight, the energy, and the indomitable will which characterized her family. She was a woman of great force of character, strong and healthy in body and mind and taught her children the principles of self-reliance, industry and honor. She read politics, history, and travel; treasured Scottish lore and sang many plaintive Scotch songs: 'Say Maggie Are You Sleeping,' 'The Banks of Dee,' 'Highland Mary' and others. The Stewarts were frank and honest in their dealings but they were poor judges of human nature and men, and they were often victimized by the unscrupulous. The closest cooperation and good will prevailed not only in the family, but with all the neighbors. They were staunch abolitionists and total abstainers.

Grandfather Stewart's death Jan. 8, 1841, (b. May 5, 1790, Monongehela county, Virginia) left the leadership to John Handley, the oldest son, a duty that he cheerfully assumed, although he was married and had his own farm to care for. He was fourteen years old when the family came to McLean county and upon him fell much of the work in the construction of the house. The boys made ox yokes and repaired wagons, broke horses and hunted wolves. Willim Curtis, another son, served as flag bearer in the Civil War. It is safe to say that in his hands "The Old Flag never touched the ground." James Newton, another son, was injured by a kick from a vicious horse. He was sent south for his health where he died and was buried in 1845. Robert became a man of great energy. He bought stock and was often twelve hours at a time in the saddle. The girls of the family, Sarah Ann, Isabel Jane, and Amanda, were earnest and self reliant. The girls often helped in the building of rail fences and herding cattle. They carded wool and spun flax and operated a large loom with which they made a large portion of their wearing apparel.

The youngest child and the only one born in Illinois, was Archibald Evans Stewart (1834-1899). For his biography see the "Transactions of the McLean County Historical Society," volume II, page 669-674."

The Arrowsmith Battlefield

Soon after their first contact with the French in Wisconsin, the Fox Indians began to develop a feeling of distrust and suspicion which broke out later in hostilities that proved very detrimental to trade and settlement over a vast area of New France. The Foxes were a sturdy race - self-reliant and revengeful; cherishing their vengeance long and venting it when the moment seemed opportune. After a great many years of unpleasant relations with this tribe, the French authorities were able to secure the assistance of other Indian nations to aid in their destruction.

A decisive battle between the Foxes and French (aided by other Indian tribes - enemies to the Foxes) was fought in 1730. This battle, lasting twenty-three days, is recorded on the pages of history, but writers have not been able to tell definitely the location of this fateful struggle. Some historians have said it probably was fought near Starved Rock, while another has it placed (some thirty-five miles to the northeast) not far from Piano in Kendall County, Illinois. None of these locations has been satisfactory to historians because of conflict with the official reports. The best authorities have located it on the uncharted prairies with no nearby landmarks. Under such circumstances, only a careful analysis of all available records and situations will reveal the true site of the battle.

At that time, distance and directions could only be given approximately, yet they are definite enough to be of great value in locating this battlesite when other official reports and local records are examined and compared. The location is plainly designated in a statement made by Hocquart, Intendant of New France, who was at Quebec. On receiving the messengers direct from the scene of action, he reported to the French minister as follows: "I have no doubt, Monseigneur, that you have learned, by way of the Mississippi, of the defeat of the Renard savages that happened September 9, last, (1730) in a plain situated between the River Wabash and the River of the Illinois, about sixty leagues to the south of the extremity or foot of Lake Michigan to the east, southeast of Le Rocher, in the Illinois country." (Le Rocher is French for "the Rock" - now known as Starved Rock.)

On the Jacob Smith farm two and one-half miles southeast of the village of Arrowsmith, McLean County, Illinois, are a few scattered trees. This is the remainder of what was formerly known as Little Grove, and is now known as Smith's Grove. The head waters of the Sangamon River flow along the south and southeast of this group of trees. To the north and northwest, there is a hill which rises to an elevation of about twenty feet above the level of the river. The first settlers of this community noticed that there were many depressions and ridges on the top of this knoll, and they were then supposed to be remains of Indian pits or caches. These were said to be irregularly shaped and irregularly placed with the greatest depth not over two and one-half feet from the tops of the ridges to the deepest part of the depressions.

The following is an excerpt from a discussion of "The Arrowsmith Battle Ground" written by Captain John H. Burnham and published in the Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society in 1908: "One beautiful day in May, 1897, a party consisting of several pioneers of eastern McLean County and a few of the members of the McLean County Historical Society made a very interesting exploration of the central attraction of the grove, and we shall never forget our intense interest as we made our discoveries. We dug into four or five of the dozen or fifteen of the pits or depressions, which were scattered irregularly over the acre of land at the top of the little knoll, and found the apparent bottoms of these pits at depths not exceeding three feet, and mostly two feet from

On several occasions Captain John H. Burnham and Judge H. W. Beckwith of Danville had together investigated places that appeared to be of historical significance. Thus, it was only natural for Captain Burnham to write to his friend at Danville telling him of the 1897 expedition to the Arrowsmith battlefield. Judge Beckwith answered as follows, under date of December 3, 1897: "Dear friend Burnham:

"I am glad to hear of the finds over on the Sangamon. This may be the missing link in Illinois history. I trust the search will continue until relics are found that will prove conclusively whether the combatants were French or Anglo-Americans.

The Illinois State Historical Society was organized in 1899 with Judge Beckwith as president. At the first annual meeting Judge Beckwith outlined the great work to be done by historical societies in Illinois: "Your chairman cannot too forcibly urge the necessity there is to localize many of the recorded events in our early State history. To illustrate:

"Among the expeditions sent out from Fort Charters to chastise the Sak and Fox Indians, always enemies of the French, was one that found and defeated these savages entrenched towards the sources of the Sangamon river. Now if our zealous friend, Captain Burnham, and his industrious associates, can identify this battle ground in McLean county, as your chairman hopes they may, it will be an ample reward for the historical society at Bloomington."

Some articles collected from the above site, either at the time of the 1897 expedition or by residents of the community over a period of previous years, were presented to Captain Burnham and were given by him to the McLean County Historical Society in Bloomington. They included two hundred bullets; three knife blades (which may have been scalping or dirk knives); various copper ornaments; a piece of pistol barrel; parts of nearly straight deer-horn prongs; part of a link of an iron chain; a peculiar piece of iron (flat-scraper on deer skins); a part of a gun barrel which had also been flattened, probably for use as a scraper; a gun lock; a steel blade (possibly the blade of a dirk knife, but more likely a razor blade on which the maker's name, Pierre Minan, could be read.)

Another interesting fact in connection with this "battle site" is this: About fifty rods to the northeast, on the downward slope from the hill, early settlers of the community noticed what appeared to be rifle pits. They were laid out in the manner of an old-fashioned rail fence. These earthworks were evidently made in haste for they were not dug to a great depth. Though plainly visible before cultivation of the prairie effaced them, they can no longer be seen on the surface of the ground. Pits similar to these were found across the river to the south and southeast of the grove.

near the grove, outside of the location of the pits, and in the direction of the trenches to the northeast and to the south. However bullets have been picked up in great numbers for a distance of nearly one-half mile in the southern direction. The bullets are of large size and many have the appearance of having been hammered into form from bar lead. The type of these bullets suggests a remote date and their surface coating of patina indicates a long exposure to the elements. It is also interesting to note that on some occasions when wood from this grove was being burned in an open grate, melted lead was observed trickling from the fire. In 1906, while a large oak tree from this grove was being sawed into lumber, the saw cut through a bullet of the type mentioned above. The bullet was near the heart of the log, which was four feet in diameter. We greatly regret that no one, at that time, thought to count the rings of growth to the surface.

In June 1932, Mr. Frank W. Aldrich, who was present with the party that had investigated this site with Captain Burnham thirty-five years before, together with myself, and several young men, visited this spot with the hope of gaining further information. At this time, there was no trace of anything unusual on the surface. Our excavations on the hill revealed numerous workings of the soil to the depth of about two and one-half feet. Charcoal, bones, teeth, an arrow, and a bullet were found, but we were unable to locate the outline or extent of the early pits or fortifications. It was interesting, however, to visit with the members of the Smith family, who have resided there and tilled the soil since the prairie sod was broken. They have not only gathered quantities of bullets, but in the regular farming routine have recently unearthed numerous relics, including six traders' axes and a gun barrel. Nothing was of as much interest to me as a statement from one of the young men relative to a zigzag ridge which had been visible until recent years. He stated that this ridge approached the hill from the northeast, but that continuous cultivation of the soil had entirely obliterated it.

The McLean County Academy of Science became interested in the battlefield. On May 12, 1934, a large group of members and friends visited the site and made excavations. A more systematic investigation than any of recent years was planned. One trench dug across the hill in a northernly direction revealed the definite locations of ten of the pits. Worked soil, bones, and charcoal were the indications in each of these pits. Other objects of interest found at this time were a piece of sheet copper, on the apparent bottom of a pit thirty inches below the surface; a number of bullets; and a short section of a gun barrel. With the historical facts before them, the party contemplated the local setting, and returned home feeling satisfied with their efforts.

The Foxes were continuing their depredations against the French and their savage allies. The overt act was the burning of the son of the principal chief of the Illinois tribe. The chief's followers immediately arose against the offenders. The Kickapoos, Mascoutins, and Illinois of Le Rocher (the Rock) made themselves masters of the passes to the northeast. As a result of this careful guarding, the Foxes, who had planned to find refuge for their women and children among the Iroquois, were forced to give up the northern route leading to the East. They then built a fort near the Rock, a league below the enemy. This fort would, undoubtedly, have been the location of the final battle had the Foxes not decided to take the southern route to the east - the trail which followed the Bloomington moraine. Leaving the fort near the Rock, they started, with their women and children, southward. The Illinois warriors followed and harassed them at every opportunity. When the Foxes paused and built a fort (near the present site of Arrowsmith), the Illinois, with others, dug in on a hill on the prairie where they could watch and have protection. Messengers were sent out by these watchers to the various French posts.

St. Ange was notified at Fort Charters. He put himself at the head of the French there and started in the direction of the Fox fort. On August 10th, 1730, they joined the three or four hundred savages who had preceded them by a few days. On the 12th, scouts who had been sent ahead reported the location of the fort to St. Ange. The march continued mostly through a wooded country and at daybreak on the 17th they came in sight of the Fox fort. According to the report: "This was A small Grove of trees surrounded by a palisade situated on a gentle slope Rising on the West and North west Side of the bank of a small River, in such manner that on the East and South east Sides they were exposed to our fire. Their Cabins were very small and Excavated in the earth Like the Burrows of the Foxes from which they take their name." St. Ange's men opened fire at once. After the firing began, the Illinois and others who had been watching from the nearby hill, joined them.

The Foxes made two unsuccessful sorties during the day. St. Ange camped to the southeast of the Foxes on the opposite side of the river where that night trenches for fortification were dug. Later redoubts were constructed within two pistol shots of the enemy. These were designed to prevent the enemy from obtaining water, but the Foxes cleverly excavated underground passages leading to the river.

De Villiers, commander at the post on the St. Joseph River (Niles, Michigan), reports: "I had the honor of sending you a report on my first journey to le Rocher, with the nations to prevent the renards (Foxes) from passing over to The Iroquois." On August 6th, two Mascoutin messengers came to De Villiers and stated that the Renards had struck the Indians of Le Rocher. The Illinois, seeking revenge, pursued them. After a day's battle, the Renards, with their families, took possession of a small grove of trees and fortified themselves. Mention is also made in De Villier's report of "Watchers" who dug in on a hill on the prairie. "On the following dav, they parleyed with one another to gain time and to obtain assistance. During these parleys, the Pouatoutamis (Pottawatomies) sent Papissa (an Indian runner), with a young man to the Ouyatanons (near Lafayette) to ask aid of the tribes and the French at that post." Fox messengers were also there trying to bribe the Ouyatanons to help their people by keeping the road to the East open. The Ouyatanons promisd they would assist the Foxes and assured them they would soon see them.

De Villiers, having sent word to the French at Detroit and to De Noyelle of the Miami post (near Ft. Wayne) left his post August 10th, 1730. He took with him the French and Indians of that locality and proceeded toward the Fox fort. On the way, he was joined by the Kickapoos and Mascoutins (of Le Rocher). He arrived at the encampment of the Renards August 20th and took charge of the combined forces. His description of the fort is as follows: "The Renards' fort was in a small Grove of trees, on the bank of a little river running through a vast prairie, more than four leagues in circumference, without a tree, except Two groves about 60 arpents from one another."

The Ouyatanons arrived the same day but it was soon apparent that they were unwilling to completely break their promise to the Foxes. They tried many times to persuade the enemy to spare the lives of the Foxes.

Villiers' men on the right of the Fox fort. The governor of Canada sent a message by De Noyelle which forbade the making of any treaty with the Foxes.

Altogether the French and Indian warriors now numbered about fourteen hundred. Much privation and suffering on the part of both the Foxes and the enemy forces caused some desertions. However, the siege lasted twenty-three days.

On Sptember 8th, an hour before sunset, a violent storm arose. The night came on very dark and foggy, and the Foxes, taking advantage of this started off across the prairie towards the southwest. The French, hearing the crying of the children, were aware of this attempt, but they could not follow them until the next day when the Foxes were overtaken and almost completely destroyed.

De Villiers at once prepared his report and sent his son, Coulon, and Pierre Reaume, a Fox interpreter, who had been in the West many years, to carry the message to Hocquart at Quebec. Hocquart states that he questioned the son on all the facts of the report and got some details that had been omitted. He also gathered the expressions of Reaume which were according to Canadian usage. Chaussegros de Lery, chief engineer in building the walls of Quebec under the direction of Vauban, was called in. From the report, he drew up a plan of the battle with notes on the same.

In our description of this battle many interesting details have necessarily been omitted. However, we have included incidents and conditions that aid definitely in determining the location of this conflict. To that end, a summary of our findings, with the conclusions, follows:

1. Notes on De Lery's map state that the scene of the battle was east by southeast of Le Rocher. Two reliable messengers, Coulon de Villiers and Pierre Reaume, have said that the battlefield was located between the Illinois and Wabash Rivers, and about sixty leagues south of Lake Michigan. This is the approximate location of the Arrowsmith field.

2. Observations of the early settlers of Arrowsmith point to the following facts on De Lery's map: the pits on the hill and the trenches to the northeast and the southeast. At this place, the Sansamon River flows east as is shown on De Lery's map. The trench opened by De Villiers to approach the hill showed for many years as a zigzag ridge from the northeast. The complete confirmation of the character and location of the pits on the hill

3. The two sorties against St. Ange left many bullets for some distance to the south of the fort. This has been verified by the finding of many bullets in this area. Hundreds of crude patinacoated bullets were found. They compare exactly with the type that belongs to the period of this battle.

4. The Foxes wished to go east to the Iroquois. The passes to the northeast were held by enemies and to avoid the swamps, they were seeking the regular trails along the higher ground. This search brought them along the route which was in the vicinity of the Arrowsmith field.

5. When the distance traveled and the length of time taken by each of the armies to arrive at the battlefield is considered, there is added evidence that this is the site of the battle.

6. The two following statements of St. Ange and De Villiers are true of the natural setting of the Arrowsmith field: "A small grove of trees on the bank of a little river running through a vast prairie" and "On a gentle slope rising to the west and northwest on the bank of a small river."

7. Confirmatory to our findings is a letter from the French Commander at Detroit in 1752, which states that certain tribes had built a fort on the prairies of the Mascoutins, at the place where De Villiers had attacked the Foxes about twenty years before. This location is without a doubt, the hill five miles to the southwest of the Arrowsmith field where the Illinois and other tribes dug in and watched the Foxes. Messengers were sent out from there. It is positively known that a stockaded fort was located on this hill as late as 1812.

8. The view of the Arrowsmith field shown by the accompanying photograph from the air is easily recognized as the same scene shown on De Lery's map.

There were indications of a battle-ground near Piano. John F. Steward's boyhood home was near the location and he became greatly interested in identifying it. Sending to France, he secured several manuscripts in 1901. He, at once, interpreted them to show that the unlocated Battle of 1730 was fought there. A few years later Mr. Steward received copies of De Lery's maps of the battlefield, but he found difficulty in applying them to the Piano site.

Of The

Recently Stanley Faye, by discrediting the official reports, has placed the battlesite east of Lowell on the Vermillion River. This location deserves about the same consideration as Steward's Maramech Hill.

With landmarks remote, with the passing of many years, and with the changing ownership of the "Illinois country", the site of this battle was lost. Indeed, when we realize the horrible scenes of bloodshed enacted here, the human suffering and untold agony, it might have been well to have made no effort to remove the veil that has so long obscured the horrors of this field. Yet, to the historian, there is a certain lure for complete records, and sentiment is abandoned for the truth. To me, it has been a pleasure to gather from various sources the evidence that so conclusively brings to light a complete story of this long-mysterious battle ground. There in the bosom of the "grand prairie" had been hidden a secret that the ages might never have disclosed.

County Historical Society Agriculture

prediction of McLean county's agricultural greatness." 5p. Heafer, E. N., "Drain Tile-Historical sketch." 13p. Minier, George W., " Recollections of the Grange." 2p. Rhodes, Mrs. W. J., " The Grange." 31 p.

Biography

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Grove." 4p. McFarland, David, " Mount Hope Colony." 6p. Nelson, George W., " History of Saybrook." 45p. Orendorff, J. B., " Pioneers of Blooming and Randolph Groves." 22p. Packard, M. W., "Old Town's Seventy-Fifth Anniversary." 15p. Ridinger, Alexander C, from Masters Thesis from the University of of the Organization of the McLean County Medical Society." 15p. Anonymous, " The Pioneer Doctors of McLean County." 26p. Anonymous, "Anti-Nebraska Convention; Springfield, Illinois." Ip. Anonymous, " Campaign Speech of 1858." Anonymous, " Campaign Speech of 1860, to the Young Men's Lincoln the 50's." Ip. Barge, William D., " Genesis of McLean County." 21 p. Burke, J. J., "Irish in McLean County." 12p. Carlock, W. B., " Bounty Law of 1850." 5p. Carlock, W. B., " Rise, Progress, and Culmination of the Abolition

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5p. Dodson, Mrs. Emeline M., " Trip to California in 1850." 8p. Evans, Mary L. P., " Impress of Our Pioneers." lip. Frink, Dwight E., "Stages and Stage Lines in McLean County." lOp. Funk, George W., " Isaac Funk - Pioneer Cattle Man." 8p. Haines, James, " Panic of 1837." 20p. Haines, James, " Pekin and Peoria as Markets for McLean County."

the Fifties and Sixties." 8p. Kerr, Mrs. Mary T., " The Art of Weaving." 2p. Marmon, Mrs. M. A., " Prairie Fires." 4p. Myers, Williams J., "An Account of Earliest Steam Mills in Pone

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The officers of McLean County and members of the Board of Supervisors from its organization, December 25, 1830, to January 1, 1899 are given in the "Transactions of the McLean County Historical Society," volume I, page 243-256. The following is the list of those who have served since that time:

Surveyor

McLean County was organized as a county under an act of the Illinois legislature, December 25, 1830. The county was reorganized May 17, 1858 under the act of the legislature of April 1, 1851. The last meeting of the County Court, as the County Board was in March 1858, when township government was established. The names and length of service of the supervisors, by townships, from that time until 1899 are given in the "Transaction of the McLean County Historical Society," Vol. I, pages 245-254. The following are those since 1899 to the election in November 1936. They serve for two years.

Bloomington Township Bloomington was a part of the township until 1914 when the city and township were separated. For the supervisors before 1914 see the list under City of Bloomington. F. J. Blum, 1914-1922. George W. Knight, 1922-

From 1898 until 1914 Bloomington township was allowed one supervisor and seven assistants; after the separation of the city in 1914 ten were elected; from 1926 to 1931 eleven; and since 1931 twelve.

Honorary Members

The objects of this Society shall be to discover, collect and preserve whatever relates to the natural, civil, military, literary and ecclesiastical history of Illinois in general and McLean County in particular; to maintain a Museum and Library and extend knowledge on the above subjects by meetings and publications.

Biographical Sketches Of The Present Officers And Directors Of The

Brigham, Wm. B. - County Superintendent of Schools, was born in Blue Mound Township August 11, 1874, son of Benajah and Elizabeth (Shearer) Brigham. Mr. Brigham's formal education was acquired at Illinois State Normal University and Illinois Wesleyan University. Mr. Brigham was president of the Illinois Country Teachers Association in 1910, a member of the Illinois Teacher's Association and the National Education Association. He was president of the McLean County Historical Society from 1931-35 and now serves as director in that organization. He is affiliated with the Masonic Lodge, Improved Order of Red Men, Kiwanis Club, First M. E. Church, and is a Republican. Mr. Brigham married Miss Emma Wissmiller at Cooksville, 111. November 26, 1903. They have one daughter, Mrs. Glen Dodds, of White Plains, N. Y.

Hasbrouck, J. L.- One of the directors of the McLean County Historical Society, and author of the history of the Centennial Celebration in this volume, has been connected with the editorial staff of The Daily Pantagraph for many years. His early life was spent in Effingham, 111., where he graduated in high school. He attended Wabash College at Crawfordsville, Ind. for two years. He learned the printer's trade in Effingham and Champaign, then came to Bloomington, working first as journeyman printer and branching out into the writing end of the newspaper business. He has served in almost every capacity on the news and editorial force of The Pantagraph, and for the last 10 years has been editorial and special writer. Mr. Hasbrouck has lived in Normal since 1922. His wife was formerly Miss Caroline L. Kimball of Bloomington. They have two children; Theodore, of Milwaukee, and Helen, Mrs. Lewis H. Williamson, living in New York. Mr. Hasbrouck had a part in writing two local histories; one "McLean County and the World War," was published by him in collaboration with Edward E. Pierson in 1920, and the other the general "History of McLean County" for a two-volume work in 1923.

Holton, Campbell - Born August 11, 1866 at Vincennes, Indiana. Lived at Springfield, Old Berlin and Lincoln; and moved to Bloomington in 1895, where he has been engaged in the Wholesale Grocery Business since. Mr. Holton lives at 1009 N. Mc- Lean St., Bloomington, 111. He married Adelaide Blade, o£ Clinton, 111. in 1889, and they have two children, Mrs. V. C. Larsen, of E. San Gabriel, Cal. and Blake Holton of E. Jefferson St., Bloomington, 111.

McBarnes, Mrs. Celia - Born April 22, 1860, the daughter of Wayatt and Charity (Bishop) Adams of Downs Township. On August 22, 1904 she married John McBarnes, a farmer of McLean County, 111. In September, 1921 Mr. and Mrs. McBarnes gave money for the erection of the McBarnes Memorial Bldg., in honor of the soldiers and sailors of the various wars and the McLean County Historical Society, which was dedicated April 30, 1923. Mrs. McBarnes now lives at Holder, 111.

Read, Harry C - Born in Bloomington, 111. October 15, 1863 the son of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon H. Read. He attended the public school, graduating from the High School and the Commercial Department of the Wesleyan University. Mr. Read is a partner in the firm of G. H. Read & Bro. On March 22. 1893, Mr. Read married Minnie Bowman of Indianapolis, Ind. Mrs. Read passed away October 7, 1929. Mr. Read is a member of the Second Presbyterian church and the Rotary Club, and is third Vice President of the McLean County Historical Society.

Rolley, Elias W. - One of the directors of the Historical Society is a Public Accountant in Bloomington. He was born at Magnolia, 111. on September 5, 1892. Mr. Rolley graduated from the Magnolia High School in 1910 and from Illinois State Normal University in 1918. He taught in the public school at Putman and Woodford Counties and was in the United States Vocational School, Camp Devens, Mass., from 1919 to 1921. Mr. Rolley was an instructor at I.S.N.U. from 1923 to 1926. He has been a member of the American Legion Speaker's Bureau since 1924.

Simmons, Marjorie K. - Younger daughter of Aaron T. and Katherine (Hulva) Simmons of Bloomington, 111. She was born February 15, 1913 in Bloomington. Miss Simmons graduated in

1931 from University High and in 1935 graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity. She is now Secretary of the Historical Society.

Tay, Lyman R - Born in Bloomington, Illinois, and still lives here. During the Spanish-American War he enlisted in Co. "G" - 20th U.S. Inf. spending about three years in the Philippines. His regiment saw much fighting against savage tribes, and during odd moments he composed several poems describing conditions in the Islands. He also wrote many articles which were published in the Pantagraph. During the visit of Hon. Wm. H. Taft and his Peace Commission to Manila in 1899, Tay was a member of his body guard; Mr. Taft later becoming President of the U. S. During the early part of 1901 he was appointed School Teacher of English and Spanish among the Ilocana Tribe North of Manila; also conducting Night School for adults. His classes numbered over 400 pupils, and he was one of the first American Teachers in the Islands. He also acted as interpreter for his Company with the natives. After visiting foreign countries, Tay returned to Bloomington, later serving as Registry Clerk at the Post-Ofnce, and Civil-Service Examiner for the Government for many years, as well as Civil-Service Examiner for the State of Illinois.

He has been active in the American Passion Play, and other Consistory Temple Plays, since their building was erected. He has for years been an active member of the McLean Co. Historical Society, and has given a case with contents, and much time to arranging exhibits in cases. His collection of relics is the largest in the Museum. He is a member of the Board of Directors.

Townley, Wayne C - Attorney, Vice-President McLean County Bar Association; Leader in marking Thomas Lincoln Trail (Abraham Lincoln Traveled This Way, page 242); responsible for erection of monument over the graves of the Father and Stepmother of Abraham Lincoln, at Janesville, Illinois (see Illinois Central Magazine, February, 1924); Presiding Officer at dedication of Thomas and Sarah Bush Lincoln monument, March 23, 1923, and speaker with Honorable Frank O. Lowden and William E. Barton; speaker at dedication of Abraham Lincoln Eighth Circuit marker, Bloomington, Illinois; speaker at dedi- cation of Lincoln autobiography tablet, Court House, Bloomington, Illinois; dedication speaker at dedication of tablet in honor of General James G. Harbord, Court House, Bloomington, Illinois; Director of the McLean County Historical Society, 1920-; President 1935-; Director Illinois State Historical Society, 1936-; member and past Commander of American Legion; Director and past President of Bureau of Social Service; Director of Illinois Crippled Childrens Society, 1925-26-27; Past-District Governor Illinois Lions Club, author "Commercial Law," Henry Holt R; Company, New York; author "Lincoln's Lost Speech" and other short articles.

Quisenberry, R. Hess- Born August 29, 1897 at Armington, 111. He graduated from the Armington grade school and high school, after which he was employed in the Central National Bank. He attended the University of Illinois in 1920 and came to Illinois Wesleyan Law School in 1921, working at the Liberty State Bank during his study of law. In 1924 Mr. Quisenberry graduated from Wesleyan Law School, where he was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon, Social Fraternity; Phi Delta Phi, Legal Fraternity; and Theta Alpha Phi, Dramatic Fraternity. He was elected Justice of the Peace in 1924, serving for nine years. He then was admitted to practice law August 12, 1933. Mr. Quisenberry married Irene Moulic August 25, 1926. They have one daughter, Marcia five years old. Mr. Quisenberry is a member of the American Legion, Masons, Bloomington Club, and Lake Side Country Club.

Williams, Louis L. - Born in Rockbridge, Illinois, February 11, 1899. Graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1921. Five years with the Illinois State Highway Department as Engineer from 1921 to 1926. Admitted to the Bar in 1926 and has practiced law in Bloomington, Illinois since thai time. Mr. Williams is the Treasurer of the McLean County Historical Society.