Transcribed by Nancy Piper unless otherwise noted
Alton Observer (Alton, Illinois)
August 3, 1837
Bureau county - Agreeably to an act, passed at the last session of our
legislature, Putnam county has been divided and the new county was organized
under the name of Bureau county on the first of last month. Princeton has
been established as a permanent county seat. This is a beautiful and healthy
town and is situated in the amidst of an industrious and enterprising population.
It is now rapidly increasing both in business and in numbers and is second
to few inland towns in Illinois. We learn there are some thoughts of establishing
a printing office there - Chicago Democrat
Transcribed by Nancy Piper
Alton Observer (Alton, Illinois)
August 10, 1837
The body of a man was found on Thursday last 26th ult., at Lost grove about
8 miles north west of Enterprise, and between Troy Grove and Princeton. He
was shot through the breast, stabbed, stripped entirely naked. He was 5 feet
10 inches in height, between 20 and 25 years of age, sandy hair and light
beard. Two of his upper front teeth stood a little out and two under ones
a little in . He laid on his back, his feet crossed, apparently laid out.
He appeared from his hands not to be a laboring man. The murder must have
been committed by an experienced hand. - Ottawa Republican
Transcribed by Nancy Piper
The Alton Weekly Courier (Alton, Illinois)
April 13, 1854
A shanty, on the Central Military Tract Railroad, says the Princeton Post in the western part of Bureau county, occupied by Dennis Daily and family, was burnt on Sunday last, by a fire from the adjoining prairie, which came upon them so suddenly that Mr. Daily, his wife and three children, and a boarder in the family were unable to make their escape, and perished in the flames. A little girl, the only person escaping, gave the alarm, but before assistance arrived, the building and its inmates were nearly consumed. The boarder had dragged himself from the ruins and lay upon a pile of boards in great agony. He lived but a few hours. - Transcribed by Nancy Piper
Grain in the West
Star and Banner (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
June 8 1855
A letter from Bureau County, Ilinois says that all the warehouses along the
railroad are full of grain, and many thousands of bushels are piled up in
bags along side of the track. Long trams of cars groan under the weight of
grain with which they are loaded. The farmers plead with the buyers for more
bags and the buyers with the railroads for more cars. All the farmers have
planted from one to thirty more than last year and all now looks well for
a heavy crop.
Transcribed by Nancy Piper
Burning Well in Milo
Appleton Motor (Appleton, Wisconsin)
February 23 1860
The burning well in Milo, Bureau county, Illinois, which has attracted much
attention, is still pouring out its gas, and the prospect now is that it
will be made to answer both the purposes of light and heat. The gas makes
a blaze fifteen feet high, can be seen escaping very plainly when it is not
burning, and can be heard six or eight rods.
Transcribed by Nancy Piper
Whitefield Corners
Taken From the Henry Republican
December 25, 1873
Transcribed by Nancy Piper
Several items relating to Whitefield Corners:
The H. G. Reynolds lodge, A. F. & A. M., hold regular communication on
Wednesday evening of next week, when an election of officers will take place.
Preaching at the school house on Sunday afternoon next by Rev. Otterman, and very two weeks thereafter.
Singing school on Saturday evenings by Mr. Myers. He is a good instructor, and is having a large class.
A Christmas tree festival was held last evening at the residence of David Runnels, which it is expected, was a very enjoyable event.
Taken From the Henry Republican
May 7, 1874
Miss Paris is teaching at Whitefield Corners. She is one of the most intelligent, as she may well claim to be one of the sweetest schoolma'ams in the township.
Taken From the Henry Republican
January 25, 1877
Whitefield Corners - Snowdon Moffat and family from Iowa are here visiting friends and relatives. They are well and in good spirits.
Dr. J. B. McLaughlin has sold his property here to Dr. Henry Reader of Whitefield.
The protracted meeting at Hunter’s school house is still in progress without much success yet.
J. H. H.
Taken From the Henry Republican
December 5, 1878
Our new store is now in full blast. The excitement is up and goods are down, 13 pounds of sugar for $1; we suppose its A sugar at that; market baskets 10 C. a piece; kip boots $2.75, fine french calf $3.50, about the same as is sold in Henry for $9, and other goods in proportion. Whoop um up. Austion every Saturday. Goods at your own prices. U. S. mail every evening. Red ribbons by the thousands.
Lydia Moffitt teaches in No. 7 Milo the winter term.
Our auctioneer is having a great run of business, and has had two more calls lately. But he got away with one of them on a tight squeeze. The consumption may fetch him yet.
JOHNSON
Taken From the Henry Republican
April 17, 1879
Local Items - Whitefield Corners
Our town cannot boast of carriage manufactory of livery establishment, but when Wesley Runnels, J. H. Herr, W. S. Mock, Edward Grady and others get their elegant top buggies out for a drive, it is enough to cause the girls to put on their good behavior.
G. W. Snell did not fail in business by any means when his pocketbook was lost, but continues to sell loads of goods at surprisingly low prices. In reference to all our business men we believe they are happy because of success.
Sabbath school opened last Sabbath with a good attendance. Our lady superintendent is doing her part well. Come one and all, and help keep up an interest and encourage the officers.
D. H. Johnson is going to kill two birds with one stone, farm and weave carpets. Bring in your rags, and have them made into nice carpet.
Taken From the Henry Republican
June 3, 1880 - Whitefield Corners
At midnight of the 19th ult., the people of the Corners was aroused from their slumbers by one of those visitations that is of too frequent occurrence to be comfortable at this place. The heavens were overspread by threatening clouds heavily charged with electricity and a bolt descended upon G. W. Snell's store, supposed to have taken the chimney in its course, igniting the inflammable material within, and was but a few minutes until the whole building was wrapt in flames. On the wall near chimney, in a Masonic Hall, over the store, was a lamp filled with kerosene oil, which ignited and followed the stove pipe, into the midst of the lamps below, in the store, soon scattering the destructive element, over the whole interior of the building. Mr. Snell was the first aroused and the light from the burning building soon led to the discovery that his store was all wrapt in the devouring element. He had the presence of mind not to open the door of the main building or it would have went up in a flash, and no doubt would have greatly endangered the church and other buildings near by, but busied himself with the help that arrived in rescuing the goods stores in a building adjoining, which amounted to $700. He was fortunate enough to have insurance to the extent of $1860 in the Etna of Hartford, which is now in course of adjustment; his bills being burnt, he will have to get duplicates, if he gets this with $500 standing out, will not be so bad as it might be. Mr. Snell has sold a large amount of goods since he commenced business here, but it teaches us that in the midst of prosperity we are in danger of adversity. The Masons owned the building on which was an insurance of $400, valued at $800; they lost all their furniture and fixtures.
Taken From the Henry News Republican
July 29, 1880
Whitefield Corners
Two or three days work will close up the cutting of the oat crop, and be ready for the threasher. The crop comes in much lighter than was the promise some time since, by reason of being beaten down by storm at an early stage of development, and the hot, scalding weather causing rust and blight, some has been blowed under.
We have at the Corners two stores under full tide, and are filling up cautiously with goods suitable to the trade. The business is restricted for want of house room, but ere long we hope to see the burnt store room and Masonic hall, phoenix like, rise from the ashes of the old house to proportions much in advance of the former. The building is only held in check by the tardiness of G. W. Snell in getting his insurance adjusted, the disposition of some of the insurance companies to bandy and worry the assured in case of loss is creating quite a disinclination of the part of many to run the gauntlet of insuring it, in some cases is similar to lightning rod man and others, bored into it and bored out of it.
Taken From the Henry Republican
January 19, 1882
Whitefield Corners
Again taken back by the sudden dropping in on us of Snowden Moffitt. It at once brought up the recollection that he did some years since carry away, I will not say feloniously one of the fair daughters of the Corners to Keota, Iowa and there built a house and retained her. He looks well.
Taken From the Henry Republican
April 27 1882
Whitefield Corners
One of the hardest northeast wind storms of the season began on Friday, increasing in force until 12 o'clock Saturday night, when it culminated in a flurry of snow.
Mrs. Ramsey's house, built upon the site of the one burned, is nearing completion, and she will soon be in a better house.
We are to have a palatial subruban residence at the Corners. Our citizen E. P. Califf, is collecting the materail to build this season. It is to be founded on a rock, then lookout for that spare room that Perkins could not find in a Vermont house; no dried pumpkins or catnip hanging up stairs; may be some in the garret.
Austin Hannum's now domiciled in a house of Cyrus Brown's farm, and has a force of help that would make a mark if he could get the land to till--Vindicate.
Taken From the Henry News Republican
March 16, 1922
Here We are With a Full Fresh Line of Best Baked Beans, per can 10c Red Kidney Beans, per can 10c No. 3 Can Hominy, per can 10c Good Grade Corn, per can 10c Peaberry Coffee, per pound 23c Kellog's Cornflakes 10c Post Toasties 10c Red Salmon, per can 30c Pink Salmon, per can 15c White Karo Syrup, per gallon 55c Dark Karo Syrup, per gallon 45c Zephyr Flour $2.25 Pineapples, per can 35c Apricots, per can 30c Peaches, per can 30c Large Loaves Bread 10c Call and give us your order
Wm. True |
News from the County
Hollowayville
Taken from the Bureau County Republican
March 1877
George May is enlarging his store.
C. Stadler still sells groceries.
The Democratic company has fizzled.
Only three saloons in town now.
Pool-selling is drawing to a close.
M. Greener will harness your horse.
New farm residences are increasing.
Capt. Long will teach the Ridge school this summer.
--DOT.
News from the County
Bureau
Transcribed by Nancy Piper
Taken from the Bureau County Republican
March 1877
The concert at the Bureau church, Feb. 28th, was a success; led by Prof.
Kellogg.
A. S. Lenne is building a $4000 house. Main room 24x32, with
a L 20x18 - two wings.
Mrs. A. McKee is building a barn 32x40.
Mr. Hazen is building a barn 48x64.
L. Zearing has a number of Clydesdale horses for market. Fine
animals.
D. Cochran has 100 head of nice cattle.
F. Coddington is cutting stalks. Has ploughed some sod.
J. D. Phillips and wife went to Chicago this week, to attend the funeral
of her brother. They will come home by way of Joliet, to visit their
son, Rev. J. Phillips, pastor of the Baptist church of that city.
--EX.
The Tiskilwa Cheese Factory
Closes
Transcribed by Nancy Piper
On April 10, 1930, the Henry News Republican newpaper, Henry, Illinois announced the closing of the Tiskilwa Cheese Factory in Tiskilwa, Illinois. It stated that it was "the last survivor of an industry which has been the source of considerable of Tiskilwa's fame as well as income for many years". According to the paper, changing market conditions caused the plant's failure. At one time there were at least 3 factories in operation around Tiskilwa and during that time period "Tiskilwa's full cream cheese" was widely known throughout this part of the state. The Henry News Republican stated that the local farmers would still produce as much milk, but it would now be trucked to Peoria and sold to the Roszell ice Cream company.
Fondulac, Amboy & Peoria Railroad.
Taken From the Henry Republican
January 14, 1875
The survey of the Fondulac, Amboy & Peoria railroad has been made, and connects Amboy with Peoria, running “twixt and ‘tween” the Bureau Valley road on the east and the Buda branch of the C. B. & Q. on the west. From Amboy it touches at Sheffield, Neponset, Saratoga township, Camp Grove and Lawn Ridge, and thence to Peoria. The Wyoming Post would divert it from Marshall county entirely, and proposes that it touch Elmira and have its termini at Wyoming, using the P. & R. I. for connection to Peoria. By this charge it suggests it would get liberal aid. This line will have these great corporations to fight, but how it can pay is more than we can divine. It will be narrow gauge, and thus somewhat less expensive. The people along this new line are happy in anticipation of “coming events” and the inclination is rampant among the farmers to give the right of way. Parties connected with the company were at Camp Grove recently, and went through the motions of staking out the depot on William Townsend’s place, near by Camp Grove postoffice.
May 27, 1875 - Bureau County
We regret to learn that our old friend Silas Talliaferro, a long time citizen of Bureau county has removed to Snachwine, Putnam county, having sold his farm recently.
1877 Railroad
News
Taken From the Henry Republican
July 5, 1877
The Bureau Valley railroad is 46 and 3/4 long and is operated by the C. R. I. & P., who pays the Bureau Valley an annual rental of $125,000. It is a very profitable line to the C. R. & I. Company and is a good thing to the stockholders of the B. V. company.
August 16, 1877
We omitted to mention in our last issue the burning of Bureau creek railroad bridge, located between Bureau Junction and Tiskilwa, on Tuesday of last week. The fire is supposed to have caught from a locomotive of a passing train. The bridge is 250 feet long, about two-thirds of which was consumed, some seven spans. For a time travel was considerable blocked, but a temporary track was constructed round the bridge, and in a day or two the running of trains was resumed without let or hindrance. A large force of hands are at work upon the "burned district" which will complete the repairs in a short time.
TISKILWA CHIEF
31 Aug, 1892 - BUREAU GOSSIP (Courtesy Mikki
Judge)
November 28, 1878
Taken From the Henry Republican
Milo
The diptheria has raged through the country north and west of us. About 20 children have died. I understand that 4 of W. S. Austin's are now sick. Jen Noye's of Saratoga is quite low.
January 15, 1880
Taken From the Henry Republican
State News
The big Bureau creek got on a rampage at the late rise and washed out the dam of the Bureau Valley mills, owned by John Master's Sons.
Taken From the Henry Republican
April 3, 1879
The Buda post office was robbed last week, the safe blown open, and about $300 taken.
December 18, 1879
From Neighboring Exchanges
The Home Guard is a new local paper at Buda, of which Rev. H. P. Fitch is editor.
Endorsed by the Leading Press. 10,000 People Daily Acknowledge this the All-new Wonderland World¹s Fair. The Wonderful Charest Family. The New Great Pacific!
The Most Stupendous Railroad Menagerie And Circus Ever Organized, will erect its One-Half a Million Yards of Canvas, All Luminous with the Great $30,000 Electric Light at Walnut, Ill., Friday September 30th, 1881. And at Kewanee October 1st.
7 Enormous Continental Menagerie In One!
Alone presenting Full a Thousand shows. Among its titanic and transcendent marvels, The Only $30,000 Living White Nile Hippopotamus. The genuine Gore-sweating, Tremendous, Behemoth of Holy Writ. A two-ton pair of new-found un-named Arctic Mammoths. A $42,000 Cavalcade of 14 Performing Kentucky Thoroughbreds. The largest number of the most beautiful and best trained Horses in the world, and more than a whole show alone. The colossal $10,000 Bareback Equestrian CHACMA, the most remarkable and intelligent animal on earth. A $100,000 Orient Caravan of Elephants, Dromedaries, and Camels. The largest animal known to man. Thrice the Smallest Elephant Ever Seen. Fifty Tons of Educated Beasts. The Great Robert Stickney, the Universal Genius and Hero of the Ring, the Wondrous Man and Woman Water Witches, the Champion Circus of a Hundred Chiefs. An enormous Polar Sea Aquarium, a Huge Den of Hideous Tropic Saurians [?], a Rainbow-rivaling Aviary, a Grand, Free, Cloud Walk, Hazardous Ascenaton [sic]. A Quarter of a Million Street Parade. A Tidal Wave of Splendors in Procession. Three Superb Martial Musical Brigades, the New Leviathan Locomotive Steam Band, a 100-voiced Jubilee Colored Chorus, always exhibiting just what it advertises. Each Promise made is kept a sacred pledge. One Ticket Admits to All Advertised Shows. Children under three years, Half Price. Two Grand Exhibitions Daily. It controls Millions, backed by Millions More, and so far as it is concerned, No Other Show Exists.
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