Cleone 

 

Parker Township, Clark County, Illinois 

Cleone

Cleone, also known as 'Hammond Settlement' and 'Hammond Center' in times past was a thriving rural community at the turn of the century. There was a grocery store, a farm supply business, a post office, newspaper, etc. They even had a baseball team. 1

As Martinsville and the surrounding communities grew larger, small settlements like Cleone were unable to compete with the larger stores and variety of goods and services offered, and slowly vanished. In the late 40's and early 50's, all that remained at Cleone were a couple of houses and a general store operated by a gentleman named 'Comer'. All that is gone now and all that remains is the cemetery.

Cleone is situated in the northeast of section 12, Parker Township.

It lies about 6 miles north of Martinsville along Cleone Road

A Post office was established at Cleone on March 4, 1886.  It was discontinued on August 15, 1906.

Notes & Sources:

1 Larry Wells writes, "I recall seeing a copy of the newspaper from 1906 where Cleone played Casey (at Cleone) and Casey won... The paper listed the names of all who were there that day (a LOT of Hammonds) and commented that the other news of the day was: 'One auto through today.' "

If you have any information about, or historical picture of Cleone, its residents, schools or business establishments, please send it to ortmank@yahoo.com.