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This book is dedicated to the men and women serving our country in uniform.

Farmer City, Illinois1837 - 2012

• FARMER CITY, ILLINO

IS •

1837

• 175t

h BIRT

HDAY CELEBRATION •2012UNITED • THE ONE AND ONLY • UNIQUE

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CENTRAL ILLINOIS HOMESTEAD ASSN. ....................................................................................................................34COLVIS COUNTRY COMPANIES .................................................................................................................................34COPLEY’S TRUE VALUE ..............................................................................................................................................34COUNTRY SAMPLER ...................................................................................................................................................34DIAMOND HORSESHOE .............................................................................................................................................34CUT ‘N SEW................................................................................................................................................................. 34DAVIDSON’S ............................................................................................................................................................... 34DEVAULT DISPOSAL ...................................................................................................................................................34GEORGE DUNN ........................................................................................................................................................... 35FARMER CITY BOWLING ALLEY .................................................................................................................................35FARMER CITY EISNER .................................................................................................................................................35FARMER CITY JOURNAL .............................................................................................................................................35FARMER CITY PACKERS ..............................................................................................................................................35FARMER CITY READY MIX ..........................................................................................................................................35GOOD EARTH REALTY ................................................................................................................................................35H & R BLOCK OFFICE ..................................................................................................................................................35HAMMER’S GROCERY STORE ....................................................................................................................................35HAWN & OVERTON ....................................................................................................................................................36HENRY OIL & TIRE ......................................................................................................................................................36HOLOCH VENTURES ...................................................................................................................................................36HOLT MOVING & STORAGE .......................................................................................................................................36HORNSBYS .................................................................................................................................................................. 36LOVE’S ......................................................................................................................................................................... 36MARTY’S BARBER SHOP ............................................................................................................................................36MCCONKEY MOTORS .................................................................................................................................................36MCKINLEY RODEO AND WILD WEST SHOW ............................................................................................................36MELIZA BLACKSMITH SHOP ......................................................................................................................................36DR. MITCHELL ............................................................................................................................................................. 37MRS. HOWARD POTATO CHIPS .................................................................................................................................37THE OPEN HEARTH ....................................................................................................................................................37O’S GOLD .................................................................................................................................................................... 37PEDDLERS TRAIL MALL ..............................................................................................................................................37PEOPLE’S CAFE ........................................................................................................................................................... 38BILL PERHAY CHRVROLET 126 CLINTON AVENUE ...................................................................................................38PERHAY CHEVROLET 1983 .........................................................................................................................................38PERHAY CEDAR CIRCLE ..............................................................................................................................................38PERHAY CONDOS .......................................................................................................................................................38PERHAY PLAZA............................................................................................................................................................ 38PRE-FAB ...................................................................................................................................................................... 39PRICELESS PHOTOS ....................................................................................................................................................39RADIO SHACK ............................................................................................................................................................. 39CURT RAU REALTY .....................................................................................................................................................39RAYMER’S PRINTING .................................................................................................................................................39REXALL DRUGS ........................................................................................................................................................... 39ROBERT’S JEWELRY ....................................................................................................................................................39DEAN SCARBROUGH AUCTIONEERING SERVICES ...................................................................................................39SCARBROUGH GROCERIES ........................................................................................................................................39ALVA & DEAN SCARBROUGH TRUCKING ..................................................................................................................39SEARS CATALOG SALES ..............................................................................................................................................40J R SMITH SUNOCO-QUALITY OIL CO. ......................................................................................................................40SOMMERS DANCE STUDIO ........................................................................................................................................40STENSEL’S FUNERAL HOME.......................................................................................................................................40TREETOP RESTAURANT ..............................................................................................................................................40TRENDSETTERS SALON ..............................................................................................................................................40TWIN CITY SIGN CO. ..................................................................................................................................................40WEBB’S MEN’S WEAR ................................................................................................................................................40WENDELL MOBILE FEED SERVICE .............................................................................................................................40

CONTENTSFARMER CITY GENEALOGICAL & HISTORICAL SOCIETY (FCG&HS) HISTORY .......................................................1

SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION .........................................................................................................................1FARMER CITY GENEALOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY .....................................................................................1LOGO ........................................................................................................................................................................... 2NEWSLETTER .............................................................................................................................................................. 2THE MIRROR ............................................................................................................................................................... 2MUSEUM .................................................................................................................................................................... 3PROJECTS .................................................................................................................................................................... 4INVOLVEMENTS/ACTIVITIES .....................................................................................................................................5PROGRAMS ................................................................................................................................................................. 5WINDOWS .................................................................................................................................................................. 5SOCIETY/EXECUTIVE BOARD .....................................................................................................................................6CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................................................. 7

TOWN HISTORY ......................................................................................................................................................9PIONEERS ...............................................................................................................................................................17ARCHITECTURE ......................................................................................................................................................25FORMER BUSINESSES ...........................................................................................................................................33

A GROWING THING ...................................................................................................................................................33ALEXANDER LUMBER.................................................................................................................................................33DR. AMACHER CHIROPRACTOR ................................................................................................................................33AMOCO STATION........................................................................................................................................................ 33BARLEY POPPERS PUB ...............................................................................................................................................33BLOSSOM SHOP ......................................................................................................................................................... 33BLUE RIDGE PIZZA ......................................................................................................................................................33BON AIRE BUFFET ......................................................................................................................................................34BONAIRE RESTAURANT .............................................................................................................................................34AL BROWNLEE WELDING ..........................................................................................................................................34

INTRODUCTION

The compilers of this book wish to acknowledge the support we received from the City of Farmer City, and from the many individuals who contributed material to include in the book. We recognize that many of these stories and images and the everyday activities of this vibrant community, belong to a sim-

pler time that can’t be recreated. But it is our hope that there will be many new stories and images in the years ahead for the next generation of Farmer City residents, and that there will be a need every 25 years or so to update this history.

©Farmer City Genealogical & Historical Society

2012

DISCLAIMER

The FCG&H Society Book Committee did its best to find and correct errors, and we hope we found them all. The content

and accuracy of the stories are the sole responsibility of the people who submitted the stories.

BOOK COMMITTEEThe book committee consisted of Teri Kelley, chair-person; Pat Ryan, page layout, Susan Ryan and Malinda Snow, researchers.

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WESTERN AUTO ......................................................................................................................................................... 40BACKWARD GLANCES ............................................................................................................................................41THE WAY IT WAS ....................................................................................................................................................49MEMORIES .............................................................................................................................................................57CHURCHES-PAST AND PRESENT ............................................................................................................................65

FULLERTON CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH .............................................................................................65SACRED HEART CATHOLIC CHURCH .........................................................................................................................65CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS ................................................................................................66FARMER CITY CHURCH OF GOD ................................................................................................................................66FARMER CITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH ..........................................................................................................66WEEDMAN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH ..............................................................................................................67VICTORY CHRISTIAN CENTER ....................................................................................................................................68TRINITY COMMUNITY FELLOWSHIP .........................................................................................................................68BAPTIST CHURCH OF FARMER CITY .........................................................................................................................69NAZARENE CHURCH OF FARMER CITY .....................................................................................................................70PRAIRIE CHAPEL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH .....................................................................................................70METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH AND PARSONAGE ..........................................................................................71THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF FARMER CITY ......................................................................................................71FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH ........................................................................................................................................71BETHEL CHURCH ........................................................................................................................................................71

SCHOOLS ................................................................................................................................................................73HURLEY’S GROVE .......................................................................................................................................................73COUNTRY SCHOOLS ...................................................................................................................................................73MT. PLEASANT SCHOOL .............................................................................................................................................73FARMER CITY HIGH SCHOOL .....................................................................................................................................73FRANKLIN GRADE SCHOOL .......................................................................................................................................73MOORE TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL ..........................................................................................................................74COMMUNITY GRADE SCHOOL ..................................................................................................................................75CONSOLIDATIONS ......................................................................................................................................................75FARMER CITY HIGH SCHOOL 1911 ............................................................................................................................75DEMOLITION .............................................................................................................................................................. 76SCHOOL BELL .............................................................................................................................................................. 76FIRST YEARBOOK PUBLISHED BY CLASS OF 1912 ....................................................................................................76WATSON SCHOOL DISTRICT #50 ..............................................................................................................................77NEW ELWOOD SCHOOL 1939 ...................................................................................................................................78BRACKEN SCHOOL .....................................................................................................................................................78FOND REMEMBRANCES OF FRANKLIN ELEMENTARY ...........................................................................................79RUTH SCHNEIDER SCHOOL .......................................................................................................................................80AMERICAN FIELD SERVICE PROGRAM 1962-63 ....................................................................................................80BRHS KNIGHTS SOCCER TEAM ..................................................................................................................................80FFA STATE VICE PRESIDENT .......................................................................................................................................80VETERANS’ DAY TRIBUTE WALL ................................................................................................................................81A BRIEF HISTORY OF BLUE RIDGE SCHOOL DISTRICT .............................................................................................81FARMER CITY HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES ...............................................................................................................84MOORE TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES.....................................................................................................85FARMER CITY-MANSFIELD HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES..........................................................................................92BLUE RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES .................................................................................................................95BLUE RIDGE “SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS” .........................................................................................................................102BLUE RIDGE SCHOOL DISTRICT EMPLOYEES ...........................................................................................................102

CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS ................................................................................................................................105KIWANIS CLUB OF FARMER CITY, ILLINOIS ..............................................................................................................105THE HISTORY OF THE THOMAS FRAISER CLARK FOUNDATION .............................................................................105THE FARMER CITY SHAKESPEARE CLUB ..................................................................................................................106THE SUNSHINE CENTER .............................................................................................................................................107SALT CREEK FOOD PANTRY ........................................................................................................................................107SALT CREEK RESOURCE CENTER COMMUNITY CLOTHES CLOSET .........................................................................108BOY SCOUT TROOP 137 .............................................................................................................................................108

BUSY FINGERS HOBBY CLUB .....................................................................................................................................108FIRE DEPARTMENT ....................................................................................................................................................109FARMER CITY GARDEN CLUB ...................................................................................................................................110FARMER CITY MASONIC LODGE #710 ......................................................................................................................111PAST MASTERS OF LODGE #710 ................................................................................................................................112MT. PLEASANT I.O.O.F. # 126 .....................................................................................................................................113KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS LODGE – KENILWORTH #60 ..................................................................................................113GRAND OFFICE OF THE KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS ........................................................................................................114PARNELL FULLERTON CLUB 1913 – 1999 .................................................................................................................114PRAIRIE PROMENADERS SQUARE DANCE CLUB .....................................................................................................115WOODLAWN COUNTRY CLUB ...................................................................................................................................116SANTA ANNA UNIT OF HOMEMAKERS EXTENSION ...............................................................................................116T.O.P.S. ......................................................................................................................................................................... 117THE HISTORY OF OUTREACH MINISTRIES ................................................................................................................117FARMER CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ................................................................................................................118THE RED HAT MAMA’S ...............................................................................................................................................118RED HAT GROUP – RED WINE DAMES ......................................................................................................................118

CEMETERIES ...........................................................................................................................................................121CAMP GROUND .......................................................................................................................................................... 121GREENLEAF CEMETERY .............................................................................................................................................121CITY CEMETERY .......................................................................................................................................................... 122ST. JOSEPH CEMETERY ...............................................................................................................................................123MAPLE GROVE CEMETERY ........................................................................................................................................123

FAMILIES ................................................................................................................................................................126STANLEY AND DOLLY RODGERS ALBERT ..................................................................................................................126GEORGE AND NANCY BROWNLEE BARLING ...........................................................................................................126BARLOW-KEYSEAR FAMILY ........................................................................................................................................126WILLIAM SEBERN AND CAROLINE (DAY) BARNES ...................................................................................................127JAMES STICKLEY AND ELIZABETH HELMICK BLAND ...............................................................................................128WALTER E. AND LENA MAE WILSON BLAND ...........................................................................................................128ADRIANA BOWLES .....................................................................................................................................................129WILLIS BOWLES .......................................................................................................................................................... 129REV. GEORGE AND JEAN BRADY ...............................................................................................................................130BROWN-BRICKEY FAMILIES .......................................................................................................................................130ALVIN AND EVELYN BROWNLEE................................................................................................................................131EDWARD AND THELMA (BEST) BRUMMETT ............................................................................................................131GREG AND KAREN BUILTA FAMILY ............................................................................................................................132VANCE AND IRENE (SMITH) BURNETT FAMILY .......................................................................................................132TODD KELLEY AND BARBARA JO BURNS ..................................................................................................................133DONALD E. AND MARY M. BYRD FAMILY .................................................................................................................133SHERRY BYRD FAMILY ................................................................................................................................................133CALHOUN FAMILY ......................................................................................................................................................133RICHARD CALHOUN ...................................................................................................................................................134EUGENE AND CAROL (KELLEY) CAMPBELL...............................................................................................................135JOSH AND DENA (KOPP) CARTER ..............................................................................................................................135JOHN T. AND AILEEN MONAGHAN COLEMAN.........................................................................................................136GERALD AND FAYE COLLINS ......................................................................................................................................136WAYNE AND MARY COPLEY ......................................................................................................................................137CAROL G AND L IRENE DAWSON ..............................................................................................................................138ROBERT AND SHIRLEY (JACKSON) DEVAULT, SR. .....................................................................................................138DRAKE FAMILY ............................................................................................................................................................ 139JOHN LAMBERT AND HANNAH MINERVA (FUNK) ELLIS FAMILY ...........................................................................139TERRY AND TERI (KIMLER) EMMERSON...................................................................................................................140EPPSTEIN FAMILY .......................................................................................................................................................140LEROY J. AND DEANNA J. ESTER FAMILY ..................................................................................................................141BRITTANY L.C. EVANS ................................................................................................................................................142DANA AND DONNA EVANS........................................................................................................................................142

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JOELLA EVANS ............................................................................................................................................................ 143KEITH AND JANE EVANS FAMILY ...............................................................................................................................143PRICE FLANNERY, JR. AND JEAN (MYERS) FLANNERY .............................................................................................144OPAL V. FOULKS .......................................................................................................................................................... 145RANDY AND ELIZABETH FOULKS ..............................................................................................................................145GRAHAM OAKLEY FRANKLIN ....................................................................................................................................145LONNIE HOWARD AND JONA LEA (REYNOLDS) FRANKLIN ...................................................................................146GAMMAGE FAMILY ...................................................................................................................................................146MARK AND MINDY GARDNER ...................................................................................................................................147MIKE AND SUSAN GARDNER ....................................................................................................................................147CHARLES AND KATHRYN MILLS GLENN ....................................................................................................................148ELMER AND MILLIE HOFFMAN GLENN ....................................................................................................................148FRANK E. AND MARILYN KIDD GLENN ......................................................................................................................149JAMES AND BARBARA HALL GLENN .........................................................................................................................150LESTER L. AND M. VERNICE BLAND GLENN .............................................................................................................150DAVID GRIMES ........................................................................................................................................................... 151DEWEY AND BETTY GRONAU FAMILY ......................................................................................................................151PAUL AND JILL HACKMAN .........................................................................................................................................152A.L. AND FLORENCE (SMITH) HALL FAMILY .............................................................................................................152HAROLD AND BETTY HALSTED..................................................................................................................................152BRIAN AND DEBBIE (KELLEY) HAMM FAMILY ..........................................................................................................153JESSE S. HAMMER ......................................................................................................................................................153DONALD C. ‘MAC” AND ANITA HARDEN FAMILY .....................................................................................................153ALAN AND PATRICIA (CALHOUN) HART ...................................................................................................................154JERRY AND JUDY HAWN ............................................................................................................................................154JOSH AND ANDREA HAWN ........................................................................................................................................154JONAS MILTON AND ISABELL MARLOWE HEAPE ...................................................................................................155MILTON ALLEN AND VELMA MARIE NEWBERRY HEAPE ........................................................................................155ELIHU AND MARY ELIZABETH TRIMBLE HELMICK ..................................................................................................155CECIL AND HOPE (REESER) HENDREN ....................................................................................................................156KENNETH AND CHRIS HERMANN FAMILY ................................................................................................................157LARRY AND MARY KAY HIRSBRUNNER .....................................................................................................................157DONNIE AND MARY HOFFMAN FAMILY ...................................................................................................................157JACOB AND SOPHIA QUERFELD HOFFMAN ............................................................................................................158CARY AND TONYA HOLMAN ......................................................................................................................................158DEAN AND MILLIE HOLMAN FAMILY ........................................................................................................................159LEONARD AND VIRGIE HOLT FAMILY ........................................................................................................................159NANCI LYNN HOLT FAMILY ........................................................................................................................................160RICHARD EUGENE AND MARY HELEN HOLT FAMILY ..............................................................................................160WILLIAM H. AND CLARA ALICE HOLT .......................................................................................................................160EUGENE AND JAN HOUSER .......................................................................................................................................161MICHAEL AND LAURA (REYNOLDS) HUGHES ..........................................................................................................161MIKE AND DANA JENKINS FAMILY ...........................................................................................................................162MATT AND HELEN JOHANNS FAMILY .......................................................................................................................163MIKE AND JEAN JOHANNS FAMILY ...........................................................................................................................163JEREMY AND JAMIE JOHNSON .................................................................................................................................164JOHN F. AND SANDRA V. JOHNSON FAMILY .............................................................................................................164JUDD FAMILY .............................................................................................................................................................. 165CLIFFORD AND HELEN (WEEDMAN) KELLEY ............................................................................................................165JAMES AND PEARL (KIMERY) KELLEY .......................................................................................................................166TED JAMES AND TERI KAY (BRUMMETT) KELLEY ....................................................................................................166VIRGIL AND VELMA (PENNINGTON) KELLEY............................................................................................................167TABITHA KEYSEAR FAMILY .........................................................................................................................................167EARL V. AND V. BERNIECE REDDING KIDD ...............................................................................................................167ERIC AND TERRY KIDD ...............................................................................................................................................168JAMES RUBEN AND DELLA THOMAS KIDD ..............................................................................................................169JEFFREY MICHAEL KIDD .............................................................................................................................................169

DELWIN KIRBY ............................................................................................................................................................ 170LEONARD AND MONA KIRBY FAMILY .......................................................................................................................170MATTHEW AND SHAWNA KIDD KOLLROSS .............................................................................................................171MARTIN AND SUE KOPP ............................................................................................................................................171THOMAS JOSEPH AND SUMMER NICHOLE (PERHAY) KUBA .................................................................................171KENNY AND BETTE LARKIN .......................................................................................................................................172ALBERT AND BERTHA LARSON FAMILY ....................................................................................................................172JAMES AND MAURINE LASHBROOK .........................................................................................................................173STEVE AND CHERIE MAGENHEIMER ........................................................................................................................173MAXWELL FAMILY ......................................................................................................................................................173MAXWELL/PARKER FAMILY .......................................................................................................................................174AMOS DICK MAXWELL FAMILY .................................................................................................................................174F. DICK AND JANIS MAXWELL FAMILY ......................................................................................................................174FRANK AND FLOY MAXWELL FAMILY .......................................................................................................................175KEVIN AND KAYLA MAXWELL ...................................................................................................................................175JAMES A. MCCORD ....................................................................................................................................................176JAMES WASHINGTON AND JULIA MCCORD ............................................................................................................177JAMES WASHINGTON AND MARY LANE MCCORD ..................................................................................................178NOLAN AND ANNA MAE MCKITRICK ......................................................................................................................180RICK AND KRISTA MCKITRICK FAMILY ......................................................................................................................181BUD AND LIL MCMASTERS ........................................................................................................................................181BRIAN AND SUSAN MCQUAID .................................................................................................................................181JAMES EDWARD AND MARJORIE (WHEELER) MONAGHAN ...................................................................................182LEON “JIM” AND HILDA (REESER) MORGAN FAMILY ..............................................................................................182JOHN AND DAWN MOZINGO ....................................................................................................................................182LEVI RATHBURN AND MOLLIE BRACKEN MURPHEY ...............................................................................................182DANIEL AND MARTHA JOYCE NEAL FAMILY ............................................................................................................183JOE AND JAN NECESSARY FAMILY ............................................................................................................................183LYLE AND KATHRYN HAGGARD NIKLAUS .................................................................................................................184OSCAR AND ANDE TRINKLE OGLE ............................................................................................................................184WILLIAM GILBERT PAGE ............................................................................................................................................185JOHN A. AND ANNIE LAURIE [RAINEY] PARKER FAMILY .........................................................................................185CLYDE E. AND JUANITA OPAL (REESER) PATTERSON ...............................................................................................186CHARLES AND DIANA PENNY FAMILY ......................................................................................................................187WILLIAM AND JOAN PERHAY ....................................................................................................................................187EUGENE H. AND MILDRED (REESER) PLOENSE FAMILY ..........................................................................................187JUSTIN ALLEN AND NICOLE RENEE (REYNOLDS) POWELL ......................................................................................187HENRY EDGAR AND MAY ZURILDA DOTSON REDDING ..........................................................................................188ALFRED AND MARGARET REESER ............................................................................................................................188CLAUDE AND IVA (NIXON) REESER ..........................................................................................................................188GEORGE AND MARGARET (STIVERSON) REESER.....................................................................................................189SAMUEL FLOYD AND MARGARET LEONA (SWIGART) REESER FAMILY ..................................................................189WALTER AND EVA REESER .........................................................................................................................................189WALTER HALL AND HELEN (MASHBURN) REESER ...................................................................................................189FRED AND COBINA (MILLER) REYNOLDS .................................................................................................................190JASON LYNN REYNOLDS ............................................................................................................................................190FRED AND ESTHER (BAKER) REYNOLDS ...................................................................................................................190JIMMY LEO AND MARY JEAN (SMITH) REYNOLDS ..................................................................................................191MAURICE JEREMY AND MARIE REYNOLDS ..............................................................................................................191MYRON JON AND JUDY LEE REYNOLDS ...................................................................................................................191RICHARD AND FRANCES WHEELER REYNOLDS .......................................................................................................192ROBERT AND ANNA REYNOLDS ................................................................................................................................192HORATIO EDWARD AND LEATHA DELL (HADFIELD) RIGGS ....................................................................................192HORATIO DEAN AND MURIEL LEON (MOHR) RIGGS ...............................................................................................192 LEWIS CLARK AND SARAH ELLEN (MANSFIELD) RIGGS .........................................................................................193MICHAEL RIGGS FAMILY ............................................................................................................................................193GARY AND CHRISTIA (MONAGHAN) RISLER FAMILY ...............................................................................................193

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RICK ROY ..................................................................................................................................................................... 193ROBERT AND PATRICIA RUCKMAN ...........................................................................................................................194BERYL W. AND RUBY (WHITEHURST) RUTLEDGE ....................................................................................................194CECIL A. AND ESTHER (FEICKE) RUTLEDGE .............................................................................................................195JOHN A. AND CHLISTA JANE (ARBOGAST) RUTLEDGE ............................................................................................195PAT AND SUSAN RYAN ...............................................................................................................................................195ASH MARTIN SCARBROUGH .....................................................................................................................................195RAYMOND SCARBROUGH .........................................................................................................................................195DENNIS AND SHANNON SCHLEETER FAMILY ..........................................................................................................196RON AND AMANDA SCHLIEPER ................................................................................................................................196ROGER LEE AND PATRICIA SCHNEMAN FAMILY ......................................................................................................197WILLIAM HUGH AND DAISY (LANE) SHAW ..............................................................................................................197DONALD AND GAIL SHORT FAMILY ..........................................................................................................................197JACK AND NANCY ALEXANDER SHORT FAMILY .......................................................................................................197DOUG AND JUDIE SMITH ..........................................................................................................................................197GRANVER ERNEST (G.E.) AND EDNA MAE (SHAW) SMITH FAMILY ........................................................................198JUNIOR AND DAISY SMITH FAMILY ..........................................................................................................................198WARREN AND PATRICIA SMOTHERS FAMILY ...........................................................................................................198WILLIAM E. & MALINDA F. (BUTLER) SNOW ............................................................................................................198LANCE AND TAMI SPIEKER FAMILY ...........................................................................................................................199LESLIE AND SHARON STIGER ....................................................................................................................................199JACOB AND REBECCA (DAVIS) SWIGART FAMILY ....................................................................................................199ABRAHAM AND ERLINDA GARDINER THOMAS .......................................................................................................200ASAHEL AND NANCY SMITH THOMAS .....................................................................................................................200JESSE AND BEA THOMAS ...........................................................................................................................................201MICHAEL AND MARY MARSH THOMAS ...................................................................................................................201CLARINE TIPSORD FAMILY .........................................................................................................................................202DAN AND SUSAN TIPSORD FAMILY ..........................................................................................................................202MARK TIPSORD AND JERRI HURRELBRINK ..............................................................................................................202JAMES E. AND EUNICE L. (SCOTT) TOBIN .................................................................................................................202JAMES E. AND NEOMA E. (BESSER) ..........................................................................................................................203MICHAEL AND MARY (DREW) TOBIN .......................................................................................................................203FRANCES LUCILLE SMOCK TURPIN ...........................................................................................................................204RALPH AND MARCIA TURPIN FAMILY ......................................................................................................................204RONALD LEE AND JEANNE KAY VANCE FAMILY .......................................................................................................204JAMES AND SARAH (WALTERS) WALDEN FAMILY....................................................................................................205WILLIAM R. AND BONNIE G. (DUFF) WALDEN FAMILY ...........................................................................................205LEN AND PEARL (WETZEL) WEBB .............................................................................................................................206RICHARD HENRY AND LYDIA MIRANDA (ERWIN) WEBB .........................................................................................206JOHN JESSE WEEDMAN, SR .......................................................................................................................................207TED GEORGE AND LOUISE WEEDMAN .....................................................................................................................207THOMAS ST. CLAIR AND MARY (BROWNLEE) WEEDMAN ......................................................................................207BILL AND JOYCE (HENDREN) WELLS .........................................................................................................................207BOB AND PEGGY WELLS ............................................................................................................................................208JOHN E. & MARY L. WEST FAMILY .............................................................................................................................208TOM AND CRISPINA WEST .......................................................................................................................................208JEFFERSON AND CATHERINE (CRIST) WETZEL .........................................................................................................209HAROLD CARTER AND OPAL WELCH WHEELER ......................................................................................................209WES AND LESLIE (HIERONYMUS) WHITEHOUSE .....................................................................................................209SCOTT AND JANET WHITEHOUSE FAMILY ...............................................................................................................210WAYNE AND SALLY WILLIAMS FAMILY .....................................................................................................................210CHAD AND MICHELLE WILLS FAMILY .......................................................................................................................210MARK AND GLORIA WILLS FAMILY ...........................................................................................................................211DAVID M. AND SUSAN E. WILSON ............................................................................................................................211WILLIAM AND LOUISA BRADFORD WILSON ............................................................................................................211THE WISEGARVER FAMILY .........................................................................................................................................212BRIAN AND JANENE LANAE (REYNOLDS) WOODARD ............................................................................................212

MARION “COTTON” AND GEORGIA ALVIS WOOLDRIDGE ......................................................................................213MICHAEL AND SHERI ZIGMOND ...............................................................................................................................213PAUL AND AMBER LEE (SCARBROUGH) ZOLLER ......................................................................................................213

MILITARY ................................................................................................................................................................217COLOR GUARD: FARMER CITY’S UNSUNG HEROES .................................................................................................217AMERICAN LEGION ....................................................................................................................................................217LOCAL AMERICAN LEGION POST NAMED AFTER JOE WILLIAMS ..........................................................................217THEIR ROLES REMEMBERED - FARMER CITY VETERANS IN WORLD WAR II .............................................................218THOMAS A MCCONKEY KILLED IN ACTION WW II ..................................................................................................218ROBERT JR. “BOB” MCKINLEY ..................................................................................................................................218ELM STREET VETERANS .............................................................................................................................................219DONALD ELLIS SHORT ...............................................................................................................................................219JACK SHORT ................................................................................................................................................................ 220LANCE CORPORAL FRED G. O’MALLEY .....................................................................................................................221MONUMENT TO UNKNOWN IN CITY CEMETERY ....................................................................................................222GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC LEMON POST #211 .............................................................................................222AMERICAN LEGION MEMBERS .................................................................................................................................223AMERCAN LEGION AUXILIARY ROSTER ...................................................................................................................225SONS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION MEMBERS .........................................................................................................226FRED G. O’MALLEY VFW POST #6190 MEMBERSHIP ROLL .....................................................................................227PAST COMMANDERS OF VFW POST 6190 ................................................................................................................228

CURRENT BUSINESSES ...........................................................................................................................................231ADM GRAIN COMPANY .............................................................................................................................................231AGRI BUSINESS INS. SERVICE ....................................................................................................................................231AMERICAN GRAPHX ..................................................................................................................................................231BACK PORCH BARBEQUE ...........................................................................................................................................231BAUM MOTOR COMPANY .........................................................................................................................................231THE BUDGET MOTEL ..................................................................................................................................................232BUILTA FLOOR COVERING .........................................................................................................................................232CABINETLAND ............................................................................................................................................................ 232CALVERT-BELANGEE-BRUCE FUNERAL HOME.........................................................................................................232CASEY’S GENERAL STORE ..........................................................................................................................................232DR. GEORGE E. CASTROVILLO ...................................................................................................................................233CENTRAL IL AG. .......................................................................................................................................................... 233COLLINS HEATING & COOLING .................................................................................................................................233CORNERSTONE REALTY..............................................................................................................................................233COUNTRY COMPANIES ..............................................................................................................................................233CRADDOCK & ASSOCIATES ........................................................................................................................................233DAYS INN ..................................................................................................................................................................... 234DEWEY’S DRIVE IN .....................................................................................................................................................234THE DIAMOND TAP ....................................................................................................................................................234DOLLAR GENERAL ......................................................................................................................................................234DOUBLE LUNG ARCHERY ...........................................................................................................................................234FARMER CITY ART GLASS ..........................................................................................................................................235FARMER CITY FAMILY HEALTH CLINIC ......................................................................................................................235FARMER CITY CHIROPRACTIC ...................................................................................................................................235FARMER CITY REHAB .................................................................................................................................................235FARMER CITY STATE BANK ........................................................................................................................................236FEESE INS. ................................................................................................................................................................... 236FITNESS FIRST ............................................................................................................................................................. 237FLOOD PLAIN FORGE .................................................................................................................................................237GAMMAGE LAW OFFICE ............................................................................................................................................237THE GARDEN HOUSE .................................................................................................................................................238V.G. GUM TRUCKING .................................................................................................................................................238THE HAIR BOUTIQUE .................................................................................................................................................238H & S HOME IMPROVEMENTS ..................................................................................................................................238HARRIS TV & APPLIANCE SALES, INC. .......................................................................................................................238

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HEARTLAND AG .......................................................................................................................................................... 239HOLMES DENTAL ASSOC. .........................................................................................................................................239HUCKS ......................................................................................................................................................................... 239IMO’S CAFE ................................................................................................................................................................. 239K & S FURNITURE .......................................................................................................................................................239KING’S ACE HARDWARE ............................................................................................................................................240THE LIQUID EDGE .......................................................................................................................................................240MCKINLEY WATER CONDITIONING ..........................................................................................................................240MAIN STREET REALTY ................................................................................................................................................240MAIN STREET VIDEO AND TANNING ........................................................................................................................240MAXWELL COUNTERS ...............................................................................................................................................241MIMI’S CORNER SPA ..................................................................................................................................................241MONSANTO ................................................................................................................................................................ 241NAPA ........................................................................................................................................................................... 241THE NEXT GENERATION ............................................................................................................................................241NIEMANN’S MARKET .................................................................................................................................................242PRECISION SOYA ........................................................................................................................................................ 242QUINN’S TOWING ......................................................................................................................................................242JED AND MARTA REYNOLDS EXCAVATING ...............................................................................................................242RICK’S BAR .................................................................................................................................................................. 242SMITH-JOHANNS INS. ................................................................................................................................................243STAN’S ......................................................................................................................................................................... 243STEVE’S ANTIQUE ......................................................................................................................................................243SUBWAY ...................................................................................................................................................................... 244TIMES PAST ANTIQUES ..............................................................................................................................................244TRI COUNTY SERVICE .................................................................................................................................................244VITO’S ......................................................................................................................................................................... 244WWHP RADIO ............................................................................................................................................................ 244WALKER TIRE .............................................................................................................................................................. 244WINGERT MOTORS ....................................................................................................................................................245YEAGLE ELECTRIC .......................................................................................................................................................245YOUNG’S HAIR SHOPPE .............................................................................................................................................245

CITY ........................................................................................................................................................................249CITY HALL .................................................................................................................................................................... 249CITY COUNCIL ............................................................................................................................................................. 249SANTA ANNA TOWNSHIP ..........................................................................................................................................249FIRST LIGHT PLANT ....................................................................................................................................................249FARMER CITY’S LIGHT PLANT DATES TO 1888 .........................................................................................................249WATER TOWER GUIDED TRAVELERS ........................................................................................................................250DIESEL CONTROVERSY ERUPTS ................................................................................................................................250LIBRARY UPDATE AND HISTORY FROM 1987 TO PRESENT .....................................................................................250CITY PARK ................................................................................................................................................................... 251WEEDMAN PARK ........................................................................................................................................................251

AGRICULTURE ........................................................................................................................................................257FAMILIAR FACES.....................................................................................................................................................265FAMILIAR PLACES ..................................................................................................................................................273REMEMBER WHEN .................................................................................................................................................281MEMORIALS ...........................................................................................................................................................289PHOTO GALLERY ....................................................................................................................................................297