Lawrenceville Merchants Girls Softball Team 1940

Lawrence County News July 31, 1958

“About 1937 or 1938 the game of softball came to Lawrenceville  in full flourish, and by 1940 had become a sport in which the fairer sex was just about as interested as the men and boys. The picture above is of the Lawrenceville Merchants Girls Team, the Wabash Valley champions in 1940.

They were the pride and joy of the late Arthur ‘Red’ Phillips and Conway ‘Connie’ Gariepy. ‘Red’ was highly respected and loved by his girls and he was never too busy to stop and talk with them at any time. It is in tribute to ‘Red’ Phillips, his love of the game and young people, that we submit this picture.

Reading from left to right the front row pictures Wanda Baker  (Conrad) whose position was first base; Bett M. Moore, catcher and left field; Norma Erwin, shortstop; Iwana Wilson (Eckiss), short field; Evelyn Hodges (Smith), third base; Dorothy Toliver (Wolfe), second base; Mildred Caudell (Sager), pitcher.

On the back row are A. W. ‘Red’ Phillips, manager; Maxine Palmer (Cummins), pitcher; Patty Scaggs, centerfield; Wanda Ray (Hartz), right field; Myrna Schmiedeskamp, left field, Maxine McDonald (Ronk), catcher; Marjorie Bowman (Boles), centerfield; Hope Jackman (Starwalt), centerfield; Conway  ‘Connie’ Gariepy, coach. In parentheses are the girls’ married names.

The Lawrenceville Merchants girls softball team took first place in the Wabash Valley softball tournament after defeating a tough Terre Haute team by only one run in a 10-inning playoff. The tournament was played in Marshall for several weeks, and the winning team was awarded a fair cash  purse for the victory. The girls enjoyed a fried chicken banquet and were presented individual gifts of sterling silver softball charms inscribed Wabash Valley 1940.

Teams entered in the Wabash Valley tournament included teams from Terre Haute, Paris, Robinson, Oblong, Marshall, Libertyville, Vincennes, and of course Lawrenceville.

Both ‘Red’ and ‘Connie’ were interested in the betterment of teenage physical education and worked many long hours toward this goal in coaching their girls to victory in the 1940 tournament, as well as the whole season, and several years following. However, the 1940 season was the most rewarding record their team racked up – not only did the girls take the Wabash Valley championship, but also compiled a seasonal record of 41 wins and only eight defeats.”

How many counties in the USA are named Lawrence?  Come to Monday's meeting (June 24th) 7:00 pm and find out!

Wolves in Lawrence County

Mahala Waggoner was born 1838 in Ohio and moved with her family from Coshocton, Ohio in 1849 in a wagon.  Her father Jacob was a land agent and the family lived in the Chauncey area. She married George Wurstbaugh in 1858.

Mahala wrote a letter to the Sumner Press in 1916 and included some of her memories of early Lawrence County. “(I)n olden times the prairie grass was taller than a man's head and the deer, wolves and all kinds of wild animals rove the country. Oh, how afraid I used to be when I heard those wolves howl at night.”

Even before she and her family moved to Illinois, the wolf population was a problem. The laws of the Illinois territory in the early 1800s encouraged the killing of wolves. In 1822, an act of law offered a reward:  

An Act to Encourage the Destruction of Wolves.

Sec 1.  Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois, That the person who shall kill the greatest number of wolves not less than 60 within this state, between the 15th day of April 1823, and the 15th day of November 1824, shall be entitled to the sum of $200; and the person who shall kill, within the time aforesaid, the greatest number of wolves, not less than 10, within the limits of any one County in the state, shall be entitled to the sum of $20: provided that when it shall appear that two or more persons applying for the premium have killed, as aforesaid, an equal and the highest number of wolves, such premium shall be divided equally among such persons.

Sec 2. Be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of every person wishing to obtain any of the above premiums, to take the scalps with the ears entire, to the clerk of the County commissioners, which clerk shall administer to him an oath …..(stating that the affiant did indeed kill the wolves during the prescribed time)…. and it shall be the duty of said clerk to destroy said scalps and to give to such person a certificate…

By 1825, the premium for each wolf was one dollar, but the County Commissioner could raise it to two dollars, with the County picking up the difference. In 1837, the Act read that big wolves of six months or older receive one dollar, each wolf of six months or younger $.50 and Prairie wolves $.50. In 1839 the premiums went to two, one, and one dollar respectfully. Coyotes were general referred to as Prairie Wolves. 

More letters like Mahala's can be found in the Society's newest publication:   "Letters Home from Former Sons and Daughters of Lawrence County Il, 1915-1919--The Sumner Press Pink Letters" $25.00 available at the Museum or the Genealogy Library. See the Publication page at the top of the Lawrence Lore blog for ordering instructions and other publications available for sale.  

You can even pick one up for sale while you are at Monday's (June 24th) 7:00pm. meeting at the Museum.  Kevin Borden will be presenting a "media extravaganza" about Captain "Don't Give Up the Ship" Lawrence. (Popcorn optional. ) 

The Kinsmen

 Who is this local music star?  We know ...Do you?

The top ten viewed blogs since 2010 are:    (You can search for these on the blog site by using the Search button.......) If you have a favorite, tell your friends to click on it, and you can raise the numbers of views that way....( I think that's how Larry and Carl Curry and Ed Brumley got their numbers up!)

Clay's Drive In Grocery

Red Hill Cross

Old Central Lawrenceille 1909

Allison Drive In

Follow up on Tours  (Larry and Carl Curry)

Wally's Root Beer Barrel

Pinkstaff Race Track

First LTHS Building

Standard Oil Station Old and New

Ed's Climb up the Clock Tower

There are now 281 subscribers to the blog, and I am grateful to every one of you who faithfully receives an email every day, and hopefully reads it.   The counter on the actual web blog site does not count the emails, so the almost 50,000 hits come from internet searchers, or email subscribers clicking on their email to go the the site itself....Please tell your friends or family about Lawrence Lore, and if you enjoy this bit of FREE daily history, consider becoming a member of the Historical Society and supporting our cause.   $25.00 individual or $35 family annually.  See blog page at top left to click on membership form to complete and mail to us.  

McCracken, Lane, and Benefiel

Lawrence County News July 9, 1959 Obituary for William E. McCracken. Mr. McCracken had served as justice of the peace, and was for years the district manager of the Modern Woodmen of America. Many years ago he was an agent for Standard Oil Company, driving a team that brought oil from Vincennes to Lawrenceville. He often told of the long days he spent with his team, making his deliveries.  He was 84 years old, having been born May 6, 1875.

Lawrence County News July 2, 1959 Arthur D. Lane and his wife Ella M. Peecher Lane came to Lawrenceville in 1901 where they operated a photography studio. In 1903 they along with Mrs. Lane's parents entered the mercantile business in the building now occupied by Hedde Pharmacy, which they named the bazaar. They soon outgrew their quarters and moved to a room later included in the building now occupied by the People's National Bank. Mr. and Mrs. Peecher retired from the business in 1912, and Mr. and Mrs. Lane gradually diverted  their business to a ladies ready- to- wear  and changed the name to Lanes. During 1923 they moved to the South side of the square where they continued until their retirement in 1947. At the time of their retirement Mr. Lane was 82 and Mrs. Lane was 75. The picture above was taken in their home on 1004 11th Street in 1955.

Lawrence County News June 25, 1959 Ross J. Benefiel ( 1889-1959)  was the son of a surveyor and civil engineer and early in life began learning his profession. He attended Cross Roads school and by home study and attendance at the engineering college at Dixon became proficient in his profession. As a young man he was elected County surveyor, and when the Illinois statute provided for County engineer and superintendent of highways, he was appointed to the position, and reappointed each six years until his retirement in 1951. Ross Benefiel did the engineering work for most of the bridges and highways in the County; and did the engineering for the straightening of the Embarras River. He also acted as engineer for the city of Lawrenceville, being charge of the streets that have been constructed during his activity in the city.

Ever wonder how Lawrence County got its name?  Come to the June 24th, Monday night meeting at 7:00 pm at the Museum....and find out!  

50,000,000th Ford Automobile 1933

In 1933 when the Ford business was booming, the 50 millionth Ford motorcar visited Lawrenceville. Showing the famous vehicle must have  been quite an event because it is believed that most of those persons depicted in the photo below were students in Lawrenceville Township high school, teachers,  police officers and  employees of the A. L. Maxwell Company. 

 Those identified were : William H. Stivers, police chief, M .N. Todd, Principal of LTHS; Miss Selma Roth, Mathematics teacher; Miss  Trissie Sutherland, History teacher; Gordon Eshelman, Maxwell employee and salesman; Emil Fry, Gerri Spitzer, Jean Todd, Bill Hensley; Monroe Beanblossom, George Lathrop, John Humphrey, Bill David, Leon Motor, Don Moody and a Brunson boy. Three young ladies can be seen peering through the car's window.

Thanks to Kevin B for finding this photo in the Lawrence County News May 12, 1971.  

Stivers Springs Resort and Lincoln Jr High teachers 1925

Lawrence County once boasted a luxurious 14 or 15 room hotel frequented by guests from long distances who came to drink from the spring fed well. Stivers Spring Hotel was located on Sumner Rt 4  and it's proprietor was George Ryan. The "good drinking water" well  was housed beneath the little trellis work frame (lower left corner of picture). The building was torn down during  World War II about 1945 according to a newspaper article in the Lawrence County News Jan 4, 1971.  

The ad at the right was found in the Lawrence County Daily Record Monday September 21, 1925.  

 Lawrence County News July 2, 1971 published an old photo of the teachers at Lincoln Junior High in Lawrenceville in 1925-26.

"These eight people comprised the first Lincoln Junior High School in Lawrenceville teaching staff, after the building was built. From left to right they are: Avis Reed, Nettie Van Gilder, Lucille Wheeler, Nancy Corrie, Floyd Prout, J. O. Price, Cleo Williams, and Marion Moore. They kept the students in line during the 1925-26 term of school." 

Dr George and Judith Hockman continued 1874

Yesterday I posted the story of the Civil War soldier, Achilles Brown who was acquitted of murdering Dr George Routt (Dr. George)  in cold blood in front of a witness, and posed the question, why wasn't he found guilty.

In 1858 before the Civil War and before Archilles  had his troubles with Dr.  George, the Hockman family in Lawrence County had their own troubles with him.   Dr George  had ‘courted’ Judith Hockman for a few months and she had gotten pregnant. By agreeing to marry Judith the bastardy suit was dropped. 

Soon thereafter, George left the County and stayed away, failing to return to marry Judith and raise his son.   William Hockman,  Judith’s brother AND  Lawrence County Constable decided to bring Dr. George to justice. 

While the constable waited on the Lawrence County line, William Blackburn rode into Crawford County to get Dr. George and bring him across the line to Lawrence County so he could be arrested. The following is Mr. Blackburn's account of their short journey:

“ I was the man who told Dr, George  that there was a sick woman over in Lawrence County who desired his services. He told me that he understood that they were going to force him to marry Judith Hockman and said he was not going to do it. If any man attempted to arrest him he would shoot him down with his revolver, that he had compromised with her six months before by promising to marry her but was not going to do it. After I and Dr. George got down in the Lawrence County we saw some of my party coming and  he started off but I caught his horse by the bridle and told him to hold on, that he was the man that made that woman sick, and he must now marry her and take care of her and would do so that night if I wished him to.

On cross-examination at the trial, Blackburn continued his story: I went by myself over in Crawford County and at my request Dr. George went over the line in the Lawrence County. I let on to him that it was a great crime; he said it was not so great as I might suppose it was, that he had courted a girl over Lawrence County at one time and that she had become pregnant and they wanted him to marry her and he should not do it. The officer and two others remained in Lawrence County concealed about two or 3 miles north of Chauncey until I went for Dr. George and got him over the line into the County and got near them. It was after night but the moon was shining. When I arrived at Alexander Stewart's in Crawford County where Dr George was boarded, it was almost dusk. After the officer and man came up behind me after we got over the line, they took him. After they arrested him referring to his threats I said to him “Now.where do you bury your dead ?  He replied,  “Oh you know, we all say a great many things we never intend to do.”  I then laughed and went no further with them."

Once across the line in Lawrence County, Constable Hockman had his man.( And as the old country music song goes,-- the man who had done his sister wrong. ) The group proceeded to the Justice of the Peace, Isaac Potts’ house, and then on to the Hockman family home for the wedding.

Justice  Potts had this to say about that evening:  “ I have seen Dr. George twice in his lifetime; the first time I saw him he was brought before me on an arrest on a warrant for bastardy to compel him to marry Judith Hockman. The suit was compromised by him promising to marry her. Shaw myself, Brower and others were present at the time. The next time I saw him he was brought to my house at a late hour in  the night. I then went with them to Hockman's, one of Judith Hockman's brothers, and I then married Dr. George and Judith Hockman  and he was discharged from the arrest. There was no coercion used on him; if there had been I would not have married them. He was free to marry her are not as he pleased. 

They then returned to my house in the buggy that night --Judith Hockman, Dr. George  and the baby. The doctor  was stubborn and set by the fire all night. The woman and her child went to bed in another room. The next morning he went into her room and talked with her. He complained of her not keeping her promise to him. He claimed that she was not to prosecute him. She said that she did not want to do so but her friends compelled her.

The Doctor, Judith and the baby, Emery, apparently never lived together as a family. In 1860 Judith is back in court with Aaron Shaw as her attorney, filing for divorce on grounds of abandonment. George had chosen to live in Crawford County. He never bothered to show up for the court proceedings and Judith was granted her divorce after calling Dr. George ‘a heartless rascal’ as well as  $120 per year in alimony on April 6, 1860. Judith went on to marry Smiley Sumner on February 19, 1862.

So it would seem that the Lawrence County men on the jury already knew Dr. George Routt. His death at the hands of a jealous husband came as no surprise apparently, and that could be the reason that Archilles Brown was acquitted of cold blooded murder.  

Thanks to John K for doing this research.  (see The People of the State of Illinois vs A.M. Brown, Trial for Murder, 11 Aug 1874, Circuit Court Record, Old Criminal Book D, pages 203-204, Lawrence Co., Il, Clerk of the Circuit Court.)