Autobiography of Mary Etta Lillian Peterson Michael chapter from Autobiography of Mary Etta Lillian Peterson Michael compiled December, 1989, pages 1-15. Preface In 1856, Mr. and Mrs. William W. Jones Sr., a real estate man, moved to Illinois from Clark County, Ohio--traveling in a covered wagon bringing their family, two boys and one girl, namely W. W. Jones Jr. 10, George H. Jones 9, and Mary Elva Jones. She was 3 years old. They purchased the house on the corner of Washington & Madison Streets now owned by Edith Shelton. When the children grew up, William W. Jr. married Katherine Stuart from Keokuk, Iowa, and moved to Roodhouse, Illinois, later to Keokuk, Iowa. He was a baggage man on CB&O Railroad. George H. Jones married Lucinda Eubank and they lived in an old house next to the railroad. They built a new house there in 1905 (Arnold Mounce). Mary Elva Jones married G. W. Peterson who came here from Hamilton, Ohio. Before they were married she visited her brother William in Roodhouse and from letters she received while there, most of the following information has been compiled. Lillian P. Michael 1969 Young Men's Prayer Meeting met on Wednesday nights at the Presbyterian Church in Towanda; 25 young men usually attended. Most everybody had a cow and chickens and many had their own ice houses, so Ice Cream Socials were very popular and profitable as the ice cream was homemade. In 1879, a social was held in the yard of the Presbyterian Church. Tables were set up along the east side of the church. Lanterns were strung from tree to tree for light. As cakes were brought in by the members, they were set on a table inside the southeast corner of the church where they were taken care of by a young lady whose name was Rachael, a friend of Mary E. Jones. She handed them out the window as they were needed, to be served. Attendance was good and ice cream and cake netted them over $200. Great revivals sponsored by all the churches were held and as there was no building large enough to hold the crowds of people they were held on Main Street. Between 25 to 30 ministers were there and the Main Street was crowded. On the second night the platform was moved closer to the depot to make it more central so more people could hear. As a result, many souls were saved. A photographer came to Towanda annually and had his studio on wheels, which today we would call a trailer. He camped on the grassy triangle spot near the Jones residence, where today our Community Christmas tree stands. Everybody had their pictures taken and enlarged and framed in beautiful fancy gilt frames which graced the parlor walls.
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In about 1906 to 1920, next generation, another photographer, Mr. Lake, brought his trailer photo shop to the same spot. He specialized in "penny" pictures, which became very popular. They had a good business there. He later moved his studio to South Main Street, Bloomington, where Towanda customers went as long as he lived. Our Mother, Mary E. Jones, lived with her parents until she was married to George W. Peterson, November 22, 1877. A few years later when her Mother died, they moved back to the home place to live with her Father, as long as he lived. She had three children: Harry E. Peterson was born January 13, 1879 William Albert Peterson was born April 15, 1884 Mary Etta Lillian Peterson was born October 10, 1889 Some of my first memories were a pair of red button shoes of which I was very proud. My father worked at the Lormer & Cash Grocery Store, which he opened every morning at 6:00. Before he went to work, he always came to my crib and gave me a big hug and kiss. I was quite small when I picked up a hatchet someone was using and chopped the end of my left forefinger almost off. Dr. Reedy came on call and placed it back on and bandaged it up, and I had a scar for years which eventually disappeared. In the back yard I remember there was a wire front shed in which we had some pet rabbits--Bunnie and Billie. I was quite small because I hadn't learned to talk plainly. I went out the back door to see Bunnie & Billie every morning. One morning when I went to see them, they were not there. I was quite excited and ran back into the house and tried to tell my Mother and I couldn't make her understand what I was trying to tell her, so I took hold of her hand and tried to "pull" her out. She did go out and found that some dogs had burrowed under the wire into the dirt "floor" and had disposed of the rabbits. I was quite frightened. The folks had a team of horses, Bonnie and Nellie, which we drove hitched to a carriage wherever we went. We had a soapstone which Mamma heated in the oven in wintertime and, when wrapped in a wool blanket and placed on the floor of the carriage, kept our feet warm. My Mother's Aunt Samantha Arthur and her sister, Aunt Lucy Haigh, lived across the street in the house recently occupied by Emma Marsh. When I was 4 or 5 I used to go up town for them to get groceries. They always paid me with a delicious homemade cookie or a penny, and I was delighted. I remember going out to Smith's Grove one night to a wedding at the Cameron residence. Hattie Cameron was the bride. Refreshments were served on trays and I was elated when they brought me a tray myself on my lap. We drove Bonnie & Nellie in the carriage and, as there was no bridge, we had to ford the creek. The trip there was uneventful, but when we were on the way home Bonnie & Nellie got in the middle of the stream and balked.
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There was a long line for buggies and carriages, so several men came to the rescue, and they finally got them started and drove on. In the cottage west of our house Grandma Falkingham, mother of Bert, & George & Ben Falkingham, lived. Her granddaughter, Mary Falkingham (who years later was Mrs. Jesse Jones), used to stay with her quite often. Mary and I played together often. One day my mother let me go over there when they asked me to, but I was cautioned to not go outside the yard for anything. Mrs. Bea Falkingham was there that day and sent Mary and me across the street to get a bucket of water. When we came back, I was at once called home and punished for disobeying--by being tied to the table leg. (Mamma did not believe in spanking.) By standing on tip-toe, I could see over the top of the table. She was stirring up something for dinner. I asked her what it was, and she said it didn't matter for there was a possibility I might have to go without my dinner because I had been naughty: but when my father came home from the grocery store where he worked they decided that I could eat dinner if I promised to not disobey my mother again. Next to Grandma Falkingham's residence was a new cottage where a Mr. & Mrs. P. W. Bishop built the year before in 1894 (later Fillmore & Cassie Shelton). Down the street in front of these houses there was a one-board sidewalk about 12 inches wide. On the corner in the next block west my father had their new home built (1895). While the men were digging the basement my big brother Harry, 15, took me (I was 5) there to watch the men work. They had it dug about 6 or 7 feet deep. Harry set me on the edge with my feet hanging over. I asked the men all sorts of questions and when I asked, what are all those holes in the side of the wall, they told me they were snake holes--I got out of there in a hurry and didn't bother them any more. When the new house was finished and they were moving, I decided to take my pet cat and dolls in the baby buggy, and I had such a time keeping the kitty in the buggy that my brother Albert had to come to the rescue and help me. I doubt if the kitty stayed there at first, but later decided to move too. The baby buggy I was pushing was exactly like the one that was used for my brothers, 1879, and me to ride in when we were babies. Nat and Cassie Livingston later bought the Bishop house and lived there until 1967. The Gene Broom house later built west of the Bishop house, was built in 1914 and by that time the current sidewalks had been built. What is now the North Side Park was a pasture enclosed by a barbed-wire fence. The village calaboose stood on the southwest corner, a small two cell building built of two plies of hard lumber. In 1894 trees were set out after a very heated discussion in the Village Board which was evenly divided. Nearly every decision had to be made by the president of the board, and one street fight over the trees between two businessmen resulted form the improvement conflict (Cash & Howard).
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In summertime, traveling tent circuses and medicine shows camped in the park and provided entertainment for the community. Later Chautauquas were prominent and brought the best talent in the land to our little town. Summer Chautauquas were held in tents on the street, and winter ones in the churches or Town Hall. These were usually sponsored by one of the churches or Village Board or some other organization. When the present Methodist Church was built, the old Methodist Church building was moved back on the street by the railroad and used for the Town Hall until it burned in the 1960's. Businesses Fred Windler owned and operated the harness shop in a building on the corner of Main Street where David Weakley now operates the gas station. He had all kinds of saddles, bridles, harness, harness hardware, and other leather goods. Next to that was a small grocery store owned by George (Dunk) Foster. Next to that was a busy blacksmith shop where people brought their horses in to be shod. I used to love to stop when I went by and watch him and his helpers work at the anvil, though I had to stand back far enough to avoid getting hit by sparks of fire. Mr. & Mrs. William Macy's residence was next. It was called the Macy Hotel and Mrs. Macy took care of and fed the guests while Mr. Macy, a druggist, operated the little drug store next door. I can still smell the pungent odor of drugs which were lined up on shelves behind the counter. The druggist mixed all the prescriptions himself. He also had an enticing glass show case of penny candies, and we children used to go in and make our selections and purchase a good sized sack of candy for a nickel. There was a large building next to this which was built by a Mr. Roadknight, the first floor of which was occupied by several businesses. George W. Howard (Leola's Grandfather) owned the building at this time and in one unit had a grocery store and drug store combined. Once upon a time the Post Office was in a unit of this building. Bert Falkingham had a grocery there, also. On second floor there was a tenement section in which the Charles Howard family lived and also a large hall which was equipped with gymnasium bars, swings, etc. I used to love to go up there and play with Leola and Zella Howard and swing on the swings and ropes, etc. This building burned in 1905. Another place of business on Main Street was a butcher shop operated by Mr. Samuel Marsh, Bill's father. The Oliver Tilbury family lived in the home now occupied by the Roy Reddings and owned and operated the tile factory on the grounds south of the school, which is now the school playground. There were large long buildings, huge ovens in which the tile and bricks were baked, and a system of flat cars on trails going through all the building which we kids loved to ride on. From this factory, tiles were supplied all over the county and many men were employed for years. The factory whistle always blew at noon and quitting time.
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Henry Pumphrey, brother of John Pumphrey, lived across the street north from the Presbyterian Church and had and operated a blacksmith shop there. The White brothers, Charles and William, were carpenters. Charles built and lived in Mon Moore's house and they built our home in 1895 and many others. The Dotson brothers, Ben, Ed, and Walk, also were carpenters. Sandy is Ed's son. The McCaffertys lived in the house where Mrs. Schmidt lives and they built the first automobile in Towanda. Its chassis was made from an old buggy and it chug-chugged around the block past our house many times a day. Angie Ware and her sister, Martha Wise, lived in the house next to Farran's. Angie had a large loom in a building back of the house and wove carpets and rugs for people. We had a rag carpet on our living room floor which had to be taken up very spring or fall. It had to be stretched by a hand stretcher over a layer or straw and all edges tacked down. Helping tacking was on e of my jobs. Many men were employed as Section men on the railroad. There was a residence along the railroad just out of town north in which the Section boss, Frank Manskey (German) and family lived. Later many Italians were hired who lived in box cars parked along the railroad. Later, with Mrs. Joe Special interpreter. When Mr. Manskey retired they bought a home in Towanda (Arnette's) and lived, and Joe Special became Section boss. One Christmas the C.E. young people from the Presbyterian Church took out a large laundry basket of food and goodies to these men who were so far away from their families and homes in Italy. Their joy and happiness was a great reward to those who participated. They invited us in and showed us pictures of their families and sang and played music to entertain us in Italian. In 1895 the Petersons built the house in which we now live--in a "pasture" a block square. The barn, chicken house, and coal house soon followed. At that time all yards were enclosed by fences with gates that locked. Many families owned cows that were herded by someone. In the previous years, 1880's, the herd was taken care of by one or all of the Cottor brothers who lived in one of the "Section" houses along the railroad tracks north of the village. These boys had a pet crow which went with them every day. The father of these boys was one of the Two Section foremen here and these boys grew up to be high officials of various railroads. Another herdsman who served for several years was Samuel Marsh Jr., brother of William Marsh, barber. Early each morning he went from house to house, adding a cow to his herd, possibly 20 or more in all. Her herded them through the streets and out to the country roads. When evening came, he brought his cows to their respective homes to be milked and put away for the night. Whenever the cows came up the street, we children were taught to stay inside the yard and see that the gates were locked so the cows could not get in the yard.
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The alley back of Main Street, buildings were lined with hitching racks, made of posts and heavy chains where people tied their horses and teams while shopping. There were buggies, fringed-top surreys, spring wagons, farm wagons--decorated with fancy buggy whips. Some rode horseback. Often the horses would become frightened by the trains coming through town and would break loose from their halters and result in a run-away, running down the streets and towards home, and often tearing up the buggy or wagon to which they were hitched. Samuel Marsh Sr., who owned the Towanda butcher shop, father of Bill Marsh, bought a team of small mules which had been used on street cars in Bloomington. When hey were hitched to his light weight butcher wagon, they frequently ran away. Once when they ran away on Main Street, one ran on each side of a telegraph pole and the wagon tongue stuck into the telegraph pole causing the mules to tear loose from the wagon and ran away. The women rode on side saddles and wore "riding habits" with divided skirts. The finer buggies were rubber-tired. In summer both men and women wore dusters of linen or linen-like material as the roads were very dusty. When it rained the curtains were snapped on all around the buggy with little windows to peek out. There were "blinders" over the horses' eyes and sometimes when harnessed, the horses were feed with nose bags. Sleds were used in winter time. When we drove to Bloomington, we always were glad to stop at the water tank on Linden and Emerson to water the tired horses. Clothing Our Grandmother and other ladies her age wore bonnets which set on the back and top of their heads and were tied on with ribbon under her chin. Around their shoulders, they wore woolen shawls, plain or plaid, about 4 or 5 feet square with fringe. Their fancy gloves were mitts with no fingers, covering only the hand and part of the thumb. Years before, they wore bustles and hoop skirts, corsets, and corset covers. Both old and young wore high topped shoes with pointed toes. Shoe horns had to be used to put them on and they were buttoned to the top with button-hooks. They wore cotton stockings, fancy high collars, with ruching and jabots. Silk stockings were worn for "best" and, of course, fancy garters. In early days, every garment worn was made by hand in the home, hose and mufflers knitted. When mi-lady went to bed she wore a night cap to protect her hair. When she was doing house work, she wore a dust cap and an apron. Their spectacles were framed with gold and the lenses were much smaller than the glasses of today. Children had to wear long winter underwear (shed May 1st), girls, long sleeves and highnecked dresses, skirts to the ankles, hair in pigtails. Boys wore knee pants until about age 16. In the 1880's and before, little boys wore skirts until they were about 10 years old.
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Of course, everybody had to wear long underwear, usually red, and much of it was WOOL. The men wore spats or gaiters over shoes, and their high stiff collars were made of cellulose or starched cotton. They started wearing sports shirts and collars in about 1915. The men wore seersucker suit and wore sleeve holders or sleeve garters to hold up their sleeves. They used a straight blade razor. Workmen wore knee-high leather slip-on boots and had to use a boot jack to remove their boot. In winter, felt boots were buckled over shoes. As there were no cars or modern machinery, the farmers came into town at night after they got in from the fields to do their shopping. The stores stayed open until 9:30 or 10:00 every night except Saturday when it was usually midnight or later before they could close. The storekeeper had to weigh his crackers, sugar, etc., out of barrels to serve his customers. The children got a large sack of candy for a nickel and one always bought Sen-sen to sweeten the breath! In Bloomington, a wooden Indian stood out in front of each cigar store as an advertisement, and of course, there was a red and white candy stripe pole in front of the barber shops. As driving a horse and buggy to Bloomington was an all day's trip, most town people went on the train, a local pulled by a steam engine. Always, there was such a crowd to get on the train, that the platform was crowded. One was lucky to find a seat either in the depot waiting room or on the train. There were many trains going to and from Bloomington daily. The "Denver" went for years about 10:00 a.m., the "Noon" train about 12:30 p.m. and the fast train, "The Hummer," went about 9:30 p.m. Several high school boys used to load around the depot, so the agent gave them jobs as he was a busy man. He taught them telegraphy and H.E. Peterson, W.A. Peterson, William Kerr, Ed Reedy, and others were telegraphers until retirement. W. J. Cash and A.V. Manskey worked as agents for several years. As there were no electricity nor street lights of any sort, the streets were very dark at night and most people had to carry kerosene lanterns to be able to stay on the narrow sidewalks. In the city, the street lights were kerosene and later gas. Homes, churches, and other public buildings were lighted by kerosene lamps. Some hung from the ceilings and others were bracket or table lamps which had to be filled every day and chimneys washed. Candles were formerly used and were homemade by pouring melted tallow into molds. Gasoline and Aladdin lamps were an improvement from the kerosene, and in 1926 we really appreciated electricity when it came to Towanda. In those days there were many tramps or hoboes who walked from town to town or rode the freight trains. They would stop at each house and ask for food and occasionally would offer to work for something to eat. They usually camped along the railroad south
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of town near the stockyards, and it was said they left a mark of some kind on the fence of the places where they obtained good food so the next transient would know where to stop. We used to feed from two to five per day. The farmers brought their cattle, sheep, and hogs into the stockyards at night (where fertilizer company now stands, southwest part of town), where they were loaded on the trains and shipped to Chicago. Sometimes the noise kept people awake for hours. In 1859 or thereabout, Towanda built a new school building. Just as it was almost finished, it caught fire and was burned to the ground. At once it was rebuilt just like the first one. While it was being built, school was held in a one room building which has since been remodeled into a residence and it is now owned by Mrs. Nola Hendrick-- 1963, Mrs. William Hargis--1969. In the 1880's the Towanda School was a two room, two teacher school, taught up to 6th grade. Later more rooms were added and in 1896 a two year High School was added; two more years of High School were added in about 1918. School bells always range several times daily. All country schools consisted of one room and one teacher. Schools were lighted by kerosene lamps when they had programs at night and heated by pot-bellied stoves. Each desk had an ink well which ruined many pigtails, hair ribbons, and dresses. A felt or cloth pen wiper was needed for each pen. Pipe organs at the churches and theaters in the city were pumped by hand. Cooking and baking, canning, etc., was done on a hot range using wood, cobs, and coal for fuel; and water was heated in a reservoir in the stove and had to be kept filled. The range furnished heat for the kitchen. The fuel and water had to be carried in several times a day and ashes emptied. Utensils for the kitchen range, also heater, were coal scuttle, lifter, coal buckets, poker, shaker, and scraper. The ovens were large enough to hold several loaves of bread which had to be baked often. Later during hot weather, some families used a kerosene stove. The three irons we used had to be heated on the range. As the handles were very hot, we had to use an iron-holder and the irons set on a trivet. As soon as one iron got cool, it was exchanged on the stove for a hot one, and that seemed often as they didn't stay hot very long. Coffee came in beans and was ground in the coffee grinder and boiled on the stove in a coffee pot. The pail of drinking water, which set on the cook table, with dipper in or near, was carried in several times a day from the cool well outside. All family members drank from the dipper. There being no refrigerators, housewives hung butter, milk, eggs, etc., in baskets down into the well to keep them cool. Many things kept in the cellar or cave.
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Some farmers had ice houses where they stored their own ice in sawdust in the winter and used it in ice boxes. Later ice was delivered from Bloomington. In extreme cold weather the pump outside had to be thawed out with hot water. In the inside there was a pump in the sink from which we got soft water from the cistern. (In 1940, city water was installed in Towanda.) On a door or wall, the linen crash roller towel hung and was used by the whole family. When it became soiled it was replaced with a clean towel, and sometimes it took several towels a day. The Town well was located near the depot and each resident had their own well and cistern. The Railroad well, which supplied water for the old steam engines, was located near the creek back east of Robert Arbuckle's home. Other articles used in the kitchen in those days were nutmeg graters, kegs of sauerkraut made by the housewife, kegs of pickles, vinegar cruets, egg cups, wooden lemon squeezers, and butter molds. In the cellar were 12 or 15 1-gallon crocks containing whole milk. Many of them had to be skimmed every day and the delicious thick cream was used on the table, some to cook with and the rest was churned into butter. The skimmed milk was soured and made into cottage cheese. The homemade butter was molded in wooden molds after being "worked" with a wooden butter paddle. The molds were different shapes and the butter and buttermilk delicious! There was always a wash stand in the guest room in which there were drawers for towels and washrags and a cupboard to hold the pitcher and washbowl. There was a "hair-receiver" on the dresser where mi-lady combed her hair. The laundry was done by a machine which was run by hand, either by a lever or by turning a wheel. Either was back-breaking! (I preferred washing on a wash board.) There were three or four wash tubs, a washboard, and all the white clothes were boiled. Soap was made from leftover grease and lye. All the water had to be carried and emptied outside. Those who had no bathtubs used the laundry tub for bathing. In the parlor there were wool or woven rag carpets, wall to wall, tacked to the floor over a layer of straw. Carpet stretchers were used to lay housewives and woven on a loom. Miss Angie Ware owned and operated the only loom and was kept busy weaving carpets for people. Phonographs had large horn shaped receivers and played disc records. Later came the piano player, penny photos, Ouija board, china painting, penny candy, nickelodeons, electric cars (in city), Reo cars. At our home, we played caroms, flinch, checkers, dominoes, and Pit.
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On the parlor walls, enlarged photographs of all the relatives and ancestors hung in huge gold and fancy frames. On the marble top stand there was always the family album, of red velvet, containing daguerreotypes of tin, etc. Also, there was the corner what-not, a stereoscope with a lot of pictures to look at, rose jars, a Seth Thomas clock, chairs and settees upholstered in velvet or mohair, which stuck through your clothes when you sat on it! In earlier days, around the fireplace were andirons and spinning wheels which the ladies used to make material for clothing.
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