977 .383 
 
 GIRART., ILL.-- 
 HISTORICAL COM- 
 
 'ITT ''"" '^ 
 V i I I I L. il 
 
 ■II ST DRY OF 
 ILLIN'~ IS 
 
 GIRARD 
 
 ^1155)
 
 LI B R.AFLY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 or ILLINOIS 
 
 917.383 
 
 fttfflOlS HISTORICAL SURVEY
 
 HiSTC 
 
 ISTORY OF 
 
 IRftRD. ILLINOIS 
 
 from then *til noui" 
 1855 1955
 
 TME: GrlKARID HOUSE BUILT IN 1854 
 
 This photo of The Girard House is the oldest in this booklet. Lent by Miss Daisy Yerlngton, 
 who was born there, it shows what an imposing hotel this was for a small town. It was built 
 in 1854 on the northeast corner of the square. 
 
 Another landmark for many years was torn down in 1923. its bell 
 siimmoned both high ."^chool and grade pu|)ils to the same bc.idinj.' 
 Girard's j>ublic school. It was located where tlie present West grade 
 school .stiinds.
 
 Fire on North Side of Square August 1884 
 
 mmm 
 
 The street was littered with furnishings carried out of the burning frame buildings. This view is looking east 
 on Center street, the grocery store at left front bieing the present bank comer. 
 
 This disastrous fire destroyed a large section of the business houses on the north side. Like many such events, it 
 speeded the modernization process, for brick buildings soon replaced the old frame structures. Notice Ihe fence 
 around the park, necessary to keep out the livestock.
 
 Homecoimilng Parade I19I19 
 
 Girard's biggest communitv celebration of its first century was the Soldiers and Sailors 
 Homecoming on August 7, 1919. Part of the grand parade, almost a mile long, is shown 
 here at the i^outhwest corner of the square. 
 
 The Corn Carnival was a popular fall event during the early 1900's. 
 This parade is pictured in the same location as the later Homecoming 
 parade (above).
 
 s 
 
 In the horse and bugg>- days, the 
 Girard stores had "porches" in the 
 front. These \iews show the north 
 and west sides of the square. 
 Girard's coal mine (lower left) 
 was closed in February 1923. The 
 first mine had been sunk in 1869. 
 Its tipple and outbuilding's burned 
 in 1873 and were rebuilt.
 
 HjSTC 
 
 ISTORY OF VUJ^i?^' L^LINOIS 
 
 **from then *til nouj" 
 1855 . 1955 
 
 INDEX 
 A Dedication Poem 
 
 Chapters: - - 
 
 1. In the Beginning. 
 
 2. Girard Becomes a Point on the Map. 
 
 3. City Government and Municipal Ventures. 
 
 4. We Shall Worship God. 
 
 5. Industries Through the Century. 
 
 6. On the Square. 
 
 7. Bankers and Lawyers. 
 
 8. Newspaper Enterprises. 
 
 9. Military Record. 
 
 10. The Unveiling of Soldier's Monument. 
 
 11. Fires and Disasters. 
 
 12. Physicians and Dentists in Girard. 
 
 13. Girard's School System. 
 
 14. Institutions. 
 
 15. Ringling Brothers Circus. 
 
 16. Annual Corn Carnival. 
 
 17. Human Interest Stories. 
 
 18. The Future. 
 
 Historical Committee 
 Mrs. L. T. Weddle, Historian 
 Howerton Tipton 
 H. V. Stutsman 
 Mrs. Edgar Davidson, advisor 
 
 Printed by The Girard Gazette
 
 DEDICATION POEM 
 
 GIR A R D 
 
 G 
 
 irard the city, we honor this year 
 Was founded by men with vision most clear; 
 While animals were wild: and still roamed untamed, 
 For a man named Girard, our fair town was named. 
 
 I 
 
 n a broad prairie country, w^e then set our stage 
 And now we turn back the fond history's page ; 
 To find there great men, who possessed courage fine, 
 For a hundred long years, all down the line. 
 
 R 
 
 everence for God, in this country so grand. 
 They cleared off the forests, and tilled the rich land; 
 And founded our schools, and built homes secure. 
 That the ages of testing, and time would endure. 
 
 A 
 
 good business center, now here is found, 
 A beautiful park, with its grass covered ground 
 Its spacious wide streets, and all types of labor, 
 A city where truly, each one loves his neighbor. 
 
 R 
 
 ich is its soil, with a deep floor of coal. 
 The finest in livestock and grain is its goal; 
 Regard for the churches, and good education. 
 Has given our city, its place in the Nation. 
 
 D 
 
 ue West of our city, just a wee little way. 
 We find here the triumph and pride of our day: 
 'Tis silvery Lake Sunset, with its tall shady trees, 
 And its murmuring waves, and soft balmy breeze. 
 
 lo55 
 
 So this is our city, long tried and true, 
 And its heartiest welcome, it now gives to you : 
 Enjoy every moment, sincerely we pray, 
 As old friends together, on this happy day. 
 
 X «/«/«/ Then here's to Girard, the cherished home town, 
 
 With beard, hat and tie, and long flowing gown: 
 
 For the century passed, we now shed no tears. 
 
 But in joy we look forth, to the next hundred years. 
 
 H. V. Stutsman 

 
 ThL^ 3iistoi:y o£ Grira-rd. 18SS-1©SS 
 
 Chapter 1 
 In the Beginning: 1829-1854 
 
 This is the story of a part of Black Hawk's hunting ground, a part of the 
 prairies that once swept out of the east into the timbered water courses of the 
 head waters of the "Macoupina". It was this fertile spot on "The Grand 
 Prairie" that became known as Macoupin County, Illinois, in the year 1829. 
 
 Not a town had been established within the bounds of this county, the name 
 of which means "white potato", or "plenty". A few peaceful Indians were even 
 yet enjoying life in their village on the site of the Oak Leaf Country Club 
 near Gii'ard. These natives were probably one of the Illini tribes, a people who 
 were a mixed group of Peorias, Mitchigames, Kickapoos, Winnebagos or 
 Pottawanomies. 
 
 These Indians declared to the first settlers that this was a spot favored by 
 the "Great Spirit", for here "no cyclone would ever blow". 
 
 It is plain that an enterprising Frenchman by the name of Girard (first 
 name unknown) also camxC at a very early date, building a sawmill on the 
 tim-bered banks of the stream which was so soon to be called Mill Creek. 
 Legend says that Girard's Mill was located on the creek at the foot of Ash- 
 baugh Hill, west of the entrance of Oak Leaf Country Club. 
 
 Following the streams up into the edge of the prairies, the settlers first 
 came from t>ie south and west, by way of Alton. 
 
 Wherever there were trees, cottonwood, willows, sycamores, oak, maple, 
 wild cherry or locust, the men stopped and took up claims from the government 
 and built cabins.. At first it was only a fool who would build on the prairie 
 grass land. A man could get lost in that terrible grass and if fire got into 
 the dry September stems, a prairie fire was inevitable. Then too, the wood 
 supply should be near at hand. 
 
 So it was that by 1831 Mr. Girard had near neighbors by the name of Thos. 
 Warren, Jesse Ashlock, William and Charles Cox and Matthew Harian. all 
 living in the west edge of the site which was to become Girard Township. 
 
 By 1834 other men ventured a bit farther into the prairie, and the names of 
 W. T. Bristow. Daniel Black. Elisha Smith. Dr. Edwards and Colonel George 
 Mather ioined the neighborhood. 
 
 With the settlers becoming more numerous, a staffe line from Springfield 
 to Alton now became a profitable venture as well as a transportation necessity. 
 FoHowins: an old In^i^n trail, this line became weU traveled, and John 
 Henderson settled about one and one-half miles north of the Dr^^sent ^ite 
 of Girard. There in 1835 Mr. i^enderson established a "st-^o-^ stand", and the 
 creak of the stage coach and the snap of the driver's whip became a part of 
 the local scene. This line was then known as the yviton Wav ^nd "-as to 
 become, in 1921, State Route 4, a part of the first hard road between Chicago 
 and St. Louis. 
 
 Henderson's stage stand was on the sp^t where Raloh Ruthe^fo'-d now lives. 
 "There wasn't a house in sight when I built here," said Mr. Henderson. The 
 framework of this old Inn was incorporated into the mo^^e^n home which is 
 now located on the site. 
 
 Mr. Henderson later sold his stage stand to John Virden who operated the 
 place until the Chicago & Alton railroad was completed from Alton to Chicago 
 by 1854. 
 
 It is claimed that an unsuccessful effort was made to establish a town at 
 Girard's mill even before 1834. Then in 1834 two of the settlers. Dr. Ec'wards 
 and Colonel George Mather made the second effort to establish a to"'r They 
 saw the business which Mr. Girard's mill had brought to the area. They saw 
 the stap-e line carryini: freight, and 'oassengers from Alton, the river port, 
 to Springfield the new state capitol. They located the new town site on the 
 stage road which passed near the home of Mr. John Roach, now the 
 property of E. H. Yarke. 
 
 Edwards & Mather laid out this town site and made a plat of it. They
 
 named it Girard. The site was about the same as now occupied by the part 
 of Girard, which lies west of the railroads and north of South street. Again 
 the effort' failed. The plat was never recorded and no houses were built there. 
 
 However the scattered settlement in the west edge of the township grew 
 and a school house was built there in 1843, one half mile southeast of what 
 later became Lynchburg, and Elizabeth McCullough was the teacher. 
 
 So it was that the years passed and men of courage and vision came to this 
 part of Illinois. They purchased the land at about $1.25 per acre. Their goal 
 was to conquer all the wild beauty that lay before them and make it a place 
 fit for the habitation of cultured men and their families. This was to actually 
 be quite a struggle. 
 
 The celebrated, but eccentric Peter Cartwright. as a member of the Illinois 
 Ijegislature, convened at Vandalia, voted against the forming of Macoupin 
 County in 1829. Among other things he said that '"God has set apart this 
 region as a reservation for geese and ducks". 
 
 Even in 1834 many believed that the prairies would never be settled, and 
 lierds of deer and great flocks of wild turkeys roamed through the site that 
 ■was one day to become Girard. 
 
 Chapter 2 
 Girard Becomes a Point on the Map. 
 
 The politicians and land promoters of the state of Illinois saw the high 
 lights of opportunity in the building of railroads. Thus the Chicago & Alton 
 company was organized, and construction on the railroad from Alton to 
 Chicago became a reality. 
 
 Working from Alton the construction crews finished the line to Springfield 
 late in 1852. Then the Girard settlers again stirred themselves to build greater 
 things. They saw that it was no longer going to be necessary to drive to Stirrup 
 Orove, (called Pleasant Grove by a few and later called Chapman's Point), 
 for the mail. 
 
 Now as the busy little wood-burning engines came chuffing along, it would 
 be no time at all until the mail would be carried to every station on the line. 
 And a station meant a city. 
 
 In the spring of 1853 Mr. Barnabas Boggess and Charles H. Fink laid 
 out a town site '"at right angles with the world". This site covered much of 
 the same territory as the 1834 plat. This survey was made by Mathew Savage, 
 and lots were placed on sale from $20.00 up. Natural wooded land extended 
 from the west end up to where the Methodist Church now stands. 
 
 This plat carried the old name of Girard and was recorded in November of 
 1854. By an act of the Legislature on February 14, 1855, the town of Girard 
 was incorporated. 
 
 Thomas Le^is and John Way made the first addition in 1855 on the south 
 side. This section has always carried the nickname of Waytown. In 1866 
 "Barnabas Boggess made the second addition of 60 acres north and east of the 
 original plat. 
 
 The first horse in Girard was moved in from the Liberty school west of 
 Girard by Barnabas Boggess in May 1853. Mounted on two logs and pulled by 
 nineteen yoke of oxen, it was slowly but surely brought to its new location 
 on the corner just north of Foster Supply Co. This house was occupied at once 
 hy Dr. Abr^am Miller. In later years it was again moved to the southwest part 
 of town where it finally burned. 
 
 Bv the Vme Dr. Miller -"-as i^'-Pted in his new home enough carpenters were 
 on hand to swine cuite a building program. 
 
 Sam Bogeess, brother of Barnabas, started a building on the corner across 
 west from the Illinois Terminal Station. '^Now." said his wife, Aunt Polly,
 
 "if all the carpenters will come and build our boarding house, I'll cook f'oi' 
 them while they build the other houses." 
 
 It is difficult tj assign, at this distant date, the honors of first, second or 
 third houses built in Girard. Records do not agree. However, by the fall of 
 1853, Dr. Miller had built a new home. Mr. McManners had built a residence 
 where the Masonic Temple now stands, that residence now being the home of 
 Mrs. Grace Alford. W. E. Eastman, grandfather of the late Attorney Frank - 
 G. Wood built on the site of Gladys Krebaum's new h-.me. N. B.anham 
 had built where the Shell Station now stands. A residence was built on the-' 
 site where Raymond Anderson lives, and C. H. Fink had built a new home. 
 
 J. S. Warfield not only set up the first blacksmith shop in Girard in that 
 year, but also built his home where Standard Oil is now located, and Billie 
 Jones built the house now owned by Mac Hammond, but which was built by 
 Mr. Jones on the corner occupied at present by Whitworth's Texaco Station. 
 Mr. Hammonds home is perhaps the oldest, best preserved home in Girard, 
 and in being modernized its classic lines were altered very little. 
 
 Some store buildings were also erected in 1853. Alfred Mayfield's general 
 store; W. E. Eastman's drug and merchandise store on the north side, and the' 
 "Boomerang" where the State Bank is now located. Here the first post office- 
 in Girard was established in 1854 with James Mitchell as the first postmaster. 
 
 Although Girard had a post office, there was no station and the trains did. 
 not stop here for some time. The mail continued to be brought from Stirrup 
 Grove by horseback for an unknown time. Then it was brought from Virden or 
 Nilwood. 
 
 Many hindrances were constantly thrown in the path of those early enter- 
 prising citizens. It was not until the citizens themselves put forth the effort to 
 build a side track, dig a railroad well, and fulfill several other demands, that 
 the Chicago & Alton railway officials finally consented to make Girard a re- 
 gular stop and build a station here. 
 
 The large and increasing volume of business in grain and livestock immedia- 
 tely justified the efforts and expenditures. 
 
 In 1854 the building continued. Barnabas Boggess built his home in that 
 year on the site of Dr. Finney's present office. He also completed "Gu'ard 
 House", the first hotel in town, on the site of the present skating rink. "Girard 
 House" was known at once as a prominent hotel and remained so for many 
 years. It was first operated by Joseph Rafferty. 
 
 Some time later George Wood, father of the late Attorney Frank G. Wood^ 
 operated Girard House for a short time; next was Julius Hamilton, whose 
 daughter Mrs. Mary Mayfield, is now 96 years of age and lives in Champaign, 
 Illinois. Then William Carlin took over for a time, followed by George 
 Yerington, father of Miss Daisy Yerington of this city. Miss Daisy was born 
 in Girard House, which was operated by the family for many years. 
 
 The first house built where the St. Nicholas Hotel stands was a dwelling 
 house, built about 1865 by the Andrews-Macknett-Metcalf Lumber Company, 
 for a Dr. White from St. Louis. In 1870 this house was moved to the west 
 part of town and became the home of Mr. Andrews. Then it was purchased 
 by Jesse M. Metcalf and remodeled into ne of t^e to- n's most elepant. 
 homes. The lawn around this home is landscaped with different varieties; 
 of unusual trees, and is treasured by the present owners, Vernor Thompson 
 & Son who are in turn remodeling the house into a modernistic dream. 
 
 The St. Nick Hotel was then built in 1870 and James Hedges was its pro- 
 prietor, for perhaps three years, then it was leased by a Mr. Sutphin. This 
 man had 5 children, one daughter became a famous singer. Mr. an^ Mrs. 
 Bert Bellamy once heard her sing as Madame Butterfly in New Orleans. 
 Ad Timothy was the next proprietor. He sold to Edward Gough, the father 
 of Mrs. Frank Stewart. Mr. Gough stayed f-om 1901:-1912. A pe-ioi of 
 profitable years followed at the St. Nick unde" t'-'e ovne -shio f John J. 
 Stowe. Mrs. Stowe's cooking was famous up and down the C. and A. from 
 Chicago to St. Louis. Many a drummer always planned to make Girard at a 
 time to enjoy "Aunt Lizzie's" cooking. The St. Nick is now Giraid's only 
 hotel and is owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. Don Schott.
 
 Chapter 3 
 City Government and Municipal Ventures 
 
 By the charter conferred by the Legislature in 1»55 there was to be elected 
 each year a board of trustees, consisting of a president and four trustees. 
 All other officers were to be elected by the board of trustees 
 
 The records and elections of the city are intact for the century. 
 
 This plan of government was continued until September 14, 1880. when 
 an e ection on the question of organization under a city charter resulted 
 in an overwhelming victory for the new city plan. City officers were elected 
 
 in April 1881. . ^ ., i„„f;^„ 
 
 The out-going board of trustees refused to receive and canvass the election 
 returns, claiming that the returns had not been made withm the time 
 required by law. They refused to vacate their seats and continued to hold 
 meetings and operate the business of the town. 
 
 The newly elected mayor and city council met July. 1881. and organized, 
 held meetings and also operated the business of the city. 
 
 It was not until February 7. 1882, after the decision of the Courts that the 
 town board held its last meeting and decided to cease playing at government. 
 Thus, for nearly a year, Girard was ruled by two sets of officers, each trying 
 to secure the overthrow of the other. 
 
 The first President of the Girard Town Board was James H. Wolfe, Feb. 
 1855. The first Mayor was Thomas Cherry in 1881. The present Mayor is 
 George Kemp. 
 
 According to an account of Girard in the Springfield News of May 15, 1908, 
 Girard was the first city in the state to have municipal ownership. 
 
 This municipal venture was the Girard Coal Mine, sunk in 1869, under the 
 direction of the Town Board. A seven foot vein was struck at 350 feet down. 
 By 1870 the mine was hoisting coal. 
 
 It was operated as a municipal mine for two years. In 1871 it was leased to 
 a company composed of Andrew Rathgeber, Henry Stukenberg, Alexander 
 McDonald, Angus Maxwell and James McCraner. 
 
 In 1876 the lease was transferred to William Eastham and Benjamin Leigh. 
 In 1879 it passed into private o^^oiership by being sold to Barnabas Boggess. 
 After that the ownership changed hands several times. 
 
 An electric light plant was built in Girard in 1892 by G. A. Eastham and 
 Charles Evans. They were granted license to set poles along the Girard 
 streets and thus Girard received the most wonderful invention of the age — 
 lighting by electricity. 
 
 In 1900 Girard again became a municipal city by taking over the electric 
 plant from Eastham and Evans, manufacturing city electricity until 1909. 
 
 Chapter 4 
 "We Shall Worship God." 
 
 In accord with the most basic American tradition of all. a church was 
 built in Girard as early as possible. A Union Church was completed in the 
 spring of 1855, located on the present site of the Presbyterian church. Here 
 the people worshipped until each denomnational group grew strong enough 
 numerically and financially to build their own house. 
 
 On March 1855, the Baptist congregation was formed by Rev. H. T. Chilton, 
 Rev. James Harvey and Rev. Joseph Wrightsman, with a membership of 14. 
 In the fall of 1856 Rev. M. V. Kitzmiller arrived from Tennessee. "I want to 
 live in a town," he said, "where I can rear my family in a free state, where 
 honest labor is not considered degrading." He was called to the pastorate 
 of the Girard Baptist Church and held this position for 32 years, building 
 up a membership of 180. 
 
 In 1865 the Baptist built the house which they xised until 1902, at which
 
 time it was remodeled. Mrs. Tom Neff and Paul Post, active members of the 
 Baptist Church are grandchildren of Rev. Kitzmiller. ^i,„^^>, 
 
 m 1854 Rev W C. Bell organized the Cumberland Presbyterian Church 
 with a membership of 14. The first board of trustees was composed of T. 
 W MoBride W. T. Jones and John F. Roach. They organized a Sunday 
 School in 1857. In 1864 they became the sole owners of the Union church. 
 In 1889 the Presbyterians built a new house of worship at a cost of $3,000.00, 
 handsomely finished and furnished with open chairs of the newest design. 
 
 The Universalist Society was organized in January 1857 with Charles Fmk, 
 J. W. Woodruff. A. H. Cornman, A. C. Tell and Willare Magoon as Trustees. 
 Work on the church was started at once, but was continued only as the 
 material was paid for. When it was finally finished it was dedicated free of 
 
 debt. 
 
 In 1937 the Universalist Society of Girard disorganized and the Trustees 
 sold the building to The Church of God. This is now an active congregation 
 in the town. 
 
 The Girard Circuit of the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 
 1857 by Rev. John Everly and included Girard and EVerly Chapel in North 
 Otter. Meetings were first held in the homes of the settlers. In 1858 this 
 circuit numbered 210 members and had 143 pupils in their Sunday Schools. 
 Their first building stood east of the railroad. The present site was deeded 
 to the trustees by a Mr. Jones in 1859. The present church has been remodeled 
 in recent years, adding greatly to the beauty of the inner structure. The 
 Wesley Education Center was erected in 1954. 
 
 Elder Alexander Johnson organized the Christian Church, (called Camp- 
 ibellites in the old days), in July 1860 with a membership of 13. Charter 
 members were Mesdames Thurman, Moore, Nathan, Belle Woods, Grandma 
 Eastham. Misses Kate and Fannie Eastham and John Ewing and wife. They 
 met for the first services in a frame building where Coble's Variety Store 
 now is. Jacob Deck, grandfather of Wyman and Harry Deck was the first new 
 member baptized into this congregation. Their first building was sold to the 
 Church of the Brethren in 1899, who moved it to another location. The 
 present building was built in 1900. 
 
 The Roman Catholic Church, an "elegant edifice", was built during the 
 pastorate of a Father O'Reilly. In 1890 their communicants numbered fifty 
 families. 
 
 A Lutheran Church was built soon after the turn of the century. It stood 
 unused for many years, but has been remodeled and now has an active 
 conerreffation. 
 
 The Primitive Baptist congregation built their house in 1883. 
 
 The Church of Christ completed a small house of worship late in 1954. 
 
 The story of Girard churches is intertwined with that of the nearby country 
 conereeations. 
 
 The first country church built near Girard was northwest of town. Here 
 the Pleasant Hill meeting house was built by the German Baptist Brethren, 
 commonlv called "Dunkers" in those days, but now legally entitled Church 
 of the Brethren. 
 
 The larere chiirch building now owned by the Pleasant Hill Cemetery 
 Association and used for a Community Center was built in 1867-68. It was 
 desioned by Deacon Jacob Brubaker, and built by Bill Redeye and Levi 
 Ganger, e-rnndfather of Harold Ganger, the present G. M. & O. agent. J. 
 W. Harshbarsrer was the Elder for many years and the preaching was all done 
 by ministers elected within the congregation. 
 
 In 1899 the congregation of the Church of the Brethren at Pleasant Hill 
 purchased the building owned by the Christian Church in Girard, moved 
 it to the present site and remodeled it in 1908. 
 
 In February 1873, the Boston Chapel Church was organized, with 81 charter 
 members. David Boston and David Stead were chosen as Elders. Their first 
 meetiries were held in a schoolhouse in the timber. The first sermon was 
 preached by J. W. Ballinger of Girard, on February 18, 1873. In September 
 1873. the present site was purchased and the Boston Chapel Church House 
 was finished in 1874. 
 
 Union Chapel west of town was built in the years of 1876- 18T7. The church
 
 grounds were deeded by Sam Hays, having been known as Pleasant Point 
 Camp Ground. 
 
 Sam Hays, Joe England and Eli Hays gave timber for the framing, while 
 William Price and Henry Adcock hewed the heavy framing. Bill Redeye was 
 the head carpenter, Jack McCarty was the plasterer and brick mason, J J. 
 McPeak did all the inside finishing, making the seats and pulpit stand, and 
 Rev. C. C. Mayhew preached the dedication sermon. 
 
 All of these country church people have contributed to the success of Girard 
 by their loyal support of its business men through all of the century which 
 we now celebrate. 
 
 Chapter 5 
 Industries Through the Century 
 
 The first warehouse was built by J. W. Woodruff in the summer of 1854, 
 just east of the Gulf Mobile station. He bought and shipped the first car of 
 wheat from Girard. In a few years he built a flour mill which operated with 
 three run of burrs and had a capacity of 80 to 100 barrels of flour a day. 
 Mr. Woodruff built the house on the south side of the square in 1868. This 
 house has been remodeled and is still standing. 
 
 The first flour mill was built by H. Hall in 1855 and occupied a site north 
 of the Illinois Terminal station on Mill street. The flour mill burned, and 
 soon afterward the Girard Woolen Mill was built there and operated by B. 
 Boggess. This woolen mill produced unusually fine blankets which were 
 awarded the first prize at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876. 
 Woolen goods from this mill were sold locally from The Factory Store, owned 
 by B-^ggess. Ho-blin and McKnight, and which was located where the Library 
 now is. This old building was not torn down until 1951, when the new one 
 was built. 
 
 The flour mill of Walker and Miner also had a run of three buiTS, with a 
 canacity of 150 barrels a day. This was often called the South Mill and was 
 located south of the square at a point near the present home of Anna Wetz. 
 This mill was first erected with a hexagon tower for a wind engine, a 
 difficult construction job. No carpenter could be found who would dare to 
 undertake the job. but John C. Beeby, a workman of extraordinary ability. 
 When the tower was "raised" Mr. Beeby rode up and dropped the pins in 
 place, every part fitting perfectly. The wind engine proved of little use 
 however, and steam power was soon substituted. 
 
 All of these mills substantiate the evident fact that Mill Creek was at that 
 time a very substantial stream flowin^r th^'oncrh o-ira^d. furnishme -^^^ater for 
 these many steam engines. A large pond at the Walker & Miner Mill later 
 became the mine pond. 
 
 In 1879 the story is recorded that Walker's water supply was giving out. 
 Mr. Walker hired Mr. Joseph Filbrun. grandfather of Mrs. Arthur Vaniman, 
 Mrs. Steve Weddle and Mrs. J. J. Hylton. to come and "witch" for water. 
 Then by the evidence of his findings one deep well was dug, and seventeen 
 bores around it. all cf which were siphoned into the deep well. Mr. Walker 
 was "pleased with the resulting abundant supply of water". 
 
 Lancaster and Erwins mill was a third one built in the same days ar^d was 
 located at the site of Lay's Feed and Fertilizer business. This mill had a 
 capacity of 100 barrels a day. This story of the flour mills of Girard 
 indicates that the wheat in this area was not shipped until it was milled. 
 
 Wm. Lancaster son of an English brick maker, came to Girard in 1857 
 and opened a brick yard with great ovens and fine clay bank. This was 
 located on the property on the southwest edge of town now owned by Mrs. 
 Ada Lancaster. It is legend that this brick kiln was first built in the 1830's. 
 Mr. Lancaster carried on the manufacture of brick until 1898. The large 
 brick house west of Girard owned by Mrs. Edith Lancaster and the home 
 of Claire Harlan were, to the best of our knowledge, built of Lancaster's 
 brick.
 
 Amos Young developed a varied business on the site where Claire Harlan 
 now lives on West Center street. The house on the lot west, occupied by 
 Mr Nation was the Fruit Evaporation Plant. Mr. Young not only had a 
 large apple' orchard but every farmer in the area had a fme orchard. The 
 Fruit Evaporating Company gave employment to a small army of people 
 during the fruit season. The resulting products were of fine quality and 
 found a ready market. Mr. Young also had a large green-house and built 
 a large ice-house in which ice was packed in saw-dust during the "ice 
 harvest", and sold in the following summer. 
 
 For many years numerous coopers were employed in the manufacture of 
 flour barrels. Charles Burnett is one who is remembered as being one highly 
 skilled in the trade, working at the Reinike Mill and Cooperage. 
 
 The activity of the Girard Coal Mine sunk in 1869 and 1870 was descri-bed 
 by George L. Tipton in his historical issue of the Gazette, Feb. 12, 1891. We 
 quote, "At present the company is doing an enormous business. They are 
 now operating fourteen of the Chouteau and In^^ersoll mining machines, 
 each of which operated by two m.en, do the work of fourteen men daily. The 
 daily output of the mine at full capacity is 1200 ton. Two hundred men are 
 now employed and the average pavroll is around $11000.00 The Chip-^go & 
 Alton railroad runs a "coal train" esnecially for this mine. The officers 
 of the present company are C. C. Armstrong, Preside-^: Aros. K. Young, 
 (father of Miss Iha Young), Secretary-Treasurer; and H. C. Harper. Mr. 
 J. E. Wones is operator of the comnany store." 
 
 An ariioining mine at "Greenridge" a mile southwest of Gir^-^d was sunk 
 in the 90's employing three hun-'lred men. These miners, with their families, 
 lived on the mine property and brought much trade into Girard. 
 
 At their peak in the early 190O's the mines employed s^'x h'md-ed men. 
 In 1922 the Girard mines w^re closed and Girard had lost its principal 
 in^ustrv. This was a terrific economic blow to the town. 
 
 In 1887 Ferberger and Herman came to Girard and opened a cigar factory 
 on the first floor of the "'sky-scraper ". Later they moved to the north side 
 of the souare. They employed about eighteen people with Steve Brenneman 
 as one cf the few yet living in Girard who learned the business. The factory 
 sold its products up and down the Chicago and Alton line. Their H & B 
 brand of cigars were ouite popular. They also manufactured a pure Havana 
 cip^ar named the "Codicil" sellme^ for 10c. They also made "Havana Sweepers". 
 Mr. Herberger felt a great friendship for the miners. This was the day 
 of unorganized labor. The miners were poorly paid as well as often being poor 
 managers ^ti their ne'-'sonal affairs. Their si^nplies at the company store 
 ah^'avs con^iv-ned their waees. Mr. Herberger set out barrels of tobacco 
 clippings from which the miners were welcome to fill their pockets at any 
 time. 
 
 In the 1880's a Lock factory was located just west of Bill Schott's Garage 
 buildino-. remembered by many of us as Shutt's old hay barn. The factory 
 made nlain Janan locks but in a few years it became a financial failure. 
 The stnck holders received the return on their stock in "Japan locks", a 
 suddIv which it is claimed lasted Girard for the next 40 years. 
 
 Henry K. Young, a successful contractor, built a planing mill in the 80's. 
 It was equipped with the best of machinery and operated for 30 years. His 
 son. Russell Young. Sr., and grandson, Russell Young, Jr.. are carrying on 
 the family tradition and form a prominent Girard contracting company. 
 
 A coffin factory stood on the southeast corner of Sherman and Jefferson 
 streets for a number of years. 
 
 The first harness and saddlei-y business was opened by Frederick Macknett. 
 Mr. Edward Parks, Sr., born in Toronto, Canada, came to Girard in 1857 and 
 in 1866 purchased the business from Macknett, continuing in this business 
 until his death in 1R95. The sons. Edward Jr.. and Walter Parks carried 
 on the business in the new brick building built in 1889 occupied now" by 
 Conlee's Cafe. 
 
 Edward Parks entered the undertaking business in 1905 with his wife, Lila 
 
 Beattv Parks. Mrs. Parks died in 1909. Mr. and Mrs. Parks were Girard's 
 
 first licensed embalmers and were located at the site of O. D. Luttrell's 
 
 barber shop. Mrs. L. W. Deck is the daughter of Edward and Lila Parks. 
 
 There was once a basket factory on the alley north of Owen's Shoe Shop.
 
 Here Alfred and Daniel Cottingham manufactured woven bushel baskets of 
 split hickory which were second to none. Alfred was an exceptionally tall 
 man and was nicknamed "Sunflower". Daniel Cottingham was the maternal 
 grandfather of Mrs. Prudence Cherry and J. H. Church. 
 
 J C. Hoxsey, a Girard boy and a graduate of the St. Louis Vetermarian 
 Institute, came back to Girard and built a first class veterinarian hospital in 
 1904 It was located at the site of H. C. Hays Garage. This hospital con- 
 tained 12 box stalls and a large carriage room. The second floor was fitted 
 as a family apartment, and an active livery trade was carried on by Mr. 
 Hoxsey as well as the veterinarian work. Mr. Hoxsey was a member of the 
 St. Louis Veterinarian's Institute. 
 
 The International Vermiculite Company is Girard's only manufacturing 
 industry at the present time. It was organized in Springfield in 1933 and 
 was moved to Girard in 1944. The company employs local men and has a 
 good business, often operating both day and night shifts. 
 
 Chapter 6 
 On the Square 
 
 1 )eck's Drug Store is considered the oldest continuous business in town. It 
 was estabhshed in 1865 by Dr. Clark, father of Mrs. C. Fisher. He was joined 
 by Lewis Deck in 1884. Lewis Deck was born in 1848, the son of Jacob Deck, 
 a farmer near Girard. Lewis Deck became sole owner of the Drug Store. 
 In 1917 his sons, Harry and Wyman, took over the business and now in 1955 
 Wyman's sons, Wyman Jr. and Robert are associated with him. This makes 
 a four generation family of Girard business men. 
 
 Another four generation family is represented at the City Meat Market, 
 operated by Phil and Bob Cherry, successors to their father, Clarence. Clarence 
 was the son of Harris Cherry, born in Girard in 1854 and became a live stock 
 dealer of wide renown. During his life more cattle, hogs, mules and sheep 
 were shipped from Girard than in any other pDint in the state. Harris was 
 the son of Thomas Calhoun Cherry, one of Girard's first livestock dealers 
 and several times President and Councilman of the city board. Girard's first 
 mayor, and a pioneer settler. 
 
 Bowersox is the second oldest continuous business. This firm was estab- 
 lished by Bailey and Carr in 1867, the first exclusive clothing st'~re. This 
 was considered more or less a risk in a country community since "store 
 clothes" were not yet worn by all neople. The trade erew rapidlv however, 
 for Girard soon became a wealthy farm community. The Store became Carr 
 & Lowe, then Jacob Bowersox became a partner of Carr in January 1SS2. 
 Jacob Bowersox left the business in 1906. Others owned the store for a few 
 years. Then in 1910 Othel Bowersox and Bert Finnev of Auburn purchased 
 the business. After Mr. Finney's death in 1944, Othel Bowersox became sole 
 owner. 
 
 John C. Beeby, bom in Lincolnshire, England, came to Girard in 1856. 
 He was a skilled carpenter and was always called upon to build that which 
 no -^ne else would attempt. He worked on the erection of the coal mine, 
 suspending himself in dangerous positions with one hand and wo^kine with 
 the other. After 1870 he engaged in the sawmill business, then in 1877 became 
 proprietor of a well stocked furniture store on the west side of the sauare. 
 
 George L. Tipton was born in 1857. As a boy he worked as a bootblack 
 and a newsboy. In 1867 he went to night school and became an aoDrervtice in 
 the printing trade for the Illinois State Reedster in 1870. He came to Girard 
 i^ 1879, became the editor of the Girard Gazette, and married Alice Beebv. 
 The Tipton family is a four generation family, prominent in the commimity. 
 
 John Bellamy came to Girard in 1852 and opened a erocery and hardware 
 store in 1854, W. E. Eastham opened the first drug store in 1853. He was 
 prominent serving on the town board many years. He was chairman of the 
 committee funding Court House Bonds in 1867, and his advice was influential
 
 in settling the scandal connected with Macoupin County's "million dollar 
 
 courthouse". ^ * , v. 
 
 Daniel Macknett came to Girard in 1854. Seeing the need of a lumber 
 yard he formed a lumber company with Julius Hamilton and Baker Andrews, 
 known as Andrews, Hamilton, Macknett Lumber Co. Mr. Macknett was 
 President of Girard Town Board during the years of its first municipal 
 venture, the coal mine. He remained in business here until 1893 when he 
 moved to Carlinville where he owned a lumber yard. Mr. Macknett was the 
 maternal grandfather of Miss Georgia Donaldson. The present Garrettson 
 lumber yard is at the location of the first lumber yard. As far as known 
 Mr. Gar'retson's office is the oldest building on the square and his "stand up" 
 desk one of the oldest pieces of office furniture in Girard. 
 
 James Metcalf came to Girard in 1856. He opened a drug store of which 
 he was proprietor until he became President of the Bank of Girard in 1875. 
 He was on the first town board and was a Director on the first school hoard. 
 He was the father of Jesse, Charles and Hal Metcalf. all prominent in the 
 community and identified with the Bank of Girard as the years went by. 
 
 C. C. Armstrong came to Girard in 1855 and was in the mercantile business 
 for many years. He built the house in which Mrs. Carrie Lynch and her 
 daughter now reside. 
 
 Wm. S. Littlepage came to Girard in 1858. He was a bricklayer and n^asterer 
 by trade. He was prominent in city affairs, serving 4 years as President. 
 
 Daniel Delaney, an Irishman, came to Girard in 1858. He sold nursery 
 stock for many years. 
 
 F. W. Ring was born on the Rhine. He was a well educated and accomplished 
 musician, coming to the U. S. in 1855. He traveled widely and plaved for a 
 time in the St. Louis orchestra. After serving in the Civil War he came to 
 Girard in 1867 and opened a bakery and restaurant here. He organized ani 
 trained a band in Girard which became the best in all central Illinois and 
 was in great demand in all the surrounding cities for many years. 
 
 Girard once had a skyscraper of 3 stories. In 1867 under a tripartite agree- 
 ment the building now occupied -by City Meat Market was built. The Masons 
 owned the third story, and used it continuously until they erected their 
 present splendid temple in 1925. The second story is the City Hall, now 87 
 years old. The first floor was remodeled a few years ago and the third story, 
 having -become dangerous, was removed. 
 
 The earliest photograper recorded was G. W. Jorns in 1867, followed by 
 W. H. Farley, Chester Ohmart and Jess Campbell. 
 
 Perhaps the earliest jeweler was E. W. Ruckel in 1867. 
 
 Mr. F. W. Haster opened a store in 1870, dealing in books, music, musical 
 instruments, confectionery and tobacco. He built the home now owned by 
 Amelia Everhart. This store passed into the hands of George Rathgeber 
 around 1900 and only changed ownership a few years ago. Roy Tranbarger 
 is now proprietor of this store. 
 
 Fred Storz came from Germany in 1851 and opened a bakery and restaurant 
 in 1874. He was the father of Mrs. Mabel Metcalf and Albert Storz. 
 
 Henry C. Hamilton, father of Roscoe Hamilton, who is now President of 
 the State Bank of Girard, came to Girard in 1865. He was fourteen years old 
 and had quit school at the age of twelve to help support the family. In 1867 
 his skill as a clerk had already been proved and he became bookkeeper in the 
 Andrew's Bank, When the present bank was organized in December 1874 
 Henry was assistant cashier. He became president in 1887 and held that 
 position until his death. 
 
 G. A. Donaldson came to Girard in 1880 with $50.00 of borrowed money in 
 his pocket. He was 20 years old and onene'^ a watch repaid- se^-vice and 
 jewelry store in one corner of c. C. Armstrong's dnio^ .sto-e. Thf»n he p'lr- 
 chased the building which stood on the Library site. He was in business 
 there for 30 years. He then moved to the building now occupied bv Coble's 
 and remained there until 1940 when he retired. He was in business in Girard 
 60 years. 
 
 Dodson's Opera House was built by T. C. Dodson in 1893 at a cost of $15,000. 
 It was considered quite a cultural accomplishment for Girard. Home talent 
 productions were given here until about 1&18. Road shows, vaudeville
 
 companies and musical operatic troupes were regular performers. The first 
 movies were held there. Girard people always responded in large crowds 
 to these performances. The building is now owned by Everett Collins and 
 is the location of his home apartment. 
 
 The first milk route into Girard was owned by Henry Stutsman, father of 
 H. V. Stutsman. This was in the 1870's. His creamery was located 4 miles 
 east of Girard. Bart Hopson operated a milk route in Girard for over 40 
 years. He also manufactured ice cream for a number of years at a location 
 east of the railroad. 
 
 Edgar Davidson came to Girard from his farm in 1894 and was in business 
 for 56 years as a mechanic. 
 
 G. G. Garretson came to Girard as a business man in 1883. He became 
 interested in the lumber business in 1898 and after these 72 continuous years, 
 still goes to the office every day. 
 
 J. O. Burton was a prominent clothing and dry goods merchant for over 
 50 years. 
 
 The Dohm brothers came in the 70's. They were dealers in coal, ice, 
 poultry and livestock. They shipped many carloads of pigeons, rabbits, etc., 
 to New York City. Mr. George Dohm. father of Mrs. Henry Brown and Mi's. 
 Amelia Everhart, often went with the shipment. 
 
 John Ruyle came to Girard in the 70's. He ran a boarding house for the 
 miners many years. He was the grandfather of Mrs. Ethel Miller. 
 
 The Routzans and Coverdills were prominent livestock, grain and hay 
 buyers for many years. 
 
 The reader will think of many other familiar names as "belonerinef" to 
 Girard — Ball, Boston, Fletcher. Stewart, Lynch, England. Hays. Woolley. Coe, 
 Thacker, Brubaker, Stead, Miller, Tietsort. Gibson, and others. These, and 
 no doubt others, cam.e early, and settled on the land adjoining Girard. 
 
 Chapter 7 
 Bankers and Lawyers 
 
 It was in 1859 that Columbus C. Armstrong moved to Girard and entered 
 the mercantile business. He was the only man in town with an iron safe, 
 a contraption that could have been opened in fifteen minutes with an ordinary 
 jimmy in the hands of a burglar. Mr. Armstrong kept thousands of dollars 
 in this safe, and was the paymaster for the mills and grain dealers. He 
 never lost a dollar for any one. 
 
 A Wm. Hindle is said to have opened the first bank. 
 
 A bank was opened in 1867 by B. P. Andrews, who sold it to the firm of 
 George Ball. J. D. Metcalf and John Roach. 
 
 On December 10, 1874, the Bank of Girard was established with J. D. 
 Metcalf, president; B. P. Andrews, cashier. One- year later, Mr. Andrews 
 sold out and Henry Hamilton, father of Roscoe Hamilton became cashier. 
 This bank later became the State Bank of Girard, and has conducted a safe 
 constructive business up to the present day. 
 
 During the 1907 money panic the C. & A. railroad stopped all trains in 
 Girard and the employees of the entire line went to the State Bank where 
 their checks would be honored. 
 
 The People's Bank was organized February 1. 1893, with J. N. Mc- 
 Elvain. president. In 1897 S. O. Smith became president and the late HaiTy 
 Tietsort was cashier for many years. This organization carried on a con- 
 structive, friendly banking service until the economic crash of 1930. 
 
 Among Girard's Attomeys-at Law have been Wm. Eastham, George Fast- 
 ham, George Bowersox. Edward Knotts, Frank G. Wood, C. C. Terry and at 
 present. S. O. Smith, Jr.
 
 Chapter 8 
 Newspaper Enterprises 
 
 As early as the 7th of November. 1857, when the town ^^Vyf^^^^f^^J^"^^^! 
 and contained less than 300 inhabitants, we find Dr^ A. R. ^r bfield embaik 
 ing in a journalistic enterprise here. The name of his paper was the Guard 
 
 ^e^paper was neutral in politics and in about one year was sold to W A 
 Solomon, who changed the name to the Girard Guide. He. after about one 
 year's similar experience to Cribfield, sold the paper to Mr. McChesney who 
 again changed the name to the Girard News. A man by the name of Cauf leld 
 became associated with him in business and continued the publication for 
 about one year, when it suspended entirely. ^,.4.. ^ +v,o 
 
 In 1865 Messrs McChesney & Milton commenced the pubhcation ot tne 
 Girard Enterprise. The first issue was in April of the above year and in 
 October of that year Mr. McChesney retired from the firm. The business 
 was th-^ ^-onducted by Mr. Milton for six months when the citizens purchased 
 the outfit and put the office in charge of H. H. Keebler, with Wm. Snook as 
 local editor. 
 
 After a lapse of eight months Thomas Organ became manager for the 
 citizen owners and made the paper Republican in politics. There was some 
 objection to this which finally resulted in the office being sold. In 1872 Wm. 
 K Milton moved an office here from Greenfield and commenced the publica- 
 tion of the Review, at the same time he printed a paper for Nilwood called 
 the Nilwood Review. In 1874 Mr. Milton leased the office to Chas. E. Fish, 
 who changed the name of the paper to the Democratic Chief, which publica- 
 tion suspended after four months. 
 
 Crenshaw & Powers afterwards got control of the office and the publication 
 was revived. Powers afterwards changed the name back to Review. The 
 paper was continued under different managements and was of different 
 political complexions until 1878 when the outfit was sold at auction and was 
 moved away from Girard. 
 
 The first issue of the Girard Gazette was on January 18, 1879, with Messrs. 
 Tipton and Stuve as proprietors. It was a six column folio and was neutral 
 in politics. 
 
 Mr. Stuve. the son of a rich man, soon served notice on Tipton that he 
 must either buy of. or sell to, Stuve. Mr. Stuve believed that Tipton could 
 not raise the money. But going to the bank, George Tipton stated his case 
 to J. D. Metcalf and asked for a loan. lA friend stepped up and offered 
 security. Thus the Girard Gazette became the property of George Tipton, 
 who took over the sole ownership on February 26, 1880. The office became 
 one of the best equipped country printing offices in central Illinois. 
 
 In December 1904. Mr. Tipton presented the office to his son Fred L. Tipton, 
 who edited the Gazette until his death. 
 
 In 1925 Norris Goode purchased the paper and in 1948 made it the property 
 of the present owners, Annabel Goode, Bertha and Louis Hoeflin, Dorothy 
 and Charles Jones. 
 
 Chapter 9 
 Military Record 
 
 Girard men fought for the Union in the Civil War and were at the storm- 
 ing of Fort Donaldson and at the siege of Vicksburg. Some of them marched 
 with Sherman to the sea and stood with General Grant at Appomattox. 
 
 Col. S. McKnight had moved to Girard in 1859. In August, 1862, he en- 
 listed as a private in Company H, 122 regiment of Illinois infantry. When 
 the war was over he had been promoted many times, and was on the staff 
 of General Garrard at the close of the war. He returned to Girard and 
 became a dry goods merchant. He married Virginia Boggess, daughter of
 
 the town father, B. Boggess. The granddaughter, Dorothy McKnight, lives 
 
 ^^WiinamEl^thLm enlisted under the 10th regiment bill and in May ia61, 
 raised a company with his private means. It became a PY\^?^^%i,^*? 
 Regiment of Illinois Volunteers and was commanded by Col. John Palmer, 
 
 later the governor of the state 
 
 Luke Mayfield, brother of Alfred Mayfield, was killed m the Civil War, 
 and the G. A. R. Post at Girard was named for him. 
 
 World War I 
 
 The only Girard man killed in World War I was David Hart, and thus the 
 local post of the American Legion was named for him. 
 
 A great Soldier's and Sailor's Homecoming after World War I was held 
 on August 7 in Girard. Henry Hamilton, S. O. Smith, Atty. Frank G. Wood 
 and Mayor E. A. Coe were the reception committee. 
 
 Every' man from Macoupin County who wore a uniform during the war 
 was invited to a chicken supper on that day. For the day's entertainment 
 there were athletic and pie eating contests. There was speaking by Major 
 B. M. Chiperfield of Canton and Lt. Howard C. Knotts, one of the six 
 American aces of World War I, a boy born in Girard. 
 
 There was a grand parade almost a mile long, in which the schools, the 
 business men and organizations showed floats, and prizes were offered to 
 the amount of $125.00. 
 
 The Girard and Virden Bands, the Carlinville and Gillespie Bands, the 
 Illinois Watch Factory Band from Springfield and the United States Mili- 
 tary Band from Jefferson Barracks were in the days performances. 
 
 The first airplane to land at Girard came in, making a very bad landing 
 in Warrick's pasture north of town. The facilities for landing were unsatis- 
 factory to the pilot, and he did not perform the stunts advertised. 
 
 The program closed at night with a $1,000 display of fireworks. There were 
 about 2,000 people milling around to see the display, and the expert from 
 St. Louis demanded that the people stay back from the dan^^er zone. The 
 police force could not press them back. Then the expert short-timed an 
 aerial bom.b. It exploded just over their heads. No one was hurt, but they 
 scattered to a safer area and the exhibition proceeded successfully. 
 
 The merchants underwrote this Homecoming, the cost being $1,500. 
 
 World War II 
 
 World War II stn^ck Girard with a t'-agic number of losses and eighteen 
 of our bovs became Gold Stars. A memorial shelf containing a book dedicat- 
 ed to each one lost in both World War I and II was established at the 
 Girard Township Library by the Auxiliary of the American Legion. 
 
 Chapter 10 
 The Unveiling of "Soldier's Monument". 
 
 Perhaps the largest procession ever to assemble in Girard was on Decora- 
 tion Day, May 30. 1896. It was then that the unveiling and the dedication 
 of the ''Soldier's Monument" in the Girard Cemetery took place. 
 
 The square was decorated with bunting of the national colors and flags 
 floated over every business house. 
 
 A grand procogsion. formed under the supervision of town marshal Thomas
 
 Mayfield Post of the Grand Army of the Republic then led the procession 
 of nine marching organizations followed by many citizens m carriages. The 
 procession reached from the square to the cemetery. 
 
 Twenty-five hundred people were in attendance and a large grand stand 
 had been erected for the accommodation of the speaker and the invited 
 guests. The band was seated in their new band wagon. Henry C. Hamilton 
 was chairman of the occasion, and introduced Col. S. McKnight, who de- 
 livered the Decoration Day Oration. Then Mr. Hamilton presented the 
 monument to Luke Mayfield Post, G. A. R., in the following words: 
 
 "Commander of Luke Mayfield Post: We have not erected this monument 
 to the dead here alone— to him mustered out amidst the shock of battle, 
 along the weary march, or amidst the miasma of the southern swamps; 
 but to those as well who have been left on guard these thirty years, that 
 their blood trophies be not committed to the inexperienced youth of the 
 sixties. But to the matured manhood of the nineties. We build not a monu- 
 ment alone, where sacred ashes may be reverenced, but a pavillion 'neath 
 which the soldier still lingering midst the scenes of his triumphs may 
 gather and have his heart, now chilling with the breath cf years, warmed 
 by the manifested love of an appreciative posterity. We erect this statuary to 
 renew the fires of patriotism apt to burn dimly in time of peace or be 
 transferred to other forges. I fear the soldier of the Republic will pass away 
 ere the sentiment of the nation will crystallize into words conveying to him 
 an idea of the love that is borne him; ere his statue is placed in its niche 
 in the temple of fame. But his name is written on the highest scroll of honor; 
 and what a glorious record there is treasured up in the history of the great 
 nation for the patriotic Illinois soldiers who brought home with them three 
 hundred battle flags, and I am proud today to know that Macoupin county 
 furnished her share of the true and the brave, in the great strue-gle for 
 national union to which Girard contributed largely; and now to the com- 
 manrier of Luke Mayfield Post No. 516 Department of Illinois Grand Army 
 of the Republic, I am authorized to invite you at this time to accept from 
 the citizens of Girard and vicinity at the hands of its accredited renresen- 
 tatives this memorial, and request that it be dedicated bv yon to thp -^vr- 
 pose for which it has been designed and erected. An^ reverently standing 
 within this sacred precinct, in hearing of their living comrades, we nledee 
 to h'^nor their memories, to teach their virtues to our children, and bv 
 conserratina- our lives to the service of the heritao-e thev secured to us to 
 aopoiprnte het' sneed and to intensifv her virtue till Columbia far in the van 
 of sublunar progress becomes the paragon of nations and the ally of Heaven." 
 
 S. S. Garst, Commander, responded to Mr. Hamilton as follows: 
 
 "Mr. Chairman: In the name of rny comrades of t^^e Grand Ar^^v of the 
 Republic, representing as they do all soldiers and s^ilo^'s who defended t^e 
 integritv and authority of the Nation, I thank you and those whom you 
 represent for this memorial shaft. Its very silence is impressive; without 
 articulate speech it is eloouent — it needs no words, it is in itself an o-'-at^on 
 It assures us that our dead are held in remembrance — those dead who gave 
 their lives for the security of the children and the union of the states. 
 
 "It is significant of brave and loyal obedience to the command of the 
 nation always and everywhere. Since the obligations of citizenship are not 
 restricted to time or place or to the conflict of arms, it gives encouragement 
 for the future. Since the recognition and approval it gives of patriotic fidelity 
 and heroism will be an incentive for the displav of public valor and virtue 
 in all coming time. There can be no doubt that the honor you pay to the 
 patriot f^ead and to their memorable deeds, will serve not only to make 
 American citizenship in these days more reputable, but also to maintain 
 and perpetuate through all future generations, the union and authority of 
 the United States of America. Mr. Chairman, in the name of my comrades, 
 I thank you and those you represent for your courtesy in permitting us, 
 who are bound by special ties to them, to honor our dead."
 
 "Attention, Luke Mayfield Post, No. 516, Dept. of Illinois, G. A. R.. In the 
 name of the Grand Army of the Republic, I now dedicate this memorial 
 shaft I dedicate it to the memory of those who in the navy guarded our 
 inland seas and ocean coasts and fell in defense of the flag. I dedicate it 
 to the memory of those who in the army fought for our hillsides and valleys 
 and plains and fell in defense of the flag. I dedicate it to the memory of 
 those who on land and on sea fought for the union and fell in defense of 
 the flag " He paused until the playing of "The Star Spangled Banner" had 
 been concluded. Then he gave the order. "Let the monument be unveiled." 
 
 Miss Gertie Weed, daughter of a comrade, stepped forward and loosened 
 the large flag which veiled the shaft. She recited a poem which concluded: 
 
 "I unveil this memorial in honor of our heroic dead . . . Who are sleeping 
 to waken in this weary world no more; . . . Sleeping for their true loved 
 country; . . . Sleeping for the flag they bore." 
 
 The oldest man in the procession was John Sparks of Chil'^'s Post of 
 Palmyra, 92 years of age, a veteran of the Blackhawk, Mexican and Civil Wars. 
 
 Chapter 11 
 Fire and Disasters 
 
 The first great fire was in the summer of 1861, and broke out in the 
 store of James Burton on ths north side of the square. The entire west half 
 of the block was destroyed. 
 
 The next fire was a planing mill and two warehouses that stood near the 
 railroad. Soon came the fires that destroyed the two mills and in 1879 the 
 school house burned. The mill of W. W. Bristow and the Chicago & Alton 
 depot burned in 1884. In August of 1884 the southwest corner of the SDuare 
 burned, and two weeks later a portion of the north side went up in smoke. 
 
 In '85 the South Mill burned at a loss of $40,000, In 1887 the business 
 portion west of the northwest corner of the square burned, and the south- 
 east corner was in ruins by the fall of 1888, 
 
 The many wooden buildings were proving to be fire traps, and as they 
 burned the reconstruction was usually of brick. On March 5, 1909. the last 
 of two old-fashioned buildings on the north side burned. L. J. Foster's new 
 soda fountain was thrown into the street to save it. It was ruined by the 
 saving and no insurance collectable. At the same fire the cigar factory 
 supplies were saved including many 400 lb. cases of tobacco and the "wooden 
 Indian". 
 
 In October, 1909, was the $35,000 west side fire which took the business 
 places of ten men, from two to five A. M. Dr Mitchell, Dr. Riffev. Dr. 
 Simmons and Dr. VanWormer the dentist, lost all their medical stock and 
 equipment. The fire was thought to have been started by a burglar since the 
 safe in Dr. Riffey's drug store had been rifled. 
 
 In 1910 a $12,000 fire took the northeast corner of the s^usre. and at last 
 the old "Girard House" was gone. Shutt's Elevator burned in February. 1950, 
 attracting hundreds of people from many miles away. A new elevator, mod- 
 ern in every way,' was immediately built on the same site. 
 
 There were two mine disasters. The first was in 1879. A fire started in the 
 shaft while all men were below. Wnrd vent out to brmp- s^Jt to d^mp down 
 into the shaft. It took all the salt in town to put out the fire. No one lost 
 "their life. 
 
 The second was on Saturday, December 2, 1922. Eighteen ^e-n -^'ere .seri- 
 ously injured, one dying two days later, when gas escaping from an unused
 
 part cf the mine exploded. The men were riding through the tunnels to 
 the bottom of the shaft when the explosion occurred, the miners lamps ig- 
 niting the gas as they reached the pocket where it was gathering. The men 
 in the first car had no warning and were terribly burned. The men in the 
 second car had time to cover their faces. 
 
 The men walked from the blast, which was in the vicinity of 'The Home", 
 northwest of the shaft, each one helping some one else more seriously in- 
 jured. It was thirty minutes before they reached the shaft. The men were 
 ■brought to the surface where medical aid was waiting and a crowd had 
 already gathered. When the count was taken, Ed Seaton was missi'ig, but 
 a seaching party found him. after he had walked three miles in the wrong 
 du-ection. The anxious, waiting crowd, including the relatives, demonstrated 
 a great relief as the good word came. 
 
 Howard Ronk died on M.nday. The in.iured '■'^ere: Ctto GV^v. Ch^^-'ies 
 Rucker. Albert Ronk, Hiram Rennie, Edward Seaton, John Riggs, John 
 Finnerty, Emanuel Garbett, Frank Peppard, Ernest Peppard, Dan Clay, Frank 
 Wheeler, Dan Rennie. John Rennie, John Kolski and Jess McDanies. 
 
 The first fire department in Girard was ovsanized May 3, 1902. The de- 
 partment owned a "fine hand engine" at that time. 
 
 Chapter 12 
 Physicians and Dentists in Girard 
 
 Dr. Abram Miller was the first physician mentioned in Girard, and there 
 was also a Dr. V/hite in the early days. 
 
 Dr. R. J. Mitchell came to Girard in 1871 from Rush Medical College in 
 Chicago where he had graduated that spring with high honors. He was the 
 S3n of an officer in the Eritish army who never returned to England after 
 the revolution. He was a prominent physician and a specialist in the eye and 
 eai. He helped organize the Macoupin County Medical Society and practised 
 here until his death. 
 
 Dr. Adam Simmons cam.e to Girard in 1865. He had taught science in the 
 University of Ohio for a time, then had turned to the study of medicine, 
 graduating from the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati. 
 
 His son, Dr. Albert Simmons, graduated from the American Medical Col- 
 lege in St. Louis, became associated with his father in 1882, and carried 
 on the Simmons medical tradition for many years. 
 
 Dr. K. S. Cowan came to Girard in 1869. His paternal grandfather had 
 fought under General V/ashington and m.ade the la mors crossing of the 
 Delaware. Dr. Cowan graduated at Pope College, St. Louis, and served in 
 the Civil War as Surgeon of the 3rd Missouri Cavalry under General Price 
 cf the Confederate Army. 
 
 Since the turn of the century, Girard has been served by the able physi- 
 cians, Dr. G. E. Hill, Dr. J. H. Riffey and Dr. E. E. Bullard, all deceased. 
 
 At present Dr. Howard A. Finney, a native son, has enhanced the town 
 with a beautiful, modern office with scientific equipment. He is a graduate 
 of University of Illinois; interned at St. Louis City Hospital; is a member of 
 the American Medical Association, and a Past President of the Macoupin 
 County Medical Society. Dr. Finney is devoting his excellent professional 
 service to his home community. 
 
 Dr. J. R. Sharp, a Pennsylvanian by birth, established a wide practice in 
 Girard several years ago and maintains a splendid new office with scientific 
 equipment. He is a graduate of Duke University, B. S.; Chicago University, 
 M. B. and M. D.; he enlisted in the U. S. Medical Corps in 1942 and was 
 stationed at Halloran General Hospital, Staten Island, N. Y. until 1946. He 
 is a member of International College Surgeons; Associatiin of Military Sur-
 
 geons; American Fracture Association; Mississippi Valley Medical Association; 
 Past President of the Macoupin County Medical Society and is a staff mem- 
 ber of the St. John's Hospital and Memorial Hospital in Springfield. 
 
 Dentists who have served Girard include Dr. Frank Sage. Dr. A. H. Barnes, 
 Dr. W. W. VanWormer, Dr. A. C. Davis, Dr. E. E. Smith, Dr. Frank 
 Stewart, Dr. Albright, Dr. Claude Brown, and Dr. T. R. McKemie. 
 
 Chapter 13 
 
 Girard's School System. 
 
 (compiled by Georgia Donaldson) 
 
 Wherever the free people of America settled the land, one of their first 
 concerns was education. Theii' children must learn readin' writin' and 
 'rithmetic. Ih Girard the first school session was held in 1853 and taught 
 by Miss Harriet Purdy at the present dwelling house at 238 W. Center. The 
 expense of this school was met by the parents of the pupils. In 1854 a school 
 was taught by John Bellamy, father of Bert Bellamy in a house south of 
 the Pi'esbyterian church. 
 
 On November 7, 1855, at a meeting of the City Council, a committee was 
 appointed to "procure a school teacher, stove and fuel." By December 3, a 
 building owned by Barnabus Boggess had been purchased for $460.00. Sixty 
 dollars cash and the balance to be paid by April 1856. On December 10 a 
 teacher was employed named S. C. Ryan to be paid $35.00 per month for 
 an indefinite time. A stove had been purchased for $14.75. 
 
 A diary has been found stating that the first school instituted by the 
 council was the low one room house, standing just south of the Presbyterian 
 church. 
 
 By February 8. 1856, a committee was appointed by the City Council to 
 consider the expediency of annexing the balance of the school district to 
 the Incorporation of Girard. This committee was to confer with one or more 
 persons in Carlinville concerning how this could be done. On April 26, 1856 
 it was voted to levy $1 per $100 of taxable property for the purpose of meet- 
 ing school expenses. 
 
 Evidently the "indefinite time" for which Mr. Ryan had been employed 
 was short, for by May 10 a Miss Pachen had been interviewed to take his 
 place at $30 a month, providing she could prove she had the qualifications 
 necessary to hold the position. Then a Mr. Welch appeared on the scene 
 and said he would teach for $2.50 to $3 per pupil per quarter, according to 
 the number of pupils. He could begin teaching July 1. He did teach through 
 July and evidently gave satisfaction, for he was employed at the salary he 
 wished with Miss Pachen as his assistant. If he needed other assistants, he 
 was to pay for them himself. Mi'. Welch felt he must have a blackboard and 
 platform, so a committee was appointed to build them. He also presented 
 to the City Council a code of rules and regulations whereby he would govern 
 the school. The Council ordered a copy of these rules be preserved, but they 
 could not be found. 
 
 In the meantime the school building was being enlarged and a new room 
 added and lathed and plastered. The old part of the building had to have 
 new sleepers. The building was completed by October 1856. By this time Mr. 
 Welch decided he and his assistant should be paid a straight $225 a quarter. 
 Evidently this was too much money, for two other teachers were interviewed. 
 They agreed to teach for $3 per pupil. If the amount was too great to b3 
 met by public funds, the parents of the pupils were to make up the deficit. 
 Mr. Gates and Mr. Dodds. the new teachers, were to do their own collecting. 
 There were a number of new textbooks to be considered and mestings were
 
 held about them, but no record was kept as to the ones selected. 
 
 On April 16, 1857 a new ordinance was ordained by the president and 
 trustees of the town of Gii'ard that said Board of Ti'ustees "shall have 
 jurisdiction of common school within said town and have power to assess 
 and collect taxes for erection of school houses and furnishing of same, the 
 employment of teachers and the payment of same and all other needful 
 management to carry out the provisions of the general school law not con- 
 trary to the laws of the State of Illinois". This is the last time that schools 
 are mentioned in the minutes of the meetings of the City Council. 
 
 In the Girard Enterprise for August 29, 1858 a call was published for sealed 
 bids on specifications given in detail for a new wooden school house in 
 District 3. These bids were to be given to the board, J. M. Ewing, J. J. Sears 
 and J. D. Metcalf. 
 
 On December 31, 1870 the wooden school house burned. A new building 
 was started but during the interim school had to continue, so classes were 
 held in various homes in the community. One of them, a Miss Marsh, is 
 still remembered with great affection by a prpi^- of h-^^'s. M si Mnv h was 
 fond of small children. There was a rule then, and still in existence, that 
 no child under six could attend school. Miss Marsh would come to the home 
 of this little girl each morning and get her with the other children of the 
 family and take her to school. When a visitor or school director would come 
 to visit, this four-year-old would hide behind Miss Marsh's hoop skirt. She 
 remained concealed this way that whole winter. 
 
 No records can be found of the cost of the new 'building. It was erected 
 where the present West Side school is. It was of red brick and had four 
 downstairs rooms and four upstairs, with high ceilings and long, dark stairs 
 that led to the upper floors. There were no artificial lights and they were not 
 allowed in the building until as late as 1912. Shutters were at all the windows 
 and during the 70's these were nailed shut to keep the boys from breaking 
 the window panes when playing ball. As soon as the mines began operating- 
 in the early 70's the old wood stoves were c'one away with and no more bills 
 were presented for cords of wood. Some old textbooks have been found that 
 were used in rural schools and show that dictionaries printed in 1844 were 
 still being used in 1872. French's arithmetic and McGuffey's readers were 
 standard books. The printing was always very small and much information 
 was condensed between the covers. About 1890 a furnace was placed in the 
 building with valves on each radiator that had to be opened so the steam 
 could escape amid hissing and groaning from the pipes. The furnace was 
 installed evidently when an annex of four rooms, two upstairs and two down- 
 stairs, was added to the north side of the building at a cost of $3450. On 
 motion the tax levy that year was $4000. This gave twelve rooms and it was 
 felt that never again would there be need to build. 
 
 In the 70's and early 80's there was no grading system. Pupils came to 
 school, often bringing the textbooks they happened to have at home from 
 which to study. They remained as long as they wanted to, many of them 
 going through their texts in the upper grades several times. The boys usually 
 stayed until they got a job and the girls marking time until they found 
 something more interesting to do. Blackburn College was in existence and 
 several were able to go from the Girard school without taking entrance 
 examinations. 
 
 The Eoard of Educaticn was proud of the school building and decided that 
 "any pupil marking, cutting or defacing the building in any way should be 
 suspended from school as well as for insubordination or misconduct, said 
 student to remain suspended until Board took action". 
 
 Mr. E. L. Howett came as principal about 1887 and at once began insti- 
 tuting a graded school. His salary was $100 a month, his assistant receiving 
 $50, and the other teachers were paid from $40 to $45. He introduced some 
 new and uniform textbooks, among them the Pathfinder series of Physiology, 
 Gray's book on Botany, and Barnes' Primary History, Steele's Zoology and 
 Loomises' Geometry.
 
 By 1890 Mr. Howett had so organized the classes that he felt graduating 
 exercises could be held for those who had completed a certain amount of 
 work. There was a class numbering twenty-seven and a class picture was 
 taken, the boys and girls standing in stiff rows, all looking grave and de- 
 termined as if they knew life would be grim and earnest. Theie did not seem 
 to be any effort made to make this a gala occasion. There were no commence- 
 ment exercises and in the picture there were no extra furbelows to their 
 clothes. 
 
 By 1892 there v/as a two year high school, and Mr. Howett was told by the 
 Board of Education as early as February to go ahead and find a suitable 
 room in which to hold graduation exercises. Mr. Howett reported he -^as 
 able to secure the city hall. The president of the Board instructed a commit- 
 tee to see about getting diplomas for the graduates and to see that the hail 
 was m good oraer for tne commencement exercises. Ihat first commencement 
 was a gala affair. The girls wore heavy white wool dresses, their hair was 
 done in psyche knots, and both girls and boys felt the seriousness of the 
 occasion. Two little girls sat on the stage, and after each member of the 
 class had completed giving his or her oration, would receive the bouquets 
 friends in the audience would give the ushers to hand tj the little g-rls to 
 pass on to the graduates. There was an admission fee charged to attend the 
 exercises, and Mr. Howett was happy to announce to the Board later that 
 $3.44 had been cleared after all expenses had been paid. 
 
 In the fall of 1892 Harpers Readers and Maxwell Grammars had been 
 Introduced into the system and a tax levee cf $5:00 was made. The school 
 census enumerator reported that there \\z:e 552 children of school age, and 
 213 of pre-school age. The enumerator had been paid $5 for his services. 
 
 In May 1833 a meeting was helc. by the diiectois t. decide what to do 
 about a janitor who talked too much. It was finally decided to "inform 
 him to keep his mouth shut a-oout teachers and s:;hool affairs". It was also 
 ordered that he must see the school grounds were cleared cf cows and the 
 grass cut ten days before school started in the fall. 
 
 In Ssptember. 1893 a two-year Latin course was instituted. R. G. Moore 
 of Carlinville was the assistant superintencent at a salary of $55. (r^e 
 stayed but one year.) 
 
 Disciplinary problems were handled by the Board of Education. The Junior 
 class was misbehaving. There was a call meeting of the Board and it was 
 decided to move the class into Mr. Howetfs room., to see "if conditions 
 could not be improved as the Junior class was clear out of control." 
 
 Ml-. Howetfs salai-y was $112.50 by 1894, but he was offered a better posi- 
 tion, so left. The n3W piinc.pal re-.ei'vea l-'so a i.xC -Li. The oi-.t. ld:.L-^e^s 
 were receiving the same $40-45 salary. There was much complaint at the 
 Eoard meetings because the tuition pupils were not paying their fees. The 
 tuition pupils were those who did not live in the boundaries of the town. 
 
 In 1897 there was a three-year high school and there were six members in 
 the graduating class. The commencement exercises were stiU the big social 
 event of the year. All ether audiences v/ere judged by it — whether it was as 
 large, or as well-dressed as the commencement audience. And they still paid 
 twenty-five cents admission. 
 
 In 1901 an Inter-scholastic meet was held in Girard with Carlinville, Vir- 
 den, Waverly and Girard participating. The events took place in the school 
 yard and the races v. eie lun on Center st-'eat. F. E. Kennedy, then superin- 
 tendent of schools, was the instigator of these m.eets which late; became the 
 Macoupin C.unty Oratorical and Athletic Meets, and later tho Macoupi.i 
 Oratorical and Athletic Association, thus giving this county its claim of be.ng 
 the oldest such association in the state. Mr. Kennedy reported that Girards 
 part of the first Meet was $39.32. Ihis was added to the li-brary fund. 
 
 In January 19C1 a ladder long enough to reach to the second story was 
 placed in the lower hall with orders it was never to be used except in case 
 of fire. This was in compliance v;ith the state fire laws. Permission was also 
 given the principal to buy a bucket for each room and a dipper so the pupils 
 could get drinks without having to go outside to the well every time they
 
 were thirsty. He hoped in this way to do away with so much loitering in the 
 halls. (It didn't work.) 
 
 There was a four-year high school by 1904, and that year's graduates were 
 members of the pioneer class of the present day type of school with the 
 eight grades and a four-year high school. 
 
 The Members of the Board of Education received a big surprise at a 
 meeting in April 1905. The teachers appeared in a body -bringing ice cream 
 and cake as a token of appreciation for the cooperation received from the 
 Board that year. Evidently the members were quite overcome by this at- 
 tention, for they at once made a motion to record this visit in the minutes, 
 and their thanks. <^ 
 
 By the fall of 1905 music was added to the curriculum with a special teacher 
 and a new piano. For this pupils and high school teachers sent the Board 
 of Education resolutions of respect and thanks for "opening to us the 
 highway leading to a musical education by introducing music into the 
 schools, and providing us gratis a new piano, this showing the earnest 
 desire of the members to make the Girard school a peer among high 
 schools in Illinois, and furthermore that the pupils are earnestly endeav- 
 oring by our sincere efforts toward good work and discipline to be 
 worthy of the many kindnesses and favors so generously bestowed". 
 
 The graduating class of 1906 was given permission to have a class play 
 the week before commencement, the forerunner of all succeeding class plays. 
 
 In the fall of 1906 coal was contracted for at ten cents a bushel. 
 
 The first negotiations for the East Side school were begun in December, 
 1906. A committee was appointed to negotiate as to a suitable place for 
 it to be erected, and it was completed and first used in 1907. 
 
 By 1912 there was a movement to vote for a Township High School. 
 The vote carried and it began functioning in the fall of 1914. There were 
 several joint meetings between the grade school board and the high 
 school 'board regarding rent, and the obligations each was to assume. 
 In spite of the complete change in the school system that had been feared 
 by the tax-payers, school affairs went on in much the same manner. The 
 two Boards of Education entered into a contract to pay the grade B. of 
 E. $50 per month rent for the use of the building and the grade school 
 to pay the high school $25 a month for the services of the superinte-ident. 
 The grade school turned over to the high school the old district No. 8, 
 it thus becoming part of District 182. 
 
 The rooms were crowded with pupils by 1916 and it was Vv.ted to use 
 a building known as the Waytown store buiidmg for pupils livmg in the 
 south of town. The building and Grounds committee were instructed 
 to get suitable furnishings for it. This school continued only as long as 
 the Girard mine was in operation. 
 
 By 1917 it was realized changes must be made in the school building in 
 order to comply with state school laws, so bids were asked on plans that 
 had been drawn for remodeling the West Side school. The bids received 
 were not satisfactory and because the cost of materials was so high the 
 county superintendent of schools gave the Board of Education per- 
 mission to continue to use the building as it was. Rent to the high 
 school was increased to $100 a month and the grade school paid $35 
 towards the superintendent's salary. 
 
 By 1918 it was decided it would be better to have a superintendent for 
 the high school and another for the grades. 
 
 A forward-looking group of citizens decided it was time for a new 
 high school building, so it petitioned the high school Board of Education 
 to hold an election for the purpose of voting whether or not to erect a 
 new building, to select a site and whether or not to purchase a site. 
 
 The election was held on April 8, 1918. Much work was done to arouse 
 interest in the proposition and when the votes were counted it was found 
 514 voted yes, and 130 against it. 
 
 Next came the choosing of a site. By June 1918 the present site was 
 selected and purchased from Mr. R. E. Alford. A vote of thanks was 
 given Mr. Alford by the Board of Education for the very fair price he 
 asked for his property and his interest in the progress of education in
 
 this community. The new building was completed by November 1919. 
 The classes were held in the Presbyterian chm'ch and city hall during 
 the months before the building was finished. The new commercial 
 -department was added that year, and there were eight members on the 
 faculty. 
 
 In March, 1920 notice was given the teachers that a deduction of $1 
 a month be made from each one's salary during the first five months 
 of each year, this to comply with the State Pension Law. 
 
 In 1923 it was voted to have a new West Side building which would 
 include a room large enough to be used as a gymnasium and auditorium. 
 This was a new departure as the high school had no such room. There 
 aU entertainments and basket ball games took place in the study hall. 
 Each night at four o'clock the janitor and his helpers moved all the 
 chairs, sometimes as many as 250 from the study hall into the halls 
 and class rooms so the boys could practice basket ball. It was found 
 when a play was given the audience unfortunate enough to have seats 
 on the sides were never quite sure as to what was happening on the 
 stage. Often there was better entertainment between acts during a 
 •class play, as the curtains strung on a wire across the front of the 
 stage were of a very thin green burlap, and it was easy to see the 
 scenes bemg shifted. All heavy furniture had to be removed through 
 the openmg in the front curtains and carried into the halls. Finally 
 an extension was built across the front of the stage and the audience 
 literally sat at the feet of the performers. The green curtains had to 
 be rehung from a new wire and have a new width of burlap added. 
 Tnose curtains lasted until 1934. when one of the classes presented 
 the school with handsome brown velvet ones. 
 
 The brown curtains however, only had a short life., for in 1936 it 
 was voted to build a new gymnasium with an auditorium, a separate 
 building that would also house the home economics department and a 
 new department that was added, called building and trades. 
 
 On August 7. 1947 the township voted for a consohdated school and 
 TJnit District No. 3 was organized. This included all the country and town 
 schools qc; well as the Nilwood schools. Bv .Tulv of the nevt year, this 
 ne"' svstem was functioning. 
 
 Girard has had a school svstem for a hundrpd vear*^. and l^okmg 
 over old records one is imnressed bv the far>t it has b^en controlled 
 bv Dublic minded citizens who have be^n wHlino- to cp^ve their time 
 and efforts to shane \t^ "oolicies. and maVe it comrtavoble witi^ schools 
 of towns of like size and population. Its affairs have been conducted in a 
 business-like manner, and it has felways been a q'oin*^ and a 'T^'owi'^o: 
 concern. Through the y^'ars it«; fo'-o];^p-r Vi--,-'^ rn^ie i^-^ne^'^ nffr^^^^r^ to 
 keep their work on a high level. With but one or two short periods it has 
 always been on the list of schools accredited by the University of 
 Illinois. The result has been that over 2000 graduates have been able 
 to meet life with the assurance that they have received an education 
 that will serve as a foundation for their future work. 
 
 The fu'st school annual was published in 1907. Twelve members of 
 -this class are still living. 
 
 Chapter 14 
 
 Institutions 
 
 THE HOME is an institution of which Girard is justly proud. 
 Xocated at the northwest corner of town, it was built in 1906, and is 
 owned and maintained under the management of The Church of the 
 Brethren, Southern District of Illinois. Cullen C. Gibson who settled 
 X)n the north edge of Girard in 1864 was a leader in the building project.
 
 Dan vaniman, father of Herbert, Roy and Frank Vaniman who o\vn 
 trie home larm one half nine north of Girard, solicited all oi the funds. 
 In addition to being a guest home for elderly people, it was the county 
 orphanage irom 1910 to 1920. ihirty tj forty children were carea lor in 
 the north wing of the building. The Home is now filled to capacity with 
 elderly guests and has been modernized in every way. The prese.it House 
 Managers are Mr. and Mrs. Velmer Molen. 
 
 The Girard Township Library 
 
 Daring the depression of the 1930's a W. P. A. Library was opened 
 at Girard, books being supplied by donations and the Extension Service 
 of the Illinois State Library. When the project was closed about 1940 
 The Girard Woman's club assumed the opportunity and responsibility 
 of operating the Library. With Mrs. Wesley Wertz as President of the 
 Club, it maintained a clubroom up town where the library was housed, 
 Mrs. Henry Edwards donating her time to open the Library once or 
 twice a week. In 1945 Mrs. J. N. McElvain as President of the club 
 and Mrs. L. T. Weddle as Chairman of the Library Board, secured 
 the help of the Extension Chief of the State Library to hold an election 
 to esta'blish a Township Library. The election was held in April 1946 
 with Mrs. J. N. McElvain as President of the Woman's club taking an 
 active interest. The proposition carried with a large majority of a large 
 vote. The first board of trustees was Miss Georgia Donaldson, Mrs. 
 Wesley Wertz, Mrs. L. T. Weddle, Marshall Shutt. Russell Young, Sr., 
 and Philip Cherry. Opening as a tax supported institution in April, 1947, 
 the board of trustees hired Mrs. L. T. Weddle as librarian, who. resigning 
 from the board, was replaced by Mrs. Carl Reischauer. The Boy Scouts 
 moved the thousand volumes to the present location in the fall of 1947. 
 The new building was erected in the fall of 1952. The Library service 
 has grown from a circulation of around one thousand a year to over 
 sixteen thousand in 1954-55. proving its vital importance to the com- 
 munitv and school district. Mrs. L. T. Weddle has continued as Chief 
 Librarian. 
 
 The City Bands 
 
 The personnel of the Famous Ring Band included the Ring brothers; 
 Bill, Henry, George, Gustave and Otto Rathgeber; the Drakes: the Sut- 
 Lons: Herbergers, Yeringtons, Gills, William and Ernest Schelb. There 
 was a band concert every Saturday night and the town was jammed 
 with rigs all around the square, where hitch racks were all around the 
 park. This band went by train to cities all ovei Illinois, appearing at 
 all kinds of entertainments. 
 
 After the fii*st World War, the older men were no longer here and the 
 band was reorganized. It was sponsored by the Girard Commercial Club with 
 H. V. Stutsman as manager. This band also brought glory to Girard. Various 
 directors were G. W. Rathgeber, Otto Rathgeber, Lonny Griffiths, and Guy 
 McDowell. They appeared and played at the State Fair three consecutive 
 years. They had the distinctive honor one year of leading the million dollar 
 Sweepstakes livestock parade. An excellent quartette often sang with this 
 band. 
 
 Chapter 15 
 
 Ringling Bros. Circus 
 
 One day in the 1880's the traditional loafers were on hand at the depot 
 watching the trains go through town. On this day a circus train was due 
 to pass through but on its appearance the loafers were amazed to see that 
 the train was stopping on the switch. What's more, the engine and tender
 
 were quickly uncoupled, and pulled away into the yards. 
 
 Several men, the Ringling Brothers themselves, hurried into the agent's 
 office and begged him to get orders for the engineer to pull them to their 
 destination for their next scheduled show. But this was denied them. 
 
 By the "grapevine" word immediately reached the Gazette office that the 
 Ringiing Brothers Circus was stranded here. George L. Tipton, editor of the 
 Gazette, was busy setting type by hand. But he rushed over t^ the agent 
 at the station and asked "where are the Ringling Brothers?" 
 
 "Over there nrc three of them," was the reply, as the agent motioned to 
 three men. As Mr. Tipton listened to the story that they were out of money, 
 rnt p\-2n havin? grain or meat for their animals, his mind was working on 
 a lightning swift idea. 
 
 By this time other men including Mr. D. S. Macknett of the lumber yard 
 came up. With one accord the Girard men went into a consultation and 
 aerreed with George Tipton that Girard could help the Ringling Brothers in 
 this discouraging situation. 
 
 Tipton went back to the circus owners. "Get your strongest team and 
 wagon out," he said. "Drive to the lumber yard and get a load of bridge 
 lumber and build a bridge across the ditch at Center and Eighth street." 
 
 "Why?" asked the manager. 
 
 "Because you are going to put on a show there tonight," was the answer. 
 
 TiDton backed them for the hay and grain for the animals and got other 
 merchants to promise help in the way of meat for the wild animals and 
 fo'd for the personnel. Tipton aKso made at-rano-ements at a livery barn for 
 four of the best saddle horses with riders to be sent out in the four direc- 
 tions telling to all the country-side that there would be a big circus in 
 Gerard that night. '"^. 
 
 The show was located in the 800 block west of the Catholic Church, the 
 r—"-,^ h^mo: owned bv Mr. Tinton The show was a huge success and 
 Rmarling Brothers were able to pay their bills and their train fare on to 
 their destination. 
 
 The hospitality of the people of Girard was never forgotten by the cook 
 in the cook tent of Ringling Brothers. Sam Sperry, who after a long run 
 with the circus, quit in his old days and came to Girard with his wife to 
 live in a house built on the same spot that the cook tent had been located, 
 818 W. Madison street. 
 
 After a few years we find in the issue of The Girard Gazette the announce- 
 ment of the merger of Ringling Brothers and Van Amberg's United Monster 
 Circus, Museum and Menagerie. And as Girard had helped them when they 
 needed help, Girard was never forgotten. They returned on July 27, 1889, 
 and put on two shows, afternoon and evening performances, 50c and 25(i 
 admission with a magnificent free street parade at 10 A. M. 
 
 The Greatest Show on Earth has recorded in its history the experience 
 of the impromptu showing in Girard, Illinois, where it was put back on its 
 feet. Ringling Brothers has never been bankrupt since. For his help, George 
 Tipton received a hfe pass to all Ringling Brothers performances, a pass 
 wnich he used often in future shows at Springfield. 
 
 Chapter 16 
 Annual Corn Carnival 
 
 Beginning in 1904, Girard sponsored for a period of several years an Octo- 
 ber exhibition known as the "Annual Corn Carnival". Every effort was made- 
 to promote this occasion as one of "merit, education and joy' . "All roads 
 led to Girard", and for two days the farmers drove in from miles around, 
 citizens came by teams or train from the nearby towns, and the place was 
 jammed with people. 
 
 The program for OctO'ber 15 and 16, 1908, is an average example of a.
 
 program. Band concerts and music by the local Glee Club each day. Picnic 
 dinner in the Park. Addresses of welcome by Atty. C. C. Terry and C. H. 
 Metcalf. Addresses by Congressman Morris Shepherd of Texas, Lt. Gov. L. Y. 
 Sherman. ex-Lt. Gov. W. A. Northcott, Prof. F. H. Rankin of State Agri- 
 cultural College. 
 
 All sorts of events in athletic sports were held. There was a horse show 
 and balloon races; stereoptican lectures, and above all, the exhibits of culinary 
 art, fruit, vegetables, grain and poultry. All exhibits became the property of 
 the management and were sold at auction after the Carnival. 
 
 Corn, with a Sweepstakes pri23e, was the total specialty of the occasion and 
 the "corn king" was the man who carried away the honors. Farmers were so 
 interested that they spent hours going up and down the rows of corn hunting 
 for the tallest stalk, or the heaviest ear of corn. The horse show listed pre- 
 miums en best span of mules, draft team, double team roadsters, single road- 
 ster, saddle horse or mare; showiest single turnout or double rig; showiest 
 horseback rider; best lady horseback rider; best lady driver; best girl or boy 
 rider. 
 
 Among those winning prizes were Clarence Kime, showiest turn out; Dr. F 
 A. Stewart, best gentleman rider; Miss Rose Fromme, -best lady rider; Mrs. 
 Clarence Kime. best lady driver: best boy rider under 16, Harrison Leach. 
 
 Among the winners in culinary department in young ladies and eirls were 
 Georgia Donaldson, Georgia Post and Ruby Smith. 
 
 Only a few concessions were allowed at the Carnival, and no "bawdy shows". 
 
 Chapter 17 
 
 Human Interest Stories 
 
 The first white child born in Girard was Leroy Mayfield. born in 1853, 
 the son of Alfred S. Mayfield. The grandmother of Leroy was a half breed 
 Cherokee girl named Delia Gore. A sister of Leroy's was named Nellie 
 Pocahontas. Leroy married Julius Hamilton's daughter, Mary. This lady is 
 94 years old and lives at Champaign, Illinois. 
 
 — <3P'^^"'^J^^'^^^^^" 
 
 The oldest living person born in Girard is, to the best of our knowledge, 
 Mrs. Carrie Macknett Howell, 90 years old. 
 
 'ii^* <i^ *> 
 
 The first death in the township was Thomas Warren in 1833. The first 
 funeral in the city of Girard was that of Julius Rutherford, grandfather 
 of Cecil Rutherfiord of near Girard. This funeral was held in the dwelling 
 house just east of Dr. McKemie's office. Mr. Rutherford was the first man 
 buried in Girard Cemetery. The first person buried there was Ella Morrison 
 who died August 5, 1853. A Mrs. Klepper donated the first plot of ground 
 for the cemetery, located north of the creek in the old part. 
 
 Illinois was swept by a plague of black cholera in 1852. Sam Boggess and 
 his wife, widely known for their hospitality, adopted orphans left at this 
 time. One of these was Catherine Howerton who became the wife of John 
 C. Beeby in 1857. This couple were the grandparents of Howerton Tipton. For 
 several years Mrs. Beeby had perhaps the only sewing machine around 
 Girard. Many women drove to her home in wagons and stayed all day while 
 she helped them with their sewing. Uncle Sam and Aunt Polly also raised 
 Mrs Ida Stone, the mother of Mrs. Ed Shroyer and Mrs. Dean England.
 
 The slavery question was often discussed in Girard, but Uncle Tommy 
 Warren was the only "secesh" in town. 
 
 ^m ^ •» 
 
 The first coal brought to the surface from the Girard mine was presented 
 to Daniel Macknett, President of the town in 1871, and the grandfather of 
 Georgia Donaldson. Few people had ever seen coal, much less used it. Mrs. 
 Macknett wished to surprise her husband and have a coal fire burning 
 for him when he came home from work. She ordered her Irish maid to fill 
 the stove with coal. Expecting a mild explosion of quick fire, Mrs. Macknett 
 stood at arm's length from the stove to apply the match. Her other hand 
 was held by the Irish woman who was to jerk her mistress to safety if 
 necessary. The disappointment of no fire lasted the best part of the after- 
 noon, but at last the persevering women had a "coal fire" burning. 
 
 ^m ^ *> 
 
 When Wm. Eastham built his home where Mrs. Gladys Krebaum now lives, 
 he sent for a man who could "witch" for water for his well. The location 
 was marked and the diggers went to work. At the usual depth for water, 
 no supply was reached. "There's water there, just keep digging until you 
 hear the Devil's dogs bark," said the one who had "witched". True to his 
 prediction, a never failing well was found. The local mine hauled water 
 from this well whenever the mine pond went di-y. And the cement for many 
 miles of State Route No. 4 was mixed with water from this well. 
 
 <^ ^> ^» 
 
 A man named Davis was the first operator of the "Blue" Warehouse where 
 Girard Feed Store is now located. He called himself a "lightning calculator". 
 He kept a jug of liquor on hand for his customers. He aimed to short weight 
 them 90 to lOO lbs. and have a check ready for them by the time the men 
 were good natured from their treat and would not argue. Then, changing 
 the picture — a Joseph McKinney succeec'ed Davis. He gave the late Henry 
 Hamilton his first job in Girard. "I weighed for him for three years," said 
 Mr. Hamilton. "When the scales broke between ten pounds, I was instructed 
 always to give the 10 lbs. to the customer." 
 
 ^ ^ *^ ^» 
 
 The first railroad engines going through Girard were wood burners. 
 David Stead, father of Hem-y Stead, supplied the wood, hauling it to Nilwood 
 where it was loaded onto the tender. 
 
 ^rw ^ iii>» 
 
 John Roach who settled on the edge of Girard in 1854 owned four yoke 
 of oxen with which he broke the prairie sod for many a farmer. It required 
 four yoke (eight animals) to pull a 24 inch plow in the unbroken sod. He 
 broke virgin prairie as late as 1879. He also reported cutting saw logs on 
 government land through the winter months one year, earning $48. He 
 considered this excellent pay. Mr. Roach bred short horned Dm'ham cattle 
 and received notices in the Chicago papers as an outstanding Illinois stock 
 man in 1880. 
 
 L. W. Deck, father of Wyman Deck, related that when he came to 
 Girard in 1874 the parcel of ground in the city park was a potato patch in 
 which young maples had just been set. It was surrounded by a good -board 
 fence to keep the pigs and cows out, since such animals were quite likely to 
 be straying around the town. In fact evei-y property owner in those days 
 surrounded his home with a fence of white pickets or of black ornamental 
 iron.
 
 In 1871 an Indian came to the Girard dentist, Frank Sage, and wanted 
 a tooth pulled. Dr. Sage prided himself on his strength with the forceps, 
 but he could not pull the tooth. The Indian laughed and said three other 
 men had failed. He disappeared without any identification. 
 
 ^m ^ m^ 
 
 A German bootmaker was in town in these years. He made a good living 
 for Girard was too muddy to wear shoes. Every man and boy wore boots. 
 He made them with copper toes for an extra price. 
 
 ^m ^1 «r» 
 
 When Chicago was burning in 1871, large groups of people were standing 
 around in Girard talking about the disaster. Toward noon Mr. Babcock, the 
 C. & A. agent, rushed out shouting for everyone to stay back from the tracks 
 for a relief train was rushing through from St. Louis. The whole town soon 
 heard the news and went running to see the sight. They heard the hum on 
 the rails first, then saw the engine appear at Nilwood. There was a thunder- 
 ous roar and the engine raced through town pulling two fire engines, each on 
 a flat car. All was dead silence in Girard. Not a word was spoken for some 
 time. Weeks later, when rebuilding in Chicago started, the Macknett lumber 
 yard sold every piece of lumber they had to men from Chicago, as did 
 every other lumber yard on the line. 
 
 fm ^ *» 
 
 A concert notice for a program in 1875 admonished, "Chewers of gum and 
 eaters of gingerbread will refrain from soiling the freshly sanded floor." 
 (That meant a floor which had literally been spread with sand.) 
 
 ^m ^ * » 
 
 Mrs. Mary Bowersox Kime recalls that the first so-called "graduating 
 class" from the Girard school numbered thirteen. John Ball's son dropped 
 out of the class toward the end of the year. His reason was that the school 
 should not be -blighted by the graduation of an "unlucky" number. 
 
 <* ^ » » 
 
 Miss June Hamilton owns a handbill announcing an "Exhibition to be 
 rendered by the pupils of the Girard High School on March 22 and 23, 1867" 
 under the direction of Principal H. H. Keebler and music directed by Prof. 
 M. Randall. On the second evening orations were to be given by such familiar 
 names as Charles Metcalf, Hattie Shepherd, Harris Cherry, Albert Simmons, 
 Charles Gibson and James Kitzmiller. 
 
 The Macoupin County Normal School, held in the years 1870 to 1880, held 
 sessions of six weeks length each summer. This was held in Girard at least 
 one summer when it was attended by Alice Beeby, who became Mrs. George 
 L, Tipton. These Normal schools were organized by the teachers themselves 
 to help them prepare to pass the teachers examinations required for the 
 first time by the law of the state. 
 
 ■-•♦- 
 
 Mrs. J. H. Church recalls the romance of the "lantern" street lamps 
 before electricity came to town in 1892. Old Mr. Drury went about at dusk, 
 setting up his ladder at each lamp post, lighting the oil lamps.
 
 In 1874 the Church of the Brethren of the United States held then- Annual 
 Meeting at Joseph Filbrun's bank-barn one mile north and one half mile 
 east of town near the railroad. The barn is still standing, an old landmark. 
 The C. & A. built a temporai-y switch and station at the farm and proviaed 
 an agent for the f om' days. Five thousand people attended and the attendance 
 swelled several more thousand on Sunday. A huge tent supplemented the 
 barn for space. Meals were served, feeding 1,000 at a seating. On Sunday, 
 thirty acres of land were covered with teams, wagons and rigs. The people 
 slept in the homes and barns of the local members from Lake School in 
 Montgomery County to Otter Creek in North Otter. 
 
 At a picnic in 1895 preparations were being made for a ballcon ascension. 
 A jokester arranged the guide rope so that a heavy-set boy of about 14 
 stepped into it. When the balloon sailed away, the boy was lifted with it 
 and carried as high as a two story building. Horrified, the people watched 
 the dangling boy, then happily the rope wrapped around a store chimney, 
 tilted the balloon, the gas escaped and the boy was rescued without perma- 
 nent injury. 
 
 The Modern Woodman picnics around 1900 were great affairs. As many as 
 four trains of visiting lodge members often came to town for the day. 
 Wagons were sent to nearby towns to bring enough food to feed the people. 
 The picnics -brought hundreds of farm vehicles to town. The lots north of 
 the Church of God were vacant except for a blacksmith shop. Scores of 
 people hitched in this area. 
 
 Carrie Nation, the famous crusader for Temperance, once appeared in 
 Girard at a Carnival. There were many saloons in town. One proprietor 
 came out and presented her with a bottle of whiskey. She accepted it. and 
 opening his dDo^. threw the bottle in, breaking it on the floor. Then she 
 walked over to the sDeakino; stand and the steam calliope played the p'^pu- 
 lar song "Good Mornine, Carrie" in her honor, as she stepped up to give 
 her lecture. This pleased her very much. 
 
 ^m ^ g » 
 
 Runaways of horses were weekly occurrences. People were often badly in- 
 jured and frequently killed in such an accident. Other times the runaway 
 created only an exciting diversion which was more or less enjoyed. H. V. 
 Stutsman related that his father's family were one time driving into town 
 on a big frame wagon. At the Girard Cemetery, one of the girls raised an 
 umbrella. The horses took fright and ran, bouncing the wagon several feet 
 high over every block crossing in Center street. People on the square heard 
 the noise and began to shout, "there they come". But the ho"»'ses dashed on 
 around the sauare and back out Center street toward home. The shout was 
 changed to "there they go". 
 
 ^ o ^ •>» 
 
 When the residence of G. A. Donaldson burned on the site n3w occupied 
 by Mrs. Carrie Tietsort, the hand fire engine was being pulled pell-mell by 
 6 or 8 men. The engine stuck on one of the high street crossings, the ap- 
 paratus separated and the men ran on to the fire without the engine. "Hey," 
 yelled the bystanders, "you forgot the engine."
 
 In the early days one barber shop in town had the special sic'e line of 
 a bath tub. The shoe shine boy heated the water for it in an old Indian stove. 
 
 Varieties of foods were unknown in the old days. Everyone ate what was 
 raised in season. Money was not spent for anything but substantial basic 
 foods. Mr. Macknett, the lumber dealer, often slipped over to a passenger 
 train stopped at the station and bribed the waiters on the dining car to 
 sell him oranges and bananas from their supplies. 
 
 In wet weather the mud around the square was hub deep on the wagons 
 and it took four horses to pull a wagon through. In dry weather the horses' 
 feet dragged the 2 to 4 inches of loose dust into great clouds that all but 
 smothered the riders. For many years Girard owned a water sprinkler and 
 sprinkled the square. 
 
 The first side walks in town were board walks. Because of the deep mud 
 each street crossing was raised from one to two feet above the level of the 
 street. The bouncing of all rigs over these crossings every block or two over 
 town was a regular carnival ride that no one appreciated. 
 
 The Girard community produced a $5,000.00 race horse around 1880. George 
 Shroyer traded for a shagffv bonv colt named Loafer. A Mr. Wolfe bought 
 the colt for a work horse. Running in the pasture this colt showed its tre- 
 mendous sneed, and Mr. Wolfe bearan to train him for racing. A buver came 
 with $10,000.00 in his pocket to buy Loafer, bnt Mr. W-^lfe named the price 
 of ^^5 000. 00 which was and would even yet be something for Girard. 
 
 Mr. Horace Rutherford laid out a race t^'ack on the south edge of Girard 
 in the spring of 1880. He was training Roan Jack, a near relative of Loafer. 
 A few years later there was a race track just north of town, and east of 
 the railroad. For many years around the turn of the century, a carload of 
 horses or ponies were sold every Saturday in Girard. 
 
 In 1880 the citizens of Girard subscribed the necessary money to secure 
 the right of way for the Jacksonville Southeastern R. R,. from Virden to 
 this point. This was an important event, settling an extremely unjust dis- 
 crimination in freight rates and providing the people with means of trans- 
 portation in all directions. 
 
 <' ^ tB> I 'i jfc 
 
 The Illinois Terminal came through Girard early in the century and was 
 considered a most convenient means of transportation with two hour service 
 in either direction, continued until the age of the automobile.
 
 When the Greenridge Mine was operating, two men left the Bank in 
 Girard on pay day with a heavy suitcase containing the payroll in currency, 
 f:llGwed by a guard. A livery rig took them to Greenridge, the guard 
 following on horseback. 
 
 
 When Roscoe Hamilton graduated from High School he received from the 
 President of the school board his be-ribboned diploma. "Thanks," he said, 
 "I'll go see if I can't get a job on the section.' He did get a job as firennan 
 on a big freight locomotive. He became the President of the State Bank 
 in 1938. 
 
 In the early days of this century, wealthy farmers drove the wagon into 
 town about twice a year for supplies. An ordinary order was 5 to 8 barrels 
 of flour, 400 to 500 lbs. sugar, lOO lbs. hominy, 100 lbs. of beans, 2 or 3 
 barrels of salt, a large bag of whole coffee beans, (they ground their own), 
 and perhaps a 12 or 24 lb. butt of chewing tobacco. 
 
 < f <i » ^1"' i ip ji - 
 
 Dr. Harry Hoxsey, a Girard boy famous now in Texas and Mexico for his 
 "Cancer Cure", once performed the "human fly" act by climbing the front 
 corner of the People's Bank building without protection. 
 
 ^^ . t!^ ■ *!'» 
 
 The Odd Fellow Lodge was organized in Gii'ard December 1855 with 
 seven charter members. They have never failed to hold a "weekly meeting" 
 in the one hundred years. 
 
 -^»*^ 
 
 Verner Thompson, at the age of fourteen, owned a high diving cat called 
 "Smarty". The training of this cat covered a period of several months. 
 Verner started with a short ladder, the cat following him to the top. Then 
 he tossed a piece of raw meat into the net and the cat jumped to procure 
 the meat. Eventually the cat climbed the ladder alone, and Verner gradually 
 added to the ladder until it reached a height of approximately 25 feet. This 
 performance became a Sunday attraction and people came from miles around, 
 most of them arriving in horse drawn buggies. 
 
 One day the net broke and after that instance. Verner had to go to each 
 corner of the net and tug on the rope to show the cat the net was secure. 
 The cat refused to jump until he performed that routine. 
 
 Chapter 18 
 
 The Future. 
 
 Girard citizens are forward looking. Because of the great need of an 
 abundant local water supply, a drive was launched in the summer of 1954 
 to raise $100,000.00 to apply on the building of a lake. The drive was suc- 
 cessful. The lake location was three miles west of the city, and the name 
 Sunset Lake was chosen for the site. The process of this important develop- 
 ment progressed rapidly and is the greatest improvement ever undertaken 
 by the people of the Girard community. From this will no doubt come un- 
 dreamed of opportunities for building a greater Girard in the inviting 
 century that lies ahead.
 
 Centennial Notes
 
 Centennial Notes
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 
 
 977.383G44H C001 
 
 HISTORY OF GIRARD, ILLINOIS GIRARD 
 
 3 0112 025398170