December 30 Update

Coming in January

"ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO 1916"

NEW PHOTOS

New Street Scene Postcard-1920

If you know what street this is --let me know !! In the meantime I'm looking for it.

New Chatsworth Postcard-1926

Obit of Hester (Yokley) Ford

LODA – On Christmas (Friday, Dec. 25, 2015), Hester joined her husband, Delmer, in heaven. They had been married for 69 years when Delmer went to heaven on May 11, 2007.
Hester Ford was born Nov. 18, 1919, in Springfield, Ill., the daughter of Sidney and Harriet Yokley. Surviving are two sons, Donald (Kathy) Ford of Tallahassee, Fla., and Carl (Kathy) Ford of Sun City, Ariz.; one daughter, Fran (Jerry) Martin of Lake Iroquois, Loda; six grandchildren, Debbie (Rick) Skelly of Cumming, Ga., Scott Ford of Columbia, Tenn., Michael Ford of Goodyear, Ariz., Lynnette (Dan) Bixby of Bloomington, Ill., David (Leslie) Ford of Peoria, Ariz., and Brian (Tammy) Martin of West Lafayette, Ind.; 15 greatgrandchildren, Ryan and Nicholas Skelly, Hunter Ford, Jacob and Alyssa Ford, Tyler, Trevor, Tristan and Treyson Bixby and Jessica, Taylor, Abby, Kylie, Colin and Kennedy Martin; and two sisters-in-law, Gertie Yokley of Williamsville, Ill., and Marie Poland of Tompkinsville, Ky. Her parents; her husband; two brothers, Ben and Earl Yokley; one sister, Alma Emberton; two infant brothers; and one infant sister preceded her in death.
Hester was a member of the Gibson City Bible Church, 309 N. Route 47, Gibson City, IL 60936. She enjoyed sewing and quilting with church members and made many lap quilts for friends in nursing homes. Hester worked at the Fairbury Hospital and the electronics plant in Piper City. She worked beside her husband for years farming and gardening in Chatsworth and continued gardening after their retirement move to Lake Iroquois. Hester was a longtime member of the Home Extension Club with her many lifelong friends in Chatsworth. After moving to Lake Iroquois, she was a member of Lake Iroquois Women's Club and the Welcome Wagon with Marie Postlewaite, her close friend from Chatsworth. Hester was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and left many precious memories. She loved her neighbors and church friends. She made many slippers and quilts for all her children and great-grandchildren and was known for her great cooking, especially her fried chicken and pies. She had a green thumb and enjoyed her plants and gardening. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016, at the Gibson City Bible Church. Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the church, with Pastor Paul Thomason officiating. Burial will be in the Chatsworth Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Gibson City Bible Church. Arrangements are by Knapp-Miller Funeral Home in Paxton. Please share a memory of Hester at knappfuneralhomes.com.

Obit of Betty Joan (Phipps) Ahlgren

WASHINGTON - Betty Joan (Phipps) Ahlgren, 87, of Washington passed away Monday, Dec. 14, 2015, at UnityPoint Health-Methodist in Peoria, surrounded by her family. She was born Aug. 14, 1928, in Chatsworth, Ill., to Roy and Blanche Phipps. Thankful for their caring and loving mom and grandmother are her children, Gary (Julie) Ahlgren and Lynn Powell; and her grandchildren, Jana (Mike) Chambers, Amber Sweet (Mike), Trisha (Josh) Johnson and April Powell. She was dearly loved by her nine great-grandchildren. Her family cherishes all the memories created throughout the years. A memorial service honoring Betty will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, at Bethany Community Church, 27577 Dutch Lane, Washington. An opportunity to greet the family will be one hour prior to the service. Memorials may be given in her name for an education fund established at Washington State Bank for her grandchildren. Cremation will be accorded. Published in Peoria Journal Star from Dec. 17 to Dec. 18, 2015

Obit of Frances (McCarthy) McCormick

Per Bob Saathoff email:

LINCOLN, IL - Frances McCormick, 96, of Lincoln, died at 1:34 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015, at Martin Health Center in Bloomington, Ill. A Mass of Christian Burial for Mrs. McCormick will be held at 12 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Lincoln. Visitation will be held from 9:30-11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015, at Peasley Funeral Home. A Rosary Service will be held at the funeral home at 9:15 a.m. Burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery in Lincoln. 

Frances McCarthy was born April 19, 1919, in Lincoln, a daughter of James and Anna Hayes McCarthy. In 1946 she was married to William L. McCormick of Emden. William preceded her in death on Nov. 1, 2005. Frances is survived by one son, Timothy T. (Liana) McCormick; two granddaughters, Carina and Adina McCormick; and one sister, Mary A. Migielicz of Savoy. She was preceded in death by her husband; an infant son; two brothers, Fr. James Thomas McCarthy and Robert W. McCarthy; and her parents. 

Frances was educated in local parochial and public schools, was graduated from Lincoln College and the University of Missouri with a B.S. in Education. She was a member of the Gamma Phi Beta social sorority. She taught commercial subjects in the high school of Chatsworth and at Lincoln Community High School. Mrs. McCormick was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Lincoln. She was a charter member of the Logan County Parks & Trails Foundation. She was a member of the Board of trustees of the Farmers State Bank of Emden and was a trustee and treasurer of the Old Bethel Church Association of Emden. Frances was past president of the Monday Book Club and long-time treasurer of that group. She was a member and past president of the American Association of University Women and the PTA council of the City of Lincoln. In 1988 Frances assumed management of the James McCarthy & Son Realty business, which was organized by her father, James McCarthy, in 1921. 

Memorials may be made to: The Sisters of Charity, BVM, located at 1100 Carmel Drive, Dubuque, IA 52003. Funeral arrangements are entrusted with Peasley Funeral Home of Lincoln. 

Published in The State Journal-Register from Dec. 10 to Dec. 11, 2015

Santa's Caboose 2015
Click on photo for larger image.

Obit of James W. Sanders

James W. Sanders, 87, of Chatsworth, IL passed away at 10:10 am on Wednesday, December 09, 2015 at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington. A visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 pm on Thursday, December 10, 2015 at Calvert & Martin Funeral Home in Chatsworth, IL. Private family services and burial will be held with military honors at the Chatsworth Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Children’s Hospital or St. Jude Children’s Hospital. James was born in Pleasant Ridge Township a son of William and Wavie (Barber) Sanders. He is survived by one son: Scott (Angel) Sanders of Chatsworth, IL; three grandchildren: Jess Sanders of Chatsworth, Kristi (Adam) Colclasure of Reddick, IL, and Caleb Kennel of Bloomington; two stepchildren: Mary Watson of Kentucky, and Tony Glen Masden of Bloomington; two great grandchildren: Amia and Rylan Colclasure; one brother: Albert Sanders of Thawville; one sister-in-law: Mary Ellen Sanders; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife: Sue; two sons: Larry and Eric Sanders; his parents; three brothers: Verne (Dorothy) Sanders, Wayne Sanders, and Vendell (Marlene) Sanders. He was a graduate of Chatsworth High School. He served his country in the United States Army in Korea during the war with the 23rd Infantry Regiment of the 2nd Division. James and his brother, Verne, owned and operated the Chatsworth Feed Mill in the late 1940’s. He also owned and operated the Laundromat in Chatsworth for twenty years. He farmed and was a carpenter for several contractors in the area.

See photo here.

Obit of Florence Evelyn Sutcliffe

Florence “Evelyn” Sutcliffe, 88, of Chatsworth, IL passed away at 2:08 pm on Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington, IL. Funeral services will be held at 12:00 noon on Saturday, December 12, 2015 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Chatsworth, IL with Pastor Mauricio Vieira officiating. Visitation will be held at the church two hours prior to the service. Burial will follow services in Chatsworth Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Chatsworth. Evelyn was born May 15, 1927 in Flanagan, IL a daughter of Folkert and Amelia (Tarmann) Hinrichs. She married Andrew F. Sutcliffe on September 21, 1958 in Flanagan, IL. He passed away on September 12, 1995. She is survived by her son: Mark Sutcliffe of Chatsworth, IL; seven grandchildren; and six great grandchildren. Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and one son: Roger Sutcliffe. Evelyn was educated in the Flanagan Schools. Prior to getting married she worked and Murphy’s in Pontiac. Once she was married, she became a homemaker. She was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church where she served as a Sunday School teacher and received a plaque for her dedication.. Evelyn also was a member of Senior Citizen’s Club, Women’s Club, and the Red Hat Society. She enjoyed being around people and driving around town. She was a loving mom, grandma, great grandma, and friend who will be greatly missed.
See photo here.

December 7 Update

New Photos

Plaindealer ad for the Flamingo Restaurant

Mary Runyon runs for "Miss Ford County"

Photo Album

This photo and the 6 that follow it are possibly from the Brown/Putnam family.

I have not found any other info on this yet, but will add when I do.

Obit of Katherine B. Brackman

Katherine B. Brackman, 84, of Chatsworth, IL passed away at 9:48 pm on December 1, 2015 at Riverside MedicalCenter in Kankakee, IL. A graveside service will be held at 2:00 pm at Chatsworth Cemetery on Friday, December 4, 2015. Memorial contributions may be made to the Breast Cancer Association. Katherine was born June 15, 1931 in Martinton, IL a daughter of Charles and Mildred (White) Stephenson. She married Adolph Brackman, Jr. on June 4, 1977 in Forrest, IL. He passed away on March 18, 2009. Survivors include her children: Ed Garrett of Swansew, IL, Robin Wilt of Goshen, IN, and John Wilt, Sr. of Bradley, IL; eleven grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; one sister: Ida Lade of Watseka, IL; and one brother: John Stephenson of Missouri. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one sister: Mildred Wilt, and one son: Art Garrett. She was educated in the Martinton schools. She worked in nursing home care. Katherine enjoyed motorcycling, fishing, playing bingo, and crossword puzzles