977.3673 
 B423b 
 
 7 
 
 ■9? 
 
 9^ BEMENT STORY 
 
C. /.' Tenne-y 
 
 <o 
 
 s 
 
 *« 
 
 5 
 
 .'.CI . 
 
 J. DeJiart 
 
 4>- a. 
 
 S. B. Jfawks 
 4.(1. 
 
 gffi^vm^ 
 
 sp 
 
 o^ 
 
 MAP, FRO/A 1875 ATLAS 
 
 VEEDE /? S 
 
 ADD 
 
 V E D DER 
 
 ST. 
 
 9t«* 
 
 k S 
 
 N 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 *s is 
 
 CS 
 
 i? . ^i s-her 
 
 /9.iv. 
 
 ^J 
 
 t/> 
 
 7S 
 
 of our cors 
 
 76 
 
 JOHN 
 
 ST. 
 
 stf 
 
 l/> 
 
 <fl\ 
 
 Kuril cv Carter 
 
 26.6/. 
 
 J. BocLnvan- 
 
 JtCo 
 
 ■frd* tU 
 
 p «¥i 
 
 it* 
 
 .cc 1 
 
 Tf.^ 
 
 
 R Oa d 
 
 Ik! 
 
 5 
 
 6 \<n 
 
 } 
 
 7 
 
 
 
 
 . 
 
 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 If. 
 
 7 
 
 \ b \ 
 
 
 \V 
 
 S^ 
 
 \\ 
 
 6 
 
 * 
 
 
 
 7 
 
 7 
 
 
 7 
 
 r 
 
 
 
 
 r 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 « 
 
 & 
 
 ! 
 
 » 
 
 6 
 
 72 
 
 - 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 6 
 
 1 " 
 
 7* 
 
 ^ 
 
 3 
 
 Hn 
 
 ; ' 
 
 ,1- 
 
 
 
 ft) 
 
 
 t. 
 
 s 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 . i 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 * 
 
 K 
 •< 
 
 IT 
 
 n 
 
 ; 
 
 7 
 
 / 
 
 
 
 *• 
 
 7Z 
 
 V\H 
 
 ■ft 
 
 VA 
 
 • / Bod man 
 a 
 
 '/< 
 
 
 /tf 
 

 > 
 
 e*M 
 
 
 
 
 ■ ' '., 
 
 
 '<".' 
 
 
 r 
 
 
 FOREST PRESERVE PARK 
 Bement.lll. 
 
 .. . '\i 
 
 A SHADY STREET Bement.lll. 
 BEMENT CENTENNIAL — BEMENT, ILLINOIS — JULY 31st THROUGH AUGUST 5th, 1955 
 
*s 
 
 SL 
 

 2)1. -Ws-fericai 
 
 JFbe 
 
 
 757 
 
 AJlf. 
 
 AJ> ^c UTE 
 
 
 8 j. 
 
 «OA X 
 
 JTf? 
 
 P4 
 
 ri«OA- s 
 
 Co »c E « N 
 
 IA-Q 
 
 *Ts 
 
 S£« 
 
 *"ic« 
 
Spring field 
 
 William G.Stratton 
 
 Governor 
 
 Mar en 31, 1955 
 
 Mr. Charles C. Strohl 
 Chairman of Publicity 
 Bement Centennial Corporation 
 Bement, Illinois 
 
 Dear Mr, Strohl: 
 
 My attention and interest has been 
 drawn to the coming Bement Centennial Celebra- 
 tion. 
 
 It is gratifying to know that this 
 historic anniversary is to be riven appropriate 
 recognition. I hope the entire series of planned 
 events will be well attended and notably success- 
 ful. 
 
 Si/lcerely yours, 
 
 ^^%o^re> 
 
 nor 
 
 tfGS:nd 
 

 '>> 
 
 'C 
 
 O^ 
 
 T H, 
 
 to 
 
 «s 
 
 Hi 
 
 
 '/v 
 
 ' e ®/i 
 
 >*N 
 
 r 
 
 Wrij 
 
 95 5 
 
 O, 
 
 ea 
 
 ** A*. 
 
 S^ 
 
 °hj 
 
 of 3 
 
 ye*r 
 
 3 
 
 ****< 
 
 UJ2: 
 
 S 6, 
 
 
 iS 
 
 o^ 
 
 Po^ 
 
 af 'o„ 
 
 'y 
 
PREFACE 
 
 This year we, the residents of this community, are celebrating the 100th 
 birthday of Bement. The purpose of this Centennial Celebration is three fold: 
 
 1. To honor those early pioneers who settled on the prairie of 
 Illinois and created this community. 
 
 2. To have a lot of fun. 
 
 3. To develop a better community spirit, and thus make Bement 
 a better place in which to live. 
 
 Bement is not a great city. It is a good town, a quiet, friendly town that 
 smiles a welcome to you. A town of shady streets and lawns where chil- 
 dren can laugh and play. A town of homes and schools and churches. A 
 good town in which to live. 
 
 "The Garden of the Lord" — That is the way George L. Spear, Bement 
 pioneer, described Bement. How aptly that describes the Bement of today. 
 A Bement that has progressed from swamps and tall prairie grass to a 
 community surrounded by rich farm lands, its many tall trees, its modern 
 homes, churches, schools, and its fine, friendly people. 
 
 It would be impossible to give a complete history of Bement and the people 
 who have lived here during the last 100 years giving credit where it be- 
 longs. Therefore, we in no way claim this book to be n history of Bement. 
 
 We have gone through a great many of the existing records, talked with 
 individuals, read old newspapers and books and have tried to bring you 
 in the limited space available some of the things that we feel have been 
 of importance and general interest. 
 
 We hope that this book will be of some value in bringing back memories 
 cf things gone by and serve as a record of this Centennial Celebration. 
 
■ 
 
 if 
 
 3)^tffttoit 
 
 %0 IKoss «av\i)$toiie*r* 
 
 UyossiVlt for \h& t#*n*te 
 
 yt&cs of progress- 
 
 wnv, or cversteUturih 
 pnhst Itemet&istaxj Home," 
 fhtetoief Uvslonj \ss\ti- 
 
BOARD OF DIRECTORS 
 
 BEMENT CENTENNIAL CORPORATION 
 
 CLARK PLUMMER 
 Chairman 
 
 R. N. HOLLOWAY 
 Vice Chairman 
 
 CARLETON SMITH 
 Honorary Chairman 
 
 KEITH M. BELL 
 Secretary 
 
 WILLIAM W. REDMAN 
 Treasurer 
 
 JOHN W. WALSH 
 Director 
 
 L R. BRANDENBURG 
 Director 
 
 OLIN DAY 
 Director 
 
 LEW WILKINSON 
 Director 
 
 GLEN DURBIN 
 Director 
 
 EDWARD KANITZ 
 Director 
 
 H. E. SLUSSER 
 Director 
 
 LYNN CROOK 
 Director 
 
FINANCE DIVISION 
 
 Reading from left to right — Front row: William Gorrell (Underwriting), Mrs. Rose 
 Knapp (Sisters of the Swish), Mrs. Evelyn Fair (Novelties), John Pope (Brothers 
 of the Brush). Back row: Francis Phillips (Historical Program), F. E. Lincicum (Con- 
 cessions), Dick Merry (Decorations), John Hardimon (Chairman of Finance Div.), 
 Harry Slusser (Official Hat Comm.) 
 
 PUBLICITY DIVISION 
 
 Reading from left to right: Front row: 
 Charles Strohl (Chairman), Mrs. Betty 
 Miller (Beautification), Mrs. Leona Hol- 
 loway (Distribution), Mrs. Martha Glen- 
 non (Press). Back row: A. R. Ayers 
 (Radio & T. V.), H. E. Slusser (Speak- 
 ers), William Gorrell (Promotion), R. R. 
 Siders Jr. (Photography). Absent from 
 pholo Willard Morton (Square Dance). 
 
 SPECTACLE DIVISION 
 
 From left to right-- Front row: Mrs. 
 Margaret Marker (Properties), Walter 
 Slater (Chairman), Miss Isabelle Hous- 
 ton (Costumes and Make-up). Second 
 row: George Wilkinson (Construction), 
 Roy B. Jones (Cast), Lew Wilkinson 
 (Scenaria and Title). Absent from photo 
 A. E. Bodman (Building and Grounds.) 
 Stanley Powell (Spectacle Music). 
 
SPECTACLE TICKET DIVISION 
 
 From left to right — Front row: John 
 Marker (Advance Tickets), Frank 
 Yeates (Gates and Ushers), L. A. Hod- 
 am (Reserve Seats). Back row: James 
 D. Raglan (Div. Chairman), E. A. Stout 
 (Queen Contest). 
 
 
 SPECIAL EVENTS DIVISION 
 
 Reading from left to right — Front row: John Vaughan 
 (Historical Windows), D. E. Shonkwiler (Fireworks). 
 Back row: William Fleming (Parade), Dan Siders (Cele- 
 bration Ball), J. K. Steidinger (Chairman). 
 
 mmmi 
 
 HOSPITALITY DIVISION 
 
 Reading from left to right — Back row: Robert Still 
 (Transportation), Clarence Janes (Traffic and Safety), 
 Carl Edwards (Chairman). Front row: Mrs. Ruth Patter- 
 son ( Homecoming), Mrs. Cordelia Davis (Housing). 
 
 Reading from left to right — Back row: Dave Mark- 
 er (Chairman), Joe Rittenhouse (Wednesday), 
 Howard Hill (Monday), Ralph Moery Jr. (Friday), 
 Rev. Ross Fleming (Sunday). Front row: Ralph E. 
 Wright (Saturday), Bran Wilson (Legal Advisor 
 for Centennial Corporation), Mrs. Howard Moore 
 (Tuesday), Milford Bentley (Thursday). 
 
 Sunday — Freedom of Religion Day 
 Monday — Callithumpian Parade Day 
 Tuesday — Old Settlers Day 
 Wednesday — Illinois Day 
 Thursday — Young American Day 
 Friday — Agriculture Day 
 Saturday — American Freedom Day 
 
Certificate Number 
 
 3239 
 
 
 BEMENT CENTENNIAL CORPORATION 
 
 s/tru **/ 9 November ,Q^ @ /fffli j iA /,*,»»>/**/ JL//*> "GENERAL NOT 
 
 For Profit Corporation Act \/^n^.^AA^v^%4> 47JM ^:nA^ 
 
 JNowlliere fore., x Charles F Carpentier ,S&%& 
 
 <noti>, 
 
 *>yO/. 
 
 
 3ltt (UiittllUnHJ iUWtTOf, ^J^/o^/m^XtmJyond^xiuMjo 
 
 da^/a / November AD. //9 5k /an d 
 / Of/M&tJnd^^i^4vc&€p/A4' wnefe</<Jtafe> 
 /fo,on& Afirttf/tes/sMf / 7 9th . 
 
 SECRETARY OF STATE 
 
 '.» 
 
-AUG 
 
 PASSPORT TO BE ME NT 
 
 THIS IS TO CEfcTIFY THAT 
 
 — _ 
 
 i « <m i i 
 
 haa paid the Bum of Oat Dollar to become an Honorary 
 Cit.*en of Bement, Illt&ois This passport also permit* 
 the bearer to enjoy diplomatic immunity to all Centen- 
 nial fiaes, and grants th#- privilege of a cltxen to sell, 
 berae. trade, or la general? jhoot the breeze with any 
 firm or merchant. 
 
 1855 — Bement Centennial — 1955 
 July 31 Thru August 6 
 
THE EARLY HISTORY OF 
 BEMENT 
 
 This is the story of a town — 
 a very small town, located in the 
 heart of these Illinois Prairies — 
 cradled on the black earth of 
 these Illinois farm lands. This 
 is the story of the early days of 
 a prairie town — our town — this 
 is "The Bement Story." 
 
 It all began over one hundred 
 years ago when Joseph Bodman 
 of Williamsburg, Massachusetts, 
 heard of the building of a new 
 western railroad across the 
 prairies of Illinois. Here was a 
 chance to grow up with the Land I 
 Pioneers would follow that rail- 
 road across the wilderness of the 
 prairie. Towns would grow up 
 along side of it. Prairieland 
 would become farmland around 
 it. Grow up with the land! A 
 man of vision could see that! A 
 man of great hope — and great 
 faith — and great dreams could 
 see that! 
 
 And so he came, from the far- 
 away hills of Massachusetts, past 
 the wooden buildings of spraw- 
 ling Chicago, down the great Illi- 
 
 nois Central to the pioneer ham- 
 let of Bloomington, out to the 
 flat prairie lands and swamp 
 lands that lay south of the ridge, 
 south of Monticello, Piatt Coun- 
 ty, Illinois. 
 
 Finally, on Christmas Day, 
 1853, Joseph Bodman, L. B. 
 Wing, and Henry P. Little, halted 
 upon the ridge which divides the 
 waters of the Sangamon and the 
 Kaskaskia, halted and looked 
 southward — three solitary horse- 
 men on a lonely knoll. 
 
 L. B. Wing later described it 
 this way: 
 
 "It was a beautiful day, that 
 Christmas Day of 1853 — like au- 
 tumn, rather than winter. A 
 magnificent view, limited only by 
 the powers of vision, was before 
 us. It was like looking out upon 
 the ocean. No farm, no orchard, 
 no living thing or sign of human 
 habitation! Everything, so far 
 as we could see, was just as it 
 had been for centuries. We knew 
 that in the groves of timber that 
 skirted the water course, a few 
 pioneers had built their cabins 
 and for years had supplied their 
 
 simple wants by hunting and a 
 little farming of the most primi- 
 tive sort. But their proximity 
 was not apparent to us and in 
 no way dispelled the sense of 
 complete solitude that oppressed 
 us. 
 
 We dismounted and threw our- 
 selves upon the sunny slope to 
 enjoy the view and debate the 
 question whether it was likely 
 that this prairie, after remaining 
 hunreds of years, was now about 
 to attain any particular value. All 
 who preceded us had evidently 
 come to the conclusion that it 
 was like air and water, valuable 
 and necessary, so far as it could 
 be used; but it was in too large 
 a supply to be worth buying. Was 
 it likely that the little span of 
 time represented by our lives, 
 that this condition would greatly 
 change?" 
 
 And so they came, saw the 
 countless miles of treeless prairie, 
 saw the grass tall as a man's 
 head. Saw, and for a moment 
 doubted, miles and miles of 
 worthless prairie land. But they 
 were men of vision — and faith — 
 
and plain Yankee shrewdness. 
 And they saw, not what was on 
 the prairie, but what might some- 
 day be. 
 
 After consulting their maps 
 and riding over the land they 
 drove stakes, selecting adjoining 
 tracts so they wouldn't lose each 
 other and in 1854 they secured 
 titles to all the land they could 
 afford at $1.25 per acre. Joseph 
 Bodman bought 6000 acres of 
 this prairie land, swamp land, 
 grass as tall as a man's head 
 land, seemingly worthless land. 
 Six thousand acres of "What 
 could it ever be good for" land, 
 home of the deer and prairie 
 wolves and prairie rattler — a 
 great sea of grass. 
 
 The year following, the deer 
 and prairie wolves were startled 
 from their homes by an engineer- 
 ing corps surveying the route for 
 what is now the Wabash railroad. 
 L. B. Wing in 1854 sold to Hunt 
 and Carter (agents for the Great 
 Western Railroad) 33 acres of 
 land in section 19 for $1.00. 
 
 Mr. Joseph Bodman, L.. B 
 Wing and Henry P. Little donat- 
 ed the ground upon which the 
 original town of Bement was laid 
 out. Bement was surveyed and 
 platted in the winter of 1854-55, 
 and the plat was filed on April 
 5, 1855. In 1855 Bement consist- 
 ed of a few stakes driven in the 
 ground and only one log cabin 
 between here and Monticello — 
 the home of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph 
 
 John Mallory Camp, builder of first 
 two houses in Bement, first school- 
 house, first Presbyterian Church, and 
 many other buildings. 
 
 Joseph Bodman 
 
 A. Alvord. And here the car- 
 penters stayed while they built 
 the first house in Bement that 
 year, April 1855. Mr. Bodman 
 went back east and persuaded six 
 young men, some of them car- 
 penters, to come to Bement and 
 "grow up with the country." 
 They were: J. M. Camp, J. H. 
 Camp, W. H. Ellis, T. T. Pettit, 
 Marion Pettit, and Charles Smith. 
 These were the first settlers of 
 Bement. 
 
 J. M. Camp built the first house 
 for Joseph Bodman. It is located 
 at 217 W. Bodman street and is 
 now the home of Mrs. Burleigh 
 Creel and her daughter, Miss 
 Guynell Creel. Mr. Alvord hauled 
 the lumber for the house from 
 Champaign. When completed, the 
 house was occupied by a Joseph 
 Nye and his wife, who kept 
 boarders. 
 
 Later this same year, Mr. Bod- 
 man built the second house in Be- 
 ment. It was located just west 
 of the first house and is now oc- 
 cupied by Bill Slagle and his fam- 
 ily. When completed, it was oc- 
 cupied by Joseph Alvord. Soon 
 after, Mr. Bodman erected a 
 small office building, the first 
 business building in Bement. This 
 building was used for various 
 purposes including a post office 
 and train depot until t^e railroad 
 moved one here in 1856. 
 
 In 1856 Mr. L. B. Wing built 
 the third house in Bement ana 
 it was occupied in the spring by 
 Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Force. The 
 lumber for this house was ship- 
 ped from Chicago. (This house 
 was located on the southwest cor- 
 ner of Wing and Morgan streets 
 where Bob Glennon is building 
 his new home this year). Mr. 
 Force planted 100 acres of wheat 
 at the south edge of the original 
 town in the fall of 1856 and har- 
 vested an abundant crop in 1857. 
 This is the first record of a crop 
 here. 
 
 The fourth house built in Be- 
 ment was an Irish shanty along 
 the railroad. Here in 1856 the 
 first birth and death occured in 
 Bement — a child of the James 
 family. 
 
 The years 1856-57-58-59 saw 
 the arrival of other pioneers, 
 many of whom settled here or on 
 nearby farms. Among them were 
 S. K. Bodman, Thos. Postlewait, 
 F. E. Bryant, Edmund Davies, 
 Luther Bodman, James McDow- 
 ell, R. McDowell, Amos Stout, H. 
 
 B. Burgess, Wm. Camp, Elihu 
 Fisher, W. D. Coffin, J. C. Evans, 
 
 C. F. Tenney, Thomas Lamb, 
 Charles Lamb, Albert Lamb, and 
 others. 
 
 Mr. F. E. Bryant, in whose 
 home Lincoln and Douglas met in 
 1858 to make arrangements for 
 their famous debates, arrived in 
 Bement July 26, 1856. He im- 
 mediately began operating a 
 grain, coal, and lumber business. 
 
 L. B. Wing 
 
"lite Cla^en ok the JZobh 
 
 f* 
 
 Mr. George L. Spear in writing the history of Bement in 1878, 
 gave a vivid description of the beauty and richness of our 
 native prairie. He concluded that surely this is 
 
 "The Garden of the Lord" 
 
 We have been privileged to serve this fine community for over 
 40 years and, as Bement enters its second century of history, it 
 is our sincere desire to render the best possible banking service 
 so that together we may always be good stewards of 
 
 "The Garden of the Lord" 
 
 State Bank of Bement 
 
 MEMBER FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION 
 
 BEMENT, ILLINOIS 
 
The next year he started a gen- 
 eral merchandise store, the first 
 in Bement, and later built sev- 
 eral business buildings. He was. 
 known (according to George L. 
 Spear) as Bement's pioneer 
 tradesman, and like Joseph Bod- 
 man, was identified with every 
 worthwhile project for the 
 growth and improvement of the 
 village. (Emma Piatt's History 
 states that Mr. Bryant's family 
 was the seventh in Bement.) 
 
 The first hotel, the Sherman 
 House was built in the fall of 
 1856 by John Townsend, a Ca- 
 nadian, who kept a hotel for the 
 accommodation of the traveling 
 public and for the few boarders 
 who were waiting for something 
 to show up. This hotel survived 
 for a period until it was moved 
 to make way for a new tower- 
 ing structure, the Masonic build- 
 ing. It was followed by the Penn- 
 sylvania House which was built 
 in 1858 by James and R. McDow- 
 ell and Thos. Postlewait. (This 
 hotel was later known as the Ho- 
 tel Rennick.) The Pennsylvania 
 House later became the principal 
 hotel and soon "ranked with the 
 first-class houses on the line of 
 the Wabash road". Bement's first 
 depot was located north of the 
 present scout headquarters. Ste- 
 phen B. Hawks was the first 
 yardmaster, being appointed in 
 November 1857. Switching was 
 done by a yoke of white oxen 
 hitched to the freight cars by a 
 log chain. Mr. Hawks also had 
 charge of the pumping of water 
 for the railroad and it was also 
 his duty to "rack up" four cords 
 of wood each day for the night 
 trains. He served until 1870. 
 
 The first Sabbath-school, a un- 
 ion one, was organized in May 
 of 1856. Meetings were held in 
 Bodman and Camps warehouse. 
 
 Mr. John McNamee and his daughter 
 Nellie McNamee in front of their 
 Variety Store on Bodman street. This 
 building is now occupied by L. J. For- 
 cum. 
 
 A depot was moved from Deca- 
 tur in the winter of 1856, and 
 Mr. and Mrs. T. T. Pettit report- 
 ed that the first sermon in Be- 
 ment was preached by Mr. Sam- 
 uel Harshbarger in the new de- 
 pot. 
 
 The first school election was 
 held November 10, 1856. Joseph 
 Bodman, Aaron Yost, and Henry 
 C. Booth were elected directors. 
 Henry Booth was employed to 
 teach the first three month term 
 at $40 per month. The first school 
 was taught in a dwelling built 
 by Wm. Pickens. 
 
 The Methodist Episcopal 
 Church of Bement was the first 
 church to be organized in Be- 
 ment. It was organized in 1858 
 under the pastorate of Rev. Rut- 
 ledge. Meetings were held in the 
 school house and in Bryant's 
 Hall. 
 
 The first flour mill in Bement 
 was erected in 1858 by D. H. Rust 
 in Bodman's addition near the 
 railroad on the south side. The 
 mill did a big business and was 
 the pride of Bement until it acci- 
 dentally caught fire and burned 
 in 1860. 
 
 Louis H. Alvord was born in 
 1858 — probably the second child 
 to be born in Bement. 
 
 After this, the settlers came 
 to Bement too fast for us to be 
 able to trace their order of ar- 
 rival. 
 
 1859 — Bement was growing 
 and Rea's addition was added to 
 Bement. There were about 50 
 students in school, which necessi- 
 tated the building of a school 
 building. It was located on the 
 present site of the grade school 
 building and was completed in 
 June, 1859. J. B. Lowell was 
 employed to teach at $28 per 
 month and was instructed to hire 
 an assistant at $17 per month — • 
 the first teachers in Bement's 
 first regular school building. 
 
 Mr. C. F. Tenney moved to Be- 
 ment in 1859 and said that at 
 that time Mr. Bryant had the 
 only dry goods store in Bement. 
 There were no sidewalks and the 
 streets were not graded, ana 
 there was not a tree in the town. 
 
 Camp and Tenney building with Town 
 Pump in foreground. 
 
30WEN I 
 
 1 
 J 
 
 D 
 
 281 E. BODMAN Mr. and Mrs. Loren Bowen, Props. BEMENT, ILLINOIS 
 
 Distributor of 
 
 STUDEBAKER 
 
 The Oldest Automobile Manufacturer in America Today 
 
 Est. 1852 
 
 Salutes . . . 
 BEMENT, ILLINOIS on its 100th ANNIVERSARY 
 
 /955 SfrakMer 
 
 STfU SETS 7WE PACE 
 
 acfancect 'sty/e 
 
 May the spirit of the Centennial Celebration in Bement 
 
 set the pace for prosperity, improvement 
 
 and success in the years ahead 
 
 Visit our Showroom while enjoying BEMENT'S CENTENNIAL 
 JULY 31st thru AUG. 6th, 1955 
 
There were just enough ladies in 
 town who danced to form one set. 
 He recalled that a favorite pas- 
 time on a Sunday afternoon was 
 to drive to the timber to lie in 
 the shade of a tree. The mud 
 was so bad that a wagon would 
 mire down in the middle of the 
 street and teams frequently had 
 to be pulled out with extra teams 
 or oxen. In wet times it was 
 impossible for the ladies to be 
 on the streets, and in dry times 
 the fleas in the corn-cob side- 
 walks made it most undesirable 
 for them to be out. And there 
 were millions of green-head flies 
 and mosquitoes to add to the mis- 
 ery of the early settlers. 
 
 The Death of Miles Conway . . . 
 
 Late in the autumn of 1859, Miles 
 Conway who lived a little to the 
 east of the village was on his 
 way home, carrying on his per- 
 son about $1200. A man by the 
 name of Godfrey followed him 
 and soon overtook him. Godfrey 
 beat and stabbed him until the 
 attacker was frightened away as 
 help came to the rescue. When 
 the men reached Conway, he was 
 able to tell them the identity of 
 his assailant. However he was 
 too weak from loss of blood to 
 help himself, so they carried Con- 
 way to a nearby house and sent 
 for Dr. Elam Bodman to dress 
 the wounds and administer stim- 
 ulate to revive the patient. Mr. 
 Conway lingered under treatment 
 for about a month before he died. 
 The assassin was pursued all 
 light and was finally captured 
 in a thicket a little east of Mon- 
 :icello. At first he was sentenced 
 :o 14 years, but he obtained a 
 
 new hearing and was finally sen- 
 tenced to only 10 years. 
 
 1860 — Bement was incorporat- 
 ed as a town in 1860. The first 
 Board of Trustees were: Joseph 
 Bodman, J. C. Sparks, F. E. Bry- 
 ant, C. F. Tenney, George L. 
 Spear, and E. B. Sprague. Be- 
 ment is the only town in the 
 United States with this name. A 
 Mr. Bement, an official of the 
 Great Western Railroad, prom- 
 ised to donate a bell to the first 
 church organized in town, if the 
 town were named after him. 
 However, he did not live to ful- 
 fill his promise. 
 
 Bement's first newspaper, The 
 Bement Union, started publica- 
 tion in April 1860, with Mr. 
 James Shoaff as editor. The Be- 
 ment Register dates from 1890 
 to the present — (65 years.) 
 
 A Literary Society was started 
 in the winter of 1860-61. It was 
 
 an important organization in the 
 lives of the early settlers and 
 contributed much to their cul- 
 tural welfare. 
 
 Corn was 10c a bushel and 
 times were tough. 
 
 1861 — Bement was still grow- 
 ing and Mansfield Freeze addi- 
 tion and Bodman's addition were 
 added to the town. A Protestant 
 Episcopal Church was organized 
 in September of 1861, but the 
 church did not last long and we 
 have no record of when or why 
 it was disbanded. The Masonic 
 Lodge was organized on January 
 26, 1861. It was one of the 
 strongest and most influential or- 
 ganizations in the early history 
 of Bement. 
 
 1862— The Christian Church 
 was organized on January 19, 
 1862. 
 
 The Civil War— (April 12, 1861 
 to April 9 ,1865 . .) 
 
 We have no record of impor- 
 tant developments during the 
 Civil War Period, except that 
 Piatt County was a staunch sup- 
 porter of the Union cause and 
 had more volunteers in propor- 
 tion to the population than any 
 other county in the State. There 
 was the difference of two broth- 
 ers by the name of Williams; one 
 joined the Union cause, and the 
 other the Confederate cause. 
 Then there was the incident of 
 the train carrying soldiers that 
 got stuck in a snow drift near 
 Bement in the winter of 1864. It 
 was stuck for three days and the 
 soldiers nearly ate the town out 
 of house and home. 
 
 In 1862, S. K. Bodman (nephew 
 of Joseph Bodman and father of 
 Mrs. W. A. Hammond, Miss Clara 
 Bodman, Edgar Bodman, and J. 
 
 An industry that helped probably more than any other to rid this land of sur- 
 face water was that of the Bement Tile Works. In the Spring of 1882 Elcock and 
 Rhinesmith started these works. A few years later the firm was known as El- 
 cock and Sultzeberger. Finally C. F. Tenney became sole proprietor. This con- 
 cern manufactured not only tile, but also paving and building bricks. The old 
 tile yard was located on the grounds of our now beautiful Forest Preserve Park. 
 
lite Goob Ow Uaxis Qie Gone jCteOeii 
 
 The 
 
 Modern Way 
 
 is the... 
 
 S 
 
 DC 
 
 H E N . . . A feller could . . . 
 
 Get his cornpads and cough medicine, pick up his mornin' mail, 
 grab a pickle out of the wooden keg to tone down his mornin' 
 appetite, get his vittles for the week, and his seegors, too, all in 
 the one and only store in town. Friendly Joe, the proprietor, knew 
 all the town gossip, too, and even furnished a spitoon fer the 
 convenience of his customers. 
 
 T D A Y . . . A feller can . . . 
 
 Not only get his cornpads and cigars, but find articles unheard 
 of in the "good old days" in our friendly, complete, modern home 
 owned food center. Goodness knows, times have changed, and so 
 has the Superway. Being friendly and helpful is a very important 
 policy, but improving our store and its facilities to meet our cus- 
 tomers demands is also greatly stressed. 
 
 Elton and Dorothy Haynes . . . Dick and Alice Lucille Merry 
 
 Lee Lawson . . . Mazo Sinclair . . . Nancy McCollum 
 
 Charles Lawson . . . Buddy Shonkwiler 
 
 H. & M. SUPERWAY 
 
 BEMENT 
 
 PHONE 2557 
 
 ILLINOIS 
 
Old Presbyterian Church 
 
 L. Bodman) purchased the drug 
 store operated by his uncle, Dr. 
 Elam Bodman. S. K. Bodman 
 had come to Bement in 1856 and 
 taught school here and in Goose 
 Creek township for a few years. 
 He then went back to Ohio for 
 a year or two before returning 
 to Bement to make his home. In 
 1866 he built a two story brick 
 building that still houses the Bod- 
 man Drug Store. It is the oldest 
 business in Bement in continuous 
 operation by the same family. 
 Edgar Bodman has operated it 
 since 1903; S. K. Bodman — his 
 father — having died in 1902. For 
 a time the drug store was used 
 as a postoffice with S. K. Bod- 
 man as postmaster. He was first 
 appointed during Lincoln's ad- 
 ministration. In all, he served 
 16 years as postmaster. 
 
 This building also houses tlie 
 W. A. Hammond Jewelry Store. 
 Mr. W. A. Hammond started in 
 business in Bement in 1895 and 
 this year marks his 60th year 
 on Main Street, making him th& 
 senior business man in Bement. 
 
 Bodman Drug Store. Also serving as 
 Post Office. 
 
 W. A. Hammond, Bement's senior busi- 
 nessman. 
 
 1866 — An addition was added 
 to the school, the cemetery site 
 was purchased and a Library As- 
 sociation was formed. 
 
 1867 — Prior to this time the 
 Catholics of the community were 
 served by Rev. A. Vought of De- 
 catur. In 1866 the idea of build- 
 ing a Catholic Church here was 
 conceived, and in 1867 a 26' x 46' 
 building was erected at a cost of 
 $2100. This building was located 
 on West Moultrie street wnere 
 Joe Rittenhouse now lives. 
 
 Irwin Lodge No. 344, Bement, 
 Illinois, I. O. O. F. was instituted 
 by a charter granted October 9, 
 1867. 
 
 1868— 
 
 The First Presbyterian Church 
 was organized August 29, 1868. 
 
 Mr. William arid Horace Halde- 
 man and G. C. Nichols built a 
 mill in Bement. This was one of 
 the most perfectly equipped 
 flouring mills in the state, hav- 
 ing the full roller process and 
 every improvement known to the 
 manufacture of the best grades 
 of flour. The mill was the best 
 and largest in the county. 
 George Harper - Cattle Thief 
 
 For many years, a farmer now 
 and then, here and there, would 
 occasionally miss from their 
 herds a fat steer. At length, sus- 
 
 picion rested upon one George 
 Harper and some time during the 
 year of 1868, money was raised 
 to employ a detective by the 
 name of Bidwell to try to obtain 
 proof. In less than a week, Bid- 
 well notified the interested par- 
 ties and conducted them to the 
 slaughterhouse of George .Har- 
 per, where they at once identified 
 a fat steer belonging to L. B. 
 Wing. Sheriff George Miller was 
 called and they hid in a nearby 
 cornfield to wait for Harper to 
 return. About 5 P.M. George 
 Harper and his son returned to 
 slaughter the animal. As soon as 
 the beef had been knocked down 
 and throat cut, and while their 
 hands were yet red with blood, 
 Sheriff Miller and his posse sal- 
 lied forth entering the den of 
 perfidy and ill-gotten gain, step- 
 ped forward and read the war- 
 rant and made the arrest. Harper 
 escaped from the jail at Monti- 
 cello while being held for trial. 
 He was later traced to Kansas 
 where he met his death in a gun 
 battle. 
 1871— 
 Murder of Sylvester Buckley 
 
 Sylvester Buckley kept the ho- 
 tel on Bodman street where the 
 Masonic Building now stands, 
 from the close of the Civil War 
 until his death, which occurred 
 on the 23rd day of December, 
 1871. The circumstances of his 
 death created considerable ex- 
 citement in the village. He had 
 become very drowsy and finaRy 
 had passed out on the floor of 
 the dining room of the hotel. 
 Most people thought it was due 
 to too much liquor, but finally 
 upon closer examination, they 
 found him to be dead. Suspecting 
 foul play, a post-mortem exami- 
 nation was conducted and it was 
 found that he had died of an over- 
 dose of morphine. Upon investi- 
 gation, they obtained a conression 
 from James Ready (alias Dick 
 Turpin), who was a guest at the 
 Hotel at the time. He was later 
 convicted of the crime and was 
 sentenced to the penitentiary for 
 a term of 14 years. 
 1873— 
 
 The railroad going north, 
 which is now the Chicago division 
 of the Wabash, was completed 
 and put into operation through 
 the county in 1873. This road was 
 formerly called the Chicago and 
 Paducah, and was laid by the 
 Bloomington and Ohio River 
 Railroad Company, which was 
 chartered in 1867. 
 
T LET PROSPERITY SLIP 
 !UGH VOUR FINGERS 
 
 WE INVITE YOU TO CONSULT . . . 
 
 F 
 
 S 
 
 oore rarm oervice 
 
 In Bement, Illinois for . . . 
 ORE PROSPERITY IN YOUR FARMING EFFORTS 
 
 LIQUID FERTILIZERS 
 
 MAX MOORE — HOWARD MOORE — HOWARD MOORE, JR. 
 

 1876— 
 
 The cornerstone for the Ma- 
 sonic Building was laid on May 
 25, 1876. The site is the same to- 
 day, and the building is the same 
 except that the original open 
 stairway on the north, which led 
 from the street to the basement, 
 has long since disappeared from 
 view. 
 1880— 
 
 Sometime around 1880, a new 
 elegant depot was built on the 
 present site of the Wabash depot. 
 To the east of it was a baggage 
 room, and across the tracks 
 southeast was a larger freight 
 house. 
 1890— 
 
 By 1890, Bement business men 
 were conducting a number of en- 
 terprises. Among these were 
 seven grocery stores, three dry- 
 goods stores, two hardware 
 stores, five wagon, buggy and 
 blacksmith shops. There were 
 two plasterers, a furniture store, 
 a drug store, a restaurant, a bak- 
 ery, a barber shop, a grain com- 
 pany, a novelty store, a bank, 
 the flour mill and a cigar factory. 
 From this list you can see that 
 Bement offered quite a variety 
 of services to its citizens. In her 
 history of Piatt County, Emma 
 Piatt had this to say about Be- 
 ment: "Bement is 'booming' just 
 now, and persons desiring to lo- 
 cate in a thriving, energetic place 
 cannot find a better one of its 
 size in central Illinois." 
 
 Evidently there was a market 
 for bicycles in Bement, since Mr. 
 Harry Bower had the agency. A 
 choice of five styles was offered: 
 The American Rambler for $125; 
 
 The American Light Rambler for 
 $135; The Crescent Safety for 
 $75; the Juno for $60, and the 
 Little Giant for $35. The Amer- 
 ican Light Rambler and the Juno 
 were suitable for the ladies, while 
 the Little Giant would fit the 
 needs of boys .and girls. 
 
 Between 1880 and 1913, Be- 
 ment was the victim of three fires 
 in the business district. The east 
 block of this district on Bodman 
 street was comprised of four 
 brick buildings in 1880: the Ma- 
 sonic Building on the east corner, 
 the building on the west corner 
 (now occupied by Kintner's Gro- 
 cery), the building now occupied 
 by Dr. Powers, and the Bodman 
 Drug Store building. These four 
 brick buildings were all separated 
 
 from each other with frame 
 buildings in between. 
 
 In the first of these fires, three 
 firms were burned out — a gro- 
 cery store, a barber shop, and a 
 bakery, located between the Ma- 
 sonic Building and the building 
 now occupied by Dr. Powers. 
 Since all of these were frame and 
 since the only method of combat- 
 ing fires then was a bucket bri- 
 gade, little could be done, except 
 to watch it burn until it reached 
 the next brick building. In all 
 probability this fire occurred in 
 1885. 
 
 The second fire burned out 
 those business establishments be- 
 tween the building now occupied 
 by Dr. Powers and the Bodman 
 building, consisting of two boot 
 and shoe stores, a Chinese laun- 
 dry, a butcher shop, and a no- 
 tion's store. Before a third fire 
 could destroy the remainder of 
 the frame buildings in this block, 
 they were moved across the street 
 on West Bodman street, and 
 brick buildings were built to re- 
 place them. With the construc- 
 tion of the other buildings which 
 had been destroyed, the entire 
 block was no brick, being com- 
 pleted in 1897. 
 
 The third fire occurred in the 
 west block of the business dis- 
 trict on Bodman street, starting 
 at the corner it spread to the 
 west as far as the Knapp Hard- 
 ware Store. A fire wagon was in 
 use by this time — a two wheeled 
 hand car, necessitating two men 
 to work the hand pump. The hose 
 was put into a well and the water 
 
QUALITY FARM 
 - EQUIPMENT 
 
 mJkademank of Quoftfy 
 Macta famous («| GmxL Lnpfcni£«t4. 
 
 Compliments of 
 
 W. A. DRAKE 
 
 BEMENT ILLINOIS 
 
 May the observance of Bement's Centennial so inspire all those 
 whose privilege it is to help make possible, to doing even 
 greater things for Bement's future. 
 
 We'd enjoy having you come in 
 and get acquainted while enjoying 
 the Bement Centennial 
 
 July 31st through August 6th 
 
 JUNIOR ADAMS 
 
 HARRY ALLEN, JR 
 
 LEO FENDLEY 
 
 SIMONE DRAKE 
 
 HAROLD WILLIS 
 
 HUGH PHILLIPS 
 
was pumped by hand to put out 
 the fire. Naturally, not enough 
 could be pumped fast enough, so 
 more water was brought from 
 the Wabash watertower. Fortu- 
 nately, two engines were in Be- 
 ment at the time, and these were 
 used to bring the water from the 
 tower, located at the edge of 
 town, to the scene of the fire. 
 Then a bucket brigade was form- 
 ed in getting the water to the 
 buildings. During reconstruction 
 of these buildings, a second fire 
 broke out and this time the in- 
 side of the new buildings were 
 burned. Before 1899, three fires 
 had also struck the schoolhouse 
 in Bement. These are described 
 in the school section of this book. 
 
 FROM THE BEMENT REGISTER, MAY 5, 1904 
 
 The street sprinkler, with R. H. Booker and the mules in charge, made its 
 debut on the streets Monday evening, and was a welcome visitor for the mer- 
 chants who have been "fighting dust" for some time. 
 
 The Bement Grain Company 
 was organized in 1902. It was 
 one of the first cooperatives to 
 be established in the state. De- 
 spite early trials, when farmers 
 as well as others regarded the 
 movement with suspicion, the 
 company survived and expanded. 
 
 The main street of Bement 
 (Bodman street) was paved in 
 1912. By 1913, the main business 
 section of Bement was confined 
 to Bodman street. In addition to 
 the four brick buildings men- 
 tioned before on the east block 
 of Bodman street, by 1913, ten 
 additional brick buildings had 
 been constructed. Except for re- 
 modeling, these buildings are the 
 same now as they were then. 
 
 One grocery store, that of Mr. 
 T. B. Ewing, consistently adver- 
 
 tised, although there were also 
 two others in Bement in 1913. 
 Other businesses whose ads 
 could be found in the paper prac- 
 tically every week were: the two 
 banks, Swenson's furniture store, 
 Hughes and Bodman (dry goods), 
 Taylor and Siders (hardware), 
 W. W. Body (drygoods), John 
 McNamee (drygoods), Schuh & 
 Son (implements), Dan Hall (in- 
 surance), W. W. Davis (drug 
 store), George Clark (imple- 
 ments), and Lum Groff (pro- 
 duce). Those appearing less fre- 
 quently were: L. U. Alvord (gro- 
 cery), Geo. Tracey (painting), 
 Knapp (hardware), Darl Evans 
 (wallpaper), George McCabe 
 (watch repair), A. Bradley (har- 
 ness maker), Bower and Dicken- 
 son (men's clothes), K. B. Har- 
 low (drygoods), Shaw & McGin- 
 ness (implements), Herman 
 Krause (tailor), Bement Manu- 
 facturing Co., Bement Grain Co., 
 and the Bement Brick Co. 
 
 Camp and Tenney building, old school house in background, and ox team on the 
 west of the building. 
 
Established 1865 
 90 YEARS OF SERVICE 
 
 BEMENT LUMBER CO. 
 
 BEMENT, ILLINOIS PHONE 4101 
 
 ROY B. JONES, Owner — EDWARD E. FRITZ 
 
 CONGRATULATIONS 
 BEMENT 
 
 . . . May your 100th Birthday celebration be but the begin- 
 ning of a feeling of unity and pride that will make this com- 
 munity a place that future generations will be proud of . . 
 a heritage they will cherish and preserve. 
 
 Charles C. Strohl 
 
 CHRYSLER - PLYMOUTH DEALER 
 
 BEMENT, ILLINOIS 
 
 PHONE 3311 
 
GAY NINETIES IN BEMENT 
 
 The "Gay Nineties" in Bement 
 were typified by a closeknit com- 
 munity spirit. The nation as a 
 whole was relaxing after a near 
 economic collapse, and our com- 
 munity — like the rest of the 
 country, responded with a feeling 
 of gaiety and fun making. 
 
 During this period, our village 
 had board sidewalks along Bod- 
 man Street, and it was quite the 
 fashionable and popular pastime 
 for the fair maidens to stroll 
 along the main street on Satur- 
 day afternoon — dressed in their 
 best, complete with a parasol. It 
 was said that a lady's age could 
 be determined by the length of 
 her skirt. The lengths ranged be- 
 tween a knee length skirt for the 
 little girls, to the ground-sweep- 
 ing length for the married ladies. 
 Mr. Carl Thompson says he can 
 seldom ever remember even see- 
 ing his mother's feet. 
 
 Fun was mostly the home- 
 made kind. Cards and dancing 
 were frowned upon by many. Still 
 these forms of entertainment 
 were beginning to be popular and 
 many dances were held in the 
 "Town Hall" over what is now 
 the State Bank of Bement. Other 
 buildings along Bodman Street 
 also housed halls and large rooms 
 used by various organizations for 
 their social functions. Sunday 
 School picnics were delightful oc- 
 casions. A most popular spot for 
 these picnics was along the Sang- 
 amon River. On one of these oc- 
 casions, the group gathered in 
 
 BEMENT BAND — 1897 
 
 This picture was taken on August 26, 1897 in front of McDaniels Dry Goods 
 
 store. Reading from left to right: Back row — George Thompson, John K. 
 
 Barnes, Charles Mowyer, Darl Evans, Cyrus Bruce, Carl Thompson, Charley 
 
 Pope, Thomas Priestly. 
 Front Row — Ralph Pettit, Ralph Martin, Harry Cornelius, Mr. Dawson from 
 
 Decatur, Charley Dawson, Richard Fleming, Mayo Evans, Miller Evans. 
 The two drummers are W. B. Stewart on the left and Ed Eckman on the right. 
 
 Bement — piled themselves into 
 wagons all hitched together and 
 drawn by a steam engine — and 
 thus joyously embarked upon the 
 tedious trip over country roads 
 to the picnic spot. During the day 
 they were drenched with rain, 
 and since the roads were not what 
 they are today, the picnickers 
 had to be rescued in horse-drawn 
 carriages, buggies and wagons. 
 The original caravan of steam 
 engine and wagons had to be left 
 at the picnic spot until the roads 
 dried off again. 
 
 Another young peoples' group 
 who favored the great out-of- 
 doors called themselves "The 
 
 
 
 *- * M'- 
 
 SNkwkv 
 
 PIATT COUNTY CHAMPIONS — 1894 
 
 Reading from left to right: Forney Thompson, pitcher; Lou Hill, catcher; Charles 
 Houk, umpire; Shorty Grinnup, left-field; Otto Webb, substitute; Wm. Mann, 
 icenter- field; Ed Body, 3rd base; George Thompson, right-field; Ross Rennick, 
 1st base; Fred Fales, short-stop; Oda Evans, manager; and Art Shook, 2nd base. 
 
 Smith Family." During the sum- 
 mer months the whole group 
 went on camping trips, pitching 
 tents and staying a week at a 
 time. The women remained in 
 camp during the day, while the 
 men who were in business re- 
 turned to the village during the 
 day. Then all returned to the 
 camping ground for the evening 
 meal and an evening of song and 
 relaxation around the campfire. 
 The group divided into commit- 
 tees — each committee being re- 
 sponsible for one evening meal 
 during the week. 
 
 The highlight of the summer's 
 fun was the Annual 4th of July 
 Celebration which got off to a 
 bang-up start with a Calithump- 
 ian Parade. (Dictionary Defini- 
 tion — a humorous formation, 
 noting or pertaining to a loud, 
 boisterous parade, with the blow- 
 ing of tin horns and other dis- 
 cordant noises.) The parade 
 would form between nine and ten 
 in the morning and led by the 
 Town Band; this gala group of 
 decorated wagons and costumed 
 residents wound its way through 
 the town. Often times the various 
 groups of merry-makers would 
 pantomime incidents that had oc- 
 curred during the preceding year 
 — poking fun at various citizens, 
 clowning around, and in general 
 having a riotous time. Folks 
 drove into Bement from all the 
 surrounding community in farm 
 wagons, buggies, and carriages. 
 Many large families came on hay 
 racks, bringing their dinners with 
 them in baskets. In the afternoon 
 
We're the Pioneer Grocery in Bement . . . 
 
 22 Years In the Same Location .... 
 In the Oldest Building in Bement 
 
 May We Join in Extending 
 
 BEST WISHES 
 
 on this 
 
 MOMENTOUS OCCASION 
 
 KINTNER'S 
 
 RAY KINTNER KEN STEIDINGER 
 
 and Employees 
 
 HELPING TO MAKE HISTORY IN THE BEMENT COMMUNITY 
 
 SINCE 1920 
 
 VOORHIES 
 
 CO-OPERATIVE GRAIN CO. 
 
 ELEVATOR AT VOORHIES - 4 MILES SOUTH OF BEMENT, ILLINOIS 
 
 SALUTES BEMENT AND COMMUNITY ON THEIR 
 100th YEAR OF PROGRESS 
 
 ELBERT BRADLEY OSCAR WINZENBURGER 
 
 President Secretary-Treasurer 
 
 WILLARD MORRIS CHARLES MARSHAL 
 
 Vice-President Manager 
 
everyone gathered at the village 
 park to listen to speakers and 
 take part in 3-legged races, egg 
 races (where each participant 
 had to pick up a fresh egg on a 
 wooden shingle and carry it on 
 that shingle to a certain point and 
 back to the starting point), foot 
 races, pie-eating contests, rope- 
 pulling contests, etc. Some ex- 
 tremely dexterous lads tried their 
 hand at catching greased pigs 
 and climbing greased poles. At 
 one of these celebrations, a bi- 
 cycle race was held around the 
 section which would now be des- 
 ignated as beginning at Coles 
 pasture, riding south to the Pos- 
 tlewait farm, one mile east to the 
 corner, north to the Frank Lux 
 farm and back west to Coles 
 pasture. Of course, this wonder- 
 ful day of fun and festivity was 
 brought to a fitting conclusion 
 with a spectacular display of 
 fireworks. 
 
 Groups of touring performers 
 made their way into Bement dur- 
 ing this period. Medicine Shows, 
 in the old tradition, offered enter- 
 tainment and patent medicines. 
 Drama groups performed at the 
 Town Hall. The business men 
 sponsored "Lyceum Bureaus" or 
 Lecture Courses wnich usually 
 ran for a week and were held 
 at the Town Hall or at the park. 
 These courses featured musicals, 
 drama, poetry and elocution. 
 They were both entertaining and 
 educational. 
 
 Our village grew and was mod- 
 ernized considerably during the 
 Nineties. Many boarding houses 
 and lodging places were available 
 in Bement at this time. By way 
 of mention, some of these were 
 known as the Quick Hotel, The 
 Murphy House, the McDowell 
 House (later known as the Be- 
 ment House), and the Renick 
 House. Probably the two best re- 
 membered, however, are The 
 White House and The Hotel Ven- 
 dome. 
 
 The White House stands today 
 as it was in 1898 and Mr. Harden, 
 the present owner, is a nephew 
 of Mrs. White and her sister who 
 maintained it as a boarding house 
 and lodging place. These sisters 
 started serving meals and offer- 
 ing lodging in 1865. What is now 
 the kitchen and dining room was 
 then only the dining room. A 
 tremendous room which accom- 
 modated two huge tables, and 
 judging from a picture of one of 
 these meals which Mr. Harden 
 
 ONE OF THE EARLY FOOTBALL TEAMS IN BEMENT 
 
 Front row from left to right: Charles Knapp, William Mann, Willard Toby, prin- 
 cipal. Lewis Wise, Otto Webb, James Lamb, Dean Conway, Harvey Vance, 
 Roy Webb. 
 
 Back row from left to right: Forrest Rose, Fred Tenney, Charles Mcintosh, 
 Supt., Luther Conway. 
 
 has in his possession, a grand 
 array of delicious food was of- 
 fered and undoubtedly enjoyed 
 by their boarders. Many local 
 young business men who had not 
 established homes at the time, 
 partook of this hospitality as well 
 as those people who were passing 
 through Bement. 
 
 The Hotel Vendome, later 
 known as the Arlington Hotel, 
 was constructed in 1896 and re- 
 mained until it was torn down in 
 1937. At the time of its construc- 
 tion, the Wabash Railroad was 
 seriously considering Bement as 
 •a suitable location for their shops 
 and roundhouse. (They purchas- 
 ed 62 V-j acres of land at the west 
 edge of Bement.) Thus a good 
 hotel was deemed a fine idea and 
 the Hotel Vendome was con- 
 structed by a Mr. W. D. Fair- 
 banks from Farmer City. The ho- 
 tel contained 40 sleeping rooms, 
 parlors on the three floors; and 
 kitchen, traveling salesmen's sam- 
 ple rooms, and office on the first 
 floor. The opening, held in the 
 spring of 1897, was a social func- 
 tion long to be remembered. Cit- 
 izens of Bement and nearby 
 towns and hotel men attended. 
 Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Riggs were 
 the managers at this time and 
 had prepared a wonderful ban- 
 quet for the guests at the modest 
 sum of $2.00 per couple. Among 
 the eight young men who served 
 as waiters receiving $2.00 for the 
 evening were: Arthur Shook, 
 Carl R. Thompson, Will Mann, 
 and Jack Foster. Following the 
 banquet, the dining room and of- 
 fice were cleared and those Who 
 
 enjoyed dancing were allowed the 
 privilege. The hotel changed 
 hands several times during the 
 intervening years, but gradually 
 became a bad investment as the 
 Wabash Shops were built in De- 
 catur, and with the advent of 
 good roads and modern transpor- 
 tation, there became no necessity 
 for maintaining a hotel here. 
 
 Jan. 12, 1893 - Adv. from Hal- 
 deman Milling Co. — "All kinds 
 of grain, including corn in the ear 
 or shelled, ground for feed for 
 10c per cwt., cheaper than your 
 cow can chew it." 
 
 Feb. 2, 1893 — Joel Dunn's 
 smoke house was robbed of two 
 hams Sunday night. The vaga- 
 bond who would steal the last 
 two hams from a smoke house 
 on Sunday night when pork is al- 
 most "out of sight" should be 
 treated to a coat of tar and feath- 
 ers." 
 
 April 5, 1893 — Taylor and 
 Siders would like for the gentle- 
 man who "borrowed" the short 
 end of their extension ladder to 
 either return it, or call for the 
 other half. 
 
 June 22, 1893 — L. H. Alvord 
 sold 600 quarts of strawberries 
 Tuesday. 
 
 Dec. 27, 1893 — Adv. Don't 
 sleep on the floor that will make 
 times harder than ever for you. 
 From me you can get* a whole 
 bedroom set for $11.00. This 
 means nothing less than three 
 pieces: Bedstead, Dresser, and 
 Wash Stand, well made goods 
 and nicely polished. 
 
 Andrew Swenson 
 

 CONGRATULATIONS 
 
 
 Bement on Your lOOJh Birthday 
 
 BODMANS DRUG STORE 
 
 #^r€ 
 
 Established 1862 
 
 ^^^^^^v**" x S ^^^^F 
 
 by 
 
 from 
 
 S. K. BODAAAN 
 
 BELL INSURANCE AGENCY 
 
 
 Phone 2281 Bement, III. 
 
 Compliments of 
 
 where 
 
 E. S. BODMAN 
 
 friendly, competent advice 
 is always available 
 
 In business in 
 
 concerning 
 
 same location 
 
 ALL TYPES OF 
 
 since 1902 
 
 INSURANCE 
 
 
 BE SURE TO INSURE 
 
 
 KEITH M. BELL 
 
 Supplying Bement's Building Needs 
 
 IHE WILKINS 
 
 1 
 J 
 
 D 
 
 — BUILDING MATERIALS — 
 
 Ivesdale 
 
 BEMENT 
 
 Monticello 
 
As a regular feature of the pa- 
 per at that time, the editor pub- 
 lished the time table for the Illi- 
 nois Traction and the Wabash. 
 This would seem to indicate that 
 many Bement people used the 
 trains quite extensively for trans- 
 portation. The modern automo- 
 bile was not yet in common use; 
 however, Bement was not with- 
 out its car dealers in those days 
 since the Ford, Studebaker, and 
 Rambler were offered for sale. In 
 advertising the last of these, at- 
 tention was called to the fact that 
 even a woman could operate this 
 car, since you merely had to 
 "push a button under the foot to 
 start the motor." 
 
 Another type of business found 
 in Bement about this time was 
 the Horse Barn, operated by Mr. 
 John Breen at the present loca- 
 tion of the Bowen Motor Co. It 
 was to this sale barn that he 
 brought horses which he pur- 
 chased throughout central Illi- 
 nois. When the market was right 
 and the horses in condition, they 
 would be shipped to Chicago or 
 New York. However, he dealt 
 with draft horses, and when the 
 tractor began to replace them, 
 Mr. Breem was forced to sell out. 
 
 Many changes in the business 
 picture of Bement were seen in 
 1916. More grocery stores, ga- 
 rages, and auto repair establish- 
 ments made their appearance. 
 Several business men retired or 
 sold out to younger aspirants. 
 Fewer changes took place in 1918. 
 However, one business man was 
 forced to sell out — George 
 Clark, who had a shoe and men's 
 furnishings store, was drafted. 
 At the same time, the war neces- 
 sitated some curtailing of busi- 
 ness. In accordance with the Fuel 
 Administrator's order, the stores 
 closed, to observe heatless Tues- 
 day. Likewise the people were re- 
 minded that Monday was meat- 
 less day. The bakery offered 
 "Victory Bread" for wheatless 
 days. 
 
 By 1919, due to orders from 
 the state fire marshal, several 
 old buildings were to be torn 
 down, in some cases resulting in 
 the removal of landmarks which 
 had stood for many years. The 
 firm of Schuh & Son purchased 
 one of these, owned by Hudson 
 Martin, and planned to erect a 
 new one-story building, 33 by 60, 
 of bricks veneer, as soon as the 
 old one could be torn down. In 
 1860 this building had been leas- 
 
 FIRST PRIZE IN CALUTHUMPIAN PARADE— July 4th, 1913 
 
 Daniel H. Siders, standing and Clell Baugh, driving 
 
COMPLIMENTS OF 
 
 HOWARD HILL 
 
 GOODYEAR and STANDARD 
 DEALER 
 
 I FEEL THANKFUL TO THE PEOPLE OF 
 
 THIS COMMUNITY FOR THEIR 
 
 PATRONA'GE FOR THE PAST 
 
 60 YEARS 
 
 Best Wishes for Bement's Future Years 
 
 W. A. HAMMOND 
 
 JEWELER 
 
 BEMENT 
 
 ILLINOIS 
 
 Since 1939 
 
 29 YEARS . . . 
 
 This is a record for any Oil Distributor 
 in Bement 
 
 HOME OIL COMPANY 
 
 ii 
 
 Distributor SINCLAIR Products 
 
 Congratulates 
 Bement on Its 100th Birthday 
 
 EDW. K AN ITZ 
 
 ROY E . ALLEN 
 
ed for a wagon-making and black- 
 smith shop by Charles Hubble 
 and Mr. Bills. A few years later 
 a Mr. Jackson leased if and he 
 later transferred his lease to Mr. 
 Martin. In 1872 Mr. Martin pur- 
 chased the building, enlarged it 
 greatly, and engaged in the im- 
 plement and wagon building 
 business extensively. About 1889 
 he added a smaller building 
 which he used for a buggy room. 
 At times he employed seven men. 
 It was said that there was more 
 business done here than at any 
 other place in town. (This build- 
 ing was located where Dr. Speltz 
 is now located.) 
 
 Mr. Schuh, who was now pur- 
 chasing this building, had been 
 engaged in blacksmithing there 
 for some 30 years. The other two 
 buildings, which were to be torn 
 down, were on the adjoining lot. 
 Owned by Ralph Oyler, they had 
 been constructed 38 years earlier 
 by Simon Priestly and J. A. 
 Force, the front being used for 
 wagons, and the back one for a 
 blacksmith shop. Mr. Force built 
 and lived in the third house to be 
 built in Bement. 
 
 In 1922 the State built a paved 
 highway through Bement. This 
 opened the way for better trans- 
 portation via the automobile and 
 we find an increased emphasis 
 upon the sale and service of auto- 
 mobiles in Bement. Some of these 
 were: Robertson's Garage, Be- 
 ment Garage (dealer for the Es- 
 sex, Hudson, Mormon, and Dort 
 cars), Hill Brothers Garage, Be- 
 ment Battery Station, Hubbell 
 Garage, Gillespie and Grothe (re- 
 pair), and* E. L. Campbell (Ford 
 
 dealer). Four implement stores 
 were ready to supply the farmer: 
 S. M. Postlewait, Schuh & Son, 
 A. J. Gulliford, and the Piatt 
 County Supply Co. 
 
 At this point in our "Town His- 
 tory," we stop and pause and 
 wonder just what should be said 
 about the last 30 years in the his- 
 tory of Bement. A great author- 
 ity on the teaching of history 
 once said: "Everyone knows what 
 history is until he begins to think 
 about it. After that, nobody 
 knows." That is the feeling we 
 have at this point — we don't 
 know what should be said about 
 the last 30 years. Many of the- 
 events of our own times will sure- 
 ly be forgotten in the next hun- 
 dred years. Historians of the fu- 
 ture will pick out and record 
 events of our time which seem 
 
 
 y§ 
 
 
 '1 
 
 f 
 
 ■»|l:-V 
 
 wSm 
 
 
 important to them, rather than 
 those which now seem important 
 to us. Historians have done this 
 through the years. Events of the 
 past take on different shape when 
 they are viewed in the light of 
 current happenings and affairs. 
 
 In looking back, we find that 
 Bement business during the last 
 thirty or forty years reflects the 
 national situation in regard to 
 broad outlines. Underlying this, 
 change if not growth, has been 
 the economic status of Bement's 
 citizens. Established primarily as 
 a farming community, her busi- 
 ness interests of necessity have 
 catered to this primary market. 
 And as the farmer's picture 
 changed, so has the business sec- 
 tion of Bement. 
 
 That Bement business was in- 
 exorably associated with the 
 
1855 -BEMENT- 1955 
 
 N 
 
 Congratulations . . . 
 to ~My Jrome Uown 
 
 100 YEARS OF PROGRESS- 
 A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE! 
 
 (rom 
 
 \ 
 
 S 
 
 FIN'N 
 
 SIRLOIN ROOM 
 
 1701 N. Woodford Decatur, III. Phone 3-4241 
 
 * DINE IN AIR-CONDITIONED COMFORT 
 
 * WE SERVE ONLY TOP QUALITY AGED STEAKS 
 
 * FRESH-FROM-THE-SEA SEAFOODS 
 
 S&uaihg, filicflitly Iftam 5 jx. 4ft. ta 1 a. m. 
 
 "JIM and SALLY NALLY" 
 
farmer is also suggested by the 
 failure of the factory to become 
 a permanent part of this picture 
 — a failure not due to any lack 
 in trying. Even though other cir- 
 cumstances contributed to their 
 absence, still the very fact of this 
 absence is probably related in 
 some way to Bement's being a 
 farming community. 
 
 Throughout the period under 
 consideration, Bement business 
 reflected the national picture 
 with some few exceptions. Cur- 
 tailment demanded by the war in 
 1917 was soon terminated by a 
 period of prosperity during the 
 1920's. However, this prosperity 
 in Bement continued until 1933, 
 an exception to the national 
 scene, where 1929 spelled disas- 
 ter for many larger cities. During 
 the depression here in Bement, 
 our Forest Preserve Park, a 
 dream of many for more than 
 fifteen years, became a reality. 
 This was done with the help of 
 the W. P. A. in cooperation with 
 the Piatt County Forest Preserve 
 Park Board and a number of Be- 
 ment business men. This project 
 gave employment to people at a 
 time when it was badly needed 
 and Bement became the proud 
 possessor of a beautiful park 
 complete with a new pavilion. 
 This property, part of which was 
 the old Wabash reservoir, was 
 covered with dense trees and 
 brush. To this was added 10 acres 
 on the west belonging to F. E. 
 Shaw. Thursday, October 14, 
 1937 marked the formal dedica- 
 tion ceremony of the Bement For- 
 est Preserve Park, the site now 
 being used for the Bement Cen- 
 tennial Town Meetings. 
 
 Shortly after this, Bement bus- 
 iness seemed well on the way to 
 recovery and expansion which 
 continued until the outbreak of 
 World War II in 1941. Naturally, 
 during the war, business activity 
 was curtailed and few changes 
 took place in Bement. Following 
 the war, a natural increase in ac- 
 tivity was once again witnessed. 
 New business buildings were 
 built, new homes and much re- 
 modeling has been done with 
 more in progress at this time. 
 
 Bement had a set-back on De- 
 cember 13, 1953 when they lost 
 three business buildings by fire. 
 They were the Bement Theater, 
 Dare's Tavern, and a building oc- 
 cupied by the Hadden Barber 
 Shop and Flo Marie Wright's 
 Beauty Shop. The fire burned 
 
 furiously and for a time the Be- 
 ment firemen were joined by the 
 fire departments of Monticello, 
 Atwood, Hammond, and Cerro 
 Gordo in an effort to extinguish 
 the flames and prevent the fire 
 from spreading across the alley. 
 They did succeed in preventing 
 the fire from crossing the alley, 
 but the three buildings mentioned 
 were a complete loss. 
 
 In closing this section we would 
 like to mention a few of the busi- 
 ness and professional men who 
 have served this community for 
 many years. The late Andrew 
 Swenson, who was born in Swe- 
 den, adopted this community as' 
 his own and served it not only in 
 a business way but also in other 
 fields. In 1892, when he launched 
 his business career in Bement, 
 the business section could boast 
 of few establishments. He saw 
 new enterprises spring up and 
 prosper, others start and die 
 down, still others change hands. 
 But he remained for over 50 
 years. Carl R. Thompson has been 
 active in the business affairs of 
 Bement for over 50 years, and we 
 have two doctors who "have been 
 in Bement for over 50 years — 
 Dr. W. G. McPherson and Dr. J. 
 G. Bauer. The dean of all the 
 present business men is Mr. W. A. 
 Hammond who is still active on 
 Main Street after 60 years in 
 business. Dr. L. A. Pelton and Ed 
 Bodman have both been active in 
 the business life of Bement for 
 over 40 years. 
 
 Bement has come a long way 
 in the past century, and judging 
 from the cooperation and enthu- 
 siasm shown by its citizens dur- 
 ing this Centennial Celebration, 
 we are very optimistic about its 
 future. We may not be a big town 
 but we certainly are making a 
 good town in which to live. 
 
 Early Administration of Justice 
 
 About the time Bement was 
 founded, there was a group of 
 people in Piatt County and sur- 
 rounding territory that organized 
 a company for the purpose of ad- 
 ministering justice in cases that 
 the law could not well get hold 
 of. Among themselves they were 
 known as the "CALITHUMP- 
 IANS." They were in organiza- 
 tion for eight or ten years and 
 'tis thought they did a good deal 
 of good with tar and feathers; 
 for while some were quite se- 
 verely punished for misdeeds, 
 others were afraid to do wrong. 
 
 THE BEMENT REST HAVEN 
 HOME 
 
 The large house now occupied 
 by the Rest Haven Home was 
 built in 1869-70 by Albert Greg- 
 ory of the firm of Fisher and 
 Gregory, bankers in Bement. The 
 Gregory's sold the house and 4 
 acres to Mr. Wm. Camp in 1874. 
 It is remembered by most as the 
 old Camp house. 
 
 In 1951 Mrs. Opril Baker, a 
 trained practical nurse, secured 
 this house and made plans for 
 starting a Rest Haven in Be- 
 ment. Open House was held on 
 Sunday, October 21, 1951 and the 
 home was opened for patients on 
 the following Monday. The second 
 floor was opened April 6, 1952. 
 At the present time it is filled to 
 capacity, 27 patients. The Rest 
 Home employs 9 or 10 people to 
 care for these patients. 
 
 January 7, 1904 — E. A. Body 
 and Sam Bodman and others are 
 harvesting a crop of ice this week. 
 The ice is about 12 inches thick 
 and of good quality. 
 
 Jan. 14, 1904 — Carl Thompson 
 and his delivery sleigh with the 
 sweet tones of sleigh bells have 
 been the envy of "all the girls" 
 the past week. 
 
 May 5, 1904 — "Bement has 
 had an anti-spit ordinance since 
 Sept. 26, 1902, but you couldn't 
 have told it from the appearance 
 of the walks. — $2.00 fine per spit. 
 
 May 12, 1904 — 212 Bement 
 citizensHook an excursion via the 
 Wabash to the University of Illi- 
 nois. 
 
 June 30, 1904 — There are 
 more trains in and out of Bement 
 on the Wabash than Decatur, and 
 the Monticello time table resem- 
 bles a flag station compared to 
 ours. Sixty-six trains daily in 
 and out of Bement that can^y 
 passengers. 
 
CONGRATULATIONS BEMENT 
 
 on Your 100th ANNIVERSARY 
 
 from 
 
 COUNTY OFFICIALS, 1955 
 
 <f=5^E^ 
 
 
 PIATT COUNTY OLD COURT HOUSE 
 Picture taken about 1896 
 
 PRESENT PIATT COUNTY COURTHOUSE 
 Erected September 22, 1903 
 
 B. E. MORGAN 
 
 County Judge 
 
 CARL I. GLASGOW 
 States Attorney 
 
 CHARLES SCOTT JOHNSON 
 
 Circuit Clerk and Recorder 
 
 VERA H. PERRY 
 
 County Treasurer 
 
 DWIGHT M. MACKEY 
 Coroner 
 
 HARRY E. BICKEL 
 
 County Clerk 
 
 FRANK WRENCH 
 
 County Supt. of Schools 
 
 TROY C. BENNETT 
 
 County Sheriff 
 
 J. ROBERT BOWER 
 
 .County Supt. of Highways 
 
 GROVER W. WATSON 
 
 Judge of the Circuit Court 
 Sixth Judicial Circuit 
 
Joseph Bodman 
 
 F. E. Bryant 
 
 J. O. Sparks 
 
 George L. Spear 
 
 S. K. Bodman 
 
 Chester Schoolcraft Frank A. Jones 
 
 John McNamee 
 
 Wm. B. Fleming 
 
 Horace Haldeman 
 
 George M. Thompson 
 
 W. G. Cloyd 
 
 Charles Grant 
 
 William Hughes Mrs. Ruth Patterson 
 
 THE BEMENT POST OFFICE 
 
 The Post Office at Bement, 
 Illinois was established January 
 23, 1856, with Joseph Bodman 
 as postmaster. His successor 
 was F. E. Br.yant, pioneer trades- 
 man of Bement, who was ap- 
 pointed July 7, 1857. Mr. Bry- 
 ant's Successor was J. O. 
 Sparks, grain dealer, who was 
 
 appointed October 18, 1858, ana 
 was succeeded by George L. 
 Spear, who was appointed April 
 20, 1861, under the administra- 
 tion of President Lincoln. On 
 October 6, 1865, Sereno K. Bod- 
 man, a druggist and nephew of 
 the first postmaster (Joseph 
 Bodman) was appointed to suc- 
 ceed Judge Spear and held the 
 
 office until his successor, Ches- 
 ter Schoolcraft, whose appoint- 
 ment was made October 12, 1866, 
 took charge of the office. Mr. 
 Schoolcraft was succeeded by 
 Sereno K. Bodman, who was the 
 first 'come-back' occupant of the 
 office, being reappointed March 
 31, 1869, under the administra- 
 tion of President Grant. On July 
 
Nearly a Century 
 f Service! 
 
 1860-1955 
 95 Friendly Years 
 
 Ninety-five years have elapsed since the original founding of 
 the Millikin National Bank of Decatur in 1860. Bement was 
 then five years old and Decatur was a young, progressive com- 
 munity of 3800. 
 
 During its long history, The Millikin .National Bank has pro- 
 vided complete banking facilities and helpful credit to thou- 
 sands of individuals and business firms in Decatur and Central 
 Illinois. 
 
 Today we congratulate our good neighbor — Bement — on 
 its 100th birthday. 
 
 May your Centennial celebration be a happy one! 
 
 The Millikin National Bank 
 of Decatur 
 
 DECATUR'S OLDEST AND LARGEST BANK 
 
 Member Federal Deposit Member Federal Founded 1860 
 
 Insurance Corporation Reserve System by James Millikin 
 
1, 1884, the office was advanced 
 to third class or presidential of- 
 fice, and on July 4, 1884, Frank 
 A. Jones was appointed to the 
 office. Mr. Bodman retired after 
 a continuous service of more 
 than 15 years. Mr. Jones was 
 succeeded by John McNamee, 
 who was appointed by President 
 Grover Cleveland, March 22, 
 1887. Jones came back and suc- 
 ceeded Mr. McNamee under ap- 
 pointment by President Harri- 
 son, July 1, 1891. Frank A. 
 Jones, the first presidential ap- 
 pointee, was a veteran of the 
 Civil War, and was literally shot 
 to pieces on the firing line. He 
 was informed by a hospital sur- 
 geon at one time that he had 
 but a few hours to live, but Jones 
 said he absolutely refused to die. 
 At the close of the war in 1865 
 he marched up the avenue in 
 Washington, and fifty years af- 
 terwards marched with the vet- 
 erans over the same route dur- 
 ing the national encampment of 
 the G. A. R. in Washington, D. C. 
 in 1915. 
 
 William B. Fleming was the 
 successor of Mr. Jones under ap- 
 pointment made by President 
 Cleveland, Jan. 23, 1896. Flem- 
 ing was succeeded by Horace 
 Haldeman, prominent in business 
 and political activities of the 
 community, who was appointed 
 June 29, 1900, and was succeed- 
 ed by George M. Thompson, who 
 was named January 11, 1905. He 
 was succeeded by W. G. Cloyd 
 who was appointed by President 
 
 Wilson, August 1, 1913. Charles 
 Grant became acting postmaster 
 in 1923 and later received his 
 appointment as postmaster. He 
 was succeeded by William 
 Hughes, whose appointment was 
 dated March 1, 1924. Following 
 Mr. Hughes, Mr. J. N. Raglan 
 was acting postmaster for one 
 year before Mrs. Ruth Patterson, 
 the present postmistress, re- 
 ceived her appointment on Au- 
 gust 20, 1934. 
 
 MAYORS OF BEMENT 
 
 QUOTES FROM BEMENT 
 GAZETTE— JULY 9, 1887 
 
 Quite a number of Bement's 
 young folks enjoyed a moonlight 
 picnic in the park last Wednesday 
 evening. 
 
 The greatest sight we saw out- 
 side the calithumpian parade was 
 a woman standing on her head 
 swearing at the driver for letting 
 the horse run away. 
 
 Ye editor has been confined to 
 his room the past week. He is not 
 dangerously sick, but if you 
 should offer him a seat without 
 a cushion, you would hear "piles" 
 of cuss words. 
 
 Fizz, Bang, Boom, is the way 
 the fourth was celebrated here in 
 good old fashioned style. The 
 boys commenced in the morning 
 at 1 o'clock by ringing the bells 
 and firing the anvils. The crowd 
 commenced to come in very early 
 and by eight o'clock the streets 
 were pretty well filled, and at ten 
 the calithumpian parade started 
 out . . . 
 
 Joseph Bodman 
 
 1861-1863 
 
 F. E. Bryant 
 
 1863-1865 
 
 W. L. Ryder 
 
 1865 
 
 Thos. T. Pettit 
 
 1866 
 
 D. C. W. Niles 
 
 1867- 
 
 Wm. M. Camp 
 
 1868 
 
 Joseph Bodman 
 
 1869-1871 
 
 Thos. Dunn 
 
 1871 
 
 W. A. Pierce 
 
 1872 
 
 H. A. Stark 
 
 1873 
 
 H. Martin 
 
 1874 
 
 Jas. S. Peairs 
 
 1875 
 
 E. Sweney 
 
 1876 
 
 T. T. Pettit 
 
 1877-1878 
 
 E. Sweney 
 
 1879 
 
 T. T. Pettit 
 
 1880 
 
 J. C. McCord 
 
 1882 
 
 Darius Vaughn 
 
 1883 
 
 W. S. Ruby 
 
 1884 
 
 G. B. Alvord 
 
 1885 
 
 C. H. Camp 
 
 1886 
 
 Joseph Hartman 
 
 1887 
 
 D. D. Kimmel 
 
 1888 
 
 Robert Fertig 
 
 1889-1891 
 
 C. F. Tenney 
 
 1891-1892 
 
 Robert Fertig 
 
 1893-1896 
 
 E. R. Sayler 
 
 1896-1898 
 
 J. T. Moore 
 
 1898 
 
 H. E. Shaw 
 
 1899-1903 
 
 J. F. Sprague 
 
 1907-1909 
 
 W. J. Day 
 
 1909-1912 
 
 J. F. Sprague 
 
 1912-1919 
 
 M. C. Camp 
 
 1919-1923 
 
 Daniel Hall 
 
 1923-1926 
 
 J. F. Sprague 
 
 1926-1929 
 
 J. W. B. Stewart 
 
 1929-1931 
 
 E. E. Logan 
 
 1931-1945 
 
 Edward Kanitz 
 
 1945-1949 
 
 Carl J. Edwards 
 
 1949-1953 
 
 Lynn Crook 
 
 1953-1957 
 
 1955— BEMENT BOARD OF TRUSTEES 
 
 Seated from the left: Dan Siders (Village Treasurer), Bryan Wilson (Village At- 
 torney), Lynn Crook (Mayor), and Carl Thompson (Village Clerk for 33 years). 
 
 Standing from the left: Board Members— Ralph Mintun, Walter Miller, Harry Hixon, 
 F. E. Lincicum, Ralph Siders Jr., and Keith Bell. 
 
CONGRATULATIONS 
 BEMENT 
 
 on your 100 YEARS of Achievements 
 
 CITIZENS GAS COMPANY 
 
 — Use GAS - The Ideal Fuel — 
 
THE PRESS 
 
 Bement's first newspaper, The 
 Bement Union, was established 
 in April of 1860, by James Shoaff 
 of Decatur and Mr. Outten of 
 Monticello. Mr. Shoaff was the 
 editor of the paper which was 
 published in the warehouse of 
 Freese and Go. He advocate! 
 the removal of the county seat 
 to Bement. At the time, he cre- 
 ated a great deal of interest and 
 it became a topic of general dis- 
 cussion. Of course it did not 
 succeed, but he did succeed in 
 getting the county organized 
 into Townships under the control 
 of a Board of Supervisors. Mr. 
 Shoaff made his editorial fare- 
 well in the paper of April 18, 
 1861, and enlisted in the army. 
 Mr. Sanches became the editor 
 and publisher, but within a few 
 months the paper was discontin- 
 ued. From then until 1878 a suc- 
 cession of editors made their ap- 
 pearance. All retired from the 
 business in short order, with 
 most of them leaving an unfavor- 
 able impression upon the com- 
 munity. This may be divined by 
 the following excerpts from a 55 
 page history of Bement written 
 by George L. Spear, father of 
 Elmer E. Spear, of Bement, and 
 published in 1878. (Mr. Spear 
 was appointed postmaster in 
 1869, elected police magistrate 
 in 1863, served as Justice of the 
 Peace for 18 years and was also 
 County Judge. His history, writ- 
 ten in original style with humor- 
 ous expressions, is delightful to 
 read.) 
 
 "Some years after the suspen- 
 sion of the Bement Union, one 
 John Smith appears above the 
 horizon, a shining opaque, and 
 began the publishing of a news- 
 paper, using the old Union press. 
 Johnny didn't stay long, but he 
 staid long enough to teach the 
 people here that publishers of 
 newspapers are not all angels." 
 "Immediately succeeding him was 
 that traveling comet, John S. 
 Harper, who also left a sooty 
 mark upon the walls WTien he 
 too, scooted with his booty." 
 Speaking of John Harper, we 
 now quote from an article found 
 in the Monticello Independent 
 newspaper at the time — "Editor 
 J. S. Harper, the humorous, rest- 
 less owner of numerous newspa- 
 pers, late of the Homer Journal, 
 Sidney Sentinel, Tolono Citizen, 
 Fairmount Republican, Philo Her- 
 ald, Sucker State Journal, and 
 
 PICTURE OF OLD BEMENT REGISTER OFFICE 
 
 Reading from left to right: Wesley Smith, Roy E. Cartwright (Editor,) Gertrude 
 Duncan, May Booker. 
 
 The Bement Register, walked 
 from Bement to Monticello last 
 Friday, with the thermometer at 
 92 degrees, in fifty-five minutes. 
 He may not be a success as an 
 editor, but surely is as a hoofer." 
 He moved from Bement to Farm- 
 er City where he was the editor 
 of the Farmer City Bugle." Quot- 
 ing again from Mr. Spear: "After 
 Harper left, next came Jacobs 
 who for a while succeeded well, 
 but suddenly came to the con- 
 clusion that all work and no cro- 
 quet makes Jake a dull boy and 
 finally succumbed to an over- 
 whelming wave of ennui. Con- 
 ners came in on the heels of Ja- 
 cobs, staid awhile and came to 
 the conclusion that the Lord had 
 work for him in Jericho, so he 
 went to pulpit labor." 
 
 On the first day of January 
 1878, Mr. Ben Biddlecome issued 
 the first issue of "The Independ- 
 ent". This paper was begun un- 
 der unfavorable circumstances, 
 but for several years made its 
 way quite well. The Independ- 
 ent was followed by The Bement 
 Gazette, published by F. E. Bills. 
 The Bement Gazette was next 
 started by J. I. Chilson who later 
 sold out to Eli Drum. 
 
 The Bement Reveille was start- 
 ed in 1889. The early newspa- 
 papers were usually an eight page 
 paper, however four of these 
 pages were ready-print. Two 
 pages of this, devoted to national 
 and international news, seemed 
 
 to constitute the extent to which 
 they lived up to their motto, "All 
 the news, all the time." The re- 
 maining two pages of ready-print 
 were devoted to a continued 
 story, a fashion column, patent 
 medicine advertisements, etc. 
 
 The present newspaper — The 
 Bement Register, made its first 
 appearance in 1890 with M. O. 
 Curry & Co. as publishers and 
 is now in its 65th year of con- 
 tinuous publication. When it 
 started in 1890, the office was 
 located upstairs over a building 
 two doors south of the present 
 location of Hill's Cafe. The of- 
 fice has been in its present loca- 
 tion since 1896 or '97. Mr. Curry 
 served as editor from the start 
 in 1890 until 1905 when Roy E. 
 Cartwright took over. The pre- 
 sent editor, Verne Purcell, has 
 edited the paper since 1943 and 
 has owned it since 1946. 
 
 May 20, 1909— Dr. W. G. Mc- 
 Pherson received his new Mitchell 
 Roadster Tuesday. It is a hand- 
 some machine and runs easily 
 and with practically no noise. 
 
 February 23, 1905 — Watchman 
 George Lee and His Flowers . . . 
 George Lee and his wife came to 
 Bement from Yorkshire, England 
 in 1881. He took great pride in 
 converting the dismal grounds in 
 the vicinity of his shanty into a 
 picture of loveliness with flow- 
 ers. 
 
Compliments of 
 
 THE mm REGISTER 
 
 (ESTABLISHED 1890) 
 VERNE PURCELL 
 
 (Publisher Since 1943) 
 LEONE PURCELL VERNE P. DUST 
 
 EDNA L. MOORE LEONA C. HOLLOWAY 
 
 LUCILLE PURCELL CHESTINE PEIFER 
 
 ALVIN DUST 
 
 "Some weeks I don't know who is 
 running this paper." 
 
 CONGRATULATIONS BEMENT ON fOUR 
 100TH BIRTHDAY 
 
 DYE 
 
 Radio and Electric Service 
 
 BEMENT, ILLINOIS PHONE 2951 
 
 "Serving ths Community for a quarter century ..." 
 
 Inside . . . Outside ... All Around the House 
 
 VIRDEN LIGHTING FIXTURES 
 
 Puts Good Lighting Within Your Reach 
 
THE DRAINAGE OF 
 LAKE FORK— 1882-87 
 
 A ridge running across the 
 northwestern corner of Bement 
 Township causes the land there 
 to be a great deal higher than it 
 is in the southern and eastern 
 part of the township. In fact the 
 lowness of the land in the south- 
 ern and eastern part debarred 
 settlement therein for a number 
 of years until proper measures 
 were taken to drain the land with 
 tile and drainage ditches. The ex- 
 treme northwestern portion of 
 the township drains toward the 
 Sangamon River, while all the 
 rest of the township is drained 
 by the Lake Fork branch of the 
 Okaw River, which comes into 
 the township in its north-eastern 
 section, runs southward, leaving 
 the township about the middle of 
 its southern boundary line. The 
 fall of the stream was very slight. 
 After the rainy season the banks 
 would overrun, and then for days 
 and weeks the stream, through 
 miles of its course, had the ap- 
 pearance of a lake or swamp ; and 
 because of its slowness in dis- 
 charging its water, we suppose, 
 the stream was called Lake Fork. 
 The land was the rich black loam, 
 but was not very valuable, be- 
 cause it would overflow, and a 
 crop was by no means sure. To- 
 day with proper drainage, this 
 land that was once useless is 
 some of the most valuable in the 
 United States for farming. 
 
 The early settlers soon came to 
 realize that something must be 
 
 done about draining this land if 
 it were to be farmed successfully. 
 The question of forming a drain- 
 age district under the State Law 
 was submitted to a vote of the 
 people and the question carried. 
 On the 7th day of October, 1882, 
 an election was held in the Con- 
 cord Schoolhouse for the purpose 
 of electing the drainage commis- 
 sioners. Alfred Jay, Samuel L. 
 Busick, and Anthony Clark were 
 elected as the first commission- 
 ers. They now had the arduous 
 job of viewing the land and de- 
 termining the benefits and 
 amount of assessment for each 
 property owner. 
 
 m r± 
 
 
 Anthony Clark 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Busick 
 
 The owners whose land was 
 furtherest from the proposed 
 dredge ditch and who had some 
 natural drainage objected to pay- 
 ing for the drainage of the land 
 through which the ditch passed. 
 Tempers flared and threats were 
 made to the commissioners and 
 their families. It became so ser- 
 ious that the commissioners had 
 to carry guns to protect them- 
 selves and their families. Objec- 
 tions were filed and cases fought 
 out in court. However, the com- 
 missioners were firm in their con- 
 victions that if they didn't see 
 the job through, their children 
 would have to. It was very evi- 
 
 dent to these far-sighted men 
 that before this part of the world 
 would ever amount to much, 
 there must be drainage and 
 roads. 
 
 On September 21, 1883, C. D. 
 Moore, County Surveyor, was 
 employed to survey the proposed 
 drainage ditch and prepare a plat 
 and profile. This was done that 
 fall and submitted to the com- 
 missioners at a meeting held 
 March 1, 1884. The original ditch 
 was to extend from the line north 
 of the SE x /4 of section 36, town- 
 ship 18 North, Range 6; east to 
 the Crane Bridge, a distance of 
 eleven miles. The plat was ap- 
 proved, and it was decided to ad- 
 vertise for bids to be opened 
 March 31, 1884. No bids were 
 submitted and nothing was done 
 until September 20, 1884, when 
 they again advertised for bids 
 which were to be received and 
 contract let October 16, 1884. The 
 contract was not let until the 
 next spring however. Active work 
 was begun in the summer of 
 1885. The work continued all 
 summer and fall and all the next 
 year until in November, 1886, 
 they reached the Moore Grave- 
 yard in Unity Township. On the 
 second day of February, 1887, 
 the dredge boat was burned. The 
 ditch, however, had been com- 
 pleted as far as the original ditch 
 extended. In all, over two hun- 
 dred thousand cubic yards of dirt 
 had been removed. As the ditch 
 had been completed within the 
 time allowed, the price paid for 
 the work was 13 M> cents per cu- 
 bic yard, and the ditch had cost 
 in the neighborhood of thirty 
 thousand dollars. 
 
 As time passed a number of 
 lateral ditches were put in and 
 hundreds of miles of field tile 
 were laid. The Village of Bement 
 purchased perpetual rights to 
 drain into one of these laterals. 
 
WELCOME TO 
 
 WEST END 
 
 TAVERN 
 
 Just East of Wabash Depot 
 
 BEMENT, ILLINOIS 
 
 FINE FOODS -MICHELOB ON TAP 
 
 RAY AND THERESE MATTINGLY 
 
 MARATHON 
 
 GASOLINE 
 
 V. E. P. 
 MOTOR OIL 
 
 J. ROY JORDAN 
 Phone 2501 Dement 
 
 THE OHIO OIL COMPANY 
 
The rich black loam rid of its 
 surplus of brackish water, be- 
 came some of the richest and 
 most productive land in the 
 world. Yields of 90-100 bushels of 
 corn to the acre are not uncom- 
 mon. The great yield of grain 
 caused the value of the land to 
 increase many fold. In 1882, the 
 year the dredging plans started, 
 land sold for $35. per acre. By 
 1900 the value had risen to $150. 
 During World War I, it increased 
 to $400., and at the present time 
 it is selling for over $500. per 
 acre. 
 
 LINCOLN & DOUGLAS 
 IN BEMENT 
 
 The Francis E. Bryant Cottage 
 in Bement has been described as 
 the second most important Lin- 
 coln Shrine in the United States. 
 It holds this peculiar position in 
 history because here two of Illi- 
 nois' great men, Abraham Lincoln 
 and Stephen A. Douglas, dis- 
 cussed and agreed to their fa- 
 mous series of joint debates. 
 These debates focused national 
 attention on Abraham Lincoln 
 and led to his election as Presi- 
 dent of the United States. 
 
 In 1858, Illinois witnessed one 
 of its hottest political campaigns. 
 Democratic Senator Douglas was 
 running for re-election and was 
 opposed by Lincoln. Douglas 
 was only 5'4" tall and just about 
 as broad. They called him "The 
 Little Giant." Lincoln was 6'4" 
 tall and weighed 200 lbs. — a 
 tall gaunt figure of a man. His 
 friends called him "Honest Abe" 
 or "Old Abe" although he was 
 only 49 at the time. Douglas 
 said of. him, "Of all the dammed 
 Whig rascals about Springfield, 
 Abe Lincoln is the ablest and 
 most honest." 
 
 The issue was clearly defined. 
 Lincoln, in accepting the Repub- 
 lican Senatorial Nomination on 
 June 16, 1858, in Springfield, had 
 declared: "A house divided 
 against itself cannot stand. I 
 believe this government cannot 
 endure permanently half slave 
 and half free. I do not expect 
 the House to fall, but I do ex- 
 pect that it will cease to be di- 
 vided. It will become all one 
 thing, or all the other." 
 
 One of the Republican leaders 
 said it was a "dammed fool ut- 
 terance"; another held the doc- 
 trine too much "ahead of its 
 time." Lincoln's law partner, 
 
 Billy Herdon, urged: "Lincoln, 
 deliver that speech . . . and it 
 will make you president." 
 
 On July 22, 1858, Lincoln 
 wrote a letter to Douglas chal- 
 lenging him to a series of de- 
 bates. Douglas was reluctant to 
 accept. He told his friends: "I 
 do not feel, between you and me, 
 that I want to go into this de- 
 bate. The whole country knows 
 me and has me measured. Lin- 
 coln, as regards myself, is com- 
 paratively unknown, and if he 
 gets the best of this debate, — 
 and I wa*it to say he is the ablest 
 man the Republicans have got, 
 — I shall lose everything and 
 Lincoln will gain everything. 
 Should I win, I shall gain but 
 little. I do not want to go into 
 debate with Abe." 
 
 Both Lincoln and Douglas had 
 speaking engagements in Monti- 
 cello, the Piatt County Seat, on 
 July 29, 1858. Emma Piatt, in 
 her history of Piatt County 
 (1883) says a magnificent dis- 
 play was made by the throngs 
 of people, consisting of delega- 
 tions from Champaign and De- 
 witt Counties, as well as Piatt, 
 which met Lincoln as he came 
 from Bement. Monticello had 
 no railroad at that time and tra- 
 velers to the county seat got off 
 the Chicago, Great Western at Be- 
 ment, and journeyed to Monti- 
 cello by horseback or stage. 
 
 Douglas who was to speak in 
 Monticello that afternoon, July 
 29, was staying at the home of 
 his intimate friend, F. E. Bryant, 
 in Bement. Bryant had become 
 acquainted with Senator Douglas 
 several years prior to moving to 
 
 Carleton Smith with Senator Alexan- 
 der Wiley, as they visit at the Bryant 
 Cottage in Bement. They are shown 
 inspecting the chair that Abraham 
 Lincoln sat in on the evening of Julv 
 29, 1858. 
 
 Bement when Bryant represent- 
 ed Schuyler County in the state 
 legislature in 1852. The ac- 
 quaintance ripened into a firm 
 friendship. And so, in July 1858, 
 when it was known that Douglas 
 was to speak in Monticello, Mr. 
 and Mrs. Bryant invited Sen. 
 Douglas and his wife to be their 
 guests. They came the day be- 
 fore and on July 29, with the 
 host and hostess, drove to Mon- 
 ticello in a carriage for the 
 speaking. Upon returning, when 
 a mile out of Monticello, they 
 met Abraham Lincoln riding in 
 
THE PIATT COUNTY BAR HONORS ITSELF IN THUS 
 
 HONORING THOSE WHO HAVE FORMERLY 
 
 PRACTICED LAW BEFORE THIS BAR 
 
 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 THOMAS MILLIGAN 
 
 HAMILTON C. McCOMAS 
 
 CHARLES WATTS 
 
 ALEXANDER G. BOYER 
 
 ALONZOT. PIPHER 
 
 ALBERT EMERSON 
 
 J. F. LINCOLN 
 
 FRANK PITTMAN 
 
 WILLIAM E. LODGE 
 
 DAVID McWILLIAMS 
 
 ERNEST A. BARRINGER 
 
 MARION R. DAVIDSON 
 
 WILLIAM G. CLOYD. 
 
 HARVEY HUSTON 
 
 CHARLES HUGHES 
 
 CHARLES F. MANSFIELD 
 
 ALBERT C. EDIE 
 
 F. M. SHONKWILER 
 
 JAMES L. HICKS 
 
 PETER A. HAMILTON 
 
 SAMUEL R. REED 
 
 CARL S. REED 
 
 CHARLES W. FIRKE 
 
 THOMAS J. KASTEL 
 
 ELIM J. HAWBAKER 
 
 (Left to right: Delmor Durbin. 
 Clark Plummer, Robert Kimery 
 
 CONGRATULATIONS NEIGHBORS, FRIENDS and CUSTOMERS 
 
 PLUMMERS SINCLAIR SERVICE 
 
 CLARK PLUMMER — BEMENT, ILLINOIS — DELMAR DURBIN 
 
a prairie schooner. The meeting 
 was purely accidental. Tradition 
 has it that the prairie schooner 
 had broken a doubletree while 
 crossing over a ditch and they 
 were waiting for repairs. A con- 
 crete pyramid marks the spot of 
 the meeting and the ditch can 
 still be located nearby. 
 
 Sen. Douglas remarked that he 
 wanted to speak to Lincoln, the 
 carriage was stopped, and Lin- 
 coln came to its side and talked 
 to Douglas. There on the high- 
 way, arrangements were made to 
 meet in Bement that night, and 
 at Mr. Bryant's invitation his 
 home was selected as the meet- 
 ing place. Mr. Lincoln went on 
 to Monticello to speak, and late 
 that evening returned to Bement. 
 There, in a tiny parlor of the 
 Bryant cottage, a two hour con- 
 ference was held with Mr. Bry- 
 ant as the third party. Plans 
 for the debates were completed 
 and Lincoln caught the midnight 
 train from Bement to Spring- 
 field. 
 
 Debates were held at: Ottawa, 
 Freeport, Jonesboro, Charleston, 
 Galesburg, Quincy and Alton. 
 
 Mr. Bryant was confident that 
 one of the two men would be 
 the next president, and he 
 marked the chairs in which each 
 sat. When news of the assassin- 
 ation of Lincoln came, he pinned 
 crepe and a small flag to the 
 Lincoln chair. 
 
 It has been said that the 
 agreement to debate made by 
 Lincoln and Douglas in their two 
 hour conference at the Bryant 
 Cottage in Bement, probably 
 changed the whole course of 
 American History, for while 
 Douglas won the race for the 
 Senate, the ultimate result of the 
 debates was the splitting of the 
 Democratic Party and the elec- 
 tion of Lincoln to the presidency 
 two years later. 
 
 It is a long way from the hum- 
 ble Bryant Cottage to the White 
 House, but it serves as the set- 
 ting for one of the great scenes 
 in Abraham Lincoln's "Prologue 
 to Glory." 
 
 J. F. Sprague, grandson of F. 
 E. Bryant, preserved the cottage 
 as a, Lincoln-Douglas Shrine, re- 
 storing the parlor to its original 
 appearance and using the same 
 furniture that was in the room 
 when Lincoln and Douglas held 
 their history-making conference. 
 On July 29, 1925, Mr. Sprague, 
 then Mayor of Bement, formally 
 
 dedicated and presented to the 
 community the house in which 
 his gfandparents lived. In 1947, 
 Mrs. Sprague, his widow, and 
 son Bryant, conveyed the prop- 
 erty to the State of Illinois as 
 a permanent shrine. 
 
 BANK OF BEMENT 
 
 Milmine and Bodman were the 
 first bankers of Bement. Freeze 
 and Co. followed this firm and 
 were succeeded by Fisher & Gre- 
 gory; F. E. Bryant; then Byrant 
 and Bodman, and then back to 
 F. E. Bryant. Finally, Jan. 2 1888 
 the Farmers and Merchants 
 Bank took charge of the banking 
 business of Bement under the 
 name of Bower Bros, and Camp. 
 About ten years later this firm 
 was succeeded by the First Na- 
 tional Bank with W. M. Camp as 
 president. About this same time 
 the H. L. Timmons Co. Bank was 
 started in the building now oc- 
 cupied by Dr. William Scott. H. 
 L. Timmons Co. was succeeded 
 by the State Bank of Bement in 
 1914, with H. E. Shaw as presi- 
 dent. In 1929 the State Bank ab- 
 sorbed the First National Bank 
 and moved to the present loca- 
 tion in 1930. 
 
 The State Bank has grown 
 progressively since that time, and 
 the last two years they have at- 
 tracted considerable interest by 
 instituting a Farm Service De- 
 partment (not usually offered in 
 a community of this size) with a 
 full time Farm Representative, 
 Mr. L. A. Hodam. Mr. Hodam 
 had been the Agriculture teacher 
 at Bement High School for 24 
 years prior to joining the bank. 
 Mr. Lew Wilkinson is the Presi- 
 dent of the State Bank; Mr. Geo. 
 Wilkinson, Vice President; John 
 Hardimon, Cashier; and James 
 Raglan, Assistant Cashier. 
 
 BEMENT CEMETERY 
 
 The first cemetery site was at 
 the northeast edge of town. How- 
 ever, because of the objections 
 raised, this site was never used. 
 
 The beautiful grounds located 
 one and one-half miles north of 
 town were purchased by a com- 
 mittee consisting of A. G. Greg- 
 ory, J. M. Camp, and Dr. J. H. 
 Leal, appointed by authority of 
 the town meeting of April 3, 
 1866. They purchased the land 
 from T. B. Hale for the sum of 
 $700. During that year it was 
 platted into burial lots, alleys and 
 drives. In 1938 it became neces- 
 sary to enlarge the cemetery and 
 eight and three-fourths acres 
 were purchased from A. T. and 
 Nellie McPherson. Mr. Elmer 
 Spear, Mr. Byron Dyarman, and 
 Mr. Stanley Hammond were 
 members of the Board of Trus- 
 tees of the Cemetery at that time. 
 Mr. Stanley Hammond's father 
 (Mr. W. W. Hammond a nursery- 
 man in Bement) had been a mem- 
 ber of the board a number of 
 years before. After much thought 
 and care this new addition was 
 beautifully landscaped. 
 
 "I think that I shall never see 
 a poem as lovely as a tree ..." 
 
 "A tree that looks to God all 
 day ..." Those must have been 
 the thoughts of those men as 
 they planted all the trees which 
 today furnish a living monument 
 to those who have gone on before 
 us. 
 
 The Board of Trustees for the 
 Cemetery at this time are: 
 
 Francis R-yan, Ralph Wright, 
 and Elmer Spear. Mrs. Stanley 
 Hammond is the Secretary and 
 Treasurer. 
 
 Reading from left to right: E. Bruce Sprague, Ray Siders, H. E. Shaw, and 
 Edward Sprague. 
 
CONGRATULATIONS 
 
 BEMENT 
 
 ON YOUR 100 YEARS OF PROGRESS 
 
 MEADOW GOLD PRODUCTS 
 
 Milk - Ice Cream - Butter 
 
 BEATRICE FOODS COMPANY 
 Champaign, Illinois 
 
 Williamson Warm Air Furnaces 
 
 OIL — GAS — COAL 
 
 AIR CONDITIONING 
 
 Engineering Service — We Do It Right 
 
 HOME AND 
 COMMERCIAL 
 
 KOHLER PLUMBING FIXTURES 
 
 U. S. BOILERS 
 
 WARREN - WEBSTER BASEBOARD HEATING 
 
 GASKILL PLUMBING & HEATING 
 
 PHONE — MONTICELLO 2167 — 24 HOUR SERVICE 
 
UTILITIES 
 
 LIGHTS 
 
 Bement can boast of being the 
 first town in Piatt County to 
 have a system of electric light- 
 ing. In 1890, A. S. Burr, promi- 
 nent Bement landowner and civic 
 leader, who already had the new- 
 fangled system of lighting at his 
 farm home south of town, or- 
 ganized the Bement Electric 
 Light and Power Company to pro- 
 vide service for the community. 
 
 Articles of Corporation were 
 issued on January 30, 1891 with 
 the following men as stockhold- 
 ers: A. S. Burr, H. Haldeman, H. 
 S. Bower, J. Benson, W. J. Day, 
 W. T. Bower, and Wm. M. Camp. 
 The Royal Electric Company 
 placed the plant in operation 
 March 24, 1891 with W. J. Day 
 as the first manager. 
 
 This first plant with power 
 enough to light 300 lights was 
 installed at the Haldeman Mill 
 where they could use the steam 
 boilers during the evenings when 
 they weren't being used by the 
 mill. In the early days of the 
 company the plant was operated 
 only from dark until about 10:30 
 in the evening. It was many years 
 before electric service was placed 
 on the 24 hour schedule that we 
 have today. (Shortly after World 
 War I.) 
 
 In 1896 they built their own 
 power house on West Wilson 
 Avenue, just north of the hotel 
 (The Bement House). This plant 
 was large enough to supply elec- 
 tricity for 800 lights. 
 
 Electric street lights were in- 
 stalled in Bement in the early 
 1900's and operated on a "Moon- 
 light Schedule," if the moon was 
 supposed to shine, no street 
 lights were turned on. Later, a 
 clause was inserted in the street 
 light ordinance providing that 
 "sufficient current be furnished 
 to operate such street lights dur- 
 ing such hours on dark and 
 cloudy nights as the moon may 
 be obscured by clouds even 
 though such hours are hours 
 during which the lights are not 
 due to burn according to the 
 'Standard Moonlight All Night 
 Schedule.' " 
 
 ! When the Illinois Traction 
 Company built their transmission 
 line through town, power was 
 purchased from them. The 6600 
 volt transmission line was built 
 
 Old Power Plant on West Wilson Street 
 
 to Ivesdale and in 1925 the com- 
 pany served approximately 487 
 customers. The At wood Electric 
 Light and Power Company also 
 purchased power at Bement with 
 a line built from Bement to Ham- 
 mond and Garrett. From this line 
 a total of 350 customers was 
 served. 
 
 In 1925 the Bement and At- 
 wood Companies were purchased 
 by Central Public Service Com- 
 pany. This company later became 
 a part of the Central Illinois Elec- 
 tric and Gas Co., an Illinois Cor- 
 poration. It is a business-man- 
 aged utility with its home office 
 in Rockford. 
 
 The Bement District is an im- 
 
 portant part of the Lincoln Di- 
 vision of Central Illinois Electric 
 and Gas Company serving a total 
 of 1705 customers in this district 
 as of this date. Approximately 
 250 of these are rural customers, 
 the balance being residential, 
 commercial and power. Towns 
 served in the Bement District in- 
 clude Bement, Ivesdale, Ham- 
 mond, Atwood, Pierson Station, 
 Garrett, and the surrounding 
 rural areas. 
 
 The present Bement District 
 employees are R. N. Holloway, 
 manager; Ray Robbins and 
 Frank Yeates, electric service- 
 men; and Miss Helen Phimmer, 
 office clerk. 
 
^Te4... 7nt /t*t OU PioKcen, 7«*/ 
 
 Maybe I wasn't around when Bement was found- 
 ed a century ago but believe me, since I got here 
 in 1891, I have been in there pitching and have 
 watched with pride as the village grew to a town 
 and the town grew to the beautiful little city of 
 today. 
 
 Now, at the start of your second century, 
 my company, the CENTRAL ILLINOIS ELEC- 
 TRIC AND GAS CO., has great faith in the 
 continued expansion and growth of your 
 progressive community. As evidence of this 
 confidence, they have spent some one hun- 
 dred thousand of dollars in recent months to 
 provide additional capacity for your ever in- 
 creasing needs. 
 
 Every day, new uses for my services are 
 being found which, added to the multitude 
 of things I now do to make your homes Hap- 
 pier, Healthier and Safer, make it necessary 
 for me to grow as you grow. My company 
 accepts this challenge and pledges itself not 
 only to meet . . . but to keep ahead of this 
 demand. 
 
 The past century has brought many changes — no one knows what 
 the future holds but our policy will always be to Plan-Work and Build 
 with your Community. 
 
 We are proud to have a part in your 
 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 
 
 Vv&cLdU-v 
 
 Your EVER-READY Servant 
 
WATER 
 
 The Village Board of Trustees 
 passed an ordinance for the con- 
 struction of a waterworks in Be- 
 ment during the year of 1894. 
 This called for a Bond Issue of 
 $7000. Later $1000. of this Bond 
 Issue was recalled, leaving $6000. 
 for the construction of the sys- 
 
 tem. The old brick water tower 
 and pump house were built in 
 1895 and about 20 blocks of wa- 
 ter mains were laid. This water 
 plant was installed by the Fair- 
 banks-Morse people. The capacity 
 of the stand pipe was 60,000 gal- 
 lons while the reservoir contained 
 40,000 gallons more. 
 
 James Fairbanks helped lay 
 the bricks for the old water 
 tower and pump house and 
 some .years later helped tear 
 it down. He was also the 
 contractor for most of Bement's 
 concrete sidewalks as well as 
 many other masonry buildings 
 around town. Mr. Fairbanks, who 
 was born in London, England, 
 April 25th, 1871, came to Amer- 
 ica when he was 5 weeks old. His 
 family moved to Bement in 1883, 
 and he has lived here ever since. 
 
 Mr. C. M. Smith, an employee 
 of the Fairbanks-Morse Company 
 during the construction, married 
 a Bement girl and remained ill 
 Bement as the first engineer for 
 the Village Water Works. The or- 
 iginal plant was run with steam 
 power. Later they converted to 
 electricity and during the years, 
 two major additions were made 
 to the water mains. The well now 
 in use was dug in 1937. The Vil- 
 lage Board has recently made ar- 
 rangements for the purchase of 
 the Wabash well which will pro- 
 vide Bement with a more depend- 
 able water supply. 
 
 TELEPHONE 
 
 During the early history of Be- 
 ment there was only one tele- 
 phone in town which was in- 
 stalled in Bodman's Drug Store. 
 The phone was connected with 
 Decatur. 
 
 The first telephone line through 
 Piatt County was a toll line of 
 the Central Union Telephone Co. 
 with phones at Cerro Gordo, Mil- 
 mine, Bement, Monticello, and 
 White Heath. This toll line was 
 finished about 1880. In 1899, the 
 Piatt County Telephone Co. was 
 organized by Wm. Lodge of Mon- 
 ticello. This company later had 
 exchanges at Monticello, Bement, 
 and Deland with connections to 
 the Central Union and American 
 Telephone and Telegraph Com- 
 panies. 
 
 In 1928 the Bement Telephone 
 Exchange was purchased by the 
 Illinois Commercial Telephone 
 
 William Drennan, manager of the lo- 
 cal exchange explains some of the 
 new dial equipment to Keith Bell, Vil- 
 lage Board member. Shown at the 
 right are the batteries which furnish 
 the power for the phones when the 
 lights are off. 
 
 Acting Mayor of Bement, Ralph Mintun places the first call on the new dial 
 phones placed in operation in Bement about 3 p.m. on the afternoon of June 
 14th, 1955. Standing behind him from left to right are Village Board members — 
 Harry Hixon, Carl Thompson (Village Clerk), and Keith Bell. Next is R. N. 
 Kolloway, Vice Chairman of the Bement Centennial Corp. and William Drennan, 
 exchange manager. 
 
 Bement phone operators during their last afternoon at the old switch-board. 
 Reading from left to right: Mrs. Ruby Thornton, Mrs. Dorothy Meece, Mrs. Betty 
 Gallagher, and Mrs. Elma Spearman (Chief operator since 1950.) Other opera- 
 tors not shown in the picture are: Mrs. Loretta McGee, Mrs. Margery Dial, and 
 Mrs. Peggy Smith. 
 
CONGRATULATIONS 
 VILLAGE OF BEMENT 
 ON YOUR CENTENNIAL 
 
 J. F. Nells, Supt. 
 J. J. Clodfelter 
 Roy B. Veech 
 Fred Alexander 
 C. B. Deering 
 R. J. Shonkwiler 
 Geo. O. Halterman 
 Keith Wildman 
 Warren Perkins 
 Sam Halterman 
 Edward Brown 
 R. E. Noblitt 
 Marion Pierce 
 William Dawson 
 Raymond Dick 
 Fred C. Klump 
 J. L. Hord 
 Charles Gallager 
 
 Joe C. Defore 
 
 Bryant P. Sprague 
 
 J. G. Hannah 
 
 N. P. Kelly 
 
 Herbert Schuh 
 
 George Lash 
 
 Jos. R. Pierce 
 
 Harvey Shirley 
 
 L. D. Pitts 
 
 J. W. McLaughlin D. of E. 
 
 E. E. Schaal * 
 
 R. C. Miles 
 
 T. H. Ritter 
 
 L. A. Eaton 
 
 C. W. Gardner 
 
 Donovan Wildman 
 
 E. G. Shepherd 
 
 Clyde Halterman 
 
 John Strohl 
 Carl W. McCullough 
 Linzy Corum 
 W. J. Bialeski 
 Simeon Royal 
 W. C. Welch 
 H. A. Malohn 
 Robert Gallager 
 Leslie Durbin 
 Henry E. High 
 Harley Trent 
 J. B. Arnold 
 James Root 
 Roy Slagle 
 Robert C. Miller 
 P. M. Scott 
 Henry Bohn 
 Ralph Van Vleet 
 
 WABASH EMPLOYEES 
 
Co., now known as the General 
 Telephone Co. of Illinois. 
 
 Conversion to the dial system 
 was started last October (1954). 
 Since then 625 dial telephones 
 serving 570 subscribers have 
 been installed and a new build- 
 ing erected on West William 
 Street to house the automatic 
 exchange. The first phone call 
 on the new dial phones was made 
 by Ralph Mintun, acting Mayo" 
 of Bement about 3 p.m. on June 
 14, 1955. 
 
 BEMENT FIRE 
 PROTECTION DISTRICT 
 
 Bement Fire Protection Dis- 
 trict is a public corporation or- 
 ganized and operating under the 
 Laws of Illinois. The District was 
 organized and created as a corp- 
 oration by order of the County 
 Judge of Piatt County on March 
 23, 1946, the first Fire Protection 
 District organized in Piatt Coun- 
 ty. The District comprises ap- 
 proximately 82 sections of land 
 with Bement almost in the cen- 
 ter and Milmine in the western 
 edge. Practically all the boundary 
 lines run along the quarter sec- 
 tion lines instead of along the 
 section line roads to keep from 
 having farm houses on one side 
 of the road within the District 
 and farm houses just across the 
 road outside the District. 
 
 The District is governed by 
 three Trustees who are appointed 
 by the Judge of the County Court 
 for terms of three years each, 
 and the terms are staggered, one 
 Trustee being appointed each 
 year. Only one of the Trustees 
 may be appointed from the Vil- 
 lage of Bement. The Trustees 
 are under bond, as is the Treas- 
 urer. The District has had only 
 four Trustees. The first board 
 consisted of John J. Glennon, 
 Clarence Lefever and William J. 
 Henebry. Henebry moved from 
 the District and on September 7, 
 1948, his resignation was ac- 
 cepted and Roy E. Allen was ap- 
 pointed to fill the vacancy. Glen- 
 non, Lefever and Allen have been 
 reappointed from time to time 
 and are the present Trustees. H. 
 E. Slusser has been the Treasurer 
 since the organization of the Dis- 
 trict and Bryan Wilson has serv- 
 ed as Counsel from the begin- 
 ning. Anna Mary Wrench is now 
 assistant secretary. Joe Ritten- 
 house has been Fire Chief since 
 the organization. The present 
 
 FIRE TRUCKS OF BEMENT FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT 
 
 Assistant Fire Chief is Allen C. 
 Mardis. Either the Chief or the 
 Assistant Chief is on duty at all 
 times. Other Assistant Chiefs 
 were J. E. Crim, J. L. Ater and 
 Demar L. Bentley. 
 
 Shortly after the organization 
 of the District, the fire fighting 
 equipment owned by the Village 
 of Bement was sold to the Dis- 
 trict for $1.00. A bond issue was 
 voted and $20,000.00 in bonds 
 sold to State Bank of Bement. 
 With the proceeds the District 
 bought a building and remodeled 
 it for a fire house and bought 
 up to date modern fire fighting 
 equipment. Additional equipment 
 has been bought from time to 
 time and at present the District 
 has two modern pumpers which 
 are kept at the fire house in 
 Bement, and two auxiliary units 
 which are kept at Milmine, at 
 which place the District built two 
 reservoirs. In June, 1955, the Dis- 
 trict bought from the Wabash 
 Railroad Company the 100,000 
 gallon steel tank which the rail- 
 road had used to water locomo- 
 tives before it changed to Diesels. 
 With the tank belonging to the 
 District, the supply of water to 
 fight fire is now ample. 
 
 In addition to the Trustees, the 
 Chief and Assistant Chief, the 
 District is operated by voluntary 
 firemen, the present list including 
 — at Bement: Hamman Adams, 
 Keith Bell, Lee Barnhart, Robert 
 Brittenham, Lynn Crook, James 
 E. Crim, Kenneth Fisher, Ed- 
 ward Fritz, Ernest McCullough, 
 Ralph Mintun, Lester R. Proctor, 
 Clark Plummer, Ray Robbins, Bill 
 Slagle, Clifford Wilcox and Frank 
 Yeates ; and at Milmine : Clarence 
 Lefever, Gaylord Hendrix, Scott 
 Sutphen, Joseph Blickman, Har- 
 
 rison Depew, Milton Lammle, 
 Ronald Taylor, William Horath, 
 William Durbin, and Rev. Orley 
 Gray. 
 
 The District is rated as Class 
 A by the Illinois Inspection Bur- 
 eau, which entitles it to receive 
 the tax on fire insurance com- 
 panies which are not organized 
 under the Laws of the State of 
 Illinois. This tax amounts to two 
 (2%) per cent, of the gross re- 
 ceipts received from fire insur- 
 ance upon property situated with- 
 in the District. The rating also 
 caused the lowering of rates on 
 fire insurance. 
 
 WABASH RAILROAD 
 
 It was not long after the build- 
 ing of railroads through the 
 country that all stage coach 
 routes were done away with. 
 
 What is now the main division 
 of the Wabash railroad was con- 
 structed through this county, 
 across Bement and Cerro Gordo 
 Townships in the years of 1855- 
 56. At that time, it was known 
 as the Great Western Railroad. 
 Both ends of the road were be- 
 ing worked at one time and the 
 connection was made near Cerro 
 Gordo. 
 
 In the fall of 1854 the San- 
 gamon River was bridged, and 
 by November, 1855 the grading 
 and bridging between Tolono and 
 Danville was completed. How- 
 ever, the first train did not ar- 
 rive at Danville, Illinois, until 
 November, 1856. 
 
 The Chicago division of the 
 Wabash was chartered as the 
 Bloomington and Ohio River 
 Road in 1867. It was afterwards 
 consolidated with the Streator 
 and Fairbury Company and 
 
POUNDSTONE 
 CONSTRUCTION CO. 
 
 EARL POUNDSTONE 
 BEMENT, ILL R.F.D. 1 PHONE 2149 
 
 FARM BUILDING A SPECIALTY 
 
 Compliments of 
 
 RALPH DUNAWAY 
 
 PAINTING and DECORATING 
 
 PHONE 4811 
 BEMENT, ILLINOIS 
 
 Compliments of 
 
 ATOMIC CLEANERS 
 
 BEMENT, ILLINOIS 
 — PHONE 3441 — 
 
 P. J. AND MILDRED FERGUSON 
 
 Compliments of 
 
 THE FRANCIS 
 FLORAL SHOP 
 
 265 N. ORCHARD ST. 
 PHONE 2981 
 
 MRS. F. E. LINCICUM 
 
 BEMENT GAS CO. 
 
 Phone 4881 
 BEMENT ILLINOIS 
 
 for 
 
 Bulk Propane"- Philgas Hook-ups 
 
 Heating - Air Conditioning 
 
 Refrigeration 
 
 AAenno D. Plank, Mgr. 
 
 CONGRATULATIONS BEMENT ON YOUR 
 CENTENNIAL . . . 
 
 HAMPTONS 
 BARBER SHOP 
 
 In Bement Since 1937 
 "BUTCH" HAMPTON, Owner 
 
 COMPLIMENTS OF 
 
 Dr. & Mrs. Wm. M. Scott 
 
 BEMENT, ILLINOIS 
 
 COMPLIMENTS 
 OF 
 
 BRYAN WILSON 
 
 BEMENT, ILLINOIS 
 
named the Chicago and Paducah. 
 This railroad was completed and 
 placed in operation in 1873. In 
 1880, it became a part of the 
 Wabash system. 
 
 During its entire period of ex- 
 pansion east of the Mississippi 
 River, the Wabash system served 
 as the principal artery tapping 
 the great "Heart of America". 
 In 1879, the Wabash Railroad 
 Company operating east of the 
 Mississippi, and the St. Louis, 
 Kansas City and Northern Rail- 
 road operating west of the Mis- 
 sissippi, were merged into the 
 Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific 
 Railroad Company. In 1889, both 
 the lines east and west of the 
 Mississippi were again reorgan- 
 ized, this time as the Wabash 
 Railroad Company. 
 
 Old Coal Chute 
 
 A new "elegant" depot was 
 built in Bement around 1880 on 
 the site of the present depot. To 
 the east of it was a baggage 
 room, and across the tracks 
 southeast was a larger freight 
 house. Passenger trains and 
 freight trains from North, South, 
 East, and West all stopped in 
 Bement. In 1905, according to 
 a special edition of the Bement 
 Register on Feb. 23 of that year : 
 
 "Bement was the division point 
 for several train crews and a 
 number of extra trains were 
 made up here. The coal chutes 
 were the largest on the entire 
 Wabash system and there were 
 66 trains in and out of town 
 every 24 hours that carried pass- 
 engers and an average of about 
 60 freight trains within the 
 same length of time." 
 
 On January 1, 1931, about 3 
 A. M., the depot was burned to 
 the ground after being plowed 
 into by the baggage car of train 
 
 No. 13 from Chicago to St. Louis 
 which came dis-connected from 
 the rest of the train and left the 
 rails about 700 feet north of the 
 depot. The engineer of the train 
 died from injuries two days 
 later. 
 
 During the war years it was 
 not possible to secure either ma- 
 terials or labor for making out- 
 standing additions or improve- 
 ments to their property.. Post- 
 war, however, the Wabash has 
 invested more than one hundred 
 million dollars in new facilities 
 of all kinds in order to serve 
 even more efficiently the ship- 
 ping and traveling public. In ad- 
 dition to modernizing its freight 
 yards, communication facilities, 
 and signaling devices, the Wa- 
 bash has also greatly improved 
 its passenger train equipment. 
 Now 100% dieselized for both 
 passenger and freight service, 
 and upholding its promise of 
 even better service to the "Heart 
 of America", the Wabash again 
 stands on the threshold of a 
 bright, successful future. 
 
 "Green's Train" entering Bement. The Junction Eating House is shown at the 
 right. This lunch room stayed open all night and served lunch and warm meals 
 at all hours. 
 
CENTENNIAL GREETINGS 
 
 EDWARDS 
 FUNERAL HOME 
 
 BEMENT .... ILLINOIS 
 
 • Air Conditioned 
 
 • Ambulance Service 
 
 Day and Night 
 
 PHONE 4441 
 
 Best Wishes to Bement 
 
 On Its 100th Birthday 
 
 HILLS CAFE 
 
 BEMENT, ILLINOIS 
 Serving the Community for 30 Years 
 
 VANHORN HYBRIDS 
 
 in the interest 
 of Better Farming 
 
 • SEED CORN 
 
 • FIELD SEEDS 
 
 • FERTILIZERS 
 
 • CHEMICALS 
 •HAHN SPRAYERS 
 
 Local Representative 
 
 KENNETH B. HINTON 
 MONTICELLO, ILLINOIS 
 
 PHONE WESDALE 43817 
 
 To all our many friends in the Bement 
 community we send our Best Wishes 
 for another 100 years as prosperous 
 as the last. 
 
 PIATT COUNTY 
 SERVICE CO. 
 
 MONTICELLO, ILLINOIS 
 
 Bement Salesmen 
 
 ARTHUR McCRARY - PHONE 3751 
 A. W. RUCH - MONTICELLO 2134 
 
THE ILLINOIS TERMINAL 
 RAILROAD 
 
 An electrical interurban rail- 
 road was built through Bement 
 in 1907. The "ol' Traction" 
 gave the community a direct 
 passage to nearby cities and 
 opened the way to a more com- 
 plete pattern of living. 
 
 Enthusiasm for this type of 
 travel swept the mid-west, par- 
 ticularly Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, 
 and Michigan, in the horse and 
 buggy days at the turn of the 
 century. Lines sprouted in al- 
 most every part of these states. 
 It was the belief of many that a 
 town simply had to have electric 
 railroad service if it were to con- 
 
 tinue to progress. Each town 
 was determined to have interur- 
 ban service and made every ef- 
 fort to obtain this service. 
 
 The beginning of the Illinois 
 Terminal was made in 1903 with 
 a line between Danville and 
 Champaign. William B. McKin- 
 ley was the organizer of the 
 road. His inspiration for the 
 service stemmed from a humble 
 little electric line he operated to 
 connect Champaign and Urhana. 
 In 1907 the Illinois Terminal was 
 built through Bement. The in- 
 terurban provided frequent serv- 
 ice, a convenient depot, and a 
 cheap fare. The Bement Regis- 
 ter of 1909 lists the Illinois Ter- 
 minal Time Schedule and shows 
 15 trains West Bound and 15 
 trains East Bound — daily. 
 
 The interurban served Bement 
 as a priceless institution until 
 the days of the modern automo- 
 biles and highways. Once the 
 family car became really prac- 
 tical, however, the electric car 
 lost its magic. Students of busi- 
 ness point out that there has 
 
 never been anything on the 
 American scene to compare with 
 the sudden decline of the elec- 
 tric interurban. In the years just 
 prior to World War II, for in- 
 stance, the interurban jolted 
 through Bement many times 
 with the motorman and conduc- 
 tor as its only passengers. The 
 coming of the war, though, 
 brought an abrupt change in 
 Traction traffic. People who had 
 not ridden a car for years found 
 it an aid to their travel desires 
 when gasoline allotments ran 
 low. With hostilities continuing, 
 the Traction almost became 
 crowded. For the younger gen- 
 eration, it demonstrated the 
 worth the line had once held for 
 the community. 
 
 Following the close of the war, 
 things gradually became normal 
 again, and the traffic on the in- 
 terurban decreased until it be- 
 came unprofitable to run the 
 trains any longer. Gradually the 
 number of trains was cut until 
 finally on June 11, 1955, the last 
 train was removed on the route 
 
 Last Train Through Bement, June 11, 
 1955. 
 
 through Bement. Several Be- 
 ment Sisters of the Swish (some 
 accompanied by their children or 
 guests) took a short last ride on 
 the interurban as it made its 
 final run on Saturday — June 11, 
 1955. For some of the children 
 it was really their first ride as 
 well as their last on the inter- 
 urban. The group, .around thirty 
 in number, got off at Cerro Gor- 
 do where despite the steady rain, 
 they were met by a group of the 
 Cerro Gordo Sisters of the 
 Swish. 
 
 Although Bement could boast 
 of a number of business houses 
 in 1913, few of the merchants 
 used the local paper for exten- 
 sive advertising. And this was 
 certainly not due to any laxity on 
 the part of the editor, Mr. J. T. 
 Curtis. On the front page of his 
 paper appear the words: "Pub- 
 lished for cash, not for glory." 
 
 Many changes in the business 
 picture of Bement were seen in 
 
 1916. More grocery stores, ga- 
 rages, and auto repair establish- 
 ments made their appearance. In 
 
 1917, there was increased empha- 
 sis upon automobiles. Local mer- 
 chants served as agents for the 
 Reo, Buick, Ford, and Willys- 
 Overland. 
 
 Advertisement in Bement Reg- 
 ister, February 17, 1898 — "There 
 are three little things which do 
 more work than any three other 
 little things created — they are 
 the ant, the bee, and DeWitt's 
 Little Early Risers, the last being 
 the famous little pills for stom- 
 ach and liver trouble. — S. K. Bod- 
 man." 
 
1 . L. E. Hawver 
 
 2. Wayne Foran 
 
 3. Frank Lubbers 
 
 4. Bud Lubbers 
 
 5. Wm. A. Alexander 
 
 6. D. O. Holman 
 
 7. Thad Ruby 
 
 8. Bob Lieb 
 
 9. Stan Foley 
 10. W. E. Byron 
 
 1 1 . Paul Hannon 
 
 12. Lloyd Wigg/ins 
 
 13. Albert Weakley 
 
 See these Dealers for . . . 
 High Protein, Special Blend . . . Highest Yield- 
 ing, Better Standing, Better Picking, Better 
 Graded . . . 
 
 LOWE 
 HYBRID CORN 
 
 
 
 /• 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 9 f 
 
 
 •V 
 
 P 1 h 
 
 h >. 
 ■f 
 
 'A3 •? 
 
 / r 
 
 it 
 
 
 •7 
 
 
 •n 
 
 CONGATULATIONS 
 
 TO 
 
 BEMENT 
 
 FOR 
 
 100 YEARS OF 
 
 SUCCESS 
 
 
 COTTER IMPLEMENT CO. 
 
 HAMMOND, ILLINOIS 
 
 Compliments of 
 
 BEMENT BEAUTY SHOPS 
 
 • MELBA CURRY 
 
 • MARGUERITE ALLEN 
 
 • MARY HILLIS TOTTEN 
 
 • JACKIE'S BEAUTY SALON 
 
 CENTENNIAL CONGRATULATIONS 
 OF . . . 
 
 Bement Unit School 
 
 PARENT - TEACHER 
 ASSOCIATION 
 
 DISTRICT 10 OF ILLINOIS CONGRESS 
 
 Compliments of 
 
 DR. J. G. BAUER 
 
 BEMENT, ILLINOIS 
 
 Compliments of 
 
 DR. & MRS. JOHN C.ELDER 
 
 BEMENT, ILLINOIS 
 
Bement was nothing but a grassy prairie when the first settlers ar- 
 rived and there were no trees at all, which led Mr. George L. Spear to write 
 the following: "The parent or teacher coidd not procure a switch for the 
 correction of children and youth in the territory of the town. This accounts 
 for the waywardness of the youth of these days. The rod had to be spared, 
 and to 'spare the rod is to spoil the child,' if Solomon be any authority . . . 
 Wonder if he. was raised on the prairie?" 
 
 EDUCATION keeps our society moving toward progress. The old 
 frontier of free land is gone, but education develops new frontiers of 
 opportunity! It gives man the chance to improve his way of life and 
 the way of life of others: Education is more than learning — like 
 Democracy, it is a way of life. True, democracy is a political system, 
 but it is also a way of life and the door to democracy is unlocked by 
 Education. It means giving each one an equal chance. Every child, 
 the rich and the poor, the negro and the foreign born, the child in 
 the mountains and the child from the "wrong side of the tracks," — 
 they all have equal opportunities for education under our system of 
 free public education in this country. Thus, the schools teach democ- 
 racy and help directly to create a democratic society. The schools have 
 always played an important role in the history of any town or com- 
 munity and so we think it proper that they should be assigned an 
 important place in "The Bement Story." 
 
 Bement School — 1866 
 
 The first school election of of- 
 ficers in School District No. 2, 
 (and that was the village dis- 
 trict at that time) was held Nov. 
 10, 1856. Joseph Bodman, Aaron 
 Yost, and Henry C. Booth were 
 elected as the first directors. 
 They employed Henry C. Booth 
 to teach the first term of three 
 months at the salary of $40 per 
 month. The second three-month 
 term was taught by Mr. Booth's 
 sister, Catherine T. Booth, who 
 was married in December of that 
 year to Stephen B. Hawks. Mrs. 
 Hawks was long remembered in 
 Bement and was affectionately 
 spoken of as "Aunt Kate Hawks." 
 
 On Nov. 2, 1857, Aaron Yost, 
 Crippen, and Booth were elected 
 directors and they employed S. 
 
 K. Bodman to teach 5Vi> months; 
 price omitted from the records. 
 
 On the following January 23, 
 1858, an election was called to 
 fill the vacancies made by the 
 resignation of Crippen and Booth, 
 resulting in the election of John 
 Parker and S. B. Hawks. How- 
 ever, on April 19, Parker and 
 Hawks resigned as directors and 
 Booth and W. H. Ellis were elect- 
 ed. On April 26, 1858, J. C. Rich- 
 ards was employed as teacher for 
 4 months; no price given in the 
 records. 
 
 In October, 1858, the south- 
 east 14 of Section 12, the east 
 V 2 of Section 13, and the east 
 Y 2 of Section 24 were annexed 
 to the original district. Later 
 that year J. F. Alvord. Joe 
 
 Charles Strohl, smiling, capa- 
 ble toastmaster used Bement's 
 first school bell to call the 550 
 diners to attention at the Bement 
 Centennial Kick-Off Dinner, April 
 11, 1955. 
 
 This bell is a handbell used 
 by the first teacher, Henry C. 
 Booth, in the winter term of 
 1856. It was also used by his 
 sister, Catherine Booth, who 
 taught the second term in Be- 
 ment in the spring of 1857. In 
 December of that year, she mar- 
 ried Stephen B. Hawks. The bell 
 is now the property of their 
 niece, Miss Mary E. Hawks, who 
 used this bell for ten years wnile 
 teaching in the rural schools be- 
 fore she came to town to teach. 
 This bell has a tag on it which 
 reads: "The first school bell rang 
 in Bement in 1856; Henry C. 
 Booth, teacher." 
 
 Sparks, and E. Bodman were 
 elected as directors. 
 
 Rented buildings were used for 
 school purposes up to this time. 
 Looking to the building of a 
 school house sufficient in capac- 
 ity for the better accommodation 
 of the increasing number of scho- 
 lars, measures were adopted. 
 
 The size, shape, and plan of 
 the structure were soon agreed 
 upon, plans and specifications 
 adopted, and bids for building the 
 same were asked for and re- 
 ceived. F. E. Bryant took the 
 contract, and it was built by John 
 M. Camp. 
 
 Previous to the completion of 
 the new building, a room was 
 rented in a private home and C. 
 D. Moore was hired to teach the 
 
Compliments of . . 
 
 CEDAR KNOLL 
 SUPPER CLUB 
 
 Fried Chicken and Steaks 
 
 on 
 
 ROUTE 36 and 121 on LAKE DECATUR 
 
 PHONE 4817 
 
 HANK AND FREDA POTRAFKA 
 
 MID-WEST 
 ORDER BUYERS 
 
 4055 EAST LOGAN 
 
 DECATUR, 
 
 ILLINOIS 
 
 Your Best Hog Market 
 
 PHONE 8-5641 
 
 GENO PRODUCTS COMPANY 
 
 Agricultural Chemicals — Veterinary Drugs 
 
 PHONE 5366 
 
 205 E. LIVINGSTON 
 
 MONTICELLO, ILLINOIS 
 
 CONGRATULATIONS, BEMENT, ON YOUR 100TH BIRTHDAY 
 
 E. E. HUBBARD & SON 
 
 SEE US FOR COMPLETE PLUMBING, HEATING AND 
 
 AIR CONDITIONING INSTALLATION AND SERVICE 
 
 HOTPOINT APPLIANCES 
 
 PHONE 5771 
 
 MONTICELLO, ILLINOIS 
 
winter term at $40 per month. 
 
 The general outline of the 
 building was as follows: 
 
 26 feet wide and 40 feel, 
 long, two stories high — HV2 
 feet each, with brick founda- 
 tion 2 feet high and 18 
 inches thick. The contract 
 price of the school house was 
 $2000 and was to be finished 
 by the first day of May, 
 1859. 
 
 Three sites were examined for 
 the location of the new school 
 house; the properties of Hunt 
 and Carter, Wm. Rea, and John 
 Rickets. Finally a vote was tak- 
 en, for one of two sites, one on 
 the north side of the railroad and 
 one on the south side. The south 
 side location won out — Lots 5 
 and 6, Block E in Rea's Addition 
 to Bement. The block of ground 
 upon which the building stood 
 was donated by L. B. Wing and 
 William Rea, and comprises the 
 ground now occupied by the 
 grade and high school buildings. 
 The new school was completed 
 on June 5, 1859, and the secre- 
 tary was instructed to procure a 
 bell and place it in the belfrey. 
 
 The bell was purchased in To- 
 ledo, Ohio, in 1859 by S. K. Bod- 
 man. This bell had been used 
 previously upon a steamer, "Trie 
 Lady of the Lake" which sailed 
 upon Lake Erie. In 1858, "The 
 Lady of the Lake" left the wharf 
 at Toledo, laden with a gay and 
 festive party of passengers and 
 crew, with hearts buoyant and 
 full of hope as she steamed away 
 upon the bosom of the placid wa- 
 ters of Lake Erie: little did that 
 
 'Aunt Kate Hawks" 
 
 once happy party think that they 
 would be 'struggling with the 
 waves over which they were so 
 proudly and buoyantly sailing; 
 but alas, disastrous and certain 
 doom overtook them, and that 
 bell sounded the alarm and death 
 knell of the passengers and crew 
 that went down to a watery doom 
 on that fated steamer, "The Lady 
 of the Lake." That bell was 
 placed in the belfrey of the Be- 
 ment School, and for many years 
 was used to call the students lo 
 class. 
 
 On June 16, 1859, the directors 
 employed J. B. Lowell (the first 
 teacher in the new school build- 
 ing) to teach at $28 per month. 
 He was instructed to employ an 
 assistant at $17 per month. At 
 this time there was an average 
 of about 50 scholars in attend- 
 ance. 
 
 Bement School — 1892 — 
 
 The 
 
 BEMENT SCHOOL TEACHERS ABOUT 1896-97 
 
 Reading from left to right: Charles Mcintosh, George Thompson, Willard Toby, 
 Kathryn Fisher, Mattie Johnson, Lena Hammond, Winfred Hammond, Mary 
 Thomas, Minerva Goodrich, and Grace Barnett. 
 
 board consisted of Wm. 
 DeLaughter, Aaron Yost, and 
 William Parker in October, 1859, 
 when they employed A. S. Norris 
 to teach for 6 months at $65 per 
 month and pay his own assist^ 
 ant. This teacher was not suc- 
 cessful, and he was actually 
 drummed out of town on the 
 night of Feb. 22, 1860. 
 
 George L. Spear had just ar- 
 rived in Bement the day before, 
 and this is the story he tells in 
 his history: "I was a witness 
 to this rough usage. Norris kept 
 his own restaurant at the school 
 house, where he also slept. Upon 
 the whole, we then thought Be- 
 ment was a rough place. As we 
 had not been here more than 24 
 hours till we were obliged to 
 witness the desecration of Wash- 
 ington's birthday, it was not very 
 encouraging to say the least. In 
 fact, from that day to this 
 
INSURANCE OF ALL KINDS 
 
 DEPENDABLE PROTECTION 
 
 AT 
 
 REASONABLE RATES 
 
 LYNN PETERSON AGENCY 
 
 MILMINE, ILLINOIS 
 PHONE — CERRO GORDO — 63F13 
 
 Join the swing to 
 
 HY-LINE HYBRID CHICKS 
 
 Largest selling layers developed by 
 
 modern research 
 
 Feeds - Remedies - Supplies 
 
 ROTHWAY 
 CORN BELT HATCHERIES 
 
 PHONE 6766- 
 
 MONTICELLO, ILL. 
 
 DOUGLASS 
 
 Hardware & Bldg. Sup. 
 
 MONTICELLO 
 TEL. 6966 
 
 Aluminum Awnings - Canvas Awnings 
 
 Sherwin Williams Paints - Dutch Boy Paints 
 
 Admiral Appliances - Toys 
 
 Genert/I Hardware - Kitchenware 
 
 CONGRATULATIONS 
 TO 
 
 Bement Centennial 
 
 GLENNONS' 
 TAVERN 
 
 BEMENT, ILLINOIS 
 
 1 Block West of Route 105 
 
 Operating in Bement Since 1947 
 
 Anhydrous Ammonia - Liquid & Dry 
 Fertilizers 
 
 MERRIMAN 
 TRUCK SERVICE 
 
 Phone 7021 
 MONTICELLO, ILLINOIS 
 
 LIMESTONE - LIVESTOCK - PHOSPHATE 
 
 601 EAST GRANT ST. MONTICELLO, ILLINOIS 
 
 ICE 
 CREAM 
 
 tf trs 60G.OENS 
 
 trig e or ro 3£ 6OO0.' 
 
(1878), Bement has not been 
 clear of an element which has 
 sought to correct the errors of" 
 the place aside from the regular 
 method. Late years, however, a 
 resort to legal means has been 
 in order, and we believe better 
 order has been maintained. Mobo- 
 cracy failed to rectify the morals 
 of the place and we condemn it 
 on all occasions and in all gov- 
 ernments." 
 
 After Norris was removed, the 
 school did not prosper so well for 
 several years afterwards. It can 
 be seen by the rapid change of 
 teachers and board members that 
 there was quite a bit of trouble 
 in the school system in its early 
 days. However, when the out- 
 side element that used to dictate 
 to the teachers and board mem- 
 bers lost their power, a better 
 class of teachers were employed 
 and they had the undivided aid 
 and support of the directors. It 
 was then that the school pros- 
 pered and flourished. 
 
 The records show that there 
 were 105 scholars over 5 years 
 of age and under 21 years, en- 
 rolled in November, 1859. There 
 were also 52 scholars under five 
 years of age. 
 
 On April 16, 1860, John A. Hel- 
 man was employed as teacher for 
 4 months at $50 per month and 
 was to pay his own assistant 
 who was his wife. Helman was 
 successful inasmuch as the school 
 was under better discipline than 
 formerly, and the scholars ad- 
 vanced and took pride in doing 
 well. 
 
 George L. Spear was elected as 
 a director in 1861, along with 
 Thomas Mutherspaw and Aaron 
 Yost. They employed J. Russell 
 Johnson at $60 per month for 
 the spring term of 1861, who was 
 to furnish his own assistant. This 
 man taught but a few weeks. For 
 good cause, well known to the 
 older inhabitants, he was dis- 
 charged even though he was an 
 excellent scholar. 
 
 On Sept. 2, 1861, James Pat- 
 rick was employed to teach 6 
 months at $75 per month and 
 furnish his own assistant. Mr. 
 Patrick was a very energetic and 
 thorough teacher and the school 
 advanced under his instruction 
 and leadership. 
 
 On May 10, 1863, the board em- 
 ployed Edmond Chenney at $75 
 per month and was to pay his 
 own assistant. On Sept. 21, 1863, 
 the school had increased so much 
 
 that it was necessary to employ 
 a third teacher, Miss Mary Tay- 
 lor. 
 
 In 1864 the question of a nine 
 month school term was consid- 
 ered but defeated. The question 
 of a new school house was also 
 defeated. In 1865 the question 
 of a six month school term was 
 considered and passed, and also a 
 proposition to build an additional 
 room. 
 
 During the first ten years oi 
 the school system in Bement, the 
 interest kept growing and the 
 number of scholars increased and 
 a thirst for literary attainments 
 so completely absorbed the at- 
 tention of the citizens that addi- 
 tional school room became a 
 growing necessity. And so it was 
 in 1866 that the directors decid- 
 ed to build a house 66' x 26', 2 
 stories high at right angles to 
 the original building on the south, 
 and forming a "T" which gave 
 4 large rooms with halls in the 
 center, above and below; with a 
 suitable belfrey over the stairway 
 and main hall into which was 
 placed the old bell used in tho 
 original building. This building 
 was commodious, substantial, and 
 beautiful and it was the pride of 
 the citizens of Bement. 
 
 On August 6, 1866, the board 
 hired Mr. H. A. Coffeen at $90 
 per month and his sister Miss 
 Dama Coffeen at $45 per month 
 to teach for six months. Mr. 
 Coffeen commenced his term by 
 standardizing the grading system 
 and he assigned the students to 
 three departments. He took 
 charge of the principal's depart- 
 ment, and Miss Dama was as- 
 signed to the intermediate. A 
 third teacher, Miss Martha Tip- 
 pett, was employed for the pri- 
 mary department. It was soon 
 necessary to employ a fourth 
 teacher to take charge of a sec- 
 ond primary department and Miss 
 Adelie Hubbel was hired. 
 
 The school having thus been di- 
 vided and graded under the su- 
 pervision of Mr. Coffeen (who 
 was armed with the necesary 
 skill and ability) was then, for 
 the first time since her history 
 begun, possessed of superior ad- 
 vantages. The school prospered 
 beyond the expectations of the 
 most skeptic, and surprised and 
 routed the weaker and faithless 
 ones. Although it was. expensive 
 and increased taxation, the peo- 
 ple generally were satisfied that 
 they had received value for every 
 
 cent expended. 
 
 In his reorganization, Mr. Cof- 
 feen included a library — the 
 schools first. In consideration 
 for his fine work, he was rehired 
 in 1867 with an increase in sal- 
 ary ($1100). Evidently succeed- 
 ing instruction was not consid- 
 ered on a par with that of Mr. 
 Coffeen, for this was the high 
 in teachers' salaries for the en- 
 suing 20 years. 
 
 On November 3, 1875, the di- 
 rectors met for the purpose of 
 purchasing an organ for use in 
 the school, and decided to buy 
 the Esty — style 8. The organ 
 was procured and placed in the 
 Principal's Department. 
 
 This brings us to the close of 
 Mr. George L. Spear's account 
 of the early activity of the school 
 system, so we continue in a more 
 general outline of the happenings 
 from this time to the present. 
 
 As the students increased in 
 number, new wings were added 
 to the school house until in 1892, 
 the two-story frame structure 
 consisted of 12 rooms with base- 
 ment. Steam heat was installed 
 in 1884. The school was placed 
 on the accredited list of the Uni- 
 versity of Illinois in 1879, and in 
 1881 the first high school senior 
 class was graduated. 
 
 The following were members of 
 that first graduating class: Anna 
 Pettit, Eva Rosecrans, Geneva 
 Dunn, Mary Newton, and Lucie 
 Sprague. At this time the grade 
 school consisted of nine years 
 study instead of the eight we 
 have today. However, the high 
 school curriculum was arranged 
 so that those desiring to omit the 
 study of the languages could 
 years. Those completing either 
 Latin or German, or both, re- 
 complete high school in three 
 ceived a higher diploma than 
 those who did not. 
 
 Before 1899, three fires had 
 visited the school building in Be- 
 ment. The first of them was 
 just a shingle fire and was soon 
 put out. On Sept. 4, 1898, the 
 school building was struck by 
 lightning during a storm and was 
 damaged to the extent of $1350, 
 which was paid by the insurance- 
 companies. The fire was largely 
 confined to the belfrey, but con- 
 siderable damage was done when 
 the bell fell. This bell, the one 
 from the "Lady of the Lake 
 Steamer", was destroyed when it 
 fell. 
 
 Early on the moning of April 
 
Compliments of 
 
 BEMENT REST HAVEN 
 
 A HOME — NOT AN INSTITUTION 
 
 MRS. OPAL K. BAKER, Owner & Prop. 
 Mrs. Anna Hilda Van Landingham, 
 Mrs. Phyllis Tipsword, Mrs. Ruth Slagle 
 Mrs. Phyllis Strohl, Mrs. Mildred Cozad 
 Mrs. Maude Phipps, Mrs. Nellie Corum 
 Mrs. Ruby Pierce, Mrs. Virginia Peterson 
 
 Compliments of 
 
 DeKALB AGRICULTURAL 
 ASSOCIATION, INC. 
 
 DEKALB, ILLINOIS 
 and 
 
 JOHN 0. MOERY 
 
 BEMENT, ILLINOIS 
 PHONE 3166 
 
 Local Dealer for 
 
 DeKalb Corn and Chix 
 
 First Choice of American Farmers 
 
 JONES HARDWARE & APPLIANCE 
 
 Roy W. (Dutch) Jones, Prop. 
 
 Gas and Oil Furnaces — Bottle Gas — Plumbing 
 
 BEMENT, ILLINOIS 
 
 PHONE 4262 
 
 McFEETERS IMPLEMENT COMPANY 
 
 SYMBOL 
 
 OF 
 SERVICE 
 
 Junction Routes 10 and 54 
 
 CLINTON, ILLINOIS 
 
 INTERNATIONAL 
 HARVESTER 
 
 PHONE: 10-780 
 
 McCORMICK TRACTORS AND MACHINES • INTERNATIONAL TRUCKS 
 REFRIGERATORS • FREEZERS 
 
4, 1899, the entire building was 
 destroyed by fire. The fire orig- 
 inated during the night from 
 some unknown cause and before 
 it was discovered, the building 
 was past saving. All contents of 
 the building except part of the 
 library books and one of the two 
 pianos, were destroyed by the 
 fire. The loss included grade 
 cards, school records, etc. and 
 the loss of some money. 
 
 Arrangements were made at 
 once for starting a new building. 
 In the fall of 1899 and spring of 
 1900, a magnificent new building 
 was erected at the cost of $27,- 
 000. It was the handsomest school 
 of any in the smaller towns in 
 the state. The cornerstone of 
 this building, which is now used 
 by the grade school, was laid on 
 August 27, 1899. Until the build- 
 ing was completed in Feb. 1900, 
 school was held in the Town Hall, 
 the churches, lodge rooms, and 
 vacant store buildings. 
 
 BEMENT'S PRESENT SCHOOL 
 SYSTEM 
 
 ceded the completion of the new 
 school, portable buildings were 
 erected and the eighth grade was 
 moved to the brick building south 
 of the Masonic Hall. Because this 
 building was once a saloon, this 
 was dubbed — "Budweiser Col- 
 lege." 
 
 South-East view of the Bement High School 
 
 The new school contained 11 
 rooms, besides offices, recitation 
 rooms, etc. It was heated by 
 steam, had drinking water on 
 each floor and had a very effi- 
 cient system of ventilation. The 
 members of the board at that 
 time were: Wm. J. Day (Presi- 
 dent), J. T. Moore (Secretary), 
 W. T. Bower, L. H. Alvord, Geo. 
 Dawson, Wm. Loveless, and Jos. 
 Fahrnkopf. 
 
 The present high school build- 
 ing was begun in 1919 and was 
 ready for use in the fall of 1920. 
 During the years of its building 
 Wm. J. Day was president of the 
 board; W. A. Steel was secretary, 
 and other members were: H. E. 
 Shaw, John Moery, By Dyar- 
 man, and O. E. Wright. The 10 
 acre athletic field was also pur- 
 chased in the spring of 1920. Dur- 
 ing a congested period which pre- 
 
 In the fall of 1927, a course in 
 Agricuture was added to the cur- 
 riculum in the high school, 
 taught by Mr. Trevor L. Jones. 
 That same fall (1927), Mr. Harry 
 E. Slusser came to Bement from 
 Vandalia, Illinois, where he had 
 been superintendent for seven 
 years. He served as the superin- 
 tendent of the Bement High 
 School for 19 years until 1946 
 when he resigned to enter private 
 business here in Bement. In the 
 fall of 1928, the school page ap- 
 peared in the local newspaper — 
 The Bement Register. This sec- 
 tion was called the BETOHI 
 NEWS, and it has been a regular 
 feature of the paper ever since. 
 
 The present Bement Commun- 
 ity School District No. 5 was or- 
 ganized in 1948 as part of the 
 plan to consolidate all the schools 
 in this area. Previous to this time 
 there were 17 country schools in 
 
 North-East view of High School, showing connection with new Gym. 
 
addition to the schools in Mil- 
 mine, Ivesdale, and Bement. In 
 1939 there were 30 teachers and 
 570 pupils in all of these grade 
 schools. Today with grade schools 
 in Bement, Milmine, and Ivesdale 
 there are 21 teachers and 450 
 students. In 1939 there were 11 
 teachers in the high school with 
 185 students and today we have 
 12 teachers with an enrollment of 
 138 students. With the consoli- 
 dation of the schools came the 
 school buses, hot lunches for the 
 children, and better all round 
 facilities for education. 
 
 The present superintendent is 
 Mr. Walter Slate* who came to 
 Bement to be the first superin- 
 tendent of the newly organized 
 school district in 1948. In the fall 
 of 1951 and the spring of 1952, a 
 beautiful new gymnasium and 
 several modern classrooms were 
 built after the people of this com- 
 munity had voted for a bond is- 
 sue with increased taxation to 
 provide our community with the 
 school facilities which we so bad- 
 ly needed. 
 
 The Bement High School is vis- 
 ited and fully accredited by the 
 State Department of Public In- 
 struction. It is fully recognized 
 by the North Central Associa- 
 tion. The students from Bement 
 High School are admitted to any 
 college or university in the Unit- 
 ed States without examination, if 
 they have satisfactory grades up- 
 on application. 
 
 And so we come to the close 
 of our story about the schools in 
 Bement. We feel that it was in- 
 deed fitting and proper that two 
 of our Bement school teachers, 
 Mr. Harry E. Slusser and Miss 
 Isabelle Houston, were chosen to 
 
 Members of the Bement School Board at the present time, reading from left 
 to right, standing: A. E. Bodman (President) Clarence Lefever, and Russell Rodg- 
 ers. Seated, from left to right: Howard Lamb, Ralph Moery Jr., Charles Tabaka, 
 and Albert Harshbarger. 
 
 be honored this Centennial Year 
 as the Man and Woman of the 
 Year. 
 
 These two people stand as a 
 symbol of all the teachers, wno 
 by their teaching, advice, and 
 that rare quality of understand- 
 ing people, have influenced and 
 guided many lives in the right 
 direction. Our thanks go to all 
 those teachers for a job well 
 done. 
 
 Walter Slater 
 
 Bement's School Buses Owned and operated by Lynn Crook 
 
 Miss Isabelle Houston and Harry E. 
 Slusser, honored as Man and Woman 
 of the Year. 
 
. • 
 
 V 
 
 X s5 
 
 X 
 
 ■ 
 
 P^W** 
 
 % 
 
 
 s 
 
 
THE BEMENT CHURCHES . . . 
 
 Great are the values which science has brought and will bring to 
 humanity, but man cannot live by science alone for science does not 
 provide him with the ethical guidance nor the spiritual insights which 
 are needed to realize our ideals of the good life . . . 
 
 We need the church and the church needs us ... ! The churches 
 of our community played a very important part in the lives of the 
 early settlers of Bement, and today the churches are increasingly es- 
 sential. The churches offer us a refuge from the busy hurried way of 
 living. To thank God for our many daily blessings could best be done 
 by slowing down our pace of life and giving to Him a portion of our 
 most valuable possession — Time. 
 
 Several children were standing inside a church once admiring 
 the stained-glass window depicting Christ at prayer as the sun shone 
 through the window. "It's beautiful here," one boy said, with a 
 greater wisdom than he realized, "but it ain't no good if you are out- 
 side." 
 
 And so it is — ! "It ain't no good if you are on the outside!" — 
 Let's all Go To Church!!! 
 
 FIRST METHODIST CHURCH 
 
 The Methodist Church is the 
 oldest church in Bement, being 
 organized in 1858 under the pas- 
 torate of Rev. Edward Rutledge. 
 The first church was known as 
 the M. E. Society. Before the So- 
 ciety had a church structure it 
 held its meetings in the school 
 house and at Bryant's Hall (the 
 room over the present IGA 
 store). The services were attend- 
 ed by the majority of the com- 
 munity until 1862 when the 
 Christian Church was organized. 
 
 The first trustees (elected for 
 life or until removed) were: J. M. 
 Taylor, William Parker, William 
 Stillwell, C. Schoolcraft, James 
 McDowell, Elias Baldwin, Thomas 
 Postlewait, Samuel Sparks, and 
 C. D. Moore. 
 
 The first church building was 
 
 
 erected in 1864, and was dedicat- 
 ed by Rev. H. Buck, with Rev. J. 
 C. Lewis as the first pastor. This 
 building was located in the block 
 east of the Swenson residence, 
 and the house where the Richard 
 Dancey's recently lived was used 
 as the first parsonage. The mem- 
 bership in 1870, according to the 
 report of Rev. J. Montgomery, 
 pastor, was 105 full members and 
 27 probationers. The congrega- 
 tion bought and installed a double 
 banked organ at the cost of $475. 
 In 1871, all but one of the orig- 
 inal trustees had died, so a new 
 board was elected for a term of 
 five years each: George W. Mox- 
 field, John M. Ercanbrack, S. G. 
 Vrooman, Robert H. McDowell, 
 Albert L. Starr, J. V. McDowell, 
 George E. Spear, James S. Peairs. 
 This new board considered a new 
 
 location for the church, but due 
 to bank failure and business re- 
 verses, the plans had to be post- 
 poned. The board of trustees 
 sponsored an excursion to St. 
 Louis over the C. P. I. St. Louis 
 Railroad as a means of making 
 money towards a parsonage fund. 
 The tickets for the excursion cost 
 $3.75 for a round trip. The 
 amount of money raised by this 
 excursion must have been en- 
 couraging, as the treasurer, Mr. 
 Dustin, paid the railroad com- 
 pany $450.00 for six coaches and 
 one baggage car. 
 
 In 1890-91, while Rev. J. T. 
 Pender was pastor, plans were 
 made for a new church building. 
 In March of 1892, the lots where 
 the present church stands were 
 purchased and a new frame build- 
 ing was built with a large audi- 
 torium with north and south 
 wings. The church was dedicated 
 in 1893 under the leadership of 
 Rev. M. S. McCoy. 
 
 This continued to be the church 
 home until 1916 when it was 
 found to be inadequate to meet 
 the needs and the erection of the 
 present colonial style church was 
 begun. The building committee 
 of the present church consisted 
 of the following people: Byron 
 Dyarman, Thos. Priestly, A. M. 
 Totten, W. G. McPherson, R. R. 
 Siders, T. W. Lamb, and Charles 
 Adkins. It may be noted that A. 
 M. Totten was connected with 
 the erection of the last two 
 churches. 
 
On Sunday, May 20, 1917, un- 
 der the pastorate of Rev. Wilbert 
 Dowson, Bishop William A. 
 Quayle held the dedication serv- 
 ices and preached the morning 
 sermon and Dr. J. O. Randall 
 preached in the evening. The 
 dedication services lasted all week 
 except for Wednesday night, 
 which was Commencement. The 
 Inaugural Organ Recital was held 
 on Friday night, May 25, by Wm. 
 M. Jenkins of St. Louis. While 
 this church was being erected, 
 the Methodists worshipped with 
 the Presbyterians. The cost of 
 the new church and pipe organ 
 was around $35,000. 
 
 A highlight of the church his- 
 tory was the 75th Anniversary 
 Homecoming in 1933 which was 
 attended by a thousand or more 
 throughout the day including 
 many former ministers and their 
 families. The closing service was 
 attended by over 500 who came 
 to see the pageant — "Heaven 
 Bound" which was presented by 
 50 Negroes from the A. M. E. 
 Church of Decatur. 
 
 When the present church was 
 built, a bell was not installed, but 
 in December 1953, the Church be- 
 came the recipient of a set of 25 
 Carillonic Bells. The bells were 
 presented by Mr. George W. Lar- 
 son, who has done so many splen- 
 did things for the church and 
 community. 
 
 The present pastor is Rev. D. 
 Ross Fleming who is now in his 
 fourth year in Bement. The 
 church and pastor enjoys a fine 
 fellowship with the other 
 churches in the community and 
 they pray for continued growth 
 in Christian fellowship for the 
 years ahead as we pause to cele- 
 brate these first 100 years of this 
 community. 
 
 CHRISTIAN CHURCH 
 
 The second oldest church in 
 Bement is the Christian Church 
 which was organized in 1862 at 
 a meeting in the home of Wm. 
 Monroe. Wm. Monroe and Mar- 
 tin Ruble were elected as the 
 first elders, and Samuel Hopkins 
 and Thomas Dunn were elected 
 as first deacons. Other charter 
 members were: Jane Monroe, B. 
 G. Hopkins, Mary B. Hopkins, 
 John J. Gosney, Elizabeth Evans, 
 Ann E. Gosney, Susana Gosney, 
 Caroline Yost and Elizabeth 
 Hughs. 
 
 At this meeting the group re- 
 solved to take the Bible and the 
 
 Bible alone as their rule of faith 
 and practice and this constitutes 
 the church of Christ. James Con- 
 ner Jr. who had charge of the 
 organization meeting was the 
 first minister and served for two 
 years. 
 
 Services were held in private 
 homes and later in Bryant's Hall. 
 In the winter of 1864 the church 
 held a revival meeting. Many 
 persons made their confessions of 
 faith and were taken in sleds to 
 the Sangamon River north of 
 Monticello to be baptised. One of 
 those immersed was Mrs. Maggie 
 White who died Dec. 22, 1948, 
 at the age of 98. She related 
 that the ice had to be cut, and 
 the water was so cold that the 
 clothes of those baptized froze 
 stiff on them, and they rode 
 many miles before they could 
 change to dry clothes. 
 
 Elder G. W. Thompson, father 
 of Carl R. Thompson, was the 
 
 minister in 1878, and served for 
 one year. The present minister 
 is Rev. David R. Scates. 
 
 In 1876 a church was erected 
 on the corner of West Bodman 
 Street (just north of the present 
 home of Dr. J. G. Bauer and 
 family) at a cost of $800. It 
 was surrounded by a board fence 
 to keep stray cows and horses 
 from roaming through the yard. 
 
 In 1885 an addition was built 
 on the south. Sunday School 
 was held in the afternoon from 
 3 to 4 o'clock and was attended 
 by children from the other 
 churches where Sunday School 
 hours were from 12 to 1 p. m. 
 
 In the spring of 1896 the 
 church lot was sold and the 
 building was moved to the pres- 
 ent site. The building was en- 
 larged, the baptistry changed, 
 new pews purchased, a furnace 
 and electric lights were installed. 
 On March 29, 1941, the building 
 burned to the ground at a loss 
 of $10,000. The following year 
 the present brick church was 
 built at a cost of $12,000. 
 
 On the night of Jan. 9, 1953, 
 fire again destroyed much of the 
 interior of the church. Every 
 room was damaged by smoke and 
 the Hammond Organ was dam- 
 aged beyond repair. The organ 
 was a gift to th]e church in 1948 
 from Jack Thompson of Miami, 
 Florida, in memory of his grand- 
 parents, Dr. and Mrs. G. W. 
 Thompson and Dr. and Mrs. E. 
 H. Graves, long time members 
 and workers in the church. 
 
 This disaster was a staggering 
 blow for the congregation, but 
 after much labor and redecorat- 
 ing, (most of it done by the men 
 and women of the church) the 
 building was rededicated and a 
 new organ was installed. 
 
CONGRATULATIONS BEMENT ON YOUR 
 100TH BIRTHDAY 
 
 Vincent's Marathon Ser. Station Vincent's Produce 
 
 In Bement Since 1948 
 
 Harold Vincent, Owner 
 
 ON ROUTE 105 
 
 Buyer for Sugar Creek Creamery 
 
 In Bement Since 1929 
 
 Mrs. Harold Vincent, Prop. 
 
 CONGRATULATIONS TO BEMENT ON YOUR 100th BIRTHDAY! 
 
 Get Your 
 
 Midwest Ice Cream 
 
 IN BEMENT AT . . . 
 
 H & M Superway — Vincent's Service Station 
 Chink's Coffee Shop 
 
 Always A Friendly Welcome 
 
 BUD'S 
 TAVERN 
 
 'A MILE EAST OF BEMENT, ILLINOIS 
 
 STEAKS -CHICKEN 
 SEA FOODS 
 
 PHONE 4691 
 
 CHARLES (Stub) RAY 
 
 BEMENT, ILLINOIS 
 PHONE 500 F 1 1 
 
 Representative of 
 
 BANKER'S LIFE CO. 
 
 DES MOINES, IOWA 
 
 A Mutual Legal Reserve Company Serving the 
 Nation for Over 75 Years 
 
 I WISH TO THANK MY MANY POLICY OWN- 
 ERS WHOM I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF 
 SERVING IN MY 12 YEARS WITH THE COM- 
 PANY. 
 
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 
 
 The first Catholic Church was 
 erected in Bement in 1867 on a 
 lot donated by Mansfield & 
 Freeze for that purpose. It was 
 located on West Moultrie Street 
 where Joe Rittenhouse now lives. 
 It was a landmark for many 
 years. It was later used by a 
 group from Cerro Gordo who 
 used the building as a place of 
 worship and it was then known 
 as the Dunkard Church. 
 
 Although the Ivesdale Parish 
 is an outgrowth of Bement, it 
 increased rapidly and became a 
 parish with a resident pastor, 
 while Bement remained an out- 
 mission. 
 
 In 1888, under the pastorate 
 of Father Byrne, the Bement 
 congregation began the building 
 of a larger, better church nearer 
 the center of the town. It was 
 located on the site now occupied 
 by the present church and was 
 dedicated in 1889 by the Rev. 
 
 James Ryan, then newly conse- 
 crated Bishop of Alton. 
 
 In 1891, Bement was made ar 
 independent parish. Rev. F. G. 
 Lentz, the first resident pastor, 
 planned and built the present rec- 
 tory. 
 
 Plans for a new building be- 
 gan taking form in 1912 under 
 the pastorate of Rev. L. Selva, 
 and on December 18, 1913, the 
 present Romanesque type brick 
 church was dedicated. The build- 
 ing was erected at a cost of $18,- 
 000. During the building of the 
 new church, the congregation 
 worshipped in the old church 
 which had been moved across the 
 street to the south. Later it was 
 sold to James Landis who used 
 the material to construct the 
 home now occupied by Mr. and 
 Mrs. Arthur Edwards. 
 
 Rev. V. J. Liss is the present 
 pastor of both St. Michael's 
 Church in Bement and St. Philo- 
 rnena's Church in Monticello. 
 
 THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN 
 CHURCH 
 
 The First Presbyterian Church 
 of Bement was organized on Au- 
 gust 29, 1868, at a meeting in 
 the Methodist Church. Modera- 
 tor of the meeting was Rev. T. 
 P. Emerson of the Bloomington 
 Presbytery who had met with a 
 small group of men and women 
 in September of 1867 to ascer- 
 tain if the way be clear for the 
 organization of an Old School 
 Presbyterian Church in Bement. 
 At the organization meeting, El- 
 dad C. Camp and William New- 
 ton were elected ruling elders. 
 Other charter members were: 
 Elizabeth J. Camp, Mrs. Mary 
 Camp, Margaret Newton, Mrs. 
 Sarah E. Bryant, Mrs. Emily T. 
 Swaney and Mrs. Charlotte Scott. 
 
 At a congregational meeting 
 January 30, 1870, a Board of 
 Trustees was elected and empow- 
 ered to raise funds for, and pro- 
 ceed with the erection of a house 
 of worship. They were: Joseph 
 Bodman, F. E. Bryant, W. A. 
 Pierce, A. J. Gregory, William 
 M. Camp, and Joseph M. Scott. 
 The site of the present church 
 was selected and the building of 
 the church was begun with J. 
 M. Camp as contractor and build- 
 er. The basement, finished some 
 time that year, was used for all 
 services until 1874, when the 
 main floor audience room was 
 completed, the seats cushioned, 
 organ purchased, and a church 
 of classic beauty was dedicated 
 free of debt. 
 
 On Sunday, April 18, 1880, in 
 a severe windstorm, seventy-five 
 feet of the steeple and the bell 
 

 & 
 
 
 ARTHUR AUCTION CO. 
 
 
 BEAR 
 
 HYBRIDS 
 
 
 Arthur, Illinois — Phone 422 
 
 Menno D. Plank, Gen. Mgr. 
 
 HIGHEST CASH MARKET FOR 
 LIVESTOCK - HAY - MISCELLANEOUS 
 
 Every Wednesday at 1 1 A.M. 
 
 WAYNE SPARKS 
 
 Local Dealer 
 MILMINE, ILLINOIS 
 
 Compliments of 
 
 CARSON JEWELERS 
 
 DECATUR, ILLINOIS 
 
 120 East Prairie Decatur, Illinois 
 
 COMPLIMENTS 
 OF 
 
 Grovels Restaurant 
 
 JUNCTION 48-51-121 
 PHONE 5064 DECATUR, ILLINOIS 
 
 W. L Wagner Memorial Co. 
 
 Builders of 
 
 FINE MEMORIALS 
 
 MONUMENTS, MARKERS and MAUSOLEUMS 
 CEMETERY LETTERING 
 
 Phone 9322 Decatur, Illinois 542 West Eldorado 
 
were blown across the street dur- 
 ing services. Before noon the 
 next day, $200 had been sub 
 scribed for rebuilding the steeple. 
 The new one, although much low- 
 er than the old, could still be 
 seen for many miles. The bell 
 was undamaged and is even now 
 used for all services. This bell 
 was also known as the Fire Bell 
 since it was used as the Bement 
 fire alarm for some years. 
 
 On April 14, 1919, the follow- 
 ing committee was appointed to 
 look to the building of a new 
 modern church: Mrs. William 
 Camp, Mrs. J. F. SDraeue, An- 
 drew Swenson, J. L. Bodman, A. 
 L. Wilkinson, Fred Davies. The 
 last service in the old church 
 was held on August 8, 1920. The 
 cornerstone of the present brick 
 structure, on the same site, was 
 laid October 24, 1920; and the 
 new building was dedicated May 
 4, 1922. The organ was a gift 
 of the J. F. Spragues. During 
 the building period, the Presby- 
 terians worshipped with the 
 Methodists in their church, the 
 ministers preaching on alternate 
 Sundays. A large cardboard 
 replica of the old frame church, 
 made by the late Miss Nellie Al- 
 vord in 1922, is kept in a glass 
 case at the church. 
 
 The first manse, the house 
 now occupied by the H. E. Mur- 
 phys at the northeast corner of 
 the intersection of South Morgan 
 and West Wing Streets, was 
 built in the winter of 1881-82 
 at a cost of $1700, and was first 
 lived in by Dr. Ringland and his 
 family. It was later sold and 
 the house now occupied by Mr. 
 and Mrs. Wm. Fish was pur- 
 
 chased for temporary use. In 
 April 1914, plans were made for 
 the present manse, which was 
 completed in good time and first 
 lived in by the Shirleys. 
 
 The church has always been 
 missionary-minded. Norman L. 
 Camp became an evangelist and 
 
 was associated with the Moody 
 Bible Institute of Chicago; W. L. 
 Clarke, J. D. Murphy, and Lu- 
 cian Scott became duly ordained 
 ministers. Miss Mary E. Bod- 
 man (Mrs. W. A. Hammond), 
 spent several years as a mission* 
 ary in Guatemala, and Miss Edna 
 Burgess went as a missionary to 
 Persia. Rev. Wm. B. Allison re- 
 signed as pastor to go to Guate- 
 mala as a missionary. 
 
 One cannot speak with justice 
 of this church without paying 
 tribute to the remarkable con- 
 tributions of Miss Nellie Alvord 
 and her violin, who so faithfully 
 directed a Sunday School Or- 
 chestra for many years. 
 
 The church celebrated its 75th 
 Anniversary on August 29, 1943, 
 with appropriate services. The 
 church is now in its 87th year 
 with Rev. Clyde E. West as the 
 present pastor. He was installed 
 January 30, 1955, with Mrs. 
 West's father, the Rev. Alfred 
 C. Crouch, delivering the charge 
 to the new pastor. 
 
 CHURCH OF GOD 
 
 The Church of God was organ- 
 ized 25 years or more ago by a 
 group of people who held to the 
 belief that Salvation makes one 
 a member of the church. It still 
 holds to this doctrine. 
 
 The first meetings were held in 
 private homes. Later the mem- 
 bers had tent meetings in the 
 summer and early fall. Still later 
 they worshipped in various build- 
 ings. In 1936 the three lots on 
 
 which the church and parsonage 
 are now located were purchased 
 and a building was moved to the 
 corner lot. This building has been 
 remodeled twice. In 1949 ten feet 
 was added to the length of the 
 building and a full basement with 
 four classrooms was added. A 
 new parsonage was built the 
 same year. 
 
 The first regular pastor was 
 Rev. Stanley Holley. The present 
 pastor is Rev. C. H. Featherston. 
 
i i— m i -i i Vwri^p-Krf il^ ni-n' i rmlrimy 
 
 j 
 
 
 ■MMannmiflnHIlWBmiMI,1M«.iMiuFniui sioth u Bimint, Piatt Couhty , Illinois. 
 
 July 1881 — Quote from "Coun- 
 try Genteman" magazine. 
 
 A WESTERN BROOM-CORN 
 FARM 
 
 Eds. Country Gentleman — 
 Business having delayed me sev- 
 eral hours at Bement, 111., I took 
 the opportunity to visit the farms 
 owned and controlled by Mr. Lu- 
 ther Bodman of Northampton, 
 Mass., and so well pleased was I 
 with what I saw, that I give it 
 for the benefit of your readers. 
 The farms consist of some 3,000 
 acres; the lower or broom-corn 
 ranch, of some 1,300 acres, being 
 devoted to the raising of broom- 
 corn, of which about 500 acres 
 are raised each year. The rest of 
 the land is devoted to pasture, 
 meadow, and the raising of small 
 grain, but broom-corn receives 
 the principal attention. The upper 
 
 ranch, containing the remainder 
 of the land is devoted to Indian 
 corn, wheat, and flax. The day 
 of our visit, there were fifteen 
 riding plows going, each with 
 three mules attached, turning 
 furrows 16 inches wide averaging 
 3V2 acres per day; five planters, 
 six harrows, four or five rollers, 
 besides teams hauling manure, 
 men ditching, etc., and we were 
 forcibly struck with the order 
 and quiet, and the attention of the 
 army of laborers to their respec- 
 tive duties. Such thorough prepa- 
 ration of land for broom-corn I 
 never saw. In fact, thoroughness 
 was stamped upon everything. 
 The absence of all litter and con- 
 fusion, such as .one would ex- 
 pect about such an establish- 
 ment, the neatly painted build- 
 ings, and the cleanly whitewash- 
 ed out-buildings, all showed that 
 the owner was a thorough man 
 of business. The crops this year 
 upon the farm will consist of 500 
 
 1881 Workers all lined up prior to starting the day's work on the Bodman 
 Broom Corn Farm. (This property was later purchased by Mr. A. S. Burr and 
 is now known as the Bun- Estate.) he Shepherd Family lived on the farm of 
 Mi - . A. S. Burr for a great many years, from the year 1881 when Mr. Burr came 
 West to manage the Bodman land. The head of the Shepherd family, Mr. Phillip 
 Shepherd, his wife, six sons, Johnson, Adam, John, Hiriam, Jacob, Absalom and 
 three daughters, Adelia, Frances, and Elizabeth. Mr. Emmett Shepherd, son of 
 Absalom Shepherd lives on the Burr Estate now, and with his son Emmett Dean 
 Shepherd, farms 720 acres of land. Mr. Philip Shepherd and his six sons are 
 shown in the above photograph of the men and mule teams and two yoke of 
 oxen taken in front of the large barn. 
 
 acres of broom-corn, l,zuu acres 
 of Indian corn, 200 of oats, 250 
 of flax, 300 of wheat, the rest 
 hay and pasture. There are 35 
 teams, mostly fine Kentucky 
 mules; about 150 head of hogs, 
 although three or four hundred 
 are raised and fattened each 
 
 A. S. Burr 
 
 year on steamed food, comfort- 
 able quarters, etc. There are also 
 about 100 head of fine fat steers, 
 which will soon be sold. In fact, 
 everything receives attention. 
 
 These notes would be incom- 
 plete without a slight reference 
 to the manager of the establish- 
 ment, Mr. A. S. Burr of Bridge- 
 port, Ct., whose duties, to say 
 nothing of the clerical work in- 
 volved, require a high order vi 
 talent. That these duties are well 
 done is clearly apparent; and I 
 have yet to see the farm where 
 brains, backed by a generous fi- 
 nancial support,* have better re- 
 sults to show than the above. 
 G. W. C. 
 Country Gentleman 
 
I 
 
 5, "BENENT"- 
 
 BAPTlSf 
 
 CHURCH . 
 
 BEMENT BAPTIST CHURCH 
 
 Reading from left to right: Ralph Neathery, Church Treasurer; Rev. Earl Har- 
 ris, Pastor; Miss Patsy Westray, Sunday School Secretary; Russell Westray, 
 Sunday School Supt.; Charles Neathery, Asst. Sunday School Supt. 
 
 BAPTIST CHURCH 
 
 A two weeks Revival was held 
 in the American Legion Hall in 
 Bement starting March 24, 1952 
 with Rev. Olen Cooprider, Sanga- 
 mon Valley Associational Mis- 
 sionary as Evangelist and LeRoy 
 
 Geiger, pastor of the Hammond 
 Baptist Church as song leader. 
 The average attendance was 
 sixty-five. 
 
 The first Sunday School serv- 
 ices were held on March 30, with 
 nine in attendance. Sunday morn- 
 ing worship services were held in 
 
 the Legion Hall and Cottage 
 Prayer Meetings were held in the 
 homes until the Craig building 
 was rented in May, 1952. Rev. 
 Cooprider served as pastor of the 
 mission until June, 1952, when 
 Rev. Lawrence Bolsen was called 
 as pastor. 
 
 On June 7, 1953 a meeting was 
 held in the Legion Hall and the 
 Bement Mission was organized as 
 the Bement Southern Baptist 
 Church. Twelve pastors served on 
 the council. The church was or- 
 ganized with fourteen charter 
 members. 
 
 On August 12, 1953 the church 
 called Rev. Earl Harris as pastor, 
 and on February 18, 1954 the 
 church purchased two lots in the 
 south part of town as a site for 
 their new church building. On 
 Sunday afternoon, September 12, 
 they held a short groundbreaking 
 service, and on September 20, 
 Allen Marquiss dug the base- 
 ment. Work was soon started and 
 the basement building was com- 
 pleted in April, 1955, with the 
 members of the church doing 
 most of the work. 
 
 The first services in the new 
 church were held on Sunday, May 
 1, 1955. The average attendance 
 is forty members. 
 
 
 ^r lockerstHowfutjo? % 
 
 YOUR FROZEN FOOD CENTER 
 
 THE BEMENT LOCKER PLANT — PHONE 3401 
 
CONGRATULATIONS BEMENT ON YOUR 100th ANNIVERSARY 
 
 MONTICELLO'S THEATRE 
 
 THE LYRIC 
 
 BEST IN THEATRE ENTERTAINMENT 
 
 AIR CONDITIONED - CRY ROOM - WIDE SCREEN 
 
 MONTICELLO GRAIN COMPANY 
 
 GRAIN — FEED — SEED 
 
 Elevators at 
 
 MONTICELLO - LARK SIDING - AMENIA 
 
 PHONE 2163 W. J. HENEBRY, Manager 
 
 COMPLIMENTS OF 
 
 NATIONAL BANK OF MONTICELLO 
 
 MONTICELLO, ILLINOIS 
 
 "YOU CAN BANK ON US" 
 
 MEMBER FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM 
 MEMBER FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORP. 
 
 Electric and Acetylene Welding - Portable Welding 
 
 Machine Work - Ornamental Railings, Columns 
 
 Yard Lights - Mail Box Stands - Steel Fabrications 
 
 Mild Steel and Sheets for Sale 
 
 We do a variety of high grade work in repair and building 
 new equipment of steel 
 
 SERVICE MACHINE SHOP 
 
 MONTICELLO, ILLINOIS PHONE 4171 
 
ORGANIZATIONS 
 
 BEMENT MASONIC LODGE 
 
 The oldest fraternal order in 
 Bement is Bement Lodge No. 365 
 A. F. & A. M. It was one of the 
 strongest and most influential 
 organizations in the early history 
 of Bement. 
 
 This Lodge was organized at 
 a meeting held on January 26th, 
 1861. The following officers took 
 part: 
 
 Francis E. Bryant, W. M. 
 J. O. Sparks, S. W. 
 William Stillwell, J. W. 
 T. T. Pettit, Treas. 
 E. Bruce Sprague, Secy. 
 William Waltman, S. D. 
 George L. Spear, J. D. 
 Aaron Yost, Tyler 
 The gavel used at this meeting 
 is still in the possession of the 
 present lodge. It bears two in- 
 scriptions : 
 
 "First gavel used in Bement 
 
 Lodge No. 365— U. D." 
 "First Sounded Jan. 26, 1861" 
 The Lodge received its charter 
 October 1, 1861 with the follow- 
 ing as charter members: F. E. 
 Bryant, H. A. Bodman, Charles 
 Fisher, Jr., A. G. Gregory, G. M. 
 Gregory, J. W. C. Gray, John A. 
 Helman, T. T. Pettit, M. L. Ry- 
 der, J. O. Sparks, William Still- 
 well, E. Bruce Sprague, J. M. Tay- 
 lor, and Aaron Yost. 
 
 On October 7, 1864 Bement 
 
 Chapter 65 Royal Arch Masons 
 received its charter. Joseph Bod- 
 man was the first High Priest of 
 the chapter which had 17 charter 
 members. 
 
 On October 4, 1875 the Bement 
 Masonic Association was char- 
 tered under the laws of the State 
 of Illinois, "for the purposes of 
 purchasing a site and erecting a 
 building for Masonic purposes for 
 the promotion of universal be- 
 nevolences and charity." The 
 cornerstone of the present build- 
 ing was laid with the usual for- 
 malities on May 25, 1876. The hall 
 was dedicated the following fall 
 with quite a ceremony. It was the 
 custom in those early days to 
 celebrate the completion of near- 
 
 ly every new building with a 
 square dance. The building is the 
 same today except that the orig- 
 inal open stairway on the north 
 which led from the street to the 
 basement has long since disap- 
 peared from view. 
 
 For some years the basement 
 was used by business firms in- 
 cluding a bakery, a laundry, and 
 a restaurant. 
 
 Masonic and Eastern Star 
 Chapter rooms are on the 2nd 
 floor. The 1st floor is used for 
 the Bement Township Library. 
 
 First row 1. to r. : E. C. Haymes, Sec'y; Herbert Lust, S. D.; James Porter, S. 
 
 W.; Ralph Clark, W. M.; Ralph Morgan, J. W.; Cecil Shonkwiler, J. D. 
 Second row: Delmar Burbin, S. S.; Kenneth Fisher, Tyler; Robert Still, Treas.; 
 W. A. Drake, J. S.; A. L. Born, Chap.; and John Lash, Marshal. 
 
 IVY LEAF CHAPTER 
 
 No. 129 O. E. S. 
 Bement, Illinois 
 
 On Wednesday, September 12, 
 1888, the Worthy Grand Matron 
 and Worthy Grand Patron of Illi- 
 nois came to Bement to institute 
 a new Eastern Star Chapter, 
 which was named the "Tenney" 
 Chapter. 
 
 The first officers were: 
 Mrs. T. T. Pettit 
 
 Worthy Matron 
 Mr. George B. Alvord 
 
 Worthy Patron 
 Mrs. C. F. Tenney 
 
 Associate Matron 
 Mrs. W. M. Camp 
 
 Treasurer 
 Mr. T. T. Pettit 
 
 Secretary 
 Anna V. Pettit 
 Conductress 
 Mrs. George B. Alvord 
 
 Associate Conductress 
 Mabel Tenney 
 
 Martha 
 Ella Camp 
 
 Electa 
 Mrs. O. D. Tinkham 
 
 Warder 
 Mr. William Perkins 
 Tyler 
 Other charter members were: 
 Mr. C. F. Tenney, Mayme Camp, 
 Mr. O. D. Tinkham. 
 
 The first installation of Ten- 
 ney Chapter was held November 
 20, 1888. In 1890, the members 
 of Tenney Chapter went to Mon- 
 ticello to organize Monticello 
 Chapter, No. 159. 
 
 At the Grand Chapter Session 
 in October, 1905, Mrs. Knapp, 
 Worthy Matron of Tenney Chap- 
 ter, requested the name of the 
 chapter be changed to "Ivy Leaf 
 Chapter," as it is now known. 
 
 The following have been mem- 
 bers for over 40 years: 
 
 Mr. George Tucker, Mrs. 
 George Tucker (Worthy Matron 
 
CONGRATULATION BEMENT 
 
 ON YOUR 
 
 100TH BIRTHDAY 
 
 THE MADHOUSE 
 
 Route 105 North 
 MONTICELLO 
 
 Air Conditioned For Your Comfort 
 
 Congratulations 
 1855 - Bement Centennial 
 
 1955 
 
 FRESH DRESSED POULTRY 
 GRADED EGGS - WHOLESALE & RETAIL 
 
 Custom Dressing by Appointment 
 
 Faultless (Brand) Feeds 
 
 Dr. Legear's Livestock & Poultry Remedies 
 
 TIMMONS PRODUCE 
 
 MONTICELLO, ILL. 
 
 PHONE 7671 
 
 COMPLIMENTS OF 
 
 Compliments of 
 
 THE EISNER FOOD STORE 
 
 MONTICELLO, ILLINOIS 
 "We offer S & H Green Stamps" 
 
 THE 
 VIO BIN CORPORATION 
 
 MONTICELLO, ILLINOIS 
 
 CHELNETT OIL COMPANY 
 
 Forest Preserve Parkway 
 
 PHONE 8106 MONTICELLO 
 
 Gasoline - Oils - Greases - Brake Work 
 Nash Automobile Agency 
 
 Auto Repair Work - Agricultural Chemicals 
 Airplane Spraying 
 
 NEL- MAC'S 
 SUPER MARKET 
 
 Open 7 Days — 7 A.M. - 10 P.M. 
 
 Complete Line of Groceries and 
 Fresh Meats 
 
 MONTICELLO, ILLINOIS 
 
 MINORS 
 UPHOLSTERING SHOP 
 
 Dial 7831 For Free Estimates 
 We Pick Up and Deliver 
 
 E. SIDE SQ. MONTICELLO, ILLINOIS 
 
 BURGIN BROS. 
 
 Men's Clothing - Home Furnishings 
 
 105-07 S. State Phone 5476 
 
 MONTICELLO, ILLINOIS 
 
for four times), Mattie Body, 
 Nellie Corwin, Floy Hawver, Ar- 
 bie Hawver (Worthy Patron for 
 15 times), Mrs. Rose Stewart, 
 and Grace LeFever. 
 
 The membership of Ivy Leaf 
 Chapter has grown from the orig- 
 inal 14 to the present membership 
 of 129. The present members wish 
 to express their thanks to those 
 14 people who 67 years ago had 
 the initiative to undertake the re- 
 sponsibility of starting an East- 
 ern Star Chapter in Bement. 
 The present officers are: 
 Virgie Brittenham 
 Worthy Matron 
 Lynn Peterson 
 
 Worthy Patron 
 Opal Hill 
 
 Associate Matron 
 Louis Miller 
 
 Associate Patron 
 Emma Peterson 
 
 Secretary 
 Selda Miller 
 Treasurer 
 Ruchiel Born 
 
 Conductress 
 Berniece Wildman 
 
 Associate Conductress 
 Nora Buckner 
 
 Chaplain 
 Mary Hillis Totten 
 
 Marshal 
 Gloria Larson 
 
 Organist 
 Mollie VanGorder 
 
 Adah 
 Cora Fish 
 
 Ruth 
 Challice Larson 
 
 Esther 
 Lillie Larson 
 
 Martha 
 Alva Miles 
 
 Electa 
 Lucia Day 
 Warder 
 Harley Miles 
 
 Sentinel 
 Betty Miller 
 Instructress 
 Eastern Star meetings are held 
 on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of 
 each month. 
 
 ODD FELLOWS LODGE 
 
 Irwin Lodge, No. 344, Bement, 
 Illinois, I. O. O. F. was Instituted 
 by Charter duly granted by the 
 R. W. Grand Lodge of the State 
 of Illinois, with the following as 
 charter members: R. F. Jones, 
 Aaron Misenhelter, D. C. Moffit, 
 E. O. Wallace, Peter Caughen- 
 baugh, and J. N. Bills, bearing 
 the date of October 9, 1867. 
 
 The first meeting of the Lodge 
 however had been held earlier 
 that year in February (1867), 
 when the following were elected 
 and installed into their respec- 
 tive offices: E. O. Wallace (Noble 
 Grand), J. N. Bills {Vice Grand), 
 R. F. Jones (Rec. Sec'y), Peter 
 Caughenbaugh (Treasurer). The 
 installing officer was Grand Mas- 
 ter Herr. After installation the 
 following were admitted to mem- 
 bership: C. Schoolcraft, Samuel 
 Dearing, Joseph W. Fristoe, J. 
 A. Force, C. Newton, Wm. L. 
 Finley, John Hughes, H. A. 
 Starks, and Peter Shaffer by a 
 Dispensation duly granted by 
 G M. 
 
 Elmer Bentley has held the of- 
 fice of Noble Grand the past year 
 and the following are the officers 
 for the coming year: Ed Busick 
 (Noble Grand), Delmar Bentley 
 (Vice Grand), Marion Bentley 
 (Secretary), Elmer Bentley (Fi- 
 nancial Secretary), and Fred 
 Klump (Treasurer). They have 
 regular meetings each Friday 
 night with the County meeting 
 on the third Monday of each 
 month. 
 
 BRYANT MEMORIAL 
 REBEKAH LODGE No. 65 
 
 Bryant Memorial R e b e k a h 
 Lodge No. 65 was instituted on 
 Nov. 8, 1950 in the Legion Hall 
 at Bement. 
 
 Mildred Lebdusha, President of 
 the Rebekah State Assembly of 
 Illinois presented her staff of As- 
 sembly Officers who instituted 
 the Bement Lodge with forty- 
 three members signing the regis- 
 ter and becoming charter mem- 
 
 bers. 
 
 Cerro Gordo Rebekah Degree 
 Staff conferred the degree on the 
 new candidates. Those entering 
 from other lodges were: 
 
 Betty Malohn (Monticello), 
 Katherine Baird and Charles 
 Baird (Assumption), Isabelle 
 Shonkwiler and Elmer Bentley 
 (by dismissal certificate, having 
 been members in good standing 
 in the disbanded Rebekah Lodge 
 688 of Bement), Opal Hixon (At- 
 wood), and Florence Vaughn 
 (Carthage, 111.). 
 
 The first officers elected on 
 Nov. 8, 1950 were : 
 Katherine Baird 
 
 Noble Grand 
 Betty Malohn 
 Vice Grand 
 Ruth Wright 
 
 Recording Secretary 
 Catherine McCullom 
 Finance Secretary 
 Edith Allison 
 Treasurer 
 Appointed Officers were: 
 Ida Bentley 
 
 Warden 
 Opal Hixon 
 
 Conductor 
 Isabelle Shonkwiler 
 
 Chaplain 
 Frances Bentley 
 
 Inside Guardian 
 Bernice Englehart 
 
 Outside Guardian 
 Mary Neal 
 
 R. S. to N. G. 
 Elma Spearman 
 R. S. to V. G. 
 Alberta McVicker 
 
 L. S. to N. G. 
 
 Sadie Shepherd 
 
 L. S. to V. G. 
 
 Women of the Rebekah Lodge at the Centennial Kick-Off Dinner 
 
J. B. RINEHART 
 REALTOR 
 
 REALTY INVESTMENTS 
 
 208 W. Main St. 
 MONTICELLO, ILLINOIS 
 
 PIATT COUNTY 
 JOURNAL 
 
 MONTICELLO, ILLINOIS 
 
 Serving Piatt County Since 1856 
 
 EAST END TAVERN 
 
 BEER - WINES - LIQUORS 
 PACKAGE GOODS 
 
 MONTICELLO ILLINOIS 
 
 Compliments of 
 
 CARL S. REED 
 INSURANCE AGENCY 1 
 
 Dighton Bldg. — West Side Square 
 MONTICELLO, ILL. PHONE 3171 
 
 CONGRATULATIONS 
 
 TO 
 
 BEMENT 
 
 FIRST STATE BANK 
 OF MONTICELLO 
 
 MEMBER F. D. 1. C. 
 
 OEHMKES IGA 
 SUPER-MARKET 
 
 MONTICELLO, ILLINOIS 
 "The Best In Foods For Less" 
 
 MEET YOUR FRIENDS 
 AT 
 
 CLODFELTERS 
 RESTAURANT 
 
 MONTICELLO, ILLINOIS 
 
 i • , 
 
 ALLEN RADIO 
 and ELECTRIC 
 
 216 W. Washington St. 
 MONTICELLO, ILL. PHONE 5961 
 
 DuMont Television - Apex Washers & Dryers 
 Electrical Work - Gibson Appliances 
 
The State President, Mildred 
 Lebdusha, appointed Mabel 
 Quayle of Decatur to act as spe- 
 cial deputy for the lodge, which 
 she held until 1954. Jane Gross 
 of Cerro Gordo was the next ap- 
 pointed deputy, and Ruth Jones 
 of Gerro Gordo is the present 
 deputy. 
 
 Bryant Memorial No. 65 be- 
 longs to the 18th District of the 
 Rebekah Lodge of Illinois. They 
 hold their meetings on the 2nd 
 and 4th Monday nights of each 
 month. There are 46 members at 
 the present time: 41 Sisters, and 
 5 Brothers. They have lost three 
 members by death: John Neal, 
 Willis Harshbarger, and Opal 
 Hixon (past Noble Grand). 
 
 The Lodge helps to support the 
 Odd Fellows Home in Mattoon, 
 111., and The Children's Home in 
 Lincoln, 111. The latest achieve- 
 ment was to help prepare and 
 serve the Bement Centennial 
 Kick-Off Banquet to 550 people. 
 It was a great success, and the 
 members were happy to have 
 been a part. They are striving for 
 more members to make their 
 lodge stronger and Bement a bet- 
 ter place in which to live through 
 Rebekah Odd Fellowship. 
 
 The present officers of the Re- 
 bekah Lodge are: 
 
 Marcalene Lamb, Jr. 
 
 Past Noble Grand 
 Gladys Webb 
 
 Noble Grand 
 Sadie Shepherd 
 
 Vice Grand 
 Evelyn Fair 
 
 Recording Secretary 
 Clova Smith 
 
 Financial Secretary 
 Vula Durbin 
 
 Treasurer 
 Appointed Officers: 
 Eileen McCullough 
 
 Conductor 
 Bonnie Allison 
 
 Warden 
 Viola Adams 
 
 Chaplain 
 Edna Lash 
 
 R. S. to N. G. 
 Olive Larimore 
 
 L. S. to N. G. 
 Fern* Wildman 
 
 R. S. to V. G. 
 Ruth Abel 
 
 L. S. to V. G. 
 Hazel Liestman 
 
 Inside Guardian 
 Dorothy Miles 
 
 Outside Guardian 
 
 BEMENT LIONS CLUB 
 
 The Bement Lions Club was 
 first organized February 11, 1931. 
 The first officers were: 
 Dr. W. G. McPherson, 
 
 President 
 H. E. Slusser, 
 
 1st Vice-Pres. 
 J. B. Byerline, 
 
 2nd Vice-Pres. 
 A. C. McDowell, 
 Sec'y & Treas. 
 P. E. Peterson, 
 Tail Twister 
 Rex Millikin, 
 Lion Tamer 
 Other charter members were: 
 Rev. N. C. Griffin, Shirley Engle, 
 L. D. Pfoff, L. A. Hodam, An- 
 drew Swenson, E. E. Logan, 
 Clyde Hill, A. T. McPherson, J. F. 
 Sprague, D. E. Godfrey, W. W. 
 Davis, Harry Hill, H. E. Dare, J. 
 H. Malkus, and Chas. Baker. 
 
 Three of the original charter 
 members, Dr. W. G. McPherson, 
 L. A. Hodam, and H. E. Slusser 
 are still members of the club. On 
 May 31, 1936 the charter of this 
 club was cancelled. 
 
 In 1941 the Bement Lions 
 Club was again organized 
 through the efforts of the late 
 Andrew Swenson and other civic 
 minded men of the community. 
 Harry C. Roberts was elected 
 president of the newly organized 
 club and the charter night ban- 
 quet was held at the Methodist 
 church on Wednesday evening, 
 May 21, 1941 with 49 charter 
 members. 
 
 Today the Lions Club has 78 
 members and boasts of being the 
 largest small town Lions Club in 
 its district. The club has played 
 a vital and active role in the civic 
 affairs of Bement and the sur- 
 
 rounding community. In 1949 
 the Bement Lions Club organized 
 the first Little League baseball 
 team in the community, baseball 
 for boys age 8 through 12. It ac- 
 tively sponsors this recreation 
 for boys every summer. About 50 
 Bement boys participate in this 
 baseball program each year. The 
 club was responsible for sending 
 a High School boy to Boys State 
 for a week during the summer for 
 several years. The club also 
 stages the annual Halloween pa- 
 rade and has long sponsored Be- 
 ment's traditional football ban- 
 quet. 
 
 The Bement Lions Club is a 
 part of the International Associa- 
 tion of Lions Clubs, the largest 
 service club organization in the 
 w<?rld, with over half a million 
 members in 11,335 clubs in 65 
 countries of the world. 
 
 Presidents of the Bement Lions 
 Club since it was reorganized in 
 1941 are: Harry C. Roberts, Lew 
 Wilkinson, E. A. Stout, A. E. 
 Bodman, L. A. Hodam, H. E. 
 Slusser, Roy B. Jones, George 
 Wilkinson, R. N. Holloway, David 
 P. Marker, John J. Glennon, 
 Lynn Crook, James D. Raglan, 
 and Carl J. Edwards. 
 
 The following are officers for 
 the coming year: 
 
 Glen Durbin 
 President 
 
 Frank Yeates 
 1st Vice-Pres. 
 
 John W. Walsh 
 2nd Vice-Pres. 
 
 Joseph Foster 
 Sec'y & Treas. 
 
 Stanley Powell 
 Tail Twister 
 
 Wyman Patterson 
 Lion Tamer 
 
Best Wishes 
 SHOP IN COMFORT AT 
 
 EAGAN AND SON 
 
 AIR CONDITIONED 
 
 SUPER WAY GROCERY 
 
 Phone 4141 Atwood, lllnois 
 
 CONGRATULATIONS 
 
 Chapman Implement Company 
 
 Minneapolis-Moline Sales and Service 
 PHONE 2131 ATWOOD, ILLINOIS 
 
 LUCILLE WILLIAMSON 
 
 CLOTHING - NOTIONS 
 
 PHONE 3453 
 
 Atwood, Illinois 
 
 GOOD WISHES TO THE 
 
 BEMENT CENTENNIAL 
 
 ATWOOD TAVERN 
 
 Atwood, Illinois 
 
 Atwood Grain & Supply Co. 
 
 Grain, Feed, Seed, Fertilizer 
 
 PHONE 2341 ATWOOD, ILLINOIS 
 
 George L. Kiley, Mgr. 
 
 Best Wishes for a 
 Successful Centennial 
 
 ATWOOD MEAT MARKET 
 
 Vern Cordts, Prop. 
 PHONE 3321 ATWOOD, ILLINOIS 
 
 BEST WISHES 
 FOR THE NEXT 100 YEARS 
 
 Davis Motor Sales & Service 
 
 DESOTO 
 
 PHONE 3881 ATWOOD, ILL. 
 
 BEST WISHES ON YOUR 
 
 CENTENNIAL 
 
 BIRCH WELDING SERVICE 
 
 Atwood, Illinois 
 
LITTLE LEAGUE baseball 
 was founded by Carl E. Stotz in 
 Williamsport, Pa. in 1939 and the 
 sport spread westward from the 
 Atlantic coast until today it is 
 one of the fastest growing boy's 
 activities in the country. It is 
 regulation baseball but played on 
 a 60-foot diamond and limited to 
 boys between the ages of 8 
 through 12. Little League base- 
 ball has been described as Big 
 League baseball adapted to the 
 mental and physical capacities of 
 the boys of America. 
 
 The Bement Lions Club organ- 
 ized the first Little League team 
 in 1949 and the response of the 
 boys was so enthusiastic that 
 the club has sponsored the ac- 
 tivity ever since. Bement was 
 one of the early communities in 
 
 the area to have Little League 
 baseball. 
 
 Boys out for the sport are di- 
 vided into two groups in Bement: 
 the Major League Lions team 
 for the older, more experienced 
 boys; and three Minor League 
 teams for beginning players. The 
 Major League team is coached 
 by Dean Stout, assisted by Don 
 Stout. The three Minor League 
 teams are the All Stars, coached 
 by Gene Holloway, assisted by 
 Francis Speltz ; the Reds, coached 
 by Frank Yeates, assisted by 
 Ronnie Robbins; and the Blues, 
 coached by Linzey Corum. All 
 Bement teams play a regular 
 schedule of baseball in the Cham- 
 Piatt League, consisting of Ives- 
 dale, Sadorus, Pesotum, Mahomet 
 and Bement. 
 
 1 
 
 ?<** 
 
 <•"• 
 
 9%fMd?f?fi?f 
 
 -AMERICAN LEGION POST_ 
 
 Albert Parker Post No. 620, 
 the American Legion, was named 
 for Sgt. Albert H. Parker, Co. 
 B, 5th Machine Gun Battalion, 
 U. S. A., the son of Mr. and 
 Mrs. R. T. Parker, Bement, Illi- 
 nois, who was killed in action in 
 France on November 5, 1918. 
 
 The Charter of the Post was 
 issued on the 28th day of April, 
 1920 with the following listed as 
 charter members: 
 
 Francis E. Morrow 
 
 Elmer Haynes 
 
 Percy H. Hill 
 
 Frank Flavin 
 
 George L. Clark 
 
 Eugene D. Evans 
 
 Olin L. Day 
 
 John S. Carlin 
 
 Elmer L. Kelly 
 
 T. R. Clark 
 
 C. E. Morrow 
 
 L. L. High 
 
 Roy A. McKinney 
 
 J. A. Muthersbaugh 
 
 Paul R. Flowers 
 
 The present officers of the 
 Post are: 
 
 Napoleon Jackson, Command- 
 er. 
 
 William W. Redman, Vice- 
 Commander 
 
 Bryan Wilson, Finance Officer 
 
 Ralph E. Wright, Adjutant. 
 
 The Post at this time has 90 
 members. 
 
 In 1946 the Post purchased the 
 building located on East Bodman 
 Street, Bement, which had for- 
 merly been occupied by Andrew 
 Swenson's Furniture Store and 
 Funeral Establishment. The 
 building is made available for the 
 use without cost to Albert Par- 
 ker Unit No. 620, the Amer- 
 ican Legion Auxiliary and the lo- 
 cal unit of Mothers of World 
 War II, as well as to local civic 
 and religious meetings. A num- 
 ber of the members of the Post 
 have been Commanders of the 
 Piatt County Council of The 
 American Legion and one mem. 
 ber, Bryan Wilson, has been 19th 
 District Commander. 
 
 The Post has been active in sup- 
 port of civic events and improve- 
 ments in the community and 
 makes an annual presentation of 
 the American Legion school 
 award to one boy and one girl 
 graduating from the grade 
 school. 
 
 AMERICAN LEGION 
 AUXILIARY 
 
 The "White House," now the 
 residence of R. E. Hardin, was the 
 scene of much activity on May 13, 
 1931 when 20 patriotic women of 
 the Bement community took the 
 initial steps necessary in organ- 
 izing the American Legion Aux- 
 iliary to Albert Parker Post 620 
 of Bement, Illinois. 
 
 This exclusive group, all eligi- 
 ble for membership, through 
 Father, Son, Brother, or Hus- 
 band, dedicated themselves to 
 unselfish service "To God and 
 Country." 
 
 The charter was signed on 
 July 31, 1931. 
 
 To commemorate this first 
 meeting of these women at the 
 "White House" an annual Lunch- 
 eon is held each year in May, for 
 all members and their guests, 
 thus keeping the memories and 
 incidents of that first meeting 
 alive. 
 
 The charter officers were: 
 Lissie M. Crookshank 
 
 President 
 Opal Fisher 
 
 1st Vice-Pres. 
 Goldia Peterson 
 2nd Vice-Pres. 
 Stella Moore 
 Secretary 
 Ruth Patterson 
 
 Treasurer 
 Bertha Parker* 
 
 Chaplain 
 Marie Harden 
 Sergeant-at-Arms 
 Other charter members were: 
 Rose Biggs*, Julia Brya, Alta 
 
Congratulations to Bement 
 on your Centennial 
 
 Pierson Grain & Supply Co. 
 
 Pierson Station, III. 
 
 COMPLIMENTS OF 
 
 ABES TAVERN 
 
 Hammond, Illinois 
 
 CONGRATULATIONS 
 
 LONGS CHEVROLET 
 
 HAMMOND, ILL. 
 Phone 2651 
 
 COMPLIMENTS OF 
 
 FEDERAL - NORTH 
 IOWA GRAIN CO. 
 
 HAMMOND, ILLINOIS 
 
 Congratulations to a 
 Prospering Community 
 
 BROWN AND HIS "BROWNIES" 
 
 Brown's Hdwe. & Supply 
 
 PHONE 2351 HAMMOND, ILLINOIS 
 PLUMBING & HEATING 
 
 LOCATED AT 
 
 108 W. WASHINGTON STREET 
 MONTICELLO, ILLINOIS 
 
 O. L. CLINE AND DONN PIAtT 
 
 d/b/a 
 
 BURGESS & CLINE 
 
 INSURANCE - ALL KINDS 
 
 PIATT COUNTY LOAN ASSN. 
 
 LOANS & SAVINGS 
 
"White House- 
 
 Clark, Maxine Clark, Ruby Clark, 
 Naoma Cole*, Lelah Lamb, Ida 
 Long*, Jennie Nash*, Johanna 
 Peterson*, Olive Reddin, Edith 
 Wallace, Maggie White* 
 (* Deceased.) 
 
 From the original 20 members 
 who signed the Constitution, the 
 Legion Auxiliary has maintained 
 a steady growth in membership, 
 ever adding to their roster all eli- 
 gible women who desire to be as- 
 sociated with the Legion Auxil- 
 iary, and membership now stands 
 at 92. Regular meetings are held 
 on the 3rd Friday of each month. 
 The Aims and Services of the 
 Auxiliary are to promote Child 
 Welfare and Rehabilitation. The 
 local unit has done this in the 
 following ways: 
 
 By distributing books and pa- 
 triotic literature in the pub- 
 lic schools and library. 
 By encouraging school children 
 to write and submit essays 
 on important matters per- 
 taining to Americanism. 
 By contributing to the Na- 
 tional Organization towards 
 establishing auxiliary loan 
 funds for education of orph- 
 ans of veterans to further 
 their education, and for 
 scholarships which are avail- 
 able to pupils who strive for 
 higher learning. 
 By sending a High School 
 Junior girl of outstanding 
 traits to Girls State at Mac- 
 Murray College in Jackson- 
 ville for one week to studv 
 and learn the ways of good 
 government. 
 By selling the "Miracle Flower 
 of Flanders Field," namely 
 the poppy. 
 By promoting and encouraging 
 students to enter the Poppy 
 Poster Contests. 
 
 By contributions and services 
 rendered to the Veterans 
 Hospital at Danville. 
 The present officers are: 
 Mrs. Wayne R'edman 
 
 President 
 Mrs. Louis Miller 
 
 1st Vice-Pres. 
 Mrs. Clyde Wrench 
 
 2nd Vice-Pres. 
 £rs. T. R. Clark 
 
 Secretary 
 Mrs. Ward Dare 
 
 Treasurer 
 Mrs. Harry Lamb 
 
 Chaplain 
 Mrs. Loren Hampton 
 
 Sergeant-at-Arms 
 Mrs. Harold Wittig 
 Sergeant-at-Arms 
 The following are Gold Star 
 members: Mrs. Edna Bruce, Mrs. 
 Eva Buxton, Mrs. Ray Kintner, 
 Mrs. Thilda Larson, Mrs. James 
 Raglan, Mrs. Charles Ray, Mrs. 
 Scott Sutphen, Mrs. S. O. Turner. 
 
 HOME BUREAU IN BEMENT 
 
 The birth of the home eco- 
 nomic extension work in Bement 
 and Piatt County was accom- 
 plished by women who had read 
 in the papers of the activities of 
 such organizations in other 
 counties. 
 
 Through the efforts of these 
 ladies, with the help of the Farm 
 Adviser at that time, Mr. S. S. 
 Davis; and the assistance of the 
 home extension staff of the Uni- 
 versity of Illinois, Home Bureau 
 organization was planned and 
 started. At the time it seemed 
 best for Douglas and Piatt coun- 
 ties to organize together. 
 
 On August 14, 1930 the first 
 meeting was held at the Atwood 
 High School with Mrs. S. T. 
 Veach presiding. There were 103 
 
 in attendance. It was voted that 
 these two counties organize to- 
 gether as the "Douglas-Piatt 
 Home Bureau." The first officers 
 were: 
 
 President — Mrs. John Mc- 
 
 Carty, Douglas 
 1st Vice-Pres. — Mrs. Charles 
 
 Blickensderfer, Piatt 
 2nd Vice-Pres. — Mrs. Lester 
 
 Smith, Douglas 
 Secretary — Mrs. J. E. Miller, 
 
 Piatt 
 The purpose of the organiza- 
 tion was to interest all the ladies 
 of the communities in worth- 
 while activities and to develop 
 leadership. 
 
 The aims of the Home Bureau 
 are as follows : 
 
 To Have Every Home: 
 Economically Sound 
 Mechanically Convenient 
 Mentally Stimulating 
 Morally Wholesome 
 Artistically Satisfying 
 Physically Healthy 
 Socially Responsible 
 Spiritually Inspiring 
 Founded Upon Mutual Affec- 
 tion and Respect. 
 By 1937 the membership had 
 increased until it was necessary 
 to separate the counties into two 
 organizations. 
 
 A meeting was held December 
 1, 1937 in the Monticello High 
 School with 200 ladies present. 
 Mrs. .Frank LeFever of Milmine 
 presided. Officers were elected to 
 serve until September 1, 1938. 
 There were twelve original units 
 in the Piatt County organization: 
 Bement, Bethel, Blue Ridge, Cen- 
 terville, Cerro Gordo, Cisco, Ham- 
 mond, Lodge, Milmine, Monti- 
 cello, R. F. D., and Voorhies. 
 
 The following women have 
 served as Home Advisers: 
 
 Miss Mary Duckworth 1930-32 
 Miss Christy Hepler 1933-35 
 Miss Lucille Gring 1935-36 
 Miss Lucille Swenson 1937-41 
 Miss Bernice Smith 1941-42 
 Miss Lorennie Berry 1942- 
 The interest in Home Bureau 
 work has increased thru the years 
 and at the present time there are 
 18 units in Piatt County with a 
 membership of 432 plus 20 as- 
 sociate members. 
 
 The Home Bureau has been re- 
 sponsible for the starting of vari- 
 ous 4-H Clubs, Better Leader- 
 ship, Greater Participation in 
 Community Affairs, and a Broad- 
 er World Vision. 
 
 The University of Illinois Ex- 
 tension Service and Home Dem- 
 
CONGRATULATIONS 
 BEMENT 
 
 JOS. KUHN & CO. 
 
 Champaign 
 
 M. J. REED, JEWELER 
 
 Champaign, Illinois 
 14 Main Street 
 
 SHELBY MOTORS 
 
 408-12 S. NEIL CHAMPAIGN, ILL 
 
 Dodge - Plymouth Dealers 
 Sales and Service 
 
 24 HOUR SERVICE — WRECKER SERVICE 
 
 W. LEWIS & CO. 
 
 Champaign's Leading 
 Department Store 
 
 Champaign's Leading 
 
 House Furnishing 
 
 — House — 
 
 Grand Leading Furniture Center 
 
 Charlie Hirschfeld 
 
 Two Go&d Things In Illinois 
 
 CORN 
 
 AND 
 
 RELIABLE FURNITURE CO. 
 
 Champaign, Illinois 
 
 OWENS FUNERAL HOME 
 
 CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS 
 Phone 8672 Air Conditioned 
 
 WORDEN - MARTIN, INC. 
 
 j£fk 
 
 Cgfy 
 Packard - Hudson 
 
 __ | 
 
onstration Work makes it possi- 
 ble for members to continue 
 Home Economics Studies in their 
 local groups under University 
 guidance. 
 
 Many interesting reports of 
 Home Bureau accomplishments 
 are given each year during Farm 
 & Home Week at the U. of I. 
 
 a- » mr?i kkx rrxyrrrrOnfft ft H"H W"* 
 
 BEMENT SENIOR WOMAN'S 
 CLUB 
 
 Fifty-nine years ago, the Be- 
 ment (Senior) Woman's Club 
 was organized on a beautiful Oc- 
 tober day in 1896. Of the ten 
 charter members, four served as 
 president: Mrs. Fred Unholtz, 
 Mrs. J. F. Knapp, Mrs. W. W. 
 Hammond, and Mrs. L. H. Al- 
 vord. The other charter mem- 
 bers were: Mrs. Albert Boggs, 
 Mrs. Edith Burks (now Mrs. Ed- 
 ward Back), Mrs. Clara Conroy, 
 Mrs. Tracy Holland, Miss Helen 
 Thompon, and Mrs. S. K. Bod- 
 man. Later after the county and 
 19th District were duly organ- 
 ized, the Bement Club was Fed- 
 erated and in 1929 they joined 
 the General Federation of Wom- 
 an's Clubs — an International 
 Federation. 
 
 From the first, education and 
 social life were stressed. Later 
 civic and community problems 
 were undertaken. The library 
 has been the outstanding work 
 of the club since its organiza- 
 tion. For many years, Mrs. W. 
 G. Cloyd headed the Library 
 Committee, .and year after year 
 helped to keep tl • library open 
 until the township voted a Li- 
 brary Tax and a librarian was 
 hired. Most of the members 
 helped in some way and collected 
 and donated books and maga- 
 zines. 
 
 Other presidents of the club 
 have been: Mrs. Hudson Martin, 
 Mrs. Charles Lamb, Mrs. J. L. 
 Bodman, Mrs. J. C. Evans, Mrs. 
 E. H. Camp, Mrs. W. A. Ham- 
 
 mond, Mrs. H. Schwab, Mrs. A. 
 L. Wilkinson, Mrs. H. E. Shaw, 
 Miss Annie Mitchell, Mrs. An- 
 drew Swenson, Miss Rebecca 
 Clark, Mrs. W. W. Davis, Miss 
 Kathryn B. Fisher, Mrs. A. L. 
 Pelton, Mrs. Carl Thompson, 
 Mrs. Fletcher Beck, Mrs. Darl 
 Evans, Miss Minnie Fisher, Mrs. 
 J. R. Bower, Mrs. E. E. Folk, 
 Mrs. S. M. Postlewait, Mrs. W. 
 G. McPherson, Mrs. Roy B. 
 Jones, Mrs. C. J. Tinkham, Mrs. 
 E. C. Haynes, Mrs. A. T. Mc- 
 Pherson, Mrs. E. S. Bodman, 
 Mrs. Margaret Cloyd Wilson, 
 Mrs. Rex. Millikin, Mrs. Urban 
 Kottler, Mrs. Frank Bryan, Mrs. 
 J. F. Sprague, Mrs. G. L. Bur- 
 gess, Mrs. Fred Dabler and Mrs. 
 R. H. Smith, Mrs. J. B. Byer- 
 line, Mrs. Harry Roberts, Mrs. 
 Clarence Lefever, Mrs. L. A. 
 Hodam, Mrs. Lucy Moore, Mrs. 
 Blake Livingston. Mrs. Living* 
 ston is the president for the 
 1955-56 term. 
 
 There are five members who 
 have been in the club for over 
 
 \ **^y^ V ; 
 
 BEMENT JUNIOR WOMAN'S 
 
 CLUB (EVENING WOMAN'S 
 
 CLUB) 
 
 The Bement Junior Woman's 
 Club was organized in December, 
 1928, at the home of Mrs. Nellie 
 McPherson, who was elected 
 sponsor and later elected to life 
 membership. The presidents have 
 been as follows: Mrs. Mary 
 Glynn Bleitz, Mrs. Thelma Priest- 
 ly Durbin, Mrs. Beulah Fay Hill. 
 Mrs. Cecelia Farrell Sinkevitch, 
 Mrs. Lucille Madden Coffin, Mrs. 
 Jeanette Piggott Henebry, Mrs. 
 Lotha Lowman Clark, Mrs. Alice 
 
 40 years, served as president, 
 and have been made life mem- 
 bers: Mrs. J. L. Bodman, Mrs. 
 W. A. Hammond, Mrs. A. L. Pel- 
 ton, Mrs. A. L. Wilkinson, and 
 the late Mrs. Andrew Swenson. 
 National Authors' Day which 
 is widely observed throughout 
 the United States had its birth 
 in Bement. The original reso- 
 lution was submitted by Nellie 
 Verne Burt McPherson while she 
 was president of the Bement 
 Woman's Club. It was sponsored 
 by the local club, the Piatt Coun- 
 ty Federation, the 19th District, 
 State and National Organiza- 
 tions. The resolution was pre- 
 sented to the National Conven- 
 tion where it was adopted May 
 31, 1929, and the date of No- 
 vember 1 was set aside for its 
 observance. The purpose of Na- 
 tional Authors' Day is "To show 
 patriotism and appreciation to 
 those who have given us a liter- 
 ature, and to encourage and in- 
 spire others to lend their talents 
 in making a better America." 
 
 Haynes Merry, Mrs. Leona Hol- 
 loway, Miss Helen Monaghan, 
 Mrs. Dorothy Moore Vander- 
 creek, Mrs. Jeanne Edwards 
 Jones, Mrs. Ellen Morris, and 
 Miss Marian Bloomer. 
 
 The Junior Club was District 
 and State Federated in 1929 and 
 joined the General Federation of 
 Women's Clubs in 1944 as a Sen- 
 ior Woman's Club, changing 
 their name to the Evening Wom- 
 an's Club — with the same ob- 
 jective and motto: "Greater spir- 
 itual development in that service 
 that will aid the recipient and 
 strengthen the giver." 
 
 The meetings are held on the 
 fourth Monday of each monLh 
 from September through April 
 at 7:45 P. M. at the High School. 
 Some of their special interests 
 have been: The Bement Library 
 with a donation of 100 books the 
 first year; National Author's 
 Day with special programs and 
 in 1932 a special radio broad- 
 cast by the Club Chorus and 
 members; 19th District Scholar- 
 ship Fund with donations each 
 year — the first student to use 
 this fund was Mildred Wrench 
 while a member of this club; 
 and musical scholarships for 
 high school students. They also 
 have donated to the County 
 Nursing Home, Bement Red 
 Cross. March of Dimes, Boy and 
 
MAY YOUR NEXT 100 YEARS BE AS 
 
 SUCCESSFUL AS THE LAST 
 
 J. E. FORAN & SON 
 
 
 NTERI4ATI0NAL 
 HARVESTER 
 
 
 ATWOOD 
 
 REFRIGERATORS & FREEZERS 
 
 ILLINOIS 
 
 BEST WISHES TO A PROGRESSIVE 
 COMMUNITY 
 
 QUICKS RADIO & TV 
 
 Zenith and Philco 
 Radio, Television and Appliances 
 
 For Complete, Guaranteed TV Service on 
 any make of set 
 
 phone 4481 
 
 Atwood, Illinois 
 
 MONTICELLO 
 READY-MIX CO. 
 
 MONTICELLO ILL. 354 WEST MONROE ST. 
 PHONE 6816 
 
 QUALITY READY MIXED CONCRETE 
 
 WESTS PONTIAC 
 
 316 S. Market Phone 6066 
 
 MONTICELLO, ILLINOIS 
 
 NEW AND USED CARS 
 
 Complete Service — (All Makes) 
 
 . 
 
Girl Scouts, and the Bement Cen- 
 tennial Committee. This year 
 they plan to sponsor ,a Centen- 
 nial Luncheon to honor Mrs. 
 Helen Chapman, International 
 President of the General Federa- 
 tion of Women's Clubs. 
 
 The following women have 
 been made Life Members in 
 recognition of 25 years or more 
 of continuous membership: Mar- 
 guerite Allen, Lotha Clark, Guy- 
 nell Creel, Irene Durbin, Thelma 
 Durbin, Helen Fay, Beulah Hill, 
 Helen Jeffers, .and Nellie Mc- 
 Pherson. 
 
 BEMENT 
 TOWNSHIP LIBRARY 
 
 Literary Societies and "schools 
 for polemics" were active in Be- 
 ment's very early years. In the 
 fall of 1866, at a meeting of one 
 of these societies, a suggestion 
 was made that a society be or- 
 ganized for general reading, and 
 the Tableau Society pledged its 
 funds to such an enterprise. In 
 the pursuance of the suggestion, 
 a public meeting was held with 
 George L. Spear as chairman. 
 The meeting was poorly attended, 
 but an association was formed 
 and $134. was subscribed for the 
 purchase of books. A constitu- 
 tion was adopted in December, 
 1866, and the following officers 
 were elected: Mr. George L. 
 Spear, president; Mr. R. S. Hop- 
 kins, 1st vice-president; Joseph 
 Bodman, treasurer, and H. A. 
 Coffeen, librarian. With funds 
 from dues, private contributions, 
 and a series of lectures, the li- 
 brary was well started. 
 
 On May 29, 1877, James S. 
 Peairs, Robert Fisher, P. A. Dun- 
 can, N. N. Vance, John R. Klapp, 
 T. Sterling, Jessie Hughes, Anna 
 Dunn, Geneva Dunn, Henry N. 
 Camp, G. A. Stadler, and Ada 
 Newton applied for incorporation 
 of "The Bement Literary and 
 
 Library Association, the business 
 and object of which shall be in- 
 tellectual, social and moral im- 
 provement of its members and 
 the community at large, the same 
 to be under the direction and con- 
 trol of (7) seven directors, the 
 names of whom as selected for 
 the first year are Thomas Lamb, 
 Hortense Klapp, Wm. G. Cloyd, 
 Anna Dunn, Robert Fisher, Mary 
 Thomas, ad Curtis J. Hinman." 
 
 In addition to regular meet- 
 ings, this group of younger men 
 and women presented programs 
 of readings, essays, debates, dra- 
 matics and music for the public 
 and without doubt they aided the 
 library financially. Perhaps they 
 were not single-minded enough, 
 because on September 26, 1878, 
 at which time there were 914 vol- 
 umes on the shelves, a petition 
 for incorporation of "The Libra- 
 ry Association of Bement," sign- 
 ed by L. W. Bodman, B. B. Bacon, 
 F. E. Bryant, S. K. Bodman, Jo- 
 seph Bodman, and D. W. C. Niles, 
 all older men, was forwarded to 
 the Secretary of State; and the 
 "Library Association of Bement" 
 was chartered September 27, 1878. 
 The directors were: Chas. F. Ten- 
 ney, Joseph Bodman, A. D. New- 
 ton, L. W. Bodman, Lucy F. 
 Knapp, and Clara Bodman. By 
 paying $10.00, one became a life 
 member and paid no dues; $5.00 
 made one an elector, with dues 
 of 50c a year; annual members 
 paid $1.00. The rest of the money 
 was raised by subscription. The 
 library was open for two hours 
 on Saturday afternoon. Two 
 books a week were allowed to 
 each member. In 1893, with 1214 
 volumes, and a circulation of 3000 
 books a year, it was, according 
 to Miss Emma Piatt, "by far the 
 best in the county." 
 
 In 1897, the newly organized 
 Woman's Club took over the 
 books belonging to the Bement 
 Library Arsociation, as it was 
 called, continuing it as a subscrip- 
 tion library — one dollar a year. 
 Until 1910, it was housed in a 
 room in the First National Bank 
 Building, given rent free by Mr. 
 W. M. Camp. When remodeling 
 was done, it moved to the Loud- 
 enback building, staying there 
 for more than a year. Then it 
 moved to another rent-free room, 
 an inside room over the State 
 Bank, offered by Mr. H. E. Shaw. 
 Mr. George Thompson shared the 
 heat of his office, which was an 
 adjoining room, and a coal oil 
 
 lamp furnished light. 
 
 In April 1912, a one mill tax 
 proposition for a free township 
 library was defeated by 212 votes. 
 The next November, Rev. Shirley 
 and Rev. Enninger secured sub- 
 scriptions from the business and 
 professional men which enabled 
 the club to buy and equip a read- 
 ing table and keep the library 
 open one afternoon and two eve- 
 nings a week for a year. After 
 that, the dollars from readers, 
 part of the Club dues, and the 
 proceeds from the sale of waste 
 paper an entertainment, two 
 waffle suppers, a chicken frv, 
 and a Christmas sale paid the 
 rent and bought books. Mr. J. F. 
 Sprague made no charge for the 
 coal and the librarians made their 
 own fires, carried out the ashes, 
 and swept the floors. Other club 
 members helped with periodical 
 heavy cleaning. 
 
 In 1920, books were borrowed 
 from the Illinois State Library 
 Extension Division, and the libra- 
 ry was made free. In 1921, after 
 a tax proposal was again defeat- 
 ed, it was closed and the books 
 were stored. Three yars later it 
 was reopened with the State 
 books, in a grade school base- 
 ment room, with Woman's Club 
 members taking turns as librar- 
 ian. One year Mrs. Nellie Mc- 
 Pherson stayed every Saturday; 
 and for another year and more 
 the every-member system was 
 used again. Mrs. W. G. Cloyd 
 headed the Library Committee, 
 and year after year helped to 
 keep the library open. 
 
 In 1936, the tax proposal car- 
 ried and the following were elect- 
 ed as the first Library Board: 
 Mrs. J. L. Bodman, Mrs. Clarence 
 Funk, Mrs. W. G. McPherson, 
 Kenneth Burgess, Arbie Hawver, 
 and George Larson. They immed- 
 iately commenced work on the 
 project of getting a library start- 
 ed. The first floor of the Masonic 
 Building was leased and remod- 
 eled. During the summer of 1938, 
 Mrs. Fred Lux and Miss Wilma 
 Lux sorted, repaired and cata- 
 logued the old books. Miss Mer- 
 rett Winegarner was employed as 
 librarian. She was followed by 
 Mrs. Berlyn Leach, Mrs. Lyle 
 Stotts, Miss Sybil Romack, and 
 again by Mrs. Lyle Stotts. On 
 April 1, 1946, Mrs. Charles Pier- 
 son became librarian and re- 
 mained until the time of her 
 death in the fall of 1954. Many of 
 our children have benefitted from 
 
BUCHANAN BUICK 
 
 313 W. Main Telephone 3901 
 
 MONTICELLO, ILLINOIS 
 
 PFEFFER IMPLEMENT CO. 
 
 SALES AND SERVICE 
 
 Dial 3461 
 
 MONTICELLO 
 
 ILLINOIS 
 
 MclNNES FLOWER SHOP 
 
 % 103 South State 
 
 MONTICELLO, ILLINOIS 
 Phones 2177 - 2178 
 
 Best Wishes on Your Centennial 
 
 BIRCH OIL CO. 
 
 MARATHON DEALER 
 PHONE 2641 ATWOOD, ILLINOIS 
 
 COMPLIMENTS 
 
 COMPLIMENTS OF 
 
 S.(R. ® 
 
 ora 
 
 FUNERAL SERVICE & FURNITURE 
 
 yitvcood, Illinois 
 
 TELEPHONE 2431 
 
 HEAVY ROAD EQUIPMENT 
 
 F. E. Thompson 
 
 Pierson Station, III. 
 
 Best Wishes for a 
 Successful Centennial 
 
 GREVE FARM EQUIPMENT 
 
 PHONE 4131 ATWOOD, ILLINOIS 
 
her helpful and patient service. 
 Mrs. Stotts, who had returned as 
 Mrs. Pierson's assistant, was ap- 
 pointed to take her place. Her as- 
 sistant is Mrs. Arthur Edwards. 
 
 Three of the six original mem- 
 bers, Mrs. J. L. Bodman, Mrs. W. 
 G. McPherson, and George Lar- 
 son are still on the board. Charles 
 Ball replaced Arbie Hawver, and 
 Roy B. Jones replaced Mr. Ball. 
 This spring (1955) Mrs. Walter 
 Morris and Mrs. R. R. Siders Jr. 
 were elected to take the places of 
 Mrs. Clarence Funk and Kenneth 
 Burgess. Mr. Larson has been the 
 secretary of the board since its 
 beginning. 
 
 At the time of the opening, 
 there were about 1000 volumes 
 on the shelves. There are now 
 8102 (5483 adult aiH 2619 chil- 
 drens), and 38 magazines and 
 newspapers, (30 for adults and 
 8 for children). There are 1215 
 borrowers (610 adults and 605 
 children). 
 
 PARENT-TEACHERS 
 ASSOCIATION 
 
 The Bement Parent-Teachers 
 Association was granted a char- 
 ter by the Illinois Congress of 
 Parents and Teachers on Dec. 4, 
 1935. This organization was ac- 
 tive until 1940, when the charter 
 was dropped. 
 
 The P.T.A. was reorganized at 
 a meeting held in the High School 
 Gym on January 6, 1949. Eighty- 
 four persons attended this meet- 
 ing, and seventy-five agreed to 
 become members of the new or- 
 ganization. 
 
 The following officers were 
 elected : 
 
 Mrs. Blake Livingston, 
 
 President 
 Elmer Larimore, 
 1st. Vice-Pres. 
 
 Mrs. Zelma Morris, 
 
 2nd Vice-Pres. 
 Wilbur Hawbaker, 
 
 Secretary 
 Mrs. Joe DeFore, 
 Treasurer 
 The second Thursday of each 
 month was selected as the regu- 
 lar meeting date. 
 
 The objects of P.T.A. are : 
 
 To promote the welfare of 
 
 children and youth in 
 
 home, school, church, and 
 
 community. 
 
 To raise the standards of 
 
 home life. 
 To secure adequate laws for 
 the care and protection of 
 children and youth. 
 To bring into closer relation 
 the home and the school, 
 that parents and teachers 
 may cooperate intelligent- 
 ly in the training of the 
 child. 
 To develop between educa- 
 tors and the general pub- 
 lic such united efforts as 
 will secure for every child 
 the highest advantages in 
 physical, mental, social, 
 and spiritual education. 
 The Bement P.T.A. is now a 
 part of the National Congress of 
 Parents and Teachers as well as 
 the State group. In 1950, the Illi- 
 nois State Congress of P.T.A. 
 started a "Golden Jubilee Scholar- 
 ship." The Bement P.T.A. has 
 contributed towards this scholar- 
 ship since that time and Bement 
 has been very fortunate in hav- 
 ing two of their youths selected 
 for this honor. Miss Phyllis Mur- 
 phy was awarded the first "Gold- 
 en Jubilee Scholarship" awarded 
 in 1950, and this year, Miss Fran- 
 ces Dick has received the scholar- 
 ship. This is a $1000 scholarship, 
 awarded for one year, and re- 
 newed for three years at the rate 
 of $250 annually if the grades of 
 the student are satisfactory. 
 
 The following have served as 
 president of the P.T.A.: Mrs. 
 Blake Livingston, Mrs. John 
 Glennon, Mrs. Lynn Born, Mrs. 
 Walter Morris, Mrs. Alfred L. 
 Moore, Mrs. Willard Morris, Mrs. 
 Roy Fay. 
 
 The officers for the coming 
 years are as follows: 
 
 Eugene Wright, President 
 Mrs. Joe Tracy, Vice-Pres. 
 Mrs. Elton Haynes, Secy. 
 J. K. Steidinger, Treasurer 
 
 BOY SCOUTS 
 
 Boy Scouting was renewed in 
 Bement in 1950. Since that time 
 there have been approximately 
 150 boys in Cub Scouts. Boy 
 Scouts, and Explorer Scouts par- 
 ticipating in a very active pro- 
 gram. 
 
 The aims of scouting are to 
 provide a healthy outdoor pro- 
 gram for all the boys who wish 
 it, to help in training boys to 
 work and play together in a har- 
 monious manner, and to help in 
 training boys to become useful 
 citizens. How well these aims are 
 accomplished depends on the 
 work and cooperation of the boys, 
 the boys' parents, the sponsor- 
 ing organization, the troop com- 
 mittee, the leaders, and the sup- 
 port of the rest of the citizens of 
 the community. 
 
 Bement Boy Scout Troop No. 
 58 is sponsored by the Inter- 
 Church Council with the follow- 
 ing as the Troop Committee: R. 
 N. Holloway, Chairman; E. A. 
 Stout, Rev. D. Ross Fleming, 
 Rev. Clyde E. West, and Glen 
 Durbin. The Scoutmaster is 
 Frank Yeates. There are 35 boys 
 in the Scout Troop at the present 
 time. The highlight of the Boy 
 Scout program this Centennial 
 year will be a 15 day camping 
 trip to Yellowstone National 
 Park. There will be 26 boys and 
 8 adults leaving on this trip the 
 15th of August. 
 
 The Cub Scout program in Be- 
 ment is sponsored by the P. T. A. 
 with the following: as the Troon 
 Committee: S. Royal, Edward 
 Masters, Robert Harper, Don 
 Haws, and Raymond Dick. Ray 
 Robbins also attends the com- 
 mittee meetings as the represen- 
 tative of the P. T. A. There are 
 26 boys in Cub Scouts at this 
 time. John Pope serves as Cub- 
 master, and Milford Bentley as 
 assistant Cubmaster. Den Moth- 
 ers are: Mrs. Dave Marker, Mrs. 
 Loren Ball, Mrs. Ray Carpenter, 
 Mrs. Don Haws, and Mrs. Lester 
 Hord. 
 
FARM BUREAU 
 INSURANCE SERVICE 
 
 MACKEY FUNERAL HOME 
 
 AIR-CONDITIONED THROUGHOUT 
 
 R. R. O'DELL, GEN. AGENT 
 
 24 HOUR AMBULANCE SERVICE 
 
 E. D. Lyon - C. W. Barnes - R. L. Wisegarver 
 Special Agents 
 
 PHONE 2173 MONTICELLO, ILLINOIS 
 
 RESUSCITATOR & OXYGEN EQUIPPED 
 MONTICELLO, ILL. DIAL 2126 
 
 GUCKERS DRUG STORE 
 
 FOR CHOICE STEAKS AND 
 FRIED CHICKEN 
 
 WALGREEN AGENCY 
 
 STOP AT 
 
 Phone 3176 West Side Square 
 
 IVALL'S 
 
 MONTICELLO, ILLINOIS 
 
 North Side Square Monticello, Illinois 
 
 CONGRATULATIONS 
 
 
 BEMENT 
 
 We Enjoy and Appreciate Your Patronage 
 Very Much 
 
 KEN-LO 
 LANES 
 
 KAP CHEVROLET CO. 
 
 SALES & SERVICE 
 
 MONTICELLO, ILLINOIS 
 
 MONTICELLO, ILLINOIS 
 
 
 BAUMAN FUNERAL HOME 
 
 • SINCERE PERSONAL SERVICE 
 
 • AIR-CONDITIONED 
 
 WESTERN AUTO 
 ASSOCIATE STORE 
 
 "Everything for the Automobile" 
 
 • 24 HOUR AMBULANCE 
 
 OWEN R. MONTGOMERY, Owner 
 
 MONTICELLO, ILLINOIS PHONE 2181 
 
 i 
 
 MONTICELLO, ILL. PHONE 5561 
 
The highlight for the Cub 
 Scouts this year was their Spring 
 Carnival which was a big suc- 
 cess. It displayed the great 
 amount of time and .work spent 
 by the boys, the Den Mothers, the 
 Cubmasters, and the Pack Com- 
 mittee, 
 
 GIRL SCOUTS 
 
 The Bement Girl Scouts were 
 reorganized in August of 1951. 
 They received their charter and 
 became a member of the Na- 
 tional Organization in November 
 of the same year. 
 
 The purpose of Girl Scouting 
 is to teach the girls to be self- 
 reliant, to enjoy the great out- 
 of-doors, to be useful, and to be- 
 come better citizens. These are 
 all accomplished by the help of 
 the girl's parents, the commun- 
 ity, the sponsoring organization, 
 the troop committee, and the 
 leaders. 
 
 Girl Scout Lone Troop No. 1 
 is sponsored by the P.T.A. with 
 the following as the Troop Com- 
 mittee: Mrs. Clarence Janes, Mrs. 
 Wm. Scott, Mrs. Lewis McVick- 
 er, Mrs. Allen Mardis, and Frank 
 Yeates. There are 39 girls in 
 the Scout program at the present 
 time. Mrs. Frank Yeates and 
 Mrs. H. M. Vandercreek serve as 
 the Girl Scout Leaders, and Mrs. 
 Art Knowles is the Assistant 
 Leader. 
 
 Some of the highlights of Girl 
 Scouting in Bement this past year 
 were the Christmas Ornaments 
 and Gift Project, their cook-outs, 
 hikes, and of course their Girl 
 Scout Summer Camp. 
 
 Bottom row from the left: Fanny Smith, Eva Kimmel, Cora Niles, and Mae 
 
 Muthersbough. 
 2nd row from the left: Dora Trabue (Groves), next two people have not been 
 
 identified, Lena Winestein, Ada Ruby (Burke-Back), and Ellen Evans. 
 3rd row from the left: Anna Pettit, Geneva Dunn (Hicks), Nettie Brooks (Body) 
 
 and Mabel Tenney (Ricketts). 
 This picture taken about 1880. 
 
 Bottom row — from the left: C. L. Body, Joe Dill, Romie Winestein. 
 
 2nd row from the left: Will Ruby, Amos Show, Bert Force, Harve Muthersbough, 
 
 Norman Camp, and Al Ricketts. 
 
 3rd row from the left: Doctor Trabue, Byron Dyarman, George Lewis, Marsh 
 
 Bridges, and Isaac Scott. 
 
 This picture was taken about 1880. 
 
 October 12, 1909 — Buster 
 Brown and his dog Tige were at 
 W. W. Body's store in Bement. 
 
 A ledger kept by S. K. Bodman 
 in 1865-66 gave these prices : Coal 
 Oil, $1.00 per gallon; Linseed Oil, 
 $2.00 per gallon; White Lead, 
 14c per lb.; Quinine, $3.50 per 
 ounce. 
 
 Oct. 10, 1901 — The new ce- 
 ment sidewalks being put in this 
 week on Bodman street, from L. 
 H. Alvords grocery west to 
 Rhode's saloon, and in front of 
 the post office and Lancaster and 
 Oldridge's barber shop, is a much 
 needed improvement and one 
 which should be extended 
 
*7a Bement 
 
 044 if044/l 
 
 ESTABLISHED 1857 
 
 Mueller Co. 
 
 Manufacturers of Water and Gas Distribution and Service Products 
 
 In Decatur Since 1857 
 
 Plants Located at 
 
 DECATUR — CHATTANOOGA — LOS ANGELES 
 
 SARNIA, ONTARIO 
 
Old Settlers Picnic 
 
 HISTORY OF THE PRACTICE 
 OF MEDICINE 
 
 The life of a medical practi- 
 tioner in a newly settled country 
 was generally one of toil and 
 hardship; compensation was us- 
 ually meager and however ex- 
 tensive the physician's practice 
 might have been, much of it was 
 gratuitously rendered because of 
 the poverty of his patients. A 
 few bushels of potatoes or win- 
 ter vegetables, a barrel of apples 
 or freshly butchered meat were 
 often taken in lieu of money. 
 Truly, this was the day of the 
 horse and buggy doctor, for he 
 drove over bad roads and forded 
 streams as he shivered under his 
 buffalo robe. 
 
 Many of those early doctors 
 who ministered to the sick in this 
 community were not graduates 
 of any medical institution and 
 today would not be recognized 
 as competent physicians, but 
 they exercised what knowledge 
 they had in the interest of suf- 
 fering humanity, and deserve 
 credit for what they did. 
 
 THE MEDICAL PROFESSION 
 IN BEMENT 
 
 Bement's First Doctor 
 
 Dr. John R. Klapp, graduate 
 physician, farmer and Supervisor 
 wins this honor, for he was liv- 
 ing on a farm southeast of Be- 
 ment and served the sick in 1856. 
 He was a native of Ohio, born 
 in 1812. Dr. Klapp moved to 
 Texas in 1889 and later moved 
 to Salina, Kansas where he died 
 in 1894. He and his wife and 
 two daughters are buried in Be- 
 ment. 
 
 Dr. John H. Leal was in the 
 village in 1857, and must have 
 been above the average, for he 
 was considered the best surgeon 
 in the county. Dr. Leal moved 
 to California in 1871. 
 
 Dr. John H. Taylor, one of the 
 county's oldest settlers, was Dr. 
 Leal's partner for seven years 
 until he left Bement in 1868. 
 
 Dr. John Scott was a resident 
 of Bement until 1875, when he 
 moved to Kentucky, but it is 
 thought that he didn't practice 
 medicine while in Bement as he 
 was engaged in looking after his 
 farming interests. 
 
 Dr. Margaret Ferguson Routh, 
 
 a pioneer mother and physician 
 was a remarkable woman. She 
 did not graduate from medical 
 school, but did study children's 
 diseases mainly for the purpose 
 of successfully raising her own 
 children. When widowed she 
 moved to the Bement commun- 
 ity. People came to her, for med- 
 ical advice and treatment, and 
 although she never weighed over 
 100 lbs., she rode horseback all 
 over the territory, including the 
 Lake Fork district, fifteen miles 
 from her home. She died in Be- 
 ment in 1903 at the age of 84. 
 
 The Piatt County Democrat of 
 August 6, 1859, published the 
 following notice: "J. W. Law- 
 rence, M.D. has located in Be- 
 ment." There is no other in- 
 formation available, so it is 
 thought that he didn't stay in 
 Bement for long. 
 
 Dr. Chipman had his card in 
 the papers of March 4, 1865, 
 claiming to be a late surgeon of 
 the Army, with a cure for the 
 "Ager". He advertised that he 
 would be in the Floyd House at 
 Monticello every Saturday all 
 day and spend the rest of the 
 time in Bement. 
 
SLUSSER'S 
 
 BEMENT, ILLINOIS 
 for 
 
 Quality Merchandise 
 
 and 
 
 Friendly Service 
 
 WE APPRECIATE 
 THE PAST . . . 
 
 WE ANTICIPATE 
 THE FUTURE 
 
 CONGRATULATIONS 
 
 TO 
 
 THE GREAT COMMUNITY 
 OF 
 
 BEMENT, ILLINOIS 
 FOR 
 
 THEIR WONDERFUL 100 YEARS 
 
 H. L. PHILLIPS CO. 
 
 ARTHUR, ILLINOIS 
 
 Congratulations on your 
 
 FIRST 
 
 100 YEARS! 
 
 When visiting Champaign - Urbana, we cordially 
 invite you to stop in and get acquainted. 
 
 SHOP IN AIR CONDITIONED COMFORT 
 
 16-18 MAIN — DOWNTOWN CHAMPAIGN 
 "The Home of Hickey-Freeman" 
 
 VISIT . . . 
 
 SIDERS BROS. 
 DRUG STORE 
 
 BEMENT, ILLINOIS 
 
 WHILE 
 
 VISITING BEMENT 
 
 ON ITS 
 
 100TH ANNIVERSARY 
 
 R. R. Siders 
 Ralph R. Siders, Jr. — Dan F. Siders 
 
Dr. Noah Noble Vance was 
 born in Newport, Kentucky, 
 March 20, 1845, and later moved 
 to Indiana. In the Civil War he 
 served with the "Bloody" 123rd 
 Regiment. Dr. Vance graduated 
 from the Cincinnati Medical Col- 
 lege in March, 1868. His wife 
 was Fanny Routh, daughter of 
 Dr. Routh. They were married 
 in Bement Dec. 24, 1872. To 
 them were born five sons : Walter 
 Noble; William Baker; Harvey 
 Marshal, M.D. ; James St. Clair, 
 M.D.; and George Edward. 
 
 Dr. Vance first located in Cerro 
 Gordo, and later moved to Be- 
 ment where he was a partner of 
 Dr. Leal for a short time. Dr. 
 Vance had a large practice, but 
 was poorly paid because he was 
 the quiet unassuming type that 
 hated to ask people for money. 
 He was a natural surgeon, and 
 having no hospital to aid him 
 often used his own home for a 
 hospital. — Harvey Fay, for 
 years Piatt County Clerk, had 
 his arm torn off by a corn shred- 
 der and Dr. Vance took care of 
 him. His son Noble, in a letter 
 describes the case as follows: "I 
 remember the calm skill with 
 which Dad cooly, yet quickly did 
 that terrible amputation on Har- 
 vey; with the tissues pulled clear 
 from the middle of his back, and 
 his arm chewed up to the shoul- 
 der; later I remember the 
 
 '*-! 
 
 i 
 
 SSL ,.;,. . 
 
 Dr. and Mrs. N. N. Vance 
 
 strained, driven sort of look and 
 unskillful sort of trembling way 
 he nipped the first skin graft off 
 my arm, as well as off Harvey's 
 good arm, in his effort to get 
 the skin to cover up that shoul- 
 der; after the first graft Dad 
 was alright, and today no scar 
 can be found on me except for 
 the first one." 
 
 January 15, 1879, Dr. Vance 
 and his family moved to Texas 
 but later returned to Bement. 
 In 1881 Dr. Vance was appointed 
 Wabash Surgeon, and was elect- 
 ed president of the County Med- 
 ical Society, when it was reor- 
 ganized in 1904. He died May 
 10, 1916, at the age of 71. 
 
 Dr. Joel J. Parker came about 
 1870, and stayed several years. 
 
 He was classed as a good doctor, 
 but was inclined to get nervous 
 and excited over a patient's con- 
 dition. He had "Vapor Baths" 
 which he used in his practice, 
 but it is stated that no one re- 
 membered taking one. In fact 
 Bement probably preferred the 
 washtub by the kitchen stove on 
 Saturday night. He left Bement 
 about 1878. 
 
 Dr. William S. Ruby was a 
 Civil War veteran, a scout and 
 spy in the conflict. He came to 
 Bement in 1870 to practice 
 homeopathy. Many stories were 
 told about this man, and opinions 
 differ. For example, we are told 
 that he was in the penitentiary 
 for murder; another says he was 
 being taken to the pen when he 
 jumped out of the car window, 
 swam a river and enlisted in the 
 Union Army. He did shoot John 
 Cole in Bement, who died some 
 weeks later, but Ruby was ac- 
 quitted on grounds of self-de- 
 fense. Dr. Ruby had a drug store 
 and as did most of the rest in 
 those days, sold whiskey. A 
 clerk slept in the back room at 
 night; a tap was heard on the 
 window, it was raised slightly 
 and a hand with 50 cents came 
 in, a pint went out, that's all 
 ... In 1888 he moved to Cali- 
 fornia where he later shot him- 
 self in 1896. 
 
 Dr. George P. Ruby was a 
 
 Miss Nellie Alvord and her Orchestra 
 
W. K. STRACK & SON 
 
 Pump Sales & Service 
 
 Wiring & Plumbing 
 
 CHRYSLER AIRTEMP 
 HEATING and AIR CONDITIONING 
 
 Phone: Monticello 5766 
 
 COMPLIMENTS OF . . . 
 
 BEMENT POST OFFICE 
 
 Postmaster, Ruth L. Patterson 
 
 Clerks — Margaret L. Marker, Don B. Kitson 
 
 Substitute Clerk — Opal K. Fisher 
 
 City Carrier — Robert D. Curry 
 
 Substitute City Carriers — Eugene Corum, Jim 
 
 Clark, Jerry Stout 
 Rural Carriers — Kermit E. Body, Francis H. 
 
 Doty 
 Substitute Rural Carriers — Frank H. Lux, Dio 
 
 P. Rittenhouse 
 Messenger — Tom T. Fisher 
 
 Representing: 
 
 Cargill Hybrid Corn 
 
 GUS WALL 
 
 HARRISON CLIFTON 
 
 LYNN BORN 
 
 DAVE MARKER 
 
 JOHN MARKER 
 
 ROBERT GREGG 
 
 BEST WISHES 
 
 TO 
 
 BEMENT 
 
 ON ITS 100th BIRTHDAY 
 
 "Service Is Our Business" 
 
 Carpenter's Shell Service 
 
 BEMENT ILLINOIS 
 
 Raymond Carpenter . . . Dean Wright 
 
 THE ATWOOD STATE BANK 
 
 "A Good Little Bank" 
 
 L. S. Collins, President Wilbur Beery, Cashier 
 
 At wood, Illinois 
 
 Member Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 
 
 Monticello 
 Chamber of Commerce 
 
 SALUTES BEMENT 
 ON ITS CENTENNIAL 
 
graduate of the New York Home- 
 opathic School in 1877; was in 
 Monticello as an eye and ear man 
 as well as general practice. He 
 moved to Bement, where he 
 stayed two years, and during the 
 two years he had eight runaways 
 and ruined three buggies. He 
 died in the Jacksonville Hospital 
 in the nineties. 
 
 Dr. W. W. Nelson came in 
 1875, stayed two months and 
 moved on to Missouri. 
 
 Dr. R. Fisher located here in 
 1877, but no doubt the "Practice 
 Act" ruined him the same year. 
 
 Dr. John W. Smith, graduate 
 of Jefferson Medical came in 
 1882, but after a short stay 
 moved to South Dakota. 
 
 Dr. J. R. Nelson opened a drug 
 store in Bement in 1877. He 
 was a cripple due to tuberculosis 
 of one foot and ankle, and this 
 caused his death Jan. 31, 1879 
 at the age of thirty-three. 
 
 Dr. A. C. Douglas of Decatur, 
 a graduate of Rush in 1865 
 bought the drug store and moved 
 to Bement April 1, 1879. He 
 left in 1884 and moved to Lake 
 City and still later to Minnesota. 
 
 Dr. David B. Hawks — Little is 
 known of this man, but in an old 
 newspaper dated 1877. a report 
 was shown that Dr. Hawks, at 
 that time fifty-seven years old 
 was found in a critical condition 
 in his office. Old settlers re- 
 ported that he was a drug user. 
 He died March 28, 1889, aged 
 sixty-nine. 
 
 Dr. Alanson Stockwell came to 
 Bement after forty-eight years 
 of practice to retire. This was 
 in the year 1878. He died Dec. 
 8, 1879 and is buried in the Be- 
 ment Cemetery. 
 
 Dr. P. A. Rosenberger came 
 to Bement Feb. 19, 1879. Ac- 
 cording to the papers, he came 
 highly recommended but that is 
 all we know of him. 
 
 Dr. Edward Swaney came to 
 Bement with his bride (Miss 
 Emily Camp of a prominent Be- 
 ment family) from Ohio, about 
 1870. He was president of the 
 village board in the eighties — a 
 great hunter and real sportsman. 
 He died in 1891. 
 
 Dr. Lyman T. Gregory, home- 
 opathic physician located in Be- 
 ment in 1883, but soon moved 
 to Lovington where he lived for 
 years before moving to Cali- 
 fornia. 
 
 Dr. E. H. Graves was born in 
 1849 and came to Bement in 
 
 1884. He left several times go- 
 ing to Boody, Bethany and once 
 to Arkansas, but always returned 
 to Bement. Here he died in 1909 
 at the age of sixty. Dr. Graves 
 was a man of deep religious con- 
 victions; a foe of liquor and vice 
 in general and probably hurt his 
 business by being a little too 
 militant, too free to express his 
 views on these subjects. 
 
 Dr. H. H. Hall, a homeopath 
 came from Taylorville in 1888. 
 He was a big man with brown 
 whiskers, and a man of great 
 dignity. While in Bement he 
 was following the fad of the 
 homeopaths of that time, of cur- 
 ing most diseases by using rectal 
 dilators on their patients. He 
 later got into trouble for selling 
 whiskey. He was acquitted in 
 the Justice of Peace Court, but 
 when the State's Attorney got 
 busy Hall skipped out, not both- 
 ering to take his furniture. 
 
 Dr. M. D. Cook — He was not 
 a graduate, but practiced some. 
 He was so good that he told the 
 exact time a certain patient 
 would die — and she did, proving 
 that Doc was a good guesser . . ! 
 His other stock in trade was 
 well-digging and he was just as 
 proficient in that art as in medi- 
 cine, perhaps more so . . . 
 
 Doctor's Fee Bill (From Be- 
 ment Register — April 21, 1904). 
 On and after May 1, 1904, we 
 the undersigned physicians of 
 Bement will charge for our serv- 
 ices according to the following 
 fee bill: 
 
 For office examinations and 
 medicine, not less than 50c 
 
 Single visits in town $ 1.50 
 
 Night visits in town, be-, 
 tween 10 P. M. and 
 
 6 A. M $ 2.00 
 
 Extra patients in same 
 
 family 50c to $ 1.00 
 
 Day riding, $2.00 for first 
 mile and 50c for each 
 additional mile. 
 Night riding, $2.00 for 
 first mile and $1.00 
 for each additional mile. 
 Obstetrics, uncomplicated $10.00 
 Detained services in ob- 
 stetrics over five hours, 
 $1.00 per extra hour. 
 Delivery by turning, 
 
 or forceps $15.00 to $20.00 
 
 Consultation visits $10.00 
 
 Minor surgical 
 
 operations $1.00 to $5.00 
 
 Gonarrhea — $5.00 in ad- 
 vance and $1.00 for each 
 additional prescription. 
 
 Fractures $10.00 to $25.00 
 
 Administering chloroform 
 
 or ether $ 5.00 to $10.00 
 
 All fees considered due when 
 services are rendered. 
 
 
 THE BEMENT BAND— 1903 
 
 Reading from left to right: 1st row — F. L. McClure, Bert Pryor, Herbert B. 
 
 Schuh. 
 2nd row — Earl Bowyer, Troy Medaris, Harry Loudenback, M. C. Campbell, 
 
 A. S. Ward. 
 3rd row — Director Alexander, S. W. Bodman, Charles Pope, Andrew Swenson, 
 
 L. L. Byerline, R. R. Siders, Dr. Albright. 
 4th row — W. A. Steele, E. B. Sprague, Dr. J. G. Bauer, Darl Evans, Cyrus Bruce, 
 
 Walter Dawson. 
 
COMPLIMENTS 
 
 Alblinger Bros. Hdwe. Co. 
 
 IVESDALE, ILLINOIS 
 Phone 4-3500 
 
 Plumbing - Heating - Appliances 
 Hardware 
 
 Maytag Washers 
 
 Rheem Water Heaters 
 Philco Refrigerators 
 Sunbeam Appliances 
 
 U.S. ROYAL 
 
 AND 
 
 ARMSTRONG 
 
 TIRES and TUBES 
 FACTORY DISTRIBUTORS 
 
 IBS' 
 
 ITIRESI 
 
 WE HAVE 
 A COMPLETE 
 TIRE SERVICE 
 
 WHEEL BALANCING 
 
 VULCANIZING — RETREADING 
 
 SEAT COVERS - MUFFLERS 
 
 ACCESSORIES 
 
 FOR ROAD SERVICE 
 
 Dial 2-7137 
 
 SMITH TIRE CO. 
 
 257 W. MAIN — DECATUR, ILL. 
 
 You Always Buy Better At Smith's 
 
 aII&m you tuxctxy weatitty la- 
 
 GREAT 
 
 ■ 1 
 
 COAL 
 
 : 0m 
 
 GLEN DURBIN, Manager 
 TELEPHONE: 2311 
 BEMENT, ILLINOIS 
 
 9 Less than a bushel of ash to a ton 
 • For automatic stokers or hand firing 
 
Dr. Albert L. Trabue was born 
 in Indiana, but came to Bement 
 when he was a boy. He studied 
 medicine and practiced in Kan- 
 sas before returning to f Bement. 
 He always enjoyed a good prac- 
 tice when not whipped out by 
 "King Alky," and had quit many 
 times on account of it. 
 
 Dr. Martin Van Buren Turley, 
 tiring of Cerro Gordo, came to 
 Bement in 1889, but after one 
 year left. He must have tired 
 of Bement also. 
 
 Dr. Louis S. Kelly, who grad- 
 uated as a homeopath in New 
 York in 1891, was here for a 
 short time but moved to Chicago 
 where he was proprietor of the 
 Ogden House. 
 
 Dr. J. D. Donavan, "A New 
 Allopath Doctor," came in 1896, 
 then moved to Lake City and 
 later to Lovington. 
 
 Dr. Charles W. Geiger, Home- 
 opath of Paxton, came in 1896 
 and stayed until 1903 when he 
 moved to Gilman and then to 
 Kankakee. 
 
 Dr. Amos Thatcher N o e, 
 nephew of Dr. O. D. Noe grad- 
 uated from the Missouri Home- 
 opathic in 1885, came to Bement 
 in 1896, and then later moved 
 to California. 
 
 Dr. Charles A. Walton located 
 in Bement in 1898. He built up 
 a good practice and remained un- 
 til 1903, when he grew a crop 
 of whiskers and started out on 
 the road making one day stands 
 as a "Specialist" traveling out 
 of Chicago. 
 
 Dr. Warren Gordon McPherson 
 — We are dealing with the pre- 
 sent when we arrive at this well 
 known physician. He was born 
 near Neoga, Illinois, March 30, 
 1875. He graduated from the 
 Chicago Medical in 1901 and 
 came to Bement where he 
 has been ever since. History 
 
 « 
 
 ^z2 
 
 
 ' 
 
 ■n 
 
 »■ Si^SB 
 
 
 He&9 
 
 ^m^^*=»w»^| 
 
 
 ISllPr 
 
 
 1 'Ite flfflr -*<* 
 
 ^H 
 
 
 
 1898-99 BEMENT FOOTBALL TEAM 
 
 Reading from left to right — Front row: Carl Thompson, James Lamb. 
 
 2nd row: Millard Brown, James Sine, Charles McGaffey, Douglas Sine, Ray 
 
 Moore. 
 3rd row: Henry Scott, Charles Ball, St. Clair Vance. 
 4th row: Willard Bower. 
 
 must say that he has been suc- 
 cessful, medically and financial- 
 ly, being a farm owner and a 
 very busy doctor. 
 
 Dr. McPherson married Miss 
 Lula Delp, who died of heart dis- 
 ease in 1912, leaving one daugh- 
 ter, Helen. In 1914, he married 
 Mrs. Grace Rothmeyer, who died 
 in 1921 of tuberculosis. In 1923 
 he married Miss Ethel Rose of 
 Bement, and a son and a daugh- 
 ter have been born to this union. 
 The doctor belongs to the Coun- 
 ty, State and American Medical 
 Associations, and during World 
 War I served on the Exemption 
 Board with Allen F. Moore and 
 Carl S. Reed. He succeeded Dr. 
 Vance as Wabash Surgeon at Be- 
 ment. The doctor has served 
 many times on the school board 
 of Bement, and has been a reg- 
 ular follower of the high school 
 
 OLD THRESHING RING 
 
 Willis Carter, Engineer — Roy Carter with team — Ira Arthur at the blower 
 Edgar Carter, feeder. 
 
 teams in defeat or victory . . . 
 
 Dr. Albert Leroy Ward was 
 born in Missouri in 1870,, mov- 
 ing to LeRoy, Illinois when a 
 small boy. He came to Bement 
 in 1903 from Milmine. He was 
 of slight build but was a hustler 
 and successful in his business. In 
 1911, he invested his money in 
 the Wabash Life Insurance Com- 
 pany of Danville, became the 
 medical director, but it proved a 
 failure. He moved to Decatur 
 where he died of typhoid fever 
 in 1917 at the age of forty-seven. 
 
 Dr. Alva G. Foster, a Christian 
 minister graduated in medicine 
 at the P. & S. of St. Louis, when 
 thirty-five. He located here in 
 1903, but soon moved to Deca- 
 tur, where he advertised a cure 
 for the liquor habit. He was 
 still in Decatur in 1915, but there 
 the trail ends . . . 
 
 Dr. Harvey Marshall Vance, a 
 native of Bement practiced here 
 only a few months in 1915 when 
 he took care of Dr. McPherson's 
 practice. He was born in 1878, 
 son of Dr. N. N. Vance. He lived 
 in the west, but was buried at 
 Bement in 1918 after his death 
 from influenza. 
 
 Dr. Weldon Kilton came to Be- 
 ment after his graduation at the 
 Bennett Medical School, Chicago, 
 1907. He soon moved to Harvel, 
 Illinois, where he remained for a 
 number of years and later moved 
 to Sujlivan. 
 
 Dr. Albert Field was born in 
 
CONGRATULATIONS TO BEMENT FOR ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF PROGRESS 
 
 A. E. Staley Mfg. Co. Bement Grain Co. 
 
 Processors of corn and soybeans, pro- 
 viding a market for the grain of local 
 farms. 
 
 Handlers of all farm grains and farm 
 merchandise with complete grinding 
 and mixing services. 
 
 Manufacturers of: Dealers for: 
 
 STALEY'S Hi-efficiency Feeds STALEY'S Hi-efficiency Feeds 
 
 Working together for farm prosperity during the second century. 
 
 m mm- m 
 
 THE 
 
 STATE BANK 
 
 of 
 
 HAMMOND 
 
 WITH TRUST POWERS 
 
Canada in 1870, graduated in 
 Chicago in 1904, and on Feb. 1, 
 1913, came to Bement as a part- 
 ner of Dr. Ward. He remained 
 until he enlisted in World War 
 I. He settled in Chicago after 
 the war. 
 
 Dr. J. O. Baldwin took the of- 
 fice of Dr. Field but did not re- 
 main long. 
 
 Dr. Henry J. Hollison, a home- 
 opath, graduated from Herring 
 Medical in Chicago in 1906, came 
 to Bement in 1916, and remained 
 until he entered the service. Lat- 
 er he went to California. 
 
 Dr. James St. Clair Vance, son 
 of Dr. N. N. Vance was born in 
 Bement in 1882. He graduated 
 at Northwestern in 1910, was in 
 the service at Panama a num- 
 ber of years, but returned in 1917 
 to be with his sick father. He 
 had his office in the Telephone 
 Building. He was elected Secre- 
 tary and Treasurer of the Coun- 
 ty Medical Society and was a 
 popular man among his fellow 
 physicians. After his father died, 
 he again went to Panama, and 
 later to Los Angeles, California. 
 
 There was also a Dr. Edding- 
 ton and his wife, Dr. Murtell 
 M. Eddington, who located in Be- 
 ment for the practice of medi- 
 cine, but we don't have the date 
 of arrival or any other informa- 
 tion about them. It is thought 
 that they were here around 1912. 
 
 Dr. Vigo T. Turley was a na- 
 tive of Indiana, where he was 
 born in 1893. He came to Illi- 
 nois to study medicine, graduat- 
 ing at Hahnemann in 1918. He 
 came to Bement soon after and 
 stayed until 1929, when he moved 
 to Decatur. 
 
 Dr. Warren E. Burgett took 
 over the practice of Dr. Turley 
 in the fall of 1929, coming from 
 
 Onarga where he had been for 
 ten years. He graduated at 
 Louisville in 1886, where he prac- 
 ticed for a number of years. 
 
 Dr. A. M. Bruner, a native of 
 Topeka, Kansas, attended the 
 University of Illinois for pre- 
 medical course, graduating in 
 1924. He graduated from the 
 University of Illinois Medical 
 School in Chicago in 1929, going 
 to the Methodist Hospital in In- 
 dianapolis for his internship. 
 Following this he was with a 
 clinic at Muskegon, Michigan for 
 one year and then with the U. 
 of I. Health Service in Cham- 
 paign for one year before com- 
 ing to Bement, where he opened 
 his office on the 16th of August, 
 1932. He sold his practice to 
 Dr. Wm. Scott in November of 
 1946. At the present time he 
 is practicing at Monticello, 111. 
 
 Dr. M. F. Speltz came to Be- 
 ment and opened an office for 
 the general practice of Osteo- 
 pathy in May, 1938. Dr. Speltz 
 was born in Minnesota where he 
 graduated from Holy Trinity 
 High School at Rollingstone, 
 Minnesota. He attended the Wi- 
 
 nona State Teachers College and 
 the University of Minnesota and 
 taught school for one year be- 
 fore entering the Kirksville Col- 
 lege of Osteopathy and Surgery 
 where he graduated in 1935. 
 After graduation, he came to De- 
 catur to assist a physician who 
 was temporarily ill, and it was 
 at this time that he became in- 
 terested in Bement. He came to 
 Bement in 1938, after spending 
 2V2 yrars on the sta. p f of a Sani- 
 torium in New York. 
 
 Dr. William M. Scott, the only 
 active M.D. at this time was a 
 graduate of the Monticello High 
 School. He went to the Univer- 
 sity of Illinois in Champaign for 
 his pre-medical course and grad- 
 uated from the Northwestern 
 Medical School in 1938. After 
 serving his internship at the 
 Methodist Hospital in Indianap- 
 olis, he started his practice in 
 Sullivan, Illinois in 1939. He 
 closed his office in Sullivan dur- 
 ing the war when he went into 
 the military service. Upon his 
 release in 1946, he opened his 
 office here in Bement. 
 
 Digging a well on old school grounds. 
 (1894) 
 
 A. M. Totten Cutting Wheat about 1898. Left to right are: Dee Jackson, Ezra 1 
 Fuqua, Earl Totten, A. M. Totten, and Frank Totten on the binder. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Swenson 
 
CONGRATULATIONS BEMENT 
 ON YOUR CENTENNIAL 
 
 R. C. MILLER - MONTICELLO W. C. MILLER - BEMENT 
 
 PHONE 2144 PHONE 4901 
 
 THE LEGION AND 
 
 LEGION AUXILIARY 
 
 SALUTE BEMENT 
 
 ON ITS 100th ANNIVERSARY 
 
 AND AS WE SALUTE ITS PAST . . . MAY YOU LOOK FORWARD 
 TO AN EVEN GREATER FUTURE 
 
 ALBERT PARKER POST 620 and 
 AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY 
 
 of 
 BEMENT, ILLINOIS 
 
PRE-CENTENNIAL KICK OFF 
 
 Honor guests at the Kick-off dinner 
 were seven residents of the area who 
 are 85 years of age or older. They were 
 introduced by Charles Strohl and were 
 given a round of applause when they 
 stood in response to the introduction. 
 Six of them are shown in the above 
 picture but unfortunately, Mrs. Harry 
 Eaton, 86, who was seated two or 
 three chairs away, did not get in the 
 picture. In the picture left to right 
 are seated: Mrs. William Schwartz 
 (86), Mr. William Schwartz (84), Mrs. 
 Cynthia Shepherd (87)*, Miss Clara 
 Hyatt (94), Standing— N. P. (Nick) 
 Kelly (90), James Palmer (86), Frank 
 Lefever (86), and Mrs. Sarah Miles 
 Kirkland (84). (*Deceased) 
 A list of those invited but unable to 
 be present were: Elmer Spear (93), 
 George Jackson (94), Miss Clara Bod- 
 man (88), Joseph C. Ford (88), John 
 Sebens (88), Mrs. Mary Fahrnkopf 
 (91), Reuben Adkins (87), Wm. Mus- 
 son (87), Mrs. Minnie Slagle (87), 
 John Metzger (86), Urban Kotter (86), 
 W. A. Hammond (85), .... George 
 Tucker, Mrs. Dodd, Mrs. Edith Stone, 
 L. D. Pitts, and Tom Holden whose 
 ages we do not have. 
 
 PRE-CENTENNIAL KICK OFF 
 
 -*%V ~~~ *W~* 
 
 :/- v , v. ^. '-'.*«- 
 
 "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" — A group of sweethearts led by song leader James 
 Raglan and accompanied by Stanley Powell at the Hammond organ. This was j^ r ant j M rs Robert Fisher at Be- 
 just part of the fun at Bement's Big- Centennial Kick-Off Dinner. ment's Centennial Kick-off Dinner. 
 
0. R. SLAGLE 
 
 Bement, Illinois Phone 5251 
 Authorized 
 
 SALES «« SERVICE 
 
 Your Ford Dealer 
 For the Past 20 Years 
 
 WELCOME TO . . . 
 
 THE DRIVE INN 
 
 On Route 105 
 
 BEMENT, ILLINOIS 
 
 — Air Conditioned — 
 
 JUST GOOD FOOD 
 
 Open Every Day Including Sundays 
 
 "Norm" Edwards, Prop. 
 
 CENTENNIAL CONGRATULATIONS 
 
 DR. M. F. SPELTZ 
 
 OSTEOPATHIC PHYSICIAN 
 
 BEMENT, ILLINOIS 
 
 Compliments of 
 
 HIXSONS BARBER SHOP 
 
 1 BLOCK WEST OF ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH 
 
 In Bement Since 1937 
 
 Congratulations to Bement 
 
 for the first 
 
 1.00 Years 
 
 MINTUNS GARAGE 
 
 24 Hour Wrecker Service 
 Dial 2751 
 
 Compliments of 
 
 The TURNERS 
 
 (DALE AND ALVA) 
 
 PAINTERS & DECORATORS 
 
 PHONE 4823 BEMENT, ILLINOIS 
 
 Compliments of 
 
 RALPH E. HARDEN 
 
 (BABE WHITE) 
 GENERAL PLUMBING 
 
 PHONE 2291 
 
 "Visit Our Curiosity Shop 
 When Visiting Bement" 
 
 Compliments of 
 
 WILLARD E. MORTON 
 
 BEMENT, ILLINOIS 
 PHONE 4132 
 
 Dealer for . . . 
 
 CROW'S HYBRID SEED CORN CO. 
 
 and 
 NUVAR SEED ASSN. 
 
 Oats and Bean Seed and Chemicals 
 
In the center of the Centennial Seal is a drawing of the Bryant Cottage, 
 now a State Lincoln-Douglas Memorial, and an outline of the monu- 
 ment between Bement and Monticello where Lincoln and Douglas 
 met in 1858 and agreed to confer that evening in the Bryant Cottage 
 to make arrangements for their now famous debates. The hands with 
 their broken chains are symbolic of the theme of the Centennial — 
 "Can the World Exist Half Slave and Half Free." 
 
 Mrs. Francis Phillips, winner of the Centennial Seal Contest. In addi- 
 tion to designing the Official Centennial Seal, Mrs. Phillips created 
 the art work and illustrations in this book. 
 
 KICK-OFF DINNER 
 
 Monday evening April 11, 1955 
 will not soon be forgotten by the 
 550 persons who gathered in Be- 
 ment's spacious new high school 
 gym for the Centennial Kick-Off 
 Dinner. 
 
 The setting for the dinner was 
 beautiful. Long banquet tables 
 with red, white, and blue run- 
 ners the entire length of each ta- 
 ble, lighted by old kerosene lamps 
 (90 of them) which were brought 
 out from their hiding places and 
 donated by the owners for use 
 at the dinner, a covered wagon 
 scene painted by Mrs. Harold 
 Wallace at the north end of the 
 gym, and a back drop scene made 
 by the Industrial Arts Class, un- 
 der the supervision of James 
 Coleman, back of the speaker's 
 stand with the words across the 
 top "WithoMalice Toward None", 
 and the large replica of the Lin- 
 coln-Douglas pryamid with the 
 Centennial-Seal on each panel — 
 these were the major decorations. 
 
 It was a festive scene, with 
 most of the diners in centennial 
 attire, the women in charming 
 
 gowns and bonnets, some old, 
 some new, but all reflecting the 
 fashions of yesteryear ; the 
 bearded men in frock coats, fan- 
 cy vests and ties of a past era. 
 Add to this the happy, smiling 
 faces, the sparkle and laughter 
 and you have the whole picture. 
 Edgar S. Bodman gave the in- 
 vocation preceding the dinner. 
 
 The delicious three course din- 
 ner was served under the direc- 
 tion of Norman Edwards with 
 the members of Bryant Memorial 
 Rebekah Lodge and other volun- 
 teer workers assisting. On the 
 menu was shrimp cocktail, relish 
 plate, baked ham with raisin 
 sauce, sweet potatoes, fresh froz- 
 en peas, combination salad, cof- 
 fee, rolls, butter, apple pie with 
 cheese, nuts and mints. 
 
 The speaker's table was deco- 
 rated with two flower arrange- 
 ments donated by Mrs. Earl Lin- 
 cicum, who used red, white and 
 blue petunias in covered wagon 
 containers, one drawn by oxen, 
 the other by plug horses. Beauti- 
 ful dinner music was provided by 
 Stanley Powell on the Hammond 
 
 The Bement Lions Club start- 
 ed the ball rolling towards a Cen- 
 tennial Celebration several years 
 ago when they helped start the 
 Annual Bement Community Re- 
 union on Memorial Day, 1952. 
 The same year they helped make 
 plans with Monticello for annual 
 4th of July Celebrations to be 
 held in Bement one year and 
 Monticello the next. This was 
 planned so that we would have 
 the 4th of July Celebration dur- 
 ing our Centennial Year — 1955. 
 
 In the spring of 1954, the 
 Lions Club gave a Home-Talent 
 Variety Show (giving two per- 
 formances in Bement, and two 
 performances in Ivesdale) to 
 raise money for the purpose of 
 a Centennial Celebration in Be- 
 ment during the year 1955. They 
 raised $805.44 which they turned 
 over to the Bement Centennial 
 Corporation on Dec. 8, 1954. 
 They also appointed a committee 
 to make a survey for the pur- 
 poses of underwriting the ex- 
 pense of a centennial. During 
 this drive they secured $2925 in 
 notes, which they turned over to 
 the Centennial Corporation to be 
 used if necesary. 
 
 On October 12, 1954, Lions 
 Club President Carl J. Edwards, 
 called a community meeting to 
 see if the people of Bement want- 
 ed to celebrate their 100th birth- 
 day. As a result of this meeting 
 and others which followed, the 
 Bement Centennial Board was 
 organized and the final arrange- 
 ments were made. Our thanks 
 go to the Lion's Club for the 
 boost they gave our Centennial 
 Celebration. 
 
 Organ preceding and during the 
 dinner. 
 
 Charles Strohl, toastmaster, 
 called the group to order by ring- 
 ing a bell — the same bell used 
 by Henry C. Booth who served 
 as the first teacher in Bement 
 during the winter term of 1856. 
 
 Honor guests at the dinner 
 were men and women of the area 
 who were 85 years old or older, 
 all of whom stood and took a 
 bow when Mr. Strohl introduced 
 them to the crowd. Next came 
 group singings of old songs led 
 by James D. Raglan. Mr. Strohl 
 then read messages of congratu- 
 lations and best wishes from Gov. 
 Stratton, Vice-president Richard 
 Nixon, and a telegram from 
 President Dwight D. Eisenhower. 
 Mr. Strohl then introduced Clark 
 Plummer, Chairman of the Be- 
 
/""^\ CONGRATULATIONS! FROM 
 
 <S><C^ in CHAMPAIGN 
 
 EIGHT MAIN STREET 
 
 GOOD FITTING SHOES ... A TRADITION . . . 
 SINCE 1872 
 
 COMPLIMENTS 
 
 FIRST NATIONAL BANK 
 
 IVESDALE, ILLINOIS 
 
 COMPLIMENTS 
 OF 
 
 MANNY and TEMPEL 
 
 SERVICE STATION 
 
 IVESDALE, ILLINOIS 
 
 COMPLIMENTS 
 OF 
 
 CRINIGANS 
 GROCERY and TAVERN 
 
 IVESDALE, ILLINOIS 
 PHONE 43755 
 
 COMPLIMENTS OF 
 
 KIRWANS CAFE 
 
 Our Specialty 
 
 FARM LABOR MEALS 
 STEAKS — CHOPS 
 
 Phones: Ivesdale 4-3800 - 43891 
 
 PHONE 43050 
 
 COOK and ECKSTEIN 
 
 GRAIN, SEED, STOCK FEEDS 
 AND COAL 
 
 IVESDALE, ILLINOIS 
 
 COMPLIMENTS 
 OF 
 
 MORRIS 1 1.G.A. GROCERY 
 
 GROCERIES, MEATS & DRY GOODS 
 
 IVESDALE, ILLINOIS 
 PHONE 43455 
 
 PEMBROKE'S 
 TAVERN 
 
 OPEN SUNDAY FROM 
 1 P.M. 'TIL 12 P.M. 
 
 WEEK DAY HOURS 
 8 A.M. 'TIL 2 A.M. 
 
 PHONE 49915 
 IVESDALE, ILLINOIS 
 
ment Centennial Coporation, who 
 extended a hearty welcome to all 
 and expressed thanks for the co- 
 operation received from the peo- 
 ple of the community. 
 
 Ron Holloway made the pre- 
 sentations of awards to the win- 
 ners in the Centennial Seal Con- 
 test. A $25 Savings Bond was 
 presented to Mrs. Francis Phil- 
 lips for designing the Official 
 Centennial Seal. The Harold 
 Barnhart family were winners of 
 the second prize; and Rev. V. J. 
 Liss received third prize. 
 
 Mr. Harry E. Slusser spoke on 
 why we are having a Centennial 
 Celebration. Mr. Slusser gave 
 three reasons for celebrating the 
 Centennial: First, to fulfill our 
 obligation to those who have 
 gone before and to the genera- 
 tion that is coming on; Second, 
 
 Bement Family Group — Ready for the Bement Centennial is the three-generation 
 Siders family shown here. Senior members are Mr. and Mrs. Ray Siders, center; 
 their sons, Ralph R. Jr., left and Dan, right. Others are, from left, Mrs. Ralph 
 Siders Jr., Kent and Steve Siders, sons of the Dan Siders, and Mrs. Dan Siders. 
 Front, Carol and Sue, daughters of the Ralph Siders. 
 
 
 
 
 
 "1 — i — 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ft 1 ©— 
 
 
 
 
 -^ 
 
 — •_ » 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 ^fl HSp**?*SJ ^^^^^^ 
 
 
 
 
 ^H Ik i <^L^IL^K^Lw 
 
 ii W W ^B 
 
 
 K o H 
 
 It tI 
 
 3 
 
 ■S 1 fjk 
 
 
 nmlr 
 
 Vy M 
 
 3F" 
 
 """T «v«^l* 
 
 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 Group at Speakers Table for Kick-Off Dinner 
 
 George Wilkinson 
 
 to have a lot of fun; Third, to 
 obtain a better place in which 
 to live with a fine community 
 spirit. In closing, Mr. Slusser 
 said: "Let us have all the fun 
 we can — and may it be said that 
 the Bement Community is just a 
 little better because we have 
 lived in it." 
 
 Mr. Lew Wilkinson was intro- 
 duced and explained the mechan- 
 ics of the Centennial Celebration, 
 with the aid of a large chart 
 showing the various committees 
 and committee chairmen. 
 
 Mr. Strohl closed by .remind- 
 ing everyone that these plans are 
 the civic responsibility of every- 
 one, and that it isn't what the 
 Centennial will cost that you 
 must consider, but what it will 
 cost you, if we fail as a com- 
 munity. 
 
 Exchanging Centennial recipes at the Kick-Off Dinner were these charming 
 ladies: Mrs. Gail Olsen, wife of the Cerro Gordo Centennial Chairman, at the 
 left; Mrs. Ruth Bell in the center, and Mrs. Margaret Wright, both of Bement. 
 
Compliments of 
 
 HOURANS FLORISTS 
 
 GREEN HOUSES 
 
 Hotel Orlando 
 160 S. WATER 
 PHONE 5305 
 
 Compliments of 
 
 TOASTMASTER 
 BAKING COMPANY 
 
 MATTOON, ILLINOIS 
 
 COMPLIMENTS OF 
 
 
 MILFORD (Bing) BENTLEY 
 
 Painter and Interior Decorator 
 
 BEMENT, ILLINOIS 
 
 PHONE 3101 
 
 Compliments from 
 
 KELLY'S 
 
 The Chip With Z I P 
 
 24 
 
 Hour 
 
 Service 
 
 » 
 
 GAS FURNACES 
 OIL FURNACES 
 COAL FURNACES 
 
 COMPLETE SHEET METAL 
 SERVICE 
 
 Phone 2-5950 
 
 WAYNE STEWART 
 
 HEATING & SUPPLY CO., INC. 
 
 725 N. Bright 
 DECATUR, ILLINOIS 
 
 PRINTING 
 
 OF 
 
 DISTINCTION 
 
 PHONE 6879 
 
 teM 
 
 4441/2 N. Water Street 
 Decatur, Illinois 
 
BEMENT'S TOWN MEETING 
 
 "Our country is the world — 
 
 Our countrymen are all mankind." 
 
 William Lloyd Gamison- 
 
 -1837 
 
 Birthdays come to all of us, as 
 individuals, and to our towns, 
 states, and nations. Centennials 
 come only once in a life-time. 
 And every now and then we sigh 
 with relief and shout, "Thank 
 Goodness!" 
 
 If Bement's 100th birthday 
 was to have more than passing 
 
 "Carleton, this must be 'an ad- 
 venture in faith'." Illness pre- 
 vented his coming, and our neigh- 
 bor, Charles B. Shuman, head of 
 the American Farm Bureau Fed- 
 eration, substituted. Then, came 
 Senator Alexander Wiley, Repub- 
 lican head of the Foreign Rela- 
 tions Committee, Wendell WTI- 
 
 significance, it needed something kie's son, Philip, Norman Thomas, 
 
 in addition to our historical pag- 
 eant and the customary activ- 
 ities of other mid-Western towns. 
 It should have something distinc- 
 tive, some theme which would 
 make its mark on contemporary 
 political life, as did the historic 
 debate agreement of Lincoln and 
 Douglas in 1858. 
 
 Professor Arnold J. Toynbee, 
 the eminent historian, gave his 
 advice. After telling him Be- 
 ment's history, I asked him what 
 he thought the people of other 
 countries would be most interest- 
 ed in hearing discussed today. He 
 replied, "Actually, the challenge 
 is the same now as when Lincoln 
 debated Douglas. It is: 'CAN 
 THE WORLD SURVIVE: HALF. 
 SLAVE AND HALF-FREE?" 
 Only presently it applies to the 
 whole world, and a century ago 
 it was America's problem." He 
 went on to say that, in 
 his opinion, the future of 
 western civilization, depends 
 on our response to the chal- 
 lenge offered by Soviet lead- 
 ers who have enslaved their own 
 and other peoples. He said the 
 ideas of various thinkers on how 
 to solve this dilemma would cer- 
 tainly be helpful. 
 
 At first, it seemed impossible 
 to persuade important men to 
 journey to our little town. I 
 mailed 500 invitations .and re- 
 ceived not one single acceptance. 
 Then I started visiting various 
 friends personally and explaining 
 to them our desire to have lively 
 healthy discussions in Bement. 
 The subject appealed to some. 
 Adlai Stevenson said it is the 
 most important topic of the day. 
 Others were moved to come by 
 their regard for Lincoln, Ameri- 
 ca's great international saint. 
 They wished to visit his part of 
 the country. 
 
 Finally, our own Senator Paul 
 Douglas agreed to start our Town 
 Meetings on May 30, saying: 
 
 Senator Ralph Flanders of Ver- 
 mont, and Clark M. Eichelberger, 
 executive director of the Amer- 
 ican Association for the United 
 Nations. 
 
 In the fall Mrs. Theodore S. 
 Chapman, president of the Gen- 
 eral Federation of Women's 
 Clubs, head of eleven million wo- 
 men, speaks August 28th. The 
 Ambassador of India, His Excel- 
 lency G. L. Mehta, talks on Labor 
 Day, September 5th, and pre- 
 
 BY CARLETON SMITH 
 
 cine so successfully there) Am- 
 bassador Jose Mora of Uruguay, 
 Historian A. L. Rowse of Oxford 
 University in England, former 
 Postmaster General James Far- 
 ley, Senator Hubert H. Humph- 
 rey, Arthur S. Fleming, Civil De- 
 fense Administrator and Assist- 
 ant to President Eisenhower, for- 
 mer Presidents Herbert Hoover 
 and Harry Truman, Adlai E. 
 Stevenson, and Carl Sandburg. 
 Not all of them will finally come, 
 but our Town Meetings have 
 caught on. Thanks to radio and 
 foreign broadcasts, they have 
 been heard by an estimated aud- 
 ience of over forty million. They 
 have been discussed at Preident 
 Eisenhower's press conference in 
 The White House. 
 
 A Boston newspaper editorial- 
 ized: "Shots fired in Bement may 
 well be heard around the world." 
 Our purpose has been, also, to 
 educate ourselves, to help us 
 
 Mr. Charles Shuman, first of the guest speakers at Bement's Centennial Town 
 Meetings. Mr. Schuman, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation 
 came to Bement on Memorial Day and opened our series of Town Meetings to 
 discuss the general topic — "Can Mankind Endure Half Slave and Half Free?" 
 Also shown on the stage are "Mr. and Mrs. Bement" (Mrs. W. A. Hammond and 
 Frank Totten) and the "Man and Woman of the Year" (Miss Isabelle Houston 
 and H. E. Slusser. ) Others are: George Vance Jr., William W. Redman, R. N. 
 Holloway, James Raglan (master of ceremonies,) and Clark Plummer (Chairman 
 of Centennial Board of Directors.) Seated in the back are a group of high school 
 girls who sang several selections during the program. 
 
 sents the views of Prime Minister 
 Nehru. Senator Everett Dirksen 
 has chosen Sunday, September 
 11th, and we have acceptances 
 from Paul Martin, Minister of 
 Health and National Welfare in 
 Canada, (who handled Salk vac- 
 
 make up our own minds as to 
 what should be done about press- 
 ing problems of the day. 
 
 Jet propulsion and nuclear fis- 
 sion have made us neighbors to 
 all peoples. At our meeting with 
 Senator Wiley, while introducing 
 
Congratulations 
 
 BEMENT 
 
 ON YOUR CENTURY OF PROGRESS 
 
 THE NATIONAL BANK OF DECATUR 
 
 DECATUR, ILLINOIS 
 ON WATER STREET, SOUTH OF CENTRAL PARK 
 
 Member Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 
 
him, I was startled to see a Nep- 
 alese student, a young man from 
 the foot-hills of the Himalayas, 
 wander towards the platform 
 with a camera. We have since 
 had visitors from towns as re- 
 mote as Hong Kong, Salisbury, 
 England ; Djakarta, Indonesia ; 
 and Copenhagen, Denmark. 
 
 This is but one more evidence 
 that today, and even more during 
 Bement's second century, any 
 happening anywhere in the globe 
 may have profound and disturb- 
 ing — perhaps even fatal — effects 
 on our lives here in Central Illi- 
 nois. 
 
 We want to prepare ourselves 
 to make the response our time 
 demands. We do not want to be 
 enslaved either through ignor- 
 ance or inadvertance or our own 
 negligence or apathy. 
 
 Perhaps, as a result of our 
 Centennial Town Meetings, the 
 proposal for debates In the Lin- 
 coln-Douglas tradition will win 
 the approval of the 1956 Presi- 
 dential candidates. Then, the 
 clash of their ideas will help 
 clarify the issues. We shall all 
 know more about them and their 
 thinking. 
 
 Whether this happens or not, 
 our guest speakers in Bement 
 have broadened our horizons, and 
 helped us to realize that peace 
 can be achieved only by having 
 reverence for other peoples' way 
 of life. If men could only under- 
 stand one another, they would 
 neither idolize nor hate. 
 
 MEMORIAL DAY— 1955 
 
 Special recognition was given to Dr. 
 J. G. Bauer, who has served as a den- 
 tist in Bement since 1905. (50 years). 
 The above picture was taken shortly 
 after he came to Bement. The patient 
 is Ray Siders. 
 
 MEMORIAL DAY— 1955 
 
 From left to right: Mr. Edward Glennon (former Bementonion and now presi- 
 dent of the American Feed Manufacturing Association) who introduced the 
 guest speaker, Mr. Charles Shuman (president of the American Farm Bureau 
 Federation.) Next to Mr. Shuman is Clark Plummer (Centennial Chairman) and 
 James Raglan (master of ceremonies for Memorial Day Reunion) is at the ex- 
 treme right. 
 
 MEMORIAL DAY- 
 COMMUNITY REUNION 
 
 Bright sunny weather, a crowd 
 of 1,500, an outstanding guest 
 speaker, an excellent program 
 and a friendy, capable master 
 of ceremonies in the person of 
 James Raglan, combined to make 
 Bement's fourth Community Re- 
 union one to be long remembered. 
 Many of those in attendance were 
 in Centennial costumes which 
 made this reunion different from 
 the three preceeding it and it 
 was a reminder to all of our big 
 Centennial Celebration to follow. 
 
 The High School Band present- 
 ed a concert, Stanley Powell furn- 
 ished music on the Hammond or- 
 gan, and George Vance Jr. sang 
 the "Star Spangled Banner" to 
 open the program. Reigning as 
 Mr. and Mrs. Bement were Frank 
 Totten and Mrs. Wilbur Ham- 
 mond who were introduced by 
 Chairman Raglan. Both respond- 
 ed with interesting personal rec- 
 ollections and experiences. Hon- 
 ored as "Man and Woman of the 
 Year" were Harry E. Slusser and 
 Miss Isabelle Houston, who were 
 chosen for the fine services they 
 have rendered to the Bement 
 Community. Dr. J. G. Bauer, 
 practicing dentist in Bement since 
 May 1905 was given special rec- 
 ognition during the program for 
 
 Neighbors for 66 years. Close friends 
 and neighbors since 1889, these men 
 are shown at the Memorial Day Re- 
 union, May 30, 1955. They are, from 
 left, Ray Siders, Edgar Bodman, a 
 descendant of a village founder, and 
 Carl Thompson, who has served as 
 village clerk for 33 years. 
 
Quality 
 you trust 
 
 •OTUED UNDER AUTHORITY OF THE COCA-COLA COMPANY IV 
 
 CONGRATULATIONS 
 
 BEMENT 
 
 CENTENNIAL 
 
 WE, TOO, ARE JUSTLY 
 
 PROUD OF 
 
 OVER A HALF-CENTURY 
 
 OF SERVICE TO BEMENT 
 
 THE COCA COLA BOTTLING CO 
 
 OF DECATUR 
 
 CONGRATULATIONS 
 
 BEMENT 
 
 General Telephone System 
 
 
 Bement — "Fats and Leans" ready for baseball game — July 4, 1898. From the 
 left: Mart Ellers, Harvey Vance, Lew Alvord, Jim Malone, C. A. Burks, J. Otie 
 Evans, Wm. Booker, Riggs, W. A. Hammond, J. F. Sprague, W. W. Body, un- 
 known, James Lancaster, unknown, H. E. Shaw, Geo. Oldridge, unknown, Ab 
 Harshbarger, Chas. Shook, and Chas. Baker standing at the rear. 
 
 J. T. MOORE 
 One time Mayor of Bement, and mem- 
 ber of School Board for several years. 
 
Mr. Frank Totten and Mrs. W. A. 
 Hammond — Mr. and Mrs. Bement. 
 
 his fifty year's service. The 
 guest speaker was Charles Shu- 
 man, president of the American 
 Farm Bureau Federation, who 
 spoke on the Centennial Theme — 
 "Can Mankind Endure Half Slave 
 and Half Free?" Mr. Shuman 
 was introduced by a former. Be- 
 mentonian, Edward Glennon, 
 president of the American Feed 
 Manufacturing Association, who 
 now lives in Elmhurst, Illinois. 
 Miss Rachel Day closed the pro- 
 gram by singing "God Bless Am- 
 erica." 
 
 Senator Alexander Wiley, Wisconsin, senior Republican of the Senate Foreign 
 Relations Committee, demonstrates his ability to rise to the occasion by donning 
 a knitted wool shawl on Sunday afternoon, June 5, 1955 while being photograph- 
 ed with several pioneer costumed women and bearded men. In the picture with 
 Bement's distinguished visitor and Town Meeting speaker are, left to right: 
 R. N. Holloway, John Monaghan who became 80 years old on the following day, 
 Mrs. Ralph Dunaway, Miss Edna Moore, Senator Wiley, Mrs. Arbie Hawver, 
 Mrs. J. H. Malkus, and Mrs. Ralph Moery Sr. 
 
 BEMENT COT 
 TOWN MtETl 
 
 •f 
 
 Mr. Philip Wilkie, only son of Wendell 
 Wilkie, shown as he addressed the 
 Centennial Town Meeting on June 19, 
 1955. Also shown from the left in the 
 background are: Carleton Smith, R. N. 
 Holloway, and Bryan Wilson. 
 
 June 19, 1955 — Following his talk at Bement's Town Meeting, Mr. Philip Wilkie 
 poses with a group of Bement men. From the left they are: William W. Red- 
 man, W. G. (Cotton) Porter, Charles Strohl, John Barnes, Mr. Wilkie, E. A. 
 Stout, and Arbie Hawver. 
 
STAUBERS 
 
 "HATSOFFTOBEMENT" 
 
 A Centennial is more than a time for 
 counting the past; it is also the time for measur- 
 ing the future* 
 
 For this reason, all of us here at Stauber's 
 regard Bement's record of a century as a period 
 of preparing for a greater Bement tomorrow. 
 
 >^** J v 
 
 ROBESON'S 
 
 Champaign's Largest and 
 Most Complete Department Store 
 
 80 YEARS YOUNG 
 
 Jf/IY/ Cf f IT PAYS TO 
 
 OWN A MERCURY 
 
 KEMPER - FABERT MOTOR GO. 
 
 PHONE 4121 
 715 S. Neil Champaign, Illinois 
 
 Lincoln-Mercury Dealer 
 
 for Champaign and Piatt Counties 
 
 COMPLIMENTS OF 
 
 WHEATS STEAK HOUSE 
 
 Compliments of 
 
 SUNBEAM 
 BREAD 
 
 KAISER'S 
 
 IN MONTICELLO 
 
 Compliments of 
 
 WALTER J. FLORA & SONS 
 
 Decatur, Illinois 
 
June 26, 1955 — Mr. Norman Thomas, leader of the Socialist party, is shown 
 following his talk at Bement's Centennial Town Meeting with a group of Be- 
 ment people. From the left they are: Mrs. Roy B. Jones, Carleton Smith, Miss 
 Rachel Day, Mr. Thomas', H. E. Slusser, and R. N. Holloway. 
 
 A picnic lunch was served at the For- 
 est Preserve Park for Senator Fland- 
 ers prior to his address at the 4th of 
 July-Bement Centennial Town Meet- 
 ing. Shown at the left is Miss Els 
 Rampel of Jakarta, Java, (Capital of 
 Indonesia.) She is a representative of 
 the largest news agency in Indonesia, 
 
 BEMENT CELEBRATES 
 100TH FOURTH OF JULY 
 
 Bement's 100th Fourth of July 
 was a day which will be long re- 
 membered by its citizens and 
 many visitors from various cities 
 in Illinois as well as from other 
 States and Countries. At 1 p.m. 
 there was a picnic dinner at the' 
 park, followed by the "Town 
 Meeting" with Senator Ralph E. 
 Flanders of Vermont as the guest 
 speaker. 
 
 At the close of the "Town 
 
 visiting in this country to study the 
 ways of democracy. Next to her is 
 Carleton Smith, Director of the Na- 
 tional Arts Foundation, Senator Ralph 
 Flanders of Vermont, and Lew Wilkin- 
 son, President of the State Bank of 
 Bement. 
 
 Meeting," most of those present 
 at the park went to the High 
 School to attend the opening of 
 the National Arts Foundation 
 Art Museum. Senator Flanders 
 and his wife cut the ribbon mark- 
 ing the formal opening and later 
 received the guests at a tea given 
 by the Reception Committee. In 
 the early evening the crowd gath- 
 ered in the park for the fireworks 
 display that took place at sun- 
 down. There was an estimated 
 crowd of between 8 and 10 thous- 
 
 and people at the park for the 
 fireworks display. Following this 
 display, which was one of the 
 best seen in Bement, a free dance, 
 sponsored by the Brothers of the 
 Brush, was held in the pavilion. 
 The July 4th celebration was the 
 fourth such joint celebration 
 sponsored by the Monticello 
 Chamber of Commerce and the 
 Bement Business Men. 
 
 Senator Ralph Flanders of Vermont, 
 guest speaker at Bement Town Meet- 
 ing — July 4, 1955. 
 
 Mr. Clark M. Eichelberger, executive 
 director of the American Association 
 for the United Nations. Mr. Eichel- 
 berger is scheduled to speak at Be- 
 ment's Town Meeting, July 17, 1955. 
 
BEMENT TO REVIVE CALI- 
 THUMPIAN PARADE 
 
 We can't tell you when the 
 first one was staged in Bement, 
 nor the last, but a Calithump- 
 ian Parade was an established 
 affair in the 1880's (perhaps 
 earlier for the first Fourth of 
 July celebration was held here 
 in 1861 or 1862) and through 
 the 1890's. On July 4, 1887, the 
 Calithumpian Parade was the 
 "best ever held in Bement" ac- 
 cording to the July 9 issue of 
 the Bement Gazette. 
 
 "Fizz, Bang, Boom, is the way 
 the Fourth was celebrated here 
 in good old fashioned style. The 
 boys commenced in the morning 
 at one o'clock by ' ringing the 
 bells and firing the anvils. The 
 crowd commenced to come in 
 very early and by eight o'clock 
 the streets were filled. At ten 
 the Calithumpian Parade started 
 
 His Excellency, G. L. Mehta, Ambas- Mrs. Theodore S. Chapman, President ° U V' YeS ' a , Calithumpian Par- 
 sador of India to the United States, General Federation of Women's Clubs. racle was a louo -> noisy, DOlSter- 
 who is scheduled to speak in Bement Mrs. Chapman will speak in Bement OUS parade and fun was had by 
 
 on Labor Day, September 5, 1955, pre- 
 senting the views of Prime Minister 
 Nehru. 
 
 on August 28, 1955, following the Cen- 
 tennial celebration. This will be part 
 of our fall series of Town Meetings. 
 
 all. 
 
 And now Bement is to have 
 another Calithumpian Parade. A 
 Gigantic, Spectacular Parade 
 with Bands, Floats, Ox Teams, 
 Horses, and even a Calliope. The 
 date — Monday, August 1, 1955. 
 
 July 7, 1955— Mrs. Ruth Patterson 
 (Bement Postmaster) cancels the first 
 letters with the special cancellation 
 stamp obtained by the Centennial 
 Corporation with special permission 
 from the U. S. Post Office Depart- 
 ment. The stamp reads: "Bement Cen- 
 tennial, July 31-August 6, 1855-1955." 
 Many collectors have sent mail to Be- 
 Square Dances were a featured attraction during Bement's Centennial, being ment to have it cancelled with this 
 sponsored by the Brothers of the Brush. special Centennial stamp. 
 
The Brothers of the Brush went all out to make the Bement Centennial one of 
 the best! Early in the summer they sponsored a big-time wrestling match in 
 Bement. On the 4th of July they sponsored a Free Dance at the park in connec- 
 tion with the Town Meeting and Free Display of Fireworks held that day. Their 
 latest activity has been the purchase of a 1000 lb. steer which will be given 
 away at a drawing at the close of the Centennial. 
 
 Big-Time Wrestling Wows Bement. As 
 a feature of the Bement Centennial 
 program, eight grunt and groan mem- 
 bers of the "rasslin" fraternity drew 
 2000 roaring spectators to the Be- 
 ment High School Gym for an exhib- 
 ition of the noble art. The feature 
 bout was between Roy McClarity (sub- 
 stituting for Yukon Eric who was sus- 
 pended just before the fight) and 
 Mighty Atlas. The wrestling match 
 was sponsored by the Brothers of the 
 Brush. 
 
 BROTHERS OF THE BRUSH 
 
 Standing from left to right: Keith Bell, Howard Hill, Harry Slusser, Wayne 
 
 Redman. 
 Seated — first row from left to right: John Pope, Edward Fritz, Arbie Hawver. 
 Seated 2nd row from left to right: Clark Plummer, R. N. Holloway. 
 
 I 
 
 June 16, 1955 — Wrestler Don de Cor- 
 tes becomes an honorary member of 
 the Brothers of the Brush just prior 
 to the Big-Time Wrestling match. 
 Heary Larson is on the left and John 
 Pope is shown on the right pinning 
 on the button. 
 
 I 
 
 BROTHERS OF THE BRUSH (On a busy morning in tow 
 
 From left to right: John Glennon, Earl S. Folk, Ralph Moer 
 Glennon. 
 
 n) 
 
 y Jr., Richard (Dick) 
 
SISTERS OF THE SWISH "KITCHEN BAND' 
 
 
 The Sisters of the Swish became a very active group before and during the On the left: Mrs. Lily Peck Sprague. 
 
 Bement Centennial. They held several pot-luck suppers, a box social, and a On the right: Mrs. Nora Bigham Tay- 
 
 style show in connection with the Woman's Clubs of Bement. They also formed lor. When they worked at Etta Smith's 
 
 a "Kitchen Band" and made caravans to other nearby towns in costume. Millinery Store in Bement. 
 
 Sisters of the Swish — "Tea Time" or "Coffee Break?" From the left— Mrs. H 
 E. Slusser, Mrs. Margaret Marker, Mrs. Ray Siders, Mrs. Rose Knapp, and Mrs. 
 Wvman Patterson. 
 
 Mrs. H. E. Slusser 
 
 ■ 
 
 K ' ' 
 
 
 Miss Rachel Day 
 
 SISTERS OF THE SWISH BOX SOCIAL 
 
CENTENNIAL QUEEN 
 CONTEST 
 
 A meeting of candidates nomi- 
 nated for queen of the Bement 
 Centennial was held Wednesday, 
 July 6th, and 48 girls enthusias- 
 tically agreed to enter the con- 
 test. They are as follows: Mary 
 Kay Barber, Shirley Lindstrom, 
 Frances Dick, Pearl Comerford, 
 Elfrie Shepherd, Anna Mary 
 Wrench, Ann Skagenberg, Mar- 
 lene Bowyer, Carol Sue Hinton, 
 Challice Larson, Jeanabelle Lash, 
 Phyllis Shumard, Margaret Zoch, 
 Nancy Allison, Ann Ard, Shirley 
 Shonkwiler, Betty Comerford, 
 Audine Moery, Shirley Hinton, 
 Eilene Foran, Carleen McCul- 
 lough, Margaret Wright, Elaine 
 Foster, Jo Ann Bentley, Judy 
 Redman, Sharon Ann Morton, 
 Lois Cantrell, Leona Hudson, 
 Frances Pierce, Marilyn Smith, 
 Geneva Gulliford, Betty Linci- 
 cum, Carrie Dobson, Barbara 
 Warner, Janet McCollum, Nancy 
 McCollum, Martha Postlewait, 
 Sue Hannon, Rachel Day, Jacque 
 Zindars, Irene Alexander,. Doro- 
 thy Meece, Ellen Wiggins, Carole 
 Kirwan, Patricia Doyle, Karen Jo 
 Lux, Evelyn White and Sonja 
 Lawson. 
 
 To be Queen, or one of her 
 Princesses in the Court of Honor, 
 is a distinction never to be for- 
 gotten. The winners will be guests 
 of honor at all major Centennial 
 functions; they will take part in 
 the beautiful Queen Coronation 
 Ceremony and be presented night- 
 ly at Bement's historical spec- 
 tacle, "Our Prairie Heritage." In 
 addition to the honors connected 
 with being chosen Queen or one 
 of her Princesses many wonder- 
 ful prizes are being awarded. 
 First prize is a glamorous all ex- 
 pense paid nine day vacation trip 
 to New York for the Queen and a 
 companion ; also a matched set of 
 luggage. The next six girls who 
 have the most votes will receive 
 valuable prizes also. The Queen 
 contest will close at 6 P.M. July 
 28, 1955. 
 
 Quote from history written by 
 Emma Piatt — "Bement is 'Boom- 
 ing' just now, and persons desir- 
 ing to locate in a thriving, ener- 
 getic place cannot find a better 
 one of its size in Central Illinois." 
 
 F. E. Bryant was ,a cousin of 
 William Cullen Bryant and S. F. 
 Smith, author of "America." Mr. 
 F. E. Bryant represented Schuy- 
 
 Rnfiti^f^ 
 
 CENTENNIAL, QUEEN COMMITTEE 
 
 Seated from the left: Miss Edna Loftus, Mrs. Lynn Rainey, Mrs. Edna Ham- 
 mond, and Mrs. Florence Byerline. 
 
 Standing from the left: Charles Strayer, E. A. Stout (Chairman), Mrs. Selby 
 Clark, and Mrs. Lew Wilkinson. 
 
 Mayor Lynn Crook and Miss Edna Loftus sign up girls for the Bement Centen- 
 nial Queen Contest. 
 
 Bement area girls waiting to sign up for the Centennial Queen Contest. 
 
IN MEMORY OF 
 
 MY PARENTS 
 
 JOHN WESLEY SMITH 
 
 and 
 
 SARAH ANN LAMAR SMITH 
 
 Who came to Bement in 1866 
 
 By CHARLES WESLEY SMITH - 1 876 
 
 Ktnsrm 
 
 IN LOVING MEMORY OF 
 
 MY PARENTS 
 
 MR. AND MRS. J. T. MOORE, 
 
 MY SISTER NINA AND 
 
 MY BROTHERS RAY, ROY AND 
 
 VIVIAN MOORE 
 
 EDNA L. MOORE 
 
 f i 
 
 v 
 i 
 
 
 -v. 
 
 i 
 
 
 IN MEMORY OF MY 
 FATHER AND MOTHER 
 
 CHARLEY E. HOFFHEINS 
 
 (1871-1952) 
 
 ONA MARKWELL HOFFHEINS 
 
 (1880-1955) 
 
 Lifelong Residents of the Bement Community 
 
 WILBUR L HOFFHEINS 
 
 a 
 
 ' 
 
 7 
 
 i 
 
 
it jr. 
 
 *->* 
 
 tmsrm 
 
 In Memory of My 
 FATHER AND MOTHER 
 
 MR. and MRS. SAMUEL H. HOFFHEINS 
 
 Pioneer Residents of the Bement Community 
 
 GLADYS HOFFHEINS JONES 
 
 (Mrs. Ron B. Jones) 
 
 
 
 ' 
 
 ! S 
 
 
 "S^N- 
 
 
 IN MEMORY OF OUR PARENTS 
 
 MR. AND MRS. THOMAS LAMB 
 
 and 
 
 MR. AND MRS. JAMES BRANDENBURG 
 
 EARLY PIONEERS OF THIS VICINITY 
 
 MR. and MRS. LESTER BRANDENBURG 
 
 4 i<jl> 
 
 
 • 
 
 
National Arts Foundation Museum 
 
 By CARLETON SMITH 
 
 "For the whole earth is the sepulchre 
 of famous men and their story is not 
 graven only on stone over their na- 
 tive earth but lives on far away with- 
 out visible symbol woven into the 
 stuff of other men's lives." 
 
 — Pericles. 
 
 Each of us spend but a few 
 years on this planet. The lasting 
 record of what we feel and think 
 and dream and believe is art. And 
 through the ages, art which car- 
 ries a message to succeeding gen- 
 erations endures. 
 
 Nothing will be remembered of 
 Bement, as nothing is remember- 
 ed of ancient Athens or Thebes, 
 except what is carved in stone or 
 marble, written on the pages of 
 a book, or painted on canvas here. 
 Nothing will be known of the 
 United States ten thousand years 
 from now except what inspired 
 creative spirits catch from the 
 ever-vanishing present and put 
 into lasting art. 
 
 "In Kerry" by Jack B. Yeats (Ireland's 
 greatest painter). This painting won 
 prizes in England and France. 
 
 Each civilization finds its own 
 means of telling its story. What 
 is remembered is what has sig- 
 nificance for generations yet un- 
 born. Therefore, the Bible is a 
 work of art. Therefore, the time- 
 less thoughts in Shakespeare's 
 plays and sonnets describe actual 
 happenings in Bement, if not in 
 your own life, in your neighbors 
 next door. We are all brothers. 
 
 "MAN'S HERITAGE IN THE ARTS" 
 
 Open Daily (including Sunday) through August 15th from 2 to 5 p.m. 
 Also open on Monday and Saturday evening from 8 to 9 p.m. 
 Special Hours during Centennial Week (July 31 through August 6) 
 
 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. 
 
 Be sure to visit this exhibit. It is one chance in a life-time to see such 
 great historical documents and beautiful works of art. (Bement High 
 School) 
 
 Carleton Smith, left, shows Gov. and Mrs. Stratton Sir Jacob Epstein's latest por- 
 trait bust, "Juleen," which is being displayed for the first time anywhere in 
 the world at the art exhibit in Bement. The world famous sculptor sent the 
 bust directly from London to Bement. Gov. and Mrs. Stratton came to Bement 
 on July 1st for a preview of the art exhibit and later attended a tea in their 
 honor at the Forest Preserve Park. 
 
 All men have far more in com- 
 mon than their differences. "The 
 greatest man in the world," ac- 
 cording to Albert Schweitzer, 
 himself called the 'thirteenth dis- 
 ciple,' "lives in a small town and 
 spends his days helping others. 
 He has true reverence for others' 
 lives. He listens to how they say 
 they would like to express them- 
 selves and helps them to do as 
 they want, not as he thinks is 
 best for them." 
 
 In our hurried, cluttered life, 
 few of us take time to reflect, to 
 ponder, to be alone with our- 
 selves. In our efforts to make 
 the best use of our good earth — 
 the mother who never dies, as 
 the Maori say — and to acquire 
 material goods for ourselves and 
 our children, most of us find little 
 time for expressing ourselves in 
 art. Yet Churchill paints as a 
 pastime. So does Eisenhower. 
 Truman plays the piano. Should 
 not each of us have painting or 
 sculpture or music or writing as 
 
 well as golf or bridge for a hob- 
 by? 
 
 The National Arts Foundation 
 museum in Bement affords an 
 opportunity for you and succes- 
 sive generations of our children 
 to find beauty in art. It has out- 
 standing samples of man's heri- 
 tage in art. And, perhaps, seeing 
 them will give you the urge to 
 try your hand at expressing your- 
 self in one art or another — in 
 any event, to find an absorbing 
 new pastime for your spare 
 hours. 
 
 Art. obviously, is not created 
 for experts. It comes from and 
 exists for all men. 
 
 — o — 
 The National Arts Foundation 
 is a non-profit educational organ- 
 ization incorporated in New York 
 in 1947 with offices at 60 Broad- 
 way, New York. It encourages 
 creation, interpretation, and ap- 
 preciation of the arts, and ex- 
 change of arts and understand- 
 ing between .all peoples. 
 
Bement's High School to inspire 
 our children and nourish the 
 good life in Bement. 
 
 Senator and Mrs. Ralph E. Flanders of Vermont, officially opened the National 
 Arts Foundation exhibit at Bement on Monday, July 4, 1955. Mrs. Flanders cut 
 the ribbon at the entrance to the display while many people looked on. 
 
 It sponsors many individual 
 projects, of which the present 
 exhibition is one. It brought to 
 Bement paintings by Tinteretto, 
 Rouault, Tamayo, Diego Rivera, 
 and outstanding contemporary 
 American and Cuban painters, 
 etchings by Rembrandt, Goya, 
 and Durer, drawings by Matisse 
 and Diego Rivera, samples of the 
 ancient art of the Mayas, stone 
 carvings of the Eskimos, sculp- 
 ture from the Greeks through 
 Henry Moore, plates by Picasso, 
 wood sculpture from Oberam- 
 mergau, glass from Sweden, mus- 
 ical manuscripts of Mozart, Puc- 
 cini, Sibelius, Berlioz, Richard 
 Strauss, John Alden Carpenter, 
 Benjamin Britten, and Ralph 
 Vaughan Williams. Sir Jacob Eu- 
 stein's latest portrait bust, "Ju- 
 leen" is exhibited here for the 
 first time. There is an unique 
 piece by Henry Moore. Georges 
 Ronault, France's greatest living 
 painter, is represented by one of 
 his latest works, "Autumn Eve- 
 ning," never before seen in Am- 
 rica. 
 
 The Library of Congress has 
 sent five important historical 
 documents, including the copy of 
 the Gettysburg address Lincoln 
 held when he spoke. The College 
 of Fine and Applied Arts at the 
 University of Illinois has loaned 
 twelve of the most important 
 works in its collection. Honorable 
 and Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss 
 
 ♦have sent Pennell's lithographs of 
 The Building of the Panama Ca- 
 nal. Mrs. Charles Walgreen loan- 
 ed us her famous Lincoln collec- 
 tion, incuding the original death 
 mask. 
 
 There are good samples of 
 man's heritage in the arts from 
 4000 B.C. A few will remain in 
 
 Tom Chatham, representative of John 
 B. Rogers Co., who staged and direct- 
 ed the Dramatic Spectacle — "Our 
 Prairie Heritage." Mr. Chatham is 
 shown here with part of the Walgreen 
 Lincoln Collection at 'the National 
 Arts Foundation Museum, held in 
 connection with the Bement Centen- 
 nial Program. 
 
 Following the formal opening of the museum, Senator and Mrs. Flanders and a 
 group of Bement people received the many guests as they were served at a tea 
 given by the Hospitality Committee. 
 
••The Cap- 
 
 rices D 3, who Wjw, 
 slaUon— teaser, 
 student or 
 
 Carleton Smith with the painting 
 "Autumn Evening" by Georges Rou- 
 ault, France's greatest living painter. 
 This is one of his latest works and 
 has never been shown before in Am- 
 erica. 
 
 SSPSl*** 
 
 p Ltl met, £ nin S 
 Hetnb ^nf t £* Cap^T "*a„ 
 
 by 
 
 From the left — Miss Emily Hammond, Mrs. W. A. Ham- 
 mond, and Mrs. J. L. Bodman viewing the wood carving 
 "Beethoven" carved from a tree trunk by Hans Heinzeller 
 of Oberammergau, Germany, the home of the Passion 
 Play. 
 
 John Barnes with the letters of Lincoln and Douglas that 
 focus historical attention upon Bement. 
 
 ^^^^^^B 
 
 r * 
 
 r 
 - 'i ■ • 
 
 ■ 
 
 f ^^^^t^^^m 
 
 4 • 
 
 ¥ J 
 
 Re mbtan^;, 
 
 Carleton Smith with the copy of the 
 Gettysburg address that Lincoln held 
 while he spoke. (Loaned by the Lib- 
 rary of Congress for the exhibit in 
 Bement.) 
 
 4000 
 
The Temperance Movement 
 
 In the pioneer days of Piatt 
 County, the use of alcoholic liq- 
 uors, both as a medicine and as a 
 beverage, was very common. 
 While some drank to excess, 
 nearly everyone drank moderate- 
 ly. In those days drinking was 
 not considered an evil only so far 
 as it was taken in excess. This 
 sentiment prevailed not because 
 the people were naturally bad or 
 immoral, but because the effects 
 of alcohol were not known or un- 
 derstood. There have been nu- 
 merous temperance organizations 
 and temperance movements dur- 
 ing the history of this commun- 
 ity. 
 
 CEN 79 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Arbie Hawver 
 
 CEN 73 
 
 Richard (Dick) Skagenberg, Centen- 
 nial Photographer. 
 
 FARM RESIDENCE ,. JOHN HeATH, WILLOW BRANCH TOWNSHIP , Piatt Co.. ILLINOIS 
 
(falettden o£ Suwtt 
 
 BEMENT 
 
 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 
 
 July 31 - August 6 
 
 1955 
 
 SUNDAY, JULY 31— 
 
 FREEDOM OF RELIGION DAY 
 
 Morning — Centennial Homecoming at the church 
 
 of your choice. 
 Afternoon — View the famed National Arts Foun- 
 dation Museum of fine arts and the Wal- 
 green Lincoln collection at High School; see 
 the Antique Displays in downtown windows; 
 visit the historic Bryant Cottage, Lincoln- 
 Douglas State Memorial. 
 
 3:00 P.M. — Conducted tour of National Arts 
 Foundation Museum and Walgreen Lincoln 
 collection. 
 
 4:00 P.M. — Carillonic chimes concert from the 
 Methodist Church. Chimes will also be played 
 in a twilight concert as a prelude to the eve- 
 ning service. 
 
 8:00 P.M. — Observation of Freedom of Religion 
 Day at Pageant site. Dr. Harold Ford Carr, 
 Denver, Colo., guest speaker. 60 voice robed 
 choir from all churches in Bement. 
 
 MONDAY, AUGUST 1— 
 
 CALLITHUMPIAN PARADE DAY 
 
 9:00 A.M. — Official opening of Centennial. 
 Church bells and chimes ring; sirens blow; 
 cannonade — a callithumpian salute to Be- 
 ment on its 100th year. 
 
 10:00 A.M. — Registration of all guests and visit- 
 ors at Centennial Headquarters. 
 
 11:00 A.M. — Opening of gay Centennial Mid- 
 way, featuring Mound City Shows with latest 
 
 rides and attractions. A Carnival of Fun all 
 week. 
 
 3:00 P.M. — Gigantic Callithumpian Parade fea- 
 turing marching bands, old time calliope, 
 spectacular floats. (Callithumpian Parades 
 were once traditional with Bement pioneers.) 
 
 4:00 P.M. — Conducted tour of Fine Arts Museum 
 and Walgreen Lincoln collection. 
 
 7:15 P.M. — Pre-pageant concert by famed Ansar 
 Shrine Band in tribute to Director Roy B. Jones 
 of Bement for his 30 years of service to the 
 band. 
 
 8:15 P.M. — Grand premiere performance of the 
 Pageant Spectacle OUR PRAIRIE HERITAGE. 
 The exciting and dramatic history of our 
 town told with a cast of 250 actors on mam- 
 moth outdoor stage. Introduction of Queen 
 candidates. Thrilling fireworks display. 
 
 10:00 P.M. — Colorful Coronation Ball at beauti- 
 ful new high school gym, with music by 
 Wayne Karr and his orchestra for your danc- 
 ing and listening pleasure. See the Corona- 
 tion of the Centennial Queen and the Cen- 
 tennial Grand March at 10:45 P.M. 
 
 TUESDAY, AUGUST 2— 
 OLD SETTLERS PICNIC 
 
 10:00 A.M. — Registration of all old settlers and 
 guests at Centennial Headquarters. 
 
 1 1 :00 A.M. — Conducted tour of National Arts 
 Museum. 
 
 NOON — Old Settlers Picnic Basket Dinner at Be- 
 ment Forest Preserve Park. 
 
1:30 P.M. — Horse show by Trail Blazer's Riding 
 Club. 
 
 2:00 - 4:00 P.M. — Old Settlers Olympics, featur- 
 ing hog calling, horseshoe pitching, husband 
 calling and old fiddlers' contests. PRIZES and 
 LOTS OF FUN! 
 
 5:00 P.M. — Conducted tour of Museum of Fine 
 Arts and Walgreen Lincoln collection. 
 
 8.-30 P.M.— Second performance of OUR PRAIRIE 
 HERITAGE. A thrilling accolade of Bement's 
 100 year history told in Song, Dance and 
 Narration. Grand Pageant Finale of mam- 
 moth fireworks display. 
 10:00 P.M. — Square dancing in the moonlight at 
 grade school court. 
 
 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3 
 
 ILLINOIS DAY 
 
 10:00 A.M. — Registration of all guests at Cen- 
 tennial Headquarters. 
 
 1 :00 P.M. — Formal Dedication of the Restoration 
 of the Historic Bryant Cottage State Memorial. 
 Shrine of Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. 
 Douglqs. 
 
 1 =30 P.M. — Basket dinner at Bement Forest Pre- 
 serve Park. Illinois state officials as honored 
 guests. 
 
 2:30 P.M. — Address by distinguished speaker. 
 3:30 P.M. — Style Show by the Sisters of the 
 
 Swish. 
 7:00 P.M. — Conducted tour of Fine Arts Museum 
 
 and Walgreen Lincoln collection. 
 8:15 P.M.— OUR PRAIRIE HERITAGE with a cast 
 
 of 250 which covers hundreds of years of 
 
 history — from the early Indians to the Atom 
 
 Bomb. 
 
 10:00 P.M. — Square dancing under the stars. 
 
 THURSDAY, AUGUST 4— 
 YOUNG AMERICA DAY 
 
 10:00 A.M. — Centennial registration at head- 
 quarters. 
 
 1:30 P.M. — Kiddies Parade. The small fry take 
 over for a parade of their own. Prizes for all 
 participants. 
 
 2:30 P.M.— Kiddie Kontests. 
 
 3:30 P.M. — Free show for the kids by Ortheldo, 
 the Magician. 
 
 7:00 P.M. — Conducted tour of Fine Arts Museum 
 
 and Walgreen Lincoln collection. 
 8:15 P.M.— OUR PRAIRIE HERITAGE, a pageant 
 
 spectacle telling the Bement Story. 
 
 10:00 P.M. — Grab your partner for a square 
 dance!! 
 
 FRIDAY, AUGUST 5— 
 AGRICULTURE DAY 
 
 A preview of the New in agriculture in the setting 
 of the Old Time County Fair. 
 
 9:00 A.M. — Registration of farm guests and vis- 
 itors at Centennial Headquarters. Visit the 
 Agriculture Tent. See the outstanding agri- 
 cultural displays, some seen for the first time 
 east of the Mississippi River. Display of ag- 
 riculture implements — old and new — 
 throughout entire Centennial Week. 
 
 2:30 P.M. — Address by distinguished speaker 
 representing agriculture. 
 
 4:00 P.M. — Conducted tour of Fine Arts Museum 
 and Walgreen Lincoln collection. 
 
 7:15 P.M. — Raffle drawing at Pageant Site for 
 1000 pound steer conducted by Brothers of 
 the Brush. 
 
 8:15 P.M. — Another performance of the Histo- 
 rical Spectacle OUR PRAIRIE HERITAGE. 
 10:00 P.M. — Dance with a gal with a hole in 
 her stocking!!!! 
 
 SATURDAY, AUGUST 6— 
 AMERICAN FREEDOM DAY 
 
 Old fashioned patriotism — just as good today as 
 it was 100 years ago. 
 
 10:00 A.M. — Centennial registration at head- 
 quarters. 
 
 2:00 P.M. — American Freedom Parade, featur- 
 ing marching bands, drum and bugle corps, 
 and crack drill teams. 
 
 3:00 P.M. — Distinguished speaker. 
 
 4:00 P.M. — Conducted tour of Fine Arts Museum 
 and Walgreen Lincoln collection. 
 
 7:15 P.M. — Beard Shaving contest conducted by 
 Remington Electric Shavers. Final judging in 
 Beard Contest and Kangaroo Kourt session. 
 Fun and frolic with the Brothers of the 
 Brush!! 
 
 8:30 P.M.— Final performance of OUR PRAIRIE 
 HERITAGE with a cast of 250 telling in song 
 and story the gay and colorful history of Be- 
 ment's 100 years. Thrilling fireworks display 
 as a grand finale. See Bement's Centennial 
 Seal as a sensational set piece!! 
 10:00 P.M. — Free square dancing at the grade 
 school court. Grand Finale to Bement's 100th 
 Birthday Celebration. 
 
OUR PRAIRIE HERITAGE 
 
 STAGED AND DIRECTED BY TOM CHATHAM 
 A JOHN B. ROGERS PRODUCTION 
 
 
 SPECTACLE DIVISION— WALTER SLATER 
 Cast — Roy B. Jones 
 Scenario and Title — Lew Wilkinson 
 Scenario Secretary — Carleton Wildman 
 Costumes and AAake-Up — Isabelle Houston 
 
 Properties — Ernest McCullough 
 Construction — George Wilkinson 
 Spectacle Music — Stanley Powell 
 Building and Grounds — A. E. Bodman 
 
 The CENTENNIAL CHOIR directed by Mrs. Keith Bell 
 Combined High and Grade School Bands directed by Joe Beardon 
 
 NARRATORS 
 
 EVELYN FISHER 
 RON HOLLOWAY 
 
 JAMES RAGLAN 
 
 REV. CLYDE WEST 
 
 HELEN WEST 
 
 SCENE No. 1— PROLOGUE 
 
 The CENTENNIAL QUEEN and her Court of Honor 
 will appear every night in a spectacular array of cos- 
 tumes, music and pageantry. 
 
 The CENTENNIAL QUEEN and her Court have 
 been selected from the following: Mary Kay Barber, Shir- 
 ley Lindstrom, Frances Dick, Pearl Comerford. Elfrie 
 Shepherd, Anna Mary Wrench, Ann Skagenberg, Marlene 
 Bowyer, Carol Sue Hinton, Challice Larson, Jeanabelle 
 Lash, Phyllis Shumard, Margaret Zoch, Nancy Allison, 
 Ann Ard, Shirley Shonkwiler, Betty Comerford. Audine 
 Moery, Shirley Hinton, Eilene Foran, Carleen McCullough, 
 Margaret Wright, Elaine Foster, Jo Ann Bentley, Judy 
 Redman, Sharon Ann Morton, Lois Cantrell, Leona Hud- 
 son, Frances Pierce, Marilyn Smith, Geneva Gulliford, 
 Betty Lincicum, Carrie Dobson, Barbara Warner. Janet 
 McCollum, Nancy McCollum, Martha Postlewait, Sue 
 Hannon, Rachel Day, Jacque Zindar, Irene Alexander, 
 Dorothy Meece, Ellen Wiggins, Carole Kirwan, Patricia 
 Rae Doyle, Karen Jo Lux, Evelyn White. 
 
 THE MOUNTED GUARD OF HONOR 
 
 Herman Wood, Carl Canull, Ross Manning, Robert Het- 
 tinger, Clifford Willis, Donald W. Hall, Bud Barnhart, 
 Irvin Beckhart, Archie Rogers, Loren Rogers, Larry Rog- 
 ers, Dale Norfleet, Carl Eads, Meliford Nelson, Billy Joe 
 Jordan, William Jordan, Bob Morgan, Paul Hannon, Bob 
 Wood, Jim Beckhart, BOY SCOUTS, GIRL SCOUTS. 
 
 SCENE No. 2— THE FIRST AMERICANS 
 
 Near here, on the trail between the Sangamon and 
 Kaskaskia rivers, the Pottawatomies and the Kickapoos 
 pitched their tepees. It was in this land of theirs, over a 
 hundred years ago, they hunted the wild turkey, the elk 
 and deer, antilope and buffalo, he peace pipe or Calu- 
 ment is used to seal the friendship of visiting kinsmen. 
 
 CAST: INDIANS 
 
 Mrs. Alice Hendrix, Mr. and Mrs. John Warehime, Mr. and 
 
 Mrs. Stanley Foley, Mr. and Mrs. Don Haws & sons, Den- 
 ny, Larry, Mr. and Mrs. Guy Totten, Mr. and Mrs. John R. 
 Hendrix, Judy and Johnny Bill, Mr. and Mrs. Gaylord Hen- 
 drix, Glo Ann and Gary, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Durbin, Mrs. 
 Gertrude Lefever, Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Taylor, Mr. and 
 Mrs. Clarence Lefever. Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Yockey, James 
 Yockey, Mrs. J. D. Poling, Mary and Margaret, Sara Pol- 
 ing, Carol Allen, Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Taylor, Janet and 
 Terry, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Woodward, Mr. and Mrs. 
 James Womer, Mr. and Mrs. James Laughlin, Ronald 
 Laughlin, 'Mr. and Mrs. Lynn Peterson, Ruth Hawver, 
 Mrs. Fred Goodrich, Linda Eads. 
 
 SCENE No. S— INDIAN INTERLUDE 
 
 It wasn't unusual, among these Indians, to find an 
 Indian Princess. Sometimes, on a warm summer night, 
 she would call to "her" Indian lover. This was an occas- 
 ion for festivities — and perhaps an Indian marriage, with 
 vows taken before the entire tribe. 
 
 CAST: Lani Drake and John Sebens. 
 
 SCENE No. 4— INTO THE WEST 
 
 The western tide of civilization brought the pioneer- 
 ing white man to the Sangamon. The Indians leave their 
 camping grounds. The late afternoon sun light fades in 
 the purple dust and the Indians were gone into the West, 
 across the wide Mississippi to Missouri. 
 
 Horsemen: Carl Canull, Carl Eads, Robert Hettinger. 
 
 SCENE No. 5— EARLY AMERICANA 
 
 It was Christmas Day in 1853 when Joseph Bodman, 
 L. B. Wing, and Henry Little, came upon the spot where 
 Bement was to be located. The magnificient view that 
 stretched before them was void of human habitation — 
 no farms, or orchard; not a single solitary living thing. 
 They had come to buy land and establish homes and they 
 
did. The covered wagon train arrived with early settlers 
 and a camp was' made for the night. 
 
 CAST: 
 
 L. B. Wing — Earl Lincicum 
 Henry Little — Albert Larson 
 Joseph Bodman — Lynn Larson 
 Mrs. Bodman — Mrs. Louis A. Miller 
 Mrs. Little — Emily Marker 
 
 PIONEERS: Emily Hammond, Rose L. Stewart, E. 
 S. Bodman, Alvina Bodman, May Hammond, Lillie Lar- 
 son, Marietta Marker, David Marker, Steve Marker, 
 Glenn Spearman, Junior Kirby, Jack Corum, Mr. and Mrs. 
 Bryan Wilson, Ella Swenson, Emily Marker, Melinda 
 Marker, Peggy Marker, Betty Lincicum, Francis Linci- 
 cum, Dale Turner, Cora Turner, John Turner, Bettv Hen- 
 drix, Noble Hendrix (child), Peggy Hendrix (child), Mrs. 
 Lynn Crook, Mrs. Louis A. Miller, Fred Davies, Louis A. 
 Miller, Mrs. Evelyn Mintun, Robert Fisher, David Fisher, 
 Sue Fisher, Mrs. J. R. Bower, Edna Burgess, Jessie Bur- 
 gess, Blake Livingston, Jeanette Wildman, Georgia Lar- 
 son, Polly Larson, Lynn Tucker. 
 
 HORSEMEN: Herman Wood, Bob Morgan, Paul 
 Hannon, Donald Hall, Irvin Beckhart, Bud Barnhart, Dale 
 Norfleet, Larry Rogers, Clare Pfeffer. 
 
 SCENE No. 6— FIRST WEDDING 
 
 A wedding was a cause for rejoicing and especially 
 so since this particular wedding was the first ceremonv 
 to be performed in the new settlement. Martha Hadsall 
 and Thomas Bane were joined in wedlock by a traveling 
 parson who was riding his circuit. 
 
 CAST: 
 
 Martha Hadsall, the Bride — Mrs. S. Royal 
 Thomas Bane, the Groom — Mr. S. Royal 
 Minister — Elton Haynes 
 Brides-maid — Betty Hendrix 
 Jumping Brother-in-law — Dale Turner 
 Brother-in-law's wife — Betty Lincicum 
 
 IN GROUP: Lillie Larson, Rose Stewart, Marietta 
 Marker, David Marker. Steve Marker, Emily Marker, 
 Mollie Van Gorder, Melinda Marker, Francis Lincicum 
 Cora Turner, Louis A. Miller, Fred Davies, Blake Livings- 
 ton, Jeanette Wildman, Jessie Burgess. 
 
 HORSEMEN: Dcnald Hall, Bud Barnhart, Loren 
 Rogers, Archie Rogers. 
 
 ....SCENE No. 7— EARLY CHURCH 
 
 Where there is courage, such as displayed by our 
 early pioneers, there is usually high religious ideas. We 
 see the early settlers arriving to attend one of the first 
 churches in our community, some are on foot, some are 
 on horseback, while others come in farm wagons and 
 buggies. In its simplicity, the scene is one of the most im- 
 pressive as a composite service is held. Today there are 
 many faiths in our community. In a community where 
 democracy reigns, in religion as in politics, everyone wor- 
 ships according to the dictates of his own heart. 
 
 CAST. 
 
 Minister — Rev. David Scates 
 
 Horsemen — Clifford Willis, Dale Norfleet, Ervin 
 Beckhart. 
 
 SCENE No. 8 — SCHOOL 
 
 It was late in the Autumn of 1856 that Joseph Bod- 
 man, Aaron Yost and Henry Booth were elected directors 
 to provide a school. The first school was held in the home 
 of William Pickens. By 1859, the enrollment was such 
 that it necessitated the construction of a two-story 
 building which was completed in June 1859. 
 
 CAST: 
 
 Teacher — Helen Fay 
 
 SCHOOL KIDS: Charles Strayer, Jr., Steve Wallace, 
 David Redman, Jim Fay, Glen Kitson, Roger Moery, Steve 
 Rittenhouse, Charles Body, Jr., Steve Hendrix, Bill Tracy, 
 Marvin Fairbank, Bemie Morris, Larry Burton, Steve 
 
 Wrench, Alan Fay, Alan L. Merry, Gus Wall, Sue Yates, 
 Sue Siders, Jan Raglan, Judy Funk, Cynthia Dare, Donna 
 Kitson, Margaret Fairbank, Brenda Morris, Sue Steideng- 
 er, Linda Burton, Paula Raglan, Susanne Coleman, Ellen 
 Haynes, Eugenia Wright, Linda Funk, Janice Funk, Mary 
 K. Body. 
 
 HORSEMAN: Larry Rogers. 
 
 SCENE No. 9— THE ARRIVAL OF THE IRON HORSE 
 
 The history of Bement and the history of the railroad 
 are closely related, for it was the coming of the rail- 
 road that opened the territory to settlement. These were 
 busy, hectic days, these first days of Bement, and as the 
 railroad neared completion, excitement mounted, as the 
 people eagerly awaited the completion of the Great West- 
 ern Railroad. 
 
 CAST: 
 
 5 Trainmen — Herbert Burton, Jack Romack, Bob 
 
 Romack, Joe Olinger Sr., Bill LeCrone 
 Fiddler: Jasper Burton 
 Caller — Russell Fritz 
 Lady — Mrs W. A. Drake 
 
 OTHERS: Floyd Larrimore, Marion Fish, Marvin 
 Fairbanks, Robert Postlewait, Don Livingston, William 
 W. Redman, Mrs. William Redman, Bob Redman, Patty 
 Bales, Sharet Ater, Billy Fritz, Billy Lash, Peggy Body, 
 Mike Ball, Sunny Strohl, Tony Strohl, Sandy Strohl, Shir- 
 ley Janes, Frances Redman, Linda LeCrone, Margaret 
 Fairbanks, Ray Pruitt, Bob Morris, Billy Morris, Evelyn 
 Fish, James Fish, Esther Livingston, Blake Livingston, 
 Nancy Livingston, Glenna Jo Gorrell, Virginia Livingston, 
 Ruby Fay, Clyde Fay, Alice Fay, Jerry Wildman, Zelma 
 Morris, Willard Morris, Gerald Wildman, Elmnia Wild- 
 man, Roberta Larimore, Larry Dean Larimore, Eddie 
 Walsh, Johnny Pope, Martha Postlewait, Audine Moery, 
 John Moery, John Irvin Foran, Kathie Stoerger, Harold 
 Redman, Wilma Redman, Steven Redman, Larry Wild- 
 man, Sharo.n,Morton, Wilma Hinton, Judy Redman, Becky 
 Morris, Bill Goodman, Dave Goodman, Jerry Stout, Jim 
 Yockey, Duane Warner, Barbara Warner, Karen Jo Lux. 
 
 SCENE No. 10— LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATE 
 
 It was on a day in June, 1858, that Abraham Lincoln, 
 the young attorney from Springfield, called at the home 
 of F. E. Bryant. There, he met with the Honorable Step- 
 hen A. Douglas, and the groundwork was laid for the 
 great debates between the two men. From these debates 
 emerged Lincoln's question: "Can a Nation Exist Half 
 Slave— Half Free?" 
 
 CAST: 
 
 Mr. Lincoln — Wayne Redman 
 
 Mr. Douglas — Wayne Sparks 
 
 Mr. Bryant — Carl Redman 
 
 Mrs. Bryant — Mrs. Wayne Sparks. 
 
 SCENE No. 11— THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES 
 
 With the community experiencing an era of prosper- 
 ity; good schools and churches, and the best in transpor- 
 tation, and industry, the war between the States was like 
 a bolt from the blue — The nation was divided and war 
 engulfed the people of our land. In the Bement area, there 
 were the Williams' brothers, one of whom fought for the 
 South and the other for the Union. The men of the Be- 
 ment area quickly volunteered their services but the toll 
 exacted from these brave men was high in blood: Oliver 
 Kidney killed at Knoxville; Jonathan Ruble killed by Con- 
 federate guerillas; F. M. Wildman killed at Lost Moun- 
 tain, Ga. ; Benjamin Watts killed at Chattanooga; Gideon 
 Blaxam missing at Chickamauga; James W. Terrill killed 
 at Gasconada; plus many injured and wounded. 
 
 CAST: 
 
 Officer — • 
 
 SOLDIERS: Jim Kirwan, Bob Gallivan, Dave Galli- 
 van, Mike Gallivan, John Hannon, Jim O'Hara, Dave 
 Hawkins, Stanley Courson, John Strater, Bill Hannon, 
 John Forrestal, Frank Feeney, Lester Jamison, Jack 
 Reeder. 
 
WOMEN: Betty Miller, Margaret Wright, Catherine 
 Ray, Flora Dye, Betty Lincicum, Velma Murphy, Marie 
 Clark, Mrs. Bryan Wilson, Mrs. James Raglan. 
 
 SCENE No. 12— SCHOOL REBELLION 
 
 One condition of hiring teachers for these first early 
 schools were that the boys and girls should be strictly 
 disciplined — and the teachers' appearance and conduct 
 should be above reproach. But it wasn't unusual to find 
 a teacher and his assistant who proved unpopular with 
 their students. As some of the boys "liked" school so 
 much that they stayed on until they were 24 years old, 
 they sometimes took matters into their own hands and 
 disposed of the teachers as they saw fit. 
 
 CAST: 
 
 Teacher — Bill Gorrell 
 Ass't Teacher — Bradford Fristoe 
 Foreman— Raymond Dick 
 Bad Boy — Paul Larimore 
 
 Others: William Hendrix, Jack Plummer, Carl T. 
 Redman, Floyd Larimore, Oscar Winzenburger 
 
 SCENE No. IS— TOWN MEETING 
 
 In 1882, a Town Meeting was held to determine what 
 should be done towards draining the marshlands around 
 Bement, which were causing so much ague and other 
 sickness among the populace. Three commissioners, Al- 
 fred Jay, Samuel L. Busick, and Anthony Clark, were 
 elected to undertake the arduous task of viewing the 
 land, and determining the benefits to be derived from a 
 drainage ditch. Three years were required to complete the 
 project and the cost mounted to $30,000, but the benefits 
 derived down through the years have more than justified 
 the action taken by those early settlers of Bement. 
 
 CAST: 
 
 Mr. Clark — Edw. Kanitz 
 Mr. Jay — Marion Durbin 
 Mr. Busick— E. E. Totten 
 
 Margaret Wright, Betty Miller, Catherine Ray, Selda 
 Miller, Flora Dye, Betty Lincicum, Velma Murphy, Marie 
 Clark, Mrs. Bryan Wilson, Mrs. James Raglan. 
 
 SCENE No. 14— THE GAY 90's 
 
 And so time sped into the future — and with a rush 
 the turn of the century was upon the little communities 
 of Bement, Ivesdale and Milmine — life changed for every- 
 one — music, living conditions, the styles, the entertain- 
 ment of the people became delightfully different. These 
 were the days of the wasp waist, the leg o'mutton sleeve, 
 and the Gibson girl — the day of the bicycle built for two 
 and the surrey with the fringe on top — the bustle and the 
 mustache. 
 
 CAST: 
 
 CAN CAN GIRLS: Shirley Shonkwiler, Madonna 
 Foran, Judy Strohl, Pat Scott, Ann Wilkinson, Barbara 
 Hodam. 
 
 BATHING BEAUTIES: Esther Livingston, Opal 
 Morton, Roberta Larimore, Ruby Fay, Catherine Redman. 
 
 LIFE GUARDS: Floyd Larimore, Charles Body. 
 
 GERMAN BAND: Don Livingston, Bob Morris, Bill 
 Morris, Joe Sapp, Larry Slater. 
 
 Cop — Willard Morton 
 Photographer — E. A. Stout 
 Balloon Man — Rev. Fleming 
 Medicine Man— Blake Livingston 
 Bad Boy — Bobby Carpenter 
 
 OTHERS: S. D. Body, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Wright, 
 Glenn Spearman, Becky Morris, Mrs. Willard Morris, 
 Floy Hawver, Lelah Lamb, Nora Buckner, Grace Le- 
 fever, Shirley Lamb, Stella Moore, Flo Stout, Howard 
 Moore, Elmer Haynes, Harry Lamb, Ola Haynes, Arbie 
 L. Hawver, Bill Fish, Cora Fish, Willard Morton, Mrs. 
 Charles Body, Charles Body, Jr., Mary K. Body, Sue 
 Redman, Patty Redman, David Redman, Bill Larimore, 
 Clyde Fay, Carl Redman, Clarence Lefever, Golda Funk, 
 Ruth Abel, Guy Medaris, Willard Durbin. C. D. Spencer, 
 Willard Morris, Hugh Fisher, Larry Larimore. 
 
 SCENE No. 15 — WORLD WAR I 
 
 The year was 1914, and again the people of Bement, 
 Ivesdale and Milmine heard the troubling sounds of war 
 in the making. But this time it was in Europe — Three 
 Thousand miles across the good old Atlantic Ocean! 
 
 CAST: 
 
 Mother and children — Hazel Liestman, Wardy Joe 
 Dare, Ann Steidinger. 
 
 Bugler — Isadore Westfall. 
 
 Soldiers — Ralph L. Allison, Dick Merry, Ward Dare, 
 George Swaim, Jr., Billie Burton, E. L. Peck, Melvin 
 Spencer. 
 
 SCENE No. 16— "ROARIN' TWENTIES" 
 
 1925! Prosperity abounded! Real estate values 
 soared — and Hollywood starlets and aviators were vieing 
 for national attention. It was the era of flappers, bob- 
 bed hair, radio, flag pole sitters, Clara Bow and home 
 brew. Money flowed like water! Let's take a look at 
 "the get rich quick period." 
 
 CAST: 
 
 M.C.— Wayne Hill. 
 Flapper — Simone Drake. 
 Millionaire — Bob Jones. 
 Chauffeur — Earl Wright. 
 News Boy — Chuckie Knapp. 
 
 CHARLESTON DANCERS: Junior Kirby, Kay 
 Steidinger, Ken Steidinger, Lotha Clark, Selby Clark, 
 Linda Byerline, Kay Strohl, Sonya Clark, Robert Hodam, 
 Sam Clark, Shirley Lamb, Mary Totten, Earl Medaris, 
 Jeanne Jones, Jerry Stout, Ellen Wiggins, Jack Coram, 
 Wayne Redman, Josephine Redman, Glenn Spearman, 
 Sharon Morton, Wilma Eades, John Elder, Charles 
 Strohl. 
 
 SCENE No. 17— THE ATOMIC AGE 
 
 The community's cause in World War II and the 
 Korean conflict was so common to that of many com- 
 munities throughout the United States — Many were the 
 acts of untold valor performed by our sons in service, 
 servicemen we salute you — We present in your honor 
 the tableau of the most American of all pictures. 
 
 The day of March 17 will be a day long remembered 
 by many of us for its our first look at an atomic ex- 
 plosion — We hope that it will be our pleasure only to 
 see it as a simulated test and an experiment - — The 
 experiment is about to take place, and we ask that you 
 who are witnessing the blast, please keep your eyes away 
 from the bomb tower. 
 
 CAST: 
 
 MARINES on IWO JIMA: Bob Jeffers, Leo Foran, 
 Chalmer Hinton, Kenneth Fry, Dave Dobson, Gordon 
 Lindstrom. 
 
 SCIENTIST'S: W. G. Porter, Alva E. Turner. 
 
 SOLDIERS: Harold Wallace, John Riddle. Babe 
 Foran, Bernard Jarboe, Ralph Weathery, Bob Harper, 
 Ed Foran, Lynn Royse, Eugene Wright, Homer Hinton. 
 
 SCENE No. 18 — HALL OF FAME 
 
 Upon the occasion of so important an anniversary 
 as our Centennial Celebration, it is indeed fitting that 
 we pay homage to some of the men and women who over 
 the years have built our communities and our country. 
 It is our privilege to do so tonight. 
 
 Joseph Bodman, L. B. Wing, Joseph Alvord, John 
 Mallory Camp, Francis E. Bryant, S. K. Bodman, Charles 
 F. Tenney, George L. Spear, Horace Haldeman, Steve 
 Hawks. W. G. Cloyd, William J. Day, W. W. Hammond, 
 J. F. Sprague, Samuel L. Busick. 
 
 SCENE No. 19 — FINALE 
 
 Tonight we have reviewed the past from the Indians 
 and pioneers at Bement, Ivesdale and Milmine, to the 
 happy filled days we live in today. We live amidst the 
 bounty of the richest of farming lands, wonderfully de- 
 veloped. And we have at our doors the strength and 
 genius of modern industry, constantly building for great- 
 er comforts, greater efficiencies. 
 
 Featuring THE ENTIRE CENTENNIAL CAST 
 
Left to right — John R. Funk, C. O. Funk, Johnny Pope, Herb Hooper, 
 Raymond Noe, Cal Poundstone, Denny Probus, Earl Van Landingham, 
 
 Arbie Hawver 
 
 Cent 
 
 ennia 
 
 i a 
 
 ok 
 
 CHGia 
 
 tulatl 
 
 ions 
 
 OF 
 
 C. 0. FUNK & SON 
 
 BEMENT, ILLINOIS — PHONE 4501 
 
 SYMBOL 
 
 OF 
 SERVICE 
 
 INTERNATIONAL 
 HARVESTER 
 
 TRACTORS - TRUCKS - PARTS - SERVICE 
 REFRIGERATORS - FREEZERS - AIR CONDITIONING 
 
Ji 
 
 iniJ 
 
 We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere grati- 
 tude to all those fine people of Bement and community, as well as former 
 residents and visiting friends and neighbors of Bement, who have con- 
 tributed to the efforts necessary in making this Centennial a success. To 
 name each deserving person is an impossibility, but each will have the 
 satisfaction of realizing that a measure of the success is his. Only through 
 the combined efforts of so many people working together unselfishly and in 
 harmony could such a glorious celebration be accomplished. It is our wish 
 to especially thank the officers, chairmen, and members of all the commit- 
 tees for their untiring efforts to make this celebration possible. We also want 
 to thank all the people who helped prepare the material for this book. 
 
 As we write the final entries in this book, we can't help but think 
 of the next 100 years . . . Abraham Lincoln once said: "I believe a man 
 should be proud of the place in which he lives, and that he should so live 
 that the place will be proud that he lived in it." 
 
 We have achieved a great community spirit during this Centennial 
 Celebration. Let's keep it alive! Let's make Bement an even better place in 
 which to live! There must be many things about Bement that you like or 
 you wouldn't call Bement your home — so be a booster, not a knocker! 
 Boost Bement for the things you like about it, and do something about 
 the things you don't like. Don't sit back and say: "Let George do it." 
 
 Errors of omission, typographical errors, misspellings and oversights 
 of this book will be rectified and acknowledged in the next Centennial Book 
 to be published in the year 2055. Please contact the committee at that time. 
 
 Francis Wm. Phillips, Chairman 
 Historical Book Committee 
 
Congratulations Bement! 
 
 We salute a century old Community, served by us for more 
 than 50 years. During this time we have grown and pros- 
 pered in this God's Prairie Land. 
 
 This has been made possible by the continued trust which has 
 been shown us year after year by the good people of the Be- 
 ment community and surrounding territory. 
 
 May we continue to merit your confidence and patronage as 
 we enter a new century. 
 
 OFFICERS 
 
 RALPH MOERY, SR., President 
 WAYNE REDMAN, Secretary 
 
 DIRECTORS 
 
 Frank Totten, D. P. Rittenhouse, Frank Lux, Sr., Francis Tracy, 
 Wayne Redman, Ralph AAoery, Sr., E. E. Lamb 
 
 EMPLOYEES 
 
 Esther Mull, Wyman Patterson, Robert Danielson, Orval Jeffers, 
 Arthur Knowles, Eastle Hutson, Emmett Fritz 
 
 GLEN DURBIN, Manager 
 
 BEMENT GRAIN CO. 
 
 BEMENT, ILLINOIS Organized Jan. 1903 PHONE 231 1 
 
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 
 
 977 3673B423B C001 
 
 THE BEMENT STORY, 1855-1955 BEMENT. ILL 
 
 3 0112 025396372