Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Puterbaugh of Milledgeville will observe their golden wedding anniversary at their home here on Wednesday [02/22/1933]. Members of the family and the brothers and sisters of Mr. Puterbaugh will be entertained at dinner in the Puterbaugh home at noon in celebration of the happy occasion. During the afternoon and evening open house will be kept for relatives and friends of the couple who wish to call on them. Mary A. Bittner was born in Somerset county, Pa., Jan. 21, 1861, and came to Carroll county in her girlhood. A. B. Puterbaugh was born in Carroll county, near Lanark, on March 28, 1859, and has never lived out of the county. He was reared on his father’s farm and completed his education in a business college at Davenport, Ia., graduating in May, 1880.

Mr. and Mrs. Puterbaugh were united in marriage by the Rev. David Puterbaugh, uncle of the groom, at 8 o’clock on the evening of February 22, 1883. Following the ceremony the young couple went to the home of the groom’s parents where a wedding dinner was served. Four children were born to this union, Clara Lulu, Robert F., Harry E., and B. Ruth, all of whom are married and living here except Harry E, who, with his family, lives in Evanston. There are also nine grandchildren: Lucille Bushman Alber, Harry Bushman, Albert and Albert (twins, Albert deceased) Bushman, Mae Bushman, Alice Puterbaugh, Betty Puterbaugh and Eugene and Duane Litwiller. When Mr. and Mrs. Puterbaugh were married they took up their abode on the groom’s father’s farm two miles south of Lanark, which place they bought the following year. In the meanwhile, Mr. Puterbaugh’s father had established himself as a grain and livestock dealer and shipper and was one of the heaviest shippers on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad.

On September 1, 1886, Mr. Puterbaugh established himself in business in Milledgeville as buyer and shipper of grain and livestock. He shipped the first car of grain and stock ever shipped out of Milledgeville, to which place they moved a few months later. In February, 1892, having sold his Lanark farm, they bought from Mr. Inman his 360 acre farm adjoining Milledgeville. To this farm was given the name “Oaklawn Farm,” deriving its name from the large oak trees on the lawn. This farm was developed into a famous stock and feeding farm. The second year Mr. Puterbaugh had 5,000 head of sheep, 900 head of hogs and 200 head of cattle fed on the place, which was done at a splendid profit. The same year he bought of Arthur Hendrick his ten acre tract of land which joined Milledgeville and he readily found purchasers for these desirable lots.

In May, 1904, he bought W. Pool’s grain elevator, residence and three lots occupied by coal sheds in Forreston. He entered into partnership with C. A. Beebe, who for eight years had been his book-keeper. The firm began business as A. B. Puterbaugh & Co., handling grain, seed and similar commodities. Ten years to the day this property was bought, it was sold to C. A. Beebe, and the partnership was closed. The following is taken from a quotation in the Carroll county history: “Mr. Puterbaugh continued his remarkable operations by buying and naming his purchase, “Maplelawn Farm.” This farm contains some noble trees from which it gets its name.

In February, 1903, he bought another farm from George Crombie, which joins Milledgeville on the south. The same year he bought S. V. Henricks’ farm which joins Milledgeville on the north. By this time he had founded and raised a large herd of Angus cattle known as the Oaklawn farm herd. He also bred Percheron horses, showing them at the biggest shows in the country and receiving his full share of premiums. On February 15, 1917, he sold 35 head of Percherons of all ages at public auction with an average of $511, excluding seven weanling. Concerning this sale the Breeders’ Gazette of Feb. 23, 1917, said: “One of the largest crowds seen at a horse sale in some time was in attendance at the sale of percherons held by A. B. Puterbaugh at Milledgeville, Ill., Feb. 15. The offering was appreciated and the sale was a success in every respect. The average will be considered highly satisfactory, as it includes old and young as well as a few unsound sorts. The top was $1,000, paid for the gray two year old stallion, ‘Commander.’ The top mare sold for $775.” >{?Mr. Puterbaugh has not been so engrossed with business as to neglect his civic duties, for he has served on the school board for twenty years,” continues the county history account of Mr. and Mrs. Puterbaugh. “He was executor of his father’s estate. He helped to organize the Milledgeville Mutual Telephone company of which he was president for thirteen years. For ten years he was supervisor of Wysox township and seven years he was chairman of the county board and chairman of the board of review for seven years. He was Sunday school superintendent of the M. E. Sunday school for 20 years. “None of Mr. Puterbaugh’s ventures have failed because he has entered into them with a full knowledge of just what he intended t o accomplish and has carried out his ideas to ultimate perfection. “Both he and his wife stand high in Carroll county where Mr. Puterbaugh is justly regarded as one of the most representative men as well as public spirited citizens.

On the morning of May 1, 1914, the beautiful home of Mr. and Mrs. Puterbaugh at the north end of Main street was destroyed by fire at 1 o’clock in the morning, when the family at home, which then consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Puterbaugh and daughter Ruth, barely escaped with their lives. The family was forced into the streets in their night clothes and very little saved. This home had been one of the landmarks in Milledgeville for many years. Mr. Puterbaugh replaced the property with a beautiful modern red brick structure, building on the same foundation. This is where their anniversary will be celebrated tomorrow. On Jan. 1, 1931, Mr. Puterbaugh took W. A. Litwiller, his son-in-law, as partner in his business. The business is now being conducted under the firm A. B. Puterbaugh Grain Co. On December 1, 1932, the firm bought the lumber and coal business established in June, 1896, by L. N. Evans. Mrs. Puterbaugh deserves much credit for their success through life. Both Mr. and Mrs. Puterbaugh are enjoying good health and Mr. Puterbaugh is still very active in the business he established over 46 years ago.

This article occured in the Daily Gazette 21 Feb 1933 on the occassion of their 50th Wedding Anniversary.
Contributed by Larry Reynolds

One of Milledgeville's most progressive businesses recently passed the three-fourth century mark. Started on Sept. 1st of 1886 by A.B. Puterbaugh was the original business known today as Gene Litwiller and Son. Mr. Puterbaugh, grandfather and great grandfather to Gene and Lester Litwiller respectively, the present owners, came from Lanark to establish a grain and livestock buying business. The office was located in the same area it still occupies. The area surrounding the office was filled with livestock pens and corrals. In that day everyone drove his livestock on the hoof to town to sell. Puterbaugh shipped the first carload of livestock on the C.B. & O. RR to Chicago. The railroad had come to Milledgeville in 1885 just a year before. After he shipped his first load of grain (also the first one shipped) railroad officials proposed that he build a grain elevator. If he would build on their right-of-way the railroad would haul in the lumber free. Mr. Puterbaugh went to LaCrosse, Wis. and purchased lumber for his new elevator and the railroad delivered it as agreed to a siding where the elevator was built and still stands.

At this time grain was hauled with teams and wagons. Unloading was done by hand with the help of a horse on a horsepower sweep to elevate the grain into the bins. A blind horse was used for this job but in a few years the horse was replaced by a gasoline engine. It was a common sight to see loaded wagons lined up for two block south and a block or two East and West waiting to unload grain some chilly morning when the engine wouldn't start. In 1919 when electricity came to Milledgeville two large 24 x 24 ft storage bins were build in the place formeerly occupied by the horse and engine. The founder of the business owned land and was always interested, and had first hand knowledge, of agriculture in the community. In 1902, Puterbaugh purchased his third farm, known as Elkhorn farm, and a parcel of land from this farm was used by the village when it put in the first sewage disposal system in 1919; another parcel was taken for the new plant in 1960. The old mill owned by Adam Knox and torn down in 1908 was also on Elk­horn farm.

Mr. Puterbaugh's success in breeding Per­cheron horses including his grand champion­ship two year old mare at the 1902 Intemational Livestock Exposition, Chicago is covered in the chapter on agriculture. During the years 1911 through 1921, Harry Puterbaugh operated an automobile dealer­ship for Overland cars. After Harry sold his car business the building was rented to Wm. Ewers for a garage and gas station and later to Arthur & Jake Hart.

In January, 1921 Ruth Puterbaugh and Wm. Litwiller were married and came to Milledgeville to operate one of the Puterbaugh farms. In 1927 they moved from the farm to their newly constructed home where they still reside. At this time Bill Litwiller went to work for Mr. Puterbaugh at the elevator. In 1931 he purchased a half interest in the busi­ness and went into partnership with his father­-in-law when the business became the A. B. Puterbaugh Grain Co. In 1932 the business was expanded by pur­chasing the lumber yard across the street and in 1940 Wm. Litwiller purchased the other half of the partnership from the Puterbaugh heirs when the name was changed to W. A. Litwiller Lumber and Grain Co.

In 1947 Mr. and Mrs. Gene Litwiller while residing on the E1khorn farm, mentioned pre­viously, built their new home on two lots ad­jacent to the old Mill race property where now is the Rocky Gulch Pony farm. In 1949 Gene came to work for his father at the ele­vator. The mill was remodeled using the latest in custom feed milling equipment for farmers in the Milledgeville area. Oat and seed clean­ing and treating equipment was installed re­cently and farmers from a wide area are using these modern facilities. In 1963 alone enough oats were cleaned and treated to sow some 10,000 acres. Today, the elevator business launched by Mr. Puterbaugh in 1886 is the oldest family business still operating in Milledgeville.

From the Goodly Heritage 1968

George Puterbaugh Family

Contributed by Alice Horner

GEORGE E. PUTERBAUGH was born 29 Mar 1877 in Cherry Grove Township, Carroll County, IL, and died 19662. He married MINNIE MYERS 03 Mar 1900 in Carroll County, Illinois, daughter of FRANKLIN MYERS and MARGARET EISENBISE. She was born 23 Mar 1878 in Carroll County, Illinois, and died 09 Jun 1938 in Carroll County, Illinois. He owned 90 acres in Section 28, Cherry Grove Twp. He and Minnie are buried in Cherry Grove Brethren Cemetery, Cherry Grove Township, Carroll County, Illinois. They were married 03 Mar 1900, Carroll County, Illinois. Children of GEORGE PUTERBAUGH and MINNIE MYERS are:

i. PEARL PUTERBAUGH b. 24 Jul 1905 d. 16 Oct 1992, Lanark, Carroll County, Illinois11; m. CHARLES E. MARTZ b. 09 Jun 1905; d. 18 Jul 1988, Forreston, Ogle.

ii. MINERVA A. PUTERBAUGH1 b. 10 Jun 1903, Cherry Grove Township, Carroll County, Illinois; d. 10 Jun 1903, Cherry Grove Township, Carroll County, Illinois The Carroll County Birth Certificates Index notes that this infant was stillborn. She was buried at Cherry Grove Brethren Cemetery, Cherry Grove Township, Carroll County, Illinois

iii. EDNA M. PUTERBAUGH b. 24 Jul 1905; d. 03 Mar 1957, Lanark, Carroll County, Illinois m. NELLIS BECHTOLD b. 13 Feb 1904; d. 26 Mar 1991. Edna is buried at Riverview Cemetery, Oregon Township, Ogle County, Illinois

iv. GRACE PUTERBAUGH

Headstones - George, Minnie and daughter Minerva

Martin Z. Butterbaugh Family

MARTIN Z. BUTTERBAUGH was born 11 Jan 1850 in Carroll County, Illinois, and died 1929. He married BARBARA WOLF 02 Feb 1871 in Carroll County, Illinois. He is buried at Cherry Grove Brethren Cemetery, Cherry Grove Township, Carroll County, Illinois In 1913, Farmer in Freedom Township, Carroll County, Illinois Property: Owned 467 acres in Section 25, Freedom Township, Carroll County, Illinois. MARTIN BUTERPAUGH and BARBARA WOLF married 02 Feb 1871, Carroll County, Illinois. Children of MARTIN BUTTERBAUGH and BARBARA WOLF were Harry, Charlie and Delta all born before 1917.

Headstone - Martin Z. Butterbaugh