THE MARSHALL COUNTY REPUBLICAN - December 5, 1867 State Items: A coal shaft is being sunk at Minonk by Geo. Atherton and he has got down 60 feet already. THE MARSHALL COUNTY REPUBLICAN - January 23, 1868 A coal shaft is being sunk at Minonk, Woodford county. Rock was found at a depth of 125 feet. This will add considerably to the expense of sinking the shaft and delay the success of the enterprise some time. The Henry Republican - March 18, 1875 Woodford County: The Chicago and Minonk Coal Company employ 200 hands and are paying out $9,000 monthly in that little town. One Davidson, who owns the land under which they are digging has sued the company for trespass to recover the value of the coal. The possibilities of the work may be stopped entirely and Minonk is greatly in fear of disastrous consequences. The Henry Republican - August 3, 1876 We have been slow in announcing that Horace O Hodge recently succeeded Irving Carrier in the publication of the Minonk Times. Its reputation as a sprightly paper is kept up under the new management. THE TOLUCA STAR NEWSPAPER - Friday, October 18, 1901 Sold Tuesday: All the personal property of the Minonk Coal Company was sold at public auction by the receiving at Minonk Tuesday, including the stock of merchandise, store fixtures, mules, pit cars, etc. Toluca, Marshall Co., Illinois, Friday, March 14, 1902 - Minonk Matters The mine is now ready to be inspected who are endeavoring to lease the same. The falls have been cleaned up and the water pumped out. The mine is in good condition and ready to be worked. The bond holders and prospective lessees are expected here today to look over the property. There seems to be but little doubt but what the mine will soon be running. THE MINONK JOURNAL - Saturday, March 4, 1882 Died, Monday night, Mrs. Chas. Main, of canker sore throat. Mrs. Main leaves a husband, two children and many friends to mourn her loss. Married: Mr. Homer Manifee, to Miss Lydia Loomis, on last Sunday. By whom we cannot say at this writing. Rumor has it that they eloped, but how it is, we don't know. Success to them. Died: On Monday, Feb. 28th, of consumption, A. Tompeon; aged 18 years. The remains were interred in the Minonk cemetery. We leard that Mr. DeBoer, father of Johannes DeBoer, who was hung at Pontiac, for the murder of Ella Martin, died at Chicago, Sunday, Feb. 26th. Marshall Wickler had two tramps cleaning off - the crossings, last Tuesday, to pay for their lodgings in the calaboose. Do so some more Jake, tramps will give Minonk a wide berth, when they have to work to pay for lodging. Hank Webber is a dangerous man, he flourishes a big razor. Joe Cheek wants to know if there is not an ordinance against carrying concealed weapons. Mr. Luke Goodwin, of Mendota, brother to our Ed, was in Minonk, Tuesday and Wednesday. He has bought the property of C. M. Goodrich, now occupied by Ricketts & Gulshen. Mr. Luke Goodwin and Mr. John Golden are going to build a fine brick building. Minonk is improving. Mr. Norman Davison, Jr., is on the streets again. He was sick with the diptheria. It made Norman look thin. Henkell is selling fruit trees and nursery stock. If you want anything of the kind, go and see him. Died, Friday, Feb 23, Miss Maggie Smith, of Nebraska township, Illinois, of dropsy, aged 25 years, and was buried in Minonk cemetery Sunday, Feb. 26th. Mr. Hopp and John Opperly left for Nebraska last Monday afternoon. Hopp and Opperly were two old settlers of Minonk. Thus they go. Dell Kipp, Bob Hamilton and Dave Filger started for the lakes around Hennepin and vicinity on a duck hunt. Oh, how we will feast on wild duck, anyhow, don't it. John W. January has returned from a two week's lecture tour. He reports everything fine and had a successful trip, financial as well as pleasant time. Success to you, John. Born, to Mr. and Mrs. E. Tammen last Thursday morning, a son, nine pounds. All doing finely. Few of our readers know of the magnitude of the business carried on by Picard Bros. This firm is the oldest implement firm in the county, having been engaged in the business for more than fifteen years. They keep nothing but the standard implements, and all who deal with them will receive proper guarantees. They manufacture buggies, carriages and wagons extensively. They do their own woodwork, painting, iron work and trimming and give steady employment to nine men. Mr. T. Picard has charge of the business; his brother superintends the wood work and painting departments. The blacksmithing or iron work is under the supervision of Wm. Minchell, well known as a mechanic of more than ordinary skill, and the trimming department is under the supervision of a man of extensive experience. Farmers are invited to call and see for themselves and learn prices. October 30 , 1879 Henry Republican, Henry, IL A Terrible Crime One of the most dastardly crimes known to the race was attempted upon Miss Ella Martin, at Minonk, on the afternoon of Sunday week, a daughter of J. D. Martin. She was on the way home from church, just out of town, when she was attacked by Johannes DeBoer, living at Minonk, a young man of 17, and formerly a school mate. Rape was attempted undoubtedly, but he was so fiercely resisted that he brought into requisition a deadly weapon, a large pocket knife, cutting not less than 13 gashes about her head and neck, one almost severing her windpipe. Her dress was also badly torn in the fray. So badly frightened did the fellow become that his beastly intentions were not accomplished, he leaving his victim in an insensible condition in a cornfield, he having dragged the body just out of sight from the highway. Here she lay until next morning where she was found by her brother who was passing, who thought at first it was a dead woman, but recognizing the dress, he discovered his sister thus terribly disfigured, and signaling a passing team, conveyed her home, where everything was done for her comfort, several physicians assisting in dressing and sewing up the gashes. She was able to talk, and from here was learned the name of her assailant whom, she pointed out as he with others was brought in before here, and also made a written statement of the case before the proper authorities. As her injuries were so violent as to cause her death, which occurred Saturday last, this antemortem testimony will be used against the accused as murder and whose own life ought to pay the forfeit, first for taking the life of another, and second as being too beastly and unfit and unsafe to live among his fellow beings. Miss Martin was 17 years of age, of slender build, bright and intelligent and a charming girl. The murderer is a blacksmith of Minonk. La Rose News Items, May 16, 1901   (Courtesy Barb Darling.  She writes "My notes will be in blue  All these entries were in the same column for La Rose) Ed. Perry and wife returned Sunday evening from a visit in Lacon with parents, Mr. And Mrs. Batrum.. W. V. Morrow and wife were in Washburn Monday, attending the reading of the late Mr. Perry’s will. (This refers to William Henry Perry) Mr. And Mrs. Morrow and brothers Samuel and Wm. Perry drove to Lacon Tuesday on business. Mr. and Mrs Batrum, of Lacon, passed through here Friday on their way home from a visit to their daughters, Mrs. Ed Perry and Mrs. Martin at Belle Plain. Wm. And Samuel Perry, of Harvard, Nebraska, who were called here last week by the death of their father, Wm. Perry of Washburn, spent last Thursday in La Rose with the family of their sister, Mrs. W. V. Morrow. The Journal (Minonk) - May 31, , 1884 Harvey Dye has located at Streator, to practice his profession, dentistry. He went to that city, Thursday. Mrs. J. Fishburn Young has been engaged to teach the grammar department of the Fairbury schools, next year. Geo. W. Bowman, who left this city a few weeks ago, looking for a western home, has located at Derby, Kansas. Mrs. A. P. Yard and her son, Hobart P., of Waukegan, Ill., are visiting their relatives, Wm. II and C. O. McClellan of this city. Mrs. L. Williams and family, of Fairbury, who have been visiting relatives here for some time, returned home. Garman Gish, of Metamora, was a caller, Wednesday. Mr. Gish is an enthusiastic worker for N. P. Baker, for e-election. Steph. Gipson is having a large barn built on his farm in Greene township. When completed it will be one of the finest barns in that township. Mrs. M. E. Cazalet started Thursday morning on an extended visit to Decatur, Mattoon, Taylorville and Macon. She will be away between two and three weeks. W. R. Boyd will immediately begin the erection of a large new barn on his home farm, just west of Kappa. When it is completed it will shelter one of the finest teams of Norman horses in that vicinity. John Geiger moved into his splendid new quarters in the Newton building, last Tuesday evening. John now has the finest appointed saloon in the city. The papering and decorating was done by W. H. Ripley, which shows that he is a master workman in the art of decorating. The Journal (Minonk) - Thursday December 31, 1874 Jim Hunter was presented with a very fine Maltese cross a few evenings since. In the presentation speech Chas. Robinson said: "Jim (hic) here is a token of regard from you (Hic) many friends. Take it and (Hic) put it where it'll (Hic) do the most good." Jim won't put it there he says. A few days ago Ald. Spurgin called on Ira Merchant, and requested him to apologize to Ald. Rockwell for some trifling offense which it seems Ira had been guilty of. Ira informed Spurgin that he would providing he -S- would remain a teetotaler until such apology was made, ? for 24 hours. Ira will never apologize. Chas. Dickinson is preparing a lecture on the uncertainties of fat men. He will speak from the roof of Minerva block. Al Gridley has lately embraced religion. He is a regular attendant at church and hopes to become a superintendent of a Sunday school shortly. Al would be a big improvement over some that make more fuss about it. Scott Carroll has received a large lot of orders for his elongated candies. Scott had a new way of introducing his goods into market. Peter Kratz delivered a very eloquent address, a few evenings since, on the peculiarities of the head - after Christmas. He was headed off before he finished his discourse, but will conclude it on New Years. They say Henry Weast is married, but Henry shows no signs of it. Heaton has been heard from. He was on his way to Louisville. Wait Uphoff, father of Adam, Bartlett, John and Henry Uphoff, and Mrs. Nathan Giles, of Peoria, died last week and was buried Monday. Rev. Jourdan preached the sermon. He was 74 years old. T. E. Coleman has been elected President of the Benson Literary Society, and yet Coleman will go right ahead and sell as many pounds of sugar for a dollar as heretofore. The Minonk Journal - Saturday May 27, 1882 Last Thursday night at 11:45, Rev. W. T. Adams, a highly respected minister and citizen, died at his residence in El Paso. In the 19th inst. he and his wife returned from Dallas where he had been settling in the business of his son-in-law, Dr. D. W. Lamme, who died last month. He was taken down Wednesday with pneumonia and for several hours before his death was unconcious. The funeral will occur at the Presbyterian church, Sunday at 10:30 o'clock. The Minonk Journal - Saturday May 6, 1882 Last Saturday forenoon Uncle Billy Pleasants and wife, of Green township, were very much surprised on seeing a large crowd of people drive up to the front gate of their yard, who proved to be all their children and twenty of their grandchildren. They immediately took full possession of the premises, and made the old folks the guests of the house, by inviting them, abut noon, to a sumptuous repast brought prepared for the occasion. They were also presented with some very useful and substantial presents to give them comfort and pleasure, as well as to remind them of their large and affectionate family. Mr. Wilerson and family of Metamora, and Mrs. Pleasant's sister, Mrs. Wills, of Roanoke, were also present. Mr. Wilkerson and family presented the old lady with a nice tea set. The Journal (Minonk) - Saturday April 8, 1882 John W. January, a cripple soldier, has been appointed postmaster of the House at Springfield. The story of Mr. January's life is more thrilling than the pen of novelist ever conceived. He enlisted in the Union army a hale and hearty lad, and was taken prisoner and sent to Andersonville. There he suffered all the horrors of the vile pen. His feet, from walking about in the hot sand, became sore, and the scurvy settled in them, so that they at last cracked open and gangrened. In this condition, Mr. January amputated them himself with a pair of common shears. Singularly enough they healed, and he now walks about with a pair of wooden feet. A slight stiffness is all that is apparent to a common observer. He is the owner of a farm near Minonk, in Woodford county, and follows the occupation of a farmer. He is quite well-to-do in this world's goods, is a capital business man, and is in every respect a worthy citizen. Mr. January is well-known in Normal and Bloomington. He and his brother for some years after the war, were employed by the Overman nursery. (Bloomington Pantagraph) The Inter Ocean Nov. 1, 1875 Minonk, Ill Oct 31 - The tornado which swept over a portion of this county on Friday, first made its appearance near the village of Roanoke, in the center of the county, where it demolished two farm houses, one of them the house of Mrs. DeFries, already reported in the Inter-Ocean. From thence it took a northeasterly course, completely demolishing everything in its pathway. One house in its course was carried a distance of four rods, and let down among some stacks of grain, and there being fire in the stove the house and grain caught fire and were all consumed. The Uphoff farm, as reported in the Inter-Ocean of Saturday, was in its pathway, and all the houses, barns, outbuildings, orchard and grove were literally torn to pieces. It next struck C. P. Waterman's farm, known as the Knowles estate, two miles northwest of this place, and blew the house, orchard trees, and fencing to pieces, and carrie dparts of the building, fencing, furniture, bedding, and clothing of the family away so that some of them have not yet been recovered. It next visited an adjoining farm northeast of this, known as the Buckingham Section, the houses, barns, and grain on which fared no better than that of the Knowles property. Many other sad accounts of destruction to property and limb, and in two or three cases the lives of persons, are reported from the district through which it passed. It seems to have been about eighty rods wide, and from where it started to the point where it spent its force about twelve miles long. It was accompanied by severe hailstrom. In this town the wind was light - no hail - but it rained in torrents for near three hours. The Daily Inter Ocean, Nov. 9, 1880 Minonk, Ill Nov 8 - A horrible accident took place three miles south of here today, at 3 o'clock p.m., as the train on the Kankakee branch was passing south, which resulted in the death of thre persons - John Aden, a German farmer, residing six miles east; his wife, and their niece, a young lady of 14. They were attempting to cross the track in a wagon, ahead of the train, and were ran into by the engine, which was running at the rate of thirty miles per hour. Mrs. Aden and the young lady were instantly killed, but the man lived until after 5 o'clock. The bodies were taken by the train men to Woodford Station. The Coroner was notified, who summoned a jury. It was ascertained that the testimony of the engineer and fireman could not be obtained until tomorrow, and the inquest was postponed until then. No blame can be attached to the engineer, as he could not possibly have seen the team ten seconds before striking it. Metamora Herald - August 11, 1931 George Renfer Dies at Woodford Sanitarum George Renfer, 54, who for years has been associated with his brother in the dry goods business in Washington, Eureka, and Elmwood, died at the sanitarum in Minonk, early Tuesday.  He had been in ill health for some time and had been forced to give up part of his business because of ill health. He was born in Canada, the son of George and Louisa Renfer and moved to Peoria with his parents when a small boy.  He was married to Miss Katie Follrath of Peoria. Surviving are the widow, two children, Mrs. Leo Peterson of DeKalb and George of Washington, three brothers, Adolph of Peoria, Herman of Chicago and Otto of Washington, and two sisters; Mrs. H. J. Brown and Miss Emily Renfer, both of Peoria. The body was taken to the Habecker funeral home in Washington. Minonk News, January 13, 1988 - contributed by Mary Moorman Police identify accident victim Minonk - Illinois state police yesterday identified the man killed in a collision between a car and semitrailer truck one mile north of Minonk Wednesday night as Richard Livingston, 63, Minonk. Livingston was driving a car southbound on U.S. 51 when it crossed the center line into the northbound lane, police said. Police said William Suckow, 28, Fairmont, Minn., was driving a northbound semi and tried to veer into the southbound lane to avoid the Livingston vehicle. But Livingston then veered back into his southbound lane and the two vehicles collided head-on. His obituary is on page C5. Suckow was not injured. Henry Republican, Henry, IL July 27, 1882 Minonk - contributed by Nancy Piper Mrs. Thorn an aged Scotch lady, living about 1 mile southwest of town died the 10th and was buried the 12th. The Henry Republican, Henry , IL , November 30, 1882 Minonk - contributed by Nancy Piper The tile factory is doing an immense business. Besides building new kilns and a new stack 90 feet high. They recently put in two new boilers, a new engine, 2 new chasers, 2 more tile machines and lots of other machinery. It is the most extensive excelsior drain tile works in the United States . About 50 men are employed about the works, including night and day men.  The entire works are soon to be lighted with electricity.