Our local researchers like to say that if you look hard enough you will find Lawrence County people playing a role in every part of American history. Here is just one example. Railroads played a pivotal role in shaping settlement across North Dakota, and their land‑selling campaigns were as influential as the tracks themselves. After receiving vast land grants from the federal government, railroad companies marketed these acres aggressively to homesteaders, immigrants, and an

In 1908 Lafayette Perkins laid out Arlington Heights Subdivision located on the west side of town bounded by on the north by Church Street, east by Kenwood Avenue, south by Depot Street, and west by Lexington Avenue, He was known as the Home Seeker’s Friend and had an office across from the First National Bank with Mr. Dickirson and Mr. Milligan. He offered a $1.00 prize to readers who would answer the questions he posed. The answers were published in the newspaper.  Why will

Dr. Harlie V. Lewis, the oldest physician in Lawrence County in 1939, died at his home at 809 13th St at 3:25 pm Saturday February 1. He suffered a stroke at 8:30 that morning and his condition was considered serious from the first. Dr. Lewis had been in his usual health the last month except for a slight cold that had confined him to his home in the latter part of that week. Dr. Lewis was born in Bridgeport, Illinois, the son o f William M. Lewis and Katherine Eaton Lewis

George W Glover held the record for being in the same line of business longer than anyone in Lawrenceville at the time of his death. He opened his confectionery on the West side of the square on a Sunday morning in March 1942 to begin the second half of a century in business. He had completed 50 years when he closed the store Saturday night. Fifty years in one city is a long time when one considers that he worked seven days a week, including the holidays. Arriving at noon M

A few weeks ago a reader rquested an article that had appeared on the old blog ( before Google deided that blog was spam and deleted it from the web, and yes we are still mad about that but moving on.....) Anway here is the post again.    July 23, 1909 The Oil City Derrick (Oil City, Pennsylvania) The record of the Diver farm is wonderful and has never been equaled in production nor in longevity of the wells. The John Dive r farm of 35 acres located a mile south of Bridgeport

First call of 113 Lawrence County men appeared for physical inspection for the selective service draft for WWI.   Headquarters of the local board had been moved from the courthouse to the basement of the Lawrenceville Township High School building, and the first quota of men for the new army were being examined. Doctor BF Hockman of the local board was being assisted by Doctors CP Gore, RL Gordon and JE Cornett. The physical examination was held in the gymnasium. On enterin

The Redman General Merchandise Store in Sumner was owned by Albert Lloyd Redman. Albert Lloyd Redman was born In Mount Carmel Illinois on June 8, 1861, to William and Jenny Redman . He was nine years old when the 1870 census was taken; he and his family lived in Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana. Ten years later the family had moved to Mount Carmel, Wabash County, Illinois. Albert was working as a clerk in the dry goods store. He had managed to get an 8 th  grade educat

We know how busy this time of year is going to be for everyone with shopping, decorating, wrapping etc. so we present “gift buying through the decades” –five days of gifts that Lawrence County residents were purchasing locally.  Today showcases December 1920.

We know how busy this time of year is going to be for everyone with shopping, decorating, wrapping etc. so we present “gift buying through the decades” –five days of gifts that Lawrence County residents were purchasing locally.  Today showcases December 1910.

Jazz is an American musical style originating from spirituals, blues, and ragtime traditions. Its development began in the early twentieth century in New Orleans. Prominent musicians such as Louis Armstrong and Jelly Roll Morton gained recognition by performing in Chicago nightclubs, leading to the emergence of a distinct Chicago jazz style. Three brothers from Sumner were very involved in the Chicago Jazz and Blues scene in the 1920s and 1930s. Walter, Lester and Frank Melro