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

Feeling Rough? Let’s Fix That Hangover! So, you woke up with a head that feels like LTHS marching band is parading through your brain, a mouth as dry as the Lukin soybean fields last fall, and a stomach doing the cha-cha against your will. Congratulations! You, my friend, are experiencing the time-honored tradition of a hangover. Step 1: The Ritual of Regret First things first: look in the mirror and give yourself a dramatic sigh. Bonus points for clutching your forehead and

There was no on-line copy of the January 1, 1881, Rural Republican so Lawrence County news printed in the Western Sun  was used for this blog.    News: The previous Tuesday Matt Harvey had four horses killed and one crippled by the O&M railroad between Lawrenceville and Vincennes. A baby boy of Sheriff Ed Ryan died Friday and was buried on Christmas Day. Unfortunately, the only other ‘news’ item published was by a special correspondent to the Western Sun  who criticized La

Lawrence County News November 14, 1928 IN HONOR OF COMRADES Men of Indian Erect Monument to Memory of Those Who Died in Service A monument to the memory of the men who have been killed in the service of the Indian Refining Company was unveiled with impressive ceremonies Monday afternoon, Company L and members of the American Legion participating in the ceremonies. Fully one thousand people were present on the company grounds when a beautiful silk flag was placed at half mast

Lawrence County prehistory is archeologically complex, spanning a wide range of time extending from the earliest known prehistoric time prior to the Paleoindian (ca 12,000-10,500 BC) up to the time of Euro-American settlement in the early nineteenth century. Our area, the central Wabash Valley, was one of the last major unknown archaeological areas of Illinois until the Illinois State Museum made archaeological excavations in the 1960’s. The period that existed until, and aft

The Research Library and History Center will be closed the week of December 21-27. Flatboats were used for trips down to New Orleans to sell excess farm products. These trips generally lasted about 90 days, not including the walk back north because the lumber in the flatboats was sold as well. These rectangular flat- bottomed boats had no keels making them more difficult to steer than an ordinary boat. In essence, they were just floating shoeboxes. About 1827, the Dubois Brot

Christmas 1944 George Field: Col Bobzien and 3000 presents for the soldiers   The Research Library and History Center will be closed the week of December 21-27.

The Research Library and History Center will be closed the week of December 21-27. December 24 1880 Mr. Day, the editor, advised people to save their loose dimes for the big oyster supper for the benefit of a City Hall to be given in the old Presbyterian Church December 30, 1880.  Lawrenceville schools would have a one-week vacation during the holidays. The post office would be closed from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Christmas Day. ( implying that they would be open earlier?) There

The Research Library and History Center will be closed the week of December 21-27. The Kelsey Family of the Bethel Community in Lukin   William Stinson Kelsey and Harriet Blanchard Chamberlain were married in Norwich, Vermont. Eight children were born to this marriage: William Henry, George Thomas, Charles Dexter, Francis, Albert Curtis, Harriet Elizabeth, James Edward and John. William Stinson died on August 3, 1849, leaving his widow with eight children between four and e