Looking Back 12.6.23

1881A coal famine existed at Steele City and elsewhere. Some of the men had to cut wood or freeze.The St. Joe & Western Railroad was claiming additional land in Jefferson County, including some homesteads of settlers. Where they had their patent, they felt safe, but in some instances the patent was defective or lacking and trouble ensued. The government had given the railroads considerable land in those early days.The Fairbury Gazette called attention to the dangers of the base burner. Not only did they make a big hole in the family pocketbook by reason of the high price of hard coal, but they often gave off gas which could cause unconsciousness and death.J.T. Thompson was selected by George H. Turner to be deputy county treasurer.The Gazette claimed that McLucas Bros., hog buyers in Fairbury, were paying five cents a hundred more for hogs than the buyers at Endicott,.J.W. Price bought a brick building on the south side of the square from Horace Graves. Graves had decided to retire from business.1891So much corn was raised, farmers had trouble finding places for it. One farmer hauled corn to Gladstone and had to haul it back because the elevator was full. B.H. Rayburn, northwest of Fairbury, had raised 10,000 bushels of corn.George H. Bailey sold 17 lots in the northwest part of Fairbury to A. Blauser for $1,200.W.F. Cramb, future editor of The Fairbury Journal, sold cobs in Fairbury for $1.25 a load delivered. Dave Groff bought most of them, and took it out in meal tickets at Dave's Hotel. The editor was at-tending school in Fairbury and driving back and forth morning and night, five miles. In the evening it was his job to load a wagonbox full of cobs, in the morning to drive into Fairbury with a team and that load of cobs, and after that, clean up for school; after school to unload the cobs and drive back home. He sold approximately 500 bushels that way and earned all the money required for his "keep."It was cold at the time, but four adults were baptized in the Little Blue River.A theater company was organized in Fairbury, called the "Judd Clark Comedy Co." with S.D. Williams, C.H. Simpkins, Charles. Messenger, Frank Crawford, W.D. Smiri and Lee Reger, members.1911An automobile was brought to Fairbury which was claimed to develop 90 horsepower and run 100 miles an hour.The first Ford car with electric lights was seen in Fairbury. The current came off the magneto. A few years later all Ford cars came out with lights from the magneto.1921The Fairbury Journal recorded the death of Mrs. Anna Stutevoss at the age of nearly 94 years. She was at that time the oldest person in Fairbury.The 1921 depression was on but The Fairbury Journal reported prices at farm sales a little better. At one sale, the highest priced cow — fresh, red and big, brought $67.50 — and the highest horse — a big mare — $100.No rain or snow fell here during the month of November.1931The Fairbury City Council passed an ordinance to ban electrical interference with radio reception. All the motors in town had to stop while fans listened to the football game.The old hotel building in Steele City burned down. It was built about 1880. A bucket brigade saved the Clark Bros. store and Farmer State Bank.Farmers were complaining that "direct selling" was lowering the price of hogs. The highest price paid for hogs in Fairbury was $3.70 for 100 pounds.Fairbury churches raised over $500 for relief.The Journal issued a "Jubilee Day Edition" of 28 pages in three sections. Extra copies were printed, and the entire trade territory for 50 miles in every direction received copies and an invitation to the "Mid-Holiday Jubilee" Dec. 8. This included free lunch and coffee all day besides almost continuous entertainment. There was some concern that wet weather would spoil the roads.Market prices in Fairbury, 50 years ago, consisted of hogs, $3.70; beef steers, $1; corn, 35c; wheat, 42 cents; oats, 20 cents; alfalfa hay, $10; butter, 30 cents; eggs, 22 cents; and butterfat, 24 cents.1942Jefferson County farmers received over $900,000 on federal grain loans, mostly on wheat, with the loan rate exceeding that of the market: wheat 66 cents a bushel, corn 79 cents.1952Wind-driven snow tied up road and rail travel in the area. Many cars were stuck in snow drifts and people were stranded. Schools were closed. Meeting were canceled. Local hotels were filled to capacity. The Red Cross was kept busy tying to locate missing people. Some rural electric lines were brought down by ice. Diller was without power.Jim Denny, former Fairburian, who had been private secretary for U.S. Senator Carl T. Curtis of Nebraska, joined the staff of the Omaha World Herald as a staff-reporter out of southeastern Iowa.1987Fairbury High School students participate in a parenting project, using hamsters, gerbils and kittens and their “children.”1993Jack Williams of Waukee, Iowa, officially began his duties as the interim superintendent at Fairbury High School.Mark Hergott of Gilead competed for the title of National Spokesperson for Agriculture during the 27th National Young Farmer Educational Institute. Hergott was a member of the Jefferson County Young Farmer Chapter.2004Richard Krause was presented with a plaque in honor of 37 years with the Jefferson County Highway Department.

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