A freight train wreck occurred near Delavan, Illinois in 1886 on the Chicago, Alton, & St. Louis railroad. Notes on the back indicate E. D. Shaw took the photo in May of 1886.
A Historical Tidbit is generally a short Tazewell County related historical article. It could be up to 5 or 6 page story but could be as simple as a family photo, letter, or document. Almost anything Tazewell County related is eligible (see all the Tidbits listed below).
If you have a Tazewell County related article, photo, video, letter, or document you’d like to share, here’s how to make a submission.
If you have questions or comments, please contact us.
1891 – Jacob & Elizabeth Fischer
Jacob & Elizabeth Fischer’s wedding photograph taken by H.H. Cole in his Pekin studio in February 1891 as well as a 1919 family photo.
The photos were submitted by their granddaughter Louise Rollings of Salem, Oregon.
1892 – Joachim Schroeder Family
Circa 1892 photo of the family of Joachim Christian Hinrich Schroeder, Augusta, and son David Schroeder of Hopedale.
The photo was submitted around 2004 by Joachim’s great-grandson Father David Klein, SSC of Fort Worth, Texas.
1892 – Maria Schrock
1892 photo of Maria Schrock with a Christmas note on the back to her son Karl
Found in a Pekin antique auction in March 1993 – over 100 years after it was first sent.
1900’s – James A. Williams & Mary E. Linn
James A. Williams & Mary E. Linn were married on 3 August 1875. They were born & lived most of their lives in the Lilly, Illinois area.
This 1900’s photo of James & Mary was submitted by their great-grandson Ralph Brooks of Vancouver, Washington.
1900’s – James F. Rollings
James Franklin Rollings (23 Sep 1843 – 26 Jan 1925) settled in Tazewell County in 1851.
The photo was submitted by his great-grandson Ronald E. Rollings of Salem, Oregon.
1900’s – William Rufus Hammer
Here is a turn-of-the century photo of William Rufus Hammer taken by pioneering photographer H. H. Cole in Delavan.
The photo was submitted by his great-grand-niece Peggy Carey of Roseville, California.
1904 – Kiblinger & Merchenthaler Grocery
This photo of Morton’s Kiblinger and Merchenthaler Grocery was taken in the spring of 1904. The store was located on the east side of Main Street.
1906 – John G. Heisel & Lillian Heisel
Originally posted as the October 2018 Mystery Photo.
Barbara Brooking Heindselman identified the man driving the carriage as her great grandfather John G. Heisel and the little girl as his daughter Lillian Heisel Brooking, who was Barbara’s grandmother.
1907 – Grimm Wedding Cake
George F Grimm married Anna Trausch on April 17, 1907. George owned Grimm’s Bakery which explains such an elaborate cake!!
Originally posted as September 2020 Mystery Photo. Our thanks to members Carol Walker & Thom Reed for the identification!
1908 – Samuel & Daisy Rollings
Samuel Franklin Rollings married Daisy Belle Carter on 15 March 1908 in Mackinaw, Illinois
The photo was submitted by his great-grandson Ronald E. Rollings of Salem, Oregon.
1908 – St. John’s Lutheran Church (Sand Prairie) Confirmation Class
Originally posted as the March 2021 Mystery Photo.
Identified by Member Connie Ary – “Noticed same photo was displayed on wall of a hallway of St. John’s Lutheran Church – Sand Prairie, Green Valley, Illinois”
