Raymond Trivia

The information below appears in Raymond's 125th Anniversary Book. Can you imagine growing up in Lula, Illinois?      

• The village was first known as Lula, named this after the first postmaster's daughter. The railroad imposed the name of "Raymond" on the village. Prior to the mail being received in Lula, mail had been delivered at Herndon post Office in the home of John Todt, north of the village. Todt had received his commission in 1868 and mail was delivered from from Springfield via Pawnee, White Oak, and Shawspoint to Herndon once a week on Saturdays. Todt received a salary of $20 annually.

• In 1873 licenses were issued for three taverns in the town. Owners were Thomas Fahey, Samuel Harvel, and Frank Huber. Two of the taverns had pigeon hole tables and one had a billiard table.

• The Free Methodist Church, Raymond, was erected in 1884.

• In 1888, The Ravmond Leader was started by W.S. Parrott but was published only about two years.

• At one time there were six lodges active in the village: Masonic, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Grand Army of the Republic, Knights of Pythias, Mutual Protective League, and Modern Woodmen of America.

• The first burial in St. Raymond's Cemetery was that of Mrs. Bernard (Sophie- nee Wiefenstett) Beiermann who died October 9, 1874.

• James Lonergan owned and operated the brickyard in Raymond in 1901. His nephew Dan was a brick molder and coal digger.

• Some early 1900's businesses: 

Frank Luking, blacksmith/farm implements; Philip Mangers, shoemaker; Joseph Mangers, harness; John McMillan, furniture and undertaking; Stephan Schulte, bakery/confectionery; Theodore Stoevener, merchant/tailor; Henry Gees, pabst beer; J. Guller, dry goods; A. Engel, clothier/hatter; Geo. Back, lunch counter; Geo. Beeler, blacksmith; J. W. Strain, jeweler/optician; Pratt-Baxter Grain Co., elevator; E.R. Steele and Co., dry goods; A.B. Whittaker, grocery; Miller & Gragg, furniture and undertaking; Day & Shaffer, farm implements, buggies, wagons; E.P. Darlington and Co., lumber; L.J. Dickson, hardware; W. L. Seymour, paints/drugs; J. G. Alsbury, hardware; Oscar Potterj grocery; A. H. George, grocer; Hough's boots and shoes; C.F Scherer, grocery; Dr. W.H. Mercer; and Dr. J. R. Seymour; W.H. Scherer, DDS.

Raymond's Claim to Fame

 Just spent a great week here in the 217! Please enjoy tonight's encore presetantion of the Throwback Thursday post, "Raymond's Claim to Fame" originally published in 2014. 

Did you know?

Actress Kate Capshaw, wife of Steven Spielberg, had relatives in Raymond and Waggoner. Myron Nail was her grandfather, Henry Nail was her great-uncle, and Edith Hantla was her great-aunt.

Francis Martin's shrine along the West frontage road was featured in Route 66 books and videos, aired on "Nightline" with Ted Koppel, and was featured on several Route 66 programs.

Bruce House and Alan Pecht, known as the "Tapekho Brothers Juggling Act" were featured on the "Regis Philbin Show" and the "Corky the Clown" program.

Gus Sutter, a rural mail carrier in the Raymond-Harvel area, was on CNN, CBS, NBC, and featured in local and national newspapers when he retired from the U.S. Postal Service after 64 years of service.  He was recognized for being both the oldest and the longest-term mail carrier in the United States.

Rusty Bergman, son of Harry and Evelyn Bergman went on to become a well-known college basketball coach.

Jim Held and Wendell Egelhoff were related to American Statesman, Lewis Cass, who ran for president of the United States in 1848. He was defeated by Zachary Taylor. Cass later became a U.S. Senator and served as Secretary of State under President James Buchanan.

Verne Pinkston served as General Patton's jeep driver.

John Dillinger was a cousin to Raymond resident, Jimmy Richardson, owner of "Jimmy's Junk" store on main street in the early 1930's. The store was located next to Temple Hough's beauty shop and Bob Hough played cards with Dillinger when this notorious gangster was in Raymond "hiding out" shortly before his death.

Hank Scheisser went to school with Theodore Kaczynski, "The Unabomber."

(The information above appeared in the book commemorating Raymond's quasquicentennial published in 1996.)

Close Call

The following article appeared in The Raymond News on September 11, 1958: 

A Wabash fast passenger train struck Lewis Lessman’s car on the main street crossing Monday afternoon and threw it into the depot on fire. No one was hurt. When Mr. Lessman’s car stalled on the tracks, Charles Warnsing rushed to help him out of the car while P.M. Greenfield, Wabash agent, hurried down the tracks to flag the southbound passenger No. 11 due through here at 4:20 p.m., but there was not enough time to stop it.

The car was tossed into the depot and exploded, throwing flaming gasoline on the wooden structure and breaking several windows. The Raymond fireman extinguished the fire quickly before any great damage was done to the building. As one can see, there is very little left of the car. 

 

People from the Past: Merle Burley

The following appears in Raymond's 125 Years of Memories book published in 1996: 

No history of Raymond would be complete without the mention of Robert M. (Merle) Burley. Merle moved to Raymond from Morrisonville in 1935, along with his parents Alda and Robert Orville Burley, and sister, Elsie (who married Guy Pitchford). He soon became a regular fixture in the community by being always ready and able to help with many small and large jobs

Among Merle’s jobs were Sorrells Trucking, Raymond Tile Yard, Kroger Store, Smith Distributors, Raymond Lumber, and many more. Merle mowed yards, delivered papers, and did many odd jobs around Raymond for almost everyone in town at one time or another.

Merle is best known for the fine job he did as a crossing guard at the intersection of Rote 48 and Broad Street in Raymond. Merle helped the schoolchildren across the highway, rain or shine, very faithfully for over 30 years. He always said he saw a lot of babies grow up in his years as the “Raymond Guard.”