History of Piper City
AGRICULTURE MOST IMPORTANT INDUSTRY
Agriculture has always been the most important source of income for Piper
Cityans, and even 100 years after the beginning of our town, the economy
still responds to the pulse of the farm community.
One of the first businesses was the buying and selling of grain and was
begun on a very small scale by Dr. William Piper and John A. Montelius, Sr.
The grain was stored in a small shed in bags and then carried to the
railroad tracks to be sent to market. This was started in 1866.
The Montelius family remained in the grain business until 1924 when Joseph
K. Montelius sold out to Bloice W. Cunnington, completing around 60 years in
the business.
When the bank building was built in 1895, the grain office was in the
southwest corner with the scales on the west side, later used by Jesse
Johnson as a cream station.
Since the Monteliuses owned a lot of land, especially north of town, it was
nautral that their tenants would bring their corn to the Montelius grain
elevator to be sold.
"Corn Days" became a by-word and some time during the winter it would be
agreed that a certain day would be "corn day" and all the tenants would
bring their corn to the elevator that day.
It was necessary to do this in the winter time, otherwise the roads might be
impassable if they were not frozen. Usually the men walked beside their
wagons to keep warm and it was often a severe hardship for both man and
beast. It was not unusual for the teams and wagons to be lined up from the
scales to the north end of town.
Fist fights sometimes broke out between men waiting their turn to dump their
corn and return on the long cold trek home.
In 1914 the Monteliuses built the large cement elevator which fronts on
Green Street. At the time this was considered the finest and the largest
elevator in the state outside of some terminal elevators. This replaced a
wood structure.
Mathew Soran, Sr., was another early grain dealer, dealing in grain as well
as general merchandise at the site of the present post office. His scales
were on the east side of his building.
When Bloice Cunnington bought out J. K. Montelius he leased the brick office
on Main Street and the cement elevator, at first from Mr. Montelius, but
later from the LaHogue Grain Company who bought Montelius out.
Mr. Cunnington was killed in an automobile accident November 22, 1938, and
E. P. Wilson and his sons, John E. and Edwin E. Wilson, effected a purchase
from E. H. Houk, executor of his estate, and the Wilson Grain Company
formally opened for business December 2, 1938, with Edwin E. (Chub) Wilson
as manager. John E. was in the First National Bank at the time.
Wilson Grain Company continued the lease with the LaHogue Grain Company for
the facilities of office and elevator. The ground was leased from the
railroad company.
Both John and Edwin served in World War II and while away in service the
elevator was managed by their uncle, John Elmer Wilson, with E. P. Wilson
assisting.
The Wilson Grain Company was one of the earliest grain companies to move
into the trucking of grain on a large scale and the initial step was made
through necessity. The TP&W Railroad Company was on strike and in order to
move the grain to the terminals and sub-terminals it became necessary to
move it by truck. This was done prior to Chub's return from service in 1946.
The LaHogue Grain Company decided to sell the office and elevator at public
auction April 19, 1946. Both Farmers Grain Company and the Wilson Grain
Company were spirited bidders, but Farmers Grain Company was the successful
bidder and Wilson Grain Company vacated the premises about July 15, of that
year.
Wilsons then moved to 17 East Peoria having contracted with J. W. Hickerson,
local carpenter, to build an office and some storage space for feed. They
began to go into the trucking business in earnest as they had no elevator in
which to store grain. They eventually owned four trucks and sometimes
supplemented with others that they hired for larger jobs.
Morris was the main market for the grain for many years, although some of it
moved to Kankakee, Chicago and Gibson City as well as other points. During
the 1950's Lew Walker of Gilman handled a lot of corn from Piper City. Mr.
Walker had prevailed on a Chicago company to build a sub-terminal at Gilman
and he did his best to give a good market to his neighbors in the business.
Wilson Grain Company's direct handling of grain from farm to the market was
new to Piper City and it created quite a stir, but it was not entirely
without precedent in the area. Herb Sterrenberg of Crescent City had
operated successfully this way for a time, and his experience was the
incentive needed for Wilsons to go ahead.
This all happened back in a day when employees worked hard for their
employers and a fine group of men worked long hours and hard to succeed at
this new venture in grain merchandising. Sometimes Theron Boma, who operated
a corn sheller at that time, would start at midnight if that's what it took
to get the job done.
In 1958 Wilson Grain Company sold out to Virgil and Ray Wilkey and it became
known as the Wilkey Grain Company and has been in business since with Virgil
Wilkey as the manager. This grain company was sold at public auction June 7,
1969 to Farmers Grain Company so for the first time since Piper City was
started there is only one grain company in operation.
FARMERS GRAIN COMPANY
The Farmers Grain Company has been in operation over 50 years.
James Walsh built or acquired an elevator in 1908 at the west end of Main
Street. He later sold to Alvin Wrede.
In 1917 the farmers of this area organized a Farmers Grain Company. Shares
of stock totaling $25,000 were sold at $50 each. The first meeting of the
shareholders was held February 16, 1918 in the Masonic Hall. On the first
board of directors were Frank Reising, William Quick, E. E. Bishop, Baltz
Weber, James P. Glass, Hugh Hawthorne, John Klehm, John Shaughnessy and J.
A. Berlett.
C. T. Hupp was the first manager of Farmers Grain. In 1921 C. E. Miller was
hired as a manager and served until his retirement in 1954.
Claire McClain was another individual who gave years of service to the grain
business. He served as bookkeeper for Bloice Cunnington and also for the
Wilson Grain Company.
AGRIBUSINESS
Agribusiness has grown to be a common expression in 1969 although our
ancestors would not have the faintest idea what was meant by the term.
Businesses related to agriculture have grown fast in the past 10 years and
one well known to area farmers is the fertilizer and herbicide business.
Farmers have learned how they can boost yield and control weeds and these
products are much in demand.
There are two fertilizer plants in Piper City, and both have been built in
the past five years. What is now Custom Farm Services, Inc., began in 1964
as Schofield Soil Service. Glenn Mogged started with them as manager and is
still their manager. He recently was named top manager of his district.
Monsanto Agricultural Center was built soon after the other fertilizer plant
and Lon Ash was their first manager. Howard Myers is now acting as manager.
Both plants do a big business and have the confidence of the farmers as both
managers are local people and have farmed.
F/S SERVICES, INC., SEEDS DIVISION
Another business closely aligned with agriculture and one of great
importance to Piper City is F/S Services, Inc., Seeds Division. It is the
largest business in Piper City. It started back in 1937 when an organization
known as the Ford County Corn Growers was carrying on a seed testing and
germinating program in various parts of the county. Hybrid seed corn had
just begun to catch on and farmers who had for years been saving a few
bushels of their best corn for planting were beginning to buy hybrid corn.
Nobody had ever heard of a seed company. If a farmer needed seed, he bought
some from his neighbor. The development of hybrid corn changed all that and
the pollination and breeding of corn was no longer left to nature and
chance.
Seeing the need of area farmers, it was decided at the annual meeting of the
Ford County Corn Growers on January 21, 1937 to organize a Ford County Crop
Improvement Association and to grow hybrid seed corn.
On May 23, 1937 the Ford County Crop Improvement Association was
incorporated and A. B. Schofield was made the first business manager.
In March, 1938, it was decided that the corn processing plant would be built
in Piper City. The name of the organization was then changed to Producers
Crop Improvement Association and it became an important addition to the
business and commercial growth of Piper City.
In April, 1939, the association planned its hybrid seed corn production at
approximately 700 acres. This was the first crop processed through the Piper
City plant.
L. R. Downs, present manager of the company, came to Producers upon the
resignation of Mr. Schofield in January of 1940. In 1947, the Blackhawk
Hybrid Seed Corn Association of Polo was merged with Producers and the
company was reorganized as Producers Seed Company in April, 1949.
On February 7, 1952, a fire destroyed all the facilities at Piper City
except for the office building. There was some talk, at first, about moving
to a different site at another place, but local people worked very hard to
persuade them to rebuild here and soon plans were being made to build the
plant bigger and better than before. The new plant was approximately three
times the capacity of the old one when completed a short time later.
In 1966 Producers Seed Company merged with Farm Service and it is now called
F/S Services, Inc., Seed Division.
The company employs many Piper City people and it has brought in many well
educated, interesting people to live in this community.
LOCKER PLANT
The Piper City Locker Plant was organized on a cooperative basis in
September of 1943. Two hundred and fifty-six shares of stock were sold at
$25 a share. In October of 1943 the land and building on its present site
was bought from Walter Opperman. The locker was incorporated under the
Agriculture Act on February 22, 1944. Clarence Pearson is the one and only
manager the locker plant has ever had.
The first officers of the locker plant were George Ficklin, president; W. R.
Crandall, vice president and W. F. Weber, secretary and treasurer.
In 1969 the future of the locker plant looks a bit dubious. Almost all the
locker plants in the area have closed due to stricter regulations by state
and national government.
HENALD'S MANUFACTURING CO.
Piper City's only factory, The Henald Manufacturing Company, was begun September 27, 1954. Previously it had been located at St. Anne. The factory was begun in the back room of what was then the David's Economy grocery store and is now the Overacker Show Room. The employment rose from eight to 50 before it was moved to its present site in February, 1956. At the present time about 100 are employed. Sometimes employment has reached almost 250. Transformers for radio and television are produced here. Chester Kraft, Watseka, is the present manager.
PIPER CITY JOURNAL
The Piper City Journal is the oldest Piper City business to have remained in
continous operation under the same name. At its beginning in 1897, it had
competition in another newspaper called the Pan-Handle Advocate which was
edited by Judge H. P. Beach.
The Journal was founded in 1897 by B. W. Kinsey and continued under his
management until May 14, 1900, when it was bought by E. S. Pike of Chenoa.
Charles E. Gilpin moved to Piper City from Windsor and was in charge of
business and editorial management under Mr. Pike. Later that same year, Mr.
Gilpin bought the Journal and co n- „.„ tinued as its editor until his death
in 19e*r~when'" his daughter, Mrs. George Perry, took over and was editor
until May 1, 1966. The Journal was then purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell
Johnston who still publish it once a week on Thursdays.
Another early newspaper was the Piper City Advertiser edited by Richard
Alnutt and begun in 1876. The Advertiser went out of existence some time
between 1885 and 1900.
EMORY HARFORD AND SONS
Emory Harford and Sons is a business of long standing in Piper City. It
still carries on business under this name even though Mr. Harford died in
1967.
Emory Harford came to this area from West Virginia in 1912. He engaged in
blacksmithing at the Dannewitz blacksmith shop in South Brenton. When he was
married in 1916, he built a shop at the west end of Main Street which is
still the site of the business, although needless to say, there is no more
blacksmithing done there.
In 1931, Mr. Harford added an implement line and after World War II his
sons, Merle, Donald and Wayne came in with him to run the implement company
and Harford's Oil Co.
PIPER CITY LANES
Piper City Lanes is the only business in Piper City to offer recreation or
diversion. There have been movie theaters and pool halls, but at the present
time the bowling alley is the only business of its kind. It is a nice modern
center used by young and old.
In 1947 when the old Opera House was to be torn down, six men formed a board
of directors in order to build a bowling alley on the site with Piper Lodge
608 A. F. & A. M. using the second floor for its lodge hall.
The directors were Jesse McKee, P. L. Kelly, Dr. C. E. Branch, Fred Weakman,
Dr. W. G. Raudabaugh, J. J. Lyons and R. R. Roberts. Officers elected were
Dr. Branch, president; Kelly, vice president; Lyons, secretary and Dr.
Raudabaugh, treasurer.
In 1967, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Myers, who had been managing the alleys for the
past 11 years, bought out the business from the board of directors.
FOXY'S TELEVISION SERVICE
Mr. and Mrs. Reynard L. (Foxy) Hayslette were for many years associated with
the restaurant business in Piper City and ran Foxy's Corner Cafe on the
north side.
In the 1950's, Mr. Hayslette began to branch out by working at repairing
television and radio sets and in 1961 they sold their restaurant and he
concentrated on selling and repairing television sets.
Mr. and Mrs. Hayslette have been very generous in catering for churches and
organizations as well as individual parties and dinners since retiring from
the restaurant business. They do much of this without charge whether they
are affiliated with the church or organization, or not. This has been an
appreciated and worthwhile service to the community.
HOME GUARANTY
The Piper City Home Guaranty Savings Association began business in 1956 with
a state charter and occupied the building the State Bank is now in.
On March 9, 1959, the Federal Home Loan Board granted federal insurance
which was an important step in the growth of the Association.
They had offices in the Eugene E. Doran building for a time and in January,
1963, they moved into their new building at 116 South Pine Street.
The original board of directors was made up of Howard Stuckey, Samuel
Martin, C. E. Miller, L. E. Overacker, Harald Hemb, Karl Kielsmeier and R.
F. Goodyear. The first officers were Stuckey, president; Martin, vice
president and Miller, secretary.
Stuckey and Martin are present president and vice president of the
Association. J. H. Francis is the present secretary and treasurer.
Mrs. Howard Stuckey was the office secretary from 1956 until April of 1969,
when Drell Stuckey became office manager upon her retirement.
L. E. OVERACKER
L. E. Overacker has been a Piper City businessman for about 40 years. He
started as a mechanic at the age of 18, working for D. B. O'Donnell at the
Central Motor Co. He also worked for Gus Zarbuck, Carl Lemons and others.
Mr. Overacker bought out Aloise (Alley) Reising at the present site of
Overacker, Inc. in 1930. J. W. Holmes is now the president and manager of
this enterprise.
Mr. Overacker has been a Pontiac dealer since .1935 and has a large show
room on Main Street. He also has had the agency for the Chicago Motor Club
for 35 years.
He has lived during an era when selling cars and servicing them was one of
the biggest businesses in a small town, and each town had several car
dealers and garages, not to mention gas stations.
PEOPLES COAL AND LUMBER COMPANY
Since 1867 there has been a lumber company on the corner where Peoples Coal
and Lumber Company now stands.
The business was started by John A. Montelius, Sr. and Dr. Piper and
employed John McKinney. In a year or two, Mr. McKinney bought out his
employers and for over 60 years the lumber business was in the hands of the
McKinney family. The first business under their ownership was John McKinney
and Brothers. In the beginning the company handled lumber and a little
hardware. Later furniture and undertaking were added.
The business later passed into the management of Mr. McKinney's son, W. O.
McKinney, and became known as W. O. McKinney & Company. Besides lumber, they
stocked tile, gravel, sand, concrete building blocks, fence posts and other
items reflecting the needs of the times.
H. G. Flessner was the manager for the McKinneys for many years and later
for the Miller Lumber Company. The business was owned for a short time by
"Red" Hubert of Bondville and in 1945 was sold to Peoples Coal and Lumber
Company. They have branch offices in Watseka, Kentland, Indiana and Grant
Park. Ray Martin, who worked for the company for the past 14 years, has been
manager for the past three years. Managers before him were Ersle Quick and
Ray Wilkey.
BRADBURY AND COMPANY
R. E. Bradbury, now retired, was a farmer between Piper City and Roberts who
began plumbing around 1918, as a side line to his farming, one of the
earliest farmers to do this. He had always been inventive and ingenious
about fixing and repairing things. He had kept the country telephone lines
in working order and had also patented an umbrella holder for tractors.
His son Herb started with him in 1925 and worked for just 25 cents an hour.
They built the modern brick shop on Main Street in 1946 and Mrs. Madge
Ristow has worked in their office since 1947.
Herb's son, Ronald Bradbury, has been an apprentice for the past four years
and since getting out of service has been actively engaged in the work with
his father for the past year.
RHODE MOTORS, INC.
Harold Rhode came to Piper City November 1, 1945, and opened an implement
store in the bank building. He moved to the north side in the shop now
occupied by L. A. Reynolds in January of 1947.
In May, 1953, he bought out the Joe Holmes car agency and for a time ran
both places. In March, 1954, he sold the implement agency and has since been
in business at 27 W. Main, where he sells aid services cars. His son, Floyd,
is associated with him.
TRIPLE "H" CO., INC.
Mr. and Mrs. Warren Hanna became affiliated with the Triple "H" Company in
1958 as wholesale distributors of allied farm equipment with a warehouse in
Piper City.
Mrs. Hanna has been carrying on the business since Mr. Hanna's death in 1968
and employs Mrs. Andrew Froelich Jr. in the office. She has three salesmen
who visit dealers in the three states of Illinois, Indiana and Missouri.
Triple "H" has been at its present location of 222 South Green since the
early 60's. They incorporated in 1964.
SORAN'S CAFE
M. J. (Jim) and Vera Soran have operated Soran's Cafe for about 25 years.
The combination of Mrs. Soran as the "perfect cook" and Mr. Soran as the
"perfect host" has been hard to beat and they have a large clientele of
local and out of town diners who look forward to dining at Soran's.
ThenHarvest Room is much in demand for wedding receptions, luncheons and
meetings.
The Sorans also combine two pioneer families. She was Vera Bishop before her
marriage and is a granddaughter of the L. T. Bishops, one of the earliest
farm families to settle here. Mr. Bishop arrived here from New York in 1858.
Mr. Soran is a grandson of M. J. Soran, Sr., who arrived here in 1870.
TAVERNS
Piper City was "dry" for many years and the only way you could buy liquor in
town was at the Drug Store with a doctor's prescription. There are now two
taverns in operation. Citizens voted to go "wet" shortly after prohibition
was repealed.
Pat's Tap on the north side is owned and operated by Malcolm (Pat)
Lionberger. The Office is owned and managed by Mrs. Ruth Fagan, who has been
running the business by herself since the death of her husband, Jack Fagan,
in 1966.
There are a few stories that have been passed down about the good old days
when Piper was dry and Chatsworth wet. It is told that many Piper City men
got on the evening train to go to Chatsworth and then came back on a late
evening one, and almost all of the returning townsmen would be carrying a
shoe box. Of course, it was pointed out that they could not be buying a pair
of shoes every night.
Then there was the man who got in the barber chair to be shaved. When the
barber was just half done, the train, bound for Chatsworth, tooted into
town. The man jumped out of the chair, wiped off his face and said he'd be
back in the morning for the rest of his shave.
FUNERAL DIRECTOR
Justin K. Reilly is the present funeral director in Piper City, having
bought out the business in 1951 following the death of Ernest H. Houk. He
and Mrs. Reilly and their three children lived in Piper City until his
father retired as funeral director in Gilman. The Reillys then moved to
Gilman, but continued to operate the Reilly Funeral Home in Piper City. Mr.
and Mrs. James Gilvin are the occupants of the home at the present time.
Mr. Houk had been Piper City's funeral director for 41 years. In 1910 he
began his mercantile career by working for W. O. McKinney and Daniel Kewley.
Mr. McKinney was the funeral director and was also in the lumber business.
In 1915 Mr. Houk bought out his employers and was launched on a long and
successful career in the furniture business. He also was a dignified and
efficient funeral director, kind and sympathetic.
He kept pace with the times and in 1929 was operating a Studebaker DeLuxe
Motor Funeral Coach and Ambulance.
In the early days, perhaps a bit before Mr. Houk's time, Fred Ristow had a
team of matched black horses that he used to pull the hearse to the
cemetery. They were trained to walk very slow and when he drove by the men
would remove their hats and stand bare headed in respect to the dead, a
contrast to our modern motorized corteges that are hardly noticed unless
they interrupt the flow of traffic.
CITY GROCERY
The City Grocery has perhaps the longest history of any Piper City business.
Certainly the building is the oldest and most colorful. It was built in
about 1867 and housed a general store operated by John A. Montelius, St.,
who took grain and farm products in exchange for items in his store.
When the dress patterns came in, the women would first lay the pattern on
the material to see how much "goods" it would take. They often cut the
pattern out right in the store and by this simple little routine savored the
pleasure of the new garment for several minutes where others might see and
perhaps envy them a bit.
Mrs. Montelius worked in her husband's store and made millinery for the
ladies.
In 1876 John Clark, from the very interesting Clark family that had come
here from Patterson, New Jersey in 1867, purchased the store from Mr.
Montelius.
The Clarks were strong believers in education and their children attended
Wabash College at Crawfordsville, Indiana. One son, Alexander, was a railway
attorney and worked out of Chicago until his tragic death, of a heart
attack, in an Evanston station; another son, William J. Clark, worked with a
Grain Company in Chicago, but came back to Piper City at the death of John
in 1885, after which he ran the general store, sometimes with the help of
others.
A daughter, Maggie, a teacher in the local high school, married Ammon
Coomes, a high school principal, who stayed here for several terms in about
1880. The Coomes moved to Paxton, where they established Coomes Drug Store.
It was during the time that the Clarks were the proprietors of the store
that Clark's Hall became the meeting place for all kinds of functions and
gatherings. The churches met here and this was where the dinners and socials
were held. It was the forerunner of the Opera House.
Early history is sprinkled with many references to Clark's Hall which was on
the second story of what is now the City Grocery.
The three Opperman brothers, Charles, August and Ernest bought the store in
1897. In 1907 they traded the store for some land in Mississippi. From that
time until 1915 when Charles Opperman returned, the store was operated by
Perry Brothers, the Walrich Brothers and others.
David or "Jerry" Opperman came into the business as a young man and operated
it until he sold out to Mr. and Mrs. James Shaughnessy in 1956. Mrs.
Shaughnessy is a granddaughter of Charles Opperman, one of the original
owners, which makes the Opperman family in ownership of the store for 64
years of its long and interesting history.
COOK'S IGA
The Cook family is another family that has been in the merchandising
business in Piper City for many, many years. Ronald Cook owns and operates
the modern supermarket of Cook's IGA on the corner of Peoria and Pine
Streets.
His father, George D. Cook, worked in the grocery department of a hardware
and grocery store operated by Henry and Ed Strasma in a building which was
located where the Piper Hardware and Variety is now. In 1920, Mr. Cook
bought the grocery stock and Joe Lundy bought the hardware stock. Dudley
Moore worked for Mr. Lundy and Jack Rice worked for Mr. Cook.
After a short time Mr. Cook moved the grocery store into a separate building
where the Legion Hall now is located, and later moved to about the middle of
the block where Soran's Restaurant stands today.
Some who worked in the store over the years are: Fred Kemnetz, Ira Still,
Frank Bouhl, Glen Christian and Claude Hogan. Mrs. Cook, the former Helen
Bishop, also assisted her husband. The store gave credit and also delivered
groceries in the early days before the streamlined cash and carry of today.
In 1947 the Central Hotel was sold to the Cooks and the building razed to
make room for the new IGA Foodliner. Ronald had come home from service in
the Navy and went in as a partner with his father. In 1960 he bought out his
father and is now the owner and operator.
PIPER HARDWARE AND VARIETY
Piper Hardware and Variety now operated by Mr. and Mrs. Duane White is from
the business begun in 1927 by W. L. (Bill) Quick. After the disastrous fire
in 1926 that destroyed the Tayar Dry Goods Store, the Overacker Restaurant
and the Berghouse Meat Market, Mr. Quick built the modern brick building
that is there today, and opened an outstanding store in this area.
One of the innovations that Mr. Quick adopted was to display all merchandise
on open waist-high counters. There were no high shelves and everything was
in easy reach of customer and clerk. This was an entirely new departure in
stores of that day and there was no similar store anywhere in this section
of Illinois, none even in Kankakee or Danville.
Mr. Quick was a life-long resident of Piper City and had engaged in farming
up until he went in the store. Besides the thousand-and-one articles of
cutlery, gifts, housewares, electrical appliances, crockery, toys, hosiery
and notions, he also stocked bigger items of hardware, farm implements and
stoves.
The business was later sold to Bernard Hitchens and Frank White. Hitchens
sold out to White and now it is operated by Frank's son, Duane and his wife,
Betty.
MANY BUSINESSES IMPORTANT
Each business in Piper City is important to it and none should be slighted,
but space does not permit a long history of each one.
The Corner Cafe on the north side of Piper City's square is operated by Mrs.
Marion Butler, who serves fine food and is well patronized.
Allen Day writes insurance and his company is called familiarly Daisy's
Insurance.
Robert Zorn is the local barber and is also the town clerk.
Mr. and Mrs. Donald Dornfield operate the Western Auto Associate Store and
keep a nice modern line of goods on hand.
Sauerbier Drug Store has been operated by Mrs. Helen Sauerbier since the
death of her husband, John, in 1967. The Drug Store was run for many years
by F. A. Thomas and Mr. Sauerbier was the druggist.
L. A. (Jack) Reynolds operates a Standard Oil gas truck and also a farm
store on the north side where he sells tires, batteries and other farm
needs.
There are several beauty parlors in operation. Mrs. G. L. Switzer operates
one in her home, as does Mrs. Donald Jackson, Mrs. Ellis Martin, Mrs.
Charles Shoemaker and Mrs. Andie Evans. Mrs. Ogreda Tammen and her daughter,
Mrs. Bea LaVoie, operate Bea's Beauty Shoppe on the north side.
Duane Cloos came here shortly after World War II and established Cloos Body
Shop where the bodies of cars and trucks are straightened and painted.
The Pirate's Den, an antique and used furniture shop, is owned and operated
by Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Opperman. They also own Montelius Manor, the home
built in 1871 by John A. Montelius, Sr., which is filled with many of the
ancestral possessions of the Montelius family and of that era. The Oppermans
open the Manor each Sunday afternoon through the summer for touring.
Eugene E. Doran runs a general insurance agency and is an auctioneer and
realtor. At one time he worked for D. A. Klothe in his grocery store.
George Kemnetz owns and operates the Standard Service Station which has been
mentioned elsewhere in this history.
Marvin Hitchens operates the Sinclair Station and also drives a Sinclair gas
truck hauling gas to the area farmers and also supplies them with various
other agricultural needs.
Dan Rogers is owner of the Phillips Service Center. This is on the corner of
Main Street and 111. 115, where the old theater used to be in the days of
the silent movies.
C. E. (Patsy) Rice has long been associated with movies both inside and
outside a theater. He and iiis brother, John (Jack) Rice, operated the Ace
Theater in the 1930's where Pat's Tap is now located.
They also went from town to town showing "free movies" in the railroad park
or some other central location. These movies were free to the viewers as
they were paid for by the merchants, who contributed as a token of good will
to their customers, or in the hope that those who came in to see the movies
would also "trade" in their stores.
Jack has not been affiliated with the movies for many years, but Patsy is
still showing free movies on Saturday nights in the summer time in Piper
City, following a custom that must have been started over 40 years ago. Each
one brings a folding chair or a blanket on which to sit and the park is soon
converted into an outdoor theater.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Delap are agents for the Lyons Insurance Agency.
Floyd Donley is a dealer in scrap metal and also is bus driver for the
school.
W. D. Miller and Son are sanitary engineers and clean septic tanks and
drains. W. D., or Durell as he is called, was injured in a truck accident in
1966 and his son Allen carries on the business. They are descended from
William Miller, one of the earliest settlers.
B. N. Stephens and Sons are painters and have been in business for many
years.
McKee Home Service is headed by Forrest McKee and they sell and service gas
furnaces.
John R. Keefe has a welding shop a mile west of town.
McMillan Fertilizer has offices in the home of Howard McMillan, Jr.
Ron Weibers is the agent for F/S Petroleum.
Robert Van Antwerp is a contractor and carpenter.
Robert Mogged and Thees Sterrenberg are cement contractors.
Walt Miller is chief of Miller Electric and they wire homes and businesses
and do other electrical work.
Floyd Stumph has an apiary.
Ivan Weber and Robert Hewerdine operate a car wash.
Raymond Mylcraine is postmaster.
PROFESSIONAL MEN
Piper City, from the early days, has been blessed with a high caliber of
professional men. Dr. R. J. Piper was one of the earliest physicians. Dr. S.
D. Culbertson was another early doctor and druggist and was active in civic
affairs. He was reportedly the first doctor at the scene of the tragic train
wreck west of Piper City in 1887.
In later years Dr. Tieken was a faithful caretaker of the health of the
citizenry. He called on the sick, driving a horse and buggy that became
familiar, and sometimes, a most welcome sight.
Dr. L. C. Diddy was another physician who served the community in the early
part of the 20th century.
Piper City has also had some fine dentists, including Dr. Frederick Erhardt
shortly after 1900 and Dr. R. E. Squires until his retirement in the 1950's.
Dr. W. P. Mabry is the present fine dentist, having come here 15 years ago.
Many present day "old timers" can recall the colorful and highly respected
veterinarian, Dr. P. C. Ballou, who always seemed to be in a hurry, hustling
about with a big chew of tobacco in his mouth.
He was one of the first men in town to own an automobile, and if you saw a
cloud of dust on a country road you might guess that it was "Doc" hastening
to the stable-side of one of his patients.
He was a connoisseur of fine horseflesh and kept a stable of spirited and
gaited thoroughbreds. He also had a Negro trainer, Leslie Carpentier, who
came from Kentucky. In accord with the custom of the day, Les ate and slept
in the fine stable, and was cordially accepted by Piper City town folks
because of his dignified and courteous manners.
Sometimes Doc and his step daughter, Effie Miller, would go out riding in
the evening and Les would usually ride with them, keeping a discreet
distance behind and people would murmur how well he knew his place.
Piper City is now served by a veterinary clinic with Dr. W. G. Raudabaugh,
Dr. W. L. Hay and Dr. James Finnell caring for the animal population.
Because of the changes in agriculture and the sparsity of farm animals their
practice is now much concerned with pets and small animals.
Dr. Raudabaugh came here in 1938 and Dr. W. L. Hay in 1950. Dr. Finnell, who
resides in Gilman, was the last to join the clinic staff.
Dr. Raudabaugh has been a Ford County Supervisor for many years and it is
interesting to note that all have served on a school board, Dr. Raudabaugh
and Dr. Hay in Piper City and Dr. Finnell in Gilman.
Dr. C. E. Branch came in 1934, buying the practice from Dr. H. C. Sauer. Dr.
H. A. Mcintosh joined him in 1947 and their practice includes many people
from the outlying towns, as many small towns do not have a doctor in 1969.
Piper City is unusually fortunate in having two fine doctors.
Until the death of John Sauerbier in 1967, Piper City also had a druggist,
which made a full complement of professional men.
Marmion Scott was a native son who returned to his home town as a lawyer and
was acclaimed one of the finest lawyers in the area. He was well known for
his accuracy and precision. He served this community's legal needs for many
years. His death occurred August 13, 1959, at the age of 88. He was the son
of pioneer John A. Scott.
After his death Piper City was served by another native son, Durwood Hummel,
who made his home in Paxton but had office hours in Piper City once a week.
He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Hummel.
For several years Faraday Strock has been coming to Piper City from Pontiac
one day a week, with his office in the State Bank.
THREE SERVE IN STATE LEGISLATURE
Three men have gone from here to represent their district in the state
legislature. John A. Montelius, Sr., served in three General Assemblies,
being elected first in 1900.
A. C. (Abe) Thompson was another Piper Cityan who had enough of the
confidence and support of his fellow citizens to send him to the Illinois
House of Representatives.
More recently Joseph W. Russell served several terms as a state
representative, retiring in 1968.
Extracted 12 Oct 2016 by Norma Hass
