MONTROSE SESQUICENTENNIAL - Celebrating 150 years of history - townnews.com
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MONTROSE
SESQUICENTENNIAL
Celebrating 150
years of history
AN EFFINGHAM DAILY NEWS
PUBLICATION
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Amy Winter
amy.winter@effinghamdailynews.com
Editor
Jeff Long
jeff.long@effinghamdailynews.com
Contributing Editor
Cathy Griffith
cathy.griffith@effinghamdailynews.com
Art Director
Natalie Reidford
Contributors
Charles Mills
Andrew Adams
Kelly Thoele
Phil Lewis
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Jody Hardiek
Julie Harkins
Contact Us
PAGE (217) 347-7151
4
E-mail
news@effinghamdailynews.com
Montrose Sesquicentennial is published by the Effingham
150 years of Montrose Daily News at 201 N. Banker St., Effingham, IL 62401.
effinghamdailynews.com
history and counting Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content in any
manner without permission is prohibited. Copyright (c) 2021
by CNHI, LLC.
By Kelly Thoele
Please recycle when you’re done with it!
10 | Montrose, Illinois: A Scottish-named village
15 | Fundraisers helped prepare for celebration
17 | Montrose Centennial book outlined early history On the cover: A June 12 tractor ride
19 | Montrose Sesquicentennial celebration schedule was part of the fundraising for the
Montrose Sesquicentennial activities.
Pictured is Shawn Ohnesorge of
Dieterich. Andrew Adams photo.
on the web
Montrose Sesquicentennial and
other EDN magazines on the
web:
effinghamdailynews.com/news/
magazines/
General Contractors • Effingham, IL • 217-844-6963 • www.wohltmanconstruction.com
JULY 2021 • MONTROSE SESQUICENTENNIAL | 3
Effingham Daily News file photo
The St. Rose Catholic Church was dedicated in 1960.
150 years of
good timber sources, well
situated along the railroad
and along the National
Road.
Montrose history and
At first, the town was named
Spitler, presumably after
a prominent family of the
area. The town’s name
was quickly changed to
counting
“Montrose,” a word of
Scottish origin, or French for
“Mountain,” and “Flower”
or “Color.” Since there are
certainly no mountains
near Montrose, no one is for
BY KELLY THOELE will be held in August of this along this federally funded sure why the town was thus
T
his article deals with year. We hope you will cel- road. However, it took the named.
the history of the village ebrate with us, and here we building of the St. Louis,
Mr. Johnson was able to
of Montrose, found- give some of our Montrose Terre Haute and Vandalia
sell many lots and the town
ed in 1870. The town was history. Railroad in 1868 for the town
was quickly inhabited with
prepared to celebrate its of Montrose to be platted.
The Cumberland Road was William Goebel the first to
sesquicentennial in 2020, laid out through Cumber- In an 1870 edition of The Eff- build a house in the village.
but the pandemic put that land and Effingham coun- ingham Democrat, James A depot was built and our
on hold. ties in the 1830s, and after Johnson advertised the sale location in the northeast
Therefore, the celebration this many towns sprang up of inexpensive land with part of Effingham County,
4 | MONTROSE SESQUICENTENNIAL • JULY 2021
yet near Cumberland and Van Sandt and the last was
Jasper counties, brought Dr. A. E. Goebel. Both these
numerous farmers to town. men were civic minded as
Dr. Van Sandt was a village
In a short period of time,
trustee, postmaster, and de-
many businesses were built.
pot agent, and Dr. Goebel
These included general
was on the school board, a
stores owned by Browning
member of The Illinois South-
and Schooley, Dr. Hiram
ern Band of Montrose, as
Van Sandt (who eventu-
well as numerous medical
ally operated one of the
organizations.
county’s first type of drug
stores), Philip Wiwi (who also Dr. Goebel was proud to
erected a grain house and say he had delivered more
livestock market and was than 2,000 babies in the
later a state representa- Tri-County area, traveling by
tive), James Johnson, and horse and buggy and later
Ross Twedey. A flour mill with his Model T Ford.
and blacksmith shop were Very early on, the citizens of
important businesses in the Montrose had two goals: To Effingham Daily News file photo
village as well. be able to worship locally Montrose Veterans Memorial.
With the advantageous lo- and to educate their young
cation, two boarding hous- people. In regard to education, ing glimpse into what life
es/hotels were established there had been a school was like in the town, county,
Methodists in the area, who to the west in 1856, then state, and country during
within the first decade. The had worshiped a mile north
first, Brazil House, west of the north of the soon-to-be the Depression era.
of town in a log school- town. A brick schoolhouse
village, was operated by house, built a wooden struc- In 1957, Montrose became
Nelson Shull, and was also was erected in Montrose in part of the Dieterich School
ture in the village in 1874. 1876, and in 1911, a larger
an important stage stop District. Our school was used
beginning in 1872. St. Rose Catholic Church two-story brick building for students in grades 1-8,
was founded in 1879. Prior was built and by 1914, with high schoolers bused
The James House, owned to this, parishioners had the school added a high
by Evan James, was es- to Dieterich. Eventually only
traveled to Teutopolis or school. A new gymnasium
tablished in approximately grades 3-6 were taught in
Sigel. The friars of St. Francis was added to the school in
1877. Mr. James sold his the building, with Dieterich
helped to establish this sister 1928, which housed many
business and moved to In- students from those grades
parish. ballgames, as well as com-
diana. However, he and his bused to Montrose and
munity events.
wife moved back to Mon- Although there were no Montrose students in the
trose within a short time and Lutheran or Baptist church- In the 1930s, the students of other grades bused to
built another hotel, which es within the town limits, St. the three-year high school Dieterich.
still stands today as a family Paul, south of town, and began to publish a town
In 1976, the consolidation of
home along Prairie Street. Mullen Baptist, north of newspaper, The Montrose
all students, including those
Montrose, also helped with Chat. This newspaper, of
The village of Montrose had in Eberle and Elliotstown,
the spiritual needs of the which there are some cop-
a number of doctors until rendered the Montrose
community. ies at The Effingham County
the 1950s. The first was Dr. School obsolete, and the
Museum, gives an interest-
land was bought and used
Effingham Daily News file photo
by McKinney Trucking, an
Montrose had its own grade school until the late 1970s. important trucking business
begun in 1945 that is still in
operation today.
In the late 19th century, sa-
loons run by Lou Sehi, James
Hall, Frank Bersig, and J.L
Brewster were open for
business. Six general stores
provided services to a wide
area and were run by Phillip
Wiwi, James Johnson, Hyett
Brothers, George James,
William Handke and Dr. Van
Sandt.
Another store, built by
Christian Meislahn, opened
in 1898, and was the heart
JULY 2021 • MONTROSE SESQUICENTENNIAL | 5
town. Go fast, see our jail.”
We assume the sign had
the intended goal of having
travelers slow down!
Other businesses of the early
20th century included Anna
Faber Browning’s millinery
shop along Prairie Street
and T.H. Vaughn’s eleva-
tor, which today is part of
Siemer Milling Company.
Stores and restaurants were
run by Robert Emery, Hiram
Brewster, Nellie Browning,
and Flora Randolph.
It was in 1927 that the town
moved from coal oil lights lit
by a nightly “lamp lighter”
to a contract with CIPS of
19 lights with 100 candle
Effingham Daily News file photo power.
The Meislahn Store was later named the Bishop Store. It was during the 1920s that
the Montrose area kept the
of Montrose for many years the years, the department this endeavor as well. Effingham County sheriff
until it was demolished in has grown and improved, With the advent of the au- busy with finding and con-
the spring of 2021. and today spends much tomobile and our location fiscating illegal hooch and
time on safety and training. along the National Road, a stills.
Meals for weary travelers
were provided by Mrs. Julia Chris Overbeck became number of garages sprang From reading The Montrose
Smith. And an important fire chief in 2000 at the up. Proprietors over the Chat, the Depression was a
factory was the Engelbart age of 20, making him the years included G.L. Woody, much-discussed topic in the
Brick Factory, which made youngest person in the state Lou Miller, Jay Fletcher, Har- 1930s, however the citizens
bricks as well as cinder to hold that position. Chief old McClain, John Tague, of Montrose seem to have
blocks used for many build- Overbeck is one of the Fay Morr, Donnie Ordner carried on by growing their
ing projects throughout leaders in helping to make and Mike Helmink. To warn own produce and raising
Effingham County. the Montrose Sesquicen- motorists who had a lead livestock. Our population
tennial an important event, foot, a sign was added a was 324, according to the
In 1907, Montrose Mutual
and the entire fire depart- quarter mile west of town 1930 census. During this de-
Telephone Company had
ment has been crucial in that read, “Go slow, see our cade, improvements were
200 subscribers, and by 1934
the company stretched 192 made to the cemetery
miles of wire and had 550 Effingham Daily News file photo and more service stations –
patrons, bringing Montrose An old Montrose water tower as pictured in the 1970s. owned by Coventry, Hyett,
into the modern era. and Blunk – were in business.
An undertaking estab- The war was on everyone’s
lishment was opened in minds in the 1940s, and one
town by R.N. Zybell in 1908. of our own, Carl Browning,
Another important business was injured in the Pearl
in town, Crews State Bank, Harbor attack. Almost 60
was established in the early Montrose boys served in all
20th century and thrived, branches of the military,
even surviving the Great and some women served
Depression. However, it as nurses and in WAVES or
closed in 1949 due to the WACS.
ill health of James Crews. James Browning, Audrey
The unique building remains Harper, Raymond Jones,
today, but is unfortunately Joseph Shull, and Albert
falling into disrepair. Stuckey were killed while
The town had a volunteer serving their country.
fire department from early Montrose residents took to
on, and the home built by rationing and food stamps,
William Goebel was dam- so as to help the troops in
aged in 1911 by fire our de- any way possible.
partment helped fight. Over
6 | MONTROSE SESQUICENTENNIAL • JULY 2021
Also, in the 1940s, Cutts Lum- But today the lake is utilized
ber Company opened for by anglers and canoers,
business, and other stores and in the past was even
were run by Lloyd Pinnell, used by the Methodist
Stanley Callahan, and Ar- Church to hold baptisms.
thur and Lora Rice. Today the area around the
lake includes camping sites
Eventually the Rices’ daugh-
and a playground, as well
ter, Betty, and her husband,
as nice pavilions and an
Keith Bishop, operated her
area to hold tractor pulls.
parents’ store, which had
been bought from Christian The Eisenhower Interstate
Meislahn. System made a huge
difference in Montrose as
The 1950s again saw many
Interstate70 is north of town.
young men serve in Korea.
Many farms were bought
Unlike WWII, all made it
up utilizing eminent domain,
home.
so some families lost their
Prior to this, people want- homes and farmland.
ing to cool off with a swim
But two service stations
had to go to Spring Creek
opened, offering services to
or some other swimming
interstate travelers: a Shell
hole. But in the 1950s,
Station (today a Fas Mart),
Mayor Steve Stephens cut
and a Standard Station (to-
a deal with Marathon Oil
day Donnie Ordner’s BP).
Company. In return for their
company tearing up Prairie The Montarosa Motel and
Street to run a line, they had Restaurant, owned and Effingham Daily News file photo
to repair the street and dig operated by Forrest and Leslie Higgs (McManaway), left, and Kelly Thoele (McManaway),
a lake north of town. Gwendola Thompson, also right, participate in the best-dressed family contest during the 1970
catered to travelers. Montrose Centennial festivities. The McManaway family placed
Men and boys of the area
cleared the land and the Lakeside Inn opened near second in the family division.
company dug the 12-acre Montrose Lake, eventually ble, a large restaurant and beautiful Veterans Memorial
lake. It was a great success becoming Village Opry. This gift shop, was open for busi- along Spring Creek Road. A
as many families enjoyed brought to town country ness along the interstate. dedication was held in July,
swimming in the beautiful music figures such as Jean- when more than 200 peo-
lake. However, this stopped nie Pruett, Jim Ed Brown, A number of Montrose boys
ple attended, and prayers,
when a young man and Del Reeves. served in Vietnam. Two sol-
poems, and testimonies
drowned, so swimming is no diers, Michael Brummer and
For a time, the Farmer’s Ta- were shared that day.
longer allowed. Terry Miller, paid the ultimate
Today, many people stop at
price for their service during
the memorial, as well as the
this war.
Effingham Daily News file photo kiosk at the town hall which
The old Town Hall in Montrose once displayed names of local In the last quarter centu- shares some of our history
World War II soldiers on the north wall called the “Montrose ry, other businesses have along the National Trail.
Community Roll of Honor.” The building was demolished in 1983. opened and closed, includ-
Today Montrose is a bed-
ing an antique store in the
Crews Bank building, and a room community of Effing-
few restaurants (The Dusty ham, as many residents
Trail, owned by Glenda work in that “big city.”
Sehi, The Gathering Place, Our citizens work hard and
owned by Linda McKinney, play hard.
and East End Café, operat-
And we invite you to come
ed by Kathy Thompson).
help us celebrate 150 years
Today we have no restau- on Aug. 6, 7 and 8. There
rants in town, although will be many activities, with
Dozer’s, a nice pub along a finale of fireworks over the
the east side of town, has Montrose Lake on Sunday,
a good menu. This bar was Aug. 8.
originally built by Lyle and
We hope you can make it!
Tina McKinney, and is now
owned by Jerry Jansen. A 1870-2020 Montrose 150th
Sesquicentennial book is
In 2005, Montrose citizens available for purchase for $25
made a dream a reality each or $10 for a reprint of the
with the building of the Centennial edition.
JULY 2021 • MONTROSE SESQUICENTENNIAL | 7
Congratulations on 150 Years
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Montrose, IL 217-924-4104
Congratulations Montrose On Your Congratulations
150th Sesquicentennial Celebration!
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CONGRATULATIONS
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of Vandalia, Illinois, in 1834
when federal funding ran
out. It was also called the
Cumberland Road (it start-
ed in Cumberland, Mary-
land), Cumberland Turnpike,
Cumberland-Brownsville
Turnpike, The Old Pike, The
National Pike, the National
Turnpike, Ohio’s Road, Un-
cle Sam’s Road, The Great
Western Road, U.S. Route
40, or just simply The Road.
It was designed to forge a
critical transportation link
between East Coast cities
and the wild western frontier
of the Appalachian Moun-
tains and beyond. In the
book “A Guide to the Na-
tional Road,” the Road was
obsolete and premature
at the time of its creation.
It was obsolete because of
Submitted photo the emergence of railroad
The Bank of David B. Crews, circa 1906. technology and transporta-
Montrose, Illinois: A
tion. It was premature be-
cause the automobile had
not yet been invented.
When the automobile was
Scottish-named village
mass produced by compa-
nies like Ford, and the road
conditions improved with
brick or concrete paving,
America began its love
affair with the car to go
BY PHIL LEWIS ries in Scotland for Charles I ton, Texas, and Colorado. places in America that were
A
s I chose the Village of England in the English civil then accessible. The Road
The National Road was
of Montrose to write war there. Charles I had at- passes through seven Illinois
authorized by President
about, I explored tempted to impose the Epis- counties from Marshall to
Thomas Jefferson in 1806.
its history in the booklet copalian Book of Common East St. Louis. Today it is 164
Construction on Ameri-
“Montrose Centennial: 1870- Prayers upon the reluctant miles in Illinois from the Indi-
ca’s first federally funded
1970.” Scots. Graham earned the ana border to the Missouri
interstate highway began in
title “The Great Montrose” border.
I couldn’t find where or 1811. It terminated just east
for his military efforts. He was The old Vandalia Railroad
how it received its name. I
also a poet and nobleman. Submitted photo line ran through Montrose. It
searched the Internet and
Graham was later captured St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran became the Pennsylvania
found that the noble name Church.
by the Scots, hanged, and Railroad around 1868. The
Montrose is of medieval
beheaded. His head was National Road kiosk in Mon-
Scottish origin based on the
placed on a spike of the St. trose in front of village hall is
coastal Scottish town of
Giles Cathedral in 1650. His titled “Drummers. Drays and
Montrose situated between
body was later exhumed Railroad Days.”
Aberdeen and Dundee.
and reinterred with his head
The derivation of the name Early settlers found places
in St. Giles Cathedral in
is from the French word to live near Montrose while
1661.
“Mont” meaning “moun- traveling along the National
tain” and “rose” meaning I’m not certain how the Vil- Road. One such pioneer
the flower, or perhaps the lage of Montrose acquired was Abraham Marble who
color. its name, but the history came about 1845. He kept
behind the name is note- a relay house for several
In another citation, James
worthy. Perhaps a local res- years for the stagecoaches.
Graham was the first
ident had Scottish ancestry. Marble farmed later east of
Marquess and fifth Earl of
There are also towns by that Montrose until 1858 when he
Montrose. He was a Scottish
name in a suburb of Hous- sold everything and moved
general noted for his victo-
10 | MONTROSE SESQUICENTENNIAL • JULY 2021his family to Minnesota. into their own hands. They
Other early settlers included allegedly found the robbers
William Wallace, Thomas and killed all of them. The
Gibbon and James Rolfe bodies were never found,
from 1849 to 1851. Mainly and the robberies stopped.
German Roman Catholics Some people speculate
from Westphalia and Old- that the bodies were
enburg and Lutherans from dumped into local hog
Saxony migrated to settle pens and the hogs disposed
the area around Montrose. of the bodies.
J.B. Johnson laid out the There have been a few no-
Village of Montrose around table residents of Montrose
July 19, 1870. The plat for since its founding. They in-
the town was done by cluded Phillip Wiwi, Dr. Harry
Calvin Mitchell, the Effing- G. Van Sandt, Dr. Albert E.
ham County surveyor. By Goebel, J. Clyde Spitler,
1890, there were six general Lawrence Yates Sherman
stores, two saloons, an im- and David B. Crews.
plement store, blacksmith,
flour mill, and hotel. Phillip Wiwi was born in
Submitted photo
Dr. Albert E. Goebel in 1957.
intersection of Route 40 and He erected a store room
Route 121. and dwelling house. When
he started his first store, it
He and his wife later moved
featured a fine assortment
to Effingham, where he
of drugs to aid the people
became interested in Illinois
of Montrose with their health
politics serving as a repre-
problems. Harry Van Sandt
sentative in Springfield for
died suddenly in an acci-
one term. Wiwi and his wife,
dent.
Submitted photo Magdalena, were bur-
The Phillip Wiwi house. ied in the St. Rose of Lima Dr. Albert E. Goebel was
Cemetery in Montrose and born on a farm near Mon-
Speisbach Bavaria, Ger- later reburied in St. Antho- trose. He attended schools
Local legend has it that the many, in 1833. He came to ny Catholic Cemetery in in Montrose, Effingham and
Birch Gang operated in America in 1852 and settled Effingham. Charleston. Albert taught
the Montrose, Spring Point in Indiana, where he mar- school for seven years. He
and Teutopolis area. They Dr. Harry Van Sandt was
ried Magdalena Meyer in began his medical training
robbed people traveling Montrose’s first doctor
1857. They had 11 children. at St. Louis City Hospital.
along the National Road. from 1870 until his death.
He began farming at Spring
They also frequented Point. Wiwi then moved to
the taverns in Montrose Teutopolis and entered the
and Teutopolis to listen to
conversations as to which
mercantile business. Wiwi
wasn’t able to purchase a
Congratulations Montrose!
farmers had recently sold parcel of land in Montrose
livestock or grain and had
cash. They would then rob
for his own store, so he built
his own store six miles east
On Your
Congratulations Sacred Heart Church
them.
Allegedly, the gang buried
of Montrose. There he pur-
chased mostly local farm-
150th
On Your
large sums of money in
glass jars sealed with bees-
ers’ goods and livestock
and became one of the
Anniversary
125th
Anniversary
wax in the Montrose area.
As the legend goes, some
wealthiest men in Effingham
County. He also erected a
Celebration!
Celebration!
local townsmen and farm- grain house and opened a
ers grew tired of the gang’s livestock market. His brick Burkland’s Florist & Gifts
311 Rinehart • Effingham
activities and took matters home is still located at the 217-342-4184 • effinghamflowers.com
JULY 2021 • MONTROSE SESQUICENTENNIAL | 11practice in Macomb for 23
years.
Sherman was elected to
the Illinois House of Repre-
sentatives and Senate for
12 years. He was Speaker
of the House for two terms.
Lawrence served as lieu-
tenant governor for four
years. Eventually, Sherman
was elected to the U.S.
Senate. As Illinois’ “favorite
son,” he ran unsuccessfully
as a Republican candidate
for President in 1916. He
married Ella May Crews in
1891, but she died in 1893.
As a result of his second
marriage to Mary Estelle
Spitler of Montrose in 1908,
he is buried in Founce Cem-
etery near Montrose.
Submitted photo J.C. Spitler lived in a two-sto-
Downtown Montrose, circa 1908. ry home west of Montrose.
Local legend says that the
Goebel completed his large two-story frame house from McKendree College
house was a stagecoach
internship in 1917 and re- was at the intersection of in Lebanon, Illinois, in 1882.
stop originally purchased by
turned to Effingham Coun- routes 40 and 121 for many He was admitted to the bar
Wesley Spitler from a man
ty. He brought with him his years before being torn that same year and began
bride, Lucille Izard Goebel. down.
They lived in Effingham Lawrence Yates Sherman
and Dieterich before being was born in Ohio in 1858.
recruited by Montrose com- His family moved by cov-
munity members. They were ered wagon to Illinois in
without medical care due that same year. The family
to the accidental death of moved to Jasper County,
Dr. Harry Van Sandt. Albert where he worked on the
was a doctor who made family farm and attended
house calls via a horse and local schools.
wagon. Soon he bought a
Ford Model T which made After attending Lee’s
his rounds easier in the little Academy in Coles County,
old “tin lizzie”. He practiced he taught school in Island
41 years and delivered Grove. Lawrence taught
more than 2,000 babies in other Illinois schools until
in Effingham, Jasper and 1882. He began studying
Submitted photo
Cumberland counties. His law nights and Saturdays
The Montrose United Methodist Church.
after which he graduated
The Effingham County Museum
110 E. Jefferson Ave, Effingham, Illinois 62401 • Phone: 217.240.2471
Hours: Tuesday and Saturday 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Showcases the Rich Heritage of MONTROSE:
Such as School History Such as Civil War Veterans Such as Local Businesses
PLATZ REPAIR
37 40
Over Years
YearsExperience
Experience
Major & Minor Repair of
ALL Farm Equipment
SERVICE - PARTS
including Engine
&Transmission Overhauls.
EACH COMMUNITY WITHIN THE COUNTY HAS MADE UNIQUE
CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR HISTORY!
CELEBRATE MONTROSE’S 150 YEARS! 844-2347
FARM EMERGENCY SERVICE
3 miles East
on Sigel Blacktop
VISIT www.effinghamcountymuseum.org
12 | MONTROSE SESQUICENTENNIAL • JULY 2021Frances Morton from Iowa, Church. David and Frankie
in 1880, they moved back are buried in Oak Ridge
to a 240-acre farm near Cemetery in Effingham.
Montrose. They had 10 There were three early
children, some of whom churches in Montrose —
worked in the family bank- St. Paul Lutheran Church,
ing business. Crews sold the St. Rose of Lima Catholic
240 acres and purchased Church and the Montrose
600 acres in Grove Town- Methodist Church.
ship.
In 1868, a Methodist congre-
After purchasing an addi- gation was organized in a
tional 400 acres, he retired log school house. They built
from farming in 1900. The a small, one-room white
Crews couple later moved frame structure in 1870, and
to Effingham. where he and it served the congrega-
wife Frankie built a large, tion for 86 years. On June
two-story frame home at 9, 1956, a new red brick
the corner of Fayette Ave- structure was dedicated in
nue and Banker Street. They the middle of the village. A
rented out rooms to stu- gift from the Dexter Johnson
dents enrolled at the Illinois estate allowed the building
Submitted photo College of Photography.
The Spitler home in 1965. of the new church and a
David served on the Effing- parsonage.
named Thayer. J.C. married 1907. He grew up in Jasper ham Board of Education.
his wife in 1877. The cou- County on a farm near Today the Montrose United
The family attended the Methodist Church serves the
ple had three children. He Wheeler. Crews was also a Methodist Church.
died in 1890 and his widow venture capitalist who, as needs of Methodists in the
continued to run the family a young man, owned and Plaford and Zona B. Davis community.
farm. operated a cattle ranch purchased the property St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
with 500 cattle in Texas from and operated the Plazona was organized around 1868
Clyde Spitler Jr. was the Hotel for many years. It was
1881-1884. by the pastor of St. John’s
first student from Effingham torn down in 1949 to make
County to receive a B.S. After he married his wife, Lutheran Church in Effing-
way for the new First Baptist
degree from the College of
Agriculture at the University
of Illinois in 1907. He came YOUR LOCAL COMMUNICATIONS PROVIDER
back to Montrose to run the
family farm until 1917. Clyde
was the administrator of the
Cooperative Extension Ser-
vice and helped organize
the Effingham County Farm
Bureau.
In 1930, he became the
state leader of Farm Ad-
visors. Clyde held the post
of Director of Cooperative
Extension Service from 1937
to 1943.
J.C. Spitler III was the last
Spitler to live in the home
and later moved to Urbana,
thus leaving the homestead
abandoned. The house fell
into disrepair and was razed
in the late 1980s.
David Babb Crews start-
ed the D.B. Crews Bank in
Montrose (aka Montrose
State Bank and Crews State
Bank and Trust Company of INTERNET HOME PHONE TELEVISION
Montrose) in 1902 and Bank
of Commerce in Wheeler in www.mmtcnet.com | (217)925-5242
JULY 2021 • MONTROSE SESQUICENTENNIAL | 13ham. The congregation gregation had outgrown cornerstone. A major ad- frame church was built in
consisted of Lutherans from the facility necessitating dition was added in 1968. the Village of Montrose in
St. Francis Township and the building of a new brick There is a parsonage next to that same year. It served the
Island Grove. church. On Nov. 18, 1900, it the church. congregation for 78 years
was dedicated as a Ger- and depended on priests
On May 29, 1871, a frame St. Rose of Lima Catholic
man-speaking Lutheran from St. Joseph College
structure was erected Church was organized in
church. This is evidenced in Teutopolis. The congre-
around four miles south of 1879 at the request of three
by the German inscription gation built a new church
Montrose. By 1900, the con- families. A white wooden
above the door and on the made of Bedford stone in
1959. It was dedicated on
Submitted photo
The train depot, circa 1910.
Nov. 6, 1960.
The St. Rose of Lima Catho-
lic Cemetery and Montrose
Cemetery of 1913 are lo-
cated at the north edge of
Montrose near the Cumber-
land County line.
Resources:
Montrose Centennial 1870-
1970
St. Rose of Lima Church 1879-
1979
Effingham County, Illinois: Past
and Present 1968
Illinois Historical: Effingham
County
Phil Lewis is a member of The
Effingham County Museum.
This story originally appeared
in the Effingham Daily News on
Sept. 11, 2018.
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217-895-3645Andrew Adams photo
The Wendt family tractor pulls out onto the route for a parade on June 12.
The ride took participants
Fundraisers helped
through rural roads around
Montrose over the course
of the afternoon, with four
stops along the way.
prepare for celebration
“We just regroup, hang out
and have some refresh-
ments,” said Overbeck.
After the tractor ride,
attendees were treated to
a concert from the band
By Andrew Adams centennial. added, remembering how Southern Comfort at the
long the planning and fund- Montrose Village Park.
MONTROSE — In 1870, On June 12, residents orga-
raising process has taken “This is just one of the
travelers along the National nized a tractor ride with 23
for the celebration that fundraisers we do,” said
Road settled in the corner tractors, most pulling trailers
was originally to happen Overbeck, who added that
of what would become decked out as mobile
last year. “Because of the they’ve done tractor rides
Effingham County, found- patios.
pandemic, we had to put it in the past, which were well
ing the village of Montrose. “We’ve been doing fund- on hold.” received.
To celebrate the 150-year raisers for the last year,” said
anniversary of the village’s The tractor ride is one of the Other events have includ-
Chris “Chopper” Overbeck,
founding, residents from last events before the big ed Jeep runs, trivia nights,
who is helping organize
the village and surrounding celebration, set for Aug. 6, bingo and “Celebrity
events for the celebration.
area are raising funds to 7 and 8. Bartending,” where teams
host the Montrose Sesqui- “Or two years now,” he
JULY 2021 • MONTROSE SESQUICENTENNIAL | 15with their trailers running
the gamut from a flatbed
with hay bales and plastic
chairs to elaborate affairs
with decorations and group
costuming.
The Wendt family went all
out for their trailer and out-
fits, dressing up in old-time
clothes to fit the sesquicen-
tennial theme.
Family and friends con-
nected to the Probst Family
Farms wore matching
T-shirts made for the occa-
sion.
One simple trailer was
decorated by Betty Emmer-
ich, whose sons were also
driving old tractors.
“They’re tractors that be-
longed to their grandpa, so
it feels nice,” said Emmer-
ich.
The sesquicentennial cele-
bration will feature several
kinds of entertainment, in
Andrew Adams photo
addition to commemora-
Wearing sesquicentennial theme outfits, the Wendt family poses on their tractor. From left are Ryan,
Debbie, Cade and Beau Wendt. tive displays.
“We’ll have food trucks
of amateur bartenders out here, bounce houses,
compete to outearn each games,” said Keri Will, one
other in “tips.” of the event’s organizers.
The tractors were an eclec- “It’s gonna be a big week-
tic mix of old and new, end.”
Andrew Adams photo
Cade, pictured in the driver’s seat, and Dan Wendt are on their
tractor at the fundraiser tractor drive on June 12.
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16 | MONTROSE SESQUICENTENNIAL • JULY 2021the town was done by Cal-
vin Mitchell, an Effingham
surveyor.
The Village of Montrose
was incorporated in 1892.
The first meeting was held
on May 7, 1892, at Dr. H.G.
Van Sandt’s store room and
Henry Will was appointed
president. The five trustees
appointed were Dr. T. Wis-
ner, Matt Faber, Boon Miller
and Dr. H.G. Van Sandt.
R.N. Plummer was elected
village clerk.
Long before cement side-
walks were put down, old
railroad ties were used for
sidewalks. There was a saw
mill a few miles north of the
village.
The citizens of the village
took an early interest in
educational matters. New-
ton Gibbon built the first
schoolhouse in 1856. It was
a frame building that stood
a half mile west of Mon-
trose and was later moved
a little north of the village.
The school was moved to
Montrose one year after the
first house was erected in
the village.
In 1876, a brick schoolhouse
Submitted photo
was built. It was 22-by-54
Massie Cleeton of Montrose won second place in the Best Beard contest. He and his wife were dressed
feet and one story high and
in centennial costumes.
cost $1,500.
Montrose Centennial
Montrose had the larg-
est population and most
prosperous period between
1890 and 1900. There were
three general stores in op-
Book outlined early
eration in 1891. There were
also two saloons, an imple-
ment store, a blacksmith
shop and a hotel. In the
history
year 1898, there were more
business houses in operation
than any other time and six
general stores.
A few businesses were set
A
up in Montrose in between
ccording to the stagecoaches for several 1849 to 1851. Mainly Ger-
1900 and 1910. One of
Montrose Centennial years. He later farmed east man Roman Catholics from
the businesses established
1870-1970 book, the of Montrose until 1858 when Westphalia and Oldenburg
during that time period
first settler to locate near he sold everything and and Lutherans from Saxony
is still in existence today:
Montrose was Abraham moved his family to Minne- migrated to settle the area
Montrose Mutual Telephone
Marble, who came around sota. around Montrose.
Company. The line was
1845 locating east of where Other early settlers were Wil- J.B. Johnson laid out the started by Dr. F.N.A. Hoff-
Montrose now stands, on liam Wallace, Thomas Gib- Village of Montrose around man about 1900.
the old National Road. bon and James Rolfe from July 19, 1870. The plat for
He kept a relay house for After operating the line
JULY 2021 • MONTROSE SESQUICENTENNIAL | 17Many changes were noted
to the area in the 1960s.
Interstate-70 north of Mon-
trose opened to traffic in
1960. During the same year,
Shell Service Station south
of I-70 and on the east
side of the Blacktop was
opened. The post office was
occupied by the U.S. Postal
service in autumn of 1960.
The village’s water system
was installed in 1963. The
Standard Station was built
and opened in 1965. The
new motel, Montarosa, lo-
cated just south of Interstate
70 and west of the blacktop
in back of the Standard
Station, was opened to
travelers in 1969.
Two new churches were
built between 1955 and
1960 by Catholic parish-
ioners and the Montrose
Methodist congregation.
Submitted photo
Montrose Fire Department.
for a year or two, Hoffman al account, Montrose was
sold out to Brighthope, who lucky by not being infested Submitted photo
later sold it to the organized with night prowlers and Residents gathered for the Montrose centennial celebration in
company, which was incor- thieves. There has been one 1970.
porated in 1908. By 1934, large robbery in Montrose.
the company had stretched In 1929, five houses were
192 miles of wire and had robbed during the night.
550 patrons. The company Those that were robbed
answered 1,715 calls per belonged to L.A. Browning,
day and operated four Hugh James, Lulla Steger,
exchanges: Gila, Wheeler, Osie Ball and Mr. Stutler.
Dieterich and Montrose. By the 1930 U.S. Census,
As the village grew, so did the population of Montrose
its infrastructure. was 324. In 1934, there
were three general stores in
The village put in a sew-
Montrose, two cafes, one
er system in 1918 from
combined store and restau-
the elevator to the small
rant, a barber shop and a
stream north of the Catholic
hardware store, two cream
cemetery. On June 7, 1927,
stations, a blacksmith shop
the village contracted with
and two garages. The only
Central Illinois Public Service
physician was Dr. Goebel.
Company to install within
the city limits 29 incandes- In the 1940s, there were sev-
cent lamps. eral stores and storekeep-
ers. Lloyd Pinnell operated a
The first light bill the village
store east of the post office
received was paid on April
but soon moved to the next
19,1928, and was $59.13.
block, which had formerly
On Dec. 4, 1928, the entire
been a poultry store. He
number of lights had been
had his own butchering
installed and the cost per
shop and meat market as
month was $73.67.
well as general groceries.
According to the Centenni-
18 | MONTROSE SESQUICENTENNIAL • JULY 2021Montrose
Sesquicentennial
Celebration Schedule
Friday,
Pavilion) – 7 p.m.
• Captain Rat –
Aug. 6 8 p.m. - 11 p.m.
• Cruise Night –
5 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Saturday,
• Inflatables Playground Aug. 7
– 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.
• Goldfish Races (South • Tractor Pull –
9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Submitted photo
Tractor driven by Leo B. Jansen of Island Grove won third place in
the Antique Division during the 1970 Centennial. The 1931 tractor
was owned by Edward Jansen of Teutopolis. Leo was the oldest
person participating in the parade.
Submitted photo
Judging was underway in the Montrose Centennial Queen Contest
when this picture was taken. The competition was cut short by a
downpour before contestants had gone through all the phases of
judging.
• Carnival Games – 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
1 p.m. - 3 p.m. • Inflatable Playground –
• Petting Zoo – 4 p.m. - 8 p.m.
1 p.m. - 6 p.m. • Lick Creek Band (Main
• Bed Races – 3 p.m. Stage) –
• Frog/Turtle Races – 8 p.m. - 11 p.m.
Congratulations Established in 1894
Montrose
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professional services, including pre-needs counseling.
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JULY 2021 • MONTROSE SESQUICENTENNIAL | 19• Local Music –
Sunday, 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
• Petting Zoo –
Aug. 8 Noon – 5 p.m.
• Old Time Games –
• Car/Tractor Show – 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Submitted photo
Montrose Grain Co. entered this float featuring “Unity is the Key.”
Behind it is the St. Rose Catholic Church float in the Montrose
Centennial Parade.
Submitted photo
Teutopolis people of God congratulated Montrose people of God in
this float, which featured Boy Scouts and 4-H club members from
the Teutopolis area in the Montrose Centennial Parade.
• Inflatable Playground – 4 p.m.
1 p.m. - 5 p.m. • Golf Ball Drop – 6 p.m.
• Best Dress / Beard • Fireworks – 9 p.m.
Shaving –
3 p.m. - 4 p.m.
• Pedal Tractor Race –
Our Growth Since 2009
2009 2021
Happy 150th
Birthday Submitted photo
Homemakers of yesterday and today
Montrose! appeared on this float in the Montrose
Centennial Parade.
coxsbodyshopil.com
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