Franklin Grove Collection, 1844-1995 | Northern Illinois University

Collection Overview

Title: Franklin Grove Collection, 1844-1995

ID: RHC/RC/115

Extent: 5.5 Linear Feet

Subjects: Coal trade, Cross Roads Community Club, Dixon (Ill), Dixon Business College, Draft Horses, Franklin Grove (Ill.), Franklin Grove Nursery, Grain, Helmershausen Family, Herbst Elevator Company, Lee County (Ill), Moore, Walter L., Newspapers, Nurseries, Riddlebarger Mattress Factory, Schools, United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865, Whitney, A. R., World War II

Forms of Material: Tintype

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Franklin Grove Collection contains a variety of documents detailing several facets of the community's history. One series comprises minutes and treasurer's account books, (1932-1980) from the Cross Roads Community Club. This club organized in the early 1930's to provide social and recreational entertainment programs for Franklin Grove families. Another series partially documents the Franklin Grove Nursery from 1844 to 1884. A.R. Whitney, owner of the nursery, developed the famous Whitney Crabapple. A partial run of the newspaper, The Franklin Reporter (1880-1956), telephone books (1929-1958), documentation on the Herbst Elevator Company as well as other companies in the area, and materials from the local historical society are included in the collection. An additional series contains personnel records of the Chicago and Northwestern Railway’s Dixon Division (1901-1932), and Farmers Telephone Directories.

There are also papers of the Walter L Moore family, including records from his dentistry studies and practice, as well as some of his daughter’s school papers. There is also the Uriah C. Roe family papers, including records from his pharmacy practice in Franklin Grove, as well as a cookbook and scrapbook of party games. In addition Series IV contains information regarding the Helmershausen family and other associated material. For more information on the Helmershausen family, researchers should consult the Helmershausen Genealogy book, which is part of the Bradt collection, as well as the various Lee County history books located in the reading room.

For further information on the Franklin Grove community, researchers may wish to consult the Taylor Farm Records (RC 37) and Craig L. Pfannkuche's thesis From Prairie to Produce: A History of Central Lee County, Illinois, 1840-1880 (M.A., 1968).

Collection Historical Note

Uriah C. Roe was born in Eddyville, Lyon County, KY, January 1, 1825. His father, Dr. John Roe, was the first medical doctor in Ogle County. His mother, Elizabeth Lyon, was the daughter of Col. Mathew Lyon who was a lieutenant in a company of the Green Mtn Boys during the American Revolution. John and Elizabeth had nine children, born in Kentucky, and Sagamon and Ogle County of Illinois. Uriah’s brothers, both John H. Roe and Malcolm C. Roe were prominent practitioners and leading citizens of Ogle County. Uriah was educated at Mt. Morris and practiced medicine with his father in Ogle County until his father’s departure to California during a gold rush. Uriah then devoted his time principally to the manufacture of various medical remedies, sold U.C. Roe & Sons Pharmacy in Franklin Grove. Uriah first married Almeda Brown in 1846, and later married Mary Edmonds in 1883. He was also a member of the Old Settler’s Society of Lee County. The Helmerhausen family was one of the first families to settle in Franklin Grove in 1840. Several generations remained in the Franklin Grove area.

Subject/Index Terms

Coal trade
Cross Roads Community Club
Dixon (Ill)
Dixon Business College
Draft Horses
Franklin Grove (Ill.)
Franklin Grove Nursery
Grain
Helmershausen Family
Herbst Elevator Company
Lee County (Ill)
Moore, Walter L.
Newspapers
Nurseries
Riddlebarger Mattress Factory
Schools
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Whitney, A. R.
World War II

Administrative Information

Repository: Northern Illinois University

Accruals: Addenda were added at later dates.

Access Restrictions: There are no restrictions on access to the collection.

Use Restrictions: Property rights in the collection belong to the Regional History Center; literary rights are dedicated to the public.

Acquisition Source: Roger Taylor

Acquisition Method: Roger Taylor of Franklin Grove, Illinois donated materials included in the Franklin Grove Collection to the Northern Illinois Regional History Center beginning in 1968.

Related Materials: For further information on the Franklin Grove community, researchers may wish to consult the Taylor Farm Records (RC 37) and Craig L. Pfannkuche's thesis From Prairie to Produce: A History of Central Lee County, Illinois, 1840-1880 (M.A., 1968).

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[Box 3-4: The Franklin Reporter, 1878-1908],
[Box 4],
[Volume 1-8: Herbst Elevator Company: Coal sales (8 volumes), 1930-1964],
[Volume 9-10: Herbst Elevator Company: Grain sales and shipments; Retail sales (2 volumes), 1931-1965; 1938],
[Volume 11-12: Lowell Trottnow, journal (2 volumes), 1921-1928],
[Volume 13: E. L. Fish, journal (1 volume), 1917-1940],
[Volume 14: C. S. and Company, journal (1 volume), 1906-1907],
[Addendum I],
[Addendum II],
[Addendum III],
[Addendum IV],
[All]

Addendum IV

Box 13

Folder 1: Addresses by Earnest M. Halbleib from McNabb, (III.), 1962
Folder 2: Amboy, (III.) 150th Year Celebration of Amboy Evaporated Milk label, 2004
Folder 3: Amboy, (III) news articles about FFA, April 9, 2006
Folder 4: Ashton, (III.) photographs, n.d.
Folder 5: Babson Arabian Horse Farm, Grand Detour, (III.), 1971-1999
Folder 6: Bridge of Art Event, 2013
Folder 7: Chaplin Creek Village information and event flyers, n.d.
Folder 8: Dickson, Siberia news articles, 1988-1989
Folder 9: Dixon, (III.) information, souvenier envelopes, and photographs, n.d.
Folder 10: "Entry of the 48 States into the Union," unpublished copy by Dr. H.Jameson, n.d.
Folder 11: Farmer's National Bank newspaper, Centennial edition, August 2002
Folder 12: Ford Motor Industry information and news, 1910-1925
Folder 13: Franklin Grove and Franklin Center High School Reunion Books, 1985-2000
Folder 14: Franklin Grove booklet "Historic Franklin Grove,", 1995
Folder 15: Franklin Grove Historical Society letterhead and envelope, n.d.
Folder 16: Franklin Grove information, brochures, booklets, 1965-2008
Folder 17: Franklin Grove Quilt Raffle, 2011-2012
Folder 18: Franklin Grove Summer Harvest Festival Ribbons, n.d.
Folder 19: Franklin Grove United Methodist Church information and directory, 1985
Folder 20: Franklin Grove World War II ration books, n.d.
Folder 21: Funeral list of T.W.Farmer, 1898-1939
Folder 22: Galena Trail and Coach Road community newsletters, 2002-2013
Folder 23: Galena Trail and Coach Road Society meeting minutes and information, 2002-2013
Folder 24: Garfield Farm information, news articles, and newsletters, 1986-2010
Folder 25: Grand Detour, (III.) information 1981
Folder 26: The Grange informatrion, 2004
Folder 27: Health Department signs warning about diseases, n.d.
Folder 28: Heartland Heritage Camp meetings, 2003
Folder 29: Hennepin Canal Booklet, 2007
Folder 30: Industrial Workers of the World Illinois Chapter, 1956-1962
Folder 31: Illinois Postal Historian Magazines, 1994-2007
Folder 32: Lee Center Community Highschool dedication, March 18, 1938
Folder 33: Lee County Historical Yearbook, 1972-1973
Folder 34: Lee County Orphan Trains information, 2010
Folder 35: Lee County wind farm debate, 2006-2011
Folder 36: Lifetime Aluminumware Catalog, n.d.
Folder 37: Lincoln Highway Association information, news, and event flyers, 2004-2009
Folder 38: Loveland, (III.) information and "The Blood Gulch Murder" booklet, n.d.
Folder 39: Oregon, (III.) news articles and information, 1968-1986
Folder 40: Oscar Grossheim glass plate negative collection information, n.d.
Folder 41: Photographs from German Valley Days, 1993
Folder 42: Poems by Harriet Sheap, 1904-1923
Folder 43: "The Postal Saga of Davied Jo County, IL,", 1985
Folder 44: Princeton, (III.) Red Covered Bridge photos and information, n.d.
Folder 45: Savanna, (III.) Gallery of the Civil War Soldiers brochure, 2013
Folder 46: Sterling-Rock Falls, (III.) information and brochures, n.d.
Folder 47: Sterling-Rock Falls, (III.) special issue newspaper about Grandon Civic Center, July 27, 2008
Folder 48: Sublette, (III.) Information Brochure, n.d.
Folder 49: "The Forgotten Box: A Mystery at the Loveland Museum," n.d.
Folder 50: Theshing machine painting photocopy and letter, 2009
Folder 51: Yorty School, Chaplin Creek Historic Site information and certificate, n.d.

Box 14

Item 1: Wood block mounted ink stamp of map of Lee County, (III.),n.d.
Item 2: American Convertible Motor Truck Body patent plaques, Dixon, (III.), n.d.

Oversize Drawer 28

Folder 1: Greater Morrison map of historic sites, n.d.
Folder 2: Poster for 33rd Annual Harvest Festival, 2012
Folder 3: Barn Tour Poster, Barn Tour Maps, 2008-2013
Folder 4: Historic Downtown Dixon Theatre Screening poster for "Windfall", n.d.
Folder 5: Poster of Dickson, Siberia (English and Russian), n.d.
Folder 6: Insurance maps of Ashton, Illinois, 1914, 1932 (2)
Folder 7: City Property map photocopy, 1912
Folder 8: Posters from Dickson, Siberia, n.d. (2)

Oversize Drawer LO-12

Folder 1: Franklin Grove property map, 1961