The Tampico Area Historical Society encompasses parts of Whiteside County and Bureau County in Illinois. Focus is on Tampico, Hume Twp., Hahnaman/Deer Grove, & Prophetstown in Whiteside County & Yorktown & Thomas in Bureau County.
Every now and then messages appear that relate to this counties locations that very often have never been printed on old or new maps. Such is the case with Dutch Bottoms a couple days ago. One of my ancestors came out of Ohio and located for a short time in Harrisburg, and it took a long time to find the location. Without going on and on about this, I think it would be interesting for people to list these locations as they come to mind and address the location for the idea of a reference data base. I'm going to list a few places that come to mind without the directions just to see if this subject takes interest, and before typing my heart out. Denise, if I'm breaking some rules of this wonderful web site, please feel free to delete it.
1. Dutch Bottoms: To me they lay in the SW end of Portland Township, and section 35 would be pretty much the center of it. Chase and Ferry road are at the lower end. A gentleman in Springhill, as a lad remembers when they built Chase Road up, (sort of serves as a dike also) with horses and mules.
2. Sharon and or Sharon Church: I believe we have the answer below: Also see:
3. Thunderbolt: Most everybody already knows, as we have Thunder Road. At the East edge, there was one of the first "stills" that ran in these parts. The late Earl Hanson who owned Thunderbolt for quite a few years found many Indian artifacts and had an extensive collection of arrow heads. He spent many hours on Thunderbolt and often gave his opinion that it was built by our Indians. In the timber to the south of the hill, there is a very large hole, and we used to call it the "Fish Bowl". Some 60 - 70 yards wide at the top, a very small (just a few feet) bottom, and sides so steep we couldn't climb them. Earl believed that a lot of the sand on Thunderbolt came from this hole. He had a spot located in his mind where the Indians loaded and unloaded canoes for trade among the tribes, as the river way back when ran at the West side, and he wanted somebody to help him dig for treasures, as he knew they upset a canoe once in a while. As Earl's long gone I always feel like I missed something.
4. Jefferson Corners: Answered below.
5. Sandtown: With irrigation, it's raising a lot of snap beans, sweet-corn and potatoes in today's world. Lays west of Portland Truck Sales on both sides of Cooper Road. Also West of the Sand Town Cemetery. aka Sandytown.
6. Foytown: Present day intersection of Lyndon Road and Lomax, and to the East. Well known as Leon, or Leon Corners. It was always told to me that before present day Illinois Rt. 78 was built, that Lyndon Road through this intersection was the main road North and South.
7. Eight-Mile: I think Janet has it well described as below. Used to be a well known gas station and restaurant at ILL. 78 and 92 Intersection. Before interstate 80, 92 was the main road between the Tri Cities and Chicago. ( Quad Cites in todays world.)
8. Big Island: I just got a lesson. What I thought was the often spoken of (made reference to) Big Island, is on the Illinois Atlas as Indian Island. I guess I'll need some help on this one. (?) maybe Big Island is above the State Park in P-town. (Indian Island is just down stream from the old Railroad bridge.)
9. Sweed Town: Swede Town. (Me and my spelling) Janet's got this pretty well covered as below. I'll always remember Kip Hill's apple cider press up there.
10. Hamilton Grove or Hamilton Corners: Intersection of Il. Rt. 78 and Moline Road. (aka Old IL. Rt. 2.) A lot of history in that area. (Adam R. Hamilton, Wm. Dudley and the Hubbards)
11. Connies Grove: I think D&D pretty well covered this one as below. (Stories about it abound)
12. Denrock or Denrock Station: If anybody needs help with this one, I'm here.
13. Harrisburg: I would appreciate some help on this one. All I know is that my 3rd great-grandfather came from Morgan County Ohio, in the 1840's and worked there for a while as a miller. 1850 he was back in Morgan County for the census. Harrisburg was used in a history story about a loaded steam boat going down river from Dixon, and before going over the rapids at Rock Falls, (aka Rock Rapids) they unloaded a good portion of the cargo at Harrisburg and hauled the cargo around the shallow distance, and reloaded down stream. I would like to know if the present day city of Sterling has taken over what was known as Harrisburg. There was another small community up there somewhere also, called Harwich.
14. Empire: Another easy one. Need help, I'm here.
15. Rock Island Junction (Mother was born there): The east end of the Rockford, Rock Island & St. Louis Railroad, (ran through Lyndon) where it met the East - West line from Sterling to Morrison. It's only a few yards south from the Agnew grain elevator. At one time there was an engine house there.
16. Prairie View (School): I have on my mind that it stood on the NE corner of present day intersection of Perkins and Cooper Roads. Section 13. Back in the 50's I remember an Olsen family as living on the farm.
17. Crest View (School): Another one that's to easy.
18. Walkers Slew: At the east entrance of the P-Town State Park, go North towards the old Lyndon bridge. After crossing Ellsworth Creek, look west and you have it.
19. Blind Charley's Corner: This one, (for what I know of it) is up in Ustick township, and splits sections 18 and 19, North to South. Intersection of Smaltz Rd., Union Grove Rd., and Penrose.
20. I just opened my old W-side History, and it fell open to page 466. Example--- Clifton and later Bluff Station. The answer is spelled out, but It's the kind of reference points used some of the old family writings and appear every now and then, and the questions abound like --- Grandpa used to farm by Bluff Station and does anybody know where it's at?
Another example; Jacobstown, page 294 and on and on.
As above and without much effort I recalled nineteen and I'm sure there is many more. Please feel free to add to this list as I'm sure it will be a lot of fun, and can only help in our historical endeavors. I'll watch and be back with locations if it takes an interest. Jack
Last Edited by on Jun 01, 2007 2:45 PM
Administrator
Denise
463 posts
Nov 30, 2006
10:09 PM
Jack, What a great idea! No, of course you are not breaking any rules. I love it when people take interest and the time to post. I know a few of the above mentioned areas. (Not bad for the relatively "new kid on the block") However, it's waaay past my bedtime, so I will get back to this tomorrow. Hopefully, others will jump in. I know Les and Janet G. know a lot of these. Thanks Jack! This post is listed as 10:09 p.m. but it's really 12:09a.m. Nighty night! ---------- Denise Family History Coordinator Tampico Area Historical Society
Last Edited by on Nov 30, 2006 10:13 PM
Connie's Grove - this was on Rt. 2 west of Erie and almost into Rock Island County. I grew up near there but don't really know the history. While growing up there was a tavern there. That building is still there. In later years they built another building and was used for events, games, etc. That is still there. The tavern in the last 10 years was a florist shop but I believe now everything is closed down.
Hi Jack, I love the idea of putting addresses to these places. I know where several of them are, as I'm sure that you do too. It would be great to have some of the locations to start with, or are you wanting to see how many people come up with the same location of the ones you may already know? I live in the Jefferson Corners area. The Jefferson Corners School was at the intersection of Washington Road and Lomax Road, in the south east corner where George Clever's house is located. The address now is 1474 Washington Road. The school is sometimes difficult to locate on the old plat maps as it is at the intersection of Prophetstown and Portland Townships. I will try to give locations for some of the other ones that I know later. Janet
Jefferson Corners: Even tho I've lived in Prophetstown all but a few months of my life, a couple years ago I found myself at The P-town Historical Society, asking where Jefferson Corners was at. I had confused it's history with a long time ago general store - Post office building some 6 miles SW of Jefferson Corners in Henry County. After arriving home with the knowledge of where Jefferson Corners was at, I opened my Wayne Bastian - History of Whiteside County, and the corners are shown on page 472. I happen to have it open now, and I'm setting here with this smile, that I just spotted a couple of locations on this map that I've never heard of. In section 25 of Fenton Twp., is a small place noted as "Pratt". It sets about 2 miles North of Portland (across the river) and 3/4 miles West. Another one is in section # 23 of Newton Twp., called "Kingsbury". It's about a mile and a half West of Mineral Springs. (As if we all know where Mineral Springs is at.)
This list of places/locations could go on and on, but I have a pretty good opinion of where the 19 or 20 places that I listed for an opening (as above) are/were at. I had a conversation with one of the local policemen, and they have had accident reports referenced off Bee-Hive Hill. I'm sure most people will know where it's at, but it's just another location/area that will eventually fade away as generations go by.
Hi again Jac, I'm sure you already know these, but do you have the exact locations? Sharon Church and Cemetery on on Springhill Road just west of Springhill. Sandytown (is that the same as the Sandtown you listed?) is the area where the Portland Consolidated School (now Portland Truck Sales) is. The red building across the road is the old Pleasant Ridge (Sandytown) School. Eight-Mile is in Henry County (unless there is another one). It is within the Prophtstown post office boundaries. It is a section of Rt. 92 south of me. It is 8 miles from Prophetstown. I can't tell you the actual boundaries, eg. how many miles east to west and how many miles north to south, but it is along 92 where Mel Becker lives and west past where 2300N intersects with 92. Sweed Town is the section of Prophetstown that was across the RR tracks where the old Lutheran Church is located. Includes part of Market Street, Douglas Street, where Strive is located & that section of town west of Strive and south of Railroad Street/Woodlawn Drive. Hamilton Corners is the intersection of old Rt. 2 (Moline Road) and Rt. 78. Denrock and Denrock Depot were just a little farther west and on the south side of old Rt. 2 from that intersection. On the old plat maps, Denrock and the depot were almost on the Lyndon Twp./Fenton Twp. line. Crest View School is out east of Prophetstown on 172. The Centerville Consolidated School is on Lyndon Road not far from the Leon Church and is used as a residence. Portland Consolidated School already mentioned above. How about Kay's Corner and McCue's Corner? And the Meredosia Bottoms? Indian Gardens? The River Bottoms? Walker's Slew (slough) I think that is down in the river bottoms around Riverside School somewhere. There are several sloughs in that area and I don't know the names of all of them, but we had a Native American camp near Walker's Slough which I think is in the area where Paul and Jodi Farral live. Can't pinpoint it though. Can you? Looking forward to more additions!!! Janet
I'm glad to see some interest in this post, as I believe it can be a lot of fun.
When I started this, (and I still do) I had intentions of putting locations to the original list, to the best of my knowledge and let the corrections come in as they may, and let the list grow from there. As time allows I'll try and get to the list and fill it in, but I'm not any expert as you'll find out. Where ever I'm wrong or someone has a different opinion I'll be glad to here it. It can only help, as history has a habit of changing over the years. The more information we have the better.
I just went through 1 - 19 with what was left, in an edit mode. (See above) If anyone has anything to add or correct, I'm all ears.
Janet---- 1. Kay's Corner, Have you been by there the last few weeks? It has a big sign now, "Kay's Corner", on what used to be the truck stop.
2. McCue's Corner, I have an idea, and I was going to type it in the first writing, but held off as I wasn't quite sure. But I know it was used a lot for reference years ago.
3. Meredosia Bottom's, All I know is that it's huge area, and may have connections to the floods of the Mississippi.
4. Indian Garden's: I have heard of the area, but I'm lost on this one, but very happy to see it mentioned. One of those, if we don't use it, we loose it.
5. River Bottoms: I'm lost on this one also.
Thanks, Jack
Administrator
Denise
544 posts
Mar 21, 2007
11:23 AM
I have added photos of the Sharon Cemetery in our People/Places/Things Photo Album, row 12
While thumbing through a ring binder of Lyndon history at the genealogy room at the Sterling Library today, I came across another one of those area's that had one of our unusual names. Because of the history of the location, the road between Lyndon and Erie, was "styled" by some in conversations as DEAD MAN's LANE.
Having after thoughts of bringing up Dead Man's Lane, it reminded me that we (back in the 50's 60's) often called IL. Rt. 78, between Prophetstown and Lyndon, "The Pike".
I just now began to read thru this discussion thread and noticed you had more information regarding Denrock.
My 3g grandparents, John Noah & Anna Kedzie HOGEBOOM ran the lunch counter and hotel at the Denrock Station at the turn of the last century. I have a number of photos of John, Anna and their children, but none of the Hotel and/or Lunch Counter. I also have "tickets" for the lunch counter which I scanned and Denise posted on this site.
Any further information you might have, especially any photographs, I would be keenly interested in hearing from you.
I did a little arm chair work on your Denrock Hotel quest and the closest I can come to something you might not have seen, is an article in the Sterling Gazette as indexed below.
Depot, Railroad (Denrock){^} remodeled 19 May 1944;8;6
I wouldn't have any idea how far the hotel was from the depot, or if anything on the hotel would appear in this article, but it might be worth looking at the micro-film, but as the article is only indexed in column 6 there may not even be a picture of the depot.
Hi Jack, It's your neighbor to the south again. Have you purchased the little book about Fenton, IL done by Cliff Reisenbigler and finished by his son-in-law, Ernie Verhulst from St. Louis? It is quite interesting, and talks about several places that we have discussed in the past such as Denrock, Pratt, etc. It is for sale in Prophetstown and Erie, and maybe other places as well. I got my copy from Lacy's Amazing Vase Too. The Indian Gardens that I asked about is on a 1905 plat map and is located in Sec. 28 not far from where the old Lyndon Bridge is located, or as it was on the 1893 plat map the ferry across the river. Alber Field and G.S. Aylsworth owned the land around the area. Indian Gardens was between a slough and the river. I know that there was an Indian camp in the area of Walker's Slough, so I am supposing that it was there and later refered to as Indian Gardens. It isn't mentioned on the 1893 plat map. The river bottoms that I mentioned earlier is that area along the river in the vicinity of the Riverside School. At least, that is what we called it. It floods quite easily and I remember going to school on a tractor because of the water we had to go through between home and school. Couldn't do it in a car. There is also a spot called Beard Sleys Lake, which I always considered a slough. It is east of the other spots mentioned, in Sec. 24. That's all for now.Janet
I haven't heard of Cliff's writing, but maybe next winter I won't be so busy, and have time for a good read.
I have only heard of Indian Gardens as used as a reference in a conversation or two. I thought maybe it was on the ground that was farmed by the late Silver Dewitte (Spl. ?), but it appears from your description to be well North of it. THANKS! I wish some of the Tampico people could mention a few places, as Prophetstown locations seem to be the most used. I wonder if some of the Feeder Canal bridges (when there) were tagged after farmer names.
Now I have a better picture of the Sterling history. I wasn't sure of the Chatham name, but knew it had a name that rang a few bells with an old town name on Cape Cod, as a lot of my ancestry was there. Thanks again for the help.
Even to this day the strech of Rt. 78 between Prophetstown and Lyndon is still called "The Pike" by local people. Also the area I hear called "Eight Mile" here sounds like what I know as being Spect's Corner. Where Rt 78 south of Prophetstown meets up with Rt 92 eastbound. If I recall correctly, Spect's years ago had a fleamarket or some type of auctions there in the old cinderblock building. I don't think the building is there anymore.
What fond memories I have of "Specht's Corners". We traveled many times to Walnut, IL to visit family and as kids we thought that we should stop and eat there. EVERY TIME! My mom grew up in Eight Mile and we were told it was called that because of the eight mile grove of trees the early settlers found when they came down from Naperville about 1858. The Alsace-Lorraine bunch; Egert, Clementz, Yackley, Grose, Rink. They first were near Hooppole in Yorktown Twp near the two lakes that were there. All drained for farmland. There was a small store at Rickel with a post office, a gas station at the corner of 92 and Atkinson Blacktop, another Newlon Station up the road. Quite a gathering place at one time. Only two churches close, Loraine for the Protastants (sp?) and St. Mary's for the Catholics. I get teased a lot by my children as each time we drive 92 I have to explain who lived where, name of the schools, and churches. I love a good eye roll!
Dutch Bottoms... well, that's also what they used to call the area at the northwest corner of Phenix Twp in Henry County, along the river. I found a couple of articles on Henry Co GenWeb site from the Geneseo Republic with that mentioned. I have a several old friends who seem to know stuff like that, so I'll pick their brains this morning when they come for their morning chat!
I wonder what started the idea to drain the marshland and lakes in the Hooppole/Yorktown area for farmland?
Katy, in reference to your post of Aug. 9th. above, and your mention of Rickel:
In the Northern portion of Loraine Twp., many years back my father and I were in the area and he told of a building that was a store and Post Office as we drove by. I have long ago forgot the name he used, but I'm wondering if it was Rickel. Lets start at the old gas station at the corner of 92 and Atkinson Blacktop. Go West on 92 to the next road to the right (goes north) and then the next left, (goes West). A short way down this road sat the building that was described by my father. Local farmers say it was demolished some years back by the Township to keep the young public out of it. I've always wondered about the name in my thoughts of that trip. If that is the wrong location for Rickel, please clue me in.
Exactly! My mother was born in the first house past Rickel store on the left, Joe and Iona Egert lived in the house on the left. My grandfather was born about a 1/8 mile to the east. Mom walked down that same road to Kemmis School with her cousins until third grade when they moved to town (Geneseo) I went on a driving tour of the area with the Geneseo Historical Society about 20 years ago, the building was gone then.
Specht's Corner, Eight Mile are names very familiar to me. I was more familiar with Specht's Corner than Eight Mile for the simple reason that I lived just a mile or so South of Specht's Corner. Hooppole is my home town and I was there just this past month.
You mentioned that the marsh was drained for farmland, the farm that I was raised on was orginally part of the marsh. When I was a child I can remember my father having to make sure that when he plowed the field that he would not plug the drain pipe that had been installed.
This farm was orginally owned by Casper Ott who happens to be my great great Grandfather and it was in our family till my Mother passed away in 1987.
I would like to know the exact location of Rickel, because I found a paper that listed my gr. grandfather Sippel as living there at one time. I would sure like to know what farm he lived on.
Hi Jack, You really started something here. It is getting very interesting reading about all these places. I used to drive by the Rickel Store building, but it has been gone for many years. Dick Sommers could tell anyone interested in that area exactly where it was located. Gen Waldbusser could give you any information that you want about Specht's Corner. She was a Specht, and worked in the restaurant. Another one to add to your list. Do you know where the lone tree was? It was out east of town and a major landmark for people coming to this area. Janet
I hope someone has an exact location for Rickel. Until I find better information I will assume it was an area in general, and could have been called Rickel because of a family by that name. Henry County history lists a Rickel cemetery in Loraine Twp. section 15. However I remember the old store in the general area of Rickel as being in section 10, which is above section 15.
Section 10 is some 4.5 miles west of the Il. Rt. 92 and 78 junction, and then north. I believe the old store/Post office, sat very close to the present roads (T intersection)of 2200 E and 2900 N.
Thanks for interest, and the mention of Lone Tree. I have never heard of it.
I'm glad to see people take interest in this, and it's for them and those who will follows us. I listed a few locations to get things rolling, but never intended this to be a list for me. A couple weeks ago we got a post that gave us how the name of Eight-mile came about. If we don't record things like this as they come to mind, some may be lost forever.
Jack, I have never heard of the Loraine cemetery called the Rickel cemetery before. I know my family once lived in that area, because my father was born in a farmhouse really near the cemetery in 1917. I think I will take a walk through that cemetery now, instead of driving by it all the time, and look for some names there I might recognize.
Genealogy Trails - Henry County lists the following:
Cemeteries in Northern Twp., of Henry County --- Loraine Twp.- Section Four (No name listed) & Section Fifteen as Rickel Cemetery.
I believe the Loraine cemetery is in section 4, and the unknown size of the listed Rickel cemetery in section 15 (some 1.5 miles to the Southeast) is a different cemetery.
Very interesting discussion. McCue corners is just west of Sterling, Illinois on the old Ill 2. Today there is a sharp 30 mile curve to the left and a road that takes off to the right of Emerson Rd. Short ways on Emerson Rd there is McCue road going to the north. They all three used to come to one intersection but in more recent years were separated to control traffic better and new state regulations.
Thanks to a lot of help from Denise, I'm able to add to this thread regarding Rickel Corners. My husband and I bought the property 5 years ago and I've recently gotten information and photos from Kay (Jackson) Sanders, a relative to the Kemmis' and life long resident. Trees have filled in that corner of our property but the foundation is still evident, and a 2 seat outhouse. When Kay was in school, the kids used to play in the abandoned building and she remembers when someone was using the land for goats and the goats would be poking their heads out of all the windows. At some point after a 1990 article in the Geneseo Republic gave the history of the place and quoted Kay's mother (Edna Jackson) among other people, the building was used in a fire training exercise and burned down. I have thrown the chimney bricks into what is possibly an old cistern and occasionally walk over the site to see what the earth has released for my enjoyment. Besides the Republic articles, Kay also had a photo of the Rickel post office/homestead, but the foundation doesn't match the photo, so it's possible that photo is when the post office was moved 1907ish.
I live in Hamilton Grove in Deacon Hamilton's house (circa 1839)and am looking to find any info about Hamilton Corners and Denrock as I would like to compile a history of the area.
For what I know of it, the history of that area has not been recorded for us. As the Hamiltons were first to settle there we do find a little history about them. As for your house and farm, my Great Grandfather Samuel W. Teach, (Sam and his six brothers were blacksmiths) purchased the farm from John Dudley in 1913. Sam farmed there for a few years and retired to Lyndon, and his son Walter S. Teach purchased it 1918. It's the farm where my Grandmother Alice (Overly) Teach died March 1923 when my mother was at age nine. My Aunt, was born there 1920, and she is living in Sterling. In 1943, Grandpa sold the farm to Ben Dykema. In 1924, Grandpa married Grace E. Hamilton, the daughter of Charles Hamilton.
The connecting farm or farms to the SE and along the river bottoms has over the years produced large collections of arrow heads gathered by the farmers. It's been said that Indian burial mounds were along the bluff. To the West of the farm of course we have Denrock, then the old proposed town of Prat, and then further West, what was called Connies Grove. If you do some searching on this web site, you should find writings of about all that is known about the area, such as the old gas station, etc. To the South of the farm and next to the river (the lower end of the island) where the Portland Ferry Boat crossed was a saw mill. It appeared on the first plat map (cir) 1839, but I have never been able to find who started it.
Thank you, Jack! Parson, if you do a site search (Home Page) for Denrock, it should yield some interesting tidbits regarding Denrock. I have tried doing other research in past, to no avail. However,one of our regular contributors, Les Niemi, had family in that area. They owned a hotel and restaurant, if memory serves. Some photos of the place may be on the site. Lunch Ticket
Would anyone be able to tell me where in Rickel, IL the Rickel's Cheese Factory was located? I have a picture post card showing the building and delivery truck in front of it (I'll need to research trucks to determine the date) and found the cheese factory in the 1915 Annual Report Illinois Food Commission (as having paid fees or taxes for operation for 1914) but would love to know where the building stood.
Click on photo to open Album, enlarge photo, read details or to leave comment under photo. I have added a plat map to this album showing location of Rickel, IL.
Jeanette writes: It appears the vehicle shown in front of the cheese factory is the same style as the vehicle in the photo of Kemmis Rd and it's possibly a Ford Model T. If that's true, then these could be from 1908 through 1927.
The photo of Rickel's Corners has a comparison photo taken this summer from roughly the same location in the road, however, it's really not all that close to the current corner. I believe the house on the left of the photo was the residence of my friend Kay (nee Jackson) Sander's Grandmother. Kay's mother is the late Edna (nee Kemmis) Jackson.
Denise, thanks again for you help! Jeanette
Last Edited by on May 23, 2012 9:16 AM
Jack - I was just given a copy of a photo - "Eight Mile Corners, Rickel, Ill" and the landscape doesn't look like it would be the interestion of 78 & 92 - it's a 4-way. Are you interested in seeing it to help identify the location? Initially I thought Rickel Corners (where I live) was the same as 8 mile until seeing the landscape - I'm thinking Eight Mile is the intersection of 92 and Ridge Rd. Jeanette
Thanks for the information about Eight Mile, and I believe your on the correct spot.
I seen your post the day you posted, but in my mind, I knew it was going to take a while to answer, as my typing is pretty slow.
The reason my words as above were given about Eight Mile, were based on old family conversations. On my paternal side of my family, my grandfather was born in Alba Township, Henry County. My father was born here at Prophetstown 1906. As the family expanded, we became relatives of the Kemmis and Egert families that were for many years located in what was commonly referred to as Eight Mile. As I, and others in and around Prophetstown usually and have often used the intersection of IL. Rt's. 92 and 78, as the East end of Eight Mile. That may be at fault, but it has been that way around Prophetstown in many conversations over the years. I had classmates in high school, (Countryman's) that lived near the 78 & 92 intersection, and were considered to be from Eight Mile. Eight Mile is used in loose terms around here. When Eight Mile Grove is used, the first place that usually comes to my mind is where Lee Sweeley lived there along 92. The Bowman Cemetery rests in my mind as being in Eight Mile Grove, also. (Was there looking for Asa Crook several years ago.)
A little about the old Rickel store, as told by my father.
Dad had a ton of relatives from Annawan to Geneseo. We were out for a drive one evening and we were in the Eight Mile Grove area, and he told that somewhere about 1920, his father had purchased some cattle between Atkinson and Geneseo, and he had the job of driving them home to Prophetstown. The subject changed before I questioned his cattle drive, as he pointed out what in his opinion was the old Rickel store. To drive to this store, one would turn North off 92 on Ridge Road, and then left at the next turn heading West for about a half mile. The old Henry County map I have in a Henry County history book positions Rickel South of 92. So, maybe Dad was incorrect. Several years ago, I was loading corn on what was one of the old Jackson Farms, ad I asked the farmer about the disappearance of the old store, and it was his opinion that the Township had hooked chain and cable around it, and pulled it down. So, if the Fire Station people burned the old Rickel store then my opinion of the store, (as given by my father) would be incorrect, and that of the farmers opinion also, would e incorrect.
Again, thanks for the reply, as it helps bring back a lot of pleasant memories.
Hi Jack! I believe Rickel was larger than just the one section and included the area north of 92 - making your Dad close to correct. The store/house was on the north side when you turned west off of Ridge (now Town Hall Rd) and close to the corner. There was a house a little further down on the south side of the road (unknown when the house and outbuildings were torn down) where my neighbor's grandparents had lived - her mother would talk of walking to the store with her mother then of sneaking off and going by herself when still quite young. 2/12/12 I was viewing the photo of Rickel Corners from the wrong direction. The house my friend's grandmother lived in is still standing - the farmhouse with the outbuildings near the intersection of Ridge and Town Hall Rd. The photo I have of Eight Mile actually says "Eight Mile Corners". I've asked Denise to upload that photo along with County Line School (now a home across from Kemmis Cemetery). 2/12/13 - I found out last fall that County Line School was located at the intersection of Ridge Rd and Osage Rd. Our memories are wonderful things and I enjoy being able to give you a chance to visit yours.:) Jeanette
Last Edited by Jeanette on Feb 12, 2013 9:36 AM
The more I look at the Eight Mile Corners photo, I realize it can't be the intersection of 91 & Ridge Rd - the land isn't right. The handful of Rickel photos I have are copies of postcards that I'm hoping to see again soon so I can read the writing on the back in hopes a location description was included. Jeanette
I believe my Dad was correct, and it's his son who dosen't have the names of the roads correct in his mind to drive to the old store location from Rt. 92.
There happens to be a woman in Geneseo, that I believe could pin-point the Rickel pictures. However, if some one could get the photo's of the Rickel area to her, I could help arrange things. (off line)
Jackie - I've only heard of one store being in Rickel but there's still so much unknown of that time period that I just might not have found the right person or article to tell me otherwise. It was a general store, though, so could have had a little of everything. May I ask the last name of your Gr Grandfather and Grandfather? If you don't wish to post that publicly, please ask Denise/System administrator for my email address.
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