yorktown
1 post
Dec 03, 2003
9:46 AM
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I would like to hear from anyone whose family ever owned or lived at the General Store in Yorktown. Names I have heard of are Dow, McKenzie, Booth, Brooks, Cooley, Pierce, and Kuepker. Any store photos would be treasured, as would any historical accounts of times there..
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Administrator
Denise
40 posts
Dec 03, 2003
3:51 PM
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I do have photos of the General Store and other places in Yorktown from our Tampico Centennial Year Book (1975). I will make a point to get these on site asap. Thanks for stopping in.
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Denise
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Debra Peterson
Guest
Dec 06, 2003
7:25 PM
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My great,great grandfather Benjamin F.Dow was a founder of Yoktown along with the McKenzie family. I do not have any specific information that he owned or ran the general store but way back then the Dow's and the McKenzie's were a big share of Yorktown's population so I am sure that both families did at one time or another. I also know that my great uncle on my father's side- William Pierceson once owned the store. My cousin (his grandson) and my paternal aunt both have small ruby colored pitchers with his name on it that he used as a promotional item. I am so glad that someone else is interested in the old general store and would apprecite any info you might have. My e-mail is debra@cin.net Deb
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Yorktown Store
Guest
Jan 04, 2004
8:04 PM
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I had sent this to Richard in an emai, but figured it would be good to post for others - From The Tampico Tornado:
April 22, 1920
BENNETT BUYS YORKTOWN STORE
A.E. BENNETT, one of Tampico's successful and well known merchants has established a branch store at Yorktown. He purchased the general store there by Glen BROOKS and took possession Tuesday after invoicing. Mr. BENNETT has placed Mack PIERCE one of his experienced clerks in the store here as manager and will conduct the business along the same up-to-date lines that mark the Tampico store. Mr. BROOKS has always enjoyed good patronage and the store under the new mangement with Mr. BENNETT's known ability will continue to propser and its patrons will get the benefit of the combined buying resources of two stores. Mr. BROOKS has not decided yet what he will do.
May 6, 1920
A.A. SHERE has bought John G. ANDERSON's store at Yorktown and will run it. Mr. SHERE is a hustler and ahs a wide acquaintance in that neighborhood and says he will run an up-to-date store.
Les Niemi
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Les
Guest
Jan 08, 2004
6:25 PM
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More on the Yorktown stores from The Tornado:
January 6, 1905
Yorktown
F.E. FOY expects to occupy his new store building by the latter part of this week.
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Debra
Guest
Jan 10, 2004
2:58 PM
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Hey Les- Thanks for posting those articles- I did not realize that the Foy's (related to Sarah Jones Dow) or Ambrose Shere had at one time operated the Yorktown Store. Does anyone know who owns it now? Debra
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yorktown
2 posts
Jan 15, 2004
1:19 PM
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My understanding is that the Foy Store was a totally different merchandise store located at the present site of Cady Implement. From the Fairfield plat book of 1867, a school was located there at that time. I surmise that a second generation wooden school was built at a it's new location prior to construction of the Foy Store. Yorktown was once a busy place!
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Hinton,A.
1 post
Feb 26, 2004
4:35 PM
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I enjoyed the photos of Yorktown, esp. The General Store. Our family still owns it, and you may have noticed a new paint job and roof. Any other photos would be greatly welcomed. April Hinton
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yorktown
Guest
Apr 02, 2004
10:24 AM
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From the Tampico Centennial Book, page 21: In December of 1929, Leslie Cady moved to Yorktown from Hooppole and started a General Garage next to the Elevator and called it "Cady Implement". In 1933, Cady purchased the lot on the northeast corner of Yorktown Road and Hwy 92(Cady Harvestor) and moved the grocery store on the site (Foys) to the front of the lot. In 1938 Mr. Cady built a new Implement store at the rear of the lot on the site of the former store. This would have been the Foy store as shown in the photo album page 2. This is not the Yorktown General Store which was located on the opposite corner..
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wolfeyes
1 post
Jun 06, 2004
7:25 AM
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hello
Well i can say i went to the store many of times in my years of going to my granma martins house...She saved pennys for us and we went up o the store and bought penny candy...
Wonderfull times there in yorktown...
My favorite place was walking around the horseshoe
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A. HINTON
Guest
Sep 14, 2004
11:54 PM
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The Yorktown General Store will be opening again on October 1,2004. Old friends, and new, are welcome to stop in and say "Hello". We have tried to preserve the old store, and make it a real nice place to visit with friends and family. We will have penny candy, cold pop, hot coffee, fabric and sewing supplies as well as gift items. We have country furniture and stained glass, quilts, antiques, and craft items. and much more. We will be open on Friday from noon to 5 P.M. on Saturday from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. and Sunday after church until 5 P.M. The Hinton Families.
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Administrator
Denise
100 posts
Sep 15, 2004
6:09 AM
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Richard & April,
How exciting! I will be there!!!!! I'll also announce it at the TAHS meeting this month. It's also posted on our calendar on this site. Oh happy days!
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Denise, Tampico Area Historical Society
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sandssells
1 post
Sep 20, 2004
2:28 PM
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I most definitely will be there. Its been a long time since I have come back to Yorktown for something other than a funeral. I was born and raised in Yorktown, not leaving until I was about 21 years old. I was the baby of the Martin clan. I use to go to the store every day. Good times were had by all there. I remember when Blanche Kuepker owned it and then there was someone after her, but I can't remember the name. I also remember the Sinclair gas station across the street. I think everyone in my family worked there but me. And the cabins to the north of the store, oh yes, I remember them too. The old tavern used to have some good fried chicken there. I could go on and on but I think I am going to take some time out and see if I can find any pics of Yorktown. My eyes are getting kind of teary just thinking about it.
Last Edited by sandssells on Sep 22, 2004 9:16 AM
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Richard Hinton
Guest
Sep 20, 2004
6:24 PM
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Several weeks ago while I was doing some work on the front porch of the store, a man pulled up in his car and whithout getting out said to me, "One of my best memories is of my grandfather coming here and sitting on that porch with me when I was a boy.." I can tell you there were several sets of moist eyes as he pulled away..... Our hope is to preserve our Yorktown heritage to everyone with such memories.. I know my own grandfather and great-grandfather traded at that store....
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Administrator
Denise
106 posts
Oct 03, 2004
8:25 PM
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Whoo-hoo! You guys have done a great job!!!! I love the store and now my kitchen has many more "chickens" to adorn it thanks to you. We'll be back for more goodies in the coming weeks.
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Denise
Tampico Area Historical Society
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Deb Peeterson
Guest
Oct 29, 2004
7:27 PM
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Congratulations Richard and April on opening the store and thank you for preserving a part of my family history. I have been very busy but hope to find time to get down there soon. I don't think I have been inside the store so I am filled with curiosity ! Deb Peterson
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Connie
2 posts
Nov 10, 2004
6:55 PM
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My great great grandfather was Oliver McKenzie and I have quite a few papers and contracts from old Yorktown. Several bills of sale from 1876 for Nerve and bone liniment, Magic pain cure, Ague and Fever Pills and Blackberry Balsam.
Also, a very old and fragile documents as follows:
Yorktown, Ill Jan 9th 1894
We the undersigned citizens of Yorktown and vicinity do agree to pay the sum set affixed our respective names for the purpose of building a meeting house on the land joining the cemetery on the south running one hundred feet south and sixteen rods east. Said meeting house to be under the supervision of the Christian Church and to be open for all relegious worship or moral speaking when not occupied by said Christian Church. It is also agreed if said meeting house should cease to be used as a house of worship it may be sold and the proceeds of such sale shall be returned to the donars or their heirs. The amount subscribed to be paid as follows:
J._.Winchell paid $50.00
W.M.Brooks paid 25.00
R.H.McKenzie paid 50.00
S.M.Green Released 25.00
_.A.Booth paid 20.00
C ---Noon paid 50.00
Edith M. McKenzie paid 25.00
E_____Winchell paid 10.00
Wm E Shere paid 25.00
A A Shino paid 15.00
Frank Cooley 10.00
A.O.Hunter paid 10.00
L _ Russell paid 10.00
M.R.Thackaberry 25.00
There a 16 more names which are very hard to read. There are 3 McKenzies, a Forward, a Greenman. a Dow, a Brown, a Lane and a McCracken.
___________________________________________________________
MESSAGE FROM LES NIEMI: ps - Connies "message board" posting in "Yorktown General Store" shows "A.A. Shino" listed under Wm. E. SHERE. I am most certain this is not A.A. Shino but A.A. SHERE. William E. SHERE married my g grandaunt, Zilla DOW (dau of Benjamin F. DOW - FF township). His brother, Ambrose A. SHERE was born in Yorktown in 1859. He married Linda SWANSON in Geneseo in 1877. They resided in Franklin Grove, IL (Tampico Tornado January 18, 1917: A.A. SHERE of Franklin Grove came down here Tuesday morning for a visit among his old friends and neighbors.) and was buried in the Yorktown cemetery (Tampico Tornado: Thursday November 30, 1939 Obituary:
A.A. Shere Taken by Death
Passed away early Friday morning after a long illness
Funeral services for Ambrose A. Shere were held Sunday afternoon at 9:00 in the Yorktown Church of Christ following a prayer service at the home in Yorktowat 1:30.
Rev. Harry Shiffer, Pastor of the Rock Falls Christian Church, conducted the service assisted by Rev. G.D. Lamb, pastor of the Tampico Chruch of Christ. Rev. Shiffer used as the texto of his message of comfort Paul's letter to Timothy.
The church was filled to capacity with sorrowing relatives, neighbors and friends and there were many beautiful flowers. Two favorite hymns, "The Old Rugged Cross" and "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere" were sung by Mrs. Ivan Exner and Mrs. Neil Glassburn. They were accompanied by Mrs. G. D. Lamb.
Burial was in the Yorktown cemetery with Clinton Brooks, Albert Anderson, Oscar Rasberg, John Sheldon, Louis Brown and Randolf Berge serving as pallbearers.
Among those from out of town attending the service were Mr. and Mrs. Fred Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Soliday, Mrs. Lottie Davies and Mrs. Roy Peterson, Prophetstown; Mr. and Mrs. Roscoe Davies, Moline; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Landwair and Mrs. Emma Landwair, Rock Falls; Mr. and Mrs. Edward Swanson, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Larson, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Swanson and son, Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Anderson, Mrs. Celia Welmer and J. Burgeon, Geneseo; Mr. and Mrs. G.L. Blackert and son Larry, Omro, Wis.
Ambros A. Shere was born Sept. 1859, on the old Shere farm in Yorktown Township, Henry County. He was the youngest son of John Ellis and Maria Artlett Shere.
He was married to Miss Linda Swanson of Geneseo on September 6, 1877. Five children were born to this union: Jesse L. on the home farm; John E. of Tampico and Mrs. George Blackert of Omro, Wis. One daughter, Mrs. D. J. Lewis and an infant son Ralph, preceded him in death.
With the exception of four years in Tampico and two in Ogle County, he spent his entire life on the farm where he was born until 1918 when he moved to Yorktown where he passed away Nov. 24, 1939, at the age of 80 years, 2 months and 17 days.
He is survived by his wife, two sons, one daughter, five grandsons, three granddaughters, a sister Mrs. Emma Landwair of Rock Falls, many nieces and nephews and a host of friends.)
Last Edited by Administrator on Jan 27, 2005 7:08 AM
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Administrator
Denise
124 posts
Nov 15, 2004
9:08 AM
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Connie,
Would it be possible to scan those documents and email them to me?
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Denise, Tampico Area Historical Society
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Anonymous
Guest
Nov 21, 2004
2:38 PM
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I just got back from the new Yorktown General Store. It is wonderful. For those you who have not been there it truly is a must see! Great job Richard and April! Deb Peterson
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Anonymous
Guest
Dec 20, 2004
12:38 PM
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My grandmother's brother-in-law Antoine Engel also ran the Yorktown General store for a time and my grandmother, Celia Anderson Lutyens kept books for him before her marriage to Levi Lutyens in 1899. While I don't know the exact year it was prior to 1899.
Rita Peltier
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BONNIE696@AOL.COM
Guest
Jan 21, 2005
2:12 PM
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My mother, Blanche Kuepker was the next to the last owner of the Yorktown General Store. She bought it in about 1952. Please contact me for more information.
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bonnie696@aol.com
Guest
Jan 21, 2005
4:54 PM
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I just had another thought. It was not called Yorktown General Store until my mother, Blanche Kuepker, bought it. Prior to that it had the name of the owner, i.e. Marine General Store (the people my mom bought it from) Merle and Marian Marine. Mom thought no one would ever be able to pronounce or spell Kuepker so she named it Yorktown General Store
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Administrator
Denise
157 posts
Jan 23, 2005
1:44 AM
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Bonnie,
What a great piece of historical trivia! Thank you so much for sharing that with us. I'll add it to our YGS files.
Thanks,
Denise
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Denise, Tampico Area Historical Society
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Anonymous
Guest
Apr 27, 2005
5:25 PM
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I think prior to my aunt Blanch having the yorktown store was carl and Minnie Stenros. they had a son they called Bunky Ron.
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LesN
7 posts
May 17, 2005
5:56 PM
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From the Tampico Tornado:
June 7, 1907
The stock of groceries and confectionary in the late W.R. ROGERS store at Yorktown will be sold at public auction at Yorktown Saturday evening. June 8, at 7:30 o'clock.
W.R is William Riley ROGERS who was also the PostMaster in Yorktown:
May 10, 1907
W.R. ROGERS Is Dead
W.R. ROGERS, postmaster of Yorktown and for nearly a half century a resident of that place died at his home there lase week Thursday evening at 7:00 o'clock. His death followed a sickness of two years of heart disease and dropsy. The funeral services were held Saturday morning at the late residence, Rev. J.G. ARMSTRONG officiating. Internment was in the Sheffield cemetery beside his wife who died about two weeks pervious.
William Riley ROGERS was born in Cattaragus county, N.Y., October 26, 1839 and died at his home in Yorktown, the evening of May 2nd, 1907.
In his early boyhood he moved to the west with his parents and settled in Ogle county, Illinois, where he was married to Miss Margaret BLAKE, July 3, 1863, to which union two children were born. Mr. ROGERS was a continuous resident of Bureau county for the last thiry years, he and his wife removing from Ogle county there and twenty years ago coming to Yorktown.
He enlisted and went from Annawan in Company I, 27th Illinois Volunteers, at the beginning of hostilities, being twenty-two months in active service. A severe gunshot wound in the left arm at the battle of Murphysborn seriously crippled him.
Mr. ROGERS served accetpability and with great credit as postmaster at Yorktown for nineteen years, voluntarily resigning in October of the last year on account of his increasing ill health.
He leaves to mourn his loss, his two sons, Charles of Thomas, Illinois, and Arthur of Yorktown, also an adopted daughter, Miss Myrtle E. ROGERS of Yorktown, with his two brothers, Byron of Walker, Iowa, who was present at the funeral, and Samuel of Victor, Iowa also on sister, Mrs. Sarah WILLIS of Kingston, Illinois.
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Richard Hinton
Guest
May 18, 2005
6:03 AM
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Many people have offered the opinion that the Yorktown General Store had once been a hotel. Thanks to Connie Essig and others we now have photographic proof that the building did indeed house the EL CAPITAN HOTEL. Since the most telling photo came from the McKenzie family, logic would say the hotel was operated by a McKenzie. Does anyone have any further information or documentation on the short period during which the EL CAPITAN HOTEL was in operation? I would date the photo to circa 1895..
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Administrator
Denise
204 posts
May 18, 2005
6:49 AM
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The photo can be found in the YORKTOWN PHOTO ALBUM on this site. Direct link to photo:
Hotel El Capitan?
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Denise
Family History Coordinator
Tampico Area Historical Society
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Anonymous
Guest
Aug 23, 2005
6:20 PM
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Is the Yorktown General Store still open on weekends? 7 of us "girls" from old THS got together in Deer Grove on Aug 13 and were going to drive to Yorktown after lunch but one of us came from the "Cities" and said there was a closed sign. Tried to call but couldn't find the phone number. If it is still open on weekends I would love to visit as I grew up in the store in the '50's as my Mom owned it. Bonnie
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Administrator
Denise
263 posts
Aug 25, 2005
1:51 PM
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Bonnie,
I spoke with owner, April Hinton today. They are in the process of moving (closer to the store!). The YT General Store will be closed until Saturday, October 8. They will no longer be open on Sundays. Store hours are: Saturday, 10a-5pm.
You can contact via email (no phone at the store):
Yorktowngeneralstore@hotmail.com or nanahinton2000@hotmail.com
Her computer hasn't been set up at new place yet, so give her a week or so before trying to email. You can continue to post msgs on this board as well.
Denise
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Denise
Family History Coordinator
Tampico Area Historical Society
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Ron56
1 post
Sep 15, 2005
4:35 PM
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I remember the Yorktown General store well as we lived on the Brandau farm a couple miles south of town until I was 5. My mom and sister both worked at the Yorktown Inn across the street. We used to go to the free show that was held outside just East of the Inn on Saturday nights. Bonnie, I didn't remember that your mom ran the General Store. I believe Fred and Melvina Hueur (sp) lived just west of the Store. She was my first grade teacher in Tampico. I thought they had something to do with the Store too but maybe just hung out there. What memories!
Ron
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Anonymous
Guest
Nov 22, 2005
2:03 PM
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Ron56 - My mom bought the store in 1952 and ran it until just before her death in 1974. What years did you live around Yorktown? And what were your sister and mom's names. I remember the free movies. Used to go there every week.
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Ron56
2 posts
Jan 05, 2006
7:56 PM
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As you can see I haven't visited this web site for a couple of months. My parents were Henry and Clara Rosenow. My sister was Berniece Woods. She and her husband, Dale, both worked at the Motor Inn. I was born in 1938 and can remember being outside the Motor Inn when we had an air raid drill during WWII and all the lights were turned out around town as bombers flew overhead. I'm sure it was just a drill since we were in the middle of the USA but it did leave an impression. A little off the subject of the General Store but a memory of the times just the same.
Last Edited by Ron56 on Jan 05, 2006 7:57 PM
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yorktown
Guest
Jan 16, 2006
8:14 AM
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meril marine lived there 1948,49 and maybe 1950,his wife moved to ohio just down the road,thanks mike shere
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Andy Hinton
1 post
May 02, 2006
10:30 AM
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To anyone, especially anyone who lived in or around Yorktown before 1970... I'm very curious to know if anyone has heard of any deaths, especially of a boy aged 5-10, at the Yorktown General Store. This sounds weird, even from a Hinton! But I'm the only one in my family who hasn't seen the "Little Boy Ghost". Mom thought it was me, or Jeff, walking around (circa 1979-82), but it was neither. Becky saw it. Like I said, it would be interesting that if there is a lost little soul still there, we could honor him with at least a name.
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