Jewett
In the 1830s a log house was erected just west along the dusty National Trail to serve as a Stagecoach Stop. It was the humble beginning of what would one day become the Village of Jewett, in southern Cumberland County Illinois. Benny Sheplor, grandfather of Estella Greeson was a later stagecoach driver who made regular runs and stops at the log house.
The west half of this little community known as Pleasantville was already thriving in 1870 when the railroad that paralleled the National Road was being built through the County. The superintendent of construction, a Mr. Jewett from Ohio, decided to make a true village at this location, laying out one square mile for the village limits, and named it after himself “Jewett”.
A small residence on the south side of the tracks known as the Dan Beals home was the stop for train passengers and crew to rest and eat. Not until 1895 was a railroad depot built. In 1945 diesel engines began replacing the wood and coal fired steam engines.
When the railroad came through, the village of Jewett grew rapidly. For many years there were three active churches.
The first school was a little one-room log house located two blocks west the latter school building, along Adams Street. This last school was built in 1881 of red brick by Alfred Williams, grandfather of Bess Laughter. In 1920 the inside burned and was rebuilt. Eventually, a one year, then two year, then three year high school grades were added. Even a basement, cafeteria and gymnasium were added.
During its heydays, Jewett could boast having:
* A Bank in two locations that was robbed twice.
* More than one Saloon and Tavern that the village found liabilities in every respect.
* Five pipe lines through the village by oil companies.
* Electricity in 1929 from CIPS, minimum rate $1.00 per month.
* City water from deep wells in 1963.
* Graveled side streets in 1931.
* A nearby settlement of Negroes having their own church and cemetery with headstones of large rocks.
Jewett’s Heydays also included but were not limited to:
* The Lyons Hotel and Livery Stable.
* The Wade Hotel and Livery Stable.
* Hogan’s Hall.
* the Bid Oakley and Otis Vanderhoof Grist Mill.
* Attorney Hiram Scranton.
* the Les Scranton Saloon.
* Undertakers Cad Fry, Coleman Ran and Francis (Soaket) Ingram.
* the Rollen Bennett Pharmacy.
* the Rollen Bennett Huckster Wagon.
* the Jake and Em Hoover photo gallery.
* Milliners Fannie Vanderhoof, and Judy and Hannah and Sarah Brown.
* Seamstress Bett Downs.
* Blacksmiths Albert Fogle and Doug Garrett.
* the Cas and Phoebe Prather Restaurant.
* the Prather Grain Elevator.
* Three garages owned by Bill Bowman, Fred Elms and Jim Parse.
* the Cricket Goldsmity Hardware Store, with Skating Rink on the 2nd Floor.
* the Charles Bersig Tavern, Hotel, Meat Market & Ice House.
* General Stores that bought eggs, butter, poultry and cream were:
Frank Vanderhoof, Harve Glasener, Willis Jones, Herbert Morgan, Mont McConnell, Han Bean, Hugh Beals, Kenneth Connell, Clifford Glosser, Louis Vanatta, John Snedeker, Tom Callahan, Lance Van Tassel, J.R. Kuhn and Roy Barnes, Jr.
* the Cal and Sissie Carter Cafe and Filling Station.
* the Joe & Sarah McElravy Cafe and Filling Station.
* the F.E. Anderson Cafe and Filling Station.
* the Al Hickman Shoe Repair Shop.
* the Clarence Glasener Second Hand Store.
* the Sammy Mondy Pharmacy.
* Justice Of The Peace P.C. Burlington
* the Shoemaker was Richard (Dick) Carrico.
* the Red Men Lodge.
* a Barbershop run by Otis and Guy Ray.
* a Horse Racing Track (when the county fair was in Toledo)
* Dr. L. Downs (retired in 1933)
* other doctors over the years were: Dr. Rawlings, Dr. Janes, Dr. Myers, Dr. Mondy, Dr. Frisbie and Dr. Zobrist.
* A Pistol Duel in 1917 that killed both men, Marcus Morgan and Charlie Hoover.
* A 45 member Jewett City Band in 1927.
* And finally now in 2021 the Post Office that began its career in 1844 is one of only two remaining enterprises in the once thriving village of Jewett Illinois, the other being the relatively recent Jewett Community Church.
