This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
Local items list oddities and accidents from region
A digest of scattered notices reports wage cuts at Sandoval Coal and Mining Co. workers quit last May. Two girls near Mahomet husked 80 bushels in ten hours. A farmer near Mt Vernon died after drinking alcohol. Harry Poole of Charleston killed by live wire. city lights shut off to aid. Chicago aldermen raise salaries to 1500 a year. An Urbana Irishman learns he and a sister may share a 125000 estate. Jacksonville votes 602 for and 1105 against a 30 cent tax for a park. River timber rafted on Kaskaskia awaiting higher water. John Brown pardon bid renewed. Brown serves 30 years. Decatur clerk holds multiple posts with varying pay. An Alton man tries to buy two mandolins, keeping both. A McDonough County boy impresses 450 arrowheads by feeding sparrows soaked wheat in alcohol. A miscellany of light verse and quips, with notes on temperance, needles, and local curiosities.