Old Pictures

[Ole Granny]

I would have been 4 when that fire happened.  In my heart, Moline is always that town from my early childhood. Moline has lost so much from fire it seems.  My Greatgrandfather Elting lost his business in the fire of I believe 1911/12. They moved to Kansas City and he opened a pharmacy there for a few years.  Grandad Turner's house burned a number of years ago.  I still cling to the old lumbar yard for my childhood root.  I have to go in there every time I'm in town.

Roma,

I just lost a long message I had written for you.  Guess I will start again.  I remember your Uncle (Laurence Turner) very well.  Most every day he would come to the Corner Cafe, always in a suit and tie.  He lived a block east of the Corner Cafe.  My Dad admired Laurence and I still remember how upset he was when Laurence died.  Laurence was quiet and very gentlemanly. Always polite.  Your grandfather, I barely remember him.  I was very young but do remember him sitting in the lumber yard.  The lumber yard has changed over the years.  Years ago it was bursting with supplies.  Now it is the bare minimum.  Supply and demand.  I'm sure you can order what ever you desire.  Your Dad I do not remember but I probably met.  Probably your Uncle Dean too.  Did Laurence have a daughter?  Seems I remember her but cannot remember her name?  She must have lived somewhere else as I never remember seeing her after he passed.  Lee Bailey's picture are somewhere in Topeka!  I have never been able to figure out where or how to access them.  I know how you feel about going to the Lumber Yard.  I use to do that with the Corner Cafe but that is gone now.  Our old house burned too.  The property is still there and holds some memories.  The old post office behind the Corner Cafe always had a warm feeling to me.  People meeting people and visiting.
When you get some time -sure would enjoy any and all of the pictures. 

[ddurbin]

Konnie,
Thanks for posting the photo.  You are correct that it may or may not be in the city of Moline.  The sign
looks more like it is a 'dealer' sign for THE MOLINE PLOW COMPANY.  This was a company based out of
Moline, Illinois and was a competitor to the early John Deere company, also based out of Moline, Ill.  
Hopefully, someone can add more about the photo and determine it's actual location.  Across the top of
the building, there appears to be a faded out name of C. L. CLARK.  If/when I get a chance to view some
old Moline newspapers, I'll look for any mention or ads for either of those two stores.
Regarding Mary Jane (Cate) Snider, the 1880 census for Wildcat township lists a Henry Snider, age 44, wife
Mary, age 43, and 4 children:  Charles 16; Albert M. 12; Mary, 6; and Lottie, 4.  Does any of that match with
what you have?  Mary, the wife, is shown as being born in Ohio as was Henry.  The children all show Illinois
as their birthplace.

[frawin]

Moline Plow Company

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In 1915 Moline Plow Company purchased the UNIVERSAL TRACTOR CO. of Columbus, Ohio. The product line was moved to Moline, Illinois and a new building was built for the production of the Moline Universal Tractor. The Moline Universal Tractor was a two-wheel unit design for use with the farmers hourse-drawn implements as well as newly developed Moline tractor-drawn implements. The Universal tractor was commonly refered to as the 1st Row Crop tractor. It was equipped with electric lights and a starter, which was very advanced for it's time.
After World War I, some automobile manufacturers were looking to produce tractors. Henery Ford's company began producing Fordson tractors, General Motors produced the Sampson tractor and the Moline Plow Co. was courted by manufacturer John N. Willys. Mr. Willys purchased Moline from the owners, the Stephens family, and so his automobile company began producing the Universal tractor. Mr. Willys had as his partners in the tractor trade: George N. Peek (a well known farm equipment executive) andGeneral Hugh Johnson (later a famous NRA administrator). Willys produced the Moline Universal tractor into the 1920's. In the 1920's when the tractor boom subsided, Willys withdrew from Moline and sold out to his partners. General Johnson became President and R.W. Lea became Vice President of Moline Plow Company. Both then retired and their associates took over and operated as the Moline Implement Co. which it remained until the M-M organization in 1929.


The name on the Store is "Moline Plow Company Goods",  I thought it possible that it could be a store in Moline that sold goods/equipment from the "Moline Plow Company".
Frank
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Roma Jean Turner]

Ole Granny......Laurence Turner was actually my father, George Edwin Turner's, first cousin.  Laurence had a daughter Marion Turner Johnson, who is 10 years older than I. She is still living in Bloomsburg, PA.  I always remember Cousin Laurence as being very quiet and polite and I believe always looking like a lawyer, at least in my young mind.

The lumber yard is much less organized than when Grandad had it, but some of the nail bins and counters are the same. There is a display of cupboard door latches that are still the very same as when I was a little girl.  I was shocked to still see it sit there.  When we go to Moline to visit, the first thing I would do is run and open those little doors because Grandad would always some treat behind them for me.  Earlier this year when I was in Moline, I visited with the son and daughter of the present owner.  They said they have, somewhere in storage, boxes of things of Grandad Turner's from the lumber yard.  Boy, what I wouldn't give to go through those.
This picture was taken when I was probably 12/13.  It is my Dad, myself, Mom and Pop King (who owned Corner Cafe and where my godparents) and Grandad Turner.  Maybe you will recognize them.


Left to right:  George Edwin Turner (Dad), Myself (age13), Mom King (owner of Corner Cafe) her husband Same King who ran the laundry and my beloved Grandfather Turner who had the lumber yard.

(((click on picture to view large size)))

[Ole Granny]

Roma,

I'm sure I will recognize Mom and Pop King, maybe your Dad and Grandfather.  Maybe even you.  My parents bought the cafe from Jess  King.  They would run it during the summer while they went to Canada fishing and bought it later.  That would be a thrill to go through the box of things that were your grandfathers.  My dad painted signs all around the county etc.  There were some little signs hanging at the Sale Barn but ended up in the Pool Hall.  We tried to find them in the storage area above the pool hall but could not get to them as I was not dressed for climbing.  Always meant to get back to it but I'm sure by now the signs are gone and the owner has changed.  Relative have returned paintings that my Dad had painted for them as presents years ago.  One is dated on the back as painted in 1929.  I did not know they existed until I mentioned that I wished we had some of his work. They mean everything to me.  I would enjoy the picture.  Thank you.

[Ole Granny]

Roma and Teresa,

Thank you so much.  Yes, I knew your father.  Waited on him many times.  And your grandfather I do remember.  I'm sure I probably have met or seen you. Mom & Pop King were such dear people.  Notice you are standing in front of the Old Post Office.  The lettering on the glass was done by my father.  Thank you   Thank you.

[Roma Jean Turner]

  Reply to Ole Granny:   I tried to e-mail you through the Forum but since I haven't heard from you I assume you didn't get it.  Anyway, you or anyone else who wants copies of any pictures I have posted can contact me
at my e-mail address.... romaj1@sbcglobal.net and I will send you the .jpeg file for the picture.  I am always happy
to visit with anyone about Elk Co.

[Ole Granny]

Roma, Received your message through the forum.  I sent one but must have not went through. I have emailed you.  Alice