Month: April 2020

May Baskets

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May Basket (cone)        VirginiaBluebells

 

 

When I was a child, it was a tradition for Dayton children to hang May baskets. We made the baskets out of construction paper. There were two styles – one rolled into a cone, and one of heart-shaped basketweave. We picked wildflowers – bluebells and violets – for the baskets and put a handful of candy corn or popcorn in the bottom of the basket. The baskets were delivered  on May 1st by hanging a basket on the doorknob of a house, ringing the doorbell, and then running away. After all baskets had been delivered, we went home to see all the baskets that had been hung on our door. Long after I should have outgrown making and hanging May baskets I made enough for everyone in my office and hung them on the doorknobs of their offices before they came to work.

violetsMay basket (woven)

Basket Picnics

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Vicinity Items

A mammoth pleasure excursion and basket picnic has been arranged to run from Streator to Dayton on Tuesday, Aug. 18th. For three years similar excursions have left there, and this promises to be the most enjoyable of all. Dayton’s beautiful scenery, fine shade, and unequaled reputation as a pleasure resort is unsurpassed, and Streator people, having no such beautiful or romantic camping out places near their city, have to come this way for such beneficial pleasures.1

A basket picnic was a popular event to raise money for charity. The women prepared picnic lunches in beautifully decorated baskets, filling them with their own personal culinary specialties. At the auction, all the baskets were anonymous, although it is possible that some husbands or beaux may have received a hint as to the identity of a desirable one. As the auction proceeded the men and boys competed to bid on baskets, and the winner would not only get the basket, but would share the lunch with the lady who created it.

  1. The Ottawa Free Trader, August 1, 1885, p. 8, col. 4

Mr. & Mrs. Moab Trumbo

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Moab Trumbo

Moab Trumbo

Rebecca Kagy Trumbo

Rebecca Kagy Trumbo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Society Notes

Mr. and Mrs. Moab Trumbo, two of Ottawa’s most venerable and highly respected old people, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary last Tuesday in a most inconspicuous manner. The day was passed without any celebration to mark the event. This was due to the recent bereavement visited upon the aged celebrants in the death of their son, the late Sheriff Frank Trumbo. Despite their desire to pass the day quietly, many neighbors called informally to pay their respects and many beautiful bouquets were sent Mr. and Mrs. Trumbo. Mr. Trumbo is eighty-two years of age and his wife is seventy-six. Both enjoy the best of health and chances are bright for them to add several more years to their long and happy marital career. Moab P. Trumbo and Rebecca Kagy were united in marriage in Rutland township, February 27, 1862. Shortly after their marriage they moved to Dayton, where they resided up to the time of their coming to Ottawa to live, a few years ago. Mrs. E. F. Bradford, wife of the present mayor, is the only surviving child.

  1. The Ottawa Free Trader, 8 Mar 1912, p8, col 2

Mathias Trumbo – 1812 Veteran

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Mathias Trumbo was the husband of Rebecca Grove, sister of Barbara Grove Green. He came to La Salle county in the second wave of immigrants from Licking county, Ohio, in 1830.

Mr. Trumbo came to this county in 1830, locating in Mission township, now known as Rutland township. Much of the land was still in its primitive condition and he took up a claim from the government, being one of the first settlers in this part of the county. Not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made upon his farm and he at once began its cultivation, his labors resulting in transforming the tract into richly productive fields. His ancestors were of German birth, although the family was founded in America in early colonial days. Mathias Trumbo served his country as a soldier in the war of 1812, enlisting in Rockingham county, Virginia, which was his native country. After coming to La Salle county he gave his attention to general agricultural pursuits in Rutland township for many years and there resided until his death, which occurred November 20, 1875, when he was eighty-eight years of age, his birth having occurred on the 23rd of July, 1787. His wife bore the maiden name of Rebecca Grove and was also a native of Virginia. She removed to Ohio, where she was reared from the age of ten years and there she remained until her marriage. She, too, spent her last days in Rutland township, La Salle county, passing away in 1865, at the age of seventy-one years. In the family of this worthy couple were eight children, of whom five are now living: John, who was born in 1819, died in 1841. Lavina, born in 1820, married West Matlock, and lived near Yorkville, Kendall county, Illinois. Isabella, born in 1822, became the wife of Jesse Green, who resides in Ottawa, but her death occurred in 1854. Eliza, born in 1826, died in 1904. Elias, her twin brother, is still living in La Salle county. Barbara, born in 1829, is Mrs. Jackson. Elizabeth, born in 1833, is now Mrs. Strawn, a widow living in Ottawa. Elma Anna, born in 1838, is the widow of L. C. Robinson and resides with her sister, Mrs. Jackson, in Ottawa.1

  1. U. J. Hoffman, History of LaSalle County, Illinois (Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1906), 295-6.

APRIL FOOL!!

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april-fools-day

Ottawans at play on April Fool’s Day:

They tell us a good one on Al, a south-side-of-the-square druggist, who got up a brilliant April fool speculation. He took his best business coat, and vest, and hat, down to the bank of the river on April 1st. He enclosed a note in one of the vest pockets, which read pensively to the effect that “whiskey has caused this fatal act,” and invoking the blessings of Heaven on the praying women. Giving directions on how to dispose of his body when dragged from the river bed, he then retired behind a bunch of willows and watched for a victim — someone to come along and find the clothes and give an alarm. He saw in the distance the jury, and anxious citizens, much excitement, drag robe, &c. But no one came. He waited all forenoon and rubbed his hands and kicked the ground with his feet to keep them warm, but still no one came. Then he went up town and threw out vague hints about “some one being found drowned — clothes on the willows at the river bank,” &c., but still the old thing didn’t work! At dusk he lonesomely repaired to the river and brought away his “duds” and meandered home through the back alleys. If you want to worry him just allude to his cute April fool speculation.1

If a proper observance of Fourth of July is going out of style and Christmas, New Year and Saint Valentine days are not as popular as they once were with Ottawa people, April Fool’s Day is, as the other days lessen in public esteem, receiving more attention. On Thursday all the practical jokers were on the lookout for victims. Lon Piergue furnished nicely frosted cotton cakes, and stood back and laughed while George Taylor, Gib Strawn and editor Zwanzig vied with one another in their attempts to masticate them. At the Clifton Hotel half the boarders swallowed salt in their coffee and made wry faces over bran pancakes. At the suggestion of Pat Carey, Judge Weeks spent fully five minutes at the telephone trying to talk to an imaginary somebody at the other end of the line. The day in short, was very much of an “All Fool’s Day.”2

  1. The Ottawa Free Trader, April 4, 1874, p. 4, col. 6
  2. The Ottawa Free Trader, April 3, 1886, p. 1, col. 4