(F-4) Charles Metzger, Henry Metzger, Forrest Doolen, Joe Metzger

(F-5) Forrest Doolen, Glen Brasel, Harvey Hanna

Francis Hammer on haystack - 1928

(F-7b) Claude Rose, Joe Osborne, George Long standing in front of first tractor.   On first tractor is H.J. "Jack" Barksdale, and then Sherrill Vandeveer is on second tractor.     Claude and Elsie Rose's house in in the background on right side of photo.

"The Kinmundy Express" - May 3, 1956

(F-8b) Farming with at least 15 horses pulling binder

(F-11) Harvesting ear corn

(F-12) Hay Sweep - Rake with horses

(F-51) Clyde Bassett with shucked corn in northern Illinois - 54 bushel

(A lot of local farmers worked temporarily in northern parts of Illinois while harvest was occurring.)

(F-13) Sam Hiestand on tractor and Claude walking to house

(F-14) Sam, Dan, and Claude Hiestand thrashing

(F-15) Dale Richard Wright with 1938 John Deere in 1939

(F-16a) Vera (Hampsten) Johnston and W.G. Hays atop a threshing machine - Aug 3, 1939

(F-100) - Earl & Don Huddlestun

(F-19) Dot, John William, and Thurman McCulley with Sooner and their rabbit catch

(F-20) Dot, John William and Thurman McCulley with binder

(F-21) Thurman, Dot, and John William McCulley on Hay Wagon

1920 - Bassett farm in Foster township.   (Stephen Frakes Bassett ancestors.)

Nov. 5, 1956 - Pleasant Grove community helps John Shaffer get crop out. (F-56c)

Left to Right: Kenneth Pickle, Dan Hiestand, John Shaffer, Mont Ritter, Leon Miller, Ray Vandeveer, Sammie Hiestand, Elsberry Ward, H.J. Barksdale, Jackie Barksdale, Herbert Anderson, Lee Ward, Herbert Vandeveer, Oscar Smith, Melvin Currie, Sue Miller, Ruth Miller, Wilma Vandeveer, Beatrice Allphin, Ruby Vandeveer, Dalt Vandeveer, Robert Ford, and Clyde Rose in Service Co. truck.   

"Friendly neighbors husk corn Monday for John Shaffer" - "The Kinmundy Express" - Nov. 8, 1956

     "The question has been raised, "Are farmers as neighborly as they used to be".  This was a challenge to the Pleasant Grove Community Monday when 15 men with 6 corn pickers, wagons and tractors, came to the John W. Shaffer farm and husked about 60 acres of his 140 acre corn crop for him.

     "A few weeks ago, Mrs. Shaffer took suddenly ill and finally ended up in the Missouri Baptist Hospital in St. Louis where a series of examinations were made to determine her ailment.  It was found that she was suffering from a gastric ulcer.  Mr. Shaffer has spent a good share of his time in St. Louis with his wife.

     Those helping John were Mont Ritter, Oscar Smith, Dan Hiestand, Herbert Anderson, Bob Ford, Lee Ward, Elsbury Ward, Jackie Barksdale, H.J. Barksdale, Ray Vandeveer, Leon Miller, Dalt Vandeveer, Melvin Currie, Sammy Hiestand, and Herbert Vandeveer.

     A pot luck dinner was had at the noon hour with Ruth Miller, Wilma Vandeveer, Ruby Vandeveer and Beatrice Allphin serving.  Other sending in food were Nellie Hiestand, Evelyn Ford, Ruby Hiestand, Rosa Smith, Avanelle Hiestand and Lucille Vandeveer.  Lester Vandeveer and Mr. and Mr. J.N. Vallow were dinner guests."

(F-28a) Bryan Pitts' farm - late 1940's

"Not So Long Ago. - This was the scene on the Bryan Pitts farm in Meacham township in the late 1940's, when Ellis Wilkinson brought his threshing machine

for the oat harvest. Standing in front of the machine, left to right: Ellis Wilkinson, Herman Soldner, William Soldner, Raymond Soldner, Bryan Pitts, J. Lem Ballance,

J.B. Maxey, Lewis Maxey. On the tractor is Morris Maxey; on the machine, Charles Bassett; on straw stack, Jess Hoyt; on wagon, Charlie Wainscott,

whose load of bundles threshed 105 bushels. Wilkinson’s thresher was new from the factory in 1919 and he used it that year and every year up through

it’s retirement in 1951."   (Newspaper article - Aug. 10, 1967)

(FS-39) Henry and Tillie Schneider Jasper strawberry patch

Back row: Leola Yund, Addie (Yund) McGuire, Alice (Jasper) Hoehne, Naomi (Schneider) Crain, Hilda (Schneider) Crain, Edna Schneider,

                Clarence Schneider, Merle Schneider

Front row:  Ervin Schneider, Lyle or George Schneider, Charlene Hoehne, Dorothy Schneider, Harley Jasper

(F-23) J.H. Shreffler & Sons Fruit Farms - stationery and receipts

(FS-34)  Shreffler family packing up melons (possibly "Alma Gems") - 1901

Aaron Irving Shreffler is behind wagon.   Leslie, Cecil, Harry, Hershel (in buggy), Gordon.   Louella Isabelle Shreffer in the foreground.

(F-25) Shreffler - Fruit sorters - 1928

(F-56) Shreffler Pear Packing Crew - Alma, IL - Sept. 17, 1929

(Not in order) Mrs. Rhoads, Lois Shreffler, Mag Bassett, Cled Wickenhouser, Bertha Green, Virgie (Nichols) Garrett, Nellie Shreffler, Elsie Morris, Olive Shreffler,

Selby Garrett, Helen Tomlinson, Hazel Shreffler, Mrs. Turner

Billie Morris, Fletch Cole, Andy Williams, Abby Cox

(F-32) Dutch Shreffler picking apples

(F-33) Shrefflers' Pear workers

(F-30) Dutch Shreffler's Peach Shed - Aug. 1947

BACK - Chas. Mitchel,, Clyde Garrett,  Hen Jones, Clyde Bassett, Lewis Maier, Helen Cox, __________, Jack Cox, __________

MIDDLE: Francis Maier, Lula Jones, _________, Hazel Shreffler, Alice Osborne, __________,  Tom & Dutch Shreffler;

FRONT KNEELING - Lila Garrett Williams, Darlene Mulvaney Bandy

(F-31) Dutch Shreffler's Peach Shed - 1947

BACK - ____________, _____________, Helen Cox, Juanita Mitchel, Lila Garrett Williams, Jack Cox, _______________, Lula Jones, Hazel Shreffler, ______________;

FRONT - Clyde Garrett, Charles Mitchel, Dutch Shreffler, Gordon Shreffler, Clyde Bassett, Henderson Jones

(F-29) Shreffler Fruit workers at the shed

Lulu Jones, ________________, Helen Cox, _________________, ________________, Lila Garrett Williams, Hazel Shreffler, Juanita Mitchel

Shreffler's Nursery and Fruit Farm - M. Shreffler, owner - Alma, Illinois

Shreffler's Nursery and Fruit Farm - M. Shreffler, owner - Alma, Illinois

Alma area Strawberry patch workers including Charley Beard, Lela Songer Howe, Maude (Pet) Songer Eagan, Jim Rogers, Eva Songer Rogers, Luella Simmons Littrell

(F-34) Dick Atkins' Strawberry Patch and pickers located 3 miles northwest of Kinmundy

(F-41)  Strawberry pickers at Dick Atkins' Strawberry patch

(FS-40) Strawberry pickers in Kinmundy.

Strawberry field around Kinmundy.  

This photo belonged to the Helen (Garrett) Leckrone family, and could be of the Gramley or Humphrey family.

(F-58a) Setting out strawberry plants in the Dace - Sullivan fields.  Floyd Courson is driving the tractor, and Marvin Dace and Sterling "Shorty" Sullivan are setting out the plants.  This strawberry patch was located south of Kinmundy where the Guymon family later built a house. 

(F-58a) Setting out strawberry plants in the Dace - Sullivan fields are Marvin Dace is on the far side and Sterling "Shorty" Sullivan is on the near side.  They set the plants between them and the water tank was on the back.

(F-58a) The Strawberry shed was located just south of Kinmundy near where the Guymon family later built a house.

(F-58d) Strawberry pickers south of Kinmundy.

(F-58d) Strawberry pickers south of Kinmundy.

(F-58d) Working the strawberry fields south of Kinmundy.

"The strawberry patch only lasted as a commercial venture for a few years and a U-pick plot for a few after that and eventually was returned to farm land. It was very labor intensive and I remember Dad hired 4 migrant workers to help in the fields. Many neighbors came and picked. They were given paper slips for the number of quarts picked. I was probably only 5 when it started but I remember the planter and covering the plants with straw then uncovering them in the spring."  Ron Dace.

Orchard Crew from orchard around Alma.   Noah Rhodes is sitting third from the left.

Fruit Packing Crew in packing shed in Alma

One of 15,000 pear trees first bearing - circa 1905.

Hester Orchard in Alma, Illinois.

Apple Trees in Hester Orchard. 

Picture was taken from orchard aimed east down 7th street toward town.

Mazanek's Store and Horse Barn are visible in lower left corner.

Orchard Crew at William Hester - Checkerboard packing shed in Alma

Alma area pear orchard crew at the William Hester Pear Orchard - Sept. 1929 - Taken in front of the Women's Dormitory of the Christian College in Alma.
ON HORSE WAGON: Josh Floyd Sullens, Claude Williams, Glenn Sullens, ________________, Roy Williams, Ralph McWhirter, _______________, _______________
REAR: William Hester Sr., Dolly Littrell, Josephine McWhirter, _____________
STANDING: Roxie Elliott, William Hester Jr., Leslie Sullens, _______, Orville Thomas, Henry Yost, Bobby Sanders, and El_______________
SECOND ROW: Mae Shaw, Helen Williams, Edith Stipp, _______________, ______________, ______________, _____________, Dorothy ______,

     Lackey Sullens, Verdi Wikenhauser, Nora Clow, _________________, Dorothy Gaffney, _________________, Emma Wiley, ___________________,

     Eva Black, Iris Jackson Swift, Mrs. Frank Day, Mrs.___________, Mrs. Louie Stipp
FRONT ROW: John Mays, George Copple, ___ Warren, Mr. Mayberry, Garrison Williams, Ben Butts, Leo Wikenhauser, Louie Stipp, Cecil Jamison, Cecil Lane, Herschel Monical, Lawrence Sullens, Jimmy Darnell, Sh___ Gregory
The mules are Mr. Sills', and I believe the horses are too

Bill Hester & Kate McWhirter

(F-53) Bill Hester's Strawberry Shed in Alma

(F-52) Bill Hester's Strawberry Shed in Alma

(F-55) John "Hard Rock" Smith and Bill Hester near Bills strawberry shed

(F-54) Denny Gammon - probably at Bill Hester's strawberry shed

Hester & Sons Fruit Farm - Alma, IL

Bill Hester sitting with his son, Jim Hester, in his fruit shed

Bill Hester standing in the doorway of his fruit shed

Bill Hester with longtime Alma friend, Howard Downey, sitting in the door way of the Hester fruit shed

Melon Orchard - Les McWhirter - 1942

Lessie & Mildred (Sullens) McWhirter were presented with a chair and lamp in this ph

oto by those working at their orchard west of Alma

1)________, 2)_________, 3)_________, 4)__________, 5________, 6)_________, 7)_________, 8)_________,

9)_______, 10)Tom Shreffler, 11)________, 12) Francis "Coony" Sullens, 13)Charles "Buck" Sullens, 14)__________,

15)Lessie McWhirter, 16)DeLilah (McWhirter) Caldwell, 17)Aunt Opal Sullens' daughter, 18)Charlie McWhirter, 19)Vivan (Parker) Osborne,

20)________, 21)________, 22)_________, 23)_________, 24)__________, 25)Pearl (Williams) McWhirter, 26)_________,

27)Rose (Williams) Caldwell, 28) Clella (Caldwell) Bassett, 29)Archie "Bud" Caldwell, 30)________, 31)Opal Sullens, 32)Bessie (Aldrich) McWhirter,

33) Mildred (Sullens) McWhirter, 34) Donna (Caldwell) Kerley, 35)Dayne Bassett, 36)_________, 37)________,

38)Dale Bassett, 39)Martha McWhirter, 40)Noah McWhirter, 41)Alice Donoho, 42)Buck Shuler, 43)Herschel Monical, 44)Lloyd "Rip" Sullens, 45)________, 46)________

"Alma Residents Harvest 1952 Crop of Daffodils"

Southern Illinois Horticulture Society - held at Kinmundy 26 & 27th in 1912

(F-35) Mrs. A. Tate photo

(F-36) Unknown putting up hay

(F-37) "Large  Load of Oats Threshes 101½" - Aug. 12, 1948 (reprinted in “The Kinmundy Express” on Nov. 10, 1983.) 

“Pictured above is Mr. Charles Wainscott of this city on a load of oat bundles which he loaded last Thursday afternoon on the Bryan Pitts farm east of Kinmundy. 

This is believed to be the largest load of oat bundles ever loaded by one man around this part of the country.  The load threshed out 101½ bushels and would

have threshed about 150 bushels if the load had come from the best part of the field.  Mr. Pitts reports that oats averaged about 20 bushels per acre. 

So this load represents more than 5 acres.  The load got too high for a man to pitch the bundles up is why Mr. Wainscott could not load on any more. 

We believe this is a new record that will be hard for anyone to beat."

(F-38) Wood Sawing crew in Willie Garrett's Barnyard - Tom Haynes, Orie "Tub" Atkins, Theodore Garrett, Orie "Paddy" Arnold, Willie Garrett, George Cole

(F-40) Marvin Conant, Bill Green, Ernst Bassett, Luther Barnes, Hall Feather, ______________, Mack Robb, Pete Cole

(F-39b) Working Men

(F-60) Dan Purcell with his grandson and horses picking fruit in orchard

(F-55) Bob Ford & John W. Ford with their sheep

                           (F-57) Bob Ford in the middle of pear season                                                                 (F-58) Bob Ford with the chickens

(F-59) Bob Ford, John W. Ford, and Jean Ford Krutsinger FORD, Bob, John W and Jean Krutsinger

(F-44) 4-H Livestock Show - J.N. Vallow, Fred Blackburn, Mr. Garbe                              (F-45) 4-H Livestock Show - John Ross Mazanek

(F-42) 4-H Livestock Show - Howard Broom and Bob Ford                                         (F-64) 4-H Livestock Show - Jean Ford Krutsinger and Dick Purdue

(F-53) Corn cribs

James Cox Peach Shed - Kinmundy, IL - 1946

(F-48) Clyde Bassett's farm with mules, wagon, and barn

(F-46) Clyde Bassett's Mules - 1968

(F-49) Clyde Bassett - Mules and hay wagon - 1968

(F-47) Clyde C. "Pid" Bassett with mules, wagon and hay stack

(F-70) Clyde C. Bassett with mules - 1970's

(F-76) Bob Ford with Allis Chamblers planter - 1969

(F-73) Charles Lee Ford and Bob Ford - 1969

(F-18) Charles Lowe on John Deere tractor - 1985

(F-17) Paul Lane with Amy Yates, Leta Lane, and Eric Lane

John A. & Nellie Broom farm photos taken in 1980 ... long after the orchard had closed. 

This orchard was located just east of Alma.

Walter Broom Sr. standing near Broom farm barn.

"This was taken out in the orchard where they were picking and sorting apples.

Mr. McWilliams (your grandfather), Carl Hines, Henry McWilliams, Gail Hines, Loyd Hines, _____ Hines (my mother), John Hines, Bill McWilliams"

"The Kinmundy Express" - Feb. 23, 1978

"The Kinmundy Express" -  Oct. 7, 1915

"The Kinmundy Express" -  Oct. 5, 1916

"The Kinmundy Express" - May 18, 1967

Gale Hines - "Maple Syrup Harvest Time" 
"Farm Week" - Feb. 28, 1977

"The Kinmundy Express" - July 4, 1985

John William McCulley & Dorothy (Mercer) McCulley Centennial farm

DISS Centennial Farm

"The Kinmundy Express" - Oct. 28, 1992

(Pictured are Mildred (SHAFFER) DISS and (Nelle (DISS) BLOMBERG

"Salem Times-Commoner" - Aug. 17, 2001 - "Local farmer looks back on 50 years of change.  Ford continues involvement in Marion County agriculture."  (Bob Ford)

"Marion County farmer honored as Illinoisan of the Day at State Fair" (Russell Vandeveer)

- "Salem Times-Commoner"-Sept. 2, 2016

     "Jim R. JONES, Jr., of Kinmundy recently received a letter telling him that his farm was being designated as a Sesquicentennial Farm.  A Sesqicentennial Farm is a farm that has remained in the same family of lineal descendants for 150 years or more. 

     The farm was purchased by James' great-grandfather, Jackson JONES, in 1840's from the United States government.  The land purchased was over 400 acres and was purchased when President Filmore was in office.  Jackson JONES was married in 1842 and set up housekeeping on his newly aquired land.  Later the farm was owned by James' grandfather, James "Ras" Jones.  After his death the farm was divided and owned by James, father, aunts and uncles.  James bought the farm in 1937 before he and Nelda were married in 1941. 

     The idea of having the farm put into the Centennial Farm Plan was done as a Christmas gift from a son, Jim of Springfield, and a daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Russell (Lila) McCulley of Minonk. 

     The Sesquicentennial Farm Program recognizes the pride and determination of the generations who have labored to maintain the family farm, one of the most basic elements of America's heritage.  It was established by the 80th Session of the Illinois general Assembly to give due recognition to the importance of agriculture to the economy of Illinois.  The owner receives a two-foot square metal sign with which to identify the farm as a Sesquicentennial Farm and a certificate signed by the governor and director of agriculture.  The records with which a farm is certified are compiled by the Illinois Dept. of Agriculture, and contain information of historical significance.  They are placed on file and maintained for posterity by the Illinois State Historical Library in Springfield.  Anyone who feels their farm qualifies is encouraged to fill out an application for this award.  For more information about applications, contact the Program Coordinator, Illinois Dept. of Agriculture, Division of Marketing, Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL 62706, phone 217-782-6675."

("Farina News" - July 9, 2020)

"My brother, Jim, got the Sesquicentennial sign for our farm and know he is thrilled to display it along with the Centennial sign. Our great great grandfather bought the land in 1840 and it next became home for our great grandfather until his death. Our grandfather and his brother and sisters inherited it and Dad bought it from them in 1937, four years before he and Mom married. Since none of us are actively farming (Thank you, Robbs!) Jim wanted our parents' names on the signs." 

(Info from Lila Jones McCulley – July 2020)

"Aug. 24, 2020 - Dear Evelyn - I am sending an extra photo of the Centennial farm and Sesquicentennial farm signs for Dolores.  Brien Guy built the sign board. 

Mrs. Jackson Jones was Margaret Whiteside.  They are buried in the cemetery down the road.  Sarah Jones married Charley Lowe and she died in childbirth -  her daughter survived. Charlie later married Ann Jones and they had eight children and raised her niece.  Mrs. Ras Jones was Mahala Foster.  Her mother was Elizabeth Bullock and her father was Hardy Foster.  They raised 6 children - Ed, Frank, Josie Green, Nell Jones, Rena and Alta, Mrs. Marlin Diss.  Mahala Foster's mother died in childbirth, and her mother's family in Mt. Vernon raised her.  The barn also pictured, was built in 1937 by Lester Griffin with help by Dad.    Love, Jim."

"Alma farm attains Centennial history" - "Centralia Sentinel" - by Judith Joy

Ira Humes originally purchased farm, and now owned by Tony Antonacci and Cora Antonacci (granddaughter of Ira Humes.)

"Rural Alma farm earns Centennial status" - "Salem Times-Commoner" by Robert Ludwig

Ira Humes originally purchased farm, and now owned by Tony Antonacci and Cora Antonacci (granddaughter of Ira Humes.)

Jim Rose - Nominee for 1998 Farmer of the Year

"Salem Times-Commoner" - Aug. 31, 1998

Sam Hiestand - 1998 Farmer of the Year

"Salem Times-Commoner" - Aug. 31, 1998

Hiestand Family Farm - Centennial Farm - Darrin and Danny Hiestand - 2020

"Hiestand family has long farming history in Marion County" - "Salem Times-Commoner"-Sept. 17, 2021