Dear Seekers and Searchers: Marcia Farina [majorville@aol.com] very kindly sent me absolutely excellent photos of the old Woodville School, the Majorville Church, and the old store in Joetta. A b-i-g "Thank You, Marcia!" [contact Marcia if you would like copies] Marcia wrote re: the store in Joetta: "I should also have noted that I have pictures of the store at Joetta. Recently I've seen more information about it, but can't recall at the moment if I have that filed away some place or if I just read it on the web. I do know that it was named for Joel and Etta Booz, the (original, I think) owners. Sometime prior to 1894, it was owned and operated by Peter E. Weakley. Another man, Francis D. JONES, was a Notary Public and, I've been told, evidently worked there from 1894 until his death in 1897. Peter, on his death bed, literally, married Lillie Almeda Beckwith to make sure she would inherit all of his worldly possessions. He died three days later. Along with the store and other property, however, Aunt Lil inherited all of the unpaid store bills. Excerpted from The Beckwith Family History, written by Doris Barb Pogue in 1933: "Oh, what a commotion broke out in the community then, for Aunt Lil started out collecting right away and, as a collector, she was pretty good. She brought lawsuit after lawsuit against her neighbors and her name became an anathema. Her actions started feuds that lasted for years." "Not all the bills were just. Peter Weakley had apparently never refused anyone unlimited credit and, as he grew old and more careless, he often did not mark off a paid bill nor apparently give any receipts for them. Grandfather Way was one of her victims, forced to repay an already paid bill. Those who did owe Mr. Weakley were prone to point out that the shameless hussy hadn't any right to his property anyway. Aunt Lil, of course, did not collect all of the bad bills. An acquaintance once beheld her looking over the bills and casting out the hopeless ones, "Another dead dog!", but not because she didn't try. Aunt Lil established herself and various members of the family at Joetta, and operated the store for more than four decades. An amazing volume of business made it a profitable enterprise and it was the center of community life. This lasted until the advent of good roads and automobiles. We used to love to go to Joetta when we were little. She was a fine housekeeper and cook, and many were the family dinners she prepared for her relatives' visits. On election days (the town hall of Hancock Township was located at Joetta), she always got dinner for the town board and a dozen or more of her kinfolk, even if some of them did vote the Republican ticket." This photo is of Lillie Almeda Beckwith Weakley (1852-1933) and her brother, Eddie Manville Beckwith (1863-1942)." [it is an attachment so not 'allowed'/acceptable on a Rootsweb Mailing List (a precaution again Virus propagation) which is why I did not copy it here.] Date: Monday, March 13, 2000 8:19 AM Subject: Woodville School It's likely that someone from the mailing list could provide additional history on the school. I can tell you that in a family history written in 1933 by my grandmother, Doris Barb Pogue, she wrote that Woodville School was named for Elizabeth Scranton Beckwith Woods (1800-1876): "We want to mention, too, that the district school where we learned our ABCs was named in Great-great-grandmother Betsey's honor: Woodville. She gave the land from her little farm upon which this school, though not the same building, of course, now stands." I am assuming that this photo is of the second building. ------------------------ Now, I have this on the Woodville School from: PIONEERS OF THE PRAIRIE, by Wilma BRUNENN, ca. 1985, no copyright. This book began as author's own family history and then she tried to include every 'pioneer' in the county. While the book is a 'source' for searchers, there is much errata in the book, as a consequence to 'rush to publish' due to author's ill health [ill health is what I have been told]. Data for the book was compiled from "cemetery walks", old state/county records and old newspapers [probably in the historical society collection], and some personal interviews. I can not attest to the accuracy of the data - am merely sharing. NOTE: I have capitilized all surnames for ease in reading and finding same. -------------------- WOODVILLE SCHOOL Woodville School, District 7, was located on the Stillwell to Loraine Road on the Hancock-Adams County Line. The school, like Green Grove, was not numbered in sequence with the other schools in the township. It was a line school, meaning children from both counties could attend. On August 22, 1837, Benjamin F. MARSH, School Commissioner and Agent for the people of Hancock County, declared that land be set aside for a school location, 4N9W, Section 35. A log school was built immediately, making two schools in St. Albans Township. [NOTE: the 1837 date above seems too early to me, but it is the date in the referenced book.] For a time, church services were held here until a brick church was erected. The exact building of the first frame school is not known; it burned in the early 1900's. Lou SANDERSON was the teacher. She had taken out the ashes and put them in a cardboard can, not realizing they were still hot. A new schoolhouse was built and put to use as soon as possible. The desks had been ordered, but had not yet arrived. Each child was asked to bring their own chair to sit on. Ada RANDOLPH was one of those children. Her chair was a bit different from all the others. It was a little red rocking chair. Ada said, she could "never understand why the teacher wouldn't let her rock while school was in session." On July 3, 1950, the school board met and voted to close the school, making it a part of Community School District 320. Following is a partial list of the teachers that taught at the Woodville School: [for ease in reading I put this in a column form rather than the paragraph they appear in the book] 1887, Amanda TULL 1893, Emma THARP 1899-1903, Charles GUTHRIE 1906, E. W. TUTTLE 1907, Cora HULL 1908, Fernando YOE 1909, Susan E. GUTHRIE 1910, Harve SANDERSON 1911, Golda GILLHAM 1912, F. E. ADAIR 1913, Roscue ARTHUR 1915, Dorothy HOPSON 1916, Floyd JACKSON 1919, Ida Eddy 1920, Ardella GEORGE 1921-22, Otto GABEL 1923, Lydia HULL 1924, Besie GLANCE 1926, Mary D. BOOZ 1927-29, Vera HOWARD 1930, Darlene DUNBAR 1931-33, Thora TANNER 1934-37, Darlene DUNBAR 1939, Ruby Fern SPARKS 1942, Hugh SPARKS Fred McKENZIE, Maude McADAMS, Mr. DONAHEY, and Lou SANDERSON also taught at Woodville School, but the exact dates are not known. - --------------------------- RE: Joetta Store (owners) - WEAKLEY surname (in PIONEERS OF THE PRAIRIE above): WEAKLEY, E. P. - died January 17, 1894; married Alice A. BECKWITH. WEAKLEY, Joseph A. - born July 17, 1859; died October 30, 1924. He married Maggie NESTER. Five children [not named], Mr. WEAKLEY married (2) Rhoda COX. WEAKLEY, Peter - married June 23, 1847 to Harriet ----. She died January 28, 1893, age 67 years. WEAKLEY, Peter E. - married Lillie Almeda BECKWITH who was born in 1852. She died September 1933, and was a daughter of Norman and Miranda HADLEY BECKWITH. ------------------ BOOZ, Alva J. - married February 18, 1897 to Maude BELLOE. She died 1931 and was a daughter of William BELLOE. BOOS, Christina - of Basco, Illinois; died December 1890. [surname spelled as in the referenced book.] BOOZ, Jacob - died March 1930, age 74 yrs. Children: Mrs. Clifford ALEXANDER. BOOZ, Jacob - married Augusta CREAR. Children: 1 - George H. 2 - Floyd E 3 - Minnie E 4 - Tena A. 5 - Frank F. 6 - Lizzie 7 - Arthur 8 - Mabel W. BOOZ, Joseph Meigs - died February 24, 1933, age 73 yrs. In 1903, he married Mary Ann GRIFFITH. Three sons [not listed]. BOOZ, Logan - married 1892 to Kate SMITH. BOOZ, Sr. William - died February 20, 1901. He married Elizabeth Jane McCUBBIN. She died 1921. A daughter, Nellie JEWELL, married William RENO, and she died January 7, 1903. ------------------------- Marcia spelled her grandmother's name as POGUE - in the 'pioneer book', it is spelled POQUE - entry follows: POQUE, Ira C. - married Doris E. BARB who was born 1900; she died June 1979, and was a daughter of Mansville and Clara L. WAY BARB. One son, Irwin A. POQUE, Irwin - married November 10, 1946, to Colleen McGEE. --------------------------- I hope the above helps some of you who have an interest in the old Woodville School, and Joetta. A reminder for Newbees and others: The website for the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900 is: http://www2.sos.state.il.us/cgi-bin/marriage Have great days and peaceful nights! Shirley: bobert@panacom.com