Author Archives: editor

Joe James (Springfield race riot)

Joe James, a black man, was accused of the killing of Clergy Ballard, a white mining engineer, on July 5, 1908. Ballard’s killing was one of the incidents that precipitated the Springfield race riot. See Race riot of 1908.

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Mabel Hallam (Springfield race riot)

Mabel Hallam, a white woman, falsely accused a black man of rape. The allegation was one of the incidents that precipitated the Springfield race riot. See Race riot of 1908.

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Harry Loper (Springfield race riot)

Harry Loper, a successful white restaurateur, owned one of the few motorcars in Springfield in 1908. So when Sangamon County Sheriff Charles Werner wanted to move two black accused murderers out of the county jail before a white mob stormed the facility, … Continue reading

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George Richardson (Springfield race riot)

George Richardson, a black man, was falsely accused of the rape of a white woman, one of the incidents that precipated the Springfield race riot. See Race riot of 1908.

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Abraham Raymer (Springfield race riot)

Abraham Raymer, a Russian immigrant accused of being one of the leaders of the white mob during the Springfield race riot, ultimately was convicted only of the theft of a sword. See Race riot of 1908.

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William Walling (Springfield race riot)

New York journalist William Walling’s reporting drew national attention to the Springfield race riot. See Race riot of 1908. 

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Clergy Ballard (Springfield race riot)

The killing of mining engineer Clergy Ballard was one of the events that helped precipitate the Springfield race riot. See Race riot of 1908. 

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Explosion on North Seventh Street, 1937

Authorities blamed a Springfield arson ring for a massive explosion that destroyed two north-end houses and damaged dozens of others on March 17, 1937. Eight people were charged with arson and insurance fraud in the case. But the main defendant … Continue reading

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Illinois Terminal railroad

See The interurban railway.

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Illinois Traction System

See The interurban railway.

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