Category Archives: Prominent figures

Concordia Theological Seminary

Posted on October 29, 2013 by editor

Concordia Theological Seminary educated prospective Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod clergy from 1876 until 1975 1976 on a campus north and east of 12th and Carpenter streets in Springfield. (The Missouri Synod took over the facilities after Illinois State University, a Lutheran … Continue reading →

Posted in Churches, Education, Germans, Prominent figures | Tagged , | 10 Comments

Cozy Dog Drive-In

Posted on October 29, 2013 by editor

The Cozy Dog, a battered, deep-fried hot dog on a stick, was created by Ed Waldmire Jr. (1916-93) while he was in the U.S. Army Air Corps in Texas.* After discharge, Waldmire brought the idea back to Springfield. Here is … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Prominent figures, Restaurants, Route 66, Transportation | Leave a comment

Culver Marble and Stone Co.

Posted on October 29, 2013 by editor

The Culver Marble and Stone Co. and its offshoots, headed by Col. James S. Culver (1852-1911), were among the Springfield area’s most prominent builders from the early 1870s until 1912. As a contractor, the Culver firm was given credit for … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Buildings, Business, Industry, Museums, Prominent figures | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Deep Snow

Posted on October 29, 2013 by editor

Snow began falling in central Illinois on Christmas Eve 1830 and didn’t let up for nine weeks, according to a later memoir by the Rev. John Bergen. At the same time, the temperature fell to zero and below — as … Continue reading →

Posted in Disasters, Early residents, Prominent figures | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Desegregation of the Illinois State Armory

Posted on October 29, 2013 by editor

Springfield journalist and activist Simeon Osby  (1909-93) was among a group of African Americans who forced indifferent white officials to open all seating areas in the Illinois State Armory to anyone. Previously, blacks had been relegated to upper areas of … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Amusements, Buildings, Ethnic groups, Journalism, Local government, Prominent figures, Sports and recreation | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

William Donnegan’s memoir of the Underground Railroad

Posted on October 29, 2013 by editor

William Donnegan, an 80-year-old Black cobbler and entrepreneur who was lynched during the Springfield Race Riot of 1908, earlier wrote a memoir about his role in helping an enslaved black woman travel through Springfield on her way to Canada in … Continue reading →

Posted in Abolitionism, African Americans, Ethnic groups, Law enforcement, Prominent figures, Race riot of 1908 | Tagged | Leave a comment

Nellie Browne Duff

Posted on October 29, 2013 by editor

Nellie Browne Duff  (1888-1971) was a reporter, screenwriter, veterans’ advocate, aviatrix and provocateur in Springfield from 1917 until the late 1920s. She later moved to the Bellingham, Wash., area, where she apparently continued with some of the same pursuits. Duff … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts and letters, Journalism, Military, Prominent figures, Resources, Transportation, Women | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Col. Otis B. Duncan

Posted on October 29, 2013 by editor

Lt. Col. Otis B. Duncan (1873-1937) was the highest-ranking black officer to serve in the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe in World War I. He was awarded the French Croix de Guerre for his war service. Duncan, who came from … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Military, Politics, Prominent figures, Race riot of 1908 | 1 Comment

Dr. Garret Elkin (1828 pioneers)

Posted on October 28, 2013 by editor

Dr. Garrett Elkin, who moved to Sangamon County from Kentucky in 1823, “was a man of considerable courage,” serving for six years as county sheriff and in the Black Hawk, Mormon and Mexican wars, according to the History of Medical … Continue reading →

Posted in Early residents, Law enforcement, Local government, Military, Politics, Prominent figures | Tagged | 2 Comments

Andrew Elliott (1828 pioneers)

Posted on October 28, 2013 by editor

Andrew Elliott (1792-1864) kept what John Carroll Power called the first hotel in Springfield. However, his main claim to (probably apocryphal) fame was as the guide who secured the county seat for Springfield. According to Power, Elliott, originally from North … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Early residents, Hotels & taverns, Local government, Prominent figures, Sangamon County, Springfield | 2 Comments