Category Archives: Military

John H. Catherwood (Medal of Honor, 1911)

Posted on June 18, 2014 by editor

Springfield native John Hugh Catherwood (1888-1930), a seaman on the U.S. Navy gunboat USS Pampanga during what is called the “Action against Philippine Outlaws” in 1911, received the Medal of Honor for his actions during a firefight with Moro rebels. … Continue reading →

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114th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment

Posted on June 12, 2014 by editor

The 114th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment, made up of men from Sangamon Cass and Menard counties, was known as the “Sangamo,” “Sangamon” or even “Lincoln’s Home” regiment during its Civil War service. The 114th was formed in the summer of … Continue reading →

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Meredith Rhule

Posted on June 8, 2014 by editor

Meredith Rhule (1910-74), a Springfield native, led Burmese and Chinese guerrillas, often behind Japanese lines, during World War II. He won election as Sangamon County sheriff in 1946, but served only one term after newspaper investigations found he had ignored … Continue reading →

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Under the Gas-Light: Or Lights and Shadows in the State Capital of Illinois

Posted on May 16, 2014 by editor

Under the Gas-Light: Or Lights and Shadows in the State Capital of Illinois (1879) is a collection of 31 essays originallywritten as “Rambles” in the Sangamo Monitor, a Springfield newspaper published from the 1870s into the 1890s. The writer of the … Continue reading →

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Armbruster Manufacturing Co.

Posted on March 5, 2014 by editor

Update: Armbruster Manufacturing announced its permanent closure in February 2024. In 1875, Rudolph Herman “R.H”. Armbruster broke away from his family’s jewelry business to open a store that sold awnings and upholstery. From that small store, Armbruster’s descendants would grow … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Industry, Military, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

James Adams (1828 pioneers)

Posted on November 8, 2013 by editor

James Adams (1783-1843), was a New Yorker who arrived in Springfield in 1821, apparently in flight from a forgery indictment in his native state. Adams found himself involved in controversy — legal, political, and marital — in Illinois as well. … Continue reading →

Posted in Churches, Early residents, Lincoln, Abraham, Local government, Military, Politics, Prominent figures | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Thornton Walker

Posted on November 4, 2013 by editor

Thornton Walker* (1912-45) was the Illinois State Journal’s part-time aviation columnist during the 1930s. A Flickr page set up by his son-in-law, Bill Strouse, contains many photos of Southwest Airport, along with reproductions of some of Walker’s columns for the Journal. … Continue reading →

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Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Co.

Posted on November 2, 2013 by editor

The Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Co. (later Fiat-Allis and Fiatallis) made heavy construction equipment from 1928 until 1985 at a 70-acre plant between Sixth and 11th streets and Stanford Avenue and Stevenson Drive. At its peak in the 1960s, A-C employed about … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Industry, Military | 78 Comments

Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport

Posted on November 2, 2013 by editor

Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport was dedicated, under its original name of Capital Airport, on Nov. 2, 1947. The ceremony culminated a nearly decade-long effort to build a new airport, an initiative sparked when the two airlines that previously served Springfield … Continue reading →

Posted in Airport, Journalism, Local government, Military, Prominent figures, Transportation | 2 Comments

Camp Dunne, 1916 (photo)

Posted on October 31, 2013 by editor

This entry was corrected and expanded in 2024. Camp Dunne was a temporary mustering facility at the Illinois State Fairgrounds prior to the United States’ entry into World War I during the military callup that followed Pancho Villa’s raid of … Continue reading →

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