Sunday's Obituary - Cecil Bruce Jackson Stewart - Mt. Vernon, IL

Cecil Bruce Jackson Stewart
Born:  18 Mar 1894 Jefferson Co, IL
Died:  23 Jan 1921 Mt. Vernon, Jefferson Co, IL
Mother:  Anna Osborn
Father:  Frank Z. Bruce

She was my great-great grandmother Sarah Eva Talley Bruce's step-daughter.   Such a short sad life, she died at the age of twenty-six of double pneumonia.  When she was only nineteen years old her first husband Will Jackson died in 1913 in an accident in the railroad yards in Chester, IL leaving her with one son Ray who was born the same year.  On 17 Sep 1918 she married Charles Robert Stewart of Mt. Vernon, a widower with four children.  She had one child with Charles Stewart, a son Charles Edwin Stewart born in 1920.  She had one full sister Opal Bruce Ward and four half-sisters, Fern, Wade, Nina and Edna Bruce.  She is buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Mt. Vernon.

Cecil Bruce abt age 10  ca 1905

Mt Vernon Register News 24 Jan 1921

Those Places Thursday - Porter & Bonds Drugs - Mt. Vernon, IL

Another postcard depicting Porter & Bond Drugs in Mt. Vernon, IL on the corner of South Union and Broadway (tenth & Broadway today, see Tom Puckett's book).  I don't remember this drugstore, but I do recognize this building. The first picture is the postcard I purchased and I'm guessing this picture was taken either in the 1930's or 1940's. I'm  not an expert on old cars so any help nailing down the time I would appreciate.

The second picture is a drawing from the June 24, 1893 issue of the Mt. Vernon Daily Register. According to the corresponding article, "Dr. S. S. Porter, of St. Louis, and Rufus J. Bond, are the proprietors of the drug store at the southwest corner of the square.  This firm carries an immense stock of drugs, paints, oils, glass, wall paper and patent medicines.  The resident manager, Mr. Bond, is one of our solid, substantial citizens and is in for everything that will improve Mt. Vernon."

According to William Henry Perrin*  Rufus J. Bond, was born 11 Nov 1847 in Shiloh Township, a son of Michael Bond, a native of North Carolina who came to this county in 1829.  Rufus was educated in Jefferson County and began clerking in the drug store of Samuel S. Porter at the age of twenty-two.  By 1893 he was a partner with a half-interest in the store.

From the Saturday Herald (Decatur, IL) 25 Feb 1888, Porter & Bond was one of the many buildings in Mt. Vernon that was totally destroyed by the cyclone that hit Mt. Vernon on 20 Feb 1888.

*History of Jefferson County Illinois, 1883, Chicago, Globe Publishing Co.

Travel Tuesday - Visit in Detroit with Wave & Jack Warner

I found this little clip in the Mt. Vernon Register News Column called "As You Were" which goes back in time and prints items from the past.  On 11 July 1952, this item was printed under "25 Years Ago Today" which means this was originally dated 11 July 1927.  The people referred to in this news clip are my great-great-grandmother Sarah Eva Talley (Mrs. Frank Bruce) and her daughter Edna.  They were visiting her daughter Wave Bruce Warner who was married to Detroit Tigers third baseman, Jack Warner.

11 July 1927 Mt. Vernon, IL Register News

Sunday's Obituary - Wave Bruce Warner

My grandmother, Doris Smith's aunt, her mother's half sister, Wave Bruce Warner, she was the daughter of Frank Zopher Bruce and Sarah Eva (Talley) Bruce.  Her husband was Jack Warner, baseball scout from Los Angeles and former Detroit Tigers' 3rd baseman 1925 - 1928.

Wave Bruce Warner 1920's

Wave B. Warner
Mt. Vernon


Wave B. Warner, 89, Mt. Vernon, died 6:44 p.m. May 10, 1991, at Good Samaritan Regional Health Center.  Mrs. Warner was born Feb. 26, 1902, in Jefferson County, a daughter of Frank Z. and Sarah Eva (Talley) Bruce. July 27, 1925, in Los Angeles, she married John R. "Jack" Warner, who died March 13, 1986.


Services will be 2 p.m. Sunday at the chapel at Mt. Vernon Memorial Gardens with J. Howard Kraps officiating. Burial will follow in Mt. Vernon Memorial Gardens.  Friends may call after 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the chapel in Mt. Vernon Memorial Gardens.


Mrs. Warner is survived by several nephews, nieces, great-nephews, and great-nieces.  Mrs. Warner was a member of First Presbyterian Church.  She was preceded in death by her parents and six sisters.  Memorials may be made to the Jefferson County Heart Association and will be accepted by Hughey Funeral Home at any time.  Hughey Funeral Home is in charge of the services.


Source: Mount Vernon Register News
Date:  May 11, 1991

Those Places Thursday - Broadway - Mt. Vernon, IL

This postcard from my collection circa 1900 - 1910 depicts Broadway, one of the main streets in Mt. Vernon, IL looking East from 10th Street.  The Courthouse would be on the left corner behind the trees and lamppost.

Sunday's Obituary - Laura Alpha Neibel Wilson

My Paternal Grandmother

Those Places Thursday - Maid Rite Drive-In - Mt. Vernon, IL

Maid-Rite Drive-In, Mt. Vernon, IL ca 1957

I bought this postcard of the Maid Rite Drive-In in Mt. Vernon, IL where I grew up and I swear I remember this place from my childhood, but can't picture where it is.  According to obituaries in the Mt. Vernon Register News, it was owned and operated by Fred and Rosemarie Lampp for many years.  Rosemarie died in 2005 and Fred in 2008.  I also found this information on another blog site, Jerry's Place,  and according to the poster the restaurant was "out on old Fairfield Road around the next curve was the Maid-Rite Cafe. It would have been next door west to what is now a radio/television supply company. The building was a pre-fab military surplus building made of plywood and had flat steel bracing. I think the old concrete pad is still there where the building used to be. It was a sit down eating place , not a drive-in, that had a full menu and the first place I ever saw them sell the sandwich known as the "Maid-Rite".

The back of the postcard says "Closed Mondays, Specializing in Tendorized Hickory Barbecued Ribs (the Rib that's different--there's meat on it), Barbecued Pork Tenderloin, Beef and Chicken.  Steaks, Chops, Chicken Dinners.  Variety of good Sandwiches.  Phone 501 for Quicker Service on dinners or sandwiches.  Will also furnish Food for Picnics or Parties.  Courteous Service."  The postcard was mailed and is dated December 1957.  There is also a name and return address of 747 Fairfield Road which may be the address of the Maid-Rite.

CORRECTION:  After receiving a comment from a reader who pointed out there was a Maid-Rite Drive-In on 10th Street in Mt. Vernon, I did some more research and found newspaper ads and articles between 1951 and 1957 showing a Maid-Rite Drive-In located at 751 Fairfield Road, Grover C. Cook, Proprietor.  In May of 1957 it appears the contents were placed for sale.  Starting in 1961 I found ads for a Maid-Rite located at 10th and Conger, Fred and Rosemarie Lampp, owners.  So my information above that the Lampps were the owners of this property seems to be incorrect, instead it was Grover C. Cook.  Thanks for commenting!  1/11/12