Farmers Weekly Review

By Sandy Vasko

Set the way-back machine for June, 1877; place Mokena. From the Joliet Weekly Sun:

“Mokena is a good-sized village. Seven hundred is the estimated population. The shade trees are numerous and the town cannot be seen at this season to advantage without taking each street in detail. During the hot weather no newspaper man who understands his business would undertake such an adventure. But here I am.
“Main street is the main street. Every business house in town, excepting one, is located upon it. The village was settled by the Yanks, but the Germans are now its possessors. Nearly every man is a German, or owns a German name.
“The schools are good. They comprise three departments and Mrs. Baldwin is the principal. If there ever were any deficiencies they were probably supplied on that day, as the county superintendent, Mrs. Sarah McIntosh was seen in town with an umbrella under her arm, walking towards the school house in a very business-like manner.
“The Post Office is the centre of gravitation and that is where O. McGovney & Son are to be found. Two or three large rooms contain their stock of everything for the country trade. They are very genial sort of chaps, especially the son. Both were busy and the old gentleman was stamping molasses down in a jug.
“The Mokena Advertiser – The death of Mr. Chas. Jones has caused the suspension of that paper. Mr. Jones was well liked among the business men and they miss him greatly. His father, Noble Jones, does business here in a building south of the railroad track. The train came a few minutes too early and he was not interviewed. He does a good business in agricultural implements and grain.
“Seven saloons weigh heavily on Mokena, yet they weigh heavier on themselves. It is too many for a town of this size, even if it is of German descent, and they are having a hard time of it.
“Three hotels are here, some of which are fair to look upon. Coming away before dinner time they were not inspected upon the interior by his majesty, plenipotentiary scribe of the Joliet Sun. Wm. Jacobus is the landlord of the United States, John Sheik of the Brick Hotel, and Nick Shubert of the American.
“Three medicine men furl their shingle to the breeze, and bleed and physic according to their several tastes and belies: Dr. Alexander, Dr. Joy and Dr. Becker. The last named being of the German school.
“Three butchers feed the three doctors, three hotels or any other three men that will purchase their excellent meats. Messrs. Jacobus, Werch and Wesmiller are their titles.
“Two blacksmiths, and perhaps more, toil and hammer and sweat and sing psalms to horses which keep hoisting their legs. Only one was visited. R. Turner is his name when at home. His right-hand man was found busy at work, and the shop looked thrifty.
“Nick Reiser is the village barber and carpet weaver. He has all the business he can attend to, for the reason that he does his work well.
“D. Moulton keeps the only strict grocery store. The others combine groceries, dry goods, hardware, etc. He was not at home, but left a good clerk with an abundance of groceries, crockery, etc.
“Three shoemakers minister to the wants of the Mokena sole and do it well. Jas. Riede was found at work on a boot that could be warranted to make the possessor happy. M. Welchin is an aged man and appeared to have just stepped off the boat from ‘faderland’, but he has been here long enough to use good English and make the Yankee style of boot. John Ulrich has a large stock of his own make around him and was still pegging away. To judge from the appearance of their shops there is not a better class of workmen, nor any that find more to do than the Mokena shoe makers.
“Two hardware stores thrive here. Has Shubert was not found picking his teeth with a spike nor drumming up a trade. In fact, he was not found at all. He was out. He has a large stock of hardware and the establishment appears prosperous. J. M________ somebody keeps a store farther down the street, but this latter name rubbed off from the notes of the reporter and we cannot give it If he will send it in we will print it in large type and put a border around it to make up for the deficiency. He does considerable in the tinware line and was found up to his neck in a tin can he was building for a milk man.
“Two harness stores, and good ones, furnish biting, riggings and strap oil for the Mokena-ites. Like the shoemakers they are number one. Chas Worthmiller keeps on the south side of the street. He had sold nearly out and as making the wax fly after more. Valentine Scheer is found on the north side of the street and deals also in trunks and valises, and has a feed store the next door. Likewise, he was found very busy and reported any quantities sold.
“Two drug stores dispense calomel and vinegar bitters to the feeble, cold poison to the rats and red ink and perfumery to young ladies. Dr. Alexander has a neat little store, well filled. Adjoining is a snug, cozy kind of an office where the doctor seems to take much pleasure with his books, and a half dozen diplomas upon the wall. Morritz Weiss is a man well supplied with “Sunshine” and other pleasant subjects. He keeps a bright, clean looking place on the corner.
“Three milliners aggravate the men folks and flatter the women with the latest Chicago styles. Mrs. G. Weber, Mrs. Stoll and Mrs. Cumstine are the tantalizers. Of course, it would not do to tell which was the best store or even to express an opinion of any kind, personally, because their husbands would be liable to make it lively.
“Three dry goods stores, besides the post office store already spoken of, are here. Reitz keeps groceries and general merchandise in connection with his dry goods. He has a neat, cool place and is good-natured and sociable. It is just the place for one to look for this hot weather. Chas. Hirsch keeps everything and a grain elevator besides. The elevator sends a carload of grain upon an average to Chicago every day. He was found in a pleasant frame of mind and was left more so. C. Stoll was not at home. The Co. was selling straw hats and trimming them off with sea weed silk. They have a very large stock for a village and is kept up in good order.
“This is all of the business houses as far as discovered. Some were grumbling because there was considerable of a rumpus kicked up at a Sunday picnic, held there the Sunday before, and others were growling because Thoman had collected his Herald’s subscription in advance and then advanced himself out of the country.
“Mokena appears to be doing as well as the best and is a good town.”