| Documents
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 | Hoskinson place for sale 1901
It appears that the Hoskinsons decided to leave Waycross long before they actually left in May 1902. Here they put the farm up for sale in 1901. "For the next ten days we will offer the Hoskinson place, containing 16 acres of land with six-room cottage and other fine improvements for $1,150. The place cost $1,700." |
 | Hoskinson place still for sale 1902
Nine months later and the place still hasn't sold. "For the next thirty days we will offer the Hoskinson place, containing sixteen acres, seven room cottage (note was a six room house in the original ad) (hard finish inside), stables, barn and other outhouses; also new farm and garden implements and house hold and kitchen furniture, also one-horse wagon & harness. This property cost $1,700 and is a perfect home. We will sell it now for $1,075." |
 | The Hoopeston cannery 1902
In this letter to The Waycross Weekly Herald, Riley goes into great detail describing a cannery in Hoopeston. Canning factories were the mainstay of the town. In 1902 there were three canneries in Hoopeston. These companies made Hoopeston a very self-sufficient little town. Both the equipment used in the canning industry, and cans and lids were made locally. Area farmers provided a lot of the product that was canned in the factories. It's interesting to note that Riley's letter suggests that many (most?) of the canning factory employees were women. This picture shows the Illinois Canning factory circa 1900. The Illinois Canning Company was established by S.S. McCall in 1875. It has changed ownership several times, but is still in operation as of 1 Jan 2024, owned since 2012 by Teasdale Latin Foods. |
 | More on Hoopeston 1902
In this letter to The Waycross Weekly Herald Riley repeats much of his letter of 19 May 1902, adding a few interesting details: "There are four automobiles in town and bicycles almost innumerable. There are horses from the fast trotter to Clydesdale draught, some of which weigh 1700 each, capable of drawing enormous loads." Riley also very happy that Hoopeston appears to be a dry town: "There being no intoxicants allowed in the city, like Waycross, is so quiet that each day seems like Sunday. There are only three policemen, one for day and two for night. Rarely either of them have anything to do." |
Fisher Family Genealogy