Jeff Rankin – Medium

Jeff Rankin

Monmouth’s newspaper heritage began in 1846

MONMOUTH, Ill. — Until just a few years ago, Monmouth maintained a daily newspaper that originated in 1846 during the Mexican War. The…

May 20, 2024

Monmouth’s newspaper heritage began in 1846

May 20, 2024

The Great Eclipse of 1869, through the eyes of a Monmouth College professor

As anticipation grows over the upcoming solar eclipse, I thought it would be interesting to look back on a similar astronomical event…

Apr 6, 2024

The Great Eclipse of 1869, through the eyes of a Monmouth College professor

Apr 6, 2024

Northwestern University founder called Monmouth home

MONMOUTH, Ill. — Monmouth’s historic Quinby House was the home of a founder of Monmouth College. What is perhaps less well known is that…

Jul 14, 2023

Northwestern University founder called Monmouth home

Jul 14, 2023

Monmouth physician dynasty began in 1837

MONMOUTH, Ill. — “This is a pleasant location and bids fair to be a thriving town.”

Jul 13, 2023

Monmouth physician dynasty began in 1837

Jul 13, 2023

Might Edgar Allan Poe have made Oquawka a literary hub?

In the middle of the Bronx in New York City is a bustling neighborhood known as Fordham. In 1848, it was a sleepy rural village without…

Jan 12, 2023

Might Edgar Allan Poe have made Oquawka a literary hub?

Jan 12, 2023

Tombstones tell interesting tales

MONMOUTH, Ill. — Walk up the 10 concrete steps to Monmouth’s Pioneer Cemetery at East Archer and 6th Street, and suddenly you find…

Dec 6, 2022

Tombstones tell interesting tales

Dec 6, 2022

Monmouth’s industrial building boom of 1953

MONMOUTH, Ill. — Our future economic prosperity may lie in the tech and service industries, but 70 years ago manufacturing was still king…

Dec 1, 2022

Monmouth’s industrial building boom of 1953

Dec 1, 2022

Monmouth pastor provided humanitarian relief during Civil War

MONMOUTH, Ill. — In recent months, we have become all too familiar with the collateral damage that war inflicts on innocent civilians. The…

Nov 30, 2022

Monmouth pastor provided humanitarian relief during Civil War

Nov 30, 2022

Remnants of a bygone era

Several of Monmouth’s quirky voting houses still stand

Sep 16, 2022

Remnants of a bygone era

Sep 16, 2022

Beloved veterinarian played Santa for decades

MONMOUTH, Ill. — Dr. Vird Odell Cudd had as many vocations as Forrest Gump, working as a circus performer, professor, veterinarian…

Aug 3, 2022

Beloved veterinarian played Santa for decades

Aug 3, 2022

Frederick Douglass spoke in Monmouth in 1866

MONMOUTH, Ill. — In his 2019 Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of Frederick Douglass, David W. Blight says of the renowned abolitionist who…

Jun 3, 2022

Frederick Douglass spoke in Monmouth in 1866

Jun 3, 2022

Once-grand Monmouth church fell victim to wrecking ball

MONMOUTH, Ill. — June 1, 2022, will mark the 50th anniversary of the end of one of the saddest architectural declines in Monmouth history…

May 25, 2022

Once-grand Monmouth church fell victim to wrecking ball

May 25, 2022

Legendary invention was toast, following 1917 Monmouth fire

MONMOUTH, Ill. — Monmouth is famous for the manufacture of several successful inventions, but it is infamous for one legendary invention…

Apr 28, 2022

Legendary invention was toast, following 1917 Monmouth fire

Apr 28, 2022

Patriarch of ag family dynasty attended seminary in Monmouth

MONMOUTH, Ill. — Many farmers from this area are familiar with the monthly agricultural publication Wallaces Farmer, which began in 1895…

Apr 15, 2022

Patriarch of ag family dynasty attended seminary in Monmouth

Apr 15, 2022

Art Institute of Chicago recognized early Warren County folk artist

MONMOUTH, Ill. — Folk artist Grandma Moses became world famous late in life for her primitive paintings portraying the simplicity of rural…

Apr 1, 2022

Art Institute of Chicago recognized early Warren County folk artist

Apr 1, 2022

World billiards champ started in local pool hall

MONMOUTH, Ill. — Many famous celebrities hail from small towns, but few retain their hometown ties once they go on to fame and fortune…

Feb 23, 2022

World billiards champ started in local pool hall

Feb 23, 2022

Caring for Warren County’s destitute evolved over ages

MONMOUTH, Ill. — “You’ll send me to the poorhouse!” is a complaint that parents have voiced to their children for ages, but it wasn’t so…

Feb 12, 2022

Caring for Warren County’s destitute evolved over ages

Feb 12, 2022

Monmouth runaway became vaudeville star

MONMOUTH, Ill. — On September 10, 1902, Monmouth stonecutter Henry T. Wells received a message that no parent would want to hear — that…

Feb 2, 2022

Monmouth runaway became vaudeville star

Feb 2, 2022

Father of acclaimed playwright had fateful meeting with Monmouth lawyer

MONMOUTH, Ill. — The career of one of America’s greatest playwrights might have taken a completely different path had his father listened…

Jan 13, 2022

Father of acclaimed playwright had fateful meeting with Monmouth lawyer

Jan 13, 2022

Unearthed early portrait shines new light on Monmouth College’s first president

MONMOUTH, Ill. — The name David Alexander Wallace is legendary at Monmouth College, in no small part because its flagship building — now…

Jan 3, 2022

Unearthed early portrait shines new light on Monmouth College’s first president

Jan 3, 2022

Jeff Rankin

Jeff Rankin

Retired editor and historian for Monmouth College. Avid researcher of western Illinois history for 40 years. FB and Twitter. jrankin@monmouthcollege.edu

Following

Help
Status
About
Careers
Press
Blog
Privacy
Rules
Terms
Text to speech