Hometown Heroes
A.C. Hart
Hester Lovekamp
by Paul Schone, Fifth Grade
Triopia Elementary School
I am writing a report on Mr. A. C. Hart. He is 95 years old! He was born and raised in Lee County, Illinois, and moved to Arenzville in 1927. He is married to Charlotte. Mrs. Hart's maiden name was Charlotte Engelbach. She was also from Arenzville. Her father was a banker in the town. Some of the streets were named after her family.
I chose to write about Mr. A. C. Hart because he planted a ton of trees to make the town look beautiful and they provide homes for animals and birds.
Mr. A. C. Hart began planting trees when he was a young man. He planted over 500,000 trees!!! The trees covered over 450 acres around Arenzville.
People have enjoyed the trees for many years. They are homes to many birds and animals. We have enjoyed hiking and riding our horses through them. We also gather the pinecones and burn them in our fireplace.
Mr. A. C. Hart has always loved nature and always will and that is why he planted the trees. People and animals have enjoyed the trees for a long time and will still enjoy them for years to come.
Hester Lovekamp
Hester Lovekamp
by Wesley Ham, Fifth Grade
Triopia Elementary School
I'm doing a biography on Hester Lovekamp and it tells you about her long life. First, she went to school from 1914-1928. Hester graduated in 1928. She has a husband named Tade.
She wrote a book about Arenzville in 1988. She got the idea out of a piece of paper in a city in New York that wrote a book about their town so she did the same. She and her husband were the only ones that helped make the book. She said after all the time she took making that book that she won't write another one.
The person who has lived the longest in the same house for the longest time, for as long as she can remember, is Faye Hierman. She was born and is still living in the same house in Arenzville. Shie is past 80 now.
The last thing I asked her was what was her best memory of living in Arenzville. It was her wedding. That's the end of my biography on Hester Lovekamp.
Francis Staake
by Brian Shaw, Fifth Grade
Triopia Elementary School
My report is on Francis Staake. Francis lives outside of Arenzville. He has lived in Arenzville 48 years. Francis was in World War 2. Francis rode on a Minesweeper. He was in the war from 1944-1945.
The U.S.S. Roselle AM 379 was the ship that he rode on. On Aug 7, 1944 the Americans dropped an atomic bomb on Japan. On Aug 9, 1945 the Americans dropped the second atomic bomb. There were millions of people in the war. They dropped the bomb where the biggest Catholic church in the world was. There were a lot of homes destroyed in Japan. A lot of factories were destroyed.
Francis didn't ride in a tank. They did 15 months of minesweeping activities. Francis got off the ship in the town of Nagasaki. After Japan had surrendered the ships came back home and the men ran to their families in joy. Francis then went home. That's my report on Francis Staake.
Jack Burrus
by Katie McGinnis, Fifth Grade
Triopia Elementary School
Jack Burrus is my hometown hero. He helped the Arenzville 4th and 5th grade girls softball team prepare for the future. He gave his spare time to teach us how to pitch. We had fun and he did too. He was so caring and generous about his time and sharing his skills.
Jack once pitched for a men's softball team. The skills and techniques he developed there are the ones he shared with my team.
He may not have helped the city of Arenzville but he gave his time away teaching us. That was valuable to me.
Francis Arenz
by Allison Phelps, Fifth Grade
Triopia Elementary School
Francis Arenz was born October 31, 1800 in Germany. He married Louis Boss. He and Louis came to America in 1827. Mr. Arenz and his wife had nine kids: Henrietta, Louis, Francis, Mary Ann, Oscar, Susan, Albert, Laura, and Henry.
One of his friends was Thomas Beard. They built a church and a school together. Mr. Arenz believed that people needed a school education.
Mr. Arenz lived to be 56 years old. Mr. Arenz died April 3, 1856.
Arenzville was named for Mr. Arenz in 1852. Mr. Arenz's house is still in Arenzville today and his house is 171 years old. There are some Arenzes living in Beardstown and Beards living in Arenzville.
by Matt Schone, Fifth Grade
Triopia Elementary School
Francis Arenz was the founder of Arenzville. He was also the founder of Beardstown. His partner Thomas Beard well, Beardstown was named after him. Mr. Arenz's house was the first one built in Arenzville. It's located behind Reggies. It was built in 1839.
He was born October 31, 1800. That means that if he was still alive he would be 198 years old. He was the mayor of Arenzville through 1853-1854. He founded Arenzville in 1839. He also founded Beardstown but named it after his good friend Thomas Beard. He had 9 children Henrietta, Louisa, Mary Ann, Oscar, Susan, Albert, Laura, and Henry. He died in 1856 on April 3, 1856. He was 56 years old.
by Nick Stephens, Fifth Grade
Triopia Elementary School
Francis Arenz was an immigrant from Germany. He was born in Blackenburg, Rhein, Prussia, October 31, 1800. He came to America in 1827, spent two years in Kentucky, and settled in Arenzville in 1839.
He was married to Louisa Boss and had nine children. Their names were Henrietta, Louisa, Francis, Mary Ann, Oscar, Susan, Albert, Laura and Henry. Francis Arenz also became a good friend with Thomas Beard.
Thomas Beard founded Beardstown. Together Mr. Arenz and Mr. Beard built a church-school in Beardstown. It was very successful. Mr. Arenz and Mr. Beard were such good friends that Mr. Beard named his first son Francis Arenz Beard.
While Mr. Arenz was in Beardstown he was a merchant and a newspaper editor for the "Beardstown Chronicle" and the "Illinois Land Register" which he founded in 1833. He was also a contractor for guns during the Black Hawk War. He statyed in Beardstown until money was hard to make. Then he was forced to move to some land about 8 miles from Beardstown, which would soon be Arenzville. He already owned land so he built a house. He bought a gristmill in 1833 and the land his house is on was part of the purchase.
In 1849 he laid out the plan of Arenzville. Then in 1852 he visited Germany. When Mr. Arenz came back in 1853 he organized Arenzville as a village. He spent his last few years in Arenzville and then died in 1856.
His house is currently owned by Janette Huey. The gristmill is now the lumberyard.
Adelle Burrus
by Jackie Burns, Fifth Grade
Triopia Elementary School
This is an essay about a hero in my home town. Her name is Adelle Burrus, she lives four miles outside of Arenzville, IL. She has lived in Arenzville for 18 years. Her husband is Martin Burrus. He owns and operates Burrus Seed Farm located in rural Arenzville, IL. Adelle takes care of Martin and their home. Adelles does many VOLUNTEER jobs in the are community such as GOD'S KIDS, it is for kids in grades 2-6, 5-days a week, at GOD'S KIDS we learn about JESUS and we have lots of fun, it is at the United Methodist Church. She is the founder of this program. It was started in 1984 and still continues today. Adelles says we are all her children because we are all GOD'S children. I asked Adelle if she could give any advice to a young person, what would it be, and she said go to church and sunday school to learn all about JESUS, and to do unto others as you would have them do unto you. I believe her. To me Adelle is a true home town hero.
by Adam Cox, Fifth Grade
Triopia Elementary School
Adelle Burrus has not lived in Arenzville all of her life. She's lived in Northern Minnesota in a small town called Fisher with a population of 350 people. She has lived in Arenzville for 18 years.
Adelle has been a member of the United Methodist Church of Arenzville for 18 years.
In the town of Arenzville Adelle's favorite thing is the caring community because everybody helps everybody.
Adelle started business with Burrus in the year 1980. Her husband Martin started in the year 1938.
When Adelle was younger she did not detassle corn, instead she picked potatoes. However, when her husband was younger he detassled corn.
Adelle got the idea to start God's Kids when she was teaching Sunday School. A girl in the 4th grade was very bored. The little girl's name was Sherry Gardener. Adelle first started with the 4th and 5th graders. Then they invited the 2nd and 3rd graders. They started by doing crafts. She was in a lady's health club which gave her the idea to bring in the exercise equipment.
Adelle first began God's Kids in September 1984 with a group of four girls. Adelle has taught God's Kids for 13 years. Her largest group ever was 186 kids!
Adelle has now retired from God's Kids and has been traveling the past two years.
The thing that inspired her the most is young people, because they make her feel young.
At God's Kids it was a lot of work, but she got all the blessings, because she got all the young people, and some are now married.
Willie Peck
by Joe R. Cates, Fifth Grade Triopia Elementary School
Willie Peck was born on August fourteenth, nineteen twenty, here in Arenzville. He has been a big help here in Arenzville. He helped establish a fire department and he helped build a ballpark and he helped with the burgoo. If he could improve anything he said he would improve senior housing.
His first job was working at a grocery store for five years. His second job was driving a candy truck. He did this for three years. His third job (the one he has today) was at this gas station. He has done this for fifty-three years.
He bought his house. The gas station was always a part of it. He has been married for fifty-three years.
He likes Arenzville because it's quiet and not as loud as the city. He also says the town has changed quite a bit. He says there aren't near as many businesses as there were.
He went to Arenzville Zuscka School. His favorite teacher was Homer Dahman. His favorite subject is math. He graduated from school in nineteen thirty-seven.
His favorite sport was baseball. He played it alot when he was a kid. He also played marbles in the school's basement. He was also on the track team.
He didn't fight in the war but he drove his candy truck up in Havana. He said there would be a guard at every intersection and as he drove by he would throw a candy bar to the guard. The guard would wave at him.
by Janelle Davidson, Fifth Grade Triopia Elementary School
Born and raised in Arenzville. His hero is Mark McGwire.
He owns a station. His favorite thing about running the station is that he gets to see all the kids. The worst thing about running the station is sitting there all by himself. The gas when he started working was only 16 cents a gallon. His greatest accomplish was being able to service people. He started working at the station because he likes cashiering.
He worked at a store were Trinity is now. He drove a candy truck. He drove a school bus for 38 years.
by Carly Joehl, Fifth Grade Triopia Elementary School
Willie Peck is my hometown hero. I chose him because he is a good friend. Willie was born August 14, 1920, which makes him 78 years old. He has two sisters and six brothers, but one brother died.
Willie got married to Dot in 1943. They had three children named Janice, Elaine, and Dennis. Willie has lived in Arenzville all of his life except for the 3 years he drove a candy truck in Havana. He likes living in Arenzville because it is quiet.
Willie always liked working on cars so he bought his business in 1945. The name of his business is Peck's Standard Service. What Willie likes best about his business is meeting all of the people. He likes to talk. The E.P.A. will make Willie close down his gas business in December. He is very sad about this.
Willie also has some grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Rebecca, Matthew, Peter, Dennis, Jr., Melisa, Jamie, and Michel are his grandchildren. Willie's great-grandchildren are triplets! They were born on September 15, 1997 and their names are Noah, Chole and Marissa. He is very proud of them.
I guess that tells you enough about Willie. I think Willie has made a difference in my town because he is so friendly and caring.
by Amanda McLain, Fifth Grade Triopia Elementary School
Willie Peck is the son of Lyman and Julia Peck. Willie was born in Arenzville on August 14, 1920. He was the third oldest in his family. He had three sister, one whom died at the young age of one. He has five brothers only one of them has pasted away. His wife's name is Dorothy. He is the father of three children, Janice, Elaine, and Dennis. He is also the grandpa of seven grandchildren. He is the great-grandpa of triplets.
He lived in Havana for three years. While he lived in Havana he drove a candy truck! Then he moved back to Arenzville and has been here ever since! He drove the school bus for thirty eight years. He was village clerk for twenty four years. He likes living in Arenzville. When he was in high school he worked in a restaurant. He also worked at the grocery store which was located at Luther Hall. Willie has ran the gas station for almost fifty three years. Willie enjoys running the gas station.
His favorite vacation spots are Michigan, Wisconsin, and Texas. He likes visiting those spots because his grandchildren and great-grandchildren live their. He also used to go fishing there. His favorite color is red. That's the color of his hair!
His favorite memory of Arenzville is when he went down to Indian Creek when he was a child and went swimming. They would get back up and somebody would say, "Let's go swimming again!" And they would go swimming again! That would happen about six or seven times each day!
Also four years ago he had heart surgery in Wisconsin. Kids from the school sent him get well cards. They meant a lot to him. He still has them!
His favorite memory of running the gas station was when they had the Fifty Year Anniversary!
I chose Willie has a hometown hero because he has ran the gas station for almost fifty three years and he is a big part of Arenzville!