Age: 77 years, 9 months, 12 days
ARTHUR GRAHAM
DOB: September 20, 1913
Beecher, Will County, IL, USA
DOD: July 2, 1991
Oak Forest, Cook County, IL, USA
Son of William S. and Ida (Leising) Graham
Brother to: Ruth E. (William C. Konow), Chester L., Lloyd E. (Gladys A. Erdman), William H. (Arlene Hopkins) and Martin Graham
Husband of Charlene Marilyn Saller, married November, 1945.
Father to: Susan Kay (Ronald L. Clausing), Charles Arthur (Susan G. unknown), Nancy (Jack Fenske) Graham.
November 22, 1945 “POPULAR COUPLE WED IN CHICAGO”
November 17, 1945
Miss Charlene Saller, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Saller, and Mr. Arthur Graham, son of W.S. Graham, were united in marriage, Saturday afternoon, in a ceremony performed by Dr. Williamson, former pastor at Chicago Heights and of the Beecher Community Church, at the residence of the pastor in Chicago.
The bride was attired in gray with black accessories and carried a bouquet of mums and pom poms. The couple were attended by Miss Shirley Cooper, roommate of the bride, and Mr. Richard Hiatt.
Mr. Graham operates the Graham Service Station on the Dixie Highway, and his bride, a former student at the U. of Illinois, is at present employed in Chicago.
January 9, 1947 “ARTHUR GRAHAM APPOINTED TO TOWN COLLECTOR POST”
The Town Board met, Monday morning, and appointed Arthur Graham to fill the unexpired term of Mrs. Gertrude (Hack) Haltenhoff as Town Collector.
Graham will serve until the election in 1949. Actually he will make the collections, if the books are available for the next three years.
Mrs. Haltenhoff resigned when she moved to Chicago, last summer.
August 26, 1948 “GRAHAM PREPARING SERIES OF HISTORICAL ARTICLES”
Village Trustee Graham, since the discovery of the historic marker, site of the old Hubbard Trail, now known as the Dixie Highway, has in process of preparation an article or perhaps a series of articles touching on this historic trail. This will also include the trail known as the Ox Trail, which was in use long before the survey was run for the present Dixie Highway and which passed through approximately 20 rods west of the present highway. This, on the north side of the village, would be between the residences of Dr. H.H. Hiatt and Wm. Wiggenhauser. It crossed Indiana Street at a point where the present Catalpa Street is located. The trail wound its way through the prairie to Vincennes, Ind.
This article or series will appear in the Herald as soon as sufficient data has been collected. Anyone having any information on this old Hubbard Trail is kindly requested to get in touch with Mr. Graham. He will be glad to receive it and use it if possible.
Graham is also contemplating another project, the complete history of Beecher, which would be a valuable work, and would probably be coveted by many local citizens.
Editor’s note: no historical articles written by Arthur have been found to date
Editor’s note: 1965 Art worked hard for the improvement of the Beecher Community. He donated his personal labor to help install the two tennis courts in 1965 and offered the use of his private family in-ground swimming pool to give the Beecher community’s children swimming lessons. The swimming lessons were taught by his two daughters, Nancy and Sue, along with Yvonne Squire.
AUTHUR GRAHAM
Funeral services were held Saturday at Hack Chapel for Arthur Graham who died July 2, 1991, at Oak Forest Hospital in Oak Forest. The Rev. Kenneth Lueke officiated at the service. Entombment was at Beecher Mausoleum.
Arthur Graham was born Sept. 20, 1913, in Beecher. His parents were Ida (nee Leising) and William Graham. He was the owner operator of Graham Trucking for many years and served as trustee on the village board 20 years.
He is survived by one daughter, Susan Clausing, and one son Charles Graham, both of Beecher, eight grandchildren, and one brother, William Graham of Beecher.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Charlene; daughter, Nancy; three brothers and one sister.
Arthur’s family members also resting in the mausoleum are:
Wife: Charlene (Saller) Graham
Daughter: Nancy (Graham) Fenske
Father & Mother-in-law: Herbert C. Saller & Dorothy (Bahlman) Saller
Wife’s Grandparents: Charles H. Bahlman & Sophia M. (Schweer) Bahlman
Wife’s Great Uncle & Aunt: Henry F. Bahlman & Emma (Wehmhoefer) Bahlman
Wife’s Great Uncle & Aunt: John H. Bahlman & Anna L. (Wehrmann) Bahlman
Wife’s Great Aunt: Lena C. Bahlman
Wife’s Great Uncle: William F. Bahlman
Wife’s cousins 1x removed: Lillian (Bahlman) Wegert & Henry H. Wegert
Wife’s cousins 1x removed: Lora (Bahlman) Hinze & Arthur A. Hinze
Wife’s cousins 1x removed” Marguerite (Toleson) Bahlman & Henry W. Bahlman DDS
Wife’s cousin 1x removed: Carolyn M. Bahlman
Wife’s cousin 1x removed: Donald W. Bahlman
Wife’s cousins 1x removed: Ferne (Bahlman) Hildeman & William R. Hildeman
Other more distant family include: Batterman, Bergmeier, Beseke, Bielfeldt, Bohl, Cloidt, Dunlap, Engleking, Fick, Freerking, Frobose, Guritz, Hack, Hager, Haltenhof , Heine, Heldt, Hoffman, Hoppensteadt, Horn, Hunte, Kaczynski, Kappe, Kilborn, Kirchhoff, Klocksieben, Koch, Langreder, Leder, Maass, Matthias, Mc Carty, Meyer, Monk, Ohlendorf, Pansa, Peters, Pralle, Riley, Ristenpart, Rohe, Rust, Selk, Struve, Thielman, Vagt, Von Engeln, Wehmhoefer, Wiechen, Wilkening,
Mr. and Mrs. S.R. Stites and Mr. and Mrs. Fred E. Heldt entertained about 50 of their married friends at a Halloween party, Saturday evening. The party gathered at the home of Mrs. H. Bielfeldt at 7:30 o’clock and from there ambled around in an effort to locate where the function proper would take place. When they arrived at the Stites home they were directed through the dimly lighted rooms, following a narrow roped passage to the basement. Before reaching their destination, however, they heard weird and hideous noises that fairly made the cold chills creep up and down their spinal columns. The basement was in utter darkness, but a match was brought into play and jack-o-lanterns and lighted candles soon illuminated the room, when it was found tables were set with plenty of good things to eat that would even tempt a ghost. Unique and appropriate decorations adorned the tables. Large jack-o-lanterns were placed in the center of the tables, while at each plate there were small candles with carrots as candlesticks. Alongside of each plate were also small turnips filled with assorted candies. Even the paper napkins were adorned with a pumpkin face and a witch, appropriate to the occasion. After satisfying the inner man – at which the writer must confess we overdone it – 
the happy throng were escorted to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Fred E. Heldt, where they found the rooms tastily decorated with corn stalks and autumn leaves. Here games, vocal and instrumental music, dancing and general merriment prevailed and each guest seemed to enjoy an equal share of the fun. At midnight the good witch made her visit with a kettle of sparkling grape juice just to put on the finishing touch, and shortly afterward the party dispersed, regretting that it had “got late late so early”. The ladies, Mesdames Stites and Heldt, are charming entertainers and are deserving of much praise for their party on Saturday evening, which was so successfully carried out.
Fred E. Heldt and family have returned from a week’s vacation spent in Iowa. They report having immensely enjoyed their visit. Mr. Heldt relates his experience during his stay: “We left Beecher on May 13 and arrived at Waverly, Iowa, at 6:13 Saturday evening, where we were met by our cousin, C.C. Treaton, who is a noted farmer of Bremer County, Iowa. The following Monday we went with Mr. Treaton to a farmer’s creamery at Artesian, of which Mr. Treaton is secretary and manager. The creamery handled 540,000 pounds of milk last month and has 80 milk customers. They pay 89 cents for milk and receive 22 cents a pound for butter. From there we went to the homes of Carl, Louis and John Pries and August Thiemann, who are engaged in hog raising, They have from 20 to 60 brood sows each, and it is considered no trick at all to ship from one to fifteen cars of hogs a week by buyers at this point. On Friday, May 19, we left for Sumner to make a short visit with our uncle, Mr. Carl Priece, and on Saturday we left for West Union to visit our Aunt, Mrs. H. Schroeder, and cousins, Wm. Schroeder and Emil Heldt. The latter is well known in this community and sends his regards to all enquiring friends. The country at West Union, Fayette County, is more rolling than that at Bremer. Mr. Heldt and Mr. Schroeder are engaged in raising cattle and sheep. Crops looked good at all points we visited. Corn had already been worked once and oats, wheat and hay were knee deep. Prices for wheat was $1.05; corn .55c; hay $13; hogs $7.90; butter, 23c, and eggs, 13c.” Fred E. Heldt
Fred E. Heldt, former manager of the Farmers Grain Company of Beecher, but who resigned as such several weeks ago, has accepted the position as manager of the A&P store in the Bockelman building on Gould street. He assumed his new position on Monday morning, and is rapidly becoming familiar with his duties.
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Heldt celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, Saturday, Dec. 16th. They received many cards, flowers and lovely gifts. The couple were the guest of their son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Meeter and children, Patricia and Dudley, at a dinner in the 
Colonial Room in Chicago. A quartet of costumed carolers rendered several Christmas songs at their table. As the dessert was served, a cake with lighted candles was placed before the honored couple while the organist played “I Love You Truly”, “The Anniversary Song” and “Because.”
Funeral services were held Tuesday at the Hack Chapel in Beecher for Fred E. Heldt, 93 of 705 Woodward Street, who died at South Suburban Hospital, Hazelcrest on Saturday. The Rev. Walter C. Coffey officiated and interment was in the Beecher Mausoleum.
Arthur Hack and Ethel Wehmhoefer were married Jan. 1, 1920 at St. Luke’s parsonage, Rev. G. Horst officiating. Mr. and Mrs. George Heiden were sponsors. Following the wedding the couple boarded a train for Chicago.
esteemed young people and their many friends wish them the best there is in their wedded life.
Arthur Hack has been named chairman of the local Community Chest drive. This effort to collect contributions for charitable organizations is an annual affair on a nation-wide basis. It provides a single unified opportunity for each individual to contribute to charity and provides a unified effort on the part of organizations which benefit from the collections.
The annual meeting of St. Luke’s Evangelical and Reformed Church was held Sunday after noon in the church parlors with the vice president Alfred Haseman presiding as chairman. Minutes of the previous meetings were read by Secretary Arthur Hack and the treasurer’s report was read by Howard Paul.
Family members and fiends of the community were saddened by the passing of Arthur Brands, last Wednesday afternoon, at the home of his sister, here in Beecher, and Arthur Hack, who died early last Thursday morning at Hazelcrest Hospital where he had been confined since returning from a Florida visit. Both Mr. Brands and Mr. Hack had been ill for some time.
Arthur Johann Heinrich Hack, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hack, was born June 8, 1896. He was baptized on August 23, 1896 by the Rev. Gustav Koch. He was confirmed in the Christian faith in St. Luke’s Church on April 9, 1911 by the Rev. Roth. His confirmation verse was Proverbs 23:26: “My son, give Me Thine Heart, and Let Thine Eyes Observe My Ways.”
Born January 17, 1897, in Carbon Cliff, Illinois, Mr. Gerhardt had been a resident of Beecher for 20 years and was superintendent of Beecher Schools for 16 years. From 1951-1954, he taught social science and acted as guidance director for the schools.
Announces That Schools Will Open Here On The Day After Labor Day
Since we are becoming road or highway conscious in Illinois, as well as education conscious, I want to comment on the excellent condition of the highways all over Wisconsin. There has been extensive improvements over a year ago, and the detours all over concrete or black top only indicate the fact that Wisconsin is doing a lot of road work. Even her off-roads are far better that our trunk lines. How can a poor state, relatively speaking, like Wisconsin be so progressive as far as all its highways, county as well as state, are concerned, and the richest state, with due apologies to California, be so hesitant to improving its highways much less building new ones? Perhaps we should not even mention our county roads at all. A year ago, in driving 600 miles of Wisconsin’s main highways and county roads, the writer hit only a few miles of bad roads, and it was awful. However, it was a stretch of highway passing a federal explosive storage area and the Federal Government had control of the upkeep of that strip of road.
Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. today for Paul Gerhardt, 57 an instructor and guidance director for Beecher Schools, who died Sunday morning at his home on Prairie Avenue in Beecher after a long illness.
secretary of Beecher Lodge 1087; president of the Beecher Community church board; a bible class instructor; a member of the Royal Neighbors of America; a member of Kappa Delta Phi and Phi Delta Kappa; and a member of the National Education Association and Illinois Education Association. He was a graduate of Augustana College and had received a master’s degree from the University of Illinois.
In last week’s issue of the Joliet News, the Crete correspondent to that paper gave Mr. Rohe’s reasons for becoming a candidate for the legislature to succeed the late J.H. Alexander, and for which a special election will be held next Tuesday, March 11. Following is the clipping verbatim:
Fred B. Rohe, of 1561 Main Street, Crete, former president of the Crete Village Board and former Crete Township Supervisor, died Tuesday at St. Francis Hospital, Blue Island, after a long illness. He attained the age of 77 years.
Funeral rites were held, last Thursday afternoon, at Crete Trinity Lutheran Church for Fred Rohe, former mayor of Crete. Burial was in the Mausoleum here.
Son of Hans Heinrich Christoph and Dorothea (nee Harste) Bahlman
the busiest man in Will County, just now, canvassing in the interest of his campaign, he reports that he is meeting with gratifying encouragement in every section he visits.
In August of 1913, about 350 farmers listened to a representative from the Will County Crop and Soil Improvement Assoc. Speakers urged farmers to plow under their clover crop instead of harvesting it, thus providing fertilizer to the soil for higher corn yields. H.F. Bahlman, H.F. Thielman, Ed Rump, and Welton Ehrardt were among the Beecher farmers who filled 75 automobiles for a tour of Will County farms that day.
Mr. Bahlman was united in marriage with Emma Wehmhoefer, May 25, 1890. For many years he successfully operated a farm in the Eagle Lake community. Throughout his career, he was active in both church and civic affairs, having been a member of his district school board and supervisor and justice of the peace of Washington Township. He also served for a long period as an officer and member of the board of the Crete Mutual Fire Insurance Co.
(Editor’s note: We know Scholiasika, aka Tillie, departed Copenhagen, Kobenhavn, Denmark on May 2, 1928 and arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada on May 12, 1928.
John Kaczynski, a Lithuanian by birth, who came to America in 1914 at the age of 28 years (correction, 24 years), was unexpectedly called out of this life, Thursday, March 26, 1942 at 12:30 p.m. at his home at Sollitt. Not quite well, yet without alarming symptoms, his departure deeply shocked his loved ones as well as those who had learned to know and esteem him. His funeral was held, Monday, March 30 at 2 p.m., at the Hack Funeral Home with Rev. G Horst officiating. The following trio: Mrs. Herman Seitz, Mrs. Ervin Albers and Mrs. George Ostermeyer, rendered two appropriate songs, and a lady friend of the family sang two numbers, one in Lithuanian for the many Lithuanian friends of the bereaved family present. The funeral, largely attended, and the beautiful floral pieces gave evidence of the esteem in which the departed was held.
Meeting was called to order by Pres. Batterman.
One of the most outstanding citizens of this community peacefully passed into the great beyond, when Dr. Michael R. Miley closed his eyes in death, Sunday morning, at about 8 o’clock, at his home here. Due to advanced age, the doctor had been in failing health for some time, and for about a week before his death, he was unable to take nourishment. The end was imminent when he took to his bed, last Wednesday, and calmly awaited the final summons. He attained the age of 80 years, 2 months and one day. His sorrowing wife and daughters, Misses Alice and Olive were at the bedside. Another daughter, Bernice, (Mrs. A. Anderson), of Idaho was unable to attend the funeral. She visited her father during a recent illness, however, when she submitted to a blood transfusion in order to prolong his life.
and was united in marriage with Miss Emily Manz, a native of Wisconsin, October 14, 1899. This union was blessed with the three daughters, already mentioned, and a set of twins; Mary and Milton C, who died in infancy.
Many other improvements including the installation of a lighting system were introduced, and he advocated water works and sewer systems. Although he declined re-election at that time he served another term as head of the Board in later years and always maintained an active interest and persistent desire for a better Beecher. He held the office of Justice of the Peace for many years up to the time of his death.
H. Wehmhoefer, Beecher’s leading hardware merchant, was born in Chicago, remaining in the city for twenty years, when he moved to Beecher. Ten years ago in August he started his hardware business, and it speaks well for its management that during all these years Mr. Wehmhoefer has had no competition. This fact is the highest monument to the liberal and honorable treatment always accorded by Mr. Wehmhoefer to his patrons, and though the rapid growth of Beecher is now introducing competitive business, Mr. Wehmhoefer may be counted on to retain his old patrons who have known him for years and who know him for what he is worth. Having lived in Beecher for 15 years and enjoyed the success that comes from a busy life, Mr. Wehmhoefer believes in Beecher and believes in Beechers’ institutions. He is one of the men who will do his part in bringing about a larger expansion of Beecher’s industrial activity. Mr. Wehmhoefer is one of the directors of the Eastern Illinois Brick company, the leading industry, and he would be among the first to welcome additional industries. He is unalterably opposed to any stand-still policy. In the matter of new educational facilities his vote is already recorded on the side of progress, and he will do his utmost to bring about the desired end. Mr. Wehmhoefer is a member of St. Lucas Church, and both he and his family take interest in all the social circles of the town.
In addition to his large hardware business Mr. Wehmhoefer is exclusive agent for many of the leading farm implement firms, including the Deering Company. In a word, the tenth year of the establishment of his business sees Mr. Wehmhoefer at the head of two of the most important business enterprises that an agricultural community can have, and it is the wish of his fellow-townsmen that he may long continue to attract people from far and near to the village of Beecher.
Henry Wehmhoefer, son of the deceased William and Mary Wehmhoefer, was born in Chicago June 30, 1871. Being the child of fine Christian parents he was soon after birth, baptized by the Rev. Wagner in Zion’s Church, Chicago. When in the fall of 1884, his parents became residents of our community, ample opportunity was given the departed to complete a course in religious instruction at St. Paul’s Church, northwest of Beecher where, on March 29, 1885, he was confirmed by the Rev. A.H. Brauer. Filled with the enthusiasm, hope and energy of youth, he soon sought and found employment in Chicago, first as clerk in a wholesale grocery store and later as painter and decorator.
Beginning to ail some six years ago his life gradually and increasingly became filled with intense pain and suffering. In his quest for relief and possible cure he consulted the best of medical skill here, and in many of the hospitals of Chicago, always bearing himself with Christian patience and fortitude. During all these years, when at home or in the hospitals, the best of loving attention and care and most skilled and untiring nursing was given him. This applies especially to his stay in the North Chicago Hospital, where he had stayed the longest and where he had gone again some five weeks ago when his suffering became almost unbearable. While there his ailment took a decided turn for the worse so that all hopes of recovery had to be abandoned. Fully realizing his critical condition, suffering patiently as always, his end in the presence of his family came peacefully Thursday, July 9, at 10:45 p.m., at the age of 65 years and 9 days.
Funeral services were conducted, Sunday afternoon, beginning at 1:30 at the home and continued at St. Lucas Church, where his pastor, Rev. G. Horst, spoke fitting words of comfort in both the German and English languages. A temporary installment of a microphone and loud-speaker making it possible to reach the vast number of relatives and friends who had come to pay their last respects to an honored friend. The many beautiful floral pieces also evidenced the high esteem and regard in which the departed was held by all who knew him. He was laid to rest in the Beecher Mausoleum.
Their passage was secured on the sailing-vessel “Oregon,” which made a landing in New York City after a voyage of seven weeks and four days. The family soon afterward came to Chicago, and then located in Du Page County. They were very poor and at first had a hard time to get along, but they were industrious and determined, and soon their labors were rewarded by their ability to rent land on which they made a good living. The parents were members of the Lutheran Church, and not only led upright lives, but endeavored to instill into the hearts of their children the principles of right living. The mother died in Du Page County, in September, 1864 when upwards of three-score and ten years of age. The bereaved husband came to Will County some months later, and died at the home of his son, William, in Washington Township, in 1868. He was seventy-five years old.
Ernest Heldt, Sr. whose death was briefly mentioned in last week’s Beecher Herald, was born January 20, 1841, at Kupenhagen, Mecklenburg, Germany. In 1852 the family came to America, landing at New York, and working their way through to Lombard, near Elmhurst. October 26, 1862, he was married to Miss Lisette Stadt at Franken Church, Addison.
Mr. and Mrs. Heldt moved to Beecher in 1906, taking up their home in a new residence on Indiana and Maxwell Streets. On October 27, 1911, the couple celebrated their golden wedding.