Main Page

Lloyd Lwellyn Jarboe

Son of William P. Jarboe and Harriet M. Hansell
Nephew of Rebecca Hansell and John M. Hutchinson

Hansell - Jarboe Proposed Lineage

Compiled by Judy Griffin, 2007 - email address

William Hansell (1793 - 1872) + Ann Sunderland (1794 - 1872)
..... 2 Rebecca Hansell (1816 - 1912) + John M. Hutchinson (ca. 1810 - )
..... 2 Elizabeth Ann Hansell (1819 - 1901) + James A. McGannon. See McGannon history
..... 2 Llewellyn Hansell (ca. 1825 - 1860s)
..... 2 Harriet M. Hansell (ca. 1826 - between 1900-1910) + William P. Jarboe (ca. 1818 - 1876)
.......... 3 Elizabeth Lenora Jarboe (1849 – 1881)
.......... 3 Lloyd Llewellyn Jarboe (ca 1852 - )
.......... 3 Orville A. Jarboe (ca 1860s - 1945)
..... 2 Emma Hansell (ca. 1828 - 1902) + Charles W. Johnson (ca. 1828 - 1896)
..... 2 Sarah Barley Hansell (1832 - 1922) + Johnson Norris (1832 - 1897)
..... 2 Lloyd S. Hansell (1836 - 1921) + Hannah H. M. Seward (1839 - 1902)

Jarboe Family

Lloyd L. Jarboe is a cousin. His mother is this researcher’s 3rd great grandaunt. Lloyd is of interest because he also worked in the circus and may have first entered the circus business with the assistance of his cousin, James L. Hutchinson, who was about six years older than Lloyd L. It is interesting to note that both James L. and Lloyd L. had the middle name Llewellyn, which may have come from the Hansell line.

The Jarboe line is also of interest because William P. Jarboe’s aunt, Elizabeth, married Simon Kenton, who was with Daniel Boone. One can imagine, when the Jarboes, Hutchinsons and Hansells were together in Jerseyville, and the Hutchinsons and Jarboes were together in Macoupin County, there were tales told about the Jarboe family’s early days in Kentucky (and maybe Kenton’s experiences as a frontiersman). Perhaps James L. and his brother, William H., heard these family stories when they were growing up.

The Hutchinson and related Jarboe and Norris families (and the related Sunderlands, some of whom remained in Macoupin) went to nearby Macoupin County circa the late 1840s, but returned to Jersey County (probably Jerseyville) in the 1860s. It’s a puzzle why these families decided to go to Macoupin County and then soon returned to Jersey County.

Philip Jarboe (bet. 1779-80 – 1839) + (1) Ruth Richards (1782 – 1817), (2) Catherine Collins.
Children of Philip Jarboe and Ruth Richards:
..... 2 Malinda Jarboe (1800 - ) + Robert Davis
..... 2 Matilda Jarboe (1812 - ) + Elijah Lott
..... 2 Harvey Jarboe (ca. 1808- ) + Amy Ann Rickart
Children of Philip Jarboe and Catherine Collins:
..... 2 William P. Jarboe (1816 - 1876) + Harriet M. Hansell
..... 2 Alfred Milton Jarboe, Sr. (1820 – 1897) + Mary Davis (1837 - 1923)
..... 2 Lewis B. Jarboe (ca. 1826 – 1868) + Mary Jane McKinney
..... 2 Emily Jarboe (ca. 1831 - ) + Thomas L. Long
..... 2 Augustus Jarboe (ca. 1831 - ) + Sarah Jones
..... 2 Minerva Jarboe (ca. 1836 - ) + William K. James
..... 2 Frank Jarboe (ca. 1838 - )
..... 2 Benjamin Franklin Jarboe (ca. 1838 - )
..... 2 Jane Jarboe (ca. 1839 - )

(Early Jarboe proposed lineage is at the end of this document.)

The Jarboes came to Illinois early, as did the Hutchinsons, Hansells, and Dabbs in our family lines. Philip Jarboe, his son Harvey M., and James M. (later moved to Indiana) purchased land in Greene, Scott and Fulton counties, respectively. Philip and his second wife, Catherine (nee Collins), purchased land in Greene County in 1836. (1) Philip died in 1839, and Catherine was left with a family of nine. (2) Catherine died in January 1850, at age 56. (3) She was buried in the old cemetery (Hickory Grove) at Jerseyville. In the Old Settlers Society, William P., son of Philip and Catherine, stated that he came to Illinois in 1827. (4) Philip and Catherine were found in the 1830 Greene County census. This census accounts for all of Philip’s children born before 1830, but there is one female under age 5, one male age 10 to under 15 and one male 20 to under 30 that are not listed above as known children of Philip.

While Harvey purchased land in Scott County (borders Greene County on the north) in 1836, (5) he was residing without any family in White Hall Township, Greene County in 1840. (6) By 1850, William P. had moved to Macoupin County with his family. Philip’s son Alfred M. was still in Jersey County in 1850, and most of the family members who probably had lived with Catherine, were now living with Alfred: (7) Lewis, Emily E., Minerva, Frank, Jane, and Augustus. Harvey was now in nearby Pike County with his family, the oldest child age 9. (8) Harvey married Amy Ann Rickart on April 30, 1840 in Greene County. (9) By 1854, Philip and Catherine’s son, Lewis B., was selling boots, shoes and fancy notions in the “Red Corner” in Jerseyville. (10) John Hutchinson (related through Lewis’s sister-in-law Harriet Hansell) also sold shoes and boots at his shop in the “Red Corner” in the 1840s. Perhaps John sold out to Lewis when he went to Macoupin County. Lewis died in Kansas in 1868.

William P. Jarboe and Harriett M. Hansell

Harriet, sister of Rebecca, daughter of William Hansell

William P. Jarboe (Philip¹) was born about 1818, possibly in Clark County, Ohio, and died on April 2, 1876. (11) One source has William in Illinois in 1827, in Jersey County in 1844. He married Harriet M. Hansell on 30 September 1847 in Jerseyville, Jersey County, Illinois, daughter of William Hansell and Ann Sunderland. (12) Harriet was born circa 1826 in New Jersey. Other researchers list William T., but he is listed as William P. in censuses and in his Estate Sale notice. His full name may be William Philip, since his father was Philip Jarboe. William was in Jersey County by the 1840s. The family moved to Macoupin County by 1849/1850 and returned to Jersey County by 1855 (census). It is not known why William moved to Macoupin, then soon returning to Jersey. Rebecca and John Hutchinson and the Norris family (Harriet’s and Rebecca’s sister was married to Johnson Norris) lived nearby in Macoupin. William P. Jarboe kept a general store in Jerseyville. It was announced in 1866 that he was establishing a new firm with a Mr. Calm. They were refitting the old corner opposite Wiley and Ten Eick’s Hardware Store, with a view of establishing a clothing, furnishing and dry goods store. (13) He was also a ‘wine grower’ with his son Lloyd assisting him in the vineyard in 1870. (14) He was said to have a grape vineyard at Jerseyville, of five thousand vines – not a small operation! In 1870 his real estate was valued at $3,000. He must have left Harriet well off. Harriet had a hired man for a gardener. This man was found dead in their home by Harriet: (15)

Mr. Tillman Miller, a laborer in the employ of Mrs. H. N. Jarboe, living in the southern part of the city, was found dead in his bed Monday morning. The coroner, Dr. Williams, summoned a jury composed of Dr. A. A. Shobe, Dr. T. A. Kings, Dr. E. L. H. Barry, Geo. W. White, Johnson Norris, and M. D. Selby, and held an inquest. The evidence of Mrs. H. N. Jarboe, Miss Lizzie Jarboe, and Orville A. Jarboe, was to the effect that he had been employed by Mrs. Jarboe as gardener for the past four months, was 61 years of age, and a bachelor. He had been complaining of not feeling well, but had been at work. Last Sunday evening he went to bed seemingly as well as usual, and when Mrs. Jarboe called him about half past four or five o’clock in the morning, she discovered that he was dead. The verdict of the jury was, “We, the undersigned jury, sworn to examine into the cause of the death of Mr. T. Miller, do hereby state that from a careful examination of the body and the evidence presented, that the deceased came to his death from natural causes.” The deceased had been living in this vicinity for several years, and was a quiet citizen and generally liked by all who knew him.

For Christmas in 1882, Harriet and her sister, our Rebecca, visited Rebecca’s son, James L. Hutchinson in New York. (16)

The children of William Jarboe and Harriet Hansell were: (17)

• Elizabeth Lenora Jarboe, born on July 16, 1849 in Macoupin County, Illinois and died on January 28, 1881 in Jerseyville. Elizabeth never married. She may have been a milliner in Jerseyville, as was her aunt, our Rebecca Hutchinson. (18) “Below Bonnell’s was Millinery Row with Miss Jarboe’s and Grandma Van Pelt’s emporiums.” She operated a flower store that also had ‘fancy items,’ according to her obituary. In the Jersey County Burial Index, there are two entries, both of which seem to be Elizabeth: Jarbo, Elizabeth, Oak Grove cemetery, Jersey County, 1850 - 1881; Jarboe, Lizzie L. Unknown cemetery, died 28 Jan 1881.

  Miss Elizabeth Lenora Jarboe died, last Friday, under very painful circumstances. She has been suffering for several years with heart disease, and during the past few weeks the attacks have become more and more acute. Last Friday she came from home and opened her store as usual, but feeling weak and depressed she sent for her cousin, Miss Annie McGannon, to assist her with some work. While the messenger was absent she became worse and walked up to Edgar & Co.’s drug store to get something to relieve her. Entering the store she paused at the counter and immediately fell against it, saying: “Give me something, quick!” and gasped for breath. They caught her as she was about to fall and placed her on a lounge, and every effort was made to relieve her suffering, but without avail, for in a few minutes she was dead. When it seemed impossible to restore her they sent for her mother, who soon arrived, and seeing her daughter lying, as she supposed, in a faint, commenced chafing her hands and calling for hartshorn, and when told that she was dead, words fail to describe the intensity of her anguish. But a few years ago being deprived of a husband and now of a daughter, whose love for “Mother” could not be excelled, the blow was sudden, and it appeared for a few minutes that she too would sink beneath it, and for hours and days it seemed impossible to comfort her. Miss Jarboe was born in Macoupin county, July 16, 1849, and died Jan. 28, 1881, thus being 31 years, 6 months and 12 days of age. After the death of her father she opened a flower store on North Main street, below Exchange street, but afterwards moved to the rooms near Boynton’s jewelry store, and added fancy articles to her floral stock. Here she labored, day after day, oft times when not able, and on the day of her death left that place to return no more. She has left many friends, as she was one of these quiet, unassuming persons who win the hearts of all with whom they associate. Fortunately her brothers were both here. The funeral services were held at the Baptist church, last Sunday afternoon, Rev. Heagle officiating, assisted by Revs. May and Stark. The church was filled to overflowing, seats being placed in the aisles, and many standing who thus paid the last tribute of respect to the departed, who was so suddenly cut off in the midst of womanhood.

  Written for Mrs. H. M. Jarboe, in Memory of Her Daughter (probably written by Anna McGannon)

  He tenderly calls them away to their rest -
  The ones that are truest, who loved us the best;
  But He the wise purpose to us will reveal
  When we meet by-and-by in the land of the leal.

  We fail, in our weakness, His dealings to trace,
  And yet all-sufficient His promise of grace.
  To guide and sustain be our earnest appeal,
  Till we anchor beyond, in the land of the leal.

  And when in the light of eternity’s dawn
  Gleam visions of those who before us have gone,
  No “shadow of death” will the dear ones conceal,
  When we meet by-and-by in the land of the leal.

  Oh, precious the knowledge that only we stand
  Upheld by a Mighty, Omnipotent hand
  And when at the feet of the Master we kneel
  May it be with the Lord in the land of the leal.

  Note: Annie McGannon was a daughter of Elizabeth Lenora’s Aunt, Elizabeth Ann Hansell and Uncle James A. McGannon. Elizabeth Ann was a sister of Elizabeth Lenora’s mother, Harriett M. Hansell.

• Lloyd Llewellyn Jarboe was born in December circa 1852, probably in Macoupin County, Illinois. See below.

• Orville A. Jarboe was born circa 1867 in Jersey County. See below.

Lloyd Llewellyn Jarboe

Lloyd Llewellyn Jarboe (William P.²; Philip¹) was born in December circa 1852, probably in Macoupin County, Illinois. His nickname may have been “Bud.” Lloyd married Alice Janet Orm circa 1886. (19) Alice was born in May 1858 in Jersey County, and died on August 20, 1947 at Aurora, Kane County, Illinois. Alice’s mother was Philanda/Philinda A. Orm, who was listed as a Jersey County Pensioner in 1883, receiving $10.00 a month. (20) Lloyd and Alice’s marriage is not listed in the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index 1763-1900, they may have married elsewhere. They had three daughters.

Lloyd was employed in the circus with his cousin, James L. Hutchinson, for at least three years. In 1879-80 he managed the Confectionery Department for James L.’s privileges on Cooper & Bailey’s Great London Circus. In 1881, he was the side show doorkeeper on Barnum, Bailey & Hutchinson (Barnum & London). The next year (1882), he was with W. C. Coup’s circus, possibly with Forepaugh later in the year. By 1883 he was with W. W. Cole’s circus, at least for part of the season. There is no information on Lloyd between 1876 and 1878. He may have still been working in Jerseyville or with a circus, the following were published in the Jersey County Democrat, 1880-83:

January 13, 1880: We were shown by Lloyd Jarboe a coin in his possession that is one of the oldest in the world. It is made of bronze copper, and has the stamp of Claudius Drusus Germanicus, who was born ten years before Christ, and reigned from 41 to 54 A. D. The coin is about 1836 years old. It was presented to Mr. Jarboe by T. A. M. Ward, of Philadelphia, who has a large collection of antique curiosities.

April 8, 1880: Bud Jarboe left Wednesday night for Philadelphia, and will start out for the season with Cooper & Bailey’s Great London Show, which will leave that city on the 26th inst.

November 11, 1880: Lloyd Jarboe has returned from Philadelphia, where he left the Great London Circus, with which he has been connected the past season.

February 10, 1880: J. L. Hutchinson (Shorty) has combined with Baily [sic] & Barnum and they will put on the road this season the largest circus in the world, it being a combination of Barnums and the Great London. Shorty is one-third owner. L. L. Jarboe leaves in a few weeks for Bridgeport, Connecticut, to assist in preparing for the summer campaign.

September 1, 1881 - States that the Jerseyville correspondent, visiting in Ohio, didn’t see J. L. Hutchinson (who was in NY), but did see Lloyd Jarboe.

October 9, 1881: L. L. Jarboe, who is with the Barnum London show, came in from Omaha Saturday night and is now working for H.[?] W. Fisher [Note: winter job in Jerseyville]. There is a Henry W. Fisher, express agent, Jerseyville, in the 1880 Jersey County census.

August 31, 1882: Lloyd Jarboe came home yesterday morning. Coup’s circus was seized at Detroit for debt. Lloyd will join Forepaugh at Peoria soon.

September 14, 1882: Lloyd Jarboe has some very curious specimens of Arkansas pottery, procured while travelling with Coup’s circus this season. . . .

May 31, 1883. L. L. Jarboe came home from Cole’s circus last week and remained till Tuesday when he left for Peoria.

Lloyd lived in Jerseyville, from circa 1860 to at least 1890, as reported in the Jersey County Democrat:

March 27, 1874. Last Monday L. L. Jarboe was riding a horse belonging to Charles Adams, when the animal stumbled and fell, slightly injuring Mr. Jarboe’s leg. The horse was so injured that it died in a few hours.

June 4, 1874. At the invitation of our friend, Mr. Tom Walker, we had the pleasure of attending yesterday, a pleasure excursion, under his auspices, to the river and return. The party, some thirty in number, went to Elsah in carriages, and the programme was to spend the afternoon at that place as pleasantly as possible, and in the evening to go aboard Captain Bruner’s “Spread Eagle” and make the trip to Grafton and return, with the accompaniment of music and dancing on the boat. Arriving at Elsah, a large brick building on the bank of the river was at once seized and the gentlemen amused themselves in various ways while the ladies were preparing lunch. An improvised table was soon spread with an array of good things sufficient to have fed a regiment. At the table we noticed the following: G. P. Ely, Chas. Casey, James Bothwell, Charley Parent, T. F. Terry, Tom Terry, Tom Walker, Jim Walker, Mark Warren, E. McReynolds, Geo. Bothwell, D. M. Bonnell, Joe Powell, N. E. Stallings, Jim Flaut, Geo Van Horne and L. L. Jarboe. The Ladies Were: Misses E. Parent, Fannie Bonnell, Annie Warren, Gracie Cockrell, Mattie Brooks, Leella(?) Barr, Flora Evans, Hattie Ely, Mary Walker, Rosie Cory, Annie Bailey, Nettie Van Horne, Mary Gardner, Fannie Terry and Addie Gardner. Dinner was despatched with much mirth and merriment, and shortly afterward, Mr. Rue and his seconds having arrived, the hall was cleared for action and dancing was commenced and continued - with a few breathing spells - for the remainder of the afternoon. About four o’clock the festivities were interrupted by one of the most violent rain storms we have ever seen. The wind blew a stiff gale, and the descending sheets of water made it impossible to see a hundred feet in any direction; the water came tumbling in torrents from the bluffs, and in a moment the one street of Elsah was a small river in itself. About the only inconvenience to the party, however, was the indefinite postponement of a pleasant excursion which had been contemplated to “Notche Cliffe,” the residence of Mrs. L. V. S. Ames. At sunset the whole party sought water’s edge and an anxious watch for Bruner and the Spread Eagle was commenced and continued for some two hours, when tired of the delay the dance was resumed. At about 11 o’clock the lights of the steamer were seen down the river, and with the conviction that it was “better late than never,” the party returned to the landing only to be again disappointed. The boat was the Fannie Keener with the Eagle’s freight, and people, and the intelligence that the latter boat in backing out at St. Louis had collided with the Andy Johnson and broken a paddle wheel. To return home was now the order of the day - or the night, rather - and a general scramble for carriages ensued, but the “wee sma’ hours” were upon us ere the party wound out of the “hollow” by the light of the broad silvery moon. It is but just to say that Mr. Walker, to whose exertions the excursion was due, did all in his power to make the occasion a pleasant one, and the disappointment was one which could not be foreseen or prevented.

January 7, 1875. Lloyd Jarboe, he who comes around with a little book and asks for your signature and a little change in payment of express charges, had a mishap last Monday night, and carries his arm in a sling now. He says he slipped and fell and struck his arm against the ground with such force as to dislocate it. [Lloyd must have been an express agent.]

January 7, 1875. Mr. L. Jarboe, found some money this week, which will be turned over to the owner, who will be required to describe and prove the same, and to pay for advertising.

March 11, 1875. L. L. Jarboe acted the part of a Page at the Masque Ball at Villinger’s Hall.

March 1, 1883. L. Jarbo and mother have moved into the Jackson property on Lafayette street.

July 19, 1883. Lloyd Jarbo made a short stay in the express office. He will be on hand however at the end of the month. [Lloyd may have left the circus in the middle of the season of 1883.]

April 30, 1885. Lloyd Jarboe smileth and is happy, because it is a girl. He cannot have her help, however in the express business, which he enters the first of May, with H. W. Fisher. [Birth of daughter Fay, no more circus]

November 5, 1885. Lloyd Jarboe has removed from Mrs. Pittman’s house on Lafayette street to the Joe Vorhees house on south Liberty street.

April 7, 1887. A little girl at Lloyd Jarboe’s causes happiness at his fireside. [Birth of daughter Edith]

November 22, 1888. Lloyd Jarboe has moved into his new house and Mr. Allen has moved into the Voohees property formerly occupied by Mr. Jarboe.

August 22, 1889. Lloyd Jarboe, our popular Am. Express agent, with his family spent Sunday in Alton.

January 16, 1890. La grippe victims last week, Lloyd Jarboe. January 23, L. L. Jarboe is still sick. [note: there was a grippe epidemic in Jersey county at this time]

By 1900, Lloyd and his family were living in Marshall County, Kentucky where he was farming. His mother, Harriet, was living with them. By 1910 the family was living in the state of Washington where Lloyd was a hardware salesman. Harriet had evidentially died, as she was no longer listed as living with them. His wife Alice and daughter Fay were working as dressmakers at home. Edith was working at an electric light company, possibly as a stenographer. In 1920 the family was back in Illinois, living in Morrison, Whiteside County, the same county where his brother was living. Lloyd was now a store clerk and Alice was working as a seamstress at home. Lloyd died before 1930 and Alice was living with both her son Orville and her daughter Marjorie.

The children of Lloyd and Alice were:

• Harriet Fay Jarboe was born in April 1885. She married Ralph Kaler on October 19, 1911. In 1930 this family was living at 507 S. Genessee St. Morrison, Whiteside County, Illinois. Ralph was a mill wright in a refrigerator factory. Alice, now a widow, was living with them. Fay and Ralph had a son, Robert, born circa 1920 in Illinois.

• Edith Flossie Jarboe was born on April 4, 1887 and died on August 15, 1987 in McMinnville, Yamhill County, Oregon. (21) Edith married Webster Lloyd Chrysler April 15, 1911 in Newport, Oregon. Webster died at Whitman, Washington on January 9, 1948, age 67. (22) Information from Gail Christensen: (23) They had two daughters. Noriene was born February 16, 1912 at Odessa, Washington, and died in 1999 at Richland, Washington. Noriene married George Assal. Carroll Elizabeth was born on March 14, 1917 at Wilbur, Washington and married Alfred Byron Youngs in 1938.

• Marjorie Jarboe (Minnie M.) was born in February 1897 and married Charles Goodwin. Marjorie and Charles resided at Lockport Township, Will County in 1930. Their children were Charles and Alice M. Charles was a guard at the State Prison. Alice was also living with them in 1930.

Orville A. Jarboe

Orville A. Jarboe (William P.²; Philip¹) was born circa 1867 in Jersey County, Illinois (census). His obituary has him born on October 27, 1862 in Taylorville, Illinois. He married Minnie E. Anthony in Madison County, Illinois on December 24, 1885. (24) Minnie may have died before circa 1903 or they divorced. It appears that Orville married an Eleanor L. Flagg circa 1903. Eleanor, “Ellen,” died on March 28, 1944. Orville was living at Mt. Carroll, Carroll County, Illinois in 1900 where he was a manager in the telephone business. There were no children listed. Living with them was Minnie’s sister, Grace, who was a telephone operator. They were living in Sterling, Whiteside County, Illinois in 1920 and 1930, not too far from Lloyd (about 16 miles). Orville was an independent carpenter and his wife, Ellen L., was a packer. Living with them in 1930 was a grand daughter Naomi M. Corke, age 11.

It appears that Orville did marry a second time. His wife in 1900 stated she was born in Missouri and her parents were born in Indiana, but his wife in 1910, 1920 and 1930 stated she was born in Illinois and her parents were born in Massachusetts and New York. In the 1910 census Orville stated that he had been married twice, as did his wife, Ella L.

It is unclear if Orville had children. His obituary does not list any children. In the 1910 census there was a daughter Ruby living with Orville, born circa 1898. Since Orville and Ellen L. had only been married seven years, this must have been a daughter from either Ellen’s or Orville’s previous marriage. In Ellen L.’s obituary was listed one daughter, Ruby Estella Adams and grandsons with the Adams surname. Ruby was probably Ellen’s daughter from a previous marriage. In the 1930 census for Orville and Eleanor, there was listed a grand daughter, Naomi M. Corke. There is a Naomi M. Corke born in 1919, father William McKinley Corke, mother Ruby J., surname unknown. William M. Corke enlisted in the National Guard in Sterling, Illinois on June 21, 1916. In the 1920 census William and Ruby were living in Sterling, Illinois and Naomi M. was listed as their daughter. In 1923 William M. and his wife Ruby J. were living in Chicago, Illinois. William married his second wife in 1927. This undocumented data on the Corke family was found on an Ancestry.com family tree.

The Sterling-Rock Falls Daily Gazette carried several articles on Orville and his wife and other Jarboes in the 1940s. Orville died November 17, 1945 in Sterling. His wife, Eleanor L., died March 28, 1944 in Sterling. In 1940, Orville told about his recollections of early days of the telephone and his job as a telephone maintenance man in an article in the local newspaper. The article is an interesting view of the early telephone industry in rural Illinois: (25)

Recalls Early Day Trials of ‘Phone Maintenance Man.

Orville A. Jarboe Tells Experiences About 50 Years Ago.

There may be older telephone construction and maintenance men in this secion, but Orville A. Jarboe, of 206 East Seventh street, certainly has a long record in that work, albeit he has been out of it now for many years.

Mr. Jarboe began in that line of work at Morrison on the old Whiteside-Harrison telephone system, of which Charles E. Bent was the president. Harrison was a telephone inventor and he had provided one of the essentials which enabled the home-owned independent company to enter the field of telephone service in Whiteside county. His invention was a transmitter which did not infringe on the Bell patents. This part of a telephone proved to be good for women’s voices only, as when the heavier voices of men sounded the transmission was not so audible.

Mr. Jarboe’s connection with the Morrison company was about 1893 and he was sent to Sterling to install the independent line here, which was about the time of the U. M. C. A. construction work. The first exchange of the independent telephone, a county organization line, was in the old ice house in what was commonly known as “stagger” alley. Sim Kreider was the first manager and one of the Korn brothers had an interest in the business. Some time later the exchange was moved to upstairs over what is now the Karl Thomas store. The operators were a Mr. and Mrs. Parker. Mr. Parker was a visitor in Sterling last summer for a number of weeks, and he and Mr. Jarboe had quie a story telling time over early independent telephone days.

The independent telephone ran on a ground circuit, a single copper wire to which all telephone connections were made. It was what was known as a semi-metallic circuit. Mr. Jarboe was on construction work and was the trouble shooter. The Sterling exchange also served Rock Falls and there were lines connection with all the towns in the county. These required much driving and the winter work during snow storms was continuous.

The Central Union was the original telephone company here, a Bell organization, and had quite a monopoly. It was the prices charged that gave rise to the organization of independent companies. The telephone instruments were leased at $36 a year, installation charges were made, as they now are, and a monthly service charge was made. In those days the Blake transmitter was used. A platinum button was attached to a carbon diaphram, and the instrument had to be set exactly plumb to get results. The solid back transmitters did not succeed them until about 1903. One of the early troubles and differences with telephones was noted. Carbon lights were used instead of incandescents and on account of this when the lighting systems was turned on the telephones gave a buzzing sound which made them almost unusable but during the daylight hours there was no interference.

After several years with the Whiteside county telephone Mr. Jarboe went to Mr. Carroll and entered the employ of Frank Zinnel of Chadwick, who owned and operated an independent line in that county. The system was quite crude. Lumber of two by six in size was sawed into two parts, tapering to a point and these were spiked to fence posts and the wires were built on such poles. The cross arms carried 10 wires, five on each side of the pole, at first. Jarboe rebuilt the entire lines. This work was carried on at Lanark, Chadwick and Savanna and new switchboards were installed. Savanna had the head office of the Zinnel lines, and was located in the Pulford drug store.

Lacking a franchise, or permit, Mr. Jarboe recalls a hurry-up construction job was done by running a line up an alley for several blocks by nailing brackets and insulators to barns and shed to the Rhodes lumber yards. The operation of the independent line was fraught with no little trouble and extra work, especially in the case of long distance communications when parties on an independent line wished to talk to patrons of the Bell lines. A messenger had to be sent to the office of the latter company to secure connections.

After several years with the Zinnel line Mr. Jarboe entered the employ of the Bell system and was sent to work at Kewanee, and about 1906 came back to Sterling an worked for the Interstate Telephone Co., his last telephone work having been in that employ.

John Jarboe Proposed Descendants (26)

John Jarboe, Lt. Col. (1619 - 1673/74) + Mary M. Tattershall (1630 – 1677)
..... 2 Henry Jarboe I (1672 – bef. 1707/08) + Monica Joy ( - bef. 1707)
............ 3 Henry Jarboe II, (ca. 1693 – 1743) + Mary Greenwell (1672 – 1757)
................. 4 Stephen Jarboe (1737 – 1808) + Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ Cleland (1739 - )
...................... 5 Thomas Jarboe
...................... 5 Cassandra Jarboe (1764 – bef. 1798) + Sampson Talbott (1767 – 1846)
...................... 5 William Smith Jarboe (1765 – 1788) + Jane _?_
...................... 5 Elizabeth Jarboe (1778 – 1842) + Simon Kenton (1755 – 1836)
...................... 5 Philip Jarboe (bet. 1779-80 – 1839) + (1) Ruth Richards (1782 – 1817), (2) Catherine Collins.
                       Children of Philip Jarboe and Ruth Richards:
............................ 6 Malinda Jarboe (1800 - ) + Robert Davis
............................ 6 Matilda Jarboe (1812 - ) + Elijah Lott
............................ 6 Harvey Jarboe (ca. 1808- ) + Amy Ann Rickart
                       Children of Philip Jarboe and Catherine Collins:
............................ 6 William P. Jarboe (1816 - 1876) + Harriet M. Hansell.
............................ 6 Alfred Milton Jarboe, Sr. (1820 – 1897) + Mary Davis (1837 - 1923)
............................ 6 Lewis B. Jarboe (ca. 1826 – 1868) + Mary Jane McKinney
............................ 6 Emily Jarboe (ca. 1831 - ) + Thomas L. Long
............................ 6 Augustus Jarboe (ca. 1831 - ) + Sarah Jones
............................ 6 Minerva Jarboe (ca. 1836 - ) + William K. James
............................ 6 Frank Jarboe (ca. 1838 - )
............................ 6 Benjamin Franklin Jarboe (ca. 1838 - )
............................ 6 Jane Jarboe (ca. 1839 - )

Endnotes