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Robert Sidney Shook,Sr. (b. 16 Mar 1877, d. 13 May 1953)
Robert S. Shook Otillie Shook Tombstone
Robert Sidney Shook,Sr. (son of Lemuel Greene Shook and Sarah Jane Van Horn) was born 16 Mar 1877 in Old DuQuoin, IL, and died 13 May 1953 in 7:00 AM At Store In Old DuQuoin, IL.
Notes for Robert Sidney Shook,Sr.: Shooks Country Store Rural Delivery in Old DuQuoin, IL.
Shooks Country Store in Old DuQuoin was located on three different sites during its life time. The first was east of the old DuQuoin Seminary Hill, on the north side of the Mulkeytown Chester road, now known as route 14. In 1874 Sidney Shook of St. St. Clair County Illinois. Bought one hundred acres of land in section 27 west of the Seminary Hill in Old DuQuoin. In 1875 Lemuel G. Shook and his wife Sarah Jane Van Horn came to Old DuQuoin to farm the land bought by his father, In the later part of tile 70's Lemuel took possession of this store. which dealt in General Merchandise, Wagons, Vehicles and Farm Implements. When the owner moved to DuQuoin. When Lemuel's son Robert graduated from the, eighth grade he joined his father in the grocery business. The store was then known as L.G. Shook and Son dealing in Staples, Fancy Groceries and a Barber Shop. In the early 1900's Lemuel moved his business to a location about one eighth of a mile west of the first site, on his land in section 27, because it was more convenient for Sarah Jane to take care of the store while Lemuel and Robert were farming and delivering, The store was again moved across the road near the home. The first delivery vehicle was a horse drawn hack. A bell was tied to the harness to alert the customers be their presence in the area. Often when customers wanted them to Stop and were afraid they wouldn't hear him coming they would place a rag in a tree or on the fence post telling him to stop. The hack was filled with orders taken the previous visit, and new items in the store that they might like. He would take pictures of new items in the store that couldn't be taken in the hack for the lack of space. Each route consisted of a round trip to DuQuoin to allow them to pick up supplies from the wholesale houses there. Often the customer would ask them to pick up needed things in DuQuoin. When customers were making a dress or curtains and needed more material thread or trimming, they would give him a piece of material to match and leave it on the return trip. The hack driver was often asked to pick up or check to see if freight was in. The second vehicle was an open cab Dodge truck. Gee, this was great! Trips to DuQuoin on the route only took half a day and a new route was added. Dowell, Illinois was the new route. The new truck was quite unique with its wood covered roof. The sides were of heavy wire, with canvas awning at the top which could be rolled down to keep rain or snow out and to protect the merchandise. The wheels had wooden spokes and tires had innertubes and was a durable vehicle that traveled on muddy roads quite well. The speed was a slow 25-30 miles per hour! If you went any faster you were speeding. During this time a local boy was hired to assist in the delivery and operation of the store. During the winter the weather would get quite cold. When my brother and I were allowed to go on the route with our father we would huddle down below the dash board for a few minutes but soon had to get back up because the fumes might have overcome us. When the DuQuoin Sate Fair was opened. Mr. Hayes the owner, allowed the truck to go in, take orders, and deliver to the fair people. Father would go in every morning for orders and in the afternoon for delivery. Ice was as I remember an item every one needed and was a treat for us to go with him. Another treat we remember in this old truck was after a trip to Croessman Wholesale to get supplies and to the DuQoin Packing Company, on the way home we would get in the back, get crackers and wieners, and have a lunch. In 1924 the service to Dowell was dropped, and ice was added to the delivery items and only routes to DuQuoin were made. The driver was alerted to the need for ice by a sign in the window telling how many pounds were needed. With the improvement of the roads, the highway on route 14 the old truck was traded for a new one. We were all excited about an enclosed cab with a heater but when the car dealer drove the old truck back to DuQuoin my brother and I sat on the store steps with tears streaming down our faces at the loss of many memories, as it traveled down the road and around the curve out of sight. Telephones, electricity, and automobiles in every home caused the delivery service to change drastically in the years to come. In 1953 Robert Sidney Shook Sr. died and his son Robert S. Shook Jr. and widow Belle operated the store for four years. Robert S. Shook Jr. left in 1955 and Belle retired in 1957 to end an era in Old DuQuoin. There were three generations of Shook's that operated the grocery and delivery services in the community. Robert Sidney Shook Jr. and his nephew Robert C. Boyett, who like his mother, enjoyed many a trip with Grandpa and Uncle Bobby. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copied from: Memories of Roberta Shook Boyett RR.1 Box 314 Sesser, IL 62884 -------------------------------------------------------- From a letter from Ida Shook Davison Jan 27 1964.
Scub Van Horn thinks that Dad, (Robert S. Shook Sr.) ran the store where Puterbaugh Store, Barber Shop, Post office on the hill. You remember Dad telling that the first store was just west of us, (Jack and Ida lived on the corner of the current Old DuQuoin Blacktop and Ill Rt 14) never remember it as a store., (I think this would be the hill just East of the current Old DuQuoin Baptist Church) but do the old building. It was in front of the barn. I can remember coming to Grandpa Shooks,(Lemuel Green Shook's) in a horse and buggy from Zeigler Il. Dad mom and I lived in DuQuoin.I went to first grade-Teacher Maggie Hinckley. Then we lived in East St. Louis for a shot time. Dat worked in a butcher shop there, then moved to Zeigler. Dad was a butcher in the Coal Co store. Then dad went to Harrisburg, opened a little butcher shop. We did not live there but a short time when Grandpa Shook died in April of 1915. We moved to Old DuQuoin. I was 11 years old tnen, and I have been here ever since. This moving around would be between 1903 and 1915. I remember Dad and I staking on the top of the snow in 1918. Also when we came to Grandpa Shooks store, he would have a few bottles of lemon and strawberry soda - which was a treat at that time, and a long horn cheese and some bacon in a wooden icebox which would hold about 50lbs of ice. I remember when the men folks would gather around the pot belly stove in the store and swap stories. Mother always sent me in the house and shee too didn't stay out of store of evening. That date was between 1915 and 1921, as she passed away in 1921. When Grandpa Shook was sick in bed, he told me he was going to come to Harrisburg and see us on a, one eye horse, he was talking about the train.
More About Robert Sidney Shook,Sr.: Burial: 15 May 1953, 2:00 PM Old DuQuoin Cemetery. DuQuoin, Il Perry County. Cause Of Death (Facts Pg): Lung Cancer. Funeral Home: Schroeder Funeral Home. Occupation: Merchant. Pastor Officiating: 15 May 1953, W.S. Erwin and Worth Woolsey.
More About Robert Sidney Shook,Sr. and <Unnamed>: Marriage: 22 Oct 1902
Grace Belle Bryant Johnson Shook
More About Robert Sidney Shook,Sr. and <Unnamed>: Marriage: 25 Dec 1921
Children of Robert Sidney Shook,Sr. are:
Ida Jane Shook, b. 24 Nov 1903, DuQuoin, IL, d. 22 Aug 1988, Memorial Hospital Carbondale IL.
Eleanor Shook, b. 05 Apr 1906, DuQuoin, IL, d. 08 Apr 1906.
Children of Robert Sidney Shook,Sr. are:
Roberta Belle Shook, b. 04 Jan 1923, DuQuoin, IL, d. 10 Aug 1989, Sesser, IL.