History of McNabb Grain

                                   Magnolia Township Preservation Association hosted Bart Ericson                                               to share the history of McNabb Grain on Sunday, June 11, 2023.                                                     Bart is the General Manager of McNabb Grain, serving in the                                                         position since 2010. McNabb Grain was organized March 22, 1913,                                               as a farmers co-op. McNabb Grain has served our local agricultural                                           community for 110 years.     

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​Hidden Headstone History
                                          Magnolia Township Preservation Association Presented: Hidden                                                 Headstone History. What stories are buried in our cemeteries?                                                     Magnolia Township has 7 cemeteries, and we gathered hidden                                                       histories from each of them. This program was held on Sunday,                                                     April 24, 2024 @ 2pm at the MTPA Meeting Room, 110 North Peoria                                             St, Magnolia, IL. It was funded by an Activate History Grant from                                               Illinois Humanities. Magnolia Township Preservation Association                                               Presents: This mission of the Magnolia Township Preservation              Association is to research, collect, preserve, promote, and communicate the history of Magnolia Township to educate future generations. 

Captain William Haws Bicentennial Celebration 

                                              In 1824, Captain William Haws was passing through the area                                                        now known as Magnolia Township on his way to Galena.  He                                                          liked this countryside and decided to settle here.  He carved his                                                      name on a tree and continued to Galena.  In 1826, after finishing                                                  his business in Galena, he returned to this area and took                                                                  possession of his claim.  Captain Haws is credited with being the                                                 first permanent settler in Putnam County.  He built a log cabin on                                               the north side of Little Sandy Creek. Putnam County was                                                                   organized in 1831 at a meeting in Captain Haws’ cabin. 
 

William Haws was Captain, in the Black Hawk War, of a company of state militia. He led a wagon train to Oregon in 1847.  He dug lead in Galena, gold in California and silver in Mexico. 

Magnolia Township Preservation Association (MTPA) celebrated the bicentennial of Captain William Haws arriving in Magnolia.  MTPA hosted the Captain Haws Bicentennial Celebration on August 17.  There was also a car show from 10 am to 2 pm in the MTPA Museum parking lot.  MTPA sold pork chop sandwiches, drinks and snacks.  There was a slide show presentation on Captain Haws in the museum meeting room. It was a great turn out to celebrate the first settler arriving in Putnam County. 

Magnolia Township Preservation Association (MTPA) has the mission to research, collect, preserve, promote, and communicate the history of Magnolia Township to educate future generations.

Denise & Dean Swain --A Love Story 
                                                                                                                   Real Life is Better Than                                                                                                                                      Fiction! How did a young                                                                                                                                  woman who was part of the                                                                                                                              French Resistance come to                                                                                                                                live in McNabb, Illinois?  The answer is love! Like many couples, WWII brought Denise and Dean Swain together. Harold “Dean” Swain was born and raised in McNabb, Illinois.  Denise Mignot was born and raised in Dole, France. The two are buried next to each other in the Magnolia Cemetery.  Dean’s headstone indicates he served in the Army and was awarded a Purple Heart.  Denise’s headstone indicates a fascinating and little told story; Denise was a member of the French Resistance!

Come hear the love story of Denise and Dean Swain at the Magnolia Township Preservation Association’s (MTPA) museum.  Their story will be told by Connie Halblieb, a member of Dean’s family.  The program will be presented October 20, 2024, at 2 pm in the meeting room of MTPA museum, 110 N Peoria St. Magnolia.   MTPA will also hold a brief annual meeting, followed by refreshments.  The museum will be open before and after the program.

This is a piece of local history that few people have heard before. Historical fiction about the women of the French Resistance is very popular.  Here is a chance to learn about a local woman who took part in this dangerous activity.  MTPA’s mission is to research, collect, preserve, promote, and communicate the history of Magnolia Township to educate future generations.

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