The town of Biggsville (population 343) is located on U.S. Route 34 at the intersection with Il. Route 94 in northern Henderson County. This places Biggsville about 14 miles southwest of Monmouth. The Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railroad runs through the town and the South Henderson Creek loops over the north side of town.
The residents of Biggsville have a rich tradition and great school history. A short history of the Biggsville Township School District was provided to us by alumnus Lyle Slagle (BTHS Class of 1949):
“A Short History of the Biggsville High School”
produced by Jack Kinslow and the BHS Alumni Association
On April 13, 1895, an election was held in the First National Bank of Biggsville for the purpose of voting for or against a township high school. The vote was in favor of the school. The high school probably started operation in the fall of 1895, but there is no record as to where school was held.
The first election for directors for the new school was held May 18, 1895. Those elected were: Isaac William McQuown, Henry Cowden, August Wiegand, Robert McMillen, and William Plummer.
The first high school building was built in 1896 and sat just west of the present Biggsville Methodist Church. The cost of the frame structure building was $8,000. It was not modern by today’s standards.
Mr J. A. Strong was the first principal. His salary was $850 per year. He organized the school, bought and arranged the library, prepared the first couse of study, provided the system of records, secured the laboratory equipment, and did all the teaching himself for the first few months.
The high school course of study was limited to three years from 1896 to 1900. Then it was increased to four years. Students were admitted to the high school by examination only. In 1900 the school library had 600 books. These books were selected with reference to the course of study. The school was on the accredited list of the University of Illinois.
The first high school building and its contents were destroyed by fire on July 26, 1906. Classes were held in the Wiegand Building on Main Street while the new building was being built.
The second high school building was built in 1906-1907 and was occupied in 1907. Members of the school board were: August Wiegand, D. F. Whiteman, John McIntosh, Dr W. A. Henderson, and John Pearson. L. O. Culp was principal.
Diplomas were issued to those who had completed the four years work prescribed in the course of study. In addition to completing the course of study, students were required to write a thesis of not less than 1200 and not more than 2000 words.
The use of tobacco in any form was forbidden on the school grounds. Violation of the rule was considered cause for suspension or expulsion. During the early years various means of transportation were used to get to school. Some students rode horses to town, stabled them, and rode them home after school. Cars furnished a popular way for those who could afford them. Busing of students started during the 1940s. At first there was only one bus, and it had to make several trips to get students to school and back home. Later, more buses were added.
Hot lunches were introduced during the years 1948-1949. Meals were first served in the home economics room. Later, lunches were prepared and served in the gum. The brick gym was built in 1925, after a frame building, built three years before, was destroyed by fire. The new addition to the second building (pictured)was ready for the school year 1949-1950. The new facilities gave much needed equipment and space for science, home economics, and vocational agriculture.
Biggsville High School with Addition – 1949
Submitted by Louise Renken Reynolds
Biggsville Township High School
Biggsville, Illinois
The Class of 1960 was the last class to graduate from the old Biggsville Township High School. The Class of 1961 was the first to graduate from the new Union High School.”
The town of Biggsville is technically the address given to Union High School, though the school itself is located in the country two miles west of Biggsville at the intersection of US 94 and US 34. The fate of the original Biggsville High School building is being sought. If you have any information on Biggsville High School please write us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net .
Biggsville High School Quick Facts
Year opened: late 1800s
Year deactivated: 1960
Consolidated to: Union High School (Biggsville)
School nickname: the “Red Devils”
School colors: Red & Green
School Fight Song: Submitted by Louise Renken Reynolds
BIGGSVILLE TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL LOYALTY SONG (1937 version)
(University of Illinois Fight Song Tune)
We’re loyal to you Biggsville High
We’re Maroon & Green Biggsville High
We’ll back you to stand
‘gainst the best in the land
For we know you have sand
Biggsville High.
RAH! RAH!
So crack out the ball Biggsville High
We’re backing you all Biggsville High
Our team is our fame protector
On boys, for we expect a victory from you
Biggsville High.
BIGGSVILLE TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL LOYALTY SONG (1950 Version)
(Frank Vorel, BHS Band Instructor)
Loyal and True, we pledge allegiance to you
This is our motto
We are one for all and all for alma mater
Here’s to our school
And long and high may she rule
Forever more you will find us
Always Loyal and True.
Biggsville High School
Gymnasium
ATHLETICS
Biggsville High School offered basketball and probably baseball, possibly football. But make no mistake about this, they offered track and field with a bang! The Biggsville boy’s thinclads were the Illinois State Champions after the 1898-99 and 1899-1900 school years! The boy’s teams also brought home IHSA hardware in basketball winning two DIstrict titles. The great accomplishments of the Biggsville athletic program are listed below.
Biggsville Basketball 1946-47
District / Regional Champions
BOYS BASKETBALL
The team won two District Championships coming in back to back seasons in the mid 1940s. According to Biggsville Township High School student (Class of 1949) William Lyle Slagle the basketball program had great success in the mid to late 1940s:
“The boys basketball coach during the successes of the team at least from 1945 through 1949 was Coach Stephen F. (Steve) Ingold. He also coached all other sports (football, softball, track).
The basketball team of 1946-1947 won a school record 25 games. Members of that team were Phillip Law, James Smith, Hauer Noble, Daryl (Ozzie) Baylor, Paul Allen, and Karl Henry.”
Several basketball scores involving Biggsville High School were located on a website titled “Illinois Postseason High School Basketball Scores and in turn are listed below.
1921-22 Monmouth DIstrict Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Seaton 19-11
Macomb Academy beat Woodhull in title game.
1922-23 through 1930-31: Postseason scores, record, & coach’s names needed.
1931-32 Roseville District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd Beat Seaton 15-10
Subsequent Rounds Needed
Monmouth beat Kirkwood in title game.
1932-33 Postseason scores, record, & coach’s name needed.
1933-34 Roseville DIstrict Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Seaton 18-14
Media beat Keithsburg in title game.
1934-35 Roseville District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd Beat Terre Haute 18-14
2nd Rd lost to Dallas City 34-13
Roseville beat Stronghurst in title game.
1935-36 Roseville Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd Beat Alexis 22-15
Semi-final lost to Monmouth 23-20
Macomb beat Monmouth in title game.
1936-37 Roseville Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Roseville 22-20
Macomb beat Roseville in title game.
1937-38 Stronghurst District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd Beat Media 41-21
Semi-Final lost to Good Hope 39-38
Stronghurst beat Good Hope in title game.
1938-39 Blandinsville District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd Beat Kirkwood 32-24
Semi-Final Beat Bardolph 34-27
Title Game lost to Media 20-18
Roseville Regional Tourney Qualifier
1st Rd lost to Roseville 26-17
Media beat Monmouth in title game.
1939-40 Joy Regional Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed.
BIGGSVILLE (22): Anderson 13, Dixon 4, Lewis 2, Norgart 2, Forgey 1.
1940-41 Aledo Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Aledo 47-29
Aledo beat Viola in title game.
1941-42 Joy Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Alexis 46-27
Viola beat Aledo in title game
1942-43 New Boston District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd Beat Matherville 30-20
Semi-Final lost to Seaton 47-22
Seaton beat New Boston in title game.
1943-44 New Boston District Runner-Up Coach’s name & record needed.
Early Rd Scores Needed
Title Game lost to New Windsor 35-34
1944-4521 – 4New Boston District ChampionsCoach Steve Ingold
Semi-Final Score Needed
Title Game Beat New Windsor 37-33
Joy Regional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Viola 27-21
Alpha beat Roosevelt Military in title game.
1945-4620 – 4New Windsor District ChampionsCoach Steve Ingold
Semi-FInal Beat Seaton 25-19
Title Game Beat New Windsor 43-35
Aledo Regional Tournament
1st Rd lost to Sherrard 41-35
Aledo beat Alpha in title game.
1946-47 25 – 5 Aledo Regional Tournament Coach Steve Ingold
1st Rd Beat Alexis 91-29
Semi-Final lost to Sherrard 38-35
Roosevelt Military beat Sherrard in title game.
Regarding the team of 1946-47:
Check out the information provided by Lyle Slagle regarding Biggsville Township HSs great team. The names are provided in reference to the photo above to the right.
Varsity and Subs:
Front row (l to r) Karl Henry, forward; James (Jim) Smith, center; Paul Allen, guard; Phillip Law, forward; Daryl (Ozzie) Baylor, guard; Hauer Noble, forward/center.
Back row (l to r) Vernon Blake, manager; Lee Maxwell, James (Jim)
Armstrong, Lyle Slagle, Harold Barry, Coach S. F. (Steve) Ingold
Cheerleaders: (l to r) Mary Rose Smith, Lorena Downes, Carita Martin, Marcia Downes, Shirley Gibson
This team had a record of 25 wins and 5 losses.
Points scored by individuals: J. Smith (323), P. Law (266), K. Henry (279), P. Allen (166), D. Baylor (130), H. Noble (101).
Game Scores were as follows:
BHS 42 Seaton 24 BHS 46 Kirkwood 43
BHS 32 Terre Haute36 BHS 43 Little York 38
BHS 34 Kirkwood 24 BHS 68 Alexis 41
BHS 42 Gladstone 25 BHS 38 Stronghurst40
BHS 31 Abingdon 36 BHS 66 Keithsburg 26
BHS 65 Keithsburg 24 BHS 65 Seaton 35
BHS 44 Stronghurst29 BHS 49 LaHarpe 31
BHS 35 Media 28 BHS 45 Oquawka 41
BHS 46 Gladstone 10 BHS 66 Alexis 32
BHS 26 Roseville 32 BHS 51 Oquawka 28
BHS 25 Media 19 BHS 55 Wataga 36
BHS 42 Terre Haute20 BHS 52 Dallas City 48
BHS 31 Media 25 BHS 91 Alexis 29
BHS 31 Oquawka 30 BHS 35 Sherrard 38
BHS 46 Stronghurst28 BHS 25 ALUMNI 15
1947-48 Joy Regional Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Sherrard 57-28
Aledo beat Joy in title game
1948-49 Stronghurst District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Terre Haute 57-49
Good Hope beat Terre Haute in title game.
1949-50 Blandinsville District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Lomax 52-47
Kirkwood beat Lomax in title game
1950-51 Stronghurst District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Stronghurst 56-50
Prairie City beat Stronghurst in title game.
1951-52 Postseason scores, record, & coach’s name needed.
1952-53 Gladstone District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Bardolph 69-54
Gladstone-Oquawka beat Kirkwood in title game.
1953-54 Postseason scores, record, & coach’s name needed.
1954-55 Postseason scores, record, & coach’s name needed.
1955-56 Bardolph District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Gladstone-Oquawka 58-50
Stronghurst beat Bardolph in title game.
1956-57 Gladstone District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd Beat Gladstone-Oquawka 64-58
Semi-Final lost to Bardolph 81-63
Bardolph beat Stronghurst in title game.
1957-58 Stronghurst District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd Beat Sciota NW 48-46
Semi-Final lost to Bardolph 79-65
Bardolph beat Gladstone-Oquawka in title game.
1958-59 Media District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
1st Rd lost to Stronghurst 82-62
Roseville beat Gladstone-Oquawka in title game.
1959-60 Stronghurst District Tournament Coach’s name & record needed.
**1st Rd lost to Bardolph 55-50
Bardolph beat Stronghurst in title game.
**Final varsity boys basketball game for the Bardolph HS “Red Devils.”
BOYS TRACK & FIELD
Move over Milan and Hebron, this may be an even more incredible accomplishment when you consider all of the facts. The Biggsville boys track team won back to back state championships in 1899 and 1900. They followed this up with a 8th place finish in 1909.This was accomplished under a one-class system!! One might wish to think that the competition must have been sparse for Biggsville to accomplish this so long ago. Take a look at the list of schools they had to defeat in order to win the title. Track was set up in 1899 as it is today, with one great athlete being able to dominate and bring home a team title by himself. However Biggsville’s two titles came with the great athleticism of four different athletes. Without a doubt the “stud” of the group was Cliff Bell, who brought home a total of six gold medals in three different events. Also bringing home goldwas Dave Daugherty, James Stewart, and Herman Dixon. Coach of the 1899 team was J.A. Strong, and of the 1900 team was Honey Stuart. The great accomplishments, which have not been nearly enough written or talked about (in my opinion) are listed below.
1898-99 Illinois State Track Meet Team Champions!!! Coach J. A. Strong
Individual Winners
Cliff Bell 50 Yard Dash 1st Place
Cliff Bell 100 Yard Dash 1st Place
Cliff Bell 220 Yard Dash 1st Place
Dave Daugherty Standing Broad Jump 1st Place
Dave Daugherty High Jump 2nd Place
Final Team Standings
Biggsville – 23
Aurora West – 21
Chicago Hyde Pk. – 19
Chicago Englewood – 15
Taylorville – 9
Peoria HS – 7
Pontiac – 7
Decatur – 7
Charleston – 6
Chicago Lakeview, Chicago English, Rantoul, Lagrange all tied with 4 points.
1899-1900 Illinois State Track Meet Champions!!! Coach Honey Stuart
Individual Winners
Cliff Bell 50 Yard Dash 1st Place
Cliff Bell 100 Yard Dash 1st Place
Cliff Bell 220 Yard Dash 1st Place
Dave Daugherty Standing Broad Jump 1st Place
Dave Daugherty High Jump 1st Place
James Stewart 880 Yard Walk 1st Place
Ralph Cowden 880 Yard Run 2nd Place
Final Team Standings
Biggsville – 33
Chicago Englewood – 22
Decatur – 17
Taylorville – 15
Aurora West – 12
Charleston – 8
Aurora East – 6
Chicago West District, Duquoin, and Pontiac tied with 5 points
*Oscar Clifford Bell was born on 03-15-1880. He went on to attend the University of Illinois on a track scholarship after leaving Biggsville. He earned his degree from the U of I in 1902. He began law school at the age of 36 and later became an attorney and ultimately a judge in Cleveland, Ohio. Two of his medals are still in the possession of his daughter Thalia. Cliff Bell passed away in 1943.
O. C. Bell
By William Urban
Professor of History and International Studies
Monmouth College, Monmouth IL
Oscar Clifford Bell did not have to come far to make an impact on Monmouth College. Born in Biggsville March 15, 1880, to William and Sarah Martha Bell, he attended the local one-class school. In 1899 and 1990 little Biggsville won the state track championships, stunning the larger schools—Bell bought back gold in the 50 yard, 100 yard and 200 yard dashes each year.
The success of tiny Biggsville was attributed to the two star trackmen being 23 and 24 years of age, though a quick check of census records shows that this was merely jealousy on the part of the city schools. Bell was, of course, twenty in 1900, his companion twenty-one—not that unusual in an age when boys worked in the fields spring, summer and fall, and probably in his father’s store in the winter. But the athletes beaten in 1899 were so angry—according to the Chicago Tribune—that they tore up the railroad cars they were riding in, and an investigation was launched.
He accepted a track scholarship to the University of Illinois in the fall of 1900, playing football, too, as a reserve halfback for one season—the Chicago Tribune referred to him as the Biggsville sprinter; according to the Tribune, he was elected captain of the track team after the 1901 season and was the only Illinois sprinter to win races in 1902 against Michigan and was out with illness during the big match with the University of Chicago. He apparently returned home after graduation in 1902, then two years later applied for a coaching position at Monmouth College—then the largest private college in the state. (Not that big, of course—they were all tiny.) This application is not surprising. His sister Olive (born 1878, teaching music in 1900) was in the class ’06 (she later married John Burnside) and Pansy, ’03 (born 1882) was still living with Cliff and Olive from 1903 to 1906 at 416 S. Fifth, but later became a music teacher at Bethany College in Kansas.
“O.C.” Bell’s 1905-06 teams had an 18-1 record. Assisted by A. J. Taft, his football teams swept to the championship of Illinois in 1905, then lost to the University of Iowa. Most of the opposing teams were from high schools, but this was unavoidable—most colleges did not field teams. Even then, because Knox and another opponent had dropped the sport for the year, 1906 was a short season. Only Milliken managed to score points (losing 25-9), and the team concluded the season by drubbing the champion of Wisconsin and Michigan, Beloit College, 10-0 in the final game.
His specialty, of course, was track. And he coached baseball as well. The 1908 Ravelings commented that “no one in the history of the college has put forth more effort, been attended by more success, or raised athletics to a higher standard.” It helped that Monmouth was the largest college in Illinois, but the secret was that “he exercised rigid discipline and got more from his men than they thought possible.” Introducing the forward pass and the on-side kick, he went on to coach at Missouri State Normal (now Truman State) for two years.”
1908-09 Team Finished 8th at Illinois State Track Meet!
Individual Medal Winner
Herman Dixon Pole Vault 1st Place
Herman Dixon High Jump 4th Place
Other Individual Medal Winner in Biggsville High School History.
1938-39 Glen Dean Rankin 880 Yard Run 4th Place
FOOTBALL
Biggsville High School
Football Team – 1937-38
The boys of Biggsville were, according to our good friend Tom Sickorski, always a football force to be reckoned with in the old Valley conference in the 1950’s, Biggsville finished no lower than 2nd for 6 straight seasons under veteran coach Doc Evans.
1953 4-2 2nd place (tie) Valley Conference Coach Doc Evans
1954 6-1 2nd place Valley Conference Coach Doc Evans
1955 4-3 2nd place (tie) Valley Conference Coach Doc Evans
1956 6-1 2nd place Valley Conference Coach Doc Evans
1957 6-1 Valley Conference Co-Champs Coach Doc Evans
1958 5-2 2nd place Valley Conference Coach Doc Evans
1959 3-4 (last team as Biggsville) Coach Sherman Stevenson
Seeking Further Information
We are seeking further information on any other sports offered at Biggsville High. It would also be interesting to know what happened to the great athletes such as Cliff Bell and Dave Daugherty. Did they pursue track in college? Where are the medals and trophies that they won?
If you would like to supply us with this information please complete a School Submission Form or Guest Commentary Form. we especially enjoy photos of the school buildings, teams, coaches, and athletes that excelled at Biggsville High School. You may e-mail us a ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net or write us at:
Illinois HS Glory Days
6439 N. Neva St.
Chicago, Il. 60631
Biggsville High School
School Auditorium
High School Gym Entrance
Biggsville High School
Biggsville Township HS Class of 1949
The photo of the Biggsville HS Class of 1949 was provided by Lyle Slagle. Class members include:
Top Row: Lyle Slagle, C.K. Winn, Charles Noble
Row 2: Dorothy Ann Welch, Irene Stevenson
Row 3: Emery Moffitt, Robert Armstrong
Row 4: Marie Welch, Arba Lubke, May Winn, Ivan Jones, Joyce Patterson
Bottom Row: Harry Alecock, Neva Jean Hurka, Richard Mumey, Alice Day, Lee Campbell
Rear of 1907 Post Card
Submitted by Louise Renken Reynolds (addressed to Jennie Morton)
