According to the September 1, 1903 issue of The Quill, "Robert B. Williams received a "devil wagon" as many persons are inclined to call an automobile, one day last week.
The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Do you know when the first automobile came to La Harpe?
According to the September 1, 1903 issue of The Quill, "Robert B. Williams received a "devil wagon" as many persons are inclined to call an automobile, one day last week.
To say that the chauffeur and his machine have attracted more attention than all the other attractions of the city combined is not exaggerating. The machine is called the Oldsmobile, and is certainly an excellent piece of workmanship and mechanically perfect.
All do, or will, appreciate the fact that the horseless conveyance has come to stay.
The one disagreeable feature is that horses are inclined to become frightened at them and great damage, injury, or loss of life are always to be anticipated where automobiles are used.
The operators of machines cannot be too careful, but those who drive should not neglect or forget that they, too, have a responsibility in the matter of using the roads and that careful driving and safe equipment are as necessary on the one side as the other."
One of the most popular songs of 1903 was "Will You Go Along With Me In My Merry Oldsmobile?" This was the caption of a picture in the May 6, 1938 issue of The La Harper.
Bob William's vehicle was the first in Hancock County and one of the first in Western Illinois.
The vehicle did not have a steering wheel. The driver pointed a stick, which was connected to the wheels, in the direction he wanted to go. The cost was nearly $675.
This "machine" caused a furor.
No longer could women and children drive the old family horse along the country highway, for the older and gentler the old family nag was, the worse it behaved when it met Bob Williams in his new automobile. Bob, of course, would stop the thing, get out, and lead the horse past the car, but that did not suffice, for the even tenor of their ways was upset, and folks just naturally resented the intrusion.
Farmers threatened to boycott the town and the bank where Bob worked.
Bob and his car were extremely popular with the young people of the town, especially those who were privileged to ride in the "horseless carriage."
You might have to walk back, but it was worth the price to go sailing along at 20 miles an hour over the country roads.
Mr. Robert Burns "Bob" Williams was born November 4, 1874, the son of a Methodist minister who was called to serve Morris Chapel Methodist Protestant Church located just east of Disco.
He came to La Harpe in 1893, sold Mason Shoes, was a clerk for Hungate, Ward and Co., which was a private bank and later served as the first cashier at the First National Bank of La Harpe. At the time of his death, December 4, 1957, he was selling insurance.
Due to the failing eyesight, he had been assisted by W.E. McGee of Blandinsville for several years.