Linda Sickmon
Linda Sickmon lives with her husband Bob and their farm dog, Molly, in a farm house built in the mid-19th Century and that the couple restored and renovated in the 1980s.
"It used to be a 3-story home, but the attic was destroyed during a tornado in the 1930s," Linda said.
Prior to that the house also was a stop on an old stagecoach line that ran from Peoria to Oquawka.
Bob and Linda Sickmon are Southern California natives who moved to Monmouth in 1968.
Linda and Carol Tenold work together as potters at Smith Creek Pottery, located just east of the Sickmon home.
Linda describes the pieces she creates as "functional as well as decorative."
The two artisans can usually be found working their craft 3 or 4 days each week. The pottery also includes a small sales room area.
Linda refers to her work as a potter as "a pretty serious hobby," but enjoys walking the property with her husband to look for primitive stone projectile points with her husband.
She also enjoys the craft of bookmaking.