News Progress

•March 7, 2018•

By Eden Martin
NP Guest Columnist

Editors Note: This is the third is the series of articles about the 1896 lynching of Grant Atteberry in Moultrie County. The series was researched and written by Sullivan historian, native and retired attorney Robert Eden Martin.

Late Wednesday evening, February 12, a crowd of some 20 masked men gathered in the basement of the South Side High School building, later known (after 1927) as the Lowe School. There they agreed on a plan for breaking into the jail and taking the prisoner.

There were at least two reports by eyewitnesses to the events leading to the lynching of Atteberry. One was written by an unnamed reporter for the Decatur Herald Dispatch, published Tuesday, February 13, 1896. The second was published by the Sullivan Herald, edited at that time by John P. Lilly.

Copies of the issues of the Sullivan Herald from that period have not survived, but the Herald’s account was quoted extensively by the Decatur Daily Republican, Friday, February 14, 1896. Lilly later testified at the coroner’s inquest as a witness to the events. He was thus likely the author of the Sullivan Herald account. Read More

•February 28, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Sullivan had J. B Titus, who built an opera house, and his talented daughter, Winifred. Bethany had the brilliant Dr. James H. Vadakin who also built an opera house and his equally talented daughter Diamond.

Dr. Vadakin was born March 30, 1861 in Sullivan. His grandfather Philip was one of the earliest settlers in Moultrie County, and he laid out a town in East Nelson. By the time he died, Dr. Vadakin had owned an entire block of stores in Bethany, built an opera house, invented “Casterole”, “Vadakin’s Instant Relief” and “Sticking Fly Paper”. He received his medical degree with highest honors and was a skilled surgeon. For many years he ran a drug store and ice cream parlor. He was an accomplished pianist and often sang solos for high school graduations. Read More