Flanigon Monuments - Bellflower Twp.

In 1885, Marion and Lucinda Flanigon left Ohio for McLean County. The Flanigons were childless, but years later they would leave a leave a gift that would impact hundreds of children for decades to come.

Lucinda & Marion Flanigon

Location of Flanigon farm
fr. 1914 Atlas

Some records indicate the Flanigons were immigrants from Ireland. However, the 1880 U.S. Census states that Lucinda and Marion were both born in Ohio. It also indicates both of their parents were born in Ohio.
Marion's mother immigrated from Ireland in 1846 at the age of 21, the year of Marion's birth. No mention of a father or husband is ever made in any of the records that I could find. By 1850, A Marion O.N. is listed as living with his mother, Matilda (25 yrs old) and, presumably, sister Julia S.L. (7 yrs old) in Fayette County, Ohio. A Matilda Flanigan is listed as immigrating to the U.S. in 1846 at the age of 21, which is consistent with the age of the person in the 1850 U.S. Census. Marion's sister, Julia, might have moved to Cincinnati by the age of 18 and worked as a domestic worker or shopkeeper. By the age of 13, Marion was living on his uncle McDonald's farm in Fayette County, Ohio.
Lucinda P. Carson was also born in Fayette County, Ohio. Her parents were Ambrose Carson and Nancy Inlow Tudor Carson. Most of Lucinda's ancestors came from Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Marion arrived in McLean County in 1868. Soon thereafter, he purchased 40 acres. Two years later, he returned to Ohio, married Lucinda, and settl.ed in McLean County.
The Flanigons were engaged in the local community and held several businesses. They helped found the first bank and grain elevator in Bellflower. Lucinda died in 1918. Marion died nine years later. In his will, Marion left $79,995.17 in cash, $8,000 in notes, and about 770 acres of land to the Bellflower school district and children. That’s about $1.2 million in today’s dollars, not including the land.
Although childless, Marion Flanigon had several relatives, including a niece, half-brother, and half-sister. They disputed Marion’s will, and a court battle ensued. Even a housekeeper and nurse entered the fray. The will was not settled until 1936. 

The Monuments
In the late 1930's, several monuments were placed around Bellflower Township by the Flanigon estate trustees. A four-ton boulder placed at the Flanigon homestead and is located northwest of Bellflower on 500 E Road. A seven-ton boulder was dug up from a farm north of Saybrook and placed at the southeast corner of the section owned by the MeHarry family. It can be viewed right off highway 136. The MeHarry farm was purchased by the Bellflower School district with proceeds from Flanigon's estate.

Bronze plaques were also placed in the high and elementary schools in Bellflower. The elementary school still stands, but the high school was torn down. I do not know what happened to the plaques from the high school.

Monument on the Flanigon Homestead

Monument on the former MeHarry farm

After the Placement of the Monuments

The Flanigons, fr.

Bellflower: 100 Years

1942 and 1978 Pantagraph articles boasted that Bellflower had the lowest tax rate of any municipality in McLean County, largely due to the Flanigon’s bequest. By the mid 1980’s, however, falling enrollment meant that Bellflower High School had one of the highest per pupil spending rates in the county.


In 1985, Bellflower merged with LeRoy and Mansfield to form the Blue Ridge school district. The high school, built in 1915, was demolished around 1985. The Flanigons are buried in Bellflower Township Cemetery.

Location Information

Township & Section: Bellflower, Sec. 8 and 34

GIS (click on numbers to view on Google Maps):

• Monument on Flanigon Homestead: 40.3542518, -88.5646486
• Monument on the former MeHarry Farm: 40.311001, -88.498583

References

• Bellflower Historical Society. (1971). Bellflower, 100 Years: 1871-1971. 
• Bellflower Schools Own 1,280 Acres of Land. (1938 December 3). Pantagraph, p. 5.
• "United States Index to Passenger Arrivals, Atlantic and Gulf Ports, 1820-1874," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KD5V-L9N : 4 December 2014), Matilda Flanigan, 1846; citing Immigration, NARA microfilm publication M334 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 418,216.
• "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCLJ-PP3 : 3 October 2017), M O Flannegan in entry for Geo Mc Donald, 1860.
• "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MC2Y-478 : 3 October 2017), Julia Flanigan in entry for Bridget Flanigan, 1860.
• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXVK-KP5 : 15 September 2017), Marion Flanigon, Bell Flower, McLean, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district ED 184, sheet 622A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0231; FHL microfilm 1,254,231.
• Flanigon Will Suit is Heard. (1932, September 27). Flanigon Will Suit is Heard. Pantagraph, p. 12. 
• Hancock, Dave. (1984, May 11). Bellflower Merger Vote Planning Session Set. Pantagraph, p. 3.
• He Invested in America’s Future. (1942, February 12). Pantagraph, p. 4.
• Matulis, Mike. (1985, June 9). Final Semester at Bellflower High Evokes Emotions. Pantagraph, p. 29.
• McClelland, Dave. (1978, May 12). Golden Tongue’s Team Small But Classy. Pantagraph, p. 26.
• Rehearing is Asked in Flanigon Will on Grounds of Unfair Trial. (1930, January 4). Pantagraph, p. 3.
• Tate, Clay. (1939, January 20). Plaques Dedicated to Quartet Who Left Bequest to Schools. Pantagraph, p. 2.