Lyle N. Behl, a former president of the Rochester Historical Presidential Society, was born in 1942 and grew up in Cotton Hill Township of Sangamon County, Illinois, where he continued to live at the time of the interview. Although Lyle is retired from a career as a medical technician, he runs a livestock operation on the family farm. Behl shares stories about his family and his insights on the Cascade area near Rochester, Illinois.
Interview Links
Abstract
Interview Session 01 (Audio)
Life of Lyle Behl
Interview Session 02 (Audio)
History of Cascade, Cotton Hill Township
Photos
Caption:
Torrence Mill when it was at a low stage, circa 1885. Note the wagons crossing over the stream.
Where:
Illinois
When:
Circa 1885
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Gravestone of Sarah Donner Torrence, located in the Taylor Cemetery in Rochester, Illinois.
Where:
Illinois
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
The wedding picture of Nicholas Arthur Smith and Bertha Lee Abel, grandparents of Lyle Behl. They were married on April 16, 1902.
Where:
Unknown
When:
April 16, 1902.
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Hazel Lee Smith, Lyle’s mother, with Nick and Bertha Smith, parents of Hazel, plus Andrew Smith, great, great uncle of Lyle Behl, circa 1905.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Circa 1905
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Picture of Andrew V Smith, the great, great uncle of Lyle Behl. The photo appeared in the History of Sangamon County, 1912.
Where:
Illinois
When:
1912
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Picture of Andrew V Smith, the great, great uncle of Lyle Behl. The photo appeared in the History of Sangamon County, 1912.
Where:
Illinois
When:
1912
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Cascade School, circa 1932.
Where:
Illinois
When:
1932
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
The Cascade Store and Torrence Mill when the water was at full stage, in 1943.
Where:
Illinois
When:
1943
Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator. Photo is from the Herbert Barnes collection
Caption:
Hazel Jones’ class outside Cascade School, a one room schoolhouse, circa 1944.
Where:
Illinois
When:
Circa 1944
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Cascade Store owners Charlie and Fannie Lawley in 1952.
Where:
Illinois
When:
1952
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
A flyer announcing ‘A Whisper in Time' Cemetery Walk, which was conducted at the Taylor Cemetery in Rochester, Illinois in September 2011.
Where:
Rochester, Illinois
When:
September 2011
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Lyle Behl at the time of his interview on June 27, 2018.
Where:
Illinois
When:
June 27, 2018
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Breckinridge Cemetery as it appeared in the spring of 2018.
Where:
Illinois
When:
2018
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo