A Century and a Half of Farmington History

Talking with mom over the past week we have done our best at piecing together our ancestry in Farmington, Mo. and Decatur, IL. As far back as she can remember are the stories of her grandmother and grandfather arriving in Farmington in a covered wagon shortly after their daughter (Maud) was born in 1890.  That was on her father's side of the family (Biggs).  Her mother's family (Koen/Cleve) was already established in Farmington by the time the Bigg's arrived from Illinois in the wagon.  Fascinating history and a tribute to small town values with close knit families.  Aunt Maud (my great aunt) is one of the families most endearing figures.  She and her husband Hoppy (Blair) built their third restaurant on their own land themselves.  The Hopkins Family Cafe was the brown and white log cabin on the edge of town that people came from near and far to eat the food that was grown on-site in their fields, hen houses and pastures.

Mom has really enjoyed talking about the good old days and all of the restaurants that have been in the family over the past 150, or so, years.  She has been out of the bed all morning sitting in a comfy blue chair and we just got back from walking 10 laps before lunch.  I'm sure we'll do 10 more before I leave this afternoon.
There is still a lot of history to discuss and now I've got to find some of those recepies from all of those family restaurants!