IL IL - Fay Rawley, Summum, Fulton County farmer and land owner, 8 Nov 1953

[STANDREID]

There are several possibilities; no doubt about that.

 

[rosesfromangels]

Rawley and his wife were separated and their divorce actually became final the day after he disappeared, November 9. I just saw that in a local newspaper.

Hmmmmm.....what do we know about her and her family or known associates?

 

[STANDREID]

Hmmmmm.....what do we know about her and her family or known associates?

I don't know anything about them really. Hopefully someone does.

 

[rosesfromangels]

First impression is that someone exacted revenge for his misdeeds. The timing of the divorce decree isn't coincidental.
In this day and age, misdeeds can get you a reality tv show. Back then, morality was taken a bit more seriously and there were consequences.
Seems like this might be the situation here.
Speculation only, of course.
And then the son. Hmmm. No coincidence there either. Seems like they annoyed the wrong people.

 

[STANDREID]

Things certainly look fishy

 

[STANDREID]

Summum was nearly a 40 mile drive from Macomb, all on two lane roads, so it should have been about a one hour drive for Rawley to make from his girlfriend's house to his own residence on the fateful night. A total of about two hours travel time for a Sunday night date - it must have been something pretty important.:innocent:

That said, between 1935 and 1957, Illinois had no speed limit other than "reasonable and proper" so maybe Fay dialed the Caddy up to 100+.

"We was drivin' up Grapevine Hill
Passin' cars like they was standing still

All of a sudden, in the wink of an eye
A Cadillac sedan passed us by
I said, 'Boys that's a mark for me!'
By then the taillights was all you could see"

From Hot Rod Lincoln by Charlie Ryan-1955

 

[STANDREID]

First impression is that someone exacted revenge for his misdeeds. The timing of the divorce decree isn't coincidental.
In this day and age, misdeeds can get you a reality tv show. Back then, morality was taken a bit more seriously and there were consequences.
Seems like this might be the situation here.
Speculation only, of course.
And then the son. Hmmm. No coincidence there either. Seems like they annoyed the wrong people.

Rawley certainly had a lot of things going on in his life at the time.

 

[STANDREID]

Summum's other big celebrity is famed cowboy movie sidekick Smiley Burnette.

Usually paired with Gene Autry.

 

[STANDREID]

Usually paired with Gene Autry.

As Frog Millhouse

 

[STANDREID]

The divorce day is such an incredible coincidence that I can't understand how it seems to have been so easily dismissed.

 

[STANDREID]

The divorce day is such an incredible coincidence that I can't understand how it seems to have been so easily dismissed.

On the surface, it looked like Rawley's wife would benefit some if he died before the divorce but would it really be that much?

 

[STANDREID]

On the surface, it looked like Rawley's wife would benefit some if he died before the divorce but would it really be that much?

The way the law in IL was back then, she would have gotten one third of his estate if he died without a will when they were still married and likely one half in a divorce. She would actually be personally more hurt by his death however their children would have gotten the other two thirds so her preference might have depended on her priorities.

 

[STANDREID]

The way the law in IL was back then, she would have gotten one third of his estate if he died without a will when they were still married and likely one half in a divorce. She would actually be personally more hurt by his death however their children would have gotten the other two thirds so her preference might have depended on her priorities.

I said "might" because I don't think she had anything to do with Rawley's disappearance. Why risk the electric chair for what amounted to no gain?

 

[STANDREID]

Summum's other big celebrity is famed cowboy movie sidekick Smiley Burnette.

Who partnered with both Gene Autry and Roy Rogers.

 

[STANDREID]

I don't know who else can say that.

 

[STANDREID]

I notice that neither this case nor our other big local disappearance (Walter Donley) is listed on the Wiki site dedicated to vanishings so I have to wonder who else was left out.

 

[Cyan]

While I do find it odd that he disappeared the same night they split, I don't believe the struggle is staged.
This area of Fulton County and the adjoining Schuyler County are not exactly known for the abundance of wealth... A Cady would have been noticed during the day. He would have been noticed, particularly if he passed through Astoria. Summum, not so much. If you blink near Summum, you miss it.

The obvious place would be to look at the mine, but closely study the nearby areas in the maps I posted previously. The wooded areas between Sheldon's Grove and the marker I put to indicate my friend's home are not only very dense, but there are MANY ravines. I can remember seeing lots of old and discarded vehicles, appliances, and garbage in that area. It's creepy, in my opinion, and I hated living there. Most of the homes in that area are just isolated enough that no one notices anything unless a vehicle is stopped for too long and with their lights on, if at night. There isn't much as far as "developed land."

Most of the towns in that area... the houses and businesses change a bit. A new name, some new paint... but new homes and business aren't built very often.

The first photo should be a bit more zoomed and have the annotations of "private road" (my friend's home) and "Gas station/Bar & Grill." The second photo should be a zoomed out version of the area.

On the far right are Rusvhille and Bader, part of adjoining Schuyler County. Sheldon's Grove and several of the homes lying northeast of its marker on the map are uphill and are also in Schuyler County, but most people there worked in Fulton County and attended Astoria Schools. News and gossip travel VERY quickly between these towns because most people are related to one another. The area marked Briney Lake is owned by the Briney Family, which is now three plus generations strong of wealthy farmers.

I very much doubt Rawley or the car lie anywhere south of Hwy Rte. 100 unless within one of the lakes. The Illinois River floods OFTEN, backing up the creeks in the area, quite often crossing over or seeping through Route 100, but it lies in the valley while Bader and Fulton County do not. People swim and frolick in the lakes, creeks, and Illinois River as if it were a luxury spa. The river is heavily utilized by the fishing community in Cass, Schuyler and Fulton counties, as well as tugs and barges. The Illinois River at Browning and Beardstown is not really that deep.

Astoria maintains a population of approximately 1,200-1,500 people. Bader is barely a village of perhaps 100 to 200. Browning used to have approximately 350-500 people, but flooding in the late 90s dwindled the population down to a few tiny businesses and about 130 people. Rushville has always had about 3,500-4,000 people. Sheldon's Grove is barely a village of about 20 houses, strung loosely along Hwy Rte 100. People in Bader could barely fart in the wind without people in Astoria, Browning, and Summum hearing it.

I hope that helps.


I'm not very familiar with the areas east of Summum and Sheldon's Grove, but I hope that helps.

Hi there, I think the struggle at his home was staged.
Anyone else find it strange his girlfriend broke it off with him the same night he vanished?
I also think someone would notice a Cady. At any time of day . It was a Cady!!
I also worder about the gossip around town. The guy was almost divorced and had a girl on the side. Did she have another man one who was jealous?
I just don't think he never made it home. Someone intercepted him lead him to where ever he and the Cady. Are. He would have been upset not really paying attention. Easy to do.could be someone he knew.
Wouldn't the obvious place to look for him would be the mine? I would think so.
He's in water or deep wooded area.Or developed land. The Cady could have ended up in a chop shop.
Did his son fallow his line of work?
I think the son was about to tell the police something. ..
The face book page was probably to keep tabs on the investigation. So family of the killer.
Anyone join it?

 

[tyoung]

I am from this area and have lived here nearly all my life and my family is quite closely linked to it...My Great Uncle was a shovel operator and it has long been believed that he unknowingly buried Mr Rawley and his Cadillac.

Cyan, your assumptions about the Fulton/Schuyler County area aren't very correct other then locations.It would have been VERY easy for a Cadillac at that time to travel unnoticed, even on the main roads which he wouldn't have had to travel back and forth to Macomb.

 

[Cyan]

I'm from this area as well. My family has been here since the 1800s. Who are you to say that it's assumption that it would have traveled unnoticed? You can barely fart in the wind around here without the most of Cass/Schuyler and half of Brown/Fulton/ and parts of Mason counties all hearing about it. If the car would have traveled back roads, it might have gone unnoticed. On the main roads, a Caddy in this rather poor and rural area during that time period? I doubt it. Not during daylight hours anyway.

 

[Penny Lane]

I am from this area and have lived here nearly all my life and my family is quite closely linked to it...My Great Uncle was a shovel operator and it has long been believed that he unknowingly buried Mr Rawley and his Cadillac.

Cyan, your assumptions about the Fulton/Schuyler County area aren't very correct other then locations.It would have been VERY easy for a Cadillac at that time to travel unnoticed, even on the main roads which he wouldn't have had to travel back and forth to Macomb.

Hi tyoung, did your great uncle ever talk about it?