La Harpe Telephone Company was organized in 1902 by Charles K. Todd and John Hungate. The first directory was published in 1903. The company was sold in 1906 to Orville F. Berry and James Hendricks, doing business as the Mississippi Valley Telephone Company. The La Harpe Company was repossessed in 1908 by Mr. Todd & Mr. Hungate, and by 1916 two new partners were added, A. G. Cox, & R.R. Lionberger. In 1918, C. K. Todd bought out one partner to own ˝ of the company. Sometime between 1918 and 1938, Miss Cora Peasly became owner of the other half. Miss Peasly and Mr. Todd remained partners until his death in 1938. At that time Ralph Todd took over his father’s interest. Cora and Ralph remained partners until December of 1950, at which time Mr. Todd purchased the remaining ˝ from the Cora Peasly Estate. In 1952, the company was incorporated in the state of Illinois as the La Harpe Telephone Company, Inc. Initial stock holders were Ralph D. Todd, and Emma Louise Blaul Todd. Ralph D. Todd served as President, Theodore E. Irish, Vice President, and Diana Todd Irish, Secretary/Treasurer. Management remained the same until Mr. Todd’s retirement in 1985, at which time, Diana T. Irish assumed the position of President and General Manager. Mr. Todd remained on the Board as President Emeritus until his death in 1995. Upon the retirement of Diana T. Irish in 1998, Todd Irish became President and Mark D. Irish became Vice President.

From the end of WWII through 1960, the company purchased and assumed responsibility for the “farmer lines” which connected to the Company at the city limits. In 1967, the company purchased the Fountain Green exchange from Mr. Fred Hillers. La Harpe Telephone Company has continued to embrace modern technology as quickly as it has met quality and economic requirements. All party lines were converted to single party lines between 1967 and 1971. Plant has been in a constant state of modernization and upgrade. Beginning with direct buried cables through the construction of fiber optic ring and node systems. La Harpe Telephone has strived to maintain the best possible services for our customers. This commitment to service extends to the present with our current deployment of fiber-optic hybrid cables to the home.