USA > Illinois > Champaign County > A Standard history of Champaign County Illinois : an authentic narrative of the past, with particular attention to the modern era in the commercial, industrial, civic and social development : a chronicle of the people, with family lineage and memoirs, Volume I > Part 39
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Up to December, 1870, there were no established services of the Episcopal Church in Champaign. About the beginning of the Civil
VIEW ON WEST CHURCH STREET
War the town was visited by Rev. John Wesley Osborne, of Chicago, who, as diocesan missionary, seems to have had jurisdiction along the Illinois Central Railroad from Chicago to Cairo. Mr. Osborne prob- ably held services at Champaign, but there is no record of any official acts. Regular services were established when Rev. Albert E. Wells located in the city during December, 1870, as a missionary of the Illinois diocese. At that time the congregation met in Bailey's Hall on Neil Street. Mr. Wells continued to reside in Champaign and hold services until November, 1871, when he took charge of St. Peter's Church, at Mound City, Illinois. Periodically, renewed efforts were
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
made to establish the Episcopal Church service at Champaign, and finally Rev. Daniel F. Smith opened the Little Brick schoolhouse, on the corner of Randolph and Hill streets to an Episcopal congregation, December 8, 1875. In August, 1878, he severed his connection with the work and in the following month Rev. William C. Hopkins accepted charge of the mission, and continued in that capacity for about four years. In July, 1882, Mr. Hopkins was succeeded by Rev. Jesse Higgins and Rev. Arthur Q. Davis, associate priests, residing at Cham- paign and holding services there, as well as at Urbana, Tuscola and other missionary points. During that year the congregation was incorporated as Emmanuel Church under state laws, a church building contracted for and Rev. D. W. Dresser installed as the new rector. The building was opened for service in April, 1883, being consecrated by Rt. Rev. George F. Seymour, bishop of Springfield. The original rectory was first occupied by Dr. and Mrs. Dresser in July, 1886, and in 1902 a large and more modern residence was provided. The church building was continually improved and many handsome and impressive memorials were added to its interior. A large memorial window was inserted in memory of Dr. D. W. Dresser, who died November 18, 1900. In 1901 the Emmanuel mission became a parish, Dr. James E. Wilkin- son serving from that year until his resignation, on account of ill health in April, 1906. In September of that year Rev. Harry T. Moore took charge of the parish, was succeeded by Rev. L. S. Sherman in April, 1907, and he, in turn, was followed by Rev. H. C. Goodman in Novem- ber, 1910. The fire of the preceding February had made it necessary for services to be held in the University chapel for some time. In June, 1914, Mr. Goodman resigned and in September Rev. George P. Hoster, to whom a call to the rectorship had been extended several years previously, commenced his work.
In August, 1916, occurred the death, by accident, of John Luther Polk, Jr., a member of the vestry. At the October meeting of that body Dr. Hoster, acting in behalf of Dr. and Mrs. John L. Polk, pre- sented the following: "Dr. and Mrs. Polk will build a church costing not less than $25,000, nor more than $30,000, to be a memorial to their sons, John Luther, Robert Collins and Justice Cicero Polk," and requesting that the name be changed to read "Emmanuel Memorial Church." On May 1, 1917, the contract was signed with A. W. Stool- man for the erection of the church, parish house and rectory, the work to be completed in the fall of 1917.
In addition to the foregoing, there are a number of churches within the city limits worthy even of more specific mention than can be given
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them, but the information urgently requested was not supplied. The University Place Christian and the Christian Science churches are in that list. It is known that the First Church of Christ Scientist has been organized since 1908, has a beautiful edifice for worship, the usual rest and reading room down town, and is growing steadily.
BENEVOLENT AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS
There are a number of institutions and organizations of a benevolent and charitable nature which are nobly co-operating with the churches in various lines of practical work designed to relieve the physical ail- ments and material embarrassments of life from which none are posi- tively exempt. Both the Y. M. C. A. and the Y. W. C. A. have large and growing organizations, the work being largely centered at the Uni- versity of Illinois; the Salvation army is doing the usual work of proselyting and regeneration ; there are the Julia F. Burnham Hospital, the Garwood Home for Old Ladies, the Young Women's Christian League, the Dorcas Society, and other institutions, tried and true, and, as an organization, through which all can work and to which many contribute, the United Charities Association of Champaign and Urbana.
UNITED CHARITIES ASSOCIATION OF CHAMPAIGN AND URBANA
In the fall of 1911 the State Conference of Charities and Correc- tions met in the Twin Cities, Dr. E. C. Hayes of the University of Illinois being largely responsible that this organization was asked to meet here. As a result of the interest aroused through this state con- ference a meeting was held shortly afterwards at the Y. M. C. A. at which all the various organizations interested in problems of poverty were represented, and it was there decided to organize the United Charities Association of Champaign and Urbana. It had already seemed to many who had come in contact with the problems of the two towns that some central organization should be formed as the towns were too large for individual work to be effective. Knowledge gained by one person was not passed on to the next working with a family. There was much overlapping, several individuals helping the same family, each thinking they were the only ones assisting.
The first regular meeting of the Association was held December 28, 1911. At that time a constitution and by-laws were adopted and the following officers were elected: Dr. E. C. Hayes, president ; Mr. F. H. Boggs, vice-president ; Mr. J. M. Kaufman, treasurer; Mrs.
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S. P. Sherman, secretary pro tem. Later Miss Florence W. Clark was employed as secretary to give all her time to the work and she took up her duties on February 20, 1912. In May, 1912, the organization was incorporated.
When the first annual meeting was held in December, 1912, the organization had worked with 119 resident families including 486 indi- viduals. The volume of work has increased as those in need have come to know of the organization and those wishing to help have come more and more to realize the effectiveness of associated charities methods to lift a family out of dependency and help them to again be self-support- ing.
During the winters of 1913-14 and 1914-15 when industrial condi- tions all over the country were bad, the number of families assisted reached as high as 350 a year, comprising about 1,500 individuals, and
JULIA F. BURNHAM HOSPITAL
this past year 306 families came to the attention of the organization, these families comprising about 1,100 individuals.
At present the organization has 210 contributing members, and the officers are president, Mr. E. S. Swigert ; vice-president, Mr. M. W. Busey; treasurer, Mr. J. H. Thornburn; secretary, Miss Gertrude Longden.
JULIA F. BURNHAM HOSPITAL
The Julia F. Burnham Hospital on East Springfield Avenue is a practical memorial to the energetic and faithful labors of Mrs. Burn- ham, for nearly thirty years a sister, and a mother of mercy and
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charity, in Champaign and Urbana, and at the time of her death, October 28, 1894, and for some years prior thereto, she was a prom- inent worker in the State Board of Charities. Her husband, Albert C. Burnham, located in Champaign in 1861, then in his twenty-third year, read law with James B. McKinley, and after his admission to the bar was associated with his preceptor in the banking and investment firm of Mckinley & Burnham. After his marriage in 1866 he became the senior member of such banking concerns as Burnham, Mckinley & Company and Burnham, Trevett & Mattis, and at his death, September 13, 1897, he left a large estate. In the late years of his life, in happy harmony with the wishes of his wife, his time, attention and money had been largely devoted to charitable work, and through his gift of $10,000 (afterward increased to $25,000) the Julia F. Burnham Hospital was opened on March 5, 1895. Mrs. Burnham's death occurred in the previous October.
Mr. Burnham's original gift was intrusted to the Social Science Club, in which Mrs. Burnham had been deeply interested, and the mem- bership of which was identical with that of the Julia F. Burnham Hos- pital Association. H. H. Harris, husband of another prominent mem- ber of the club, tendered a site of eight lots for the hospital grounds. It was later deemed expedient to decline this offer, and the present location was purchased through an additional donation made by Mr. Burnham. In case the club, to which the foundation was consigned, should disband, ample provision was made for the permanent manage- ment of the hospital. An endowment fund was also placed at the dis- posal of the Hospital Board. The hospital is well managed.
GARWOOD HOME FOR OLD LADIES
The Garwood Home for Old Ladies is a comfortable house at North Market Street and the city limits. Although the late L. C. Garwood left the greater part of his estate to found and maintain the Home, complications followed in the settlement and investment of various interests so that all has not been accomplished that was designed. Under the terms of his will none are admitted who have not resided in Champaign County for at least five years, and many old ladies of fine character have been made comfortable in the delining years of their lives. Mrs. Arthur Spalding, closely identified with Mr. Garwood's interests during his life and with the estate afterward, has been a mainstay of the institution from the first. Walter H. Johnson is the superintendent.
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YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN LEAGUE
The Young Women's Christian League provides a home for working women on West Church Street, at a small cost. It has a matron and accommodations are furnished to fourteen girls and women. The board of management comprises two members from each religious denomination in the city. The Home was opened in January, 1917, and the following have served since as its officers: Mrs. B. F. Harris, president; Miss Sara Monier, treasurer, and Mrs. T. J. Paisley, sec- retary.
THE DORCAS SOCIETY
The oldest charitable organization in Champaign is the Dorcas Society. It has always done useful service in the community, and Mrs. John W. Stipes is its president. For many years its chief spirit was Mrs. Harriet Lawhead, who devoted her life to charitable work and came to be known as the unfailing friend of all the poor and needy. One of the public school buildings of the city is named in her honor, the Lawhead School.
WOMEN'S CLUBS
The Twin Cities are both strong in the field of women's clubs and, in not a few cases, the activities of the same organization cover both cities. Among the ladies who are leaders in the uplifting work pro- mulgated by such clubs are included many of the foremost women of both Champaign and Urbana, and the work of these clubs has had a markedly beneficial influence on the social and intellectual atmosphere of both cities.
THE ART CLUB
One notable feature runs through the history of these fine bodies of womanhood, and that is the strong influence exerted by the University of Illinois in the establishment and development of the women's clubs of both Champaign and Urbana. The Champaign Art Club, the mother of them all, organized in 1876, was an offspring of the Uni- versity department of art, of which Professor Kennis was the head. In her paper read before the Art Club and its friends during a meeting commemorative of its twenty-first anniversary, Mrs. W. S. Maxwell said that Professor Kennis delivered a lecture before the club at its first formal meeting, advancing many ideas which were subsequently adopted in its founding and plan of study and investigation. Again
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says Mrs. Maxwell: "In those early days, when our city libraries were less equipped than now, the college professors used to furnish us with books, as well as talks and lectures upon subjects connected with our studies."
The initial inspiration which finally led to its organization was the collection of sculpture and engravings of masters, both ancient and modern, purchased and installed by the University and the citizens of the Twin Cities in 1874. Credit for the selection of the collection was also largely due to Dr. Gregory, who visited Europe at his own expense to perform that work. The original membership of the club was twelve-Mesdames J. M. Healey, Jonathan Bacon, Don Carlos Taft, E. V. Peterson, A. E. Harmon, Phoncene W. Frisbee, of Champaign, and Mesdames Alexander, J. W. Porter, J. E. Hunt, T. J. Burrill, C. D. Webster and W. H. Smith, of Urbana. The first constitution of the Art Club was adopted December 18, 1890, having been drafted mainly by Mrs. J. B. Russell, Mrs. George W. Gere and Mrs. G. C. Willis. For many years the study of the Art Club was devoted exclusively to art and art history, on the lines laid down by its originators, but there has been a continual broadening of its scope of late years. Among its best known presidents have been Mrs. Anna S. Clark, Mrs. E. A. Kim- ball, Mrs. A. C. Burnham, Mrs. Jonathan Bacon, Mrs. Henry Swannell, Mrs. W. H. Smith, Mrs. J. B. Russell, Mrs. W. K. D. Townsend, Mrs. G. C. Willis, Mrs. J. B. Harris, Mrs. G. W. Gere, Mrs. R. R. Mattis, Mrs. J. W. Porter, Mrs. J. L. Ray, Mrs. C. B. Hatch, Mrs. H. H. Harris, Mrs. H. E. Cushing, Mrs. J. B. Mckinley, Mrs. C. N. Wilder, Mrs. D. F. Carnahan, Mrs. T. J. Burrill, Mrs. J. R. Stewart, Mrs. T. A. Naughton.
THE THIRTY CLUB
The Thirty Club was organized by the ladies of Champaign and Urbana, in 1885, chiefly under the leadership of Prof. J. C. Pickard, instructor in English and literature at the university, and Prof. Nathan- iel Butler, at the head of that department and for many years past identified with the University of Chicago. For the first five years of its existence the organization was known as the Shakespeare Club, the name defining its scope of study. Since then its curriculum has included other branches of literary study, both classical and current. Its present officers are: Mrs. H. H. Stoech, president ; Mrs. H. S. Capron, vice-president ; Mrs. A. P. Carman, secretary.
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SOCIAL SCIENCE CLUB OF THE TWIN CITIES
The Social Science Club of Champaign and Urbana originated in a visit of Mrs. J. L. Ray and Mrs. H. H. Harris to Washington, in attendance at the National Council of Women, during the year 1888. Largely through their enthusiasm and initiative an organization was effected among the women of the Twin Cities known as the Social and Political Science Club. In 1892 the word Political was eliminated, although the activities of the club and its studies were in no wise curtailed, social science logically covering not only the political phases of the subjects of special interest to women, but the sociological and all others.
From the beginning of the original club's history the presidents have been Mrs. J. L. Ray, Mrs. H. H. Harris, Mrs. S. A. Forbes, Mrs. G. W. Gere, Mrs. Edward Snyder, Mrs. J. R. Sewart, Mrs. S. T. Busey, Mrs. B. F. Harris (died in January, 1896), Mrs. I. N. Wade, Mrs. F. M. Wright, Mrs. H. M. Dunlap, Mrs. A. N. Talbot, Mrs. George A. Turrell, Mrs. J. T. Davidson, Mrs. John A. Glover.
During the administration of the following club board, Mrs. J. R. Stewart, Mrs. F. M. Wright, Mrs. I. O. Baker and Mrs. J. T. Davidson, in 1893, this club procured a charter from the State, the signatures of the entire membership of thirty-five being appended to the application for an incorporation, whose purpose should be the maintenance of the Julia F. Burnham Hospital. A short time later one-half of the mem- bers withdrew from the parent club and founded. with an equipment of new officers, the Champaign Social Science Club, whose purpose was to continue its literary studies and to spend its energies on the main- tenance of the new hospital. The original club under its then existing administration relinquished all its rights and interests in that organiza- tion and has since followed its social and literary pursuits.
THE CHAMPAIGN SOCIAL SCIENCE CLUB
The Champaign Social Science Club was founded in the fall of 1893 for the special purpose of helping to maintain a hospital convenient to the people of Champaign which had been made possible through the donation of $10,000 by A. C. Burnham to found a memorial hospital in honor of his late wife, Julia F. Burnham. Aside from the careful consideration of literary and civic studies, this club, its membership limit having been increased to forty, has succeeded by the faithful efforts of years in bringing the hospital through the trying vicissitudes attend- ant on the establishment of so important an institution and fixing it on
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a footing which makes it a reliance for valuable public service and a source of pride to those who stood by it during the days of its infancy. The meetings of the clubs have always been conducted in the Burnham Athenaeum, the city public library building.
WOMAN'S CLUB OF CHAMPAIGN AND URBANA
An organization of much influence and energy is the Champaign and Urbana Woman's Club. It was organized at the home of Mrs. G. C. Willis in Champaign in 1897, and a full list of working departments was soon provided for the club. It is intellectually and numerically strong and is a member of the State organization. Its first officers were as follows: President, Mrs. Joseph Carter, who held three terms; secretary, Mrs. H. S. Piatt; treasurer, Mrs. F. L. Bills. Succeeding Mrs. Joseph Carter as president were Mrs. S. A. Forbes (two terms), Mrs. M. W. Busey and Mrs. Mary C. Lee.
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY COUNTRY CLUB
The Champaign County Country Club is one of the prosperous organ- izations which have given the Twin Cities a high standing among people who still believe in the necessity for outdoor exercise and recreation. It was organized in 1904, and as a corporation leased for ten years the beautiful forty-acre homestead of E. O. Chester adjoining the city limits of Champaign on the southwest. At the expiration of the lease, in 1910, the club purchased the grounds. A handsome clubhouse has been constructed, with wide porches and roof garden, offering charming views of the adjoining country. A nine-hole golf course was also laid out, tennis courts built, bowling alleys installed, croquet grounds com- pleted and playgrounds for children platted in a wooded stretch. Tour- naments and entertainments of all kinds add to the enjoyment and membership of the club, which is divided into various classes. Honorary members may be received from localities outside of Champaign County. The total membership is considerably in excess of 200. Since the organ- ization of the Country Club in 1904 the following gentlemen have served as presidents : B. F. Harris, M. W. Busey, N. M. Harris, W. L. Gray, R. R. Mattis, E. S. Swigart, F. W. Woody, D. P. McIntyre, J. B. Prettyman, R. D. Burnham, John A. Glover and George A. Huff.
THE GRAND ARMY POST
Colonel Nodine Post No. 140, G. A. R., was mustered in June 17,
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
1882, and the names of its successive commanders have been: J. W. Langley, dead; George W. Harwood and E. A. Kratz; S. E. Weeks, H. T. Sperry, A. P. Cunningham and Jacob Buch, all of whom are deceased ; Walter E. Price and John B. Weeks; Edward Bigelow, dead ; W. H. Coffman; George K. Sheffer and Ben. J. Craven, both dead; A. T. Hall; W. G. Abbott and J. B. Russell, deceased; J. N. Beck ; George F. Beardsley and Arthur C. Price, dead; Joseph Jutton; M. Bongart, deceased ; S. P. Atkinson, Charles M. Miller, A. K. Hefflefinger, J. H. Bainum, William Myers and C. B. Johnson; P. T. Platt, dead, and A. J. Houston. The elective officers for 1917: Commander, L. C. Pittman ; S. V. C., M. M. Myers; J. V. C., J. M. Campbell (dead) ;
COUNTRY CLUB HOUSE AND GROUNDS
O. D., H. A. Glascock; chaplain, W. H. Coffman; surgeon, S. Van Brunt; Q. M., Adam Frison; Adj., Walter E. Price; O. G., Chris Grein ; P. I., C. B. Johnson; Q. M. S., Charles Miller. In April, 1917, the post had a membership of seventy-nine; five had died during the year.
CHAMPAIGN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
An agency which has done much toward the development of Cham- paign County is the Chamber of Commerce of Champaign. It was incor- porated April 30, 1904, as The Retail Merchants' Association of Cham- paign, Illinois, with Seeley C. Gulick, W. I. Ferguson, D. E. Harris, F. K. Robeson, M. A. Nelson, M. E. Smith and F. D. Kirkpatrick as the first board of directors. Mr. Robeson was elected president. The work
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of the organization was directed almost wholly to the correction of trade abuses which caused heavy losses to business firms and increased cost of goods to patrons who paid their bills and asked only a square deal.
On May 5, 1905, following discussions of plans for broadening the work of the organization, the name was changed to "Chamber of Com- merce of Champaign, Illinois," and the new activities were conducted that year under direction of J. R. Trevett, president, and J. M. Kauf- man, W. I. Ferguson, M. A. Nelson, W. R. Bradley, C. H. Baddeley and G. C. Willis as directors. Under the new plan the association took up a variety of subjects for consideration, keeping the commercial depart- ment almost entirely separate from the general work. A public rest room was one of the early undertakings and is still in operation with attendance on the part of shoppers and strangers in the city, which more than justifies the expense incurred. Free parcel checking, free local telephone service, toilet facilities are offered the general public without formality. Another feature which has been strengthened during the last five years is the information bureau, free, as are other services, and a reality in all the name implies.
Among the accomplishments of the association are the change from a blacklist for the protection of merchants to a credit rating system designed to be of use to all citizens and fair to all, the ratings being based wholly on the custom of handling accounts and systematized to follow any changes readily. The association was responsible for the lighting of the business section of the city, and after investing over $3,000 gave the distributing plant to the city.
It promoted the high school bond issue, the installation of city lighting system, and bond issue for motorizing the fire department; initiated and perfected the organization of the county farm bureau and established the county office in Champaign ; also assisted the City Coun- cil in the preparation of building ordinance, and has done much work to procure for the city adequate surface water and sanitary sewer system.
Industrially, the association has not been active during the last five years. Prior to that time a "factory fund" had been created by the sale of an 80-acre tract of land divided into 342 lots. Much of this money was spent as factory bonus and lost on the factories so procured, but the net result has worked out to about . balance the account. The disposition now is to not bid for factories; however, manufacturing concerns are not discouraged if they find upon investigation that they can do well in Champaign.
Co-operation with the University of Illinois is active, friendly and helpful, because Champaign realizes that that great educational insti- tution is one of its most valuable assets.
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Until a few years ago the shops of the Illinois Central Railroad were located in the business section of the city. Through efforts of this association directed by a friendly spirit, the shops have been moved about two miles north of the city where the company has spent over $1,000,000 on new buildings and equipment, making this division one of the best along the main line.
Looking back over the years which have passed, we find the fol- lowing men have served as president: F. K. Robeson, 1903-04; J. R. Trevett, 1904-06; E. M. Burr, 1906-07; B. F. Harris, 1907-10; C. A. Kiler 1910-11; S. K. Hughes, 1911-12 ; F. C. Amsbary, 1912-13; J. M. Kaufman, 1913-15; D. G. Swannell, 1915-16; A. E. Huckins, 1916-17.
C. D. Brownell, now serving as president, is an active business man, and has been called upon to serve the community as a member of the city council, the board of education, and by special duties as member of various committees for investigation. In his new place he is giving the same thought and time to the work in hand which had made his service valuable in other capacities. C. W. Murphy is the efficient man- aging secretary.
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