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 41
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ABSORBED BY THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM
Within the following two years Prof. A. M. Wheeler and Rev. L. Janes, both successful teachers, became its principals ; but when Thomas R. Leal, who was chosen county superintendent of schools in 1857, com- menced his reorganization of the county schools under the new law, the seminary went by the board, and in May, 1858, the citizens of Urbana voted in favor of purchasing the Urbana Male and Female Seminary for a free public school. For that purpose it was voted to tax the school district $5,000. The seminary at Homer went the same way; went to strengthen the system of the public schools.
ANOTHER SEMINARY PROJECT
Early in 1859, soon after the absorption of the Urbana Male and Female Seminary into the public school system, Rev. Jonathan C.
FIRST SCHOOL HOUSE IN WEST URBANA (1854)
T
THE PERKINS SCHOOL HOUSE
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
Stoughton of Freeport, Illinois, and two capitalistic associates planned to plat a town addition west of Urbana, sell off some of its lots and from the proceeds erect a seminary or college building within the tract thus exploited. Enthusiastic meetings were held both in Urbana and West Urbana-Dr. C. A. Hunt of the former and Dr. J. W. Seroggs of the railroad town, being especially prominent. By July, 1860, the Urbana Clarion was able to announce that "the construction of an educational building 180 feet front by 80 feet deep, five stories high above the basement, between Urbana and the depot, is now a fixed faet." Further: "The building is to be located on the open space between the towns, twenty or thirty rods from the Urbana Railroad, which will render it easy of access to students in either place; and if but one-half the benefits anticipated are realized, it will do very much to render our town and county a desirable place of residence. A school of a high order is very much needed in this part of the state, it being almost entirely destitute of any but common school facilities."
CIVIL WAR BARS PROGRESS
In 1859, the Urbana Railroad had been chartered to build a line between the two towns and eastward, but the work of grading the line between Urbana and Champaign had been only partially completed when the Civil War blocked the project until 1863. The war also stopped the erection of the building of the Urbana and Champaign Institute. While the enterprise was thus hovering in the balance, Dr. Hunt (in July, 1862) suggested that the partially completed building could be turned over to the proposed Agricultural College under the Morrill act and adapted to its uses. The idea grew in favor, so that by the fall of 1865 a committee of investigation from the General Assembly reported in its favor.
THE INSTITUTE AS THIE FORERUNNER OF THE UNIVERSITY
As the seminary building eventually became the mother of the large and imposing progeny of university buildings, its description, while still unfinished, is interesting. "The Urbana and Champaign Institute," says the account of a local paper, "is a substantial brick building with stone foundation, standing on a beautiful elevation about one-half mile from the Illinois Central Railroad at Champaign City, and about an equal distance from Urbana, the county seat of Champaign County.
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The whole structure is beautiful in its architectural proportions and very imposing in its appearance. The main building is 125 feet front by 40 feet in depth, and five stories high. From the center a wing projects forty-four by seventy feet four stories high. The front wall has a projection, eight feet by forty, with pilasters and towers orna- menting the corners. The inside of the building is unfinished, and may be somewhat modified from the original plan. The walls are without a crack or blemish. The building is under contract to be wholly finished at the expense of the county in the early part of the coming summer."
The fight for the location at Urbana was a long one, but virtually decided by the election of C. R. Griggs, of that place, as a representa- tive in the lower house of the Legislature and an enthusiastic champion of the Champaign County location. After passing both houses, the bill fixing the site of the Industrial University was approved by Governor Oglesby in February, 1867.
PERIOD OF UPS AND DOWNS
Although the Urbana Railroad was opened to Champaign in August, 1863, its stock was rolled by mules. But in 1870 the town at last secured steam railway connections by the completion of the Danville, Urbana, Bloomington & Pekin Railroad. Then, with the coming of the railroad and the firm establishment of the Industrial University at its very doorway, when things seemed really to be looking up, came the destructive fire of October 9, 1871. While the great conflagration at Chicago raged, in proportion to the area of the place the fire at Urbana seemed, at the time, equally disastrous. From the Whitcomb residence, at the corner of Market and High streets, it was driven northward to the railroad track, only two houses escaping destruction. Within a few months, however, better buildings arose to replace those burned; so that, on the whole, the early '70s mark the commencement of Urbana's continuous growth. Its development has been steady, chiefly as a clean, healthful, orderly residence city, possessing social and edu- cational advantages of a high order, not crowded by a miscellaneous industrial populace, or besmirched by belching and unsightly factories. Its stores furnish the necessities, comforts and luxuries desired by the community, and its banks every financial facility required.
Churches and societies are numerous and well supported.
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
LEADING UP TO THE CITY OF URBANA
As has been repeatedly noted, the late Judge J. O. Cunningham was for so many years identified with Urbana and the State University that it was particularly fitting that he should contribute "Early Histor- ical Sketches of the City of Urbana" to the official publication of the corporation in 1916, and that C. B. Holmes, its city clerk since May 1, 1877, should complete its political history to that year. From these reliable sources is extracted the running sketch which follows.
In the beginning there was nothing to be seen or encountered other than the vast expanse of prairie, unbroken and untrodden except by the wild Indian. Across this prairie in different direction and from groves of timber to other groves lay single trails, the only roads or other evi- dences of occupation in existence. Wild Indians, no less wild than the
SOD
VIEW ON WEST MAIN STREET
scenery above described, were the only occupants, and they changing locations with the results of wars, were for untold ages, before History took cognizance of the location, its only occupants.
These people made no improvements in any country they occupied other than the trails, and for these were indebted to the wild buffalo, their joint occupant, who in search of pasture and saline springs, made regular tours across the country, which in time were the Indian trails and the white man's early roads.
These few words tell the history of Urbana and of Champaign County until the coming of the United States surveying corps, which
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
during the summer of 1822, under the direction of the deputy surveyor general, Elias Rector, surveyed the thirty-six square miles which consti- tute the township of Urbana, and were probably the first of our race who saw and closely observed these scenes; unless we except some possible white squatter, who had ventured unauthorized, to set up his home hereon. This however was quite improbable, for not until the year 1819 was the Indian title to this country extinguished and white occupancy possible.
In the year 1822, probably contemporaneously with the survey, came the first white inhabitant of the township, Runnel Fielder, who set up his home in Section 12, about two miles east of the city of Urbana, During the same year, but it is believed a little later in the season, came also William Tompkins, who is believed to have been the first permanent inhabitant of the ground now bearing the name "The City of Urbana !" The latter was at first a "squatter," for not until Feb- ruary 4, 1830, nearly eight years after his settlement thereon, did he become the owner of his home lot, which was the west half of the southeast quarter of Section 8, of the township. His cabin; the first permanent structure erected within the city, was located closely to the southwest corner of the tract, about where the rear end of the Courier building now stands.
Other than the standing timber the tract had little to invite its selection as a home and the reason therefor must have been its near- ness to a spring of water a few rods to the southwest, near the front of the Flat Iron building, but upon another section of land. This spring, from which gushed a copious flow of water, had long been the center of an Indian encampment or village, which extended many rods to the east and to the southwest. Here, when Tompkins came, were abundant evidences of Indian occupancy in the numerous bones along the creek and of old corn hills on the adjacent prairie. Hence the name of the creek,-"Bone-Yard Branch."
Tompkins, soon after becoming the owner of his home, sold the same to Isaac Busey, an incoming emigrant from Kentucky, who was not long the only citizen of the site of the future city, for in 1832 came Thomson R. Webber, also from Kentucky, who built a cabin upon the site of the Webber home in the east part of Urbana.
The General Assembly of Illinois, at its session of 1833, established by law the county of Champaign, as it now exists, with the provision that commissioners, who were therein named, should locate the county seat of the new county and that the same should be called "Urbana."
This commission met in the June following and among several pro-
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
posed locations selected the lands a short distance east of the then Busey home, where the courthouse now stands and there drove the stake which was to be the county seat and gave it the legal name of "Urbana." This event marks the first location of that name within this territory.
Lands given to the county to induce the location of the county seat by Isaac Busey, William T. Webber and Col. M. W. Busey were soon thereafter platted around the courthouse square, received the legal name, and a sale of the same, at auction, was advertised for an early day.
Thomson R. Webber, who was at the first appointed to the clerk- ship of the Circuit Court and also as clerk of the Board of County Commissioners, built a cabin across the street west of the square and lived upon that lot until driven therefrom by the great fire of October 9, 1871.
The population of the new county at its inception did not exceed 1,000 and was probably much less, for the official census of 1835, over two years later showed but 1,038 inhabitants.
At this date there were but two postoffices in the county, one, Van Buren, four miles to the northeast of Urbana, and one, Ludding- ton, two miles north of IIomer. Urbana postoffice was established September 2, 1836, with Thomson R. Webber as postmaster, who held that position for over fourteen years.
The first term of the Circuit Court was held on April 6, 1835. Nothing was done save the appointment of Mr. Webber as clerk, the approval of official bonds and the continuance of the only two cases for want of service. Mr. Webber held this office until succeeded by W. H. Somers in 1857. Hon. James Harlan was presiding judge.
The General Assembly, at its session of 1855, passed an act charter- ing the City and an election held on June 2, 1855, chose Hon. Archa Campbell, Mayor, and set the municipal government in action.
ORIGINAL CORPORATE LIMITS AND FIRST ELECTION
By an act of the General Assembly of the State of Illinois, approved on the 14th day of February, 1855, the City of Urbana, Illinois, was chartered.
The limits of said city at that time were fixed as follows: Beginning at a point in center of section 9, thence west two miles, thence south one mile, thence east two miles and thence north one mile to beginning.
An election was held at the courthouse on the first Monday in April, 1885, "when and where a majority of the legal voters, residing within said limits, voted 'for incorporation.'"
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
Section 3 of the chapter of said city provides that "if a majority of the citizens shall vote for incorporation the following named persons, to-wit: William Park, J. W. Jaquith, W. N. Coler, A. G. Carle, Alonzo Lyons, A. M. Whitney, Moses Snelling, or a majority of them, shall meet at the courthouse on the first Saturday in May and divide said city into wards, appoint three judges of election in each ward and appoint a day of election."
On the 5th day of May, 1855, J. W. Jaquith, W. N. Coler, William Park and A. G. Carle met in the courthouse and divided the city into three wards, and called an election to be held in said city on the first Saturday in June, 1855, for the election of one mayor and also two aldermen for each of said wards.
At said election Archa Campbell was elected mayor, and for alder- men of the first ward William C. Beck; second ward, John Gere and Daniel Jarvis; third ward, E. Harkness and Jesse D. Jaquith; who were installed "at a meeting of the citizens held at the courthouse on July 14, 1855," and at a meeting of the council held on said date, the council decided a contest between Mr. Harvey and Mr. F. B. Sale for alderman of the first ward and declared Mr. F. B. Sale elected to said office, and he was duly installed. Said council appointed Mr. S. J. Toy as city clerk.
At a special election duly called and held at the Pennsylvania House in the city of Urbana on the 19th day of April, 1873, for the purpose of voting upon the proposition of the adoption by the city of an act entitled, "An Act to Provide for the Incorporation of Cities and Vil- lages, passed by the General Assembly of the State of Illinois, and Approved April 10, 1872."
The vote for adoption of said act at said election was 350 votes, and against the adoption of said act, 136 votes.
The City Council of the city of Urbana, Illinois, at a regular meet- ing thereof, held on the 21st day of April, 1873, upon the canvass and declaring the result of said election, adopted the following resolution :
"Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Urbana, That we hereby declare said City, from and after this date, April 21, 1873, organized under the General Law of the State of Illinois, for its charter, and the question of minority representation in the City Council, we declare defeated."
Signed-
E. HALBERSTADT, Mayor.
F. M. ALLEN, City Clerk.
D. McKinzie, L. A. McLean, S. H. Busey, J. A. Myers, J. II. Shuck, Jas. Somers, Aldermen.
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
URBANA'S MAYORS
Following is a list of the mayors of the city: Archa Campbell, July 14, 1855-June 10, 1856; Ezekiel Boyden, June 10, 1856-June 22, 1857; Jesse W. Jaquith, June 22, 1857-June 28, 1858; E. Boyden, June 28, 1858-June 11, 1859; C. A. Hunt, June 11, 1859-June 28, 1861; Edward Ater, June 28, 1861-June 22, 1864; Jos. W. Sim, June 22, 1864-June 4, 1866; Clark R. Griggs, June 4, 1866-June 8, 1867; Eli Halberstadt, June 8, 1867-July 6, 1868; J. M. Davies, July 6, 1868-June 23, 1869; Myron S. Brown, June 23, 1869-June 20, 1870; W. J. Ermentrout, June 20, 1870-June 12, 1871; Eli Halberstadt, June 12, 1871-April 28, 1874; Royal A. Sutton, April 28, 1874- May 3, 1875 ; J. T. Miller, May 3, 1875-May 7, 1877; A. P. Cunning- ham, May 7, 1877-April 26, 1880; S. T. Busey, May 25, 1880-May 15, 1889 ; C. A. Besore, May 15, 1889-May 15, 1891; Jas. H. Brown- lee, May 15, 1891-May 15, 1893 ; Wm. B. Webber, May 15, 1893-May 15, 1895; Geo. W. Hubbard, May 15, 1895-May 15, 1899; Samuel C. Fox, May 15, 1899-May 15, 1901; John A. Glover, May 15, 1901- May 15, 1903; John A. Glover, May 15, 1903-May 15, 1905; Samuel C. Fox, May 15, 1905-May 15, 1907; Samuel W. Love, May 15, 1907- May 15, 1909; George W. Hubbard, May 15, 1909-May 1, 1911; Franklin H. Boggs, May 1, 1911-May 1, 1913; Olin L. Browder, May 1, 1913-May 1, 1915; Olin L. Browder, May 1, 1915-May 1, 1917.
At the election held May 1, 1917, the following were elected: Ches- ter W. Richards, mayor; C. B. Holmes, city clerk; Theodore Bercher, treasurer; W. C. Maguire, city attorney; U. G. Martin, police magis- trate; Rodger Tyrell, alderman from the First Ward; Thomas Bishop, Second; Jacob White, Third; Fred Kirkpatrick, Fourth; George W. Exton, Fifth.
THE CITY HALL AND DEPARTMENTS
The City Hall, which is a plain brick building two stories in height, houses the municipal offices and the Council Chamber, and adjoining it is a small building for the accommodation of the fire department. The apparatus comprises a chemical hose and truck, a horse truck and a motor truck. The department is in close touch with the organizations of the State University and the City of Champaign, and has also the advantage of fire protection through the facilities of the water works. Urbana and Champaign cooperate further in the operation of a complete sanitary system of sewerage, originally devised by Professor A. N. Talbot, of the University of Illinois.
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
CRYSTAL LAKE PARK
In the summer of 1907 a Park Board was formed to take over, improve and manage the various public grounds within the city limits of Urbana. The present members are Justin S. Hall (president), Joseph C. Blair, David C. Busey, Albert Shaff and Charles Fleck; W. E. Atkinson, secretary.
Crystal Lake Park is the largest and most beautifully improved recreation ground in Urbana. It comprises sixty-three acres of land- scape and waterways in the northeastern part of the city, the main entrance to the park being at Lake and West Park streets. The tract lies partly on a hillside and partly in a lower valley of broken surface,
IN CRYSTAL LAKE PARK
the original creek having been deepened and molded into a pretty winding lake. The higher land is a beautiful grove, containing a pavilion and amusement hall, with many conveniences for amusement and rest. The annual sessions of the Twin City Chatanqua Association are held at this park, which is one of the most picturesque places of the kind in Eastern Illinois. Thirty-nine acres of the tract originally con- sisted of a private park owned by B. F. Swartz, about fifteen acres in the northeastern part were donated by Judge J. O. Cunningham and his wife, and the balance was bought from the judge and from the Champaign County Fair and Driving Association. The buildings and speed-course of that association, covering some seventy-five acres, adjoin Crystal Lake Park to the north.
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
LEAL AND CARLE PARKS
Leal Park, of three acres, a block west of Crystal Park, was laid out in November, 1907. Pretty walks, lined with shrubbery and a pagoda, or rest house, are features of that attractive breathing spot.
Carle park of ten acres in the southern part of the city, is only partially improved. It was donated to the city by Margaret B. Morris (Mrs. Carle), in October, 1911.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF URBANA
The Urbana schools were organized in the early '50s by the pioneers of this county and have gradually grown from the one room school on Elm Street to the present system with seven buildings and seating capacity for 2,200 pupils.
The late Dr. Thomas J. Burrill was at the head of the Urbana school system for a short time preceding his enrollment as a member of the faculty of the University of Illinois. J. W. Hays served as super- intendent from 1871 to 1906, and Mr. A. P. Johnson from 1906 to the present date, 1917.
On the present site of the Leal school was a seminary which was used in the early '70s as the public school of Urbana. This building burned in 1872 and was replaced by the old part of the present Leal building in 1873. The east and west wings of this building were added later. At present the Leal building contains twelve school rooms.
The Lincoln school building of eight rooms was finished and occu- pied in 1902, replacing the old West ward four-room building.
The Webber school building of eleven rooms was completed and occupied in April, 1906, taking the place of the old East ward building which is now used as a dwelling.
The present Number Four school building was erected in the fall and winter of 1906 and 1907 and was occupied for school purposes in the winter of 1907. This building is located a mile east of the city limits, on a half acre of ground donated to the school district for school purposes by Mr. Smith.
The J. W. Hays school building of four rooms was occupied on March 4, 1909, and is located upon eight lots of the Busey farm in the northwest part of the city.
The above grade buildings are modern and have in addition to the usual cloak rooms, play rooms in the basement suitable for games by the children in bad weather.
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THE NEW URBANA HIGH SCHOOL (1916)
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
The Thornburn school building was erected in 1897 on some lots at Railroad and North streets, donated by the late John Thornburn in 1897 and was used for high school purposes until December, 1914, when the high school was moved to its new quarters in the present High School building. The Thornburn building now houses the depart- mental grammar school composed of seventh and eighth grades, about 320 pupils.
The school buildings, equipments and sites are valued at $337,200.
The cost of maintaining the schools for the year 1916-1917 was about $80,000. There was a total enrollment of about 2,200 pupils of which 512 were enrolled in high school. These were taught and super- vised by 67 teachers.
In addition to the usual academic subjects the following are offered in the Urbana schools: Manual Training, seventh and eighth grade and high school; Domestic Science, seventh and eighth grade and high school ; a complete Commercial course and Cafeteria in connection with the high school.
In the fall of 1914 all of the seventh and eighth grades were brought to the Thornburn school and the departmental plan has since been used in this school. The pupils are classed into sections of nearly equal working ability and each section does as much work as it is able. Some sections completing two years' work in a year and a half while other sections require two and a half years for the same amount of work.
In the spring of 1917 Home Gardening Clubs were organized in each grade school and as a result about 120 pupils are engaged in this project. Each pupil must have at least 100 square feet in his garden and may have as much more as he can work. Three-fourths of the pupils have more than 250 square feet in garden.
THE HIGH SCHOOL
The most recent addition to Urbana's public schools, the High School, represents a departure from the accepted "cut and dried" style and plan which has been in vogue for so many years and give a building embodying recent ideas both in arrangement of plan and style of design.
In place of the former study rooms where all pupils were assembled during study hours, we find the pupil left independent to work out his own schedule. Lockers are provided in locker rooms on the ground floor for books, wraps, etc., and study rooms or libraries are located between the recitation rooms for each subject. For example, between the two recitation rooms, for and separated from them by plate glass
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
partitions, thus affording supervision from the recitation rooms in a history, library or study room where the pupil goes to study that sub- ject. All reference books for this course are kept in this room. The assembly room is used for opening exercises and for mass meetings only. So much for the plan of organization.
The building, a three-story fireproof structure, faces its main facade, about 200 feet long to the west. It is designed in the Gothic style of architecture, which is at once the most dignified and appropriate style for buildings of this character requiring special lighting features. The exterior is of dark red brick with Bedford stone trimmings. Entrance is gained at the center of the principal facade and at either end of the main corridor. The central entrance leads to the main or first floor while those at the ends lead to the ground story.
The ground story houses the Domestic and Manual Arts depart- ments and mechanical equipment. Besides the cooking laboratory, model dining room, pantry, and sewing room, and a modern cafeteria are accommodated on this floor. Lunches are served each day to abont 100 pupils at an average cost per pupil per meal of 18 cents.
The mannal training rooms, boiler room and fan rooms are located under the auditorium and stage.
At either side of the stairways leading fiom the main entrance to this floor are the boys' and girls' locker rooms fitted with lockers which are ventilated directly into the ventilating system of the building.
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