USA > Illinois > Fulton County > Canton > Canton; its pioneers and history : a continuation to the history of Fulton County > Part 11
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The following tables, which have been copied from old files of the Canton Register, will with tolerable accuracy show the ex- tent of the pork trade of Canton from 1849 to 1862.
PRICE
NO. OF HOGS. PER 100 LBS.
Different packers.
YEAR. 1849-'50
20,438
$2.35
"
1850-'51
14,000
3.40
1851-'52
8,378
3.60
1852-'53
8,361
5.50
66
1853-'54
10,500
3.85
AV. PRICE
FOR 1854-'55.
PER 100 LBS. NO. OF HOGS.
TOTAL WEIGHT.
AVERAGE WEIGHT.
Stipp, Maple & Stockdale ..
$3.80 .. 14,406 .. 3,450,380 .. 239
H. F. & J. W. Ingersoll.
3.80
. . 3,322
814,501 . . 245
John G. Graham.
3.80 . .
2,431
.. 573,716
236
J. M. & J. H. Bass.
3.80 ..
2,409 . .
575,376
.. 238
Piper & Shoup
3.80 .. 2,138
. . 506,706
.. 237
Hipple & Dwire.
3.80
.. 1,336
. . 312,960
.. 235
John W. Shinn
3.80
. . 253
59,229
.. 235
Total
28,170
.. 6,713,421
.. 238
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CANTON: ITS PIONEERS AND HISTORY.
February 14th, 1856, the Register says :
Through the kindness of our pork-dealers, we are enabled to lay before our readers the following statement of that business, in Canton, for present season :
AV. WEIGHT PER HOG.
J. M. & J. H. Bass.
3,364
238
Piper & Shoup.
3,064
232
Stipp, Maple & Stockdale.
1,700
235
Groenendyke & Simonson.
2,000
225
Hulits & Atwater.
2,074
220
H. F. & J. W. Ingersoll.
2,829
240
Hipple & Dwire.
2,000
232
Graham, Wills & Co. Total.
2,440
233
19,471
238
The total weight is 4,529,740 Ibs.
The foregoing figures, we believe, are correct up to this date. There are, however, some few hogs yet to come in-perhaps enough to raise the number to 20,000, but not more. Compared with last season, the figures stand as follows :
1854-'55.
28,170 6,713,421 238
1855-'56
19,471 4,529,740
238
Decrease
9,699 2,193,961
In 1856-'7, according to the same authority, there were packed in Canton, by
NO.HOGS.
AV. W'T.
J. M. & J. H. Bass.
2,200
242
I. S. Piper.
1,775
243
Hulits & Atwater.
1,650
Groenendyke & Simonson
1,500
H. F. & J. W. Ingersoll
2,719
23812
John S. Wills & Bros
1,636
240
Total number.
11,480
Last year the total number packed in this place was 10,700, and the total average weight a fraction over 237. It will therefore be seen that the number is somewhat larger and the average weight somewhat better this season than last.
For 1859 the Register says: %
The following is the number of hogs packed in this place this season :
NO. HOGS.
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CANTON: ITS PIONEERS AND HISTORY.
Bass, Haynes & Ross.
3,000
I. S. Piper.
1,350
Hulits & Atwater.
1,762
Simonson & Breed
800
Ingersolls.
3,944
Jno. S. Wills & Bro
1,725
J. H. Stipp & Co
950
Trites, Seaton & Co.
1,200
Total.
14,731
The average weight is 178 pounds, net. Last season the average was 235 pounds.
In 1860, from the same authority I quote:
Some of the best hogs of the season were brought in last week. The following lots were received by Messrs. Ingersoll, from the persons named :
NO.HOGS. AV.W'T.
David Perrine
27
303
E. Burdick.
34 304
Samuel Brown.
18 336
James Perrine.
38 262
J. T. Dunn.
36 240
R. Greenwell.
43
250
George V. Coe
12
285
The pork season being about closed, we have, according to our · usual custom, called upon our packers to obtain the number and average weight of the hogs packed, which we give below :
AV.W'T.
Bass, Haynes & Ross
NO. 2,435
215
I. S. Piper.
700
210
Hulits & Atwater.
200
215
Breed, Cline & Co.
700
218
H. F. & J. W. Ingersoll
3,017
215
Trites, Seaton & Co
750
216
Wills Brothers.
1,250
220
Total
9,052
21612
In 1859, the number packed was 14,731, and the average net weight 178; in 1858, the number packed was 11,480, and average weight 235; in 1857, the number packed was 10,700, and the average weight a fraction over 237.
In 1862, January 25th, the Register says :
Through the kindness of our packers, we are enabled to lay
1
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CANTON: ITS PIONEERS AND HISTORY.
before our readers the following statement of the number of hogs packed in this city during the season now closing :
H. F. & J. W. Ingersoll. 3,947
Bass, Hains & Ross.
3,550
Piper & Griffith. 3,100
Wills Bros. 2,282
E. A. Breed & Co
830
At Stockdale's slaughter-house
300
McCall & Co. 323
Wm. Babcock.
100
Amos Babcock.
65
Total.
14,497
Piper & Griffith also shipped 200 hogs to Chicago, uncut, be- ing unable to secure barrels to pack them in. The want of bar- rels prevented many more from being packed here. The average weight is about 270 Ibs.
After the completion of railroads to Canton pork-packing in a good measure ceased, live hogs being shipped at all seasons of the year.
About 1855 occurred an event that has had a controlling influ- ence in the hog production, not only of this vicinity, but of the entire Northwest. In that year Mr. A. C. Moore, a gentleman who had for ten years previously been making the breeding of a superior breed of hogs a specialty in Butler county, Ohio, immi- grated to the township, and purchased the farm known as the Slosson farm, about two and one-half miles southwest of Canton. On Mr. Moore's arrival he brought with him the best selections from his Ohio stock, and renewed his efforts as a breeder. His breed-of which he has made a specialty -was an improved Poland and China hog. Mr. Moore soon established for himself so great a reputation as a breeder that.his name has passed into a household word among the best class of farmers throughout the West, and hogs from his farm command unprecedented prices from Maine to California. He has undoubtedly taken more pre- miums in both number and value than any other breeder of any breed of hogs in the United States, at both state and county fairs. One hog he now owns, bred by him, has taken over $1,400 in premiums. Mr. Moore now breeds more pigs for purely breeding purposes than any other breeder in the world, having raised last year (1870), from his own farm, over 750 pigs, and purchased
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CANTON: ITS PIONEERS AND HISTORY.
from his neighbors selected pigs-chiefly the product of stock previously sold to them-about two hundred more. About 800 pigs have been distributed for purely breeding purposes from Ohio to California, and from Minnesota to Mississippi, by him.
Mr. Moore's business produces him an annual income of not less than from $20,000 to $25,000. His stock is called Poland- China, originating in crosses of the Poland, China and Byfield; but so long have they been bred under his careful supervision, skill and intelligence-qualities for which Mr. Moore is preëmin- ent,-that the more valuable qualities of each breed have been so thoroughly and carefully blended that they have become a dis- tinct thorough-bred stock, known and recognized in the official records of our State Board of Agriculture and other official boards as the Poland-China. Mr. Moore's herd now contains in the neighborhood of two hundred thorough-breed brood sows and fourteen males, and is year by year increasing.
The people of Fulton county feel, justly, proud of Mr. Moore's success, as by his judicious crossing he has attained a uniformity of size, color and fattening qualities that has made his stock the great premium-taking stock of the Northwest, and its reputation has been reflected back upon the county, until the "Moore's Po- land-China hog" has made the county famous. I here venture the assertion that no other variety of hogs has ever taken so . many valuable premiums, and at the same time accord to A. C. Moore, of Canton, the honor of breeding it up to its present high standard.
Mr. J. B. McCreary, who came into the township in 1867, is also a successful and skillful breeder of Poland-China hogs, and is rapidly acquiring a reputation as a breeder. In fact, it may be said that very many of our population have become breeders of thorough-bred hogs. One of the most directly important re- sults of this enterprise has been to place' Fulton first in the list of hog-producing counties of the state-the last census (1870) showing an aggregate of 57,760 hogs over six months old in the county, valued for pork at the round sum of $1,100,000.
Or. S. Bright.
¥
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CANTON: ITS PIONEERS AND HISTORY.
ROBERT C. CULTON,
A native of Kentucky, who landed in Canton in October, 1836, has been, since his residence here, probably more frequently a pioneer in important improvements and public enterprises than any other individual who has resided here. On arriving at Can- ton, he immediately purchased from Ira Baker his blacksmith shop, located on Lot 46, Jones's Addition, corner of Jones and Main streets, and began business at his trade -blacksmithing. For many years after he carried on the largest shop in town.
In June, 1837, Mr. Culton set up on this lot the first carding- machine in Canton. His machinery consisted of two stands of cards, and was operated by two horses on a tread-wheel. This establishment was successful, and drew trade from distant parts of the country, which otherwise would have gone elsewhere. In 1841 Mr. Culton took into partnership in the carding business his brother-in-law, Arche Henderson, at the same time adding two additional stands of cards and increasing his power to four horses. The establishment continued in operation until about 1842, when it was discontinued.
Mr. Culton was thus the pioneer carder. So, also, he was the father of the improved plow manufacturing. Having commenced blacksmithing in 1836, he in 1840 began the manufacture of the old-fashioned Diamond Plow, which was the progenitor of the steel mould-board plows of the present day. He also made the "Carey Plow" and the "Bar Share" breaking plow. His plows found ready sale, as they were well made by competent workmen. Wm. Parlin was one of his blacksmiths, and his wood-workers were Cornelius Van Middlesworth, Charles Rockhold, and Cyrus Coykendall. Mr. Culton also erected the first frame for shoeing oxen in Canton.
In 1848 Mr. Culton decided to go into merchandising, and ac- cordingly associated with him in business a nephew, J. W. Cul- ton, now of Chicago. Their place of business was on the ground now occupied by the portion of Union Block in which G. B. Vit- tum is doing business. This venture proved unprofitable, and the firm was dissolved and business suspended.
Mr. Culton has been a member of the Presbyterian Church since 1823, and an elder of the church for just a quarter of a
1
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CANTON: ITS PIONEERS AND HISTORY.
century. He still resides here, on the ground where he first set- tled, on Main street between Jones and Walnut streets, a proper- ty on which he has lived for thirty-four years.
PLOW MANUFACTURING.
As heretofore stated, R. C. Culton was the first manufacturer of plows in Canton. His establishment, while it was large for that period, was yet so small as not to have attracted attention outside of this immediate vicinity. It is therefore no injustice to Mr. Culton to mention as the originator of plow manufacturing in this county the name of
WILLIAM PARLIN.
Mr. Parlin is a native of Massachusetts. He immigrated to Fulton county, landing at Copperas-Creek Landing on the 4th day of July, 1840. Mr. Parlin at this time was a young man, with no capital but a knowledge of his trade-blacksmithing,- and a full stock of that indomitable energy for which the New- England character is celebrated. Not only was Mr. Parlin poor, but he was lame, and at the same time quiet, unassuming and re- tiring in his disposition - so much so that he attracted no attention.
Mr. Parlin began work as a "jour." for Mr. Culton, and finally, from his knowledge of his trade, became for a short period a partner with that gentleman, but soon dissolved the connection and rented a small shop on the south side of Elm street, near his present manufactory. Here Mr. Parlin began to attract attention by his industry and skill. He considered himself too poor to em- ploy a "helper" in his business, and, with characteristic ingenui- ty, made for himself a trip-hammer. This hammer was operated by Mr. Parlin's foot. Many of our old citizens will remember this hammer.
While working here, Mr. Parlin married Miss Caroline Oren- dorff, in January, 1845. Miss Orendorff was a daughter of John Orendorff, Esq.
In 1846 Mr. Parlin purchased from Maj. Lewis Bidamon his foundry, situated on Main street, corner of Walnut, on the ground now occupied by the residence of Wm. Seavey, Esq. Mr. Par- lin began here the general foundry business, but made a few steel plows.
.
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CANTON: ITS PIONEERS AND HISTORY.
In January, 1848, this foundry burned to the ground, and proved a total loss, except a small amount of steel, which was not injured. This was considered a severe blow by Mr. Parlin, but did not discourage him. He now rented a fire in the black- smith-shop of John Culton, on Elm street, north side, between Third and Fourth streets. Here he began the manufacture of plows, working up his small stock of steel, forging his plows at . his shop; then wheeling them on a wheelbarrow to McPheters's oil-mill, on Fourth street to a horse-power grindstone for grind- ing them, loading them again upon his wheelbarrow, he would wheel them through the streets to Charley Rockhold's shop, Main street between Elm and Jones streets, south of the Emory House.
Thompson Maple, who was at that time the most enterprising and energetic of our business men, had been noticing the energy manifested by Mr. Parlin, and proposed to him a partnership. This arrangement was finally consummated, and the firm of Maple & Parlin was established for the manufacture of plows- Maple furnishing the capital, and Parlin the skill. The new firin began business at the corner of Elm and Fourth streets, on the same corner where Mr. Parlin has since remained. This firm be- gan business in the summer of 1846, only a few months after the fire which had apparently been so disastrous.
The firm of Maple & Parlin manufactured the steel mould- board plow, and were successful to a marked extent. Their suc- cess and Mr. Parlin's present success may be attributed to the fact that every plow manufactured had to pass under the eye of Mr. Parlin, who personally selected all his timber and rejected every stick that was deficient, allowing no work to leave his shop that was not done in the most substantial and workmanlike man- ner. They availed themselves constantly of every improvement in plows made by other establishments, and Mr. Parlin himself made the plow a study, thereby enabling himself to perfect many very valuable improvements by his own ingenuity.
In 1848 or '9, the firm of Maple & Parlin was dissolved by mutual consent, Mr. Maple retiring-Parlin now being able to stand alone. He continued alone until the 1st of January, 1852, when, finding his business increasing to so great an extent that he could no longer attend to his office business and give the at- tention to the mechanical part of his business he desired, he took
16
122
CANTON: ITS PIONEERS AND HISTORY.
into partnership his brother-in-law Mr. Wm. J. Orendorff. This firm has continued since unchanged.
The firm of Parlin & Orendorff continued gradually but con- stantly to extend their business and facilities for manufacturing, until they now rank among the first plow-manufacturing estab- lishments in the Union. Their average force of workmen is now eighty men in constant employment. In the year 1870 they man- ufactured 8000 "Canton Clipper" Plows, 3000 "Parlin's Cultiva- tors," and 600 Stalk-Cutters. Their plows are handled by deal- ers throughout the Western States, a considerable portion of the Southern States, the Pacific States, and all the Western Terri- tories.
In 1855 Messrs. Parlin & Orendorff took the first premium ou plows over all competitors, at the State Fair held at Chicago, since which time they have succeeded in taking nearly every first premium for which they have competed.
This manufactory, it will be observed, has been the up-growing of small business without capital, the result of indomitable ener- gy, and an honest determination to turn out only first-class work. The poor blacksmith has now, at only fifty-three years of age, while still in the prime of life, become a great manufacturer-a Plow King, in fact.
Parlin's Plow Factory is considered by the people of Canton one of the institutions of the town of which they are proud, and well they may be.
INGERSOLL BROTHERS.
J. W. INGERSOLL, of Ithaca, New York, came into the State of Illinois in the spring of 1837, in the employ of the State, which was at that time engaged in a stupendous scheme of Railroad building. Mr. Ingersoll was a civil engineer, and in that capacity was assigned to duty in the preliminary survey of the Illinois Central Railroad, from Lasalle south. After a few months' ser- vice, he was transferred to the survey of the Peoria & Warsaw Railroad, with headquarters at Canton, Joel Wright being at that time one of the State Commissioners of Internal Improvements.
Mr. Ingersoll remained in the service of the state until the fall
.
123
CANTON: ITS PIONEERS AND HISTORY.
of 1839, when himself and his brother H. F. Ingersoll entered into copartnership, under the name of H. F. & J. W. Ingersoll, and, purchasing the stock of goods then owned by D. W. Vittum, began business as general merchants. The store-room was lo- cated on the southwest corner of the Public Square, in an old building -since removed- on the ground now occupied by the store of J. M. Fox. In the spring 1840 Mr. Vittum purchased a one-third interest in the business, and remained in the firm, un- der the style of Ingersoll & Vittum, until the fall of 1841, when he purchased the interest of the Brothers Ingersoll.
Ingersoll Brothers immediately began business again on their own account, under their old firm name of H. F. & J. W. Inger- soll, occupying a store-room on the northeast corner of the Public Square, on a lot now vacant, but long since known as "Bass's old stand," and continued in business in that location until 1843, when they removed to the lot now occupied by J. E. Bower, on the east side of the Public Square, where they remained until 1846, when they purchased a store-room of Wm. Bell-better known to old settlers as "Bill Bell the Tailor." This store-room was on the lot now occupied by that portion of Ingersoll's Block in which J. R. McQuaid is doing business.
In the summer of 1868 Messrs. Ingersoll built the fine business block, now occupied in part by them, on the west side, at a cost of $15,000. This is the three-story portion of the Ingersoll Block. During the season of 1869 they built the two-story por- tion of the same block, at a cost of $7,000.
The Ingersoll Brothers have from their beginning in Canton · commanded a fair portion of the best trade of the county. Dur- ing the early years of their business they packed pork and shipped an immense amount of grain from Copperas Creek and Liverpool to St. Louis. They still remain in business.
ANECDOTE OF JOHN BEVARD.
AMONG the occasional teamsters to the river was John Bevard, who drove four horses to an old-fashioned Pennsylvania wagon. He rode one of the wheel-horses and drove with a single line. One winter, while the roads were in a desperate condition and
124
CANTON: ITS PIONEERS AND HISTORY.
few teams would venture upon the road, the Ingersoll Brothers received a new stock of goods at Copperas-Creek Landing. Bevard with his four-horse team offered to bring one load, and Hiram Snow another. Snow had a three-horse team, and drove Yankee fashion with four lines. At night Bevard returned with his load, and was asked by John Ingersoll if he had seen any thing of Snow.
"Snow ?" said he, "No, I hain't seen any thing of any body."
" Why," said Ingersoll, "you must have met him : he left here just after you did. He was driving three horses."
"Oh, yes," replied Bevard, reflectively, "I guess I did meet him, but he won't be back to-night."
"Why not?" queried Ingersoll.
"Why, h-l ! its impossible ! I could hardly get through with four horses and one line : how in h-1 do you suppose he can get here with three horses and four lines ?"
BEGINNING IN THE HIGHER BRANCHES.
I CAN not refrain from giving the following anecdote of William D. Coleman, which is vouched for by one of the best citizens of Canton.
Coleman was in Chicago on business, and had put up at the Tremont. At dinner, and when the immense dining-room was thronged with guests, a waiter handed him a bill of fare. Taking it in his hand, he thus addressed the astonished son of Erin:
"Say, mister, what do you call this ?"
"That, sir, is our bill of fare."
"Bill of fare? What is that?"
"And sure, sir, don't you know ?"
"No: what is it for ?"
"It tells what we've got for dinner."
"Well, read it for me," said William, in a loud voice that brought every eye in the dining-room upon him and made broad smiles to ripple on the faces of the guests.
"Faith, and ca'n't you read, sir ?" said. Patrick.
" No," replied William, with imperturbable gravity, "daddy be- · gan my eddication in the higher branches, and died afore I had
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CANTON: ITS PIONEERS AND HISTORY.
got down to the common studdies, like readin', writin' and 'rithmetic."
Such shouts of laughter as followed this explanation may be imagined, but not described.
D. C. JONES.
CHEENY JONES, as he was familiarly called, came to Canton in the spring of 1835. He married, soon after, Martha Ann Stew- art, a daughter of Rev. Robert Stewart. Mr. Jones was a chair- maker by trade, and carried on that business for many years at the corner of Jones and Main streets. Mr. Jones occupied the position of chorister in the Congregational Church for many years He was an industrious man and a man of singularly pure life, commanding the confidence and esteem of the community to a very remarkable degree. He died January 29tlı, 1854. The Congregational Church Choir have erected a neat marble slab to his memory in the cemetery.
PARLEY C. STEARNS.
ON the 4th day of July, 1836, Parley C. Stearns, then a young man of twenty-three years, landed in Canton, Mr. Stearns came in company with John Rawalt from Yates county, New York, making the trip overland in wagons.
Mr. Stearns was a cooper by trade, and for a few years worked at that business. The same year of his arrival he married Miss Hannah Rawalt, a daughter of John Rawalt.
In 1837 Mr. Stearns was elected constable for Orion township, then known as 7-5; but he did not qualify. In 1839 Mr. Stearns was elected Justice of the Peace, and with two short in- termissions has acted in that capacity from that time until the present.
Mr. Stearns was admitted to the bar in 1849, since which time he has been busily and successfully engaged in practice.
In 1846 Mr. Stearns was elected one of the County Commis- sioners of Fulton county for the term of three years. In 1849
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126
CANTON: ITS PIONEERS AND HISTORY.
he was elected one of the Associate Justices that formed the county board under the Constitution of 1848.
Mr. Stearns was appointed Postmaster of the City of Canton in the summer of 1853, which position he retained until 1857.
Mr. Stearns was a Democrat in politics until the rebellion began, when he became a War-Democrat, and at a later period a Re- publican. Mr. Stearns was largely influential in the organization of the 103d Regiment, and was elected Lieutenant-Colonel of that regiment, but was taken sick soon after joining his regiment at Peoria, and lay sick several months, which forced him to re- sign.
Mr. Stearns was closely identified with the earlier movements looking to the building of the Jacksonville & Savanna Railroad, and has ever been among the foremost to promote all schemes of public utility and improvement. He is now, at the age of fifty- eight, in the full vigor of life, and has lost none of the eloquence which made him prominent in the early days as one of the best stump-orators in the county. He is a true friend, a genial gentle- man, and no man stands higher in the home of his adoption than does Parley C. Stearns.
CANTON'S PART IN THE MORMON WAR.
DURING the summer of 1846 the Mormon question began to excite public attention. In Hancock county, it was reported, depredations were being committed by them on all who were not of their way of thinking. Mormon outrages-no doubt exagger- ated-were constant themes of conversation at every fireside and social gathering. In Hancock county, outside of Nauvoo, the excitement had reached the culminating point by about the last of August. Both parties were making a feeble effort, however, to keep the law upon their side. The Anti-Mormons had first sworn out writs for the arrest of Mormons on various charges, and then, to induce the Mormons to resist the serving of the processes, had declared that the arrested parties would be mobbed and murdered if taken. Of course, the Mormons resisted these writs, and Constable Carlin, whose duty it had been made to serve them, called out, on the 1st of September, a posse comitatus
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CANTON: ITS PIONEERS AND HISTORY.
to aid him in the enforcement of the law. The Mormons at once adopted the same tactics. They, too, had warrants issued for the apprehension of prominent Anti-Mormons, and threatened to hang them if arrested. These writs were opposed, and the Mormon constable called out his posse. Gov. Ford remarks, in his His- tory of Illinois, that it was "Writ against writ; constable against constable; law against law ; posse against posse."
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