USA > Illinois > Mason County > Centennial history of Mason County, including a sketch of the early history of Illinois, its physical peculiarities, soils, climate, production, etc. > Part 21
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I. A. Hurd announces himself as an independent candidate for county clerk, at the ensuing election.
We are authorized to announce Fletcher Coppel as a candidate for clerk, at the ensuing election.
We are authorized to announce Selah Wheadon as a candidate for school commissioner of Mason county.
Editor of the Herald: Please announce J. B. Paul as a candi- date for school commissioner, at the ensuing election, and oblige
MANY VOTERS.
Robert Anderson is a candidate for treasurer, at the ensuing election.
Mr. Editor : Please announce N. Powell, Esq., as a candidate for the office of county judge, at the ensuing election, and oblige MANY VOTERS.
We are authorized to announce G. H. Campbell as a candidate for county judge, at the ensuing election.
THE AGRICULTURAL FAIR.
Are our readers aware that our county fair is to be held in this place during the ensuing week. We have heard so little said in regard to it that we fear many of the citizens of the county have forgotten that we are to have an exhibition of articles during the
243
HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
present year. There are but a few more days to elapse before the appointed time will have arrived, and the short interval should be employed in making preparations to be present on the occasion. Our citizens do not manifest as much interest in such exhibitions as they should. There are many articles raised and manufactured in the county well worthy to be exhibited, and our citizens should not be backward in bringing them forward and placing them on exhibition. The articles exhibited at the last fair, were very cred- itable to the county, when compared with what we saw on exhibi- tion at the State fair. Some of the needlework exhibited here last year was almost equal to anything we saw at Peoria.
MASON CITY.
We were informed that there were a very large number of peo- ple present at the sale of town lots in Mason City, which took place on Wednesday last. It is supposed that the number of per- sons present much exceeded 1,000. Lots sold very high, we are informed at from $75 to $300! This may be considered rather ex- travagant figures by some, when they take into consideration the fact that there are not at present half a dozen houses within two miles of the location. We are informed that there is a very beau- tiful and fertile country in the neigborhood of the projected town, as fine a country as any town could desire to have for its support; and we presume, should the railroad be completed through that sec- tion of country and a depot located at Mason City, it will stand a very fair chance of making a considerable town, and of transacting a very respectable business. But we are very much inclined to doubt whether in twenty years from the present time it will have become as large and important a place as some of the most sanguine friends of the undertaking expect it to become in the next three or four years. We are informed that some of its friends entertain the opinion that the county seat will be removed to that point at an early day.
Well, perhaps such may be the case; though we are seriously inclined to doubt it; but we presume when it does occur, the event will very shortly after be followed by the removal of the capitol of the United States to the same important point! One event will certainly follow the other, and perhaps we may as well at once
244
HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
commence to congratulate the citizens of that portion of the county on their favorable location, in such near proximity to the Federal Capitol. We are prevented from offering our congratulations to the citizens of Mason City, from the fact that there are no inhabit- ants there-but we promise to do so as soon as some move in.
We are convinced since our attending the State Fair, that Mason county is the equal of almost any county in the State for the raising of almost every kind of vegetables, and as for watermelons we can safely challenge and defy the competition of the entire State. There has been many larger melons sold in Havana during the present summer than any we saw at Peoria during the Fair.
Some one presented the editor of the Cass County Times with a melon weighing 38 pounds, and he takes on considerably about the size on't. We saw a load of melons sold in this town a few days ago, several of which were weighed and found to exceed 38 pounds in weight. A thirty-eight pound melon may be considered deci- dedly "some" in your diggings, neighbor, but up here it is consid- ered rather "small pertaters," and hardly worth the gathering. The largest melon ever presented to the Herald office, weighed fifty-nine pounds, and was not considered worth bragging about! It was raised by J. D. W. Bowman. It was only twenty-one pounds heavier than yours, neighbor! 'Twarn't as big agin, was it? Some consolation, anyhow.
From the Mason County Herald, Nov. 24, 1853.
PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY, BY T. C. WHEADEN & W. W. STOUT.
This is court week in Havana, and the town is crowded with ad- vocates and clients, jurors and those who expect to deal out justice even-handed. Candidates are here, and traders seeking bargains. Business is legibly written on every countenance. Some will be happier and some sadder at the week's close than at its commence- ment.
245
HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
On Monday evening, the citizens were called together, at the court house, to listen to one of the most important discussions of the day, and the most so of any ever presented to the people of Mason county. Though a fifty cent show would have collected a more numerous audience, yet there was a large and deeply inter- ested audience listening to the matter-of-fact statements, and weighty and conclusive arguments of Major Harris, in reference to the importance and feasibility of the construction of the Spring- field & Petersburg Railroad, and the necessity, almost, of the citi- zens of Mason county voting for the corporate subscription to that object, to the amount mentioned by the county court, viz: twenty- five thousand dollars. The Major showed, conclusively, that if constructed it would be a largely paying road, because of the con- nections it would have with the roads running north to Chicago, and south to St. Louis, and the very direct communication it would open up with the towns and country on the line of our road, and the great eastern commercial centres, New York, Boston, Phila- delphia and Baltimore, by the connection it would form with the numerous lines of roads running eastward, thus giving farmers the most ample facilities for disposing of their produce at the very best markets.
Judge Kellogg, of Canton, was afterwards called to the stand, and presented additional arguments, in an able and eloquent style, on the same subject. It was a masterly effort, showing that rail- road communications such as this road would give us, are absolute- ly indispensable to develop the resources of the State. We regret that a larger number of our citizens of the county were not present to be convinced by these addresses, if they ever had any doubt, that nothing will so much advance the interests of Mason county as railroad communication with the great northern, eastern and south- ern markets, and that there is nothing the people can so easily do as to vote at the coming election for county subscription.
The election for county and precinct officers will take place on Tuesday, the 8th inst. It is very much wished that every voter should be present at the polls, prepared to deposit an intelligent vote for the question of the county subscription of $25,000 to the capital stock of the Springfield and Petersburg Railroad Compa- ny, which is on that day to be decided; and certainly a question of
246
HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
more interest has never yet been before the citizens of Mason coun- ty for decision. The future prosperity of the county will be very materially affected by the decision of the voters on that question next Tuesday.
RATHER SINGULAR.
We hear it said that the association of "Secret and obscure Know-Nothings," which is said to exist in this community, have been in the habit heretofore of holding their meetings in the Ger- man church, but that refusing to pay a certain amount of rent, they were ejected, and compelled to use Cotilion Hall as their lodge room. Of course this statement is incorrect. A German church would be a strange place for a Know-Nothing meeting. The number of persons who attended the mysterious meeting at the Hall, we first heard was 25, but according to .the latest census it has increased to between 60 and 70.
In grading the street leading past the Mason Hotel to the river, quite a number of skulls were found, also other bones. A portion of them were in an excellent state of preservation. From the num- ber of bones found at this and other times, we incline to the opinion that anciently that part of Havana that fronts on the river was used as an Indian burying ground.
Feb. 10, 1854. Our townsmen, James Mallory and Pike C. Ross, left this place on Monday last for a tour of observation in Texas, and should that country meet their expectations, they design remov- ing there. They go via. Orleans and Shreveport.
From the Mason County Herald, February 17, 1854.
The county subscription in aid of the Springfield and Peters- burg Railroad is a subject of considerable interest to the people of Mason county at this time. The hopes that have been revived concerning the early construction of that road are not a little mixed with apprehension in the minds of many of our citizens. The road, it seems, was chartered from Springfield to Petersburg, and the entension of it to this place was left optional with the company.
247
HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
The county vote of twenty-five thousand dollars was unconditional, but assurances were given in public addresses to the citizens, pre- vious to the election, that an estimate had been made of the cost of grading and tieing in each county, and that the subscriptions were pro- portioned to the estimate, so that, if the road should be built, each county would, in fact, have its own money expended within its limits. The people made the vote, of course, in good faith that the county would have the advantages of a railroad. We all know the road ought to be built; but will it ? That is the question. Can we have satisfactory assurances that such will be the case, or is it taken for granted that the money of Mason county will be faithfully expended in building the road, and that she shall make her subscription, not absolutely knowing whether she is building the road from Havana to Petersburg or from Petersburg to Spring- field? We commend cautiousness to our court.
From Herald, March 29, 1855.
The election for town officers took place on Monday last, and re- sulted in the choice of John H. West, James Boggs, N. Waggen- seller, J. D. Hays and Silas Cheek, as board of trustees for the town of Havana for the ensuing year. R. H. Walker was elected police magistrate.
The election for associate justice and constable passed off quietly. But few people were in attendance on account of pressing business at home in the agricultural line. The following is the vote of this precinct :
FOR ASSOCIATE JUSTICE.
Henry C. Burnham. 89
Abner Baxter 53
J. C. Randolph. 13
FOR CONSTABLE.
A. Olmsted. 65
John R. Falkner .66
We have no reliable returns from other precincts except Salt Creek, which gives Burnham eighty-six, Baxter seven, and Pem-
248
HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
berton one. There is little doubt of Burnham's election by a large marjority.
Herald, September 21, 1855.
We suppose our readers are aware that on the 4th and 5th of next month our county fair will be held. We feel considerable in- terest in the result, it being the first attempt that we have made in this county to hold a fair. The executive committee have bought grounds and provided for fencing the same, so we shall commence our first fair upon grounds owned by the society. Every person who is a member is entitled to the privilege of entering any article in the advertised list, and any person may become a member for the trifling sum of fifty cents. Then we again say, come, from the fertile forks of the Sangamon, the rich bottoms of Crane Creek, the verdant banks of Salt Creek, and the blooming prairies of Egypt, and everybody bring his wife and children.
From Herald, August 23, 1855.
Ninian W. Edwards, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, will deliver an address on the subject of Education, at the court house, on Thursday, the 30th of August, at seven, P. M. All should made it convenient to be present on that occasion.
SAMUEL HURD.
We are authorized to announce the name of Samuel Hurd as a candidate for Constable at the ensuing election, to fill the vacancy made by the resignation of John Falkner.
The number of bushels of corn raised in Mason county in 1853 was 1,158,400, and 187,648 bushels of wheat.
Twenty years ago-1833-the region of country now known as Mason county, was one unbroken wilderness. Here and there in some point of timber, or near the bank of some creek or river, the
2.49
HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
log cabin of the pioneer, with a few acres of land beginning to be cultivated, was the only indication of civilization.
The Government owned the land, and $1 25 per acre was no inducement to settlers, when any quantity of what was considered better soil could be purchased for the same price. Emigrants avoided these plains and sand ridges as unworthy of their notice. The productive qualities of the soil had not been tested, and very few were willing to run the risk and make the experiment.
It was not until land for entry was growing searce, in what was considered more favored localities, that purchases began to be made here. The settler very soon found, however, that his prejudices were unfounded, that the forbidding appearance of the surface was a false indication; that an exuberance of productive power was here disguised under the exterior show of poverty. The facts becom- ing known, the settlers flocked in, and have continued to come until now there is scarcely any unentered land to be found in the county.
The Herald, of April 19, 1855, says in the local news column, "the town is crowded with business. Walker & Hancock are re- ceiving large supplies of goods."
C. W. Andrus is receiving his spring stock.
J. H. & D. P. Hole are also receiving large consignments of new and desirable articles. 1
Steiner & Sterns are daily making heavy sales.
Richard Ritter is receiving from the east a large stock of fancy goods.
N. Waggenseller has had new goods for some days, and making heavy sales:
H. R. Cleaner has just returned from St. Louis with a new stock.
R. H. Walker has opened a new establishment, located at the heart of the city.
J. C. Kemp has also returned from the city with new goods.
Kemp & Simpson are receiving heavy stocks of stoves, etc.
Under date of July 4, 1855, the Herald says: "The warehouse of R. S. Moore & Co., will be ready to receive grain in a few days. This warehouse will be the largest on the Illinois river." -32
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
"N. J. Rockwell will soon have his flouring mill done."
June 27, 1855, "O. H. Shearer will remain in Havana a few days longer and take daguerratypes."
Also, the cards of Thomas Covington and J. D. Hays, furniture dealers.
Population of Havana in 1837.
932
No. of males
495
No. of females
437
No. of mechanics
IIO
TRADE OF 1856.
From January 1, 1856, to January 1, 1857. From the Herald.
Firm. Rye. Wheat.
Pork.
Corn.
Oats.
Moore, Gill & Co .... 5,000
45,000
71,200 lbs. 130,000
10,000
Walker & Hancock .. . 4,500
68,000
42,100 lbs. 150,000
7,700
Wagenseller & Jones. . 980
29,800
...
31,000
840
J. H. & D. P. Hole.
20,000
80,000
ยท . .
John Close.
5,000
4,000
10,000
. . . .
H. R. Cleaver
10,000
20,000
. . . .
Stuart & Bro
1,465
1 5,000
R. H. Walker
10,000
25,000
. . . .
Stiner, Sterns & Co
20,600
22,600
. . . .
J. C. Kemp.
5,000
...
20,000
. . . .
SALES OF GOODS REPORTED SAME YEAR.
Walker & Hancock $100,000
Wagenseller & Jones
43,000
J. H. & D. P. Hole 30,000
Otto & Krebaum 8,500
John Close.
10,550
H. R. Cleaver
20,000
Stuart & Bro
6,130
R. H. Walker 26,000
.. ...
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
Steiner, Sterns & Co 26,270
C. W. Andrus 21,000
J. A. Hurd. 20,850
J. C. Kemp
17,000
DRUG STORES.
E. B. Harpham $9,000
P. L. Beckstead. 3,500
H. R. Cleaver 5,070
HARDWARE.
J. F. Coppel $6,000
G. Simpson 3,500
GROCERIES.
W. C. Thompson $6,500
J. D. Thee. 3,000
W. C. Stone. 4,856
S. Morris 4,100
LUMBER YARDS.
Simmons & Dixon 1,500,000 feet.
William Allen 500,000 feet.
From the "Mason City Times," No. I, volume 1, the first paper in Mason City, Dec. 25, 1866, we quote the following :
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
Amid the congratulations, the joy and hilarity of holliday week, the Times presents itself as one of the rare Christmas gifts, to all who feel an interest in the welfare of our city. Free from all sec- tarian or political bias, having a heart only for the general good, and priding itself upon its neat appearance, it appeals confidently to all for support.
To those who have aided us by kind words, advertisements and subscriptions, we return our thanks. As for those who have not aided us, we hope to merit their patronage, if we do not receive it.
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
BUSINESS HOUSES OF MASON CITY.
DRY GOODS AND GROCERIES .- Warnock & Co., R. W. Porter, Orendorff & Keefer, Powell & Cargill, Mrs. A. Swing.
GROCERY STORES .- S. Sites, Wilson & Brother.
DRUG STORES .- Kincaid & Bradley, W. S. Walker, Warnock & Co.
BOOTS AND SHOES .- Warnock & Co., Orendorff & Keefer, J. Riggins, R. W. Porter, Mrs. A. Swing, Powell & Cargill, Geo. Deitrich.
CLOTHING .- R. W. Porter, Gotlieb & Myers, J. Riggins, Oren- dorff & Keefer, Powell & Cargill.
HARDWARE .- J. Prichett, Orendorff & Keefer.
MERCHANT TAILORS .- P. Cooper, A. Zimmerman, W. T. Menick.
BUILDERS .- Ritter, Young & Co., J. Deitrich, E. F. Hackley, J. H. Piercy.
BLACKSMITHS .- Brooker & Ceare, Houseworth & Co., Hughes & Co.
LIVERY STABLES .- Taylor & Co., Riner & Brother.
BUTCHERS. - C. Crew, Butler & Carter.
SALOONS .- J. Elliott, Mike Reed, J. Houseworth, R. Seward.
RESTAURANT AND BAKERY .- J. C. Ambrose.
LUMBER DEALER .- J. L. Gates.
DAGUERREAN ARTISTS .- Haughey & Eulass.
HARNESS MAKERS .- Fidler & Hall, Kramer & Warnock.
WAGON MAKERS .- J. McClarin, George Yost, George Brown. INSURANCE AGENTS .- J. A. Walker, A. B. Ruth.
PHYSICIANS .- J. P. Walker, W. J. Chamblin, J. A. Walker, M. P. Phinney, J. C. Patterson, M. C. Phinney.
MASON CONTRACTORS .- A. G. Moses, A. H. Martin.
SHERMAN HOUSE .- James Bell.
BRICK MAKER .- R. Seward.
TIN SHOPS .- E. M. Whyler, John Pritchett.
253
HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
We make the following reference to the four papers published in Mason county at the present time :
Not having full data of all, of course this reference will be brief.
THE MASON CITY INDEPENDENT.
The nucleus of what is now the Mason City Independent, was a small job office in the picture gallery on Tonica street, opposite M. R. LaForge & Co.'s grain elevators. The job office was start- ed in connection with the picture gallery by Elder J. M. Haughey, now [the senior proprietor of the Independent, and Sheridan En- lass, in the spring of 1866. The rapidly increasing prosperity of the town and its commercial business, soon demanded a newspaper, which brought into existence the Mason City News, with the pro- prietorship of Haughey & Walker-W. S. Walker having bought an interest in the office about a month before the issue of the first paper, July 4, 1867. The paper was published under this name until February 9, 1871, when J. C. Warnock, Esq., the present editor, bought Mr. Walker's interest, and the name of the paper was changed to the .Mason City Independent, with Haughey & Warnock, proprietors.
MASON CITY JOURNAL.
The Mason City Journal, published in Mason City by Wells Cory, Esq., is now in its sixth volume; a neat quarto, and well conducted, and enjoys a very liberal advertising patronage and cir- culation; is strongly devoted to the interests of the republican par- ty, and the local interests of his city and county.
The Journal is always a welcome visitor, and is second to none in matters of interest in this region of Illinois. It is not the prov- ince of a weekly paper to assume to furnish the latest news that is in this fast age supplied at lightning speed by the city dailies, but it is their duty to give home locals and matters of interest not gov- erned by the question of time, so important to the daily. It is here that the Journal succeeds.
DEMOCRATIC CLARION.
The Clarion is in its sixth volume; a folio of eight columns to the page, conducted by S. Wheadon, and E. O. Wheadon, local editor. The Clarion is rigidly democratic, and is conducted with ability. Mr. Wheadon is a writer of more than ordinary talent,
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
and his political abilities are of a high order, and worthy of a wider field. We quote the following, which now is for the first time in type:
"Ah, what can cheer the lonely breast, Bereft of youth's companions, all Who once in days that long have passed, Sprang joyous at my friendly call.
Where are they now? Ah, whither fled? Perchance to some far distant shore; Perchance some moulder with the dead, Where friendly voice shall ring no more.
The bright sun throws his golden beams, The soft wind sighs across the plain, The fishes sport in silver streams, The warbler tunes his throat again.
But what are summer's golden beams, Or zephyr's breath, or warblers gay, If youthful hopes like morning beams, Have fled-forever fled away."
"I saw in girlhood's rosy flush, A fair and joyous bride, Upon her cheek a modest blush, A youth was by her side.
And hope was in her fine dark eye, And fond confiding love; A dream of happiness and joy, Her youthful fancy wove.
She dreamed that o'er her summer sky No dreary clouds should rise, Her breast should never know a sigh, No tears bedim her eyes.
But he who shared her youthful heart, Was thoughtless, young and gay ; And vice, with its alluring art, Had taught his feet to stray."
-
DEMOCRATIC BUGLE.
The Democratic Bugle, published by Robert L. Durdy, is a campaign paper, intended to serve the interests of the political crisis
255
HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
the present fall, and as its name indicates, is of the democratic faith. Mr. Durdy is not a new man in the newspaper business of Mason county, but has been engaged in publishing and in the employment of others in that business for many years. He is a fine mechanic in that line of business, as well as an able writer.
The "Bugle" is issued from the office of the Democratic Clarion, has had a good circulation and is liberally patronized as an adver- tising medium.
The Bugle is the last born of the twenty-five papers that have entered their appearance in Mason county since McKinzie & Rob- erts began in 1849 the issue of the Mason County Herald.
L
RAILROADS
TRAVERSING MASON COUNTY .- THEIR ORIGIN AND PRESENT CONDITION, MANAGEMENT, ETC.
PEORIA, PEKIN AND JACKSONVILLE RAILROAD.
The first we find in reference to the above named road is an ed- itorial in the "Mason County Herald," in which the editor urges the voting of stock by Mason county in the Illinois River Rail- road.
The subject continued to be agitated, and we proceed to give ex- tracts from the Herald, of this city, showing the progress made, and the feeling with which the people of the county engaged in this great necessity, then so severely felt. River transportations, and tri-weekly or semi-weekly mails, were becoming too slow for the increased population and advancing trade.
The Herald, Havana, July 17, 1857. THE RAILROAD.
On Monday next our citizens will be called upon to say or gain- say whether the corporation shall take $15,000 worth of stock in the Illinois River Railroad.
That a railroad is indispensable to our well-being need sno con- travention; that the road in question will partially allay the evil of which we might complain, is a "fixed fact;" therefore, property holders within this precinct should turn out en masse ou the day of election, and show, by their acts, whether they consider the advan- tages commensurate with the taxation.
We have said, time and again, that wherever a railroad is built, in that vicinity (within eight or ten miles) he who cultivates the
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
soil is most benefitted; our expressed opinion remains still unaltered, The farmer finds a ready market at his own door for all produc- tions he can spare, at prices commensurate with St. Louis, or other principal places of sale, less the freight and handling. But these same farmers are the last men to engage in internal improvement; content to "let well enough alone," rather than risk a dollar in bet- tering their condition. Such being the case, the town of Havana proposes to do that for the country which the country proper will not do for itself: appropriate $15,000 to the building of the Illinois River Railroad, secured by the bonds of the corporation. Will the freeholders vote the amount? Not the least doubt in our mind exists but they will do it, knowing, as we do, they "love the glory of Rome better than Cesar." Whatever may have tendency to benefit our country friends, will ever receive a hearty response from our townsmen, even should they be the losers by the trans- action. Then let every man to the polls on Monday, casting his vote for or against the improvement in question, as his own good judgment may suggest.
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