USA > Illinois > Edwards County > Combined history of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash counties, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 32
USA > Illinois > Wabash County > Combined history of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash counties, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 32
USA > Illinois > Lawrence County > Combined history of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash counties, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 32
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LAWRENCE COUNTY JOURNAL
in the spring of 1867. The editor and proprietor of this enterprise was W. C. Luken. He brought the ma- terial from Vincennes. The paper was a six column folio. After a year or two, John F. Buntin returned to Lawrenceville, and purchased the Journal and changed the name to
THE LAWRENCE COUNTY COURIER.
Mr. Buutin continued its publication as a democratic paper until December, 1870, when the office was totally destroyed by fire. Soon after, by the assistance of friends,
Mr. Buntin purchased a new press and material, and reestablished the Courier. It was, however, destined to a short life, being again entirely destroyed by fire, Au- gust 18, 1871. Buntin was a man not to be discouraged, for in a very short time the Courier was being issued from a new office in Bridgeport. It remained there about one year and was removed to Lawrenceville, and soon after suspended. The Republican party being with- out an organ, in March, 1873, Maj. Daniel L. Gold pur- chased the office, added some new material and estab- lished the
RURAL REPUBLICAN.
It was a five column folio, and ably edited. In 1874 or '75 Miss Mary Buntin, daughter of John F. Buntin, purchased it and continued its publication until No- vember 16, 1880, when it passed into the possession of Sam. B. Day, the present editor and proprietor. Mr. Day is a young man, a practical printer, and displays considerable journalistic ability in the management of the Republican, a newsy, first class country journal.
THE LAWRENCE COUNTY DEMOCRAT
was established in October, 1871, by W. C. Garrard, editor and publisher. It was an eight column folio. Mr. Garrard continued the Democrat for about two years, when it was purchased by S. B. Bowland. The name was then changed to
THE FARMERS' UNION.
T. P. Lowery, assumed editorial charge, and the pa- per was run in the interests of the Grange movement. In 1874, J. W. Mehaffy accepted the editor's chair, and brought the paper back into the Democratic ranks, giving it the name,
DEMOCRATIC HERALD,
under which title it has since been published. Decem- ber, 1875, Rowland sold the Herald to James K. Dick- erson, who continued it until December, 1878, disposing of it to Riley & Garrard. January 31, 1880, Will. M. Garrard, became sole owner, continuing its publication until January, 1881, when the law firm of Huffman & Meserve, purchased it, Frank C. Meserve, assuming editorial control of the paper. Under their manage- ment the Herald has taken front rank in country jour- nalism, and these gentlemen have demonstrated their ability to run a newspaper and make it a financial suc- cess, and at the same time furnish their constituency a journal of which they may well be proud.
THE LAWRENCE COUNTY PRESS
was a Sumner enterprise, and the first newspaper in that town. For more than fifteen years Sumner had been regarded as the best place of business in the county, and it was not until the establishment of the Press, in 1875, that it had a newspaper. This fact was owing to party supremacy. The larger proportion of the strength of the Republican party being in and around Sumner, the people felt it their duty to support that paper at the county seat. However, as the town grew in importance,
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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
a newspaper became a necessity, and in November, 1875, James A. Ilger established the Press. It was In- dependent, and in form, a five column quarto, two pages of which were printed at home. Mr. Ilger was a practical printer, but unfortunately had no editorial ability. In April, 1878, he sold the paper and office to C. P. and W. E. Mock. They were both men of exper- ience, but lacked judgment in the proper selection of local news, engaging in petty quarrels, and in the publi- cation of trivial matters that should not be noticed by a newspaper. C. P. Mock retired in July, 1878, leaving his young brother in charge, but died shortly afterward. Some time in the administration of the Mock brothers, the form of the paper was changed to a seven column folio, with patent inside. In October, 1875, the Press was purchased by Dr. Z. D. French and A. C. Clip- pinger, both of Sumner. These gentlemen changed its politics from Independent to Republican, and under their management it increased in circulation, and was in a healthy growing condition.
In December, 1879, Clippinger retired, and E. E. Jones, also of Sumner, succeeded him as half owner. French & Jones continued the paper until 1880, when the former retired, and Mr. Jones became sole proprie- tor, filling the position with credit to himself and the community, until February, 1881. A. C. Clippiuger then purchased the entire business, made it again an Independent paper, conductirg it until September fol- lowing, when W. R. Carlton, of Wabash county, the present editor and proprietor, succeeded him. Under Mr. Carlton's vigorous management, the paper at once entered upon an era of prosperity it had never before enjoyed. It very soon became a straightout Republican organ. He added to the office a rotary job press, and a variety of new type. In April, 1882, another change was necessary, the "patent inside" was abolished to make room for increased advertising. The name was changed to
THE SUMNER PRESS,
and the paper was made a six column folio, which still continues, the only all-home print journal in Lawrence county. Mr. Carlton is a practical printer, a man of experience and journalistic ability, and is publishing a newspaper of which the people of Lawrence county may well feel proud, and to whose support they can most graciously contribute.
Prior to the campaign of 1880, the democracy of the west side of the county, began to feel that they should have an exponent of their principles in that end of the county, having only one democratic paper, while the republicans had two. After counselling with the party leaders, and business men of the place, it was determined that Sumner should have another paper, one that should be conducted in the interests of the democratic party. Consequently in February, 1880, Rev. P. C. Cauble and A. C. Clippinger established
THE SUMNER DEMOCRAT.
The paper made a good start, and was doing well, when in April, 1880, Cauble retired and resumed his profession. The firm changed its name two or three times, but continued weakening, and on the 10th of November, 1880, it yielded up the ghost.
The press and material of the Democrat office lay idle the remainder of the year, and January 1, 1881, Joseph M. Freese and David B. Clark, purchased them and a few days after commenced the publication of
THE BRIDGEPORT TIMES,
at Bridgeport. It was Iudependent in politics, and in form a seven column quarto. They published a respect- able paper, but the community failed to give them a living support, and about eight months it suspended. The material was subsequently sold and taken to Robin- son, and from it was issued the Anti-Monopolist.
WABASH COUNTY.
The first newspaper established in this county was published at Mt. Carmel, 1834. It was called the
MT. CARMEL SENTINEL AND WABASH ADVOCATE.
The press and material was brought here by Horace Roney, who after publishing it for about one year, died, and it came into the possession of Edward Baker, who continued it until 1836. It then passed into the hands of Richard Beck, with O B. Ficklin, as editor. Joseph G. Bowman, was also connected with the paper. In 1839, it was discontinued and the office taken to Mt. Vernon, Indiana.
The county was without a newspaper for only a short time, as in the fall of the same year, 1839, the citizens purchased a press and fitted up an office from which the
MT. CARMEL REGISTER,
was issued with J. S. Powers, as editor and publisher. At that time there were but few papers in Southern Illinois, and the Register had a wide circulation. It was a five column folio, and in politics it advocated the prin- ciples of the Whig party, and supported Gen. Harrison, in the campaign of 1840. Powers was succeeded by Ezra B. Meeny, a printer, who had come west with him, only for a short time, however, as in 1841, George B. Backus, took charge and conducted the paper for several years. He was succeeded by Frank Fuller, and he in turn by Fuller & Hutchinson. In 1848, W. D. Jackson appeared as editor, and was soon succeeded by S. S. Luken, who died soon afterward, and the Register be- came the property of Victor B. and Robert Bell, who increased the subscription list and published an excellent paper. As the brothers Bell, were divided in political views, the paper was allowed to float in an independent channel. In 1852, they sold the paper and office to Theodore S. Bowers, who, although a practical printer, was not a success. During the late war, Bowers became a colonel in the regular army, and adjutant on Gen.
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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Grant's staff, and was killed on the railroad near West Point, in 1866. He was succeeded in the Register by Frank C. Manly, with Judge Green, as political editor, who made the Register a Republican organ. Manly died in 1862, and George W. Douglas took the paper and made it a Democratic sheet, supporting Mcclellan in the campaign of 1864. Before the close of the con- test Douglas died, and it was sold to Richard Beck, who again wheeled it into the republican ranks. In 1867, the office and paper was sold at public auction for $250. Judge Green being the purchaser. Back still continued to publish the paper, until it was sold to J. P. M Calvo, the publisher of the Democrat. The press and a portion of the type were subsequently sold and shipped to Iowa.
In 1868, Messrs. Cope and Wade, two young printers, from Olney, brought an outfit here and re-established the Register. They soon sold out to C. I. Wilmans, who run the paper until 1870, when it was purchased by T. J. Groves, who returned it to Wilmans within a few weeks. The next year John H. Wilmans became a partner. In 1872, C. I. Wilmans, sold his interest to Frank W. Havill, and the firm of Wilmans & Havill, continued to publish the paper for about three and a half years. August 27th, 1872, the office was totally destroyed by fire, but was immediately re-established, only two issues of the paper being missed. It re-ap- peared as an eight column folio. In 1875, Frank W. Havill, became sole owner of the Register, and in 1878. made it an expouent of the Democratic party.
Under the management of Mr. Havill, the paper has taken new life, and now ranksamong the leading journals of southern Illinois. He is a strong, forcible writer, and an excellent newspaper manager.
The next journalistic venture after the Register, was the WABASH REPUBLICAN,
started by W. D. Latshaw in 1840. It existed about one year. About the same date as above, J. S. Powers, published a small sheet called
THE GREENBRIER.
Its candle of life speedily flickered out.
In 1844, Valentine Miller, issued a little political paper known as
THE PLOWBOY.
Its existence was very brief.
THE WABASH DEMOCRAT,
was established in 1844, by W. E. Latshaw, who con- tinued its publication for about two years, when Austin Brooks and Finney D. Preston purchased it. They were inexperienced and soon failed to issue the paper and the office was sold and moved to Shawneetown.
In 1860, a new press was purchased, the old name revived and Jacob Zimmerman installed as editor. Under his short administration the paper was ably edited. He was succeeded by G. W. Besore, who was killed in a political fight by Hiram Stantou, in 1863. James T. Costello, was next in the editorial chair, and had a good paper. The Democrat existed until 1878, and during that time made many changes, having had
at least a dozen different owners. Messrs. J. & G. W. Hanna, who were at one time proprietors, for about four years, brought the paper up to the standard country journal, and made it a prosperous institution.
In 1878, it died a natural death under the management of J. C. Hinckley, and the office was moved to Harris- burg, Illinois.
During the " Blue Ribbon Movement " in 1878, Messrs. Grossman & Scafer, published a monthly paper called THE TEMPERANCE LEADER,
but the "movement," being irresponsive and not materializing to the extent desired by its too sanguine and mistaken supporter, soon collapsed.
The last venture for journalistic favor was the estab- lishment of the
MT. CARMEL REPUBLICAN,
in 1878. Its founders were Richard H. Brown and his father, who brought the press and material here. They did not make a success and soon retired, the paper pass- ing into the possession of J. F. Wilmans, who purchased new material, refitted the office and continued to publish the paper until January 11th, 1883, when Thomas L. Joy purchased it and assumed the position of editor and publisher. Mr. Joy is an experienced newspaper man, having been connected with some of the leading journals in southern Illinois. The name of the paper expressed its political tone. In April, it was made an eight column folio, and the paper presents a neat typo- graphical appearence. Judging from the motto, “ We are here to stay," and the evidences of prosperity and industry plainly observable around the office, we have no doubt that the Republican is destined to be one of the prominent institutions and industries of Mt. Carmel.
The history of the press of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash counties, has been briefly traced. They have been fairly representative of the progress and have kept pace with the business growth of the country. It has numbered among its workers men of culture and literary ability, several of whom afterward occupied positions of high honor and trust in the states of their adoption. The influence and character of the county papers have grown with the material and intellectual growth of those they have represented. No industry can show a better record or number more patient or en- thusiastic workers. To them more than any other class belongs the honor of building up the reputation that Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash counties possess and in which they delight.
CHAPTER XI. PATRIOTISM.
THE BLACK HAWK WAR.
HE precursor of this conflict was the Winne- hago war, an affray which occurred in the summer of 1827. At this period a great many adventures, attracted by the lead- mines at Galena, visited the Winnebago country and
18
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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
purposely provoked hostilities, as a pretext for taking their lands by reprisal. The Winnebagoes, in what they deemed their wrongs, enlisted the sympathies of the Sioux, who were waiting an opportunity of redressing grievances, which they claimed to have suffered at the hands of the Americans. The principal hostile demon- stration was an attack upon a keel-boat returning down Rock river from a trip, carrying supplies to Fort Snell- ing. It had touched on its way up at the Winnebago camp, and carried away a number of squaws. Its return was watched for, and while a desperate attack was made upon it, it became grounded, and the crew were in im- minent peril. The squaws escaped to their infuriated lords, and the boat succeeded in dislodging itself and making its way down the river. This occurrence spread great alarm among the people, and, in pursuance of an order from Gov. Edwards, the miners at Galena were formed into companies and equipped for action. General Atkinson, with six hundred regulars, and the Galena militia under General Dodge, penetrated the enemy's country and compelled the savages to sue for peace. Among the captured were Red Bird, chief of the Sioux, and Black Hawk. The former had been the friend of the whites till incited to hostilities by the Winnebagoes. The latter, in the war of 1812, offered his services to the Americans, who declined them from motives of humanity. He was born at the principal village of his tribe on Rock river in 1767. Possessing no hereditary rank, he rose to the dignity of a chief by the native vigor of his char- acter and his success in war. To Gen. Gaines' inquiry in council : " Who is Black Hawk ? Is he a chief, and why does he sit in council ?" he replied : " I will tell you who I am. I am a Sac. My father was a Sac. I am a warrior, and so was my father. Ask those young braves who have followed me in battle, and they will tell you who Black Hawk is. Provoke our people to war and you will learn who Black Hawk is.".
By the treaty of 1804 the Sacs and Foxes ceded to the United States all land lying between the mouth of the Illinois and of the Wisconsin rivers. By a pro- vision of this treaty, so long as these lands remained the property of the United States, the Indians were to enjoy the liberty of occupying them. In the year 1829 the government disposed of some land at the mouth of Rock river, and thus, according to the treaty, extinguished the Indian title. In 1830 a treaty was made, in accord- ance with whose provisions the Indians removed from the lands they had sold and retired across the river. At this time Keokuk and Black Hawk were the two prin- cipal chiefs of the Sac and Fox nations. In accordance with the treaty stipulations, Keokuk remained across the river. Black Hawk, however, actuated no doubt to some extent by a genuine love of the land and village home of his fathers, but principally hy ill-will toward the Americans, intensified by the intrigues of a Winne- bago chief, who assured him of the assistance of the tribes along Rock river, recrossed the Mississippi in the spring of 1831 with his women and children and three
hundred warriors. Depredations on the part of the In- dians were quite frequent, and the executive of the state was applied to for protection. General Gaines, with six companies of United States troops from the Jefferson barracks,-four having been ordered from Prairie Du Chien,-proceeded to Fort Armstrong, and on the 7th of June held a council with the Indians, in which Black Hawk asserted that they had never sold them lands, and were determined never to abandon them. Gaines imme- diately applied to Governor Reynolds for volunteers. Sixteen hundred were soon in marching order, and an expedition was made to the mouth of Rock river. The Indians had fled and were encamped across the Missis- sippi. Gaines sent an order to Black Hawk, requiring him and his band to return and enter into a treaty of peace. This order, after much reluctance and delay, on the 30th of June the renowned warrior obeyed.
On the 6th day of June, 1832, Black Hawk and his band, induced by White Cloud, the prophet of the Win- nebagoes, re-crossed the Mississippi and ascended the Rock river to the county of that tribe, ostensibly for the purpose of planting a crop of corn with them. His real intentions, however, were to re-possess himself of his an- cient patrimony, and to this end he intended to make allies of the Winnebagoes, Potawattomies and other northern tribes. For in the winter of 1831-32 he had manifested dissatisfaction, and displayed much zeal in his efforts to obtain recruits. He had swelled the num- ber of his warriors to five hundred, embracing the pride and chivalry of the nation. When it became known that he had re crossed the river, great alarm spread among the settlers, and frequent petitions for protection were received by Governor Reynolds, who determined to call out a large body of volunteers. 1800 men ac- cordingly met at Beardstown, the place of rendezvous' and were organized into brigades and placed under the command of Gen. Whiteside by Gov. Reynolds, who also participated in the campaign. After organization, the State troops marched to Rock river, and united with the regulars under the command of General Atkinson. On the 9th of May the army commenced its march up the river in pursuit of the enemy, arriving at Dixon on the morning of the 12th. The principal event of this campaign was the battle of Stillman's Run, May 14th, in which a reconnoitring party, under Major Stillman, was defeated. On the night of the battle, Governor Reynolds, as commander-in-chief of the Illinois militia, made a requisition for two thousand additional troops to rendezvous at Beardstown and Hennepin early in June. Dissatisfaction and demoralization appeared among the State troops of the army, and May 27th they were discharged by Governor Reynolds. This ended the second campaign, without effecting any important results.
At the time these troops were mustered out, at the suggestion of General Atkinson, Governor Reynolds called for a thousand additional troops to enhance the previous levies, and a thousand to guard the frontier.
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
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A regiment was raised from among the disbanded troops to guard the more exposed settlements until the new levies could be made available. One of the companies, under Captain Snyder, became engaged in a severe skir- mish with a body of seventy Indians, at Kellogg's Grove. On the 6th of June Black Hawk and one hundred and fifty warriors made an attack upon Apple river fort, a stockade situated near the present village of Elizabeth. The Indians, after an unsuccessful attempt of fifteen hours to take the fort, defended by twenty-five men, departed, loaded with spoils taken from the village and vicinity. Other depredations were committed before the levies could be brought together and officered. Organization was effected on the 16th of June at Fort Wilburn, on the south bank of the Illinois river, the men electing their own officers. They were received into the United States service by General Atkinson, who acted as com- mander-in-chief. On the 17th, Colonel Dement and his battalion were ordered to Dixon, preceding the main army. He took a position in Kellog's Grove at the block house. Near this point Black Hawk and his three hundred naked warriors drew a reconnoitering party into an ambuscade, and pounced upon them from a bushy ravine with yells and savage fury, killing five men before they could make good their retreat to the fort. The result was the battle of Kellog's Grove. The block house fort was vigorously attacked for nearly an hour, the force within returning the fire with such ra- pidity and precision that the assailants retired, leaving nine of their number dead on the field, and conveying others away with them.
Early in July, Gen. Atkinson having heard that Black Hawk had fortified a position in southern Wis- consin, started thither for the purpose of bringing on a general engagement and terminating the war. Eight weeks were spent in marches and countermarches, result- ing in a fruitless attempt to find the enemy. This con- dition of things resulted largely from the perfidy of the Winnebago guides to whom the army trusted. At the Burnt Village, on the White Water branch of Rock river, Gen. Atkinson ordered the army to disperse for subsistence. A council of war, however, convened, and it was unanimously agreed by the officers present that it was necessary under the existing exigencies to disre- gard the orders of Atkinson. Gen. Henry set to work at reorganizing his brigade, and fitting it for the de- mands of rapid marching. Having previously quelled a mutiny among the volunteers, a circumstance making the turning point of the entire campaign, on the 15th of July, he set out ; his brigade then numbering six hundred men, and soon fell upon the trail of Black Hawk and his hand, which from starvation, exhaustion and sickness, they could no longer conceal. They were overtaken at the Wisconsin bluff, and there was achieved the first important victory of the campaign, with a loss of one man killed, and eight wounded. The Indians left one hundred and sixty-eight of their warriors dead on the field, while a number of wounded were found in
their trail. Night came on and it was not thought pru- dent to pursue them into the bottom, whither they had taken refuge in the tall grass and dense forest. They crossed the Wisconsin and made their way toward the Mississippi, followed by the entire army under Gen. Atkinson. On the morning of the second of August, the army reached the bluff of the Mississippi. The In- dians having reached the margin of the river, a little below Bad Axe, some time before, were making prep- arations to cross. While they were thus situated, the steamboat Warrior, Captain Throckmorton, disregarding the white flag raised by the Indians, a course which was severely criticised, discharged into their midst a six pounder, loaded with canister, followed by a severe fire of musketry. Twenty-three of the Indians were killed and a number wounded. Shortly after this, General Atkinson arrived and commenced a general engagement. By a feint the main body of the army was drawn aside and while it was moving up the river, the Indians were discovered by Henry's men who through the jealousy of Atkinson had been placed in the rear, charged upon them, completely routing and pushing them into the river. The battle ended in a general carnage, but few of the Indians escaping, among them their leader, the renowned Black Hawk. This bloody scene closes the war, in which many of the brave sons of Edwards, Law- rence and Wabash participated and played a gallant part.
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