USA > Illinois > Cumberland County > Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical > Part 43
USA > Illinois > Richland County > Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical > Part 43
USA > Illinois > Jasper County > Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical > Part 43
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY.
southern Illinois. The people along the line will render the neces- sary aid, and I see nothing in the way of building the road at once."
Toledo. Texas & Rio Grande .- This road is projected north ' from Cairo. Ill., passing near Kansas. in EAlgar County, will continue north to intersect with the Toledo, Chicago and Saint Louis system of narrow-gauge roads. This road will pass through Newton, the line of track according to the present survey, crossing the line of the P., D. & E. and the " Narrow Gauge" near their point of inter- section.
PRESS AND POLITICS.
Among the prominent indications of a community's advancement none affords a better opportunity to accurately measure the true value of the social progress as the newspaper. In the county commu- nities of this land, the establishment of the newspaper, sooner or later, is inevitable. The enterprising spirit which leads to commercial advertising, leads the American to do the same thing for his native or adopted village, and the establishment of the press often bespeaks more approval for his public spirit than for his judgment. The mov- ing influence which brought the first newspaper to Jasper County is not easily discovered. It is probable that the idea was suggested, not so much by the demand of the people or the necessity of the vil- lage, as by the peculiar situation of the first editor.
The carly settlers came here provided with a political faith and a stock of political prejudices, but as the first importation came principally from one section of the Union, there was a general una- nimity in political sentiment for a time. Immigration from other portions of the country succeeded and brought in other political ideas. From the first, the adherents of the Democratic organization were in the majority. In fact, so large was this majority that there was lit- tle or no organized opposition in county matters. The year 1860 found the two parties then opposed in general politics. still repre- sented here, but in more evenly balanced rivalry. The extremists of both parties had sympathizers in the county, and the electioneer- ing indulged in was more deeply tinged with the colors of national questions. In 1872, during the partial demoralization of the domi- nant party, the Republicans elected William Carter as County JJudge, in 1872. and his successor, R. B. Moffet, in 1876. At this time the " Grange Movement " was the disturbing clement, and the County Treasurer, D. P. Smith, was elected by the " farmer " combination. He was elected his own successor as a personal vindication against. wanton aspersions upon the honesty of his administration. Personal
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY.
popularity has again elected him. though a Republican, when the general ticket was carried by the opposition. The politics of the county is unusually characterized by its provincial scope, and the bal- ance of power is so placed as to make the best man generally success- ful. The present County Clerk, a member of the dominant party, is elected without opposition upon a unanimous primary nomination. The Democratic party leaders count upon a reliable majority of about 500 in their favor, though the evidences seem to show a growing Republican strength, and the majority is such as to be available, in most cases, only for the best fitted candidate.
The first newspaper was Democratic in its political affiliation, and was established in 1856. George E. Hoar was a lawyer by pro- fession but incapacitated in later years for the practice of his profes- sion by paralysis. It is probable that the success or the prospect of success-it is uncertain whether the paper was established before or after Buchanan's election-of the Democratic Presidential candidate, promised to make a journalistic venture here a profitable undertaking. The county then resorted to Greenup, Marshall or Robinson, for the necessary publication of legal notices and the field was clear. Mr. Hoar bought his press and material in Cincinnati and placed before the people the Enquirer. The paper ran a short carcer. The propri- etor found difficulty in meeting the paper he negotiated for his office material, and becoming still further incapacitated for business by paralysis, the paper was bought in 1858, and Mehaffey & Odell became proprietors. Under their administration the name of the paper was changed to the Jasper County Democrat. There may be something in a name, but this change did not bring prosperity, and about 1862, the material, editors and good will of the office, were transferred to Paris. The weight of its influence was never more effective than upon this journey. Six yoke of oxen attached to a heavy wagon, transported the press and material, while the editors with their fam- ilies took passage behind a team of horses. Shortly after leaving the town the road became a bottomless bog, and it was not until the next day that the ox team relieved of part of its load, came into Effingham, the bare-legged young teamsters scarred and bruised by the thin ice that covered the road, and the poor beasts worn out and dispirited with the heavy progress of civilization as indicated by the press. Mehaffey & Odell were pronounced in their political views, and in a few months found themselves in the hands of the " minions of the law," for utterances that were less acceptable to the Parisians than to the people of Jasper.
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY.
In the meanwhile the Plain Dealer was established. the first issue appearing on the first Saturday of February, 1858. It is diffi- cult to learn from the numbers extant what its political faith was. It was probably termed by its founder, J. HI. Graham. an indepen- dent democratic journal. It was certainly less pronounced in the expression of its sentiments, and the number of legal notices pub- lished forbids the idea of its being Republican in sentiment. Its life, however, was brief, and was succeeded by the Democratic Watchman. This was substantially the same office and paper and continued with varying fortunes until 1865, when Dr. T. H. Walker bought the business and material, engaging a Mr. Spears as editor. The latter subsequently became a partner. The business did not prosper, more from a lack of proper management than from any inherent necessity, and the paper which had been changed to the Newton Weekly Press, was purchased by Mr. Stotler for his son. James Stotler had come into the office as a typo, and rapidly rising, became the editor. After about four months' experience his sudden death left the paper upon the hands of the elder Stotler. 1. N. Walker, aided by his father, bought the paper for $300. and at once assumed the editorial function. Walker was a typo in the office when first owned by his father, and occasionally ventured on an item of his own selection. One day he ventured to insert an item reflect- ing upon persons who had just left the village. This was not dis- covered until the edition was all printed and the city mail delivered. but it is never too late to men l. and young Walker was required to go from one subscriber to another. shears in hand, and cut out the offensive item.
On Wednesday, May 24. 1882. he announced the sale of the paper and made the following review of his editorial career: " Nearly eighteen years ago, when a mere boy we assumed the editorial man- agement and control of the Newton Weekly Press. under straitened circumstances-without money, knowledge or experience, with but few friends, and with prospects. I dare say, which were anything but encouraging. Our father loaned us $300 with which we drove' what eventually proved to be a good deal. in the purchase of the old material on which the paper was then printed: and with this peru- niary assistance he bade us seek our own way, and we accepted the situation as the only alternative. There has been wonderful change- since that memorable day, and we shall not attempt to recall them. Suffice it to say that many friends who then rallied to our stand- ard and met us with kind words of cheer, have gone hence to return
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IHISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY.
no more, and among that long list of names was that of James Foltz. It was of him we obtained a loan of $5 with which to pur- chase our first bundle of paper, and which sum we repaid in one dol- lar weekly installments." The reason for the sale is stated as fol- lows: " First. we have hundreds of dollars due us in accounts and otherwise, and feel that it is a duty we owe ourself and family to close the books for settlement. Second, we were offered what we consider a handsome price for the same, and believe that we can better our condition financially." The sale was made to John H. Shup, who associated with himself F. L. Shup. as editor. Subsequently the editor became part proprietor and John sold his remaining interest to Isaac Shup, and the business is now carried on under the firm name of Shup & Shup. The paper is an eight column folio, and uses the auxiliary print. It is devoted to the interests of the Democratic party, and is characterized by a vigorous support of its principles.
The first Republican newspaper came to Newton about 1859 or 1860. It came about the time when the forecasting shadows of polit- ical events began to outline in vague 'figures the culminations of old time antagonisms. It was rather in anticipation of the demand that the Western Star was established in Newton, by R. A. Conner and T. II. B. Bridges. At the breaking out of "the war" the pro- prietors entered the army, and the paper became the property of Frand and Sidney Wade. By the new proprietors the establish- ment was moved to Marshall, Clark Co., III., very soon after the pur- chase. In December, 1866, S. P. Conner, who had been one of the attaches of the Star office, returned to Newton and issued the first number of the Jasper Union. The times seemed favorable for such a venture here, but the isolated condition of the county and lack of necessary qualities in the man proved the effort vain. The office was subsequently sold to John W. Welcher, who removed the office to Olney. After the failure of two Republican organs, a third was established in 1874, by E. B. Gorrell. It was established rather as a "grange" paper, called the Clipper, and sailed into publie favor upon the political tide that brought D. P. Smith to the county treas- ury. In 1876 the paper was leased to Henry Gregory, who conducted its publication for a year. At the expiration of this term Gorrell resumed its management. changing the name to the Jasper County Times. In April, 1882, the firm was changed by the addition of Mr. Bell, and in June, 1883, the firm was again changed by the retire- ment of Mr. Gorrell to Boll and Heep. The paper was originally a seven column folio: it was temporarily increased to eight columns
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY.
under the administration of Gregory, but was reduced to its original size by Gorrell. This continued the size of the paper until January, 1883, when it was enlarged to a five column folio. June 13, 1883, the Times contained the following retrospection:
" With this issue we begin the tenth volume of the Tines. Nine years ago, shortly after a hot contest in which Daniel P. Smith was first elected Treasurer of this county, Mr. E. B. Gorrell had a press, a couple of hundred pounds of type and two printer's stands hauled in wagons across the country from Effingham, and set- ting the same up in the second story of the building now occupied by Hynes & Hall's planing mill, on Jordan Street, commenced the publication of this paper. Such a thing as getting a column of local advertising at that time in Newton was an absolute impossibility. The people here, however, lived and enjoyed themselves, and the Times, then called the Clipper, lived, and by incessant, honest, continued effort, lived to prosper. *
During the nine years this paper has been a part of JJasper County-it has assisted in every possible way in our present general prosperity-it has dealt some hard blows. and let us say, successful ones, too, for better county government, and as the representative and medium of the Republican party in this county, it has made a record that no newspaper in JJasper can but feel justly proud of. It will be our effort in the future to keep the Times in the front where it has always been, in working for the prosperity of our town and county, and in the advancement of the principles of the Republican party, and we trust we shall merit the continued sup- port of its many friends."
In 1882, Charles M. Davis came from MeLean County to inves- tigate this point as a site for newspaper work. He found the papers here doing a quiet, prosperous business. and determined to establish himself in Newton. On November 3, he issued the first number of the Newton Mentor. In this number the editor outlines the princi- ples of the publication as follows:
" What we have to say by way of an introduction for our paper may be said in a few words. It will be newsy, giving especial atten- tion to what transpires in Newton and Jasper County, and a brief summary of the news of the State, nation and world at large. Our facilities for securing the news of the county are unsurpassed, as we have seenred the services of able correspon lents in every township, village and neighborhood in the county to write us the happenings and represent our paper in their respective communities.
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY.
" We shall aim to publish an independent paper. Having no axes to grind nor hobbies to ride. the Mentor is not intended to be the vehicle of any peculiar ideas. As a rule. its polities will be non- partisan as its religion will be non-sectarian. In local affairs it will labor for the election to office of the most honest and capable candi- dates without regard to their party affiliations. It will oppose ' rings,' ' cliques,' ' the machine,' and all combinations that by means of trickery subvert the will of the many in order to further the pri- vate interests of the few. As the farmers and laboring class are the great wealth-producers of the nation we hold their interests to be of paramount importance and shall favor such legislation, both State and national, as shall conduce to their prosperity. The condition of affairs that makes it possible for colossal monopolies to be created, controlling millions of money and wielding absolute power over the price of the products of the country and to regulate rates of trans- portation in their interests and to the detriment of the producers, is radically wrong and should be changed." The paper is a six column quarto with auxiliary print, and has secured a good circulation.
THE CHURCH.
Enough has been written in the foregoing pages to give good grounds for the inference that the early settlers of Jasper County, as a whole, were not inclined to build churches nor to encourage the preaching of the Gospel. This feature of the carly settlement was an unfortunate circumstance, and acted unfavorably for the rapid growth of the great civilizing power of the church.
The first church influence established within the limits of the county was that of the Catholic Communion, at Saint Marie. The colony planted here by Joseph Piequet was made up of devout mem- bers of this church. The first priest who ministered here was Father Badin, the first priest ordained in the United States. He had been a missionary in Kentucky and was intimately acquainted with Boone, and had served in his community. Soon after the founding of the Colonie des Freters, Father Badin was appointed by the Bishop of Vincennes to minister to the spiritual wants of this little frontier settlement. The priest was not settled here at first, but at stated intervals Mr. Piequet drove to Vincennes to bring him to Saint Marie, and in the same way returned him to the city. A little later the colony was organized into a regular congregation, and about 1840 regular services were held here. About 18-49 or 1850, the brick church, which still serves asa place of worship, was erected. This is a
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY.
good brick edifice, 35×80 feet, surmounted by a wooden steeple, and was built at a cost of about $3,500. This church influence dominates the entire community of the village, and has established a school under the charge of an order of sisters. From this point the influence of the church has extended, establishing a church at a point a little northeast of Newton, called Saint Peter's Church. about 1848. Joseph Shedioner donated ten acres, on which a log church was at first erected. This has given way to a large, frame building, located upon the original spot of the first structure. Father Fisher was the first priest, and John Schackmann, W. Michaels and Valentine Dorn were among the carliest members. The church has been discontin- ned as an independent charge, and is now connected with the Saint Thomas Church, at Newton, and now numbers some thirty families in its congregation. The church at the latter place had its beginning carly, but did not have a regular place of worship until 1850, when the small, modern editice which still serves as a schoolhouse, was erected. In 1880, a fine, brick edifice was projected, which was finally completed by the addition of a fine steeple, in 1883. The entire cost of this structure was about $7,000, and is the finest church edifice in the county. A school for children is maintained by the sisters of Saint Joseph. for whose residence a fine brick building is now in course of construction opposite the new church building. A church of this sect exists at Island Grove, with a congregation of some ten or fifteen families, and is served by the Franciscan Fathers, of Teu- topolis.
At Newton, church services were held in the court house by itinerant ministers who came here as missionaries or on the invita- tion of members of the various denominations who lived here. The Methodists were here early and had an organization earlier than any other, save the Catholic. church in the county. Daniel Doty was an carly preacher of the Baptist denomination, and an early settler in the eastern part of the county. He was eccentric in his manner. rather illiterate, but master of a rude, effective oratory that com- manded the respect of even the more educated. He was a frequent preacher in the court house, and was supported largely by those who were not members of any church. These denominations are both well represented in the county at present. The Methodist Episcopal Church have places of worship in the Kibler neighborhood, at Pleas- ant Ridge. Rose Hill, Yale, at West Liberty and Newton. The latter is the older organization; has a neat, framed church building. and a strong, thriving membership. Besides the organizations rep-
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY.
resented by these church buildings, the Methodist Church has several appointments about the county in various schoolhouses. A Mission- ary Baptist Church was organized in Willow Hill Township AApril 15, 1858. Among the original members were James and Sarah McConnell, James and Nerlinda Hopper, James and Elizabeth Stew- art. W. C. and L. A. Wilson, Jessie and Sevina Brown, Nancy Miller. W. F. Christie and others. A place of worship was begun before the war. but it was never finished. Their present structure was erected in 1875. The church numbers about sixty members. There is another organization of this denomination in North Muddy. The United Brethren in Christ have a church in Crooked Creek Township, which was organized in 1838, with ton members. No regular place of worship was built, however, until 1881. It numbers some sixty persons in its membership. The Christian Church has several organizations in the county: the Universalists have one at Rose Ilill: the " Church of Christ " at the northern boundary of Wade Township: the Quakers or Society of Friends in Fox Town- ship: and the Presbyterian Church at Newton. With the exceptions noted, the church influence was established in Jasper County about 1850. Itinerants and chance preachers held services earlier, and some more or less permanent organizations were formed here a few years earlier, but these met not only indifference but active op- position from a considerable number. The change has been gradual but effective, and while the county does not appear as favorably in church statistics as some others, the improvement in this respect is rapidly progressing, and as the farming community becomes more wealthy, more and finer edifices will be erected.
THE SCHOOLS.
The basis of the school system in Illinois is the Act of Congress donating a section in each Congressional township for the support of free public schools. The ordinance of 1787 declared knowledge, in connection with religion and morality, "to be necessary to the good government and happiness of mankind," and enjoined that "schools and the means of education shall be forever encouraged." Accordingly, Congress, in the Enabling Art for this State, April 18, 1818, appropriated three per cent of the net proceeds of the sales of the public lands lying within her limits, for the encouragement of learning, one-sixteenth part thereof to b. exclusively bestowed on a college or university. Two townships, one then and one sometime prior, were also donated for founding and maintaining a seminary
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY.
of learning. The proceeds of the 3-per-cent fund and the sales of the seminary lands were blended in 1835, and borrowed by the State at 6 per cent, the interest to be annually distributed for school pur- poses. In 1845. the receipts of the proceeds of the 3-per-cent school fund were suspended for a time, owing to the embarrassed condition of the finances. This State, like many others, had stopped paying interest on her public debt, and Congress, by resolution. ordered the 3-per-cent fund to be withheld from them and applied toward the payment of interest on bonds held in trust by the General Govern- ment. The free school system entered upon in 1855, however, marks the initial movement toward the present effective system of the State. The right of the State to maintain such a system is founded upon the fact that when ignorance predominates, vice and crime are its inseparable accompaniments, and that by education the masses will be elevated, society benefited, offenses lessened and good gov- ernment promoted.
Under the present law there are four territorial divisions, the ' State, the county, the township and the district, the latter only being of variable extent. The township is identical with the Congressional township established by the Government surveys. The " district " is a term of variable meaning as to territorial extent. conveying in itself no definite idea of the amount of land embraced in its limits. It is in area just what the Township Trustees see fit to make it. The officer for the State is a State Superintendent of Public Instruction, who has charge of the whole system, with the necessary executive powers. For the county there is a County Superintendent of Schools who is invested with the general supervision of schools and school business of the county; he examines and licenses teachers, and is a strong power in molding the character of the public schools. For the township, a board of three trustees are elected, who have special charge of establishing and changing school districts, and the appor- tionment of the school fund. In the district a board of three direct- ors are elected, who employ and pay all teachers; provide and furnish all schoolhouses and grounds; levy such taxes as may be necessary to support the schools and defray incidental expenses, and attend generally to all school business for their distriet.
The permanent funds for the support of the schools are derived, besides the 3-per-cent fund above mentioned, from the Surplus Rev- enue Fund, which was received by the State from the General Goy- ernment under President Jackson's administration. This was the balance in the National treasury after the extinction of the National
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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY.
debt, the share of Illinois amounting to $335.592.32: the Seminary Fund, arising from the sale of the seminary lands, amounting to $59,838.72; the County Fund, being the surplus of the State Fund divided among the counties under the act of February 7, 1835, but since repealed, amounting to $309.899; the Township Fund, being the net proceeds of the sale of the one-sixteenth, or school section in each township, amounting to'something over $4,000.000; the State Tax Fund, arising from a levy of two mills on every dollar's valua- tion of taxable property in the State, producing over a million dol- lars per annum; District Tax Fund, arising from a special local tax in the respective districts of the State, which reaches a varying sum, between five and six millions; and from fines and forfeitures, collected by Justices of the Peace, et. al., and amounts to a varying sum from nine to fifteen thousand dollars. The total amount of these funds reaches an amount of upwards of ten millions of dollars an- nually.
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