USA > Illinois > Morgan County > Jacksonville > Historic Morgan and classic Jacksonville > Part 45
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few matters of public interest in which, as a journalist, he has not taken an active part. He was an active member of the Illinois Press Association ; was one of the committee that drafted its constitution, and was twice elected treasurer of the association.
During 1854 he suffered domestic mis- fortune in the loss of his wife and two children. During the fall of 1861 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary T. Wil- liams, a lady of some local literary repu- tation.
About this time the long agitation of the slavery question culminated in the Southern rebellion, and during the con- tinuance of that war Mr. Bailey was of the class of Democratic editors who advo- cated a vigorous prosecution of the war for the purpose of crushing out the rebel- lion, and in this he was sustained by the leading men of his party in the county. As before stated, Mr. Bailey established the Jacksonville Sentinel in 1855, and published it as editor and proprietor for seventeen years -- embracing a period of long-continued high political excitement and full of historical incidents. Such long.continued, active labors began to im- pair his health, and in 1872 his eyesight so far failed that he was unable to read or write, even with the aid of the strongest glasses. Having no sons of an age to as- sist him, he disposed of the Sentinel es- tablishment to other parties, and resided on his farm near Jacksonville, living a retired and quiet life until his death, Au- gust 19, 1880, from cancer of the mouth.
The remains of Mr. Bailey were in- terred in Jacksonville cemetery, August 20th, with the impressive burial service of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which fraternity he was for many years an active member in good standing.
Eight children survived him, including Mrs. J. H. Hackett, Mrs. Reeves, and Mrs. D. H. Hall, of this city.
At a meeting of the representatives of the press of Jacksonville, at the Journal editorial rooms, to take same action in re- lation to his death, the following resolu- tions were adopted :
WHEREAS, The press fraternity of Jack- sonville are called upon to mourn the
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death of Mr. James R. Bailey, the found- er and publisher of the Inois Sentinel (now Conrier) in 1855; and
WHEREAS, In the death of this pioneer of journalism in this city, it being the first recorded of the kind in our midst, it is fitting that this meeting of those now and heretofore connected with the publishing enterprises of the city, should bear willing testimony to his many virtues as an editor and publisher. Therefore,
Resolred, That we recognize in the character of our departed friend and pre- decessor a man worthy of his calling, a forceful writer, conservative in his views, but firm in his purpose to serve the pub- lic interests in his day, ever faithful as one who sought the public good, and la- bored most industriously for the achieve- ment of just ends.
Resolved, That the members of the press of this city hereby tender their heartfelt sympathy to the widow and bereaved friends and commend them to the conso- lation to be drawn from the example of uprightness manifested in the life of him who has been called to his reward.
Signed-C. M. Eames. H. L. Clay, N. C. A. Rayhouser, J. S. Hambaugh, Jos. J. Ironmonger, M. N. Price, Geo. E. Doying, Ensley Moore, Geo. N. Loomis, J. Aug. Fay, G. W. Fanning.
JOHN T. ALEXANDER, stock-raise , was born September 15, 1820, in Western Virginia, and when but six years old re- moved to Ohio with his father, who en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. Hle en- joyed in his youth but few opportunities for securing an education, and was en- gaged in roughing it through the continu- ous labors incidental to a farm in a newly opened country. When thirteen years of age he began to assist his father, then an extensive drover, in sending his cattle to the Eastern market, and from that period until reaching his twentieth year he passed his time in driving his father's herds from Ohio, over the Alleghanies, to Philadelphia, Baltimore, New York, and Boston. His father, then suffering se- vere reverses in fortune, he determined to go farther West and commence life upon his own account. He traveled to St. Louis, where he was soon employed, at a moderate salary, by a firm which at that time transacted the largest live-stock business in that section of the country.
His employers, discovering the unusual precision of his judgment in estimating and averaging the weight of cattle, de- tailed him to travel into the interior to make purchases, and he served them faith. fully and satisfactorily for many months in this capacity. Ile then ended his ser- vice with them and, on a small scale, suitable to his limited means, commenced to fatten cattle for the markets on his own account. For three years he was thus oc- cupied, gradually increasing his herd, until it reached such proportions that he felt justified in setting out as a drover. HIe accordingly took 250 head of fat cattle to Boston, occupying the entire summer in driving them to that market, and sold them at a price that yielded him a hand- some profit.
For three years he continued in this line of business, and then concluded to establish a large stock farm. In 1848 he made his first purchase, buying a tract of land in Morgan county, Illinois, for $3 per acre, which is now worth $100 per acre. This tract, which lies ten miles from Jacksonville, on the Toledo, Wabash & Western railroad, soon became, under his management, one of the most valuable stock-farms in the State. He made it the site of his residence, and by gradual ad- ditions enlarged his possessions in this section, until they covered 6,000 acres. Soon after his original purchase in 1848, he stocked his farm with cattle, purchased mainly in Missouri, and within a few years was the owner of the largest herds in the State. By judicious pur- chases and sales he acquired a very large fortune, part of which he unfortunately lost in the years 1854-'55, by reason of the great expense of keeping his stock, occa- sioned by the severe droughts, which killed the crops, and the unusual decline in prices. 1856 he was remarkably successful in all his ventures, clearing in that year $60,000. In 1859 he fattened 15,000 head of choice cattle, for which he obtained a ready sale in the large Eastern cities; but the closing of this year's ope- rations indiented, what very few suspect- ed, that his losses overbalanced the value of his entire estate. Upon the breaking ont, of the rebellion, great inducements
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were offered stock-raisers by the heavy decline in prices in Missouri, occasioned by the insecure tenure of all personal property, By taking advantage of this opportunity for cheap purchases, Mr. Al- exander completely retrieved his lost for- tune, and at the close of the rebellion was a millionaire. He subsequently bought the "Sullivant" farm, of 20,000 acres, afterwards called " Broad Lands," situated on the Toledo, Wabash & Western Rail- road, in Champaign county, Illinois, in order to have all the necessary facilities for handling vast herds of cattle. He ex- perienced, soon after, many reverses, los- ing many cattle by Spanish fever, and large sums of money by the repudiation of certain railroad contracts for ship- , ments. His losses in one year aggregated $350,000. These misfortunes produced a crisis in his affairs, and by a failure to sell his " Broad Lands," for which the agreements had been partially drawn up, he was compelled to assign his entire es- tate for the benefit of his creditors. Not- withstanding the fact that his liabilities exceeded $1,200,000, his estate paid his creditors dollar for dollar. His estate now includes the "home" farm of 6,000 acres, composed of the most arable land in the State, 2,000 acres of which are yearly planted with corn. The remaining 4,000 acres are used for the pasturage of a herd of from 2,000 to 3,000 cattle, and this stock is regarded as the finest in the West. He required, at one time, for his farm labor forty yoke of oxen and eighty horses and mules.
He was a man of large means and of generous impulses. He was tall and com- manding in appearance, sanguine in tem- perament and unassuming in manner. He was the possessor of fine social quali- ties, and conscientious in all his business transactions. These traits secured for him the respect of the entire community, and the confidence of merchants through- out the country.
At the age of twenty-four he was mar- ried to Miss Mary Deweese. They had a family of eight children, five of whom are still living, to mourn the loss of their loved father.
Mr. Alexander's last trip to the East
was made some three weeks before his death, August 22, 1876. The very day after reaching New York he was violently attacked with chronic diarrhea, a disease from which he had suffered before, in fact was not free from trouble with it when he left home. He became better and started upon his return. By the time he reached Detroit the malady returned with renewed and prostrating severity He telegraphed his son William, who was at home, to come to him. He did so, remaining with his father until he felt able to renew his journey, which was after a rest of six days in Detroit. The physician there said his condition was a precarious one, but a change for the better came and he thought himself able to bear the journey. The invalid was attacked again at Dan- ville, so that by the time he reached his home near Alexander Station, ten miles east of Jacksonville, he was in a very en- feebled condition. This was upon Friday, August 18th, and he grew rapidly worse until on Sunday there remained no hope of his recovery, and Monday evening, at 11 o'clock, he succumbed to the great de- stroyer. His wife and children-John T., William II., Lizzie, Lou (the bride of a few weeks previous), and Annie-and many other relatives were at his bedside. The widow and sons still occupy the old homestead and home farm, at Alexander.
JOSEPII W. KING was born in Hart- ford, Conn., in the year 1808. When he was eight years old his father died. He, with his mother, went to Westfield Mass., and remained there till his education was fin- ished, then returned to his native city and learned the jeweler's business; after that he established himself in his former home in Massachusetts.
In 1833 he was married to Miss Abbie E. Hamilton, who still survives. Some years after, indications of failing health induced him to try the effect of a warm- er climate. He spent three years in the South, most of the time in Mobile. Not wishing to make his home there, and feeling that the climate had not benefitted him as he had hoped, and being advised by his physicians to go to a prairie coun- try, and spend much of his time in out-
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door employment, he came to Jackson- ville in 1838, and established the jewelry business; and here was his home for the remainder of his life.
Mr. King was a genial, warm-hearted man, a kind husband, an excellent neigh- bor, generous to a large extent. He took a lively interest in all schemes to invite business enterprise here and contributed liberally to further all such efforts. His hand was alwaysopen and his means freely given to aid the soldiers during the war.
In politics he was an old Clay Whig, till in 1856 he was appointed a delegate to the State Convention which formed the republican party in this State, to which he always adhered.
It was the good fortune of some of our citizens to be with him at the convention which nominated Mr. Lincoln for Presi- dent, and they will never forget his en- thusiasm on that occasion.
Mr. King was appointed one of the Trustees of the Soldiers' Orphans' Home, and was selected as treasurer of the Board, which he held during the entire period of its construction.
Early in the year 1884 he was deeply affected by the death of his only son, John, a young man in the prime of his manhood, to whom he had fondly looked as the stay and support of his advancing years. The severity of the stroke was more than his physical organization could bear, and yielding to an attack of fever, he passed away, and we laid him in our beautiful cemetery in May, 1884; a few months only intervening between the burial and the golden wedding celebration.
All deeply sympathized with the be- reaved family, where " his place is vacant at the table, his footsteps no longer heard in the hall;" they miss his friendly greet- ing on the streets, his animated and en- thusiastic expressions relating to current events, and a large circle of friends are saddened with the thought that they shall see his face no more. See pages 119, 125, 132, 151, 232, 288.
COL. JOHN W. KING, only child of Joseph W. and Abby, dropped from life's ranks ere the march was ended. In the strength and beauty of his manhood, he
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faded away. God's finger touched him and he slept.
In 1839, a fair, curly-headed boy of four years came with his parents from West field, Massachusetts. From childhood to youth and then to manhood, John King made this his home. He was of a happy, frolicsome disposition when young ; genial and social in after years. His attach- ments were strong and his friends nu- merous.
He attended the public schools of this city, also Illinois College for a time, and also Mr. Wyman's school in St. Louis.
In 1859 he entered into partnership with his father in the jewelry business.
At the first call for three months troops in 1861, he entered Company B, 10th Regiment of Infantry. but was soon after promoted to the captaincy. At the expir- ation of three months he returned home. At the next call for three months troops, he formed a company and entered the 68th Regiment, and went to Alexandria, Virginia. He was sent up the James river with rebel prisoners in exchange for Union soldiers. He soon after returned home. He ranked as colonel on Gov. Yates' staff, which position he held during that administration.
In 1869 he went to Chicago and re- mained one year; he then entered the revenue service for a short time in this place.
Ile married, in 1872, Miss Eva Lillian Atwood, of Alton, a descendent of one of our best New England families. She, with her only son, survives.
Ile afterwards entered into partnership with others in the jewelry business, but for the last few years was alone.
He was a member of a number of secret orders; held a position in the Knights of Honor, and in the Grand Army of the Republic, and was once an active Mason and Odd Fellow.
He was fond of reading and had laid the foundation for a large and valuable library. Ilis home was his delight. A loving husband and son, a devoted and fond father.
For some time before his death he had been interested in books which related to the life beyond, and on the mystery we
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call death, At the funeral of a young friend, one week previous to his sickness, he expressed satisfaction at the remarks uttered, and standing over the casket said, " This is not death, but life."
For some months he was a sufferer, though not complaining. One night he returned from business in great pain ; laid down to rest, never again rising to attend to business. For three weeks he alter- nated between hope and fear; all that love and care could bestow was lavished upon him, but of no avail-he gradually failed. He conversed but little, but bright visions floated before him, and waving his hand as forms of beauty, exquisite flowers and attractive children passed, he would exclaim " How beautiful !"
On the afternoon of the 3d of March 1884, the last word was spoken, the last fond look was given, the hand clasped in his was dropped, the eye closed, and John King went to sleep; he slept on, uncon- scious of the loved ones bending over him, until, the next afternoon, as the sun was setting, leaving only its faded light, he passed away. See pages 159, 232, 289.
REV. WILLIAM HENRY MILBURN, lecturer, better known as the " blind man eloquent," was born in Philadelphia, Penn- sylvania, on September 25, 1826. His father was a merchant, but meeting with reverses, removed to Jacksonville, Ill., in 1838. William was an active, robust boy, possessed of perfect faculties, both bodily and mental, but at the age of five met with an accident which resulted in his blindness. He was playing with another lad in an open lot, engaged in throwing at a mark, when his companion, in lifting his hand to cast a piece of iron hoop or something of the kind, inadvertently struck the edge of it into Milburn's eye. From this accident, however, the eye re- covered without injury to vision, except that the scar formed a slight protuberance which interfered with the sight downward, but not direct or upward. This protuber- ance the physician decided to burn off with caustic, an operation which, twice repeated, was hard for the boy to bear. He begged for relief, and at last resisted, declaring that he could not endure it.
Upon this the physician seized him in his arms, forced the caustic upon the wound, and in the struggle both eyes of the poor boy were dashed with it. As a remedy he was confined in a dark room, and both eyes were kept bathed with a so- lution of lead for two years, during which time the pupils became permeated with depositions of lead, and light was shut out, with the exception of the left upper cor- ner of the right eye, through which nar- row aperture objects were visible. By placing a narrow shade over the eye, the hand convexly shaped beneath it, and leaning the body forward at an angle of forty-live degrees, Milburn was able to read ; seeing, however, only one letter at a time. By this slow process, and by the aid of friends who read to him, he was obliged to get his education. Cut off from most sports, he became absorbed in read- ing, and day after day would sit in the constrained posture necessary to see, poring over books often twelve hours out of the twenty-four. His constitution was so good, that he did not suffer under his confinement and unnatural attitude until he was nineteen years of age, when a senior in college; then his health sud- denly gave way, and it was discovered that he had a slight curvature of the spine and some internal organic disease. He left college and joined the Illinois Con- ference as a traveling preacher, on Sep- tember 26, 1843, on his twentieth birthday. Before being regularly recognized by the Conference, in the spring and summer of 1843, he traversed a region of 1,000 miles in extent, preaching every Saturday and Sunday, and three or four times dur- ing the week, always in company with his theological instructor, his text-book and his seminary course.
In September 1845, he moved East by order of the Conference, to present the cause of education and collect funds for the establishment of Methodist schools and colleges. On his journey he found himself on board of an Ohio river steam er, on which were 300 passengers. From the number of days the passengers had been together Mr. Milburn had become well informed of their character, and he found that most prominent among the
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gentlemen were a number of Members of Congress, on their way to Washington. These gentlemen had attracted his atten- tion on account of their exceptional hab- its. On Sunday morning Mr. Milburn was invited to preach. Hle consented, and in due time began Divine service. The Members of Congress were among thie congregation, and by common consent had possession of the chairs nearest to the preacher. Mr. Milburn gave an address suitable to the occasion, full of eloquence and pathos, and was listened to through- out with intense interest. At the conclu- sion he stopped short, and turning his face, now beaming with fervent zeal, to- wards the "honorable gentlemen," he said: "Among the passengers on this steamer are a number of Members of Congress. From their position they should be exemplars of good morals and dignified conduct; but from what I have heard of theri, they are not so. The union of these States, if dependent on such guardians, would be unsafe, and all the high hopes I have of the future of my country would be dashed to the ground. These gentlemen, for days past, have made the air heavy with profane conversation, have been constant patrons of the bar and encouragers of intemper- ance; nay, more, the night, which should be devoted to rest, has been dedicated to the horrid vices of gambling, profanity and drunkenness. And," continued Mr. Milburn, with the solemnity of a man who spoke as if by inspiration, " there is but one chance of salvation for these sin- ners in high places, and that is to humbly repent of their sins, call on the Savior for forgiveness, and reform their lives."
As might be supposed, language so hold from a delicate stripling, scarcely twenty two years of age, had a startling effect, and made a deep impression on the gen- tlemen particularly addressed.
After Mr. Milburn had returned to his state-room, a gentleman entered and said that he came with a message from the Members of Congress; that they had listened to his remarks, and in considera- tion of his boldness and eloquence, they desired him to accept a purse of money which they had made up among them-
selves, and also their best wishes for his success and happiness in life. Further- more, they offered to make him Chaplain to Congress at the approaching session- a promise which they fulfilled.
And thus Mr. Milburn, at the age of twenty-two, entered upon the duties of his new and responsible position, the youngest man who has ever opened his mouth in either house of Congress. This election to the office of Chaplain to Con- gress, so honorably conferred, brought him before the nation, and his name be- came familiar in every part of the Union. llis health still being delicate, in the year 1847 he went South, for the advantage of a mild climate, and took charge of a church in Alabama. For six years le labored industriously in Montgomery and Mobile, and in four years of that time preached 1,500 times and traveled over 60,000 miles.
In December, 1853, he was re-elected Chaplain to Congress, which post he held till March, 1855.
During the summer of the last-named year, he prepared a course of lectures. entitled " Sketches of the Early History and Settlements of the Mississippi Val- ley," which were first delivered before the Lowell Institute, at Boston, in Decem- ber; and afterwards published by Derby & Jackson, New York. The same firm also published " Rifle, Axe and Saddle- bags," in 1856, and " Ten Years of Preach. er Life," in 1857.
In 1857 Mr. Milburn went to Europe and remained abont six months. He was everywhere cordially received, both by Wesleyan and Church of England people, and preached and lectured wherever he went.
In the spring of 1868 he again went to Europe, for the purpose of having his eye operated upon by the celebrated oculist Von Graefe, of Berlin. The operation took place, but no increase of vision re- sulted therefrom. He is now unable to see any object, and has but a dim percep- tion of light.
In 1865, for personal reasons, he joined the Episcopal Church, and in 1871, these reasons having ceased, he returned to the Methodists.
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For the past thirty years he has been largely engaged in lecturing; he has spoken from Maine to California, from Minnesota to Louisiana. He speaks, on an average, seven times a week for nine months of the year, and travels 30,000 miles. His health is now superb; and, from present indications, he has before him many years of activity and useful- ness.
His parents were both well known and honored citizens of Jacksonville to the time of their deaths. His brother Nicho- las is still a resident of our city and, al- though crippled by a railroad accident, is actively engaged in business, as agent for coal companies.
RICHE
JOSEPH TOMLINSON, our present efficient Mayor, is a native of Bridgton, New Jersey. At the age of eighteen years he lost his father, after which he removed to Philadelphia, Pa., and at the age of 21 commenced business for himself. His capital being limited and, in a large city, his success not as great as he desired, he disposed of his interest in the business and in the spring of 1855 moved to Jack- sonville, where he has resided ever since with the exception of one year, which he spent in Aurora.
Mr. Tomlinson commenced business in this city in a very humble way, but by his perseverance, business qualities and ster-
ling integrity has succeeded in building up a large, and, we think, lucrative busi- ness. He takes rank to-day with our lead- ing business men. In 1875 Mr Tomlinson was elected from the Fourth Ward to rep- resent it in the City Council, making an efficient and useful member of the same. In the spring of 1884 he was selected by the Republicans of the city as a candidate for Mayor, and after a spirited and closely contested election, by the zeal of his party, his fitness for the position and his personal popularity his election was se- cured, and he was duly installed in the office. Ile has discharged the duties of the same with signal ability and univer- sal satisfaction. Mr. Tomlinson, though an earnest Republican, is not a bitter parti- san. His ambition and desire seems to be to encourage and advance every enter- prise that has for its object and aim the general prosperity of the city and the ben efit of his fellowmen.
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