USA > Illinois > Shelby County > Historic sketch and biographical album of Shelby County, Illinois > Part 12
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41
TRIED AND TRUE ALLIES IN THE HEAT OF THE BATTLE.
In order to hold public meetings till I might see the grounds consecrated to holiest uses while I lived. I did contrary to the rule of my life : borrowed money, giving a mortgage on the land. The farmers and carpenters of the vicin- ity joined in and helped me build the great shed. called "the tabernacle." for an auditorium. But the springs must be walled, roads must be made, the underbrush cleared away. some cot- tages built. etc .. etc. The gate receipts did not on the whole pay expenses, though all help and talent were promptly paid. The burden of debt at 7 per cent. grew, though some people in their
91
IHISTORIC SKETCH.
ignorance said the Assemblies were a money- making scheme. 1 had tempting offers to sell, if I would not require a clause in the deed of transfer prohibiting liquor traffic on the ground. And three years ago I had an offer for the land on my own terms; but dear friends lead by John G. Woolley and Col. D. C. Smith, plead with me to hold on, and proffered me financial case for another year. And so they did for the next year, till finally I felt it my duty positively to decline further aid in that way. 1 determined to square up all debts by selling everything if necessary. But I am spared this necessity. Victory is nigh. And who have helped to this victory? Their num- ber is greater than can be named here.
Among the many noble and widely known men and women who have been from first to last generous co-workers in the effort to estab- lish this Chautauqua, are: Ex .- Gov. John P. St. John, Mrs. Clara C. Hoffman, Bishop C. C. McCabe, Capt. D. H. Harts, John G. Woolley, Dr. John S. Cook, Rev. O. W. Stewart, Hon. Hale Johnson, Mrs. Leonora M. Lake, Rev. W. J. Frazer. Col. D. C. Smith, Booker T. Wash- ington, Rev. Sam P. Jones and Col. John So- bieski, the last named for the last nine succes- sive years. But for these and such as these, this effort must have ceased six years ago. During the first years Elder W. H. Boles, Col. James Felter, Mrs. Helen M. Gougar, Mrs. S. E. V. Emery, Miss Henrietta G. Moore, Miss Lily Runals. and Mrs. Daisy H. Carlock, the last named of saintly memory, were self-sacrificing helpers. Among our list of benefactors in late efforts are Commander Ballington Booth, Mrs. Eliza T. Sunderland. Montaville Flowers, Mrs. Eva M. Smith, Rev. Dr. George M. Brown. Rev. W. W. Fenn. Ex-Congressman George E.
Adams, Mr. N. O. Nelson, Dr. C. Elwood Nash, Prof. Eugene Davenport, Prof. George E. Vin- cent, Rev. Dr. E. L. Eaton, Prof. M. S. Calvin, Col. George W. Bain, Prof. H. H. Barber, Revs. Albert Lazemby. Fred Hawley, Chas. E. St. John and F. C. Southworth; and a multitude more never to be forgotten for their kindly, helpful service. I should like to mention the names of more than a thousand at home and abroad, who, by neighborly sympathy and gen- erous service, have helped to keep this Chautau- qua alive. I can not name any without seeming to slight many. But I am proud to refer to the fifty or more persons of our general and local Advisory Board as representatives of hundreds of others equally deserving mention in this con- nection.
From the first effort, about ten years ago, to celebrate Independence Day at Lithia away from the saloon, we have had the support of Judges Thornton and Moulton, two of the old- est and most honored citizens of the state; and later years, of Judge Truman E. Ames. One or the other of these gentlemen has acted as Mas- ter of Ceremonies nearly every Fourth of July since the second year from the beginning, when Judge Thornton presided and Chaplain McCabe told his story of the Sunny Side of Life in Libby Prison.
Frances E. Willard has been a patron saint of this mission for nearly fifteen years. She seemed to have a special interest in Our Best Words and the mission work since the first and only time she visited Shelbyville, near the be- ginning of her wonderful career. It so happen- ed at that visit that I was the only minister to be on the platform with her. She frequently there- after cheered me with letters expressing hearty
92
HISTORIC SKETCH.
sympathy and God speed for Our Best Words and the Assemblies.
ยท From the beginning of our meetings at Lithia Springs the pastors of the various churches (both Catholic and Protestant) of Shel- byville and vicinity have been constant, brotherly and prayerful co-workers with scarcely an ex- ception, to the best of my recollection.
Besides the distinguished persons above named, the following speakers of world-wide fame have also addressed these Assemblies : . Mrs. Mary T. Lathrop, T. DeWitt Talmage, Hon. George R. Wendling. Mrs. Helen M. Barker, Henry Watterson, Senator Wm. E. Mason, Hon. Wm. J. Bryan. Hon. John Temple Graves, Bishop B. W. Arnett. Mrs. Maude Bal- lington Booth, Senator J. P. Dolliver and Con- gressman Jerry Simpson. Col. Sobieski, in his Life Reminiscences says : "Probably there is no Assembly in the West that in so short a period has had so much eminent talent."
LITHIA CHAUTAUQUA AS IT HAS GROWN TO BE.
And so at last. despite of many drawbacks and pecuniary losses, the success of this Chau- tauqua in gaining public favor and a reputation National in extent. and with a constant healthy growth toward the ideal aimed at, has been beyond my most sanguine expectations. Look at the facts, then and now !
Beginning with a dozen tents and a few hundred patrons for a week the first year, with a mountain of prejudice to overcome, the annual campers and patrons have steadily increased from year to year, till for the last two or three summers there has been an average of 150 tents, nearly 1000 campers, and 500 to 3000 people in (laily attendance for 20 days. They have come
from near and far. They have come from a dozen different states. One of these last years, as has been said. "for the nineteen days there was an average of fifteen hundred people daily ; and it is the uniform testimony of experienced observers that there were never before in this part of Illinois so large a number of intelligent. kindly disposed and well-bred men and women of all sects, all parties and classes, brought to- gether for such a length of time. and with such harmony of spirit and purpose."
These assemblies have drawn good people of all sorts of ideas together, so that they have learned more of each other. and come to under- stand each other better. It is a common re- mark that these assemblies have killed more bigotry and prejudice than any other institution in the country. People of all churches and of no church, have worshiped together. talked and conferred together under these two mot- toes :
"No North, no South, no East, no West, but one Grand Union and one Flag ;" and,
"In the love of truth and in the spirit of Jesus Christ we unite for the worship of God and the service of man."
Here has been a parliament of religions ; a convention for fair play to all ; a peoples' univer- sity; a school for good citizenship and social purity ; a school of health and good behavior ; in short, a federation of men and women to cul- tivate the art of making happy homes and niak- ing the most and best of each other and of everything that the good God gives us.
HOPEFUL OUTLOOK.
Therefore. while I look over these forty years of missionary effort with a sorrowful sense of disappointment and failure in much that I
93
HISTORIC SKETCH.
had hoped for and have tried to be and do, yet, nevertheless, I do greatly rejoice that what I prayed and sacrificed most for has been in part realized, though at a place and in a way I never dreamed of in the beginning.
And now in the first year of this century, on the motion .of great souls like Dr. Edward E. Hale, and by the generous response of noble friends, the plan is now, (Jan. 20, 1901), nearly consummated whereby 200 acres of Lithia Springs ground, and the liquor traffic prohibited on the premises, is to be given forever and de- voted to this great Chautauqua work. if the peo- ple want it enough, and I am happy in believing
they do, to give the institution their united sup- port in the future as they have done in the past.
But even if the crowds should henceforth turn away, the healing fountains at Lithia cease to How, and the glad carols of birds be hushed forever, I shall ever be most profoundly thankful to God for the multitude of friendly hands that have been reached out to me; and thankful, too. for being permitted to live to see so many sober, happy people assembled on that loved spot where they have caught higher ideals that shall surely be more fully realized some- where, sometime.
GEORGE D). CHAFEE.
A SKETCH OF THE BAR OF SHELBY COUNTY.
By HONORABLE GEORGE D. CHAFEE.
CHAPTER IX.
I have been requested, by the Wilder com- pany, to furnish for their History of Shelby County, a sketch of the Shelby County Bar.
This is largely biography, as a matter of course. No perfect biography has ever yet been written, and I doubt if one ever will be written. The memorable life and adventures of Tristan Shandy, a fictitious character of Dean Swift, and Boswell's Life of Johnson, perhaps come nearer being perfect biographies than any that have ever been read. The difficulty in preparing a complete biography, lies in the impossibility of getting accurate facts, and absolute want of any record of the most interesting events, and the impossibility of telling truthfully. the most in- teresting things that occur in a man's life-time. Very few persons keep any memoranda of cur- rent events, and even if they did. the memoranda would be but the dry bones of the real body and beauty of the event, and are usually kept. if kept at all, to refresh the recollection of the person making the notes. The history of Shelby Coun- ty, or any other County, cannot be given in such a manner as to crystallize the ten thousand most interesting events that have happened. The things that interest people most in their daily life. and of which they would afterwards toke pleasure in being reminded. are ephemeral and transitory, and a week or a month after they happen. they are forgotten.
The acts for which a man deserves praise by.
his friends, may be the very acts which his enemies would censure. Any act in this world to be adjudged upon, has more than one side. and the person himself is the only one who can understand the reasons and motives for the act. Human judgment is defective, and human pas- sions are not good criterions by which to decide the actions of a man's life : yet. these are the only sources which the public have, to sit in judgment on the life and character of others. We see only occasional land-marks or head-lands, as we sail over Life's Ocean, and the intervening space. with all its rocks and shoals of toil. pleasure and sorrow. is lost to us. In the biography of the Savior of Mankind, we have His birth. His flight to Egypt. His appearance in the temple when twelve years of age. His temptation in the wil- derness, His three years of teaching the disciples. and His tragic death. A perfect page, covering thirty-three years of the most remarkable life the world has known.
So the story of the members of the Shelby County Bar must necessarily be brief. Very little is known of them, compared with what each has done. Very much that cach has per- formed, would be of no interest to any one : while much that each has performed might be of interest to those who come after them, to point a moral or adorn a tale. The work of every good lawyer is chiefly in his office, the business of his clients : the circumstances, their troubles and sorrows, their aims and hopes are all professional secrets. The public judge of what they hear. either correctly or incorrectly, from the result
-
95
HISTORIC SKETCH.
of the trials. The history of the county, so far as its Bar is concerned, includes many names of persons whose services have been, for some rea- son, so brief that little is known of them, and of course, little can be said. The fact that no extended account of such appearance is given in this compendium, in no way reflects upon the life and character of any one whose name is so briefly mentioned. It simply indicates that no facts have been gleaned upon which a more ex- tended biography might be written.
HONORABLE WM. A. RICHARDSON
was once a lawyer of this city, but soon immi- grated from here to Quincy, and afterwards, be- came United States Senator. President Buchan- an made him governor of Nebraska in 1860.
DANIEL GREGORY
was a lawyer here from 1835 to 1852. When he was appointed receiver of the Land Office, he removed to Vandalia. He was brother to M. D. Gregory, who lived at Moulton at the time of his death, and also brother of Allan Gregory, who was credited with being the originator of the Chicago stock-yards. Perhaps the next old- est lawyer in Shelby County was
MORRIS R. CHEW.
who came here in about the year 1850. He was father of the Honorable Wm. Chew, and grand- father of Wm. H. Chew, both of whom will be mentioned hereafter. A man named
ED. EVEY
also practiced law here a year or two, and then removed to California. He has relatives living near Tower Hill. Another lawyer who lived here a short time, was
JOSEPH G. CANNON.
who afterwards moved to Douglas county, and has been a member of Congress in that District for the last 20 years.
W3. 11. REED
also located here in 1860, and in conjunction with Wm. J. Henry, prepared a book, the first Illinois Digest, which for several years was the only digest of Illinois reports in use in the state. He died soon after the book was completed. .
ANTHONY T. HALL ..
a nephew of Judge Thornton, and named for the Judge, located in Shelbyville and went into part- nership with his uncle in 1858. He was well educated. a bright, talented young fellow, quite famous for his ability to make an interesting speech, having all the fire and imagination that was characteristic of the speeches of the south- ern people at that period. He was a democrat and idolized by the old fellows who used to listen to his fiery speeches. He died in 1863, and at a Bar meeting, to commemorate his virtues. Judge Gallagher, who presided on the bench at that time, among other things said of him: "He was the soul of honor : I do not believe he knew how to do a dishonest act."
As indicating the customs of the past, I re- late a circumstance occurring at the home of Wm. Middlesworth near Windsor. Hall and I stopped there on our way to Windsor to try a case, and I was introduced to Mr. and Mrs. Mid- (llesworth. Mr. Middlesworth at once invited us into the dining-room and set out a demijohn of whisky and poured out three glasses. I did not drink, so declined. Mr. Middlesworth then offered me cherry bounce, then wine, each of which I declined. He looked at me in a queer way, but I forgot all about it. Years afterwards,
96
HISTORIC SKETCH.
after Mr. Middlesworth quit drinking entirely. he told me he was never more mad in his life. and came near showing me the door. I was entirely void of such intention of course.
The writer remembers Mr. Hall as being a genial, whole-souled companion, and though we cliffered upon nearly every question, we were excellent friends. I recall clearly the last time 1 ever saw him. He was, with myself. engaged in a law suit on Sand Creek. We rode there through the woods on what is known as Hidden Mill road, took our dinners in a basket, and camped in the woods, enjoying it all as well as the law suit. At that time he had a very red nose, and his friends joined with me in having fun at his expense on that subject. Two or three days later this inflammation developed into erysipelas and attacked the brain, causing sudden death. It was a great grief to his friends, and had he lived a few years longer, there was no office in this democratic county or district, that he could not have secured.
W31. J. HENRY
came here in 1860 from lowa. He was a remark- able man in many ways. He had very little edu- cation, but he was a great student, particularly of law and theological questions. He was a prominent member of the M. E. church, and a great Sunday School worker. He made his Sunday visits to the various parts of the county with a double object in view. the moral of which the writer does not undertake to pass upon. One of the objects was to establish Sunday Schools, or aid one that was already established, and the other was to make the acquaintance of the citi- zens of that vicinity, probably with a view to get- ting into business that might be in an incubative state at that time : he was a success in getting business, and when he got it, he never failed to
make it interesting in his mode of management. He recognized the well known fact. that prob- ably every lawyer experiences when making a visit to the country. As we all know many per- sons have legal problems that they want solved ; they think they are victims of a wrong that some- body has perpetrated, that they have an interest in a few feet or a few acres of their neighbor's land across the line : some trouble has occurred in the school district : the Highway Commission- ers have done either too much or too little : some dog has trespassed on a neighbor's sheep : some domestic trouble exists : and when the lawyer is in the country, even though it be Sunday, a little valuable information may be extracted without pay. While this information was being obtained from Brother Henry, he would be get- ting a client and advise some sort of a suit and at the same time be doing the Lord's work, and getting a good yellow-leg chicken dinner.
While Henry was engaged in active prac- tice. as before stated, he also prepared a Digest of the Illinois Reports, having his partner. Mr. Reed, do the laborious part of writing it out with the pen, as type-writers and stenographers were then unknown. He also wrote and had pub- lished a large volume. I think entitled "The Court and Cross," and a large volume entitled "Ecclesiastical Law." These two books were printed by the Methodist Book Concern, and he associated some M. E. bishop with him as co-editor for the purpose of getting them into the market. The law book was an excellent work, and is still authority in the courts. Mr. Henry made use of his Biblical knowledge in trials, and naturally often made a good hit.
I remember the first case in which 1 ever made a jury speech. In the fall term. 1860, Henry had brought suit for a man named As- kins, for damages received in a fight. in which
97
HISTORIC SKETCH.
his client had one of his fingers bitten off by the other fellow, and asked me to open the case to the jury. I was fresh from school, a college where fist-fights were not regarded as very gen- teel, and of course I made an attack upon the immorality and criminality of the man who bit our man's finger off. Judge Thornton had the other side, and he was in his prime and at his best, and knew Shelby County and a Shelby county jury much better than 1 did, and that there was a very pronounced feeling, here against men that they called "yankees," and he scored me to the quick; he told them that I was a young man from the North, a sort of a "North- ern light," and had come down here to teach these gray-headed old farmers morals and man- ners, etc. I felt pretty sore until Henry made the best speech of his life, as I thought then, by quoting Job to the jury, telling them that Judge Thornton seemed to take the same view of him- self that one of Job's friends did. "that when he died, wisdom would die also." Mr. Henry was a partner of T. F. Dove for several years. and it is fair to infer that Mr. Dove got all Henry's points on the subject of money-making as he has been a great success in that line since. Henry died in Kansas City a few years ago, from an accident that occurred in an elevator. From what I know of his business, and what he had told me about the enterprise he was engaged in there, he would have made several thousand dollars in a short time : but his son-in-law and nephew who took charge of his affairs were not competent to carry out his project, and his family lost everything.
HON. W. W. HESS
is another member of our Bar, who has passed on several years ago. He came here in about '62 or '63, and went into partnership shortly
after with the lon. Lloyd B. Stephenson. Mr. lless was a democrat, and was elected County Judge about 1876, and held office two terms, or until his death. Ilis practice was not extensive. but he made a fair judge and aimed to hold the scales of justice level. He was married to the daughter of Dr. Harnett, and his widow still resides in Shelbyville.
J. W31. 1.1.(YD).
once of the Bar of Shelby County, is another who has passed over the Great Divide. He was born in Springfield, Illinois, in 1841, was educated in Moultrie county, and for many years was con- nected with the clerk's office, and was undoubt- edly the finest penman in the county. He was recorder for many years, and the books he wrote in look like copper plate. He was also engaged in real estate business, and made a set of ab- stracts of titles which is still in use. He studied law with Thornton and Hall, and formed a part- nership at one time with T. E. Ames. He was a fine business man, an excellent citizen, and left surviving him, a wife and two children. His widow is the sister of Wm. C. Kelley, an attor- ney in this city. Both of his children died a short time after his death. His wife still sur- vives.
H. S. MOUSER
was an attorney here for a number of years. He came here as a republican, but changed his poli- tics at the time of the Greely campaign, and was elected Superintendent of Public Instruction for the county. He was a pretty fair lawyer, noted for his ability to make the most out of the small points in a law-suit, and had a peculiar way of looking at the jury and smiling, with a smile that was child-like and bland, when he thought he made a point by some question or remark. He was twice married, his last wife being the sister
98
HISTORIC SKETCH.
of Jeff. Brewster of this place. He removed to Huron. Dakota, at the time of the Dakota boom. with G. W. Abel and others, and has made a suc- cess of his profession.
WILLIAM CHEW.
heretofore mentioned, was born in Martinsville. ()., in 1836. and his father removed to Shelby county about 1850, onto a farmi. Mr. Chew be- came a farmer, and often boasted of having plowed the virgin prairies with ox teams. He was educated at the Lutheran University, Springfield, Illinois, taught school in Shelby county, and studied law with Moulton & Chafee. and was admitted to practice in 1871. He was a large man with fine address, and was elected by the republicans as minority representative from this county, and served in the Legislature with Hon. Jas. A. Connely, and "Long Jones." of Jo Daviess County. He was a stalwart republican and always in favor of every and any law, that looked toward the benefit of the laboring classes. as he claimed to have experience with them, and knew their virtues and their rights. He was a great admirer of Robert Burns, and quoted his poems with a great deal of pleasure, and gather- ed from them their most subtle meaning. He was a disciple of Alexander Campbell, and was ever ready to take up the weapon of argument for the doctrines of his church, or the doctrines of his party. He was absolutely honest in his business, and was never fully appreciated by a large number of our people, largely on account of his brusk manners. He probably adopted these manners from his early life with the Eng- lish colony in the north part of the county, who were first-class citizens in their way, both men and women, but they had a way, or habit, of call- ing a spade. a spade, saying what they meant without any circumlocution.
L. B. STEPHENSON
came to Shelby county some time in '66 or '67. He was born in Virginia and had been educated at the university founded by Thos. Jefferson, and like other young men of his time. had gone into the Confederate army and stayed with it until lee's surrender. He was married to Kate Gray and had a family of four girls. Mrs. Stephen- son was a charming hostess, having all the lovely qualities that characterize the best class of south- ern women, and when she had two or three of her beautiful sisters with her, which frequently occurred. they had as charming a home as one might wish to visit. Mr. Stephenson was elect- ed State's AAttorney for this county, and held the office for eight years, and was afterward elected State Senator from this District, and later re- moved to St. Louis, where he still lives. He was a persevering man, and had the faculty of mak- ing money out of most anything he turned his attention to. Ile was always a democrat, but had a large number of warm personal republi- can friends, notwithstanding he had been an officer in the Confederate army. It is under- stood that he made considerable money out of Mexican mines, and out of zinc and lead at Jop- lin. as well as in the queensware store that he and his brother had at St. Louis. He and
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.