USA > Illinois > Ford County > Historical Atlas of Ford County Illinois > Part 15
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The educational work having now fairly begun, rapidly spread over the entire northern portion of the county. Indeed, the country schools in the Pan Handle are at this time better provided with good schoolhouses and apparatus than any other part of Ford County. It is impossible in the brief space allotted us to make mention of all townships, and furthermore, the carly his- tory of some of the townships is so intimately interwoven with the history of adjoining townships what to separate them would rob them of much of their interest.
GRADED SCHOOLS.
Ford County has at the present time three graded schools. One at the county seat, Paxton, one at Gibson and one at Piper City. The schools at Paxton and Gibson have for a number of years ranked among the best graded schools in Eastern Illinois. These two schools have in addition to their regula eight-grade graded course, a two years' high school course. The work of these schools has been so thorough and broad as to fit their graduates sufficiently to participate in the practical affairs of life with great efficiency. But few schools of this kind are better pro- vided with reference libraries and apparatus. The physiological models, chemical laboratory, zoological and geological specimens of the Paxton Graded School are probably more complete than those of any school of like grade. The Piper City School, which was organized as an eight-grade graded school in the summer of A. D. 1883, is doing very efficient work, and in a short time will be equal to any school of its kind.
The graded school buildings are not only substantial and roomy, but attractive and comfortable.
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COUNTRY SCHOOL8.
There are ninety-nine district schools in Ford County, in- cluding the village schools, with two teachers. Although Ford was the last county organized in the State, her district schools, in the efficiency of the work done, are fully equal to the schools of some counties much older. With but very few exceptions, the school buildings are well fitted for the purpose they are intended to serve, and where the schoolhouses are small and old, strenuous efforts are being made to effect the needed im- provements. There is no doubt, that in course of time, the district schools of Ford County will be equal to the best dis- trict schools in the State. Mr. D. H. Armstrong, County Su- perintendent, made an effort in 1878 to grade the country schools, but his death in 1879 frustrated the plan which had not yet had time to become popular. Efforts are now being made by the present incumbent, F. G. Lohman, to complete the grading that was so unfortunately stopped, and it is hoped that the plan will be carried to a successful issue.
INSTITUTES.
Teachers' institutes were a thing unknown in Ford County till 1878. It is true that Col. Brown, who was Superintendent in 1869 and 1870, held an institute for the benefit of teachers, but this did not result in much good, hence did not become a perma- nent fixture. In 1878, D. H. Armstrong made a very vigorous effort to hold a teachers' institute, and have such institutes & part of the educational work of the county. These institutes have been continued ever since, and have been a source of great benefit to the teachers. It is true that teachers' institutes in Ford County have been greatly hindered by a lack of means, and, therefore, have not been as efficient as they should be. This our legislators recognized, and to aid educational work throughout the State, passed a bill that every applicant for certificate, and every appli- cant for renewal of certificate, shall pay a fee of $1. The fees that are thus paid constitute an institute fund, and will place our teachers' institutes on a firm financial basis.
THE PAXTON HIGH SCHOOL .*
The Paxton High School was organized in the fall of 1874, with T. L. Evans as Principal. Mr. Evans had been the Princi- pal of the public school for several years, and having brought a class to the end of the common school course, which was anxious and ready to pursue higher studies, he advocated and obtained the introduction into the schools of a higher course, which in- cludod three years Latin, the natural sciences, higher mathematics and the study of English and American literature. The School Board under which this advance was obtained was composed of S. P. Bushnell, W. B. Travis and S. D. Cooper. The experi- ment proved a success. The course was made very complete and thorough. Mr. Evans was systematic and energetic in his work, and with the able assistance of Miss Sarah J. Shields the first high school class graduated in the spring of 1877, with honor to themselves and the school. The class contained, at graduation, five members-Misses Jennie W. Harper and L. Jennie Moffett, Messrs. F. L. Cooper, Harry C. Buell and Edgar N. Stevens. The graduating exercises were held at Clark's Hall June 15th, 1877, and attracted a very large audience. The exercises in- cluded orations and essays from the graduates that were said by competent judges to be fully up to the standard of such produc- tions. On June 7, 187x, the second class graduated. The exercises were held at Clark's Hall, and again the audience was entertained with a choice programme of essays, declamations and orations by the graduates and under graduates. Misses Julia D. Bicket and Florence Moffett received diplomas as the reward of their labor. The practice of giving flowers as tokens of esteem and approbation was begun at this time.
The high school department was discontinued under the di- rectorship of Messrs. C. Bogardus, G. W. Cruzen and W. B. Travis, with Prof. C. M. Taylor as Principal, and there were no graduates in the spring of 1879.
Under the professorship of P. K. MoMinn, there were no high school graduates in 1880, but a class completed the public school course and held graduating exercises from the public school. The commencement was held in Clark's Hall, Thursday evening, May 27, 1880. The class was composed of five mem- bers-Misses Ollie Reed, Annie Morris, Kate Dwyer and Lettie Evans, and Mr. Charles Mead. . The entertainment was excel- lently conducted, and 'the graduates acquitted themselves with honor.
Prof. McMinn continued with the school another year, and at the end of that time the following were the graduates : Misses Nora McQuisten, Julia Moffett and Mr. William H. Ramsey, and the usual closing exercises were held.
The interest in the high school was revived with the advent of Prof. W. A. Wetzell. He commenced work in the fall of 1881, and in the spring of 1882 was able to make a very encouraging report. A class of five had finished the first year's work, and was prepared to complete the high school course the following year.
A large audience again assembled at Clark's Hall on Tuesday evening, June 12, 1888, to hear what these young people had to say for themselves. A splendid programme of orations and es. saya had been prepared by the graduates, and the various exer- cises were given with an ease and finish which showed much care in the preparation. Diplomas were awarded to Misses Minnie Bush, Grace Ide, Edith Huston and Addie Wilson, Messrs Or- vie Wilson and Walter Hill.
Prof. Wetzell concluded his labors in the schools in Decem-
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ber, 1883. During his residence here his wife did much to ele- vate the study of music and to place it among the regular studies of the common and high schools.
He was succeeded by Prof. F. W. Gove, of Normal, in Jan- uary, 1884. Mr. Gove remained with the school until June fol- lowing, and graduated one of the finest classes ever sent out from our high school. Their names are familiar to our ears, as they are all well.known in this community : John H. McElroy, Charles O. Shephardson, Clara E. Meharry, Harry L. Dunlap, Raymond. V. Smith and Allie B. Meharry. The exercises in their entirety were among the best ever given by the high school
graduates. Mrs. F. W. Gove continued teaching the study of music in the school, and left it in good shape for grading.
The young people who have graduated from the high school are doing good work in their respective vocations. We wish for them the greatest success in their future life.
The names of the present members of the School Board are John M. Hanley, Merton Dunlap and George J. Shepardson. The corps of teachers for 1884 is as follows : Prof. Austin C. Rishel, Principal, Misses Sue E. Banghart, J. Esther Johnson, Kate Dwyer, Flora Garrette, Laura Bruce, Minnie Bush, Mrs. Helen A. Lewis and Mrs. Shepardson, teacher of music.
SECRET SOCIETIES.
So far as we have been able to obtain the reports, the secret societies of the county are as follows :
Gibson-Hesperon Lodge, No. 123, K. P .; Gibson Lodge, No. 733, A., F. & A. M .; Gibson Chapter, No. 188, R. A. M .; Persian Queen Lodge, Order of Eastern Star; Gibson Lodge, No. 542, I. O. O. F .; Encampment, No. 158, I. O. O. F .; Lott Post, No. 70, G. A. R .; Drummer Lodge, No. 1611, K. of H .; Antioch Lodge, No. 28, Ancient York Masons.
Paxton-Paxton Lodge, No. 416, A., F. & A. M .; Ford Chapter, No. 118, R. A. M .; Mt. Olivet Commandery, No. 38, K. T .; Post of Grand Army of the Republic; Independent Or- der of Mutual Aid; Royal Templars of Temperance.
Piper City-Piper Lodge, No. 471, I. O. O. F .; Piper Lodge, No. 608, A., F. & A. M .; Post of Grand Army of the Republic.
Sibley-Sibley Lodge, No. 761, A., F. & A. M. Cabery-A prosperous lodge of A., F. & A. M.
FORD COUNTY FAIRS.
ΡΑΣΤOΝ.
BY GEORGE A. HALL.
A public meeting was held at the court house in Paxton, April 9, 1864, for the purpose of organizing a Fair Association. J. H. Dungan was chosen Chairman of the meeting, and William A. Goodrich, Secretary. A constitution for an association, to be known as " The Ford County Agricultural Society," was unan- imously adopted, in which the object was stated to be " The pro- motion of agricultural, horticultural, mechanical and household arts," and the following officers were elected :
President, Frederick T. Putt ; Vice Presidents, Joshua E. Davis, J. P. Search, E. F. Havens; Recording Secretary, L. A. Barber; Corresponding Secretary, R. R. Murdock ; Treasurer, John L. Murdock ; Directors, James F. Hall, Howard Case, Leonard Pierpont, William Walker, G. B. Winter.
Under the above organization, county fairs were held in Pax- ton in 1864 and in 1865. After this no fair was held for sev- eral years. On the 10th of February, 1872, a public meeting convened at the court house to re-organize under a new constitu- tion and the by-laws of the State Board of Agriculture. Of this meeting Benjamin F. Dye was Chairman, and N. E. Stevens, Secretary. This object, however, was not accomplished until an adjourned meeting, held April 6. 1872, when a constitution and by laws were adopted, and the following officers elected :
President, William Noel; Vice Presidents, M. L. Sullivant, F. T. Putt; Secretary, John J. Simons; Treasurer, George Wright; Corresponding Secretary, N. E. Stevens; Executive Committee, John Bodley, W. B. Holmes, Samuel Lefever, B. F. Dye, John Richardson, William T. Patton, R. Cruzen, C. HI. Frew, A. H. Hanley.
Under this organization a fair was held in Paxton, commenc- ing September 24, 1872, and lasting four days.
On the 14th of January, 1878, having ascertained that, by a clerical error the name of the society did not conform to the re- quirements of the State Board, a resolution was adopted declaring the name to be " The Ford County Agricultural Board."
The officers elected for 1873 were as follows :
President, William Noel ; Vice Presidents, F. T. Putt, Will- iam Walker; Secretary, John J. Simons; Treasurer, George Wright; Corresponding Secretary, C. H. Frew; Executive Com- mittee, John Bodley, W. B. Holmes, Samuel Lefever, B. F. Dye, John Richardson, W. T. Patton, R. Cruzen, C. W. Meharry, A. H. Hanley. The second annual fair was held at Paxton Sep- tember 2 to 5, 1873.
Following is a list of officers for 1874:
President, William Noel; Vice President, C. W. Meharry ; Secretary, John J. Simons ; Treasurer, George Wright ; Cor-
responding Secretary, C. H. Frew; Executive Committee, John Bodley, Lindsey Corbley, J. H. Flagg, R. Cruzen, A. II. Han- ley, John Karr, F. T. Putt, B. F. Hill, John Bayne.
The fair of 1874 was held at Paxton September 29 to Oc- tober 2.
The next annual fair was held at the same place, September 21 to 24, 1875. Oficers, President, William Noel ; Vice Pres- ident, J. II. Flagy; Secretary, Merton Dunlap ; Treasurer, J. P. Day ; Corresponding Secretary, N. E. Stevens ; Executive Committee, F. T. Putt, H. J. Schaeffer, John Karr. John Bayne, P. V. Healey, John Bodley, B. F. Hill, N. B. Day, R. Cruzen. In 1876, the fair was held September 19 to 22. Officers- President, F. T. Putt; Vice President, J. II. Flagg ; Secretary, Merton Dunlap ; Treasurer, John M. Hall ; Corresponding Sec- retary, N. E. Stevens ; Executive Committee, William Noel, George Arnott, William T. Patton, H. J. Schaeffer, C. H. Frew, G. W. Cruzen, J. P. Middlecoff, John Karr, P. V. Healey.
The fair of 1877, was held September 11 to 14. Officers- President, F. T. Putt : Vice President, William Noel ; Secre- tary, John J. Simons ; Treasurer, John M. Hall ; Corresponding Secretary, N. E. S:ovens ; Executive Committee, HI. J. Schaef- fer, G. W. Cruzen, George Arnott, A. L. Clark, N. B. Day, Charles Bogardus, C. M. Bodley, Daniel Moudy, J. H. Flagg, The date of the next fair was September 10 to 13, 1878. Oficers-President, Abram Croft ; Vice President, II. J. Schaef- fer ; Secretary, G. W. Cruzen ; Treasurer, John M. Hall ; Cor- responding Secretary, N. E. Stevens; Executive Committee, J. P. Day, Stacy Daniels, Daniel Moudy, W. E. Sawyer, J. B. Loose, R. Cruzen, George Arnott, C. W. Meharry, Lindsey Corbley.
In 1879, the fair was held September 16 to 19. Officers- President, Abram Croft; Vice President, A. L. Clark ; Secre- tary, G. W. Cruzen ; Treasurer, John M. Hall ; Corresponding Secretary, N. E. Stevens ; Directors, J. P. Day, J. C. Kirk- patrick, J. B. Loose, William Noel, F. T. Putt, W. E. Sawyer. The fair of 1880 was held August 31 and September 1 to 3. Oficers-President, Abram Croft ; Vice Presidents, J. P. Day, A. Goodell, H. J. Schaeffer ; Secretary, W. McTaggart ; Trens- urer, John M. Hall ; Corresponding Secretary, N. E. Stevens ; Directors, N. B. Day, O. A. Swanson, T. M. King. A. M. Dag- gett, John Karr, J. W. Axline, J. R. Kinnear, William Noel, E. F. Earl.
The tenth annual fair was held in Paxton, August 30 and 81, and September 1 and 2, 1881. Oficers-President, Charles Bogardus ; Vice Presidents, E. F. Earl, N. B. Day, W. E. Sawyer ; Secretary, George A. Hall; Treasurer, George Grove : Corresponding Secretary, D. E. Stoner ; Directors, A. Croft, W. McTaggart, William Noel, A. M. Daggett, T. M. King, William Kenney, Nels Dahlgren, R. S. Hall, J. W. Axline.
The same officers were re-elected for 1882, but the Directors subsequently voted to hold no fair that year, and none was held in 1888.
BRENTON AND PELLA.
BY N. ALLNUTT.
At a meeting held in John Clark's hall at Piper City, Novem- ber 5, 1881, by some of the citizens of Brenton and Pella Town- ships, for the purpose of organizing a farmers' club, the follow- ing business was transacted :
On motion of Thomas McDermott, of Pella, James Arnold, of Pella, was chosen President. On motion, James R. Rezner, of Brenton, T. J. Sowers, of Pella, was chosen Secretary, and on motion of Peter Gallahue, of Pella, James R. Rezner, of Bren- ton, was elected Treasurer. On motion, the club was named The Brenton and Pella Farmers' Club.
On motion, adjourned to meet again in Clark's Hall Decem- ber 8, 1881, at 7 o'clock P. M.
T. J. SOWERS, Secretary.
At the next meeting, December 8, 1881, J. A. Montelius moved that the officers elected hold their offices for one year. Carried.
This was the first of a number of most interesting meetings during the winter of 1891-82. They were all well attended, and many farmers gave some valuable information on matters of interest to agriculturists.
During this year it was decided to hold a fair for the exhibi- tion of live stock, and the 23d day of September, 1882, was se- lected for the occasion
At this meeting, Henry Allnutt was elected Assistant Secre- tary.
The premiums offered were the Western Rural and Piper City Advertiser, for the best blooded animal on the grounds. "The blue and red ribbons were awarded in each class. There were seventy nine entries. Three span of horses afterward sold for $500 for each span. R. Dunn of Brenton, took the Western Rural and Advertiser premium.
This fair was such a decided success that it was decided to hold one every year, and in 1883 money premiums were offered, an entrance fee charged, and more extensive arrangements made.
At the election of officers for the year ending November, 1884, James Arnold, of Pella, was re-elected President; C. Jen- ninge, of Brenton, First Vice President; T. J. Sowers, of Pella, Second Vice President. Henry Allnutt, of Piper City, Secre- tary, and Joseph Burger, of Brenton, Treasurer.
GIBSON.
This society was organised in 1872, and the first fair was held in September of that year. The first officers were J. E. Davis, President ; W. H. Simms. Secretary ; John H. Collier, Treas- urer. The society continued in successful operation until 1879,
. By Edgar M. Stevens.
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the last fair being in September of the latter year. The last officers were J. B. Lott, President; R. M. Smith, Secretary ; M. T. Burwell, Treasurer. Mr. Lott, who was very active, and succeeded in making this last fair quite a success, was taken sick, and died shortly after- ward.
We are indebted to Mr. Yeomans for the foregoing facts.
It is well to remember in connection with this question of lo- cal fairs that grent exhibitions and fairs at large cities,.together with very low excursion rates on railroads, have turned the atten- tion of the people away from home fairs. The spirit of sight. seeing is abroad in the land.
THE SWEDES IN FORD COUNTY.
A book called "Svenskarne i Illinois" (the Swedes in Illinois), was compiled and written in 1880 by Capt. Eric Johnson, of Galva, Ill., and C. F. Peterson, one of the managing editors of Swenska Tribunen (the Swedish Tribune). Chicago, and from it the following translations are made by John F. G. Helmer, the present Deputy Circuit Clerk of Ford County.
This part of Illinois has a very peculiar geographical shape, and is similar to Rock Island County. It is forty one miles long and twenty-eight miles wide, located between Iroquois and Living- ston Counties. In one place it is twenty-eight miles, and in an- other again eighteen miles wide, but only to again contract itself into a narrow strip only six miles wide. The county was organ- ized in 1859, and had in 1870 a population of 10,000 people. The land is nearly level and in many places very level and flat, so that a system of ditches is and will be necessary to carry off the surplus water in wet seasons. Paxton is the leading town and county seat, and has a population of about 2,500.
THE SWEDES IN AND ABOUT PAXTON.
The Swedes in Paxton and the immediate vicinity have in Swen Hedenskog their earliest pioneer. He had in Sweden been overseer of a large plantation in the province of Holland, and emigrated with his family in 1857, and settled about nine miles west of Paxton. Here, poor as he was, he experienced many privations, but came out victorious, and prospered, and was considered to be well-off when he, a few years ago, moved to Nebraska, where he has since died. In 1859, Carl Anderson, who was a sailor by occupation, and another man by the name of Andrew Olson (both from the Province of Helsingland, Sweden), located in the neighborhood. Anderson has since removed to Colorado, leaving a daughter, still residing here. Mr. Olson lives with his family on a farm three miles southwest of town, well fixed.
When in 1863 it became an assured fact to locate the Swedish Augustana College at Paxton, the Swedish emigration became lively to these parts, and in that year an agreement was made with the Illinois Central Railroad Company that the Swedes should settle on lands the company had for sale, in consider- ation of which the company should pay the college a commission of $1 per acre on every acre sold to the Swedish settlers. Con- sul P. L. Hawkinson, of Chicago, was the company's agent in Paxton. Among others who arrived at that time was Erik Ras- mus, from Gammalstorp Blekinge. He had then been in the country ten years, having emigrated in 1858, and settled at Galesburg. He is still to be found on a well-improved farm of 129 acres, east of Paxton. In the same year (1868), came to the Paxton Colony Carl Larson, Erik Carlson, John Anderson and A. M. Hanson, all still in life and in vigorous health, and owners of pretty farms that yield them abundantly all they need.
The following year brought to Paxton J. H. Wistrand, who was the first Swedish merchant in Paxton, and kept a grocery till 1875, when the college removed to Rock Island; he also re- moved there and at once engaged in mercantile business. Peter Hedburg appeared in Paxton the same year, and kept a lumber yard at first, and afterward in various other occupations, and held the offices of Justice of the Peace and Collector. Poor health made it necessary for him to seek a different clime, and in the spring of 1873 he removed to Colorado and located at Denver, where he is now the Swedish Consul.
Emigration to the Ford County Colony continued brisk, and in 1865, the following additions from Attica, Ind., same place as Mr. Hedberg, who all had lived there for some years. Among them we find Fredrik Bjorklund, Carl Fager, John Swan, John Johnson, Carl Peterson, Peter Larson, Carl Johnson, Adolph Johnson and John Nelson, who are all with their families still living and farming, also Peter Larson and John Nelson, who are prosperous merchants. Emigration to the place continued con- stantly till 1870. Since then nearly as many have moved out West to other Western States and Territories, as have come here from Sweden. About them can be said that they have fought all difficulties with heroic conrage, and acquired an independence where their American brethren and neighbors very often have failed. The secret here is their persevering hard labor, and strict economy. Land in this part of the State has always been cheaper than in the northwestern part of the State. So called improved farms can be bought for $25 and $35 per acre. The number of Sweden in the town of Paxton and immediate vicinity is estimated at 1,000. In no place, with the exception of New Boston, can be found as many business men (merchants) in pro- portion to the population, and nowhere do the Swedes a better business than here. It is natural that they would not suc-
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ceed as well, did not the Americans support them as well as their Swedish patrons. One of the most successful Swedish enter- prises is Nels Dahlgren's plow and machine shops. Mr. D. had before been engaged with John Deers & Co., in Moline, Ill. Came to Paxton in 1865, and began on a small scale the same year. His productions, especially his plows, soon earned him a reputation as the best in the market, and the demand for them increased, and the shops were enlarged so that he 'was able to manufacture 300 plows and 40 cultivators in 1871. If the shops were better located so his plows could be shipped and compete with other makes, it would be an easy matter to treble the pro- duction, but Mr. D. is a man of the few who are wise to engage in aslower and surer road to wealth, and he is satisfied with the encouragement he has received, and his profits have been propor- tionately greater than larger manufacturers, because he has re- tailed his plows directly to his customers from his shops, when others have to be handled through commissioned dealers. Al- though the capacity of his shops could turn out 500 plows a year, the output is only about 80 plows, which is at present sufficient for local demand. We continue further, and find Gustaf Sand- berg, who is running an important wagon and blacksmith shop ; Swenning Anderson, blacksmith ; J. P. Lindstrom, dealer and manufacturer in furniture and cabinet goods (N. G. Egnell has succeeded to Mr. Lindstrom in business); Kjellstrand & Mel- by, painters; A. J. Lawrence, dry goods ; John F. G. Helmer, drug clerk ; Peter Larson, the only merchant tailor; John Nel- son, dealer in ready-made clothing ; Fred Telander, groceries and hardware; N. G. Egnell, furniture; Nels Younggren, John Crantz, Andrew Anderson, Perry A. Berggren and Lars H. Rodeen, all in groceries ; Sheldon & Swanson, dealers and manu- facturers of boots and shoes ; P. A. Berggren, photographer, and Swen Lundberg, brick and tile maker, three miles out of town, with a yearly production of 500,000 brick. In the matter of churches, they are here as well provided for as their countrymen elsewhere. The Swedish Lutheran Congregation was organized by Prof. Hasselguist in 1868.
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