USA > Illinois > Schuyler County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume 2 > Part 45
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It was built of logs, as were all the houses at that time. The fireplace occupied nearly the whole of one side of the room and a recess in the wall. After reaching a height of about six feet. the logs were placed straight across that side of the room, and the chinmey of sticks was contimied up on the outside of the house. It had a puncheon floor and seats, and greased paper placed between the logs for windows. The large boys cut and carried the wood for the fire. Cam- den Towi lap sold her school land in October, 1837.
The first school house in Selmyler County was built in Buena Vista Township in 1828 on the northwest quarter of Section 1, and Robert Sexton taught a two-months' term. On May 10. 1830, Samuel L. Dark commenced a six-months' term on the northeast quarter of Section 22. In 1.843-44 he taught at the crossroads. The sub- scription rates were paid in various kinds of produce : one patron agreeing to pay a certain number of bushels of wheat. another a certain number of bushels of oats, etc. It was not al- ways the easiest matter to collect in those days. and the teacher employed Jacob Snyder to col- lect for him. Another teacher of the same school was Mr. Wheadon. Instead of the usual mottoes around the room, each pupil could read the pen- alty for certain offenses-so many lashes for talking aloud: so many lashes for fighting; so many lashes for quarreling going to or from school, and other rules with the penalty.
Buena Vista has the largest school fund of any township in the county, owing to the fore- closing of its mortgage and reselling of a portion of its school section after it had advanced in price. The section was first sold in April, 1838.
The first school in Browning Township was taught by a man from Tennessee in 1535 in a small log cabin built by Nathan Glover. This was the second township to sell its school see- tion, which was done October 29, 1833, by Al- fred Wallace and John M. Campbell. Trustees.
The first session of school in Hickory Towu- ship was taught by a Mr. Sheldon in 143S. in a cabin built on the bluffs. There were but two small fractions of Section 16 in this township.
The first school in Frederick was held in a private cabin built by Horatio Benton. The first school house was built in 1846, a small one- story frame building, afterwards used as a town hall.
The first school in Bainbridge was in a log
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HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.
cabin built for the purpose on Section 22, about the year 1830. The first teachers were John Keeton, a Mr. Sexton, John Parker, Joseph Boll and James MI. Stevens. John Greene taught school in the winter of 1835-36 in a log cabin built on the northeast quarter of Section 1. Samuel Haines, James Lawler and Nathan Win- shall were appointed trustees at the June term of court. 1836. The school land was sold Decem- ber 5, 1836.
The first school in Woodstock Township was taught by John Taylor in 1827. The first school in the northern part of the township was tanght by Charles Hatfield, in 1833, in a house built that fall of ehm poles in an elin grove near Joshua Griffith's. The pupils and teacher mixed the ind on the floor of the school house, after school began, with which they daubed the house at recesses and noon. Pupils in attendance were William T. and Isaac Black, children of Richard Black : Sarah and Rebecca, children of Jacob Fowler; Houston and Elihn. children of Allen Alexander ; James and Thomas, children of Isaac Sanders ; Anderson, Isaac S. and Pressly, chil- dren of Mrs. Amelia S. Riley. The day before Christmas Anderson and Pressly Riley took the teacher out and wallowed him in snow and left him tied, because he would not treat to whisky. The teacher treated to two gallons of whisky on New Year's.
In the same school house taught Thomas Binkly, Mr. Johnson, Enoch Boughton, Faunton Muse and Robert Glenn.
While the strife for the Christmas treat was going on, when Mr. Muse was teacher. be at- tempted to descend the spacious chimney. when one of the boys threw water on the coals in the fireplace which nearly caused him to fall, but he managed to crawl out and promised the usual treat.
Robert Glenn spent much of his time in read- ing law, while the pupils amused themselves. One day, desiring to obtain some young squir- rels in the top of a dry tree. abont one hundred yards from the school house, the pupils built a fire around the tree in the morning and agreed to run when they heard it fall. On hearing the tree fall, all ran without asking permission except two small boys. When they returned, the teacher looked up and asked them if they had got back.
CHAPTER XXII.
SCHUYLER PRESS-PAST AND PRESENT.
PROMINENT PART PLAYED BY THE NEWSPAPER PRESS IN CONNECTION WITH HISTORY - ITS VALUE AS A RECORD OF LOCAL FACTS AND EVENTS -TYPE OF MEN WHO WERE EARLY EDITORS AND DIFFICULTIES WHICH CONFRONTED THEM - RUSHVILLE'S FIRST NEWSPAPER - THE RUSII- VILLE JOURNAL AND MILITARY TRACT ADVERTISER ESTABLISHED IN 1535-ITS FOUNDERS AND FIRST EDITOR -- SUBSEQUENT CHANGES IN NAME. OWN- ERSTFP AND EDITORIAL. MANAGEMENT-TOPICS WIIICH ABSORBED THE ATTENTION OF THE FARLY FDITOR-PROMINENCE GIVEN TO POLITICS AND GENERAL NEWS - PRAIRIE. TELEGRAPHI RUSH- VILLE'S FIRST PERMANENT PAPER-ESTABLISHED JULY S. ISIS-ITS SUBSEQUENT HISTORY-THE TIMES AND CITIZEN FOUNDED IN 1856-HISTORY OF OTHER LOCAL JOURNALS.
The newspapers of a county occupy a place in its historical relation which makes them an important factor in reviewing the history of the past. They not only played a prominent part in creating history, but in their columns we find a faithful chronicle of the events of the period in which they were published. The oldtime pio- neer settler has passed away. but in the pages of the old papers we have preserved for all ages the records of his deeds and achievements, and the editor of this history has drawn largely upon the newspapers of the early days for many of the facts and occurrences here related.
Rushville's first paper was established in 1835. I'D to this time there was no newspaper being published between Peoria and Quincy, or between Springfield and Rock Island, and it was not until four years afterwards that the first daily paper was established in Illinois, this being a paper named The Chicago Daily American, founded in April, 1839.
Publishing a newspaper in those early pioneer days was not an easy task. for there were no regular means of communication with the out- side world. even the great stage-routes not yet having been established throughout the State. while the steamboat service on the Illinois River
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HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.
was in the first stages of its development. Then. too, the country was sparsely settled and the field for journalistic efforts surely not an invit- ing one. But the pioneer editor was of a fine type of brainy men who were leaders in the in- tellectual life of the community, and even though their efforts were not always financially successful. they kept manfully at their work. The mission of the early newspapers was largely a political one, and the ideas and policies of government rather than news was the prodom- inating feature. Dependent as they were upon political favors for existence, it is not to be wondered at that their careers were beset by many difficulties and obstacles, and that there should have been frequent changes in ownership. But, taken as a whole, the editors of Rushville's carly papers were men well worthy of grateful remembrance, and the historian cannot fail to give high meed of praise to the intelligent, moral and publie spirited persons who ruled the des- tiny of the local press in those pioneer days.
In 1835 Rushville was a flourishing town of probably one thousand population. At that time the prospects looked bright for a continuation of rapid growth, as all the trathe northward to Galena and westward to Qniney was passing through Rushville. There were probably a dozen mercantile establishments, and tine new brick buildings and churches were being erected. Such was the condition of affairs when The Rushville Journal and Military Tract Advertiser, a weekly newspapo. was established by G. W. Davis and R. W. Renfroe. Mr. Davis was a practical printer and had come to Rushville from Cape Girardeau. Mo. lle had purchased his news- paper outfit at St. Lonis and, on May 8, 1925. the first number of the paper was issued. Abra- ham Marshall. a lawyer, was editor of the paper. though not financially interested in the enter- prise. Within the next year Mr. Davis retired from the tiem and the name of the paper was shortened to The Rushville Journal and R. W. Renfroe & Co. were publishers.
The Journal was a four-page, six-column pa- per, and the typographical appearance was ex- cellent, as the old copies, now in possession of Edwin Dyson. of the Rushville Times, show. The office of publication was in the upstairs room of the old brick building which stood on the site of the Bank of Schuyler.
In politics the paper was neutral and the entire tickets of both Whig and Democratie can-
didates were placed at the head of the editorial column. Local news was treated briefly and. in sothe issues, not a line of local happenings was recorded. News from Texas then was in abua- 'dance, as that State had only recently asserted hor independence and was soon to become a sov- oreign State of the Union. News traveled slowly. however, in those days, as in The Journal of July 23, 1526, we note an announcement of the death of President Madison, who had died June 25, 1850.
On July 30. 1536. The Journal was sold to Dr. Adam Dunlap, who had been interested in the publication since the retirement of Mr. Davis. In that year The Journal published the delin- qnent tax-lists for Knox. Henry and Hancock counties, as no papers were yet established in these counties. Dr. Dunlap retained ownership but a short time, when he sold the paper to Bent- jamin V. Teel. who purchased it for J. B. Fulks. Publication was suspended for a time and the now editor changed the name of the paper to The Schuyler Advocate, and the first number was issued May 27. 1837. The paper remained under Mr. Fulk's control until February, 1838. when it was sold to T. Lyle Dickey, afterwards one of the Judges of the Illinois Supreme Court. and R. A. Glenn. who changed the name to The Test. The paper supported the Whig party, but its life of usefulness was brief and it suspended miblication on its twenty-eighth issue. Some three months afterwards the twenty-ninth, and last. number of The Test appeared. In this issue the editors state that they have been im- able to collect the accounts due them, and have arranged with Mr. Fulks to take the plant off their hands.
Publishing a newspaper seemed to have a fas- cination for Rushville politicians, and the next to enter the field was A. R. Sparks, who issued the first number of The Illinois Republican. De- comber 14. IS39. The paper was a six-column folio, with columns sixteen ems wide, and was Democratie in politics. Mr. Sparks Tke his predecessors soon grew weary of the financial burden the publication of a newspaper imposed. and on April 9, 1840, he sold the plant to James L. Anderson. Mr. Sparks afterwards went to Washington, D. C .. where he held a Federal office for many years.
The Political Examiner was the name Mr. Anderson gave to his paper, and it continued under this name until October 1, 1813. Mr. An-
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HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.
derson then changed the name to The Rushville Whig. and placed the name of the great Whig leader. Ilenry Clay. at the head of the editorial column as presidential candidate. This ringing motto of The Whig was carried at the top of the first page: "Truth is the basis of all virtue." The defeat of Heury Clay in 1844 was a death blow to The Rushville Whig. and soon after- wards it suspended publication.
In nine years Rushville had seven different papers with double that number of editors, and the changes had been so numerous and suspen- sions so frequent that. for the next four years. no one had the courage to take up the task of enlightening the people of Schuyler through the mediumu of a county newspaper.
But in the summer of 1548 Benjamin F. Scripps, who at that time was engaged in teach- ing school, and R. R. Randall, a practical print- er. formed a partnership, bought the old outfit of press and type and. on July S. 1848. the first number of The Prairie Telegraph was printed. This proved to be Rushville's first permanent newspaper, for since the first issue there has been a continuous publication to the present time. the change in name to THE Tisis being made without missing the issue of a singio number.
The newspaper office at that time was located in a one-story frame building on the east side of the square. and here the two young editors labored in the npbuilding of the city of Rush- ville. And now, after a lapse of more than half a century, one of these carly editors. Mr. R. R. Randall, a resident of Lincoln. Neb .. can look back and wonder at the changes that have been made in the art of printing since he first put The Prairie Telegraph to press on July 8. 1848.
On November 3. 1849. The Prairie Telegraph passed into the hands of Rev. John Scripps and his son. J. C. Scripps. From a memorandum jotted down by Rev. John Scripps, we learn that the circulation of the paper at that time was limited to 250 subscribers, but under the skillful management of the now editors the paper grew and was a power for good in the county. Rov. John Scripps was a forceful writer and he soon gave The Telegraph high rank as a provincial paper.
About this time a telegraph line was built into Rushville, and a telegraphie news report from St. Louis was one of the features of the paper. and on one occasion the President's message to Congress was taken off the wire and printed in
The Prairie Telegraph - a stroke of enterprise which calls for admiration, even in this day, but the President's annual message was read with more avidity then than now.
In conversation with J. C. Scripps a mimuber of years ago, the writer was given some idea of the difficulties with which the early editors had to contend. It was customary to get the supply of print paper from St. Louis during the open season of navigation on the Illinois River and bring it overland from Frederick: bir one winter in the early 'fifties The Telegraph ex- hausted its supply and Mr. J. C. Scripps drove to Springfield. thinking he could get his paper there. But he was unsuccessful. and returning home started at once for Peoria, where he se- cured enough print paper to last until the ice went out of the river. and by driving day and night reached Rushville in time to put the paper to press on the regular day of issue.
Messrs. Scripps continued the publication of The Prairie Telegraph until May 21. 1-56, when the paper was sold to a stock company and the name changed to The Rushville Times, the first issue of that paper appearing May 30, 1856. The stockholders in this new company were Hlou. L. D. Erwin. Leonidas Horney. Peter Campbell. Joseph Montgomery, D. W. C. Johnston, Charles Neill. James L. Anderson. John Scripps. Enoch Edmonston. John Thigh Lawler and Charles Wells. All the members of the new company, with the possible exception of John Scripps, were prominent Democrats, and it was their desire that Schuyler should have a paper that would support the policy of Senator Douglas and the Democratic party, and in the first issue was pub- lished the Democratic State ticket with William A. Richardson as candidate for Governor.
DeWitt C. Johnston, the first editor of The Times, was a lawyer and Methodist minister and before coming to Rushville had edited three newspapers in Ohio. He was not only a fluent writer. but a polished orator as well, and was afterwards elected County Judge in Schuyler. Mr. Johnston died in Rushville January 28. 1566.
When Mr. Johnston retired as editor on Feb- ruary 2, 1558, he was succeeded by Andrew J. Ashton, who was editor of the paper until May 9, 15G0, when he retired on account of his health, and he died the same mouth at Morris. IIL. A. D. Davies was the next editor, and he was elected County Superintendent of Schools by the Democracy to aid him in maintaining his paper.
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HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.
Mr. Davies was a talented editor and had mar- ried a daughter of ex-Governor Ford. a most estimable lady. but he was dissipated and dis- solute, abandoned his family here and left for parts unknown and was never afterwards heard from. The stockholders of The Times then ar- ranged with J. C. Fox to come from Missouri and assume editorial charge, and he was suo- ceeded as editor in 1566 by E. A. Snively. Man- aging a political newspaper to suit the whims of the stockholders and, at the same time make it pay, was no easy task ; and while The Times did its full duty politically under the editorship of Mr. Snively. it failed of reaching his expectations in a business way, and as there were several old judgments against the company, the paper was sold at Sheriff's sale and was purchased by Edwin Dyson, the present proprietor. Mr. Snive- ly afterwards published a newspaper at Carlin- ville, and served for several terms as Clerk of the Appellate Court at Springfield. Ile is now a member of the Illinois Pardon Board, and, though he has been out of active newspaper work for many years, he still keeps in close touch with the editors and has rendered them good service during the years he has been at the State capital.
The first number of The Times, under the ownership of Edwin Dyson, was issued July 2. 1SGS. Fourteen years previous Mr. Dyson had entered the office of The Schuyler Democrat. established by D. E. H. Johnson, to learn the printer's trade and, with the exception of four years spent in St. Louis, he has been associated with the newspaper business in Rushville ever sinee.
In 1854 The Schuyler Democrat was founded. It was owned by a stock company and was edited by Daniel E. II. Johnson, the first number ap- pearing April 20, 1854. George Washington Scripps purchased the paper in 1556 and changed the name to The Schuyler Citizen. the first num- ber of which was issued July 6, 1856. At this time The Citizen was Independent in politics and remained so until 155S. when the historie cam- paign of Lincoln and Donglas brought to the front the newly formed Republican party. which was loyally supported by The Citizen. Mr. Seripps retained the ownership of the paper until 1879, when he removed to Detroit, Mich., where he died September 21. 1599. When Mr. Scripps retired from newspaper work in Rushville. he sold The Citizen to William I. Larash, who took
charge April 1. 1879, and has ever since been ed- itor and proprietor. On June 1, 1895, Mr. La- rash began the publication of a daily edition of The Citizen, which he still publishes in connec- tion with his weekly issue.
The Rushville Republican, edited by F. A. Warden & Son, was established January 17. 1891. and was continued by them for ten years. It was Republican in politics and, during its existence, was the official organ of the party.
The Schuyler County Herald, owned and edited by II. E. McLaren, was established at Rushville February 28, 1901.
The Camden City Register, the first paper to be established in Schuyler County outside of Rushville, was founded by Il. C. Harl, April 2, 1896. It suspended publication September 30, 1897.
The Littleton Leader was founded by Doan Dixson and the first paper was issued December 7, 1905.
The Browning Riverside Review, the latest addition to Schuyler County newspapers. was founded April S, 1908, by Robbins Bros.
CHAPTER XXIII.
FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS.
RUSHVILLE LODGE A. F. & A. M. ORGANIZED IN 1842 -IS THE FIRST FRATERNAL. ORGANIZATION IN SCHUYLER COUNTY AND NINTHI OF THE ORDER IN THE STATE-OTHER FRATERNITIES IN THE COUNTY-KNIGHTS TEMPLAR, INDEPENDENT OR- DER OF ODD-FELLOWS, WILLARD ENCAMPMENT. KNIGHTS OF PYTIHAS, GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC. MODERN WOODMEN. ROYAL KNIGHTS. MYSTIC WORKLES AND ORDER OF EAGLES-DATES OF ORGANIZATION. CHARTER MEMBERS AND FIRST OFFICERS -- OTHER ITEMS OF PERSONAL AND LODGE HISTORY.
RUSHVILLE LODGE No. 9. A. F. & A. M., WAS instituted October 8. 1842. being the first fra- ternal society to be organized in Selmyler County. and the ninth lodge of the order in the State to get a dispensation and charter from the Grand
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HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.
Lodge. The first lodge in Illinois was that or- panized at the old historie town and first capital of the State, Kaskaskia. The officers and char- ter members of Rushville Lodge No. 9. A. F. & A. M., were :
Levi Lusk, Worshipful Master.
James L. Anderson, Senior Warden.
John Todhunter, Junior Warden.
Adam Dunlap, Secretary.
James McCrosky, Treasurer.
John B. Seeley, Senior Deacon.
William Edgar, Junior Deacon.
Thomas J. Garrett, Tyler.
Samuel Mellatton, William Davis, Abner Me- Dowell, Josiah Parrott. Lewis Horton, Henry Murray, James II. Chick, Ranseler Wells, Mar- shal Smith, Alexander Brazelton, Nathan Brooks and Hart Fellows were the other members.
At the time Rushville Lodge was instituted there were eight subordinate lodges in Illinois located in the following cities: Quincy. Jack- sonville. Springfield, Columbus, Decatur and Joliet.
Two of the charter members of the Rushville Lodge took a prominent part in the early Masonic work in the State, and held responsible positions In the Grand Lodge. Levi Lusk was elected Sen- for Grand Warden in 1843 and Most Worshipful Grand Master in 1845, and served as Grand Sec- retary from 1846 to 1847.
James L. Anderson was Senior Grand Deacon in 1815. Grand Treasurer from 1846 to 1847. and Most Worshipful Grand Master in 1854-55, and, while in this office, issued the dispensation for the first Masonic lodge in the territory of Ne- braska at Bellevue. Douglas County.
The Rushville Lodge has passed through two tires since it was instituted, and many of the eld records were destroyed: but from Grand Lodge reports and other sources, George R. Glos- sop. the present Secretary of the lodge, has compiled a historical record of each member. aud it is fairly complete.
The first destructive five sustained by Rush- Ville Lodge, No. 9 A. F. & A. M. was in the winter of 1849-50. At that time the lodge occu- pied the second floor of a brick building which stimul ou the site of the Teel brick building. Ant the early records of the lodge were destroyed in this fire and, as the Grand Lodge suffered a sim- flar loss at Peoria on February 10, 1850. it has leven impossible to get a complete record of the Inlze. Again, in 1882, when the south side of
the public square was ravaged by fire. the Ma- sonic Lodge room in the third story of the E. II. O. Seeley building was wiped out, and again there was a loss of records.
The oldest member of Rushville Lodge, No. 9. A. F. & A. M., is Thomas P. Parrott, who was initiated during the year 1547. Other members have gained local renown by reason of long serv- ice in official positions in the lodge. Prominent among these is John McCabe who was elected Treasurer December 27. 1576. and served until December 25, 1906, when he declined a renom- ination. John C. Scripps served as Secretary from 1855 to 1842, and N. B. Seeley was Tyler of the Lodge continuously from 1-55 to 1855, and was again elected in 185S and served until De: « ember 27, 1894.
Levi Lusk, the first Worshipful Master of Rushville Lodge, was initiated as a Mason April 2. 1521. at Georgetown, Scott County. Ky. Dur- ing the years he resided there he was elected to practically all the offices in the gift of the lodge. In 1835 he removed to Rushville and still kept in touch with the Masonic work, even though the nearest lodge was located at Quincy. In 1837 he was called upon to assist in consti- tuting a lodge at Jacksonville, which is now Har- money Lodge No. 3.
On October 3. 1842, Mr. Lusk went to the Grand Lodge of Illinois at Jacksonville, and Rushville Lodge having been granted a charter, he was seated as the first representative of the lodge, and at that session was elected Senior Grand Warden and appointed chairman of the Committee on Foreign Correspondence.
At the Grand Lodge session in 1843. Mr. Lusk was elected Grand Lecturer, being the first to hold that offre in Illinois and was directed to proceed to St. Louis and there meet the delegates to the Baltimore convention of May. 1813, and perfect himself in the work which he was to impart to the lodges at their request and ex- Tense. Ile visited St. Louis October 16, 1813, and was given the work by Brothers S. W. B. Carney and Joseph Foster, who had been dele- gates to the Baltimore Convention, and the work was duly reported and accepted by the Grand Lodge of Illinois.
From this time until 1862 Mr. Lusk took a prominent part in the Grand Lodge of Illinois, and was honored by the highest office in the ladge in 1845, and afterwards served on many important committees, also being Grand Secretary
HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.
from 1-16 to INI. In March, IS66, he removed from Schuyler County to Mt. Sterling, and by resolution was made a life member of Rushville Lodge, No. 9. free of all dues.
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