USA > Illinois > Sangamon County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 1 > Part 62
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Prof. Worthen died May 6, 1888. Up to the time of his death more thau two hundred thou- sand dollars had been spent for all purposes of the survey since its beginning. A very small portion of that had been applied for strictly mu- seuru purposes and yet tbe results in tbat di- rectlon were gratifying. The excellence of Prof. Wortben's scientific work was recognized by fellow workers, both at home and abroad.
In June, 1SSS, Prof. Josua Lindahi was ap- pointed to the curatorship. He was the son of an eminent Swedish minister, born at Kongs- backa, a graduate of the University of Lund, and for ten years immedlately preceding his ap- pointment had been professor of natural science
at Augustana College. His first work was to put the museum in order. This proved to be an enormous task. He was ordered to prepare au exhibitlon for the World's Columbian Exposition that would properly represeut the geology of the State, and began to bring together illustrations of the stratigraphy, palæontology and econom- ical geology of the State, with the aid of several able assistants soon having a creditable exhibi- tion. The materials brought together by Prof. Lindabl for the World's Falr were donated to the University of Illinois. Unfortunately he was removed in the midst of his work on account of a change of the political party in power in Illi- uols. He had at ali times shown himself to be a careful protector of the materials and Interests of the museum.
William F. E. Gurley was appointed curator in July, 1893. He was born in Oswego, N. Y., was a student at Cornell and later a prospector In Colorado. For five years he served as city engineer of Danville, Ill., his home after 1865. During his incumbency the museum was moved from the first to the third floor of the State House. The rooms on the third floor furnished "even less space than available before and, un- fortunately in addition more contracted quart- ers, and were partly used as committee rooms by the Legislature.
The next curator was C. H. Crantz, appointed In 1897, after another change in State poli- tles. In 1903 he publisbed a report of tbe mu- seum. The removal, which took place during his incumbency, was from the State House to tbe Arsenal. A few more square feet of space were gained, but at tbe expense of dignity and beauty in the surroundings. The curator during this period was able to bring all the zoological speci- mens under glass. In 1905 a new geological survey was organized, which already has pro- duced valuable results. The work has been car- ried on under excellent provisions and leader- ship, but the only formal relation existing be- tween It and the museum Is indicated In the clause, "Tbe whole or part of such material may be placed on permanent exhibition in the State Museum of Natural History at Springfield."
The writer became Curator September 15, 1906, Within the last five years the number of speci- mens In the museum has been greatly increased.
828
HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY
In 1906 the musenm occupied less than 4,000 square feet of floor space; now It bas over 12,- 000 square feet. Recounts of various kinds have been made, both the specimens on exhibl- tion and the books in the library having been card-catalogued. More than 30,000 cards have been written. The number of visitors and of persons using the museum by correspondence bas been more tban doubled. The addition of material on exhibitlon has been chlefly in min- eralogy and zoology. Severai fine groups of mammals and birds have been placed upon ex- hibition. The most striking exhibit is the deer group prepared by Julius Friesser with an oil painting as a background painted by C. A. Corwin.
The specimens now in the museum are a monument to tbe patient toil and scientific zeal of the men who collected them in past years. They should be properly preserved and ad- equately exhibited. Many States are in ad- vance of Illinois in this respect at present.
During the last five years an annual series of free illustrated lectures has been offered by the museum with the greatest success. Leading speialists in various lines of natural history have generously given tbeir services without adequate remuneration.
Attendance at the museum has been rapidly increasing. During 1911 about 60,000 people visited the institution. Within a distance of more than one hundred inlles in each direction from Springfield, a territory of more than forty thousand square miles, there is no first-class museum.
The value of museums as places of entertain- ment and education is being daily more appre- ciated, and they are beginning to be recognized as the supplements of schools and libraries. They appeal to all classes, to the unlettered as well as to the educated, to the rich and to the poor, and in preserving her natural history treasures, the State can afford amusement and add to the Intellectual equipment of all. The Illinois Museum has bad a long and eventful history, and has fuifilled a noble mission of use- fulness, but an opportunity iies in its future willch, In all respects, surpasses that which has gone before.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
MUNICIPAL HISTORY
SPRINGFIELD AS A MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATION- ABRAHAM LINCOLN AN EARLY VILLAGE TRUSTEE -THE VILLAGE INCORPORATED IN 1832-CHARLES R. MATHENY, PRESIDENT OF THE FIRST VILLAGE BOARD-CITY INCORPORATION ADOPTED IN 1840- FIRST MAYOR AND COUNCILMEN-LIST OF
MAYORS FROM 1840 TO 1911-LATE MAYOR DAVID S. GRIFFITHS-ADOPTION OF COMMISSION FORM OF GOVERNMENT IN 1911-PRESENT CITY OFFI- CIALS AND MUNICIPAL ROARDS-GROWTH IN POPULATION-ELECTRIC LIGHTING PLANT AND WATER WORKS OWNED RY THE CITY-PARK SYSTEM AND RAILWAY FACILITIES-LINCOLN MONUMENT-PUBLIC BUILDINGS-FINANCIAL IN- STITUTIONS-FACTORIES AND COAL FIELDS-RE- CENT DEVELOPMENT-EDUCATIONAL ADVANTAGES.
(By Jobn S. Schnepp, Mayor of Springfield.)
The municipal history of Springfieid, Inter- woven as it Is with the remarkable and interest- ing governmental history of the State of Illinols, is an absorbing study. From its pages gleam such illustrious names as Jobn A. McClernand, Lyman Trumbull, William M. Springer, Samuei H. Treat, Stephen T. Logan, Jobn M. Palmer and the immortal Abraham Lincoln.
Lincoln-the greatest of emancipators-was an official of Springfield when the city was in its infancy. It was in such big, hrawny, virile arms as hls that Springfield was lifted from a primitive and pioneer condition to a record of metropolitan development and achlevement. Glancing back to tbe very early days of the cap- Ital city of Illinois, Lincoln's name is found as a member of the Board of Trustees in 1839. Charles R. Matheny was then president of the board. The other members during the same year were Peleg C. Canedy, Philip C. Latham, - George Klein and Samuel H. Treat. Lincoin and Jonas Whitney were elected to fili vacan- cies, and Lincoln again served in the following year, wben Peieg C. Canedy was President of the Board. It was during Abraham Lincoln's year on the Board of Trustees that the State Capltai was located In Springfield, and it was
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TE EE
CITY HALL, SPRINGFIELD
GOVERNMENT BUILDING, SPRINGFIELD
829
HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY
largely through his efforts as a member of the Legislature that this was accomplished. He was at that time, just beginning to give evidence of tile marvelons powers which he possessed, having served onc term in the Legislature prior to that of 1836-37, and having heen admitted to the Bar in 1837, shortly before coming to Springfield to make his home.
So closely docs the municipai history of Springfield adhere to the history of the State- If not to the Nation-that it is difficuit to avoid digresslon in discussing Springfield from an official and governmental viewpoint. It was in 1821 that a little settlement on the banks of Spring Creek was established and given the name of "Springfield." The first steps toward a local government were taken in obedience to a State law enacted by the Legislature in 1827, being the first statute in regard to the settie- ment. It provided that the County Commis- sioners should appoint a Street Commissioner for the town and levy a tax upon the citizens for improving the same. Further legislation for tile place was to he made through the Jus- tices of the Peace. These dignitaries were re- quired, in accordance with a petition of the majority of the legal voters, to enter an order on the docket making the matter petitioned for effective as an ordinance. Penalties were pre- serlbed in the law for violations, and repeals could be made by petitlon In the same manner as the ordinances were originally made effective.
The growth of the ambitious village was so fast that, in April, 1832, it was Incorporated as a town under the general law of that year. Charles R. Matheny was choseu the first presi- dent, and he was returned to the office every year, witin one exception, untii 1840-that belng the year in which Springfield was incorporated as a city-the one exception being 1834, when James R. Gray was In the presidential chair.
In the last years of village government an effort was made to change It to a municipality, and a bili to that effect was introduced in the General Assembly. There was strong opposition to the City Charter on the part of some of the citizens, and the promoters of the scheme feared for a time that it might he lost when submitted to a votc. What saved the day was a ciause in the charter forhidding any one to vote who was not a naturalized cltizen. Much ill-feellng was aroused, hut the proposition carried, and "Baby Springfield" was lifted from the village cradle
and given its first lesson in standing alone as a municipality. The Legislature granted the charter in 1840 and the first city election was heid in the spring of that year. Under this charter the city was divided into four wards, each of which had a representation of one Al- derman in the City Council. In 1854 an amend- ment to this charter gave each ward three Aldermen. In 1874 the city was divided into six wards, with three Aldermen from each ward. In 1883 the city, by popular vote, came under the gencrai provisions of the Incorpora- tion Act, whereby the Mayor holds office for two years and each ward has a representation of two Aldermen In the Council. In 1892 the num- ber of wards was increased from six to seven, as it stood until January 2, 1911, when the Commission form of Government was adopted, since which time the Mayor and four Commis- sioners control the destinies of the city.
The first Mayor of Springfield was Benjamin S. Clements, who served iu 1840, with James R. Gray, Joseph Kiein, Washington Iles and Wil- liam Prentiss, as his four Councilmen.
The following is a list of the Mayors from the adoption of the original charter in 1840 to the present time, with the period of service :
Year Mayor
1840-Benjamin S. Ciements.
1841-William L. May.
1842-Daniel B. Campheii.
1843-Daniel B. HIll.
1844-Andrew McCormick.
1845-James C. Conkling ..
1846-48-Eli Cook.
1849-51-John Calhoun.
1852-William Lavely.
1853-Josiah Francis.
1854-William H. Herndon.
1855-John Cook.
1856-58-John W. Priest.
1859-William Jayne.
1860-Goyn A. Sutton.
1861-62-George L. Huntington.
1863-John W. Smith.
1864-John S. Vredenburgh.
1865-John J. Dennis.
1866-John S. Bradford.
1867-Norman M. Broadweil.
1868-William E. Shutt. .
1869-Norman M. Broadwell.
1870-John W. Priest.
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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY
1871-72- John W. Smith. 1873-Charles E. Hay. 1874-Obed Lewis. 1875-Charles E. Hay. 1876-77-Willlam Jayne. 1878 John A. Vincent. 1879-R. L. McGuire.
1880-Horace C. Irwin.
1881-John McCreary.
1882-A. N. J. Crook.
1883-84-John McCreary. 1885-86-James M. Garland.
1887-90-Charles E. Hay.
1891-92-Rheuna D. Lawrence.
1893-94-Frauk Kramer. 1895-96-Marlon U. Woodruff. 1897-1900-Loren E. Wheeler.
1901-02-John L. Phillips. 1903-06-Harry H. Devereux. 1907-David S. Griffiths.
1907-08-Roy R. Reece.
1909-10-Johu S. Schnepp.
In 1911 Mayor Schnepp, the last Mayor under the old system, was re-elected as the first Mayor under the Commission form of government.
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Mayor David S. Griffiths, one of the most pop- ular young men of the city, met a sad fate shortly after his electlon in the spring of 1907. He was City Treasurer from 1903 to 1905, and in the spring of the latter year was a candidate for Mayor, being defeated by Mayor Devereux after an exciting contest. In 1907 Mr. Griffiths was put forward agalu as the Republican can- didate and won. It was perhaps the most spectacular fight In the political history of Springfield. Mayor Griffiths took office In May, and had occupied It but one month. In com- pany with Fire Chief Pete Jacobs, he was drlv- Ing through the country on a fishing expedition. The creeks and rivers were high, and in at- tempting to drive across a submerged bridge over a small stream, the buggy toppled off the edge of the bridge. Chief Jacobs had a nar- row escape from death but Mayor Griffiths was drowned. During the interim between his death and the speclal electlon, at which Roy R. Reece was elected Mayor, Hon. Samuel H. Twy- man acted as Mayor pro tem.
The present city officials under the commls- slon form are: John S. Schnepp, Mayor and Commissioner of Public Affairs; George E. Coe, Commissioner of Accounts and Finances ; H. B.
Davidson, Commissioner of Public Health and Safety ; Frank H. Hamilton, Commissioner of Streets and Public Improvements ; Willis J. Spaulding, Commissioner of Public Property ; Charles F. Clapp, Clty Comptroller ; William H. Bowe, City Treasurer ; J. E. Dressendorfer, City Clerk; Albert D. Stevens, City Attorney ; Frank L. Hatch, Corporation Counsel; Harry Schnepp, Collector of Water Rates; Wade D. Seeley, City Engineer; Edgar L. Offlighter, Building Inspector ; Dr. George T. Palmer, Superintend- ent of Health Department; Charles McBride, Superintendent of Streets; Fred H. Spears. City Electriclan; John H. Requarth, Superin- teudent of Sewers and Sidewalk Inspector ; Joseph Metzger, Meat Inspector; George S. Beckman, Inspector of Welghts and Measures ; Otto L. Nuess, City Weigher ; Fred H. Baker, Sanitary Inspector; Theodore Fountain, License Collector ; Henry F. Kramer, Chief of Police; Henry C. Williams, City Prison Keeper ; Henry Bolte, Fire Marshal; Leonard Scott, Oil In- spector, and Willlam H. Schnepp, Superintend- ent of Special Assessments.
The following constitute the various Munlc- ipal Boards :
BOARD OF LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS-Frank H. Hamilton, Wade D. Seeley, Charles McBride, John H. Requarth and William H. Schnepp.
BOARD OF EDUCATION-Hal M. Smith, Presi- dent; Edward Anderson, Anton Elshoff, Mrs. Mary L. Morrison, Fred C. Dodds, Mrs. Ida M. Hanes and Robert E. Woodmansee, with J. H. Collins as Superintendent.
BOARD OF HEALTH-Mayor John S. Schnepp, Dr. W. A. Young, Dr. Elizabeth Matthews, Dr. E. A. Walsh and Dr. George T. Palmer.
BOARD OF MANAGERS OF OAK RIDGE CEME- TERY-B. A. Lange, President; J. E. Dressen- dorfer, Secretary; Howard K. Weber, James W. Patton, J. P. Lindley and August Striffler, with John M. Gaupp as Superintendent.
DIRECTORS LINCOLN LIBRARY-Dr. William Jayne, President; Clinton L. Conkling, Vice- President; Charles J. Riefler, Secretary ; John W. Bunn, A. L. Hereford, H. W. Clendenin, William H. Conway, Ira B. Blackstock and John W. Sudduth.
LIBRARY SERVICE-Henry C. Remann, Ida F. Wright, Jennle C. Feldkamp, Bertha R. Ber- gold, Ellzabeth S. Laidlaw, Clara L. Abel, Thomas J. Higgins, and Willlam O'Brlen.
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION-James A. Easley,
WILLIAM L. TARBET
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1
HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY
831
. Sidney S. Breese and Arthur M. Fitzgerald, with Carrie N. Decker Chief Examiner.
ELECTION COMMISSION-J. K. Payton, Chair- man ; V. Y. Dallman, Secretary, and J. R. Orr, with J. II. Ruckel as Chief Clerk.
Springfield's municipal history is so closely connected with politics that a discussion of con- ditions from any aspect would be Incomplete without a reference to the constant partisan activitles.
· To add Interest to the situatlou Springfield, being the capital city of one of the greatest States In the Uuion, has been the scene of many State polltical gatherings, and as efforts are con- tinually being made to make It a political cog in State and National "machines," the politi- cal storms which strike here are at times un- usually severe. One of the notable steps taken by the city in the matter of controlling elec- tions was the adoption by popular vote of the electlon law of 1885, which provides for a Board of Election Commissioners, who have taken en- tire jurisdiction of our municipal elections. This law was adopted several years ago and has been very effective In guaranteelng to all can- : didates of all partles a "square deal" and an honest count.
Withı justifiable pride the citizens of Spring- field view the history of its marvelous municl- pal development. In 1840, when it first became a city, the population was but 2,579. Rapidly it has grown, decade after decade, as shown by the following figures from the censns tables :
Year
Population
Year
Population
1840
2,579
1880
19,743
1850
4,453
1890
.25,902
1860
9,392
1900
34,154
1870
17,364
1910
51,678
The Increase In population during the last decade has beeu greater than any previous decade since 1850-60, being over 50 per cent, though In part due to annexation of suburban territory.
Notable among the numerous advancements made by the city has been the ownership of the Municipal Electric Light and Water Works Plants, the latter being of especlal importance because It Is a great revenue producer and is an illustration of the success of municipal own- ershlp of public utilltles. The water works system is estimated to be worth $2,000,000, with three pumps set up capable of a supply of
15,000,000 gallone dally, when all are in opera- tion, the daily consumption being about 8,000,000 gallons. The city Is now greatly Improving and extending this plant.
Briefly · summarized, here are a few of the points about Springfield which show what a great city it Is to-day. It has the finest park system of any city of Its size lu the world. It has $3,000,000 invested In seventy-five miles of street paving. There are 300 miles of sidewalks and seventy miles of maln aud lateral sewers.
Springfield Is the center of an electric inter- urban railway system, which is being rapidly · extended in all directions.
As a railroad center Springfield, with its many through lines, has been conspicuous on the map for many years and has rapidly growu In Impor- tance in this respect.
As It is the seat of the State Government and the central city of Illinois, geographically, and be- cause of Its admirable railway facilitles, political gatherings, conventions and State gatherings of all kinds come to Springfield as the very log- „Ical convention city.
.. The Illinois State Falr, located here perma- nently, annually brings thousands of visitors here during State Fair week.
Camp Lincoln, where the State troops hold thelr annual encampments, is located just north of and adjoining the city, and is authoritatively declared to be the finest State Encampment ground in the Nation.
The Lincoln Monument, at Oak Ridge Ceme- tery, and the Lincoln Home, at the corner of Eighth and Jackson Streets, are visited by thou- sands of people every year, pilgrims come from all parts of the world to pay tribute to the mem- ory of the world's greatest emancipator.
The State House located in Springfield is one ' of the most attractive and imposing capltol buildings In the Unlon. The Illinols Supreme Court Building is located in Springfield, and is a magnificent new bullding situated just oppo- site the State House.
Gronped with these bulldings near the State Honse Is the Famous Illinois State Armory.
Here are a few of the most Important public buildings and thelr cost: State House, $4,500,- 000; Post Office Building, $500,000; State Fair Buildings, $750,000; State Armory and Arsenal, $250,000; Supreme Court Bulldings, $450,000; County Court House (formerly tbe Illinois State House, costing $250,000) rebullt at a cost of
832
HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY
$175,000; high school buildings, $100,000; otber school buildings, $400,000; Lincoln Library, erected from the Carnegie Library fund, $100,- 000; new Y. M. C. A. Building, $100,000; City Hall, $60,000; engine houses and similar build- ings, $100,000.
In the past decade real estate in the business district bas increased in value from 100 to 500 per cent ; residence property has advanced rela- tively, and, in some locations, the growth of the city has been almost miraculous. Where pas- tures and cornfields spread out north, east, soutb and west of Springfield a few years ago, are now to be seen some of the most perfect and beautiful residence districts of which any city can boast. Located slightly beyond some of these new additions is the magnificent Illi- nois Country Club house and grounds.
Springfield is noted for its financial institu- tions, its eight banks being strong and con- servative. The bank clearings increased from $21,000,000, in 1899, to $52,796,878.68 for 1910. For the two years during the financial de- pression which crippled cities all over the coun- try, Springfield's bank clearings showed no de- crease, thus indicating the stability of its gen- eral business.
Factories are coming here in numbers and this hitberto neglected issue is to-day drawing in- creased attention. A chemical analysis of the soil not only shows superior agricultural advan- tages in Sangamon County, but the shale and clay in soil strata, in certain locations, invite makers of brick and tile. Men who have studied this question very recently say these facts should make Springfield the brick and tiie center of the West.
Supporting Springfield as a local' industrial center are its colossal coal fields. The bitumi- nous coal mines of this county produce more coal per annum than the whole State of Mis- souri. The supply of coal is vast and is shipped from here to Chicago, St. Louis, and neighbor- ing States. The coal and water supply combined are bringing factories to Springfield.
There has been moral advancement commen- surate with Springfield's marvelous material development. Today there is not a gaming house in operation in the capital city of Illinois ; slot machines and gambling games of all kinds
are prohibited. Wine rooms have been ciosed and kept closed. Tbe sale of liquor is abso- lutely probibited in tbose houses to which some writers give undeserving dignity by terming them a "necessary evil." Malefactors of all kinds are bandled severely and either compelled to quit their unlawful practices or quit Spring- field.
One of the great dynamic forces in the city's development is the Chamber of Commerce, of which George Pasfield, Jr., is the President and Nicholas R. Roberts, Executive Secretary. Tbis commercial body supplies much of the munic- ipal motive power which drives the wheels of in- dustry. A very recent achievement of tbe Chamber of Commerce, for instance, was the organization of the new Leland Hotel Company, which bas now completed a new eight story hotel building on the site of the historic old Leland, wbieb was destroyed by fire in 1908.
Tbus has Springfield grown an ideal residence and business center. It is not the product of periodic "booms ;" its development has been gradual, permanent, and well-founded, due to the city's natural resources, its superior geo- graphical iocation, its aggressive citizenship, its wholesome recreations, its splendid schools, its magnificent churches, its able and conserv- ative business men, and progressive citizens.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
THE JUVENILE COURT.
CHANGES WROUGHT BY TIME AND INCREASING POP- ULATION-ADVANCED CIVILIZATION AND THE DE- MANDS ON PATRIOTIC CITIZENSHIP- THE PROB- LEM PRESENTED BY DEPENDENT AND DELINQUENT CHILDREN-ITS RECOGNITION IN THE JUVENILE COURT LAW OF 1899-IMPORTANT WORK ACCOM- PLISHED UNDER THIS ACT IN ILLINOIS AND SAN- GAMON COUNTY-SANGAMON COUNTY JUVENILE "ANNEX" AND "HOME FOR THE FRIENDLESS"'- NUMBER OF DEPENDENT CHILDREN BROUGHT BE- FORE TIIE SANGAMON COUNTY JUVENILE COURT IN TWELVE YEARS-ONLY A SMALL PROPORTION
MRS. WILLIAM L. TARBET
833
HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY
SENT TO STATE REFORMATORIES AND HOME FOR OIRLS.
(By George W. Murray, Ex-Judge Sangamon County Juveulle Court.)
In the changes of time, new conditions have grown up in our political, religious, material and legal history. The population of our country has rapidly increased until we are now a great nation. Large and populous cities and commun- ities have grown up. New and advanced Ideas of civilization and practical government, while they have been slowly coming, have uow devei- oped until they have, in many of the states of the Union, been incorporated into a law or laws, which recognize the fact that to have a strong and endurable government, that government must be made up of an intelligent, patriotic and hon- orabie citizenship, that such government cannot be expected to continue to exist in a community, or State, where the youth of the land by environ- ments and ueglect are drifting by great num- bers into a life of crime,
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