Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, Part 66

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913; Cunningham, Joseph O. (Joseph Oscar), 1830-1917
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 632

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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).

Urbana Courier.

In July, 1894, T. M. Morgan, a gentleman of versatile ability and much experience as a newspaper man, came to Urbana with a very good outfit and at once commenced the is- sue of a morning daily and a weekly edition. Mr. Morgan was well received and met with a ready success. Soon after the commence- ment of this publication, Mr. S. W. Love, a well known citizen of the southern part of

the county and now president of a local bank, purchased an interest in the office, and about the end of the first year purchased Mr. Mor- gan's interest. Mr. Love added largely to the facilities possessed by the office, among which was a linotype machine, the second type-set- ting machine inaugurated in the county. Mr. Love continued as sole proprietor until Sep- tember, 1901, when he sold the office to Joseph Ogden and Howe Brown, who soon thereafter sold to E. L. and John Wait, who in turn sold the office to J. K. Groom. Mr. Groom, soon after this, capitalized the concern by organizing an incorporated company, The Urbana Courier Company. Under this name, with Mr. Groom as business man- ager, and Mr. C. O. Carter, an experienced newspaper man, who had purchased an inter- est in the office, as editor, "The Courier," in an office building of its own, attained a large circulation. The time of publication was changed from morning to evening under this management. In November, 1904, F. E. Pink- erton, formerly and for a long time connected with Champaign County newspapers at Ran- toul, and F. K. Osborn, also an experienced man in the business, became the owners of the stock and assumed the control of "The Courier."

Its success under these gentlemen is such as to give assurance of permanency. "The Courier" was started as a Democratic news- paper, but, under later management, has an- nounced itself as Republican.

The paper is printed upon power presses which are operated by an electric motor.

The Champaign County Tribune.

In April, 1898, the publication of this paper- an independent Republican in politics-was commenced by J. H. Noble and J. Wallace Miller, two experienced newspaper men. The field being before then well occupied by three well established and stanch newspaper offices, the outlook for "The Tribune" was, from the first, rather poor-so much so that Mr. Miller within a few months was glad to part with his interest to Mr. Noble, who continued the publi- cation alone until December of the same year, when the paper was sold to James Malcolm. Mr. Malcolm changed the name to "Champaign County Democrat," and operated it as a Dem- ocratic paper, advocating the cause of William

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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.

J. Bryan as the next candidate for the Pres- idency. This continued but for a few months, when it was again sold to Mr. W. A. Dough- erty. The concern being financially a failure from the first, its publication ceased early in the year 1899 and the material was removed elsewhere.

The Political Magazine.

An almost forgotten publication of local in- terest is that bearing the above name. Its history is a short one and, barring the finan- cial loss which fell upon a few who permitted an adventurer to win their confidence and themselves to become liable for unpaid bills, is but an atom in the newspaper history of the county.

In the autumn of 1884 an irresponsible ad- venturer, named J. E. Ferreira, persuaded some local citizens that, among the needs of the na- tion at that period, was the publication of a magazine of a high literary character devoted to politics, and that Urbana was the proper place from which to launch such an enterprise. The encouragement of party and individual sympathy, by quite a number of citizens, was given. High-sounding circulars, sent broad- cast through many States, heralded the coming magazine and, singularly enough, brought many encouraging responses from eminent politicians in official life. A local office was rented and furnished, and a number of clerks employed. The winter and spring were spent in preliminary work, which resulted in secur- ing from far and near (mostly the former) a paid-up subscription list of considerable size. In April, 1885, the initial number, copyrighted, made its appearance. It embraced one hun- dred and twenty-eight pages of creditable matter.

It purported to be issued by "The Political Magazine Publishing Company, Urbana, Illi- nois." No one was named as editor or in any other capacity. The ingenious Ferreira, who seems to have had a genius akin to that of John Law, disappeared with the appearance of this first and only number, leaving it as a reminiscence, and many financial obligations for his stockholders to meet.

The Tolono Herald.

In April, 1875, Mr. E. J. Chapin, a business man of Tolono, commenced the publication of

"The Tolono Herald," the first paper to be published in that village. The editorial con- trol was conferred upon E. B. Chapin, the young son of the publisher, who there, at an early year of his life, received his first expe- rience in the editorial profession. After con- tinuing in this form for two years, the propri- etorship passed to Mr. E. B. Chapin, who con- tinued its publication and editorial manage- ment up to the year 1891, when, upon coming to Champaign to enter upon the publication of "The News," Mr. Chapin sold his interest in "The Herald" to Mr. A. B. Campbell, who has continued its publication and editorial man- agement from that time to this. "The Herald" was given a distinct reputation for aggres- siveness and manly daring under the control of its first editor, and has well maintained this reputation up to the present. It i a newsy and useful publication.

The Homer Enterprise.

Following the years of the war which saw "The Homer Journal" go out of existence, there was commenced, in its place, the publi- cation of "The Homer Enterprise," as a Re- publican paper which has continued to the present time, always ably advocating the cause of its location.

The Homer Pilot.

In February, 1897, Mr. J. M. Gray, who had before then published a paper at Gifford, in Champaign County, commenced the publica- tion of "The Homer Pilot." It being the sec- ond paper in a not very large town, and not being in harmony politically with the large majority of the people in that location, its publication was found to be not very profita- ble, but sufficiently so to be enabled to keep its head above the waves until September, 1899, when the office was removed to Allerton, a village of Vermilion County just across the line from Champaign County, upon the Chi- cago & Eastern Illinois Railroad. There Mr. Gray changed the name of his paper, calling it "The Allerton Times," and has continued its publication, presumably at a profit, from that time to this.

The Rantoul Newspapers.

In 1873 H. E. Bullock and Abram Cross commenced the publication, at Rantoul, of a

845

HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.

paper called "The Rantoul News," making use of presses and material which had been purchased at Paxton and removed to Rantoul. This paper was expressly devoted to the local interests of Rantoul, including the building of the narrow-gauge railroad, then in course of construction.

In October, 1875, Mr. C. W. Gulick com- menced the publication in Rantoul of another paper, whch he called "The Rantoul Jour- nal," under the management, editorially and financially, of Mr. F. E. Pinkerton, now of "The Urbana Courier."

These two newspapers continued to advocate the interests of Rantoul, side by side, for about two years, when they were consolidated under the name of "The Rantoulian," Mr. Pinkerton being a half-owner and editorial manager. Mr. Bullock, now deceased, was for a time his partner. This arrangement con- tinued for about two years, when Mr. Pinker- ton secured Bullock's interest and changed the name of the paper to that of "The Rantoul Press," which he published continuously until 1895, with the exception of one year, when O. L. Downey, having bought one-half of Mr. Pinkerton's interest, leased the other interest . and continued the publication of the paper under his name for one year. At the end of that time Mr. Pinkerton again took control of the paper.

In 1895 "The Press" was sold to F. and R. Cross and C. B. E. Pinkerton, when Editor Pinkerton, having retired from Rantoul jour- nalism, removed to Clinton, Ill., where he bought and published "The Clinton Public." "The Press" is still published at Rantoul.

"The Rantoul News" was started by F. R. Cross about 1892, and, after being several times sold, came to the hands of Mr. E. J. Udell, who, from about 1895, continued its pub- lication and editorial management until the time of his death some time in the year 1903. Mr. Udell was an able editor and newspaper manager and his death caused universal regret.

The St. Joseph Eagle.

The publication of this paper was com- menced by Mr. Wyninger some time about 1890, but in 1893 the paper was sold to J. H. Noble, and its publication was continued under the name of the "St. Joseph Record" until 1897, when he sold it to E. L. and C. W. Dale, under

whose successful management the publication is still continued.

The Gifford Sun.

In August, 1895, the paper under the above name was issued at Gifford, by J. H. Gray, by whom its publication was continued until Janu- ary, 1897, when he sold out to Dell Jones, soon after which its publication was discontinued.

The Sidney Derrick.

· The paper under this name was started in 1885 by J. C. Carpenter, who, in 1887, sold the establishment to T. D. Jerauld. Mr. Jer- auld, as editor and publisher, continued the publication of "The Derrick" about one year, when the office was sold to Mont Robinson and his daughter, Mrs. Ida Davison, the name being then changed to "The Sidney By-Way." Some time subsequent to this the office of "The By-Way" was sold to another daughter of Mr. Robinson's, Miss Eva, who, as editor and proprietor as well as a practical printer, conducted the paper most successfully for sev- eral years, when it was sold to George Clinken- beard, who sold to John A. Noble, who, in turn, sold to F. D. Denton, the present pro- prietor. Mr. Denton, about January 1, 1905, changed the name of the paper to "The Sidney Times," under which name it is still published in a manner to reflect credit upon its pro- prietor.

The Philo Budget.

The first number of this paper was issued by Mont Robinson in November, 1889. Mr. Robin- soll was an exceptionally successful editor, and could think of a great many good things to lay before his readers. He ran the paper- he and his family doing the entire work- from the date of its establishment until near the end of his life, his death occurring in 1904. Some months before his death he sold the paper to Messrs. Rigdon & Paris, who took charge in March, 1904, and who still continue the publication at Philo.

The Ivesdale News.

"The Ivesdale News" was first issued in December, 1897-a five-column quarto, as the paper says, "All Home Print." "The News" has shown itself to be an aggressive paper, always in the interest of the people. Its editor

846

HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.

is among the ablest of our county editorial fraternity. "The News" was preceded by sev- eral papers, the names of which are not known but whose publication proved unsuccessful.

The Ogden Sun.

In 1885 Mr. Harry commenced the publica- tion of a paper of the above name at Ogden, in the eastern part of the county, but it was soon sold to Mr. J. B. Klegg, who changed the name to that of "The Journal," and continued its publication until his death. The ownership of the paper then passed to Mr. William Wampler, who conducted it under the last name until 1892, when he was succeeded by Frank Osborn, who continued the publication for about one year, when the office was de- stroyed by fire.

In December, 1894, J. R. Watkins started "The Odgen Courier," and ran it under that name very successfully until December 1, 1902, when its ownership passed to J. C. Kirby, who, in May, 1903, sold to the Dale Brothers, the then proprietors of the St. Joseph paper, under whose management it has been continued to the present time.

The Fisher Reporter.

In December, 1889, Mr. William Rodman commenced the publication of a paper at Fisher called "The Times," which he continued for about two years, when the office was sold to Naylor & Bill, who changed the name to "The Fisher Reporter." Under this name it was jointly published by these gentlemen for about one year, when Mr. A. J. Bill succeeded to the full control, which, after one year, he sold to R. M. Hall. Mr. Hall continued its pub- lication about two years, when he sold to Mr. George E. Haas. Mr. Haas, who was a prac- tical printer and a versatile editor, continued the publication as he had found it until August, 1902, when he sold to Alva Gilmore, under whose management it still continues as an independent six-column paper.

The Mahomet Sucker State.

In 1879 a paper called "The Magnet" was - started at Mahomet, in the western part of the county, but soon after the name was changed

to the above title, under which name its pub- lication has been continued to the present date. Charles D. Warner is the present editor and proprietor. The names of all the gentlemen connected with this office are not known to the writer, otherwise a fuller account might be given.

General Comment.

These numerous county newspapers go from their presses into the hands of the Free Rural Mail Delivery messengers provided by the Government, and find their way to the homes of subscribers within a few hours, instead of awaiting the slow coming of the mail coach for a slower delivery through the mails.

A review of this brief history of the origin and progress of the making and circulation of newspapers' in Champaign County, awakens the profoundest astonishment. Could Coler, and Zimmerman, and Richards, and Munhall, and Crandall, and Scroggs, and Snyder, and Flynn, and Haddock, and Carrothers, and Mathews-or any one of them-be called to speak, most of whose answers must come from "The Beyond," there could be but one voice, and that would be one of surprise at the won- derful progress which a half-century has seen in newspaper work.

Looking from the office of "The Union" in 1854, with its one slow hand press for all work, its small assortment of type and accessories -all crowded into a little room eighteen feet square with unplastered walls, where a wood stove warmed but did not heat the room; where the movable type was set by hand, and the small edition was worked off at the expense of a day's work-to one of the four offices at the center of the county, metropolitan in all their appointments; where the work of type-setting, under skillful hands, is swiftly done by the linotype machine; where the press-work, by electrically operated machine presses in ample rooms, well heated by steam, is automatically done in minutes, where the hand-press re- quired hours, one is led to doubt his senses and to declare it all an untruthful vision, and himself the dupe of a hypnotic century.

What will the next half-century ask the passer-by to believe?

847

HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.

CHAPTER XXIX.

WOMEN'S CLUBS.

GENERAL CLUB HISTORY OF THE TWIN CITIES-AID RENDERED TO CLUB ORGANIZATIONS BY UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS-CHAMPAIGN ART CLUB-THE THIRTY CLUB-SOCIAL SCIENCE CLUBS-URBANA FORT- NIGHTLY CLUB-CHAUTAUQUA CIRCLES-JUVENILE CLUBS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.

(PREPARED BY A COMMITTEE OF CLUB MEMBERS.)

In all the history of women's club work in the two cities of Champaign and Urbana, the part the University of Illinois has taken is of great importance. Its Department of Art was the inspiration of the Art Club study long be- fore it was clothed with the attributes which have later become requisites of all well organ- ized study clubs. Even to this date the mem- bers of the faculty are consulted freely by many of the club members, and are often in- duced to prepare and read papers or deliver lectures before the various clubs, or to direct the study of subjects chosen by them, and the University Library has always proven a mine of valuable information to all club members. The Library School is yearly provided with copies of all club programs and, as part of its class work, makes up lists of books of refer- ence on the shelves of the University Library and of the city libraries of Champaign and Urbana, and many of the club members avail themselves of these helps in the preparation of their essays and papers. The wives, also, of many of the members of the faculty are active in the clubs, taking their part of the work and reaping the advantages of the club organizations.

In her paper, read before the Art Club and its friends, during its twenty-first anniversary year, Mrs. W. S. Maxwell said that Professor Kennis, then professor of Art at the Univer- sity, delivered a lecture before the club at its first formal meeting, and suggested many ideas as to how to proceed in organizing and con- ducting an art club, which aimed at a syste- matic study of art. She quoted from a personal letter on the subject, written by Mrs. E. V. Peterson, a charter member: "We were de- lighted with Professor Kennis' talk and sug- gestions. Among other things he advised that we study, with care, 'the complete history

of a people wherever we found any monuments of art.' "

In another part of her paper Mrs. Maxwell said: "In those early days when our city libraries were less well equipped than now, the college professors used to furnish us with books, as well as talks and lectures upon sub- jects connected with our studies."

The "Thirty Club" declares it owes its organ- ization to the efforts in its behalf of some of the college professors; and so one might go on through the lists, and one would hardly dis- cover a woman's club in the two cities which is not related, in some measure, to the univer- sity people, and indebted to them for much of its success.

The Art Club of Champaign.

The Champaign Art Club, from its beginning in 1876, constituted the nucleus about which has since centered and grown up the active club life of the Twin Cities-life which has be- come a strong and important factor in the so- cial and intellectual advancement of women in Champaign and Urbana. The club was com- posed originally of six women, among whom were Mrs. J. M. Healey, now of Minneapolis, Minn .; Mrs. Jonathan Bacon, of Whatcom, Wash .; Mrs. Carlos Taft, now deceased, and Mrs. E. V. Peterson, of Norton, Kan.

The first inspiration leading to the organi- zation of the club was a collection of art works at the University of Illinois. The following extracts from the report of Dr. Gregory, then Regent of the University, to the Board of Trustees, will describe the collection and show something of the advantages which this club enjoyed from its very organization. The first extract is from the report made at the Trustees' meeting, March 10, 1874, and is as follows:

"A movement has been set on foot to obtain for the University a collection of fine casts of some of the great masterpieces of sculp- ture, and nearly $2,000 is already subscribed for this purpose by citizens of Urbana and Champaign. The value of this collection, as a means of general culture of taste and practi- cal judgment, and as a direct and important aid to instruction in several departments, and especially in those of architecture and drawing, cannot be measured. I need not add anything to show the exceeding value, on more general grounds, of such a collection as that here pro-

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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.

posed. The fine arts have played too important a part in the history of civilization to require any new defense of their utility or power. The University will derive from the presence of such a collection, advantages and renown of no small extent. I respectfully ask that the large hall, just above the library, be set apart for the art collections already gathered and to be hereafter received; and that such appro- priation as you may deem suitable, be made for the fitting up of a room and for the framing and mounting pictures, etc., and for freights on the same."

The second extract presents a catalogue of the pieces embraced in the collection and indi- cates that the process of their installation was progressing, and both give the credit of their purchase to the citizens of Urbana and Cham- paign. This extract is from Dr. Gregory's report to the Trustees under date of December 15, 1874: "You are already aware that, during the past vacation, I visited Europe at my own ex- pense to make the purchases with the Fine Art fund so generously contributed by citizens of Champaign and Urbana. I am happy to inform you that my mission was even more successful than I had dared to hope, and that we are now in possession of one of the best collections of casts of celebrated statuary, and other sculp- tures to be found in this country. A large part of these casts are now mounted in the nave which you consented to set aside for this purpose, while others are being manufac- tured for us at the government atelier of the Louvre in Paris. The entire collection will em- brace more than four hundred casts of all descriptions, including thirteen large figures and groups of statuary, thirty reductions by machine of celebrated statues, six celebrated colossal heads and busts and seventy-five other busts, ancient and modern, and a large num- ber of bas-reliefs, alto-relievos, columns, archi- traves, panels and medallions, exhibiting an- cient, mediaeval and modern art by its greatest masters.

"Besides these casts, we have a large num- ber of fine engravings, some of them very large. copies of celebrated paintings. Also, nearly one hundred large unalterable photographs from the noted establishment of Mr. Braun of Dor- nach. These famous photographs are taken directly from the original paintings in the

great National Galleries, special permission having been accorded to Mr. Braun for this purpose.

"This gallery, though still incomplete, and not open fully to the students or the public, is beginning to excite much interest, and show- ing its power to influence all the departments of our work in which drawing is taught. The cost of the gallery, thus far, is over $2,000, and this sum will be increased to nearly $2,500, all of which is to be credited to the liberality of the citizens of these cities, and may be taken as affording no doubtful evidence of the earn- est good-will of the people of this county to the University itself. The Board of Trustees has not been asked for one dollar towards these purchases, but, as was proper, you pro- vided for the necessary expenses of fitting up the hall itself for their reception."

It is only proper, at this point, to say that this original inspiration of the Champaign Art Club-considering the nearly one-third of a cen- tury and the vicissitudes through which it has passed-is probably as successfully preserved as one could reasonably expect. Its location has been transferred to the basement hall of the new Library Building. Its beauty and utility have been, to some extent, diminished, some of the engravings having become yel- lowed with dampness, and some of the casts are crumbling from either age or dampness. Many additions of more or less value have, from time to time, been made to the original collection, and the room in which it is at pres- ent installed is wholly inadequate and unsuita- ble in many respects, considering the value, size and the sentiment which still clings to the collection.

After one or two informal preliminary meet- ings, the Art Club got to work with a member- ship of twelve. They began study at once, dispensing with the usual formality of officers, by-laws and records. It is due to this fact that the matter of the early years of the Club's history is to be collected only from the memory of those interested. "As near as can be ascer- tained," says Mrs. William S. Maxwell, in her club history, read before the Art Club at the celebration of its majority in 1890, "the first twelve members were the Mesdames J. M. Healey, Jonathan Bacon, Don Carlos Taft, E. V. Peterson, A. E. Harmon, Phoncene W. Fris-

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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.

bee, of Champaign, and the Mesdames Alexan- der, J. W. Porter, J. E. Hunt, T. J. Burrill, C. D. Webster and W. H. Smith, of Urbana.

For many years the study of the Art Club was devoted exclusively to art and art history, but the field gradually broadened and for fifteen years now, its study and the conduct of its affairs have been governed by the taste and judgment of its annually elected officers, the list of which constitutes its executive commit- tee.

The first written record of the Art Club's proceedings was that of a meeting held Novem- ber 9, 1881. The first recorded election-day pro- ceedings report names Mrs. Anna 'S: Clark, as President, and Mrs. Jonathan Bacon, Vice- President-the election having taken place November 15, 1882. The first record of details of a meeting was of that held on January 3, 1883. The first Year Book printed, was that containing the program for 1888-this action having been ordered on motion of Mrs. H. H. Harris. Mrs. J. B. Russell, Mrs. George W. Gere and Mrs. G. C. Willis, are credited with having drafted the first constitution, which, on motion of Mrs. J. L. Ray, was unanimously adopted, December 18, 1890. At the beginning of the work, in 1891, the constitution was re- corded and, from that day, the history of the club is complete as a matter of record. These records show no abatement of interest, and a continual broadening of the field of study, but a rather close adherence to the early conserva- tive methods is observed.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, Part 66

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913; Cunningham, Joseph O. (Joseph Oscar), 1830-1917 Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 632

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913; Cunningham, Joseph O. (Joseph Oscar), 1830-1917
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 632