Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, Part 67

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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Among others matters of historical interest, the records show the election of the following named ladies, who have been chosen and have filled the office of President: Mrs. Anna S. Clark, now of Freeport; Mrs. E. A. Kimball, now deceased; Mrs. A. C. Burnham, now de- ceased; Mrs. Jonathan Bacon, of Whatcom, Wash .; Mrs. Henry Swannell and Mrs. W. H. Smith, Chicago; Mrs. J. B. Russell, Mrs. G. C. Willis, Mrs. J. B. Harris, Mrs. G. W. Gere, Mrs. R. R. Mattis, Mrs. J. W. Porter, Mrs. J. L. Ray, Mrs. C. B. Hatch, Mrs. H. H. Harris, Mrs. H. E. Cushing, Mrs. J. B. Mckinley, Mrs. C. N. Wilder (now deceased), Mrs. D. F. Carnahan (deceased), Mrs. T. J. Burrill, and Mrs. J. R. Stewart.

The club celebrated its twenty-first birthday and its twenty-fifth anniversary with elaborate

and appropriate ceremonies, and is industri- ously continuing in the work of making his- tory, and at the same time devoting its ener- gies to self-culture with its own old-time con- servatism, and is making its annual revolutions with dignity and grace, always distinguishing characteristics of the Champaign Art Club.

The Thirty Club.

In 1885, ladies of the Twin Cities organized a club for the systematic study of Shakspeare under the leadership of some of the Univer- sity's professors, Professor Pickard and Prof. Nathaniel Butler being active in directing its studies. For several years it pursued its origi- nal purpose-the study of Shakspeare-and was known as the Shakspeare Club. About five years after its organization it lost its origi- nal name and deviated from its original pro- gram. Its scope of study was enlarged to include other branches of literature, and it became popularly and formally known as the "Thirty Club," though, why "Thirty," no one can tell. It was composed of a somewhat younger set of women than those composing the more mature Art Club, and from its membership are fre- quently drawn ladies for work in the older club. . Its study is literature, exclusively, and it goes systematically into research in the best of literature, both contemporary and classic. Its annual open meeting is among the choice social occasions of the year. Its present mem- bership of thirty-five women consists of 'its President, Miss Jane Wetmore; Vice-Presi- dent, Mrs. J. D. Wallace; Secretary and Treas- urer, Miss Bertha Pillsbury, with a Program Committee composed of Mrs. Wallace, Miss Marietta Busey and Mrs. A. P. Carman, with the following additional members: Mesdames C. W. Alvord, T. A. Clark, E. W. Clippenger, G. D. Fairfield, G. M. Fisk, W. A. Palmer, F. D. Rugg, N. S. Spencer, A. L. Stern, G. B. Storer and J. M. White, and Misses Belle Bailey, Mary Birkey, Emily Cheever, Ardelle Chester, Amy Coffeen, Mabel Jones, Julia Mattis and Mary B. Willis. It has an honorary list also, consisting of Mrs. Cleaves Bennett, Miss Mary E. Cush- ing, Mrs. W. H. Magoon, Mrs. W. A. Rugg and Mrs. J. J. Schoonoven.

The Social Science Clubs.

The inspiration which resulted in the forma- tion of The Social and Political Science Club

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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.

was a visit of Mrs. J. L. Ray and Mrs. H. H. Harris to the meeting, in Washington, early in the year 1888, of the National Council of Women. These ladies returned from Washing- ton full of enthusiasm and ambition, and an unbounded confidence in the ability of Twin City women to keep pace with any in the nation in the advancement and progression which, at that time, was beginning to manifest itself among the women of the world. This inspira- tion resulted in the organization of a club, which has since been divided into two of the most progressive, up-to-date clubs in the Illinois Federation of Women's Clubs, and whose lists contain the names of many of the foremost women, socially and intellectually, in the two cities. They are known as The Social Science Club and the Champaign Social Science Club-the original club having been, for sev- eral years, known as the Social and Political Science Club. The studies of the organization for several seasons were exclusively social and political science, in the broad sense of the term, the Constitution of the United States and the laws of Illinois, as they related to women and children, and kindred subjects forming the basis of their investigations. In 1892 the Club, in the interest of brevity and simplicity, eliminated the word "Political" from its title, and has since been known as "The Social Science Club" of Champaign. Urbana women are, however, in no wise excluded, for its membership list has always been open to women of Champaign and Urbana alike, and its officers are chosen indiscriminately without reference to their home city.

At the beginning of its season in the fall of 1893, the club proposed to broaden its field . I. T. Davidson, and others. Mrs. John A. and, there being no hospital within available Glover, latest elected, took up her duties in May, 1904. The membership of this club is limited to twenty-five, its season beginning in May of each year. access, it decided to found one in a small and unostentatious way. Much to the gratifi- cation of the ladies, the husband of one of the prominent members of the club-the late A. C. Burnham-at once offered a donation of The Champaign Social Science Club. $10,000 to the club for a building. Thus en -. couraged, the club procured a charter from the State, the signatures of the thirty-five mem- bers being affixed to the formal application therefor, with the following members as of- ficers and directors: Mrs. J. R. Stewart, Pres- ident; Mrs. F. M. Wright, Vice-President; Mrs. I. O. Baker, Secretary, and Mrs. Jerome T.

Davidson, Treasurer. This organization then incorporated the Julia F. Burnham Hospital Association, the membership of the two organ- izations being identical. The club then ac- cepted the donation and turned it legally over to the Hospital Association. H. H. Harris, the husband of another prominent member, having offered a site of eight lots upon which to build the hospital, a dissension arose as to its acceptance, and this resulted in about one- half the members withdrawing and electing a new set of officers, and in order to meet Mr. Burnham's wishes in the matter, continued their work under the name of the "Champaign Social Science Club," the remaining members retaining their charter and their incorporated name, "The Social Science Club," and, fol- lowing the original plan of study with a larger proportion of time devoted to self-culture and the enjoyment of social duties. The member- ship limit is twenty-five, the meetings being held in private parlors.

The ladies who have been elected to presi- dential honors from the beginning of the club's existence are: Mrs. J. L. Ray, in 1888; Mrs. H. H. Harris, in 1889; Mrs. S. A. Forbes, in 1890; Mrs. G. W. Gere, in 1891; Mrs. Edward Snyder, in 1892, and Mrs. J. R. Stewart, in 1893. Mrs. Stewart continued in office after the division of the club until the expiration of her term. She was followed by Mrs. S. T. Busey, in 1894. Mrs. B. F. Harris was elected in 1895, but she died in January, 1896, her un- expired term being filled by Mrs. I. N. Wade. In that year Mrs. F. M. Wright was elected, and she was followed by Mrs. H. M. Dunlap, Mrs. A. N. Talbot, Mrs. George A. Turell, Mrs.

· Having withdrawn from the original club, this club was formed and, with a new equip- ment of officers and committees, took up its work of study and the maintenance of the Julia F. Burnham hospital. Its meetings have always been conducted in its room in the Burnham Athenaeum, and now with an active membership limited to forty ladies, is en-

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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.

thusiastic in both its study and philanthropy. Its literary work embraces the study of sociol- ogy, letters, art, music, and the diversity of subjects which come before clubs of its char- acter, and the work is carried on most sys- tematically. Its officers, elected annually, have their work supplemented by an execu- tive committee, and thus equipped, a vigorous, wide-awake club is carried on. Its list of membership contains the following names: Mesdames Alice R. Baker, Hattie E. Beach, Alice C. Bryan, Margaret E. Chester, Virginia S. Chester, Clara G. Forbes, Ada A. Fulton, Mary H. Gere, Effie E. Goff, Mary Burnham Harris, Ellen E. Hazen, Sadie P. Hess, Laura G. Kennard, Ellen P. Lloyde, M. Frances Lloyde, Maude B. Maxwell, E. J. Morse, Min- nie Pickett, Marion Pillsbury, Cora J. Polk, Clara J. Porter, Mattie F. Rolfe, Dora S. Smith, Belle Parker Sperry, Belle K. Stedman, Babette Stern, Emily G. Swannell, Sarah H. Swigart, Belle Townsend, Margaret Wilcox, Abbie E. Wilkinson, Flora Ellis Wells, Eliza- beth Cushing, Haddie B. Clippinger, Mae E. Brenneman, and the Misses Mary J. Snyder and Mary E. Walker. This club carries a list of honorary members as follows: Miss Anna Lecrone, Mrs. Ella Marshutz, Mrs. Martha Hendren and Mrs. Mae C. Pearman; and an associate list of Mrs. I. O. Baker, Mrs. H. J. Barton, Mrs. Emma Cady, Mrs. Emma Naugh- ton, Mrs. Joseph Carter, Mrs. R. R. Mattis, Mrs. J. R. Trevett, Miss A. Finley and Mrs. Ozias Riley.

Woman's Club of Champaign and Urbana.

Although blessed with numerous women's clubs, the Twin Cities club-work could not be quite as it should be without a distinctively organized Woman's Club. So, at the invitation of the Housekeepers' Association, a depart- ment club was organized at the home of Mrs. G. C. Willis, in 1897, the Housekeepers' Asso- ciation enlisting in a body as the Household Economics department. A full list of depart- ments was provided for and the club is work- ing on various lines with a large membership and enthusiastic classes. Its first organization was as follows: President, Mrs. Joseph Car- ter, who was re-elected to the second and third terms; Mrs. H. S. Piatt, Secretary, and Mrs. F. L. Bills, Treasurer; the Vice-Presidents be- ing constituted of the chairmen of the different

departments. The ladies who have followed Mrs. Carter in the presidential capacity are: Mrs. S. A. Forbes (two terms), Mrs. M. W. Busey and Mrs. Mary C. Lee.

The clubs of Champaign and the Woman's Club of Champaign and Urbana are each com- posed of women of Champaign and Urbana, the greater proportion of each, however, be- ing naturally from Champaign, as the larger city. It is not surprising, therefore, that Ur- bana's Women's clubs should be few in num- ber.

Urbana Fortnightly Club.

Of formally organized secular study clubs in Urbana, the "Fortnightly" is flourishing and enthusiastic. It has been in existence since some time before 1885, but until 1895 it was simply a reading club without organization or officers. In 1895 it became a formal organiza- tion, its number then being limited to twenty members. A constitution was adopted and rec- ords of its proceedings kept, and it entered the list of full-fledged clubs with Mrs. S. T. Busey as its President. In 1896 it joined the Illinois Federation of Women's Clubs, and is keeping pace with other enthusiastic organizations of like character throughout the State. Its mem- bership limit has been increased to thirty. Its field of study has embraced Literature and Do- mestic Science. In 1898 it introduced Domestic Science into the public schools of Urbana, and still devotes a portion of its funds, each year, to the adornment of the buildings and grounds of the public schools. Among those who have acted as President since its organization are: Mrs. S. T. Busey, Mrs. F. M. Wright, Miss Adele Clendenin, Mrs. J. A. Glover, Mrs. J. E. Hunt, Mrs. E. M. Knowlton, Mrs. J. E. Hart, Miss Florence Broaddus, and Mrs. N. A. Riley.

The club also keeps up a list of honorary members composed of those who have gone from the city, and they are scattered far and wide. The club meets once in two weeks, on Monday afternoon, in the homes of its mem- bers, who frequently indulge their desire for informal little spreads at the close of the pro- gram, and they usually entertain their friends, at least once each year, with a literary or musical program, or a fine demonstration of their domestic science studies.

A Chautauqua Circle.

Among Chautauqua circles is a very active

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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.

one in Urbana which has been in existence for five years, and which graduated last year a class . of fourteen. The organization meets regularly every Tuesday evening, its number being limited to forty members. Its work is carried on very enthusiastically and its present President is Mrs. B. F. Boggs. The graduated class has formed an Alumnae Association, and its members are now studying with the pur- 'pose of adding the honor of affixing the seal of the general organization to the member- ship diplomas. Miss Keturah Sim is the leader. Once or twice each year the two local clubs unite their forces and provide a social evening for their friends.

Other Club Organizations.

There are in both Champaign and Urbana various Reading, Card, Art, Needlework, Study, Sewing and Cooking Clubs. There are Chau- tauqua Circles and Women's Christian Tem- perance Unions, besides the societies for work, philanthropy and social life always existing in every church organization, and a very flour- ishing Young Women's Christian Association. Several juvenile clubs exist, prominent among which is "The Hawthorne Club," of Cham- paign, which studies Hawthorne, devotes an hour each week to needlework and always serves refreshments at its meetings. It is ,composed of girls from fourteen to sixteen years of age.

Several of our local clubs are affiliated with the Nineteenth Congressional District Feder- ation, and most of them are federated with the State organization in consequence of this association, many honors having come to the. women of the Twin Cities from these District and State Federations.

CHAPTER XXX.

BENEVOLENT ORGANIZATIONS.

BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY -THE CUNNINGHAM DEACONESS HOME AND OR- PHANAGE-ITS ORIGIN AND PURPOSE THE JULIA BURNHAM HOSPITAL - GARWOOD HOME FOR OLD LADIES.

(BY MRS. EMILY G. SWANNELL.)

The benevolent institutions of Champaign County are not numerous, but are of recent date.

The Cunningham Deaconess Home and Or- phanage bears the distinction of being the oldest. It is located one mile north of the Court House at Urbana-a truly ideal situ- ation for such an institution. For many years it was the home of Judge J. O. Cunning- ham and wife, of Urbana, well known through- 'out the county. Judge and Mrs. Cunningham, in 1894, presented this home, with fifteen acres of surrounding land, to the, Illinois Conference Woman's Home Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, for the purpose · indicated by its . name. In its practical work- ings 'it is not-nor can it become-strictly sectarian. The deed of gift especially declares that "neither nationality nor creed shall be considered-simply the need of the child." It was formally opened October 25, 1895, with a matron in charge, and four homeless little children as inmates. To provide for increas- ing numbers, dormitories, play room, school and kindergarten rooms have been added, but the limit is too often reached, and needy ap- plicants turned away.

This is truly a benevolence and charity com- bined. To its. success many can testify. It is managed by a Board of Nine, chosen by the Society, who empower the local members to carry out their plans. Without endowment, it exists largely on the charitable contributions from this Woman's Home Missionary Society, and generous donations from friends. It merits the attention and aid of all or any who desire the good of a community, not alone because of present aid, but for the promise of the future. In taking these children from poverty and vice and training them for useful, law- abiding citizenship, it is preparing an element that cannot be overlooked in the future of Champaign County, and will be recognized in any community into which these children may go.

The Julia F. Burnham Hospital is located on East Springfield Avenue, Champaign. It was made possible by a generous gift of money, by Mr. A. C. Burnham, an old-time resi- dent, and most successful business man of Champaign. This money was intrusted to the Champaign Social Science Club, who followed his instructions and carried out the ideas furnished them for this work. It was named for Mrs. Burnham, and now stands an endur-

JULIA F. BURNHAM HOSPITAL, CHAMPAIGN

GARWOOD HOME, CHAMPAIGN

DEACONESS HOME, URBANA

LIBRARY OF THE

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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.

ing monument to her untiring energy, most excellent judgment and clear insight. She gave freely and fully, and to her inspiration and effort must be attributed much of its suc-

The Garwood Home for Old Ladies is truly a Champaign County institution, as admissions to this Home can be granted only to those hav- ing resided in Champaign County for five years. This was one of the conditions made by Mr. L. C. Garwood in his will, leaving the greater part of his estate to found and main- tain this institution. Mr. Garwood resided in Champaign for many years. He, too, may be termed successful in business and all financial matters. He hoped to fully endow this Home and make it independent and would have done so had his executors been able to save for the Home all that Mr. Garwood intended. Complications, many and unexpected, inter- fered, and so much was forced into other channels that care and planning are necessary to make it successful. In his will Mr. Gar- wood gave directions as to the institution and conduct, for all time. A commodious house has been erected, and sufficient room finished and equipped to accommodate a number of in- mates. The remainder can be easily com- pleted when needed. The fund saved for this Home is as well invested as can be at the present time; and should the income ever ex- ceed expenses, it is and will be carefully invested and looked after.

CHAPTER XXXI.

ABANDONED CEMETERIES.

cess. It was formally opened March 5, 1895, . SOME REMINISCENCES OF EARLY BURIAL PLACES- and still continues a successful work. Compe- THE RESTING PLACES OF MANY PIONEER SETTLERS HAVE BECOME PASTURE LANDS OR CULTIVATED FIELDS-THE OLD CEMETERY AT URBANA TRANS- FORMED INTO A PUBLIC PARK. tent nurses are in constant attendance, and the general equipment is of the best. In case the Club, to which it was consigned, should disorganize, ample provision and direction for the permanent management of the Hospital were made when the gift was tendered. That every department is so frequently filled, alone speaks for the usefulness, even great need, of such a benefit in Champaign County. An endowment fund has recently been placed at the disposal of the Hospital Board, which, if not sufficient to make it self-supporting, will materially aid its increasing needs, and no doubt that fund will be added to from time to time, so that its usefulness will never be impaired for lack of means.

There are in many different localities and neighborhoods of Champaign County, chiefly within or near the timber groves where were made the earliest homes of the white people, lone graves of those who died soon after com- ing to this country, and abandoned cemeter- ies or burying grounds, where lie the bodies of some of the earliest settlers and their children who yielded up their lives to the severities of the climate or to the hardships and privations incidental to the life of the pioneer. In most cases no stone or monument, and not even a mound, marks the grave from the surrounding ground.

"No name to bid us know Who rests below, No word of death nor birth; Only the grasses wave Over a mound of earth, Over a nameless grave."

Isolation of homes made the burial of the fallen ones most convenient near the bereaved homes in lone graves, while in many cases, a considerable number found resting places near together, the ground being subsequently abandoned as a place of interment for a reg- ularly platted cemetery in the neighborhood. For a time these places of early interment may have been well cared for and stones erectea; but now in most cases the stones have fallen and all signs of the care of sur- viving friends have passed, and-more than this-that neglect which allows the ground to become covered with a growth of brush and trees has existed so long that the ground, once hallowed as the resting place of fallen friends, has lapsed into bare pasture land, with here and there a sunken grave; or the plow and the harrow may have reclaimed the ground for the uses of agriculture. The sight of these places awakens a feeling of sadness when it is thought and known that, beneath

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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.

this pasture sod, or beneath these furrows and growing crops, lie the bones of those who re- claimed this waste and made it a habitable place for us, and whose names the early records of the county bear as active agents in its public affairs. But few of these forgotten and un- known places can, or need be named, but, in- volving, as they do, much interest pertaining to the early history of Champaign County, they may well be briefly referred to here.

Thomas Rowland, who came before 1828 and located in Section 1, Urbana, while perspiring freely from running after his stock in August, 1833, is said to have plunged into the creek running with full banks, in consequence of which he contracted a cold and died, proba- bly of pneumonia-within a short time. Few, if any, interments had before then been made in or around the Big Grove, aside from that of Isham Cook, whose death and burial is elsewhere mentioned. Mr. Rowland was bur- ied upon his own land on the south bank of the creek. The location of the grave re- mained unmarked, but was long protected by a fence. It is now an unknown and unmarked spot within a pasture.

The burial of Isham Cook, near his cabin on the west half of the southwest quarter of Sec-, tion 5, Urbana, in 1830, as elsewhere related, was followed years afterwards by the inter- ment there of his widow and other members of the family. A growth of small trees and brush for many years marked the resting place of this pioneer family, but this has dis- appeared and soon all knowledge of the place will have passed away.

The old cemetery at Urbana, bordering upon University Avenue, was never a platted ceme- tery, but burials were promiscuously made there early in the 'thirties, the ground then be- ing a dense thicket of small timber and brush. This use of the ground continued for forty years, and many hundreds of the young and old of the village of Urbana and adjacent country, including many who were prominent in society, found their last resting place there. Monuments and stones were set up only to be removed with the remaining dust of such bodies as were removed to other places of in- terment, when the authorities of Urbana, moved by sanitary considerations, prohibited the further use of the ground as a place of

burial. Until 1902 the ground, with its few stone monuments yet standing, remained an unsightly waste of weeds and prostrate grave- stones-a reproach to the locality. The city authorities then directed the removal of the remains of such as could be identified to other cemeteries, and, where no one appeared to care for others, that the stones be buried over the dust they were intended to mark, and that the space be converted into a · public park, which will be its final destiny, except in cases where adjoining lot-owners, without a shadow of right, have extended their fences to include contiguous portions as gardens. As a beauti- ful park-which it is hoped the ground may become-the forgotten dead who lie there will be more highly honored than they could be in an unsightly, neglected cemetery.

A short distance west of what is known as "Brownfield's Corners," in Somer, in Section 34, is a clump of small trees and brush, within which stand a few old marble slabs, the in- scriptions upon which bring to mind pioneer families whose members lie buried there. This is an abandoned pioneer cemetery, known formerly as "Rhinehart's Grave Yard," for the land was once owned by Matthias Rhinehart, and he lies there surrounded by many of his neighbors-all in unmarked and unknown graves. The first burials in the settle- ment were made here, among them being that of John Brownfield, a soldier of the War of the Revolution. It is said that the number of burials here would equal one hundred.

About a mile north of this point, and upon the south end of the west half of the north- west quarter of Section 27, is another pioneer burying ground, marked with a small growth of timber. Near it was built the little church in which worshiped the early church members who gathered there in 1836. The church has long since disappeared with its early wor- shipers, many of whom lie there in unmarked graves; but no hostile plow disturbs the soil where they sleep.

To the northeast of the cemetery last named, a hundred rods or more, upon the farm of Henry B. Hill, in Section 23, is an- other where rest, in neglected but undis- turbed graves, some of the early settlers of the neighborhood. Here, as at the others named, a growth of trees protects the graves.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, Part 67

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