Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II, Part 20

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897, ed. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913, ed. cn; Strange, Alexander T., ed
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 810

USA > Illinois > Montgomery County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II > Part 20

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IRVING.

Irving, though not a large town, has an appre- ciative population that has supported a news- paper for the last twenty-eight years. On De- cember 31 the first issue of the Irving Times was issned by A. J. Weber & Son. It was a four page 11 by 16 sheet, with patent insides. They ran it nearly two years, and then sold it to A. K. Vandeveer & S. J. Cottrell, who paid them only forty dollars for the plant, if such a term is applicable to such a small enterprise. The plant consisted of a small hand lever job press and a lot of old type worth abont two dol- lars according to Mr. Vandeveer's estimate, and a list of one hundred subscribers. The new owners invested $225.00 in a new Washington hand press, and $125.00 in new type. They ran it till the next year, when Cottrell sold out his interest to Vandeveer, who continued to run the paper and to enlarge and increase the circula- tion of the paper as well as the jobbing work of the office till 1908, when he sold it to C. A. Grantham, and then purchased the Nokomis '

Progress, which, with his sons, he still continues to run. Mr. Grantham soon afterwards sold to Rev. O. K. Dony, who soon sold it to Lester Trnitt, and he in turn sold it to Forest Williams, and Mr. Williams, not caring to stay in the newspaper business, sold it to Jesse Sanders, and he again to J. Homer Cariker. Cariker made the paper go pretty well, but not being satisfied with the business sold the plant to Ross Berry, who did not make it succeed to his satisfaction, and in 1915 he sold it to Charles L. Cockelreas, the present owner. Mr. Cockelreas seems well adapted to the business and will doubtless suc- ceed. Mr. Cockelreas is a Democrat in politics bnt is managing the paper free from political bias as fully as one can, in view of the fact that he is more or less tangled up in political affairs, being at present holding a position that is the reward of party politics, which, be it said, he ably fills. The paper is now a six column, eight page sheet and contains as much local news as any other paper in a town no larger than Irving.

CHAPTER XI.

AGRICULTURE.

AGRICULTURAL POSSIBILITIES - THE OLD COUNTY FAIR-THE GRANGE IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY- THE FARMERS' MUTUAL BENEFIT ASSOCIATION- INCREASE IN LAND VALUES-PRICES OF AGRICUL- TURAL PRODUCTS-FARM PRODUCTIONS-LAND DIFFICULTIES --- DAIRIES-THE FARMERS' INSTI- TUTE-FARM FORECAST.

AGRICULTURAL POSSIBILITIES.

The agricultural possibilities of any section are of prime importance in determining its de- sirability. Practically all wealth emanates from the soil directly or indirectly. When the early settlers were selecting this county for the build- ing of homes the chief attraction was the ap- parent fertility of the soil. That they made no mistake is evidenced by the fact that much of the wealth of the county came directly from the products of her farms, and from the increment

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

from her mines. The early methods of farming exhausted the land and deteriorated its fer- tility, but by the more modern methods of today and the more scientific selection of seeds and treatment of the soil, the productivity of the farms as well as the market values is steadily on the increase. The log cabin of the pioneer gave way to the frame house of yesterday and that is now being rapidly superseded by the brick or concrete dwelling and barns of the in- coming concrete and brick age. The planting of grain with the iron hoe and "kivering" it with dirt; the reaping with the hook, scythe or cradle ; the treading of the wheat out by horses or the flail, are now pleasant reminiscences of the past. The making of moonshine whiskey and its use in every family for "medical pur- poses" has become a thing of the long ago, and our rural population were the first and now are the strongest, enemies to the soul damning and health destroying force of the stuff usually bought in the groggeries of today. The "ride and tie" process of going to "meetin'" gave way to the buggy and that useful vehicle is now a fence corner occupant in a large measure, to make way for the automobile.

The once prevalent idea that farming was drudgery requiring only brawn to perform it, has given way to the less laborious and more in- viting and remunerative methods of the twen- tieth century. No part of our country's history is so realistic and romantic as that of the growth and development of agriculture and of the home life of our rural population. The first settler knew no trades. Farming, such as it was, more nearly deserved the name of a pro- fession than any other. The clearing off of the soil and its tilling was his only occupation. until the building of mills and frame houses made the carpenter, the blacksmith and the wheel- wright a necessity. Agriculture has ever been man's first, and we may say noblest, business. Agriculture dates its beginning with the first advent of the pioneer settler. Hence, in tracing the advance made in agriculture we have the whole history of country's progress. The sickle, the cradle, the bull tongue plow, the ox yoke, the corn husk horse collar, and hundreds of other rude first tools and implements have been super- seded by the improved machinery of today, which can only be made by skilled mechanics, and this is evidence of the civilizing power of education and individual effort. The state never makes the man of progress. It is his progress

that makes the state. The men who are satis- fied to work only eight hours a day, for so much money, are not the kind of men that build in- dustries, develop countries and make great com- monwealths. To follow the advance of agri- culture, from its crudest beginnings through the century of our county's history is most interest- ing and instructive. From the days of coonskin money to the present of millions in banks and clearing houses, is indeed wonderful progress, but the people are no happier than they were in the pioneer days. There never lived a happier man than he who cleared off his first acre of · land and, by the help of his wife, planted his first crop, in anticipation of reaping his first harvest.

We do not long for the old days, with their privations, but they should not be forgotten. The principles of riglit living were as forceful then as today with all the gilt and pagantry of mod- ern, so called higli, life. This volume would not be complete without some history of a few of the organized efforts of the agriculturists to keep their business abreast of the advance being made in commerce and trades. A sketch of the old fairs and of the Granges and other organiza- tions of agriculturists, are as much history of the county's development as that of the sinking of coal mines and the building of smelters and manufacturing plants. The no-backed puncheon seats of the log cabin schoolhouse were as con- ducive of hard study, and of great culture, in its age, as the palatial schoolhouses of today with their modern apparatus. Yet we do not want a return to those days.

THE OLD COUNTY FAIR.

There has been some agitation recently among the Montgomery County farmers' institutes fav- orable to the organization of an association to re-operate a county fair. It has not been such a long time since the old county fair was looked forward to as the principal attraction of the year, and people planned for it months in ad- vance. The Montgomery County Fair Associa- tion at Hillsboro was organized in 1850, but did not hold a fair until 1857. A committee from the organization, during 1857, consisting of Ben- jamin Sammons, Dr. A. S. Haskell and Austin Whitten, succeeded in perfecting the organiza- tion, and raising the necessary funds to warrant the enterprise. Judge Rountree and John W. Kitchell drew up the necessary papers and plans

William Hand & Family.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

and secured their adoption. Morgan Blair was elected president ; J. W. Kitchell, recording sec- retary ; Solomon Harkey, treasurer ; and J. A. Kolson, corresponding secretary, with directors distributed among those interested in various sections of the county. The fair thus inaug- urated was in good lands and under the capable management, with such annual changes as was deemed necessary, continued to give its yearly displays for over twenty years. Other leading men who contributed to its support and success were: Col. Paul Walter, who was especially interested in driving horses; Easten Whitten, whose stentorian voice could be heard over the entire grounds ; William Brewer, who gave the use of the grounds, and who was interested in fancy cattle ; Moses Berry, who was an exhibiter of all kinds of agricultural products; Robert Morrell, who was interested in stock and agri- cultural exhibits; John Crabtree and Burrell, who were interested in driving horses; I. H. Shimer, who was interested in fancy hogs; Frank Cress, who was interested in driving horses and farm products; Charles Wool, who was secretary of the association for many years, as well as others too numerous to mention.

Litchfield people took little interest in the Hillsboro fair, except to visit it, but realizing its value, in 1868, they organized The Litchfield Fair Association, with John W. Davenport as president, H. A. Cooledge as secretary, and P. B. Updike as treasurer. The place selected for its grounds was not far from the present Arco Park, and for some six or seven years fairs were conducted there, but subsequently it was found that there was not enough patronage for two fairs, and the project was abandoned. The county fair held at Hillsboro continued to be an annual event for twenty years, all this time tlie grounds being donated by William Brewer. Then came a period of rainy weather for several years which caused a falling off in attendance, and it was also discovered that the gambling spirit which has done so much to discourage real sport, had permeated the racing events, and the directors decided it was better to discontinue the fairs.

After the association had been disbanded, a number of the leading people of Hillsboro and vicinity organized a driving association, that took on the character of a fair to some extent, and selected grounds just east and south of the present site of the depot. These grounds the association enclosed, erected stock pens, a grand-

stand and other buildings at considerable ex- pense. Such men as Ed Cress, John Crabtree, Mr. Ludewick, Phil Spangler and others, espe- cially those interested in driving horses, were promoters of the enterprise, and for a few years race meets were held and there was a large at- tendance, but as above intimated, the business of racing is always attended with disintegrating influences and this was no exception to that rule, so the association was finally abandoned, probably with a loss to the management. The fair during the period it was in operation, was an inspiration to all of both sexes that attended, with its exhibits and special features, and played its part in encouraging agricultural in- terest and wielding an uplifting influence. Memories of the old fair are many, and of fre- quent mention among the older people of Hills- boro and the surrounding country, and a great variety of interesting reminiscences might be re- lated in these papers that we think would be relished. At any rate the history of Mont- gomery County would not be complete without some mention of its old county fairs.

THE GRANGE IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

A brief account of the "rise and fall" of the Grange movement in this county may not be without interest from a reminiscent standpoint, nor valueless as a matter of history. The Grange, or more correctly speaking, The Patrons of Husbandry, had its origin about 1870. Mr. Kelly and Mr. Saunders, both employees of the Government at Washington, and Mr. McDowell of Mississippi, conceived the idea of organizing the farmers of the country into a gigantic social and industrial order, having for its object the bettering of the condition of the farmer in trade as well as social and educational advantages. That the organization was somewhat crude, and not able to accomplish much that its ideals pic- tured, must be admitted; but that it did much good, by its discussions and operations, cannot be denied. Such matters of vast importance as state and interstate commerce legislation, the regulation of common carriers, laws relating to mutual insurance, the rural free delivery of mail, and other enactments were all the direct or indirect result of the "Grange movement" in the United States.

The ritual of the Grange is an instructive one from the industrial view, devoid of the dramatic features usually found in other rituals, but con-

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

sisting of scenes and lessons from farm life, at once instructive and pleasant. Any farmer's son or daughter over sixteen years of age was eligible, if accepted, and its "goat" was in active demand for several years, and is still, in various parts of Illinois, as well as in other states. The membership in this county was over 3,000, and we think they and their descendants who live here now will enjoy reading this sketcli, rem- iniscent of the seventies. There were thirty- nine Granges fully organized and in working condition in this county and several others that "died a bornin'." These Granges were all organ- ized during the years 1872, 1873 and 1874, and great interest was manifested in the order for about ten years, after which the order began to decline in this county as well as throughout the country. The first Grange to organize in the county was Liberty Grange, No. 113, in Raymond Township. John P. Hitchings, S. S. Peebles, Delos Dixon, Edward Grimes, Frank and Henry Hitchings were among its leading members. Its organization was during the win- ter of 1872-3.

Next was Witt Grange, No. 128, and John Dees was the master, and many of the best farmers of Witt Township were members. It was quickly followed with Raymond Grange, No. 139, with Elias W. Miller as the master and William Bowles as secretary. Both of these men were made prominent by reason of the order's popularity, and received public position from it, Mr. Miller on the board of supervisors, and Mr. Bowles as sheriff of the county. Butler Grange, No. 219, was the next to organize. Joseph Stickel was its master and Charles W. Jenkins its secretary. Among its members were : Moses Berry, Robert Morrell, W. J. Rich- mond, J. S. Burnap, and Riley Osborne. Mr. Jenkins was afterward aided in his election as circuit clerk from the members of the order. This Grange for some years carried on a pur- chasing agency and a fair measure of success attended the efforts. Prairie Union, No. 249, in Bois D'Arc Township was the next. This was quite strong for awhile, but did not last long. Then came Bois D'Arc Grange, No. 50, with a record similar to the last mentioned.

Litchfield Grange, No. 298, was the next to organize. John D. Wallis was the organizer and master and among its prominent members were : Mannen Gore, James Hart, W. R. Blackwelder, and J. B. Crowder. It was in North Litchfield Township, and John D. Wallis became a state

deputy organizer, and being a forcible speaker, organized as many Granges in the state as any other deputy in the field. Mannen Gore was also a good speaker and very entertaining, and he was in demand at Grange picnics. This Grange carried on a purchasing agency, holding a sort of business connection with George E. Dolton of St. Louis, who attempted to establish an Illinois Purchasing Agency in St. Louis, in opposition to the regular agency of the state Grange, which was in Chicago, under the man- agement of J. M. Chambers. Mr. Dolton was a member of the Grange at Dolton, Ill., and had fair success for awhile. George B. Linxwiler of Hillsboro and John D. Wallis took a hand in the fight and William H. Wallis, a son of Mr. Wallis, as well as George B. Mitchell, a neighbor of Mr. Linxwiler, were for a time employed in the Dolton agency. The fight over this agency mat- ter became so very hot in the Illinois State Grange, that the writer, who had been selected to a position therein, was threatened with being debarred from installation by certain members, but their efforts were futile and injurious to the harmony and usefulness of the body.

Shop Creek Grange in Zanesville Township came next, with C. A. Rogers as master and Daniel P. Rogers as secretary. John Swafford, Elbert Morrison, Franklin Morrison and Enoch Irwin were among the most active members. This Grange carried on a small Grange store for about two years, and aided in the organiza- tion of a Grange stock company in Girard, merg- ing their business in it, which for awhile, after being fully organized, did a large business in that town. Lone Elm Grange, No. 314, was the next to enlist, in Audubon Township. James M. Kerr was its master, and A. F. Weaver its secretary. This Grange was largely instru- mental in organizing the Nokomis Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company, Mr. Weaver being made the secretary. This company was organ- ized to operate in five and a half townships, in Montgomery County, and its original members were principally members of the Granges of those townships. The company is still doing a successful business. It was organized under Act of the Legislature of 1872, known as the Grange Session, when lawyers were few and farmers plenty in the legislative seats.

Then came Maple Grove Grange, No. 370, and Fillmore Grange, No. 371, both in Fillmore Township. These were of short duration, and we have no data from them at hand. Sterling

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Grange, No. 400, in Audubon Township came next. W. F. Weber was its master and B. W. Hand its secretary. This Grange held its regu- lar meetings for several years and its sessions were reported as very interesting. Mr. Weber was sent to the county board as a result of his prominence gained through his work for the . Grange. Irving Grange, No. 405, was the next to organize. J. W. Coffey was the presiding officer, and William Bowles held the quill. It was in this Grange that the invincible Tom Black and the irrepressible Scott Berry were conducted over the "newly plowed ground and thickly shaded groves to the singing of the birds and the lowing of the cattle" to the master's sanctorum to receive instruction relative to the honorable duties and responsibilities of farm life. Jacob Lyerla, Edwin Platt and David Gregory were among its most devoted members. Irving Grange conducted for awhile a purchas- ing agency, had a warehouse for storage and conducted a harness shop. The next to get into line was Oakwood Grange, No. 422, in Hills- boro Township. George W. Mansfield was the master and Christopher Lewey the secretary. After a career of about two years this Grange was consolidated with Mansfield Grange.

South Litchfield Grange, No. 42S, was the next one to incorporate ; Samuel Paden filled the chair and Abraham Brokaw wielded the pen. This Grange instead of meeting in the schoolhouse , as most did, met at the residence of Mr. Paden, who had the room and on account of his having all kinds of musical instruments it was pecu- liarly a good place for the young people as well as the old to conduct musical and literary pro- grams. White Oak Grange, in Bois D'Arc Town- ship, about this time began to secure public attention. It was from this Grange that John J. McLean merged as a candidate for the posi- tion of circuit clerk, which position he was elected to and filled with credit to his people. Jim Haynes also came from that Grange, and the county elected him treasurer, which office he ably filled. Shoal Creek Grange, No. 438, was the next to organize. This Grange died before getting out of its swaddling clothes. Sandy Bend Grange, No. 519, came next. Its leading members were : E. H. Donaldson, whom we sent to the legislature; Aaron Sorley, E. M. Fish, Wilson Snell and H. N. Pope and others. It was in this Grange that the idea was first sprung in favor of establishing a general Grange store in Hillsboro, and taking root, it grew till Pope

& Jones. consented to attempt to carry it into execution. A building was selected on the west side of Main Street, and the store began busi- ness. For a time it ran smoothly and attracted a large amount of business from among the farmers. The merchants did not like it very well, but no friction was apparent. The busi- ness methods were far from what were needed and friction arose between the partners and its life was rather short.

Olive Branch Grange, No. 547, was the next to demand attention. This was in Witt Town- ship. John Neisler was its master and I. T. Towell the secretary. This Grange was very well managed and had many interesting meet- ings and a good membership. Then came Union Grange, No. 593; Mayflower Grange, No. 628; and Rosebud Grange No. 628, but as none of these lived very long we pass them without further notice. Alexander Grange, No. 759, was the next to open its doors. It was in the south- ern part of Fillmore Township, and was pre- sided over by Asa Prater, with Sam Alexander as its scribe. This Grange was an active one while it lasted, but getting behind with its dues to the state Grange, it with several lost their charters.

Rountree Grange, No. 764, was the next to come before the public. Edward Miller was the master, and Miner Gowin the secretary. Mr. Miller was a German though speaking English fairly well, and he conceived the idea that the Grange ought to send him to the legislature, but the people did not warm up to the idea. Miner Gowin was more successful. He was sent to the county board of supervisors where he made one of the best officers. Pisgah Grange, No. 7SS, followed down in Fillmore Township. William H. Snider was the master and Jos. Har- Tey the secretary. John P. Fuller was one of its active members. Excelsior Grange. No. 749, came next. Its name was taken from the annual word of that year, which was "excelsior." Mound Grange, No. S28. was next, but lived only a short time. It was followed by East Fork Grange, No. S60. Elijah Wright and Bowers Lane were among its active members and Samuel Smith, although a merchant, was on its rolls. Sam Smith was a writer of no mean abil- ity on the paper then published by E. J. C. Alex- ander, under the non de plume of "Bonner," and did much to keep interest directed toward the organization.

Long Branch Grange, with John Shawn as

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

master and Mr. Baldman as secretary, was down in the Corlew settlement, and as the Corlew op- posed the Grange fearing it might attract the Jeffersonian democracy, they induced Shawn and Baldman to give it up after a short exist- ence.

Mansfield Grange, No. 917, in the south part of Hillsboro Township, was next in order and was one of the most active in the county, and maintained its charter rights the longest of any. Charles H. Edwards, H. F. Mansfield, George W. Mansfield, John Berry, Charles Brown, John E. Price, and their families were among the most active. It had a purchasing agent, estab- lished a library for their school distriet and their membership, and kept up for many years an annual picnic, which was well attended and was always a pleasant affair. Tennessee Grange, No. 932, followed and was of short duration. This was followed by Bost Hill Grange, No. 935, with John Ivy, J. T. Sanders, William Jackson and John Sturgeon as its leading mem- bers. This was a strong body and had much to do with the organizing of the Grange store in Hillsboro. as both Jones and Pope hield men- bership here.

Washington Grange, No. 970, in Bois D'Arc Township, followed, with C. A. Burton as mas- ter and R. A. Long as secretary. This was one of the best in the county. Its hall was fitted up with books, magazines, and an organ, and its meetings were interesting and well attended. It sustained its life the longest of any in the county except Mansfield, No. 917. It aided and supported the efforts of the Maeoupin Patrons in establishing the Grange store at Girard, which for quite awhile was a monster establishment. The next to incorporate was Amherst Grange, No. 1177, three miles south of Hillsboro. Among its active members were: C. P. Rush, James S. Hamilton. Harrison Kessinger, Joshua Kime, Simeon Brown, A. H. Dilworth, A. A. K. Sawyer, George W. Paisley, John H. Hickman, John II. Stewart, and Philip Spangler. Mueh might be said of the activities of this Grange, but space will not permit. We mention one only, a great Grange mass meeting was arranged by this Grange with the aid of others, and by actual count over 2,000 farm vehicles in line paraded the streets of Hillsboro, and on to the fair grounds where Hon. A. P. Forsyth of Edgar County, a candidate for Congress, addressed the meeting. Mr. Forsyth was a forcible speaker, and was elected to the national Congress purely

as a Grange candidate. He was the master of the state Grange of Illinois. It was in Amherst Grange that the Grange Harness shop had its inception. This business enterprise ran well for quite awhile, but for lack of interest was finally elosed out. It had for several years an annual business of over $5,000, which was big for the times.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II, Part 20

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897, ed. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913, ed. cn; Strange, Alexander T., ed Publication date: 1918 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 810

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897, ed. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913, ed. cn; Strange, Alexander T., ed
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 810