USA > Illinois > St Clair County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of St. Clair County, Volume II > Part 39
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The first issue of the "Illinois Sons of Tem- perance,""' a four-column folio, appeared March 4, 1860. George W. Moore, an earnest tem- perance advocate, was editor, and James P. Snell, from Aurora, was publisher. It was intended as the organ of the Lutheran Grand Division of the Sons of Temperance, and as such had contributions and editorials from leading temperance writers all over Illinois. It . was said to have had at one time fully 1,000 subscribers. Mr. Snell retired from the enter- prise, June, 1861. In the fall of 1862, Mr. Moore closed the office and sold the type and press back to the type foundry in St. Louis, whence they had come.
The "Lebanon Journal" was established in 1867 by H. H. Simmons, who, in January, 1873, sold the office to Dr. T. W. Eckert, later of the "Belleville Republican." Dr. Eckert edited and published the "Journal" until May, 1875, when he sold it to J. S. Padon. Dr. Eckert again bought the paper and published it from Au- gust, 1876, until the following May, and then sold it to Nelson Abbott. However, as Mr. Abbott failed to comply with the terms of the sale, the mortgage was foreclosed, and Dr. Eck- ert again took possession and published the paper until November 4, 1878, when it passed to the ownership of J. R. Connor. Mr. Connor later sold it to J. F. Ash, from whom it passed, by foreclosure of the mortgage, to Professor O. V. Jones. When the paper passed out of Eck- ert's hands, its name was changed to the "Leb-
anon Reveille." However, the old name was resumed February 18, 1881. Associated with Mr. Jones in its management at that time was C. W. Metzger, a printer from Centralia.
The "Lebanon Courier" was published as a Democratic campaign sheet, in 1876, by E. H. Elliff. After the campaign was over, the ma- terial was removed to Red Bud. In the course of events it was bought by Peter Baker, taken to Columbia and used to publish a Republican campaign paper in 1880.
The "Belleville Volksblat," a German paper. was established by Dr. F. Wenzel in February, 1856. In stating the aim and object of his paper, he declared that "the interests of the farming population would have his first and principal attention." In another article, he protested against the extension of slavery, stat- ing that the Germans, as a class, were opposed to the institution of slavery. September 12, 1857, he sold the paper to Franz Grimm, who, in March, 1858, consolidated it with the "Zei- tung." Dr. Wenzel later helped to establish the "Westliche Post," of·St. Louis, a German news- paper of national reputation. He died during the Civil War, while on duty as special corre- spondent for his paper.
The "Deutscher Demokrat," was first issued July 1, 1856. It was a radical Democratic pa- per, edited and managed by Louis Didier. Later, with the appearance of volume 1, number 38, A. Ruoff became editor and publisher. After a few weeks of this arrangement, however, Di- dier again became editor, and G. A. Harvey be- came publisher. Sometime afterward the pa- per suspended.
The "Eagle" made its first appearance Febru- ary 13, 1854, under the management of Messrs. Shoupe and Bevirt, two young printers of prac- tically no editorial experience. Governor Rey- nolds edited it for a short time. It was at first a daily paper, but soon was changed to a weekly, at the same time taking the name of the "St. Clair Tribune." Now John B. Hay and William Orr became its editors. Mr. Hay pos- sessed conspicuous journalistic talent. The pa- per was printed on a Hoe cylinder press, the first power-press brought to Belleville; but the venture did not move along satisfactorily, and the concern was soon sold to Edward R. Stu- art and G. A. Harvey. William E. Hyde bought Stuart's interest, September 3, 1854. In 1856,
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
Mr. Harvey was sole proprietor. In 1857 the paper was absorbed by the "Advocate" and its power-press was taken from the town.
Mr. Harvey was prominent in early news- paper business in Belleville. He learned the printing trade in the office of the "Hollidays- burg (Pa.) Register," then came West to Belle- ville in 1849, and worked for sometime as a compositor in the office of the "St. Louis Re- publican." After leaving the "Tribune," he was proprietor of the "Democrat," and later a correspondent of the "Republican." He was al- ways a sound, practical newspaper man. He died January 9, 1877.
In the winter of 1858-59, the "Star of Egypt" was started by a stock company of Democrats supporting the policy of Buchanan, who was then President. It was edited and published by Governor Reynolds and J. E. Hughes. It was a powerful campaign paper, and its existence was as brief as it was brilliant.
After the "Zeitung" had passed from Barthol- omew Hauck to Mr. Rupp, Mr. Hauck's son Louis started the "Belleville Volksblat" in the summer of 1860. It was published daily and weekly. In 1865, it was sold to Fischer and Schmall, of Mascoutah, then the proprietors of the "Stern des Westens." Mr. Schmall moved the consolidated plants of the "Stern d'es West- ens" and "Volksblat" to Belleville; and on May 15, 1866, sold the entire outfit and good will of the business to Messrs. Semmelroth and Kircher. After four weeks, Kircher sold his in· terest to Daniel Hertle, who in turn sold out to Semmelroth. In 1872, Semmelroth sold the paper to Fred E. Scheel. Mr. Scheel published it, daily and weekly, until October 20, 1877, when its identity was merged into the "Zei- tung."
The "Belleville Democrat" was established in 1857, by Messrs. Boyakin and H. L. Flem- ing. ' In 1859, Messrs. Stuart and Shoupe took it in hand, but in November, 1860, sold it to G. A. Harvey. In August, 1863, Messrs. Denlinger and Russell bought the paper, and were its publishers in 1880. In January, 1870, it was changed from a seven-column to a nine-column folio. For a long time, the Democrat had been the official paper of Belleville and had pub- lished the proceedings and edicts of the City Board. Locally it had been a power for the Democratic party. It had been longer under one management than any other newspaper in
St. Clair County. In the summer of 1880, A. B .. Russell, on account of ill-health, had to give up editorial work, and was succeeded by Wil- liam J. Underwood, a newspaper man of ability.
The "Belleville Weekly Sun" was started by E. H. Fleming in 1857. After its thirty-fifth issue, it was merged with the "Advocate."
The "Belleville Banner," a Democratic paper with a conciliatory and reformatory mission, made its greeting bow to an unappreciative world September 1, 1859. It was a six-column folio, edited and published by H. L. David- son. It made no great impression on the town and was short lived.
The "Daily Dispaten," edited and printed by Thomas H. Fleming and G. M. Williams, made its appearance March 7, 1861. Twelve days later, it went into the hands of the proprietors of the "Democrat," and on August 3 following it went out of existence for the reason, as stated by Hinchcliffe, that it could no longer obtain satisfactory telegraphic news service.
The "Freie Presse" was issued as a campaign paper, in 1868, by a joint stock company com- posed of leading Democrats of Belleville, with Mr. Mueller as editor. The press, type and other printing materials were bought by Mr. Brickey, of Red Bud, where the paper was pub- lished by Peter Baker, with A. C. Helmich as editor. Later, the material was taken back to Belleville; but in about a year the paper went to press for the last time.
The "News Letter," the first newspaper start- ed in Mascoutah, was published by August Ham- ilton and edited by Alexander G. Hawes, be- ginning in January, 1860. It was a seven-col- umn folio, politically independent, but leaning toward the Republican party. In January, 1861, it was consolidated with the "Belleville Advo- cate," when Alexander Hawes became associate editor of the "Advocate and News Letter."
The "Mascoutah Banner" was issued for the first time in May, 1872, a small monthly folio, printed on a job press in the job-printing office of Frederick Dilg, established three years earlier. It was edited by W. D. Sheley, J. N. Perrin and Philip Leibrock. In May, 1875, Sheley and J. H. G. Brinkerhoff bought it, at the same time buying a press and printing materials of J. D. Moudy, of Rich- view, Ill., and made it a weekly paper, enlarg- ing it to seven columns quarto. In July, 1873, Mr. Brinkerhoff sold his interest to Sheley and
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
Leroy W. Tree. In September of the same year, Henry Pabst bought Tree's interest. In November, 1874, Messrs. Wassein and Binz bought the office and fixtures, Mr. Binkerhoff became editor, and from the following January to August he was both editor and proprietor. Then the office was closed and soon after sold to Frederick Dilg. The "Banner" always main- tained its stand as an independent paper, but the fact that the owners were Democrats fre- quently peeped out between the lines. As none of the men concerned except Mr. Dilg was a skilled printer, the paper was a failure. Jan- uary 7, 1876, Mr. Dilg, who had done both English and German job printing, began, with increased facilities, to publish the "Mascoutah Anzeiger," a German newspaper, devoted to the business interests of the town. In April follow- ing he enlarged it from a four-column to a five- column folio, and, in December to a six-column folio. In November, 1878, he enlarged it to an eight-column folio. Mr. Dilg supplied the office of the "Anzeiger" with modern appliances and printed the paper on a Hoe cylinder press.
The "Mascoutah Umgegend" was the name of a paper published for a short time during the Civil War.
In the spring of 1863, John Hinchcliffe be- gan. to publish at Belleville the "Miner and Workman's Advocate," especially devoted to the interests of the miners, mechanics and pro- ducing classes. It soon became so popular and had so large a circulation, that during the first year of its existence it required modern facilities. A steam-engine-the first one ever used in a printing office in Southern Illinois- was introduced, and by its power the issues of the "Miner and Workman's Advocate," the "Belleville Advocate," the "Belleville Democrat" and the "Zeitung" were for some time printed. The "Miner and Workman's Advocate" was pub- lished for about three years in Belleville, and subsequently, with a slight change in -its title, for a little longer than a year in St. Louis, by its original projector, who at length, having discontinued the paper, resumed the practice of law in Belleville. The paper was especially devoted to the interests of the producing classes and with them it had considerable power and influence. Mr. Hinchcliffe was a man of lit- erary ability and much energy.
The first newspaper ever published in East St. Louis was the "American Bottom Gazette,"
mentioned earlier in this chapter. After it had passed out of existence, there was no paper in that part of the county until May 27, 1865, when James L. Faucett bought out the initial number of the Sunday Herald. This was adver- tised as a Sunday paper, but was issued on Sat- urday.
The "East St. Louis Gazette," located at 120 North Main Street, in the city of East St. Louis, was established, by the late Mayor John B. Bowman, in 1865. For twenty years and until Mr. Bowman's death, in 1885, the "Gazette," un- der his control and management, ranked. as the leading paper of St. Clair County and its in- fluence was ever exerted and felt in the ad- vocacy of all measures tending to promote the growth and importance of East St. Louis. In 1877 a daily issue was begun, but this not prov- ing financially successful, it was discontinued. Politically the "Gazette" has always been an important factor, and, while leaning strongly toward Democracy and Democratic candidates, the paper at no time abandoned its right to support what it considered the "best men" in local and county affairs.
This policy, inaugurated in 1865, has been strictly adhered to by its present owner, Frank B. Bowman. He has, at all times, retained own- ership and supervisory control of the paper, while placing the active management in the hands of men to whom he entrusted the work of keeping it in the front rank of the "news- paper world" of St. Clair County. For the past twelve years this work has been successfully performed by John H. Suess, the present pub- lisher, and his brother, Adolph B. Suess, as business manager. Under their management the "Gazette" has retained its influence in local and county affairs. Its policy under the pres- ent ownership and management is one of fair- ness to all and a broad conservatism in the support of men and measures. The columns of the "Gazette" are never open to sensational- ism or abuse, and it is to this policy, consist- ently carried out, that it owes its rank as the leading weekly of St. Clair County.
July 18, 1871, the publication of the "Peo- ple's Gazette" was begun by the People's Ga- zette Association, the principal stockholders be- ing Vital Jarrot, J. B. Lovingston, Henry Schall, L. M. St. John, Marcus Finch, John O. Butler, M. Millard, Michael Darmody, Maurice Joyce, Ernest Wider, John Macauley, Patrick H.
Chas. Hertel.
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
Stack and John Eddy. The board of directors was thus constituted: President, Vital Jarrot; Vice-President, Maurice
Joyce; Treasurer, Henry Schall; Secretary, Maurice Finch. Until 1872, the paper was edited by different stock- holders. Then Mr. Saltiel became editor and publisher. He was succeeded by E. B. Fair- child, who was instrumental in changing the name of the paper to the "East St. Louis Press." In the winter of 1874-75, Mr. Smith was editor. In 1875, H. D. O'Brien bought the press and type from L. M. St. John, who by this time owned all the stock in the company. He con- tinued to edit and publish the paper until Feb- ruary 29, 1877, when the subscription list was transferred to the "Gazette." The type and presses were stored away in a building, which, with its contents, was burned in 1878.
The "Daily Press" was published for a few months in 1874-75 by Mr. O'Brien. Abandon- ing that enterprise, he began the publication of a tri-weekly paper, but soon gave it up as a financial failure.
The "St. Clair Tribune."-Willis E. Finch and Brother established this paper in East St. Louis in February, 1875. The "Tribune" was politically Republican, and had for its motto, "Republican, Protestant, and Progres- sive." In January, 1878, the Finch Brothers suspended its publication and sold their type and other material to Messrs. Harney and Tis- sier, two young men of East St. Louis, who, on March 9 following, issued the first number of the "East St. Louis Herald." The "Herald" was started as an eight-column folio, but was changed March 6, 1880, to a five-column quarto. Politically it was Democratic. In 1880 it was the official paper of the city of East St. Louis.
The "National Stock Yards Reporter."-In November, 1873, John Haps & Co. published the first issue of this paper. After its third num- ber, it suspended publication until March, 1874. The publication being then resumed, it soon had a circulation of over 5,000 copies, but some trouble with the Postoffice Department led to its suspension. In the fall of 1880, an effort was made to revive it, but only two numbers were issued.
The "Western Live Stock Journal," a suc- cessful rival of the "National Stock Yard Re- porter," first issued in July, 1879, was pub- lished by H. D. O'Brien and edited by Y. M.
Langdon, until July, 1880, when Langdon bought O'Brien's interest, and became sole pro- prietor. In January, 1881, he sold the paper to S. J. E. Rawling. It was a paying enterprise from the outset.
In 1876, H. D. O'Brien began to publish the "St. Louis Railway World," in the interests of railway employes; but one year after its first issue he sold out to the proprietors of a similar publication in St. Louis.
The "National" appeared in East St. Louis, August 9, 1878. Archibald A. Hamilton, its publisher, announced that its mission was "to improve the social, moral and pecuniary con- ditions of the working class," and while it lasted-which was not long-it advocated financial reform and fiat money theories.
The "Future Great" was a short-lived, but in every way creditable, amateur paper published by Messrs. Sikking and Jackiven.
"Dat Paper" was a burlesque German peri- odical, small, and of the "Carl Pretzel" and "Oofty Gooft" style, which soon fell in the struggle for existence.
The "Illinois Republicaner," a German news- paper, was published in June, 1872, by a com- pany consisting of Russell Hinckley, Sebastian Fietsam, Charles Stephani, Edward Rutz, Col- onel Thomas and other prominent St. Clair Re- publicans. Henry Huhn was President of the Board of Directors, business manager and ed- itor. In May, 1873, Mr. Fietsam bought up all the stock, then soon after bought the "Zeitung," and consolidated it with the Republikaner, with Mr. Huhn as editor. In January, 1873, Mr. Huhn retired and the paper did not live long thereafter.
The publication of "Der Treubund," a Ger- man paper, in the interests of a benevolent society, was begun October 19, 1873. The Messrs. Semmelroth were its publishers; Doctor Neubert was its editor.
George C. Bunsen, in 1878, bought a press and other printing material from the St. Louis type foundry, and published a paper entitled "The Reform," in the interests of the laboring classes, advocating the claims of socialists. After four or five months, however, the type foundry closed the office, took the material, and, soon after, sold it to L. W. Habercom.
Mr. Habercom then started "Das Journal" in Belleville; but after having issued twenty numbers, he sold out to the "'Zeitung."
14
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
In the spring of 1875, George Auerswald started the "New Athens Era," an amateur paper, in New Athens; but in November of the same year the office was moved to Mascoutah.
The "Mascoutah Enterprise" was a seven- column folio, first issued by Mr. Auerswald in November, 1875. In 1876 he moved his mate- rial to Belleville and there issued the "Belle- ville Independent," which had an existence of only a few months. The "Daily Independent" was published some months in 1877, begin- ning January 1. Mr. Auerswald was the man behind the press.
"Der Stern."-In 1877, several influential Democrats of Belleville organized a stock com- pany under the name of "Belleville Printing Company," with a capital stock of $6,000. The first Board of Directors was thus constituted: Hon. Gustavus A. Koerner, President; Franz F. Metscham, Secretary; Henry A. Kircher, Treas- urer; Alonzo St. Clair Wilderman and Louis Pittham. F. F. Metscham was elected business manager and Frederick E. Scheel, editor of the paper. The second year, H. G. Weber succeeded Henry A. Kircher in the directorate. The first issue of "Der Stern" appeared October 28, 1877. The publication of the "Daily Stern" was be- gun January 11, 1878, with Henry Huhn as editor, vice Mr. Scheel. Mr. Huhn was born in Bavaria, and came to the United States after the German uprising of 1849. He served his adopted country as a soldier in the Civil War, gained experience as a journalist and was a member of the Missouri Legislature. He came to Belleville in 1868. Mr. Metscham learned printing in Cincinnati in the 'fifties, and came to Belleville in 1860. He, too, had been a soldier in the war of the States, and had long been foreman in the office of the Belleville "Zeitung." The printing department of "Der Stern" was fitted up with new type (German and English) and other modern utilities. The paper became the leading German Democratic journal in Southern Illinois.
Dr. T. W. Eckert, who had long been con- nected with the "Lebanon Journal," founded the "Belleville Republican," February 28, 1879, and was its editor and sole proprietor until July following, when he sold a one-third interest
to G. F. Kimball and another one-third interest to S. C. Mace. He bought back the interests of Kimball and Mace, November 7, 1879, and sold a half-interest, February 14, 1881, to H. B. Knight, a newspaper man of much experience. The "Republican" was enlarged from a seven- column folio to a six-column quarto, and be- came politically strong in its congressional district.
The "Marissa Monitor," the first newspaper published at Marissa and the last paper started in St. Clair County within the period sought to be covered by this chapter, was first issued January 1, 1880, by John W. Wells. It was a five-column quarto. Its stated object, to quote its own announcement, was "to champion the common schools and general diffusion of knowl- edge among the people; also to make the peo- ple happy, and, just incidentally, the editor rich."
Between 1827 and 1880, a period of a little over half a century, over sixty papers were brought into being in St. Clair County, of which a few are still in existence, and many have gone down in the struggle of competition. However, in reading the history of these early papers, we note not so much the fortunes of the individual papers as the tendencies of the his- tory of journalism. We are reminded that the people who early made their homes in this part of the country were men and women of in- telligence and of public spirit-men and women appreciative of the necessity to keep pace with local history in its making and in touch with world movements. As we look over the names of the papers we see in them suggestions of the political tendencies of the times, of advance in population, of municipal growth and develop- ment, of national progress and promise. The history of journalism, like the history of every- thing else, but in a more marked degree than the history of anything else, is the history of the people to whom it appeals, revealing what they think, what they do, what they want and what they aspire to become. Later newspaper history of St. Clair County will be found in chapters devoted to the history of individual cities and towns.
859
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
CHAPTER XXIX.
EDUCATIONAL.
EARLY COLLEGES AND SEMINARIES - FIRST COL- LEGES CHARTERED BY THIE ILLINOIS LEGISLA- TURE-HISTORY OF M'KENDREE COLLEGE-BELLE- VILLE ACADEMY AND ROCK SPRINGS SEMINARY- CATHOLIC SCHOOLS-BELLEVILLE KINDERGARTEN- EARLY FRENCH SCHOOLS AT CAHOKIA-THE DIS- TRICT SCHOOLS-INTRODUCTION OF FREE SCHOOLS -SCHOOLS OF THE PRESENT DAY-HISTORY OF BELLEVILLE SCHOOLS-SCHOOL BONDS AT A PRE- MIUM - PRESENT TEACHING FORCE - EAST ST. LOUIS SCHOOLS-LIBRARIES.
McKendree College, first organized in 1828 as "Lebanon Seminary," is the oldest institution of learning in the West, dedicated, from its incep- tion, to higher education. Indeed, there is no other in the United States, connected with the "University Senate" of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the origin of which, under like aus- pices, antedates McKendree.
The pioneer settlers interested in this early educational movement, were among the most progressive citizens from the older States, as is evidenced by the course of study prescribed in the original articles of organization, which, after naming the ordinary branches usually taught at the time in seminaries, also pro- vided for the Philosophies, the Higher Mathe- matics, Greek and Latin.
The scope of the undertaking early attracted the attention of Bishop McKendree-the first American Bishop of his church-and the favor he gave the enterprise led the Board of Man- agers in 1830, by resolution, to change the name of the institution from "Lebanon Seminary" to that of "McKendree College." The Bishop, pos- sessed of a landed estate in Illinois amounting to 480 acres, had devised the same, in trust, to Bishops Roberts, Hedding, Andrew, Waugh, Morris, and Soule-the Episcopal representa- tives of the then undivided Methodist Episcopal Church-to establish an institution of learning for the Missouri and Illinois Conferences, em- bracing at that time a territory so immense, that now, instead of two, it is occupied by a full score of like organizations. In harmony with the Bishop's desire, this trust was executed by
the Episcopal Board, in the interest of McKen- dree College. The original subscription to the fund for founding Lebanon Seminary is still preserved, and shows an aggregate of $1,385.
The first principal, "Mr. E. R. Ames," who subsequently became the great diplomatic Bishop of the church, was employed "at the rate of $25 per month." A Miss McMurphy was elected as his assistant, and her great excellence as a teacher is attested by a resolution of the Board of Trustees, still standing of record- presumably the first lady teacher connected with college work in the history of education.
In 1835, the institution was chartered by the Illinois Legislature, as the "McKindrean Col- lege," and, in 1839, a new charter, with fullest university privileges, was granted, under the title of "McKendree College," Mr. Lincoln, then a member of the General Assembly, co-operat- ing in securing the passage of the act. The last clause of the charter provided that it should not go into effect until it was accepted by the Board of Trustees of the "McKindrean College," and official notice of such action given to the Legislature. As as evidence of the solic- itude of Mr. Lincoln to have this act perfected, it is to be noted that, immediately on its pass- age, he urged Dr. B. T. Kavanaugh, agent of the College, who was present at the time of the passage of the act, to hasten at once to Lebanon, and immediately secure a ratification of the charter in a called session of the Board, lest some member of the Legislature, on more mature reflection, should discover the largeness of the privileges conceded and move a recon- sideration of the act granting the charter. This advice was followed, the charter ratified in called session, and subsequently re-ratified at a regular session, lest there might be some question as to the validity of the called ses- sion's act.
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