USA > Illinois > Warren County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Warren County, Volume II > Part 47
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THE FIRST BICYCLE.
The first bicycle in Monmouth was brought by Nels Stedman in the fall of 1868. It was called a velocipede in those days, however, and was one of those high old style affairs that are a curiosity nowadays. The next spring Sted- man got to riding too much on the sidewalks and the city council passed an ordinance for- bidding the running of velocipedes and hoops on the sidewalks under a penalty of from one to ten dollars.
ENGLISH SPARROWS.
The English sparrows of this region are the progeny of a hundred pairs imported in the summer of 1875 to exterminate the insects. Nathan Carr, Jr., worked up the enterprise, ob- taining a subscription of $75 to which the city council added $25. The sparrows arrived from New York June 18, 1875. Now the one hundred has increased to unnumbered thousands, and in their way they are a greater pest than the in- sects they were brought to exterminate.
EMMA ABBOTT AND LOIE FULLER.
Two women prominent on the stage spent part of their early days in Monmouth. One of these was the distinguished prima donna Em- ma Abbott and the other the famous Parisian danseuse Loie Fuller. Miss Abbott was a resi-
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
dent here in the '50s, her father being a poor music teacher. A census taken in 1852 gives her name, her age being two years. The family removed to Peoria and she first appeared in public there as a guitarist, and her debut was so successful that her father took her on a con- cert tour. She was only thirteen years old and created much enthusiasm among her audiences. At Toledo she met Clara Louise Kellogg, who was so taken with her voice that she gave her a letter to a New York singing teacher, and furnished money enough to allow her to pursue her studies two years in that city.
Loie Fuller's father was the proprietor of the National Hotel in the '70s. She developed a liking for the stage at an early age. March 4, 1875, the temperance play "Ten Nights in a Bar Room" was given in Union Hall by home talent, and she was to have assumed the part of May Morgan, but was indisposed and an- other took her part. Her rehearsing in this play was probably her first stage work. May 20 of the same year she delivered a temperance lecture at Columbia Hall in Kirkwood, and on Christmas eve of the same year she and Per- ceval Brewer won first prize for waltzing at a Prince Imperial masquerade in Union Hall.
GARRISON'S INN.
The first public tavern in Monmouth was Garrison's Inn. It was kept by James M. Gar- rison, who came here in 1833 from Xenia, Ohio, and erected the log building on the south side of West Broadway, between A and B streets, occupied by William Cowan as a blacksmith shop until less than a half dozen years ago when it was torn down to make way for Dr. J. C. Kilgore's residence and office. The hotel was originally a story and a half high, but it had sunk till, when it was torn down in Sep- tember, 1898, it was a low one story structure. The partitions and second floor had been taken out, the porch on the southeast had been in- closed, and continued repairs had been neces- sary to keep it in shape for use. It was the oldest building in town, and the last log one remaining in Monmouth.
In its day, Garrison's Inn was quite an insti- tution. Its roof sheltered many of the earlier residents of the city, and many families mov- ing into the county to found their home spent their first night or more within its walls.
In those days persons desiring to open a tav-
ern or public inne were required to procure li- censes from the County Commissioners. Gar- rison received his license March 5, 1835, being required to pay the sum of $5 into the county treasury, and also to pay the cierk's fees; and to give bond in the sum of $200 that he would conduct the establishment in an orderly man- ner. The following rates of entertainment were specified for him by the commissioners:
Each meal of victuals. $.25
Lodging per night. .0614
-(or if single bed be demanded) 121%
Keeping horse per night. .25
Single feed for horse. .121%
Each half pint of wine, run, gin, or brandy of any kind. .25
Less quantities in same proportion.
Each half pint of whisky. .121%
. Each gill of whisky .0614
SPELLING SCHOOLS.
The spelling school mania struck Monmouth in the spring of 1875 and several matches were held, which were attended by nearly all the pro- fessional and business men and women. One match was held in Claycomb's hall under the auspices of the Ladies' Temperance Society. Prof. George I. Gordon and Dr. S. M. Hamilton appeared as captains and chose their sides as follows:
Prof. Gordon-Miss Lucy Duer, Judge Porter, H. Merrideth, Miss Carrie Smith, Mrs. Lew- vens, Mrs. J. J. Glenn, Mrs. W. H. Merrideth, Miss Aggie Welsh, Mrs. J. H. Reed, Geo. C. Rankin, Miss Ella Smith, Miss Lizzie Samp- son, Miss Nettie Harding, Miss May Reed, W. H. Merrideth, Miss Carrie Smith, Mrs. Lew- is, Miss Ivey Reed, Miss Turnbull, Miss Anna Cunningham, Miss Ellen Walker.
Dr. Hamilton-Mrs. Prof. Rogers, J. W. Mat- thews, Col. William Marshall, Mrs. Peyton Roberts, Mrs. A. H. Tracey, A. A. Hamilton, Mrs. Mary Ripley, Miss I. H. Smith, Miss Sallie Gibson, Miss Emma Tucker, Miss Anna Glenn, Mrs. T. V. Berry, Miss Anna McGaw, Miss Car- rie Samson, Capt. J. M. Turnbull, Dr. W. S. Holliday, Miss Annie Parsons, D. D. Bigger, Miss Eva Hopper, W. H. Armsby, Miss Gra- ham, Miss N. Cowan, Miss Brownlee.
Mrs. Peyton Roberts and Miss Mary Stevens (now Mrs. J. W. Matthews) were the last to go down, and were captains at another match the next week. Mrs. Pror. Rogers and .W. B. Young
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
were the last to succumb at the second match, Young going down on "archetype" and leav- ing Mrs. Rogers in victorious possession of the field.
A BABY SHOW.
Probably the first baby show in Monmouth was held January 23, 1877, under the auspices of the Ladies' Aid Society. The affair took place in the south room in the Centennial block on South Main street and over forty of the finest babies in the world were entered for the prizes. The list follows:
For the prize for the finest blonde-Theo. E. Breed, Evan Porter, Downer Webb, Jimmy Eaton, Henry Nelson, Oral Dye, Carl Gampbell, Horace Mitchell, Gussie Eagle, Zelma Tinkham, Mabelle Chapin, Birdie Wallace, Nettie Mc- Cosh, Nellie McGaw, Missie Patton.
For the finest brunette-Archie Beecham, Ed- gar Moisan, Ruth Speakman, Ethel Snyder, Lu- cinda Johnson, Harry Swanson.
For the reddest head-Rose Keedle, Anna Gowdy.
For the best natured-Ira Boynton, Merton Gibson, Willis Mitchell, Edgar Moisan, Downer Webb, Ralph Hallam, Max Graham, Lucy Tre- sham, Birdie Wallace, Elsie Webb, Inez Bates, Katie Frantz, Susie Eilenberger.
For the handsomest-Willis Mitchell, John- ny Holliday, Robbie Johnson, Katie Frantz, Lizzie Cunningham, Birdie Wallace, Minnie Pat- ton, Mamie Frantz, Libbie Duer, Jennie Bates, Lucy Tresham, Anna Gowdy.
For the fattest-Willis Mitchell, Ralph Hal- lam, Hattie Whitcomb, Jimmy Child.
For the finest twins-Emma and Mary Gest.
The judges were Mrs. Chancy Hardin, Mrs. William Gibson, James Baldwin, DeLloyd Harding and M. C. Hamilton. They awarded the prizes as follows:
Finest blonde-Nettie McCosh, silver cup.
Finest brunette-Archie Beecham, silver cup. Handsomest baby-Mamie Frantz, silver plated knife, fork and spoon.
Best natured babies-Willis Mitchell and Lucy Tresham ,willow rocking chairs.
Fattest baby-Hattie Whitcomb, silver spoon. Reddest-haired baby-Anna Gowdy, silver spoon.
Blackest-eyed baby-Ruth Speakman, dozen photographs.
Finest twins-Emma and Mary Gest (only pair entered), dress pattern for each.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
Biographical Sketches of Residents of the
City of Monmouth. Prominent in Business and Professional Life.
ALLEN, JOHN CLAYTON; dry goods mer- chant, Monmouth, Warren County; was born in Hinesburg, Vt., February 14, 1860, a son of John H. and Elizabeth (Burns) Allen. After attending the public schools of his native place he pursued a course of study at the academy at New Haven, Vt. Upon attaining his majority, in 1881, he removed to Lincoln, Neb., whence he traveled for several years in the interests of Raymond Brothers & Co., wholesale grocers of Lincoln. In 1886 he embarked in business for himself as a general merchant at McCook, Neb., to which enterprise he devoted his time until the latter part of 1890.
During the first year of his residence in McCook he was elected a member of the City Council as the nominee of the Republican party, was reelected in 1887, 1888 and 1889, and in 1890 was elected to the Mayoralty, resigning the latter office in the fall of 1890, when he was elected Secretary of State of Nebraska and removed to Lincoln. His administration was conducted in a manner so creditable that he was renominated for the office in 1892 and re-elected, leading the entire Republican State ticket with 25,666 plurality, though he was opposed by the nominees of two other parties- the Democratic and the Populist. During the entire term of his residence in Nebraska he was closely identified with State politics, particu- larly in the Fifth Congressional District.
Mr. Allen's second term as Secretary of State expired January 1, 1895, and one year from that date he removed to Monmouth and pur- chased the dry goods store of Graham & Com- pany, the oldest house in that line of trade in Monmouth. Mr. Allen has been interested in other enterprises, notable among which may be mentioned his connection with the syndi- cate which located and promoted the town of LaPorte, Texas, in 1891. Fraternally he is identified with the B. P. O. E., the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America.
Mr. Allen has been twice married. August 1, 1881, he was wedded at Lincoln, Neb., to Abbie Stapleford, who died July 16, 1899, leav-
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
ing a son, Ralph Clayton Allen. January 30, 1902, he was married to Eudora Durell, daugh- ter of George L. Durell, of Vermont, Ill.
Since taking up his residence in Monmouth, Mr. Allen has devoted himself exclusively to his extensive and rapidly increasing business, and has come to be recognized as one of the most enterprising and sagacious merchants of Western Illinois. His establishment bears every indication of the progressive spirit of its proprietor. Though the years of his residence in Monmouth have not been many, the editors of this work feel that it is but just to accord him a permanent place in the history of the county as one of its representative and thor- oughly respected business men, and a citizen who is an honor to the community.
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ALLEN, FRED A .; manufacturer of sports- men's specialties, Monmouth, has been identi- fied with Monmouth for forty-two years, is a charter member of old Monmouth Engine Com- pany No. 1, and has witnessed and promoted the growth of the town from a little country village to a smart and prosperous city. A noteworthy fact in the life of Mr. Allen is that he has shot ducks from the door of the old courthouse. He was born in Springfield, Mass., November 28, 1838, a son of Adine and Theo- docia (Burbank) Allen. His father was born in Suffield, Conn., in 1794, a son of Alvin Allen, of Connecticut nativity, who was a lineal des- cendant of Ethan Allen of revolutionary fame, and was well known as a pilot on the Connecti- cut River, and was awarded a medal for saving the life of a boy. He died at Springfield, Mass., in 1878; his wife in 1886. Of their six children, Caroline, Clara, Mary and Jennie are dead, Louisa (Mrs. John Rogers) lives at Springfield, Mass., and Fred A. is the subject of this sketch. Jennie was the wife of L. E. Bachelder, a boot and shoe merchant of Boston. Fred A. Allen was reared and educated at Springfield and was a clerk in a wholesale house in Boston till 1859, when he prospected in Illinois and Colorado and began business at Monmouth as a buyer of grain on commission, in which capacity he busied himself until 1880, when he began mak- ing duck calls and other sportsmen's specialties for the trade. He made duck calls for private use as early as 1863, and his calls became so famous that a demand grew up for them in trade circles, and, as soon as he began to sup- ply it, it increased enormously and has ex-
tended to all parts of the civilized world-his calls being sold in Australia, India, Finland, VanDieman's Land and many other ยท foreign markets. His bow-folding oar, the manufac- ture of which he began in 1884, is the only oar of its kind on the market, and has sold exten- sively in all parts of the United States. Mr. Allen married, in Monmouth, in 1863, Amelia Adcock (now dead), who bore him two child- ren: Edward F., a farmer of Warren County, and George, of Chicago. His present wife was Martha Richey, daughter of John H. and Mis- souri Richey, of Monmouth.
ANDERSON, C. J .; engineer at city pump- ing station, Monmouth; is a native of Sweden, who possesses all those traits tending to good citizenship which have always made Swedes welcome in America. He was born in 1859, a son of Andrew and Bertha (Olson) Anderson. His father was born in 1808 and died in his native land in 1893, and his mother, born in 1816, still lives there. They had six children- E. O., S. I. and Axel, who live in Sweden; A. E., who died in Sweden; A. D., died in Henderson County, Ill., and C. J., the subject of this . sketch. The latter was reared and educated in Sweden, worked in a saw mill there until 1881, when he came to Henderson County, Ill., where he was employed as a stationary engineer. He came to Monmouth before the close of the year, was employed as an engineer by the Monmouth Pottery Company two years and a half, by the Kingman Plow Company one year and by W. S. Weir about twelve years. He succeeded George L. Joss in his present position about four years ago. Politically he is a Republican; is a member of Monmouth Lodge, No. 577, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he and his wife are members of the auxiliary degree of Rebekah, and he fraternizes with Camp No. 94, Modern Woodmen of America. At Gales- burg, February 26, 1885, he married Sophia Carlson, a native of Sweden and a daughter of Charley Carlson, who came to Galesburg in 1868 and worked there for the Brown Planter Manufacturing Company for many years until his death. Mrs. Anderson has borne her his- band two children named Frank A. and Ber- tha C.
ARMITAGE, B. F., Monmouth, Ill., Superin- tendent of Monmouth City Schools, is a native of West Brookfield, Mass., where he was born
813
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
in the year 1853. In 1880 he graduated from Dartmouth College, and later has been engaged in post graduate work in conection with the University of Chicago. In 1890 Mr. Armitage was married at Mattoon, Ill., to Miss Annie Wil- liams. In religious views he is a Congregation- alist, and in politics a Republican.
ARTHURS, JAMES C .; retired farmer; Mon- mouth; has prospered as a farmer, is influen- tial as a citizen; a veteran of the civil war and a member of George Crook Post, No. 81, Grand Army of the Republic; is also an active Repub- lican and a helpful member of the United Pres- byterian Church. He was born in Sumner Township, Warren County, November 30, 1841, a son of James F. and Elizabeth Ann (Car- michael) Arthurs. James F. Arthurs was born in North Carolina, Elizabeth Ann Carmichael in South Carolina, and they were married in Indiana in 1835. In 1836 they settled on a farm in Sumner Township, where Mrs. Arthurs died in 1879, and Mr. Arthurs in 1889. The follow- ing facts concerning their children will be of interest: William T. enlisted, August, 1861, in Company C, Thirty-sixth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was killed in the battle of Stone River and buried in the same grave with forty-one others of his company and regi- ment; Joseph W. enlisted at the same time in the same company and, at the end of three years, re-enlisted and served until the end of the war, and is living in Neosho County, Kan- sas; James C. was next in order of birth; Abraham V. enlisted in 1865, served during the few remaining months of the war and died the same year in Sumner Township. John C. lives on the family homestead in Sumner Township. Mrs. Nancy C. Giles lives at Lenox, Iowa. Mrs. Mary E. Copeland owns a part of the Arthurs homestead in Sumner Township. After reach- ing manhood, James C. Arthurs farmed in Sumner Township until 1005, when he enlisted in the Thirty-sixth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which was included in the Fourth Army Corps. He saw service at Huntsville, Ala., Nashville, Tenn., and New Orleans, La., and was mustered out of the service at Spring- field, Ill., October, 1865. Eventually he settled on a farm in Sumner Township, on which he lived until 1889, when he retired from active business life and removed to Monmouth. He married in Sumner Township, in 1869, Haddas- sah McCrery, who was born in that township, 813-9
a daughter of Gilbert and Mary (Foster) McCrery, South Carolinians, who settled there in 1836 and lived out their days there. Mr. and Mrs. Arthurs have one son, Fred A., who is married and lives on his father's farm. Mr. Arthurs' father, on or near the time of his coming to Warren County, helped to organize and was made Second Lieutenant of the com- pany which was maintained under discipline for several years for the purpose of affording protection against the Indians.
ATCHISON, J. A .; contractor and builder; Monmouth, Warren County, Illinois; is promi- nent as a Republican and as a citizen and is honored as a civil-war veteran. He was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, March 1, 1847, a son of David and Rebecca (McDonald) Atchi- son, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Ohio. David Atchison settled early in Ohio and was married there about 1830 and was a farmer until 1850, when he died. His widow died at Monmouth, April 16, 1865, two years after her removal to that place. The following facts concerning their children will be found interesting in this connection: Elizabeth died in infancy; James S., who was a soldier in the civil war, died in Guernsey County, Ohio; Nathaniel lives in Chicago; D. S. died age six- teen; Mary Ann died in Chicago in 1890. J. A. Atchison was reared and educated in Muskin- gum County, Ohio, and at the age of fifteen years came to Monmouth, where he learned the carpenter's trade and became a successful carpenter and builder. He enlisted, May 9th, 1864, in the One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry for one hundred days' service, was mustered into serv- ice at Quincy and was active in service until he was honorably discharged at Springfield, Illinois, on the 14th day of October, 1864. He is a member of McClanahan Post, No 330, Grand Army of the Republic, and is active in local politics. He married in Monmouth, in 1893, Mrs. M. S. (Mullen) Brown, a native of Pennsylvania.
BABCOCK, DRAPER, retired man of affairs; Monmouth, Warren County, was born in Wales, Mass., December 1, 1827. He was educated in the public schools of his na- tive town and, in 1842, came to Mon- mouth with his father and other mem-
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
bers of his family, the journey consuming a month's time. The elder Babcock opened a general store, and thus was established a busi- ness which was carried on under Babcock man- agement until 1892, when it was sold and the subject of this sketch retired after forty-eight years of continuous business career, during which long time he had always paid one hun- dred cents on the dollar. As an evidence of the confidence in which he was held by the public it may be stated that he was three times elected Treasurer of Warren County, which office he held from 1859 to 1865, and that dur- ing the civil war he was deputy United States collector of internal revenues for Warren County under Collector Grimshaw. In 1875 he was elected Mayor of Monmouth on a tem- perance ticket, and he was for many years a member of the City Council. For a long time he was a trustee of Monmouth College and he has been a trustee of the Warren County Library since it was founded. He was one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Monmouth, which, though it suspended, event- ually paid each depositor in full, including interest, and for a number of years was a di- rector in the Monmouth National Bank. He built the first elevator and warehouse in Mon- mouth in 1856, and was long an extensive dealer in grain and stock, storing grain, pack- ing pork and acting as express and freight agent. Mr. Babcock's great-grandfather in the paternal line, was Jeremiah Babcock, a native of Rhode Island, and his grandparents James and Tilda (Codington) Babcock, who were born, the one in Connecticut, the other in Wales, Mass. His grandparents in the mater- nal line were Draper and Persis (Wicker) Weld, natives of Berkshire County, Mass .; and his parents were Elijah Codington Babcock, a native of Wales, Mass., and Cynthia (Weld) Babcock, a native of Berkshire County, Mass. At Monmouth, December 22, 1852, Mr. Babcock married Mary Elliot, who has borne him four children: Edward C., Jennie O., Howard, and Lucius A. Mr. Babcock is president of the Warren County Old Settlers' Association. Po- litically he is a Republican and is a helpful member of the Baptist Church.
BARNUM, ORLANDO S .; retired merchant; Monmouth; was long a leader in the affairs of that city and won a business reputation of which his friends are justly proud. He was
born at Orwell, Oswego County, N. Y., Febru- ary 7, 1830, and was educated in common schools of his native town. He came with his father to Warren County and, July 17, 1844, settled in Tompkins Township, where he lived until 1865, since which he has made his home at Monmouth, where, for twenty-five years (1866-91), he was in the hardware trade, and during the same period was also actively en- gaged in farming and stock-raising. He filled the office of Supervisor of the city of Mon- mouth, and was for several years a School Trustee. During the early days of that organ- ization in Monmouth, he was President of the Young Men's Christian Association, but re- signed the office because of lack of time in which to properly attend to its duties. He was elected an honorary member of the Eighty-third Regi- ment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which was commanded by Colonel A. C. Harding, and is an honorary member of McClanahan Post, Grand Army of the Republic, being the first recipient of such an honor in Monmouth. He married, in Floyd Township, May 15, 1856, Harriet E. Allen, who died January 7, 1898. His grandparents in the paternal line were Seth and Abigail (Burss) Barnum, natives of Connecticut, the former having been born at Danbury. His grandparents in the maternal line were George and Martha (Pierce) Lan- phere, the latter a native of Schoharie County, New York. His parents were Ira and Polly (Lanphere) Barnum. His father was born at Danbury, Conn., November 7, 1798, and died in Warren County, January, 1883; his mother, born in Oneida County, N. Y., in 1802, died in Warren County, in 1874. Mr. Barnum was one of the three sons of his parents, the others being named George A. and Charles L. The latter was, during the civil war, a member of Colonel Harding's regiment. Mr. Barnum is a large land owner in Warren and Henderson Counties, and also owns and operates the Dell- vale stock ranch, Norton County, Kan. He was for many years Vice-President of the American Galloway Cattle Breeders Association, and was, for some years, one of the largest breeders of that breed of cattle in Illinois. He was one of the organizers of the Warren County Teachers' Association and its first President; was Presi- dent of the Monmouth Musical Association for several years; is a member of the Old Settlers' Association and its President, and is now one of the trustees. He has been a trustee of the
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
Warren County Library Association since its organization. He was one of the organizers and for some years President of the Retail Agricul- tural Implement Dealers' Association of Illin- ois. Fraternally he is a Mason. Mr. Barnum has always been ranked among the citizens of Mon- mouth who were ready with both counsel and money for the advancement of the city's wel- fare and progress. It is but just to say in con- clusion that, from beginning his business career by chopping wood for twenty-five cents a cord, there is probably no man in Warren County who has made a more eminent success in the business world, or who is more univers- ally esteemed. He has always affiliated with the Republican party and is a communicant of the Baptist Church.
BLAIR, DR. E. J .; was born at Cambridge, Ohio, April 25, 1854, a son of Samuel and Martha (McDowell) Blair, natives of Ireland, and of County Antrim. In the paternal line his great-grandparents were William and Mary Stuart Blair, natives of Scotland, and his grandparents were John and Margaret (Kell) Blair, natives of Ireland. In the maternal line his grandfather was Ephraim McDowell and his grandmother was Jennie Kell, both of Irish nativity. Dr. Blair's grandfather, John Blair, came to Oliio in 1827, and became possessed of a large tract of land near Cambridge, Guernsey County. He left a farm to each of his children, and the farm which descended to his son, Samuel Blair, is now the property of Samuel Blair's son, Dr. E. J. Blair. The McDowells located in Ohio, in 1837, when Dr. Blair's mother was seven years old, and since that time she has lived almost continually on or near the old Blair homestead. Doctor Blair
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