Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Part 130

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913; Gale, W. Shelden
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1388

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Complete surveys and estimates were made, and bids for construction called for, received and opened. But the cost was not sufficiently pro- vided for. The Rock Island contractors seemed slow in coming forward to take up the road as expected, and other connections were looked for.

The Aurora Branch Railroad had been char- tered in 1849, and under the charter a road con- structed from Aurora to a point on the Galena and Chicago road, thirty miles west of Chicago. The Central Military Tract Railroad, by length- ening its lines about one-half, might reach Aurora, thus securing a still more direct line to Chicago. Correspondence was begun with the Galena Railroad, but a change in the manage- ment of that company was then pending and interfered with definite action. The Burlington Directors of the Peoria and Oquawka road took great interest in the Central Military Tract line from its first inception. They regarded it as of more value to them, if a connection could be made with it, than the Peoria end of their own line. They tried, but without success, to effect an agreement between the two companies to connect at Galesburg, to act in concert, and to

In M. Clark.

649

KNOX COUNTY.

secure municipal aid for both roads from Knox County.

The Michigan Central and the Michigan Southern, originally planned to terminate on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, were in warm competition, each working westward, and each seeking a terminus in Chicago. The Cen- tral had secured an entrance by a combination with the Illinois Central, the Southern through the Rock Island. Its Rock Island connection gave that line the advantage as regards securing the south-bound travel on the Illinois and Mis- sissippi Rivers. The Central had a scheme to meet this competition by obtaining control of the Aurora Branch, with its running rights over the Galena road, and to extend its line forty miles, to the proposed line of the Illinois Cen- tral, north of LaSalle, and run trains from their depot in Chicago to the last named point. Gov- ernor Grimes, of Burlington, was informed of this plan while in Boston, and saw an oppor- tunity for the Central Military Tract Railroad. Finding Mr. Colton in Boston, they had an interview with the Michigan Central manage- ment, showed the advantage to be secured hy taking an interest in the Central Military Tract line and extending it to meet the proposed Aurora extension, and secured a promise that Mr. Joy, when going out to examine the Aurora Branch, would visit Galesburg. Word came to that city through William J. Selden, who traveled with Governor Grimes on his way home, that nothing should be done on the road till Mr. Joy arrived. Further explanation was had when Mr. Colton returned. While Mr. Joy was being awaited, Mr. Farnham and Norman B. Judd, the latter the attorney for the Rock Island Company, came to Galesburg to make arrangements for building the road. A month earlier they would have been gladly welcomed, but just then thelr proposition could be neither accepted nor rejected with safety. They were put off for a few days, on the plea that the Quincy people must be consulted and be com- mitted, in advance, to follow the lead taken by Galesburg, as it would never do to leave them free to make combinations with others, which might result in bringing a competing line into the territory. A committee was sent to Quincy, and secured an agreement that the two com- panles should stand together. Very soon after- ward Mr. Joy arrived. He was delighted with the country and its prospects. He proposed a reorganization of the company, an extension of its line to the line of the Illinois Central, there

to meet the Aurora extension. The men he represented would subscribe to the stock of both these roads the amount necessary for their construction, beyond the local subscriptions and the proceeds of such bonds as could, with profit to the stockholders, be placed on the roads. He urged an increase in the local subscriptions, however, in order that Eastern people might see that the country had sufficient wealth to support the road, and that the people on the line had enough interest in the road to secure its protection. His propositions were approved, and time given to make up the desired Increase. No great difficulty was found in securing the stock subscriptions, since it was thought that there was a certain profit to be made, and as Mr. Joy had given assurance that the instal- ments would be called for only as the work proceeded, that after twenty-five per cent of the amount had been paid the stock would be security for any additional instalments called for, and that the earnings would return the money within a few years. Among the large subscribers were: Silas Willard, and C. S. Colton, $25,000 each; Silvanus Ferris, Henry Ferris, James Bunce, Patrick Dunn, Enos Mc- Enlear, William J. Selden, and W. Selden Gale, $10,000 each; George W. Gale, $6,500.

At the time of his visit Mr. Joy was told of the understanding with the people of Quincy, and was induced to go over that route. He did not hesitate to give assurances that with such local aid as they were able to raise, he could find market for the securities necessary to build the line.

In January, 1852, acts were passed giving a new charter to the Central Military Tract Rall- road, with the right to connect with any road running towards Chicago; authorizing the Aurora Branch road to extend its line to a point at least fifteen miles north of LaSalle and connect with any road running north from that point: and changing its name to the Chicago and Aurora Railroad.

In the reorganization of the Central Military Tract Company, John W. Brooks, General Manager of the Michigan Central, was made President; John McPherson Berrien, Chief En- gineer; W. W. Duffield, Treasurer. The local Directors were from the large stockholders- Willard, Colton, Bunce, Selden and G. W. and W. S. Gale. The offices were opened at Prince- ton, work beginning at and progressing from the eastern end. It reached Galesburg in the latter part of December, 1854.

650

KNOX COUNTY.

The Chicago and Aurora and the Central Military Tract roads were then put under joint management, which method continued until their consolidation under the name of the Chl- cago, Burlington and Quincy, in 1856.

In 1854, negotiations were opened for aid to be extended by the allied roads to the Peorla and Oquawka, to be used in construction of its western division. An agreement was reached and a contract entered into at Monmouth. At that conference there were present James W. Brooks and James F. Joy, of Detroit; James W. Grimes and William F. Coolbaugh, of Burling- ton; George C. Bestor, of Peoria; Abner C. Harding and Ivory Quimby, of Monmouth, and W. Selden Gale. James Knox had promised to be present but failed to appear. Of these men the only one now living is Mr. Gale, the young- est of the company. The line of the road was to be re-established between Cameron and Knox- ville so as to connect with the Central Military Tract road at Galesburg, the people of that city to furnish four acres of ground for a depot. The allied roads would provide money to com- plete the western division, and were to remain in possession until the obligations were paid, accounting for net profits, and were to have continuous running rights over the road. Under that agreement the western division was com- pleted to Galesburg in 1855.

By 1856, the Peoria and Oquawka Company had completed the line from Galesburg to Peo- ria. In 1856, the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Company acquired title to the road from Peoria to Burlington by purchase of securities and process of foreclosure.

The construction of the Northern Cross Rail- road, from Quincy to Galesburg, which was be- gun in 1852, was completed in 1855, having been aided by the Chicago and Aurora and the Central Military Tract companies. Soon after completion it was placed under the manage- ment of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy, and was afterwards bought by that corporation at sale under foreclosure.

On November 11, 1870, the Rockford. Rock Island and St. Louis road was completed from Rock Island to St. Louis, at a cost of about $11,000,000, and on April 21, 1876, it passed un- der a foreclosure sale for $1,600,000 into the possession of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy. It runs for a few miles through Rio Township. To make connection with it the new owners, in the summer of 1880, built a branch line from Galesburg to Rio. In this year also

the double track from Chicago to Burlington was finished.

In 1860-61 the line running south of Yates City to the county line was completed under the charter of the Jacksonville and Savannah. (See Salem.)

In 1884, the new passenger station was fin- ished. It is a very large and handsome building, and reflects great credit upon both the railroad and the town.

The following table shows the growth of the line in reference to its importance in Knox County:

TRAINMEN EMPLOYED IN KNOX COUNTY.

Monthly

wages.

1856.

15 men

$ 575.00

1866.

141 men

7,252.61

1893.

943 men

61,072.00

1896.

700 men

60,000.00

1899. 741 men 54,476.00

Total number of men employed in Knox County:

Monthly

Year

Employed.

wages.

1893

2,030

$106,300.00

1896

1,400

96,000.00

1899

1,760

96,200.00

After the successful inception of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy system, various other roads were projected for this part of Illinois. In 1857, the Galesburg and Rock Island and the Galesburg and Muscatine roads were chartered, but were never built. The Court Creek Railroad was chartered in 1870, and Galesburg voted $100,000 in aid of the enterprise, but it, too, failed. In 1875, the Keokuk, Galesburg and Chicago Narrow Gauge was incorporated, and citizens of Knox County subscribed $75,000 towards it. But nothing ever came of any of these projects.

FULTON COUNTY NARROW GAUGE RAIL- ROAD.

In 1881, the Fulton County Extension Rail- way Company was incorporated, and work was soon begun, with the intention of building from Lewistown to the Mississippi River through Galesburg and Monmouth. But the line was finally completed (in 1882) only to Galesburg, and south to Havanna. It is now known as the Fulton County Narrow Gauge, and is mainly a coal road, carrying the product of the Fulton County mines.

GALESBURG AND GREAT EASTERN.

This road was incorporated April 7, 1894, as the Galesburg, Etherly and Eastern, with a cap-

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651

KNOX COUNTY.

ital stock of $150,000. The intention was to de- velop the coal beds of Copley and Victoria town- ahlps. The road, which was built in 1894, runs from Wataga, where it connects with the Chi- cago, Burlington and Quincy, about twelve miles east, and southeast to the village of Eth- erly, which was started because of the proposed road, and on to the coal lands of the Galesburg Coal Company. May 7, 1894, the road was mort- gaged to the Royal Trust Company. It was operated for a short time only, when the mort- gage was foreclosed, and there was simply a deserted road bed, until the summer of 1898. Then the mortgagees re-organized the com- pany. changed its name to the Galesburg and Great Eastern, completed the road to Victoria and Etherly, and put it in good running order. with new equipment. Trains are regularly run and the management contemplates extending the line from Wataga to Galesburg and east from Etherly to Lacon.

JOWA CENTRAL RAILROAD.

In 1879-80, the Peorla and Farmington Rail- road Company completed a line of road through Knox County. Soon afterward it was sold to the Central Iowa Company, and finally, through several transfers, came into the hands of the present company. It runs for about twelve miles through Cedar, Indian Point and Chest- nut townships, and has but two stations in Knox County, Abingdon and Hermon.

THE ROCK ISLAND AND PEORIA RAIL- ROAD.

The Rock Island and Peoria road is of but lit- tle importance to the county. It has no station in Knox, and runs for only two or three miles through Lynn Township.

COUNTY SCHOOLS.

The first school in Knox County was taught by Franklin B. Barber, at Henderson Grove, in 1830. The second was in Cherry Grove, taught by Robert Bell in the winter of 1832. These were decidedly primitive as regards both equipment and surrounding, and without much system or order. They were gotten up by the local resi- dents without reference to the rest of the county, and without regard to State law, simply for the rudimentary instruction of their own children. In each township the United States Government set off one section, generally No. 16, to be grant- ed to the State for school purposes, in consid- eration of the exemption of the government lands from taxation for five years after sale. The law of June 22, 1829, authorized the ap-

pointment by the County Commissioners of each county, of a School Commissioner. He was to sell these school sections for each township and 'nvest the proceeds for the benefit of the public schools. In 1831, the Knox County Commis- sioners first appointed A. D. Swarts; but he failed to qualify. In 1832, they appointed WII- liam McMurtry, who was certified September 14, 1854, by the County Clerk, as duly appointed and qualified. Two school trustees were also ap- pointed about this time for Henderson Town- ship. Theoretically, each township should have had then, as it has now, trustees to take charge of its school management. But for many years, while some townships had their trustees and treasurer, and managed their own affairs, others had only their lands, while their funds were managed by the County Commissioner.

The first school district was organized at Hen- derson Grove, in 1836, on petition addressed to the Commissioners, as is now done by petition to the township trustees. The second was in the Edgar district, embracing part of the southern end of Knox and Galesburg townships, and was organized in 1837. The third was the Abingdon district, including part of Indian Point and Cedar townships. By 1840, there were eighteen district schools, with a total attendance of four hundred and eighty-nine.

These were regular districts; but often schools were organized without any petition to the county authorities. In a sense, these were pri- vate schools, but they received public funds in proportion to the number of attendant pupils, just as those which were regularly organized. A pupil might attend the school of his choice, whether he lived in its special district or not, and the school received a pro rata payment from the fund of each township whence it had pupils. Hence, the ability of a teacher was shown, in a great measure, by the number of pupila in his school. The choice being unre- strained, it usually fell upon the best instructor.

The revenue of the public schools has always been derived from four sources. First, from the grants of Government land, one section in each township. The main duty of the early School Commissioners was to sell these lands and in- vest the proceeds for the benefit of the town- ship of which the section sold was part. The sales were made at public auction, and in some townships, as in Galesburg, where section 16 was within the city limits, the sums realized were large. In Henderson, one quarter of section 16 was occupied by a squatter. His neighbors

652

KNOX COUNTY.

thought he ought to be allowed to buy at the Government price, and so would not bid against him at the sale. Hence the township received only two hundred dollars for as fine a quar- ter as there was in Knox County. To-day every township receives some income from this source, the total amount for the county being a little less than $2,100.

The second source of revenue is the State fund, distributed among the counties on the basis of the number of persons of school age in each, as compared with the whole number of such persons in the State. This number bas grown smaller as Cook County's comparative growth has increased. In 1895, Knox County received $8,437.15 from the State. In 1874, the sum was $15,443.

The third source of income is the fines paid into the treasury by the Justices. This sum is comparatively small and unimportant.

The fourth and main source has always been the special tax levied for school purposes. The total expenditure in the county for all school purposes in 1895-6 was $173,419.28. The total value of all school property was $409,960.

The School Commissioner of the early days was an educational officer only to a very limited extent. He examined applicants for teachers' certificates and was present at the institutes and took an active part therein; but his main duties were financial. He did not visit schools, or assist in preparing courses of study; but he did sell the school lands and invest the pro- ceeds. William McMurtry resigned this posi- tion in 1840. In March following, C. K. Harvey was appointed to succeed him. The next Legis- lature made the office elective, and C. K. Harvey was chosen by ballot, August 2, 1841. There- after, the Commissioner was elected biennially, until the law of February 16, 1865, which abol- ished the office and provided for the election of a County Superintendent of Schools, who should hold office for four years. The Superintendent is really an educational officer. He grants the teachers' certificates, visits all the schools reg- ularly, and has supervision of the course of study.

The school lands have long since been sold, and the proceeds are in the hands of the town trustees, so that the sole financial duty im- posed upon this officer is the reception of the State fund, and its proportionate distribution among the townships.

Next to the Superintendent come the Town- ship Trustees, of whom there are three in each

town. Their term of office is three years, and one is elected annually. They appoint the Town Treasurer and have supervision of his work. The last named official has charge of all the school finances of his town. He loans the moneys and receives the State fund, and to him the Collector turns over the taxes. He pays out money on the order of the Directors. There are three Directors in each district, who are elected for three years, one being chosen every year. They engage the teachers, deter- mine the necessary tax levy for their district, build the school houses, and in general see to the immediate operation of the school. In place of these Directors, there are Boards of Educa- tion in Galesburg, Knoxville, and Oneida, who exercise all supervision and authority over the schools in their respective districts.

The methods of instruction are now uniform throughout the county. The course of study fol- lowed is the one recommended by the State Superintendent. It is believed that the Knox County schools equal those of any county in Illinois. The one weak point in the system, as administered, lies in the fact that the selec- tion of teachers rests wholly in the discretion of the Directors, who are often absolutely with- out knowledge of the fitness of the applicants who seek to teach. They are not infrequently guided in their selection by considerations of economy, and hire teachers simply for their cheapness. It follows that the latter are some- times very poorly qualified.

To increase the efficiency of the teachers and broaden their ideas by bringing them in contact with each other and with specialists in the various lines of teaching, a County Teachers' Institute is held annually by the County Super- intendent. The custom has been followed since 1856, when the first Institute was held at Knox- ville, October 21-24. J. H. Knapp was presiding officer, and the meeting is said to have been both profitable and enjoyable. Now the Insti- tutes are held during the summer vacation. Their main function is inspirational. The hest men possible are secured to talk on subjects connected with teaching, and the ideas pre- sented are then discussed by the assembled teachers. Local town Institutes are also some- times held by the County Superintendent, and their good effect is marked.

The report of Matthew Andrews, County Su- perintendent for the year ending June 30, 1896, contains the following statistics:

There are seven High Schools in Knox County,

Milton L. Comstock

653

KNOX COUNTY.

situated in Galesburg, Knoxville, Oneida, North Abingdon, South Abingdon, Yates City, and Wataga. The attendance is five hundred and fifty, and the number of teachers is seventeen. Only schools with a regular course of three or more years are reported as High Schools, and only those with more than one room are called graded. There are one hundred and eighty-six school buildings, of which twenty-one are of brick. There are twenty-four graded, and one hundred and sixty-two ungraded schools, in which are enrolled 9,157 pupils, taught by 327 teachers. The persons of school age in the county number 11,686. When it is remembered that, in addition to the public schools, there are elght private schools with 393 pupils, besides two large Catholic schools in Galesburg, and that the various colleges have well attended preparatory departments, it may be readily un- derstood why there are so few persons in Knox County between the ages of 12 and 21, who are unable to read and write.

THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC. "

During the Civil War there enlisted from Knox County 3,876 men, eighty-seven of them for one hundred days, and one hundred and seven for one year. Their names can be found in a pamphlet published under direction of the Memorial Hall Committee of the G. A. R. posts of Knox County in 1896. There also will be found a full account of the Memorial Hall given by Knox County, which is located on the third floor of the court house and which is under the immediate charge of Post No. 45, of Gales- . burg. There is space here only to say that in the hall are many relics of more than passing interest and that both the hall and the war museum are due to the efforts of the G. A. R. posts of this county.

In December, 1895, the members of the Gales- burg G. A. R. and W. R. C. determined that a soldiers' monument should be erected in Gales- burg, and Colonel Lew Ginger, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, was secured to come here and aid in raising funds. A fair was held in Company C's armory January 29-31, 1896, when nearly $1,850 was raised and a committee, com- posed of L. S. Lambert, L. W. Sanborn, Mrs. F. A. Blazer and Mrs. E. R. Mccullough, was ap- pointed to contract for a suitable monument. Hope Cemetery authorities gave the site, at the northeast corner of the cemetery, and about $45 was spent in improving the grounds. April 30, 1896, George Craig contracted to furnish the

monument for $1,800. The shaft was unveiled October 7, 1896, the exercises being presided over by Mrs. Mary McCaulla and W. G. Cochran, State Commanders respectively of the G. A. R. and W. R. C., and under the auspices of those organizations, of Galesburg. Robert T. Lincoln and Chauncey M. Depew were the speakers of the day. The monument is of gray Vermont granite, twenty-one feet high, including the base, and is admirably situated to bring out its beauty of design-the figure of a private soldier at "parade rest." It is both beautiful and ap- propriate and will long bear witness to the veneration of Galesburg for Knox County's "sons in blue."

James T. Shields Post No. 45, Galesburg, was instituted August 8, 1869, with thirty charter members. It was first organized as Galesburg Post, but was changed to the present name after the death of General Shields. Its first offi- cers were: Rowley Page, C .; James E. Hall, S. V. C .; D. W. Bradshaw, J. V. C .; S. F. Flint, Adjt .; C. B. Hyde, Q. M .; L. S. Lambert, Sec'y. The present officers are: R. I. Law, C .; H. F. Fritz, S. V. C .; T. G. Cook, J. V. C .; L. C. Way, Adjt .; Miron Rhodes, Q. M. The Post now has one hundred and fifty members.

Post No. 58, Abingdon, was instituted July 16, 1879, with thirty members, the number now be- ing fifty, who meet in Masonic Hall. The first officers were: C. W. Bassett, C .; A. M. Hopper, S. V. C .; G. M. Bowden. J. V. C .; J. H. Miller, A. M .; A. W. Cochrun, Adjt. The present officers are: S. D. Letheo, C; T. H. Roe, S. V. C; D. M. Wiley, J. V. C; A. D. Underwood, Q. M .; A. W. Cochrun, Adjt.

George W. Trafton Post No. 239, Knoxville, was instituted May 11, 1883, with thirty-six members which has since increased to sixty. Meetings are held in Charles' Hall, corner of Main and Mill streets. The first officers con- sisted of the following: J. C. McClanahan, C .; G. G. Stearns, S. V. C .; H. L. Clapp, J. V. C .; J. B. Tate, Q. M .; Charles Egan, Adjt. The present officers are: J. W. Tate, C .; George W. Witheral, S. V. C .; J. P. Rogers, J. V. C .; H. H. Beamer, Q. M .; H. L. Clapp, Adjt.

Hancock Post No. 552, Maquon, was organized January 26, 1886, with twenty-three members. The present officers are: Albert Smith, C .; John Jones, Adjt.

Morgan L. Smith Post No. 666, Yates City, had for its first officers the following: J. N. Burch, C .; William S. Kleckner, S. V. C .; B. F. Pittman, J. V. C .; J. B. Reed, Q. M .; J. O. Wren,

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Part 130

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913; Gale, W. Shelden Publication date: 1899 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1388

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913; Gale, W. Shelden
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1388