Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Part 151

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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course in Miss Alice Chapin's Training School for Kindergartners, spending part of the time in her school and part of the time teaching at home.

Miss Strong's first kindergarten was begun in her mother's dining room, in the Spring of 1879. In the Fall of that year, a pony and bas- ket phaeton was secured to bring the children from different parts of the town. This con- veyance was nick-named the "Kindergarten Clothes Basket."

In the Fall of 1880, Miss Strong's mother moved to Creston, Iowa, making it necessary to find other quarters for the school. Rooms were obtained over O. T. Johnson's store; but Main street was found to be an undesirable place for little children. Then apartments were obtained over the old fire-engine house on Prairie street, which proved to be less desir- able. All this time the kindergarten was mak- ing friends, and among whom was the Rev. Dr. Thain, pastor of the "Old First Church," It was he that secured for the school the First Church Chapel, where it remained for six years. From this time, may be dated the kin- dergarten's real success and recognition as a school.

In 1885, Miss Strong first began the training of public school teachers, who wished to use kindergarten methods in their work. Having never attended the public schools, she found that her lack of knowledge concerning grade work would be a barrier to her success. So she closed her school at the end of the Winter's term. in order to study the common school system. She took an agency in Iowa, canvass- ing half a day and visiting school the other half, until she became thoroughly acquainted with common school methods. She says: "This trip proved to be financially so success- ful that my friends urged me to give up teach- ing and accept a permanent position offered me by the firm for which I worked. I had no such thought, however, and September found me again in the schoolroom, with my little ones and my first Normal School."

In order that this school should be a suc- cess, permanent quarters must be obtained. The old Christian Church property was se- cured, and the church and the school occupied it in harmony for six years,-Miss Strong re- siding in the same building.

In 1890, Miss Strong took the initiatory step to form a "free kindergarten." A free kin- dergarten association was organized, composed of three members from each church in the city, and to-day this school is in successful operation.

Miss Strong is a living example of one who not only has pursued, but has acquired know]- edge under difficulties. With poor health and for many years prostrate upon a couch of pain and extreme suffering, she has risen to a height that the physically strong might envy. In this city she has done a noble work for the cause of education, and in the hearts of the people, she is not without honor. In her work, she is thorough, and never attempts to give

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instruction on subjects in which she is not well versed. She is gentle and kind, and her moral influence over children and others is great and of a highly exalted kind. In the cause of tem- perance, she has labored, and in 1894, she was elected a member of the Board of Education on the Woman's Christian Temperance Union ticket, which was endorsed by the general pub- lic. She was re-elected in 1897, with no op- position, although there were four tickets in the field. In religion, she is an earnest Christian, and for many years was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but later united with Central Congregational the Church. Her travels have been somewhat lim- ited and connected mostly with her work as a speaker on educational subjects. For educa- tion, for morality, for temperance, she has heen a faithful worker, and her reward is found in the universally expressed sentiment of all,-"Well done; good and faithful servant."

JOSIAH TILDEN.

Josiah Tilden is a "Green Mountain Boy." He is the son of Joseph Foster and Clemen- tine (Lyman) Tilden, and was born in Rochester, Vermont, February 14, 1830. His parents were natives of Hartford, Vermont, and were married in that town, January 16, 1828. After marriage, they lived in Rochester, until 1840, when they removed to Newbury in the same State, living there fourteen years. In April, 1854, they came to Galesburg, Illinois, where they resided until 1864. They then went to Rochester, New York, in order to make their home near a daughter who resided there. In early life, the father's occupation was that of a merchant, live-stock dealer, a wool-buyer and shipper. He was an industrious man and a good citizen.

The name Tilden is common in the County of Kent, England. At an early date, one of the "dens" or "dales" bore this name before the period of the adoption of surnames. The name is found in the will of John Tilden, of Benen- den, England, recorded September 12, 1463. He was born about the year 1400. Another of the name, Joseph Tilden, was one of the merchant adventurers of London, who fitted out the May- flower, and furnished quite a portion of the means which enabled her passengers to found and maintain the infant settlement in America.

Nathaniel Tilden, with his wife Lydia and seven children, came over in the ship Hercules in March, 1634. On the list of passengers, his name stands first, and the first conveyance of land, recorded at Scituate in the Massachu- setts Bay Colony, was made to him in 1628.

Another of the Tilden family, Stephen, mar- ried Hannah Little, of Plymouth, whose an- cestors came over in the Mayflower in 1620. One of the same name, Stephen Tilden, living in Lebanon, Connecticut, in 1724, moved to Hartford, Vermont, in 1767, settling near White River Junction. He purchased a proprietor's right of four hundred acres of land for two dollars and fifty cents. Afterwards, he bought

for his children several other proprietor's rights.

Josiah Tilden received the customary educa- tion given in the district schools of that early day, supplemented by a course in the seminary at Newbury, Vermont. He seemed to have the ability to extract much from little, for he is a well informed and a well educated man. After leaving school, his first occupation was clerk- ing in the store of Freeman and Henry Keyes in Newbury, where he remained six and a half years. His work was very laborious, and his wages were small. With the greatest economy and self denial, he scarcely saved enough to defray his expenses to Galesburg, Illinois,-a trip he had planned with a view of bettering his fortune. He came across Lake Michigan to Chicago; thence by "limited" canal to LaSalle; thence down the Illinois River to Peoria; and lastly by stage-coach to Galesburg, arriving, October, 1851, at the celebrated "Pal- mer House" which stood at the corner of Main and Cherry streets. After spending a little time visiting his sister, who was then Prin- cipal of the Ladies' Department of Knox Col- lege, he began to look around for employment. So poor was his success that he was on the point of returning East, when a fortunate op- portunity was offered him. The Central Mili- tary Tract Railroad Company employed him to open its accounts. Before this, no books had been opened, and the papers were kept in a box in a loose condition. Thus it may be said that Colonel Tilden was the first person to open the books of what has now become the great Bur- lington system.

On January 6, 1852, Colonel Tilden began clerking in the store of Silas and Warren Willard, situated on the southeast corner of the "Square" and Main street. He remained with them until March, 1853, when, with David Sanborn as partner, he bought the general stock of goods of William Butcher. This store was situated two or three doors east of the Willard store, and was known from the sign over the door as "Uncle Sam." This copart- nership continued for two and a half years, when Colonel Tilden sold out to Mr. Sanborn, and built a modern building, twenty-five by sixty feet, the finest store room then in Gales- burg. It was the first building with large glass in the windows, four to the window, and was rendered attractive thereby. He continued in the mercantile business until the Civil War broke out, when he sold out to Warren C. Willard.

Colonel Tilden's military record is a worthy one, and he is deserving great credit for the part he took in the War of the Rebellion. He was appointed Paymaster in the United States Army, May 27, 1863. His commission bears the signatures of Abraham Lincoln, and Edwin M. Stanton as Secretary of War. Hon. Owen Lovejoy, then member of Congress from this district, was the bearer of the document to him. During his service in the army, he paid to soldiers nearly ten million dollars. Colonel Tilden was one of eight paymasters, going on

H. Gmillinger.

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the steamer Ruth, August 4, 1863, to Vicksburg, Mississippi, with two million six hundred thou- sand dollars, when she was set on fire by a rebel and burned with all the money. His clerk, Simeon Martin, son of Deacon Martin, of this city, was drowned with about thirty others, among whom were two paymasters' clerks, who could not swim. Colonel Tilden swam ashore, saving nothing but the clothes he had on. It was midnight, and the struggle was with fire and water, and impenetrable darkness. The rebels had offered a prize for the destruction of United States boats. To counteract this, summary punishment was meted out to all when captured, who made the attempt. Without delay, a court-martial was held and the guilty one was loaded down with heavy pieces of iron, taken to the rear of the boat and commanded to swim ashore.

Colonel Tilden, during the war, had several very fortunate escapes from capture. At one time, at Springfield, Illinois, he had in the safe two hundred thousand dollars for payment to soldiers on the following day. The next morn- ing, he was to go to the camp to disburse this money. During the night his office was broken into, and his clerks, probably chloroformed, were robbed of about three hundred dollars of their own money. Colonel Tilden says: "The largest check I ever drew was two hun- dred eighty thousand dollars, and many others for large amounts. I remember well, coming over from Indianapolis to Springfield one night, bringing four hundred thousand dollars in two carpet satchels, tied up with a rope. I dressed in old clothes, my clerk carrying one satchel; and I, the other, to pay soldiers mustered out, and waiting for their pay. I felt a relief when I had turned it in at the First National Bank, Springfield, to Cashier Tracy, now President of the bank.

For three years of faithful service, and it might be said, for honesty and ability, he re- ceived a commission as Lieutenant Colonel, dated April 15, 1866, and signed by Andrew Johnson, President, and Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War. His certificate of non-in- debtedness and adjustment of accounts from the Second Comptroller of the Currency and E. B. French, Auditor, is dated, August 27, 1870.

Colonel Tilden, by his manliness and upright character, has won the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens generally. In some good degree, they have tried to repay him for his services in the field. May 6, 1867, he was ap- pointed Deputy United States Collector by William Kellogg, Collector, for the counties of Knox, Henry, and Bureau. At the end of one year, he resigned, went to Missouri, and bought 1.525 acres of land near Carthage. In the Spring of 1870, he moved there with his family and lived for twelve years. Impressed with the duty and responsibility of educating his chil- dren, he returned to Galesburg in 1882. Since his return, he was elected Justice of the Peace in April, 1884, and has been re-elected three terms, serving in that office thirteen years. He was also Secretary and Treasurer of the Gales-

burg Gas Company, owning stock in the same, which he sold when he went to Missouri.

Colonel Tilden is decisive and unswerving in his political views. When in Vermont in 1851, he voted the whig ticket. He has been identi- fied with the republican party since its or- ganization. He says: "I have voted that ticket first, last, and all the time." His travels in this country have been quite extensive having visited more than twenty-five States.

Colonel Tilden is a man of great moral worth. To his convictions and to his friends, he is true as steel. Double-mindedness is no element of his character, but firmness of pur- pose and stableness of action are his ruling traits. He is open hearted and frank, and despises all innuendoes and deceit. He is thor- oughly patriotic, and benevolent and charitable in his dealings with his fellow-men. In his church relations, he is a Congregationalist, and was one of the fifty-one persons that organized the "Brick Church" of Galesburg. He went to Boston with Warren C. Willard to invite Dr. Edward Beecher to become their pastor. In church, city, and county, he has acted a con- spicuous part, and the reward that comes from duty is his.

Colonel Tilden was united in marriage at Galesburg, Illinois, October 26, 1857, to Jean- nette Lucretia Abbott, born in Vernon, Con- necticut, June 3, 1836. The marriage ceremony was performed by the Rev. Edward Beecher, D. D. She was the daughter of Bickford and Amelia Abbott.

They have had seven children, four sons and three daughters-Emma, Edward, Alice, Jean- nette, Bertrand Josiah, Joseph Abbott, Earnest Lyman, and Amelia Clementine.

Emma, Edward, and Joseph Abbott are de- ceased.

GEORGE WALLACE THOMPSON.

George Wallace Thompson was born in the Dominion of Canada, near St. Mary's, Ontario, August 9, 1850. He is the son of Robert and Theresa (Lee) Thompson and was brought up on a farm. His parents came to Knox County in 1872, and are now living on a farm near the city of Galesburg. They were born in the northern part of England, and the father in his younger days was a stone-cutter.

Judge Thompson received the customary in- struction of the common school of his native town. Afterwards, he attended the grammar school at St. Mary's, working on the farm dur- ing summer. He then entered Upper Canada College at Toronto, and finally Toronto Uni- versity, where he took a full literary course. He graduated in 1874 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, winning a scholarship every year and a gold medal at graduation. By the labors of his own hands, he earned the means, principally, to meet the expenses of his college course. He read law while a student at col- lege, and afterwards, with William Davis in Galesburg He was admitted to the Bar in Iowa at Fort Madison in 1875 and practiced at Sibley, Iowa, for two years. In June, 1877,

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he came to Galesburg, and practiced uninter- ruptedly in the courts of knox County and the State, until he was elected to the office of Cir- cuit Judge.

His boyhood was passed on his father's Canada farm, which was stony and once heav- ily wooded. Early, he had a great fondness for books and a desire for learning. While attending the district school in winter, he bor- rowed books to begin the study of the classics; and while working on the farm during the day, he spent the early morning and the evening with a portion of the night in reading and study.

A chancery suit, involving his father's farm, was the immediate cause of Judge Thompson's removal from Iowa to Illinois. His first co- partnership was with Mr. Davis under the firm name of Davis and Thompson. This co-partner- ship was dissolved, and from 1883 to 1893, he practiced alone. Then the firm of Thompson and Shumway was established, and in 1896, that of Thompson, Shumway and Wasson. Judge Thompson remained a member of this firm until June, 1897, when he was elected Judge in the Ninth Judicial Circuit of Illinois, comprising the counties of Knox, Warren, Henderson, Hancock, McDonough, and Fulton.

Judge Thompson has never been an office- seeker. He has held but few offices. He was elected Alderman of the First Ward of the City of Galesburg in 1880, and held the office until 1884. He is a member of several societies and has filled important positions therein. He is a member of the Masonic Order, Oddfellows, and Knights of Pythias. He joined the Alpha Lodge of Masons in 1877, and was an officer continuously therein from 1878 to 1898. He was Worshipful Master four terms, and Eminent Commander of Galesburg Commandery the same length of time.

As a lawyer, Judge Thompson has always borne a very high reputation. His fame ex- panded and spread by reason of his intelligent management of cases at court, and his fair treatment of witnesses on the stand. He has always been sought after for his reliability and fair-mindedness and for his superior knowl- edge of common and statute law. As a Judge, he is known for his quickness of decision and impartiality. He is just in his citations of points of law, and has earned the respect and esteem of both counsellor and jury. As a citi- zen, he is kind and forbearing, and is worthy of public confidence. He is charitable in speech and act, is helpful in all needed re- forms and improvements, and never withholds a helping hand from the needy and suffering.

Judge Thompson is broad and liberal in his religious views. He belongs to no church, but is a regular attendant at the Baptist Church, of which his wife is a member. He is a strong republican, and has been identified with that party from the time he was old enough to cast his first vote.

He was married September 12, 1884, to Hettie Linsley, who was born at Galva, Henry Coun- ty, Illinois. She is a graduate of Knox College,

and was Librarian in the Galesburg Public Library five years prior to her marriage. Her father, James H. Linsley, up to 1899, was Road Master of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. With this road, he was connected for forty-six years.

Judge and Mrs. Thompson are the parents of three children: Alma C., Ruth L., and Wal- lace L.

FRANK DAVID THOMSON.

Frank David Thomson, Principal of the Galesburg High School, was born one half mile west of the Lapham bridge in Truro Township, Knox County, March 6, 1864. His parents were Presson Wheeler and Mary S. (Lapham) Thomson. They came to Illinois in 1851, soon after their marriage, and settled in Truro Township, where Mr. Thomson bought a saw- mill on Spoon River in 1853. He also worked a farm; and when in the later sixties the saw- mill was burned, he gave his entire attention to farming. Mr. Thomson was born in Ohio; his family were of New England stock. One brother, David Thomson, was a general in the Civil War. Presson Thomson was gifted with a genius for inventing; he was greatly inter- ested in all mechanical devices, was original in his ideas and, in his inventions, was far ahead of his time. Thus he invented a cultivator, a sulky and gang plow, a road scraper, a three- horse evener, a corn-planter and checkrow with original features which are highly com- mended. He is also endowed with a talent for music, and plays the violin. This musical abil- ity has been inherited in a remarkable degree by his five sons. Mr. Thomson served for sev- eral terms as Supervisor from Truro Township. Mrs. Thomson has always been entirely de- voted to her family; she is a woman of rare judgment and strong personality. Mrs. Thom- son's ambition has been to see her sons well educated, and respected men. Her father, Augustus Lapham, was of Welsh and English parentage. He was born in Rhode Island in 1806, settled in Marion County, Ohio, and then came to Illinois in 1851. He was the first Su- pervisor for Truro Township after Knox Coun- ty adopted township organization. He had three brothers, who, like himself, were teach- ers; two of them had attended Yale University.

In 1874, the Thomsons removed to Canton, Illinois, and in the following year to Yates City, where they now live. Frank D. Thomson spent his boyhood upon the farm. He lived an active, out-door life, and enjoyed nothing better than a ramble in company with his dog, or a boat-ride on the Spoon. Like his father he, too, is clever and ingenious in mechanical construc- tion. His mother's ambition, also, had taken possession of his mind, and he was early con- scious of the desire "to be somebody"-as he often heard his mother express it.

When a boy he attended the district school in Truro Township, the public schools in Can- ton and Yates City. During his High School course in the last named place, he studied un- der the principalship of Mr. W. L. Steele, now

John Van Ness Standish

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Superintendent of the Galesburg public schools. With the assistance of his brother, Leroy, Mr. Thomson was enabled to attend Knox College, receiving from that institution the de- gree of A. B. in 1892, and that of A. M. in 1895. When the latter degree was conferred, Mr. Thomson delivered, at the invitation of the col- lege, the Master's Oration. During his college course he united with the Christian Church at Galesburg. By the advice and with the ma- terial assistance of Mr. Albert J. Perry and Superintendent Steele, Mr. Thomson spent two years, 1892-4, in Baltimore at the John Hopkins University, making a special study of history, political science, economics, and sociology. While fortunate in having had the assistance of willing friends, Mr. Thomson, after all, owes the attainment of his education and his suc- cessful career largely to his own industry and pluck, for he belongs to that interesting group of young men who have a mind to help them- selves and the spirit to work their way. Ap- preciating the conditions of his own advance, it has been his pleasure to assist in his turn the brothers who have followed in his steps. Mr. Thomson's professional success has been rapid. He had charge of the village school at Douglas for three years; of the Yates City High School for two years, 1889-91, although he gained his first experience in teaching, as "Master" in the district school at Arkansas Corners, Truro Township, several years before. During the school year 1894-5, he was Principal of the Sumner School in Peoria, and then was called to the Principalship of the Galesburg High School, a position which he has held ever since.

On his coming to Galesburg the "elective sys- tem" was introduced into the High School and his work, together with that of an efficient corps of assistants, has been to show that this system can be effectively operated in a Hier School. His idea in education has been that the school should be of the greatest service to the greatest number, and that the "elective system," when properly handled, produces that result by adapting the school more easily to the needs of individuals who need the most help. Owing largely to the success of this plan the school has increased in number from 214 in 1895 to 495 in 1899. Mr. Thomson has been successful as an instructor and as an executive. and by both teachers and pupils is held in high esteem. For a number of years he has been employed as a teacher in summer institutes. He takes a just pride in the spirit of the insti- tution in which he works.

JOSEPH TONELLO.

Joseph Tonello, pastor of Saint Patrick's Church, Galesburg, commands the eminent re- spect of all who know him as a priest and as a citizen. He was born in Turin, Italy, March 16, 1851. His parents were Michael and Laura Giugia Tonello. His father carried on the busi- ness of a contractor. Roth parents were lovers of art and were especially proficient in music. They were exemplary Catholics, and it is told

of Laura Tonello that she was able to repeat in both Itanan and Latin all the Psalms, a great part of the Book of Job, the whole of Ruth, the four Gospels, and some of the Epis- tles of Saint Paul, besides other portions of the sacred writings. Of the earlier ancestry, the majority had followed a military career; both grandfathers served under Napoleon I., and one participated in the fateful campaign against Russia. Besides the soldiers, however, this family had produced several magistrates and artists, one of whom, La Tonello, was a fa- mous soprano in her time. One of his relatives was the well known Italian diplomat, Michael Tonello, who was commissioned by the Italian Government to negotiate with Pope Pius IX. for the unity of Italy.

The childhood of Joseph Tonello was spent for the most part at home, during the winters in town, during the summers among the Alps of Switzerland and Northern Italy. His asso- ciation was with artists and with those of artistic tastes. His own favorite recreation, even as a boy, were drawing and music. Be- fore the time came for military service, he at- tended the Gymnastic and Military School for seven years. His school training began with the Society of Christian Brothers, at the age of six. At nine he entered the public gym- nasium at Turin, and after completing the five years' course required in that institution, was admitted to the Lyceum, or College. He later became a student in the University of Turin, where he specialized in mathematics and archi- tecture. Following his course in the univer- sity, he traveled and studied in Switzerland, ap- plying himseif now more directly to the classics, to philosophy and modern languages. He finally became a student of theology and a member of the Order of Charity. In 1878, Father Tonello was ordained a priest and set- tled at Domodossola. In 1879, he was made Vice Rector in the college at that place, teach- ing various branches until his departure for this country in 1892. Upon his arrival in America, Father Tonello was employed for a time in missionary work among the poor min- ers; but in October, 1893, he was appointed to the charge of Saint Patrick's, where he has since remained.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Part 151

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