Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Part 79

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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NAPERVILLE, a city of Du Page County, on the west branch of the Du Page River and on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, 30 miles west-southwest of Chicago, and 9 miles east of Aurora. It has a hank, a weekly newspaper, and several churches; is also the seat of the North- western College, an institution founded in 1861 by the Evangelical Association. A normal school (a

department of the college) is also located here. Population (1880), 2,073; (1890), 2,216.

NAPLES, a town of Scott County, on the Illi- nois River and the Hannibal and Naples branch of the Wabash Railway, 21 miles west of Jackson- ville. Population (1880), 442; (1890), 452.

NASHVILLE, an incorporated city, the county- seat of Washington County, on the Centralia & Chester and the Louisville & Nashville Railways; is 120 miles south of Springfield and 50 miles east by south from St. Louis. It stands in a coal-pro- ducing and rich agricultural region. There are two coal mines within the corporate limits, and three large flouring mills do a considerable busi- ness. There are numerous churches, public schools, including a high school, a State bank, and four weekly papers. Population (1880), 2,222; (1890), 2,084.

NAUVOO, a city in Hancock County, at the head of the Lower Rapids on the Mississippi, between Fort Madison and Keokuk, Iowa. It was founded by the Mormons in 1840, and its early growth was rapid. After the expulsion of the "Saints" in 1846, it was settled by a colony of French Icarians, who introduced the culture of grapes on a large scale. They were a sort of communistic order, but their experiment did not prove a success, and in a few years they gave place to another class, the majority of the popu- lation now heing of German extraction. The chief industries are agriculture and horticulture. Large quantities of grapes and strawberries are raised and shipped, and considerable native wine is produced. Population (1880), 1,402; (1890), 1,208; (1894) estimated, 1,300. (See also Mor- mons.)

NAVIGABLE STREAMS (by Statute). Fol- lowing the example of the French explorers, who chiefly followed the water ways in their early explorations, the early permanent settlers of Illi- nois, not only settled, to a great extent, on the principal streams, but later took especial pains to maintain their navigable character by statute. This was, of course, partly due to the absence of improved highways, but also to the belief that, as the country developed. the streams would become extremely valuable, if not indispensable, especially in the transportation of heavy commod- ities. Accordingly, for the first quarter century after the organization of the State Government, one of the questions receiving the attention of the Legislature, at almost every session, was the enactment of laws affirming the navigability of certain streams now regarded as of little impor- tance, or utterly insignificant, as channels of

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transportation. Legislation of this character began with the first General Assembly (1819), and continued, at intervals, with reference to one or two of the more important interior rivers of the State, as late as 1867. Besides the Illinois and Wabash, still recognized as navigable streams, the following were made the subject of legislation of this character: Beaucoup Creek, a branch of the Big Muddy, in Perry and Jackson Counties (law of 1819); Big Bay, a tributary of the Ohio in Pope County (Acts of 1833); Big Muddy, to the junction of the East and West Forks in Jefferson County (1835), with various subsequent amendments; Big Vermilion, declared navigable (1831); Bon Pas, a branch of the Wabash, between Wabash and Edwards Coun- ties (1831) : Cache River, to main fork in Johnson County (1819) ; Des Plaines, declared navigable (1839); Embarras (1831), with various subsequent acts in reference to improvement; Fox River, declared navigable to the Wisconsin line (1840), and Fox River Navigation Company, incorpo- rated (1855): Kankakee and Iroquois Navigation & Manufacturing Company, incorporated (1847), with various changes and amendments (1851-65) ; Kaskaskia (or Okaw), declared navigable to a point in Fayette County north of Vandalia (1819), with various modifying acts (1823-67) ; Macoupin Creek, to Carrollton and Alton road (1837); Piasa, declared navigable in Jersey and Madison Counties (1861); Rock River Navigation Com- pany, incorporated (1841), with subsequent acts (1845-67); Sangamon River, declared navigable to Third Principal Meridian-east line of Sanga- mon County-(1822), and the North Fork of same to Champaign County (1845); Sny-Carty (a bayou of the Mississippi), declared navigable in Pike and Adams Counties (1859) ; Spoon River, navi- gable to Cameron's mill in Fulton County (1835), with various modifying acts (1845-53); Little Wabash Navigation Company, incorporated and river declared navigable to McCawley's bridge-probably in Clay County-(1826), with various subsequent acts making appropriations for its improvement; Skillet Fork (a branch of the Little Wabash), declared navigable to Slocum's Mill in Marion County (1837), and to Ridgway Mills (1846). Other acts passed at various times declared a number of unim- portant streams navigable, including Big Creek in Fulton County, Crooked Creek in Schuyler County, Lusk's Creek in Pope County, McKee's Creek in Pike County, Seven Mile Creek in Ogle County, besides a number of others" of similar character.

NEALE, THOMAS M., pioneer lawyer, was born in Fauquier County, Va., 1796; while yet a child removed with his parents to Bowling Green, Ky., and became a common soldier in the War of 1812; came to Springfield, Ill., in 1824, and began the practice of law; served as Colonel of a regi- ment raised in Sangamon and Morgan Counties for the Winnebago War (1827), and afterwards as Surveyor of Sangamon County, appointing Abraham Lincoln as his deputy. He also served as a Justice of the Peace, for a number of years, at Springfield. Died, August 7, 1840.

NEECE, William H., ex-Congressman, was born, Feb. 26, 1831, in what is now a part of Logan County, Ill., but which was then within the limits of Sangamon; was reared on a farm and attended the public schools in McDonough County ; studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1858, and has been ever since engaged in practice. His political career began in 1861, when he was chosen a member of the City Coun. cil of Macomb. In 1864 he was elected to the Legislature, and, in 1869, a member of the Con- stitutional Convention. In 1871 he was again elected to the lower house of the General Assem- bly, and, in 1878, to the State Senate. From 1883 to 1887 he represented the Eleventh Illinois Dis- trict in Congress, as a Democrat, but was defeated for re-election in 1890 by William H. Gest, Republican.

NEGROES. (See Slavery and Slave Laws.)

NEOGA, a village of Cumberland County, at the intersection of the Illinois Central and the Toledo, St. Louis & Kansas City Railways, 10 miles south- west of Charleston; has a bank, two newspapers, some manufactories, and ships considerable grain and live-stock. Population (1890), 829.

NEPONSET, a village and station on the Chi- cago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, in Bureau County, 4 miles southwest of Mendota. Popula- tion (1880), 652; (1890), 542.

NEW ALBANY & ST. LOUIS RAILWAY. (See Louisville, Evansville & St. Louis (Consoli- dated) Railroad.)

NEW ATHENS, a village of St. Clair County, on the St. Louis & Cairo "Short Line" (now Illi- nois Central) Railroad, at the crossing of the Kas- kaskia River, 31 miles southeast of St. Louis; has one newspaper and considerable grain trade. Population (1880), 603; (1890), 624.

NEW BERLIN, a village of Sangamon County, on the Wabash Railway, 17 miles west of Spring- field. Population (1880), 403; (1890), 494.

NEWBERRY LIBRARY, a large reference li- brary, located in Chicago, endowed by Walter L.

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Newberry, an early business man of Chicago, who left half of his estate (aggregating over $2,000,000) for the purpose. The property bequeathed was largely in real estate, which has since greatly in- creased in value. The library was established in temporary quarters in 1887, and the first section of a permanent building was opened in the autumn of 1893. By that time there had been accumulated about 160,000 books and pamphlets. A collection of nearly fifty portraits-chiefly of eminent Americans, including many citizens of Chicago-was presented to the library by G. P. A. Healy, a distinguished artist, since deceased. The site of the building occupies an entire block, and the original design contemplates a handsome front on each of the four streets, with a large rectangular court in the center. The section already completed is massive and imposing, and its interior is admirably adapted to the purposes of a library, and at the same time rich and beautiful. When completed, the building will have a capacity for four to six million volumes.

NEWBERRY, Walter C., ex-Congressman, was born at Sangerfield, Oneida County, N. Y., Dec. 23, 1835. Early in the Civil War he enlisted as a private, and rose, step by step, to a colonelcy, and was mustered out as Brevet Brigadier-General. In 1890 he was elected, as a Democrat. to represent the Fourth Illinois District in the Fifty-second Congress (1891-93). His home is in Chicago.

NEWBERRY, Walter L., merchant, banker and philanthropist, was born at East Windsor, Conn., Sept. 18, 1804, descended from English ancestry. He was President Jackson's personal appointee to the United States Military Academy at West Point, but was prevented from taking the exami- nation by sickness. Subsequently he embarked in business at Buffalo, N. Y., going to Detroit in 1828, and settling at Chicago in 1833. After engaging in general merchandising for several years, he turned his attention to banking, in which he accumulated a large fortune. He was a prominent and influential citizen, serving several terms as President of the Board of Edu- cation, and being, for six years, the President of the Chicago Historical Society. He died at sea, Nov. 6, 1868, leaving a large estate, one-half of which he devoted, by will, to the founding of a free reference library in Chicago. (See Newberry Library.)

NEW BOSTON, a city of Mercer County, on the Mississippi River, at the western terminus of the Galva and New Boston Division of the Chi- cago, Burlington & Quincy Railway. Population (1890), 445.

NEW BRIGHTON, a village of St. Clair County and suburb of East St. Louis. Population (1890), 868.

. NEW BURNSIDE, a village of Johnson County, on the Cairo Division of the Cleveland, Cincin- nati, Chicago & St. Louis Railway, 53 miles northeast of Cairo. Population (1880), 650; (1890), 596.

NEW DOUGLAS, a village in Madison County, on the Toledo, St. Louis & Kansas City Railroad; is the center of a rich farming region ; has one newspaper. Population (1880), 400; (1890), 555.

NEWELL, John, Railway President, was born at West Newbury, Mass., March 31, 1830, being directly descended from "Pilgrim" stock. At the age of 16 he entered the employment of the Cheshire Railroad in New Hampshire. Eighteen months later he was appointed an assistant engi- neer on the Vermont Central Railroad, and placed in charge of the construction of a 10-mile section of the line. His promotion was rapid, and, in 1850, he accepted a responsible position on the Champlain & St. Lawrence Railroad. From 1850 to 1856 he was engaged in making surveys for roads in Kentucky and New York, and, during the latter year, held the position of engineer of the Cairo City Company, of Cairo, Ill. In 1857 he entered the service of the Illinois Central Rail- road Company, as Division Engineer, where his remarkable success attracted the attention of the owners of the old Winona & St. Peter Railroad (now a part of the Chicago & Northwestern system), who tendered him the presidency. This he accepted, but, in 1864, was made President of the Cleveland & Toledo Railroad. Four years later, he accepted the position of General Superin- tendent and Chief Engineer of the New York Central Railroad, but resigned, in 1869, to become Vice-President of the Illinois Central Railroad. In 1871 he was elevated to the presidency, but retired in September, 1874, to accept the position of General Manager of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad, of which he was elected President, in May, 1883, and continued in office until the time of his death, which occurred at Youngstown, Ohio, August 25, 1894.

NEWHALL, (Dr.) Horatio, early physician and newspaper publisher, came from St. Louis, Mo., to Galena, Ill .. in 1827, and engaged in min- ing and smelting, but abandoned this business, the following year, for the practice of his profes- sion; soon afterward became interested in the publication of "The Miners' Journal," and still later in "The Galena Advertiser." with which Hooper Warren and Dr. Philleo were associated.

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In 1830 he became a Surgeon in the United States Army, and was stationed at Fort Winnebago, but retired from the service, in 1832, and returned to Galena. When the Black Hawk War broke. out he volunteered his services, and, by order of General Scott, was placed in charge of a military hospital at Galena, of which he had control until the close of the war. The difficulties of the posi- tion were increased by the appearance of the Asiatic cholera among the troops, but he seems to have discharged his duties with satisfaction to the military authorities. He enjoyed a wide reputation for professional ability, and had an extensive practice. Died, Sept. 19, 1870.

NEWMAN, a village of Douglas County, on the Indianapolis, Decatur & Western Railway, 52 miles east of Decatur; has a hank, a newspaper and an important trade in agricultural products and live-stock. Population (1880), 906; (1890), 990.

NEWSPAPERS, EARLY. The first newspaper published in the Northwest Territory, of which the present State of Illinois, at the time, com- posed a part, was "The Centinel of the Northwest Territory," established at Cincinnati by William Maxwell, the first issue appearing in November, 1793. This was also the first newspaper published west of the Allegheny Mountains. In 1796 it was sold to Edmund Freeman and assumed the name of "Freeman's Journal." Nathaniel Willis (grandfather of N. P. Willis, the poet) estab- lished "The Scioto Gazette," at Chillicothe, in 1796. "The Western Spy and Hamilton Gazette" was the third paper in Northwest Territory (also within the limits of Ohio), founded in 1799. Willis's paper became the organ of the Terri- torial Government on the removal of the capital to Chillicothe, in 1800.

The first newspaper in Indiana Territory (then including Illinois) was established by Elihu Stout at Vincennes, beginning publication, July 4, 1804. It took the name of "The Western Sun and Gen- eral Advertiser," but is now known as "The Western Sun," having had a continuous exist- ence for ninety-five years.

The first newspaper published in Illinois Terri- tory was "The Illinois Herald," but, owing to the absence of early files and other specific records, the date of its establishment has been involved in some doubt. Its founder was Matthew Dun- can (a brother of Joseph Duncan, who was after- wards a member of Congress and Governor of the State from 1834 to 1838), and its place of pub- lication Kaskaskia, at that time the Territorial capital. Duncan, who was a native of Kentucky,

brought a press and a primitive printer's outfit with him from that State. Gov. John Reynolds, who came as a boy to the "Illinois Country" in 1800, while it was still a part of the "Northwest Territory," in his "Pioneer History of Illinois," has fixed the date of the first issue of this paper in 1809, the same year in which Illinois was severed from Indiana Territory and placed under a separate Territorial Government. There is good reason, however, for believing that the Governor was mistaken in this statement. If Duncan brought his press to Illinois in 1809- which is probable-it does not seem to bave been employed at once in the publication of a news- paper, as Hooper Warren (the founder of the third paper established in Illinois) says it "was for years only used for the public printing." The earliest issue of "The Illinois Herald" known to be in existence, is No. 32 of Vol. II, and bears date, April 18, 1816. Calculating from these data, if the paper was issued continuously from its establishment, the date of the first issue would have been Sept. 6, 1814. Corroborative evidence of this is found in the fact that "The Missouri Gazette," the original of the old "Missouri Repub- lican" (now "The St. Louis Republic"), which was established in 1808, makes no mention of the Kaskaskia paper before 1814, although communi- cation between Kaskaskia and St. Louis was most intimate, and these two were, for several years, the only papers published west of Vin- cennes, Ind.

In August, 1817, "The Herald" was sold to Daniel P. Cook and Robert Blackwell, and the name of the paper was changed to "The Illinois Intelligencer." Cook-who had previously been Auditor of Public Accounts for the Territory, and afterwards became a Territorial Circuit Judge, the first Attorney-General under the new State Government, and, for eight years, served as the only Representative in Congress from Illinois- for a time officiated as editor of "The Intelli- gencer," while Blackwell (who had succeeded to the Auditorship) had charge of the publication. The size of the paper, which had been four pages of three wide columns to the page, was increased, by the new publishers, to four columns to the page. On the removal of the State capital to Vandalia, in 1820, "The Intelligencer" was removed thither also, and continued under its later name, afterwards becoming, after a change of management, an opponent of the scheme for the calling of a State Convention to revise the State Constitution with a view to making Illinois a slave State. (See Slavery and Slave Laws.)

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The second paper established on Illinois soil was "The Shawnee Chief," which began publica- tion at Shawneetown, Sept. 5, 1818, with Henry Eddy-who afterwards became a prominent law- yer of Southern Illinois-as its editor. The name of "The Chief" was soon afterwards changed to "The Illinois Emigrant," and some years later, became "The Shawneetown Gazette." Among others who were associated with the Shawnee- town paper, in early days, was James Hall, after- wards a Circuit Judge and State Treasurer, and, without doubt, the most prolific and popular writer of his day in Illinois. Later, he estab- lished "The Illinois Magazine" at Vandalia, sub- sequently removed to Cincinnati, and issued under the name of "The Western Monthly Magazine." He was also a frequent contributor to other maga- zines of that period, and author of several vol- umes, including "Legends of the West" and "Border Tales." During the contest over the slavery question, in 1823-24, "The Gazette" rendered valuable service to the anti-slavery party by the publication of articles in opposition to the Convention scheme, from the pen of Morris Birkbeck and others.

The third Illinois paper-and, in 1823-24, the strongest and most influential opponent of the scheme for establishing slavery in Illinois-was "The Edwardsville Spectator," which began pub- lication at Edwardsville, Madison County, May 23, 1819. Hooper Warren was the publisher and responsible editor, though he received valuable aid from the pens of Governor Coles, George Churchill, Rev. Thomas Lippincott, Judge Samuel D. Lockwood, Morris Birkbeck and others. (See Warren, Hooper.) Warren sold "The Spectator" to Rev. Thomas Lippincott in 1825, and was afterwards associated with papers at Springfield, Galena, Chicago and elsewhere.

The agitation of the slavery question (in part, at least) led to the establishment of two new papers in 1822. The first of these was "The Republican Advocate," which began publication at Kaskaskia, in April of that year, under the management of Elias Kent Kane, then an aspir- ant to the United States Senatorship. After his election to that office in 1824, "The Advocate" passed into the hands of Robert K. Fleming, who, after a period of suspension, established "The Kaskaskia Recorder," but, a year or two later, removed to Vandalia. "The Star of the West" was established at Edwardsville, as an opponent of Warren's "Spectator." the first issue making its appearance, Sept. 14, 1822, with Theophilus W. Smith, afterwards a Justice of the Supreme

Court, as its reputed editor. A few months later it passed into new hands, and, in August, 1823, assumed the name of "The Illinois Republican." Both "The Republican Advocate" and "The Illinois Republican" were zealous organs of the pro-slavery party.

With the settlement of the slavery question in Illinois, by the election of 1824, Illinois journal- ism may be said to have entered upon a new era. At the close of this first period there were only five papers published in the State-all established within a period of ten years; and one of these ("The Illinois Republican," at Edwardsville) promptly ceased publication on the settlement of the slavery question in opposition to the views which it had advocated. The next period of fif- teen years (1825-40) was prolific in the establish- ment of new newspaper ventures, as might be expected from the rapid increase of the State in population, and the development in the art of printing during the same period. "The Western Sun," established at Belleville (according to one report, in December, 1825, and according to another, in the winter of 1827-28) hy Dr. Joseph Green, appears to have been the first paper pub- lished in St. Clair County. This was followed by "The Pioneer," hegun, April 25, 1829, at Rock Spring, St. Clair County, with the indomitable Dr. John M. Peck, author of "Peck's Gazetteer," as its editor. It was removed in 1836 to Upper Alton, when it took the name of "The Western Pioneer and Baptist Banner." Previous to this, however, Hooper Warren, having come into pos- session of the material upon which he had printed "The Edwardsville Spectator," removed it to Springfield, and, in the winter of 1826-27, began the publication of the first paper at the present State capital, which he named "The Sangamo Gazette." It'had but a brief existence. During 1830, George Forquer, then Attorney-General of the State, in conjunction with his half-brother, Thomas Ford (afterwards Governor), was engaged in the publication of a paper called "The Cour- ier," at Springfield, which was continued only a short time. The earliest paper north of Spring- field appears to have been "The Hennepin Jour- nal," which began publication, Sept. 15, 1827. "The Sangamo Journal" -now "The Illinois State Journal," and the oldest paper of continu- ous existence in the State-was established at Springfield by Simeon and Josiah Francis (cous- ins from Connecticut), the first issue bearing date, Nov. 10, 1831. Before the close of the same year James G. Edwards, afterwards the founder of "The Burlington (Iowa) Hawkeye," began the

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publication of "The Illinois Patriot" at Jackson- ville. Another paper, established the same year, was "The Gazette" at Vandalia, then the State capital. (See Forquer, George; Ford, Thomas; Francis, Simeon.)

At this early date the development of the lead mines about Galena had made that place a center of great business activity. On July 8, 1828, James Jones commenced the issue of "The Miners' Journal," the first paper at Galena. Jones died of cholera in 1833, and his paper passed into other hands. July 20, 1829, "The Galena Adver- tiser and Upper Mississippi Herald" began pub- lication, with Drs. Horatio Newhall and Addison Philleo as editors, and Hooper Warren as pub- lisher, but appears to have been discontinued before the expiration of its first year. "The Galenian" was established as a Democratic paper by Philleo, in May, 1832, but ceased publication in September, 1836. "The Northwestern Gazette and Galena Advertiser," founded in November, 1834, by Loring and Bartlett (the last named afterwards one of the founders of "The Quincy Whig"), has had a continuous existence, being now known as "The Galena Advertiser." Beuja- min Mills, one of the most brilliant lawyers of his time, was editor of this paper during a part of the first year of its publication.

Robert K. Fleming, who has already been mentioned as the successor of Elias Kent Kane in the publication of "The Republican Advocate," at Kaskaskia, later published a paper for a short time at Vandalia, but, in 1827, removed his establishment to Edwardsville, where he began the publication of "The Corrector." The latter was continued a little over a year, when it was suspended. He then resumed the publication of "The Recorder" at Kaskaskia. In December, 1833, he removed to Belleville and began the pub- lication of "The St. Clair Gazette," which after- wards passed, through various changes of owners, under the names of "The St. Clair Mercury" and "Representative and Gazette." This was suc- ceeded, in 1839, by "The Belleville Advocate," which has been published continuously to the present time.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Part 79

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