USA > Illinois > McLean County > Normal > History of Bloomington and Normal, in McLean County, Illinois > Part 20
USA > Illinois > McLean County > Bloomington > History of Bloomington and Normal, in McLean County, Illinois > Part 20
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Our work is not complete without an appropriate tribute to Mr. Jesse W. Fell, to whom, more than to any other person, Normal is indebted for its existence, for its beautiful trees and for the most of real public worth and value that it contains. We are recording public events and speaking for a thankful, proud and generous public heart. We are well aware that Mr. Fell enjoins silence on the part of public chroniclers ; that he modestly prefers no panegyric to his name and fame, but we insist upon making, here in this, albeit, weak, formal manner, a general acknowledgment of the public appreciation of the life-long labors of Jesse W. Fell. We will accept his disclaimer of his selfish motives in bringing together at Normal as many good influences as possible, but we must insist that we are thankful to acknowledge he had the nobility of heart to conceive, and the manhood and ability to carry into effect, no plans except those which were good ones; no projects but those whose success should inure to the happiness and welfare of his fellow-men. Happy the man who had the head and heart to realize that his own self-interest would be best subserved by engaging himself and others in enterprises like those which have been consummated at Normal. Thankful we are also that Mr. Fell took delight in planting trees ; that in this occupation he was
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happy and at home ; and that in other respects he planned and managed in the interests of public education, sobriety, morality and humanity.
If we may be permitted, we wish to call attention to the magnificent park which surrounds Mr. Fell's residence. Here he gave scope to his passion for artistic shrub- bery, his love for elegant groups of beautiful trees, his fancy for such ornamentation as comes from the most skillful arrangement of all the different trees that will grow in this latitude. This park is a lasting monument to its originator, and is a possession shared by the public almost equally with its owner.
CHURCHES.
The residents of Normal Township attended the different churches in Blooming- ton until several years after the village had been started. The first religious services in the village were held in the University building in the winter of 1860-61. This was the first year of its occupancy, and during this winter there were Sabbath-afternoon union services, the different pastors of Bloomington being employed in regular rotation. This continued for some time and gave good satisfaction until the village had grown large enough to begin to have enough permanent inhabitants to form churches of the leading denominations, when the Congregationalists and Methodists took steps to organ- ize their respective churches, followed soon after by the Baptists, Presbyterians and Christians. There are a large number of families in Normal who are connected with churches in Bloomington, and who help swell the numbers included in the churches of that city. In this particular, as in several others, we find it very difficult to separate the interests of the two communities.
The First Baptist Church of Normal was organized July 13, 1866, with thirty members. Rev. John H. Kent, from Holyoke, Mass., was the first Pastor. They built a small frame chapel, 26x40 feet, which they occupied for about three years, when this, from the rapid increase of membership, became too small for them. In 1871, they erected a fine brick house, 40x70 feet, costing $15,000, which they now ocenpy. The number of members that have united with them since their organization is 286. The present number is 158. The Church is now in a prosperous condition. They have a large Sabbath school, which is well sustained, besides a mission school at the West Side, which is on the increase. Their present Pastor is Rev. S. B. Gilbert.
The Christian Church was organized in April, 1873. The first Pastor was Rev. S. M. Connor. There were only about twenty members at that date, while at present there are one hundred and forty. Its present Pastor is N. A. Walker. Its church-building was erected in 1873, and is a very comfortable and creditable structure. Its Elders are H. G. Fisher, JJohn Gregory and Isaiah Dillon.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized 'September, 1865. Rev. C. D. James was the first Pastor. The church-building was begun in 1866, and, in the fol- lowing winter, the basement was ready for occupancy. The church was dedicated Jan - ary 7, 1868. The membership at the time of organization was 32; present number, 175. The present Pastor is the Rev. George M. Irvin, who was appointed in 1878. The building is of brick, of fine design, with one tower 60 feet high, and another 119, and is one of the ornaments of Normal. Its cost was over $16,000. The Sabbath school is very flourishing, there being nearly two hundred in attendance. The Society was transferred to the Central Illinois Conference in 1872.
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The Presbyterian Church of Normal was organized by the Presbytery of Bloom- ington July 3. 1868, with only ten members. The church is at the corner of Linden and Cherry streets. It was built in 1871 at a cost of about $2,500. It was dedicated February 17, 1872. At present it has about seventy members and maintains a good Sabbathı school. Its first Pastor was the Rev. S. Hart, who remained until May, 1872, when his place was supplied by Rev. Dr. S. Wilson, who officiated three years. Rev. W. L. Boyd is the present Pastor.
The first church-building erected by the Congregational Church was dedicated June 23, 1867. The Church had been organized several years previously-some time in the spring of 1865-having met for some time in the University building. Its first church was a very beautiful structure, having cost with the parsonage adjoining over $15,000. It was destroyed by fire May 30, 1873. The total loss on buildings and furniture was $18,000; insured for $7,700. This fire was a very severe blow to the Church, but, on the 12th of September, 1879, it dedicated a new structure. The Church contains at present about ninety members. Its Pastor is the Rev. Albert Etheridge. It is probable that no other church in Bloomington or Normal has ever survived as heavy a loss as this one has experienced.
NORMAL PUBLIC SCHOOL.
We have mentioned that the first school in Normal was probably the one taught in 1855, in a small building situated a little southeast of the residence of Mr. Jesse W. Fell, upon what is known on the plat of North Bloomington as Seminary Block. There were about fifteen children in this school. Its first teacher was Miss Brown, who is still living in Normal. She is a sister of Mrs. Walker. Mr. P. C. W. Lyman was the next teacher, followed by a very young man named William O. Davis, who is now proprietor of the Bloomington Pantagraph. When the Normal institution was opened at Nor- mal in the fall of 1860, the children of what was known as District No. 2, embracing a portion of what is now the corporation and school district of Normal were all admitted to the Model School of the Normal, an arrangement having been effected by which the public funds of the district were used to defray, in part, the expenses of the Model Department. We quote the following from President Edwards' decennial address, delivered at Normal June 27, 1872 :
The Grammar School, as a separate department, was organized in September, 1866. Pre- vious to that time, the Model School was entirely under the supervision of the Principal of the High School. All this time, too, the school had included all the children of school age, in Dis- triet No. 2 of the town of Normal. But as the village increased, and the number of children multiplied, the rooms at the University became too small for their accommodation. Accordingly. a schoolhouse was built by the district, and, in April, 1867, the grammar and intermediate grades of the Model School were removed to the new building. While these grades were yet in the University Building, Mr. E. P. Burlingham, then of Geneseo, was appointed to conduct the grammar grade. But the first Principal in the new building was Mr. John W. Cook. He con- tinned in the position for two years, and was succeeded in September, 1868, by Mr. Joseph Carter. Under these two gentlemen, the grammar school became a popular and efficient insti- tution-well graded, thoroughly organized and marked by a vigorous and positive power. At the beginning of Mr. Carter's principalship, the arrangement by which the children of school- age belonging to Distriet No. 2 of the town of Normal had been taught in the Model School was annulled by a vote of the Board of Education of the State of Illinois, and the University ceased to exercise control over the new building erected by the district. For the last two years, the grammar grade has been conducted by MIr. B. W. Baker, a representative of Southern Illinois, and a graduate of the University in the year 1870.
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This school has been held, since the date given, by Mr. Edwards, in the new brick school-building, which is such evidence of the good taste and refinement of the inhab- itants of Normal. Its cost was $16,000. The Normal public school, in 1879, num- bered 650 pupils. Nine teachers are employed in the different grades. Its Principal is A. C. Butler.
INCORPORATED COMPANIES.
The Bloomington and Normal Street Railway Company, was organized in the spring of 1867. Before the selection of its route there was a good deal of excitement. At one time, when the Legislature was voting upon the charter of the proposed line, there was a prospect that the State Industrial College would be located at Normal. Had the location been made, the College was to have been placed just north of the Chicago & Alton Railroad, on the west side of Main street. "This would have fixed the street railroad upon Main street or some one not far off. When the time came for organiza- tion and location, there was quite a strife for the line a few blocks east of the street selected, as well as for the Main street route. The road was organized under a special charter. It was finished in the fall of 1867. At first "dummy" engines were run between Normal and the city limits of Bloomington, but after about two years' trial these engines were sold and the more reliable mule was substituted. The road is still owned by a corporation, but as Mr. Asa H. Moore possesses nearly the whole of the stock, he can be reported as being practically the full Board of Officers. We under- stand there is no great profit in the property, but Mr. Moore keeps it in good shape for the publie accommodation.
The Bloomington Stove Company's shops are in the limits of the town of Normal, and a large portion of the Chicago & Alton Company's repair-shops, as well as their rolling-mill, but these matters will properly be treated in the city of Bloomington.
The Empire Machine-Shops in the south part of the township, were organized at first as a company, but have now become private property, and are managed by W. F. Flagg, whose money in the first place mostly built and operated the whole concern.
RESURVEY OF NORMAL.
From the earliest settlement of Normal Township, there were grave troubles aris- ing from the location of section and half-section corners. The lines of the different farms and the proper position of roads could scarcely be permanently placed, as each new surveyor would find errors in the previous survey. The trouble seemed to be that only the outside or township lines were ever properly fixed by the Government Sur- veyors. They perhaps drove stakes to indicate the section and half-section lines, but placed no stones at these corners. There being no trees and no permanent corners, in the course of a few years the fires had destroyed all boundaries. The first settlers did the best they could, and lines and corners were established in various ways, causing never-ending confusion. Some sections would over-run, others fall short of the proper amount. Finally, in June, 1861, in locating the schoolhouse in the Overman district, such grave errors in existing lines were demonstrated that, in the course of a few years the owners of property came to the conclusion that they would abide by a resurvey, to be made under provisions of an act of the Legislature. This act was obtained in the winter of 1864 and 1865. It provided a commission of three-A. T. Risley, of Macon County ; John McGrew, of De Witt, and Z. A. Enos, of Sangamon. This commission,
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in the fall of 1865, assisted by George P. Ela, of Bloomington, proceeded to survey and re-establish the lines of the whole township, placing them as near where they had been before as was practicable, and the result has been tolerably satisfactory. Each owner was made a party to the case by advertisement, before the survey commenced, causing the publication of an immense list of names. The cost-about $3,000-was paid by the owners of the land. Appeals might be taken from this commission to the courts. All such as were carried to the Supreme Court, were settled by a decision which sustained the law.
INCIDENTS.
When the Illinois Central Railroad was constructed, the bridge over the south branch of Sugar Creek, not far north of the Empire Machine Works, was built of brick, in the shape of an arch, on the top of which was a high embankment. The long con- tinued rains of the spring of 1858, softened this mass of earth, and it rested with a heavy pressure upon the brick arch underneath, which must have been of faulty construction, as it was designed to carry the load with safety. One night, in the month of May or June, the brick-work fell, allowing the embankment thereon to drop into the creek. This, of course, created a dam, and, as a large amount of water was flowing at. the time, it soon rose nearly as high as the impediment, which was probably at least fifteen feet. This water backed up and overflowed the farms east, rising in some cases into houses, frightening the sleeping inmates nearly to death. As soon as the pressure became sufficient, the water broke through the embankment, carrying onward with resistless fury large masses of masonry and earth, in some cases, lumps that would weigh half a ton, being moved a quarter of a mile. No lives were lost.
In 1867, the Normal Hotel, situated near the depot, was built by W. A. Pennell, Jesse W. Fell and others, and cost, furnished, about $25,000. It was well kept, was a great favorite, and in every respect a credit to Normal. It burned in the winter of 1872, and its loss has been severely felt by Normal. The insurance on the property was about $10,000, and much of it has been in litigation ever since the fire. The depot was destroyed at the same time, its burning being, in fact, the cause of the hotel fire. A foundry was built at Normal at the time of the erection of the Normal School building, which furnished some of the iron-work for that institution, but the enterprise failed, and entailed a loss of about $4,000, the most of which Mr. Fell sustained.
Another foundry, with a stove and furnace manufactory combined, built here in the spring of 1877, was only able to survive a few short weeks.
Normal is abundantly supplied with good water, not yet utilized, but known to exist in large quantities under ground. The well at the Orphans' Home is one of the best in the State. It is 112 feet deep, and furnishes an abundant supply. The well is tubed with iron, and the tube is three feet in diameter. An engine lifts the water to the surface, where another forces it to the Home, and the engine there pumps so much as is needed to the tank in the upper part of the building, and also performs other work.
Normal is well known all over the West as the home of the Dillons, who have imported so many valuable Norman horses from France. Their stables are well built, and are at any time worth a visit, often containing single horses that sell at from $1,000 to $4,000 Their stock is known in market as " Normans " or " Percheron Normans," from Percheron and Normandy, in France, where the Dillons make annual trips to select the best animals that can be purchased.
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THE WAR FOR THE UNION.
Normal labors under the great disadvantage of having lost a large portion of its mili- tary glory. from its proximity to Bloomington, which city has appropriated to itself with- out effort, by the natural force of circumstances, much of the military credit of Normal.
Whenever regiments, companies or squads of soldiers were being made up in Bloomington, Normal and the adjoining towns helped swell the ranks, regardless of the little matter of credit. Many of the volunteers obtained their mail at Bloomington, there having been no post office at Normal until the war was well under way, and, from this fact, gave Bloomington as their home when the muster-rolls were being compiled, and hence the poor showing made at first by the new town of Normal. The fact remains, however, that its residents were fully as patriotic as those of Bloomington, and when the result of the loose method of crediting was discovered, in 1864 and 1865, and it was seen that the township would need to bestir itself to furnish its quota of volunteers, the most vigorous efforts were made, with great success. The township raised by sub- scription a large sum of money, and it was given to volunteers who would accept of the large county bounty, with an additional sum from Normal, often as much as $50, and, by carnest work, the town's quota was always raised, and no draft was ever necessary. Hlad the matter of credit been thought of in 1861, Normal could very readily have secured the large number of its citizens who were credited to Bloomington, and would have shown a surplus over all calls.
The history of the famous Normal, or Thirty-third Illinois, Regiment, should be touched upon in this article, as it is of interest to our narrative. In April, 1861, when the war commenced, Joseph G. Howell, who was then Principal of the Model School at Normal, volunteered, with four or five of the students of the University.
Howell was killed at Fort Donelson. On his departure from Normal, with several of the students mentioned, there was a probability that nearly all of the remainder would enlist before the end of the spring term. Had this happened, they would have been scattered through different commands, of little assistance to each other, and would have made no record for the institution of which they were members.
Mr. Hovey, the President, in order to hold the school together awhile longer, pro- cured a drillmaster-Capt. White-and a military company was formed for daily prac- tice and drill.
By the end of the term, July 4, 1861, this company had become well disciplined, and had formed plans for enlisting in a body as soon as an opportunity should be found.
About the middle of July, Mr. Hovey went to Washington, and offered to raise a whole regiment of students, teachers and educational men. His offer received no attention for several days; but while he was waiting for an answer, Bull Run spoke in besecching tones for volunteers, and the day after that disastrous battle, his regiment was gladly accepted by the Secretary of War.
Mr. Hovey returned to Normal, now Colonel. and proceeded to organize the regiment. He called on the educational men of the State with such success that by the first of September his regiment was at Springfield with nearly its full comple- ment of men. Company A, its first company, was made up originally from those Nor- mal students who had been drilling for nearly three months previously, and contained most of the students who volunteered at that time, although several others took positions in this or in other regiments. Ira Moore, one of the teachers, raised a company
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for the regiment, mainly of men from McLean County. Moses I. Morgan, Aaron Gove and C. J. Gill, students, together raised in Du Page, La Salle and Stark Counties a full company, of which they became the commissioned officers. The officers of the students' company (A) were : L. H. Potter-one of the teachers-Captain ; J. H. Burn- ham, who graduated July 4, 1861, First Lieutenant ; and G. Hyde Norton, of the next graduating class, Second Lieutenant ; about fifty enlisted from this institution in the year 1861.
Charles E. Ilovey, the first President of the Normal University, went into the army as Colonel of the Thirty-third Regiment of Illinois Volunteers, known in the history of this State as the " Normal Regiment.". He was one of the bravest and best of the noble officers of the volunteer service ; he was commended for his skill and good behavior in the battle of Fredericktown, Mo., which took place October 21, 1861. In the battle of " Cache River," or " Cotton Plant," in Arkansas, July 7, 1862, Col. Hovey greatly distinguished himself by his courage in the face of defeat, when he rallied the retreating soldiers under a galling fire, though wounded in the breast himself, re-arranged the shattered lines and brought victory out of what came near being a disas- trous defeat. For this good conduct he was appointed Brigadier General by the Presi- dent, his commission dating from September 5, 1862. Ile was soon assigned to the command of Gen. Sherman, who placed him in charge of his advance brigade, a posi- tion he filled until April, 1863. Gen. Sherman gave him the highest praise for his efficiency. When Congress assembled in the winter of 1862 and 1863, it was not pre- pared to confirm the appointment of all of President Lincoln's Brigadier Generals, and limited the number of confirmations to one hundred. The President had sent in two nanies from McLean County-those of Gen. Hovey and Gen. W. W. Orme, and when he was obliged to revise his list, bringing it from about one hundred and fifty to the proper number, he felt compelled, on account of the policy of equal territorial distribu- tion, to drop the name of Gen. Hovey, which he did very reluctantly. This threw that gentleman suddenly out of his position in April, 1863. and he left the army just as he was on the threshold of a remarkably brilliant career. In 1863, Congress granted him tardy justice by the compliment of a brevet Major Generalship.
Several of the residents of the village-students-enlisted and never returned, or came home to linger a few years and die. William A. Pearce and his cousin, Alvin T. Lewis, were both killed in battle, while Lieut. James B. Fyffe died in 1871. Edward J. Lewis, editor of the Bloomington Pantagraph in 1861, assisted in forming the Thirty-third Regiment, enlisted as a private soldier, and afterward became Captain in C Company. Ile is now Postmaster at Normal. Col. E. R. Roc, Gen. C. E. Lippin- cott and Col. I. S. Elliott were all members of this brave old regiment, which partici- pated in the battles before Vicksburg, Mobile, and other historical battles. Normal has always claimed an interest in the welfare of the Thirty-third Regiment which was known for years as the Normal Regiment ; and its Company A of students, though represent- ing thirty different counties in this State, contained so many Normal residents, and was so essentially a product of the institution, that its memory will ever be cherished here. In 1862, several of the Normal students enlisted in the Ninety-fourth Regiment, which was raised in McLean County. These were mostly in Capt. W. H. Mann's company. Mr. M. was a nurseryman, in company with the lamented Overman, and his command contained more Normal men than any other that enlisted.
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MISCELLANEOUS.
The Freemasons were organized February 20, 1871. The present number of members is twenty-six. The officers for 1879 are: J. S. Lackey. Master ; A. T. Dick- erson, Senior Warden; J. M. James, Junior Warden ; A. C. Taylor, Treasurer ; S. K. Vickroy, Secretary ; F. R. Baker, Senior Deacon ; J. S. Garrett, Junior Deacon ; James Worden and George W. Davidson, Stewards; A. S. Hursey, Tiler. There are quite a number of gentlemen in Normal who are members of some one or more of the different societies in the neighboring city of Bloomington.
We find, that though Normal does not pretend to be a commercial or manufactur- ing point, it transacts considerable business. Its grain-dealers purchase considerable quantities of produce, and its retail stores include the several branches found in towns of its size, consisting of drug, hardware, dry goods and grocery stores; there are, besides, other retail dealers. For several years after the village was started, it was thought all the different branches of miscellaneous business would be patronized in Bloomington, leaving no opening for home talent ; but after a time, the greater conven- ience of Normal stores was so plainly demonstrated, that those dealers who first started business in the village found ready patronage, and their places of business were followed by the opening of others, all of which are now permanently established.
In the manufacturing line, Normal's experience has been rather a severe one, as there can scarcely be said to be a successful manufactory in the village. There is a woolen-factory, capable of employing from ten to thirty operatives, but it has never been run to its full capacity. It is now operated on a small scale, making excellent goods and doing a fair business, but has not the trade that might be expected of a factory situated between two such towns as Normal and Bloomington. A large paper-mill was built about six years ago, which, for a time, turned out large quantities of a good qual- ity of printing paper. For some months the St. Louis Republican, the Bloomington Pantagraph, and other journals used its paper, but the owners failed after about two years' trial, and the mill is now idle.
The Normal stock yards are quite an institution. They are situated on the east side of the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad. They can comfortably feed and water over a thousand cattle at once, and are a great convenience to such shippers as wish to rest their stock here before taking them to the Chicago market.
We hope Normal will, in the future, retain its pre-eminence as an educational cen- ter, and that it will some day see the establishment of other colleges or seminaries. If it can secure these, and ean retain its present intelligent population, there is little doubt that it will become known as one of the best towns in the West; that its future may become all that its past has led us to look for, is the earnest wish of the citizens of McLean County.
INDEX.
PAGE.
Bloomington. 3
Mills
89
Blooming Grove in Fayette County 3
Blooming Grove in Tazewell County 11
Public Debt 89
James Allin ..
20
Sewers. 90
Wars and Rumors of Wars
23
The Frontier Service
23
Bloomington in 1831.
25
1831 to 1840.
Remarkable Weather. 93
1840 to 1850.
36
1850 to 1860.
37
1860 to 1870.
39
1870 to 1879. 40
Gen. Gridley's Recollections 41
Township Organization. 46
Important German Organizations. 1033
Our Highest Officials. 104
Political History 109
Normal Township 115
Normal University 115
Soldiers' Orphans' Home. 128
Early Settlement 130
Township Organization. 132
Village Organization 132
Normal Village.
134
Trees. 136
Churches 138
Normal Public School. 139
Incorporated Companies 140
Re-Survey of Normal. 140
Incidents.
14]
The War for the Union 142
Water
81
Miscellaneous 144
Manufactories 8
Free Masons 100
Independent Order of Odd Fellows. 101
Various Secret Societies 102
Benevolent Societies. 103
Town or Village Organization 47
City Organization .. 48
Schoools 49
Churches that have Dissolved. 52
Churches. 53
Bloomington Sabbath Schools 58 Cemeteries. 59
Franklin Park 60
Railroads. 61
Our Telegraph. 65
Newspapers. 66
The Bloomington Library 67
Wesleyan University. 68
Temperance. 74
Nurseries. 78
Coal
79
PAGE.
Fires. 89
Public Buildings 90
Incorporated Companies 90
California Emigrants. 92
Events During the War 96
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UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 977.359B93H C001 HISTORY OF BLOOMINGTON AND NORMAL, IN MC
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