History of Bureau County, Illinois, Part 41

Author: Bradsby, Henry C., [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Chicago, World publishing company
Number of Pages: 776

USA > Illinois > Bureau County > History of Bureau County, Illinois > Part 41

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

king and the outcast, aye, even the wretched leper to whom the works of the types are all in this world that can save him from a living tomb. Here is the philosopher's touchstone, the Aladdin's lamp-the genial, warm sun- shine penetrating the gloomiest dungeons, where it will go and abide forever where human life can exist.

In the dingy printing office is the epitome of the world of action and of thought-the best school in Christendom-the best church. Here divine genius perches, and plumes its wings for those lofty flights that attract and awe all mankind in all ages; here are kindled and fanned to flame the fires of genius that blaze and dazzle like the central sun; here is generated and renewed the rich fruitage of benign civilization. The press is the drudge and the pack-horse, the crowned king of all mankind. The gentle click of its types is heard around all the world. They go sound- ing down the tide of time, bearing upon their rippling waves the destinies of civilization and the immortal smiles of the pale children of thought, as they troop across the fair face of the earth in their entrances and exits from the unknown to the unknown, scattering here and there the immortal blessings which the dull types have patiently gathered to place them where they will live forever. Is not this the earth's true symphony, which en- dures, which transcends that of when "the morning stars sang together," the echoing anthems when the strings are struck by the fingers of the immortals that float up forever to the throne of God? Of all that man can have in this word it is the one blessing whose rose need have no thorn, whose sweet need have no bitter. It is freighted with man's good, his happiness and the divine blessings of civilization. By means of the press the lowliest cabin can be made to equal the king's palace; it may have equal authority in bid-

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ding enter its threshhold and be seated in the family circle the world's greatest and sweet- est singers, the profoundest philosophers, the gifted orators, the most eloquent writers. Mingling with the humblest cotter's family may be found the delightfully immortal Burns, who died at thirty-seven, and over whose grave the simple, foolish Pharisees of his countrymen drew a sigh of relief, and were rejoiced that they were rid of the pres- ence of the poor outcast and sot, when the clods that fell upon his poor body shut out the sweet sunlight of Scotland. Or here may be found the crowned monarch of man- kind, and to wife and children and friends he may again tell the story of a Hamlet or King Lear; or Lord Macaulay will lay aside titles and dignity, and even with the children of the household have familiar discourse in those rich, resounding sentences that flow on forever, like a great and rapid river; or Charles Lamb, whose life was so sweet and so sad, a mingling of smiles and tears, may tell the children again and again the story of the invention of the roast pig; or Johnson, his coarseness and boorishness all gone now, in trenchant sentences may pour out his jeweled thoughts to eager ears; or bid Pope tell something of "Man's inhumanity to man; " or poor, gifted, erratic Poe, and his bird of evil omen, "Never flitting, still is sitting just above my chamber door; " or any of the other immortals whose names are luminous, and will shine on forever with un- fading splendors, any or all of whom are at the beck and nod of all men, high or low, to enter their humble houses or their gilded parlors, and cast their reflected lights upon the human race, lifting up and bearing all aloft.

Thanks, then, a thousand times thanks, to our dear old Revolutionary sires for giving us the great boon of a free press. If our Gov-

ernment is to endure, and the people are to continue to be free, here will be much of the reason therefor, because freedom, though never so well established, will not maintain and perpetuate itself, as there are certain laws of heredity lurking in every man, more or less, and the latent habits of mind and body of his barbarous ancestors. True, the Americans are more exempt from this brutal bias of mind than any other people, as they are further removed than others from an an- cestry that worshiped kings and tyrants, dei- fied human monsters; yet even here it is as true now as when it was first uttered that "eternal vigilance is the price of liberty." The press, therefore, is essential to the per- petuation of our free institutions.

That the press can do no wrong, it is not our intention in any way to assert. So great an institution, so varied its interests, so num- erous its editors and managers, and so differ- ent in degrees of intelligence, that it would be a foolish man indeed who would even hope that it would become infallible. In a. country of much balloting, one of the most prolific of domestic animals are the ubiqui- tous, eternal demagogues, and then there is the bigot and fanatic, sincere, honest and idiotic, and the shams and the unscrupulous and dishonest, and the barnacles on the hull of the ship of State, all contributing their mite to the gathering evils. A wise people will jealously watch their press, and in time warn the people when it commences to go astray. In this country the man who votes takes a solemn responsibility upon himself; the act itself is a pledge to his posterity that he will discharge that high duty honestly, and earnestly desiring to promote his own and their best interests. He and they will have to pay the terrible penalty of his ignor- ance or dishonesty in this respect. And na- ture, when she uses her whip of scorpions,

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makes no distinction between the results that come of ignorance or rascality. While this is a mild statement of the responsibility of a voter in our Government, it is difficult to con- vey by language the great responsibilities of a newspaper. Its province is to guide and teach men the truth; point out the way that is safe for them to go. If it teaches a false- hood, or suppresses the truth, it is at once a monster criminal-levying blackmail upon the victims that it dooms to crime and suffer- ing. Are we not then justified in the asser- tion that the first coming of the dingy little country newspaper to a new community is an event to be noted and commented upon ? And is not its growth and spread and its well marked influences fit subjects of eager inves- tigation ?

The first paper published in Bureau Coun- ty was the Bureau Advocate, and the first is- sue of this paper was dated December 2, 1847. A six-column folio; terms $1.50 in advance -$1.75 after three months-$2.00 after six months. It does not locate its own office, but it was in the American House Block, in a little frame that stood where Richardson's hardware store now is. There was more about this paper that made it memorable than the fact that it was the first paper in the county. The publisher was Ebenezer Hig- gins, and the editorial page was divided in- to three departments-two columns each, and was Whig, Democrat and Liberty in the re- spective departments. The first was called "Whig Advocate," and was edited "By a Whig Committee;" the next was "Demo- cratic Advocate," and was edited “By a Democratic Committee;" and the next was "Liberty Advocate," and edited " By a Lib- erty Committee." This remarkable trinity was The Bureau Advocate. A happy family indeed. This strange combination of the political oil, water and vinegar. or, perhaps

more truly, the high-toned vintage of the grape; Bourbon corn juice and black-strap. The last was once a favorite New England tipple made of rum and black molasses. At all events the arrangement was original and secured the best writers in the county in each department, and all questions were presented to the readers, side by side; it was a running debate every week, in which each watched, answered and confounded the other in pres- ence of the same audience. This would make the writers more wary and careful in their assertions, and as all sides were in the best possible manner laid before the same readers, it could not be otherwise than that, other things being equal, it was vastly better for all than the present plan of too many voters only reading one side, and therefore remain- ing ignorant of what is said on the other side of the question.

The Whig Committee opens ont with a tremendous " Salutatory," telling in most stately and well constructed sentences what We are going to do.

" It will probably be expected in our out- set, that we will touch briefly relating to the course we intend to advocate. The political matters which cause our party divisions are very few. * * * We aim at the good of our

common country. * * We believe the peo- ple have a right to scan the measures of all our public men. * On the subject of banking we believe there exists a discrepancy of public opinion among all parties. The Whigs are in favor of banks mostly. * *

* Some Democrats are in favor of banking under certain restrictions. *

* We are in favor of a moderate tariff. * And we be- lieve in so discriminating as to afford pro- tection to such articles manufactured and produced among us as may need it. * We are of the opinion that free trade will finally prevail. When this time

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arrives in the near future then the people ent of the others. It is our intention to sus- will know whence the public coffers are tain the great principles of Democracy. * filled, and they will hold their stewards to a more strict account. While the Mexi- can war exists it will be the absorbing ques- tion of the day. Every other matter, whether it belongs to the world of politics or else- where, is overshadowed by the gigantic hydra, the ill-begotten offspring of an evil spirit in an evil hour. * *

"We have little to say about slavery. * Every State being a sovereign power has a right to continue the institution or abolish it, and no other power whatever has any equitable right to interfere. * * * If our Southern brethren can devise any means to rid themselves of the evil it will be our duty to assist them. * * Happy would it be for us if our country contained only the Caucasian race, *

"One other subject. * In the event of a conclusion of peace with Mexico, if we shall ever be so happy as to arrive at that period, *

* let the territory we gain thereby - whether it be a splendid hacienda, a sand hill, a morass, a pond of horned frogs, or a bare rock, let it remain free. * We are fully committed to the Wilmot Proviso."

This was rather a broad and comprehen- sive and well written platform from the " Whig Committee."

Then sails up to the scratch the "Demo- cratic Committee" and says:

" In assuming the editorial management of the Democratic department we deem it proper to state distinctly the principles by which we intend to be governed. * It

* has been asserted the Advocate is to be a union paper, by which we suppose is meant a sort of amalgamation of the principles of the different parties. This we deny. The Demo- cratic department is to be entirely independ-

" We are opposed to a protective tariff, to chartered monopolies, and exclusive privileges of every description in favor of free trade, equal rights and the largest liberty which is consistent with the duties which men owe to each other. We are opposed to the aboli- tionists, as too much disposed to meddle with what concerns them not. But we ab- hor slavery -- adhere to the principles of the

Wilmot Proviso, and resist the extraordinary pretentions of the South, in casting aside the creed of Washington, Jefferson and Patrick Henry. * * We disclaim all disposi- tion to interfere with slavery where it exists. * * We contend it should be confined to where it now is."

The Democratic Committee are not so lengthy as the Whig Committee.

Then follows a reprint of the resolutions of the New York Democracy, held on the 26th of October preceding. The resolutions are for free trade strong, and oppose works of internal improvement being undertaken by the general government; and in ringing resolutions endorses the Mexican war and ex- tols our patriotic soldiers.

The " Committee " then proceeds to ably comment on the free trade resolutions, heart- ily endorses every word of them, and partic- ularly in the fact that they passed the large convention without a dissenting voice.

Then follows an article from the New York Post. that furiously lashes protection and banks. And this finishes the two columns of the Democratic Committee.

Then follow the two columns by the Lib- erty Committee. The first sentence is:

"Strike but hear!" The writer then pro- ceeds to vindicate the Liberty party from the aspersion of being an infidel party-or seek- ing the overthrow of the Church. *

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Many again suppose the Liberty party made up of disorganizers, who would shiver the fabric of the government; having no regard for the Constitution. No! Let us abide by the Constitution. * W only seek to change the action of the general government in regard to slavery. * We are no more against the Constitution than the Whigs or Democrats, when they seek to change the action of the government in reference to a bank or the question of free trade. * * Did it never happen that a good ship was badly navigated ? * * We have no fault to find with the Con-

stitution.

The gallant ship of

State! * She has traced on her prow the objects for which she was built, to wit: to establish justice and secure the bless- ings of Liberty. From this high and glor- ious object we think it has been turned aside.

So we hold and think we

can prove it. * We want to pull down the flag of Slavery and run up that of Liberty."

Then follows an account of the Buffalo County Liberty Convention, which nomin- ated John P. Hale, of New Hampshire, and L. King, of Ohio, for President and Vice-Pres- ident. And then quotes an eulogy on the nominees from the Western Temperance Stan- dard.

Then is a short article on the "press," ex- tolling its good influences. Then follows a long article on Hale and King, copied from the Emancipator, and this closes the second page of the paper.

After all these committee bows and ful- minated party platforms, and pointing out the guiding stars, the third page opens with another Salutatory, not signed, no "Commit- tee" ever purporting to write it, and we infer it is from the publisher, Ebenezer Higgins. But this is all inference. He, she or it com-

mences by saying; "As this is the first num- ber of our paper and we come with a bow of salutation to our subscribers, it will be proper to say a few words," etc.

It next occurs to the writer to say, "Our readers need not be informed, that the Advo- cate is, in its character as a newspaper, some- what peculiar. It is intended to be a chan- nel of communication for the Whig, Demo- cratic and Liberty parties."

The writer mildly proceeds to deprecate violent party spirit; predicts evil from it if not checked, and then coaxingly says, "Come, let us reason together." He says, of his happy household has been predicted that they would soon have each other by the hair and ears, but under the command of "Peace be to this house," he thinks he can hold the frisky youths of his different "committees" on a peace footing. He then says that all patrons who want "fish, flesh or fowl" can glut themselves in the Advocate columns.

He disclaims that he intends to make money -wholly for the good of a suffering people. He concludes by calling for subscribers, and promising to do his very best.

The next editorial on this, the fourth side of this many sided paper, is to the effect that he has not a single exchange to clip from. We suppose this defect was soon remedied.

The next is a clipping from the St. Louis Union, giving an account of the loss of the steamer "Talisman " by a collision with the "Tempest," near Cape Girardeau, whereby upward of 100 lives were lost. Next the burning of the "Phoenix " near Sheboygan, 300 passengers, and only a few escaped. Then comes an original poem, "Autumn," by some Princeton poet. Then follow the law cards of Charles L. Kelsey, Martin Ballou and Will- iam Chumasero, the last of Peru. Dr. Joe R. Jones and W. Woodward, dentists; E. S.

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HISTORY OF BUREAU COUNTY.

Phelps, watches and clocks; S. D. Hinsdale, gunsmith; Charles S. Allen, blacksmith; Charles Stevens, tailor; Cyrus Bryant, Com- missioner of Deeds; then half a column of Peru "ads." The next column is headed by Benjamin Newell, new goods, medicines and groceries, and nearly everything else; S. D. Hinsdale, guns and rifles; S. M. Dunbar, cabinet making; John W. Braught & Clark R. Norton, dissolution; C. L. Kelsey, timber land for sale; Circuit Court notice by Cyrus Bryant, Clerk; J. Stevens & Son, Indiantown, and more Peru "ads."

The fourth page is made up of a few mis- cellaneous reprint articles and patent medi- cine advertisements.

May 25, 1848, the office of the Advocate was removed to the office formerly occupied by N. Wiswell.

Without a word of explanation, on June 1, 1848, the name of Ebenezer Higgins disap- pears as publisher or in any way connected with the paper.

The facts are, as we are informed by Mr. Bryant, a committee had purchased the office at the start from Higgins, and after it came here his connection was more that of an em- ployee or printer than anything else.

August 24, 1848, "the happy family" was dissolved and the many headed departments disappeared, and the paper became an out- and-out Free Soil organ, and hoisted the Van Buren and Adams ticket, with a motto at its head, "Free Soil, Free Speech, and Free Men."

Wednesday, December 13, 1848, Higgins' entire editorial was " This is our tast sheet !" And the next issue informs the reader that Hammond (B. F.) & Welsh (T. W.) had bought out Higgins, and John H. Bryant was the editor, and then the paper changed to the hands of Bryant and Dean.

The Advocate labored along through fair

and rough weather, the rough mostly prevail- ing, we presume, as the population and busi- ness of the county were still too meager to give much support to a newspaper. Yet its editorial columns had generally been marked by unusual ability for a country paper of that day. It passed into the hands of Justin H. Olds in the latter part of the summer of 1851, and the name was changed to the Prince- ton Post-Vol. 3 .- No. 2, September 28, 1851, Justin H. Olds, Proprietor and Editor and J. M. Wilkinson, Publisher. This was just thirty-three years ago. The editor says he had been just called on by William Smith, brother of the killed prophet, Joe, and Will- iam showed letters exonerating him in Joe's tricks at Nauvoo.

An article headed "mysterious" says: "Last Monday the bodies of two men and one wo- man were found near West Bureau Creek, a little distance below Sheffield, by a traveler. He reported the find and the neighbors col- lected by hundreds and the traveler piloted them to the place, and lo! the bodies had mysteriously disappeared; more neighbors then rallied and the search kept up two days, but "up to present time" no bodies found.

(Evidently jim-jams was that traveler's name. )

This paper gives an account of a Republic- an Convention at Aurora, "in which James H. Woodworth was nominated." The Con- vention resolved that "free and slave labor could not exist together." It was in favor of "free labor and freemen" with a big capital to each word. It also, "Resolved, that the public lands belong to the people and should not be sold to individuals nor granted to corpora- tions, but should be held as a sacred trust for the people," etc.

With the issue of Thursday, November 20, 1854, J. H. Olds severs his connection with the Princeton Post and as he says, turns his

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attention to more congenial pursuits. This issue announces the last mass meeting in Princeton before the election. This meeting is called "to reply to Stephen A. Douglas' late arguments here on the Nebraska bill." The speakers to answer Douglas were: "Love- joy, Stipp and Kelsey." The committee call- ing the meeting: R. T. Templeton, S. A. Pad. dock, G. W. Stipp, Austin Bryant, A. B. Church, and J. H. Olds.

In the issue of November 9, 1854, Charles Faxon swings out his "Introductory."

The issue of December 25, 1852, says the engineers are yet busy completing the rail- road survey through the county.

This paper quotes: Wheat (spring) 45 to 50 cents; corn, 35; oats, 25; coffee, 122; flour, $2.25; sugar, 7; butter, 18; potatoes, 30.

May 4, 1854, Wilkinson steps out (no notice thereof in the paper), and for awhile Olds is alone, and then Faxon steps in as noted above. Faxon ran it until 1858, when he sold out to John C. Rhue and Hewitt, and the new firm changed the name to Bureau County Republican, the name it bears to this day. Rhue was in the paper but a short time when he sold his interest to Hewitt.

In October, 1851, the name was changed to the Princetonian. The firm name of the new proprietors was Coates Kinney & B. Clark Lundy. An issue of this paper, dated September 25, 1852, had been reduced in size and make-up, with a general retrench- ment all around, especially in the editorials. The only general editorial in this issue is the report of the Supervisors' meeting. Not a line of local items. There were the notices of the death of two children-one of William Moulton's and the other E. C. Matson's-the former a daughter and the latter a son. Then Justin H. Olds, in a card, offers himself as an independent candidate for re-election as Circuit Clerk. J. I. Taylor has an insurance

"ad.," and so have the druggists, Dalrymple & Bailey. A. L. Merriman gives notice of sale under a deed of trust of the lands of William Peperel. W. Levisee says he has chairs and looking glasses for sale. L. M. Beaumont, administrator of C. B. Beaumont, a notice of sale. The market quotations are: Wheat, 50 cents; corn, 22 cents; flour, $2; coffee, 12} cents; sugar, 8; butter, 10; new potatoes, 372. Sidney Smith offers some woodland for sale; Arthur Bryant offers Osage orange plants; W. H. Winter, druggist; the Hamlin House, by E. B. Hamlin; quadrille band by C. A. Moffitt; Anson P. Fish says that owing to the recent death of his partner, parties must pay up; John L. Ament, administrator of G. H. Smith, and Adaline L. Morse, and also Mary Collar, give notices as administrators; Dr. W. C. Anthony and Dr. S. Allen Paddock have medical cards; Robert E. Thompson says he has sold out to Boyd & Baldwin; he informs the world that the new firm have engaged his old clerk, D. Robinson; E. H. & J. R. Phelps advertise water-proof paint brick, and Justin H. Olds, Circuit Clerk, gives attachment notice in suit of the county against Kohn, Mandlebaum & Moore; there is another similar notice of Amos Steadman against Elijah Hunt; then follow adminis- trators' notices of Samuel D. Hinsdale, Lu- cius M. Keys, Theodore Nichols, John H. Campbell, William Campbell, James M. Campbell, Augusta Estey, David A. Schirmer and Phillip Schirmer; Chamber & Thomas, physicians; the I. O. O. F.'s, Joseph Mercer, Secretary; Benjamin Newell gives notice he will "take pay in grain and produce on ac- counts;" Miss J. S. Martin, millinery; Jane E. Hale, millinery; William Jones, whoop- ing cough medicine; John Barnard, Justice of the Peace; P. W. Newell, new goods; John G. Bubach, orange plants; Martin

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HISTORY OF BUREAU COUNTY.

Ballou, Alton Ins. Co .; Stephen Purdy and Alexander Love dissolve; William Carse gives notice of the close of Carse & Shinkle's books; Mrs. Hale gives notice she has quit teaching in Princeton and opens millinery goods.

November 13, 1852, we find returns of general election in Bureau County. Not a word of other news, and not a single com- ment on either the election or anything else. This issue was a half-sheet.

Winfield Scott received 713 votes; Frank- lin Pierce, 671; John P. Hale, 431.

County Judge-S. A. Paddock, 676; Milo Kendall, 658; M. Ballou. 444.

Sheriff-Osmyn Smith, 688; Frederick Moseley, 652; A. G. Porter, 425.

Circuit Clerk .- Edward M. Fisher, 745 ; Lewis M. Olcott, 420; Justin H. Olds, 622.

Coroner .- J. D. Garton, 707; A. B. Wood- ford, 641; Charles S. Allen, 429.

There were five candidates for State's At- torney, all running independent in politics except James Strain, who was the "Free Democrat " candidate : W. H. L. Wallace, 375; David P. Jenkins (Whig), 364; William Chumasero, 263; Milton T. Peters, 401; James Strain, 373.

In 1858 the name was changed to Bureau County Republican, and was published by Rhue & Hewitt, John H. Bryant, editor. In a little while Rhue sold his interest to John H. Bryant, and then the firm was Bryant & Hewitt. In 1861 Hewitt went to Washington City on some business and died there, and Mr. Bryant again had sole charge, Mrs. Hewitt retaining her husband's interest. This was continued until 1863, when the entire office was sold to John W. Bailey, the present senior proprietor. Bailey continued alone in the publication until 1872, when he sold a half interest to L. J. Colton, who was not a practical printer but whose fine business

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History of Bureau County, Illinois, Part 41

Author: Bradsby, Henry C., [from old catalog] ed Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Chicago, World publishing company Number of Pages: 776

Author: Bradsby, Henry C., [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Chicago, World publishing company
Number of Pages: 776