USA > Illinois > Ford County > History of Ford County, Illinois : from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. I > Part 7
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At the first city election held September 5, 1872, John Bodley was elected mayor; James S. Wilson, clerk; L. B. Farrar. attorney; W. Hoag, treasurer; and William Harper, George Wright, Samuel L. Day, N. Dahlgren, G. J. Shep- ardson and B. F. Mason, aldermen.
November 4 a saloon license was granted to A. Anderson, being the first issued under city organization.
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At a meeting held December 16 was laid the foundation for the expendi- ture of several thousand dollars, that unfortunately proved a worthless invest- ment. Mayor Bodley informed the council that he was in receipt of a letter from a party in Chicago proposing to bore an artesian well in the city of Pax- ton if the people so desired. This announcement brought out an enthusiastic discussion, that was indulged in by spectators as well as aldermen. " The min- utes of this meeting record the fact that "Mr. Dunlap, of Champaign, was present, and made some interesting remarks." His remarks were adverse to the project, advising the board that it was a hazardous venture, basing his opin- ion on the fact that Paxton was located on ground so high that flowing artesian water could not be obtained, and cited numerous instances of failure in neigh- boring counties where the ground was much lower. At the meeting January 6, 1873, a petition was read praying the council to appropriate eight thousand five hundred dollars "for the purpose of boring or sinking an artesian well." This petition was signed by two hundred and ten legal voters, which was a large majority of the voting population, there being at that time less than three hun- dred voters in the city. The prayer of this petition was granted, and an ordi- nance passed providing for the issue of bonds for that amount and for that purpose.
January 20, 1873, the artesian well question came up again, the finance committee reporting several proposals for sinking such a well, the highest bid being eight thousand dollars in cash, and the lowest seven thousand dollars in cash, or seven thousand four hundred dollars in bonds, at ninety-five cents on the dollar, all being for boring to the depth of sixteen hundred feet. The bid of seven thousand four hundred dollars on bonds at ninety-five cents was accepted, and a contract ordered to be drawn up ready for signatures at the next meeting.
February 4 was passed an ordinance providing for the issue of bonds known as funded debt bonds, to the amount of fifteen hundred dollars. These bonds were in sums of five hundred dollars each, bearing interest at ten per cent from March 1, 1874, and the remainder (five hundred dollars) falling due March 1, 1875. These bonds were sold by the finance committee at a discount of five per cent, and the proceeds applied to the redemption of the greater por- tion of the outstanding city orders. Of the bonds thus issued the first two (one thousand dollars) were paid June 1, 1874, ninety days after maturity, and the remaining bond for five hundred dollars was paid April 12, 1875, forty-two days after maturity.
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March 3 an ordinance was passed locating the well on lot 14, block 14, south side of State street, between Market and Taft streets.
October 20 a petition, signed by two hundred legal voters. was submitted. praying the council to appropriate an additional sum of seven thousand dol- lars in bonds for the purpose of continuing the work on the artesian well beyond the depth of sixteen hundred feet. This was granted by a unanimous vote, and an ordinance was passed embodying the action prayed for in the peti- tion, and on the 19th of November the contract was let to Spangler, Mars & Company, and ratified January 5, the contractors to accept city bonds at ninety- five cents on the dollar.
June 21 two thousand five hundred dollars of bonds were issued to con- tinne the work on the well. When the previous appropriation of seven thou- sand dollars was made, it was estimated that this amount would carry the well to a depth of two thousand five hundred feet, but now it was found to have been insufficient.
July 6. the board adopted a resolution suspending the work on the well "until such time as the boring may be resumed," and a settlement was then made with the contractors. The well was down to the depth of two thousand four hundred and seventy-three and a half feet. In just two days after the passage of this resolution, a petition signed by one hundred and sixty-one legal voters was submitted to the council. praying that work on the well be resumed on conditions therein named, one of which was that a part of the expense be paid by private subscriptions. This proposition was laid over until an adjourned meeting held the next night, when it was voted to sink the well two hundred feet deeper, for which the remaining one thousand dollars of bonds not yet expended was pledged (being a part of the previous two thousand five hundred dollars appropriated) provided the citizens should raise whatever bal- ance was necessary to satisfy the contractors. This was done, and the addi- tional two hundred feet completed, making a total depth of two thousand six hundred and seventy-three and a half feet, and still no flowing water obtained. The project was then abandoned and has never been resumed.
At the annual election held April 17, 1883, George J. Shepardson was elected mayor; George A. Hall, clerk; J. R. Patrick, attorney; Charles H. Langford, treasurer; John M. Hall, police magistrate; John White, alderman for the first ward; A. S. Hopkins for the second, and George Gove for the third. At a meeting of the council. April 24, an ordinance was passed consol- idating the offices of city marshal and street superintendent, and on the 30th of this month George N. Miller was appointed under this ordinance to fulfill
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the duties of both offices. At the same meeting, an ordinance was passed pro- viding for the appointment of a city physician to advise and consult with the board of health, and on May 8 Dr. Elmer L. Kelso was appointed to that office.
The work on the artesian well was begun March, 1873. The first sixteen hundred feet was completed in November, 1874. and the final depth of two thousand six hundred and seventy-three and a half feet was reached in August, 1875, nearly two years and a half from the time of commencement. The work, however, was not actively progressing during all this time, as there were several intervals of rest resulting from various canses. In payment of this work, city bonds to the amount of eighteen thousand dollars were issued, in sums of five hundred dollars each, all bearing ten per cent interest. On these bonds the city had already paid fourteen thousand sixty-six dollars and fourteen cents of interest, and there remained to be paid in yearly installments, up to 1896 inclusive, interest to the amount of nine thousand one hundred and sixty dol- lars, making the sum of twenty-three thousand two hundred and twenty-six dollars and fourteen eents of interest from 1873 to 1896. To this amount add eighteen thousand dollars of principal, and nine hundred and forty-five dollars and twenty-two eents of sundry incidental expenses, and the result is a grand total of forty-two thousand one hundred and seventy-one dollars and thirty. six cents, representing what the experiment would have cost when the last item of the debt was paid thirteen years afterward. At the date of the final aban- donment of the well, there were outstanding bonds to the full amount of the appropriations, eighteen thousand dollars, of which eight thousand five hundred dollars were known as March bonds, and the remaining nine thousand five hun- dred dollars as July bonds, indicating the months in which the principal and interest fell dne. The principal of the March bonds began to mature March 1. 1879, and a portion of them each year thereafter up to 1883. In July, 1878, as already stated, the council provided for refunding the March bonds into July bonds, at a lower rate of interest and to run longer. The whole amount, however, was not refunded at that time, but only the amount falling dne March 1, 1879, which was fifteen hundred dollars. This fifteen hundred dollars due March 1, 1880, and the fifteen hundred dollars due March 1, 1881. were not refunded, but were paid by general taxation. The remaining March bonds, four thousand dollars were afterward refunded as they became dne. The first three bonds, fifteen hundred dollars were exchanged for bonds drawing 8 per cent interest, and the remaining four thousand dollars for 6 per cent bonds. The first of the refunding bonds began to fall due July 1, 1893, which was one year beyond the date when the last of the original July bonds would fall
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due. All the March bonds having been refunded, all the obligations then out- standing were July bonds, the first of which matured JJuly 1. 1884, at which time one thousand dollars of them would be due and payable, and a tax was levied to meet it. After that date, bonds to the amount of one thousand dollars matured each year until 1892, when fifteen hundred dollars became due, being the last of the ten per cent bonds. In July, 1893, the eight per cent bonds again matured in similar amounts, and lastly the six per cent bonds, a portion payable each year, until the last one matured. July 1, 1896. Of the March bonds a portion (three thousand dollars) had been paid as already noted, which left fifteen thousand dollars now outstanding. of which amount the origi- nal July bonds (nine thousand five hundred) bore ten per cent interest, while of the refunding bonds (fifteen hundred dollars) were at eight per cent and four thousand dollars at six per cent, and hence the interest paid in 1884 was one thousand three hundred and ten dollars, but the annual interest thereafter, for several years, decreased one hundred dollars each succeeding year; if the bonds were paid, one thousand dollars yearly, as they became due, from 1884 to 1896.
PAXTON WATERWORKS.
The city of Paxton has a splendid waterworks system, built and put into operation in 1887, bonds being issued at that time to the amount of approximate- ly eight thousand dollars. Mains have been extended all over the city and the patronage is very satisfactory. The fire protection afforded is a guarantee to the citizens of reasonable safety, and lessens insurance rates to a marked degree.
Three deep wells, furnishing an abundant supply of pure soft water, have been drilled, and three electric motors are used, as the occasion demands, to fill a reservoir that has a capacity of one hundred and ninety thousand gallons, and a tower, with tank of sixty thousand capacity.
From year to year as the city has grown, mains have been laid and today, no city of its size in Illinois has a better waterworks system than Paxton.
PAVED STREETS.
Paxton is proud of her paved streets and in that connection, it may be said. she has more paving than any city of like proportion in the whole state of Illinois. The people of Paxton have a lively sense of the beautiful. They love comfort and the modern conveniences of life. They enjoy the blessing of good health, and stop at no expense to attain these things. Hence, no difficulty was
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met when the proposition was broached in the spring of 1903, that certain streets of the city should be paved. July 6 of that year, an ordinance was passed for the paving, with briek, of Center and Washington streets. The work was accomplished and the sum of twenty-seven thousand dollars was issued in bonds for the payment of the same. In 1904, an ordinance was passed for the paving of State and West streets. To pay for this, eighty-four hundred dollars in bonds were issued. Pells street came next, July 3, 1905, and bonds for fifteen thousand three hundred dollars readily found a market and, April 2, 1906, an ordinance was passed for the paving of Market, Orleans and Patton streets, the cost of which came to twenty-nine thousand seven hundred dollars, making in the aggregate, since 1903, the outlay of eighty thousand four hundred dollars for street paving.
It may be said in passing, that the work has been well done and the added convenience and beauty to the city, not forgetting the sanitary aspect of the matter that might be taken, is full compensation for the money expended.
Mention in this connection should also be made that a system of sewage has been placed in the city, costing to date about twenty thousand dollars.
THE CITY HALL.
In 1889 a contract was let to N. P. Neilson, of Paxton, to build a city hall which, in the aggregate, cost six thousand dollars. The building was finished and dedicated in the spring of 1900. It is of modern architecture, exteriorally ; has a large and commodions council chamber, and fireproof vaults for the records of the city. Ilere is also the police department, and the hose wagons and other paraphernalia of the fire department. To the rear of the main floor is the waterworks station. The arrangement is an excellent one, both for convenience and an expense saving contrivance.
THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY.
E. B. Pitney is the father of the Carnegie library. It was his idea from the beginning, and when he broached the subject in public, he was put down as an ultra-enthusiast. It happened, however, that he was not only an enthu- siast, but also was in possession of ideas practical. He happened to have a personal acquaintance with Mr. Carnegie's private secretary, and he wrote him, in an inquiring way, and at once got a reply, in which he was given the assur- ance that Mr. Carnegie would give Paxton ten thousand dollars on condition
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that the citizens would guarantee to supply a fund, not less than ten per cent of the donation, each year, to maintain the library.
In February, 1903, the city council passed an ordinance for the levying of a two-mill tax (annual) for the maintenance of the Carnegie library. At a special meeting Mayor M. H. Cloud appointed as the first board of directors : II. C. Ilall, J. B. Shaw, C. A. Larson, M. L. MeQuiston, E. Given, O. JJ. Bai- num, Fred Danielson, J. F. G. Helmer and E. B. Pitney
The present members of the board are as follows: President, O. J. Bai- num ; secretary, E. B. Pitney; treasurer, J. B. Shaw; M. L. MeQuiston, C. S. Schneider, Fred Danielson, C. A. Larson, John F. G. Helmer, P. A. Kemp.
October 12. 1903, the corner stone of the beautiful structure was laid on a lot seemingly designed for the purpose, on the corner of Market and Orleans streets. Mr. Pitney deposited a copper box therein, closely sealed, containing coin, newspapers of the county, a bar doeket, and many other things of interest that will be looked upon with wonder by the generation seeing the last of the edifice.
The dedication took place in the summer of 1904, and the exercises were both interesting and instructive.
The first books were donated by the Methodist Episcopal church. The library now has four thousand five hundred volumes.
Paxton is a city and has recently taken on city airs. She now has a free delivery of mail, with three carriers. The following have served as post- masters since 1884: T. M. King, Mrs. Georgia E. Blackstone, E. N. Stevens, S. L. Day, A. E. Sheldon, and D. C. Swanson, the present postmaster.
FIRE COMPANY.
Paxton has a volunteer fire department with hook and ladder and wagon and hose cart. Chief, Frank Corbett; assistant chief, George Turner ; seere- dary, Gus Younggreen ; treasurer, Fred Labarn; and the membership: Wil- liam Stites, John Prestin, Joseph Corbett, John Corbett, Oscar Nelson, George Pappineau.
Mayors of Paxton: 1884-mayor, G. J. Shepardson, clerk, George A. Hall ; 1886-mayor, G. J. Shepardson, clerk, E. Dufresne; 1888-mayor, J. P. Middlecoff, clerk, II. II. Kerr; 1890-mayor, G. J. Shepardson, clerk. II. IT. Kerr; 1892-mayor, John H. Moffett, clerk, II. HI. Kerr; 1893- mayor. F. E. Bonney, clerk, D. C. Swanson ; 1894-mayor, F. E. Bonney. clerk, D. C. Swanson ; 1896-mayor, J. P. Middlecoff, clerk, D. C. Swanson ;
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1898-mayor, R. Cruzen, clerk, D. C. Swanson ; 1900-mayor. R. Cruzen. clerk, D. C. Swanson ; 1902-mayor, M. II. Cloud, clerk, D. C. Swanson; 1904-mayor, R. Cruzen, clerk, E. C. Bogardus ; 1906-mayor, A. J. Lau- renee, clerk, E. M. Grayson ; 1908-mayor, C. E. Beach, clerk, E. M. Grayson.
GRANT MEMORIAL SERVICES.
General U. S. Grant died July 23, 1885. Under the auspices of Paxton Post, No. 387, G. A. R., memorial services were held in Paxton. August 8. of the same year, in honor of the illustrious soldier and statesman.
COLLEGIATE AND NORMAL INSTITUTE.
The collegiate institute was Paxton's special pride. It owed its origin. gradual growth and high standing to the liberality and intelligence of the citi- zens of Paxton and vicinity. £ The first move made toward its establishment was to diseard the public high school, and hold out inducements for the estab- lishment of an academy.
In the autumn of 1878 Rev. C. Thompson Kellogg opened a school in the buildings formerly used by the Angustana College. At the beginning of the next year, the school was started by Charles M. Taylor, who was principal, and continued that year in the same buildings. During the summer of 1880, the corner stone of the magnificent brick structure which was occupied by the school, was laid. This was due to the enterprise of the principal and liber- ality of the community who contributed several hundred dollars toward taking out scholarships and tuition certificates to the amount of some four thousand dollars. With this aid, improvements were made, and the college was one of the finest in eastern Ilinois. The school had incorporated in its foundation, principles of economy and thoroughness, and systematically worked toward the accomplishment of both. There was, perhaps, not a school in the country where expenses were as low, and the standard of scholarship was rivaled at very few places. The moral atmosphere was exceptionally good. No person was allowed to remain in the institution who did not devote himself to school work. While the discipline was in a sense most rigid, it was purely demo- cratie. The principal was not regarded a tyrant nor the faculty a set of des- pots; neither did the pupils take delight in tormenting, or in getting ahead of their teachers. Pupils were received as ladies and gentlemen, and when
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they showed themselves not so, they were dismissed. Parents concerned in the harmonious development of their children's physical, mental and moral condi- tion could not have found a better place.
This institution went out of existence in 1901.
BUSINESS INTERESTS.
Paxton was never in a more solid and flourishing condition than at pres- ent. Its citizens are prosperous and manifest a great deal of interest in the prosperity of this town. A number of wealthy and substantial farmers have moved here from the adjacent country for the purpose of obtaining for their children the benefits of the schools. Paxton is conceded to have no superior as a town for the social and neighborly qualities of its citizens. The greatest harmony prevails and the interests of all converge to the welfare of this little city.
FIRST NATIONAL BANK.
The first banking business was conducted by the Ford County and First National Banks. The Ford County Bank was the first and pioneer bank of the county, and was opened for business in the house owned by A. McElroy on Market street, on the 1st day of January, 1866, by S. J. Toy, who came from Champaign county. In the spring of 1867, he moved into Pells' block. On the 1st day of August, 1868, A. C. Thompson, but recently from Pennsylvania, joined Mr. Toy in the banking business, putting in an equal amount of capital. In the spring of 1869 they broke ground for their new bank building, and in the autumn of that year moved into their new quarters, where they continued business together for about three years under the firm name of Toy & Thomp- son. November 1, 1871, S. J. Toy, A. C. Thompson, Robert Blackstock, Edwin Rice and C. E. Henderson organized the First National Bank of Paxton, Illi- nois, with a capital of fifty thousand dollars. A. C. Thompson was made president, and S. J. Toy, cashier. Mr. Toy held that position until the spring of 1874, when he sold out his interest to J. M. Clevenger, and Robert Blackstock was made cashier. The bank continued business until the 10th of February,
1876, when they closed out by voluntary liquidation. After which, A. C. Thompson, Robert Blackstock and W. M. Blackstock organized the Ford County Bank of Thompson, Blackstock & Compnay, successors to the First National Bank, which continued under their management until the 15th of April, 1883,
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at which time Mr. Blackstock withdrew from the firm, and on the 3d of May following. Edwin Rice, a prominent and well known business man of Paxton. took a third interest in the bank, which run under the same firm name. These gentlemen were well known for their obliging manners and financial responsi- bility. The First National Bank was organized in 1883, with S. P. Bushnell, president; J. S. Wilson, vice president, and J. B. Shaw. cashier, and A. S. Bushnell, assistant cashier. They commenced business May 7. 1883, with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars, and have established a good reputation. In the fall of 1883, Mr. Wilson withdrew from the bank, and John P. Day was elected in his place as vice president. This bank is a successor of George Wright, who kept a private bank here for many years. This bank is doing a successful business, and enjoys the entire confidence of the people. Its pres- ent officers are J. B. Shaw, president; E. A. Gardner, vice president; William HI. White, cashier; and II. B. Shaw, assistant cashier. The capital and sur- plus of the bank, one hundred thousand dollars.
PAXTON BANK.
The Paxton Bank was organized in 1894 by W. A. Rankin, B. H. Dun- ham and W. J. Lateer. It is a private institution. Capital and surphis seventy-five thousand dollars. W. A. Rankin, the president, B. H. Dunham, vice president, W. J. Lateer, cashier, and O. J. Egnall, assistant eashier.
THE PAXTON BUILDING, LOAN AND SAVINGS ASSOCIATION.
The Paxton Building. Loan and Savings Association was organized Jan- mary 29, 1883, with a capital stock of five hundred thousand dollars, divided into shares of one hundred dollars each. The object of the association is to afford its members a safe and profitable investment for their weekly savings ; to facilitate their acquiring homesteads and to secure to them the advantages usually expected from savings and cooperative institutions. The duration of the corporation is twenty-five years. The corporate powers are exercised by a board of directors. Its offices consist of president, vice president, secretary and treasurer. Each stockholder for each and every share of stock held by him, pays to the secretary every Saturday, the weekly contribution of twelve and a half cents on each share he holds, until each share reaches a value of one hundred dollars, when such stockholder is entitled to one hundred dollars for each share owned by him. No member is entitled to more than fifty shares.
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Any member ean withdraw at any time by giving due notice and be entitled to receive the amount paid in by him, and such interest thereon or proportion of profits thereon as the board of directors shall prescribe, and not less than an amount equal to four per cent interest on the amount of dues paid in for the average time.
PAXTON BRICK & TILE COMPANY.
The Paxton Brick & Tile Company was organized and incorporated April 1, 1882, with the following stockholders: Colonel Charles Bogardus, A. M. Daggett, F. L. Cook, J. P. Middlecoff, of Paxton, and P. Whitmer, of Bloom- ington. The factory is located on College Hill, within the corporate limits of Paxton, and on the highest point of land between Chicago and Cairo. They have a deposit of fine clay reaching to a depth of sixteen feet below the sur- face. The quality of this clay is not excelled for the purpose of the man- ufacture of brick.
THE PAXTON BUGGY COMPANY
In 1898, 1. N. Cool, whose business as a buggy manufacturer had ontgrown his facilities at Logansport, Indiana, came to Paxton, by invitation of its eiti- zens, and was installed in a large, three-story brick building, the gift of the business men and property owners of Paxton. In this modern factory build- ing, Mr. Cool set up the latest improved machinery, which made the cost of the entire plant thirty thousand dollars.
The capacity of this concern was five thousand vehicles per year, and the output found a ready market. But, through the failure of the chief factor in the concern, the plant went into liquidation and passed into the hands of other parties, who gave it the name of The Paxton Buggy Company. It was only a short time when this company went out of business, and the factory building reverted to the donors, who have made arrangements to turn it over to the present occupants, The E. H. Stafford Furniture Company, when the latter shall have complied with certain conditions obligatory on their part to fulfill.
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