History of Fulton county, Illinois, Part 101

Author: Chas. C. Chapman & Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Peoria : C.C. Chapman & co.
Number of Pages: 1096

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George L. Durell, upon the withdrawal of his brother, assumed editorial and business management of the paper, and gave the peo- ple of West Fulton and Southeastern MeDonough an excellent local journal. It won warm esteem in the hearts of the people, and a prominent place in their homes. Its pathway was not always strewn with the sweet perfumed rose, nor always lighted by the cheering noon-diy sun, but its editor struggled on, with an abiding faith in the ultimate success of his pet enterprise.

Until the early summer of the present year (1879) he continned faithfully at the helm. He then sold out to W. L. Ketcham, a young min from Havana, Ill. The enterprise did not prosper under his brief minagement as he would have it, and he therefore with- drew. Again Mr. Darell came forward, resumed his former post

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and to-day is giving the people of Vermont and vicinity a news- paper equal to any publication in the county.

Politically the Chronicle is a pronounced Republican paper, and has wielded a healthful influence for the principles of its party. The editorials which appear in its columns from week to week upon the great and important political questions of the day are admired for their clearness, force and logic. It is what is termed in this day, when party lines are somewhat loosely drawn, a "stalwart " paper, being uncompromisingly Republican. It is regarded as one of the most reliable papers in the county in this respect.

In the local columns of the Chronicle appear all the events of the town and vicinity, as well as of the county which are of any public interest.

George L. Durell, the editor and proprietor of the Chronicle, assumed the management of the paper before he was of age, and is one of the few newspaper men who took the editor's chair and business control of a paper without any practical knowledge of the art. Notwithstanding these disadvantages he made his enterprise pay from the first. Mr. Durell is a son of William Durell, one of the early pioneers of Vermont. No man weilded a greater influ- ence in building up Vermont in its infancy then Mr. William Durell. George L. was reared in Vermont, and there married Miss Lutie Stapleford, a daughter of Edward Stapleford, who was largely indentified with the interests of Vermont before his death. He erected the large brick hotel structure on north Main street, and the brick dwelling just across the street, which at the time was the finest one in the town. He was also a merchant of Vermont.

THE FARMINGTON NEWS.

Newspaper business in Farmington has been on a par with the same business in other places. As far back as 1856 an attempt was made to establish a newspaper in that town. In that year the Farmington Journal made its appearance. It was a seven-column paper, ably edited and neatly printed. It lived but one year. In 1865 The Farmington Times was established, but lived only a few months. It was printed at Lewistown by E. H. Phelps, who was at that time publishing the Lewistown Union. From that time until May, 1874, Farmington was without a newspaper. At that time J. D. Hurd, a Peoria printer, established The Farmington News, which, at this writing (Nov., 1879), is still in existence, being five and one-half years old.

Besides these papers, a monthly magazine, called the Poultry Record, was published at Farmington for three years, 1872-74, by C. W. Heaton, but it was afterwards sold and merged into the American Poultry Journal at Chicago.

J. D. Hurd, editor of The Farmington News, was born in Wyan- dotte Co., Ohio, March 19, 1847. He learned the trade of a printer in the Gazette office at Lima, Ohio, before he was 17 years of age.

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Between 17 and 18 years of age he emigrated to this State, locating at Urbana, Ill., where for two years before arriving at maturity he published The Champaign County Journal, a Democratic newspaper. In 1868 he was married to Miss Hermien S. Fluke, daughter of F. Fluke, of Lima, Ohio. During the years he was publishing the Journal at Urbana, Ill., he was prosecuting the study of law, and was admitted to practice in September, 1868. Circumstances pre- vented his beginning the practice at that time, and he continued in the printing business, moving from Urbana to Peoria in 1871, where he was connected with the Daily Transcript 'until his removal to Farmington in May, 1874, when he commenced the publication of The Farmington News. In January, 1877, while still at the head of the News office, he opened a law office, and has since combined the newspaper and law business. Mr. Hurd fills the editor's chair with no small degree of ability. He has made of the News a first- class local paper, and it takes rank among the profession as such. His practical knowledge of the " preservative art," and talent as a writer enable him to publish a journal of a high standard quite easily.

THE WEEKLY TIMES.

This paper first greeted its readers June 1, 1877, under the name of "The Canton Advertiser." That journal was founded by Horace J. Leigh and Gilbert L. Miller. Its first issue was a five-column folio, with a circulation of 1,000 copies, which was practically a free circulation, the nominal sum of 25 cents per year being charged for subscription. After running for five weeks its columns were found to be too limited to satisfy the demands of its patrons, and it was con- sequently enlarged to a seven-column folio. At that time its sub- scription price was raised to one dollar per year. It continued this size for twenty-seven weeks when, owing to its increase of business, it was again enlarged to its present size, a five-column quarto.

The Advertiser was started and conducted as an indepedent journal so far as it concerned politics or religion for quite awhile, when its editors were led to believe that if they would bring it out as a Re- publican sheet its prosperity would be assured. At that time it had a paying list of 1,600 subscribers, having become thus popular within the short period of one year, which is unprecedented as far as journalism in this county is concerned. Its editors and publish- ers, Leigh & Miller, were induced to step from a non-partisan to the Republican platform. This step proved a disastrous one, and in place of an increased circulation and greater advertising patron- age, the result was the opposite. For seven weeks they saw its sub- seription list diminish and with no hopes of a reaction. People had taken it because it was not hampered or circumscribed by par- tisan principles. It was free to applaud or condemn, to advocate or oppose, to build up or tear down any measure they believed beni-

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ficial and just, or injurious or wrong. It remained an advocate of party principles and measures for only seven weeks, when it again hung out its old motto of independence.

Sept. 5, 1879, Chas. W. Kent purchased Mr. Miller's interests in the Advertiser and became a partner of Mr. Leigh. They immedi- ately changed the name of the paper to The Weekly Times, and brought it out in a new dress. It is now equal in appearance to any journal published in Central Illinois. As to its editorial man- agement, the large eirenlation it enjoys and its popularity fully at- test. The Times is independent, and intends to remain so. Its editors believe it can exert a greater influence for the publie weal under that banner than it can under any other. They will not be influenced by party or seet. They advocate such measures, nation- al, municipal, religious and social, as will best subserve the interest of the mass of the community regardless of any party, clique or in- dividual. As such a journal it deserves, as it has, the patronage of all classes.

Horace G. Leigh, of the firm of Leigh & Kent, editors and pro- prietors of The Weekly Times, was born in Hunterdon Co., N. J., in 1852, and brought to this county in 1854 by his parents, Ichabod and Caroline (Bryant) Leigh, who followed farming. Mr. Ichabod Leigh enlisted in the 36th Ill. Vol. Inf. in 1864, and was killed at the battle of Franklin, Tenn., leaving a widow and 6 children, of whom Horace G. was the eldest. Although the family was greatly dependent on him, he obtained a good education, attend- ing the Canton high school nearly two years. At the age of 18 he entered the Canton Ledger office, learned the printing business, and in four years was made foreman, which position he held for three years. He then resigned that position to establish, in partnership with Mr. Miller, the Advertiser. In Dee., 1878, Leigh & Miller purchased the printing office of the Ipava Phoenix, changed its name to the Ipava Independent, and trebled its eireulation in a few weeks. Then they sold it to A. H. MeKeighan, the present pro- prietor. Mr. Leigh married Miss Catherine E. Brant, at Canton, Feb. 23, 1875, daughter of Rev. Geo. C. Brant, and they have two children,-Edith Louise and Charles Toland.

Chas. W. Kent, of the firm of Leigh & Kent, publishers and edi- tors of The Weekly Times, was born in Richland Co., Ill., May 1, 1848. He is the son of John G. and Margaret H. (Gardiner) Kent. His father was a native of the Buckeye State and died at Cuba in 1862. His mother is living in Canton. They came to Fulton county in 1855, and settled at Cuba, where John G. Kent kept a hotel until his demise. Chas. W. received a good education and early in life began battling for himself. At the death of his father his mother gave him his liberty to go and do as he pleased, and only asked of him one thing: that was "to make what he did make, honestly." He engaged to work on a farm for a time, and in 1863 entered the Fulton County Ledger office as an apprentice, and

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worked there until the following year, when he enlisted in Co. D, 137th Ill. Inf., and went to the front. He was taken sick at Mem- phis in July, and lay in the hospital the rest of his term, often at the point of death. He returned home and when the 151st regt. was made up he again enlisted, this time in Co. B. of that regt. Mr. Kent was united in marriage Aug. 26, 1869, to Mrs. Mary L. (Eastwood) Brickle. They have 3 children : Leon U. E., Henry Elmer and Lillie May.

Mr. K. conducted the Family Favorite in Columbia, Tenn., for a time, and has been actively engaged more or less in the printing business for many years.

THE STREAM OF LIGHT.

The Stream of Light, one of the latest additions to the newspapers of the county, has rapidly gained a foothold and takes rank with the older and more widely known journals of the county. It is a seven-column folio and filled with local and general news, discus- sions upon the political, financial and social issues of the country that agitate the public mind, and a general miscellany of excellent and instructive reading matter.

This paper, or rather the material of the office, was moved from Lewistown, where it had been used in the office of the Lewistown Union. G. A. Hyde moved the office to Ipava in 1874, and started the Fulton Press. This paper soon fell into the hands of a Mr. Flake, since deceased, who changed its name to the Fulton Phoenix and conducted it for a time in that village, when he moved it to the enterprising and growing town of Astoria. Owing to Mr. Flake's failing health the enterprise proved unsuccessful under his manage- ment, and in 1877 it was purchased by Leigh & Miller, who subse- quently started the Canton Advertiser, the former of whom is senior editor of The Weekly Times. Mr. Flake was an excellent writer. His editorials were able, and his locals characterized by a rich vein of humor which pervaded almost all of them.

Messrs. Leigh & Miller returned the office to Ipava, and changed the name from the Fulton Phoenix to Ipava Independent. These gen- tlemen conducted the paper for a period of two months, when they sold the entire establishment to Mr. A. H. MeKeighan. This gen- tleman immediately changed its name to The Stream of Light, and has continued as both editor and proprietor since.

Mr. McKeighan has been one of the leading advocates for the measures and principles of the Greenback party, and no man throughout Central Illinois has been more zealous in support of his party principles, and exerted a more potent influence than Mr. McKeighan. Since he assummed editorial management of this journal he has made of it an organ of the Greenback party. The editorials which weekly appear in the columns of the Light are able and prove him to be fully posted upon the great and important , financial questions of the day.

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The Stream of Light is evidenty appreciated as a local newspaper, judging from the fair patronage it has received both from ad- vertisers and subscribers. It has a good circulation for a country paper and it is constantly inercasing.

A. H. Me Keighan, editor and proprietor of The Stream of Light, was born in New Jersey, August 13, 1835. He was reared upon a farm and passed his life in agricultural pursuits and teaching school until he assumed the duties of the editor's chair, Feb, 21, 1879. He has taught school for about twenty, winters, always meeting with marked success. He came to the State in 1849 with his father, who settled in this county ; was married Dec. 30, 1858, to Sarah Berry, a native of Indiana, and was born in 1846. They have had a family of 9 children born to them, only 3 of whom are living. Mr. MeK. possesses considerable ability both as an editor and a public speaker ; is a man of great influence where he is known, and is endowed with remarkable energy and perseverance.

AVON. SENTINEL.

The first number of this spicy little sheet was issued March 6, 1879. It is well edited, and Mr. H. J. Herbertz, its editor, is con- fident of success in his worthy undertaking. He has asked no favors in the way of donations to establish his little paper, and con- sequently the people appreciate his services more. No doubt a happy future awaits this plucky and enterprising gentleman, and if he only sticks to the Sentinel for a few years, it will become firmly established as a home journal.

Herman J. Herbertz, editor of the Avon Sentinel, was born in Keithsburg, Mercer Co., III., June 10, 1857, and is the son of Wm. and Margaret Herbertz. The former served in the Mexican war. In 1858, when but an infant, the parents of Herman removed with him to Oquawka, III., where, in the union schools, he received his education. In 1873 he removed with his parents to Monmouth, Ill. ; thence back to Ognawka in 1876; and carly in the year 1879 he came to this county, and on March 6, issued the first number of the Avon Sentinel, which is a spicy and well edited sheet, and bids fair for future snecess. Mr. H. is under obligations to no one for the establishment of his paper, as he asked no one for assistance, but started it with his own means. The people appreciate his enterprise by amply supporting the paper. In politics the Sentinel is neutral.

CHAPTER XIX.

RAILROADS.

CHICAGO, BURLINGTON & QUINCY RAILROAD .- RUSHVILLE BRANCH.

The Jacksonville & Savanna Railroad was chartered by the Leg- islature in 1855. It was intended to run from Jacksonville to Savanna, Carroll county, passing through Liverpool, Canton Far- mington and Yates City. A great deal of work was done on this line between Canton and Liverpool. That part of the branch of the C., B. & Q. road 23 miles south of Canton to Farmington was graded, tied and bridged as the Jacksonville & Savanna Railroad. That portion of this road from near Canton to Rushville was char- tered and surveyed as the Peoria & Hannibal Railroad. We find in the first number of the Lewistown Democrat a call for a meeting to be held at Lewistown Thursday, June 19, 1855, for the purpose of interesting the people in behalf of this road. Meetings were also held at Farmington and Canton. Canton was not a point named in the charter of the Peoria & Hannibal road, but it was talked of running the road two or three miles south of Canton. The Peoria & Hannibal road was graded from Hollis, Peoria Co., to the south- ern line of that county, and some work was done at Utica, in this county. The labor was done on the Jacksonville & Savanna road by local subscription, but when the panic of 1857 came upon the country all work on both lines ceased.

In 1861 Mr. James H. Stipp, President and General Agent of the Jacksonville & Savanna Railroad, and Judge Henry L. Bryant, President and General Agent of the Peoria & Hannibal Road, en- tered into contract with James F. Jov and Capt. E. B. Ward, of Detroit, selling to them, or rather giving them a perpetual lease of that part of both roads upon which work had been done. These gentlemen represented the C., B. & Q. R. R. Co., and therefore at that time the road was virtually sold to or placed in the hands of the C., B. & Q. Co. The contract that Messrs. Stipp and Bry- ant entered into with these men was that they were to complete the road and put it in running order. It became evident to Messrs. Stipp and Bryant and the Directors of the two companies that they could not build it, and being very desirous of a road, such a con- tract was made. The C., B. & Q. Co. did the work according to contract, and in June, 1862, the road was completed to Lewistown

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which was as far south as the C., B. & Q. Company agreed to con- struet it ; but in 1869 it was completed to Rushville.

Fulton county issued bonds for the construction of the Jackson- ville & Savanna Railroad to the amount of $100,000, and for the Peoria & Hannibal road $200,000. All these bonds were sold,

and of the $300,000 issued all are redeemed except $75,000. A portion of the bonds issued to the J. & S. were used to buy iron, and the rails of the C., B. & Q. Railroad from Farmington to Lewistown were purchased by Fulton county bonds. The entire grading, tying, bridging and ironing was given to the C., B. & Q. Railroad on condition that they would build it.

Frank Farwell, of Liverpool, now of Kansas, and Col. A. C. Babeoek of Canton, under the firm name of Farwell & Babcock, were contractors to bridge, grade and tie the J. & S. road from Liverpool to Yates City. To these parties, for the work done, the C., B. & Q. paid $10,000, and a few hundred dollars to other par- ties, which was all this Road ever paid for the vast amount of work done upon this route. There were collected on local subscriptions in this county for the original roads $200,000, as follows: Farm- ington, $40,000; Canton, $100,000; Lewistown, $60,000, and Liverpool, $20,000.

The railroad track first reached Canton on Friday, May 2, 1862. This was a gala day for Canton. On that date the first goods that ever entered Canton by rail were received ; they were consigned to Holmes & Peek, merchants. The Directors of the J. & S. Road were Thompson Maple, Israel S. Piper, Jason M. Bass, A. C. Babcock, and W. A. Diekerman, all of Canton, and A. M. Field, of Farmington ; James H. Stipp, President ; W. A. Diekerman, Vice-President, and I. S. Piper, Secretary.

In 1868 ground was broken at Lewistown for the extension of the C., B. & Q. road to Rushville. The work was pushed rapidly forward during the summer of 1869, and brought to completion. This gave a new impetus to the towns of Vermont and Ipava, the two principal points on this road southwest of Lewistown. The depot buildings erected by the company at the various towns along this route are all good, substantial buildings, ereditable alike to the people of the towns and to the Railroad Company.

Sad Accident .- From the day the first locomotive engineer stepped into the cabin of his engine, opened the throttle and whirled over the prairies and woodland, until the present day, heroic acts of self- sacrifice have been performed by this faithful and trusted class. The engineer is always the first one upon the train who sees the danger ahead, and in almost every instance might escape, with but slight injuries at most ; yet how few are there who desert their post until they have done all in their power to avert the erash and save the lives of those who have entrusted themselves in their care! Then, as it often proves, it is too late to save their own lives. When we hear of a sad railroad accident, the collision of trains, the wreck of

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coaches, the loss of life, we ask, "Did the engineer escape ?" and almost invariably are told, "No ; he was killed."

Locomotive engineers as a class have ever proven their fidelity to the precious charges entrusted to them, often by giving their lives ; but never in the history of railroad accidents did an engineer prove his heroism, his devotion to his trust and ingenuity more than did Engineer Chislon of the C., B. & Q. It was during the autumn (of 1870, we believe) when the Fulton County Fair was in progress at Canton, that brave Chislon laid down his life that others might live. Hundreds of passengers from Lewistown, Ipava and Vermont, had taken advantage of the cheap rates and visited the fair. This was one of the most successful seasons during the prosperous period of that Association, and thousands were in attendance from all points of the county and Central Illinois. Evening arrived and the coaches on the southern bound train of the C., B. & Q. were packed with human freight. All was ready, the bell rang, and Engineer Chislon, fully appreciating the great responsibility, pulled the long train slowly from the depot, lest some of his passengers would be injured. On, past the fair grounds the train moved, steadily gaining in motion. Soon the careful engineer had the train under great headway. Every one was joyous and the laugh and jest arose upon the pleasant autumn air, even above the elatter of the train. Upon rounding a curve what should meet the eyes of the faithful engineer, who had looked steadily ahead with his hand on the throttle, upon this, his ride into eternity ? On came a heavy freight train at great speed. Both trains were within a few hundred feet of each other before the danger was discovred. A collision could not be avoided, for it took but a moment for the engines to come together, vet the work of saving hundreds of lives was performed in a twinkling. The brave and thoughtful Chilson adopted the only possible plan to save his cargo of human beings and executed it instanter. He ordered his fireman to detach the engine from the coaches and then jump for his life. Both duties were performed with great celerity. Then Chislon, fearless of death, opened the throttle wide and with his engine dashed ahead to meet the oncoming train, that it might be checked and thus prevent it from wrecking his coaches. The crash of the engines as they shattered each other was the first intimation the passengers had of the imminent danger they were in.

When the steam and smoke of the wrecked engines cleared away the remains of engineer Chislon were found, and with grateful hands tenderly carried away and cared for. He had saved the pas- sengers of his train, but it cost him his life. It is supposed that ere he had performed every service that he could toward saving his train the engines collided and he was ushered into eternity.

The engineer and fireman of the freight train escaped by jump- ing from their engine. Mr. Chislon left a widow and a small family of children to mourn his loss, besides thousands of grateful friends. May the memory of this illustrious hero never be forgot-

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ten, for no man ever did more to save the lives of hundreds of the citizens of this county than he, and none ever performed a greater service more heroically and at a greater cost.

C., B. & Q. R. R .- QUINCY BRANCH.

The main line of the C., B. & Q. which runs from Galesburg to Quincy, enters this county at section 5, Union township, and makes its exit at section 30 near the town of Avon, which is on this road. This branch of the road was built as the Northern Cross Rail- road. The enterprise was agitated as early as 1851, and by 1856 the road was built. Connections were made with the Central Mili- tary Traet Railroad for Chicago. Shortly afterward these two roads, with the Peoria & Oquawka, fell into the hands of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company. This is one of the chief railroad lines in the United States.

C., B. & Q. R. R .- ST. LOUIS DIVISION.

This road was built in 1870 as the Rockford, Rock-Island & St. Louis Railroad. It is well known that contests by different towns for railroads have often been protracted and severe; especially was this so in earlier days, but there never was perhaps a greater contest between rival towns for a line of railroad than there was for the R., R-I. & St. L. R. R. Many years prior to the construction of this road the company obtained a charter and much work was done on the line from Beardstown, passing through Rushville to Macomb. For years the work was abandoned, and until 1869 the enterprise was not revived. At that time the citizens of Rushville and Ma- comb became greatly interested in the road and desired it completed. Great interest was manifested all along that route, which subse- quently was known as the Macomb and Rushville route. During the summer and autumn of 1869 the citizens of Astoria, Vermont and Table Grove became desirous of a railroad; and as much par- leying was done by the leading men on the Macomb and Rushville route, a proposition was made by some of the leading and enter- prising citizens of the eastern route, principally of Astoria, to the officials of the R., R-I. & St. L. R. R. for the construction of this road from Beardstown through Browning, Frederick, Astoria, Ver- mont and Table Grove to Bushnell. The citizens through this county and at Bushnell took great interest in the enterprise and pushed their claim with the greatest energy. The contest between Rushville, Industry and Macomb and Astoria, Vermont, Table Grove and Bushnell, proved a fierce one in the extreme; but the men of Fulton county along the latter route proved to be the sharper, shrewder business men and out-generaled the leading lights of Macomb and Rushville. It was decided by the company as the more favorable route and the one which would prove the most re- munerative, to accept the offer made by the citizens of West Fulton

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History of Fulton county, Illinois, Part 101

Author: Chas. C. Chapman & Co Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Peoria : C.C. Chapman & co. Number of Pages: 1096

Author: Chas. C. Chapman & Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Peoria : C.C. Chapman & co.
Number of Pages: 1096