USA > Illinois > Fulton County > History of Fulton county, Illinois > Part 103
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Fulton is a large county ; much work is required, and even the ordinary labor cannot be performed in the time granted by the Supervisors. To dis- charge my official duty I was employed fifty-five days over the time, and of course all those days of over time shall be gratuitious.
Now from the above statement it can be easily seen why it is that "Teachers' Institutes " have ceased to meet, and "Township Drills" are no longer prae- ticed. As the School Laws have imposed a duty which is mandatory upon the County Superintendent-that of examining Township Treasurers' books, notes, ete .- and as he is required to report the result of this investigation to the Township Trustees, I think that surely the Board of Supervisors will at their next session grant as much more time at least as would be necessary to the accomplishment of this important work.
All the High Schools of the county are reported Only one acting under special charter, the other two are distriet graded schools.
Respectfully submitted, Yours truly, H. J. BENTON, County Supt.
A table giving the School Statistics in full will be found on the next page.
358
1876
343
1838
SS
1021
HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.
1 Astoria
697
656
1353
931
10
696
7
13
$50.00 $40.00
$25.00 $16.00
$2472.40
$3803.78
2 Vermont
551
551
1102
715
8
559
5
10
70.00 45.00
30.00
16.66
3447.45
4167.28
3 Farmers'
263
313
576
475
5
316
3
5
50.00
40.00
35.00
20.00
1462.74
2294.28
4 Harris
323
302
625
398
301
11
6
45.00
35.00
25.00
15.00
2131.00
2422.87
271
278
549
992
13
315
7
14
40.00
33.833
16.00
17.00
1641.00
2025.72
6 Union ..
485
Woodland.
485
460
945
595
11
438
12
50.00
30.00
16.00
16.00
2075.87
2307.86
8
Pleasant ...
494
521
1015
677
8
607
10
9
55.00
40.00
20.06
18.00
2816.30
4391.16
539
472
1011
696
11
689
15
45.00
35.00
25.00
12.00
1866.45
2026.85
10
Cass.
457
384
341
530
10
371
11
1 65.00
S
40.00
30.00
20.00
17.00
1509.00
1661.73
12
134
138
272
220
3
216
4
50.00
25.00
25.00
22.00
986.00
1389.72
13
Young Hickory
234
195
429
316
6
2:27
6
6
40.00
33.33
35.00
16.00
1295.83
1964.96
14
Kerton
182
195
377
246
3
171
1
4
30.13
32.00
30.13
18.00
624.65
735.55
15
Isabel and Waterford ....
381
371
752
493
8
389
5
8
45.00
35.00
25.00
18.00
1493.33
1858.26
16 Lewistown.
739
817
1556
1062
10
631
4
13
115.00
35.00
30.00
16.00
3895.00
6320.13
17
Putman ..
462
435
897
609
8
483
7
11
55.00
35.00
20.00
15.00
23444.00
3166.09
18
Joshua .
314
279
593
398
9
357
10
7
40.00
35.00
25.00
18.75
2008.97
2287.32
19
Fairview .
286
272
558
410
9
326
11
6
50.00
25.00
28.00
16.663
2245.01
2654.00
20
Liverpool ..
369
343
712
491
8
323
5
9
37.00
30.00
24.00
15.00
1517.16
1919.76
21
Buckheart ..
504
44-4
948
673
11
455
8
8
60.00
40.00
25.00
16.66
2594.99
2227.07
22
Canton .....
1215
1179
2394
1423
7
1114
4 27
133.33
50.00
25.00
18.00
9143.24
13458.33
23
Farmington
461
487
948
677
8
506
5
15
125.00
50.00
30.00
18.00
4084.06
5380.37
24
407
388
795
506
5
343
6
4
40.00
40.00
23.00
16.66
1349.98
1490.90
25
Orion.
373
327
700
486
13
418
4
12
35.00
35.00
20.00
16.00
1530.68
2328.50
Total
10887
10389
21276
14353
209
10972
168 234
$59438.51
$79356.62
.
·
..
No. Males nnder 21.
der 21.
No. of Females un-
Total No. of Per-
Total No. of Per-
sons between 6
No. of School Dis-
No. of Pupils En-
No. Male Teachers.
No. Female Teach-
Monthly
Monthly
Monthly
Monthly
Wages Paid Fe-
Am't P''d Teachers.
Total Expenditures
for the Year End-
ing June 30, 1879.
rolled.
ers.
Highest
Highest
Wages Paid Fe-
male Teachers.
Wages Paid Male
Teachers.
Lowest
Lowest
male Teachers.
.
. ..
·
.
.
261
249
510
343
8
282
7
1 75.00
35.00
25.00
16.00
2783.40
3621.13
5
Lee
.. ....
. .
..
9
Bernadotte
20.00
16.00
2120.00
2763.00
11
Deerfield
.
.
.
·
.
·
.
..
Banner ..
..
TOWNSHIPS.
sons under 21.
and 21.
triets.
7
469
8
818
691|
7
. .
.
30.00
Ellisville
- 1 4
Wages Paid Male
Teachers.
1022
HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.
TABLE OF DISTANCES IN FULTON COUNTY.
In order to find the distance from one town to another, find the names of the respective towns, one in each list. For instance, if we wish to learn the distance it is from Fairview to Vermont, we trace down the list of names upon the left till we come to Vermont ; then find Fairview in the upper list, and trace the columns of fig- ures that each of these names are in until they meet, which will indicate the distance. We thus find it is 35 miles from Vermont. to Fairview.
Name of Place.
5 | Lewistown.
15 | Cuba.
| Bryant.
5 | Farmington.
| | Fairview.
5| Ellisville.
5 | Smithfield.
Avon.
Marietta.
+ | 5 | Bernadotte.
1 98 | Table Grove.
57 | Vermont. % | Astoria.
& | Summum.
: | 5 | Havana.
181 6 | Liverpool.
19 | Ipava.
Canton
10 10 17 18 26 25 25 33 37 34
1
Ipava
12 10 20 20 39 27 26 10 26 12
6 10 14 8 8 16 22
Liverpool 10 16 11 13 23 25 31 20 40 28 20 29 30 30 26 18 15
Havana
10 18 13 20 35 30 33 24 44 27 20 22 23 20 17 9
Otto.
9 16 17 18 35 28 31 16 35 21 12 13 15 12 6
Summum
14 22 22 23 39 14 37 14 34 16 12 13 8 6
Astoria.
20 27 28 31 44 33 44 20 43 24 14 11 7
Vermont
20 23 28 27 47 35 38 19 37 18 12 5
Table Grove .. 18 20 23 24 43 31 33 14 33 11 8
Bernadotte 10 12 16 16 35 23 22 6 22 8
Marietta
18 12 18 10 42 23 14 6 14
Avon
32 24 32 26 27 16 9 20
Smithfield 11 6 11 11 30 17 11
Ellisville 23 15 22 18 18 8
Fairview 20 11 15 10 10
Farmington. 25 24 20 18
Civer
10 5 5
Bryant
7 7
Cuba
S
1
-1 ! (iver.
| 12 | Otto
1023
POPULATION.
The following table gives the population of Fulton County by townships for 1850, '55,'60 and '70, with the increase. Where a dash appears before a number in the columns of increase it signi- fies a decrease in the population of the township. We give an esti- mated population of the county by townships for the present year in the last column but one. We base our estimate upon the school census of 1879, and we believe it is not far from correct, although we do not claim it as official or as perfect, but think it will be found approximately so.
TOWNSHIPS.
Population 1850.
Population 1855.
Increase.
Population 1860.
Increase.
Population 1870.
Increase.
Estimated pop. 1879.
Increase.
Astoria
1213
1403 191
1678 275
2120
442
2706 586
Vermont
1564
2088. 524
1964-124
2289
325
2204
-85
Farmers'
830
956
126
9.7
1
1219
262
1252
1150 121
Lee .
916
1544 628
1662
118
1923
261
2036
1890
288
Pleasant.
964
1128
164
1406
178
687
1254-303
1772
518
C'ass .
643
810
167
908
08
1294 386
1582
288
Deerfield
544
618
74
775
157
908
133
1020
112
Ellisville ...
410
476
66
605
128
659
54
644
-15
Young Hickory.
404
538
134
643
105
793
150
858
65
Kerton
308
366
58
592
226
520
-72
654
134
Isabel
539
624
85
738
114
728
-10
923
195
Waterford
265
338
73
453
115
457
1
581
124
Lewistown
1515
1787
272
2308
517
2953
645
3312
359
Putman.
1025
1162
137
1335
173
1676 341
1894
218
Joshua ..
879
1000
121
1170
170
1194
24
1236
42
Fairview
1047
1349 301
1373
24
1319
-54
1266
-53
Liverpool.
674
919
245
1310 391
1350
40
1424
74
Buckheart.
924
1061
137
1274
213
1590
316
1896
306
Canton ..
2579
2950
371
3590
640
4492
902
4888
496
Farmington
1420
1813
393
2157
344
2107
-50
2146
39
Banner
700
803
103
1226
423
1110-116
1340
230
Orion.
527
530
3
823
293
1085
262
1300
215
Total
20408 27978 5570
34001 6042
38659 4658
43452 4793
THE WEALTH OF FULTON COUNTY.
Nothing can better show the wealth, importance and standing of Fulton county than a comparison of assessments with other counties of the State. Such a comparison, which is by no means unfavor- able to this county, will clearly set forth the resources of Fulton
60
888
555
1141|
253
1298
157
1348
50
Woodland
965
1289
324
1448
159
1690
284
2030
340
Bernadotte.
778
870
92
1557
240
1029
121
Harris
442
668
226
908
I'nion.
103
1602
154
HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.
1024
HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.
county as in relation to other counties of Illinois. It is not our desire or intention to make a commendable representation when not sub- stantiated by facts. We give nothing but authentic figures, such as are filed with the State Auditor from each county, and therefore . may be relied upon as bold, stubborn facts.
As compared with other counties in the State, Fulton.is sixth in area, containing 549,973 acres. The five counties having a larger acreage, in their order are, MeLean, La Salle, Iroquois, Livingston and Champaign. There are 305,243 acres of land improved, and 244,730 unimproved, making 56 per cent. of all lands improved. The total valuation of lands in Fulton (1878) was $8,294,922, which is excelled by the following counties: Cook, La Salle, Me- Lean, Sangamon, Adams, Henry and Knox. The total valuation of personal property, lands and town lots of this county was $13,146,- 519, which was excelled by twelve counties in the State. In 1852 the value of lands of this county was $2,012,505, exceeded only by Cook, Adams, Jo Daviess, Madison and Sangamon. The total value of real and personal property for 1852 was $4,954,068, which was sixth. The value of the real and personal property of Fulton county had increased in the twenty-six years from that amount to $13,146,519, an average increase in wealth of $300,000 per year. The three items included in the above statement, personal property, town lots and lands, will give a fair idea of the wealth of the county. But as it is not customary to make the assessment on a full eash valuation, we must, in order to fully show the wealth of the county add the per cent. deficit. The assessment shows only about sixty per cent. of the value; therefore, upon this basis, which is by no means an exaggeration, we find the real wealth of Fulton county to be $21,910,086, an average of $500 to every man, woman and child in the county.
In Fulton county there are 15,975 horses, while there are ten other counties having a larger number. In 1852 there were 9,172 horses in this county, which exceeded every county in this great State by several hundreds. While the increase in the number of horses has not kept pace with some other counties, the value has. Fulton county boasts of having horses as fine as can be found in any county in the State. There are forty-eight counties that have a larger number of mules than Fulton. These are principally southern counties, where mules are in more general use than through- out the central and northern part of the State. Of these animals there were in 1878, 1,139. In this eounty there were 16,180 sheep, excelled only by Lake, MeHenry, Mc Lean, Vermillion and Macou- p.n. As far back as 1852 there were 18,551 sheep in the county, which shows that sheep-raising has been upon the decline. In num- ber of hogs this county is excelled only by Bureau, Henry, Living- ston and Knox. There were here in 1878, 72,762 hogs, almost double the number there were twenty-six years ago.
There are in Fulton county 6,193 carriages and wagons. In but
1025
HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.
ten other counties is there a larger number. In 1852 there were 3,488. There are within the borders of the county only 9 billiard tables, while there are 71 counties having a larger number. Take into consideration the uses these tables are generally put to, we find Fulton stands in the front rank as a moral county in this respect. In point of number of clocks and watches Fulton stands tenth. She has 4,026. In number of sewing and knitting machines there are 2,936, while there are eight counties having more. These ma- chines were not enumerated in 1852, there being none, as we sup- pose, in the county at that time. There are in the county 235 pianos, being excelled by 19 others. In 1852 there were only 10 of these instruments in the county. There are but 14 counties having a larger number of organs and melodeons, there being 522 in this connty.
For the year 1877 there were sown of wheat in Fulton county 28,440 acres, being excelled by no coanty in the same latitude or north. Of corn for the same year there were planted 120,352 acres, there being 13 counties which had a larger acreage of corn. There were 17,460 acres of oats sown, and 32,937 acres in pastur- age. There were 5,198 acres in orchards, which is exceeded only by Knox, Adams, McLean, Champaign, Madison and St. Clair. In Fulton county the assessment for 1877 showed that there were 154,- 489 acres of woodland in the county, which is a greater number of acres then any county save Clark, Jackson, Hamilton, Jefferson, White and Wayne, the latter county having more woodland than any county in Illinois.
There are 102 miles of railroad in Fulton county, being exceeded by Cook, Edgar, Hancock, Henry, Kane, LaSalle, Livingston, Logan, Madison, McLean, Peoria, Sangamon, Tazewell, Vermillion, Whiteside and Will.
FULTON COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, AND THE FULTON COUNTY FAIR-GROUND ASSOCIATION.
These two organizations are separate, yet closely allied to each other. The Fair-Ground Association owns the grounds, while the Agricultural Society, or Board, conducts the fairs. Of the Agricul- tural Board, Inman Blakaby is President; C. A. Emry, Secretary ; John R. Gardiner and S. S. Miller, General Superintendents, and James Donn, Superintendent of Floral Hall. Of the Fair-Ground Association John A. Furry is President ; J. R. Randolph, Seere- tary ; H. J. Whitmore, Superintendent, and I. N. Leeper, Calvin Branson and L. F. Randolph, Directors.
For the early history of the Fulton County Fairs we are indebt- ed to Mr. Swan's History of Canton.
The first agricultural fair held in Fulton county was held at Canton, on the Hannan Farm, in the fall of 1852. At that time the Fulton County Agricultural Society had no existence. Some of the citizens of Canton determined to hold a fair on their own
1026
HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.
account. Meetings were accordingly held, ground selected, offi- cers chosen, and all arrangements made. The county at large was invited to participate, and the result was quite a respectable exhibition. At this fair the Fulton County Agricultural Society was brought into existence.
The second and several subsequent fairs were hell first at Cuba, then at Lewistown, and at Vermont.
In the fall of 1856, for the second time a fair was held at Can- ton-this time being the third annual fair of the Fulton County Agricultural Society. The fair ground on this occasion was located on South Main street, in what was then known as Wright's pasture, near the Strond place. This fair attracted a great crowd of people for that day, and was a complete success. No admittance fee was charged, and one enterprising politician improved the occasion to address the assembled multitude on political topics, much to the dis- gust of the party opposed to him in politics. A ladies' equestrian display was the one memorable feature of the fair, and one of the fair riders, Miss Lydia Maria Attonetta Shepley, was thrown from her animal, but recovered her saddle almost instantly, without assist- ance, and before any of the gallants could reach her with their prof- fers of assistance, amid the cheers of the crowd.
Between 1856 and 1866 the fairs of the Fulton County Agricul- tural Society had been held at Lewistown. These fairs had not been to any considerable extent snecessful, and in consequence the society was in a languishing condition. In 1866, the members of the Society, feeling a determination to make their fairs more successful, elected a new board of officers and voted to remove the fairs to Canton.
The citizens of Canton at once took a deep and active interest in the Society, and set to work in the most praiseworthy manner to make the fairs not only successful, but to place them in the very front rank among the county fairs of the United States. A joint-stock company was accordingly formed, which purchased twenty-five acres of the Anderson farm, Iving in the southeastern angle formed by the intersection of the branch of the C., B. & Q. with the T., P. & W. Railroad. The site selected is on a high level prairie, commanding a view of a considerable portion of the city, and was a most admi- rable selection of ground for the purpose. This ground was pur- chased independent of the Society, but the grounds were donate I to the Society free of rent for the term of ninety-nine years. The citizens of Canton and vicinity now subscribed $5,000 for the purpose of fencing and the ercetion of the necessary buildings, stock stalls, etc.
The Directors of the Society, recognizing the spirit of liberal en- terprise thus manifested by the citizens of Canton, appointed an executive committee consisting of five persons, residents of Canton, to superintend the erection of buildings, fencing, and making all necessary arrangements for the fair. This committee consisted of
1027
HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.
Messrs. J. H. McCall, A. B. Hulit, A. C. Babcock, D. W. Vittum, jr., and Townsend Atwater. It proceeded at once to business, and erected a large substantial and convenient hall, fifty by one hun- dred feet ; an amphitheater capable of seating 1,000 persons, with . booths for the sale of refreshments underneath ; with all the neces- sary offices, stables, stock-pens, a fine judges' stand, and prepared a half-mile track for exhibition purposes. The Society furnished $5,- 000, and the whole amount was judiciously expended in preparing these grounds.
From the fair of this year (1866) $4,000 were realized, and thus the Society was placed upon a sound financial basis, and Canton fairs from that time began to be famous.
In 1867 the Society realized $6,000 from its fair; in 1868, over $7,000; in 1869, nearly $9,000. In 1868 another amphitheater was added, with a large dining-hall and kitchen attached; additional sheds for carriages, implements and tools were erected, and large additions made to the number of stalls and stock-pens. In 1869 the number of entries had reached 2,300, and the fair was one of the most successful ever held by any county in the West ; while that of 1870 was even more snecessful, being in close competition with the State fair.
The Society got in debt largely and to overcome this a grand effort was put forth in 1871. Everything was bright and promising up to the very commencement of the fair when that appalling Chi- cago calamity, the greatest conflagration of the age, entirely frus- trated the plans of the Society and in spite of the desperate effort pitt forth the loss was $5,000. The Society found itself hopelessly in debt, owing $13,000.
The grounds and fairs are now under the able management of the gentlemen first mentioned, is in a prosperous condition and regain- ing its former prestige.
THE AVON DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL BOARD.
The Avon District Agricultural Board was organized Sept. 2, 1871. It was called "The Avon Agricultural Society." The grounds were first used for holding stock sales, which were done away with in 1874 or 1875. The first fair was held Sept. 29, 30, Oct. 1 and 2, 1872, with L. F. Ross as President, A. B. Tompkins, Treasurer, and A. J. Churchill, Secretary. Considering that this was the inaugural fair, it was a success in every respect. In 1877 the Society changed its name from " The Avon Agricultural Society " to that of " The Avon District Agricultural Board." By so doing they are entitled to the $100 offered by the State for each successful fair held within the State. The following are the gross receipts of each year: 1872, $965.80; 1873, $2,615.96; 1874, $2,461.45; 1875, $2,893.15 ; 1876, 83,100.38 ; 1877, 83,324.42 ; 1878, 82,949.44 ; 1879, $3,468.
1028
HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.
The last fur was the most successful of all held by this Board. The gate receipts were $1,535 in one div. The Society is entirely out of debt, and more than this, it has a neat little sum in the treasury. Sarely, this is an institution of which Fulton county may justly be proud.
REMINISCENCES.
W'm. H. Smith. Henry Smith, my father, was a native of Prus- sia, and born July 4th, 1777; emigrated to the U. S. and landed at Baltimore July 4, 1799, amid the roar and sound of cannon and music, celebrating the day that gave birth to our National Indepen- dence. A very short time after landing here in walking along some of the roads in or about Georgetown, some elderly gentleman came riding by, and a puff of wind blew the gentleman's hat off and over the fence; my father jumped the fence, got the hat and gave it to its owner, upon which the gentleman gave him a silver dollar. Upon arriving at the inn, father made inquiry who the gentleman was that was so generous and liberal in giving so much for so small a favor, and was told that it was General Washington.
The first day of May, 1837, I took leave of my old native town, foot and alone, to seek my fortune in Illinois. I traveled over 200 miles afoot. After I had made up my mind to go West my brother- in-law, George Glassford, concluded to go too, and as he would go through to Wheeling by stage (no railroads then) and me afoot, we made calculation on time and distance. We met there, and a steam boat, Swiss Boy, was laving at the wharf with steam up; we took this for Peoria. We reached Peoria in due time and I tried to get employment in a mill, but there was none there at that time. The place was quite small. The court-house apparently stood back of town, and you had to travel quite a distance through the wild prairie grass, to reach the Bluff. Finally there was an old man by the name of Davis came to town hunting a few hands to work on a brick yard, and I engaged to him. After running a while in con- nection with Mr. D., making brick, a Mr. Hamlin & Knowlan, of Peoria, bought of Brook & Cogswell, of Canton, a steam mill in Utica, Fulton Co., and knowing I had been hunting a berth in a mill, hunted me up and finally hired to them. I left the brick yard on the 28th day of August, 1837, took passage on a steam boat, and came ashore at Copperas Creek Landing. There was a little one- story log cabin on the bank, which was used as a kind of a ware- house ; was all the house that I recollect of seeing there then. I started afoot on the road, meandering along the creek for Utica, and arrived there about the middle of the afternoon; took charge of the steam mill the next morning. Mills were not very plenty and some that run by water would dry up, consequently our mill was crowded ; they came a great distance and sometimes waited over a week for their turn. In a few days Mr. Knowlan came down looking around to see how things were going. I was grinding
1029
HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.
corn, trying to make good meal, according to my Virginia style, Mr. K. felt of it, looked up to me and says: "By G-d, Billy, you will spile these Suckers; they aint used to such meal as that ; role it out like h-11." I worked for them in the mill until the fall of 1838, when myself and Israel Myler rented the mill for a few months, and in the spring of 1839 I rented it alone and fitted up a distillery that was connected with the mill. On Christmas of 1837 or '38, I don't recollect now, I was invited to a quilting party at Thomas T. Bybee's, I attended and there became acquainted with my first and second wives.
In the spring of 1840 Captain Jones Rawalt and myself conclud- ed to load a canal-boat that John A. Jones owned, with such pro- ducts as we had on hand and could obtain, such as pork, grain, pota- toes, etc., and float down the river until we found sale. After we had our load aboard Mr. Rawalt sold to me. I reached Alton after a very long, rough voyage, and sold part of my cargo, and the rest stored there and visited my old home, but returned to Illinois with- in a few weeks.
In those days I thought Utica was the greatest place in the county. We had a steam grist-mill, a distillery, a grist and saw- mill run by water power, two stores, grocery, coopershops, wagon shops, blacksmith shops, etc., etc., and we could, and did get up the biggest Fourth of July celebration in the county ; have the best liberty pole ; a cannon to burn powder and have a free dinner and ask all to join with us in the festivities and celebration ; we had our uniform company, armed and equipped. Wm. C. Killsa was our Captain. I engaged in mercantile business there.
In the spring of 1840 or '41 there came to Utica three men by the name of Hale, Thompson and Miller. Miller was hired to teach a school. Hale and Thompson rented the steam grist-mill and dis- tillery. They seemed to make considerable show, fixing up the mill, buying grain, etc. They went in debt for everything, saying they would pay as soon as they got some drafts exchanged, as it could not be done here; finally Messrs. Graham & Snyder, of Canton, bought one of their drafts, paid some goods and balance in money. As soon as they got the money they made excuse now that they would look around and buy some cattle to feed their still-slop, etc., but their intention was to leave. I saw all was not right and followed Thompson to John Coleman's, in Canton, took Thompson one side, told him my fears and I wanted my pay or some assurance as I did not believe he would come back; well, they had bought several hundred bushel of grain, but never paid for it; they, however, gave me a lien on the grain to secure me ; they left, owing John Coleman considerable and he attached this grain and this brought me in the first law suit I ever had, with a man too that was posted in law. I beat him before a justice, Fairchild by name ; he appealed ; finally compromised ; gave him a part of the grain ; he paying all the cost. Miller, the school teacher, was never heard from. John G. Gra-
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