History of Greene and Jersey Counties, Illinois : together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of representative men, History of Illinois, Part 17

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical
Number of Pages: 1150

USA > Illinois > Greene County > History of Greene and Jersey Counties, Illinois : together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of representative men, History of Illinois > Part 17

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GRAFTON INDEPENDENT.

This newspaper was established by Col. W. II. Edgar, of Jerseyville, in 1877, the first number appearing on the 11th day of October. It was a seven column folio; decidedly neat in appear- ance, and well filled with local news and pointed editorial paragraphs. The paper was issued from the office of the Republican, Jerseyville, where all the mechanical work was done, though the

editor, Mr. R. R. Claridge, prepared all his manuscript at Grafton. Like all other newspapers, the launching of this one was accompanied by a salutatory, which was as follows:

"In presenting the initial of the Inde- pendent to the citizens of Grafton and vicinity, we shall not weary our readers or friends with any learned disquisition on the mission of the newspaper, or what we propose or expect to accom- plish. This stereotyped method of salu- tation has had its day, and the world is now looking out for something practical rather than the mere visionary or ideal, A newspaper air-castle is very similar to any other kind of an air-castle, and just as likely to collapse; golden prom- ises are easily made and oft times easily broken; and a newspaper promise is possibly less value than any other kind, particularly a promise to pay. A news- paper, we may remark, is a very preca- rious institution at best, depending up- on the variable temper of the people that support it. One week the editor is popular and is credited with being a very useful citizen; the next, he is under a cloud, and is pronounced an ass of the first magnitude, and so the business suffers or prospers accordingly as the editorial barometer is high or low. It is, therefore, unwise, not to say foolish, for the mouthpiece to promise in ad- vance what tunes the organ shall play; many of them will of necessity be dis- cordant and harsh, while many will be the reverse and pleasant to hear. The Independent is a practical business enter- prise, and will be conducted as such. It is not conceived in the interest of any sect, party or class, but in the interest of the whole people, with a proper re-

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gard for honesty, sobriety, justice, in- dustry and economy. These ends it hopes to subserve, and thus be worthy the cordial and liberal support of the people for whom it is intended. To merchants and business men we say, we hope to make our columns useful to you-a valuable medium for the adver- tising of your goods and wares, resulting we trust, to your mutual advantage and profit. To the general reader we may say, we hope weekly to furnish you with such a budget of local and general news, as shall make our paper a welcome visitor, and one to which you may point, we hope, with some degree of satisfac- tion and pride. This is no Utopian scheme. We expect to work hard and unceasing to make the Independent use- ful and profitable to its patrons. We are not of those who expect something for nothing, but we hope to render an honest equivalent for what we get, and to merit the respect and confidence of all."

The paper continued without any change of management until September, 1878, when R. R. Claridge purchased the necessary materials, and removed the office to Grafton, becoming himself sole proprietor, as well as editor. In the issue of September 20, the following paragraph, relative to the change, ap- pears;

Heretofore this paper has been simply an experiment, but it may now be re- garded as one of the permanent institu- tions of the county. It shall be our en- deavor to give the people of Jersey and the lower portion of Calhoun counties a paper that they may regard with at least some degree of local pride. The prep- aration of printing the Independent at

home has involved the outlay of a com- paratively large sum of money, and in addition, the expense of publishing will be considerable. therefore it will be necessary for our patrons to be as prompt as their circumstances will admit in paying their subscriptions. Our patrons have doubtless observed that in the past they have not been bored with the duns for subscriptions that are so com- mon in country papers. We have two reasons for this: First, because to do this would be very unpleasant for us; and second, we do not think it would do any good, as we take it for granted that those who are sufficiently interested in the Independent to subscribe for it, will pay their subscriptions as soon as they are able to do so. And in the mean- time, we have reason to believe that we receive as much or more money on sub- scriptions, than if we were continually reminding delinquent subscribers of their failure to pay. In conclusion, we feel justified in stating that the Inde- pendent will enter its second volume under very favorable auspices."

The Independent was continued at Graf- ton until in November, 1880, when it was removed to Jerseyville, the name being changed to

THE JERSEY INDEPENDENT.

The size of the paper, as well as the place of publication, was changed with this issue, it coming out at the county seat, as a five-column folio. The fol- lowing is a copy of the salutatory:

"Encouraged by the generous support bestowed upon the Independent during the past three years, we have moved it to Jerseyville, enlarged and improved it, and here it is. We have faith that

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

an earnest, faithful, independent paper, devoted to the interests of Jersey county -even such as this paper has been and will continue to be-will not be suffered to go begging for support. And as show- ing that we have not reckoned without our host, the change has been made at the solicitation of a large number of the best citizens of the county, irrespective of party-men who have stood by the paper in the past, and who will not for- sake it now. In conclusion, if by dint of hard work we can make a respectable living for our family, and at the same time make the paper of use to the peo- ple who support it, we shall be content."

With the issue of April 5, 1882, Mr. Claridge closed his connection with the paper, disposing of it to Lyman T. Wag- goner, who became editor and proprietor.

A. M. Slaten became identified with the paper as part owner, with the issue of June 4, 1882. The firm name was then changed to Slaten & Waggoner, the latter being the editor. Mr. Slaten soon afterward assumed entire owner- ship and control, and in turn disposed of the property to J. M. Giberson, of Elsah.

In July, 1882, the paper and the ma- terial was purchased by J. M. Giberson and C. H. Kelly, of Elsah, but before a paper was issued the latter bought out the interest of his partner and became sole proprietor. The first paper under the new management was issued August 2, 1882, and contained the following salutatory.

"With this issue we commence the publication of the Jersey Independent, and hope that the following few lines will sufficiently serve to introduce us to the public. Our object shall be the dis-

semination of news, and the honest re- flection of our own political opinion editorially. Another aim will be to publish a paper for our patrons gener- ally, and not to meet the views alone of any individual. class, or corporation. All promises herein contained will be fullfilled to the satisfaction of the patrons of the Independent, as our every endeavor will be for that end. What we ask is the cordial co-operation of our friends and patrons, and once this is secured to us we can safely promise that a news- paper shall be secured to them. We close here trusting that our introduction will be found sufficient.

In the fall of 1885, the support given to the Independent proving insufficient for its existence, the office was closed, and the paper discontinued.

In October, 1885, a new journal came into existence in Jerseyville. which bears the title of

THE FREE PRESS.

This is owned and edited by E. T. Lurton and R. E. Smith, and is intended to take the place of the Independent. It is quite a neat and well gotten up sheet.

Charles H. Kelly, the late editor and proprietor of the Independent, is a native of the state of Illinois, having been born in Alton, in December, 1848. In 1850, his parents removed to Jersey county, where Charles was reared, and where he has lived ever since. He like the other boys, attended the common district schools of the neighborhood in winter, but during the summer was en- gaged in work on the farm. His latter school days were spent at the Christian Brothers' College, at Alton, the place of his birth. Finishing his education, he

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returned home where he divided his time between farming and teaching school. Politics now attracted his at- tention, and he was four times succes- sively elected to the office of assessor of Elsah township, and one term as treas- urer of the school fund of the same township. In 1884, after removing to Jerseyville, he was duly elected col- lector of Jersey township. He was united in marriage, in May, 1874, with Sarah A. Darlington, and as the result of this union there have been five child- ren, three of whom are living-Bertha K., Samuel B., and Percy D. Myrtle and Willie are deceased. In politics Mr. Kelly is a staunch democrat, of the old Jacksonian type, notwithstanding the name by which the journal over which he presided has been known dur- ing his connection with it. During his editorial career, his general aim was always to labor in the interest of the gen- oral advancement and enlightenment of his country and this community in par- ticular. As an editor he was conscienton- in the discharge of what he conceived his duty to his friends and party, and therefore had the confidence of many who admired his honor and adherence to his principles.

THE GRAFTON NEWS.

When the Independent was removed to Jerseyville, in November, 1880, Grafton was left without a newspaper. This state of affairs continued until April, 1882, when the Grafton News made its appearance, the first number coming out on the 13th of the month named, with J. A. MeClintock as editor and publisher. A four-column, eight-page paper, it was well gotten up and edited,

and was received with genuine greeting by the citizens of Grafton and vicinity. The following is Mr. Mcclintock's sa- lutatory, appearing in this number:

"What, another newspaper? Yes sir, and this time it is to be a natural one. This is the agreement with the sub- scribers, and with that understanding I have promised to do the best I can for its columns in all that pertains to the general news and welfare of the sur- rounding country. I shall have noth- ing to do with the political questions of the country at large, and very little with such questions in any way that does not strictly interest the people of Jersey county. What we do say shall be in an independent way, entirely re- gardless of partyism, and we shall be glad to have the hearty co-operation of those who wish honestly to advance the interests of the people of Jersey county. Knowing well that there is no big bonanza in a newspaper published in Grafton, and still feeling as though the community ought to support a small paper, and that it will be for the benefit of everybody else as well as myself, I would like to ask, at least, the encour- agement the people think I am entitled

to. We know many people of good judgment think anewspaper cannot live in a town of the population of this, while others, when such an enterprise is talked of, will come forward and blow their whistle long and loud about the he'p they will give, and when you get into the mire they slip off and leave you to help yourself.

" What we want is good genuine friendship that will take you by the hand and help you up and let you go on your way untrammeled. I certainly

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think that this side of the county ought to support an enterprise of this kind, and if even the few who are ready and willing to assist in sueb an undertaking will stand by me and not expect en- tirely too much of me, I shall spare no exertion of which I am capable to make a success of the Grafton News."

With the issue of Aug. 22, 1884, the name of the paper was changed to that of

JERSEY COUNTY PROHIBITIONIST.

No change was made, however, as re- gards editorship, form or size, but under its new name it was everything that its name implied-a strong advocate of prohibition. It continued thus, without change until the end of the year, 1884, when it resumed its former name of the Grafton News, Mr. McClintoek turning over the editorship to C. B. Edsall, and retaining the ownership himself. No echanges have been made in these de- partments since that time, though the size of the paper has been altered to that of a six-column folio.

Corydon Perry Edsall is a native of Jersey county, born three miles north of Grafton. He is a son of William and Lydia H. (Perry) Edsall The for- mer, who was born in Cayuga county, N. Y., settled in this county in 1838. The latter parent was born in the state of Alabama. The subject of this sketch attended the district schools of his na- tive township, and, later, the Illinois Industrial University, at Champaign, where he became fitted for school teael- ing, in which occupation he has since engaged. He has taught, altogether, 15 years, 7 years of the time in one school-Shiloh district. He is thor- oughly qualified for his responsible

position, and as an instructor is highly successful and popular. He was mar- ried April 6, 1879, to Catherine Shaffer, daughter of Andrew Shaffer, of this county. They have three children, Thomas Harry, Perry A. and Lennie Edith. Mr. Edsall is a supporter of the prohibition party, and was defeated on that ticket for the position of circuit clerk in 1882. He took charge of the Grafton News, as editor, Jan. 1, 1885, which position he still occupies. He is also the representative of the _Etna in- surance company at this point, and a real estate agent.

JERSEYVILLE EVENING TIMES.

This paper was established by Messrs. J. A. Walker and J. A. Blannerhassett. The first issue appeared on the after- noon of May 25, 1885, as a five-column folio. The initial number contained the following salutatory :

"For some months past we have been frequently urged by our friends to es- tablish a daily newspaper devoted to the interest of Jerseyville and Jersey county. We have finally yielded to their friendly solicitations and with this number enter into the arena of journal- ism. The Times, an evening paper, will strictly adhere to, and advocate the principles of justice, and equity, assist in advancing every work of enterprise in our midst, and always be in the front rank in opposing wrong and defending right."

On July 13, 1885, the paper was changed to a morning publication and the name altered to that of

THE DAILY TIMES.

Both proprietors were praetieal print- ers, and understood the wants of the community, and catered to it.

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

On the 17th of Aug., 1885, Mr. Blen- nerhassett retired from the firm and the paper is now in the hands of J. A. Walker, sole proprieter and editor.

John A. Walker, the subject of this sketch, was born in Deavertown, Mor- gan county, Ohio, Feb. 5, 1853. He spent the early part of his life on his father's farm, and at the age of 12 years moved to Jerseyville, Ill., in the spring of 1865. In 1867 the family re- turned to Ohio, and in 1870, leaving his paternal parent there, he again visited Jerseyville, and entered the office of the Democrat, then published by Burr & Wheelock, as apprentice. He re- mained in the office until 1873, when he

went to Carrollton, Greene county, Ill., und engaged as a compositor on the Patriot, published by Minor & Lindley, where on Nov. 11, 1879, he married Susie Sapp, adopted daughter of Hon. George Wright. In the spring of 1880 he moved to Jerseyville and was em- ployed on the Republican-Examiner, where he labored until May 1885, when he became the junior editor and publisher of the Jerseyville Daily Times.

He received his education in the free school of his district, and was noted for his close application to study, receiving a good knowledge of the branches gen- erally taught in the common schools of the day.

CHAPTER X.

THE BAR.

Horace Greeley once said that the | money, although at times for more evil only good use a lawyer could be put to was hanging, and a great many other people entertain the same opinion. There may be cause for condemning the course of certain practitioners of the law, but the same may be said within the ranks of all other professions. Such men should not be criticized as lawyers, doctors or the like, but rather as indi- viduals who seek, through a profession that is quite essential to the welfare of the body politic as the science of medi- cine is to that of the physical well be- ing, or theology to the perfection of moral nature, to carry out their nefari- ous and dishonest designs, which are usually for the rapid accumulation of

and sinister purposes, and which are the instincts of naturally depraved and vicious natures. None of the profes- sions stand alone in being thus affected. All suffer alike. The most holy and sacred offices have been prostituted to base uses. And it would be quite as reasonable to hold the entire medical profession in contempt for the malprac- tice and quackery of some of its un- scrupulous members, or the church, with its thousands of sincere and noble teachers and followers, in derision for the hypocrisy and deceit of the few, who simply use it as a cloak to conceal the intentions of a rotten heart and cor- rupt nature, as to saddle upon a profes-

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sion as great as either, the shortcomings of some of its individual members.

By a wise ordination of Providence, law and order govern everything in the vast and complex system of the uni- verse. Law is everything, lawyers no-

thing, Law would still exist though every one of its professors and teachers should perish from the face of the earth. And, should such a thing occur, and a new race spring up, the first instinctive desire of its best men would be to bring order out of chaos by the enactment and promulgation of wise and beneficial laws. Law in the abstract is as much a component part of our planet as are the elements, earth, air, fire and water. In a concrete sense, as applied to the gov- ernment of nations, races and peoples, it plays almost as important a part. Indeed, so grand is the science, and so noble are the objects sought to be ae- complished through it, that it has in- spired some of the noblest and greatest men of ancient and modern times to an investigation and study of its princi- ples; and in the long line of great names handed down to us from the dim and shadowy portals of the past, quite as great men will be found enrolled as members of the legal profession as any other, and owe their greatness to a sound knowledge of the principles of law, and a strict and impartial administration of them. Draco, among the first and great- est of Athenian law-givers, was hailed by the people of that province as a deliverer, because of his enaeting laws and enforcing them, for the pre- venting of vice and crime, and looking to the protection of the masses from op- pression and lawlessness. It is true that many of the penalties he attached

to the violation of the laws were severe and even barbarous, but this severity proceeded from an honorable nature, with an honest desire to improve the condition of his fellow man. Triptole- mus, his contemporary, proclaimed as laws: "Honor your parents, worship the Gods, hurt not animals." Solon, perhaps the wisest and greatest of all, a man of remarkable purity of life and nc- ble impulses, whose moral character was so great and conviction as to the public good so strong, that he could and did refuse supreme and despotic power when thrust upon him, and thus replied to the sneers of his friends:

Nor wisdom's plan, nor deep laid policy.

Can Solon boast. For when its noble blessing Heaven poured into his lap, he spurned them from him.

Where were his sense and spirit, when inclosed lle found the choicest prey, nor deigned to draw i?

Who to command fair Athens but one day Would not himself, with all his racc, have fallen

Contented on the morrow ?

What is true of one nation or race in this particular is true of all, viz: that the wisest and greatest of law-makers and lawyers have always been pure and good men, perhaps the most notable ex- ceptions being Justinian and Tribonia- nus. Their great learning and wisdom nabled them to rear as their everlast- ing monuments the Pandects and the Justinian Code, which, however, they sadly defaced by the immoralities and excesses of their private lives. Among the revered of modern nations will be found, conspicuous for their great ser- vices to their fellows, innumerable law- yers. To the Frenchman the mention of the names of Tronchet, LeBrun, Por-

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talis, Roederer and Thibaudeau, excites a thrill of pride for greatness and of gratitude for their goodness. What Englishman or American, either, but that takes just pride in the splendid re- putation and character of the long line of England's loyal lawyer sons? The Bacons, father and son, who, with Lord Burleigh, were selected by England's greatest queen to administer the affairs of State, and Somers and Hardwicke, Cowper and Dunning, Eden, Blackstone, Coke, Stowell and Curran, who with all the boldness of a giant and eloquence of Demosthenes, struck such vigorous blows against kingly tyranny, and op- pression; and Erskine and Mansfield, and a score of others.

These are the men who form the eri- terion by which the profession should be judged. And in our own country, have we not names among the dead as sacred, and among the living as dear? In the bright pages of the history of a country, founded for the sole benefit of the people, who, more than our lawyers are recorded as assisting in its forma- tion, preservation, and working for its perpetuity?

The American will ever turn with es- pecial pride, to the great Daniel Web- ster, Henry Clay, Jo Daviess, Rufus Choate, William Wirt, Taney, Marshall, and hundreds of others, who reflected the greatest honor upon the profession in our own country. Among the truest and best sons of this state are her law- yers, and even in this county, some of her most highly esteemed and most re- sponsible citizens are members of this noble profession.

The first practicing attorney to locate within the bounds of what now consti-

tutes Jersey county, was Martin B. Miner, who came to Jerseyville in 1840. He was born in Addison county, Vt., March 22, 1805, and was a descendent of one Henry Bullman, a miner, who had his name changed to that of Miner, by King Edward IHI, of England, for his loyalty in furnishing 100 men from his mines, all armed, when that king started on one of his wars, His ances- tors came to America in 1630. Martin B. was educated in the schools and academies of his native state, by his own exertions, and read law with Her- man Allen, M. C. of Burlington, Vt. He was admitted to practice in the supreme court of that state in 1834, and was married to Laura S. McNeil, in January, 1836. In the fall of 1836, they removed to Illinois, locating at Wood- burn, but in the fall of 1837 moved to Alton, and in the spring of 1840, to Jerseyville. He practiced law for over 30 years, and died a resident of this city in October, 1874.

The second attorney was C. H. Good- rich.

H. H. Howard was the third attorney to locate in the county. When he first came here he taught a private academic school. He afterwards practiced law, for a while alone, then took into part- nership his nephew, A. L. Knapp, who afterwards represented this district in congress. Mr. Howard was at an early date editor of the De woerutie Union, a newspaper in Jerseyville. About the close of the war he left this place going to Kansas, where he is probably now living.

W. K. Titcomb was the next to locate in Jersey county, and practice law. In 1847 or 8, he left here for St. Louis, Mo.,

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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY.

and during the cholera epidemic of 1849, he was assiduous in his attentions to the sick, as nurse and attendent, and taking the fell disease, beeame a victim.

William P. Chestnut came next. He did not remain in practice here for any length of time, dying at the National Hotel of small-pox.

Abner C. Hinton, practiced law for some years at Jerseyville. Hle after- wards inherited some property in the neighborhood of Carrolton, and removed there. He, in after years became par- tially insane, and in one of his spells of aberration of mind shot himself.

Robert M., and Anthony L. Knapp, have both been prominently identified with this honorable profession in this county and vicinity. Both of these gentlemen-brothers-were so fortunate as to represent this district on the floor of the national house of representatives, in which connection sketches of them are given.

E. A. Pinero practiced law in Jersey- ville for some years, first alone, then in partnership with T. J. Selby, and later with that gentleman and George W. Herdman.

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History of Greene and Jersey Counties, Illinois : together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of representative men, History of Illinois, Part 17

Author: Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Number of Pages: 1150

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical
Number of Pages: 1150