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 87

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 87

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Dr. Carleton H. Rew, a disciple of the homeopathic school of medicine, canie to Carrollton in Sept., 1884, and opened an office for practice. He is a native of New York, but studied at and graduated from the Hahnemann College, at Chi- cago, in 1884.

Dr. Alexander Bowman, a practicing physician of White Hall, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1817, where he was liberally educated. In 1839, he re- moved to Cincinnati, and began the study of medicine and graduated from the State Eclectic Institute of that city. From there the doctor came to Bond county, Ill., and after four year's prac- tice came to Carrollton, where he re- mained some 11 years and then re- moved to White Hall, where he is still engaged in the profession of medicine.

Dr. George W. Burns, long a physi- cian of Wilmington, but now of White Ilall, was born in Mercer county, Penn., and is the son of Thomas and Sarah (Duff) Burns. Of this marriage Dr. Burns was the second child ; his educa- tion was received in the district schools of his native place; for some time he became a school teacher, and then en- tered the Lebanon Academy. Prior to the war he studied medicine under Dr. T. II. Fulton. He enlisted in Co. A, 139th Penn. Inf., and was wounded at

the second battle of Fredericksburg; transferred to the Army Medical Corps as an assistant to some of the most em- inent army surgeons, he gained an experience that has helped materially to make of him a skillful physician and surgeon ; he was among those detailed to bury the dead after the famous second battle of Bull Run ; among the battles participated in by him were Antietam and Fredericksburg. While on duty at Armory Square hospital he was the student of Prof. G. K. Smith, of the Long Island College hospital. When the war closed he returned to Pennsyl- vania, where he studied medicine under Dr. White, of Harlemsburg ; proceeding to Philadelphia, he attended the medi- cal college there for two terms pursuing the higher medical studies ; in 1868 he moved to Wilmington, Greene county, where his skill as a physician is well known. In 1872 he was united in mar- riage with Ielen M. Black. He is now numbered among the physicians of White Hall.

Dr. J. B. Hays, a resident physician of Barrow, was born in Indiana, in 1845. Hle there studied medicine under Dr. W. II. Price and A. W. Porter, for three years, afterward attending the American Medical College, at St. Louis. At Cin- cinnati he also attended the Eclectic Medical Institute. In Indiana, where he became a practicing physician, he became well and favorably known for skill in materia medica. In 1868 he was united in marriage with Rebecca Crane ; there was one child born of this marriage-George W. In 1861 Dr. Hays enlisted in Co. A, 53d Ind. Inf., serving fourteen months. He was en- gaged in the battles of Aversborough,

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

Bentonville and others. Honorably and engaged in the practice of medi- eine.

discharged when the war closed, he re- turned to Indiana. It should be stated Dr. Hays twice enlisted in the service of Uncle Sam.

Dr. Eberle Wilson, a practicing physician of Carrollton, was born in , Girard county, Ky., Jan. 22, 1839. During the late war he enlisted as a private in the 19th Ky. Inf., of the Federal army, and rose to the rank of 1st lieutenant. He was taken prisoner during Banks' Red river expedition and sent to Texas as a prisoner. In 1865, after being exchanged, commenced the study of medicine with Dr. P. W. Lo- gan, who had been a surgeon of some prominence in the service, and attended a three year's course of lectures at Bellevue, and graduated at Brooklyn, N. Y. In the fall of 1867, he located in Fayette, where he practiced until 1872, then removed to Rockbridge, where he practiced until 1885, when he removed Cannedy.

to Carrollton. He married Lucy A. born in Morgan county, June 25, 1829;

Dr. James N. Miller, now residing in Rockbridge township, was born in Gaylesville, Ala., May 17, 1841. Ile moved to this state with the family in 1858. He was educated at MeKendrec College, and at the Rush Medical Col- lege. After graduation, in 1862, he was appointed Ist asst. surg., and assigned to the 13th A. C. He was united in marriage with Eliza Edmondson. In Oct., 1865, the doctor located at Fayette,

Dr. A. J. Bruner, who was engaged in the practice of medicine near Wood- ville, is a native of Tennessee, where he was born in the year 1835. He re- ceived a preliminary education in the district schools of his native place. Removing to Kentucky, he entered upon a literary course of study at the Hiawatha College. Proceeding to Keo- kuk, Ia., he entered the College of Physicians, graduating from the insti- tution with honor, on the 17th of Feb., 1875, and after that date soon secured a large practice in Greene county, and lived near Woodville, where he has be- come the owner of a valuable property. In 1869, he married Mrs. Mary A. Slaten, a daughter of Richard and Sarah J. Spalding. He is now in Roodhouse, engaged in mercantile pursuits.

Dr. J. E. Waters is practicing medi- eine in the village of Athensville; married March 11, 1850, to Ann Daw- son, of Delaware. This union has been blessed by five children, only one of whom, however, is living-James M., born July 4, 1852. Dr. Waters is a graduate of the St. Louis Medical Col- lege, in the class of 1862, and has at- tended several courses of lectures at Chicago, St. Louis and Louisville, He has lived at Athensville since 1860, and enjoys a wide reputation, as a physician and gentleman, throughout the country.

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

CHAPTER XIII.

THE PRESS OF THE COUNTY.

What a power there is in that simple word-the press. Although but of re- cent birth it is the grand instrumental- ity of our grander civilization. It is the mighty power that has stamped its mark upon the age, and leaves its ini- print upon our everyday history. The influences of it are felt to-day, and go "thundering down the mighty corridor of time" to ages yet unborn. No other engine of our later civilization exerts an equal force with it-not even the pulpit or the bar-for is it not both these combined, with its own sphere besides? The messenger of the gospel truth rises in his place upon the Sabbath day and discourses of his subject to a few hundred at the most ; on the follow- ing morning the press, reproducing the the thoughts, spread it throughout the length and breadth of our fair land, to be discussed by all. The attorney at the bar of justice, pleading the cause of some client arraigned before its stern front, utters the thrilling appeal that loosens the bonds and lets the unjustly held prisoner go free, or, with God-like eloquence fastens the guilt upon the criminal, and, with scathing, burning words, crushes down the brazen front of hardened crime. The press takes up the words that else must have perished, and the judgment of all men can read them, and digesting their true import, accept them at their true worth. The

politician takes the stand and addresses a small assemblage, but, through the power of the press, his words are car- ried to the uttermost parts of the country, and he thus addresses a whole people. By and through the press, all people and all lands are made as one nation. The waters rise and overflow vast tracts of fertile, thickly populated country, leaving many homeless and penniless ; the devouring flames break out in the over-crowded city and many be bereft of house and home and daily bread ; pestilence may stalk with grin visage through a portion of the land, smiting down the rich and poor alike ; but the press takes up the news, repeats the burden of their cry, and help comes from the charitable, a white-winged messenger, to raise their fallen hopes, and tide them over the season of their dire distress. At the demands of the press, food, clothing and money are poured out to relieve these suffering mortals. Its power to knit us all in one great common brotherhood is unques- tioned. Its power for good or evil is almost limitless, in this our day and hour. It may hold up the mirror of public opinion and show therein the shortcomings or guilt of the public man, or it may cast its mantle over them, and they are hidden from all human ken. Through its mighty columns the dark deeds and villanies afloat in our

HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. 789

land are brought to light, and the evil doer hates and fears its bright, noonday light. The press is the great control- ing power in nation, state and county, and the press of Greene county is by no means an exception to this rule. The local press is justly considered among the most important institutions of every city, town or village, if not the most important. The people of every com- munity regard their particular newspa- per as of peculiar value, and then not only for the above reasons, but because these newspapers are the safe reposi- tories wherein are stored the facts and the events, the deeds and the sayings, the undertakings and achievements that go to make up its history. One by one these things are gathered together, and placed in type. One by one these papers are gathered together and bound and another volume of local, general and individual history is laid away, imperishable. The volumes thus laid away are sifted by the historian, and the book for the library is ready. The peo- ple of each city or town have, or ought to have, a just pride in their home news- paper. The local press, as a rule, re- fleets the business enterprise of a place. Judging from this standpoint alone, the energy and enterprise of the people of Greene county is commendable. The many papers which it supports are well filled with the advertisements of home merchants, and of its various business establishments. No paper can exist without this advertising patronage, and no community can successfully cope with its neighbors without using the ad- vertising columns of its local press. Each must sustain the other to live. Biographical sketches of many of the

present editors of these papers are given in the histories of the various towns and cities wherein they publish their re- spective papers, and are omitted in this connection.

CARROLLTON ADVOCATE.

A paper under the above head was initiated at Carrollton, in 1843, by a party named Edward F. Fletcher, who had been running the Backwoodsman, in Jersey ville, in company with Parenteau, where their office had been burned, shortly before coming to this county. The paper was not of very long life, and no copies of it have been found by the historians. This was the first paper published within the present limits of Greene county.

THE CARROLLTON GAZETTE.

This paper is the oldest representa- tive of journalism now being published in Greene county. It was established in 1846, by George B. Price, who was its editor and publisher for many years. The first issue appeared June 26, of the above named year, and contained the following salutatory:

"This day we present to the people of Greene county the first number of the Carrollton Gazette, and we respect- fully ask from them a liberal and gener- ous support. Our county contains a body of farmers and mechanics as intel- ligent and thrifty as any other portion of our state, and strange to say, we have never yet had a newspaper among us at all adapted to the wants or wishes of the community. Every effort here- tofore made to establish a paper in Greene county has most signally failed, and we think it does not require the gift of prophecy to tell the cause.

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

"They were established merely for factional purposes, and we know that in a community as intelligent as this, no mere partisan paper can be sustained. Newspapers were never designed to be- come the mere tools of a sect or party, but, on the contrary, were intended to stand as sentinels upon the wateh-towers of the constitution to warn the people of the designs, and to warn them against the machinations of mere party demagogues, who regard as nothing all else save their own petty sehemes of low ambition.

"We enter upon our undertaking un- der more favorable auspices than our predecessors. They set sail when the storm of political strife was loud. We set out upon our voyage when all in the world is - comparatively speaking - calm. The great political excitement growing out of the presidential canvass of 1844, has died away, and the minds of all honest, candid men, are better prepared to investigate calmly and dis- passionately those great questions so intimately identified with the future prosperity of our common country. Great questions of national policy are not, can never be, fairly discussed in the midst of a great political ferment; hence the necessity of talking over these things in quiet times, when the passions of men are cool, and their minds are open to conviction.

"There are two great questions now before the American people for their decision, and upon the correct decision of these questions mainly depends the future prosperity of this Union: 1. The adjustment of the tariff. 2. The im- provement of our western rivers and lakes. Shall we make them ourselves, or shall the general government?

"We are the humble advocates of the tariff poliey as understood and incul- cated by the old republican party of the United States. We go for the protection of the labor of our own free citizens against the pauper labor of Europe.

"We are for the speedy improvement of the navigation of our great rivers, and of the lakes upon the northern frontier.

"So far as our state affairs are con- eerned we shall advocate those meas- ures which in our judgment may best promote the permanent interests of the state without regard to party lines or distinctions.

" We are decidedly opposed to the the creation of any banking institutions by the state legislature.

" We regard the early adjustment of our state indebtedness with a view to its future liquidation, as a measure alike the dictate of sound policy, and good morals.

"We are in favor of the call of a convention to amend our present state constitution.

" But we do not design to make our paper exclusively political; we shall endeavor by judicious selections, and otherwise, to make our humble sheet a welcome visitant to the fireside of every reading family in our county. So far as we may indulge in political discussions, we will treat our opponents with all due respect, and we never shall permit our sheet to be defiled with the low party slang and abuse of private character that too often disgraees the public press of the country."

In this issue of the Gazette, there also appeared the following military order, signed by William C. Raney, Col., and M. S. Link, Adjt.

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

"Whereas, war has been declared by the congress of the United States of America, and proclaimed to the world by the executive head of this republic against Mexico, the babbler and tool of Great Britain and France, its present military usurpers, having outraged every principle of humanity, and

"Whereas, the dark clouds of war seem to be gathering on the eastern as well as southwestern horizon, where blood has rained on our soil, shed by hostile hands,

"I, William C. Raney, colonel of the 18th regiment, 2d brigade, 3d division of Illinois militia, do hereby order and direct all her sons in Greene county, south of Apple creek, subject to mili- tary duty, to enroll themselves in com- panies and battalions, according to the laws of Illinois, and elect their own commissioned and non-commissioned officers, and make their return, in due form of law, all poll books and reports of such elections, as soon as practicable, to M. S. Link, adjutant of said regiment, in order that commissioners may be had and a perfect military organization take place. Free men, prepare yourselves for war, and be ever zealous of your country's liberty and able to defend its honor."

The Gazette was started as a five col- umn folio, all printed at home, at a subscription price of $1.50 per year. "Devoted to politics, agriculture, liter- ature and morality," was a motto which adorned the first page. Political- ly, the paper adhered to the principles of the whig party, until 1856, when the republican candidate for president, John C. Fremont, received its hearty endorsement and support. Since that

campaign, however, it has been a con- sistent, ardent advocate and supporter of the democratic party, and still ad- heres to those principles. The Gazette was continued by Mr. Price until the issue of Nov. 8, 1851, when an an- nouncement appeared stating that he had associated with him R. B. Dedman, and the paper was shortly afterward increased in size to a six-column folio. Mr. Dedman, however, did not remain connected with the paper very long. Mr. Price continued its publication alone from the 1st of Feb. following, until 1860, being ably assisted in the meantime by his son, senior member of the present management. On the 8th of Dee., of the above year, the follow- ing explanatory notice appeared in the columns of the Gazette:

"Owing to the largely increasing bus- iness of the Gazette, together with the desire on our part to render such further services to our readers in the editorial department as the times demand, we are pleased, with the present number, to announce that we have secured the valuable assistance of II. L. Clay, Esq., the recent editor of the semi-weekly Axis. From the date of the present issue of the Gazette he will be included as a partner in the office.

" The former highly appreciated ser- vices of Mr. Clay rendered to the dem- ocracy, and the numerous encomiums of the press throughout the state, renders superfluous an extended comment upon his abilities. Uniting in himself the qualities of a gentleman and a scholar, combining a thorough knowledge of the mechanical department of the press, with a long experience in the editorial chair, a loyal devotion to the principles

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

of the democratic party, and a com- mendable spirit of enterprise, his labors will add new attraction to the columns of the Gazette.

" With this accession our readers will, doubtless, be delighted, and the paper may receive an extended patron- age as a news and political journal for the citizens of Greene and adjoining counties."

This firm existed until 1863, when Mr. Clay retired, the business being continued by Price & Son. In 1868, George B. Price retired from the editor- ial work, and the paper was then con- ducted under the exclusive management and control of his son, Thomas D. Price, although the firm name remained the same until succeeded by Price & Montgomery, in 1881. In the issue of July 9, of the year, the following ap- pears in the Gazette relative to the change :

"When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for two parties to unite, and thus constitute a firm for the promotion of public good, a decent respect to the opinions of man- kind require that they should declare the causes which impel them to the union.

" We, therefore, the representatives of this journal, do, in the name, and by the authority of the good people of the commonwealth, solemnly publish and deelare, that while the Gazette will continue to be soundly democratic, it will be liberal and charitable to our re- publican friends, who are not respon- sible for the actions of their leaders; that it will be a fearless advocate of the cause of temperance; that it will make

earnest endeavors to think right, and to speak just what it thinks; that its in- fluence can't be 'bought'-that the man approaching us with bribes will be promptly sent elsewhere; that it will be diligent in preparing the latest news, and presenting it in the most attractive style; that it will be keenly alive to every measure that will tend to promote the interests of Greene county, and es- pecially those that pertain to the delight- ful city of Carrollton; that in all our dealings with the outside world we will adopt the golden rule-doing as we would be done by. And, for the sup- port of this declaration, with a firm re- liance on the protection of Divine Prov- idence, and the support of all good citizens, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honors."

The firm of Price & Montgomery con- tinued in the publication of the Gazette in a successful manner until May, 1883, when they were succeeded by the pres- ent management. In retiring, Mr. Montgomery paid the following tribute to the new firm, in an announcement which appeared in the Gazette on the 19th of the above named month:

" With this issue I lay down the Fa- ber and sever my connection with the Carrollton Guzette. I transfer my inter- est to Mr. H. P. Farrelly, with whom negotiations began two months ago. Were I an older editor, having had many years' connection with this paper, the usual valedictory might be appropri- ate. Asitis, I simply state that the firm of Price & Montgomery is this day dissolved. Mr. Farrelly, my successor, is a man of correct habits, full of energy and capable of making a great success.

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

He has had experience in the newspaper world, and I have full confidence that the old reliable Gazette will continue hereafter, as heretofore, to keep in the van. My hearty good will goes with the new firm, Price & Farrelly."

In the following publication, May 26, a short but pointed salutatory ap- peared, relative to the new management, couched in the following words :

" Promises are easily made and often broken. The managers of this paper, therefore, have no new outline of policy to lay before its readers. We shall strive to make it more and more inter- esting from time to time. When we are wrong we shall expect criticism and shall deserve it. When we are right, and battling for the right, we shall ex- peet the meed of praise. We kindly ask such patronage as we deserve."

The Gazette at present is a six-column, eight-page paper, a form which was adopted Nov. 30, 1878. It is one of the finest equipped country printing offiees in the state, bringing into use a large Chicago Taylor cylinder newspa- per press, and three job presses, all of which are operated by steam. The Gazette is one of the oldest papers in this part of the state, and has practi- cably been under the same management during its entire career. It is ably con- dueted by Messrs. Price & Farrelly, who make it a journal well up with the times, and which wields considerable influence in the politics of this district.

GREENE COUNTY BANNER.

A paper bearing the above title was started in Feb., 1848, by John Fitch, but which had but a short life. The Carrollton Gazette, in speaking of it in

its columns, on the 26th of Feb. of that year says:

"We have before us the first num- ber of a democratic paper, just started in this place, entitled the Greene county Banner. In the mechanical execution of the Banner there is some taste dis- played, and its spirits-if we can judge of its future course by its present-will be moderate and courteous, though de- cidedly democratic. The proprietor, John Fitch, is a young man from the state of Vermont, has been but a short short time in the west, and as he is a stranger among us, we trust that he will meet with the usual kind feeling, which ever emanates from the warm hearts of the sons of the west. Ver- mont the Green Mountain state, is noted for producing men of remarkable energy of character and intelligence-such men we want among us."

CARROLLTON DEMOCRAT.

During the year 1855, a bright and brilliant paper known by the above name, was started in Carrollton. It was abły edited by H. C. Withers, now a leading member of the bar of the county, who then was but a young man. but had already a clear style and a trenchant pen. It did not live long, but expired some time in the following year.

CARROLLTON PRESS.

In 1857-58, the issues that led to the civil war, absorbed the attention of the people of the country, and the newly formed party, known as free-soil or republican, in Greene county, desiring an organ of their views, which were in opposition to the administration, and which would represent the, as yet, infant

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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

party. Therefore, in 1858, certain par- ties, among whom was David Pierson, established a journal at Carrollton, the county seat, under the editorial charge of S. P. Ohr, and which bore the name of the Carrollton Press. This was a crisp and newsy sheet, ably edited, and in mechanical make-up, fully equal to its cotemporaries. The editor was a man of ability, and upon the breaking out of the Rebellion, being willing to endorse the principles he advocated even with his life, he entered the service of the general government, and made a gal- lant soldier. Shortly after, under the auspices of the Union League, of Car- rollton, and assisted by some excellent contributions from the pens of members of that organization, the paper was re- vived under the name of the

CARROLLTON PATRIOT,

under the editorial management of E. L. Craig, who ran it for several years. IIe was succceded by William B. Fair- childs, and afterward by others. It · then fell under the management of Lee, Lusk & Pratt. Shortly afterward the firm became Lee & Pratt, who, through some lack of business tact or other cause, allowed it to decline until it no longer had any influence or standing in the community. At this stage, in the spring of 1874, Edward Miner and Ed- ward Lindley purchased the paper, and on Friday, April 17, 1874, the first issue under their management made its appearance. Heretofore, the Patriot had been published as a seven-column folio, but these gentlemen changed it to a five- column quarto. In this paper Mr. Miner, now the talented deputy county clerk, and secretary of the Old Settlers'

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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 87

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