USA > Illinois > Kane County > History of Kane County, Ill. Volume I > Part 44
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75
505
KANE COUNTY HISTORY
of the Batavia News. In May. 1870, O. B. Merrill purchased Roof's interest and the latter has since been located in the West. Mr. Lewis became sole proprietor in October, 1870, and continued the publication of the paper. The Fox River Times was a very neat eight-column folio paper, published about three months in the summer of 1876 by Roof, Gates & Fox. The Young Advocate was an amateur paper published for a short time, the first number being issued about September 1. 1871. by John F. Dewey. In 1886 Messrs. Bunnell & Ward, of Aurora, began the publication of a paper called The Gleaner, having for a time associated with them Mr. C. H. Starkey. They sold to Sherman Bros., who, on the 30th of July. 1887. issued the first number of a well-filled eight-column folio called The Rock City Review, which still flourishes.
Newspapers at Aurora have been numerous. Cyrus B. Ingham, who came to Kane county in 1835. and located in Sugar Grove township, went to Chicago in 1844 and was engaged until 1846 in the publication of the Better Covenant, or New Covenant. In 1846 he removed a printing office to Aurora and commenced the publication of the Aurora Democrat, the first paper printed in the place. Aurora then had but two hundred and fifty inhabitants. Mr. Ingham, in relating the history of his paper, in 1868 wrote of the circum- stances as follows: "The Democrat, however, was short-lived, owing prob- ably to its own weakness and the inability of the sparsely settled country to sustain a local newspaper."
In December, 1846, Messrs. M. V. and B. F. Hall began the publication of a six-column folio sheet called The Aurora Beacon. The publishers appre- ciated the condition of affairs about them, and not being proud. they offered to take wood and most kinds of produce in payment for their paper. The Beacon was the first permanent newspaper enterprise in the place and was at first conducted on neutral grounds as regarded politics, M. V. Hall being a whig and his brother B. F. a democrat. Finally it passed into the hands of M. V. Hall, who continued it as a whig organ and did valiant work in the political field. B. F. Hall became prominent in public affairs. The original publication office of the Beacon was on the west side of the river. In the winter of 1853-54 the paper was sold to James WV. and Dudley Randall, who soon after removed the office to the east side of the river. Mr. J. H. Hodder, the present publisher. became connected with the office at that time as job printer. Here commenced a very rapid series of changes in proprietorship. William Goldy, a very excellent job printer: N. S. Greenwood, a literary farmer, of DeKalb county; George Brewster, an erratic Chicago editor; his son, a printer, sold and resold and formed partnerships of various kinds with the original proprietors. On Saturday, September 6, 1856, the Aurora Daily Beacon appeared, with Hon. A. C. Gibson as editor. It was a five-column four-page sheet and continued until April 30, 1857. The two issues were in 1857 published by Randall, Greenwood & Company, "at Concert Hall, Main Street." Mr. Brewster. Mr. Day and Augustus Harman succeeded Mr. Gibson as editors of the daily, Mr. Harman continuing until the consolidation of the Beacon and Guardian in July. 1857. The consolidated sheet was called the Republican Union. James W. Randall and Simeon Whiteley publishers
506
KANE COUNTY HISTORY
and proprietors. Mr. Whiteley had in 1852 established in East Aurora a democratic paper called the Aurora Guardian, which became a prosperous sheet and espoused the cause of the republican party at its birth. Its con- solidation with the Beacon in 1857 was in the interests of harmony between the eastern and western sections of the city. One month after the consolida- tion Mr. Whiteley took the material of the old Guardian and reestablished a separate office, commencing the publication of the Republican, an eight-column folio paper. The publication of the Beacon was revived in September. 1857, by O. B. Knickerbocker & Company (Augustus Harman, former editor, and O. B. Knickerbocker, foreman for J. W. Randall, who had come in possession of the Beacon material). J. H. Hodder succeeded Mr. Harman in the firm in June, 1859. The Republican was sold to George S. Bangs, December 6, 1858, and that paper was soon consolidated with the Beacon, the latter name being retained, and the firm of Bangs & Knickerbocker established. The first issue under the new partnership was December 30, 1858, at which time the Beacon had a circulation of one thousand five hundred copies. Its politics remained republican. Mr. Bangs was appointed postmaster at Aurora in the spring of 1861 and at the time of his death, a number of years later, he was superintendent of railway mail service of the United States. April 19. 1866. the Beacon was enlarged, and in October following Mr. Bangs sold his interest to J. H. Hodder, having virtually retired from the firm in the preceding spring. The firm of Knickerbocker & Hodder continued for almost nineteen years, or until the death of Mr. Knickerbocker, which occurred May 8, 1885. He had been a short time before appointed postmaster. Mr. Knickerbocker was a capable, energetic and wide-awake gentleman, greatly esteemed in the community. The firm of Knickerbocker & Hodder built up a fine business, and to Mr. Hodder is due the credit of having done more to advance the standard of the printer's art than perhaps any other man in Aurora and to preserve it in its improved state. The accounts of the old firm were continued in the usual form until October 1. 1885, when the title was changed to J. H. Hodder & Company. The Beacon is steadfastly republican in politics and is the oldest paper in the Fox River valley. The office was removed in 1882 to the fine new building on Stolp's Island, erected for the purpose by J. H. Hodder, and today is one of the most complete newspaper. book and job printing, binding, blank book and stationery establishments in the state outside of Chicago. It is published by the Aurora Beacon Publishing Company. Albert M. Snook president and general manager.
In March, 1858, James B. Snell commenced the publication at Aurora of a neat temperance sheet, called The Temperance Monitor. It continued in existence but about a year. Mr. Snell served meritoriously in the Fifty- second Illinois Infantry during the war, was afterward editor of the Mendota (Illinois) Bulletin. and for a number of years was connected with the map and historical publishing house of L. H. Everts & Company, Philadelphia. He is now deceased.
The Reformer, published in the interests of prohibition, dress reform, etc .. was started by Augustus Harman and Ellen Beard in July. 1858, and was a fine paper of sixteen pages. The proprietors soon united their fortunes as
BIRDSEYE VIEW OF THE SOUTHERN PART OF WEST AURORA.
509
KANE COUNTY HISTORY
husband and wife, Mrs. Harman maintaining her active membership and assisting in every way in her power. In April, 1860, Mr. Harman began pub- lishing the Temperance Tocsin, a paper half the size of the Reformer, designed for local circulation. The labor of managing the two papers was too great for Mr. Harman's constitution, and in June, 1860, the publication of the Reformer was discontinued. Mr. Harman died in the fall of the same year and his wife continued to publish the Tocsin but a short time after his death.
February 8, 1861. John H. Hodder, who had for some months been proprietor of a job office, established the Auruora Chronicle, which succumbed to the hard times about six months later. Mr. Hodder removed the outfit to Woodstock, McHenry county, Illinois, where for two years he published the McHenry County Union.
The Aurora Herald, established by Thomas E. Hill. was first issued Saturday, June 2, 1866. He was succeeded in its publication by the firm of Hill & Gale, Gale & Shaw, Shaw & Bangs, Bangs. Owen & Ford, and Bangs & Owen, all within a couple of years. Finally, in December. 1871. the estab- lishment was purchased by Pierce Burton, who had been prominently engaged in both the newspaper and political fields in Alabama. In 1883 the Daily Express was established by Pierce, Burton & Company. The weekly edition was known as the Herald Express.
In June, 1867, Dudley Randall, afterward of Elgin, established the Aurora Weekly, which was soon afterward changed to the Aurora Argus. He was assisted in the editorial work by W. H. H. Brainard. The paper did not long continue. Mr. Randall afterward published for a time the Illustrated City Life, a humorous paper, which made spicy reading for the people of the vicinity.
In February, 1874, Jacob Siegmund and C. M. Faye issued the first number of the Aurora Daily News, Mr. Siegmund as publisher and Mr. Faye as editor. September II, 1875, Mr. Faye was succeeded by O. B. Merrill. About February 1, 1876, a half-interest in the paper was purchased by Willis B. Hawkins, a native of Aurora and a gentleman of extensive newspaper experience. The paper was enlarged in December of that year and steam power was added at the same time. A year later the publication of a weekly edition was begun. Richard W. Corbett was for a number of years local editor of the News. Messrs. E. D. Northam and E. F. Beaupre at length became proprietors and so continued until 1887, when John F. Dewey secured an interest. In the fall of the same year the establishment passed into the hands of Mr. Dewey and Arthur Evans. In November of same year John F. Dewey became sole proprietor. The weekly edition was some time pre- viously discontinued. The paper is a clean, well printed sheet, contains a large amount of local news, and is evidently prospering. It is republican in politics.
The Aurora Volksfreund, a weekly paper, printed in the German lan- guage, was established in the winter of 1868 by Peter Klein and Jacob Siegmund.
The Aurora Blade, a humorous weekly paper, was established in 188r by Clarence W. Putnam.
510
KANE COUNTY HISTORY
The Aurora Evening Post was founded in 1877 by David Welch and soon after purchased by L. A. Constantine, the present publisher. In July, 1883, John F. Dewey secured a position on the editorial staff and was later associated with Mr. Constantine in the publication of the paper under the firm name of Constantine & Dewey. This relation ceased in the summer of 1887, when Mr. Dewey secured an interest in the Daily News.
The Aurora Sun, a small weekly paper. was established by Jacob Siegmund & Company in 1886.
Besides the papers named, others have been published for short periods at various times, among them being the Aurora Sunday Tribune, by S. D. Tillot- son, which was, after a short existence, absorbed by the Geneva Patrol.
The people of Elgin have witnessed the rise and fall of numerous news- paper publications in their midst. The first was the Western Christian, estab- lished in 1845 by a joint stock company, and edited by Spencer Carr. Rev. A. J. Joslyn and Rev. Wareham Walker. It was a Baptist and anti-slavery paper and in a short time was removed to the state of New York. It was succeeded in July, 1850. by the Elgin Gazette, published weekly by E. Owen, editor and proprietor. It was an excellent paper. according to the testimony of contemporary publications in the county. The Gazette was continued under its original name until 1874, when it was consolidated with the Advocate, which was established in 1871 by S. L. Taylor, of Geneva and St. Charles. After the consolidation the Advocate, under which name the new paper sailed, began an era of prosperity such as had never been experienced by any Elgin publication. Book-binding, blank book manufacturing and job printing departments were added and the business grew to handsome proportions. Mr. Taylor died suddenly at Leadville. Colorado. in 1882, and some time later the office passed into the hands of A. H. Lowrie, who was afterward associated with J. K. Le Baron, now publisher of Every Saturday, and later with W. L. Black, the proprietors now being Lowrie & Black. Mr. Tomlinson, of Detroit, Michigan, purchased a half interest in the spring of 1886 and continued until the fall of 1887, when he was succeeded by Mr. Willis L. Black. The Advo- cate's circulation was increased by the purchase of the subscription list of the semi-weekly Envoy, published by Mr. Le Baron, and was also consolidated with the Daily News, which is still published from the office and enjoys the largest circulation of the Elgin papers. It is republican in politics.
The Fox River Courier, a whig paper, was published for a short time, commencing in 1851. The Elgin Palladium was first issued in 1853, edited by Mr. Hough, and about three years later became the Kane County Journal, published by Lyman & Smith. Grosvenor & Willis established a democratic paper in 1858, which was in 1865 succeeded by the Second District Democrat. The Elgin Chronicle succeeded it. published by Ed. Keogh, and this, after being purchased by E. C. Kincaid, now of Cleveland, Ohio, was finally merged in the Elgin Watchman. All these passed out of existence previous to 1871. The Lady Elgin, a monthly publication, issued under the control of the watch factory operatives, was begun in 1872 and continued until 1878. In the fall of 1874 the Elgin Republic was first published by the proprietors of the Dundee Citizen, and continued until 1877. when it became the Elgin Free Press, with
511
KANE COUNTY HISTORY
C. Stoddard Smith editor and proprietor. It attained a good circulation. In 1874 the Elgin Times was established by Ed. Keogh and flourished for several years as an organ of the greenback party. Dudley Randall, from Aurora, removed to Elgin in December, 1874, and began the publication of the Daily Bluff City. W. J. Christie purchased a half interest in it in August, 1875. Randall in the same year started another daily, which only lasted a few weeks. Both these papers are now defunct.
The Elgin Daily News was first issued June 17, 1876, by the Elgin Printing Company, with F. H. Taylor as manager. J. K. Le Baron after- ward became its publisher, and in 1880 published the Weekly Envoy, formerly the Dollar Weekly News. This was principally intended for a campaign sheet. It was later changed to a semi-weekly and at length its subscription list was sold to the Advocate, with which the Daily News was also consolidated, the publishers being Lowrie & Le Baron. From January 8, 1882, to Feb- ruary, 23, 1884. Mr. Le Baron was postmaster at Elgin. April 12, 1884, he established a fine six-column quarto paper, devoted to general news and to social and literary matters, which he named Every Saturday. In August, 1884, J. R. Lane became a partner in the establishment and so continues, the firm at present being Le Baron & Lane. The paper was independent in poli- 1887) of 1,920. Two monthly publications, the Informer and the Gospel Trumpet, were both established at Elgin in 1874.
In the spring of 1878 H. N. Wheeler removed the Leader from St. tics and published weekly, as its name indicates. It had a circulation (October, Charles to Elgin, where he continued its publication for a time, when he entered similar business at Quincy, Illinois. The Leader was then published by his brother, J. N. Wheeler, together with a daily edition. The name was changed to The Elgin Frank upon the latter assuming control, and in February or March, 1884, the establishment passed into the hands of W. S. Doherty and H. D. Hemmens, who took the remains of the once prosperous paper, changed the name to The Elgin Courier, and succeeded in building up a pros- perous and widely influential publication, which today enjoys the confidence and patronage of the people. It is republican and has a large circulation. A. L. Hall is the present editor.
Mr. Doherty began the newspaper business at the bottom round in the office of the old Kane County Republican when a boy, in 1869, and in March. 1871, removed to his home, St. Charles, with Mr. Taylor, assisting him in the chemical work upon the Transcript. Later he went with the proprietor to Elgin and was connected with the Advocate in various capacities until after the death of Mr. Taylor. By dint of hard work, perseverance and the aid of a naturally bright mind, he placed himself in the very front rank of newspaper writers in northern Illinois. He had an acquaintance extending over a large territory and was acknowledged to be a leader in his profession. When the Courier had been placed upon a firm foundation-a result which required much hard labor on the part of its proprietors-Mr. Doherty, who was in a fair way to political advancement, suddenly sickened, and on May 8, 1886, his death occurred at Elgin. The people of the city united in doing honor to his memory and large numbers were present from various portions of the
512
KANE COUNTY HISTORY
county at the funeral, which was held at St. Charles, where he was buried. The Courier has since progressed along the way mapped out and Mr. Doherty's interest has been purchased by his partner, H. D. Hemmens. The business was later incorporated.
The Deutsche Zeitung, a democratic paper, published in German, at Elgin, was established in 1880 by Frank Kramer. It has a good circulation.
The Elgin Democrat was established October 16, 1886, by the Elgin Democrat Publishing Company and built up on the ruins of the Elgin Siftings, formerly published at irregular intervals by Alex. Carline, and its successor, the Temperance Reformer, which, under the guidance of James Coleman, Esq., floated its banner for a short time. As its name indicates, the Democrat is published in the interests of the democratic party in this section. R. P. McGlincy was for a time its editor, a position afterward occupied by Carl E. Botsford. It later became the Elgin Dial and now survives as the Daily Press, an independent sheet.
The newspapers which have at different times been published at Dundee, although in the main able and well conducted, have been rather unfortunate. The first attempt was made by E. J. Farnum, who established a four-column paper called The Dundee Advocate in the latter part of October, 1859. The village then, the paper stated, had over thirty business firms and four secret societies. About 1866 the Dundee Weekly was commenced by P. Swick and was in existence until 1871 or later. C. P. Thew and R. B. Brickley were proprietors, succeeding Mr. Swick. The Dundee Citizen, formerly the Algonquin Citizen, was published by George Earlie for a year, commencing in 1875. being removed from Dundee to Elgin and later published as the Elgin Free Press. March 29, 1877, the first number of the Dundee Record was issued by S. L. Taylor, publisher of the Elgin Advocate. Its editor was Dr. E. F. Cleveland, who later in the year purchased the paper, the publication of which was continued by him for several years. Dr. Cleveland made of the Record one of the best family papers in the region, but because of lack of adequate support it was finally discontinued, and the place has been without a newspaper for many years. The Dundee Hawkeye, a four-page weekly, was later established and is still published with success.
Hampshire has also had its newspapers. About November 1, 1877. C. E. Howe established the Hampshire Gazette, a live local paper, which flourished for a time and finally succumbed to the pressure of circumstances. March 5, 1885, the first number of the Hampshire Register was issued by L. A. & G. E. Sisley. A few months afterward L. A. Sisley retired and entered the law, loan and real estate business at O'Neill, Nebraska. After his departure the paper was conducted by his brother, George E. Sisley, and had a good average country circulation. In form it was a seven-column folio and in political matters independent. It was succedeed by the Hampshire Register, still published by A. B. Brill.
At Blackberry Station (now Elburn) W. R. Pooley established a small paper about 1880, called the Blackberry Blade, which was subsequently enlarged a column to a page. The subscription list was, after about three
.
513
KANE COUNTY HISTORY
years, sold to The Elgin Frank, and Mr. Pooley moved to Dakota and con- tinued his newspaper work in a newer and perhaps more prosperous field. Elburn now supports the Elburn Record, a weekly republican sheet of value.
CHAPTER XXI.
MEDICAL PROFESSION.
Pioneer physicians of Kane county were men of ability and determination, both necessary qualifications in a region whose diseases were peculiar to it and whose inhabitants were widely scattered and far from medical men or estab- lishments where medicines could be procured. The doctor who rode-or as often walked-over the broad prairies and forded the streams in the early days, did not write a prescription which could in a few minutes or even hours be filled at a neighboring druggist's but, by force of necessity, carried a supply of medicines suited to the wants of the people in their saddle-bags. He was in truth a benefactor, and like the people whom he served he must share the hardships and struggles of life in a new country, away from conveniences of all kinds, where his lonely rides often carried him for many miles without seeing a solitary habitation of a fellow man. The medicines which he carried were very often exceedingly costly, yet they were dealt out without stint whenever his professional services were in demand. His fees were small and. as money was an article not possessed in abundance by many of the settlers, he was obliged to take his pay in such products as the afflicted person could provide. Often, indeed, the doctor's ministrations were then, as they are now, a labor of charity, for his fees were not always forthcoming. Yet he lived and toiled on in his work of relieving the sick and distressed and shared with the people their prosperity and adversity.
It is not quite easy to determine who was the first physician to locate within the present boundaries of the county of Kane, but from the information at hand the honor appears to belong to Dr. N. H. Palmer, who located in Sugar Grove township at a very early day. Settlers who came to that town- ship in the spring of 1836 found that he had come some time before them, and Dr. Eastman, who located at Aurora in the early summer of 1835, stated some years later, at a pioneer meeting, that he did not come as early as Dr. Palmer. The latter, after the death of his wife, which occurred April 8, 1848. removed to Winnebago county.
Dr. Daniel Eastman, the first physician to settle at Aurora, took up his residence at that place in June, 1835, and for years was a skillful and suc- cessful physician and surgeon, always maintaining a high standing in his profession. He at length relinquished the practice of medicine and took up that of the law, in which he also won distinction. He was one of the early probate judges of Kane county. In the summer of 1862, after the expiration of his judicial term, he resumed the practice of medicine at Aurora. Dr. Eastman had been at one time a Universalist clergyman. He died at Aurora, February 23, 1863.
514
KANE COUNTY HISTORY
Says a former writer who interviewed Dr. Tefft :
"Without doubt the next physicians to seek a home in this county were Drs. Joseph Tefft and Nathan Collins, who came together in a wagon from Medina county. New York, reaching what is now Elgin township on the 7th or 8th of November. 1835. Dr. Tefft stopped first for a few days at the 'Yankee Settlement.' near Des Plaines river. He took up a claim on the east side of Fox river, at South Elgin, while Dr. Collins took another on the west side. Dr. Tefft made the first professional call, the patient being a young lady, who afterward became Mrs. Ladd. and lived with her husband several miles west of Elgin, where both died. From this circumstance Dr. Tefft was led to believe that he was the first physician in Kane county to deal out medi- cine, but unless there is some mistake in dates Drs. Palmer and Eastman, before mentioned, must have been in the county before him. The young lady mentioned was at the time of her illness residing with the family of Mr. Abbott, near South Elgin.
Dr. Tefft was one of the oldest practitioners in the state of Illinois, having been more than fifty years in the profession, although for some years before his death in 1888 practiced very little, except as a consulting physician. He was graduated at Woodstock. Vermont. from the College of Medicine, June 5. 1833. and practiced a short time in the East before coming to Illinois. He moved to what is now the city of Elgin in 1838. When Dr. Tefft was preparing to remove from South Elgin to Elgin he sold all his property at the former place and rented a small log house which stood where the Lord home- stead now stands, on the southeast corner of Villa court and Chicago street. Before he could occupy it, however, it was purchased by Dr. Elmore, who moved in, and thus became the first physician to locate at Elgin proper. Dr. Tefft, nothing daunted, went to his farm a mile east of Elgin, procured the necessary material, and built and occupied the first frame dwelling in the place on the land now occupied by the city hall. He was living in it within a few days from the time it was commenced. The building was, as may be imagined, not very large. The city afterward purchased the lot. Drs. Tefft and Elmore had plenty of business during the year 1838. In 1839 Dr. Elmore relin- quished practice and entered the hotel business, keeping public house in a log and frame structure on the corner of Chicago and Villa streets. He did not long remain in the town.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.