History of Logan County, Illinois, Part 26

Author: Inter-State Publishing Co.
Publication date: 1886
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 989

USA > Illinois > Logan County > History of Logan County, Illinois > Part 26

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The exercises at the speaker's stand commenced at 2 o'clock. After an invocation by Rev. A. J. Layenberger, and music by the Mt. Pulaski band, the president of the day, J. G. Chalfant, intro- duced to the audience Hon. Richard J. Oglesby. The Governor had prepared his address and delivered it from the manuscript. On it he had spent much time and thought, and it was indeed a noble effort. For over an hour the speaker held the vast audience spell-bound by the power of his eloquence. He dwelt with much pathos upon the history of our nation during the years of strife, and paid splendid tributes to the memory of the martyrs who died in defense of liberty.

The monument is conspicuously located north of the court-house, and is admired by all visitors. The names of 326 of the heroic dead are engraved on the column. On the top of the second disc is the plinth, on which stands the life-size statue of a uniformed soldier. The monument was designed and built by F. C. Bushway, at a cost of $5,600. The whole height is twenty-three feet.

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CHAPTER VIII.

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IMPROVEMENTS IN JOURNALISM AND INCREASE IN ITS POWER .- EARLY PAPERS IN LOGAN COUNTY .- PAPERS AT LINCOLN, ATLANTA AND MT. PULASKI. - JOURNALS NOW PUBLISHED .- SKETCHES OF THE EDITORS.

In the development of modern civilization there is no more potent factor than the newspaper, and, at the same time, there has been no greater progress in anything for fifty years past than in American journalism. Fifty years ago the country had few news- papers that could be considered paying property. The metro- politan journals devoted about as much space to foreign as to domestic news, while country weeklies seemed to consider that which happened at home as of no importance whatever, and imi- tated the larger papers in style and contents. The telegraph and railroads, assisted by that enterprising spirit which is inseparably connected with successful journalistic management, have wrought most gratifying results. Local news has become the main feature of weekly country newspapers, and all journals of the better class are foremost in advancing the best interests of the localities from which their support comes.

In Logan County, journalism has kept pace in the march of improvement with other professions and industries. The wide circulation of these papers at present published, and the large number of outside papers that are taken here, afford the best pos- sible evidence that the people are intelligent, enterprising and pro- gressive. In Lincoln alone 150 copies of outside daily papers are distributed every day by the news-dealer, and many come by mail direct to subscribers.

Although many able writers have been employed upon the county press in former years, without disparagement to any of them, it can safely be asserted that the journals of the county, taken as a whole, were never better conducted than at present. The editors are gentlemen who understand their business thor- (288)

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oughly, and do their utmost to give their patrons good, clean, re- liable newspapers.

LINCOLN.

The oldest paper in the city is the Lincoln Herald. It has had continuons existence since its establishment Jan. 1, 1856. It was founded by Moudy & Fuller, who, in 1856, sold to Joseph Reed. He conducted it one year and sold to a joint stock com- pany of twelve persons. These employed O. C. Dake to edit the paper, and under his management it was conducted until 1860, when A. B. Mckenzie purchased a controlling interest in the paper. He at once associated with himself Henry Sturges, who remained until October, 1861, when he went to the army. Mr. Mckenzie continued the paper until 1863, when he sold to Joseph C. Webster, former Circuit Clerk, and the first Mayor of Lincoln: In January, 1866, he sold to Andrew McGalliard. Mr. McGal- liard kept the Herald until Jan. 1, 1873-seven years, when, being elected Circuit Clerk, he sold to Smith & Mills. This firm continued the publication of the Herald until 1877, when Albion Smith retired, leaving Mr. Mills sole owner. It represents the interests of the Republican party, and is an ably conducted paper. It is published on Thursday, at $2 per year. It has been a six- column quarto since July 27, 1876. Before that date it was an eight-column folio. The present building occupied by the Herald was erected in 1883, with especial reference to its use as a news- paper office. Before moving into this, it was located opposite the Lincoln House, on Broadway, for nearly eight years. The job printing department connected with the office is operated under lease by A. H. Wiltz. This arrangement has been in force since Jan. 1, 1883.

This paper absorbed the Logan County Democrat, established almost as early as the Herald, by a stock company, who managed it until about 1864, when it was sold to Samuel Johnson, who changed the name to the Logan County Courier, and as such was purchased by Joseph C. Webster when owning the Herald, and by whom it was merged into the latter paper. In 1867 the States- man was established by Thomas J. Sharp, who conducted it sev- eral years. In May, 1873, the Journal was founded by Wallace Nall, who in December sold to R. B. Forrest. About the same time Samuel Reed purchased the Statesman, and he and Mr. For- rest formed a partnership, uniting the papers, thereby forming the

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Lincoln Times. In December, 1875, Wallace Nall and brother Lemuel purchased the paper. They published it four years, and then sold to T. H. Stokes, who assumed control Jan. 1, 1880, and has since remained sole owner. He has been assisted by J. R. Sedgwick as local editor since May, 1884. The Times is a Democratic paper, issued on Thursdays, at $1.50 per year. In size it is a six-column quarto. The office is located on Kickapoo street, opposite the court-house.

In February, 1874, Sharp's Weekly Statesman was founded by Thomas J. Sharp. He managed it until November, 1875, when he associated with himself Colonel W. D. Wyatt. They started the daily Statesman in connection with it. In April, 1876, Mrs. Anna Wyatt became owner, the name changed to daily News, and Colonel Wyatt remained as editor until Angust, when the office was leased to Samuel Reed, who conducted it till March 17, 1877, when it was purchased by Joseph B. Bates, who changed the name to the Republican, and made it a weekly. This was pur- chased by Mr. Mills, of the Herald, Feb. 4, 1879. The Intel- ligencer was established in June, 1866, by Henry Sturges. In 1869, the paper was discontinued and the office removed to Win- chester, Scott County, where a paper was published by D. L. Am- brose, for some time a resident of Mt. Pulaski. The Logan County Bee was established in 1877 by George L. Shoals, then editor of the Atlanta Argus. This died a natural death in about six months.

The first daily paper issued in Lincoln was the Experiment, whose first number was dated Jan. 4, 1860. The proprietors were Stephenson & Bowen. They did not find the venture profit- able, and in a few months were obliged to suspend. No further attempts were made in that direction for many years. The next daily not already mentioned was the Sentinel, established early in July, 1878, by Dutcher & Pierce. The latter soon withdrew, and Dutcher conducted it alone several months, until he sold to Albert F. Smith, who had been publishing the Temperance Bugle at Beardstown. Mr. Smith continued that paper here with the daily until March, 1881, when he discontinued both and removed to Decatur, where he is now publishing the State Journal. Messrs. Wolf & Edmonds started the second daily News in November, 1878. In a few weeks this was succeeded by the daily Times, before mentioned. The Call was another short-lived daily paper, founded in the last of March, 1879, by McBeth & Hawley. The

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daily Times, above mentioned, was succeeded the July following Its establishment by the Leader, with Edmonds Bros as publishers. They issued this sheet daily for fifteen months. In the autumn of 1880 the Evening Record was started by Mohr Bros., who were succeeded six months later by Miller Bros. A few months more, and in June, 1881, L. C. Schwerdtfeger purchased the Record, changing the name to the Journal. In January, 1882, he estab- lished the weekly Tribune, which has since been issued from the same office. Jan. 9, 1883, Mr. Schwerdtfeger leased the property to Messrs. Edmonds & Nall. The latter withdrew in January, 1885, and in March started the Evening Mail, which was suspended in July following. Mr. Edmonds is now alone in the publication of the daily Journal and weekly Tribune.

The Illinois Volksfreund was established in February, 1874, by T. J. Sharp, who employed a German to edit it, but the latter re- mained only a few weeks. In the early spring Mr. Sharp sold this paper to Messrs. Wolf & Knorr. In October following Mr. Knorr sold his interest to Mr. Wolf, who conducted the paper some two years. After him it passed through two or three different hands, one of whom, named Fisher, changed the name to the Volksblatt. Some time in 1876 Mr. Fisher sold to Wallace Nall, who in turn disposed of the paper in the spring of 1877 to C. E. Knorr, sole proprietor and editor since. The Volksblatt is politically inde- pendent. It is an eight-column folio, issued on Fridays, at $1.50 per year. E. F. L. Rautenberg established another German paper, the Journal, in 1877. It was purchased in October by the pro- prietors of the Volksblatt.

ATLANTA.

The first paper at this point was the Logan County Forum, es- tablished in August, 1855, by S. B. Dugger. It was published a few years, and the enterprise was then abandoned by the proprie- tor. Afterward one or two other papers were started, but none continued successfully save the Atlanta Argus, which was estab- lished in May, 1869, by Albion Smith. He at first printed it at Bloomington. In 1870 F. B. Mills, present proprietor of the Lin- coln Herald, became a partner, and under this management the paper was conducted until the spring of 1873, when they pur- chased the Lincoln Herald and removed to the county seat, leav- ing the Argus to be managed by A. W. Briggs, who in July purchased the paper, and conducted it until Angust, 1874, when

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he sold to George L. Shoals, and the latter disposed of the office to Horace Crihfield in November, 1881. In August, 1884, R. C. Crihfield became an equal partner, and the firm name was made Crihfield Brothers. The junior member of the firm now lives at Minier, and has immediate charge of the Minier News which was printed at the Atlanta office for about ten years, until Aug. 1, 1885. The gentlemen also own and publish the Waynesville Record, Kenney Gazette and McLean Lens, making in all five papers, located in four counties. The Aryus is a seven-column folio, all printed at home. It is independent, politically. The subscription price is $1.50 per year. Friday is the day of issue.

MT. PULASKI.

The Sentinel was the first paper in this village. It was started in July, 1870, by Francis M. Dalton, who was, not long after, succeeded by John Bush. In August, 1871, the name was changed to the Observer, and as such was conducted by Frank Sloan until July, 1873, when it was changed to the Dollar Star, and published by Joel Dunbar, who soon afterward changed the name to the Mt. Pulaski Star and continued it until October, 1876, when it was sold out. Shortly afterward the Mt. Pulaski Citizen was started by the Conklin brothers, who sold in 1881 to H. C. Suttle. He in September, 1885, disposed of the paper to O. G. Bekemeyer, who had founded the Times in June, 1882. The two papers were now united under the name of the Times-Citizen. It is a Democratic journal, issued on Thursday of each week, at $1.50 per year; in size an eight-column folio.

The Mt. Pulaski Republican was established in August, 1884, by T. H. Smedley, who in January, 1885, sold to C. H. Curtis, but repurchased in September, 1885. The Republican is a six- column quarto, issued on Saturdays, at $1.50 per year.

SKETCHES OF EDITORS.

OTTO G. BEKEMEYER, owner and editor of the Mt. Pulaski Times- Citizen, is a son of William F. and Emile (Schwarburg) Beke- meyer, natives of Prussia. The former is a wholesale and retail liquor dealer at Springfield, in this State, where Otto was born Sept. 8, 1862. He graduated from the Springfield High School at the age of sixteen years, having in the meantime learned some- thing of practical journalism. He finished learning the trade, and then reported on different papers until February, 1882, when

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he came to Mt. Pulaski. He was in his brother's store until June, when he started the Times. This was consolidated with the Citizen in 1885. Mr. Bekemeyer is unmarried.

HORACE CRIHFIELD, editor of the Atlanta Argus, and senior member of the firm of Crihtield Brothers, who publish the Atlanta Argus, Minier News, Waynesville Record, Kenney Gazette and McLean Lens, is a son of Philip and Sarah (McFarland) Crihtield, natives, respectively, of Ohio and Rhode Island. Philip Cribfield was a photographer by occupation, most of his active life, though his first business here was that of a druggist. He came to Atlanta as soon as the town was projected, and here resided until his death in 1867. He was married in 1855 to Sarah McFarland, whose family came to this neighborhood Nov. 30, 1838, and were promi- nent among the pioneers. Of five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Crihfield, three are living-Horace, Robert Cory and Martha. The last two, with their mother, reside at Minier, Tazewell County. The eldest of the three, the subject of this biographical notice, was born May 13, 1856, at Atlanta, which has been his home since -- at present writing, thirty years. He received a good elementary education in the public schools, which he attended until nearly eighteen years of age. When nineteen he entered the Argus office, under Mr. Shoals. In a short time he became editor of the Minier News, which was established by Mr. Shoals, and printed at the Argus office. For a year he spent the greater part of each week at Minier. Since then most of his time has been passed at Atlanta, though his newspaper interests in other towns require much travel- ing. As stated before in this chapter, he purchased the Argus in November, 1881. Ang. 1, 1885, he admitted his brother into partnership. He was united in marriage Oct. 2, 1878, with Miss Emily C. Arnold, of Atlanta. To them have been born three chil- dren-Roy H., Fay and Philip. Politically Mr. Crihfield is a Re- publican. Mrs. Crihfield is a member of the Baptist church.

JOHN EDMONDS, editor and publisher of the Lincoln daily Jour- nal and weekly Tribune, is a son of Thomas and Catherine (Keefe) Edmonds, natives of the Emerald Isle. They came to America when young, and were married in this country. Mr. Edmonds, Sr., lived in Pennsylvania for some years, and in 1863 came to Lincoln, where he died in 1875. His wife is yet living there. Their union was blessed with three children-John, Cornelius E. and Ella (principal of the Third Ward school of Lincoln). The first named, the eldest of the family, was born Oct. 14, 1854, near West

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Chester, Chester Co., Pa. He lived there till 1861, then, for one year, in Winnebago County, this State, next, for a year, in Stephen- son County, and then came with his parents to Lincoln. Here he attended the public schools until seventeen years old. He was next employed at farming and at various other occupations until 1876, when he commenced soliciting for newspapers. He has since de- voted himself entirely to journalism. His first independent venture was in 1877, when he established the Indiana Statesman, at West Lebanon. His connection with the Lincoln papers is mentioned previously in this chapter. Born of humble parents, and having experienced none of the luxury and advantages which surround many of our American youth, Mr. Edmonds deserves all the inore credit for the popularity he has gained and the energy he has dis- played in making his papers highly successful as news carriers and advertising media. He is a member of the Odd Fellows order, both lodge and encampment, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America.

CORNELIUS E. EDMONDS, local editor of the Journal and Tribune, was born April 12, 1857, and lived with his parents until twenty- two years old, attending the public schools of Lincoln. At the age mentioned he went to Texas, where he first edited the Denison daily Herald-News for a few months. Next, at Marshall, Texas, he edited the Messenger, a weekly paper, for a year and a half, at the expiration of which time he purchased a half interest in the office. Returning to Lincoln after six months more at Marshall, he soon left on a tonr which lasted two years. He traveled through many of the Eastern and Southern States, partly for his health, and partly to see and observe. He returned once more to Lincoln in the summer of 1885, and since then he has filled the position of local editor on his brother's papers.

C. E. KNORR, editor and publisher of the Volksblatt, the only German paper in Logan County, is a son of Karl Gottlob and Johanna Elenora Knorr, natives of Saxony, where both resided till their death. The subject of this notice was born ()ct. 28, 1854, at Wiederau, Saxony, where he lived until fourteen years of age. At that age he came to America. He first went to Columbus, Ohio, where a brother was living, and where he remained about one year. He then went to Emporia, Kan., where he had charge of a steam engine for a brother from spring to fall. His next move was to Fort Smith, Ark., where he worked in the office of the Fort Smith New Era three years, learning the printer's trade. He was

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employed for a short time in Little Rock and Lonoke, Ark., and Mound City, Ill., when he was foeman in the office of the Pulaski Patriot from spring to the close of 1873. He then traveled in Arkansas and Kansas a couple of months, and planned to return to the old country. Desiring employment for a few months, until the arrival of some money, he happened to find an opening at Lin - coln, which he at once accepted. The fall of 1874 he visited Ger- many, where he enlisted in the army and served three years, return- ing to Lincoln in November, 1877. Here he has since remained, engaged in the conduct of the Volksblatt. He was married in Germany, Oct. 30, 1877, and has now two boys-Richard E. and Fred C. The family attend the Evangelical church.

FRANK B. MILLS, editor and publisher of the Lincoln Herald, is a son of Joseph A. and Margaret H. (Adams) Mills, natives of Ohio. Mr. Mills, Sr., was at different times engaged in merchan- dising and other occupations. He was in the Ohio Legislature from 1851 to 1853, having been elected as a Whig. In 1853 he removed to Iowa, where, as a Republican, he served one year in the Legislature of that State. He came with his family. in 1857 to Atlanta, in this county, where he died in December, 1864. His wife is yet living at Atlanta. Their three children are Cornelia M. (Poak), residing at Osceola, Mo .; Patience E. (Plummer), died at Lincoln in 1867, and Frank B. The last named was born Jan. 10, 1842, in Clinton County, Ohio, where he lived until elever years old. He lived with his parents at their different homes until August, 1862, when he enlisted in the Seventeenth Illinois In fantry. He served three years, his regiment being consolidated with the Eighth Illinois Infantry in May, 1864. He was dis charged Aug. 22, 1865, at Baton Rouge, La. Returning to At lanta he was variously employed until 1870, when he took an interest with Albion Smith in the publication of the Atlanta Argus. Jan. 1, 1873, he came to Lincoln, where he has since conducted the Herald. He was married to Orrilla Humason June 23, 1877 and has a family of three children.

THOMAS H. SMEDLEY, editor and publisher of the Mt. Pulaski Republican, is a son of R. H. and Elizabeth (Rice) Smedley, natives of Illinois. The former followed farming in Morgat County, and died in the army during the late war. Thomas II. was born June 25, 1854, at Waverly, Morgan County, where he lived until thirteen years old. At that age he commenced to learn the printer's trade. He worked at various places until the summer

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of 1883, when he came to Mt. Pulaski. He was married Sept. 13, 1876, to Miss Minnie Kennedy, of Waverly, and has now two chil- dren-Virgie and Gracie. Mrs. Smedley attends the Methodist church.

THOMAS H. STORES, proprietor and editor of the Lincoln Times, is a son of Benjamin A. and Maria L. (Mulford) Stokes, natives of New Jersey and Ohio. The former followed farming in Warren County, Ohio, during his active life, and is now retired. His son, the subject of this notice, was born March 28, 1848, at Utica, Warren Co., Ohio, in which place and at Ridgeville, in the same county, he lived until twenty years old. He attended the common school of his home, the National Normal School at Lebanon in 1865-'6, and the Antioch College in 1866-'7. He then taught school for one year near home, and in August, 1868, came to Lin- coln. He taught for six months in the country here, and was, in 1869-'70, principal of the First Ward school of Lincoln. In July, 1870, he entered the employ of Boyd, Paisley & Co., with whom he remained continuously (except one year with John A. Lutz) until he.purchased the Times, Jan. 1, 1880. Mr. Stokes has been for many years prominent in local politics, and in matters of pub- lic concern. He was for two years a Director in the Public Library Association, four years Secretary of the Democratic County Com- mittee, three years Secretary of the County Agricultural Society, and is now a Director in the Lincoln Loan and Building Associ- ation. During the legislative session of 1885 he was Enrolling and Engrossing Clerk of the House. He was married March 28, 1871, to Mary M. Larison, of Lincoln, and has three children- Mabel, Walter R. and Carroll D. Mrs. Stokes attends the Christian church. Mr. Stokes is a member of the Masonic order.

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CHAPTER IX.

- LOGAN COUNTY BAR. -

BY COLONEL W. D. WYATT.

LAWYERS OF THE PAST .- COURTS .- STATES ATTORNEYS .- GENERAL REMARKS .- ANECDOTES OF LINCOLN .- PRESENT BAR. - PERSONAL MENTION.

H. H. Ballou was one of the first, if not the first,to practice law in this county.

Lyoneal P. Lacy was here at least as early as the close of the Mexican war. He was a good and reliable lawyer, a better coun- selor and business man than advocate.

William H. Young was a member of Colonel Baker's Fourth Regiment in the Mexican war. Returning home in 1847, he stud- ied law and afterward formed a co-partnership with James S. Jones, under the firm name of Young & Jones. This arrangement was discontinued in the early part of 1860, when Jones removed to Champaign, where he still resides.

Samuel C. Parks studied law with Stuart & Edwards at Spring- field, and located in the county late in the " forties," or early in the "fifties," when the seat of justice was at Mt. Pulaski. In 1863 he was appointed Territorial Judge for Idaho; but this posi- tion he resigned, three years later, in order to resume the practice of law at Lincoln. President Hayes appointed him a Territorial Judge in New Mexico, and President Garfield appointed him to a similar position in Wyoming. His term of office has just expired.

In 1858 or 1859 Wm. McGalliard, a scholarly, industrious law- yer, a native of New Jersey, came to Lincoln and formed a partner- ship with Judge Parks, which continued until the latter entered upon his official life. Judge Parks was the first attorney and agent for William Scully in this county. The firm of Parks & McGalliard were bis attorneys and agents after the formation of the co-part- nership until the same was dissolved, and then Mr. McGalliard, who in the meantime had been appointed master in chancery for (297)

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Logan County, resigned that office, retired from the practice of law. and systematically organized the great Scully estate. He con ducted its agency until he committed suicide by shooting himself. The firm of Parks & McGalliard was known as a very reliable. safe and able one.

John E. Cummings located at Middletown before the seat of justice was removed from Mt. Pulaski to Lincoln, but upon its re- moval came to Lincoln. He was of Irish extraction, a fine scholar, and fluent speaker, and would have made an eminent and successful lawyer and advocate but for his dissipated habits. One night in 1866, while intoxicated, he fell down his office stairs and was killed.

In 1855 or 1856 Eli L. Austin came here from Morgan County and in 1857 formed a partnership with Mr. Cummings, under the firm name of Cummings & Austin. This was of short duration, and Mr. Austin became a partner of William Callon, now of Mor- gan County. This relation was dissolved by Major Callon enter ing the military service in 1861.

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History of Logan County, Illinois, Part 26

Author: Inter-State Publishing Co. Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Number of Pages: 989

Author: Inter-State Publishing Co.
Publication date: 1886
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 989