History of Logan County, Illinois, Part 33

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

USA > Illinois > Logan County > History of Logan County, Illinois > Part 33

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The first movement in that direction was made in the synod of Indiana in either 1862 or 1863, by Rev. Elim McCord, an aged and talented minister who urged the necessity of establishing a college or university to be under the control of the five synods be- fore mentioned. Thus the matter was given definite shape. The other four synods, on invitation, co-operated with that of Indiana and the result was the founding and building up of Lincoln Uni- versity.

The granting of the charter was but the beginning. Funds had to be provided to pay for the erection of the building and for a permanent endowment. The ministers who were the members of those synode co-operated in that branch of the work and gave lav- ishly of their time and means, among whom should be specially mentioned Revs. Elim McCord, James Ritchey, Azel Freeman, D. D., W. T. Ferguson, James White, J. B. Logan, D. D., James M. Miller, J. R. Brown, D. D., J. R. Lowrance, J. A. Chase and J. E. Roach. To these we may add that Dr. McGlumphy, in the spring of 1883, by a special effort to increase the endowment fund, secured more than $30,000. Citizens of Lincoln and Logan County, owners of property and business men, without regard to their church affiliations, have been liberal in donating money and property to the University and otherwise assisting in placing it on a substantial basis. Among them we may mention Geo. H. Camp- bell, John Howser, Geo. W. Edgar, R. B. Latham, Colbey Knapp, John Wyatt, A. Mayfield, Frank Froser, Joshua Howser, James Coddington, Jno. D. Gillett, Erastus Wright, J. S. Randolph, S. A. Foley, Hon. I. T. Foster, A. J. McGlumphy, D. D., B. F. Mc- Cord, Rev. J. M. Hubbert, Luther Jenisen, John Happerly, F. Altman, E. N. Davis, Jno. Evans, J. J. Friend, M. Griesham, Gil- lespie & Co., David Gilchrist, Robert Gilchrist, Wm. R. Gilchrist,

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Mrs. Emma K. Good, Mrs. E. R. Harrington, C. J. Head, Frank Hatton, G. I. Harry, Wm. Hungerford, Levi Hatton, Geo. W. James, Frank Klatt, C. M. Knapp, R. N. Lawrence, J. A. Lutz, Jacob Mundy, T. Newkirk, H. Patterson, John Scully, Mrs. L. M. Switzer, S. Stern, W. M. Dustin, J. M. Starkey, B. H. Brainerd and Daniel P. Bryan (now deceased), the latter having donated his entire estate and founded a professorship. Other devoted friends of the enterprise residing in Logan County and elsewhere have also been liberal in their donations to the University. Donations of $5,000 each, to become available after the death of the respective donors, have been made by Thomas Burnett, Martha Beatty, Wm. Galt, J. R. Newman and J. T. Drennan.

The charter members of the Board of Trustees were: Rev. Elim McCord, R. B. Latham and John Howser, for Indiana Synod; Rev. David Lowry, Geo. W. Edgar and J. F. D. Elliott, for Iowa Synod; Rev. J. B. Logan, A. C. Boyd and James Coddington, for Central Illinois Synod; Rev. J. M. Miller, Rev. J. E. Roach and John Wyatt, for Illinois Synod; and Goo. H. Campbell, J. S. Metcalf and Abram Mayfield for Sangamon Synod.

The Trustees at this time are: Rev. W. T. Ferguson, Rev. Jas. Best and J. S. Randolph, for Indiana Synod; Hon. Wm. B. Jones, Rev. W. C. Bell and Rev. J. A. Chase, for Sangamon Synod; Hon. T. T. Beach, Hon. W. T. Moffitt and T. H. Perren for Cen- tral Illinois Synod; Geo. W. Edgar, Thos. Quisenberry and Rev. R. A. Ferguson, for Iowa Synod; and J. A. Hudson, Geo. I. Harry and Rev. T. H. Padgett, for Illinois Synod. Officers: J. A. Hudson, President; J. A. Chase, Vice-President; Wm. B. Jones, Treasurer; and W. C. Bell, Secretary.

The aggregate number of students who have attended the Uni- versity is about 3,000 and its graduates number 170.

The alumni of the institution, as well as those students who did not complete the regular courses, have, with very few exceptions, reached honorable and some high positions in the pulpit, at the bar. in the medical profession, as professors and teachers, editors, bankers, merchants, and in other branches of business.

The instruction received and lessons taught make the students not theorists only, but also practical business men and wonien, capable of maintaining honorable positions in the great congress of thinkers of the present age.

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The property and assets of the University consist of- Campus and buildings, worth. $ 60,000 Furniture, library and fixtures 5,000 Endowment fund invested and otherwise available 60,000 Endowment good, but not yet available 40,000

Total property and assets

$165,000

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CHAPTER XII. - AGRICULTURAL.

LOGAN AN AGRICULTURAL COUNTY .- ADVANTAGES AFFORDED TO STOCK-RAISERS .- COEN THE CHIEF CROP .- OTHER PRODUCTS .- STATISTICS. - LANDLORDISM. -- AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY .- FIRST FAIR .- SUBSEQUENT FAIRS .- ATLANTA FAIRS .-- OLD SETTLER'S CABIN.

The best prosperity a county can have is agricultural. Manu- factures and mineral resources are desirable, but where they are the main dependence there will invariably be a poor, ignorant, unenterprising class of citizens controlled by a few capitalists. Here in Logan County property is quite evenly distributed, with the exception of two large landowners; all are comfortably situated, and all enjoy educational and social advantages. Logan is destined to remain an agricultural county, and it is best so. As a farming region it ranks among the best in the State. Possessing the ad- vantages of a good climate, a soil of inexhaustible fertility, close proximity to the markets of Chicago, and excellent railroad facil- ities, the county has already attained such a degree of agricultural development as is seldom found in a country comparatively new. Its wealth and prosperity are steadily and rapidly increasing. When we consider that but two generations ago the red men were the owners of these prairies which now support one of the most flourishing communities in the United States, we may well be aston- ished at the wonderful results which time and an intelligent in- dustry have wrought. In many sections of our country, lands which have been occupied by white inhabitants twice and thrice as long exhibit not one-half of the improvements and substantial evi- dences of real prosperity that Logan County can show. Nature did much for this region, and a thrifty and progressive people have admirably co-operated with her efforts. Farms, buildings and im- provements of every kind are of unusual excellence in this county. Numerous towns and villages scattered over the county furnish abundant and convenient trading points and home markets, while (364)

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unexcelled educational and religious privileges combine to render the lot of the Logan County farmer a most fortunate one.

One may travel over many parts of Logan County and naturally conclude that it is one great cornfield; and this is borne out by the official reports. Of a total area of 388,949 acres, 347,418 acres are improved; and of this latter surface, 167,214 acres, or almost half, was planted to corn in 1884, yielding 3,622,560 bushels of that valuable grain. A large amount of this product went into the more marketable form of beef and pork, as the reports show that 4,794 fat cattle were sold, weighing 6,136,774 pounds ; and 48,892 hogs, weighing 11,661,807 pounds. Including home consumption it is safe to say that over 20,000,000 pounds, or 10,000 tons, of meat are produced in this county annually.

The next largest area of land is pasture, 64,420 acres. This is of course largely to be charged to live stock, as is also the 42,557 acres of oats, which grain takes the third largest amount of the cultivated surface. Fourth is timothy meadow, 21,132 acres; fifth, winter wheat, 16,009 acres ; sixth, woodland, 14,941 acres. These items deducted, there is only 21,145 acres left as uncultivated lands, orchards, and land used for minor crops.

Following is a summary of the county clerk's report for 1884, made in July, 1885, from the reports of the town assessors:

Corn .- Acres, 167.214; yield, 3,622,560 bushels.

Wheat .- Winter wheat, acres, 16,009; yield, 433,419 bushels. Spring wheat, acres, 453; yield, 6,554 bushels.

Oats .- Acres, 42,557; yield, 898,122 bushels.

Rye .- Acres, 898; yield, 5,175 bushels.

Buckwheat .- Acres, one; yield, 132 bushels.

Beans .- Acres, six; yield, thirty-three bushels.

Peas .- Acres, one; yield, 200 bushels. Irish Potatoes .- Acres, 1,254; yield, 98,324 bushels. Sweet Potatoes .- Acres, seventeen; yield, 1,609 bushels. Apple Orchard .- Acres, 4,363; yield, 34,055 bushels. Tobacco .- Yield, 830 pounds.

Broom Corn .- Yield, 800 pounds. Timothy Meadow .- Acres, 21,132; yield, 25,163 tons.

Clover Meadow .- Acres, 246; yield, 109 tons. Prairie Meadow .- Acres, 352; yield, 210 tons. Hungarian and Millet .- Acres, ninety-nine; yield, twelve tons. Sorgo .- Acres, ninety-one; yield, 9,020 gallons of syrup. Turnip and other Root Crops .- Acres, eight.

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366 HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. .

Other Fruits and Berries .- Acres, thirty-two.

Other Crops .- Value, $3,500.

Sheep .- Number of sheep and lambs, 9,289; number killed by dogs, 134; value, $410; number pounds of wool shorn, 31,390; number fat sheep sold, 1,979; weight, 144,745 pounds; number sheep died of disease, 280.

Cattle .- Number, 24,173; number fat cattle sold, 4,794; gross weight, 6,136,774 pounds; number of cattle died, 387; value, $14,398.

Hogs .- Number, 82,558; number fat hogs sold, 48,892; weight, 11,661,807 pounds ; number died of cholera, 10,656; weight 738,165 pounds; number hogs died of other diseases, 1,589; weight, 128,955 pounds.

Honey .- Pounds produced, 38,914.

Horses and Colts .- Number, 12,479; colts foaled, 1,521; number horses and colts died, 570; value, $10,177.

Drain Tile .- Number of feet laid, 1,084,866.

The average value per acre of the farm products of Logan County for 1884 was $5.63, ranking as the thirty-fourth county in the State.

LANDLORDISM.

History and reason alike teach that distribution of land and ownership by the tillers thereof are essential to the highest pros- perity of a community. France is the best illustration of a land where peasant proprietorship is the rule, and Ireland the saddest example of the blighting effects of alien landlordisin. Just so soon as the lands in America begin to concentrate into the hands of a few owners, then will our agricultural classes begin to degenerate. They will show a loss of means, comforts, enterprise and intelli- gence. It is not likely that we shall ever become as badly off as Great Britain, where the law of entail is the principal factor oper- ating to preserve large estates, but we should combat every tend- ency in that direction. It is frequently argued that we in America have nothing to fear from vast fortunes; that these will be divided and wasted as fast as accumulated. This principle of self-adjust- ment is much less applicable to real estate than to personal prop- erty. Every one who has a vote in the affairs of our State or Nation should feel haunted by the startling fact that there are already over 1,000,000 tenant farmers in America, and direct his attention to the remedy, if there be any possible.

Logan County has about 500 of these tenant farmers, and has an

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unpleasant notoriety thereby. Many large farms are owned by residents of Lincoln, Mt. Pulaski and Atlanta, and some by citi- zens of other counties, but two proprietors may be singled out from all the rest by reason of the vastness of their estates. One of these is John D. Gillett, father-in-law of Governor Oglesby. He re- sides on his property and manages it directly. The land is in the southern part of the county, near the village of Elkhart, and con- sists of many thousand acres of prairie. Mr. Gillett commenced poor, and owes his wealth to no inheritance of the accumulations of ancestors. He is an enterprising citizen and public spirited. He owns considerable property in Lincoln, some of which does not yield so much in dollars as in general assistance to the appearance and prosperity of the place. He is fair in his dealings with ten- ants, who are of a better class than tenants frequently are. All in all, Mr. Gillett as a landlord is a pleasing contrast to William Scully, who owns more land than any other man in Illinois, and is undoubtedly an incubus upon Logan County's development.

He is the owner of about 80,000 acres of land in this State, about 45,000 acres being in Logan County. Much of this land was acquired from the Government, at $1.25 an acre. Large tracts were obtained at 50 cents to $1.00 an acre, through the use of soldiers' land warrants. He has been for more than two years buying nearly everything offered for sale near his estates, and evi- dently intends to enlarge his holdings as much as possible. He is an alien, residing in London, England, and takes over $200,000 in rents out of Illinois every year. He has introduced the worst feat- ures of landlordism here, his leases being the latest improvements on those which have reduced Ireland to its present condition. No tenant can sell a bushel of wheat or corn without first applying to the agent of Mr. Scully for permission, and every law which has been or may in the future be made for the protection of debtors is expressly waived by the tenants. The latter are mostly German, as Americans do not often rent, and Mr. Scully has had so much trouble with the Irish that he does not encourage their applica- tions. All tenants must doff their hats when at the office of the agent, F. C. W. Koehnle, and other customs are in vogue which seem oppressive. Every grain buyer at Lincoln, Mason City, New Holland, Burton View, Hartsburg, Emden and other points is served with a notice, of which the following is a copy:

LINCOLN, ILL .-- To - -, Grain Dealer-SIR: I herewith below send you a list of tenants of William Scully, and beg to no-

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368 HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

tify you that their corn and other crops are subject to William Scully's landlords' lien for rent, and that you must not pay them for any corn or other grain until said rent is paid, or I shall be obliged to hold you liable therefor. Yours respectfully,

F. C. W. KOEHNLE, Agent.

Mr. Scully commenced renting about twenty-three years ago, but acquired much of his land previous to that. In 1850 and 1851 he entered 25,000 acres in what are now Orvil, Sheridan and Prairie Creek townships. He came to America for the first time in the former year; appeared quietly in Lincoln, where he en- gaged board, and gave no one an intimation of his intentions. Every day he was off on horseback, scouring the prairies. He shortly made a trip to Springfield, and entered a tract of land so vast that the story at first seemed incredible. As soon as the country became thickly settled, so that land was desirable, he had little difficulty in obtaining tenants, and although his land is some- what impoverished, he has now no difficulty in finding men to till it. Its poverty is caused by the custom of his tenants, who are mostly "transients," raising nothing but corn, year after year, from the same ground. The owner pays nothing for permanent improvements, consequently these are few and cheap. There is little hedging; the fences are poor, the houses the most comfort- less in the county. There are no barns to speak of, no orchards, scarcely a tree of any description. Churches and school-houses, as may be supposed, are as cheap and far apart as in many regions we term "heathen."

In the adjoining townships, where the farmers own their land, everything is in striking contrast. We find neat and substantial dwellings, many of them of brick, usually two stories high; large, roomy barns, cattle-sheds, orchards, neat lawns with evergreens and all the other appurtenances, and' aspects of an ideal Illinois farm.

Mr. Scully's lands rent at $3.00 an acre, on the average. Some go as low as $2.50, while the best bring $3.50. In addition the tenant must pay the taxes, which average 45 cents an acre. The proprietor thus escapes all taxation in this country. Several at- tempts have been made to compel him to pay an income tax, but without result. One case was taken to the Supreme Court before he won. In 1876 a measure was introduced into the Legislature imposing an extraordinary tax on holders of Illinois land who are "absentees and aliens." It failed to pass because it was feared

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that it would keep foreign capital out of the State. It is thought that this or a similar law will yet be enacted, but it would be a difficult one to enforce, even if it passed the ordeal of the Supreme Court.

This landlord owns a whole county in Kansas, some land in Nebraska and some in other States. In Illinois, besides his Logan County property, he owns land in Sangamon, Woodford and Grundy counties. He visits Lincoln every autumn, but never transacts business directly with our people, referring every one to his agent. He even refuses to converse on general topics with an American.

LOGAN COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. -

The first effort toward establishing an agricultural society in this county was made in 1856. Previous to that time, although the benefits and importance of such an association was admitted by all, there had been no combined efforts upon the part of our citizens for the improvements of our farmers.

Upon the 28th of June, 1856, a public meeting was held, which was numerously attended, for the purpose of organizing an agri- cultural society, at which meeting a constitution was adopted, and the following officers appointed. Colbey Knapp, President; M. C. Hildreth, Vice-President; Wm. H. Young, Secretary; and Wm. F. Ryan, Treasurer. An executive committee was also appointed, and the 9th and 10th of October following fixed for holding the first annual fair. In the month of September, and but a month previous to the time set for the fair, the officers and executive committee met, when it was found that but a very small sum had been subscribed toward purchasing a suitable site for the fair grounds and defraying the expenses of the fair. It was then seen that they would either have to abandon altogether holding a fair that year, or else adopt some sure and speedy method of procuring the necessary funds. Accordingly the officers and members pres- ent, to the number of ten, formed themselves into an association, upon the joint-stock principle, each of whom paid in $100, and re- ceived a certificate of stock therefor. With the funds thus obtained a handsome piece of ground ot ten acres was purchased one mile from Lincoln, and the same was inclosed with a high tight fence, and the necessary stalls and fixtures erected in time for the fair. The success of this first fair was complete, and, considering the short time for preparation, the members had good cause to congratulate

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themselves upon the fruits of their labor. About $400 was dis- tributed in premiums, and the receipts for entries and at the gate were amply sufficient to pay the same, as also all the incidental ex- penses attending the exhibition. The display of horses was very fine, ninety-two entries having been made. The display of cattle, hogs and sheep, though not large, was better, both as to quality and quantity, than was expected by the society. Household, gar- den and orchard products, and the ladies' department, were well represented. The whole number of animals and articles entered was 215. Total number of premiums awarded, ninety-six. The total receipts, $536. Animated by the success which attended the first exhibition, the society, determining to profit by the experience which had been gained, resolved to prepare for the second annual fair in a manner worthy of our county and of the important inter- ests which such exhibitions are intended to promote.

SECOND FAIR.

The second annual meeting was held upon the 18th of March, 1857. An election of officers was held at this meeting, which re- sulted in the election of Colbey Knapp, President; James Tuttle, Vice-President; Wm. H. Young, Secretary; Win. M. Dustin, Treas- urer. The society having obtained from the Legislature, during the preceding session, a charter, the same was accepted, and it was ordered that the society should in future act under the pro- visions of the same. The treasurer, at this meeting, reported that stock to the amount of $1,300 had been taken, and it was ordered that the society keep open books for the subscription of stock until the full amount ($2,000) should be taken. The time for holding the second annual fair was fixed on the 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th of September. A premium list much more extensive and varied than the first was adopted, and $900 appropriated for premiums, to be paid in plate and agricultural books. During the spring and sum- mer the fair grounds were beautified by planting therin a large number of trees, and by erecting permanent and tasty buildings in place of the temporary ones of the preceding year. The second fair was one of which the society had just reason to be proud. The weather was delightful, and during the whole four days the interest of exhibitors and visitors remained unabated. The display of ani- mals and articles, in all the classes, with the exception of grain and vegetable products which, owing to the general backwardness of the season, were inferior, was large. In every respect this exhi-

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bition was an improvement upon the first. The ladies' department was well represented. They appeared to be animated by a zeal and interest in the success of this fair which was contagious. Their department was the great center of attraction during the fair, and well deserved to be so. About 1,000 persons were in attendance during the fair, mostly citizens of Logan County. The number of entries was 520, and the number of premiums, 150. The receipts were much larger than at the first exhibition, and the amount paid in premiums threefold greater. The receipts at the gate and for entry fees met the necessary expenses of the fair, including premi- ums.

THIRD FAIR.

The third annual fair of the society was held September 8, 9, 10 and 11, 1858, and although it had more to contend against than any of the preceding ones, among the principal of which were the pecuniary condition of the country, the extreme backwardness of the season, delaying the maturity of all the principal field crops and vegetables, and the unfavorable weather during the greater part of the fair, yet its abundant success satisfied those who perfected its organization that it had now become a permanent and successful institution, with a prospect, for the future of increased and constantly increasing usefulness to the agricultural interests of Logan County. The number of premiums awarded was 134, and the number of entries about the same as the previous year. There was a manifest improvement in the stock upon exhibition over that of the two preceding years, and all of the departments were well represented.

FOURTH FAIR.

The fourth annual fair was held October 4, 5, 6 and 7, 1859. During the previous year the following had been chosen an Ex- ecutive Committee: S. H. Jones, James Coddington, D. G, Evans, P. R. Marquart and John W. Gasaway. R. B. Latham was Secre- tary, and T. J. Larson, Marshal, with J. Miller, A. U. Stone, E. Bowman and L. Rosenthal as Assistant Marshals. A liberal pre- mium list was offere I, and several special features were included, of which the following was one:

"There will be paid $50 to any person in Logan County who will kill, in said county, by himself and dogs, or any device, the greatest number of rats, between the 1st day of June, 1859, and the first day of the fair, and produce the scalps entire, accompa-

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nied with an affidavit that no other person or persons assisted him or her in killing said rats, and that he or she has not acquired a scalp either by purchase or gift. And $30 will be paid for next greatest number. And $20 for the third greatest number."

The fair was reasonably successful, and encouraged its projectors. The attendance was about 2,500 on each of the two principal days, enough to more than pay expenses. The officers chosen for the succeeding year were: James Tuttle, of Atlanta, President; D. G. Evans, of Salt Creek, Vice-President; G. H. Campbell, of Lin- coln, Secretary; William H. Dustin, of Lincoln, Treasurer.

FIFTH FAIR.

The fair held October 3, 4 and 5, 1860, was eminently success- ful. The weather was delightful, and everything went off to the satisfaction of the managers. The officers elected for the next year were: President, Benjamin Donan; Vice-President, Isaac V. Cunningham; Secretary, William H. Young; Treasurer, William H. Dustin; Executive Committee, C. H. Geer, R. B. Latham, Ezra Boren, James Coddington and Thomas J. Larison.

SIXTH AND SEVENTH FAIRS.

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History of Logan County, Illinois, Part 33

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