USA > Illinois > Macon County > History of Macon County, Illinois : with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 32
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" __ in his gait Preserved a grave majestic state."
He had a dog in his seat beside him, another at his feet, and several large, loose-jointed canines bringing up the rear. I now learned that his love for the dog was only equaled by his fondness for angling. Not finding him at his house, nor at his office, his patients were wont to institute search along the banks of the Sangamon, and strange if they did not find him-
" Just near the dubious point wherewith the pool So mixed the trembling stream, or where it boils Around the stone, or from the hollowed bank Reverting plays in undulating flow ; With eye attentive on the springing game, Leading the delusive fly with artful curve."
If found, now would come the tug of war ; duty insisting on seeing the patient, while an inviting play of the cork strongly tempted delay, and if his patient could be satisfied with a prescription, the case must be urgent or it would be given. With his many friends, I rejoice to sec that, in his declining years, he is enabled to rear a palatial residence overlooking the city of his love, and that he has a prospect of an old age of quiet luxury.
Dr. Trowbridge, my worthy predecessor then as now, sought the field of surgery, which was not grudgingly withheld, but generously pressed on him by his competitors. Not having the same fear of inflicting pain, or probably being incited by an intense ycarning for pre-eminence in this unoccupied field, he gave devoted attention to the few cases demanding surgical skill. But as those were too limited to admit of exclusive attention, and as the necessities of life must be met, he engaged in a general practice. Having a physical constitution of remarkable toughness, and of almost ferruginous hardness, his labors were immense, and such as would not be courted by him now-although in the prime of life and vigor of health. I have known him not unfrequently to ride and drive as much as four hundred miles in a single week attending to the ordinary duties of the profession. Of his mental and moral qualities it ill becomes me to speak in detail, but I may be allowed to say that great inti- macy will not permit me to adopt the adage, "familiarity breeds
contempt." I have already given him the credit of originating this society-I may add that to him is due its life. After three years of struggle it went down with the wreck of 1857. He again resur- rected it in 1858. When the war burst upon us in 1861, he was the first physician in Illinois to offer his services, and he received the very first commission as regimental surgeon given to any physician in this State or in the United States. After remaining three years and three months in the service, and passing unharmed through all the great battles of Donelson, (where he saved the life of John A. Logan, our Congressman-at-large,) Shiloh, Vicksburg, and Corinth, (at this last battle saving to us and the country our present Governor and townsman, R. J. Oglesby,) he returned to find the society with- out an existence, and at once solicited aid to build it up a third time. So that to him is due its present prosperity.
I have said this much of the first members of our society, with the hope of contributing my mite towards keeping alive the debt of gratitude due them and to repay, in a small degree, the many per- sonal acts of kindness extended to me by these disinterested gentle- men during my struggle for position and independence."
DECATUR WATER WORKS.
The cleanliness, comfort and health of a community are very largely dependent upon the possession of an abundance of pure water. Until population becomes dense, wells may be relied upon to supply this, but as population thickens they become in time in- adequate for all needs and positively productive of disease.
The establishment of great manufactories, needing a large supply of water, and the growing importance of Decatur, caused the want of a better water supply to be seriously felt in the latter part of the years 1860-69, but it was not until the year 1870 that the water works were built, and mains laid. At first the water was supplied from an immense well, but it was soon demonstrated that the supply was not equal to the needs of the city, and works were
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HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
erected on the north bank of the Sangamon, and a foot main was laid from the river to the square.
It was found that when the river was high the water was muddy, and therefore, in the fall of 1874 the city built a reservoir on the north bank of the Sangamon river, near the water works, by sinking a timber crib (100 feet long, 10 feet wide and 6 feet high, arched over with brick) into a stratum of gravel to a depth of about four feet below the bed of the river. This reservoir furnished a limited supply of excellent filtered water. Last fall this reser- voir was extended four hundred feet up the river, at the same depth and width, and covered in the same manner, making in all a reservoir 500 feet long, ten feet wide and eleven feet high, includ- ing the arch, with the bottom four feet below the bed of the river, and in a stratum of gravel and sand the entire length. This reservoir was finished and has been in use since the first of October last, and has thus far proved to be all the most sanguine could have desired, furnishing an abundant supply of good pure water, and the indications are that it will prove sufficient for many years.
INLET PIPE.
It was deemed necessary, as a precautionary measure, to connect the reservoir directly with the river, so that if, in case of a long protracted fire or drought, or any other unforeseen emergency, the water should fail to filter into the reservoir fast enough to supply the demand, access to the river could still be had by such connec- tion ; consequently a 24-inch cast iron conduit pipe, provided with a Ludlow Gate, was laid from about the center of the current of the river into the reservoir, resting on the river bed and falling one foot in 110 feet to the reservoir. One man can readily open and shut the gate at any time when an emergency requiring it arises.
THE DAM.
In the fall of 1878 it was found necessary, in order to increase the supply of water when the river was at a low stage, to build a dam across the river. The dam was therefore commenced at that time and completed last October, raising the river 43 feet at the reservoir and inlet pipe, giving it a permanent head of over eight feet to force the water into the reservoir.
* " Three pumps are in use, two of the Cameron, and one of the Holly pattern. The total cost of the works to 16th of February, 1880, was $141,500. The number of miles of mains of various sizes is 9.5 The expenditures for the year ending February 16th, 1880, were $6,553.21."
Mr. G. B. Loring was the engineer when the works were es- tablished.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
+ The fire department of this city was organized in July, 1872, consisting of the following officers and companies: Chief Engineer, Franklin Priest ; First Assistant Engincer, Joseph S. Hewes ; Second Assistant Engineer, H. P. Christie.
Rescue Hose Company No. 1 .- Foreman, W. W. Mason; Assistant Foreman, W. W. Fister ; Secretary, C. P. Housum; Treasurer, Henry M. McClellan.
Eldorado Hose Company No. 2 .- Foreman, W. H. Spencer ; As- sistant Foreman, T. L. Antrim ; Secretary, W. F. McEwen; Trea- surer, Wm. Dodson.
Young America Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 .- Foreman,
* From last report of S. Burgess, Superintendent.
+ For the above data we are indebted to Joseph S. Hewes, Chief of the D. F. D.
B. F. Dodson; Assistant Foreman, F. B. Caldwell ; Secretary, I. W. Ehman ; Treasurer, J. H. Merriweather.
Neptune Hose Company No. 3, was organized July, 1875, Wm. J. Wayne, Foreman; J. B. Shellabarger, First Assistant Foreman ; Samuel Funk, Second Assistant Foreman; W. E. McClelland, Secretary ; D. S. Shellabarger, Treasurer.
The department officers for 1880 are as follows : Chief Engineer, Joseph S. Hewes ; First Assistant, W. J. Wayne; Second Assistant, Enos Kepler ; Secretary, A. H. Diehl ; Treasurer, J. H. Miller.
We subjoin the following extracts from the Annual Report of the Chief of the fire department, to the Mayor and City Council for the fiscal year, ending February 16th, 1880.
Hose Houses .- Four hose houses in good condition.
Apparatus .- The hose carriages, three in number, and three hose carts are in good condition.
Hose .- Number of feet in department, 4,300, of which 3,000 feet are in good condition and 1,300 in very poor condition.
Number of men in Department .- The force of the department consists of 160 men, exclusive of Chief and Assistants.
Fires .- The total number of fires and alarms for the year-23.
Loss by Fircs .- Loss on buildings and contents, $15,765. Total insurance, $9,550. Loss above insurance, $6,215.
Fire Alarm Telegraph .- The fire alarm telegraph line is about three miles in length, with alarm boxes, located as follows : one at the council rooms ; one at No. 1 hose house ; one at No. 2 hose house ; one at No. 3 hose house; one at the furniture factory ; one at Haworth's check rower factory. All of which are in good con- dition. A new telegraph line has been put in from the water works to the Council rooms.
Fire Hydrants .- The number of fire hydrants is 91-49 double and 42 single.
Department Officers .- William Dodson, Chief Engineer ; J. S. Hewes, First Assistant ; I. W. Ehrman, Second Assistant; Ed Carter, Secretary ; J. H. Miller, Treasurer.
OFFICERS OF COMPANIES.
Rescue Hose Co. No. 1 .- George Kraft, Captain ; C. Winebren- ner, First Lieutenant ; Harvey Downing, Second Lieutenant ; C. P. Housum, Recording Secretary ; A. Diehl, Financial Secretary. Membership, 35.
Eldorado Hose Co. No. 2 .- A. Shoemaker, Captain ; R. Devore. First Lieutenant; Lee Hall, Second Lieutenant; E. Martin, Re- cording Secretary ; E. V. Jones, Financial Secretary. Mem- bership, 35.
Neptune Hose Co. No. 3 .- W. J. Wayne, Foreman ; James Hughes, First Assistant; George Auers, Second Assistant ; A. C. Cornman, Secretary. Membership, 40.
Young America Hook and Ladder Co .- A. E. Mcclellan, Cap- tain ; E. Young, First Lieutenant ; Samuel Lyons, Second Lieu- tenant ; Charles C. Dempsey, Secretary. Membership, 53.
DECATUR GAS-LIGHT AND COKE COMPANY.
The first charter was procured in 1857, and the incorporators of the company, were Henry Prather, Robert Forsythe, Charles A. Tuthill and Simon Speer. This charter was assigned to Charles H. Fuller, who associated with him, Franklin Priest and E. C. Emmons, and it was again assigned to Barnes, Davis & Co.
An act was approved February 16th, 1865, to form a new com- pany, the incorporators of which, were William Martin, Henry Prather, I. S. Pugh, A. J. Gallagher, and E. O. Smith ; this was
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HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
amended March 7th, 1867, and the names of W. A. Barnes, C, A. Tuthill and J. C. Lake were added.
The new charter as amended was assigned to Horace Barnes, representing Barnes, Davis & Co., who entered into an agreement to have the works completed within six months. On July 2d, 1868, the present company was formed, and to it the charter was assigned. The company was constituted of Edward O. Smith, Henry Prather, Jasper J. Peddecord, Lowber Burroughs, William Martin, Fielding N. Ewing, Isaac Shellabarger, Horace Barnes and John K. Warren. For this company the works were erected in 1868, by Barnes, Davis & Co. Henry Prather was elected presi- dent, and J. K. Warren, secretary and treasurer.
On January 15th, 1869, the company were notified by the con- tractors that the works were completed, and ready to be turned over to the company.
On the death of Mr. Prather, F. A. Ewing was chosen Presi- dent. When Mr. J. K. Warren moved to California, Mr. B. K. Durfee, was elected to the office of Secretary and Treasurer, which office he still holds. Mr. Ewing declined to be re-elected at the expiration of his term on account of ill-health, and Mr. J. K. Warren was elected President. The works are on Jackson and Wood streets. The capital stock is $81,400, divided into $100 shares, and represents the actual cost of construction. J. W. But- man is the Superintendent.
DECATUR PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The educational influence and value of a free circulating library is very great.
The Deeatur Public Library was opened September 1st, 1875, with sixteen hundred and fifty-seven books on the shelves. These and the furniture of the hall were donated to the city by the Ladies' Library Association, which had been in existence for about eight years, and had accomplished much good. R. L. Evans was libra- rian, which important office he still efficiently occupies. To him we are indebted for interesting facts and statisties relating to the li- brary.
The board of directors consists of nine persons, three ladies and six gentlemen (one of whom must be a member of the council) ap- pointed by the city council. The present board consists of W. A. Barnes, president, R. R. Montgomery secretary and treasurer, Mrs. Judge Green, Mrs. H. Bishop, Miss S. A. Murphy, J. L. Peak, W. L. Hammer, David S. Shellabarger and W. T. Wells.
The number of volumes at this time is four thousand and fifty- five; an increase of two thousand three hundred and ninety-eight since the city accepted control. The library is well selected, and while miscellaneous rather than scientific in character, comprises literary and scientifie works, volumes on art subjects, histories, ete.
Three thousand five hundred persons have availed themselves of its privileges since 1875, more than one-third of the city's popula- tion ; the total number of volumes bound for the year ending, May the first, 1880, was forty thousand six hundred and fifty-nine. The average daily issues were one hundred and thirty-seven, and monthly three thousand four hundred and eighty-two. The num- ber of visitors registered in the same year was sixty-six thousand three hundred and sixty-two.
The classification of circulation, as made by the librarian, is as follows:
Works of fiction, 46.11 per cent. Juvenile literature, 31.77 per cent. Miscellaneous works 22.12 per eent.
There is a commodious and well-furnished reading-room sustained in connection with the library, at an annual cost of one hundred and fifty dollars. It is supplied with five dailies, twenty-seven
weeklies, one semi-monthly and eleven monthly magazines, and six quarterly reviews The library is enlarged each year by the addition of from two to four hundred new books; and the library and reading-room are maintained at a cost to the city of two thousand dollars, which sum is raised by taxation.
TIIE. CITY PARK.
The land now comprising the city park was originally a part of Allen & MeReynolds' addition, and was set apart by the owners to be donated to the Northern Cross R. R. for depot purposes. This, it is needless to say, was never done. It was left until the winter of 1858, when the owners, influenced by the persuasive cloquence of Gen. Oglesby, donated it to the city for a park, with the proviso, that it should be improved. In 1858 it was graded and in the spring of 1859 it was set out in trees.
The elegant fountain in the center, was added in 1877, and the pagoda was ereeted in the spring of 1879, for the convenience and comfort of the band.
The park is laid out in fine trees, and is well shaded, and pro- vided with settees.
Although small, the park is highly beautiful, and is the favorite place of resort for all classes.
GREENWOOD CEMETERY.
This lies unfortunately too near the city, being just south within the limits, and contains an area of thirty-six aeres. Before this was set apart as " God's acre" the chief burying-ground was on the south side of west Main street. There was another where the Ger- man Catholic Church now stands. In 1839 Dr. W. T. Crissey proposed to remove the remains of the dead from the common burying-ground to the place now called Greenwood Cemetery, as he wished to lay off the land into town lots. Permission being obtained he removed sixteen bodies in the fall of that year. The first burial in the new cemetery except those above mentioned, was that of Sam- uel B. Dewees in February, 1840, the next was that of William Pratt, and the next that of Dr. Burrell, both in the spring of 1840.
The Greenwood Cemetery company was incorporated in 1854, and the lots were laid out in their present shape under the direction of Henry Prather, to whose excellent taste and management much of the beauty of this cemetery is due.
DECATUR STREET RAILWAY.
The charter for this railway was obtained in 1869, and the mem- bers of the company are five in number. The original charter was for a term of fifty years, and includes the entire eity. Its existence is owing to the far-sighted business sagacity of Mr. F. Priest, who built it, and who has, from the inception of the project, been the sole manager. The road extends from the Union depot along Cerro-Gordo and North Main streets, terminating at the Publie Square, directly in front of the commodious and popular hotel, the Priest House.
The road is well managed, is in good repair, and the rolling stock is excellent. A car passes over the line every twenty minutes, and meets all passenger trains day and night. It has proved a great convenience to the traveling publie and citizens, and is well patron- ized. Mr. Priest, the manager of the railway, is also proprietor of the Priest House.
The road will be extended to other points in the city as soon as the increase of population and consequent inerease of patronage will justify the outlay.
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HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
MANUFACTURES.
The city of Decatur is largely indebted for her past steady growth and present prosperity to her manufacturing industries. The ag- gregate amount of capital invested is very large, and the value of manufactured products is very great and increasing yearly. Hun- dreds are thus afforded employment at remunerative wages, and support given indirectly to many more. The city, in its corporate capacity, has wisely chosen to adopt a liberal policy towards these interests, and the fruits of this are apparent. A continuance of this fostering spirit on the part of the publie-spirited citizens will make Decatur one of the largest cities of Central Illinois. We speak first of the
Haworth Check-Rower Manufactory of Haworth & Sons. This large manufactory is situated on the corner of Cerro-Gordo and Morgan streets. The building is of brick, has three stories and a basement, and in size is 170 by 107 feet. It is supplied fully with necessary machinery, and gives employment to seventy-five men. The check-room is the invention of George D. Haworth, who ob- tained a patent for his valuable labor-saving invention in 1870. It is not necessary to enter upon a description of this machine, which is in use throughout the corn-belt of the United States. Suffice it to say that all trivial defects, as they have been revealed by use and experience, have been removed by the genius of the inventor, and improvements made from time to time until it has been brought to a high degree of perfection. It is provided with self-adjusting pulleys and rope guides, which enable the operator to plant the entire field without removing the rope from the maeline, and to readily turn around without getting off the planter.
This highly-successful firm is composed of M. Haworth and his sons George D., L. L. and J. W. Haworth. They came from Ohio to Illinois in 1852. George D. Haworth began experimenting on his great invention in 1867, and began the manufacture of check- rowers in 1869, making for the season of that year only five. In his first experiments he employed iron wire, which proved to be unfit, and rope was substituted. It was not until the introduction of Bessemer-steel wire that the successful use of wire in eheck-row- ers was assumed. Mr. Haworth was raised on a farm, and is a practical farmer, which fact, no doubt, has been of use to him in inventing a much-needed implement. The firm of Haworth & Sons was organized in 1861, and three hundred machines were made and sold. From that time the demand has increased wonderfully, and the sales for the past year foot up nearly $300,000.
This firm manufactures a wire check-rower, which was first brought into practical use in the fall of 1869. The best Bessemer- steel wire is used and satisfaction is guaranteed. Every part of the machine is made in Decatur, and this fact enhances the value of this great manufactory to Deeatur and the county in which it is situated. The great success which the firm has attained is due to their energy, perseverance and business sagacity. Let young men cease to prate about luck, and strive by lionorable industry to achieve success.
Chambers, Bering & Quinlin, manufacturers of Barnes' wire check-rower, champion bog-ringer, rings and holder, and Brown hog-ringer.
This firm bought the Decatur Agricultural Works, the build- ings for which were formerly known as the Central Illinois Agri- cultural Works, built by Barber & Hawley in the fall of 1863. The Decatur company bought the works in 1868. The Central Illinois Company manufactured headers, gang plows and riding cultivators. The second company manufactured plows of all de- scriptions, cultivators, harrows, seed-drills and corn-planters.
The buildings owned and occupied by the firm of Chambers, Bering & Quinlin are as follows: The main building is frame, two stories in height, 50x156 feet ; a brick structure, two stories, 26x50; a blacksmithi's shop, of brick, 20x60 feet, and an engine room also constructed of brick, and the same size ; a brick warehouse, 70x80; a storage building, 40x60 ; a brick fuel-room, and lumber sheds.
The firm of Chambers & Quintin was founded in the spring of 1875 for the manufacture of champion hog-ringer, rings and holder. Their business grew rapidly, and in December, 1876, they associ- ated Mr. J. Ed. Bering with them, and extended the list of arti- cles manufactured by them.
The Barnes' wire check-rower was invented by A. & M. Barnes, of Bloomington, Ills., in 1872, and was the first wire check-rower made. The wire used is the best annealed steel wire. The wire in this machine does not cross the machine, but runs straight along the side, and the makers claim for it greater simplicity and dura- bility than are possessed by any other machine. The hog-ringers, rings and holders manufactured by this firm are found upon the shelves of hardware dealers throughout the United States, and have been introduced into European countries.
The productive capital invested is $50,000; the number of men employed is seventy, and the value of the manufactured products is nearly $150,000.
The members of the firm are reliable and enterprising business men, and by their devotion to business have developed it from a small beginning to its present great proportions.
The Decatur Bagging Factory .- Owned and operated by A. W. and C. A. Conklin, is situated on Cerro Gordo street near Frank- lin. It was established by Moses Jerome, A. W. Conklin, and D. S. Shellabarger, in 1875. The building is a large brick structure 50 by 160 feet, three stories in height. There is also a brick ware- house 40 by 100 feet, capable of holding 700,000 yds. of bagging. This factory gives employment to 100 hands, and the productive capital is $100,000. The factory manufactures about 2,000,000 yards of bagging per year. Belonging to the company are four tow mills, one each at Paxton, Buckley, Rantoul, and Onargo, employing 60 hands. At these points the flax-straw is made into tow, then shipped to Decatur to be manufactured into bagging. The market for this product is found at St. Louis, from whence it goes to the South to be used in baling cotton. The machinery is mostly of English make, and is of the latest and most improved pattern. The skillful foreman is from Dundee, Scotland. The original cost of building and machinery was near $50,000. This takes rank as one of the most important of the Decatur man- ufacturing institutions.
Furniture Factory .- The Decatur Furniture Co. is one of the prominent industries of the city, was established in 1866, and gives employment to one hundred and twenty-five men, and the annual sales amount to $150,000, which are distributed in Ill., Ind., Mo., Neb., Kan., and Iowa. The factory is four stories high, main building 200 ft. long with an "Ell" 140 ft. It is owned and operated by Peddecord and Burrows, who have been very success- ful in their business. They have had several large contracts for furnishing our State institutions, among which are the State Capi- tol building at Springfield, Insane Asylum at Jacksonville, and Feeble-minded Institutions at Kankakee and Lincoln, Illinois.
The Decatur Tank Line Company .- This institution, which is a branch of the Standard Oil Company of Cleveland, Ohio, was es- tablished Jan. 1st, 1878. Mr. Anthony Baer is the efficient man- ager. The company are agents for the American Lubricating Oil Company, and the Republic Refining Company. Since the estab-
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