History of Macoupin County, Illinois, Part 19

Author: Brink, McDonough & Co.
Publication date: 1879
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 440

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Martin L. Keplinger received his education at the Wesleyan University at Bloomington in this state. Here he graduated in 1869. He studied law in the office of Gen. John I. Rinaker, and was admitted in 1872. He has asso- ciated with him Wm. H. Steward. Mr. Keplinger is capable and diligent. Has studied his profession well and possesses a natural aptitude for the law. He is succeeding well and growing in experience and knowledge daily.

John M. Brown studied law with Palmer & Harris and Palmer & Pitt- man. Admitted to the bar September, 1870. Was three years city attor- ney of Carlinville and four years police magistrate. He is a native of Glas- gow, Scotland.

W. E. P. Anderson was also educated at the Wesleyan University, and at a select school in Philadelphia. He read law in the office of Wm. R. Welch and John Mayo Palmer, and in August, 1871, received his license to prac- tice law in the courts In 1877 the partnership of Anderson & Bell was formed, and still continues. Mr. Anderson is a young man of good habits, is studious and energetic. He is faithfully devoted to the interests of his clients, and will be successful in his chosen pursuit.

Robert B. Shirley was educated at the University of Michigan. He then studied law in W. R. Welch's office in Carlinville, and in 1876 became a member of the bar. In 1878 he became a member of the firm of Corn & Shirley. Mr. Shirley is a man of fine personal appearance, a close student, possesses a good knowledge of the law, and is a young man of more than ordinary ability and promise, and is a pleasant and forcible speaker.

Wm. H. Steward, a native of New Jersey, is a classical graduate of Mc- Kendree College of the class of 1873. He read law in the office of Cullom, Sholes and Mather, for a time, and then became a student of the Union College of law of Chicago. He was admitted in 1876, and formed a part- nership with W. H. Snelling, which was dissolved, and in 1879 he became a member of the firm of Keplinger & Steward. Mr. S. is enthusiastic in his profession, a diligent student, of good habits; a fine speaker, and promises to become distinguished in his profession. He now creditably fills the office of city attorney.

E A. Gilbert, son of Hon. S. S. Gilbert, graduated at Blackburn Univer- sity in 1873. He studied law in his father's office, and, in 1876, on exami- nation by the Supreme Court, was licensed to practice, and was taken into partnership by his father. He is diligent, enthusiastic, and his friends, of whom he has many, predict for him success.

A. J. Plowman, of Virden, received his literary education at Shurtliff

College, studied his profession in the office of B. Cowen, Esq., and at the Union College of law at Chicago, and became a member of this bar in 1876. He was city attorney for three years at Virden. He is a man of education and culture, a fine speaker and good advocate.

A. L. Mayfield, of Carlinville, studied under the direction of Wm. R. Welch, and is a graduate of Transylvania Law School, Ky. On January 5th, 1877, he was admitted to the bar. He is social in disposition, and if he devotes his attention energetically to his profession, possesses the requisite ability to conquer success.

A. H. Bell, of Anderson & Bell, is a graduate of Blackburn, class of 1875. He read law in the office of C. A. Walker, and in June, 1877, was admitted. He was city attorney of Carlinville in 1878. He is un- assuming in manner, but a diligent student, possessing a keen, incisive intel- lect, and is surely one of the most promising young men at the bar.

Thomas Rinaker, of Rinaker & Rinaker, gained his literary education at Blackburn University, graduating in 1874. He entered the Law Depart- ment of Michigan University, from which he was graduated in 1878. On the 8th of October of the same year he was admitted, and on the 1st of the next January was taken into partnership by his father. He has made care- ful preparation for his life work, believes in hard work, and will succeed.

George A. Eastham, of Girard, read law in Carlinville. He is a good lawyer. (We should have been glad to give him more space, but no infor- mation concerning his legal life has been received by us.)

F. W. Burton, of Carlinville, was educated at Blackburn, at which college he graduated in 1876. He rend law in the office of C. A. Walker, and was admitted to practice in February, 1874. He is a popular young man, and possesses good oratorical powers.

Other members of the bar who have not seen fit to give information to the publishers for this chapter are O. G. Hamilton, John Moran, James John- ston, D. D. Goodell, and John M. Brown.

F. Zimmerman, of Bunker Hill, lately licensed, is a graduate of Chicago Law School, and is now at Bunker Hill. At the same place is another young attorney, Charles Richards, who read law in the office of A. N. Yancey.

George S. Holliday, of Carlinville, is a graduate of Blackburn Universi- ty, class of 1875. He studied in the office of Wm. R. Welch, and in Febru- ary, 1879, was admitted to the bar. He has not yet entered upon practice. He is upright, studious and bright.

Such is the bar of Macoupin county. Had information been furnished by a few whose names only have been given, more could have been said of them. It has been the aim of the publishers to do justice to all. It is pleasing to note that many of the young members of the bar are liberally educated. The county has a right to expect them to add new dignity and brilliancy to an already illustrious bar.

CHAPTER XI.

THE PRESS OF MACOUPIN COUNTY.

BY D. MACKENZIE.

THE STATESMAN, SPECTATOR, MACOUPIN TIMES, MACOUPIN INQUIRER, FREE DEMO- CRAT, DEMOCRAT, STAUNTON BANNER, UNION & GAZETTE, BUNKER HILL JOURNAL, UNION & GAZETTE, GIRARD ENTERPRISE, GIRARD GUIDE, GIRARD NEWS, GIRARD ENTERPRISE REVIEW, NILWOOD REVIEW, DEMOCRATIC CHIEF, GIRARD GAZETTE, VIRDEN RECORD, VIRDEN NEWS, CONSERVATIVE, SHIPMAN PROGRESS, TRUE FLAG, THE VOLKSBLATT, BLACKBURN GAZETTE, BRIGHTON ADVANCE, MEDORA ENTERPRISE, MEDORA ENSIGN, STAUNTON WEEKLY TIMES, MACOUPIN COUNTY HERALD.

JO fill an idle hour, Laurentius Coster while rambling through the forest contiguous to his native city, Haerlem, Holland, carved some letters on the bark of a birch trec. Drowsy from the relaxation of a holiday he wrapped his handiwork in a piece of paper, and lay down to rest. While men sleep the world moves, and Coster awoke to discover a phenomenon, to him simple, strange and suggestive. Damped by the atmospheric moisture the paper wrapped about his carvings had taken an impression from them and the sur- .prised burgher saw on the paper an inverted image of what he had engraved on the bark. The phenomenon was suggestive because it led to experiments that resulted in establishing a printing office, the first of its

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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

kind in the old Dutch town. In this office John Gutenberg served a faithful and appreciative apprenticeship, and from it at the death of his master absconded, during a Christmas festival, taking with him a considerable portion of type and apparatus. Gutenberg settled in Mentz where he won the friendship and partnership of John Faust, a man of sufficient means to place the new enterprise on a secure financial basis. Several years later the partnership was dissolved because of a misunderstanding. Gutenberg then formed a partnership with a younger brother who had set up an office at Strasburg, but had not been successful, and becoming involved in lawsuits had fled from that city to join his brother at Mentz. These brothers were the first to use metal types. Faust after his dissolution with Gutenberg took into partnership Peter Schoeffer, one of his servants, and an ingenious printer. Schoeffer privately cut matrices for the whole alphabet, and when he showed his master the type cast from these matrices, Faust was so much pleased that he gave Schoeffer his only daughter in marriage.

These are the great names in the early history of printing, and each is worthy of special honor. Coster's discovery of the use of wood-blocks or plates on which the pages to be printed were engraved was made some time between 1440, and 1450 and Schoeffer's improvement, casting the types by means of matrices, was made about 1456.

For a long time printing was dependent upon most clumsy apparatus. The earliest press had a contrivance for running the forms under the point of pressure by means of a screw. When the pressure had been supplied the screw was loosened, the form withdrawn, and the sheet removed. Improve- ments upon these crude beginnings have been made from time to time until the hand-presses now in use are models of simplicity, durability and execu- tion. In 1814, steam was first applied to cylinder presses by Frederick Konig, a Saxon genius, and the subsequent progress of steam printing has been so remarkable as almost to justify a belief in its perfection. Indeed, to appreciate the improvements which have been made in presses only, one ought to be privileged to stand by while the pressman operated the clumsy machine of Gutenberg, and then he should step into one of the well appointed printing offices of our larger cities, where he could notice the roll of dampened paper entering the great power presses, a continuous sheet, and issuing from it as newspapers ready for the carrier or express.

It would be interesting to trace more minutely the history of this great art, from its humble origin in Haerlem through all successive stages to the present, and to classify its products whereby "tongues are known, knowledge, growth, judgment increaseth, books are dispersed, the Scripture is read, stories be opened, times be compared and all (as I said) through the benefit of printing." For near a thousand years, previous to its introduction, mankind had been surrounded by the densest ignorance the world has ever known. Teutonic barbarians had swept over fair Italy, had sacked her capital, had despised her civilization as unworthy even the indulgence of men dependent upon muscle and sword for empire and liberty. Vandalism had been christened, and had mocked the wisdom of philosophers while destroying and defacing the masterpieces of Grecian and Roman sculpture and architecture. Attila, the "Scourge of God," at the head of vast Tartar hordes from Asiatic steppes had traversed the Roman empire spreading dismay and disaster till checked in the fierce battle of Chalons. Omar had burned the great Alexandrian library after declaring that, if its volumes agreed with the Koran they were needless, if they conflicted they were pernicious. During this period feudalism had kept the noble at war with his sovereign, had unsettled governments, and made men soldiers with scarcely time for neces- sary practice at arms ; amusements were popular, only, as they contributed to martial prowess, and poetry in the main was but a minstrel's doggerel con- cerning the chivalrous deeds of a listening knight, or the wonderful charms of a favorite mistress. Pepin had humbled the Long Beards, and had laid the keys of their cities at the feet of the Holy Father. From the fall of Rome there had been little talent and time to cultivate letters. A few ecclesiastics scattered here and there were the custodians of the learning saved from the wrecks of Grecian literature and Roman knowledge. The masses were ignorant. They believed that the hand which commonly held the sword would be disgraced if trained to wield the pen. Books were for the monk's cell or the anchorite's cave, and the objective points of all study were to escape purgatory, to cast a horoscope, to turn the baser metals into gold. Superstition, priestcraft, and thirst for material renown moulded public acts and private training. Piety was best shown in pilgrimages to the Holy Sepulchre. When the dust-stained devotees became objects of Turkish con- tempt and persecution all Europe rushed to the rescue.

While war destroys and demoralizes, not unfrequently it prepares the

way for beneficent reformations. The Crusades broke the power of feudal- ism, dispelled much geographical ignorance by making neighboring nations better acquainted, gave an impetus to commercial enterprises, awakened the sluggish intellect, enlarged the human mind, and rendered it more tolerant, introduced the luxuries and refinements of the Greek Empire, and brought about Magna Chartas and Free Cities. With the expanding and increasing commerce, arts came to the front, trades flourished and practice began to test precept. The middle classes, whose condition ever determines the character of an era or nation, obtained concessions and rights to which they had been strangers for centuries. The mental world began to move. Fa- mous journeys and discoveries were made. Roger Bacon and Berthold Schwartz studied the chemistry of the Arabs, and were among the first devo- tees at the shrine of physical science. Wycliffe translated the Bible into the English vernacular. Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and England sought new outlets for their surplus products of the soil, loom and fishing. Mental darkness can make no continued stand against such enterprise, and enterprise will ever find an exponent to herald its doings from nation to nation, and a medium to make its conquests the property of succeeding generations. Europe was in a commercial and intellectual ferment when Coster set up his printing office in Haerlem, and inaugurated an industry until then un- known. To understand the effect of that industry upon humanity, compare the enlightenment, civilization and progress of the present with the superstition, semi-barbarism and stagnation of the middle ages. Many a toiling care- worn man repeats the words of the wise man, "Of making books there is no end." And many a weary author echoes, " And much study is a weari- ness to the flesh." Printing is rolling back ignorance, vice and degradation, is unfolding the mysteries of nature, and is explaining the mandates of Him who made man in His own image, and expects the homage of the creature due the Creator.

The Romans in the time of the emperors had periodical notices of passing events, compiled and distributed. These acta diurna (daily events), were the newspapers of that age. In 1536, the first newspaper of modern times was issued at Venice, but governmental bigotry compelled its circulation in manuscript form. In 1663, the Public Intelligencer was published at London, and is credited with being the first English paper to attempt the dissemination of general information. The first American newspaper was the Boston News Letter, whose first issue was made April 24th, 1704. It was a half sheet, twelve inches by eight, with two columns to the page. John Campbell, the post-master, was the publisher. The Boston Gazette made its first appearance December 21st, 1719, and the American Weekly, at Philadelphia, December 22d, 1719. In 1776, the number of newspapers published in the colonies was thirty-seven ; in 1828, this number had increased to eight hundred and fifty-two, and at the present time not less than five thousand newspapers are supported by our people.

Journalism, by which is meant the compiling of passing public events, for the purpose of making them more generally known, and instructive, has become a powerful educator. Experience has been its only school for special training, its only text for study, its only test for theory. It is scarcely a profession, but is advancing rapidly towards that dignity. A distinct depart- ment of literature has been assigned to it. Great editors are writing auto- biographies, and formulating their methods and opinions; historians are res- cuing from oblivion the every-day life of deceased journalists; reprints of brilliant productions, such as the letters of Junius, are furnishing models ; interviews with famous journalists touching the different phases of their pro- fession are deemed worthy of publication in book form. Leading universi- ties have contemplated the inauguration of courses of study, specially designed to fit men and women for the duties of the newspaper sanctum. These innovations are not untimely, since no other class of men is so powerful for good or ill as editors. More than any other class they form public opinion, while expressing it, for most men but echo the sentiments of favorite journalists. Even statesmen, ministers and learned professors not unfre- quently get their best thoughts from the papers they read.

For dates and facts relating to the early history of the press of Macoupin county, we are indebted to H. M. Kimball, who perhaps, more than any other present resident of the county, deserves credit for the labors undergone in establishing the press in the county, and for careful and correct records, and files which have supplied us with a great amount of information neces- sary in this article. We also desire to extend to P. Y. Hedley of Bunker Hill, W. F. Thompson of Virden, A. M. Parker of Brighton, E. A. Snively of Springfield and others, our thanks for kindness shown and information given, which has enabled us to trace the history of the press of Macoupin

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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

county, from its first appearance in March, 1852, down to the present time, and present it in form which we hope will be acceptable to our readers.

Previous to the establishing of a newspaper in Macoupin county, the peo- ple were dependent upon the St. Louis and Alton papers for their informa- tion from the outside world. It is to be remembered what is now one of the most productive agricultural sections in the State, was looked upon with dis- favor by those seeking homes in the western States. Emigrants disliked prairie lands, and criticised its sloughs, hence, though now so popular and populous, the county was slowly settled.

Macoupin county received a great benefit from the location within its borders of the Chicago and Alton railroad. It brought its lands into de- mand by assuring superior facilities for the transportation of grain and pro- duce. Emigration immediately set in, and the "State of Macoupin" rose rapidly in prominence and importance. Really a new order of busi- ness was established. Enterprise waved its magic wand, and the residents became imbued with a desire to excel. The people were ready for a news- paper. An organ was needed to speak for the county, for its agricultural resources, for its flattering promises of future greatness, for its rights and privileges, as an organized member of a great state. Politically, the people differed then as to matters of public policy, as they do now. A considerable number were disposed to favor General Scott's claims to the presidency, as opposed by those of Franklin Pierce. The majority of the voters were democratic, but,the Whig element needed looking after.

Jefferson L. Dugger, an enterprising and public-spirited citizen, inaugura- ted measures for establishing a newspaper in Carlinville. He purchased the material and necessary presses, and on the 4th of March, 1852, the first number of the first paper ever printed in Macoupin county made its appear- ance. It bore the name of

"THE MACOUPIN STATESMAN."

It is somewhat difficult at this distant day to imagine the furore and en- thusiasm with which the Statesman's first appearance was greeted. It was the first permanent and actual step beyond frontier life. Henceforth the county was to have name and fame among its contemporaries. The paper was strongly Whig in its politics, and left no doubt of the views of its editor upon current topics. It advocated the claims of Scott and Graham for the presidency, Edwin B. Webb for Governor, and the brilliant orator and then rising statesman, Richard Yates, for Congress. Mr. Dug- ger continued the publication of the Statesman with varying success until January 1st, 1855, when it was purchased by Mr. George H. Holliday. He changed the name to the

" SPECTATOR."

Mr. Holliday changed the political tone of the paper, and made it the organ of the Democracy of the county. We may here add that the paper, through the various changes that have occurred since that time has always remained as the organ of the Democratic party of the county. He continued the publication until January 1st, 1857, when he sold out the office to Charles E. Foote, who was a native of Connecticut and a practical printer.

In taking leave of Mr. Holliday it is but justice to say of him that as a writer he was far above the average of editors of country journals. He was a man of fine intellect, to which was added the advantages of a superior education. Had he turned his attention to magazine writing he would have won a name in the literary world.

Mr. Foote continued in possession of the Spectator until December 21st, 1858, when he sold out to John F. Meginness. The publication of the Spectator was suspended a few weeks pending the negotiations between Foote and Meginness. The first issue under the latter's administration appeared January 12, 1859.

Mr. Foote was a reasonably good political writer. After his retirement from the newspaper business, he was elected County Superintendent of Schools, and in that capacity gave ample evidence of his fitness for that responsible position.

Mr. Meginness was a native of Pennsylvania, and like his predecessor was also a practical printer. He was a live, energetic newspaper man, full of push and enterprise, and he soon gave the Spectator a permanent place among the Democratic journals of the southern part of the state. He is remem- bered as a strong, vigorous writer, and for the victories that crowned his intellectual encounters with political opponents. Contemporaries, and those who ought to know, accord to him the first place among the editorial and political writers of the county.

In October, 1861, Mr. Meginness disposed of his interest in the Spectator to Messrs. Skinkel and Gray, who were employees in the office at the time. This arrangement continued until January, 1862, when Horace Gwin assumed control. In October of the same year, Messrs. J. R. Flynn and P. B. Van- deren became the proprietors. Vanderen soon after became the responsible proprietor and editor. He continued the publication until 1868, when he sold to the Meritts of Springfield and J. A. I. Birdsell. The latter named gentleman was a practical printer, and took charge of the office. The Meritts continued their connection with the office until after the close of the political campaign in November of the same year, when Birdsell became sole proprietor as well as editor. In June, 1868, he changed the name to

"THE MACOUPIN TIMES,"

And continued the publication until June 29th, 1870, when he sold out to H. R. Whipple, formerly of the Burlington (Iowa) Guzette. He continued the publication of the Times until September 20th, 1871. Mr. Whipple was an indifferent political writer, and as a local paper the Times was not a complete success.

About this time the leading men in the Democratic party in the county determined to have a better paper, and in order that it might be under the better control of the party it was concluded to form a joint stock company. The work of canvassing for the stock and other preliminary arrangements was left to Restores C. Smalley, a prominent lawyer and Democrat of Car- linville. After consultation it was determined to raise $3000 in shares of 825.00 each, ( the stock being subsequently increased to $50.000.) And so ear- nestly and energetically did Mr. Smalley attend to his work that in a short time the stock was subscribed, and in the month of September, 1871,

THE MACOUPIN DEMOCRATIC PRINTING ASSOCIATION

was organized with Milton McClure, L. W. Link, James P. Pennington, James Rafferty, David Gore, and W. E. Eastham as trustees. These gen- tlemen subsequently elected the following officers: President, Milton McClure; Secretary, Restores Smalley ; Treasurer, C. H. C. Anderson.

The first object accomplished by the organization was to purchase the Times printing office, and increase its capacity for all kinds of work by stocking it with improved material and presses. Members of the stock com- pany looked after the publication of the paper until such time as they could find a suitable man to take charge of it as manager and editor. On the 8th of October, 1871, they arranged with E. A Snively, then city editor of the Peoria Daily Demorrat, to take charge of the office in the above named ca- pacity. Mr. Snively, as soon thereafter as possible, removed- to Carlinville and took charge of the paper. It was determined so far as it was pos- sible to make a radical change in Democratic journalism, therefore the Times was discontinued, and in its place on the 2d of November, 1871, there appeared the first number of the

MACOUPIN ENQUIRER,

A bright eight page paper, containing forty-eight columns. The paper was thus conducted by the company until May, 1873, when the material was leased to Mr. Snively for a period of five years. He continued the publica- tion, enlarging it at the commencement of the sixth year, until the 1st of March, 1877, when he surrendered his lease to the company, who then leased it to Mr. Samuel Reed, of the Times, of Lincoln, Illinois, and who has remained manager and editor up to the present, and under whose man- agement it has maintained the high standard of excellence given it by his predecessor. The Enquirer was issued as a semi-weekly paper January 11th 1879.

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History of Macoupin County, Illinois, Part 19

Author: Brink, McDonough & Co. Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Number of Pages: 440

Author: Brink, McDonough & Co.
Publication date: 1879
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 440