History of McDonough County, Illinois, together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of the representative citizens, Part 61

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1150

USA > Illinois > McDonough County > History of McDonough County, Illinois, together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of the representative citizens > Part 61

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THE GOOD HOPE INDEX.

A paper with the above heading made its appearance in the village of Good Hope, on the 29th of January, 1885. It is edited and published by H. J. Her- bertz, the subscription price being only one dollar per year. In the initial num- ber, the editor makes the following re- marks to his friends and the patrons of the paper:

"With this issue we begin the publica- tion of the Good Hope Index, and feel confident, at least, of financial success, which is one of the most essential fea- tures of the business. We shall en- deavor, from time to time, to give our readers all the local happenings that oc-

cur in Good Hope and vicinity, and shall also endeavor, through able correspond- ents, to keep them posted on the local events that transpire in the neighboring towns.

"To the business men of Good Hope, we wish to say, we thank you for the liberal patronage you have extended to us, so far, in the way of advertisements, and the aid you have given us in getting subscribers, and sincerely trust you will reap a bountiful reward for your liber- ality. In closing, we will say to our pa- trons and readers, we shall use our most strenuous efforts to merit your patron- age. In politics the Index will be neu- tral."

H. J. Herbertz, the editor of the Good Hope Index, is a son of William and Margaret Herbertz, and was born June 10, 1857, at Keithsburg, Illinois. The following year his parents removed to Oquawka, Illinois, where his father soon after died. The subject of this sketch- was educated in the public schools of

Oquawka, and in the spring of 1872 entered the office of the Henderson County Journal, at Oquawka, to learn the printers' trade. He served about one year, then went to Monmouth and entered the employ of J. S. Clark & Son, publishers of the Atlas, with whom he remained about three years, after which he returned to Oquawka and commenced learning the cabinet makers' trade. He continued the latter about two years when he concluded to abandon it and resume his former occupation, and ac- cordingly began the publication of the Sentinel, at Avon, Fulton county, Illi- nois, issuing the first number of that paper March 4, 1879. He continued

OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

Susannah Miner

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

editing the Sentinel one year, then on account of failing health, was obliged to give up business. He sold out his paper and spent a year in regaining his health with relatives at Oquawka. In the spring of 1881 he went to Tarkio, Mis- souri. He was married July 12, 1881, to Miss Sadie Singleton, of Avon, and in January, 1882, removed to Avon, Fulton county. They have one daughter, born September 8, 1882. Mr. Herbertz moved to Bushnell in May, 1884, and was there employed as compositor on the Demo- crat, of that city. He came to Good Hope in January, 1885, and commenced the publication of the Good Hope Index. Mrs. Herbertz is a native of St. Augus- tine, Knox county, Illinois, born Janu- ary 19, 1863.

UNION PRESS.

This paper was established in 1865, at Bushnell, by D. G. Swan, one of the founders of the Macomb Enterprise. Mr. Swan continued its publication about two years, when he disposed of the office to Andrew Hageman, who changed the name of the sheet to its present cognomen,

BUSHNELL RECORD.

The initial number of volume 1 of the Bushnell Weekly Record was issued February 29, 1868, by Andrew Hage- man, its founder, who remained its ed- itor and publisher during the first three years of its existence.

The people of Bushnell had been with- out a local newspaper for about eight months. Previously Mr. D. G. Swan had been publishing the Union Press something over a year. The Record

enterprise therefore, as soon as proposed, met with a hearty approbation and en- couragement on the part of the citizens, and the neighboring farmers; and to their liberal patronage, supplemented by that of the nearest villages, is to be attributed the good success of the Record newspaper.

Mr. Hageman, a native of New Jersey, who had been several years engaged in agricultural and mercantile pursuits in that state, and at an earlier date had regretfully abandoned a thorough course of classical studies in 'Rutger's college on account of impaired health, immi- grated to Illinois in 1856, and settled on the then open, uncultivated prairie, in the southern part of Henderson county, Illinois, where is now located the thriv- ing village of Raritan. After a varied and enjoyable experience of 12 years in the making of a new home on a new prairie, he came to Bushnell early in February, 1868, in search of a favorable opening, which resulted in his comply- ing with the wishes and accepting the counsel of several friends among the business men of the place, to commence the publication of a weekly newspaper.

An arrangement was soon made with Mr. Swan for the purchase of his print- ing press, type, and office material. A supply of paper, a heading, and other requisites were immediately ordered from Kellogg, Chicago; and a prospectus of the Bushnell Weekly Record was issued and circulated in the form of small posters, and also inserted in neigh- boring newspapers, announcing its pro- posed objects, scope and characteristics in a general way; also indicating its commencement about the middle of

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

March next ensuing. Mr. Hageman had obtained several names as prospect- ive patrons of a proposed paper to be commenced in case of a sufficient guar- anty of support: but had no beginnings that really looked like business, till after Mr. H. had returned home to make preparations for moving to Bushnell. Thither, a few days later, comes a private letter from a friend in B., stating that the aforesaid would-be-editor was mak- ing separate efforts to start his proposed Bushnell Republican; and enclosing a copy of his prospectus, which promised that the said Republican would certainly appear March 1st.

Not proposing to be thus thwarted in his begun enterprise, the Record man, after first completing necessary arrange- ments at Raritan. proceeded without delay to invade the busy scene of news- paper rivalry at Bushnell, where he was gratified to find that friends of the Record enterprise had already secured a large list of subscribers. Three skill- ful compositors were forthwith employed and set to work,-and the Record ma- terialized; was a self-evident fact. Its No. 1 of volume first, bright, newsy, was delivered to city readers early on Satur- day night of February 29.

The following is an extract from the salutatory:

"In the treatment of the various polit- ical questions of the times, the Record will stand firmly with the radical repub- lican party, and will fearlessly advocate the adoption of those measures which we believe to be most conducive to the general welfare of the people; while at the same time its columns will be open for the free expression of any man's

honest opinion though eversomuch dif- ferent from our own, so long as truth, equity, and the best interests of the na- tion are the prime objects sought in the discussion. But let all controversalists bear in mind that this journal cannot and will not, be made a vehicle for any personal animadversions or disputings; or a tool for any sect or faction of any political party; or a mere echo of any one person's sentiments or teachings up- on any subject. We decidedly prefer to do our own thinking, write our own edit- orials, and express our own honest con- victions. And this same God-given right to obey the dictates of conscience and enlightened reason-which we .claim for ourself, we freely concede to every other person.

"The Record will favor equality of rights as the natural heritage of every human being, abstractly considered, and irrespective of equality of condition, race, color, education, morality or intellect. We argue that no alleged superiority in any or all of these points can ever be a lawful pretext for the oppression of the inferior or less favored classes of men; and we claim for every man, made in the image and likeness of God, pos- sessed of a heaven-born intellect and moral' accountability, the "certain ina- lienable rights" spoken of by Jefferson, among which are "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

The Record will zealously approve of any and every institution which has for its end and aim the improvement of so- ciety by moral, mental, and physical cul- ture; comprising the full and harmo- nious development of all the faculties of mind and body; and the dissemination

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY ..

of useful knowledge among all classes. This comprises education in its most ex- alted sense-education not only of the intellect, but of the moral sentiment in man's nature, wholesome restraint and government of the propensities, cherish- ing of the social affections, and bringing out all the ennobling qualities of man's nature. Preservation of health, by proper regard to diet, exercise, and regi- men, is one of the highest duties we owe to ourselves and our Maker.

"With the aid and sympathy and en- couragement of our readers, we sincerely intend to make the Record to be unmis- takably a benefit to them, a source of profit as well as amusement, and a wel- come visitor in every family to which it shall be introduced. And that the pleas- ant task of preparing for you an intel- lectual feast week after week may result in your enjoyment and profit is the sin- cere wish of your friend."

Opposition being promptly squelch- ed, nothing further was attempted by way of rivalry; and subsequently a quasi arrangement in the semblance of a con- solidation, was effected, for the sake of harmony, and in the interest of all those who were to be benefited by a good local newspaper, and who recognized the im- portance of a united support.

The Record, thus well established continued to pursue the even tenor of its way, prosperously, with a small circula- tion abroad, but a good advertising and reading patronage at home. Both of which, as well as its job printing, in- creased wonderfully within the first three years of its history.

At the end of the third year of the Record, Mr. Hageman was compelled by

a due regard to health, to retire from the newspaper business; a matter of ne- cessity, and not at all from choice.,

The Record was a seven-column folio, 18x24 inches in size.

No ready printed sheets (except the one first issue to gain time) were used during the three years of Mr. Hageman's publishing it. The uniform price was $2 a year.

The Record in 1868, advocated the election of Grant and Colfax .- Mr. Hage- man in March of that year accompanied the "Illinois Press Association." on the excursion to St. Paul; and to Mobile the · following spring, 1869, with the associa- tion. In the year 1870, there was a lively contest between the Bushnell Rec- ord and the Macomb Journal relative to the alignment of the R., R. I. & St. L. railroad. In this matter, Bushnell was victorious, and secured the road.

A. W. Van Dyke, who had been con- nected with the Record from its first issue, and all along, consecutively as compositor, foreman, partner, and son- in-law, succeeded Mr. H., as its editor and proprietor in March, 1871, and con- tinued its publication two years, with marked ability and success, and to the satisfaction of the patrons. The sub- scription list continued to enlarge, and business men liberally patronized its advertising columns. Additions of new and handsome type, both for the paper and for job work, were constantly made by him, whereby the attractiveness of both were much augmented. In his new heading, in style, the word "weekly" was eliminated. In the spring of 1873, Mr. Van Dyke sold out the Record to Epperson and Spencer, residents of

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

Bushnell. They agreed to give him steady employment, with the proviso of his abstaining from the publication of any other paper in Bushnell, for and during the term of five years. In rec- ognition of this implied prohibition from editorship, Mr. Van Dyke took the man- agement (as foreman) of the Bushnell Gleaner, which was started a few months after his being relieved from employ- ment at the Record office, without being an ostensible partner and proprietor with Mr. E. Cummings, whose name ap- peared as publisher, the first five years of its publication. It may be added here, that Mr. Van Dyke, a few years later, purchased and became sole pro- prietor of the Gleaner, and that he was from the first, its editor and business manager.

In 1874, Mr. Spencer retired from the firm of "Epperson & Spencer," and J. H. Epperson became the editor and sole proprietor of the Record. Several par- ties had control of the journal after this, the last of whom was Charles W. Taylor and T. H. B. Camp. At the close of the year 1882, arrangements were instituted, whereby John Camp purchased the in- terest of Mr. Taylor, and the firm name changed to its present one of Camp Brothers. In its issue of January 12, 1883, the following notice of the change in the ownership of the Record is given:

"The Record has changed hands, the senior editor, Chas. W. Taylor, having sold his interest in the establishment to John R. Camp, the foreman of the office. The new firm will collect all debts due the office, and assumes the liabilities of the late firm, which, we are happy to say, are quite small. In retiring from the

Record office, the writer feels as if part- ing from an old friend. He can heartily commend the new managers to the grand army of its friends, if he has earned any right to their confidence, and predicts a career of success for Camp Brothers. They are talented and capable young business men, energetic, experienced, and full of faith in the future of Bush- nell. The business of the Record office during the past year, has been greater than at any period in its history, the job work especially having outgrown all ex- pectation; the subscription list also has largely increased and is equaled only by that of two papers in McDonough county. We bespeak for the incoming firm the same generous support that has been accorded in the past.

To explain the reason for this change -not that we suppose it to be a matter of 'interest to the public-but to save Camp Brothers the trouble of answer- ing a good many questions: The writer will go to Peoria to take charge of the advertising business of the Saturday Evening Call, a position in which he hopes to find some rest from the ceaseless and monotonous grind of editorial work, such as he has been accustomed to for the past 10 years.

With sincere thanks for the kindness shown to me in my 21 months connec- tion with this paper, by the good people of Bushnell, and with the heartiest wishes for their happiness and prosper- ity, I herewith sever my connections with the Record.

The Camp Brothers, on taking charge, in the same issue make their bow to the patrons of the paper, in the following words:

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

" We do not feel equal to the task of inditing a salutatory, and so spare our readers that infliction. We do not ex- pect the Record under its new manage- ment to be the prime mover in great reforms, or to lead the people in the onward march of civilization and pro- gress, but we expect to fill our little niche as well as we can for ourselves and our patrons. The Record will be in the future much the same as it has been during the past year. In politics it will be republican, but not so radically so that it cannot denounce a republican evil, or give to democratic merit its due need of praise. We shall devote our attention chiefly to the happenings of Bushnell and vicinity, and of adjacent points, and if we are but considered a faithful clironicler of local events, we shall be satisfied."

On the 26thi of February, 1883, the paper was changed to its present form,

that of a six-column quarto. It is ably run, and is a credit to the city and to the young men who manage and edit it. A biographical sketch of the Messrs. Camp will be given further on in connection with the history of the city of Bushnell.

MACOMB ENTERPRISE.

This was an amature journal issued monthly by Ed. J. Miller, of Macomb, and was initiated in October, 1884. It was but small at first, as befitted its slight pretention, but was quite credita- ble in get-up to the young editor. In March, 1885, the name of the paper was changed to that of

THE JUVENILES' JOURNAL,

and the sheet enlarged. It is now a neat, three-column folio, well filled with sto- ries, jokes, etc., for the delight of the rising generation, and is a source of considerable enjoyment to the young editor.

CHAPTER XXII.

TENNESSEE TOWNSHIP.

Tennessee was originally organized as a full congressional township in 1857, and so remained until the spring of 1880, when Colchester township was created, taking one mile and a half off the east side of Tennessee. Nearly half of the entire township is composed of timber land, and the surface is underlaid in

many places with a most excellent fire and potter's clay, together with an al- most inexhaustible supply of coal, which is of great value to the township. Some of the best mines in the whole state are here found. A good portion is also excellent farming land and there are a number of good farms. Crooked

546.

HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

Creek enters the township on the south ' west quarter of section 1, and flowing in a diagonal course through sections 10, 9, 16, 17, and the northern part of 19, leaves the township at the southwest corner of section 18. It is a good sized stream and furnishes an excellent water power. The village of Tennessee is lo- cated on section 22, on the Galesburg & Quincy branch of the Chicago, Burling- ton & Quincy railroad, which passes through the township in a south-wes- terly course and affords good shipping facilities for the products of the coun- - try.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

Only a little more than a half century has passed since this section of the country was uninhabited, except by the aborigine. The first advent of the white man is yet remembered by many now living. Through dense forests and over trackless plains came the early pioneers, making selection of lands, establishing homes, turning over the virgin sod, planting the fields of grain, reaping the golden harvest, subduing the land and accumulating property-until now, one may look upon a beautiful country, con- taining the home of a contented, happy people.

Daniel Campbell, a native of the State of Tennessee, came to this town- ship December 10, 1829, and in the spring of 1830, located on section 10. In the fall of the same year, he removed to what is now known as the Widow Harrison place, where he lived until 1832. He was a volunteer in the Black Hawk war in 1832-3, and in 1834 was elected sheriff of McDonough county. Mr. Campbell died in Greene county,

Illinois, April 9, 1842, while returning from a trip up the Red river coun- try.

Daniel W. Campbell came to McDon- ough county, with his parents, in 1829. He erected the first business house in the town of Colchester, in 1855, and put in a stock of groceries, etc., January 19, 1856, which was also the first in the place. He is still a resident of that en- terprising town, although not engaged in any business pursuits.

Among the pioneers of McDonough, none are more deserving a place among the records given of the old settlers and foremost men of the county, than Ros- well Tyrrell, one of the first settlers of this township. From the friends of Mr. Tyrrell, and those who were more inti- mately acquainted with him, the follow- ing facts and incidents in regard to his life, are obtained: Roswell Tyrrell was the son of Abijah and Naomi Tyrrell, and was born near Hartford, Connecti- cut, on the 23d day of May, 1798. In early life, he shadowed forth the pecu- liar traits of character that made him noted in after years. He was always a quiet, steady lad, attending closely to his farm, and in the common school pursu- ing his studies with zeal. Every school boy or girl has read of the second war with Great Britain, the beginning of which was in 1812, when Roswell was but 14 years of age, entirely too young to enlist. The war continuing, two years thereafter, when but 16 years of age, he enrolled himself in the army, and served until the close of the war, the year following, when he received his discharge. What special service may have been performed by the regiment

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

in which he enlisted, we are not advised, but we do know that young Roswell Tyrrell never would have shirked duty, and if called upon to face the foe upon the battle field, he never would have flinched. On receiving his discharge, he returned to Trumbull county, Ohio, to which place he had emigrated when about 14 years of age, and where he re- mained until the spring of 1819, when, there being some difficulty with respect to his discharge papers, he went on foot to Washington, D. C., to have the mis- take corrected. After having the matter attended to, he started on foot west, in- tending to settle in the state of Illinois. He arrived in Madison county in the fall, remaining there some four years, when he removed to Fulton county, where, on the 22d day of February, 1823, near the town of Lewistown, he was married to Mary Ann Sidwell, with whom he lived happily until death called her away, which sad event occurred in May, 1828. She died in the full assur- ance of hope, leaving one daughter for him to rear and provide. Mr. Tyrrell received as a pension from the United States government, for service in the war of 1812, a land warrant for 160 acres of land, which warrant he sold, and with the proceeds, in 1826, purchased a quar- ter on section 29, 5 north, 4 west, now Tennessee township, which quarter he held until his death. In the fall of 1830 he came over from Fulton county, erected his cabin, and returned for his family. While gone, "the big snow," of which so much is said by old settlers, fell, necessitating his remaining away until the following spring, when he came back, and effected a permanent

settlement. On the 8th day of July, he was again married, leading to the mar- riage altar, Hannah Ann Brooks. One daughter was born unto them. The second Mrs. Tyrrell died in the year 1852. About the year 1834, Mr. Tyrrell became bondsman for one of the officers of Mc- Donough county who, unfortunately, failed to make full returns due the county, and Mr. Tyrrell was called upon to make good the deficiency. This was an entirely unlooked for event, and came very heavily upon him, but he deter- mined that every dollar should be paid. Few to-day can realize the trouble had in obtaining money in those days. Men with thousands of acres of land, with an abundance of personal property, could scarcely raise money to pay their taxes, small as they then were. But Mr. Tyr- rell proposed to pay this indebtedness, though it was frequently suggested to him that its payment could be avoided. The very idea of repudiation was horror to him, and he has often said that never for a moment was he tempted to do such a thing. As the money could not be raised here by any means that could be resorted to, Mr. Tyrrell determined on once more going to the lead mines, and, as a day laborer, work to obtain the money to make good his bond. · Al- though the amount he was required to pay would not seem very large to us at the present day, yet it required 11 years to make the final payment, but every dollar was paid, and McDonough county was saved from its loss. The discovery of gold in California caused a tremor of excitement throughout the whole country and thousands flocked to the New Eldo- rado. Among the first to seek his for-

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

tune in that strange land, was the sub- ject of our sketch. In April, 1849, in company with several others, he started on the overland journey, arriving at his destination in about seven months from the time of starting. The hardships of that journey he bore remarkably well, and in good health and spirits he began to labor in the mines, continuing in the work for three years, save about three months when he was unable to do any- thing on account of sore eyes. He re- turned home in 1852, having in a meas- ure, been quite successful, more so than the great majority that went out with him. Mr. Tyrrell was never a member of the church, though in life he was a strictly moral man. The second great commandment, to "love thy neighbor as thyself," he carried out to the letter. When James Fulkerson settled in his neighborhood, in 1832, Mr. Tyrrell was in the habit of attending to any little chores around the house that might seem necessary on the Sabbath day, such as cutting wood, sharpening his tools, etc., but as he saw that Mr. Fulkerson did not approve of the same, he resolved to discontinue the practice, saying "My grief, it don't hurt me to cut wood, but it hurts Uncle Jimmy's feelings, so I wont't do it." And he was ever after- wards as good as his word, and "Uncle Jimmy's" feelings were never hurt by his Sabbath breaking. His hon- esty was proverbial wherever he was known, and when another person was specially commended for this trait of character, it was said of him that "he is as honest as Uncle Roswell Tyrrell," or "Uncle Roswell Tyrrell conldn't do bet- ter than that." Another excellent trait

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History of McDonough County, Illinois, together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of the representative citizens, Part 61

Author: Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Co. Number of Pages: 1150

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1150