USA > Illinois > McDonough County > History of McDonough county, Illinois, its cities, towns and villages with early reminiscences, personal incidents and anecdotes and a complete business directory of the county > Part 28
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State's Attorney .- Thomas Ford, William A. Richardson, Henry L. Bryant, William Elliott, Robert S. Blackwell, Calvin A. War- ren, John S. Bailey, L. II. Waters, Thomas E. Morgan, L. W. James.
County Attorney .- Crosby F. Wheat.
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
CHAPTER XXI.
OTHER RAILROADS.
As recorded elsewhere, McDonough county voted, in 1856, to take stock in the Rock Island and Alton Railroad Company, to the amount of fifty thousand dollars. This was on condition that Macomb should be a point on that road. With the Northern Cross, now Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, we had an outlet east ; with the Rock Island and Alton we would secure an outlet south, and would have the benefit of competing markets for our produce, and also for our general trade. After several years attempt to obtain sufficient funds to build the road, the managers were forced to the conclusion they could not obtain the means, so the franchises of the road were sold to the Rockford, Rock Island & St. Louis Railroad. This last named company started out with a grand flourish of trumpets, and with the boast that they would finish the road in short order.
Aid had been voted the Rock Island & Alton Railroad all along its proposed line. This the new company were desirious of ob- taining and, knowing the people were very desirous of having the road built, they imagined they would have no trouble in the mat- ter. They announced their intention of building upon the origi- nal line specified in the charter of the Rock Island and St. Louis Railroad, and then immediately began the canvass on other pro- posed routes, and making offers to build thereon on condition that the counties and townships would take a sufficient amount of stock to make it an object for them. The object of this was to make two or more proposed lines enter into competition, and so obtain the largest amount of money possible. In this they suc- ceeded well, obtaining large amounts from the townships through which the road finally ran. The castern line gained the day.
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securing the road and voting the following subscriptions in the various townships through which it runs, or is supposed to benefit, in MeDonough county :
Eldorado. $6,000
New Salem. 50,000
Mound. 40,000
Bushnell 50,000
Walnut Grove. 15,000
The officers of the road continually held out the idea to the people along the original line that the road would be built there ; the eastern line, if built at all, would only be a branch of the main line. The result does not speak well for their veracity.
While the matter was pending as to the location of the road a demand was made upon the county for the bonds voted to the Rock Island and Alton railroad a few years previous. The de- mand was at first refused, but finally, at a meeting held in the year 1870, the Board of Supervisors passed an order instructing the clerk to issue the same and deposit them with the Auditor of State to be delivered to the road when the conditions on which aid was voted were complied with. The bonds remained with the Auditor for several years, until all were fully satisfied the company would never comply with the conditions named in the vote, when they were returned to the Board.
As built, the road has never been a paying investment. This may in a measure be due to the management, and we are inclined to believe that such is the case. Other roads crossing it have re- fused to co-operate or extend toward it the usual courtesies due from one road to another. This has been particularly true as re- gards the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad, it refusing to transfer cars and compelling all freight to be taken out of the cars and reloaded into cars belonging to themselves, thus entailing ad- ditional expense and loss of time upon the shipper.
In the spring of 1875 the road was sold under mortgage, the German bondholders becoming the purchasers. For about one year, under the management of Mr. Osterberg, as their represen- tative, they continued to operate it; but in the early part of the summer of 1876 a new company was formed, composed in part of the German bondholders and leading business men on the line, to whom the franchises of the road were transferred. This com- pany changed its name to the St. Louis, Rock Island and Chicago Railroad. They only continued in its management for about four or
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
five months, when it again changed hands, this time the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Company becoming its purchaser. Under the management of this last named company the success of the road is secured, and we have no doubt of it becoming a paying road in due time.
We have been unable to obtain a statement of the business of the road, as we designed, the officers declining to give it, for rea- sons known only to themselves.
At a special meeting of the Board of Supervisors, held in January, 1870, a petition was presented, signed by a number of the citizens of the county, praying that a vote should be ordered taken on subscribing stock to the amount of $75,000, in a pro . posed new railroad, called the Havana, Mason City, Lincoln and Eastern Railroad. The prayer of the petitioners was granted, and the vote ordered to be taken on the fifth day of April following-the day of the annual town elections. This order was rescinded at the March term of the Board, for the reason it was thought that the promises held out by the parties representing said road could not be complied with, and therefore it would be unwise to vote upon the proposition.
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
CHAPTER XXII.
NEWSPAPER ENTERPRISES.
A history of the county without mention of its newspapers would be incomplete-like the play of Hamlet with the part of Hamlet left out. We therefore make mention of the history of such as were easily obtainable. The first paper in the county was the
McDonough Independent .- This paper was established in the year 1851, the first issue making its appearance Friday, Septem- ber 12. George W. Smith and Theodore L. Terry were its pro- prietors, the former having charge of the editorial department. As its name would indicate, it was independent in politics, though leaning somewhat toward Democracy. It first appeared as a six column folio, being enlarged to a seven column folio the beginning of its second year. Mr. Smith, its editor, was a sharp writer, and in newspaper discussion, almost always came off first best. Mr. Terry was a practical printer, and had charge of the mechan- ical work of the office. He only remained connected with the paper about five months, when he disposed of his interest to the senior proprietor. The paper never attained a very large cir- culation, and Mr. Smith not being possessed of any means, could not give it the attention he would otherwise. The merchants of the town do not seem to have been the best advertisers; no local notices appearing, and but few standing or displayed advertise- ments. Patent medicine men used its columns freely. In the first number we find only the advertisements of three firms, Updegraff & Maury, druggists and booksellers, and D. & C. A. Lawson, and W. & H. Ervin, general merchandise. Hampton & Waters have a law card, and Dr. J. M. Major a medical card. Several Beards- town and St. Lous firms have cards, showing that in those days the trade drifted South.
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IIISTORY OF M'DONOUGHI COUNTY.
The Independent continued to pursue a non-partisan course un- til the fall of 1854, when it came out square for the Democracy, advocating the doctrine of the Kansas-Nebraska bill, and oppos- ing the repeal of the fugitive slave law, questions then agitating the people. With the first number of the fourth volume, to its original heading it added, "and Democratic Review," making it read, MeDonough Independent and Democratic Review. This name was retained until September, 1855, when it was changed to MeDonough Democrat, and R. M. Royalty associated in its man- agement and becoming the responsible editor. In his salutatory, Dr. Royalty says : "Venerating the cardinal doctrines of the great Democratic party, as transmitted to us from the hands of Jeffer- son, Madison and Jackson, and having an abiding faith that the party will retain its integrity, unsullied and untrammeled by the cankering fetters of fanaticism, our humble efforts will be direct- ed to the advancement of the party and the dissemination of cor- reet principles among the people, in whom alone we recognize, under the restrictions of the constitution, the only legitimate source of power and independent sovereignty. Resting under this con- viction, and that the doctrine of non-intervention by Congress in the affairs of the States and Territories embraced in the late Kansas-Nebraska bill is strictly constitutional, just and expedient, we shall earnestly contend for the finality of that measure, and the defeat of the allied factions of Abolitionism, Know-Nothingism, Fusionism and Republicanism, 'falsely so called,' which are arrayed against it." The doctor only remained connected with the paper about one year, when it again reverted to Mr. Smith, who continued editor and publisher until its final suspension in the spring of 1857.
The Macomb Journal-In consequence of the expression of po- litical views of the MeDonough Independent, a, professedly neu- tral paper, many persons in Macomb were desirous of establishing another paper, and two young men, Messrs. T. S. Clarke and D. G. Swan were persuaded to embark in the enterprise, and under the name of the Macomb Enterprise the first number was issued in the spring of 1855. A favorable impression was made upon the people and the paper received a fair patronage, but, on ac- count of the want of capital Mr. Clarke soon withdrew, and the paper was conducted for a while by D. G. Swan, with L. H. Waters as editor. Finding it impossible to continue without financial 11-17
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
assistance, Mr. Swan sold a half interest in the office to B. R. Hampton, who, as editor, continued in its charge for several years, becoming after a time sole proprietor. The paper was established as a neutral sheet, but soon came out as a supporter of the views of the anti-Nebraska and then the Republican party, and in the campaign of 1856 supporting the nominee of the Republican party for President. In politics the paper still continues to sup- port Republican principles.
Just before the campaign of 1860 Mr. Hampton sold the office to J. W. Nichols, who continued its publication for some two vears, a part of the time being assisted in editorial control by V. Y. Ralston, Esq., afterward Captain of Company A, 16th regi- ment Illinois volunteers. In the spring of 1861 Mr. Nichols sold a half interest in the office to James K. Magie, Esq., who assumed editorial control and remained in that capacity until the summer of 1862, when he enlisted as a private in the 78th regiment. After Mr. Magie went to the front Mr. Nichols assumed editorial con- trol and continued in its management until Mr. Magie purchased his interest in 1863, when T. S. Clarke leased the office and ran the paper for some months, or until the expiration of Mr. Magie's term of service. We neglected to remark that when Mr. Nichols purchased the office the name of the paper was changed to Mili- tary Traet Journal, and when Mr. Magie became interested it was again changed to Macomb Journal, which name it yet bears.
After the return of Mr. Magie from the army he continued in the management of the paper until 1865, when he sold the office to B. R. Hampton, Esq., who continued sole editor and proprietor until June 10, 1870, when he disposed of a half interest in the office to W. H. Hainline, Esq., the two together becoming joint editors and proprietors, which relation is yet continned. The paper has grown from a weak, sickly sheet to one of the strongest and brightest papers in the Military Tract, with a circulation see- ond to none in that region. Its editors are both live, public- spirited men and deserve success. It is now a large, eight-column folio, printed on new brevier type on a Taylor power press, which is run by steam, the old hand press being superseded some years since. Terms, $2 per year. Address Hampton & Hainline.
The Macomb Ledger .- This paper was established in Macomb, in 1866, by T. S. Clarke, and only lived about four weeks. It was a sprightly local sheet, and had it been continued it would doubtless have done considerable good. Its editor and proprietor
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
was one of the best local writers in the State, but being possessed of no pecuniary resources, without which no paper can succeed, he was compelled to suspend its publication. B. R. Hampton became proprietor of the office, and sent it to Havana, Mason county.
The Western Light .- This paper was established by S. J. Clarke and Charles P. Whitten, in January, 1868. It was a large five- column quarto, well printed from new type, and was devoted to literature, art, science, temperance and local news. Many warm words of commendation were passed upon it; but words are cheap and will not support any periodical. It lived just one year. Mr. Whitten was connected with the paper but about four months, when Mr. Clarke became sole proprietor. The office was disposed of to Reynolds and Garrison, in December, 1868, and was used in printing the Gospel Echo for about one year, when B. R. Hampton became proprietor. The material since has had a very migratory existence, and has been used in publishing several dit- ferent papers in Missouri and in this State, and in now used in the publication of the Macomb Independent.
The Bushnell Record .- This paper was first established in 1865 by D. G. Swan, and was then known as the Union Press. Mr. S. continued its publication about two years, when he sold to Andrew Ilageman, who changed the name of the sheet to its present cog- nomen, The Bushell Record. Although without previous experi- ence in the newspaper business, Mr. Hageman got up a very readable paper. After two years experience in newspaper life, Mr. H. sold the press and material, together with the good will of the paper, to A. W. Van Dyke, a young gentleman of good address and one of the best job printers in the State, who in turn sold to S. A. Epperson and W. A. Spencer in 1873. The latter gentle- man dissolved his connection with the same after one year's cx- perience, Captain S. A. Epperson becoming sole proprietor, and yet continues in control of the same.
Like many other newspaper enterprises, the Record has had its ups and downs, its seasons of prosperity and seasons of adversity ; but it has continued to toil on, looking forward to the better day coming. We now find it, in the beginning of the year 1877, a large six column quarto, filled with interesting and profitable read- ing matter, and with advertising patronage that betokens pros- perity, and that the family of its editor can have and enjoy a little more than the bare necessaries of life.
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
The Record has lately added to its office a Campbell power press, and now boasts of doing its work a little faster and a little better than its neighbors. The job office is complete, and work of all kinds, from a visiting card to a mammoth poster, or a large book, can be printed in the best style. Captain Epperson is de- termined not to be outdone in anything, and will not rest until he is in advance of all his neighbors in that which goes to make a first class printing office, and a neat readable paper.
Prairie City Chronicle .- This was the name of the first paper published in the town of Prairie City, the first number of which bears date April 23, 1857. It was edited and published by R. W. Seaton, and was a seven-column folio, well printed, and an honor to the town, although its local news was very limited. The intro- ductory shows that its editor was very sanguine of success. In speaking of its then limited circulation, he says: "Our circle at present is small, like that of a pebble dropped in the ocean, but it will gradually and silently expand in every direction until it reaches the far-off boundaries of civilization." Of course no paper could live in a small town like Prairie City if it endeavored to ex- paud in such a way as that, as it surely would meet the fate of the frog in the fable that endeavored to swell its proportions to the size of an ox, and in doing so burst itself; we therefore learn that in about one year it ceased to exist, but its editor, like many more of the craft, had more grit than money, and determined on the establishment of another sheet on its ruins; and accordingly in May, 1858, appeared the first number of the-
Prairie Chief .- A four column quarto, and published in the in- terests of the Good Templars. It lived but a few weeks, the or- der not giving it sufficient patronage on which to exist, and hav- ing no local news of any kind, the people of the town in which it was published failed to render it any aid. Next appeared the
Prairie Chicken .- We have been unable to find a copy of the paper, or learn any special information in regard to it, further than it was published by an erratic genius, who knew more about table-tipping than running a newspaper. The " Chicken " was doubtless trapped when quite young and destroyed without mercy.
The Prairie City Herald is a thirty-two column paper, is always clearly and neatly printed, and is now in its seventh volume. It enjoys a large circulation in its immediate vicinity, and is a wel- come visitor in many homes in the far west, where it is eagerly
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
read by former inhabitants of this county. It was established by C. W. Taylor, a brother of its present editor and proprietor, Mr. II. B. Taylor.
The chief feature of this paper is its excellence as a local and family newspaper. Nothing is ever permitted to appear either in its editorial or advertising colums which may not be read by any family circle or at any fireside. It has a good advertising patron- age, and stands on its own merits. It gives no premiums to sub- scribers, and asks no one to take it "just to help it along." It is well known for its short and spicy paragraphs, and is more widely quoted from than any paper published in the county. Terms of subscription, $2 a year in advance.
The Macomb Independent .- This paper was started as The Illi- nois Granger, by H. H. Stevens and E. A. Hail, under the firm name of Stevens & Hail, in September, 1873. It was devoted to the interest of the laboring classes, and took strong ground against monopolies of all kinds, and advocated the organization of a new political party. It supported the anti-monopoly party, and contributed largely to the election of the candidates on that ticket in MeDonough county that fall. The influence brought to bear against it was almost impossible to withstand, and men of less nerve and devotion to the cause would have given up the enterprise as utterly hopeless. Not knowing which of the two old parties were being injured most by the new organization, it was bitterly opposed by the party organs of both.
The secret order of the Patrons of Husbandry, or the Grange, was then attracting a great deal of attention in the county, and owing to a lack of knowledge on the part of the uninitiated as to the real object of the order, wrong impressions took deep root in the minds of the public, and more especially was this so with the various merchants, who had an idea that this order was hostile to their interests. The Granger defended this organiza- tion, and hence a prejudice among the merchants sprang up against it. The Granger, as before stated, took an active part in polities, and for this reason the belief that the order of Patrons of Husbandry was a political party becoming quite prevalent, a fact which was neither beneficial to the order, to the new party, or to the paper. The mistake in the selection of a name for the paper was discovered before it had completed its first volume, but it continued under that name until March, 1876, when it was discarded and that of Macomb Independent was assumed, under which name
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it is still published. It struggled hard for an existence, and its publishers were frequently driven to borrow money to meet their obligations, but the employes in the office were always paid off promptly at the end of each week.
There were many trying times in its history, but the darkest days of its existence were during the unsettled political condition of the country which followed the presidential election of 1876. On the thirteenth of December of this year, during the darkest hours of its darkness, Stevens bought Hail's interest in the pa- per, books and accounts-the presses, type and material of the of- fice being equitably divided. Immediately after this a healthful change set in. The inactivity which pervaded the ranks of the Independent Greenback party during the month and a half im- mediately following the election was succeeded by activity, re- newed life and vigor. "Organize for 1880" were the words of the national executive committee of the Independent party, and it seemed to meet with a hearty response from the people. More money was paid in on subscription to the Independent during the two first weeks in January, 1877, than had been received from the day of election up to the first of that month. New hopes and new energies were begotten, new names were enrolled, new advertisements came in, and the success of the paper was assured. It now circulates about 700 copies among the farmers of the county. It had a hard struggle, it met with a powerful and de- termined opposition, but it braved all and its future prospects are bright and full of hope. Subscription price $2 00 per year. Of- fice in Campbell's block, west side of the square.
The Gleaner-This paper was started in January, 1876, and is one of the neatest and sprightliest in the county. In politics it is independent, not in a partisan sense but in conduct. Its editor and publisher is J. E. Cummings. Connected with the office is a No. 1 job office, presided over by one of the best job printers in the Military Tract. Terms of subscription $2 per annum in ad- vance. Address J. E. Cummings, Bushnell, Illinois.
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
CHAPTER XXIII.
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.
Very likely all of our readers have heard of the famous Under- ground Railroad, but very few know anything of its system of work. Happily the corporation does not now exist, the necessity for the enterprise not being apparent at the present time, as the class of freight or passengers transported over the line are not now produced.
The question of slavery has always been a mixed one, from the time the first slave was imported into our country until, by the emancipation proclamation of Abraham Lincoln, all men were made free and equal in the eyes of the law. A strong anti-slavery party has long existed in the country. The framers of our constitution upon the organization of the government had to deal with the ques- tion of slavery; the successive administrations from Washington to Lincoln had to grapple with it; various compromises were adopted, which it was thought would quiet its spirit, but, like Banquo's ghost it would not down at the bidding of any man or party. The death of Lovejoy at Alton, in 1837, a martyr to the anti-slavery cause, gave an impetus to the agitation of the question which never ceased until the final act was consummated which broke in pieces the shackles that bound the slave.
Growing out of the agitation of this question, and the formation of a party of those in sympathy with the slaves, was the organiza- tion of the so-called Underground Railroad, for the purpose of aiding fugitives to escape to a land of freedom. The secrecy of its workings justified its name. Notwithstanding the system was an organized one, those engaged in it had no signs nor passwords by which they might be known, save now and then a preconcerted rap at the door when a cargo of freight was to be delivered. Each relied upon the honor of the other, and as the work was an extra-
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
hazardous one, few cowards ever engaged in it. Pro-slavery men complained bitterly of the violation of the law by their abolition neighbors, and persecuted them as much as they dared, and this was not a little. But the friends of the slave were not to be de- terred by persecution. "The blood of martyrs is the seed of the church," and persecution only made them more determined than ever to carry out their just convictions of right and duty. No class of people ever made better neighbors than the Abolitionists, or better conductors on a railroad.
A very singular circumstance in connection with this road was the fact that, although people well knew who were engaged in it, and where the depot was located, freight could seldom be found, search as carefully as they might. A consignment would be for- warded over the line, notice of which would reach the ears of slave hunters, and when ready to place their hands upon the fugi- tives, like the Irishman's flea, they wouldn't be there. Only one case is reported on the line through this county of the recapture of a slave, an account of which will be found further on in this chapter, while hundreds were forwarded over it during the twenty-five years of its running time. We may here remark there were various branches of this road having a starting point at different places. The line running through MeDonough began in Quincy, and ran nearly parallel with the present C., B. & Q. R. R. The business for a number of years was quite extensive, but to-day all the employes of the road are discharged, and strange to relate, none are sorry, but all rejoice in the fact. As illustrat- ing the peculiarities of this line, we append several incidents that principally occurred in this county.
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