USA > Illinois > McLean County > History of McLean County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 27
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57
The McLean County Jersey Cattle club is formed to promote the in- terests of owners of Jersey cattle. The officers are: President, D. M. Stutzman, Chenoa; secretary, Lloyd H. Mason, Armington; treasurer, W. L. Mays, Bloomington.
Shorthorn cattle owners and breeders also organized an association, whose officers in 1923 were: President, John O. Bozarth, Gillum; vice president, W. T. Stautz, Bloomington; treasurer, Sam Elkins, Blooming- ton; secretary, Ebon C. Jones, Bloomington; directors, C. C. Brown of Heyworth and W. F. Mecherle of Heyworth.
Swine breeders who are especially interested in Durocs have formed an association of their own, with the following officers: President, Fred J. Blum, Bloomington; vice president, Simon Moon, Towanda; secretary, F. J. Basting, Bloomington; treasurer, G. C. Johnstone, Shirley.
Horsemen have been active and up to date in the last few years, in spite of the fact that the breeding of heavy horses is not now what it
350
HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
used to be in this county. The McLean County Percheron association is officered as follows: President, Dan Augstin, Carlock; vice president, M. . L. Ramseyer, Hudson; treasurer, L. F. Stubblefield, McLean; committee- man, C. L. Mays, Bloomington; directors, S. L. Stutzman, Ed Miller, Fred Blum, E. M. Merritt, William Henline, John Peck.
The farmers of McLean county have formed a county branch of the Federal Farm Loan organization, with the following officers: President, Frank Stewart, Lexington; vice president, John Howard, Leroy; secre- tary-treasurer, Harrison Fahrnkopf, Bloomington; directors, J. Ben Mc- Reynolds, Stanford; Mrs. Flora Orendorff, Randolph.
One of the biggest projects which the County Farm Bureau has under- taken was the securing of a building for the use of the Producers' Market and an office headquarters for the Home Bureau and the Farm Bureau. The building at the corner of Center and Monroe streets in Bloomington was leased, and considerable money spent in remodeling and renovating it to make it fit for its new uses. The structure had many years ago been an armory, and earlier than that a library building.
Farmers Grain Dealers Association of Illinois, an affiliation of 550 Farmers Co-operative Elevator Companies in Illinois, was organized at Springfield, Feb. 19, 1903. At that time there were about 30 Farmers Co-operative Elevator Companies in Illinois and 17 of them were repre- sented at that meeting. J. C. Collins was the first president and J. A. McCreery the first secretary. Mr. McCreery continued his duties as man- ager of the Mason City Farmers Grain and Coal Company, giving only part of his time to the Association work. The office remained at Mason City while Mr. McCreery was secretary. In 1913 A. N. Steinhart was employed as secretary to give his full time to the work. At that time the office was located at Bloomington, where it has since remained. The association now occupies two rooms in the Peoples Bank Building, with Lawrence Farlow as secretary and two office assistants. Fred A. Mudge of Peru, Ill., is president of the organization.
CHAPTER XXX.
HOME BUREAU.
PERMANENTLY ORGANIZED-FIRST OFFICERS-BRANCHES-VARIETY OF WORK- MONTHLY BULLETIN-VARIOUS ACTIVITIES.
One of the modern developments of McLean county which indicates its progress is the permanent organization of the McLean County Home Bureau, composed mostly of farm women and women from the rural communities who work together for the promotion of the best interests of their homes and families. The organization had its inception in the work of the women in the world war, and took on its permanent form in 1918, when the name of the McLean County Home Improvement Asso- ciation was taken. This name, however, was shortly changed to that of the McLean County Home Bureau, which is still maintained. The or- ganization is now in its sixth year of successful existence. McLean county was the eighth county in Illinois to form a Home Bureau. It is the only county which has constantly since it started employed the same field secretary, or as she is known, the home adviser, in the person of Miss Clara Brian.
Mrs. Spencer Ewing of Bloomington was the moving spirit in the organization of the Home Bureau, and acted as its first president. She continued to serve for two years and a half, then was succeeded by Mrs. Homer R. Johnson, who filled out Mrs. Ewing's last year and served two other years. Mrs. F. L. Wakefield of Heyworth is the present president (1923). Mrs. Homer R. Johnson was the first county secretary, being succeeded by Mrs. Jennie Barlow, and she in turn by Mrs. Charles Yan- cey of McLean, the present secretary. The first treasurer was Mrs.
351
352
HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
Allen Brown of Normal, who was succeeded by Mrs. William L. Moore of Bloomington, and she in turn by Mrs. W. E. Clark of Bloomington. The last and present treasurer is Mrs. Frank L. Washburn of Bloomington.
The county organization comprises 26 branches, one for each town- ship, and there being one branch for Bloomington city and one for Bloom- ington township. The financial backing of the Home Bureau is included in an annual budget of $5,500, of which sum $1,500 comes from the fed- eral government; $1,000 is appropriated each year by the county board of supervisors, and the remainder, $3,000, is secured by individual con- tributions in the form of annual dues of $1 each from the members. It is a unique fact that in the six years of the bureau's work, the member- ships have been maintained by the township units without any special drive for membership. At no time has the real work of the employed home adviser been diverted to solicitation for funds to maintain the organization. The executive management of the bureau is composed of the roster of county officers, together with one director for each unit, these composing the executive board. The headquarters of the bureau is in the building leased by the County Farm Bureau in Bloomington. Miss Brian, the home adviser, has her office there, with an office secretary to assist her. There were about 1,400 members in 1923, and the same number had made up the organization for the past few years, following the larger figure during the war.
The work of the Home Bureau is varied, as the name of the organi- zation indicates; its aim is to make better homes and more efficient home-makers. In its second year, a series of courses of study for women was outlined and submitted to the different units for consideration. Each unit votes on which course it shall take, and the majority picks the course. This later is succeeded by other courses in turn. For instance, one course is on meal planning, and seven months of study is devoted to this subject. There have been two schools of instruction carried on in home millinery. A course in the making of baskets of all kinds from crepe paper rope was carried on, and many women became very proficient. There have been demonstrations in the uses of the pressure cooker, and sanitary methods of canning foods in tin were among the other subjects dealt with. The course for home nursing includes seven lessons. There is a course in meal planning with seven lessons. The course in sewing and textiles deals in practical dressmaking, artistic dressmaking, undergarments, dress
-
TROTTER FOUNTAIN AND WITHERS PUBLIC LIBRARY, BLOOMINGTON.
353
HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
forms, and experiences in dyeing materials. There is a second sewing course, in which adviser and local leader work together in demonstra- tions on cutting and fitting. Home accounting and equipment is the sub- ject of one course. Home and community life is the general topic for another course of five lessons. Preparation of food is the subject of study in one course.
The Home Bureau publishes a monthly bulletin of four pages, which is supported by advertising patronage of merchants. This has been one of the most effective agents of the bureau's publicity work. The news- papers have devoted liberal quantities of space to work of the Bureau through all the years.
A well organized campaign for the teaching of the value of hot lunches in schools, especially in the rural districts, was carried on for some time, and had its results in the general introduction of this valued feature for the proper care of children of the schools.
That the Home Bureau may be of practical benefit in other than the rural districts is shown in its work in Bloomington, where in co-operation with the Day Nursery and the Federation of Churches it carried on a series of classes in home cooking at the Day Nursery, for the benefit of women of that section of the city who lacked opportunities which more favored sections enjoyed to learn of modern home methods. The Day Nursery furnished the equipment, the Federation of Churches the money, and the Home Bureau the instructor. Two years these classes have been in successful operation.
(21)
.
CHAPTER XXXI.
LIBRARIES OF THE COUNTY.
FIRST COLLECTION OF BOOKS-EARLY LIBRARIES-BLOOMINGTON AND MCLEAN COUNTY LIBRARY-LADIES' LIBRARY ASSOCIATION-WITHERS' LIBRARY- WESLEYAN AND ILLINOIS STATE NORMAL LIBRARIES-C. & A. LIBRARY- OTHER LIBRARIES.
The public libraries of McLean County have proved a first aid to the public school system. They have enabled students to pursue a wider range of reading than could have been possible if everyone were obliged to buy his own books. From the earlier years, the need of public libraries at several points in the county was recognized. The very first collection of books brought to the county was in 1833, when Amasa C. Washburn returned from the east with a small array of books, which he placed at the disposal of the Sunday school of the First Presbyterian church.
About 1840, the Bloomington and McLean County Library was es- tablished with about 1,000 volumes, those responsible for its establish- ment being Jesse W. Fell, Dr. John F. Henry, Dr. W. C. Hobbs and James Allin. After being used for a few years the books became worn out and scattered and the library as an institution was lost.
The Ladies' Library Association was the next organized effort to have a public library, it being formed at a meeting held Oct. 2, 1856, at Major's hall, where $417 was raised as a nucleus of a library fund. The library was opened in February, 1856, first in a room on Center street, then removed to Judge Davis' building at Front and Main, where free quarters had been offered. This, the predecessor of the present Blooming- ton library, had a changing history and many moves. In 1865 it moved from the Davis building to the second floor of the building at 403 North
354
355
HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
Main street, where it remained until 1871. The next move was to 109 and 111 West Monroe street, and it remained there until the year 1887, when it made its final move to the building at the corner of Washington and East street.
The Ladies' Library association was in 1867 incorporated as the Bloomington Library association. Its stock of books and other material increased as years rolled on, and in 1882, Mrs. Sarah B. Withers presented to the association the lot at Washington and East street for the purpose of having erected there a suitable building. The library was still under direction of a board of management and supported by private donations. The sum of $20,000 was subscribed for the building, which was con- structed and dedicated in December, 1887. It was named the Withers public library in honor of Mrs. Withers. In 1894, the board offered to the city of Bloomington the library and its building and grounds, subject only to a debt of $4,000 which remained unpaid. It was accepted by the city council and later a library tax was assessed for the support of the institution. The members of the board are now appointed by the mayor of the city for terms of three years.
For a few years after the library occupied its new building, the upper story was used as club rooms by the Bloomington club, which paid a rental. However, it became necessary in time that the library have the entire structure, hence the Bloomington club formed plans for a bond issue to erect its present modern three-story brick building which stands east of the library. The library then remodeled the upper story of its building into a reading and reference room. The library has a large col- lection of books, upward of 40,000 volumes, and is patronized by thousands of Bloomington people and some from outside who pay a small fee. Miss Nellie Parham is the present librarian, having occupied the position for several years.
The Wesleyan University has a very fine library which is independent of the city library. It occupies a fine new stone building which was a gift of Mrs. Martha Buck of Decatur as a memorial to her husband, Hiram Buck. The structure was erected and dedicated in 1923. It stands just opposite the main campus, is a massive building and very perfect in its appointments for the uses for which it is designed. The library prior to the building of the Buck Memorial, had been housed in the old academy building of the Wesleyan, a too small and wholly inadequate structure.
356
HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
The Illinois State Normal University has one of the best libraries for the use of the students of the school. It has been in existence and grow- ing from the very first year of the school. Supt. Hovey reported at the end of the University's first year that there were 145 volumes in the Philadelphia society library, same number for the Wrightonian society, 103 public documents, 2,600 volumes in the text-book library, 95 reference books, and 44 maps in the geographical section. From that beginning, its growth has been constant. The Illinois State Natural History society established itself in the Normal University in 1860, bringing 500 volumes of scientific works. The libraries of the two literary societies increased to 2,000 volumes by 1890. Great quantities of public documents are re- ceived annually from various departments of the government. For many years, up to the administration of Dr. Edwards as president, the school furnished free text books to the students, but this practice was discon- tinued later and few text books remain. The books of the State Natural History society were divided in 1884-5, a part of them being removed to the University of Illinois, leaving at Normal the books adapted to teach- ing natural history, and these have slowly increased in number.
The first little collection of reference works was the nucleus of the present library. It was at first in charge of student librarians, but in 1899 President Hewett recommended that the books be catalogued and a regular librarian employed. Early in 1890 Miss Ange V. Milner was engaged for this work, and she still continues in charge. The books of the two literary societies were added to the general library, and the whole removed to larger rooms. On the completion of the gymnasium build- ing, the library was established in the second floor with ample space for those days, although now somewhat crowded. This move was made in 1898. In 1914 it was moved to spacious quarters in the Model School building. Missionary reference books were added for the use of the Y. M. and Y. W. C. A. President John W. Cook and President Arnold Tompkins each made improvements in the administration of the library, and under President David Felmley other changes have been made. The methods of giving library instruction have been changed and improved. Students assist the trained librarian. The Normal University library now con- tains something like 20,000 bound volumes, some 10,000 pamphlets, and subscribes to upward of 100 periodicals. Special books connected with each study in the curriculum are kept, and many special works on peda-
357
HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
gogical subjects are also to be found. Students and faculty members are constant patrons, the library being kept open in daytimes throughout the year and during evenings in the summer terms. Alumni of the university are also frequent visitors to use the books.
In addition to the general public library and the ones connected with the Wesleyan and the Normal universities, there is still another public library in Bloomington, it being the Chicago & Alton railroad library, located in a building set apart by the company for that purpose just north
CIC
LLLL
SMITH LIBRARY, LEXINGTON, ILL.
of Chestnut street and adjoining the railroad property for the accommo- dation of the employes. The C. & A. library association was organized at the home of E. M. Prince in the winter of 1879. Entertainments to secure funds gave a fund of about $200 to start. Soon afterward the company erected the frame building for its accommodation, and directors donated $1,100 to a fund to buy books. The first 1,000 volumes were thus pro- vided, and in 1880 the association was incorporated. The incorporators were Mrs. E. M. Prince, Mrs. W. O. Stahl, E. N. Edmunds and Robert Bell. From the start, the library was well patronized by Alton railroad
358
HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
men and their families. Over 300 members are on the lists for taking out books regularly. Miss Margaret Fenton has been the librarian in charge for many years, and she is well acquainted with all the patrons and their needs. There are nearly 5,000 volumes, besides many periodi- cals regularly received. The company furnishes and lights and heats the building and pays the librarian. The members pay the other expenses.
Several of the towns of McLean county outside of Bloomington have smaller but very complete and efficient libraries for their own people to use. One of the best of these is at Lexington, which was founded in 1895 as a result of a public meeting called by Mrs. L. S. VanDolah. Money was pledged, an executive committee appointed, and plans made for pro- viding a public reading room. The first executive committee was com- posed of : A. J. Scrogin, chairman; Mrs. L. S. Van Dolah, vice president ; Prof. Jesse Smith, secretary. This committee conducted the library until it came into control of the city of Lexington in 1897. The reading room was opened in January, 1896, with funds in sight for only one year's support. In August of that year the city council levied a one mill tax for library purposes, and the mayor named a board of control. Jesse L. Smith was the first chairman of the municipal board of control.
The reading room developed into a full fledged library in 1898, when the first installment of books for general circulation was received. By private generosity and money raised by entertainments, frequent addi- tions have been made, the Woman's club and the Music club being among the most active supporters. About 1905 the library expanded into two rooms, one for adults and one for juveniles. It has a circulating stock of books numbering almost 2,000 volumes, and subscribes for about thirty periodicals. It is kept open afternoons and certain hours of the evenings.
Miss Mary V. Gray, afterward Mrs. Benj. Bertles, was the first librarian, from 1896 to 1897, when she was succeeded by Lela Gray God- dard, who in turn was succeeded by Mrs. Ella Dooan, who served three years. Miss Angeline Mahan served some months in 1904, during which time she introduced the Dewey Decimal system of cataloging. On her resignation, Miss Nellie Brown was chosen, serving until 1907. Miss Anna V. Pierson served as the librarian for several years, until her marriage to Harry Blue. The present librarian is Miss Lois I. McFarland, who has held the position since the resignation of Miss Pierson. The make-up of the library board at the present time is as follows: President, Mrs. Addie
359
HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
J. Kennedy; secretary, Dr. L. M. Magill; treasurer, Mrs. Alta Arnold; Mrs. Bess Schantz, Mrs. Nettie Dement, Mrs. Frances Finfgeld, Dr. W. H. Welch, H. Ellis, and H. L. Hyre.
The Bloomington high school has a large library for the benefit of the students of that school. It has been gradually growing through the years, and is now established in very fine rooms in the new high school building which was dedicated in 1916. Miss Emma Onstott is the librar- ian and has filled the position with efficiency for many years.
CHAPTER XXXII.
SOLDIERS' ORPHANS' HOME.
HAD INCEPTION HERE-ESTABLISHED IN 1865-LOCATION CONTESTED-TEMPO- RARY HOME OPENED IN 1867-EARLY SUPERINTENDENTS-RALPH SPAF- FORD-MANAGING OFFICER.
Aside from the Normal university, the only state institution in ' McLean county is the Illinois Soldiers' Orphans' Home, located about a mile northeast of the center of Normal. It had its inception in a public meeting held January 19, 1864, in which the people of Bloomington sent a memorial to the legislature calling attention to the need of an institution to care for the dependent children of civil war soldiers. This memorial from McLean county found a ready response throughout the state, and on Feb. 7, 1865, the legislature passed an act establishing such a home and empowering the governor to appoint nine trustees. A commission of five persons was appointed by the governor to secure a location for this institution. At first there was no appropriation of state money to estab- lish or maintain such a home, and consequently various counties made voluntary donations for it in the earlier days. In 1867, an amendment to the original act was made, whereby a sum of $34,000 in the state treasury left from the "deserters' fund" was turned over to the trustees. A further appropriation of $70,000 was appropriated for buying grounds, etc. The act released the counties which had voted voluntary contribu- tions to the Home.
In 1869, further amendments were made to the act, granting enlarged powers to the trustees. But the chief feature of this act was the appro- priation of $45,000 per year for the next two years for the expenses of the Home, besides certain other sums for buildings, etc. In the law of
360
361
HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
April 15, 1875, the name of the institution was officially made the "Illinois Soldiers' Orphans' Home." By an act of 1897, the age limit to which children could be kept in the Home was extended from 14 to 16 years, and in certain cases of peculiar need to 18 years.
GYMNASIUM, SOLDIERS' ORPHANS' HOME.
362
HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
A law was passed in 1899 which removed the restriction of the ad- mittance of only civil war orphans, and made the Home accessible to or- phans of the soldiers or sailors of any war. Under this act, many orphans of Spanish war veterans were received, and lately even orphans of World war veterans.
The location of the Soldiers' Orphans' Home at Normal was the result of liberal offers made by the citizens of Normal, under the leader- ship of Jesse W. Fell, who had previously been so largely instrumental in locating the Normal university there.
Under the act of the legislature of 1867, the governor appointed a commission to locate the Home, of which Dr. H. C. John of Decatur, Col. W. Wiles of Bellville, Major J. M. Beardsley of Rock Island, Col. J. H. Raymond of Geneva, and Col. T. A. Marshall of Charleston were the mem- bers. This led to a lively contest, and the citizens of Normal organized and made pledges of money and lands estimated at $50,220. David Davis gave 80 acres of land, valued at $12,000, Jesse W. Fell gave 2,000 acres valued at $10,000, Kersey H. Fell gave 160 acres worth $2,000, W. H. Mann gave $1,000 in land, H. P. Taylor 20 acres valued at $2,400, W. A. Pennell gave $1,000, N. Dixon gave land worth $1,000, F. K. Phoenix gave 20 acres worth $2,500, while W. H. Allin, G. Diedrich and C. G. McClure gave $1,000 each. The Chicago & Alton donated freight haulage to the amount of $10,000.
When the commission met, it was found Normal's offer amounted to $50,220; Springfield pledged in cash and land $60,000, and Rock Island gave cash and land worth $15,000. Decatur offered 22 acres of land and Irving 40 acres. After due consideration, on May 3, 1867, the Normal offer was accepted. The contracts were awarded and buildings erected, which were dedicated on June 17, 1869. The cost of this first main struc- ture was $125,000. It still stands, being four stories in height, 140 feet long and 80 feet wide. In 1872 more room being needed, a kitchen, and boiler house. were built back of the first structure, costing $6,000, and a steam heating plant installed at a cost of $12,000. The school house was erected soon afterward costing $15,000, and the hospital in 1881 for $5,000. In 1889 the legislature appropriated $66,618 for a new chapel, dining hall, new heating plant and other additions, which were soon erected. In 1891 an electric light plant was erected at a cost of $4,000. In 1895 an industrial training building for boys was erected and in 1899
363
HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
a new hospital was built west of the main structure costing $10,000 and the old hospital was changed to an industrial building for girls. A few years ago the cottage system was installed, and a row of cottages erected along the driveway south and east of the main building. In each of these cottages there live about thirty children in charge of a house mother, who has all care of them except for their schooling. There are six of these cottages at present.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.