USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside County, Illinois, from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. I > Part 19
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Her platform addresses are not confined to politics, but, on all moral and social questions, temperance, woman's aims, municipal purity, she speaks with a vigor and eloquence that always arouse the enthusiasm of her audi- ence. Occasionally she occupies the pulpit of the Congregational church, to which she belongs.
As is natural, her mind secks permanent influence in literaturc. She has written stories, sketches, poems. Her songs and opera librettos and lyrics are popular on the stage.
Mrs. Fannie is the widow of Charles M. Worthington, pioneer of Ster-
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ling, long editor of the Gazette, the leading paper of the city. She is a bright, attractive woman, of graceful bearing, brilliant conversational powers, winning personality, in the prime of her powers at fifty with a fair prospeet of another half century of intellectual activity.
GROVE WRIGIIT.
Although Mr. Wright never wrote a book or pamphlet, his fugitive contri- butions to magazines and newspapers would fill a volume. He wrote easily, smoothly, and instruetively, on a variety of subjects. Eleetrieity was a hobby and he had correspondenee with Joseph Henry and Tesla, and on other topies with Charles Downing, C. L. Youmans, and David Starr Jordan. He was a man of wide information, and liked to take his pen and discuss any subject that appealed to his faney. He had decided views, and was ready to defend them. He died in April, 1908.
In a letter received from him in 1907, he says: "I suppose you know that some of my poems are to be published in a book called 'Anthology of Illinois Poets.' It has been over three years in preparation, and contains 400 poems, with portraits of the authors. The price for the cheap edition is $5, and for the finest, $25." A specimen of Mr. Wright's verse is found in an account of the pienic at the Brick School. This is the first stanza:
This is the lot, and this is the spot, Assigned to education ; And here was laid without parade, The old briek school foundation.
SOIL FERTILITY.
BY HON. A. N. ABBOTT, DIRECTOR SOIL INVESTIGATION IN THIRTEENTH CON- GRESSIONAL DISTRICT, AND MEMBER OF LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE.
The most important problem that confronts the nations of the earth is Soil Fertility. Besides this the great social, political, religious, temperance and educational questions stand aside. It makes the difference between the populous plain and the uninhabited desert. The dee'ine of past nations has been identical with the exhaustion of the soil. Westward from India the Star of Empire has taken its way, leaving in its wake an impoverished soil and bankrupt nations. The onee fertile and populous valleys and plains of western Asia are now desert wastes. From Palestine along the shores of south- ern Europe to our own New England and southern states the soil robber has plicd his reckless trade. Even the rich soils of the Mississippi valley are be- ginning to decline in fertility. History has repeated itself over and over again, and these soils will certainly meet the same fate as those of Europe, unless an improved agricultural system, looking to the maintenance of the soil fertility shall generally be adopted by the tillers of the land.
It may well be a matter of congratulation to us as citizens of Illi- nois, that this state through its Experiment Station and State Farmers Institute leads all of the rest of the states of the Union in investigation
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and experiment, in an attempt to work out for the first time in history, a sys- tem of profitable agriculture in which the fertility of the soil shall be per- manently maintained.
In working out this system it is first necessary that there be an accurate soil survey made of the state. This survey is well under way, rather more than one-third of the state has been so surveyed at the present time, and the field work is still going on as rapidly as state funds will permit. This work is carried on by counties. Whiteside county has already been surveyed. In doing this work the surveyors travel on foot and cover the territory thor- oughly. They carry with them a map of the township in which they are working, ruled off into squares representing 40 acre lots, as they proceed with their work they take frequent borings with an augur. First the character of the surface soil for 7 in. is noted and then the sub soil is examined to the depth of, 40 inches. The variations of soil which they find are represented on their maps by rubbing on different colored pencils, no tract as small as a ten acre piece escapes them, and their maps will show any variations as small as an acre. Thus a sandy knoll or a pond hole will be accurately lo- cated. After a county has been mapped and the various types of soil lo- cated (there were 16 types of soil in this county) several samples of soil are taken from each type, both from the surface and sub soil; these samples are analyzed, chemically, for the purpose of determining the elements of plant food in which they are deficient, and which elements are present in abundant supply.
It is the intention to have these colored maps with the result of the analy- sis of the various types of soil published, so that the farmer may know just what is necessary for him to increase the productiveness of his fields. As a farther check upon this work there have been established about 25 experimental fields upon the principal types of soil of the state. These fields vary from ten to forty acres in size, and are divided into fifth acre plots generally. These plots receive various chemical treatments to demonstrate what treatment is beneficial as well as to demonstrate what treatment produces no increase in the crop.
Plant tissue is composed of ten primary elements, all of which are abso- lutely essential to growth. These elements are carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, potassium, phosphorous, nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, sulphur and iron. All of these elements must be present, if any one is lacking although the least, the plant will not thrive.
Hot house experiments in which seed is planted in sand, which has been subjected to great heat and also treated chemically in order to remove every vestige of plant food, show that if any six of these elements are added to a sample of soil which has been so treated, that the plant will not thrive, but if the seventh is added that the plant will proceed to grow in the normal, natural way.
The four elements, iron, magnesium, calcium and sulphur, while abso- lutely essential to plant life, yet are required in such minute quantities, that practically all soils are inexhaustible as far as these elements are concerned.
The elements carbon, oxygen and hydrogen are obtained from the air
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and water, never failing sources of supply so that we may give these elements no concern.
This leaves the three elements, potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen to be considered, and herein lies the problem of soil fertility. These three sub- stances are required by all growing plants in quite large amounts, and are the three elements which limit crop production, all of the others being present and obtainable from never failing sources. Practically every soil is deficient to some extent in one or more of these three elements. These arc called the big three in soil fertility and limit crop production. Since these three ele- ments are so important we will take them up briefly in detail.
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Potassium is a mineral element which enters quite largely into the straw and stalks of all cultivated crops. The average corn belt soil of Illinois con- tains enough of this element in the first seven inches of the surface soil to produce a one hundred bushel crop of corn annually for centuries. The peaty swamp soil, however, is very deficient in potassium. An application of 200 pounds of potassium sulphate on the peaty swamp soil of Kankakee county, produced an increase of 66 bushels of corn per acre. Potassiuni is a mineral imported from Germany, where it exists in inexhaustible supply and costs laid down here, about $45 per tone as K2SO4. It is used quite extensively on the peaty swamp soils in the southeastern part of this county. Phosphorus is an element deficient in the most of Illinois soils. In contrast to potassium, phosphorus enters largely into the seed and grain. When the grain is sold from the farm the phosphorus content is rapidly reduced. It is also re- moved from the farm in the blood, bones and hair of the animals sold. Every bushel of corn requires about a fourth of a pound of phosphorus, and when removed it can only be restored by a direct application of the element, in the form of bone meal or as rock phosphate. The old theory of maintaining fertility by rotation of crops and raising clover, is exploded. There is no system of crop rotation which will of itself maintain the fertility of the soil. Phosphorus is the limiting element in the most of our soils and so far as known exists in quite limited quantities in natural deposits. If the average Illinois soil becomes barren, it probably will be on account of the exhaustion of the phosphorus in the soil. Unlike potassium, also, in the average surface soil of the state, there is only enoughi phosphorus for 70 one hundred bushels corn crops. The most of the Whiteside county farm lands are already declin- ing in fertility on account of the lack of this element in available form. Nitrogen is the most abundant element of plant food, yet the hardest to retain in available form, as it is volatile and goes away in the air, and it also leaches away rapidly in the water. Commercial nitrogen in its cheapest form, as dried blood costs 15 cents a pound, yet the pressure of nitrogen in the air is about 12 pounds to the square inch, which at commercial prices would bring $11,000,000 to the acre.
Unfortunately with one exception the nitrogen of the air is not available for our cultivated crops. Nitrogen everywhere, but not one particle of the atmospheric nitrogen for the corn, the oats and the wheat. To the legumes alone, such as the clover, cow peas, alfalfa and vetch is the atmospheric nitro- gen available. The fairy tale of the leguminous plants with their accompany-
1
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ing bacteria, is more wonderful than the tales of the Arabian Nights. This genii of the soil is more powerful than the genii of the lamp. It builds school houses, churches and cities, constructs and operates railroads, it mar- shalls together more glittering, sparkling gems than the mind of the Arabian genii could comprehend. In a word this wonderful bacteria make the soil productive or barren, according as to whether it is present or absent.
This bacteria is a microscopic organism, which grows on the roots of clover and allied plants, forming nodules which contain millions of these organisms. These bacteria, have the power to appropriate the nitrogen of the air and secrete it in the soil where it becomes available as plant food for all crops. It is not good economy for the average farmer to buy nitrogen when by practicing a wise system of rotation it will be stored in the soil by the clover crop.
In southern Illinois clover will not grow successfully and it was only recently that the reason was discovered, as the soil there is acid and the clover bacteria cannot live in acid soil. The application of lime neutralizes this acid condition, permitting the clover bacteria to live and clover then grows luxuriantly, where otherwise it would not thrive at all.
All soils become acid from long cultivation. From what has preceded, it is apparent that the different soils of the state require different kinds of treatment. In the field work of the Experiment Station some striking results have been obtained, a few of which may prove interesting.
The Green Valley field in Tazewell county is on sandy soil, and is very deficient in nitrogen; where potassium was applied the yield of corn was 20 bushels per acre. Where phosphorus was applied it was 25 bushels, but where nitrogen was applied by legumes it was increased to 65 bushels per acre.
On the Bloomington field in McLane county, on the best type of corn soil in the state, where no treatment was given the yield of corn was 60 bush- els per acre. Nitrogen gave a yield of 60 bushels, potassium gave 56, while phosphorous gave a yield of 73 bushels of corn per acre.
On the Odin wheat field, in Egypt, where the plot had no treatment, it yielded at the rate of 7 bushels of wheat per acre, where nitrogen was ap- plied the yield was 9 bushels, but where phosphorus and nitrogen was applied the yield was 23 bushels.
At the Momence field in Kankakee county, situated on peaty swamp soil, where no treatment was given the-land, the yield was 7 bushels of corn to the acre, where nitrogen was applied the yield was 4 bushels, where phosphor- ous was applied the yield was 5 bushels, but where potassium was applied the yield was 73 bushels, indicating that potassium here is the limiting ele- ment.
The general plan followed by the state in the experiment fields is as fol- lows: The land is laid off in one-fifth acre plots, 2 rods wide and 16 rods long, with a border strip 8 feet wide between the plots, so that the application of fertilizers may not affect adjoining plots.
The rotation to be followed, on the recently established experiment field in Union Grove township consists of two years of corn, one of oats and one of
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clover. In addition the different plots receive local applications as indicated in the following plan :
L-lime, Le-legume, Mur-manure, P-phosphorous, K-potassium, N-nitrogen. The plots marked O are check plots and receive no other treat- inent except that of the general rotation. The plots marked Le have cow peas or clover sown in the corn at the time of the last cultivation.
O No treatment
L. Le
L. Mur
L. Le. Mur
L. P. K L. Le. P. K L. Mur. P. K L. Le. Mur. P. K 0 0 L. P . L. Le. P L. Mur. P L. Le. Mur. P. 0
Le Le. P Le. P. K Le. N. P. K
0
The ideal or standard fertile soil as adopted by the U. S. Bureau of soils, would consist of a soil in which the first 7 inches of the surface, per acre contains,
5600 pounds of nitrogen,
2000 pounds of phosphorus 6600 pounds of potassium
An analysis of the rolling land, common in the western part of the county, and the type of soil upon which the Union Grove field is situated shows that in the first 7 inches per acre there are,
2170 pounds of nitrogen,
960 pounds of phosphorus,
35640 pounds of potassium,
indicating a soil very deficient in nitrogen and phosphorus, but wonderfully rich in potassium. The deficiency in nitrogen should be supplied from the air, through the growing of legumes, and the phosphorus by direct applica- tion in the form of ground rock phosphate or bone meal. All acid and com- plete fertilizers should be avoided.
The importance of the study of soil fertility is hard to estimate. We claim to be patriotic, and indeed during the dark days of the Rebellion, the loyal people of Whiteside county rallied to the standard of patriotism and freely gave of their life's blood, that the nation of the people, by the people and for the people might not perish from the face of the earth. All of this sacrifice that future generations might inherit an unimpaired government.
An impaired government is a condition to be truly deplored, but an im- poverished soil is a greater calamity, for it means life and living itself. An impaired government can be righted, far easier than an impoverished soil can be restored. We but hold the land for a short time in trust, and have no more right to bequeath to coming generations an impoverished soil than we have an impaired government.
Battlefields and great crises are not necessary to develop patriotism. Love
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
of country can certainly be instilled by proper study of our flocks and fields, our rocks and rills, our woods and templed hills.
For years the soil has responded so generously to the tillage of the farmer, that he has given but little heed to the future supply of plant food. He has ever removed more from the soil than he has returned. He has drawn large drafts from the bank of soil fertility and failed to keep his credit good.
The great problem of the age is to work out a system of agriculture which shall be both profitable and permanent. If this be done it will be the first time in all history. If it be not done-history will surely repcat itself in Illinois.
FULTON.
In the shade of thy palms, By the shores of thy sea, On the hills of thy beauty, My heart is with thee .- Whittier.
Several of the towns in Whiteside have pretty situations, but only two have the majestic Mississippi, with its broad and sparkling flood pouring to the gulf.
For men may come, and men may go, But I go on forever.
Like Albany, Fulton has the hills back from the river, on which are numer- ous residences. A glorious outlook up and down the stream, with Lyons and Clinton on the distant shore. Time works wonderful changes. Trade seeks new channels. Certain lines of business disappear. Fulton, like Albany, had her time of excitement and traffic. Once a great center of lumber manu- facture, now not a mill or a board. Rafts were floated down the river, and the hum of the saws made music night and day. It is one of Wendell Phillips' Lost Arts. Various manufactures were in successful operation. Grain and produce were shipped. Fulton was a terminus, a center of activity, and one industry attracted another until the young city was a hive of commercial operation. As one rambles along the river bank today, it is difficult to believe that this quiet spot was once a scene of so much early rush.
THE DEMENT HOUSE.
As you walk along the main street, the first object to catch the eye is the tall, square block, known as the Dement building. It is built of stone, another Coliseum. That in Rome represents imperial power, this in Fulton is a sad relic of disappointed hopes. For fifty years the familiar landmark of the town. Charles Dement, brother of John in Dixon, owning considerable property and conceiving the idea that Fulton was to be one of the prosperous cities of the west, decided to ercct a hotel that would not only afford generous accommodation for the throng of travelers, but be an exhibition of public spirit, and an ornament to the town. It was erccted in 1855. The building is nearly 100 feet square, with five stories including basement. No cost was
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
spared in its construction and equipment. The finest of furniture. It was kept in style, but only a short time sufficed to show that the enterprise was in advance of the place and the times, and it was closed. One social event occurred in the hostelry in 1858 which has not been recorded. The White- side County Teachers' Institute had a weck's session that autumn, and the citizens invited them to a banquet which was served in the dining room. Per- haps the last time, the voice of revelry echoed in those now desolate walls. There were toasts and speeches. Among the actors was Jas. H. Blodgett, afterwards captain in the Civil War.
AS A COLLEGE.
As it seemed too good a building to stand idle, various schools have been organized, flourished awhile, and then declined. Col. D. S. Covert opened . a military academy in 1861, and conducted it for five years with success. The art of war was in demand, and young men sought proper drill. The govern- ment furnished muskets and accoutrements, and a band discoursed music at dress parade. In 1866 the Illinois Soldiers' College was organized to enable disabled soldiers of Illinois regiments to continue their education. Col. Le- ander H. Potter was president, and remained in charge until 1873, when he resigned, and at a meeting of the stockholders, the name was changed to Northern Illinois College. Under this name, Rev. W. D. F. Lummis became president with a faculty for different branches. In the fall of 1875, Mr. Lummis resigned, and Rev. J. W. Hubbard was placed at the head, remaining until 1875 when he, too, following the example of his illustrious predecessors, gave up command. Next came Prof. Allen A. Griffith, formerly of Batavia Institution, author of an Elocution, and for many years well known as a reader or reciter throughout the northern part of the state. While in charge, Mr. Griffith occasionally appeared at institutes to give readings and advertise his school. On one occasion at a teachers' gathering at Emerson. After Griffith gave up control, other changes succeeded, until in 1879 A. M. Hansen, A. M., LL.D., the present head assumed management of the concern. According to the catalog before us, 1906-1907, he is assisted by a strong faculty for the various departments. L. B. Beers, science and mathematics ; C. R. Hansen, literature and commercial law; D. L. Hamilton, commercial course; J. D. Rishell, ancient languages; F. H. Long, mechanical drawing and common branches; Mrs. Hansen, oil painting; Adolph Wiese, music. A gymnasium, regular drill, literary societies. Expenses moderate, board and tuition for the school year being $300. Among the students enrolled at the college in the various years of its existence are some who rose to position. Major General McArthur, John Stowell, professor in Leland Stanford University, J. L. Sulli- van, assistant superintendent C. & N. W. Railway, Oscar L. Triggs, late pro- fessor in University of Chicago. The buildings are surrounded by a spacious campus, giving the boys plenty of playgound.
THE CEMETERIES. The grave is heaven's golden gate, And rich and poor around it wait .- Blake.
.
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
As you walk north from the college, the street begins to climb the hill, and soon reaches the Catholic cemetery. Numerous handsome tombs, the names telling the nationality. Eagan, O'Neill, Keegan, Doyle, Riordan, Flan- igan, Collins, Foley, Ryan. On Mary Hurley's stone the lines :
We have lost our darling mother, She has bid us all adieu.
Here and there a soldier's grave. Mclaughlin, Co. C, 3rd N. Y., died 1880, age, 33; Hugh Burt, 1906 at 63. Hansen in 1890 at 49. Andrew Eagan in 1891 at 49, Co. A, 4th U. S. Artillery. Around the graves are numerous ever- greens, chiefly Norway spruce.
Several rods southeast in a grove of oak is the Protestant cemetery. Here we read the names of the men and women who moved about Fulton and our county a generation ago, and with whom we often held sweet converse. James McCoy, 1811-1891. Elizabeth McCoy, 1819-1892, surviving her husband just a year. Judge McCoy, Virginia, was a resident of Fulton from 1839, and filled many offices of trust, Judge, presidential elector, delegate to the con- stitutional convention of 1869. A genial man, always receiving his friends with a smile. Jesse Johnson, 1876, aged 78, a native of Troy, N. Y., who came in 1838, living on his farm five miles east, and in 1853 making his home in Fulton. Several children. Two of his sons well known lawyers, Charles J., deceased, and Caleb C., member of the Sterling bar. Some Hol- land names, Dirk Buis, Deweerot, vroow van Jan Deweerot. Several old citi- zens. Lyman Blake, 1809-1893. Orrin Cowles, 1806-1887. Elisha Roberts, 1813-1898. A. M. Dutcher, 1879, aged 71. John Phelps, 1853, aged 72. Bradstreet Robinson, 1812-1889. On the tomb of John Kolk:
So fades the lovely blooming flower, Frail, smiling solace of an hour.
Another familiar name. Henry C. Fellows, 1813-1899. He was from New York, coming in 1837, was one of the original proprietors of Fulton, filled. responsible positions, deputy sheriff, justice of the peace, supervisor, alderman. A man of noble public spirit. A special plot is devoted to the heroes of the war, who lie in rows side by side. Wm. Cole, Co. H, 8th N. Y. H. A. George Baxter, Co. A, 34th Ill. Martin Ohler, 39th Ohio Inf. Franklin Marcellus, 1862, wounded at Perryville. Wm. Radigan, Co. B, 51st N. Y. Inf. W. W. Erhardt, Co. E, 46th Ill. Alva Henson, Co. I, 75th Ill. R. B. Mycrs, Co. F, 93rd Ill. Inf. A retired spot, completely hidden in summer by the over arching trees. The association was formed in 1874 by Charles N. Wheeler, Win. J. McCoy, Wm. C. Snyder, John M. Fay, and F. E. Marcellus. There was an old graveyard, but the association added five acres, and improved the grounds.
SOME OLD STEAMBOATS.
The railroads have spoiled the romance of the river. They cross it, and even run parallel tracks on cach side, so that "Othello's occupation's gone." The stately steamers moving in majesty with the current, the excitement at
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
the landing, the coming of passengers, the unloading of freight, the racing of rival boats, the social diversions and acquaintances of a long trip, the lively dining table, the musie and hop at night, are gone forever.
During the season the Diamond Jo line run four boats, St. Paul, Dubuque, Sidney, Quiney, between St. Paul and St. Louis. The round trip takes a week, and one of the boats ealls every other day. Bennett, American Express agent at Lyons, formerly on the river, received as a present an album with photographs of thirty river steamers that belong to the glorious past. Among them are the Henderson, the Alex Mitehell, Belle of LaCross, Clinton, War Eagle, Natehez, Robert E. Lee, Sueker State, Phil Sheridan, Minneapolis, Gardie Eastman, Everett, Silver Wave, J. W. Van Sant, Pilot, Verne Swain, Jo Long, Jennie Gilchrist, the ill-fated steamer which went down at Daven- port in 1882, Keokuk, Gem City, Quincy, and many others.
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