USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside County, Illinois, from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. I > Part 21
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 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69
Whatever may be the judgment pro or con upon the efforts and action of Fulton and the county to retain the Order and resisting its transfer, to the honor, be it said, of Whiteside county, it has never sent an organized mob into an adjoining county to obtain by force what it coveted.
OLDEST COUPLE IN FULTON. 1
At the foot of the hill south of the public school is the humble cottage of Milo Jones and wife. He was born in 1818 ncar Middlebury, Vt., and she in 1820. When the writer entered the kitchen, the old lady was in a chair by his side, sewing a button on his coat. In earlier years lie farmed, and then opened a blacksmith shop in Fulton where he has lived for forty years. Last summer he cultivated his garden, raising potatoes enough for his use, and selling $18 worth of sweet corn. This winter he has split two cords of maple wood. From his fourteen chickens he gets six to eight eggs a day. She does her housework. A record hard to beat. Two such aged people keeping house alonc.
SOME EARLY SETTLERS.
John Baker, a sort of Daniel Boone, made his claim in 1835 to the land where Fulton stands. His cabin had only three rooms, but he was always ready to entertain travelers, giving them plenty to eat, and when beds were exhausted, the guests would encamp about a flaming fire in the woods. He died in 1863 at 63. Another Baker, John W., from Maryland also, came in 1836, and assisted in the primitive hospitality, to strangers. A large delega- tion appeared in 1837, and many familiar names will be noticed. James McCoy, Henry C. Fellows, Daniel Recd, Lyman Blake, Jesse Johnson, Hum- phreys, Booth, Briggs, Baker, Ross, Redfern. In 1838 were Edward Church, Jacobs, Clark, Rev. John Prentiss. ~ In 1839 Hollis Chenery, Augustin Phelps, Colin, Fowler, Grant. Miss Elizabeth Skinner was the first of the emigrants to die in 1837. The simplest of funerals. A coffin made from a wagon box, and the wagon drawn by a yoke of oxen. The grave was made on a bluff, and the spot was doubtless used for interment until the present cemetery was laid out. In 1839 a petition against license to retail ardent spirits in Fulton precinct was presented to the county commissioners, signed by Daniel Reed, Hollis Chencry, A. Phelps, John K. Prentiss, Henry Bond,
*180
HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
H. F. Rice, and ten others. The petition was not favorably received by the dignitaries. Pioneer whiskey was too popular.
TWO RETIRED SCHOLARS.
It will hardly do to put Dr. C. A. Griswold on the retired list, as he still responds to ealls from patients, and shows as much activity in mind and body at 78 as younger men. He believes with O. W. Holmes that it is better to be seventy years young than forty years old. In his spacious second story rooms he spends most of his time, surrounded by his books and magazines, and keeping in touch with the best thought of the day. He is another Weir Mitchell who does not believe that a profession should prevent a man from ranging over the wide fields of the world's best thought. He has been editor, and when the spirit moves, sends occasional articles to the press.
Another gentleman, who has seen much service in various fields, receives his friends in the parlor of his neat residence among the trees on one of Fulton's beautiful slopes. George C. Loomis was widely known throughout the county thirty years ago when he was superintendent of schools. Time has been kind, and except the silver hair and mustache, little to indicate the advance of age. He fills the familiar couplet, gentleman and scholar. The writer spent a delightful hour in reviewing the men and events that had a common interest in the days gone by.
When life was like a story, Holding neither sob nor sigh, In the olden, golden glory, Of the days gone by.
For a small library of 2,000 volumes, Fulton certainly has a noble col- lection of the best authors in every department, history, fiction, poctry, scienee, general literature. Encyclopedias and standard books of reference. Mary Mitchell is librarian. Regular additions are made yearly from the choice publications of the season. The library is under the common direction of a board of nine citizens, of whom Dr. Griswold is the leading spirit, and is given the privilege of selecting the books.
The city is lighted by an electric plant installed twelve years ago. The light is used in all the new residences, and many of the old, and in all the business houses.
Fulton is deeply interested in the scheme in progress to secure the drain- age of the Cattail slough, which will benefit ten thousand acres of land of inexhaustible fertility, but now impossible of cultivation on account of fre- quent overflow. Rich eorn ground producing cighty bushels to the acre. One crop would pay the cost of the improvement. As the Journal declares in a recent issue:
"The eitizens of Fulton are highly in favor of this scheme of drainage. We are cut off on the west by the river, while the land adjoining on thic east, northeast anl southeast has largely been waste for years. Any plan that will bring about the redemption of such a vast territory adjoining our city should meet with the hearty approval of every enterprising citizen."
181
HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
The Fulton Bank is the leading financial institution with a capital of $50,000, and deposits in August, 1907, of $386,736. It began as a private bank in 1876. Gustav Gradert is president, and M. W. Ingwersen, cashier.
THE FERRY.
Before the bridges that rise in graceful arches over the flood, were the boats to carry passengers from shore to shore. . The first between Fulton and Lyons was a skiff. In 1838 John Baker, Dr. Reed, M. W. Jenks, A. and J. Humphreys, secured a license to run a flatboat ferry. In 1844 Augustin Phelps had control, and used horse power. W. H. Knight in 1850 introduced steam, and the boat was called "The Sailor." In 1840 the prices were: 25 cents for footmen, two-wheel carriage $1, horse and wagon same, cattle 25 cents per head. A ferry for a time between Fulton and Clinton. Since the new wagon bridge, little demand for the ferry. One now runs, however, every season. The Nina Dousman leaves Lyons every morning, except Sun- day morning, at six o'clock, making regular trips from that hour until eight o'clock p. m.
FULTON CITY LODGE, NO. 189, A. F. & A. M.
In the Masonic Directory before us for 1907 J. M. Fay, jr., is W. M. and J. M. Eaton, secretary, with 69 members on the register. Fulton Chapter, No. 108, R. A. M., charter dated Oct. 4, 1867, has John Wolters, H. P., and G. H. Thompson, secretary, with 35 members ou the register. Merton Chapter, No. 356, O. E. S., charter dated Oct. 15, 1896, has Miss Marie Lorensen, worthy matron; Miss Effie M. Carpenter, secretary, and Mrs. Lutie Green Lines, organist, with 90 members on the register.
Á NOBLE LANDMARK. I stood in Venice, on the Bridge of Sighs; A palace and a prison on each hand .- Byron.
There is London Bridge, Brooklyn Bridge, and the splendid bridge over the Mississippi. Its four enormous and graceful arches are seen far up and down the stream. It is casily the glory of the landscape. The following concise description of the structure in its origin and completion is from the pen of Dr. C. A. Griswold, veteran, scholar, physician, and cssayist :
The Lyons and Fulton Steel Highway Bridge is the property of the Lyons and Fulton Bridge Co., a corporation organized under the laws of the state of Iowa.
The erection of a permanent highway bridge spanning the Mississippi river at Fulton-long the dream of the residents upon its shores-for an open transit at all seasons, engaged the active attention of the enterprising and progressive citizens of the two cities early in the year 1889. After several preliminary and enthusiastic meetings and agitation of the subject through the local press and special contributions urging the project, on March 22 a committee was appointed to draft articles of incorporation, which were adopted by the incorporators on the 29th, a body of influential business men and prominent citizens of Fulton and Lyons. At this meeting the franchise
182
HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
or charter granted by congress permitting the location and construction of a high bridge across the Mississippi river between the cities of Lyons, Ia., and Fulton, Ill., was accepted. Feb. 4, 1890, books were ordered opened, and subscriptions to the capital stock solicited. Prior to the soliciting of stock, the city of Lyons by a large majority had voted a tax of five per cent upon its assessed valuation of property in aid of its construction, one per cent to be paid annually for five years. On July 9th the stockholders elected a board of directors and elected officers for the corporation. During the month of July correspondence was opened with several bridge companies for plans, and proposals for construction, and on the 21st awarded the contract for building the entire bridge to the Chicago Bridge and Iron Co., Mr. Horace L. Horton, the president and designer of the plans, being present.
In less than nine months from the driving of the first pile, the graceful and imposing structure spanned the river 2,817 feet in length with its approaches, built with three spans 330 feet each, one 362 feet, and one deck span 200 feet, the channel span 55 feet above the highest stage of water known. The cost of construction $100,000. Placed at one of the most pic- turesque points on the river; from its deek span is presented a lengthy expanse of the river, dotted with its numerous islands and water courses, and an ex- tended landscape-a rare touch of nature-affording a charming scenic view of the mingling of water scenery and landscape.
The bridge was opened to the public July 4, 1891-a dual Independence Day, "the day we celebrate" and the completion of the bridge, in a public celebration at Lyons, with the usual custom, thousands crossing the bridge on foot and in carriages. The late Hon. Walter I. Hayes, of Clinton, who as congressman was influential in procuring the charter, and the Hon. Robert G. Cousins, of Iowa, were the orators of the day.
VARIOUS EVENTS.
Fulton was organized as a village in 1855, and the first trustees were Henry C. Fellows, W. C. Snyder, Dr. A. W. Benton. In 1859 it became a city under special charter with James McCoy, mayor, and aldermen, Leander Smith, David E. Dodge, Lyman Blake, Chas. A. Chace.
The first building in the city limits was in 1837, and although intended for a store, was used the first summer as bachelors' hall by McCoy, Fellows, and other unmarried men in the new settlement.
The first store was opened by John W. Baker and Moses Barlow in 1837, and the first frame building was erected by John W. Baker in 1838.
Robert Booth built the first hotel of logs and clay in very rough style, and was a popular landlord with boarders and travelers for his good table and cordial reception.
Another store with a general assortment of goods was opened in 1839 by Chenery and Phelps. They dealt largely in grain, pork, and produce, and their liberal prices attracted a wide trade.
The first brick building was erected in 1847, and stood for many years. The third brick was erected by McCoy and Phelps for a printing office.
The first mail from Dixon to Fulton was carried by Ezekiel Kilgour
183
HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
over the Sterling and Morrison road. From Dixon to Sterling by ox team, Sterling to Fulton by horse.
The postoffice was established in 1838 under Van Buren, and pioneer John Baker was appointed postmaster. In May, 1861, Dr. Snyder was appointed by Lineoln, and held the plaee by sueeessive reappointments, estab- lishing the office in permanent quarters on Base street.
At the second town meeting held at the house of W. S. Wright, April 5, 1853, 26 votes were east.
The year 1839 was long remembered as the sick year, as hardly a person in the place eseaped the prevailing malady. Dr. Daniel Reed and wife were going day and night.
John Dyer, who came to Fulton in 1857, was one of her earliest patriots, enlisting at Washington in the Lineoln regiment, 1861, and afterwards in the 93d Illinois Volunteers.
The Fulton Journal has the honor of being the first paper published in Whiteside eounty and has been issued regularly for over fifty-four years. It was first published Feb. 25, 1854, as the Whiteside Investigator. Two publie- spirited eitizens, namely, Judge James McCoy and John Phelps, in the fall of 1853, purchased in St. Louis a press and type for the enterprise, but they were shipped so late in the scason that the steamboat was stopped at Roek Island by the iee. The outfit was brought in a sleigh across the country and installed in a briek two-story building still standing near the corner of River and Union streets.
The first editor was A. MeFadden, who got out a very ereditable paper. He bought the plant and soon after took G. A. Laighton as a partner and the name was changed to the Fulton City Advertiser. Laighton later beeame sole owner and was ably assisted in the editorial department by Dr. C. A. Gris- wold.
In the campaign of 1856 the Advertiser advocated the election of James Buchanan. Then Laighton sold out and G. I. Booth in 1859 was editor and publisher and the name was changed to the Weekly Courier and the paper beeame republican in politics, advoeating the election of Abraham Lincoln.
In 1863 Mr. Booth again changed the name and this paper has since been ealled The Fulton Journal. Three years later his son beeame a partner and eondueted The Journal under the firm name of G. J. Booth & Son until 1872, when George Terwilliger, a ready writer, bought the Booths out, and in the fall of the same year sold a half interest to Dr. W. C. Snyder, who became business manager.
In March, 1876, Dr. Snyder bought Mr. Terwilliger's interest but retained him as editor. The same fall T. J. Pickett, Jr., leased the office of Dr. Snyder and soon after formed a partnership with I. C. Snyder and pur- ehased the paper.
In 1878, W. R. Cobb, a versatile scholar and gifted writer, bought Mr. Piekett out, and two years later Cobb went to Sterling and beeame associated with the Sterling Gazette Company and that firm purehased The Journal.
In April, 1881, Fred K. Bastian, who was local editor on the Gazette, was placed in charge of The Journal, and in August of the same year with his
184
HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
brother, A. W. Bastian, as partner bought the plant and business, and the politics of the paper was changed to democratic. In the fall of 1882 The Journal was made a semi-weekly and for over twenty-six years it has been issued twice a week without missing an issue.
In April, 1887, The Journal office was burned out, but the proprietors immediately purchased new presses and material and, not being able to secure suitable rooms, built the building on Cherry strect where the paper has since been published.
In 1892 A. W. Bastian sold his interest to Fred K., who conducted the paper until September, 1898, when A. W. Bastian became sole proprietor and editor, Fred K. selling out and retiring.
The Journal is now in its fifty-fifth volume and with largely increased circulation, a well equipped office, giving employment to eight persons, it ranks as one of the leading papers of the county, reflecting credit on the busi- ness ability and journalistic aptitude of the editor and proprietor.
MISSIONARIES OF WHITESIDE.
From Greenland's icy mountains, From India's coral strand, Where Afric's sunny fountains, Roll down their golden sand, From many an ancient river, From many a palmy plain,
They call us to deliver Their land from error's chain .- Reginald Heber. *
EDWARD P. SCOTT.
Perhaps our first missionary from this county was Edward Payson Scott, of blessed memory. He was the son of John M. Scott, who came from Vermont to Lyndon in the summer of 1838. Edward was graduated from Knox Col- lege, Galesburg, taught for a while in this county, and after a course of study at the Hamilton Theological Seminary, New York, was ordained as a min- ister in the Baptist church, and sent to Assam, India. At the end of six years; he returned on account of the failing health of his wife, but after a year's sojourn went back, and died in 1869 of cholera. Edward was a good singer, and while attending our institutes was a regular member of the choir to open the morning exercises.'
Dr. Henry C. Mabie tells a beautiful story of an experience in the carecr of Scott in Assam. Against the urgent advice of the British officers, Scott felt impelled to visit the Nagas, a wild hill-tribe, three days' journey from his station. He had just begun to study the language, and took with him a Naga teacher. When they approached a native village, they were commanded to halt by a band of fierce natives who threatened violence. The missionary stopped, drew out his violin, and began to sing in their own tongue, "Alas, and did my Savior bleed!" When he had finished the first verse, the war- riors' spears had been thrust into the ground. As lie sang on of the suffering,
.
185
HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
the forgiveness, the salvation of the Son of God, the wild men drew nearer, and when he finished, the chief cried out, "Sing us that again. We never heard the like of that before!" Scott's sister, Mary, was a girl of lovely spirit, and after years of devoted service as teacher, sleeps in the home cemetery at Lyndon.
Jesus shall reign where'er the sun, Does his successive journeys run.
GEORGE PAULL.
Morrison people will remember this noble young minister, who was pastor of the Presbyterian church there for a short time. It was about 1863. He had dark hair and complexion, of ordinary height, active movement, serious expres- sion. He sailed for Africa, but his usefulness was cut short by the fatal cli- mate, and he died at Corisco on the west coast. His life was published by the Presbyterian Board. A fragrant memory.
Asleep in Jesus! far from thee Thy kindred and their graves may be.
His sister was the wife of Rev. N. H. G. Fife, pastor of the Sterling Presby- terian church for sixteen years, from 1873, and the bereaved mother lived with her, all much beloved by a wide circle of friends.
JOHN M'KIM.
Nearly thirty years ago a young man was taking private lessons to prepare for college from Rev. J. E. Goodhue, then rector of Grace Episcopal church in Sterling. « After a course of theology at Nashotah, Wis., he was ordained, sent to a mission of the church in Japan, where he labored so efficiently that he was promoted to the highest distinction, and for a good while has been known as Bishop McKim. During his regular trips to this country to see his children at school, and attend the church conventions, Bishop McKim always visits Sterl- ing, endeared to him by early associations. At his last visit he preached in Grace church from the text, "And I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision." An agrecable man, a fine organizer, and he has accomplished an excel- lent work in the cherry land. Japan is yearly opening her doors wider to the influences of Christianity.
His kingdom spread from shore to shore, Till moons shall wax and wane no more.
In a letter which John wrote in May, 1880, soon after his arrival at Osaka, he says: "I study the language with a teacher every morning, and read morning and evening prayer in Japanese at the girls' school. They tell me I am doing very well with the language, but I don't think I shall be able to preach my first sermon for a year more. There is plenty of work to do, how- ever, without preaching. We can do much in the way of talking with people, and in training native young men for the ministry, but I don't think we shall ever be able to do much through our own preaching."
186
HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
MARY HIMES EBELING.
This lady was graduated at the Rock Falls high school in 1898, and most. of the time since her marriage has been engaged in the South Chih-li Mission, Tai Ming-Fu, Chih-li Province, North China. A budget of missionary docu- ments, postmarked Shanghai, received by her friend, Mrs. A. S. Goodell, gives a glimpse of the varied field before these earnest laborers. There are several thin sheets of greetings, indicating different phases of the work. "Picture what it is, if you can, to be in a heathen city, with heathenish sights and sounds and smells, twenty miles from the nearest one who can speak your own language. One day twenty church members came in, each needing personal instruction, bringing with them one hundred inquirers. Figure out how one of you in the homeland could do anything with such a crowd. On Sab- bath the power of the Spirit is very manifest in the meetings, as from one to six, crowds of women filled the chapel. The work in the missionary children's school has been going steadily on, and God has blessed teacher and pupils. We praise God, also, for the large measure of health and strength He has given us. Mrs. Ebeling now weighs more than she has ever weighed before. Pray ye the Lord of the harvest that he will send forth his own chosen ones into this vast harvest field. Faithfully yours in Jesus,
"MARIE HIMES EBELING, "W. W. CARL EBELING."
Accompanying the leaflets in English is a copy of "Gospel News," in Chinese, for circulation among the native church members. The characters, of course, are hieroglyphics to an American, and resemble healthy spider tracks. We have all seen them on tea chests. In a corner the contents are given in English, with such topics as On the way of salvation, On Jesus the sin-bearer, the Story of the Creation, On receiving the Lord Jesus, On a clean temple for the Holy Ghost.
The morning light is breaking, The darkness disappears.
EVELYN CORA MARSII.
She is the daughter of Rev. William Pinkney, a Wesleyan minister of English descent, and Annie Witmer, originally from Pennsylvania, who spent her girlhood in Whiteside county. Evelyn's education was received at Prince- ton high school, Bureau county, and at Wheaton, where she took a full course in the collegiate, art, and musical departments. When sixteen, she volun- teered for service in the foreign field, preferring Africa, but a call during her senior year came from the Methodist Episcopal church for the establishment of a graded school in Foochow, China. This was for the education of the children of missionaries, and of children resident in the fort. In September, . 1897, Miss Pinkney sailed for Foochow, and for three years labored faith- fully, carrying all grades of work from kindergarten to college. In 1900 she was married to Ben Herbert Marsh, B. S., a graduate of Northwestern Univer- sity, who was sent to Foochow to teach sciences in the Anglo-Chinese college, the largest Christian college in South China for the education of Chinese
187
HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
young men. Prof. Marsh died in 1904, and Mrs. Marsh with her two children returned to the homeland. But after a year's rest she erossed the Paeifie to renew her work. At the elose of the first year, however, her health giving away, doctors advised her return to Ameriea. With her two little daughters, Mrs. Marsh is now quietly residing in Sterling, near her parents, but cherishes the hope of entering in due time upon the work in which her heart is absorbed, and to which she desires to give her best energies.
Take my life, and let it be Consecrated, Lord, to thec!
REV. JOHN. K. REED
is the latest of our erusaders against the darkness of heathenism. He attended Empire school west of Sterling from 1866 to 1870, was graduated from Car- thage college, Illinois, studied theology at Wittenberg seminary, Springfield, Ohio, and after various pastorates, the last at Evanston, where he left a new ehureh as a memorial of his devotion, he offered his serviees to the board of the Lutheran church as a missionary to darkest Africa. At a farewell meeting in St. John's church, Sterling, whose membership contains many of luis early friends, after several addresses and a closing one by Mr. Reed, an offering was made for his benefit, and a Godspeed uttered for his journey. After another farewell reception in Third church, Baltimore, Mr. Reed sailed for Afriea in February, spending two weeks on the way in England, and arrived at Monrovia on the west coast, March 23, 1907. Muhlenberg mission, the seene of his labors, is in Liberia, not far inland, pleasantly situated, and well established. Here Rev. David Day gave his life to the work which Rev. Will Beek is now vigorously carrying forward. Besides schools and preaching at the station, trips are made to points in the interior. In several printed let- ters, John writes encouragingly of his progress, and of mueh enjoyment in the people and seenes of his tropieal world. Early in 1908, however, he was seized with severe siekness, and was obliged to return to America.
REV. BURTON ST. JOHN.
Burton St. John was born in Genesce township, Nov. 24, 1873. He was converted in childhood, and united with the Methodist church, at Hiekory Grove appointment, Coleta charge. With his parents he moved to Sterling in 1888. He attended Central school and graduated in 1893. Took the degree of A. B. at Northwestern University in 1898. In the school year of 1898-9 he was Traveling Secretary for the Student Volunteer Movement, and visited the colleges in the eentral western states, and Manitoba. In the fall of 1899 he began his divinity course at Drew Theological Seminary, Madison, N. J. In the fall of 1901 and winter of 1901-2 served as private secretary to John R. Mott, and with him visited Japan, China, Straits Settlement, Ceylon, and India, in the interests of International Y. M. C. A. Took his degree of B. D. at Drew in the spring of 1902. Ile was married July 9, 1902, to Miss Jo Barnes, of Duluth, Minn. Appointed missionary to North China, and sailed from San Franeiseo, in August, 1902, for Peking and later was appointed
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.