USA > Illinois > Woodford County > History of Woodford County : Giving a brief account of its settlement, organization, physical characteristics and progress > Part 4
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HISTORY OF WOODFORD COUNTY.
as these running through the northern states, and many a poor negro followed them to liberty. The existence of this station soon became known to the citizens of the county, but many did not seem to wish to interfere, and had little inclination to wrest the captive from the hands of his helpers and send him back to slavery. Some, how- ever, regarded them as law-breakers, and much preju- dice was stirred up, and at times excitement ran very high. I believe, however, that little or no violence was ever resorted to in Woodford County on this account.
Since 1856 the two prominent parties have been the Democratic and Republican. The Democrats have al- ways been in the majority, and have usually controlled the county offices. When the rebellion broke out in 1861, with but few exceptions, political questions were made of secondary importance, and our county was among the first to furnish troops for the preservation of the Union. From the best information it seems that, first and last, we furnished about fifteen hundred sol- diers to the Union armies, being fully one-tenth of the entire population. There was little or no public dis- turbancc among the people during the war, and I think it may be truthfully said that Woodford County bore her full share of the terrible burden with patience and cheerfulness.
During political campaigns immense open air meet- ings have been customary in our county, and our citi- zens are familiar with the oratory of Lincoln and Doug- las, and Trumbull, and Allen, and Yates, and Dickey, and Ingersoll, and scores of others prominent in the political world.
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HISTORY OF WOODFORD COUNTY.
About twenty years ago the American party had or- ganization and a good many adherents in many parts of the county, but I believe it does not exist as a separate organization at present ; although there are those who still advocate the principles and doctrines which it then advocated. Prohibition has figured to some extent of late years as a political issue in the county but has never succeeded in controlling elections to any extent. The Temperance party in 1869 seemed to possess more vigor and shape politically than since, not, perhaps, because our citizens are indifferent as regards the matter, but because the prominent political organizations have not been willing to regard temperance as a legitimate polit- ical issue. There was as early as 1851, at Metamora, a society known as "Division 33, Sons of Temperance, of the State of Illinois," with printed Constitution and By- laws and Rules of Order. About 1856 a large public meeting was held in the Christian church in Walnut Grove and strong resolutions against the liquor traffic were prepared and generally signed.
The Democrats and Republicans have been repre- sented for a number of years by party newspapers, the Democratic'located at Metamora, "The Woodford Senti- nel," and the Republican, 'the "Journal," at El Paso. In 1854 there was put forth, by C. McKinzie, a pros- pectus for the "Woodford County Times," to be devoted to news and politics. It was to be Democratic. I be- lieve this was the beginning of newspaper enterprises among us. Metamora long enjoyed the preeminence of being the only place of publication in the county. In the year 1865 the "El Paso Journal" was commenced,
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and in the year 1867 the "Eureka Journal." The news- papers of the county at present are the "Sentinel," Met- amora ; the "Journal," El Paso; the "Journal," Eureka, and the "Times," Minonk.
The early administration of justice, of course, partook somewhat of the irregularities and peculiarities charac- teristic of this art in all new countries Justice is a goddess who possesses wonderful powers of adaptation to circumstances, and makes her abode with the rude backwoodsmen as contentedly as with the learned and wealthy. Among our fathers the best facilities for pun- ishing crime were not always afforded, and sometimes it happened in new countries that the friends of law and order are in the minority. It so happened in some por- tions of Illinois. Probably the most impudent defiers of the law, and those who most provoked the wrath of the settlers, were horse thieves. These fellows occa- sionally coupled with their regular vocation, by way of variety, burglary and highway robbery. There existed, no doubt, throughout the west a numerous and organ- ized band of these desperate villains. They seem to have got the start of the law, and sometimes secured the election of members of the gang to local offices. To counteract these dangers the early settlers united in an organization known as the "Regulators." These often made short and unceremonious work of horse thieves and robbers. Our county suffered considerably from these depredators, but our citizens never found the op- position to law strong enough to resort to lynch law.
Among the early settlers legal knowledge and advice was not always attainable, but the juctices and officers
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were usually men of great practical sense, and un- doubted integrity. Their methods of getting at truth and fairness were sometimes excentric and original, but it is probable that equal and exact justice was done as often as by our present more refined, technical and in- volved processes. Lawyers were scarce, and suits were sometimes disposed of in a way which might provoke a professional smile, but somehow it all averaged well, and the majesty of the law was vindicated and main-, tained. Even after the organization of the county, and the circuit court brought in such men as Lincoln, S. T. Logan and Davis, there was a free and easy way about courts and lawyers which would be refreshing if it could be revived at present. While Judge Treat was presiding at Versailles he would frequently summon the lawyers from their contests with the settlers in jumping and horse-shoe pitching to attend to their busi- ness indoors. The officer would sometimes find Lin- coln at these sports, with coat off and full of excitement, when needed in court. In those days the court room was the scene of the utmost good humor and hilarity. Jokes and anecdotes were current, and attending court, in the days of my boyhood, was better than a circus. The same spirit has not always characterized our legal proceedings, and I have witnessed in cur county some disgusting and humiliating spectacles of bullying, brow-beating and abuse. It is believed, however, that this is a thing of the past, and that our bar is at pres- ent characterized by a higher tone. Without attempt- ing to blame any one in particular, it is well for the fraternity to see to it that coarseness and profanity
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shall never again become so prevalent as formerly.
For a long time after the removal of the county seat nearly the whole bar resided at Metamora, but lawyers are found at present in all parts of the county. The first licensed attorney was John B. Holland, who went to California in 1849, and died there. Prominent among those who have first and last expounded the law in our midst, and taught our people the eternal principles of justice, are S. P. Shope, Welcome P. Brown, C. H. Chitty, John Clark, R. T. Cassell. A. E. Stevenson, Briggs and Meek, E. D. Davidson, Harper and Cassell and a lot of younger men whose names will probably figure in his- tory by and by.
But it is time now that we should turn our attention to another important class of men, the need of which is felt in all communities, whether barbarous or civilized- the medical fraternity. Communities feel the need of and appreciate the doctor long before the lawyer, the pedagogue or even the preacher. Among rude people the "Medicine Man" shares the honor with the Chief, and the dignity and authority of both offices are often blended in the same individual; while among civilized and polished communities there is no more useful or respected man than the competent and conscientious physician.
The prevalent diseases among the early settlers were remittent, or intermittent, fevers in the late summer and fall, and pneumonia in the winter. Against the first there seemed to be no adequate means of defense. The immense quantity of vegetation exposed to the heat and moisture as the summer advanced produced miasma
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in such quantities that no locality escaped. It would sometime happen that not a single family in a settle- ment would be free from malarial affections, and often whole families would be stricken down with ague, and no one able to care for the others. In this condition they would be cared for by the neighbors, and many acts of kindness and self-sacrifice thus called out are remembered by the old settlers with lively pleasure. If the present generation has wherein to boast over the last, it is not in the matter of hospitality or good Sa- maritanism.
At first the settlers were compelled to depend upon their own knowledge and resources in combatting dis- ease. Now and then a man would couple with his farming the healing art, and some of these, by observa- tion and experience, acquired a considerable degree of skill, and were usually regarded as oracles by the neighbors. Sometimes this office would be assumed by some old lady, who, combining a little experience, good sense and superstition with a deal of good nursing and encouragement, often succeeded marvelously. Inas- much as these practitioners usually gave their services for nothing, and enjoyed the confidence of the people, the early physicians found it difficult to get a foothold. There was another fact, however, which made it hard for the first regular practitioners. The people of the county had largely imbibed the doctrine of Dr. Samuel Thomson, and they looked with much suspicion and prejudice upon these " Old School " or " Calomel " doc- tors. Dr. Thomson taught that since minerals were de- rived from the depths of the earth, their use would drag
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the patient down into the grave; but that vegetable medicines would raise the body up, inasmuch as it is the nature of vegetables to spring up from the ground. Dis- ease was attacked by means of such weapons as lobelia' cayenne pepper, coffee, number-six, steaming and sweat- ing. Those fellows who gave calomel and let blood and drew blisters were regarded with some distrust if not aversion.
It was, perhaps, as well when each family had to keep its own medicines and often to administer them by guess, that the nostrums were of such character, instead of more potent drugs, which might have done infinitely more harm. But so deeply do prejudices relative to the healing. art take hold of people that they are with difficulty overcome. I think some of the old settlers would almost as soon have died according to Thomsoni- anism as to have recovered under the ministration of calomel, etc. Things are changed now, and lobelia no longer claims authority to set up its rule in every disordered stomach, and will no longer cure all mala- dies. But to return to the doctors.
The first regular physician among us was Dr. Hazzard, who settled near Germantown in 1836. After eleven years of usefulness he was thrown from his buggy and killed. Dr. Wm. C. Anthony, another regularly edu- cated physician, located at Bowling Green in 1837, but left soon after the county was organized. "Medicine men " of this sort did not accumulate very rapidly, and the next one did not put in an appearance until 1846. At that date Dr. J. S. Whitmire, then a young man, took up his abode at Metamora, and for more than thirty
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HISTORY OF WOODFORD COUNTY.
years has waged a successful and unrelenting warfare against the diseases which beset our frail tabernacles, in all parts of the county. A little more than a year afterward came Dr. R. B. M. Wilson, but he soon re- moved to Washington, Tazewell county, where he has since resided. Although not a resident of our county he, as well as Dr. G. P. Wood, was a frequent visitor at the households of our early settlers. Among those who have combatted the ills to which flesh is heir, may be found the name of A. Reynolds, who pioneered the way against Thomsonianism about Bowling Green, begin- ning his campaign in 1848. Dr. J. G. Zeller was one of the first physicians in the western part of the county, where he is still in successful practice. There were some physicians of the eclectic school among us, some years ago, who practiced with considerable success. Among these were Richard Bard, of Versailles, and Drs. Springgate and Tandy, of Eureka. The eclectics are still represented by Dr. Maloney, of Washburn, and Dr. J. M. John, of Roanoke.
In 1870 was organized the Woodford County Medical Society, which holds frequent sessions for the advance- ment of medical science, and the discussion of questions connected with the profession. In this association no one is admitted to membership except those who have received a diploma from some medical institution au- thorized to confer degrees. The present membership is as follows : Drs. Whitmire and Kinnear, Metamora ; Cole and Lamme, El Paso; Crawford, Lichtenberger and Rosenberg, Eureka; Blanchard, Minonk; Morgan and Wilkinson, Roanoke; Slemmons, Benson; Dar-
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ling, Low Point ; Garrett, Newkirk and Tweddale, Washburn ; Dr. Gill. Prominent among the fraternity is Dr. Wilcox, of Minonk, who has found opportunity to engage to some extent in politics, with success ; and Dr Z. H. Whitmire, who was for many years in partner- ship with his brother, at Metamora.
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CHAPTER VII.
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EDUCATIONAL AND RELIGIOUS MATTERS.
Great progress has been made by us in educational matters. The first school of which I can find any trace was kept in a little log hut near where E. B. Myers af- terward settled. It was in the year 1832. Not long afterwards Joshua Woosley taught near the head of the grove. About the same time, away over in White Oak, on the place now owned by Winton Carlock, old Abner Peeler began the training of the backwoods youth. A little later still, down in the Uncle Jimmy Harlan neigh- borhood, intellectual culture was attempted, and this time by a lady. Mary Ann Brown heads the list of educators of Montgomery township. Somewhere about 1835 the settlers on Ten Mile, in the western part, erected a school house, and George Hopkins undertook the arduous task of instilling through eye and ear and spine the rudiments of learning. This was one of the first school houses, and lest our youngsters should get a wrong notion of it I will attempt a description of the primitive school house. It was nearly square and built of logs. For light a log was left out of one side. The opening was sometimes converted into a " window " by being filled with greased paper for glass Again it would be filled by a broad board, which being let down upon pegs upon the inside, answered for writing
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desk. Writing could only be attended to when the window was open, and if it was cold or windy there must have been some attendant inconvenience. At one end of the room was a fireplace which had a lively, cheerful air in winter, when it was put to its best to keep out the cold, but had a dreary, vacant goneness about it in summer. Of all the sad, fancy-smothering, regret- ful things an old-fashioned, gaping fireplace, with its black, sooty jambs and funereal ashes and idle dog-irons is the chief. Housewives used to fill them up with boughs of trees and asparagus bushes, or something of that sort, before screens were thought of. But nobody attempted to relieve the desolation of the school house fireplace. Like a ruin in the wilderness or a carcass upon the plain it was left to its lonesomeness. A stove looks like something, even when not in use, but an un- used fireplace is a great yawning emptiness. But we were talking about the old time school houses. The benches consisted of a rough slab with four rude pins, and required no other tools in their construction than an ax and big auger. Maps, charts, globes and black- boards were unknown, and the searchers "after knowl- edge had few helps in their tasks ; nor even many com- forts. If one of our modern teachers should be thrust into such surroundings with his work he would be apt to abandon the field in utter defeat. And yet the pio- neers in education wrought patiently and successfully through all these disadvantages and laid well the foun- dation of learning and intelligence in our midst.
The first school about Spring Bay was kept in the house of Benjamin Williams, by a man named Ellmore,
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HISTORY OF WOODFORD COUNTY.
and the first school in Partridge was taught by Mary. Curry. A sort of itinerant school was taught at Low Point, in 1837, by Miss Love Morse. It was kept one week at the house of James Owen and the next at the house of Parker Morse. Miss Morse kept a schedule of attendance at the school, and the expenses were paid out of the state treasury, according to the record. This was probably the first free school ever taught in northern Illinois.
There were many trials and difficulties in the way of the early pedagogue which the modern one does not en- counter. One of these was the necessity of boarding around. Hash was more abundant than money, and when the settler subscribed for a scholar, scholar and a half, or two scholars, or any other number, he stipu- lated to pay part of the price by boarding the "ma'am" or "master." By a curious law this would throw the teacher most of the time into the most unpleasant quar- ters. If a family was large, the same cause which would furnish many pupils and require the pedagogue to board longer with the family would also leave little room for his accommodation. By this plan, however, the teacher became familiar with all sorts of people, accommodations, fare, houses and all degrees of clean- liness, and what he lost in comfort and convenience he gathered up in experience. He had good opportunity to acquire that facility of adaptation to circumstan- ces-the becoming all things to all men-which contrib- ute so largely to success in any calling ; and the chances to study all species of the genus homo in their native haunts was most excellent. Another trial was the in-
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subordination of the pupils. Muscle was a thing much relied on in those early days, and the successful teacher must be able to thrash the biggest boy in school, or his authority was constantly in danger. Pluck and gener- alship were necessary qualities. Holidays were not granted, as now, by legal enactment, nor upon formal petition, but by forcible expulsion of the master from the school house. They were days of time-honored mutiny and legitimate rebellion, which threatened to extend to all the other days of the calendar. All honor to the heroes who maintained their ground on these doubtful battle-fields. Among these honored ones of the long ago will be found the names of Noel Meek, Sr., E. D. Perrin, the wonderful scribe, A. B. Cram, Holcomb Robbins and many others; but probably he who has battled longest and most successfully in the cause of education in Woodford County is A. S. Fisher, who has persistently worked in this field for nearly thirty years.
When we turn from the state of affairs described above to contemplate the present condition of educa- tional matters in our midst, it seems almost incredible that all this change should have been wrought in a sin- gle generation. But so it is. In almost every village and rural district we find the neat and painted school house, and the trained teacher, who is beginning al- ready to regard his work as a profession. He takes some educational periodical, attends institutes and ap- preciates the necessity of study and experiment in him- self. Our large towns have their graded schools and tasteful and imposing structures. Great credit is due especially to El Paso and Metamora for the excellent
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buildings and facilities which they have provided for the public schools. We commend their example to other places. This advice will not be received, of course, by those who regard the money, paid in school taxes, almost thrown away ; but will not be lost upon that better class who think mental training one of the necessaries of life, and cheap at whatever cost of mere dollars. Although so much has been done in the last generation in the way of public education, we have not yet arrived at the quitting place, and there is room for as much to be done in the next generation. Too many of our teachers still regard their work as simply a tem- porary employment, and not a profession to be held fast for life. Men cannot achieve success with this idea in law, medicine, commerce or agriculture, nor can they in teaching. Institutes should meet with more encour- agement and awaken more interest, not specially on the part of the public authorities, but on the part of the teachers themselves and the people generally. They are not only essential to the development of the best ideas and methods relative to the work of teaching, but are the best promoters of that fellowship which the French call esprit de corps, so necessary to the success of any army, whether of soldiers, teachers or Christians. We need public libraries and museums, not hidden away in colleges and seminaries where they only benefit the stu- dent, but they should be thrown in the way of the public and maintained at public expense.
With respect to the higher collegiate education Woodford County has no mean record, and can boast of as honest an effort in this direction as any county in
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the state. Much remains to be done, however, in this behalf. Many persons not only fail to sustain and en- courage the higher culture, but utterly fail to under- stand what it is. There is a cheap imitation of gentility in dress and manner which passes for the genuine arti- cle among certain sorts of people, but is ridiculous and disgusting to persons of real refinement. This counter- feit gentility is found as often among the rich as the poor, and is as plainly visible under silk and broad- cloth as homespun. In like manner there is a cheap imitation of higher education, or collegiate culture. It is cheap because it is secured at little outlay of time or labor, and is worth just about as much as it costs. There is a sort of shallow normalism which insists . that two or three years are about all that can be profita- bly given to culture, in the period of youth. There are many so called "normal schools" in the land which pro- fess to do for a young man, in two or three years, what our colleges cannot do in less than five or six. This is sheer pretense and deception, and its effects are being seen in the weak and shallow mentality of many of our "educated" men. But Woodford County has done some- thing for that patient and thorough development of the intellectual and moral faculties which deserves the name of higher education. There are many who recognize youth as a period of growth in intellectual and moral faculties, and that cultivation ought to correspond with the whole period of growth. A farmer might as well attempt to cultivate his corn by working it three days, as the educator attempt to train and cultivate men in two or three years. Friends of education ought to be-
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gin to understand that the time of cultivation cannot be shortened without detriment to mental growth and strength.
Impressed with the necessity of thorough education some men about Walnut Grove, under the leadership of Ben. Major, about 1850, inaugurated the Walnut Grove Seminary, with A. S. Fisher, principal, and Miss Susan Jones, assistant. This soon developed into the " Wal- nut Grove Academy," and in February, 1855, secured a charter from the State legislature under the name of "Eureka College," with the following Board of Trus- tees : Elijah Dickinson, Wm. Davenport, E. B. Myers, John Darst, John Lindsey. A. M. Myers, John Major, W. H. Davenport, B. J. Radford, David Deweese, R. M. Clark, Wm. Atteberry, Wm. T. Major, C. O. Nev- ille, John Bennett, Wm. M. Brown, Jno. T. Jones, Wm. S. Pickerell, Geo. McManus, Bushrod W. Henry, I. T Logan, P. C. Redding, Henry Grove and Jno. W. Taylor. This institution has been in constant and successful operation ever since the above date, and has instructed, for shorter or longer periods, over three thousand pupils, more than half of whom have come from other counties. The college is still flourish- ing and has a corps of eight experienced instructors, and ranks among the first institutions of its class in the state.
Recently a movement was made to establish an acad- emy at Low Point. Funds were secured and a neat and commodious frame building was erected, well adapted ·to the wants of the young institution. Prof. J. E. Lamb was appointed principal, and the academy soon got well
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HISTORY OF WOODFORD COUNTY.
under way, but an unforeseen calamity was in store for it. A few months since the building was burned to the ground, and by some strange oversight there had been no insurance provided. As soon as they recovered a little from the blow the friends of the enterprise began to think of rebuilding, and money was subscribed, but the hard times make the work drag, and the issue seems somewhat doubtful. The people of Low Point cannot well afford to let this matter fall through, and ought to resurrect the institution at whatever sacrifice. A grand stride will have been taken by our people in the march of civilization when they become willing to expend as much upon the brain as the stomach, and come to recog- nize food for the mind as among the necessaries of life. Let every citizen of Woodford County hasten the time.
If the people of Woodford are not, like the ancient Athenians, exceedingly religious, they are by no means to be reckoned as heathens. The voice of the preacher of the gospel was heard in the cabins of the early set- tlers, and in the groves which were lately the haunts of the Red man and the panther. About 1829 a Presbyte- rian minister came to Walnut Grove. He was invited to preach at a settler's cabin, but soon after the sermon began two of the boys got into a fisticuff pastime. Ser- vices were interrupted until the disturbances were qui- eted, when the preacher proceeded. This was, perhaps, the earliest voice in the wilderness of these parts, but not many Presbyterian ministers came this way for a long while, and it was not until 1868 that a Presbyte- rian church was organized at Eureka. In 1841 Rev. W. T. Adams, now of El Paso, preached at Low Point in
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HISTORY OF WOODFORD COUNTY.
the house of Mr. Farnsworth, but no church was organ- ized here until 1853. At that time some fourteen mem- bers were gathered together, constituted a congregation and enjoyed the ministry of Wm. P. Carson. Wm. Dodds was first elder. The present membership is nearly one hundred. There was organized the next year, 1854, another church known as United Presbyte- rians, which is in a prosperous condition at present. In 1856 Wm. Frost began to preach at Minonk, and the next year organized a Presbyterian church at this point. The first organization of this denomination at Meta- mora was in 1858; and their first minister was I. A. Cornelison. It began with a small membership. Mr. Cornelison, in 1868, gathered together some twenty-four members at Eureka and organized them into a church, and they soon secured the services of Rev. Samuel Hart, under whose care they prospered. They now have an elegant house of worship and are thriving under the ministry of Rev. M. P. Ormsby. The Presbyterian church in El Paso was organized by W. T. Adams in 1857. Mr. Adams became the pastor in 1864. The con- gregation is now large and prosperous.
Methodism early gained a firm foothold among the settlers in Woodford County. The first church erected on Ten Mile was Methodist, and the preacher's name was Lattey. He was followed by Uncle Zedick Hall, the famous pioneer Methodist preacher. Father Hall has been a zealous teacher of religion in our county and surrounding regions for more than two score years, and is still vigorous and enthusiastic. He preached throughout Central Illinois in the early day, encounter-
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HISTORY OF WOODFORD COUNTY.
ing with much fortitude the dangers and hardships in- cident to his work, and has done as much, perhaps, to build up righteousness and temperance as any man among us. He resides with his son in Worth town- ship. About 1840 Jeter Foster, began preaching about Low Point and soon built up a Methodist church at that place. They erected a meeting house here in 1851. Among the early planters of Methodism in Walnut Grove was Uncle Jimmy Wells, and in almost every neighborhood was to be found the Methodist preacher and exhorter, so that these people are numerous and found in almost all parts of the county. They have con- gregations in all the principal towns and neighbor- hoods.
The Baptists were among the first to proclaim the gospel among us. It is said the first sermon ever preached about Low Point was by a Baptist named A. M. Root at the house of Isaac Buckingham. The Mis- sionary Baptists built a church here in 1846 on the farm now owned by S. Mundell. But the first Baptist church organized in the county was in the south-eastern part at the house of Jas. Vance. This was done by J. D. Newell in the year 1837, and the congregation con- sisted of about a dozen members, Soon afterward, in Cazenovia, the old Richland Baptist church was organ- ized. The church at Minonk was organized about 18 years ago, and has been under the pastoral care of Rev. C. D. Merrit ever since. The Baptists have at present, in the county, eleven organizations and about one thou- sand members, and expend annually for church and be- nevolent purposes above ten thousand dollars.
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HISTORY OF WOODFORD COUNTY.
The Christian church was represented among the early settlers by a number of preachers among whom were John Oatman, Abner Peeler, Henry D. Palmer, Jas. Robeson, Wm. Davenport and Jas. Owen. By the efforts of these men congregations of Disciples were es- tablished in nearly all parts of the county. There are at present eleven organizations with a membership of above twelve hundred. Their two veteran preachers are John T. Jones, of Eureka, aged 82, and James Robeson, of Secor, aged 80. Father Robeson, familiarly known as " Uncle Jimmy," is still vigorous and preaches regu- larly, having been a preacher of the gospel about sixty years. The denomination has done much for education' in the county, having built and sustained Eureka Col- lege ; although the Methodists and Presbyterians of Eureka have liberally assisted them in their commend- able work.
Besides the above denominations there are several smaller religious organizations of somewhat later origin. There is a prosperous congregation of Tunkers, or Ger- man Baptists, near Roanoke, and there are two congre- gations of Omish, or Amish, among us These latter are a portion of the great Mennonite denomination. The Catholics have also organized in several parts of the county, though we have no statistics respecting them.
Probably the first Sunday school in this county was organized by Father Morse, in 1837, at his house in Low Point. Gradually the necessity and fitness of Sun- day schools was perceived by religious teachers of all sorts, and all denominations came to regard them as an excellent means of religious training. In all our towns
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HISTORY OF WOODFORD COUNTY.
and many country churches good Sunday schools are maintained, and it is probable that some two thousand children receive regular instruction by this means. A fact which is full of hope for the Christian and philan- thropist.
Neighbor, here we bid you good bye. We have seen that in the fifty years since Woodford County was first settled by white men, there has been a wonderful im- provement in all matters pertaining to physical com- fort and conveniences ; to intellectual and social life, to moral and religious institutions and agencies. We have been rapidly catching up with, and finding our place in, the great march of civilization in older communities, but there remains much for all of us to do. He is the best citizen who appreciates most fully and promotes most zealously the improvement of his fellow men in all respects-physical, intellectual and moral. Let us quit ourselves like men. Woodford County, desirable as it may be, can only be ours for a little time, and it would be well for us to secure a claim where home- steads never change hands, and there are no graveyards on the hill sides.
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