USA > Illinois > Marshall County > Past and present of Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 17
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > Past and present of Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 17
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Ellsworth, in his records, names a denomination as once having existed in Granville called the Emanuel Church of Granville, a union of Evan- gelical and Methodist Protestant denominations, and was organized in 1867.
CHAPTER XI. BUEL INSTITUTE.
As early as 1844 a very interesting Farmers' Institute met in the county, which continued for
more than two years when it was merged into the Buel Institute, and under this heading we are treating the matters of organized efforts of interest to the agriculturists.
This was the oldest agricultural society in Illi- nois and the first formed in the entire West. The initiatory steps to organize it were taken at Lowell, LaSalle county, on February 23, 1846. J. S. Bul- lock was the chairman and Elmer Baldwin the secretary. There were four or five farmers present and they resolved to form a society including the friends south of the Illinois river in that part of the county and as many as wished to unite from the counties of Putnam and Marshall. A committee to draft a constitution was appointed consisting of Elmer Baldwin, L. L. Bullock and R. C. Elliott of LaSalle county; Ralph Ware of Putnam county; and William Clarkson of Mar- shall county. Later, on March 18, another meet- ing was held and the constitution was adopted and officers elected. Elmer Baldwin was presi- dent; Ralph Ware, William Clarkson and J. T. Little were vice-presidents; J. S. Bullock, treas- urer; Oakes Turner, corresponding secretary ; and L. L. Bullock, recording secretary.
The next meeting was held in Granville the first Tuesday in June and at this and subsequent meet- ings a hundred and seventy persons joined and paid the fifty cent membership dues into the treas- ury. Arrangements were made for discussing im- portant topics, such as farming, stock raising, fruit growing, etc. These meetings were to be held every three months at places easy of access within the boundaries of the society.
The question under discussion at the first meet- ing in Granville was "The best mode of cultivating corn." At this meeting an annual fair was decided upon to be held at Lowell the first Tues- day in October. This society was received with great favor and became a popular social and edu- cational feature, both ladies and gentlemen rid- ing great distances in inclement weather to attend. The meetings for debates were fixed for the first Tuesday of every December, March, June and September, and the place was chosen at the pre- vious quarterly meeting. In 1846 the fair for that year was abandoned on account of the great amount of sickness prevailing throughout the country. The regular meetings were held at Lowell, Caledonia, Point Republic, Cedar Point, Granville and Magnolia, in turn, and the leading
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inembers delivered addresses and read essays, while oral discussions were freely indulged in.
The second regular fair was held at Granville in October, 1848, and premiums were offered.
The third fair was held at Lowell and $100.00 was voted for prizes. The executive committee was instrueted to place on their advertising bills that there would be no horse raeing on or near the show grounds. At this time it was eoneluded that two days were necessary, as the fair had beeome so extensive that it could not be satisfaetorily viewed in one day.
The fourth fair was held at Granville, and this fair was quite extensively advertised by large "show bills."
The fifth fair was held at Hennepin and was far more pretentious than any of its predecessors and seems to have been proportionally sueeessful. The treasurer's report showed a balance on hand above all expenses of more than $150.00. To this society belongs the credit of first suggesting a government department of agriculture. The mat- ter was thoroughly discussed by the Institute and the result of the debate was a petition signed by the leading farmers of Putnam, Marshall and La- Salle counties, which was forwarded to the repre- sentatives at Washington, which petition set forth the importance to the country of agriculture, the basis of all pursuits.
The matter eame before Congress and was not only heard but acted upon and the result was the forming of the Bureau of Agriculture.
These fairs were also held at Peru, but the disadvantage of moving about without permanent building or grounds, the growth of the society, and the importanee and increasing size of its an- nual exhibitions made a permanent loeation neees- sary, and the Society settled upon Hennepin as eentral and sufficiently aeeessible from all direc- tions for the purpose.
These fairs continued many years and were eounted as one of the great events of the year, people eoming for miles and miles to attend them. But, owing to the development of sueh organiza- tions at larger eenters of population, the Hennepin Fair died a natural death from old age.
CHAPTER XII. GRANGE FAIR.
About thirty years ago a movement of general interest to the agrieulturists throughout the
United States was made, which was known as the Grange movement. True to the spirit of the eom- munity, the people of Magnolia met and aeeepted this new organization and formed a society out of which has grown a general union of thought and effort permeating the whole conimunity life. A spirited and healthy rivalry between the boys and girls of the community has been eneouraged along the lines of mental and professional development. Seientifie Agriculture and Domestie Seienee have become fixed teachings in every home and sehool. Out of this developed an annual exhibition of the handiwork and the production of their labors. The Grange Fair has beeome the most important event of the whole year of general interest to the county, and fine fair grounds with the necessary building equipment is maintained, and at the regular an- nual exhibition people drive for miles from all parts of Putnam county and from adjoining coun- ties. We are under obligations to the first seere- tary of this organization for the following infor- mation which we print verbatim as given to us:
Magnolia Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, was organized February 13, 1873, at Clear Creek sehool house, Magnolia township, Putnam eounty, with twenty-one charter members as follows: Thomas Flower, John Swaney, Sarah G. Swaney, David Swaney, Mary Ann Swaney, Henry K. Smith, Oliver Smith, Amos B. Wilson, Oliver Wilson, Henry Mills, Sr., Pusey Mills, Joseph Mills, Thomas K. Mills, Alfred Given, Philonzo Given, Sarah M. Given, Ann Morris, Sarah L. Hoyle, Gustav Otto, Louis Beek and Barnet Swaney.
John Swaney was elected its first Master and Amos B. Wilson the secretary. The meetings were held for a few years in the sehool house and the membership inereased soon to about seventy-five. Later the abandoned Cumberland Presbyterian Church, adjoining the sehool house, was rented and used for a meeting place. In 1880 the Grange bought the hall and fitted it up, paying largely for it from the proceeds of two erops of potatoes raised in 1879 and 1880, the members donating all the work of plowing, planting, harvesting, and cach member donating a chair for furnishing the hall after the old pews and seats were taken out, sinee which time, now over twenty-six years, the Grange has never failed to meet, and hold a meet- ing Saturday afternoon of every alternate week with a membership enrollment of from 75 to 120 during the whole time. What of good or ill, and
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the influenee it has exerted over the community. the publie must deeide.
About twenty-two years ago the Magnolia Grange instituted what is now known as the Mag- nolia Grange Fair, which has gradually grown each year to its present proportions. Its management is entirely within the Grange. A board of nine directors, three of which are elected each year by the Grange, have the entire management and eon- trol of the Fair, and the objeet has been to give the county a strietly clean country fair without the objectionable features that eharaeterize many of the county and other fairs elsewhere. It is, however, only fair to state here that this fair eould never have reached its present proportions and in- fluenee had it not been for the hearty support, liberal exhibits, and charitable appreciation of the efforts of the Grange by a generous, sympathetie, true and honest-minded publie.
CHAPTER XIII. GAME. BY J. O. WINSHIP.
Early settlers found game abundant in Putnam county. Deer were so plentiful that they were often shot from the door of the settlers' eabins and with a little hunting, deer could be killed at any time. Later it was necessary to have a traek in the snow and follow the trail until the game was captured. Wild turkeys were so numer- ous that there was nearly always wild turkey on the table on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's, and in faet whenever the pioneer had time to shoot them. They were often captured in rail pens. A wild turkey will never go under anything if he knows it. Rail pens were built on sloping ground and well eovered, on the lower side a little spaee was left next the ground. These were built of old rotten poles and stieks and very ineonspieuous. Corn was seattered on the lower side of the pen and a trail of eorn up into the pen. The turkeys would be so intent on eating the eorn that often several of them would follow the train of eorn up into the pen by feeding with heads down ; onee inside, up would go their heads and nothing eould induee them to go out at the place where they eame in.
As the settlers grew thieker the deer and wild turkeys grew thinner in number and in about 1880 entirely disappeared. There was a tradition among
the Indians that buffalo were plentiful. That about fifty years before the white settlers eame, during a very hard winter, they nearly all perished and that the survivors soon left and were seen no more. Buffalo bones and horns were sometimes found by the early settlers.
Prairie ehiekens were so abundant that a few steps from the house would seeure a mess any time. I have seen thousands in a single floek. Have seen houses, barns, eorn-eribs and shade trees literally covered with them; now only a few lonely speeimens are left. Quail were always un- eertain quantities. There would be very great numbers of theni and then a hard winter would ยท kill them by thousands ; several years would elapse before they were plentiful again. The pheasant is a produet of eivilization. Owing to the destrue- tion of the undergrowth by fire, the early settler found none here, since the second growth of tim- ber and brush has grown a few have eome in. Rabbits have also inereased with eivilization. Wild pigeons were so numerous that floeks often a mile long were seen. They were caught by thou- sands in nets by feeding for a few days in a selected spot and using stool pigeons as deeoys. They entirely disappeared about 1885, not only from Putnam county but from the United States as well. Their sudden disappearanee is a mystery to naturalists.
In early days sand hill eranes were numerous. They always migrated by flying in eireles, and continually uttering their doleful eries. They have disappeared from Putnam county but are still seen in the western states.
Swans, two varieties of geese, brants and sixteen kinds of dueks were so plentiful that it was little sport to shoot them. All that a family could use could be had in a few minutes. In early days they were not considered good eating in comparison with turkeys or venison and were very little sought. Duek ealls, deeoys, breeeh-loading shot-guns and nitro-powder have about exterminated these once plentiful game birds. The eity sportsmen have rented or bought the marshes, have employed watehmen to keep the farmers' sons off the pre- serves, fed the game until they have beeome tame, then slaughtered them for the pure love of killing. I have seen hundreds of these birds killed and hung up for the earrion birds to devour. Among the smaller game, snipe and woodeoeks were nu- merous. A few pelieans have been killed in the
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county and many other water birds and wooders. Song birds were very numerous but are disap- pearing and with their disappearance, the worms and insects are taking possession of our fruit.
Wolves, foxes, lynx, wildcats, racoons, skunks, opposums, otter, mink and muskrats were a men- ace to the settlers' poultry and young domestic animals. Minks and muskrats are still quite numerous.
Wolves, foxes, lynx and wildcats were hunted with hounds; racoons were hunted at night with any kind of a "coon dog"-always "the best dog that ever treed a coon." In October and Novem- ber the raccoons would fatten on any cornfield near the timber, always feeding at night. The coon hunters would circle the fields and the dog would soon strike the trail and follow it silently until the 'coon took to a tree. The excitement would cause the creature's eycs to glow like two balls of fire, and the pioncer seldom failed to plant a bullet in the creature's brain even in the dark- est night; in fact, they claimed the darker the night the better.
Wolves had to be shot while on the run, the hunter stationing himself where the animal was most likely to pass. Gray foxes were treed, red foxes took to holes in the ground. Foxes were often chased for the sport, but were seldom killed. In late years there has been a bounty on foxes and now they are killed whenever possible. Wildcats and lynx are now seldom seen; foxes are still numerous ; otter have disappeared. Most fur ani- mals were casily caught in traps.
CHAPTER XIV. RAILROADS.
As an introduction to this theme we quote Ells- worth in 1880:
"The County of Putnam is wholly destitute of railroads, and this want of a means of transit has led to several expensive schemes, thus far with- out any result ; prominent of which is the building of a line from Bureau Junction through the coun- ties of Putnam, LaSalle, Grundy, Will and Kan- kakee. It was agitated in 1868-9, and meetings were held at different points along the line in the spring and summer. Putnam county voted to subscribe $125,000; Granville added $10,000; Round Grove $15,000; Dwight $30,000; Tonica $50,000; LaSalle and Livingston counties to-
gether gave $205,000; Bureau $10,000; and Kan- kakee $165,000, making a grand total of half a million dollars. In Putnam county the first vote of $75,000 had been nearly unanimous for the stock, but when the company demanded an in- crease of $50,000 more, the people were not quite so eager. The question was submitted to the vo- ters February 8, 1870, and the result was: For the additional sum, 475 votes; against it, 350. February 26, 1870, the road made an assessment of three per cent upon its capital stock, a sum that though small, was not very cheerfully given.
"Magnolia had been deeply moved for and against the project, and much bitterness of feeling resulted. Finally they voted to subscribe, provided the company would build eight miles of the road in this township, the work to be completed to the eastern terminus before the bonds should be is- sued. This well guarded provision proved their safety. The road was graded in many places in Putnam county and large sums of money ex- pended in the work, but the company failed in making expected loans, and it was never finished, its history being that of many other roads in the West, where people subscribe bonds in advance of the completion of the enterprise. The county, though deeply swindled, is paying her obligations in full, thereby setting an example that wealthier corporations might copy with profit."
It would seem that this historian was not al- ways particular as to relative events. In another chapter, pertaining to the settlement of Senach- wine township, he plainly states that the Bureau Valley railroad was built through the township in 1855, which served as an impetus to the rapid de- velopment of the community. This road con- nected the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific at Bureau with Peoria, now a division of that great system, and is the first railroad of which Little Putnam can boast. The Kankakee line, which cost the county so much in taxes, of which many of the present generation distinctly remember by the taxes they paid, was never built though the moss-covered grade crosses Magnolia and Henne- pin townships, remaining as monuments of what was to be. In 1900 the Indiana, Illinois and Iowa Railway following the original Kankakee survey until it came into this county, and having for a number of years operated as far west as Streator, extended its line across Putnam county into Bu- reau to connect with the Chicago, Burlington
.
SENACHWINE LAKE.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MARSHALL AND PUTNAM COUNTIES.
and Quincy east of Princeton at a place named Zearing, in honor of Louis Zearing, a former State Senator of this district. This road enters the county at exactly the eenter of Magnolia township on the county line and runs in a north- westerly direction for about three miles where it turns and runs due north for five miles and then to the northwest in a eircuitous route to the Illi- nois river, thus entering all the townships on the east side of the Illinois.
On the farm of John MeNabb, Judge of the county at that time, a town has been established and named in honor of the Judge, MeNabb. The Judge had much to do in assisting the company to survey its right-of-way aeross the county and had no small influenee with the company in the establishment of its route.
Granville, the little staid village that had a his- tory because of its unique personality, in modern phraseology, was "help up" for $1,500 that it might seeure a station within the village limits.
In seeuring the right-of-way, the company paid what was at that time considered a very liberal priee to the farmers for their land, and made such stipulations as were demanded as to fenees, farm erossings, ete.
With the coming of the railroad came a new spirit of eommereial interests to the entire eom- munity which is elaborated in the comments on Granville. This road was operated under its eharter until April 10, 1906, when it was merged with the Indiana Harbor road into a new line called the Chieago, Indiana and Southern and be- eame a part of the New York Central system. This road serves as an outer belt line for Chieago as it erosses nearly every road that runs into the great metropolis and has become a great seaboard outlet for western freight.
In 1904 and 1905 a eoal railroad that had for its purpose the eonneeting of the Devlin eoal in- terests in Bureau, Putnam and Marshall counties, was eonstrueted. The southern point was at Toluea on the Santa Fe railroad in the eastern portion of Marshall county. Its course is to the northwest; passing direetly through the village of Magnolia it follows the timber line to the west of the fair grounds and eireles to the east to MeNabb. From this point it parallels the Chieago, Indiana & Southern until it reaches Granville, which point at the present time is its northern terminus, and owing to the financial failure of Charles J. Devlin,
the promoter, the road has gone into the hands of a receiver and what disposition will be made of it is not known. It has furnished very convenient aeeommodations for the eastern side of the county and added materially to the freight facilities of the villages on its line.
The Chieago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company, having completed its own line as far as Seatonville in Bureau eounty, eleven miles north of Granville, leased the right-of-way of the "Three I" to MeNabb and in 1904 began running trains to MeNabb. The St. Paul Coal Company had con- structed a spur from the "Three I" tracks in Gran- ville to their shaft half a mile west, and owning thousands of aeres of eoal lands in this part of the state, it may easily be seen what their objeet was for construeting their line into this territory.
In 1906 the Oglesby and Granville railroad was completed. This is a short line eonneeting Gran- ville with the Illinois Central and the Chieago, Burlington & Quincy at Oglesby, LaSalle county. Thus it will be seen that the statement our previ- ous historian made as shown in our quotation, that Putnam eounty is destitute of railrodas is no lon- ger true. Not only are the roads named operating and doing an immense business, but there is at present a prospeet of at least two new roads en- tering the county in the near future; one from Peoria follows the river, through Hennepin and on the northeast. The other is still "in the air" and may result in an air line.
CHAPTER XV. THE COAL INDUSTRY.
Illinois ranks first in the Union in her produe- tion of eorn and her reputation as a bituminous eoal produeing territory is rapidly forging to the front as well. "The Coalfields of Illinois" has be- eome a stereotyped term in eommereial parlance.
The St. Paul Coal company which is auxiliary to the St. Paul Railroad company, having secured thousands of aeres of eoal land in Putnam and LaSalle counties, sunk their first shaft in this part of the state at Granville in 1903. Newspa- pers are the ehronielers of historical events. By referring to the Granville "Echo" files we extraet the following account of this event :
"A Red Letter Day! Granville Coal Shaft is formally opened. June 25th the eventful day. With ecremonies befitting the oceasion, the St. Paul Coal Co. breaks soil for shaft No. 1.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MARSHALL AND PUTNAM COUNTIES.
"At two o'clock p. m. on Thursday, June 25, 1903, the new mine of the St. Paul Coal Company just west of Granville was dedicated with appro- priate ceremonies improvised only a few hours be- fore upon the announcement of Superintendent Cherry that he would begin to sink the shaft after dinner on that day. The Granville Band led the procession from town.
"Mr. C. B. Peck, the local head of the coal com- pany had prepared a platform and erected a pole from which "Old Glory" floated proudly to the gentle breeze. . ,
"Mr. Peck introduced W. E. Hawthorne as mas- ter of ceremonies, who presented each number on the programme with short appropriate comment: Music . Granville Band
Quartet Ladies' Celestial Choir
Address George W. Hunt Turning of soil with a golden spade .. . C. B. Peck Vocal Selection Celestial Quartet
Remarks C. B. Peck
Music Band
Address Judge Martin, Topeka, Kan. Music Band "Then everybody threw ont a shovelful of dirt- women and children, as well as men-and the ceremonies were declared closed.
"There was a large and enthusiastic crowd in attendance, and everybody pronounced the dedi- catory program a decided success."
During the construction part, a great deal of speculation was entered into by the citizens of the county, as to whether it would be for the better- ment of community life. The class of people who follow mining as a business, coming as they do from all parts of the world, and bringing with them their customs and habits, introduced into the staid old community like Granville, produced a revolution in social conditions. But our theme is the Coal Industry.
The St. Paul Company crected a magnificent modern plant over their shaft, putting up brick buildings and a steel tipple. A splendid write-up of the shaft at Granville in the "Black Diamond" the miners' journal, published in Chicago, pro- fuscly illustrated and elaborated this mine as being one of the best in the state.
The shaft does not hoist coal for commercial .
purposes. It does supply the local demand at the shaft but its principal object is to secure coal for the St. Paul Railway Company which it hanls out by the train load.
The company is at present working the third vein which is about 500 feet below the surface. The underground plans are modern in every pir- ticular. The main drives are electric lighted and the mine being a dry one the works are easily kept in splendid condition. The amount of coal hoisted per man is equal to the average anywhere else. The capacity of the shaft when in full working operation is about 2,000 tons per day, employing below and about the works from 700 to 1,000 men.
The second shaft in the county was sunk by the B. F. Berry Coal Company two miles east of Gran- ville and exceeds the St. Paul shaft very little in size. The whole shaft, like No. 1, is modern in its equipment. No shacks; no wooden buildings exist- ing, but all their structures are brick and steel.
This shaft is located on the Oglesby & Gran- ville Railway and its output goes to the Milwau- kee. Prospecting drilling having taken place in a number of other places in different portions of the county in Magnolia ard Hennepin townships and also in Granville township, there is no question but what a number of other shafts will be sunk within the next few years, and Putnam county will become celebrated for her coal fields, as the quality of the production is superior.
CHAPTER XVI. INCIDENTS.
"A FOOL AND HIS MONEY ARE SOON PARTED."
Of James Willis this story is told: In the spring of 1830 he returned to his former home to settle up some business and on his way stopped at a wayside house of entertainment, where he made the acquaintance of a traveler, looking up, as he said, a location. As usual in those days, the men made known their respective businesses, and Mr. Willis stated that he had been quite suc- cessful in closing up his affairs, and was convey- ing home the results. He had some ready money and proposed to improve his farm, and was on the lookout for a suitable man to engage. The stranger listened with interest and replied that he thought some of visiting the Illinois country, and that if Mr. Willis would give him a job he would change his route and accompany him home. A bargain was easily made, and the next morn- ing the two started out, Willis riding his horse and the stranger on foot. In this way they passed
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