Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois, Part 61

Author: Collins, William H. (William Hertzog), 1831-1910; Perry, Cicero F., 1855- [from old catalog] joint author; Tillson, John, 1825-1892. History of the city of Quincy, Illinois. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1228

USA > Illinois > Adams County > Quincy > Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois > Part 61

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The name of this sprightly fellow, the Cat Bird, comes from a not very agreeable note it makes. much like the mewing of a cat. It is a songster in faet. One would not think the lit- tle throat that utters the unpleasant cat-like sound conld sing so sweetly. It is a dark lead color, an insect eater of no mean order, but

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confines his labor more to the hedges and margins of fields, not coming very far out in the open since he is somewhat shy. Nothing can be said against the cat bird.

The farmer and the sportsman want more plump Quails than they can get. There is not much protection, so it is difficult for them to multiply as they formerly did. Nearly every corner of land is taken up by the crops. The grass, to hide in, is cut away in most places. The hazel brush cover, of which they were so fond, is nearly all plowed up. If the birds nest in the meadows, the ruthless mowing machine ends it all for them in a minute. If the eggs are touched or handled, the quail will not re- turn to the nest. The under-growth in nearly all of the few timber lots, is pastured off. so there is little protection for them, and being so exposed the poor bird cannot propagate with comfort. With the hawks by day, and the cats and opposums and the owls by night. and the ineffective game laws, quails have a hard time. About twenty-four eggs are laid in a deep partly covered nest upon the ground in a grassy spot. The young are interesting and wild from the time they are first out of the shell. The quail has several notes. When under cover and alarmed, it is a rich, ringing, low whirr. When in flocks and separated from each other, a double call note, repeated from time to time, a rather plaintive wheedle-whee whistle, uttered usually about three times, but quite shrilly when its gets confidence to whistle louder. When mated and brooding. "Bob White" is the note that he gives out with all his might for his mate on the nest to listen to. All the rhyme written about the quail whist- ling his "Bob White" song in autumn does not apply in this county.

This very interesting, beautiful and enter- taining songster, the Oriole, with its golden plumage and hanging nest, certainly leads us to believe that birds think, at least. With all deference to such students of nature, as have given to the opinions that "birds, or animals, do not think." the Oriole's nest is an argument against such statements. The hanging nest of the golden robin, wherein its eggs are laid and the swinging young ones first see the light, is a wonderful piece of bird mechanism. Its builder hides it right before one's eyes, where it is impossible to see it, even when it is known to be very near where we look, until the leaves are off the trees, and the family have moved to their southern home.

The little, fidgety, pugnacious Wren belongs to us by the best of right. He will fight for himself and family every time he is called upon to defend them. without waiting a minute to

think about results. The wren is no respecter of persons. Ile will peck and spur his land- lord, and take the dignity out of the dog or cat without hesitation. The wrens are not early distinguishable, and have about the same habits away from here. A pair of wrens will carry more dry sticks, for their house-preparation, than almost any other bird, and do it over and over again if it is several times destroyed, thereby using their combative nature to good purpose to make up for their stature.

Pheasants are the birds of the woods, but are sometimes found in the orchard, eating the buds of trees. They are not very plentiful, and very much need better protection, than the present game law affords. Their flesh is white like the quail's, and is delicious for the table. It has a quiet and rather stupid manner when not drumming or alarmed. The drumming sound is made by their wings on logs in the timber. Sometimes, they are called partridges, but there is no such bird in this country. The partridge is a native of Europe. The pheasant is very swift in flight and it takes a good marksman to bring it down, when on the wing. However it is very stupid and fearless of men. One can walk almost upon it before it will fly. It seems to depend on its resemblance to the dry, yellow leaves of the woods for the safety of its life. When alarmed, the tuft on the head rises, and it seems to be surprised that it should be disturbed, but when it does go, there is no time lost on the way. There is but one kind of pheasant here.

The American Chimney Swallow belongs to the Swift family and is a bird that certainly is peculiar in the selection of an abiding place. The swift is a good example of the strangeness and strength of habit, when it is hereditary, or the continued doing of one thing, like the old horse going round and round whether he is in the mill, or eating grass, or like the Indian, who lives in his smoke house teepee, though he goes blind because of it: even so, is the swallow-in chimney smoke and soot, rearing a family. Really the bird enters his claim in an unused chimney, but if perchance the fireman lights the fire, the bird is not easily smoked out. The nest of twigs is glued together with a secretion from the swift's mouth, and be- comes a very hardened mass. The swift lives on insects, flying in and out of the chimney night and day. When it sleeps is a mystery. No one knows where it winters. They con- gregate after breeding season and suddenly dis- appear, and reappear in the spring in the same way. They are very quick and strong-on wing.

The wattled Turkey Buzzard is not so plenti-

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ful as formerly. It is a very large black bird with wattles about the head, which is feather- less. It is much of the time on the wing at great altitudes, soaring for hours in great circles. Sometimes there is twenty minutes be- tween strokes of wing. As a seavenger it is useful. Like the South American Condor, its not far removed cousin, now extinet, it lives on dead animals but is sometimes aggressive when hungry.

The Blue lleron is a solitary bird whose habitat is in the sloughs and lakes of the river bottoms. It is a wader and lives on the small fish of its home waters. It is a heavy fiver. The Night Ileron is heavily feathered about the neek, and has a round pointed beak. At night its hoarse ery may often be heard as it flies heavily across the country. It is some- times seen alone, sitting on a tree, inland, with no water near, with no object in view, waiting for the night to come. Its local name is not inviting.

Bank. Barn, Eaves, Purple Martin, are all true swallows, differing in various ways from each other. The inaccessible parts of the Mis- sissippi River bluffs over the limestone quarries are perforated deeply, laterally with the holes of the Sand or Bank Swallow, where they nest and rear their young. Characteristic of all the swallow kind, it has wonderful strength of wing for rapid flight.

The Eave Swallows build their nest of mud, first made into small pellets and fastened under the eaves of honses and barns, with the same material. A queer circumstance is, that after the swallows leave for the south their mnd houses are inhabited by hordes of wingless creatures. well known in all parts of the United States,-Cimex Leetulanous. Sixty mud swal- low nests, on one side of a barn, were counted. by the writer, that were inhabited in this way.

The Barn Swallow has precedence among its kind because of the rich color of its dress. It is also more symmetrical in shape than its "banker" or "eaves" brothers. It has a long, forked tail, which the others do not have. In- sects are its food, and it builds its nest inside of the barn. Its song is quite a sprightly warble. very pleasant to the ear.

The Purple Martin swallow is very domestic, and likes boxes fixed near dwellings for its accommodation in the nesting. The Martins and the blue birds quarrel frequently as to who shall move in and out. The martin sings well.

Least but not last, the IInmiming bird de- serves mention. It is a true bird, gentle and delicate in its movements (if not in disposition. for they will fight fiercely for their own), with

its wonderful poise on invisible, rapidly moving wings, getting its flower food. Indeed, it fills a large place among the wonders of creation in bird life, and so plainly proves to those who want to know the wise purpose of the power, which gives the finite and infinite touches to all animate and inanimate nature.

Quite a goodly showing of Crossbills appear in our county, annually. They are peculiar in that their bills are crossed when closed, and are capable of lateral, as well as up and down motion. They are so constructed for powerful work in cutting open hard seed and eones of the evergreen trees. They are hard to keep in a cage, as they will ent and pull at the wires to get ont. They are interesting. and of fine plumage. The shape of their bills is not easily seen unless observed at close range, or with a glass. They seem to be of a family ahnost to themselves, something like the linnets and bull- finches. These birds are of a red and brown color and they have the misehievous char- aeteristies of the parrots.

We ean claim the Bald Eagle for our coun- try without reservation. It sometimes comes here. and has nested with us in times gone by. It is seen nearly always high in air, soaring majestically and in all dignity. Bird of our country, ready at any time, with the swiftness of an arrow. to swoop down on its prey.

The Grey Eagle is not common. It soars as the hawk does, and when on the wing, has very much the same appearance in manner and color. Its nature is very well known. It is a bird of prey, and will carry away small animals to its nest, which is usually in some large tree in a remote place.

The large Grey Owl is ealled by local hunters the Ilorned Owl, but there is a question about it being that bird. as the feather tufts are not largely developed.

The Screech Owl will sit and twist its head without turning its body, in a most amusing way, and it has a variety of voices for the night, making it appear as if some other bird were about, but they all come from the sereech owl. They eat mice, and are quite tame. They nest near houses and barns if they can find trees near, with holes in them.

The Scarlet Tanager, a beautiful bird, is a new acquisition to the birds of our eounty, and will be heartily welcomed by every bird lover. The "cardinal" will certainly have a rival worthy of his company, and the brilliance of his own plumage, coupled with that of the Scarlet Tanager, will double the delight of the friends of the birds when they wend their way through the woody path. The Tanager has a scarlet breast and body, with black wings. It

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PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

belongs to the Fineh-sparrow relationship. They are not here in large numbers, but several have been seen by reliable observers, near the city of Quiney.

The increase of the population of this city is probably the reason of the scarcity of the Wild White Swan. Too much shooting has made it seek other shores, for it was always shy. Its beautifully curved neek and graceful carriage, without any marks of affectation, make it an enjoyable bird, wild or tame.

Arrayed in the colors of the English Mock- ing bird, black and white, is a cruel, unlovely bird ealled the Butcher bird. or Shrike, well named, indeed, in every respect. It kills mice and little birds, and in partienlar English sparrows, more than it needs for its living. Thorns are used upon which to impale its vie- tim. It makes much use of the telephone wires to wait for what it destroys. Its fight is straight as an arrow from one place to another, and it will stand in the air, for quite a time, perfectly motionless except for the movement of the wings, until the ill-fated monse or bird is seen, and then it pounces upon it like a pirate. This bird has no friends.

The Mississippi River is the home of the Gull. They spend much time on the wing over the water, never flying very high. Little is known about them. On the Pacific Coast. they are so tame that one can almost place the hand upon them, and are as large as chiekens. Our Gull is not so large. There is apparently only one species here.

We have just as good reason to claim the caged Canary, as any one. Shall the beautiful songster, that is petted more than any other bird, be left out ? In a eage he sings a pent up song. but nevertheless he has a voice that is wonderfully sweet, and the little fellow seems to put his whole being into the production of his melody. It is a handsome bird as well, com- panionable, and a favorite everywhere.

The Pewee is heard everywhere, but is not always in evidence. He is well known and can be counted on every season.

Once in a while we see a Kingfisher on a tree, waiting disconsolately for as disconsolate a minnow, whose fellows are nearly all gone for fisherman's bait. for the creeks about Quiney are almost entirely divested of their small fish for this purpose, to the great dismay of the Kingfisher family.

The inevitable Bee Birds, large and small. are the foe of all hawks and crows, and will follow them high into the air, spurring them as often as they can rise above them, and poune- ing down upon them over and over again, evi- dently very much to the discomforture of the

victims, who squawk with pain or fear of the treatment inflicted. It is thought that these birds are beneficial to the country, as they de- stroy many insects. They do eat some bees.

There are three Hawks at least, and prob- ably more. But certainly the very large Ilawk so frequently seen is quite different from the slender but powerful Chicken Hawk, that every farmer has had a close acquaintance with. Cap- able of carrying off a full grown chicken from the barnyard to some convenient tree and eat- ing it, and making this his practice, his habits are not eondneive to agreeably familiar com- panionship, unless it be after drawing a fine sight along one's trusty rifle barrel, and pulling trigger just at the right time. A much smaller hawk, familiarly called "Sparrow Hawk" is very common, and one would think it is not a very objectionable bird, as it lives on mice, and the English Sparrow. It does kill small birds, and this is of course against it. but perhaps its work in other directions, will be credited to it in the minds of those disposed to be charitable.

Cedar Birds visit us for a little while, ap- parently to eat the cedar berries, and the berries of the mountain ash trees, and it departs very soon afterward.

Black winged yellow thistle birds come for the thistle seed every year. They stay quite a while, and also eat other seeds. They are some- times called "Wild Canary."

A native of the lowly kind is the little ground sparrow, known as Chippee Sparrow, who comes on time each spring and is a good stayer. Among the other small birds are the Pin Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Nut-hatch or Tree Mouse, Tufted Tit-mouse, Indigo bunting, Chewink. (Towhee or Ground Robin), Chick- adee. (worm destroyer), Snow-finches, Phoebe bird, Brown and Tawny Thrush, Red lark, Linnet, (Finch family), "Tip up" (snipe)-all of which sharp eyes will find with us in season.

CHAPTER LV.

HISTORY OF THE ILLINOIS SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' HOME, QUINCY, ILLINOIS-ADAMS COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.

This home for disabled volunteer soldiers and sailors was established by an act of the Legisla- ture, June 26, 1885. The location commission- ers, after quite a protraeted contest between a number of eities seeking the location, decided the matter. December 2. 1885, upon a traet of land containing 140 acres, lying in Riverside

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township, just outside and north of the city of Quincy. Since that time additional purchases have been made to the extent of eighty-two acres.

The commissioners selecting this site were made up of the following named gentlemen : William W. Berry, Adams county ; F. E. Bryant. Bement : Monroe C. Crawford, Jonesboro; H. M. Ilall, Olney ; Ileury T. Noble, Dixon; M. R. M. Wallace. Cook connty : Fred O. White. Aurora.

The first Board of Trustees, appointed by Gov. Oglesby on December 11, 1885, were: Daniel Dustin of Sycamore. T. L. Dickason of Danville and J. G. Rowland of Quincy.

On December 15 of the same year this board met, choosing Gen. Dustin for president. Con- tracts for the various buildings under the first amount of money appropriated for the home were made in May, 1886. The cottage or detached building plan having been adopted. the home was opened for the reception of members in March, 1887.

From time to time further appropriations were made and other buildings erected, until at this date there are now on the grounds fifty-two (52) buildings, namely :

One main or administration building, which contains offices, library and living quarters for the officers : one large hospital, one cottage annex to hospital for convalescents, together with its cook house and boiler house: seventeen cottages : one main boiler house, under the roof of which is one machine shop. employing machinists. blacksmiths, tinners, plumbers and steam and

gas fitters ; one laundry and one soap house ; one general kitchen, store house, bakery, cold storage, quartermaster and commissary departments; one superintendent's residence, one house for dairy men, one new briek stable, two frame barns, four greenhouses and ten hotbeds, one carpenter shop, one ice house, one teamsters' quarters, one wagon shed, one tool house, one railroad station erected by the C., B. & Q. Railroad Company, one large cow barn, one group of piggery buildings, one spring house, one summer house, one stone erusher building, one paint shop, two gate lodges, two fire engine houses and Lippincott Memorial Ilall. where religious exercises are held and en- tertaiments are given for the benefit of the home members.

This building was erected and equipped by Capt. William Somerville, superintendent of the home, and dedicated December 19. 1900. It was erected to the memory of Gen. Charles E. Lippin- cott, the first superintendent of the home. and his estimable wife. Emily Chandler Lippincott. It is located on what is known as the parade ground and is northwest of the headquarters building. Its dimensions are as follows : Length, 82 feet : breadth, 62 feet; height of ceiling in auditorium. 31 feet 9 inches. This building has a massive stone foundation. the main superstruc- ture being of brick. The two ends of the build- ing are set off by immense columns, which sup- port the porches. The main hall or auditorium has a seating capacity of 510. while balcony or gallery seats comfortably 350. Besides this. there are two large private boxes on either side of the stage, which will comfortably seat 40 more. The stage is 24 feet in depth and is the full width of the house.

This building was given to the state by the home members. free of any inenmbranees. A portion of the money was subscribed by the home members and the balance was seenred by profits arising from the sale of small articles at the home store. The cost complete was $14,000.

The general ground plan of the main group of buildings covers an area of abont twenty acres. A tunnel 2,600 feet in length. built of stone masonry. is covered over on top with stone flag- ging. Near this tunnel are located the main building and seventeen cottages, boiler house. general kitchen and other utility buildings. All the piping, consisting of steam, gas, hot and cold water, sewage pipes, etc .. is carried in this tunnel. which is amply large to allow men to walk through for the purpose of examining the plant and making necessary repairs. while branches from the several pipes are carried through side tunnels to the buildings.

The capacity of the home as a maximum may he stated at 1,747 men, as follows :

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8 cottages, 40 men each 320

6 cottages, 90 men each. 540

2 cottages, 120 men each 240

1 cottage. 125 men each. 125

Hospital 427

Hospital Annex. 95

Total

1,747

During the past winter the average has num- bered over 1,700, the number on the rolls 2,035.

The main or headquarters building is built of Quiney limestone, the front or tower portion be- ing four stories in height and the rear or library part two stories in height, and the building was erected at a cost of $50,000.

The general utility building, kitchen, ware- house, quartermaster and commissary depart- ments, boiler house, machine shop, laundry, soap house, paint house and coal house are also built of stone. The other buildings named, except the farm buildings. are built of brick, with slate or metal roofs, and while plainly finished are sub- stantial, durable and well adapted to their re- speetive purposes.

The cottages, or members' quarters, vary in size and hold from 45 to 120 men each, as the number intended to be accommodated. These resident buildings have sleeping rooms for six to ten men each, sitting rooms, dining rooms and serving rooms, closets and bath rooms, with hot and cold water at all times, they being complete residences with the exception that there are no kitchens or facilities for cooking food. All the food for the general camp and hospital is pre- pared at large general kitchens and taken to each cottage and hospital buildings in a closed cart and there served each meal time. The food re- tains its heat even in the coldest weather, as it is contained in metal boxes or food carts that are tightly sealed, and the meals in being transported from the respective cook houses to the dining rooms lose very little of their heat.

A good feature of the cottages is a veranda for nearly all of the sleeping rooms, contributing largely to the comfort of the men at all seasons.

The hospital has a frontage of 262 feet. The central portion is three stories high and is con- nected by two-story corridors with pavilions on each side. The number of beds for patients is 427.

The annex to the hospital is two stories high. with a large area basement and has 95 beds for convalescent patients. These buildings are sup- plied with steam heat, which is conveyed from the boiler house, which is located some distance in the rear of these buildings, and is entirely sep- arate and independent from the main boiler- house. The cook house is also in the rear of these buildings and adjacent to the boiler house. The

hospital also has a large diet kitchen, where spe- cial food is prepared for patients.

The main boiler house, 60 feet by 100 feet, contains a battery of nine boilers, which furnish steam for cooking, power and heat for all of the buildings excepting the hospital and annex. Ad- joining this is a large coal house, machine and repair shops, laundry and soap house.

The railroad switch from the main line of the C., B. & Q. tracks is convenient wherefrom eoal

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and supplies in bulk are delivered to the ware- house, kitchen, bakery, quartermaster and com- missary departments.

The dairy and piggery buildings are located north of the camp proper, and comprise a large and complete cow barn and sheds to accommo- date 95 head of cattle, together with buildings for grain and hay storage, and for the care of the hogs.

The farm of the home supplies vegetables re- quired in good season, and there is ample pasture land in addition. On an average there are about 65 cows that are milked and furnish from 195 to 210 gallons of milk daily, at a cost of 715 cents per gallon. A large spring house is arranged for cooling and reducing animal heat in the milk and is conveniently located to the dairy. Usually about 150 hogs are fed and fattened from the home slops, which shows a good profit for money and labor expended.

The handsome little railroad station built by the C .. B. & Q. Railroad Company is a great convenience to the members in going from and returning to the Home. This station is also used by the Wabash trains.

The total number of men admitted to the home is 7.051. The total number readmitted is 2,545: 5.857 have been discharged and 1,741 have died. leaving 1,998 on the rolls. There are 1.216 buried in the Home cemetery.

The average age of the members who are vet-

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erans of the war of the Rebellion is 63.16 years. The average age of members of the Spanish- American war is 33.66 years. The number pres- ent now is 1,560; the average number through the year being 1,922. Nationality of those ad- mitted, three-fourths native born, one-fourth for- eign born. Over nine-tenths of the members draw pensions, the average allowance being $9.60 per month.

Appropriations made for the home by the State Legislature to date are as follows:

Ordinary Expenses.

Year.

1885

$ . . . . . .

Specials. $200,000 5,000

Total. $200,000

1887 to 1889.

40,000

224,500

137,000

406,500

1889 to 1891.

260,000

32,000

292,000

1891 to 1893.

290,000

53,300

343,300

1893 to 1895.

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Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois, Part 61

Author: Collins, William H. (William Hertzog), 1831-1910; Perry, Cicero F., 1855- [from old catalog] joint author; Tillson, John, 1825-1892. History of the city of Quincy, Illinois. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1228

Author: Collins, William H. (William Hertzog), 1831-1910; Perry, Cicero F., 1855- [from old catalog] joint author; Tillson, John, 1825-1892. History of the city of Quincy, Illinois. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1228