Portrait and biographical album of Knox county, Illinois, Part 126

Author: Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo and Chicago; Chapman Brothers, pub
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical publishing company
Number of Pages: 1130

USA > Illinois > Knox County > Portrait and biographical album of Knox county, Illinois > Part 126

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C. S. Colton was the only merchant in the village for several years. Mr. Chambers had opened a store, but soon after moved to Knoxville. During the early years Knoxville and Henderson were the prin- cipal places for trade. Mr. Colton could not keep everything that was wanted by the people here, and they would go to the above-mentioned places and sometimes to Farmington before they could get what they wanted. This condition of business remained until 1840 or 1841.

In 1842 the standard price for pork was $1.50 per hundred. Beef cattle were not to be had. Drovers

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from Ohio were constantly picking these up, young and old, driving them off and fattening them for market. Wheat was hauled into Chicago, where it sold at from 45 to 50 cents a bushel. In 1841 Mr. Chambers, from Knoxville, opened a store on the corner of the Square. Following him were several unsuccessful efforts in the mercantile line. In 1843 (if rightly informed) Mr. Johnson, of Knoxville, opened a branch store and was successful. He was soon followed by the Willards, who also succeeded in establishing a good business.

In 1841 the Female Seminary building was com- pleted at a cost of $5,000. It was located where George W. Brown's lumber-yard now is. It was burned in 1843. The following year the wings of the college building were completed and were occu- pied for lecture-rooms and dormitories. In 1846 the " New Academy " was erected. It was occupied for some 12 years, and then was used for a High School until the demands of the town forced it out to make roon for the Union Hotel. During the second dec- ade the business of the town had materially in- creased. Emigration had been constantly increasing the population, the wealth and the activity of the settlement; the college had been prosperous, and the condition was such as to make the hearts of the colonists, particularly the projectors, joyful and happy.

On Jan. 27, 1841, Galesburg had been incorporated as a village, and on April 5, of same year, an elec- tion was held under the charter, which resulted in the choice of James Bull, Norman Churchill, Jacob Edgerton, James Bunce and Levi Sanderson as Trustees; Agrippa S. Martin, Assessor; Roswell Payne, Treasurer ; Oliver Adams, Constable. This Board established quite a reputation for enacting or- dinances.

No town with ambitious hopes can get along with- out a newspaper and without a press to represent its advantages and interests ; its ambition would be like a vessel at sea with sails unfurled and no wind. Yet, starting a newspaper is sometimes risky, and is often attended with disastrous consequences to the pro- jector. The fault, however, is chiefly in the time and place of starting, and the want of capacity for the work. A good editor is about as rare as a good poet, and, like a poet, he must be born so. The first paper published in Galesburg was the Knox Intelli- gencer, and was established by Rev. C. R. Fisk. The first issue went out into the world, disseminating its

intelligence, the Ist of January, 1849. The office was then over Mr. Sanderson's store. It is remem- bered that the editor took great pride in his paper, and was very solicitous about its reception, as he cast it forth to the public. He undoubtedly had some feeling akin to Southey as he sent out his first vol- ume to the world :

" Go, my little book, from this my solitude. I vast thee on the waters, go thy ways; And if, as I suppose, thy vein be good, The world will find thee after many days."

A patriotic people were these colonists, much after the old Plymouthites, and those of Revolutionary time. The Fourth of July was a grand day with them. It must be celebrated and in a manner after the old days. The Declaration of Independence must be read, patriotic orations delivered, guns fired, and a big dinner with enough to eat for all. They had no cannons, but there were anvils, and they were charged to the fullest extent and touched off, their reports reverberating over the wild prairies for miles. What heartiness, what genuine mirth entered into those celebrations! All were rejoiced, all were friendly, and in sympathy with one another ; all were engaged in one common cause, that of building up a community that would be an honor to the coun- try, true to the principles of Christianity and morali- ty, and true to the principles and the memory of their fathers. In speaking of celebrations, it might be opportune to refer to that one given in honor of the completion of the Atlantic Cable, unsurpassed probably before or since in the history of Galesburg. Preparations were made for a grand celebration, and speakers were invited from abroad. Among them were Hon. Robert S. Blackwell, of Chicago, formerly a member of the Galesburg bar, and Hon. T. J. Hale, of Knoxville. Mr. Blackwell made one of his char- acteristic speeches, an extract from which is given. He said :

" We meet to-day, in this age of special wonders, upon that summit level which divides the waters of two noble rivers, upon a spot which, thirty years ago, was the home and hunting-ground of the savage; in the midst of an incorporated city only one year old, which already contains a population of 8,ooo inhabit- ants ; in a State which, though but 40 years of age, ranks at least fifth in wealth and power in this glori- ous confederacy of ours, and in sight of a pioneer institution of learning whose honors are already sought after by the scholar-to celebrate the jubilee

KNOX COUNTY.

of nations; the crowning act of civilization; the dawn of the Christian millennium ; the conquest of time; the annihilation of distance; the triumph of science ; the nuptial ceremonies by which the two hemispheres are united together during all time."

Mr. Hale followed in an eloquent address, in which he made some vivid comparisons with the pioneer days and those at that time, from which we quote briefly. Mr. Hale said :

"These boundless steppes were but a few years ago wild, waving seas of grass, and wo to the ad- venturous voyager who, without a pilot or compass, ventured out of sight of land. Then the red tongue of the Fire King lapped and licked over the surface that is now dotted over with smiling farms and living herds. The scream of the steam whistle is now heard instead of the bark of the wolf, and what was then a wild waste, with an occasional garden spot, is now a wide garden, with an occasional waste spot. Why, Mr. President, your own beautiful city, spread- ing out on every hand, embosomed in trees, and stretching across from swell to swell, with its churches, and spires, and colleges, and bells, and factories, and hotels, and storehouses, and busy marts, and subur- ban villás, is a greater achievement in one point of view than the Atlantic telegraph."

The celebration terminated with a torchlight pro- cession and a magnificent display of fireworks.

The most important event occurring to Galesburg after its foundation was the completion through its precincts of the first railroad-the C., B. & Q. It was a great event for the people of Galesburg when the " Reindeer " steamed into town with a construc- tion train. This was on Dec. 7, 1854, and was the first locomotive to enter the town. This event gave great impetus to the growth of Galesburg; it en- hanced the value of real estate, and increased specu- lation ; it also inflated many an air bubble, and pro- duced many wild schemes by which everybody was to become rich. Back of all this, however, there was a solid growth of business, a substantial increase in the value of real estate and the development of the material interests of the town and county. The college lands found a ready sale at good prices, which swelled its exchequer to large proportions. They then began the erection of their main college and female seminary buildings, which were in good time finished at a cost of nearly a hundred thousand

dollars. The history of this institution will be found elsewhere.

The most important event to Galesburg, next to the completion of the railroad, was the establishment of George W. Brown's corn-planter factory in 1855. He removed from Shanghai to this place, being in- duced to do so by its favorable locality, and also by its railroad facilities. His location here proved to be of as much benefit to Galesburg as to Mr. Brown.

The advent of the railroad and the establishment of manufacturing industries, with the consequent increase of population and business, stimulated the de- sire among the people for a city corporation, and a petition to this effect was presented to the Legisla- ture. The prayer of the petitioners was granted and " An Act to Incorporate the City of Galesburg " was passed, and was approved Feb. 14, 1857. This charter was subsequently amended several times, and remained as amended until July 17, 1866, when a general charter was adopted under the general law providing for the incorporation of cities and vil- lages. An election was held under the incorporation act, which resulted in the election of the following named officers :

Henry R. Sanderson, Mayor ; O. S. Pitcher, Clerk, and A. M. Phelps, Treasurer.

Having clothed itself with the habiliments of a city, it was then essential that its new dignity should have the additional attraction of being illuminated with gas, and during this year (1886) Galesburg established its gas-works.

Galesburg had a population at that time of over 4,000. At the end of the first decade-or 1846-it had a population of about 800. During the second decade another institution of learning was established at Galesburg, the famous Lombard University. It was opened for students in September, 1852. The colo- nists, carrying out the system they first adopted, of having ample educational facilities, in 1866 es- tablished a High School, having erected a fine build- ing for this purpose.

In the spring of 1857 another railroad was added to Galesburg-the Peoria Branch. In 1882 the Ful- ton County Narrow-Gauge Railroad was completed, running from Galesburg to Havana. With this line and the C., B. & Q. system, Galesburg certainly has the most ample railroad facilities.

In 1872 the city bought of Knox College the grounds now occupied by the City Park, with the

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privilege of paying for it in 20 years, but before the end of 1877 it was all paid for. The eastern half of this park was given to the county as an induce- ment to secure the county seat, on condition that the Court-House should be erected there. They, how- ever gave the county the option of either erecting the building on this land or on the Public Square. Another important event to Galesburg was the loca- tion of the county seat here, which took place, after a long and bitter contest, Jan. 30, 1873.

During the summer of 'S4, the C., B. & Q. R. R. Co. completed their Union Depot. The first train came up to its platform May 10, before the building was finished. It is a beautiful structure, and one in which the city may justly take pride, and which was much needed for many years.

In the early part of the year 1885 a company was organized for the construction of a street railroad, and the line was completed during the summer. In keeping with the general progress of the city, an elec- tric light was put in in the fall of 1885, and a second one introduced in January, 1886.

We have thus briefly presented the leading features connected with the history of Galesburg, from its first settlement to the present time. Much of its his- tory, of which in this chapter we have only given a passing notice, such as schools, colleges, churches, industrial branches, corporate institutions, societies, etc., will be found under their respective heads. We have traced the history of this town from its com- mencement in 1837, in the wild prairie grass, to its present metropolitan appearance. Its growth has been gradual, healthy and sure. There has been but one serious interruption to its steady develop- ment, but one period when the present and the fut- ure were shrouded with darkness and doubt, and this was during the business panic of 1857. Could an inhabitant of this place, some two-score years ago, have taken a Rip Van Winkle sleep and awakened at the present time, he would have been as much surprised and as much at a loss as to his locality as that mythical individual was. He might after a vigilant search have found his Gretchen, but it would be in a mansion instead of a shanty. Its private, public and business buildings have gone up one by one, its streets laid out and beautified, until it is now one of the finest cities in the State.

The streets and residence grounds are adorned with beautiful shade-trees and evergreens. This is

largely due to the colonists, who, very soon after their settlement, commenced to set out trees and start nurseries. One of the leaders in the latter en- terprise was Adnah Williams. That element of character which was planted here by the colonists and early settlers has been perpetuated. To them the present condition of society in Galesburg is greatly due for its culture, its refinement, its good taste, its moral and religious standing. These sturdy pioneers laid the foundation. One of the peculiar features of this city is the uniformity of the dwellings; the dwellings of the wealthy differ but little from the abodes of those who are in comfortable circum- stances. There is no attempt at rivalry, no gaudy display of wealth, but a gentility of comfort and a quiet refinement are manifested throughout. There is no affected display of superiority on account of wealth or position, but a bond of common sympathy, of mutual interest and neighborly regard, seems to per- vade the entire community.

Many of the early settlers, as well as their descend- ants, still live to enjoy the fruit of their labors, and can now take a retrospective view of the past and contemplate with pride and pleasure the pro- duct of their noble work ; they can behold now a beau- tiful city with its happy population, surrounded with the arts, the culture and all the refinements of an ad- vanced civilization, grandly resting where a few years ago was but an unbroken, wild prairie.

Knox College.

HE history of Knox College is so inter- woven with that of Galesburg that the « historian finds its difficult to separate them. If the reader does not find all he seeks under this head, probably he may under that of the city of Galesburg, Our effort is to have as little repetition as possible.

It may be truthfully said that the beginning of Knox College, in its educational feature, was in a log school-house in " Log City," during the winter of 1836-37, with Prof. N. H. Losey and Miss Lucy Gay as instructors. But Knox College had its in- ception on the 7th day of January, 1836, at Whites- boro, N. Y. It was here and on this day that the subscribers to Geo. W. Gale's plan met, organized the college, appointed a Board of Trustees, and then donated to it several thousand acres of land where

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Galesburg now is. The credit of this vast enterprise is due to Rev. Geo. W. Gale, D. D., a Presbyterian, with whom the plan in its details originated, and to whose efforts is due its consummation. A charter was granted by the Legislature of the State in March, 1837, under the title of Knox Manual Labor College. The first meeting of the Board of Trustees under this charter was held August 9, 1837, when their organization was perfected. It was decided at this meeting to erect a school building as soon as possible. There were some delays, however, and the building was not completed until late in the fall of 1838, when the academy was formally opened by Prof. N. H. Losey as Principal, and Hiram Marsh as Assistant. In 1841 the college was fully organ- ized. Rev. H. H. Kellogg was chosen President; Rev. G. W. Gale, Professor of Belles Lettres, and Prof. N. H Losey, Professor of Mathematics. The following year another professorship was added, that of Languages, with Prof. Grant at its head. In 1843 the first catalogue was issued, representing a list of 175 students. In 1845, President Kellogg resigned, and Jonathan Blanchard was elected.

In June, 1846, the first class was graduated, which consisted of W. S. Bush, Southwick Davis, Wm. Holyoke, Francis Leonard, Chas. F. Martin, Asa C. Olney, Sanford Richardson and Edwin G. Smith.

In 1851 the first class of ladies was graduated- Misses Ann Dunn, Sarah Fisk, Margaret Gale. The building for the Female Seminary, which was con- nected with the college, was erected in 1841, but was burned in 1843.

After the completion of the railroad to Galesburg and the sale of real estate, which largely increased the funds in the treasury of the college, a new female seminary building was erected. The cost of the building was $30,000. It was a large, five-story brick edifice, with chapel, recitation rooms, rooms for music and painting, and ample accommodations for boarding. The college building cost $50,000. It is an imposing edifice, constructed of brick, with all the necessary conveniences for school purposes. At this time the whole endowment of this institution was estimated at about $400,000, and the donations it had received outside of the colony had been less than $50,000. In 1876 a building was erected, 36x 72 feet in dimensions, for a gymnasium, which cost $1,500.

Comparatively few changes have been made in the

Faculty of this institution since its foundation. The following gentlemen have served as Presidents : Rev. H. H. Kellogg, from 1839 to 1845 ; Rev. Jona- than Blanchard, from 1845 to 1858; Rev. Harvey Curtis, from 1858 to 1863; Rev. W. S. Curtis, to 1868; Rev. J. P. Gulliver, to 1872; Prof. A. Hurd, Acting President to 1875, when the present incum- bent, Dr. Newton Bateman, took possession of the presidential chair.

With Dr. Bateman at the head of the College, and Prof. George Churchill at the head of the Academy, with the able Faculty, this institution of learning could not be otherwise than eminently efficient and pros- perous.

The college classical course is modeled after the best American educational institutions. The study of the languages, mathematics, sciences, the various branches of philosophy, rhetoric, logic, general his- tory and literature are made the feature of the col- lege. On recommendation of the Faculty the Board of Trustees confer the degree of Bachelor of Arts on all persons who have completed the pre- scribed classical course in the college satisfactorily, and the degree of Bachelor of Science upon all who have satisfactorily completed the scientific course.

The Academy comprises two departments, English and classical. The former gives a full course of English studies and affords special advantages to students who intend to become teachers. The latter is a preparatory department, devoted to a thorough preparation of students for the college and young ladies' seminary.

The college library contains over 4,000 volumes. There is a reading-room in connection with the library, in which may be found the leading reviews, magazines and newspapers.

The collections in natural history contain 3,000 specimens; geological, 1,100; mineralogical, 10,000 ; zoological, embracing nearly 3,000 species, and 1,300 botanical specimens, which are constantly receiving valuable additions.

Connected with the college are two literary socie- ties, the Adelphi and the Gnothautii; the former was organized in 1846 and the latter in 1849. They are both chartered.

Knox College has fully established its right to be the representative college of the West. The same standard of culture is maintained here as in the

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Eastern colleges, imbued with the vigorous life of the West. The influence it has upon this part of the conntry has been very manifest.

Great attention is given here to the physical de- velopment, and every facility is afforded for this in the large gymnasium, which is well equipped. With this is the military department, under the command of Lieut. S. C. Mills, U. S. A., who was detailed to this professorship by the l'resident of the United States.

A musical conservatory, with Prof. F. W. Bently, is one of the additions to this college.

Lombard University.

T the residence of Amos Pierce, Greenbush, Warren Co., Ill., the Lombard University had its inception. It was here, in the early part of 1850, that the initiatory steps were taken toward the establishment of a high school or academy. Mr. Pierce was chosen Chairman of the meeting. After a conference it was decided to invite Rev. C. P. West to draw up a plan and submit to the next meeting of the Spoon River Association. May 19, following, this Association convened at Greenbush and the following preamble and resolutions, which were drafted by Mr. West, were presented and adopted :

" WHEREAS, The intellectual and moral improve- ment of our youth is a subject of vital importance, not only to our denomination, but also to the commu- nity at large; and whereas, most, if not all, the lit- erary institutions of this State, higher than common schools, established by law, ever have been and still are in the hands and under the control of our relig- ious opponents; and whereas, the sectarian influ- ences of these institutions are detrimental to the cause of free inquiry after religious truth, injurious to the spread of Universalism, and sometimes ruinous to the peace and happiness of the students them- selves ; therefore,

" Resolved, That the Universalists of the State ought immediately to adopt measures for the estab- lishment of a seminary of learning which shall be free from the above-named objections.

" Resolved, That said institution should be located in Galesburg, Knox Co., Ill."

Thus it will be seen that the aim of its founders was to establish a thoroughly liberal Christian insti-

tution of learning, with freedom to worship God after the Puritan principle and according to the dictates of their own consciences.

In October, 1850, a joint-stock company was or- ganized with shares at $25 each. A sufficient amount was raised to enable the company to erect a building for school purposes, which was completed in 1852, and a school was opened under the name of the " Illinois Liberal Institute," in September, with Rev. P. R. Kendall as President. A meeting of stockholders was held at Galesburg, October 24, and elected 15 Trustees, a Clerk and a Treasurer. A Presi- dent of the Board was also elected, and a Building Committee. At a subsequent meeting the Board de- cided to erect a more substantial building of brick, three stories high, 60 feet long and 40 feet wide, to cost about $6,000.

The act of incorporation was approved Feb. 15, 1851, and the Board of Trustees elected at the Octo- ber meeting reorganized under the new charter. In 1853 an amendment was made to the charter, with power to confer degrees for collegiate honors. Presi- dent Kendall was of great assistance to this new in- stitution. Through his untiring energy during the" the years 1852, '53, '54, '55, the institution was par- tially endowed ; more than $100,000 worth of scholar- ships were sold during this period. The price of! scholarships was $50, $100 and $200, being divided into three classes, which entitled the purchaser to double the worth in tuition.

From the fall of 1854 to the fall of 1857, Prof. J. V. N. Standish was nominally the Acting President, although President Kendall held the office until the summer of 1856. April 27, 1855, the building was destroyed by fire. The school kept on in its work, tenting rooms in various parts of the town. In 1856 the present college building was erected at a cost of $45,000. The fall following it was occupied for school purposes, although it was unfinished. During this period the number of students was 245.

In 1855 Benjamin Lombard made a donation to the institution of $20,000, and the charter and the name of the institution were changed, it taking the name of the Lombard University. In 1869 the charter was again changed, increasing the number of the Trustees to 20 elective members, and making the board self-perpetuating, the offices of one-fifth of the number expiring annually, the President of the institution being ex officio a member of the Board of

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Trustees. In 1857 Rev. Otis A. Skinner, D. D., was elected President, which position he very ac- ceptably filled until 1859, when Rev. James P. Wes- ton was chosen President, which office he held for 15 years. Prof. William Livingston was the Acting President from 1872 to 1875. In 1876, the Cen- tennial year, Rev. Nehemiah White was called to the presidential chair, which position he still holds. The first class was graduated in 1856.

The college grounds embrace 14 acres, and are ornamented with trees and shrubs. The building is a very fine brick structure, three stories high, So feet long and 66 feet wide, and has excellent apartments for libraries, apparatus, lectures and recitations. The library contains upward of 5,000 volumes, besides pamphlets and magazines. The cabinet contains a large and valuable collection of specimens.

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Portrait and biographical album of Knox county, Illinois, Part 126

Author: Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo and Chicago; Chapman Brothers, pub Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Chicago : Biographical publishing company Number of Pages: 1130

Author: Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo and Chicago; Chapman Brothers, pub
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical publishing company
Number of Pages: 1130