USA > Illinois > Peoria County > The History of Peoria County, Illinois. Containing a history of the Northwest-history of Illinois-history of the county, its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc., etc. > Part 80
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E . F. BALDWIN PEORIA.
BERNARD CREMER PEORIA
S.R. HENDERSON PEORIA.
I DD DADACO
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the paper are given up to stories, poetry, anecdotes, and miscellaneous articles on histori- cal, scientific and practical subjects. It is pre-eminently a paper for the home circle and is rapidly establishing itself as a favorite all over the State. In typographical appearance and in the literary character and quality of its contents, it has no superior in the West. It is a Peoria institution of which Peorians are justly proud.
The Peoria Journal was started by J. B. Barnes and E. F. Baldwin, who had pub- lished The El Paso Journal for several years previous. In 1877 they removed the office to Peoria, where they established the Journal as a weekly. On December 3d of that year the first number of the daily Journal appeared, which is the present Peoria Journal. The first week its circulation was 1,700 copies, and it is probably the only instance in the world of a daily paper not only paying expenses but yielding a handsome profit from the first number. It has never sunk a farthing, but has paid a fair profit every week since the first issue. Its circulation grew steadily from the start, and has now reached over 4,100 daily. The Journal is totally independent in politics and religion. It aims to be a newspaper, and endeavors to lay before its readers a perfect record of the news of the day condensed into the smallest space, and its editorials are always pointed and pithy. The terms are ten cents a week, or twelve and a half cents including the Sunday paper. It is printed on a double cylinder Hoe press, the only one in the State outside of Chicago, and publishes a paper every day in the year, not excepting National holidays.
Messrs. Barnes & Baldwin issued the first number of The Weekly Journal on the 11th of March, 1880. It is an eight page, forty-eight column paper, neatly executed, and pur- poses to be an independent family newspaper, giving a readable digest of the news of the week, with market reports, and is furnished to subscribers at $1.00 per year.
The Pharmaceutical News is a quarterly journal which has just passed the second number of the second volume, having been established in July, 1878, and is devoted to chemistry, pharmacy, medicine and surgery. Dr. J. T. Skinner was its editor until his death, since which time Dr. H. Steele has had editorial charge. It aims to discuss all subjects pertaining to the interest of the medical profession, in a vigorous, progressive spirit ; its matter is chiefly original, and composed of contributions from physicians of marked recognized ability. Prominent local members of the profession contemplate changing it from a quarterly to a monthly, and enlarging and improving it so as to make it a representative medical journal of the State.
The Illinois Tradesman and Manufacturer, unlike all the other papers published in Peoria, is a jobbers', shippers' and manufacturers' journal. Its past career has been a brilliant one, started as it was with little or no cash capital, and without even the en- couragement or sanction of the merchants and manufacturers of the city. Its proprietor, Mr. J. A. Monger, a gentleman of extensive newspaper training and travel, issued the first number September 18, 1879. During the first six months of its career it attained a circulation of 5,000 copies weekly. In size the paper is one of the largest west of New York. It contains in each and every issue eight columns of trade reports and price currents, and in addition it furnishes statistical information relative to the various branches of trade. It is the largest American weekly journal of commerce published. It contains also, as specialties, manufacturing and industrial news, and discusses literary or scientific topics, and is a valuable newspaper for the retailer, wholesaler and manufac- turer who desires to examine sources of financial and commercial information. Mr. Mon- ger has placed the paper in the first rank of commercial journalism. The office of the Illinois Tradesman and Manufacturer is located in the Exchange Block, opposite the Board of Trade, and is rarely surpassed for elegance or convenience.
HISTORY OF THE TEMPERANCE CAUSE IN PEORIA.
The first temperance movement was in 1842. For several months meetings were held almost nightly in the Court-house, at which local speakers and occasionally persons
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from abroad spoke on this then comparatively new subject. Large numbers signed the pledge, and many hard drinkers were reclaimed and lived and died sober men. A society was formed, called the " Washingtonian Temperance Society." This society remained in existence until 1846, when it was merged into a secret organization called the "Sons of Temperance." This organization has been in existence ever since. It is now sup- planted by the " Good Templars," a secret temperance organization of the same charac- ter as the "Sons of Temperance." In 1851 a political movement was inaugurated, having for its end the passage of a prohibitory law after the plan of what is known as the " Maine Law." Public opinion was not prepared for such a movement, and consequently it failed. It is useless to pass a law against any evil unless public opinion is educated to a point at which they are willing to enforce the law. So in this case, what Maine was prepared to execute Illinois was not in condition to pass. In 1875, when the women's crusade was inaugurated in Ohio, and was sweeping over other Middle and Western States, Peoria felt its effects, and large meetings were held in one of our largest churches. No permanent effects came from these meetings, unless it was to educate the people to a higher plane and attract their attention to the evil as it existed in their midst.
In August, 1877, a work was commeneed here by Capt. J. C. Bontecan, of Michigan, which for extent and permanent good has never been equalled in this city in the way of temperance reform. He came here an entire stranger, but having faith in the righteous- ness of his cause and confidence in God, he went fearlessly to work, commencing in a small way, meeting with many discouragements, yet overcoming them one by one. The interest increased until the whole city was aroused on the subject as it never had been before on any moral question. No hall or church would contain the multitude who gath- ered nightly to hear the cause presented by Mr. Bontecau, and local speakers. Thousands of all classes signed the pledge. Hundreds of moderate drinkers and intemperate men have reformed and after two years of trial, most of them stand firmly by their pledge.
A Red Ribbon Club was formed of men, and a White Ribbon Club of women, who work harmoniously together for the good of the cause. A large hall is rented for their use. During the Winter season meetings are held almost nightly. During the entire year Gospel Temperance meetings are held every Sunday night ; a prayer and experience meet- ing each Tuesday evening, and a regular business meeting every Thursday evening.
The temperance cause in Peoria never was so strong or in such encouraging condition as at present. Public opinion is being educated to a higher position on the subject, and the advocates of temperance never were so active as at this time.
MISCELLANEOUS SOCIETIES.
Mercantile Library Association - In the year 1855 two public libraries were estab- lished in the city, the Peoria Library and the Peoria Mercantile Library, which were con- solidated in November, 1856, under the name and title of the Peoria City Library. The number of books in the two libraries at the time of the union amounted to less than two thousand volumes, a considerable number of which were donations, but among these donations were embraced some of the most rare and valuable books in the Library at the present time.
In the Spring of 1865, through the aid of our then Representative, the Hon. Alex. McCoy, a charter was obtained from the Legislature, and the charter name of Peoria Mercantile Library Association assumed. Under the charter a new constitution was adopted and a re-organization effected into two departments, a library department and an exchange department, cach department having a separate board of directors and the two boards united forming one general board.
A subscription was immediately started to raise funds for the purchase of a suitable property for the Association. The late T. S. Bradley, Esq., headed the list with a gift
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of $1,000 and was most generously followed by public spirited citizens in like liberal pro- portion, realizing in a few weeks the very handsome sum of $13,262.50.
With the sum so raised the Association purchased of Mr. John L. Griswold, for the sum of $10,000, the house and lot on the corner of Main and Jefferson Streets - without doubt the most convenient site in the city - and at once proceeded to fit up the building for its new uses. In July of 1865, the Library was re-opened in its new quarters.
The Library preserves with grateful recognition among its records the names of all its benefactors, from its origin in 1855, down to the present time, and it is interesting to read how large a number of the best citizens have, at various times aided with their counsels and their gifts in the growth and permanent establishment of the present Mercantile Library Association. But it certainly will not be esteemed invidious to mention here the name of L. G. Pratt, Esq., as the one to whose excellent judgment and unwearied zeal the Library is indebted more, perhaps, than to any other one person, for the success of the effort made in the Spring of 1865.
The exchange department of the Association, originally intended to provide a mer- chants' exchange and reading-room - a kind of open club room -supplied with the daily papers and evening dispatches, for the use of the business men of the city, did not receive the support from the public that had been anticipated, and after a few years, closed its rooms in the lower story of the library building.
The old Library building having grown somewhat hoary with age, and not in keep- ing with the enterprising spirit and growth of the city, and, besides, not perfectly adapted to the purpose for which it was being used, it was decided to remove it and erect a more sightly, imposing, and convenient edifice in its place. Accordingly, early in 1878, the old house was torn away and preparations for building the new block immediately begun upon the same site - corner of Main and Jefferson Streets. It was completed that season, at a cost of $30,000, the lot upon which it stands being valued at $20,000.
The Library building is three stories high beside the basement, covers an area of 112x54 feet. Its walls are of brick, with pressed-brick fronts and brown stone trim- mings, forming a harmonious and beautiful combination, rendering the structure one of the most attractive and imposing in the city. It was planned by W. H. Wilcox, of Chi- cago. The first story is divided into store rooms, the upper portion is divided into offices and library rooms, the latter occupying a space of 40x54 feet, with the second and third stories thrown into one room. The arrangement of the library and reading-room is very convenient, as well as pleasing.
The property is owned by the Peoria Library Association and the Exchange Associa- tion. But the intention is, eventually, to have it belong entirely to the Library Associa- tion, and when the bonded indebtedness, of which there is a limited amount, is paid off, the rentals will be applied for the benefit of the library. In the meantime it has its apartment rent free.
The library contains 11,000 volumes, which are catalogued, and classified and ar- ranged in the following departments :
SCIENCE- Social and Political Sciences :- Theology, philosophy, jurisprudence, poli- tics, social science, and philology. Natural Sciences and Useful Arts :- Mathematics, physics, natural history, medicine, useful arts.
ART :- Fine arts, poetry. prose, fiction, literary miscellany.
HISTORY :- Geography and travels, civil history, biography.
APPENDIX :- Cyclopædias, periodicals.
The present officers, for the year 1880, are :
President, Washington Cockle; vice-president. Roswell Bills ; treasurer, N. N. Wheeler ; secretary, I. C. Hansell. Directors of Exchange Department, George H. Mc- Ilvaine, A. P. Bartlett, I. Boyd Smith, Samnel H. Thompson, Charles S. Clarke, I. S. Starr, Robert C. Grier. Directors of Library Department, E, S. Wilcox, M. Griswold,
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I. C. Hansel, I. Burks, H. B. Rouse, W. A. Beasley. Mrs. S. B. Armstrong is libra- rian.
Neither the income nor the membership is as large as could be wished. The advan- tages of access to a large public library are of such a character as to not make themselves fully felt or appreciated by the masses. Only those who have received considerable culture, and in whom a taste for reading is already developed, will so prize its bene- fits as to be willing to spare from the ordinary demands of life the sum of money neces- sary to meet the annual dues of a subscription library. The directors and friends of the Peoria Mercantile Library confidently hope, therefore, that in the near future a third and more permanent re-organization of the library will take place, under the State laws to " Authorize cities, incorporated towns and townships to establish and maintain Free Pub- lic libraries and reading rooms," thus enabling the whole populace, as well as the sojourning stranger, to come to this fountain of knowledge and drink, without money and without price.
Peoria Law Library Association. - This association was incorporated on January 6, 1879, with a capital stock of 815,000, in shares of $100 each, Chauncey Nye, Leslie Rob- ison, S. D. Puterbaugh. Thomas Cratty, and Lawrence Harmon, being the incorporators. The first Board of Directors were Thomas Cratty, Chauncey Nye, James M. Rice, S. D. Puterbaugh, and Lawrence Harmon.
The object sought in the formation of the association was the economy and conven- ience of the Bench and Bar.
It is well known to every person conversant with the requirements of the legal pro- fession that in order to practice in the higher courts successfully, an attorney must have access to a large range of legal literature, so large, indeed, that if he attempts to purchase all the law books which have a bearing upon the practice in the courts of Illinois, it will involve an amount of capital entirely beyond the ability of the lawyer of average means to invest. The published reports of every State and Territory in the United States, the reports of England, Scotland, Ireland, and the British Possessions in America, are all considered essential to a complete law library of a thorough practicing attorney, inasmuch as all these reports contain records of pleadings and decisions which are liable to have an important bearing upon cases and decisions that may arise in his practice in the courts of Illinois. There are about 3,000 of these published reports of the courts of the United States, and some 1,500 of the English speaking countries of Europe, and there are not less than 70,000 pages of reports being published annually. In the year 1874 there were twenty volumes published in the countries subject to the British crown, and eighty-two volumes the same year in this country. These numbers have since con- siderably increased. These volumes range in price from 81.10 to $10 each. Besides the reports, the statutes and digests are equally necessary to the legal practitioner. Thus it will appear that to possess a full equipment of legal lore, such as every first-class attorney should have at his command, will involve a capital of $30,000 to $50,000. It was with a view to obviate this immense outlay, and at the same time supply this imper- ative waut, that the Peoria Law Library Association was organized.
Of the $15,000 stock taken, 89,719.25 has been paid in. The original collection of books consisted of the private libraries of such members of the har as took stock in the company. There was thus taken in four thousand volumes. Upon the combination of these private collections it was found that there were many instances of duplicates, while numerous vacancies of necessary books existed. The officers of the society set about selling, exchanging, and purchasing new books, so as to dispose of duplicates, and fill vacancies, and make the library a complete unity. The collection now contains 3,400 volunnes which stand first in the catalogues of books needed by the Bench and Bar. Of these 2,500 volumes are reports representing every State and Territory in the Union and the District of Columbia. By an arrangement with dealers, the association is enabled
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to place upon their shelves all books of reports and such other law books as are of a character to be applicable to the practice in the State of Illinois, within thirty days after their issue from the press.
The value of the property owned by the association, consisting of the library and fixtures, is $14,000, and there are no claims held against it by any parties outside of the stockholders.
The northeast basement room in the Court-house is occupied by the library, and is neatly furnished and arranged.
The present Board of Directors are Thomas Cratty, S. D. Puterbaugh, James M. Rice, John S. Stevens, and Chauncey Nye.
The officers of the Board consist of: Thomas Cratty, president ; S. D. Puterbaugh, vice-president ; Chauncey Nye, secretary ; James M. Rice, treasurer ; L. C. Pinkney, librarian.
German Library Association .- This association was organized in 1856, for the pur- pose of collecting and maintaining a library of books in the German language, for circula- tion among the readers of that tongue in Peoria. The nucleus of the library was a lot of about 100 volumes, which originally belonged to the Peoria Leidercranz, and this stock of books has steadily increased, by judicious selections, purchased from time to time, until its catalogue now contains about 2,000 volumes. Though this number is compara- tively small, the library is still a good and comprehensive one, owing to the careful se- lection of the works composing it. The annual subscription is $3; the books are much sought after, and fill a recognized want in the community. The association was incorpo- rated under private act in 1861, and in 1876 the charge of the books was turned over to the German School Association, in whose building they had for some years been kept, with the proviso that should that association ever dissolve, the books should revert to the original Library Association. Its affairs are at present managed by the following com- mittee: Dr. Fred. Brendell, Dr. R. Roskoten, and Carl Gillig. The librarian is Mr. Christian Zimmerman, who attends the library in the German school on Second Street, from 7 to 9 o'clock every Wednesday evening.
The Peoria Bar Association .- In pursuance of a notice through the newspapers, the attorneys of the city of Peoria met in the Law Library rooms at the Court-house on the 10th of November, 1879. The object was to consider the advisability of forming a Bar Association. The meeting was well attended. James M. Rice was made chairman, and a committee of five was appointed to draft a plan of organization and report at an adjourned meeting on the 18th following. This committee consisted of James M. Rice, Thomas Cratty, David McCulloch, Chauncey Nye and Leslie Robison.
On the 18th of November the committee reported a plan, a constitution was adop- ted, the association regularly organized, and the following officers elected for the ensuing year : President, David McCulloch ; first vice-president, J. K. Cooper ; second vice-pres- ident, S. D. Puterbaugh ; secretary, Henry C. Fuller ; treasurer, Thomas Cratty.
The objects of the association are expressed in the constitution: "To cultivate the science of jurisprudence ; to promote reform in the law ; to facilitate the administration of justice ; to elevate the standard of integrity, honor and courtesy in the legal profes- sion ; to encourage a thorough and liberal legal education, and to cherish a spirit of brotherhood among the members thereof."
There are five standing committees : 1. Executive. 2. On grievances. 3. Admis- sions. 4. Law Reform. 5. Legal Biography and History.
The meetings are held at the Court-house on the evening of the second Tuesday of each month. The exercises consist of addresses, debates, discussions of questions of law, moot courts, etc. The attendance is good and the association prosperous.
Peoria Scientific Association .- This association was organized April 17, 1875. Its object, as declared in its constitution, is " to increase the knowledge of science among
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its members, and awaken a spirit of scientific investigation among the people." Its reg- ular meeting is held on the first Thursday evening in each month. By the kindness of the Board of Supervisors, it occupies rooms in the Court-house. Its work is carried on through sections. Those at present organized are the Botanical, Entomological and Microscopical, Geological and Paleontological. Zoological, Archæological and Historical.
Its museum contains a collection of all the flora of the region of Peoria, and many of the plants of other sections, comprising over a thousand species ; one hundred and twen- ty-five of the mollusca of the Illinois river ; several hundred stone axes and other imple- ments of the Mound Builders, and many specimens illustrative of the zoology, geology and paleontology of Peoria county. Its collection of coleoptera is probably the finest in the State.
The herbarium of the society is a donation from Drs. J. T. Stewart and F. Brendel. Its collection of shells is the gift of Dr. Brendel. Its archicological specimens have been collected by Mr. Moon. The geological and zoological cabinets were donated by Mr. Sydney Pulsifer. The case devoted to entomology is the donation of Miss Emma Smith. The society is indebted to many friends for other donations to its collection. It is under special obligations to Miss Smith and Dr. Brendel, who in addition to their other contributions, have given a very large part of their time to the work of collecting and classifying its specimens.
The officers of the association are as follows: S. II. White, president; Dr. J. T. Stewart, John X. Wilson, J. F. King, vice-presidents ; Mrs. Clara P. Bourland, secre- tary ; Miss Emma Smith, corresponding secretary ; W. F. Bryan, treasurer ; Dr. F. Brendel, curator and librarian.
The chairmen of the different sections are: Dr. J. T. Stewart, botanical : Miss Emma Smith, entomological and microscopical ; Wm. Gifferd, geological and paleonto- logical ; Dr. F. Brendel, zoological ; B. L. T. Bourland, archaeological ; E. S. Wilcox, historical.
The Peoria Ladies Art Society .- This society was organized on the 12th day of June, 1878, at the office of Mrs. Emery, in the Transcript building, five ladies being pre- sent at the meeting. The constitution of the society was then adopted, declaring its fundamental objects to be " to promote Art culture, and to develop a taste for the decor- ation and adornment of home."" Officers were elected, by-laws adopted, and the society put into full working order by these five ladies. Semi-monthly meetings of the society have been regularly held since its organization, with constantly increasing interest, and (it is believed) profit to the members. The membership now amounts to twenty ladies. Gentlemen may, under certain conditions, become honorary members, and have all the privileges of regular members, except voting or holding office.
The society's rooms, corner of Madison and Main Streets (Spurck's building, third floor), are well adapted to the present needs of the society, and are fitted up with the simplicity and elegance of true Art. Here may already be found quite a number of real art gems, and the student of art, if desirous, will be freely accorded the privilege to work or study. The members are all " Students of Art," not in idea only, but in fact, and the meetings at the rooms are for the purpose of comparing and interchanging the results of work and study, as well as to attend to matters pertaining to the external affairs of the organization.
At the present time and for some months past, the subject of study has been the " History of Art." This will be followed by the special study of architecture, its orders, styles and history in the different countries and ages - this by sculpture, and lastly by painting, with a similar scope of inquiry. So it will be seen that although the society is sinall, it has laid out a large field for years of study, in directions which can not fail to be beneficial in a very high degree to the members, and to the whole community in which
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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.
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