USA > Illinois > Stephenson County > The History of Stephenson County, Illinois : containing biographical sketches war record statistics portraits of early settlers history of the Northwest, history of Illinois, &c. > Part 49
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99
During the latter half of this decade, Henry Freeman officiated as Princi- pal of the High School, discharging the duties of Educator and Superintend- ent until 1859, with such fidelity and success that the good results which fol- lowed his administration were apparent long after he dissolved his connection with the educational interests of Freeport and became identified with those of Rockford.
On the 1st of September, 1859, an election was held in Freeport for the purpose of determining whether a site for the erection of a schoolhouse should be purchased and the amount of tax necessary to be levied for defraying the expenses of erecting a schoolhouse, etc., at which it was determined to pur- chase Lots 1, 2, 3, and 4, in Clark's Addition, and to erect thereon a school building at a cost not to exceed $6,000. These lots were accordingly purchased, a plan of the building drawn by G. P. Randall, of Chicago, was ac- cepted by the Board of Directors, and the erection of the River, now the Douglas, School, in the First Ward, commenced under the superintendence of H. H. Upp, and completed during the summer of 1860, or in time for the fall term of school of that year. The high school was maintained at the union school building ; also a branch of the grammar school. The new schoolhouse was devoted to the uses of a grammar, intermediate, and two primary depart- ments, the remaining primaries being taught in the basement of the First Presbyterian and Evangelical Churches. That year school began on the 24th of September, and was continued through the winter and until summer vaca- tion, under the care of the Messrs. Heald, Buckley & Smith, Board of Direct- ors, with George L. Montague as Principal of the High School, remaining in that capacity until the fall of 1862, when he was succeeded by M. W. Tewks- bury, who continued two years, and gave way to H. M. Barnum. who in turn yielded place to W. H. V. Raymond, and he to David Parsons. Nothing of particular import occurred from 1861 to 1865 worthy of mention in the history of the schools.
On the 7th of August, 1865, a special election was held in the city of Freeport, at which it was determined to purchase lots in Wright & Purinton's Addition to Freeport, on which to erect additional school accommodations, and a special tax was levied upon the taxable property of the district, wherein the school was designed to be located, to defray the cost of the property and erec- tion of the edifice. This latter was completed in 1866, and cost a total of $17,000. It is of brick, three stories high, located in the Third Ward, at the corner of Liberty and Williams streets, and has capacity for the conven- ient and comfortable accommodation of five hundred pupils. Its building was necessitated by the rapid increase in the number of primary scholars, and, upon its completion, the primary departments of the school system were trans- ferred from the church basements, occupied almost time out of mind by these necessary incidents to advancing civilization, to the "Third Ward," but now known as the "Wright " School.
399
HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY.
The directory for the year 1867 was composed of C. J. Fry, H. M. Bar- num, F. W. S. Brawley and G. G. Alvord, and at a meeting thereof convened September 2 of that year, the office of Superintendent was formally created. Previously, the Principal of the High School was informally charged with a general supervision of the schools; but with years the duties of Principal became more onerous and exacting with the result quoted, and Mr. Alvord was appointed to the trust.
At the meeting of the board held on January 1, 1868, the President was authorized to purchase Lots 12, 13 and 14, in Block 2, of Knowlton's Second Addition to Freeport, for school purposes. Acting upon this suggestion, the lots were bought for the sum of $1,200, and the erection of the Lincoln Avenue School, in the Second Ward, was ordered, according to plans submitted by Alex- ander Smith, to whom was awarded the contract for building.
The same causes which compelled the erection of the Third Ward School prevailed in connection with the Lincoln Avenue School. Most of the schools below the grammar school had been crowded with pupils during a greater part of the year, and became an evil, so pronounced in its effects, that, unless it was remedied, many of the pupils would be denied the privileges of an education. Hence, the purchase of the lots mentioned, and efforts made to supply the absence complained of.
During 1868, the School Board was composed of C. J. Fry, H. M. Bar- num and F. W. S. Brawley, Ezrom Mayer, Treasurer, and L. W. Guiteau, Alternate. The total receipts amounted to $20,244.60, and the expenditures to $17,610.03.
The new school was completed and occupied within a few days of the com- mencement of the fall term of 1868, at a total cost of $12,465.77, and there- after the primary departments found an abiding-place in that and the Third Ward, or Wright School. The former is now known under the name of the Lincoln School. During 1869, L. W. Guiteau, F. W. S. Brawley and H. M. Barnum made up the Board, G. G. Alvord continuing as Superintendent and remaining in that capacity until the advent of C. C. Snyder, the present incumbent, in 1872.
During 1870, the board consisted of L. W. Guiteau, O. E. Stearns and C. H. Knapp, the latter being succeeded by C. J. Fry in 1871, and Mr. Gui- teau by O. B. Bidwell in 1872. Twenty schools were in operation in that year ; also in 1873; in the latter year, German was included in the curriculum, but the board remained unchanged.
The school year closing July 13, 1874, had been attended with gratifying results. Twenty-one schools were conducted during a greater portion of the year, employing twenty-six teachers and a Superintendent, at an expenditure of over $18,000, and furnishing the means of education to 1,406 scholars. The board remained as noted, but, in 1875, J. M. Bailey succeeded O. B. Bidwell, which was the only change recorded during that year.
In 1876, the number of schools was increased by the addition of one department in the Third Ward School, necessitating a corresponding increase in the number of teachers and amount expended therefor. This condition of affairs was maintained during the year 1877, under the board composed of J. M. Bailey, Jacob Krohn and Frederic Bartlett. At a meeting of these gentlemen, convened July 7, 1877, it was resolved to select and purchase a suitable site for a schoolhouse, which should be erected for the accommodation of high school purposes, and on the 30th of the same month it was decided to raise the sum of $4,000 by special tax on all the taxable property of the district to defray the
400
HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY.
expenses incident to the undertaking. These preliminaries having been dis- posed of, Frederic Bartlett, on behalf of the board, purchased Lots 1 and 2 in Block 66, of the original town, from Henry Burrell for the sum of $2,000. Plans submitted by S. M. Randolph, of Chicago, were accepted, and the con- tract for the erection of the present high school, corner of Bridge and Cherry streets, was concluded with William G. Waddell, the consideration therefor being expressed at $12,000, for which bonds of $1,000 each were issued, bearing interest at the rate of 8 per cent per annum, and due in three, four and five years from date. Work on the edifice was commenced during the summer, and so expeditiously were the efforts toward its completion directed that the build- ing was accepted and occupied at the opening of the spring term, 1878, at a total cost of upward of $14,000.
Jacob Krohn, Frederick Bartlett and W. O. Wright constituted the Board of Education during 1878; in 1879, Mr. Krohn was succeeded by W. G. Barnes, and Mr. Bartlett by Henry J. Porter in 1880.
Mr. C. C. Snyder, whose election as Superintendent in 1872 has been men- tioned, has remained in charge up to the present date. Within this period, facilities for the efficient management and conduct of the schools have been greatly multiplied, the grade re-arranged, the course of study revised upon a sub- stantial and thorough common-school basis, and such improvements in the mode of instruction, classification and gradation in all of the departments introduced as have placed the schools of the city among the foremost in the State.
To keep pace with the increase of attendance, new departments have been opened, the corps of teachers has been augmented, and other improvements per- fected, so that, with an attendance of sixteen hundred and seventy pupils for the year just closing (1880), twenty-eight teachers are employed by the board.
Formerly, instruction in the German language was confined to the high school and grammar school departments, but within a year the experiment of having German taught in the lower grades has been ventured. The experi- ment gave such satisfaction to the patrons and citizens that the plan of giving German instruction to all the children of certain grades who desired it has come to be a permanent feature of the city school system.
The aim of the authorities is to provide for the children of the city, not a classical nor academic education, but a thorough, practical knowledge of such of the common English branches as shall best fit them for good citizenship and the duties of a business life. That this aim is accomplished, is a fact as undeniable as it is gratifying.
The following comparative statement shows the amount of the running expenses of the Freeport Public Schools during each of the twelve years since the passage of the act incorporating the board, also the number of schools maintained each year :
No. of Schools.
Expenses.
Year ending July, 1868
14
$12,794 46
Year ending July, 1869.
17
13,699 55
Year ending July, 1870.
19
17,177 43
Year ending July, 1871
19
18,535 32
Year ending July, 1872.
20
16,866 31
Year ending July, 1873.
20
17,999 60
Year ending July, 1874.
21
17,770 14
Year ending July, 1875.
21
17,230 21
Year ending July, 1876.
22
18,231 08
Year ending July, 1877
22
18,770 81
Year ending July, 1878.
23
19,908 44
Year ending July, 1879.
24
22,403 96
401
HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY.
The schools are supported by tax on the equalized valuation of property in the several districts in the county ; the value of property so equalized and assessed is stated at $1,348,609, and the rate $1.30 on the hundred.
THE PRESS OF STEPHENSON COUNTY.
The press is a happy figure of speech for the newspapers of a city, country or the world. The printing press is the foundation of journalism ; it is the mechanical device which makes the profession of journalism a possibility. The invention of printing made possible the production of books, but the invention of the press made possible the production of the newspaper. The art of printing, considered merely with reference to the manufacture and use of movable types, has not accomplished a great degree of progress since the days of Guttenberg, yet its efficiency has been wonderfully enlarged by collateral mechanical inventions. The type of to-day differs but little from the type of the fifteenth century, while the press of to day would be scarcely recognized by the "press-gang " of twenty years ago; yet it is to the wonderful mechan- ical advancement made in the printing press during the last twenty-five years that is due the merit of carrying the art of printing ten times as far as it progressed alone in three centuries before, until it has finally become the real foundation that underlies the splendid superstructure of modern journalism.
Thus much for the process ; the result is .the newspaper. Coster or Gut- tenberg invented types; Adams and Stanhope created the modern hand-press upon the model of three centuries, while Hoe, Bullock, Walter and Applegarth carried mechanical skill, daring and ingenuity to the wonderful point which enables the modern journalist to have the readiest, easiest and quickest mode of communication with his readers. The profession of journalism is a small part of the labor and thought expended in order that the paper may be laid before its readers ; yet his function is that toward which the function of the printer, the inventor and the mechanician concentrate. His work is the crown and flower of theirs.
Many contend that journalism is the objective point toward which men bankrupt in all other professions, tend their inclinations. The fact that they have failed in securing reputation or wealth through the mediums of theology, law or physic, argues them to the irresistible conclusion that the divinity which shaped their careers disastrously in other departments of life, did so with a special view to convincing the subject that his mission through this vale of tears was the editorial management of a metropolitan journal.
Wealthy parents, distinguished public men they are, insist that the royal road to journalistic eminence is through the expenditure of resources in that. connection for sons who have returned from the academic groves of their alma mater, eager to relieve their pent-up Uticas through the columns of a daily pa- per. He is more " wordy " if anything than were those who flourished when Shakespear wrote and Hamlet moralized. Assuming literary magic, he con- jures with words in the production of miraculous sentences and by their em- ployment colors his airy nothings with rainbow tints. And, though a trifler and pretender, his wealth often procures the stamp of wit for pertness, and pro- fundity for the empiricisms he lucubrates. But he reaches his level in time, and falls, another evidence of the fate of vaulting ambition. Still, the business of journalism will continue to be an inviting field for the experiment of those having large amounts of money and egotism.
The true journalist, however, is born, not made, and survives the manu- factured article as truth rises above falsehood. And his life is by no means
402
HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY.
that cheerful photograph the imagination of amateurs ambitious of preference pictures to his mind's eye. The popularity of a writer who daily seeks to mold public opinion is of a negative character-and yet cotemporary popularity is not less enduring than cotemporary codemnation. Bunyan was regarded as a crazy dreamer, and Byron was ridiculed by the critics until he lashed them into admiration with the whip of scorpions. No argument is needed to prove the important role enacted by the press in the drama of social and commercial intercourse. To the commerce of thought and in all the walks of life, it fur- nishes the only available currency. Whether expressing the verdict of public censure upon affairs of state, or singing the praises of a plow-boy till these praises soar from the daisies beneath his feet to the celestial fields of a sensuous paradise, the press always proves itself an innate force holding in contempt the trammels of the schools and defiant of circumstances.
As in poetry and the arts, so in religion, the laws and sciences, the press is the stern, uncompromising agency through which their excellences and defi- ciencies are commended or condemned. The capacity to thus protect the weak, to mold public opinion, to create ways and means for the universal good, and originate enterprises whose blessings increase with years, must be born-it can- not be acquired. Culture may soften and polish a superficial capacity, but it cannot originate ; it may fashion a giant's garb, but cannot fill it. The strip- pling David, armed with his sling, and his strong, untrammeled faith, treads the pathway of sublimity as he goes forth to meet Goliah, but had he attempted to magnify his proportions by masquerading in a giant's uniform, he would have made himself ridiculous.
In all the departments of life, the press should seek to strengthen the right, crush the wrong; and its teachings ; like the sunshine of familiar faces, should be welcomed at the poor man's cottage and the rich man's home.
The Bulletin,daily and weekly, enjoys a deservedly large circulation, proportioned to the careful and able management by which it is conducted.
The early history of this paper is the story of every undertaking that has attained success; it was filled with disappointments, trials and efforts that often proved vain. But it has survived all these, and, gathering strength with its increase of age, has become resolved into a remunerative investment, direct- ing Democratic public opinion in Northern Illinois, and conserving the material welfare of the city and county wherein it has abided for upward of thirty-three years.
In 1847, the village of Freeport was rapidly blossoming into a thickly populated town. The residents were dependent upon more Eastern frontier communications, not only for "stores " but also for news of the outside world. How this dependence was endured, and sought to be rendered less burdensome, and how it finally disappeared, under the influences invoked to that end, has already been detailed. During these times, the absence of no agency that would conduce to the success of the people and the prosperity of the town, was more a source of regret than that of a weekly paper-a medium where the daily happenings occurring in the State, county and town, might be recorded for the benefit of mankind; a record containing a transcript of current events, acces- sible to all, "That all who ran might read." No doubt the enterprise and ambition of the settlers had prompted their efforts to supply this absence, but nothing came of their endeavors until 1847, when the birth of the infant, since grown to manhood, journalistically speaking, and now known as the Bulletin, was announced to an interested and gratified public.
ยท
Smith D. Atkins
FREEPORT.
405
HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY.
At that time, the Hon. Thomas J. Turner represented this district in Con- gress, and was solicitous, doubtless, that his position upon various questions then agitating the body politic, should be fairly represented to his constituency. With a view to that end, he projected the Prairie Democrat, and procured the services of S. D. Carpenter to conduct the same. Under such auspices, and with a limited patronage, the first paper to commence its career in Stephenson County was ushered into existence during November, 1847.
Mr. Carpenter, in the first number, explains the reasons which prompted him to come West and embark in the comparatively hazardous business of pub- lishing a paper : " We came to the Western country for the purpose of secur- ing a permanent location. Various were the means of information, both by personal news and friendly communications, to learn the many advantages that many towns north of the Illinois River presented. But none gave us the satis- faction desired save Freeport. We were attracted thither by the peculiar loca- tion and advantageous situation of the town, being a fair business distance from Galena and Chicago, with plenty of water-power for all practical purposes, a soil and climate unsurpassed by the most fertile plains and salubrious portions of Italy, teeming with an intelligent population who, without boasting, may safely challenge the world for a greater degree of public spirit and enterprise, the beauty of the surrounding country, its undulating prairies and groves of valu- able timber, through which the Pecatonica winds its serpentine course to join the Father of waters, the unequaled facilities for railroad communications and many other considerations induced us to 'pitch our tents here,' and claim Freeport as our future home." From this, it would seem that Carpenter, if a forcible, was at the same time a humorous, writer.
The history of the paper, from its initial number until about the time the present proprietor assumed charge, is partially clouded. The earlier files have not been preserved, and those succeeding until 1870, neither consecutive nor complete. As a result, the facts as submitted are derived from the memories of the proverbial elder inhabitants, but believed to be correct.
When the Democrat was decided upon, the scarcity of buildings affording conveniences for the publication of a paper was marked, and difficulty was experienced in obtaining accommodations. Finally, a room was procured in the court house, and work begun. The stay of the paper here, however, was brief, and, as soon as arrangements could be concluded in that behalf, a removal was effected to the second floor of a frame building located at the corner of Galena and Chicago streets, where it remained, as is believed, during Mr. Car- penter's administration of its affairs.
According to the most authentic sources of information, the paper flour- ished, attended only by such drawbacks as invariably seek to accompany genuine merit. Its publishers made no hesitation in declaring their party prefer- ences, advocating Democratic principles as they were distinctly defined by expo- nents of that party, yet guided by no prospective or partisan policy in the treat- ment of political opponents. All were treated candidly and courteously, with- out resorting to obsequous sycophancy or hypercritical condemnations. The
local department is said to have faithfully related the passing events of the day, the literary selections were choice, the miscellany varied and interesting, and the agricultural department made up of excerpts from standard authorities.
Mr. Carpenter continued to go it alone in his dual capacity of editor and manager until about 1850, according to the record, when he became wearied of this professional game of solitaire and retired from the position he had so con- tinuously and acceptably occupied. He was succeeded by J. O. P. Burnside,
M
406
HISTORY OF STEPHENSON COUNTY.
and his induction into possession constituted the limit of the changes made, there being no departure in the political or general character of its contents. Locally, and as the disseminator of general news, the paper had materially improved ; politically, it remained Democratic of the most direct character ; as a success, that desideratum had been secured. This was to be expected, how- ever, for pains and means had been contributed to that end ; and, during the years of its struggles and vicissitudes, there always lingered in the breasts of its originators the reflection of a journalistic goal, toward which they bent their aims and aspirations as readily as the willow to the storm.
Mr. Burnside remained at the helm for two years, having his office, it is stated, near the corner of Stephenson and Chicago streets, and attracting pat- ronage, notwithstanding the existence of a rival enterprise which had appeared during Mr. Carpenter's control of affairs, and by this time had secured a foot- hold. At the expiration of that period, he disposed of his interest to George P. Ordway, who removed the office to the corner of Galena and Exchange streets. One year's experience created a desire for change, and Mr. Ordway re-sold to Mr. Burnside. That gentleman renewed his title to the premises (in 1853) at a time, when, it is believed, the original materials of the office, having served the purposes to which they had been designed faithfully and effectively, were become " decrepit with age," and no longer available; hence a change in these respects, being imperative, was made. The old type, rules, reglets, quoins, chases, cases, imposing stones and other paraphernalia of the office were disposed of and replaced with new. Many other improvements were concluded, and in July, 1853, the Freeport Bulletin, successor to the Prairie Democrat, was launched forth, made its most profound salaam to Democratie and general readers, and began a weekly existence which has gathered strength with each succeeding issue. Mr. Burnside was, in time, followed by Bagg & Brawley, it is asserted ; they by Giles & Scroggs in 1861, by J. R. Scroggs in 1864, and by W. T. Giles in 1869. The latter gentleman conducted the Bulletin with signal ability during a career of nearly seven years, making it a medium of information for all, and, as the index of true Jeffersonian Democracy, as fearless as it was unsurpassed by any paper of similar political predilections in the State.
During the seventeen years Mr. Giles was directly and indirectly con- nected with the paper, its course had come to be regarded as, in a great measure, the formulator of public opinion in this portion of the State. Its sentiments were unflinchingly Democratic, and its editorials sufficiently plain to indicate to their readers that the authors were not journalistic trimmers, nor advocates of and practitioners in that school of newspaper education which has given birth to pretentious sheets, but sheets devoid of merit-" Independent journalism."
At the close of the war, the Bulletin defined its position to be that of recognizing the results following the contest, but insisting upon a strict observ- ance of the law as defined by the constitution for future government of the administration. It opposed the election of Grant, in the first instance, but, when Greeley was nominated, extended a most ardent support to this ancient enemy of the Democracy. In commenting upon the result, the editor considers that the election should be gratifying to any Grantite. It was of the kind that authorized corruption in every department of the government. If a man held office and did not steal, it would be simply because he possessed honesty. If the American people preferred dishonesty to virtue, let them have it. If the bayonet was to rule the land, let Grant remain in power. Though Greeley was defeated, the fight made by the Bulletin was so sincere, so bold and so effect-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.