USA > Illinois > Adams County > The history of Adams County Illinois : containing a history of the county - its cities, towns, etc. a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion; general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men > Part 141
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The first college building is now used as a parish school, taught by three Sisters and one secular teacher. The attendance ranges from 300 to 400.
ST. MARY'S INSTITUTE.
The above institution for young ladies is located at Eighth and Vermont streets, one of the most pleasant situations for a school in the city. It was opened in 1867 by the School Sisters de Notre Dame, its object being to educate young ladies in all the useful and ornamental branches. The school soon attracted the attention of citizens of other cities as well as Quincy, and became a success. A new and elegant building, 160 x 60 feet, was erected, at a cost of $50,000, to provide accommodations for the rapid increase in the attendance. The institute is noted for its efficiency, and particularly its success in teaching young ladies the useful arts. In music, painting and needle work by the pupils a handsome showing is made at the close of each year. The average attendance is 150. Sister Boniface has the charge of the institute and is assisted by twenty-two Sisters and ten candidates.
ST. BONIFACE SCHOOL.
The St. Boniface school, connected with the St. Boniface Catholic church, is the largest and most prosperous educational institution in the city. The
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school was started in the year 1857, the school building on Maine street, adjoining the St. Boniface church, being completed in that year at a cost of $4,000. The attendance increased rapidly and in 1873 it was found neces- sary to provide additional accommodations. The Browning property, on Seventh and Hampshire, was purchased at a cost of $45,000, and a large four-story brick edifice was erected in that and the succeeding year at a cost of $57,000. The school moved into the new building in 1876. The daily attendance averages about 500. Two men and seven Sisters are en- gaged in teaching the different departments. The girls' school and the. boys' primary department are under the supervision of the school Sisters de Notre Dame. The school is well managed, is in a flourishing condition and is doing efficient service in the education of the young.
ST. PETER'S SCHOOL.
The school connected with the St. Peter's Catholic Church is located on Eighth street, between Maine and Jersey. It was established about the year 1863, when the school building was erected, at a cost of $3,500, having a capacity for more than 200 pupils. The average attendance is about 200. The principal, with her two assistants, is doing a good work in the educa- tion of the young.
ST. ALOYSIUS SCHOOL AND ASYLUM.
About 1859 an association, under the name of the St. Aloysius Orphan Society, was established in Quincy by an act of the Legislature. The members were identified with the German Church, and in 1868 the cor- poration commenced building an asylum and school for the benefit of the young who are connected with the denomination. This institution, located at 20th and Vine streets, is now in a flourishing condition, and offers to the destitute and orphan children of both sexes, without distinction as to religion, not only a good home, but a means of education. It is under the charge of a lady principal, assisted by two other Sisters of the order of Notre Dame, who conduct it with good judgment and a wise care for the interests of the little ones in the institution. The number in the asylum is nearly 200. The members of the association now number about 650.
ST. MARY'S SCHOOL.
The St. Mary's School is connected with the St. Mary's Church, and is located at Seventh and Adams. The school was started in 1868 and has been steadily growing ever since. The property used for the school is val- ued at $2,000. The average attendance of pupils is about 50. Two teach- ers are employed.
OTHER SCHOOLS.
There are schools connected with the Salem Church, Ninth and State, and St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran, Ninth and York, which are well at- tended and in a flourishing condition.
GEM CITY BUSINESS COLLEGE.
One of the most important of the many educational institutions of Ad- ams county is Prof. Musselman's Gem City Business College, in Benneson block, on Maine street. The college, under the direct management of Prof. Musselman, has grown steadily since it was founded, and to-day is the most successful institution of the kind in the West, and equaled by few
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in the United States. But a few years ago the institution was located in a small room with only a few students. Its progress has been rapid, requir- ing, from time to time, additional room to accommodate the increase in the number who sought the institution to be prepared for active business life. To-day the college occupies elegant and commodious rooms in the Benne- son block, fitted up especially for a business educational institute. The attendance last year was larger than ever before, the students representing all portions of the West. Prof. Musselman has made for his college the reputation of being the most thorough and complete, and furnishes the best facilities for fitting young men and women for business life. A feature of the college recently introduced is a course of lectures during the year, by such celebrities as Henry Ward Beecher, Prof. Swing and Will Carleton, * and readings by Burbank. The course will be continued the coming spring. Another feature is a boarding house controlled by the institution, where young men are furnished day board at $2.25 per week.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
The number and character of the public buildings in Adams county will compare favorably with those of any other county in the great State of Illinois. First in importance comes the beautiful and imposing new court- house, elsewhere described in this work, without doubt the most magnifi- cent superstructure ever built in the West for the money. This is the third temple of justice Adams county has constructed since its organiza- tion. The first, erected on lot 6, block 11, on Fifth street, near the corner of Maine, was a hewed log building, 18 x 22 feet area; first story 8 feet, second story five feet, and was completed March 15, 1826. It served the purpose of schoolhouse and church, also, until the night of December 9, 1835, when it was destroyed by fire. It, like most people, was more hon- ored in its death than in its life. Three months prior the site had been selected, lots 4 and 5, block 11, and a new court-honse ordered. It was begun in 1836 and finished in 1837, at a cost of $15,000. It met with a like fate and went up in thin air on the night of the 9th of January, 1875. Its destruction was evidently a blessing in disguise, for the elegant new court house, so much needed, has not only succeeded the cramped and un- sightly predecessor, but a magnificent new stone front block, one of the most beautiful pieces of architecture in the State, has just risen out of its ashes.
Of church, college and school edifices, this county can boast of some of the most ample and sightly in the West. The Academy of Music and Opera House are commodious with neatly and comfortably arranged audito- riums, well adapted to theatrical, concert and lecture purposes, and a credit to the "Gem City."
BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES.
The Western Catholic Union is a beneficiary society, organized in Quincy, in November, 1878, under the sanction and approval of Bishop P. J. Baltes, of the Alton Diocese, as the following declaration by him to the officers, and published with the constitution and by-laws of the associ- ation, explains:
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CONCLUSION.
DIOCESE OF ALTON, BISHOP'S RESIDENCE, ALTON, Ill., Nov. 18, A. D. 1878.
The officers and members of the Western Catholic Union, established at Quincy, in this diocese, having adopted and incorporated in the constitution and by-laws of their society the laws and regulations of this diocese in relation to societies, I hereby approve of this Western Catholic Union, and earnestly recommend it to the Rev. Clergy and faithful peo- ple of my diocese.
+P. J. BALTES, Bishop of Alton.
The object of the society is for the mutual financial aid and social im- provement of its members. In case of sickness or accident which disables a member, he receives a " sick-benefit," and upon the death of a member his legal heirs receive an amount equivalent to one dollar from each mem- ber of the Union, provided the amount does not exceed $2,000. For the social advancement of the members, libraries may be established, lectures delivered, and innocent amusements enjoyed.
The officers consist of a president, vice-president, a financial secretary, a recording secretary and a treasurer and five trustees.
Upon the death of any member of the society an assessment is made of $1.05 upon every living member.
Branch societies, of which there are already three in Quincy-the St. Nicholas, No. 1, St. Patrick, No. 3, and St. Michael, No. 4-and one in Springfield, may be organized by complying with certain conditions im- posed by the parent society, one of which is the payment of $25 into the treasury of the Central Union. The Central Union now contains 390 members.
FIREMEN'S BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION.
This society was organized by the firemen of the city of Quincy for the purposes of mutual aid and protection of its members, in 1874. Although the original plan was to confine the membership of the order to firemen only, the constitution was recently so amended as to permit others to join. The association now numbers 190 members. The present officers are:
President, Henry Meiser; vice-Presidents, Wm. Shulte, Wm. Weisen- horn; Secretary, Henry Meyer; Treasurer, Jos. Mast; Trustees, John J. Metzger, J. H. Wavering, Otto Baumgatner, Geo. Terdenge, J. B. Glass.
QUINCY FREE READING ROOM.
One of the institutions which commends itself to every right-minded person of whatever nationality, religious sect, or political complexion, and one of which the noble women whose hearts inspired their brains to con- ceive and hands to execute the enterprise, may well be proud, is the Quincy Free Reading Room.
When that regenerated hero, Francis Murphy, hurled his thunderbolt of argument and sympathetic appeal into the great sea of humanity, from which rose the mighty temperance wave that rolled across the continent, smiting the hearts of thousands who were on the same skeleton-lined high- way which he had so recently trod with conviction, and culminated in the formation of innumerable " Blue Ribbon" clubs in the East, and "Red Ribbon" clubs in the West, the good people of the "Gem City " reasoned that the trne philosophy of temperance reform lay in counter-attraction for the habitues of the drinking places and haunts of vice. And a reading room,
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HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.
free, to which they might have access, " without money and without price" was wisely suggested. A union meeting was held where the subject was freely and ably discussed and a considerable sum of money donated for the establishment of such a place of resort, in conjunction with, and to some extent subject to the control of, the " Red Ribbon Club." The funds already raised were applied to renting and fitting up a commodious room; and, through the efforts of those who had the cause at heart, other money was donated, prominent citizens responding with subscriptions of two or three hundred dollars each. Other benevolent persons made monthly subscriptions for its support. Books, papers, stoves, etc., were contributed, and the reading room became an established fact. But through the various plans devised for forwarding the cause of temperance the treasury of the club became depleted. The people began to feel the restrictions thrown about the reading room because of it being the property of a club, instead of belonging to humanity, and the permanency of the club's existence being in no wise assured, their confidence in and support of the reading room began to decline. At this juncture the ladies came to the rescue with their wonted zeal and fertility of resource, determined that the furniture and books they had been instrumental in procuring should not be sacrificed. An arrangement was made with the club by which they were to be turned over to them. A charter for a free reading room asso- ciation was obtained in September last, an organization effected and a legal transfer of the property made to the association. Thus through the arduons and persistent labor of those women-patriots, who, by their organized "aid," nourished and nerved the " boys in blue " in their struggle for the Union, a free reading room for the city of Quincy was born, unen- cumbered, comfortably furnished and well officered.
In the latter part of March, 1879, it was removed to the large, airy and cozy room on the first floor of the new block on the corner of Sixth and Vermont streets. The new room embraces an area of more than 3,500 square feet, is neatly carpeted with matting, numerous large reading tables are interspersed at convenient intervals through the room, which are well supplied with the choicest current literature of the day, in the shape of monthlies, weeklies and dailies. The books, now nearly 500 volumes, are arranged in two large elegant walnut cases, and the room is thickly dotted with substantial and comfortable chairs. The room is in charge of Mrs. Carrie Musser, an efficient librarian. By special inducements the Public Library has become an occupant of the same room, and stipulations are on foot to give the visitors to the reading room free use also of the books on its shelves, which, accomplished, will be another triumph of those philan- throphic women. Altogether, the place is an attraction to the aspirant for knowledge and moral excellence which will impel him or her to make it a common resort in which to while away the leisure hours in the companion- ship of books, and in the elevating atmosphere that pervades it. The room is open for at least twelve hours in every day of the year, and the growing appreciation of its benefits is evidenced in the fact that more than 1,200 readers visited it during the month of May, 1879.
The present officers are as follows: Mrs. Sarah Denman, President; Mrs. J. R. Dayton, 1st vice-President; Mrs. I. O. Woodruff, 2d vice-Presi- dent; Mrs. J. O. Bomgardner, 3d vice-President; Mrs. G. Follansbee, Recording Secretary ; Mrs. N. Bushnell, Corresponding Secretary; Mrs. C. H. Morton, Treasurer. The Directors are Mrs. J. K. Van Doorn, Mrs. J.
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R. Dayton, Mrs. J. H. Holton, Mrs. R. W. Bowers, Mrs. J. H. Hamlin, Mrs. G. Follansbee, Mrs. J. C. Brickman, Mrs. Charles Miller, Mrs. J. W. Bomgardner, and Mrs. C. H. Morton; Miss Cornelia Collins, Mrs. Thomas Benneson, Mrs. J. K. Van Doorn, Mrs. A. E. Keller, Mrs. E. S. Hough- taling, Mrs. Z. P. Mason, and Miss Mary Chapin compose the Executive Committee. Thus it will be observed that the enterprise is conducted solely by the ladies. The society pays $400 dollars a year rental, besides gas and heating expenses, and the salary of the librarian, yet it is free from debt. It is sustained entirely by voluntary contributions, and the grand purpose for which it was founded, the marked success of its management and the inevitable results upon the morals and intelligence of the thousands who avail themselves of its benefits are or should be an overwhelming ap- peal to every well-to-do citizen to contribute liberally to its support.
QUINCY LIBRARY.
On the evening of March 5, 1841, a sufficient number of persons having subscribed for the establishment of a public library in the city of Quincy, a meeting of said subscribers was held at the court-house with a view to arrange for and perfect an organization. Major J. H. Holton was called to the chair, and Lorenzo Bull was chosen Secretary. Captain E. J. Phillips stated the object of the meeting to be to provide for the organiza- tion of the subscribers into a Library Association. A committee of five persons was appointed to prepare a constitution and by-laws, which were reported, and adopted at a meeting held March 13, 1841, and at a subse- quent meeting, March 20, over which Capt. E. J. Phillips presided, the following officers were elected: E. J. Phillips, President; J. N. Ralston, vice-President; Lorenzo Bull, Secretary, and C. M. Woods, Treasurer; Andrew Johnson, W. H. Taylor, J. R. Randolph, N. Summers, and J. Lyman were selected for Directors. The library was first opened on the 18th of April, 1841, for the receipt and delivery of books. The charter of incorporation was granted to the association the 4th of October, 1841. On February 19, 1867, the charter was amended: The first annual meeting of the stockholders was held in the court-house, on December 6, 1841, when the number of volumes reported in the library was 735.
There are two classes of membership; annual members, who pay five dollars a year, this being the value of one share of stock, and they are en- titled to a vote on each share of stock and to all the rights conferred upon any member. No person is limited in the purchase of stock shares. On each share of stock is assessed a yearly tax of two dollars, payable semi- annually, June 1st and December 1st. Life members pay twenty-five dol- lars in cash or thirty dollars in books, which constitutes them stockholders for life, without any additional cost, and entitles the inember to one vote in the association and all the privileges enjoyed by any member while the person may live, but the membership is not transferable. Persons not stockholders can have access to the books of the library by the payment of two dollars for six months or three dollars a year.
The By-laws of the association restrict the number of books to be drawn out by one individual at one time to two, and he is finable for re- taining them more than two weeks.
The elections of the association are held annually. The present officers are: William McFadon, President; George W. Brown, vice-President;
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HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.
James N. Sprigg, Secretary; Charles W. Keyes, Treasurer. The Board of Directors, R. S. Benneson, George M. Janes, George N. Mills, Jr., Josepli Robbins, and L. B. Boswell. Mrs. Lucy R. Rutherford is Librarian.
The Quincy Library has had a continuous existence for nearly forty years, and although it has not received the uniform endorsement ande n- couragement from the whole people, which so worthy an enterprise merits, and has been a burden resting mainly upon the shoulders of a few, it has steadily but slowly grown, increasing from one to two hundred volumes a year, until it now contains 4,250 volumes of choice literature. For a num- ber of years it has been located in the second story of the Wells building, on Fifth street, between Maine and Jersey; but in May, 1879, the library was removed to its present commodious and pleasant quarters, in the Free Reading Room, on the ground floor of the new block on the corner of Sixth and Vermont streets.
As a partial tribute to the worthy departed, it is meet to close this sketch with the mention of the deceased Samuel Jones, to whom, perhaps, more than any other person the Quincy Library owes its birth and youthful life. He was one of its early members, and one of its first Presidents, a long time in office, and was untiring in his zeal and labors in its behalf; and in the minds of those who wronght worthily with him in planting this tree of knowledge in the Gem City, his memory will ever be tenderly cherished.
THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.
This society was organized about 1867, with about thirty-five members. They fitted up superb quarters in the Wells & McFadon block, known as the library building, on Sixth street, between Maine and Jersey, consisting of a reading and audience room. The reading room was nicely furnished and carpeted and supplied with the best periodicals and newspapers from all parts of the country. The auditorium, which connected with it by folding-doors, was carpeted with matting and seated with chairs, and was both neat and commodious. For years the association held daily prayer meetings in their rooms, and on Sundays conducted religious services three times a day, usu- ally in the open air when the weather was pleasant; and supported an active city missionary. It grew until it numbered a hundred members. The association's labors were the means of grace to many who are now pil- lars in the churches of the city, who date their first religious awakening to those daily and weekly meetings.
Another living witness to the good results of their zealous work is the Levee Mission Sunday-school, which has been for years under the superin- tendency of John Wessels, one of the charter members of the association, and has now an enrollment of a hundred members, and is accomplishing a grand work for the poor children in that quarter of the city where Chris- tianizing influence is most needed.
Unfortunately, in its efforts to extend its influence for good, the society became heavily burdened with debt, which so crippled it that it relinquished its rooms, sold off its furniture and carpets, and suspended active work.
In 1876, an effort was made to reorganize, which resulted in the re- establishment of the prayer meetings, and a protracted revival effort con- tinning two weeks, conducted by Dr. Munhall, of Indianapolis, held in Pink- ham's hall. The services were well attended and a number of conversions resulted; but it burdened the association with another debt which again so
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CONCLUSION.
crippled it that there has been little activity since. The association still has a nominal existence, and John Irwin is President; John Wessels, Cor- responding Secretary, and L. M. Dort, Treasurer. It is now out of debt, and there has been a committee appointed to confer with the ministers of the city with reference to reorganization.
CHARITABLE AID AND HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION.
This worthy charity had its origin at a public meeting held in the court- house on the first day of December, 1869, on which occasion a committee, consisting of E. K. Stone, Henry Allen, C. M. Pomeroy, H. S. Osborn, Wm. Morris, M. B. Finlay, F. S. Giddings, Daniel Stahl and Win. B. Bull, was selected to raise money by subscription and devise means for the re- lief of the poor during the approaching winter. This committee was known as the Relief Association, and succeeded in raising over $5,000 in money and supplies, on a general subscription, embracing nearly 400 subscribers. That they satisfactorily performed the work of relieving some 350 families, outside of the aid furnished by the city, was shown by the unqualified en- dorsement of a subsequent meeting held in the Opera House, Dec. 25, 1870, which reinstated them unanimously. The second winter's work was similar except that they had only $4,000 at their disposal. During the winter of 1871-2 benevolent ladies of Quincy formed themselves into an association and undertook the work hitherto performed by the Relief As- sociation. Little was accomplished by them, however, until the fall of 1873, when a majority of the members of the old Relief Association, together with others, twelve in all, incorporated themselves under the State law as the "Charitable Aid and Hospital Association," which had for its object both the relief of the poor and the founding of a hospital for the sick. Owing to the prevailing financial depression no steps were taken toward advancing the latter purpose, and only $3,700 was subscribed for the relief of the poor. The philanthropic ladies again came forward with united effort in the organization of the Woman's Employment Bureau, an auxiliary society, which rendered great assistance. The two following years, 1874 and 1875, the association took the contract to support the pau- pers of the township of Quincy for $8,000 and 200 cords of wood for ten months ending May 1, 1875, and for the actual cost not to exceed $12,000 for the year, ending May 1, 1876. During these years the number of poor provided for by the society greatly exceeded former years, numbering an average of 314 persons per month for 1875-6. While the association was under contract to supply the physical necessities for the poor, it also en- deavored to generate a more healthy moral influence and to discourage pauperism, by exercising discretion in the distribution of its charities, turned its attention to bettering the opportunities of the children of the poor.
After the expiration of the association's contract to keep the city's poor, its attention was directed more toward caring for the sick and afflicted. Its members realized the pressing demand for another hospital, in addition to St. Mary's Hospital, an institution doing a grand work under the control of the Catholics, on Broadway. Convictions and words took on the shape of action, which was so liberally seconded by the public that the building of Blessing Hospital was put under contract in the fall of 1874, and ready for occupancy in May, 1875. The building and furnishings cost $12,000,
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HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.
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