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 61

Author:
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : Murray, Williamson & Phelps
Number of Pages: 1254

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 61

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The Quincy Whig was established over forty years ago, and is one of the oldest papers in the State. The first issue-a seven-column 24x36 weekly-appeared May 5, 1838, Maj. H. V. Sullivan being the publisher, and Messrs. N. Bushnell and A. Johnson the editors. This arrangement, in- tended to be but temporary, continued until August 18 of the same year, when Mr. S. M. Bartlett and Maj. Sullivan became the sole proprietors, and conducted the paper continuously, the former as editor and the latter as publisher, until the firm was dissolved by the death of Mr. Bartlett, in September, 1852.

The changes made during the association in the character of the paper were but two in number, the issue October 23, 1845, of a tri-weekly for city circulation, which was discontinued April 16, 1846, and the enlargement of the paper in 1850, at the commencement of the thirteenth volume, to an eight-column sheet, 28x42. This continued to be the size of the weekly un- til it was increased in 1868, to nine columns, 28x44.

Mr. Bartlett was succeeded as editor by Mr. John F. Morton, in the fall of 1852, and the firm of Morton & Sullivan conducted the paper until 1854, when Mr. Henry Young purchased Maj. Sullivan's interest. It was during the ownership of Morton & Sullivan that the daily was established, and the history of the weekly thereafter is the same.

The first number of the daily was issued as a morning paper, March

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22, 1852. It was a six-column sheet, 22x32 in size. On the death of Mr. Young, in 1855, Mr. V. Y. Ralston assumed his interest, and under the management of Morton & Ralston the daily was enlarged to seven columns, 24x36, August 29, 1855. In August, 1856, Mr. F. S. Giddings purchased an interest, and the firm then became Morton, Ralston & Co., Mr. Ralston retiring in July, 1857, and Mr. Giddings soon after. On Marchi 1, 1858, the Quinoy Republican, a daily which had been in existence for one or two years previous, was merged in the Whig, and Mr. Morton and Mr. F. A. Dallam, the former proprietor of the Republican, became associated as owners of the Whig and Republican.

During its ownership by Messrs. Morton & Dallam the daily was re- duced in size, on the 15th of August, 1858, to its original size, six columns, 22x32, the size of the weekly remaining unchanged. Mr. Dallam with- drew in the fall of 1859, leaving Mr. Morton as the sole proprietor, and in the spring of 1860 the establishment was purchased by Mr. James J. Lang- don, who enlarged the daily again to seven columns, 24x36, and continued as sole or part proprietor until the spring of 1868. During this period the editorial management of the Whig was in various hands, successively under the management of Messrs. Snyder, Whitney, Holt, Richardson, Dallam, and Holt again, and was issued as an evening paper April 9, 1860. None of the above named editors were interested as owners in the paper except Mr. Charles Holt, who obtained a half interest June 1, 1864, and thenceforward it was published by Messrs. Langdon & Holt. On the 1st of July, 1865, it had another change of dimensions to eight columns, 26x40, and was subsequently increased in size to nine columns, 28x42.

In the spring of 1868 Messrs. Bailhache & Phillips purchased the Whig, taking possession on May 1 of that year, the former taking the place of general business manager, Mr. Paul Selby being engaged as editor. The size of the paper was reduced Ang. 10, 1868, to eight columns, 26x 40, and on the 14th of October came out as a morning paper. In the fol- lowing spring, May 1, 1869, the property was transferred to the Quincy Whig Company, an incorporated stock company, Mr. Bailhache continuing as business manager, and Mr. Selby as managing editor, until October, 1869, when Gen. John Tillson became the editor-in-chief, remaining as such until June, 1871. From that time Mr. Paul Selby for the Whig Company acted as editor and manager. In February, 1873, the establish- ment passed into the hands of Mr. Porter Smith. March 1, 1873, a change was again made from a morning to an evening paper. On the 1st of Jan- uary, 1874, the establishment was purchased by Mr. Daniel Wilcox, one of the former publishers of the Milwaukee Sentinel, his two sons being subsequently admitted as partners to the business. By the death of the senior proprietor May 19, 1878, the paper passed into the hands of the two sons, C. A. and D. F. Wilcox, who are the present owners and publishers. Mr. N. O. Perkins became managing editor Jan. 1, 1874, which position he still retains. Aug. 23, 1875, the Whig appeared in a new dress throughout, and was changed to a six-column eight-page paper, 30x42 inches in size.

It may be proper to state that the political position of the Whig has been unchanged from the first. The representative of the Whig party at the outset, in 1859, at the dissolution of that party it became the represen- tative of the Republican organization, with which most of the Whigs in this section united, and has been since, as it now is, devoted to that polit-

Paulson hen Lang don EDITOR & PROPRIETOR "REVIEW" QUINCY

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HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

ical faith. It is the leading Republican paper of western Illinois, the largest paper published in Quincy, and the largest in the State outside of Chicago.

The Quincy Daily News .- This spicy daily, established in January, 1877, has grown from a six to a seven-column paper, and having devoted its attention especially to local matters, its circulation has therefore steadily increased until it now embraces a large part of the best families of Quincy. It has a large city circulation, and its many advertisers, who have been with it year after year, bear testimony to its value as an advertising medium. The deep interest which the News takes in local and county affairs makes it a necessity of the people. It is independent in politics. Published by the News Company, 520 Hampshire street, Quincy, Ill.

The Germania .- This paper is published in the German language and is of recent origin. The journal was formed by the consolidation of the Press and Tribune, two German dailies, and is now published by the Germania Publishing Company, issuing a daily and weekly, having at the same time the largest circulation of any German newspaper in the West outside of Chicago and St. Louis. G. C. Hoffman is the editor. The Ger- mania is an influential journal, and is largely patronized by the citizens of Quincy. The office is at 520 Hampshire street.

The Quincy Commercial Review .- This journal was first started in 1871 by its present proprietor, Mr. Addison L. Langdon, at the earnest solicitation of the business men of the city. The paper has several departments, arranged to suit the various subjects it advocates. It com- bines manufacturing and commercial interests, city news, social, personal, and society information. It was at first a small sheet, being only 22x32 inches in size. In less than six months, however, the publisher was forced to enlarge it in order to accommodate its increasing patronage. Its size was, after its first enlargement, 24x36. In 1875 it donned an entire new outfit of type, and was the third time enlarged to its present size, 28x42. The Review was the first paper in Quincy to advocate the establishment of many of those public improvements and necessities which have since proved so advantageous to the city, among which are the water-works, sewers, the adornment and improvement of Washington Park, and the building of the new and beautiful court-house upon its present location. Among the curious features, and what may be related as a singular coinci- dence in the life of the Review, is the following: The paper was issued one Saturday morning, and its leading editorial was one calling the atten- tion of the county authorities to the dangers and criminal negligence in keeping the records in the old court-house. The editorial stated, among other things, that some day a fire would break out in the roof of that old building and that valuable records of a public character would be destroyed. And now the singular part is, that while the paper was being read, the fire bells sounded an alarm and the engines were called to extin- guish a fire which had broken out in the old court-house, just as the edito- rial predicted. The building was destroyed and work immediately begun upon the new and handsome edifice which now ornaments Jefferson Park. The Review is a popular, home newspaper, and is devoted particularly to the interests of Quincy and vicinity.

The Western Agriculturist was established in Quincy in 1878, and has steadily improved in the value of its practical reading, the beauty of its illustrations, and the character of its typographical execution. It is printed 28

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on fine book paper in pamphlet form and contains twenty-eight pages de- voted to stock-breeding, horticulture, poultry, apiary, the dairy, and gen- eral farm topics, with a practical and interesting household department. Being now the oldest and best established farm monthly in the Western states it has attained a large circulation, and every enterprising farmer ought to take it. The subscription price is only $1.00 a year, published by T. Butterworth, 520 Hampshire street, Quincy, Ill.

The Modern Argo, edited and published by A. H. Dooley, first issued in Columbus, O., Oct., 1878, removed to Quincy, Ill., and began publication there on Saturday, March 22, 1879. Its reception in Quincy has been very flattering, and in a short time it attained a large circulation. The Argo is a large eight page paper in size 32x42, and is devoted to general informa- tion including choice miscellany on the topics of the day, stories, poetry, contributed articles and editorials; ample attention is given to the local affairs of the city and county around. The Argo introduced permanently into Quincy the newsboy system, and now over a hundred boys sell the Argo every Saturday. The Argo is also sold by news agents in all the towns and villages surrounding Quincy.

The Camp Point Journal .- The Journal was established by George W. Cyrus and Thomas Bailey, the first number being issucd Feb. 6, 1873. The sheet was a seven column folio, 24x36. It has grown in size with its growth in circulation and is now a six-column quarto, 32x44. Mr. Bailey retired from the paper in 1876, having sold his interest to Mr. Cyrus who is now the sole owner and manager. The Journal is independent in poli- tics, but discusses all questions of local interest, and confines itself mainly to local matters. The circulation of the paper has steadily grown until it exceeds that of most country papers.

The County News .- The initial number of the News was published in June, 1875. The founder, Wm. D. Perry, Esq., was induced to under- take the enterprise, partly to aid the county fair, which at that time was located in Payson. Arrangements were made with the " Farmer's Club " and other citizens to secure the publication until November, 1875. At the outset this was a four-column paper, but it has twice been enlarged and is now a six-column four-page periodical. Before the first of November the subscribers and advertisers, taking it for granted that the paper would be continued, were ready to make yearly contracts. The News is now a reg- ular monthly, with four extra papers, making sixteen issues during the year. Not only is it a county paper, but it is rapidly becoming a general newspaper for all who have ever lived in this, one of the oldest and most wealthy counties in the State.

The Clayton Record, under the management of J. E. Hartman, is con- sidered a valuable journal. It is neutral in politics, and is devoted to the general interest of the reading public. Musical, literary and agricultural articles, stories, reports of fairs, Sabbath-school conventions, religious meet- ings, and any other facts and incidents that may interest the general reader, appear in its columns.

The Mendon Dispatch is a seven-column paper, published on Thurs- day of each week by Jacob R. Urech, Danl. H. Darby editor. It is devoted to local and general news, but it is not in the interest of any religious sect or any political party. The first number was issued on November 21, 1878. Its subscription list is satisfactory for the time it has been running, and is

Henry & Gardenein

PROPRIETORS C

John P Cadogan

HE QUINCY HERALD

-- --

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rapidly increasing. The entire material is new and of the best quality, and includes a job press capable of doing work in strictly first class style.

OF THE PAST.

The history of newspapers in this county is a very interesting one in- deed, and the names of many of these publications, which have long since "gone where the woodbine twineth," are familiar to us all. Among them, we remember the Times, a paper started by the late Austin Brooks, after his retirement from the editorship of the Herald. The paper lived a year or two and was then removed to Hannibal, and after a short career there it was discontinued.

The papers of later date, which have lived and died, and which will be better remembered by the people of this county, are the Evening Call, the Ledger and the Morning News. The former was one of the most suc- cessful dailies of our city. Its size was 22x32, and its principal editor was Thomas J. Heirs, present city clerk of Quincy, although John H. Russell and S. D. Rich and others, were interested in its publication at different times. The paper had a successful run of six years, when it was discon- tinned because it proved unprofitable to its owner. The Ledger was a very small sheet, published by D. G. Williams, as an advertising medium, for a few months after he had left the Herald office. It was an unprofitable venture and was soon discontinued. The Morning News was a co-opera- tive paper, published by Griffin Frost, Henry Wilson, John Shield and Jas. H. Wallin. This journal lived just one month when its affairs were wound up.

The Journal was a large daily, and one of the best papers in the city while in existence. It was owned and edited by T. M. Rogers, the present proprietor of the publishing house No. 520 Hampshire street. The Jour- nal was operated about four years, but, like its many predecessors, it failed to pay, and was discontinued.

The Democrat, a Germandaily, w as published on the west side of Sixth, between Maine and Hampshire streets, Quincy. It enjoyed a very limited circulation, and lived only a short time.

The Republican was published about the year 1857, by Henry V. Sul- livan & Co., and was operated under this title for a year or two, when the establishment was merged into the Whig, and was published thereafter un- der both names, the Whig & Republican, until the year 1858, when the concern was purchased by a Springfield firm, who dropped the last name.

The Courier, a German publication, was published during the years 1857 and 1858, by George Lintz, and was, for some time, a leading Ger- man daily, but proved a poor investment, and was soon out of business.

The Christian, a religious weekly, devoted to the interests of the Christian churches, was published at 520 Hampshire street, Quincy, for about two years, when it was converted into a stock concern, and its pub- lication office was removed to St. Louis, where it is now issued regularly, by the same editors who conducted it in Quincy.

The Westliche Press and the Tribune, both German dailies-the for- mer living about six months, and the latter eight or nine years-were both merged into one during 1875, and the consolidated concerns are now known as the Germania.

The Patriot was the name of another ancient weekly, published in

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Quincy many years ago, and long since gone to that unmonumental bourne from whence no paper returns.

The Good Templar's Message-devoted to the cause of temperance- was issued irregularly, in this city, for a year or two, and then, we believe, was removed to the town of Bloomington, in this state.

Besides the papers we have here mentioned, there have been issued numberless campaign publications, which issued only a few numbers and then " went out." There are, no doubt, many other regular weeklies, which were published long years ago, and which will be remembered by the older citizens, whose names. the dates of publication and the names of their edi- tors, are not familiar to us at this writing.

HStewart S

ELLINGTON TOWNSHIP

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HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

CHAPTER XV.

HORTICULTURE-MEDICAL SOCIETY.

HORTICULTURE.

The cultivation of fruit in this county dates back to its earliest settle- ment. Ex-Gov. John Wood, who is still living, planted the first orchard. In 1820 he was living near Atlas, in Pike county, where he and Willard Keyes, both young and unmarried men, were temporarily housekeeping and farming in partnership. In the spring of that year he made a journey on foot to the orchard of one Avery, who lived a short distance above St. Louis, and bought of him one pint of apple seed, paying a dollar for it. He planted these seeds and just three of them grew. This did not satisfy his ideas of tree planting, nor discourage his determination to have an orchard. In the autumn he made another pedestrian journey to Griffith's orchard, on the river nearly opposite the old French settlement of Portage d'Sionx. Here he was permitted to take the pomace from the cider-mill and wash out as much seed as he wished. He made these journeys on foot, as he also did many other longer and more difficult ones, because he was then too poor to own a horse. Abont the same time he came into pos- session of another small quantity of apple seeds in the following manner: Wood and Keyes had made a quantity of maple sugar, and finding a family by the name of Sprague, who were very destitute, and the parents and most of the children sick, Mr. Wood made them a liberal present of sugar. Wishing to express in some way their gratitude, and having nothing else to give, they insisted on his accepting a portion of the supply of apple seed they had brought with them to the country. From the product of these two lots of seed the young men were able to supply not only them- selves, but many of their neighbors, with trees for planting. In the spring of 1823 Mr. Wood, who in the meantime had removed to where Quiney now stands, planted a portion of his trees on the traet of land now em- braced between 12th and 14th, and State and Kentucky streets. About the same time he also planted some peach seeds, which were set out in the orchard in 1824. In 1827 he gathered fruit from both his peach and apple trees. Many of these apple-trees are now growing vigorously and bearing fair erops. In 1868 D. C. Wood, Esq. gave to the secretary of the Adams County Horticultural Society the dimensions of some of these trees, as measured by passing a line around the trunk of each. The largest was nine feet, ten inches, and several others were over seven feet each. The city of Quiney has now encroached upon the site of this orchard, and these stately pioneers are rapidly giving place to piles of brick and mortar.

In 1829 Mr. Wood went East and when he returned brought with him some seed of the white clover from Prince's nursery and sowed it. About the year 1832 he introduced the cranberry and came very near being suc- cessful with it. In the little ravine which now runs westward from

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Twelfth street, between Jersey and York, was a spring, surrounded by a small plat of marshy ground. This ground he enclosed in a good sub- stantial fence and then planted his cranberries. They flourished remark- ably well, covered the whole ground, and gave promise of an abundant yield of fruit. A butcher having some difficulty in driving a herd of cat- tle took the liberty, unbidden, to throw down the fence and drive them into this "yard," as he called it, for the night. By this act of vandalism the cranberry plants were utterly destroyed. Several. subsequent attempts were made by different persons to introduce this fruit, but none of them have been very successful. About the year 1830 Gov. Wood planted a quantity of chestnuts and set out the young trees on his grounds. Many of these are still standing and are annually giving an abundant yield of nuts. They are mostly enclosed in what are now the grounds of Chaddock College, and in size will measure around the trunk from seven to eleven feet each.

Before the year 1832 Major Rose, Willard Keyes, James Dunn, Silas Beebee, and others of the early settlers, including several in the eastern part of the county, had planted apple orchards. These trees were all seed- lings, except about a dozen in Mr. Wood's orchard, and many of them were obtained from him.

George Johnson, of Columbus, planted in 1832 the first orchard of grafted apple-trees in the county. He brought them from Kentucky. Many of them are still standing. In the same year Mr. Johnson estab- lished a nursery at Columbus. He continued it for many years and fur- nished the trees for a large number of the best of the old orchards in the northern and northeastern portions of the county. He had been a black- smith by trade, but was so enthusiastic in his devotion to horticultural pursuits that the shop was at length given up. He was a genial, Christian gentleman, of unimpeachable integrity, and very much beloved by those who knew him. He died in 1868.

In the year 1836 Deacon A. Scarborough, of Payson, set out an orchard of grafted trees. He procured them in St. Louis. They were grown in Ohio, were one year old from the graft, and cost him twenty- five cents each. This orchard, when last seen by the writer a few years ago, was in excellent condition and bearing well. In 1839 Mr. Scarbor- ough also planted an orchard of two hundred peach-trees, some of which were still standing in 1868. In 1855 he introduced into the county the Concord grape. His vines were obtained of Mr. Bull, of Concord, Massa- chusetts. This may be said to be the beginning of successful grape cul- ture here. Horticulturists had been convinced for years that the natural conditions were favorable for grape growing, but they had found it difficult to mature good crops of the old varieties, and many were looking toward an improvement of the large wild grape which abounded in our forests as the surest road to success. Some were working the Isabella on the wild stock, and as early as 1844 Mr. Wm. Stewart, Sr. had been partially suc- cessful by this method. When, however, the merits of the Concord be- came known, and its perfect adaptation to our soil and climate had been proven, plantations were made all over the county. In five years from it's introduction it was very generally disseminated, and in ten years grapes were shipped from Quincy to Chicago, St. Joseph, Leavenworth, and other more remote points. Vineyards are now found all over the county. So abun- dant is the supply that the price of grapes has fallen from twenty and

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HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

twenty-five to two and three cents per pound. Even at these low rates many growers regard them as a profitable crop. Many new and excellent varieties have been added to the list, some of which succeed very well, but for all purposes, and especially in the hands of ordinary growers, the Con- cord is the most reliable, and it is still the principal variety cultivated.

Clark Chatten, of Fall Creek, purchased some grafted apple-trees in 1837 from Charles Stratton, of Pike county, and planted them on his farm. During 1838 and 1839 he continued to add to his orchard until he had forty acres covered with apple-trees and became the laughing-stock of some short-sighted neighbors, who thought a market could never be found for so much fruit as that orchard would produce. Nothing daunted, however, he continued to plant as extensively as his means would allow. In 1840 he planted twelve acres to peach-trees. Thus he continued, planting apple, peach, and pear trees. After a few years he purchased another farm in Ellington township and devoted that also to fruit. In 1867 he had in all two hundred and forty acres devoted to apple-trees, and one hundred and eighty-seven acres devoted to peach-trees-the largest orchard in the State. From the proceeds of his fruit he amassed quite a fortune. Mr. Chatten died in 187 -.

In 1839 Wm. Stewart, Sr., of Payson, planted some peach seeds which he had saved from a small quantity of fruit purchased in Pike county for the purpose, and in the spring of 1840 he transplanted the young trees to a new farm he had purchased adjoining the village.

At the same time he purchased one hundred grafted apple-trees from a nursery in Pike county, probably at Atlas, and planted them in alternate rows with the peach-trees. He also obtained at the same time a small quantity of apple seed which he sowed. During the summer he went East, and in the autumn brought from New York a choice collection of various kinds of fruit and ornamental trees, shrubs, flowers, seeds, &c., such as his then limited means enabled him to purchase. The next spring he planted these and grafted the young apple-trees grown from the seeds planted the preceding spring, and thus commenced " Stewart's Nursery," which for twenty-five years was the leading one in the county. Among the other things which he brought from the east was a lot of one or two bushels of apple seeds obtained at some orchard where cider was made. These were planted the next spring, and he thus had a large supply of young apple- stocks for grafting. How to procure so many scions as would be necessary to graft all these was a difficult problem to solve. There were at that time very few grafted trees in the county that had borne fruit, and to graft from trees that had never borne would be to run great risk of disappoint- ment as to varieties. Fortunately for his purpose he learned during the summer that one of his neighbors, who was a widower, and a very intelli- gent and reliable man, Benjamin Lionburger by name, had made a matri- monial contract with a lady in his native county in Ohio, and was preparing to go for his wife. He had provided himself with a good covered wagon in which the journey was to be made, and he expected to return in the fall. Mr. Stewart lost no time in striking a bargain with this man, by which he agreed to bring from the bearing orchards of Ohio as many scions as he could pack in his wagon, leaving room of course for the expected wife. The neighbor went, and in due time he returned, bringing with him not only a wife, but an abundant supply of scions which had been cnt under his own supervision, from bearing trees of the best varieties. Which of

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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 61

Author: Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Chicago : Murray, Williamson & Phelps Number of Pages: 1254

Author:
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : Murray, Williamson & Phelps
Number of Pages: 1254