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 67
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The present water-works may be considered a triumphant success, because they have so well fulfilled all that was promised or expected, and because they were constructed in a time of great depression, by the indom- itable will and perseverence of Col. Prince, who never fails in anything which he undertakes, and lastly, because the works have cost the city very little, as compared with the cost to other cities of about the same population.
The names of the present owners of the Quincy Water-Works are Edward Prince, Lorenzo Bull, and William B. Bull.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The first mention of the present efficient Fire Department of Quincy was in the year 1837, at which time its inception was made by the town authori- ties making the purchase of four ladders and one dozen buckets. This action of the local authorities was made on the 20th of January, 1838, and from
476
HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.
that date to the present time a constant improvement has been made until the present system has been reached whose efficiency has stood the test of years.
From this commencement, the first step in the march of improvement was made in the year 1839, when the buckets were cast aside for the hand engines, as in that year the fire engine No. 1, or " Old Quincy," as it was called, was purchased at a cost of $1,124.38, The engine did not arrive, however, until the following year, and it remained for a long time the pride of firemen and an extinguisher of fires.
Engine Company No. 1 was then the organization of the village, as most all the substantial men of the place were members of the company. To show the auspicions beginning, the roster of the company is subjoined:
Thos. Jasper. J. A. King.
L. B. Allen.
Amos Green.
J. B. Young.
J. H. Holton.
Thos. Redmond.
W. H. Tandy.
Jacob Gruell.
Jas. D. Morgan.
Joel Thorn.
Stedman Nash.
Lorenzo Bull.
C. W. Manson.
Enoch Conyers.
Edward Wells.
W. F. Karnes.
W. G. Flood.
Fred W. Jansen.
Henry Burrell.
J. H. Kreenhop.
W. H. Gage.
J. H. Ralston.
Jacob A Funk.
Samuel Holmes.
T. C. King.
Charles Albright.
I. O. Woodruff.
Louis Cosson.
Charles A. Nourse.
Hiram Rogers.
J. H. Luce.
Adam Schmitt.
Harrison Dills.
F. G. Johnson.
William Coyne.
T. W. Goodwyn.
Damon Hauser.
Chas. McDonald.
C. Vierheller.
Nat. Summers.
G. W. Chapman.
J. O. Bernard.
Timothy Rogers.
Michael Mast.
John Paine.
T. C. Benneson.
Samuel Winters.
E. M. Davis.
The fire company thus established was followed by the Water Witch No. 2; Liberty, No. 3; Neptune, No. 4; Phoenix, No. 5; Rough and Ready. No. 6, and the Pioneer Hook and Ladder Company. The fire de- partment was considered very efficient. Great rivalry existed among the different companies which lead to great proficiency in the manipulation of the engine and its accoutrements.
Among the early chiefs of the fire department may be mentioned the names of John Crockett, Edward Wells, T. W. Goodwyn, T. C. Benneson and J. D. Morgan, who were conspicuous for their able management of the volunteer department.
The department, or rather the system of fire companies, continued to be managed by officers of their own election until 1865, when the Board of Fire Engineers was established, whose duty it was to have the general su- pervision of the system then in existence. The board consisted of a chief engineer and the foremen of the various organizations. This system was changed in the following year, when the board was made to consist of the mayor, chief engineer, two assistant engineers, and two aldermen. The board held its first meeting on the 11th of May 1866, and was composed of Mayor Boon, Chief Engineer T. J. Heirs, Assistants J. M. Bishop and C. Schwindler, and Aldermen Whitbread and Schrieber.
This system continued until 1876, when the Board of Fire Engineers was made to consist of three aldermen instead of two, as in the previous years; the rest of the board remaining the same.
John Crocket.
J. H. Cottle.
Jas. McDade.
477
HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.
The list of chief engineers, from the establishment of the present im- proved system up to the present time, is as follows:
E. M. Miller
May, 1865-66. 1866-68.
T. J. Heirs.
Henry Meisser.
" 1868-70.
Henry Lageman.
1870-72.
John Metzger.
1872-74.
J. H. Ayers ..
1874, died Dec,, 1875.
J. A. Steinbach. Dec., 1875 to present time.
In the year 1867 the first steam fire engine was purchased. It was called the "John Wood." This gradually did away with the volunteer de- partment and substituted in its place the present system of a paid depart- ment.
The present board of fire engineers is composed of Mayor Rogers, Al- dermen Smith, Libby and Wavering, Chief J. A. Steinbach, Assistants Noakes and McLean.
From the present efficient Chief, J. A. Steinbach, the following infor- mation has been obtained, as contained in his last annual report. The statement showing the list of fires, alarms and losses from the year 1868 to 1879 is as follows:
FALSE
YEARS.
FIRES.
ALARMS.
LOSSES.
April 1868, to April, 1869
1869,
1870, “
1871.
31
10
135,146 00
1871, יר
1872.
27
23
122,000 00
1872,
1873,
1874.
42
4
175,200 00
1874,
1875
28
26
10,098 00
66
1875,
יר
1876.
39
24
66,561 50
"
1876, 44
44
1877
30
17
7,827 00,
1877,
יר
1878.
36
8
11,432 42
"
1878,
1879
40
13
59,337 67
The department, under its present organization, consists of one chief and two assistant engineers, four engineers of steamers, seven drivers, three stokers and eighteen minute-men, making a total of thirty-five men, besides two volunteer companies, Water Witch, No. 2, and Phoenix, No. 5.
The Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 is situated on Fifth street be- tween Jersey and York; has in charge a truck, and is well supplied for any emergency.
ROSTER OF COMPANY.
NAME.
APPOINTMENT.
AGE.
C. Lutenberg.
. Driver.
45
Henry G. Gale.
Foreman.
39
Henry Rothgeb.
Minute Men
30
Henry Kling.
29
F. Hagenbruck
28
H. L. Porter.
24
12
$206,650 00
1870.
25
12
97,650 00
1873.
26
10
59,400 00
Engine Company No. 1 is located on Fifth Street between Hampshire and Vermont, and has in charge a second class crane neck rotary engine, built by Silsby Manufacturing Company, of Seneca Falls, N. Y .; has been in service since November, 1876. Also, four-wheeled hose reel, built by E. M. Miller & Co., of Quincy, together with 950 feet of good hose.
478
HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.
ROSTER OF COMPANY.
NAME.
APPOINTMENT. AGE.
R. H. Benneson
Engineer
37
Joseph Guth.
Driver.
29
Alex. Brown
Driver.
.31
M. Caufman.
Stoker
18
J. Huffman.
Hoseman .43
40
J. Riggs.
29
W. Hayes.
.35
Engine Company No. 3 is located on Eighth street, between Maine and Jersey. This company has in charge a second-class piston engine, built by C. Ahrens & Co., of Cincinnati, Ohio; has been in service since Decem- ber 19, 1874. Also, a two-wheeled hose reel, built by Silsby Manufactur- ing Company, of Seneca Falls, N. Y., together with 650 feet of good hose.
ROSTER OF COMPANY.
NAME.
APPOINTMENT. AGE.
Sam. M. Sykes. .
Engineer.
.38
J. O. Burlingame.
Driver.
32
Aug. Gille. .
Driver
35
Stoker.
H. Klusemeyer
Hoseman
W. Noakes.
66
38
J. L. Albright
Guy Prentiss. 36
Engine Company No. 4 is located on State street, between Fourth and Fifth, and has in charge a third-class piston engine, built by L. Button & Son, Waterford, N. Y .; has been in service since June 1. 1868; also a two wheeled hose reel, built by E. M. Miller & Co., of Quincy, together with 750 feet of good hose.
ROSTER OF COMPANY.
NAME.
APPOINTMENT. AGE.
Fred M. Grimm.
Engineer.
Wm. Hade ..
Driver .. 28
F. Gearische.
Hoseman 23
Jas. Orm ... .29
66
.20
R. Parks.
J. Strode .. 28
Union Fire Company No. 6, is located on Twentieth street between Oak and Vine; has in charge a fourth-class piston engine, built by Cole Bros., at Pawtucket, Rhode Island; also, a four-wheeled hose reel, together with 600 feet of hose.
ROSTER OF OFFICERS.
A. Herdyman
Foreman.
O. H. Fisher.
Assistant Foreman.
F. Buckley. . Secretary.
A. Smith Treasurer.
The steamer James Pitman is a third-class rotary engine, built by H. C. Silsby, at Seneca Falls, N. Y .; is kept at present as a " reserve" in case of a large fire, or to take the place of other engines in case of accident.
The steamers, hand engines, equipments and engine houses under the control of the department are valued at about $100,000.
FRANKT.TN
Driver .. :36 Chas. Strode.
C. W. Shinn.
.33
44
W. Myers
SCHOL
THE FRANKLIN SCHOOL, QUINCY.
479
HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.
The fire department of Quincy is first-class in every respect, and no city of its size can claim a better one. It has a reputation at home and abroad for proficiency, and the energy displayed in all its grades promises that the future will be an improvement on its past record.
SCHOOLS.
Quincy's present excellent system of schools, embracing as it does all the grades from the kindergarten to the most advanced studies of a college curri- culum, and including the public schools, private and denominational educa- tional institutions, besides colleges and seminaries, is in strong contrast with the humble origin of education in the little village some forty years ago. The school has passed through various changes since its first establishment, meeting at times with opposition, but coming from the ordeal a system that justly merits the praise which has been bestowed upon it. The history of the early schools established in the city of Quincy and that of the public schools of the present day, is almost identical, or at least so intimate as not to be separated from each other. The history of these schools commences with the establishment of the first school in 1837, and was held in what was known as the " Lord's Barn," a log church, situated very near the present Washington Park. In speaking of this first school, a writer says: "It con- tained about thirty scholars, some of them learning their letters and others being able to read and spell indifferently. The school was taught by Mr. Burnham, who had been engaged by Mr. Keyes and a few other public spirited gentlemen, and was paid his salary by them, some of the citizens who sent their children to the school being unable to pay anything for the privilege. A few previous attempts to maintain schools, among them one by the Rev. Jabez Porter, who founded the Congregational church, had been made, but this was the first one that proved in any manner successful, so that, a year from the time it first opened, when Quincy had but 1,150 in- habitants, it boasted of a permanent source of common education as well as good religious privileges. The establishment of the school, however, was attended with great difficulties. There was serious objection to education in those days which is not even hinted at now. Some of the people were open and outspoken in opposition to what they considered a pernicious system of keeping boys and girls idle when they ought to be at work ; and these, as a matter of course, refused to assist the school in any manner whatever. In that early time, a contract was usually made between the teacher and the parents of the scholars, in which it was stipulated that the tutor should receive so much per quarter (probably ten weeks) for each scholar. The compensation was necessarily very small, and a part of this the teacher had to secure by " boarding round "-a week at one house, a week at another, and so on until he had been at each house in the district for a given time.
However, the inconvenience of changing his boarding house was not the greatest obstacle which Mr. Burnham had to encounter. Very few books could be obtained; the seats in the school-house were bare boards; the scholars had to walk long distances, owing to the sparsely settled con- dition of the place; and finally, in 1837, many of those who attended this school died of the then prevailing malady, cholera, and teaching had to be brought to a sudden termination. It was revived, however, the following year, with the opponents of instruction fortified by the partial failures which had already occurred. In one of the public meetings held about that time, 31
480
HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.
a giant Kentuckian, who was familiar to everybody in the place, made a speech in opposition to the school, declaring that "eddycashun wasn't no good; that he sent his Sal to school one day an' she didn't larn a hooter; them teachers didn't know nothin'." It was the element controlled in a large degree by expressions of this kind that retarded the progress of learn- ing in the then thriving little town, but nevertheless the school succeeded, maintained, as it was, by private subscriptions.
The first real step forward in the management of the schools in Quincy came of an effort made by Mr. R. S. Benneson, Capt. Artus and ex-Gov. John Wood, in 1842. In April they circulated a petition, and sent it to the legislature, which was then in session, for permission to amend the existing city charter, which had been adopted in 1839, so as to enable Quincy to levy a tax of 12} cents on the $100 to be used under the direction of the city council exclusively for school purposes. The neces- sary enactment was obtained, was ratified by a vote of the people, and the city then commenced the operation of the school system in a somewhat satisfactory manner. It had been necessary, meantime, to rent rooms in various places for the accommodation of the scholars, who had been grow- ing in numbers by the increase of population, and in 1843 the first school- house was built by the town authorities. This was a two-story brick build- ing on the Franklin school lot, on Fifth street, which was torn down to make room for the new brick edifice now there. Its dimensions were about 40x60 feet, and it contained two rooms, which did excellent service at the time, and, in fact, continued to be used for nearly thirty years to good ad- vantage to the young people who attended the school. A little over a year afterward a similar building was put up on Jefferson square, and this re- mained occupied for school purposes until the county purchased the ground and commenced to build the new court-house thereon. These buildings cost about $4,000 each, and were ranked as model institutions of learning in their days.' They were of such ample capacity that it seems they met the requirements of the city for some years; for in the first directory ever published in Quincy, compiled by Dr. J. S. Ware, in 1848, these are re- ferred to in glowing terms as affording all of the educational facilities that could be demanded by the most exacting student, and the seating capacity is placed at the extravagant figure of 2,000. The schools were under the immediate direction of the school commissioner for Adams county, Mr. Grover, as well as those outside of the city. A visiting committee, with- out any authority, was annually appointed by the council, but the schools were then governed as are the schools in the county towns to-day.
As late as 1843 we find that the trustees of schools asked the city council for a "donation" to carry on the schools. The council could not, or, at least, did not grant the request. Thereupon a mass-meeting of the citizens was held and the following resolution was adopted:
Resolved, That this meeting instruct the city council to appropriate $300 per quarter to sustain the public schools in this city, and that this appropriation remain permanent through the remainder of this year, and also continue through 1844.
The council, thereupon, adopted a series of resolutions in which they recited the financial disabilities under which the city was laboring, and re- gretted their inability to make the required appropriation. They also re- cognized the duty of public officials to obey instructions; and, as they thought that they could not in this instance obey, they expressed a willing- ness to resign, if the citizens desired them to do so, and to replace them
481
HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.
with men who could see their way clear to comply with the above instruc- tion.
It does not appear from the record that any of the aldermen resigned, yet at the next succeeding meeting of the council the appropriation was made, thus indicating a strong pressure from the citizens. So that, at that early day in the history of Quincy, the public schools, as we see from this inci- dent, had become the people's schools, and they were a fixed institution. It is true that they have often languished, as before stated, for the means to make them efficient, but they were never allowed to be suspended, or if so, only for a brief period. Appropriations for school purposes were frequently made grudgingly, and the schools were often made to suffer at the expense of other undertakings by thecity, which have not yielded their proportion- ate benefits to the city.
In April. 1847, for the first time the city of Quincy was organized into school districts under the control of the city anthorities, by a law of the legislature. In June of the same year, ordinances were adopted by the council for the support and management of the public schools, and the ap- pointment of a superintendent. Mr. Isaac M. Grover was chosen for the position, retaining it for three years, and under his direction schools were opened in the Franklin and Jefferson buildings early in September of 1847. Now fairly started in the right direction. the schools gave promise of doing something gratifying. But the progress was still slow. It was not until the fall and winter of 1855 that the next school-house (the Webster) was erected; and two years afterward the Irving district was organized and the school-honse built, and about the same time the colored school (now the Lincoln) located in a hovel on Oak street, came under the jurisdiction of the city. Some attempts at progress were made by those having the schools in charge. It was, however, up-hill work. It seemed that every proposi- tion or endeavor for advancement was met with objections of a really seri- ous and threatening nature. Numbers of prominent and somewhat influ- ential citizens arrayed themselves against any appropriation for salaries, improvements in the school-rooms, or additions to buildings.
One faction got at loggerheads with another upon the question of the management and direction of the public schools, and there was apparently a strong popular sentiment against expending money liberally for common school education. The Hon. Hope S. Davis, who was superintendent from 1856 to 1858, and again from 1860 to 1864, endeavored to check this feel- ing and make the schools generally popular, while instituting needed re- forms. He accomplished at least one important object during his first term of service, and that was to grade the schools into three departments, higher, intermediate and primary, with separate teachers for each branch. Prior to this the Franklin and Jefferson schools, with one room on each floor, had two teachers in a room, both of them hearing classes, if they could be called classes, one at either end of the room, at the same time. There was not a blackboard in either of the buildings except a small one in the Web- ster; the seats ran lengthwise of the school-rooms, those at the farther end, where sat the big boys and girls, of course, being elevated above the others; there were no distinct classes except in reading and spelling, each scholar studying just what suited him or her, and at any time that was most con- venient, without punishment for failure in lessons. The only thing about the schools that seemed to partake of order was the series of "blue laws" providing that the scholars should be on hand at 8:45 o'clock, the doors
482
HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.
should be opened promptly at 9, so many records of tardy should render a scholar liable to suspension, so many more to expulsion, etc. These rules were pasted on a piece of cardboard and hung up on a nail in the wall.
When it was decided to make an improvement, the superintendent got authority from the council, and put up partitions in the school-rooms, making four rooms in each building. The old seats were taken out and new ones put in. Blackboards were introduced, and finally text-books were adopted for the different grades. The schools needed even more than this, but the difficulty was for the officers to find support in their efforts, and consequently only a little could be done at a time. During 1856 a com- munication was published in one of the newspapers in the interest of private schools and against public schools, in which the attendants at the latter were classed as "ragmuffins." This drew out a rejoinder from Mr. Blakes- ley, and was followed by another article, and the war was thus kept up for some time. In the spring of 1857 Superintendent Davis and the teachers endeavored to gain publie favor, and gave a grand public school exhibition in what was then Kendall's hall, at the southwest corner of Main and Sixth streets. A paper prepared by some of the older students was read, and deelamations, compositions and dialogues made up the programme. The first night the attendance was fair, and the exhibition was a great suc- cess. It aroused such enthusiasm that it had to be repeated the next night; and so many were unable to gain admittance that it became necessary to give it for the third time.
As it was the first performance of the kind attempted, it had consid- erable effect in turning public favor toward the schools, and for a time it was hoped the back of the opposition to them was broken. But a few years afterward, when it was proposed to increase the school tax above the prescribed twelve and one-half cents, the fight was renewed with vigor. A meeting of the friends of the movement was called in Concert hall, at the corner of 5th and Main streets, Dr. Robbins presiding, and the same night the opponents of the measure met in the old court-house, to protest against the tax. Mr. Davis, one of those in favor of the increase, went into the court-house meeting and made a speech, holding the floor until he was reinforced by the entire body from the Concert hall. which adjourned to aid him. Then commenced a heated debate, in which the Hon. Almeron Wheat and the late Jackson Grimshaw eloquently took part in favor of the schools, and were assisted by Samuel Holmes, A. W. Blakesley, and Syl- vester Thayer. . In short order, the protestants were fully routed from the court-room. The opposition to the public schools was thus permanently allayed, and public education was thereafter popularly endorsed.
In the winter of 1860-61 Mr. Marcy and Mr. Davis drew up a law for organizing the board of education of Quiney, and it was passed by the Legislature. Previous to that time the title to all public school property here was vested in the city. Some of this property, a portion of the Web- ster school lot, was levied on for a city debt, and was sold and had to be redeemed, while other city creditors were threatening to swoop down and take the Jefferson and Franklin lots also. It was to save this property that provision was made in the law for vesting the title in the board of education. The first board organized under the law, in 1861, consisted of Thomas Jasper, president; Hope S. Davis, superintendent; John W. Brown, Clerk; George I King, and A. W. Blakesley. By-laws, rules and regula- tions, and a complete graded system for the schools were adopted before the
THE JEFFERSON SCHOOL, QUINCY.
CHASE OTYILL
ADAMS COUNTY COURT HOUSE, QUINCY.
483
HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.
commencement of the Fall term. It was under these regulations that the Quincy teachers' institute was established in 1861, the first meeting being held at the "Center school " in September, and it has been in existence ever since. These rules have continued to govern the schools to the pres- ent time. They were revised in 1865, when amendments became necessary, such as making nine divisions of the school instead of five, as originally provided for, and otherwise extending their usefulness. When the board organized, it took charge of the Franklin, Jefferson and Webster school buildings, and leased the old Unitarian Church, at the corner of 6th and Jersey streets, where were established what was called the "Center school." Since that time the rapid increase of scholars has made necessary constant enlargements and improvements, and new school buildings.
In speaking of the improvements which have been made in the schools of the city, it will be most natural to speak separately of each of the school buildings, giving a short history of each, beginning with the old Franklin. It was discovered that this building had become utterly worn out and useless as a school-house, so that in 1870 the building was replaced by a new house of magnificent proportions, and combining in it all the modern improvements and conveniences. It contains fifteen rooms, all of which are well lighted and well ventilated. It is heated with steam, and in every respect it is the equal, if not the superior, of any school-house in the West. Its cost, including desks, seats and other necessary furniture, with heating apparatus and earth closets, amounted to $40,000. The seating capacity is 750, although a greater number have been crowded into it at various times. In 1873 it was found necessary to have a room in the neighborhood for a branch primary school, and such a school, the York Street Primary, has since then been maintained in Mr. Thomas White's building, across the street from the Franklin. There are in the building three departments, primary, grammnar and high school.
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