Effingham County, Illinois - Chapter 7, 1883

Chapter 7

" Is the Pen mighiier than the Sword?" 'T^HE spirit of war, the admiration for tlie -1- "loud alarums," the martial music of fife and drum, the love of battle's magnificent stern tirraj- have marked all the history of the people of this count}'. In another place we have noticed the fact, that a full representation were in the Black Hawk war, in 1832, even before the young county had a completed organized existence.

On the 14th day of May, 18-17, under the second call for Illinois volunteers to go to Mexico, the following soldiers left Effingham for the rendezvous at Alton, namely ;

These thirty-six men were added to Capt. Harvey Lee's Company, of Fayette County, H. W. Goode, First Lieutenant, and William J. Hankins, Second Lieutenant. This company formed a part of the Ninth Regiment, under command of Col. Collins. On the 3d day of April, 1848, they started for Mexico, and went via New Orleans to Tampico, from there to

Success And Influence, Etc., Etc

Vera Cruz, and from thence to the City of Mexico. They were, unfortunately, attached to that part of the army under Gen. Scott that was restricted to camp duty almost entirely, not being in a single battle, and were practically deprived of partaking in any field operations. To this, probably, was due the great amount of sickness that atHicted the men during their entire service. Andrew J. Parks and Samuel Parks died of sickness at Puebla. When we asked the old Sergeant of the company, Sam Fortne_y, to again, as he had in the long 3'ears ago, call the morning roll; out of the thirty-six, except Samuel Hankins, Jonathan Tucker, James Tucker, D. C. Loy. E. Kronk, David Perkins, Stephen Coy, William Ashley, Samuel Fortney, James Martin, M. H. Gillispie, T. J. Gillenwaters, Reed Funk, Mathias Lecrone and J. W. Lee, are all that are living. The others have passed life's fitful fever, and gone to answer roll-call at the high court of God.

The Civil War. - Twelve years after the close of the Mexican, the clouds of battle again gathered over the unhappy country; unhappy, indeed, in this war, because it was a civil war, called civil, probably, because such wars are always marked with unusual fierceness and atrocit}-. A family quarrel is, as a rule, the most unreasonable and vindictive, the feud more difficult to forget, and the bone of contention more trifling than any other species of diflftculties.

In 1861, the great rebellion had assumed its portentous shape. Fort Sumter was fired upon, and a flying trip from Mobile or New Orleans, to St. Paul or any other Northern city, was accompanied along the entire route night and daj% with one continuous strain of marshal music. In the South in every breeze, from every house-top, flag pole or steeple, fluttered the confederate flags. In the North, the same shrill fife and beating drum was heard, but the flag of the Union floated everywhere; the people had, with apparenth- one impulse, left their houses and wandered upon the streets and highways. The children laughed and shouted their pleasure in uncontrolled delight; strong men buckled on their armor and cheered the flag, and exultant shouts of patriotism rang out upon the air. In a night the spirit of slaughter had been turned loose. The country called to arms, and there were hasty partings of distress, and tears, and sighs, and aching hearts, and war, fatricidal war was upon us. Twentyone years have passed away since then; nearl3' a life time, with healing wings, has come with its ministerings to the scars of war - the great red gaps of battle. A new generation has arisen, and "rebel" and "yank" are, mostly sleeping peacefully in their windowless tombs, side b}- side often, and j"et the evils of that hour of bad passions awakened are not all gone, and who can tell when the happj' ending will come. It is no purpose of this chapter to write the history of that bloody and cruel war, or of the why and wherefore of its horrid visitation, but, upon tlie contrar3', to say a few words of what the people of the count}' did do in the trying ordeal that came without any volition from them.

During the war, Illinois furnished the army 225,300 men, of itself a great army. There are 102 counties in the State, and this would be an average to the county of a fraction less than 2,000 men. Although Effingham was among the smallest of the counties, jet there is no doubt she furnished fully 2,000 soldiei-s, from first to last, and j-et her people did- not escape the draft. The county furnished twelve regularly organized full companies, besides several squads of men, and quite a large number that were taken in small squads to diff'erent camps in this State and Missouri, and there were scattered among regiments from nearly all the States. The largest of any one body of these, which maj- be determined descriptively as stragglers, were about 400, taken to Missouri by Charley Kinsey and Sam Winters.

The news that actual war had commenced and the Government published its call for 75,- 000 soldiers, had reached Effingham on a certain Friday in April, 1861. Col. J. W. Filler and John L. Wilson talked the matter over, and Filler closed his printing office, and he and Wilson commenced to raise a company. Saturday- morning thej- had two men and then telegraphad Gov. Yates that their company was ready and awaiting orders. On the following Tuesday the company, 102 strong, started for Springfield. Filler, Captain, J. H. Lacy, First and George W. Parks, Second Lieutenants. In the language of Col. Filler, " everj- one of them a Democrat." The company was literally recruited in a day, and was the finest looking lot of soldiers that ever left the county. A meeting of the citizens was held at the court house on Monday before the company was to start, the house was packed with people, speeches, songs, drums and fifes added to the sudden outburst of enthusiasm of all the people. During the meeting a suggestion was made to pass the hat and raise money to subsist the country's defenders on their way to Springfield. It was carried around and &H cents was the gross proceeds thereof, whereupon Filler spoke just a minute, the substance being that if there was a man in his companj- that he knew would be as bashful in facing the enemy as that crowd was in facing the " saucer" he would then and there shoot him dead. This brought out Lowry

Leith with the response, " Filler, that is worth $10!" and in five minutes SGO or $70 was raised, and happily and with plenty to eat on the road, the company went to Springfield and went into camp in a briek-yard. These were ninety-day men and among the first that were on the ground. From Springfield they were sent to Bird's Point, Mo., where they served out their terra. Capt. Lucius M. Rose succeeded Filler as Captain upon his promotion to Lieutenant Colonel.

After this, in the next call for troops, three companies were raised, as follows: Col. Funkhouser, Capt. 0. L. Kelly and Capt. McCracken, each a company that went in the Ninety -eighth Illinois Regiment of Infantry. This might be called the Etfiingham Regiment. The field and staff were John J. Funkhouser, Colonel; W. B. Cooper, Major; J. H. J. Lacy, Adjutant. William McCracken, Company C, with Stephen I. Williams, First, and John P. Powell, Second Lieutenants. Williams resigned in 18G2; December 19, when Powell was promoted to First and Henr}' S. Watson made Second Lieutenant. In Company B, David D. Marquis was Captain, AMVj-LecrQJiej Captain Company F. Capt, O. L. Kelly was killed September 8, 1862, and A. S. Moffitt became Captain, and William Tarrant First Lieutenant. Capt. Dobbs raised a full company- and joined the Thirtj'-fifth Illinois Infautrj', Col. G. A. Smith. Ilis Lieu- ' tenants were Jesse D. Jennings and Nelson Staats. Capt. Dobbs was severel}- wounded and resigned October 14, 1862, when Jennings became Captain and Joseph Moore First Lieutenant. In 1862, Capt. Presley B. O'Dear, Merritt Redden, First, and John F. Barkley. Second, Lieutenants, I'ecruited a companj- and joined the Fiftj'-fourth Regiment, Illinois Infantry. Capt. J, P. 31, Howard, D, P, Murphy. First, and John Loj-, Second, and Capt, D. L. Horn and Capt. David Young each entered the service with a company of men for the 100 da}-s' service.

Col. Funkhouser's Company had S. A. Newcomb First LieuttMiant and D. P. IMurphy Second. This companj- was apart of the Twentysixth Illinois Infantrj-, Col. Loomis. The regiment were at Camp Yates, and were sent to Palmyra, Mo., which place they guarded two weeks before they got guns, and in this time they used cliibs as a substitute. From this service Funkhouser returned and raised the Ninety-eighth Regiment,

Capt. H, D. Caldwell raised the first and only cavalry company in the county. It was made a part of the Fifth Illinois Cavalry. This company was mustered into the service in September, 1861. The company went to Benton Barracks, Pilot Knob, Greenville, Reeves Station, Pocahontas and Smithville, Ark. At Davison they were in the field skirmish, and in the next brush, at Strawborrj- River, Ark,, JIarion Welker was killed and Sylvester Nye wounded. Next at Greenville, and Cherokee Bay, Mo., they were in two brisk little fights. This company were at the siege of Vicksburg, and then had a long and dangerous march, with skirmishing all the way to Champion Hill and return.

. When Capt. Dobbs had sufficiently recovered from his wound, he raised a companj- of 100- day men, and this company served in the One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Regiment, when the Captain returned home and raised a companjfor the One Hundred and Thirty -fifth Regiment. Thus this one man put in the service over 300 soldiers, and although badly wounded at Pea Ridge battle, he served in the ranks during nearlj- the entire war.

Our county was almost depopulated of its j'oung and able-bodied men, the people who remained at home earnestlj- and literalljaided and encouraged those who were in the field. The Board of Supervisors made liberal and generous donations from the Countj- Treasury for bounty money to be paid those who volunteered. And the State laws show that, while the board in several cases acted without authority, yet tlie Legislature promptly ratified and legalized everything that looked toward promoting the war. The people and county were true to those strong characteristics that have marked them from the foundation of the count}-, namely, to vote the Democratic ticket straight, and fight upon the slightest pretext.

When the cruel war was over, this great body of men that were left alive, returned to their homes, and the better occupations of peace, and resumed their places among the leading and best citizens of the county. And this may well be said to their great credit. Our count}- suffered less, although it had furnished so proprotionatel}- large a number of men from the war, demoralization and dissipation, and venality than probably any other county in the State. It has been said that the invention of gunpowder was one of the strong forces in the march of the human mind toward civilization. This is true; and it may be said for the people of Effingham Count}- the late unfortunate war was a great school for many of our people. It taught them something of the geogi'aphy and greatness of their own country; it placed them in direct contact with men from every section of the Union - from nearly every State and county. To the time of the breaking-out of the war the ignorant Yankee looked upon the people of Southern Illinois as but little above the brute, and the people returned the compliment in full, not for a moment dreaming that a stupid Yankee was a human being in any respect. They very well averaged in their mutual respect and ignorance of each other.

It is now nearly eighteen years since the war closed. We are told by those who have revisited some of the terrible, bloody battlefields, that kind nature has there been busy covering over, and hiding away from sight the" signs and marks of the fell strife and slaughter. Even the long, slim trenches, where were buried the killed, as they were put away simply wrapped in their blankets, are now hard to trace. Let the white robed angel of peace drop a tear upon all memories of the unfortunate civil war, and blot them out forever.

The Press. - The record of the newspaper press of a count}-, if it has happened to fall into the hands of men competent to make it fully discharge its duty, ought to be the one most important page in the county's history. One of the first and greatest things that always could be said of our nation, was it has a free press. No man has to be licensed or selected by a paternal Government, either to \ print a book or publish a paper. It has been circumscribed by no law except natural selection. Any one who wishes could start a paper, anywhere and at any time, and say anything on earth he desired to say, barring only an occasional heavy boot-toe and the law of libel. If he chose not to be suppressed, there was no power to suppress him. If he was persecuted or thrashed by some outraged citizen, it is not certain but that he always got the best of the difficulty, especially when he would begin to prate about the palladium of American liberties." The wisest act of our Government in all its history was the unbridling the press. It was the seed planted in good soil for its own perpetuity, and the happiness and welfare of its people. To make the press absolutely free, especially after the centuries of vile censorship over it, was an act of wisdom transcending in importance the original invention of movable types. A free press makes, without so much as the saying of it, free speech, free schools, free intelligence and freedom, and when the storms of State come, and the mad waves of popular ignorance and passion beat the ship of State, then, indeed, is a free press the beacon light shining out upon the troubled waters.

The coming of the Bohemian - that sphynx of the black letter, the - stick," the ink-pot, " pi and the devil," in other words the prin- ter, is an era alwa3-s. anywliere and among anj' people; in young and fast-growing coinmuuities, it is an event of great portent to its future, for here, above any and all other institutions, are incalculable possibilities for good, and sometimes well grounded fears for evil. A free press in the hands of a man aware of the great responsibilities resting upon him. is a blessing, like the discoveries and inventions of genius that are immortal. In the dingy printing office is the epitome of the world of action and of thought - the best school in Christendom - the best church. Here is where genius perches and pauses before those loftj^ flights that awe and attract mankind - here are kindled the fires of genius that blaze aud dazzle like the central sun, and that penetrate, and warm and ripen the rich fruitage of benign civilization. The press is the drudge and the pack-horse, as well as crowned king of all mankind. The gentle click of its tj-pe is heard around all the world; they go sounding down the tide of time, bearing upon their gentle waves the destinies of civilization, and the immortal smiles of the pale children of thought as the}- troop across the fair face of the earth in their entrances, and exists from the unknown to the unknown, scattering here and there, immortal blessings that the dull, blind types patieutlv gather, and place them where tliej- will ever live. It is the earth's symphonj- which endures; which transcends that of the " morning when the stars sang together." And when its chords are swept by the fingers of the immortals, it is the echoes of those anthems that float up forever to the throne of God. Of all that man can have in this world it is the one blessing, whose rose has no thorn, whose sweet has no bitter. It is fraught with man's good, his joy, his happiness, and the blessings of civilization. By means of the press the humblest cabin in the laud may bid enter and become a part <jf the feniily circle, such as the immortal and sweet singing bard of Scotland - Bobby Burns, the God like Shakespeare, or Byron, " who touched his harp, and nation's heard entranced." Here Lord Macauley will lay aside his title aud dignity, and with the timid children even hold sweetconverse in those rich resounding sentences that flow on forever like a great and rapid river. Here Gray will sing his angelic pastoral as '' the lowing herd winds slowly- o'er the lea, and leaves the world to solitude and me," and Charles Lamb, whose sweet, sad, witty life may mix the laugh with the sigh of sympathy, may set the children in a roar as he tells the stor}' of the " invention of the roast pig." And that human bear, Johnson, his roughness and boorishness all gone now as in trenchant sentences he pours out his jeweled thoughts to eager ears; and the stately JNIilton, blind but sweet and sublime, and Pope telling the story of " man's inhumanity to man " in stately measure, and poor, poor, delightful, gifted Poe, with his bird of evil omen, " perched upon the pallid bust of Pallas," and Shelly and Keats, and Dickens, aud Thackaraj' and Saxe, and Scott and Hood and Elliott, and Demosthenes and Homer, aud Webster and Claj', and all of earth's greatest, sweetest and best, are at the beck and call of mankind, where they will spread their bounties and beauties before the humblest outcast as munificently us at the feet of royal courts or kings.

But, begging the reader's pardon, and hoping that he has skipped this mild and diffident invocation, we will proceed with the story of the press in Ellingiiam County - the Country Press, whose editor, printer, compositor, jobman, foreman and force, proof-reader,, poet and sweep, are the alpha aud the omega of tiie wondrous establishment. Where the village editor vies with the lone schoolmaster in carrying that "little head" that "contained all he knew." There is nothing in creation the equal in modesty and diffidence to the very first pioneer paper - the scream of the first locomotive in the wilderness, stampeding the buffiiloes, wild cats and Indians, is tame and commonplace compared to the first paper - the Vol. I, No. 1 ; Jefferson Brick, proprietor ; the Hon. Jeflforson Brick, chief editor ; J. Brick, local editor ; Mr. Brick, compositor ; the great name set in fat faced ten-line caps on everj- page. How grandlj' he talks about " AVE oursclf;" about the Sanctum Sanctorum, where is edited those brilliant Sheriff sales and lying funeral notices, and those sonorous sentences about the Hon. Timothy Tugmuttou, Esq., having with such public spirit erected a palatial pig pen, and thus the march of empire bo's westward like a stra}' cat in a strange back-3'ard when the boj's and dog of the house get up for the day's business.

In 1855, W. B. Cooper had been two j-ears in Ewiugton practicing law, and conceiving that he could add other things to his large law practice, he went to Vandalia and purchased a printing office of Tevis Greathouse, and at once transferred it to Ewington and issued the first paper in the count3- - the EJjingham Pioneer. The old hand-press of this office w,as probably the first ever brought to Illinois. It had been brought from Kentuckj- by Col. E. C. Berr}', the first State Auditor of Illinois, and it had followed the seat of government from Kaskaskia to Vandalia. It had been in two fires, but there was much iron and great soliditj- about it, and, while a cumliersome concern, it was alwaj-s read}- to do fair work in the hands of a stout pressman. Mr. Cooper, not being a printer, brought with his office a man named Burton, who set up and worked off the paper, and was Postmaster at the same time. Burton left the office, and the paper floundered as best it could upon chance printers, until McManis and Orrin Hoddy were put to work, and the publication went forward regularly from that time. In October, 1857, Col. J. W. Filler entered the office as printer, and in a short time a joint-stock company was formed, when Cooper retired and he became sole proprietor. Filler's description of the office when he first entered it and looked around, is graphic and interesting. It was in a log cabin, and a pile of "pi" lay in the center of the room. The patient printers often had to go to this pile and hunt out, by scratching, much after the fashion of the industrious old hen and chickens, to find a needed letter that could be found nowhere else. The general appearance of things was in keeping with the " pi pile." The paper was a six-column folio, sometimes a little dingy and the worse-for-wear appearance about it. It was running a serial story - a chapter a week - entitled The Sea Lion," and when the outside had been worked off the printers would take out letters here and there from the Sea Lion, and chew paper wads to fill the holes. This gave the Lion, as well as the forms, a singularly motle}' and spotted appearance. Filler most unceremoniouslj' killed Off the Sea Lion, and to this day the readers of the Pioneer have never ceased to regret this untimely end of their hero. /

Filler continued the publication of the paper in Ewington until the fall of ISGO, when it was transferred to the county seat, Effingham. It now began to put on considerable newspaper airs, and was paying the one man who, with the help of a roller boy a half day each week, did everything from chopping his own wood as well as all other work or business about the office. The paper moved along in quiet content until April, 1861, when Col. Filler laid down his stick and went soldiering, leaving the office in the hands of Dr. T. G. Vandever, who purchased the Gazette, a paper started by L. M. Rose in the spring of 1860, as a Republican organ, and was run by Rose until he, too, went to the war in April, 1861. Vandever purchased the Gazette, upon which there was a mortgage, and moved it into the Pioneer office, and when the two were consolidated the publication ceased. In October, 1861, Filler & Vandever, in the consolidated office, commenced the publication of the Unionist. They issued three numbers only when Filler again went to the war and Vandever was again left alone. In the earl}- part of 1862, tiie mortgagee of the old defunct Gazette, by virtue of his lien, took charge of the office, and sold the same to John Hoen3', who at once revived the publication of the Gazette, and, in a short time after this, Hoen^' purchased the Pioneer office of Filler, and moved the entire concern into a new twostor}- frame building, on the east side of the public square, and this was burned to the ground in July, 1862. Here was not only a total loss of everything in the office, and no insurance, but there was a goodly part of it not paid for. The County Treasurer, Barcus, advanced Hoeny SI 00 on the future ta.x; list, and with this he went to Chicago and purchased a lot of old tj'pe of the Times and returned. He had the old Pioneer press, which fortunately stood in the yard at the time of the fire, and had it repaired, and moved into a building in the northeast corner of the public square and commenced the publication of his paper. The office continued here until a new one-storj- office was erected on the old stand, and the office went there .igain. In 1866, L. Hommes was associated with Hoen}-, and thej* made the paper one side German and the other p]nglish, and this continued for six months, when Hommes retired and went to Chicago. In 1865, Hoeny sold to Hays & Bowen, and retired. These men changed the name immediately to the Effingham County Democrat. They soon let the concern run down, and b}- this time, in the latter part of 1865, Col. Filler had returned from the war, and the securities of Bowen had to take the paper; they placed Filler in control. He continued the publication until September, 1868, when H. C. Bradsby purchased the office. He eliminated the word " County " from the name, and it became the Effingham Democrat, as it lias remained ever since. In April, 1870, Bradsby sold to J. C. Brady, who associated with himself John Hoeny, and on the 7th of

June of the same year Brady sold his interest to Hoenj-, and thus he again became the sole proprietor. In August, 1878, Hoeny sold a one-half interest to George M. Le Crone. October 1, 1880, Hoeny sold his remaining interest to Owen Scott, and the firm then became Le Crone & Scott. October 13, 1881, George M. Le Crone sold his interest to Scott, and the property became the possession of Owen Scott, and is so published at this time.

Thus, full of changes beset with trials, perishing sometimes from famine and sometimes from flames, it has had always vigor and vitality. A remarkable coincidence is that every man, we believe, except Martin Hoeny. that has been connected with it as part propricstor is still living to watch the career of their hopeful prodigy. It has always been Democratic in politics, and at times has lashed without mercy its political opponents, and it has been one of the secrets of the county always coming to the front with its overwhelming Democratic majorities. We would be much pleased to go over its list of writers and contril)utors who have filled its columns for so many ^ears, with a running review of each one. with an opinion of their different merits. But, as they are all alive, and modesty is our besetting sin, we forbear, content with expressing the hope that it may live long and prosper.

The Register. - Maj. William Haddock issued the first number of the Effingham Register November 14, 1864, and for eight years, without interruption, continued its publication. Maj. Haddock had just returned from the army to his home in Butler Center, Iowa, when he concluded to come South and open a fruit farm. He came to Effingham, and, being a strong Republican, he fell into the hands of Wood & Avery, attorneys of this place, and thej- persuaded him to start a Republican paper here. He was a law^'er, printer and experienced journalist. In 1852, he commenced and published the Anamosa News in Jones

Count}-, Iowa, for three years. Here and at this time he was elected State's Attornej', which office he filled ably and well for two 3'ears. He published the loica State Register in Waterloo, Iowa, a non-political paper, devoted to the interests of Iowa. In 1859, he published the Jeffersonian, a vigorous Republican paper, in the same place. Haddock was a man most admirabl}- adapted to come here, and under the adverse and trying circumstances successfully establish a Republican paper. He had ability, experience, untiring energy, and was a skilled workman in the printer's art. He published a paper that was 500 per cent better than its best patronage ever justified. His economy was astounding, his energ}- tireless, his ambition boundless. He warmed with life the Republican party in this county - made it much, if not all, that it was, and in return received the usual pay that prett}- much all parties award their patient and humble organs. Tliey are generally expected to do all the party work and take their pay in sneers and kicks, while the hangers-on take the fat ofBces and chuckle over their own greatness, forgetting that the starving editor was their architect and builder.

Maj. Haddock was a journalist who had learned his lessons from Horace Grefele}'. In 1872, when his loved and venerated preceptor became a candidate for President of the United States, he dared to support him. The penalt}' he paid for this manly independence was the suspension of his paper, which occurred on the 1st of October, 1872. A few weeks after the suspension of the Register, he moved his office to Champaign. 111., where he commenced the publication of the Champaign Times, an able and vigorous Democratic paper. Here he struggled and toiled until the 27th of February, 1879, in the fifty-seventh year of his age, when the busy, restless, heroic life went to sleep in death.

1872, published by Martin Bros., of the Shelbj'ville Union. The firm was composed of M. B. Martin and Elgin Martin. Some of the leading Republicans of this city withdrew their support from the Register in consequence of its leaning ^toward Horace Greeley, and put up their money in private subscriptions to the amount of $400 or $500, and induced Martin Bros, to purchase material and start a thoroughgoing Republican organ. The Martin Bros, started a neat and lively little sevencolumn paper, but they found it difficult, if not impossible, to make the concern pay expenses. They kept it alive until October 1,

1873, when thej' sold out to H. C. Painter, the present proprietor, a practical printer, and a man of first-class business and financial education. Its prosperit}' and complete success dates from the daj- Mr. Painter took the control of its aflfairs. The proof of this is the fact that he has doubled the circulation and more than doubled the job work of the office, and it is now upon a secure and solid foundation. It has been editorially mild and conservative, devoting much of its columns to local and society news. When the new, revised, enlarged and complete " History of Effingham County," bearing date of 197G is made, may the R-fpuhh'can be here to see, and tell the stor}' from daj' to da}- of the progress of the work by those future historians and workers that are to be born after more than fifty years from this day and date have elapsed.

As a closing paragraph upon this subject, the writer of these lines, connected with no paper and not being a politician nor never an office-holder, may be permitted to lecture all parties a little in their treatment of their publishers and writers - that is, the neglect of these men when comfortable positions are to be given out. It is too common a fault of all parties to neglect them and bestow thejr smiles and favors upon ward bummers or comparative strangers to the party work.

The Effingham Volkshlatt - a German paper - by A. Gravenhorst - a ten-column folio - was issued for the first time June 17, 187S. Until now (October, 1882) it has been printed in Milwaukee, but type and material with which to print one side of the paper here at home are now secured, and office room is secured in the Times Building, where the press-work will be done. It will now be made a six-column quarto.

The Times. - When Mr. John Hoeny had sold his entire interest in the Democrat, he temporarily moved to Chicago. On Friday, January 27, 1882, be had returned, and issued the first number of the Eflingham Times, published b}- John Hoeny & Son ; John Hoeny, Sr., editor, and John Hoeny, Jr., local editor, a sprightly and able Democratic, eight-column paper, that from the first issue took rank among the best papers ever issued in the count}'. It started with a large subscription list, and week by week this has steadil}- grown. Its job department, under the control of John Hoeny, Jr., has built up an extensive business.

Mr. Hoeny's long residence in Effingham County and his extensive experience in the newspaper business here made the Times a successful enterprise from its first issue. It merits all the encouragement it has received, and even more, because of its ability, integrity and fearless advocacj^ of the right and bold denunciation of the wrong wherever found.

This is the record of the press in the city of Kffingham. While it has developed no very brilliant writers of genius to spread and extend its name and fame, yet it has been generally in the care of men who have exercised good sense and sound discretion. The large majority of them have been practical printers, wlio received their training as journalists and writers after thej' had become proprietors. Some of them were lawj-ers, some politicians, some farmer boys and some school teachers, who knew nothing of a printing office before

We are indebted to C. F. Coleman, of the Altaniont ]^^eivs, for the following brief history of the press in Altamont. " The first paper was started in May, 1873, by G. W. Grove, of Kinmundy. It was the Altamont Courier. The office was over Hillcman's store. It was published in Altamont until the following November, when it was moved to Virginia. The town was then without a paper until March, 1876, when the firm Loofbarrow & Humble - the former from Alma and the latter from Fairfield - started the Altamont Telegram. Their office was over C. M. Wright & Co.'s bank. This firm was soon changed by the retirement of Humble, and the accession of Hale Johnson. The new firm employed Mit. A. Bates, as printer and editor. This arrangement continued until June, 1877, when the concern passed, by purchase, to the sole control of C. M. King, of Lexington, 111., who at once sold out all the old material to A. M. Anderson, who took it to Stewardson and commenced the publication of a paper. King refurnished the Altamont office with a new and elegant outfit, among other things a Campbell power press, the first ever in the count}', and he published the Telegram until August, 1881, when he stopped the publication of his paper, and removed the entire office to Gardner, 111.

On the 9th of December, 1881, C. F. Coleman and G. M. Le Crone purchased a new office and commenced the publication of the Altamont News. That l>ids fair to live long and prosper.

The Loi/alist. - This was the only paper ever published in the town of Mason, in this count}'. The interest that now attaches to this publication arises chiefly from the fact that it is a relic of some of the wild craze that possessed man}- men during the late war. Those dark and terrible daj-.s when a modioum of humanity and a spark of common sense were apt to be ranked as disloj^alt>', if not rank treason itself.

Dr. J. N. Mathews of Mason, who was an office boy in the Loyalist during its entire publication, furnishes the following interesting account of its brief existence : " In the month of April, 1863, the first number of the Loyalist, edited and published by George Brewster, made its appearance at Mason. It was a neatly printed, seven-column folio, and a rank exponent of Abolitionism. Its motto was ' Union and Liberty, now and forever, one and inseparable.' The office was in Stephen Hardin's building. It was the scene of many an exciting caucus and political jamboree during the few fierce months of its existence. The paper was made up chiefly of war news, soldiers' letters, and rampant editorials. Every man in the neighborhood who could use a pen gave vent to his views through its columns, with unbridled boldness.

and talent, but of a phlegmatic temperament which led liim from one extreme to another. His leaders were pith}- and to the point. His numerous tirades against deserters and others frequently brought him face to face with dangers from which a man of less courage would have cowered. His office was threatened with destruction, j-et he continued to pour forth his sentiments with unflinching force. The office force was supplied with arms and ordered to use them in case of an attack. But fortunatel}- no such occasion presented itself. Those immediatel3- connected with the office were his four sons - Frank, Da Shiel. Willis and Richmond - and J. N. Matthews.

" After a turljulent career of nine months, the Loyidist failed financially and was moved to Salem, 111., where it was shortly afterward discontinued.

" Mr. Brewster was the author of a work entitled 'The Philosophy of Matter.' As an editor, he was too eccentric and impulsive. He died shortly after the close of the war, in Mason, at an advanced age."