Kane County, Illinois - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 20 of those read), 1908 (part 2 of 3)

The Wilcox Manufacturing Company was originally incorporated in 1880 with a capital stock of $6,000. for the purpose of making carpet sweepers. It was reincorporated in 1894 and the capital increased to $24,000. The carpet sweeper w-as manufactured for several years. Later it commenced the manufacture of the original Richards Door Hanger. The first were made to attach to the top of parlor doors. Later it developed all varieties of door hangers and largely increased its works, adding the making of the overhead carrj'ing system, roller store ladders, mounted grindstones, wire stretchers, elevator gates, fire door equipments and a large number of hardware specialties, employing one hundred and fifty hands. The officers in 1908 were: D. W. Simpson, president and treasurer ; L. R. Simpson, vice president and secretary.

The Richards Manufacturing Company was incorporated and erected a factory in 1903. Enlarged in 1905 with a capital stock of $100,000, employing one hundred and fifty hands in the manufacture of hardware specialties, such as door hangers of every kind, mounted grindstones, wagon jacks, door hinges, etc. The shops are located on six acres nf ground near the main line of the C, B. & O. R. R. west of the river, and their salesmen cover the entire United States. Canada and parts of Europe. In 1908 the officials of the company were: John H. Pease, president; O. N. Staley. vice president; H. O. Spencer, treasurer; and W. H. Fitch, secretary and manager.

Western Wheeled Scraper Jl'orks. This institution was moved from j\It. Pleasant, Iowa, in 1890. and the expense paid in about the same manner as pursued in raising money for the stove works. Land was bought in the northeast part of town, south of the Burlington tracks, cut up into lots and sold. The surplus of about $30,000 after paying for the land was presented to the Scraper Works Company, which went toward the expense of moving from Mt. Pleasant and erecting the factory buildings. The institution has grown to be the second largest in the city, the C. B. & O. shops being the largest. It manufactures w'heeled scrapers, dump cars, wheelbarrows and such tools as are used in grading roads, railroads, etc. It furnished much of the machinery used in digging the Panama canal, which was supplied in the face of competition with the entire world. The number of employes varies with the amount of contracts on hand, running sometimes as high as seven hundred. Captain C. H. Smith is the president and principal stockholder.

The Aurora Cotton Mills were projected in 1883 and started manufacturing in October, 1884. The promoters of this company desired a location near Chicago, which was and still is the central market in the United States for the distribution of cotton goods, but did not want to be located in the city because of the troubles and consequent interruptions of operation due to labor agitation and the resulting unrest which alwavs exists in large cities. All available locations within uiie hundred miles of Chicago were considered and Aurora was finally decided upon as the most advantageous site for the requirements of the business. The success of this industry has proved the wisdom of the choice of location. The promoters of the Aurora Cotton Mills were Messrs. R. M., S. F. and N. R. Hobbs, brothers, the latter having been a resident of Aurora for a number of years. The capital stock was $300,000. llie capacity of the mills was fifteen thousand spindles and four hundred looms. The goods manufactured were fine brown sheetings. The first board of directors were: S. F. Hobbs, N. R. Hobbs, \V. W. Bishop, Joseph Reising. Alonzo George, J. O. Curry, John VanNortwick, John Stewart, C. C. Earle, A. J. Hopkins, J. J. Davis. The first officers were: W. W. Bishop, president ; Alonzo George, vice president; J. J. Davis, secretary; and S. F. Hobbs, treasurer. Under this management the mills were operated until 1886, when S. F. Hobbs resigned and Alonzo George was made treasurer. Mr. George held this office until 1888, when R. M. Hobbs was made treasurer. Mr. Hobbs filled this office until his death in October, 1890, when E. S. Hobbs was made the treasurer and manager. In 1892 the capital stock was increased from $300,000 to $500,000 and tlie capacity of mills doubled, making thirty-two thousand spindles and eight hundred looms. There were about four hundred hands employed in igo8. the annual pay roll in the same year was about $120,000, and the annual output about six million yards. The goods are made under the name of "Aurora Sheetings" and are furnished in all widths from a yard to eleven quarters wide, in both bleached and lirown. In 1908 the officers were: E. \V. Trask, president; N. C. Simmons, vice president; J. J. Davis, board secretary; E, F. Beaupre, company secretary; E. S. Hobbs, treasurer. The entire Ixiard of directdrs in 1908 were: E. W. Trask, N. C. Simmons, J. J. IXavis, E. S. Hobbs, A. J. Hopkins, H. L. McWethy, A. J. Hobbs, H. R. Tanner, ]\Iilo Pierce, William George, C. W. Marshall.

The New Haven JVire Goods Factory & Cooperage. In the year 1890 some Chicago men wanted to come to Aurora to establish a manufactory of gas engines and other things. They bargained for the Smedlv farm, then owned by Dr. Gillette, in the northwest comer of the city, and laid out an addition called the Baker & Morton addition, for these were the men who were to erect the proposed factory. For some reason they failed to pay for the property and it reverted back to Dr. Gillette. His friends thereupon organized a svndicate, bought the addition, sold ofif the lots, took the surplus and built a very nice factory at a cost of about $30,000, which was presented to the New Haven Wire Goods Company, then looking for a location, w-hich ran a year or so and failed. The factory and machinery were sold at an assignee's sale and bought in by the company organized by E. W. Hall for about $10,000. They ran it for a few months, making the same goods, wire fencing, door mats and a few kitchen utensils, when a fire destroyed a portion of the building and machinery. The manufacturing was suspended and never resumed. Tlie Aurora Cooperage Company was then organized, with C. E. Mann, of Geneva, as manager, which bought the factory, and Mr. Mann moved some cooper's machinery from Geneva into it and continued the manufacture of barrels and butter tubs in large quantities. This factory lost money continuallv until

1896, when W. E. Gillette was made manager, since which time the factory has been doing prosperous business, and ]\Ir. Gillette has become owner of nearly all capital stock.

The Stevens-Adamson Manufacturing Company was organized in Aurora in 1 901 for the manufacture of machinery and special appliances for the mechanical handling of material of all kinds in bulk or packages, such as belt conveyors, steel and cast iron pan conveyors, pivotal bucket carriers, bucket elevators, screening machinery, and power transmission appliances, mining cars and complete coal handling equipments. Soon after organization their machinery was used by all the large mines of this country, Mexico and Canada, as well as in many cement plants, sand and gravel handling plants, quarries and crushed stone plants, fertilizer works, grain elevators, and in fact all plants where the handling of material is a large item. The maximum number of employes is two hundred, the capital stock $200,000, fully paid up, the annual output $500,000. When first started the plant occupied three acres, but the number is increased to about seventeen acres. The officials in 1908: W. \V. Stevens, president; F. G. Adamson, vice president and treasurer ; D. B. Pierson, secretary ; R. W. Dull, chief engineer.

The Pictorial Printing Company was incorporated April 17. 1878. at which time the company commenced business in Chicago. In 1903 it erected and moved into a large building on Middle avenue, Aurora, giving 125.000 square feet of flooring especially adapted to their business, which is chietly special printing for the drug trade, and it claims to be the largest exclusive drug printing house in the world. Since moving to Aurora the plant has been greatly enlarged and more modern appliances added, so that in addition to printing the works did electrotyping, lithographing, embossing, metal stamping, and manufactured paper boxes of all kinds and shapes, giving employment to about three hundred people and doing a half million dollars' worth of business annually. The officers of the company in 1908 were : O. P. Bassett, of Hinsdale, president: C. B. Philips, vice president and manager: and [. \V. Hunt, secretary.

The Big Stone Shop. Everybody who has been in Aurora has seen the Big Stone Shop at the corner of River street and Downer place, or as the old histories put it, "at the corner of Mill street and River street." It was built by E. & A. Woodworth, who first located a small blacksmith shop on the same site in 1843 ''"'^ continued a prosperous business until May, 1856, when work on the big shop was begim. It is 100x68 feet and four stories high. It was completed in September, 1857, and dedicated with a grand ball, "which was attended by all the elite within fifty miles," says one historian. That event is remembered now by some of the old settlers. George M. Hollenback being one of the dancers. The factory employed as high as two hundred and fifty men and kept on through the panic of 1857 with one hundred men. But in 1859 the strain became too great and the firm failed with a tremendous crash. Alix & Plum were the assignees. In i860 the property was sold to Taylor, Butterworth Company, who carried on the business until 1865, when it passed into the hands of Keith. Snell & Company, and it was idle most of the time

Kane Couxty History 593

The Fox Rk'cr Butter Company. This company was organized in 1885 and moved its business to Aurora in 1891, occupying a brick building near the Burlington freight house on North Broadway. In 1905 it erected a large building on the Burlington track between Main and New York streets. It controls hundreds of butter factories in this state and throughout the Northwest and is said to be the largest producer of butter in the world, its product amounting to several million dollars' worth annualh'. In 1908 the officers were: C. S. Kilbourne. president; \V. H. Holmes, vice president; N. M. Hutchison, treasurer ; and Judd Chapman, secretary.

Aurora Automatic Machinery Company, Manufacturers of Gasoline Motors and Pneumatic Tools. This business was organized in September, 1893, by A. Levedahl and C. E. Erickson. under the firm name of Automatic Machinery Company. They started with two men and in the spring of 1894 Messrs. Ball and Florsheim w^ere admitted as partners, the number of employes being increased to twenty-two. In ^larch, 1895. the company was incorporated under the name of "Aurora Automatic Machinery Company," with a capital stock of $30,000, the pay roll showing fifty-three employes. In May, 1895, the capitalization was increased to $50,000 and a three-story factory building, 52x150 feet, erected. The business steadily increased and in 1902 two additional stories were added to the building and the capital stock increased to $100,000. In July. 1904. the capital stock was increased to $250,000. In May. 1905, the capital stock was increased to $500,000, and in December. 1906. the adjoining large plant of the Chicago Corset Companv w-as purchased antl three hundred and fifty skillful mechanics employed.

This company, which has grown to be the second largest of its kind in Illinois, had a very modest beginning. The "Aurora Gas-Light Company" was incorporated February. 1861, with the following named Aurora men as incorporators : Wm. H. Hawkins, Lorenzo D. Brady, Wm. B. Allen, Albert Jenks, Ira A. W. Buck, O. D. Howell. John S. Hawley. Wm. V. Plum. Chas. L. Hoyt and Edward Huntoon. "their successors, associates, etc., in perpetual sticcession." They were given power "tn lay pipes for the purpose of conducting the gas in any of the streets, avenues, public grounds or other places in said city or else-where." For the period of twenty years thev were to have the exclusive right of supplying the city w'ith gas. None of the gentlemen named knew anything about the manufacture of gas. but all had the welfare of the city at heart. Notwithstanding the favorable terms of the franchise, they were unable to find anyone willing to undertake to put in the gas works. owing, doubtless, to the war, until the latter part of 1867, w'hen the franchise was sold to R. H. Whiting, of Galesburg. who had successfully constructed gas works there. Mr. Whiting made a contrrxt with the city whereby the city agreed to erect lamp posts "on all the streets, at the usual distances apart, w-here ever the company lay their ma'n pipes" and to pay therefor at the

"yearly average paid for gas in Rock Island, Rockford, Bloomington, Jacksonville and Galesburg." This contract was signed November 20, 1867, and the works were in operation the next year. Mr. I. B. Copley was put in charge of the works here as manager. The price of gas to private consumers was $4.50 per thousand cubic feet. In 1881 the contract for street lighting expired and a coi^tract was made vvith the Aurora Electric Light & Power Company for lighting the streets with sixteen two thousand candle power electric lamps for five years at $6,000 a year. When that contract expired the city put in an electric lighting plant of its own, a detail of account of which is given elsewhere.

Shortly after this event Mr. WHiiting. who owned the controlling interest in the gas works, placed his nephew in charge as manager here. He undertook some new experiments in the manufacture of gas, which resulted in furnishing a very poor quality of gas to consumers. The dissatisfaction was so great that a new company was organized, which made arrangements with a Mr. English to manufacture water gas. On the i6th of January, 1888, a franchise was given by the city council to the Excelsior Gas Company, giving it "permission and authority to construct, maintain and operate gas works in the city of Aurora," giving all the rights previously given to the Aurora Gas Company. The incorporators were : Mr. English. E. W. Trask, T. H. Day, T. H. Pease, S. D. Seamons, W. S. Beaupre, J. O. Mason, E. A. Bradley, J. O. Curry, O. D. Powell, C. C. Smith, E. S. Hobbs, H. H. Evans and others, all except Mr. English being Aurora business men. A very fair quality of water gas was furnished at $1.50 per thousand feet. Mains were rapidly laid in many of the streets and many old customers were making contracts with the new company. The old company, consisting of Whiting & Copley, became discouraged and wanted to sell out, and it is reported on good authority that Mr. Copley offered to give the stock to anybody who would release him from his obligations incurred frr the gas company.

At this point a new figure a]ipearcd upon the scene. Ira Clifton Copley, son of Ira B., had just graduated from Yale College and Law School and came to Aurora to open a law office. He said to his father. "Don't give your stock away; let me use it." He then wrote to Mr. Whiting, offering to "give or take" a certain price for the stock. Mr. Whiting "took," so- young Copley bought the Whiting stock and deposited it in the First National Bank, together with his father's stock, for seciu'ity, and borrowed money enough to pav off Whiting. He then (1891) proposed to the Excelsior Gas Company to consolidate, whicli was done on terms agreeable to both parties, and the jirice of gas was reduceti to $1.25. Meanwhile he, having been made manager, was learning by practical experience how to make and distribute gas, until he became not only an expert Init a \-eritable Napoleon in the manufacture and distribution of gas. He adojited all the latest improved methods in the manufacture of gas, extended the mains liberally in all streets where customers were likely, used every efi'nrt to increase the use of gas for cooking and lighting, created a home market for coke and made the best quality of gas possible. His company took over the Aurora Electric Light & Power Company in 1891 and conducted it in connection with the gas business. In 1901 it extended the gas mains to North Aurora, Batavia, Geneva and St. Charles, and furnished the gas from Aurora to supply them, thus giving these places all the advantages of having gas plants of their own. The name of the company was then changed to the Fox River Light, Heat & Power Company. In 1900 Mr. Copley constructed a gas plant in LaGrange, issuing bonds to pay a part of the expense. He in connection with Mr. W. W. Tracy and Colonel F. W. Bennitt in 1895 had bought the Joliet gas plant and afterwards extended its usefulness in that city and laid mains to Aurora through Plainfield; then extended the Aurora mains to Elgin, acquired that gas plant, and finally, in 1905, consolidated all four companies into the "Western United Gas & Electric Company," and its mains were extended so as to supply gas to thirty different cities and villages in northern Illinois, representing an investment of $7,000,000.

Chicago Telephone Company. A franchise was granted the company by the Aurora city council September 6, 1881, giving permission to set poles, string wires, etc., on the streets of the city under certain limitations and "to perpetually maintain the same in good order." Under this provision the company claims a perpetual franchise for the use of the streets.

Interstate Telephone Company. On August 7, 1899, the council granted a franchise to the Northwestern Telephone Company for the same purposes as that granted the Chicago Telephone Company, but the franchise is limited to twenty years and provides that the company must pay the city $1 per year for each phone in use in the city. The number of phones paid for runs from fourteen to sixteen hundred a year.

Street Railways

Horse Railroad. A franchise was granted June 19, 1882, to H. H. Evans. W. H. Watson, E. W. Trask, Adoniram Riddle and John H. Loucks for the construction and operation of a horse railroad on certain streets in the city. The road was completed and mules furnished the power patiently until September, 1890, when the road and all its appurtenances was sold to the Aurora Street Railway Company, which rebuilt the road as soon as possible and put in a well equipped electric railway.

In 1897 a franchise was granted the Aurora, Yorkville and Morris Railway Company to construct and operate its road on certain streets in Aurora. This line was soon running to Yorkville.

The Aurora. Wheaton & Chicago was gi\en a franchise in 1899 and shortly afterwards changed its name to the .\urora, Elgin & Chicago Railway Company, and all the street railways in town were consolidated under one management with that name and sold to a -syndicate of capitalists from Cleve-

Aurora, DcKalb & Rockfurd Ruih<vy. On May 29. 1902, an ordinance was passed granting permission to this company to buy its tracks on certain streets in Aurora. The franchise was granted to V. A. Watkins, Wm. George, R. S. Vivian and Wm. P. Kapf on certain conditions, one of which was that they were to pay into the city treasury the sum of $10,000, which was done within a year. The roadbed was graded and the track laid to the city limits early in 1907 and some work done in the city streets. Then came a series of injunctions, instigated, it was claimed, by the old company, prohibiting the road from being built on Walnut street, then on Galena street, and at present writing the suits are still undecided, although the material has been on the ground for over a year. The road from DeKalb to Aurora is run daily, the power used being gasoline motors, with an occasiorial steam locomotive to haul freight trains.

Early Electric Road and Tclcplioncs. U. P. Hord tells some interesting stories about his early experience with street railways and telephones. He was interested in getting the franchise for the proposed street railway in Aurora in place of the old mule lines and found some opposition which is amusing in these days. One old settler said : "Electricity may do to run cars where the street is level, but you can never climb Downer place hill with it. You must have a horse or a mule to pull the car up the hill." Mr. Hord was elected alderman about this time and was so enthusiastic over the new power that he pushed an ordinance through the council giving the electric cars the right to run over the bridges at the rate of fifteen miles per hour, while at the same time it prohibited horses from being driven across the bridges faster than a walk under a penal fine of five dollars.

John Jameson, who was then mayor, pointed out the inconsistency of the new ordinance and had the council correct it before be would sign it.

When the telephone first came into use Mr. Hord was anxious to have the line extended to ^lontgomery Mills, in which he was then interested, and volunteered to go around with the young solicitor from Chicago to help get subscribers for phones in Aurora. He says it took ten days to get ten subscribers. "What use would this be to us?" said the president of one of the banks. I can't imagine what good one of them things could do a bank." Lyman Baldwin, of the firm of Laurence & Baldwin, dealers in dry goods, groceries, etc., said : "I wouldn't have one of them things in the store if you would put it in for nothing. The clerks would neglect their business and be fooling with the thing all the time tr\ing to call up their friends around town." In view of the fact that there are about four thousand telephones now in Aurora, there appears to have been a change of views on the subject.

East Side

.-\ Frenchman writing on the causes of superiority of the Anglo-Saxon race comes to the conclusion that it is due to the gcr.eral education of the people. Education makes not only better soldiers but better farmers, better mechanics, and fits men and women better for all the duties of life. The fine school buildings of the present day and the immense amount of money expended for the support of schools makes old settlers wonder what kind of people will result when children educated in our present public schools become leaders of society, church and state. The Aurora schools, which of late years have absorbed about forty per cent of the taxes raised, were not always at the top grade.

History differs as to where, when and by whom the first school in Aurora was taught. Samuel AlcCarty's recollection was that the first school was taught by a lady on North Broadway in the year 1836, for a month or so, and the next one in a slab building on the southwest corner of Main street and Broadway, in the latter part of the same year. Burr Winton stated in 1884, we are informed by Pliney Durant, that the first school was taught on the east side "in a slab shanty near the river banks by a man named Livings, from Syracuse, New York, who undertook to teach three months on the pledge of twenty-five children at $1.50 each. The amount was pledged, but when the little folks were mustered their number was found to be only fourteen." Measles soon broke up the school and Livings went to Chicago and was reported to have fallen into the hands of gamblers, who stripped him of all his money and he committed suicide. Under the circumstances it is difficult to imagine that he had a great amount of money.

It is also claimed that another slab schoolhouse was built around a tree where the Brady residence now stands and a Miss Julia Brown became teacher in 1836. In 1839 a larger house was erected in what is now Lincoln Park, which served as a schoolhouse and was also used for religious and political meetings. This building was so used until 1851, when it was sold to Wright & Company for $60 "and $3.00 for the stove pipe." The district seems to have been considerably agitated over the location of the new building, but finally it was erected on lots 8, 9 and 10, block 20, purchased from M. M. Chase, the cost of the structure being $950, exclusive of the inside work. A tax of one per cent was voted to complete the building, subscriptions having been made to erect the building. This was in 185 1. In 1854 it was found necessary to enlarge the building, and in the same year the increasing population made another school building in the southern part of the city necessaiy : then another in the north part of the city; then, in 1862, two more small buildings on the lot where the Center school now stands. The jump from the slab house built around a tree to the present magnificent brick school buildings was not made in a day, nor without a great struggle. The law giving school districts and boards of education the authority to issue bonds and raise money to erect school buildings when authorized by a vote of the school district is responsible for the great improvement in the character of the buildings erected for school purposes. Then with such strong characters as L. D. Brady, E. R. Allen, S. P. Keyes and others on the school board, good schoolhouses were erected wherever necessary. The four-story Center school, on Main, Root and New York streets, was begun in 1864 and completed in 1866 at a cost of about $70,000. The bonds issued for it bore ten per cent interest. The

Brady school, at the corner of Union and Liberty streets, was built in 1869 at a cost of $35,000, and was named in honor of Hon. L. D. Brady. The Young school, named in honor of Dr. D. W. Young, at the corner of Fifth street and Center avenue, was completed in 1875 at the cost of $25,000. The bonds for this school bore eight per cent interest. Since then a schoolhouse has been erected at the corner of New York and Smith streets; one on Mountain and High streets, known as the Indian Creek school, and an eight-room brick on Marion avenue near Lincoln avenue. These with half a dozen parochial schools afford ample facilities for education for the present population of the east side.

High School

In 1890 a high school was erected on the lot with the Center school at an expense of $45,000. This was found at the end of ten years to be wholly inadequate to accommodate pupils desiring to take a high school course and the board of education has repeatedly asked the voters to authorize the construction of another building, but the proposition has been voted down every time. At present there are only $2,000 in bonds outstanding and these will be cancelled during the year 1908. So the district is out of debt.

West Side Schools

In the summer of 1836 Miss Angeline Atwater taught the first school in West Aurora in what was afterwards known as District No. 4. She occupied a little schoolhouse on the bank of the river in the upper part of town and had eight or ten pupils. She succeeded so well that she soon became the wife of Noah B. Spalding. The next school was in a little frame building erected by subscription on land belonging to Roswell Wilder. In this building was held the first regular public district school in District No. 4 under the school laws of the state. On January 31. 1849, an English and classified select school was opened by Rev. Mr. Safiford and wife "in the new church and school room" on the corner of Lake and Galena streets. This does not appear to have lasted long, as we learn that the two Misses Smith taught a public school in the same place shortly after this date.

In December. 1852, a school was opened in a two-storj' stone schoolhouse built at an expense of $3,200 on lots bounded by Walnut, Spruce. Oak and Pine streets, which had been purchased by the directors at a cost of $200. This building was 33x60 feet. Mr. Jewett was principal and the district contained one hundred and sixt\- children of school age. In 1865 the directors were authorized by a vote of the district to borrow $15,000 for enlarging this building. A south wing was added and the entire structure raised to three stories. In 1867 a north wing was added at a cost of $10,560. In the winter of 1864-5 a building was erected on South Lake street, south of Gale street,

East Aurora High School

The west side had been unfortunate in having its school buildings burned. The old stone school building was destroyed by fire on the night of June 13,

1884, with a loss of about $25,000. A new building was erected during the summer and autumn at a cost of $43,000 and was ready for use in January,

1885. This building was destroyed by fire in 1906 and rebuilt so as to be occupied in 1907. The new high school on Galena, Blackhawk and Walnut streets was completed in 1906 at a cost of nearly $50,000.

This was one of the institutions that made Aurora famous. It was chartered in 1855 under the name of Clark Seminary in honor of Rev. John Clark, a Methodist clergyman of the Rock River Conference, who first projected the institution. The officers of the first board of trustees were: Benj. Hackney, president; Dan McCarty, treasurer; and Levi Jenks, secretary. Subscriptionsto the amount of $25,000 had been made by February, 1856, and the foundation and the cornerstone were laid that year. A contract was made the next year to construct the building. It was turned over to the trustees in the summer of 1858 with a debt upon it of $60,000, which had increased in 1872 to $79,000. The trustees purchased a tract of land in the southern portion of the city and laid out the "Seminary- Addition,'" in hopes of paying for the building by the sale of lots, but this did not succeed very well, and in 1864 the property was purchased by the Rock River Conference for $25,000. Mrs. Eliza Jennings, of Aurora, gave $15,000 toward paying the debt and the name was changed to Jennings Seminary in her honor. Miss Jemima Washburn opened the school October 2, 1858, with about forty scholars. She closed the school June 14, 1859. Dr. G. W. Quereau was then chosen principal and the school was formally opened September, 1859. Under his management the school flourished and gained a fine reputation and was a financial success. He resigned in 1873 and since then the school has been in charge of several different teachers until about 1900, when it was turned over to the "Deaconness' Society" of the Methodist church and was used for preparing young women for this branch of work.

Early Aurora Churches

Human nature ever gravitates downward toward the material and the physical. Men work and slave to gratify their physical wants, they pile up wealth, accumulate vast properties, often with no other ambition and end in view than the gratification of their senses, to wear fine clothes, to build better houses than their neighbors, often neglecting the finer and more enduring spiritual realities which elevate men above the animals. These may be found right at hand by turning the thoughts inward to the source of those spiritual forces which enlarge mental and spiritual capacity, build up manhood, develop character and make for right living with its higher enjoyment of life. Correct thought with a faith in- a higher power and a hope for immortality are essential to the proper development of man. The church has ever been a guide to human aspirations, and while its teachings have sometimes been clouded by misconceptions of truth, its tendencies are toward the betterment of the individual and of society. The thousands of churches in our land with their efforts to make men better mean something, and in this materialistic age should take their position at the head of the column in the march of civilization.

This church appears to be among the oldest in the city, having been organized June lo, 1838, as a Presbyterian church. There were seventeen members at the time of its organization. It changed its form of government July I, 1848, on account of the slavery question, many of the members believing the slaveholding interests of the Presbyterian church too much of a governing power. Rev. Herman S. Colton was their first minister. Rev. C. Cook preached from May i, 1840, to May i, 1843. ^"^^ Hallick followed for a year and one-half. Then came Rev. Ingersoll, who has had fame thrust upon him by being the father of the great agnostic, Robert G. Ingersoll, and his brother, Hon. E. C. Ingersoll, who was a member of congress from the Peoria district for several terms. Mr. Ingersoll's pastorate lasted only six months, and the writer hereof spent considerable time in trying to hnd out why it did not last longer. A number of church members were interviewed, but no one knew anything about it. One of the oldest had never heard that Mr. Ingersoll ever preached here. Finally in a Semi-Centennial Record, printed in 1888, this sentence was discovered relating to the subject in a paper read by Hon. Charles Wheaton : "Brother Elliott says he (Ingersoll) was a good preacher and wanted to stay longer, but the church would not have him, as he had two living wives and was not living with either of them." What effect this condition of affairs had on the mind of the future great agnostic is a question for future ]5sychnlogists and historians to determine.

Mr. Ingersoll was followed by Rev. W. L. Parsons, who commenced his ministry November i, 1844, and the historian of that period says he was dismissed July i, 1848. The church appears to have been without a settled pastor until the following January, when Rev. Daniel R. Miller filled the pulpit for three years. Rev. Lewis Benedict was pastor from April i, 1852. to November i, 1857. During his pastorate the present stone church was erected. Since that time the pulpit has been occupied by preachers of more than ordinary ability, among whom may be mentioned Dr. N. A. Prentiss, Dr. Scudder, Rev. Wm. Horace Day, Rev. E. F. Goff, Rev. B. F. Aldrich and Rev. O. A. Petty. In 1868 the church organization consisted of: Pastor, Rev. Isaac Clark; deacons, I. M. Howell, A. Small, N. Otis, J. Dennev, Jr.; trustees, A. Small, W. W. Bishop, J. L. Hoklen; treasurer, J. B. Hall. Loren Otis was secretary of the Sunday school and Luther Bradley librarian.

This church was organized June lo, 1858, by members of the First church who lived on the west side. Letters were granted to seventeen members, as follows : Edward Gillette, Mrs. Sarah R. Gillette, Mrs. Ruth Clark, Miss Clarissa E. Clark, Stephen Gillette, Mrs. Nancy Gillette, William J. Nobles, Mrs. Tryphenia C. Noble, Mrs. Emeline E. Church, Mrs. M. Delia Goodwin, Silvanus Towne, Mrs. Margaret A. Towne, Miss Margaret A. Towne, Isaac Preston, Mrs. Lavinia B. Preston, Justus Dodge, Mrs. Juii.l Dodge, Oliver Dewey, Mrs. Eliza S. Dewey, Edmund S. Dewey, Oliver B. Dewey. Charles A. Dewey, William H. Fonda, Mrs. H. Josephine Fonda, Alexantler McArthur. Airs. Jane McArthur. David Enny, Mrs. David Enny, George W. Enny, Stephen W. Enny.

The first building was erected in 1859 on Locust street and the present handsome structure was built in 1890 .during the ministry of J. O. Haarvig.

The Universalist Church

was organized in 1842 with fourteen members. The organization grew slowly until 1864, when it built a large edifice at the corner of Lincoln avenue and Main street under the pastorate of Rev. Forrester. The trustees of this church at that time were E. 1\. Allen, Joy Tarble, L. D. Brady, C. S. Roe and C. C. Earle.

In 1868 the Sabbath school numbered two hundred and fifty members, with the .following officers: Superintendent, John C. Sherwin; assistant superintendent, A. K. Perry; secretary, James J. McLallen; treasurer, Newton Perry; librarian, Jacob N. Hopper: assistants, Fred Robinson and Fred Thompson.

This church struggled along for about twenty years with indifferent success, finding great difficulty in keeping up with the running expenses. It was closed for a year or more and was in 1886 transferred to the People's church, which still occupies the building.

The Universalist denomination was organized as a protest against the severe doctrine of endless punishment held and preached by all the "evangelical" denominations jjrevious to the middle of the nineteenth century. The more stern and severe the preaching of the believers in a God of wrath and vengeance, the better the Universalists flourished with their views of a God of love and mercy. Of late years all denominations have practically accepted the views long promulgated by the Universalists : the fatherhood of God, the brotherhood of man. eternal infinite love, that will not permit any child "to stray beyond the Father's care.'' As long as all the churches preach this doctrine the work of the Universalist denomination is accomplished, and it is not strange that the membership declines. The church in Aurora is no exception to the rule, and while surrendering its organization joins with others in the war against evil in all its forms and for individual purity and righteousness.

The First M. E. Church

This church was organized in 1837 and held its first meeting at the home of Samuel McCarty. who was during the remainder of his life a constant member of this church. The first board of trustees w-ere S. McCarty. C. H. Goodwin, P. Brown, C. F. Goodwin and John Gibson. The elegant church now used was completed in 1872.

Second M. E. Church

In 1858 a colony from the First AI. E. church broke off and organized a "Second M. E. church." They procured land from Mr. Downer on Galena street opposite the Huntoon House and erected a building. Rev. S. P. Keys was in charge for a time, but after a few years' existence the members were reabsorbed by the First church and the church building has since been used as a livery stable.

In 1868 another and successful attempt was made to organize a Second M. E. church. The old Episcopal church on Xorth Lake street was leased and Rev. S. N. Griffith was the first pastor by supply for three months, when Rev. A. P. Mead was made the regular pastor and secured a lot on the corner of Locust and Galena streets for a church and parsonage. The church was built on that lot in 1870 and has since been known as the Galena Street church.

German

The German Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1859 and erected a building at the corner of Fox and Anderson in 1861 and another just east of this one in 1887. Its membership included many prominent business men of Aurora.

First Baptist

The Baptists first held services in the Big Woods in Father Vaughn's neighborhood and on the 29th of March, 1844, ten members of the Warrenville church withdrew and organized a church in the Big Woods. Three years later the organization was taken to Aurora and held services in various places on both sides of the river until 1851, when it assumed the name of First Baptist church of Aurora and in 1852 located permanently in a house of their own on Galena street, which they occupied until 1887, when this building was removed to the rear of the lot and veneered with brick and used as a chapel, and a $20,000 brick building was erected on the old site and the church continues in a flourishing condition.

Park Place Baptist

On June 2, 1857, twenty-seven members of the First Baptist church withdrew and formed the "Union Baptist church." The old Congregational church on the east side was secured and occupied as a place of worship until 1880, when a neat brick structure was erected at the corner of West Park place and New York street, to which the congregation removed and changed their name to the "Park Place Baptist church," which it still retains. The olfl building was removed to South Water street and used for manufacturing purposes.

Claim Street Baptist

About 1890 a Baptist mission was organized on Claim street near the corset factory, and in a few years was organized into the church known as the "Claim Street Baptist church." It has been doing a good work and is in a flourishing condition.

First Presbyterian

This church was organized in June, 1858, but had no pastor for a year, when Rev. Alfred Hamilton was called to take charge. For some time the church held services in Dunning's block, on River street, and afterward in the Second Methodist church, on Galena street. In i860 a lot was bought on the Galena street hill and in 1862 the church building was dedicated. In 1872 this building was sold to the Swedish Lutherans and a lot purchased on the corner of Fourth and Fox streets, on the rear of which a small brick church was erected. Rev. Thomas Gait was pastor here for twenty-seven years. In the year 1901 the foundations were laid for a new church in the front of their lot, which was dedicated in 1902.

This parish was organized May 25, 1849, with seven members. Roswell Wilder gave the vestry a lot at the corner of North Lake and Spruce streets, on which was built a brick church, which was consecrated in 1854. As most of the members lived on the east side of the river this church was abandoned in 1867 and meetings were held in Arcadome Hall on Broadway. A ncwj stone church at the corner of South Lincoln avenue and Benton street was built in 1869 and was ready for occupancy June 4, 1871. In 1907 a parish house was completed and the church is in a prosperous condition.

The Catholic church is probably the best organized, most far-reaching and far-seeing organization on earth, and seems to be managed with superhuman wisdom. In 1848 the few Catholic families in Aurora were occasionally visited by priests from Chicago, and about 1850 Bishop Vandeveld bought nineteen acres of land from Austin Mann for church purposes. This land was on Broadway, north of Claim street. The bishop platted the land into city lots and gave the agency to John Mclnhill, and gave instructions to have the church built from money acquired from the sale of lots. A small frame structure, about 30x40 feet, was erected on the land, which stood about a year when it was blown down in a heavy gale. Then the railroad came along and took nearly all the land for road and shop purposes. Then a new church was projected and Hall Brothers donated two lots at the corner of Pine and Spruce streets, on which was erected a stone building, 102x42 feet. This was occupied until November 8, 1869. when it was burned to the ground. Only $12,700 insurance was collected from it, but with this money work was soon begim on a new building at the corner of Fox and Root streets, which was dedicated July 7, 1872, it having cost $30,000. A parish house and parochial school building have since been completed and the church appears to be flourishing.

St. Nicholas German Catholic

In 1859 the German Catholics determined to have church services conducted in their own language and bought two lots at the corner of Liberty and High streets, on which a church was erected in i860. In 1882-3 an imposing brick edifice was constructed on these lots and a few years afterward a fine parochial school house was built. It is the desire of this denomination that the children of the parishioners be given religious instruction at the church before they attend what they call the "Godless public school."

Church Of The Sacred Heart

The first church for this parish was built at the corner of Union and Columbia streets in 1866. It was moved to the corner of Fulton and State streets in 1875. The school was opened November 16. 1880.

Near the close of the nineteenth century another Catholic church was constructed north of the C, B. & Q. tracks on what is known as Pigeon hill, together with a schoolhouse" to accommodate the German residents of that part' of town.

Universalist Church, Aurora, Erected In 1864

The fourth pastor of Elgin was Rev. William Feely in 1848. During the years of Father W. Feeh-'s pastorate the Elgin parish included Dundee, Huntley, \\'est Chicago. St. Charles. Geneva. Blackberry, Sycamore and the present Gilberts.

Right Rev. Dr. Ouarter, the hrst liishop of Chicago, died -April 10, 1848. The second bishop of Chicago, the Right Rev. J. Van de Velde, was consecrated February 11, 1849, St. Louis, jMissouri. Bishop J. \'an de Velde visited Elgin January 5. 1849, on his trip to Galena. The 26th of May, 1850, the bishop came to Elgin, and said mass in Keogh's house. Confirmation was given at the small unplastered frame church. St. Mary's, at the Barrens in Rutland, the first Catholic church in the county. The bishop visited Aurora the first time September 5. 1850, a thri\ing town on Fox river. He visited it again February 10. 1851, and purchased a tract of land of nineteen and one-half acres for church purposes. On the 5th of J^ine, 1853, the right reverend bishop gave confirmation in Elgin to fifty-six persons. On the 17th of October, 1853, the right reverend bishop visited Aurora again to make arrangements for building a new church.

Bishop Van de ^'elde was transferred on his own request on account of sickness to Natchez, where he arrived November 23, 1853, and died November 13, 1855. His successor was Right Rev. Anthony O'Regan, consecrated Julv 25, 1854. Arrived September 3, 18^4. in Chicago, and resigned June 25,^858.

Father Feely began the erection of the stone church at Elgin in 1851, he having collected the fund. He also began the chuch at St. Charles and one in Blackberry. He died in Elgin in 1864.

The next bishop of Chicago was Right Rev. James Duggan, who was followed by the Right Rev. Thomas Foley. He was succeeded by Most Rev. Jas. E. Quigley, and he by Right Rev, Muldoon, now bishop of Chicago.

During the War of the Rebellion no class of people were more patriotic for the Union and more willing to go to the front. The Catholics of Kane county who served in high official places and who stood shoulder to shoulder in the ranks would form a long list. The records show them in every regiment that went from the county. And in the building of the cities that line the Fox they have had an important and continuous part, many of our best lawyers, doctors and business men being of this church.

In the }'ear 1858 Benjamin Hackney ga\e a lot on Watson street to this church, which erected a small frame building there. When the Universalists abandoned their old church on ]\Iain street near Root it was purchased by this societv for $600. It was rebuilt in 1886.

This church was organized December 5, 1853. -^ building was erected at the ccrner of Jackson and Benton streets in 1855, which was occupied until 1884, when a new brick church was erected. A parocliial school is also maintained by this church.

Swedish Lutheran

This church bought the old Presbyterian church on Galena street in 1872 and occupied it for about twenty-five years and then erected a neat brick structure on the premises.

Aurora claims to have not only the first \'. M. C. A. building in the state of Illinois, but the fifth building in the world used exclusively for Y. M. C. A. purposes. The first meeting of citizens of Aurora interested in the subject was held in the office of D. Iliff. Esq., 22 Broadway, on the 28th of April, 1869. at which D. L. Demorest presided and L. J. Allen acted as secretary. On motion of Sanford Hardy this organization was called the Young Men's Christian Association of Aurora. At the second meeting, May 7, 1869, the following men were elected directors : Joseph Denney, of the First Congregational church; L. J. Allen. First Methodist; Wm. Breese, First Baptist; H. \V. Hardy, Lake Street Methodist; S. B. Dyckman, Union Baptist; B. F. Hackney, Free Methodist; S. B. Hanley, Episcopal, and Rev. Isadore Liens, German Methodist. Professor T. H. Hazeltine, of Jennings Seminary, was elected first president. J. G. Stolp offered a lot on the island provided they would erect a good brick building upon it. Dr. G. W. Ouereau, Ira Fitch and D. J. Pike were appointed a committee to secure plans. K. A. Burnell, Samuel McCarty, D. W. Stockwell, C. H. Reeves, S. Bradley, T. H. Day, J. R. Hanna and James O. Mason were appointed on subscription committees. The sum of $6,000 was raised by July 12, 1870, and work was soon begun on the liuilding. with Martin Miller as superintendent of construction.

J. D. Pike was elected the second president in 1870 and served until 1875. The building was dedicated April 26, 1871, having cost about $9,000. The following men have served as presidents since 1875 : E. A. Powell, 1875-76; D. J. Pike again, 1876-77; Sanford Hardy. 1878: H. C. Paddock, 1879-80: Dr. F. S. Pond. 1881 : T. H. Day, 1882-84: Sanford Hardy, 1885: W. H. ^'an Arsdale served from 1886 to 1904. with the exception of a short period in 1894 and 1895, when the general secretary, A. C. Copeland, acted as president. A. C. Ryburn was elected president 1 904 and ser\ed until December 31, 1907, when Chas. S. Kilbourne was elected. Since its organization one hundred and sixty-eight dififerent men lia\e serAxd on the board of directors.

Many members felt that more room was required for the work of the association and during the winter of 1904 a banquet of the members was held and at this time a building movement was launched to raise $35,000 for a new building; $1,500 was raised among the members present. Nothing further was done until the summer of 1906, when the board of directors appointed a committee of five men to call upon some fifty of the leading business men and ascertain from them if now was the opportune time to raise money for a building. The verdict was unanimously favorable. The board appointed a building committee consisting of W. M. Mercer, chairman; C. S. Kilbourne, J. O. Mason, H. L. McWethy, A. C. Ryburn and W. W. Stevens. The state convention was held in Aurora in October, 1906, the chief note of which was a building. On November 8, 1906, the building committee launched a thirtyday campaign to raise $85,000. The methods employed during this campaign were quite remarkable and deserve mention. Headquarters were engaged in the old Hotel Evans. A dial about five feet in diameter with a movable hand pointing to figures on the face of the dial running up to $85,000 was placed on tlie front of the building. Every time a thousand dollars was secured the hand of the dial moved up one notch and several factory whistles were blown enthusiastically and every one in the city became interested. At the end of thirty days $90,000 was secured for the Y. M. C. A. and $25,000 for the V". W. C. A., and in twenty days more the Y. W. C. A. secured $60,000, making a total of $150,000 raised in fifty days. The board of directors sold the old building on the island and purchased a lot at the corner of Fox and LaSalle streets. In October, 1907, they broke ground and on May 3, 1908, laid the cornerstone for the new building, which was completed before the close of the year.

In May, 1893, the Aurora Young Women's Christian Association was organized, being incorporated in July, 1894, with a membership of one hundred and fifty-five. It made its first home at 44 Downer place, where two rooms in the Todd block were rented for a few months. Its first public gathering was a gospel service on Sunday afternoon. In January, 1894, a suite of three rooms in the Bishop building, corner of Fox and Broadway, was leased, where it maintained headquarters for two and one-half years, removing to the Stolp building on the island in July, 1896. Here for five years the association flourished. In July, 1901, it moved to the building of the Silver Plate Company on the island, which is its present home.

During the fourteen years of its existence the association has had four presidents: Mrs. E. M. Walker, from 1893 to 1895; Mrs. E. S. Hobbs, from 1895 to August, 1900; Mrs. Carey Hopkins, from 1901 to 1905, and since that time Mrs. J. O. Mason, the present incumbent (1908). During the first few months there was no employed secretary. Miss Emma L. Esch, the first l^eneral secretary, served one year and a half. She was followed by Miss Mary E. Emerson, who served for seven months. Miss Floy E. Rhode was then called, who held the position until May, 1897, since which time Miss Rachel Jones has served.

In its early days the work of the association was hmited to social and religious departments. Then the departments of employment bureau and boarding house directory were introduced, followed by the noon rest and educational classes - English, elementary and advanced French, German, literature, elocution, bookkeeping, vocal music and a class in English for foreignispeaking young women has been much appreciated.

In 1902 the departments of domestic science and arts were added to the educational list. The industrial and extension department was organized in 1 90 1, extending the association work into the business center. Regular work has been done in three factories and the cotton mill, also in the stove works district. Two clubs have been formed among the business young women, the majority of whom are employes of the various factories. These young women are members of the association and meet at the rooms for physical work, study and social enjoyment.

In 1904 an extension secretary. Miss Margaret Rohr, was called to take charge of this department, the work of which was previously done by the general secretary. For a time the association conducted a "noon rest" and lunchroom for the young women of the Kabo corset factory in the Old Orchard House. It also furnished a room for emergency cases at the "rest home" and later on the Althea Sanitarium.

For several years the association rooms have been a central meeting place for committees representing the various women's organizations and churches.

The purpose of the association is an all-around womanhood, meeting the demands of her fourfold nature. That it has been true to its purpose is evident from its work. The fact that the citizens have pledged sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) with which to erect an association building goes to sho\\- that it has found a large place in our midst.

Clubs, Orders And Societies

The Waubonsie Lodge. No. 45, of Odd Fellows, was instituted January 3, 1849. Since then half a dozen or more lodges of this order have organized. Jerusalem Temple Lodge, No. 90, was the first of the Masonic lodges to be organized here. Several others lodges have since been instituted here. They occupied the upper part of Stolp's building on the island from 1866 to 1903, when they moved to the Sencenbaugh block, on Broadway.

Makers" Union, organized in 1879. is the oldest labor union in the city. Since then every trade has its union. Clubs for literary studies, card playing and amusements of various kinds are numbered by the hundred, details of which are left to a larger work.

The Aurora IVomaiis Christian. Temperance Union was first organized in 1874 under the name of "The Ladies" Temperance Union.'" and was recognized in 1882. becoming auxiliary to the State Woman's Christian Temperance Union and taking that name. Those who have served as president of the Aurora Woman's Christian Temperance Union have been Mrs. S. P. Keys, Mrs. C. H. Reeves, Mrs. Thomas Gait, Mrs. H. M. Olds. Mrs. S. E. Hufif, Mrs. George E. Sutphen. ]Mrs. H. Darling, Mrs. E. S. Mansfield, Mrs. Chauncey Mille, Mrs. Belle White, Mrs. M. E. Cromer, Mrs. E. P. Tucker, Mrs. George E. Sutphen having served in periods covering about nine years. In 1892 fourteen members withdre\\ and organized the Central W'oman's Christian Temperance Union. Both organizations have done a large amount of Christian, philanthropic and temperance work. In 1890 the Aurora Union was incorporated, and became possessed of real estate in the southern part of town on which they erected a chapel at a cost of $2,100, which was named ''Hercules Chapel."" in which mission work, Sunday school and temperance work has been carried on. This union was active in having temperance instruction introduced inti) the public schools of the state. Cash donations have been made to the Woman's Temple. Chicago; the Frances Willard Hospital. Chicago : the Aurt)ra City Hospital ; the Young Men's Christian Association and Young Women's Christian Association building funds, etc.

No modern city is complete without its woman's club, and Aurora is no exception to this rule, and this is the way it came into existence. In the, winter of 1889-90 a number of ladies organized an art class and invited a Mrs. Atkins, of Chicago, to give them a course of lectures on art. The class numbered nearly four hundred members, and when the course was completed and all the debts paid the ladies found that they had $386.61 on hand. A permanent organization had been considered for a long time and now appeared the opportune moment for organization. Therefore The Woman's Club of Aurora was formed, with the following officers : President, M. Louise ^'an Arsdale; vice presidents. Frances P. Forsyth, E. R. Knickerbocker; recording secretary, Alice Maude George ; corresponding secretary, Marie Alice Burton; treasurer, Margaret Gray: directors. Marian H. Holden, Fannie Q. Allen. Rachel H. Enrich. Kate M. Hndder. Annie H. Annis. Emma H. Rice, Hattie \'. Binnenger. R. X. Forsyth, .\ddie E. Simpson.

The following ladies were the charter members of the club: Mrs. G. F. Allen, Mrs. F. M. Annis. Mrs. Fred Belden, I\Irs. Hattie V. Binninger, Mrs. E. A. Bradley. Mrs. Pierce Burton, Mrs. Charles R. Currier, Mrs. E. B. Enrich. Mrs. J. J. Fishburn, Mrs. William Forsyth, Mrs. Alexander Forsyth, Mrs. \\'illiam George. Miss Margaret Grav, Mrs. Laura E. Hard. Mrs. M. A. Higgins. Mrs. J. H. Hodder. :\Irs. T. X. 'Holden. Mrs. A. J. Hopkins, Mrs.

Aurora Pt'Blic Library, Erected 1903

The club now numbers over two hundred and fifty representative women as its members, and during its existence it has been a power for good in the city. Among the things it has done are the offering prizes for the best kept school grounds and back door yard in the city, resulting in neat school yards and finely kept lawns in all parts of the city.

The cIuId presented to one room in each school building in the city a number of copies of the best pictures and plaster casts of some of the best statuary, with the result that the children of all the schools have saved their pennies and bought pictures for all the rooms. It has been instrumental in putting manual training and domestic science in the schools on both sides of the river. It has expended several hundred dollars in planting shrubs and vines in unsightly places, along the river banks, etc., and thus aided to make the city beautiful.

In 1905 the club held a bazar and raised over $10,000 for the City Hospital, and in 1907 it held another bazar for the benefit of the Old Ladies' Home and raised nearly $7,000 for this purpose. It has never entered politics and has tried to avoid all questions which might create contention in its ranks.

This institution was incorporated in 1895 with the following persons named as incorporators : Mrs. Maria A. Burton, Mrs. Nellie E. Higgins, Mrs. Emma E. Mason, Mrs. Emily McCarty, Mrs. Fannie Q. Allen, Mrs. Harriet Colby, Mrs. Anna R. Hartz, Ebenezer Denney, A. K. Perry, William

E. Holmes, Labam Hayward, Pierce Burton, C. B. Colwell, T. Otto Fisk, E. A. Bradley and A. C. Little. Mrs. Harriet Colby wanted to give a house and lot on Main street for the purpose of aiding in establishing a home for old ladies, and this organization was effected for the pupose of holding the property until a fund accumulated sufficient to justify the opening of such a home. This did not take place until 1903, when the directors purchased of Dr. John E. Hurlbut his fine residence at 421 South Fifth street, exchanging the house they held on Main street and running in debt for the remainder. At this writing (1908) the home is filled with ten old ladies, is out of debt, and, thanks to the Women's Club, has about $6,000 out at interest.

Tlie Aurora City Hospital was constructed in 1886. It was first suggested by the Woman's Christian Association, and was given its first financial boost by a big bazar given in the old skating rink, at the corner of Lincoln avenue and Main street, which cleared some $6,000. Another "benefit" was given in the reconstructed city mills in 1888 at which Sam Alschuler gave an address. The Woman's Club gave another bazar for its benefit in the "Coliseum" on the island in 1905, and cleared about $10,000. The building has been gradually improved and enlarged as the board of directors had funds.

The St. Charles Hospital was established by the CathoHcs in 1890 by the purchase of the Coulter residence on North Fourtii street. In 1902 the present large hospital building was erected at an expense of about $50,000, for which it ran in debt. The debt is being slowly reduced.

Memorial Building

A "Soldiers" Monument Association" was organized in 1869 with L. D. Brady, president ; F. O. White, secretary ; Abner Hard, treasurer. This association was reorganized under the new law in 1872 and became incorporated. It was decided in 1875 ^° build a memorial building with the money on hand, instead of a useless monument. This was completed in 1877 at a cost of $7,187.54. In 1 88 1 the city established a free public library, and the Monument Association turned over Memorial Hall to the library directors, and a subscription was made under the management of Fred O. White to erect an adtlition to the memorial building to be used for the books, while the room in the old building should be used for a reading room. One condition was that the Grand Army of the Republic should be permitted to add a second story to the new building to be used for their hall. This condition of affairs worked smoothly until the Carnegie library building was completed in 1903, when the entire building was turned over to the Grand Army of the Republic, who took up a subscription, raised the rear of the building, and finished ofi the basement into a modern kitchen and banquet hall ; the first floor into a fine reading room and hall for meetings of the Grand Army of the Republic and Ladies' Auxiliary Societies; and the second floor was finished for a pretty hall and rented to the Woman's Club.

The whole building is heated by steam from the city steam heating plant. The old soldiers now have a very pleasant "loafing room" adjacent to their hall, which is open and occupied every day in the week, while the kitchen and dining room below are scenes of many a joyous festival. No similar organi-, zation in the country can boast of more comfortable quarters.

Public Libraries

Aurora was early to organize a public library. In September. 1858. "The Young Men's Literary and Historical Society" was organized, with a room in the Odd Fellows' block, used as a library and reading room. A library of over four hundred volumes was donated to the new society, and the reading room was dedicated October 23 of the same year with appropriate ceremonies, the dedicatory address being delivered by B. F. Taylor. In the following December Dr. J. G. Holland lectured before the society for the benefit of the library fund.

The Young Men's Association had been previously organized and had a library of six hundred volumes. These two were united in 1859 under the name of "The Young Men's Literary Association of Aurora." This organization continued during the w?ar. but war was attracting most of the attention of the reading public and the library fell into disuse. But on February 16,

1864, the Illinois legislature incorporated "The Aurora Library Association," twenty-four of the leading citizens of Aurora being the incorporators. Early in the following year this association was organized, Eugene Cantield being its first president. The books of the old association were taken over, some new ones bought, and for many years the library contributed to the literary culture of the community. But there was no money to buy new books. Everybody who wanted to had read the old ones, which were kept in the rear of the postoffice in the city building, free of rent. There was no money to pay a librarian, but the rent of a portion of the room was given to a news dealer for looking after the books, which was an easy task, as luit few were taken out. The state legislature had enacted a most excellent law to provide for the establishment of free public libraries, but it required the action of either the township on town meeting day, or an urtlinance Ijy the city council to take advantage of the law, which provided for a tax of not over two mills on the dollar for the support of the library. It was not until 1881 that two or three interested persons who thought it was about time to take advantage of this new law, called a meeting to be held in the editorial rooms of the old "Herald" office on the island to consider the matter. After several adjournments, the five or six men who attended, concluded to try to get the city council to adopt an ordinance establishing a free public library, fearing the vote of a town meeting to levy a tax upon the town for the purpose of supporting a liljrary. They were fearful of the results of the city council, which was practicing the greatest economy on account of the financial depression, which still existed in consequence of the recent return to a specie basis. W, W. Bishop, "the watch dog of the treasury," opposed every measure looking to an increase of taxes and he was one of the most influential men in the council, so it was decided to ask him to introduce the ordinance and become "father of the library." The scheme worked beautifully and the ordinance passed levying a tax of one mill on the dollar for a free public library. Travers Phillipps was mayor and he appointed a board of directors consisting of Professor Thomas Clark, Mrs. Thomas Gait, Mrs. Pierce Burton, F. S. Bartlett, J. J- McLallen, W. S. Beaupre, Eb Deimey, Isadore Leins, and Fred O. \Vhite. Professor Clark was elected president of the board, and James Shaw librarian at a modest salary, which position he holds at the present writing, twenty-seven years since his first election. He is literally a walking encyclopedia, is well up in library management and has no superior as a librarian in the country. The ulfl library was turned o\xr to the new board and the books were moved mto the lueuKirial building, which was also put under the control nf the library Iioard, tugether with $1,000 in cash to l)e used in building" an addition. Between $5,000 and $6,000 additional was raised by subscription, and a brick addition was constructed, measuring 44x54 feet, with a hall for the Grand Army of the Republic overhead. Books were issued from the new library in March, 1882, and the new addition was completed in 1885. This wa.«. occupied by the library, with the memorial building as a reading room, until the attention of Andrew Carnegie, the great library builder, was called to the fact that this library had outgrown its quarters and needed a new building. He thereupon donated $50,000 for a building on condition that the city would furnish a lot and spend annually a sum equal to at least ten per cent of this amount for its maintenance. The city was already spending more than this sum annually, but it took over a year to find a lot on which to construct the building. At last a lot on the island, which had been offered by the heirs of the late J. G. Stolp as a donation, was decided on, and a fine building was completed in 1904. It contains elegant reading rooms, a children's room and about twenty-five thousand books, which number is gradually increasing.

Shutting Up The Cows

During the administration of Thomas E. Hill, in 1876, a movement was started in favor of "the city beautiful." Most of the city lots were surrounded by old board fences, with here and there a picket fence. Dangerous plank sidewalks were in every street. Cows were running at large in the streets, and to keep them out of the gardens and door yards some kind of a fence had to be used. One of the newspapers and a number of the citizens appealed to the city council to pass an ordinance prohibiting the cows from running at large. This action was prevented by Alderman L. W. Gray, a thriftj farmer in the southwestern part of the city, who had cut up his farm into city lots and was selling them to homeseekers. There was considerable grass growing on the side of the streets, which the aldermen did not like to have go to waste, so whenever the question came up in the council he made such efifective pleas in behalf of the "poor man's cow" that he made his colleagues believe they would never be returned to the council if they voted to have the "poor man's cow" shut up. Nothing could be done towards beautifying the city while its cows were at large. The}- would break down all the trees planted by the side of the streets and eat off their tops. They would break into yards and eat up the shrubbery and gardens. Finally K. A. Burnell called a meeting of a few interested citizens at his home on North Lake street to consider the cow question. Petitions were circulated asking the council to shut up the cows, but all to no purpose. Finally, after several meetings, it was decided to ask the council to submit the question to a vote of the people. This was done. Then a massmeeting was called, and Judge Parks was employed to orate in favor of giving the "poor man's cow" the freedom of the streets of the city, but at the special election, held May 6, 1876, the voters decided, by a vote of one thousand one hundred and forty-eight to six hundred and forty-one, to shut up the cows. It then leaked out that Alderman Gray had a half-dozen cows pasturing in the streets, and turned many an honest penny by selling milk.

Immediately after the ordinance went into effect the people of the city commenced to tear down their unsightly fences, plant shade trees on the street parkings, trim their lawns and otherwise ornament their homes until Aurora became noted far and wide for its pretty streets. Since then substantial cement sidewalks have taken the place of the old plank walks and many miles of paving have helped the appearance of the streets.

Aurora Newspapers

Newspapers are supposed to not only direct public thoug-lit. but to reflect tlie public sentiment of the locality in which they are published. This is particularly true of papers in small places, which, of late, do not aspire to the direction of national policies. Indeed, it is ditTicult to tell who or what directs the policies of a nation. Principles are living forces which take hold of men and control them, and are not shaped or controlled by men.

On the 30th of January, 1907, James Shaw, city librarian, an old newspajjcr man, read before the first annual meeting of the Aurora Historical Society a carefully prepared essay on the histor}- of Aurora newspapers. The amount of time and research given to the preparation of this paper, by so able a hand, justifies liberal extracts from it :

Three newspapers were published in Aurora during the fifth decade of the nineteenth century. The first of these, established in 1846, by C. and G. Ingham, was the Aurora Democrat. Number i of the Democrat bore date August 6. 1846. In politics it declared itself to be "Democratic as understood by the Jefferson and Jackson school." The Aurora public library is the fortunate possessor of the first three numbers of this paper, presented to it by Mr. George F. Sheldon. \^ery little information can now be obtained of the Aurora Democrat. Few of the histories of early Aurora mention it. Its life was probably short.

The second paper to be established here was called The People's Platform.. It was started later in the same year. In politics the Platform was also Democratic. It found that Aurora was not large enough then to support a paper, and it was soon removed to St. Charles, then a larger and more promising town. It continued to be published in St. Charles, under different names, but ceased publication shortly after the presidential campaign of i860.

Thus far failure had attended the efforts to establish a newspaper in Aurora. This should occasion little surprise. It was a community then of not exceeding five hundred inhabitants. Its wealth was all in anticipation. Some earnest spirits felt, however, that the place, small though it was, ought to have a paper, and, undeterred by previous failures, on June i, 1847. M. \'. and B. F. Hall, brothers, and bankers, launched the Weekly Beacon.

The Beacon

In its early years the Beacon experienced almost every vicissitude that can beset the career of a newspaper. But it survived them all. It proved its right to life by living. In its politics it for some time presented a singular spectacle. M. V. Hall was a bitter whig. B. F. Hall was an out-and-out democrat. Diversity of politics in partnerships in other lines of business. has not been unusual, and it has often been regarded as quite an advantage. But it was certainly a novelty in the newspaper business, the chief object of which, in those days, was to tell the people what ticket to vote.

For some time the Beacon did not know on which side of the political fence it stood; or, rather, it frankly stood on both sides. It presented to its readers two political departments, in one of which whig principles were advocated, and in the other democratic doctrines were expounded. Finally B. F. Hall disposed of his interest in the paper to his brother. The Beacon then ceased to be "a house divided against itself,'" and was thenceforward a whig paper till the organization of the republican party, when it warmly espoused the principles of that party.

In the winter of 1853-4 James W. Randall and his brother Dudley purchased the Beacon. Previous to this, the paper had been published on the West side, but the office was now removed to the East side. The Randalls were succeeded by a number of proprietors, who followed each other in rapid succession. Among these may be named William Goldy, a very excellent job printer; N. S. Greenwood, of Waterman, DeKalb county, a farmer of literary inclinations ; George Brewster, an erratic Chicago editor.

On September 6, 1856. the Beacon establishment put forth a daily paper with A. C. Gibson as editor, and J. W. Randall and N. S. Greenwood as publishers. That was the year of the Fremont campaign, and no doubt the Beacon people had hig"h hopes of success for their venture, founded on the enthusiasm generated by the first national contest in which the new republican party engaged. But Fremont was not elected president, and a daily paper i)roved to be beyond the resources of the Aurora of that day.

On the last day of April, 1857, the daily edition of the Beacon ceased publication. Seventeen years passed before a daily paper was successfully established in Aurora: and it was thirty-four years before the staunch old Beacon made another venture in the daily newspaper field.

In July, 1857, the Beacon and the Guardian were consolidated, and the consolidated paper was called The Republican Union, under the proprietorship of James ^\'. Randall and Simeon Whiteley. The panic of that year caused a suspension of this enterprise, but in September of that year Augustus Harman, who had been the editor of Republican Union, and Oscar B. Knickerbocker, who had done the job printing of the office, came into possession of the Beacon material, and under their proprietorsiiip and editorship the Beacon resumed publication, and it has been continuously published ever since.

In 1858 the partnership of Harman and Knickerbocker was dissolved. Harman retiring. On January i, 1859, George S. Bangs formed a partnership with Mr. Knickerbocker, the firm being known as Bangs & Knickerbocker. Bangs became an active and influential Republican politician. He was postmaster of Aurora under Presidents Lincoln and Johnson, and afterwards became an officer of the general postofiice department, and was instrumental in organizing the railway mail ser\ice.

The firm of Bangs & Knickcrliocker continued until March, 1866, when Bangs sold his interest to his partner. It is probable that Bangs went with President Johnson in his scheme of reconstruction : while Knickerbocker adhered to the republican party in its opposition to the president and his policy. In October of that year John H. Hodder ]nirchased an interest in the business, which he retained until his death, a period of thirty-six years. The firm of Knickerbocker & Hodder was a household name throughout Kane and adjoining counties until the death of the senior member of the firm, in

18S5. The firm was an ideal une in almost every respect. Each member of it was a strong man, and each possessed attributes and qualifications that supplemented and complemented those of his partner.

The Beacon issued a semi-weekly edition early in the 70's, and this was continued until March 30, 1891, when a daily paper was once more issued. After the death of Mr. Hodder, in 1892, the Beacon was sold to a stock company, in which it is understood that Mr. J. C. Copley now owns a controlling interest. It has one of the best equipped newspaper plants in the state, outside of Chicago, and under the editorial management of Mr. George Stephens, the circulation of the paper was largely increased.

Some Papers Of The Fifties

We have seen tliat the first paper to make good its claim to life in the young community was. except fur a short period, whig in politics. But the Kane county of that day was democratic, and no doubt the adherents of that party felt that in the largest town in the county they should have an organ as well as their adversaries. The town was growing with a rapidity which we can hardly conceive in these days. In the six years between 1846 and 1852, when the next attempt was made to found a paper here, the population increased five-fold, from five hundred to two thousand five hundred. The paper, and the democrats were eager for a mouthpiece. The anti-slavery agitation had not yet assumed a threatening phase, and no one dreamed that in a few years a new party would arise, with opposition to slavery extension as its main principle, and that in i860 this party, called the republican, would carry the country and elect its candidate for president.

The Aurora Guardian

With these momentous events still behind the curtain of the future, in November, 1852, Simeon \\'hiteley and Benjamin Wilson brought forth the Aurora Guardian. The paper was soundly democratic. The second number announced with a shout of joy the election of Franklin Pierce, democratic candidate for president. In 1854 Stephen A. Douglas, a senator of the United States from Illinois, introduced his famous Kansas-Nebraska bill, repealing the Missouri compromise, and throwing open the unsettled territories to the admission of slavery. A storm of protest swept over the northern states. Popular indignation was at white-heat. Senator Douglas, however, a consummate master of every art known to the practical politician, and a tremendous power in debate, pressed forward his bill, and it became a law. He thus precipitated the revolution that tlrove the deimicratic party from power, and which only ended when slavery was abolished throughout the country. The Ciuardian, during the earl}- stages of this agitation, was "Free Soil," as the oppniients of slavery extension were called. Upon the organization of the republican party, it became attached to it, and ardently advocated its principles. Thus the democratic party lost its organ in Aurora, and nearly a quarter of a century passed before another attempt was made to establish a democratic paper here.

The panic of 1857 brought ruin to nearly every line of business in the country; the newspaper business suffered with the rest. Retrenchment and consolidation were the order of the day; and, as already stated, it was in this year that the Beacon and the Guardian were consolidated, the new paper being called The Republican Union. The proprietors were James W. Randall and Simeon Whiteley ; the editorial work was done by Augustus Harman. The firm of Randall & Whiteley lasted but a few weeks. After the fifth number Randall sold his interest to Whiteley, who then called the paper The Weekly Republican. The paper was reduced in size, and other severe economies were resorted to in the effort to prolong its life. But Mr. Whiteley had become heavily involved financially, and the struggle was unavailing. On November 2, 1858. the Republican, lineal descendant of the gallant old Guardian, breathed its last.

We come now, in the history of the press of Aurora, to a time that may be described as a period of "isms." The mid years of the nineteenth century abounded in projects for the reformation of society and the regeneration of mankind. These projects included dress reform, woman's sufferage, temperance, of course, watercure, vegetable diet, and I know not what else. These ideas and schemes were generalized, in the language of that day, as "isms." When a man or woman embraced one or more of these "isms" the first was to get a press and types, and begin the work of proselyting by means of printers ink. And so, the country over, there were scores of papers printed m small towns, advocating "isms" of every name and kind, and Aurora had its share.

The Temper.Ance Moxitor

The Temi)erance }iI(initL)r was started in Aurora in ^larch, 1858, by James P. Snell. Little is now known of this paper beyond the fact that its life was brief. It survived about a year. Mr. Snell entered the army at the beginn'ing of the Civil war as a member of the Fifty-second Illinois Volunteers. He served bravely during that great struggle, and at its close became editor of the Mendota Bulletin.

The Reformer was a sixteen-page paper issued monthly by Augustus Harman, whom we have just seen doing editorial work on the Beacon and the Republican. He was assisted by Ellen Beard, who soon became Mrs. Harman. The Reformer declared itself to be "what its name indicated.'' It fought ardently for prohibition, dress reform, and other "isms" that were thought by many people fifty years ago to be sovereign remedies for all or most of the evils that atiflict human society. Marriage did not interritpt Mrs. Harman's activities on behalf of the Reformer. She continued to assist her hu.sband in the editorial department, besides which, as the historian tells us, she set type, canvassed for subscribers, and advertisements, and lectured as occasion presented.

Mr, Harman must have been a worker of the strenuous kind that would have delighted even President Roosevelt. Xot content with the work required to keep the Reformer going, in April, i860, he commenced the pulilication of the Temperance Tocsin, a siieet lialf the size of the Reformer, intended for local circnlation. The lahor required for the two papers was too much, however, for human endurance, and the publication of the Reformer was discontinued in the following June. Mr. Harman died in the fall of that year. Mrs. Harman continued the publication of the Tocsin for a short time, and then removed to Xew York city.

In The Sixties

In the eleven years that followed the suspension of the last of the specifically reform journals, six weekly newspapers were started in Aurora. Some idea of the mortality among newspapers may be obtained from the fact that of these six only one survives today. One other led a vigorous life for more than thirty years. The remaining four, without exception, passed off so quickly that with one voice they might have asked, with that other shortli\-ed infant of whom we have heard,

The Aurora Chronicle was established February 8, 1861. by John H. Hodder, who was a vigorous worker and practical business man. The paper lived about six months, when it yielded to the hard times, and the gloom which the approaching Civil war cast over all business enterprises.

The Beacon was now the only paper in Aurora, and it held this inviting field alone till after the close of the Civil war. On the close of the war, there came a period of activity. In June, 1866, Thomas E. Hill established the Aurora Herald. Ten years afterwards Air. Hill became mayor of the city, the second newspaper man to achieve that honor. Mr. Hill was also an author, some of whose works attained wide circulation. He was the author of Hill's Manual, and other works of a useful and educational character. He was succeeded in the ownership of the Herald by the firms of Hill & Gale, Gale & Shaw, Shaw & Bangs, Bangs. Owen & Ford, and Bangs & Owen. In 1871 the Herald plant was purchased by Mr. Pierce Burton, who in 1874 sold a half interest to ]Mr. James Shaw. Mr. Shaw remained with the paper until 1880, when he resold his interest to Mr. Burton. In the year 1882 Mr. Burton established the Daily Express, and thereafter the Herald was the weekly edition of that paper. The Express was the first paper in Aurora and one of the very first in the country to use what are called, in printer's parlance, "telegraph plates," that is, stereotyped plates containing the morning's news, as published in the city dailies, condensed and revised for publication the same day in country dailies. The hour of publication was also novel, being at noon, possibly the only paper in the country published at that hour. This was before the days of the fast mail and the Express was able to be on the street at the same time as the Chicago morning papers, and thus supplanted them in many homes. The Express had a prosperous career for twenty years.

The Herald was originally republican in politics. Under the editorship of Mr. Burton, however, was mighty independent. It insisted on having its own opinion about men and politics and things in general. In the middle '70s it broke with the "grand old party" on the currency ciuestion, the principal political issue of those days. In 1876 it supported Peter Cooper, the candidate of the greenback party, for president; and it advocated greenback principles as long as the party of that name had a national organization.

Mr. Burton retired from business in 1899. After several changes of ownership, the Express ceased publication in 1903, and with it perished also the Herald.

Mr. Burton was the very last of that school of country editors who think of their work as something more than a business. To him it was an opportunity for popular instruction. The editorial chair he regarded as a sort of secular pulpit. Every number of the old Herald carried "leaders," as they were called, commenting on the topics of the day. and on old themes that were made fresh by new treatment. Theology was a favorite field of discussion with Mr. Burton, and many people who never attended church or heard a sermon enjoyed his pithy treatment of matters of church policy and belief. The politics of the day. of course, received due attention, and foreign affairs even were not neglected.

This school of editors in the smaller cities and towns has long since passed away. In their land, we have the reporter, who aims to tell an interesting story about something that happened perhaps in the next block ; and you are lucky if that something did not happen in your own family. We thus have a more intimate reflection of the life of the community, all of which is interesting no doubt to some one. We may have gained something by the change; but I cannot help thinking that there is a distinct loss in the passing of that type of editor who, from a trained and well stored mind, gave the people wise counsel and sane comment on the events of the day - the type of which Pierce Burton was the last representative in Aurora.

In June, 1867, Dudley Randall established the Aurora Weekly. Randall represented the broad farce element in the newspaper world of Aurora. He probably founded more papers than any other man in the country. Some obtained considerable circulation, but "Dud," as he was universally called, lacked business habits, and was unable to bring any of them to maturity. He had a sense of humor that was often expressed too broadly for refined ears; outside of that, he had natural ability; but with it all there went an ingrained weakness of character that spelled failure for every enterprise he undertook.

Aurora Argus

The Aurora Argus was in some sort a successor of the Aurora \\ eekly, after the latter had been published for several months. Possibly there was a change of name onlv. Randall being still the editor and nominal proprietor.

with an erratic colonel by the name of Brainard for assistant, ^\'hatever the reason for the change of name, it did not serve to prolong the existence of the paper, and the Argus soon followed the weekly into the realms of oblivion.

The Volksfreund

In 1868 Aurora saw its first paper printed in a foreign language. In chat year Peter Klein and Jacob Siegmund established the Aurora Volksfreund. In 1 87 1 Mr. Klein purchased the interest of Mr. Siegmund, and has since continued to be the sole proprietor of the Volksfreund. The paper was republican in politics till 1884, when it supported Grover Cleveland for president. Before the next presidential election, however, it returned to the republican fold, and never again wandered from it. The Volksfreund has been an able and faithful representative of the large German population residing in Aurora, May 27, 1895, Mr. Klein began the publication of a daily edition of his paper, and the venture proved to be a profitable one from the start. Mr. Klein is now the Nestor of the editorial profession in Aurora, having been in business as publisher, editor and proprietor for more than thirty-eight years.

In 1 87 1 Dudley Randall was again in evidence with a fresh newspaper venture. It w-as called City Life Illustrated. The art of engraving was in a very crude state then, as compared w-ith what it is today. Photo-engraving and the half-tone w'ere unknown, and newspaper cuts were often hacked out with a jack-knife. Dud's illustrations must have been of this character. The Life's career was merry, but short. It attained quite a large circulation for a country paper in those days, but its founder was not the man to make it a permanent success ; and it went to the gra\'e in the same vear that saw its birth.

Few' people in Aurora know that there was once such a paper in the city as the Daily Globe. This is not to be wondered at, since the Globe had perhaps the shortest life of any paper that was ever actually born. It lived but one day. The Globe was projected by one Turner, who has disappeared so completely from our knowledge that even his full name is not known. He was a printer, and at the time was employed in the Beacon ofiice. But he had ideas above setting type, and one of these was that a small daily paper, that could be printed on an ordinary job press, and which could thus be produced at a very small expense, might be made a paying enterprise. He induced Jacob Siegmund to do the mechanical work, and after publishing one issue, had an urgent call to go east, since which he has not been heard from. Mr. S. took the advertising accounts for his pay and they aggregated so much that he concluded to start a daily paper himself. So with the aid of Charles M. Faye he started the Daily News, which was first printed on a small job press about

10x14 inches in size. Mr. Faye proved to be an able newspaper man, and soon required a larger press for his paper. In September, 1875, ^^^- Faye sold his interest in the News to his partner and went to Chicago, where he in a few years afterward became manager of the Chicago Daily News.

February i, 1876, Mr. Willis B. Hawkins purchased a half interest in the plant. It will interest those who have heard that in the year 1906 $70,000 was offered for the Daily News plant to know that Hawkins, about thirty-one j'ears ago, paid just $800 for a half interest in the News plant of that day.

In 1884 Mr. Hawkins sold his interest in his paper to his partner, jMr. Siegmund. who for a time published the paper with Richard W. Corbett as editor. In 1884 the establishment was sold to E. D. Northam and E. F. Beaupre, who published the paper for several years, and then sold it to John F. Dewey. In 1891 Mr. Dewey disposed of the establishment to the late Walter S. Frazier. On the death of Mr. Frazier a controlling interest passed to his son, Lincoln B. Frazier. Under the proprietorship of the Fraziers and the editorship of A. M. Snook, the News has become a highly prosperous and influential paper.