Knox County, Illinois - The whole text, 1912 (part 12 of 56)

In the month of April, 1895, Judge Craig informed the board that he had -\ . procured a lease of the corner store room of the Fraternity hall building, then oc- '-:^/ cupied as a drug store, for a term of ten years, beginning February, 1897.

Olof Hawkinson, one of our directors, and the vacancy was not filled until the '; . annual meeting in January, 1897, at which time Mr. Nels M. Burgland was ' .

The bank having leased the corner store room of the Covenant Mutual Association building, comer of Main and Kellogg street, proceeded to erect a vault therein and on Feb. i, 1897, moved into the more desirable and lighter room.

At the meeting of the board of directors following the annual stockholders' meeting of Jan. 3, 1898, Mr. Peter Nelson, then vice-president, placed in nomination director N. O. G. Johnson for that office and he was elected vice-president for the ensuing year, the other officers all being re-elected to their respective offices. During the year of 1900, directors Peter Nelson and W. H. Smollinger having disposed of their bank stock, left a vacancy in the board, which remained as such until the annual stockholders' meeting of Jan. 7, 1901, at which time Messrs. Thos. W. Peterson and William Bumside were elected to fill said vacan-

During the year 1901, the work increased so it became necessary to procure -- -i more help and in June of 1901, Mr. Arvid P. Zetterberg was added to the force

In August, 1902, Mr. A. P. Zetterberg having resigned as bookkeeper to enter college, Mr. Lawrence D. Johnson was chosen to take position of bookkeeper.

At the directors' meeting of Dec. 22, 1902, occurred an announcement that took the board by surprise. The president, Hon. A. M. Craig, stated he had purchased from Stewart Goodrell, receiver of the Covenant Mutual Life Association, lot six (6), block twenty-eight (28) for the sum of forty-six thousand dollars, for the bank if the directors chose to confirm it, otherwise he would keep it. The directors promptly approved the action and authorized the cashier, P. N. Granville, to pay the purchase money. This lot was 66 ft. by 165 ft. deep, covered by a building, a part being six stories in height, the front part being three stories. This purchase made safe our bank location, as we occupied the corner store room of said building and special gratitude was voiced to Judge Craig in the meeting regarding the purchase.

At the annual stockholders' meeting of January, 1903, Mr. J. R. Lindgren was called upon to act as director in place of director M. O. Williamson, resigned. In April, 1903, Mr. O. E. Peterson resigned his position as teller to accept the position of cashiership of the newly organized State Bank of Victoria. The resignation was accepted and Mr. A. J. Peterson was elected to fill the position of teller vacated by Mr. O. E. Peterson, and Mr. A. M. Johnson was employed as assistant bookkeeper. - :.- --;.'-

At the annual meeting of January, 1904, Mr. William Coffman was elected director to succeed Mr. J. R. Lindgren of Chicago. On March 6, 1904, Mr. Henry E. Olson, assistant cashier, was called away by death and the office of assistant cashier remained vacant until October of the same year, at which time Mr. Chas. E. Johnson, teller of the People's Trust & Savings Bank, was elected assistant cashier to fill vacancy.

August, 1905, H. N. Bloomquist was employed as collector. During the year, 1906, director Nels M. Burgland disposed of his bank holdings and at the next annual stockholders' meeting (Jan. 7, 1907) Mr. Charles C. Craig was elected director to fill vacancy, and in June, 1909, Mr. Leonard Streedain was added to the office force.

The need for more banking room was being felt daily but owing to the fact of long leases held by tenants, the attempt was delayed. The lease of the Galesburg Business Men's Club, who were occupying the whole third fioor space of the building, would expire in December, 1910, and as they were putting up a building of their own, the directors decided this to be a good time to remodel the whole

Located on the corner of Main and Kellogg Streets. Building erected in 1886. Remodeled in 191S. Bank established in 1889. Capital, $125,000. Surplus fund, $325,000.

At the directors' meeting of Dec. 22, 1902, occurred an announcement that . '. took the board by surprise. The president, Hon. A. M. Craig, stated he had pur- . ':- chased from Stewart Goodrell, receiver of the Covenant Mutual Life Association, ' , . lot six (6), block twenty-eight (28) for the sum of forty-six thousand dollars, ^ for the bank if the directors chose to confirm it, otherwise he would keep it. The ' ; v' directors promptly approved the action and authorized the cashier, P. N. Gran- .' 'V ville, to pay the purchase money. This lot was 66 ft. by 165 ft. deep, covered by -. . a building, a part being six stories in height, the front part being three stories. ; , ; This purchase made safe our bank location, as we occupied the corner store room .-; of said building and special gratitude was voiced to Judge Craig in the meeting re- , - garding the purchase. 'v .;'

At the annual stockholders' meeting of January, 1903, Mr. J. R. Lindgren was -:-';- called upon to act as director in place of director M. O. Williamson, resigned. In , .^ April, 1903, Mr. O. E. Peterson resigned his position as teller to accept the posi- ; ;: V tion of cashiership of the newly organized State Hank of \'ictoria. The resignation ; was accepted and Mr. A. J. Peterson was elected to fill the position of teller . ,' vacated by Mr. O. E. Peterson, and Mr. A. M. Johnson was employed as assistant ; :. bookkeeper. ^ , '..-.;- V "I v .' ' >

At the annual meeting of January, 1904, Mr. William Coffman was elected director to succeed Mr. J. R. Lindgren of Chicago. On March 6, 1904, Mr. , Henry E. Olson, assistant cashier, was called away by death and the office of - ' / . assistant cashier remained vacant imtil October of the same year, at which time ' .> Mr. Chas. E. Johnson, teller of the People's Trust & Savings Bank, was elected ' . assistant cashier to fill vacancy. 1 i

August. 1905. H. N. Bloomquist was employed as collector. During the year, - ' 1906. director Xels M. Burgland disposed of his bank holdings and at the next ' ' . annual stockholders' meeting (Jan. 7. 1907) Mr. Charles C. Craig was elected director to fill vacancy, and in June, 1909, Mr. Leonard Streedain was added to .'' . the office force. ' .

The need for more banking room was being felt daily but owing to the fact of ; : : long leases held by tenants, the attempt was delayed. The lease of the Galesburg .. ; Business Men's Club, who were occupying the whole third floor space of the ;.^ > building, would expire in December, 1910, and as they were putting up a building ' : . :' of their own, the directors decided this to be a good time to remodel the whole ;:,.>-- building, enlarge the banking room, which was sorely needed, and make such alterations as would make the building a modern one in all respects. With this end in view Hon, A. M. Craig, president of the bank, at a meeting of the board of directors. May i6, 1910, presented the following resolution, which was adopted unanimously:

"Resolved, That Chas. E. Johnson and Directors H. H. Clay, C. C. Craig, P. N. Granville and S. R. Swanson be and hereby are appointed a committee to examine Bank of Galesburg building, report to the board what changes should be made and the cost; and they are further authorized to employ an architect to assist in the investigation, procure plans, etc.," which resolution was carried into effect and preliminary work started.

In 1910, A. M. Johnson and H. N. Bloomquist, bookkeeper and assistant bookkeeper, resigned to accept other positions. R. A. Christenson was employed as collector.

At the directors' meeting held Sept. 19, 1910, Hon. A. M. Craig, president of the board, called attention to the fact that the capital stock should be increased from $100,000.00 to $125,000.00 in view of improvements contemplated, and to better facilitate the enlarged business demands. Directors C. C. Craig, P. N. Granville, and T. W. Peterson were then appointed a committee with authority to prepare necessary papers, fix time of a stockholders' meeting to vote on the question, etc. Oct. 31, 1910, was the time fixed, and 915 votes were cast in favor of the proposed increase at the meeting held Oct. 31, 1910, and at the meeting held I>ec. 5, 1910, the total shares of the increased stock was reported as having been subscribed for payment to be made by Jan. 3, 1911. On March 6, 1911, the board of directors authorized the building committee to enter into a contract with the Diebold Safe & Lock Co., of Canton, Ohio, to build a concrete steel re-inforced vault, with steel lining and two steel vault doors, as per specifications and at the next meeting authorized the sam^ committee to contract with the Wollaeger Manufacturing Co., of Milwaukee, Wis., to build and furnish bank fixtures for new banking room, which fixtures were to be of marble and bronze as shown in specifications furnished.

At the directors' meeting April 17, 1911, on motion of Director Granville, it was carried unanimously that two stories be added to the front part of the bank building to correspond with the five story part in the rear and also that an expert opinion be secured from some civil engineer firm in Chicago as to strength of foundations, walls and columns of the present building, and on April 20, 1911. Messrs. E. C. and R. M. Shankland Civil Engineers Company of Chicago made such examination very thoroughly and pronounced it perfectly safe. Architect N. K. Aldrich was then authorized to prepare plans and specifications and place in hands of contractors for bids on July lO, 1911. Bids were received and shortly thereafter were given to lowest bidders as follows : Building contract to Mr. M. E. Sweeney ; plumbing, heating, etc., to Mr. Oscar Hvarven ; and electric lighting to Mr. F. J. Nelson. In August, 1911, the work increased and Miss Alma Palmquist was employed as stenographer.

August 28, 1911, was the last meeting presided over by the Hon. A. M. Craig of this board of directors. During the week he contracted a heavy cold, and although he visited the bank every day including Saturday, September 2nd, that night at midnight he became partially unconscious and died Wednesday evening, Sept. 6, 1911, beloved and revered by his many associates and acquaintances. He had during his long life of 8i years acquired both a national and state wide reputation as lawyer, judge and jurist. His banking associates felt his loss keenly. His ripe judgment in business affairs, his ability as a lawyer and adviser and his standing as an exponent of honesty and fair dealing was universally known and his financial worth and standing conceded. His finances were left in good condition to his two sons, Messrs. Harvey A. and Charles C. Craig, who were well fitted by education and ability to carry on his affairs. The board of directors at their meeting, Sept. ii, 1911, unanimously made choice of Director Charles C. Craig to become the president of Bank of Galesburg to succeed his father. At the same meeting Mr. Chas. E. Johnson was chosen a director to fill vacancy in the board.

Since the time of incorporation the Bank of Galesburg has distributed and paid these princely amounts besides acquiring a surplus fund, viz:

At this writing the bank building is nearing completion and with more room and better facilities, the bank will have even greater opportunities to serve the people and business interests of Galesburg and vicinity than in the past.

The Farmers & Mechanics Bank

night at midnight he became partially unconscious and died Wednesday evening, Sept. 6, 1911, beloved and revered by his many associates and acquaintances. He had during his long life of 8i years acquired both a national and state wide reputation as lawyer, judge and jurist. His banking associates felt his loss keenly. His ripe judgment in business affairs, his ability as a lawyer and adviser and his standing as an exponent of honesty and fair dealing was universally known and his financial worth and standing conceded. His finances were left in good condition to his two sons, Messrs. Harvey A. and Charles C. Craig, who were well fitted by education and ability to carry on his affairs. The board of directors at their meeting, Sept. ii, 1911, unanimously made choice of Director Charles C. Craig to become the president of Bank of Galesburg to succeed his father. At the same meeting Mr. Chas. E. Johnson was chosen a director to fill vacancy in the board.

Since the time of incorporation the Bank of Galesburg has distributed and paid these princely amounts besides acquiring a surplus fund, viz :

The original incorporators were: Charles E. Grant, Marcus Belden, Andrew S. Hoover, E. R. Adams, Timothy Nash, John B. Colton, Alfred KitcheU, A. C. Clay, Chauncey S. Colton, H. S. Hurd, Chas. Brechwald.

The presidents of this bank since its organization have been as follows, and in the order named, to-wit: Chauncey S. Colton, Francis Colton, J. L. Burkhalter, L. A. Townsend.

The home of this bank up to 1903 was in the Union hotel block, but in the spring of 1903 it purchased the old Second National Bank property on the comer of Cherry and Main streets, and in the fall of that year it moved into this building, where it is now located.

It is one of the old "land marks" in the financial history of this county, and has always been a factor and closely identified with the enterprise, growth and improvements of this city and surrounding country.

People'S Trust & Savings Bank, Galesburg, Ili

The People's Trust & Savings Bank had its birth in the banking room occupied by the old Second National Bank, at the northwest comer of Main and Cherry streets, in the year 1900. This bank has grown from a small institution doing an exclusive savings business, to one of the largest banks in this part of the state, transacting business in all its branches and having a large trust department.

The history of the People's Tmst & Savings Bank would be incomplete without going into the history of the Second National Bank, whose business they eventually succeeded to, and who had occupied the same building for forty years. Before the organization of the Second National Bank in 1864, the bank building had been occupied and had been running as a private bank, known as Reed's Bank, Mr. A. D. Reed being head of the institution. Mr. Reed had been prominent in financial circles in Galesburg's early days, he having built the large home now occupied by Mr. A. Dean on the northwest corner of Main and Maple ave. Mr. Reed, after the organization of the Second National Bank, went to Chicago and there organized the City National Bank of Chicago.

financiers and pioneers of Galesburg, among whom being J. P. Frost, organizer of the Frost Manufacturing Company; Edwin Post, the leading lumber man; Geo. W. Brown, the inventor of the Brown Corn Planter; Henry Hitchcock, superintendent of the Burlington road; Martin Gay, Josiah Babcock, J. F. Stilson, A. N. Bancroft, father of Edgar Bancroft, Alfred Knowles, Andrew Harrington,

The Second National Bank had a prosperous career, doing business forty years, never missing a dividend. This bank had much to do with the building up of our industrial and educational institutions. At the expiration of its forty years of existence, the charter having expired in the year 1903, it was thought best by the directors to close the affairs of the Second National Bank, their stock having been scattered throughout the United States, and there being very few local stockholders to help carry on the business. The splendid prosperity of the Second National Bank was due to its strict adherence to rules of conservative banking and its fair dealing.

Among the splendid men who had been prominent in the management of the Second National Bank, and to a great extent responsible for its prosperity, were David Sanborn, a man of broad intellect and splendid financial ability; Mr. J. T. McKnight, now well known as the most prominent figure in Galesburg's financial world; Mr. Albert J. Perry, for fourteen years president of the bank, and Mr. J. G. Vivion, for a number of years cashier and acting manager of the bank.

The People's Trust & Savings Bank had been doing business in the banking room of the Second National Bank since the year 1900. Among those prominent in the organization of the People's Trust & Savings Bank were the following well-known citizens and representatives in the financial world : J. T. McKnight, J. K. Mitchell, Hon. E. A. Bancroft, J. G. Vivion, S. B. and Andrew Harrington, Judge P. S. Post, J. C. Simpson, Lake W. Sanborn, Judge G. W. Thompson, W.

The first board of directors of the People's Trust & Savings Bank were Messrs. J. K. Mitchell, J. T. McKnight, P. S. Post, Frank H. Johnson, A. D. Schultz, W. B. Throop, J. G. Vivion.

The founders of the bank felt that no institution could be organized that would do more good for the people at large than a large savings institution, their idea being to teach economy, saving and thrift, these being considered kindred to the home, the school, and the church, for the good of the community and the state; it being especially desired to seek the children's accounts, in fact, the idea was to make this a people's bank, where all people, farmers, merchants, professional men, the laborers, in fact all men, women and children could have a banking home, and receive profits on their deposits whether large or small.

The affairs of the People's Trust & Savings Bank went on prosperously, there being a steady increase in deposits. The bank did exclusively a savings bank business until the year 1903, when as above stated, the charter of the Second National Bank having expired, the People's Trust & Savings Bank took over their loans, paying for the same in cash. Most of the depositors of the Second Na-

In 1903 there had been organized a new bank in Galesburg, known as the Galesburg Trust & Savings Bank. A conference was held between the parties representing the Galesburg Trust & Savings Bank and the officers and directors of the People's Trust & Savings Bank, and a union of the two banks into one large strong bank was decided upon. The capital at this time was increased from $100,000.00 to $250,000.00, thus making it one of the strongest banks in central Illinois. The new officers of the People's Trust & Savings Bank, after this combination, were : Hon. M. O. Williamson, president ; J. G. Vivion, vice president, and H. J. Butt, cashier. The directors were : M. O. Williamson, H. J. Butt, Geo. W. Gale, S. L. Charles, H. D. Judson, J. C. Simpson, A. F. Paden, J. T. McKnight, J. G. Vivion, J. K. Mitchell and W. S. Purington.

The bank has had continuous prosperity since the time of its organization, their business growing and expanding and filling a larger and larger share in the financial affairs of the city of Galesburg, until at the present time the bank has the largest deposits of any bank in the city, or in this part of the state.

The bank has in connection with the banking business a trust department, through which they are authorized by the state to act as executors, administrators, guardians, conservators, or handle trusts. This department has grown very popular, some very large estates having been settled, and are now in course of settlement through the bank ; this being acknowledged the most economical and safest way of handling an estate. :V:

The officers of the bank at the present time are: M. O. Williamson, president; J. T. McKnight, vice president; W. A. Armstrong, cashier; H. E. Hanlon, assistant cashier.

The directors are : John H. Lewis, Jr., Geo. W. Thompson, Samuel L. Charles, James O'Connor, G. W. Gale, C. F. Hurburgh, A. F. Paden, W. H. Pankey, J. J. Welsh, M. O. Williamson and J. T. McKnight. ;:;.:

The Maquon State Bank was the outgrowth of and successor to the bank of Wm. Swigart. Mr. Swlgart began his private bank in i88i. His sterling business qualities, backed by rich holdings of real estate, gained and held the confidence of the community. This bank continued with ever-increasing prosperity until September, 1903, when it was reorganized and chartered as the Maquon State Bank with a capital stock of $30,000. First officers were: Wm. Swigart, president; H. F. Townsend, cashier. Mr. Swigart still continued to fill the office of president and is, at the age of almost ninety years, active, energetic and faithful in the discharge of the duties of the office. The other officers at the present time are: D. S. Hartsook, vice president ; J. E. Shearer, cashier.

The history of the banking business of Yates City began in the fall of 1871 when J. M. Taylor and Isaac Lambert opened a bank in the rear room of the brick building, which had been built during the summer of that year by J. H. Nicholson, on the southeast corner of Main and Union streets.

The bank as organized at this time was known as the Farmers Bank, and J. M. Taylor held the position of president; Isaac Lambert, vice president, and John Lambert, cashier. It was a private institution, therefore did not publish any statements of its business, hence we are unable to state what its capital stock was or anything more concerning the details of the business.

Isaac Lambert did not continue long in the firm, but soon withdrew his interest, leaving J. M. Taylor alone, who continued for some years and had at one time associated with him James McKeighan, who assisted him for a while financially. About the year 1878 or 1879, Mr. Taylor, not finding the business as profitable as he had anticipated, concluded to close up the. business. This he accomplished in a few months' time. Then he moved to Iowa where he again embarked in the same line.

At this time there seems to have been a lapse of about one year when there was no bank in active business, but on August i, 1880, J. H. Nicholson, W. P. Parker and L. F. Wertman bought the fixtures formerly used by J. M. Taylor and Isaac Lambert, and opened a bank in the same room previously used for that purpose, also under the same name. Farmers Bank, with J. H. Nicholson, president; W. P. Parker, vice president, and L. F. Wertman, cashier. They had no fixed capital stock at this time, btft paid yearly dividends from the earnings of the business and added the balance to the stock.

The business was conducted along these lines for the next nine years when in 1889, W. P. Parker and L. F. Wertman withdrew, as Mr. Parker did not desire to continue longer in the business, and Mr. Wertman had made arrangements to accept the position of cashier of the Farmers & Mechanics Bank of Galesburg, Illinois.

The bank continued in its usual manner from this time and was conducted by J. H. Nicholson & Company as proprietors, J. H. Nicholson being president; C. D. North, vice president, and S. C. Ransom, cashier. Mr. Ransom remained in this position until November, 1890, when he resigned to fill the office of super- intendent of schools of Knox county, his place being taken by J. Mason who had been for many years a resident of the community and was therefore well known to the customers of the bank, Mr. Mason continued in this capacity for only about one year when he resigned to enter the banking business for himself in his home town of Farmington, Illinois.

The position of cashier was taken up at this time by F. E. Wilson of Knoxville, Illinois, who continued to fill the office for about twelve years or until 1903, when he also resigned, having decided to open a bank in Knoxville, Illinois. During the time Mr. Wilson served as cashier, the business increased to the extent that more help was required, and E. J. H. North was installed as assistant cashier in which position he remained until Augfust, 1906.

Upon the resignation of Mr. Wilson as cashfer, J. Mason, who had previously served in this capacity during 1890 and 1891, was called upon again to take up the work and he remained in that position from 1903 until August, 1906. »

In 1893, J. H. Nicholson, the senior member of the firm of J. H. Nicholson & Company, and president of the bank, died and the firm name was changed to

C. D. North & Co., although the bank continued to operate as the Farmers Bank. During this same year, 1893, it became necessary, on account of the growing business, to provide more commodious quarters and the front room of the same building in which the business was being conducted, was remodeled along modem lines; a new plate glass front being put in, with a comer entrance, a fireproof brick vault being built, large enough to accommodate a burglar-proof safe and storage room for valuable papers, also modern furniture and fixtures and all other necessary accoutrements to enable the business to be handled more rapidly and satisfactorily. Previous to this time, the money and valuable papers had been kept in a large safe as they had no vault, and to prevent the possibility of their being destroyed by fire, an open top cistern had been built directly under the safe, in the basement, with the expectation that in case of fire, the safe would fall into the cistern, thus preventing the destruction of its contents.

D. North & Company, proprietors, as previously stated, until August, 1906, when it united with the Peoples Bank, as will be described later.

During the summer of 1889, Walter Bailey, Henry Hare and Robert Fulton, all men of considerable wealth, and residents of Salem and Elba townships, Knox county, Illinois, decided to organize and operate a second bank in Yates City, and accordingly on September 19, 1889, all necessary arrangements having been made, they opened for business in the northeast corner of the brick building on the east half of lot nine in block twenty-two, which building also joined, on the east, the one already occupied by the Farmers Bank.

The paid-up capital stock of this institution, which was to be known as the Peoples Bank, was $9,900, and Walter Bailey was its first president and Robert Fulton its first cashier. The business was conducted by these three men until Mr. Hare's death in January, 1892, his interest being assumed by his widow who continued as a partner until February, 1893, when she sold her interest to L. A. Lawrence who was then in the lumber and farm implement business in Yates City. ::v:'': ; and his widow continued in the business until September, 1895, when she sold her share to the other partners, Walter Bailey and L. A. Lawrence.

The next change to occur in this business was in December, 1895, when Mr. Bailey, the senior member of the firm and president of the bank, passed away on the I4th day of the month and his widow assumed his interest which necessitated the change in the title of the firm from Walter Bailey & Company to Harriet L. Bailey & Company.

Mrs. Bailey was connected with the business until December, 1899, when she concluded to withdraw and sold her interest to L. A. Lawrence, thus giving him full control of the business and her name was at this time dropped from the title of the firm which was from that time until August i, 1906, known as the Peoples Bank, L. A. Lawrence, proprietor.

During the spring of 1906, arrangements were made between the proprietors of the Farmers Bank and Peoples Bank, previously described, to unite and accordingly, on August I, 1906, this plan was consummated and the business of the two institutions was consolidated into the bank with a capital stock of $20,000, under the name of Bank of Yates City, North, Nicholson & Lawrence, proprietors, in the room previously occupied by the Farmers Bank.

Since this union would necessitate more and better facilities for conducting and handling the business, the rear room in the building, which had served as an office for the original bank in the year 1871, was now again brought into use, and a fireproof vault was constructed in this room, and a nest of deposit boxes was installed to provide storage room for those having papers they might wish to keep in a safe and private place. This room was suitably fitted up with a large table, couch and other necessary furniture and serves as a private consultation room for the bank and its patrons.

The first official board of the Bank of Yates City consisted of L. A. Lawrence, manager; J. Mason, cashier, and A. J. Lawrence, second cashier.

Under the able and efficient management of L. A. Lawrence, the business continued to grow and spread out until it covered not only the community surrounding Yates City, but reached out into more remote territory. In the summer of 1911, Mr. Lawrence's health failing, he was compelled to retire from the active management of the business and it was given over to his son, A. J. Lawrence, whose place as assistant cashier was now taken up by H. E. North.

From a small business as it was first begun in the year 1871, it has grown until its total liabilities and resources amount to $230,000 at the present writing, February, 1912. The Bank of Yates City is fully equipped to transact all business that comes ir. its line and also has facilities for making out all legal documents. It has always believed it was good business to keep abreast of the times in providing the latest improved machines for mechanical writing and calculation and has in daily use the latest styles of adding machine, typewriter, check protector and other such necessary articles for the swift and correct handling of the large business that comes to it daily.

and his widow continued in the business until September, 1895, when she sold her share to the other partners, Walter Bailey and L. A. Lawrence, . L :

The next change to occur in this business was in December, 1895, when Mr. Bailey, the senior member of the firm and president of the bank, passed away on the I4th day of the month and his widow assumed his interest which necessitated the change in the title of the firm from Walter Bailey & Company to Harriet L. Bailey & Company. . '.I,

Mrs. Bailey was connected with the business until December, 1899, when she concluded to withdraw and sold her interest to L. A. Lawrence, thus giving him full control of the business and her name was at this time dropped from the title of the firm which was from that time until August i, 1906, known as the Peoples Bank, L. A. Lawrence, proprietor. |

During the spring of 1906, arrangements were made between the proprietors of the Farmers Bank and Peoples Bank, previously described, to unite and accordingly, on August I, 1906, this plan was consummated and the business of the two institutions was consolidated into the bank with a capital stock of $20,000, under the name of Bank of Yates City, North, Nicholson & Lawrence, proprietors, in the room previously occupied by the Farmers Bank.

Since this union would necessitate more and better facilities for conducting and handling the business, the rear room in the building, which had served as an office for the original bank in the year 1871, was now again brought into use, and a fireproof vault was constructed in this room, and a nest of deposit boxes was installed to provide storage room for those having papers they might wish to keep in a safe and private place. This room was suitably fitted up with a large table, couch and other necessary furniture and serves as a private consultation room for the bank and its patrons. ;- ... . .

The first official board of the Bank of Yates City consisted of L. A. Lawrence, manager; J. Mason, cashier, and A. J. Lawrence, second cashier.

Under the able and efficient management of L. A. Lawrence, the business continued to grow and spread out until it covered not only the community surrounding Yates City, but reached out into more remote territory. In the summer of 1911, Mr. Lawrence's health failing, he was compelled to retire from the active management of the business and it was given over to his son, A. J. Lawrence, whose place as assistant cashier was now taken up by H. E. North.

From a small business as it was first begun in the year 1871, it has grown until its total liabilities and resources amoimt to $230,000 at the present writing, February, 1912. The Bank of Yates City is fully equipped to transact all business that comes ir. its line and also has facilities for making out all legal documents. It has always believed it was good business to keep abreast of the times in providing the latest improved machines for mechanical writing and calculation and has in daily use the latest styles of adding machine, typewriter, check protector and other such necessary articles for the swift and correct handling of the large business that comes to it daily.

The Oneida Exchange Bank (private bank), one of the pioneer banks, was first established in 1858, was conducted by W. L. Hubbard for about nine years, then by J. B. Congers for several years, succeeded by J, N. Congers for several years. In 1877, a partnership was formed by A. B. Anderson and Frank Murdoch which was continued until Mr. Murdoch's death in February, 1908. Since then the business has been continued by A. B. Anderson and son (J. H. Anderson). It run without a stated capital. The proprietors are thoroughly respected in the community and nobody questions their solvency or honesty.

This bank was organized in 1891 and commenced business September 17, - 1891, in its new brick bank building erected in 1891 on the west side of Railroad street, with a Capital stock of $25,000. -"";; -;

Its first officers were: A. D. Metcalf, president, who served until his death in January, 1912; A. F. McCornack, vice president until 1898; James E. Tayler elected cashier and served to January, 1895; W. D. Patty succeeded Mr. Tayler and is cashier at this present date. Miss Anna Anderson has been assistant cashier since 1895, and has been connected with the bank since 1891.

Gebrge K. Pittard was elected vice president in 1898 and served to January, 1912. On February 6, 1912, George K. Pittard was elected president, and H. W. Crane, vice president. Its capital stock at this date is $25,000; surplus, $25,000.

'- The Peoples Bank of Abingdon opened December i, 1878, with a capital stock of $30,000. The chief promoters in the organization of this institution were M. C. Bates and J. B. Mackay, who were elected president and cashier, respectively. From the first, this bank had a bright outlook and drew the patronage of the surrounding territory so much that three years later, the capital was increased to $50,000. But notwithstanding its bright future, there remained one great hindrance, namely, that it was organized as a co-partnership institution rather than a state or national. Hence the excessive loans, not only to the stockholders, but directors as well, became appalling till it was thought best to organize as a national bank where excessive loans are not permissable and publicity of condition is demanded. Through the efforts of W. A. Latimer, five of the substantial men of the town advanced ten thousand dollars each and a charter was granted them August 5, 1885, as the

These original stockholders were M. C. Bates, Thos. Newell, M. C. Kimball, J. Harts Miller and J, B. Mackay; the last being elected president and W. A. Latimer, cashier, at the first meeting of the board of directors in January, 1886. At the end of one year, Mr. Mackay retired from the presidency and M. C. Kimball was elected to the position, remaining till January, 1893, when Thos. Newell succeeded him. Upon the death of Mr. Newell some years later, W. B. Main became president.

Upon the resignation of W. A. Latimer in 1888, the cashiership was tendered H. B. Scheitlin, and on his resignation in January, 1893, Orion Latimer was elected to that position since which time he has been exceedingly zealous in the management of the affairs connected with the institution. From the very first, he gained the confidence of the people and through his guidance and by the selection of his office force, this bank has made remarkable progress for the last quarter of a century. Upon the resignation of Mr. Main in January, 1907, Mr, Orion Latimer was elected president, which position he now holds. At this time, G. A. Shipplett was elected cashier and H, L. Haynes, assistant cashier.

The First National Bank has always been noted for its courteous treatment to its patrons, by doing small favors which are of vital interest to them and giving them free exchange with all the world.

During the history of this institution, Abingdon has passed through the stages of a small village, country town, and has grown to the dignity of a small city with magnificent residences, an excellent school system, including a high class denominational college and a large number of thriving factories. In all these, the First National Bank takes the lead and keeps closely in touch with all things which are for the betterment of Abingdon and vicinity. To keep abreast with the times, to care for its clients' business requirements and to provide absolute safety for its depositors has been its chief concern. To follow out these ideas, the capital was increased to $75,000, and a surplus of $80,000 set aside in January,

The First National Bank is conducted on the lines of conservatism, coupled with accommodation, generous treatment with careful investments, ample facilities and absolute security for every one of its customers.

Its present officers are : Orion Latimer, president ; J. A. Reynolds, vice president; George A. Shipplett, cashier; H. L. Haynes, assistant cashier.

Its present directors are: H. L. Haynes, B. P. Baird, J. F. Latimer, H. R, Crouch, J. A. Reynolds, G, A. Shipplett, Carl S. Burnside, C. D. Byram, T. E, Burnside, W, B. Dunlap, Orion Latimer. ;.; ,

Perhaps the best illustration of the conservatism, prosperity and general growth of the institution can be given by a comparison of the first and last published statements, as a national bank. ; - At the close of business, October i, 1885, -'; ---"-- '/.^'v--;:'

The officers of the bank elected at the time of organization were : John Mosser, president; J, W. Hunter, vice president; G. K. Slough, cashier; F. W. Reynolds, assistant cashier, became identified with the bank September i, 1903, and since its organization there has been no change of any kind in the officers of the institution., .V V. - -...

The board of directors are : John Mosser, J, W. Hunter, Jas. W. Cox, A. B. Spies, C. W. Robertson, J. H. Simmons, Robert Byram, J. T, Main, Samuel T. Mosser. ;

The bank pays regular annual dividends of 6% on its capital stock, and now has a surplus and undivided profit of $40,000. Its deposits run fr.om $200,000 to $250,000. ]. ""X

During the summer of 1905, the bank erected the building it now occupies and owns. It is considered by many to be one of the finest and best equipped bank buildings in this part of Illinois.

Its officers and members of its board have been largely identified with all the progressive movements for the betterment of Abingdon and are all men of high standing and have the entire confidence of the city and community. The bank has recently been appointed U. S. Depository for Postal Savings.

Judge A. M. Craig, then Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of Illinois, believing that there was a good opening for a bank in the village of Altona, acted upon his belief and established the banking house of A. M. Craig & Co. on June i6, 1890, his son, George H. Craig, acting as cashier and John McKie, assistant cashier.

Being anxious to enlarge their scope of business and believing that they would be better able to serve the needs of their patrons by placing same on a more enduring basis by forming a corporation to take over the private banking business of A. M. Craig & Co., it was decided to organize a state bank. A meeting was held during September, 1891, and an application for permission to organize a state bank was made to the auditor of public accounts which was signed by John McKie, George H. Craig, J. C. Collinson and William Main.

The permit was granted September 15, 1891. The law permitting the organization of state banks being of recent enactment and the Bank of Altona being a new venture, many hesitated to invest in bank stock in the proposed new bank, but by the 26th of September all stock was subscribed for and the bank received its charter, taking over the banking house and business of A. M. Craig & Co., and began business as a state bank under the name of the Bank of Altona, October 3, 1891, with a paid-up capital of $30,000, it being one of the first state banks organized.

As the first board of directors of the Bank of Altona, the stockholders elected the following: A. M. Craig, J. M. McKie, C. S. Clark, William Main, J. P. Walgren, J. C. Collinson, Geo. E. Challman, who, with the exception of A. M. Craig, now deceased, are still serving on the board of directors. At their first meeting, the directors elected the following officers: President, A. M. Craig; vice president, C. S. Clark ; cashier, Geo. H. Craig ; assistant cashier, J. M. McKie.

According to the principles of sound banking, it was the aim of the officers of the bank to aid its patrons financially in every way possible. Owing to the fact

-i^ that under the state law they were allowed to loan only ten per cent of their capital to one person, the bank was handicapped to a certain extent in handling real estate mortgages from lack of sufficient capital, and at an adjourned meeting of the stockholders called for the purpose of increasing the bank's capital, on V July 25, 1896, it was decided that the capital stock be increased from $30,000 to . ; $50,000. The new stock was readily disposed of and with ample capital, the : - bank has ever since been in a position to care for the financial needs of the com- ' munity.

" ; . -- There have been but few changes of officers and directors since its organizai^- tion. On the 6th day of February, 1896, the bank was called upon to mourn the

The present board of directors are: J. M. McKie, C. C. Craig, C. S. Clark, ' William Main, J. P. Walgren, J. C. Collinson, Geo. E. Challman, and its present \ officers are: President, J. M. McKie; vice president, C. S. Clark; cashier, G. N. Larson.

The State Bank of Victoria was organized on April 6, 1903, with a capital of $35,000. The business of the Bank of Victoria, a private bank owned by O. P. Stoddard, Dyer Ford, B. S. Peck and Geo. D. Palmer of Galva, Illinois, having been purchased, the new organization commenced business on the 29th day of April, 1903, in the building formerly occupied by their predecessors. This, however, was to be only their temporary location as work on a new two-story brick bank building on the corner of Main and Union streets was soon started and the building was completed and occupied by the first .of October of the same year.

The bank was organized with the following officers and directors : President, J. M. McKie ; vice president, Frederick Becker ; cashier, O. E. Peterson. Directors : J. M. McKie, Frederick Becker, C. S. Clark, J. A. Larson, G. L. Hedstrom, P. A. McDowell, A. A. Hedstrom, O. E. Peterson, A. M. Craig.

cashier, and on July 3, 1911, a change in the officers was made necessary owing to the previous resignation of the cashier, O, E. Peterson. C. V. Nelson was

/ For the past six years, the bank has paid dividends of six per cent each year to its stockholders and has up to the present time, accumulated a surplus of $17,000. The steady growth of the institution into its present sound condition

^ and its conservative business methods enable it to offer to the public excellent banking facilities, together with absolute security to its patrons, which are

-... . In 1905, the same partners opened a bank at Laura, Illinois, and Mr. Elliott . was transferred to the cashiership of it, and Earl T. Main became assistant

The bank has steadily grown and has always enjoyed a fair share of business and at the same time has always endeavored to supply all worthy undertakings with money. I .'\ ' . The present board of directors are J. D. Doubet, Jay Welsh, P. A. Sunwall, O. J. Oberholtzer, Robt. E. Farwell, A. L. Harris and David Cation.

{ Organized May i, 1910. Capital stock paid in, $25,000. Chartered August 30, 1910. Commenced business, September 5, 1910. The following board of of Gen. Barnes, his son, Bennett, took charge of the plant, changed the name of the pajjer to the Knox County Chronicle, and in 1886 sold the office to Gershom Martin, the latter having unique and original ideas of his own as to the conduct of an independent democratic paper, and upon his death the office that had Jbeen in continuous operation for more than forty years, and during that time passing through the hands of many other editors and from a "black" republican to an ultra democratic paper, went into "history," the material being sold in quantities to suit the purchaser. : v^

THE REGISTER - 1866. This paper was started by Steve R. Smith, Wm. J. Mourer and H. D. Babcock. About 1868 W. S. Bush, late of the Free Press, took editorial charge of the paper, and a daily paper was issued. In 1872 E. F. Phelps bought the plant and soon after the Register and the Republican were merged into the Republican-Register, with Z. Beatty as editor, who conducted it in an able manner up to the time of his death.

THE REPUBLICAN was started in 1870 by Joe M. Prior and Henry Emrich, who in the fall of the same year transferred the same to Clark E. Carr, who in 1873 or 1874 merged it with the Register into the Republican-Register, whose history will be found elsewhere in this volume.

The history of the press of Galesburg would not be complete without mentioning W. S. Grubb, who came to Galesburg from Atlanta, Georgia, in 1878, and organized the Galesburg Publishing Company, and merged the two papers, the Republican and the Register into the Daily Republican-Register. As a business manager !Mr. Grubb had few equals and no superiors, and under his wise management the financial affairs of the new enterprise flourished and the stock of the new company became dividend paying and valuable. He continued at his post of duty until his death.

THE PLAINDEALER. Judson Graves in 1872 removed the Republican newspaper plant from Kirkwood to Galesburg, and in 1875 changed the name Republic to the Plaindealer, as expressing more clearly the JKtlitical character and editorial columns of the paper, it being independent republican in national and state politics, and liberal in religious and local matters. In 1879 Messrs. Henry Emrich and Iram B. Biggs purchased the office and with Mr. Emrich as editor conducted the paper until October, 1906, when they stopped its publication. During these twenty-seven years the Plaindealer advocated the principles and supported the candidates of the republican party, but at the same time reserving to itself and exercising the right to criticise the policies of that party when it thought they were not conserving the best interests of the people as a whole. In city affairs the Plaindealer always contended for good government and as a local organ of the liberal party had much to do with shaping the policy of that party for good city government and the carrying out of many needed local improvements. , : -: - \.:':; ; .. ,\ .

The list of the various publications in Galesburg during the past sixty years is a long one and only a short mention of them is possible here.

NORTHWESTERN GAZETEER - 1850-1851 ; Southwick Davis, neutral in politics. "._- NEWS LETTER - Geo. W. Gale, Dr. Bunce and Geo. Lanphere did good work of Gen. Barnes, his son, Bennett, took charge of the plant, changed the name of the paper to the Knox County Chronicle, and in 1886 sold the office to Gershom Martin, the latter having unique and original ideas of his own as to the conduct of an independent democratic paper, and upon his death the office that had been in continuous operation for more than forty years, and during that time passing through the hands of many other editors and from a "black" republican to an ultra democratic paper, went into "history," the material being sold in quantities to suit the purchaser. . - . -- ' I

THE REGISTER - 1866. This paper was started by Steve R. Smith, Wm. J. Mourer and H. D. Babcock. About 1868 W. S. Bush, late of the Free Press, took editorial charge of the paper, and a daily paper was issued. In 1872 E. F. Phelps bought the plant and soon after the Register and the Republican were merged into the Republican-Register, with Z. Beatty as editor, who conducted it in an able manner up to the time of his death.

THE REPUBLICAN was started in 1870 by Joe M. Prior and Henry Emrich, who in the fall of the same year transferred the same to Clark E. Carr, who in 1873 or 1874 merged it with the Register into the Republican-Register, whose history will be found elsewhere in this volume.

The history of the press of Galesburg would not be complete without mentioning W. S. Grubb, who came to Galesburg from Atlanta, Georgia, in 1878, and organized the Galesburg Publishing Company, and merged the two papers, the Republican and the Register into the Daily Republican-Register. As a business manager Mr. Grubb had few ecjuals and no superiors, and under his wise management the financial affairs of the new enterprise flourished and the stock of the new company became dividend paying and valuable. He continued at his post of duty until his death. - . [

THE PLAINDEALER. Judson Graves in 1872 removed the Republican newspaper plant from Kirkwood to Galesburg, and in 1875 changed the name Republic to the Plaindealer, as expressing more clearly the political character and editorial columns of the paper, it being independent republican in national and state politics, and liberal in religious and local matters. In 1879 Messrs. Henry Emrich and Iram B. Biggs purchased the office and with Mr. Emrich as editor conducted the paper until October, 1906, when they stopped its publication. During these twenty-seven years the Plaindealer advocated the principles and supported the candidates of the republican party, but at the same time reserving to itself and exercising the right to criticise the policies of that party when it thought they were not conserving the best interests of the people as a whole. In city affairs the Plaindealer always contended for good government and as a local organ of the liberal party had much to do with shaping the policy of that party for good city government and the carrying out of many needed local improvements.

The list of the various publications in Galesburg during the past sixty years is a long one and only a short mention of them is possible here.

HEMLANDET - 1855-1866; a secular as well as religious Swedish paper edited : by Rev. T. N. Haselquist. At that time the only Swedish paper in the United States, and one that was very influential in increasing the Swedish immigration to the United States, hundreds of copies of each issue being sent by Swedish-Americans to their friends in Sweden. It was finally removed to Chicago for increased facilities and is in existence today.

THE LIBERAL - 1867-1870; a very "liberal" society paper, edited by Steve R. Smith. This gentleman also, in 1873, started THE SIDEWALKINGS, which had only a short career. ; .-, I

Knox and Lombard Colleges have also published monthly journals. The Knox Student at Knox College and The Lombard Review at Lombard College. Both of them have been c'onducted with marked ability and have done much to benefit their alma maters. At one time the students of Knox College published a paper called the Coup d' Etat in addition to the Knox Student. The Coup d' Etat was started as the result of a disagreement over the election of nianagers of the Student. Both papers continued for some time when The Knox Student gave up the fight. The Coup d' Etat continued to be published for quite a number of years and finally the name "The Knox Student" was adopted as meaning more to the college.

THE HIGH SCHOOL BUDGET, a weekly edited and printed by the students of the Galesburg High School; devoted to the best interests of the high school and usually replete with "happy hits" at the expense of the lads and lasses attending the high school.

THE ENTERPRISE HERALD - The Abingdon Enterprise was established in i88o by J. C. Cromer and its first issue was in July of that year. He continued its publication for a couple of years when he mysteriously disappeared and has never been heard from. Mrs. Cromer then sold the paper to Reed & Pendarvis, who kept it until 1893, when it was sold to C. A. Murdock, who was its editor something over a year, when it was sold and consolidated with the Herald. During this time its politics were varied, sometimes being republican, again independent, but never particularly vigorous. -.«'

The Herald was established in March, 1892, by E. M. Killough, who continued its publication until 1895, when he formed a partnership with M. A. Cleveland, and they together purchased the Enterprise and consolidated the two, making the

Enterprise Herald. The Herald was democratic in politics, decidedly so on all questions. A year later Mr. Killough purchased the interest of his partner and continued the publication of the Enterprise Herald until his death in December, 1906. At this time his widow. Lulu Killough, took up the management of the paper and continued its editor and publisher with a son. Merle B., in charge of the mechanical department.

Locally the Enterprise Herald has been a home paper, working for Abingdon 'and its institutions, giving of its influence and its means for the up-keep of the same and for the establishment of new ones. It has never identified itself with either local party - people's or citizens' - but has thrown its influence where it felt would be for the betterment of the city in general, often taking a decided and active part in the local campaign. ' -'^

THE PRESS OF KNOXVILLE. Knoxville's first newspaper was the Knoxville Journal, first being issued October 5, 1849, by John S. Winter and David Collins. It was neutral in politics, but was ably edited and a splendid exponent of the best principles of early times. In 1852, Mr. Winter transferred his interest to Mr. Collins, who in 1855 sold the plant to Mr. John Regan. Soon after the politics was changed from neutral to democratic. Mr. Winter then in 1856 began the publication of the Knox County Republican, when tfie Journal was discontinued for want of patronage, and the type and press was moved to Elmwood, where for many years Mr. Regan printed the Messenger. The Republican has not missed an issue since 1856, which will support the claim that it is the oldest newspaper in the county, or, in fact, this part of the state. On April 7, 1858, Zaccheus Beatty and W. T. Robinson succeeded as publishers. After many years Mr. Beatty disposed of his interest to Mr. O. A. Barnhart. On February 24, 1876, the plant and good will of The Republican was purchased by O. L. Campbell, who immediately enlarged the paper from a four-page to an eight and sixteen page paper and for more than thirty-four years this newspaper has labored for the upbuilding of Knoxville and Knox county. At this time the Republican is owned and managed by H. B. Andrews, who is conducting it in harmony with the early history of the oflice.

THE WiLLiAMSFiELD TiMES was started in January, 1889, by C. D. Benfield. In the fall of 1890 the building and the Times plant was destroyed by fire. Mr. Benfield and Earl Benson restocked a new office and continued the publication. In the fall of 1891 Mr. Benson and J. M. Morneny bought out Mr. Benfield. On April 8, 1893, the Times plant was purchased by Mr. Hugh Irish, who came to Williamsfield from McDonough, and by him conducted in an able manner up to this date, a period of over eighteen years. The Times has always been a nonpolitical paper and devoted to the best interests of its home town and people.

THE ONEIDA NEWS was founded by W. K. Maxwell in 1901 who conducted it as an independent paper until about five years ago, when a stock company was organized and incorporated for the publishing of the paper. Mr. Maxwell was editor and manager of the News until January, 1911, when he disposed of his interests in the paper to Frank C. Krans, who for twelve years published the

'- Altona Record. Mr. Maxwell went to Peoria where he took a position on the Herald Transcript as special and editorial writer. The News is republican in politics and always ready to assist in any movement for the betterment and advancement of Oneida.

-'- Mail Publishing Co. The control of the paper was in the hands of George W. and William R. Colville and William Bennett Barnes. Other members of the

-; company were : S. H. Bateman, General Philip S. Post, F. A. Freer and H. L. May. W. O. Lovejoy later succeeded Mr. Bateman. George W. Colville was managing editor and William Bennett Barnes city editor, with William R. Colville as business manager. : r/^ --.--'

- There was no particular political motive in the starting of the Mail. The Republican-Register was the warm supporter of Colonel Clark E. Carr and opposed to him for the congressional nomination in the tenth district was General Philip Sydney Post. The appearance and tone of the new paper brought much

; credit to Messrs. Colville and Barnes and leaders of the Post faction obtained a heavier interest and then the Mail was given the task of counteracting the influence of the Republican -Register and fighting the battles of General Post. The subsequent victory of General Post enhanced the Mail's chances of continued success.

In 1895 Messrs. Colville and Barnes transferred their interests to D. H. and Ben B. Hampton, former proprietors of the Macomb Bystander. Early in their administration the publication was removed from the job office on Main street to more commodious quarters in a new building erected for it at 5052 North Cherry street. In August, 1899, another move was made to the Marquette building on South Cherry street, where it has occupied three floors and from which it proposes to move in the autumn of 1912 still further south on Cherry street to a building especially constructed for its occupancy in the city hall block.

- In January, 1900, Frank H. Sisson and Charles H. May assumed control of the Mail, when a transfer of the majority of the stock was made and the Messrs. Hampton retired. ,:

In 1904 Messrs. May and Sisson sold out their interest in the paper to Andrew O. Lindstrum and a number of local associates. It was conducted by them until 1907. The management of this paper and of the Republican-Register, the other daily paper of the city, were closely allied, and there was a demand, growing as the years went on, for a paper which should be more independent. This demand culminated in the organization in October of 1907 of the Galesburg Publishing Company, whose object was to publish the Galesburg Evening Journal.

Before the new company could get its plant in operation, however, overtures came to it from Messrs. Lindstrum and West (Albert W. West had meanwhile associated himself with Mr. Lindstrum in the publication of the paper) to sell the Mail. The overtures were followed by negotiations, and the negotiations were successful. On December 2, .1907, all the assets of the paper were purchased by the new corporation, and from that time it has been issued under the present management.

lishing the Republican-Register, and to avoid confusion in the delivery of mail, etc., it was changed to Galesburg Mail Company. The circulation and advertising patronage of the paper has steadily grown under the new management, and at the present time the issue is over 7,100 daily.

Plans have been laid for a new building on South Cherry street, opposite the postoffice, and the paper expects to enter its new quarters early in the fall. Robert A. Chandler is general manager of the paper, Walter Whipple is editor, Geo. W. Cowan is the efficient advertising manager, and W. C. Hunter is business and circulation manager.

Of all the Galesburg newspapers the Republican-Register, daily and weekly, is the oldest and it ranks as one of the widest circulated and most influential papers in the state. Its history dates back nearly half a century and the years have seen it grow steadily in circulation and influence.

The Republican-Register is the outcome of the merging of the Republican and the Register. The former was founded in 1866 by Stephen R. Smith, William J. Mourer and H. D. Babcock, and in 1872 was purchased by Col. E. F. Phelps, /. afterward prominent in fraternal circles here. - '

The Register was started in 1870 by Col. Clark E. Carr, and J. M. Prior, and ;.,;.-.: Col. Carr is still living to recall the editorial work that he so well did on his 'f/^; paper. In 1872 S. W. Grubb purchased the Republican. The mer- > ;'. ger of the two papers was accomplished in December, 1872, when : the Galesburg Printing and Publishing Company was organized and incorporated with a capital of fifteen thousand dollars under the laws of Illinois, and the consolidated paper was christened the Republican-Register, by which title it has since been known. -

; The first officers of the company were George V. Deiterich, president; Zaccheus Beatty, editor and vice president, and S. W. Grubb, secretary-treasurer and business manager. With the newspaper plant was also a job office. .^^-.

The company has published both a daily and a weekly during all these years. ^' ---'-'-'' For a long time the paper was issued from the building on the northeast corner .; of the public square. Then the plant was moved to one of the Mathews buildings on East Main street. In 1893 the equipment was moved to a handsome new two-story building at 154-156 Simmons street erected by the company and built specially with reference to the business. Since that date the business has been carried on in this structure and now takes every inch of the entire building. The company is the only newspaper company in the city that owns its own building containing special conveniences for effective work.

Zaccheus Beatty, the efficient editor of the paper for years, passed away in 1896. S. W. Grubb, who from the business angle, made the plant a paying venture, retired about 1900 and was succeeded by his son, James W. Grubb. In 1901 Omer N. Custer, George A. Perry and Fred R. Jelliff acquired the Beatty stock while the stock of Mr. Grubb was transferred to his son. For several years the last-named was the secretary-treasurer of the company, until he disposed of his holdings to Mr. Custer and Mr. Perry in April, 1909. With the purchase of the Beatty stock, Mr. Perry became the business manager of the company and has served since in this capacity with rare fidelity. Before coming to the Republican-Register he was in the circulation department of the Mail from its incipiency and then for several years had an interest in the business of the Colville Brothers, old and established printers of the city.

Mr. Custer started in twenty years or so* ago in the circulation department of the paper and worked his way to the front by persistent application to its interests. Fred R. Jelliflf, who began work with the paper as a reporter in 1882, has been its editor since the death of Mr. Beatty and is the oldest newspaper man in the city still in the harness. Through thirty years he has been continuously with the Republican-Register. Fred A. Dean for several years has been the president of tlie company.

The Republican-Register from a humble beginning has developed into a thoroughly modern newspaper. It has a circulation of over eight thousand, which is a larger circulation than any other paper in its territory possesses. It has the full telegraphic service which comes over a leased wire into its office, and its corps of correspondents covers well all the county and much of the surrounding country. From being set by hand at the case, the paper is now set at five linotype machines, and from being run ofi by an old-fashioned fiatbed press on the square, the paper is now run off by a twenty- four page Potter press. The job office has also been from time to time added to and so is thoroughly equipped.

' f The enabling act of congress for the state of Illinois, April, i8i8, donated the sixteenth section of every township to the inhabitants thereof for school purposes. Under an act of the general assembly of 1831 providing for the sale of these lands, the county commissioners' court appointed A. D. Swartz commissioner and agent for the inhabitants of Knox- county for the sale of the sections of land numbered sixteen. Upon the failure of Mr. Swartz to qualify, William McMurtry was appointed to the position. Prior to this action of the court a subscription school had been conducted at Henderson Grove and slightly later another at Cherry Grove. But the appointment of the commissioner of school lands was the first official act looking toward the establishing of public schools in Knox county. The same law commanded the appointment by the court of township trustees of school lands. On the sixth day of September, 1831, Turner A. Rountree and Jesse D. Gum were so appointed for township 12 north, range i east, Henderson. Other such appointments were soon made and the list of township trustees was complete in. a comparatively short time. The chief duty of the county commissioner was to sell the school lands upon the petition of three-fourths of the voters of the respective townships; that of the trustees was to make a map of the land, dividing it into tracts of not more than eighty acres and to place a value, not less than ?i.25 per acre, on each tract for the guidance of the commissioner in making sales.

The first petition for the sale of land was that of James Mansfield, Stephen Mitchell, Harmon G. Brown and forty-nine others, "white male inhabitants over the age of twenty-one years and legal voters of the township of land known and designated on the plats of the surveys of the lands belonging to United States as township number 12 north, range i east of the fourth principal meridian." This petition was dated January 4, 1834, and the fifty-two signers included all but ten of the voters of Henderson township. The trustees divided the section into twenty- and forty-acre lots and after due advertisement it was sold to six buyers at $1.25 per acre. In the same year ten of the thirteen voters of Maquon township petitioned for the sale of their land. It likewise brought the minimum legal price, $800. The last full section of school land to be disposed of in the county was that of Lynn township in 1852 for $1,576. Forty acres of the Chestnut section remained unsold until, following a revaluation by Trustees D. B. Routh, H. P. Townsend and Samuel Cashman, it was disposed of in 1868 for $506. The trustees of Ontario township, in 1848, valued their section at $720, the law fixing a minimum value having been repealed. During the next two years it was sold for $767.77, the smallest amount received for any school section in the county. The sixteenth section of Galesburg township, three-fourths of it lying within the city limits, was sold (1839-1848) in ten- and twenty-acre lots for the sum of $5,668. The section on which Altona stands was disposed of in 1841 for $2,024.20.

In view of the present great value of these lands, the thought is forced upon one that something like proper foresight and care would have preserved to our common schools sufficient funds well-nigh to maintain them. What the net income from one of these sections would now do for the schools of a township would be something good to see. But it is to be urged that in those days the railroad had not come and no one could have much idea of the wonderful development soon to be. Besides, it was argued that the earliest settlers were in greater need of assistance in maintaining their schools than would be the case with later inhabitants.

Small as was the fund secured to each of the townships from this land, it hastened the establishment of schotols, and the income from it was for a score of years a very considerable part of the public money spent on education. It is interesting to note, too, that this donation had a most important influence in determining the plan of organization of public education in Illinois and Knox county. The fact that the title to the land was vested in the inhabitants of the township accounts for the township school officers, trustees and treasurer. That the county should become the unit of school supervision was likewise determined by the land grant. The county commissioner of school lands had at first nothing to do with schools; but when the interest on school funds became considerable, in 1835, it was made his duty to distribute the money among the teachers. Gradually were added other duties that made him a supervisor of school work.

- f The beginnings of common school education were made in every township of the county during the period from 1830 to 1841. These schools cannot be said to have had their origin in any fostering care of the state. The laws were almost wholly ineffective so far as the creation or development of schools was concerned. A body of school law had been enacted in 1825, but it proved to be many years ahead of the times and was repealed in 1827. During the time Knox county was establishing practically as many schools as she will ever need, the law specifically protected the property holder against taxation for schools unless his consent in writing had been secured. As before stated, from 1835

-.; required to keep a record of daily attendance and received such a proportion of . the fund of the township as the attendance in his school was of the total attendance. This was not a large sum in any case; but it was something, and it served effectively to stimulate and encourage the establishment of schools that without it would have seemed impossible.

But for the larger part the schools of the county came not from the land grant fund nor from any outside stimulus or assistance, but from the desire of the people in the different communities to educate their children. The wonder is that so many of them had schools at all. The financial support was always inadequate; the steadying influence of a wise system of laws was lacking; and conflicting notions of the purpose and the management of schools led some-

. times to great confusion. It was legally mandatory ujx>n the county commissioners' court to establish a school district whenever petitioned to do so by a majority of the legal voters living within the territory of the proposed new district. The law left no discretion to the court and had no reference to the number of families in the district formed or in any other district or districts that might be affected. This easy method of forming districts often caused the division of territory already too small and weak for the support of a school. The first district formed under this law was that at Log City, in 1837; the second v,'as the Edgar or Hague district, now No. io8, southeast of Galesburg, in the same year. Indian Point district, now No. 172, south of Abingdon, was the third. In 1840 there were eighteen districts.

Upon the formation of a district the citizens gathered and determined whether the school should be maintained one-half by taxation and one-half by contribution of the patrons in proportion to the benefits received or wholly by taxation. Such taxing power as the district had was also lodged in this meeting, no one being subject to taxation except upon his written consent. Everything was done within the district. The officers were three trustees, a clerk, an assessor, a collector and a treasurer. The trustees employed the teacher and superintended the school. During the first ten years of schools in the county, teachers were examined by the trustees of the district only. In 1841 the law made the township trustees of schools the board of examiners in townships, incorporated for school purposes. A certificate of qualification was necessary to the drawing of money from the school fund. Each district might maintain as many schools as were desired. Altogether it was democracy carried to the extreme in school aflfairs. The effect was to make schools much more numerous than they should have been, to destroy the possibility of system or continuity in school work, and to give to the schools of the period a general character of meagerness, poverty and instability. The brighter side of the situation was the efficiency and devotion of some teachers and the real earnestness in matters of education shown by part of the people.

Among the teachers of this earliest period were the following : Franklin Barber, 1830 or '31, and Harmon G. Brown, 1833, Henderson township; Robert Bell, 1832, Mr. Seymour, 1835. Cedar township; Judge Dennis Qark, 1836, Indian Point; Thomas Ellison, 1836, and Anderson Barnell, 1838, Orange. About this same time and just later schools were taught by Susan Dempsey in Haw Creek, Henry Shurtleff in Victoria and Abiel Drew in Salem.

As stated previously, William McMurtry, appointed in 1832, was the first county commissioner of school lands. Upon his resignation in 1840 Curtis K. Harvey was appointed, his service continuing at least until 1845. Some of the county records were destroyed and the name of the commissioner does not appear in the books that remain. In one of. the oldest ones was found a slip of paper bearing an official statement to the effect that on November 12, 1849, Samuel S. Seward purchased lot No. ii of the sixteenth section of Truro township. It is signed T. Judson Hale, school commissioner. Mr. Hale's biographer says that he held the office, 1847 to 1849. This is no doubt correct, although he was also circuit clerk of the county during a part of this time ; but whether Mr. Harvey or another served from 1845 to 1847 cannot be learned. In 1845 the office was made elective for a term of two years. At ihat time the commissioner was made e.\- officio county superintendent and was required to visit schools, to advise in all matters pertaining to them and to examine teachers. William H. Whitton succeeded Mr. Hale in the office and served two terms. He was followed by J. H. Noteware for the term 1853-55. The title of the office had changed ; it had become elective and was charged with certain supervisory functions ; but its chief work was still with the financial side of school affairs and the duties of the office during this period of nearly a quarter century were quite fully comprehended in the title, commissioner of school lands.

In 1855 the general assembly, yielding to the pressure of a public opinion created by the efforts of earnest men throughout the state, enacted a law to establish a system of public schools in Illinois. A complete organization was pro- a treasurer. The trustees employed the teacher and superintended the school. During the first ten years of schools in the county, teachers were examined by the trustees of the district only. In 1841 the law made the township trustees of schools the board of examiners in townships, incorporated for school purposes. A certificate of qualification was necessary to the drawing of money from the school fund. Each district might maintain as many schools as were desired. Altogether it was democracy carried to the extreme in school affairs. The effect was to make schools much more numerous than they should have been, to destroy the possibility of system or continuity in school work, and to give to the schools of tlie period a general character of meagerness, poverty and instability. The brighter side of the situation was the efficiency and devotion of some teachers and the real earnestness in matters of education shown by part of the people.

Among the teachers of this earliest period were the following : Franklin Barber. 1830 or '31. and Harmon G. Brown, 1833. Henderson township; Robert Bell, 1832, ^Ir. Seymour, 1835. Cedar township; Judge Dennis Clark, 1836, Indian Point; Thomas Ellison, 1836, and Anderson Barnell, 1838, Orange. Alxjut this same time and just later schools were taught by Susan Dempsey in Haw Creek, Henry Shurtlefif in \'ictoria and Abiel Drew in Salem.

As stated previously, William McMurtry, appointed in 1832, was the first county commissioner of school lands. Upon his resignation in 1840 Curtis K. Harvey was appointed, his service continuing at least until 1845. Some of the county records were destroyed and the name of the commissioner does not appear in the books that remain. In one of the oldest ones was found a slip of paper bearing an official statement to the effect that on November 12, 1849, Samuel S. Seward purchased lot No. ii of the sixteenth section of Truro township. It is signed T. Judson Hale, school commissioner. Mr. Hale's biographer says that he held the office, 1847 to 1849. This is no doubt correct, although he was also circuit clerk of the county during a i)art of this time ; but whether Mr. Harvey or another served from 1845 to 1847 cannot be learned. In 1845 the office was made elective for a term of two years. At that time the commissioner was made c.v officio county superintendent and was required to visit schools, to advise in all matters pertaining to them and to examine teachers. William H. \\ hitton succeeded Mr. Hale in the office and served two terms. He was followed by J. H. Xoteware for the term 1853-55. The title of the office had changed ; it had Ijeconie elective and was charged with certain supervisory functions ; but its chief work was still with the financial side of school affairs and the duties of the office during this period of nearly a quarter century were quite fully comprehended in the title, commissioner of school lands. ,

In 1855 the general assembly. A^ielding to the pressure of a public opinion created by the efforts of earnest men throughout the state, enacted a law to establish a system of public schools in Illinois. A complete organization was pro- vided, from the directors and teacher of the district to a state superintendent of public instruction. Provision was made by this law for the financial support of schools. The power of local taxation was restored in its full effect as it had not been for nearly thirty years. This idea of taxing all property for the purpose' of education was of slow growth. The laws that permitted a limited taxation during the preceding twenty years had produced but little money for the schools either in the county or the state at large. In 1847 the total reported for the state was $8,763; in 1852, under a slightly different law, it was $51,000; in 1858, the third year of the new law, it rose to $563,460 for the state and $12,791.74 for Knox county - ^the sum the people of the county paid in taxes for school purposes being $ioo less than was distributed to them by the state for schools.

Congress had provided that 3 per cent of the proceeds of the sale of public lands in Illinois, one-sixth part excepted, should go to establish a permanent school fund. When in 1836 the general government distributed $28,000,000 surplus revenue among the states, Illinois placed the greater part of her share, which was nearly half a million dollars, in the school fund. Interest on this fund at the rate of 6 per cent has been, from the middle thirties, distributed to the counties in proportion to their minor population. The new law added to this a two-mill tax to be collected on all property in the state and distributed to the counties along with the interest on the permanent fund. Then there was the income from a small county fund, the origin of which need not be here explained, and the townships had each the income from the proceeds of the sale of its school section. Thus the support furnished from outside the people themselves was fairly generous. But the development of the public school idea was shown more truly in the provision for local taxation. It was made the duty of the township trustees to certify to the clerk of the county court such a rate of taxation as would supply any deficiency in keeping "in good condition and operation a sufficient number of free schools for the accommodation of all the children in the said township during the ensuing year." Legislation and the good-will of the people were working together in the interest of schools. ^, Along with this more nearly adequate financial support and more general public interest must come improvement in the methods and work of the schools themselves. Greater emphasis was placed on the supervisory duties of the county school commissioner. Varying requirements of scholarship for teachers had been made since 1845. I* was now the duty of the county commissioner to certify their proficiency in and their ability to teach "orthography, reading in English, penmanship, arithmetic, English grammar, modern geography and the history of United States." He was to visit schools for the purpose of giving counsel and direction and was allowed $2 per day for not to exceed fifty days annually to be spent in such work. ,

First to hold the position under the new law of 1855 was P. H. Sanford. He began the task, decades long, of systematizing and unifying the work of nearly two hundred independent and unrelated schools.

Very early in his service he called the teachers together for the organization of Knox County Teachers' Institute. The meetings of this organization were ' held semi-annually for about twenty-five years, then annually and again semiannually for a time. While the record is not complete, it can be stated without much room for error that, with one exception, there has been at least one :; meeting each year for fifty-six years. These meetings have occurred in the different towns, Knoxville, Galesburg, Abingdon, Oneida, Altona, Wataga, Ma-

- teen years the people of the different communities expressed their interest in . education by gratuitous entertainment of the teachers in their homes. The oldtime custom of "boarding 'round" made every person in the country-side a neighbor to the school. So this extending of individual and community hospitality to the teachers doubtless had a share in creating a place for the schools in the regard of their patrons and supporters. In 1871 the organization voted to pay for entertainment while attending the meetings.

In Knox county, as has generally been the case, among the earliest and strongest friends of the common schools were those connected with higher institutions of learning. Members of the faculties of Knox College, Lombard University, Redding Seminary and Abingdon College were active in both the management and the work of this teachers' association. Here is at least a partial list of those who gave it life and character: P. H. Sanford, J. V. N. Standish, George Churchill, A. J. Thompson, M. L. Comstock, Albert Hurd, J. B. Roberts, H. E. Hitchcock, B. G. Hall, J. H. Knapp, R. B. Guild, J. F. Dickinson. The influence of these men through these semi-annual meetings went directly and most helpfully into the schools in their formative period. So far as can be learned there had been no recognized elements of unity or cohesion in the schools of the county prior to the middle fifties. There was no system, no center. Every district organization was a law unto itself, every teacher likewise. Then came this group of strong men with an organization whose programs and discussions were to stand to the teachers as an expression of their common task. Here was the beginning of united effort, of a system of schools. Theodore Parker addressed the institute at Galesburg, October, 1857. The next March at Abingdon, Horace Mann, America's greatest educator, delivered the address, his subject being "Motives and Duties of Teachers." Since that time many others of distinguished service to education have been honored guests of the association.

Reports of the meetings as recorded by the different secretaries give, directly and indirectly, what seems to be more than mere glimpses of the work of the schools. The placing of the emphasis varied from time to time. The earliest programs were given chiefly to the presentation of the subjects of study in the common schools with a view only to the instruction of the teachers present in the subject matter. While it was probably not possible for teachers in talking to teachers to keep method entirely out of their discussions, it is true that for a dozen years or more material was presented almost entirely from the academic side. English grammar was a favorite topic from the first; mental arithmetic and orthography received due care as did reading and a little later geograjAy was emphasized strongly. Almost from the first, object lessons received much attention. They seem to have been presented rather more from the professional side. The subject of physiology appears on the program in 1857, and drawing received attention in 1862. Thirty-five years later physiology and hygiene came to a place on the program of the common school. At the April meeting, 1865, the following was adopted: Resolved, That we consider it the duty of every teacher to inculcate devotion to our country and fidelity to our government ; and that these principles may have a firm foundation, the Constitution of United States should be studied in our common schools." This was thirty-five years before civics became a subject of study in the ungraded schools and forty years before the statute of the state made it so. Natural history as suitable material for study in the common schools was up for discussion at the April meeting, 1864. Messrs. Knapp and Comstock, of the association, and Messrs. Lyon and John F. Eberhart, of Chicago, took part. As reported by the secretary, the first two speakers favored the introduction of the subject. Professor Eberhart thought not much could be done except in the way of general exercises, object lessons. The problem of elementary science, niature study, has been a difficult one to teachers ever since. The extent to which the language of the various text books should be memorized by the pupils was an oft-recurring subject of discussion. It seems never to have been settled exactly; but for many years the tendency away from any memorizing of texts was probably too strong. .A - At Oneida, in 1871, Rev. James Gorton read a paper on the subject, "Compulsory Attendance of Our Public Schools." It was evidently a strong presentation in favor of such attendance and was followed by a spirited discussion. At the close a vote was taken; those present, and voting, stood forty-five to two in favor of the views expressed in the paper.

The organization of the association provided for a standing committee on text books. In 1862, Robinson's arithmetic and Qark's grammar were recommended; and a year later the committee, consisting of Messrs. Thompson, Standish, Hall, Roberts, Churchill, Knapp and Dickinson, reported books to complete the list. The report was adopted as follows: Resolved, That we recommend for general use in the schools of this county ..:-:-;

The idea of a course of study for ungraded schools made its appearance in 1873, in a paper on "Classification and Course of Study for Ungraded Schools" by County Superintendent Christianer. Miss Leanna Hague read a paper at Abingdon, in November, 1877, '^^ grading country schools. She proposed also that there slunUd he a course of sttidy and certificates of advancement issued to pupils. Four thinjjs necessary to the accomplislinient of this were stated as follows: 1 - I'niforniity of text hooks; 2 - Interest of parents and directors; 3 - Regularity of attendance; 4 - Permanency of teachers. The paper was heartily received and the i)lan approved hy resolution. Later in the same meeting a committee on a course of study for schools was appointed hy the county sujxirintendent.

.'; About 1875, special effort to interest parents and the general public in the scho<.->ls seems to have been made. An annual exhibit of school work at the Knox county fair was undertaken with this end in view. A plan proposed in 1878 by Dr. Leffingwell, of Knoxville, to erect a pavilion on the fair ground for tlie purpose was adopted and the building constructed. (-'-

- The president, upon motion, at the meeting in November, 1880, appointed a ctMiimittee of five consisting of President Newton Bateman, Supt. Matthew Andrews, Miss Leanna Hague, Mr. M. C. Bates, and Mr. F. R. Jelliff, to prepare a paper for distribution in the county explaining the duties of the county superintendent of schools. This seems to have been in response to a question nK>re or less general as to whether the office was necessary and worth the cost.

Ehiring the years of die rebellion, as the records of the association show, the teachers were responsive to the spirit of the times. At the April meeting, 1863. Dr. Standish in the chair, J. H. Knapp, J. B. Roberts, and B. G. Hall, committee on resolutions, reported in part as follows: "Resolved, That it is the duty of all teachers to inculcate patriotic principles and to encourage love of country-, and that every attempt on the part of school boards to repress exhibitions of loyal feeling toward our government, especially in this time of its peril, should meet with the disapprobation of all true hearted educators, also, Tliat we request our County Commissioner not to grant certificates to those known to have disloyal sentiments."

S. E. Field, John F. Dickinson, George Churchill, Miss Emma Dryer, and Miss Mary A. West were the committee on resolutions for the next meeting. Here is part of their report: "4th, That to our country in this hour of strife we swear anew our allegiance, pledging ourselves to assist her, if need be with our lives, praying God to continue to give wisdom to her rulers, courage to her soldiers and victory to her arms. 5th, That, feeling as we do the debt we owe our brothers in the field, we pledge ourselves to sustain them by our sympathies, our labors, and our prayers, assuring them that while our hearts throb at the thought of their sufferings, we rejoice at their victories and glory in their heroism." Similar expressions were given at other times. President Lincoln was commended on different occasions, particularly for the emancipation proclamation : and later Andrew Johnson was condemned as a traitor and Congress was called upon to impeach him. The body was in session in Oneida at the time of Lee's surrender, and the resolutions adopted are beautiful in their expression of the joy of victory, of devotion to country, and of thankfulness to God and the nation's defenders.

The importance of this teachers' organization to the schools of the county will scarcely be over-estimated. For years it furnished almost the only means of professional advancement to the teachers. In its meetings the new ideas were that there should be a course of study and certificates of advancement issued to pupils. Four things necessary to the accomplishment of this were stated as follows: I - Uniformity of text books; 2 - Interest of parents and directors; 3 - Regularity of attendance ; 4 - Permanency of teachers. The paper was heartily received and the plan approved by resolution. Later in the same meeting a committee on a course of study for schools was appointed by the county superintendent.

About 1875, special effort to interest parents and the general public in the schools seems to have been made. An annual exhibit of school work at the Knox county fair was imdertaken with this end in view. A plan proposed in 1878 by Dr. Leffingwell, of Knoxville, to erect a pavilion on the fair ground for the purpose was adopted and the building constructed. :. - , ! , -

The president, upon motion, at the meeting in November, 1880, appointed a committee of five consisting of President Newton Bateman, Supt. Matthew Andrews, ^liss Leanna Hague, ]\Ir. M. C. Bates, and Mr. F. R. Jelliff, to prepare a paper for distribution in the county explaining the duties of the county superintendent of schools. This seems to have been in response to a question more or less general as to whether the office was necessary and worth the cost.