Knox County, Illinois - The whole text, 1912 (part 14 of 56)

The P. E. O. is a national organization which has the distinction of being* the largest woman's secret organization in the world. It had its beginning in the thought and effort of seven girls in Wesleyan University, Mount Pleasant, Iowa, in 1869. For some years its chapters were found only in the middle west, but now its organizations are scattered here and there, from New York and Washington in the east to Los Angeles and San Francisco in the west, and frcmi Vancouver, B. C., to Texas.

The P. E. O. has for its object three lofty ideals and aims toward which it is striving: A high standard of womanhood; loyal friendship among its members ; a helping hand in the education of young women who strive for self-support.

Chapter W of Galesburg was organized in March, 1909. Its membership is restricted to twenty-four active resident members. The regular meetings are held on the second and fourth Thursday of each month from October to May. Some of the subjects taken up by Chapter W will suggest the lines of work in which our local ladies are engaged, viz. : "Hospital Day." On this day the women consider the needs of the Galesburg hospital, they sew for it, contribute delicacies such as jellies, etc., and plan for the maintenance of the room which they have furnished. "Children's Day", including a program given to the children and a donation to the Free Kindergarten. "Mother's Day." A social afternoon with needle work, music and readings. Other lines of study include the following: "What Women Can do to Improve Galesburg;" "The Founding of Galesburg;" "Our College;" "Our Public Schools;" "Our Industries;" "The Passion Play of 1910;" "Illinois, its Early History, Constitution, Public Officers, Statesmen, Educators, Reformers and Philanthropists, Newspaper Men and Women, Authors and Poets, Sculptors, Painters and Musicians."

The Wednesday club is composed of a select circle of ladies devoted to the study of music and the drama. Every alternate Wednesday they meet at the home of one of their number to engage in the study of some musical classic either of the ancient or modem school. Being ladies of a high degree of musical and dramatic talent and culture themselves, they are exceptionally well fitted to enjoy these afternoons with the great composers.

Dramatic art is given a place on their programs, for often their rendition of a musical masterpiece is made more vivid and real by "suiting the action to the word." In this particular they are especially fortunate in having of their number one who is acknowledged to be a most talented and delightful exponent and teacher of this form of expression.

They occasionally invite some one well versed in the subject which they are about to study to come in and give them a lecture, or a lecture-recital, as for example, when Prof. W. F. Bentley of the Knox Conservatory of Music gave them a lecture on "Salome" illustrated by a recital of musical p>assages from that opera ; and when Rev. David Fales addressed them at the beginning of the present year's study on "The Making of an Opera."

"The Music of Shakespeare and His Time." A lecture by Mr. Dyke Williams. ; "Tristan and Isolde," Mrs. J. Grant Beadle. .. , .. .-.,.. .... ....

"Faust" was given before an open meeting of the Galesburg Woman's Club on March i6, 1912. Selections from the text of the opera were read by Mrs. Anna Chappell Gunnell (Mrs. Emory S.) interspersed with arias and con-, certed numbers from the score, given by Mrs. Robert G. Chappell, soprano; Miss Alice May Carley, alto; Prof. W. F. Bentley, bass; Mr. W. B. Carlton, tenor.

The Visiting Nurse association was the latest of the purely philanthropic societies to be organized in Galesburg. It had its beginning in the spring of 1908, and its beneficent work is largely .the result of the untiring efforts of Mrs. W. S. Purington, who originated the plan for such an association for Galesburg, and with the aid of a number of earnest and able women pushed it to an assured success. Mrs. Purington was its first president and continued in that office until her removal to Des Moines, in the spring of 1911. It was organized by women and its offices and management are held by women, a body of eighteen constituting the directorate. It was fortunate for the association and for our city that its first corps of directors was made up of such earnest, efficient women as were those that started the enterprise. Men may become members by paying their dues and by virtue of their membership are entitled to vote for the directors. The association sustains a visiting nurse for the city and is responsible for a nurse for the public schools, although the salary for the school nurse is now met by an appropriation from the city school fund. The salary of the city nurse is raised by contributions from the woman's clubs of the city, and by individual gifts from those citizens and business men whose sympathies go out toward this worthy object. It is a noteworthy fact that a large proportion of the contributions, aside from those of the woman's clubs, come from people of small or moderate means.

The women of this association have been fortunate in securing the services of two very efficient trained nurses and their ministries to the sick, the suffering and the destitute have become indispensable to our city.

The Thursday club is a study club which ^^eets on Thursday afternoon once in two weeks. Its lines of work are the same'as those taken up by other purely literary clubs, although they are considering^ffie advisability of taking up philanthropic work of some kind in addition to their literary pursuits. They have been

Last year they studied Italian literature and art. The present year their attention is given to the study of Greece. They have a membership of eighteen young women, both married and unmarried, and their association together is very congenial.

The Woman's Club of Galesburg is the youngest of the clubs in date of organization, having been started in the spring of 1911. It is modeled after the pattern of the Woman's club in general, having different departments through which the work is carried on. In this club there are three departments, those of civics, the home and literature and art. The members may work in one, or in all of these departments as they choose.

The department devoted to literature and art is under the supervision of Miss Jessie R. Holmes, Mrs. Clara G. Rhodes and Mrs. Louise L. Roberts.

The club has an advisory board which includes the mayor of the city and eleven others of the leading business and professional men of the community.

It is one of the three federated organizations in the city. Its program embraces studies in child conservation, amusements, commission form of government, sanitation, nursing, child culture and historical and literary topics.

Standing committees are maintained on house, social, calendar, auditing, press and election, with a special committee on music, and regularly appointed doorkeeper and ushers.

The membership now numbers 225 and it is constantly growing. Many of its members are also members of the smaller and more exclusive clubs of the city. Many of them also are members of the Galesburg Equal Suffrage association.

The Woman's Auxiliary to the Railway Mail association, though not one of the largest nor oldest, is nevertheless one of the most helpful and successful of the medium-sized, youthful woman's associations in the city.

The object is the promoting of all the interests of the Railway Mail association; also of the comfort, the social enjoyment and literary advancement of the members of the families of railway postal clerks. v ; .:

The Galesburg branch was organized by the Burlington branch, at Mrs. Young's home, Sept. 20, 1906, was federated, Nov. i6, 1906, with the Nat. W. A. R. M. A., which became affiliated with The Federation of Woman's clubs, January, 1908.

A civic interest and pride has^also been shown at various times by their encouragement and wiriingBess to assist worthy projects as hospitals, free kindergarten, visiting nurse, girls' club, mothers' congress, etc.

Under the wise guidance of Mrs. Slader, Mrs. Walker, Mrs. Golliday and the . other faithful officers and active members, the club has more than realized its object - inspired by its motto, "Aiming at the Best."

Mrs. Chas. H. Bums is third division chairman of the National Cub Extension committee - the United States being divided into fourteen divisions.

The Woman's Improvement club was organized in November, 1909, by Miss Daisy Dean Walker of Indianapolis, who was at that time in charge of a protective home for girls of the negro race in her home town. The club is composed of thirty women who are seeking self-improvement and literary culture. It also engages in philanthropic work, while social features enter into the life of the club to some extent. A special line of work is laid out for each year and each member has a part assigned her. Much of the club's success is due to Mrs. L. C. Carter, the first president, who worked hard at the beginning to insure a good start to their undertaking. . .. ,_^v

They joined the State Federation of Negro Women's clubs in July, 1910, and so have for two years been represented at the state federation meetings. Their motto is "Loyalty," and they say "We are striving to lift as we climb."

The Daisy Dean Walker Culture club was also organized in November, 1909, by Miss Daisy Dean Walker of Indianapolis, who a few days before had organized the Woman's Improvement club. This club is especially for the young women and young married women and was started with a charter membership of fourteen, and has had a most successful growth and development. The number of members is restricted to twenty - with five associate members.

The club was formally organized at the home of Mrs. David Garnett, who was chosen as the first president. They first took up the study of the negro writers, both literary and musical. Later the attention of the club was turned toward such books and plays as "The Clansman," "The Leopard's Spots" and . "The Nigger." Each year a systematic course of study has been mapped out which is carefully considered by the young women of the club. The subject for the present year is "Modern Literature." j -

It is a member of the State Federation of Negro Women's clubs. :/ The twenty-three organized associations in Galesburg, above reviewed, are a credit to the city, for separately and collectively they are having an uplifting influence upon the women who are sustaining them, as well as being a very potent factor in creating a higher intellectual and moral standard in the community. ; - ' - ' . v;'

Probably not one of the individual clubs in Galesburg, aside from those of a specifically philanthropic character, is doing better or more really effective work than is that done by the Illini club of Maquon. It deserves honorable mention because of its remarkable record during the she years of its history as an organization.

The mini club of Maquon was organized in November, 1905, and was largely the outgrowth of the thought and effort of five ladies, Mrs. H. Woods, Mrs. C. E. Hartsook, Miss Jennie McKinney, Miss Abbie Dickson and Mrs. Eva Chapin Maple. .;-;.:'''-<;'. '-v' :-?-*- v\' .-

The first intention was to have simply a literary club for study and mental improvement, but gradually the avenues of thought and investigation have led them out into the alluring fields of local and state history, political problems, civic improvement, the history of other countries and the great national problems which engage the thought of statesmen and politicians. Bible study has also entered into their programs through a prescribed course of three years.

As a relief from their heavier work, they have read with interest the historical and semi-historical writings of Gilbert Parker, Emerson Hough, Mary Hartwell Catherwood, Randall Parrish, Winston Churchill and Maurice Thompson. They consider themselves especially fortunate in securing a little work of John Regan, late of Elmwood, on the "Backwoods and Prairies" of Illinois, 1842-47. A list of the topics considered by this club will in itself open to the view the broad fields of education and intellectual culture through which these ladies have strolled, gathering here and there rich stores of pleasure and information.

They were organized just at the beginning of a wider study of our own state history, so the general subject "Illinois" was chosen for their first study, and as Colonel Clark E. Carr's book "The Illini" was new, its title naturally suggested a name for the new club, and accordingly it was christened "The Illini." In the study of Illinois, they considered its settlement, landmarks, traditions, early political policies, etc.

Local history next claimed their attention and as a natural result, the annual "Home Coming" of the village was inaugurated by this club; and further results of this line of study were the issuing of souvenir editions of the local papers containing bits of family and village history; and furthermore, they became affiliated with the county and state historical societies. In their study of local history much time was given to the investigation of Indian traditions, relics and remains, in which that part of the county furnishes an especially rich field for the explorer.

A most interesting paper, and also of great historical value prepared for the Illini club by Miss Jennie McKenney, as a result of her study of this Indian lore, was read before the Knox County Historical society and received much appreciation and favorable comment.

Other topics which have been considered by the club are the following: "Public Policies - Out Banking and Monetary Systems"; "Home Rule for Ireland"; "English Radicalism"; "Socialism as a Governmental Possibility"; "Popular vs. Representative Government" ; "The Hague Tribunal" ; "The Peace Conference." At the request of County Superintendent W. F. Boyes, the "Illini" was honored by an opM, discussion of educational matters with some of the prominent educators of Jme state.

civic improvement in their town and secured a franchise for the development and beautifying of two small parks on their main street, but the surveys for a Galesburg-Peoria interurban railway put a stop to this work until something definite was known.

The latest achievement of the club is the founding of a "Mother's club," for the benefit of teachers and patrons, but the work is so recent that its value as a factor in the community cannot yet be estimated.

The New Century club of Oneida has been in existence about ten years and has a present membership of twenty-two. Soon after its organization it became auxiliary to the State Federation of Woman's clubs.

Its aims and purposes and its programs of study are similar to those of other clubs of its kind. The club flower is the carnation, its colors are pink and green and its motto, "Hold fast to that which is good."

: The Twentieth Century club of Oneida has for its motto, "The aim if reached, or not, makes great the life." Its programs include "discussions of literary, household, historical and other topics."

The Society of Mayflower Descendants, of Galesburg, while not exclusively a woman's organization, is indebted to a woman for its begfinning, and its membership is composed so largely of women, the proportion being more than three-fourths, that it may rightfully claim a mention in this sketch of woman's work in the county. More especially should it be included because of the fact that on its membership list may be found the names of residents of Oneida, Knoxville, Maquon and Abingdon.

To Mrs. Martha Farnham Webster (Mrs. Charles Ashley) is due the credit of the initiative thought and effort which resulted in the establishment of this society as a permanent organization, with a constitution and by-laws, regularly elected officers and stated meetings. But her thought and action found so cordial a response from the sons and daughters of the "Pilgrims" resident in and about Galesburg, that it seemed as if the movement was spontaneous, only awaiting the fitting occasion to spring into action.

The first meeting was called by means of notices in the papers and announcements from the different pulpits on the Sabbath preceding December 21, 1901. All descendants of the Pilgrims of Plymouth were asked to meet at the home of Dr. J. V. N. Standish for the purpose of forming a society of Mayflower descendants. The response to so informal and general an invitation was quite remarkable and very gratifying, and on that evening a society was organized with a charter membership of sixteen. Those present signed their names to a temporary compact, giving their lines of descent from Mayflower ancestry, and plans were made for a meeting to be held one year from that date at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Webster.

Each succeeding year since that time on the 2ist of December, or the nearest date convenient thereto, the society has observed this anniversary of "Forefather's Day" by a celebration, including a dinner at 6:30 and an evening's program following the dinner. These occasions have invariably been most interesting and much of the history of the Plymouth colony has come to light through information gained from the speeches and papers that have been presented. Valuable historical addresses have been given by Dr. Standish, Dr, Louis B. Fisher and Prof, and Mrs. Raymond, of Knox college. Character sketches of the signers of the Mayflower compact have been given by members of the society who are their descendants.

Our national hymn "America" is always sung by the society at the beginning of the evening's festivities, as they are gathered about the tables before being seated for the dinner. Mrs. Hemans' thrilling and soul-inspiring hymn "The Pilgrim Fathers," sung by a chosen soloist, has always had a place on the evening's program ; while the sympathetic strains of "Auld Lang Syne," sung by the entire company as they rise for adjournment, unite their hearts in bonds of friendship and give them happy anticipations of future gatherings.

The charter membership of sixteen has increased to a present membership of forty, while during the ten years the names of upwards of sixty have been enrolled. The annual dinner and reunion, until that of 1910, has been held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ashley Webster. Since then they have been held at one of the down town banquet halls. ^'. -d

The office of president has been held by Dr. J. V. N. Standish since the organization of the society, and that of secretary by Mrs. Webster since the beginning also.

The Rebecca Parke chapter, of Galesburg, was organized in January, 1901. Mrs. Robert W. Colville was its founder and first regent. To her is due the credit of having aroused the sentiment and stimulated the interest of the twentyfour women who in June of the same year became charter members of Chapter 537 of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

"(i) To perpetuate the memory of the spirit of the men and women who achieved American independence, by the acquisition and protection of historical spots, and the' erection of monuments; by the encouragement of historical research in relation to the Revolution and the publication of its results ; by the preservation of documents and relics, and the records of the individual services of Revolutionary soldiers and patriots, and by the promotion of celebrations of all patriotic anniversaries.

"(2) To carry out the injunction of Washington in his farewell address to the American people, 'to promote as an object of primary importance institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge,' thus developing an enlightened public opinion and affording to young and old such advantages as shall develop in them the largest capacity for performing the duties of American citizens.

"(3) To cherish, maintain and extend the institutions of American freedom, to foster true patriotism and love of country and to aid in securing for mankind all the blessings of liberty."

Truly a noble aim, and right loyally have the women of the Rebecca Parke chapter risen to an earnest endeavor for the fulfillment of its spirit and its purpose.

Year by year has witnessed some progress on the part of the Rebecca Parke chapter in one or more of the departments of work undertaken by the national society as outlined in its constitution.

While many of the women of this chapter are of an intensely patriotic spirit and earnest purpose, they have needed the stimulus of a kader of like spirit with themselves, and also the stimulus and incentive of co-operative and harmonious effort. These the chapter has enjoyed to a remarkable degree. The four regents who have served the chapter have each in her own way, and in the use of the best resources at her command, striven to carry out a policy of patriotic service best suited to the demands of her term of office. Those who have held the office of regent are the following: Edith Cole Colville (Mrs. Robert W.), Martha Farnham Webster (Mrs. Charles Ashley), Maria Judd Edgerton (Mrs. John H.), Ella Parke Lawrence (Mrs. Geo. A.) and the present regent, Fannie Sisson Everett (Mrs. Edward R.).

Owing to more favorable conditions and opportunities, the chapter has been permitted to do more systematic and effective work under the wise, tactful and stimulating leadership of Mrs. Geo. A. Lawrence, their beloved regent for six years, and whose leadership they could only consent to relinquish in order that she might rise to a higher service in the acceptance of the proffered honor of the state regency, to which office she was elected in April, 1911.

The practical, individual and united effort of this chapter, especially that of a patriotic and philanthropic character, is clearly shown by the various cohimittees carrying on local, state and national work, upon which our members are represented. We have not space to refer in detail to the work of these various committees, but by giving free range to the imagination as they are named one can readily see what an uplifting and ennobling influence such a work might have upon the daughter who engages in it, and upon those persons and objects for the advancement and betterment of which her sympathies and her energies are enlisted. The very names of the different lines of work within the province of these committees are in themselves a revelation, an -inspiration and an education. They cover the broad field of our country's needs. The influence of the enactment of the plans and purposes therein suggested will enter into the life and activities of the homes, the schools, the cities, the states of our nation with a purifying and transforming power.

The membership of this chapter is represented upon jt> of the national, and seven of the state committees, while in some cases two of our members are appointed upon the same committee. For example, two of our number are members of the national committee of the Children of the Republic. Upon the committee for the welfare of women and children, Mrs. Geo. A. Lawrence, our late regent, is state chairman by national appointment. She is also state chairman by national appointment of the committee on good roads - ocean to ocean highways and vice-chairman of the national Franco-American committee. Six of our ladies are appointed as assistant chairmen of important state committees, and some of this number serve on more than one of these committees.

In brief, three of the members of the Rebecca Parke chapter are actively identified with the work of the national committees, and nine with that of state committees.

. Year by year has witnessed some progress on the part of the Rebecca Parke V chapter in one or more of the departments of work undertaken by the na- - tional society as outlined in its constitution. ' ,.

While many of the women of this chapter are of an intensely patriotic spirit V and earnest purpose, they have needed the stimulus of a leader of like spirit with , - themselves, and also the stimulus and incentive of co-operative and harmonious ; effort. These the chapter has enjoyed to a remarkable degree. The four re- ' . gents who have served the chapter have each in her own way, and in the use of the best resources at her command, striven to carry out a policy of patriotic ; .v service best suited to the demands of her term of office. Those who have held i the office of regent are the following: Edith Cole Colville (]Mrs. Robert W.), . :\ Martha Farnham Webster (Mrs. Charles Ashley), Maria Judd Edgerton (Mrs. ; John H.), Ella Parke Lawrence (Mrs. Geo. A.) and the present regent, Fannie . -^ Sisson Everett (Mrs. Edward R.). ;

Owing to more favorable conditions and opportunities, the chapter has been : . -; permitted to do more systematic and effective work under the wise, tactful and ,- . - stimulating leadership of Mrs. Geo. A. Lawrence, their beloved regent for six v : years, and whose leadership they could only consent to relinquish in order that she might rise to a higher service in the acceptance of the proffered honor of the state regency, to which office she was elected in April, 1911. - . '

The practical, individual and united effort of this chapter, especially that of a . ';. patriotic and philanthropic character, is clearly shown by the various committees carrying on local, state and national work, upon which our members are repre- .; ' sented. We have not space to refer in detail to the work of these various com- . ' mittees, but by giving free range to the imagination as they are named one can '; , readily see what an uplifting and ennobling influence such a work might have - upon the daughter who engages in it, and upon those persons and objects for . ' the advancement and betterment of which her sympathies and her energies are ' . enlisted. The very names of the different lines of work within the province of v . these committees are in themselves a revelation, an inspiration and an education. . They cover the broad field of our country's needs. The influence of the enact- ; - ment of the plans and purposes therein suggested will enter into the life and ' activities of the homes, the schools, the cities, the states of our nation with a .- ' purifying and transforming power.

The membership of this chapter is represented upon si.v of the national, and ' =: sn'en of the state committees, while in some cases two of our members are appointed upon the same committee. For example, two of our number are mem- . ; bers of the national committee of the Children of the Republic. Upon the com- ^ ^ mittee for the welfare of women and children, Mrs. Geo. A. Lawrence, our late regent, is state chairman by national appointment. She is also state chair- .' man by national appointment of the committee on good roads - ocean to ocean highways and vice-chairman of the national Franco-American committee. Six of our ladies are appointed as assistant chairmen of important state committees, . > and some of this number serve on more than one of these committees. ' ':

In brief, three of the members of the Rebecca Parke chapter are actively - ' identified with the work of the national committees, and nine with that of state - committees. . ,

Does not the list of these various lines of work in which our daughters are engaged open to the mental vision an ever outreaching view of rich fields in which to plant the seeds which it is hoped will take deep root and develop into a thoroughly patriotic, loyal and upright citizenship of the future?

The Rebecca Parke chapter has contributed of its money and its personal interest to the purchase and restoration of old Fort Massac, "situated almost within the environment of the old city of Metropolis in southern Illinois, and overlooking many miles of the Ohio river from its rocky heights." History gives the date of the erection of this fort as probably 1542. It was used as a temporary fort by De Soto's men as a protection from the Indians.

As a chapter, and individually, they hold certificates of stock in the purchase of Lincoln's birthplace in Kentucky - the old farm being now set apart for a national park, through the instrumentality of the national society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

It has also, through its members, contributed to the purchase and restoration of the old Betsy Ross house in Philadelphia, the "birthplace of the American flag."

The conservation of Starved Rock as a national park has claimed our loyal interest as Illinois daughters, and the Berry Industrial school in Georgia appeals to us as a demand for our most earnest interest and support, from motives of patriotism if for no other. This is true "patriotic education" one of the principles for which our national society stands.

The chapter is actively interested in locating and marking the graves of revolutionary soldiers in Knox county, and in the verification of records relating to early history in the county. Much, very much, has been accomplished and gratefully do we recognize and accept this opportunity for real service to our country as befits a patriotic organization. But much still remains to be done.

"So long as there remains one hero or one heroine to commemorate; so long as there remains one spot to mark, because it is sacred from labor done by brain or brawn for love of independence; one site on which patriots contended for human rights and human liberty ; while there remains within the limits of our country one man, one woman, or one child who has not heard the good news of the great fact in the gospel of peace and brotherhood - that every one, no matter how humble, stands with the greatest in equality before the tribunal of justice; one still to be impressed by the story of liberty so sublimely illustrated by examples of loyalty, courage and humanity on the part of our ancestors of the Revolution, who laid so firmly the rugged foundation for this great government, cementing it, as it were, with resolves for justice, with love of liberty, with suffering, tears and blood, this priceless heritage it is our privilege and duty to pass on to those who come after us, unchanged in all its glory."

- ;, This completes the review of woman's work in Knox county. It has been a careful and painstaking effort to include all the organizations that have been brought to notice, and all those of which information could be secured by labored investigation. If anything worthy of note has been omitted, it is to be regretted, but it has been from no lack of effort on the part of the writer to secure all possible available information.

It is the record of remarkable intellectual activity and fervid philanthropic and patriotic effort crowned with noteworthy success, an admirable showing in every respect.

It is submitted to the women of our county with the hope that it may awaken a feeling of pardonable pride in view of what has been accomplished in the past, and stimulate them to an ambition to reach still greater heights of achievement in the future.

Knox county, as far as we are able to leam, has always been favored with its full quota of excellent physicians who were ever abreast of the times. Many of the older men live only in the traditions of the county. During the early history of the county, and in fact until the medical registration law of 1877 was passed, there was no record. Many competent physicians lived, did their work in the most approved manner, and "passed on" without leaving a monument except in the memories of those they served and aided. Whenever advances have been made in scientific medicine, the Knox county physicians have been quick to avail themselves of it. Every year some of them go away to take post graduate work, and give the people the benefit of their new knowledge and skill. . . .

There are two well equipped hospitals in the county (The Galesburg Cottage hospital, and St. Mary's hospital) where almost any operation known to surgical science is -performed with skill and dispatch. Many of our physicians and surgeons have a reputation which extends far beyond the confines of the county, and patients come from all directions to receive the benefits of their skill.

The ratio of physicians in the county to the population has always been about one to six hundred. The number, however, is constantly changing. Since the passage of the registration act in 1877, fully two hundred have registered in the county, but many remained only a few months, and others died. Of the forty physicians in the county, twenty-five years ago, there are only ten now in practice. Twenty-two have died and a few who moved away are still living. Doctor L. S. Lambert is the oldest practicing physician in the county. He has been in continuous practice since 1866.

The completion of the schools of medicine has also shown a decided change. "Regulars" have always predominated, but there was about twenty-five per cent of non-regulars twenty-five years ago and most of those were homeopaths, there was a smattering of eclectics. At the present time there are scarcely five per cent non-regulars. As the science of medicine has become more exact, and the germ theory has been develoi>ed (when diagnosis must depend upon the microscope), the ranks of the homeopaths have become thinned. Their places have been taken, however, by other cults, viz., osteopaths, naturopaths, chiropractic and Christian scientists.

In epidemics of disease and wherever the service of a physician was needed, the Knox county physician has not been found wanting. He has ever been at the front to bear his share of the burden for humanity's sake. During the Rebellion several of the Knox county men served as surgeons and notable among them was W. F. Tait, who recently passed to his reward, and E. S. Cooper. Many who are now physicians, but were not during the war, served their country in the ranks in time of need. Among them were D. W. Aldrich, L. S. Lambert, G. W. Foote, M. S. Carr, E. L. Phillips and R. B. Snead. All of these have been prominent in the ranks of the G. A. R.

In the late war with Spain, Doctor Jesse Rowe, of Abingdon, was the only Knox county physician who went to the front. He had a commission in the First Illinois cavalry and served from May 21, 1898, until the end of the war.

Doctor W. H. Maley is at present a member of the medical reserve corps in the United States army with the rank of first lieutenant. From 1900 to 1908, he was first lieutenant and assistant surgeon in the artillery battalion of the Illinois National Guards.

The Knox county physicians, as is common with the profession, have not dabbled much in politics, except in a general way. Three physicians have held the office of mayor of Galesburg, and Doctor Louis Becker is now mayor of Knoxville. D. W. Aldrich was elected mayor of Galesburg, in 1887, G. W. Foote, in 1885, and W. O'R. Bradley, in 1901. Several have served the city in the capacity of alderman. H. S. Hurd, 18601863 ; W. H. Maley and C. G. Johnson, several terms each. . :.-

' Doctor W. F. Tait was appointed chief surgeon to the Soldiers' Home at Quincy, which position he held until he was forced by failing health to resign.

In club life the physicians have been more active. Four have been exalted rulers of the Elks lodge, viz., L. G. Hall, R. C. Matheny, W. O'R. Bradley and C, B. Horrell. Doctor Bradley also had the honor to serve as president of the Retail Merchants' association and was its president when Galesburg held its first and most successful street fair.

In medical society work the Knox county physicians have forged more to the front than in war or politics, and that is as it should be. It is their natural sphere. Until 1893 there was no medical organization in Knox county. On several occasions feeble efforts had been made to get the physicians together for the purpose of organization, but every effort met with failure until 1893. In the spring of 1893 Doctors Ryan and Bradley sent out notices for a preliminary meeting for the purpose of organizing a Galesburg medical society. There was a hearty response, and the first meeting was held in the offices of Aldrich, Bradley and Ryan, 24 South Cherry street, and an organization perfected. The society was called the "Galesburg Medical society." In this society there were two departures from the regular routine of organizations of this kind. In order to avoid friction and jealousy there were no officers except the secretary and treasurer. The members presided in alphabetical order. The constitution and by-laws also allowed the society to take into membership "non-regulars," viz., eclectics and homeopaths. This was contrary to the constitution of the American Medical association and the code of ethics and naturally created a howl of indignation from the ultra regulars or "moss backs" and "holier than thou" individuals. Strange as it may seem, it was but a few years until this very provision was embodied in the new constitution of the American Medical association and all its affiliated societies, state and county. We, the organizers, were simply ahead of the times. Be that as it may, the ultra regulars organized a new society called the "Galesburg club" the following year, to which "non-conformists" were not eligible. The "Galesburg club" lasted about a year. The society first formed dragged out a miserable existence for five years, and then passed into a state of "innocuous desuetude" for five years more, when it was reorganized and is now in a flourishing condition. Doctor L. R. Ryan was the secretary of the first Galesburg medical society.

In order to affiliate with the state society and the American Medical association, a Knox county medical society was organized in 1902. Doctor Louis Becker of Knoxville was its first president. Since then the office of president has been filled by Doctors Matheny, Stewart, Ryan, Brown, Chalmers, Lytle, Cowan, Davis, Evans and Beecher. In order to avoid friction between the city and country practitioners, the presiding officer is chosen alternately from the Galesburg and smaller town districts. Enthusiastic meetings are held twice a year, April and September. The day is devoted to scientific papers and business and the evening to a banquet, where the inner man is satisfied and jest and jollity are unconfined. . /; . .r -

Strife and petty jealousy, which is so common among professional men in small communities, is fast becoming a thing of the past, and all the physicians work together for the good of the profession and suffering humanity. The county societies are not allowed to have fee bills or to attempt to regulate charges. The Galesburg City society, however, has a fee bill, which is used simply as a guide. Each physician makes his charges as the exigencies of the case seem to demand.

For forty years the Military Tract Medical association, which comprised all the territory from Mendota to Quincy and from Peoria to the Mississippi river, took the place of the County society. All the progressive physicians in Knox county were members of that most excellent organization. Many of its meetings were held in Galesburg, and a great many of the Knox county men had the honor of being its president. Among them may be mentioned Doctors Judd, Hensley, Reece, Lambert, Hopper, Percy, Ryan, Becker, Horrell and Matheny.

Doctor Percy has had the distinguished honor of an election as president of the State Medical society and has been one of its counsellors for many years.

Many of the Knox county physicians are members of special societies, and their names appear frequently in the scientific programs. v - V Thirty years ago few of the physicians were graduates of literary colleges. A two years' course, in an old doctor, was deemed sufficient to start him in practice. Now there are few young physicians in the county who are not graduates of some literary college or university.

Doctor R. A. Saunders was the first physician to register under the new regis- ' tration law of 1877. The date of his registration was Sept. I2th, 1877. -

-; The Knox county physicians have always been a unit in insisting on quarantine regulations and on devising ways and means for the prevention of disease in our community. Repeatedly they have called the attention of the people to the filthy and unsanitary condition of Cedar Fork creek, Galesburg, into which all the sewerage of the city flows, and have pointed it out as a disease breeding medium. Soon after the organization of the first Galesburg medical society in 1894 a resolution was drawn up and presented to the city council, urging upon them the necessity of inclosing Cedar Fork creek, having a garbage crematory and a suitable sewerage system for the city. (It is a notorious fact that certain sections of the city are yearly subject to epidemics of typhoid fever due to deficient drainage.) Like all good resolutions for the betterment of the health of the people, that memorial was listened to in silence by the good city fathers and pigeonholed and died the death of all "good resolutions." The Cedar Fork still sends forth its noisome odors, an ever present menace to the good health of the community and also is an everliving monument to the lack of judgment and foresight of our counsellors. Thousands to fight disease, but not one cent to prevent it!

Twenty years ago many of the foreign countries, recognizing the wisdom and necessity of conserving the health of their citizens and insisting on means of prevention of disease, were compelling the examination of the children as to their physical condition before they entered school, so that prevalent disease or deformities might be eradicated and others prevented. In 1892 Doctor L. R.

Ryan, on his return from Germany, where he had been studying, gave lectures before the teachers of the city of Galesburg on the necessity of having the children examined, especially as to the condition of their sight and hearing, as those were the organs brought most into use in the school room. On many occasions after that physicians have lectured before the teachers at the County Institute and much good has come of it.

In 1904, under the administration of Doctor Ben B. Baird, commissioner of health, a more elaborate plan of examination of the school children's eyes was instituted. Doctor R. C. Matheny and Doctor L. R. Ryan made personal examination of the vision of several thousand children. As neither the county or city make any financial provision for such work, the service of the physicians was gratuitous.

Within the past three years, however, the school nurse system has been instituted and the work of examination is taken over by her, to the great advantage of the pupil and the teacher.

Recently, under the auspices of the Y. M. C. A., courses of lectures on health and hygiene have been instituted and the Knox county physicians have given the lectures on subjects assigned them.

On numerous occasions the physicians have filled the pulpits on tuberculosis Sunday, admonishing the people as to the wide prevalence of that dread disease and the great necessity of its prevention. These lectures have been of inestimable value in awakening interest among the people, as is evidenced by the complete organization the county now has to fight the disease. The propaganda organized by the Knox county physicians in the spring of 1911, for the education of all the people of the county as to the dangers of tuberculosis and of the necessity of having a county sanatorium for the treatment is one of the most unselfish on record. In 1908, the Knox County Medical society appointed a committee consisting of Dr. C. B. Ripley, chairman, and Doctors Bradley and Cromwell to confer with a committee from the county supervisors to see if the county would not erect or provide a suitable sanatorium for the treatment of consumption. Several meetings were held, but very little was done. Finally it was discovered that a small farm could be purchased near Knoxville, which would be suitable for a tent colony at least. This was purchased, but it soon became evident that some of the supervisors had "inside information," and as individuals used their knowledge as supervisors to their own profit. It was finally threshed out in court and the whole episode ruined all prospects of a sanatorium, and for the time put a quietus on the effort to secure one. The matter was held in abeyance for a year or two. Finally in the spring of 1911, the Galesburg City Medical society called a special meeting with the same end in view. The following committee was appointed: Dr. Cox, chairman; Doctors ' Bradley, Hall, Longbrake and Ryan. This committee was augmented by three ^; from the county society, Birmingham, Bohan and Becker. Under the active guidance of Doctor Cox, chairman of the committee, a strenuous campaign was begun at once. At the beginning of the campaign the physicians were urged by the supervisors to go out among the people and finally bring evidence to the ' supervisors that there was need of such an institution and that the people really wanted it. In all good faith the physicians and those interested did so, and .brought the evidence and presented it. The best plan seemed to be that of securing the hearty co-operation of the business men, make an educational assault on all the towns of the county, and finally to get an expression of opinion from each locality as to the advisability of having a county sanatorium. Money to defray the expenses of the canvass was subscribed by the merchants and other individuals. Physicians who had automobiles loaned them for the work. The organization was complete and active work was begim in August. The county was divided into districts and a complete schedule of lectures was made, so that two physicians usually and one lay party would appear at each town at the time specified. The physicians were untiring in their efforts, spurred on by their enthusiastic and able chairman. Doctor Cox, who gave almost all his time during the crusade to its furtherance. Twent}- towns and districts were visited by twenty physicians and several citizens, attorneys and merchants divided up into groups of three. The physicians discussed the scientific side and the necessity for strict quarantine and right living, also urging the establishment of a county institution as the best plan of treatment. The social and business aspect was presented by the non-physicians. At each meeting place the people in attendance were asked to vote upon the following resolution :

Resolved: - That the supervisors of Knox County be urged to immediately arrange for the procuring or erection of a suitable sanatorium for the isolation and cure of tubercular patients.

Thus tangible evidence of the desire of the people could be presented to the board of supervisors. Everywhere they were received with enthusiasm and the questions asked by the people showed a deep interest in the matter. As a climax to the crusade, a large meeting was held in Galesburg in the temporary wigwam of the Christian church, and Doctor Petit, who has charge of the tubercular sanatorium, gave an entertaining address.

The special committee of the supervisors to consider the matter was made up of Hoxworth, chairman, and Robson, Barry, Paden and Greigg. This committee agreed to meet the committee from the medical society and others interested and hear arguments. A resume of the whole subject was written up by Doctor Ryan on behalf of the committee and presented in pamphlet form after being read. Many of the physicians of the county, besides those on the committee, also spoke in favor of the plan. Nearly a whole day was given up to this discussion. The arguments were so overwhelming, and there was such a unanimity of opinion among the newspapers and people of standing, that it seemed as if the supervisors could not refuse. It is known that several of the committee were in favor of it, but were overawed by stronger influence. The ccxnmittee of the physicians were forced to spend half their time answering irrelevant questions, or brushing away imaginary cobwebs, and suppositions, which were pertinent only to the mind of the opposition. Nothing was done except to appoint a subcommittee to visit Ottawa and Naperville and investigate the institutions at those points, and a non-committal report was given to the board of supervisors and placed on file without a word of discussion by the board, notwithstanding the fact that the day the report was brought in, the secretary of the State Anti- V tubercular society was present and spoke before the board, in hopes that something might be done. Members of the committee of the medical societies also added their mite. They may as well have saved their energy for they were : talking to deaf ears.

,,'' Thus ended the first chapter of the great crusade to awaken the people to - - the existence of a great evil and to effect a means of its eradication.

- sees the necessity for such a sanatorium. A county organization which affiliates ;. ; with the State Anti-tubercular league has been organized, and the people are daily being educated. Public sentiment will soon force Knox county to take '. : her place in the progressive league, and establish a place where those sorely ; afflicted tubercular patients can be properly cared for. "Thousands for graft, . but not a dollar for real necessity."

Early recognizing the fact that disease is conveyed to humans through the -^ ' medium of the milk of cows and that a large per cent of the intestinal diseases .;. of childhood and subsequent deaths were due to this source, the Knox county i' physicians through the Galesburg Medical and Knox County Medical societies organized the Knox County Milk commission. The commission was composed of the following physicians : Baird, chairman ; Evans, secretary ; Longbrake, Nash, : Beecher and Cromwell. The commission was organized for the purpose of educating the people at large to the dangers lurking in unclean milk and to induce the dairy men to increase the sanitary conditions and to eliminate all diseased ; . and particularly tuberculous cattle. An effort was to be made to compel the . delivery of sterilized milk having its full fat percentage. The committee went . to work with a will, but soon found that when the individual's pocketbook was *

''V touched he rebelled. The whole story is graphically told by the chairman of the ' - commission, who read a paper before the American Association of Medical Milk , . commissioners at St. Louis, Missouri, June 6th, 1910, which I here quote in -/ full, and fully states the work done by Knox county physicians: ..

missions, considered the honor of appointment to membership of this commission, due and sufficient reason for proceeding to get busy with the milk question, and everlastingly keeping at it without thought of remuneration or wherewithal to meet expenses. The public was indifferent to the degree of absolutely refusing even to get interested in us, and the city council seemed to think we were grafters when we asked for a milk ordinance that would give us some authority to inspect milk. So that fell through, and we were right where we started, only we knew a few things which we didn't know to start out with. We then thought the milk dealers were easy and would like to be educated along the lines of certified milk, so we called them together and talked to them, talked to them earnestly, like fathers. They listened intently and seemed delighted with our theory. They thought our talks were beautiful and our unselfish stand for humanity entitled us to a bronze medal, and then they woke up and said : "How are we going to pay for all this when we're making only a liz-ing now? Your theory is beautiful, your intentions are ennobling, your certified milk is just the thing', but we are only poor milk dealers and have to buy milk wherever we can get it so that we can sell it for enough profit to keep our families in shoes and our groceryman satisfied. We can't build sanitary barns and put screens on them, we can't have our herds tested and we can't make the farmers do it because they have milked cows too long now in the good old filthy, disease-producing way."

We found that Galesburg was using about ten thousand quarts of milk daily and two thousand five hundred quarts of cream. About 15 per cent was produced by two or three dairymen, the balance was shipped in or furnished by private families. We approached the dairymen in a very cautious and respectful manner and suggested that certain improvements would allow them to furnish a better milk supply. Their reply was that "to make these necessary improvements would mean a raise in the price of milk and our customers wouldn't stand for it, and besides our barn lots are so flat the cows wade knee-deep in mud, after each rain," which is literally true, as Galesburg is right on the prairies, "so we couldn't furnish certified milk if we got twice as much for it as we now get" (the average price is about seven cents per quart). So we were up against it again. All this had taken us better than a year, and what we had accomplished in the way of certified milk wouldn't hurt anybody. But we were the Medical Milk commission and our duty was to see that Galesburg got a better quality of milk and we had to do it some way and without money. Moral suasion had failed, our milk ordinance was knocked out, the milk producers wouldn't listen, the milk dealers couldn't and it looked as if we were going to be failures as milk commissioners. . -

At the critical moment when we were in deep despair a Moses arose as of old and told us how our superintendent of public schools had a way of getting things and suggested that we have him equip the chemical department of the high school with milk testing apparatus and have the professor of chemistry adopt milk analysis as a part of the regular curriculum and teach the pupils how to analyze milk and teach them what pure milk was and what impure milk meant, to instruct them that it was a most valuable part of their daily life to see that the family didn't buy filthy milk and by repeatedly examining the milk from their own houses and keeping records of the same it would soon be easy to tell which

; . / of the dealers were handling the best milk and soon the whole school would ; - be talking and comparing notes and the milk man who wasn't clean would have

^ .;- high school. Of course this does not include the bacterial count, but we test -.? for fats, solids, preservatives and specific gravity and use the Wisconsin curd ' ;; test for purity, so it is after all a very good analysis. A record of every analysis

- is kept by the professor of chemistry and the pupils themselves make the tests . .: under the supervision of their professor, and very soon they become quite pro- ---'- '-' ficient and after a while they positively refuse to use milk that doesn't come up . ;' to the standard. The high school has nearly eight hundred pupils, representing

. .. ; Recently in a talk with the superintendent of schools and the professor of ; V . chemistry they told me that milk examination was specially dwelt upon all through the four years' course and they considered it relatively of as great importance as any other branch that was taught because it brought the question of ; : V: pure milk daily into homes that previously had known nothing of it and the de- \. mand for better milk was so great that the milk to-day is 50 per cent better than , ; when it was inaugurated. Superintendent of Schools Steel says: "It emphasizes ; .. in a way as nothing else could, the value of pure milk and bring it directly /. i home to the consumers."

:. Illinois Standards. - Milk shall contain not less than 3% of milk fat, and not .less than 8.5% of solids not fat. - ;: ' U. S. Standards. - Standard milk is milk containing not less than 12% of total

' - In his recently published book entitled "Foods and Their Adulteration," ; Dr. Wiley, chief of the Bureau of Chemistry, U. S. Department of Agriculture,

Doctor Chalmers has been a frequent contributor to our newspapers on all subjects of interest to the people and the profession, as he takes a deep interest both in medical and civic life. - : :"

For twenty years Knox county has had the services of two excellent woman physicians. Doctors Rice and Law. There have been others in the county, but they have not remained long. ..- - .

For many years Knox county was one of the few that had a capable eye specialist. Doctor L. S. Lambert was one of the pioneers in that line of work in this county. At the present time there are four, Lambert, Ryan, Parry and Matheny. "';-'/--:,:', ^. ::/-.- />';:-.-;:-.';..-?..;-.;'-'.

The history of the public schools of Galesburg is divided into three periods: The district schools, the union graded schools and the schools under the present charter. Of the first period, that of district schools, no official records can be found. The first district was organized, probably, in 1840, when the village of Galesburg numbered 272 souls. As the population increased, it was subdivided, from time to time, until there were eight independent school districts, each having its own board of directors and a little schoolhouse of one department, when, in 1858, they were all united into one district, comprising the territory within the present limits of Galesburg and known as the Union Graded School District No. i. During the nineteen years, which this period covers, the population of the city had grown to nearly 5,000. A population of 5,000 with only eight school rooms, where three times that number would be required today, calls for an explanation, which will be given farther on.

The First Schoolhouse

The first public school building, according to tradition, for there are no records preserved and no account of it was committed to print for more than a quarter of a century after the event, was built on the north side of the square, east of Broad street, in 1840. It was soon afterwards moved to the north side ' of Ferris street, between Broad and Cherry streets. It was constructed in - accordance with the ideas of Mr. C. S. Colton, one of the directors, and the - very novelty of the plan has preserved it from the common oblivion of the school '; architecture of that perioil. The floor was an inclined plane sloping from the rear to the front where the teacher's desk was placed, the object being to have the pupils in full view of the teacher. The pupils who attended that school all remember what a capital place the aisles were to slide down hill, and on this account it has not been forgotten. Mr. Colton, it is said, afterwards regretted that all the schoolhouses were not built on this plan. It would seat sixty pupils.

Mr. Eli Farnhani taught the first school in this building in the winter of 1840-41. The school was in session from four to six months each year; the teacher was generally a college student who was in need of money to complete his education. Prof. George Churchill, when a boy, went to this school in the winter of 1840-41 and taught it in the winter of 1848-49, when he was a sophomore in college. He received a dollar a day and boarded around, sleeping at home. One of his pupils was Miss Mary Allen West.

'- The names and the locations of the different school buildings at the time the districts were consolidated in 1858, were as follows: Ferris Street school, on the north side of Ferris street, west of Cherry street; East Main Street school, sometimes called the Brick school, on the southwest corner of Main and Pine streets; West Main Street school, sometimes known as the Parker school, on the south side of Main street, just east of Walnut avenue; Simmons Street school, known for a time as the Blanchard school, on the north side of Simmons street, east of Academy ; Tompkins Street school, where the First Baptist church now stands ; Monmouth Street school, at the junction of Monmouth and Brooks streets ; Chambers Street school, known as the Depot school on First street, just west of Chambers street ; Kellogg Street school, on the southwest comer of Kellogg and Losey streets.

Comparing the dates of the purchase of the different school sites, with the years when it is certainly known schools were conducted on these premises, it is evident that the first schoolhouses were "squatters" - too poor to own the land on which they stood. The buildings themselves gave evidence of their poverty. The Galesburg Free Democrat, in its issue of November 13, 1856, says, editorially, "Our present school pens should be sold for coal houses." These conditions can easily be accounted for. The people of Illinois did not believe in common schools at that date; there was no free school law in Illinois till 1855, nineteen years after the settlement of the Galesburg colony. It is true, a free school law was enacted by the legislature in 1825.

School Law Of

This law provided that common schools should be established free and open to ever>- class of white citizens between the ages of five and twenty-one years. The legal voters were empowered at the annual meeting to levy a tax of one- architecture of that period. The floor was an inclined plane sloping from the rear to the front where the teacher's desk was placed, the object being to have the pupils in full view of the teacher. The pupils who attended that school all remember what a capital place the aisles were to slide down hill, and on this account it has not been forgotten. Mr. Colton. it is said, afterwards regretted that all the schoolhouses were not built on this plan. It would seat sixty pupils.

Mr. Eli Farnham taught the first school in this building in the winter of 1840-41. The school was in session from four to six months each jear; the teacher was generally a college student who was in need of money to complete his education. Prof. George Churchill, when a boy, went to this school in the winter of 1840-41 and taught it in the winter of 1848-49. when he was a sophomore in college. He received a dollar a day and boarded around, sleeping at home. One of his pupils was Miss Mary Allen West.

Location Of Schoolhouses

The names and the locations of the different school buildings at the time the districts were consolidated in 1858, were as follows : Ferris Street school, on the north side of Ferris street, west of Cherry street; East Main Street school, sometimes called the Brick school, on the southwest corner of Main and Pine streets ; West Main Street school, sometimes known as the Parker school, on the south side of Main street, just east of Walnut avenue; Simmons Street school, known for a time as the Blanchard school, on the north side of Simmons street, east of Academy ; Tompkins Street school, where the First Baptist church now stands ; Monmouth Street school, at the junction of Monmouth and Brooks streets ; Chambers Street school, known as the Depot school on First street, just west of Chambers street; Kellogg Street school, on the southwest corner of Kellogg and Losey streets. ; - ,

Poverty Of The Districts

Comparing the dates of the purchase of the different school sites, with the years when it is certainly known schools were conducted on these premises, it is evident that the first schoolhouses were "squatters" - too poor to own the land on which they stood. The buildings themselves gave evidence of their poverty. The Galesburg Free Democrat, in its issue of November 13, 1856, says, editorially. "Our present school pens should be sold for coal houses." These conditions can easily be accounted for. The people of Illinois did not believe in common schools at that date ; there was no free school law in Illinois till 1855, nineteen years after the settlement of the Galesburg colony. It is true, a free school law was enacted by the legislature in 1825.

This law provided that common schools should be established free and open to ever\' class of white citizens between the ages of five and twenty-one years. The legal voters were empowered at the annual meeting to levy a tax of one- half of one per cent, subject to a maximum limitation of $io to any one person. An appropriation was made by the state of $2 out of every $ioo received into the treasury. This, together with the interest on the state common school fund, which consisted of three per cent of the net proceeds of the sales of public lands, two townships donated for founding and maintaining a seminary of learning, and the surplus revenue of the United States distributed by act of Congress in 1837, made possible quite a complete system of public schools. To this must be added, of course, the income from the i6th section of .every township the most munificent donation ever made to public education by a government. This came from Congress in compliance with the ordinance of 1787, which enjoined that "schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged." But the law was so amended in 1827, as virtually to nullify it by providing that no person should be taxed for the maintenance of any school unless his consent was first obtained in writing, and the continuance of the state appropriation of $2 out of every $ioo received into the treasury, being its very life, was denied. In 1845, even the interest on the state fund was suspended, owing to the embarrassed condition of the finances - this state, like many others, having stopped paying interest on her public debt. From this date, 1827, to 1855, there were repeated amendments and revisions of the school law by the legislature, but they had no effect upon the schools, for they all wanted tlie vital principle of the taxing power. As late as 1852, the total local tax for school purposes in the whole state of Illinois amounted to only fifty-one thousand dollars. The school law remained a dead letter for twenty-eight years ; and it was during this period that the Galesburg colony was founded and grew to have a population of three thousand. Under these conditions it is no wonder that the schoolhouses of Galesburg were but little better than coal houses and that only three of them owned the land on which they stood. .-. .

The income from the sixteenth section was, practically, all the support upon which the schools could depend till 1855, or rather 1856, when the tax provided by the law of 1855 became available. Thus the sixteenth section was a matter of great importance at that time. Where it was, what disposition was made of it, and how much was realized from it, forms part of the school history of those days; and it is certainly a matter of interest to us to-day, as we receive annually the income from that portion of this fund which we got when it was divided between Galesburg and the remainder of the township.

In an article, "A Brief History of Knox College," prepared by the Rev. Geo. W. Gale in 1845, "for the double purpose of public information and a document of reference," he says: "The school section (640 acres) given by the government for primary schools, fell near the town, and has yielded a permanent fund of $7,000, the interest of which with the annual state appropriations nearly furnishes gratuitous instruction to every child in the township. Some of two hundred children now profit by this fund." This was written nine years after the founding of the colony. The greater part of the school section lies within the city limits. Main street, west from Henderson street to Linwood cemetery, is its north boundary; and Henderson street, south from Main street to Fifth street, is its east boundary. . ;'.

record of the amount that came to the city. Whatever that amount was the board of education has to-day $5,133.55, which is this fund plus $221.20, Gales- T'.-

The records of those days show that school funds were loaned at lo per cent. Thus the net income from the township fund would be about $550 annually. This was practically the amount of available funds for school purposes from 1839 to 1855. The population of the township in 1840, including the village of Galesburg, was 516, and in 1855 the population of the village alone was 2,916. During these fifteen years the public schools of the village and township of Galesburg, with a population never less than 500 and reaching 4,000. had for their support but little more than $500 a year - not enough to provide for more than two schools where there should have been from three to twenty. That the public school accommodations were entirely inadequate and miserably poor in Galesburg - '; .; prior to 1855 is no reflection on the intelligence or public spirit of the good people .. % '. ' of that time. After this date, however, when the present free school law was enacted, one would naturally expect to find in this community good schools with . r; >; . sufficient accommodations. . : ' .'i.r

In the issue of Jan. ist, 1857, of the Galesburg Free Democrat, is an article signed by "E. S. W." (E. S. Wilcox, professor of modern languages in Knox ^ college) in which he advocates forming union graded schools and pronounces the - present schools inefficient, worse than useless - a shame to the community. In the issue of April 13, 1859, is an article signed "Tax-Payer" in which he says: "I believe I may safely assert that there is not another town in the state of Illinois, having as large a population as Galesburg, that has done so little, directly, for the improvement of its common schools." In an editorial of Sept. 3, 1859, appears the following: "The fair name of the 'College City' is being tarnished by our shameful negligence of the interests of our common schools. While we rejoice in the higher educational facilities afforded by our colleges and seminaries, let us no longer disgrace ourselves by neglecting the masses in our midst, whose right training is more intimately connected with our future prosperity than that of any other class." In an article on union graded schools by Professor Churchill, Nov. 20, 1856. is this sentence : "A schoolhouse could be built which instead of being a burning disgrace to us would be our brightest glory." He must then have had a vision of that schoolhouse which was built ten years later and which to-day bears his name. ,. ,. . ;; . ; .. :, . .

In the Editor's Table of the Illinois Teacher, Feb. 27, 1857, 's an article on Galesburg by John F. Eberhart, one of the distinguished educational pioneers of Illinois, a promoter of the union graded school system, in which may be found the following: "Galesburg is a pleasant city, and has already acquired a merited fame for literary enterprise. Lombard university, Knox male and female colleges - all school buildings nearly completed - are institutions of a high grade and throw a halo of light about the place. The citizens are generally intelligent and kind and probably think less of money and more of mind than is customary for a western city. However, amid all their aspirations for the formation of an intelligent community and the full development of true manhood and woman- . hood, one very important feature has, until lately, been overlooked. Their ambition has soared above the common schools. The dilapidated condition of the public schools bears a woeful testimony of their neglect. The buildings are poor, , the teachers receive poor wages and the result is that they have poor schools." ;;

Simeon Wright, another of our distinguished educational pioneers, as state agent of the Illinois Teacher, wrote up Galesburg for the July (1858) issue as follows: "I am on classic ground. The very atmosphere breathes incense to the goddess of letters and science. The severe elegance of Knox college and fair proportions of Lombard university are the material embodiment of the spirit of the place. Here are the higher institutions of learning just emerging from infancy in all the vigor of a young giantess, and here, also, are eight overshadowed public schools, and until recently there were as many districts." After referring, in complimentary terms, to Professors Churchill, Standish and Wilcox as educators who most fully recognized the dependence of the college on the common school, he makes this plea for the eight overshadowed public schools : "Would the college raise the standard of scholarship? Raise the standard of elementary education. Would she gain more students? Elevate the common school. Would she extend her influence? Extend sympathy and aid to the common schools. The more good public schools there are the more minds will feel the kindling fire and gaze longingly toward the higher hills of science. The college must grow with the growth of popular knowledge. Eranklin once said: "Take care of the dimes : the dollars will take care of themselves." Take care v of the common schools and the colleges will take care of themselves. \

That it was thought necessary to make such a plea as this to college men and to a college community seems strange; for one would naturally think that the common school was the child of the college, but history tells a different story. - -The two institutions had different origins, with little in common. Gov. Berkeley, who thanked God that there were no free schools in Virginia and hoped that there would be none for a hundred years to come, contributed to the founding of a college, William and Mary's, and that without any feeling of inconsistency. Happily, with the world's broader vision, all this is changed now, and colleges - and universities are the friends of the public schools. ; r

There were several causes operating to produce this hostility to public schools. In the first place, as Professor Churchill says, "Every man. woman and child came here to build up Knox college. They were more interested in this even than in founding the city. Whenever a child had learned to read, write and spell and was ready to study arithmetic and grammar he was entered in the preparatory department of the college. As a rule children entered the academy when they were ten years of age." Under these conditions the people did not feel the need of public schools and naturally enough they regarded them as a competitor to their favorite institution. Professor Churchill was warned time and again by some of the close friends of the college that he was injuring that institution and jeopardizing his own position by his activity in promoting public schools. Their fears were not altogether groundless. The year before the union graded schools were organized Knox academy enrolled over 350 students to 60 in the college department; the following year the enrollment was less than 150.

The income from the township fund being inadequate to furnish all the children what in those days was regarded as primary education, private schools, or select schools, as they preferred to call themselves, sprang up. Mrs. Geo. A. Tryon, who started such a school in 1856, told the writer that she could recall four others in the village at that time. For twenty years the people had to depend. to a great extent, upon these schools, and they were a power whose interests were antagonistic to free schools, that had to be reckoned with when it came to forming the free union graded schools. Even after the districts were united, such was the influence of these select schools and so strong was the feeling in their behalf that, in order to get the children to attend the new schools, it was necessary for the directors to incorporate, as it were, some of these schools into the new system of free public schools. Professor Churchill, who was one of the three directors that, organized the union graded schools, is the authority for this statement. Mrs. Tryon had a private school of eighty pupils at that time, and she took fifty of them with her to the old post office building, and they were placed in the grammar department, without examination, of which she was made principal - an excellent person she was for this position, having had experience in graded schools in Ohio. Private schools of this type, or better designated as select schools, died hard, the last one not passing away until the late '8os. . - - .; .'iV;. :- - : ; - V . -'

The fact that the city was divided into eight separate and independent districts, each with its rights, its interests, its jealousies, was another source of opposition. The reason this opposition alone did not prove to be insurmountable, was due to the poverty of the districts, they not having enough property to quarrel over. - ., . . . ; -^ ....-,,.

These were the conditions that caused Galesburg to move slowly in forming a system of public education after the free school law was adopted in 1855 ; and the fact that it was a comparatively old settled community, with three to five thousand inhabitants, with its habits of thought and its local institutions formed in founding the cit\ . \\'henever a child had learned to read, write and spell and was ready to study arithmetic and grammar he was entered in the preparatory department of the college. As a rule children entered the academy when they were ten years of age." Under these conditions the people did not feel the need of public schools and naturally enough they regarded them as a competitor to their favorite institution. Professor Churchill was warned time and again by some of the close friends of the college that he was injuring that institution and jeopardizing his own position by his activity in promoting public schools. Their fears were not altogether groundless. The year before the union graded schools were organized Knox academy enrolled over 350 students to 60 in the college department; the following year the enrollment was less than 150.

The income from the township fund being inadequate to furnish all the children what in those days was regarded as priniar\ education, private schools, or select schools, as they preferred to call themselves, sprang up. Mrs. Geo. A. Tryon, who started such a school in 1856. told the writer that she could recall four others in the village at that time. For twenty years the people had to depend, to a great extent, upon these schools, and they were a power whose interests were antagonistic to free schools, that had to be reckoned with when it came to forming the free union graded schools. Even after the districts were united, such was the influence of these select schools and so strong was the feeling in their behalf that, in order to get the children to attend the new schools, it was necessary for the directors to incorporate, as it were, some of these schools into the new system of free public schools. Professor Churchill, who was one of the three directors that organized the union graded schools, is the authority for this statement. Mrs. Tryon had a private school of eighty pupils at that time, and she took fifty of them with her to the old post office building, and they were placed in the grammar department, without examination, of which she was made principal - an excellent person she was for this position, having had experience in graded schools in Ohio. Private schools of this type, or better designated as select schools, died hard, the last one not passing away until the late '8os. ,. r-; . :

The fact that the city was divided into eight separate and independent districts, each with its rights, its interests, its jealousies, was another source of opposition. The reason this opposition alone did not prove to be insurmountable, was due to the poverty of the districts, they not having enough property to quarrel over. .. : -

Tiiese were the conditions that caused Galesburg to move slowly in forming a system of public education after the free school law was adopted in 1855 ; and the fact that it was a comparatively old settled community, with three to five thousand inhabitants, with its habits of thought and its local institutions formed and adjusted to a different state of things, would tend to retard any radical change. To satisfy the college, to placate the private schools, to quiet the fears of capital, and to convince the eight districts that the interests of each would be served better by one united district, was an undertaking of the first magnitude, compared to which any other event in the history of our schools is insignificant.

It is perfectly evident that this movement could never have been successful without a great leader, a man with a vision, broad minded, progressive, patient, good-natured, forgetful of self, believing profoundly in education, and in closest sympathy with his fellowmen, - and that man was George Churchill. Others of course there were, who rendered noble service to the cause, but in every step taken to organize the union graded schools and to secure the present charter, he led the way. Professor George Churchill is as truly the founder of the public schools of Galesburg as the Rev. George W. Gale is the founder of the city. When the time comes, in the history of Galesburg, for erecting monuments to its great characters the first should have carved on it Rev. George W. Gale, Founder of the City, and the second should bear the name George Churchill, Founder of the Public Schools. /

He was endowed by nature and qualified by training for the part he took in this great work. At ten years of age he came with his parents to Galesburg, in 1839, - three years after the first settlers. He attended the first public school taught in Galesburg, in the winter of 1840-41. He taught the same school in the winter of 1848-49, when a sophomore in college. After graduating from Knox college, he taught a year in Farmington. He then spent a year in Europe, devoting much of his time to the public schools of Germany, - especially the Frederick William Gymnasium, a graded school of four thousand students from seven to seventeen years of age. He said it was here that he first imbibed his enthusiasm for graded public schools. Full of this spirit he returned to Galesburg and took charge of Knox academy, in 1855, - the very year the free school law was passed. In the winter of this year, he attended the State Teachers' association at Bloomington. He met Dr. Bateman there and came home with fresh enthusiasm, and began writing articles for the Galesburg Free Democrat to show the advantages of graded schools and a consolidated district.

In December, 1856, he read a paper on German schools at the State Teachers' association in Chicago. Henry Barnard, who was present and heard this paper, at once became interested in the young man from Galesburg; and there was no man in this country, engaged in public school work, whose friendship could be so valuable to one in Professor Churchill's position, wrestling with the problem of organizing and grading a system of schools. Henry Barnard was the pioneer of educational journalism in America, and he had done for the schools of Connecticut what Horace Mann did for the schools of Massachusetts, journed, he promised Professor Churchill to aid him in getting men of recognized ability and great experience in organizing and grading schools, to come to Galesburg and conduct an educational campaign. Before returning home Professor Churchill, on the advice of Professor Barnard, engaged Mr. W. S. Baker, who had been one of Barnard's lieutenants in Connecticut for six weeks, agreeing to pay him one hundred dollars and his board.

Mr. Baker began his six weeks' campaign in Galesburg in January, 1857. He would go to a school for a half day or more at a time and enthuse the teacher and pupils. Then he would visit the leading members of the district and explain to them the advantages of consolidation. Afternoon meetings were also held in the Old First church to which parents and children came, the church always being full, and Mr. Baker would address them on the benefits of a union graded school system. , ' -;' ' ^ ./''" 'r '"'-.---..''' '';^ ---:-'''._-'-'

In the following March, Horace Mann, the greatest educator America has produced, a most eloquent and irresistible speaker, was induced to come to Galesburg and deliver two lectures on free graded schools. These lectures were also delivered in the Old First church, and the result of them, following as they did, so closely the work of Mr. Baker, was a complete moral victory of consolidated districts and graded schools, though formal and official action was not taken till May or June, of the next year. Professor Churchill and Silas Willard paid the expenses of Mr. Baker and Horace Mann in this missionary campaign. ' -/ . - . ' ; : - j

Another remarkable result of these lectures : Mr. Silas Willard, in the prime of life, perhaps the leading merchant of the city, dying at his home of tuberculosis, requested Horace Mann to call on him the morning after his second lecture, which he did in company with Prof. Churchill. At the close of this conference Mr. Willard said that he would provide in his will thirty thousand dollars for building a union graded school, and he thought he would donate two or three acres of ground on the northwest corner of Main and Chambers streets for the building site. The Galesburg Free Democrat of March 3ist, 1857, closes an editorial with this sentence: "Silas Willard was buried in the old cemetery to-day and was followed to the grave by the largest concourse which ever turned out in Galesburg to honor the dead." Mr. Willard did provide in his will thirty thousand dollars for building a union graded school, but there is no record of the district receiving the money. Even if the city did not get the thirty thousand dollars it had the effect of stimulating the people to action, for in the Illinois Teacher of April, 1858, is this item : "Meetings of citizens of Galesburg have been held to initiate measures for the establishment of a system of union graded schools in that city and for obtaining the benefit of the bequest of the late Silas Willard." The school records do show that his widow did offer to give the land on the northwest corner of Main and Chambers streets for a building site for the new schoolhouse, but the board of education, for reasons not given in the records, purchased instead the lot on the southwest corner of Broad and Simmons streets. Why not name the next school building the Silas Willard school?

This system came into being in May or June, 1858, and ceased to exist June II, i86i, when the present system was organized. Apparently no attempt was made to grade the schools during the first year of this period. In fact the people ', did not seem anxious to conduct them according to the new system after it was adopted. There were several provisions in the law that made it undesirable, and they thought the best way to remedy these would be to secure a school charter

At one of these meetings a committee of fifteen was appointed to draft a charter ^ to present to the legislature. On this committee were Dr. Skinner of Lombard . and Judge Lanphere. Professor Churchill was made chairman of the commit- , tee. Judge Lanphere was made chairman of a sub-committee to draw up a

There were two significant provisions inserted in the last section of the char- -: ter which were the means of delaying its going into operation for two years . and seven months. The first of these provisos was, that the act shall not take effect or be in force unless the majority of the legal voters shall decide in its / favor; the usual form would have been to require a majority of the votes cast ' at the election. The second proviso was, that the election for this purpose must be held at such a time and conducted in such a manner as the council of said . city may direct. Both of these provisions were innocent looking, and they are . customary in such instruments, but each contained a joker, showing the character of the opposition, which was composed of men who were always on the

' Early in the spring of 1859 the friends of the charter or those, as the Free '- Democrat puts it, who wanted more than six months of school in a year for the , children of the city, appealed to the city council to submit the adoption of the . charter to a vote of the people, but it, in its wisdom, refused to call an election for that purpose. . :-

The friends of free graded schools having spent a year, since the consolidation of the districts, in trying to secure a charter that would give more liberal provisions for public schools than were contained in the union graded school act, and seeing no hope in the immediate future that the city council would allow a vote to be taken on the charter, determined to do the best that could be done with the law they had. An election for school directors for school district No. 1, comprising all the schools of the city, was held on the first Monday of September, 1859. This was the regular time for holding school elections in those days. George Churchill, A. B. Campbell and J. H. Knapp were nominated at a called meeting of the citizens held on the Saturday evening before. There were two hundred and fifty votes cast, and these men were elected by a majority of sixty-three votes. ;:;.-''.'':;'-/'

The board of directors went to work immediately to organize a system of graded schools, free to all citizens of Galesburg between five and twenty-one years of age. The schools up to that time had been mixed schools, having the advanced scholars in the same room with those learning their A B C's; and the variety of text-books was said to be some less than the number of pupils. The first thing the board did was to grade the scholars according to advancement in studies into four departments : Primary, secondary, grammar and high school. Many scholars, it was said, had been educated in one branch and neglected in others ; hence a regular course of study was outlined and uniform text-books were adopted.

Union Graded Schools Opened

The primary and secondary schools were opened Monday, Sept. 19, 1859, in ihe eight schoolhouses that had come to the board by the consolidation of the districts. There were eight teachers in these schools, and 400 pupils were enrolled the first week and 639 during the year. The advanced departments, grammar and high school, were opened, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 1859, in rooms rented by the board. Three of these rooms were in the old post office building on South Broad street, opposite the Old First church. The board rented three other rooms this year, but where it is uncertain, probably two of them in the northwest corner of the square, the property of Mr. C. S. Colton, for the advanced departments, and the other perhaps, in an outlying section, for the elementary grades. The number of pupils enrolled during the year in the high school department was 60, and in the grammar department i6o, making a total enrollment of 859 for the year in all departments. The number of teachers was fourteen, and they received $2,197.90 in salaries. The total cost of the schools for the year was $3,176.89.

The Charter Adopted

The city council, which had refused in 1859 to allow the people the privilege of voting on the charter, had a change of heart the next year after the city elections and decided to submit the charter to a vote of the people, calling an elec-

Tlie friends of free graded schools having spent a year, since the consolidation of the districts, in trying to secure a charter that would give more liberal provisions for public schools than were contained in the union graded school act, and seeing no hope in the immediate future that the city council would allow a vote to he taken on the charter, determined to do the best that could be done with the law they had. An election for school directors for school district No. I, comprising all the schools of the city, was held on the first Monday of Septeml^er. 1859. This was the regular time for holding school elections in those days. George Churchill. A. B. Campbell and J. H. Knapp were nominated at a called meeting of the citizens held on the Saturday evening before. There were two hundred and fifty votes cast, and these men were elected by a majority of sixty-three votes.