McHenry County, Illinois - Chapter 17: Days Op Mourning, 1922

Chapter 17: Days Op Mourning

Every country has its days of bereavement and deep sorrow over the death of some great ruler, friend or benefactor. In a kingdom, when the king dies, great is the mourning. In a republic, when a president dies, even greater is the sorrow, for being of a democratic government, the feeling is much closer between the head of the government and the common people, who have chosen such person to rule for them.

The United States has been called upon to mourn at the fall of three of their greatest presidents, Lincoln, Garfield and McKinley. On the occasion of each one of these sad blows the loyal men and women of every section of the land have congregated at a set time and place, to publicly show their deep sorrow for their departed dead.

The Death Of Abraham Lincoln

President Lincoln had just guided the ship of State through an awful civil conflict, when he was suddenly shot down by the hand of an assassin. As most of the able-bodied men from McHenry County were at that time in the Union army, the war having just ended the week in which Mr. Lincoln was killed, there was no large turnout at a set day of mourning. The churches did, however, all have memorial sermons. The editor of the Woodstock Sentinel, Abraham E. Smith, in his issue of April 26, 1865, the week after the assassination, wrote an editorial which has never been heralded abroad like other gems of oratory and eloquence, because of its appearance in so small a town and a paper, but indeed those who have read it, see new beauty in it as the years roll by. It shall, therefore, find a place in the annals of this county.

"Abler pens than ours have written eulogies and touching tributes to the worth of the dead statesman whose loss the nation now deplores. We shall not attempt it. The genial kindness of his nature, the marvel- ous aeuteness of his intellect, his plain, simple, and yet apt manner of addressing himself to the people, his wonderful sagacity and practical common sense, the versatility of his genius - and above all, the never failing amiability of the man; are all written on memory's page, seared in by the fearful death he died, and will never be erased from the hearts of American citizens while liberty is enjoyed.

"Personally, Abraham Lincoln had no enemies. He died through no personal malice. He fell because he represented his country, as no other man ever did. He died a martyr on the altar of liberty - of his country's unity and glory ! Let us then do honor to his name. In honoring him, we honor ourselves. In him were the virtues of the American Nation combined. Peace to his ashes! Honor to his memory. With him life's fitful fever is over; and what an eventful life he lived. Thousands upon thousands yet unborn will hail him as their Father and Liberator. Farewell, noble Lincoln. Good Night to thy form, but Good Morn to thy Fame!"

It should be remembered that this was penned on the spur of the moment, "press-day" in Woodstock fifty-four years ago. And still the name LINCOLN stands out among the untarnished stars of the American Republic.

In common with other parts of the country, houses were draped in appropriate emblems of mourning in Woodstock and other towns of this county. All places surrounding the public square were tastily draped and decorated by tender and skilful hands.

The local paper had a notice inviting all who could to join the committee appointed to attend the great funeral gathering which was held in Chicago, where but little more than five years before, he had been nominated in the "Wigwam" as the standard-bearer of the then new Republican party. Many responded to this call. This was McHenry County's first public mourning day.

Death Op James Abram Garfield

Iii sixteen years after Lincoln fell, the people of this county wore the emblems of mourning again, this time, for President Garfield, who was elected in the autumn of 1880. In July, 1881, he was shot in the back, while walking arm-in-arm with James G. Blaine, in the Potomac depot at Washington, while waiting for a train. The beloved president lingered on, a great sufferer, until in September of that year, when he passed from earth's shining circle, and this was another stinging blow to the

I 'pun the news being flashed that "Garfield was dead." Mayor Joslyn, of Woodstock, made a proclamation which was, in common with all cities and hamlets from ocean to ocean, obeyed to the letter. On the day of the great soldier-statesman's burial at Cleveland. Ohio, memorial services were held in the Woodstock Park at the afternoon hours - two to four. All business houses were closed from noon for the remainder of that day. There had been appropriate staging, platform and seats placed in the center of the park. At the four entrances to the enclosure of the park were seen arches mounted by drapery and a portrait of the dead executive. Long before the hour for the exercises, the park was filled with sorrowing people from town and country, to pay homage to the great departed one. Shortly after two o'clock the Guards appeared at the square, marching to muffled drum and reversed arms, the left arm of each soldier bearing the badge of mourning. The Grand Army of the Republic soon left their hall and when these military organizations passed to the stand, Mayor Joslyn called the meeting to order and quickly introduced Hon. Neill Donnelly as president. The first number on the program was singing of "Nearer, My God, to Thee" rendered by a choir, followed by scripture reading by Rev. J. Adams and prayer by Rev. J. D. Wells. Then came the address by Rev. J. D. McLean, of the Presbyterian Church. Fully 3,000 people were packed in the park grounds that day, and all listened with marked attention. The speaker dwelt on the noble traits of General Garfield's manhood, as soldier, scholar and president; this took him from the humble log cabin to the White House.

Another address was made by Rev. Father Leydon of the Catholic Church, who also paid a glowing tribute to the departed. It is said by those who still survive, that "Woodstock had never listened to such periods of true eloquence before.

At Marengo, on Sunday, the churches were befittingly draped and memorial services were had. Roekford furnished their chief speaker. For many days the half-mast flags and drapery were seen fluttering in the breeze along Main street in Marengo. The colors used were black and white.

At Algonquin, on the day and hour which Garfield's body was being lowered into the tomb in Cleveland, services- truly befitting were being held. All business was suspended for the day. Services were held in St. John's Episcopal Church at 11 A. M. At 2 P. M. a large congrega- tion assembled in the German Lutheran and also one at the Free .Methodist churches. The bells of the church and schools tolled mournfully and slow, striking forty-nine times, representing Garfield's age.

At Richmond, this county, all business was closed for the day. The Garfield Guards from Grand Junction marched through the streets in funeral step.

Death Of U. S. Grant

While not a tragic death, that of t he great Civil War commander, and ex-president, F. S. Grant, which took place in July, 1885, caused an almost world-wide sorrow. He died of a cancer in his throat, after being a patient sufferer for many weary months, and it is recorded that no murmur of complaint fell from his lips during all that period.

The Woodstock Sentinel on July 30, that year, devoted six and onehalf columns to his obituary notes and a review of his wonderful career. At the memorial services in Woodstock, the order of exercises was about as follows : The line formed at 1 :30 p. m. and marched around the public square to the east entrance, the order being, the marshal, Col. William Avery; the McHenry military band; Company "G" of the National Guards, Capt. A. E. Bourne; Woodstock Legion Select Knights, George Eckert, commander; and others including the Grand Army of the Republic, Judge B. N. Smith, commander, followed by citizens. Over 2,000 people attended this memorial for the "Silent Soldier." The services were under the auspices of the Grand Army Post. Mayor Bunker was president of the day. Adjutant Wright read the orders; scriptures were read by Rev. D. S. McEwan of Kansas City; Rev. Hoover offered prayer. The music was in charge of E. E. Richards. Hon. Frank Crosby delivered a beautiful and truly appropriate address and reviewed in detail the deeds of the great hero. Rev. S. C. Hoy pronounced the benediction. The decorations and emblems of military and civic mourning were never more impressive than those furnished at the park on that occasion. Each of the four corners of the park entrances were draped and each had a portrait of the deceased soldier-president, he who succeeded in bringing a great rebellion to its close where many others bad failed, and he who was twice elected to the presidential chair of his country. About the portrait thus suspended were the simple words:

All business of the county seat and other places in McHenry County were closed for thai solemn day. Nunda Grand Army Post was up to Woodstock and took part in the exercises. The ladies, unaided by the men, furnished the entire decoration and drapery of the grounds at the park.

The exercises included music by the McHenry hand, reading of the orders, music by the band, prayer, music by the ehoir, the address, music by the choir, music by the band, short address by Rev. Hoover and others. The vice presidents of the day were: T. M. Cook, Seneca Township; Burton "Wright, Greenwood; William Walkup, Ridgefield; Win. G. Conklin, Hartford; II. M. .Mead. Hebron; R. Bishop, McHenry.

It should be stated that all preparations had been made to hold these exercises on Saturday hut on account of a rain storm on that date it was postponed until Sunday afternoon.

Again the hand of an assassin cut down a dearly -beloved president, causing universal sorrow to prevail throughout the land, when "William MeKinley was shot by Louis Czolgosz, while attending the Pan-American Exposition at Buffalo, X. Y., September (J, 1901), and from such wounds, died on the 14th of that month and year. He had just commenced his second term as president.

Thirty minutes after the telephone message to Woodstock from Chicago that "McKinley is dead," the Sentinel had out extras, nine by twelve inches, and was scattering them broadcast throughout the city. This was 5:35 P. M. and it was 8 o'clock that night before the Chicago papers readied McHenry County. The following Thursday an immense audience gathered at the city hall at - P. M. to pay a fitting homage to the third president killed by an assassin within thirty-six years. The hall was not large enough to hold one-half of the people who wanted entrance. All business was suspended and evidences of great sorrow were seen on every face and in all places. Men of strong wills and sturdy frame would meet and glancing at one another, pass without speaking for fear that they would break down and cry. Every flag in the city was flying at half-mast and the pictures of the dead president were to be seen everywhere, at the city building and at the near-by park. At the corner entrances of the public square might have been seen draped arches and portraits of McKinley whom all had honored in life, and truly monmed in death. Xo Sunday was ever more quiet in Woodstock than this week-day of mourning. The decorations at the hall were never so tine and bore mute testimony to the skillful hands who had tenderly fashioned them. The Oliver Typewriter band headed the procession made up of the local Grand Army Post and Women's Relief Corps, with members of Company "G," Illinois National Guard. They marched once around the park and then entered the city hall auditorium, which was almost filled before this procession reached the building. At the rear of the stage were seated fifty of the older citizens of the county and just in front of them were twenty-four singers and at the front of the platform were the ministers and speakers, members of the McHenry County bar, etc. Mayor E. C. Jewett presided in a most dignified manner. The band played Handel's "Dead March in Said," and Rev. S. II. Hay of the Presbyterian church read the scripture lesson, after which the quartette sang "Soldier Rest in Peace." At just 2:30 P. M. (the exact hour that the body of the lamented president was being lowered to the tomb at Canton, Ohio), the chairman requested the entire audience to rise and stand five minutes with heads bowed. In silence of death this was carried out and at the close, the band broke the long silence by striking up "Nearer, My God, to Thee," and all who could control their feelings joined in the singing of that hymn now made immortal as Major McKinley's favorite.

The address was made by Attorney Lumley, and after him a personal friend of the deceased president, Rev. Sunderlin of the Methodist Episcopal Church, spoke feelingly.

At the Methodist Episcopal Church in the evening of the same memorial occasion, A. S. Wright spoke of his several meetings with Major Mc- Kinley, as governor and president.

More was printed in the secular and religious press concerning Major McKinley than of any other deceased president. After the memorial services were over and the addresses made, all in which the Woodstock and McHenry County people participated, were printed in a neat booklet and sold at five cents each, and 1,000 were thus disposed of, and many are yet in existence throughout the county. The addresses are given in full in this booklet.