Stark County, Illinois - Schools and Institute, 1887

Schools and Institute

IvOM 1821 to 1869 Illinois received no less than $713,195.45 from the ]n'oceeds of sales of school lands, together with S117,919 of the it^28,()0O,O()(> surplus divided by Congress in 1836 among the states. The land grant for educational purj)oses comprised 985,066 acres for common schools and 4<i,oso acres foi- universities. The report of the State Supei'intendent of Public Instruction for the year ending- June 30, 1883, was issued in April, 1881. It shows the \vhole number of persons under twenty-one years of age in the state to be 1,510,918, as compared with 1,529,318 in 1882, and 1,500,255 in 1880. The number between the ages of six and twenty-one years is 1,016,936, as compared with 1,037,- 567 in 1882. The increase under this head is 166,223 in the eleven years reported since 1872. There are now 1,096,540 persons in Illinois of school age, and the school enrollment is 743,343. Many changes have been made in the original school laws of the state, each one tending to improve the system. The amendment ])roviding for the election of district school directors came into force in May, 1857. A few years ago the act regulating the meeting of teachers' institutes came into operation and has been attended with beneficial results.

The first school district was No. 1, of Essex in 1833, where a schoolhouse was built July 4, 1834. Adam Perry presided here three months, receiving $55.50 from Isaac P. Essex. " On July 8, 1835, Miss Sahrina Chatfield received sl3 for teaching here three "months. Miss Chatfield nuii-ried B. L. llilhard, and died in Clark county, Iowa, as related in the township history. From this small beginning the school system has grown iq) to its i)i'esent important place. The action of the county couiiuissioners in 1839, in a[)pointing trustees for the school lands of the several townshi])s, is referred to in the chapter on the organization of the county. In the history of the townships the schools ai-e treated as fully as records would pei-mit, so that in this chapter all relating sj)ecially to the tcnvnships is omitted.

The school commissioners or county superintendents from 184(» to the jiresent time are named as follows : James Holgate, 1840; Chas. II. Miner, 1841-5 (died in Chicago about 1850); James P. Lewis,1845-9. H

(Lewis taiiglit school in the " Old Brick," which stood ^vhe^e Pierson Miller's house now is). Samuel G. Wright was elected in 1841) over Martin Shallenberger. He was reelected in 1851 over Thomas J. Henderson and G. A. Clifford ; reelected in 1853 over Lucius E. Miner. In 1855 R. C. Dunn was elected; reelected in 1857; reelected in 1859. N. F. Atkins was chosen in 1861, reelected in 1863. but dying Ijefore expiration of term, his place was filled b}^ J. W. Agard. Following Mr. Agard were B. G. Hall, now in Iowa ; Alonzo Abbott, of Bradford, a member of the institute of 1886; Amelia L. Ilalsey, now a Chicago teacher, and W. R. Sandham, the pi'esent county superintendent and member of the State Board of Education. The dates of election, candidates for the offices, votes and party to which each candidate belonged are all given in the political chapter.

The principal school statistics for each half decade since the close of the war are given as follows: The order of figures is : Year, 1st column ; nundjer of districts, 2d ; number of school houses, 3d ; school not kept, 4th; number of pii])ils under 21 years, 5th; number attending, 6th ; number of males, Ttli ; number of females, 8th ; number of graded schools, 0th ; number of male teachers, 10th ; number of female teachers, 11th ; total receipts for scliool purjioses. 12th column :

The condition of the schools of the county in 18S6, ;is sh«Avn in Superintendent Sandliam's report to the l)e])artment of Public Instruction, is as follows: Males under twenty-one years, 2425; females under twenty-one years, 2311; total under twenty-one yeai's, 4736. Males between six and twenty-one years, J 740; females between six and twenty-one years, 1711 ; total, 3460. jS^umber of school districts holding school for 110 davs or more, seventy; number of traded schools, six; ungraded, sixty-five; total number of schools, seventyone; total numljer of ])upi]s enrolled, 2683, of which 450 males and 454 females were enrolled in graded scliools. In these last-named schools there were eight male, and sixteen female, teachers emi)loyed during the year ending June 30, 188*1. In the ungraded schools were thirty-six male, and eighty-six female, teachers, or in all schools 146 teachers. In the graded schools male teachers presided 574^ months, and female teachei's, 108J months. In the ungraded schools male teachers presided 151:^, and female teachers, 350, months in the aggregate. The number of brick schoolhouses is four, of frame houses, sixtyeight, o-ivino- u total of seventv-two buildinos. Seven districts have libraries, aggregating 233 volumes. There are two private schools, attended bv fortv male, and fortv-two female, puinls. i)resided over bv one female, and two male, teachers. The highest salary ])aid any male teacher per month was J^112.50, and paid any female s55 ])er month. The lowest in the case of males was .^27, and of females. ^25, per month. The amount earned by male teachers during tlie year was 5^10,477.92, and by female teachers, $17,008.20. The amount of district tax-levy was 5^31, 100.03. The estimated value of school property was placed at §106,550; of school libraries, $740, and of school apparatus, $1205. The amount of bonded school debt in June, 1880, was $4350. There were four of school age in the county who could neither read nor write - one mute, one blind, and two mentalh' weak. The accounts of townsliip treasurers in re distributal)le funils, shows receipts, including balances in every township, amounting to $584,097, all of which was paid out except $223.13 on hand June 30, 1886. The account with school districts s lows total receipts from special district taxes of $32,228.72, })upils who paid tuition fees, $500.70, and other receipts, bringing the total revenue of districts for the 3^ear up to $61,- 283.50. The whole amount paid teachers was $28,545.44. The total ex])enditure. reported by districts, was $30,084.86, leaving a balance of $23,008.64 on June 30, 1886. During the year a bequest of $18,- 309.50 was made by Lewis Austin to the schools of Elmira. The amount ])aid school treasurers was $4,193.40, moneys invested, $18,- 932.12. The names of treasurers for the year ending June, 1886, are Samuel AYrigley, Valley; A. G. Hammond, Essex; Joseph Swank, West Jersey; C. M. I>eecher, Goshen; Levi Silliman, Toulon; Brooks W. Crum, Penn ; H. J. Baldwin, Osceola ; and W. M. Fuller, Elmira. The foregoing, with the exhil)it of township fund, balance sheet, hoards of education, high schools, and general report of the county supei'intendent, constitute the whole report for the year ending June 30, 1886. In his report to the Board of Supervisors he states that he had spent 124 days visiting schools; twenty days' institute work; twelve days on teachers' examination, and other official work, fortysix days. During the year 1885-86, had visited every school in the county three times, and five schools four times. In every township the efforts of the present superintendent to raise the school standard still higher are appreciated. The people know that his enthusiasm in school Avork alfects the teachers, is carried by them to the })upils, and thence to the homes of the people. His administration of the su})erintendent's office has been attended with incalculable good.

Tcdchers' Institute and Association. - In a letter addressed to William Nowlan by Rev. S. G. Wright, replying to one asking for information in re the county institute, the following history is given: ''My recollection is that Rev. A. Lyman, of Geneseo, at my invitation, conducted the first county institute at my honse, just noi'th of Toulon. Rev. R. C. Dunn afterward told me it was the first institute hehl in Illinois. I have a minute book in my journal under date of March 19, 1850: 'Last Friday I drew up a constitution for a teachers' association.' Also, under date A])ril 1, 1850: 'Last week attended Teachers' Institute.' Also, in May: 'attended institute in Lafayette. I find, also, in November, a notice of a teacliers' institute and essays of a high order read. I have a notice of having addressed the institute in October, 1852. I think we had at that time a countv institute with sul). or local institutes, as at Lafayette. Mr. Xowlan, continuing the subject, believes that the meeting of October, 1852, was the first public or regular meeting of the teachers. From this period until 1859 meeting's Avere held, but the organization was little more than a social meeting clul>. In the summer of 1859 R. C Dunn and Oliver White were the only pei-sons avIio responded to a call for reorganizing the institute. A few evenings later the teachers of Toulon assembled at Mr. Dunn's house, where, with Mr. Dunn, were Rev. A. J. "Wright, Baptist; Rev. Matthews. Methodist, both of Lafayette; Rev. S. C. Humphrey, Christian church, Toulon; Rev. G. A. Leaver, of Wyoming. During this session one B. F. Taylor delivered his lecture. Among the readers were L. D. Gleeson. Miss Rogers. Dr. J. C. Copestake, Miss Maiy Berfield. W. W. Wright, C. J. Gill, or 'Jud' Gill. Gill Avon the prize, although Rev. G. A. Leaver announced publicly that he could not distinguish Jud's reading from a gymnastic exercise. This meeting adjourned to the .spring of 1860, but did not reassemble then.

In the spring of 1867 B. G. Hall I'eceived a premium of s50 for getting a number of subscril)ers for the Teachers JournaJ. This he donated to the teachers' institute, to be applied in founding a library. Some money was added to this sum and. books were purchased. This led t(j the formation of the Stark County Teachei*s' Library Associasion, which ceased after a short time, and with its downfall the book collection disa|)[)eared. Then followed the teachers" institute as Ave noAv know it. haunted Avitli lectui'ers, school book agents and ambitious readers like Gill.

-' A teacliers' institute Ava.s ealled to be held at Toulon, eoinineiieiiiii- April 20, 1865, and a good deal of pains taken to jjersuade teachers from abroad to attend, but it being the Aveek of the assassination of our Presi-

Schools And Ixs'I Itutk

The teachers to whom certificates were granted in ISO-i and 1865, and who niav be considered inend:)ers of the post-hellvm institutes, are named as follows: W. 11. Ulanchard, Francis Davis, (leorge Nicholas, Chai'les ]\Iyers, Allen V. Miller, Edwin Butler, llobert J. Dickinson, James H, TTurnbuU, George Bradley, Leona Blanchard, Jane Deys, Elvira Newton, Susan A. Beattv, Eni'ilv Tildon, Louisa L. Wilson, Eliza A. ISrcGlashan. Maria L. ruttei-, :\[artha O. Trickle, Nancy S. Bennett, Alice Bayniond, Harriet AVitter, Eliza Eckley, Mary B. Carter, Henrietta J. Flint, Amelia A. Ilalsey, Harriet G. Grant, Kate A. Hablit, Mary J. Munson, Hannah Munson, Rosie Pratz, Jennie Bevier, Henrietta Ividdle. Bebecca Fonts, ACi's. Townsend, Jane E. Shemerhorn, Mar}^ C. Lvon, Annie E. Dyei", Eliza Jane Moffitt, Juliet P. Judd, Mrs. Mary A. Bailey, Eliza J. Stockner, Amanda Mohan, Libbie A. Bryan, Emiline Taylor, Louisa Whiffen, Emily Kellogg, Lecta Nicholas, Anna B. Kinmouth, Olivia A. Rhodes, Celesta Eastman, Jennie Dixon, Eliza A. Sticknev, Lucy A. Lil)by, Almira M. Snyder, Henrietta L. Snider, Susan P. Nash, ]\[ary O. Stevens, Miss Anthony, Josephine Dyer and Celestia Dyer.

P'rom Novend^er, 1S()5 to December 7, 1S66, there were one less than l.")l teachers' certificates issued, many being rene-svals. Among the nundjer were Orlando Brace, a returned soldier, James E. Finley, Cyrus A. Anthony, Charles Butler, Charles R. Thom])son, all returned soldiers; Albert W. King, Josephine Dyer, of District No. 8, Penn, who ]iresided there for a number of years ; ^Mrs. Maria P., widow of N. F. Atkins; Robert Fell and Alfred Ilemmant, returned soldiers. In LS(;7 certificates were issued to Augustus Hulsizer and Edwin Butler, returned sohliers, and eighty-eight others. In 1808 ninetv-nine certificates were issued, only twenty -nine to male ai)plicants. In 18()1>, 92 certificates were granted; 1870, 108; in 1871. 02; in 1872, 141 ; in 1873,90; in 1874, 140; in 1875, 111 ; in i876, 242; in 1877, 160; in 1878, 103; in 1S70. 11.^ in 1880, 108; in 1881, 119; and in 18S2, 124 certificates were issued. Even now. four years after the last list was made, a large number of the ladies have married, or are scattered throughout tlie west - very few are engaged in the schools of Stark county. '

The Teachers' Normal Class was organized in the ''Old Brick" at Osceola, INIarch 23, 1868, bv B. G. Hall, with the following : Bartlett G. Hall, Dr. II. B.Upton, AVilliam C. Kay, Louisa A. Stone, Ellen Hall, Emeline Lvle, Marv Adams, Martha Rule, N. Clark, Rev. S. G. AVright, Edwin J. Smith,' Ed. P. Wright, Anna P. Oliver, Esther Hall, Bertha Parks, Anna Davis, Ellen Gurley, ]\[ary P. Wright and Florence J. Chandjerlain.

The Stark County Teachers' Association \vas organized at Toulon, October 27, 1869. W. C. Dewey was elected president; Mrs. A. J. Dyer, vice-president; R. Fell, secretary, and Miss Henrietta Riddle,

From this time down to the present day the teachers of Stark haYC been held together hy organization ; but of tlieir meetings, brief notices are only at hand.

Paul Newton was president and Grace Jones secretar}' of the Stark County Teachers' Association in 1S80-1, and both are today prominent in the school circle of the county.

Sliarky, John M. Davles, Florence Kussell, llattie Bray, Jacob Wasson, Sara A. Little, Stella Sterling. Monica, Peoria county. - Ida Whitting'ton, Emma Mclvown. This list eml)races many names connected with fonnei' meetings, and almost covers the entire roll of teachers then in the county schools.

The institute of 188<) is the fourth held under the administration of Professor Sandham, and the last of the four normal drills held under the new school law.

HE pioneer ^Methodist pi'eacher of Illinois, Jesse Walker, was Ixn-n in Viro'inia in 17^0, entered the ministry of the M. E. church in 1804; two years later came to Illinois, and in 1826 visited the Indian village near Plainfield. In 1827 \\v was appointed superintendent of the Fox River mission ; in 1821> took eluu'ge of the Des Plaines mission, estahlislied numerous societies of tlie M. E. church throughout northern Illinois, and died at Plainfield in 1885. Fifteen years after, his l)ody was disint<M'red and reburied in the new cemetery, where a monument to his memory was erected by order of the Rock river conference, M. E. church. Under him Isaac B. Essex was ap]winted teacher of the Indian school at Peoria, and to him is credited one of the first sermons on Methodist doctrine in Stark connty. It is not at all certain that elders Silliman and Chenoweth ])reached here in 1829, contenting themselves with the physical aid given to Essex in establishing Jiis home. Rev. E. Heath of the St. Louis Methodist church, ju'eached here toward the close of 1834, and the following year came Rev. William C. Cummings of the Peoria mission, to lay the foundations of ]\Iethodism here. From 1829 to 1835 the preachers named in the history of Essex township, visited the settlements in what is now Stark county. The I]aptist church of Fahrenheit, (T(jshen townshi]), Avas fouiuled in 1837 at the house of elder Miner. The luothei' of Presbyterian churches was established at Osceola, June 8, 1839, elder Davis presiding. The IVIorinons may be said to have recruited a church here in 1 84-< i-lfi, with John Miller, Isaac J3. Essex, Ii'a T. Dibble, Adam Perry, Robert and James McClenahan, Dr. Richards and Avife, Deacon Mott, Samuel Parrish, Mrs. Parrish, one son and three daughters, members ; but in 1811, the founder of Congregationalism here, S. (i. AYright, offered battle to the Mormon elders, and won a few of those members back. AVithin the last forty-six years, all the new Presbyterian societies, the Universalists, Christians or Canipl)elites, United Brethren and Catholics have built u]) chui'ches and large societies, which are all noticed in the township history.

Sunday School Union. - The Stark county Siinda}^ School Union, organized in 1867, held its first annual meeting- at James Ilolgate's grove that year. Davis Lowman was j^resident, witli AV. AV. "Wright secretary. The Stark county Sunday School Union Picnic Association was organized August, 1868, during the annual meeting of the Union. The Sunday School society held its annual meeting August 12, 1869, when D. Lowman was elected president. W. W. Wi-iglit. secretary, and Samuel Bnrge, treasurer. The vice-presidents were : J. M. Rogers, H. Griffin, Liberty Stone, Osceola; Eev. J. H. Montgomery. Elmira; Eev. AV. A. "Webster and H. "Willet, Toulon ; Rev. M. Hill and Isaac and Thomas, Essex ; Eev. T. S. Tail and Eeuben Swank. "West Jersey ; and Kev. Mr. Tiffany, G. Dillery, Goshen; Schermerliorn, Penn ; H. H. Oliver, Elmira ; and A. X. Peterson, Valley.

A. P. Miller was added to the executive committee, and A. S. Thompson was chosen vice president for Gsceola, the othei' vice presidents being reelected. The sixteenth meeting Avas held at Toulon, June, 188-1-, when T. C. Thomas was elected ])resident; Dr. J. G. Boardman, secretary, and these with AV. IF. Rarrett, J. AV. Stevens and Geo. Eutlierford, executive committee. The vice presidents were Revs. Y.

Cami^meefimj Asson'afion, as noticed in the history of Wvoming, may be said to (late back to 1840, when Elder Newton G. Berryman presided over a meeting held on or near the site of the present M. E. church at Wyoming. Revs. Euos Thompson and Wilson Pitner, assisted. The meeting at Fraker's Grove, near Lafayette, in 1842, over which A. E. Phelps presided, outdone the first camp completelv, while the third, held at Wyoming in 1843, surpassed its predecessors in number attending and sjuritual work performed. Rev. John Morey presided, with Rev. H. J. Humphry, assisting. Year after year the Methodists and others carried on such meetings until a regular campmeeting association was formed. This ba,nd of gospel workers claim a complete organization, with groves, tents, buildings, etc. The meeting of August 11, 188(), continued for several days. During the session good board can be obtained on the camp ground at the following prices : One day, i{>l ; tAvo or more days, 25c. per meal ; for the week, |4 ; on Sunday, transient, 50c per meal.

BiNe faciei ij. - The Stark County Bible Society elected the following officers for 1850-7: Norman Ihitler, president ; C. M.Johnson, vice-president ; T. 11 Starrett, secretary ; Davis Lowman, treasurer; Rev. R. C. Dunn and Rev. Mr. Ransom, executive committee; Samuel Halsted, Benjamin Packer, Hopkins Shivers, local agents; Mrs. N. Butler and Miss Sarah Armstrong-, collectors. The traveling: agent reported that onl}' thirteen families in the county Avere Avithout

Temperance League. - The Citizens"' Tempei'ance League was organized :\[arch T). 1883, with ])resident, A. P. Millei-; vice-president. W. IT. ]>arrett ; secretary, B. F. Thompson ; treasurer, P. P. Johnson ; executive committee. Charles Girvits. AVest Jersey ; A. G. Ilammond, Xorth Essex ; Henry Blood, Yalley ; Paul Xewton, Penn : A. F. Stickney, East Toulon ; AYm. A. Dewey, West Toulon ; AYm. Kowlan, Goshen ; Kol)t. Armstrong, Elmira : E. P. Wright, Osceola : J. M. Jones. Lafayette; D. ]\[urchison, Toulon Village; 1>. G. Ilall, AVyoming Village, and H. J. Baldwin, Bradford. The Stark County Temperance T'nion. of whicli J. 11. Quinn was last president, preceded the Citizens' T'uiou. For tlie ])ast forty years tliis tem]iorance organization has been carried on under one form oi- another, and is as iustlv ao-o-ressive today as it Avas when the saloonkeeper and distiller and l)rewer placed the whisky shop within easy access of every citizen. How soon the question of regulating morals will l)e introduced into temperance work is uncertain. There are many crimes, not always l)red of strong drink, against society and the home, which call for prompt denunciation and punishment.

Tr. C T. I\ - The Women's Christian Temperance Union dates back to May, 1884. In this month JNIi's. Smith, of Elmwood, district oi'ganizer. canvassed the C(ninty and formed three local societies, one at Wyoming, one at Toulon, and one at Lafayette. In February, 1885, a convention was held at Wvoming, when Miss jMcDowell org-anized a county society. In April, 188(), a liranch was estal>lished at Stark A'illage, and on the 18th of that month the second convention, in which the four societies were represented, was held at Toulon. Mrs. R. A. Turner has been president since organization, ]Mrs. Harriet ]M. Blaiitreasurer, and Mrs. C. P. McCorkle are the present olficers.

JSLus'ical Sorletij. - On August 25, iSlio, the Stark County Musical Union elected A. J. AVright, president ; D. J. Walker, secretary and treasurer ; ]S^. J. Smitli, conductor ; O. Whitaker, John F. Ilhodes, S. M. F. Farrar, Theo. Xewell. P. V. Blanchard. and Miss Jennie Haywood, vice-presidents. F<n" many years this excellent society has not existed as a county organization, but in its place a hundred musical societies have grown up, so that no church and ver}" few homes are without their own musical circle. All such societies are referred to in the township and village histories, and this one, too, should find its place there, had it not something to do in founding many of our church choirs of the present time.

Citaptek Xii Ageicultukal Societies

EGIISTNINGS of all iiiutual ])rotection and i^rogressiye organizations date Ijack to the settlement of Elniira township and neighborhood, when the pioneers banded themselves together to ])rotect their claims nntil their lands could l>e ])urchased and entered under the laws. Following came the anti-horse-thief and anti-o-amblino- association, then the underground railroad conductors' association, and following a number of local agricultural organizations. In the fall of 1843 a meeting of famers was held in the old court house, which is now the Virginia House stable, to discuss means and ways for the organization of an agricultural society. Capt. Henry Butler delivered an address; Jonathan Miner presided, with Ilenr}" Butler secretaiy. W. 11. Henderson was elected president ; Lawrence Dorrance, vice-president; J. Emery, II. IS.; Oliver Whitaker, secretary; Jonathan Hodgson, treasurer ; J. Holgate, Sylvanus Moore and Cyril Ward, executive committee. On November 25, 1843, the constitution was signed bv the following named members: James Holgate, Syl. Moore, Samuel Camp, Dexter Wall, S. Strouss, Asher M Smith, Amza ]S^ewman, Joseph ]^ewton, L. C. Aveiy, Nehemiah Merritt. John A. Williams, Abner Camp, AVilliam F. Thomas, Henjy Butler, L. Dorrance.

The Wyoming committee comprised Syl. Moore, William Thomas and James Holgate. The central committee was composed of Benjamin Turner, W. Miner and Cyril Ward. The Massillon committee comprised Moses Boardman, Stephen Trickle and (leorge Eckley. The Lafayette precinct committee comprised Joseph Emery, Barney Jackson and Henry IMcClenahan. The Osceola committee comprised flames Moore, James Bus well and lleniw Sturms. The committee on constitution comprised Charles H. Miner, Henry Butler and Oliver Whitaker ; and the corres])onding committe. Captain Butler, M. G. P>race, B. M. Jackson, W. II. Henderson and Moses Boardman. For some years this association existed only in name.

Stark County Agrictdtitral Society was organized Octobor 29, 1853 and held its first fair at Toulon, September 20, 1 854. In 1868 the society purchased the fair grounds of twelve acres from the county for S720, and the same year [)urchac:ed three acres more for $330, Mi". Kowlan negotiating the purchases. The original members were : - Henry Butler, senior, John B. Atherton, AVilliam AV. Wright, sr. Hugh Rhodes, Benjamin Turner, Thomas J. Henderson, Jacob Janii-

Williaiii Cluuiibei'liu. General TIkjhuls was ap})ointe<l President; C\aptain Bntler, Wni. AV. Wright, Jacob Jamison and David ]\[cCance were ap]iointed a committee on constitution. Tlie first election under the C(mstitutiontook place in Xovend)er 185o, wlien Hugh Khodes was ciiosen })]'esident, Martin Sha]lenl)erger and Jacob Jamison, vicepresidents, John R. Atherton, treasurer; David McCance, recorder; am] Captain l^utler correspondent. Tlie tirst fair was held in September l.'^."')4, and annually since that time, witli the exception of 18(12. ]\rrs. Sludlenberger in her reminiscences of that meeting savs : '' Some still remember that first fair in 1854, when the stock was quartered in Air. Wliitaker's yard, and exhibited on the pul>lic square, while the ])roducts of the dairy, kitchen and loom were disposed of Avithin the old court house, the table containing a few fancy articles which a gentleman lifted up, one by one, that the}' might be seen by the assemblage.'" Many, if not all the members of the society of 18-13 were interested in this fair.

The presidents of the society prior to 1803 Avere : Hugh Rhodes, Jacob Jamison, Isaac Spencer, Charles Myers, W. AY. AVright and James Holgate. The old secretaries Avere David McCance, G. A. Clifford, OliA^er Whitaker and AV. II. Butler, with J. R. Atherton and Oliver AVhitaker treasurers. The names of jiresidents elected since 18()o are given as follows : 1868, J. H. Quinn ; 18ti4, James M. Thomas ; 1805, James H. Quinn ; 1806, Davis LoAvman ; 18<!7, AVilliam XoAvlan ; 1868, Ohver AYhitaker ; 1869, Mark Blanchard: 1870, Joseph D. Rhodes; 1872, Mark Blanchard; 1873. II. H. Oliver; 1874, Henry Col well ; 1875, AVilliam Holgate; 1876, AViniield Scott; 1877, Dennis Mawbey ; 1878, Joseph D. Rhodes-; 1879, Samuel AA'rigley; 1880, Andrew OliA^er; 1881, James M. Rogers; 1882; Henry Col well; 1884, Cvrus Bocock ; and 1885-7, Henrv Colwell.

The following were elected Avithout opposition at the close of the fair of 1886 ; Henry Cohvell, president ; Perry AVinnand C. AV. Brown, Aice presidents; AV. AV. Buswell, manager for Osceola and AVilson Trickle, manager for Essex. For secretary James Xowlan received 23r> votes and R. J. Dickinson (Jl, ALanagers for Goshen, J. H. Quinn received 149 votes and Fred lihodes, 144. Alanager for Elmira, Thomas Oliver received 229 votes and H. II. Oliver 68. Edward Colgan, A'alley ; E. B. Lyon, Toulon ; A. -1. .lolnison, AA'est Jersey; and Cyrus Bocock, Penn, were rei'lected. The field officers of the fair of 1886Avere: Col. AVilliam Jackson, Alai'shal; Cora Moore and Frank Berfield, Assistant Alarshals ; OhA'er AA^hitaker, Judge of Election ;

Aoricui.Tukal Socikties

The question of removing the fair to AVvoming was mooted early in 1873, and in January, 1874, took a definite foi'm. The history of this movement is best related in the following official docnments :

We, the citizens of Wyoming, pledge ourselves that we will haul the lumber from the fair grounds at Toulon, free of expense, to the Stark Co:ii!ty Agricultural Society, to Wyoming ; provided, the society locates thcii- grounds at the latter jDlace. ,Si(///ed, James Holgate, F. F. lirockway, W. F. Thomas, Alfred Castle, Perry Stauclilf, Samuel Thomas, Isaac Thomas.

1 hereby guarantee the payment of 1800 for the purpose of fencing and improving the Stark County Agricultural Fair Grounds ; providing, the said grouiids be located within the corporate limits of Wyoming, to be paid by June next. Sigiied, Wiufield Scott.

We, the undersigned, do hereby tender the Stark County Agricultural Society live acres of grounds, adjoining their present grounds on the east, upon the following conditions : 1st. The fairs of said society shall he held on the pi'esent fair grounds and the grounds hereby tendered for ten years next ensuing. 2d. The said society will give the right of way for a road across the north side of the present fair grounds, od. AVe do further tender to said society a bona-fide subscription of 200 da3's labor to improve ami fence said fair grounds, upon the conditions al)ove sj^ecified. Signed, B. C. Follett, F. liacmeister, J. D. Rhodes.

On January 24, 1874, the [))'()positions were discussed. AVni. ^o\\- lan's resolution to post])()ne consideration of the nuxtter until after the fair, was lost. AVni. Ilolgate -.noved that the Ayyoming proposal be accepted, to which -I. II. Anthony moved an amendment, pi'oviding for a vote on the two propositions l)y the agricultural board. This amendment was cari'ied, and the vote on the cpiestion taken with the following result : For tho ])roposition of Toulon, John II. Anthony, Samuel Bnrge, Henry M. llall. Davis Lownum, A. S. IMurchison, lleni-y II. Oliver, and James II. Quinn, 7; for the proposition of Wyoming, Henry Colwell, A. J. Finley, Wm. Ilolgate, AVm. Xowlan. James M. Itoii'ers and I. W. Searls, 0. Thus Wvoniin*'' lost - ami the old organization of 1853 continues meeting on the ancient hunting grounds neai' Toulon.

A meeting to consider the question of establishing a society with headquarters at W3^oming was held February 5, 1-881, on a call issued by Winfield Scott, 'W. II. Ilolgate, Samuel Wrigley and A. J. Sheets. This meeting was held with A. G. Ilauimond presiding, and T. I>. AYall, seci'etary. A constitution was reported, ado})ted and signed by Benjamin Bunnell. John Monier, John S])eers, James McKean, Geo. W. Scott, Winfield Scott. T. B. Wall, James M. Thomas, Sr., and Samuel Wrigley. The otticers then elected were Winfield Scott, president ; Samuel Wrigley, vice ])resident; T. ]]. Wall, secretary; J. M. Thomas, recording secretary; G. AY. Scott, treasurer. The society purchased from Mrs. ]\I. A. Markham a tract of 31»^ acres at $100 per acre, in April, 1881, and the work of bnilding and laying out grounds, entered upon. All was ready in July, and on September 0, 7, 8, and 1>, 1881, the first fair was held - preminms anujunting to .^^4,000 l)eing offered, the highest premium, s200, l)eing won by James McKean's 2:28i| trotters. The highest premium was s50 for short horns, won that year and since that time, with one exception, 1S81-, l)y AV. Scott Sz Son. In October, 1881, the election resulted as follows: AV. Scott, president; A. ^X. King, secretary; E. Davison, vice president; Wm. Ilolgate, treasurer; James McKean, II. B. Harris, Samuel AVrigley, Geo. AA^. Scott, directors. At the fair of 1882, two si 00 premiums were offered. The officers elected in 1882 wereAVm. Ilolgate, president; R. Davison, vice president ; T. B. AA^all, secretary ; J. M. Thomas, corresponding secretary ; A. AV^. King, treasurer ; AV. Scott, R. Davison, S. AVrigley, G. AA^. Scott and J. M. McKean, directors. The elections of 1883 resulted as follows : R. Davison, president ; Samuel AVrigley, vice president; A. G. Hammond, recording secretary; J. AI. Thomas, corres- ])onding secretary; Jacob Graves, treasurer; AV. C. Decker, John Monier, C. AV. Brown, Joseph Cox, directors. The officers for 1884 were AVinfield Scott, ]>resident ; John Moniei-, vice ]iresident ; C. P. Mc- Corkle, treasurer ; T. B. AVall, seci'etary ; D. S. Burroughs, A. AV. King, A. II. Mallory, Alichael Colgan, A. J. Sturms, directors. The officers of 1885-86 are AVinfield Scott, president ; John Monier, vice ])resident ; C. P. AlcCorkle. treasurer: AV. A. Scott, corresponding and recording secretary, with John Monier, C. P. McCorkle, J. A. Kloek, Samuel AVrigley, AV. A. Scott, AVinfield Scott, T. J. Bocock, James McKean E. II. 'Mallory, directors. The society was iucorpoi-ated in October, 1870. AVinfield Scott, AVm. Ilolgate, Samuel AVrigley and Andrew J. Sheets are named in the certificate, and the capital stock placed at it^lo,0O0. The roll of members comprises 231 names of stockholders owning 1,000 shares valued at $10 each, all paid up. The debts of the society in 1885 amounted to sl38, while against this, the grounds and buildings, counted among the finest in the State, stand to credit. This pi-operty is now declared free from taxation.

[IE first resident physician of Stark county was Dr. Eliplialet Ellsworth, who })ractice(l here before the Black Hawk war, and made a permanent settlement here in 1834. In 1835 a Dr. Pratt settled in Elinira township, and in 1837 came Dr. Thomas Hall, a man identified closely with the county up to the period of his death. He was followed by Dr. William Chandjerlain, in 1810. When dysentery and typhoid prevailed here they traveled on horseback for nine weeks, making eighty miles one day and fifty-six the next. Six years later he and Dr. Chamberlain attended 1,500 patients and dispensed eighty ounces of quinine or Peruvian bark. Dr. E. R. lioardnian, Dr. Bacmeister, Dr. Curtiss, Dr. King, and others, to whom full references are made in the township histories, must be classed as pioneer physicians. Many of the physicians who have practiced in this county are named in tlie following review: In May, 1881, Dr. Baldwin sold his office, lot and practice at Toulon to Dr. Pratt, of Galva. Charles W. Wi'ight, a medical student, died at Toulon, March 9, 1884. On June '28, 1883, Dr. L. L. Long moved to Toulon from Orion. Dr. Gilman, dentist, settled at Wyoming in July, 18T<». Dr. Thomas Motter, Avho was found dead in his office at AVx'oniing, January (5, 1885 ; })racticed in that town for twelve yeai's. Dr. J. (1. (Ireene died in August, 1879. He Avas an old resident of Wyoming. Dr. A. Swen moved to Canton, ]\IcPhe]'S(m county, Kansas, from AVvoming in March, 188G. Dr. Garfield, who practiced at Toulon from l.sll to 1818, then residing in a log cabin o})posite Benj. Turner's house, moved to LaSalle, 111. Dr. Curtiss, referred to in a former page, was one of the earl}^ phj^sicians here. In 1865 S. S. Kaysbiei' l)egan the practice of medicine here. He is no\v in ]\ansas. Dr. AV. J. Adams, dentist of Toulon, was })rohibited from using rulJjer dental plates in Se])tember, 1800. Dr. Kitchen, a dentist, was here in 1869. Dr. Dunn, l)i'()ther of Bev. li . C. Dunn, who served in the ]12th Illinois lufantrv, di^Hl at ('hicago. Cook county, in March, 1869. Dr. Waltei- T. Hail o])ened his officeat Toulon in March, 1869, moved to Bi'adford in October of that yeai", but subsecpiently returned to Toulon. Dentist Hoover was at Toulon in 1880. Dr. Clark Demuth, of Plymouth, Mich., ]n"acticed at Toulon ])rior to 1S81. Dr. J. C. Copestake, of AVyoming, pi-acticed at AVest Jersey, and here also were the following named ])liysicians : West, liarnett, Upshaw, Perry, AV. A. IIam[)ton, Claybaugh, 11. AV. King, AV. S. McClenahan. I)r. Eam])er pi-acticed some years at Bradford. In 1870 his son was ap[)ointed receiver for AVashington Territory. Dr. Swazey, the organizer of the first base ball club in the county, was at

Toulon about 1S»>G. In the fall of ISHO one Dr. Ilayden. of "Wyominu-. was taken to the tinil)er by the people and there siiaved, tarred, feathered and pelted with rotten eggs. His alleged assault on the daughter of the pastor of the M. E. Church there was the cause of this ])oi)ular punishment. li. O. Philli})s. of Cal.. practiced at Lafayette up to the time of his emigration to the Pacific slope. Dr. D. F. Chamberlain, a member of the first company sent from Stark Co. to the war, is now proprietor of a hotel at Eagle Rock. Idaho. Dr. Joseph S. Kohn died at Dorrance, Stark Co., March '29. 1SS~>. He Avas born in Union Co., Pa . in 1S09. l)ut for years practiced in Stark and Bureau Counties. Dr Chas. E. Jordan, formerly principal of the Castletou school, is now a dentist at Red Cloud. Xeb. Dr. Pinney, of Kewanee, an old settler of the county, who visited Texas, served in the rebel army, returned in A]iril. 1SS3. is now in Texas. His wife is a sister of Mrs. G. Laurence's mother. Dr. Gilman G. Shaw, a <;i'aduate of the Eclectic CoUeo-e of Pennsvlvania, settled in Loml)ardville about 1876. Dr. Emigh. of Ih-adford. left for Red Cloud, Xeb., 1SS3. Dr. A. V. For^ay located at Bradford in February, ISSO. Mrs. Dr. Henrietta Iv. Morris, formerly of ]3radford, was elected vice-president of the State Eclectic Medical Association in May, 1SS6. Dr. Annie L. Green removed from Bradford to Princeton in August. 1870. Dr. James Culbertson studied medicine, but has not ]iracticed here. Dr. Azra Lee, a surgeon in the war of 1812, connected with the village of Duncan, died in August, ls7»;. Dr. L. T. Sprague settled at Lafayette in the fall of 1881, and opened a drugstore there. Dr. Thomas, a physician of Duncan in 1881. Dr. Daniel Tyrrell is an old settler here, but long since retired from active professional work. Dr. S. T. C. Washburn died at Bradford in 1862, aged 4o years. Dr. Young was also here that year and here his wife died. The official list of physicians registered in Stark county since 1877 includes the following names: T. Bacmeister, Germanv, December 4, 1877: 11. :\L Hall, now of Kansas: ^y. T. Hall. U. S.. December 19, l'^77; L. L. Long. Pennsylvania. April 5. 1>^4; A. AV. Peterson, Germany, December 31, 1877. all registered at Toulon. The physicians registered at AVyoming since 1877 are named as follows: J. C. Copestake, England, Felnniary 1, 1878; Harvey X. Fox. Ohio, January 9, 1880 ; D. "W. Magee, Pennsylvania. December 20, 1881 ; X. B. MoVse, L". S., February ->, 1878. In the other villages throughout the county are found the following named registered physicians (all natives of the Union, with the exceptions of J. Fieldhouse, of Camp Grove, a native of Enij-landi: E. O. Boardman. Osceola: E. R. Boardman. Elmira; James G. Boardman, Bradford: AV. AV. Clayljaugh. AVest Jersey: John R. Crawford. Lafayette; O. ( . Dai-ling, Bradford: S. A. Davison, Bradford: J. Seth Farrell, Duncan: J. Fieldhouse, Camp Grove: J. R. Ilolu'ate. Castleton : AV. S. McClenahan. AVest Jersev : John B. Mc Dee. Camp Grove: S. T. AV. Potter, AVada Petra : G. G. Shaw, Lombardville; Loyal T. Sprague. Dr. Xicholls, Lafayette. Many of the above named physicians are members of the Military Tract ^ledica] Societv. and a few of them are eminent in scientific cii'cles.

Chaptee Xiy

HE AVestern Air Line Eailroad, or a road over the route siil)seqiiently surveyed under this name, was mentioned as early as 1850; but not until 1853 did the idea take practical shape. In that year the Western Air Line Eailroad Com- ' pany appealed to the county for aid, and this appeal was liberally responded to, as shown in the following abstract from a supreme court judgment. The case of Olaf Johnson i'. Stark county was tried before the State supreme court in April, I860. From the facts, as understood bv the court, the following are given : On August 13, 1853, 534 votes were cast in favor of aiding the Western Air Line Eailroad, while 141 votes were recorded against. In 1855, six per cent bonds were issued for $1,000 each, signed by W. AV. AVel)ster, chairman of the supervisors' board, and Miles A. Fuller, clerk, for which the}' received $50,000 stock in return. In the evidence of Johnson it is said that the Swedish, or Bishop Hill colony, graded sixteen miles of the road from Wyoming to Galva. It a])peared further that AYel)ster, at the election of railroad officers held at Lacon in 1856. cast the vote to which Stark county was entitled, and that in 1857 Isaac Thomas cast a representative vote. The judgment of the circuit court was reversed, and Stark county was ordered to pay both the principal and interest.

In September, 1855 the ceremony of breaking ground was performed. A dinner was spread on the public square at Toulon, and the $50,000 donation to the enterprise promised a twent3^-fold return. Work on this division of the W. A. L. railroad prior to May, 1856, represented 08.400 yards of excavation and embankment, and during that month 21,000 yards were completed. W. 11. Greenwood was engineer. At this time the road was graded from the south side of O. Whitaker's field to C. L. Eastman's farm. Then the shock came. The embankment was there, but beyond this there were no signs of completir.t;' the work. Intei'est coupons Avere ])resented and payment refused. On September 15, 1858, one Olaf Johnson sued the county for the amount of interest due on such bonds; but a judgment by the circuit court dismissed the suit; which Avas renewed, as stated, by the supreme court : and in March, 1862, the same victorious Olaf Johnson ])resented foi" ]xiyment sixty-five coupons; Claudius Jones, forty -one coupons; O. Whitaker, two coupons, and T. F. Hurd, five coupons - all of which the sujx'i'visors ordered to be paid.

and AVin. F. Thomas, of Wyoming, a director of the new board of tlie America! Central R. E. Those men knowing that $7()(»,000 worth of Avork was done, and 80 miles of road-l)ed made ready for the rails, determined not to consent to the al)anchjnment of tlie enter])rise: but their efforts were not attended with success, the county lost S5U,<>(io and a fountain of patience equal to as much more.

The Peoria A: Rock Islantl Ji. R. Go. was cliartered March 7, 1807. The first railroad meeting lield at Toulon was that of Aug. 26, 1867, i/i re the Peoria and Rock Island R. R. jU'oject. Chas. Myers presided with Oliver White secretary. M. Shallenberger, A. B. Gould and O. E. Page, of Cambridge, were the princijjal speakers. Resolutions were adopted endorsing the scheme, and a committee com])rising ^F. Shallenberger, Oliver Whitaker, P. ^[. Blair. Davis Lownum and Benjamin Turner was a])pointed to further the project. On Xov. 9, a second meeting was held, presided over by G. M. S. Lyon, with J. M. Brown, secretary. Resolutions were a(lo])ted pledging the township to subscribe 8-">0,0U(i, and a})pointing Miles A. Fuller, Davis Lowman and ]\Iartin Shallenberger a committee to take charge of raising this subscription. On Xov. 12, 18ti7, directors were elected, and on the same day W. R. Hamilton was chosen president and Patrick M. Blair, vice- })resident. A year or two later one of the local papers, noticing this election, stated : "'It is thi'ough Mr. Blair's effort, to a great extent, that the work has been pushed forwai'd so si)eedily in this county." On Xov. 22, 1867, citizens of Toulon, Penn. Essex, and valley townsliips assembled at Wvoming to consider the (jnestion of granting a bonus to the P. cV: 111. R. R. II. A. Hoist i)resided, with J. G. Copestake, secretary. A committee com])i'ising A. G. Hammond and C. H. Butler, of Essex ; John Wrigley and Isaac Tiiomas, of Toulon ; Chas. Holoate and Georoe Xicholas. of Penn ; and Elisha Dixon and Thomas Crone, of Valley, was ap])ointed to draft resolutions. Their re})ort Avas adoj)ted, and each townshi]) pledged to subscribe s.")0.OOO. A second committee to confer with the tlirectors was appointed. Isaac Thomas, WinHeld Scott. S. K. Gonover and James M. Rogers Avere the members. The voting on this question Jan. 27, 1868. resulted as follows: Toulon, for 281, contra 155, majority 129; Goshen, for 120, contra 116, majority 4; Essex, for 115. contra I2it. majority 5; Valley voted s30,<»i»(». The freeholders were wary this time, and surrounded their bonds with sucli conditions that default on the part of the com- ])any was out of the question. In Dec, 1867. the surveyors arrived at Touh)n. having- run the line from Princeville to Toulon via Wvoming. In July, 18t)8. the road was permanently located on this route (in })reference to the route via Brimfield). striking the old grade of the America Central at Wyoming, and following that to Toulon. In August, 1869, the AA^ork of repairing the grade of the " American Central," or \Y. a. L. R. R., was entered upon just we^^t of Toulon, the consideration to the old defaultin"" comiianv beinu: about S27.000. The road was so far completeil by 1>( 1 that in June of that year a construction train steamed into Toulon, the event being celebrated l)y a dinner spread in Judge Ogles grove. On Juh' 8, 1871, the first regulai- trnin passed over the road.

In October, 1SH9, the Peoria & Kock Island Kailroad Co. was consolidated with the Hock Island & Pacific Railroad, thus uniting the Coal A^alley Railroad and completing one of the best short lines in the state. During the quarter century of its existence, several accidents on this road have been recorded, the death of vouno: Fuller near the depot being one of the saddest. On January 10, 18S1, a coach attached to the freight went over the embankment on the Rock Island & Peoria near Indian creek. Conductor Samuel Grant was killed. The thermometer stood 2S'^ l)elow zero, so that the survivors were ahnost frozen when rescued. In January, 1882, William Allen, a well-known cattle-dealer, was killed by a train while crossing the Rock Island & Peoria ti'ack near Robt. Mitcheirs house. The Rock Island & Peoria is assessed $198,755 for its 19 miles and 169 feet of main track, 1 mile and 2,120 feet of side track ; buildings valued at $1,500 and rollingstock at $11,055 within Stark county.

The Rushville Branch of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy rail- I'oad brings one back to 1855, when the Jacksonville & Savannah rail- ]-oad project was agitated and the Peoria & Hannibal railroad project became ])retentious. In 1861, James II. Stipp and Judge Henry L. Bryant, the central figures of the two corporations, gave a perpetual lease of the two roads to James F. Joy and E. B. Ward, agents of the ( liicago, Burlington & Quincy, the conditions being that the roads woidd be completed and operated regularly by the greater corporation. In 1862 the road was completed to Canton, May 2, and to Lewist(m in June, 1862, and to Rushville in 1869, and early the same year the question of subsidy was mooted in Valley, Essex, Penn and Osceola townships, as related in the several chapters devoted to those The branch was then known as the Peoria, Dixon & Hannibal railroad. Being very liberally subsidized, the builders completed the 11^ miles - Buda to Elmwood - in 100 days, and thus defeated the efforts of the Rock Island & Peoria people to claim the pioneer railroad of the county. Dr. Alfred Castle, an old resident of Wyoming, was one of the leading spirits in pushing forward this enterprise ; and it is related that for a time the new road was o-enerallv called " The Castle Flax-road,'' the soljriquet of the doctor being " Old Flax." Through his influence the depot was ])laced in the new town, a distance from the business center, round which North Wyoming has since grown up.

The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad is assessed $192,611 tor its 20 miles and 1,892 feet of main'track, 1 mile and 1,621 feet of side track, together with buildings valued at $2,721, and rolling-stock at $27,668, all within Stark county.

In ISSO it was reported tliat a branch of the Hannibal & St. Joe railroad was to be built from Quincy to Chicago via Wyoming. At this time, also, the Peoria tfe Northwestern railroad project came up, ])r()vi(ling for a route via Wyoming and Toulon to Dubuque.

In July, 1881, articles of incorporation were filed at Toulon l.>y tlje Indiana, Illinois & Iowa Railroad Co. It promised a third railroad to Stark county, l)ut the scheme did not materialize. A meeting to foster the building of this road was held at the county seat in March, 1882. John M. Bro\vn presided, with A. P. Miller. secretar\^ Smith, of Keithsburg, gave the history of the enterprise, and a committee was appointed to solicit subscriptions to the capital stock. E, A. Burge, J. H. Miller. Wm. Xowian. AY. H. Winans. James II. Quinn, Major Merriman, Harrison Miner. John O'Xeil and Samuel Burge were appointed ; but the time was inopi)ortune, and so the project is allowed to sleep.

The Atchison. Santa Fe it Chicago liailroad r'omi)any, a southwestern peo])le are now seeking direct communication with Chicago. Surveyers have been through this country, and the probability is that within a short time Stark county will have a main line instead of the Ijranches which afflict her with their variable time-tables and total absence of a desire to connect their trains for the convenience of the ])ublic.

The Great Southern & Canadian I^nderground Eailroad, noticed in the old settler's chapter, has long since passed away. The division of Stark witnessed many a ^veary slave pass foi'ward on the road to Canada and freedom- - a criminal in his own land.