Williamson County, Illinois - The whole text, 1905 (part 1 of 9)

Preface

^^^HE evolution of book-making has, in our time, reached such a stajre of perfection that the ^^^ non-professional public has been trained to expect the impossible. With them the printer (unfortunate man) has only to wave his hand and crj' "let there be light" and there is light - printed, illustrated, bound and delivered. They never know of the weary days of the canvasser; the exhausting drudgery of the brain wracking burner of the midnight oil as he grinds but his grist; the patient, never-ceasing, yet swift and unerring compositor as he nimbly fingers the leaden messengers; or the lightning-like manipulator of the linotype miracle. They know not the woes of that universal walking encyclopedia, the proof-reader: or the vexations of the editor. No sooner do they read or hear of a new book, then it is on the market. The dear public is out for entertainment; it looks for good lights and a comfortable seat, fine music and an interesting play, and it- is not expected to go nosing around after the rigging that shifts the scenery- So ye. ''Souvenir Book man" is not astonished that the dear innocent public looked for the work of months to be accomplished in as many days. Nor does he wonder that some enthusiastic patrons found it difficult to maintain their interest through the eighteen months of arduous labor required to perfect the volurdn now given to the public. And this sufficiently explains the omissions of prpmjneiit persons, places and things from the book. The author wanted them all, but couldn't get around in time' for some and was turned down by a few. So there are some blanks where he expected a full representation, for which he offers no apology: he did the best he could. '

To the few who lent a helping hand he offers the grateful incense of the belated footsore traveler caught in the darkness, rain and mud, to the driver of a brisk span and a covered buggy who ""gives him a lift", and whirls him to his journey's end. So the '"Souvenir Book man" wants particularly to acknowledge his indebtedness to Judge Geo. W. Young for the valuable historical matter furnished bj' him, without which it would have been scarcely possible to succeed. The Public Schools, as far as they are interested in the book, will join the autlior in thanks to Hon. R. O. ;yj Clarida. superintendent of public schools; Prof. J. W. Asbui-y, principal of Marion city schools; to

H sional gentlemen, particularly to the large corps of physicians, members of the bench and bar, ministers, bankers, and business men generally a hearty and grateful acknowledgement for ready and cheerful acquiescence and efficient aid in the arduous undertaking is the least that can be rendered by a grateful and weary old man. The book itself, it is to be hoped, will not be a disappointment. fj> Its mechanical execution refiects credit upon the incomparable workmen connected |with the Le-

By Mrs. M. J. Sparks

No towering mountains guarded The spot where the hamlet lay; No mighty river brought it wealth And commerce day by day. No scenery picturesque and grand Brought travelers from afar. Yet who shall say it was not born Beneath a luckj' star.

For steadily has it prospered Through many a month and year; And stately buildings proud- Iv stand Where herded once the deer. And o'er the plain where the "whip-per-will" Oft called to its mate afar. Now is heard the engine's whistle, And the hum of the trolley car.

How proudly were they welcomed back, Each husband, brother, son! But many, alas, were missing Of those heroes tried and true; And others yet were swinging An empty sleeve of blue.

And no more generous people In this wide universe. E'er helped a friend in trouble Or opened wide the purse When an unlucky stranger Appealed to them for aid; Or the widow and the orphan Their plea for shelter made.

WILLIAMSON County lies in Southern Illinois, on the dividing ridge between the Ohio and the Mississippi rivers, and between parallels 3 7 degrees 30 minutes and 38 degrees North Latitude. The meridian of 89 degrees of Longitude west from Greenwich passes about three miles west of Marion, and corresponds with the 12th degree of Longitude west from Washington. It is composed of townships S, 9 and 10 south, and Ranges 1, 2, 3 and 4 east, and is, therefore.

in the form of a rectangular parallelogram, twenty-four miles from east to west, and eighteen miles from north to south, thus containing 432 square miles or 207,480 acres. It is bounded on the north b.v Franklin County, on the e st by

Log Cabin Of Wm. Watson

THERE are (luite a number of homes in Marion which aspire to the honor of being the very first home erected on the present site of the city of Marion, but careful inquiry among the oldest inhabitants decided an ancient log cabin Stan Mng near the Edward's flouring mills and fronting West Main street, just east of the C. & E. I. Railroad tracks. Mr. Lewis Calvert, however, insists that the old Calvert house, put up by his brother in 18 4.5, was the first and the log cabin built in 1847, the second.

It is now occupied by colored people, William Watson and his wife, and Mrs. Robinson, who have lived in it continuously since 1882. A picture of the ancient structure is given herewith.

It was built in 1843 or 41 by George Felts and John Hooper, who put up the cabin to have a place to live in while building the mill which stands near it. The cabin is double, with a passage way three feet wide through the center and three rooms on each side. There is a loft overheai for storage or sleeping purposes, reached by a pair of steep stairs in the corner of each division. The ceiling is only about six feet or six and a half feet hish, and can be easily reached by the hand. The floor is of puncheons or hewed logs, and the roof of oak "shakes" or split boards. It fronts the south and stands on a little knoll among trees of different sorts. The sides and ends are covered with clapboards, and chimneys of sticks laid up in mud originally stood at cither end.

It seems that Captain .lames Cunningham and Milton and Dr. Jonathan Mulkey, seeing the necessity of having a flouring mill for this region bought the necessary machinery and had it shipped to Marion, before the town was built and before railroads existed in these parts, with the intention of putting up a flour mill. But, being ignorant of the whole business, they could do nothing with the machinery, nor could they find a man in a dozen counties who could. At last, however, Felts and Hooper heard of the situation and seeing their opportunity, came down from Franklin, bought the outfit for a song and erected the first grist and saw mill ever put up in the county. It was run by steam and people came with their grain from many miles around to get their grists ground. So great was the demand that they often had to wait three and four weeks for their turn. So busy were the enterprising millers with their saw mill and grinding that they had no time to build them a new house and lived in their log cabin and run their mill for many years. The old mill finally burned down and was replaced by the present brick structure, but the old log cabin still stands and affords a home to a couple of hardworking Christian women and their helpless companion.

Saline County, on the south by Johnson County and on the west by Jackson County. A circle of fifty miles would pass through North Cairo, about half way between Cairo and Mound City; cross the Ohio at Paducah and again at Smithland, Ky., pass through Marion Ky., about ten miles east of Elizabethtown, cross the Wabash and the Ohio near their junction, about ten miles northeast of Shawneeto.vn, just miss Carnii, White County, and Fairfield, in Wayne County, leaves Mt. Vernon ten miles south and Salem, the same distance to the north: passes through Nashville, the county seat of Washington, Sparta and Chester, in Randolph, and crossing the river at that place, just miss Perryville, Jackson and Benton, Mo. Its nearest point to the Ohio is at Golconda, o5 miles distant, and the same from Vineland, on the Mississippi River, near Jonesboro, the county seat of Union County.

Williamson County is one of the most fertile and productive of the district, popularly known as Egypt from its great fertility and the fact that it supplied for a long time the more newly settled parts of the state with food.

The northern and southern portions of the County are rolling and somewhat broken, but not sufficiently so to prevent successful cultivation; while the central parts are level, and thirty and forty years ago quite marshy in some sections. With drainage and cultivation, however, the marshes have long since disappeared, and corn ani cattle flourish where the bull-frog once made night musical.

The County was originally heavily timbered, but the annual fires, for which the hunters and their dusky brethren, the Indians, were mainly responsible, checked the growth and turned much of it into what is known as "oak openings." But with the disappearance of the Indian and the subsidence of the annual fires, the forest has again asserted its supremacy, and the former "oak openings" are covered with a heavy growth of young timber.

The great increase in coal mining an 1 railroad building, however, is rapidly using up the timber, and fat pastures are taking the place of woodlands. There is a water-shed which begins near the northeast corner of the County and extends southwestwardly to the Village of Crab Orchard; thence it runs in a more westerly direction to the northeastern corner of Southern Township; thence across said township to the south line of Section 33, where it leaves the County. About one-third of the surface of the County lies sloping to the southeast of this water-shed, and is drained by the Bad^eley, Bank Lick, Brushy Rock and Saline creeks, which flow into the Ohio River. The balance of the County slopes towarJ the northwest and is drained by Pond Lake and Crab Orchard Creeks and the Big Muddy River, which flows into the Mississippi.

The discovery of coal in Williamson County and the great development of the industry has made its geological formation and history of one special interest and importance. The limits of this volume, however, compel us to leave the scientific treatment of the subject to specialists in that line, and deal with it only from a practical point of view.

There is very little limestone found in the county, not enough to be of any commercial value, but a brown sandstone found in the vicinity of Crab Orchard dresses well anl hardens on exposure; and an abundance of good brick clay is found on almost every farm.

To the casual observer the soil of Williamson County will be regarded as thin and poor, as it is largely a yellowish clay, but with proper tillage it will, and has produced excellent crops of corn, wheat, potatoes, cotton and tobacco. "Of late years, however, farmers are complaining of a falling off in production, and are turning their attention to cattle and fruit-raising.

The Old C.M.Viokt Home

This venerable old relic once the "swell" mansion of a prosperous citizen of Marion, but now degraded into a smutty blacksmith's shop and a place to store agricultural implements, was built by N. B. Calvert in 1842, the year he married. Here he raised his family and here he died in 1SS2. The old homestead passed into the hands of its present owner, John B. Heyde, October 4, 1889, and was run then er rotation of crops or fertilization, will, in time, exhaust the fertility of any soil, even of "Egypt." Necessity has, therefore, compelled the tillers of the soil to abandon old methods for new and increasing prosperity results. When corn, in the early days, was the only crop, some of the thin clay soils were regarded as of little value, but people have discovered that land which will not pay the rent when put into corn or wheat will yield an abundant and profitable harvest of all kinds of fruit and vegetables.

All varieties of berries, beginning with the luscious strawberry, thrive in unequalled luxuriance in this part of "Egypt." The time was, and not very long ago, when a tenacre strawberry patch was a marvel, but fields of forty and eighty acres are now "as thick as blackberries."

thirty cars loaded with strawberries going over one line of roa i to Chicago daily for weeks, and some idea of the immense traffic in that luscious fruit in its season may be gained. We do not say that this county alone does that, but it adds its full quota to the general output of "Egypt" in that particular.

Following the strawberry, from early May on through the season, Pomona is the settler's gold mine. Currants, gooseberries, cherries, early apples, raspberries, plums, apricots, peaches, pears, grapes, quinces, till, last and chief of all, comes the winter apple. It has taken them a long time to find it out, but farmers are leai-ning that there is more money for the outlay in time and labor in the honest, good, old, long-keeping winter .apple than in almost anything else the soil is capable of producing.

industry is springing up of growing early vegetables for the Northern markets, and vast quantities of spinach, peas, beans, onions, pieplant, sweet and Irish potatoes, melons, tomatoes, etc., are grown and shipped North at a very satisfActory profit. No portion of Southern Illinois is more capable of a successful prosecution "f this industry than this County.

Cotton. which was generally grown here before, during, and for a few years after the Civil War, is no longer produced, it being too far north to be a safe crop. Its most flourishing period was while the South was hindered from producing it by reason of the Civil War; but with the return of peace, normal conditions prevailed, the County could no longer compete with the plant in its natural home, and its production was almost entirely abandoned.

School At Stone Fort

There is no doubt that the Indians and the early settlers raised their own tobacco, but it began to be raised for market in 1S40. In 1849 M. S. Ensminger bought and shipped to New Orleans 1100 hogsheads of the weed, bought almost exclusively in this and the adjoining Counties.

So general was the industry at that time, and so profitable as well, that Marion was often glutted with tobacco teams and loaded wagons at harvest time. As many as 50 loade 1 tobacco wagons have been counted at one time on the public square, waiting to be unloaded. All the farming community were engaged in raising, manufacturing or shipping the weed, and fortunes were made and lost in the business. But after the close of the Civil War the government surrounded the business with many regulations and restrictions, and taxed the finished product so heavily that it discouraged the raising of the crop, and, declining prices reducing the profits, the business gradually was abandoned, until now none is raised for market in this region.

mules are an important feature of trade; industries of various kinds are springing up, as milling, lumber, brick-making, artificial icemaking, cold storage, electric lighting and transportation, and above all. coal mining. With the rapid increase of population attending the development of the mining industry, has come a large increase in building: fine houses and business blocks are springing up all around, and the sound of the saw and hammer can be heard at all times everywhere. Every town and village in the County shares in the solid era of prosperity which has dawned upon the County: wages are good, and few idle hands are to be seen anywhere.

In consequence of the i-rcat increase in mining, tlie population of Marion, Carterville, Herrin and Johnson City has more than doubled since the last census was taken.

On this property 2 0 cents was levied on each $100 for state purposes, and 2 5 cents for county purposes, making in all $749.25. In 1S40 the tax collector reported all collected except $18.01. which was delinquent, thus leaving $721.23 'Collected, of which $3 25 belonged to the state and $406.23 to the county. By comparing the above figures.

it will be observed that, at that time the personal property was valued at more than five times as much as all the lands in the county subject to taxation. But this is accounted for by the fact that only a small portion of the public funds had then Ijeen entered and conveyed to indi- ->irlual purchasers.

double that of the personal property. The State tax charged therein, including the school tax, amounted to $7,059.53; and the County tax to $3,687.81. The total for all purposes, $10,747.34.

Total, for all purposes $5,031.61 The following table is compiled from the Public Records for IS 86. and shows the total assessed value of property and the amount of taxation thereon in each Congressional District for that year:

THE first printing office ever establised in Williamson County was in the year 1838, was owned by W. H. Willeford, and was located at his residence, seven miles southeast of- Marion. This was before Marion was laid off and located as a county seat. In fact. It was while Williamson and Franklin Counties were embraced in the same territory and called Franklin County, with the county seat at old Frankfort, twelve miles north of Marion. Mr. Willeford was energetic and resourceful, and was a good printer for his day and time; he was also a book binder; he bound small books and pamphlets, and printed about all of the blank forms that were used by the county offices and Justices of the Peace. He continued in this line of printing and book binding until about the year 1S5 0, when he established a by-monthly journal, called the "Western Family Monitor." The publication of this paper, in connection with the job printing turned out by the office, attracted the attention of some business men In Marion, who bought out his press and stock of printing material, and moved the same to Marion, and started the newspaper called the "Marion Intelligencer," published

Rev. B. F. Baker D. C. Smith

From l.s.5o to lb..59 the 'Marion Intelligencer" was the only newspaper printed and published in the County. There were many changes in editors, publishers and managers. It is said that at one time Robert G. IngersoU was manager and editor-in-chief. This was, perhaps, about the year 1S5S and 1859. The Winter and Spring of 1861, Mr. De Bard Rock and Mr. John McGarvey were editors and managers. With the breaking out of the Civil War, it seems that the paper suspended publication for a while. We have no reliable data as to the extent of the publication of any newspaper during the time of the Civil War, although the office and material situated in a room on the north side of the Public Square was occasionally used to do job printing and to keep up appearances. It continued to bear the name of the "Marion Intelligencer," and was the only newspaper published in the County. In the Spring of 186G, the name of the paper was changed to "The Marion Star," and was owned by a company, or an association, of individuals, and published as the Democratic organ of the County.

In ISfifi, the first Republican paper ever printed or published in the County was issued by an association that organized for the purpose of giving the Republicans in the County a newspaper or party organ. The original contributors to this enterprise were Captain George W. Sisney, Capt. William X. Mitchell, Capt. David G. Young, S. M. Mitchell, William M. Hindman, Jesse Bishop and George W, Young. The name given it was "Our Flag." Lyman E. Knapp. a practical printer. and Jesse Bishop were designated

George W. Sisney, Republican, was elected Sheriff at the election in November, 18G6. and the Republicans having carried the election the year previous, they had control of all the County offices.

another, continued to be the organ of the Republican party during the years 1S67, ISGS and 1869. Judge Jesse Bishop shaped the policy and politics of the paper. Lyman B. Knapp, the original editor and publisher, was succeeded by Ed Bishop, and others, among whom I remember was John I. Hogg. James F. Connell and Samuel O. Hart. James F. Connell became editor and publisher in the Spring of 1870, and remained in charge something like one year, when the office again came under the control of Judge Jesse Bishop.

In 1871, the material of "The Marion Star" was disposed of to Mit A. Bates, who establishel the paper called "The People's Friend," independent Democrat. About the year 1874 "The People's Friend" was sold by Mit A. Bates to an old gentleman by the name of W. R. Brown and his sons, Richard H. and C. D., who changed the name to that of "The Williamson County Democrat." and run it for a short time, but it was closed out liv the Sheriff.

A stock company was formed in the Spring of 1S75. which organized and started a Democratic paper called "The Egyptian Press," Will S. Washburn as manager, editor and publisher. The old printing office and material of the Republican party, called "Our Flag," was run under other names and other managements up to May, 1S74, when James P. Copeland, of Vienna, came to Marion, and procured a lease, or rather a permit, to revive the dormant "Flag." This he proceeded to do by changing the name to "The Marion Monitor." On the 30th day of May, 1S75, the offices of "The Egyptian Press" and "Marion Monitor" were consumed bv fire, lioth a total loss. "The

EgJ'ptian Press" was immediately re-established by a stock company or association of leading Democrats of the County, among whom we call to mind Z. Hudgens. Jas. M. Washburn. Charles H. Denison. William H. Bun y, N. E. Xorris, William T. Davis, Levi Ferrell; there might have been others, but we do not call them to mind at this distant day.

"The Marion Monitor" was reestablished at once by James P. Copeland and George W. Young, who were assisted by liberal contributions from various Republicans throughout the County. James P. Copeland continued to be editor and publisher, and the paper continued to be, as it had been from the start, soundly Republican, while "The Egj-ptian Press" was soundly Democratic. In 1S77, John F. Lusk, a practical printer an 1 writer, bought an interest in "The Monitor" from George W. Young, and remained connected with the paper something like two years, when he sold out to John H. Duncan and E. E. Mitchell. In ISSC. Thomas J. Helton started a paper called "The Marion Independent," published the same about one year, when it was bought by a stock company composed of E. E. Mitchell, John H. Duncan. W. C. S. Rhea and Elder

The group whose half tone and names appear above has had for its organist and leader for the past 22 years Mrs. Dora Evans, wife of Dr. Evans, and its members all agree in ascribing whatever efficiency they possess to her skill and untiring diligence and persistency in their training. To a reader of character, the portraits speak for themselves and the artist is no flatterer. One portrait we are compelled to omit. It is tat of Mrs. Alice Cline, who with her husband were visiting in California when the group was taken. She is a talented soprano singer.

Otis W. Williams

William H. Bole.,, a'.id this office was consolidated with "The Marion Monitor" in 1886, and the name changed to "The Leader," with Jas. P. Copeland editor and manager. This new company continued the publication of "The Leader" for abut one year, when it became the property of O. J. Page, who, after running the paper about a year, sold the same to Arthur Roberts and Thomas M. Mitchell.

About 1896, W. R. Lee started a paper in Marion called "The Marion News," which was Republican in politics, but was not well supported. It was mostly of the material of the defunct "Creal Springs News." (independent).

During the period from 18 6 6 to 18 7 5, there were a great many newspaper enterprises started by aiyenturous itinerant printers, but aS a rule, they did not exist very long, and died for the want of patronage.

I call to mind the "Williamson County Progress" published by John A. Wall. It was a Republican sheet, but did not last more than about one year. Another, called "The Old Flag." It was established by Lyman B. Knapp, after he had ceased his connection with the Republican paper called "Our Flag," which, as I have said before, was the first Republican paper ever established and published in Williamson County. Another called "The People's Friend," established by Mit A. Bates, ft was an independent Democratic paper, and was the most successfully published paper of the whole number of papers of this class, I think. It went out of existence, being succeeded by the Egyptian Press Printing Company in 1874, when the plant was sol 1 to an old eccentric publisher by the name of H. P. Brown, and his two sons, Richard H. and C. D., of White County. They published, for a while, two papers, one called "The Williamson County Advocate," and other they called "The Williamson County Democrat." They did not live more than a year, as the old gentleman and his two sons were rather eccentric in their style, and their publications were not popular with any class of our citizens.

Some time about the year '84, Thomas J. Helton established or bought out a dead office in Creal Springs, called "The Creal Springs Advocate," and run it something like a year on a losing basis, and then moved to Marion, and printed "The Marion Independent" for one year, and sold the same to the stock company that bought out the old "Marion IVIonitor" Company, and established "The Marion Leader."

About the year 1SS2, John H. Barton established "The Carterville Advocate," and sold the same afterwards to James P. and B. F. Copelani, who run the same something over a year, and sold it to L. E. Robertson, who still continues the publication of the paper. Will L. Connell established a paper at Creal Springs, called "The Creal Springs

Hon. Robt. P. Hill. .1. P., And Wife

Union." It was poorly supported, and didn't exist but a few months. when it was accidentally burned out. There was a paper called "The Farmers' Advocate." printed by H. G. Blood and John Palmer. It had Democratic tendencies in politics.

About the year 1S70, Green Stewart, George Gulp, Fergis Farris and T. J. Helton launched the newspaper enterprise, called "The Marion Gazette." It professed to be independent in politics. They issued five numbers and it died a natural death. "The Williamson County Republican" was started by Thomas Boren in Marion in 1SS9, but

Residence Of A. J. Binkley Arthur G. Davis

In June, 1904, Tlie Leader Printing Office was incorporated with a capital stock of eight thousand dollars, incorporators being Arthur Roberts, T. M. Mitchell, John H. Duncan, O. H. Burnett, Oliver J. Page, Lloyd C. Campbell, J. F. Throgmorton, John M. Dodd, J. B. Bundy, F. T. Joyner, Leonard Culp, W. T. Felts. John H. Duncan was elected President of the Company; O. H. Burnett, Vice President, and L. C. Campbell, Secretary and Treasurer. Arthur Roberts was chosen as editor and publisher.

January 1, 1S95, Samuel K. Casey bought a half interest of the "Egyptian Press," and the same was owned by Samuel K. Casey and Jas. M. Washburn until 19 01, when Walter Williams bought Jas. M. Washtnirn's half interest. Casey and AVilliams were the owners until January, 190 3, when James H. Felts bought Williams' interest. The plant is now owned by Samuel K. Casey and James H. Felts.

Copeland and others, bought "The Marion News" from W. R. Lee, and established a paper called "The Record," so that there are now three weekly papers in Marion, viz: "The Leader," "The Egyptian Press" and "The Record." The papers printed in the county at present are: "Herrin News," (Independent), printed at Herrin; "Carterville Herald," (Independent), at Carterville; "Creal Springs News," (Independent), at Creal Springs; "Johnson City Review," (Independent), "Johnson City Progress" (Republican) rt Johnson City; "Egyptian Press," (Democratic) ; "Marion Leader," Republican: and "The Record," Republican, the last three at Marion.

Residence Of William J. Spiller

There have been several attempts to publish a daily paper in Marion, first by J. P. Copeland, who started "The Daily Leader" in 1900; next was "The Marion Post," by Ollie R. Nation, in 1901; next was "The Marion News," by W. R. Lee. These publications were of short duration, and in March, 19o2, Casey and Felts, having bought out the "Daily Marion News" and "The Daily Marion Post," began the publication of the "Daily Marion Post," and it has become a permanent daily publication, with a circulation of eight hundred. It is quite a newsy sheet, neatly printed, and well edited in the main.

Political Parties

THE early settlers of this County were people from the Southern States, principally from Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia and the Carolinas, and it was but natural that these people should bring with them and cherish their political opinions, which prevailed almost universally over the Southern portions of this County since the foundation of the Government, viz: Proslavery and Democratic; hence the normal conditions of the people of Williamson County prior to IS 60 were Democratic, intensely so.

Going back as far as 1S52, in the Presidential election, the Democrats polled 799 votes for Franklin Pierce for President, General Winfleld Scott, nominee of the Whigs, received 344 votes for President. Four years later, in IS.IC. .lames Buchanan, Democratic nominee for President, received 1419 votes: John C. Fremont, the first nominee for President run by the Republican party, received lu votes: Millard Fillmore, the candidate run by the

Four years later, in IS GO, at the time when the Democrats experienced the bolt of the Southern wing of the party at the Baltimore Convention, in which the Northern Democrats generally supported Stephen A. Douglas, and the Southern Democrats John C. Breckenridge, and the Unionists supported John Bell, of Tennessee. At this election, Stephen A. Douglas received 1S35 votes; Abraham Lincoln, 873 votes; John C. Breckenri'ge received 40 votes and John Bell 166 votes. Four years later, in 1S64,

Robert Sparks Residence Of F. M. Sparks

This substantia! and elegant home of Mr. Sparks and his family stands on the north side of West Main street in Marion, between Court and Vicksburg. The grounds are spacious and nicely kept, as shown in the half-tone and the land lies on the highest point in the street giving its attractive surroundings a prominence which at once commands the admiration of the passer-by. It was largely planned by Mrs. Sparks and her husband, and erected by their son, Robert Sparks, the Contractor and Builder, in 1903.

Philip Rick Axd Wife

being the Presidential election that occurred during the war, McClellan received 1121 votes, Lincoln received 859 vtes. This brings us up to the close of the War in IS 6. 5, and it shows that in 18.56 there were only ten Republicans in the County who voted lor John C. Fremont, the regular nominee for President of the Republican Party. There were ISS "Know Nothings," or straight Americans, and the Republican vote only increased during the four years to 173, being the number Lincoln received for President in 1860.

In an early day prior to 1840, the voting was done viva voce, and after the adoption of the system of voting by ballot, it was the custom for the names of all candidates to be printed upon one slip of paper or ballot, and the voter, with a pencil, scratched off all the names except the one he wished to vote for. The voting in Presidential years was done by preparing the ballot with the names of all the Presidential electors printed thereon, and this was followed by the names of all the candidates for State Offices and other minor offices, and this system has been kept up to the present time, as it is the system provided for in the Constitution, so that in the Presidential elections of 18.56, 1860 and 1S64, the names of the Republican and Democratic electors were on separate tickets, but usually on the same piece of paper, so that the system of scratching, as it was called, remained in vogue until 1891, when the present Australian ballot system was adopted in this State, hence for the last thirteen years, the tickets have been printed at public expense, with cards containing voluminous instructions as to how the voter could vote his sentiments when retired to the secrecy of the voting booth.

was no Republican Organization in the County. The 173 votes cast for Abraham Lincoln for President were east by his supporters, who procured their own tickets and wrote them out themselves. In 1864, the regular Republican ticket was printed by the State Central Committee, containing the names of the various State Officers, but the candidates for County offices were simply put on the County part of the ticket, without the formality of any Republican caucus or Convention, so that while there were some Republican or Union men voted for prior to 1865, they were on what was called mixed tickets, upon which all the names of all the candidates were placed, and the voters scratched the

There was never any notable contest where Party lines were drawn, except perhaps in the contest for Sheriff in 186 4, when Captain Francis M. Norman and Captain Robert M. Allen were candidates for Sheriff. Captain Robert M. Allen was regarded as a Democrat, and Captain Norman was an avowed Union man, as they were called then, but really a Republican. While their names were printed on the same ticket, it was understool that the Republicans or Union men would scratch tne name of Robert M. Allen and give their vote to Captain Norman, and so the Democrats like-

West Side Hotel Mrs. S. S. Vick

The heavy vote of S5 9 cast for Abraham Lincoln in 1SG4 was principally given by soldiers, who were in the army, and who were furloughed home to vote in the election. Of course, this vote was largely supplemented by the friends and relatives of the soldiers in the Union Army. But the alignment of political parties and the selection of candidates to be voted for by the different political parties did not assume definite shape until September 30, 1865. The War closed in May of that year, and from that on until September, the soldiers who had enlisted in the Union Army were being mustered out ; and Jesse Bishop, who hal been a politician in Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and also had taken some interest in politics in McLean County in this State, came to this County in 1S64, and was the guiding star in directing and conducting the political campaign of 1SC4, and when the soldiers returned from the War, they were influenced, in a great measure, by such men as John A. Logan, who then resided at Carbondale, and Major A. J. Kuykendall, at Vienna, and General Green B. Raum, who lived at Harrisburg, and Captain Isaac Clements, of Carbondale, supplemented with such positive characters as Captain Francis M. Norman, Geo. W. Sisney. David G.

Residence Of Jo Vick

Young, William N. Mitchell, Geo. W. Young and numerous others, that had been conspicuous in the army and during the V.'ar aligned themselves with the Republican party; and the inside history sliows that on the 30th day of September, 1S65, there were thirteen of the exsoldiers and Union men met in the rear room of the drug store of Dr. Isaac M. Lewis, on the south side of the Public Square, in the old frame building, corresponding with the store room owned by Dr. Casey at this time, and they then and there proceeded to nominate and make up the first Republican ticket that was ever placed before the people of Williamson County at the general election. The names of those individuals were as follows: Dr. Isaac M. Lewis, Dr. Geo. L. Owen, Samuel W. Russell, Dr. S. M. Mitchell, Captain Francis M. Norman, Geo. A. Willeford, James M. Edwards, Captain Geo. W. Sisney, Robert P. Erwin, A. J. Lewis, Addison Reese, Jesse Bishop and Geo. W. Young. This caucus proceeded to nominate candidates for the different County offices, to be voted for at the coming November election. For County Judge, Robert L. Pulley; Associate Justices, Jonathan Impson and Addison Reese; for County Clerk, Captain William N. Mitchell; for Superintendent of Schools, Captain David G. Young; for County Treasurer, Joseph W. Hartwell, of the 31st Illinois. On the 21st of October following, Robert L. Pulley died, and at the suggestion of Jesse Bishop, who was then regarded as the head of the party, Isaac M. Lewis was placed on the ticket to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. Pulley. There being no printing office under the control of the Republicans

Reading from left to right the Board of Education is as follows: Top row - Ed Spilled, E. E. Denison, W. G. Cochran, Dr. A. il. Edwards. 2nd row - J. M. Burkhart, Geo. H. Goodall and W. J. Aikman.

With the steady advance in improvements in all matters pertaining to education, a change from the old system of control under the old law was inevitable, and it came in 1898. The Board of Education was organized at that time, and its first members were: W. H. Bundy, its first president, W. W. Clemmens, Judge W. W. Duncan, Dr. A. M. Edwards, J. .M Cline, W. J. Aikman and .J. H. Burnett. They were divided into one, two and three year members, and the President and two members are elected every year. The two new members of the present Board are E. M. Stotlar, President, and .J. M. Do'ld.

at that time. Captain David G. Young and Joseph \V. Hartwell rode through the country on horseback to Desoto to have the tickets printed to be voted at the coming elecion. The election came off on the 7th day of November, 1S65. The whole Republican ticket was elected by good majorities, being the first Republican ticket and the first Republicans that were ever' elected to any office in Williamson County.

The next year, 1SG6, was the first general State and Congressional election that came off after the close of the war. Geo. W. Sisney was candidate for Sheriff on the Republican ticket, and Samuel S. Vick was candidate on the Democratic ticket. The lines were drawn, and the tickets were prepared on separate pieces of paper by both parties: Captain Sisney and the other Republicans were elected by a majority less than one hundred.

In 1867, T. P. White was elected Assessor and Treasurer on the Republican ticket. In 1868, being the first Presidential election aftfi the close of the War, General Grant, Republican candidate for President carried the County by 68 majority, electing Hardin Goodall Sheriff and all the rest of the Republicans on the ticket.

In 1869, the Democracy lined up in good shape for the contest. Schisms had gotten into the Republican ranks, and the result was that the Democrats carried the County, electing all of their officers by majorities ranging from 30 to 120. In 1870, the County went Republican, electing A. N. Owens for Sheriff by their candidate for President, and the regular Republicans renominating General Grant for President. The campaign was bitter and exciting, and every effort was put forth by the respective parties to carry the election. The result was, that while General Grant carried the County by 12 majority, the Democrats elected their County ticket by majorities ranging from 35 to 200. In 1873, the Republicans were successful by a small majority. In 1874 was the great land slide in favor of the Democracy, being the first that had come over the country since the close of the War. The Democrats carried almost everything, not only in Williamson County, but in the country at large. N. E. Norris was elected Sheriff by a majority of something over 200. In 1S75. the Republicans carried the County by "a small majority. In 1S76, being the third presidential campaign after the close of the War, and the old parties being lined up on the issues growing out of the results of the War, the Republicans nominated Rutheford B. Hayes for their candidate for President; and the Democrats nominated Samuel J. Tilden for their candidate for President. The Republicans won, electing all their County officers. M. S. Strike was electel Circuit Clerk by 12 majority. W. J. Caplinger was elected Sheriff by 120 majority. Hayes carried the County by 2 8 majorty.

In 1S77. the Republicans elected their ticket by majorities ranging from 39 to 113. In 1878, was a Congressional election, in which John R. Thomas, Republican, was pitted against William J. Allen. It was a war of giants, and very exciting and much interest manifested. Captain Thomas carried the County over William J. Allen by 143 majority. James H. Duncan, Democrat, defeated W. J. Caplinger, Republican, by 7 8 majority.

In 1S79, the Republicans elected their candidate by 173 majority. In 1880, the Republicans elected their ticket, except the States' Attorney; W. W. Clemens defeated John W. Peebles by 94 majority. In 1881, the Republicans elected their County Commissioner by 155 majority. In 18 82, being a general election for State Treasurer, State Superintendent of Schools, State Senator, Member of Congress, Member of Legislature, and County Officers, the Democrats elected the Coroner, County Treasurer, County Clerk, Sheriff, County Judge and County Commissioner. The Republican candidate for Congress had 5G majority; Republican candidate for Superintendent of Schools had 5 8 majority; the Democrats elected everything else. In 1883, Reuben Borton, Democrat, defeated John Scoby, Republican, for County Commissioner, by 5 8 majority. In 1884, being a Presidenital election, the Republicans nominated James G. Blaine and the Democrats nominated Grover Cleveland for President. Blaine carried the County by 272 majority, and all the Republicans in the County were elected by majorities ranging from 135 to 272. In 1885, the Republicans elected their County Commissioner by a small majority.

In 1886 was the most hotly contested campaign that had taken place between the two parties since 1868. In this campaign, the Democracy rallied the old guard as if for a final struggle. They put forth their strongest and best men, and this campaign was for years after referred to as the "Cat and Dog Fight." It was pre-eminently the boodle campaign of the County. In no campaign prior thereto was there anything like the amount of money spent by the candiaates among the voters as there was in this campaign. Both parties were equally guilty of the abominable and corrupt practice, and the campaign of 'SG is referred to at the present time as being the initial campaign for the corrupt use of money by candidates in elections. The Republicans were successful, and this campaign broke the backbone of the Democracy. They have never rallied or been able to put forth a successful campaign since. The fact is, that the Democracy have never nominated a ticket composed of men who were willing to spend their money in 'procuring votes to that degree of . liberality that the Republicans have. The use of money in elections has become so corrupt and notorious that two years ago, twenty-four men, mostly Republicans, were indicted for the infamous crime of bribery in elections. There have been several convictions, and some of the are still pending.

The Supreme Court of the State has upheld the constitutionality of the bribery in election law . In this connection, it might be proper to add that any elector who shall solicit, request, demand or receive, directly or indirectly, any money, intoxicating liquor, or other thing of value, or the promise thereof, either to influence his vote, or to be used, or under the pretense of being used to procure the vote of any other person or persons, prior to or on the day of an election for or against any candidate for otfice, or for or against any measure or question to be voted upon at such election, shall be guilty of the infamous crime of bribery in elections.

The Statute also further provides that solicitation by any person of a loan of money, or the purchase of anything of value, or of liquor by the drink or treat, to influence or effect his vote, or any other subterfuge, shall be deemed a violation of the Statute. The man who pays the money is not culpable, but by the law is made a witness against the man who receives the money. The penalty is disfranchisement for not less than five years, and imprisonment In the County jail for not less than three months, and to stand imprisoned until the costs of the prosecution are paid.

It is to be hoped that all good citizens will unite in the strict enforcement of this law: and in this connection, it might be proper to add that if the law could be amended in such a way that the voter who receives the money could be made a witness against the man who pays the money, it would decidedly elevate the morals of the politics of our country.

At the Presidential election of ISSS, the Republicans carried the County by majorities ranging from ITS to 32S. At the next Presidential election in 1S92, the Republican majority was 151, the lowest, and ?,Sfi, the highest. The next Presi- dential election, in 1S9(;, the Republicans carried the County by majorities ranging from 433 to 510. At the election for County Commissioner in 1S99, the Democrats broke the record, and for the first time since 1883, they elected E. H. Bullinger County Commissioner by majority of 73 votes. At the Presidential election of 1900, the Republicans elected their whole ticket by majorities ranging from 854 to 101 S. This brings us up to the last Presidential election, and by way of explanation, it would be proper to say that the majorities spoken of really represent pluralities, as there has always been (especially -n Presidential years') from three to fiv<? tickets in the field, but the votes cast for any other ticket besides the regular nominees on the Republican ticket and Democratic ticket, are comparatively insignificant, and do not represent an important factor in the politics of the County.

A very noticeable feature connected with the history of the politics of Williamson County is the strict adherence and intense loyalty of the partisans of the two dominant parties, the Republican and the Democratic. This grows out of the fact that in the early formative period of the Republican Party in the County, there was a breaking up of old party lines and political doctrines growing out of the Civil War. It was brought about by the alignment of the War Democrats on the side of the Union, or for the T^nion cause, and against secession and rebellion: this will be the more noticeable when we observe that at tiie election of 1S60. Abraham Lincoln received only 173 votes out of a total cast of 2214. being 40 for Breckenridge. Bell 166. Lincoln

High School Class Of 1904 W. F. Wright

1S35. The Southern wing of the Democratic party caused eleven of the Southern States to secede, and passed ordinances of secession. This brought such men and prominent Democrats as John A. Logan, John H. White, Geo. W. Goddard, William A. Looney, Francis M. Norman, and many others, who espoused the cause of the Union, and thereby lined themselves as advocates of the policy of the Republican party, and the result was that Williamson County sent 1400 soldiers into the Union army to fight. The stand taken by the Xorthern Democrats as to the War policy of the Southern Democrats caused political lines to be established in such a way that, while the Democratic party in the North, in the main, were loyal to the Governuient. and was opposed to secession and bitterly opposed to rebellion and insurrection, yet the leaders of the Democratic- party were opposed to the War policy that was pursued and advocated by the Republicans; and in this way, the two parties were pitted against each other in all of the political contests that were waged during the War and during the period of reconstruction after the close of the War, which extended from 1S65 to 1884.

About the year 1886, the rich coal beds that underlie the North and West portions of the County began to attract the attention of Eastern capitalists. Investments began to be made for the development of the coal interest. A new tide of immigration set in, bringing a new generation, new blood, new associations, new ileas, new theo- ries, new politics. This, together with the fact tluit the sons of veterans had grown up to be voters, a large per cent, of this class of our people, of course, voted the way their fathers had voted before them, and the patriotic and sentimental politics became merged with speculative politics, and the two forces combined for the development of the coal industry, and the American idea of protection and sound money and internal improvements, all had their effect to strengthen and solidify the Republican vote, so that now the labor classes, who are at work in the development of the mines of the County, go along with the capitalists, who are making their investment, and they, in turn, stand in with the Republican law makers that enact and execute laws for the protection of the capitalists and the industries which make the combination a very formidable one for the utilizing of the natural resources of the county, and the solidifying and holding together of the Republican vote, re-enforced by the laboring vote that follows in the wake.

With the establishment of the Gold Standard and the new era of prosperity and development of our coal industries, and the liberal use of money in elections since 1S96, The Republican party of the County has been, firmly intrenched in all the public offices and in the public favor of a large majority of the people of the County.

Marion'S State And Savings Bank

sober citizen to tlie serious contemplation of its possible, even probable, triumph in the near future, and to a consideration of the condition of the country in that event. As a faithful historian of passing events in this county, our chosen field for recor \ it is impossible to pass this disturbing element by in silence; it has suddenly leaped into a prominence which perforce commands the closest scrutiny. Whatever may be thought of the system, it is manifest that it cannot longer be ignored. The official count makes the total vote of the country in 1900 to be 96,361 and in 1904 408,230. The Illinois vote for the same periods was 9,6S7 and 96,22.5. The vote for Williamson County was 11 for 1900 and 363 for 1904. These figures, it is recognized, do not represent the sum total of all believers in Socialism in the United

Prior to the last election this party had no organization in this County. The eleven votes represented but a small portion of the real believers in the system, as shown by the great increase in the next four years. And if the same rate of increase is kept up, this county will cast nearly 12,000 votes for Socialism in 1908. It is needless to say that the same rate of increase throughout the country elects the next president. Truly the issue is upon us. Nothing can be more important therefore at the present time than to fully understand the principles and purposes of the p.irty. Nothing is more common than to revile that of which one is ignorant, and ignorance of the new untried is inevitable. The words of Jesus have hal a constant and world-wide application and fulfillment, "They hated me without a cause." But every candid and thoughtful mind will give every important question a fair and thorough investigation before deciding pro or con.

We have a duty to do, therefore, on behalf of the readers of the Souvenir - to make as fair and full a statement of the issue before us as the limits of our space will permit.

Do they intend, as is commonly alleged, to forcibly take possession of all the property in the United States and divide it up pro rata? Do they propose thereafter to dump the proceeds of the earnings of the wliole people into a common fund and let every fellow help himself? I am safe in saying that no intelligent Socialist ever entertained so palpable an absurity. It is a common error to class Socialists wfth Anarchists, the enemies of all government, the assassins of rulers, the arch plotters against the peace, order and happiness of mankind. But a very slight inquiry will expose the unjust accusation to the contempt it deservs. That their purposes are radical an1 revolutionary to the extreme limit, they themselves freely avow. They propose no less than the complete abolition of private property, in the means of production, land, machinery and all tools used for the production of wealth. They offer as a proper and just substitute the joint-ownership

Mrs. Sarah Margaret Griggs Sydney C. Griggs

Socialists reason somewhat after this sort. Every person born into the world is by that fact entitled to a place to live without getting the consent of another to do so, that is to land enough for a home. But if he is the exclusive owner of that bit of land, that is, has an exclusive title in fee simple, he can exclude all others therefrom. Therefore, private property in land should be abolished, and none permitted the control of more than he can use, and control should cease with use. Land should no more be bought and sold than air and water, but be jointly held by the nation at large for the use and benefit of all, only the right to use as a perpetual possession, and when vacated, should revert again to the public.

In like manner, if a man has the right to live he has the right to the means of subsistence. But as all property is the product of labor, and labor only, no man has the right to anything he does not in some way produce. If his subsistence is to be drawn from the sea, he must have a net, but his right to live does not give him the right to compel another, who has an equal right, to furnish him with a net. He must produce a net himself or give to him who does so the full equivalent of the labor required. "If he will not work, neither shall he eat." But the price he is compellel to pay for tlie means of subsistence is the amount of labor required, to furnish that means and that only, as every one has a right, a natural and inattainable right, to the full product of his toil. The creator has a right to whatever he creates. Therefore, he who produces nothing has a right to nothing. Now, if our civilization has reached that condition of development wherein men can only secure subsistence by co-operating with others and make use of tools which require many hands to operate, then those tools should justly be the property of all and free to all, as much, and for the same reason that the land and water and the air is free. Private ownership of these gives the few power to compel all others to toil for and enrich the owners, and is robbery. It is this power that has enable! John D. Rockefeller to accumulate a property so vast that his annual income is $100,000,000, and is swiftly increasing. What is known as profits is but the surplus arising from the sale of the products of labor for more than it costs to prodtice them. By the private ownership of all the oil-producing territory of this country John D. Rockefeller has acquired the power to set any price he pleases on the product and practically to enslave a nation. Further, the right to buy and own every species of property, including land, has compelled Rockefeller and others to seek other fields for investment until a handful of such men will, in a very short time, own the earth and all it contains.

Their money has been accumulated by confiscating a part of the products of every man's toil, no wrong will therefore be done if the nation calls a halt, and putting a stop to the further exploitation of labor, turn over to the public all the machinery of production for the benefit of all. This is what the Socialist is trying to bring about, not by bullets but by ballots, and it is hoped by many and expected

To give a full and authoritative expression of the plans and policy of this new power in American politics, we append the party platform for preservation and reference: I.

The Socialist party, in convention assembled, makes its appeal to the American people as the defender and preserver of the idea of liberty and self-government, in which the nation was born; as the only political movement standing for the program and principles by which the liberty of the individual may become a fact; as the only political organization that is democratic, and

To this idea of liberty the Republican and Democratic parties are equally false. They alike struggle for power to maintain and profit by an industrial system which can be preserved only by the complete overthrow of such liberties as we already have, and by the still further enslavement and degradation of labor.

Our American institutions came into the world in the name of freedom. They have been seized upon by the capitalist class as the means of rooting out the idea of freedom from among the people. Our state and national legislatures have become the mere agencies of great propertied interests. These interests control the appointments and decisions of the judges of our courts. They have come into what is practically a private ownership of all the functions and forces of government. They are using these to betray and conquer foreign and weaker peoples, in order to establish new markets for the surplus goods which the people make, but are too poor to buy. They are gradually so invading and restricting the right of suffrage as to take away unawares the right of the worker to a vote or voice in public affairs. By enacting new and misinterpreting old laws, they are pre- voice of protest against the passing of liberty and the coming of tyranny. It completely controls the university and public school, the pulpit and the press, and the arts and literatures. By making these

M. E. Church South

Our political institutions are also all being used as the destroyers of that individual property upon which all liberty and opportunity depend. The promise of economic independence to each man was one of the faiths upon which our institutions were founded. But, under the guise of defending private property, capitalism is using our political institutions to make it impossible tor the vast majority of human beings ever to become possessors of private property in the means of life.

Capitalism is the enemy and destroyer of essential private property. Its development is through the legalized confiscation of all that the labor of the working class produces, above its subsistence-wage. The private ownership of the means of employment grounds society in an economic slavery which renders intellectual and political tyranny inevitable.

Socialism comes so to organize industry and society that every individual shall be secure in that private property in the means of life upon which his liberty of being, thought and action depends. It comes to rescue the people from the fast increasing and successful assault of capitalism upon the liberty of the individual. II, action of tlie socialists of all nations. In the industrial development already accomplished, the interests of the world's workers are separated by no national boundaries. The condition of the most exploited and oppressei workers, in the most remote places of the earth, inevitably tends to drag down all I lie workers of the world to the same level. The tendency of the competitive wage system is to make labor's lowest condition the measure of rule of its universal condition. Industry and finance are no longer national but international, in both organization and results. The chief significance of national boundaries, and of the so-called patriotisms which the ruling class of each nation is seeking to revive, is the power which these give to capitalism to keep the workers of the worH from uniting, and to throw them against each other in the struggles of contending capitalist interests for the control of the yet unexplored markets of the world, or the remaining sources of profit.

The socialist movement, therefore, is a world-movement. It knows of no conflicts of interests between the workers of one nation and the workers of another. It stands for the freedom of the workers of all nations: and, in so standing, it makes for the full freedom of all humanity.

German Evangelical Zion Chcrch Rev. C. E. Miche

III. The socialist movement owes its birth and growth to that economic development or world-process which is rapidly separating a working or producing class from a possessing or capitalist class. The class that produces nothing possesses labor's fruits, and the opportunities and enjoyments these fruits afford, while the class that does the world's real work has increasing economic uncertainty, and physical and intellectual misery, for its portion.

The fact that these two classes have not yet become fully conscious of their distinction from each other, the fact that the lines of division and interest may not yet be clearly drawn, does not change the fact of the class conflict.

This class struggle is due to the private ownership of the means of employment, or the tools of production. Wherever and whenever man owned his own land and tools, and by them produced only the things which he used, economic independence was possible. But production, or the making of goods, has long ceased to be individual. The labor of scores, or even thousands, enters into almost every article produced. Production is now social or collective. Practically everything is made or done by many men - sometimes separated by seas or continents - working together for the same end. But this co-operation in production is not for the direct use of the things made by the workers who make them, but for the profit of the owners of the tools and means of production: and to this is due the present division of society into two classes; and from it have sprung all the miseries, in-

Souvenir Of Williaaison Couxtv, Illinois S. Harris

Between these two classes there can he no possible compromise or identity of interests, any more than there can be peace In the midst of war, or light in the midst of darkness. A society based upon this class division carries in itself the seeds of its own destruction. Such a society is founded in fundamental injustice. There can l)e no possible leasts for social peace, for individual freedom, for mental and moral harmony, except in the conscious and complete triumph of the worlving class as the only class that has the right or power to be. IV. The socialist program is not a theory imposed upon society for its acceptance or rejection. It is but the interpretation of what is, sooner or later, inevitable. Capitalism is already struggling to its destruction. It is no longer competent to organize or administer the work of the world, or even to preserve itself. The captains of industry are appalled at their own inability to

Home of the oldest living couple in thu ^w,,..,.. , ..,,. .ad Mrs. Isaac Newton Atwood, .S:> and 87 years old. The log house was liuilt in 1JS4.5 and still does service as kitchen and dining room.

An Impromptu Group At Marion, Ill

control or direct the rapidly socializing forces of industry. The socalled trust is but a sign and form of the developing socialism of the world's work. The universal increase of the uncertainty of employment, the universal capitalist determination to break down the unity of labor in the trades unions, the widespread apprehensions of impending change, reveal that the institutions of capitalist society are passing under the power of inhering forces that will soon destroy them.

Into the midst of the strain and crises of civilization, the socialist movement comes as the only conservative force. If the world is to be saved from chaos, from universal disorder and misery, it must be by the union of the workers of all nations in the socialist movement. The. socialist party comes with the only proposition or program for intelligently and deliberately organizing the nation for the common good of all its citizens. It is the first time that the mind of man has

Socialism meant, that all those things upon whirh the people in common depend shall by the people in common be owned and administered. It means that the tools of employment shall belong to their creators and users: that all production shall be for the direct use of the producers; that the making of goods for profit shall come to an end; that we shall all be workers together; and that all opportunities shall be open and equal to all men.

To the end that the workers may seize every possible advantage that may strengthen them to gain complete control of the powers of government, and thereby the sooner establish the co-operative commonwealth, the Socialist Party pledges itself to watch and work, in both the economic and the political struggle, for each successive immediate interest of the working class; for shortened days of labor and increase of wages; for the insurance of the workers against accident, sickness and lack of employment; for pensions for aged and exhausted workers; for the graduated ta.xation of incomes, inheritances, franchises and land values, the proceeds to be applied to the public employment and improvement of the conditions of the workers; for the complete education of children, and their freedom from the workshop; for the prevention of the use of the military against labor in the settlement of strikes; for the free administration of justice; for popular government, including initiative, referendum, proportional representation, equal suffrage of men and women, municipal home rule, and the recall of officers by their constituents; and for every gain or advantage for the workers that may be wrested from the capitalist system, and that may relieve the suffering and strengthen the hands of labor. We lay upon every man elected to any executive or legislative office the first duty of striving to procure whatever is for the workers' most immediate interest, and for whatever will lessen the economic and political powers of the capitalist, and increase the lilie powers of the worker.

But, in so doing, we are using these remedial measures as means to the one great end of the co-operative commonwealth. Such measures of relief as we may be able to force from capitalism are but a preparation of the workers to seize the whole powers of government, in order that they may thereby lay hold of the whole system of indus-

To this end we pledge ourselves, as the party of the working class, to use all political power as fast as it shall be entrusted to us by our fellow-workers, both for their immediate interests and for their ultimate and complete emancipation. To this end we appeal to all the workers of America, and to all who will lend their lives to the service of the workers in their struggle to gain their own, and to all who will nobly and disinterestelly give their ilnys and energies unto the work-

Leox Senter

LEOX SENTER, With his Billy Goat. Leon Senter, .vho appears beside his goat "Billie" in the half-tone illustration, is the son of G. F. Senter, of Marion, and is now attending school in the third grade, under Byrd Spiller at Marion. He was born August 9, 1892. His favorite, handsome "Billie" was obtained last year at Paducah, at a cost of one dollar and fifty cents. He is three years old and welltrained and kind and tractable. Leon has a wagon in which he and his sister Christina ride after "Billie" all over town. "Billie" never needs tying, but will stand quietly anywhere on the street until his master returns.

Primitive Baptist Church

ers' cause, to cast in their lot and faith with the socialist party. Our appeal for the trust and suffrages of our fellow-workers is at once an appeal for their common good and freedom, and for the freedom and blossoming of our common humanity. In pledging ourselves, and those we represent, to be faithful to the appeal which we make, we believe that we are but preparing the soil of that economic freedom from which will spring the freedom of the whole man.

The Socialist Party is the only political organization which represents the interests of the working class in all countries, as against the interests of the capitalist class now ruling under every form of government, whether Republican, as in the United States, or monarchical as in England and Germany, or despotic as in Russia.

Hon. John H. Duncan Mrs. John H. Duncan

movement having for its mission the emancipation of Labor from the world-wide rule of capitalism; Austria, 600,000; Belgium, 463,000; Denmark, 55,479; Prance, 880.000; Great Britian, 100,000; Holland,

Public Schools Re3Ide.Nce Of Hon. John H. Duncan

AT and prior to the year, 1839, when Williamson County was formed out of a part of Franklin County, the number of schools were few, and these continued but a few months in the fall and early winter. Settlements, where there were any, were far apart, and only the most thickly populated of these were able to support a "subscription" school for a tew months in the year. Like all frontier schools of that date, the school curriculum was the three "R's." As the county became more thickly populated and its agricultural advantages became more developed, a few Eastern, (Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York) teachers came in, on their way "westward," and gave the schools a new start by teaching other branches in addition to reading, writing and arithmetic. The advantages for the few subscription schools at this time were the most meager, in fact, nothing but the four walls of a log house and a clapboard roof; no stove - much less steam heat - -no blackboard; no apparatus; a big, wide-open fire place and stick and clay chimney. The distance traveled by some of the pupils was three and four miles.

The first official record pertaining to the public schools of Williamson County dates from the year A. D , 1S40, when Mr. William T. Tanner, School Commissioner of the new county of Williamson, receipts Sion H. Mitchell, then School Commissioner of Franklin County, for Williamson County's share of the school funds. The records in the County Superintendent's office at present show that Mr. Tanner served as School Commissioner for .one year. He was succeeded by Henry W. Perry, who also served one year. J. H. Mulkey served from 18-12 to 1848; N. B. Calvert from ISIS to 1S55; J. H. Swindell from 1,S.55 to 1S59; John N. Calvert from 1859 to 1860;

W. H. Scobey from LSCO to iS62; Wm. R. Scurlock from 1862 to 1866; David G. Young from 1866 to 1869. It might be well to give here a part of Mr. Young's annual report to the State Superintendent, in order to show Mr. Young s rather modern ilea of school work, as well as to show that yome teachers existed then as now. He says:

"The matter of examination of teachers has generally been regarded as a matter of little importance, and the effect of such a course has been bad, indeed. I can not be as strict in the examination of teachers as I would like to be, for the number of applicants is not large, and if I should not give certificates to some, who do not really deserve them, many districts would be without schools. We have few teachers who make teaching a profession; numbers have been in the habit of teaching, or rather torturing school, not because they like teaching, but to secure the two hundred dollars."

The files of the office of the County Superintendent show that the first written report was made to the State Superintendent of Schools by William R. Scurlock. in 1863. The contrast is so striking compared with the reports made in the last few years, that it deserves to be given herein. Some statistics of the report follow:

"Number of teachers, 39; number first grade, 14; number second grade, 15; number third grade, 10. No expenditures for school furniture and apparatus; amount reported as expended for repairs, $1.67; amount expended for teaching $7,387.94; for all school purposes for the year (1863) $9,194.59. At this time Marion School District had five months' school; other schools of the county ranged in term from one to five months."

David G. Young, above mentioned and now called "County School Superintendent" instead of "County School Commissioner," was succeeded by A. N. Lodge, who served from 1869 to 1877. The County had by this time became greatly developed in the way of agriculture and population compared to former years, and thereby demanded better teaching and better qualified teachers. To help meet this demand. Superintendent Lodge reports in 1870, the first attempt at a Teachers' Institute. Quoting from the report of that year to the State Superintendent, it says:

Mrs. P. M. Westbrook

At the expiration of A. M. Lodge's last term, 1ST7, Dr. J. M. Fowler was elected and served till 1SS2. It was not until the expiration of Dr. Fowler's term that the County Superintendent of Schools was allowed by law any stated or specified salary for services, their emoluments being two per cent for money distributed and loaned, and such pay as the County Commissioners saw fit to allow them for actual official services rendered.

During Dr. Fowler's term special efforts were made to awaken a better professional interest among the teachers, and this by the Teachers' Institute. For some several years past it seems what efforts had been made were lost as regarded the interest of the institute. His report to the State Department in 1S78 «ays in part:

Residence Of F. M. 'Westbrook

"Held ten days' Institute. A grand success. I am persuaded it has accomplished much good. No provisions were made by the County Commissioners to help pay expenses of the Institute, and we had to charge a tuition fee sufiicient to defray expenses. D. G. Ray, Instrucor."

It will be seen that the County Superintendent and the school interests generally were completely handicapped by the absence of any provision to pay Institute Instructors and bear other expenses necessary to make the Institute the best success. It was probably these efforts of school officers which later caused a law to be passed by our State Legislature, making provisions for the adequate maintenance of an annual Institute.

John H. Duncan succeeded Mr. Fowler as County Superintenient. and served until 1890. During all this time, since the organization of the county, the old log school houses had been gradually giving place to frame buildings, with some pretensions to comfort, and slight tendencies to convenience. The close of Mr. Duncan's term, 1S90, left only one log school house - an old moss covered land-mark of the early school days of Williamson County. This district, in 1893, replaced the log house with a frame building, together with good board furniture and some apparatus. The county, in the meantime, had been making progress in other ways. The Teachers' Institute had become an established fact, provisions having been made by the Legislature for payment of Instructors and other necessary expenses, by requiring the applicants for certificates to pay a fee of $1. During the term of Mr. Duncan as County Superintendent, the first step looking to the grading of the County, or common schools, was made by suggesting the use of the Manual and Guide, a rudimentary Course of Study. Under this law the first Township or Central and Final Examinations were held. Also during the last term of Mr. Duncan, the first volumes of a Teachers' County Library were bought, the County Superintendent being made Librarian.

Mr. Duncan's successor was T. J. Youngblood, who served until 189S. By this time the County contained several good high schools, which included Marion, Carterville, Creal Springs, and Crab Orchard Academy and the Creal Springs College and Conservatory of Music. In addition to the support of the annual Institute by law, the good of the schools demanded more meetings, and regular monthly Teachers' Meetings were held during the school term at Marion or some other convenient point in the County. At these meetings questions and problems were discussed which directly touched upon the duties of the hour; a course of professional reading for the teacher, recommended by a State Committee, was also discussed. The State Course (old JIanual and Guide of Study) came in for some discussion at almost every meeting, and like every other innovation that is worth anything, was opposed by not a few good teachers. The res.ilts of these meetings and an ambition by some of the teachers of the county to see what other teachers in adjoining counties were using, resulted in the organization at Stonefort, in February, IS 9 3, of the Tri- Oounty or Union Teachers' Meeting, composed of the counties of Williamson, Saline and Johnson, (since Joined by Pope County.)

The meetings of this organization are held anntially at one of the County Seat towns, during the two days following Thanksgiving. Besides an address at this annual meeting by some prominent educator, one of the leading features was a discussion of the adaptation of the State Course of Study to our common schools.

William Airman

ing that in a five days' Institute the time cannot be devoted to learning Arithmetic, Geography, etc., things that can be learned at school or at home. Mr. Swan emphasized the importance of professional preparation, maintaining that qualifications of teachers should and must keep pace with the expenditures for school purposes. The attendance at the annual Institutes and the monthly Teachers' Meetings show how well the teachers fell in with this idea of professional improvement. While the academic instruction of the teacher was urged to be sought at other times than at the annual Institute, a strong and effective demand was made that it be obtained, and that the teacher possess equal moral fitness. Normal Schools, Colleges and Select Schools were well attended by teachers and those expecting to teach. Mr. Swan, at the conclusion of his term, left a strong, healthy school sentiment, the patrons, as well as the teacher, seeing the importance of more than ordinary knowledge of the teacher.

R. O. Clarida, the present incumbent, succeeded Mr. Swan as County Superintendent in 1902. Mr. Clarida enters upon his duties in the 63rd year of the life of the schools of Williamson County. In view of the first report made by the School Commissioner in 1S63, it is well to give a few figures of the report made by Mr. Clarida in the fall of 1903, forty years after the first report. These items of the report follow:

Residence Op M. W. Robertson

By a glance at the above it can readily be seen the great quantity of work to be done by the County Superintendent over and above what was required in an earlier day. It is true, the County Superintendent is now under the law, allowed a specified salary, but compared with the increased amount of work and the increased responsibility, it is not more, if hardly equal, to the emoluments of the office in the early days.

Mr. Clarida took up the work at the close of Mr. Swan's term with a strong arm, the State Course of Study and professional work being among the strong features of the service. Resulting from complete gradation of the common schools by reason of the use of the Course of Study therein, County Graduation Exercises were held at an evening of the annual Teachers' Institute in 1903. A large class of pupils were given diplomas for finishing the Course at this, the first annual County Commencement. The effect

A course of professional reading is pursued by the teachers, in which they have to show themselves reasonably proficient by examination before they are permitted to teach.

county was never quite so bright as now. 1904. The wages of county teachers in many places are sufficiently large as to have a tendency to lead some teachers to Jife work, or to dignify country teaching up to a profession.

As a means of helping and encouraging teachers to do better professional work, the Teachers' County Library is serving a useful purpose, there being now 2 09 volumes, bearing on every phase of school work. These books are freely read liy the teachers of the county, especially by the young teachers. A fee of $1 constitutes a life membership. Jlembers are privileged to draw and

THE OLD DR. LE\Vt.-3 OR GALLIGHER HOUSE. The Second Residence built in Marion. Hlinois. The brick at the corn er stands on the spot where Rev. N. A. Hunt built the first Church erected in Marion.

Residence Of Robert C. Thompson, Erected 1S92

Names of ?roup from left to right. Top row - William Spoors, Joseph Smith, .lohn Smith, Belle Smith, his wife. Miss Clara Thompson, John Cassedy, Miss Margaret Thompson, Jlrs. ilary Thompson, Joseph Thompson, her husbani. Second row - Harry Thompson, with horse and buggy, Robert C. Thompson and his grandson, Lester Thom^sTn, Mrs. Anna Thompson and her grandson, Robert T., Harry Bell and his daughter Maggie, James W. Bell, Mrs. Hannah Bell and daughter Elsie.

Farm Residence Of Willis Aik.Max

keep a book six weeks, and a failure to return it at the end of that time subjects the delinquent to a fine of ten cents. A board of three directors is elected at each annual Institute, who has control of the Library, and who is empowered to purchase new books and to prescribe new rules.

meeting was held at the County .^eat in the summer of 1903. This proved an innovation. It clearly showed the need of closer touch of Superintendent, teachers and school officers, as well as patrons. This meeting is to be a yearly feature, and promises untold good for the common schools. At each session is to be discussed vital questions affecting the schools for good, as well as bad.

Thus it is that the schools of Williamson County nave grown from the back woods, old-time institution to the modern Public School, as good as any in tlie state, or as any in the Middle West.

First Missionary Baptist Church Robert O. Clarida

Robert O. Clarida, County Superintendent of Schools, is of German and Irish parentage, his father, a native of Virginia and his mother of Tennessee. He was born, reared and educated in Williamson County, and has spent the greater part of his life in promoting the interests of the public schools. His father, Archibald Clarida, died while Robert was quite young, and to his mother largely belongs the credit of his rearing. In order to complete his education he was compelled to begin teaching at 2 0 and for 14 successive years taught in the schools of the County. Much of this time he worked on the farm summers and taught winters. He succeeded in getting in four years at Crab Orchard Academy, and graduated in 1S9G. It is an indication of his worth as a teacher that he taught one school eight terms, and the last three terms of his 14 years at Crab Orchard.

eleven years in country schools, nine terms being in the same district. Was principal of Stone Fort Schools from '79 to 'S3; conductor of the Williamson County Institute in 'S3, and was assistant instructor for many years. Was principal of Marion schools in the year of 'S3-4. Was principal of Crab Orchard public schools for five years; founder of Crab Orchard Academy in 18S9, and served as principal of that Institution for twenty consecutive terms. Was again principal of Stone Fort schools from '9G to '9 9, organized Carterville High School in 1S99, and has served as Superintendent of that school since. Was chosen President of the Tri-County Teachers' Association for 1904.

The. Marion City

Anything like a complete and impartial history of public education in Marion would fill a volumn. Hence we shall have to content ourselves with a more or less meager "write up." There are doubtless many incidents of both interest and importance in the minds of many of the citizens which the writer either does not know or cannot use. A great many citizens have been connected intimately with the schools as teachers and as officers; some of them will receive mention for one reason or another, while others will not. Xeither partiality nor slight is intended.

The school sentiment of our town has always been reasonably strong and healthful. In fact, an overwhelming majority of the American people believe thoroughly in the free school. It is our most distinc- five institution, as a nation. It is the most democratic of our free institutions. The lives of all the people are definitely touched by its power and influence. Here, at least, all are for several years on an equality. The children of the rich and poor, the influential and the obscure, have the same advantages and opportunities. What an inestimable privilege for all classes! What a God send to the poor and those even of moderate means!

However, as is true everywhere, the common school has had its opponents in Marion. Some men, prominent in social, political and financial affairs, have been opposed to the free school as it has developed. As the course of study has been extended, as the length of term has been increased, as modern buildings have been constructed, all of which call for greater expenditures of money and higher taxes, some men have been found on the wrong side. And although these men frequently controlled in other affairs, they have been, as they always will be, unable to divorce public sentiment from its devotion to .America's most fundamental institution - the public free school.

Back somewhere about 1855, a four-room, two-story frame building was erected for school purposes. Doubtless there was a school for years before that, as no community of American people will long be without a school, public or private. This building seems to have been adequate till about 1881-82. when a two-room ad-Iition was built. This building was destroyed by fire in the year 1SS5-S6, then the town built a good eight-room, two-story brick, which is still used. The increase in population called for a fourroom addition in 1S96-97. Such is our present West Side school building.

Marion had so increased in population by 1901 that a building, partly for High School and partly for the grades, became an absolute necessity. The splendid East Side school property is the result, a fitting monument to all the people who favored the enterprise, more directly to the entire board of education, but more especially to the public spirited President and Secretary, who gave much of their valuable time, cheerfully, to the demands of the business then in hand.

Mr. Eb. Hearn was principal with Mrs. J. C. .Jackson as his assistant, in 1S61-62. Their salaries were $40 and $2 0 respectively, and they did their own janitor work. During their early years Mr. and Mrs. Scurlock taught for some time.

Residence Of .Joab Goodall John H. White

The records that are available begin in 1,S7S. J. M. Burkhart was clerk of the Board. For some years, beginning in 1S79, M. W. Robertson was treasurer of the school district; J. C. Jackson took the census: W. J. Spiller was furnishing coal: J. H. Duncan sold lumber; W. H. Warder, insurance; Bainbridge & Goddard, curtains; J. C. Mitchell, register and charts: Anthony Feator did the plastering, and X. Davis an 1 Robert Pride received pay for janitor work.

There were five teachers employed, at salaries which compare favorably with those paid at the present: C. C. Stollar, principal for several years, $75; Georgia Wroten, $35: Parle Vick, $35; Helen Yost, $35; G. W. Rowley, $2 2. Misses Wroten and Yost taught in the schools for many years.

The following are some of the men who have had charge of the schools, that are remembered as being strong, successful school men bv many of our ciitzens:

Amzi F. White And His Favorite Companions

E. C. Hill, 1880. - He was publicly in charge of the school some time previous. He succeeded in making the term nine months. M. G. Kimmel, 1884-86. - Noted as a disciplinarian of the "old type." The man the school needed. He knew everything the pupils did in school and out. B. F. Kiser, 1886-89. - A fine instructor and well educated. He had an extraordinary memory. Married a Miss Goddard. S. C. Ncwsolne, 1890-92. - He was one of the best all-round men the school has ever had. He has held for some years the position of Department Superintendent in the Philippine Islands, at about $2 500 per year. W. R. Kinisey, 1892-94. - At present he is County Superintendent, Perry County. E. Loushoiis, 1894-97. - Now with Ginn & Co. Married Miss Bundy, and was Superintendent of the Metropolis Schools for six years. Other men who were at the head of the school for one or more years were:

Dr. John Washburn, who received the highest salary - $100 per month and all non-resident tuition - of any past superintendents of schools in JIarion. He was probably the finest classical scholar ever connected with the school. J. R. Davis. 18,S!-8.S.

Sam, Mary And Ruth

Schools. LaFayette Hunter, 1889-00. I. O. Kairakoi-, 1897-98. - At present a banker at Jonesboro. School work is not all done by principals and superintendents, any more than all the fighting is done by Generals in the army. The following teachers have been spoken of as having been very efficient in

Superintendent and teachers, have much to do in determining what the schools shall be. The following have been staunch supporters of the public schools in Marion:

But the limits of this paper prevent the mentioning of many others, teachers, officers and friends of the school, that the community should remember gratefully and honor.

There are many curious and suggestive items recorded in the treasurer's book. But one of the most strikingly suggestive is "To W. M. Dunston, straps for school, 70c."

The growth of the school may be noted in various ways - In the character and size of school buildings, in the length of term and the character of course of study, in number of teachers employed and the enrollment of pupils, in the increase of population of city of Marion, in the amount expended annually for the support of rhe schools.

Residence Of S. H. Goodall

Perhaps the greatest strides in the development of the city schools have been taken during the past six years. The first was in legislative act giving the district a Board of Education of six members and a president. The plan gives better representatives and more share the responsibility. The people have used good judgment in electing members of the Board. The second was in changing from a three-year to a four-year High School course of study. This has brought us well up to the standard for High Schools in this and other states. The third was in the erection of the East Side school building, modern and up-todate, though now too small on account of the rapid increase in population. The fourth was in securing a place on the accredited list with the State University. This was possible by showing that our work done was of such high excellence that we were entitled to this recognition and by the efficient aid of our Rep., Mr. Warder. The fifth was in expanding our High School course of study, offering some electives. The sixfh is in the policy of the Board of Education to retain, if possible, from year to year teachers who do effective work, thus making the work throughout all grades and departments more efficient from year to year, simply a very practical application of the basic principles year the High School will demand entire second story of the East Side building and that the 7th and Sth grades must have another room. Hence, two rooms will have to be sacrificed and the increase in grades below 7th will demand four more rooms. A six-room building will be needed. Can it be furnished by the community?

We are conscious that in the above there is but a meager amount of history. May we not be permitted to say that the demands of a multitude of luties have made it impossible to devote the time to this matter that would be required were one to prepare any worthy history of the Marion Schools. The school problems have not all been solved for our city. The schools are overcrowded and the population increases day by day. Much wisdom and sound judgment will be required continually. The expenses will be considerable, for additional teachers and a new building. The people are intere.sted in the schools, the school spirit is good. The policies of the educational administrators are, we think, sound and liberal. Let there be no backward step. J. W. ASBURY,

The subject of this sketch, Supt. J. W. Asbury, was born in 18 68, in the northeastern part of the "Blue Grass State." His ancestry, English on his father's and German on his mother's side, were successful and substantial tillers of the soil. They were always public spirited and influential citizens. Their

The fine flouring mills and elevator illustrated lierewitli stand on North Market street and the Illinois Central track. Mr. Whittington run it as a private enterprise for five years before it was incorporated, which took place early in the present year. The new management took possession March 4th. They run six double stand of rolls with a daily capacity of 100 barrels. Their out-put is entirely disposed of in Southern Illinois with the exception of shipments to Paducah. Kentucky. The elevator has a capacity of 45,000 barrels, and has been in charge of T. J. Erwin for eleven years. The following gentlemen run the business of the new corporation: W. W. "Whittington. President; S. W. Swain, Vice President. Secretary and General Manager; Directors - C. C. Whittington. D. C. Brien and W. H. Rix.

mented his liberal education by extensive travel both in this country and in Europe. He realizes that a school man in particular must be progressive in spirit to escape fossilization. He is also active in local and state associations, and has been a member of the National Educational Association for several years.