Mercer Township (part 4 of 4)

At the city election in 1889 L. B. Morey was chosen mayor. This year the city waterworks were planned and put in course of construction. The contract was let in May to the United States Windmill & Pump Company, of Batavia, at $7,368. The works were duly constructed and a well was sunk to the depth of over three thousand feet. The water at that depth was not satisfactory and the bore was filled up practically to the level of the present water supply. The analysis of the present city water shows the fol- lowing constituents: Total solid residue, 262.82; calcium sulphate, 57.88; magnesium sulphate, 25.50; magnesium carbonate, 15.37; silica (fine sand), 7.20; iron and alumina, 24.48; sodium and potassium chlorides, 132.39; carbon dioxide, 41.35; free ammonia, .008; albuminous ammonia, .0056; nitrates, .0425; nitrites, no trace; in 100 parts water.

The waterworks established in 1889 were under the management of Mayor L. B. Morey. The well was drilled by A. K. W alien and reached a depth of 3,115 feet. St. Peter sandstone occupied 1,000 feet of this depth. From that region the present water supply of the city was obtained.

The original street lighting contract given by the city to Lair & Marquis was continued fifteen years, with an option to the city to buv the property after the expiration of ten years. This time expired in August, 1900. In November, 1901, that company said they were willing to improve the plant if given a longer franchise. At first there were at everv cross street incandescent lights and a total of fifteen arc lights were used at the most conspicuous places. By 1900 the Aledo Electric Light & Power Company had been in operation eight and a half years. I. R. Vincent and W. R. Lair were the owners in 1900, but Mr. Marquis took Mr. Vincent's place about this time. They had two large 50-horsepower boilers and a nohorsepower engine. At this date about eighteen hundred incandescent lights were used in the city.

In July, 1890, the council passed resolutions to secure newer and better waterworks. At the same time the plans for the city building included a fire engine room, a council room and a calaboose, all to cost $3,000, including the lot. The new and improved water system and building were planned to cost $10,000. In September, 1890, the Aledo Business Union was organized for the purpose of upbuilding the city and giving it proper advertising. At that tme the city called for bids for an electric light system. This year the Thief Detective and Mutual Aid Association was organized in Aledo, with R. H. Whitsitt, president, and H. Bigelow, secretary. The Benevolent Union was prominent at this time. It collected in the winter of 1890-91, $121.51, which was paid out for the benefit of destitute persons. In November, 1890, the Mercer County Coal Company was organized here. They secured coal rights under 5,000 acres in Mercer Countv and had large tracts in other counties. The Aledo Electric Light & Power Company was put in course of construction late in 1890. By November Robert Candor, of the soliciting committee, reported that $9,300 worth of stock had been subscribed for the electric lighting organization. A committee was sent to other cities to investigate electric lighting systems. An ordinance was passed by the council, granting a franchise to the Aledo Electric Light & Power Company.

This year there were shipped from Aledo the following products : Grain, 156 cars; live stock, 348 cars; hay and straw, 19 cars; miscellaneous, 15 cars; total, 538 cars. Of these, 92 cars were of corn, 54 of oats, 7 of rye, 3 of wheat, 101 of cattle, 181 of hogs, 62 of horses, and 4 of sheep. There were received here in cars lumber, 61 cars coal, 81 of flour, 13 of salt, 8 of lime, and 45 of miscellaneous articles. The products brought here weighed 3,382,542 pounds; the railway tickets sold at Aledo amounted to $15,430.90.

Vincent & Lair, water contractors, received 40 per cent for pumping, and as the total water receipts were $126.09, their total revenue was only 40 per cent of that sum. They complained that the city had broken its contract with them and permitted waste and in other ways compelled them to pump twice as much as the original estimates. The daily consumption at this time was 1,100 barrels, when the original estimate was but 400 barrels in summer and 200 barrels in winter. The council, realizing the justice of the complaint, took steps to remedy the conditions.

In November, 1893, the following bids for pumping city water were received: Frank Glancey, $26 per month; J. A. Glancey, $26 per month; J. S. Whiteside, 10 cents per 1,000 gallons; J. S. Whiteside, I2T2 cents an hour. All the other bids were higher. In 1893 A. M. Byers & Company, bankers, paid out $76,978 for horses to be shipped from this station. The other bank shipped enough, so that the amount paid out by both was $150,823. During that year 476 carloads of live stock were sent from this station. In Januarv. 1894, another effort was made to revive and build up the library. J. F. Henderson, Mrs. W. A. Lorimer and Mrs. J. M. Wright asked the Aledo council for $500 for the support of the library. After due consideration the matter was laid on the table. In April the fire department had seventy-five men and was divided into three companies of twenty-five men each. There were two hose companies and one hook and ladder company. In April they ordered uniforms.

For the fiscal year ending April 1, 1894, the receipts of the City of Aledo amounted to $17,526.31, of which $7,190.55 was on hand at the beginning of the year. Vincent & Lair were the proprietors of the electric light company. They had trouble with the authorities and were enjoined from digging a well on the city land and from discharging their boilers on the street. The leading subscribers of the Farmers Bank in 1895 were A. M. Byers, $24,500; Tyler Mc- Whorter, $3,000; A. J. Streeter, of New Windsor, $2,000; Sophia Miller, $3,000. In all there were fifty-three subscribers. The total capital was $50,000. In February, 1895, flie ladies of Aledo were permitted bv the owners of the Times-Record to publish and edit a copy of the paper to be issued on Washington's birthday. Miss Bird Marquis was editor-in-chief, Sallie Abercrombie, business manager, and there were many assistant editors of the numerous departments. The issue was really under the management of the Ladies' Philharmonic Club. In February, 1805, there was a three days' shooting tournament in Aledo with targets and live birds.

The largest issue of the Times-Record, or any other paper ever in Aledo, up to that date, appeared on December 19, 1895. If con" sisted of twenty pages, seven columns each, or a total of 140 columns. The numerous organizations for benevolent and social purposes in Aledo in October, 1895, were as follows: G. A. R., A. O. U. W., Masonic, Knights of Pythias, Modern Woodmen of America, Odd Fellows, Home Forum, Eastern Star, Rebekahs, Ladies' Degree of Honor, Ladies' Relief Corps, Philharmonic Club and Columbian Club. At that time the leading business men were Robert Dool, Candor & Merritt, Downing & Marquis Company, James Addison, J. F. Pyles, Detwiler Brothers, Watterson & Rogers, James H. Ramsey, C. H. Finch. E. Parkman, J. W. Murphy, W.C. Fulton, Dr. D. R. Johnston, Levi Bowers, A. W. Almquist, Stevenson Brothers, C. K. Marquis, M. F. Felix, M. T. Kirkpatrick, Edwards & Horton, Will Hall, E. P. Park, J. R. McCrea, Aledo Pharmacy by C. S. Guthrie, Citizens Bank, with T. A. Vernon, manager. The latter began business in Aledo in October, 1895; Wells Brothers, E. A. Peterson, Emrick & Owslev, S. M. Evans, Stormont & Wilson, Scannell & Furr, M. C. Brooks, P. L. Bateman, T. A. Kinslow & Son, H. R. Morrison, Peter Ringdall, O. A. Wallen, Hauk & Paul, G. M. Bauer and J. A. Matchneer.

In Januarv, 1897, tne Mercer Countv Building & Loan Association was organized in Aledo. Five hundred shares of stock were sold within a year and at the first annual meeting 281 members were represented. The Mercer County Field Day held at Aledo in 1896 was an interesting and enjoyable event. There were offered for the races the following sums: $250 for horse races; $75 for bicycling; $65 for baseball, and $50 for athletics.

As soon as the city government was established a board of health was appointed, but they found little for them to work upon until 1896, when typhoid fever and scarlet fever appeared, but these were soon suppressed by a system of isolation adopted. In 1896-7 steps to improve Central Park of Aledo were taken. The city authorities and the railroad company united and in the end prepared the park as it is now. In 1898 the Knights Templar organized themselves into a templar club, with G. C. Bowers, president. The objects were sociability and mutual instruction and advantages. The Fraternal Tribunes were here at this date. For the first time in the history of the city the Knights Templar appeared in marching order on the streets on Easter, 1897.

It was noted in July, 1897, that the water supply of the city was slowly failing. The number of strokes when the system first started was forty a minute, but in 1896 was reduced to twenty-seven a minute, and in 1897 t0 twenty a minute. This indicated a failure of the supply. In 1899 there were pumped for the city's use 10,923,139 gallons. In June, 1900, alone there were pumped 1,179,525 gallons.

In 1 901 a new system of waterworks was planned and $6,000 was to be raised by bonds, payable $500 each year for twelve years. In February, 1901, sealed proposals for a brick building and steel standpipe for the water tower and for a storage reservoir were called for by the city authorities. The work was let in sections to different firms and individuals. The authorities decided on an air lift guaranteed to furnish 175 gallons per minute from a depth not to exceed one hundred and seventy-five feet below the discharge pipe. In December, 1901, Aledo had 346 telephones in use. In March, 1902, the lot owned by the city north of the city hall was ordered to be sold for the purpose of constructing thereon an opera house. This building was soon erected. The Masonic Hall at Aledo was dedicated in March, 1902, by Grand Master George M. Moulton. The guest of honor was R. C. Cabeen, of Alexis, who was then seventy-eight years old and who had joined the lodge at Keithsburg fifty-two years before. This building is occupied by the lodge above and by stores below. At the field day meet in April, 1902, the shot-put was won by John Hall; 50-yard dash by John Hall; 100-yard dash, John Hall; pole vault, Arthur Lee; hurdle race, Arthur Lee; 220-yard dash, John Edwards; half-mile run, Carl Croson; running broad jump, Ted Durning; 440-yard run, Carl Croson; running high jump, Chester Wright; relay race won by the senior team; bicycle race, John Hall.

In December, 1903, the foundation of a law library was laid here. A number of books were secured, but the plan has languished and the library is not of much service or consequence.

The Citizens Bank of Aledo in January, 1904, was merged into the First National Bank. It had been the bank of O. A. Bridgford & Company and had a capital of $25,000. The new opera house was dedicated in December, 1904. The Quincy Adams Sawyer Company was the first to play therein, the subject being "The Two Orphans." The building was erected bv Mr. Edwards. In June, 1904, Lewis [. Hutchins joined J. E. Mardock in charge of the Aledo Democrat. In 1904 a tract of 264 lots was added to the cemetery. By June, 1904, the First National Bank was in successful working condition under the presidency of T. A. Vernon. R. M. Whitham and H. B. Garrett severed connection with the Times-Record in December, 1904, after having spent about ten years with the paper. Archibald McKinney remained as their successor and as the assistant of D. M. Blazer. In April, 1905, the leading citizens of the citv concluded to build a hotel that would be a credit to the place. Those prominent in this movement were T. A. Vernon, E. E. Emrick, R. L. Watson, C. K. Marquis and C. W. Detwiler. Thev were made the building committee and were authorized to push the measure forward to completion and success. This they did. J. Grant Beadle was the architect of the building. In November, 1905, the citizens of the southwestern part of the city asked for admittance into the corporation. The council thereupon ordered an election to be held December 2 1st to decide whether the addition should be made.

The Merchants Hotel was duly dedicated March 20, 1906, the fiftieth anniversary of the sale of the first town lots. There were present 350 guests. Many speeches were made and an enjoyable and uplifting time generally was experienced. In July, 1906, the Civic Federation of Aledo was formed. Strong resolutions were passed, one being as follows: That we this day organize what shall be known as a civic federation for the purpose of endeavoring to place worthy, honorable and reliable men in public positions and to give them our support and cooperation for the enforcement of law. The officers elected were: C. W. Detwiler, president; D. A. Hebel, vice president; Charles V. Pollock, secretary; C. K. Marquis, treasurer. In 1906 the project of constructing an efficient sewer system for the city took shape and work was soon commenced. At the same time concrete walks were prepared and the park north of the railway track was planned to be improved. All this meant considerable cost, but the people under Mayor W. T. Church favored the improvements and were willing to bear the expense. In July, 1906, Luther Laflin Mills, the famous old-time lawyer and distinguished orator, of Chicago, lectured here.

In 1906 a brick and tile stock company was organized here with a capital stock of $25,000, and the B. F. Townsley brick "and tile plant was purchased. A. Gillett, of Woodhull, the inventor of hollow brick, was secured as manager. This plan has become one of the prominent industrial enterprises of the city. It was planned at first that the main pipe of the sewer system should be about fifteen inches and that a septic tank costing $1,500 should be secured. It was determined to improve the sanitation of the city, owing to the large number of outhouses and cesspools where filth accumulated and was liable to pass into the homes and cause sickness and death.

In April, 1907, A. M. Byers, after many years' upright dealing as a banker, retired from the Farmers Bank and was succeeded by A. G. Bridgford. The First Trust & Savings Bank was organized as a collateral of the First National Bank in April, 1907. The new Peoples Telephone Company asked for a franchise in August, 1907. They were capitalized for $20,000 and planned to take the place of the Mutual Company, which had failed to give satisfaction in all respects. To carry on the numerous improvements of recent years a board of local improvements was organized in 1908.

It was finally decided that the main pipes of the sewer system should be twelve inches, internal diameter, and the branch pipes should be ten inches, eight inches, six inches and smaller, depending on the location and the work to be done. The total cost was estimated at $16,500. There was considerable opposition, but the matter was forced to a conclusion and the sewer system was constructed. The Farmers Bank Building was completed early in 1908.

In 1890 the Keithsburg Times, conducted by Mr. Blazer, had a circulation of about six hundred when it was moved to Aledo and was first conducted by Mitchell & Blazer. In 1909 the Times-Record, its successor, had a circulation of over thirty-three hundred. In 1894 tne Aledo Record was purchased from the Porter family and merged as the Times-Record and was incorporated in 1895 as the Times-Record Publishing Company, but later, in 1901, were incorporated as the Times-Record Company. In 1909 the company had a new Cox Duplex Webb perfecting press and other up-to-date and suitable printing equipment for a first-class country newspaper. D. M. Blazer at this time was manager and Fred B. Blazer, editor.

In January, 1910, the Farmers National Bank succeeded the A. M. Byers & Company's Farmers National after forty-one years under the management of Mr. Byers. The new president was A. G. Bridgford; vice president, J. YV. McRoberts; cashier, G. L. Candor; assistant cashier, F. E. Cabeen.

The first electric car reached Aledo October 29, 1910, at 2.50 P. M. and was welcomed bv a large crowd. The day, however, was not as uproarious as that which witnessed the coming of the first steam train to Aledo in 1869.

In November, 1910, the ladies established a rest and reading room in the Davis Building. It was kept open four nights of the week, during January and February, 191 1. The young men of Drury Academy, William and Vashti College and the high schools of the city were particularly invited to visit this reading room. In March, 191 1, the Aledo Democrat was sold bv John E. Mardock to B. E. Beswick, of the Alexis Argus.

The year 191 1 was an eventful one in this city. The citizens raised over one hundred thousand dollars endowment fund for William and Vashti College, started a new sewer system, completed the erection of a new schoolhouse, built the county jail and commenced the construction of the pavements which, in the end, made an outlay of $100,000. The Commercial Club did much to encourage this vast system of civic improvements. In April, 191 1, ). W. McRoberts was reelected mayor; G. L. Candor was elected treasurer; W. D. Emerson, clerk; and O. E. Carlstrom, city attorney. Bv the last of the year five and a half miles of the new sewer system had been laid. In September, 191 1, the announcement was made that a postal savings bank had been ordered for Aledo. It was dulv opened here on the nth, but in two months thereafter not a dollar in deposits was received and in the end the bank was closed and withdrawn. In December, 191 1, C. E. Bookout and T. B. Cromwell established an electric laundry here, the first of the kind in the city. In [910-1 1 the Aledo Entertainment Union was a prominent literary and social organization which established a lecture course that was well attended and greatly enjoyed during the winter. The automobile owners held their first outing or run this year. There were 121; cars in the cavalcade and the trip was made from Aledo by Millersburg and Joy back to Aledo. In the spring of 191 2 the city prepared to lay its first street paving. This was an important step and the first work was witnessed by many persons who took deep interest in the improvement. The chautauqua of 19 12 was a great success and was repeated in 1913 and was greatly enjoyed by all. In November, 191 2, the W. C. T. U. ladies presented the drinking fountain now standing at the Postoffice Building to the city authorities.

In September, 191 2, the authorities decided, after due deliberation to secure a number of cluster lights to brighten the streets in an unusual degree at night. The improvements projected and on the way, or just completed, were almost staggering when viewed from the standpoint of population. They were as follows: Merchants Hotel, $35,000; interurban subscription, $55,000; endowment fund, $100,000; sewer system, $100,000; street paving, $100,000; new schoolhouse, $25,000; cluster lights, $3,277. This aggregated a large sum, but the people did not hesitate, because they were determined to have these improvements and the city can now boast of being perhaps the most enterprising, public-spirited and progressive of any in Western Illinois.

Bv June, 19 12, seventy-seven blocks of paved streets had been laid by the Advanced Construction Company, of Waukesha, Wisconsin. Their contract price was $95,354.30, or about $1.20 per yard. In February, 1913, the fifty-four cluster lights were ready for use, but were not officially turned on until March 4th. All were then turned on in the evening and were greatly enjoyed by the populace. The city could now boast of being the best lighted of its size in the country.

In March, 1913, a fresh campaign for the benefit of a public library was inaugurated, and to make the effort more successful D. A. Hebel, J. A. Wells and D. E. Farr were appointed a publication committee with full authority to put the project forward along any reasonable lines. Their work is in progress now. In October and November, 191 3, when the city council and the Tri-County Electric Light and Power Company failed to agree on terms, the city authorities considered the question of installing a municipal lighting plant. A committee was appointed and given authority to consider all phases of the question and to report at a subsequent meeting. An important industrial feature here in 1913 was the Aledo Machine Company, which spent about twenty thousand dollars in building and equipment. By April, 1912, the library contained about three hundred good books which were to be found at the reading and rest room in the Davis Building. They were allowed to be circulated and were required to be returned within two weeks. In the spring of 1914 C. E. Duvall succeeded Mr. Abercrombie as postmaster.

In May, 1914, the eighteen banks of Mercer Countv sent representatives to Aledo and the Mercer County Federation of Banks was duly organized. The object was improvement of banking methods and allied interests in the county. The following banks were represented: Aledo, Viola, Alexis, Norwood, Burgess, Keithsburg, Joy and Mathersville. The following officers were elected: S. R. Amlong, chairman; A. G. Bridgfofd, vice chairman; J. G. Zern, treasurer; C. A. Beers, secretary; G. H. Campbell, of Jov, was made

The men of Mercer County have always taken a prominent part in the politics of the state and nation. Of these we may mention James McKinney, who was born in Oquawka, in Henderson County, and was educated at Monmouth College, removing to Aledo about iSjv He was elected to Congress from the district in which Mercer County forms a part in November, 1905, and was re-elected and served until March 4, 1913. He was a very able, influential member of Congress and was entrusted with important business bv President Taft, and visited the Panama Canal and also visited the Philippines, and reported upon certain matters for investigation. Mr. McKinney was a very popular republican and is still held in high esteem bv the people of Aledo.

In 1914 Aledo had an estimated population of -.144. Among the business establishments were the following: Mrs. J. A. Agy & Son, restaurant; Aledo Brick & Tile Company; Aledo Democrat Printing Company; Aledo Hotel Company; Aledo Machine Company, autos and supplies; A. W. Almquist, merchant tailor; Bassett- Graham, millinery; John P. Berg, boots and shoes; Swan Bergland, tailor; B. E. Beswick, publisher; Bjorkman & Anderson, art goods; Bjorkman & Bjorkman, restaurant; S. B. Bolton, electric goods; F. D. Burton, cigars, etc.; L. E. Butler, drugs; E. E. Cabeen, racket store; E. T. Carlson, photography; G. H. Carroll, lumber; L. R. Carter, jew dry and clothing; Barr & Flake, drugs; Continental Brick Company; Detwiler Hardware Company; Edwards & Wharton Lumber Company; Emrick, Owsley & Haas, dry goods and clothing; D. E. Farr, clothing; B. F. Felix, dry goods and clothing; Finch & Frcuson, groceries and meat; Will Hall, boots and shoes; Hartman Brothers, jewelry; Heald-Duval Company, grain, coal and ice; Henderson Grocery Company; Home Mutual Telephone Company; R. C. Tohnson, drugs; Albert Johnson, restaurant; J. P. Lemon, sewing machine, buggies, etc.; Laura E. Love, millinery; Lila Macklin. millinery; R. B. Merritt, drv goods; R. B. Le Master, bakery; F. A. Minor, grocery; Hugh Morrison & Son, furniture and undertaking; John W. Murphv, furniture and undertaking; Nesbit Cv Matchneer, feed mill; A. L. Newton, grocery; Noonan Brothers, implements; E. H. Osborn, general store; Eugene Parkman, drv goods; Parkman & Mawbv, clothing; Peoples Telephone Company: Peterson, restaurant; Philleo Brothers, jewelry; A. C.

Simpson, blacksmith; W. J. Shaw, musical instruments; Strother & Brown, painters and decorators; August Swanson, boots and shoes; Christ Thede, autos ; Ralph Thede, implements ; Times-Record Company; Union Clothing Company; Frank Wausing, harness; W. W. Warnock, livery; Wells & Carroll, hardware; West & Almquist, grocery; C. L. Wiggins, blacksmith; T. D. Winders, hides and poultry. Three banks - First National and its saving department; Aledo Bank; Farmers National Bank.

In 1874 there was organized in Aledo what was denominated the Conversational Club. Rev. Robert Nourse, the Congregational minister, called a meeting of a few persons at his residence, among them being Tyler McWhorter, J. H. Connell, I. N. Bassett, Joseph McCoy, J. H. Abercrombie and John Geiger. The organization was very informal and it was provided that all persons who desired might become members of the association, and that it should be open for the discussion of any and all questions political, economical, financial, social or religious. The meetings were to be held bi-weekly at the residence of some one of the members. It was provided that the person who was to lead on a question should select the same the week previous to his presentation of his view upon the question selected. He might deliver orally or submit the same in writing to be read to the association, and he could have thirty minutes for opening. Then each member, if desired, could have five minutes to criticise the position taken by the leader, and the leader then could have five minutes to reply. The meeting was to convene at 7 o'clock and always to be adjourned at 10 o'clock in the evening. At the first meeting thereafter Tyler McWhorter was the leader and selected as the question he would present, "John Finley's Belfast Address." The particular part of the address he referred to was that in which Mr. Finley in substance said, "Scientists are finding in the despised matter all the potency power of life." Among the other questions discussed before the association were: The Bible; public schools; the subject of praying as effecting God; the adoption of irredeemable greenbacks as the standard of money; the evolution theory of Darwin; the agrarian subject, or the limitation of the land that one person should occupy; the tariff question; the suffrage question as applied to women; the question in regard to the soul, whether it was an entity or existed only during the existence of the body; the question of capital punishment, of the future punishment, of the treatment of criminals, and various other subjects.

John Geiger, Mrs. J. H. Connell, Mrs. I. N. Bassett, W. N. Graham and wife, Mrs. Mary McHard, D. H. Hayes, E. L. Larkin and wife, W. C. Galloway and wife, Dr. A. L. Craig and wife, Mrs. Joseph H. Abercrombie, Rev. Mr. Grouse and wife, Rev. Mr. Smith and wife, the Misses Amanda and Matilda Frazier, A. U. Barler, Rev. Mr. Farrar, Alexander McArthur, Andrew Lorimer, Horatio Wells, A. H. Law, O. B. Arthur, P. F. Warner, Archibald Corkin, C. F. Durston and wife, and some others not now remembered, among whom were two Congregational ministers, one Methodist minister, and a Presbyterian minister. The societv existed for some seven or eight years and the attendance would be from twenty to thirty and sometimes more, but on account of the death of several members, and others moving from Aledo, it finally suspended. The society was highly educational and among the women who took an active part in the leading were Mrs. Mary McHard, Mrs. Joseph McCoy and daughter, Laura, and others. The records of the society have been lost, so that all that can be given now is that remembered by the members now in Aledo.

Other questions discussed were: The prohibition question, not only in the temperance aspect, but as to the political partv; the license question; the question as to gold, silver and other money as being the standard of value; and the discussion from time to time of the different religions, especially the Persian, Mohammedan, Brahmatic, Buddhistic, Chinese, besides the Jewish and Christian. In reality there was not any question but what some of the members of this society thought they were able to handle, and frequently the leader was not very well posted, but there was a great deal of excellent information obtained. In fact, there was no better educational institution in Aledo than this club. One verv intelligent member of the club remarked that he had learned more in that club than he ever learned in the same given time in any other way; that it caused him to think; that it gave him information that he had never been able to obtain in other wavs. Mr. E. L. Larkin, mentioned in connection therewith, was afterwards assistant professor of astronomv in Knox College, and is now and has been for a great many years in charge of the telescope at Mount Lowe, California.

The Columbian Club was organized March 31, 1892, by Mrs. Marcia Louise Gould, of the Illinois Woman's Exposition Board, and was first named the Mercer County World's Columbian Exposition Club, but after the great fair at Chicago the name became the Mercer County Woman's Columbian Club. When first organized it included women from all parts of the countv and the design was to gather an exhibit in Mercer County and send it to the world's fair. A carved wooden cabinet was built under the instruction of Miss Alice E. Hall, of the Chicago Art Institute. Mrs. Clarence Brock was appointed president of the committee on world's fair exhibit. A class was formed, was instructed and was the means of developing local art talent of a high character. A few men belonged to the class. Mrs. Ella Reynolds carved the maple-leaf panel of the cabinet and Mrs. Hortense Moses, the rose panel. Mrs. Lorimer was a special committee to collect historic relics, which were shown in the cabinet in the woman's department of the Illinois building. There were also shown the samples from the strata passed through when drilling the deep well at Aledo - 3,116 feet.

At the close of the world's fair the organization was merged into a study club, which has continued in existence ever since. At first there was no specific line of work, the first studies being history, particularly of the Mississippi Valley. Now there is a printed program and the studies have been extended to literature, art, science, etc. Meetings were at first held in the homes of the members, but upon completion of the courthouse the club was given a permanent home in the court library room. A course of study for the entire year is now prepared in advance and is studied diligently by the members with great profit and progress. After taking up the regular course of studv the first officers were Mrs. Marv F. Byers, president; Mrs. Theresa Dool, vice president; Mrs. Delia Harr, secretary and treasurer. The membership has varied from forty to about sixty. Every progressive and educated lady of the county should be a member of this highly important club.