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 - Shelby County, Illinois - This is the Shelby County, Illinois, section of the Genealogy Trails Project. |
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| OBW 9.19.1891 5:1 | OBW 9.19.1891 5:2 | OBW 9.19.1891 5:3 | OBW 9.19.1891 5:4 | OBW 9.19.1891 5:5 |
| The
City of Shelbyville The county seat of Shelby County, Ill., has about 3,200 people within her limits and is beautifully situated on the west bank of the Kaskaskia (locally known as the Okaw). St. Louis is within three hours ride over the C.C.C. & St. L., and within a few weeks the Chicago & Eastern Illinois will be connected with the C. C. C. & St. Louis at this place, which will make a direct line between Chicago & St. Louis, with through trains daily. Being built on a river bluff, Shelbyville has perfect drainage, rendering it a most healthful city. Shelbyville has so far been mostly an agricultural trading town, and in the vicinity are large supplies of stone, wood, coal and water. A finer lot of dwellings and substantial, modern business blocks in a town the size of Shelbyville would be hard to find. A fine system of water works and an inexhaustible supply of water are here, and the city is lighted by electricity. The city schools have long been recognized as of the best in the State, and graduates from here are admitted, without examination, to the Illinois University at Cham- paign. Prof. F. D. Jordan, a gradu- ate of Harvard University, an instructor of ability, has just taken charge of these schools and will endeavor to raise their already high standard. He is popular among his pupils and has started out well. Our oldest physicians may well point to the 700 healthy and happy boys and girls going up to our school every day as evidence of the healthy location of Shelbyville. It is claimed that few towns in the country have as many school children in proportion to popula- tion. The Alumni Association of the high school has nearly 200 members and they have annual reunions. Mr. Morris Kleeman is president. The secret, benevolent and social societies and fraternities are numerous. A list of the secret societies, together with their officers, is found on page one. Shelbyville’s four newspapers and their editors are spoken of elsewhere, as are also her churches and their pastors. The city and the county has no indebtedness, and her taxes are a great deal lower than that of surrounding cities having less improvements. The business men, as a rule, are safe and there have been few failures. There are three flouring mills and two old and reliable banks. During the past two years Shelbyville has had no saloons, and from the present outlook this order of things will continue. During the past year a large number of families from the surrounding country, desiring better school advantages for children, have bought property and removed to Shelbyville. Our
Newspapers
Shelbyville
is well provided with newspapers, and it is perhaps safe to say that
there are not four better local papers in any town of the same size in
the State. The dominant political party in the county (Democrat) is
represented by two papers the Democrat and Leader; the Union
upholds the principles of the Republican party, and Our Best Words
Weekly is “independent in everything but neutral in nothing that
concerns human welfare,” and is for the present an earnest advocate of
the principles of the Prohibition party as the surest method of
securing greatly needed reforms.The Democrat was established in 1874, as an independent paper, but in 1876 was changed to its present name and politics. It was under the management of Dr. E. E. Waggoner for many years, but on being appointed postmaster he sold out to Graybill Bros. & Co., who have since published it. George R. Graybill, the editor, was born in Fairfield county, O., has been living in Shelby County since 1858. He received his education in common schools and in the University of Illinois and was a teacher for fifteen years. As editor of the Democrat he has been enterprising and ambitious to do his part in building up the town and county, and has made the Democrat a newsy and readable sheet. Mr. Graybill was in 1888 united in marriage to Miss Etta Laughlin, daughter of Col. James Laughlin (whose portrait and sketch is found on page 14). G. W. Cook, the |
other
partner, is a practical printer of large experience, and for many years
was foreman of the Leader. He
is a pushing man, full of business, and
keeps the mechanical department of the Democrat always moving up to
the times. They use water power to run their Campbell cylinder press
and their job presses. The Leader has always been Democratic in politics and [the county history states] “the recognized organ of the party in this county.” The Leader came under the control of the present editor, W. A. Trower, back in the sixties. Mr. Trower is about 58 years of age and a man of very steady habits. He has been a total abstainer most of his life from all intoxicants. He is always found at his editorial post. In all his personal relations he is an honest and kind hearted gentleman. He is quiet and genial in manner and ever ready to do you a favor. He has at different times held offices of honor in the county, was sheriff of the county, was postmaster many years and mayor of the city several years. He at present is master in chancery and performs his duties well. Mr. Trower was married in 1856 to Miss Cordelia Smith, and they have four daughters and one son. All but the youngest son and daughter are married. The Leader is a large, seven column quarto and the mechanical department is presided over by W. O. Kelly, a printer of taste and ability. They have recently moved into new quarters, up stairs, one block west of their former location. The Union was born during the war, an exponent of liberty and union. It is the only Republican paper in the county, and Horace L. Martin has for many years been its editor and proprietor. Mr. Martin was born in Ohio, in 1836, and has been a citizen of Shelbyville for about thirty-five years. He and the senior editor of Our Best Words Weekly were associated together in the same store (book and drug) in this city, over thirty years ago. Mr. Martin was married in 1859 to Miss Mary A. Jagger, and has two daughters, both grown and living at home. He has been an elder in the Presbyterian Church and sang in the choir for many years. He is always at his post, and is a kind hearted and neighborly citizen. The Daily Union is a welcome visitor at many homes in Shelbyville, and with Harry M. Martin as local editor fills the long felt want of those who desire something fresher than the weeklies give in the way of the latest city news and local gossip. Our
Best Words Weekly
Our
readers know much of us already, but if you want to know more, and at
the same time keep posted on matters of reform as well as local news,
send $1.25 and you will receive this paper fifty-two times during the
next twelve months. Our office is also well equipped for job work, and
is most conveniently situationed, on the first floor, on the corner
southwest of the court house and but half a block from the post office,
right where one of the most prominent saloons and gambling houses held
full sway during the days when Shelbyville was sowing her wild oats.
But the fact that a paper like this has a weekly circulation of 1,700,
and largely in the town and county, is pretty good evidence of reform.
By the way, a still further evidence of the spirit of reform and
progress in Shelby county is the fact that this county gave the largest
vote of any county in the State for the Peoples’ Reform Ticket at the
last general election.Newspapers in the County There are at present four papers published in the county in the towns outside of Shelbyville. None of these (excepting the Windsor Gazette) are political in character and all bend their energies toward increasing the prosperity and material and moral welfare of their towns, and giving local news. The Moweaqua Mail-Call is a five column, eight page paper edited by W. A. Steidley. The Cowden Herald is the same size edited by Will H. Taylor. The Windsor Gazette is edited by Charles Miner, at present mayor of the village of Windsor, and you will find an account of the editor of the Stewardson Clipper and his portrait on page fourteen. It was our wish and would have been our pleasure to have given a portrait and sketch of each of the editors of the county, but owing to circumstances beyond our control we have been able to give but one, that of Mr. Fagen, of the Clipper. ERRATUM —In notice page 4 of Seaman Bros., removal of Drug Store bottom line read West in place of North. The following is the line written for first page, under Court House: “Public office is a public trust; he serves party best who serves best the whole people.” |
Music in Shelbyville
There are very few homes in Shelbyville that cannot boast of
either a piano or organ. This city has a remarkable number of musicians
for her size, her people love music and good concerts are always well
patronized. Shelbyville is the birthplace and has always been the home of the remarkable prodigy who has received so much honor in the musical world lately — the child pianist, Gussie Cottlow. Although barely entering her teens, she plays the works of the masters in a style considered by many unsurpassed by any American virtuoso. There are quite a number of accomplished pianoists who have been called to other places to assist in musical entertainments, but space forbids mention of all. The churches all have organs, and three have pipe organs. Several of the churches have choirs whose singing would be a credit to a metropolitan church. And for the past few years there has been formed a Choral Union, under the direction of Prof. E. M. Hopkins. This society gives occasional concerts of high class music and is a creditable as well as an educating organization. At the May Festival in Decatur, Ill., where a large number of singers from all over this State gather, this society was pronounced the best drilled of any of the visitors, and some of the singers were given important parts on the program. Indeed, among the vocalists are several who are vastly superior to many professional artists, and these are frequently to be heard in our entertainments. “The Palmer Glee Club” is a political organization is a political organization of male singers who have sang together for several years. They made quite a reputation and good pay singing at Chicago during the recent city election. Isn’t it remarkable that Chicago people send to a comparatively small town when they want fine campaign singing. And then but recently another city called on Shelbyville for music from our Knights of Pythias band. Our citizens could not help feeling a little proud when this band was engaged at good pay, to lead Lyon Post, G. A. R., to the recent encampment at Detroit. And it was engaged too, while many other excellent bands were anxious to go, and some would have been glad to go without any pay. The Knights of Pythias Band has been under the leadership of Prof. George Pearson for a few years past and is undoubtedly the finest band in this section of the country. They play music of the highest grade, such as is written for Gilmore’s Band, Sousa’s Marine Band and other famous bands. Our streets are always crowded with eager listeners when they give free open air concerts, which they frequently do in the pleasant months. In fact, Shelbyville is, in matters musical as well as in the general intellectual culture of her people, quite far ahead of most country towns of her size.  Truman E. Ames, judge of the county court of Shelby county is presented above. He was born in 1850 in New York and spent several of his younger years as a teacher in that state. In 1871 he came west and after teaching two years in the county became principal of the Windsor schools. In 1875 he entered Ann Arbor (Mich.) University as a student of law and graduated two years later. He practiced for a while in Windsor, Ill., and in Rockford, Ill. In 1880 he came to Shelbyville and has been city attorney two terms and is now in his second term of service as County Judge. He is also a member and president of the Shelbyville Board of Education. Miss Dora Hilsabeck was in 1874 made his wife and one son, Edward Peer, enlivens their happy home on North Broadway. Judge Ames is a free hearted man, of strong social qualities. He is ardently attached to his friends, kind in his feelings and is ready to accommodate his fellow citizens whenever possible and fills with honor and dignity the position of County Judge. Howland J. Hamlin is Shelby’s brilliant lawyer and orator. He was born July 13, 1850, and grew up on a farm in St. Lawrence county, N. Y. He graduated from Lawrenceville Academy carrying off a prize for elocution. He came west in 1870 and taught school in Moultrie County. For several years following he was principal of Windsor public schools. He studied law during vacations and was examined and admitted to the bar commencing practice at Sullivan, Ill., in 1875. He removed to Shelbyville and for two or three years was associated with Thornton & Wendling, (sketches of whom will be found in atnoehr place) and later he was in partnership with Thomas T. Holloway, now a prominent lawyer of Dallas, Texas. Since 1884 he has been alone. Mr. Hamlin has strong sympathies and when conducting a case or pleading for his client throws his whole strength into it and thus overworks himself. Last year he was prostrated and was forced to leave a large practice and rest for several months. He now limits himself to a few |
hours
for work and consultation. Mr. Hamlin has excellent social qualities
and has rare tact as an attorney. He has a way of putting things that
carries his hearers right along with him and has won cases where it
seemed that everything was against him. In 1876 Mr. Hamlin was married
to Miss Ella M. York of Tazewell County,
Ill. Three children have come
to make their home happy and bright. Wallace E. Walker was born in Rush county, Indiana, July 14, 1845. He came with his father to this county when he was but six years old and settled on a farm near Windsor. Here he grew to manhood and filled several offices in his township acceptably. In 1886 he was elected to the office of county treasurer. During his four years of office we heard not one word of complaint of Mr. walker in connection with his official duties. He is a plain, honest man, of few words and of many popular qualities, and enjoys the confidence and respect of all his acquaintances. Since the expiration of his term, being ineligible to re-election for four years, he has been most of the time assisting in the work in the county treasurer’s office. Mr. Walker was married in 1870 to Miss Nancy Wallace, and with three sons and one daughter they have made Shelbyville their home since 1886. Edward M. Hopkins is a native of Illinois, his birthplace being Upper Alton, on the banks of the Mississippi. During the greater part of his life he has been connected with the drug business, beginning as a clerk in a drug store in Alton, Ill., some thirty-five years ago. In 1860 he established his drug store in Shelbyville, and a few years later his brother (now of St. Louis) was associated with him. For many years he has been sole proprietor, and has a first-class stock of drugs, books, toys and sundries. The children all like Hopkins’ store, especially when the holiday season approaches, for Santa Claus has his headquarters there. Adolph Reiss has become familiar to all Shelbyville as Hopkins’ faithful assistant. Mr. Hopkins is an accomplished musi- cian, with cultivated and refined musical taste, and is ever working for the higher development of this fine art in our city. At present he is director of the Choral Union, described elsewhere. In church work he is also active, and has long been leader of the Presby- terian Church choir, and for years as superintendent of the sunday school. He has been a member of the city council and is now president of the Laborer’s Loan Association. In 1870 Mr. Hopkins was married to Miss Lizzie Tackett, and with one daughter, an accomplished pianist, they make their home on South Broadway.  Alfred F. Allen is at present the efficient county clerk of Shelby county. Mr. Allen is a native Indianian, born March 3, 1847, and residing in the Hoosier State until 1855. The family came to Shelby county and Alfred taught school for fourteen years. During part of the time he lived in Strasburg he was postmaster, town school treasurer, village clerk, justice of the peace, notary public and secretary of the building and loan association. Believing too many offices burdensome to a man, the voters of Shelby County in 1886 asked Mr. Allen to step into the county clerk’s chair, where he has since remained, being re-elected for a second term last November. Mr. Allen, since his election, has made his home with his wife and three children in Shelbyville, where they have many friends. He |
is
a man of few words, quiet and pleasant manners and kindly
disposition. He is ever ready in his official capacity to do favors for
others, and so makes a popular county clerk. A. M. Craddick
Ambrose
M. Craddick, county treasurer, spent his youth on a farm near Tower Hill,
where he was born July 16, 1844. He worked as section hand
on the railroad to earn money to pay his expenses to Shelby Seminary.
He learned telegraphy and was made station agent, postmaster and
express agent at Tower Hill. He started in the mercantile business and
built up a large trade. He also became owner of a stock farm and a
beautiful residence. In November, 1868, he became the husband of Miss
Anna E. Moore. The family removed to this place last year. Mr.
Craddick, as the nominee of the Democratic party, having been chosen to
fill the position of country treasurer. As far as we know, Mr. Craddick
has filled the position to the satisfaction of all his constituents.
Mr. Craddick has an excellent reputation for fair dealing and courteous
treatment of his fellows and for being a generous helper, according to
his means, in all public enterprises that commend themselves to his
judgment. William McMillian was born across the sea, in bonny Scotland, Lark Hall, Lanarkshire, on the 21st of June, 1819. There were eight or nine in the family and educational advantages were small, so that for only nine months of his life did he have the privilege of attending a day school. He began working at the weaver’s trade when nine years old and worked with his father until he was 21. Fifty-three years ago the tenth of this coming November he was married to Isabella Paul. Together they have lived since. Mr. McMillian came to America in 1855 and worked for a year in Chicago. He then lived for a year in Charleston, Ill., and in 1857 came to this place, which has since been his home. For the first two years in Shelbyville, Mr. McMillian and John Murdock worked together at the weaver’s trade in a shop where Sturgis’ plow shop now is, on North Morgan Street. Then Mr. McMillian did general work for J. A. Roundy for ten years. He sawed wood, and handled the shovel, the pick and the wheelbarrow. In fact, he showed himself ready and willing to do any useful work and do it well, always. In 1873 he went into the grocery business with William Rice, and since the great fire of ‘77 has been in business by himself in his present location, a few doors from the OBWW office. “Uncle Billy McMillian” is one of the most prompt and fair dealing, steady, honest and upright of businessmen in this or any county, and he has a good trade, especially among the farmers and laboring classes. By simple habits, industry and economy, and by the aid of a most excellent helpmeet, he has earned a competence sufficient to himself and wife in the sunset of life, and willing to sell out his stock, building and all. The location is first-class, directly opposite the court house. Mr. McMillian and his wife are members of the Unitarian Congregational Church, and are always at their post at the hour of service unless providentially prevented. “It’s
a very good rule in all things of life,
When judging a friend or brother, not to look at the question alone on one side, But always turn to the other.” —"Put Yourself In His Place" from Woodhull & Claflin's Weekly, January 7, 1871 |