OBW 9.19.1891 page Eight

Shelby County Trail of Genealogy Trails.com

Illinois Trails Anniversary - Helping Find Illinois Ancestors Since March 24, 2000

- Shelby County, Illinois -

This is the Shelby County, Illinois, section of the Genealogy Trails Project.

OBW 9.19.1891 8:1

OBW 9.19.1891 8:2

OBW 9.19.1891 8:3

OBW 9.19.1891 8:4-5

A Noble Vow

I made them lay their hands in mine and swear
* * * * * * * *
To break the heathen and uphold the Christ,
To ride abroad redressing human wrongs,
To speak no slander, no, nor listen to it.
To lead sweet lives in purest chastity.
-- Tennyson
Guinevere by Alfred Lord Tennyson

We now print weekly 1700 copies of this paper, the largest circulation of any paper in the county.

Extra copies of this Edition.

We can supply a few hundred extra copies of this double number and supplement at the following rates:
10 cents single copy
5 cents each for 20 or more copies

Editorial Preface.

The personal sketches and descriptions of town and country in this edition of Our Best Words Weekly are meant to be true and simple matter of fact statement and nothing exaggerated. We have tried to avoid fulsome eulogy on the one hand and fault finding on the other. It is always pleasant to be able to say good things about our fellow men, although sometimes it becomes the imperative duty of a faithful public journalist to be a critic and censor. But in this edition we seek to introduce some of our representative fellow citizens to strangers, and let the world know some facts of special interest about our city and county. In such introduction of course fault finding is entirely out of place; and it is very proper to speak of what we conceive to be creditable facts and commendable qualities. This, which is always a pleasant task, is, in the present instance, happily our duty. We have endeavored to perform this duty not by the use of "taffy" which we despise, but by telling the simple truth and allowing the brief record of a man's life to speak for itself. For example, if the record says that a man has taught school and given good satisfaction for twenty years in one place, we have not thought it necessary to waste words in eulogizing him as a popular and successful teacher. That one fact in his life speaks for itself. But if we praised him for doing what he never had done or for qualities which he did not possess, it would weaken all the rest of our testimony in the minds of those who knew better.

And in regard to the material resources and natural

advantages of our county, we have tried to give a true picture -- avoiding all exaggeration, so that no one should have just ground for accusing Our Best Words of misleading.
We have doubtless left unsaid some things we ought to have said, and have said some things that we shall regret when our attention is called to them. We may find that more credit has been given to some person and less to others than they deserver. In such case we can only plead good intents and most kindly feelings toward each and all. We expect to meet them all together in some great Judgment Day, and hop to be better acquainted when the mists of this world have cleared away.

The Purpose of This Special Edition.

The likenesses in these pages are mostly of the older residents and of persons shrinking from publicity -- persons who have only consented to be thus introduced at the urgent solicitation of the publishers and other friends.
The object of this edition is to give something of a fair picture of Shelby County -- a picture not only of this county’s material resources and natural advantages, but of its social, domestic, industrial, commercial, political, educational and religious life. Of course such a picture could not be well given without the portraits of persons of various professions, sects and parties. We have not desired to slight any, and are thankful that so many good people have kindly consented to be thus introduced. It is a most excellent way of cultivating acquaintance with others, and to promote good society, good fellowship, public enterprise and the general welfare.

Will You Help?

Now, friends, will you help yourselves and serve your town and county by helping to circulate this illustrated edition?
Send a copy to your distant friends, you may do them a favor and help build up the county at little cost.

Sincere Thanks to Our Patrons.

Besides costing several hundred dollars in money, this edition has also cost many days and nights of research and hard editorial labor.
This is the most original and valuable number of any weekly ever issued from the press of Shelby County. We say this not boastingly but because we believe it to be strictly true.

Of course, such an enterprise could not have succeeded without the kindly co-operation of our fellow citizens. We hereby extend our heartfelt thanks to all who have so cheerfully helped us in this effort to creditably represent our town and county; and we have reason to believe that hundreds more would have done likewise if the opportunity had offered. So friendly a disposition greatly encourages us, amidst some discouragements, in our effort to promote the general welfare. It is evident that the people have come to regard Our Best Words Weekly as one of the most solid and helpful institutions of Shelby County -- a paper made thus solid and helpful by the liberal support of intelligent and public spirited people of all classes.

W. F. Thornton & Son.

In our beautiful city cemetery, a glimpse of which may be seen at the extreme right of the view in our supplement, stands a splendid shaft of Italian marble. This shaft is the Thornton monument. Beneath this rests the bodies of Gen. Wm. F. Thornton and wife and others of the family. Those twain were among the earliest settlers and noblest of the people of this region. General Thornton was a native of Virginia and moved to Washington City in early life to conduct a newspaper in support of John Quincy Adams. He was an officer and did honorable eservice in the war of 1812. He afterward lived in Kentucky until 1833, when he removed to Shelbyville, where he lived till his eighty-fifth year, passing from earth October 21, 1873. His wife -- a most worthy helpmeet and saintly woman -- survived him until 1883, passing to the better county in the 89th year of her age. General Thornton was one of the ablest men and most powerful orators of America, and served his fellow citizens as one of Illinois' first legislators, as well as in the capacity of plenipotentiary to England in behalf of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, then one of the great enterprises of the country. He was also an excellent, safe endmost honorable financier. In 1859 the banking house of Wm. F. Thornton & Son was established, and it still continues, most faithfully conducted by his son, Thomas M. Thornton, under the original firm name. (See cut). The writer of this article (which, by the way, is a wholly voluntary contribution prompted by an ambition to notice in these pages all the older established and useful institutions of Shelbyville, and also prompted by grateful recollections of a life-time of favors from Thornton's bank) was born in the vicinity one year after General Thornton came to Shelbyville. Our grandfather and father patronized in their life time this bank, as have a multitude of the older and younger residents of Shelby County. It has never failed, and is implicitly trusted by everybody. Mr. Thomas M. Thornton is a gentleman of high public spirit and of liberal mind, and is ever ready to lead with means and personal effort in worthy enterprises and public improvements.

Father Hoven

Father H. J. Hoven

It gives us pleasure to present above the portrait of our devoted Catholic priest. H. J. Hoven was born on the Rhine in Germany. After having finished his classical studies at the Gymnasium of Munstereifel, he went to Rome to study philosophy and rhetoric at the "Sapienza," the Roman university. After having completed there two courses, he went to Dublin where he devoted three years to the study of theology in the missionary college of "All Hallows." He was raised to the priesthood in 1861, and in the same year sailed to America, the land of predilection, to work in vineyard of the Lord. During the thirty years in which this country has been his home, he has crossed the Atlantic eleven times, visiting the scenes of his early life, etc. During this time he has had charge of several congregations, and for the past ten years has been attached to the Catholic church of this city. By his habitual courtesy and kindness and strict attention to his pastoral duties, Father Hoven has won the esteem of all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance.