Skip to main content

Full text of "A review of the commerce, manufactures, and the public & private improvements of Galesburg : containing a brief history of Knox college and sketches of the first settlement of the town"

See other formats 


Author 


F 


Title 


Imprint 


1«— 4737a-3        OPO 


A  REVIEW 


lERCE.  iiUFACTlES 


AND     THE 


PUBLIC  &  PRIVATE  IMPROVEMENTS 


OF  GALESBURG; 


CONTAINING 


gt  grief  f  istars  at  %\m  Cclltgt,  anb  ^Mt\ts  of  tk 
|irst  Srttlmcnt  at\\t  f0ton.     . 


COMPILED  AND  WRITTEN, 

BY   C.   J.  SELLON. 


GALESBURG,  ILL.: 
J.    H.    SHERMAN,    PRINTER, 
1857. 


■tffiaa^ 


nf\ 


/y 


PREFACE. 


Dear  Reader,  my  object  in  writing  this  "  History  "  is  to  set  forth  the 
^  advantages,  privileges  and  prospects  of  Gale^burg.     I  have  endeavored 

to  give  a  faithful  daguerreotype  of  the  business  of  the  town,  and  to  group 
within  these  pages  facts  at  once  interesting  and  useful.  It  may  be  that 
much  has  been  omitted  that  should  have  appeared,  and  much  admitted 
that  were  better  out ;  and,  if  so,  this  must  be  my  excuse ;  since  I  con- 
cluded to  undertake  this  work  1  have  been  compelled  to  make  a  perilous 
journey  by  flood  and  land  in  search  of  a  Press  on  which  to  print  it — te 
edit  a  weekl}"^  paper,  assist  in  getting  ready  to  issue  a  Daily,  and  perfom- 
ing  sundiy  other  duties  "  too  tedious  to  mention." 

I  have  met  with  much  unlooked  for  difficulty  in  gathering  facts  con- 
nected with  Colleges,  Churches,  Railroads,  &c.  &c.,  but  through  the 
untiring  exertions  of  Mr.  Tuthill  I  have  been  enabled  to  give  a  tolerably 
fair  account  of  them.  I  wish  here  to  make  public  acknowledgement  of 
raluable  aid  received  from  Rev.  G.  W.  Gale.  The  early  history  of  the 
town  and  Knox  College  is  from  his  pen.  The  same  facts  were  once  before 
published,  but  ver\  few  of  our  citizens  have  read  them.  We  are  also 
indebted  to  him  for  a  copy  of  the  census  taken  in  1843.  I  am  also  under 
obligations  to  Mr.  W.  Abkold,  clerk  in  the  C.  B.  &  Q.  Railroad  Freight 
Office  for  much  valuable  statistical  information  respecting  that  Railroad. 

The  reader  will  find  that  I  have  been  unable  to  give  an  extended  account 
©r  description  of  anything.  My  limits,  but,  above  all,  the  price  of  my 
"bocky  compelled  me  to  be  brief. 

Trusting  that  what  is  here  written  may  prove  a  "lamp  to  the  feet"  of 
some  westward  bound  emigrants,  and  contribute  in  some  degree  towards 
building  up  the  "  Collegiate  City,"  as  well  as  prove  interesting  to  the 
oitiieus  of  Gale-sburg,  and — profitable  to  myself,  I  subscribe  myself 

Your  Humble  Servant, 

CHARLES  J.  8ELL0N. 


HISTORY  OF  GALESBURG. 


[When  we  first  conceived  the  idea  of  writing  and  printing  a 
history  of  Galesburg,  we  applied  to  Rev.  George  W.  Gale,  the 
projector  and  founder  of  Knox  College,  and  as  a  consequence,  the 
founder  of  Galesbuig,  to  write  out  for  this  work  the<}arly  history 
of  the  College  and  the  town.  This  he  cheerfully  promised  to  do» 
but  subsequent  ill  health  prevented  him  from  writing  it.  He  had, 
however,  in  1845,  written  and  published  a  small  pamphlet,  enti- 
tled, "  A  Brief  History  of  Knox  College,"  which  contained  the 
substance  of  the  information  we  desired  to  incorporate  into  this 
work.  From  this  pamphlet  we  determined  to  cull  such  facts  as  in 
our  judgment  would  prove  interesting  to  our  citizens ;  but  aftei* 
reading  it  we  concluded  to  insert  it  entire.] 

Late  in  the  Autumn  of  1836  more  than  thirty  families  had  found 
their  way  to  what  was  then,  as  it  is  still  by  many,  considered  the 
"far  west."  They  were  snugly  quartered  in  dwellings  of  the  rudest 
kind,  ^built  by  themselves,  or  hired  of  western  settlers,  along  the 
south  border  of  Henderson  Grove,  Knox  County,  Illinois  ;  on  what 
is  called  the  "  Military  Tract ;"  thirty  miles  frrom  the  Mississippi 
River,  about  forty  miles  from  Rock  River,  and  an  equal  distance 
from  the  Illinois  River  on  the  east ;  on  elevated  prairie  land  where 
the  streams  rise  which  flow  into  these  three  rivers. 

Henderson  Grove  is  of  the  finest  timber  ;  from  ten  to  twelve  miles 
long,  and  from  four  to  seven  broad.  The  prairie  on  its  south  bor- 
der, where  Galesbuig  stands,  larger  in  extent  than  the  grove,  is 
beantifully  rolling,  and  of  the  finest  quality  of  soil. 


6 


HISTORY  OF  OALKSByRG. 


A  few  famllicK,  pioneers  of  tlie  west,  had  seen  this  grove  and 
prairie  in  their  verdure  and  bh)s*;om,  having  arrived  the  preceding 
summer  ;  but  most  of  them  beheld  them  for  the  first  time  in  autumn, 
yellow  and  sere;  yet  interesting  alike  to  all.  This  spot  was  their 
future  homo  ;  the  scene  of  coining  laleors  in  the  cause  of  the  Re- 
deemer, jtiid  tlieir  resting  place  after  a  wagon  jonrney  to  many  of 
more  than  one  thousand  miles. 

These  families  were  homogeneous  in  their  character,  partaking  of 
the  spirit,  as  they  sprung  from  the  blood,  of  the  Pilgrim  Fathers 
of  jS'ew  England.  They  loved  the  Bible,  the  Sabbath,  and  the 
sanctuary.  Tlicy  cherished  with  slight  or  no  variation,  the  same 
views  of  Gospel  truth  ;  and  felt,  as  their  fathers  felt,  the  import- 
ance of  transmitting  the  institutions  of  religion  to  those  tvdio  should 
come  after  them,  as  the  richest  inheritance  they  could  leave. 

But  their  views  were  not  restricted  to  benefitting  their  descend- 
ants. The  object  which  gave  birth  to  the  enterprise,  was  that  of 
diffusing  over  an  important  region  of  country,  at  an  early  period  of 
its  settlement,  the  combined  influences  of  education  and  religion. 
Like  their  ancestors,  they  had  both  "  Pastors  and  Teachers."  No 
Sabbath  was  spent  after  the  mam  liody  had  arrived  without  the 
public  worship  uf  God.  Their  private  dwellings  first,  and  soon  a 
Luiliiiiig  erected  for  the  purpose,  was  used,  serving  the  double  \)ux- 
pose  of  school-room  and  sanctuary  ;  and  the  very  first  winter  a 
school  was  taught  by  a  gentleman  and  lady  both  in  the  common 
and  academic  branches. 

Thus  situated  and  employed,  this  inf;mt  community  were  more 
than  contented — they  weie  happy.  True  they  were  far  from  friends, 
from  loved  homes  and  cherished  scenes  of  the  tenderest  associations. 
They  had  expected  trials,  and  they  met  them.  Kxehanging  cora- 
fortable  habitations  in  eastern  villages  for  the  straitened  and  ruda 
accommodations  of  western  log  cabins  ;  some  had  lost  children, 
others  had  buiied  husbands  and  fathers  by  diseases  contracted  oa 
the  way  ;  and  others  were  still  suffering  from  like  causes  ;*  but  they 
never  suffered  a  moments  depression,  nor  repined  against  Providence, 
nor  legretted  for  a  moment   that  they  had  embarked  in  this  enter- 

■iO ' ' ■ — ■ • ■ — • ■ ■ 

*  Uov.  U.  \\  .  Gale  buned  an  intiint  son,  fourteen  months  old,  a  few  day.s  froix 
home  in  New  York.  Deu.  Sumucl  Tompkins  bnriod  one  in  Michigan,  on  his  war; 
aud  lAvo  other  families  lot*!  mimbers. 


HISTORY  OF  GALESBURO.  7 

prise.  The  liope  of  securing  the  blessings  of  education  and  religion 
to  their  posterity,  and  to  the  region  where  they  settled,  was  more  to 
them  than  the  comforts  they  had  left. 

Nor  were  they  left  without  a  manifest  token  of  God's  approba- 
tion. The  first  winter  after  their  arrival,  the  Lord  poured  out  his 
Spirit  upon  them,  and  a  considerable  number  of  tlie  youth  gave 
pleasing  evidence  of  having  passed  from  death  unto  life.  It  was 
like  the  re-appearance  of  the  star  to  those  who  of  old  journeyed 
from  the  east  seeking  Jesus.  And,  "  When  they  saw  the  star  they 
rejoiced  with  exceeding  joy."  Early  the  ensuing  spring,  after  much 
consultation  and  prayer,  a  Presbyterian  church  was  formed,  con- 
eisting  of  eighty-two  members,  a  part  were  the  fruits  of  the  late 
reviv.il,  but  the  most  united  by  certificate.  They  were_Tresbyterians 
and  Congregationalists  in  nearly  equal  numbers;  but  both  parties 
were  resolved  to  yield  their  predilections  rather  than  divide.  The 
same  spirit  has  continued  since,  and  though  the  church  polity  has 
been  somswhat  modified,  there  is  yet  (1845)  but  one  church  in  the 
village. 

Next  summer  (1837)  the  adjoining  prairie  was  the  theater  of  a 
busy  activity,  in  the  erection  of  buildings  and  opening  of  farms ; 
and  part  of  the  settlers  having  removed  to  their  dwellings  in  the 
town,  public  worship  was  held  alternately  there,  and  at  the  Grove. 
The  Academy  building  was  erected  in  the  fall  (1837),  and  opened 
for  students  early  in  the  winter  with  more  than  thirty  pupils. 

The  College  was  chartered  by  the  Legislature  at  the  SessioHS 
1838-7,  embracing  a  "  Preparatory  Department,"  designed  for 
general  academic  purposes  for  both  sexes,  the  intention  being  to 
have  separate  schools  for  the  sexes  as  soon  as  buildings  could  be 
erected.  From  this  time  (1837)  to  the  present,  (1845),  the  Church, 
the  population,  and  the  Institution  have  steadily  advanced.  The 
Church  has  above  three  hundred  members ;  the  settlement  a  popu- 
lation of  near  eight  hundred  ;  and  the  College  (when  the  Freshman 
class  enters  at  the  close  of  the  vacation,)  will  have  between  thirty 
and  forty  in  several  classes.  The  Academy  has  ha.d  under  its  in- 
struction one  hundred  and  eighty-four  pupils  during  the  present  year. 

The  settlement  of  Galesburg  originated  in  the  desire  and  hope  of 
doing  good.  It  had  in  this,  its  birth  and  being  from  the  minds  and 
hearts  of  its  projector  and  his  associates. 


» 


HieTOnV  OK  GALEBBURO. 


The  writer  of  thepreeent  sketch,  as  early  as  1825,  conceived  th« 
plan  of  combining  physical  labor  with  education,  specially  for  the 
Benefit  of  those  young  men,  who,  in  passing  from  laborious  occupa- 
tions to  a  life  of  study,  too  commonly  suffer  by  the  transition  from 
active  to  sedentary  pursuits.  It  was  thought  two  objects  might  be 
obtained  by  such  a  scheme — the  preservation  of  health,  and  the 
cheapening  of  a  liberal  education  to  enterprising  young  men  by  the 
avails  of  their  labor.  The  writer  was  connected  with  the  first  regu- 
lar effort  to  combine  manual  labor  with  a  liberal  course  of  instruc- 
tion made  in  this  country.  And  theugh,  like  every  valuable  dis- 
covery, it  was  to  be  expected  that  .this  improvement  in  the  mode 
of  education  would  be  affected  by  the  ebbing  and  flowing  of  public 
sentiment,  as  indeed  it  has  been  ;  yet  he  has  the  satisfaction  of  be- 
lieving, with  a  multitude  of  best  informed  men,  that  vast  benefits 
have  accrued  and  are  yet  to  accrue  from  the  attempt  to  combine 
physical  labor  with  intellectual  culture  and  education  in  this 
country. 

Encouraged  by  good  success,  and  finding  himself  straitened  in 
his  location  in  New  York  State,  by  surrounding  endowed  institu- 
tions, the  writer  conceived  and  drew  up  a  plan  for  a  large  institu- 
tion at  the  West,  which  was  in  substance,  as  follows  : 

A  colony  of  settlers  was  to  be  formed,  and  a  township  of  land 
(/.  e.  six  miles  square,  or  thirty-six  square  miles  or  sections,  making 
twenty-three  thousand  and  forty  acres,)  purchased  at  the  govern- 
ment price.  Three  sections  near  the  center  being  reserved  for  a 
village  and  College  grounds  ;  the  remainder  was  to  be  divided  into 
farms,  appraised  according  to  location,  near  or  remote,  from  the 
town  and  Institution,  its  woodlands,  or  other  advantages  ;  the  whole 
to  be  rated  at  an  average  price  of  not  less  than  five  dollars  per  acre: 
and  purchasers  were  to  take  these  farms  at  their  estimated  and  mark- 
ed value  ;  or  bid  for  the  choice  where  there  was  competition.  All 
the  town  property,  a  mile  square,  after  paying  cost,  was  to  consti- 
tute a  fund  for  Academies  for  both  sexes.  And  the  proceeds  of  all 
other  lands,  after  paying  expenses,  etc.,  was  to  constitute  a  fund 
for  building  the  College  edifices,  and  endowing  professorships  and 
scholarships,  censisting  of  the  right  of  gratuitous  instruction  of  one 
student  for  twenty-five  years  for  each  eighty  acres  purchased  and 
cultivated  within  a  given  time. 


HISTORY  OF  GALESBURG.  9 

The  above  plan  was  shown,  and  approved  of  extensively  by 
clergymen  and  laymen,  who  Avarmly  advised  and  urged  its  prosecu- 
tion. The  considerations  which  swayed  the  projector's  mind  in 
fixing  the  site,  were  the  circumstances  favoring  success,  with  the 
prospective  want  of  such  an  institution  as  was  contemplated. 

The  location  was  not  easily  settled.  Michigan,  Northern  Indiana, 
and  Illinois  were  successively  considered.  The  prairies  of  Michigan 
were  small,  and  at  that  period  (1834)  mostly  taken  up  ;  and  the 
toil  of  clearing  a  timbered  country,  the  necesary  inequality  in  prices 
of  cleared  and  uncleared  lands,  with  the  long  unhealthy  period  in- 
cident to  the  removal  o%,fQrests.  These  considerations  decided 
us  successively  against^fliclugan  and  Indiana  ;  and  delayed  the 
enterprise  itself,  so  that  at  one  time  the  projectors  had  well  nigh  or 
quite  relinquished  the  idea  of  its  prosecution. 

It  was,  however,  resumed  the  following  year ;  when  the  fixed 
character,  and  undoubted  wealth  of  the  prairie  soil — its  uniform 
quality,  and  consequent  easy  susceptibility  of  a  justly  graduated 
scale  of  prices  ;  but  above  all,  the  brief  time  requisite  to  bring 
farms  under  improvement,  and  give  them  the  cultured  beauty  of 
long  'settled  couutries,  determined  us,  at  last,  in  favor  of  Illinois. 
In  such  a  country,  we  reasoned,  there  could  be  no  fear  as  to  the 
present  means  of  living,  and  ultimate  success  of  our  plan. 

A  subscription  was  accordingly  opened,  and  operations  com- 
menced. Ilev.  II.  II.  Kellogg,  since  then  first  President  of  the 
College,  and  Rev.  John  Waters,  entered  cordially  into  the  enter- 
prise and  attached  themselves  to  it ;  though  Mr.  Kellogg,  then  en- 
gaged in  a  flourishing  institution  for  the  education  of  females,  which 
he  had  himself  founded  and  built,  did  not  remove  to  Illinois  with 
the  first  who  came.  liev.  G.  W.  Gale  was  appointed  to  procure  a 
colon}'  of  settlers. 

About  thirty  families  soon  embarked  in  the  enterprise,  contribu- 
ted funds  for  the  purchase  ;  and  an  Exploring  Committee  was 
chosen,  consisting  of  Nehemiah  West,  Thorn a.s  Gilbert,  and  Timo- 
thy Jervis.  They  were  not  to  purchase;  but  spending,  as  they 
would,  some  of  the  hot  months  in  the  West,  to  select  and  report 
a  suitable  location  for  the  objects  of  tl-.e  colony,  They  were  di- 
rected to  examine  the  part  of  Indiana  near  the  head  of  Lake  Michi- 
gan, and  proceed  to  the  Northern  and  central  counties  of  the  State  of 


10 


HISTORY  OK  GAl.ESnURG. 


Illinois;,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Illinois  ami  Fox  rivers.  A  location 
in  either  case  was  thought  to  be  suflicientlj  remote  from  any  ex- 
isting Institution;  and  convenient  as  a  place  of  education  to  the 
present  and  future  inhabitants  of  a  vast  region  of  country. 

Mr.  West  was  obliged  to  return  early  in  the  sunnner.  !Mr.  Jervis 
•was  soon  after  taken  ill  and  returned  also  ;  and  Mr.  Gilbert,  the 
third  and  last  of  the  committee,  concluded  to  purchase  for  himself 
in  Knox  county,  on  the  Military  Tract.  No  location  was  reported 
by  the  committee.  Doubt  and  uncertainty  for  a  time  settled  upon 
the  enterprise,  but  the  Directors  were  not  disheartened.  The  cause 
had  been  committed  to  God,  and  the  sidvation  of  souls  was  in  it. 

They  contributed  six  or  5even^wiilf3^dollars  in  money;  nego- 
tiated a  loan  of  ten  thousand  dollars  at  the  Bank  of  Michigan  ;  and 
chose  a  Purchasing  Committee  wdio  were  to  proceed  forthwith  to 
Illinois,  select  a  location  if  possible,  and  make  the  purchase.  This 
committee  were  8ylvanus  Ferris,  Neheniiah  West,  Thomas  S'm- 
mons,  and  George  W    Gale. 

The  committee  left  Whitesboro,  N.  Y.,  about  the  middle  of  Sep- 
tember, 1835,  in  their  own  conveyance.  At  Buffalo  _they  shij^ped 
their  team  on  board  a  steamer  and  set  out  for  Detroit ;  and  a  rough 
and  dangerous  passage  they  had  of  it.  After  a  storm  (the  equi- 
noctial) which  kept  the  boat  in  haibor  one  day,  and  meeting  a  gale 
which  drove  them  into  the  harbor  of  Dunkirk,  Avhere  we  lay  in 
shelter  twelve  hours  more,  we  met  on  our  way  up  the  lake,  a  more 
serious  accident,  which  had  well  nigh  ended  our  enterprise  and  our 
lives  together. 

About  three  o'clock  at  night,  off  Cleveland,  while  we  were  fast 
aslce[)  cur  boat  ran  foul  of  another  steamer  which  was  coming 
down  the  lake  vinder  full  head  way.  A  mere  providence  saved  us 
from  all  going  to  the  bottom.  A  rent  was  made  in  our  vessel 
near  the  water's,  edge,  but  we  were  able  to  proceed  on  our  way. 

At  Detroit,  'Sir.  Samuel  Tompkins  was  added  to  th  '  committee 
in  plaw  of  Ixev.  G.  W.  Gale,  who  was  taken  sick  on  his  way  up 
the  lake.  jNIr.  Tompkins,  with  Kev.  John  Waters,  had  accompa- 
nied the  committee,  and  tiie  latter  proceeded  on  with  the  committee, 
and  was  present,  aiding  in  the  selection  of  the  site. 

The  committee  weie  instructed  to  keep  their  design  secict,  lest 
they  should  be  interfered  with  by  speculators.    A  necessary  caution 


HISTORY  OF  GALESBURO. 


11 


as  it  prove  1  ;  for  before  the  purchase  was  complete,  one  who  was 
putting  up  at  the  county-seat,  huiTied  away  to  the  land  office,  and 
entered  eighteen  alternate  halt'  quarter  sections,  running  directly 
througli  the  townNhip. 

The  committee  found  here  thirty  thousand  acres  of  the  finest 
prairie,  lying  in  a  hodj,  rolling,  well  watered,  surrounded  with, 
groves  ©f  the  finest  timljer,  with  ravines  yielding  an  abundance  of 
mineial  coal  ;  the  whole  tract  subject  to  entr}'-,  on  Congress  title, 
and  at  the  minimum  price  of  one  dollar  and  a  quarter  per  acre. 

In  the  midst  of  this  beautiful  tract,  they  first  bought  some  tim- 
bered and  improved  lands,  near  Henderson  Grove,  for  the  tempo- 
rary convenience  of  settlers,  and  afterward  entered  ten  thousand 
acres  lying  in  a  body,  in  the  center  of  which  they  located  the  town, 
which  they  called  Galesburg,  after  the  name  of  the  original  pro- 
jector, re-surveyed  the  lands  purchased,  and  returned  to  their  homes; 
all  which  they  accomplished  in  a  little  moiethan  eight  weeks. 

These  minute  details,  though  pcihaps  not  interesting  to  the  gen- 
eral reader,  are  yet  so  to  the  descendants  of  the  men  concerned,  and 
may  be  of  some  use  to  future  pioneers  in  the  West. 

Why  was  Knox  College  located  where  it  is  ?  The  purchasing 
committee,  were  not,  of  cour.se,  indifl'erent  to  the  natural  advantages 
of  soil,  timber,  and  climate  in  fixing  a  location  for  their  own  and 
the  habitations  of  their  chihlren.  But  the  controlling  idea  of  th« 
whole  enterprise  was  tlie  building  up  of  an  institution  of  religious 
learning  fi>r  piescnt  and  future  generations  ;  and  the  spot  on  which 
this  was  to  be  erected  was  not  fixed  upon  without  grave  and  delib- 
erate forecast. 

Tlie  "iiilitary  Tract,"  named  from  the  lo'-ation  here  of  the  sol- 
diers' bounty  lauds  of  the  last  war,  embraces  all  the  land  between 
the  Mississippi  autl  Illinois  rivers,  beginning  at  the  point  where 
these  rivers  meet,  and  extending  north  almost  to  Rock  river.  It  )« 
thus  the  Mesopotamia  of  the  West..  Drawing  a  line  from  the  Mis- 
sissippi at  the  mouth  of  Rock  river  to  the  great  bend  of  the  Illinois 
river  near  Reiu  ;  and  you  have  between  the  rivei's  a  territoiy  larger 
than  the  State  of  Massachusetts,  containing  in  1S40  nearly  100,000 
inhabitan's,  well  watered,  with,  for  the  most  part,  an  adequate  sup- 
ply of  timber,  and  abounding  in  mineral  coal.  Encircled  by  nav- 
igable waters — almost  embosomed  by  the  gieat  Mississippi — almost 


12 


HISTORY  OF  OALKSBURO. 


every  inch  of  the  soil  arable  ;  yet  more  rolling,  high,  and  healthful 
than  the  greater  part  of  Michigan, — the  whole  earth  does  not  con- 
tain a  spot  capable  of  sustaining  a  denser  population  than  the  re- 
gion between  these  rivers.  And  if  there  he  a  soil  on  the  globe 
where  the  seeds  of  salvation  ought  to  be  sown  with  the  first  break- 
ing of  the  turf,  it  is  this.  Others  beside  the  founders  of  Knox 
College  have  appreoiatpd  the  importance  of thispositiou.  Colleges 
have  been  chartered,  on  this  tract,  at  Warsaw,  Macomb,  Tiock  Is- 
land, Canton,  Nauvoo,  and  Jubilee.  And  though,  excepting  Bish- 
op Chase's  College  at  the  latter  place,  no  permanent  institutions  are 
likely  to  be  built  under  any  of  these  charters,  they  3'et  show  how 
strong  and  wide  an  impression  has  prevailed,  that  an  institution  of 
the  first  class  must  be  located  within  the  Military  Tract. 

Galesburg,  the  site  of  Knox  College,  is  central  to  this  region* 
It  is  situated  on  the  head  waters  which  flow  into  the  great  rivers, 
and  is  healthful.  Fewer  cases  of  sickness  and  death  can  scarcely 
be  found  in  any  town  of  any  State,  time  and  numbers  being  propor- 
tionate. Like  Oxford  and  Cambridge  in  England,  and  most  of  the 
American  Colleges,  it  is  inland ;  and  free  from  the  rivalships  of  an, 
active  commercial  interest,  commercial  luxuries,  and  commercial 
vices,  incident  to  those  river  or  seaport  towns  where  rapid  accumu- 
lation of  wealth  by  commerce,  produces  vast  inequality  of  property, 
and  almost  infallibly  overlays  society  with  indolence,  made  fashion- 
able by  overgrown  wealth  ;  and  obstructs  college  discipline  by  vio- 
lent temptations  to  vicious  amusements. 

But  commercial  towns  must  be,  and  are  rapidly  rising  along  the 
courses  of  the  great  rivers,  and  Knox  College  is  oonvenientl}'  situa- 
ted for  the  education  of  their  sons,  Taking  Galesburg  for  a  center 
a  ?.weep  of  fifty  miles  takes  in  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles  of  the 
Mississijipi  ;  in  other  words,  this  great  stream  runs  one  hundred 
and  twenty  miles  without  getting  more  than  fifty  miles  from  Knox 
College.  The  same  circle  takes  in  more  than  thirty  miles  of  the 
Rock  river,  and  more  than  seventy  of  the  Illinois  ;  embracing  be- 
sides other  towns,  fifteen  county  seats.  Whether  a  college,  placed 
in  tlie  center  of  such  a  region  is  located  wisely,  for  present  and 
prospective  uses,  capable  minds  will  not  find  it  difficult  to  judge. 

It  has  been  suggested  that,  at  present,  one  college — that  at  Jack- 
sonville— is   sufficient   for    the  Presbyterian   and     Congregational 


HISTORY  OF  GALK8BURO.  13 

wants  of  Illinois.  The  founders  of  Knox  College  judged  otherwise, 
8uch  sparse  collegiate  policy  has  no  precedent  in  New  England,  or 
any  where  else  except  in  populations  wedded  to  ignorance.  Even 
in  Lower  Canada,  the  Romanists  had,  fifteen  years  ago,  located  six 
college!. 

New  England,  excluding  Maine,  and  ineluding  Vermont,  New 
Hampshire,  Massachusetts,  Connecticut  and  Rhode  Island,  has  an 
area  of  31,280  square  miles;  the  State  of  Illinois  has  55,000! 
In  1840  these  States  together  had  a  population  of  1,732,339  ;  Il- 
linois had  476,183.  Those  States  have  seven  colleges  for  Congre- 
gationalists  ;  it  has  been  suggested  that  one,  at  present,  will  do  for 
Illnois. 

In  1830,  the  above  States  had  a  population  of  1,552,276  ;  showing 
in  th«  last  ten  years  an  increase  of  177,963  ;  Illinois  had  157,455  ; 
showing  an  increase  of  318,638  in  the  same  time  ;  that  is,  those 
New  England  States  increased  in  population  less  than  twelve  per 
cent.  ;  while  the  Illinois  increase  was  about  two  hundred  per  cent. 
Should  Illinois  increase  only  at  the  rate  of  one  hundred  per  cent., 
till  1860,  fifteen  years  hence,  it  will  nearly  equal  those  States  in 
population,  should  their  increase  continue  at  the  rate  of  the  last 
ten  years  ;  that  is,  it  will  have  near  two  millions  of  inhabitants ! 
At  the  least  supposable  rate  of  increase,  what  a  population  must 
this  State  have  before  either  of  her  colleges  shall  celebrate  their  semi- 
centennial anniversary  !  When  Illinois  shall  have  the  same  popular 
tion  to  the  square  mile  that  Massachusetts  now  has,  she  will  contain 
FIVE  MILLIONS  OF  SOULS  !  And  what  is  to  hinder  the  speedy  attain- 
ment of  that  number  !  Twice  five  millions  will  not  be  crowded, 
within  her  ample  boundaries.  Her  matchless  soil  will  not  refuse  to 
feed  them,  nor  her  mighty  rivers  to  bear  their  burdens. 

"Why  should  such  a  territory,  so  environed  with  navigation,  with 
such  a  population  and  such  prospects,  be  stinted  in  the  means  of 
furnishing  liberally  educated  men  ?  Why  should  Illinois  be  made 
an  exception  to  other  States  East  or  West  ?  Why  should  this 
time,  and  this  territory  be  selected  for  the  experiment  of  a  new  poli- 
cy ?  Shall  the  rising  population  of  this  Western  Mesopotamia 
receive  the  Apocalyptic  beasts's  mark  in  their  intellects  and  ac- 
tions— that  is  to  say,  "in  their  foreheads  and  bands?"  And  will 
christians  suffer  it  ? 


14  '  HISTORY  OF  GALESBURQ. 

It  has  also  been  suggested  that  Knox  College  is  too  near  Illinois 
College  at  Jacksonville.  The  ordinary  road  of  travel  between 
ihem  is  some  100  miles,  and  an  air  line  makes  the  distance  not 
much  shorter.  There  is  also  a  navigable  river  between  the  two  to 
tnm  the  current  of  business  and  the  course  of  trayel.  The  business 
of  the  Military  Tiact,  what  does  not  go  to  Chicago  and  St.  Louis, 
terminates,  and  always  will,  at  different  points  on  the  surrounding 
river.  And  if  it  were  not  so,  the  distance  between  these  Institu- 
tions isnrorethan  double  tliat  between  some  of  the  established  col- 
leges of  New  England,  and  far  greater  than  that  between  most  of 
those  standing  next  each  other.  While  the  present  population  of 
Illinois  equals  in  density  that  of  some  of  those  States  when  the  older 
colleges  were  founded  ;  and  the  prospective  population  is  greater 
than  theirs. 

The  founders  o£  Knox  College  did  not  intend  to  interfere  with 
the  just  prerogatives  or  true  interests  of  any  other  Institutions  ;  and 
have  no  wishes  concerning  them,  but  their  success  in  doing  good. 
It  was  not  originally  intended  to  appeal  to  the  christian  public  to 
mid  its  funds,  which  were  thought  to  be  provided  for  in  their  original 
plan.  And  so  they  were,  but  for  the  financial  earthquake  which 
wrecked  every  thing  in  the  western  countiy  which  could  be  shakea 
by  pecuniary  reverses.  Still  they  have  persevered,  and,  as  the 
state  of  the  Institution  shows,  God  has  not  withheld  a  high  degree 
©f  success  All  that  has  been  received  in  donations  from  the  publit 
has  not  equaled  the  amount  destroyed  in  one  short  hour  by  fire. 
Their  present  funds,  though  as  yet,  partly  unproductive  secure  per- 
manence to  the  Institution  which  they  have  planted  ;  and  what 
nors  may  be  needed  will  doubtless  be  furnished,  through  his  chiU 
iren,  by  Him  whose  promise  supplies  the  means  to  establish  Hi« 
kingdom,  and  bless  and  save  the  world. 

This  sketch  designed  for  the  double  purpose  of  public  informa- 
tion and  a  document  for  reference,  is  necessarily  minute. 

The  purchasing  committee  returned,  a  meeting  of  the  subscribers 
was  called  to  receive  their  report  at  Whitesboro,  N.  Y.,  January  7, 
1836.  The  report  was  satisfactory,  was  accepted,  and  the  following 
proceedings  had,  viz  :  A  College  was  provisionally  organized,  t« 
"he  called,  till  chartered,  "  Prairie  College."  A  Board  of  Trust  ap- 
pointed, consisting  of  Rev.  John  Waters,   Sylvanus  Ferris,  Rev. 


HISTORY  OF  GALESBURO.  15 

H.  H.  Kellogg,  Dea.  Thomas  Simmons,  John  C.  Smith,  Rev.  Geo, 
W.  Gale,  Nehemiah  West,  Isaac  Mills,  Samuel  Tompkins,  and  Dr. 
Walter  Webb.  The  town  site  was  reported,  and  the  name,  Gales- 
bnrg,  confirmed.  Plats  of  the  purchase  were  made.  Town  prop- 
erty was  reserved  of  five  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  One  thousand 
and  four  acres  were  reserved  for  college  and  theological  uses.  The 
balance  of  the  purchase  was  divided  into  farms  ;  appraised  upon  the 
average  of  five  dollars  per  acre;  and  nearly  half  of  the  whole  pur- 
chase sold  to  purchasers  most  of  whom  had  never  seen  the  soil ; 
such  was  their  confidence  in  the  committee.  Nor  was  it  misplaced; 
for  though  a  vote  was  adopted  to  allow  any  who  should  be  dissatis- 
fied with  their  purchases  to  exchange  them  for  other  lands  on  their 
arrival,  no  such  change  was  made.  The  meetings  were  commonly 
attended  with  prayer  to  God,  and  a  spirit  of  harmony  prevailed 
which  has  characteiized  the  settlement  since. 

The  town  plat  made  in  the  center  of  the  purchase,  embraced  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres.  The  form,  si'ae,  and  price  of  lots  were 
fixed.  A  ten  acre  lot  on  each  side  of  the  town  was  reserved  for  male 
and  female  Academies  ;  also  a  Cemetery  of  five  acres,  ground  for  a 
meeting-house,  and  a  lot  for  a  parsonage.  Plans  for  Academy 
buildings,  public  house,  and  s  team  mill  were  suggested,  but  finally 
left  to  private  enterprise. 

In  the  spring  (1836)  several  families  removed  by  land,  and  ar- 
rived at  the  settlement  in  June.  Others  went  on  with  them  to  pre- 
pare to  remove  their  families  in  the  fall.  Among  those  were  Messrs, 
West  and  Gale,  two  of  the  Trustees,  who  were  authorized  to  pro- 
cure a  survey  of  the  town  plot,  which  they  did,  and  sold  a  large 
amount  of  town  property  to  emigrants  from  New  York,  Vermont, 
and  Maine  ;  moat  of  them  Presbyterians  and  Congregationalists  who 
had  heard  of  and  wished  to  join  in  the  enterprise. 

Mr.  John  C.  Smith,  of  Utica,  persuaded  several  to  purchase  with 
him  a  canal  boat,  in  which  they  embarked  their  families  and  effects. 
They  proceeded  to  Buffalo;  were  towed  by  a  steamer  to  Cleveland  ; 
thence  through  the  Ohio  canal  to  Portsmouth  on  the  Ohio  river ; 
from  which  point  they  floated  down  the  Ohio  to  Cincinnati. 

Fin  ling  their  progress  too  slow ;  and  finding  it  impossible  to 
hire  a  steamboat  to  tow  them  which  would  stop  on  the  Sabbatb, 


16  HI9TOKY  OF  GALESBURO. 

which  they  had  not  violated  by  traveling  hitherto,  they  constructed 
a  stern  wheel  to  their  boat,  and  propelled  it  by  their  horses. 

An  incident  occurred  at  Portsmouth  respecting  the  Babbath, 
worthy  of  note.  While  tied  up  for  the  day  at  that  place,  a  steamer 
came  to  on  Sabbath  morning,  bringing  home  a  large  number  of 
commissioners  to  the  Presbyterian  General  Ast^embly,  which  had 
just  closed  its  session.  A  clergyman  came  to  the  canal  boat,  and 
addressing  an  old  lady,  (most  of  th^  boat's  company  were  at  public 
worship  on  shore,)  invited  them  to  come  on  board  the  steamer  for 
worship.  The  old  lady  asked  if  the  boat  had  not  come  in  that 
morning?  He  answered,  yes.  "We  had  heard,"  said  she,  "that 
you  were  to  have  worship  on  board,  but  we  had  concluded  not  to 
attend  the  preaching  of  those  who  are  breaking  the  Sabbath." 

W^ith  their  new  propelling  power,  they  went  on  down  the  river 
from  Cincinnati.  After  much  difficulty  and  detention  from  defe«- 
tive  machinery  and  ignorance  of  shoals,  etc.,  they  succeeded  in 
reaching  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio  ;  were  towed  thence  to  St.  Louis; 
propelled  their  boat  to  Alton  ;  were  again  towed  into  the  Illinois, 
and  worked  their  way  by  their  stern  wheel  up  to  Meredosia  ;  where 
some  of  them  taking  sick,  others  leaving  to  go  by  land,  the  rest 
with  the  boat,  were  towed  up  to  Copperas  Creek,  near  Peoria,  the 
nearest  point  to  Galesburg. 

Wagons  were  immediately  dispatched  to  bring  them  off;  but 
they  were  found  at  a  public  house,  a  few  miles  from  the  river,  nearly 
all  sick.  One  large  unfinished  room,  with  beds  spread  on  the  floor, 
contained  most  of  them  ;  literally  a  hospital  iu  the  wilderness  sud- 
denly filled  with  patients.  Forty  persons  had  been  crowded 
into  one  narrow  canal  boat  upon  the  western  rivers  from  two  to 
three  months  in  the  warm  season  of  the  year.  They  were  soon  as 
possible,  removed  to  their  cabins  at  Henderson  Grove. 

Col.  Mills  died  ten  days  after  his  arrival.  Mr.  Smith,  projector 
and  captain  of  the  expedition,  speedily  followed  him  ;  and  Mr. 
Lyman,  after  being  removed  from  the  boat  to  tha  grove  languished 
about  two  months  and  died.  "These  all  died  in  faith,"  passing 
from  new  scenes  here,  to  more  impressive  scenes  in  "the  better  coun- 
try, that  is  in  an  heavenly."  Their  death  cast  a  gloom  over  the 
infant  colony.  They  were  principal  men ;  two  of  them  members 
of  the  Board  of  Trust. 


HISTORY  OF  GALESBURG.  17 

Mr.  Smith,  a  relative  of  Dr.  Grant,,  the  Nestorian  misaionarj, 
whose  two  sons  he  had  with  him  for  education,  by  the  advice  and 
counsel  of  their  father ;  was  an  able,  energetic,  but  somewhat  vis- 
ionary mind.  Mr.  Lyman  ,  an  elder  of  the  Presbyterian  church  at 
New  York  Mills,  Oneida  county,  N.  Y.,  was  a  pious  and  intelligent 
man.  His  children  have  been  blessed  and  prospered  in  the  colony; 
and  one  has  since  joined  the  departed  spirit  of  his  father.  Col. 
Isaac  Mills,  a  farmar  of  Columbia,  Herkimer  county,  N.  Y.,  was 
■with  his  family  converted  to  Christ  from  Universalism  in  the  great 
revivals  of  1825-8 

He  was  a  liberal  and  holy  man,  also  an  ehler  in  the  church.  He 
left  every  comfort  of  life  in  the  hope  of  doing  more  good  in  this 
mission  colony.  He  aided  in  the  daily  and  Sabbath  worships  held 
on  board  of  the  boat,  distributed  tracts  on  the  way  ;  and  when, 
there  was  no  preaching  where  they  tied  up  on  Sabbath,  called  the 
inhabitants  together  and  held  meetings  for  prayer,  reading,  and 
exhortation.  The  rest  of  the  invalids  from  this  unhappy  voyage 
recovered. 

Thus  ended  this  ill-fated  expedition  ;  for  boldness  of  conception, 
and  perseverance  in  execution,  equal  to  that  of  Jason  and  his  Argo- 
nauts of  old.  A  journey  of  more  than  two  thousand  miles,  thus 
accomplished  by  men  of  little  knowledge  of  navigation  any  where 
and  none  of  the  waters  which  they  passed. 

The  following  are  the  names  and  residences  of  those  who  arrived 
in  1836  :  Rev.  John  Waters,  New  Hartford,  N.  Y.  ;  Rev.  George 
W.  Gale,  Prof.  N.  H.  Losey,  Whitesboro,  N.  Y.  ;  John  C.  Smith, 
Utica,  N.  Y.  ;  Henry  Lyman,  Elisha  King.  New  York  Mills,  N.  Y.; 
Riley  Root,  Camden,  N.  Y.  ;  Mrs.  Phelps  and  family,  do.  ;  Leon- 
ard Chapel,  Clinton,  N.  Y.  ;  Drs.  Thomas  Simmons,  Samuel 
Tompkins,  Daniel  Wheeler,  Hamilton,  N.  Y. ;  Col.  I«aac  Mills, 
Columbia,  N.  Y.  ;  Patrick  Dunn,  Western  N.  Y.  ;  Col.  Matthew 
Chambers,  Roswell  Payne,  Luther  Gay,  Wm.  Hamblin,  Bridport, 
Vt.  ;  Erastus  Swift,  Addison,  Vt.  ;  Henry  Wilcox,  Moriah,  N.  Y, 
Abel  Goodell,  Chancey  S.  Colton,  L:aac  Edton,  Monson,  Me. 
Nehemiah  West,  Loreutius  Conger,  John  G.  \Yest,  Ira,  N.  Y. . 
Caleb  Finch,  Greenbush,  N.  Y. ;  John  Kendall,  Adoniram  Kendall] 
New  Lebanon,  N.  Y. ;  Geo.  Troop  Avery,  mother  and  sisters,  and 
Mrs.  Hitchcock  and  family.     Besides  these,  all  of  whom  had  fami- 


18  HISTORY  OF  GALE8BURG. 

lies,  there  were  three  young  men,  viz  :   John  McMullen,  G.  T).  Col- 
ton,  and  Abraham  Tyler,  from  the  State  of  New  York, 

The  following  arrived  in  the  spring  of  1837,  viz  :  Sylvanus 
Ferris,  Geo.  Ferris,  Russia,  N.  Y. ;  Weston  Ferris,  N.  O.  Ferris, 
Norway,  N.  Y. ;  Dr.  James  Bunce,  Utica,  N.  Y.;  Levi  Sanderson, 
Eli  Farnham,  Dea.  Agrippa,  Martin  Fabius,  N.  Y. ;  Harvey  H, 
May,  Union  Village,  N.  Y. ;  Junius  C.  Prentice,  Sheldon  Allen, 
Augusta,  N.  Y. ;  Barber  Allen,  Cato,  N.  Y.  ;  and  Jonathan  Sim- 
mons, Hamilton,  N.  Y. 

A  Steam  Saw  Mill  and  the  Academy  were  built  in  the  summer 
©f  1837.  The  College  was  chartered  by  the  Legislature  of  Illinois 
at  the  sessions  in  the  winter  of  1836-7 :  the  property  conveyed  to 
the  legal  board,  and  by  them  deeded  to  the  purchaser,  in  fee  simple. 
but  with  the  condition  of  forfeiture  to  the  College,  if  intoxicating 
liquors  are  made  and  sold  on  the  premises. 

In  1838,  Eev.  H.  H.  Kellogg,  of  Clinton,  N.  Y.,  was  appointed 
President  of  the  College;  Rev.  G.  W.  Gale,  Prof,  of  Rhetoric  and 
Moral  Philosophy  ;  and  H.  N.  Losey,  A.  M.,  Prof,  of  Mathematics 
and  Natural  Scienes.  Mr.  Losey  had  heretofore  conducted  the 
Preparatory  Department,  In  1841  the  College  was  fully  organized, 
and  a  class  entered  on  the  Freshman  year.  In  1843,  a  building 
which  had  cost  more  than  $5000,  took  fire  and  burned  down. 
There  was  no  insurance.  The  Board  then  commenced  the  present 
Echeme  of  college  buildings,  for  which  the  inhabitants  of  Galesburg 
wibscribed  near  $3000,  and  ^some  $500  more  were  obtained  in  the 
▼icinity.  In  the  summer  of  1843  Rev.  G.  W.  Gale  went  east  and 
returned  early  the  year  following,  with  an  apparatus  which  cost 
»ear  $800,  and  sixteen  hundred  volumes  of  books,  besides  some 
fands  toward  building.  In  1843,  President  Kellogg  went  to  Eu- 
rope, and  while  there,  obtained  for  the  College  about  $1000  in 
Money,  and  some  $500  worth  of  books. 

In  1844  a  College  building  was  completed,  containing  rooms  at 
present  occupied  by  the  Library,  as  a  lecture  room,  and  for  the 
Philosophical  and  Chemical  apparatus  ;  besides  accommodations 
f»r  eighteen  to  twenty  students.  Another  building  of  the  same 
iimensions  is  nearly  completed. 

After  this  outlay  of  more  than  $10,000,  the  productive  fund  of 
*be  iDstitution  is   above  ^20,000.     Besides  this  productive  fund. 


HISTORY  OF  GALE8BURG.  19 

the  College  has  unsold  lands,  chiefly  within  the  original  purchase, 
which  are  valued  at  $30,000  ;  and  unsold  lands  in  other  counties, 
worth  some  seven  or  eight  thousand  dollars  more.  There  is  land 
and  town  property  reserved  for  Theological  Instruction,  if  applied 
to  that  use  within  a  given  time,  now  valued  at  S3, 000.  So  that 
the  entire  lund  for  all  educational  uses,  realized  from  this 
enterprise,  is  at  present  some  $70,00O.^CT^he  school  section  (640 
acres)  given  hy  the  Government  for  primary  schools,  fell  near  the 
town,  and  has  yielded  a  permanent  fund  of  $7,000,  the  interest  of 
which  with  the  annual  State  appropriations,  nearly  furnishes  grat- 
uitous instruction  to  every  child  in  the  township.  Some  two  Imn- 
dred  children  now  profit  by  this  fund. 

The  town  of  Galesburg  now  has  (1845)  some  seventy  dwellings, 
Reside  mechanics'  shops,  stores,  mills,  Academy  and  College  build- 
ings, accommodating  some  eight  hundred  inhabitants.     An  ample 
church  building  is  in  process  of  completion.     Repeated  revivals  of . 
religion  have  been  experienced.     Profaneness  is  rarely  heard  in  the- 
atreets,  and  intoxicating  drinks  have  neither  foothold  nor  advocatCB  : 
in  the  community.     There  being  but  one  religious  society  as  yet  in 
the  place,  (long  may  the  happy  union  continue),  and  all  the  infla- 
ences  centering  in  the  College  and  subordinate  schools,  the   discip- 
line over  students  is  rather  that  of  the  ^^/face  than  of  the  instHutioB, 
and    nothing  seems  requisite  but  industry  and  fidelity,  with  the 
continued  approbation  and  blessing  of  God,  to   realize  the  most 
ardent  hopes   and  pious  wishes  of  the  founders   and  friends  of  the 
Colony  and  Seminaries  here  planted. 


A. 


«^«»-^ 


20 


HlSTCr.Y  OF  GALESBURG. 


CHURCHES. 


First  Church,  Chables  W.  Tyler,  Pastor. — This,  as  its  name 
purports,  was  the  first  church  organized  in  Galesburg.  It  was  or- 
ganized Feb.  25th,  1837,  under  the  name  of  the  First  Preshyterian 
Church.  It  consisted  of  eighty  members,  eighteen  of  whom  united 
by  profession  of  faith,  and  the  rest  by  letter  from  Churches  in  the 
East.  Rev.  G.  W.  Gale  was  the  first  stated  supply  of  the  pulpit. 
He  commenced  preaching  to  the  first  settlers  as  early  as  1836,  and 
from  that  time  the  pulpit  has  been  supplied  as  follows : 

Rev.  G.  W.  Gale,  assisted  by  Rev.  John  Waters,  1836  to  1839; 
Eev.  Horatio  Foote,  1839  to  1840;  Rev.  G.  W.  Gale,  1840  to 
1841  ;  Rev.  H.  H.  Kellogg,  aided  by  Mr.  Gale,  1841  to  1843  ; 
Eev.  H.  Marsh,  Rev.  J.  Waters,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Hollister,  1843 
to  1844  ;  Rev.  L.  Parker,  1844  to  1845  ;  Rev.  H.  H.  Kellogg, 
installed  Pastor  Jan.,  1846,  dismissed  May,  1847  ;  Rev.  J.  Blasoh- 
ARD,  stated  supply  from  1847  to  Dec,  1849  ;  Rev.  F.  Bascom,  Pas- 
tor Dec,  1849  ;  Rev.  Charles  W.  Tyler,  present  Pastor. 

In  1842,  after  an  amicable  discussion  and  consultation,  the 
Church  adopted  a  modified  form  of  government,  adapted  to  accom- 
modate both  Presbyterians  and  Congregationalists.  The  present 
number  of  members  is  386.  The  term  Presbyterian  was  expunged 
by  vote  of  the  Church  in  October,  1856.  Church  building  cor. 
Broad  street  and  Public  Square. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  John  P.  Brookb,  Pastor. — This 
Church  was  organized  in  Feb.  1847,  with  ten  members.  The  pres- 
ent number  of  members  is  140.  Church  building  corner  of  Kellogg 
and  Tompkins  streets. 

iU:^TiST  CmiijCH,  Silas  Tucker,  Pastoi;.^On  the  15th  of  Jan., 
1848,  the* first  Baptist  Church  of  Galesbur^'was  organized  with 
aboui  .thirty  members.  They  purchased  the  lot  on  the  corner  of 
Tompkins  and  Broad  streets,  on  which  they  erected  a  small  but  con- 
T^nient  house  o.(  vyofshjp^  Under  the  labors  of  their  present  Pas- 
tor the  church. has  been  Btrengthened  and  built  up,  and  now  num\)ers 
216  members.  ^    \  -v 

Second  Presbyterian  Church,  John  \\ .JiAiLV.Y,  Pastor. — This 
Church  was  organized  in  May,  1854,  with  thirty  members.     Kum- 


HISTORY  OF  GALKSBURG.  2l 

ber  of  members  added  since  then,  113.  Present  number  123.  The 
church  building  is  on  the  corner  of  Mxin  and  Kellogg  streets.  The 
present  building  is  designed  for  temporary  use,  only,  as  it  is  the 
determination  to  buihi  a  large  and  handsome  church  within  the  next 
two  years,  in  some  eligible  part  of  the  city. 

Swedish  Evangelical  Lutheran  CnaRCH,  T.  N.  Hasselquist, 
Pastor. — This  Church  was  organized  in  1852,  and. has  at  this  time 
185  members.     Church  building  on  Seminary  stieot. 

Old  School  Presbyterian  Church,  I.  N.  Candee,  Pastor. — 
Organized  December  80th,  1854,  with  18  members.  Present  num- 
ber of  members  50.     Church  buibling  on  North  Cedar  street. 

First  Congregational  Church,  Edward  Beecher,  Pastor. — 
Organized  Nov.  9th,  1855,  with  50  members.  Present  number  127. 
Church  building  on  Broad  street  between  Tompkins  and  Simmons 
streets.     This  is  the  finest  church  edifice  in  this  part  of  the  State. 

Swedish  Methodist  E.  Church,  Peter  Rjahlman,  Pastor. — 
Organized  Oct,  1856.  Present  number  of  members,  50.  Church 
building  on  Ferris  street. 

Colored  M.  E.  Church,  A.  AVoodfork,  Pastor. — Organized 
Oct.,  1858,  with  20  members.  No  additions  since.  This  Church 
worships  in  a  school  house  on  the  ilonmouth  Road. 

Universalist  Church,  Wm.  Livin'oston,  Pastor. — Organized  in 
.     Members   100.     Attendants  100  to  150. 


COLLEGES    AND    SCHOOLS. 

The  citizen  of  Galesburg,  wherever  he  may  be,  at  home  or  abroad' 
speaks  proudly  of  the  Institutions  of  Learning  in  our  city  ;  and 
well  he  may,  for  few  towns  in  our  wide  land  are  better  off  in  this 
respect.  We  feci  inclined  to  speak  at  length  of  these  Institutions 
but  the  vast  number  of  subjects  upon  which  we  have  to  speak  ad- 
monish us  that  we  mast  "  waste  no  words.''  The  following  engrav- 
ing gives  an  accurate  idea  of  the  outward  form  of  Knox  College, 
but  not  of  the  location.  The  engraver  iiiistook  the  design  and  rep- 
resented the  building  as  on  a  street,  while  in  fact  it  is  several  rods 
back  from  the  street,  and  is  surrounded  with  young  trees. 


22 


HISTORY  OF  GALESBURG. 


Professor  Gale  gives,  in  thepreceiling  pages,  a  full  history  of  tliis 
College  up  to  1845.  The  Building  rcpresentoil  Lj  tlie  above  en- 
graving was  commenced  last  year  (1856)  and  will  be  completed  in 
August  next.  The  Contract  for  its  erection  was  let  to  CnARLEg 
Ulricson  of  Peoria.  It  is  a  very  substantial,  and  at  the  same  time 
a  very  beautiful  building,  and  reflects  in  its  design  and  execution 
the  highest  credit  upon  Mr.  Ulricson.  The  cost  of  this  building 
will  not  be  less  than  655,000, 

The  following  named  gcntiomen  constitute  the  Board  of  Trust, — 
Eev.  JoxATHANELANCHAKD,Prf5?We??^  of  the  Board,  Rev.  George  W. 
Gale,  Galesburg,  Dea.  Thomas  Simmons,  Galesburg,  Nehemiah  II. 
Lose}'-,  A.  M.,  Galesburg,  John  G.  Sanburn,  Esq.,  Knoxville, 
Williiim  J.  rhelp.-.  Elm  wood,  Sylvanus  Ferris,  Esq.,  Galesburg, 
Hon.  Peter  Butler,  Cold  Brook,  Rev.  William  E.  Holyoke,  Elgin, 
Rev.  Flavcl  Bascom,  Galesburg,  James  Bull,  Galesburg,  James 
Bunco,  M.  D.,  G-alesburg,  Eli  F;'.rnham,  Galesburg,  Rev.  Horatio 
Foote,  Quincy,  Rev.  Milton  Kimball,  Augusta,  Hon.  James  Knox, 
Knoxville,  Chauncey  S.  Colton,  Galesburg,  hftillman  F.  Dolbear, 
Galertliurg,  Levi  Sanderson,  Galesburg,  Orville  H.  Browning,  Esq., 
Quincy,  Levi  S.  .^'tanley,  Galesburg,  William  E.  Withrow,  Macomb, 


HISTORY  OF  GALESB(*RG.  23 

Marcus  B.  Osborn,   Esq.,  Rock  Island,  Rev.  Samuel  G.   Wright, 

Toulon. 

STILLMAM  F.  DOLBEAR,  Secretary  of  Board. 

LUCIUS  GARY,  Treasurer. 
The  Faculty  consists  of  the  following  named  persons  : 

Rev.  Joxathan  Bi.axciiard,    President,    and    Professor   of   IntcllectuaZ 
Philosophy. 

Rev.  George  W.  Gale,  Professor  of  Moral  Pluloso-phy  and  Belles- Lettres. 

Neiiemiah  II.  LosEY,  A.M.,  Professor  of  Mathematics  and  Natural 
Philosophy. 

Innes  Grant,  A.  M.,  Professor  of  Ancient  Languages. 

Hexry  E.  HiTcncocK,  A.  M.,  Professor  of  Mathematics  and  Katural 
Pliilosophy  in  the  Femcde  Collegiate  Department. 

Albert  Herd,  A.M.,  Professor  of  Natural  Sciences. 

Ekastus  S.  Wilecox,  A.M.,  Professor  of  Modern  Languages. 

Junius  B.  Roberts,  A.  B.,  Tutor. 

George  CnuRcniLL,  A.  M.,  P.inclpfcl  of  the  Academic  Depai'tmenf, 

Edward  P.  Scott,  A.  B.,  As^t  Teacher  in  the  Academic  Department. 

Miss  Ada  H.  Hayes,  Principal  of  the  Female  Academic  Department., 

Miss  Mary  E.  Comstock,  Assistant  in  Female  Acculemic  Department. 

Mrs.  S.  F.  Dolsear,     ) 

Mrs.  j*,Iary  B.  Flagg,   >    Teachers  in  Music — Piano  or  Guitar. 

Miss  C.  S.  Chappell,  ) 

This  Institution  now  consists  of  three  Departments — Collegiate, 
Female  Collegiate,  and  Academic.  From  the  Catalogue  for  1856 
we  learn  that  the  grand  total  of  Students  in  the  difi'erent  Depart- 
ments is  431. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  flourishing  Colleges  in  the  United  States, 
and  stands  second  onl}^,  we  understand,  in  point  of  wealth. 

Expenses. — 

Tuition  in  the  Collegiate  Department,  per  year, j;520.00 

Tuition  in  the  Academic  Department, 812.00  to  1(3.00 

Room  rent  in  College  Buildings, G.OO 

Contingent  Expenses, 2.00 

The  College   duos   liavine:  been  reduced  to  the  lowest  consistent 


24 


HISTORY  OF  CJALF.SBURO. 


amount,  must  invariably  be  pai.l  in  advance.  No  person  will  be 
received  until  he  preheats  the  Tn  asurer's  receipt ;  nor  will  any  pupil 
be  allowed  to  leave  tlie  Institution  without  permission  until  the 
tlose  of  the  (luarter. 

Board  can  be  had  in  good  families  at  from  ^1.50  to  2.00  per 
week,  exclusive  of  washing  and  room-rent.  Board  with  room  and 
lodging  may  be  had  for  ^2.50  per  week. 


:  :      -:,  ^.-.^-^     ^^     ^^     W 

'W  "'F!   P'  '?     &.^     ^#    ^^    |r 


KNOX    FEJrALE    COLLEGE. 

The  above  is  an  excellent  engraving  of  Knox  Female  College, 
engraved  from  an  Ambrotype  by  Codding,  of  this  city.  This 
building  was  commenced  last  year  (185G),  and  will  be  completed 
sometime  this   Spring.     The  cost   will   bo   about    $-45,000. 


S  C  IT  0  0  L  S  . 

There  ar-^  ^ix  District  and  four  Piivatc  ^3chools  in  the  City.  1st 
District,  Mr.  Kent  and  Miss  Slioruian,  Teachers  ;  2d  District,  Mr. 
Powell  ;  ;M  Distrct,  Miss  C.  Fuller;  4lh  District,  Miss  Gaylord; 
5th  District,  Mr.  Stevens  ;  0th  District  Mr.  Bancroft.  The  private 
Schools  are  taught  by  Miss  Mary  West,  !Mi6s  Love,  Miss  Barnes, 
and  Mr.  Phctteplace.  Many  of  our  cih'/.ens  are  making  an  eainest 
effort  to  do  away  with  District  Schools,  and  adopt  the  Union 
Graded  School  system.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  effort  will 
sncceed. 


HISTORY  OF  (JALESlJUIiO. 


25 


L  0  :».[  B  A  R  D    U  X  I  V  E  R  S  T  T  Y . 

The  above  engraving  was  also  taken  from  an  Ambrotype  b)'  Cod- 
ding, and  is  a  faitliiiil  representation  of  the  building.  Tins  Insti- 
tution was  obartcred  in  1851  nnJer  tlie  name  of  the  Illinois  Lib- 
eral Institute. 

The  College  was  built  nndcr  the  pnt'/onage  of  the  Universalist  De- 
nomination in  1S51-2.  It  is  I'.ow  known  as  Lombarh  University. 
It  wa«  opened  the  first  of  September  1850,  under  the  charge  of  Prof. 
P,  R.  Kendall  as  Principal  of  the  j\Tale  Department,  and  Miss  C. 
S.  Woodbury,  of  Female. 

The  building  formerly  occupied  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1855. 
Steps  were  immediately  taken  to  erect  another  and  larger  edifice  for 
the  use  of  the  school.  This  building  was  commenced  in  1856,  and 
is  now  nearly  completed.  It  Avili  cost  about  §30,000.  The  college 
is  one  mile  South-east  of  the  Square,  on  fourteen  acres  of  beautiful 
grounds,  which  can  not  be  used  for  any  other  than  college  purposes. 
This  ground  is  to  belaid,  out  and  ornamented  in  beautiful  style. 

Benjamin  Lombard,  whose  naino  the  lustitr.tion  bears,  was  the 
principal  donor.     He  gave  the  sum  of  820,000. 

The  Institution  is  endowed  by  sale  of  Scholarships,  the  sales  of 
which  have  already  reached  $70,000.  Tliei-e  hnve,  also,  been 
donations  made  in  land  and  money  to  the  ■■.mount  of  -STOj-OOO. 
The  University  is  in  a  prosperous  cond.ition. 


26 


HISTORY  OF  GAI,E8BURG. 


The  following  named  gentlemen  constitute  the  the  Board  of 
Trust, — J.  W.  Spaui.ding,  M.  D.,  President,  Galesburg,  Hon.  S. 
W.  Brown,  Secretary,  Galesbnrg,  Rev.  S.  P.  Skinner,  Cliicago, 
Erastus  Hnrd,  Esq.,  Galesburg,  L.  E.  Conger,  Esq.,  Galesbnrg,  L, 
C.  Conger,  Esq.,  Galesbnrg,  W.  B.  Chamberlin,  SI.  D.,  Burlington, 
Iowa,  Benjamin  Lombard,  Esq.,  Henry,  John  B.  Clay,  Esq.,  Gales- 
burg, Alfred  Brown,  Esq.  Henderson,  Reuben  Hefiin,  Esq.,  Hender- 
son, Horatio  Reed,  Esq.,  Farmington,  Alva  Wheeler,  Esq.  Knox- 
ville,  Alfred  Knowles,  Esq.,  Oquawka,  Rev.  Wm.  S.  Ballou,  Gales- 
burg. HORATIO  REED,  Esq.,  Treasurer. 

The  Faculty  consists  of  the  following  named  persons, — 

J.  Y.  N.  Standish,  Acting  President,  and  Professor  of  Mathematics. 

William  Livij-gstox,  Professor  of  Xatural  Sciences. 

E.  R.  Benneh,  Professor  <f  Languages. 

J.  H.  CnAPiN,  Princlval  if  Academic  Department. 

Miss  II.  A.  Kendall,  Principal  of  the  Female  Pepartment,  and  Teacher 
of  the  Ornamental  Branches. 

Miss  A.  Stillman,  Assistant  in  Female  Department. 


NEWSPAPERS  AND  MAGAZINES. 

The  first  newspaper  published  in  Galesburg  was  called  the  ''Knox 
Intelligencer,"  and  v^as  edited  and  printeil  by  Rev.  C.  R.  Fisk.  It 
was  first  issued  on  or  about  the  first  of  January,  1849.  The  /w^e/- 
Z?^(?;icer  lived  about  two  years.  It  was  neut)al  in  })oliti(:s.  The 
office  was  fi)-st  located  over  L.  Sanderson's  Stoic,  but  was  subse- 
quently removed  to  a  building  erected  by  Mr.  Fisk,  ou  die  South- 
west corner  of  the  Public  Square. 

Near  the  latter'part  of  the  same  year,  1849,  if  wo  recollect  rightly, 
the  ''North-  Western  Gazetteer"  was  started,  under  the  editojial  and 
typographical  management  of  SounnvicK  Davis.  For  a  consi*ler- 
ablc  time  after  its  establishment,  the  Gazetteer  and  the  Knox  Intelli- 
gencer were  eagerly  sought  after  by  the  citizens  of  Galesburg  and 
vicinity  on  account  of  the  College  controversy  caried  on  through 
their  columus.  The  Gazetteer  was,  al.-^o,  neutral  in  politics — in  re- 
ligious  nuittns  'it   favored   Congregationalism.     The  Intelligencer 


HISTORY  OF  GALESDURG. 

favored  Presbyterianism.  The  Gazetteer  was;  published  about  two 
years,  we  believe,  though  it  may  have  existed  for  a  longer  period, 

Some  time  in  1850,  if  we  are  correctly  informed,  the  ''  Xeivs 
Letter"  made  its  appearance,  under  the  editorial  management  of 
W.  S,  Gale,  Dr.  James  Bunce,  and  G.  C.  Lanpiiere.  This  paper 
took  the  place  of  the  Knox  Intelligencer.  The  News  Letter  was  an 
able  advocate  of  local  measures  in  which  the  people  of  Galesburg 
and  vicinity  were  then  deeply  interested.  It  had  a  wide  circulation 
among  the  friends  of  the  Central  Military  Tract  Eailroad,  then  a 
projected  Railroad.  Some  of  the  best  written  articles,  upon  the 
subject  of  Railroads,  which  were  published  in  the  West,  during 
that  period,  first  appeared  in  the  editorial  columns  of  the  Xews 
Letter.  The  office  was  over  the  Furniture  Rooms  of  \V.  J.  Woods, 
on  the  West  side  of  the  Square. 

At  a  subsequent  period,  in  1852,  we  think,  the  Xeios  Letter  passed 
into  the  hands  of  S.  G.  Cowan,  who  issued  it  under  the  title  of  the 
"News  Letter  and  Henry  County  News."  This  title  was  given  it  to 
please  its  Henry  County  patrons,  who  were  quite  numerous.  This 
was  also  a  neutral  paper,  though  during  the  latter  part  of  its  exist- 
ence it  was  somewhat  Free  Soilish. 

In  the  Fall  of  1853  the  News  Letter  office  passed  into  the  hands 
of  J.  W.  Lane,  and  the  first  political  paper  ever  published  in  the 
town  made  its  appearance  under  the  title  of  the  ''  Western  Freerucm." 
It  was  an  Anti- Slavery  paper.     This  paper  lived  only  two  months. 

The  office  of  the  "Western  Freeman"  passed  into  the  hands  of 
SouTHWicK  Davis  and  William  H.  Holcomb,  and  on  the  5th  day 
of  January,  1854,  the  "  Guleshurg  Free  Democrat"  made  its  first 
aj)pearance.  This  paper  then  was,  and  has  ever  since  continued,  an 
Anli-Slavery  journal.  On  the  30th  of  November  1854  the  estab- 
lishment passed  into  the  hamls  of  William  J.  Woods,  and  15.  F. 
Haskins  became  the  Editor.  On  the  8th  of  March,  1855,  Mr. 
Haskens  retiied  from  the  paper  and  C.  J.  Sellon  became  Editor. 
On  the  26Lh  of  July,  1855,  the  office  passed  into  the  hands  of  S. 
W.  Brov.-n,  R.  H.  Whiting  and  D.  H.  Frisbiic.  Mr.  S.  still  con- 
tinued to  act  as  Editor.  On  the  1st  of  November,  1855,  the  man- 
agement of  the  office  pas.-ed  into  the  hands  of  S.  D.  McDonald. 
Dec'^mber  lltli,  1855,  the  office  again  passed  into  the  hands  of  W. 
J.  Woods,  and  shortly  afterwards,  Mr.  Soli  on  resumed  his  post  of 


28 


HISTORY    OF    GALEMIiURG, 


Editor.  On  the  18th  of  August,  1856,  Mr.  Woods  made  a  sale  of 
the  office  to  J.  H.  Sherman,  who  is  the  present  proprietor.  The 
paper  is  now  edited  by  C.  J.  Sellon  &  J.  H.  Sherman. 

The  Dally  Free.  Democrat,  Sellon  &    Sherman,  Editors ;  J.  H. 
Sherman,  Proprietor,  was  commenced  on   the  17th  day  of  March 
1857. 

The  "Knoxiana,"  a  Montlily  Literary  Jonrnal,  conducted  by  an 
association  of  Students  of  Knox  College  was  first  issued  in  Au- 
gust, 1850.  The  first  Editors  of  this  Magazine  were  J.  B.  White, 
J.  S.  Davis,  J.  H.  McCiiesney  and  E.  L.  Hurd.  The  Knoxiana 
is  now  in  its  sixth  volume.  For  five  years  it  was  publislied  under 
the  management  of  the  "Knoxiana  Publication  Company."  The 
present  volume  is  published  by  the  Adelphi  Society.  It  is  printed 
at  the  office  of  the  Free  Democrat.  Present  Editors,  R.  B.  Guild, 
W.  E.  Pheli's,  and  Geo.  H.  Beecher. 

The  "  Oah  Leaf,"  a  College  Magazine,  was  first  issued  from  the 
office  of  the  Free  Democrat,  in  October  1856.  It  is  published  by 
the  Gnothautii  Society  of  Knox  College.  Its  present  Editors  are 
C.  H.  Bryant,  M.  M.  Clark,  and  G.  Worman. 

The  "ffemknulet,"  a  Swedish  Lutheran  paper,  edited  by  Rev.  T. 
N.  Hasselquist,  first  appeared  in  Febiuary  1855.  When  first  pub- 
lished it  was  the  only  Swedish  newspaper  published  in  the  United 
States.  It  has  a  large  circulation.  It  was  first  printed  in  the  Free 
Democrat  o.ce;  though  subsequently  its  publisher  procured  au 
office  of  his  own.  It  is  now,  however,  printed  on  the  press  of 
Stone  &  Taylor  at  the  Ben  Franklin  Office. 


SOCIETIES. 

The  following  notices  of  the  Societies  named  were  written  out  by 
members. 

Tin-]  ADELPIII  SOCIETY  OF  KNOX  COLLEGE. 
It  IS  impossible  to  state,  in  a»  intelligent  manner,  anything  more 
than  the  different  eras  in  the  history  of  this  Society  ;  unless  we  wish 
to  give  in  lengthy  detail  an  account  of  the  difficulties  necessarily  en- 
countered in  guiding  it  through  infancy  up  to  riper  years.  The^ 
"Alma  Mater  "  herself  was  stiirrocking  in  the  cradle  of  her  infancy; 


HISTORY    OP    GALESBURG.  29 

and  it  is  not  surprising  to  find  her  cousin-german  cliildishly  nest- 
ling at  her  side. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  members  of  Knox  College  for  adopting 
measures  preparatory  to  the  organization  of  this  Society  was  held 
Oct.  4th,  1843.  Messrs.  Wm.  E  Holyoke,  Edwin  G.  Smith,  and 
James  A.  Warren  were  appointed  a  committee  for  drafting  a  con- 
stitution, which  was  reported,  and  adopted  on  the  11th.  The  same 
committee  were  continued  to  draft  hy-laws  ;  and  on  the  18th  their 
report  was  adopted,  and  the  Society  was  organized  under  the  name 
of  "  The  Adelphi  Lyceum  of  Knox  College."  They  hoped  by  as- 
sociated effort  to  obtain  that  cultivation  of  the  heart,  which  renders 
friendship's  hallowed  tie  eternal — and  feeling  the  necessity  of  dis- 
cipline in  order  to  being  prepared  "  to  act  well  their  part  in  the 
great  arena  of  thought,"  and  knowing  "the  importance  of  correct 
principles  and  actions,"  they  pledged  themselves  to  aid  each  other 
in  securing  these  objects. 

There  were  two  divisions  of  the  Society,  the  Deltian  and  Thetian 
— this  Avas  for  the  purpose  of  giving  all  the  members  an  opportu- 
nity to  enjoy  the  privileges  of  the  Society  as  much  as  possible — 
upon  public  occasions,  however,  both  division  were  equally  repre- 
sented. The  exercises  of  the  Society  were  Lectures,  Discussions, 
Essays  and  Declamations,  and  the  performances  were  public  at  such 
time  as  it  was  thought  expedient. 

It  retained  the  name  under  which  it  was  organized  until  April  2d, 
1846  ;  when  by  adopting  a  revised  constitution ,  the  name  was 
changed  to  the  Adelphi  of  Knox  College.  And  imder  the  opera- 
tion of  this  constitution  the  two  divisions  before  referred  to,  by  a 
vote  of  the  Society,  Jan.  27th,  1850,  were  lost  under  one  name, 
although  they  were  recognized  in  the  constitution  after  the  revision. 
This  was  the  second  era  in  the  history  of  the  Society — and  having 
learned  wisdom  from  experience,  their  constitution  and  by-laws 
were  better  calculated  to  give  permanence  and  regularity  to  their 
proceedings.  Their  meetings  public  and  private  were  held  at  stated 
times,  instead  of  being  discretionary. 

As  yet  there  was  but  this  Society  connected  with  the  College,  and 
the  organization  of  the  "  Gnothautii  "  marks  the  third  era  in  its 
history.  It  would  not  be  proper  to  mention  all  the  circumstances 
connected  with  the  organization  of  this  new  Society,  from  the  fact 


30 


HISTORY    OF    GALESI5URG. 


that  it  is  better  to  forget  tlie  follies  of  youth  and  learn  wisdom  to 
guide  the  future.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that  things  were  so  managed 
that  the  Adelphi,  not  knowing  her  real  friends,  came  near  being 
wrecked  by  the  influence  of  enemies.  But  the  lines  of  distinction 
becoming  visible,  a  series  of  dqilomatic  measures  placed  the  two 
Societies  on  equal  footing,  and,  setting  aside  Society  pride,and  having 
emulation  enough  to  maintain  an  active  interest  among  the  members 
of  each  in  their  affairs,  they  have  grown  up  together  in  harmony^ 

The  Adelphi  was  incorporated  by  an  Act  of  Legislature,  approv- 
ed Feb.  25th,  1847  ;  and  under  its  charter  can  accumulate  an  amount 
not  exceeding  S25,000  in  property  of  any  description  ;  thus  giving 
ample  room  for  procuring  library,  apparatus,  &c. 

This  Society  offers  facilities  to  the  Essayist,  the  Orator,  the  De- 
bater, the  Poet  and  Dramatist ;  and  some  of  its  productions  would 
do  honor  to  any  age.  Its  Library  amounts  to  four  hundred  and 
seventy  volumes  at  present.  Three  years  ago  a  small  case  contain- 
ing about  five  shelves  four  feet  long  contained  the  sum  total  of  the 
society  library  ;  and  now  book-cases  and  books  would  net  ap- 
pear to  disadvantage  in  any  hall.  Progress  is  the  spirit  of  our  age, 
and  the  Adelphi  has  not  stood  an  idle  spectator  in  the  onward  and 
upward  march  of  things. 

A  strong  moral  sentiment  prevails  in  the  Society,  and  if  the  gales 
of  prosperity  continue  to  bear  her  on  as  in  time  past,  we  will  expect 
to  see  the  integrity,  honor,  and  philanthropy  of  the  Brothers  doing 
much  to  elevate  and  refine  all  who  may  enjoy  their  influence. 

THE  GNOTHAUTII  SOCIETY  OF  KNOX  COLLEGE. 

From  the  time  that  Knox  College  was  founded,  until  Nov.  Ist, 
1849,  only  one  Literary  Society  belonged  to  the  Institution.  This 
Society  (known  as  the  "Adelphi,")  adopted  a  constitution  which 
did  honor  to  its  framers  by  setting  forth  their  noble  purposes  and 
high  aims  at  excellence  and  was  calculated  to  preserve  and  perpetu- 
ate the  same  in  its  subsequent  members.  But  as  the  Society  in- 
creased in  size,  certain  evils  were  permitted  to  creep  in,  such  ae 
•♦Senior  monopolies," — unrestrained  use  of  language,  and  the  sub- 
stitution, of  Aristocratic  for  Democratic  principles.  This  soon  be- 
came intolerable  to  a  few  who  were  unwilling  to  make  any  compro- 
mise with  such   principles  and  consequently  they,  viz  :  Hiram  G. 


HISTORY    OF    C.ALESBURa.  31 

Ferris,  George  Churchill,  Wilson  T.  Smith,  Robert  J.  Adcock, 
James  C.  McMurtry,  Stephen  B.  Shemway,  W.  H.  Burrard,  Milton 
L.  Comstock,  Erastus  Wilcox,  Edward  P.  Chambers,  Edward  A. 
Lyon,  Alexander  G.  Gower,  Thomas  H.  Hutchinson,  and  Peter 
Fenity,  met  in  the  lecture  room  of  Wiliston  Hall  on  the  1st  of 
Nov.,  1849,  for  the  purpose  of  forming  a  new  Society  which  should 
have  in  riew  not  only  high  intellectual  attainments,  but  also  a  fair 
distribution  of  honors  and  privileges.  Then,  and  there,  and  by  the 
above  named  gentlemen,  the  Society  known  as  the  "Gnothautii" 
of  Knox  College  was  organized.  A  constitution  was  adopted 
and  subscribed  to,  which  by  its  perfect  adaptation  to  the  wants  of 
such  a  body,  plainly  indicates  that  its  framers  were  under  noble  and 
energizing  influences.  This  constitution,  together  with  the  by-laws 
enacted  soon  after,  still  remain  with  only  a  very  few  amendments 
for  the  government  of  the  Society,  and  a  good  degree  of  that  energy 
and  independence  of  purpose  and  action  which  characterized  the 
originators,  also  remains. 

By  an  act  of  Legislature  this  Society  became  a  corporate  body 
which  afforded  it  such  privliges  as  are  usually  granted  such  bodies. 

The  first  election  of  those  officers  which  the  constitution  demands 
resulted  as  follows  :  Tliomas  H.  Hutchinson,  President;  Robert  J. 
Adcock,  Vise  President ;  Milton  L.  Comstock,  Rec.  Secretary ; 
Edward  P.  Chambers,  Cor.  Secretary  ;  James  C.  McMurtry,  Trea- 
nrer  <fe  Librarian. 

This  organization  has  for  its  object  the  development  of  intelleo- 
nal  and  moral  strength  and  the  cultivation  of  executive  and  admin- 
istrative talent.  To  this  end  imporant  questions  are  discussed  in 
the  Society's  Hall  every  week — Essays  read,  and  occasionally  pub- 
lic performances.  It  holds  its  anniversaries  on  the  first  Tuesday 
•f  every  November. 

During  the  current  year  some  of  the  most  distinguished  men  in 
the  Union  have  been  employed  to  lecture  before  the  Society,  the 
proceeds  of  which  lectures  constitute  a  Library  fund.  When  fundi 
now  on  hand  shall  have  been  expended,  the  Library  of  the  Society 
will  consist  of  about  eight  hundred  well  selected  volumes. 

In  addition  to  the  above  means  and  indicatiens  of  imprevement 
and  prosperity  the  Society  not  being  satisfied  with,  nor  disposed  to 
improve  the  "  Knoxiana,"  resolved  to  publish  a  Magazine  under 


32  HISTORY    OF    GALESKURO. 

their  exclusive  control.  Accordingly  at  the  beginning  of  the  present 
collegiate  year,  the  "  Otvlc  Loaf,"  made  its  appearance  under  the 
particular  supervision  of  three  Editors  and  a  General  Agent,  to  be 
elected  at  the  cdosc  of  each  term. 

In  short,  the  Gnothautii  Socii^ty  is  prosperous  ;  and  including, 
as  it  does,  a  majority  of  tlie  College  students,  who  arc  full  of  hon- 
est zeal,  it  bids  fair  at  no  vciy  distant  jicrioil  to  accomplish  the 
greatest  designs  and  realize  the  most  sanguine  hopes  of  its  noble 
founders. 

Its  present  officers  as  elected  Sept.  lOtli,  185G,  are, — ^I.  M.  Clark, 
President  ;  Frank  Wells,  Vice  President  ;  E.  C.  D.  Robbins.  Rec. 
Sec;  L.  F.  Gaylonl,  Cor.  Sec.  ;  C.  E.  Marsh,  Treasurer  ;  Charles 
Houghton,  Librarian. 

DEK'ADELPllII  SOCIKTY  OF  LOMiJ.VRl)   rXJVER.^ITY. 

This  is  a  Literary  Society,  composed  of  ami  conducted  by  Students 
of  Lombard  University.  It  was  oiganized  in  Nov.,  1855,  and  its 
meetings  have  since  been  held  at  the  Univeisity  on  Saturday  evening 
of  each  week.  The  exercises  consist  of  discussions  upon  miscella- 
neous topics,  reading  of  a  Maga;ane,  edited  and  sustained  by  the 
ladies  of  the  Society,  and  general  business  appertaining  to  the 
Society. 

It  is  designed  to  be  a  permanent  '-trganlzation  connected  with  the 
Institution,  and  to  afi'ord  the  Students  an  opportunity  for  improve- 
ment in  those  things  not  embraced  in  the  regular  course  of  instuction. 

ALPHA  LODCE,  NO.  l.''.;],  A.  F.  ct  A.  .\J. 
Sixty-three  members.      Ofticers  :   J.W.Spalding,    W.  M.  ;  W. 
W.  Patch,  S.  W.  ;  E.  W.  Wee.ie,  •', .  \V.;  H.  31.  Hale,  Secretary; 
J.  A.  Thompson,  Treasurer,     fleets  the   first  and   third    Friday  of 
each  month  at  IMasonic  Hall,  East  side  Public  Sc^uarc. 

GALESBUIKI  LODGE,  X(>.  142,  I.  0.  of  0.  F. 
Meets  every  Aldnday   evening  at  Odd   Fellows  Hall,  West  side 
Square.     Ofiiccrs  :  Joseph  Hill,  N.  G.;  T.  L.  Clark,  N.  G.;  A.  L. 
Belknap,  11.  S.  ;  ]\1.  1).  Hillings,  Treasurer.     Seventy  members. 

LIBERAL  TEMPLE  OF  IIONOTL  NO.  3J. 


HISTORY    OF    GALESBURO.  33 

THE  AUTO-KELUrilll  SOCIETY  OF  LOMBARD  UNIVERSITY. 

The  Society  of  tlie  "  Auto  Keluthii  "  was  established,  Septem- 
ber 9th,  1854,  hy  the  students  of  the  Collegiate  Department  of 
*' Illinois  Liberal  Institute,"  .since  "  Lombard  University."  This 
is  now  the  oldest  Society  connected  with  Lombard  University. 
Although  conducted  for  a  time  under  adverse  circumstances,  being 
deprived  of  both  library  and  hall  by  the  burning  of  the  first  build- 
ing of  the  Institution,  yet,  by  the  perseverance  of  its  members,  it 
etill  continued  to  promote  the  objects  set  forth  in  the  preamble  of 
its  constitution,  viz :  The  acquiiement  of  knowledge,  the  procura- 
tion of  skill  and  confidence  in  debate,  and  facility  in  the  communi- 
cation of  thought. 

Measures  are  now  being  taken  to  incorporate  it  by  charter  ;  a  new 
hall  and  library  rooms  are  in  an  active  state  of  preparation,  and 
the  future  bids  fair  to  attend  its  efforts  with  success. 


UNION    GRADED    SCHOOLS. 

In  addition  to  the  many  other  institutions  of  learning  in  Gales- 
burg  we  shall  shortly  have  a  Union  Graded  School.  The  late 
lamented  Silas  Willard  left  S20,000  for  this  object.  The  be- 
quest was  conditional,  that  the  city  rai&e  $30,000  more.  This  con- 
dition will,  without  doubt,  be  complied  with,  when  we  shall  have 
an  ample  fund  with  which  to  inaugurate  the  best  system  of  Free 
Schools  ever  devised.  The  school  building  will  be  centrally  located 
in  order  to  accommodate  all  the  children  in  the  city. 


LECTURES. 

During  the  past  two  winters  our  citizens  have  had  the  benefit  of 

two  courses  of  Lectures,  and  enjoyed  the  jorivilege  of  listening  to 

a  large  number  of  the  most  distinguished  lecturers   in   America. 

The  first  course  was  given  imder  the  management  of  the  Adelphi 

Society  of  Knox  College,  and   the  second  under  the  management 

of  the  Gnothautii   Society.     Another  course  will  be  given  next 

Winter  under  the  direction  of  the  Adelpiii  Society,     To  these 
3 


HI8T0KY    OF    GALESBURG, 


Societies  much  credit  is  clue  for  their  untiring  exertions  to  secure 
the  services  of  the  best  talent  of  the  country  ;  and  to  our  citizen  for 
their  liberal  support  of  the  enterpiise. 


POPULATION. 

In  1840,  the  population  of  the  village  of  Galcsburg  was  272.  as 
filiown  by  the  census  of  that  year.  There  were  39  families.  Tho 
popuhition  of  the  Township,  including  the  village,  was  516.  In 
the  village  there  were  130  males  and  142  females  ;  7G  persons  un- 
dur  ten  years  of  age  ;  75  between  ten  and  twenty  ;  fiity  betweea 
tw-cnty  and  thirty  ;  27  between  thirty  and  forty  ;  29  between  forty 
and  fifty  ;  8  between  fifty  and  sixty,  and  7  between  sixty  and  seven- 
ty. The  following  are  the  names  of  the  heads  of  families  living  ia 
the  village  at  that  time  : 

Sebastian  Adanis,  Sylvanus  Ferris,  Stillman  Dolbear,  Harvey 
Gei"a»ld,  George  Ferris,  D.  Edgerton,  S.  Edgerton,  Jacob  Edgertou, 
James  Bnnce,  Hcrry  Fciris,  Eiastus  Swift,  Abiam  Follett,  Enos 
M'Eulear,  Elisha  King,  Chauncey  Colton,  Clarissa  Phelps,  C.  R. 
Palmer,  James  Bull,  William  Ilolycdco,  Daniel  Williams,  Lucian 
Mills,  Nehemiah  Losey,  Luke  Strong,  Robeit  Bush,  Sojdiia  Lyman, 
John  Waters,  Gustavus  Marsli,  Biloy  Boot,  Sheldcn  Goddard,  Ed- 
ward Daly,  John  Clay,  Thomas  Simmons,  Elani  S.  liitihcoclv,  Levi 
Stanley,  Patrick  Dunn,  Ro swell  Paine,  Junius  Prenti.^s,  Sheldoa 
Allen,  Hiram  Marsh,  (.'eoige  "V\\  Gale,  Agiippa  Martin,  Kehrmiah 
West,  Barber  Allen,  Abram  Bergen,  Levi  ypeucer,  Floyd  Bucking- 
ham, Caleb  Finch,  Naaman  Churchill,  Henry  W'illcox. 

In  1850  the  population  was  less  than  800.  In  1853  it  was  a  little 
k&s  than  1400.  Jn  Jr.ne,  18f:5,  it  was  COIG.  At  this  time,  tho 
j'Opulation  Avithin  the  new  city  limits  is  5,455.  The  increase  since 
June,  1855,  has  been  2,539,  or  n-arly  100  per  cent,  in  less  than 
two  years. 


B  UI L  D  I  N  G  S  . 

There  were  erected  in  1856,  three  hund.e<l  and  four  buildings,  ai; 
a  total  cost  of  $551,000.  Thi.-?  includes  the  Colleges  and  other 
public  buidings.     Most  of  tho  business  buildings  and  many  of  tho 


HISTORY  OF  GALE8BURO.  S§ 

dwe]Iirig8  weie   frst  cla.sj-,  costing  1V(  in  SC.CCO   (o    Sll2,C00,  each. 

Exldisive  j'lrjaiatic'iiK  liavc  Iceii  iiuuie  foi  liiilding  the  preseufc 
season,  an<l  iulorniaJion  in  our  possession  lojuls  ns  to  the  conclusion 
that  tiie  miHiler  of  buildings  to  be  erected  tin's  year  will  not  fall  far 
ehovt  of  four  Imndrcd.  Many  of  these  will  be  fine  buildings.  Home 
©f  the  busijiess  honses,  especially,  will  i'ar  surpass  in  size  and  beauty 
of  fiiiish,  any  thing  we  yet  have. 

HALLS    FOR    PUBLIC    MKETIXGS. 

As  yet  we  have  iiejiber  Town  Hall  nor  Market  House.  Botli  are 
fadly  iiocdtd,  aad  will  pro!  al  ly  be  built  during  the  present  year. 
Most  of  tlic  I'ublic  Mectii  gs  aie  held  in  the  First  Church  and  Lecture 
Room.  Lectures,  Concert.*;,  and  pei  Ibrmaui-es  of  vai ions  kinds  are 
given  i»  those  buihlijjg.s.  Paik'.s  l];i]l,  comer  of  Main  and  Prairie 
streets,  is  80Tncti?nes  r.sed  for  Tl  catriral  jkm  !oi  niances,  &e.  A  few 
thousand  dollr.vs  « ould  not  Le  inve^ted  moie  piofitably  than  in  a 
good-sized,.  well-Ioiated  Slar!  ct  au'l  City  Mall. 


RAILROADS. 

Galcsiuig  is  t'lef-timed  in  a  ^holt  time  to  I  ec  onie  a  great  Railroad 
Center.  We  have  ahcady  a  Railroad  to  Chicago,  one  to  Quincy, 
•ne  to  Burlington,  Iowa,  and  one  to  Pe<.»iia.  Tlie  road  to  Chicago 
•was  fe>imerly  callod  the  Cential  INIilitaiy  Tract  Railroad,  and  ex- 
tended from  Gaiesbnrg  to  ilendota,  where  it  connected  with  tha 
Aurora  Exteasion.  The  Auroi  a  Bi  audi,  the  Central  jMilltai  v  Tract,, 
sjid  the  We^tnn  Irain  h  of  the  Pcoiia  &  Oouawka  road  are  now 
«alle<lthe  Chic;ige,  Burlington  &  Quiuey  Raiboal.  This  road  doe* 
an  immense  business,  and  is  considered  tlie  bcht  projjeity  of  tho^ 
kind  m  ths-  West. 

The  road  to  Quinfj  is  called  the  Nortlicni  Cross  Railroad,  andl 
will,  when  its  tonnections  are  completed,  form  a  link  in  the  greak 
thoroughfare  between  the  Northern  States  and  Kansas. 

Till?  Peo-ria  &  Oquawka  Railroad  counctts  us  with  Peoria,  and 
-wiil  iw  cIk©  seafOM  foijxi  the  most  diiect  and  cheapest  Knite  to  tha 
•itJe*  «>f  Ph)ikMieli>hia,  New  York,  and  Boston. 


36  HISTORY  OF  O.VLESBURO. 

In  addition  to  tlie  completed  roads  we  have  charters  for  the 
"Galesburg  &  Ptock  Islaml  llailroad,"  and  for  the  "  Galeshnrg  & 
Muscatine  Railroad."  The  road  from  Galcsburg  to  Eock  Island 
will  without  doubt  soon  be  built.  A  largo  amount  of  stock  has 
already  been  subscribed,  and  active  effort  is  making  to  raise  suffi- 
cient to  put  it  under  contract.  The  friends  of  the  Galesburg  and 
Muscatine  Railroad  have  organzied  under  their  charter,  and  opened 
Subscription  books. 

The  Road  from  Quincy  to  St.  Josephs,  Missouri  will  soon  be 
completed,  and  we  shall  be  within  a  few  hours'  ride  of  Kansas.  The 
Topeka  and  St.  Joseph  Railroad  will  piobably  be  built  within  two 
years,  giving  us  railroad  connection  with  the  very  heart  of  that 
Territory. 

The  road  from  Burlington  to  Nebraska  will  put  us  in  connection 
with  that  Territory  also. 

The  Alton  &  Rock  Island  Railroad,  of  which  the  Galesburg  & 
Rock  Island  Railroad  will  in  all  probability  form  a  link,  will  put 
us  in  connection  with  St.  Louis,  and  open  to  us  the  great  Grocery 
market  of  the  United  States.  This  road  will  intersect  the  Northern 
Gross  Railroad  at  Macomb,  forty-five  miles  South  of  Galesburg, 
and,  if  it  connects  with  the  Galesburg  &  Rock  Island  road,  use  the 
Northern  Cross  to  this  city. 

The  roads  centering  here  have  a  very  large  and  beautifully  finished 
Passenger  House.  It  is  174  feet  long  and  3G  feet  wide.  This 
building  is  used  for  various  purposes.  There  are  waiting  rooms 
for  passengers— a  large  and  well  arranged  wash-room— a  barber- 
shop, and  a  Telegraph  ofiice.  A  part  of  the  building  is  used  for 
an  Eating  house,  and  is  kept  by  Messrs.  Blossom  &  .     The 

dinning  hall  is  one  of  the  largest  and  best  finished  rooms  in  the 
West.  The  house  is  kept  in  the  best  style.  We  know  of  no  other 
Passenger  House,  East  or  West,  that  will  equal  it  in   its  interior 

finish. 

The  freight  House  of  the  C.  B.  &  Q.  Road  is  175  feet  long  by 
30  wide.  An  addition,  ICO  feet  long  will  be  put  on  this  season, 
making  the  whole  building  B35  feet  long.  J.  W.  Cothren  is  the 
Freight  Agent.  Westox  Arnold,  Clerk.  There  are  employed, 
about  the  Freight  house,  fifteen  laborers. 


HISTORY    OF    GALESBURG.  Ol 

The  Engine  Department  gives  employment  to  one  hundred  and 
forty-five  men.  E.  Prindle,  foreman  of  the  Finishing  Shop;  B. 
H.  KiuDF.R,  foreman  in  the  RoiUKi  House,  and  C.  F.  Jaurikt,  Mas- 
ter Mechanic.  The  following  is  the  classification  of  the  hands  em- 
ployed :  25  Engineers,  25  Firemen,  ?>()  Macliinists  in  Finishing 
Shop,  15  JIaehinist  in  the  Round  House,  2  Pattern  Makers,  8 
Blacksmiths,  5  Boiler  Makers,  20  Wipers  of  Engines,  and  15 
common  laborers. 

The  Carpenter  Shop  gives  employment  to  about  30  liands.  C. 
F.  Ali.en,  Superintendent  of  Wood  Woik,  J.  I  Etherige,  Fore- 
man, L.  C.  Waters,  Clerk. 

E.  W.  Weed,  Tiack  Master,  has  charge  of  the  Track  between 
Burlington  and  Buda,  and  has  under  his  charge  150  men. 

Telegraph  Office,  1Iii,t.,  Operator.  IT.  Hitchcock,  Assistant 
Superintendent,  B.  O.  Carr,  Clerk  of  the  Engine  Department. 

The  Total  number  of  men  employod  by  this  Company  at  this 
Station  will  not  fall  short  of  350. 

The  American  Express  Company  have  an  office  near  the  Passen- 
ger Huuse. 

Messrs.  Ward  &  Barnett  have  a  large  Warehouse  near  the 
Depot  for  storing  grain  and  merchandise.  Tiiis  buihling  is  100 
feet  long  by  40  wide,  and  two  stories  high.  There  are  several  other 
Warehouses  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Depot,  owned  by  Produce 
dealers. 

The  improvements  in  this  part  of  the  city  during  the  present 
season  will  be  extensive.  A  large  biick  hotel,  and  several  stores 
are  now  under  contract.  It  is  thought  by  many  that  in  a  short 
time  tlie  heavy  Grocery  and  Hai'dware  establishments  will  be 
located  there.  Lots  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Depot,  suitable  for  busi- 
ness stands,  are  rapidly  increasing  in  value. 


38 


HISTORY  (IF  GALE8BUR0. 


o 

♦-t 

< 

'^ 

♦—I 

a 

c 

t— t 

o 
o 

o 


o  r>  r>  o  o  o 

o  :o  O  o  ~    ~ 
o  o  •.-:i  o 


O  30  lO  ".-1  -t*  .o  — t 
T<  -^  --O  -t<  :0  I-  » 

^  71  I-  r^  -Ti  35  -t* 


CO  5t  ^0 


COr-ITC.OTt<-HMMt-35- 

•w  ■-  /J  CO  ^_~o  o  --0  r;_»^  > 

o  _-  -^  o^j  ^  r5  "0  .1  .-  rs  vO  o 

o  M  •-<  -ti  ^  x  o  .'<  rs  J?  M  -I   ir- 

O  7-1  :o  =>  -35  N  o  :=>  •*  -^  =>  t^  ,  ^ 


Tj<  -*  rH  ^  -:t*  -Tp"  crs  =>  ri  o 

rH    -t  f^    N  rH     M    -^1    .-^ 


l» 


o  -i  -.  --I  -o  .4  .:o  I-    ^  >o  '-"^  o   3J 
rH  rji  c;_  .-o^  CD  o  M__  :^_  :r5_  rs  o  >d  ,o_ 

1—1  'J^ 


_>  J?  r>  -2  ^  _?    o 
o  r>  o  o  ^ 


~)OOooor>c:>    lO 


o 

,— 

Z> 

XI 

rH 

.o 

T4 

yi 

JO 

— t 

I— ( 

uO 

70 

» 

o 

'M 

r-t 

iiTi 

o    o 


lO 


o  =>:=>=>  o  ^  o  o_  o  o  o^  _._^ 
OT  ri  to  X.  >»  .o  2^  -?  ^  T^  ^  I?  ^ 

-    -  ■  —     -    -j;j  i^  o   ~__  jO    >0_  0_  -i    U.--^ 


"M 

'n 

-Ti 

i=i 

O 

I— 

■-0 

"^1 

-n 

>o 

^5 

lO 

—1 

■o 

I-H 

1— ( 

T— 1 

T^ 

7^ 

■^ 

^■s 

QO  TO 
00  Ci 
C4  I- 

o 
t—t 

CO 

o 

|t-I 

CO  -t*  :o  lO  o  o  o  .0  I--  '-o  .-I  ..o 
Oil--  to^ci  -.-<  vo  rH  -^  -i-  TO  C5  -M 

-^  CO  O  -— I  '^  20  t—  I—  O  ^    Tl  35 


(M  TO 


O  O  ^  p  I-- 

"^  ^  rjt  :?■»  CO 


-f  "*  -ri  lO  lO 

CO  O  O  Xi  X.' 
■CnJ  t-( 


o  o 
CO  t-~ 


ITs"^  X)  .O  ^N  to  :0  :0  CI 

«o  "^^  "*  "*-  ^-  ^-  '"■-  '^-  "^l 

-J'r-H'o'irtr-rcOC^t—  — ^ 
•^  (M  ^  OJ 


C^_t-iOO-iOCO 
Cvl  X)  'O  CO  X)  o  >o  r-< 
-5}i  X)  T^  0_  .~  C5_  o  c:5_ 

rjT  C5  r-T  C5  -x"  xT  ?i"  CO 

i-<  rl  r-l  -*  to  T-( 


""  -  '^  s  s 


OJ 


^  <:  -Ji  O  '^  Pi 


HISTORY    OF    GALESBURO.  39 

CLASSIFICATION   OF   BUSINESS. 

Below  we  give,  under  appropriate  headings,  the  names  of  the  per- 
sons now  engaged  in  business  in  this  city.  This  list,  as  far  as  we 
have  been  able  to  ascertain,  is  correct  and  complete.  A  more  e.x- 
tended  notice  of  the  leading  business  houses  will  be  found  under  the 
heading  of  "Business  Notices. 

PHYSICIANS. 
The  following  named  gentlemen  are  engaged  in  the  Practice  of 
Medicine.     We  think  the  list  is  correct : 

Alopathic. — Jaff-es  Bunce,  John  M.  Morse,  J.  W.  Spalding,  8. 
D.  Slater,  M.  R.  Taylor,  H.  S.  Kurd,  A.  T.  McCurdy,  G.  W.  Barck, 

Homeopathic. — Foot  ife  Nye,  John  Babcock. 

Eclectic. — S.  B.  Chapman. 

Hydropathic. -^Johw  B.  Gully. 

J.  C.  Rutherford. 

Dentists.— E.  C.  Sohn,  E.  F.  Davi)^. 

Lawyers. — W.  S.  Gale;  Hammond  <fc  Turley;  Boyd  &  Boggg; 
Smith  &  Ford;  Pitcher  &  Mason;  Sidney  Myers;  Hite  &  Watts; 
Seiders  <fe  Kingsbury,  Wm.  Andrews. 

Dry  Goods  Merchants. — C.  S.  Colton  &  Sons;  Rnger  &  Ogden; 
Willard,  Babcock  &  Co.;  Josiah  Tilden;  C.  H.  Mathews;  L.  San- 
derson &  Son;  P.  Vanhorn;  Sage  <fc  Reed;  Wm.  A.  Wood  «fc  Co., 
Delano  &  Foster;  J.  Baker  &  Co. 

Grocery  Merchants. — Dunn,  Cheesebro  <fe  Co.;  F.  L.  <fc  H.  S. 
Smith;  Hammond, &  Co.;  Hiram  Everest;  S.  B.  Hoisington  ;  Geoi. 
H.  Kingsbury;  Caleb  North:  W.  F.  Tuthill;  H.  M.  Saxton. 

Hardware,  Stoves,  d'c. — Reed  &  Abliott;  Wm.  Babcock  &  Co.; 
Woodbridge  <fe  Lawrence. 

Boots  and  Shoes. — S.  N.  Grose;  Isaac  Merrill;  D.  W.  Brinkerhofif. 

Ready-Made  Clothincf. — J.  R.  Gordon;  Wisner  <fe  Taylor;  A. 
Jacobi;  A.  B.  Mayer;  G.  W.  Anderson;  Chalmers  &  Hopper. 

Furniture  Dealers. — Bartlett  &  Judson;  Patterson  &  Wilson;  J. 
C.  Bottsford;  Dredge,  Hester  k  Co.;  R.  A.  Adams. 


40  HISTORY  OF  OALESBURO. 

Yanlcec  N'ot'iovs. — W.  W.  Davis,  Wholesale  and  Retail  dealer. 

Drug  Stores.— 0.  B.  Matteson  ;  C.  White  ;  C.  M.  Hamilton. 

Book  (Old  Music  Stores. — J.  H.  &  A.  Knapp  ;  Boishel,  Kuhn  & 
Colvillo. 

Crockery,  Queensimre,  d'c. — Love  &  Danaher ;  II.  V.  Disbrow. 

Saddle  and  Harness  Shops  and  Stores. — D.  M.  Chapin  ;  S.  Lyon; 
H.  W.  Short. 

Cigar  Store. — Charles  Iluenuann. 

A.uctio7ieers. — Hale  &,  Rouell. 

Milliners  and  Dress  Makers. — Miss  Tiibbs  &  Mrs.  Farr  ;  Miss 
James  ;  Mrs.  A'^an  Blarcom;  Miss  E.  A.  Stead  ;  Miss  M.  J.  Miller; 
Miss  Sarah  Conwell ;  Mrs.  L.  C.  Stone. 

Watch  and  Jewelry  Stores. — 11.  ^I.  Bartholomew  ;  J.  A.  Thomp- 
son &  Co.;  John  Armstrong. 

Bankers.— X.  J).  Reed  &  Co.;  J.  F.  Dunn  &  Co. 

Daguerreotypes,  cOc. — Joseph  Hill  ;  E.  Codding  ;  W.  Petty  ;  A, 
R.  Brown. 

Foundry  and  Machine  Shops. — J.  P.  Frost  &  Co.;  C.  M.Law- 
rence ;  N.  Briggs. 

Sash,  Blind  and  Door  Factories. — Mars  &  Gimble  ;  G.  D.  Col- 
ton  ;  J.  P.  <fe  D.  Chapman  ;  White  &  Jenkins  ;  H.  B.  Weeks. 

Chain  Pumps. ^DGhxno  &  Foster. 

Plow  Shops.^^E.  Dailey;  James  Smith  ;  R.  S.  Patterson  ;  G.  D. 
Colton. 

Blacksmith  Shops.— C.  M.  Brown  ;  T.  H.  Mooney  ;  Patterson  & 
Scott;  S.  S.  Smith;  Nels  Ilockinson  ;  P.  Gabrison  ;  F.  Payne; 
John  Hobbard. 

Flour  aud  Feed  Store. — W.  C.  Goudey. 

Lumher  Yards.— U.  &  G.  A.  Tryon  &  Love  ;  X.  Anthony  ;  P. 
S.  &  E.  Post ;  A.  L.  Belknap  ;  Stewart  &  Gilbert. 

Baker  Shops.— Fitch  &  O'llarra;  Thos.  McQueen  ;  R.  Ilinsey. 

Livery  Stahles. — W.  D.  Look  k  Co.  ;  O.  Nichols  ;  G.  D.  Schenck. 

Shoemaker  Shops. — S.  N.  Grose  ;  L.  Eger ;  B.  Linegar  ;  S.  0. 
Noriifen. 


HISTORY  OF  GALESliLTRG.  41    ' 

Was/on  Shops. — Bergen  &  Bisson  ;  Hobljard  &  Willard  ;  L.  H. 
Fuller. 

Insvranre  Companies  and  Agencies. — Galcslmrg  Home  Ins.  Co.; 
Galesburg  Mutual  Ins.  Co.  Both  of  these  Companies  were  char- 
tered in  the  recent  Session  of  the  Legislature.  No  organization  has 
yet  taken  place.  Agents  of  other  Companies, — I).  Sanlxjrn  ;  Lu- 
cius Chapman  ;  J.  P.  Dorman. 

Land  Af/oits. — S.  W.  Gale;  D.  H.  Fiishie  ;  Nettleton  &  Drura- 
mond  ;  Stewart,  Mourer  &  Hurd  ;  H.  H.  i\Liy  ;  Hammond  Jt  Tur- 
ley  ;  L,  Stevens  &  Co. 

Paiidcrs. — R.^A.  Adams  ;  Everts  &  Chamberlin  ;  James  Gregory; 
John  A.  Johnson  ;  Thos.  Livesey  ;  J.  B.  Simpkins  ;  Thos.  Fair- 
man ;  John  Oden  ;  Charles  Anderson  ;  Bemis  &  Dickerson  ;  George 
Wright. 

Butcher  Shops. — Proud  &;  Allen  ;  Brinkerhoff"  &  Washburn  ; 
Philip  Kraus. 

Hotels. — Haskell  House;  Galesburg  House;  City  Hotel  ;  Hen- 
shaw  House. 

Boarding  Houses. — Mrs.  T.  A.  Bergen  ;  iliss  Sarah  Crean,  Adin 
Russell ;  Jesi^e  Beals  ;  Jonathan  Dudley  ;  James  Jerome  ;  Mrs.  A. 
L.  Prentice  ;  David  Jerome  ;  L.  11.  Saunders  ;  A.  E.  Hotchkiss  ; 
Mrs.  F.  S.  Denton  ;  Mrs.  Mary  Griffith  ;  Miss  Mary  Brown  ;  Miss 
Nancy  A.  Shaver. 

Printing  Offices.— ^i.  H.  Sherman  ;  Stone  &  .  Taylor  ;  T.  N. 
Hasselquist. 

BooJc  Binderies. — Boishel,  Kuhn  &  Colville  ;  Stone  &  Taylor. 

Editors. — J.  H.  Sherman,  C.  J.  Sellon,  V^tiiioxa  Free  Democrat; 
T.  N.  Hasselquist,  Editor  HemUmdet;  R.  B.  Guild,  W.^E.  Phelps 
and  Geo.  H.  Beecher,  Editors  Kno.xiuna;  Charles  H.  Bryant,  M. 
M.  Clark  and  G.  Worman,  Editors  Oak  Leaf;  E.  Codding,  Editor 
Advertiser . 

Carpenters. — T.  P.  Chapman  ;  A.  N.  Carpenter ;  Benjamin  and 
Charles  Johnson;  George  Bell ;  John  Collins  ;  J.  M.  Carson  ;  John 
W.  Boyd  ;  Robert  T.  Bronson. 

Masons. — George   Bancroft;  Stephen   Wilcox;  George  Smith; 


42 


HISTORY  OF  OALESDUUG. 


Luke  Brown  ;  G.  0.  Butterfield  ;   Andrew  Berglen  ;   R.  0.  Hanos  ; 
W.  Wheeler. 

Grist  Mills.— U.  B.  Stebbins,  Parker  &  Co.;  Jordan  &  Hill. 

Barbers — John  Soman  ;  James  Finchee;  T.  R.  Paine;  J.  Jackson; 
Varvel  Florville. 

Justices  of  the  Peace. — A.  C.  Wiley  ;  0.  White. 

Notary  Public. — G.  C.  Lanpliere  ;  A.  C.  W.  Lucius  Gary  ;  L.  A. 
E.  Holcouib. 

Drayman. — George  Stropes  ;  R.  T.  Felkins  ;   Nathan  Coleman  ; 
Peter  Anderson  ;  Harlem  Willis. 

Constables.— \Nm.  Follett ;   A.  C .  Tyler. 

Deputy  Sheriff. — L.  Conger. 


SIANUFACTORIES. 

The  various  lines  of  Railroad  completed  and  centering  here,  and 
those  in  contemplation  and  likely  to  be  speedily  built,  renders  all 
parts  of  the  country  easy  of  access  from  this  point ;  and  this,  to- 
gether with  the  fact  that  coal  is  abundant  and  cheap,  and  steam  a 
more  reliable  and  cheaper  motive  power  than  water,  makes  this  a 
very  desirable  point  for  manufactories.  Before  we  proceed  to  speak 
of  those  we  have  we  will  mention  one  or  two  which  we  have  not, 
and  which  would  pay  liandsoraely.  First  a  Paper  Mill.  We  have 
no  running  water  to  be  used  for  this  purpose,  but  any  amount  of 
the  purest  and  best  water  can  be  had  by  digging.  A  well  capable 
of  yielding  a  sufKcient  amount  of  water  could  be  obtained  at  a  less 
cost  than  the  expense  of  building  a  dam  across  an  ordinary  mill 
stream.  The  large  demand  for  printing  and  wrapping  paper,  and 
the  high  price,  would  afford  such  a  factory  a  sure  support. 

We  also  need  a  Barrel,  Tub  and  Bucket  Factory.  In  this  busi- 
ness the  amount  expended  is  principally  for  labor,  the  cost  of  the 
lumber  in  a  barrel,  tub  or  bucket  being  a  very  small  percentage  of 
the  selling  pri(;e  of  the  manufactured  article.  Lumber  of  all  kinds 
is  dearer  here  than  at  some  other  points  where  such  factories  are  in 
operation.  But  when  we  consider  the  fact  that  an  ordinary  flour 
barrel  sells  here  for  sixty  cents,  and   that   ninetecn-twcntieths  of  the 


HISTOUY  OK  GAT.ESBUUr,.  4S 

Tnbs  and  Buckets  and  other  Wooden  Ware  soM  in  the  west  is  im- 
poitcd  from  the  Eastern  States  at  a  lieavy  expense  for  freight,  th« 
disadvantage  of  a  comparatively  higher  price  for  lumber  is  raor« 
than  over-balanced.  The  demand  for  these  is  great  and  increasing, 
and  the  sales  are  enormous.  If  we  had  money  to  invest  in  manu- 
facturing we  know  of  no  other  business  in  which  we  would  so 
readily  engage.  Persons  who  design  engaging  in  such  an  enter- 
prise in  the  West  would  do  well  to  visit  Galesburg  before  deter- 
mining npon  a  location. 

There  are  others  of  which  we  might  speak  if  we  had  the  space, 
bnt  we  must  content  ourself  with  the  general  remark  that  this  is  an 
excellent  point  for  the  manufacture  of  all  articles  in  general  use, 
where  cheap  motive  power  and  an  extensive  market  are  the  principal 
requisites. 

C  I  T  Y    F  0  U  X  I)  11  Y  . 

Among  the  many  noteworthy  objects  in  Galesburg,  is  the  City 
Foundry  of  J.  P.  FrooT  &  Co.  This  Foundry  was  established  in 
1856,  and  the  tirst  casting  was  done  on  the  4th  of  March  of  that 
year.  It  was  thought  at  the  time  to  be  a  ha/.ardous  undertaking  to 
put  up  a  Foundry  at  this  point  to  compete  with  Chicago,  Peoria, 
Burlington  and  Quincy,  but  our  enterprising  townsmen,  Frost  & 
Harrington,  thought  there  was  a  necessity  for  such  an  establish- 
ment, and  they  invested  their  capital  in  it.  They  put  up  a  large 
building  for  a  Machine  Shop,  T'attern  Shop  and  Foundry,  and  a 
smaller  one  for  a  Blacksmith  Shop,  and  went  to  work.  The  result 
inoio  than  justified  their  expectations,  and  the  vast  amount  of  work 
demanded  by  the  country,  has  compelled  them  to  make  arrange- 
ments to  add  to  their  buildings  this  Spiing,  and  to  otherwise  in- 
crease their  facilities  for  doing  work.  This  establishment  has  the 
reputation  of  turning  out  excellent  work  of  all  kinds,  but  more 
especially  Engines.  During  the  short  time  they  have  been  in  opera- 
tion, they  ha\e  built  several  engines  which  have  given  entire  satis- 
faction. They  have  now  on  the  stocks  a  30  horse  power  engine, 
for  paities  in  Kewanee.  They  also  make  a  groat  many  castings  for 
the  (\  B.  &  Q.  Railroad. 

The  firm  now  consists  of  d.  P.  Frost,  A.  Hakringtox,  W.  S. 
Bellows  and  L.  C.  Field.    They  are  all  energetic,  go-ahead  Young 


44  HISTORY  OF  GALESliURQ. 

America  business  men,  as  well  as  masters  of  their  business  in  all  of 
its  departments.  The  Fouuilry  is  on  Simmons  street  near  Pres. 
Blanduirtls,  Tuesday  and  Friday,  we  believe,  are  their  casting  days, 
and  those  who  have  never  witnesssed  sueli  work  wouhl  be  well  paid 
for  tliutiuie  con.sumed  in  making  tlicni  a  vi>ir. 

They  melt  about  two  tliousand  }>ounl!.^  of  iion  per  day,  em- 
ploy about  twenty  hands,  and  are  doing  about  $25,000  worth  of 
business  per  year.  Brass  castings  are  also  made  at  thi:s  establish- 
ment. 

EUOVrX'S  ILLINOLS  CORN  PLANTER  .MANUFACTORY. 

Geo.  W.  Browx,  Esq.,  tlie  proprietor  of  the  establishment  ancT 
the  inventor  of  the  ^^laehine,  commenced  expeiimenting  with  the- 
first  one  in  1852.  In  1853  he  obtained  his  first  patent,  and  made 
12  machines,  wliicii  were  successfully  used  by  the  faruiei-s  in  the 
vicinitv  of  his  .^bop  which  be  had  built  on  his  farm,  ten  miles  from 
Galesburg.  In  1854  he  inanufactuied  100.  In  1855  he  made  278» 
and  also  obtained  a  patent  on  an  additional  improvement. 

From  the  universal  favor  manifested  toward  his  Flanters  by  the 
farmers,  the  fact  l)ecame  apparent  to  Mi-.  ?>.,  that  to  meet  the  in- 
creasing demand,  he  must  greatly  enlarge  his  manufacturing  facili- 
ties. Accordingly  in  1856  he  erected  his  present  shop  in  this  place, 
equipped  it  with  steam  power,  and  also  supplied  it  with  the  various 
modern  improvements  in  machinery,  to  facilitate  the  rapid  and 
suce.-sfiil  manufacture  of  this  ''great  Western  invention  for  i^lfoding 
the  /-r (dries." 

For  the  planting  season  of  1850,  he  manufactured  and  sold  503, 
and  many  more  could  have  been  sold  could  they  have  been  made  in 
time.  Mr.  .15.  lirds  the  demand  steadily  increasing  for  these  ma- 
chines, and  he  is  constantly  enlarging  and  extending  his  works  to 
enable  him  to  mee't  it.  For  this  year,  1857,  he  is  manufacturing 
1000,  giving  employment  to  fifty  men,  using  120,000  feet  of  lum- 
ber, and  thirty  tons  of  iron. 

It  is  evident  from  the  history  of  this  Planter,  that  it  is  gradually 
becoming  one  of  the  fixed  and  permanent  imjilements  of  agriculture 
upon  the  western  prairies  ;  and  that  the  time  will  soon  come  when 
the  western  farmer  will  feci   that  be  can  no  more  successfully  plant 


HISTORY  OF  GALESBURG.  45 

an  average  number  of  acres  of  corn  without  the  aic  of  this  ma- 
chine, than  he  could  harvest  his  grain  or  grass  without  a  reaping  or 
mowing  machine. 

ROTARY    FAN    BLOWER. 

Among  the  many  improvements  in  Galesbnrg,  is  a  machine  for 
clearing  Railroads  of  snow,  called  a  rotary  Fan  Blower. 

The  machine  was  invented  January  23il,  1855,  and  patented 
January  29th,  1856,  hy  Riley  Root  and  Samuel  G.  Holyoke.  Its 
construction  is  that  of  a  heavy  iron  shaft,  on  the  front  of  which,  is 
fastened  a  fan,  two  feet  in  width  and  14  feet  in  diameter,  weighing 
in  all  about  two  tons.  The  fan  consists  of  four  wings,  on  the  front 
edge  of  which,  are  steel  knives  eight  inches  in  width  and  14  feet 
long  with  projecting  spurs  to  loosen  up  the  snow  as  it  advances 
forward.  The  Blower  is  to  be  driven  by  a  25  horse  power  engine 
and  made  to  rotate  as  fast  as  its  structure  will  bear.  It  is  designed 
to  rotate  cross-wise  of  the  track,  and  so  arranged  as  to  rotate  either 
way,  to  suit  the  direction  of  the  wind.  The  advantage  gained  in 
this  machine,  over  the  usual  snow  plow,  is,  that  this  machine  cuts 
tip  the  snow  and  throws  it  to  a  great  distance  from  the  track,  whilst 
the  snow  plow  can  only  tlirow  it  to  short  distances,  and  even  then 
a  portion  of  the  one  half  that  is  thrown  towards  the  wind,  will  be 
blown  immediately  back  again.  Another  important  consideration 
is,  that  after  two  or  three  passages  with  the  plow  through  deep 
drifts,  the  snow  becomes  so  solid  at  the  sides  of  the  track,  that  a 
resort  to  the  shovel  is  necessary.  It  is  our  opinion  that  when  the 
machine  is  brought  into  full  requisition,  it  will  advance  the  cause 
of  Railroads  far  into  northern  countries,  and  that  it  will  supercede 
any  machine  hitherto  invented  for  that  purpose. 

G.  D.  COLTON'S  PLANING  MILL  AND  PLOW  FACTORY. 

G.  D.  CoUon's  Planing  Mill  and  Plow  Factory  stands  a  little 
Northwest  of  the  Passenger  Depot.  It  was  built  in  1856.  In  this 
establisment  is  one  of  Fisk's  celebrated  Planing  Machines,  which 
does  its  work  better  and  faster  than  any  thing  of  the  kind  we  ever 
witnessed  in  operation.  For  planing,  tonguing  and  grooving 
flooring  it  has  no  equal.     It  will  plane  about  1,000  feet  of  lumber 


46 


HISTORY    OF    GALE6BITRO. 


per  liour.  In  the  same  building  is  a  Circular  Saw  for  converting 
loarils  into  .'■iding.  In  the  basement  is  an  engine  of  about  20  horse 
power,  manufactured  by  Gage  &  Co.,  of  Chicago.  It  is  au  excel. 
l(-nt  piece  of  workmanship,  and  peiforms  its  various  duties  with 
that  quiet  and  8teadiness  that  characterizes  nearly  all  great  work- 
ers— whether  uieu  or  machines.  In  another  part  of  the  building  is 
the  Blacksmith  Shop,  where  the  iron  woik  for  TuitLEv's  celebrated 
PIow.s  is  done.  The  grinding  of  the  mould  boards  is  also  done  in 
this  shoj).  In  the  thin'',  story  of  the  main  building,  workmen  are 
engaged  in  stocking  and  painting  the  plows.  Tliese  plow's,  we  think 
are  destined  in  a  short  time  to  come  into  general  use.  ]Mr.  Colton 
coutemjilates  making  additions  to  his  buildings  and  Machinery  to 
meet  the  wants  of  his  increasing  business.  He  is  an  enterprising 
Mian  and  is  worthy  of  patronage  and  succe-^s. 

MARS,  G^MI;LE  &  CO.'S    SAStI,   DOOR    AXD    RLIXl)    FACTORY 
AND  PLAXlXr;  fdlLL. 

One  of  the  largest  manufactu!  iiig  establishments  in  Galesburg  is 
tlie  Sash.  Dcor  and  Blind  jManufnctoiy  and  Planing  Mill  of  Mars, 
GiMRLE  &  Co.  Several  years  ago,  in  1844,  we  think,  M'-.  Gimblo 
started  the  fii.st  Sash,  Door  and  Blind  factory  in  this  city.  He  then 
performed  all  ihe  woik  by  hand.  But  as  the  town  and  country  in- 
cieased  in  pO|  ulation,  the  nr.mber  of  houses  increased,  and,  in  con- 
eequence,  there  was  a  lieavy  demand  for  such  articles  as  he 
inanufacfurcd.  Last  year  he  entered  into  partnership  with  Mr. 
Mars,  and  the  business  was  carrieil  on  under  the  name  and  stylo  of 
!RiAns  &  GiMr.LE.  They  immediately  after  the  ibrmation  of  the 
partnership,  erected,  the  largi^  building  a  little  Northeast  of  the 
Depot,  which  they  uuw  occupy.  Jn  this  building  they  placed  a 
large  amount  of  machinery  for  the  manufacture  of  Sasli,  Doors  and 
Blinds,  and  also,  an  excellent  I'ianing  machine  and  Surface  machine. 
Their  Engine,  a  beautifid  pie-e  of  uiachinery,  was  built  at  the  P^oun- 
diT  and  macliine  Shoj)  of  d.  P.  Frost  &  Co.,  in  this  city.  They 
now  give  employment  to  about  twenty  hands,  and  turn  out  a  vast 
amount  of  work.  In  addition  to  tlicir  Factory,  they  have  a  build- 
ing near  by  in  which  they  keep  a  very  lari^e  stock  of  Glass  of  all 
sizes  and  every  quality.  In  the  ujiper  story  of  this  building  the 
glazing  and  sash  painting  is  done. 


HISTORY  OF  GALESBURO.  47 

They  also  keep  a  Lumber  Yard,  where  all  kinds  of  luiilding  lum- 
ber can  be  obtained.  This  they  sell  in  a  rough  state  or  plane  and 
manufacture  it  to  order. 

Persons  wishing  to  build  would  do  well  to  visit  this  establish- 
ment before  perfecting  their  arrangements  or  making  their  purchasea 
of  material. 

Factory  corner  of  South  and  Chambers  Streets. 

There  are  many  otlier  manufactuiing  establishments  worthy  of  no- 
tice in  this  connection,  but  we  have  not  the  space  to  devote  to  them. 
There  are  Plow  Manufactories,  Wagon  and  Cariiage  Factories, 
Mills,  &c.  (fee. 


ELECTIONS,  CITY  CHARTER,  &C. 

VOTE  OF  THE   TOWN  IN  THE   rRESIDENTIAI.  ELECTION  OF  1'''50. 

On  the  4tli  of  November,  1856,  the  vote  in  this  Township  stood 

as  follov.-s  : 

Fremont 099 

Buchanan IGO 

Fiemont's  majority 5o9 

William  Kellogg  for  Congress 704 

J.  W.  Davidson^    "  ''        159 

545 

VOTE    FOR    PROHIBITION. 

On  the  1st  Monday  in  June  the  people  of  Illinois  voted  for  and 
against  a  prohibitory  Liquor  Law.  In  this  town  the  majority  in 
favor  of  the  Law  was  404.  There  were  516  votes  cast.  This  was 
the  vote  of  the  Tov»'nship. 

During  the  past  winter  a  City  Charter  for  Galesburg  was  granted 
by  the  Legislature.  In  that  Charter  the  question  of  gi\-  ing  the  Com- 
mon Council  discretionary  power  to  license  the  sale  oi  intoxicating 
drinks  was  submitted  to  the  voters  of  the  city.  On  the  first  Mon- 
day in  April  a  vote  was  taken  and  resulted  as  follows  : 

For  Prohibition 462 

For  Power  to  License 104 

Majority  for  Prohibition 358 

There  were  668  votes  cast,  but  there  were  113  who  did  not  vota 
on  this  question. 


48  HISTORY  OF  GALESBSRO. 

liOARD  OF  TRUSTEES  ELECTED  IX   185G. 

E.  U.  A^lams,  U.  II.  ^VIuUni,^ 

E.  M.Jordan,  L.  C.   Field, 

L.  C.  CoxcEH,  Py-es. 
Geo,  W.  Ford,  Clerk. 

CITY  OFFICERS  ELECTED  OX  THE  FIRST  MOXDAV  IX  APRIL,   1857,   UNDER 
THE   NEW   CHARTER. 

Mayor,  Heniy  11.  Sanderson, 

City  Clerk,  0.  S.  Pitcher, 

Mumhal,  Y.  P.  Bisson, 

Assessor,  David  Sanborn, 

Treasurer,  A.  M.  Phelps. 

S(~eet  Commissioner,  J.  Burliingham, 

J'ulice  Matjislrute,  A.  (J.  Wiley, 

"  "  L.  C  Conger, 

Cily  Justice  of  (he  Peace,  M.  D.  Cook, 

Alderman  \st   Ward,  J.  H.  Sherman, 

"  2)1(1    "  Edwin  Post, 

"  ord     "  James  F.  Dunn, 

4tk      "  J.  W.  Cothren. 

5/A      "  Marcus  Belden, 

"  G(h       "  E.  M.  Jordan. 

BOUNDARY  OF  THE  CITY  AND  THE  WARDS. 

Wo  take  from  the  City  Charter  the  following  sections  which  de- 
fine tlie  boundary  of  the  City  and  the  AVards  : 

Section  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  people  of  the  State  of  Illinois, 
represented  in  General  Assembly,  that  all  the  districts  of 
country  in  the  County  of  Knox  and  State  of  Illinois,  consisting  of 
the  tract.'i  of  land  known  as  the  West  half  of  the  South  West 
quarter  of  Section  one,  the  South  half  of  section  two,  the  South 
half  of  section  <hree,  the  South  East  quarter  and  East  half  of  the 
South  West  quarter  of  section  four,  and  the  East  half  of  the  North 
West  quarter  and  the  lilast  half  of  the  South  West  quarter  of  sec- 
tion nine,  the  East  half  of  section  nine,  sections  ton  and  eleven,  the 
West  half  of  the  North  West  quarter  and  the  West  half  of  the 
South  W^cst  quarter  of  section  twelve,  the  West  half  of  the  North 
West  quarter  and  the  West  half  of  the  South  West  quarter 
of  section  tiiiitecn,  sections  fourteen  and  fifteen,  (he  East 
half  section  sixteen,  the  East  half  of  the  Noi-lh  West  quar- 
ter and   the   East   half   of    the    South   W^est  quarter   of    section 


HISTORY  OP  GALE8BUR0.  49 

sixteen,  the  East  half  of  the  North  West  quarter  of  section 
twenty-one,  the  North  East  quarter  of  section  twenty-one,  the  North 
half  of  section  twenty  two,  the  North  half  of  twenty-three,  and  the 
West  half  of  the  North  West  quarter  of  section  twenty-four  in, 
Township  eleven(ll)  North,  one  (1)  East,  is  hereby  erected  into  a 
city,  by  the  name  of  the  City  of  Galesburg. 

Sec.  3.  The  City  of  Galesburg  shall  be  dividad  irito  six  wards, 
the  boundaries  of  which  shall  be  as  follows  :  The  territory  bounded 
on  the  North  by  the  centerline  of  Main  Street,  on  the  south  by  the 
center  lin(i  of  South  Street,  on  the  east  by  the  center  line  of  Semi- 
nary Street,  on  the  west  by  the  center  line  of  West  Street,  shall  ba 
called  the  J^irst  Ward. 

The  territory  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  center  line  of  North 
Street,  on  the  south  by  the  First  Ward,  on  the  east  by  the  center 
line  of  Seminary  Street,  on  the  west  by  the  center  line  of  West 
Street,  shall  be  called  the  Second  Ward. 

The  territory  bounded  on  the  west  by  the  center  line  of  West 
Street,  and  by  the  same  line  extended  to  the  northern  limits  of  the 
city,  on  the  south  by  the  center  line  of  North  Street  and  the  same 
extended  to  the  eastern  limits  of  the  city,  and  bounc'ed  on  tlie  north 
and  east  by  the  City  limits,  shall  be  called  the  Third  Ward. 

The  territory  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  Third  Ward,  on  the 
west  by  the  center  line  of  Seminary  Street,  and  the  same  being  extend- 
ed to  the  southern  limits  of  the  city,  and  on  the  east  and  south  by 
eth  City  limits,  shall  be  called  the  Fourth  Ward. 

The  territory  bounded  on  the  east  by  the  Fourth  Ward,  on  the 
north  by  the  centerline  of  South  Street,  and  the  same  line  extened- 
ed  to  the  Western  limits  of  the  city,  and  on  the  south  and  West 
by  the  City  limits,  shall  be  called  the  Fifth  Ward. 

The  Territory  bounded  on  the  south  by  the  Fifth  Ward,  on  the  east 
by  the  First,  Second,  and  Third  Wards,  on  the  north  and  west  by 
the  City  limits,  shall  be  called  the  Sixth  Ward. 

The  boundaries  of  the  said  Wards  may  be,  by  the  City  Council, 
changed  from  time  to  time.  The  City  Council  may  create 
additional  Wards  as  occasion  may  require,  and  fix  the  boundaries 
thereof. 

4 


50  HISTOnV    OF    OALESBURG. 

CEMETERIES. 
The  bm-.Yir.g-gTOund  where  rest  the  bodies  of  nearly  all  who  have 
died  in  GalesLurg,  is  three  squares  West  of  the  Public  Square,  and 
fronts  on  the  North  on  Main  Street.  This  Grave-yard  is  now  in  the 
very  heart  of  the  town  ;  and  for  this  reason,  as  Avell  as  because  it 
was  becoming  too  small,  a  piece  of  ground  containing  thirty 
acres,  aljont  three-fourths  of  a  mile  West  of  the  Western 
limits  of  the  city,  has  been  purchased  for  a  New  Cemetery.  It  is 
called  LiNwooD  Cemetery.  It  is  designed  to  improve  and  orna- 
ment this  spot,  and  make  it  a  fitting  and  beautiful  resting  place  for 
the  dead. 


POST    OFFICE. 

The  Post  Office  is   located  on  Broad  Street,  directly  opposite  the 

First  Church.     The  following  named   persons    have  held  the  office 

successively:  N.  H.  Losey;  Sidney  Edgerton  ;  C.E.  Palmer;  W. 

Selden  Gale  ;  David  Sanborn  and  G.  C.  Lanphere.     Mr.  Lanpherh 
is  the  present  incumbent. 


AMITY    COLLEGE    ASSOCIATION. 

The  above  Association  Avas  organized  in  Galesburg  in  1853. 
The  object  of  this  Association  was  to  build  np  an  Institution  of 
Learning  in  the  West,  similar  to  Knox  College,  and  to  draw 
around  it  an  intelligent,  enteiprisiug  and  reformatory  community. 
We  can  not,,  in  the  brief  space  we  have  to  spare,  give  any  thing 
like  a  full  history  of  this  enterprise.  Benjamin  F.  Haskins  was  the 
originator  of  the  idea.  The  first  meeting  of  the  Stockholders  and 
those  friendly  to  the  enterprise  was  held  at  the  house  of  William  J. 
Woods,  who  Avas  then  favorably  impressed  with  the  idea,  and  who 
has  ever  since  been  an  active  member  of  the  Association.  B.  F, 
Haskins,  William  J.  Woods  and  James  McQuinn,  were  appointed 
a  Committee  to  look  up  a  suitable  location.  On  the  12th  of  April 
Mr.  Woods  and  Mr.  Haskins  started  on  their  mission.  They  did 
not  find  a  suitable  location.  In  1855  another  exploring  committee 
was  appointed,  and  they  selected  Page  County,  Iowa,  as  the  seat  of 
the  Institution  the  Association  proposed  to  found.  Lauds  were 
purchased — a  town  was  laid  out  and  called  Amity — the  college  is 
called  Amity  College.  The  enterprise  bids  fair  to  b»  highly  suc- 
cessful, and  the  Great  West  will  be  indebted  to  Galesburg  for  an- 
other amply  endowed  Institution  of  Learning. 


BUSIiSTESS    NOTICES 


C.  S.  GOLTON  Sl  SONS   Dealers  in  Dry  Goods,  GiocericP,  Huid- 
ware,  Queensware,  Glassware,  Iron,  Nails,  &c.,  &c. 

This  firm  consists  of  C  S.  Colton,  John  B.  Colton  and  Francis 
CoLTON.  The  readers  of  this  little  history  have  read  the  name  of 
Chauncey  S.  Coltok  among  those  who  arrived  here  in  18*6.  At 
that  early  day  he  opened  in  the  Colony  Settlement  at  Henderson 
Grove  a  small  stock  of  Goods.  At  that  time  help  was  not  easily 
obtained,  and  Mr.  Coltou's  means  were  limited.  It  was  determined 
to  locate  the  College  at  this  point,  and  early  in  the  Spring  of  1837 
the  work  of  ^building  up  Galesburg  was  commenced.  Leaving  his 
store  in  charge  of  his  family,  Mr.  C.  took  his  axe  and  team  and 
cut  and  hanled  the  timbers  for  his  first  store  building  and  dwelling 
in  Galesburg.  If  we  are  correctly  informed,  he  performed  most  of 
the  labor  in  building  them.  During  that  year,  (1837),  he  removed 
his  goods  and  his  family  from  the  Colony  Settlement  at  Henderson 
Grove  to  Galesburg,  and  commenced  a  business  which  from  that 
day  to  this  he  has  successfully  prosecuted. 

All  old  residents  of  Illinois  must  have  a  vivid  recollection  of  the 
fact  that  the  farmers  of  the  country  were,  as  a  general  thing,  poor 
men.  Nineteen-twentieths  of  them  were  in  debt  for  their  land,  or 
the  money  with  which  it  was  entered.  What  little  means  they  may 
have  brought  with  them  was  necessarily  invested  in  improvements, 
teams,  wagons,  plows,  &c.  It  was  to  this  class  of  men  that  Mr». 
Colton'was  compelled  to  sell  his  merchamiise,  if  he  soM  at  all.  But. 
he  did  not  hesitate  to  sell  to  them.  He  took  in  exchange  for  his 
goods  nearly  every  thing  the  farmers  had  to  sell,  and  notwithstand- 
ing the  inconvenience  and  expense  of  having  to  wagon  goods  and 
produce  a  distance  of  forty-five  or  fifty  miles,  he  managed  to  do  a 
successful  business.  As  his  capital  and  facilities  for  doing  business 
increased,  he  extended  long  credits  to  the  farmers  of  this  vicinity, 
and  not  ."i  few  of  them  owe  their  present  substantial  prosperity  to 
his  timely  assistance.     In    numerous   instances    he  has  c-one  year 

51 


t)2  BUJtlNESS    NOTICKS. 

after  year  without  his  (lues  to  en:ilile  farmers  to  make  payments  on 
their  lands  and  secure  their  farms.  In  this  respect  there  are  few  men 
in  the  West  deserving  of  more  credit  than  Chauncey  S.  Colton. 

When  it  was  a  matter  of  extreme  doubt  whether  we  should  have 
a  Railroad  to  Galesbarg,  he,  in  coirmon  with  other  public  spirited 
citizens,  stepped  promptly  forward,  and  subscribed  a  large  amount 
of  stock  to  the  en>^erpiise.  To  all  worthy  public  enterprises  he  sub- 
scribes with  a  liberal  hand. 

On  the  site  where  he  built  his  first  store,  cor.  of  Main  Street  and 
Public  square,  now  stands  a  block  of  five  large  brick  stores,  two 
of  them  three  stories  high,  and  three  of  them  two.  The  two  next 
to  Main  Street  are  occupied  by  himself  and  sons.  They  are  now 
doing  a  heavier  business  than  ever  heretofore,  and  we  commend 
them  to  the  Public  as  men  every  way  worthy  of  patronage. 

WM.  A,  WOOD  Wholesale  and  Retail  Dealer  in  Dry  Goods,  Silks 
and  Fancy  Goods,  Hats,  Caps,  Bonnets,  Boots  and  Shoes,  «fec.  &c^ 
corner  of  cherry  and  Main  Streets,  (Brown  &  Whiting's  old  stand), 
Galesburg,  Illinois. 

Mr.  Vv  ooD  is  among  the  oldest  Merchants  in  the  place,  having 
commenced  business  in  1845  with  L.  Sanderson,  in  the  store  now 
occupied  by  Sandeksox  is  Son.  His  business,  at  that  time,  was 
that  of  exchanging  Cloths  for  Wool.  In  1852  the  partnership  be- 
tween Sanderson  and  Wood  was  dissolved,  and  Mr.  W.  went  into 
business  in  the  house  now  occupied  by  Mr.  Grose  as  a  Shoe  Store. 
In  1853  he  built  the  store  generally  and  well  known  as  Buown  & 
Whiting's  stand.  Here  he  continued  in  business  until  1855,  when 
he  sold  out  to  Brown  &  Whiting.  During  the  same  year  he  open- 
ed a  store  in  the  building  on  the  corner  of  Cherry  and  Main  Streets, 
directly  opposite  the  Haskell  House.  While  here  he  had  several 
partners  in  business.  In  1857  he  bought  the  stock  of  Brown  & 
Whiting  and  also  the  building,  where  he  is  now  engaged  in  a  heayy 
and  prosperous  business.  It  is  an  old  saying  that  "  a  rolling  stone 
gathers  no  moss,"  but  it  does  not  hold  true  in  Mr.  Wood's  case, 
for  all  his  changes  have  been  profitable.  To  say  a  word  in  his  favor 
to  the  old  citizen  is  superfluous — they  all  know  him  to  be  an  honor- 
We,  upright,  conscientious  dealer,  and  a  pleasant  man  to  trade  with. 
To  the  gtranger  who  has  just  arrived,  and  has  not  yet  selected  his 


BOSISE38    NOTICES. 


55 


permanent  places  of  trade,  we  wonld  suggest  that  a  visit  to 
this  establishment  may  inure  to  his  profit  and  result  in  long-con- 
tin  :ed  patronage,  and  mutual  benefits  to  himself  and  Mr.  W.  His 
Stock  is  among  the  largest  in  the  city — carefully  selected  and  sold 
at  the  lowest  living  rates. 

REED'S  BANK.— This  Institution  was  chartered  at  the  last  Session 
of  the  Legislature.  Its  officers  are  A.  D.  Keep,  President,  E.  L. 
Chapman,  Cashier. 

The  following  statement  was  published  on  the 9th  of  April.  1857: 

Capital  Stock  paid  in  and  invested  according  to  law,.  .^52,9?)5.85 
Notes  in  circulation, -47,300.00 

$100,235.85 

RESOURCES ; 

Stock  deposited  as  security  for  circulation, $52,935.o5 

Notes  of  other  banks  on  hand, 12,427.00 

Specie  on   hand 0,761.00 

Deposited  with  other  Banks  and  Bankers, 28,112  00 

SI  00,235.85 

THE  GALESB'uRa  HOUSE,  Main  Street,  Galcsburg,  Wm.  Ander- 
son, Landlord  ;  John  V.  Heermance,  Clerk. 

This  popular  tavern  was  built  by  President  Kellogg,  of  Knox 
College,  about  15  years  ago;  and  after  passing  through  several 
hands,  and  having  been  repeatedly  enlarged,  was  purchased  l>y  Mr. 
Wm.  Anderson,  the  present  proprietor,  in  1854.  Under  the  dilfer- 
ent  landlords  it  has  always  enjoyed  a  liberal  patronage  fiom  the 
public  ;  and  from  having  at  first  but  ten  sleeping  rooms  has  now 
increased  to  over  fifty.  Mr.  Anderson,  the  excellent  landlord,  de- 
Totes  his  whole  attention  to  promoting  the  comfort  and  convenience 
of  his  guests  ;  keeps  an  excellent  Table  cV IRte ;  gives  special  atten- 
tion the  arrival  and  departure  of  trains,  and  carries  his  guests  free 
of  charge  to  and  from  the  Depot  in  a  well  appointed  omnibus,  got 
up  in  the  best  city  style. 

The  stages  for  Muscatine  and  Rock  Island  leave  the  Cilesburg 
House — for  Muscatine  on  Thursdays,  and  for  Rock  Island  on  Mon- 
days and  Thurdays. 

Good  Stabling  is  connected  with  the  Hotel  to  meet  the  wants  of 
the  traveling  community. 


54  lU'SIXESS    KOTICKS. 

BOiSHELj  KUHN  &  COLVILLE,  Bookbiuders,  Booksellers,  Station- 
ers and  Blank  Book  Manufacturers,  Southu'«*it  Corner  of  the 
Public  Square. 

The  partners  of  this  firm  are  J.  W.  Boishel,  J.  S.  Kchn,  and  R. 
CoLviLLE.  The  Bookselling  department  of  the  business  was  estab- 
lished several  years  ago  bj  the  senior  partner,  Mr.  Boi^ihel.  In 
Sept.,  1855,  jIj-.  Jvuhu  joined  him  in  partnership,  at  which  time 
the  stock  was  cousiderablj  a-iigmented,  and  has  since  been  gradually 
increased,  till  it  now  comprises  quite  an  extensive  assortment  o"^ 
works  in  miscellaneous  liteiature  ;  all  the  books  in  use  in  both  the 
Colleges,  au'l  tlio  other  schools ;  the  different  publications  of  the 
Bible  Society,  the  Tract  Society,  and  the  Sabbath  School  Union  ; 
besides  a  large  and  well  asssorted  stock  of  miscellaneous  stationery 
of  all  kinils.  Mr.  B.  has  for  several  years  traveled  regidarly  over 
.some  of  the  adjoining  counties,  having  a  team  and  wagon  adapted 
for  that  purpose. 

Jiessrs.  ]j.  &  K.  having  often  felt  the  want  of  a  well  applianced 
Bookbindery  in  Galesburg,  resolved  to  establish  one  in  connection 
with  their  Bookselling  business  ;  and  being  desirous  of  seeming  the 
services  of  a  person  of  experience,  and  fully  competent  to  undertake 
its  management  in  all  the  different  branches,  they  were  recommended, 
at  the  end  of  1855,  to  correspond  with  Mr.  Colville — then  in  busi- 
ness in  Chicago — the  result  of  which  was.  that  on  the  first  of  May, 
1850,  ilr.  C.  arrived  in  Galesburg  vvith  all  the  raachinei-y  requisite 
for  establishing  the  Bookbinding,  which  was  immediately  com- 
menced in  the  building  adjoining  their  bookstore.  That  success 
wonld  soon  attend  the  arrangement  gone  into,  was  soon  apparent, 
the  ])remises  being  shortly  found  too  limited  for  the  manufacture  of 
Blank  Books  and  the  usual  class  of  miscellaneous  Bookbinding. 
In  consequence  of  this,  early  in  February  of  the  present  year,  the 
himfery  was  moved  to  the  biick  building  known  as  Colton's  Block 
— on  the  same  floor  as  the  Free  Democrat  oflfice — where  it  is  now 
locateil.  Since  'he  business  was  first  started  several  specimens  of 
clygant  Bookbinding  have  l)e<'n  tuined  out,  proving  that  the  aitisan 
understands  his  business,  and  convincing  the  citizens  of  Galesburg, 
that  they  have  no  need  to  go  from  home  for  any  thing  whatever, 
reipiired,  in  that  line.  In  lilank  Rooks  also,  from  the  smallest  to 
those  of  the  largest  class,   evidence   has    been    satisfactorily  given. 


BUSINESS    NOTICES.  55 

tliat  they  can  be  manufactured  quite  as  well  at  home  as  abroad,  thus 
saving  the  party  requiring  the  article  a  deal  of  trouble,  and  the 
advantage  of  having  it  done  under  his  own  supervision, 
besides  the  self-gratification  of  assisting  in  some  degree,  the  devel- 
opment of  our  home  manufactures.  A  short  time  since,  a  Paging 
Machine  of  the  newest  and  most  approved  construction  was  added 
to  the  Bindery,  so  that  it  may  now  be  said  to  be  one  of  the  most 
comjilcte  in  any  city  of  equal  size  in  the  West,  there  being  in  fact 
no  establishment  of  a  similar  nature,  where  an  equal  amount  of 
capital  is  embarked,  or  experience  in  the  business  brought  to  bear 
upon  it,  within  a  radius  of  many  miles. 

This  firm  have  now  two  wagons  on  the  road,  and  are  M'holesale 
agents  for  several  articles, — Sheet  and  Roller  Maps,  Prints,  etc.  etc., 
which,  as  well  as  Blank  Books,  can  be  supplied  on  as  good  terms  as 
at  New  York,  or  other  eastern  cities.  It  was  hoped  that  a  brick 
building  would  ere  this  have  superceded  the  wooden  one,  in  which 
the  bookselling  is  yet  carried  on  :  whether  this  may  be  put  up 
during  the  present  season,  remains  to  be  seen — we  sincerely  hope  so; 
a  few  such  being  much  wanted  in  this  locality,  to  preserve  what 
may  be  termed  the  equilibrium  of  the  city, 

J.  R.  GORDON  Wholesale  and  Retail  Dealer  in  Beady-Made  Cloth- 
ing, Hals  and  Caps,  Gentlemen's  Furnishing'.Goods  &c.  &c.,  Main 
Street,  opposite  the  Haskell  House,  Galesburg,  Illinois. 

Mr.  Gordon  commenced  business  in  Galesburg  in  1854.  He 
established  the  first  regular  Clothing  Store  ever  opened  in  this 
city.  He  first  opened  in  a  small  wooden  building  erected  by  W. 
J.  Woods,  on  the  South  side  of  the  Public  Square,  where,  by  close 
attention  to  business — a  stock  carefully  selected  and  constantly  full 
— low  prices  and  fair  dealing,  he  gained  a  good  business  reputation 
and  secured  an  excellent  run  of  custom.  In  1856  he  built  the 
store  he  now  occupies.  Here  bis  customers  and  his  success  follow- 
ed him,  and  here  he  is  now  doing  a  heavier  business  than  ever  here- 
tofore. Mr.  Gordon  is  an  American,  and,  though  he  sells  goods  as 
cheap  as  the  cheapest,  he  does  not  do  business  upon  the  Jew  princi- 
ple. He  treats  all  alike  and  all  fairly.  We  bespeak  for  him  that 
liberal  patronage  to  which  his  long  residence  among  us,  excellent 
Goods  and  low  prices  so  justly  entitle  him. 


56  BUSINESS    NOTICES. 

WILLIAM  H.  BABCOCK  &  CO,  Dealers  in  Stoves.  Tin,  Copper 
and  Sheet  Iron  Ware,  and  all  kinds  of  Farming  Implements,  North 
side  of  the  Public  Square,  Galesburg,  Illinois. 

Mr.  Babcock  came  here  in  June,  1853,  and  went  into  the  Stove 
and  Tin-Smithing  business  with  his  father.  Their  shop  was  in  the 
brick  building  adjoining  the  store  now  occupied  by  Willard,  Bab- 
cock &  Co.  After  the  death  of  his  father  he  built  the  store  now 
occupied  by  him  onthe  North  side  of  the  Square.  The  store  was  built 
in  1855.  In  December,  1856,  he  associated  with  him  in  business, 
Mr.  J.  F.  Stilson,  and  the  name  and  style  of  the  [firm  became 
William  IT.  Babcock  &  Co. 

In  addition  to  the  Stove,  Tin,  Copper  and  Sheet  Iron  ware  busi- 
ness, which  they  carry  on  extensively,  they  keep  what  may  properly 
be  termed  an  "  Agricultural  Warehouse,"  where  every  kind  of 
implement  used  in  Western  Farming  may  be  found.  The  advan- 
tages of  such  an  establishment  to  the  farming  community  can 
hardly  be  properly  appreciated,  save  by  those  farmers  who  toiled 
for  years  in  this  part  of  the  West  without  being  able  to  procure 
any  thing  better  than  a  wooden  mould-board  plow,  and  an  old-fash- 
ioned harvesting  cradle,  and  hand  rake.  Now  the  farmers  of  Knox 
and  the  surrounding  Counties  can  come  to  Galesburg  with  the  full 
assurance  of  finding  at  the  above  named  establishment  every  thing" 
used  by  them  from  a  pitch  fork  to  a  threshing  machine.  Here  may 
be  found  Deere's  celebrated  Plows,  in  praise  of  which  too  much 
can  not  be  said.  Harvesting  and  Mowing  machines,  of  the  most 
approved  patterns,  can  always  be  found,  and  on  manufacurers  terms. 
Corn  and  Cob  Mills,  Corn  Planters,  Corn  Shellers  and  Corn  Knives 
can  also  be  had  here.  Machines  for  hulling  and  cleaning  clover 
seed — large  iron  kettles  for  boiling  corn,  potatoes,  &c.,  for  Stock, 
and,  in  short,  every  thing  in  the  Stove,  Tin,  Copper,  Sheet  Iron, 
and  Farming  Implement  line  used  by  farmers  or  housekeepers,  can 
be  found  here  at  reasonable  prices.  Messrs.  B.  &  Co.,  are  fair 
anc  honorable  dealers,  enterprising  men,  and  ever  on  the  alert  to 
secure  for  their  customers  all  that  is  new  and  valuable  in  their  line. 
They  are  building  up  a^ very  extensive  and  valuable  business,  and  we 
commend  them  to  the  public  as  young  men  every  way  worthy  of 
liberal  paitronage. 


BUSINESS    NOTICES.  57 

SAGE  k  REED,  Wholesale  and  Retail  Dealers  in  Dry  Goods, 
Silks  and  Fancy  Goods,  Clothes,  Cassimeies,  shawls,  Ilats,  Caps, 
Bonnetc,  Straw  Goods,  Carpets,  Wall  Paper,  &c.  &c.,  one  door 
West  of  the  Haskell  House,  Main  Street,  Galesburg,  Illinois. 

Messrs.  Sage  «k  Reed  formerly  transacted  business  in  Farming- 
ton,  Illinois.  In  the  Spring  of  1856  they  came  to  this  city  and 
erected  the  large  and  beautiful  store  now  occupied  by  them. 

They  filled  the  establishment  with  the  largest  and  richest  assort- 
ment of  Goods  ever  brought  to  this  city  ;  and,  by  means  of  ex- 
tensive and  systematic  advertising,  they  soon  built  up  a  tremendous 
business.  They  hoisted  the  sign  of  the  "Regulator,"  and  by  that 
Bame  their  establishment  is  known  for  a  hundred  miles  around. 
They  sell  their  goods  at  extremely  low  prices — deal  justly  and 
fairly  with  all — and  extend  to  their  customers  such  acoraniodations 
as  those  in  large  and  successful  business  alone  can  afford  to. 
Strangers  in  the  city  should  pay  this  store  a  visit,  and  learn  from 
its  packed  shelves  and  crowded  rooms  what  a  large  amount  of  busi- 
ness is  transacted  here.  Country  dealers  will  find  it  to  their  advan- 
tage to  call  on  them.  Residents  need  not  be  told  that  it  is  a  cheap 
store — t/u'f/  know  that  already. 

REED  &  ABBOTT  Wholesale  and  Retail  Dealers  in  Hardware  ; 
Stoves  ;  Tin,  Copper  and  Sheet  Iron  Ware  ;  Iron,  Nails,  &,c.  &,c. 
Colton's  Block  West  side  Public  Square. 

This  firm  formerly  transacted  business  in  Farmington,  Fulton 
County,  Ills.,  fi'om  whenee  they  removed  to  this  city  in  the  Spring 
of  1856.  This  is  by  far  the  largest  establishment  of  this  kind  in 
this  pait  of  the  West.  They  have  two  large  rooms  in  Colton's 
Block,  the  store  formerly  occupied  by  Barry  &  Field,  the  cellar 
under  Reed's  Bank,  and  several  other  rooms  literally  jammed 
with  Hardware,  Stoves,  Iron,  Tinware,  <kc.  &c.  A  person 
naturally  wonders,  at  first,  where  it  all  goes  to ;  but  after  re- 
maining about  the  premises  an  hour  or  so,  he  soon  discovers  that 
the  wants  of  the  wide  extent  of  country  with  which  they  deal  de- 
mand it  all.  They  ship  goods  to  all  the  towns  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  Galesburg,  and  also  to  points  in  Iowa.  They  have  been 
here  but   a   short  time,  and  yet  by    placing  their   Goods    at  low 


58 


BUSINESS    NOTICES. 


figures,  aad  honorable  dealing,  they  have  built  up  an  immense  busi- 
ness, and  made  themselves  favorably  and  widely  known. 

Ic  is  to  such  men  that  our  city  owes  much  for  its  reputation 
abroad  as  an  extensive  and  cheap  market.  To  all  who  deal  in  or 
use  articles  in  their  line  we  commend  them  as  every  way  worthy  of 
liberal  patronage.  Builders,  Blacksmiths,  country  dealers,  and 
housekeepers  will  do  well  to  call  on  them  before  making  their 
purchases  elsewhere. 

0.  B,  MATTESON,  Greneral  Dealer  in  Drugs,  Medicines  ;  Paints 
and  Dye-Stuffs  ;  Surgical  Instruments  ;  Tobacco  and  Cigars  ;  Fancy 
Articles  ;  Plain  and  Fancy  Stationery  ;  Perfumery,   &c.  &c. 

Culton's  Block,  West  Side  Public  Square,  Galesburg,  111. 

O.  B.  is  one  of  our  most  enterprising  merchants,  and  as  the  result 
of  a  prudent  use  of  his  opportunities  is  steadily  advancing  as  one 
of  our  most  extensive  Dealers.  In  1852  Mr.  M.  commenced 
business  with  Judge  Lanphere,  and  contintied  the  partnership 
for  a  year  on  Dr.  White's  corner.  South  side  of  the  Square.  At 
that  time  the  yearly  amount  of  business  was  $4,000,  while  now  it 
has  increased  to  $15,000.  In  the  Spring  of  1854  Mr.  Matteson 
built  the  gravel  store  West  side  of  the  Square,  which  one  year  there- 
after he  sold  to  A.  D.  Reed,  Escp,  and  removed  to  his  present  very 
commodious  and  tastefully  fitted  up  Store  in  Colton's  Block.  0. 
B.  is  somewhat  of  an  innovator  too,  for  he  was  the  first  to  introduce 
to  the  thirsty  and  parched  up  lieges  a  Soda  Fountain  in  the  summer 
of  1853.  The  Vicar  of  Wakefield's  wife  was  noted  for  the  excel- 
lence of  her  gooseberry  wine,  and  0.  B.  is  equally  noted  for  the  supe- 
riority of  his  Soda  Water.  He  also  introduced  after  a  hard  fought 
battle  with  prejudice  the  now  popular  burning  fluid  or  spirit  gas, 
which  is  used  by  almost  every  family  in  town.  He  makes  the  fluid 
himself,  and  supplies  lamps  of  every  style.  Thirdly,  he  introduced 
the  S3'steui  of  compounding  physicians'  prescriptions,  for  which 
purpose  his  brother  Asa  has  been  qualifying  himself  by  an  attend- 
ance at  the  College  of  Pharmacy  of  Philadelphia.  0.  B.  may  there- 
fore be  set  down  as  a  young  man  of  spirit  and  enterprise,  who  has 
made  his  mark  among  us.  His  Stock  of  goods  is  large  and  varied, and 
the  man  himself  is  just  such  a  one  as  we  wouhl  like  to  deal  with  on 
all  occasions,  for  his  good  nature  ami  cheerfulness  never  forsake 
him. 


BU8I^"K8S    NOTICES.  59 

STEWART,  MQliR[R  &  CO..  Insurance  Agents  and  Dealers  in 
Eeal  Estate. 

This  firm,  under  the  name  and  style  of  Stewart  &  Mourer,  com- 
menced business  in  the  early  part  of  1856.  Subsequently  Dr.  H.  S. 
HuRD  entered  the  firm  and  the  above  name  and  style  was  adopted. 
The  firm  now  consists  of  J.  C.  Stewart,  D.  J.  Mourer  and  J.  0. 
ScROGGS.  Their  office  is  over  Eeed's  Bank,  corner  of  Main  Street 
and  the  Public  Square. 

The  numerous  and  shameful  frauds  too  often  practiced  upon  the 
unsuspecting  by  Land  Companies  have  had  the  effect  to  make  land 
buyers  very  cautious  in  their  transactions  with  Land  Agents  and 
dealers ;  and  they  need  strong  assurances  tliat  the  money  they  de- 
posit for  purchases  will  be  honestly  accounted  for,  and  that  the  titles 
they  receive  shall  be  valid.  We  are  glad  that  this  is  so,  and  rejoice 
that  the  "confidence"  system  of  transacting  business  has  exploded. 

To  the  thousands  of  residents  of  other  States  to  whom  this  pam- 
phlet will  be  sent,  we  commend  the  above  firm  as  a  fair-dealing  and 
responsible  one.  Persons  wishing  to  intrust  them  with  business,  or 
to  make  purchases  of  them,  may  institute  inquiries  respecting  their 
integrity  and  responsibility  with  the  full  assurance  of  satisfactory  re- 
plies. Although  they  make  entries  of  land,  and  purchases,  and 
locate  Warrants  when  desired,  yet  the  lands  they  offer  for  sale  are 
generally  their  own,  and  those  who  purchase  of  them  save  the  fees 
and  commissions  usually  exacted  by  those  who  sell  the  lands  of 
others.  They  have  fcr  sale,  at  all  times,  improved  lands,  town 
lots,  &c.  &c. 

They  arc  also  Agents  for  some  of  the  most  reliable  Insurance 
Companies  in  the  country,  and  take  risks  at  the  Companies'  rates. 

JOSIAH  TILDEM  Dealer  in  Dry  Goods,  Silks  and  Fancy  Goods, 
Boots  and  shoes,  Hats,  Caps,  Bonnets,  Groceries,  &c.  &c..  Main 
Street,  Galesburg,  Illinois. 

'My.  Tilden  first  commenced  business  in  Galesburg  as  early  as 
1852,  in  company  with  David  Sanborn.  The  name  and  style  of 
the  firm  was  Sanborn  <k  Tilden.  This  firm  did  a  successful  busi- 
ness, and  the  copartnership  continued  until  1856.  In  that  year 
(1856)  Mr.  Tildon  liuilt  the  Store  he  now  occupies.  It  was  said 
by  an  observant  writer,  Theodore  Parker,  we  think,  that  ninety- 
five  per  cent,  of  all  who  had  ever  engaged  in  the  mercantile  busi. 


60  BUSINESS    NOTICES. 

ness  in  the  city  of  Boston,  had  failed.     He  thought  the  per  centage 

of  failures  in  the  coiadry  equaled  this.  To  succeed  in  this  business, 
then — to  pursue  it  without  failure  or  su^ pension  for  a  number  of 
years,  as  Mr.  Tilden  has  done,  argues  dose  attention  to,  and  thor- 
ough knowledge  cf  the  business.  By  cai-o,  prudence  and  close  at- 
tention to  his  business  he  has  avoided  (he  rock  on  which  so  many 
have  split,  and  has  won  to  his  suppoit  and  holds  a  large  number  of 
excellent  customers.  lie  keeps  his  store  well  supplied  with  all  arti- 
cles in  which  he  deals,  and  those  who  visit  him  may  be  sure  of 
good  bargains  and  polite  attention. 

DUNN,  CHEESEERO  k  CO.,  Wholesale  and  Retail  dealers  in 
Groceries,  Provisions,  Nails,   ice.  <fec.,  Main  Street,  Galesburg,  111. 

This  firm  came  from  Farmingtou  to  this  city  in  1855,  and  com- 
menced business  in  the  house  now  occupied  by  C.  C.  Bottsford  as  a 
Furniture  Store.  They  remained  in  that  house  until  Hammond  and 
Smith  <&  Field's  brick  block  was  completed,  which  was,  we  think, 
in  the  Fall  of  1855.  They  then  moved  into  that,  and  have  remained 
there  ever  since. 

The  citizen  of  Galesburg,  when  speaking  of  the  heavy 
business  transacted  in  the  city,  rarely  closes  an  account  of  it 
without  referring  to  this  establishment.  The  amount  of  business 
tiansacted  by  this  firm  is  enormous,  and  Avould  compare  favorably 
with  many  houses  claiming  to  be  first  class  in  St.  Louis  or  Chicago. 
Wc  think  wc  speak  within  bounds  when  we  say  that  the  amount  of 
their  sales  for  the  year  will  not  fall  much  short  ofS200,000.  Tlieir 
business,  heavy  as  it  now  is,  is  steadily  increasing.  It  is  the  com- 
mon remark  among  small  dealers  in  the  city, and  country  merchants: 
"I  can  buy  Groceries  of  Dunk,  Cheesebho  &  Co.,  cheaper  than 
I  can  get  them  in  St.  Louis  or  Chicago."  This  is  a  fact  which  the 
country  dealers  fjr  a  great  distance  around  us  are  fast  becoming- 
acquainted  with,  and  they  are  not  slow  to  profit  by  it. 

With  such  firms  as  this  in  our  city  there  is  but  little  danger  that 
the  trade  of  this  section  of  country  will  be  drawn  off  to  other 
points.  The  men  wdio  compose  this  firm  aie  so  well,  so  widely 
known,  that  not  a  work  of  commendation  from  us  is  necessary. 
Fair  and  honorable  in  their  dealings,  pleasant  and  accommodating 
to  their  customers,  and  untiring  and  successful  in   their  efforts   to 


BUSINESS    NOTICES.  61 

keep  pace  with  the  demands  of  the  country  in  the  quantity  and 
quality  of  their  Goods,  they  have  succeeded  in  the  short  space  of 
two  years  in  building  up  a  business  never  before  equaled  in  this 
part  of  the  West. 

HASKELL  HOUSE.— Haskell  &  Bonnev,  Proprietors,  Maiu 
Street,  Galesburg,  Illinois. 

This  House,  under  the  management  of  its  present  proprietors, 
has  gained  an  excellent  reputation  among  travelers,  and  bids  fair  to 
do  much  toward  silencing  the  long  and  loud  complaints  against  the 
hotels  of  our  city.  The  house  has  been  newly  furnished  and  reno- 
vated throughout,  and  the  traveler  will  find  it  a  pleasant  place  to 
stop  when  business  or  pleasure  calls  him  this  way. 

SIDNEY  MYERS,  Attorney  at  Law,  and  Dealer  in  Real  Estate. 
Office  over  Re^-id's  Bank,  Galesburg,  Illinois. 

Mr.  MyERs  is  a  young  man  of  fine  abilities,  and  is  rapidly  rising 
in  his  profession.  lie  is  a  dealer  in  real  estate.  Residents  and 
strangers  will  find  him  a  safe  and  reliable  person  with  whom  to  in- 
trust their  business. 

BR9WN  &,  MORSE,  Dealers  in  Real  Estate.  Office  over  Wood's 
store,  corner  of  Cherry  and  Main  Streets,  Galesburg,  Illinois. 

The  firm  consists  of  Samuel  W.  Brown  and  John  M.  Morse. 
Mr.  Brown  is  an  old  resident  of  this  city  and  county,  and  a  word 
in  assurance  of  his  integrity  is  unneeded  in  this  community.  All 
know  him,  and  respect  him,  and  all  would  be  willing  to  intrust 
business  to  any  amount  in  his  hands.  Mr.  Morse  is  a  Physician, 
in  high  standing  here,  and  like  his  associate,  is  universally  respected 
for  his  integrity. 

Persons  wishing  to  buy  land  or  to  invest  their  money  in  city 
property,  may  approach  this  firm  in  the  full  assurance  that  they 
will  be  fairly  and  honorably  dealt  with.  Individuals  living  abroad 
may  confidently  rely  upon  the  truthfulness  of  any  statement  they 
receive  from  them.  Those  to  whom  this  pamphlet  may  be  sent, 
living  abroad,  and  who  may  wish  to  gain  reliable  information  re- 
garding lands  or  city  property  can  not  do  better  than  to  address 
Messrs.  Brown  &  Morse.  They  own  nearly  or  quite  all  the  prop- 
erty they  offer  for  sale,  and  by  purchasing  of  them  the  buyer  saves 
commissions,  &c. 


62 


BUSINESS    KOTICES. 


Vi/ILLARO,  BABCOCK  &  CO.,  Dealers  iu  Dry  Goods,  Silks  and 
Fancy  Goods,  Carpets,  Yankee  Notions,  Groceries,  &c.,  corner 
Main  Street  and  Public  Square,  GalesLurg,  Illinois. 

This  firm  consists  of  Warren  C.  Willard,  Josiah  Babc»ck 
and  George  Wood.  Mr.  Willard  commenced  business  in  Gales- 
burg  in  1847  in  the  old  building  used  by  Sanborn  for  the  Post 
Office.  In  1848  ho  built  the  house  now  occupied  by  the  firm.  In 
1850  he  entered  into  partnership  with  Silas  Willard.  In  Jan., 
1853,  Mr.  Babcock  and  W.  C.  Willard  bought  the  interest  of  Silas 
Willard.     In  1855  Mr.  Wood  entered  the  firm. 

This  is  among  the  oldest  establishments  in  this  city,  and  one  of 
the  most  successful.  They  are  now  doing  a  heavy  business,  and 
the  popularity  of  the  establishment  is  every  day  increasing.  All 
who  want  excellent  goods,  at  fair  prices  and  on  reasonable  terms, 
will  do  well  to  give  tliem  a  call. 

J.  H.  &  A.  KNAPP,  Wholesale  and  Pvetail  Dealers  in  Books,  Sta- 
tionery, Sheet  Music,  Musical  Instruments,  Mathematical  Instru- 
ments, (fee.  &c. 

We  regret  that  our  limited  space  forbids  us  to  give  to  this  ex- 
tensive^ establishment  the  extended  and  favorable  notice  it  so  richly 
merits.  This  is  the  only  establishment  in  this  or  adjoining  Counties, 
(except  Peoria)  where  Pianos,  'Melodeons,  &c.  can  be  obtained. 
They  have  a  very  large  stock  of  all~articles  in  their  line.  For  fur- 
ther particulai'8,  see  advertisement  on   the  cover  of  this  work. 

JAMES  GREGORY,  House  and  Sign  Painter,  Paper  Hanger,  &c., 
Galesburg,  Illinois. 

Mr.  Gregory  is  an  excellent  woikman,  and  those  in  want  of 
Painting  would  do  well  to  give  him  a  call. 

PITCH  ER  8l  mason  Attorneys  and  Counselors  at  Law,  Gales- 
burg, Illinois.     Office  with  A.  C.  Wiley,  over  Mathews'  Store. 


BUSINESS    DIRECTORY, 


The  first  Business  Directory  ever  printed  for  Galesburg  v.-as  pre- 
pared and   issued  by  H.  McEvoY,  of  Chicago. 


CONCLUDING    UEMARKS.  63 

CONCLUDING    R  E  :M  A  R  K  S  . 

The  emigrant  Avho  leaves  a  comfortable  home  iu  New  England, 
or  any  of  the  older  States,  to  settle  in  the  West,  is  generally  influ- 
enced by  a  desire  to  better  his  worldly  condition.  He  has  heard  of 
the  Great  West — its  rich  prairies,  its  flowing  streams,  its  valuable 
coal  and  woodlands — its  railroads  and  flourishing  towns  and  cities, 
and  he  is  seized  with  an  incontrollable  desire  to  see  it.  lie  has  heard 
that  men  grow  rich  there  on  the  labor  and  capital  necessary  to  gain 
a  bare  subsistence  in  the  older  States,  and  he  wishes  to  try  his  luck. 
Having  made  up  his  mind  to  come  to  the  West,  his  first  care  is  to 
find  a  location  combining  the  most  advantages.  First,  he  wishes  to 
know  where  labor  and  capital  may  be  best  employed.  Second, 
where  he  can  educate  his  children  to  the  best  advantage.  Third, 
where  lie  can  enjoy  good  society,  church  privileges,  &c.  There  are 
few  places  in  the  wide-spread  West  combining  these  advantages  in 
greater  degree  than  Galesburg.  There  is  a  demand  for  all  kinds  of 
LABOR,  and  high  prices  are  paid.  The  city  and  the  country  are  im- 
proving with  wonderful  rapidity,  and  capital  invested  in  lots  and 
houses  or  in  almost  any  branch  of  business  will  pay  a  handsome  per 
centage.  Here,  too,  the  facilities  for  the  education  of  children  and 
youth  are  greater  than  in  any  other  town  or  city  in  the  West,  as  our 
three  Colleges,  ®ur  Academy  and  our  numerous  District  and  private 
Schools  attest.  The  Church  privileges  here  enjoyed  are  great,  and 
the  Society  is  no  where  surpassed.  Although  we  have  many  wealthy 
residents  we  have  no  aristocrats. 

There  will  be  many  copies  of  this  little  book  sent  to  persons  in 
other  States  and  in  other  parts  of  this,  and  we  assure  them  that  they 
may  rely  upon  the  strict  truth  of  all  that  it  contains.  In  these  few 
pages  we  have  been  unable  to  give  a  complete  history  of  the  city 
or  its  business,  or  to  enlarge  upon  its  prospect,  but  have  been  com- 
pelled to  restrict  ourself  to  a  general  outline.  We  think  we  have 
written  enough,  however,  to  give  the  reader  a  pretty  fair  idea  of  our 
city  as  it  has  been  and  as  it  is  ;  and  if  our  effort  shall  result  in  di- 
recting hitherward  a  good  class  of  emigrants,  and  in  benefitting 
them  and  building  up  our  city,  we  shall  feel  well  satisfied. 

Errata. — In  the  Classification  of  Business,  under  the  liead  of  Physicians  Dr.  S.  B  . 
Chapman  should  be  classed  a.s  Botanic  instead  of  Eclectic.  Dr.  J.  C.  Rutherford 
Ekctticlan  instead  of  blank.  Page  27th,  14  lines  from  top,  for  "  West"  side  of  the 
Square,  read  "South." 


INDEX    TO    CONTENTS 


Preface r age  B 

Earl}-  History  of  the  Town,  b}'  Prof.  G.  W.  Gale, 5 

Churches,  20 

Colleges  and   Schools, 21 

Newspapers  and  Magazines, 26 

Societio- 28 

Union  Graded  Schools, 3  8 

Lectures, 33 

Population, 34 

Buildings, 34 

i'ublic   Halls, 35 

llailroads, 35 

Classification  of  Business, 39 

Manufactories, 42 

Elections,  Cit}'  Charter,  &q., 47 

City  Officers, 48 

Uoundar}-  of  City  and  Wards, 48 

Cemeteries 50 

Post  Office, 50 

Amity  College  Association, 50 

BUSINKSS  NOTICES. 

C    S.  Colt,>n  A   Sons 51 

W.   .\.  AVood, 52 

Reed's  Bank 53 

Calesburg  House, 53 

Boishel,  Kuhn  .t  Colville, 54 

J.  K.  Gordon, 55 

Widiam  H.  Babcock  &  Co., 56 

Sage  &  Kecd— Heed  &    Abbott, 57 

0.  B.  Matteson, 58 

Stewart,  Mourer  &   Co. — Josiah   Tilden, 5t) 

Dunn,  Chccscbro  &  Co., 60 

Llaskell  House — Sidney  Mjers — Brown  &.   Morse, 61 

Willard,  Babcock  Sc  Co.— J.   H.  &  A.  Knapp, 62 

James  Gregory — Pitcher  &.  Mason, 62 

Business  Directory, 62 

Concluding  Remarks, 63 


LIBRARY  OF  CONGRESS 


0  016  097  872  7