The reverence paid to men by their associates is not based upon any detailed biographical sketch of their life, and no eulogy, however well written, will keep alive the memory of any man in the hearts of his fellow citizens, but it is the memory of that man's activities, his devotions and his efforts toward the common good, that enshrine him in the history of his community, and in the hearts of his friends.
In writing the history of Cal M. Feezer it is not the aim of his friends to devote a great deal of time or space to the recording of historical data and dates, things which are fleeting in the minds of men, but to attempt to dwell, in their meager way, upon his life-long record of willing service, his unselfish application to the trials and tribulations of his friends, and his noble forgetfulness of individual profit and gain that his community and its inhabitants might grow and prosper.
Cal M. Feezer was born in Mt. Carroll, Illinois, on the twentythird day of July A. D. 1856, on the location now covered by the Conrad Hartman Automobile Salesroom. At the age of twenty, he started operating in his present profession - that of journalism - and from that date to this he has engaged in that same profession with credit to himself and with honor to his native city.
On the twentieth day of September, A. D. 1883, he was united in marriage to Ella Burwell Cooley, a resident of Unionville, Illinois. No issue was born of that marriage, and the loving relationship created by their union continued until the twenty-fifth day of August, A. D. 1929, at which time Mrs. Feezer was taken by death from among her myriads of friends. It was a blow which would have broken many men, but which Mr. Feezer has born with unequalled courage and fortitude, his devotion to his paper, to his community and the realization that he could yet be of service to others, helping him carry on and to lighten the burden of his sorrows.
No newspaper which Mr. Feezer has owned, operated or managed, whether it was the Daily Democrat - the Mount Carroll Mirror-Democrat or whatever name it operated under - was ever anything but a powerful agency for public benefit and common good. They all derived their inspiration from the genius and untiring efforts of Cal M. Feezer.
No nation has ever grown or prospered unless it had the benefit of the wisdom and farsightedness of some patriotic citizens to pilot it through the troubled waters of development. The same is true of any community or city, and if there is any one man to whom the City of Mt. Carroll can attribute its present size, beauty and prosperity, it is he.
Mr. Feezer started his newspaper activities in the City of Mt. Carroll when it was a town of but a few hundred souls, with a few frame business blocks, mud streets, no system of parks, and when it was in that period of existence which was to determine whether it was to grow or to remain stagnant. Mr. Feezer by his ability to make men co-operate with each other and forget their petty troubles, by the medium of the press and by force of his own personality, has done more to create the present Mt. Carroll, a town of substantial business section, with miles of paved streets, beautiful churches, boulevard lights, and a system of parks unequalled in the State than any other one individual.
Whenever an idea was origmated for the improvement of the town, it was originated by Mr. Feezer, and if not by him, it was supported by him with the full force of his newspaper. Public parks, new schools, an enlarged Frances Shimer School, a public library, paved streets, boulevard lights, a new city hall, a better city government have all been brought about by the untiring personal efforts of Mr. Feezer while operating his newspaper, serving as City Clerk for years, and by functioning as a member of the different commercial bodies.
No one man has ever molded public opinion by the medium of the press, as has Mr. Feezer, and he has always molded it to the point that it has been for the common good of everyone, not even his severest critics have ever said that he or his newspaper ever advocated anything that did not make for improvement or development. He has been as fearless in lighting those things which he saw as detrimental to the City and its citizens as he has been in fighting for those things which were worth while and in fighting against them he has made some enemies but in making them he has kept their respect because no one can help but respect an honorable, courageous fighter, and he is that.
A monument has been erected within the corporate limits of this City, a monument which will last almost as long as the love and reverence which the citizens will always hold for Mr. Feezer, a monument of steel and stone, a mark of respect to his unselfishness, his untiring energy and of his devotion to Mt. Carroll- a monument erected by Mr. Feezer himself, just as surely as though his own hands had builded it - that monument is the beautiful structure spanning the Waukarusa at the north end of Clay street - that bridge was born in the mind of Cal M. Feezer, his influence obtained it and his energy saw that it was built. It is a gift that he and he alone gave to this Ciry and its loyal citizens have, in their hearts, dedicated it to him. It will stand, forever, a fitting tribute to a great man.
Cal M. Feezer is still carrying on - not for himself - but for Mt. Carroll and so long as he does, the spirit and the future of Mt. Carroll, is in safe hands. When that time comes, as it comes to all- to write an inscription on the stone which covers his last resting place -let it be said that, "He was the Abraham Lincoln of this community."
His Friends
EDITOR'S NOTE - It is with considerable reluctance, that we allow the above to go, as we lay no
claim to what our friends have written. But they say, "Yes," so let it go. Take it with much salt.
Will Tipton, as a boy, like all the boys of his day, had to work and make a living. He was apprenticed to a blacksmith and served his time, becoming one of the best young horseshoers in the county. But he longed for something better, and gave up blacksmithing to go to the Iowa College, where he took high rank and became the favorite of several of the faculty who recognized that the young man was in earnest, and here too, he largely worked his way, not feeling above work, and he graduated with honors.
He was married in 1900 to Miss Annie Burns, of Mt. Carroll. They have two sons, David, who holds a position in Chicago, and is married, and William at home.
The Tiptons own a farm and Dr. Will has tried his hand at farming, but still prefers his profession, and as dean of the profession in Carroll county still continues the good work. Dr. Tipton is one of the best informed men in the city, and a fine conversationalist.
John was one of the leading boys in school and has continued his leadership during life. He, upon the death of his father, took the entire hardware business upon his shoulders and succeeded. He met with an accident when the Caroline Mark Home was being built that nearly cost him his life, falling through an opening to the cement floor below, and he has never fully recovered from the effects of the fall.
He formed a stock company and took Charles Smith and Norman Smith in as partners so as to take some of the work from his shoulders. Then after several years sold out to the partners, and retired and is taking things as easily as a man of his ambition can do. His health has improved a good deal and he is yet the same John Squires as always, ready to boost for his native city at all times.
He lives in a beautiful home at the head of Main street on Broadway, surrounded by every comfort possible.
Mrs. Grace Squires, his wife, is one of our most talented musicians and society and club women. The family is one of the foremost in the city and the town is better for their living here, and more such families would make a better city. There is nothing for the good of the city in which they do not do their share.
Robert C. Carson was born in Woodland township, Nov. 15, 1895. He was educated at the Woodland rural school and graduated from the Savanna high school in 1914. He was married March 17, 1917, to Miss Margaret H. McCall. They have three children: Russel, Laverne, and Rowland.
Mr. Carson is engaged in farming and is successful. He is a young man of good habits, sterling honesty and is highly esteemed in his township.
In 1928, he was elected Supervisor and has made good from the start. He knows his township as a student knows his alphabet; knows its needs; knows its financial circumstances and while he is economical he is progressive and believes that Woodland township is in the procession and should retain its place.
It is young men like Bob Carson in whose hands the future of Carroll County is now placed as the older ones, the old pioneers, have passed, and with men like him at the helm the township and the county is in safe hands and will go forward, making as much history in the next decade as it has in the past.
Mr. Carson is a young man of much more than ordinary intelligence and with his education, common sense and executive capabilities will rise to a higher place. The farmer is coming into his own in a very short time and the man who makes a success now will be more of a success as the tiller of the soil takes his place among other business enterprises and in the same way. "Bob" Carson stands well with the people of his township in politics and friendliness and is looked upon as a young supervisor who has much above the average knowledge of men and things, and is popular with the fellow members of the Board who realize in him a young man with a knowledge of what the county needs. While he is not penurious, he looks after the pennies for the township and will not mind stand for the reckless expenditure of public funds. He has made a study of the contour of the county and knows where roads and bridges are needed and is ever ready to vote and work for what is really needed.
In 1901, he and his father, the late Adam Fulrath started in the hardware business in this city, which they successfully conducted for a number of years, finally selling out, and in 1921, he moved to Clinton, Iowa, where he started the National Refining Co. Later he sold this out and in 1926 started work with the Clinton Paper Co., as traveling salesman, and is still with that institution, but he has never lost interest in the old home town, and makes it frequently, selling to all who use his company's products, for Clarence is popular with his old-time friends and associates, business and social.
Clarence Fulrath is a gentleman much above the average in intelligence and far sight and makes an excellent representative for the company in whose employ he is. He is a most genial gentleman, a good "mixer", makes friends readily, all qualities needed in a successful traveling man. His sales are large and he gives the best of satisfaction to the patrons of his company, for his word as to quality of goods is taken as gospel and always found to be just as represented. He always meets with the glad hand when he returns to Mt. Carroll, the home of his boyhood and young manhood. He is a man to whom all Mt. Carroll people like to point out as a former Mt. Carroll boy, and young business man.
1930 Mirror Democrat Staff George Asay, Cal M. Feezer Fred Hensal Maurice Schaut Adolph Eshelman
Cal M. Feezer, Editor and Manager of the Mirror Democrat Publication..
Dr. William R. Tipton, the subject of this sketch is a native of this city, having been born in West Carroll, August, 1859. He was educated in the Mt. Carroll schools and in the University of Iowa, where he learned the dental profession, and became one of the best and most successful dentists who ever practiced in his home town. Dr. Tipton also took two years in medicine, and therefore knows a lot about the entire human body as well as the jaws and teeth, and can talk physiology and medicene as well as most doctors.
John W. Squires - Among the successful business men of Mt. Carroll, the subject of this sketch is one of the outstanding. He is a native of Mt. Carroll, born on Main street and he has nearly always lived on or close to that street.
Clarence Fulrath, the subject of this sketch was born in Mt. Carroll Township, February 6, 1887. He attended the rural schools and later the Mt. Carroll high school. February 25, 1908, he was married to Miss Philausa Wood of Mt. Carroll. They are the parents of one son, Donald Clinton.
Rex Eyler, Foreman.
The mechanicl work on this issue done by him
Manager of the Press Dept. Make-up and "ad" compositor
Gayle Everhart
Bookeeper & Manager of Business Dept.
Editor & Manager, who edited and compiled this Souvenir Edition
Solicited the material for this issue
Glen Eshelman
Linotype Operator in office
Manager of Mailing Dept. (Too bashful to have picture taken)
Linotype Operator set the type in this issue
John Acker - Representative in General Assembly
