These are some of the First Newspapers of Jersey County.
A lot of names mentioned in these articles.
History of Jersey Co. 1919
The first Democratic newspaper in Jersey County was the Democratic Union, issued by Thomas Wright in 1854, at Jerseyville. Its publication was continued for two years, and then it was discontinued for a year. In 1857, publication was resumed by Herny H. Howard, who in 1858 was succeeded by John C. Doblebower, who continued the publication of the Democratic Union until 1865, when he retired and the office was taken over by a stock company. The name was then changed to the Jersey County Democrat, and Augustus Smith was made editor. He continued issuing this paper for one year, when the stock company dissolved, and the paper was purchased by Thomas J. Selby, who was editor and proprietor until October, 1869, when he sold to A.A. Whitlock and L.L. Burr. In September, 1870, J.A.J. Birdsall and J.I. McGready became the proprietors. Mr. Birdsall retired a year later, and Mr. McGready continued as sole proprietor until October, 1880, when he sold to J.M. Page, the present editor and proprietor. In September, 1898, the Daily Democrat was issued, and its publication has been continued, to the present time.
Joseph M. Page, present editor and proprietor of the Jersey County Democrat, was born at Stoughton, Mass., May 20, 1845, and was three years old when he was left an orphan. After attending the schools of Stoughton until he was sixteen years of age, Mr. Page then graduated. At that time he attempted to enlist for service during the Civil War, but was rejected on account of his youth. In the spring of 1863, when only eighteen years old, he came to Illinois, and for a time worked on a farm near Greenville, Bond County. He then went to St.Louis, Mo., and was employed in a wholesale grocery house. On August 3, 1864, he succeeded in being accepted as a soldier and enlisted in the Fortieth Missouri Volunteer Infantry, and after serving for one year, was honorably discharged in August, 1865, at which time he returned to his old home in Massachusetts, where he remained until the spring of 1866. He then returned to Illinois, coming to Jerseyville as a stranger, and with only twenty-five cents as his financial capital. Immediately upon his arrival, he apprenticed himself for a period of three years to William Embly, a carpenter, with the understanding that he would receive $100.00 per year and board. After six months, Mr. Embly discontinued carpentering, following architecture only, and hired Mr.Page out to Nick Smith for fifteen dollars a week. Mr. Page kept to his original contract of two dollars per week and board during the remaining two and one-half years. At the expiration of his three year contract with Mr. Embly, Nick Smith employed Mr. Page at eighteen dollars per week, showing his appreciation of his services by making him foreman. Until the spring of 1877, Mr.Page continued carpenter work, and then received the appointment as city marshall of Jerseyville, which office he held for four years, resigning in October, 1880, at which time time he purchased the Jersey County Democrat. In 1881, he was elected city clerk and treasurer, and held these offices for five years. For three terms, from 1887, Mr. Page was mayor of Jerseyville, and it was during his administration that the water works system was inaugurated and completed, and he also installed the electric light systems, and the Telephone Company of Jerseyville. For the past thirty-eight years he has been editor and proprietor of the Jersey County Democrat, and he has been otherwise prominent, as for thirty-three years he has been master-in-chancery, which office he still holds; for many years he was secretary of the Illinois Press Association, of which he was president for one year, and for about the same length of time he was corresponding secretary of the National Editorial Association. In 1897, he organized the Cold Spring Gold Mining and Tunnel Company, with a paid up capital of $2,500,000.00. On March 17, 1871, he was married to Miss Sadie Remer, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Abram Remer of Jerseyville. They have one son, Dr. Theodore H. Page, a physician, who has been practicing his profession in the city of Peoria for many years.
In 1863 the Jerseyville Republican was established by a stock company, with E.P. Haughawaut as editor, and it was issued through the campaign of 1864. In October, 1868, the paper was offered for sale, and Col. George P. Smith of the Jacksonville Journal, became the proprietor. Afterwards Colonel Smith sold the Jacksonville Journal, and the prospective Jerseyville Republican to Chapin and Glover, in December, 1868, and on January 1, 1869, William H. Edgar became editor of the Jerseyville Republican, and published the first issue of it. On August 25, 1870, Mr. Edgar became proprietor as well as editor, continuing to edit the paper until September 3, 1880, when the Jerseyville Republican was consolidated with the Examiner, under the name of the Republican Examiner, with William H. Edgar, and Morris R. Locke, former editors of the Examiner, as editors and proprietors. This firm continued until january 12, 1885, when Locke retired, and was succeeded by Frank M. Roberts. Mr. Edgar retired from the new firm, March 27, 1885, and he was succeeded by a Mr. Hedley, the firm becoming Roberts & Hedley. From 1885 to 1891, there were several changes in the propreitorship and editorship of the Jerseyville Republican, and in 1891, the paper was sold to Frank Ladd by Abraham Locke. In 1895, Mr. Ladd sold it to Joseph W. Becker, who continued editor of the paper until its sale to C. F. Kurz. Mr. Kurz remained as editor and proprietor only a short period, then selling to Pinkerton Bros., who published a live, active, newsy paper, Republican in its politics.
In 1877, Col. William H. Edgar of Jerseyville established the Grafton Independent, which was printed at Jerseyville, the first number appearing October 1, 1877. R.R. Claridge appeared as editor of the paper, although it was printed and issued from the office at Jerseyville, and he continued as such until September, 1888, when he purchased the necessary materials and removed his office to Grafton, becoming sole proprietor as well as editor. The Independent continued as a Grafton newspaper until 1880, when it was taken back to Jerseyville, and its named changed to the Jerseyville Independent. In April, 1882, Mr. Claridge retired from the editorship and proprietor, and Lyman T. Waggoner and Allen M. Slaten, under the firm name of Waggoner, became the proprietors. Soon thereafter, Mr. Waggoner retired from the firm,Mr. Slaten assuming the entire ownership and control. Later he disposed of the paper to J.M. Giberson of Elsah, and C.H. Kelley, also of Elsah, became the editor and proprietor. In the fall of 1885 the issuance of this paper was discontinued.
The Jerseyville Register was established in the early part of November, 1865, by T.S. Haughawaut, who was editor and proprietor, and it was printed at Jerseyville. The publication was continued until 1868, when Mr. Haughawaut disposed of it to L. Williams, formerly known as "Yank" Williams, who soon afterwards moved to Topeka, Kansas, and his son, Charles T. Williams, leased the paper, continuing as its editor and publisher until October, 1868, when the paper was advertised for sale. It was purchased by Col. E.P. Smith of Jacksonville, who established the Jerseyville Republican.
The Jerseyville Evening News was first issued May 25, 1885, by J.A. Walker and J.A. Blannerhassett. On July 13, 1885, the paper was changed to a morning publication. J.A. Blannerhassett retired on August 17, 1885, and Mr. Walker, after publishing it for some time, sold it, and its publication was discontinued.
The Daily and Weekly Journal, a Democratic paper, was established by J.I. McGready in 1893, but in the fall of 1895, he sold his interest to Walter E.Carlin and A.F. Ely, who in turn sold the plant in September, 1895, to J.M. Page, and its publication was discontinued.
During the campaign of Harrison and Cleveland, the Republican Call was established as a daily and weekly by A.H.Rue, but after about two years, its publication was discontinued.
The Jerseyville Examiner was established in 1878, by the Jerseyville Publishing Company, and Morris R. Locke, William M. Bartlett, Horace N. Belt, James A.Barr, William H. Pogue composed the company, and J. Stirling Harper was the editor. Mr. Harper issued the paper for two weeks, when he withdrew from the paper, and Morris R. Locke became the editor in December, 1878, continuing as such until 1880, when the Examiner was consolidated with the Republican, as stated above.
History of Jersey County-1919
First Banks of the County
The first bank opened in Jersey County was that established at Jerseyville in 1854 by A.M. Blackburn. For more than forty years subsequent to the first settlement in Jersey County there were no banks within the present limits of Jersey County. During the greater portion of this time, there had been little demand for banking privileges. The early settlers were not blessed with any amount of money. What they had they hoarded in secret places until they had enough to go to the land office and pay the entry fee on government land. As soon as their little hoard amounted to fifty or one hundred dollars, they made a trip to the land office and secured either forty or eighty acres of land.
First National Bank of Jerseyville
In 1859 the Bank of D'Arcy, Tesse & Cheney was organized. The firm was composed of Dr. E.A. D'Arcy, and Tesse and Prentiss D. Cheney, the latter both sons-in-law of Dr. D'Arcy.This bank continued in operation until 1866, when it was taken over by Hugh N.Cross and George R. Swallow, and was operated under the firm name of Cross & Swallow until 1872, when Swallow retired, and the firm became Cross, Carlin & Co. In 1876, this bank was merged into the First National Bank of Jerseyville, with the following as its first directors: Hugh N. Cross, A.W.Cross, W.E. Carlin, J.C.Barr, James A. Locke, Dr. George S.Miles, and J.N. English. Hugh N. Cross died Novemeber 21, 1883, and his son, A.W. Cross, succeeded him as president of the bank.
In 1894, the National Bank of Jerseyville, was incorporated, succeeding the First National bank, with A. W. Cross as president; Edward Cross, cashier, until 1899, when Daniel J. Murphy became cashier, and held that position until 1906, when A.H. Cochran succeeded him. The present officers of the bank are as follows: D.J.Murphy, president; A.H.Cochran, vice president; F.D. Heller, cashier; and D.J.Murphy, A.H.Cochran, F.D.Heller, P.M. Hamilton, Fred Scheffer, Daniel Sutherland, are directors, and Lloyd Spangle is assistant cashier. This bank is the legitimate successor of the first bank started in Jerseyville in 1854 by A.M. Blackburn.
In 1866 William Shephard opened a bank at Jerseyville under the firm name of William Shephard & Co., changing the style in 1867 to that of William Shephard & Son. In 1875 Stephen H. Bowman and George W. Ware, under the firm name of Bowman & Ware, purchased the bank of Shephard & Son. John A. Shephard & Co. organized a bank in 1883, and in 1890 this bank and that of Bowman &Ware were consolidated, and the State Bank of Jerseyville was organized, with a capital stock of $50,000.00 and a surplus of $5,000.00. The first officials were as follows: S.H.Bowman,president; John A. Shephard, vice president; and Henry A. Shephard, cashier. On June 29, 1915, there was a reorganization of this bank, and a new charter was obtained. The directors for the new bank were as follows: Stephen H. Bowman, president; Patrick J. Fleming and Harriet C. Bowman, vice presidents; and George W. Campbell, cashier. The board of Directors were composed of the following: S.H. Bowman, Harriet C. Bowman, Patrick J. Fleming, Elias Cockrell, and Thomas F. Ferns.
On September 6, 1881, Walter E.Carlin and Marcus M. Bagley opened a bank under the firm name of Carlin & Bagley,from which Walter E. Carlin retired March 1, 1885, and Mr. Bagley became the sole proprietor, with Jett A. Kirby as cashier. During the panic of 1893, this bank suspended and Jett Kirby the assignee of the bank, closed out the assets in 1896 and 1897. Theodore S. Chapman purchased the safe, furniture and fixtures of this bank, and in 1903, he associated with Judge A.M. Slaten, Charles S. White, George H. Doughtery and others, opened the Jersey State Bank, with a capital stock of $25,000.00. Theodore S. Chapman was president; A.M. Slaten was vice president; Charles S. White was second vice president; and R.W. Greene was cashier. In 1904 Mr. Greene retired, and C.G. Reddish was made cashier, which position he still holds. On December 22, 1908, the capital stock was increased to $50,000.00. President Theodore S. Chapman died December 14, 1914, and A.M. Slaten was elected his successor to the presidency of the bank, and retained that office until April 1, 1916, when Charles S. White became president and is still the chief executive of the bank.
The Grafton bank was opened by William H. Allen and Edward A. Pinero in 1869. In 1873 Mr. Pinero retired, and Mr. Allen operated the bank until July 5, 1883, when Ernest Meysenburg and C.P. Stafford became associated with Mr. Allen. The new bank had the following officials: William H. Allen, president; C.P. Stafford, vice president; and Ernest Meysenburg, cashier. Later Ernest Meysenburg became president, and he still retains that office, his son, Robert Meysenburg being cashier. The capital stock of this bank is $22,000.00. The buidling in which the bank was opened was burned, but was rebuilt and is now an entirely fire proof structure. This bank has had a very prosperous history, and has been of great convenience to the people in the southern part of the county, and to those of Calhoun County. It has been associated with the business interests of Grafton, and has kept legitimate connection with them, and it rightly deserves the patronage which is accorded it.
The Bank of Fieldon was organized as a state bank on November 19, 1910, with William Weighard as president; Louis Krueger as vice president; and Frank Rowden as cashier. The bank has a capital stock of $25,000.00 and a surplus of $500.00.
The Bank of Fidelity was organized in 1913, with a capital stock of $11,000.00, of which John Ewin is president; Charles E.Lewis is vice president; and Ralph R. Smith is cashier. This bank is located at Fidelity, in a very rich agricultural country, and its officials posses the confidence of the entire community. The above named banks are all within the limits of Jersey County. They are all of them stable and paying institutions, which hold the confidence of the people of the communities in which they are located, and they are in the hands of careful,capable, and diligent officials.