The Carlinville Democrat, now in its seventy-ninth year, was
established September 6, 1856, by William C. Phillips, as a Republican
paper. Associated with him were a number of Carlinville citizens who
advocated the abolition of slavery. Prominent among these was John M.
Palmer, a young and brilliant lawyer. He agreed that if the paper was
established, he would serve as its political editor. This he did for
several years, his editorials attracting wide attention throughout this
section of Illinois. It was first called the "Free" Democrat, but in
1867 the word free was dropped for more brevity and typographical
neatness. Mr. Phillips took into partnership with him in December of
1856, Henry M. Kimball, and the firm became Phillips & Kimball. This
continued until February of 1859, when Mr. Phillips sold his interest to
Mr. Kimball, who became sole owner. On assuming the ownership of the
paper, Gen. John M. Palmer continued his connection with the paper under
Mr. Kimball as political editor. This was terminated October of 1859,
when Gen. Palmer became a candidate for congress.
In 1867 A. W.
Edwards bought a half interest in The Democrat. He was known in
Carlinville and over the county as "Major" Edwards. This partnership
continued until 1872 when Major Edwards was appointed warden of the
penitentiary at Joliet and severed his connection with the paper. Again
Mr. Kimball became the owner and editor until 1879, when he took into
partnership A. G. David, who for some time had been one of the local
editors of The Democrat. When Mr. Kimball retired the paper became the
property of Mr. David. He continued as editor and publisher until Sept.
1, 1901, when he sold out to James E. McClure, who continued as editor
and publisher until January, 1934, when he sold The Democrat to Armin C.
Kura, for a number of years editor and publisher of the Staunton
Star-Times.
Few country weeklies have had a longer record and
none a more honorable and prominent part in the history of Carlinville
and Macoupin county, than The Carlinville Democrat. Since its first
issue it has stood for clean journalism and is welcomed in the family
circle with keen interest and delight. It has been in the past and is
now ably edited and managed. The Democrat has lived through three wars
involving our country — the Civil war, the Spanish-American war and the
more recent World war. It told the story of the local young men and
women who went away and came back, and of those who went away and never
came back. It has mirrored public events in Carlinville and Macoupin
county faithfully and with accuracy— the joys and sorrows of its people,
their hopes, and ambitions achieved. A great historian has said: "The
truest record of events, local, state and national, will be found in the
newspapers." So far as this community and county are concerned, that may
be said of The Democrat's record of more than three quarters of a
century.
Forty-one years ago, or to be more exact, in 1893, the late D. H.
Karnes and his brother, Stephen Karnes, established themselves in the
Ice business in Carlinville. The partnership continued until Stephen
Karnes retired. At that time Edward H. Lott became a partner In the
business and the firm name became Karnes & Lott. The partnership
continued until the death of Mr. Karnes which occurred in 1924. Since
that time the style of the firm, is Lott Ice & Coal Company, under which
name the business is conducted today.
There have been many
changes in all lines of business in the past forty years and the ice
business is no exception. When the Karnes Brothers began in a modest way
forty-one years ago, the supply was cut from the creeks and ponds near
Carlinville. Men with saws and other necessary tools went to the
location, cut the ice, loaded it into wagons and hauled it to town where
it was stored for use during the warm months. An unusually cold winter
meant that the ice crop would be plentiful and of proper quality. If,
perchance, the winter was open and the weather mild, there was a scanty
supply or no supply at all and the product had to be shipped in from the
North.
But modern science has changed all this. Today machines
and refrigerators supply this necessary product, regardless of the
condition of the weather. In the old days of the ice business there was
not much attention given to sanitation. If the ice came from a creek or
pond which looked good before the water froze, that was fine. If not,
there wasn't much that could be done about it. In this day and age with
manufactured ice, sanitation comes first, and the product is made and
delivered under strict laws governing its purity and healthfulness. The
company has a refrigeration plant in Carlinville and clean, sanitary
trucks deliver their product under most inviting conditions, the
old-fashioned two-horse wagon having long ago passed out of the picture.
Some years ago the company added a coal yard to their line of business.
Under the management of Mr. Lott the company has increased the number of
its patrons and friends from year to year.
Two of the outstanding institutions that are working for the benefit
of its members and incidentally for all of the people of the county, are
the Macoupin County Farm Bureau and the Home Bureau. The Farm Bureau was
organized in December, 1917 with four hundred members. It came into
being as the result of carefully thought out plans of those who believe
that the only way to progress among the farmers is organization, with a
definite plan of action. W. P. Miller was the first Adviser and was
employed in February of 1918. The second adviser was E. W. Rusk, and the
third and present Adviser is W. P. Coolidge. He came to Carlinville from
his native county of McLean, in 1928. He is capable, energetic and
understanding. Under his direction and with the cooperation of the
officers and members the membership has more than doubled, now being
980.
The scope of the Farm Bureau's activities has widened
greatly since its organization seventeen years ago. Some of the
outstanding projects are: Information on soil treatment; keeping
accurate farm accounts; cooperative marketing of livestock and other
farm products, such as wool, soybeans and grain; 4-H Club work. The
subsidiary organizations are: Macoupin Service Company; a Cooperative
Farmer's Creamery Company, a project available to every farmer in
Macoupin county.
The Farm Bureau and its allied organizations
are doing a work which is bringing results. The work has been especially
difficult during the past few years, on account of the very adverse
conditions which prevail over the entire country.
The officers
are the following: Harold A. Keele, Chesterfield, president; Chris
Powars, Palmyra, vice president; Albert Barnes, Bunker Hill, secretary;
Otto Hauschild, Gillespie, treasurer. These four officers and the
folllowing constitute the executive committee: Charles Gibbel, Girard;
Earl T. Leach, Carlinville; T. B. Weller, Carlinville. Miss Mildred
Weller is the office secretary. The Farm Bureau have their offices in
the Ibbetson building on North Broad street, in Carlinville.
In order to make the movement for better conditions on the farm, more
nearly complete, the Macoupin County Home Bureau was organized in 1930.
The aims and objects of the Home Bureau are clearly set forth in the
following declaration of principles:
To have every home —
economically sound; mechanically convenient; physically healthful;
morally wholesome; mentally stimulating; artistically satisfying;
socially responsible; spiritually inspiring; founded on mutual affection
and respect.
Mrs. M. E. Eldred, formerly of Bird township, but
now of near Gillespie, was the first county chairman, serving for two
years. Mrs. Clyde Land, of Barr township, was the second county
chairman, serving one year. Mrs. Bert Ruyle, of South Otter, is the
present chairman. Miss Gertrude Bekman, of Alton, Iowa, was chosen the
first Home Adviser, which position she holds today. Miss Bekman is
popular with the membership; is a tireless and able worker whose
sympathies are wholeheartedly in the cause for which she stands.
The present officers are: Mrs. Bert Ruyle, South Otter, chairman;
Mrs. Elmer Yowell, Atwater, vice chairman; Mrs. Kayo Hildabrand,
Gillespie, secretary; Mrs. J. P. Denby, Carlinvtlle. treasurer; Mrs.
William Schneeberg, Brighton, Major Project Chairman; Mrs. R. L. Comer,
Carlinville. Minor Project Chairman; Mrs. Herbert Meiher, Nilwood.
Recreation Chairman; Miss Bertha Shultz, Shipman, 4-H Club Chairman;
Mrs. Joseph Yahr, Carlinville, Publicity Chairman. Miss Josephine Rhoads
is office secretary.
The Home Bureau has a membership of 425,
with twenty-one working units. The home is the unit around which society
and government revolve. What could be more commendable than to give its
members a bright and hopeful outlook upon life? That's what the Home
Bureau does.
Extracted 15 Dec 2018 by Norma Hass from History of a Famous Courthouse, by W. B. Brown, published in 1934, pages 47, 48, and 53-54.
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