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^ \ ' i j ^ ' r 1* L ' > ^ . 7 -, • • * j' * ** ; . : - . ' • . • . ; * - ' - ' . • . , • • . • : • ; • • ' . • • ; • • ' • s , ' v * - . • ' ' • •• v.r \ - v-^; . 'j. . M. . * " ' V / * . ; ! • t • : ' ' ' : * r * : ' / I 1 . • , ' * " ' ' * ' : l v : ' - ' " y . • ' • ' " • • 1 * • ;r"r • • ' ~ . . M' ". ' • ' -I VOL. 61 SECOND SECTION M HENRY, ILLINOIS, THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 1935 PAGES 9 TO 16 wLim Not 2 PLAINDEALER HAS PASSED 60 YEARS OF PUBLICATION ONLY 4 OWNERS DURING ENTIRE CAREER ' The McHenry Plaindealer has completed its sixtieth year of continuous publication with only four changes ill ownership and last week issued its first number in a' new volume. When the newspaper was launched Sixty years ago McHenry was only a village of a few hundred people and, although the years which have passed have not brought unusual growth to the city, it has seen a substantial advancement ana the population hal grown to about 1,500 inhabitants. . Launching a newspaper in a small community requires courage and vision, as well as an affection for the newspaper business, and all of these traits were possessed by the founder of the publication, J. VanSlyke. Many times difficulties were encountered with troubles in establishing an enterprise in a new field, as "well as meager office equipment and machinery contributing difficulties. As business increased, however, the paper began to attain standing in the village and the circulation increased as other nearby toWns, gave cordial greeting to the newly founded weekly. The Flaindealer was first edited on Wednesday of edch week and was an odd-looking journal, with the front page covered with advertisements, while the news items were in> the cento* of the paper. -' Fourth Paper In County Plaindealer was the fourth weekly newspaper of McHenry county when St was launched sixty years ago. The others which were already in existence were the senior publication at Woodstock, the Sentinel, which was started in 1856 and wher VanSlyke worked before coming to McHenry; 1866; the Marengo Republican ih 1867, and then the McHenry Plaindealer in 1875. The following year the Richmond Gazette was founded n 1876, then the McHenry County Democrat at Woodstock in 1877 and th<? Nunda Herald in 1880. The Plaindealer had to create a field more or less of its own and its policy which has been continued was - then a» now, to conduct its news and editorial columns in such way as to win the confidence and respect of its patrons. ' When the Plaindealer was started it wa$< a time that personal journalism was common. Editors quarreled with each other and in the columns of „their newspapers they ...said things, many times, that are no longer seen in the public press. Language used was strong because it was the period of vigorous verbiage. The lifetime of a commuiM is portrayed nowhere more clearly than in its local newspaper ttnd during the years of prosperity and depression many stories have filled our pages, some of them accounts of gala affairs and golden jubilees, some of them events of history, some of them accounts of tragedies, while others wen? tales of achievement which brought pride and happiness to the hearts of our citizens. The making of a city may be gleaned from our columns, as the incorpora- Founder Plaindealer Mm* f. y m >0- jb. fpMf •PS NAMES OF FIRST ADVERTISERS NOW ONLY A MEMORY „Vv EDITOR JAY VAN SLYKE Seated at His Desk In. The JNaiwkal er ' ' *; ' •:•••• _• •' i y/ \|1'|'liinrilntlirl i;' ji; While the history of the sixty years existence of the McHenry Plaindealer has been pretty well covered in the various interesting articles in these columns, contributed by former editors of the paper, we feel that Jay VanSlyke, founder and editor of th_i paper for 26 years, is deserving Of further mention because of his many years of work and activity in the interests of our city and of the press. " Tall and gaunt, with flowing mustache, Romap nose and eagle eye. VanSlyke, more nearly than any other \vorieri uciuic Jl" 'iMcHenry county editor of that perthe Harvard Independent founded in iod, rep're sen• ted the. typical journal ist. Politicians seeking elective office could always obtain publicity in Van- Slyke's newspaper and it's columns were open for most anything they desired to say. Jay VanSlyke's nearest descendants are two grandchildren, Jay Going of Chicago and Mrs. Bessie Going Fidler of 1808 Farwell Avenue, Chicago. to whom we are indebted for mjjch of this information concerning thfe life of their grandfather and the maker of history in l^cHenry. These are children of his daughter, Ida, the only one of his children who ever married. • Born in 1837 Jay -VanSlyke was born in the town of Massena, August 21, 18^7, b^ing the third son of Jesse M., and Frances A. VanSlyke. A few years after his birth his parents removed to VanSlyke's corners, in the town of Antwerp, Jefferson county, where he attended the district school.. At the early age of twelve years . VanSlyke died Oct. 9, 1,890, at McHenhe entered the office of the Jeffer- . ry. ' Two daughters and two sons, sonian, edited by John A. Haddock, in Ida, Maude,, Frederick and Jesse, were Watertown, where he served *a three- born to them. .Mr. VanSlyke was very year apprenticeship at the printing devoted to his family and the death business. . his wife and three children, which Watertown was then a small vij- followed in rapid succession, was a lage, apd the trip from Antwerp *o 1 great bereavement to him. . Watertown had to be made by stage-j. On Noy. 19, 1891, Mr. VanSlyke coach. Young VanSlyke was alert was married to Barbara Mills of and wide-awake, and "sdon be-"brasie Corners, who survived him totion of the city of McHenry and its | <.-ame proficient in all branches of the get'h'er with two children, Maude and many improvements have been record-j prjnting business. » \ William, at the time of his death, ed, the growth of various business .j After working at the printing busX^^pt. 23', 1906. fte was also surenterprises have been followed an J j ness in Watertown for several years, vived by two grandchildren, Jay Gothe lifetime of a community is por-j >,e removed to Springfield, Mass., ing and Mr^ Mett,y Going Fidler oin trayed as many changes have * takei j where he was employed on the Spring-: Chicago, children of. his' daughter, The Plaindealer, which soon beca one of the leading papers of this section. He successfully edited and published the Plaindealer for about twenty- six years, and was prominently identified with the business and political interests of the county. He appointed postmaster of McHenry by President Harrison and also held -**t different times th£ offices of town clerk, village clerk and village president, in all of these responsible positions discharging his duties with conscientious fidelity. . He also for a few years edited and published the Algonquin Citizen, which paper was also founded by him. Mr. VanSlyke was an enthusiastic journalist, who loved the exacting and mr.nifold of the profession, and hid life was one of unusual activity and industry. Failing health, which finally terminated in enlargement of the heart and liver, admonished him that he must relinquish the strenuous worlj of his profession, arid he very reluctantly disposed of his newspaper interest in the west. With poor health and advancing years came the natural desir# to return to his native state and ber near his relatives and the scenes of his early life; consequently he and Iris family took up their residence in Gouveneur in 1905, where the precarious condition of his health kept him confined to his home almost continuously after his arrival there. Mr. VanSlyke was married to-Rachel Mills, of Brasie Corners, St. Laurence county. Nov. 28,, 1858. Mrs. place in the community as well as in its people during the past half century. . - Congratulations upon the new publication were received by the founder from many editors and some of the newspapers heard from were: The' Daily- Bluff City, Elgin, which had to say, "The Plaindealer is the name of a large and handsome newspaper just started in McHenry by,J. VanSlyke, for years past editor of the Woodstock Sentinel. Van is the best journalist in McHenry County." . From the Waukegan Patriot--"Van" Slyke has our best wishes for success " The Palatine Herald--"It is a he; newsy sheet, presents a nice appearance and ought to have the support of "everybody at McHenry." Elgin Advocate--"Presents a creditable appearance and should receive hearty support frQ|h the people it rep- • resents." • . Maidenpo Republican---"We place it en*our exchange list with pleasure." Belvidere Northwestern--"We welcome the Plaindealer to a place in our exchanges and wish the editor all saccend." Elkorrt Wis., Liberal--"The Plainde* lei will easiljr make good all ita IIUUN." •* field Republican until January 1858, .Ida when the illness and- subsequent,'.4eat,'a,'],. M'VAnSlyke'slast yaar on earth of his father called him back to New ^as fraught with great pain and suf- York state.- _ fering, which was. largely alleviated In the fall of lSS8, he accepted the ' by the devoted care of his^wife and Jforemanship of the St. Lawrence children. Plaindealer in Canton, which position he held until 1861, when he purchased the paper of Col. S. P. Remington, and became its editor and publisher. Mr. VanSlyke was an ardent Republican in politics and during the dark artd trying days' from 1861 to 1865, his paper was ever a loyal supporter of-President Lincoln and the cause of the Union; he at all times possessed the courage of his convictions; it was in vigorous and no uncertain terms he denounced the armed rebels of the south and their , mora despicable sympathizers in the north. Edited Woodstock Sentinel -fertile"fall of 1867 he sold the Plaindeailer tq Col. S, P. Remington, its former editor, and removed to Gloversville Standard, ar.d became its editor and publisher. After, a residence of about two years in ^Glbversville, he disposed of his interests there and removed to Illinois, where he became editor of the Woodstock Sentinel. • He died Sept. 23, 1006, at the age of 69 years 4artd is huried jn ..Lake Pleasant Cemetery at Brasie Corners.i FIRST WHITE FAMILY LOCATED AT M HENRY IN THE YEAR 1836 The first white family to settle at McHenry was Dr Christy G. Wheeler, who came here with his wife and two child^r in the fall of 1836. Onefold morning in the winter of 1836-37 his log cabin caught fire awl while on the roof trying to^j^*4finguisK the flames, he heard a musket shot which gave him notice that somfone was nearby. Thus they4 welcomed the "new settlers. He purchased a small store and, kept the first postoffice in the county. He was later recorder of deeds, and paid the cost of the survey of the town, when in May, 1837, the fn 1875 he . moved from Woodstock j stake was driven locating the couatjrto McHenry, 111., and establish ad seat at McHenry. THEY WE|LB STURDY HEN or AFFAIRS The names of business and professional men who had advertisements in The Plaindealer in its initial number of sixty years ago appear as a memory now because few remain though the names endpre on account of long association in the civic and business affairs of the local communis • As one relies on gleanings from the files of sixty years ago the urge to re- The Old Bishop Grist Mill WHEELER EARLY PIONE CIRCUIT RIDER WORKED ON HIS F PREACHED ON SUND Rev. Joel E. Wheeler was the first minister of the gospel to locate in McHenry County arriving at the village of McHenry Aug. 17, 1837, coming lawyers, H. C. Irish and Richard Bishop, who had his office in the rear of Murphy and Bishop's bank on the north side of the public ,-square and F. K. Granger with Hank McLea^in the suburbs. Sturdy Business Men Murphy and Bishop were the bankers, O., W. Owen, watch maker and jeweler, Henry Colby had" the drug store, King and Herbes were proprietors of the McHenry Brewery and Hinton Whaeler was {proprietor' of the Riverside House. : ,f ^ _ The livery stable was run by H.TC Wightman. M. Engeln was the gun and locksmith, Georg« Schreiner ran a saloon and restaurant. Norquist and Weber were general blacksmiths and wagon makers, O. Bishop sold agricultural tools and wagons and sixty yea re ago as now there was a Smith Bros, general store. A. B. Gilbert was the druprarist, T,. Francisco, wagon In.1876 E. M. Owen disposed of his interest in the Milling business- and turned his attention to selling farm machinery and raising blooded stock. After havincr been in business horo RICHARD BISHOP late awne conditions that existed is strongs There were no pa^ed 'streets! i# fact, the streets were muddy and filled with holes; no electric lights, no waterworks; fram* buildings on the main business street were mot* numerous than brick structures. Looking backward through those years the veteran merchants have many things to smile about, the wooden sidewalks, which sometimes were neatly swept by the trailing skirts of the women; wooden sidewalks, to®» on which some merchants displayed their merchandise; customers driving from farms with horse or team and tieing their steeds to hitching posts, or dropping an iron weight to make sure Dobbin would be there when time to go home arrived. Women wanted gaily covered parasols and wore those tremendous picture hats that were the vogue. Men wore beards and mustaches, defby hats were the rage and high wing collars were popular. The tailor of that day was #\ G. Mayes, merchant tailor and deajer in ready made clothing, who had his store one door north of Colby's drug store. He also advertised cloth, cassi'mere, vesting, etc. John M. Smith was the postmaster. Dry goods merchants were Perry and Martin, Bucklin and Stevens, O. *J. Howard and Son, Smith, Bros., and Co., Philip Giesler. There were three doctors in McHenry sixty years ago, H. T. Brown, M. D., who had his office in the brick block over F. G. Mayes Clothing store on Water street. E. A. Be'ers, M. D., who had his office fn his residence two doors west of the postoffice and O. J. Howard, M. D., who had his office at the.store of Howard and .Son. In 1875 McHenry boasted of four JAMES B. PERRY for thirty years, H. D. Luff took ovei the mill. Also in 1876 Chas. T. Eldrectgu opened a meat market in the basement- of the Parker house. Perry and Martin had a general merchandise store, A. H. Hanly conducted the McHenry Mill and Champ- : P . K . G R A N G E R an<rcarriage maker; A. H. Haril# and Sons were proprietors of the McHenry mills and brick yard. E. M. Owen sold farm machinery, J. Story was thi dealer in hardware; Blake and Bro., were dealers in furniture. The McHeny Pickle Works were established in the spring of 1874 with a capital of $12,000. J. F. Welsh was the manufacturer and notwithstanding the unfavorable season the factory did a business of $20,000. The second year 225 acres of pickles were contracted for besides 25 acres for mixed pickles. Officers of the company were, S. H. Walker, G. A. Bucklin, E. M. Owen, Gi B. Curtis, A. H. Hanly, Casper Adams Rev. Joel E. Wheeler, then called Elder Wheeler, conducted services at the Baptist church at Richmond every Sunday, where there was also a Congregational and Methodist church. GEORGE GAGE ion Brick yard, with McHenry then, as now, known for its flour. J. Story sold hardware. The Parker West McHenry. ' V ^ 1^ AO. KINDS OF I • . - V .. life REV. JOEL E. WHEELER here from. New Hampshire, was born at Dunbarton, N. Sept. 19, 1808. On Aug. 19 of the same year he delivered the first public religious services ever held in the county. Prior to 1840 i no organized church was established in the county. The field of labor traversed by Rev. Wheeler extended from Milwaukee on the north to Joliet on the south, east to Lake Michigan and west to Dubuque, la. There .were no school houses or churches, no highways had been laid out and no bridges built. Rev Wheeler took up land and worked on the farm, preaching at three or four places on Sunday, ttw pioneers coming to the meeting from far and wide in their ox carts. He had been known to preach at Algon-" quin in the morning, Dundee in the afternoon and at some log dwelling in the evening, driving home many mile* late at night. _ His son, Eugene, began to drive for his father at the age of five years, allowing th? elder to study his sermojns along the_way. Elder Wheeler blaaechtfcfr; a wagon road from Lily Lake to Wauconda. which afterwards became an established highway. The trail from Chicago to McHenry covering a instance of thirty-four miles, was the first thoroughfare and was maintained for many years. - i, : Rev. Wheeler endured many hardships in his long ,journ\eysJ In November, 1837, he organized a Baptist church at Lake Zurich, and in March 1838, others at Salem and Kenosha. Wis., successively adding eight other churches in the field It was not until the winter of 1840- 1841 that a clergyman of any other denomination entered the field in which " Elder Wheeler had been la!^r*s: ing for three years. Rev. Wheeler built the first hous? in what is now McHenry immediatelyafter his arrival here. Th«? main room was reserved for church, and school purposes. In 1838 he -opened what was called a bearding school, this being the first school of its kind > iri the eour«v. It drew pupils from, a wide territory. :tA number ot the early physicians - in Northern Illinois received tli(?iir 'training in this institution ~--r • k i V ' v Some* of the most prominent people of the county were among his pupils. __ • ' In 1841 he removed to Warrenville, I Dupage County, where he had several students fitting for tite ministry. Here a school and church buildinc was erected and was conducted undor the name of the Warrenville Institute, the only school in th? * n >rthwest where the classics were taught The fiftieth anniversary of his ordination and the forty-seventh oi hi* ministry in McHenry county was "eelebrated in McHenry. Aug. It 1884. Jonathan • I meson arul Maiy W ra» the first white-couple to be marrieo in the county, were married by : Wheeler. -a-'.' For years he wurkeJ without salary until in the late "70's he w as allowed the 'munificent salary . of sturt'y than Wh -efer. A Busy Location on Green Street per year. The famiiy was of . stock extraction, Jonathan efer, great-grandfather of Rev. Jvei VI er, having emigrated to Ai about the middle of the itury, |iettliii^> at Stei