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�d.
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<br /> �- �
<br /> �� i j�
<br /> �i '
<br /> � 90 HISTO�Y OF \Ir�CO:�' COUNTY
<br /> � of the land that might l�ave been in cultivatior. but for the expense of fencing, � �-
<br /> 4 i�':I:1D:
<br /> :� would have produced more than sufficient corn ;o have fattcned all tlie l�ogs run- = begi;:
<br /> ning at large merely for the sake of tlle iall masts. Another tliing retarded the �
<br /> � :mar.�
<br /> early settlement of the county to some extent, �vnich was tl�e fact of speculators ,�,�cco-
<br /> �! and capitalists from the east coming into the county and buying up large tracts _ :;cour.;
<br /> ►' of the best and most a�ailable lands and holding them for an advance in price ''
<br /> � r_� —the
<br /> �� occasioned by the developinent and improvement of the surrounding lands. - t�on �
<br /> � Every person who came into the county to make it his home was welcomed. He • ,_ for ;;:
<br /> � was assisted in every possible way to induce him to become a resident. But the ; - but �.
<br /> �, speculator who brought nothing into tl�e count�� and did notliing whatever to de- ,` portic
<br /> velop the growth of the country by builcling or improvements of any kin�l was . -� and r.�
<br /> �: • not held in every high esteem by the residents generally. He bougl�t his lands tion c
<br /> ,i•.,; .
<br /> '�''; and paid the small annual assessments thereon and waited for other people's labor
<br /> ,.� I, tha[ ?:
<br /> ��:, . and money to enliance tl�e value of his investments. It sl�ould be mentioned, half a
<br /> f , however, in this connection, that Philo Hale, who owned as much if not more find i:
<br /> land in Macon county tllan any one else, was an exception to tl�e rule just stated. �.
<br /> � He owned large bodies of land in tl�e county but he came here and made this his : ,counc;
<br /> home. He was one of the people. He induced otllers to come and did all in his - chi!is
<br /> � . ower to advance the material prosperity of the county. He publisl�ed in the' i
<br /> .all se
<br /> eastern papers flaming accounts of our rollin� prairies, rich soil, etc. The peo- specte�
<br /> �.. ple of the county were often astonished at reau�ng in the ne�vspapers pubiished in They :.
<br /> t e eastern states, g ow�ng accounts of large and enthusiastic mass meehngs, at conta�
<br /> �� which Judge so and so presided and Captain so and so acted as secretary, wlien �vas a't
<br /> ,�, ,.
<br /> i, and where resolutions were passed endorsin� tnis or that local �mprovement and da}� ur.
<br /> ;�;. expressing the gratitude of the people for the rap�d progress in the construction and thc
<br /> �� of a railroad from Chicago to St. Louis ar Ch�cago to New Orleans, or V�n- ` 'ning ar
<br /> �, cennes to Nauvool Of course the meetings and the resolutions passed only ex-:. `�at w.; ',
<br /> ' isted in the mind of i�Ir. Hale and of course, the result to be accom lished was '
<br /> ��,., _ estate �.
<br /> commendable, whether some of the means he resorted to were iustifiable or not. �'for hoi.
<br /> +;� Had he lived to old age, D'Ir. Hale would have been instrumental in aid�ng im- : �.the chil:
<br /> � mensely in the material advancement and improvemeiit of the county. He died .It �voul�
<br /> I,' .
<br /> a. ..
<br /> ; about i836 and was buried on the `Hale farm•,' in Mt. Zion township. His: familv
<br /> t�, grave is said to be unmarked and neglected, although at the time of his.death he. 'hour cai
<br /> �" owned thousands of acres of land in this countv which has since become valuable. didn't h
<br /> p�€.�� "Another obstacle was also in tlte way of the rapid advancement of the coun= still fee:
<br /> i��' try and that was the lack of marlcets for the produce raised, which continued� collisior.
<br /> i. vntil railroad facilities were of�ered by the opening of the Great Western Rai1- thou li ,
<br /> �r. g
<br /> Z5: road (now the T. W. & W. R. R.) and the Illinois Central—the former in i85z, lan id,
<br /> �
<br /> 'Li; � and the latter in r8S4. The hogs anc( cattle sold had to be driven overland to raveled
<br /> '� St. Louis, Chicago and other markets. Tl�ere was of course no sale for corn,or worse fi:
<br /> � comparatively none—and wheat, when haulted to S rin�field, but ve seldom
<br /> � . P o rY gether }�
<br /> realized over thirty-three cents per busllel, so tllat there was no impetus given to and didn
<br /> � � the raisin of ain of an sort exce t for home consum tion. But u on the -
<br /> g � Y P P P school o:
<br /> �? ' construction of the railroads above mentioned, dividing the county into four rziade u
<br /> ' quarters, a new era commenced in the history of l�Iacon county. The fact is, un ined
<br /> �.� ' �
<br /> � that the day the first train of cars ran into Decatur, is the day from which the ought t.
<br /> �,;. material advancement of Macon county dates. That was the Ueginning of our` the conclt
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<br /> �411 ' .
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