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The Saint Charles (Illinois) Review, June 1, 1878
St. Charles to Decatur
At 3:20 p.m., Monday, May 20, 1878, I left the "little store around the corner." By ten minutes to four we were at Geneva, where we met Ernest Ward, who, like ourself, was bound for Decatur. There being no freight going to the Junction, Conductor Reed kindly carried us over. After stopping at every station and railroad crossing (save one), between the Junction and Chicago, we arrived at Wells street depot at 7:10 p.m.
The time till 9 o'clock was spent in business and attendance upon a "young mens" meeting at the Y.M.C.A. rooms.
At 9:30 took the train on the Illinois Central road, for Decatur. Right here let me say — always have printed letter-heads, whatever your business. they cost but little more than the plain paper, and are so handy, especially if you are a poor or careless writer, your name and post office address can at least be made out. Having one along as I was about to take the train save me five dollars and twenty cents; as much or more than the whole ream cost!
'Twas night! so the changing scene of forest, field and farm-house was hid from view - nothing to do but sleep - so sleep I did; except that we had a baby songster, who gave us a tune occasionally. I pity a mother alone with a crying baby.
Four a.m. Tuesday found us at Decatur, 164 miles south-west from Chicago. Outside of Chicago, this place is the greatest railroad centre of the State, eleven roads entering it. This gives little Macon county the largest railroad mileage of any county in the State, leaving out Cook.
At sunrise we strolled through the streets, — the roses being in full bloom, and the peaches as large as hickory nuts. The city is somewhat like Springfield in its build — no stone — brick being the great building material. Side-walks in business streets of the same; in residence part wood, about half and half, oak and pine. All the streets are lined with beautiful shade trees. The city is well built, and the average of dwelling houses is high — some very fine ones — the majority good — very few poor ones. The wholesale trade of the city is considerable; the manufacturing interests are large; two daily papers, good-sized ones, and well supported. The number of weeklies I do not know, but there are two at least.
All the principal denominations, and some small ones, are represented by church buildings, some of them, fine ones, noticeably, the 1st M.E. church, costing $80,000, but which is cursed with $16,000 debt. When will churches cease weakening their usefulness with debts?
The city is lighted with gas, supplied with water, by the Holly system, from the Sangamon river, one mile distant. The Union depot is some little distance from the business part of the city, and is reached by a horse railroad.
Among the manufacturers are large flouring mills, carriage works, steam engine and boiler works, woolen mills, flax-rope and bag works, &c., &c. The big little thing that is made here, is the hog ringer of H.W. Hill. This little article and its making deserves more than a passing notice.
Five years ago Mr. Hill was working on a farm near here, when he invented the hog ring which is now used in every State in the Union, fro Maine to California. He had no money. Mr. C.P. Housom, a patent right lawyer, put his claim through for him. They then formed a co-partnership and commenced business with a cash capital of fifty-nine dollars. They now use $30,000 a year. they have made money — Mr. Hill broke ground this week for a $10,000 or $12,000 house. They had small hand machines of Mr. Hill's own make, when they began, and these two men could make 4,000 rings or ringers a day. The machines they now use are driven by steam, and one boy can make and pack 72,000 a day. They employ 11 hands. They are the largest advertisers of any firm, who make a speciality of any kind, in the country. They do their own printing, run two Hoe cylinder presses, one of which can run 2,500 impressions an hours. They have mailed four tons of matter this spring and Mr. Hill left for chicago the day we passed through the works, to buy seven tons more of paper for the summer's run. The little item of rubber bands that you can buy at the little store around the corner for fifteen cents a gross, has cost them $60000. These they use instead of paste around their circulars when mailed.
They will soon publish a book — "That Hog of Mine" — the cuts of which are designed by Nast, and the book written by the author of "Helen's Babies;" some will tell you by "Nasby." Mr. Housom says, that when they started, every dollar they could get, they put it at once into printer's ink. they now have as good a printing office of their own as there is in the city.
They now make 144,000 rings a day, and have made in all, 55,000,000 rings. The rings are counted as they come from the machines, and a boy boxes them at once.
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This newspaper item posted as a courtesy. I am not related to nor researching this family and have no further information.
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