JOURNAL OF

THE ILLINOIS STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Double Number

Published Quarterly by the Society at Springfield, Illinois.

Applications for membership in the Society may be sent to the Secretary of the Society, Mrs. Jessie Palmer Weber, Springfield, Illinois.

Membership Fee, One Dollar-Paid Annually

VOL. XVII

Life Membership, $25.00

ILLINOIS DAY, DECEMBER THIRD, OBSERVED BY THE ILLINOIS STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

The Illinois State Historical Society celebrated “Illinois Day", the 105th anniversary of the admission of Illinois into the Federal Union, on Monday evening, December third, 1923, with a meeting in the auditorium of the Centennial Memorial building, which was largely attended despite the inclement weather.

The principal address of the evening was given by Rev. Frederick F. Shannon, pastor of Central Church, Chicago, who had for his subject, "Some great deeds and dates in Illinois." Doctor Shannon, who is a most eloquent speaker, told of the great events in Illinois history from the first settlement of the state.

Mrs. Charles E. Herrick of Chicago, State Regent of the Daughters of the American Revolution, made an address in

presenting to Miss Alice Havens, a pupil of the Champaign High School, the gold medal awarded as the first prize in the contest conducted by the State Historical Society and the Illinois chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution for the best essay by pupils of the eighth to twelfth grades of the schools of the state on "Early Travel and Methods of Transportation in Illinois." It was announced that pupils in twenty-six counties had entered the contest and that silver medals had been awarded to the writer of the best essay in each county.

Francis Scott of Pleasant Plains was the winner in Sangamon county, Pauline Beekman of Petersburg in Menard county, and Mary Pound of Montgomery county.

Mrs. Gary Westenberger of Springfield sang a group of Illinois songs, accompanied by Ruliff B. Stratton, and Mrs. S. B. Harry of Taylorville also sang.

After the meeting in the auditorium a reception was held in the State Historical Library on the third floor of the Centennial building. The guests were received in the Library by the officers of the Society, headed by Dr. Otto L. Schmidt, of Chicago, the president, Rev. Frederick F. Shannon, Mrs. Charles E. Herrick of Chicago.

Refreshments were served in the large room on the mezzanine floor, the decorations being in Christmas colors.

ILLINOIS STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY HOLDS TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL MEETING IN THE AUDITORIUM OF THE CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL BUILDING.

The twenty-fifth annual meeting of the Illinois State Historical Society convened at 2:30 o'clock Thursday afternoon, May 22, in the auditorium of the Centennial Memorial Building. Dr. Otto L. Schmidt, president of the Society, presided. The first address of the afternoon was given by Miss Harriett Congdon, principal of Monticello Seminary, on

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the "Early History of Monticello Seminary," and was a very interesting resume of the history of this early school. In the audience were many alumnae of the Monticello Seminary, among them being Mrs. John M. Palmer, Mrs. Martha Gilson Herdman, Mrs. Gideon R. Brainerd, and many others.

"Old Time Camp Meetings in Central Illinois" was the subject of the next address, by Rev. John H. Ryan of Pontiac, Illinois, who has spent much time and research on this phase of the early religious history of the State.

Judge William H. Gemmill of Chicago spoke on "Two Forgotten Heroes of the Illinois Country-Jean Vincennes and Joe Hamilton Davies.'

Miss Margaret E. Babb of Homer, who quite recently had spent some time at Old Cahokia, spoke on "The Mansion House of Cahokia and its Builder, Nicholas Jarrot." Miss Babb wore on the occasion, a dress, the history of which she gave as follows: "The material came from France in 1776 and was one of the gowns in the wedding trousseau of Feliciti Janis when she married Vital Beauvais in 1776. It was originally worn with a fartheringale, and was consequently very wide. Later it was cut in two and made in the second empire style as it is now for her two daughters, the eldest of whom, Nicholas Jarrot's wife, handed it down to her eldest daughter, and she wore it when married to her second husband in the Cahokia Mansion in 1828.

This daughter, Hortense Jarrot Brackets, lived in this house eighty years, died there, and is buried in the Cahokia church yard. The dress was handed on down to her daughter, Maria, who married Judge Joseph Sibley in 1849. She died at the age of 93 in Quincy in 1914. The dress is now owned by her daughter, Miss Julia Sibley, of Quincy, Illinois.

Miss Agnes Lloyd gave a group of songs, accompanied by R. Albert Guest.

Dr. Charles B. Johnson of Champaign followed with an address on "Harnessing the Illinois Streams in Pioneer Days."

The annual address delivered Thursday evening was given by Prof. Willard R. Jillson, state geologist of Kentucky, on "Early Explorations in the Mississippi Valley." The same evening a beautiful American flag was presented to the Society by the Illinois Woman's Relief Corps, the presentation speech being made by Mrs. Dora L. North, State president, Farmer City, Illinois.

Mr. Henry B. Hamilton of Chicago presented to the Society an oil portrait of Gurdon S. Hubbard. Miss Caroline M. McIlvaine of the Chicago Historical Society was to have made the presentation speech, but in her absence her address was read by Rev. William E. Barton of Oak Park.

Mrs. Gary Westenberger sang a group of Illinois songs, and Miss Diamond Vadakin sang a number of beautiful songs. A reception followed in the library, and refreshments were served in the large room on the mezzanine floor by a committee of ladies of the Illinois State Historical Society. The committee in charge consisted of the following ladies: Mrs. Paul Selby, Mrs. Sarah DeHaven Roosa, Mrs. I. G. Miller, Mrs. F. R. Jamison, Mrs. G. F. Stericker, Mrs. J. B. Searcy, Mrs. James S. King, Mrs. John R. Leib, Mrs. Burton M. Reid, Mrs. Arthur Prince, Miss Margaret Robinson, Miss Alice Orendorff, assisted by the young ladies of the State Historical Library and the Illinois State Library.

On Friday morning the Directors' meeting was held in the office of the Secretary, followed by the business meeting in the Centennial Auditorium. The following officers of the Society were elected for the ensuing year:

President-Dr. Otto L. Schmidt, Chicago.

Vice Presidents-George A. Lawrence, Galesburg; L. Y. Sherman, Springfield; Richard Yates, Springfield; Ensley Moore, Jacksonville; Charles L. Capen, Bloomington; Evarts Boutell Greene, New York City, N. Y.

Board of Directors-E. J. James, Urbana; Jessie Palmer Weber, Springfield; Charles H. Rammelkamp, Jacksonville; George W. Smith, Carbondale; Andrew Russel, Jacksonville; Walter Colyer, Albion; J. A. James, Evanston; H. W. Clen