Fairbury was founded in 1857 when the Peoria & Oquawka Railroad laid its tracks from Peoria to the Indiana border.
The first newspaper published in Fairbury was the Intelligencer in 1863. Unfortunately, only one article survives today from this newspaper. In 1958, the Blade republished this sole surviving Intelligencer article. This fascinating 1865 Intelligencer article recounts the development of Fairbury during its first eight years. The article is reprinted below:
"This growing town, where we have located and where we propose publishing the Intelligencer in the future, is situated on the T.P. & W. R.R., twelve miles east of the junction with Chicago, Alton-St. Louis R.R. The original town plot was laid out by Cropsey and Chanute in 1857.
The first business house was opened about the 1st of January, 1858, by William Mitchell. Soon after, Vanemman and Fitch erected a warehouse and located as grain merchants. In the spring of 1858, Pogue, Amsbarry, and Thomas opened up a dry goods store in the building now occupied by Jones & Amsbary.
During the year, improvements went on rapidly. The Morris House and two boarding houses were erected; Patton & Dodds opened a grocery store; the depot was located and a building erected by subscriptions from the citizens of the town and vicinity; a lumber yard was established by John Coomer; a drug store by John Blackburn; a wagon making and repairing shop by Smith & Hall; and a blacksmith shop by Jacob Hunt. A Methodist church edifice was erected during the same year.
In 1859 a business house was opened by Remington & Gillett in the building now occupied by J. P. and W. S. McDowell. The flouring mill now owned and run so successfully by R. B. Wilson, was erected by W. G. McDowell, and many other smaller improvements were made.
In 1860, Pogue and Co. erected the large warehouse now run by Dresser & Co., which is such an advantage to the farming community, and a fine two-story schoolhouse sufficient to accommodate over two hundred scholars, with four teachers selected.
In 1861, another store was opened by Strevell & Oliver in the building now occupied by H. Remington. Hulsey, Fulton & Co. opened a new drug store, and a Presbyterian church was built. Thus, year after year, our town has improved in business houses with proportionate growth in residence, until we now number five dry goods stores, one clothing store, with a fine stock of boots and shoes; four grocery stores, three hardware stores; two furniture stores and all other branches of business proportionately represented.
The amount of capital invested is perhaps larger for the size of the place than is to be found in any other town in this portion of the state. Businessmen do business upon their own capital, mainly, and do a safe as well as an extensive business. The bank of McDowell, Lyman & Co., is a valuable institution for our town while it, no doubt, yields a fine income to the firm. Through this bank, exchange can be had for doing business in any direction, and the unquestioned integrity of the several members of the firm is a guarantee to those who find it convenient to do business with them.
An important feature of our prosperity remains to be noticed. We refer to the great supply of coal, not only for ourselves but for our neighbors who, in the winter, at least, are quite dependent upon us. In 1859, Mr. J. L. Marsh & Co. bored for coal just west of the town, and being successful in finding a workable vein of coal, a shaft was immediately sunk. At a little over two hundred feet from the surface, a vein four feet and ten inches thick was struck, and the coal was found to be of a superior quality.
The town plot has been growing with the growth of business and the demand for more room. In 1859, J. L. Marsh laid out an addition of 80 acres on the west. In 1863, Caleb Patton laid out an addition to the South. In 1864 A. L. Pogue extended the town plot still farther south, and recently I. P. McDowell has laid out an addition on the Northeast and John Atkins on the South east. Over 300 acres are laid out in town lots, and still, the cry is for more room, and A. P. Straight, we learn, is about to yield of his farm lying on the southwest. We congratulate those who own land anywhere near Fairbury. They can soon sell-off in town lots.
The morals of the people are well cared for, and those who prefer good, moral society can have it, while we are sorry to say, there is a chance for the accommodation of those whose preference are otherwise. There are four organized religious societies in the place. The Methodist Church with Rev. J. G. Evans as pastor, has, we learn, a membership of 150 or upwards, and a large congregation. Their Sunday school, N. E. Lyman, the Superintendent, is said to be the finest in the county, having over 200 scholars, and being conducted with ability, and so as to make it interesting to all. The Presbyterian pulpit, is filled by Rev. W. T. Hempstead, a man of education and possessing quite a poetical gift.
The Baptist society is erecting a church which they hope to complete soon though they are not without any regular pastor, but have fortunately secured the services of Rev. Mr. Karnes for a short time while they are struggling to finish their house of worship. The Christian (Campbellite) society has for the present the service of H. Spence as pastor. Those wishing to attend Divisional Services have an opportunity of doing so where pulpits are ably filled.
But while the churches have been making laudable efforts to moralize the community, there have been here, and still are, influences at work to corrupt the youth, and paralyze the efforts of the good. That bane of human of society, the drinking saloon, has done its mischief here as well as elsewhere. We trust that the day is not far removed when these shall be completely routed out of our pleasant little town. Drinking saloons, even though they pass under the name of "beer saloons," will make drunkards. We bid God speed to the noble band of templars here who are battling the evil of intemperance in all of its hideous forms. We shall hereafter have something to say about some needed improvements."
(Dale Maley's weekly history article on Fairbury News is sponsored by Dr. Charlene Aaron)
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