History of Springfield, Illinois, its attractions as a home and advantages for business, manufacturing, etc. Pub. under the auspices of the Springfield board of trade, by J. C. Power.

54'8PRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, AND
UNIVERSALIST. Pastor. The Sabbath School numbers 60
Organized by Rev. L. C. Marvin, Pas- scholars, and H. F. Smith is Superintor, in 1852, and instituted in July, 1857. tendent. Notwithstanding this church
The society numbers 100 members, one- has had to contend against the most adhalf of which number being members of verse circumstances and difficulties, it is
the church. The church was dedicated now in a flourishing and prosperous conDecember 24, 1858. Rev. Mr. Lombard, dition.
CITY SCHOOLS.
By H. C. Watson.
In the list of advantages possessed by order and arrangement of affairs. "The
Springfield, none is greater than that of boys of the period," in those days, obher institutions of learning, her temples tained their supplies of "book larnin"
of instruction and her seats of popular -meagre and small as they were —from
and general education. Conforming to sources not so high or so grand, but far
the requirements of the age of progress different indeed. One of the earliest,
and bf advancement, readily appreciating teachers who initiated those boys into
and acknowledging the fact that a peo- the mysteries of reading and writing,
ple, to be free, intelligent and useful, and led them through the dark mystemust be educated, our city government rious ways of arithmetic and grammar,
has sought, by extending a liberal hand, was Beaumont Parks, Esq., (forever sancto foster and promote within our midst tified be his memory.) Plain and simple
the glorious and beneficent scheme of as the most artless boy under his direcpopular education. Springfield has said tion, he was one of the best, most honest,
unto her citizens, educate your children, and conscientious of teachers. Filled
instruct your youth, without money and with a love of his profession, imbued
without price-thus placing within the witha strong desire to instruct the heart
reach of all, even the lowest, humblest and mind of the youth committed to his
and poorest, the greatest blessing a gov- control, that they might walk aright the
ernment can bestow-a good and gener- pathway of life, he labored faithfully
ous education. and diligently to discharge his duty.
In the earlier days of Springfield, ere Possessed of a fine cultered mind, and of
her limits bad been extended square attainments decidedly rare in those days,
miles, and her population was decidedly he pursued his unostentatious calling,
small, the educational facilities were not asking not for public praise or high
of the most magnificent description. No sounding plaudits, but only for the satpalatial school houses then reared their isfaction of knowing he had discharged
stately fronts within our limits, no school his duties faithfully and well. Some of
board supervised the movements of the our most influential and prominent citieducators of youth, and no army of zens were his pupils, and the powerful
teachers, patient, toiling instructors of influence of his teachings have been exthe youthful mind were to be found erted indeed for good. Only a few weeks
within the boundaries of the city. These ago and he was called hence, full of
things belong to another day, are part honors and of years: And although he
and parcel of another system, another lives not, his deeds remain.