Illinois State Normal University - Index Yearbook (Normal, IL)

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Jesse W. Fell. ESSE W. FELL was born November io, 1808, in Chester county, Pennsylvania. His ancestors emigrated from Eng- land with William Penn. His mother, a daughter of joshua Roman, was 'C an acceptable preacher of the Society of Friends and an associate with Lucretia Mott in philanthropic work. Jesse was one of nine children, seven of whom survived him. The combined ages of the eight at the time of his death amounted to nearly six hundred years. Mr. Fell's early days were spent in hard work on a farm, but, bent on obtaining an education, he entered a boarding school at Downingtown, kept by the famous joshua Hoopes. Here, for two years, he supported himself and paid his tuition by working about the garden and accompanying and aiding Prof. Hoopes on his botanical excursions. Then followed nearly two years' experience as a teacher, after which he set out to find a home in the VVest. By the time he had reached Steubenville, Ohio, he found it necessary to look for employment, and was glad to accept a student's place with the law Hrm of Stokely 85 Marsh. At the end of two years, declining a partnership with Gen. Stokely, he proceeded west on foot. The next winter, having found near the Mackinaw the family of William Brown, whom he had known near his Pennsylvania home, he was per- suaded to remain and ff teach the children. Une of these, Miss Hester Brown, in 1838, became his wife. This couple became the parents of eight children, of whom six are still living: Henry C., Mrs. W. O. Davis, Mrs. Clara V. Fyffe, Mrs. A. F. Treakle, and Misses Alice and Fannie. In the winter of 1832-3, McLean county had just been organ- ized, and Bloomington was beginning to attract attention. Mr. Fell opened an office in the infant town, and became Blooming- ton's first lawyer. He was appointed commissioner of school lands. Within three years, having little taste for the practice of law, he turned over his law books and papers to David Davis- afterward known as the honorable judge and distinguished

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Senator-and became interested in several promising real estate ventures. The crash of 1837, however, left him no alternative but to return to the practice of law. And now he had the good fortune to become intimately acquainted with several of the legal lights of that day, among them Abraham Lincoln, who was a frequent visitor at his home. But it seemed that no attractions could hold Mr. Fell to his profession. His fondness for trees drew him, in 1845, to a fruit farm at Payson, near Quincy. Five years later we find him in Bloomington, in the editorial chair of the Obserzfer, the lineal ancestor of the Bloomington -Pazzfagrrzplz. This brought him once more into active public life in McLean county. Urged to become a candidate for congress, his unwillingness to hold office led him to decline. Early in the fifties the Illinois Central railroad was building, and Mr. Fell lent substantial aid in preventing its diversion to Peoria. He was also active in securing the right of way for the Chicago 85 Alton railroad, which was completed from Alton to Bloomington in 1853. In '54 it was settled that the I. C. and C. 8: A. roads would intersect each other about two miles north of Bloomington, and lVlr. Fell, as the leading spirit, platted the town of North Bloomington Qnow Normalj. Soon afterward he began the erection of a residence on the hil-I, and in 1856 moved his family and became a citizen of the new town. In 1857 the bill passed the Illinois legislature creating the State Board of Education, and authorizing that body to locate and establish a normal school. That this institution was secured to McLean county and located in Normal, is due to the energy and enthusiasm of Mr. Fell, who explained the advantages of the proposed school, awoke a public sentiment in its favor, and was chief in gaining the donations necessary, and in presenting the offer made by McLean county and by public spirited citizens of this vicinity. This was one of the greatest efforts of his life, upon which he centered all his powers of organization and advocacy. His personal contribution Cabout 8Q,OOOD was the largest on the remarkable list, which aggregated 8I4I,725. It should also be stated that Mr. Fell's work in planting trees, and otherwise beautifying the town site, aided greatly in securing the location. His influence was scarcely less noteworthy in securing the location of the Soldiers' Orphans' Home at Normal, and that of the State Reform School at Pontiac. One provision of the charter of the town of Normal forever forbids the sale of intoxi-