JULY 4, 1876

From: History of Hamilton County, Illinois
Pub. 1887 – Goodspeed; p. 301

               July 4, 1876, was celebrated in a befitting manner at McLeansboro.  The morning was ushered in by the firing of 100 guns, which was heard all over the county.  By 9 o’clock the citizens were crowding into town.  About the same time the Enfield Cornet Band arrived and was the admiration of the crowd.  The Flannigan Precinct delegation came in 600 strong, in a driving storm of rain.  After a time, however, the rain ceased to fall, and Col. H. W. Hall, Capt. L. W. Cremeens, and Lieuts. A. A. Lasater and John Coker rallied the soldiers in the public square.  In the procession the soldiers of the Mexican war and the war of the Rebellion followed in the rear of the soldiers of the Black Hawk war and of the pioneer settlers, and marched to the fair grounds.  About 6,000 people were present.  Prayer was offered by Elder Calvin Allen; the Declaration of Independence was read by C. G. Cloud; poems were read by Mrs. Fannie M. Parker and Mrs. Emma J. Deitz; the oration of the day was delivered by Leonida Walker; and outlines of the history of Hamilton County, were read by Judge T. B. Stelle.  The marshal of the day was Elzathan M. Bowers, and the president was Hon. Robertson S. Anderson.