William R Jewell and the Danville Commercial News Legacy
Native of Curry Township and veteran printer William R Jewell founded Danville in 1866 and shaped The Commercial News and The Danville News. The article traces his career, Civil War service, and leadership in Eastern Illinois journalism. Jewell helped merge papers, led early daily operations, and remained a civic figure as postmaster and longtime politician ally to Joseph G. Cannon. He passed into retirement after decades of influence in Danville.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Curry Township
Danville
Ills
Illinois
William R. Jewell
Scott Jewell
Jewell
Joseph G. Cannon
Commercial News
Wm. R
Robinson
William Ray Jewell
Eastern
Ilinois
Commercial- News
Danville News
Danville Commercial
Danville Commercial- News
Richard H. Johnson
Roselawn
Illinois Printing Company
Main Street
First National Bank
Dale
News
Harrison
W. J. Parrett
Noted Indiana Politician and Soldier Jewell Remembered
Mr Jewell a veteran of the Seventh Indiana infantry who later edited regional histories. He studied at Butler College and worked as a legal agent in Lafayette before returning to Danville to help found The News. He led Vermilion County Republican politics for 38 years and championed fair primaries.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
News
Jewell
Benjamin Franklin
Wabash Courier
Terre Haute
Judge Cunard
Mr. Jewell
Richard W. Thompson
Indiana
Moses Soule
Butler College
Irvington
Indianapolis
Lincoln
72Nd
Indiana Infantry
North
Union
South
Govrnor Morton
Jewel
Indianapoli
Ema
Ira G. Grover
Seventh Indiana, Infantry
Morely and Marsteller
Danville
Johnson
72Nd Indiana Regiment
7Th Indiana
John C. Fremont
Garfield
Harrison
McKinley
Illinois
Vermillion County
Dandelions and Prohibition Echo in Uncle Ezra Jest
A fragmented humorous piece features Uncle Ezra Kahn and a string of satirical quips about prohibition, prices, fashion, and social quirks. It riffs on lawsuits, gasol ine costs, shrinking skirts, and oddities from Eve to modern vanity, ending with a playful note on love’s delicate growth.
Curious Bits and Births from the Week
Ragged lines describe a talk on chicken and strange things, a blunted Fishermen remark, a blind man missing a sight, and a comment on chiggers. A political note mentions Mr. Debs and a presidency bid. A birth is recorded: Violet Lotsa Shaffer born last Tuesday near Shelburn to Mr and Mrs Alee Shaffer. Mrs Shaffer is daughter of Mrs James H Stuck of Shelburn.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Alee’ Shaffer
Near Shelburn
Violet
Lotsa
Shaffer
James
H. Stuck
Shelburn
Edsel Bostick and Dave Rogers Reach Kansas City Trip Update
Edsel Bostick and Dave Rogers arrived in Kansas City on Sunday after leaving Thursday for Phenix Arizona by auto. They faced very bad Illinois roads and needed a spade and horses at times.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Edsel Bostick
Dave Rogers
Phenix
Arizona
Kansas City
High Grove
Cal
Also Mentioned on This Page
Dr. Fisher
Optometrist
Seitz Jewelry Store
South Side Square
Ezra Kahn
Brother
Baby
Old Man Heck
Old Man Brown
Bryan
Baccus
Eve
Carranza
Mexico
Henry Hope
Richard K. McDuff
Ali Athena
Strapa
Ser Ice
Gouchenour
Sullivan County
J. E. Burroughs & Sons
West Wall Street
John A. Mattix
Brett
Harris St
Lewis Chowning
Smock’s Drug
Sullivan
Colorado
W. H. Eaton
Sherman Building
J. H. Neff
East Jackson Street
Rastus
Schicken
Debs
Ats
White Oxfords
Maxwell-Brown Shoe Co
North Side
Group Hight
Indiana Bankers’ Association
Washington
Ransom W. Akin
State Association
Mary
Powell
Bloomfield
Theo Powell
Eastern Star
J. R. Brown
Grand Lodge
Mary Miles
Henry Weissenbach
Columbus
Ohio
Miles
Florida
William Crowder Sr
Roger Park
Chicago
Richard Park
Park
America Express Company
China
Tsupervision
Dr. Ellis
Terre Haute Chiropidist
Maxwell-Brown Shoe
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!