1955 - This is Knox County - Illinois Ancestors

ing locomotive with a di amond- shaped smokestack. As theengineer was about to climb into the locomotive cab, PresidentBlanchard stepped forward, and, in a severe, moralNew England tone, commanded that the locomotive be " putup " for the day and not used to profane the holy Sabbath.Whereupon the smoke-begrimed engineer replied: " You can goto hell and mind your own business. I'll take my train outas ordered. "Many local historians point to this incident as beingone of the most significent in the history of Knox County.For It symbolized the end of the strict, moral, religiousatmosphere first brought to Galesburg by the Reverend Mr.Gale and his followers and a later influx of New Englandersand the beginning of a freer, more cosmopolitan, moredemocratic era that came with the arrival of the first railroadand the first industrial plants.It is agreed by all local historians that the coming ofthe railroad to Galesburg in 1854 was of the greatest importancein the development of the city and county. Afterthe railroad arrived, Galesburg quickly evolved into anindustrial and shipping center. In 1850, four years beforethe Central Military Tract Railroad was built through KnoxCounty, Galesburg had a population of 880; two years afterthe road was constructed, Galesburg' s population jumped to4,000.15