The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-04-16
ILLINOIS SOLDIERS ORPHANS HOME
Appeal to the People Of Illinois in
BehaIf Of the Illinois Soldiers
Orphans Homo.

The executive committee of the board of
trustees of the Illinois Soldiers Orphans
Home, would state TO the citizens of Illinois,
that while such homes have already been
prepared in other states, and the orphans OF
the soldiers from said states who died IN de-
fence of their country during the late rebel
lion, are now gathered into them, and there
fed, clothed. and are being educated, very
little has yet been accomplished in Illinois
towards the establishments of so noble . CHAR
ity.
Thousands of the orphans of our soldiers
are now scattered over the state, many in ev-
cry county, suffering from extreme poverty
and total neglect, who are virtually excluded
from our schools for want of the necessary
clothing to make them comfortable and to
place them in condition willingly to appear
with other and more favored children.
Thus the orphans of those soldiers who
abandoned the pursuits of peace and the en-
dearments of home, and freely gave even lite
for our country, are growing up in Ignorance,
neglect and suffering, at the very time when
ample provision should have been completed
tor their safety, comfort and instruction, and
during the only period in which such provis-
ion can accomplish any good result.
If 7so,p provided with homo and proper
instruction, through our instrumentality.
these sons and daughters of our sacrificed
patriots NAV be saved, and will grow up use
full and patriotic citizens, and become the
right arm of safety to our country In any tu-
ture national struggle. If now neglected.
these children must grow up In ignorance
and wickedness, and be taught by terrible
experience, the ingratitude of a country for
which their fathers sacrificed their comfort
their property and their lives.
By an sct of the legislature the board of
trustees "are empowered to purchase and
hold, or to receive by donation, gilt. or grant
all such tract, or tracts, or parcels OF land,
not exceeding one thousand acres, as may be
necessary 1.-the uses, purposes and objects
of said incorporation, and to the establish
ment and maintainsncs OF an Orphans
Home and TO buil1 and erect all suoh struct-
ures, buildings, houses, edihces, and tene-
ments thereon as they may deem best for the
purposes aforesaid, and from time to time to
| enlarge, repair, and add to the same"
By the same act the governor Is empower
ed to appoint five persons as commissioners
to locate said Home who are in no ways
connected with said corporation, whose duty
shall be, whenever they shall be requested
! bv the trustees aforesaid so to do, to give no
| tice in at least FIVE different newspapers pub
| lished In this state, of their intention to To-
cate the same and that ell citizens of any
| city, county or place, may submit thsir pro-
posals for said location and 1t shall be the
| dutv of said commissioners to TX the location
of said Home at whatever place they may
| conclude will prove most advantageous 10
| said institution, and secure the greatest ben
| e6ts thereto and to the inmates thereof"
| As soon as the sum of fifty thousand dol.
| lars have been subscribed the commissioners
| will be required to locate the Home
The object of the incorporation is declared
| to be to provide "Home," for the nurture
and education, without charge, of all midi
| gent children of soldiers who have served IL
the armies of the Union during the presen
| rebellion, and have been disabled by disease
| or wounds therein, or have died or been kill
ed in said service.
The Home" is to be an enduring monu
| nent to the patriotism, lberality, and graft
tude of our people.
An agent for each county in the state /,
now being selected and commissioned to pre-
sent the object of this appeal clearly befor'
the public. Each agent is required to MAKE
and keep record of every sum contributed
through him and of the donors name to re
port these and to forward all monies collected
promptly, to j. W. King, treasurer, at Jack
sonuilIe, semi-month ly, and the secretary Il
required to publish these names and dona
tons in full from time TO time.
The noble state of Illinois should be among
the nrst IN the onlou 70 mShe ahpio pAo'le
ION in honor of her soldiers, and for the com
fort, instruction, and safety of their orpha
and INDECENT children.
Is she willing to fail in this duty or vii
. she yield only tardy response, that shal
place her among the most delinquent?
GUsrAvUs KoERNER,
JOHN P. REYNOLDS,
GEORGE T. ALLEN,
JOSEPH ". KING,
Executive Committee.
JOHN NJ SNYDER. Secretary.
Springfield, Ill, March %, 1866.
This object is one which commends itse