July 13, 2020 Thank you, Barbara Schock, for sharing your extraordinary gift of these vignettes of Galesburg & 19th century American history.
"Illinois" By Barbara Schock
The tune for our state song derives from a ballad titled
“Baby Mine.” It was composed by Archibald Johnston (?-1887). The song wasn’t
particularly popular even in 1870, the time of its composition. The lyrics were
written by Charles H. Chamberlain (1841-1897). He was a veteran of the Civil
War. The lyrics refer to that war and may have limited meaning to the residents
of the state today. In the early 1890s Chicago was trying to convince Congress
to give permission for the World’s Columbian Exposition to be held on the shores
of Lake Michigan. The wrangling took so long that the celebration of Christopher
Columbus’ arrival in this hemisphere was delayed beyond the actual 400th
anniversary of the discovery by a year. Chamberlain wrote the lyrics and set them to the tune in an
effort to persuade the public and Congress that the most convenient and
attractive place to hold the world’s fair was in Chicago. By that time the
railroads from all across the country were exchanging vast amounts of freight
and passengers in Chicago. After women gained the voting privilege in 1920, Florence
Fifer Bohrer (1877-1960) of McLean County ran for a seat in the Illinois State
Senate. She had been active in county politics and helped to establish the
McLean County Tuberculosis Sanitarium. Mrs. Bohror was the daughter of Joseph W. Fifer (1840-1938),
a veteran of the Civil War. He served as a private and was wounded during the
siege of Vicksburg, MS. He had been elected governor in 1889 and served one
term. Fifer didn’t support his daughter’s campaign for election to
the Senate, but his wife and son-in-law did support her. She unseated the
incumbent and was elected to a second term as well. During her first term Mrs. Bohrer introduced a bill to adopt
“Illinois” as the state song. It passed on June 30, 1925. Over the years many school children
in the state have sung “Illinois” during patriotic exercises. Some remember it
fondly; others have no recollection of it. Occasionally, individuals suggest
creating a new state song or writing new lyrics to another tune. Below are
the lyrics to “Illinois,” the state song. You can decide for yourself…. Listen to a rendition sung by Denise
Yates (MP3) The words were written by C.H.
Chamberlain. Lyrics By thy rivers gently flowing,
Illinois, Illinois, From a wilderness of prairies,
Illinois, Illinois, When you heard your country calling,
Illinois, Illinois, Not without thy wondrous story,
Illinois, Illinois,
|