Jesse+Fell+Poems

Post Your Jesse Fell Poems Here! (Title should be in heading 1 font; byline and poem should be in normal font.) = = The Loving Botanist By Candice Cuppini Born on a farm amongst eight siblings, My Quaker parents said I should be a tailor. I refused to be a tailor, and went to boarding school instead. the school was the initial fertilizer to my love of botany.

Age twenty was the right time, to travel far away. Bloomington was the right place, for me to become the town’s first lawyer.

I found land speculation to be my passion, and a means to live by. I no longer needed the means of being a laywer, I sold my practice to David Davis.

Speculating of land allowed me to develop Normal, Clinton, Pontiac, Lexington, Towanda and LeRoy.

“Fort Jesse” was my home, which I was able to obtain by my career in land speculation.

Developing Normal School, renamed ISU, with Abraham Lincoln and developing The Daily Pantagraph were my most noted successes.

I pursued my dreams throughout the latest years, But on a cold February morning in 1887, I lost my battle with pneumonia. I was honored by The Daily Pantagraph, and put to rest in Evergreen cemetery. 

= = = = =I Saw His Strength= By Katy Biddle

I promoted him at the convention. Over and over again I endorsed him. Assuring people of his worth, His competence. His strength.

I convinced him to run, That he could succeed. That he could win the fight. That people would like him. That he was strong enough.

His strength was quiet. It whispered. But it was monumental. Something that the country could cling to. That they could rely on.

I watched as he took the country by storm. I watched him win. They thought he couldn’t do it. That he didn’t have the strength. I knew he was strong enough. =Jesse W. Fell= by Nick Hutchins

Born a Quaker of Pennsylvania To parents of rural stock It was decided early that I was to be a tailor. I had no interest, however, In a trade quite so boring “An education”, I thought “Is the path that I’ll pursue.” After many years of study, I became a teacher To pay my way out west where opportunity was at hand. After I had made it out To Bloomington and settled down, I saw an opportunity in education. A Normal school was to be built, And the location was undecided, So I set about to raise the funds to bring it to our town. Many generous donations were made, And we far out bid the competition, And once the bonds were signed and sealed The deal was made and the school was ours.

** My Trees **
By Tom Guttschow Nature, The world’s greatest gift Where we all come from Where we all must return This is why I planted my trees To beautify and transform this town

Planted on the Normal School campus Which I brought to the area with Lincoln’s help

Lincoln, a great friend to me and Davis We traveled together often I convinced him to run for president We won him the republican nomination Our devious plan to pack the house

After our countries dark civil war I fought For integration in our schools until my death February 25, 1887, my beautiful town of Normal, My trees, My body, My resting place ** Jesse Fell ** By: Cole Rosenbaum Was Davis really that ignorant? Thinking all was well after the nomination I was aware how well he knew Abe, But what he did not know, Or more so what he denied to accept, Was how Abe would hold up, Against the fierce politicians in Washington. On the other hand, I Permitted myself to look to the future, Instead of dwelling on the past accomplishments. Worrying about Abe’s future. Enthusiasm flowed in my blood, As well as concern for the coming task, The presidential election. The work necessary to win the election, Rattled my bones. I was up to the task, But only with the help of Davis.

 =Fell in Bloomington = By: Haley Cook I was born to Jesse and Rebecca Fell on November 10, 1808 Being a Quaker, I had to learn a skill. My parents thought I was too weak to be anything but a tailor, But I never followed that path.

I was a lawyer by trade, but not by choice. I have never had much passion for the law but it paid the bills. I spent a great deal of time in the Bloomington- Normal area And was the first and only lawyer here for quite a while.

I became the Commissioner of Schools in McLean County, That’s how I met my good buddy, Abe. You might know him as Abraham Lincoln. I convinced good old Abe to run for the presidency, and I myself was his campaign manager.

I quit practicing law and started Bloomington’s first newspaper, //The Bloomington Observer// and //McLean County Advocate.// That didn’t work out too well, it closed a year and a half later.

With my own money and the help of Abe, I started the Normal School, now known as Illinois State University. Because of all the things I was doing, people kept trying to get me to run for office. I refused and took the backseat to Abe.

I helped form the Illinois republican party, Where I talked up Lincoln every chance I got. He won the presidency, And I got to say I helped.

When I came back to Bloomington I started the Soldiers and Sailors Orphanage. In 1886, I came down with pneumonia and never recovered. My funeral was held at Illinois State University, And my life was covered by the Daily Pantagraph. I glad to be at final rest here in Bloomington, where I made my home for so long.