Dean Karau on Kewanee history: A new perspective of Fred Francis and his famous park – Kewanee Star Courier

(Author's note: The story of Fred Francis has been recounted many times for Kewaneeans since his death in 1926. Called a recluse, hermit, eccentric, and other names, apt or not, Francis had a brilliant mechanical mind. But to think only of his inventions is too limiting. Its fair to say he was a brilliant man, recognized by friends as a deep thinker whose thoughts were worthy of hearing and heeding.

Im going to rely on one of Francis close friends to give us perhaps a little different perspective on this genius of the Illinois prairie, written just six months before Francis died in December 1926.)

Just dont litter up his dooryard with papers and rubbish, treat him somewhat after the fashion of the Golden Rule and youll find him a genial and kindly host, proud of the work of his hands, as he has every right to be, and youll learn a lot of things from him too, if you heed his counsel.

Those were the last words of an article written in 1926 by Russell T. Neville, Kewanee attorney, amateur photographer, and close friend of Fred Francis. Neville wrote about his dear friend after a visit with him at his home northeast of Kewanee, which he called Woodland Palace, six months before Francis died. Neville had known Francis for 25 to 30 years, and had visited him 40 to 50 times since the death of Freds wife in 1921.

Francis had also visited Neville in his office many times.

Reading Nevilles story provides a little additional insight into Francis and why Francis Park exists today.

Upon arriving that day at Francis home, Neville described the pencil-written neat sign on the rough wooden gate to his friends property: Well bred folks ask permission.

After entering the grove of majestic oak and hickory trees through a latched wicket, Neville described a wood post with another sign: STOP READ THIS. Grounds are free for all who do right and all such are welcome. Those who throw paper and rubbish on the ground, meddle with property or let kids do so are hereby cordially invited to stay away.

A smaller sign below warned visitors: Keep out of the ruts. (The latter sign was intended for those driving automobiles.)

Francis owned quite a bit of very pretty timber land surrounding his home, and to the east of his house stood a picturesque grove of trees used by many for picnicking. Hence the signs. On the grounds, Neville observed the small log cabin Francis built to replicate the one in which he was born and using logs from that old cabin.

Following the ornamental hedge to a grill gate, Neville arrived at the yard of Woodland Palace, one of the most unique homes it has ever been our fortune to visit. It was still being built because Francis believed that he will continue working on it as long as he lives. Neville described the house as not only of odd design, but it has many interesting features of construction.

Those features included the brick and stone home with a poured concrete roof over part of it (it is safe to say that he owns the only roof like this in the country); unique mechanical entry doors (an ingenious arrangement of ropes and pulleys and levers entirely too deep for a non-mechanical mind to fathom); a clever fireplace; the glass enclosed, domed room built for his late wife, Jeanie (Mr. Francis built this glass room and tenderly nursed her for months, prolonging her life by his careful and loving attentions); an intricately constructed, elaborate chandelier; and other ingenious devices.

As he went up the stairs to the first floor, Neville saw Francis 1878 diploma from the Illinois Institute University (now the University of Illinois), along with a large frame filled with an abstruse mathematical calculation that occupied his mind for years until he invented [a new] mathematics to solve it.

According to Neville, [i]t has always seemed that here was a man capable of supplying about every material need by his own efforts. If he were cast away on a desert island with a pop bottle, wed expect him to have a magnifying glass, clothes, and everything else he needed by the time he was rescued.

Neville remarked on Francis different eating habits, which included using no condiments, and also [he] does not eat many of the food stuffs we mostly depend on. The fruit he raises on his own place, preserved by his own hands supplemented by nuts and fruits and some rough fodder he buys are sufficient for this remarkable man.

After graduating from the university, Francis had been employed by the Elgin Watch Company for years, and there was evidence of that in the house. Weve seen some the mechanical drawings and plates made by him [at the watch company] and . . . [t]hey are as perfect and delicate as any copper plate you ever saw. But Francis retired after he had made enough to live on for the rest of his life.

Neville described his friend as a hale, hearty man in his seventies. . . . a striking figure with his long bushy beard and hair, his vigorous health and energy . . . the envy of many younger men. Neville noted that Jeanie had died five years earlier, and Francis had since lived in his home alone.

But Neville may have been most impressed by Francis as a deep student and thinker. He holds original ideas along many lines, and his speech is thought provoking. You may not agree with some of his theories, but youll admit that they are the result of much deep thought and study . . .

Neville then divulged that, because the university held a special place in his heart, Francis was quite anxious that the Henry County Alumni use a part of his grounds for picnic purposes . . . . And, Neville continued, Francis has also made elaborate plans for the future use of his home, when he was done with it, contemplating that it will be an art gallery and museum open to the public.

Nevilles story ended without anticipation of his friends death. Neville later said that Francis knew that some people did not approve of his mode of living but he was going to live his life as he chose.

Fred Francis died on December 22, 1926. His death was originally found to be as the result of natural causes, and he was cremated according to the terms of his will. After cremation, however, evidence suggested that Francis had shot himself with a revolver found at the scene along with a note which read in relevant part: Hernia. Could not stand the pain.

While there was no change in the official finding of natural causes, most believe that Francis had killed himself because of the untreatable pain his infirmity caused him.

In his will, Francis left all of his land and his personal property to the city of Kewanee for use as a city park, to be called Francis Park. Francis had included a number of stipulations which, if not met, would result in his estate going to the University of Illinois.

All of the stipulations, however, were observed, and eventually Kewanee took possession of the land, Woodland Palace, and all of Francis personal property. By 1930, an estimated 15,000 people were using the park annually.

For the most part, the park remained unchanged. But in the 1960s there were a number of renovations made. In 1974, the Illinois State Historical Society designated Woodland Palace as an Historical Site. In 1975, Woodland Palace was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

As a kid in the 1950s, I vaguely remember my moms side of the family holding pig roasts at Francis Park. The men would get up early, head to the park, start the fire, and then begin the spit-roasting process. Although Fred Francis wouldnt have joined in the later feast, Im sure he would have enjoyed see a large family using his land for a get together. Whats more, Im sure he would have enjoyed regaling us with his thoughts on a panoply of topics.

And perhaps we would have taken heed.

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Dean Karau on Kewanee history: A new perspective of Fred Francis and his famous park - Kewanee Star Courier