USA > Illinois > Madison County > Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume I > Part 42
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infantry drilling, which took place Saturday afternoons and Sundays, in open glades along the timbered sections of Piasa creek, grew wearisome. The recruits showed that they could more quickly form in cavalry lines and execute evolutions in such formations. This took the eye of Carlin, who was an expert horseman, but Henderson, who had served in the southern infantry, did not approve of them and dissension arose. In addition, the busy harvest season was at hand and served as a factor to enhance disintegration. Desertion became common but with the depletion of the home recruits there came into the section ref- ugees from the south, with renegades from the north and east, who were drawn into the serv- ice. They had nothing to lose and the lure of unlimited loot was ever before them.
The complexion of the forces thus changed. Many young men of the counties who had, un- til the advent of the new-comers, remained in nominal membership, refused to be connected further with the now lawless gang. Soon the new recruits refused to move from one camp to another on foot. They needed mounts and they stole them. Henderson and Carlin fought against this, knowing it would excite local hostility, but the wedge was entered. They must either stand firmly by their new vagabond crew or throw up their plans, and they accepted the situation and stood for it.
Thus swept along, aided by unscrupulous persons of the counties, who sought escape from the toll of robbery by lending the ma- rauding crews such assistance as lay within their power, and openly encouraged to further depredations by those whose hatred to the Re- publicans was as deadly as that our forefa- thers held against the Tories. The reign of terror swept over the counties and down into Madison, ebbing and flowing through the years of 1863-4 and well up into the following year. The marauders exacted a heavy toll of prop- erty and murderers had a free way that the law seemed powerless to control.
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At Fidelity, in Jersey county, a branch store had been established by the firm of Hatheway & Wade of Alton, and placed under the man- agement of George Miller and Richard Holden, two young clerks of that city. Miller was a quiet-mannered young man who had risen high in the esteem of the firm in whose employ he was in the main store at Alton. He was intrusted with business of consider- able magnitude since it embraced the trade of a rich section of Jersey and Macoupin coun- ties. He was very popular with the townsmen of Fidelity and the farmers of the surround- ing country.
Among the advisers of Henderson was a Doctor Jay, of Fidelity, a physician who had abandoned his practice and was, during that troubled period, proprietor of the Union Ho- tel of that place, the sign of which was chopped down to signify aversion to the title. He ran a saloon in connection with the hotel, a low doggery, that was the daily scene of brutal fights between rival factions. Jay had gained a controlling hand over Henderson and by de- grees led him into heavy drinking, during which he induced him to aid in many robber- ies. One of these was the robbery of an old miser named Coventry, by which the gang se- cured $10,000 in gold coin which had been se- creted in logs about the farm and buried in the earth. The miser was compelled at the pistol's point to dig up and hand over his hid- den treasure to the outlaws.
One day in November, 1864, Henderson, Moss (another escaped prisoner) and Simp- son rode into Fidelity and tied their horses to the rack in front of Jay's bar-room. There were in Fidelity at the time two soldiers home on furlough, named Webb Hoag and Thomas Watson. Jay had a particular hatred for both of them because of their bold, outspoken de- nunciation of the Knights of the Golden Cir- cle, of which Jay was the leading spirit. Jay waited until his three customers were well plied with whisky before he suggested doing
away with such dangerous enemies to the safety of the gang as the soldiers. His sug- gestion met with the immediate approval of Moss, who, accompanied by Henderson rode down to the store of Hauskins in which was located the postoffice. The third man, Simp- son, followed behind them.
Moss met one of the soldiers, Watson, in the store. The latter had just received notifi- cation of his recall to duty. Moss picked a quarrel with him and shot him dead. Hoag, the comrade of Watson, hearing the reports of revolvers from both Moss and Simpson, hurried into the store and was shot down as he entered.
Henderson had remained on his horse in the road, in front of the store, with the reins of the horses of the two other men in one hand. In the other he held a navy revolver with which he intimidated the crowd, which, know- ing Henderson's quickness and unfailing aim, kept well back from the scene. Three doors north of the postoffice was the Hatheway & Wade store, a brick building with a door open- ing on the side, away from the scene on the street. Miller heard the first shot fired that killed Watson. He ran to the rear of the store and secured a double-barreled shot gun, loaded with buck shot. He was warned to remain in the store, but did not heed the caution. He passed out of the door and walking along the side of the building suddenly stepped from the corner and throwing the gun to his shoulder fired at Henderson, whose quick eye had caught sight of him as he threw up the gun, and fired without bringing the revolver to his eye. The two shots crossed. Miller fell with a ball through his heart. Henderson was struck by one of the buckshot in his right leg which broke the bone below the knee. The desperadoes then galloped away.
The body of Miller was taken to Alton by his employers. Albert Wade rode to Fidelity on the night of the tragedy, through one of the furious storms that at times sweep over
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the prairies in November. Miller was buried in his home town of Upper Alton, in Oakwood cemetery. His wife, a daughter of Captain Troy Moore, a brave soldier, still resides in the home she entered as a bride a short time before her husband's tragical death.
Henderson was overtaken the next day by a pursuing posse. He was secreted in a farm house, in the edge of Macoupin county, five miles from the scene of the murder. He was waiting for medical aid to have his wounded leg dressed. He was shot by the posse which captured him. His body now lies in the woods, a neglected grave near the town of Medora. His companion, Moss, was caught, after a long search, and after a brief trial, was hanged in the jail at Jerseyville. The third outlaw now lives in Missouri, and is known as a reformed, law-abiding citizen.
With the death of the leaders of the ma- rauders ended the reign of outlawry and open advocacy of disunion in the counties named. The section so long dominated by the con- spirators, as fair a land as the sun shines on, soon became, as it is now, the home of smiling peace, where plenty and prosperity bless a happy, united people.
THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC
Forty-seven years have passed since the close of the great Civil war and during that period the ranks of the survivors have grown thin. Of the 4,400 young men who re- sponded to their country's call from this county the number of survivors is unknown. Many of them have removed to other states, but those living are still resident in their, old homes. All of them have passed their three- score and many of their their four-score years. They realize the truth of the script- ure limitation of life: "For the days of the years of man's life are three-score years and ten, and if, by reason of strength, they be four-score years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow." They live mainly in patriotic
recollections of a fearful but glorious episode of their lives and in tender memories of the comrades who marched with them to the front and returned no more; who died on the battle field, on the march, in hospitals or in prison pens. But the fire of their patriotism has never been quenched. It glows and burns with enduring brightness. They have lived to see a united country, saved to freedom and progress by their valor and sacrifice. That the returned soldiers became good and useful citizens and leaders in every movement for the country's prosperity and' upbuilding in peace, as they were its bulwarks of its defense in war, is but a natural sequence, or evolution, of their patriotism. A soldier who volunteers surrenders his individuality. He goes where he is sent and does what he is told. He no longer directs his own life, but merges it in that of his country for life or death. The organization of the Grand Army of the Re- public is a concrete expression of continued loyalty and devotion to the country which the members offered their lives to save. It is a renewal of the comradeship of the heroic days when they followed the flag, touched el- bows and kept step to the throbbing of the drum. Not all old soldiers belong to the Grand Army but all holding an honorable dis- charge are eligible to membership .*
*Since the above was written the editor has had access to the muster rolls, as published at the time, of the local companies that volunteered under the president's first call in April, 1861. They were more than could be accepted. Their local designations and commanders were: Madison Guards, Captain Jos. G. Robinson ; Alton City Guards, Captain B. W. Tucker; Alton Jaeger Guards, Captain John H. Kuhn; Union Guards, Captain Harrison 'E. Hart; Buckmaster Guards, Captain L. B. Hubbell; Alton Artillery Company, Captain Henry Platt; Mont- gomery Guards, Captain J. E. Coppinger. A seventh company, under Captain J. H. Yager, was also or- ganized from the overplus of the Alton and Edwards- ville companies.
Of these seven companies only three were ac- cepted in Illinois regiments, the state's quota being
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At present there are six posts of the Grand Army in Madison county. They are as fol- lows :
No. 437, Highland, mustered in May 5, 1884.
No. 441, Alton, mustered in April 24, 1884.
No. 461, Edwardsville, mustered in Nov. 20, 1884.
No. 509, Bethalto, mustered in May 23, 1885.
No. 534, Collinsville, mustered in October 10, 1885.
No: 746, Fosterburg, mustered in August 10, 1892.
All these are flourishing and in good work- ing condition, daily exemplifying the lessons of patriotism. New Douglas Post, No. 670, has disbanded.
Several camps of the Sons of Veterans exist, or have existed in the county, per- petuating the principles transmitted to them by their sires.
SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION AND OF 1812
Brink's History of Madison County gives the following names of pensioners among the pioneers of the county: Asa Brooks, private New York volunteers, pension dated Novem- ber 10, 1815; William Preuitt, U. S. Ranger, pension dated November 2, 1814; William Richards, private Third U. S. Rifles, pension dated April 24, 1815. This history also gives the following names of soldiers of the Revolu- tion who later became residents of Madison county : Elihu Mather, sergeant Connecticut
full. The fourth company, the Buckmaster Guards, went to St. Louis and enlisted as a company in a Missouri regiment. Many other members of the unaccepted companies did likewise, enlisting as in- dividuals in Missouri regiments. The Madison Guards was a crack Edwardsville company before the war. When the war broke out its captain, Joseph H. Sloss, a Southern man, went into the Confederate army. Joseph G. Robinson then became captain and entered the Union army. He was wounded at Fort Donelson, Shiloh and Corinth.
Vol. I-19
Continentals, died September, 1831; Daniel Brown, sergeant; Jesse Conway, Michael Deck, Henry Thornhill, Nathaniel West, pri- vates, Virginia Continentals; Martin Preuitt, Richard Randle, same; John Gillham, Isaac Gillham, privates South Carolina Continent- als; William Hall, sergeant, same; A. A. Harrison, Pennsylvania Continentals; John Long, Joseph McAdams, William McAdams, John Robinson, Henry Reavis, Francis Roach, Harris Reavis, Isham Randle, Laban Smart, George Bridges, privates, North Caro- lina Continentals. To this list the writer adds, Gaius Paddock, of Fort Russell; also Cap- tain Jabez Turner, who was a resident of Godfrey in early days, died there and he is buried in .the cemetery of that village.
"In 1872 the following residents of this county, soldiers of the war of 1812, were in receipt of pensions : Samuel Seybold, Jesse Renfro, William Shaw and Jubilee Posey, of Troy; Andrew Keown, of Alhambra; Solo- mon Preuitt, Fort Russell; John Anderson, Collinsville; Abraham Howard and Philip Gatch, Highland; Archibald Lamb, Lamb's Point; Andrew Rule and Thomas Sutton, St. Jacob. Mrs. Mary Barnsback, widow of George Barnsback, and Mrs. Cynthia Keown, widow of James Keown, were also pensioners of soldiers of that war.
THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR
Thirty-three years after the close of the great Civil war the call to arms again sounded through the land, but this time the nation was not called upon to rally to the defense of the government against internal foes, but to help the people of a neighboring isle free them- selves from the tyranny of an old-world des- potism. There was instantaneous response to the call from the young manhood of Illinois . and it was noticeable that the sons of the sol- diers of the Civil war were as enthusiastic as their fathers were, a generation previous, in responding to the call of the government. For
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this foreign war the state of Illinois was called upon to furnish nine regiments of infantry, one of cavalry and its force of Naval Re- serves. Many more troops were offered than could be accepted. One of the divisions of Naval Reserves accepted by the government was that from Madison county. It was the only organization mustered into the service, as a whole, from the county. Many other young men, besides the members of the Alton division, enlisted in various Illinois regiments and in the regular army as individuals. They included quite a large contingent of colored men who enlisted in the Eighth Illinois, a col- ored regiment of infantry.
Among the commissioned officers from Madison county were Dr. H. R. Lemen, assist- ant surgeon, son of Dr. E. C. Lemen, an old soldier ; Lieutenant W. L Sparks, son of Cap- tain D. R. Sparks, also an old soldier, and Ensign H. H. Hewitt.
A brief sketch of the Alton Naval Reserves is appended, for the data of which the editor is indebted to Lieutenant J. B. Maxfield, the present commander of the division and the only one of its present membership who par- ticipated in the Spanish-American war.
The Alton Naval Reserves, now known as the Ninth Division Illinois Naval Reserves, was organized and mustered into the state service February 1, 1896, with the following officers: George E. Wilkinson, lieutenant commanding; E. V. Crossman, lieutenant (J. G.) ; Baker H. Ash and H. H. Hewitt, ensigns. There were fifty-eight men on the rolls at the end of the first year. At that time it was known as the Third division of the Second battalion, Naval Militia of Illinois. On the 12th day of June, 1898, sixty-four men and two officers, Lieutenant William L. Sparks and Ensign H. H. Hewitt, were enlisted in the regular service of the United States for the Spanish-American war. The division left Al-
ton immediately and joined other divisions at Chicago and thence was sent to Norfolk, Vir- ginia, where they went on board the receiving ship "Franklin," where they remained about ten days and were then detailed to various United States ships, including the "Harvard," "Yale," "Newark," "Leyden," "Lancaster" and "Cincinnati." The "Newark" and "Yale" had the distinction of capturing several prizes, and the "Harvard" was at the naval battle of San- tiago. While she did not take part in the bat- tle she gathered about 1,300 prisoners, includ- ing 34 officers from the destroyed Spanish ships, and afterwards landed the men at Mon- tauk, New York and Portsmouth, New Hamp- shire and the officers at Annapolis, Maryland.
When peace was declared the men were col- lected from the different ships at the Brook- lyn navy yard and returned home. They were mustered out of the United States service at Alton, September 12, 1898. Many of them reenlisted in the state service and new recruits were taken in to keep up the division.
In 1901 the navy department assigned the U. S. S. "Dorothea" for the use of the Illi- nois Naval Reserves on the great lakes. In 1909 the U. S. S. "Nashville" replaced the "Dor- othea," and in 1911 the "Dubuque" succeeded the "Nashville." The same year the Illinois Reserves were reorganized and the Alton or- ganization was designated the Ninth division of the Illinois Naval Reserves.
The Ninth division is at present in good con- dition. It has fifty men and four officers and is better equipped than it has ever been. It is now endeavoring to get the government to assign a torpedo boat for use of the division on the Mississippi, with good prospects of having the request granted.
The present officers are J. B. Maxfield, lieu- tenant commanding; W. H. Koehne (J. G.) ; William E. Winter and Matthew J. Horn, en- signs.
CHAPTER XXXVII
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS
BRIDGES OVER THE MISSISSIPPI-CAHOKIA DIVERSION CANAL-ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF THE ENTERPRISE-STRAIGHTENING A RIVER CHANNEL-SILVER CREEK DRAINAGE DISTRICT.
The most important factors in the develop- ment of the county, next to the steam and electric roads, are the three great bridges which span the Mississippi and have their eastern termini within its borders, these struc- tures linking it with the counties of St. Louis and St. Charles, Missouri. They are the west- ern gateways of the county through which passes the commerce of a continent.
BRIDGES OVER THE MISSISSIPPI
The Eads bridge was the first viaduct built to connect St. Louis with the east but its east- ern terminus is in St. Clair county. Next fol- lowed the Merchants' bridge with terminus at Venice. This was followed in 1892 by the Al- ton bridge connecting that city with St. Charles county and giving St. Louis an inlet to northern Madison county. The Alton bridge was built by George Morrison, of Chi- cago, and others who were interested in the Burlington. That road operated it for some years as a connection between its east and west shore lines and for a short route to St. Louis. Its suburban trains formerly made the run from Alton to Washington Street station, St. Louis, in thirty-five minutes. Finally the Bur- lington lost control of the bridge, by some "high finance" legerdemain, and it fell into the hands of the St. Louis Terminal Association, which discontinued passenger service thereon in order to concentrate it over the St. Louis
bridges. Although controlled by the Termi- nal, it is nominally owned by the Illinois & Missouri Bridge and Belt Company.
The latest bridge built having an eastern ter- minus in this county is the so-called McKin- ley bridge, owned and operated by the Illinois Traction Company, the great electric system which gridirons Illinois, of which Hon. William McKinley is the head. It was completed and opened to the public in 1911.
All these great viaducts over the Father of Waters are magnificent structures, triumphs of engineering skill and science. Over them flows a freight and passenger traffic, the im- mensity of which surpasses the imagination. Hundreds of trains from a source of connect- ing railroads pass over them daily. They are the culmination of the progress of a century in overcoming the barriers to continuous and unbroken transportation. What a contrast they offer to the little horse ferries which, less than a century ago, were the medium of transit between Madison county and her neighbors in Missouri. The aggregate cost of these struc- tures was many millions of dollars and the taxes they pay into the treasury form an im- portant part of the county revenue.
CAHOKIA DIVERSION CANAL
The greatest work of internal improvement ever undertaken in Madison county is the so- called Cahokia Diversion canal now in process
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of construction. It lies in the northern part of Chouteau township save a short section in the western part of Edwardsville township. It is designed to divert the waters of Cahokia creek into the Mississippi fourteen miles north of its present outlet .. Cahokia creek traverses the entire width of Madison county and In- dian creek joins it near Wanda. The Diver- sion canal runs directly west from near the junction of the two streams to the Mississippi river, thus diverting both streams from their original channels. This canal is a part of the East Side Flood Protection system, designed to protect East St. Louis, Venice, Madison, Granite City and a vast scope of country adja- cent from overflow by the river and back-wa- ter from the creek. Cahokia creek, after crossing the south line of Madison, flows di- rectly through East St. Louis and when the Mississippi is at flood height the back-water from Cahokia inundates the city. The plans of the Levee district embrace the entire elim- ination of Cahokia creek through East St. Louis, first by means of the Diversion canal and second by a back canal tapping Cahokia just below the mouth of Canteen creek, run- ning thence around East St. Louis and enter- ing the river five miles below that city. The protection system includes an embankment running south from the Diversion canal paral- lel with the river, to and along the East St. Louis river front to the outlet of the back canal. At the mouth of the Diversion canal the bank of the river is being faced with con- crete to prevent erosion. The digging of the canal has necessitated the raising of the road- beds and building bridges over it by the Chi- cago and Alton, the Big Four, the Chicago, Philadelphia & St. Louis railroads and the A. G. & St. L. Traction system. The immensity of the improvement and the vast amount of protection it will afford are now beginning to be realized. The cost is estimated at $6,500 .- 000. Including the canals mentioned and sev- eral minor channels for surface drainage the
improvement requires some thirty miles of lev- ees from five to twenty feet high. The entire work will require a year more for its full com- pletion. The work of excavation and levee building is being pushed forward with all the most improved machinery for grading and handling dirt with steam plows, steam shovels, loaders and traction engines. The Diversion canal portion will be completed this spring and divert the waters of Cahokia and Indian creeks into new channels. The canal is 24,600 feet long and 100 feet wide at the bottom. The dirt is removed by means of six large drag line excavators, handling twelve cubic yards of earth a minute. The channel varies from twelve to eighteen feet in depth. The earth is piled about fifty feet back from the canal forming a levee. Cahokia creek drains an area of 250 square miles in Madison and St. Clair counties, mainly the former, and its elimination was a problem necessary to the protection of a vast area of country. This will be success- fully accomplished by the building of the Di- version and back canals.
ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF THE ENTERPRISE
This great and comprehensive improve- ment was the outgrowth of a movement in East St. Louis immediately after the destructive flood of 1903. It was de- signed to avert like calamities in future. The agitation resulted in the organization of the East Side Levee Association and the appoint- ment of a board of engineers to report on plans for such a levee and drainage system as would prevent future damage by floods. A vast amount of preliminary work was neces- sary, legal difficulties to be overcome, new laws obtained from the legislature, and objec- tions of property owners to be met and satis- fied.
To meet the requirements of the law, peti- tions were circulated in Madison and St. Clair counties, asking for the formation of a dis- trict to include all of the American Bottoms.
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The petitions were presented to County Judge John E. Hillskoter at Edwardsville and County Judge J. B. Hay of Belleville. For- mer Circuit Judge B. R. Burroughs of Ed- wardsville was called in as the third jurist, and the three sat as a commission to hear legal objections. Before hearing objections the three judges covered the entire territory on foot. Sessions were held at Edwardsville and Belleville, and many residents, objecting to the organization, were heard. The pro- posed district finally was reduced from 159 square miles to 96.32 square miles.
The next step was to submit the proposition to residents for approval by vote, and it was carried by an overwhelming majority. The next election-to select a board of trustees- was held December 16, 1908. H. D. Sexton, C. L. Gray, C. T. Jones and G. L. Tarlton of East St. Louis and T. F. Leyden of Granite City were chosen. The board's active life be- gan February 19, 1909. Col. J. A. Ockerson of St. Louis was employed as consulting engi- neer and T. N. Jacob of East St. Louis as chief engineer.
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