USA > Illinois > Madison County > Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume I > Part 71
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TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION
A sketch of this township would be incom- plete without mention of its first supervisor un- der township organization, John B. Gibson, a former resident of St. Louis and a citizen most highly esteemed by all who knew him. The first township ticket (1876) read as follows :- Supervisor : John B. Gibson .- Town Clerk : H. C. Lanterman, S. L. Miller .- Assessor : Jacob Bayer, V. P. Richmond .- Collector: Wiley Preuitt, Wm. A. Lanterman .- Comm'r. High ways : J. R. Newman, C. P. Smith, J. M. Mil- ler, Edward Jones, F. G. Stahlhut, J. D. Hutch- ins .- Constable : R. D. Lake, Wm. Baker. The polling place of this township has been the "Grove" schoolhouse (district No. 74) ever
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since the township was organized in 1876. Prior to that time, the north half of the town- ship, east of Indian creek, was in Omphghent voting precinct, with the polls at Omphghent schoolhouse; all of the voters living west of Indian creek voted in Bethalto precinct; and the remainder of the township was in Ed- wardsville precinct.
In January, 1808, John Messenger surveyed the south boundary lines of 5-8 (see Vol. 12, U. S. Records) ; the boundary lines on the west were run by Gilbery Marshall in March, 1812 (see Vol. 57) ; and the east and north bound-
aries and the subdivision were surveyed in March and April, 1814, by J. Milton Moore (see Vol. 44). The 90th degree of longitude west of Greenwich approximately divides the eastern two-thirds of Ft. Russell township from the western one-third.
The public officers of the township in 1912 were: Supervisor, Z. B. Owens; town clerk, John Jinkinson; assessor, John Helmkamp; collector, Charles Wiemers ; highway commis- sioners, S. Tuetken, H. A. Hellrung, Charles Knoche; justices of the peace, Wm. H. Lanter- man, Michael Neunaber.
CHAPTER LIX
FOSTERBURG TOWNSHIP
FIRST SETTLERS-TOWNSHIP'S FOSTER FATHER-FOSTERBURG VILLAGE -- CHANGES IN POPULA- TION-BUILDERS OF THE TOWNSHIP.
By Professor H. T. McCrea
Fosterburg township located in northwestern part of Madison county has the creditable dis- tinction of being the only "dry territory" in the county. For many years no attempt was made to open a dram-shop in the township but later a license was secured and two saloons were opened. These remained in existence for a number of years. The question of main- taining the saloon, as a legal institution, was then submitted to the people, when by an over- whelming vote the sale of intoxicating liquors was prohibited.
Fosterburg has always been noted as being a highly moral and law abiding community. Set- tled a few years previous to the admission of Illinois as a state, by descendants of the pil- grim fathers from New England, and of the Huguenots of Virginia and the Carolinas, the qualities which made these pioneers famous, were inherited by their descendants and be- came the leading characteristics of the found- ers of the settlement of Fosterburg. While the composition of the community has greatly changed the underlying principles by which they are governed remain the same.
FIRST SETTLERS
Fosterburg comprises town 6 north, range 9, west of the third principal meridian. The first settlers in the township came probably as early as 1812 or 1814, at the time of the
second war with Great Britian. Among these early settlers were Joseph S. Reynolds, Orman Beeman, James Dabbs, Joshua Wood, Lorenzo Edwards, Daniel Waggoner, William W. Gal- lop and Jacob Deck.
The latter was probably the first permanent settler in the township. He with his brothers John and Isaac had much to do with the early development of the history of the community.
The influences exerted by these men and their descendants is still manifest in the life of the people.
In the year 1818 Green W. Short, a native of Tennessee, and James Dooling, a native of Ireland, settled in what is now known as the Short and Dooling homesteads.
TOWNSHIP'S FOSTER FATHER
One year later Oliver Foster, a native of New Hampshire, with his wife, a native of Massachusetts, came to this western country, settling for a few years in Upper Alton. Re- moving in 1825 to the Foster homestead one mile north of the present village of Foster- burg, obtaining directly from the government the land upon which he located.
Mr. Foster, being a skilled mechanic, erected what, for many years, was designated as the Foster tavern, the finest residence in the town- ship. It being located on the Springfield Road, the regular stage route from Alton to Spring-
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field, it soon became noted as a popular stop- ping place for travelers.
The tavern was used as a relay station. New teams being here procured for the continuance of the stage run to Springfield. Usually the stage arrived in the evening, remained over night, resumed the journey on the following morning. Many prominent people of these early days took advantage of the accommoda- tions offered by the tavern. After the intro- duction of railroads, the stage was taken off, and the tavern, as such, was discontinued.
The large barns and the main part of the residence built by Mr. Foster still remain, and are owned and now occupied by William Nie- brugge. Among others of the early settlers, we find the names of William E. Hill, Joseph Sherfy, William Dillon, John D. Dillon, Geo. Wood, Joshua Wood, John Young, Alexander Hart, James Drenman, William Crowder, Mark Crowder, William England, Samuel Wilson, David Hill, Asa Brooks, Ransom Chandler, Thomas Eaton, the Titchenal fam- ily and James Bevill.
FOSTERBURG VILLAGE
The plat for the village of Fosterburg was filed for record, in the county clerk's office October 12, 1857, by Oliver P. Foster, a son of Oliver Foster, after whom the village and town were named. In this same year, Alonzo, another son of Oliver Foster, moved to the eastern part of the county and in 1860 laid out the town of New Douglas.
The first residence erected in the village of Fosterburg was built by Ransom Chandler, a son of one of the early settlers, and father of Mrs. H. T. McCrea, now a resident of Alton.
CIVIL WAR RECORDS .
The part which the citizens of Fosterburg took in the Civil war is worthy of special men- tion. No other community has a fairer record. Company "K" of the 80th Illinois was largely made up of boys from Foster. The following
letter is copied from the Alton Democrat is- sued in September, 1862.
"Camp Buell, near Louisville, Kentucky, September 12, 1862-In accordance with a promise I made you before I left home, I send you a list of our company and its loca- tion. The Eightieth Regiment is in General Tirrel's brigade. Our Company letter is K. All of the boys are well, and all we want to make us efficient soldiers is drill.
"Our brigade is stationed five or six miles southeast of Louisville, and the hills are alive with troups-how many we do not pretend to know. Our boys are enjoying themselves well-with plenty to eat and drink, and the best Uncle Sam affords.
"J. A. M."
Muster roll of Company K, 10th Regiment Illinois Volunteers : Captain - Alexander Hodge.
Lieutenants-E. D. Keirsey, John A. Miller.
Sergeants-William J. Robinson, James Hays, Levi Wilson, John T. Thompson, Elias Prewitt.
Corporals-William Webster, James Rand- sell, John Dorsey, Louis Ralph, Nelson Starkey, James Jackson, Talbud Carter, Elias Randsell.
Wagoner-Francis M. Ross.
Drummer-William H. Wright.
Fifer-Matthew Riley.
Privates-John D. Bruner, Thomas Boggess, John Bigler, Bales H. Breedlove, John Buel, Charles Bevins, James Brown, Jarrot H. Bevel, Henry Carter, M. S. G. Clark, Stephen R. Cottom, Alvert Dorsey, Eli Dillon, Newton Dillon, Jasper Dillon, Levi Dillon, John W. Deck, H. Derouss, Bryan Doyle, Andrew Fer- guson, Frank Fisher, Reuben Hawkins, Ben- jamin Hawkins, John Hale, Martin Hamilton, Christian Holt, Thomas Humpries, Roswald B. Hand, Perer Howard, Joseph Hader, Chas. House, Wm. Hill, Jno. Hatter, James H. Johnson, Frederick Klutz, Wm. H. Linder,
Vol. I-33
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Richard Linder, Henry Lawrence, C. C. Loyd, Luther Lyons, W. H. Morgan, Barney Mc- Shane, Chas. W. McCauley, Wm. McCauley, Jno. McCauley, Henry C. Moury, Thomas Osland, Moroni Osland, George W. Owens, James G. Oliver, Paschal Prewitt, David H. Patin, Andrew E. Rovson, William Ralph, Christian Stark, William Stafford, John Spaulding, Moses Thompson, William Usher, Englehard Wenok, Calvin Wood, Solomn F. Wood, Jas. G. Wood, Andrew J. Wiggins, Wm. Wadley, Alfred Young.
Enrolled in other Companies of the 80th regiment we find the names of the following : August Neuhaus, Philip Neuhaus, Frank Fos- ter, Wm. Foster, Frank Williams, Jno. Wort- man, Jno. Norris, Wm. Paul, Jno. Miller, Newton Fletcher, August Dingerson, William Jones, Martin Chandler, Jno. Wortmann, Wm. D. Wilson, Jno. Sherfey, Isaac Sherfey, Hiram Preble, Robt. Besser, Harlow Bassett, W. E. Lehr, Jacob S. Deck, Jno. Elliott, Chas. Clayton, Jno. D. Heisel, Chas. Herb, George Miller, John H. Culp, Irby Williams, Chas. R. Besser, Hardin Edwards, John Fosterman, Chas. Gabrille, William Grimm, William M. Jones, John H. Kamper, M. B. Marshall, Henry V. Miller, Henry C. Sees, Abraham Sherfy, Isaac Sherfy, William Witt and Simp- son Finley.
At the muster out of the regiment John A. Miller had been promoted captain, Elias Prew- ett, first lieutenant, William Webster, second lieutenant.
The names given above are only a partial list of the volunteers who went from Foster- burg for the defense of their country.
The contributor of the article, Lieutenant John A. Miller, was an old-time friend of the writer. He lived for many years after the close of the war.
Captain Hodge of Company K was taken prisoner during the war, and confined for years in Libby prison. His health was com- pletely undermined by his incarceration. He
died in the spring of 1868. A number of those whose names are mentioned in the list given, still reside in Fosterburg, or its immediate vicinity.
Agriculture is the principal occupation of the inhabitants. For a time, the sawmill and the mining interests were very important. The coal mined is of a specially fine quality, and is still in good demand for local consumption.
CHANGES IN POPULATION
Very few, comparatively speaking, of the direct descendants of the early settlers now live in the township. The Foster family which at one time was quite numerous has now but one representative in the township, and no member of the family now owns any real estate in that neighborhood. The same may be said of the Woods, Decks, Shorts, Crowd- ers, Eatons, Bevills, Wilsons, Doolings and Chandlers.
BUILDERS OF THE TOWNSHIP
The native stock of the town was almost wholly American. The population now is largely made up of Germans and their de- scendants. A good sketch of Fosterburg could not be written without an account of the work of such men as John D. Dillon, Richard Jink- inson, C. C. Brown, Martin Chandler, Captain Ashlock, Moses Thompson, D. H. Warner, C. F. Lobbig.
Martin Chandler, born in North Carolina, when a young man obtained a government patent on the land now known as the Ashlock farm. He with his son Ransom operated one of the first mills in the township.
John D. Dillon's reputation was not confined to his own township. Being a talented musi- cian, he was known and loved by the young people of all the surrounding country. He was also a skilful blacksmith and wagon maker, no better wagons were built than those sent out from the Dillon shop.
Richard Jinkinson was a native of England.
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He came to America when quite young. His father entered the land now owned by his son, Jno. B. Jinkinson, and known as the Jinkin- son farm. While he was successful as a farmer, he devoted a large portion of his time to other pursuits. As a civil magistrate and - auctioneer he was widely known. No legal transaction was considered by his neighbors, as being well executed if Squire Jinkinson had no part in it. He died in 1878.
C. C. Brown was also noted as a successful farmer and popular civil magistrate. No citi- zen of this community was more highly re- garded by all classes of citizens than C. F. Lobbig. All his life was devoted to mercantile pursuits. For many years, he was the town-
ship's only postmaster and treasurer. Many of the older residents of the present time can recall many kind acts performed by him, in a quiet unobtrusive way, for those that were needing assistance. His name will always be held in kindly remembrance by those who knew him.
Politically, Fosterburg has always been safely Republican, when party lines have been strictly drawn. The people, however, have never hesitated to swing to the opposite politi- cal party when the necessity of the community seemed to demand it. The citizens are pro- gressive and wide awake, being truly represen- tative of what is best in our national life.
CHAPTER LX
GODFREY TOWNSHIP
RESOURCES AND INDUSTRIES-CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS-PUBLIC MEN AND PROMINENT CITI- ZENS-REMINISCENCES OF G. F. LONG-RECOLLECTIONS OF REV. DR. SCARRITT - SOME NOTES OF THE SCARRITT FAMILY-TRANSPORTATION-CHANGES IN POPULATION-A GREAT INDUSTRY.
The northwestern township of Madison county is Godfrey, so named for Captain Ben- jamin Godfrey, one of its early settlers and its largest land owner, of whom more is said in other chapters and in the sketch of Monti- cello Seminary, of which he was the founder. Godfrey township is bounded on the north by Jersey county and by a corner of Macou- pin; east by Foster township; south by Alton and the Mississippi river and west by Jersey.
RESOURCES AND INDUSTRIES
It is rich in agricultural resources, its land being second to none in fertility. It has abun- dance of fine timber. In its southwestern sections and along Piasa creek it has limitless deposits of limestone, sandstone and cement rock. It is also rich in coal of fine quality, but the veins are only from twenty-four to twenty-eight inches in thickness and hence not now as generally worked as fifty years ago be- fore the thicker veins were opened in other parts of the county. The cement which was used in building the Eads bridge at St. Louis was quarried and burned at Clifton (now Clif- ton terrace) in the southwest corner of the township. This settlement on the river was platted by D. Tolman and Hail Mason in the thirties and plat recorded October 10, 1840. Its leading citizen, for many years, was Louis
Stiritz, who planted a vineyard there, over fifty years ago, and engaged in wine making. He died in the fall of 1909. Clifton, at one time, promised to become a flourishing town. It boasted a flour mill and saw mill, also other industries but the bright anticipations of its future were never realized through adverse fortune. It is now a favorite summer resort and many St. Louisans have cottages on its picturesque bluffs.
A fruit distillery was established in the northern part of the township by John Cas- tagnetta, in 1872. It turned out large quanti- ties of fruit brandy and champagne cider, some years as much as one thousand barrels of cider.
A flour mill was conducted for many years in Godfrey but was eventually discontinued and the machinery removed elsewhere.
CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS
Godfrey has five churches. As early as 1828 a Methodist class was established at the home of Nathan Scarritt but it was not until 1842 that a church organization was effected of which more anon. There are two Congrega- tional churches, the "Church of Christ," op- posite the Seminary, and another at Melville. The first was organized in 1839, Rev. Theron Baldwin, the first principal of Monticello, was
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the first pastor. The first Bethany church was built by the exertions of the widow of Nathan Scarritt and her son, the Rev. Jotham A. Scar- ritt. In 1907 a fine new church was built for the congregation at Godfrey station to which Rev. Dr. Scarritt contributed $3.500. The neat parsonage adjoining was erected on a lot given for the purpose by Mrs. William Squire.
An interesting congregation is that at Rocky Fork composed of colored people of the Meth- odist persuasion. Rocky Fork was originally a colony of negro slaves, freed by the Civil war, who settled there and made their homes. They were industrious and prospered. But few, if any, of the original settlers are living and the most of their descendants have scat- tered, but enough remain to maintain a church.
Godfrey has a flourishing system of public schools. The one at Bethany, used as a chapel and school house, was established in 1832, al- though schools were taught for three years previous in private houses by Laura and Aba- gail Scarritt and Elizabeth Peter. It might here be noted that the present Governor of Illinois. Hon. Charles S. Deneen, taught school at Bethany while pursuing his law studies. His certificate was signed by James Squire, county superintendent of schools. now a physician in Carrollton. The school house at Godfrey village, after standing for seventy- five years, was destroyed by fire in 1911, and a new edifice, to cost ten thousand dollars is now in process of erection. The school house in Summerfield district has been standing since 1846. This school is noted as having been taught for a time by Lucy Larcom, the poet- ess. prior to her graduation from Monticello in 1852. Clifton Hill school house, at Mel- ville, is also an old timer. Summerfield school has never missed a school term since its estab- lishment sixty-six years ago. It is built on land donated by that scholarly gentleman and old soldier. Maj. George W. Long. It stands in a beautiful grove of native forest trees. The building is battered and worn by time
but is soon to be replaced by a new edifice. Among its teachers have been four soldiers, viz: Capt. John Pettigill, Capt. Cook, Capt. Samuel Clark and Geo. F. Long. Other teachers, at different epochs, were James Walker, later an attorney of Hannibal, Mo .; B. F. Webster. later State Senator of Mis- souri : also Lucy Larcom, Emeline Young, Sarah Colby, Lucy Foote. Mrs. Brittain, Z. Hobbs and A. L. Daniels, the last two of Shurtleff College. In addition to those named thirty of its pupils are known to have served in the Civil war.
PUBLIC MEN AND PROMINENT CITIZENS
Among the distinguished public men who have resided in Godfrey township may be men- tioned William F. DeWolf, William Martin, A. P. Mason and John M. Pearson, who all served in the state legislature. Two sons of Mr. DeWolf served in the Union army during the war and the elder a brilliant young officer, died of wounds received at the battle of Wil- liamsburg. Another distinguished man was Judge James Webb, who settled in Godfrey in 1833. One of his daughters married Geo. T. M. Davis, of Alton, of Mexican war fame, and another became the wife of Judge William Martin of Alton. Descendants of Judge Webb still occupy the old homestead.
The old homestead of Captain Godfrey was originally built by Calvin Riley, who came from New York with Judge Webb. It was purchased later by Captain Godfrey, who added to it and converted it into a spacious country mansion. It was his residence until his death in 1862. It is now the property of the Waters family.
Another fine old country seat, still standing, is the old home built by Benjamin Ives Gil- man, brother of Winthrop S. Gilman, of Alton. It is now owned by and included in the beauti- ful campus of Monticello seminary.
Prominent among the early residents of the Grafton Road were Don Alonzo Spaulding,
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the noted civil engineer, who came to Illinois in 1817; Dr. B. F. Long, Major G. W. Long and Preble Long, brothers of the celebrated explorer, Col. S. H. Long and of Capt. Enoch Long of Alton. The homes of the four first named are still standing, though only that of Mr. Spaulding is occupied by descendants. Dr. B. F. Long and Dr. E. S. Hull were fa- mous pioneer horticulturists, and their or- chards were not only noted for the fine fruits produced but as the first scientific experi- mental farms in the county.
REMINISCENCES OF G. F. LONG
In reference to many early settlers of the township Mr. George Frank Long, a veteran soldier of the Civil war, son of Dr. B. F. Long, furnishes the editor with the following data and comments: "My information of the earli- est settlement of Godfrey township is, per- haps, a little vague. There were undoubtedly 'squatters' in the township, who if they re- mained, were compelled afterward to pay for their lands, but as real settlers the Scarritts were preeminent and all the territory east of the Alton and Jerseyville road and north to the county line was known as Scarritts prairie. There were Meldrums (wagoners), Rundles, Delaplains and Hamiltons, I think. My first remembrance was the year before the Chicago & Alton railroad was finished to Alton. The first engine and cars I ever saw were running through the woods in front of John M. Pear- son's late residence; the cars (coaches) had only four wheels and I should think were about the size of an ordinary herdic. At that time my home was with Squire Harry Spaulding's family on the Grafton road and we were on our way to quarterly meeting, which was being held in one of the big Scar- ritt barns, just across the road from their resi- dence. Bethany church was built soon after- ward and I remember attending the dedica- tion but do not recall the year. My remarks will more particularly include families of the
township south and west of the Scarritt farm who formed and became members of the Con- gregational church. About 1854 the residents who were not members of the Methodist church attended services in the Seminary chapel, then the south end of the basement, old building; high box pews with doors that fastened with buttons-a high, big pulpit, where the minister's head almost touched the ceiling. The minister was a Rev. Mr. Temple. Next came the new church-the membership was large and rich, or in easy circumstances. The new building was handsomely furnished, the seminary contributing its share and occu- pying one half the seats. The ministers re- ceived much larger salaries then. The Sunday school was most flourishing and the church services regularly and largely attended and of course with such a membership, hereinafter named, it could hardly be otherwise.
"In winters the socials and young people's parties were frequent. Such genial hospital- ity; nothing stiff nor freezing about it! It was always a pleasure to listen or take part, all felt the spirit of the occasion. The semin- ary teachers and pupils were generally in evi- dence and assisted greatly in the pleasant pro- grams rendered. Those were halcyon occa- sions for Godfrey. Some of those were truly hospitable mansions, where the halls were wide and the rooms large and always full, but not uncomfortably so. Such were the homes of Captain and Mrs. Godfrey, in whom the deep- est interest always centered. Next were Uncle John Mason and wife, whose reputation for entertaining was foremost of all ; then Mr. and Mrs. Leander Maclean. most charming hosts ; B. I. Gilman and wife, always genial, with the warmest kind of welcome and so on through the entire list : Dr. B. F. Long and wife, James G. Brown and wife, Isaac Brown and wife, James Garland and wife, Timothy Turner and family, A. W. Covey and wife, Benj. Webster and wife, J. R. Isett and wife, Jas. Godfrey and family, Mrs. Judge Martin, Benj. Delaplain
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and family, the Chamberlain and Ball families (half way to Upper Alton) and last, but not least Hon. John M. Pearson's family. And there were others, in the plainer walks of life, just as good, generous and kind, but less used to entertaining. Here are some of Godfrey's men whose homes were part of its history and these were supplemented by various others worthy of mention since 1870: Thomas Dun- ford, Coal Br., 1832; John Mason, Sr., 1837; Hail Mason, 1837; Prebble Long, about 1835 ; Jas. Strong, Buck Inn, 1837 ; D. A. Spaulding, 1835; Timothy Turner, 1839; G. W. Long, 1839; Wm. Squire, 1838; A. W. Corey, about 1841; D. B. Long, 1849 or 1850; Benj. Del- aplain, Benj. Webster, J. R. Isett, J. Y. Saw- yer, Jno. Pattison, Aaron Mason, Jno. Mason, Jr., Wm. Charles, Zeb. Brown, Robt. Craw- ford, and John M. Pearson."
RECOLLECTIONS OF REV. DR. SCARRITT.
Rev. Jotham A. Scarritt, D. D., an eminent divine of the M. E. church, was born June 23, 1827, on Scarritt's prairie, and was the third child born in Godfrey township, and is now the oldest person living who was a native thereof. During his long ministerial life he has filled many important pastorates in South- ern Illinois and was for twelve years presiding elder of Alton district. He has been a trustee of McKendree College for fifty years and re- ceived the degree of Doctor of Divinity from that institution. He now resides in Alton in the superannuated relation in a revered and honored old age, with physical strength but little impaired and with mental powers un- abated. He kindly submits the following rem- iniscences at the request of the editor.
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