USA > Illinois > Madison County > Alton > Gazetteer of Madison County : containing historical and descriptive sketches of Alton City, Upper Alton, Edwardsvile, Collinsville, Highland, Troy, Monticello, Mairne, Bethalto, and other towns, including some account of the resources of the various townships, to which is added a directory of the Altons,. > Part 10
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In June of the present year Captain Robert C. Berry fitted out the steam ferry boat "Jessie Edgington," designing to re-establish this as a permanent crossing, and afford the Alton merchants and manufacturers the benefit of the trade from the adjoining counties of Missouri.
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MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Alton.]
EMERSON in 1831. He was a good physician, and was admired for his kindness and gentlemanly demeanor to all. He served as a member of the "Town Board of Trustees" as early as 1834, and died previous to 1839.
The first drug store was opened in the autumn of 1832 by Dr. E. MARSH, who has for many years past been identified with the banking interests of Alton.
The first professional lawyer who opened an office in the town was JONATHAN TRUMBULL HUDSON from New York. He was a member and president of the first organized Board of Trustees, a position which he held during the four or five years of his residence in the place, except 1834. In 1832 he built a two story dwelling near the corner of Second and Heury Streets which still remains. Mr. Hudson was possessed of fine natural abilities, well educated, genial, and capable of being a successful leader. He returned to New York in 1836 or 1837.
During the summer of 1829, the Commissioners appointed by the Legis- lature were at Alton, and selected about seven acres on the bluff, which William Russell ceded as a site for the Penitentiary. The contract for building was let by the Board of Inspectors to a Mr. Ivory, who brought on some mechanics and worked upon it for a short time; but, on account of some misfortune, he failed and left the country. The building contract was then re-let to Joel Finch, wood workman, and Lawrence Stone, mason builder. The work was begun late in 1830, though but little was done until the spring of 1831, when it was rapidly carried forwardl.
Rev. J. M. Peck, in his Gazetteer, published May 27th, 1831, gives the following statistics of Alton at that time :
"Building lots sell from twenty to one hundred dollars, according to sit- uation. The policy of the principal proprietors is to sell lots thus low, but on condition that good buildings shall be erected on them within one year, on penalty of a forfeiture. A large number of lots were sold a few months past, subject to these conditions. This is the finest place on the river for building and repairing steamboats. Land is reserved for a large boat yard, and a steamboat is contemplated to be built shortly to run between this place and St. Louis.
Lower Alton, in March last, had thirty-two families, and one hundred and seventy souls, to which there has been considerable increase. There were at that time one steam saw mill, one ware house for packing beef and pork, one carpenter, one wagon maker, one tannery, one cooper with six journeymen and three apprentices, two brickmakers, one brick mason, one stone mason, one blacksmith, two shoemakers, one lawyer, one tav- ern and boarding-house, and one retail store. There are now in addition, one penitentiary with warden's house and offices, mechanic shops, yard, and twenty-four cells for convicts, three or four wholesale and retail stores, one physician, one week day and Sabbath school, several mechan- ie's shops, and a plan under consideration to establish a seminary of learn- ing in the immediate vicinity."
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During the autumn of 1831 William Manning made preparations for building a steam flouring mill. As it was to be a mill on a large scale, the preparations were necessarily extensive, and caused quite a commo- tion among the people, especially the farmers of the country around .- Gladly did they hail the prospect of such a blessing as a mill propelled with steam, when they could dispense with their old and tedious Band Mills, or be saved long and wearisome journeys to mills twenty, forty and often times many miles more distant .*
Mr. Manning began his mill about September 1831, and during the season STEPHEN GRIGGS arrived as a representative for the firm of GRIGGS, WELD & Co., of Boston, who became connected with Mr. Man- ning in the mill. An incorporate company was organized with Mr. Man- ning as a large stockholder.t The contract for getting out the frame was first made with a man known as Boss Lee, but afterward William Hay- den was appointed to superintend the workmen.
Lewis J. Clawson now residing in Upper Alton did the stone and other masonry work. A man from Edwardsville whose name the writer has not learned was the «nillwright
The building was a large and substantial frame, ¿ four stories high with a basement of stone and was completed in running order during 1833.
It was run for some years under the control of the Stock Company, and although it was in charge of skillful millers and mechanics, and managed
*The farmers of Sangamon County in those days frequently hauled their wheat to St. Louis, and received a price which though it was the best the market would afford, would not pay them reasonable wages for their time spent in going to and returning from market, to say nothing of the plowing, sowing and harvest- time labor.
¡The "Alton Manufacturing Company" was chartered by the Legislature Feb- ruary Ist 1833. David R., Stephen, Nathaniel, John and Thomas Griggs, William and John Manning, Winthrop S. Gilman, Jonathan T. Hudson, Elijah Lincoln, William Miller, Nathaniel R. Cobb and Aaron D. Weld jr. with their associates and successors constituted the body politic with a capital of fifty thousand dol- lars with leave to extend it to one hundred thousand.
#When the frame was ready to be raised to its place invitations to come to the "raising" were sent to all the settlements for several miles around, and from the curiosity that prevailed among the people to see the progress of so great a work for their day, and to lend a helping hand, on the appointed day there were abont one hundred and fifty men present. Going to work with a will they were pro- gressiug finely when during the raising of the first "bent" the following poles broke and down came the massive timbers among them. Fortunately no one was seriously injured.
After a few days when the damages were repaired, a still larger number of per- sons were assembled and occupied an entire day of hard labor in getting up three "bents" or about one half of the first two stories. They then found it necessary to procure an outfit of building rigging with which, and some ten or twelve men the work of raising was completed.
.
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MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Alton.]
with economy, yet for some eight or ten years subsequent to its comple- tion the profits were merely nominal .*
It was afterwards leased to various parties among whom were a Mr. OLNEY; then GEORGE and JOSEPH BROWN, who were succeeded by MCELROY, LIBBY & Co. Messrs. S. & P. WISE afterwards leased, im- proved and run it successfully for some years. Messrs. J. J. & W. MITCHI- ELL, then secured the stock of the old incorporation, and adding a distill- ery carried on a large milling and distillery business. F. J. SHOOLER succeeded the Mitchell's and occupied the building while it remained.
Some two or three years since the Mitchell's disposed of their title in the grounds to the City. The mill after having stood over thirty years was taken down and removed.t During this tinie it had been in the midst of more of Alton's enacted history than any other structure within the city.
February 12th 1835 the "Alton Hotel Company" was incorporated with a capital stock of twenty thousand dollars .¿
The "Illinois Exporting Company" was incorporated January 18, 1836. The president and directors of this company were granted power to carry on the manufacture of flour, wool, hemp and other agricultural products; to export their products; to erect mills, machines etc., with a capital stock of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
The "Alton Shot and Lead Manufacturing Company" was incorporated January 16th, 1836. J. A. Townsend, Benjamin I. Gilman, Isaac Prickett, Caleb Stone, Isaac Negus and Sherman W. Robbins constituted the body politic, with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars.
Alton, with a population of about 2500, contained at the commencement of 1837, twenty wholesale and thirty-two retail stores and groceries, eight attorneys, seven physicians, seven clergymen devoted to their calling (be- sides several preachers of the gospel, who followed secular business during the week,) four hotels, two of which had large accommodations, a large steam flouring mill, four large slaughtering and packing houses for put-
*When the mill was finished it stood adjacent to the bluff, which has since been removed. It was in the programme to have a railroad from Alton to - some- where, with a side track along the the summit of the bluff to an upper mill door where the car loads of grain could be carried by spouts to any part of the mill desired.
+Of the mill gearing and machinery a large portion was purchased by Messrs. Dunford & Brooks, who remelted all that could be used, and portions of the old mill thus remodeled are again doing service in the manufacturing interest of Alton as components in the mill work and gearing of Shooler's National Mills. Some of the old mill timbers, well seasoned and tried are in the frame of Dunford & Brooks Foundry building.
#The design was to erect a Hotel building, such as would be a credit to any city. Its erection was begun, but owing to the money crisis of 1837, was not completed. Portions of the foundation still remain. It was to extend from State street east to Belle about two hundred feet, and from Fourth northward nearly one hundred teet.
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ting up pork, which did a large business; there were also mechanical shops of various descriptions, three printing offices which issued weekly papers, the Spectator, Telegraph and Observer; besides the Illinois Temperance Herald, issued monthly. There was a large temperance society, that held monthly meetings; a lyceum that held weekly meetings, and two schools.
The public buildings were four houses for public worship. The Baptist Church had a large stone edifice, with a handsome spire, bell, clock, and organ. The basement furnished three store rooms in front for rent, and a Sunday-school room, and a committee room in the rear. The Presbyter- ian Church had a moderate sized edifice, with a cupola and bell, and a basement Sunday-school room. The Methodist Episcopal Church had a neat frame edifice with a stone basement and a cupola. The Methodist Protestant Church had a small stone building. The Protestant Episcopal Church, the Unitarian Church, and the German Evangelical Church, each met in private rooms prepared for the purpose.
Among the public institutions were two banks (one a branch of the State Bank of Illinois, the other of the Shawneetown Bank) an insurance office, a lodge each of Masons and Odd Fellows, a lyceum and a me- chanics' association.
The rapidity with which Alton had grown up from a comparative wil- derness to its then prosperous condition had been hardly equalled any- where in the enterprising West. Mercantile business was commenced here in 1831. In 1837 its facilities were great. Real estate had risen more than 1000 per cent. within two years.
The best stands for business near the river sold at from $300 to $400 per front foot. Lots more retired, for private residences, from $100 to $50 and $25 per foot. Stores rented from $1,500 to $400, and dwelling houses from $600 to $200. Some of the large wholesale stores did a business of from two hundred and fifty thousand to half a million of dollars annually.
Seven or eight steamboats were owned here in whole or in part, and ar- rivals and departures occurred every day during the season.
Among the internal improvements prospected at that time in which Alton was particularly interested, were the following: A southern cross railroad from Alton, via Edwardsville, Carlyle, Salem, Fairfield, Albion to Mount Carmel; from whence it was expected a line would be extended through Indiana to New Albany, and become connected with the great railroad chartered and surveyed from the Ohio river to Charleston, South Carolina.
Also a railroad from Alton to Shawneetown, to diverge from the afore- said southern cross railroad at Edwardsville, and pass through Lebanon Nashville, Pinckneyville, Frankfort and Equality.
And further, a railroad from Belleville via Lebanon, and to intersect the road from Alton to Mount Carmel. Appropriated, $1,750,000.
85
MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Alton.]
A railroad from Alton via Upper Alton, Hillsboro, Shelbyville, Charleston, Paris, and from thence to the state line in the direction of Terre Haute, Indiana, where it was to connect with railroad and canal communications through that state, both in an eastern and southern direc- tion. Appropriated, $1,250,000.
Also a survey was made and the stock taken for one from Alton to Springfield, seventy-five miles which was designed to open an impor- tant line of communication with the interior, and eventually become con- nected with the great line to the Atlantic cities.
The summer of 1837 was a period of much agitation in the vicinity of Alton, which culminated in the "Riot" and the killing of Rev. E. P. Love- joy. As there have at various times been works published with direct ref- erence to a history of that affair, and an elaborate statement of it having recently appeared in Greeley's "American Conflict," a work which had an extensive circulation in this vicinity, it has been thought advisable to devote the limited historical portion of this work to other items that have hitherto not received so much attention.
At this period, (1837,) Alton had an extensive trade. The largest mercantile houses in the West were located here, many of which impor- ted directly from Europe, and sold a large amount of goods to merchants in the interior. A single firm controlled the entire lead trade of the North, every pound being landed at this wharf and then re-shipped. Quite a number of steamboats were owned here, and a heavy direct trade was carried on with New Orleans. Alton had a big name abroad. In Novem- ber the Lovejoy riots occurred, followed immediately by the terrible com- mercial revulsion, which swept over the entire country like a hurricane. The merchants were compelled to yield to the blast. General bankruptcy followed. A large portion of the real estate of the city passed into foreign hands, and the population had to begin the world anew. The crash hav- ing brought everything to its level, industry soon began to exhibit its benign effects. Gradually as the years rolled on, piece after piece of the real estate was bought back by the citizens, until in 1845 the real estate remaining in the hands of non-residents, (Col. Russell, one of the original proprietors alone excepted,) was insignificant in amount.
With the commencement of the Alton and Sangamon Railroad might be dated the most powerful impulse given to the prosperity of Alton. To the late Capt. B. Godfrey, the city is mainly indebted for this great work. Soon afterwards followed the Terre Haute and Alton railroad, then the Illinoistown and Alton railroad, and recently the Jacksonville and Alton railroad. A plank road was also built half way to Jerseyville. The im- provement of the wharf, (now one of the finest on the Mississippi) was car- ried forward, and large numbers of streets were graded McAdamized and miles of side walk laid. An excellent system of common school education was adopted, now one of the chief beauties of the city, to which a high 12-
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school on an admirable plan is being added. Foundries and machine shops were built, and additional newspapers were established in both the English and German languages.
During 1856 and 1857, a better class of buildings was erected in Alton, than at any previous period.
The City Building on Market Square includes a Market House, City Hall, Council Chamber and Engine House, with rooms for the City offices. The City Hall occupies the entire upper floor 90x50 feet, and is capable of comfortably accommodating one thousand persons. The entire building cost about $40,000, and was finished in 1859.
During the past year several business houses have been erected, among which may be mentioned a brick block north-west corner of Piasa and Third streets, two buildings on Belle street, two others on Third street, also the fine four story flouring mills of Farber, McPike & Co., and the new edifice for the City High School. Of these last two further mention will be made. Other buildings are being erected in various parts of the city for business purposes and for private residences.
GOVERNMENT.
The "TOWN OF ALTON" was incorporated by an Act of the Legislature - approved February 6th, 1833.
The official records of the Town previous to May, 1833, are not now among the City archives, but are believed to have been burned in the fire which destroyed the old Council Rooms some years since. Neither have the citizens who then resided here, a distinct recollection of the month and year in which the Board of Trustees was formed. That it was organized prior to February, 1833, the date of the charter, is evident from the fact that in the Alton Spectator for October 23d, 1832, a "Town Ordinance" was published, beginning as follows :
"Whereas, heretofore, on the 6th day of June last, an Ordinance was prepared by the President and Trustees of Alton, directing, &c., &c. * To which is signed the names of :
R. M. DUNLAP, Clerk. J. T. HUDSON, President. Dated, October 18, 1832."
From this it appears that a Board was fully organized in the Spring of 1832, if not earlier.«
*The following are the names of those who constituted the "BOARD OF TRUSTEES" from 1833 to 1837, and the of "common council" inclusive. For 1832 the names of ouly the President and Clerk have been obtained.
1832-3-Jonathan T. Hudson, President; R. M. Dunlap, Clerk.
1833-4-J. T. Hudson, President; J. S. Lane, Beal Howard, A. C. Hankinson, W. S. Gilman, S. H. Denton, M. Gillespie, J. C. Bruner, and Stephen Griggs.
December 16th, S. H. Denton resigned and Samuel Wade was elected by the Board to fill his place.
January 20, 1834, W. S. Gilman resigned and Charles Howard was elected in his stead.
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MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Alton.]
The "CITY OF ALTON" was chartered by an Act of the State Legislature, at a special session, July 21, 1837. The elections for city officers are held on the second Tuesday of September of each year. Regular meetings of the City Council occur on the first and third Mondays of each month.
The City is divided into four Wards, as follows :
First Ward-All that portion of the City west of a line drawn north and south through the center of Piasa street.
Second Ward-All between Piasa and Langdon streets.
Third Ward-All east of Langdon and south of Union and Eleventh streets.
Fourth Ward-All east of Langdon and north of Union and Eleventhi streets.
Those serving as Clerks this year were Messrs. F. C. Gwathmey, C. Howard, George Kelly, Geo. T. M. Davis.
1834-5-J. S. Lane, President; George Smith, Stephen Griggs, Wm. S. Emerson, Isaac Negus, John Quigley, Beal Howard. Elijah Haydon, Samuel Wade, and George Kelly, Clerk.
1835-6-J. T. Hudson, President; W. S. Emerson, Nathaniel Buckmaster, Jacob C, Bruner, Benj. K. Hart, Isaac J. Foster, William Post, Samuel Wade, S. Griggs, and William Martin, Clerk.
1836-7-Benj. K. Hart, President; Wm. G. Pinckard, Charles Howard, John W. Buffum, Jeremialı A. Townsend, Hezekiah Hawley, Benj. I. Gilman, Robert De- Bow, J. T. Hudson, and William Martin, Clerk.
1837, until election under the city charter-B. K. Hart, President; C. W. Hunter, Chas. Howard, J. A. Townsend, B. I. Gilman, William Martin, John M. Krum, Barney B. Baker, Horatio G. McClintoc, Francis B. Murdock, Clerk.
1837-8-Mayor, John M. Krum; Aldermen, First Ward, Samuel Wade, Sherman W. Robbins, Thos. G. Hawley: Second Ward, John Quigley, William McBride, John A. Haldeman; Third Ward, John King, John Green, David P. Berry; Fourth Ward, Andrew Miller, Thomas Wallace, J. T. Hutton, Francis B. Murdock, Clerk.
1838-9-Mayor, Charles Howard; Aldermen, First Ward, Sherman W. Robbins, Effingham Cock, Wm. Post; Second Ward, Andrew Miller, John W. Buffum, Simeon Ryder; Third Ward, Chas. W. Hunter, T. G. Pattingell, Ebenezer Marslı; Fourth Ward, Thomas Wallace, Dr. B. F. Edwards, M. G. Atwood.
1839-40-Mayor, John King; First Ward, S. W. Robbins, George Heaton, William Pope; Second Ward, Andrew Miller, B. K. Hart, J. R. Bullock; Third Ward, Wm. K. Levis, William Martin, Samuel G. Bailey; Fourth Ward, B. F. Edwards, O. M. Adams, M. G. Atwood; F. B. Murdock, Clerk.
1840-1-Mayor, Stephen Griggs; Aldermen, First Ward, George Heaton, Robert Dunlap, M. W. Carroll; Second Ward, Thomas G. Starr, William B. Little, Effing- ham Cock; Third Ward, Thomas Middleton, William Martin, William K. Levis; Fourth Ward, Benjamin F. Edwards, Moses G. Atwood, Joel Neff; William Pope, Clerk.
1841-2-Mayor, William Martin; Aldermen, First Ward, J. C. Milnor, T. P. Woold- ridge, T. L. Waples; Second Ward, B. K. Hart, T. G. Hawley, A. Corey; Third Ward, Wm. Tomlinson, Wm. Brudon, Samuel G. Bailey; Fourth Ward, B. F. Edwards, M. G. Atwood, Joel Neff; O. M. Adams, Clerk.
1842-3-Mayor, Samuel G. Bailey; Aldermen First Ward, William Martin, Benj. K. Hart. C. B. Mowry; Second Ward, J. S. Stone, Thos. G. Starr, William Hayden; Third Ward, Peter Gutzwiller, William Chorley, Barney B. Barker; Fourth Ward, B. F. Edwards, M. G. Atwood, John B. Hundley; O. M. Adams, Clerk.
1843-4-Mayor, Stephen Pierson; Aldermen, First Ward, B. K. Hart, Sebastian
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The Officers of the City are a Mayor and twelve Aldermen-three from each Ward,-also
City Clerk and Janitor, Engineer, Physician, Auditor, Inspector and Gauger, Measurer and Weigher, one for each Ward, Market Master, Fire Warden and Chief Engineer of the Fire Department, Secretary and Superintendent of Cemetery, Assistant Superintendent of Cemetery, Treasurer, Collector, Register, Attorney, Auditor, Marshal, Harbor Mas- ter, Street Commissioner, three Assessors, and three Inspectors of Election for each Ward.
The Standing Committees consisting of three Aldermen each are on Finance, Streets and Alleys, Levee, Schools, Ordinances, Markets, Panpers, Public Roads, Railroads, Health, Real Estate, Police, Public Buildings, Fire Department, Gas, Cemetery, and Claims, seventeen in all.
Wise, John Chaney; Second Ward, Thos. G. Starr, Henry C. Sweetser, Win. Hayden; Third Ward, Charles S. Leech, Ebenezer Marsh, John Jeffrey; 4th Ward, B. F. Edwards, Moses G. Atwood, Lewis Kellenberger; O. M. Adams, Clerk.
1844-5-Mayor, George T. M. Davis; Aldermen, First Ward, William Flemining, Edward Keating, T. P. Wooldridge; Second Ward, T. G. Starr, Isaac Scarritt, Win. Hayden; Third Ward, Ebenezer Marsh, Edward Levis, C. S. Leech; Fourth Ward, Lewis Kellenberger, Moses G. Atwood, C. G. Manzy; O. M. Adams, Clerk.
1845-6-Mayor, George T. M. Davis; Aldermen, First Ward, William Flemming, H. Buffum, Robert Ferguson; SSecond Ward, Thos. G. Starr, J. W. Baker, Wmn. Hayden; Third Ward, John Booth, Edward Levis, Wm. Tomlinson; Fourth Ward, M. G. Atwood, Lewis Kellenberger, Alfred Dow; John W. Calvin, Clerk.
1846-7-Mayor, George T. Brown; Aldermen, First Ward, Benjamin K. Hart, Sebas- tian Wise, Horace Buffum; Second Ward, William Hayden, John R. Woods, James D. Burns; Third Ward, Samuel Wade, E. H. Pomeroy, Peter Gutzweller; Fourth Ward, Alfred Dow, O. M. Adams, C. G. Mauzy; John W. Calvin, Clerk.
1847-8-Mayor, Edward Keating; Aldermen, First Ward, Horace Buffum, Bobert Ferguson, William Shattuck; Second Ward, William Hayden, John Bailhache, James D. Burns; Third Ward, Samuel Wade, Charles S. Leech, Edward Levis; Fourth Ward, Alfred Dow, C. G. Mauzy, John Atwood; John W. Calvin, Clerk.
1848-9-Mayor, Robert Ferguson; Aldermen, First Ward, Edward Keating, Horace Buffum, W. A. Platt; Second Ward, W. T. Miller, Abraham Breath, T. P. Woold- ridge; Third Ward, William Hayden, J. G. Lamb, John W. Schweppe; Fourth Ward, Samuel Wade; John Atwood, Thomas Middleton; John W. Calvin, Clerk.
1849-50-Mayor, Samuel Wade, Aldermen, First Ward, Robert Ferguson, Edward Keating, Amasa S. Barry; Second Ward, Abraham Breath, Charles Trumbull, Richard Flagg; Third Ward, William Hayden, John Bailhache, L. S. Metcalf; Fourth Ward, Louis Kellenberger, John Atwood, Edward Levis; John W. Calvin, Clerk.
1850-1-Mayor Samuel Wade; Aldermen, First Ward S. A. Buckmaster, A. S. Barry, Robert Ferguson. Second Ward John Chaney, Charles Trumbull, Richard Flagg. Third Ward George T. Brown, J. W. Schweppe, Nathaniel Hanson. Fourth Ward H. W. Billings, N. G. Edwards, George H. Weigler. John W. Calvin Clerk.
1851-2-Mayor H. W. Billings; Aldermen, First Ward W. T. Miller, Charles Trumbull, John Chaney. Second Ward John Wallace, J. D. Bruner, Nathaniel Hanson. Third Ward Wm. McBride, Peter Gutzweller, C. W. Hunter. Fourth Ward Samuel Wade, N. G. Edwards, O. M. Adams. John W. Calvin Clerk.
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