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 32
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Insure your Homestead with the Illinois Mutual.
245
MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Highland.]
These parties accepted the proposition. The contract was entered into on the 23d of September, 1836, to lay out the town of Highland on one hun- dred and sixty acres of land on the north side of section five township three north, range five west, nearly in the centre of the prairie. This town plat took in three fine prairie mounds, which were ornamented by trees; and towards the south-west, facing the town, a high ridge with a beautiful grove stretched itself for nearly two miles distant, at some places rising one hundred feet above the level of the prairie. The town plat contained forty-five squares of twelve lots each .* Four lots in every square were re- served for donations, to be given to any parties who would build houses on thein, according to certain stipulations.
In the summer of 1837, the Alton and Mount Carmel railroad was locat- ed and contracts entered into by the State for the grading and bridging of said road, and the work commenced between Alton and Highland.
On the 16th of September, 1837, the first lots were sold at auction. The same year the first school house was built; and Joseph Suppiger, Fred- erick Ryliner and Caspar Meier received the donation of two blocks for the building of a steam mill.
In 1834, a German Protestant Church was built of cut stone. In 1845, the first Catholic Church was erected. In 1849 a brick edifice was built for the German and American Methodist Episcopal Society. In 1854-5 the present large Catholic Church was erected in good style, and well finished. In 1859, the French Evangelical Church was built mainly through the energy of the Rev. M. Vulliet. The large public school house was built mostly by private subscriptions, in 1855.
When in 1838, before any railroad was finished, the resources of the State gave out and all the work on railroads ceased, the people were much discouraged; hard times set in for this State, which barred further improvements. By constant emigration this section of the country, and the town of Highland, kept nevertheless slowly improving.
About the year 1840 a new emigration to this part of the county, from the Grand Duchy of Baden commenced. These people generally arrived here exhausted of means, but full of energy and willing to suffer all depriva- tions. They generally settled north-east of Highland, and were mostly Catholics. From all the german cantons of Switzerland, families can be found settled on farms in every direction from Highland; they are also to be found among the mechanics, merchants and laborers of the town. Most of these are Protestants.
Since 1848 a new population speaking the French language commenced to arrive here. It is said that two hundred families of them are settled in this part of Madison County. It is characteristic of this people that many
*Six streets running east and west and nearly three quarters of a mile long were named Washington, Pestallozi, Troxler, Zschokki, Franklin and Jefferson. Ten cross streets named from trees ran north and south.
37-
246
A GAZETTEER OF
[Highland.
families live on ten or twenty acres of land each, but as they cultivate their soil with great care, and are in all things economical, they neverthe- less prosper. The majority of these people came from the French cantons of Switzerland; some came from Savoy, and others from France. A French Baptist Church was built in 1860 on the north-west corner of the north-east quarter of section twenty-four, township three north, range five west. Rev. Francis Toulon is the pastor of this church. Meetings are also held by the Waldenses.
AS WINE CULTURE is carried on here to a considerable extent, it must be stated that when Caspar Kopfli and his party arrived here, they had brought grape-vines from Switzerland, France and Germany. Also at later times more grape-vines were received from Europe. But all experi- ments with these failed, as the European grape could not endure this changeable elimate.
In 1843 Joseph and Solomon Kœpfli brough the first Catawba grape-vines from Cincinnati, and in 1847 they made the first Highland wine, which was of excellent quality. Five acres were now set out by them with Catawba grapes, and the years 1850, 1853, 1857, 1861 and 1863, were, as to quantity and quality, good wine seasons. This wine compares favorably with any that is raised at Cincinnati, or Herman. Among the largest vineyards in the vicinity of Highland, are those held by Nicholas Ambuel, J. and S. Kœpfli, Henry Bosshard, Frederick Ryhiner, Mrs. Rilliet, heirs of Joseph Suppiger, Adolph Glock and others.
In 1842 an attempt was made to introduce silk culture in Highland, but failed. At present a fine article of silk is produced, but only in small quantities, by August Paghan.
On the first day of January 1855, Dr. Caspar Kopfli, at the advanced age of eighty years, found in the midst of this settlement his last resting place, and was accompanied to his grave by a large congregation of his friends. He was fifty-seven seven years old (an age when others usually re- tire from their labors) when he came to America to commence the work he had in view nearly all his previous life. His mnotto always had been "man can acquire whatever in reason and with perseverance he strives for." This was the case with him. What he had struggled for was fully realized, and it is the lot of few men to glance over their past life with more satis- faction than he could feel. He had during his whole life been a fervent admirer of America, and gloried in the conviction that America would revolutionize the world in favor of democratic-republican institutions.
On the twenty-first of April, 1861, close by the side of Caspar Kæpfli, Joseph Suppiger, his nephew and co-laborer, was laid, when fifty- six years old. He had been a man indefatigable in his work, and in sup- porting whatever he thought the public and particularly the interests of Highland required. As a Justice of the Peace he entered into the true spirit of his office, and labored many years for the public. This good
247
MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Highland.]
man will never be forgotten in Highland, and his example should always be held up as a model to our youth.
On the 16th of April, 1863, Joseph and Solomon Kopfli by deed founded a public park of thirty-one acres within a half a mile of the town of High- land. It includes a tract of beautiful shaded valleys and hills, which seem as if intended by nature for a park .*
The forty-five blocks of the original town plat of Highland have long since been filled up and improved. The houses are mostly built of brick, with stone foundations and cellars. They do not generally stand in rows, but all are surrounded by neat gardens where flowers, shrubbery and trees receive careful culture, giving the town a pleasant and rural aspect.t
Two additions to Highland have been made, one of a few blocks on the north by Bernhard Suppiger, the other on the east and south side by the old Company. The town now numbers seventy blocks.
The following includes the principal business of Highland : One ste am flouring mill capable of manufacturing three hundred barrels of flour per day, a large distillery, one woolen factory, (which also produces finished cloths,) and one factory of exclusive woolen goods; one soda, one soap and one tobacco manufactory; one rope yard, two machine shops, one sash and door factory, one tannery, four tin shops, four saddler shops, two gun smiths, eight black smith shops, six wagon shops, six cooper shops, four butcher shops, four bakeries, and one confectionery; two lumber and three brick yards; two weekly German newspapers, the Highland Bote, an organ of the American Sharpshooter's Society, and the Highland Union; one banking house, fifteen dry goods and grocery stores; one hardware, three clothing and three furniture stores; one book and music store, one drug store, two millinery shops, two watch makers, seven taverns, one marble cutter, five physicians and two veterinary surgeons; one lawyer, and a good proportion of tailors, shoemakers, painters, masons, bricklay- ers, carpenters, teamsters and laborers. There are two nurseries situated in the vicinity.
In 1865 the town of Highland was incorporated by a special act of the Legislature. Jacob Eggen, one of the oldest citizens, was elected first Mayor. The population at present is about two thousand.
*These grounds well fenced and and laid off are now placed under the protec- tion of the "Helvetia Shapshooter's Society." Under certain circumstances these grounds are to become the property of the town of Highland, always to be main- tained as a public Park. The celebrated National festival of the American Sharp Shooters was held at this place, in May, 1865, attended by thousands of people Also the celebrations of the 4th of July, and the festivals of all the schools, and the different societies, are held here from time to time.
¡Two lithographic views have been published of Highland; the first a large picture taken one half mile north of the town, by Mr. Boegle; the second a much better representation, by Charles H. Seybt, giving a view of the town from the South.
TROY.
The north-east quarter of section nine, township three north of the base line, range seven west of the third principal meridian, was entered at the U. S. Land Office in Edwardsville, Illinois, by the late John Jarvis, on the 10th of September, 1814 .* The date of the entry does not indicate the time of its first occupation and improvement. Several farms in the vicinity were occupied and improved long prior to the year 1814, but the general government had not brought them into market.
EARLY SETTLERS OF TROY PRECINCT-Most of whom are dead, a few survive, and some have removed to other parts :-
Titus Gragg,
Isaac K. McMahan,
Thomas Bolton,
John Jarvis,
Robert McMahan, jr.,
James Downing,
Joseph Eberman,
Thomas S. McMahan,
of Downing's Station,
Abraham Vanhooser, sr. Andrew Moore,
Abraham Vanhooser, jr. John C. Riggin,
Dr. Thomas Baker, Calvin McCray,
Anderson Smith,
Daniel Reece,
Horatio MeCray,
Joshua Armstrong,
Rev. Samuel Wood,
William Robinson,
Rev. Alexander Conlee, James Simmons,
Josiah Caswell,
Isaac Conlee,
Hardy Warren,
George Churchill,
William Hayes,
Walter Denny,
William Howard,
David Moore,
John Robinson,
William Vineyard,
Gaines Moore,
Isaac Clark,
Rev. Jesse Renfro,
Henry Hall,
Giles Kelley,
Cleveland Hagler,
William Hall, jr.,
G. W. Kerr,
Benjamin J. Hagler,
William Kingston,
Elijah Renshaw,
Andrew Stice,
Samson Kingston,
Harry Riggin,
William Hall, sr.,
Baptiste St. John,
James Newell,
John Hall,
Rev. Rivers Cormack,
James Riggin,
Pobert McMahan, t
Stephen Dewey,
Whitmill Harrington,
Lyman Gillett,
Jubilee Posey,
Nicholas Russell,
Joseph Snodgrass,
Matthias HandIon,
John Painter,
Jonathan Denton,
Israel Turner,
Henry A. Langstaff,
Silvanus Gaskill,
John Riggen, Gardner,
David Gaskill,
Milton Hall,
Jesse Rountree,
Jacob Gragg,
William W. Hall,
Andrew Black,
William F. Purviance,
George Bolton,
James Watt.
David Hendershott, Field Jarvis,
Valentine Vanhooser,
Samuel Vincent,
Henry Peck,
Durham,
Pigg,
Job Robinson,
John Coniee,
Andrew W. Waddle,
Noah Hall.
William Beard,
John Harrington,
*Weare indebted to Hon. GEORGE CHURCHILL for the accompanying sketch of Troy.
+ROBERT MCMAHAN, Esq., one of the early settlers of Troy Precinct, departed this life in the year 1322. The following paper, read before the Troy Lyceum in 1855, by Hon. GEORGE CHURCHILL, but not heretofore published, gives a true ac-
249
MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Troy.]
In 1818 the central portion of the present village of Troy was known by the name of "Columbia." It contained a horse grist mill, owned by Mr. John Jarvis, a dry goods store, kept by Mr. Stephen Dewey, afterwards known as a leading citizen of Fulton County, a tavern, kept by Joseph Eberman, and a very few dwelling houses.
Soon afterwards-probably in 1819-James Riggin, afterwards a citizen of Lebanon, and David Hendershott bought the town site, comprising ten acres, and gave it the name of TROY. Mr. Riggin lived in the village at that time, and Mr. Hendershott in the country. Harry Riggin, James
count of the massacre of Mr. McMahan's wife and four of his children, and of the captivity of himself and eldest daughter by a party of Indians, on the 26th of Jan- uary, 1795.
SIXTY YEARS AGO.
Sixty years ago Illinois contained a mere handful of white inhabitants. No steamboat had ever disturbed the surface of the western waters; no canal was thought of; no railroad was invented; no electric telegraph had been dreamed of.
Yet the venerable author of the "Pioncer History of Illinois," after describing the mode of living in the "American Bottom," adds: "I do not believe that any happier people existed anywhere than in the American Bottom, for twenty years, from 1790 to 1810. These were the palmy days of the American Bottom, and such a feast and flow of good feelings, generosity, and most of the virtues that adorn human nature, as were experienced in the American Bottom, rarely exist in any country."
The same writer places "the golden age of Illinois" between the years 1732 and 1754, and says "at no subsequent period will the people enjoy the same happiness."
All this merely seems to show that the writer felt happier when he was young and ardent and full of bright hopes and anticipations than when he became old and had enjoyed the fame and the honors hoped for in youth, and had discovered that they were "nothing but vanity and vexation of spirit." "Old men always imagine, as they advance in life, that the morals of the people grow worse, and fraud and dishonesty increase."
The venerable Robert Lemen, in a communication to the "Pioneer" of Jan. Stli, 183), speaks of the troubles of the same "palmy days." Says he: "The tomahawk and scalping knife were our continual dread. To use the words of the Propliet Jeremialı, 'We got our bread by the peril of our lives, because of the sword of the wilderness.' Thus it was with the greatest difficulty we procured the necessaries of life, laboring with one hand, while in the other we held a weapon of defence; our food and raiment being of the coarsest kind, and scanty withal. No coffee nor whisky, without which numbers'cannot live in these days of plenty." * * "Our currency consisted of deer-skins-three pounds being equal to one dollar in silver; an l they were a lawful tender. Our amusements were the contemplation of better days. We had no minister of the Gospel; our manner of worship was to assemble on the Sabbath, read the Scriptures, and sing a few psalms or spiritual songs. We had no schools."
The danger of attacks from the hostile savages was so great that the whites were compelled to build forts, or stations, as they were called, for their mutual defence. Mr. Robert Lemen informs us that his "father with a few others, perhaps not ex- ceeding twelve families, were under the necessity of collecting in a small fort, called Pigott's Fort, about nine miles below Cahokia, at the foot of the bluff ad- joining the Mississippi Bottom, as a safeguard against the hostility of the Indian tribes, whose murderous arms were uplifted against ns." Afterwards they "re- moved and forted at New Design, a place selected by the late Capt. Josepli Ogle and others, as suitable for that purpose, being surrounded with excellent timber
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A GAZETTEER OF
[Troy.
Riggin, G. W. Kerr and Calvin McCray were among those who sold nier- chandise at Troy in its early days. Horatio McCray kept a house of en- tertainment for travelers.
About the year 1836 Josiah Caswell, Esq., laid out the town of "Mechan- icsburg" on the east half of the north-west quarter of section nine, town- ship three north, range seven west, which has become merged in the town of Troy. Several other additions have also been made to the original town plat.
Troy was in rather bad odor with the surrounding farmers for many years, and its growth was consequently slow. It was a long time before
and water." (This place is in the present County of Monroe, on elevated land, and commands a view of the Mississippi and Kaskaskia Rivers.)
Sixty years ago an Irish schoolmaster, rejoicing in the name of half-penny, taught school at the New Design. He was the third who taught school in Illinois, his predecessors being John Seely and Francis Clark.
Sixty years ago the 26tli of January last a tragedy was enacted about tliree miles from New Design Station, in which two persons, for many years resident in the vicinity of Troy, were compelled to endure the keenest sufferings.
The story has several times appeared in print, frequently with some inaccura- cies, and always with the omission of some important circumstances.
ROBERT MCMAHAN, Esq., a native of Virginia, emigrated from that State to Lexington, Ky. At Crab Orchard. Ky. he married Miss Margaret Clark. In 1793 he removed to Illinois and settled near the New Design.
The settlers being apprehensive of attacks from straggling parties of Indians, Mr. McMahan, in 1794, resided in a house of Mr. James Lemen's, sen., near the Station. In the same vicinity resided Mr. Peter Carterline and Mr. Benjamin Ogle.
But, desiring to improve the land which he had selected for his farm, and hop- ing to escape an attack, or to repel it if made, he afterwards removed to his im- provement in the prairie, about three miles from the station, and out of sight of anyother house.
He made preparations to defend himself and family against an attack. He had a rifle; and only a week before the tragedy, he run two hundred rifle balls. He also had a blunderbuss charged with six charges of powder and nine balls. "When you hear the report of my blunderbuss," said he to his friends at the sta- tion, "you may be certain that I am attacked." The door of his house was so constructed that it might be strongly barred, and port holes were made in the walls through which he might shoot any who should attempt to ascend to the roof. On the fatal 26th of Jan. 1795, Mr. McMahan went out to hunt for his oxen; when he perceived that his horse, which was confined in a pen, appeared to be frightened. He cast his eye over the prairie in every direction, but saw no enemy.
A lone hickory tree, one hundred and fifty yards from his house, had been blown town the year before while in full leaf, thus furnishing a convenient hiding place for an attacking party; but, unfortunately, Mr. McMahan did not think of there being a deadly enemy ensconced within that convenient covert.
He entered his house, but had not been there more than two or three minutes when tour Indians, frightfully painted black and red, entered the house, two by two, saying "Bon jour ! bon jour "-[good day ! good;day ! ] They stood motionless a few seconds, when one of them attempted to take down Mr. McMahan's rifle from the hook,and Mr. McMahan took down his blunderbuss; but his wife took hold of it, and begged her husband not to resist, as she hoped their lives might be spared if they submitted peaceably, but otherwise they, would be killed. The
251
MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Troy].
a school was kept or the Gospel preached at stated times within the limits of the town. At length meeting-houses, or churches, were , built, and sometimes occupied as school-houses. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows erected a hall at the corner of Center and Main streets, the lower story of which was occupied as a school-house for seven years. This hall is a very neat frame building two stories high and painted white.
Subsequently a large two story brick school house was erected upon a lot at the corner of Clay and Hickory streets, very near the eastern edge of School District No. 2. This edifice is 52 feet 10 inches by 28 feet 8 inches on the outside, exclusive of the vestibule, which is 8 by 12 feet on
Indians then seized the blunderbuss, and wrenched it from his hands. Every one then made for the door. Mrs. McMahan ran half way around the house, when she was shot in the left breast, and scalped. Mr. McMahan was then pulled back into the house, thrown on the floor, aud his hands pinioned close behind him, with deer sinews. Sally McMahan, his eldest daughter, then less than nine years old, remained in the house, and saw one of the Indians knock her brother and two of her sisters on the head with the poll of his tomahawk. It was a light blow, only sufficient to stun them. This Indian was proceeding to open the cradle where lay a female infant, only one month old, when Sally ran out of the house, and once around it, when she was also seized by him.
The Indian who committed the murders was supposed to be of the Miami tribe. The other three were Pu-taw-wahs, as they call themselves, or as they are com- monly called by the whites, Pottowatomies.
Three of the children were scalped. It was said that the infant was not scalped, but my informant stated that the Indians displayed five scalps when they camped at night, and she supposed they took two scalps from the head of one of the mur- dered children, and left the infant unscalped. It has also been stated that the infant was nnhurt, and died of starvation: but my informant learned from a woman who was present at the burial, that there was a gash in its cheek.
The Indians took from the house such articles as they wanted, packed a part of them upon Mr. McMahan, one of whose hands was untied, so that he might carry his load; and with their captives, left in haste for their home in the north-east part of Illinois. Mr. McMahan meditated an escape, but did not make known his intention to his daughter. The first night of the journey he saw no chance of escape, as the Indians had tied him very securely, and had taken away his shoes and hat, and part of his clothes. But during the second night ;he quietly slipped off the cords from his limbs and body, and was about to rise, when he perceived that one of the Indians was awake. Waiting till the Indian was again asleep, he made his escape, after trying in vain to get possession of his shoes. In the dead of winter, without shoes, without food, and with scanty clothing, he left his daughter with her captors, and endeavored to make his way to the New Design. He lay out one cold night, making his bed of leaves under a large fallen tree, which was held up from the ground by its branches. Here he was partially frozen, but the next morning resumed his journey. He now had the pleasure of meeting a friend in the person of Col. Samuel Judy, who gave him the necessary directions, which he pursued, and reached his home just after his wife and four children had been committed by their sympathizing neighbors, to one common grave. He prostrated himself upon the grave, exclaiming, "They were lovely in their lives, and in their deaths they were not divided."
The massacre took place on Monday, and the burial on the succeeding Friday. A small dog belonging to Mr. McMahan daily visited the residence of Mr. James Lemen, sen., and endeavored, by whining, to inform the people of what had hap- pened to his master's family. But for several days they did not comprehend the
252
A GAZETTEER OF
[Troy.
the inside. The house has two rooms below and one above. The lower story is 12 and the upper story is 13 feet high. The lot has recently been fenced on two sides with substantial palings. The cost of this edifice is unknown, being variously estimated from $5,000 to $11,000.
CHURCHES .- METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH .- This is a frame build- ing, thirty-four by twenty-four feet. The house had a steeple and a bell. The former has been taken down, and the latter is out of place. It is said that the house was erected by certain of the world's people, and presented to the Methodists. At the proper times, it is usually occupied by zealous
dog's message; one authority says not until old Mr. Judy had discovered the dead bodies and reported the fact at the Station.
Let us now return to the Indians and their remaining captive. They pursued their course and reached the home of the Pu-taw-wahs, south-west of Lake Mich- igan. Sally McMahan was here transferred to an Ot-taw-wah Indian, who had be- come a chief of the Pu-taw-wahs, and whose wife was a sister of the three Pn-taw- wahs who had been concerned in the massacre. The name of this chief was Suk- ko-nok, which being translated means Blackbird; but among the whites he went by the name of Leturnean. Here the Indian women cultivated their gardens and "truck patches" with a neatness worthy of commendation and imitation-not permitting a solitary weed to grow therein.
In 1795, General Anthony Wayne, sometimes called "Mad Anthony," obtained a great victory over the Indians in Ohio. This was followed by the Treaty of Greeneville, by which the Indians engaged to bring into the white settlements all the captives in their possession. In accordance with the stipulation, in April, 1796, Suk-ko-nok took Sally McMahan down the Illinois and Mississippi, in a canoe, and landed at Cahokia, and delivered her to the white people. It being court time, a great many people were present. Suk-ko-nok made a spech to them in which he said that he hal no hand in the massacre; had paid a considerable sum for the captive, and had brought her a great distance into the white settle- ments. He therefore appealed to the liberality and sense of justice of the white people to make him just compensation. A subscription paper was drawn up, and circulated, and one hundred and sixty-four dollars subserlbed, and that amount, in goods was advanced to Suk-ko-nok by Mr. Ar-un-del, a merchant of Cahokia.
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