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 38
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38
In 1820-21, he had some connection with banking affairs, which did not result favorably to his pecuniary interests. He was for several years State Printer at Columbus, and part proprietor and then sole owner of "The State Journal"-having previously sold "The Scioto Gazette." A paragraph from the "Sketch," &c., at this point in his history, is worthy of all attention, and strikingly illustrates the character of the man: Al- though I filled the office of State Printer for three consecutive years, I re- alized but little profit from my exertions, or from the business of the Journal. The reason probably was, that I complied strictly with the conditions of my contract-in the spirit as well as in the letter-and did not resort to teelinicalities in order to swell my bills. Be this as it may, my successors' bills exceeded mine in the proportion of upwards of three to one, and the result was, that they were raised from poverty to wealth, while I scarcely improved my previous condition." There speaks the honest man !
For about twenty years he seems to have taken a very active part in the polities of Ohio, and closed his editorial career there in 1836.
At the solicitation of his wife's friends, who had removed to St Louis, lie came with his family to that city. Failing to secure an interest in the "Missouri Republican," he purchased one-half of the "Alton Telegraph," and took charge of that paper in May, 1837. In about one year he pur- chased the interst of his partner, Mr. L. A. Parks, and became the sole proprietor of the paper. In June, 1838, he associated Mr. S. R. Dolbee with himself in the publication of the "Telegraph." That connection con- tinued until the close of 1849.
His next partner in business was his son William Henry. This con- nection continued until July, 1852, when he sold one-third of the establish- ment to Mr. Edward Baker. After two years he disposed of his remain- ing interest in the office to Mr. L. A. Parks, one of the original proprietors of the paper. He continued, however to render such assistance to his
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MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
successors as his health would admit until they sold out the paper in May, 1855. He then purchased the Book and Job office of the establishment in connection with Mr. Parks, and continued that branch of the business until his death.
At his office this "Reporter" has been published-with the exception of a few months-ever since its commencement, in May, 1845. He has read the proof sheets, and to his careful and experienced eye, is it mainly owing that so few typographical errors have defaced its pages.
During these twelve years of close association we have witnessed his strict integrity, his uniforn urbanity and his high moral and religious tone.
Judge Bailhache's connection with the "Telegraph" was not profitable in a pecuniary sense. He says himself-June 1st, 1855-"I am not at this moment in possession of as large an amount of property as I was at the time of my departure from Columbus, a little more than eighteen years since."
Of his Editorial life he speaks as follows: "Of my career as an Editor, front 1812 to 1854-a period of nearly forty-two years-it would not become me to speak. I am fully sensible of my short-comings, and of having sometimes fallen into error. I am entirely willing to leave my reputation as a journalist with my cotemporaries in full assurance that they will con- tinue, as heretofore, to do me ample justice, by treating my faults with lenity and giving me full credit for good intentions. It has ever been my aim to contribute toward raising the character of the Western Press, by upholding whatever was innocent and pure, and discountenancing all vice and immorality-by treating all classes of men, my political oppon- ents not excepted, with uniform fairness and courtesy-and by laboring with increasing perseverance to advance the honor and the prosperity of the country of my adoption. That my exertions have sometimes failed may be a matter of regret; but upon a fair and candid review of my whole course, I ought perhaps to be grateful that, with my limited means and humble field of operation, I should have accomplished as much as I may, without the imputation of vanity, reasonably claim to have done."
In October, 1820, Judge Bailhache was elected to represent the people of Ross county in the Legislature of Ohio, and served one term in that capacity.
In 1825 he was elected by the legislature one of the Associate Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, for the county of Ross. This office he held until his removal to Columbus, in the full of 1828, when he resigned. In the Spring of 1835 he was elected Mayor of the city of Columbus.
In November, 1841, he was elected one of the Representatives to the Legislature of Illinois, from the county of Madison. In the Spring of 1843 he re-visited his native place and bade adieu to his venerated mother.
Judge Bailhache was brought up in the Protestant Episcopal Church, of which his parents were members. In that communion he lived and died. His funeral was attended by a very large concourse. Rev. S. Y McMas- ters, his Paster, delivered on that occasion a most simple, beautiful and appropriate discourse, in which he truthfully delineated the character of of the deceased.
The manuscript of that discourse is before us, and most gladly would we, did space permit, transfer the whole of it to our columns.
The theme of his discourse was the translation of the prophet Elijah, 1 Kings I: 9-14. After referring to the mission of Elijah and discussing the circumstances of his translation, the speaker said: "On the present occa- sion I confess to much of the feeling of loneliness, bereavement and loss, experienced by the prophet Elisha when he had seen his pattern so mys- teriously taken from him; and although I dare not claim to have inherit- ed his mantle, nor a double portion-nor any portion-of his spirit, yet like the bereaved Elisha, I feel like standing in amazement and grief, and crying 'My Father ! My Father ! ! ' "
After some very just remarks upon his editorial career, the Rev. gentle- man proceeded thus :
It was in his private, domestic, religious and ecclesiastical relations that I knew him best. To be polite, generous and just, was never and effort to him. All the high principles of the man, the gentleman, and the Christian, seemed in himn
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A GAZETTEER OF
to have been inborn, or wrought into the constitution of his mind by early edu- cation, and by the grace of God. Truly, I think it may be said that his religion was not more prominent while he kneeled at the chancel rail at the communion, than when he was at home, in the family circle, or on the streets, or in his office, in the daily routine of business. Instead of appearing like a business man pro- fessing religion, he appeared like a Christian man engaging in business from a sense of duty. The moral and religious elements seemed to form the web and the woof of his character; while other matters were wrought in, in harmonious em- broidery, and all took their hue from these.
To the day of his death, he remained a student-close in his application, to a degree which might have shamed most young men in our Universities; and in the whole time that I have known him, I think I have never marked greater profi- ciency in the acquisition of knowledge in any person. To the last, he continued to learn, to acquire information; and only his extreme modesty prevented his
being regarded a prodigy in learning.
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CONCLUSION.
During the war for the suppression of the rebellion, Madison county performed an honorable part in furnishing out of her abundance, supplies of men and money for the maintenance of the Union and the Constitu- tional government. In the ranks of the defenders of their country were found many of her best citizens, while the patriotism and devotion of those who remained did much to strengthen the arms and provide for the comfort of the brave boys in the field.
The city of Alton was during the war a point of some military impor- tance. A large number of captured rebels-amounting at times to several thousand, and including some prominent as leaders of the rebellion, were here confined; the old State Penitentiary building being used for the purpose.
No task would in its performance be more pleasant to the writer than to give such a history of the part which Madison County took in the war for the Union, as would to some extent do justice to that noble band of patri- ots from this County who, to preserve the Nation, laid their all with a pure devotion upon the altar of their country. But having made diligent effort to obtain the facts, it was found that while much information could be secured relative to the history of many companies, but very lit- tle could be learned of others, apart from such reports as their officers had made to the military department at Springfield. The Adjutant General has informed the publisher that as soon as the Legislature convenes and passes an act to that effect, his Report for 1865 will be printed. His last Re- port will end with the return of the soldiers; is considered quite complete, and will furnish a history of the various regiments, accurately compiled from the records. Hence it has been deemed advisable to omit that which we could for want of data only partially finish, while the records do exist from which the proper authorities will eventually publish a complete exhibit.
MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. LXV
ROWE & DROWN, Commission Merchants
AND DEALERS IN
HAY, GRAIN, AND ALL KINDS OF PRODUCE,
No. 31 SECOND STREET,
ALTON,
ILLINOIS.
Consignments and Orders Respectfully Solicited.
CROSSMAN & CO., AUCTIONEERS
AND COMMISSION MERCHANTS, Northeast Corner Third and Piasa Streets, ALTON, - - - ILLINOIS.
H. C. G. MORITZ,
MERCHANT TAILOR,
AND DEALER IN
Clothing, Gents' Furnishing Goods,
SOUTH SIDE THIRD STREET, NEAR PIASA,
ALTON, - - ILLINOIS.
M'PIKE & NEWMAN re present the New England Fire Insurance Co., of Hartford,
M'PIKE & NEWMAN represent the .Liverpool, London and Globe Fire Ins. Co.
LXVI
FIRE! FIRE !! FIRE !!!
For Indemnity against Loss or Damage by Fire apply at the OLD AGENCY OF
KELLENBERGER & DOLBEE,
The FIRST, OLDEST and most RELIABLE in Alton. Represent- ing the following Substantial Companies, viz :
HOME. of New York. HARTFORD FIRE, of Hartford. CITY FIRE. of Hartford. SPRINGFIELD F. & M., of Mass. Old ILLINOIS MUTUAL, of Altou.
UNDERWRITER'S of New York. METROPOLITAN, of New York. LAMAR. of New York.
COMMERCE, New York.
ALTON MUTUAL, of Alton. .
Representing an aggregate of $14,000,000 Capital and surplus as in- demnity against loss BY FIRE. POLICIES issued without delay and Losses fairly adjusted and Promptly Paid.
C'all at our office in the F'our Story Brick Fire Proof Building, on
West Side of State Street, opposite Third,
KELLENBERGER & DOLBEE, Agents.
28
R. L. KING, Wholesale and Retail Dealer in
CERIES,
FRUITS, ETC., North East Corner Third & State Streets, ALTON, - ILLINOIS.
JOHN C. W. BAILEY,
MASONIC PRINTER,
PUBLISHER & COSTUMER, 164 CLARK STREET. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA
977.386H12G C001 GAZETTEER OF MADISON COUNTY, CONTAINING
13G
3 0112 025398592
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