USA > Illinois > Morgan County > Jacksonville > Historic Morgan and classic Jacksonville > Part 19
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POSTAL FACILITIES-INSTITUTION FOR DEAF AND DUMB.
Tilford,* J. M. Lucas, J. J. Cassell,* C. Ogle,* J. B. Mckinney, W. C. Swett,* W. B. Lewis,* Joseph Gledhill,* W. C. Scott, A. B. Hathaway, M. Dulany, John Freeman .*
The earliest facilities of Jacksonville were quite meager compared with those of to-day. When the town was created, and a few families had established themselves therein, a postoffice was of necessity required, for people loved to write then as well as now, and were only deterred in the number of letters by the rates of postage and the facilities for transmission. The postage on a letter was twenty-five cents, and gener- ally paid by the receiver. Money was a scarcer article then than now. The United States Government did not receive "coon skins" or beeswax" in payment for postage, and it was not an uncommon affair for a letter to lie several months in the office before the person to whom it was addressed could raise the required twenty-five cents. When the express companies came into existence, they began to carry letters for a less rate than the United States mails, which department lowered the price of postage gradu- ally until it reached ten cents per letter. This was thought to be a great reduction by the people, and the number of letters began to increase very rapidly. Jacksonville re- ceived, at first, a mail from St. Louis, brought by stages once in two weeks. Another route was established from Springfield west through Jacksonville to Meredosia, and thence on to Quincy. By the alternation of these mails, a weekly budget of letters and papers was received in town, and the people thought themselves well provided for in this way.
The postoffice in town was kept in various stores, shops, or offices, removed from time to time, as a change in administration and postmasters occurred. As time passed on, a semi-weekly mail was secured, then a tri-weekly, and, finally, by the time the first railroad was built, a daily mail had been firmly established. The number of daily mails increased as facilities for transportation were furnished.
With one more topic we close this chapter. It is a subject vitally connected with the history of the city, the location here of the state charitable institutions of Illinois, which to-day add more than 1,000 to our population.
In 1838-'39 the representatives from Morgan county in the legislature consisted of William Thomas, William Weatherford, and William Orear, senators, and J. J. Hardin, Newton Cloud, John Henry, John Wyatt, William Gilham, R. Walker, representatives.
Judge Thomas says :
Hon. O. H. Browning. senator from Adams County, having prepared a bill for the establishment of a Deaf and Dumb Asylum, leaving a blank for the place of location, presented it to me for examination, and to secure my assistance in its passage. Ap- proving of the object as well as the bill, I proposed filling the blank with "Jackson- ville," assuring Mr. Browning that all the delegation from Morgan would give the meas- ure a hearty support; relying on members and supposed influence, he consented to my proposition.
The bill required as a condition to the location, "a donation of five acres of ground suitable for the use of the institution." It appropriated, in aid of the institution, one per cent. annually on the interest of the school, college and seminary funds, amounting then to about $6,000. The bill was introduced by Mr. Browning and read at length (not by the title) on three days, and passed the Senate without one word of debate or discus- sion, or even the calling of the yeas and nays.
In the House it met with considerable opposition. The appropriation was reduced three-fourths, making it equal to about $1,500. And, out of abundant caution, a clause was inserted that the legislature might repeal the section making the appropriation.
Thomas Carlin, Daniel G. Whitney and Thomas Cole, of Adams County; Ottawa Wilkinson, Samuel D. Lockwood, Joseph Duncan, Dennis Rockwell, William Thomas, Julian M. Sturtevant, George M. Chambers, Samuel M. Prosser, Porter Clay and Mat- thew Stacy of Morgan County; Richard F. Barrett and Samuel H. Trent, of Sangamon County; Cyrus Walker, of McDonough; B. F. Morris, of Hancock; William E. With- row and James M. Mccutchen, of Schuyler County; and Thomas Worthington, of Pike County, were appointed directors.
The citizens of Morgan County purchased and donated to the institution about six acres of ground, on which the building now stands, at a cost of about eleven hundred dollars. Subsequent to the organization of the board of directors and the election of of- ficers, all the directors residing out of Morgan County resigned. The annual appropria- tions being too small to justify the contracting for a building, the money as received from the state treasurer was deposited in the branch of the State Bank of Illinois at this
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FIRST ILLINOIS BLIND ASYLUM-STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS.
place, until it accumulated to a sum deemed sufficient to justify the commencement of a building. In 1843 a contract was made for the erection and enclosure of what is now the south wing of the building.
The nucleus of the Illinois Institution for the Education of the Blind, was a school for the sightless unfortunates, organized by a few citizens of Jacksonville, and sup- ported by private donations for one year, when the state legislature placed it on a per- manent basis by an act of incorporation, approved January 13, 1843.
Mr. Samuel Bacon was the first principal; though blind himself, he was engaged to teach the blind in this city.
Dr. Joshua Rhoads was elected superintendent in August, 1850, and continued in office until his resignation, in August, 1874, a period of twenty-four years. Ile was suc- ceeded by the present superintendent, Dr. F. W. Phillips.
The school was first opened in the house of Col. J. Dunlap, which was rented for that purpose until the buildings for which the legislature had made provisions could be erected. This building was placed on ground purchased by Col. Hardin; it was burned, however, in April, 1869. A new building was immediately erected by Messrs. Bruce & Loar, contractors. The present building will accommodate one hundred and fifty pupils, but the present number in attendance is 130.
Dr. Phillips, the present superintendent, has been well chosen for his present posi- tion, and from the flourishing condition of the school, it speaks well of his management.
Stephen A. Douglas, of this city, was secretary of state of Illinois from November 30th, 1840, until his resignation February 27th, 1841; was appointed judge of the su- preme court of the state of Illinois February 15th, 1841, resigned June 28th, 1843; was elected member of Congress that year and served through that term (the 28th); was elected for the 29th term, and resigned his seat April 7th, 1847, and was elected to the United States Senate that year to succeed James Semple, and served in the Senate by re-elections till 1860. He died June 3, 1861. He never was in the Illinois State Legis- lature but once and that was 1836-'38.
"The little giant," was one of our best known citizens for several years. Having attended academy and studied law in Canandaigua, N. Y., until in 1833 the mighty west with all its vast opportunities opened out on his vision. On his journey westward, he stopped at Cincinnati, Louisville and St. Louis then on to Jacksonville. Casting about for occupation, he received and accepted a call to teach school at Winchester, obtaining forty pupils for a three months tutelage at $3.00 each per quarter. He devoted his evenings and spare time to perfecting his law knowledge, and at the close of the school term he was admitted to practice by the supreme court of the state and opened his law office in Jacksonville. In 1834, when not quite 22 years old, he was elected Attorney General of the state by the Illinois Legislature, and in 1836 was elected to a seat in that body from Morgan County and first met president-to-be Lincoln at the opening of the session in Vandalia in December of that year. After the adjournment of the Legis. lature in 1837, he was appointed register of the land office in Springfield, and removing there he and Abraham Lincoln became neighbors.
In preparing matter for this volume, we have endeavored to strictly follow chronolog- ical order, but have found it impossible, because after the opening chapters were in type and advance or proof sheets read, much additional information came to us, which we in- sert at the close of a chapter regardless of date in order not to have it omitted.
Mrs. Frederick King, now of Austin, Minn., who formerly resided here as Miss Julia M. Eddy, daughter of the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, writes to us of 1844-'46 as follows:
"My father came in 1844-he mowed a path from our house back of church to the church. W. C. Goudy, Talmage Collins and J. B. Shaw graduated in 1846."
And Mrs. B. F. Stevenson, formerly of our city, writes as follows from York, Neb .:
"I would say I had the first sewing machine in a private family brought to the place. Mr. Goodrick, the tailor, had one in his shop but did not like it, and I believe did not use it long. He told my husband sewing machines were of no account, and in
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FIRST COOKNG STOVES-DIAMOND GROVE BAPTISTS.
a short time mine would be thrown away with the rubbish. But he proved a false prophet, as I used it for many years and have never since been without; am now using the third one. I think I brought the first collection of house plants, but of this am not sure. Unfortunately they were short lived.
"The firm of F. & B. F. Stevenson was established some five years before Mr. Eames sold goods. They sold all sorts; dry goods, groceries, hardware, boots and shoes, &c., &c. They brought the first piece of alpaca dress goods. There are many things that might be interesting to future generations, if he were with you to speak about them. His recollections of the cholera are very vivid as he was one of a number that bound themselves together to stay in town and nurse the sick should the scourge visit the place. Since coming to York he has found one who often watched with him and helped bury many victims."
Not later than the fall of 1835, M. Stephen Gorham with four horses and a wagon and his oldest brother, J. Harvey Gorham with a wagon and five horses went to Chicago from Jacksonville and brought from there a load of cooking stoves for our citizens-the first that has been brought here. The Gorham's kept one apiece and delivered the rest to those that had ordered the new fangled things. Among them Matthew Stacy and Seth Weatherbee.
Joel Headington, D. W. Osborne and Phil Coffman, bought cooking stoves in the year 1837 brought by Phil Coffman at a cost $75 apiece.
Included in the "Springfield Baptist Association" are not only the Baptist churches of Jacksonville, Waverly and Berlin, of this vicinity, but the Diamond Grove Society-one of the oldest organizations in Illinois. It was constituted April 26, 1823, with twelve members. It is the oldest church connected with the Springfield Baptist Association and was one of the constituent churches of that organization. Among its earliest pastors were Rev. Jonathan Sweet and Rev. Joel Sweet, the former having been the first modera- tor of the association, and the latter one of its earliest missionaries, as early as 1839. Rev. Thomas Taylor was pastor in 1848 and the two years following.
From 1848 to 1856 the church was supplied with preaching irregularly.
In 1856 the Diamond Grove Baptist Church completed the erection of a house of worship.
In 1859 Rev. D. Lewis was engaged to preach one-half of the time, and served two years. These were years of more than usual progress in the church.
In 1862 Daniel D. Holmes was licensed by the church to preach, and was not long afterward ordained to the work of the ministry. He has served the church as pastor with great acceptance, and without interruption from 1865 to the present time, at which time the membership has reached the number of fifty.
aviti
ILLINOIS FEMALE COLLEGE. FOUNDED 1846.
CHAPTER VII .- 1844-'57.
Illinois Provides for her Deaf and Dumb, Blind and Insane-Illinois College Fire .- Illinois Female College Founded-Arrival of Portuguese Colonists from Madeira- "The Forty-Niners" Start for California-City and County Officers-Church and Secret Society News-The Mexican War Volunteers-Death of Col. John J. Hardin -"Phi Alpha" founded-The Northern Cross Railroad.
But this-is present! On the fargone past, Time's iron fingers pinned the curtains fast, Shutting all human tracery from the page Which mortals gaze on, in the present age.
Backward we turn us, with a timid look, But the hand of ages had locked the book, And laid the key in eternity's urn. 1
HE next six years-1844 to 1850-were marked with such an increase of business and population as might be expected of a place with its railroad connections, State Institutions and growing school reputation. At their close the census showed a population of 2,745. During the period town affairs were managed by the following named, as trustees :
Philip Coffman, 1844-'45-'46; Wm. Branson, 1846-'47-'48-'49; George A. Dunlap, 1844-'45; John W. Lathrop, 1846 and 1849; Michael Rapp, 1844 and 1850; Benjamin F. Gass, 1846; Richard Bibb, 1844; J. R. Simms, 1847; William G. Johnson, 1844, '46 '48-'49 ; Benjamin Pyatt, 1847; David A. Smith, 1845; John W. Goltra, 1847; Andrew Newcomb, 1845; James Hurst, 1847-'48; Joseph O. King, 1845-'48; Wm. N. Ross, 1848; Joseph H. Bancroft, 1849-'50; Andrew F. Wilson, 1849; Martin H. Cassell, 1850; Jonathan Neely, 1850; William Ratekin, 1850.
The results of the county elections are shown in the following:
1844-'46-Congress, E. D. Baker; State Senator, John Henry; Representatives, Francis Arenz; Richard Yates, Samuel T. Matthews, Isaac D. Rawlings; Sheriff, Wm. Green; Coroner, James Holmes; County Commissioners, H. Saunderson, Wm. Crow.
1845-Sheriff, Ira Davenport: Coroner, D. C. Creamer ; Surveyor, Wm. B. Warren; County Commissioners, John Samples, D. G. Henderson.
1846-'48-Congress, Abraham Lincoln; Representatives, Newton Cloud, Wm. H. Long, Joseph Morton, Wm. Thomas; Sheriff, Ira Davenport; Coroner, D. C. Creamer ; County Commissioner, A. Becraft.
1847-Probate Justice, Matthew Stacy; County Commissioner, Henry Saunderson; County Clerk, Joseph Heslep; County Recorder, Josiah M. Lucas; Assessor, James H. Lurton ; Surveyor, George M. Richards.
1848-'50-Congress, Thomas L. Harris; Senator, Newton Cloud; Representatives, George Waller, Richard Yates; Sheriff, Ira Davenport; Coroner, David C. Creamer; County Commissioner, David L. Hodges.
1850-'52-Congress, Richard Yates; Representatives, Wm. Thomas, B. F. Bristow ; Sheriff, Jonathan Neely; Coroner, Timothy Chamberlain; School Commissioner, H Spaulding.
In 1844 Dr. Edward Beecher resigned the presidency of Illinois College to Prof. Julian M. Sturtevant, identified with it from the very incipiency, and a member of its faculty to this day-forty years later. He served with the greatest acceptability as
ILLINOIS FEMALE COLLEGE-ARRIVAL OF REV. L. M. GLOVER. 115
president for thirty-two years, that is from 1844 to 1876 and since then has been con- nected with the institution as professor of Mental Science and Science of Government.
In the autumn of 1846 the first steps were taken for the founding ot the third edu- cational institution of Jacksonville of high rank-the seminary for young ladies now known as Illinois Female College. It was established and is still successfully conduct- ed under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal Conference of this State. A commit- tee composed of Revs. Peter Cartwright, Peter Akers, W. D. R. Trotter, Messrs. Mat- thew Stacy, Nicholas Milburn, Sr., Wm. Brown and Wm. Thomas, (previously appoint- ed by the Conference,) met for the purpose of superintending the "establishment of a Female Academy," on the 10th day of October, 1846, and selected as a location a piece of ground on the south side of East State Street, in Jacksonville. The work of securing the necessary funds by donation and subscription had progressed so successfully that, in the fall of the following year, the contracts for erecting the college building were let. About the same time the school was opened in the basement of the Methodist Church, with N. S. Bastion, M. D., as principal. He filled the position until August, 1848. The building was completed in 1850; it was built of stone and brick, substantial and com- modious-one hundred feet in length, fifty feet in width, and four stories in height. The "Female Academy" was opened for scholars in the fall of 1848, with Rev. J. F. Jacquess as principal, he filling this position for some years. The original charter be- ing for an "academy" simply, it was decided, on account of the growth of the school, to apply for more extended powers, and accordingly, in 1863 a charter for the Illinois Female College was obtained, with full college powers.
The institution has suffered many times and severely from the effects of fire, the whole building having been at one time or another virtually destroyed in this way. The many friends of the college came promptly forward, however, and in each instance the damages were fully repaired.
The courses of study, classical, scientific and in music, vocal and instrumental, the fine arts, etc., are arranged and pursued with special reference to the wants of young ladies, and are equal to the same in similar institutions elsewhere. The domestic reg- ime is on the home plan, the president and his family, and teachers living in the Col- lege and having charge, not merely of the intellectual, but the social and religious in- struction of the students. Marked success has attended the operations of this institution from the first.
Over the sister female seminary, the Jacksonville Female Academy, the Rev. W. II. Williams, A. M., was Principal from 1843 to 1848. In 1845 the regular graduation of classes began ; and never, for a single year, has failed from that time to this, a period of thirty-nine years. Mr. Williams died but a few years since at a good old age.
"Miss Lucretia H. Kimball, who had taught under Mr. Williams, succeeded him nt his retirement in 1848. and had charge of the school two years, 1848-'49 and 1850-'51. the intervening year 1849-'50, being supplied by Miss Elizabeth Mead, as preceptress, dur- ing which, nothing special occurred. but the Academy moved prosperously on. Miss Kimball was equal to the place, exhibiting marked ability as well in managing as in teaching. She gave entire satisfaction to her employers, and was universally beloved by her pupils. All things prospered under her oversight, and she would doubtless have been continued in charge for many years but for the fact that personal charms so commended her to a young professor in Illinois College, Rev. Reuben S. Kendall, that he took her to himself, thus completing the good understanding of the two institutions which was begun in the days of the workshops, as above referred to. Prof. Kendall, as a kind of Prince Consort, for a time assisted his wife in the management of the school."
The above are the words of Dr. L. M. Glover, the Academy's life long friend, bene- factor, chaplain, trustee, historian and President of Board of Trust for many years. In July 1848 the First Presbyterian society, which in the previous year had superceded its frame meeting-house with a more commodious brick structure, invited young Glover to visit them as a pulpit candidate. He was then preaching in Michigan, but came in October and began his ministry, being installed in November.
In 1873 he said of his coming: The journey hither, occupying the best part of a week, accomplished partly by rail, partly by coach, partly by canal packet and partly
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PRESBYTERIAN AND METHODIST PASTORS.
by steamer is quite in contrast to the journey now between the same points, all by rail, and occupying only twenty-four hours. At that time there was not a foot of railroad in active operation in this State, which now may boast from three to four thousand miles. In going to the meeting of Illinois Synod in the fall of 1849, which was held that year in the extreme eastern part of the State, the route lay across what seemed an almost interminable and uncultivated prairie, and the time occupied in going and re- turning was three days each, or a full week of working days; the same region is now traversed by numerous lines of steam travel, sprinkled over with fine farms and vil- lages, and rapidly receiving its quota of a thriving and happy population. The State then had some eight hundred thousand inhabitants. Chicago, then as now, the gate- way of the west, had a population of about forty thousand. Numerous little villages have become large towns and some of them respectable cities. Jacksonville, now numbering twelve thousand, then had about two. I will tell you how the place ap. peared to me at first sight. It appeared a very pleasant but a very unpretentious vil- lage. Among the public buildings there was not one that had any claims to architect- ural attractions. The old Court House, the old College, and the old Academy were very ill-looking as compared with the structures which have replaced them. The houses of worship were models of unstudied art, built to serve all needs but those of cultured taste, except our own, then new, which made some pretensions to style, but which, a dozen years after, the fire swept away. At present, however, we have to say that no town of the size east or west can boast of more spacious or beautiful church edifices than our own. Twenty five years ago the private residences of the place were with few exceptions small, low, unplanned, without the ornament even of a cornice, creations of necessity not of wealth or fancy, and yet many of them were really beau- tiful with the attractions of tree, and vine, and flowers, and green-sward without, and of neatness, comfort, intelligence, industry, good taste, and Christian hospitality with- in, the recollection of which in the midst of growing splendor with the usual deca- dence of early simplicity makes us almost sigh for what we have lost rather than boast of what we have gained. Jacksonville was called an Athens twenty-five years ago, and yet its whole stock of literary institutions consisted of Illinois College, Jackson- ville Female Academy and one public school. * * * * * * * Twenty-five years ago this church had a nominal membership of about one hundred and fifty persons, one-third males and two-third females, which is about the usual proportion in the churches generally.
The Presbyterians of the "New School" Church had the ministerial services of Rev. L. M. Glover. In the "Old School" organization, after the death of their gifted pastor, Dr. Andrew Todd, who, under God, laid such a good foundation for their spirit- ual edifice, the Rev. J. V. Dodge was called to the pastorate. Mr. Dodge continued his labors but four years and a half; from the autumn of 1850 until the spring of 1855, when wholly at his own desire, the pastoral relation was disolved, greatly to the grief of the church. Mr. Dodge's ministry was efficient and faithful, and highly appreci- ated by the church and community. He still lives at Evansville, Indiana, a highly re- spected minister of the gospel in connection with the Presbyterian Church.
After the resignation of Mr. Dodge, the Rev. John H. Brown, D. D., afterward pastor for some years of the First Presbyterian Church, Springfield, Ill., acted as stated supply for one year. From September 1856, until the following spring, the pulpit was supplied by different persons, chiefly by Rev. Dr. Bergen of Springfield. In 1857 Rev. R. W. Allen, formerly pastor of the Pisgah Presbyterian Church of Kentucky, took charge of the church as stated supply. Having received a unanimous call to the pastorate, Mr. Allen was installed December 5th, 1858, and continued his efficient and faithful labors until May, 1867, when he resigned. It will be seen that Bro. Allen's pastorate embraced the period covered by the late civil war-a period most distracting and highly unfavorable.
Passing from Presbyterians to Methodists, we can only record names of the shep- herds of their fast growing flock. The honored and venerable Peter Akers still living with us and still able to preach his annual sermon, although 94 years of age, was pre- siding elder from 1844 to '47, succeeding Dr. Peter Cartwright and being followed by Rev. W. D. R. Trotter, now gone to his Heavenly charge.
The preachers for Jacksonville station were :
1844, Chauncy Hobart; 1845, W. J. Rutledge; 1846, W. J. Rutledge; 1847, J. B. Corrington ; 1848, W. A. Bastain; 1849, C. M. Holiday.
EAST CHARGE .- 1850, B. C. Woods; 1851, Harvey Brown; 1852, R. E. Guthrie;
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CHURCH AND SOCIETY NEWS.
1853, C. D. James; 1854, C. D. James; 1855, Wm. Stevenson; 1856, Wm. Stevenson ; 1857, S. Elliott, (dead.)
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