USA > Illinois > Morgan County > Jacksonville > Historic Morgan and classic Jacksonville > Part 21
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Mr. Bacon having resigned at the close of the term in July, the board deputed one of their number to visit similar institutions, in other States, for the purpose of engang. ing a competent superintendent. The result of this visit was the selection of Dr. Joshua Rhoads, former superintendent of the Pennsylvania Institution for the Blind, as princi-
124
RAILROAD TO NAPLES-BANKING IN 1850-'52.
pal, and Mrs. Rosanna Rhoads as matron. Under their direction the school opened on the first Wednesday of October, 1850, with twenty-three pupils, this number being all that could be accommodated at this time.
In May and June, 1844, there was more rain and higher waters, throughout the State, than ever known by the oldest inhabitant.
In 1845 the Northern Cross R. R., was extended from Jacksonville to Naples. The State operated the road until 1847, when the Legislature passed an act, February 16th, authorizing the sale of the sale of the road between the Illinois River and Springfield, fifty-two miles in length, at public vendue. One of the peculiar features of this law was that it provided for a forty years' lien upon the road in order to secure the amount for which it might be sold. The sale took place soon after the approval of the act, and Nicholas H. Ridgely, of Springfield, became the purchaser, paying $21,100 in state in- debtedness. Mr. Ridgely afterwards sold Thomas Mather, of Springfield, and James Dunlap, of Jacksonville, each an interest. They changed its name to the Sangamon & Morgan railroad. During the time the State had operated it but one engine had been obtained, and when the new owners took possession they found the engine so worn as to be unfit for use, and for nine months they were compelled to run their trains with mules. The trains consisted of two cars, drawn by two mules. There were two trains daily, one of which left Springfield in the morning for Naples, and the other Naples for Springfield.
About the close of 1847 the company received three new engines, when the services of the mules were dispensed with. The Legislature passed an act extending the char- ter of the road to the Indiana line, and in 1857 Mr. Mather visited New York and nego- tiated a sale of the road to Robert Schuyler, who was then deemed the great railroad manager of the country, for $100,000. Mather and Ridgely continued stockholders, and were elected local directors. In the same year Mr. Schuyler became the purchaser of the thirty-three miles of railway between Meredosia and Camp Point, which had been built through the influence of Gen. James W. Singleton. In 1859 the name was changed to the Great Western Railway, and the work of extending it eastward was be- gun in earnest. In 1865 it was consolidated with the Toledo & Wabash railway. Jan- uary 6. 1877, the Wabash railway company was organized and acquired the property of the Toledo, Wabash & Western railway at foreclosure sale in February, 1877, and in 1879 the name was changed to the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific railway.
Now that insignificant twenty-four miles of flat railroad is a part of what is known as the Gould system, which has business connections from the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean, and is one of the greatest railroad combinations in the world. The company owns in fee simple, or operates by lease, 1,598 miles of railway in Illinois.
Of the banking business in 1850-'52, Mr. Marshall P. Ayers, more than thirty years later said to a Courier interviewer:
"My father, David B. Ayers, was agent for John Grigg, the famous book pub- lisher of Philadelphia, and as such agent entered 120,000 acres of land for him, and sold the same as opportunity offered a profit. My father died in 1850, and I succeeded him as agent for Mr. Grigg of such lands as remained unsold. I would say right here that the bulk of these lands sold for $3 to $5 per acre, and the same lands now will bring from $60 to $75 per acre At that time there was no bank here, the Shawnee- town and State Banks having gone out of existence. Owing to the difficulty of pro- curing exchange with which to make my remittances, I interviewed Mr. Bacon, of Page & Bacon, St. Louis, and they placed to my credit the sum of $2,000, with the American Exchange Bank of New York, and thus opened my account with them This was on December 20th, 1852, and was the beginning of my banking. I opened an office in the rear of a wooden building where Ayers's block now stands, on about the spot where Jenkinson keeps his butter and eggs. All the money received for exchange was kept in a tin box under my bed and was sent to St. Louis by express as fast as possible."
"What was the rate of exchange in those days?"
"One-fourth of one per cent. on St Louis and one-half of one per cent. on New York on gold and one per cent. on currency."
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POLITICAL. RELIGIOUS AND PERSONAL.
"What was the circulating medium at that time?"
"Gold, silver, eastern Ohio and Indiana State money, and the notes of the Wis- consin Marine and Fire Insurance Company, and Page & Bacon scrip, of which there was a large amount."
From Mr. Ensley Moore's local epitomes contributed to the Daily Journal in 1579, we glean the following paragraphs about the city in 1840:
Hon. D. M. Woodson was circuit judge, James Berdan was county judge of Mor- gan, Ira Davenport sheriff, G A. Dunlap clerk of county court, Henry Routt surveyor. David C. Creamer coroner and Charles H. Hardin circuit clerk.
Richard Yates having served in the Legislature from his twenty-fifth year, in 1842. is spoken of as a candidate for Congress.
When people referred to "the war," they meant that in Mexico, from which our soldiers had but recently returned.
An epidemic called the "California fever" was very prevalent, and carried off many of our citizens, across the Rocky Mountains to the new Eldorado.
Our Congregational brethren worshipped in a large one-story frame building with brick basement, on the east side of the square, where King's & Johnson's stores are now.
The Methodist church, east charge, was a one-story-and-basement brick, standing where R. C. Smith's marble building now is.
Rev. L. M. Glover's First Presbyterian Church occupied the site of the present edi- fice, and was a large one-story and basement brick building, with a high wooden steeple painted white.
The Episcopalians occupied a one-story-and-basement brick, upon the lot they now hold, but the building fronted south, to Morgan street. This church had an organ, the only one in the town at that time, we think.
A Methodist church was built and called the "West Charge." upon the present site of Grace M. E. Church, but it was a one-story-and-basement brick, devoid of steeple. fronting east on Church Street.
The present German M. E. Church was owned by the Baptists, and a building sim- ilar in appearance was occupied by the Second Presbyterian Society, situated opposite Dr. Glover's church, main entrance.
Bells called the people to meeting in the East Charge. First Presbyterian. Episco- pal and Congregational churches. A Portuguese Presbyterian church was just getting itself in order.
Among the lawyers were D. A. Smith, Richard Yates, James Berdan, Wm. Thomas. Wm. Brown and Murray McConnel, D. B. Ayers and Robert Hockenhull were druggist>, Jos. W. King had a one-story bow window jewelry store, where D. W. Rawlings now is.
I. D. Rawlings dealt in clothing. T. D. Eames had a dry goods store. on the east side of the square, and S. Reynolds King also sold dry goods.
A boy named "Billy" D. Crowell, clerked for J. B. C. Smith, who sold dry goods in a frame building where Dobyns & Co., now are.
Philip Price had a jewelry store on the north side, east half of the square. George W. Fox kept the Mansion House. D. C. Creamer, known as the fashionable merchant tailor, occupied the old one story frame on Hatfield's corner. Ebenezer T. Miller was postmaster.
Samuel Hunt kept the jail, in the house next sonth of the brick livery stable, on North Main street.
N. English, O. M. Long and Henry Jones were among the prominent physicians.
The town trustees were Win. Branson, Jos. 11. Bancroft, Wm. G. Johnson, Andrew F. Wilson and John W. Lathrop.
A one-story-and-a-half frame building, painted white, was one of the principal stores on the south side, where Huntley now is.
Next door west of it, stood a large two and a half story frame house, with a yard in front, where Johnson & Co., and King & Stebbins now ('79.) are. Two or three long one
126
THE SQUARE IN 1850-TRUSTEES, GRADUATES, ETC.
story frames occupied the site of Strawn's Opera House, and the only good brick in that block is part of Metcalf & Fell's big dry goods store now.
On the west side, south half, the buildings were better, but three or four two story frames were beginning to wear out, where the Central Bank, Fox and Rawlings now are.
The Ayers' building was most noticeable on the north half of the west side.
Two brick buildings of good size, besides the Mansion House, stood in that block.
McDonald's and two or three bricks east of it, were the ornamental part of the east half of the north side.
Henderson's corner store was built, and Bancroft's good brick (now Walsh's) stood opposite, and no other good stores till R. Hockenhull's and Eames' building, in north half of east side.
Then came Stevenson's corner, a good building, succeeded by two two-story frames, and the Congregational Church, then Branson's store, and a two-story frame on the corner.
Hamilton's corner, now Gill's, and the double Davenport building were the brick improvements on the south side, east half, with some of the frames now standing to fill up the spaces.
It need hardly be remarked that the old court house, with its cupola, stood in the southwest corner of the public square.
David Robb, Willys Catlin, J. S. Anderson, Ben. F. Stevenson, Wm. Branson, Kibbe & Lathrop, Goltra & Stryker, and Edward Lambert were dealers in their respective lines of trade.
In February, a new board of trustees was elected, consisting of Joseph H. Bancroft, Michael Rapp, M. FL. Cassell, Jonathan Neely and William Ratekin.
Among the persons having titles from the Mexican War were Col. James Dunlap, Capt. J. L. McConnel, Capt. Wyatt, Col. Chambers, Major William Warren.
The old, original, Methodist Conference Female College, was completed this year. Illinois College graduated the following persons : Wm. H. Collins, now of Quincy, and Edward Ruggles.
Jacksonville Female Academy gave diplomas to Mary A. Allison, Susan E. Church, Anna L. Holmes, Susan A. Holland, Electa M. Holland, Eliza Johnson, Malvina C. Me- lendy, Harriet P. Murdock, Harriet Reed and Elizabeth E. White.
Rev. J. F. Jaquess was principal of the Methodist College, and Rev. J. M. Sturte- vant of Illinois College.
Mr. Thomas Officer was Superintendent of the Deaf and Dumb Institute; J. M. Iliggins, M. D., of the Central Hospital for the Insane, then not completed, even on the original plan ; Dr. Joshua Rhoads was principal of the Institution for the Blind, which occupied the house west of Jacksonville, known as the Robb place.
Revs. J. M. Sturtevant, Theoron Baldwin, J. F. Brooks, E. Jenny, William Kirby, Jolın G. Bergen, Thomas Lippincott, William Carter and Albert Hale, and Messrs. S. D. Lockwood, John Tillson, Thos. Mather, Frederick Collins, David A. Smith and David B. Ayers were trustees of Illinois College.
Among the boys going to college in September, were A. C. Clayton, W. B. Cowgill, Phil Davis, A. N. Denny, Edward P. Kirby, J. A. Laurie, D. B. Nash, G. Magill, H. M. Merriam, H. M. Miller, R. A. Ritter, H. C. Stephens, J. M. Sturtevant, Jr., Paul Selby, R. M. Tunnell and A J. Van Deren.
The first board of trustees for the Blind Institution were S. D. Lockwood, Jas. Dun- lap, W. W. Happy, Dennis Rockwell and Samuel Hunt, with Lockwood as president, James Berdan secretary, and Dennis Rockwell treasurer.
Moore C. Goltra was superintendent of construction at the Central Insane Hospital. The Christian Church building on North Main street was erected this year, Elder A. J. Kane being pastor in the new edifice.
Rev. Andrew Todd was pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church, dying at Casa Bianca, near Monticello, Florida, in September, 1850.
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1850 PERSONALS-THE PRESS PORTUGUESE COLONISTS.
Urania Lodge, No. 243, I. O. O. F., was chartered, as was also Ridgely Encamp- ment No. 9.
Joseph Capps had a small wool carding establishment.
The population was 2,745.
During the campaign of 1850, this district was badly "tore up" by the race between Col. Thos. L. Harris and Richard Yates, for congress, Mr. Yates was elected, and found himself the youngest member of the House of Representatives.
The Western House was a small hotel and boarding house, on the west side of the square, up stairs, where Rawlings & Fox now are.
Dennis Rockwell dwelt in the house now occupied by his son, Charles Rockwell. on West State street.
The first district school was built and opened in 1850, being the west district, now called second ward, and Newton Bateman was principal The third story of the school- house was occupied by Masons for lodge rooms.
At the election, November 20th, Jonathan Neely was chosen sheriff, and Timothy Chamberlain coroner.
A young man from New Jersey, named S. Henry Thompson, came to town, bring. his trowel with him, and commenced laying foundations for the mayoralty.
Joseph Morton, James Dunlap, John J. Hardin, John Henry, S. D. Lock wood, Wm. Thomas, B. Gillett, N. English and O. M. Long were first trustees of the insane, Judge Lockwood being president and Judge Thomas secretary.
Dr. E. R. Roe, U. S. Marshal for southern district of Illinois, was editor of the Journal, we think.
Miss Elizabeth Mead was principal of the Academy during 1850-51.
Lastly but not leastly, as to the local press: William Swett established the Morgan Journal in 1843, and from that time to the present it has been issued regularly as a weekly, "Jacksonville" being substituted for "Morgan" in 1859. It has passed through the vicissitudes of fire and been under many different firms. But to return. in 1850 the Constitutionalist was started by E. R. Roe, who sold out to T. H. Kavenaugh, and he to John M. Taggart. Under the latter's regime the first experiment of a daily was made, and an edition of two hundred and fifty copies was printed off for six months from a hand press, but it was found to be too unprofitable to be continued longer.
Dr. E. R. Roe, who had been a professor in Shurtleff College, succeeded Mr. Swett as owner and editor of the Morgan Journal. Dr. Roe has since been county or circuit clerk of McLean county : and for eight years United States marshal for the southern district of Illinois. He is now a resident of Springfield, this State.
Dr. Roe was succeeded in the proprietorship of the Morgen Journal, by Paul Sel. by, who had Mr. A. C. Clayton associated with him.
The year 1846 witnessed the arrival in this country of a band of from 300 to 500 men, women and children of Portuguese blood, exiles from the island of Madeira. They came to this country under the guidance of a missionary named Kally, who had labored among them in the island. They were comparatively poor. They had been converted, or proselyted, from Romanism by Presbyterian missionaries, Mr. Kally be- ing the chief instrument in the work. Their Catholic neighbors on the island perse- ented and maltreated them for their desertion of the Holy Mother Church, and their residence on the island was made particularly disagreeable. Under these circumstances a happy thought occurred, to bring the little church to America and their co-religion ists of Springfield and Jacksonville gave them a cordial invitation to settle at these points. Money was contributed and the little colony, like the Pilgrim Fathers, on- barked for America, seeking a home where they might find freedom to worship God.
They settled almost entirely in Springfield and Jacksonville. Occasionally their numbers have been recruited by accessions from the mother country, but these have not been large.
As a rule, they came here poor in purse but rich in determination. They have
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FIRST BANK-MURDER TRIAL-INSANE AND BLIND.
prospered and many of them have become wealthy. They all manage as soon as possi- ble, to acquire a piece of ground, no matter how small, which they can call their own, and they cultivate this with all the care and diligence they formerly bestowed upon the little patches of earth between the rocks and hills of their rugged native isle. As a class, they are industrious, frugal, upright, peaceful, law-abiding citizens and may be found in all trades and professions, to which they readily adapt themselves. Many have been placed in offices of position and have faithfully discharged their trusts, and filled the duties of their office acceptably.
Many of the older class maintain the peculiarities of their native land, but the younger portion more readily than any other of our foreign born citizens, adapt them- selves to the customs, manners and habits of their adopted land. They are for the most part, exemplary christians, maintaining as they now do, in our city three churches and three Sabbath schools. Their girls are for the most part sweet singers and many of them quite beautiful; their dark complexion betraying their Arab or Barber blood. Their boys are bright and active, quick to learn and many of them will make good thrifty business men.
The first bank was established in Jacksonville in 1851, by M. P. & A. E. Ayers, who, together with Mr. W. S. Hook are still carrying on the business of general ex- change banking, with four other banks in successful operation-The First National, The Jacksonville National, the banking house of Hockenhull, King & Elliot, and the Savings Bank.
William Brown was indicted at the March term, 1854, of the circuit court, for the murder of Geo. Groves on November 27, 1853, by stabbing him with a knife, Cyrus Epler being State's Attorney. This case was stricken from the docket at the October term,1854. We mention this merely because we intend this history of the city to be a complete record of all trials for murder.
The sum of $6,000 was appropriated in 1851 for the completion of the building of the Hospital for Insane, and $66,666 in 1857 for additional buildings. In 1854 Dr. Hig- gins resigned as superintendent when he was succeeded temporarily by Dr. H. K. Jones, and then by Dr. Andrew McFarland. The latter remained until July, 1870, when he resigned.
The enlargement of the hospital by the addition of the east wing, was in accordance with the recommendation of a joint committee of the legislature, of which Dr. Boal was chairman, and who submitted the report of the committee during the session of 1857. The committee was authorized to, and did, act during the recess of the legisla- ture, or between two sessions. The citizens of Morgan county had no agency in the subsequent enlargement of the building. This measure proceeded from the committee acting for the whole state, and not for the county of Morgan. The first appropriation tion on the report of the committee was $66,666.66, half payable in 1857, and half in 1858. With subsequent appropriations, including what was asked by the trustees, both wings were completed for the reception and use of patients. Until 1857 the majority of each of the State institution boards resided in the county of Morgan-all of them without compensation. In 1857 an act was passed reducing the number of trustees in each board except the blind, and provided that no person should be a member of more than one board, and that not more than one member of any of the boards should be ap- pointed from any one county. Since that time Morgan has been represented by but one person in each board. This provision is considered as essential to the successful operation of the institutions.
The Blind Asylum board purchased an eligible site, comprising twenty-two acres of ground, in the eastern part of the city, where the foundation of a building suitable for the accommodation of the sightless was laid, and work on the walls progressed fav- orably; this building in an unfinished condition, was occupied for the first time in Jan- mary, 1854; it was entirely completed January, 1855. The course of instruction was en- larged, so as to include the various trades, and some of the fine arts. The buildings
129
DR. P. G. GILLETT-BEREAN COLLEGE -- THE ACADEMY.
completed January 1, 1855, were with various additions and improvements, occupied without interruption, until the morning of the 20th of April, 1869, when the main buildl. Ing with its contents, was entirely destroyed by fire.
At the close of the year 1855 the number of pupils who had been in attendance at the State Institution for the Deaf and Dumb was 162. At this time Mr. Officer pre. sented his resignation to the board of directors, which was accepted.
The board were fortunate in securing as the successor of Mr. Officer, Phillip G. Gillett, A.M., a graduate of Asbury University, at Greencastle, Indiana. Mr. Gillett having taught for four years in the Indiana Deaf Mute Institution, came to preside over this one with an experience which was of incalculable value to the institution at that time. The board of directors who were instrumental in procuring the services of Mr. Gillett, in their report for the years 1855-'56, say: "The board of directors deem themselves fortunate in having procured the services of Mr. Gillett. Ile is a gentle. man of strong and vigorous mind, an accomplished scholar, and experienced in teach- ing the sign language ; Indeed he has made this his occupation for life, and with him it is as much a labor of love as duty."
The number of pupils in actual attendance at this time was one hundred. There Were but two trades taught : shoe making and cabinet making. The school flourished from this time forward, new buildings were erected, more land was purchased, and needed improvements were added from time to time, as necessity required.
About 1853 or '54 the Christian denomination began the erection of a building known as the Berean College. A charter was received dated February 12, 1855, soon after which the building was completed, and the following year school was opened, with Dr. Jonathan Atkinson as president. The school was opened under very favora- ble auspices, and for several years was continued very successfully. The college re- geived its name from "Berea," a place mentioned by the apostle Paul, in the seven- teenth chapter of the book of Acts where the following language is used: ^And the
brethren immediately seut away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea : * * these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so." The college continued until about 1858 or '59, when a division in the church occurred, and soon after the school was discontinued. A few years after, the property was sold to MIrs. Eliza Ayers for twelve thousand dollars. Its original cost was over thirty
thousand dollars. Mrs. Ayers has since deeded the property to a board of trustees, to be used as an Orphan's Home and City Hospital. The frame building immediately in the rear of the college is occupied by the orphans, while the college itself is used as the hospital. The frame building was formerly the home of Col. John J. Hardin, So well known throughout this portion of the State, and who lost his life at the battle of Beuna Vista. The home is conducted on the "Muller plan," by Rev. Dr. Passavant, who has charge of eight similar institutions in different parts of the United States.
The home and hospital are each well managed, and are institutions worthy the at- tention of the citizens of Jacksonville.
For all of the six years, 1851-57, Rev. Chas. G. Selleck, A. M., had charge of the Presbyterian Academy. He brought to the position much of fitness for it, knowledge, culture, zeal in education, love for the young, and considerable experience in teaching ; hut in the person of the beloved Mrs. Selleck, he brought, in addition, other helpful qualities rarely so combined in a single individual. It is seldom that the law of com. pensation is better illustrated than in their case: seldom that a man is so fortunate in the wifely supplement as he. They were as truly counterparts as the wax and the seal. In the one was found what was essential to the completeness of the other, and after her death, which preceded his many years, old friends sympathizingly thought of him in his loneliness as a bird with a broken wing, drooping where once he soared. The union of their gifts and graces brought to the service of the Academy more of what is essential to the completeness and prosperity of a boarding school for young ladies than can ordi- narily be contributed by any single individual, male or female.
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PUBLIC OFFICIALS-ILLINOIS COLLEGE FIRE.
Dr. Glover afterwards said :
"I do not think their administration wanting In intellectuality, but it was distin: guished for realizing the spirit of family and home in an unosu il degree, and vet. not in such degree as to produce contempt by familiarity and thus to mar the efficiency of rules and discipline Teachers and pupils were brought into the most in: inne re- lations, and the truly parental regards on one side were rewarded with truly filial re. gards on the other, and those regards which at the time were so tend r, prove ! also abiding. The school under Mr. and Mrs Selleck enjoyed such inereise that more. room was demanded and another story was added to the man building, at a cost of about two thousand six hundred dollars.
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