USA > Illinois > Morgan County > Jacksonville > Historic Morgan and classic Jacksonville > Part 30
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Of the private residences of Jacksonville we might say much in praise, but want
183
A BIRDS-EYE VIEW OF JACKSONVILLE,
of space will forbid. Elegant mansions, the homes of the wealthy and learned, grace our streets and half disclose their beauties among the countless shade trees of the city. From year to year, as our houses have been erected, they have, fortunately, not been built closely together, but have been scattered over the whole of the town, thus giving to each one the advantage of large and pleasant site. The early planting of shade trees and the cultivation of them and shrubbery, have made very many fine homesteads delightful. *
In our city there are all conceivable kinds of business transacted, in as many va- rieties of houses or rooms. Jacksonville boasts of twenty-nine bakeries and groceries, has an even score of doctors; thirteen firms deal in boots and shoes alone ; her guests are entertained at six hotels and twelve boarding houses; the members of her bar num- ber fourteen, while the number of her bar-tenders are twice that; no wonder buildings can be rapidly put up, for there are seventeen boss carpenters in the city; the reading public are supplied from five book and stationery stores; there are fourteen dry goods establishments here, many of them extensive and attractive ; ten live stock dealers have homes here ; eight merchant tailors cut, fit and clothe the male portion of the commu- nity, while seven milliners get up duplicates of the famous "love of a bonnet:" right in the business portion of the city may be found seven first-class drug stores, many deal- ing largely in hardware ; one flourishing house attends exclusively to the hardware and another to hide and leather business; two woolen factories, six insurance agencies, three agricultural houses, two auction stores, five barber shops, four billiard saloons, five tin shops, four brick yards, four meat markets, five carriage manufactories, three cigar and four stove manufactories, six wagon shops, four four mills, five jewelry stores, three first-class livery stables, half a dozen saddler's shops, and a thousand (more or less) other establishments of different natures may be found in Jacksonville. Three fine cemeteries are now in use to receive the ashes of those citizens who are daily go- ing to their long resting place. One is beautifully located on high wooded ground west of the city. It was opened for interments within a year, and will probably become the most highly ornamented of the three. Already it contains a costly and elaborate work of art commemorative of the greatest farmer of the world, our late fellow citizen, Jacob Strawn. This new burying ground, called the "Diamond Grove Cemetery," was pur- chased last year by the board of trustees of the town, and inaugurated with appropriate ceremonies. It has all been laid off regularly and will be handsomely fitted up by the various lot owners. The College Grave Yard has now been abandoned, the space allotted to it being filled and the situation of the land unfavorable to improvement and enlarge- ment, many bodies and monuments have been moved from it to the new one. The East Grave Yard is the oldest cemetery in the city, situated a little over a mile from the center of the square. The yard is very full at present, and parts of it much neglected, yet it contains the graves of many honored men and women, among them Col. John J. Hardin whose remains were brought back to his home here from the battle field of Mexico. During the present year there will probably be much expended in improving both the "Diamond Grove" and East cemetery by private citizens and the corpora- tion. * * * *
The business blocks of Jacksonville are not to be passed by unnoticed. Especially are those which have been erected within a year ornaments to the city, and monuments of architectural merit. The main business of the city has from its start concentrated around the court-house lawn and within a block of the public square. On the north side Messrs. Dayton & Adams, Hatfield, Price, and Chambers have each erected three story brick buildings, convenient and substantial structures which tower over the few of their humbler neighbors which remain. The west side also boasts of a block of three story brick stores occupied by seven different firms engaged in various occupations, also a fine structure owned and occupied by Messrs. Weil & Bro. which looks down upon the surrounding stores.
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THE CITY'S BUSINESS IN 1867.
The erection of Strawn's Hall furnished our merchants with the finest business block on the square at that time which was speedily occupied.
Its nearest neighbor is the handsome marble block which is now receiving its fin- ishing touches. The block is a stately structure of brick.
From the time that Jacksonville was incorporated as a town, she has had to under- go the annual ordeal of an election for town officers. The government of the place has heretofore been confided to the keeping of a board of trustees, five in number. These city fathers have very seldom been elected on strict party tickets, but the issue at stake has been license or anti-license, and the voice of our citizens has always in all these yearly balotings with but one solitary, sad, and not soon to be forgotten occasion, been strongly against legalizing the traffic in death dealing liquor. The continued triumphs of the "temperance tickets" in our town elections, have given Jacksonville a good name throughout the state, and her citizens have been quoted for sobriety and good order. However, whenever a party issue was made, and in all the state and presidential elec. tions the town and precinct of Jacksonville have given rousing majorites for the nomi- nees of the Republican party, ever since the party of freedom has been known by that title. The spring of 1860 was the one exception mentioned above, in which the license men carried the town. During the year following, the place was visited by a series of disastrous conflagrations, and as many of them were traceable to the liquor traffic, the sentiment of the community was much intensified against the license system. Our first municipal election under the new charter, was held on the first Monday of April, 1867. Tworival tickets were in the field. The regular republican nominees and a people's ticket made up from both parties, and generally understood to be a license ticket. The result is well-known-the triumphant choice of our future rulers of every candidate upon the Republican city ticket with the exception of the alderman of the first ward. * * *
Jacksonville has never taken a remarkable interest in manufactures. Of late years, however, her capitalists have been investing more in that way.
Jacksonville Woolen Mills .- In the line of woolen products the factory of Messrs. Capps, McDonald & Co., has been enlarged and other buildings erected, until it is an immense establishment, employing numerous hands and turning off daily a large amount of goods, which would be creditable to any mills in the land.
Home Manufacturing Company .- The new woolen works of the Home Manufact- uring Company are now also in operation. The stock company interested in it have carried the enterprise along briskly, erecting large and substantial buildings, employ- ing the best of workmen, and producing flannels, cassimeres, jeans, etc., of unrivalled quality.
Foundries, etc .- Farming implements of every description are furnished to the agriculturists of the county from the many shops of the city. Iron foundries are now in active operation, producing cast works of all patterns. Carriages, buggies and every- thing in that line, of superb style and the best of workmanship, are built in the shops of the city. The specimens of skill which emanate from the marble yards of Jackson- ville in the shape of mantles and monuments are highly praiseworthy.
Banking Houses .- The city of Jacksonville now has four banking establishments. the First National, and three private houses, The former the only bank of issue, was organized under the national bank act of June 3rd, 1864, and opened for the transaction of business during the September following, with an authorized capital of $100,000.
As to the schools, before the incorporation, the town was divided into four school districts. Mr. Murray Martin, the school commissioner, had the oversight of all, while each was governed by an annually elected board of directors, three in number. Each school had its own principal, who was assisted by male and female teachers for each of the rooms in his or her school. Only three of the districts had separate school houses up to that time, but the fourth district, now the fourth ward, completed that spring a magnificent building, built in a grander scale than any of the others, furnished with an
185
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF JACKSONVILLE.
airy basement for a gymnasium and play ground in wet weather, in addition to all the conveniences of the other school houses.
The West Jacksonville District School, now second ward, corner of Fayette and West State streets, had five hundred and fifty pupils that year, and was under the charge of James L. Dyer, principal, with seven assistant preceptors. Directors, Messrs. 1. 1 .. Morrison, M. P. Ayers, E. P. Kirby.
Locust Grove District School, now third ward, on the north side of East College between Mauvaisterre and East streets, was superintended by Miss Rebecca Woods, an experienced teacher, with a faculty of four lady teachers under her. The number of pupils in attendance was two hundred. Messrs. W. Mathers, O. D. Fitzsimmons and A. C. Woods were the directors. The building was amply large.
Walnut Grove District School, first ward, had for its principal that year Mr. J. Warrick Prince, who had three assistant teachers. The board of directors consisted of Messrs. J. N. Marsh, S. Markoe and Frank Coulter. The school house stood on North street between Mauvaisterre and East streets. The number of scholars in attendance then is what the deponent knoweth not.
The Catholic Parochial School was the one carried on by the Roman Catholic de- nomination. The building was near the depot of the T. W. & W. R. R. One hundred and eighty-five pupils were attending. Rev. Joseph Costa, priest of the parish, was the principal. Two other instructors were employed to assist him.
With the incoming city council that year an entire change came over the face of school matters. The whole city was merged into one common school district, abandon- ing the former divisions altogether, under the management of a board of education, consisting of the mayor and one member from each ward, the latter appointed by the city council.
The present system of public schools in the city, has been in operation seventeen years. During this period they have advanced to the front rank, and are among the best in the State.
By 1867, the growth of the town had reached such proportions that a better form of government, and a better system of schools, became necessary. Under the city charter, granted that year, the present system of graded schools was adopted. The city was divided into four wards, and a school located in each. Mr. Israel Wilkinson was appointed superintendent, which office he held until 1869, when he was succeeded by Mr. J. M. Alcott, who held the office one year. He was followed by Mr. D. H. Harris, the immediate predecessor of the present superintendent, Prof. H. M. Hamill. Each ward maintains a separate district school, the grades in all being the same. The Washington High School is situated in the fourth ward. Its course of instruction is thorough and complete, and fits the pupil for the actual duties of life. Mr. Harris, in his report for the year 1877, gives an interesting resume of the schools for the past ten years, which we here append :
"Jacksonville has long been known as an educational center of great reputation, whose influence is felt far and wide. The early establishment of the public schools is due to the earnest efforts of two of our citizens-the late Gov. Duncan and Judge Wm. Thomas. The latter survives to witness the success of the cause which he so ably advo- cated.
"The honor of first popularizing the public schools in Jacksonville belongs to the well-known educator, Hon. Newton Bateman, who, for several years, was principal of the West Jacksonville school.
"Judge E. P. Kirby, of our city, immediately succeeded as principal of the same school, which he conducted for three years with eminent success ; following him Mich . ael Saunderson, Esq., nobly sustained the well-deserved reputation of the school for three years, when, in his valuable life-work, he fell at his post.
"Before the schools of Jacksonville were organized into a system under the present city charter, there were several independent schools, sustained in part by the general
186
BUSINESS COLLEGE AND FEMALE ACADEMY.
school fund of the State. A male teacher was employed as principal and superinten- dent of each of these district schools. The course of study in each of these schools therefore comprised not only the common branches, but also Latin, Greek, Natural Sciences, Higher English and Mathematics. The new school charter, in 1867, at once introduced a new regime which centralized the general supervision in one superinten- dent, and abolished the extravagant idea of sustaining four high schools of small classes by organizing one central high school for the accommodation of the entire city, which was found to be a great improvement in a pecuniary and educational point of view. The success of this system has led to a more economical expenditure by the gradual introduction of female principals into the ward schools. The new organization also led to a more careful and thorough classification of pupils, a more uniform course of . study, resulting in a more efficient preparation of the pupils in the advanced studies."
The condition of the schools shows a steady progress and increasing efficiency of the public schools as an educational force in the community.
To meet a want, long and widely felt in this region, the Jacksonville Business Col lege was founded by Prof. R. C. Crampton, in May, 1866. The college was located in Chambers' block, north side of public square, and was there successfully conducted for several years, sending forth hundreds of young men well qualified to act their part among the busy throngs of men in all the regions of the great West. Many of the youths who attended the college in the early years of its existence, are already number- ed among the most successful business men of the State.
From the very first, the patronage of the college has been steadily increasing, and its popularity among men of business, more and more decided. Since the college was founded, it has instructed nearly three thousand students, and by them is honorably represented in the various industrial and commercial pursuits, all over this broad land, from Mexico to Maine.
The design of this college is to fit young men and women for the active duties of successful business life. The aim is not to send out mere book-keepers or clerks, but the course aims at symmetrical development, and is calculated to strengthen the men- tal power, and give a broad and substantial business training.
In the summer of 1869 the ownership of the Business College passed into the hands of the trustees of Illinois College, and for several years it occupied part of Whipple Academy building, a few blocks west of the public square.
As the principal of the Jacksonville Female Academy, Prof. Gilbert Thayer proved gifted in management and since his day, the institution has been entirely self-support- ing, not in a single instance falling back, as it used frequently to do, on special sub- scriptions for its relief. Thus making it the duty and for the personal interest of the principal to manage the finances well has been an important step in the direction of permanent prosperity. We quote from Dr. Glover :
Besides the worldly wisdom which Mr. Thayer brought to this work, he also con- tributed to it an engaging person, pleasing manners, fine social powers, the magnetism of enthusiastic purpose, by all which he impressed friends and drew to him strangers with remarkable facility. He took tours of observation in which he himself was as much the observed as the observer, and he seldom returned home without bringing with him a bevy of girls charmed by the beauty of his silver locks and more by the fascinations of his laughing eye and sparkling speech, and thus he laid not only Illi- nois, but Indiana, Missouri, Iowa and Kansas and more distant regions, under contri- bution to his purpose to build up Jacksonville Female Academy, and while making a good thing of it for the community, to make a good thing of it also for himself. The school was quite uniformly full as long as he continued in it, and the graduating classes much larger than they had ever been before. One hundred and thirty-one young ladies were added to the aluninæ during his period of service It was also dur- ing his term that the eastern pediment of the building was erected at an expense of about $12,000. Prof. Thayer retired one year before the expiration of his lease, on account of ill-health. He now has charge of a female seminary at Morgan Park, near Chicago.
In 1872 Prof. W. D. Sanders established the Illinois Conservatory of Music, taking
181
CONSERVATORY .- WHIPPLE ACADEMY-FIRE.
as his model the plan of the New England Conservatory of Music, which in turn re- ceived its origin in the conservatories in the old country. This institution is yet in successful operation, with a full corps of able and experienced teachers, who are justly appreciative of the responsibility resting upon them. Its founders and succeeding managers have undertaken to sustain an institution that shall be inferior to no other in the United States. From the beginning it has had a remarkable success. With a full corps of distinguished European and American professors, it offers the very best instruc- tion in singing and on all the principal string and wind instruments, and in every de- partment of theory and practice. Its violinists, its pianists, its organists, its cornetists and flutists, and its teachers of singing have been among the best. It receives pupils of every grade, from mere beginners to those already far advanced. Among its pupils are many who have been teachers, who come to perfect themselves in their art. Jack- sonville may well be proud of such an institution. It is an honor to the city and to the State.
Connected with Illinois college is a preparatory school, known as Whipple Acade- my, taking its name from its founder, S. L. Whipple, who, in 1869, gave $10,000 to es- tablish it. The building first used by the trustees for academic purposes, is the one now owned and occupied by Prof. George W. Brown for his Jacksonville Business Col- lege, and the Illinois College authorities have now erected and are using a large and well arranged brick building upon the college campus, for the accommodation of the academy students.
In February, 1870, the main building of the Illinois Female College was destroyed by fire; but it has been replaced by a building of superior architectural pretensions. On the resignation of Dr. Bastion in 1848, Rev. J. F. Jacques was appointed principal, which position he held with marked success until June, 1855. From this date till 1858, the position was filled successively by Rev. Reuben Andrus, D. D., and Rev. H. S. McCoy. In 1858, Rev. Charles Adams, D. D., was elected principal, and continued in that capacity until his resignation in 1868, when Rev. Wm. H. DeMotte, LL. D., was appointed to the vacancy. Prof. DeMotte continued in office until July, 1875, when he resigned to accept the position of Superintendent of the Wisconsin Deaf and Dumb Institution.
Jacksonville has never had much occasion to boast of her general manufacturing and wholesale interests. But those which she does sustain would reflect credit upon any city. The leading manufactory is known as the Jacksonville Woolen Mills, and was founded in 1839 by Mr. Joseph Capps, who removed from the State of Kentucky in the fall of 1838, locating in the town of Waverly, in this county, which place he reached about the middle of October of that year. Mr. Capps was a practical machin- Ist, having learned the trade in the city of Louisville. On his arrival in Waverly he formed a co-partnership with the late Judge George Waller of Minnesota, for the pur- pose of carrying on a wool-carding and cloth finishing business, which business Mr. Waller had already established in a small way. During that winter he was engaged in building an engine and custom-carding machinery in the shops of his partner, and in the following spring he located permanently in Jacksonville, where he established what is now known as the "Jacksonville Woolen Mills." Having se-ered his connec- tion with Mr. Waller in the summer of 1839, he devoted his time and energies thence- forward in building up his business which, at the time of his death had grown to large proportions. At first the business was confined to custom-carding alone, and shortly afterwards the fulling and finishing of home-made cloths was added. When we reflect that this enterprise was in the hands of a man who was not only capable of constructing his own machinery and building the steam engine to drive it, but also possessed in rare combination the requirementsof a first-class business manager in every respect, it is not surprising the business of his choice prospered and attained rapid growth. In the year 1843 he associated with himself Mr. Ambrose Wetherbee as a partner in the business, which co-partnership lasted a number of years. A short time after the with.
188
WOOLEN AND FLOUR MILL INDUSTRIES.
drawal of Mr. Wetherbee, Mr. L. C. Haskell became identified as a partner. The lat- ter possessing some practical knowledge of the manufacture of woven fabrics, the firm decided to add spinning and weaving machinery, and in the year 1852 the first piece of goods in the history of the business was made and finished. At the expiration of a year Mr. Haskell withdrew, and in 1857 Mr. Capps' eldest son, Stephen R., who is now the senior member of the present firm and Mr. Wm. J. Metcalf became partners. The latter did not remain long in the business, when it was conducted under the firm name of Joseph Capps & Son. In 1862 the second son, Wm. E., was admitted, the firm name being known as Joseph Capps & Sons. In the year 1864 Mr. Alex. McDonald became a partner, and in the following year his brother Charles also, the latter assuming the superintendency of the mills. The Messrs. McDonald were extensive retail merchants in the city of Jacksonville, and Messrs. Capps became mutually interested also in that department of the business, the styles of the two firms being "Capps, McDonald & Co.," and "McDonald, Capps & Co.," respectively. The large store of the latter was situated on the site occupied at present by Messrs. Atwater & Pratt. During the year previous on account of the rapid increase of trade, it was determined to make extensive addi- tions, both in machinery and buildings, and the present site of the mills was selected and a new mill projected. The old structure which stood on the premises now oc- cupied by Mr. W. E. Capps as a dwelling place, was partially removed and most of the works transferred to the new buildings. The two firms as above constituted lasted but one year, when, on account of failing health, Mr. Alex. McDonald retired, his brother doing likewise soon after. The business again came into the entire control of Messrs. Capps & Sons, in whose hands it has ever since remained. The wisdom of an increase of the productive capacity, and the adoption of greater facilities as noted, was verified and sustained by the large and extended trade that was secured, and which, under pru- (lent and safe management continued to spread as the years passed, until in the year 1872 it had become the largest manufacturing interest of the kind in this part of the western country. On March 10th of the last named year, the senior partner passed away. His untimely death, occurring as it did in the maturity of his plans and pur- poses for the further development of his business, did not, however, cripple or in any- way retard its onward progress, and to-day it stands a monument of the enterprise and pluck of a class of men whose individual success and welfare is the welfare of the com- munity about them. There has been no further change in the firm and management since Mr. Capps' death, excepting that in 1878 Mr. Joseph L. Capps, his third son, was associated with his brothers, the new firm still bearing the old firm name of "Joseph Capps & Sons," thus perpetuating the name and memory of the founder in the wide circle of business connections throughout the country of the great west.
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