USA > Illinois > Morgan County > Jacksonville > Historic Morgan and classic Jacksonville > Part 41
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From the foregoing summary the characteristics of Jacksonville as a city may readily be gathered. Most favorably situated as to climate and topography; suffering from neither extreme of heat or cold; favored by the State in a large inpouring of money at unfailing periods; having the example of many eminent and useful citizens now gone to their rest, and feeling as we trust, the spur of others yet living, who are their not unworthy successsors, there should and may be a yet greater future. The post is not the superstructure, but merely the foundation, That the State has done so much by establishing here so many of her enduring charities, is well. But also these must be supplemented by a large measure of individual enterprise, or stagnation may follow, for all that has gone before. And as a field of judicious enterprise, there is none superior. Cheap fuel, free water, abundant labor, and ready communication, supply all the con- ditions of a varied and most successful system of manufactories.
IRONMONG
BOOK AND JOB PRINTING
JOB
OF A
TE
UW
-
THE DUNLAP HOUSE, WEST STATE STREET, JACKSONVILLE, ILLINOIS. REMODELED AND RE-OPENED IN 1880, BY CAPT. ALEX. SMITHI.
258
THE HOTELS OF JACKSONVILLE.
Eighteenth .- PLACES FOR EATING AND SLEEPING, 1885.
The hotel accommodations of any city form quite an important feature of its pros- perity, especially in these days when so large a proportion of the commercial business is transacted by traveling men. The "Dunlap" after prolonged litigation passed from the hands of the founder Col. James Dunlap and in the summer of 1880 Capt. Alex. Smith purchased it of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. Both he and his wife were experienced in hostelry business and have made a success of the hotel (see cut on page 257) from that time to the present. At the time of the transfer it was closed for three months for changes, repairs and improvements. The building was repainted inside and outside, handsomely repapered, furnished, many conveniences added and the house almost entirely remodeled at a cost of over ten thousand dollars. It was opened for business again September 22d, 1880. With the exception of ten months, in 1882 and 1883, when Meserve & Kittredge were the temporary lessees, Cap. Smith has been the landlord as well as proprietor. The house has seventy-five sleeping apartments for guests, besides all the other roomis such as office, reading-room, parlors, halls, dining-room, billiard-hall, sample-rooms, and bedrooms for help.
In November, 1883, Mr. Smith also became the owner of the Park Hotel, (see cut page 241,) purchasing it at master-in-chancery sale. It is the successor of the old Man- sion House, and located on the north side of the public square. Since passing into his control it has been used solely as an apartment house with restaurant attached, the latter run by lessees.
The last addition to the hotels of the city was built in 1883, by Anton Rataichak, and named after him-the Rataichak Hotel. He is sole proprietor and landlord with Daniel Williams, Esq., as office clerk. The building is a plain, but substantial three story brick, located on East State street in the same block as the Journal office. Ground occupied by the hotel 60x180, sleeping rooms number sixty-one, besides parlors, halls and usual hotel apartments. The steam-heating, water-closet and general plumbing and ventilating arrangements are especially commendable, and the new candidate for pub- lic favor is being well patronized.
The other large hotel of the city is the Southern, located on West College Ave,, two blocks southwest of the square. It was built by Elijah Cobb. The successive man- agers have been Messrs. Cobb, Hume, Aspinwall, Irland (formerly of the Park House) and the present landlord A. H. Hocking, ex-county coroner, who has been "mine host" since September, 1876, The property is now owned by Mr. Julius E. Strawn. It was at one time known as the Avenue House.
Among the smaller hotels are :
The Metropolitan, at the Junction, Mrs. E Sweeney, proprietress ; established four- teen years ; accommodates fifty or more guests : over 4,000 registered in a year.
The Northeastern House, corner East and Court streets, Mrs. J. F. Dew, proprietress ; accommodations for fifty or sixty ; established seven years ; over 3,000 registered in 1884.
Transit House, North Main and Washington streets, Mrs. Mary E. Faul. proprie- tress ; established three years ; accommodates twenty-five guests.
Morgan Honse, North Main street, Mrs. M. Guthrie, proprietress ; established eight years ; accommodates twenty-five guests.
Central House, No. 231 North Main street, Mrs. D. Moss, proprietress; : «commo- dates thirty guests ; established seven years.
European Restaurant and boarding house, northeast corner of public square, estab- lished October, 1884, Mrs. Philip Braun, proprietress.
Hilligass' Restaurant and boarding house, north side East State Street, C: pt. B. F. Hilligass, proprietor.
259
RELIEF SOCIETY-"THE HATCHET"-FATHER ADAMS.
Nineteenth .- MERE MENTION OF VARIOUS MATTERS OF INTEREST.
To conclude this chapter we shall briefly refer to a few local events which have been omitted in the preceding pages covering their time.
In the early part of the year 1837, there was in existence in this community an organization "for the purpose of affording relief to the sick and disabled members thereof, and to the widows and orphans of deceased members, and for the promotion of literature, science and the mechanic arts, and for no other purpose whatever." It had its constitution and by-laws, and was regularly incorporated, the above quotation being from its charter which was granted February 28, 1837. Hon. Newton Cloud, being speaker of the house at that time, and Govornor Duncan, also of this county, signing it. The first president was William W. Happy. the secretary was Calvin Goudy and among the directors were Stephen Sutton, Michael Rapp, John Holland and John W. Goltra ull now deceased. Among the members the following are still living: William Bran- son, Anderson Foreman, Cornelius Goltra, Benjamin F. Gass, W. D. Humphrey, Lewis Hatfield, Samuel S. Cobbs, Josiah MI. Lucas and Matthew Stacy.
Our well-known citizen Prof. J. B. Turner has twice been a candidate for congres. sional honors from this district, not as an office seeker but as representative of political principles. In November, 1865, he was the candidate of the Republican party for a seat in the lower house of the forty-first congress of the United States. and received 17,290 votes as against 21.420 for the late Judge Albert G. Burr. In 1874 he ran as an Independent candidate for the forty-fourth congress. His support was 2,417, with 9,027 for Simpson, (Rep.) and 10,623 for Wm. M. Springer, (Dem.) Consequently Mr. Springer was duly declared elected and has represented this district from that day to this, being re-elected for his sixth two-year term November 4, 1884.
November, 1855, witnessed the publication of the Jacksonville Hatchet, by William T. Davis. The paper was devoted to wit, humor, faney, news, ete. It contained four pages of four columns each,and had no advertisements. The paper contains some of the standard jokes that are still current in the city. We are glad we have found their source. By the way, how many people now living in Jacksonville remember the Hutchet ? It was before the time of most of the boys.
For a change Jacksonville tried the saloon license plan in 1861, but in April. 1862, there was an anti-license triumph again and the next year the same ticket and cause prevailed.
The cause of education and religion hereabouts lost one of its pioneer and noblest exponents in April, 1863, in the death of "Father Adams"-teacher, colporteur and Sun- day-school missionary.
In June, 1862, the annual convention of the State Sunday-school Association was held in our city.
Near the close of the War for the Union, January, 1864, Morgan county's quotas for the army had been 1,757 and she was duly eredited upon the muster rolls of Illinois and Missouri with 1,853 recruits or an excess over all demands of 126. In September, 1864, there was a draft of 110 men, and in April, 1865, ten more were drafted from this city. So near was our cup of patriotism full to the brim.
The Chicago & Alton, or as it was then called the St. Louis, Jacksonville & Chicago, Railroad was completed northward as far as Mason City, in August, 1867.
In the summer of that year Col. G P. Smith, of the Journal, engineered through a very enjoyable editorial excursion along the line of the Union Pacific Railway, then being laid, as far as the base of the Rocky Mountains. Ralph Reynolds, Ed. C. Simms. D. B. Smith, C. M. Eames and others, from Jacksonville, were of the party.
A local sensation of December, 1867, was the so-called legislative investigation in re Mrs. Packard versus Dr. McFarland, of the Insane Hospital.
The year 1868 witnessed the laying of corner stones of two of the largest buildings in the city, the Court House and the "Church of Our Savior," (Roman Catholic) also the organization of our city's great convenience the street railway company. In Sep
260
BLUE RIBBONS -- OLD SETTLERS-HAIL STORM.
tember at a special city election the vote for license was 400, for prohibition 507, for railroad subscription 814 against 99. October and November of that year saw the Daily Union in existence, in Jacksonville, with William T. Davis as editor, and I. J. Ketcham and H. J. Atkins as its backers.
Water works election, June 17, 1869, for the subscription 674 votes, against the proposition 61. In October, 1871, the water works were voted.
The Jacksonville Southeastern, then called the Farmers' road, was completed to Franklin and Waverly during December, 1870, and the same month the street railway was opened.
In 1871 there were twenty-five licensed dram-shops in Jacksonville, and saloons have been regulated by this system every year except one. The license fee grew much larger in 1884, rising from $400 per annum to $550 and then to $800.
The Jacksonville Library Association was incorporated and library opened, in the Court House, in October, 1871.
In December, 1873, occurred the funeral of ex-Governor and ex-Senator Yates.
For the second time the Illinois State Sunday-school Association held its annual mass convention in Jacksonville, in May, 1876. The presence of the great evangelists, Moody and Sankey, drew thousands to the meetings.
In December, 1877, the Murphy Blue Ribbon Temperance Movement reached the city and county. At the close of the year the pledge signers numbered 5,000 and were increased in spring of 1878 to 6,200 in Jacksonville, and 12,000 in Morgan county.
In the year 1877, on the 19th of October, it commenced raining and continued to rain, more or less, every day up to December 27th. On Christmas day fish worms were crawling on the sidewalks and the streets almost impassible for teams Scarcely any person came into the city except by rail. Business almost suspended. Deep mud and more or less rain continued until the middle of March, 1878.
At the annual meeting of the Old Settlers' Association of Morgan county, held in August, 1884. Mr. Chamberlain, the secretary, read the following resolution which was adopted :
RESOLUTION .- William Richardson, one of our vice-presidents, was called to the Spirit Land, December 4th, 1883. In the death of William Richardson this society has lost one of its most efficient workers, as well as most social members, ever ready to do all he could for the profit or pleasure of this association and to make our reunions happy gatherings, long to be remembered. We miss his cheerful presence and mourn his sudden departure, yet feel assured that he has but changed homes from one where sickness and age blight fond hopes to that pure existence where immortal youth and endless happiness is his portion. May his mantle fall upon another as worthy.
This was unanimously adopted.
The first order of business of the afternoon session was the election of officers. Only two changes were made. J. H. Tureman was elected in the place of William Richardson as director and Rev. John Sargent was elected chaplain instead of Rev. E. Roach. The officers are now as follows:
President, M. P. Ayers; Vice-Presidents, Anderson Foreman, Charles Samples, Huram Reeve, J. H. Tureman and William Stevenson; Secretary, T. Chamberlain; Treasurer, John Robertson; Marshal, Charles Sample; Chaplain, Rev. John Sargent; Executive Committee, M. P. Ayers, Huram Reeve, A. J. Thompson, Charles French, Zachary W. Gattan and J. H. Tureman ; Finance Committee, Bazzill Davenport, Charles French and Henry Johnson.
In June, 1884, occurred a most singular freak of nature in the shape of a tremen- dous hail storm a few miles west of the city. The storm extended over but a narrow strip of territory, but with great violence. In one field containing a depression in the center, a heavy rain following the hail washed the latter down the declivity on both sides until it was piled up to a depth of from one to four feet. After a lapse of twenty- four hours S. W. Nichols secured two negatives of what was left of the fallen ice, prints from which have been given to the Historical Society. They show masses of
261
K. AND L. OF H .-- CORRECTIONS.
hailstones as large as a man's body, and a heap as large as the pile of stones which marked the resting place of the disobedient Absalom.
The most recent institution of a secret society in this city was in August, 1884-a local lodge of the Order of Knights and Ladies of Honor. This is a fraternal institu- tion of both social and beneficiary character, an offspring of the Knights of Honor, but a distinctly separate organization. In Jacksonville there were eighty charter members of both sexes. Crystal Lodge meets semi-monthly. J. W. Bowen, protector; George W. Fox, secretary; Fred L. Sharpe, treasurer; Lew H. Pratt, financial secretary. The lodge meets in Osborne's Hall, northeast corner of the square.
Twentieth .- ERRATA, BY DR. J. M. STURTEVANT.
To C. M. EAMES :
Dear Sir :- The following errors seem to me to be important :
Page 55, you speak of an interview between "Dr. John Todd, of Springfield, Judge Lockwood, of Jacksonville, dining with Rev. T. Lippincott, etc." Hon. Samuel D. Lockwood was not then a resident of Jacksonville, but of Edwardsville, holding an official position in the United States Land Office at that place. Mr Lippincott was not then a minister of the gospel, but a clerk in Judge Lockwood's office, though already known as an able writer and an enlightened Christian patriot. The proposition that he should accompany Mr. Ellis in an exploring tour in the region then known as "the Sangamon Country" came from Judge Lockwood and was backed up by a gift of $25, to pay expenses and other valuable assistance in aid of the journey. Judge Lockwood did not become a resident of Jacksonville till the winter of 1829-'30.
On the same page you say "Rev. Julian M. Sturtevant came from New Haven with assurances of $1,000 more." It should read, Rev. Theron Baldwin, and Rev. Julian M. Sturtevant, arrived here in November, 1829, with assurances from the young men at Yale College of $10,000 more.
Page 60, 25th line from bottom, "country" should be "county."
Page 68, 4th line from the bottom, "chiefly in the State," should be "chiefly from friends of the cause at the East."
Page 69, 4th line from the top, the impression is made of but one graduate. The first graduating class was composed of two, Jonathan E. Spilman, now a Presbyterian minister in southern Illinois, and Richard Yates,
Page 88. James G. Edwards came to Jacksonville in November, 1829. Never had any connection with the college. He was a printer by trade, and came to Jackson. ville purely to establish a paper. Capt. John Henry must be mistaken as to there hav- ing been a printing press or paper in Jacksonville previous to Mr. Edwards.
I regret to say that in what has been published relative to the history of the college sufficient honor has not been accorded to Ilon. S. D. Lockwood This is to some extent true in respect to what I myself have published. It has not resulted, however, from any want of appreciation of his services or lack of affectionate reverence for his char- acter. It has resulted from the fact that when I wrote he was still among the living. I never can feel the same freedom in eulogising the living as I do in honoring the dead. It may be a false delicacy, but I must confess to the fact of having been influenced by it. Full justice never can be done to the grand services which Judge Lockwood ren- dered to the college during his long connection with it, from the first conception of the idea of founding it till his death. J. M. STURTEVANT.
262
ERRATA AND AUTHORITIES.
Twenty-first .- CORRECTIONS AND ADDITIONS, BY THE EDITOR.
Page 10, six lines from bottom, "Kellogg" should be Kellogg's.
Page 14, thirteenth line from top, for "Kettner" read Keltner.
Page 40, last line, "Marsh's" Point should be Mark's.
Page 57, Rev. J. M. Ellis was installed 1830 not "1828."
Page 71. The Diamond Grove Baptist Church is still in existence, hence was not "short lived."
Page 72, twenty-eighth line from top, for H. P. Melendy read S. P.
Page 85. This description of the quick freeze was not by Mr. Lathrop, but some unknown old citizen.
Page 88, twelve lines from bottom, Mr. Edwards remained in Jacksonville six years or more, not "two" as stated.
Page 96, eleventh line from bottom, for Carrollton read Manchester.
Page 97, town trustee William B. Warren, not "William P."
Page 125, sixth line from top, "1840" should be 1850.
Page 173. The first "Christian" Church here was organized in October, 1832, by elders Barton W. Stone and Josephus Hewitt, with eighty-six members.
Twenty-second -AUTHORITIES CONSULTED OR USED.
The compiler of "Historic Morgan" would acknowledge his indebtedness, for valu- able data for this work to the following :
Dr. L. M. Glover's sermons 1873, 1877 and 1880, historical discourses upon twenty- fifth and fiftieth anniversaries of First Presbyterian church and Jacksonville Female Academy.
Dr. W. W. Harsha's historical sermon 1864, at dedication of Central Presbyterian church.
Dr. J. M. Sturtevant's historical address, twenty-fifth anniversary of Illinois College and fiftieth anniversary of Congregational church, October, 1883.
Judge William Thomas' communications to Journal during past twenty-five years. J. W. Graham's "Jacksonville Illustrated" in Potter's American Monthly, Oct., 1878.
Messrs. Huram Reeve, Timothy Chamberlain, Anderson Foreman, Keeling Berry and Rev. William Clark-conversations and documents.
Charles A. Barnes' History of the Secret Societies of Jacksonville, in the Daily Journal December 15, 1881.
Samuel W. Nichols' interviews with anti-slavery pioneers and underground rail- road conductors, in Daily Journal, 1884.
History of Morgan county, 1878, Donnelley, Loyd & Co., Chicago, publishers.
First annual report of Woman's Christian Temperance Union, of Jacksonville.
Recollections of old times, in Daily Courier, 1883, by Anderson Foreman, J. W. Lathrop, James S. Anderson and Col. George M. Chambers.
J. R. Bailey's articles on Early Days, in files of Weekly Sentinel.
Historical Sketch of Cass county, by Hon. J. Henry Shaw, of Beardstown.
History of Cass county, 1882, edited by William Henry Perrin ; O. L. Baskin & Co., Chicago, publishers.
R. W. Ranson's Descriptions of State Institutions as printed in Chicago Tribune, November, 1883.
Ensley Moore's "Local Epitomes," 1830, 1840, 1850 and 1860, as published in the Daily Journal in 1879.
Rev. J. M. Ellis' diary in Presbytery Reporter, Alton.
Gen. Murray McConnel's Sketch of Jacksonville, in Nixon's Directory.
Capt. John Henry's Scrap Book, in Y. M. C. A. Reading room.
Mrs. Joseph H Bancroft's History of Ladies' Education Society, fiftieth anniversary, October 6, 1883.
Dr. G. V. Black's Meteorological Articles, in Jacksonville Daily Journal.
263
A FEW MORE ITEMS.
Twenty-third. THE NEW CENTENARY .- ELECTRIC LIGHTS .- TOBACCO FACTORIES.
The new Centenary (formerly East Charge) M. E. church (see view on page 233) was dedicated and occupied in November, 1868, but the movement for the erection started in 1866, the centennial year of American Methodism, when the name was changed. Rev. Alex. Semple, the pastor, undertook the work of securing the subscriptions for the amount thought to be necessary, viz: $25,000. He succeeded in the laudable work and the lot was purchased and foundation laid that year. The building was not com- pleted ready for use until November, 1868, costing about $40,000. Underwood, of Chi- cago, was the builder of all except the towers and spire and the interior finish of the auditorium which was the work of Hugh Wilson, Esq., of this city.
In January, 1884, an effort was made by outside parties to introduce the Vander. poele Electric Light into the city by the formation of a local joint stock company. This venture failed, but Mr. George HI. Huntoon, of our city, took up the matter and sixty- eight subscriptions for lights were obtained, thirty three to be used every night and the others once a week. With this much encouragement the plant was put in-a forty light dynamo being attached to the engine at the Car Works. The first exhibition of the lights was May 3d, 1884, a very satisfactory Park and store illumination being made. The lights put into the places of business and hotels, etc., some forty in number, were used several months, but the power was found to be too weak and the lights consequent- ly not satisfactory. It was, therefore, impossible to sell stock in the enterprise and so it rests in statu quo.
The cigar and tobacco manufacturing industry has hardly been referred to in our work, but should have been as it represents a good deal of capital and the employment of many men. We have not succeeded in obtaining any statistics as to the annual man- ufacture, but the following are the principal factories: Benjamin Pyatt & Sons, Henry HI. Knollenberg, Gotthelf & Kahn, Cassell Bros., Scott & Duckett, and Joseph Keeney.
In 1884, the veterans of the War for the Union organized a local branch of the well known patriotic order-the Grand Army of the Republic. It was named and numbered Mat. Starr Post, No. 378. Present officers: Capt. Philip Lee, commander; Henry Hoover, adjutant.
Twenty-fourth .- EXTRACTS FROM A LETTER FROM AN OLD MORGANIAN.
GRAND ISLAND, Nebraska, December 24, 1884.
Mr. Editor :- Seeing of late in the Journal invitations to early settlers of Morgan county to forward any reminiscences that might aid you in your forthcoming history of the county and city, I thought of sending a few items, if it were not that much more interesting matter will fill the book. True, I feel as much or more interest in the subject than those still with you. Old people are apt to live much in the past, recon- noirtering the paths of early life I came and settled with my father and family at the head of Big Sandy in 1830-before the deep snow, when the spring mornings boomed with the prairie chicken and night was hideous with howling wolves. Sheep were scarce. I am now past seventy-four, the only one remaining of my father's family; the rest, all except my youngest sister, have their resting place in your county; I was thirty years in Morgan, except three years in Springfield, the years 1835, 1836 and 1837 Then I spent twenty years in Urbana, Champaign county. Then, as all my children, except the dortor at Arcadia, had taken Greeley's advice, I followed in the wake, stopping not until I rounded the last part of the United States at the mouth of the Columbia, and there for thirteen months, within the ocean roar, paddling on the tide water, and trapesing through the mountain trails amongst those old monarchs of the forest on Louis and Clarke, some of them sixteen feet in diameter. Well, now I'm here to try and encourage your noble enterprise. I was conversant with nearly every one of the old folks lately noticed in your columns, and many others, many of whom have taken their lenve Happy to know some of my particular friends still linger, among them Judge William Thomas, Dr Akers, Col. Chambers, Uncle Johny Jordan and Huram Reeve. * * * * I knew your father and grandfather well, for ten years during iry residence in Jacksonville, 1847 to 1857; knew your old veteran stock man and financier, Jacob Strawn, for thirty years. I might give some rather amusing anec- dotes connected with our dealings. The only fault he ever found with me he said that I was too honest. It didn't shock my nerves and we didn't quarrel about it. * *
WILLIAM CRAIG.
I.O.O.F.
LAA
HATS & CAPS
ATWATER & PRATT.
CLOTHING
FRUITS ! ! / Stuart CANDIES
V
MERCHANT TAILOR
Jos Tomlinson.
CHICAGO EN&CO.
ODD FELLOWS' BLOCK, NORTH SIDE SQUARE, JACKSONVILLE, ILLINOIS
265
ALUMNI OF "OLD ILLINOIS."
Twenty-Fifth .- THE ILLINOIS COLLEGE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION-THE OLDEST SOCIO- LITERARY SOCIETY IN THE STATE-A RECORD OF OVER HALF A CENTURY.
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