USA > Illinois > Shelby County > Historic sketch and biographical album of Shelby County, Illinois > Part 22
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41
Since the organization 116 comrades have been received by muster and transfer. Deaths. removals, transfers and discharges have, how- ever. cut this membership down to 55.
DAVID JAMES POST OF FINDLAY.
David James Post, No. 757. G. A. R., was organized at Findlay. Ill., in April. 1893. The charter members were: D. D. Bare. George Dixon. John Underwood. J. M. Underwood. B. F. Tym. C. D. Bare, J. F. Shanks. Wm. H. Francisco, Lafayette Leach, E. K. Schwartz. I'm. Blackstone. Reason Trigg. D. R. Van Reed.
May 9. 1893, the Post was mustered by Capt. Win. F. Turney, and installed by Col. C. E. Woodward, both officers and past command- ers of Cyrus Hall Post. No. 138. Rept. Ill .. Shel- byville. E. K. Schwartz was installed as the first commander and held the position till Dec. 1895, when N. B. Elmore was elected and held the command till Dec. 1898, when E. K. Schwartz was again elected and held the com- mand till Dec. 1900, When M. A. Harbert was elected commander. J. F. Shanks and J. T. Gwin- up have been the efficient adjutants ; Geo. Dixon faithfully discharged the duty of quartermaster : Samuel B. Melcher has been the faithful chaplain. But two comrades belonging to the Post hav .. died since its organization. The present meni bership of the Post is twenty, in good standing.
J. V. CLEMENTS POST. MOWEAQUA.
Charter members of J. V. Clements Post. No. 363, Dept. of Ill. G. A. R. are as follows :
167
HISTORIC SKETCH.
*Robert B. Wilson, *Robert I. Smith, *Jno. W. Greaves-present commander -* James E. Gregory, *David King, J. P. Aydelott, Nathan Francis-chaplain-William H. Pontius, Jas. G. Stewart. #Ambrose Gilliland, John E. Hyde. Jerome LaDow. Edward Tolson, *Fred C. Keitch, Calvin Clark, Thos. C. M. Snow, Sam- uel Worsham, Randall R. Adams. * 1. R. Mc- Kay, Charles C. Cowell, Jacob Smith, John Peel. * Walter Humphrey. * H. A. Walker, Wil- liam Dudley, *Francis Armstrong. * John Clark, John W. Smith.
Those marked with a star (*) have been commanders. R. B. Wilson was chosen com- mander when post was organized, Nov. 6. 1893. Comrades Stewart, LaDow, Snow, Adams, Mc- Kay, Jacob Smith, Dudley and Armstrong have answered the last roll call.
This Post had a most active and efficient Relief Corps, but on the death of Mrs. J. E. Gregory, its beloved president, in 1900, the Corps surrendered its charter.
JOHN HUFFER POST, STEWARDSON.
John Huffer Post. No. 633. Department of Ilinois G. A. R., was mustered and the first of- ficers installed July 2. 1887, by Comrade C. E. Woodward, and other comrades of Cyrus Hall Post. Shelbyville. The charter members were : #Henry Temperly, A, 53rd 111; T. H. McDon- ald, E, 6th Ind .; C. C. Wilson, F. 2nd (). Art. : Robt. Butcher, G. 70th Ind. Inf. ; Samuel Bailey, K. 14th Ill. Inf. ; A. E. Harrington, D. 107th 111. Inf. : * Wm. M. Miller, F, ist Ohio Cav. ; C. H. Storm, C, 135th Ill. Inf .: W. P. Layton, E. 62nd Ill. Inf. # Uriah Baldwin. A. 54th Ill. Inf. : W. W. Pierce, F. 115th Ill. Inf. ; Wm. Temperly, A, 54th Ill. Inf. : H. H. York, A, 51st I11. Inf .; A. W. Spracklin, I, 51st Ohio Inf. ; Reed Wal-
ker. H. 54th 111. Inf .; W. E. Anderson, D, 53rd 111. Inf. : Scott McDonald, F, 73rd Ind. Inf .; J. 11. Whitaker, E. 17th Ohio Inf. ; Ilenry Den- nis, H1, 7th Ill. Cav.
(*) Deceased.
Twenty-four recruits have been mustered into the post which now has an active member- ship of only about twelve. Samuel Bailey is at present Post adjutant.
WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS.
As an auxiliary of the Grand Army of the Republic the Woman's Relief Corps was in- stituted. As its name implies, this organization is composed of women-the widows, wives, sis- ters and daughters of the ex-soldiers, together with any other loyal woman who might desire to join with them. The purpose of this organiza- tion was, and is, to assist in the work of the G. .A. R., and to relieve the necessities of the veter- ans, their widows and orphans. The order has proved most efficient and has commended itself to the people generally.
Cyrus Hall Corps, No. 245, of Shelbyville. was instituted by Mrs. E. R. Kennedy, a depart- ment officer of Decatur. March 7th. 1894. Chas. E. Woodward, W. F. Turney and Geo. D. Chafee contributed in means and effort to the organization and have been always among its most steadfast supporters. Among the leaders Mrs. Mary J. Snyder, Mrs. W. F. Turney and Mrs. W. F. Gillmore were among the most earnest and persistent advocates for the founda- tion of the Corps.
The charter members were: Edna Gill- more, Mollie J. Epler, Jane Turney, Mary E. Bisdee. Emma South. Dora Smith, Mareda Cramer, Nellie Hall, Helen Howard, Martha
168
HISTORIC SKETCH.
M. Marks, Alice Illhardt, Lillie Westenhaver. Alta Spielman. Alice Martin and Virginia Wor- ley.
Officers for 1894 were : President, Mary J. Snyder. Senior Vice-Pres .. Jane Turney. Junior Vice-Pres., Dora Smith. Treasurer, Frances Seaman. Secretary, Mollie J. Epler. Chaplain, Mary E. Bisdee. Conductor. Addie J. Price. Guard. Virginia Worley.
Since the organization the following per- sons have served as Presidents :
Mary J. Snider, Mollie Epler. Mary S. Mar- tin and Emma South.
MOWEAQUA WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS.
This Corps has been most efficient as an auxiliary of the Moweaqua Post. G. A. R .. but was disbanded in April. 1898, on the death of its president, Mrs. Deborah A. Gregory. Mrs. Belle Whitworth was its first president. The members in addition to those named were :
Mesdames. Amarett Clark, Florence Kirker. Martha Bruner, Lizzie Polk, Eliza Graves, Al- zira Hays. Rebecca Brown, Edna V. Corrington. Sophia Bury, Addie Frazer, Lillie Snyder. Emma Jones .: Misses Gertrude Green. Lulu Bruner, Louella Hilvety, Rose Gregory.
At the time of their disbandment the ladies turned over to the Post $65 in cash.
SONS OF VETERANS.
Shelbyville also boasts of a Camp of the Sons of Veterans. The purpose of this order is to perpetuate work of the G. A. R .: to take up the work their fathers have prosecuted so long but which in a few short years they will have to lay down. Chas. T. Reber Camp. S. of V .. No. 22, was organized March 20. 1894, and named in honor of Dr. Chas. T. Reber. the first Commander of Cyrus Hall Post, G. A. R. The charter members were :
John Agney, Geo. Tuttle. Chas. E. Yencer. Abram Snyder. Thos. Perryman. Hiram Thomas, E. K. Crews. Jas. H. Decker, Marion Coplin, Geo. Crawford, Wm. Stone, David Whit- sel. F. L. Rafsnider, Oscar (). Bowman, M. L. Yencer, John T. Reid, Frank Martin, Clarence F. Boone. Joseph Kelly. Edward Pauschert. Reuben Tuttle, E. C. McFadden.
During its existence Chas. T. Reber Camp has had six captains, to-wit: Rufus Tuttle, Jas. H. Decker. Bert Cramer, Chas. T. Worley, J. F. Bair. S. B. Carr.
The present officers (1901) are : Captain, Sidney B. Carr. Ist Lieut .. Fred Geer. 2nd Lieut., Clifton Kinnamon. Chaplain. John Baldwin.
Q. M. S .. Clarence F. Boone. Ist. Sergt .. Bunn Cramer. Color Sergt .. Harry Dennebarger. Corporal-of-the-Guard, Wm. Stone. Camp Guard. Chas. T. Worley. Picket Guard, Chas. Graves.
RAILROADS -BUSINESS ENTERPRISES-INSTITUTIONS.
CHAPTER XIII.
-
RAILROADS.
The development of any country is facili- tated by the coming of railroads. The shrill cry of the locomotive is far more terrorizing to aboriginal conditions than the crack of the frontiersman's rifle. The railroad brings a vast influx of settlers, giant manufactories, workl-wide markets and improvements of every kind: it never comes alone. The transforming power of the steam locomotive is scarcely less marvelous than the fabled changes attributed to the effects of a magical wand. As soon as the tread of the iron-horse is heard, cities and villages spring up as though coming from the ground, natural re- sources are developed, prairies put- under the plow, and even mountain-sides dotted with hamlets.
In the year 1856 the Big Four line was com- pleted. This road extends entirely across the county in a slightly southwesterly direction. entering in Ash Grove township and making its exit at Tower Hill. The completion of this line marked a new epoch in Shelby history. St. Louis and Terre Haute ceased to be the mar- kets for this fertile region : farmers no longer compelled to drive their stock and haul their produce to those distant points, loaded it upon the cars at convenient places along the line. The day of money-making was born! Where only
two cents per pound was received for live-stock and "two-bits" per bushel for wheat, in the greater markets opened by the locomotive, the double of these early prices was soon realized. The needs of the pioneers which heretofore were unsupplied, now began to be provided for, and schools, churches and frame dwellings liter- ally multiplied. The first depot in Shelbyville was, for many years, located in Moulton which at that time was the business part of the city.
The county is now most completely equip- ped with competing lines which offer direct transportation to all points. These lines are six in number, and weave a network of one hundred and fifty miles of road through the different townships. Few counties are so favored in this regard. The name of one road we have given ; the others we subjoin : Illinois Central, Chicago and Eastern Illinois, Wabash, and Clover Leaf.
COAL.
Among the business enterprises which are worthy of mention in this volume, the Mowea- qua coal mine stands prominently. The mine is owned and controlled by a stock company, of which George A. Kautz is president. The first meeting of the company was on November 27. 1891, and this corporate name was chosen : "The Moweaqua Coal Mining and Manufacturing Company." Since 1898 John Cairns has been 1 superintendent of the mine, and for five years previous to that he was manager of the same.
1 70
I. VIEW OF SHELBYVILLE FROM BLUFF SOUTHEAST OF BIG FOUR DEPOT.
2. SHOWING C. & E. I. BRIDGE OVER KASKASKIA.
HISTORIC SKETCH.
There are seven workable veins in the mine which in depth and thickness are as follows :
No. 1, depth. 540 feet : thickness, 6 feet. No. 2. depth. 580 feet ; thickness. 6 feet. No. 3. depth, 618 feet : thickness. 5 feet 4 in. No. 4. depth, 698 feet : thickness. 3 feet 7 in. No. 5. depth, 778 feet : thickness. 3 feet 4 in. No. 6, depth. 915 feet ; thickness, 2 feet 6 in. No. 7. depth. 920 feet : thickness 2 feet 4 in.
The shaft is a perpendicular one and the mine is thoroughly equipped with electric machinery for undercutting coal, and is lighted by electricity. The hoisting apparatus is capable of hoisting 1,000 tons per day of eight hours. The vein now being worked is of excellent quality, which affords a ready sale for the entire product. The coal from this mine is shipped to points along the Illinois Central railroad in this state. and also to points in Iowa and Minnesota.
Near the city of Shelbyville there are several coal mines of greater or lesser importance. Amongst the former that of B. F. Stretch, called The Stretch Mine, may be classed. It is located within a half mile northeast of the city, and one shaft is in successful operation. The mine is 112 feet deep, and the width of the vein averages twenty inches. The mining operations there be- gan in 1890, and since that time there have been more and more evidences of a paying quantity of coal. For the year preceding Janu- ary 1, 1900, sixty thousand bushels were taken out. and it is thought that for this year (1901) one hundred thousand bushels are in sight. Mr. Stretch finds a ready sale for his output in Shel- byville. While there are but about a dozen men employed in this mine at the present time. the day is not far distant when the force will be ma- terially increased because of the larger mass of coal which will be uncovered.
A number of other coal mines are located at intervals along the Kaskaskia north of the city, and are owned by Shelbyville people. amongst whom are Dr. Bowman. M. Brophy and Mr. Widdick.
GOLD.
In regard to the finding of this precious metal in Shelbyville. we quote as follows from The Shelby County Leader of April 18. 1901 :
"Mr. E. E. Waggoner. mining expert, has been hard at work for some time prospecting along the Kaskaskia, north of this city. He has been in the employ of the Shelbyville Mining and Prospecting company, and now announces that gold has been found in paying quantities.
"The land where the yellow metal is located. is about two miles north of the city on the west side of the river. on the farm of Lawson Killam. Mr. Waggoner s opinion is that there are two million tons of ore. He has made ninety assays, which show an average value of over $4 per ton, and going as high as $12.60 a ton. After the expenses of mining are paid there will still be a profit of about $2 per ton, which will be a pretty good thing for the owners.
"With the machinery which will be put in at once from 250 to 300 tons can be handled in a day of 24 hours. The machinery will include a crusher and amalgamating plant, and probably a cyanide plant will be added. This latter is not to save the lead and silver. though these metals are found there in small quantities, but is for the purpose of saving the fine gold which cannot be secured in the ordinary way.
"The stockholders are all Shelbyville men. most of them working men and will push this work with vigor. It is said that the precious
I71
HISTORIC SKETCH.
nietal was also found on the Barker place, one mile west of Lithia Springs, and also on Dr. Bowman's farm, where the quality is good, but not found in great quantities."
GAS AND OIL.
It is the opinion of a competent expert that a great portion of Shelby county is underlaid with gas and oil. In confirmation of this opin- ion, these, particularly the former, have been found within the county.
Early in 1901 a company began work near Findlay, where for several years past gas has been found in quantities sufficient to be used for fuel and lighting purposes by the farmers upon whose land it was discovered. Up to the present (April) the explorations have resulted in proving that there is gas in great quantities, and every prospect for a large flow of oil as soon as a suf- ficient depth is reached. The operators have met with several mishaps in the breaking of their machinery, which have delayed their work so that no definite statement can be made at the present. But residents of Shelby and contiguous counties may confidently hope to be supplied with these commodities in the near future.
THE STAR MILLS.
In 1867 the largest flouring mill in the west was erected in Shelbyville by the late Charles C. Scovil. Prior to this time Mr. Scovil had owned and operated a mill in a frame building on the present site of the First National bank, and on the lots in the rear of the same he conducted a saw mill and lumber yard. The mill erected by
him as aforesaid, is a large brick structure, still standing, and now leased by the Great North- western Hat Manufacturing company. The cost of the building was $85,000, but a number of years afterward, when it ceased to be a particu- larly paying investment, it was disposed of for $35.000.
HAT FACTORY.
.A manufacturing industry which will un- doubtedly be within a short period of time, the largest concern in Central Illinois, is the North- western Hat Manufactory, which is to be located in Shelbyville in the immediate future. The industry will be located in the Star Mills buikling, mentioned above, and at this writing several carloads of machinery are en route to the city.
The output of the factory is to be one hun- dred dozen hats per day from the start, with about one hundred workmen ; but it will soon be increased to three hundred dozen per day, when between three and four hundred people will be employed. This will be a splendid thing for Shelby county, and other factories are sure to follow.
HANDLE FACTORY.
Shelbyville is also in possession of another paying industry-the Handle Factory-belong- ing to Geo. F. and C. D. Nehr. This factory was established in 1880. Handles for implements of all discriptions are made, and a general milling business is also carried on. About fifty men are given steady employment by this company.
172
HISTORIC SKETCH.
BROOM FACTORY.
Another young, but promising industry, worthy of prominent mention, is the Shelbyville Broom Factory, of Anglin & Boys Brothers. This factory has been in operation for a few weeks, at this writing, with a capacity of thirty dozen brooms per day. All styles and grades of brooms are manufactured. More machinery will be added as required, and ere long this will be one of the leading business enterprises of this section of the country.
The flouring mill once owned and operated by the Farmers' Mutual Benefit association, is now the property of J. E. Jacobs, and still run- ning. For many years the association flourished in this county, and this mill was one of the most important in this section.
Tower Hill has a canning factory which furnishes a good market for all sorts of products used by such an establishment. Stewardson has a large grain elevator, as has Windsor, also: the latter being one of the largest in this part of Illinois.
Lack of space demands that we give but brief mention of the business enterprises of the county, and this accounts for the fact that some which are perhaps as deserving of mention as those about which we have written, are omitted. This is also true of the
INSTITUTIONS.
Of these we write as fully as possible, however.
BANKS.
The First National Bank of Shelbyville, is the oldest bank in the county, having been or-
ganized in 1873. The first president was O. S. Munsel, and the first vice-president was Philo Parker. In 1876 Abram Middlesworth was elected president, and has retained the position to the present time. J. W. Powers has been the cashier since the inception of the bank.
The capital stock of the First National is $75.000, and the surplus. $25.000. It is one of the safest monetary institutions in the county.
The Shelby County State bank was organ- ized by a stock company in 1895. Philo Parker is president of the bank. John A. Tackett, vice- president, and (). W. Walker, cashier since its organization.
The bank of Volney Snyder & Company, a private bank at Moweaqua, was established in 1874. and ever since has enjoyed the patronage and confidence of a great many in the northern part of the county. This was the first bank in that section of Shelby.
Another banking institution of Moweaqua is that organized in 1892 under the name of Keller. Brown & Company. In 1899 it was changed to Keller, Ayars & Company, but in the recent past Mr. Avars withdrew from the firm. Keller continuing the business himself. D. P'. Keller is one of the best known and most highly respected men of Shelby county. This is also a private bank.
Upon withdrawing from the above men- tioned company Ralph Ayars formed a partner- ship with his brother, and still continues a
173
HISTORIC SKETCH.
general banking business under the name of Avars Brothers. He is a native of Moweaqua. and was cashier of the Keller, Ayars & Company bank until recently. He has the confidence of a wide acquaintanceship and will have his share of patronage in his line.
A general banking business is conducted at Stewardson, by David Mautz, who founded the Stewardson bank in 1893. This institution is a great financial accommodation to the southern part of the county.
Windsor has its bank, called the Commer- cial State bank. The president is Thomas Colli- son, and the cashier is A. T. Collison, who is assisted by A. C. Crays. The capital stock is $30,000.
Findlay has a private bank, the Merchants' and Farmers' bank, of which James Dazey is president and J. E. Dazey cashier.
Cowden also has a monetary institution. D. D. Brownback, president, and B. E. Prater, cashier, do a general banking business.
SHELBYVILLE CHILDREN'S HOME.
"There are two things which should not be : a child without a home-a home without a child."
Acquiesence in this charming sentiment has found a beautiful expression in the action
of Mr. Abram Middlesworth, who has given to the Illinois Children's Home and Aid society a magnificent prop- erty in the City of Shelbyville, with but one condition attached-that is shall be used, "as a home for orphan and indigent children under the control and management of the society." This is the most valuable gift ever received by the society.
The Middlesworth Home is the third to be used as a receiving home, the others being located in the northern and southern extremities of the state; "The Englewood Nursery," at Chicago, and the Van Arsdale Home, near Du Quoin. The two last named, however, are not the actual property of the Children's Home and Aid society, but are owned and directed by associations which care for wards of the Society : though the principal part of the expense incur- red in the maintenance of the two Homes is pro- vided for by the Society.
The Home which is the subject of this sketch is admirably adapted to the purpose for which it is intended, that of serving as a tempor- ary refuge only for children from the central part of the state who may be received by the Society. It is a fixed policy of the Association to place its children in good homes with as little delay as possible ; therefore the average stay of children in this institution will doubtless not exceed four weeks.
The property donated by Mr. Middlesworth consists of a beautiful tract of about four acres overlooking the city, upon which are a large brick dwelling house, a wooden cottage and a good barn. The house contains ten large rooms which will accommodate in comfort at least twenty children besides the necessary caretakers. The cottage is to be used as a receiving cottage, where it will be possible to quarantine the in-
174
THE MIDDLESWORTH HOME, SHELBYVILLE.
HISTORIC SKETCH.
coming children. thereby reducing to the mini- mum the danger of introducing contagious di- seases into the Home. Heretofore it has been necessary to transport children from the center to the two extremes of the state at a great cost to the society, and this Home meets an urgent need.
The intrinsic value of the gift does not rep- resent its true worth. It must be remembered that it was the home of Mr. Middlesworth : the home in which he spent many years with the beloved wife who has preceded him to the life beyond; the home around which are gathered some of the dearest and most precious memor- ies of his life. Such is the gift so generously handed over to the Children's Home and Aid society by this noble man, to be used by it as a nursery in which to nurture and tenderly care for the precious flowers given to earth. It is a thank offering. a gift of gratitude to the Al- mighty for the great measure of spiritual and temporal prosperity received by the donor from His hand: and in the giving of it, Mr. Middles- worth, the humble. unpretentious servant whom many will arise and call blessed, and who has. by his many acts of kindly generosity. glad- dened many hearts, was actuated by the desire to render unto the Lord something of value. Surely he will receive the reward promised unto those who minister unto "the least."
Our review of the Middlesworth Home would be decidedly incomplete should we not recount something of what has been accom- plished by this institution.
The matron of the Home is Mrs. Annie M. Wilcox, a lady of rare tact and ability, and emi- nently fitted for the important and complicated duties which devolve upon her. She was for- merly the superintendent of the Du Quoin dis- trict of the Illinois Children's Home and Aid
society, and by unremitting though judicious effort succeeded in raising for the society be- tween seven and eight thousand dollars, securing $3.814.99 in less than four years' time. She it was who raised the money. $2.500. to pay for the Van Arsdale Home at Du Quoin. During the past six years. Mrs. Wilcox has received. in behalf of the society, and sent out to desirable homes about 7co children. To be more explicit. there were not 700 different children : but many of those placed in families have been returned to the Home. thereby making it necessary to find new homes for them. This, it will readily be understood, was just as great a task as placing then at first, and so it is the same as though 700 different children had found homes through the efforts of Mrs. Wilcox.
In entering upon her work in the Middles- worth Home. in May of this year. she was ac- companied by Miss Barre, also of Du Quoin. and who is her very able assistant. Since the opening of the work here-May the 8th-sixty- two children have been received in the succeed- ing five months. Many of these have been placed in good homes : some are still at the re- ceiving Home, where they find kindly care and attention given by the loving hearts who are in charge. The average number of children being cared for each month is twenty-two. Besides the two ladies already mentioned, a nurse is em- ployed to care for the tender little babes, of which there are several in the Home. Three of the children are in school, and not a Sabbath has passed without the inmates of the Home being taken to one of the churches to Sabbath school and preaching service : so that not only are their temporal needs supplied. but the spiritual and intellectual natures are by no means neglected.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.