USA > Illinois > Douglas County > Historical and biographical record of Douglas County, Illinois > Part 12
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
streets, which he built in 1882. H. C. Niles, who had been bred to the drug trade, opened a new drug store, in 1865 at the southeast cor- ner of Avenue and Main streets in company with E. C. Siler. The latter sold out to Niles, who joined C. A. Davis on the north side of Sale street, in a buikling which was destroyed in one of the great fires, which occurred in October, 1881. The house stood the second door directly west of Goff's marble works, which is the first establishment of the kind per- manently located at this city. Mr. R. Gruelle was in the drug business for a few years; also E. L. Smith, who sold out to Benton, and he to Foster, who is yet in the business. E. L. Smith, after leaving the drug business, began the practice of law, and in 1878 he committed suicide by cutting his throat in his office, up stairs at the southeast corner of l'arke and Sale streets. The real causes of his self "taking off" were never known, but were supposed to be business troubles and bodily disease.
William H. Russell and A. M. Woody in- stituted. in 1859, the first permanent grocery house in the place, succeeding J. M. Ephlin, beginning with scant means, on the north side of Sale street. The house was long and favor- ably known as "Woody & Russell," and the partnership remained undisturbed until No- vember, 1874, a period of fifteen years, when it was dissolved by mutual consent and mutual good will. Mr. Russell died in June, 1876; he was from North Carolina, whence he re- moved to Indiana, arriving at Tuscola in 1859. With the exception of serving as school director and a term or two in the city council, Russell had not been in public office. The impress of
99
BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL.
his character upon the old and new institutions of the city is permanently good, and will not be quickly forgotten.
S. G. Bassett, backed by Alonzo Lyons, began business on the north side of Sale street at the railroad in 1859, and about these days Elijah McCarty built quite a large two-story warehouse on the south side of the same street, also at the railroad. The former building is long since gone; the other remains as part of the large elevator of R. &. J. Ervin. The post office was here then, with W. T. French as postmaster. McCarty in those days was one of the largest farm operators, handling about four thousand acres of railroad land for a wealthy firm in Kentucky. He was large- hearted, liberal and profuse, and controlled a great amount of money for years. The par- ties, however, disposed of the lands, and Mc- Carty, after becoming involved, went to St. Louis, and died much reduced in financial strength. He was once a candidate for con- gress in this district.
A. G. Wallace started the first regular real estate office, after leaving the circuit clerk's position. Others had been prominent in the line in connection with their current business. Mr. Wallace was succeeded by P. C. Sloan, also a former clerk and recorder, in which he was joined by A. A. McKee, but they are now dissolved in business.
The insurance business was not taken up as a regular occupation until 1865-66, when W. P. Cannon, who locally represented a large number of companies in connection with other business, sold out to A. P. Helton, who arrived from Bloomington, Indiana, in 1862. Mr. Helton kept a large hardware store on the south side of the avenue for a number of years, and
sold to Lodge & Minturn, who kept store for a while in the stand now occupied by the Evans grocery. Mr. Helton's insurance business increased rapidly, and he became, perhaps, the leading insurance man in the central part of the state, representing a large number of com- panies, and well posted in all that pertains to this branch of the business. He helped to run the first brass band, like the others for amuse- ment only, and was a cornet player of some distinction.
Incorporation .- October 11, 1859, an elec- tion by the citizens was held for and against incorporation. The names of all the voters were : William Chandler, 1. J. Halstead, Mich- ael Noel, A. L. Otis, F. F. Nesbit, P. Noel, A. J. Gorman, James H. Harrison, James Davis, A. G. Wallace, John Chandler, A. Van Deren, Thomas Woody and Joseph G. Cannon. The vote for incorporation stood twelve; against, two; total fourteen. Mr. Harrison was a prominent stove and hardware man, first on Central avenue, in the store now occu- pied by Tyler in the same business ; afterward in a two-story building which stood on the present site of Bye's shoe store. This build- ing was removed to the north side of the avenue, to a place directly east of the present Opera block, and "went up" in the great fire of 1873. Mr. Harrison was a leading citizen, had much to do with the institutions of the place, and later was president of the National Bank at Farmer City. James Davis was of the firm of Davis & Finney, grain dealers, and served as mayor of the city. John Chandler has a large farm east of town, was the first county clerk, and had an active and useful part in the formation of the new county. Maj. Van Deren is yet a resident and a farmer. Mr.
253120
100
BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL.
Cannon removed to Danville. Of the others, Messrs. Halstead, Noels, Otis and Nesbit removed : William Chandler, a carpenter and builder, died here, as also Mr. Wallace and Thomas Woody.
City Charter .- The city charter is dated March !! , 1859. The first mayor was James 11. Martin, with a council consisting of I. L. Jordan, E. Price, M. Pugh and W. Taggart. Mr. Jordan. formerly a farmer in Garrett town- slup, was sheriff of the county. Price, though a large land owner in the county, is now a non- resident. Pugh, a wagon-maker, has lately re- moved, and Col. Taggart, after honorable serv- ice in the war of 1861, and serving two terms as sheriff remains a citizen, under the firm name of Taggart & Williams, in the fur- niture business. In the war record in this vol- imme will be found a more particular notice of those who served as sokliers. Mr. James H. Martin resigned the mayoralty in June, 1870, partly because of ill health, and partly because oi ineligibility; he lived outside the corpora- tion, owning land just beyond the northeast corner of the town. With a view of correcting the matter, he had a small addition to the city made and recorded, which was situated in the southwest corner of section twenty-six. town- ship 16, range eight, but no lots were sold, and it was finally dropped. Mr. Martin was from Indiana, resided in Tuscola for about six years in the practice of the law. lle died November 15, 1871, and was buried at Camargo, with Masonic honors.
Tuscola is doubtless the first city in the state organized under the general incorporation act, which took effect July 1, 1872. In 1870 Thomas S. Sluss presided as mayor ; aklerman present, J. C. Walker and James Dilly; A. 11.
Sluss, city clerk and attorney. August 15, 1870, the city attorney was ordered to dismiss the suit of the city against Niles & Dryer, druggists, defendants paying attorneys' fees. This was a suit for not reporting sales of liquors for the past two months, the ordinance requiring such report, which was to contain the name of the purchaser, quantity sold and pur- pose used for. The firm was not prosecuted for selling liquor, but for not reporting sales. At this meeting, J. C. Walker moved the remission of the fine, which was promptly seconded by James Davis, and the resolution was carried. In 1865 the board was in session, contemplat- ing serious restrictions upon the druggist liquor sales, and stirring speeches were made pro and con, the last of which was made by a druggist, who produced as his final argument a large bottle of old London Dock Gin, which, after placing on the table under the noses of the board, he gracefully retired, amid loud and continued applause. The proposed resolution was also laid on the table.
Hotels .- The first boarding house or hotel was kept by A. G. Wallace. This building was a large "story-and-a-half" house, situated just about where the bank now stands on the Avenne. Mr. Wallace had arrived in the county in 1841, and stopped at a place, then widely known as the "Wallace stand." west of Hickory Grove, in the southeast part of the county. He removed to Camargo in 1854. and in 1856 to Tuscola, where he kept hotel as above for about two years. Ile was deeply interested in and was one of the most active workers for the foundation of the new county. He was the first justice of the peace elected in Tuscola, 1858, and in 1859 was elected the first circuit clerk and recorder. He was con-
101
BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL.
tinuously re-elected until he had served four consecutive terms of four years each. Upon retiring from the office, he conducted for sev- eral years a real estate and loan office, and was always an active and leading member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Wallace died on the 27th of July, 1879.
The Beach House began an existence as a boarding house on the southeast corner of Ensey and Parke streets. It was then under the conduct of Henry Beach. He built the first Beach House on the site of the present hotel of the same name. Some time after his death, the first hotel was burned to the ground, about 1869, and rebuilt by Mrs. Beach in 1870. She was succeeded by her son-in-law, W. Kissel, who is just completing a very fine and com- modious brick hotel.
The Hotel Douglas which was opened to the traveling public April 19, 1899. is by odds the best all around equipped hotel in Douglas coun- ty, and in by far the best location. The people of Tuscola and Douglas county owe a debt of gratitude as well as best wishes and their pat- ronage to Mr. and Mrs. John Whittaker for constructing this popular inn, for it is reason- ably safe to say had they not built it Tuscola would be without a decent hotel today.
The first hotel was built on the northeast corner of Main and Houghton streets, by the Town company. A large two-story frame, it was for a few years the only hotel and in court season a lively place. It was constructed by M. C. Elkin, who was an old resident. This hotel was burned in 1864, and rebuilt by the insurance company. It was then called the "Tuscola House."
Other carly events .- The present court house square had been fenced in with common
boards and was the "fair ground" of the first Douglas county fair. The old court house was used for a "floral hall," as it were, and a band and speakers'stand had been erected in thenorth side of the square. E. McCarty, Caleb Garrett and Ira J. Halstead, secretary, were the man- agers. The first dance was held in the room over northeast corner of Parke and Sale streets, where Mrs. John Madison danced the first set with Joseph G. Cannon. This old court house was, on its completion, hailed with joy by all who believed in wholesale sociability. Parties, balls and dances were frequent and enjoyable. The first was the celebration of the finishing of the building by a well-attended dance. This was in 1861.
The first session of circuit court was held in the fall of 1859, in the then just finished depot building of the I. C. R. R., and the very first civil case on the docket was Button vs. Johnson,; default of defendant and judgment for $3.20. This was an appeal from Dr. J. T. Johnson, a magistrate in the village of Bour- bon. Dr. Johnson was a well-known practic- ing physician and "Squire" in the west end, at „the time of the formation of the new county, and along about 1865 went west. Circuit court was next held in the second story of the build- ing now occupied by George Smith, the same place where J. M. Maris previously held forth as a grocer. This was the largest available room in the place at that time, and was used for all public meetings until the so-called court house was built in 1861. At this time A. G. Wallace, the circuit clerk, had his office in the same building on Sale street, and the county clerk occupied a room in the Tuscola House, the two-story hotel in Houghton street, here- tofore mentioned.
102
BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL.
The first school house erected in Tuscola was a one-story frame, which cost five hundred dollars, and was built in 1858. AAmongst the first school teachers, if not the first, was lra J. Halstead. This was succeeded by a very sub- stantial two-story brick schoolhouse at a cost of six thousand dollars, erected on the site of the present imposing seminary, which is block No. 3. in Kelly's addition to Tuscola. This was a plani brick building, erected under contract by John X. Miller. He owned and occupied! the old one-story schoolhouse after the new one was built. He was a queer old fellow, honest and reliable, but a little sour, and he always "wanted to know, you know," what we thought of a preacher who would "call a man a liar ?" and we could only answer, that it depended on whether the preacher told the truth or not. The materials for this two-story seminary were purchased by the contractor when the present fine building was erected on the same site. The contractor and builder of the new and last building was L. Johnson; he married here a daughter of Ross, a carpenter and build- er. Johnson was a man of notable integrity and honor in his contracts, and built and fin- ished the structure in the face of failure as to profit.
A corner stone was laid on the 26th of June, 1870, by the Masons and Odd Fellow's, with the usual interesting ceremonies. The northeast corner stone contains the organiza- tion of Coles county; the partition of Douglas county, 1859: survey of original town of Tus- cola, 1857 ; accounts of the first dwelling ; 1857; first store. 1857: and first, second and third bricks built. 1863, etc. : first child born, 1857; burning of first hotel, and incidents; Illinois Central railroad ; schoolhouses; first church,
1862: flour mill, 1863; newspaper, 1858; first bank, 1863: first court house, 1861. The names of the first village board were: L. J. Wyeth. W. T. French, James Davis, F. F. Nesbit. M. Vaul, clerk: also date of charter, first election under charter July 1, 1859. J. H. Martin, mayor: council. W. Taggart. M. Pugh, E. Price and J. Williamson.
The school building is a substantial brick, of three stories and basement, a belfry contain- ing a large town clock, which is a most excel- lent time keeper, and has four dials, facing respectively the four cardinal points. The school building has ample accommodations for about five hundred pupils, is in every possible respect a perfect edifice, and is, as it should be, the pride of Tuscola. The contract price was originally thirty-two thousand dollars, but the amount was subsequently increased, so that the entire cost, when completed, became about forty thousand dollars. The building is heated by an excellent system of basement furnaces, and the board employ an efficient janitor at a fixed salary. The original lot. Block 3. in Kelly's addition, contained about one acre of land; to this has been added, in the last few years, a strip sixty feet in width on the east side, which is Indiana street extended. The board also bought the block next north, block 4. same addition, and was presented by the city with that part of Wilson street extended which lies between said blocks 3 and 4, which also loaned them fifty feet of a street north of block 4.
The first bank was instituted by Wyeth. Cannon & Co., and was in a frame building, which stood at the west end of the present Opera block. This bank was afterward, in 1865, merged into the First National Bank of
103
BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL.
Tuscola. The firm also had for a while bank- No. 5, in Kelly's addition, at the southeast ing interests in Arcola. In 1870, Mr. Wyeth was merchandising here among the first as a member of the firm of Wyeth, Craddock & Co .. occupying the two-story frame directly east of the drug store, now at the southeast corner of Sale and Parke streets. The building was re- moved to the north side of the avenue to a point east of Opera block, and burnt in the great fire of 1873. The first cashier of the bank was W. P. Cannon, who married a daughter of William Warmsley an old resi- dent.
Whilst the Commercial Block and bank were burning, W. P. Cannon contracted with Coleman Bright for the second story of his brick building on the south side of the avenue, and removed to that location. The bank had a capital of $113,000, and a surplus of $25,- 000. Mr. H. T. Carraway, president; W. H. Lamb, cashier: A. W. Wallace, teller and bookkeeper at that time. The Douglas county bank was established September, 1870, W. H. Lamb, cashier, on Sale street ; and another on the avenue by Champaign parties ; both, how- ever, were merged into other banks. The pres- ent banks are : The Fist National Bank, A. W. Wallace, president, and F. W. Hammett, cash- ier. This is one of the best. most substantial and up-to-date banking houses in the state. Baugliman, Bragg & Co. is the other banking firm.
The opera house of Tuscola, owned by the Harry Madison estate, is a very creditable af- fair. It has a seating capacity of about seven hundred and a very well sceneried stage, with mirrors on either side, and is very ornate.
Churches .- The Methodist, a brick church, was finished in 1860, and is situated on Block
corner of Sale street and Niles avenue. It was built through the exertions of Mr. Thomas Woody, A. G. Wallace, O. C. Hackett and others. It was a neat gothic brick about forty feet by one hundred, with a graceful spire one hundred and ten feet high, and a belfry with a standard bell-metal bell of a weight of six hundred pounds. It always commanded the largest congregations, and they, being of the superior class of citizens as to intelligence and standing, have always been able to com- mand the best average talent of the conference. In 1895 the Methodists erected their present church edifice which is the finest church build- ing in the county.
The Presbyterian church, situated on lots I and 2, block 32, in the original town, south- west corner of Wilson and Main streets. A Mr. Carnes was the builder. The leaders in the church were Mr. William H. Lamb, Judge Ammen, John J. Jones and others, with their families. This church is second only to the Methodist in point of numbers. The first pastor was George D. Miller, who came to Tuscola in .August. 1860, and was in charge up to 1864. when he resigned from ill health.
The Baptist church is the largest in the city with regard to seating capacity : in actual mem- bership it is the smallest. It was erected in 1865, mainly throught the exertions and ex- ample of Elijah McCarty and Dr. I. N. Ryner- son. Dr. Rynerson was a leading farmer in the northeast corner of Arcola township. He was highly educated and one of the best stump speakers of his day, and was also a former practicing physician ; he died in April, 1873.
This church is a substantial brick building about forty by eighty feet, and when built had
104
BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL.
a very large brick tower about ninety feet high, which had, through the mistake of the builder, been run up nearly square ; it was heavy and ungainly, and topped off with four corner spires or ornaments painted white. This was the most conspicuous object in the city, and was the landmark in the country for miles around. The intention had been to make a much lighter tower. Too much weight was put upon it for its foundation, and it began to show cracks in the masonry and settled. It was then rumored unsafe, people getting the idea it would fall of its own weight, and some avoided the church. It was then formally examined by expert build- ers, and being pronounced good confidence was somewhat restored. Nevertheless, the tower was finally taken down even with the roof. The congregation being quite small, regular pastors have not always been in charge, though this church has commanded some of the best talent the church afforded. The build- ing is situated at the northeast corner of Daggy and Court streets.
The Christian church is situated on the north side of Houghton street, east of Court street, lot 13. block 40, original town, is a good frame building. the second story being the auditorium, with first story reserved for Sunday school and baptistry. It was erected in 1868, mainly through the exertions of Mr. John Chandler, the first county clerk. The present Christian church of Tuscola is a fine brick structure and is next to the Methodist church in cost.
The Roman Catholic church of the Forty Martyrs is a frame building situated on the southeast corner of Van Allen and Center streets. It was erected in the summer of 1882, at a cost of $1,000.
The Episcopal church was erected on the northwest corner of Center and Houghton Houghton streets in 1882: was consecrated in July of that year, by Right Reverend Seymour, Bishop of Springfieldl, assisted by several cler- gymen from the surrounding cities. The church was built through the exertions of the Rev. Mr. Peck, then in charge of the mission, and is known as St. Stephen's. Regular ser- vices were held for about one year, but the removal of families most interested has so re- duced numbers that the services are rare.
The Free Methodists also have a church buikling. ( See sketch of David Cooper. )
Sunday Schools .- The first Sunday school in Tuscola was instituted by Mrs. Archibald Van Deren and others at the old Tuscola House, the erstwhile hotel. The first Sunday school was convened on the second Sabbath of September, in the year 1859. It was started at the instance of Mrs. Van Deren, her coad- jutors, among others, being Thomas Woody and his excellent daughters, Mesdames Town- sell and Lindsay, who were the first scholars, and who have passed away. Dr. J. L. Reat, with us. Dr. Samuel Daggy and Mrs. Van Deren are the only survivors. Dr. Reat is mentioned elsewhere. Dr. Daggy, a prom- inent Presbyterian, was an acknowledged lead- er in religion and indeed in all other mat- ters bearing upon the general elevation of public sentiment from the beginning of Tus- cola. After a twenty years' useful residence here, he, with his family, moved to Philadel- phia, where he is engaged in real estate busi- ness.
Here it may not be out of place to record that the various churches of Tuscola have been remarkable for a cordial co-operation in relig-
105
BIOGRAPHICAL AND IHISTORICAL.
ious matters, joint meetings and exchange of pulpits being the frequent leading features that go far toward clipping the wings of those smart fellows, who, claiming the difference of creed as a sufficient excuse, would fly to glory unincumbered by a church.
The Press .- Our first newspaper was the Tuscola Press. It was started in 1859. It was short lived, and the proprietor left between two days. M. Vaul conducted it a year or two, but it was not a success. Mr. Vaul was the first city clerk. The Sellers boys instituted the Douglas County Shield, from 1865 to 1867. A little fellow named Gregory established the Union, which was not a success. The news- paper business did not seem to be solid until the present Journal and Douglas County Re- view were established. The Journal was first instituted by Siler & Lindsay in 1864. They were succeeded by Williams in 1876, with Harry Johnson as paragraphist and general outside manager, and by George Glassco in January, 1881. Afterward by "Tom" Wil- liams and a Mr. Glassco. It is now owned and conducted by A. C. Sluss, the present post- master of Tuscola. ( See sketch.)
Williams was an old Tuscola boy who mas- tered the printing business and became a "jour," working in various places, and when in Connecticut met and married a lady printer. He returned to Tuscola in 1876, and in con- nection with Capt. Parks, of the Review, did the typographical work of the centennial his- tory of Douglas county, the only printed book ever issued in the county. Tom died suddenly while in the prime of his usefulness and man - hood, at about thirty years of age. on the 29th lay of July, 1881. He was a man of wit and humor; was for a time the assistant of "Mar-
tin," the assistant engineer of Danville, Tus- cola & Western railroad, and while a little "captions" in the view of the younger boys on the work, merited and received on the whole the best respect of his associates.
The Douglas County Review was instituted in 1875 by Converse & Parks, and was Dem- ocratie. It was first issued in the two-story wooden building which now stands directly east of the J. M. Smith building, on the south side of Central avenue. The Review passed into the hands of Maj. Asa Miller in December, 1877. (See sketch of Charles W. Wilson, the present proprietor of the Review. )
The Tuscola Republican, now owned and edited by Fred L. Reat, is rapidly coming to the front as a newsy, clean and well printed paper. It has a paid circulation of about one thousand.
Centennial History .- The Congress of the United States, March 13. 1876. passed a res- olution recommending that the people of the several states assemble in their several towns on the "centennial anniversary" of our national indepe -dience, and have read a historical sketch of said county or town from its formation, and that a copy of said sketch be filed in the office of the Librarian of Congress, as well as in the clerk's office of said county.
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.