USA > Illinois > Douglas County > Historical and biographical record of Douglas County, Illinois > Part 13
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April 25, 1876, this is followed by the proc- lamation of John L. Beveridge, the governor of the state of Illinois, to the same effect, urging a general observance of the recommendation.
In May, 1876, at a special term of the board of supervisors, not, however, specially held for the purpose, the following resolution was adopted, which had been offered by the super- visor from Garrett, Mr. William Howe :
Resolved, That Henry C. Niles be employ-
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ed to prepare a statistical and biographical history of Douglas county, from its origin to the present time, and to have the same ready by the 4th of July next, provided the said work shall not cost to exceed one hundred dollars.
This work was prepared in manuscript, read to the board of supervisors and approved : an attempt to have it printed at the expense of the county failed. and the author, assisted by D. O. Root, the then county clerk, had it printed in pamphlet form, to save the matter, being eighty pages octavo, in paper covers. This history contained. in a perhaps too much condensed style, a history of the main facts pertaining to the county, with separate histories of townships, and was not much elaborated, the "fixed price" forbidding a thorough detail of the points touched upon. It was dedicated "To the young men of Douglas county.
"In the hope that they may be reminded of the responsibility they are about to assume in taking charge of the destinies of little DouG- LAS, may they emulate the noblest deeds of their fathers, so that the blessings which they secured may descend upon them to posterity. In opening out the resources of the country, converting the rude land into cultivated fields. buikling cities where none existed before, and making possible the civilizing influences of churches, schools and railroads, their fathers have borne the brunt of the battle, and are now resigning into their hands the result of their labors, for they are passing away."
This pamphlet was printed at the printing office of the Illinois Industrial University, at Urbana. The contract was taken by Converse & Parks, editors of the Review of Tuscola, and the "setting up" done by J. T. Williams, . afterward proprietor of the Tuscola Journal.
Mr. Williams took great pride in the matter, and produced a specimen of printing not sur- passed by any pamphilet work extant. A copy of the work was duly forwarded to the Ilinois state librarian, the congressional library, at Washington. the Historical Society of Chicago, and to various other points, either voluntarily. or on demand, and kindly acknowledgments were received in each case, and in some cases a return was promptly made of similar works.
Photography .- Photography in its advanc- ed artistic excellence was first instituted here by W. Boyce, who is succeeded by- his son David N. Having devoted his entire business time to the perfection of his work, making a study of all the latest improvements, he shows work which is not surpassed by that of the artists in the larger cities. D. N. Boyce is not only a first class artist but he is a gentleman in nature and instinct.
Illinois Light, Water, Heat and Power Company, recently established in Tuscola, is supplied with the very latest type of machinery and renders efficient service. The water power plant operated in connection is so con- plete, perfect and systematically arranged that the most energetic critic has failed to criticise.
Tuscola Society .- The moral and intellect- ual standard of the city is far above the aver- age, with plenty of room for improvement. In main the citizens are a peaceable, law abiding and God fearing people. They have good churches, good schools and are lovers of good books. Selfishness and bigotry in many in- stances are disguised here as true religion, as it is elsewhere throughout the world, and one of the most loved and commendable character- istic of the human heart, love one another, is is asleep in the beautiful little eity of Tuscola.
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Its retired farmer contingency of its popula- tion is wonderfully tired, unprogressive and in many instances is positive and painful hin- drance to its future development. Where a citizen with money refuses to assist in needed improvements of the town, to assist in caring for the worthy poor and needy under his nose, he is not only lacking in his religion, taught by the lowly Nazarene, but he is lacking in his good citizenship. Tuscola has nothing worse to fear than to allow the management of its public administration to fall into the hands of the unprogressive, the dollar worshipers and the stingy. There are some so called worship- ers of Christ and leading church members in Tuscola who should heed more the teachings of the Master and permit the dead. against whom they might have had a personal grievance without cause, to Rest, Rest, Rest !!!
ARCOLA CITY AND TOWNSHIP.
The Name .- Before Douglas county had an existence, the city of Arcola, from which the township derives its name, was called by the railroad company "Okaw," after the river of that name, which traverses the west part of the county. "Okaw" was a local name only, the true name of the river being Kas- kaskia, from the French, and it has been claimed by knowing ones that the word "Okaw" is a corruption of Kaskaskia, which, in the ver- nacular, was "Kawkaw" ( Indian : Crow River?) hence. by an easy transition, "Okaw." Col. John Cofer, who had represented the county of Coles in the state Legislature, was postmaster to accommodate the neighborhood at Rural Retreat (in the southeast quarter of section 10, township 14 north, range 9 east, since abolished ),
from 1854 to 1858, and upon him, as being the nearest postmaser, devolved the duty of cer- tifying the necessity of a new postoffice at Okaw, which had been petitioned for by Judge and Dr. Henry, John Blackwell and others. In (lue course, Col. Cofer sent the papers to Wash- ington, and they were returned, as is usual in stich cases, with the information that there was already in the state of Illinois a postoffice with the same name as the one proposed. This made it necessary that a new name should be selected before the office could, under the law, be estab- lished. Mr. E. Hewitt, the first Illinois Cen- tral railroad agent at this point, after cudgel- ing his brains to no effect, observing a knot of citizens near, came out of his office at the depot, and in the presence of Judge James Ewing and others asked for suggestions, where- upon James Kearney said "Arcola." The name took instantly, and was adopted. It appears to have been selected from its euphony rather than from any allusion or reference to a historical reminiscence, though one of Napo- leon's greatest battles was fought and gained over the Austrians in Italy at a place by that name. Both of the names terminating alike is food for rumination, but all attempts to con- nect the two as some relation have failed. John Blackwell was here prominent in all that per- tains to good citizenship, and had much to do with the management of affairs. His resi- dence dated from 1857. He was the first mag- istrate of Arcola. He died in January, 1869. John Blackwell was a grandson of Col. Jacob Blackwell of the Revolution. The Colonel was the owner of Blackwell's Island and nearly all the eastern end of Long Island adjacent to New York, from Astoria to Brooklyn. This tract includes Astoria, Ravenswood, Long Is-
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land City, Green Point and Williamsburg. He township into sections was finished by A. resided in the old mansion on Webster avenne, MeK. Hamtramck, a deputy, June 9. 1823. The surveying was done nine years before the first settler struck the county. In this con- nection it may be sani that no Douglas county surveyor has ever discovered in the interior of this township a single original government corner out of the seventy-eight which the gov- erument surveyor certifies he made, and per- petuiated with mounds and stakes. Local sur- veying was done here first in 1850. where he entertained Gen. Washington and in the grounds attached thereto repose the bones of the Colonel and his wife. Col. Blackwell was prominently identified with the Revolu- tionary party, and was a member of the Con- tinental Congress. His door, branded with the letter "R" (rebel) because of his opposi- tion to the British Crown. is still kept as a heirloom by some of his descendants.
Arcola Precinct .- At the time of the for- mation of Douglas county, February, 1859, that portion of its area now known as Arcola township was called Arcola precinct. It was bounded on the north by Tuscola town- ship, but now extends one mile further north. It contained a tier of six sections on the east, which are now included in Bowdre, and it also included eighteen sections of land. all of town- ship 14 north, range 7 east, which were, on regular township organization in 1868. handed over to Bourbon.
This was an election precinct, and con- tained an area of about seventy-one, which was, in 1868, cut down to fifty-three and eight- tenths square miles, being exactly, according to the government survey. 34.643.26 acres.
Township organization was voted for in 1867, and the apportionment made in 1868, Dr Lucius Mc Allister being one of the commis- sioners appointed by the county board to make the partition. Calvin Jones was associate county judge. The township 15 north, of range 8 east. the congressional township laying be- tween Arcola and Tuscola, was surveyed in 1821. The south line was established by John Messinger, deputy surveyor, and finished April 5 of that year. The subdividing of the
Land Entries .- The first of land within the present bounds of this township was made December 24. 1832, by James Shaw. He entered several tracts at about the same time in Bourbon township, and subsequently other lands .. His descendants are yet citizens of Bourbon, and one of his sons. W. N. Shaw. represented Bourbon as a supervisor for about six years consecutively, and died in 1882, while in office. Land was also entered in 1853 by the Geres and Malden Jones and O. B. Fick- lin.
Many large farms on the prairie were started by men who, coming from a hilly or timbered location, seeing the beautiful rolling prairies for the first time, ready for the plow without stump or stone to hinder, coveted the whole expanse, as far as the eye could reach, and nearly every one purchased too much for his capital. Smaller farms mean more people. more real workers and more real owners. Time and again railroad lands were taken up by the whole section, a house and some fenc- ing built, but, after a few years' experience, the load proved too heavy, and the land was permitted to go back, or perhaps a small por- tion was paid for, and retained.
The Railroads .- The township is traversed
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by the Chicago branch of the Illinois Central railroad, running about north and south, leav- ing two-thirds of the area to the east side of the road.
Arcola township is also traversed from east to west by the Illinois Midland railway, now the Vandalia. This road was originally an enter- prise of prominent citizens of the city and vicinity, and was first called the Paris & De- catur; upon the extension of the road to Terre Haute, the name of that city was prefixed, and finally it received its present name. The first train passed over this road October 25, 1872.
Arcola and other township bonds were is- sued by a vote of the people, amounting in the aggregate to $165,000, the amount voted by this township being $100,000. These bonds were disposed of by the company, and finally found their way into the hands of innocent par- ties as an investment. The legality of the pro- cedure was made a question, both as to calling the election and voting the bonds, all of which were finally decided adversely ; consequently the bonds have not been paid by the township, though the railroad reaped the benefit of then.
The road enters the township at the north- west corner of section 6, township 14 north, range 8 east, runs in a southeasterly direction to the city of Arcola, thence east along the mid line of the north tier of sections, and leaves the township at about the northeast corner of sec- tion 5, township 14 north, range 9 east, occu- pying a length of about eight miles. The pro- posed donation of the township bonds to the railroad was in consequence of a petition which suggested that they should draw ten per cent interest, payable semi-annually, the bonds not to be delivered until one mile of track had been graded and ironed in the township, and to be
delivered in no greater amount per mile than six thousand dollars, through the county as far as it was practicable, to influence the other townships through which the road should pass, to similar action, the petitioners suggested that a meeting be held for the purpose on June 24. 1869. At this time D. Hitchcock was the supervisor and Thomas Todd, clerk. The petition was signed by C. E. Bosworth, I. G. Bowman, J. W. Douglas, J. B. Ward, H. D. Jenkins, J. R. Smith, John Ray, James Mat- ters, B. H. Burton, P. M. Monahan, J. W. Louthan, James Beggs and L. C. Rust. The election was held accordingly, and resulted for subscription 324 votes, against it one vote. On August 16, 1870, John Ray was authorized to procure the blank bonds; they were made to bear ten per cent interest from May 1, 1871, payable at the Security Bank in New York. John J. Henry was appointed to act as trustee to receive, hold and pay out the bonds, and the signing of them was ratified by the town and - itors on the 3d of April, 1871.
This road was projected and put through by three or four residents of Arcola City, who, prior to the beginning of the enterprise, were pursuing the even tenor of their way as quiet and good citizens, not remarkable above their fellows for any more financial ability than the average. They built the road and controlled the franchises until it was consol- idated.
CITY OF ARCOLA.
Arcola City occupies all of section 4, west half of southwest quarter of section 3, and the north half of the north- east quarter of section 9, all in township No.
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14. north of range 8, cast of the third princi- pal meridian. "Okaw." the original town, was laid off by the Illinois Central Railroad Com- pany, upon its own lands in section No. 4, and occupied a tract of land lying on the west side of the southeast quarter of the section, about one-half mile long by about one-quarter mile wide, on either side of the railroad track; it was surveyed by John Meadows, Coles county surveyor, October 22. 1855. so that Arcola antedates the county by about four years. The plat and survey were indorsed by J. N. A. Gris- woll, president of the company, and they reserved a strip of land one hundred feet wide on either side of the centre line of the track. North and south, across the whole of said plat, they also reserved the right to lay side tracks on both Chestnut and Oak streets, outside the two hundred foot limit, and for warehouses. and it was specially stated, that "no right of crossing that part marked as reserve for Illi- nois Central railroad, at any point between Second Sonth and Second North streets is granted to the public."
The first town was laid off parallel with and at right angles to the railroad track, and consists of twenty blocks, the lots next to the railroad having a front of forty feet. the back lots being eighty; they all have a uniform depth of one hundred and sixty feet: the east and west streets are of a width of seventy feet : those running parallel with the railroad alter- nate with widths of seventy and forty feet.
McCann's first addition .- In April, 1858. John McCann made the first addition, con- sisting of varied sizes of lots and blocks. It was surveyed by Stephen B. Moore, of Coles county. Mr. Moore also surveyed
Henry's addition .- This addition was made clerk.
by Dr. F. B. Henry, August 2, 1858. It con- sists of ten blocks of fifty feet front, being one hundred and sixty feet deep. Dr. Henry caused the streets to be continued as first planned by the railroad.
Chandler & Bales' additions .- In July. 1864. Messrs. John Chandler and Caleb Bales laid out their addition on the south, and fol- lowed in June. 1865, with the second addition, all surveyed by E. C. Siler. These two ad- ditions occupy the north half of the northeast quarter of section 9, township 14 north, range 8 cast, eighty acres.
McCann's second addition was made in July, 1877.
Sheldon & Jacque's addition, being the west half of the southwest quarter of section 3. township 14, range 8, was surveyed by Issachar Davis, August 6, 1868.
Council proceedings .- The first city coun- cil or board of trustees was convened in May, 1858; Mahlon Barnhardt was the president. The city clerk was I. S. Taylor. W. T. Sylves- ter and John J. Henry were of the board. City records prior to 1872 do not seem to be avail- able. June 3, 1872, a meeting was held, Mayor D). Tibbott, presiding, and the council con- sisted of James Matters, P. D. Ray, Byron Willis and J. M. Righter. George Klink was clerk.
October, 1872. a minute appears which re- cites that "no huckster be allowed to sell pro- duce for less that one dollar or more than five dollars." George Klink, Democrat, was elected mayor in April, 1873, and re-elected April 17. 1877. In 1873 the first council consisted of James Jones, J. 11. Magner, James E. Morris and H. M. McCrory. W. J. Calhoun was city
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Incorporation .- A petition for incorpora- The Herald and Arolian are the other two tion was circulated in June, 1873, signed by papers of the city. one hundred and twenty citizens. The election Early business enterprises .- The first house put up in the city was the Illinois Central sta- tion and depot, in the upper part of which E. Hewitt, the first railroad agent, had his resi- dence and the post office: a very short dis- tance northwest Barney Cunningham erected the first dwelling. Mr. Cunningham was the father of Frank Cunningham, who became sheriff of the county in 1872, removing to Tuscola, where he died. The freight house was burned in the great fire of 1881. was held June 16, same year, and resulted for incorporation under the general law, two hun- dred and forty-four votes ; contra, eleven ; total. two hundred and sixty-five, and August 6, 1873, the city was incorporated under the gen- eral law for incorporating cities and villages, which was in force July 1, 1872. W. H. Spen- cer, at or about this time, was made city at- torney, the salary being fixed at three hundred and seventy-five dollars per annum. Mr. Spen- cer was a member of the Douglas county bar, Jolın Weber, a little, keen, wiry German, kept store here in 1857, first situated in a little shanty south of the southwest corner of First South street and Chestnut street, and after- ward at the corner at Ewald's present loca- tion. This corner was twice burned, as a hotel first, and again in the great fire of 1881. and later removed to Terre Haute. The city clerk's wage was one hundred and fifty dollars a year. Mr. Spencer was authorized to proceed to Springfield to endeavor to procure an amend- ment to the general incorporation law with ref- erence to minority representation.
The press .- The Arcola Record, the first newspaper to appear in the city, was inaugu- rated under the auspices of the Sellars Brothers of Tuscola in 1866-the enterprise having been instituted by the subscription of liberal- minded citizens, without regard to political affinities; it was an independent paper until the plant was bought by John M. Gruelle, which occurred soon after it was fairly started. For abont seventeen years Mr. Gruelle conducted it as an advocate of Republican principles, dur- ing which time, by close attention to the busi- ness interests of the office, and a due regard for those of his adopted county and city, he merited and received a fair share of success. He died in Arcola on the 23d of October, 1883. in the prime of life, after nearly a year's ill- ness. The paper is continued under the man- agement of Collins & Son.
The first dry goods store was instituted by F. B. & J. J. Henry, and was afterward under the name of the latter. The building was lo- cated on the south side of First South street, east of the railroad, and was destroyed in the tornado of 1858. Mr. J. J. Henry was as- sociate justice of the county in 1865. He died March 11, 1865, and was the father of Joseph P. Henry.
The drug business was started by W. T. Sylvester and Joseph P. Henry, the latter suc- ceeding to the business at the southeast corner of First South and Oak streets, where he had maintained a profitable trade since 1858. His close attention to the requirements of the case and his popularity resulted eventually in ample means. Mr. Henry died July 19, 1883, in the prime of his life and usefulness.
The drug store of W. P. Boyd was estab-
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lished in 1867. By the way, the first officially recorded survey made in Douglas county was for his father, Mr. W. P. Boyd. It was May 21, 1859-west half of section 5. township 14. range 8. half-mile west of city limits. Wil- son B. Boyd came to Douglas in 1859, and re- sided here until the time of his death, March 10, 1867.
The first banking house was instituted in March, 1868, by Messrs. Beggs & Clark, which bank. December 9. 1875, became merged into the First National Bank of Arcola: ad interim Wyeth, Cannon & Co., of Tuscola, bought the business, and in August, 1870, Mr. Wickes, their Tuscola bookkeeper, removed to Arcola, taking charge of their interests until they were relinquished. The bank had a capital of fifty thousand dollars. James Beggs, president ; G. L. Wickes, cashier.
The present banks are the First National Bank and the State Bank.
At the first bank of Wyeth, Cannon & Co., at Tuscola, a Pennsylvania Dutchman bought a draft for sixty-nine dollars from Cannon, and taking it home pasted it in with his receipts, and sat down at the stove with the happy con- sciousness of having done his whole duty. In the course of time he was further pressed by his creditor for a settlement, and pitched into the bank for keeping his money.
The churches .- The Presbyterians built the first church in the city in 1860, the first pastor being Jos. Allison.
tion to Okaw, October 13, 1864. and built the church the same year.
St. John's Roman Catholic church was built on lot 8, block 7. Henry's addition, in 1874. the deed for the lot being dated January 13, 1871. and first made to the Archbishop of St. Louis, by him to Bishop Alton, and then to St. John's Roman Catholic church. The mem- bers of this church, though not generally of the wealthier classes, show a devotion to their les- sons and modes well worthy of imitation.
The Methodist church acquired lot 4, block 16, in original town, April 13, 1864. The church was built in 1865. This denomination in Arcola was a little late in building. The Methodists generally build about the time the proposed city is laid out. They are now con- structing a fine brick edifice at a cost of several thousand dollars.
The Baptists have also a church building. erected about 1864.
The Lutherans have also a church building.
The Episcopalians. At a cost of about one thousand dollars an Episcopal church was erected on lots 1, 2, 3 and 4. on the northeast corner of block 3, in the original town. Rev. Wells was the first pastor. Among those who are supporters of the church, through natural affinity and education, are the descendants of John Blackwell and the families of J. R. Smith, L. C. Rust, J. C. Justice, Vellum and others. The society has only been able to secure occa sional services.
The Christian church was instituted July The postmasters .- E. Hewitt, the railroad agent, was the first postmaster ( 1858), and the office was in the first freight house, where he lived with his family. He afterward removed to Tuscola, and was agent there for many years. 10. 1863 : the first trustees being W. T. Sylves- ter, Joseph Walling. J. M. Lessinger. J. M. Hollandsworth, John Woodall, L. McAllister, who were elected for five years. The church bought lots 1 and 2, block 7, of Henry's addi- Once upon a time a petition was circulated in
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Tuscola for his removal, but it failed to get a respectable number of signers; the objection was his manner.
Galton and Filson stations .- Galton is a point on the Illinois Central Railroad, three and a half miles north of the railroad crossing in Arcola, and is situated in the southeast cor- ner of section 16, township 15 north, range 8 east. It had been known as the Bourbon switch, or Tie switch, and was originally lo- cated as a point for the reception of cross ties during the construction of the road. It was made a flag station in 1882. Mr. J. P. Wool- ford is the only merchant and grain buyer here (see sketch ).
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