USA > Illinois > Schuyler County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume 2 > Part 35
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interest. In many localities ou the Mississippi River, where the demand by pearl button fac- tories has made a market for the shells, the sup- ply has been nearly exhausted, and as it takes about four years for a new erop to be produced, new fields are being sought where the shells are more plentiful. All our fresh water mussels are harmless. They are the scavengers of our water courses, and do much good in purifying the streams. They furnish much of the food of many fishes and water fowls and should not be wantonly destroyed.
"Some of the mussels are very clannish in their habits, associating only with their kind and re- maining iu certain localities or beds during their lifetime. Others are great travelers and wander far and near in search of food and their kind, plowing little furrows in the sand or mud as they go. The different species vary greatly in size, as well as in configuration or architecture of shell. Some are so small, as the donaciformis, that scores of them could be put into a pint measure, while the heras, the giant of the family. attains a weight of two or three pounds and a length of shell from eight to ten inches. As an article of food they do not appeal to the tastes of an epicurean, but in case of emergency they would keep off starvation. Some of the peasants of the old world do not disdain them as an article of food.
"About twelve hundred species of mussel are found in the world. Of these six hundred are found in North America and about oue hun- dred in Illinois and, up to date, over sixty of these are accredited to Fulton County. In time, with a more thorough research of the waters of the Illinois and Spoon Rivers, the full hun- dred or more will be found in the county."
CHAPTER XII.
MERCANTILE AND BANKING INTERESTS.
COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL CONDITIONS AT AN EARLY DAY-METHODS OF BARTER AND TRADE- ST. LOUIS EARLY MARKET-FURS, HONEY AND
662
HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.
BEES-WAX AS A LEGAL TENDER-FIRST MERCHANT IN SCHUYLER COUNTY-OTHERS OF A LATER PERIOD-THE CAREER OF THOMAS W. SCOTT-BUSI- NESS HOUSES IN RUSHVILLE IN 1834-COMING OF THE FIRST STEAMBOAT UP THE ILLINOIS IN 1830-SPANISH AND FRENCH CURRENCY -- RAPID PROGRESS BETWEEN 1830 AND 1835-THE FANIC OF 1837-PRICES OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND DRY-GOODS-STATISTICS OF THE PACKING INDUSTRY-BANKING HISTORY-UNCERTAIN VAL- UES OF PAPER CURRENCY -- FIRST BANK ESTAB- LISHED IN RUSHVILLE IN 1804-ITS FOUNDERS AND OFFICERS-CHANGES AND PRESENT OFFICERS -OTHER BANKING INSTITUTIONS IN SCHUYLER COUNTY-OFFICERS AND PRINCIPAL STOCK-JIOLD- ERS.
In our investigation into industrial conditions existing in Rushville in the early day, we have hunted up old account books and market prices, and find many things of historie value furnishing light upon general business and commercial con- dition of more than a half-century ago. A few of the entries alluded to here are taken from the cash book of Nelson & Robertson, who were in business on the north side of the publie square in Rushville, where Nelson Brothers' store now stands. The entries of produce received are not numerous but they give an insight into current market prices.
Dee. 20, 1849, Win. Weightman. by 1186 lbs, pork. $23.72
Dee. 20. 1849, Sam'l MeCreery, by 211 1bs, ham 7.38
Dec. 20. 1849, Samt MeCreery,
by 201 1bs. shoulders 5.10
Dec. 18. INS. Win. Green. by 5 pairs venison hams 5.00
Aug. 1, 1847. Jonathan Patteson,
61 yds. flannel. 30.50
Aug. 1, 1847, John Brown.
2316 yds. calico. 4.35
Ang. 1, 1847. John Brown.
barrel salt 2.50
Ang. 4. 1847. James Kimman. 14 lbs. sugar 1.00
Aug. 4. 1847, Robert Wells, 10 lbs. coffee. 1.00
Aug. 22, 1847. John Hetrick,
2 lbs. candles. .25
Aug. 24, 1847, James A. West.
3 gal. molasses. 1.50
Aug. 31, 1847. David Louderback, 16 lb. powder. .25
Sopt. 7. 1817, David Louderback,
2 tin buckets. .75
Sept. 8. 1877, R. M. Worthington,
11_ yds. linen. 1.50
Sept. 9. 1847, Sam'l MeCreery, 19 lbs. lard. 1.19
Oct. 31. 1847. Jos. N. Ward. G12 lbs. harness leather 1.75
Aug. 21. 1818, lobt. Brooks,
3 lbs. nails. .25
April 13, 1849. P. H. Walker, 1 bolt window paper. 1.25
May 1, 1849, Win. Cox.
tin dipper .18
May 1, 1849, Dennis Walker, 3 lbs. rice. .25
Dec. 24, 1849, W. A. Minshall,
3 chickens .25
Der. 24, 1849, John C. Bagby, 15 yds. calico 3.75
Dec. 29, 1549, Geo. W. Manlove, 516 lbs. sole leather 1.38
Jan. 9, 1850. ES. Edmonston, 2 oz. indigo .25
Jan. 5. 1550, James . West, 4 chisels 2.25
Mar. 14, 1850. Jonathan Patteson,
15 yards gingham. 5.63
Jan. 30, 1850, Almer Mullen. 1 wash pan. .35
In searching the early papers for market re- ports we find that not until 1848 did the papers deem it worth while to give prices of local coun- try produce, and these prices were doubtless based upon an exchange basis, as there was no cash market for grain. The market prices here given are taken from Rushville papers of the date mentioned :
July 13, 1848-Wheat 50e, corn 15c, oats 15e.
June 20, 1851-Wheat 50@Goc, corn 2060 30c. barley 556760c, rye 30@35e, potatoes 60 (65e: beef 5c, bacon Te, ham $@ 10c. shoulders Hatte lard fre, tallow 10c. butter 124, eggs 54. flaxseed $1, clover $6, beeswax 1Se, feathers 400.
Sept. 1. 1854-Wheat 550$1, corn 250350 rye GOe. outs 150125e, clover seed $54186, timothy seed $2/$2,50, beans 9077$1, potatoes 750$1, butter 10@t 15e, coffee 14c, sugar 6Ke, rice § 1-30. tea 60@$1.25, hams 7@0c, shoulders 5@64c, lard 7@Se, eggs Ghe, wool, unwashed. 146 17e, washed, 214,25c.
663
HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.
June 26, 1855-Flour $8.50@$9, wheat $1.20 :$1.40. corn 50( 60e, oats 35e, corn meal G5e. potatoes $1.25@ $1.50, fax $1.50, clover $7.50, rye Que, beef Se. butter 10c, cheese 10c, broom porn $50 per ton, eggs 5c, chickens $1.25 per dozen.
Sept. 13, 1859-Wheat 45@47e, flour $6.00. corn en@ The, oats 25@300, hams 10@121sc. hides 12e dry, 5c green, broom corn $60.00 and $75.00. hoop poles G3c to $1.00, staves $8 to $10, cord wood $1.50 to $2.00, coal Se per bu.
Nov. 27, 1860 -- Flour $5.00@ $6.00, wheat 60e (tsde, corn 200, oats 15c. meal 40c, potatoes 20c, cheese Sc, lard De, whisky barrels The, flour barrels 30c, hoop poles 50c to $1, staves $7, broom corn $40.
April 7, 1861-Flour $6.50 to $7, wheat 90@ $1. coru Gốc, wool 60c, hay $15. coal oil 75c, coffee 40c.
Nov. 8, 1865-Flour $S to $9, wheat $1.25 to $2.00, oats 20c, corn 30c, rye 40c, lard 20c, tal- low 10c, hides 10c dry, hoop poles $1.50 per 100, staves $12 to $15 per thousand.
Pork-packing was an industry of some magni- tude in Schuyler County before tlie civil war, and it was continued on a smaller scale until as late as 1880. It was a business that afforded labor during the winter months to a large mm- ber of men, and the product was hauled to the Illinois River for shipment. The traffic. in fact. became so constant that a plank toll-road was built from Rushville to Frederick, a distance of ten miles, in 1854. and was maintained until probably 1866. We have found in old Rushville papers a record of the amount of business done by local pork-packers for certain years, which is here given :
Years
No. Ilogs Av. Wt.
1856 15,59%.
212 lbs
1857 9,650. 199 lbs
1858 10.136. 206 1bs 1850 0,48G. 179 1bs 1860 9.826.
During the winter of 1859-60 the following firms were engaged in the business and the fig- ures show the extent of the business operations :
No.
wt. price
Ray. Little & Co. 4,073
Nelson & McCroskey 336
Thomas Wilson 1,653
182 lbs $5.61
Wells & Co. 1,460
156 lbs 5.49 M. Farwell & Co.,
Frederick, Ill. .1,928 191 lbs 5.51
Randall & Blackburn. Brook- lyu, 111. 370
Total in county. 9,826
A study of the industrial and commercial his- tory of a community has an interest to the student of affairs equal to its social or political relations, but we find that even the historians of Illinois have passed lightly over this interest- ing phase of State history, and the facts and figures here given have been obtained from original sources. They are not as complete as it might be desirable to make them, but they give an insight into the industrial conditions that have prevailed in Schuyler County from the earliest time. What is more, they give a record of human interest, the every day life side of history, and show plainly the economic develop- ment from the pioneer times, to the present day.
The early pioneers of Schuyler County were mutually dependent, and having no costly tastes to gratify or expensive habits to indulge, they obtained by barter and trade the necessaries of life that were not raised on the farm. There was no market for grain and Calvin Hobart, one of the first settlers, notes the fact that corn could be purchased in 1824 for five cents a bushel, and a cow with calf sold for $S.
St. Louis, however, offered a market for furs, honey and beeswax, and it is a fact worthy of note that the industrial development of Schuyler County began before the date of the first per- inanent settlement, for it is a matter of record that Messrs. MeCartney, Gooch & Beard joined together to engage in bee-hunting in this county the fall previous to the coming of the first home- maker. The outcome of this business venture was that the firm shipped twenty-seven barrels of honey and several thousand pounds of bees- wax to St. Louis in the fall of 1823, which was the first natural product of Schuyler County to find a market. Bee-hunting was, for many years afterward, a profitable business, and in the his- tory of the Schuyler County Courts, attention is called to the fact that the first retainer fee given a lawyer in a Schuyler County court was a bar- rel of honey.
Five years elapsed from the time of the first settlement of Schuyler County until the mer- cantile era began, and the name of the first merchant is lost to history. He came from Jacksonville in 182%, and opened his store in a log cabin Hart Fellows had erected near where
664
HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.
H. M. Dave's brick store building now stands, Ilis stay here was a brief one, and soon afterward Benjamin Chadsey started a store in the same cabin. His stock was purchased in St. Louis, was brought up the Ilinois River by keel-boat and hauled overland from the landing near Frederick. Hart Fellows was his clerk, and the firmi was later known as Chadsey & Fellows. A frame building was erected near the log cabin for store purposes, and this' was really the be- ginning of the mercantile era in Rushville and Schuyler County. Mr. Fellows set the precedent that has long been followed in rural communi- ties, of combining the postotlice with mercantile business, as he was Rushville's first post master.
Thomas W. Scott was another of Rushville's pioneer merchants, and in those early years he made a start that was the foundation of the largest private fortune ever accumulated in Schuyler County. It was the privilege of the writer to see a letter written by Mr. Scott, under date of December 4. 1830. to his brother Walter D. Scott, of Kentucky, who was then associated with him in business. In this letter Mr. Scott states that there are four business houses in Rushville, and that one can easily get rich if he will only buy land and raise cattle. IIe was wise enough to see into the future, and soon after- ward bought 320 aeres of school land on Section Sixteen in Rushville township, which is now owned by his children, and is rated with the best land in the county.
A little later on we find that Rushville had grown in a mercantile way, and Rev. J. M. Peck, in his "Gazetteer of Illinois," in 1834 gives the following facts regarding the business enterprises of the town: "Rushville has six stores, two groceries. two taverns, four cabinet makers, four brick-masons and plasterers, three carpenters, two blacksmiths, four tanneries, four lawyers and two physicians."
In those early days the merchants were mere retailers of dry-goods and groceries, as they purchased and shipped abroad none of the pro- duetions of the country except a few peltries and trend of the times was just beginning to show furs, and. perhaps, beeswax. The economic a gleam of hope for a mercantile career in 1830, when the steamboats first began to ply upon the Illinois River. But the merchants had neither capital nor an extensive market for their goods, and they were sustained largely by the influx
of immigrants who came to the settlement with money. .
It is interesting to note in this connection that the coins of general circulation were of Spanish denomination, and were brought to the settlement from New Orleans and St. Louis. There was the Spanish dollar, half-dollar and quarter, and the "picayune" (614 cents) and "bit" (1216 cents). and occasionally a French five- franc pieve (95 cents) or an English sovereign ($4.85) was seen. But with the early mer- chants, furs and skins were the best known legal- tender, and barter and trade was the general rule throughout the settlement, the gold and silver coin being used almost exclusively in pay- ing for government land, taxes and postage.
The years from 1830 to 1535 marked an ora of unprecedented activity in a commercial way in Illinois, and many smaller manufacturing in- dustries were established in Rushville at this time. The internal improvement scheme, which was to provide railroad and canal transportation for all parts of the State, was the alluring dream of the future, and its purposes, as viewed from a politician's standpoint. is well set forth by the following passage from Gov. Duncan's message, in alluding to the construction of railroads and canals, as "bearing with seeming triumph. the rich productions of the interior to the rivers, lakes and ocean, almost annihilating time, burden and space."
It was a roseate dream that had an entrancing fascination for the sturdy pioneers, and the wily politicians of that time were quick to catch the drift of public opinion and grant any and all appropriations that might be asked to press for- ward the scheme for internal improvements. Then came the panie of 1837, with its attending financial disasters, and the first chapter in "Frenzied Finance" was enacted in Illinois.
BANKING INSTITUTIONS.
In taking up the history of the financial in- stitutions of Schuyler County, we find that the banking business was closely allied to the mer- cantile trade in the early days, and that there was a gradual evolution to the conditions and systems of the splendid service of the present day. Prior to 1840 there was practically no money in circulation in the county and business was done almost entirely by barter and trade. With the development of the agricultural re- sources of the county the mercantile business
Elizabethle Prines
665
HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.
expanded in proportion, and there came into vogue a credit system that made the general stores of that day a clearing house for the entire comnu- nity.
As an outgrowth of this system there was in- augurated a primitive banking business, as it were, and as early as 1844 the firm of Little & Ray made drafts on the eastern money centers for the accommodation of their customers and patrons. In those days financial affairs were in a choatie state and the paper currency of the country was known by such names as "Shinplas- ters." "wild cat." "red dog," and "stumptail," and the bills of the different banks bad a con- stantly fluctuating value that inade it impossible to accurately determine one's wealth iu bank note currency.
This variation in the value of the bank note currency was such that each merchant was re- quired to consult a weekly publication known as "The Bank Note Reporter." before he would ac- cept a hill in payment for goods, and he then made proper discounts from its face value as shown by the figures in his financial paper. The uncertainty that surrounded the currency of those days was, in itself, an incentive to business. for the widespread distrust of its value precluded any inclination to hoard and money circulated freely.
The first regular banking business in Schuy- ler County was established in 1864. when the mercantile firm of Little & Ray organized the First National Bank. The original capital stock was $100,000, but it, was afterwards reduced to $50,000. The first officers of the bank were: President. Wm. H. Ray ; Vice President. George Little: Cashier. August Warren.
On October 9, 1834, this bank was reorganized and was changed from a national bank to a co- partnership, and the capital stock fixed at $75.000. The officers elected at this time wore: President. Geo Little; Vice President. S. B. Montgomery ; Cashier, AuCust Warren; Assistant Cashier, Dwight E. Ray. In the fall of that year the bank moved from its old quarters in the Little & Ray store building to the building now occupied. which was built especially for the banking business.
Again on December 1, 1901. the bank was re- organized and new stockholders taken in and the bank capital and surplus is now $140,000. with the personal responsibility of the stockhohl- ers amounting to $1.000,000. The officers and directors of the Bank of Rushville are:
President, S. B. Montgomery; Vice President, John S. Bagby; Cashier, John S. Little; As- sistant Cashiers, J. H. Young and II. H. Brown.
Directors: William R. MeCreery, S. B. Mont- gomery, L. J. MeCreery. Perry Logsdon, John S. Bagby. Robert Brown, D. H. Glass, Jobn S. Lit- tle, H. V. Tecl. George IIanna and Charles B. Griffith.
Rushville's second bank was started January 1, 1870, by James G. MeCreery & Co., and was known as the Merchants & Farmer's Bank. Mr. MeCreery was president and his son-in-law, S. M. Hume, cashier. Thomas Wilson was one of the financial backers of the new bank, which continued in business until January 1, 1574. The bank was located on the south side of the public square on the site of the building now occupied by James V. Knapp's jewelry store.
The Bank of Schuyler County, which was or- ganized by J. March Patterson, of Jacksonville, Ill., began business in Rushville, January 4, 1590. It was organized as a State bank with a capital stock of $25,000, and the original stock holders were: J. March Patterson, Thomas Wil- son. George R. Hunter, James .1. Teel, John M. Darnell. Edwin Dyson, S. S. Prentiss, P. E. Mann, F. G. Farrell and R. W. Mills.
The officers of the bauk were: President, Thomas Wilson; Vice President, James A. Teel ; Cashier, J. March Patterson.
In October, 1898, the bank was reorganized and A. P. Rodewald was elected Cashier and George Dyson Second Vice President, and under their management the bank has had a steady and increasing growth.
On May 1, 1902. the capital stock of the bank was increased from $25.000 to $40,000, and on March 12, 1904, it was again increased to $50,000 and on January 1, 1908, the capital stock was made $100,000.
Under the State banking law quarterly re- ports are made to the State Auditor and. under date of May 12. 190$, we note the following statement of the Bank of Schuyler County :
RESOURCES.
Loans and Discounts. $243.023.31
Overdrafts 1,161.31
Bonds and Stocks 3,550.00
Banking house . 7,500.00
Furniture and fixtures. 1,000.00
Cash and due from banks 120.716.42
Total $376,951.34
666
HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.
LIABILITIES.
Capital stock paid in. $100,000.00
Undivided profits 6.623.66
Deposits
270,327.68
Total $376,051.34
The present officers and directors of the Bank of Schuyler County are: President. George R. Hunter; Vice President. George Dyson : Cashier. A. P. Rodewald.
Directors -- Geo. R. Hunter, 1. M. Parnell, J. L. Sweeney. George Dyson, Fred. Rodewald. A. J. Lashmett. Edwin Dyson, A. P. Rodewald. ITiram Graff.
The first bank to be established in Schuyler county outside of Rushville opened for business in Littleton. December 3, 1904. It is known as The Bank of Littleton, and is a co-partnership bank with a capital stock of $10,000. The offi- cers are: President, John F. Snyder; Cashier. E. B. Disson; Assistant Cashier, Doan Dixson.
The Merchants & Traders Bank of Browning is the latest addition to the banking institutions of Schuyler County and it opened its doors for business May 25, 1907.
The bank was organized on a co-partnership basis with a capital stock of $12,000. The offi- cers are: President. C. B. Workman: Cashier. L. II. Yeck. Stock in the bank is owned by the following residents of Browning Township and Beardstown: John Schultz. C. B. Workman. A. E. Schmioldt, Martin MeDonough. T. K. Con- dit. W. E. Mccullough, J. V. Joekisch, J. S. Nich- olson, T. J. Schweer, II. C. Meyer, Morris Wal- ton, C. W. Fowler, Ed. McLaren. F. M. Skiles. L. II. Yeck, A. D. Stambaugh, Albert Stambaugh. Michael Schuman, Raymond Walton. Peter Strong, Edward A. Stambaugh, Frank W. Dodd, W. F. Hireman, Joel Robertson, John F. Bryant, J. M. Venters. W. M. Venters, W. J. Bates, Charles Bates.
CHAPTER XIII. -
COUNTY BUILDINGS.
EVOLUTION OF PRESENT COUNTY BUILDINGS-AD- VANCEMENT FROM THE PRIMITIVE LOG CABIN 10 THE HANDSOME STRUCTURES OF TODAY -- FIRST
COURT HOUSE ONE-ROOM LOG BUILDING. ERECTED IN 1826 -- FIRST JAIL BUILDING-SECOND COURT HOUSE ERECTED IN 1530-SECOND COUNTY. JAIL OF 1838 REPLACED BY A STONE STRUCTURE IN 1857-THE PRESENT COURT HOUSE COM- PLETED IN 15 2-FOURTH JAIL BUILT IN 1002- DESCRIPTION OF PRESENT COURT HOUSE-LIST OF DOCUMENTS DEPOSITED CORNERSTONE -- COUNTY FARM PURCHASED IN 1855 -ITS PRESENT VALUE ESTIMATED AT $25,000.
The substantial and handsome public buildings of Schuyler County. now in use. have been evolved by natural degrees and at long periods, from the primitive log cabin which served for the seat of justice when the county organization was perfected in 1825. It was most natural that the early settlers should desire a court house. and soon after the town of Rushville was laid out the first county building was erected. It stood on the north side of the square. about where the Griffith hardware store stands today, and was built of logs. The specifications for this. the first county building. were meager and are found in the Commissioners' record of April 24. 1526. Notice was given that a court house would be erected. occupying a ground space of 22x18 feet. and one and a-half stories high. It was further specified that "there should be two good floors, and a good and sufficient chimney." The public letting of this building was announced for July 4. 1826, but we can find no record of the name of the contractor or the cost of the struct- ure, though it was paid for and used by the county tor several years.
The next record of a publie building is found in the proceedings of the Commissioner's Court of September 3, 1827, when lot 1 on block 13 of the town of Rushville was reserved for a jail and stray-pen. It was specified that the jail building should be 15x15 feet and the stray-pen 40x40 feet, and the contracts for building the two structures were to be let to the lowest bidder on September 27. 1827. Isaac Linder was the builder of this first jail and. on March 20, 1828. he presented his bill for $150. Objections were apparently filed to its payment for we note that William McKee and Jose Bartlett were ap- pointed a committee to arbitrate the claim, and failing to reach a decision, Mr. Linder brought suit against the county. The stray-pen was built by Elisha Kellogg. and his bill for $50 was allowed without protest.
₺
COURT HOUSE
66
HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.
While the general specifications of the jail simply called for a building fifteen feet square. it later appears that it was a story and a half building, and that the prisoners were let down into their dungeon through a trap-door in the ceiling. This door was the all important part of the jail building, and was let under separate contract acording to the following specifications :
"The inner door of the jail shall be made of plank one and one-quarter inches thick, to be of two thicknesses, laid across each other and spiked together with broad-headed spikes, driven within three inches of each other, said spikes to be driven through and clinched, the under thickness of said door to be cut so as to fit hole in floor, the upper thinekness to jut over oue inch all around, said door to be hung on two iron hinges, the strap part of said hinges to be one-half inch thick and two inches wide, and to extend across the door, the staples to be three- fourths of an inch, and drove eight inches into floor; also a bar of iron one and one-half inches thick and two inches wide extending across the middle of the door. hing on staples at one end and to fit on a staple at the other end like a hasp, and a strong. substantial padlock fixed thereon. The onter door to be made in like manner and of material, except there is to be no bar across middle of said door, and said door to be bung on hooks in place of staples, also there umust be a good, strong stock-lock put on said door."
It was further specified that the inner door was to be completed' May 10, 1828, and the outer door September 1, 1828, contractor to give bond for faithful performance of the work and accept in payment therefor state paper at par. In ae- cordance with these specifications Joel Tullis secured the contract for the jail doors for $43.50.
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