Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II, Part 51

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897, ed. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913, ed. cn; Strange, Alexander T., ed
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 810

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The college was managed very successfully for five years with Rev. Francis Springer as president, while A. A. Trimper, his assistant, had charge of the female department in the Lyceum Building. In 1852 the Lutherans, thinking Springfield a more favorable locality for their college, moved it to that city, and the academy once more opened with O. C. Duke as principal. The college, on being removed to Springfield, ob- tained a new charter dated June 21, 1852, creat- ing a body for founding and maintaining in or near the city of Springfield, Illinois an institu- tion of learning to be known by the name of "The Illinois State University." In April, 1852, this institution began operations in a building formerly occupied by the Mechanics' Union. Thus Hillsboro citizens and their friends prac- tically founded the first Illinois state university.

In 1853, George C. Mack, with his wife, Miss Abbie Fisher and Miss L. C. Dearborn, as assist- ants, had charge of the school. The next three years had as many changes of teachers. In 1855, Rev. William McGookin was principal ; E. B. Douthit, assistant; in 1856, William Gunning was principal and Miss L. C. Lyman assistant ; and in 1857, Charles H. Burbank was principal. In 1858, Edmund Miller came as principal and remained until 1865. Among his assistants were Miss E. B. Chute, Miss F. Sargeant and Andrew Shattuck. In 1866, Rev. J. R. Brown was prin- cipal, with his wife, Miss Fannie Kidoo and S. M. Inglis, as assistants. From that time until

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

1879, there were frequent changes of teachers. In 1867-S, F. M. Easterday was principal; 1869- 70, L. S. Brown was principal, with his wife and Miss Abraham as assistants; from 1871 to 1873, L. B. Whitman was principal; in 1874, Rev. Francis Springer was principal; in 1875, Rev. W. J. McDavid was principal; in 1876, C. C. Lyerly was principal; 1877-8, L. B. Whitten was principal, and in 1879, Frank Helsell, with his assistants, S. M. Ladd and Miss Cromer, had charge of the school. On January 28, 1SS0, under Mr. Helsell, the academy closed and went into the hands of the public high school.

HILLSBORO'S BUSINESS INTERESTS.

The following is written by F. H. Brown : "Hillsboro is located on the main line of the New York Central and Chicago and Eastern Illinois railways, fifty miles from St. Louis and 232 miles from Chicago. According to railroad reports, the receipts at Hillsboro for in and out bound freight, are more than for any other town or city on the New York Central line between St. Louis and Indianapolis. Its enormous freight receipts must be attributed directly and indi- rectly to the development of her coal fields. The three coal mines have the daily output of S,000 tons, approximately 120 cars per day, employing 800 men, with monthly payrolls of $90,000. It is through the development of these coal fields that Hillsboro has been enabled to locate here the three largest industries, namely, the Schram Glass Manufacturing Company, The American Zine Company of Illinois and The Lanyon Zinc Smelter.

"The Schram Glass Manufacturing Company is the largest exclusive fruit jar and cap plant in the country. The company broke ground for the erection of their plant January 29, 1906, made their first carload shipment September 3, 1900. employing at that time 125 people. One might say that the company has never ceased building additions. They recently erected a new extension plant giving them an output of 1,000,- 000 caps per week. The plant at the present time employs 300 people and consumes fifty tons of coal, twelve and one-fourth tons of soda ash, forty tons of silica sand, five tons of sheet zinc, fourteen boxes of tin and 1,000 gross of rubber jar rings per day.

"The Robert Lanyon Zinc and Acid Company, manufacturers of zinc spelter and sulphuric acid, have just finished the erection of the first unit,

or one-half of their plant. This plant, when completed, will consume more than 300 tons of coal and 100 tons of zinc ore per day, pro- ducing fifty tons of spelter and 100 tons of sul- phuric acid. They are employing 200 men at the present, and will employ many more later.

"The American Zinc Company has erected here the largest zinc and acid works in the United States, with an output, when completed, the largest in the world, costing over $2,000,000, employing 600 men, consuming each day 600 tons of coal and 100 tons of zinc ore per day, producing fifty tons of spelter and 200 tons of sulphuric acid daily, and are yet increasing their plant. The plant now in operation fur- nishes steady employment the year round to 300 men. This company before locating at Hillsboro spent two years time making an exhaustive study of natural conditions and resources in the local fields of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and West Vir- ginia, and their decision to locate their large plant here certainly speaks volumes for Hillsboro as they were looking for natural resources and advantages and not entertaining large cash bonuses.

"A home company distinctly, is the new plant of the Southern Illinois Light & Power Com- pany, built in 1912, which would do credit to a city of 50,000 people. In addition to furnish- ing light and power to Hillsboro, they furnish electricity for light and power to the following towns: Nokomis, Witt, Irving, Harvel, Coffeen, Raymond, Butler, Taylor Springs, Kortkamp, Greenville, Donnellson, Panama, Fillmore, Mor- risonville and Palmer, and own some other town plants to be connected later. Besides supplying electricity, they are furnishing steam heat to all the business districts of Hillsboro and operate an up-to-date ice plant, with a daily output of 60,000 pounds, and are also operating the street railways to Taylor Springs, the Big Four sta- tion and Schram City. These leading industries give a slight indication of what is meant by the 'New Industrial Hillsboro.'

"In 1823. the Legislature of Illinois appointed a commission to select a site for the county seat of Montgomery County. After a deal of con- troversy the present location of Hillsboro was chosen because it was the geographical center of the county as well as of the population. Since that time the city has grown steadily, but the greatest strides have been made in the last ten years, and more particularly since the intro- duction of the manufacturing industries into its

SOUTH MAIN STREET, HILLSBORO

COUNTY JAIL, HILLSBORO

THE HILLSBORO HOTEL, HILLSBORO

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

business life. A commercial club was organized, and under this influence the Hillsboro Hotel, a fine, modern house, was built, and the Schram Automatic Sealer Company was induced to locate their plant here. Then followed the American & Acid Company and the Robert Lanyon Zinc & Acid Company-the three large coal mines- the Montgomery, the Hillsboro and the Kort- kamp, located in this section, making it one of the strong points in inducing them to build their plant within working distance. These in- dustries have been supplemented by the fine plant of the Hillsboro Electric Light & Power Company and the Hillsboro Brick & Tile Com- pany.

"The city has two telephone systems, the Montgomery Telephone Company, connected with the Bell Telephone Company to all points on long distance, and the Peoples Mutual Tele- phone Company, connecting with the Kinlock system. The financial basis of Hillsboro is firm and sound. There are three banks-the Hills- boro National Bank, the Montgomery Loan and Trust Company, and the Peoples National Bank, with deposits of nearly $1,000,000 in the three banks.

"Hillsboro has also kept up her progress in improving the city itself as well as its financial basis. All the principal streets are paved and there are miles of concrete and brick sidewalks. A municipal water works supply the citizens and industries with abundance of water for all supplies, and which is now building a very large concrete dam to impound a large supply of pure water. A comprehensive sewer system for the city is to be inaugurated this season by a first expenditure in District No. 1, of the $44,- 000 under the direction of experienced engineers. This to be supplemented by the extension of the system to all parts of the municipality as rapidly as the matter can be handled judiciously and in a satisfactory way for the benefit of the com- munity. The city has recently built two new concrete bridges costing about $5,000, and plans are now under way for the third.

"The $10,000 Carnegie Library, which was built in 1905, is of great profit to the intellectual citizens. There are over 13.000 volumes in the library and they have about 2.000 visitors a month. The library pays especial attention to the course of studies in the schools and keeps up well the reference books for the different branches, and also for the different literary clubs. Another great pleasure and also ad-

vantage the citizens have to look forward to is the two weeks session each August, of the Litch- field-Hillsboro chautauqua. This offers to the people, at a small cost, the chance to hear some of the greatest speakers of the day. William J. Bryan, "Uncle" Joe Cannon, Senator La Fol- lette, Governor Hadley, Governor Deneen and many other prominent men have lectured here. There are also many musical performances. This is a recreation as well as an intellectual treat, as the people who stay on the ground lead the simple life, camping in cottages and tents. The Woman's Auxiliary furnish beds to any who wish to stay over night, and an eating house in charge of capable caterers, furnish splendid meals."

HILLSBORO HOSPITAL.

Several years ago the ladies of Hillsboro formed a hospital association for the purpose of raising a fund with which to erect and operate a hospital, which they recognized was a growing need of the city home of their adoption. Steadily and surely the nucleus of a fund grew, and during 1915, with the aid of some of our public . spirited men, the plans were finally adopted and the erection began. The officers of the asso- ciation at that time were : Mrs. Eugenia Hel- ston, president ; Mrs. Kate R. Seward, first vice- president ; Mrs. Ada Armstrong, second vice- president ; Mrs. Carrie M. Howell, secretary and Mrs. Hattie McDavid, treasurer. The finance committee, composed of men, was as follows: J. J. Frey and Frank H. Brown; and the com- mitteemen in charge of the construction were : Dr. Kimball, Dr. Seymour, Dr. Douglas, James P. Brown and Judge Dryer.

The plans were carefully worked out by a competent architect, and under the able direc- tion of Jolinsey & Nichols the building was erected at a cost of $25,000. The furnishings were donations from various organizations and individuals, and on February 22, 1916, the doors were formally opened for the reception of those in distress, and in less than two days several patients were receiving tbe beneficence of the institution.

TAYLOR SPRINGS.

The town of Taylor Springs, one and a half miles south of Hillsboro, has the American Acid Company, the largest smelter in the world.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

The town of Taylor Springs is on the Big Four Railroad and is connected with Hillsboro by an interurban car line, the property of the Southern Illinois Light & Power Company. Its 1,500 in- habitants are mainly laboring men in the employ of the smelter and of the coal shaft located there. But the town has an efficient town board and public schools for the children under the man- agement of an excellent board of education. As a great many of the men who work in the smelter are foreigners, the smelter employs an instructor to meet the men and boys who are desirous of securing an American education, and give them the necessary training to fit them for intelligently performing their duties as citi- zens and assimulating with the people of our county in social and business life. A large part of the supplies for the town and its laboring population comes from the farms of the town- ship. Grain, meat, fruit, vegetables, milk, honey, butter and other things are raised and sold through the retailers to our people, thus insur- ing fresh and wholesome eatables. Joseph Boggis is the police magistrate, having been elected in 1912 and 1913.

PROMINENT HILLSBORO PIONEERS.

Hillsboro, having been selected as the county seat, very naturally attracted a large number of prominent men and women, who became iden- tified with the various activities that were put forth for the interest of the city and county. We are not here writing biography, but brief reference to some of these historic characters is indispensable in a complete history of either city or county. Few men exercised more influence in the making of Hillsboro, and the county than William Brewer. He was of sturdy Kentucky stock of people, coming to Illinois in 1834, after marrying Miss Delilah Hough, in the Blue Grass state. He first settled in Crawford County, but landed in Montgomery County in 1839. He began a business career that did much for the financial upbuilding of the county. After only a four years residence here, he was elected pro- bate judge of the county, being the first Whig ever elected to office in the county ; was re- elected in 1845 and again in 1847, and all this time the county was strongly Democratic. In 1850, he was elected to the legislature for the counties of Clinton, Bond and Montgomery, and re-elected in 1852, positively refusing to run at the close of the second term. His sturdy de-

meanor and invincible integrity left a strong impress on the county, and his children and grandchildren revere his memory and imitate his good qualities.

One of Hillsboro's earliest lawyers, Hon. James A. Davis, was born in Kentucky, in October, 1793, and came to Montgomery County about 1850. He was a member of the Constitu- tional Convention in 1847, and also was a member of the General Assembly in 1842, from Bond County before coming to this county. After locating in this county in 1858, he was elected to the legislature from this county. In his earlier days he was a Whig, shifting to the Democracy. He bitterly fought Abraham Lin- coln for the presidency and the measures that he espoused. He died in Hillsboro, September 17, 1866, after a long and active career as a lawyer and politician.

The names. of John S. and John A. Hayward appear with frequency on the abstracts of lands in Montgomery County, and their activities in financial and business affairs in an early day were numerous and important. John Shaw Hayward was born in Bridgewater, Mass., July 6, 1803, being the son of a Unitarian clergyman and of English origin. In 1834, he located in Hillsboro, then a town of ten years' growth. Here for many years he was one of the most active business men, and did much to push the town and county around it. In 1840 he mar- ried Miss Harriett F. Comstock, and they reared a family of whom we mention only one, because of his residence here, and in the near city of Pana. After a long useful career he died in 1869, and his widow followed him in 1874. John August Hayward, second son of the above, was born in Hillsboro and lived here till 1867, when he went to Pana, where he became one of its leading citizens and capitalists. He was colonel of the Fifth Illinois Militia, and was not only a patriotic citizen, but one of educational and financial usefulness in his community. He was married to Miss Flora M. Rood in 1871, and together they have filled high and useful posi- tions of importance and always with credit to the community in which they have been a part.

Captain Paul Walter, commonly called Colonel Walter, came to Montgomery County from the Tar Heel state in 1837. In 1844, he was married to Miss Emiline Scott. The gold excitement in California came on some five years after he was married, and the captain, being of a ven- turesome disposition, got ready to cross the

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

plains, which journey at that time was con- sidered both very arduous and dangerons. By 1852, he was on the way. Arriving there after somne months of wearisome travel, only to stay less than two years, he again made the trip in 1854. It is said that when he returned the last time he liad accumulated and brought home with him the sum of $40,000 in gold, the results of his wonderful energy. On returning home he en- gaged in various lines of business until the breaking out of the Rehellion of 1861, when his fearless and restless temperament asserted it- self, and, being a natural leader of men, he was not long in organizing a company of cavalry, and very properly was elected its captain. His war record was brilliant, as will be seen from the official records. After the war was over Captain Walter began investing his money in Hillsboro property, and building properties, hav- ing in view the upbuilding of his town, as much as the making of money himself. He owned and operated the American Hotel, which then stood where the Ramsey Building now stands, and it was then a splendid hotel as compared with others ot that day. He built the brick livery barn west of the conrthonse, the same being a part of the Kinkaid Building, where Brown Bros. carry on their hardware and machinery business. This building cost him ahont $25,000, which probably never paid him a satisfactory income on the capital invested. He also owned much property in other parts of the town. Col- onel Walter was an exceedingly friendly man, and was altogether too trustfnl of his friends and acquaintances, and this was shown to his sorrow in becoming security for them in too numerons instances. Such were his financial entanglements, that when the panic of 1879 came on he was caught with obligations, largely for the benefit of others, so great that his resources would not stand them, and rnin was the natural resnlt. When the financial panic was over he was a financial cripple, from which he never recovered, though he did build the present brick livery barn which the Lippard boys now operate and attempted to retrieve his financial standing. But the labor and his growing years were too much for him, and in 1898, he gave way to poor health and answered the last roll call. To Mr. and Mrs. Walter there were born eight children, namely: Scott and Walter, who are of Texas; George, who died in Hillsboro a few years ago; James, who is of Indiana ; Mrs. John R. Challa- combe, who is of Hillsboro and Texas; Mrs.

Harry Holmes, who is of Mattoon, Illinois; Mrs. S. L. Bowning, who is of Monmouth, Illinois, and Miss Sne, who is of Hillsboro. The captain was a leader in doing, but never a conservative. He loved fine horses and promoted their de- velopment, his connection with the horse bnsi- · ness and with the fairs then so popular, was much more interesting than profitable to him. His acquaintance was so great, and his activi- ties so extensive that no history of Hillsboro would be complete without mentioning his part therein.

Captain File was born in Bond County, Illi- nois, October 19, 1832. At the age of twenty- one he was married to Miss Ann Brown, and later to her sister, Miss Virginia Brown, who survives him. To the first union one danghter Mrs. M. J. Blockburger, was born. To the later union there are two daughters, Anna M., who lives with her mother; and Leva, who is a prominent St. Lonis kindergarten teacher. Mr. File for many years farmed jnst east of the city ; then for about eight years pnrsned the carpenter business, and then he went into the hardware business. Mr. Files' Civil War record was arduous and brilliant. He enlisted as a pri- vate in Company "D," of the 22nd Illinois In- fantry, and was in the battles of Belmont Moun- tain, Stone River, Chickamauga and Atlanta. He was promoted from time to time till he was made captain of his company, which position he filled with efficiency and courage. At the battle of Chickamanga, Captain File lost a brother, and as help was not at the time available, he dug a grave and nnaided hnried his brother with his own hands. Mr. File was an ardent Re- publican in politics, a member of the G. A. R. and in faith a Presbyterian. He lived to be over eighty-one years old, and was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, having lived a successful, use- fnl and clean life, and will be remembered with the highest regard by all who knew him.

Hon. Arias N. Kingsbury was born in Athens, Ohio, February 5, 1831. In 1843, with his parents, he moved to Greenville, Illinois, where he studied law with M. L. Dale, and received an academic education. After a brief period of practice in Greenville, he came to Hillsboro and formed a partnership with Hon. James M. Davis. In 1873, he was nominated and elected as jndge of the county court, of Montgomery County. During 1873, he was named by the Greenback party as candidate for judge of the state supreme court from this district, but was

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

defeated by Judge Scofield. He was married in 1859, to Celeste Hazard of Alton. Judge Kings- bury was recognized as a careful, conservative and able lawyer and citizen. He died some years ago much respected and honored. His wife sur- vived him several years.

Few men, if any, among those prominent in the early days in the county, did more for the promotion of the moral and intellectual growth of our people than Dr. Francis Springer. As the writer enjoyed a personal acquaintance with the doctor while he was superintendent of schools, it is with especial pleasure that this slight tribute is recorded to his memory. The doctor was born in Pennsylvania, in 1810, being of German descent. Left an orphan at an early age, he was apprenticed to an inn keeper, where he worked till twenty-one years of age, during which time he received a year's schooling. Then determining to secure an education, he studied as means would permit, in Pennsylvania College and Hartwick Seminary, and was admitted to the ministry in the Lutheran Church in 1836. In 1837 he was married to Miss Mary Kreigh, a lady of refinement and highly connected. In 1839, he with his bride, left the east and came to Springfield, Illinois, to try his profession as a minister among more active people. Spring- field and Hillsboro were the two strongholds of the Lutheran people at that time, and in 1847, Dr. Springer was elected by the board of trustees as president of Hillsboro College. Hillsboro had grown during less than twenty-five years from a village of a few houses to a leading edu- cational center, though its population was then only a few hundred. From 1847 for about thirty years, Dr. Springer was a leader in the educational and religions life of the city and county, either as president of Hillsboro College, principal of Hillsboro Academy or superintend- ent of schools of the county. And his abilities as a minister, orator and educator had more than local recognition. Hillsboro College was essentially a Lutheran institution, and by means of certain influences in that church the trustees of the college were induced to move the college from Hillsboro to Springfield, a sorry move for the church, as moving and undertaking to build up what was proposed to be a great Illinois university, the institution became deeply in (lebt, and the income being insufficient to meet the demands, the college collapsed. The old lTillsboro Academy, however, was revived and was continued till some years later, when Profes-

sor Helsell was in charge, it was turned over to the public school officials. Had the advice and influence of Doctor Springer prevailed, we think that Hillsboro would today have in successful operation the college, once the pride of the city.

Doctor Springer was patriotic, though of alien descent, and had such fighting blood in his veins, that when the Civil War came on he tried to get into the line of battle, but on account of his age was rejected, but later was called to fill the posi- tion of chaplain of the Tenth Illinois Cavalry, in which his influence for good as well as his love for the Union were exercised as he desired. He was as well and favorably known in Spring- field as in Hillsboro, where he frequently was called to fill pulpits or the rostrum. Early in life's young manhood the doctor became a Mason, and in that order he was perhaps the most active and acceptable public man in public functions and funeral occasions of any other member of the lodge. Too much cannot be said of the uplifting influences of Doctor Springer, who for nearly a quarter of a century was active in "spreading the cement of brother love and affection" throughout our country and city. Always poor, financially, but rich in the fragrance of a beautiful life, filled with good deeds, and sparkling with gems of religious and educational influences, he is worthy of remem- brance. At one time he was chaplain of the House of Representatives of Illinois. At another time he served as chaplain of the Grand Lodge of Masons of the state. He was a member of the G. A. Post at Springfield, and was a member of the board of control of the Carthage College.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II, Part 51

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897, ed. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913, ed. cn; Strange, Alexander T., ed Publication date: 1918 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 810

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897, ed. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913, ed. cn; Strange, Alexander T., ed
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 810