Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Morgan County, Part 139

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn; Short, William F., 1829- 4n
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1286

USA > Illinois > Morgan County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Morgan County > Part 139

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When the new corn became hard enough to grind a small hand-mill was put up at Diamond Grove by Isaac Fort Roe and Jedediah Webster, and upon this mill the surrounding neighbors depended mainly for grinding their meal dur- ing the first winter, the nearest regular mill then being at Edwardsville, eighty-five miles away.

The hand-mill was primitive in Its construc- tlon and its manipulation was tiresome work. Another device was to take two stones of the 'kind known as "lost stone," some two feet In diameter. These were dressed into mill-stone shape, and a hole drilled through the center of the one Intended for the upper stone. With a

simple contrivance by which to regulate the grinding space between the two stones, the up- per stone was made to revolve on a pivot. A hole was drilled on the top side near the outer circle of the upper stone and in this hole a wooden peg was driven. . This peg was the handle by which the stone was revolved, being thus turned exactly like an ordinary millstone with the right hand, while the left hand, used as a kind of hopper, dropped the grains of shelled corn slowly into the hole in the center of the stone, to be ground into meal. The la- bor of thus grinding a bushel of meal by that manual process can be correctly appreciated only by those who have tried it ..

Mr. Rowland Shepherd came to the county in 1821. In 1823 he built a hand-mill on Little Indian Creek, which was run by horse or ox- power. About the same time Mr. James Dea- ton, Sr., built a small horse-mill, run with a raw-hide band twisted around the spindle. Ma- gill's mill was afterwards erected on the north- ern fork of the Mauvaisterre. Captain John Wyatt built a band horse-mill for grinding corn. Other mills of this kind included one built and owned by a Mr. Reeder; a tread-wheel mill owned by James Overton, Esq .; a grist and saw-mill on Indian Creek, owned by William Harrison and James Dinwiddie: a horse-mill owned by Mr. A. Hall, near the head of Indian Creek; a saw-mill owned by Mr. James McGill on the Mauvaisterre.

Mr. Archibald J. Hite was licensed by the County Court to "keep a tavern" at a mill on Sandy Creek. In the year 1823 Enoch C. March came to Morgan County and afterwards built the Exeter mills. He was one of the proprie- tors of Exeter and held the first sale of lots in the fall of 1828.

Mr. Allen had a grist and saw-mill on Apple Creek just above the crossing of the road from Jacksonville to Carrollton. Thomas Patton owned an ox or tread-mill a short distance this side of the creek. One of the same kind was built on the farm of the Thompson family, on North Prairie, a few miles west of Little In- (lian Station on the Chicago, Peoria & Jack- sonville Railroad. Flour and saw-mills, run by water power, were soon erected upon the creeks in the county, which afforded an ample supply of water for that purpose for a number of years -the flour made at these mills at first being usually bolted by hand.

694

HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.

From the "Gazetteer of Illinois," written by Rev. John M. Peck, D. D., and published at Jacksonville by Mr. Robert Goudy in 1834, we learn that, in Morgan County at that time, there were "thirty mills for sawing and grinding, propelled by animal and water power. Seven large steam mills are in operation, and two more have been commenced and will be finished the present year. Jacksonville has one steam flour and one saw-mill, a manufactory for cot- ton yarn, two oil-mills and two carding fac- tories."

In marked contrast with the mills of those pioneer days, compare the following statement of Morgan County mill enterprises of recent years:

"Flour is manufactured in large quantities and shipped to all parts of the country. During the year just closed (1873) Messrs. Fitzsim- mons and Kreider manufactured 12,800 barrels of flour and handled 64,000 bushels of wheat. Messrs. Scott and Hackett manufactured 10,000 barrels of flour since April, when they began business. Messrs. White and Shuff have manu- factured 5,000 barrels of flour, and Messrs. Schoonover nearly as much more." To this large amount of flour product by Jacksonville mills should be added the output of the many mills in the original territory of Morgan County during the same period.

CHAPTER XIII. MANUFACTURES.

JACKSONVILLE WOOLEN MILLS-HOME MANUFAC- TURING COMPANY-JACKSONVILLE CAR WORKS- RAILROAD SHOFS-ILLINOIS STEEL BRIDGE COM- PANY-WAGON, BUGGY AND CARRIAGE MANUFAC- TURES-KNITTING WORKS-CIGAR AND CIGAR BOX FACTORIES-SULKY PLOW WORKS - COLUMBIA MANUFACTURING COMPANY-BROOM FACTORY- PLANING MILLS-SAND-CEMENT COMPANY-JACK- SONVILLE BRICK WORKS AND BRICK MANUFACTUR- ERS-MONUMENTS-ARTIFICIAL STONE- MISCEL- LANEOUS-BOARD OF LOCAL IMPROVEMENT-BUSI- NESS MEN'S ASSOCIATION-TELEPHONE.

Jacksonville is not favorably situated for manufacturing enterprises, owing to the limited natural supply of water and fuel, which ren- ders the cost of manufactured products more

expensive. This disability, however, has been partially overcome by an artificial supply of water, and will be wholly removed on the com- pletion of the water-system for the city which is now being constructed.

Jacksonville Woolen Mills .- The oldest manu- facturing business of Jacksonville is the Woolen Mills operated by J. Capps & Sons. Mr. Jo- seph Capps, Sr, came from Kentucky to Wav- erly in this county about the middle of October, 1838. He had learned the trade of a wool-card- er before leaving his native State, and was also a practical machinist, having learned that trade in Louisville. On his arrival in Waverly he formed a co-partnership with Judge George Waller, for the purpose of carrying on a wool- carding and cloth-finishing business, which busi- ness Mr. Waller had already established in a small way. During that winter Mr. Capps was engaged in building an engine and custom-card- ing machinery in the shops of his partner. In the following spring (1839) he located perma- nently in Jacksonville, where he established what is now known as the "Jacksonville Wool- en Mills." During a number of years the entire plant covered only a few feet of ground, but it has steadily grown until it attained its present large proportions. Mr. Capps was not only capable of constructing his own machinery, but also possessed in rare combination the require- ments of a first class business manager in every respect, and, under his management, the busi- ness prospered and attained rapid growth. Spinning and weaving were finally added to the wool-carding business, and in the year 1852 the first piece of goods in the history of the business in Jacksonville was made and finished. An in- crease in the productive capacity and the in- stallation of greater facilities were demanded by the large and extended business that had ac- crued. On the 10th of March, 1872, the founder and senior partner, Joseph Capps, Sr., passed away. His untimely death, however great a loss to the community, did not check the growth and development of the business, which has grown to vast proportions, extending from the Atlantic to the Pacific and from Canada to the Gulf. The major part of the business is in the Northwest, West and Western Southern States. Different lines of manufacture are carried on, but the leading feature of the business is the manufacture of clothing from cloth produced by their own mills. In the business they em- ploy on an average 350 persons.

gas Dinwiddie

695

HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.

Home Manufacturing Company .- A company for the manufacture of woolen goods was organ- ized in 1865, with a paid-up capital of $100,000, which was invested in four acres of ground adjacent to the brook in the southern part of the city, in a tenement block, in a large and suitable building for the business, and in the necessary machinery equipment. The incor- porators were: Messrs. A. E. and M. P. Ayers, George McConnel, John Gordon, William T. Beekman, William Richardson and Henry Sta- ley. Mr. Beekman was elected President and Mr. McConnel Secretary. The mills started with about seventy employes. The mill was one of the best built for that purpose in the West. In January, 1873. by the carelessness of a spinner, who allowed threads to be ignited in a gas jet, burning in the early morning, and then to fall upon an oil-soaked floor, the building was to- tally destroyed by fire. The loss was so heavy upon the stockholders, coming at the eariy stage of their investment, that they never re- built. The company had employed the best workmen, and were producing flannels, cassi- meres, jeans, etc., of the best quality.

Jacksonville Car Works .- The Car Works en- terprise was started in 1872, the company being incorporated in March, 1873, by stock subscrib- ers with a paid-up capital of $40,000. The most active promoters and original stockhold- ers were Messrs. E. C. Kreider, President; W. E. Veitch, Secretary and Treasurer: J. O. King. A. C. Wadsworth, David Prince, M. D., E. S. Greenleaf, J. A. Ayers and others. Five acres of land in the southeastern part of the city, on the line of the Jacksonville Southeastern Rail- road, were purchased; suitable buildings were erected; tools and machinery were installed, and the Jacksonville Car Works were running by August, 1873. A small contract was filled when the memorable financial panic of that year came and the works shut down. Later an attempt was made to manufacture agricul- tural implements in the plant, under the man- agement of Mr. Joseph N. Taylor. That enter- prise, proving unsuccessful, was soon aban- doned. The Indebtedness of the company hav- ing become quite large. it was taken up by a few persons who secured themselves by a sec- ond mortgage under which the property was finally sold. It was purchased by the mort- gagees and held until a sale was effected to Mr. T. C. Dutro, of St. Louis, Mo. Mr.

Dutro then organized the Jacksonville Car Company (a new company). He enlarged the capacity of the plant from two to ten cars per day by erecting additional buildings and ma- chinery. It was successfully operated for a num- ber of years in the manufacture of flat, box and stock cars. The company became financially embarrassed and were foreclosed under mort- gage held by creditors.

Chicago, Peoria & St. Louis Railroad Shops .- The credit for the inception and establishment of the Chicago, Peoria & St. Louis Railroad Shops in Jacksonville is due to Mr. John Hack- ett, who was the first to conceive and suggest the idea to the management of the railroad. In the consummation of the enterprise he was most actively and efficiently assisted by Mr. William E. Veitch, and to those two gentlemen is mainly due the existence of that valuable plant in Jacksonville. A tract of about sixty acres of land adjacent to the location of the shops was purchased. It was platted Septem- ber 21, 1891, as the Car Shops Addition, and buildings were immediately erected. The lots were purchased by citizens of Jacksonville for $250 each. From the profits upon the sale of lots a bonus of $55.000 was secured to the Rail- road Company, in consideration of the location of shops in Jacksonville, it being stipulated that the snops were to remain here for a term ot twenty years. The enterprise has been highly advantageous to the city, employing, at some seasons, 350 mechanics.

Illinois Steel Bridge Company .- The Illinois Bridge & Machine Company, for the manu- facture of bridges and structural iron work, was incorporated February 7. 1900. It first occupied a small plant at the corner of College Avenue and the Chicago & Alton Railroad right of way. In 1901 the plant was removed to the present location at the corner of La Fayette and Allen Avenues, where it occupied a building fifty by one hundred feet and em- ployed eight men, with an annual capacity for 2,000 tons of finished work. In 1905 the name of the corporation was changed to Illinois Steei Bridge Company. Owing to the large increase of business it became necessary to enlarge the facilities, and a new building, 100x140 feef, was erected north of the former building. It is now one of the best constructed shops In the State, the frame of the building being entirely of steel, and is being rapidly equipped with

696

HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.

modern machinery. The capacity has been in- creased to 6,000 tons per year. The number of men employed at the plant varies from thirty to forty, as the business may require. From a small company, with practically only one sales- man doing business principally in Morgan and a few adjacent counties, it has grown to be a large concern, having now ten salesmen doing business in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Arkan- sas, and in Oklahoma and Indian Territories. W. E. Crane is President; Nelson McMurphy, Vice-President; E. E. Crabtree, Secretary and Treasurer, and T. A. Chapin, General Manager.

Wagons, Buggies and Carriages .- The manufac- ture of wagons, buggies and carriages was be- gun in Jacksonville as early as 1850. At that time Mr. Elias Keemer and Mr. John W. Hall began and conducted that business together, continuing until 1856. In the latter year Mr. William Guy and Mr. John W. Hall engaged in that line of manufacture on the present site of the Hall Brothers plant, on College Avenue, between South Main and South Sandy 'Streets. On January 1, 1864, Mr. Hall bought the inter- est of Mr. Guy and conducted the business until 1890, when the firm of Hall & Sons was formed. Since the death of John W. Hall in 1899 the business has been conducted by Wil- liam E. and Harry L. Hall, under the same firm name. The products of the plant have been very large and of high quality. Fifteen mechanics are regularly employed in the es- tablishment.

The same line of manufacture was carried on for a time by Messrs. George and Edward Hayden, also by Messrs. Richard Richards and M. Hellenthal. They were succeeded by Martin Vogel & Company. From 1875 1903 the business was conducted by Mr. Martin Vogel. During that period he did the largest business in that line of manufacture that has been car- ried on in Jacksonville, discontinuing it in 1903 on account of failing health.

Knitting Works .- An association composed of the following persons was organized for the purpose of locating the Bohne Knitting Works of Chicago in Jacksonville, to-wit: John A. Ayers, James T. King, William E. Capps, Alex- ander Platt, William E. Veitch, Neil Matheson, Edward Scott, Samuel W. Nichols, Arthur E. Prince, George E. Doying, Frank Elliott, Wil- liam Newman, Ward Newman, and Mrs. H. C. Bohne. The company was incorpo-

rated August 29, 1899. A large and suitable building was erected on the northeast corner of North and Mauvaisterre Streets. The Bohne Knitting Works machinery of Chi- cago was brought to Jacksonville and duly in- stalled. A large number of operators was em- ployed and a successful business was soon es- tablished. A reorganization was effected Feb- ruary 2, 1891, under the name of the Jackson- ville Underwear Company, with Mr. James T. King, President; Mr. Charles S. Rannells, Vice- President, and Mr. William E. Lombard, Sec- retary and Treasurer. In 1894 the stock of the company was removed to Piqua, Ohio, where the business was continued. The goods manu- factured there were put on the market under the trade-mark of the "Jacksonville Underwear . Company," for the reason of the high reputa- tion which they had acquired for excellence. A ready market was found for the product with such firms as Marshall Field & Company and Schlesinger, Mayer & Company, Chicago; Nu- gent & Company, St. Louis; Wannamaker & Company, Philadelphia; Arnold, Constable & Company, New York, and other leading firms of the principal cities of the United States. The product was of a very high grade, being what is known to the trade as regular made goods. No goods of that line of superior quality were ever manufactured in this or any other country. The company had a very lucrative business until the change of our tariff laws compelled its discontinuance.

Cigar Manufacture .- The manufacture of ci- gars was introduced in Jacksonville in 1843, by Mr. Benjamin Pyatt. At the present time there are thirteen factories, employing 130 cigarmak- ers working on full time, producing over 200,000 cigars per week. The factory of Mr. Eugene D. Pyatt was established by his grandfather, Mr. Benjamin Pyatt, in April, 1843, and has been in continuous operation to the present time. It is the oldest cigar factory in Central Illinois, and one of the oldest in the entire State.

The L. S. Kent-McCarthy Company was es- tablished in March, 1903, by a combination of the factories of L. S. Kent and McCarthy, Franks & Dresser. Messrs. McCarthy, Franks & Dresser erected the large plant located on the southeast corner of West North and North West streets. Their weekly output is about 130,000 cigars; the annual, about 6,000,000. The number of employes on their pay roll is 125.

697

HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.

The factory conducted by Mr. Charles R. Knollenberg was etablished by his father, Mr. Henry Knollenberg, and Mr. John H. Myers, in 1855. In 1874 the firm manufactured 400,000 clgars. Mr. Knollenberg purchased his partner's interest, and for a number of years conducted the business alone. During the past several years the business has been conducted under the firm names of Knollenberg & Son, Knollenberg & Sons, Knollenberg Brothers, and the present proprietor, Mr. Charles R. Knollenberg. The weekly output is about 14,000. Mr. Henry Knol- lenberg was connected with the business con- tinuously forty-four years. The Cassell Brothers began the manufacture of cigars about twenty years ago in a small way, but have had a very successful business career. Their weekly manu- facture is about 15,000.

A. J. Gebert purchased the factory that he operates from Joseph Kuehne. His weekly man- nfacture is over 12,000 cigars.

The Cooperative Cigar Company's factory is conducted by Messrs. C. W. Blesse and Edward DeBaurenfiend, their weekly product being about 7,000.

Mr. Harry Herring has recently engaged in the business, with a weekly product of about 6,000.

The Jacksonville Cigar Company was recently organized, being composed of Messrs. W. G. and C. J. Wolfe, and some other persons. Their out- put is about 4,000 cigars per week.

Mr. Anton Graef is the proprietor of the S. & G. factory. It was established a number of years ago by Mr. Anton Graef and Mr. Fenton Sanders, Mr. Graef subsequently purchasing Mr. Sanders' interest. Their weekly manufacture is about 5.000.

Mr. E. T. Sieber has been engaged in the manufacture of cigars for a number of years. His weekly product is about 4,500.

Mr. M. D. Hefferman turns out about 2,500 per week; and Mr. Siegfried about 1,500.

All the cigar factories in Jacksonville are op- erated by Union men. There is not a non-union cigar manufactured in the city. The cigar- makers, as a class, are prosperous, more than forty of them owning their homes.

Cigar Box Factories .- About the year 1890, the manufacture of cigar boxes was established, and has been profitably carried on by different pro- prietors. The present managers are Mr. R. D. 6

Hamblin and Mrs. M. R. Hamblin. From four to twenty-two persons are regularly employed. The weekly output is 7,000 boxes.

Mr. Haller Higgins established a cigar box factory January 1, 1905, and is already entering on a large and successful business.

Jacksonville Sulky-Plow Works .- The Jackson- ville Sulky-Plow Works were organized in Jan- uary, 1881, with a paid-up capital of $20,000. The stockholders were Mr. A. C. Wadsworth, President; Dr. H. F. Carriel, Vice-President ; Mr. James H. Hackett, Secretary and Manager; Mr. William E. Veitch, Treasurer, with Messrs. S. B. Gray, William D. Mathers and Mortimer Cahill. The company purchased the property known as the Russell & Ackers Foundry near the Junction Depot; added buildings, machinery and stock, and began the manufacture and wholesale of a certain patented sulky attachment for plows and harrows. An output of 1,500 was readily disposed of throughout Illinois and Mis- souri. In the summer of 1884 the plant was shut down.

Columbia Manufacturing Company .- This valu- able industry, located on East State Street, was incorporated in 1896, with Mr. William Newman as President. Its line of manufacture was over- alls, shirt and duck clothing. It gave employ- ment at times to 150 persons. After a prosper- ous career it was discontinued in 1902.

Broom Factory .- In the year 1876, Mr. John T. Bowen began the manufacture of brooms in Jacksonville. The business has been continued profitably by the original proprietor to the pres- ent time. The output amounts to 2,000 dozen per year.

Planing Mills .- The Star Planing Mills were founded about 1882, by Messrs. Mathers, Buck- ingham & Ziegler, and for a time did a large business, employing a considerable force of hands. The plant was situated on the northeast corner of West Court and West Streets.

The Steam Planing Mills were built by Mr. Hugh Wilson, on North Main Street, and for a number of years conducted a large and success- ful business.

The South Side Planing Mill Company was established by Mr. James A. Cook in 1892. In 1900 the plant was destroyed by fire, but was immediately rebuilt. The company Is doing a large and successful business.

698

HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.

Jacksonville Sand-Cement Company .- The Jack- sonville Sand-Cement Brick Company filed a certificate of incorporation in the Recorder's office August 30, 1905. The commissioners of in- corporation were Robert R. Buckthorpe, Wil- liam H. Cocking and Thomas H. Buckthorpe. The object of the company is the manufacture and sale of sand-cement brick, blocks and posts, and general concrete work. The capital stock is $6,000, and the pro rata value per share $10, the whole number of shares being six hundred. The duration of the corporation is twenty-five years. The directors are: William H. Cocking, Robert R. Buckthorpe, William J. Moore, Thomas H. Buckthorpe, Frank Fanning, Luther E. Smith and William W. Gillham.

Brick Manufacture .- The Jacksonville Brick Works represents one of the earliest in- dustries of Jacksonville. It was founded as early as 1845, by the late John Mathers. After him the business passed successively into the management of Mr. Becraft, Messrs. Conlon and Gorham. In 1881 it was purchased by Mr. H. M. Whitmer. The present owner is Mr. Edward Whitmer. The plant is now being operated un- der a lease by Walton & Company, under incor- poration. The business has grown to very large proportions and excellence, the annual output being about 250,000,000 brick. The product in. cludes a high quality of building. side-walk and street-paving brick.

The business of brick manufacture is also largely carried on by Messrs. Benjamin J. Miller Patrick Kiloran and William Tendick.

Monuments .- A large monument business is conducted by Mr. Harvey Rowe, and Messrs. Raeder and Nunes.

Artificial Stone .- The Hoffman Otis Concrete Block Company is one of the latest manufactur- ing industries introduced into Jacksonville, and promises to become one of the most useful and profitable.

Miscellaneous Manufactures .- A number of the minor manufacturing enterprises of Jackson- ville have been projected from time to time, some of which were conducted successfully, but have been discontinued. Among such was Mr. J. L. Padgett's Jacksonville Shirt Factory, which began on a small scale, but soon grew to considerable proportions, employing a number of persons and had a wide field of customers.

Messrs. C. H. Dunbrack & Co. manufactured a very popular line of gents' furnishing goods that were distributed in large quantities from Iowa to Texas.

Mr. Dunbrack also conducted a Broom Fac- tory for a time.

Messrs. E. Hamilton & Son were manufactur- ers of fine candies and confectioneries of all kinds, and for a time did a large business.

A paper barrel factory was conducted for a short time.

Besides the foregoing, there are a number of manufacturing branches carried on in Jackson- ville of considerable value and profit, and worthy of mention if the information had been obtained.

Board of Local Improvement .- The Board of Local Improvement consists of the Mayor, Street Commissioner, and City Engineer. At this time (1905) it is composed of John R. Davis, Mayor; W. J. Harney, Street Commis- sioner; and John L. Smetters, City Engineer.

Business Men's Association .- The officers of the Business Men's Association of Jacksonville, at this time (1905) are: John A. Ayers, President; Charles A. Barnes and E. S. Greenleaf, Vice- Presidents: R. A. Gates, Secretary; and E. E. Crabtree, Treasurer.

Telephone Companies -- Central Union .- The tele- phone was introduced into Jacksonville at first by several gentlemen as a private enterprise. Among that number were the officers of the Jacksonville National Bank, Messrs. Fitzsim- mons and Kreider, Dr. H. F. Carriel, Dr. P. G. Gillett and Dr. W. H. H. King. After a short time the Central Union (Bell) Company estab- lished the Jacksonville Exchange. That Com- pany is now engaged in a complete transforma- tion of their present plant, installing new mate- rial, and the latest and best appliances, through- out, at an outlay of eighty thousand dollars. The exchange now has twelve hundred subscribers.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Morgan County, Part 139

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn; Short, William F., 1829- 4n Publication date: 1906 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1286

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn; Short, William F., 1829- 4n
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1286