USA > Illinois > Warren County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Warren County, Volume II > Part 80
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A religious society called the Church of God worships in a church on the southeast corner of Section 10. The society grew out of a Sun- day school that was organized by Mr. Colter and Jehu Bailey about the year 1860, prior to which time there were no religious organiza- tions in that part of the township. The church was organized by Rudolph White, who was the first pastor. Others of the pastors have been Rev. Thomas De Shiria, Rev. I. E. Boyer, W. B. Allen, and the present pastor, Rev. H. W. Kruzan. Among the charter members of the church were Jehu Bailey and family, Robert and Charles Smith and families, I. W. Mayfield and family, D. C. Swiler and family, John Cannon and wife, Hugh Dodd and wife, Gilbert McFarland and family, John Simcox and fam- ily, and others. The present membership is not large. For a time the organization wor-
shipped in the school house of District No. 4, but in 1869 the present house of worship was erected at a cost of about $1,600. It is 28 by 40 feet in size.
The latest report of the County Superintend- ent shows that there are ten school districts, with eleven buildings, one brick and ten frame. There are two graded schools, one at Alexis and the other at Gerlaw. Four male teachers are paid wages ranging from $35 to $90, and den female teachers from $30 to $45. There are 252 males of school age, with a like num- ber enrolled in the schools, and 232. females of school age with 222 enrolled. Three school libraries are reported, with 325 books, valued at $150. The tax levy for schools is $9,025; the value of school property is $9,450; the value of school apparatus, $520; and the bonded debt, $600.
According to the assessment roll for 1901 there were in the township 1060 horses, 2377 cattle, 47 mules and asses, 138 sheep and 2637 hogs. The total value of personal property was $500,085, and the assessed valuation was $100,- 032. The assessed valuation of lands was $235,520, and of lots $42,425.
The population of the township in 1900, in- cluding the part of Alexis village in the town- ship, was 1,540, an increase of 115 over 1890, when it was 1,425.
ALEXIS.
This thriving little village enjoys the dis- tinction of being situated in two counties, War- ren and Mercer, and in four townships, Spring Grove and Kelly in Warren county, and Suez and North Henderson in Mercer county. The town as originally laid out was on the north- east quarter of Section 1 in Spring Grove. It was surveyed September 7, 1870, by County Surveyor Thomas S. Mcclanahan, on land owned by Robert Holloway and J. E. Alexander. Schuyler Palmer originally owned the land, living in a house on the east side of where Main street now is, and near the county line. He sold to Thomas Lawhead, Sr., and he to Messrs. Holloway and Alexander. The town was named Alexandria in honor of Mr. Alexan- der, but in 1872 the Grand Duke Alexis of Russia visited the United States, and in his honor, it is said, the name of the village was changed to Alexis.
The first house was moved into the village
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
November 20, 1870, and the first store was opened the same month by O. G. Chapman and Charles W. Gates. The railroad was com- pleted into Alexis about the first of January following, and upon the first train north J. E. Alexander moved his goods up from Monmouth and established the station. He served as sta- tion and express agent for a number of years, then studied law and was admitted to the bar, commencing his practice in Alexis, but remov- ing to Monmouth to continue it in 1883.
The Alexis postoffice was established January 17, 1871, with O. G. Chapman as postmaster. He served until 1885, when he was succeeded by Charles E. Bellinger, who gave way to C. E. Johnson in 1889, and he to D. Shunick in 1893. The present incumbent of the office is W. A. McKnight, who was appointed in 1897. During Shunick's term the office was raised to third class, but dropped down to fourth, then in 1898 was raised to third again. It has also been made recently an international money order office. The office pays $1200 a year. Rural Route No. 1, from Alexis postoffice, was established Nov. 1, 1900.
The town grew rapidly, and at a special elec- tion held by order of the County court in Churchill & Wray's hall on March 31, 1873, the incorporation of the village was decided on by a vote of 42 to 10. The court then ordered an election of trustees on June 28, with Thomas Loveridge, W. T. Richardson and Robert T. Wray as judges, and John Douglas and M. W. Hall as clerks. The election resulted in the choice of A. G. Talbot, O. E. Bugbee, O. G. Chapman, J. C. Blayney, and James Loveridge. These trustees completed the organization of the village government July 28, by electing J. C. Blayney president of the board; John Douglass, clerk; Major Charles E. Johnson, treasurer; and H. R. Gilliland, street commis- sioner. The present village officers are: W. H. Schreitling, president of the board; W. M. Humphreys, clerk; W. G. Stevenson, treasurer; William Metzner, marshal, street commissioner and sexton; C. A. Boggs, water superintendent; James I. Porter, fire marshal; Dr. E. S. Win- bigler, health officer. The presidents of the vil- lage board have been: J. C. Blayney, 1873-74; J. E. Lafferty, 1875; Peter Bogue, 1876; J. E. Lafferty, 1877; Peter Bogue, 1878; C. W. Pos- tlewait, 1879; R. W. Wray, 1880-81; N. P. Bruington, 1882-85; Perry Anderson, 1886; Thomas Loveridge, 1887; J. C. Blayney, 1888-89;
Perry Anderson, 1890; N. P. Bruington, 1891; W. H. Brown, 1892; C. W. Postlewait, 1893; C. E. Johnson, 1894-1900; T. R. Squires, 1901; W. H. Schreitling, 1902. The clerks have been: John Douglass, 1873; J. C. Graham, 1874; T. B. Patterson, 1875-87; F. S. Talbot, 1888-89; M. C. Porter, 1890; Ben Hesser, 1891; Isaac Marks, 1892-93; T. R. Ferguson, 1894-96; Isaac Marks, 1897-1901; W. M. Humphreys, 1902.
The village owns its own waterworks,-a well and stand tower, with a limited amount of mains and five fire hydrants. The system was put in in 1895 and 1896, and cost the village about $5,500. There are about forty consumers, using a daily average of about 600 barrels. The pumping is done by the owners of the electric light plant.
Alexis has an efficient fire department or- ganized January 26, 1896, of which the officers are: J. I. Porter, chief; Wm. Robinson, fore- man; Will Harkrader, assistant foreman; Oliver Perkins, secretary and treasurer. The department has good fire apparatus.
Alexis has had several quite serious fires. One during the night of January 24, 1878, destroyed several buildings on the west side of Main street, and one May 8, 1879, took several more on the east side. March 20, 1890, four business houses were destroyed. Most of the business houses now are brick structures, substantially built, and giving an air of pride and pros- perity to the street. The plant of the Alexis Pottery Company was destroyed September 13, 1900, the village sustaining a serious and per- manent loss. The railroad station was struck by lightning the night of May 23, 1902, and totally destroyed.
N. P. Bruington is the owner of the electric light plant system in Alexis. The plant was put in during 1895 and furnishes about 1200 lights. The electric lighting machinery also aces the pumping for the village waterworks.
The Alexis Telephone Company was organ- ized in the summer of 1900, and began operation in August or the first of September. It is a mutual affair, aiming to charge for service only a sufficient sum to meet the operating expenses. The system now comprises about 90 phones in town, and nineteen farmers' lines with termi- nals in the Alexis exchange and averaging 14 phones to the line. The president of the com- pany is W. H. Schreitling, W. A. Mcknight is vice president, and W. G. Stevenson is secre- tary and treasurer.
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
The Alexis Band was organized in 1876, though few of the original members are now ยท identified with the organization. The band consists of 16 players, and they have the fol- lowing officers: J. I. Porter, president; W. H. Harkrader, vice president; M. C. Porter, sec- retary; Lee Graham, manager; A. Weed, con- ductor and treasurer.
The Alexis opera house was erected by W. S. Weir in the summer of 1889, and formally opened by the May Bretonne Co. November 21 of that year. W. G. Stevenson is manager of the house.
The first school in Alexis was carried on in a small building which now belongs to the United Brethren society and stands near their house of worship, being used as a residence. In 1874 a fine two story school building was erected at a cost of $2,600, which though in a badly dilapidated condition is still being used. Recently also the old United Brethren church on an adjoining lot has been used in order to supply the room necessary for carrying on the school work. A fine brick school house is now in course of erection and will be ready for the fall of 1903 if not earlier. It will have six rooms and a large auditorium which may be made into two school rooms if it is found neces- sary, and is built on the center of the south half of the block on which the old building is situated. It will cost about $16,000. Laugh- ead & Burns are the contractors, and Alexis brick is being used. The instructors for the year 1902-03 are: W. R. Ferster, principal; Elizabeth Hannon, grammar; Pearl L. Mullen, primary; Eva Renwick, second primary.
The population of Alexis in 1900 was 915, of whom 246 were on the Warren county side of the line and 246 on the Mercer county side.
CHURCHES.
The United Presbyterian church of Alexis was organized by Rev. J. M. Henderson June 19, 1871, with twenty-five members,-Marve McClanahan, Mrs. Belle McClanahan, Mrs. Elizabeth Hogue, Francis Hogue, Thomas Fer- guson, Mrs. Mary J. Ferguson, Alonzo A. Elder, Mrs. Sarah E. Elder, R. J. Laughead, Mrs. M. J Laughead, C. C. Graham, Mrs. Mary J. Graham, Dr. J. F. McCutchan, Mrs. M. J. Sa- lina McCutchan, Thomas A. Laughead, Mrs. Mary Laughead, Samuel Laughead, Mrs. Anna Laughead, Wiliam A. Elder, Mrs. A. J. Elder,
Seaman Graham, Mrs. Emma J. Graham, Sarah A. Laughead, J. C. Graham, Mrs. Elizabeth Graham. Dr. McCutchan and William A. Elder were the ruling elders. Mr. Henderson sup- plied the church for a year, and was followed in turn by Dr. A. M. Black, and Dr. James I. Doig. Rev. M. F. McKirahan, now of Topeka, Kansas, was the first regular pastor, and those serving in that capacity since are Rev. J. D. Palmer, 1884-88; Rev. Andrew Renwick, 1888- 94; Rev. J. P. Gibson, 1895-97; and Rev. S. V. Kyle, the present pastor, who was installed in January, 1898. The congregation held its early meetings in a school house near the village. A pleasant house of worship was erected in 1873 at a cost of $3,100, but this gave place in 1900 to a handsome and modern edifice, built at a cost of $7,000. The congregation also owns a parsonage. The present membership of the congregation is 148.
The Presbyterian church was organized May 29, 1883, by Rev. J. T. Whittemore, with 65 members. The meeting was held in the United Brethren church. Soon after organizing the congregation purchased the building formerly used by the Baptist church, which had been dissolved, paying $1,200 for it and expending $800 additional in remodeling it so as better to suit their needs. In 1894 the building was again remodeled, and is a very attractive place of worship. Rev. W. J. Palm was the first settled pastor, and since him there have been Rev. R. G. Williams, Rev. M. R. Baer, and Rev. J. T. Fulton, the present pastor. The church now has a membership of 205.
The Church of the United Brethren in Christ was organized at the Mohler School house, southwest of town, in the winter of 1859, by Rev. David F. Baer, with about forty members. Some of the first members were A. J. Ritchey, Mary Ritchey, David Swiler, Cather- ine Swiler, John Line, Mary Line, and others. Of these only Mary Ritchey and Mary Line re- main. In the spring of 1871, after the town of Alexis was laid out, this society was trans- ferred to Alexis, and worshiped for a while in the little school house. In 1872 they erected the first house of worship in the village at a cost of $2,250. In 1892 the present neat and commodious house of worship was erected at a cost of about $3,500. The following ministers have served the congregation as pastor: Rev. D. F. Baer, P. R. Adams, J. P. Warnum, W. B. Shinn, G. H. Varce, Stahl. - Spur-
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
lock, Orrin Dilley, D. F. Baer (second .time), H. F. Kline, B. W. Bowman, E. H. Shuey, M. H. Sly, D. E. Baer, J. B. King, Nettie Moore, D. C. Westfall, J. E. Barr, D. C. Warren, W. L. Tyler, and J. M. Poulton, the present pastor, who took charge in September, 1901. The pres- ent membership of the church is 167.
The Christian church of Alexis, was the re- sult of a six weeks' meeting under the auspices of the state board of the Christian Church, held by Knox P. Taylor and Rev. J. T. Alsup. The organization was perfected in March, 1897, with about forty-five members, the first meetings being held in the opera house. A handsome church of modern design was erected the fol- lowing season and dedicated May 1, 1898, by Professor Harding of Eureka College. It cost about $3,500. Rev. A. M. Hale served as pastor of the church two years from its organization ; Rev. C. C. Spencer following him for about the same length of time, then Rev. G. E. Scherrer serving for about nine months. At the pres- ent time the church is without a regular pas- tor. E. C. Pettit is president of the official. board, and Mrs. Lucy Jackson of North Hender- son is clerk. The church has a membership of sixty.
The Baptist church was organized July 4, 1868, at Spring Grove school house, and after- wards removed to Alexis, where in 1875 a neat church was built at a cost of $3,000. The mem- bers were few at the start, consisting of the family of Thomas Dunn, L. A. Palmer and a few others. In 1883 they sold their church building to the Presbyterians and disbanded their organization.
The first meetings of the Methodist society were held in a grove in 1871, and afterwards meetings were held in a hall, then in the build- ings of sister church organizations. Meetings were kept up for a number of years, and the society at one time had as high as 35 or 40 members. It disbanded a number of years ago, the members generally going into other church organizations.
Soon after the establishing of the town, the Catholics began holding services in Alexis. In 1877 they erected a neat frame building at a cost of about $3,000, and it is still used as a place of worship by these people. It is known as St. Theresa's church, and belongs to the Monmouth charge. A priest from that city con- ducts services here regularly.
SECRET AND BENEFIT ORDERS.
The oldest of the secret societies in Alexis is Alexandria Lodge No. 702, A. F. and A. M., instituted October 8, 1872, with eleven charter members. The lodge was named after John E. Alexander, the founder of the village, and he was the first Worshipful Master. John H. Mc- Grew was senior warden and Joseph R. Scott junior warden. The other charter members were Notley Scott, Thomas Loveridge, R. T. Wray, P. D. Scott, G. B. Dodge, Truman Lord, W. A. Jackson and Ephraim Hammack. The present membership is fifty-three, and the of- ficers are: Fred H. Blayney, W. M .; R. H. Davis, S. W .; Charles Smith, J. W .; R. H. Allgrer, treasurer; J. B. Porter, secretary.
Alexis Lodge No. 526, I. O. O. F., was organ- ized October 1, 1873, and received its charter the 15th of the same month. The charter mem- bers were Thomas M. Bell, J. H. McGrew, Daniel Churchill, John N. Carr, and R. T. Wray. Mr. Bell was the first Noble Grand. The pres- ent membership is seventy-five, and the of- ficers are: L. F. Davis, N. G .; Frank E. Smith, V. G .; John Whissen, Secretary; R. H. Davis, Treasurer. The hall occupied by this lodge' was burned in the fire of 1878, and all the rec- ords, furniture and regalia were lost.
A Rebekah Degree lodge was organized in connection with the Odd Fellows' organization March 29, 1893, by representatives from the lodge at Monmouth. It is now defunct.
Alexis Lodge No. 513, Knights of Pythias, was instituted March 20, 1895, by A. B. Holli- day, and a degree team from the lodge at Mon- mouth. There were thirty-six members, with the following as the first officers: Past Chan- cellor, A. L. Dunn; Chancellor Commander, W. H. Schreitling; Vice Chancellor, Scott E. Anders; Prelate, C. W. Postlewaite; Master of Work, R. H. Davis; Master of Finance, J. A. Blayney; Master at Arms, T. B. Campbell; Keeper of Records and Seal, Geo. Benn; Inner Guard, H. D. Winbigler; Outer Guard, Geo. Kline; Trustees, H. Souster, C. W. Postlewaite, E. S. Winbigler. The lodge has held but few meetings since its organization and is practi- cally out of existence.
Grand Union No. 10, of the Ideal Union Ben- efit Society, was organized February 5, 1901, by Grand Secretary J. H. Wallis, of Knox- ville, Ill., with a membership of about forty- five. The first officers were: R. G. Armstrong,
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
Director; Rev. G. E. Scherrer, Vice Director; A. G. Terpening, Past Director; W. H. Hark- rader, Secretary; Ira F. Smith, Treasurer; Mrs. W. H. Metzner, Chaplain; Geo. T. Reed, Marshal; Arthur Scott, Sentinel. The lodge has enjoyed a phenomenal growth, having at the close of the first year gained almost one hundred members. Its present membership is 142, representing insurance to the amount of $239,500. The present officers are: W. H. Harkrader, Director; W. H. Brown, Vice Dir- ector; Mrs. G. T. Reed, Past Director; R. O. Casson, Secretary; Ira T. Smith, Treasurer.
Norwood Home Tribunal No. 67, Fraternal Tribunes, was organized April 26, 1899, with twenty-four charter members, and was officered as follows: Past Chief Tribune, J. G. Watt; Chief Tribune, A. C. Simpson; Vice Chief Tri- bune, John Clark; Secretary, W. A. Greene; Treasurer, R. F. Dennison; Sergeant at Arms, Lola A. Simpson; Guard, Lineas A. Simpson; Sentinel, C. M. Simpson; Trustees, G. P. Her- bert, C. A. Remsburg, J. A. Bennett. The Tri- bunal now has thirty-four members, carrying $40,000 of insurance. The officers at present are: Past Chief Tribune, G. P. Herbert; Chief Tribune, J. W. Hight; Vice Chief Tribune, L. . L. Boggs; Secretary, F. A. Boggs; Treasurer, Samuel Loveridge.
Alexis Lodge No. 96, Mystic Workers, was or- ganized in June, 1897, with forty members, and now has a membership of sixty. Four death and one accident benefits have been paid to its members. The officers are: R. I. Smi- lie, Prefect; W. H. Philleo, Secretary; D. E. Donley, Attorney; R. I. Smilie, Banker.
Court of Honor No. 204 was organized Octo- ber 30, 1896, with forty-one charter members. The present membership is thirty-one, and the officers are: J. I. Porter, Chancellor: Mary Walters, Vice Chancellor; R. I. Smilie, Record- ing Secretary; J. I. Postlewaite, Treasurer.
Camp No. 721 of the Modern Woodmen of America was organized September 21, 1888, with twenty-three charter members and C. W. Postlewaite as Venerable Consul. The present membership is 114, and the officers are: W. H. Marks, V. C .; Frank Smith, Advisor; W. H. Bell, Banker; R. I. Smilie, Clerk.
There was also a Home Forum lodge in Alexis during the balmy days of the order, but it is now defunct.
Talbot Post No. 694, of the Grand Army of the Republic, was organized March 6, 1890, by
C. B. Bristol, of Monmouth, as mustering offi- cer, assisted by G. A. Schussler, J. W. Morgan and George Nichols, of Monmouth. Twenty-five old soldiers signed the muster roll, and they gave the name to the post in honor of Hon. A. J. Talbot, a member of the Eighty-third Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry. The first officers of the post were: C. E. Johnson, Commander; Thomas Loveridge and James Perkins, Vice Commanders; Dr. J. P. McClanahan, Surgeon; Rev. A. Renwick, Chaplain; J. A. Wallace, Ad- jutant; H. B. Ariel, Quartermaster; Joseph Wright, Officer of the Day; N. J. Nelson, Offi- cer of the Guard; William Metzner, Quarter- master Sergeant; M. McKelvey, Sergeant Maj- or. The Commanders since the organization of the post have been Major C. E. Johnson, Rev. Andrew Renwick, John Morford, Thomas Loveridge, D. M. Harkrader, William Filler, George Wallace, T. G. Brown. The present membership is thirty-two, and the officers are T. G. Brown, Commander; Wm. Filler and Nels Anderson, Vice Commanders; C. E. John- son, Quartermaster; J. F. McCutchan, Surgeon; George W. Wallace, Adjutant; Thomas Love- ridge, Chaplain; James Perkins, Officer of the Day; Wm. Metzner, Officer of the Guard; D. M. Harkrader, Sergeant Major.
Alexis Circle No. 16, Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic, was instituted by Mrs. Hubbard and Mrs. Walker, of Chicago, April 10, 1894, with twenty-one members. The offi- cers were: Mrs. C. E. Johnson, President; Mrs. J. F. McCutchan and Mrs. Newt Nelson, Vice Presidents; Mrs. D. M. Harkrader, Secre- tary; Miss Lena Brown, Treasurer; Mrs. Nels Anderson, Chaplain. The present membership is thirty-four, and the officers are: Mrs. Mat- tie Nelson, President; Mrs. T. M. Ingersoll and Mrs. M. A. Russell, Vice Presidents; Mrs. James Richardson, Secretary; Mrs. S. Roth- rock, Treasurer.
NEWSPAPERS.
The first newspaper in Alexis was The Alexis Journal, which was started by James Everett, February 13, 1874. It was a seven-column folio. In August, 1876, Mr. Everett sold the plant to Dr. A. H. Chaffee, a practicing physician in the village, who continued the publication of the paper until the close of volume 3, in February, 1877, when lack of patronage induced him to quit. A few weeks later, however, he resumed
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
publication, enlarging the paper to a five-col- umn quarto, and changing the name to The Alexis Index. The paper had a brief life.
The Alexis Argus was established February 14, 1886, by D. M. Harkrader, and it is still under his efficient management. It is a seven- column folio, and independent in politics.
The Alexis Visitor was established August 14, 1895, by Cabeen Bros., as The Warren-Mer- cer County Visitor, from the fact that it was published on the line between Warren and Mer- cer Counties. It was started as a seven-column folio. The Cabeens sold to G. E. Mitchell, and after a few months, on May 9, 1896, he disposed of the paper to D. E. Donly, who changed the name to The Alexis Visitor and still owns it. It was an independent paper until August 14, 1896, but since that time has advocated the principles of the Republican party.
BANKS.
The Bank of Alexis was opened for business October 1, 1877, with a capital of $25,000, to which has since been added a surplus of $25,- 000. WV. S. Weir was the president, with R. M. Stevenson as vice president, and W. G. Steven- son, cashier. On the death of W. S. Weir in the latter part of 1901, his son, W. B. Weir, became president. The latest statement issued by the bank showed loans and discounts amounting to $115,438.22; cash and cash items, $61,735.65; and deposits, $152,038.48.
The Farmers' Bank was organized in Octo- ber, 1890, with a capital stock of $20,000. The stockholders were William Lafferty, Sr., J. Ed- gar Lafferty, W. L. Lafferty, and Gustavus Bru- ington. June 6, 1894, the bank was changed into a national bank with the name, The First National Bank of Alexis. The capital stock was $50,000, and the organizers of the new bank were W. C. Tubbs, C. E. Johnson, C. A. Tubbs, Henry Tubbs, C. W. Postlewaite, W. L. Lafferty and N. P. Bruington. The present officers are: G. S. Tubbs, president; Charles E. Johnson, vice president; C. A. Tubbs, cash- ier; W. C. Annegers, assistant cashier. The bank has deposits of $135,000; the loans and discounts are $150,000, and the surplus and un- divided profits $15,000.
W. C. T. U.
The Woman's Christian Temperance Union was organized in March, 1880, but there is no
record to show how many members there were or who were the first officers. Mrs. Maggie Boggs is the present secretary.
MANUFACTORIES.
The Alexis Stoneware Manufacturing Co. was incorporated August 12, 1892, by Perry Anderson, Edward Blayney and others, with a capital stock of $20,000. A fine plant for manu- facturing stoneware was erected, and a good business was carried on until June, 1895, when because of differences among the stockholders the plant was shut down. January 31, 1896, the plant was sold at public auction and bought by D. J. Shaw, of Alexis, for $3,725.00. The company was then reorganized under the name of the Alexis Pottery Company, which was in- corporated February 25, 1896, and the pottery started operations under the new manage- ment April following. W. S. Weir, the Mon- mouth manufacturer, was one of the control- ling interests in the new company until July, 1899, when he sold his stock and established the Weir Pottery at Monmouth. The pottery was entirely destroyed by fire September 13, 1900, with a loss of about $25,000, and insur- ance of $18,000. The plant has never been re- built.
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