Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Part 189

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913; Gale, W. Shelden
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1388

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WILLIAMSON, FRANK M .; Farmer; Cedar Township, where he was born, November 9, 1849; educated in the common schools. His parents, James and Safrona (Bland) William- son, were both natives of Indiana. Mr. Will- iamson's father came from Sangamon County, Illinois, to Knox County in 1833. He had nine sons. May 28, 1874, Frank M. Williamson married in Galesburg his first wife, Margaret Warren; they had five chil- dren: Warren, Elsie, George, Maud and Mag- gie. The first Mrs. Williamson died in 1889, and October 15, 1891, Mr. Williamson married his second wife, Nettie Goddard, in Warren County; she was a daughter of Robert God- dard. They had two children: Ruby and Pearl. Mr. Williamson is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics, he is a repub- lican, and was elected Justice of the Peace three terms; the first time was during Governor Oglesby's last term of office.

CITY OF ABINGDON.

By Samuel T. Mosser.

Abingdon, the second city in Knox County in population and importance, was originally laid out in 1836, by Abraham Davis Swarts, on the southwest quarter of Section 33, Township 10 North, Range 1 East, its southern boundary being at first coincident with that of the town- ship.

Mr. Swarts came to Illinois from Abingdon, Harford County, Maryland, in 1821, and at first settled near Walnut Hill, Jefferson County. Eight years later he removed to the present site of Monmouth, and soon afterwards (in August, 1829) settled on a farm about three miles north of the present city of Abingdon. In 1833, he took up his residence on the northeast quarter of Sec- tion 32, the present site of Abingdon Cemetery, and at the same time purchased the southern half of Section 33. He was a man of means, for that time, public-spirited and philanthropic. It was one of his earliest and most cherished hopes to found a college at Abingdon, but he died before realizing his dream. His children, however, ultimately became leaders in a move-

ment to carry out his project. [See Hedding College.]

The first house to be built in the new town was the log cabin of Josiah Stillings, which stood on the southwest corner of Block 6. It was enlarged the following year, and in it A. Bowman and John W. Green opened the first store of the incipient village. Other early mer- cantile and manufacturing ventures are worthy of mention, as illustrating gradual growth.

Mr. Swarts early conveyed four lots to David Reece, on condition that he should open a shop for the manufacture of furniture. Mr. Reece used a portion of his dwelling house for this purpose, and it was at his home that his son, Alonzo N., was born in 1838, and where his son, Dr. Madison Reece, was reared. The first named enjoys the distinction of having been the first white child born within the present corporate limits. Directly south of the furniture shop James Smith opened the first shoe shop, about 1838. The original blacksmith, Abraham Swarts Nichols, located his shop on the north- east corner of the same block, No. 6. Ahout the year 1839 Cornelius and James Dempsey built a carding mill on the southwest corner of Block No. 4. After operating it for a short time they disposed of the plant to T. S. Bas- sett. He failed to make it earn a profit, and transformed it into a planing mill, doing a re- munerative business in the manufacture of sashes, blinds and doors. With the growth of the demand for building material, a saw mill and a brick yard became necessities. A. D. Swarts and Josiah Stillings were the first to erect the former, on the Berwick road, some four miles west of Abingdon, and a second saw mill was built not many years afterward, by John E. Chesney. Cager Creel and O. P. Swarts established the first brick yard, in 1842, about one-half mile north of the site of Hedding Col- lege.

John E. and J. B. F. Chesney were both among the early settlers, and the latter is cred- ited with having been among the first to invent the modern plow. Early in the forties, a Mr. Cochran began making pumps from hewn logs, the tubing being of hickory and the stock of white oak. The first flouring mill was built in 1856, by Barr and Hoffman. It stood on the corner of Jefferson and Pearl streets, and was subsequently sold to John W. Thompson, who transferred the business to Roseville.

The settlement began to grow very early in its history. In 1837 an auction sale of lots was

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held, and not less than forty were sold. In- corporation as a village did not follow for sev- eral years. Unfortunately the records of that event have been lost; but it occurred about 1845. The first addition was laid out April 2, 1849, by Frederic Snyder. It was on the south, and lay within the northeast quarter of Section 4 of Indian Point Township. Three others were laid out in 1854, two by Mr. Snyder and one by Mr. Swarts. Others were platted in 1855 by Messrs. Swarts and Wilson, and three more by Mr. Sny- der, in 1856.

In 1857 Abingdon was incorporated as a city, the several additions mentioned being all in- cluded within the corporate limits. The charter was approved February 13, 1857, and the first election held April 21, following. The provis- ions of the instrument reflected the moral senti- ment of the people, gaming houses, saloons, and even billiard tables falling under the ban of prohibition. The legislative power is vested in a Board of four Aldermen who, as well as the Mayor, hold office for one year. A list of the city's chief executives, with the dates of their respective terms, is given below:

W. H. Gillespie, 1857-58-60 and '64; Thaddeus Merrill, 1859; Henry Frey, 1861-62-67 and '77; D. D. Shoop, 1863; A. J. Thompson, 1865; S. M. Lewis, 1866; C. C. Lewis, 1868; William M. Yeatch. 1869-70 and '84; J. B. Strode, 1871-72; Abner Vickery, 1873-74 and '78; William John- ston, 1875-80; H. C. Murphy, 1876; John Mosser, 1879-81-88 and '91; William B. Main, 1882; Thomas Newell, 1883 and '87; William V. Tro- villo, 1885-86; J. F. Latimer, 1889; S. D. Hall, 1890; Thomas Austin, 1892 and '98; H. R. Crouch, 1893-94; John G. Burnaugh, 1895; Cor- liss G. Mosser, 1896-97; James Richey, 1899.

A postoffice was opened in 1863, and Mr. A. D. Swarts was the first postmaster. He named it Harford, after the county in Maryland from which he had emigrated, just as he had called the town Abingdon in honor of his early home. In order to avoid confusion, however, both postoffice and village were later given the same name. Mr. Swarts was succeeded by D. Reece, and he by the following list of incumbents: S. H. Richey, W. Shannon, B. Bradbury, W. D. Lomax, Jesse Chesney, A. B. Cochran, T. E. Givens, William M. Veatch, S. McWilliams and J. W. Maginnis.

The early years of the young city's history were marked by prosperity. As early as 1851, brick came into use in the building of stores, the first, of this material, being erected by J.

B. F. Chesney on the northeast corner of Main and Martin streets. In 1853, the second brick store building was erected by D. K. Hardin, on the northwest corner of Main and Martin streets. In 1870, John H. Chesney, who occu- pied this building, built his new brick store building joining this on the north, which was the beginning of the brick block on the west side of Main street. At the same time the Masonic building was erected, also the next building north, by F. P. Foltz, and still another by Henry Frey. The largest store of this period was that of John H. Chesney, who had three rooms connected. There is no doubt but that he did the largest retail business of anyone who has ever done business in Abingdon. In the following year, 1871, Lyman Sanderson erected two more brick store buildings joining Frey's on the north. The first one was occu- pied by S. D. Pollock as a drug store; the other by John Mosser as a general store. In 1873, the corner-stone was laid for the new building of Hedding College; the brick store building of W. H. Heller, and numerous residences were built the same year.

In 1855, Abingdon was made a station on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, and twenty-eight years later the Iowa Central line also passed through the place. These circum- stances not a little added to its commercial im- portance in the surrounding country. During the Civil War, however, building was compara- tively at a standstill, the perpetuity of the Union, enlistments, and the success and com- fort of the soldiers at the front engrossing pub- lic thought and care. Another, and later, hindrance to the city's prosperity happened in 1874, when the inhabitants separated into fac- tions concerning the internal dissensions in the management of Abingdon College. Citizens were hung in effigy, assaults were not infre- quent, and even the lives of some of the leaders on either side were threatened. In fact, there are those who opine that this factional fight actually turned back the city's progress by fif- teen years. Sidewalks fell into decay and were not repaired; weeds grew along the sides of the thoroughfares; no new buildings were erected, and even those standing failed to receive a sadly needed coat of paint.

Prior to this, however,-in 1869-a steam flouring mill was erected by Jefferson and James Dawdy. It was known as the "Highland Mills," and had a somewhat checkered existence. It was burned within a few months after com-

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pletion, rebuilt, and again partially wrecked by a boiler explosion, in 1874. It was repaired, but again burned to the ground, in 1882, and never rebuilt. Other manufacturing concerns located at Abingdon are the Animal Trap Company, the Abingdon Wagon Company, and the Globe Man- ufacturing Company's plant for the making of workingmen's clothing.

The first named of these three owes its origin to the invention of a mouse-trap by W. C. Hooker. The inventor, with John E. Cox and K. R. Marks, were the original incorporators, Messrs. Cox and Marks having closed out their profitable hardware business in order to em- bark in the enterprise. The beginning was very modest, but the growth has been rapid and steady. Their present factory, on Meek street, was erected in 1896, and is said to be the largest manufactory of traps in the world. The com- pany exports largely, both to Europe and to South America, and employs about a hundred workmen.

The Abingdon Wagon Company was removed from Clinton, Jowa, to Abingdon in 1895. To secure this removal an addition to the city was platted, east of the "Burlington" tracks, and the proceeds of the sale of lots was given as a bonus. The community has never had reason to regret the transaction. The present owners of the works are A. B. Spies and his four sons- Frank, William, Adam and Henry. Their large brick factory stands near the tracks, and about one hundred and twenty-five employes are en- gaged in making wagons and "bob" sleds.

The Globe Manufacturing Company began the making of workingmen's clothing in 1889. James W. Cox and Samuel T. Mosser are its proprietors, having started their factory work with only ten sewing machines. They were almost phenomenally successful from the start, and at present (1899) occupy a large two-story building and give employment to nearly or quite one hundred and twenty-five bands.

The other manufacturing industries of the city may be briefly enumerated: Abingdon Brick and Tile Company; Abingdon Paper Box Manufacturing Company; Hall Trap Company; Roller Grip Pencil Holder Company; the Cham- pion Display Rack Company.

A fire visited the city in February, 1899, lay- ing in ashes a considerable section of East Main street, but rebuilding commenced at once. Abingdon's citizens are enlightened, progres- sive and energetic, and a general system of im- provements, to conform with modern ideas, is

already under contemplation. A new building for city offices is nearing completion, and here the Public Library will find permanent quar- ters.

The institution last named was established in 1897, by popular vote, and has already played a prominent part as an educational factor.

Next to its prominence as a commercial and shipping point, Abingdon enjoys a justly earned fame as an educational center. Not only have its common schools been well maintained, but higher education has always been the ideal of its founders and most public spirited citizens. The first school house was built on land be- longing to A. D. Swarts, just north of the orig- inal town plat, in 1837. It was of the character incident to the days in which it was built, and the instruction given was in consonance with the surroundings and qualifications of the teacher. Abingdon being located in two town- ships, it has two school districts. In 1868, a large, two-story brick building was erected in North Abingdon, and the youthful mind may now be developed in a well-taught, graded school. The North Abingdon School has a corps of six teachers, in addition to a principal. South Abingdon also boasts a two-story brick school house, with a principal and three teach- ers. The latter building was erected in 1892, and both schools grant diplomas to graduates.

Opportunities for higher education were also afforded at a relatively early date in the town's history. Abingdon College was for years a school of excellent reputation, while Hedding College is a flourishing institution today. For a succinct history of these institutions the reader is referred to the captions Abingdon College and Hedding College. The former no longer exists, but its history is worth preserving and per- petuating.

The first denomination to organize a church was the Methodist Episcopal, and the first Pre- siding Elder was that famous circuit rider, exhorter, orator and patriot, Peter Cartwright. Regular services were held in the first rude school house, built in 1837, already mentioned. Mr. and Mrs. A. D. Swarts, with five other per- sons, constituted the first original membership (1833), and this devoted band was accustomed to meet at Mr. Swarts' log cabin; strong in faith and hope, but weak in all else. In 1846 they put up a building at the southwest corner of Block 11, two blocks south of the site of the present Methodist Church. After the building of Hedding Seminary, they used its chapel as a

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meeting place until 1868, when they bullt a two-story frame structure, which was then con- sidered a handsome edifice, reflecting credit upon the piety and liberality of the congre- gation. In 1898, under the pastorate of Dr. R. E. Buckey, a fine house of worship, of red gran- ite, was built and a large two-manual pipe organ installed. The present membership of the church exceeds five hundred. It is pro- gressive, and its power for good can scarcely be overestimated.

The Christian Church was organized by Elder Hiram Smith, in 1840, and its first building was erected in 1849. In 1885 they removed to the chapel of Abingdon College. The trouble which arose in that institution in 1874 rent the con- gregation in twain, part of the membership withdrawing and forming a new society, called the Jefferson Street Christian Church. These worshipped at first in the Protestant Methodist Church building, at that time idle, and after- wards moved to a small frame building on Washington street, which had been built by the Methodists in 1846. Here they remained until 1884, when the two congregations were re- united. Six years after the reunion, in 1890, a very handsome church was built on South Main street. The church is energetic and prosper- ous.

The First Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized in Cherry Grove, by Rev. James Stockton, in 1834. In 1866 the denomination erected a church edifice in Abingdon. This so- ciety was later changed to a Congregational church, which was organized in 1881. The so- ciety bought the Cumberland Presbyterian property, and in 1885 refitted the building, add- ing a lecture room. The house was again re- modeled in 1897, and a pipe organ placed in the church. The society is in a prosperous condi- tion.

The Protestant Methodists organized a so- ciety in 1839-40. They erected a frame structure about 1869. The membership fell off, and the sect has no longer an established place of wor- ship.

The Free Methodist Church was organized in 1880, by Rev. J. G. Terrell, with four members. The denomination never gained much in strength, and after a few years the local organ- ization disbanded.

At the regular election, in the Spring of 1897, the citizens voted to establish and maintain a public library. Although not much more than two years have elapsed since its founding, it

has greatly grown in favor and is largely pa- tronized by the citizens. It is expected that within a few years a permanent building will be erected, which will be an honor to the pro- jectors of the enterprise and a legitimate source of pride to the city.

Abingdon has a well managed volunteer fire department, organized in December, 1877, and consisting of an engine and a hook and ladder company, with a membership of about fifty. At the tournament held at Peoria in 1879, the Abingdon hook and ladder company won the State championship. The members of the de- partment are paid twenty-five cents each for at- tendance at a fire or a meeting.

The first newspaper published was the Abing- don Messenger, which was founded in 1856 by Chambers and White. Its publication was dis- continued after two years. The Nonpareil was published by D. H. Elliot, but lived only a year. The next paper to appear was the Reporter, which was conducted during 1861 and 1862 by C. C. Button. E. E. Chesney published the Ga- zette for a short time, and from 1869 to 1875 W. H. Heaton issued the Knox County Demo- crat. He sold the paper to H. C. Allen, who started the Knoxonian, which lived for about three years. The Educational Magazine, a thirty-two page paper, devoted to the interests of Abingdon College, was edited and founded by J. W. Butler in 1864-5. S. J. Clark and J. S. Badger founded the Abingdon Leader in 1874, but discontinued its publication after about a year. In 1875 Frank L. Ritchey issued the first number of the Abingdon Express. This was a small sheet at the beginning, but gradually grew in size. It died within ten years. Charles K. Bassett, who, when a boy of sixteen years, had printed a small sheet, three inches square, which he called the "Amateur News," began the publication of the Abingdon Register in 1877. It appeared for several years, when it was discontinued. The Enterprise was estab- lished in 1880, by J. C. Cromer, who sold it, in 1884, to J. N. Reed and R. E. Pendarvis. Charles A. Murdock bought the paper in 1893, and one year later disposed of it to M. A. Cleveland and E. M. Killough. Mr. Killough had before this (in 1892) founded the Herald, and the two papers were consolidated, under the name of the Enterprise-Herald. This paper is still pub- lished. Abingdon has also two other journals, the Argus and the Kodak. The former first appeared on March 8, 1882, the proprietors be- ing W. H. Clark and William Purdue. Mr.

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Purdue withdrew from the firm in 1883, since which date Mr. Clark has edited the paper and conducted the business alone. The Kodak is a journal of neat typographical appearance, and was started by Jesse C. Shoop in 1897.

The city's banking facilities are good, there being two solid financial institutions; the First National Bank and the private banking house of J. Mosser and Company. The latter was opened in 1895, and Mr. Mosser is highly es- teemed as a sagacious, conservative business man.

The People's Bank was opened December 1, 1879, with an authorized capital of $30,000. M. C. Bates was President, and J. B. Mackey, cashier. In December, 1882, its capital was in- creased to $50,000, and in 1885 it was changed to the First National Bank of Abingdon. This institution nas done a successful business ever since it was organized, and is today recognized as one of the leading banks of the county, hav- ing over $200,000 on deposit. The present offi- cers are: Thomas Newell, President; J. F. Lat- imer, Vice President; Orion Latimer, Cashier.

Abingdon has had two other banking institu- tions, but both have gone into voluntary liqui- dation. T. H. and Strawther Givens, with J. M. Dawdy, engaged in banking under the firm name of Givens, Dawdy and Company, in 1873. In 1878 the business was reorganized and the Union Bank of Abingdon incorporated, with M. C. Bates as President, and Strawther Givens as Cashier. It went into liquidation in 1886. The Abingdon Safety Bank, incorporated under the State law, was organized in 1892, with a capital of $25,000. M. Reece was President, and Jesse Barlow Cashier. It went into liquidation in 1896.

It is impossible to give the name of the first physician who located in Abingdon. Some say a man by the name of Golladay was the first, but the memory of the old settlers is so treach- erous that it is difficult to make a positive statement. It is said that Doctors Garfield and Hubbard located here in 1841, and that in 1846 Dr. W. H. Heller moved to Abingdon. He is now in active practice, having been over a half century in his chosen profession in one local- ity. Dr. Madison Reece, a son of David Reece, one of the early settlers in the village, won great renown as a physician. He studied medi- cine with Dr. Heller, went to the army and was promoted to the rank of Major, and after the war settled in Abingdon for the practice of his profession. He was known all over the Mili-

tary Tract, and probably no physician in cen- tral Illinois enjoyed a larger practice. The present physicians are W. H. Heller, C. F. Brad- way, Jesse Rowe, F. B. Dickinson, T. W. David- son and J. S. Cannon.

Among the very old residents of Abingdon is Dennis Clark, who settled here back in the thirties. He held the office of County Judge for over twenty years and now lives a quiet and retired life at his residence in South Abingdon.

Population, 1899, estimated, twenty-eight hun- dred.

ABINGDON COLLEGE.

By A. P. Aten.

The preliminary work that resulted in the founding of Abingdon College began in April, 1853, when P. H. Murphy and J. C. Reynolds taught a select school in a rented building on Main street, in Abingdon. In the Fall of the same year it became Abingdon Academy, with a Board of Trustees. Early in 1854, a new brick building, now known as the old college building, was begun, the contract being given to Jesse Perdue in consideration of ten thousand dollars. In February, 1855, the institution was char- tered as Ahingdon College, and in January, 1856, removed into the new building and began work with a faculty composed of P. H. Murphy, President; J. C. Reynolds, Professor of Ancient Languages; J. W. Butler, Professor of Mathe- matics, and an efficient corps of assistants. This faculty continued without material change until 1858, when J. C. Reynolds resigned and A. J. Thompson became Professor of Ancient Lan- guages. President Murphy was removed by death in 1860, and J. W. Butler was chosen to succeed him. William Griffin about that time became Professor of Mathematics. Judge Der- ham was shortly afterwards added to the Fac- ulty as Professor of Science, S. P. Lucy as Pro- fessor of Elocution, and Albert Linn as Profes- sor of Mathematics in place of Mr. Griffin, who had resigned. In 1868, A. P. Aten was chosen Professor of Belles Lettres, and Professor Lucy retired, to accept other work, succeeding Pro- fessor Derham in the chair of Science, however, in 1871. The Faculty as thus constituted con- tinued until 1874, when President Butler, with Professors Lucy and Aten, retired on account of some internal troubles that threatened the life of the college.

In 1868, what is known as the new building was erected at a cost of forty thousand dollars, and was occupied early in the next year. A

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period of great prosperity now began, which continued for six years, after which its de- cadence was equally well marked.

In 1874 Oval Pirkey became President, hold- ing the position for one year. He was succeeded by Clark Braden. All efforts to revive the col- lege seemed unavailing until after F. M. Bruner assumed the presidency, in 1877. He became sole owner of the institution, by purchase, in 1880, and continued at its head until 1885, in which year negotiations were successfully con- cluded by which Abingdon College was united with Eureka College, and its alumni were rec- ognized for all practical purposes as alumni of the last named institution. Not long after- wards the Abingdon College property passed into the hands of Professor Summers, of Kan- sas, who established a school known as Abing- don College Normal, which existed for several years. In 1895, the property was purchased, through the efforts of President Evans, by Hed- ding College, and has since been owned by that institution, whose normal and musical depart- ments are conducted therein.

HEDDING COLLEGE.

By J. G. Evans.

Abraham Swarts, who laid out the town of Abingdon, in 1836, contemplated the founding of a college, but did not live to realize his ideal. His sons, Oregon P. and Rev. Benjamin C. Swarts, and his daughter, Mrs. Thomas R. Wil- son, were so impressed with his plans that they embraced the first opportunity to lead in such a movement.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Part 189

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913; Gale, W. Shelden Publication date: 1899 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1388

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913; Gale, W. Shelden
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1388