History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part 49

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. ; O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 948

USA > Illinois > Union County > History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois > Part 49
USA > Illinois > Pulaski County > History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois > Part 49
USA > Illinois > Alexander County > History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois > Part 49

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Dr. Janborn

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

when, after a thorough refitting with the most modern machinery, it was again de- stroyed by fire, the loss amounting to about $17,000 with $9,000 insured.

In the spring of 1867, Joseph Treese built the frame mills on the west side of the rail- road, on Lot 122. The mill was afterward sold to E. H. Finch, and subsequently re- turned to the ownership of the original pro- prietor, who made extensive improvements. On January 1, 1883, the mill was purchased by D. R. Lewis and Henry Lence, and under the name of the People's Mill is doing a prosperous business. It employs five men, and with four runs of stone makes thirty-five barrels of superior flour daily.

In 1874, Jesse Lentz and James De Witt built their extensive wagon, plow and repair shop on Lot 123, which is now doing a thriving business, employing eight men. The firm name is now De Witt & Stokes, W. W. Stokes having succeeded Mr. Lentz in the business. The firm manufacture very supe- rior styles of spring wagons especially adapted to the wants of the fruit-growers. From 1865 to 1870, H. J. Brockman was also a large wagon-builder, his shops being con- verted into an opera house at a later date. Dr. Hugh McVean was the first citizen of. Anna to indulge in the luxury of a buggy, which he did in 1859. The first family car- riage in the county is said to have been owned by Willis Willard, of Jonesboro.

From 1862 to 1870, the manufacture of tobacco was carried on by A. W. Robinson and J. T. Bohannon. In 1879, J. W. Dan- dridge started a saddle and harness factory here, which has steadily grown in importance, the sales of 1882 showing ninety sets of har- ness and seventy-two saddles as the business of that year. A large stock is carried, and a specialty made of the manufacture of fine harness. From 1860 to 1880, D. Cover &

Son manufactured large quantities of lumber at their saw mill near the present Southern Illinois Fair Ground. Poplar, oak and wal - nut logs furnished the supply. B. F. Man- gold is now the proprietor.

The fruit and vegetable shipments require a vast amount of cooperage to be done. R. B. Stinson & Co. for several years carried on an extensive barrel factory near the railroad. employing thirty or more men and manufact- uring 50,000 barrels annually, in the busy season turning out about 500 barrels in a day. This establishment burned down, and when rebuilt was controlled by Finch & Shick, lime manufacturers, and has been run since in connection with their business.

The firm of E. H. Finch, C. Shick and T. M. Shick, known as Finch & Shick, is largely engaged in the manufacture of lime for com- mercial purposes. In the busiest part of the year it employs about forty men at Anna and makes 300 barrels of lime per day. About 1,500 cords of wood are annually consumed in the business, and about 25,000 barrels are required for shipping their barreled lime. In 1873, the immense amount of 121, 756 bushels of lime were manufactured, of which 71,150 bushels were shipped in barrels, requiring 28,460 barrels; the remaining 50,600 bushels were shipped in bulk. About 1,800 cords of wood were used that year in making the above quantity of lime, and $88,893.50 were paid out for labor. The Messrs. Finch & Shick have been long in the business and their trade extends throughout this section of the State. The manufacture of brick has been an important business, in some years amounting in number to over a million not counting those made at the asylum. "In 1879, Hunsaker & Richardson, and Edwards & Carmack had 700,000 in the kiln at one time, and J. E. Lufkin 200,000 in another kiln. The public schoolhouse, the insane asylum

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

and some other buildings were built of bricks manufactured on the site of the buildings.

In 1859, the Kirkpatrick Bros. ( C. & W.) commenced the manufacture of all kinds of stone-ware, tiles, vases and pottery, bringing their clay by railroad from Cairo, to which point it came by the Ohio River from Grand Chain. In 1860, some inexhaustible beds of the finest kinds of clay were found in this vicinity and purchased by them. In 1868, a bed of very superior white clay was discovered, more than twenty feet in thickness, which has been quarried and shipped in car lots to Cincin- nati, St. Louis and Chicago. The pottery now manufactures about 2,500 or 3,000 gal- lons of ware per week. Unique and fanciful specimens of handiwork, such as castles, parks, statuettes, animals, groups and orna- mented ware are largely manufactured. Pipe bowls, by the million, are made for the South- ern trade, one firm in St. Louis having taken 2,000,000 yearly for the last three years. The Messrs. Kirkpatrick also own beds of ex- cellent fire-clay, from which they manufact- ure fire-brick of the best quality. Drain tile is also made in large quantity.

M. M. Henderson & Son, in 1866, had a cotton-gin in operation, which in 1868 was laid aside, and a planing and dressing ma- chine started, which was kept busy till 1877, when the firm began the manufacture of fruit box material and boxes. In 1880, the ma- chinery was increased by the addition of a saw mill, which saws 7,000 feet of lumber per day. The planing machine will dress 12,000 feet daily, or dress and match 8,000 feet of lumber per day. A large dry-house, capable of drying 8,000 feet at a time, the process requiring about a week, has been added to the establishment. In 1881, the firm changed their engine for the present thirty-horse-power engine, which is abundantly capable of doing all their work. For the past ten years a wool

carding machine has been a part of the equip- ment of the establishment. This will be re- moved this year, as there is but little employ- ment for it.

In 1865 to 1875, F. A. Childs & Bro. had a drain tile factory in operation, with a large kiln and drying sheds. The local demand was insufficient to continue the business, and it was consequently abandoned. Good build- ing stone is found in the vicinity, but has not been quarried except in answer to local demand. The progress of any town is much accelerated by increasing its means of com- munication with the rest of the world. In 1880, Anna was united with Jonesboro and the St. Louis & Cairo Railroad by means of a dime hack line, started by Joseph Treese. This cheap hack line virtually gave Anna the benefit of another railroad north and south, and formed an additional bond of Union be- tween the new town and the older county seat. In 1883, there were three lines of hacks run- ning, and all doing a good business, carrying passengers between the two depots every hour, and to the asylum as required.

One of the most important industries in any community is the provisioning the inhab- itants. The meat supplies of Anna are drawn from the surrounding country, and are of no inconsiderable magnitude. During the year ending July, 1882, the last year of which it is possible to gather statistics, M. V. Ussery supplied the asylum with meats, and also, as usual, kept up an extensive market and provision store, manufacturing sausage and curing pork in large quantities. Within that year, he slaughtered for his own use and that of the asylum, 542 beeves, 156 sheep and 90 hogs, and purchased 150 hogs dressed. To the above live stock, while on hand, he fed 3,500 bushels of corn and 80,- 000 pounds of hay. From them, he obtained 32,000 pounds of hides, and manufactured

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

and sold 14,500 pounds of sausage. For the cattle, he paid an average price of $39 per head, aud for the sheep an average of $2.35 per head. The cost of the hay was $14 per ton, and of the corn 60 cents per bushel (owing to the drought of 1881). The average cost of dressed pork during that year was 8 cents per pound; of live cattle, 3 to 4 cents per pound, and of green beef hides 6 cents, on yearly contract. These prices may prove more interesting in future years, when our supplies are procured from the far Western plains.

Southern Hospital for the Insane. - It having been determined by the State Legis- lature of 1869 to build a hospital for the in- sane in the southern part of the State, a Board of Commissioners consisting of Lieut. Gov. John Dougherty, of Jonesboro, Union County; Col. Benjamin L. Wiley, of Jackson County; Dr. G. L. Owens, of Marion, Will- iamson County; Col. H. W. Hall, of Mc- Leansboro, Hamilton County, and D. R. Kingsbury, of Centralia, Marion County, were appointed to receive propositions from towns desiring the institution, select a loca- tion for its erection, and construct the build- ing. The Commissioners finally decided upon the present site of the building as the most suitable, and altogether the best lo- cation that had been offered for their inspec- tion. The Legislature had appropriated the sum of $125.000 toward the purchase of the necessary land, and the erection of the build- ing, and the city of Anna had voted the ex. penditure of $6,885 toward securing the land selected by the Commissioners for the site of the building. The plans and specifi- cations necessary were adopted, and in 1870 work began upon the north wing, R. Shin- nick being the contractor. In 1871, the Legislature appropriated $65,000 to complete

the north wing, and $143,000 for the erec- tion of the central building.

The first board of trustees, consisting of Amos Clark, of Centralia. C. Kirkpatrick. of Anna, W. N. Mitchell, of Marion, J. C. Boyle, of Sparta, and W. R. Brown, of Metropolis, on August 22, 1873, elected Dr. R. S. Dewey, of the Elgin Asylum, Super- intendent. At the September meeting of the trustees, Dr. Dewey having resigned, Dr. A. T. Barnes was elected Superintendent and Dr. F. W. Mercer, assistant. On December 15, 1873. the north wing was formally opened for patients, by proclamation of Gov. John L. Beveridge. the halls being soon afterward filled with about 150 patients. The follow- ing year work was begun upon the central building, the Legislature having appropri- ated $99,000 for that portion of the asylum, Richard Shinnick being the contractor. The first Board of Commissioners was meantime succeeded by a new board composed of R. H. Sturgess, H. Walker and F. M. Malone. On July 1, 1875, the board elected R. H. Sturgess Superintendent of Construction of the south wing, for the erection of which the Legislature had. April 10, appropriated the sum of $140,000. On October 23, 1875, the central building was completed and turned over to the trustees. On August 18, 1875, the contract for the erection of the south wing was awarded to T. L. Kempster, to be completed according to the plans and specifications of E. Jungenfeld, the Architect. In September, 1877, this wing was completed and occupied. The necessary barns, stables, shops and other outbuildings were added to the institution as occasion required, from special appropriations.

In May, 1876, a gale from the southwest did considerable damage to the roof and threw down eight of the chimneys, one of which crushed through the roof of the center

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

building and the ceiling of the upper story, doing. together with the rain, no little injury. On the morning of April 19, 1881, the attic of the north wing was discovered to be on fire. The Mansard roof rendered it impos. sible to control the fire until it reached the center building. The whole north wing and eastern extension were consumed with the loss of but one life. The Legislature ap- propriated $12.000 for the erection and fur- nishing of temporary barracks for the 250 patients which the fire had discommoded, and $93,000 for the re-building and furnishing of the north wing. The barracks were quickly erected, and the north wing was restored in a much improved condition by the fall of 1882. and at once re-occupied. By an ap- propriation of $6,000 made by the Legisla- ture of 1883, these barracks will be changed into a permanent cottage and furnished for the accommodation of additional patients.

The principal objection made against lo- cating the institution here, a possible lack of water. has been entirely surmounted, and the needed supply, 40,000 gallons daily, is amply provided for. The appropriation of $10.000 just made for the construction of a settling basin and filter will insure the com- pleteness of the supply and its purity. The water of the large artificial pond, holding 12,- 000.000 gallons, will thus be rendered fit for any desired purpose. The drinking water is obtained from ten cisterns, and by the means of a steam force pump, from the big spring one-fourth mile from the institution. This spring. of itself, can furnish all the water needed for all purposes, the supply being only limited by the capacity of the pump.

The grounds and farm belonging to the hospital comprise about 300 acres, which will be increased this year by a purchase of 160 acres additional, making the whole amount 460 acres. The farm has been well managed

by D. R. Lewis, who has had charge of it thus far.

The total number of patients received into the institution since its opening up to Oc- tober 1, 1882, is 1,140, and the number meantime discharged as recovered is 375, or twenty-six per cent of the whole. The num- ber of inmates remaining in the hospital Oc- tober 1, 1882, was 500. When the barracks are fitted for the reception of patients, they will accommodate 100 more, increasing the capacity of the institution to 600 patients, and placing it next to that at Jacksonville in rank as to accommodations.

Dr. Dewey, the first Superintendent, was succeeded, as previously noted, by Dr. Barnes, who resigned his position in 1878, and was succeeded on August 6, of that year, by Dr. Horace Wardner, of Cairo, the present in- cumbent. Dr. Wardner has proved a most capable officer, and his administration of af- fairs has been and is most satisfactory to all parties concerned. Dr. Mercer, the first as- sistant, and a most accomplished physician and gentleman, resigned his position in August, 1879, and was succeeded by Dr. W. W. Hester, who still fills the post most ac- ceptably. Dr. E. D. Converse was the second assistant physician during 1877-78, until November 1, when he resigned his place Dr. L. E. Stocking was selected as his suc- cessor, and continues to honor the position.

The first Clerk, Charles M. Olmstead. served in that capacity till the close of 1878, when he resigned. E. A. Finch was appoint- ed his successor, and continues to faithfully discharge the duties belonging to that office, being most ably assisted by Harry M. Det- rich. Capt. James B. Fulton was the hos- pital engineer until he accidentally met his death on January 24, 1882. He was the first person appointed to duty in the institution. and was greatly esteemed by all who knew

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

bim. James Norris, who now so efficiently fills the post, was an assistant with Capt. Fulton when engineer. Mrs. S. Douglas, Mrs. L. R. Wardner and Mrs. Phoebe Hills have acted as Matrons, the latter still holding the position. T. A. Whitten, H. F. Warren, A. G. Miller and W. H. Smart have dis- charged the duties of Supervisor, W. B. Mead now filling that office. Mrs. F. V. Cole served most acceptably as Supervisor from 1875 to October, 1882, when she resigned and Miss E. M. Holmes was appointed to the position.

Among the great improvements proposed for immediate accomplishment, besides the changing of the barracks into a permanent cottage for patients, and the construction of a settling basin and filter, is the erection of an addition to the north wing for the accomo- dation of the more violent and noisy patients. The present rebuilt north wing is calculated for 265 patients, males, and the south wing for 235 female patients. Both wings are four stories high. The proposed north addi- tion will be of the same height and with all the improvements which experience can sug- gest. About $30,000 will be expended in its erection, the plans and specifications for which are already approved. L. D. Cleave- land, of Chicago, is the architect.

The following calendar of operations and officers covers the whole period of time com- prised in the foregoing account:

1870 .- Erection of north wing. Building Commissioners, John Dougherty, G. L. Owen, B. L. Wiley, H. W. Hall, D. R. Kingsbury. Contractor, R. Shinnick.

1871 .- Commissioners, R. H. Sturgess, .John Wood, E. J. Palmer. Architects, Walsh & Jungenfeld, of St. Louis.

1872 .- Erection of rear buildings. Com-

. missioners, R. H. Sturgess, John Wood, E. J. Palmer. Contractor, N. L. Wickwire.

1873 and 1874 .- Commissioners, R. H. Sturgess, H. Walker, J. K. Bishop. Con- tractors for steam heating, Mandsley & Mepham. Erection of center building. Con- tractor, Richard Shinnick. Trustees. A. Clark, C. Kirkpatrick, W. N. Mitchell, J. C. Boyle, W. R. Brown. Treasurer, W. N. Mitchell. Architect, E. Jungenfeld.

1875 and 1876 .- Erection of south wing. Commissioners, R. H. Sturgess, H. Walker, F. M. Malone. Contractor, T. L. Kempster. Trustees, Amos Clark, C. Kirkpatrick, J. C. Boyle.

1877, 1878, 1879 and 1880 .- Trustees, John E. Detrich, E. H. Finch, W. P. Bruner. Treasurer, R. B. Stinson. Superintendent, H. Wardner.

:_ 1881 and 1882 .-- Rebuilding of north wing. Trustees, E. H. Finch, J. A. Viall, J. Bottom. Architect, L. D. Cleaveland.

1883 and 1884 .- Addition to north wing. Trustees, E. H. Finch, James Bottom, John C. Baker.

The principal features in the history of the rise and progress of this city have been thus briefly sketched. It remains to speak of its present condition and prospects. The peo- ple, from the first, have been averse to load- ing themselves with any considerable debt, or entailing a debt of magnitude upon com- ing generations. As a consequence, the city's outstanding obligations are small in amount, aud yearly growing smaller. The debt assumed in locating the State hospital here was met by issuing bonds to the amount of $6,885, drawing 10 per cent interest. This indebtedness is now reduced to $1, - 300 in amount, drawing 7 per cent. The expense incurred in erecting and fur- nishing the schoolhouse has been reduced from over $20,000, at ten per cent, to $10, - 000, at 6 per cent interest. In 1882, the city voted to appropriate $3,000 toward en-

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larging the cemetery. Bonds were issued for this amount, bearing 6 per cent interest. Thus the total indebtedness of the city now stands at only $14,300, an insignificant sum for a town of its known enterprise and wealth.

The population of the city has increased from 231 in 1855, to over 1,500, and is steadily growing. The valuation of city lots is advancing with the growth of the city. The valuation of personal property in the city, as returned by the Assessor on June 30, 1883, is $112,726. The present city officers are: Mayor, C. Kirkpatrick; Aldermen of First Ward, J. W. Williford, Sr., and D. W.

Brown; Aldermen of Second Ward, James DeWitt and R. B. Stinson; Aldermen of Third Ward, James I. Hale and John Hess; Police Magistrate. P. H. Kroh; City Clerk. W. C. Ussery; Attorney, T. H. Phillips: Treasurer, H. P. Tuthill; Marshal, H. W. Henley. With a continuation of the pru- dence and careful management which have heretofore marked the administration of the city's affairs, there is abundant reason to be- lieve that Anna will, at uo very distant day. be among the most prominent cities of Southern Illinois in population, wealth and enterprise.

CHAPTER X V .*

SOUTH PASS, OR COBDEN PRECINCT-ITS TOPOGRAPHICAL AND PHYSICAL FEATURES - EARLY SETTLEMENT OF WHITE PEOPLE -WHERE THEY CAME FROM AND A RECORD OF THEIR WORK -GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE PRECINCT-RICHARD COBDEN-

THE VILLAGE : WHAT IT WAS, WHAT IT IS, AND WHAT IT WILL BE -SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, ETC., ETC., ETC.

" Historians, only things of weight, Results of persons, or affairs of State, Briefly, with truth and clearness should relate." -HEATH.

YOUTH PASS or Cobden Precinct lies in the S northern part of the county, and is mostly of a broken and hilly surface. There is but lit- tle level land in the precinct, and there is some too rough for cultivation, unless it be for grapes. It is chiefly devoted to fruit culture, and when the fruit craze first struck this county, the land readily commanded $100 per acre. But as the novelty wore off prices de- clined, and land may now be bought reason- ably low. Drewery Creek is the principal water-course. It flows through the northwest part of the precinct and passes out through

Section 4. Numerous small tributaries empty into it, but amount to little except as drain- age. Oak, hickory, poplar, dogwood, a little sugar tree and walnut, together with a few other common species. comprise the timber growth. The precinct is bounded north by Jackson County, east by Rich and Saratoga Precincts, south by Saratoga and Anna and west by Alto Pass Precinct. Including the village of Cobden, it had, by the last census, 3,070 inhabitants. The Illinois Central Rail- road passes in an almost south direction through the west part of the precinct, and has been of great advantage to the people, and the community generally.

The original name of the precinct was South Pass, and in 1857 a village was laid out, to which the same name was given, and which,

* By W. Il. Perrin.

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

upon the completion of the railroad, was made a station, As noted in another chap- ter, most of the stock of the road was owned in England. In the summer of 1860, the Hon. Richard Cobden, an eminent English statesman, a member of Parliament and Di- rector of the road, came over to investigate the condition of the enterprise, and on his way down the road stopped off at South Pass to enjoy its invigorating air and beautiful scenery. Several days were spent in hunting and picnicking in the vicinity before he re- sumed his journey. Eventually, the railroad company changed the name of the struggling village to Cobden in his honor. The name is now generally given to the precinct, though it still stands upon the records as South Pass. A sketch of Mr. Cobden is not inappropriate in this connection, and we subjoin the following:

Richard Cobden was born in 1804, and died April 2, 1865. He visited Egypt, Turkey and Greece in 1834. and the United States in 1835, and afterward became a partner in a cotton printing establishment near Manches- ter. England. In 1835, he published two pamphlets-" England, Ireland and America, by a Manufacturer, " and " Russia." In 1837, Mr. Cobden visited France, Belgium and Switzerland, and in 1838 traveled through Germany., He declared in favor of free trade, and in 1839 aided in establishing the anti- corn-law league. From 1841 until his death, with slight intervals, he was a member of Parliament. There and throughout the coun- try, he kept a constant agitation for the re- peal of the corn laws, which was finally effect- ed in 1846. He opposed the war with Russia, and in 1857 was one of the majority which passed a vote of censure on Lord Palmerston for entering into the war with China. In 1960, he negotiated a treaty of commerce with France, for which he was offered a Bar- onetcy and a seat in the Privy Council. both

of which he declined. Mr. Cobden was inti- mately associated with John Bright as a lead- er of the Manchester school or party, and be- sides the measures alluded to, favored elector. al reform and the vote by ballot. His polit- ical writings and speeches have been collected in two volumes and his views largely adopted by many of our own statesmen. His life has been written by J. McGilchrist (1865), and in German by Von Holzendorff (1866), and De . Roth (1867). He was, as we have said, con- nected with the Illinois Central Railroad, and a Director in the company.

A sketch written by Lord Hobart, entitled the "Mission of Richard Cobden," has the following: It is long since there left the world any one who deserved so well of it as Richard Cobden. To say this is, indeed, in one sense, to say but little. For the acts of those who have had it within power to in- fluence the destinies of mankind, mankind has, in general small reason, to be grateful. In account with humanity, the public charac- ters have been few indeed, who could point with satisfaction to the credit side. But of Cobden's career. there are results which none can gainsay Vast, signal and comprehen- sive, they disarm alike both competition and criticism. The two great triumphs of his life were the repeal of the Corn Laws and the Commercial Treaty with France. Of these, the first gave food to starving millions, redressed a gigantic and intolerable abuse of political power, saved an empire from revo- lutionary convulsion, and imparted new and irresistible impulse to material progress throughout the world; the second carried still further the work which the first had begun, insured, sooner or later, its full consumma- tion, and fixed, amidst the waves of conflict- ing passions and jarring interests, deep in the tenacious ground of commercial sympathy, a rock for the foot of peace.

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History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part 49

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. ; O.L. Baskin & Co. Number of Pages: 948

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. ; O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 948