History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part 51

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 51
USA > Illinois > Pulaski County > History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois > Part 51
USA > Illinois > Alexander County > History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois > Part 51

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).

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

Towne and the cottage prayer meeting of Brother Goodrich had borne good fruit. The church consisted of thirty-seven mem- bers. The work of the church went on har- moniously, with growing evidences of the Divine favor. But during the ‘Week of Prayer,' January, 1876, 'showers of bless- ings' began to fall. The meetings were con- tinued seven weeks. Rev. B. Y. George, of Cairo, and Rev. W. B. Minton, of Anna, as sisted Mr. Davies, each preaching about three weeks. The Holy Spirit was poured upon the congregations that gathered daily, in great power. Forty-seven were added to the church by profession of their faith in Christ. The next year was, likewise, one of marked blessing; twenty-seven were added by pro- fession. So that in April, 1878, ten years after the church was organized, the session reported to the General Assembly 101 resi- dent members.

" Rev. E. L. Davies removed from the field in 1877, after a remarkably successful min- istry. November, 1878, the Rev. Charles Pelton, of Columbus Presbytery, Synod of Ohio, took charge of the church, and con- tinued to supply it until April 1, 1881. During his useful incumbency, fifteen were added to the membership. The 'Horticult- ural Hall' was purchased and repaired. The beautiful grounds, building and all, cost about $1,000. The church erection fur- nished $400 of this amount. Another notable achievement, during the years covered by his charge, was the closing of the liquor saloons. In this imperative and humane re- form Mr. Pelton, with his characteristic en- thusiasm, was in the thick of the strife, and came through with a fair share of the honor, the ill-will and the personal danger of such a conflict.

" November 6, 1881, the Rev. James Laffer- ty took charge, but removed from the congre-

gation after an earnest and useful ministry of but six months.

" By invitation of the session, the Rev. Samuel C. Baldridge, pastor of the Friends- ville Presbyterian Church, visited the con- gregation, and preached one Sabbath, May 28, 1882. At a congregational meeting held June 5, a 'call to the pastoral charge of the church' was made out for him by a unani- mous vote of the congregation, which was accepted. July 30, he began his work in this field, and was duly installed pastor of the church by a committee of the Presbytery of Cairo, December 17, 1882.

" The number of communicants in the church, as reported to the General Assembly by the Session, April 1, 1883, is 98; mem- bership of the Sabbath school, 110; contri- butions to church work and benevolence for the year, $853. Session-Pastor, Rev. S. C. Baldridge, A. M. Ruling Elders, E. W. Towne, William F. Longley, Joseph E. Blinn, Lewis T. Linnell, Fred Angell, A. McCowbrey. Superintendent of Sabbath School, Lewis T. Linnell, Esq. Deacons, Peter Herrin, Fred Angell and Hosea Cran- dall, elect.

" The property of the congregation con- sists of the church building, parsonage and grounds, valued at $2,000.

" "The Ladies' Aid Society,' an organiza- tion of the ladies of the congregation, should be honorably mentioned. By their cheerful, persistent work, they have first, contributed largely to the improvements on the church building; second. promoted social acquaint- ance and good will."

The Methodist Episcopal Church was erected about 1865-66, and is a frame edifice. Numerically, it is not very strong; it is at- tended by the Methodist minister from Ma- kanda. A good Sunday school is maintained. We have been unable to obtain any further

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

facts of this church, although earnest efforts were made to that end.

A Catholic Church was built a few years ago, and is a small but tasty frame building. The membership is small, and the church is without a resident pastor.

Cobden Lodge, No. 466, A., F. & A. M., was chartered October 3, 1866, with the following members: Adam Buck, William Ames, Thomas A. E. Holcomb, John Limbert, Henry Ede, James W. Fenton, Philip Mead, John L. Lower, John P. Reese, Claude Y. Pierce, T. W. Stuttard, Thomas H. Philips, J. C. Jacques, E. Leming, H. Frick, A. B. Mat- thews, John Buck, Peter Herrin, H. Blum- enthal, Isaac N. Philips, B. F. Ross, William F. Lamer, Edward Sill and John Pierce. The first officers were T. A. E. Holcomb. Master; Henry Ede, Senior Warden, and H.

Blumenthal. Junior Warden. The lodge has forty-eight members, is out of debt, and has about $300 on hand. The present officers are as follows: E. D. Lawrence, Master; J. F. F. Wallace, Senior Warden; C. C. Reeves, Junior Warden and G. H. Clark, Secretary.

Relief Lodge, No. 452, I. O. O. F., was instituted October 10, 1871, with the follow- ing charter members: P. Nutto, J. J. Dan- away, B. F. Mangold, A. N. Brockman and John Frey, of whom the officers were: J. J. Danaway, N. G .; P. Nutto, V. G .; B F. Mangold, Secretary, and John Frey, Treas urer. There are seventeen members on the roll. and the following are the present officers: Fred Fried, N. G .; C. A. Bell, V. G .; C. Jeude. Secretary; and Jacob Snyder, Treasurer.

CHAPTER XVI .*

DONGOLA PRECINCT - SURFACE, TIMBER, WATER-COURSES, PRODUCTS, ETC .- SETTLEMENT-PIO- NEER TRIALS AND INDUSTRIES-SCHOOLS AND CHURCHIES -MILLS - DONGOLA VILLAGE :

ITS GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT-LEAVENWORTH-WHAT HE DID FOR THE TOWN, ETC.

" The farmer sees His pastures and his fields of grain, As they bend their tops."-Longfellow.

THE subject of this chapter, Dongola Precinct, forms the southeast portion of Union County, and is bounded on the north by Anna and Stokes Precincts, on the east by Johnson County. on the south by Pulaski County, on the west by Mill Creek and Jonesboro Precincts, and by the last census is credited with a population of 2,556 souls, including Dongola Village. Like the county at large, it is of an uneven surface, and in places rough and hilly; some portions too

broken for cultivation, though most of its area may be utilized either in grain or fruit. It is watered and drained by Cypress, Rig and Crooked Creeks, with their small tribu- taries. It is the largest precinct in the coun- ty, comprising all of Township 13, Range 1 east, and half or more of Township 13, Range 1 west. The timber growth is oak, walnut, hickory, sugar tree, sycamore, gum, etc., with considerable undergrowth in places. Corn and wheat are the principal produc- tions; some attention is also paid to stock- raising. The Illinois Central Railroad passes through the western part of the precinct, tap- ping the village of Dongola, and forming a

* By W. 11. Perrin.

@.Fr. Rob

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

valuable source of transportation for its sur- plus products.

The settlement of Dongola Precinct dates back to an early period of the county's his- tory. The privations of its early pioneers were such as none but stout hearts would dare to encounter. Nothing but the hopeful inspiration of manifest destiny urged them to persevere in bringing under the dominion of civilized man what was before them-a howling wilderness. These sturdy sons of toil were mostly from North Carolina. One of the early families was that of Meisenhei- mer. The old pioneer of the family was Moses Meisenheimer, who came from North Carolina in 1816, and settled four miles northeast of the village of Dongola, on the place where John Smoot now lives. Upon this place he died in 1857. He was a prom- inent man in his day, long a Justice of the Peace, County Commissioner for several terms, and an active man generally. ' He has tive children still living; Abraham resides in Dongola Village, and Henry five miles east of it; the other three children are daughters. A brother of Mr. Meisenheimer came here some twenty years later. John Fisher came about the same time that Meisenheimer did. He has been dead several years. Moses and Caleb were sons, and are also dead.

A very early settler was Edmund Davis. He was also from North Carolina, and died a good many years ago. Cyrus and Edmund were his sons, and the latter was long a prominent business man in Dongola Village. Daniel Karraker and Daniel Lingle were also from North Carolina, and came very soon after Meisenheimer. Karraker settled on the place where Wilford Karraker now lives. He has three sons still living in the precinct, all of whom are honest and upright citizens. Lingle settled on an adjoining farm to Meisenheimer, where, after a long

life, he died. He has two sons, and one or two daughters, still living. Caleb Lingle owns the old homestead.

Joseph Eddleman, Adam Eddleman, George and Samuel Hunsaker and Peter Hileman came from North Carolina. The Eddlemans settled near the old village of Peru. Joseph died in the precinct in 1856. Eli Eddleman is a son, and is a prosperous farmer and a large land-owner. He was long engaged in milling and merchandising. Adam was his brother, and is also dead. The Hunsakers settled in that part of the precinct recently cut off and added to Jones- boro. George was the first President of the Agricultural Board of the county. Peter Hileman settled early. He is dead, but has a son (John) now living in Meisenheimer Precinct.

Martin Hoffner, the Beggs family, the Kellers. Youst Coke and Levi Patterson were also North Carolinians, and settled early. Hoffner came in about the time of Moses Meisenheimer, and settled some three and a half miles north of the village of Dongola. He has a son-John Hoffner- living near where his father settled. The old man is dead, and Boston Hoffner owns the home- stead. Of the Beggs family, the old mem- bers are all dead, and no immediate descend- ants are now living here. There were two brothers among the first settlers of Beggses, but their first names are not remembered. Joseph, Abraham and Absalom Keller came in early, and are all dead. Abraham has a son living in the precinct; Absalom has two sons living, but Joseph's children are all dead or moved away. They settled east of the village, and were plain old farmers. Coke settled on the place now owned by Na than Karraker. He and his sons are dead and gone. Patterson is gone, and has no descendants living in the precinct now. 23

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

Many other families might rank as early settlers, but their names have been forgotten or overlooked. To attempt to write, in this chapter, the history of every family, in the order in which they came into the precinct, would be a task beyond the reach of human power. The hard life of these early settlers is a theme often discussed. It was a hard life, but in many cases it was as the people themselves made it. There was then, as now, great difference in the forethought and thrift of the inhabitants. Some families always had plenty, such as it was, while others were ever hard run to make both ends meet, and not unfrequently, try as they might, the ends did not get quite together. So it was, just as it is to-day, by good management some glided along smoothly, while others eked out a bare subsistence.

The first mill in the precinct was a horse mill built by Youst Coke. A water mill was built early by David Penrod, on Cypress Creek, but it has long ago passed away. The first steam mill was built in the village about 1852-54, by Col. Bainbridge, and now owned by Edmund Cuhl. It was erected while the railroad was in the course of construction, and has since changed hands frequently. Cuhl operated it awhile, and afterward built a mill on Big Creek. He took out some of the machinery from the Dongola Mill, and put it in the new one. The old mill in the village he has recently sold to Samuel B. Poor.

The first schools taught in the precinct were " common schools," in the full sense of the term. They were on the subscription plan, and were taught in any vacant cabin convenient to the greatest number of pupils. The early teachers were as ignorant as the cabins were rude. Mr. Meisenheimer says the first school he attended was taught by one Joseph McComnon, in a small log cabin

that stood upon the present site of the Kar- raker Schoolhouse. It was a rude cabin, and had been built expressly for school purposes. It had the large fire-place, small windows, slab seats and cracks daubed with mud. The precinct has a number of comfortable school - houses at present, and supports schools dur- ing the usual terms.

Religious services were first held in peo- ple's houses, or in summer in some fine grove beneath the trees. When school- houses made their appearance, these were used on Sunday for religious worship. They served both school and church purposes for a good many years.

A Methodist Church, the first, probably, in the precinct, was built on the Hoffner place some time before the war. It was a common log building, and served its day and genera- tion, and has disappeared with other relics of the early times.

Friendship Baptist Church was built dur- ing the war. It stands northeast of Dongola Village and is a good frame building. A large and flourishing congregation attend it, and is ministered to by Elder Ridge at pres- ent.

There are several other churches in the precinct, but we have but little information concerning them. A Lutheran and Reform Church is located on Section 17, of Town- ship 13, Range 1 west. and a Christian Church on Section 17, of Township 13, Range 1 east; a German Methodist Church on Section 7, Township 13, Range 1 west, and a Baptist Church on Section 25, Town- ship 13, Range 1 east. These, with the churches in the village, afford the people ample means of grace, and if they do not make good use of them, there will be no one to blame for it but themselves.

The first voting place in the precinct was at Philip Hinkle's, northeast of Dongola

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

Village-a place now owned by one of the Karrakers. It was also the meeting place of the old time militia, where they drilled at regular intervals. The old Patterson place was used for the same purpose sometimes. The voting now is at Dongola, and Demo- cratic majorities are piled up mountain-high for favorite candidates. It has become a saying that "as goes Dongola Precinct, so goes the county," and hence rival candidates strive hard for its vote.

Dongola .- The village of Dongola was laid out by Ebeni Leavenworth, and the plat recorded May 23, 1857. It occupies the north part of Section 25, and the south part of Section 24, of Township 13, Range 1 west, and is situated about nine miles south of Anna, on the Illinois Central Railroad. It has a population of some 600 inhabitants, and covers ground enough for as many thou- sand, if it were closely built up.

Mr. Leavenworth, the original proprietor of the town, was an enterprising and stirring business man. He was an engineer, engaged on the Illinois Central Railroad during its construction, and owned the land on the east side of the road's right of way. Busi- ness prospered in his hands, and he soon ac- cumulated a fortune, some of which was afterward lost by broken trusts and ill-judged investments. Though a good business man, he was very far from allowing himself to be engrossed by mere money-making. Indeed, he seems to have cared but little for money, except as a means of doing good, and his strict habits of business appear to have been more the result of a fixed rule of life than a desire for pecuniary profit. As a proof of this, both his heart and his hand were always opened freely to whoever appeared to him to need and to deserve assistance, and neither any individual nor any enterprise worthy of help ever appealed to his generosity in vain.

More than one business man can trace to him the starting point on his road to success and the foundation of his own fortune. The influence of such a man cannot be es- timated. Death came upon him suddenly and unexpectedly, when scarcely beyond the prime and vigor of life, but his influence, so far from being destroyed by his death. was then more fully felt and recognized.

The first residence erected upon the site of Dongola was by Mr. Leavenworth. Several shanties had been put up previously. and oc- cupied by workmen on the road. He put up a number of buildings. among them a store- house, which is still in use as a place of busi- ness. The first store in the town was kept by Edmund Davis, and occupied the site of the present Lone Star Drug 'Store. A man had kept a few notions-principally whisky -for the benefit of the work hands, before Davis opened his store, but it scarcely de- served the name of store. Davis built the storehouse he occupied, and remained in it until it was destroyed by fire. He was a man at one time very wealthy, but has met numerous reverses, and at present lives in the county in rather straitened circum- stances.

Abraham Meisenheimer opened the next store after Davis, and about the same time Leavenworth built a storehouse, in which he did an extensive mercantile business. Mei- senheimer long carried on a store, and is yet living and a respected citizen of the town. Other stores and shops were opened, and Dongola became quite a business place. It was some time before the railroad could be induced to give the people even a switch. and the station was made here only through the persistent efforts of Mr. Leavenworth. who continued his perseverance until the rail - road officials granted his request, to get rid. perhaps, of his importunities. But 'they

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

have discovered long ere this, doubtless, that in making Dongola Station they committed a wise act, as it has become a considerable shipping point.

The Novelty Works was the most extensive business establishment, in its day, the town has ever known. It was originated by Leaven- worth, like many other enterprises of his, in a great measure to give employment to needy people. It grew out of a saw mill which stood on the spot, and, by a number of additions made to its machinery, became, as we have said, an extensive establishment. Almost anything and everything to be made out of wood was turned out of this factory, which, as its name designated, was " Novelty Works." It had about thirty different kinds . of machinery, mostly for woodwork. Wagon hubs and spokes were made; also furniture, feed boxes, wooden bowls, plows, wagons, and many other articles which we are unable to enumerate. The works employed, some times, forty and fifty hands. But when Mr. Leavenworth died, the works. like " Grand- father's Clock,"

"Stopped short, never to go again."

Most of the machinery has been removed, and the establishment is standing idle. At the time of his death, Mr. Leavenworth was in- terested in a number of mills in different sections. He was fond of machinery, and devoted most of his time, for many years, to milling and other manufacturing interests. The first mill built in the town was the old Cuhl mill, standing idle by the railroad. which has already been noticed in this chap- ter. The Neibauer mill was built in 1875. The first mill built upon that site was by Louis Meisenheimer. It was sold at his sale, and bought by Neibauer & Nagle. It was afterward burned, when the present one was built by Neibauer. It is a substantial frame

edifice, and doing a large and profitable busi ness. The Red Mill, as it is called, was built by Davis & Poor, originally about a quarter of a mile from town. Five or six years later it was removed to town, and is also doing a good business.

F. M. McCallin operated the Novelty Works, or rather the saw mill part of them, during the past season, in sawing walnut lumber; but after using up the walnut tim- ber convenient to town, he closed the busi- ness. These mills, with a few small shops, comprise the Dongola manufactories.

The village was incorporated under a special act of the Legislature, in 1871. The first Board of Trustees were as follows: L. T. Bonacina, J. R. Peeler. Henry Harmes, W. R. Milam and John Holshouser. Of this Board J. R. Peeler was President, Solo- mon Lombard. Clerk, and John Holshouser, Treasurer. The village was re-organized under the general State law a few years later. The present board are Frank Neibauer, A. G. Williams, Henry Eddleman, J. D. Benton and George Cokenower; of which Frank Neibauer is President, A. G. Williams, Clerk, and Henry Eddleman, Treasurer.

The present schoolhouse was built in 1873. It is a substantial frame building, and will accommodate from 150 to 200 pupils. The school is graded, and usually employs three teachers. The first schoolhouse in the vil- lage stood near the Novelty Works, and Leavenworth donated the land and built the present house for the old one, in order to get the children further from his machinery, lest they might some time meet with an accident, as they would play about the mill and lum - ber piles.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church was or- ganized in Dongola in 1865, by Rev. H. M. Brewer. In the fall of 1866, Rev. D. S. Sprecher took charge of it. A church edifice

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

was built by the Methodists, Cumberland Presbyterians and Lutherans combined, and all these denominations still occupy it. At the time of building the church, Rev. Mr. Kimber was pastor of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, and Rev. J. B. McCallin of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In the fall of 1869, Rev. D. Schwartz was called to the pastorate of the Lutheran Church; Rev. Turner Earnhart was the fourth pastor; Rev. C. S. Sprecher was the fifth; Rev. William Prewett was the sixth, and Rev. Mr. Diffen- baugh was the seventh, and now fills that position. A Union Sunday school is carried on, attended by about sixty of the Method- ist, Cumberland Presbyterian and Lutheran children, under the superintendence of Charles Leavenworth.

The Baptists also have a church building, and an organized church society. The build- ing is a handsome frame, and the congrega- tion is flourishing.

Dongola Lodge, No. 581, A., F. & A. M., was chartered October 6, 1868, and the fol- lowing were its first officers, viz .: J. H. Dodson, Master; W. J. Williams, Senior Warden; James Murray, Junior Warden; J. R. Peeler. Treasurer; George Little, Secre- tary; A. Clutts, Senior Deacon; A. C. Bow- ser, Junior Deacon; Thomas N. Henley, Tiler. The lodge has at present twenty-five members, and the following officers: H. W. Dyer, Master; J. A. Dillow, Senior Warden;

Joseph Gattinger, Junior Warden; F. Nei- bauer, Treasurer; D. J. Dillow, Secretary; J. F. Richardson, Senior Deacon; Jones Sivia, Junior Deacon; and Thomas N. Henley, Tiler.

Dongola Lodge, No. 343, I. O. O. F., in- stituted at Dongola January 31, 1867. The following were the first officers: E. Leaven- worth, N. G .; George Little, V. G .; Henry Harmes, Treasurer, and John M. Davis, Secretary. The present officers are Joseph Kingler, N. G .; Joseph S. Rhymer, V. G .; Frank Neibauer, Treasurer, and John W. Eddleman, Secretary.

Pern was once laid out as a town by An- gustus Post, but no lots, we believe, were ever sold, and no great efforts made to build it up. It was located about two miles south- west of Dongola Village, where the Vienna & Cape Girardeau road crossed the Jonesboro & Caledonia road, and was generally called the "Cross Roads." We don't know whether it compared with Nasby's "Confedrit X Roads, wich is in the State of Kentucky," or not; but it never amounted to much as a town. Moses Goodman opened a store there in 1852, and continued in business until about 1868, when he closed out and retired. This, with a shop or two, comprised all the town there was at the place.

Moscow Post Office, in the northeast part of the precinct, consists of a post office and a store. No town has ever been laid out there.

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

CHAPTER XVII .*

RIDGE OR ALTO PASS PRECINCT-SURFACE FEATURES, BOUNDARIES, AND TIMBER GROWN- OCCUPATION OF THE WHITES-PIONEER TRIALS-INDUSTRIES, IMPROVEMENTS, ETC. -THE KNOB-CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS-VILLAGES, ETC., ETC.

I `HIS division of the county, known as Alto Pass or Ridge Precinct, is in the north tier of townships, and lies south of Jackson County, with South Pass or Cobden Precincts on the east, Jonesboro and Union Precincts on the south and Preston Precinct on the west. The surface is hilly and un- even, with considerable bluff's along the water- courses, but in the north part there is a very fine table land, upon which are some excellent farms. Probably one-fourth of the precinct is too rocky and broken to admit of cultiva- tion. The principal products are corn, wheat and fruit; the southeastern part of the precinct might be termed the very heart of the fruit section of the county. The land is watered and drained by Hutchins, Cedar and Clear Creeks and their numerous small tributaries. Hutchins Creek flows south through the western part, and empties into Clear in the northwest part of Jonesboro Precinct; Clear Creek runs southwest and passes ont through Section 31. and Cedar Creek flows through the northeast corner. The timber growth is that common in the county. The Cairo & St. Louis Narrow Gauge Railroad runs through the eastern part of the precinct, with Alto Pass and Kaolin as shipping stations. The census of 1880 gave Ridge a population of 2.287 souls.

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History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part 51

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