History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part 72

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 72
USA > Illinois > Pulaski County > History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois > Part 72
USA > Illinois > Alexander County > History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois > Part 72

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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and ornamental painting. The firm of Coyle & Harris was soon changed to Holmes & Wick- wire. John Given, J. B. Morrison, carpenters and contractors, found plenty to do in Mound City. Charles Ninnenger was the first barber, in 1856, Room 34 Shelton House. Soon after- ward came Ben Savage. and opened barber- shop on Front street. He was a colored man, pretty well advanced in years ; for several years, besides practicing his art, played the fiddle for all the children's parties in the city. He was not an Ole Bull in that line; he very rarely had more than three strings to his fiddle, yet the music and the dance went on, and old Ben, as the night advanced, while the noise of the fiddle continued, seemed to charm himself into sweet repose, and some of Peck's bad boys would stick pins in him to keep him go- ing. He, like all the men, had a history, and was always anxious to tell it. He had one story that was his favorite. It was connected with his life, away back " where he came from." All who sat under his razor had to listen to it every time they occupied his chair. It referred to his youthful days and his youthful sports. It was always enjoyable, especially so when you were in a hurry, for the recitation seri- ously delayed the business in hand. But in a few years he passed from these shores, and old Ben and his fiddle were heard no more. Jonathan Tucker kept the first butcher shop. The first matrimonial alliance in Mound City was consummated by Jackson Stanly, groom, and Miss Mary Venoy the bride. Rev. I. C. Anderson pronounced the words that made them inseparable.

Capt. C. M. Ferrill and Nelson kept a wharf boat in 1857. Ferrill was elected the first Po- lice. Magistrate in Mound City, resigning soon after. He was elected City Marshal, and was a terror to evil doers. He built two cot- tages in Mound City, and lived in one of them a number of years, when he moved to Elizabethtown. Went into the army, came back

a Colonel of a regiment, and in 1873 was elected to the State Senate from the Fifty-first District. In 1857, Bennett & Eddy were house and orna- mental painters ; acquired a good business in their lines. Mayfield and Cresp, surgeon and dentist, could be found if you had the tooth- ache, on Main street, in 1857. J. S. Hawkins, plasterer. He was a small man, walked unu- sually rapid, but understood his business. King & Rice were brickmakers in 1856, and Capt. F. A. Fair was the bricklayer. The Shel- ton House was supplying the wants of the in- ner man. It was first-class and had some style about it. The proprietor, R. B. Shelton, fur- nished his guests with a bill of fare at all meals. The writer of this has one dated June 3, 1857. It starts out with three kinds of soup, then fish, then comes corn beef and cold dishes, entrees ; but listen to what follows under the head of roast-chicken, beef, veal, mutton, ham, pork, pig and duck-which or how many kinds will you have ? was the question. Then comes game, then follows vegetables, eleven dif- ferent kinds. Then relishes, puddings and pastries, consisting of fifteen varieties, then desserts. The list of wines, with meal hours, including when children and servants shall be waked, and when they may eat, covers one en- tire side of the bill. Here at the elegant din- ners at the Shelton House, sat the President, Directors and stockholders of the Emporium Company in 1857, sipping their champagne, and talking of oriental palaces and marble halls.

Detwiler & Yonker, were the first fashion - able boot and shoe makers. Their sign hung from the railroad building in 1856. In April, 1856, Younking & Mayfield opened the first drug store in the building where George Mertz & Son now keep grocery store. It had many owners. In 1876, Dr. Amonett was the owner, but before his death he disposed of it, and it was removed from Mound City. In 1857, Tou- rill & Faelix established a drug store where Mrs. Moll now carries on business. In connec-

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tion with drugs, they kept books and periodi- cals. Faelix sold his interest to Tourill, and returned to Germany. Tourill built a house on Main street, south of Railroad avenue, and in it continued the drug business until 1870, when he sold to F. G. Fricke, and moved to New York City, where he died some years ago. Mr. Fricke bought property on the east side of Main street, to which he moved the drug store. He was burnt out in 1879, after which he built a brick house, and still carries on the drug business. A. Fraser advertises, in June. 1857, tin, sheet-iron and copper-ware for sale, whole- sale and retail. He was then on a flat-boat, but built a house on Main street, and moved into it soon after. With him came G. G. and J. W. Morris, who for many years afterward lived in Mound City, and as G. G. & J. W. Morris, did business. G. G. Morris is now su- perintending a stave factory at Stone Fort, in this State, while J. W. Morris lives in Cairo, and carries on a tin, sheet-iron and copper shop. In 1857, Orsbern & Kornlo, opened on First street, an ice cream saloon, and to increase the luxuries in the business. they added cigars and tobacco.

John F. Morgan, in 1857, kept a grocery and feed store. The same year T. Hilder- brand opened a saddle and harness shop, and about the same time John D. James & Co. opened on Front street. between Poplar and Walnut, an exchange and banking office, but did not survive a great while. In 1857 Clem- son & Barney opened an extensive dry goods house on First street, south of Poplar. Before and during the war, a number of gentlemen made fortunes selling goods in Mound City, but moved away to enjoy them and at the same time to add to them. But they have found fort une to be fickle, and their thousands have de- parted. The moral would indicate, you had better continue to live where you do well.

er, is exceedingly healthy. Visit her public schools and see her bright, healthy-looking children ; visit the public demonstrations that call out the population, and for healthful ap- pearance they will compare with any people in any part of the country. The breeze from the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers absorbs or drives over and above Mound City the malaria, where it exists in the country while Mound City is comparatively exempt from many diseases that carry off people further north, and who are living upon higher ground. No question can exist but that the health, according to actual statistics of Mound City, would compare favor- ably with any town in Illinois. In other words, you can live as long in Mound City as you would any where, and, as to your happiness afterward, Mound City should not be responsi- ble. Mound City presents no idlers or loafers. Her manufactures and her enterprises keep everybody employed, consequently Mound City has no paupers or people suffering for bread.

The present businesses of the city are repre- sented by Mrs. Moll's dry goods store, on Wal- nut street, at the foot of Main street ; A. Lutz, butcher shop, on west side of Main ; John Vo- gel, baker and confectioner ; John Ballany , silver smith; John Trampert, boot and shoe maker, with large stock ready-made ; George Stoltz, Stoltz House, of which he is proprietor; S. Back, dry goods store, boots and shoes and ready-made clothing ; L. Blum, dry goods, boots and shoes and ready-made clothing ; C. Boekenkamp & Co., groceries ; P. Ward, ice cream saloon and confectionery ; Cæsar Shel- ler, butcher ; George Bosum, boots and shoes ; all west side of Main street and south of Rail- road avenue-James Mulrony, saloon, livery and feed stable ; Thomas Browner, groceries ; A. Weason, undertaker ; west side of Main street and north of Railroad avenue-Bell & McCoy, groceries and provisions ; A. Mont-

Mound City has a population of 2,500. Her location, contrary to the judgment of a strang- j gomery. undertaker ; Loren Stophlet, groceries

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HISTORY OF PULASKI COUNTY.

and feed store; N. Newnogle, bakery, confec- tionery and toys ; George Mertz & Son, gro- cery and feed store; Mike Pracht, tobacconist ; William Hough, tinner ; W. J. Price, dry goods, groceries and ready-made clothing ; Dr. C. B. Toher ; William Neidstein, saloon and billiard rooms ; Romeo Friganza, books, stationery, fancy articles, periodicals and newspapers ; William Stern. saloon ; Jake Unroe, barber, ice cream and confectionery saloon ; Peter Coldwater, saloon ; F. G. Fricke, druggist ; Mrs. Vogel, washing house ; John Zanone, variety store ; Kris Keller, barber; G. F. Meyer, groceries, boots and shoes, hardware, hats, caps, furniture, saddlery, wagons, plows, reapers and mowers, buggies and carriages, and many other things, all on the west side of Main

street ; Mrs. Blake, milliner, on Commercial street ; Mrs. Fray, dress-maker ; Mrs. Nick Smith's Planter's House ; Mound City Hotel, McClenen, proprietor, on Railroad avenue and river front ; P. M. Kelly, Eagle Hotel ; John Dishinger, blacksmith shop ; Pat Scott, black- smith and wagon shop, on Main street ; C. A. Dowd, blacksmith ; B. R. Barry, blacksmith shop, on Third street, between Walnut and Poplar.

The present officials of the city are I. W. Reed, Justice of the Peace and acting Police Magistrate ; George Mertz, Mayor ; G. F. Mey- er, A. J. Dougherty, Quinn McCracken, C. N. Bell, J. H. Reel, Daniel Hogan, Councilmen ; Frank R. Casey, Clerk.

CHAPTER IX .*

ELECTION PRECINCTS ASIDE FROM MOUND CITY-BOUNDARIES, TOPOGRAPHICAL FEATURES, ETC .- ADVENT OF THE WHITE PEOPLE AND THEIR SETTLEMENTS-HOW THEY LIVED-PROG- RESS OF CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS-GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTY.

"How bowed the woods beneath their sturdy stroke." . -Gray.

B EFORE the rear-guard of the savages had left the Territory of Illinois, their pale faced foes were seeking lodgment in the present precincts of Pulaski County. In a preceding chapter, we have a thrilling account of a mas- sacre of a number of defenseless whites by a band of Indians, near Mound City, as an evi- dence that the Anglo-Saxons were, here as else- where, treading upon the red man's heels, and as elsewhere, but shared the fate of many of their ancestors, as a penalty of their temerity. We have not, in all cases, been blameless in our contests with the Indians. The most in- significant " worm of the dust " will sometimes turn when trampled upon, and the " untutored

savage," with the provocation of being deprived of his lands, often without any remuneration, can scarcely be censured, by the unprejudiced mind, for his attempts to punish the despoilers. Driven step by step from the homes of his fathers, he has almost reached the end of his wanderings, and from the peaks of the "rockies" he " reads his doom in the setting sun." As Sprague says, " he must soon hear the roar of the last wave which will settle over him for- ever." Yes, we have often been the aggressor in our "discussions " with the Indians, and much of the punishment we have received at his hands was richly merited. The very full and complete history of the county given in the preceding chapters, leaves but little to be said, without indulging in repetition, in the individual precincts. All the principal points

*By W. 11. Perrin.

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of historic interest have been gone over, and the progress, growth and development of the different portions of the county fairly and truthfully written. A few words, however, will be devoted to each precinct in this chapter, by way of conclusion of our work.

Burkville Precinct .- This is the smallest division of the county, and with Mound City Precinct forms its southern extremity. It con- tains some fine land, and could it be fully pro- tected from inundation, it would, with artificial drainage, would prove as fine a farming region as can be found in the State. It is mostly rich bottom, but the danger from overflow renders much of it comparatively valueless. It is bounded on the north by Villa Ridge Precinct on the east by Mound City Precinct, and on the south and west by the Cache River. The timber growth is that common in the bottoms in this portion of the State, with a heavy under- growth.

Owing to the nature of the ground. its low level surface, it was not settled as early as other sections of the county. No settlements were made until after the Emporium Company had commenced operations at Mound City, if we may except an occasional squatter. But since the building of the Central Railroad, the land has been mostly taken up, and a number of enterprising people have settled within its limits. No doubt the time is not far distant, when, by our Yankee achievements, Burkville Precinct will become the very garden of Pu- laski County.

The Village of Burkville was laid out by William Burke May 25, 1858. It is situated on the west half of the southeast quarter of Section 22, Township 16 and Range 1 west. It is the junction of the Mound City division of the Illinois Central Railroad, but as a town its pretensions are modest in the extreme, and half a dozen houses are all there is of it. except the side-tracks of the railroad. The Beech Grove and Catholic Cemeteries are located a little

north of the village-one on each side of the railroad, and but a short distance apart. There are but one or two schoolhouses in the precinct, owing to the sparse settlement.

Villa Ridge Precinct .- This is one of the most thickly settled, as well as productive por- tions of the county. It is a fine fruit-growing section ; in fact, fruit and vegetables are its chief products. There are few points on the Central Railroad from which are shipped more fruit and vegetables than from Villa Ridge. The land of the precinct is high and rolling. verging into hills on both sides of the railroad, and is well adapted to fruit culture. The tim- ber is principally oak, walnut, hickory, maple, gum, ash, etc., etc. The land is drained by a number of small streams which flow into Cache River. Villa Ridge is bounded on the north by Pulaski Precinct, on the east by Ohio and Mound City Precincts, on the south by Burk- ville Precinct, and on the west by Cache River. The Illinois Central Railroad passes nearly through the center with a station at the town of Villa Ridge. Taken altogether, it is a fine neigh- borhood ; the people are thrifty, energetic and intelligent, and are rapidly growing wealthy. The Atherton settlement was one of the first made, not only in this precinct, but in the pres- ent limits of the county. Aaron Atherton was the pioneer, and came from Kentucky, probably as early as 1816, and settled west of Villa Ridge Station, a community that is still known as the Atherton Settlement. There were nine families of the Athertons and their relatives that came here together, and about the same time. The first church in the county was or- ganized here, and probably the first burying ground was laid out in this settlement. The church was known as the Shiloh Baptist Church, and was organized in 1817, and is said to have been the second church established in the State. James Edwards and Thomas How- ard were instrumental in its formation, and it still exists as a monument to their Christian

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piety. The first building was a hewed log house. In time it was replaced with a large frame, which was afterward burned. The pres- ent building is a frame ; the present pastor is Elder T. S. Low.

There are several other church organizations in Villa Ridge Precinct. A church called the Seventh Day Baptist stands about two and a half miles east of the village, and was organ- ized about 1869. Elder Cottrell was the first pastor. The church building is a frame, and was erected some ten years ago at a cost of $650. A flourishing organization of Good Tem- plars, known as Meridian Lodge, No. 94, meets in the church. It was formed about six years ago, and is still doing good work in the tem- perance cause. The colored people have a Methodist Church and also a Baptist Church in this precinct. The Baptist Church is in the grove near the village. Rev. A. J. Johnson is pastor of the Baptist Church, and is noticed further in Pulaski Precinct. The Methodist Church is located northwest of the village, and is called Chapel Hill.

Villa Ridge has been laid out as a village in installments. A part of it, but whether the first part of it the records do not say, was laid out by William Harrell, April 17, 1866, on the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 34, Township 15, and Range 1 west. Another part was laid out by the same party on the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 3 of Township 16, and Range 1 west. The record of this addition gives no date. A place called Salem was laid out on the hill above Villa Ridge, but has been vacated.

Villa Ridge is the shipping point for a fine fruit-growing section, and large quantities of fruit and vegetables are shipped from here every season, as will be seen from the chapter on agriculture and horticulture. It is also a place of considerable business, having several stores, mills, shops, etc. It has suffered a great deal from fires during the past two or three

years, so much so that insurance companies, we learn, withdrew their policies. A Masonic lodge, entitled Villa Ridge Lodge, No. 562, A., F. & A. M. was organized here June 22, 1867, with J. H. Lufkin, Master. A Methodist Church was organized here at an early day, and for a long time held their meetings at different places in the neighborhood. About the year 1870, ef- forts were commenced to build a house, and as soon as a sufficient amount of money could be raised, the present church was erected at a cost of about $1.000. It was dedicated in 1871, and is a substantial frame building. A union Sunday school is maintained with a good at- tendance.

Ohio Precinet .- This precinct contains some fine farming land. It borders on the Ohio River and lies directly north of Mound City Precinct. The land is somewhat rough along the river, rising into bluffs in places, but back from the river it is a high table- land, lying well, and is adapted to grain and fruit. The fruit business, however, has not received the attention here that it has in other portions of the county. Much of the precinct was originally heavily timbered, but this is fast disappearing before the march of progress. It is bounded north by Ullin and Grand Chain Precincts, east by Grand Chain and the Ohio River, south by Mound City Precinct, and west by Villa Ridge and Pu- laski Precincts.

Among the early settlers of this precinct were Enoch Smith, Thomas Forker, the lat- ter a Magistrate and a man of considerable prominence ; Nathan M. Thompson, also a prominent man'; Capt. James Riddle and others. Capt. Riddle was the father-in-law of " Parson" Olmstead, as his friends all call him, and was a man of energy and of the finest business abilities. He built the house where Mr. Olmstead now lives, and owns a great deal of land, amounting to several thousands of acres, in this and Alexander Counties. He

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was one of the first traders to New Orleans, and followed boating for years, and ran one of the first steamboats to New Orleans. A native of Pennsylvania, he lived several years in Kentucky, and was one of the original proprietors of the town of Covington in that State, but came here in an early day. But so much is said of him in a preceding chapter that it is unnecessary to repeat it. Mr. Olm- stead himself is not a new-comer here, but has been in the county nearly half a cen- tury, and is well acquainted with its history. From a centennial sketch of Pulaski County written by him and published in the Cairo Argus, in 1876, many important facts in this part of our work have been obtained. He lives in the little village which bears his name, and having nearly reached the end of life's journey, he stands among his fellow. men, highly respected by all.

The old town of Caledonia was laid out by Capt. Riddle and John Skiles, after the abandonment of America. It was at one time quite a business place, but upon the death of the proprietors, its progress was ar- rested, and in 1861, it was vacated by act of Legislature. Among the carly settlers and business men of old Caledonia were John Worthington, Sr., William A. Hughes and Hugh and Isaac Worthington, all of whom are now deceased.

North Caledonia was laid out on land owned by Col. Justis Post, on Section 26, and the south half of Section 23, all in Township 15 and Range 1 east. The plat was surveyed July 7, 1843, and submitted to record Sep- tember 6, following. Col. Post made a dona- tion of land for a court house and other county buildings. It was afterward increased and enlarged by the Winnebago Land Com- pany, and at one time was a flourishing town. But the building and opening of the Illinois Central Railroad drew its trade to other points, and it has since declined in

prosperity, until at the present time it is almost wholly deserted. The town of Na- poleon is a thing of the past. It was once a village of this precinct, but not a vestige of it now remains.

The little village of Olmstead was laid out E. B. Olmstead, September 9, 1872, on the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter, and the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 27, and the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 22, all in Township 15 and Range 1 east. It con- tains a dozen or so of houses, two or three stores and a few shops. The Cairo and Vin- cennes Division of the Wabash Railroad passes through it, and its station here is the shipping point for a large scope of country.

A number of churches in the precinct afford the people ample religious facilities. There is a Presbyterian Church at the old town of Cal- edonia ; a Southern Methodist Church at the Center Schoolhouse, and a Colored Methodist Church two or three miles north of Olmstead. The precinct has some four or five good, com- fortable schoolhouses, in which schools are taught for the usual terms each year.

Pulaski Precinct. - Next to Villa Ridge Precinct, Pulaski pays more attention to frnit than any division of the county. Its topo- graphical features, except a small portion of the northwest corner along Cache River, which is somewhat swampy, partake of the same nature of Villa Ridge, being high, rolling and hilly, with plenty of timber of the kinds common to the county. The precinct is bounded north by Ullin Precinct; east by Ohio, south by Villa Ridge, and west by the Cache River. It has the advantage of the Illinois Central Railroad as a means of communication with the outside world. Settlements were not made in Pulaski as early as in many other portions of the county. The Lackey settlement was perhaps the first in the precinct made by white people. Thomas Lackey, a North Carolinian, came here

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about 1823, and still has a number of relatives and descendants living in the vicinity. At the time, however, of building the Central Railroad, nearly the entire precinct was a thick, unbroken wilderness. But since that great thoroughfare was opened, it has settled to a considerable ex- tent, and is developing rapidly into a fine farm- ing and fruit-growing region.

The village of Pulaski was laid out and the plat recorded March 28, 1855. It is located on Section 15 of Township 15, and Range west. Abraham A. Perley and Egbert E. and Henry Walbridge were the orig- inal proprietors. The latter two gentlemen were among the leading business men of the place, and under the name of Walbridge Brothers, carried on a large trade. Lumber has always been the largest and most profitable interest, and many saw mills have from time to time been in operation, turning out immense quanti- ties of lumber, which finds its way to market over the Central Railroad. Several stores here do a flourishing business. The post office was originally called Walbridge, but has been changed to Pulaski. A. W. Lewis is the pres- ent Postmaster. The vegetable business was commenced here about 1867, and has since grown to large dimensions.

The Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, located in the Lackey settlement, though having a small membership, is in a very healthy state The colored people also have a flourishing church on Section 24, and deserve considerable credit for their zeal in religious matters.

In connection with this church, a few words are due to Rev. A. J. Johnson, a man born a slave, in Clark County, Ky., August 18, 1818, to Col. J. D. Thomas. By his own energy and industry, coupled with a native intelligence superior to that of most of his race, he worked in the hemp business in Kentucky, made money and purchased his freedom, paying to his master $800 for the same. He came to Illinois in 1857, and first stopped at Mound

City, but a few years later came to this pre- cinct, where he has since resided, and where he owns a well-improved farm. He has been in the ministry for thirty-two years, first in the Christian Church, but upon coming to Illinois he united with the Free-Will Baptists, and for the past seventeen years he has had charge of the Villa Ridge Colored Baptist Church.

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History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part 72

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