USA > Illinois > Cass County > History of Cass county, Illinois > Part 16
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
Congregational Church .- In the fall of 1836, October 16th, a Presbyterian church was organized by Revs. Albert Hale and Sherron Baldwin, holding their services for the time being in the house of Dr. Chandler.
The church at first was composed of five members only, Mr. and Mrs. Sewall, Mr. Mar- cus Hicks, Mrs. Marcus Chandler, and Mrs. Lavinia Ingalls, all being Presbyterians in their religious proclivities, except the two lat- ter, who bringing letters from Congregational churches, were united with the society.
About 1841 or 1842, a church building was erected at cost of $700. It was then decided by a vote of the members (the number hav- ing been increased to nearly twice the origi- nal number), that the building should be known as a Congregational church; but there remains no formal record of any formal change in the ecclesiastical relation of the church organization till October, 1847, when it became Congregational, according to the reports made to the Southern Association of Illinois, with which it is at present connected. In the early beginning, the little band of Christ's disciples were indebted to the mem- bers of the Illinois College Faculty for nearly all their spiritual food-President Sturtevant and Professer Turner preaching to them, and administering the Sacrament. Revs. Hale and Baldwin also visited them at stated times, to aid the society in their Christian work.
The first pastor was Prof. J. B. Turner, from Jacksonville, who in 1841 was succeed- ed by Rev. Mr. Pond, and Mr. Pond was succeeded by Rev. Socrates Smith, who came under the auspices of the American Home Missionary Society, and he was followed by the following ministers: Thomas Lippincott, the father of General Lippincott, Allyn S. Kellogg, Wm. Barnes, O. C. Dickinson, J. R. Kennedy, George Paddock, P. A. Beane, S. B. Goodenough, Henry Perkins, and J. M. Bowers.
The present officers of the Church are Dr. N. S. Read, Thomas Ainsworth and J. H. Goodell, and this Church has a membership of 51, who are all liberal and enthusiastic in their Christian work.
The Sabbath school is a very prominent feature of the Church, largely attended, and far superior to most of the Sabbath schools found in similar villages. Dr. N. S. Read has been its Superintendent for the past twenty- seven years, beginning with but 25 scholars and now numbering over 200. Dr. Read has been a zealous worker, and the prosperity and progress of the Sabbath school is largely due to his untiring energy. He is the right man in the right place.
Methodist Church .- A few Methodist fam- ilies held their first meetings at the resi- dence of Squire Bonney, whenever they were able to secure the services of a minister from the neighboring settlements. Revs. Springer, Cartwright, Ridgeley, Garner and Wyatt, were among the first clergymen that ad- ministered to the spiritual wants of their brethren at Chandlerville. The Society was first placed in circumstances to employ a reg- ular minister by Messrs. Bonney, Richard, McDaniel, Proctor and Hicks. These were men of energy, and labored not only for themselves, but for the benefit of the com- munity and the moral elevation of their fel- low-men. They hired the Congregational church for their Sabbath services, and con- tinued there for about three years, when they found themselves sufficiently strong to build an edifice of worship for themselves. This latter enterprise was largely brought about by the labors of Elisha Olcutt. They built their present church about the year 1851, at a cost of $1,200, the lot being donated by Dr. Chandler.
The church grew very prosperous, and its membership quite large. It was doing a noble work in the Christian cause, when it was des-
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
tined to suffer greatly from emigration, many of its leading members going West, or set- tling in different parts of the State, among whom were: Mr. Olcutt, John Boycourt, N. Canfield and T. Way. The church, how- ever, though somewhat embarrassed, did not lose courage, but kept its armor bright, and is still " marching along " with moderate pros- perity. Rev. Charles Forree is the present pastor.
Catholic Church .- The members of the Catholic Society held their first meetings at the residence of Mr. P. Neff for about three years, when they formally organized in 1874, and thereafter continued their Sabbath wor- ship in the hall, over the store of Mr. Neff. Father Ryan has officiated as pastor for the past four years.
Mr. Neff was the leading spirit in originat- ing and pushing the society organization; he organized a Sabbath school about one year before the church society was organized, pay- ing twenty-five dollars rent out of his own pocket. He has kept up the Sabbath school ever since, and no doubt will continue to figure as one of the most prominent men of the society till a church is built, furnished and supplied.
Christian Church .- Elder D. W. Shurt- leff came from Beardstown in the winter of 1862, and preached to a few Christian families in the vicinity of Chandlerville, and February 15th, of the same winter, at Pleasant Ridge school-house, the church was first organized with the fellowing members: Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Wilson, W. D. Leeper, S. B. Jones, Mr. and Mrs. Win. Bradshaw, Smith Wilson, Nancy Smith, Lucy Curtis, Julia Curtis, Clarissa Briggs and Barbara Lucus. W. D. Leeper, assisted by S. B. Jones, were the prime movers in getting Elder D. W. Shurt- leff into the settlement. They were the men that formed the first nuclens of the church, and around which clustered the developing
interest of the Christian work. The church was greatly stimulated and strengthened by some stirring revivals. Prof. McCaukle, of Eureka College, and Elder A. G. Kane, of Springfield, were among the most prominent, that awoke the community to a Christian sense of duty. Their words of warning and entreaty sank deep and reverently into many hearts, and great numbers were converted and added to the fold of the Master. The members were united, and as one, in their social and religious relations, brotherly and sisterly love ruled every motive, and ere three years had scarcely passed from the date of their first organization, they found themselves sufficiently strong to build a church of their own; the present handsome, convenient frame building was erected at a cost of $2,700. The building committee that designed and con- structed, and supervised the work in general, consisted of the following persons: Robert Cole, J.A. Raines, S. B. Jones, and James Arm- strong. Elders John Raines and Albert Rice preached on alternate Sabbaths, the first year after the church was completed. The church, under the leadership of J. W. Monser and M. R. Elder and the two pastors, just men- tioned, saw its brightest days ; its member- ship was swelled to one hundred or more members ; peace and prosperity smiled upon the church.
A Sabbath school, numbering some seventy or eighty scholars, was among one of the most interesting and progressive features of the society. Dr. N. H. Boon and Douglass McGee were among the most earnest workers in the Sabbath school, one or the other being superintendent most of the time for many years.
It was wonderful to see how rapidly the church grew, but more wonderful to see how quickly it crumbled and its members divided and scattered. " A house divided against itself can not stand."
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
For the past two years no regular Sabbath services have been held, though occasional services occur.
Lutheran Church .- The German Evangel- ical Lutheran church was built in the year 1810. The society was organized about six months previous and held their meetings in the Congregational and Christian churches.
The original members of the church were: J. Eichenaur, H. Schneider, J. Craft, J. Mush, G. Zorn, F. Brauer, H. During, C. Boensel and H. Joeckel. Eichenaur, Schneider, Brauer and Boensel being all that are left of the orig- inal little band of worshipers. The church has been very progressive under the following pastors: Mr. Weisinger, Mr. Baumann, A. Willner and A. D. Greif; the latter being the present pastor, and of an earnest, indus- trious turn of mind. He has organized a day school, and teaches four days of the week. The church building is an ordinary wooden frame, not large but pleasantly situ- ated. The membership is thirty, which is considered large for the number of German families residing in the vicinity.
Professional .- The legal or forensic inter- est of the village is exclusively in the hands of Hon. L. C. Chandler, a son of Dr. Chand- ler. He has been prosecuting attorney one term of four years, and a member of the leg- islature. He is a man widely known, and does all the business in his line that origin- ates in the town."
Dr. Reed and Dr. N. H. Boon lead the medical profession of the village, being men of large experience, and widely known. People do not hesitate to employ them. They have a large practice and are among the old- est and most respected citizens of the village.
In closing our chapter of Chandlerville, we can not refrain from offering a brief tribute to
the memory of its founder, Dr. Chandler. The early community of Chandlerville was patri- archal in its characteristics. It originated in the self-sacrificing devotion of its founder; its first steps were directed and carefully guarded by his judgment, and in its maturer years bears his name and the impress of his char- acter.
It is difficult to imagine the early prosperity of this settlement without the material and moral support of Dr. Chandler. He was the central figure in its early history, and lost none of his prominence while he lived. Com- ing as a benefactor, he allowed no desire for private ends to swerve him from his chosen course. He sought to establish a center of civilizing influence; his was a mission of good, and the records of his time bear ample testi- mony of his faithfulness to such a cause; the sick, the unfortunate, found in him a helpful friend; public enterprises were placed beyond the danger of failure by his efforts; struggling merit never failed for lack of material aid when solicited of him, while his old account- books, bearing the names of every member of the settlement in those early days, tell many a tale of his devotion to his people. His sup- port of the Church and school was liberal, frequent and voluntary. He labored for the common good and the elevation of mankind. Some three years ago, to the regret and sor- row of all who knew him, "God's finger ouched him, and he slept."
All honor be, then, to these gray old men, When at last they are bowed with toil;
Their warfare then o'er, they battle no more, For they've conquered the stubborn soil. And the chaplet each wears, is the silver hairs, And ne'er shall the victor's brow With a laurel crown to the grave go down, Like the pioneer sons-of fame, renown.
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
133
CHAPTER XIII .*
ASHLAND PRECINCT-PHYSICAL FEATURES-EARLY SETTLERS-PIONEER TIMES-SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES-THE VILLAGE OF ASHLAND.
THE first settlers, who gazed upon the broad waste of prairie, the unmolested groves, dense and tangled with brush and briar, be- fore a plow had touched the virgin soil, or an ax had struck a tree, little thought that all this wilderness, in their own day, before their own locks were silvered with the thread of time, would be made to blossom as a garden. Little thought had they of seeing beautiful homes, waving fields of golden grain, green pastures and grazing herds, where the bounding deer, crouching panther and howl- ing wolf, held unmolested sway.
Little thought they that in their time, fur- naces, forges, fire and steam, amid the noise and whirl of swift and bright machinery, would sow, reap, bind, thresh, grind and market their grain. Labor and invention are man's greatest functions, and wonderful are the changes the past half century has wrought.
Ashland Precinct has an area of twenty- two miles. It formerly was much larger, in- cluding a greater portion of Philadelphia Precinct within its original boundary. There is but little timber within its present limits ; Panther Grove, in the northern por- tion of the precinct, with here and there a few scattering trees, may be said to be all the timber worth mentioning. The land origi- nally was mostly prairie ; it is quite level but very productive. The soil is of a dark color and varies from one to three feet in depth.
There are no streams worthy of mention in the precinct; Panther Creek takes its rise in
Panther Grove, and becomes quite a stream in its course to the Sangamon River.
Mr. Eli Cox was the first settler who came into Ashland Precinct; he " blazed " the first tree on the corner of his claim in 1818,' and he is one of the olde t settlers of Cass County. He is very peculiar and anomalous in his ways, accumulating considerable property and money, but never could be induced to deposit his surplus money outside of his own house or premises, deeming the banks very hazard- ous and uns if , and consequently he has been the victim of robbers for the third time. The last time he was assaulted was Aug. 19, 1882. A party of masked villains burst into his apartments, thinking he had some $3,000 in his possession, and tortured him in a very brutal manner; they placed burning coals at his feet, heated a poker, and cruelly and dan- gerously burnt other portions of his body; also hanging him by the neck several times, hoping thereby to force from him a confession as to the whereabouts of his money, but the Wednesday previous he had been prevailed upon by his lawyer in Jacksonville to de- posit his money in a bank, and consequently the fiends secured but $45 as the reward of their midnight assault upon a helpless and defenceless old man. A family by the name of Shiltz occupied a portion of the house, but their guns being unload d, the family were rendered helpless, and with cocked revolvers at their door were quietly requested to remain in their apartments.
In 1820, Mr. Cox settled on his present farm, where he has ever since resided. Will-
* By J. L. Nichols.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
iam Crow and William Cooper settled in the precinct soon after Mr. Cox had located. Ashland Precinet was not generally settled till comparatively a late date, the land being mostly prairie, and the first settlers, coming from timbered countries, thought it impossible to locate on the prairie, where there was no timber. David R. Short made an effort in 1830, to get away from the timber, and took up a claim where Joshua Atkins now resides, but after the first year's trial he became dis- couraged, and sold out his interest in the land to his unele, Samuel Short, who resided then in Sangamon County. Even at that late date it was thought by most of the settlers that the prairies would remain an " everlasting waste," but they were soon undeceived, for the prairie lands soon became the most desira- ble to be secured. In 1831, Stephen Lee built a cabin in Panther Grove, and John Miller and Alfred Dutch soon moved into the precinct, and began improving farms. In 1824, when Adams, Jackson and Clay ran for president, there were not enough settlers in the precinct to organize an election, and it was several months after the election before they heard the result.
The deep snow occurred in the winter of 1830 and 1831, and this seems to be the principal data the old settlers have, dating most of the events of their early history in the settlement of the county, as occurring be- fore and after that winter. Charivaring and dancing were the principal amusements of the young. The charivari is of French origin, but quite generally practiced as a means of amusement in that early day, and to some extent at the present.
Mr. Alfred Dutch built the first frame house ever erected in the precinct, in 1834. It was an elegant building for those early times, but he came with some means, and took pride in making himself and family comfortable.
The first settlers received but little mail,
and the first post office was at Jacksonville. Their market was St. Louis, and the journey there, a distance of 100 miles or more, took from seven to eighteen days, the roads being very roundabout, and often very difficult. They drove, also, their cattle and hogs to that distant market, a task which the farmers of to-day would deem almost an impossibility. Those who have lived only in the era of rail- roads, steamships and electricity, know but little of the privations, hardships and suffer- ings their pioneer fathers endured; they know but little of what it was to build cabins, subdue the wild prairies, and narrow down the groves, with no tools or machinery except the ax, spade and plow; but those times have forever passed away, and will only be known as facts of history.
The first pioneers of the precinct were not a Godless people, but early and devotedly counseled together, devising every means possible for promoting religious and moral influences in the community. They held meetings in private cabins, school-houses and groves; wherever a few Christian families could assemble, the word of God would be preached. Peter Cartwright, the famous pioneer preacher, was a devoted friend to the early settlers in this section of the country. As early as 1823 we find him preaching in the cabin of Mr. Crow, to the following fami- lies: Samuel Short, William Cooper, Stephen Short, John Cox, Samuel Robinson, R. Heads- peth, William Miller, and James Watson. Many similar meetings in various cabins of the settlers were held for many years.
The Centenary M. E. Church, in the north- ern part of the precinct, took its name from the Centennial year of Methodism in America. The church society was first organized at the the residence of Samuel Sinclair, in 1853, with the following families: Joseph Bowers, John Cheatham, John Gill, and Jonathan Gill. Mr. Sinclair was a minister of the
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
gospel himself, and he and his wife, Myra Ann, did more than all others in working up the interest which finally culminated in the present prosperous church organization. They opened their own house for church ser- viees, entertaining and feeding all that came. They were a very hospitable family and did much good, not only as christian workers, but as citizens and neighbors; they were ever ready and willing to assist those who were less fortunate than themselves.
Rev. James Garner was among the first ministers of that neighborhood, and held oc- easional services at the residenee of Mr. Sin- clair, till the fall of 1857, when the school house was built, where he, in connection with Lewis Mathews, M. Monroe, and Revs. Ayers and Hewitt continued preaching for three years or more. The Circuit was then organ- ized and Rev. J. Mitchell was appointed as the regular pastor. Mr. Mitchell was one of the most successful revivalists that was ever appointed to the charge; he often preached five and six weeks in succession without any assistance, holding meetings every afternoon and evening. Peter Cartwright, the Presid- ing Elder, called him " Whalebone," a term very appropriate, considering his ambition and endurance. The society built their pres- ent church in 1866. It is a beautiful frame building, very conveniently adapted for the purpose for which it was built.
Rev. William Stribling, from Jacksonville, a retired minister, gave five acres of land for the building and support of the church. Mr. Stribling was very generous in the use of his acquired property, giving a greater portion of it to the schools and churches of the coun- try. The building committee was made up of the two Samuel Sinelairs and John Beggs. The first trustees of the church were: John Beggs, Samuel Sinclair, Joseph Bowers, and Levi M. Ream. The present membership of the church is forty.
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A Sabbath school of considerable inter- est has been successfully conducted in con- neetion with the church. It was first organ- ized in Fly Point school-house, with about thirty scholars. At present both church and Sabbath school are very interestedly at work, and the work of both has become a strong, stimulating force in the community.
There were no schools organized in the pre- einet, till a comparatively late date, for the prairies were not generally settled till about 1858 or '60. The first school-house built in the precinct in 1855, was known as the Begg's school-house. The children in the southern part in an early day, attended a school in Morgan County, located in the grove near Mr. John Cox.
At the present day school-houses are con- veniently located all over the precinct, no scholars being compelled to walk to school more than a mile, or a mile and a half, at most. The educational interests are well guarded, and the general intelligence of the growing youth is ample testimony that the present schools and present school systems are not, and have not been, a failure.
Ashland Village .- The name was taken from the home of that great Kentucky states- man, Henry Clay, who was long known as the Sage of Ashland. Many of the earlier settlers coming from Kentucky, it is not strange that they should associate the name of their town with the memory of that noble and eloquent orator, so long the pride of their native State.
In 1857, shortly after the Tonica & Peters- burg Railroad, since known as the Alton, was surveyed, a company was organized for the purpose of laying out a town and speculat- ing in the sale of lots. This company con- sisted of Elmore Crow, James L. Beggs, Will- iam G. Spears, Richard Yates (the famous war-governor of Illinois), and others, whose names we were not able to obtain. The trustees of the Jacksonville Female Academy
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
purchased a half interest, for the purpose of adding the net proceeds of the sale of lots to the general fund of the school.
The land upon which the village is located was originally owned by Elmore Crow, who reserved a proportional interest when he deeded the land to the company. He owned about 600 acres, of which nearly one half was laid out into village lots. The boundary of the village, as originally laid out, was as fol- lows : Commencing at a point one-fourth of one mile due west of the southeast corner of section twenty-nine, township seventeen, range eight, west of the third principal mer- idian in the County of Cass, State of Ills., running due north one half mile, thence due east one mile, thence due south one mile, thence due west one mile, thence due north one half mile, to the point of starting. Be- side the public squares and commons, the lots were divided into 144 blocks.
The laying out of Ashland was not a mat- ter of speculation alone. Those that invest- ed in lots, made the purchase with the view of improving them for either a residence or place of business, and often both. A thriving corn crop was growing on the ground when the lots were staked off. Several who are now residents of the village, remember dis- tinetly when they bound wheat and husked corn on the very ground where the principal business places are built. Mr. Crow's house was the first building erected within the present limits of the town; he being a farmer and owning the land, had improved it to a limited extent. The old building yet stands, and is known as the Douglass boarding house. About forty buildings were on the grounds the first year. A little village or burgh, con- sisting of perhaps a dozen houses, and known by the name of Rushaway, was moved to Ashland and became a part of the town. The first two public sales of lots amounted to $102,000. There were also many private
sales, and the business of selling lots for a tine was financially a success.
W. R. Hunter was among the first merch- ants of the village. He built a store on Main street and began a general grocery and dry- goods trade, and continued in business at the above named place some four years, when he entered into partnership with J. M. Jones. They continued business under the firm name of Hunter & Jones, buying grain in connection with their general store trade till 1872, when Mr. Hunter sold out his interest in the store and entered exclusively into the grain trade. Mr. Hunter may be called the oldest business man in the village, he being one of the first to engage and has ever since been identified with the business of the town, being at present largely interested in the grain trade.
William Goble and Alexander Mansfield built a store and began business about the time Mr. Hunter opened his store. They continued business about two years, when they became financially embarrassed, and their stock was sold out under the Sheriff's hammer. The building which they erected, however, is still in existence, being changed to a dwelling, and at present is owned by Mr. O. P. Lewis.
From 1>63 to 1866, there was but one gen- eral store in the town, viz .: Hunter & Jones. They did an extensive business, and were widely known as straightforward, thorough business men. The first post office was kept in their store, and W. R. Hunter was the regu- larly appointed postmaster. He was succeeded by W. W. Redman, who has held that position ever since. Mr. Redinan was also interested in the drug business previous to the fire. Ile is a man widely known and universally re- spected.
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