USA > Illinois > Cass County > History of Cass county, Illinois > Part 17
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Previous to the opening of the present post office, the settlers procured their mail at Lan- caster, some three and a half miles distant.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
The first hotel of the village is the present brick building now used for that purpose, and owned and run by J. L. Clark. The building was first built by a company consisting of the following persons : Elmore Crow, James L. Beggs, and William Spears.
The first blacksmith shop was put up by Leander Grandy, just north of the present site of the Methodist Church.
Another about the same time was started by Andrew Henderson, who was shortly after bonght out by John L. Douglas, and he in turn after continuing the business for one year or thereabouts, sold out to Messrs. Crow and Beggs. This shop stood just west of the present hotel, on the south side of the street. It has long since disappeared and others have taken its place. About the same time the blacksmith business was begun, a wagon shop was opened by William Bready. He followed the business with moderate suc- cess for three years. The present wagon shop is doing a prosperous business, and is run by Charles Goodman. In 1872 the pres- ent elevator was built by Messrs. Hunter, Duey & Co. It is the only building of the kind in the town. Mr. Hunter, since the com- pletion of the building, bought out the inter- est of his partners and conducts the business himself. It is a frame structure, conveniently built and modernly improved, costing $8,000. Mr. Hunter is one of the prominent grain dealers of the village, and handles over 100,- 000 bushels of grain annually. The other grain firms doing business in the town are, E. Beggs, and Hamilton & Duey.
January 18, 1868, a meeting of the promi- nent citizens took place for the purpose of arranging an election for the purpose of in- corporating the village. The election which shortly afterward followed, resulted in thirty- five ballots in favor, and four against, incor- poration, and the following persons were elected as members and officers of the village
board : Stephen Barnes, President ;. W. R. Hunter, Clerk ; J. G. Smith, Police Magis- trate ; James L. Beggs, A. L. Corson, and J. G. Smith.
Previous to the building of the O. & M. R. R., in 1871, the growth of the town was not rapid, and the business it did was not of a very pressing character ; but on the comple- tion of the new railroad, real estate business, and building took a new start, and Ashland at once took her place as one of the most prosperous business towns of the county, and at its present ratio of progress it will soon rival the county-seat itself.
In 1877 the village met with a serious draw-back and heavy losses by fire. The most central and thriving business portion of the town was totally consumed. The fire originated in a small barber shop some time early in the evening, and was not discovered till midnight, when it was found to be entirely beyond all control; but new and better build- ings have taken the place of the old, and the prosperity of the town seems in no way to feel the effects of that devastating flime. There are now many brick buildings orna- menting the business streets, and many more are contemplated ; the future business out. look seems very flattering.
The members of the present village board are David Middour, President; Myer Hexter, Treasurer ; Samuel Short, Police Magistrate ; William Duke, Street Commissioner ; John Fansher, Frank Lohman, T. A. Duey, Eli M. Wyatt, John King, and J. G. Pearn, Clerks.
Schools .- The founders of the village of Ashland early looked after the culture, char- acter and education of their children. They seemed to heartily indorse the idea of plae- ing them early under the influences which awaken their faculties, inspires them with higher principles, and fits them to bear a manly, useful and honorable part in the world. To take the child in all his ignorance,
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
weakness, and dependence, exposed to evil influences and temptations on every hand, and lead him through the devious and danger- ous paths of childhood and youth, and finally place him upon the battle-field of life, with the proper armor of truth and education, is a duty and a responsibility that no parent should neglect or set aside with indifference for the purpose of economy or the care of business, for no language can express the folly of that economy, which, to leave a fortune to a child, starves his intellect and impoverishes his heart.
The citizens of Ashland, mindful of these weighty responsibilities, organized a school in 1859, in an old grocery building, near where Mr. John Huston now resides. The building had previously been used for a store- house, then a saloon, and finally metamor- phosed into a school-room. Mr. George Coffin had the honor of governing and teach- ing the first school within the village limits. He laid the foundation to the present school system, which, in past years, has reflected so much credit upon the town and surrounding country. The school was continued here till the fall of 1862, when it was moved to the present site, or near where the present brick school building stands. The school was then continued in the old building till 1866, when the present building of two rooms was erected.
The directors that designed and directed the work were W. S. Douglass, Madison Dad- isman and J. M. Jones. But the following year tested the strength and durability of the walls ; quite a severe storm occurred, and the upper portion of the building was totally de- stroyed, the walls of the lower story alone re- maining. It was not so much in the extra- ordinary severity of the storm, as it was in the defect of the masonry and architectural structure of the building in general. It was poorly built and its fall was only a matter of time. The community were very fortunate, for there was no s hool in progress, or otherwise
many scholars might have been seriously in- jured, if not killed.
The building was at once repaired, and is yet in a state of good preservation. Mr. John Full was the first teacher in the new brick building, and did much credit to himself in the able manner in which he conducted the school.
A new building is now in progress, the cost of which is estimated at $8,000. The citizens of Ashland do not propose to be be- hind their neighboring villages in school buildings or in general school work. The contemplated building will probably be the finest and best building in the town, and no pains or cost will be spared to make it one of the best schools of the county. The di- rectors who have the building in charge are William S. Douglass, William M. Jones and Silas Hexter. The present teachers are John Pearn and Carrie Redman.
Churches. - Ashland M. E. Church was first organized in 1857, at what was known as the Mitchell school-house, one mile southwest of the present site of the village of Ashland. The members that constituted the first organ- ization are as follows: Asel, Jane, Ann, Mary, Maria J., Mahala, and A. C. Douglass, Samuel and Lavina Short, John L. Douglass, Mary Holaway, Thomas Foxworthy, Andrew Welch, Nancy and G. W. Foxworthy. The first minister that administered to the spiritnal wants of the settlers, was Rev. W. J. Newman, with Rev. G. M. Crays as assistant. Rev. George Rutledge was the first presiding elder. The society held irregular meetings at the above named place for several years. A Sabbath School of some considerable inter- est was annually organized, and successfully conducted through the year by leading mem- bers of the Society. The meetings were usu- ally well attended, and the children were well represented in the Sabbath School. In 1861, the church was re-organized in Ashland, with the following members: James and Sarah
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
Cresse, Asel, Jane, Ann, Mary, Mahala, and A. C. Douglass, J. Boycourt, Basil Green- wood and wife, Mary Boycourt, Richard Arn- old and wife, Mary Campbell, George Coffin and wife, Jane High, John Townsen, Charles and George Zirkle, Israel, Mary and Cecilia Towsen, Jacob, Mabel, and Margaret Shuek, William Bearden, Samantha Bready, Franeis Mitchell, Elizabeth Bready Hathaway, Leland and Addie Mitehell, S. E. Beggs, Trifena Greenwood, William W. and Naney J. Red- man, Henry Hollinshead, Eliza, Madison, Silva and William Campbell.
Ashland had been laid out but a few years, and a place of meeting was with some diffi- culty seeured. The first meetings were held in a store or store house, now owned by Austin Lewis. These were the first religious services held in the village of Ashland. In those first devotional Christian meetings, dedi- eating the embryo village with its business, with its prosperity, and with its prospects to God, has not been entirely without fruit. There are many happy homes, happy wives, and happy children, who owe their pleasant cireumstances and surroundings to the social and religious influences of the Methodist ยท Episcopal church. Though there is much wickedness in their midst, the friends of strong drink are numerous; religion and tem- perance have not the desired control, but those dedicating prayers were heard, and will yet be answered. "Though the mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceeding small; though with patience He stands wait- ing, with exactness grinds He all."
The meetings were continued for a time in the above named place; the building being needed for other purposes, the society con- tinued their regular sabbath services in the rooms of the hotel, and shortly after oeeupied the Ashland school house, where regular ser- viees were continued till the present church was built. During the time the meetings
were held in the store, hotel and school-house, Rev. Jeremiah Mitehell officiated as pastor.
The present church was built in 1870, at a cost of $4,000. It is a handsome frame strue- ture, built upon the lots given to the society by the village authorities. It is at present the finest church edifiee in the precinet. It was dedicated by the Rev. Mr. Buek, who preached a very appropriate and soul-stirring sermon. The building committee was made up of the following members viz .: James L. Beggs, Jesse Newman and J. M. Jones. The present trustees are Samuel Hamilton, Edwin Beggs, Robert G. Hewit, and W. W. Redman. The present membership is 70. The promi- nent pastors who have labored for the spiritual interests of the society, were E. K. Shields, J. J. Garner, Wingate Newman, G. Garner, and E. B. Randle, the latter being the present pastor.
A Sabbath School of more than ordinary interest has been successfully kept up in con- nection with the church ever since its first organization. At present about 100 scholars are in attendance, and M. F. Short is the present Superintendent. He is a man well qualified, and has long been identified as one of the most energetie Sunday school workers of the county.
The Church has at times been greatly strengthened, and its membership considera- bly increased, by the zealous labors of some of its prominent pastors. Perhaps the most prominent revival in the history of the Church was that condueted by the talented E. K. Shields, who in the winter of 1875, converted nearly one hundred persons. The town be- came thoroughly awakened by his stirring and pathetic appeals; his sermons, though strong, forcible and eloquent, were touching, and reached the heart of many an erring sinner.
The church at present is very prosperous; Rev. Mr. Randle is a young man of consider- able ability, and is earnest and untiring in his ministeral labors. -
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IIISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
The Ashland Catholic Church was first organized at the residence of Martin Tyes, in February, 1871, by the Rev. Father August Joseph Sauer, and the following members with their families, professing the Catholic faith, were present: Thomas Guley, Elward Leahy, Wm. Kennedy, John Martin, Morris Burus, Cornelius Hurley, and some others whose names the writer was not able to ob- tain. The society, after being formally organ- ized, as above mentioned, held their next meetings in the Ashland school-house, where they continued their regular Sabbath services for nearly two years, when they purchased two lots of Matthew Jones, and built a small frame-building, in which the society has held its regular meetings till the present time. The capacity of this building was too small to conveniently accommodate the increasing membership of the church, and in 1880 Rev. Father T. M. Hogan was appointed to the charge, for the purpose of investigating the prospects of building a new church. He found the members not only financially able, but enthusiastic, willing, and ready, to enter heartily into the work. Father Hogan is a man of stirring energy as well as talent, and ably fitted for the work that is now so prosperously in progress. His first collection in the winter of 1881 amounted to $1,800. The fair in January, 1882, under his immediate supervision, netted $1,314, making a total of $3,114 as a preparatory fund for beginning the contemplated church. Five lots, located in the western portion of the town, were at once purchased from William Mathers, at a cost of $300, and the work of building imme- diately begun. - The building was begun May 6, 1882, and it measures ninety-six feet in length and forty feet in width, its spire seventy-five feet in height. It is a frame- structure, and when completed will be one of the finest churches in the county. Its cost is estimated at $5,500.
The members that constitute the building committee are James Collins and Edward Leahy. Father Hogan, however, personally supervises the work and sees that suitable material is used and proper labor employed.
The Church at present has sixty members as heads of families. The pastors of the Church, from the first organization to the pres- ent time, are as follows: J. A. Saner, Michael Ryan, Father O'Hare, and T. M. Hogan.
The Church has a prosperous outlook for the future, and, no doubt, will in time become one of the strongest and most permanent of the Churches of the country.
Societies .- Oak Lodge I. O. O. F., No. 341, was first organized at Prentice, Morgan Coun- ty, Oct. 9, 1867, and moved to Ashland Oct. 10, 1877. The members that were most en- ergetic in originating the movement of organ- izing a lodge were the charter members, which are as follows, viz .: John L. Douglass, John M. Berry, John M. Brockman, John W. Daniel, Martin Berry, Sumner Daniel, Samuel Hurt, Benjamin Berry, and John W. Crum.
The first election of officers in the order re- sulted in the following choice: John M. Ber- ry, N. G., John Crum, V. G., John Brockman, Secy., Albert Short, Treas., John L. Douglass, Warden, and John Daniel, Conductor. The lodge meets every Tuesday evening, and has a membership of twenty-three. The present officers are: David Middour, N. G., T. A. Duey, V. G., Myer Hexter, Secy., John L. Douglass, Warden, Eli J. Salsenstein, Treas., Silas Hexter, Conduetor.
The following members have been honored with the office of Noble Grand, viz. : John L. Douglass, Albert Short, John Daniel, Sum- ner Daniel, Silas Hexter, Myer Hexter, B. C. Elmore, Eli J. Salsenstein, T. A. Duey, Wil- liam Duke, and a few others, whose names could not be obtained. The lodge, though not large, is progressive, and a large member- ship is but a matter of time.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
CHAPTER XIV .*
ARENZVILLE PRECINCT-ITS EARLY HISTORY-THE THREE MILE TERRITORY-EARLY RESIDENCE OF THE SETTLERS-EMIGRANTS FROM GERMANY-SCHOOL-HOUSES AND CHURCHES IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS-THE VILLAGE OF ARENZVILLE- FIRST LOTS SURVEYED-BUSINESS OF THE TOWN-CHURCHES AND SCHOOL-HOUSES IN THE VILLAGES-SOME OF THE PROMI- NENT MEN OF THE TIME-FRANCIS ARENZ, JOHN L. CIRE, DR. GEORGE ENGELBACH, AND OTHERS- MISCELLANEOUS, ETC., ETC.
IN order to prepare a complete history of the precinct of Arenzville, it will be nec- essary to refer to some events which preceded its organization.
By an act of the legislature, passed in 1837, it was declared that the County of Cass should be one of the counties of this State, that the county seat should be located at Beardstown on the public square, that the cit- izens or corporation should raise ten thousand dollars to defray the expenses of erecting public buildings, payable in one, two and three years from the passage of the law afore- said; that an election for county officers should be held on the first Monday of August, 1837; that Thomas Pogue and Dr. O. M. Long, no- taries public in Beardstown, should open and examine the poll books in presence of one or more justices of the peace, etc.
This act contained in it the germs from which afterward bitter contentions arose about the county seat.
Cass County having been formed from the northern part of Morgan, this last mentioned county had retained the south halves of the townships north of the line, dividing town- ships Sixteen and Seventeen. This caused considerable dissatisfaction among the inhab- itants of what was generally called "the
three-mile territory," because the geograph- ical situation of the country and the then ex- isting settlements, were of such nature as to incline the people to prefer to belong to the County of Cass.
Arguments were futile, and it was useless to expect to obtain relief by means of a new election when it was known by everyone that the county of Morgan could outvote Cass ten to one upon any question upon which both might be interested.
Finally John W. Pratt, the member in the legislature from Cass, with the assistance of Francis Arenz, who at that time was one of the six members from Morgan and a resident within this three-mile territory, succeeded in obtaining the passage of an act of the Gen- eral Assembly on Feb. 26, 1845, allowing the people within said three miles to decide by their votes, at an election to be held on the first Monday of May, 1845, to which county they would prefer to belong. This act further provided that all justices and constables in Morgan, who may reside in this territory, should hold their offices in the county of Cass, and for judges of election at the desig- nated places of voting; the following persons were appointed: David Epler, John A. Arenz and Edward W. Turner, at Arenzville; Jacob Yaples, George Petefish and Peter Con- over, at the house of Henry Price; Jonathan
* By Judge J. A. Arenz.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
C. Bergen, William Montgomery and Z. W. Gatton, at Princeton; William Berry, Alfred Dutch and John Miller, at the house of Will- iam Berry.
This election resulted in nearly a unani- mous vote for Cass County, only a few dis- senting votes having been cast.
John A. Arenz and Charles Coffin, having been elected justices of the peace in Morgan County, continued to hold their offices in the new precinct of Arenzville, with the following boundary: commencing on the line between Morgan and Cass Counties, at the southeast corner of section 33, town 17.11, thence run- ning west to the Illinois river, thence along said river to the dividing line between sec- tions 2 and 11, in township 17.13, thence run- ning east on said section line to the northeast corner of section 9, township 17.11, thence south to the place of beginning.
The persons voting at Arenzville, for or against attaching the three-mile territory to Cass County, are as follows: Joseph Thomp- son, Thomas Thompson, Jacob Lawrence, John Altman, Frederick Lang, G. H. Rich- ards, David Epler, William Taylor, E. Hardy, HI. B. Dun, Shad. Dun, Henry Meyer, Will- iam Kimball, L. B. Kimbal, Thomas Cook, Peter Light, Julius Philippi, Jacob Heinz, Jno. Orchard, James Jackson, J. L. Cire, Omar Bowyer, David Griffin, James C. Robertson, D. Wagner, Joel Stewart, Christ. Lovekamp, Frederick Brauer, Charles Sandman, W. H. Houston, Peter Arenz, I. P. McLane, Francis Mitchell, J. Creson, Goorge W. McLane, Jep. Weagle, Jacob Epler, James New- man, George McPherson, Richard Mathews, N. Carter, Frederick Lovekamp, Henry Howell, Alexander Ferguson, Henry Wede- king, Jacob Drinkwater, Frederick Kilver, Sq. Houston, II. Lippert, James V. Pierce, Charles Cooper, Jeremiah Cawood, Joseph Houston, Daniel Sumner, Peter Schaaf, Elder IIardy, George A. Treadway, Charles Rob-
e rtson, Christ. Rahe, John Marshall, Christ Grave, Victor Krueger, Henry Goedeking, Philip Yaeck, Louis Boy, Isaac Drinkwater, Henry Phelps, Silas Miller, Randal Miller, Thomas Burnet, Samuel Harris, George Heg- ener, Henry Lovekamp, Frederick Fricke, Daniel D. Comstock, David Sharp, Isaac Houston, Adam Schuman, Frederick Wede- king, William Teilkemeier, Herman Love- kamp, Frederick Hackman, J. L. Comstock, Daniel Dun, Henry Carls, John Carls, Henry Krems, John Houston, William Hackman, William Meyer, Herman Eberwein, J. F. Skinner, George Manuel, Alexander Pitner, Henry Detmer, Joseph M. Webster, George Gunther, John Thompson, George Diehm, Henry Buck, J. C. Carter, John James, Tenna James, Nicholas Houston, Theo. Burchird, Isaac Coy, Henry Menke, Jacob Menke, Frederick Kummel, Charles Merz, John Wies, John Doell, Christ. Crowell, John Masch, M. P. Bowyer, V. G. Smith, J. A. Arenz, Joseph Thompson, Joseph Kircher, G. Hackman.
There were also inhabitants of the Arenz- ville Precinct, who voted at the house of Henry Price, which was their nearest voting place; among that number were: Oswell Thompson, Christ. Crum, James Crum, who came from Indiana in 1830, and who is the only living person among the first settlers in that neighborhood, and nearly 76 years old. There also voted Thomas Fozzart, John Wood, Charles Jockisch, William Reside, Ernest Fletcher, David Wilson, John Dobson, John Clark, William Nesbit, Anthony Boston, William C. Miller, L. C. Pitner, Thomas Nesbit, David Hamacker, J. H. Melone, Samuel McClure and others.
The residences of the people at an early day were log houses, having generally one or two doors, one little window, or none at all, a big fire-place, and the furniture therein was generally a table or big chest, a bed and a a few split-bottom chairs, which so completely
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
covered the floor, that only a few visitors at a time could get inside the house. The door had on such occasions to be left open, so that one could at least see who his next neighbor was. These cabins were so open and airy, that in winter the snow would blow through the cracks, and in summer swarms of mosqui- toes would surround the sleeper, and if the party could not afford the luxury of a bar, he must either have the hide of an elephant or be entirely insensible to pain. To scare off mosquitoes, some people inade a big fire of weeds before their cabins in the evening, or in the fire-place, and under cover of the tre- mendous smoke arising, under coughing and sneezing, the evenings were passed, and thus the nights. Very early rising was the order of the day, for as soon as daylight faintly approached, every one hurried to leave his bed. There was no necessity of calling any one to get up; the flies would relieve the mosquitoes from duty and perform this work effectually. In almost every house, or in the shed part of the cabin, was found a spinning- wheel and loom, to manufacture the yarn and weave the clothing and bedding for family use. The women were exclusively the manu- facturers of these useful things, and on days of gatherings, or on Sundays, when people assembled for church purposes, before the service commenced, it was spoken of, how many yards of jeans, linsey-woolsey, socks, etc., had been manufactured by Mrs. So and So. The surplus of these articles not used for family purposes, were brought to the stores for sale, and jeans, socks, knit gloves and mit- tens, came in such abundance, that the store- keeper could not dispose of the same here, and had to ship them to St. Louis, then the New York of the western country.
Among the carly emigrants from Germany, were many who had been accustomed to good society, and had enjoyed the advantages of superior education. Some held diplomas from
colleges and universities. As most Germans, they were lovers of music, and some could play on one or more musical instruments. The pioneer lives in a new country, where hard labor, coupled with innumerable priva- tions, withont amusements of any kind, neces- sarily drew that class together, who could not bring themselves to the belief that the only aim and object in life should henceforth be devoted to hard work only, for which they at best could only get board and clothing. They were generally called the "Latin farm- ers."
A club, or society circle was formed, and social gatherings were had, sometimes at the house of one member, sometimes at another. Little concerts were gotten up, the instruments being piano, violin, flute, and violoncello. Dancing parties were occasionally arranged, and large hunting parties. A musical band was afterwards organized under the leader- ship of a Mr. Holtzermann. This social circle . continued for many years, until finally, when the number had increased to such proportion that no room was large enough to hold them, and some of the original members had by death, or removal to other parts of the country, made their places vacant, this very pleasant and useful club came to an end.
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