History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois, Part 49

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 826

USA > Illinois > Clark County > History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois > Part 49
USA > Illinois > Crawford County > History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois > Part 49

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

building his store in the year following. The Watson Block, on the corner of State and Washington streets was erected in 1819. The first hotel stood where the Watson block now is, and was kept from 1841 to 1848, by Capt. Tefft. The Grant House, standing in the northern part of the village, is its only successor.

The growth of the town was considerably retarded during its early history by the gen- eral insecurity of the title to the property. The Evingers were not able to pay cash for their entire purchase and secured the balance of the payment on the property. This was a bar to a clear title, and it was not until 1854, when Dr. Parcel bought the unsold part of the płat, that matters improved. Building new houses and improving lots, he infused a new vigor into the town which has since rapidly advanced. The business portion includes four dry goods stores, two groceries, two hard- ware stores, three blacksmith shops, two wag- on shops, a harness shop, etc., etc. The man- ufacturing interest was represented by the Westfield steam mill. This was originally a two story structure erected in 1840, by Wood- ford Dulaney, W. P. Bennett and D. Eringer. It had two run of stone and a carding mill at- tached, and did a good business until 1850, when it was burned down. In 1854, Parcel and Evinger erected a mill, four stories high, and forty feet square, at a cost of $5,000. It stood in the northeast part of town, had a ca- pacity of seventy-five barrels of flour per day, and a saw-mill attached. In 1856 it burned down, entailing a loss on property and contents of $18,000. In the same year the mill was re- placed by the same firm, with three run of stone and saw-mill at a cost of about $10,000. In 1859, J. I. Parcel bought the entire inter- est and continued the business some four years when he sold to Clement & Crowfoot. The partnership subsequently changed to Ciement & Fish, who sold out to a Mr. Scott,

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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.

who moved the mill, in 18:8, to Brownstown on the Vandalia Railroad. In 1868, the Ror- din Brothers erected a steam saw-mill on section 29, and did a good business for some ten years there, when they removed the ma- chinery to Westfield. IIere they erected a steam flonring mill on the site of the Parcel mill, which has a capacity of seventy-five bar- rels per day and is still doing a flourishing business.

In 1879 The Index was established hy G L. Watson. This was a seven-column folio weekly newspaper. After conducting it for some two years he sold the office and paper to M. R. Bain, who changed its name to The Pan- tagraph. In 1881 the establishment passed into the hands of S. W. Zeller, and a year later was sold to his son, J. R. Zeller, who changed its name to The Visitor, and three months later sold it to Martin & Baker. Be- fore the end of a year's possession, Charles Martin secured the sole proprietorship, and now conducts the paper. It is now a five- column quarto, neutral as to politics, and has a circulation of about 500 subscribers.

The societies are represented here by West- field Lodge, No. 163, Free and Accepted Ma- sous, which was organized in August, 1834, by the following original members: Wesley Norman, N. S. Hawley, James L. Parker, Fe- lix Parker, Frederick Hammond, Josiah Con- noly, Sylvester Lewis, E. B. Hawkins, Chas. Downey, and G. R. Clark. The lodge now has twenty-nine members and meets in Wat- son Hall. Westfield Lodge, No. 644, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, was instituted September 29, 1877, with five members: W. R. Smith, M. Laws, J. Hall, Z. L. Davee, and W. D. Hutchinson. Meetings were first, held in Ensley's Hall, and two years later moved to Watson Block, where the lodge has recently fitted up a fine assembly room. The member- ship now numbers thirty-three. Westfield Post, No. 139, Grand Army of the Republic,

Department of Illinois, was instituted August 11, 1882, with G. N. Parker, A. A. Moore, R. S. Gard, J. A. Gassitt, etc., as charter mem- bers. The lodge has eighteen members, and mects in Ensley's Hall.

The village was incorporated in March, 1866, the first board of trustees being J. C. Van Sickle, J. H. Parcel, II. II. Cash, Isaac Bolton, and B. H. Hays.

The early members of the community were generally of the Old School Baptist persua- sion, as has been noted, and it was to be ex- pected that church influences would early be felt here. In 1831 Coleman B. Dawson came to Westfield and settled, and it should be noted that he and Henry Briscoe were the only "total abstinent" meu in the whole county at that time. The former was subse- quently ordained as a minister, and is now serving the Concord church in this township. In 1832 the regular Predestinarian Baptist Church of Westfield was organized under the name of the Concord Church. Several fami- lies had moved here from Spencer County, Kentucky, and others from Indiana, who be- longed to this denomination, and decided to organize a ehureh. Elder Daniel Parker, liv- ing in Crawford County, was principally act- ive in this organization, the first members being Thomas Lasure and wife, Absalom Kes- ter and wife, William Walker and wife, Dan- iel Bennett and wife, Henry Randall and wife, and Rebecca Davis, who is the only original member now living. The first pastor was Richard M. Newport, who was then living in Crawford County, necessitating a horseback ride of fifty miles to attend the services, which were held once a month. In 1855 he moved into the township and preached for the church some twelve years, when he moved to Coles County. He subsequently went to Missouri, where he died.

Newport was more than an ordinary fron- tier preacher. He was a native of Kentucky,

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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.

and came in early manhood to Indiana. Bred under the rude influences of pioneer life, without educational advantages, he became, by the simple force of his genius, a leader in the circles in which he moved. It was only natural, under such circumstances, that he should be betrayed into excesses which were then hardly acknowledged as disreputable, and it is stated that he stepped over the line of permitted things so far as to be publicly punished by the legal authorities. He sub- sequently came under the influence of one of the early preachers of the time, and becoming a member of the Old School Baptist Church, turned his splendid energies and natural gifts to the service of the church. Mr. Newport was in many ways well fitted for the work to which he devoted himself. In that day drink- ing liquor was not challenged by the church, but was rather considered as a mark of sym- pathy with the commoner class of people, and gave the preacher who was at home in any crowd an influence that a more highly cult- ured man would have sought in vain. In this respect he answered the popular demand completely. He was a tall, active, muscular but spare built man, with a reputation for early prowess that few in a later day cared to have verified at the expense of a personal encounter; to which was added the gift of a natural oratory that pleased and swayed the best audiences of the time. As a preacher he went far and near, at first on foot, always drawing large crowds of listeners, frequently being instrumental in bringing about exten- sive revivals, and this in spite of his known characteristics. It is related of him on one occasion, that when the neighborhood had gathered at the cabin of Mr. Beanchamp to listen to his preaching, he came in nearly frozen from a long ride and promptly took his place near a stand in the center of the room, on which a bible was placed for his use. As he removed his wraps he made con-

siderable demonstration expressive of his be- numbed feelings, and finally asked "Sister Beauchamp" if she did not have some " spirits " in the house? Of course she had, and in company with her husband went to a cup- board around one corner of the room or chan- ney, and indicated by some sign that he should come and take the restorative in a somewhat less conspicuous part of the room.

lle understood the sign, but replied: " No, no, sister; just bring the bottle here." The jug and cup were produced, and after survey- ing the cup well filled with whisky a moment, he tossed it off in the most approved fashion, remarked upon the refreshing sensation it caused, and at once proceeded to expound the passage of scripture he had chosen for a text. At another time he had an appointment to preach at Martinsville. The village at that time was noted for the number of rough char- acters that made it their rendezvous, and at this time the whisky shop was full of these characters, carousing and discussing the char- acter of Newport. In the midst of the noisy conclave a tall stranger came in, called for a drink and sat down by the stove, maintaining the closest reserve. The drink was repeated three times, the discussion of the preacher going on with considerable animation and profanity after the first momentary interrup- tion. In the course of half an hour the stran- ger departed as non-committal as he came, attracting the conversation to the subject of his identity, etc. With a final drink around, the party concluded to go to the meeting and see what "stuff the preacher was made of," but suddenly lost their curiosity when they saw the tall determined-looking stranger of the saloon expounding the gospel from the desk in the schoolhouse.

As an orator and debater he was in general demand. A 4th of July celebration where he was a feature was always sure of a crowd, and political or religious delates were of

Lucinda Harlan

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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.

little public interest without the incisive elo- quence of Newport. He was once a con- testant before the Democratic convention for the nomination as member of the Legislature, but was beaten by T. R. Young by two or three votes. The Whigs nominated George Ilenson to oppose him, but neither of the principals being able debaters, Usher F. Linder was secured by the Whigs and New- port by their opponents, to discuss the pend- ing issues in joint debates. Both were ap- proved champions of the forum; Linder po sessed a persuasive eloquence, and a method which appealed to the heart rather than the intelligence of his auditors; Newport exhibited less of culture in his oratory, but possessed a talent in arraying his facts that made them seem to the crowd, utterly unassailable. The result was favorable to the cause which the latter championed.

Notwithstanding the weakness of his moral character which can hardly be fairly esti- mated at this day, Mr Newport was greatly beloved by the Concord church, and during the twelve years in which he labored here, the church was blessed and increased to a membership of one hundred and three. He was succeeded by Rev. John Shields, and in 1857, Rev. Coleman B. Dawson was chosen pastor and has continued to the present. The first public place of worship was a hewed log cabin erected in 1832, but this was never completed, the church using it in the summer and resorting to private cabins in the winter. In 845 a frame house was erected at a cost of about $500, and is still in use. The church now numbers sixty-two members.

Good Hope Baptist Church was organized in 1832, by Richard Newport and S. B. Walker assisted by Abraham Stark and Will- iam Stancil. The original members were Lewis Walker and wife, Daniel Gable and wife and S. B. Walker and wife. The church was organized at the cabin of Lewis Walker

which with other residences and school- houses were used as a place of worship until a log building was erected for this purpose south of Westfield Village near the site of the first mill. This building was used until 186?, when a frame building, 36 by 50 feet, was erected in the village, at a cost of $1,600. The pastors have been Revs. S. B. Walker, John Doty, Milton Humphrey, Jonathan Riley, Robert Hawkins, T. J. Thompson, Jas. B. Walker, Abraham Jones and Thos. Reynolds, the present incumbent. The pres- ent membership is seventy.

The Methodist Episcopal Church was early represented here by Revs. Wm. Blundell and Wm. Adams. A church of this denomination was not organized, however, until 1850, when Rev Mr. Burks instituted a society of which Charles and John Downey with their wives, Martha Downey, Mrs. T. C. Lewis and Miss Lewis, were among the original members. A frame building for church purposes was erected on the site of the present structure at a cost of about $600. This was replaced in 1865, by brick building, 34 by 50 feet with a seating capacity of 300, at a cost of $5,000.

The Westfield United Brethern Church w. s organized in 1852, from members of the Ot- terbein Chapel, situated in Coles County. There were about thirty members at the or- ganization among whom were W. II. and Mary Brown, Katy Evinger, J. S. Kermer, Margaret Evinger, Moses and J. D. Parcel and their wives. The pastors have been Revs. W. C. Smith, J. P. Shuey, James Griffith, A. Helton, S Bussard, J. G. Shuey, H. Elwell, L. S. Chittenden, J. H. Synder, S. Mills, R. L. Prengle, and C. H. Jones, the present incumbent. A frame place of worship was erected in 1852, in the southeast part of the village, at a cost of a thousand dollars. It was sold in 1862, and the church has since used the college chapel. The church now numbers 260 members, and sustains

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IHISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.

a flourishing Sunday school of about 175 at- tendants which has been under the man- agement of Professor W. R. Shuey for some twenty years.

The pride of the village and the source of much of its fame and prosperity, is the college located in its midst. The town of Westfield, the name of which the college bears, had little except its topography to mark it as de- sirable for a seat of learning. Small, its in- habitants manifesting no special enthusiasm in the cause of higher education, without railroad connection, one can but wonder that it drew or cared to draw a college to its midst. But in and about the village there were some spirits whose enterprise and ener- gy made them superior to the adverse ele- ments in a country hardly freed from the so- cial hindrances of pioncer days, and the in- stitution was founded. Wise or unwise as the location may have seemed at first, it now appears probable that all objectors will be constrained to yield approval as its merits be- come more and more manifest. As the heads and hands and means of a cultivated people bring out the possibilities of the surroundings and turn the whole suburbs for miles around into a very garden of fruits and flowers, men will cease to criticise. And these things are coming to pass by rapid increments. As is usual, the college, by its attractions and re- pulsions, and its instruction, has made a great improvement in the intellectual and æsthetic tone of the community, and this reacting in favor of the college has given it the strong moral support of its home constituency.

The forerunner of the college was the "Westfield Seminary," out of which the col- lege grew so directly that the two appear as one, all the property and assets of every kind belonging to the former having been made to invre to the latter. Three years of success- ful service had been done by the seminary, when the college was founded. The charter

was granted by a special act of the Legisla- ture, passed February 15, 1865, in which were named as incorporators and first board of trustees, Walton C. Smith, Alexander Helton, David Ross, Samuel Mills, Hiram Elweh Ed- mund R. Connolly, Daniel Evinger, and J. H. Coons. Section 9, authorizes the trustees " to establish departments for the study of any and all of the liberal professions; to confer such degrees as are usually conferred in sim- ilar colleges in the United States in the learned arts and sciences;" and further pro- vides for the establishment of departments for the edneation of disabled Union soldiers, for ladies for preparatory instruction, and for pupils of the district school, of which privi- leges the last named and that relative to the soldiers have never been used.

Originally this work was undertaken by the Lower Wabash Conference of the United Brethren in Christ. Afterward, in the year 1865, the Central Illinois Conference, of the same denomination, united in the undertaking. In 1866, the Upper Wabash Conference al- lied itself to the enterprise, but after three years withdrew for the purpose of building up an institution within its own territory. In 1866, the Illinois Conference, and in 1867, the Southern Illino's Mission Conference assumed a share of the responsibility of sustaining this cause. In the aggregate these conferences occupy perhaps four fifths of the territory of the State of Illinois, together with a con- siderable area of middle-western Indiana. Throughout this extended area of country members of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ are found in pretty large numbers, and this is the people who own the college andI stand first under obliga- tion to sustain it. Yet, it must be said that in its brief career it has been favored with an encouraging amount of patronage from unde- nominational quarters, as well as from sister denominations. Nor this only; but generous

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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.

clonations and bequests have been granted it by persons not denominationally interested, but approving of its principles, plans and ef- feets.

Its benefactions have mostly been of mod- erate amounts from hearts that followed them with their prayers, and have been gathered by the solicitations of laborious itinerant agents, a little here and a little there. One class of its funds has gone to provide build- ings, furnish apparatus, libraries and cabinets. Another is set aside as an endowment, the principal to be kept forever sacred, the inter- est to be currently employed to support teachers. The former has not been adequate to its wants, though its managers have pru- dently concluded to endure the lack of things desired rather than carry a heavy debt far outreaching their assets. Of its endowment fund, which amounts to $85,000, only a part is yet available. A system of money-raising by the sale of scholarships was early introduced, and has not been discontinued. For $300, perpetual tuition for one pupil is guaranteed. For $200, tuition for a family of children, with no limitation as to number in attendance at any time, is guaranteed. For $100, tui- tion for one pupil at a time for five years is provided, and for $50, paid in advance, one pupil is provided tuition for two years and a half. Of these proceeds all, except those from the sale of perpetual scholarships, are used for current purposes, while those from the sale of perpetual scholarships are held as a part of the endowment fund. These scholarships are all negotiable except those for family tuition.

The work of instruction began in the old United Brethren Church edifice, situated in the village of Westfield. In 1863, the first seminary building was erected; a substantial brick, two stories high, sixty feet east and west by forty feet north and south, with a bel- fry. Its upper story was devoted to chapel purposes, the lower to recitation rooms and

the janitor. In 186%, this building was en- larged by an addition on the west, which is seventy-five feet north and south by forty east and west. It also, is a two story brick and contains a lecture room, society hall, and library room on the lower floor, and two soci- ety halls, an art gallery, and a recitation room above. The structure as thus improved may be described as being 100 feet long east and west, forty feet wide, with extensions forty feet by seventeen and a half, placed on both the north and south sides of the west end. This building is now the principal center of operations, and, although devoid of architect- ural elegance it has well served its purpose, and is only now beginning to be felt to be too limited in capacity. In 1872, adjacent prop- erty was purchased as a site for a ladies' boarding hall. The two story dwelling al- ready upon it was enlarged, and comfortable rooms were provided for the accommodation of a number of ladies. This is a wooden struct- ure, designed to answer the present need, but will be superseded by a much larger and more finished edifice upon the same ground. Here the lady attendants of the school board, under the protection of a steward's family, selected with care, and also under the direct supervision of a lady connected with the fac- ulty. Gentlemen find homes among the fam- ilies of the community. The college campus consists of a wooded plat containing five aeres, handsomely elevated on the east, where the main building stands. The grounds attached to the ladies' hall, somewhat adorned with shrubbery, contain two acres. The cost of the college buil lings is estimated in round num- bers at $40,000.

As stated elsewhere, the original of West- field College was Westfield Seminary. At first no design of founding a college was en- tertained; stimulated by demand, it grew into the latter. Prior to the formal organization of a faculty, prior even to the charter, in-

HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY,

struction had been carried forward over col- lege ground, and the first graduate received his degree before a faculty was regularly formed or a president elected. The pro- fessors in the faculty do not now confine themselves exclusively to college classes, but take charge of any requiring to be taught. Though this is not the most desirable mode, necessity pointed it out, and experience shows it more tolerable than a theoretical view would anticipate.

The following is a tabular view of past and present instructors beginning with the semi- nary:

TABLE OF COLLEGE INSTRUCTORS.

Rev. G. W. Keller Prn'pal of Sem'ry 1861 to 1863 Rev. F. J. Fisher A. B. 1863 - 1>64

Rev. Wm. T. Jackson A. B. " 1864 " 1869 Mrs. M. A. Fisher M. A. " L'ds D'pt 1864 " 1866

Miss R. H. Winter M. A. 66 66 1866 " 1869 66 Rev. W. O. Tobey A. B. Prof. of Lng'es 1866 " 1868 Rev. S. B. Allen A. M. Prs'nt of Col'ge 1869 “ Mrs. R. H. Tobey M. A. Pra'pal Ld's D'pt 1869 " 1873 Mrs. M. H. Fisher M. A. . 6 1873 " 1875

Miss Eugenia Gintner A. M. "

1875 "1880

Miss Emma M. Linton B. S. " 16 66

1880 “

Rev. W. O. Tobey A. M. Prof. of L'tin and Greek 1869 " 1873

Rev. Chas. Kiracofe A. M. Prof. of L'tin and Greek 1873 " 1878 Rev. Lewis A. Bookwalter A. M. Prof. of Lafin and Greek 1878 " 1880 F. E. Phillips A. M. Prof. of L'tin & Gr'k 1880 " -

Rev. Wm. T. Jackson A. M. Prof. Math's 1869 " 1870 Rev. D. Shuck A. M. 1870 - 1871

Rev. H. A. Thompson A. M. "

1871 " 1872

Elliot Whipple A. M. 66 1872 - 1873

Rev. Wm. R. Shney A. B. 66

1873 ** -

Elliot Whipple A. M. Prof. of Natural Seience 1875 " 1877

Besides these, the following persons have been at various times associated with the college as instructors in different depart- ments: Emma L. Knepper, M A .; Sallie J. Winter, M. A .; Mrs. A. R. Kiracofe, M. A .; O. W. Pentzer, A. B .; Miss M. A. Bright; Minnie Bartmen; Miss F. H. Holmes; S. C. Hanson, B. S .; O. C. Tobey, M. D .; Mrs. M. J. Whipple; D. W. Doran, A. M .; E. M. Goldberg, A. M .; J. R. Swan.

No change in the presidency of the col-

lege has occurred for fourteen years, the first incumbent, Samuel B. Allen still occupying that position.

Two courses of study have been honored with degrees, which are designated as clas- sical and scientific. The latter formerly occu- pied about two years less than the former, but within the last three years it has been extended so as to embrace two years more work than previously. That there are two courses instead of one is not from the un- biased choice of those who provided it, so much as from the stern dictates of the situa- tion. A large number of students, by having the shorter course and inferior degree placed before them, are induced to struggle for this, while in its absence, deeming it hopeless to strive for the superior degrees, they would abandon their studies much earlier. How- ever, though this gain from the shorter course may be secured by a few, it is probable that there are many who, lazily selecting this course, are thus seduced from the more ex- tended one. There is no special course for ladies, both sexes having equal privileges and being decorated with the same degree. For the encouragement of persons who are hin- dered from completing either graduating course, a brief list of studies deemed most essential to prepare for the work of teaching in the district schools has been marked out, the mastering of which entitles to a certifi- cate from the faculty. Beside this, since 1870, a normal class has been conducted, where all who are willing are trained by such exercises as are adapted to aid them in con- ducting and teaching public schools.

Up to this time the preparatory work his not been conducted under a separate manage- ment from the college. All students have been under the same laws, executed by a single authority, and to a great extent, un- der the same instructors. No literary so- cieties belong to this department, the pre-

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History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois, Part 49

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co. Number of Pages: 826

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 826