History of Effingham county, Illinois, Part 24

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, O. L. Baskin & co.
Number of Pages: 650

USA > Illinois > Effingham County > History of Effingham county, Illinois > Part 24

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Mound Township lies in the western part of Effingham County, and is perhaps one of the richest and best in it. The surface is gen- erally level, or rolling, with slight inclina- tion to hills along the water-courses. It is mostly prairie and is a very fine farming re- gion. Big Creek flows through the town- ship east and west, a little south of Alta- mont, having its source in the west part, passing into Jackson Township through Sec-

* By W. II Perrin.

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HISTORY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY.

tion 25. Coon Creek rises a little north of Altamont, and flows southeast, uniting with Big Creek in Jackson; Second Creek rises in Section 4, near the north line of the township, and flows southeast, passing out of the town- ship and emptying into the Little Wabash. There are a few other small and nameless streams, which, with those mentioned, afford ample means of drainage. The timber, which lies mostly along the water-courses, is similar to that described in other chapters. Mound is bounded north by Moccasin Township, east by Jackson, south by West and west by Fay- ette County; it is Township 7 north, in Range 4 east. The Vandalia line, the Springfield Division of the Ohio & Mississippi and the Wabash Railroads intersect it, thus affording transporation to all points of importance.

The settlement of Mound Township is com- pratively modern, owing to the fact that most of the land is prairie, which was uninhabitable until the cultivation of adjacent portions of the country led to its drainage. While the settlements were not so far back as those made on the Wabash, yet it is somewhat diffi- cult to get the first settlers' names with cer- tainty. They are mostly gone, and later im- portations know little concerning them. One of the first families probably was that of Moore, who settled in the east part of the township. The name of the elder Moore is not remembered. He had two sons, viz., Delevan and Delancy, who were quite promi- nent citizens, though of a rough character. They were great politicians and took an ac- tive interest in all questions requiring a settle- ment by the ballot, their zeal sometimes ren- dering them aggressive. At the commence- ment of the war, they took ground against its proseention in their usual vigorous style, which led them into difficulties. One of them finally enlisted and went to the front, and came back a stronger Republican, if pos-

sible, than he was a Democrat before, The old man has been dead many years, and the sons moved to Missouri some fifteen years ago. This family of Moores, however, were not related to the Moores that settled about Blue Mound. Of the latter there were five brothers, viz., Albert S., Levi R., Charles S., W. H. and Samuel, three of whom, Al- bert, W. H. and Samuel, are now among the business men of Effingham.

John C. Deffenbaugh was also a very early settler. He entered land in the east part of the township, where he lived a few years, and then removed to Freemanton and engaged in business. He was a prominent and high- ly respected citizen, and at one time sold more goods than any merchant in the county. He is still living. William Ashton was here among the first. He was an Englishman, but came here from Ohio, settling in the northeastern portion of the township. He is still living, and is one of the wealthy men of the county. James Grant came from Ohio and settled in the western part of the township, and is still one of the prosperous farmers. Peter Coleman and Daniel Conner were also from Ohio. Coleman settled in the eastern part of the township, and is long dead. Conner settled in the southeastern part, and is still living on the place where he settled.

From Pennsylvania came John Armstrong. He settled here about 1837-3S, and is still living on the place of his original settlement. Alfred Newman settled in the southeast part of the township, and is living. James Wood- ruff settled in the east part-the place now owned by the Smith family. He was a public-spirited man, and now lives near Shumway. Nelson Wallace settled in the east part. He has a fine orchard, and is one of the largest fruit-growers in the county. Peter Poorman came from Ohio, where Buck-

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HISTORY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY.

eye statesmen spring up spontaneously, and settled north of Blue Mound, where he still lives.

One of the most brilliant men ever in the township was James Stevenson. He came from Virginia, and was a man of fine intel- leet and a finished education. A good con- versationalist, he was at home upon any sub- ject, and was able to entertain the most high- ly edneated and select company. But he was as shiftless as brilliant, moving about from place to place, and accomplishing nothing more than a mere living. He died some five years ago. A character wholly op- posite to Stevenson was George Ingraham. He settled near Altamont, where he lived un- til recently, when he moved into Jackson Township. He was rather ignorant, but was elected Justice of the Peace, an office he was unable to fill on account of being unable to read or write. He enjoyed the honor, how- ever, and was as highly elated at his success and popularity as the modern statesman is of his election to Congress. This completes the list of the carly settlement of Mound Township so far as we could obtain facts.

The modern data of the settlement in this township gavo its pioneers a much better op- portunity of starting in their new homes than was enjoyed by those who came twenty years earlier, when the entire country was an unbroken wilderness. The first settlers en- countered all the dangers and hardships known to the frontier. Those who settled in Mound found many improvements that were unknown to the first settlers of the county. Civilization had advanced, the ease of living had improved, and the facilities for cultivat- ing the soil had kept pace with both. It was no longer a struggle with hardship and danger to eke out a precarious existence, but the rich lands brought forth the most bounti- ful forests. The trackless forests, the un-

bridged streams, the pangs of hunger, and the days and nights of struggle and fear, were rapidly becoming things of the past, and a better day dawning. Their paths, however, were not strewn with roses, nor their lives made up of sunshine, but many trials and troubles met them on every hand. These they met with strong hearts and brave right arms, and the land " where nothing dwelt but beasts of prey " soon became, under their might and perseverance, a region but little surpassed by " the rose gardens of the gods."

The township of Mound contains little his- tory outside of its settlement, and outside of the town of Altamont. Two Lutheran Churches are situated in the township. The Hilleman Church stands one mile southwest of the town. The first church was a log building, erected about 1862, which served until the present frame building was put up, in 1875, at a cost of $2,500. It is a large church, and in a good, healthy condition.

Bethlehem Lutheran Church is located in the southern part of the township, in a large German settlement. The church was organ- ized prior to 1860. as soon as there were enough families to support it. A building was erected in 1860, which served the con- gregation until 1868, when the present ele- gant church was built. It is said to be the finest and best country church in Effingham County, and cost some $8,000. The numeri. cal strength of the church is between 500 and 600 communicants. A town płat was made around the church in 1868, and the ground surveyed into lots. A store was opened and a post office established, but these havo both been discontinued, and there are at present no buildings here except the church.

The schools of the township are of as high a character as those in any part of the coun- ty. Every neighborhood has a comfortable schoolhouse, and in every schoolhouse good

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HISTORY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY.

schools are taught each year, by competent teach ers.

The name of Mound Township was bestowed upon it in consequence of what is known as the neighborhood of Blue Mound, a slight elevation of Section 8, which is nearly all a kind of mound, the apex being in the center of the section, and having an altitude of sev- enty-eight feet above the bed of the Vandalia Railroad, which passes near it. Recently, the Government has erected a signal observ- atory upon it, some seventy-five to one hun . dred feet in height, from the top of which one may look across the States of Missouri and Arkansas and see the cow-boys watching their herds on the prairies of Texas.

Altamont .- The village of Altamont was laid out by J. W. Conologue, the original plat embracing the southeast part of the southeast quarter of Section 9 of Mound Township. Mr. Conologue was the first Su- perintentent of the Vandalia Railroad, and, owning a tract of land here, he conceived the idea that this spot was an eligible and desir- able location for a town, and thus had it sur- veyed and platted by C. A. Van Allen, an engineer of the road, and the plat recorded July 19, 1870. The first lot sold was bought by Abner Dutton, who erected a storehouse and opened a store, the first in the place. R. S. Cutter bought the next lot, and built a storehouse and opened a store the very next day after Dutton. These two pioneer mer- chauts are gone from the town-Dutton is dead, and Cutter moved West. The next lots were bought by Daniel Boyer, Dr. J. N. Groves, H. H. Brown, J. C. Russell, Broom and others. The sale continued until some four hundred were sold-lots, not the men who bought them, for it proved a good in- vestment to the buyers. The lots were all sold at private sale, and not at public auc- tion.

Altamont is beautifully situated on a roll- ing prairie, at the crossing of the Vandalia & Springfield Division of the Ohio & Missis- sippi Railroads, and at the southern terminus of a division of the Wabash system. Since it was laid out, the following additions have been made to the original plat: An addition by William Buckholtz, April 11, 1871, of a part of the west half of the south west quarter of Section 10 ;. an addition by J. W. Cono- logue of a part of the southeast part of Sec- tion 9, October 26, 1871; an addition by Elizabeth Ellis of a part of the west half of the southwest quarter of Section 10, January 8, 1872; an addition by Anna E. Hilleman of a part of the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of Sectiou 15, April 4, 1872; an addition by J. W. Conologue, May 22, 1874, of the west part of he southeast quarter of Section 9; an addition by S. B. Chittinden of a part of the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 16, and platted August 15, 1881. These additions give the town a broad foundation and plenty of room for improvement.

The name Altamont is derived from the same source the township received its name -the peculiar mound on the adjacent section of land already mentioned; the first part of the word meaning altitude, the latter part mouut or mound, aud was given by Mr. Con- ologue. He was a widower at the time, and supposed to have an eye and an ear for the beautiful. and hence gave this romantic name to his new town-a name that all must ac- knowledge is appropriate.

The first residence in Altamont was the upper part of Cutter's store. which he used as a dwelling. Daniel Boyer put up the first regular dwelling house; Russell fol- lowed with the next. Brown built a store and residence combined. Dutton also put up a residence soon after erecting his store-

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HISTORY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY.

house. Boyor, in 1871, built the first hotel, which is still owned by him, and is known as the Boyer House, but is operated as a hotel by E. L. Brown. The Boyer House has been greatly enlarged and improved since it was built, and is now an excellent hostelry. It and the Altamont Houso are tho only two reg- ular hotels in the town. Of the latter house, Henry Davis is proprietor. Ben Brazil was the first blacksmith, and had there been a " spreading chestnut tree" in the village, the " smithy " no doubt would have been built under it. Brazil is gone from the placo, but has a number of successors in his line of business.

A post office had been established at a lit- tle place called Moutville, a mile or so sonth of Altamont, on the National road, but never amounted to anything as a town, and when Altamont was laid out (in 1870), the post office was moved to the new place, and in 1871 the name was changed to Altamont. G. H. Melville was Postmaster at the timo of removal, and his salary was $36 a year. Mr. P. K. Johnson is now Postmaster, and re- ceives $900 per annum for handling the mail bags. This fact is indicative of the growth of the town for the first dozen years of its ex- istence.

Altamont is becoming quito a manufactur- ing town, and, with its railroad facilities, is admirably situated for manufacturing indus- tries. Two excellent stoam flouring-mills rank among its best enterprises. The first was built by Erdman Wurl in 1872. It is a substantial frame building, with three run of buhrs, and originally cost about $5,000. Mr. Wurl is dead, and the mill is now owned by Georgo Goeting, who paid $8,000 for it, and has greatly improved the property. The second mill was built in 1873, by Weber & Co., and is now owned by Louis Vauclair, of St. Louis. It is a two-story frame build-

ing, and cost about $1,500. It was built on a much more improved system than tho other, but smaller in all respects, except that it con- tained the same number of buhrs-three run. The present owner paid something over $5, - 000 for it. Both of these mills aro A 1, and do an excellent business.

In 1879, a furniture factory was started by Jacob Stair & Son. A year or so afterward, they associated Arthur M. Dawson with them, who still remains a member of the firm. The factory building is 60x100 feet and two stories high. It is operated by steam. All kinds of furniture aro manufactured, and twenty hands are employed.

A baby wagon factory was established dur- ing the past summer (1882), by Spence Bro. thers & Hower. Their building is a frame, about 40x50 feet, two stories high, with shed for boiler and engine. Eight hands are em- ployed, and a full line of baby wagons, bug- gies, and carriages are manufactured.

Ortman & Co. commenced the manufacture of wagons in 1876 on a small scale. Their business is rapidly increasing and they are enlarging and improving their works all the time, and are now putting up from forty to fifty wagons each year.

The grain business is no small part of the town's enterprise. There is probably more grain shipped from Altamont than from any other point in the county C. A. Van Allen commenced buying grain here for Miner & Jennings on Monday, August 1. 1870, and Boyer commenced buying on Tuesday follow- · ing. Van Allen piled up a parcel of railroad ties, covered them over with boards, and this constituted his warehouse. He bought from wagons, put it on the scales and weighed it, and then loaded it into the cars from his rude platform. Miner & Jennings aro well- known grain-buyers still, not only in the county, but in all the surrounding country.

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HISTORY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY.

There are now four firms handling grain here, viz., Miner & Jennings, Snook & Shoemaker, Cooper & Rhodes and Ensign & Co. They all do a large business and have good ware- houses. The first year, the two firms then in the business shipped 176 car-loads of grain. Each of the four firms perhaps now ship that much annually.

The Altamont Bank was established in July, 1874, by George Mittendorf, and, in March, 1876. C. M. Wright & Co. also es- tablished a bank. Mittendorf sold out to them, and since then the business has been conducted by Wright & Co. It is one of the substantial banks of the country.

The railroad station was opened Septem- ber 4, 1870. C. A. Van Allen was the first agent, and for a time served both roads. The Springfield & Illinois South-Eastern (now a division of the Ohio & Mississippi) ran the first train to Altamont October 1, 1871; and the first train on the Wabash came in on schedule time June 29, 1874. Van Al- len was their agent for three years. The roads have a kind of union depot, but differ- ent agents. An immense amount of freight is annually shipped from this place, mostly grain and stock.

The Altamont News is a sprightly nows- paper, edited by C. F. Coleman. The Cou- rier was the first newspaper started in Alta- mont, and was ruu by G. W. Grove. As the press, however, receives an extended notice in a preceding chapter, we omit further mention here.

The first school was taught in Altamont by George Poorman, and the first school- house, a frame building, was erected in 1870. It soon became too small for the growing town, and in 1874 the present school building was erected. It is a two-story brick, with two rooms, and furnished in the latest ap- proved style. The school is large enough to

employ three teachers, viz. : £ Prof. J. G. Wright, Principal, with Misses Portmess and Zinn, assistant teachers.

Altamont is well supplied with church fa- cilities. The first religious society organized was by the Evangelical Alliance. But it has become extinct, and the members have moved away, died and joined other denominations.

The German Reformed Church was organ- ized in 1872. It had been established some time previously, in the country, about two miles from the village. The first pastor was Rev. L. M. Kischner, followed by Rev. S. P. Myers, and he by Rev. Mr. Hassler. The present pastor is Rev. J. H. Schuford. The building is a frame, and was erected in 1872, at a cost of $1,800. The original members were fifteen. The membership now is about thirty-two, with services every two weeks. A Sunday school is kept up, with an attend- ance of about forty children, under the su- perintendence of G. W. Poorman.

Emanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized in 1873, by Rev. G. Waugrin, with nine members. The first services were held in private residences, when Mr. William Krull bought the old public school building and fitted it up for a church. Rev. Waugrin was the first pastor, and served from the or- ganization of the church until 1879, when he was succeeded by Rev. George Goeswein. There are now some thirty odd members. A school was established in 1879, which is taught by the pastor in the church building.

The United Brethren Church was organized in 1874, and the first preachers were Revs. J. A. Smith and Alex Helton. The original members were Jacob Yates, Mary Yates, John Cole, Sabie Cole, Samuel Kyuer, Rebecca Kyner, Delilah Kyner, Kate Kyner, Mollie Kyner and Laura Ordner. The church was erected in 1874, at a cost of about $3,300. The present pastor is Rev. S. C. Stewart.

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HISTORY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY.

The membership is twenty- five. The Sunday school has au average attendance of twenty- eight, of which John Cole is Superintendent.

The Methodist Episcopal Church society was organized in 1872, and the first preacher was Rev. Mr. Crum. Altamont Circuit was formed, and originally comprised Altamont, Dexter and Gillmore, and at one time Moc- casin and Crum's Chapel. The Altamont so- ciety is now a station, organized as such in 1882. and Rev. G. W. Butler appointed pas- tor. The church was built in 1879, costing $3,000, and is a handsome frame building. The membership is eighty. A Sunday school is carried on, with a regular attendance of 125 children, superintended by G. W. Given. The society is now engaged in building an $800 parsonage.

St. Clare's Roman Catholic Church was or- ganized in 1874, and the church building finished in 1875. The church was organized by the Franciscan Fathers from Tentopolis. The building is a frame, 33x68 feet, and cost $3,000. The society has been administered to by Rev. Fathers Francis, Michael, Her- man, Clementine and Jerome. The last has been with them three years. The present membership is fifty families. A school was established in 1882. in a frame building, two stories high and two rooms each, with an at- tendance of about fifty children.

Altamont has one of the most beautiful little cemeteries in the country. Mr. Cono- logue donated four acres for that purpose when he laid out the town. It has been hand- somely improved by the people, and is kept in the most perfect order. The Board of Town Trusteos has the supervision. The first interments in it were bodies taken up and brought from other graveyards and ro- interred in this. Beautiful white stones and monuments stand here and there in it, like lonely sentinels, and symbolize the affection

of surviving friends for their loved and lost ones.

Hale Johnson was the first man who ped- dled law in Altamont. He came here in 1873, and remained until 1875, and is now Prosecuting Attorney in Jasper County. Messrs. W. S. Holmes and P. K. Johnson are young disciples of Blackstone, and attend to " law business " for the citizens of Alta- mont.

The Masonic Lodge now held here was originally organized in Freemanton, October 1, 1867. After this town was laid out, tho lodge was moved here (in 1872), and is now known as Altamont Lodge, No. 533, A .. F. & A. M. The charter members wero Jacob Ba- ker, James C. Walker, H. S. Hook, I. P. Carpenter, B. W. Eakin, W. F. Ingraham, J. F. Hipsher, J. H. Said, J. C. Russell, J. Harrison, John Armstrong, W. A. Broom, J. H. C. Smith, S. Cochoran and A. Tipsword. The first officers were: J. C. Russell, Mas- ter; Jesse H. Said, Senior Warden; Jacob Baker, Junior Warden; H. S. Hook, Treas- urer; and James C. Walker, Secretary. The lodge first met in a small hall for two years, and since that time have been meeting in a hall belonging to J. C. Russell. It is in a flourishing condition; has fifty-soven mem- bers, and is officered as follows: George W. Gwinn, Master; J. H. Johnson, Senior War- den; David Piper, Junior Warden; J. C. Russell, Treasurer; and S. S. Rice, Secre- tary.

Altamont Lodge, No. 500, I. O. O. F., was instituted by J. F. Bross, Grand Master, Oc- tober 14, 1873. The charter members were Joel L. Cox, J. W. Hotz, Jr., Henry Stevens, H. P. Simonton and W. A. Jackson. The first officers were: Joel L. Cox, N. G .; Henry Stevens, V. G .; J. N. Groves, Secretary; and J. W. Hotz, Jr., Treasurer. Eight moro members were initiated at the first meeting.

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HISTORY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY.

The lodge met in Cockenower's Hall until 1876, when they moved into Ensign's Hall, which they still occupy. It has thirty-two members, and $750 in the treasury. The present officers are: Jacob Zimmerman, N. G .; H. N. Drewry, V. G .; T. L. Elliott, Re- cording Secretary; P. K. Johnson, Perma- nent Secretary; and S. N. Young, Treas- urer.

Altamont was first organized as a town in 1871, and as a village in 1872, by a vote of the people, at which time there were twenty- two votes cast for village organization. The first Board of Trustees were: Dan Boyer, J. M. Huffman, J. Hotz, A. H. Dutton anct W. L. Snook. The board organized for work

by electing Boyer President, and J. M. Huff- man, Clerk. The present board is as follows: S. S. Rice, H. Munzell, M. Reis, S. M. Coo- per, W L. Snook and H. Schlotterbeck, of which S. S. Rice is President, and T. G. Boyer, Clerk.

The foregoing pages comprise a pretty correct and complete history of this growing and flourishing little city of the plain. From the center of a broad, rolling prairie, the church steeples point to heaven, and point out to the " wayfaring man," while yet " afar off," the way to shelter and repose. Alta- mont has a prosperous 'future, if her citizens so will it, and continue, as they always have, to exert their wonted energy.

CHAPTER XVI .*

MASON TOWNSINP-TOPOGRAPHICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE-SETTLEMENT-BROOM, THE STEWARTS AND OTHER PIONEERS-A FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION-SCHOOLS AND CHURCIIES -AN INCIDENT-VILLAGES-GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF MASON- ITS BUSINESS IMPORTANCE-EDGEWOOD-LAID OUT AS A TOWN-STORES, SHOPS, CHURCHES AND SOCIETIES.

-he who goes In the full strength of years, matron and maid, And the sweet babe, and the gray-headed man- Shall, one by one, be gathered to thy side

By those who, in their turn, shall follow them." -Bryant.

H ISTORICALLY, Mason holds a front place among the townships of Effing- ham County. More than fifty years have dissolved in the mists of the past since the echoes of the woodman's ax first rang through the lofty forests of Mason as he felled the trees for his lone cabin, or cleared away the timber for a garden, or for a "patch " of corn. Its forests and prairies are now fer- tile fields, dotted over with prosperous homes, and the Indians, who once hunted the deer in their midst, have disappeared in the dis-

tant West. The young men have grown old, and the old men are in their graves, who first saw this country in its pristine beauty, and joined hands to reduce it from a wilder- ness to its present state of civilization and prosperity.

Mason Township lies in the southern part of the county, and, according to the Congres- sional survey, is Township 6 north, and Range 5 east. It is pretty well divided be- tween woodland and prairie; the latter is rolling sufficiently to drain naturally. The woodland is somewhat hilly, with the excep- tion of a few post-oak flats, and along the river and other streams it rises in places to abrupt bluffs. The timber is white, black and post oak and hickory on the high lands, and in the bottoms, cottonwood, walnut, su-

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History of Effingham county, Illinois, Part 24

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago, O. L. Baskin & co. Number of Pages: 650

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, O. L. Baskin & co.
Number of Pages: 650