USA > Illinois > Greene County > History of Greene county, Illinois: its past and present > Part 38
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COUNTY OFFICERS.
As Carrollton is the county seat a list of the county officers properly belongs here. They are :
Circuit Judge, Hon. A. G. Burr. States Attorney, J. R. Ward. Sheriff, John Jones ; deputies, T. E. Evans, J. G. Powell, and Thomas McGown. Circuit Clerk, J. Henry Short; deputy, Fieldon Roberts. County Judge, Hon. L. E. Worcester. County Clerk, Lee R. Lakin ; deputies, Ed. Miner and A. Connole. Assessor and Treasurer, W. D. Gullett ; deputies, N. J. Andrews, L. J. Patterson, James L. Patterson, C. J. Crist, Stephen Cannedy, James Sullivan, Lucien King, J. B. Pegram, A. F. Halbert, Isaac Powell and F. M. Hatler. County Commissioners, Wm. M. Morrow, Wm. M. Mayberry, Singleton F. Greene. School Superintendent, David F. King. County Surveyor, Jay C. White. Cor- oner, Anderson Headrick. County Physician, J F. Simpson, M.D. Public Administrator, S. F. Corrington. Master in Chancery, S. F. Cor- rington. Representative, Frank M. Bridges.
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
BUSINESS INTERESTS.
The Carrollton Machine Shop and Foundry. One of the most extensive manufacturing establishments in the county is J. C. Burruss' machine shop and foundry, at Carrollton. This institution has grown from a small cross-road blacksmith shop to such proportions that it requires for its ac- commodation the spacious brick block represented on this page, beside the large, two-story iron covered warehouse in the rear, not here exhib- ited. In 1850, William W. and R. B. Winn established themselves as gunsmiths, in Carrollton. Little by little they added lathes, drills, plan- ing machines, etc., to their machinery, and extended their limits until
CHIN
SHOP.
WOOD SHOP
BLACKSMITH SHOP
FOUNDRY
"FARM TOOLS & MACHINERY
CARROLLTON MACHINE SHOP AND FOUNDRY.
when, in 1877, they sold out to J. C. Burruss, their machine shop and foundry was a credit to the town. Very soon after the sale was consum- mated, the wooden buildings in which the machinery was housed were burned to the ground. Mr. Burruss was not at all discouraged by this ill fortune at the outset of his business experience, and at once commenced to put up a temporary shelter for his machinery and workmen, on the site of the ruins. New tools and appliances were purchased, and the work of the establishment went on as before. Here the heavy iron front for Russell's building, and 16,000 pounds of castings for the Burruss' building, were made, and other difficult work executed.
Meantime, Mr. Burruss formed a partnership with G. R. Valentine, of Pennsylvania, and the style of the firm became Burruss & Valentine. The new firm at once purchased the lots at the southwest corner of the Public Square, and commenced the erection of the buildings now occu- pied by the concern. These were completed, and the various departments occupied about January 1, 1878. Since that time the business has rapidly increased in all branches of manufacturing, until about twenty men are now employed during the greater part of the year. In August, 1878,
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
Valentine retired from the concern, disposing of his interest to his part- ner.
The machine shop joins the business office and salesrooms, and con- tains lathes, planing machine, polishing wheels, drills, and all the tools and machinery required to build or repair an engine, or any kind of ma- chinery or tool. In this room is the large thirty-horse-power engine, which drives all the machinery in the block.
In the rear of the machine shop is the brass and iron foundry, which is constantly employed in casting machinery, hollow ware, aquaria, house fronts. etc., etc.
Next to the machine shops are the blacksmiths' forges, and beyond these, the woodworkers' room. Here are lathes, circular saws, planer, and a full complement of tools. This department of the manufactory can turn out every variety of wood work in the most satisfactory man- ner. There is, also, in the building, a gunsmith's and general repair shop.
The products of this establishment, although it is yet in its infancy, find a market in many distant points. Over $1,000 worth of farm wag- ons were manufactured and sold during the first year of its occupancy of the new buildings, beside quantities of spring wagons, plows, stalk cut- ters, and other farm machinery. The sales of reapers, mowers, harvest- ing machines, self-binders, farming implements, pumps, hardware, etc., are also very large, and customers are thereby drawn to the city from a considerable distance.
Mr. Burruss, who is the proprietor of this hive of industry, gives it his constant personal attention. He is himself a thorough, practical me- chanic, and has under him skilled workmen in each department. None but the most perfect and thorough work is allowed to go out of the estab- lishment.
Mr. Burruss is a member of one of the oldest and most worthy fam- ilies in the county, and as such his success is a matter of congratulation to the whole community.
One of the most attractive mercantile establishments in the city is Loomis & Villinger's jewelry store, of the interior of which the accom- panying cut is a representation. This elegant establishment is situated on the east side of the Square, and is always filled with a beautiful display of goods. Mr. Vallentine Villinger established the business at this loca- tion in 1854. In 1863 Mr. B. Villinger of the present firm bought out his uncle above mentioned, and conducted the business alone for ten years. In 1873, Mr. L. W. Loomis entered into partnership with Mr. Villinger, and the firm has been thus constituted ever since. In this establishment may always be found a large and complete assortment of silverware, tea sets, ice pitchers, castors, tea and coffee pots, and all those beautiful pieces of table furniture which delight the heart of the house- wife. There are also two long show-cases filled with jewelry of every pat- tern, material and price, from roll plate to solid gold, or the most elegant diamond set, as well as coral, celluloid, and all the novelties of the day, beside the reserve stock contained in the two ponderous safes which stand at either end of the store. It is a conceded fact that no similar establish- ment in this part of the State contains a larger stock of gold and silver watches and reliable clocks than Loomis & Villinger's. And in gold, cameo
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
or diamond rings, and the thousand and one articles pertaining to such a house, their assortment is complete. Loomis & Villinger make a specialty of manufacturing microscopes, telescopes, spy-glasses, and other optical or electric instruments, and are agents for first class pianos and organs, samples of which they have constantly on hand.
LOOMIS & VILLINGER'S JEWELRY STORE.
This one of the old established houses of the county, and has hosts of friends. It has done a successful business for a quarter of a century, and its facilities and the richness and variety of the goods have been constantly increasing.
The Carrollton Tile Works were incorporated in 1878, with C. W. Keeley, as President ; W. L. Barnett, Secretary ; and G. W. Davis, Trea- surer. Soon after, Mr. Barnett bought out his partners, and the erection of buildings near the depot was pushed rapidly forward. The establish- ment is fitted with the best machinery, a powerful steam engine, and a full corps of workmen. Large quantities of tile are manufactured, find a rapid sale, and are pronounced equal to the best.
The Underwood Spring Bed Factory is one of the institutions of the town. The bed is the invention of Mrs. Wm. Underwood of this city, and is conceded to be the best in the market.
Banks .- In 1855, David Pierson started a private bank, at first in his store, but, 1860, removed to the fine brick building erected especially for its accommodation. This was the pioneer bank of the county. In 1874, Mr. Pierson's sons, Messrs. Robert, and David D., became partners in the concern, and the style of the firm became David Pierson & Sons, bankers, and the institution was known far and wide as Pierson's Exchange Bank. During the panics of 1857 and 1872, when nearly every bank in the State was closed, this institution never refused to meet a just demand. In 1878, David Pierson, Esq., wished to retire
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
from business on account of his advanced age, and the Greene County National Bank was organized to succeed the old institution. By its promptness and reliability it has been of great service to the community, and is regarded as perfectly secure. The following are its officers : John I. Thomas, President ; David D. Pierson, Vice President ; Robert Pierson, Cashier ; Ornan Pierson, Assistant Cashier : John I. Thomas, Albert Gregory, David D. Pierson, Daniel Morfoot, Dr. James M. Davis, Ornan Pierson, H. W. Wright, Directors. Paid up capital, $100,000.
In 1867, John Long and Frank Vivell combined their capital and opened a bank under the name of John Long & Co. This firm has ample capital, and has the reputation of doing a safe, careful business. The bank occupies a commodious building on the east side of the Square. The Carrollton Bank was organized in 1877, with the following officers : Benj. Roodhouse, President; John Kaser, Vice President ; W. W. Beaty, Cashier; J. M. Roodhouse, Assistant Cashier. Early in 1878, the bank took possession of the elegant new building, erected especially for its use on the north side of the Square by Judge C. D. Hodges. Soon after, W. W. Beaty resigned his position as cashier, and sold his stock to Mr. C. H. Hodges. Mr. John M. Roodhouse became cashier, and E. B. Hobson assistant cashier. This institution is doing a good business, and has the confidence of the community. Its directors are : Benjamin Roodhouse, David Wright, Jeduthun B. Eldred, John Kaser, and Charles H. Hodges.
There are besides, two steam mills, one steam elevator, one grain warehouse, seven wagon factories, six blacksmith shops, one cigar factory, one broom factory, two photograph galleries, one nursery, one sign painter, three hotels, two livery stables, two harness shops, four dry goods, eight grocery, three hardware, two tobacco, two furniture, three drug and four boot and shoe stores, one bakery, five milliner and dressmak- ing establishments, two merchant tailors, one dyer, two jewelers, two meat markets, two book and stationery stores, two barber shops, two private billiard halls, one horse dealer. A heavier business is done here than in any other town in the county, and the largest and finest stocks of goods displayed.
GREENFIELD.
The greater part of the following sketch of Greenfield was con- densed from Prof. R. E. Wilder's very able historical address, delivered July 4, 1876 :
Up to 1820, so far as I can learn, no permanent settlement had been made within the corporate limits of Greenfield ; but during the Summer of this year, Stephen Hand, son of Jeremiah Hand, and the first husband of the present Mrs. Edmondson, then a young and single man anticipat- ing, we may suppose, his future necessities in this direction, began & house on the site where Wm. H. Wylder's now is, on the south side of the Public Square ; but for reasons not known, perhaps like the man in the parable, " not being able to finish," he sold out his unfinished home and the entire premises in the Fall of that year to James Cannedy, better known as the late Esq. Cannedy, who had settled on the Philips farm in the Spring of this same year and made one crop. Mr. C. finished this
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
dwelling and became installed in it with his little family just in season to escape the violence of " the Big Snow-storm," which began December of this year, thus laying an undisputed claim of being the first resident of our town.
Living here and making a small crop of corn in the Summer of '30, and on the south side of town in '31; Mr. Cannedy returned to Tennessee in the Fall of this latter year, selling out to Geo. W. Allen, Esq., the future projector and proprietor of the place, who in the following March moved his family from his farm on the other side of Apple Creek, and took formal possession of the premises.
In this connection it may be remarked, that Mr. C. came here in what most would regard now, as very straightened circumstances, having only a bank of $2 to draw from, which he completely exhausted on the first night of his arrival here, to pay for a tolerably sized porker, rendered necessary for the immediate supply of his family. Although he had made three good crops of corn on the few acres he planted, yet finding the facilities for replenishing his pocket very limited, coupled with his ex- periences in passing through two northern winters of unwonted severity, he determined to set his face toward his old Tennessee home. Accord- ingly, in the early Spring of '32, loading his family and what few articles of furniture he had left, into his little ox-cart, he trudged his weary way back to the sunny South, arriving in season to put a few acres in cultiva- tion, whose soil would scarcely produce " black-eyed peas "-appearing to him all the poorer in contrast with the prolific soil he found here. Finding that he would have to choose between starvation upon the worn- out lands of his native State, or the inconveniences incident to all set- tlers here in early times, he wisely selected the latter alternative and returned and made his first crop here in 1834, where he continued to reside till his recent decease at his late residence some three miles south of town.
Returning from this digression, Mr. Allen was joined in a few weeks by his brother-in-law, the Rev. Amos Prentice, who, leaving the circuit he had ridden for some two or three years, now associated himself with Mr. A. in the dry goods business, carried on in a store built on the site of the present Odd Fellows and Masonic Hall, at the same time dis- charging the duties of a local preacher for the two years during which the partnership continued. The store thus occupied was built by Mr. Allen-who shortly afterwards appended a two-story dwelling house in which he continued to reside for a considerable time.
We are now brought to 1834, when Wm. Caldwell and family arrived and occupied for a time a house on the northwest corner of the Square ; but soon after built and moved to that now owned by Mr. Sailor, where he died some years since. Wm. P. Burroughs, also the same year, moved from west of White Hall, and located on his farm some four miles north- west of town. At the same time likewise, Samuel B. Culp, now the Rev. S. B. Culp, pastor of the Hickory Grove Church, came here and opened a tailor's shop - he and the late Dr. M. A. Cooper occupying a room over Allen's store for their respective callings ; but greater induce- ments were held out to him to remove to Rivesville, which he did the next year, but whether his anticipations were realized or not, I am unable to say. Certain it is, however, he obtained some military promotion, as
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
he officiated as major of the militia in this end of the county for some years after his removal to Rivesville.
The people at and around this point hitherto experienced no little inconvenience in not having any connection with the outside world by means of a stated mail. Such connection was a desideratum. How to secure it, was a question of no small moment to these isolated, mail- less new settlers. Their nearest post-office, at this time, was Carrollton, whither they were obliged to send weekly some one, in order to reach such mail matter as the post-office there might furnish them. To remedy this inconvenience it was suggested that a town be laid out and a post- office established here, if possible ; for, it should be borne in mind, that, at this time, nothing in the shape of a town had any existence here-the few settlements already made being those merely of people in the open country.
The suggestion for a town and post-office, therefore, was no sooner made than acted upon and carried into practical operation by one of the most enterprising residents at this point, Geo. Washington Allen, Esq., who, during this year, 1835, laid out a plat of fifty-four lots, to be remodeled in 1836 and the number of lots increased to 208, when it was formally christened Greenfield by that early apostle of the Methodist faith here, the Rev. James B. Carrington, living then, as a local preacher, on a farm northeast of town, better known now as the Cole place. From this period, then, dates our separate existence as a town.
The lots thus laid off, were offered for sale at low figures ; but, like many other paper towns that had a temporary existence at that day, there were few applicants, and still fewer purchasers who paid any thing but pledges, never to be redeemed. The consequence was, a very slow ad- vance of the future (to those then living here) city. Yet the great end of securing increased mail facilities was early realized.
Through the persistent efforts of Mr. Allen in getting up numerously signed petitions to the Post Office Department at Washington, though. vigorously opposed by other rival claimants, he succeeded in getting the first mail route through this point from Jacksonville to Alton, and a post office located here -- himself being appointed the first incumbent, which he continued to be for seventeen years-and a Mr. Conley, or, as claimed by others, a Mr. Twitchell, the first mail carrier.
Thus was our infant town brought into early and uninterrupted con- tact with the outlying world, to be operated upon by such influences, for good or evil, as such connection is wont to generate-an advantage, how- ever, far more highly appreciated by our early friends than by us who are almost surfeited with both mail, railroad and telegraphic communication.
Not long after the above route was established, another was laid out, thereby furnishing a cross mail from Carrollton to Carlinville-" Uncle David Miller " doing the honors of the first mail carrier.
The Winter of 1835-6, brought to our little hamlet some three or four, who have figured somewhat conspicuously in its subsequent history; for which reason; therefore, a brief notice of these, in this connection, may not be inappropriate.
Benjamin King, Esq., then a young man, stands first on the list of those arriving here in the Fall of 1835, from "Old Kentuck." Fortun- ately for Esq. Allen, he came just in season to fill a vacancy in his store
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
as clerk. Though not possessing a large share of what the Latin boys term suaviter in modo, he came well furnished with that sterling integrity which never fails to inspire confidence, and commands the respect of all customers. It is no marvel, then, that Mr. Allen retained him in his em- ploy till summoned to go the way of all mankind-a term of two years, when Mr. and Mrs. King retired to the farm they now occupy-he, to discharge the manifold duties, in church and state, which a confiding public imposed upon him; and she, to meet the responsibilities appro- priate to her sex, with no disposition to press " woman's rights " beyond that circle.
Up to this period, though other points had enough and to spare, Greenfield and vicinity had no resident physician in their own right, and were under the necessity, therefore, when one was needed, of sending to Carrollton-Dr. Throcmorton, resident there, being their nearest. It was therefore, a matter of no little interest when, at this time, the late Dr. Martin A. Cooper, then a young unmarried man, arrived here from Ten- nessee and proposed to make this his future home, provided there should be sufficient encouragement given him to do so. This he promptly re- ceived ; and amongst other encouragements furnished, the people here generally took hold and aided him in erecting a small cabin, 12x14, on the site now occupied by Mr. E. Boulton's residence, to be succeeded by a more commodious structure two years after, now known as the " Pursley house," occupied at present by Mr. Joseph Dalby.
The cabin completed, the doctor returns to Tennessee, but soon makes his appearance here with a bird for his cage. Installed now in his new home, with some one to preside over and superintend his domestic affairs, the doctor himself "swings around no mean circle," embracing as it did, Rockbridge, Witt's Mill, Hickory Grove, Athensville, Scott- ville, Barr's Store, Fayette and Rivesville. With such a territory to look after, the doctor seems to have been fully equal to the situation ; as for many years no competitor thought it worth while to disturb him in the quiet occupancy of his little principality ; and when at length Drs. Met- calf, Mayfield and Rice, each made an attempt in this direction, it was only to retire from the field successively and leave him an undisturbed occupant of it. Nor was it till the arrival of Drs. Ledbrook and Finch in 1850 and 1852, that he divided, permanently, the medical practice with any one.
With such opportunities most of his profession would have amassed a princely fortune ; but though regarded as well read in his profession, he was equally thought a miserable financier-doing a large amount of practice gratuitously, not to be charged, and a still larger amount to be charged and never collected. Kind in his disposition and sympathizing in feelings, he made many friends and but a single formidable enemy through his long career.
Another notable personage, who, during a sojourn here of seventeen years failed not to leave his impress upon persons and things, was Richard Marshall Booker, the A. T. Stewart of our little New York. Arriving here indirectly from Kentucky, with his family in the Fall of 1835, like most who can find nothing else to do, he played the pedagogue for three months, in the first house ever built here for that purpose, situated upon the rising ground between Valentine Caswell's and the Rives' place.
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
This, however, satisfied all his aspirations in that direction. Indeed, like most who instruct, he seems to have designed it as a stepping stone to something that would pay ; for he belonged to that family the first article in whose creed is that any thing worthy of their attention must pay. Ac- cordingly, in the Spring of the following year, having only the proceeds of his Winter's work in the school room in ready cash, he borrowed $300 from a near relative; and this, supplemented by the endorsement of his early friend, George W. Allen, to the amount of $1000, abundantly suf- ficed to install him in a new store, built for that purpose by the late Robt. H. Maxfield on the site of the Star Clothing House of our time, filled with all that was needed to meet the moderate demands of the surrounding communities of that day. Prosperous in business, he soon became a formidable rival of his endorsing friend, and maintained a fierce and suc- cessful war in trade, not only with him but with all who dared to come in competition with him in his line of business.
Aiming to become the millionaire of this meridian, he left no means untried to accomplish his purpose; and so successful was he in this, that, after prosecuting his business for some seventeen years with that iron in- domitable energy which knows no failure, after a brief illness of one week, he passed from our midst on the 24th of February, 1853, leaving his family the snug little fortune of $60,000, to be mostly spent however in less than half the time he was acquiring it-thus furnishing an instructive lesson of what a well-directed energy, when coupled with an intelligent economy, will accomplish; and an equally instructive one, of the su- preme folly of him, who pursues wealth as the great purpose of his life.
Not so scrupulous as many in his business transactions, his energy, enterprise and public spirit did much toward directing the trade of this portion of the county to this point, and also of furnishing it with educa- tional facilities not enjoyed by our neighboring towns. Though somewhat unique in his mental structure, he had many of those properties which enter into the composition of a good and useful citizen.
The late Fielding L. Stubblefield, who first located on what is now known as the Than Hall farm, where he remained for a few years, secured, through Mr. Allen, the farm where his widow now resides and took pos- session of it in 1835, or, according to other authorities, in 1838, where he continued to reside till his decease in 1875.
Iseph Atterberry in '37 or '38, built a small cabin where the Green- field Hotel, alias Bart's Hotel, now is; and, after a year or so, trans- ferred it to Geo. W. Allen, through whom William Brown obtained it, only to occupy it for a short term, when he, in turn, sold out to the late William A. Secor, who, moving back the cabin for an ell, put up a larger structure in front, in which he continued to live for many years, when, in '57-8, he employed Messrs. Drake & Stock, at an expense of $3,000, to transform it into the central structure of the present hotel. This was further improved in '75, and transferred by the Secor heirs to B. B. Bar- tholomew. By the addition of a large ell and various other improve- ments, it has been rendered abundantly adequate to meet all our present necessities in this direction, and thus supplied a desideratum long felt in our community.
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