USA > Illinois > Greene County > History of Greene county, Illinois: its past and present > Part 43
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As soon as the survey commenced White Hall became alarmed, and sent a delegation to Chicago to turn the current in her favor. Meantime a meeting was held in Mr. Rawlings' store at Roodhouse, and a committee consisting of John Roodhouse, John T. Rawlings, and E. M. Husted, was appointed to go to Chicago to see President Blackstone. In order to hasten their arrival they took a hand-car as far as Jacksonville, that they might catch an early train from that city. Here they were met by the assurance that White Hall had secured the prize, but determined never- theless to hasten on to Chicago in the hope it was not too late. An interview with President Blackstone developed the cheering fact that if the citizens of Roodhouse would secure for the road the right of way from the Illinois River to that town and deed to the company ten acres for depot grounds, within a week the junction would be made at that point. On the return of these gentlemen a subscription paper to secure funds for purchasing the right of way was at once drawn up. Messrs. Roodhouse, Cobb, and J. T. Rawlings, each subscribed $1,000. Messrs. Simmons, Husted, Armstrong, and P. A. Rawlings each $500, G. W. Thompson, $250, and others like sums. Many persons of very small property gave liberally, and the result was that the road was secured. E. M. Husted was President and Treasurer of the committee to secure the right of way, and conducted this part of the enterprise with great skill.
As soon as the connection between the two branches of the road was made the town improved very rapidly. The railroad company built a large and handsome depot, and in many ways contributed to the growth
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of the place. Very soon Roodhouse was made the terminus of the Mis- souri division, and the round-house and repair shop located here. These have brought a large amount of business and population to the town, so that its growth has been very rapid.
The following description of the railroad grounds is taken from the Roodhouse Review :
" There are all told, including repair tracks, about twenty-five switches within the corporate limits of the village, all of which are necessary to operate and facilitate the movements of trains. There is scarcely a silent moment, night or day, as the average number of trains (including freight and stock trains, all of which are made up at this point), is about twenty-five every twenty-four hours. This immense amount of train business is under the superintendence of Mr. T. R. Saltar, the station agent, who is also yard-master, with Lew McClure and Barney Greene as assistants, under whose able and efficient management this seemingly complicated business works with the regularity of clock-work, without a hitch or jar, and trains are always dispatched to their destination promptly on time. Engine No. 124, called the ' Pony,' is constantly on duty, day and night, as switch engine. Her fires have hardly been extinguished for nearly two years. She is under the control of Charlie McCabe during the day, and Wilson Jones at night, and is never idle to exceed an hour at a time. Mr. Slocum has control of the round-house and motive power. He recently succeeded Mr. C. A. Swan, Sr., and comes highly recom- mended as a polite and affable gentleman as well as a skillful mechanic. Every engine before it leaves the round-house is subjected to a rigid scrutiny by him and his assistants, and if the smallest defect exists, it is detected and remedied at once.
" The repair shops, situated near the round-house, where all defect- ive cars passing through are repaired, are under the control of Mr. Frank Shield, an experienced mechanic. He also has charge of the wrecking- car, with which he responds promptly day or night when a wreck occurs on his division of the road. He is assisted in his duties by Benj. Rush- worth, John Harney, and James Graham.
" While on the subject of the railroad, before closing we will add that Roodhouse contains the only round-house and repair shops between Bloomington and Louisiana, Mo., that its location at the junction of the Louisiana branch makes all the appliances that the company has at this place a necessity, and that when the Louisiana branch is extended to Kansas City, Roodhouse will then necessarily become a much more im- portant point to the company than it now is. It occupies a position exactly central between Chicago and Kansas City, the two termini of the road, and will of course become the end of runs, and will occupy a similar relation to the western branch that Bloomington on the main line does to the Jacksonville branch, which there forms a junction with the main line running from St. Louis to Chicago. The St. Louis branch of the C. B. & Q. passes one mile west of Roodhouse, crossing the Jackson- ville branch of the C. & A. a short distance north of White Hall. There is a switch and shute on the C. B. & Q. one mile west of Roodhouse, thus securing to stock shippers, lumber dealers and merchants competing rates at all times to both Chicago and St. Louis."
Soon after Roodhouse received these railroad advantages, the
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town was incorporated under the State law. The first trustees were John Roodhouse, John T. Rawlings, Dr. D. B. Moore, and David Kirk- land. Mr. Roodhouse was elected President and Mr. Rawlings Clerk. In February, 1876, the town organization was repealed and a village organization substituted. The officers of the board, during 1875, were A. M. Dill, President, John Dacy, Clerk. In 1876, the first year of village organization, the officers were as follows :
President, E. H. Sawyer. Trustees, John A. Taylor, A. M. Dill, Matt. Sterritt, Fred Hudson, John A. Towner. Clerk, James F. Walker. Magistrate, George W. Thompson. Street Commissioner, James N. Sawyer. Constable, Thomas Jones. Attorney, D. C. McIver. The present village officers are President, D. T. Foster. Trustees, Ellis Briggs, John A. Taylor, Matt. Sterritt, Peter Dunbar, Fred Hudson. Magistrate, G. W. Thompson. Clerk, Thomas R. Saltar. Constables, William T. Sitton, Thomas James.
Among those who have occupied prominent positions in the business of the town, since the completion of the Louisiana branch of the rail- road, may be mentioned the following: B. Nathan erected a store building in 1874, in which he sold notions, stationery, etc., for several years. N. H. Clark built a restaurant, which he has operated for some time. Messrs. Freeto & Bullard were at the head of an active tinware and stove busi- ness for several years. Sawyer & Drennan were for several years in the first rank as merchants. They sold dry goods in one building and groceries in another. In 1871 Armstrong & George formed a partner- ship and dealt in hardware, groceries, and lumber. In 1874 the firm gave place to Armstrong & Sharp, which added a stock of dry goods to the already large establishment, and a little later opened the first bank the village ever contained. In 1876 this firm dissolved, and divided the business between the partners. James Armstrong took the lumber and building material, selling also wagons, etc. In Feb., 1879, he sold out to Bundy & Worcester. George Armstrong became proprietor of the grocery, queensware, and hardware department, and P. J. Sharp assumed control of the stock of dry goods.
Gillham & Brother built a good business house in 1875, occupied it for a short time, and sold out to Haggard & Lowder. Subsequently Haggard sold out to Bradshaw, and the firm became Bradshaw & Lowder, and as such sold groceries until a recent date. In 1874, Mr. Watt, of Winchester, opened a furniture store, but he sold out to Ed. Sawyer, who still transacts a grocery business. In 1875, Briggs & Titus erected a fine flouring mill, with elevator attached, and for some time did a very large business. November 29, 1877, the building and its contents were entirely consumed by fire, inflicting a very severe loss upon its owners and upon the town. The loss was $20,000; insurance, $2,000. In 1878, Mr. Briggs, of this firm, erected a building to be used as an elevator, and connected it by means of an electric telephone with his warehouse in White Hall, four miles away. He now handles large quantities of grain. (See White Hall.)
In 1876, Sawyer & Drennan built a fine business block, and soon after Peter Dunbar followed their example.
James Walker owned the first brick kiln, which is now operated by W. T. Lowry. Wm. Cutler was the first to establish a foundry in the town, which he still owns.
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
Roodhouse has had a number of newspapers, but only one strictly home paper remains. The first venture of this kind was an edition of the White Hall Register, called the Roodhouse Signal, which was printed at White Hall. A similar edition of the Carrollton Gazette soon followed, called the Roodhouse Headlight. Its publication was discontinued about two years ago. Not long after, W. T. Lakin began the publication of the Roodhouse Independent in the town. This venture was not well sus- tained, and the paper was soon removed to White Hall, where it became the Greene County Democrat, and, in other hands, prospered for a time. In October, 1877, D. C. McIver and his son began, in a very small way, the publication of the Roodhouse Review. Since that time the paper has grown until now it is, with one exception, as large as any paper in the county, and seems to enjoy the confidence of the community. In De- cember, 1877, J. S. Harper brought a new newspaper outfit to the town, and established Harper's Weekly Herald, a temperance paper, which throve for a short time, but in about six months died. The office was taken to Jerseyville, where it is used in the publication of the Jerseyville Examiner.
In 1876, the railroad company decided to stop all trains at Roodhouse, for meals or lunch. Accordingly, they built, adjoining the depot, a large and convenient eating house, which was leased by Captain D. T. Foster, of Bloomington. Captain Foster gives the table and the comfort of his guests his personal attention, and his eating house is equal to the best on any railroad.
The Roodhouse Bank was organized in October, 1877, and the com- pany at once erected the handsome brick building which they now occu- py. The officers of the bank are E. M. Husted, President; George W. Armstrong and W. H. Barrow, Directors ; T. L. Smith, Cashier. The bank does a safe business, and has the confidence of the entire commu- nity.
The first school house in Roodhouse was the building first used as a depot. The first building erected especially for school purposes is now occupied as a residence by Wm. Jones, baggage master. The present brick school house was built in 1877. It is one of the finest edifices for the purpose in this section of country. The ground plan is 42} by 432 feet, basement story 8 feet, first story 11 feet, second story 12 feet, man- sard story about 10 feet. There are two rooms besides halls and waiting rooms on each floor. The roof is covered with tin except the sides of the mansard, which are covered with slate. The whole is surmounted with an attractive tower in which the bell is hung. The workmanship is good, and the material, consisting principally of stone and brick, first class. The site is a beautiful one. in the northwest part of town, and consists of about two acres of ground, which slopes gradually from the building in every direction, except toward the east. The sewage is admirably arranged, the accumulation of water around the building being fully guarded against. The board of directors, composed of E. M. Husted, W. H. Barrow, and W. Lorton, chose Mr. Husted to superintend the work, and he succeeded in erecting a building of which Roodhouse may well be proud. There are three entrances with wide doors. The furnaces used were made by the Ruttan Heating and Ventilating Company. The partition between the rooms on the second floor consists of wide doors, which by means of
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weights can be raised, thus making but one room of both, a matter which will be very convenient, when public examinations are held. The build- ing cost $5,180. The total expenditures, including grounds, was $6,000. J. F. Walker was the contractor, Fred Husted did the mason and brick work and plastering, Sam. Stone the painting, and Freeto & Bullard the tin work. The plans were drawn by S. Pfiefenberger, of Alton.
Lydia Swallow was the first teacher. N. M. Mccullough was the first principal after the school was graded. The present teachers are H. M. Anderson, Principal, assisted by Misses Anna Lemon, Hale and Beene Rushworth. Total enrollment 254. Average attendance, February, 1879, 222.
The lawyers of the town are J. L. Patterson and D. C. McIver. They have a large and increasing practice.
Roodhouse contains four church organizations. The Methodist, Rev. A. Orr, pastor; the Cumberland Presbyterian, Rev. John Jolly, pastor, and the Congregational, Rev. D. K. Shields, pastor, and a Cath- olic Church. The secret societies are the following: Knights of Pythias, organized October 8, 1877; present officers, D. C. McIver, C. C .; E. M. Husted, Jr., K. of R. and S .; membership, 35. Ancient Order of United Workmen, organized June 30, 1870; present officers, S. L. Strang, P. M. W .; T. R. Saltar, Recorder.
Roodhouse Union Sunday school was organized in 1867, by J. C. Tunison, Superintendent. The first Summer the sessions were held in a private school room, with scholars from around the country, as there was no town at this time. The school room changed hands, and the school was moved to J. T. Rawling's hall, during the Fall of 1868. After two years in the hall, on the completion of a new school house, the Sunday school was continued through the first Winter session by such workers as Mrs. Wm. Thaxton, Mrs. John Roodhouse, Mrs. E. M. Husted, and others as teachers, and J. J. Short as Assistant Superintendent, as Mr. Tunison was away much of the time. Finally the school was re-organized. J. M. Armstrong was elected Superintendent and J. J. Short, Assistant. For four years no special changes were made, except the school increased in numbers, and a church organization began to form in connection with the school. Mrs. J. P. Drennan moved from Alton, in the meantime, and took an active interest. With J. T. Rawlings, John Roodhouse, E. M. Husted, James Vangiesen, and J. M. Armstrong to move in the matter, the Union church was built, which was the first in the place. A new organ and a map were bought, and the school increased to 150 scholars. The library consists of 400 volumes, and $100 is annually expended in increasing it. At the election of officers, in 1873, C. L. Savage was chosen Superin- tendent, J. M. Armstrong, Assistant, W. W. Buckmaster, Secretary, and W. W. Jones, Librarian. These officers held their positions for two years. In 1875, Mr. Savage resigned, and J. M. Armstrong was chosen in his stead, and continues to occupy the position. During this year the Congregational church was built, dividing the school and church, taking away forty scholars. J. P. Drennan was elected Superintendent, and W. Buckmaster, Secretary of the new school. It is now in a very flourishing condition, with C. D. Strang, Superintendent, and Perry Sitton, Secretary.
The rapid and immediate further growth of the town seems assured. At this date (April, 1879) the extension of the Missouri branch of the
N
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road to Kansas City, is just about to be opened, and a large increase of business over the road is confidently expected. The railroad company have prospected for water here, and, finding an abundance, it is con- fidently expected that the stock yards will soon be located here. It is also believed that Roodhouse will be made the end of passenger runs, and these advantages can not fail to build up a thriving town. No place in the county has brighter prospects.
KANE.
There have been in the history of the county two places about a mile apart, having the name of Kane. One of these, Old Kane (or Homer as it was formerly called) is situated in Township 9, Range 12, and the other, New Kane, is in Township 9, Range 11. As a preliminary to a sketch of New Kane which is at present the center of trade and activity, some notice of the old town should be given. The first settlements ever made in Greene County were probably in Township 9, Range 12. Here it was that Daniel Allen and his sons Daniel, Jr. and James made improvements in 1816, having spent the previous Winter on the Macoupin opposite the mouth of Taylor's Creek, in what is now Jersey County. They were followed not long after by R. B. Huitt, Rev. C. J. Gardiner and John King. Shortly before the year 1830, came Gen. Jacob Fry and James Stone. In 1836, a man by the name of Stedman, Alexander Smith, Jacob Backus, Enoch Backus, Col. N. M. Perry and others resided near Section 36, on which Old Kane is situated. They were a long distance from any market, Jerseyville on the south and Carrollton on the north were their nearest towns and each was seven or eight miles away. There was a beautiful location for a village on Section 36 and the propriety of establishing a new town was often discussed. Col. N. M. Perry, now deceased, was prominent in these deliberations, as were also Z. H. Adams and a Mr. Brainerd. Col. Perry was the first to settle in the town and he sold the first lot. Z. H. Adams built the first store, where he sold drugs, groceries, calicoes and all the misellaneous merchandise necessary in a new country. Col. Perry erected the second store building in the now rapidly growing village. He was a gentleman of great activity and occupied a very prominent place in the history of the county. He sold goods in this town for some time and quite successfully until the panic forced him to retire from business for a time. He subsequently resumed business and continued as a merchant in the place for about thirty years. Very soon a dwelling house was built by Samuel Pope and he erected the first blacksmith shop. In 1838, the Baptists began the erection of a church in the town, which was completed soon after. It is still standing, one of the old landmarks of the county. The Methodists erected a building later. Although surrounded by some of the richest farming lands in the State, there were few natural advantages to assist the town to a rapid growth.
In the Spring of 1856, a company was formed consisting of Col. N. M. Perry, Guy C. Richards, W. O. Tolman, A. W. Tolman and Willis Barrow for the purpose of erecting a flouring mill. Myron Cory was the superintendent and builder, and the edifice was ready for occupancy in the Autumn. Subsequently Col. Perry became sole proprietor and later
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he sold out to Z. Titus. The present proprietor is Jefferson Bolt. The town contains about fifty inhabitants.
In 1854, when Josiah T. Hunt with Mr. Ollendorf his assistant was making the preliminary survey for the railroad, now known as the Jacksonville branch of the Chicago and Alton, it was earnestly hoped by the citizens of Kane that the road might pass through that town. The engineer made every effort to find a feasible route by which this could be accomplished, but when he made his report at the completion of his work he stated that he regretted exceedingly that it was impracticable. Three lines were run, but the nearest of them left Kane a half mile to the west and the route finally adopted was still further distant. The road was opened from White Hall to Godfrey, January 1, 1865, and in November of that year, Tobias Holliday, who owned a tract of land on the railroad, laid out a town on the east side of the road which was known until the establishment of the post office as Hollidaysburg. Subsequently Holliday's addition west of the track was annexed and became the busi- ness center of the town.
Some time after the town was laid out Thomas Boyd, a leading citi- zen of Carrollton, of considerable wealth, purchased a tract of land near the town which he divided into lots and sold. This is now known as Boyd's addition to Kane, and a large number of residences have been built upon it. Elder Joel Terry, on his decease, devised to his family a farm of 160 acres, part of which lay within the corporation limits of Kane. A part of this tract sold at public sale in behalf of the heirs was subsequently laid off in lots, and formed that part of the town known as Terry's addition. The place soon adopted the name of its older neigh- bor, and became known as Kane, or to distinguish it from the original bearer of that name, New Kane.
John Green was one of the first settlers in the young village. J. B. Enslow, who had been a farmer in Montgomery County, built the first store, in which he opened a stock of groceries. Not long after, Samuel Gardiner, who is the present postmaster, moved from the old to the new town. He was a harness maker, and followed his calling for some time. He afterward embarked in trade, and has sold dry goods and groceries for many years. He moved a building which he owned in Old Kane to the new town, in which he has ever since sold goods and handled the mail of the little city. John Fitch was the first blacksmith in New Kane, and Dr. P. Fenity was the first physician. Dr. Fenity had practiced some six years in the old town, where he had secured a lucrative business. He has proved a very valuable man to the town and has contributed lib- erally of his means to further the best interests of the place. None have taken a deeper interest in the intellectual and moral concerns of the community. Shortly after the new town was laid out Peter and W. M. Felter added materially to the appearance of the place by the erection of a large brick building, since used as a dry goods and grocery store, and now occupied by Dr Albro Allen. Kane now began to feel her import- ance. The old town sank into insignificance, and, having vanquished that rival, the new town began to reach out for the trade which had hitherto gone to Jerseyville and Carrollton. Kane became an important shipping point, and grain, cattle and hogs poured in from all parts of the surround- ing county. As the town grew in importance the necessity of a suitable
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house for the promotion of education became apparent, and the motion to build was carried with scarcely a dissenting vote. The present build- ing has undergone some changes since its erection, and will compare favorably with any other school building in the county. The first teacher in Kane was E. H. Remick, whose services were so highly ap- preciated that he was retained in the position for four years. His succes- sors have been Rev. H. J. Spears, William Terry, Ward Coombs, James W. Dewel, J. G. Harley, John Worthington, Mr. Allen and Miss Alice Bridges.
The first religious services were held in Felter's Hall, but not long after the formation of the town a subscription paper was circulated to secure funds for the erection of a church. The response was liberal and prompt. The building was erected in 1866 especially for the Methodists, but was called a Union Church, and was used by various denominations. Among the preachers who have presided over this flock have been Rev. Messrs. Walker, Hoyt, H. J. Spears, Stubblefield, Dewes, Cline, Delicate, Sly, Fohs, Greenlow, Westze, Tomes and N. E. Harmon, who has displayed remarkable ability as a revivalist.
In 1867 and 1868 John E. Van Pelt, a brilliant but erratic man, built a very large and complete flouring mill, just east of the railroad, at a cost of $32,000, $10,000 of which was subscribed by the citizens of the place. The mill did a very large business for a time and Mr. Van Pelt seemed to be coining money. In time, however, he became in- volved and the mill was sold under a deed of trust. In March, 1869, Johnson & Howe assumed control of the institution. Afterward Z. M. Titus rented the mill and transacted a good business. His successors were L. H. Turner, E. C. Leigh and others.
In 1873 or 1874 Dr. Casey of Jerseyville and E. C. Leigh organized a bank, with a paid in capital of $5,000, in the building owned by W. W. Felter. The firm subsequently erected an edifice solely for their own use, in which they carried on business until their failure in 1878.
Not long after S. F. Green, a prominent farmer of the vicinity, and Enoch Littlefield established a bank under the firm name of Littlefield, Green & Co. This institution does a large and increasing business, and through the unquestioned integrity of the partners enjoys the confidence of the community.
Messrs. David A. Thompson and T. J. Enslow are largely engaged in stock shipping, and Jos. Wendt deals in grain.
W. P. Parker is the only merchant doing an exclusive grocery busi- ness, although J. B. & S. F. Gardiner and Wm. B. Enslow carry a stock of such goods. Messrs. John Greene & Co. do a very extensive business in dry goods, and have demonstrated their business ability by the erection of their present very large and commodious building. Messrs. Gardiner also handle dry goods. There are two drug stores in the town, one under the control of Mr. Remicke, and the other owned by Wm. B. Enslow. Cyrus Morris keeps an assortment of saddlery and hardware: There are. two hotels, known as the Kane House and the Astor House, and C. N. Adams keeps a boarding house. There are besides in the town, one meat market, one barber shop, two millinery establishments, a lumber yard with a small printing office attached, one notion and cigar store, four blacksmith shops, two livery stables.
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