USA > Illinois > Jefferson County > History of Jefferson County, Illinois, 1810-1962 > Part 2
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Attending worship services in our nunal churches is still carried on faithfully, though many of the older church buildings have been replaced with new buildings that are equipped with modern furniture and appliances. Annual revival meetings are still held in many rural churches.
Wild game of certain kins is still plentiful in rural areas of Jefferson County and hunting is still a great sport; but the variety and quantity of game is not as plentiful as a century ago; therefore, the men have changed their methods of hunting considerably.
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In 1862, litt Vernon was still a village. In another decade it would become a city. The War between the states was gaining momentum, and a number of lit. Vernon's young men had already experienced life on a battlefield. The people back home were wondering how soon this con- flict would come to an end, and "Johnny" would come home and tell of his experience as a "boy in blue."
In rolling back the pages of time, we find that life in many ways was a "far cry" in the King City in comparison to what it is a century later. In 1862 Mt. Vernon was much smaller in area as well as in population. With a modern vehicle one could drive around the village in a matter of minutes, providing he did not get his buggy stuck in the mud.
One century ago the streets were made of dirt. The sidewalks were made of wood, some of this sawed and some how by hand, Local industries such as saw mills, flouring mills and small factories were powered by steam. Gasoline, deisel and electric power were unknown, The community had but few industries, and each enterprise had small production of its manufactured products. When each plant was operating at peak capacity it could use but few employees.
Railway transportation and the use of the "iron horse" in litt. Vernon was unknown. This was to come a decade later. The nearest railroad was the Illinois Central that nan through Centralia, Ashley and DuQuoin. Connection to the nearest railway station was by the stage coach line that operated between lilt. Vernon and Ashley. The stage coaches did a thriving business during this period.
The predecessor of the garage was the livery stable. The livery stables rendered services to the public in more ways than one. When the travelen was stopping at lilt. Vernon for the night, the Livery stable was the place that furnished housing for his house on team, whichever he was driving. An ample supply of feed was always available for the horses that were to be guests of the proprietor. On many occasions when traveling men came on the stage coach from Ashley and needed to go to villages that were a few miles distant, they would hine a team and buggy to take them to their destinations and return. This was the service of the livery stable.
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In the merchandising field, almost all items were sold at the general stone. The Local merchant was expect to sell everything from "safety pins to caskets," Practically all the foods that he sold were packed in bulk. Many items such as sugar, flour, vinegar and salt pork were packed in wooden barrels. Each item that was sold by the pound had to be weighed when the purchase was made. As there was no refrigeration, perishable merchandise could not be stocked in their inventories. Bookkeeping had to be done by pen on pencil, as IBM machines were still unknown.
In 1862 Mt. Vernon's Fire Department consisted of a group of men that would get some buckets quickly and run to the fire and draw the water out of the well that was located closest to the burning building. This Latter group was sometimes referred to as the "bucket brigade. " Arrangements were made with some local factories that had steam whistles to blow the whistle a certain number of times when there was a fine in the vicinity. Some one had to run to the plant and tell them of the fine, as there were no telephones. When the whistle would sound the signal that was known as the "fine signal" it would cause considerable excitement. People would stant running to the fine from all directions with two purposes in mind: one was to assist in extinguishing the fine, and the other was to satisfy their curiosity. It was an unwritten law that if a fine started in some. section of town at any hour of the day on any time during the night, that every one was expected to get to the scene as quickly as possible and assist the family that was in distress.
Barber shops and general stones with the "cracker barrel" were places where many discussions took place. Many candidates who were aspirants for local office were either elected on defeated if the "cracker barrel" philosophers could accurately predict the outcome of the forthcoming election. At any rate, this provided much enter- tainment for the political scientist.
As the year of 1862 was the second year of the war between the states, the conflict was now being fought desperately by both Union and Confederate forces. Beyond any doubt the one thing that was uppermost in the minds of lit. Vernon's residents was the struggle that was going on between the North and the South. As a number of
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the boys from the King City were wearing the uniform of blue, the folks back home watched the mail daily to see if there was a letter from husband on son on sweetheart who was away in the armed forces. Like all wans, there was naturally a nervous tension among the home people. When one person received a Letter from a soldier, they went as soon as possible to spread the news to the neighbors and other relatives. If a soldier on sailor was discharged and returned home prion to the and of the wan, he was not only welcomed as a hero, but he was a center of attraction in the community.
When official news reached the community that General Lee had surrendered the Confederate fonces, the "folks back home" were in the mood of staging a celebration, now that Johnny would be marching home soon. Within a few days after the historic surrender at Appa- mattox, some more breath taking news reached the village of filt. Vernon. This latest news brought grief instead of rejoicing. It was the announcement that President Lincoln had been slain at the hands of an assassin. The name of John Wilkes Booth quickly became an unpopular one with King City residents,
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MAXEY MAY 141818
FIRST WHITE BURIAL-Pages 5, 6 and M-21
FIRST WHITE FAMILY STORY ON PAGE M-17-LOG CABIN BUILT 1810 WAS RAZED LONG BEFORE PRESENT HOUSE WAS BUILT.
W. & A.R.R.
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IVAN H. COX, Right, Mayor of Mt. Vernon, and CARL S. DRENNAN, DIRECTOR of CONTINENTAL HISTORICAL BUREAU, greets Engine "GENERAL" on its arrival in Mt. Vernon.
APPELLATE COURT HOUSE ORIGINALLY SUPREME
COURT BUILDING.
See Page C-18.
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FIRST HOME SITE OF ZADOK CASEY, PIONEER MINISTER AND POLITICAL LEADER. FIRST HOUSE WAS LOG STRUCTURE. SEE PAGES H-33, H-34, M-1, M-23, M-33, M-34, P-10, S-5, W-3, W-11, W-17, W-22.
FARM FIRST OWNED BY EDWARD MAXEY. ORIGINAL BUILDING WAS LOG HOUSE. FIRST METHODIST CHURCH OF MT. VERNON WAS ORGANIZED IN MAXEY'S HOME 33 DAYS BEFORE ILLINOIS BECAME A STATE. SEE PAGES B-14, M-1, M-24, N-7, W-1, W-23.
NITER STATES POSTA
TOLIVE
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MT. OLIVE CHURCH-ONLY LOG CHURCH STILL IN USE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY. SEE PAGE M-29.
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HARRY L. BATES *
* RECOLLECTIONS OF THE MT. VERNON CAR MANUFACTURING COMPANY
(EDITORIAL NOTE: Mr. Bates worked in the office of the Car Company for fifty five years. )
For three quarters of a century on more, the City of litt. Vernon, Illinois, has been an industrial community. During that period the industries of the locality have played a major role in the economic welfare of the community. Since 1875 many millions of dollars have been distributed in the city and surrounding area through the pay rolls of these industries.
The Local manufacturing plant known as "Mt. Vernon Can Manu- facturing Company" which operated here for sixty-four years contributed materially in the economic growth of the King City. Other industries such as railroads, manufacturers of textiles, footwear, clothing, fun- naces, etc., provided livelihood for numerous families for many years, but the "Can Shops, " as they were commonly known, provided the largest pay roll of any industrial concern that this community has ever had.
This industry had it's beginning ten years prior to the turn of the century. The birth of Mt. Vernon's mammoth industry came about in this manner: the late David 0. Settlemine, whose home was in Litch- field, Illinois, was engaged in freight can building in that city, and he decided to move his plant to lift. Vernon. It is not really known just why he decided to make this move (although some onal reports have been given), but he decided to close the plant at Lichfield and build a new plant at lit. Vernon, The plant at Mt. Vernon was to have simi- larity of the Litchfield factory. The plant, including the various shops, was to be equipped to build freight cans of all kinds for the railroads.
The new place of business was ready for operation in April, 1290. Manufacturing operations began on a small scale, employing about four hundred men when the new plant began operating. The late W. C. Arthurs, who Later became president of the company, was a son-in- law of Settlemine and was living in Litchfield at the time the plant was moved to lift. Vernon. In. Arthurs was the first secretary and
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treasurer of the firm. Mr. and Mrs. Arthurs moved to the King City, but the founder continued to live at Litchfield until the time of his death.
The initial production of freight cars produced in the new plant was from eleven to twelve cars daily. As most of the work was done by hand, due to the fact that automation was virtually un- known, this was a fairly large day's work for the four hundred men who were employed. The first products to roll out the doors of this plant were built of wood except the parts of the car that required steel on cast iron. This plant was smaller than other plants in the country that built a competitive product, and therefore could not produce the same quantity in daily production, but the quality of their cars was considered to be of the best in the nation.
In later years Mt. Vernon's majon industry built cars for railroads from one coast tine to the other, but in the early days of its existence it is believed that most of their products were for the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. This was probably due to the fact that the L & N was ( and still is) one of the larger railroads of the country and their Evansville-St. Louis line operated through Mt. Vernon. As the Mt. Vernon Car Manufacturing Company could build quality freight cars and the L & N had connections to their plant, it was only natural that they would get a large amount of the L & N business.
In due time the local enterprise became known to railroads across the country for erecting durable freight cars, and this created a new demand for cars from many railway systems. As the business of the local company began to grow, there was the need for plant expansion. This was followed by the erection of additional shops and installation of new plant equipment. After the plant had been operating for several years and the demand grew for steel to be used to replace wood in freight can construction, the management saw the necessity for the erection of a large steel plant. This building was to be used to process and assemble nearly all of the steel that was to go in a can. The building that was to be known as the "Steel Erect Department" was built on the south side of the yards. It was built in
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either 1910 on 1912. The first steel can was erected in this building in 1912,
The Steel Department was equipped with two tracks that assembled the chassis and frame part of the car. As the volume of business grew, the Steel Department, along with other departments, added more equipment to keep pace with production. It is reported that maximum daily production never exceeded fifty completed freight cars.
During World War One this plant received a Large volume of orders for "rolling stock. " It is not known how many cars were built in this plant during that period, but peak production was reached in employment. The company employed 2, 300 men while this conflict was going on "to end all wans," Some of the cars that were built in the Mt. Vernon shops during the war period were shipped to foreign countries.
Freight can building was the primary business of this industrial enterprise, but after the company had been operating a number of years, they were called upon to engage in the manufacture of other products. As automation was finding its way into coal mines as well as other fields, a number of coal companies that were operating mines in Southern Illinois began the use of coal Loading machines in their mines. The local plant was called upon to build a considerable amount of these machines to be used in pit mines. It is not known how many of these machines were built in Mt. Vernon non how many mines used them.
This plant was locally owned and operated for more than half a century, until it was sold to H. K. Porter and Co. of Pitts- burgh, Pennsylvania. The eastern firm operated this industry for a few years, then sold the plant to another firm; more about this will be mentioned later.
As pointed out above, this local enterprise played a very prominent role in the economic development and welfare of litt. Vernon for over sixty years. Proof of this is found in the fact that the pay roll averaged a hundred thousand dollars every two weeks for a long period of time. In later years the employees were paid weekly. On the basis of the above figure, $2,600,000 were distributed in the
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Mt. Vernon area in a calendar year. For many years the employees were paid with cash, and that was the way W. C. Arthurs wanted it to be. On one occasion Dee Settlemine, who was one of the officials of the company wanted to issue checks on payday instead of paying with cash. Settlemine informed the personnel of the office that they would pay by check and he did not care what Arthurs thought about it. To the surprise of the plant personnel, the workers all received checks instead of cash. From this time on, the company paid their employees with checks, and thus ended the distribution of cash on payday. Dee Settlemine was a nephew of Min. Arthurs by marriage.
When the president of the company, David O. Settlemine, passed away at his home in Litchfield, Illinois, a considerable number of people from lilt Vernon decided to attend the funeral. As paved roads and automobiles were unknown, the only means of Long distance rapid transportation was by nail; the [ & { J Railroad nan an ex- cursion train from Mt. Vernon to Litchfield via Shelbyville. The train traveled over the New York Central tracks from Shelbyville to its destination. The Shelbyville area had been flooded as a result of recent nains, and the water was almost level with the track, The flooded area, which had the appearance of a lake on both sides of the track, caused so much fear among the passengers that they sang "Nearer My God to Thee" while the train was passing through the flooded region. The founder's death occurred near the turn of the century.
Like other progressive firms, this industry expanded its business as rapidly as possible, and in a few years was doing business with railroads across the nation. So well were their products received that the local plant received orders from outside the continental United States. This company built cans for the Canadian National Railroad, for the Grand Trunk Line, and they also built some cars for a railway company in Mexico.
Even when safety precautions are practiced to the fullest extent, industrial firms always have casualties. During the sixty- four year period that this plant operated there were many injuries, some serious, many of a minor nature, and a few of the injuries ne- sulted in death. On one occasion three men were killed in one day. This is said to be the largest number of death casualties in one day that the plant ever experienced.
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The "Can Shops" were established and began operations a few years prion to the coming of the ( & & I Railroad through lit. Vernon. Then the first train nan over this new line, it was only natural that all of the local residents wanted to see this first train on this new railroad. The engineer on this initial train told young, Hunny Lates to get him some water and he would give this young man a nice on the first train. Bates for the water for the engineer and he is still waiting for that nide. (COSTORO. IL NOT : It will never materialize, we all know, as the CCI has been allowed to discontinue passenger service, and other railroad companies are "dichering" to buy the business. )
The coming of the twentieth century was also the coming of more railway transportation to mt. Vernon. The C& I began operating nean 1395, and the labash, Chester and Western Railway () ( & W) was constructed about the same time. The W ( & I) was a short line that was built from Chester, Illinois, to lit. Vernon. It was said that it was largely, financed with capital from the Cole Milling Company at Chester. The !" ( & i) is now owned by the missouri Pacific Company.
The coming of the two nail lines mentioned above provided a new outlook for lit. Vernon's largest manufacturer. It gave them a potential of two more railroads with which to do business and provided more mail connections to ship their products to their respective destinations.
Another railroad was built that opened up more possibilities ,on the King City and the Can Company. This was known as the jefferson and Southeastern Railroad Company. This new Line was built from Beards- town, Illinois, to Drivers, Illinois. Univers was formerly a small station on the L & Il Railroad between lit. Vernon and Ashley. When the trains left Beardstown they traveled southeastwand through Centralia, Boyd, Cravat, Talnut Hill, Drivers, and on to lift. Vernon. From Drivers to bit. Vernon the trains operated over the L & N tracks. The Jefferson and Southeastern Railroad has not openated for many years.
As the railway systems mentioned all had connections with the King City, this is probably one of the reasons why the can building industry flourished so rapidly in the early years of its existence in Ix. Vernon.
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· A long-to-be-remembered incident happened aboard an excursion train of the Jefferson and Southeastern Railroad during, the exciting presidential campaign of William Mckinley and William J. Bryan in 1896. A political rally was to be held in behalf of Mckinley at Jacksonville, Illinois. All passengers going from Mt. Vernon got round trip fare for fifty cents each. A special cannon had been built at the Car Shops to be used in the celebration. The pattern of this ceremonial weapon was built by the Late Sylvester Foster, the last Civil War veteran who Lived in Mt. Vernon. This was a mixed train, having both freight and passenger cars on this trip. The cannon was mounted on a flat can with plenty of powder, and was to be used to "Whoop it up" for Mckinley.
A number of the employees of the local can building plant had formerly lived at Litchfield and were well acquainted in that area. The mayor of Litchfield, when he heard of the excursion and the cannon, issued onders for "that cannon" not to be fined in the city limits of that town. Joe Dollar, who was aboard the train and a former resident of Litchfield, knew where the mayor lived. The home of the "chief citizen" was a short distance from where the train passed. The boys on the flat can had the cannon loaded with a large quantity of powder, and as the train went by the mayor's home they fined the special- made gun. The noise that was made from fining this shot shook the town. The mayon made no effort to capture the ones who disturbed the peace, as the train did not stop at Litchfield.
Prior to the time that radio came into practical use, band concerts were a popular means of entertainment in many communities. For a number of years the lilt. Vernon Can Manufacturing Co. sponsored a band that presented regular concerts in the Local community. This band was well received by the local residents and was considered one of the best in the country. The band also helped to maintain the morale of the personnel of the plant. The band could be relied upon for parades, concerts, rallies and for many other occasions. It was called the "Carco Band."
The management of the Car Company held the theory that to keep good morale among thein employees would pay substancial dividends.
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One way to do this was to provide some sport that would be popular with the plant personnel as well as the local citizenny. The company sponsored a baseball team for a number of years that was called the "Can Builders." This tean played against many other teams in Southern Illinois and was nated as one of the beston teams outside of the major leagues. Ray Blades, who in later years played with the St. Louis Cardinals when they won the world's championship, played with the Car Builders prion to the time that"he joined the St. Louis team It is probable that the playing that Blades did with the Can Builders helped to qualify him for a place in the National League.
As mentioned elsewhere, this industry held the reputation for building quality freight cars. If a former employees went else- where to seek employment at some freight can building plant, his strongest recommendation would be a letter from the Mt. Vernon Can Manufacturing Company,
Many people never knew that this plant built a freight can equipped with roller bearings. This can was completed and ready to be released as "rolling, stock, " but it was decided by company officials that it would not be a success. The result was that it never left the yards.
As the company had a fairly large Longe department, they were called upon to furnish forgings for a number of rail lines in different parts of the country. At one time this company built the Longings for four hundred cars for the L & N Railway. The Longings were shipped to Louisville, Kentucky, and assembled in the L & N shops there.
After the plant had been in operation for a number of years, they realized the need for a large foundry. A building was erected and equipment installed to produce castings in large volume. In addition to making castings for their own plant, they did custom work for other customers. At one time this plant made all castings for the Southern Railroad Company. The Southern has thousands of miles of track.
Cast iron wheels were at first used on "rolling stock" as the use of steel wheels was for years unknown. As various railway officials learned that the Mt. Vernon shops could and did build a
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product that was dependable, the Mt. Vernon plant was called upon to manufacture can wheels for the L & N, C & { J and Missouri Pacific systems.
As this was the steam era and all trains were pulled by steam locomotives, the plant built a large quantity of cast iron smoke stacks and brake shoes for the Southern Railway System, Most of these were assembled in the Southern shops. When the customer was in need of some of the products quickly, the materiais would be taken to the depot and put on a passenger train in order to reach their destination more quickly.
The Mt. Vernon can shops were equipped to build almost every kind of freight can ever known As all long distance shipping had to be done by mail, the "iron horse" was called upon to transport live- stock from the farms to the terminal markets. This company got its share of the manufacture of cars designed for shipping livestock.
In those days circuses had to use railroads to move their equipment. This factory built a number of circus cans, some of these cars being seventy feet in length, A special type of freight car was designed for shipping elephants, and the Mt. Vernon plant built a number of cars for this purpose.
In the early 1930's the Car Company saw the necessity of expanding thein office space, and a new and beautiful office building was erected near the plant on Shawnee Street. This building was large enough to house all of the company's office equipment. The office building was later sold to an association that converted it into Jefferson Memorial Hospital.
The lit. Vernon Can Manufacturing Company, in addition to providing the community with an adequate pay roll during its career, poured large sums of revenue into local taxing bodies that was of material assistance to lit. Vennon schools as well as other sources.
During World War Two, Mt. Vernon's largest industrial plant was called upon to play her role in the prosecution of this conflict. In addition to building "rolling stock" for the American railway systems, they were given lange orders for bombs to be used in keeping the Nazi Legions on the east side of the Atlantic. It is not known how many bombs this plant built for the federal government, but the number is substantial.
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