USA > Illinois > Jersey County > History of Jersey County, Illinois > Part 35
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"A lyceum was commenced in 1839, and has been sustained during nearly every winter since that timc. Here, in debate and lecture, the young and aspiring may find a fair and encouraging field to exhibit themselves and others, the earliest signs of promise, and to win some bub- bles of renown from no unwilling or envious auditors. Let this institu- tion too be cherished and better patronized than it has been by the middle- aged and old. Let parents be more anxious that their children should attend these debates and lectures, which cost nothing and are worth something, than that they should follow the strolling vagabonds of every description who honor us too often with their visits, which cost something and are worth nothing.
"A brass band, which deserves honorable mention among our literary institutions, was organized early in 1852, by numerous amateur musicians
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of this place, and has since discoursed elegant and gratuitous music wherever their services are demanded. Their instruments were mostly furnished them by the voluntary contributions of our citizens.
"A phrenological society was organized this year, 1853.
"An important literary institution is the 'Prairie State,' a weekly newspaper established in 1849, by John C. Conklin, continued awhile after he left by A. C. Hinton, Esq., and now edited and published by Augustus Smith. Several other efforts had been made to establish newspapers here previous to this, but the papers all failed after a short- lived existence. This paper is well sustained, and bids fair to survive for some generations to come.
"There might be a reading room in Jerseyville, but there is none. There might be an academy established on a firm basis, with funds suffi- cient for teachers of the first order; sufficient also, to furnish a good library, good philosophical and chemical apparatus, and a good mineral- ogical and geological cabinet; a school where the sons and daughters of Jerseyville might be sure of having a generous education without leaving home. But is the historian of Jerseyville yet born, who shall be able to say it was founded in his day? If we had in Illinois, or the town of Jerseyville, an efficient and comprehensive system of public schools, such as they have in Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio, and even in some particular towns of our own state, we could very well do without a seminary, established by private funds. But is there a prospect that the general apathy to public schools will give place to a zeal in their behalf, which will produce a system that will give to the children of Jerseyville, anything like a thorough education ? Yet, he who would infer from our indifference to the establishment of good schools, that our adult population are wanting in general intelligence, would fall wide of the truth. The general intelligence of the people is sufficiently manifest from the abundance of papers and other periodicals, which are regularly received at this post office. More than 1,000 copies of various newspapers and magazines are regularly received and distributed here, besides our own village journal. Of the newspapers there are some dailies, more tri-weeklies, and still more weeklies. The principal and favorite ones are the following: of the Alton Telegraph, there are re- ceived 100 copies ; Alton Courier, eighty ; Saturday Evening Post, sixty- six ; Pennsylvania, sixty-three; St. Louis Intelligencer, forty; National Era, thirty-five; of monthly magazines, the following are chief, viz .: Harpers', thirty copies; Prairie Farmer, thirty; Western Magazine, twenty; Farm and Garden, seventeen; Knickerbocker, ten; Scientific
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American, ten. Besides this evidence of intelligence, it must be added that during the past year considerable feeling upon the subject of edu- cation has been excited in Jerseyville, and a convention is about to be held in this place, to consult concerning the best means of improving the common schools of Illinois. At this meeting the presence and counsel of eminent speakers is expected, and it is confidently hoped that the influ- ence of that convention will be felt, not merely in this town and county, but throughout the state, and more particularly in the capital of the state, when the next Legislature shall be in session.
THE RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS
"It is believed that the Rev. Thomas Lippincott, still living in a green old age, is the first minister of any denomination who ever preached the gospel within the bounds of this village. He, with Rev. Mr. Breed, Rev. Elisha Jenney, now of Waverly, and Rev. Dr. Blackburn, whose precious memory is embalmed in all the churches of this region of country, had several times, from 1833 to 1835, preached here in various private houses.
"On the 15th of February, 1834, by appointment of the Presbytery of Illinois, Rev. Thomas Lippincott and Rev. Elisha Jenney, 'attended in the south part of Greene County, near Hickory Grove,' in the house of N. L. Adams, to organize the Presbyterian Church; which was the first church organized in this place. After sermon by Mr. Lippincott, eighteen persons were formed into a church, who elected three elders, who were or- dained the next day. The records of the church do not give the names of these elders, but they were, A. H. Burritt, James Lumsden and M. N. Bosworth. It is believed that all these are still living, but only one of them (Lumsden) continues connected with this church. The church was called, at that time, 'The South Greene Church,' which name was changed March 3rd, 1839, by vote of church and presbytery, to that of the 'Presbyterian Church in Jerseyville.' For a considerable time Mr. Lippincott preached here statedly. Rev. Amos P. Brown officiated as stated preacher from October, 1835, to February, 1837, and from August, 1837, to August, 1838. From September, 1839, to September, 1840, Rev. Joseph Fowler was the stated preacher. In September, 1839, an interesting protracted meeting was held, when Mr. Fowler was as- sisted by Rev. L. Lyons of New York state, and Rev. Hugh Barr of Carrollton. Mr. Lyons was invited to become the stated preacher, and commenced his labors in November, 1840. In March, 1841, a pro- tracted meeting was held, which is said to have been very profitable
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to the spiritual interests of the church. The installation of Rev. L. Lyons as pastor of this church, took place December 26, 1843, by the Alton Presbytery, after he had been preaching here for three years. Rev. A. T. Norton preached the sermon on the occasion.
"Till 1841, the Presbyterian Church has worshipped mostly in the schoolhouse, but on the 14th of October, 1841, this meetinghouse, which had been building several years, was dedicated to the worship of God. It was built on land given to the church by Johnson & Daley in 1838, its original dimensions being 40 by 48 feet, and its cost about $2,000.00. The sermon at the dedication was preached by Rev. Theron Baldwin.
"In the month of January, 1842, a very interesting protracted meet- ing was held by Rev. James Gallaher, who spent two weeks here, preach- ing daily. February 1, 1842, an addition of more than fifty was made to the church. In September, 1839, there were but fifty-four members. On the list for 1842, more than 200 names are found, being an increase of about 150 in three years.
"Rev. Mr. Lyons, after having labored here for four years, died January 11, 1845, greatly lamented by the large church which, in his time, from a 'little one, had become a thousand.' He was buried in the rear of the church, and a monument erected over his remains by the con- tributions of the members.
"After his death the church was without regular preaching for more than a year, viz., until March, 1846, at which time Rev. G. C. Wood com- menced his ministerial labors. During his administration of four years, eighty-six members were added to the church, fifty-four of them on pro- fession. In the spring of 1850, Mr. Wood resigned his charge and is now lecturing in Greenville, Ill.
"In October, 1850, Rev. L. Grosvenor commenced his ministerial serv- ices in Jerseyville, since which time thirty-seven members have been added to the church, seventeen on profession, and twenty by letter. The whole number now in connection with this church and in good stand- ing, is 217 ; so that the church is but little larger than it was eleven years ago. Nevertheless, it would be unfair to infer that the church has 'stood still' so long. Increase in mere numbers is not the best criterion of the prosperity of a church. A church may even be diminishing in num- bers, and yet gaining in actual strength and influence. That the gen- eral intelligence of this church and its wealth and its contributions to the various objects of religious benevolence, have vastly increased within a few years, is very certain, though there is ability, and great occasion
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to do still more. Their contributions last year to the cause of missions and other similar enterprises, were about $300.00.
"In 1846, they purchased a house in the east part of the town for a parsonage. In 1852 they sold that property for $650.00, and purchased of William B. Nevius, for $800.00, the convenient property now occu- pied as the parsonage, corner of Main and Carpenter streets. In 1851, they added to the front of the church building 14x40 feet, surmounted by a neat belfry, adding a gallery and sixteen pews on the lower floor at a cost of $825.00 In 1852, they added Venetian blinds at a cost of $105.00 In 1853, they purchased a bell weighing 883 pounds, at a cost of $363.00, and for chandelier and other conveniences, they have ex- pended $85.00 more, making an expenditure of over $1,600.00 for church purposes, in the three years, during which the present minister has re- sided here, and for which expenditures they are still in debt to the amount of $250.00, which they expect shortly to liquidate, by means of a legacy due the church from the estate of the late Dr. Todd.
"While giving to this church the credit of expenditures, I by no means desire to ignore the liberality of other churches, for members of all churches, to a considerable extent, have aided many of these im- provements. It is indeed an evidence of the mutual kindliness of mem- bers of the various churches and congregations of Jerseyville toward each other, that they have ever been ready to assist each other in all useful undertakings, for the advancement of the material and spiritual interests of Jerseyville. The voice of party and denominational strife is always hushed when there is a demand for pecuniary aid. In one respect, it must be owned, this church has taken a step backward since its organ- ization. It was organized on total abstinence principles. But, for some cause, the restrictions with regard to the use of intoxicating liquors was taken off, and the church has since suffered considerably, in consequence of that unfortunate act.
"This is at present, the only Presbyterian Church in the county, but Rev. Socrates Smith has just been employed to itinerate over the county, and preach in various places where preaching is necessary, and it is confidently hoped, that through his instrumentality, other churches will spring up, some colonizing from this church, and others joining, who have as yet formed no connection with any other church.
"The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in July, 1839, under the administration of Rev. M. Robbins, with seven members. The min- isters who have succeeded Mr. Robbins are the following: Rev. Messrs. Allen, McMurray, Anderson, Dickens, Jones, Leaton, Anderson, Coving-
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ton, Jones, Wood, Lewis, Culver, who was the first stationed preacher, and remained two years, and Risley, who is the present incumbent. Un- der the zealous labors of these faithful ministers of the Word, the church has enjoyed several revivals, and now numbers 110 members; and in the county the membership of the church has grown so numerous, that two circuit preachers have been employed this year, besides the stationed preacher.
"The church building of the Methodists in this village was erected in 1846-7, on land given them by Major G. Patterson. The cost of the building was about $900.00. Its dimensions are about 34x40 feet. They have also a very fine parsonage property, near the meetinghouse, pur- chased in 1851 for $900.00.
"The congregation are thinking about enlarging their house of worship, it having been, for some time, too small to accommodate the worshipers. It is believed that this church has lived in more peace and brotherly love than either of the other churches. No difference of opinion on collateral questions has ever taken their thoughts from the main ques- tion, or has been permitted to sever the unity of the spirit of the bonds of peace.
"The Baptist Church was organized in 1841. The few Baptists here at that time invited Rev. Elijah Dodson to hold a meeting here for two days. He came and preached here in the old schoolhouse and in resi- dences for seventeen days and nights. The result of the meeting was twenty-five hopeful conversions. On the 5th of September, 1841, the Baptist Church was organized with thirty members, of whom one-third are still living here. The first deacons were Richard Graham and J. E. Cooper. The church was supplied with stated preaching by Rev. Messrs. Dodson and Moses Lemon until 1843, when Rev. Elihu Palmer was called to the care of the church, and remained until January, 1846. At this time there was a division of the church on the slavery question, and eighteen members were organized into a new church under the care of Rev. E. Palmer. The church soon expired, while the old church con- tinued with Rev. Joel Terry as their minister until 1847. Rev. W. F. Boyakin was minister from that time till April, 1849, when Rev. J. Bulkley commenced his services. He continued till October, 1853, when he resigned and the church is now without regular preaching. Under
the able and devoted ministry of Mr. Bulkley, the church greatly in- creased in numbers and efficiency, so that it now numbers 163.
"The church continued without a house of worship, meeting mostly in the courthouse, until July, 1849, when the present neat brick build-
Thomas & Watson
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ing, measuring 32x42 feet, exclusive of its portico, was erected at a cost of from $1,800.00 to $2,000.00. In 1850 they purchased a bell, weighing 525 pounds, for $200.00. In 1851 they added Venetian blinds at a cost of $80.00. This church has, for several years past, manifested a great degree of liberality in their contributions to the various objects of religious benevolence. There are two or three other small Baptist churches in Jersey County.
"A Congregational Church was organized in 1846, consisting mostly of seceders from the Presbyterian Church, at a time of high excitement on the subject of slavery, and Messrs, Hulbut and Loomis preached here for six months cach, but the church was soon dissolved, and those of the members who are left in Jerseyville, mostly attend the Presby- terian Church.
"The Roman Catholics have no church building, as yet, but with their usual superior judgment with regard to the localities of their public buildings, they purchased in 1852, of the Messrs. Barr, one-third of an acre of land in one of the most sightly and pleasant parts of the town. A handsome church edifice, with an elegant front and spire, built there, and fronting on Main street, would be visible almost from Kane, five miles distant, and certainly from the village of Fidelity, eleven miles distant, and would certainly be a great ornament to Jerseyville, stand- ing as it would directly at the diverging point of the Main street and the road to Alton, and, like Grace Church in Broadway, New York, pre- senting itself to all promenaders in the principal strect of the town, as the most conspicuous object throughout its entire length.
"The only cemetery in this neighborhood is a piece of ground, con- taining two acres, deeded to the county commissioners by Miss Arintha Conover, in 1841. Burials had taken place here for some years previous, when the land belonged to Carpenter, who afterwards sold the land with a reservation of these two acres for a public graveyard. It was never laid out in blocks and walks. and it is feared that a few years more will make it a place of inextricable confusion to those who wish to bury their dead, or find the remains of the long departed. Even now the mattock of the grave digger sometimes strikes a coffin, and he is compelled to desist and commence his labors elsewhere. Even now, the father visiting the graveyard after long years of absence, cannot, with any certainty, point to the spot that contains the relics of his child. The citizens of Jerseyville will never be able to claim the title of a fully civilized people till they have a cemetery worthy to be the depository of the precious dead. It matters not how many churches we may have, or literary or benevo-
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lent institutions, we shall forever be justly seandalized while our dead lie thus neglected and forgotten. The stranger of taste, eultivation and piety will always be shoeked when he asks for your Greenwood or Auburn, to be informed that we have no bright spot with verdure, and shade and flowers, emblematie of immortal bloom, but only one bleak, sterile, gloomy Golgotha to be offered to his survey.
"O, ye rich and prosperous men of Jerseyville! Purge yourselves from this too foul and melancholy disgraee. Give yourselves and give us one spot which shall be hallowed and blessed. Give us from your broad aeres some extensive and lovely lawn, which you and we may beautify with long drawn aisles, arehed by the branches of the forest; some piece of sequestered ground where the filthy swine shall no longer burrow into the graves of your wives and brothers and children, and where stray horses and eattle shall never more find pasture. Give us the spot, where every summer evening the aged and the young may go alike to weep and rejoice -- the place where gentle hands shall plant the eedar and the willow, the rose and the myrtle, around the firm, well sodded grave, and from year to year shall wateh the zephyr as it plays like a living spirit among the trembling petals, as it plays like the very fingers of the laughing ehild, whose little frame is mouldering there, while its spirit is smiling in the bosom of God. Give us where the thoughtless may go to be beguiled into lessons full of solemn warning, which they shall in vain endeavor to forget. Give us where the aged and careworn may go to measure their last resting plaee ; yes, to lie down upon the sod, and casting the eye of faith to heaven, ery, O, that I had the wings of a dove, that my spirit might fly away, and my broken body lie here in its serene, unbroken repose. (I am happy to add, that since this sermon was delivered, arrangements are making by Messrs. Adams, Morean and Blackburn for a suitable eem- etery, just outside of the limits of the village.)
"Let us now proceed to the history of the societies for mutual relief, brotherhood and benevolenee.
"The Jerseyville Division, No. 16, Sons of Temperance, was organized August 4, 1847. Charter members, G. C. Wood, E. J. Palmer, N. L. Adams, A. P. Brown, William B. Nevius, T. L. McGill, A. B. Morean, C. H. Knapp, P. C. Walker, F. Osborn, George Wharton, A. P. Staats and W. J. West. Nearly 400 members have been initiated. The present num- ber is 120. The division built, in 1821, a fine hall, two stories high, 22 by 50 feet, which was dedieated by G. W. P. Morean in September, 185.1. The buildings and grounds eost between $1,800.00 and $2,000.00.
"G. C. Wood was the first W. P. N. L. Adams, W. A. Franklin See-
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tion, No. 9, Cadets of Temperance, was organized September 28, 1828. The charter members were T. A. Boyakin, W. Leigh, D. Sunderland, D. S. Yates, P. D. Cheney, F. Potts, H. N. Wyckoff, W. Cook, R. J. Hill, E. Miner, C. H. Vandike, P. Updike, and P. A. Potts. Robert J. Hill was elected W. A., and D. S. Yates, secretary. The section has numbered as high as fifty or sixty. It now numbers twenty-three. It has not lost a single member by death since its organization.
"Jerseyville Union, Daughters of Temperance, was organized April 21, 1853, with twelve members : Mary Combs, Sarah Hansell, Sarah Cul- ver, Mary A. Smith, Mary Osborn, F. Maupin, Marilla Levine, Eliza- beth Dunsden, Martha Nichols, Mary Snedeker, Miss Lorrance, and Eliz- abeth McGannon.
"Mary Combs was elected P. S., Sarah Hansell, S. A., and Sarah Culver, R. S. Present number of members, thirty-five.
"These are all the temperance societies at present existing in this town or county. The first temperance society ever organized in this county was organized by Rev. Dr. Blackburn at Major Patterson's, several miles southwest of Jerseyville, as early as 1835. This society afterwards changed its quarters to Jerseyville and brought its records here. In the time of the Washingtonian movement, in 1840, a great reformation was effected in Jerseyville, some notorious drunkards were reclaimed and converted, and are still sober men and members of churches. When the order of Sons of Temperance was organized, all other societies merged into that, and gave the work into their hands.
"The Jerseyville Lodge, No. 53, of Odd Fellows, was instituted May 5, 1848. Charter members, P. C. Walker, A. C. Hutchinson, Samuel Cowen, James Bringhurst and C. Roberts. Before organization several new members were admitted, viz .: George E. Warren, William Yates, Jonathan Plowman, W. Casey, N. L. Adams, James C. Perry, R. L. Hill, and P. Silloway. William Yates was elected N. G., R. L. Hill, V. G., and C. H. Roberts, scribe.
"Odd Fellows Hall was built by members of the lodge in 1851, at a cost of $2,000.00. It is a handsome framc building, two stories high, measuring 25x50 feet. The hall is as commodious and handsomely fur- nished as any hall of the order in the state. The present number of members is eighty-three.
"The Jerseyville Encampment, No. 20, of Odd Fellows, was insti- tuted in 1852. Charter members were W. Casey, C. H. Roberts, P. C. Walker, N. L. Adams, E. A. Casey, A. L. Knapp and L. Grosvenor. L.
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Grosvenor was elected C. P., E. A. Casey, H. P., and N. L. Adams, S. W. The present number of members is fifteen.
"The Morning Sun Lodge, 94, of Free Masons, was organized under dispensation, June 25, 1850. Charter members, A. B. Morean, R. S. Holenback, Luther Cory, Solomon Calhoun, N. L. Adams, C. H. Roberts, B. F. Page, J. E. Taylor, William P. Campbell and Asa Snell. B. F. Page was elected W. M., A. B. Morean, S. W., and William P. Campbell, J. W. The present number of members is forty-six. The lodge has at present no hall of its own. It meets in a hall belonging to William Yates. "Time will not enable me to trace, as I would like to do minutely, the gradual development of the material interests of Jerseyville, from 1835 to 1853. Few words on this subject must suffice.
"In 1835, the Indian and the buffalo had long departed for the West, gone, according to Benton, as engineers, to survey and mark out the best track for a railroad to the Pacific; but the hungry wolf still made night hideous, and the timid deer shook their antlers here, and galloped over the places of our present sanctuaries and homes. Jerseyville was not; and even a year or two later, some of the officials at Carrollton sneered at the newly broached idea of a county and county seat south of that ancient town. Disaster and defeat were prophesied for the new scheme, on several grounds, one of which is said to have been that it was so near the city of Kane, that a business place here was a thing impossible. Another was, that it was so far from timber, that nobody would buy lots or undertake to build here. Today we number 1,000 or 1,200 inhabitants, many of whom have hauled vast quantities of lumber from Alton and Grafton, as well as from the neighboring woods; and if our mode of computing population were similar to the mode of the Eastern states, that is by townships, rather than by villages, our popu- lation would not be less than 3,000 and might be considerably more.
"The highest vote ever polled in this precinct was 628, and allowing but one voter to every five persons (and that is a small estimate in a western population where the males outnumber the females) 3,140 would be the population of this precinct. We have certainly as good a right to reckon population by townships as New York or Massachusetts, and no special harm would come upon Jerseyville, if our town and county officials should conspire to take a census of the township, and henceforth estimate our population accordingly.
"Merchandise, husbandry, and every species of mechanical art which has been tried here, have always prospered from the beginning. At present four blocks on Main street, on each side of the street, are almost
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