History of Logan County, Illinois, Part 52

Author: Inter-State Publishing Co.
Publication date: 1886
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 989

USA > Illinois > Logan County > History of Logan County, Illinois > Part 52

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

1885-Mayor, John J. Downey ; Clerk, W. H. Mason ; Marshal, James T. Lambert ; Street Commissioner, G. W. Larison; Police Magistrate, A. J. Randolph ; Treasurer, A. N. Dills; Attorney, F. L. Capps ; Aldermen : First Ward, L. M. Hoblit ; Second Ward, George F. Bennett ; Third Ward, W. S. Dunham, Jr.

At the same time the city charter was granted, the school, which had been in the hands of the town authorities, was organized under the State school law, and a Board of Directors, or Inspectors, was elected to take charge of the affairs of the district. This form of management yet prevails, and has done very much toward the present town schools.

Atlanta contains about 1,500 inhabitants. The trade of the town is principally with the surrounding farmers, whom the town people furnish the necessaries of life, and in turn are furnished other equally needed necessaries by this class of citizens. The majority of the business houses are of brick, and in them will be seen ex- cellent stocks of goods. The Illinois Midland Railroad was com- pleted in the autumn of 1872, and crosses the Chicago & Alton here, giving the town a northern and southern outlet, as well as an eastern and western. Its advantages are certainly of the best, and it only remains for its citizens to improve them to secure one of the best towns in Central Illinois.

EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS.

The old seminary building was erected early in 1853, when the whole number of houses in town did not exceed twenty. This part of the county was, however, quite populous, and at that time was

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almost always known as the " Four by Six." It had been obtained from De Witt County, and contains twenty-four sections, four wide and six in length; hence the name.

A very good school was maintained in the village from its earliest existence. In February, 1855, the Atlanta Seminary was chartered, and a school of higher order immediately opened. This was still in the old frame building, which occupied the most eligible site in town. The first Board of Trustees was Samuel Bevan, Samuel Foster, James Tuttle, A. C. Rankin and R. T. Gill. This board had full power to confer academic degrees, erect build- ings, purchase land, appoint teachers, regulate the course of study, etc. It was especially provided that the school should not be made denominational, and if in the opinion of the board its inter- ests could be advanced by converting it into a town school, the board could do so. The stock in the seminary was divided into shares of $20 each, each share being entitled to one vote, and each stockholder liable to a tax of $1 per share to pay debts. The first instructor was Rev. L. Foster. He was succeeded by Messrs. At- kinson and West. In May, 1856, Rev. W. M. Guilford took charge, and an era of prosperity at once began. The four departments were all occupied. The course of instruction was comprehensive and thorough, and for two years the school's progress was constant. In 1858 it was decided by the Board of Trustees that the interest of the town children would be better served if the school was placed immediately under the control and maintainance of the town. S. A. Briggs was chosen principal this year, and had about the same number of assistants heretofore employed. The school was con- ducted under this management until 1869, when, at the organiza- tion of the city government, the school was also organized under the State school law as a graded school. The district was enlarged to include territory one mile each way from town, and a Board of School Directors was elected who assumed entire control of the school. In 1870 the old seminary building was found inadequate for the accommodation of the school population, and measures were taken to erect a larger building. The old seminary was re- moved to the corner of the lot and used until the new one was com- pleted, when it was taken to the farm of Augustus Reise. The new building is three stories in height above the basement. It contains ten school-rooms, a spacious hall and an office. The building-is surmounted by a tasty cupola, in which a large town clock, having four diale, is placed. These can be seen from any portion of the

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city, and are a great convenience. The strokes of the clock can be distinctly heard in any part of town. This adornment cost $800-raised by contributions. The contract price of the building was $24,485; to this $500 was afterward added. The entire cost, including the clock and furniture, was $28,500, for which outlay the city of Atlanta has one of the best schools in the county. There are enrolled annually from 350 to 400 pupils. The present School Board consists of Elias Harness, President; J. J. Downey, Clerk, and G. W. Bennett. The corps of instructors includes: O. Brinkerhoff (Superintendent), Miss Montgomery, Mrs. Carle, Miss Bennett, Miss Young, Mr. Spindler, Miss Hardy, Miss Boruff and Miss Dyer.

RELIGIOUS.

The Baptist Church, of Atlanta, was established in 1830, under the name of the Big Grove Baptist Church, by the Rev. M. Mann and Rev. H. Bowman. There were fourteen members at that time, from whom John Hoblit was chosen Deacon, and Samuel Hoblit, Clerk. Rev. Bowman was called as pastor, remaining with the congregation six or seven years. In 1839 the society built a house of worship in New Castle, and changed the name to the New Castle Baptist Church. They were then under the charge of Rev. J. D. Newel. From this date until 1855 the pastors were Revs. Jonathan Merriam, Joel Hulsey, Lewis Morgan, N. Al- wood, H. D. Mason, Z. Hall and A. S. Dennison. About the close of Rev. Dennison's pastorate they sold the church in New Castle and removed their place of worship to Atlanta, and there assumed their present name. Here they erected a house of wor- ship capable of seating 500 persons. In June, 1856, they called the Rev. E. J. Thomas, who had charge of the congregation eleven years. The pastors since have been Revs. Geo. W. Benton, A. M. Hunt, Jeriah D. Cole, D. D., J. B. Hutton, J. W. Primm and William Swinden. The society lost its church by fire in 1872, and then met in the Congregational and Presbyterian churches until the beginning of 1886. when they occupied their new edifice, erected on the old site in 1885, at a cost of $4,500. This has ten memorial windows, of stained glass, each dedicated to the memory of some former prominent member of the society. The church has a permanent endowment of $2,000, contributed in equal sums by Samuel Hoblit and Samuel Bevan. The membership of the society is now ninety-eight. The Deacons are: John A. Hoblit,

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Alfred Turner and W. H. Downey; Trustees, Andrew Turner, Alfred Turner, John A. Hoblit, J. Merriam and R. G. Bevan. The Sunday-school has a membership of seventy-five, and the fol- lowing officers: A. L. Hoblit, Superintendent; James Johnson, Secretary and Treasurer. There are ten teachers.

The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized as a class in 1854, in the house of James M. Cantrall. There were twenty- three members. The organization was perfected by Revs. Ben- jamin Bartholow and William Mcveigh. James M. Cantrall, H. Maltby, Ezra Kenyon, A. J. Ludlow, A. S. Corthon, and John Pallady were elected trustees. The erection of a house of worship was at once begun, and the edifice was dedicated in 1856 or '57 by Rev. Jonathan Stamper. Since then the following persons have filled the pulpit of this church as pastors: Revs. Benjamin Bartho- low, A. Semple, Preston Wood, G. R. S. McElfresh, A. Semple (again), James Shaw, C. D. James, John S. Barger, D. W. English, J. B. Seymour, C. A. Obenshain, G. W. Bates, J. Miller, J. C. Keller, A. S. McCoy, T. J. N. Simmons, J. T. Fry, G. Cunningham and W. N. Johnson. The society has now about 120 members. The Trustees are: A. N. Dills, A. S. Corthon, P. R. Marquart, E. W. Kenyon, H. Rice, W. E. Long and John Wikle. The Sunday- school has an attendance of from eighty to one hundred, under Mrs. Ruch as superintendent.

The Christian Church was organized in 1855 by Rev. George Minier, with twenty-four members. The next year they erected their present house of worship, the steeple of which, becoming un- safe, was torn down in 1869 and replaced by the present one. Their second pastor was Rev. W. M. Guilford, whose successors have been Revs. Leroy Skelton, John Lindsey, J. W. Monser, Samuel Lowe, T. T. Holton, R. D. Cotton, J. A. Seaton, R. B. Chaplain, B. O. Aylesworth, S. H. Bundy and L. G. Thompson. The church has now 125 members. The elders are: Andrew Wright, James Shores and J. H. Judy; Deacons, Jefferson Howser, J. D. Howes, J. W. Spindler, J. W. Eddy, Joseph Wright and W. L. Jones. W. L. Jones is Clerk and Treasurer. The Sunday- school has a membership of about 125, under the superintendency of Andrew Wright.

The Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized about 1856; but, the denomination having three or four houses of wor- ship within a few miles of town, no building was erected in At- lanta until 1866. This structure was used by them when they had

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regular services until January, 1880, when it was leased to the Baptists. They used it until January, 1885, when the C. P. con- gregation again resnmed its use. The last of November, 1885, it was burned in some unknown manner. The society has rented the Congregational church until the spring of 1886. The church that was burned was completed under the ministry of Rev. Joseph Roach, who was in charge here for some years. Rev. Mr. Bell afterward preached some time, but, the people being unable to support a regular minister, none was employed after him until Rev. J. H. Morphis was engaged, April 1, 1885. The society has about forty members. The Elders are: James Adams, William Roach, and I. S. Chenoweth; Trustees, S. H. Nolder and. James Adams.

The Congregational Church was formed from the Mt. Hope Church, which was organized in 1840. Until 1853 they were served by different pastors, prominent among whom was Rev. S. Spencer, under whose pastorate the membership was greatly in- creased. In 1853 Rev. S. Foster was called, and that year the place of worship was removed to Atlanta, where they occupied Seminary Hall until the completion of their church, in 1857. Rev. Mr. Drake was pastor here for some time and was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Hubbard, after whom there was an interim of no services. Revs. Shay and J. R. Barnes then successively filled the pulpit, and in the spring of 1885 the church was closed. There is no immediate prospect of better times, as the society is small, num- bering but about twenty members. The church building is at present occupied by the Cumberland Presbyterians.

The Presbyterian Church has been organized many years, but, prior to 1868, worshiped in a hall rented for that purpose. That year they completed their house of worship, a comfortable brick structure, which, unfortunately, has cracked and is considered un- safe. The only two regular pastors the society has had were Rev. Crissman and Rev. A. Bartholomew. The future of the society is uncertain, but it is thought the church will be repaired, with a view to monthly services.

The Catholics of this place and vicinity erected a church in 1881, at a cost of $1,200, and on the third Sunday of each month services are held by Rev. Charles M. Reynolds, who lives in Elkhart. Oc- casional services have been held for thirty years.

MISCELLANEOUS ORGANIZATIONS.

Atlanta Lodge, No. 165, A. F. & A. M., was chartered Octo-

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ber 2, 1855, with Richard T. Gill as Worthy Master, Robert H. Killen as Senior Warden, and George W. Rowell as Junior War- den. There were thirty-three charter members. The present offi- cers are: J. G. Bourne, Worthy Master; R. W. Folts, Senior War- den; O. Brinkerhoff, Junior Warden; S. H. Fields, Jr., Secretary; S. H. Fields, Treasurer; A. E. Church, Senior Deacon; V. Ham- ilton, Junior Deacon; R. Bright and Sylvester Hoblit, Stewards; Henry Friedman, Tyler. The lodge has thirty members, and meets the first and third Mondays in each month.

Atlanta Chapter, No. 188, R. A. M., was organized under dis- pensation, April 19, 1882. Its charter is dated October 27, 1882, and was given to W. T. Kirk, George F. Bennett, A. E. Church, J. G. Bourne, A. W. Chenoweth, Julius W. Regents, John S. Perri- ton, S. H. Fields, A. J. Ludlam, William Danenbaum, Dennis Ken- yon, C. C. Aldrich and S. I. Leach. The present officers of the chapter are: A. E. Church, High Priest; George F. Bennett, K .; S. H. Fields, S .; J. G. Bourne, Secretary; A. W. Cheno weth, C. H .; S. H. Fields, Jr., P. S .; W. H. Christie, R. A. C .; A. J. Lud- lam, M. 3d V., J. M. Burkholder, M. 2d V .; Vaden Hamilton, M. 1st V .; W. T. Crain, Tyler. The membership of the chapter, seventeen. It meets the first and third Tuesdays of each month.

Logan Lodge, No. 176, I. O. O. F., was chartered October 12, 1855, the following being the first members: Benj. F. Dalzell, Charles B. Vanhorn, Francis M. Tuttle, Jefferson L. Dugger, John M. Gill, A. N. Dills, James P. Mead, William B. Vanhorn, James M. Fisher, Isaac V. Gray, Lewis Eishbury and Andrew Downey. The present. officers are: Jesse Newman, Jr., Noble Grand; G. W. Hunn, Vice-Grand; W. H. Mason, Secretary; Syl. vester Hoblit, Treasurer. The membership of the lodge is about ninety. Meetings are held on Wednesday evenings. The lodge is in a very sound condition financially, having over $1,800 in the treasury, and owning ninety-four shares in the Union Hall Associ- ation. These shares cost $25 each, but are now worth $35 to $40.

Central Lodge, No. 111, A. O. U. W., was organized March 28, 1878, with the following first officers: J. S. Cole, Past Master Workman; S. B. James, Master Workman; A. J. McClain, F .; Alfred Turner, O .; ; W. H. Mason, Recorder; C. H. Turner, Finan- cier; A. J. Reise, Receiver; M. L. Higgins, G .; W. H. McGahan, I. W .; George Hoerr, O. W. The present officers are: A. P. West, P. M. W .; F. J. Fields, M. W .; J. T. Lambert, F .; John Schneider, O .; A. J. Randolph, Recorder; J. S. Cole, Receiver;

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W. H. Mason, Financier; A. T. Morris, G .; T. D. Tuttle, I. W .; A. J. McLain, O. W. The lodge has fifty-seven members, and meets on Tuesday evenings.

Atlanta Lodge, No. 108, I. O. M. A., was organized January 13, 1881, with sixty-six members. The present officers are: M. L. Higgins, President; Joseph Sumners, Vice-President; John W. Spindler, Secretary; Wesley Long, Treasurer. The lodge has about twenty nmembers, and its regular time of meeting is every Satur- day night.

Atlanta Post, No. 326, G. A. R., was mustered August 27, 1883, with thirty-nine members. The present officers are: F. J. Fields, Commander; Charles A. Mayers, Senior Vice-Commander; Joseph Sumners, Junior Vice-Commander; John A. Wikle, Chaplain; Charles G. Reise, Quartermaster; Henry Nicodemus, Surgeon; John R. Nicholson, Officer of the Day; James H. Harkreader, Of- ficer of the Guard. The post has sixty-four members, and meets every Monday night at I. O. M. A. Hall.

The Atlanta Anti- Horsethief Society was organized in 1855, and reorganized March 27, 1884. The Directors are: S. H. Fields, President; W. B. Stroud, Jr., Vice- President; Sylvester Hoblit, Secretary and Treasurer; H. C. Montgomery and A. S. Corthon. A. Larison is Captain, and John P. Hieronymus, Lieutenant. The society is designed to protect the members against all kinds of thieving, but particularly horsestealing. The captain has full dis- cretion in each case where his services are asked. The expenses are paid by assessments. The last case of horse-stealing was in 1875, and in the thirty years the society has been in existence only two horses were ever lost by members that were not recovered.

THE ATLANTA LIBRARY

is free to all residents. About the year 1872 various funds arising from concerts and other public exercises were set aside for the pur- chase of books for a public library. The library so formed was kept in Mr. Bean's store, and augmented from the same source un- til 1875, when the Library Association was formed under the State law. The books were removed to the Argus office, and the editor, A George L. Shoals, made librarian. In the summer of 1881 a room was fitted up in the Town Hall, which has been since occupied. John W. Spindler has been librarian since the removal. The li- brary is open three hours every Saturday afternoon. There are

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now some 800 volumes. The income, about $100 annually, is de- voted to paying the librarian, and for insurance and new books.

MILL.

The three-story brick mill of Bennett & Ruch is abont twenty years old, and has a capacity of about fifty barrels a day. Corn meal, grist and hominy are manufactured, and shipped principally to the South.

HOTELS.

Of these there are three: The Atlanta House, by R. & H. Fried- man; Coleman House, by D. L. Coleman, and the Grant House, by Ed. Newman.

PRESS.

A history of journalism is given in Chapter VIII. The only paper now published is the Argus, by Cribfield Bros.

PROFESSIONAL MEN.

The members of the bar residing here are F. L. Capps and J. L. Bevan. The practicing physicians are W. T. Kirk, B. F. Gard- ner, G. M. Angell, A. Bartholomew, C. M. Hough, G. W. Dunn and J. L. Lowry.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

Julius E. Arnold, merchant of Atlanta, is a native of Illinois. He was born in McLean County, in January, 1856, and is a son of Obediah and Rosannah (Kenyon) Arnold, the father being now deceased. When a boy he came with his parents to Atlanta, Lo- gan County, where he received a high-school education. At the age of eighteen years he began clerking for the mercantile firm of Randolph & Brother, with whom he remained four years, after which he was employed as a clerk for W. S. Dunham & Son. In 1883 he engaged in business for himself, which he has since suc- cessfully followed. September 26, 1878, he was married to Lola Bail, a daughter of Gibson and Melinda Bail, formerly residents of Atlanta, but now of Dakota. They have one daughter-Bessie, born October 2, 1879.

Obediah Arnold, deceased, was a native of Rhode Island, where he was born in July, 1812, and there was reared to manhood. He was married about the year 1837 to Rosannah Kenyon, who was born in Connecticut, March 2, 1819, a daughter of John and Susanna

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Kenyon. Four of the seven children are yet living-Eugene C., Julius E., Emily E. and Ida F. In 1852 Mr. Arnold removed with his wife and two children to McLean County, Illinois, resid- ing there till 1871. He then moved his family to Atlanta, Logan County, where he died soon after his arrival, his death occurring in March, 1871. He was a kind and affectionate husband and father, and was held in high esteem by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. In politics he was a Republican. His widow has already passed her threescore years, and is still a resident of At- lanta. She is the owner of a half-section of land in McLean County.

James W. Ash, farmer and stock-raiser of Atlanta Township, was born November 22, 1834, in Gibson County, Indiana, his par- ents, James and Ruth Ash, being natives of Kentucky and Ohio respectively. In 1852 he came to Logan County with his parents and settled on section 30, Atlanta Township, where his father died in 1856, his mother dying in 1865. To his parents were born eleven children-Lucinda, Paulina (deceased), Ann L., Ruth A., Nancy K., Elizabeth O., Martha M., Emily J., James W., John R. and Samuel F. James W., our subject, was married in McLean County, Ill., September 20, 1863, to Delilah Summers, a daughter of James M. and Mary Summers, the father being a native of Ten- nessee and the mother of Indiana. Mr. Summers came to Logan County, Illinois, in 1849, and settled in this township, where his wife died July 26, 1865. Mr. Ash has followed farming through life, and is now the owner of 196 acres of valuable land. He is a member of Logan Lodge, No. 176, I. O. O. F.

Asa C. Barnes, deceased, was born July 2, 1821, at Oran, Onon- daga County, New York, where he grew to manhood. March 4, 1847, he married Miss Ann S. Leonard, daughter of David H. and Ann M. Leonard, who were natives of New Jersey and Massachu- setts respectively. Shortly after his marriage Mr. Barnes removed to Waukesha County, Wisconsin, remaining there nine years. He removed to Logan County, Illinois, in 1856, and bought a farm in Oran Township, on the Kickapoo River, which is still owned by his widow. In the spring he removed to Atlanta, residing there till his death, which occurred March 25, 1883. He had been in failing health over two years prior to his death. He left a widow, who still resides in Atlanta, and two children-Mrs. Henry Wake- man, of Mason City, and Albert. His son, Irvin, died several years ago. Our subject was one of the associate judges of Logan

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C. Barnes

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County under the old organization, receiving his commission in 1861. In 1867 he was one of the three commissioners who divided the county into townships, preparatory to the first election of town- ship officers. Judge Barnes, as he was familiarly called, was a de- voted husband and father, and in his death Logan County has lost one of her best citizens. His sterling integrity and uncompromis- ing honor as a man can be attested by all who knew him.

George F'. Bennett, of the firm of Bennett & Ruch, millers and grain dealers, Atlanta, is a native of Vermont, born January 11, 1836, a son of Arthur and Nancy H. Bennett. When he was two years old his mother died, and he subsequently came with his father and other members of the family to Champaign County, Ohio. While yet a youth he began clerking in a general mercantile store at Woodstock, Ohio, where he was engaged about three years. In 1854 he entered Antioch College, at Yellow Springs, Ohio, from which institution he graduated in 1858. He was then employed as bookkeeper for a short time for a grain and milling firm at Ur- bana, Ohio. He was engaged in various business enterprises pre- vious to coming to Atlanta, in 1879, since which time he has carried on a grain and milling business. Nov. 14, 1859, he was married to Orpha A. Marsh, of Champaign County, Ohio, and to them have been born eight children-Nellie A., Frederick M., Orpha A., Austin M., Georgiana E., Martha M., Arthur G. and George F. Arthur G. and George F. are deceased. In April, 1861, Mr. Ben- nett enlisted in the three-months service, in Company F, Second Ohio Infantry, and was with the reserve corps at Bull Run. He re-enlisted in August, 1861, in the Second Ohio Infantry, and par- ticipated in the battles at Wild Cat, Mill Springs, Shiloh and other engagements. He was discharged on account of disability in July, 1862. In the fall of 1863 he enlisted as Captain of Com- pany A, One Hundred and Twenty-first Ohio Infantry, Army of the Tennessee, and participated in the battle of Perryville, and in the numerous engagements while with Sherman in his advance on Atlanta, Georgia. He was wounded in the leg at Kenesaw Mount- ain, and received an honorable discharge in September, 1864. Mr. Bennett has served two terms as city Alderman, and was a director of the Atlanta public schools for the same length of time. In politics he is a Democrat, and is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity.

John Bentley, an old settler of Atlanta Township, was born March 12, 1800, in Grayson County, Virginia. When he was but

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four weeks old he was brought by his parents, Benjamin and Re- becca Bentley, to Ohio, they settling about eighteen miles west of Gallipolis, on the Ohio River. When nine years old he accom- panied his parents to Highland County, remaining there three years, when they removed to Clinton County, remaining there till their death. John Bentley spent bis youth in attending the sub- scription schools of Ohio, and after completing his education he taught one winter term of school in Greene County, that State. He has been married three times, his first wife being Alice (Honghey) Stutevan, by whom he had four children, two of whom are living -Rebecca and Harvey. He was subsequently married to Lucy F. (Ormsby) Hickox, and this union was blessed with one daughter- Serena, now the wife of James M. Boyd. The maiden name of his his present wife was Philena S. Hubbell. She was formerly mar- ried to a Mr. Adams. After spending a short time in McLean County, Illinois, Mr. Bentley came to Atlanta Township in the fall of 1854, where he has since resided, and where he has a farm of 326 acres of land under good cultivation. Mr. Bentley is a self- made map, he having by his own industry, economy and good management acquired his present property. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party.

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History of Logan County, Illinois, Part 52

Author: Inter-State Publishing Co. Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Number of Pages: 989

Author: Inter-State Publishing Co.
Publication date: 1886
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 989