USA > Illinois > Macoupin County > History of Macoupin County, Illinois : biographical and pictorial, Volume I > Part 37
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Union Gazette, January, 1866-69; established by A. W. Edwards and con- ducted by him as a republican paper until January, 1867, when he sold to A. R. Sawyer and F. Y. Hedley, who made it independent in politics. Sawyer died in 1868 and the paper again became republican under Hedley. The name was changed to
Gazette, 1869; F. Y. Hedley continued as editor and proprietor until Jan- uary, 1878, when W. S. Silence became publisher. Said and Poorman leased the paper in January, 1879. Later Phil C. Hansen edited the paper for a stock company of local merchants, who bought it about 1895. Hansen bought the stock later and sold in 1903 to W. B. Powell, then running the news (estab- lished 1900), who combined the two as Gazette-News, an independent paper. He sold to Edward Wilson in 1904, who a year later sold to T. H. Truesdale, the present editor and publisher. Independent republican.
BRIGHTON.
Advance, April, 1871-80. A. G. Meacham was editor and proprietor until 1875, when A. M. Parker bought in the Shipman True Flag and the firm be-
307
HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY
came Meacham & Parker. R. D. Suddeth leased Meacham's interest in 1876 and was succeeded in 1877 by L. H. Chapin. Parker bought Meacham's share in the next year and continued the paper. Neutral in politics till 1876, then republican.
News, 1879 to date; established with Holly Glenny as editor; Snively and Kessner, publishers. After a year L. H. Chapin succeeded Glenny. Later a Mr. Robertson bought the paper; then Frank Merrill, succeeded by William C. Mer- rill. A. William and George Amass bought the paper from Merrill, and in 1907 sold to W. D. and Roscoe Franklin. They sold January 1, 1909, to W. B. Tiet- sort, and he, July 1, 1909, to Frank W. Lauck.
MEDORA.
Enterprise, August, 1876-78; J. H. Williams was editor, and Parker & Sud- deth of the Brighton Advance were publishers.
Ensign, September 12, 1878. One number was issued, printed at the office of the Brighton Advance, and bearing the name of Herbert Lawson Durr as editor.
Messenger, established January 1, 1895, after numerous attempts had been made in the village to maintain a newspaper. The first owners were C. W. Tiet- sort, cashier of the Bank of Medora, and Elmer B. Ritchie, of Abingdon, Illi- nois. They published the paper for one year, when Mr. Tietsort bought Mr. Ritchie's interest in the plant. He then admitted his son, Walter B. Tietsort, to a partnership in the business and under the, firm name of C. W. Tietsort & Son they have published the Medora Messenger continuously since 1896. Their entire plant was destroyed by fire, October 6, 1897, when the business section of Me- dora was burned. They immediately bought equipment and issued a paper the following week. The paper has always been an important factor in the civic affairs of Medora, is progressive and well patronized. It has a circulation of 1,100 copies per week, although published in a town of only 444 inhabitants.
CHAPTER XIX.
VARIOUS THINGS.
TRANSPORTATION-STEAM AND ELECTRIC RAILROADS-COUNTY FAIR ASSOCIATION- POPULATION OF THE COUNTY-MACOUPIN A WEALTHY AND PROGRESSIVE SECTION.
CHICAGO & ALTON.
Several railroads enter and cross Macoupin county. The Chicago & Alton enters the county on section 4, in Virden township and traverses the county in a southwestern direction, leaving it at Brighton, on section 19. The most im- portant stations are Carlinville, Girard, Nilwood, Shipman and Brighton. In 1852 the road was completed between Alton and Springfield and in 1864 trains were running to East St. Louis. Later, the road entered the city of St. Louis.
The Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis has for its main stations in the county, Bunker Hill, Dorchester and Gillespie; the Wabash, Staunton and Mt. Olive; The Jacksonville & St. Louis, Virden and Girard; St. Louis, Rock Island & Chicago, Brighton and Medora; Quincy, Carrollton & St. Louis, Car- linville; Chicago, Peoria & St. Louis, Medora, Hettick, Modesto and Chester- field ; Litchfield & Madison, Mt. Olive and Staunton ; Illinois Central, Mt. Olive; Macoupin County, under management of the Chicago & Northwestern, Saw- yerville and Benld; St. Louis, Springfield & Peoria, Staunton, Mt. Olive, Saw- yerville, Benld, Gillespie, Carlinville, Nilwood, Girard and Virden; Chicago & Eastern Illinois, track at Staunton. Most of these roads are coal feeders to other lines.
THE FIRST COUNTY FAIR ASSOCIATION.
The Agricultural, Horticultural and Mechanical Association was the first organization in Macoupin county established for the holding of annual meetings for the exhibition of farm products and live stock. This society was organized in 1854 in Carlinville. Major Lofton was the first president and Mr. Dews was the first secretary. At this meet all that was exhibited were a few horses, oxen, cows and some butter. No other farm products were entered. Wesley Dugger and Samuel Welton exhibited oxen and the latter took first premium. The same Mr. Welton had as his competitor as an exhibitor of milch cows, Henry Fish- back and Mr. Fishback took first premium. Dr. Delano, afterward a resident of Bunker Hill, exhibited what was considered to be one of the finest calves ever shown in Macoupin county.
308
309
HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY
Among those who presented butter for the inspection of visitors and the test experts were Peter L. Denby and Robert Purviance. This first exhibition of Macoupin county product was held on the public square in Carlinville. The next two fairs were held in Captain Welton's pasture west of the city and the fourth annual meet took place near the residence of Major B. T. Burke.
After this a movement took place to secure a permanent exhibition ground, which resulted in grounds being purchased of Jarrett Dugger. To these grounds subsequently more land was added. With the exception of one year, 1862, annual fairs were held in this county. In the year especially mentioned the grounds were devoted to the county as a camp ground for soldiers then being recruited and the place was given the name of Camp Palmer, at which time the One Hundred and Twenty-second regiment, organized by General John I. Rinaker, was rendezvoused prior to being called to the front.
In 1879 the Fair Association was organized under a new charter which it received in 1880. It then took the title of the Macoupin Agricultural Society. Its president was Joseph Bird, and secretary, F. W. Crouch. The stock sub- scribed at that time was $6,000 and the ground consisting of twenty-two acres, three-quarters of a mile northwest of town, was purchased, where fairs were held until 1896. At that time the association went into liquidation and the grounds were sold at master's sale to George J. Castle for $4,500, which paid all outstanding debts.
In 1898 a new association was formed, consisting of citizens of the county and under the auspices and direction of the new owner from time to time fairs were held on the old grounds, owned by Captain Castle, until in 1908, when the Macoupin County Fair & Agricultural Association was incorporated, with a capital stock of $6,000. This corporation purchased the old grounds and has been continuing to hold meets ever since, with gratifying success.
The officials of the present fair association are: President, Addison Bates ; secretary, C. W. York; treasurer, C. T. Carmody.
COUNTY INFIRMARY.
Those persons having the poor and indigent of the county early in its history and previous to the purchase of land, or the erection of an infirmary building, were remunerated by the county issuing orders from the commissioners' court. At the September term of court in 1851, Judge John M. Palmer was instructed to ascertain and report to the court the cost of a suitable farm for the poor and indigent. Also the improvements required and such information as he could obtain relative to the infirmary system in other counties. It transpired that in the following December a habitation was secured ready for the reception of the poor, with two hundred and two acres of land upon sections 26 and 35 in Nilwood township. In March, 1855, Enoch Wall was appointed a commissioner to sell the above, which it appears he succeeded in doing, for in May of the same year, forty acres were purchased by the county on section 16, Carlinville township, which in 1870, was increased by the further purchase of eighty acres. Upon this land a building was erected in 1856, and in 1902 it was remodeled to the
310
HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY
extent of adding a wing at a cost of $12,000. In 1911 an electric lighting plant was installed at a cost of $2,500.
For the past six years John O'Neil has been superintendent of the county infirmary. His wife, Mrs. O'Neil, is the present matron.
CENSUS.
Population of Macoupin county from 1830 to 1911, as shown by the United States census reports for each decade: 1830-1,990; 1840-7,836; 1850-12,- 355; 1860-24,602; 1870-32,726; 1880-37,705. For the past three decades the following table will show the growth of the county, especially of the ten years just closed, which was greater than in any equal period in the history of the community. The table gives the population of every city, village and town- ship in the county and is complete :
Macoupin County
1910 . 50,685
1900 42,256
1890 40,380
Barr township, including part of Hettick village
1,046
1,186
1,088
Hettick village (part of)
117
I16
Total for Hettick village in Barr and South Palmyra townships
306
259
Bird township
775
808
873
Brighton township, including part of Brighton village. Brighton village (part of).
1,388
1,555
1,749
Brushy Mound township
746
845
849
Bunker Hill township, including Bunker Hill city and Woodburn town
2,126
2,516
2,748
Bunker Hill city
1,046
1,279
1,269
North ward
562
South ward
484
Woodburn town
175
236
Cahokia township, including Benld village and part of
ward 2 of Gillespie city.
3,978
1,108
1,17I
Benld village
1,912
Gillespie city (part of) .
693
Total for Gillespie city in Cahokia and Gillespie town-
ships
2,24I
873
948
Ward I
639
Ward 2
914
Ward 3
688
Carlinville township, including Carlinville city.
Carlinville city
3,616
3,502
3,293
Ward I
1,06I
Ward 2
798
Ward 3
998
Ward 4
759
Chesterfield township, including Chesterfield and part of
1,386
1,433
1,498
Chesterfield village
364
377
374
....
...
Medora village
4,443
4,389
4,226
554
606
697
311
HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY
1910
1900
1890
Medora village (part of)
294
299
337
Total for Medora village in Chesterfield and Shipman townships
444
449
470
Dorchester township, including part of Dorchester vil-
lage
918
913
1,049
Dorchester villege (part of)
50
42
Total for Dorchester village in Dorchester and Gilles- pie townships
IO2
104
Gillespie township, including part of Dorchester village and wards I and 3 and part of ward 2 of Gillespie city
3,075
1,716
1,775
Dorchester village (part of)
52
62
Gillespie city (part of)
1,548
873
948
Girard township, including Girard city
2,580
2,223
2,139
Girard city
1,891
1,661
1,524
Ward I
847
Ward 2.
445
Hilyard township
908
1,025
1,020
Honey Point township
874
837
895
Mount Olive township, including Mount Olive, Sawyer- ville and White City villages
5,058
3,481
Mount Olive village
3,50I
2,935
1,986
Sawyerville village
445
White City village
42I
..
Nilwood township, including part of Nilwood village ..
1,396
1,34I
1,247
Nilwood village (part of)
399
420
Total for Nilwood village in Nilwood and South Otter townships
40I
424
North Otter township
783
846
961
North Palmyra township, including Modesto village and part of Palmyra village
1,524
1,606
1,446
Modesto village
298
299
Palmyra village (part of)
408
375
298
Total for Palmyra village in North and South Palmyra townships
873
813
505
Polk township
722
867
890
Scottville township, including Scottville village. Scottville village
30I
364
363
Shaw's Point township
881
950
995
Shipman township, including Shipman village and part of Medora village
1,334
1,484
1,52I
Medora village (part of)
150
150
I33
Shipman village
392
396
410
South Otter township, including part of Nilwood village .. Nilwood village (part of)
910
1,104
1,104
2
4
. .. . ..
South Palmyra township, including parts of Hettick and Palmyra villages
1,536
1,519
1,527
..
Ward 3. ..
599
...
. .. . .
..
....
I,II3
1,293
1,365
312
HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY
Hettick village (part of)
189
143
Palmyra village (part of)
465
438
207
Staunton township, including Staunton city
5,837
3,385
5,285
Staunton city
5,048
2,786
2,200
Ward I
1,650
Ward 2
1,263
Ward 3
1,332
Ward 4
80
. .
Virden township, including Virden city
4,573
2,909
2,038
Virden city
4,000
2,280
1,610
Ward I
994
Ward 2
1,038
Ward 3
889
Ward 4
1,079
Western Mound township
775
917
921
REAL PROPERTY.
One-Third
Acres
Real Value
Assessed Value
Staunton
7,931
$ 675,585
$ 225,195
Mt. Olive
7,860
469,814
156,605
Cahokia
19,852
1,193,175
397,725
Honey Point
21,733
981,345
327,114
Shaw's Point
17,998
887,495
295,831
Nilwood
12,973
1,293,43ยบ
431,144
Girard
7,266
859,755
286,585
Virden
9,980
702,655
234,218
Dorchester
23,135
727,255
242,418
Gillespie
21,768
1,321,099
440,366
Brushy Mound
18,576
652,570
217,524
Carlinville
21,684
1,261,665
420,553
South Otter
22,915
795,130
265,043
North Otter
22,697
1,231,251
410,417
Bunker Hill
22,183
825,805
275,268
Hilyard
20,239
681,410
227,137
Polk
15,323
563,739
187,913
Bird
20,192
987,995
329,332
South Palmyra
22,716
707,420
235,807
North Palmyra
22,686
1,267,390
422,463
Brighton
22,698
738,325
246,108
Shipman
22,408
755,160
251,720
Chesterfield
13,962
754,941
251,647
Western Mound
21,961
667,695
222,564
Barr
23,218
830,675
276,892
Scottville
23,090
834,415
278,138
Total
487,044
$22,667,194
$7,555,728
1910
1900
1 800
or
VALUATION OF LIVE STOCK.
HORSES
CATTLE
MULES
SHEEP
HOGS
No.
Value
No.
Value
No.
Value
Value
Value
Staunton
476
$ 41,001
672
$ 15,990
66
$ 5,568
$ 846
No. 449
$ 3,456
Mt. Olive
436
28,902
631
14,748
I36
7,545
360
3,097
Cahokia
846
58,869
1,259
28,548
98
6.669
185
465
1,280
9,144
Shaw's Point
982
70,506
895
21,526
119
10,196
952
4,623
3,864
13,974
Nilwood
633
55,272
766
28,58I
182
1 5,480
2,105
6,899
1,533
11,732
Girard
673
45,705
829
22,125
193
13,605
1,779
7,647
1,175
13,409
Virden
704
57,444
573
16,428
140
10,530
393
1,545
996
8,33I
Dorchester
603
38,637
1,253
21,897
54
3,510
459
1,716
811
6,535
Gillespie
802
52,674
930
22,236
96
6,108
193
579
942
4,797
Brushy Mound
583
58,104
1,403
40,469
100
9,47I
173
633
792
6,477
Carlinville
1,07I
66,070
1,307
28,399
120
7,050
919
3,852
1,707
14,334
South Otter
860
72,492
912
28,61I
136
11,139
1,548
5,118
1,528
9,840
North Otter
757
74.784
809
26,640
102
10,977
1,314
5,796
1,345
11,709
Bunker Hill
763
60,663
1,233
35,436.
43
3.787
649
2,685
1,148
10,113
Hilyard
621
46,305
1,228
29,175
87
7,206
763
3,807
1,249
5,383
Polk
714
41,163
948
18.282 .
75
5,358
522
2,283
1,833
12,036
Bird
1,099
73,884
1,658
39,267
I2I
10,197
326
1,896
1,761
11,808
South Palmyra
917
53,115
1,049
22,872
I43
9,975
1,695
6,975
2,83I
22,182
North Palmyra
1,062
70,578
1,522
46,884
157
13,065
1,646
4,995
2,149
9,972
Brighton
527
32,400
1,089
25,590
69
5,130
857
2,967
1,916
16,31I
Shipman
668
39,393
1,127
31,287
53
3,50I
682
2,115
836
6,030
Chesterfield
829
51,799
1,694
52,415
34
2,949
488
1,914
1,342
II,OIO
Western Mound
810
47,454
1,618
29,256
116
5,778
935
4,603
2,845
21,069
Barr
64I
51,045
1,346
33.300
83
7,815
1,624
5,196
2,357
16,230
Scottville
833
52.776
1,474
36.783
I 37
9,519
1,319
4,695
1,70I
14,835
739
2,478
2,025
12,564
Total
19.955 $1,430,600
29,343
$743,844
2,747 $210,690
22,384
$85,968
40,775 $286.378
-
313
HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY
.
.
No. 119
314
HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY
PERSONALITY.
Total Value
One-Third or Assessed Value
Staunton
$ 373,995
$ 124,665
Mt. Olive
322,089
107,363
Cahokia
264,144
88,048
Honey Point
265,125
88,375
Shaw's Point
234,204
78,068
Nilwood
196,674
65,558
Girard
388,707
129,569
Virden
611,071
203,690
Dorchester
119,733
39,91I
Gillespie
290,037
96,679
Brushy Mound
166,647
55,549
Carlinville
1,061,III
353,704
South Otter
164,655
54,885
North Otter
210,357
70,119
Bunker Hill
353,946
117,982
Hilyard
144,888
48,296
Polk
117,108
39,036
Bird
213,669
71,223
South Palmyra
210,183
70,061
North Palmyra
476,808
158,936
Brighton
297,360
99,120
Shipman
245,139
81,713
Chesterfield
296,475
98,825
Western Mound
133,605
44,535
Barr
216,165
72,055
Scottville
205,626
68,542
Total
$7,579,521
$2,526,507
DRAINAGE DISTRICTS IN MACOUPIN.
A number have been organized in this county, which increases the value and productiveness of the soil. It has been only a few years since, that the organ- ization of drainage districts for the purpose of reclaiming or improving large tracts of land, was hardly given serious consideration. There were possibly many reasons for this condition, chief of which was the cost. This, however, has been largely done away with owing to the great increase in value of farm lands in this county as well as the entire state and country. When good land rose in price from something like $40 to $125 and higher, in a period of about ten or twelve years, the mind of the land owner who had any considerable acreage of waste or overflow land began to turn in the direction of making this land more valuable by protecting it and making it more productive. The cost of the work was easily made up by the increased value of the land benefited, and the added certainty of larger and better crops.
315
HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY
Working conditions of good land well situated and with plenty of surface drainage, are vastly more favorable even in seasons which are considered good, if properly underlaid with tile of the correct size. A well tile-drained soil is readily freed from excess water which, as far as possible, enters the soil where it falls, thus preventing to a large extent the surface washing which is so inju- rious to the fertility of the soil. A well underdrained soil is open and friable, readily absorbing the fertilizers, that may be applied to it; easily prepared, requiring less labor to put it into condition for seed, which will germinate more quickly and the plant will grow more rapidly.
A field well drained will be ready for the plow a week in advance of a like soil not under-drained, may be planted several days sooner and is from eight to ten degrees warmer. Drainage not only serves as an exit for excessive mois- ture, but affords a means of preventing drouth. Crops may be harvested in better condition, with an increase of from twenty-five to one hundred per cent. Money invested in tile drainage pays a large interest annually and is a sort of bank which never fails. In this connection it can be truly said that generations may come and go but a well drained soil continues to honor demands made upon it.
One of the largest districts organized in this county is along the Macoupin Creek bottom. The loss caused almost annually by the overflow of Macoupin and other creeks in this county is very large. What makes this usually more discouraging to the land owner or renter is, that it nearly always comes at a time when the crop is ready to harvest. Not infrequently it comes after har- vest and the farmer has to stand and watch his crop go floating away and with it of course the results of a hard summer or year's work. The levee will pre- vent this, and at the same time make the crops sure and the land worth much more.
A. J. Duggan, of Carlinville, has been prominent in handling the legal side of the drainage propositions in this county, and is in a certain sense a pioneer attorney in this work. There being no previous cases which could be used as a guide, he has had to blaze the way and solve many difficult legal problems along these lines. The law governing drainage and levees is complicated and the matter requires a great deal of careful study. There are many questions which come up in the organization of the different districts and all have to stand the scrutiny and test of the courts. Mr. Duggan has organized these drainage dis- tricts in such a very successful manner that he may at this time be properly considered a specialist in the law on this question. In a recent conversation with him he gave us some information in regard to the districts now organized and being organized in this county. Drainage district No. I was organized in South Otter township and was one of the first to be formed. It was commenced about four years ago. The contract has been let and the work is fully under way. The district covers about 1,600 acres and the cost to those interested will be $8,000. The Coyne-Nail district, No. I, is small, and lies south of Barnett, on the Montgomery county line. The petition in this case was filed in April, 1910, and the work was completed in December, 1910. It reclaimed a tract heretofore worthless swamp land, of moderate size.
316
HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY
Honey Point district No. 5 as mentioned previously in this article was begun two years ago. Delay was caused by the fact that the commissioners con- sidered the first bid to be too high. In the second bid made the contractor failed to file the necessary bond. This district is composed of 1,300 acres and the cost will amount to about $7,000. The law provides that bonds for drainage districts may draw 6 per cent interest, but the bonds of Honey Point district found a ready sale at 5 per cent.
The Chesterfield-Ruyle is a levee and drainage district and is now in process of organization, and is at present in court. This district will involve the con- struction of 33,000 feet of levee and several thousand feet of open ditches. It is hoped to get the matter in shape to let the contract by the middle of the summer.
Huddleston-Meiners Union district No. I, is located on the north line of Honey Point township and the south line of Shaws Point. This was organized last fall. The contract will be let shortly and covers about one thousand acres.
District No. 2, South Otter township, is now in process of formation. The number of acres to be drained will be 1,800. The preliminary surveys have been made and the engineer and attorney are ready to put together the plans and specifications for the work. This is all of the organized work now being done in Macoupin county. Of course there is much private work being done.
The object in organizing a drainage district is for the purpose of enabling the work to be done cheaper and in a much more satisfactory manner than if done privately. This is especially so where the acreage is large and several land owners are concerned. It has frequently been found that one string of large tile can be laid that will drain a body of land much better than if two strings were laid and at much less cost and with little or no conflict of interests.
The Chesterfield-Ruyle district was organized under a law especially pro- vided for levees. The commissioners for a district of this kind are appointed by the county court. Those districts must be formed by petition to the court and can not be formed otherwise. This law is known as the levee act. Where no levees are required the districts are usually organized under what is commonly known as the farm drainage act. It is much less expensive to organize under this law than the levee act.
Under the farm drainage act the commissioners of highways of the different townships are ex officio the drainage commissioners in their respective towns, until the district has been regularly organized. The law provides for the election of drainage commissioners in each district to take the place of the highway commissioners, after that district has been duly organized. In most cases the people usually have the commissioners of highways to carry the work along to the point where the district becomes legally organized. After this they elect from the land owners three commissioners to formulate plans and carry out the work. All districts, whether under the lcvce act or the farm drainage act, are organized on petition of interested adult land owners.
In the work of the districts in this county the surveying has been done by S. T. Morse and the Morse-Warren Engineering company.
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CHAPTER XX.
REMINISCENCES.
THE PIONEER PREACHER AND HIS BRIDE-LOG COURT HOUSE USED FOR MANY PURPOSES-MENTION OF CARLINVILLE'S FIRST INHABITANTS-METHODIST AND BAPTIST CHURCHES ORGANIZED-FIRST CHILD BORN IN THE COUNTY SEAT.
The writer of the following interesting and valuable article on the early history of this community was the wife of Rev. Stith M. Otwell, who came to Macoupin county in 1831 and founded the Methodist church at Carlinville. . Some time after the death of her husband she became the wife of Ruel Wright. By her first husband she had six children and by the latter four and at the time of her death, which was many years ago, her grandchildren numbered at least forty. "Grandma" Wright, as she was familiarly called, survived both her husbands and at the time of her death was over eighty years of age. The exact time this worthy pioneer Christian woman wrote her reminiscences cannot be determined, but the reader will be governed in reckoning dates and occur- rences by allowing the passage of at least a quarter of a century from the time the words were written and the present (1911) :
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