History of Macoupin County, Illinois, Part 30

Author: Brink, McDonough & Co.
Publication date: 1879
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 440

USA > Illinois > Macoupin County > History of Macoupin County, Illinois > Part 30

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).

Carlinville Brick Yard, John Lancaster, proprietor. Here is manufac- tured all the brick used in Carlinville and vicinity. From fifteen to twenty men are employed.

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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

Charles W. Sinclair has for several years been engaged in the manufac- ture of soap, which is of good quality, and is on sale in town.

NEWSPAPERS.

There are three newspapers published in the city : Carlinville Democrat, Macoupin Enquirer, and Macoupin County Herald.

GAS WORKS.

The city of Carlinville was first lighted by gas in December, 1869. The works, which are substantial and well finished, were erected by an incorpo- rated stock company, the capital stock being $31,500. The first board of directors were John Logan, M. D., William Farrell, Charles W. Weer, Morris Hezel and Henry Daley. The first officers were as follows : Charles W. Weer, president ; Samuel B. Dugger, secretary ; and John T. Rogers, treasurer.

C. H. C. Anderson is the present president, and also acts as treasurer. The present board of directors are James K. Furber, Henry Daley, John Dohany, J. B. Keeler, George Castle (mayor and ex-officio member) and C. H. C. Anderson. The entire cost of the works has been $50,000, and the cost of improvements $7,000. The investment, for the stockholders, has not proved profitable, the income having been largely needed for improvements and repairs. But as public-spirited citizens they must feel gratification in reflecting that they have added much by their investment to the comfort and happiness of the people.

CARLINVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

There is a free circulating library containing a large list of the works of ,the best English and American authors. The elevating influences it exerts can hardly be over-estimated.

LEADING BUSINESS HOUSES, TRADE OF 1879.

BANKS.

First National Bank. Does a general banking business. Milton McClure, president ; M. R. Flint, cashier. Also the private banking house of C. H. C. Anderson is one of the substantial institutions of the city and county. James K. Furber, cashier.

DRY GOODS MERCHANTS.

J. P. Wood & Co., Chapeno & Gillman, M. R. Flint & Co., George R. Hughes & Son, John C. Loehr, H. Steinmeyer, George Simon.

CLOTHING HOUSE MERCHANTS.

Burgdorff & Bro., Walker & Surman, E. Summerfield & Co., Boston Clothing House.

GROCERIES.

Dume & Warburton, Peter Lorenz, Henry Daley, Smart & Waggoner, Carlinville Co-operative Store, Wm. Behrens, Wm. Maddox, B. Rassmusson & Wm. Wagner.

HARDWARE.

S. S. Woodward, A. S. Ruark, William Farrell, and Snyder & Shaiper.

DRUGGISTS.

M. Graham & Son, Milton MeClure, T. H. Steinmeyer, and H. Klauen- berg.

HOTELS

First in the list of hotels we have the Loomis House, William Siemens, proprietor ; is supplied with all modern improvements-reading-room, ele- gant parlors, etc., etc. Travelers who stop here may be sure to be well lodged and fed. Other hotels are, Pennsylvania House, C. H. Slagel, pro- prietor; O'Neil House, Mrs. Whalen, proprietress ; there are also the Feine and Halderman Houses.

DEALERS IN CIGARS AND TOBACCO.

Among the leading dealers in this staple article is V. H. Siegel, whose store is located in Loomis House Block. The gentlemanly proprietor has built up a large trade, and keeps censtantly on hand the finest brands of cigars. Other tobacconists are Herman Weiser and Samuel Blauer.

LUMBER DEALERS are : McDaniel & Castle, Lewis Judd and B. P. Andrews & Co.

LIVERY, SALE AND FEED STABLES.

There are three. The proprietors are, Thos. G. Cundall, Geo. J. Castle and Steidley Bros., who keep always on hand, for the convenience of the public, handsome turnouts, including barouches, phaetons, buggies, etc., etc.

LEADING PHYSICIANS

are: Drs. John Logan, J. P. Mathews, J. W. Hankins, A. C. Corr, M. H. Head, A. P. Bettersworth, C. H. Holliday, Robt. A. Hankins, and Drs. Fisher, Berry and Ottlesberger.

BOOT AND SHOE MAKERS.

Among the leading shoe manufacturers are, Henry Brockmeier, H. Single- man, Coonrod Behme, M. Cohlepp.

DENTISTS

are, Dr. Wm. Chaffee, and Dr. Livezey.

WHOLESALE LIQUOR DEALERS

are, J. H. Williams, and A. Hock & Co.

MILLINERY STORES.

Among the principal milliners are Miss H. Gilbert, Mrs. Horine, Mrs. Bassett, and Mrs. Segrave. PHOTOGRAPHERS.

J. G. Stewart, and W. H. H. Horine.

JEWELRY STORE

is kept by W. H. H. Horine, on south side Public Square.

BAKERY AND CONFECTIONERY ESTABLISHMENTS,

carried on by Patrick Fitzgerald and Fred. Dresden.

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT DEALERS

are Mr. Morse, and the Carlinville Co-operative store.

SADDLERY AND HARNESS MAKERS

are Battise and Huntley B. Lorenz.

FURNITURE DEALERS

are, Schoenherr, Junghaus & Rifenberg, and Peter Heinz.

TONSORIAL ARTISTS.

Ruegg & Baumann, Frank Christian, and Henry Heinz.

MEAT MARKETS.

Thomas R. Denby, Charles Slagle, J. H. Williams. The above comprise the principal business interests of Carlinville.

PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDING.

This solid and commodious structure is built of brick, three stories in height, with a mansard roof; erected at a cost of about $35,000, with accom- modations for 600 pupils.

BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES.

Odd Fellows .- Trumbull Encampment, No 42, I. O. O. F., was instituted July 30, 1857, with eight charter members; its present membership is twenty-three.

Macoupin Lodge, 197, I. O. O. F., was organized in 1852, with Dr. J. W. Hankins as N. G .- and five charter members. The Lodge is in a flourish- ing condition, and now comprises a membership of forty-five.

Knights of Honor .- Silver Lodge, No. 924, was organized March 1st, 1878, with fourteen charter members. The Lodge is gradually increasing in membership and influence, and now numbers twenty-four.

A. F. & A. M .- The charter was granted to Mt. Nebo Lodge, No. 76, A. F. & A. M., December 10th, 1849. Charter members were Beatty T. Burke, James McLearning, Joseph Liston, William Wright, John Williamson, William Truer, Sr., and Daniel Wadsworth.

Beatty T. Burke was the first W. M. The Lodge has grown steadily, and now numbers sixty-nine members. At the present, W. H. Chaffee is W. M., and A. G. David, secretary.

Below will be found a list of township officers, since the county adopted township organization.

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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

SUPERVISORS.

B. T. Burke, elected in 1871; re-elected in 1872; re-elected in 1873; re- elected in 1874; re-elected in 1875; re-elected in 1876. George Hunter, assistant supervisor, 1876. Thadeus Philips and W. E. P. Anderson, assistant, elected in 1877. J. W. Hankins and T. G. Moore, assistant, elec- ted in 1878. J. W. Hankins and T. G. Moore, assistant, elected in 1879.

TOWN CLERKS.

B. L. Berry, elected in 1871. J. W. McNeil, elected in 1872. H. C. Anderson, elected in 1873. B. L. Berry, elected in 1874. P. Brady, elec- ted in 1875. F. Grove, elected in 1876. R. S. Hemphill, elected in 1877, and re-elected in 1878. D. C. Davis, elected in 1879.

ASSESSORS.

M. F. Nantz, elected in 1871. R. J. Haley, elected in 1872. W. Phelps, elected in 1873, and by re-election held the office up to 1879.

COLLECTORS.

C. Gilman, elected in 1871. H. Rogge, elected in 1872. H. Bartles, Jr., elected in 1873. W. Schutze, elected in 1874. T. R. McKee, elected in 1875. J. Mead, elected in 1876. C. L. Hamilton, elected in 1877. D. C. Robison, elected in 1878. Jno. T. Eastham, 1879.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE SINCE TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION.

J. McClure, J. D. Kerr, and W. W. Freeman, elected in 1871. W. W. Freeman, J. D. Kerr, J. L. Plain, M. McClure, and T. A. Steward, elected in 1873. J. L. Plain, J. D. Kerr, D. W. Bagby and W. W. Freeman, elected in 1877.

CONSTABLES SINCE TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION.

G. Roab, W. L. Kiefe and Andrew Jones, elected in 1871. J. H. Mintz, D. C. Davis and D. A. Lewis, elected in 1873. J. H. Nantz, D. Lewis, W. J. Rusher and O. W. Hall, elected in 1877.

COMMISSIONERS OF HIGHWAYS.

1871, Henry Diefenbruch, D. T. Patchen, J. S. Otwell.

1872, Henry Diefenbruch ; 1873, Daniel T. Patchen.

1874, J. S. Otwell, Peter Schaffer ; 1875, Peter Schaffer.

1876, D. T. Patchen, 1876, J. S. Otwell ; 1878, Peter Schaffer. 1879, Michael Gore.

In order to show the wealth and resources of Carlinville township, we annex the following statistics from the Asssessor's Books for this year :

Acres improved lands, 19,290, value, $169,611 ; acres unimproved lands, 2,086, value, 89,020 ; total value of lands, $178,631; value of lots, $175,017. Number of horses, 665, value, $11,780 ; cattle, 1,554, value, $12,004; mules, 153, value, 83,285 ; sheep, 1,419, value, $1,315 ; hogs, 2,156, value, $1,647 ; carriages and wagons, 272, value, 83,795; watches and clocks, 498, value,

$1,018 ; sewing machines, 276, value, 81,174; pianos, 70, value, $3,275; organs, 48, value, 8685 ; merchandise on hand, value, 832,230; credits other than of bankers, 834,625; household and office furniture, $1,438. Total value of personal property, 8139,773.

" THE MACOUPIN COUNTY AGRICULTURAL BOARD."

It seems proper here to mention the Agricultural, Horticultural, and Mechanical Association of this county, which has done much to improve the stock and introduce better methods of farming. The ample grounds of this society are located in this township, adjoining the city of Carlinville on the west .* It was organized in 1854, and has therefore been in operation a quarter of a century.

The first fair was held on the Public Square, in Carlinville. Maj. Lofton was the first President and Mr. Dews the first Secretary. Samuel Welton and Wesley Dugger were the first exhibitors of oxen, Mr. Welton taking the first premium. Henry Fishback and Samuel Welton were exhibitors of Milch cows, Mr. Fishback taking the first premium. Dr. Delano, now a resident of Bunker Hill, exhibited a calf said to be the finest ever shown in Macoupin county. Peter L. Denby and Robert Purviance were exhibitors of butter ; at this fair there were only shown horses, oxen, cows and butter, no vegetables or grain. The next two succeeding fairs were held in Capt. Welton's pasture, west of the city. At these fairs more articles were exhi- bited. The fourth annual fair was held on the grounds now known as the late residence of Major B. T. Burke.

The first movement to secure a permanent place of holding the fair was a proposition made by Capt. Welton to Maj. Lofton after the fourth fair was held, that he would head a subscription with $25.00; this proposition was made in the law office of John A. Chesnut, Major Lofton being the second to sign, and Mr. Chesnut third, and Mr. Challacombe or Mr. Denby fourth, thus making one hundred dollars, after which Capt. Welton took one paper and canvassed the west half of the county, and received nearly all the entire amount that was necessary, and Major Lofton secured some little in the east part of the county ; with the money received from this subscription, the present grounds were purchased of Jarrett Dugger. The society sub- sequently purchased more land. John Tunnell was secretary after the first few years for eight or nine years, proving to be a very efficient officer.

The executive officers of the association for 1879, are George J. Castle, President; John Carr, Vice-President ; B. P. McDaniel, Secretary ; J. B. Liston, Treasurer. Directors are C. T. Prouty, B. H. Dorsey, Thos. A. Jones, G. M. Chedister, Robert Horton, R. O. Wood, D. S. Macknett, John Hounsley, R. P. Miller, Wm. M. Chiles.

The association holds an annual fair on their beautiful grounds west of the city. The premiums offered are liberal, and the fairs are worthy of the great county of Macoupin.

* For the above data we are indebted to Mr. B. P. McDaniel, Sec.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Respectfully

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AMONG the many representative and prominent men of the state who have risen from obscurity into renown and commanding position, stands the name of John M. Palmer, ex-governor of the state of Illinois. Although not now an actual citizen of Macoupin county, yet it was here that his early struggles for position and reputation in his profession commenced ; and to this people, whom he has always regarded, and will continue to regard, as his earliest and best friends, he acknowledges the debt of gratitude he owes them for their kindness and support given him when he first commenced the practice of law. He well recollects the trials and struggles in their midst as a young lawyer, and his efforts to provide the means of support for him- self and family. And he also remembers the kindly words spoken, the encouragement given, and the outstretched hands ready to help him up the steep, rough road, and over the barriers that stood in the way between him and the high position since attained. To these kind friends he acknowledges his gratitude. On the other hand, the people of Macoupin county are proud of him. They point with pride to the man, and claim him as their friend and neighbor. It is with pleasure that they speak of him as occupying a conspicuous place in the history of the state. They claim him for "Old Macoupin." It is therefore fitting that the life and history of John M. Palmer, his early struggles, his great efforts in the cause of humanity, his patriotic and gallant conduct in defence and perpetuation of the Union, his

honest administration of the affairs of the state, his ability as a lawyer, his worth as a man and citizen should form and become a part of the history of the county.

John McAuley Palmer, the third in a family of seven boys and one girl, was born on the Eagle Hills in Scott county, Kentucky, September 13th, 1817. His father and mother were natives of Virginia. The family is of English ancestry, and were among the first settlers of the state. Louis D. Palmer married Miss Ann Hansford Tutt, who was a native of Culpepper county. He was a cabinet-maker, but subsequently and early abandoned that trade, and became a farmer. He was a man of much more than ordi- nary intelligence, and was a great reader. He expended all his surplus earnings for the works of distinguished and popular authors, and sometimes would go beyond and encroach upon means intended for the actual necessa- ries of life, in order to gratify his thirst for reading. He was a Jeffersonian democrat of the old school, and was opposed to the institution of slavery. He was a man who, when he believed he was right, was firm and unyielding. This trait of character has, in a great measure, been transmitted to the son.

While John was yet in his infancy, his father removed with his family from Scott to Christian county on the Tennessee line near the Cumberland river. Here he remained until 1831, when he left Kentucky, and came to Illinois, and settled in Madison county, where he purchased a farm and 89

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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

remained until 1844, when he removed to Jerseyville, and finally to Litch- field, where he died in 1869 in his 88th year.

The subject of our sketch spent his boyhood days in the log school-houses of his native state, and the summer months in helping to cultivate tobacco, which was the principal product of that section of the country. When not at work or in school, he roamed the woods in search of game, or haunted the streams with hook and line. He began his studies with Noah Webster's spelling-book and Lindley Murray's Grammar. He was a great reader. He was studious, and made rapid progress. In his youth he had an impedi- ment in his speech, which continued some time after he arrived at manhood. It was a source of great annoyance to him, as it gave the boys an opportu- nity of poking fun at him. This sport on the part of the boys continued until forbearance ceased to be a virtue, when he resorted to his fists to com- pel respect for his infirmities.

When the Palmer family came to Illinois, John was in his fourteenth year. Two years later the mother died, which had the effect of breaking up the family. The subject of this sketch was then sixteen years of age. He began to look the world in the face. He realized that he had not sufficient education. He had progressed just far enough in his studies to awaken a desire and ambition to drink deeper at the fountain of knowledge. In a conversation with his father about it, the latter told him he could do nothing for him, but would give him " his time." This was gladly accepted. About this time the Alton College was opened on the plan of manual labor. Its purpose was to give an education to the poor, but industrious young men of the country, who had here an opportunity of performing labor, for which they received educational advantages and training in return. John and his brother Elihu entered the college in 1834. He arose at daylight, made the fires, swept the floors, and did other chores until school-hours, when he pro- secuted his studies. He labored hard to gain a good education, and he was successful in receiving a more thorough knowledge of grammar, geography, history and the higher branches of mathematics. He remained at college one year, at the end of which time he was compelled to abandon his studies in order that he might provide means to purchase clothing and books.

Upon his first entering the state, he made the acquaintance of Larkins Stark, who was a cooper living at that time in Madison county, but after- wards removed and settled on the prairie, near where Bunker Hill, in Ma- coupin county, now is. He offered Palmer board and clothes if he would learn the cooper-trade. He accepted the offer, and soon learned to make barrels, after which Stark paid him wages. He soon became skilled enough to earn fifty cents per day. The money thus earned, after paying debts and providing suitable clothing, was spent in books and newspapers.

In 1837 he made the acquaintance of a clock-peddler by the name of Henderson, who owned a number of wagons, and employed men to peddle clocks through the country. He made arrangements with him, and accepted an agency. He commenced the sale of clocks in Madison county, and after- wards sold in Fulton, Hancock, Pike, Scott, Green and other counties. He did a good business ; but the freshness of this itinerant life soon wore away. He saw that if he amounted to anything, he must abandon that kind of life, and settle down and pursue some business steadily. After looking over the ground carefully, he determined to become a lawyer. Full of this resolve, he threw up his clock agency. He then purchased a copy of Blackstone's Commentaries, and engaged to teach school near Canton in Fulton county. He taught during the day, and read law after night. His determination to become a lawyer received force and direction from the following incident. In 1838 while yet in the clock business, he, in company with Sands N. Breeds, now of Fulton county, another clock peddler, stopped over night at a hotel in Carthage, Hancock county. They were assigned to the only vacant room in the house, in which were two beds. They retired, and were soon asleep, from which they were rudely awakened by the landlord, who, in company with two strangers, had invaded their room. "Sorry to wake you, gentlemen," said the landlord; " but here are two strangers, who want a bed. You two must sleep together, or share your beds with them." Palmer turned over, rubbed his eyes, and saw before him a short spare man with broad, expansive forehead and large, luminous eyes. The other was taller, fine-looking, and had the appearance of being a college professor. The tall man inquired about their politics. "Well," replied Palmer, "my friend's a whig, and I am a democrat." The landlord blew out the light, and retired. "You take the whig, and I'll take the democrat," said the short man. They got into bed, and all were soon sound asleep. The next morning Palmer inquired the name of his bed-fellow. It was Stephen A. Douglas, the Little Giant of the west. His fellow-traveler was John T.

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Stewart. Douglas was just entering upon his brilliant career, that in after years made him one of the intellectual giants, and the most conspicuous figure in American history. He was then a candidate for Congress in the district which included the whole of the state of Illinois north of Macoupin county, and now contains more than one and a half millions of population. He made friends with Palmer, who gave him his support, and cast his first vote for him in the ensuing election. The acquaintance thus made and the brilliant example before him changed the current of Palmer's life, and gave him fresh courage, impetus and determination to become a lawyer. In the spring of 1839, after his school closed at Canton, Palmer returned to Alton, and then went to St. Louis. His brother Elihu had in the meantime got married, and had entered the ministry as a Baptist preacher, and was sta- tioned at Carlinville in Macoupin county. Palmer walked up there from St. Louis, and arrived in town March 29th, 1839. Through the influence of his brother, he entered the law-office of John S. Greathouse of Carlinville, and commenced anew the study of law. He studied hard. He soon became involved in local politics. At the request of leading democratic politicians, he became the candidate for county clerk. He made a vigorous canvass, but was defeated by 121 majority. In the summer of 1839, although he had not been admitted to the practice of law, he made his first appearance at the bar in the case of Broderick vs. Walker. His client, the defendant, was charged with an assault with a knife. Notwithstanding the case looked dark for his client, he got a jury trial, and won the case.

In December of the same year he purchased a new suit of clothes, bor- rowe:l five dollars and a ride to Springfield, a distance of forty miles, to apply for license to practice law. In Springfield he again met Stephen A. Douglas, who received him with great favor, and presented his application to the court for admission to the bar. The court appointed Mr. Douglas and Hon. J. Young Scammon of Chicago as examiners. During the exami- nation he was asked what books he had read, after which Douglas made a speech, dwelling with force upon the importance of a lawyer collecting his fees, which, by the way, he never did, and said : "You may not now be able to take charge of important law-cases; but from the cut of your features and the set of your clothes, I'm satisfied you soon will be." The examina- tion was soon ended. Douglas wrote the license, and presented it to the court, and it was signed by .Judges Brown and Smith. During the evening following Palmer strayed around town and into a church, which was used as the state-house, where a tall, long, bony man was entertaining an audience with a speech that was full of logic, anecdote and common sense. Palmer inquired his name, and was informed that it was Abe Lincoln. The next day he was introduced to him at the court-house, and from that day to the death of Lincoln, they were warm, personal friends. They were frequently together in after years as counsel in law-cases, and at other times opposed to each other, and political opponents for years ; but the friendship formed at their first meeting in the old court-house in Springfield was never broken.

Palmer returned to Carlinville a full fledged lawyer. He was poor, in debt and without law books, except Blackstone's Commentaries, Chitty's General Practice and Gresley's Equity Evidence. He, however, was for- tunate in securing some old law books presented to him by David A. Smith, who had supplied himself with new ones. He was not at first successful. He was not a good speaker, but was rather a failure in this respect, owing to the habit of stammering. He was also naturally bashful, and diffident in the presence of numbers. He lacked that confidence that comes with experience. His manners were not particularly prepossessing. With these things against him it was clear that he was compelled to rely more for suc- cess upon what he said, than the manner of saying it. He would be com- pelled to charm his audience with his ideas, that they might forget his manners. Nature had endowed him liberally. He must gather up the latent forces, and concentrate them. Hard study was before him. It brought its reward in a mind that was trained to be clear logical, and per- suasive. The gift of eloquence came gradually. In time, his stammering ceased. He clothes his ideas with imagery, and paints his words with beauty. He is always earnest and his great earnestness carries with it a resistless power.

In 1840 he supported Van Buren for the presidency, taking an active part in the canvass.

On the 20th of December, 1842, he was united in marriage to Miss Melinda Ann Neeley, who was born in Kentucky. Her parents came to Illinois in 1841, and settled in Carlinville. Two weeks after his marriage, he and his wife went to housekeeping. The whole cost of furniture, and everything necessary to commence housekeeping, amounted to nearly fifty dollars.

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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

In those days the political discussions and arranging the canvass took place during the times of court. It was only necessary to see one or two of the leading men in each neighborhood, and get their support, and they would arrange that the programme was carried out in their locality. These leaders and representative men were always on hand in times of court. The lawyers were the politicians. They would fight their cases through courts during the day and make political speeches during the night. In 1843 Palmer was elected Probate Judge of Macoupin county, by over four hundred majority. The next three years were spent in the office, and practicing his profession. His practice had become extensive and reasona- bly lucrative. The Mexican war broke out in 1846. Palmer raised a com- pany and was elected captain. He tendered his company to Col. E. D. Baker, who was raising a regiment, but the regiment was full, and they were refused. In April, 1847, he was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention. While a member of that body, a resolution was offered by Mr. Bond, of Clinton county, which in substance was that the next General Assembly shall at its first session under the amended Constitution, pass such laws as " will effectively prohibit free persons of color from immi- grating to and settling in this state, and to effectually prevent the owners of slaves from bringing them into the state for the purpose of setting them free." Palmer opposed this measure, and fought it to the end.

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History of Macoupin County, Illinois, Part 30

Author: Brink, McDonough & Co. Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Number of Pages: 440

Author: Brink, McDonough & Co.
Publication date: 1879
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 440