History of Madison County, Illinois With biographical sketches, Part 106

Author: Brink, W.R. & Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Edwardsville, Ill. : W. R. Brink & co.
Number of Pages: 698

USA > Illinois > Madison County > History of Madison County, Illinois With biographical sketches > Part 106

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The town plat on which the names of William Hender- son, John Reed, Frederick T. Krafft and Theodore J. Krafft appear as proprietors, was placed on record on the fifth of March, 1839. Mechanicsburg, laid out by Josiah Caswell, is recorded as an addition to Troy.

Andrew Mills has lived in Troy since March, 1842, and has always been intimately connected with the business affairs of the town. Since 1860 he has filled the office of police magistrate. Troy contained but few inhabitants when be became a resident of the place. The only store was kept by John Brady in a small building on Market street now occupied as a barber shop. The building on the southwest corner of Main and Market streets, now used as the Bulletin office, had been occupied a short time previously by Fred

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

Krafft who had erected the building and carried on a store there for some time. This building was without an occu- pant in the spring of 1842. William Henderson kept tavern in a building, one end of which was log and the other frame, which stood on the site of the White Horse hotel. John Henderson, now a resident of Christian county, a son of William Henderson, had hired a journeyman blacksmith and carried on the blacksmith business. The same year, 1842, a man named Curtis came to the place and began work at his trade of a blacksmith. George Hulme at that time served the community as tailor, but shortly after- ward moved to a farm east of the town. Thomas P. Moore and Andrew Kimberlin kept groceries. Moore's place was in a building erected by a man named Bardsley which stood on the opposite side of the street from the White Horse hotel. His building is still standing and looks about the same now as then. Moore lived in a two-story frame house on Market street east of the present post-office, still standing and owned by Mrs. Martin. His place of business now is on the north side of Market street, opposite the post office. Daniel Peter- man was engaged in the carpentering business. In the spring of 1842, Dr. Green was the only physician. The suc- ceeding summer he removed to Marine, and his place was sup- plied by Dr. J. K. Reiner, who practiced his profes ion here for a number of years and died in Minnesota, The post- office was kept in John Brady's store, though George Churchill being west of the town, held the commission as postmaster.

Among those promiently identified with the business inter- ests of the place still living is Julius A. Barnsback. He opened a store in Troy in 1846, and for several years carried on a large and prosperous business. He acted as postmas- ter, and also as agent for J. P. Yoris & Co., the proprietors of the St. Louis and Terre Haute stage line. When Mr. Barnsback came to Troy in 1846, the place contained about a dozen houses and a population of less than one hundred.

The route of the National Road, which had been con- structed as far as Vandalia, had been surveyed through Troy. Over this route passed a daily line of stages running between St. Louis and Terre Haute, Indiana. The arrival and departure of these stages was the great feature of the day. The stages going east left St. Louis in the morning and reached Troy during the forenoon. Going west they usually passed through the town late at night. Troy was the first station out from St. Louis at which horses were changed. After the building of railroads connecting with the East the through stage line was taken off. A hack line was then es- tablished between Highland and St. Louis, which passed through Troy and Collinsville, and carried the mail. This line was kept up till the building of the Vandalia railroad.

In 1842 there was no polling place at Troy, and the voters had the privilege of casting their ballots at any polling place within the limits of the county. The most voted at Edwardsville. The Troy voting precinct was established about the year 1844.

It was not till the year 1824 that a school was started at Troy, and not till 1842 that a church was organized. The latter year the Rev. William Chamberlin, who had been

appointed itinerant missionary for Southern Illinois by the I'resbytery of Alton, and the Rev. Thomas Lippincott, the first Sabbath-school in the state, held a protracted meeting in a grove or block twenty-two, west of where the White Horse hotel now stands. This meeting resulted in the or- ganization (on the sixth of October, 1842,) of the Presby- terian church. The original thirteen members were Dr. J. K. Reiner, Cyrus Scott, Benjamin Posey, Mrs. E. C. Reiner, P. Scott, G. W. Scott, James Perigo, S. A. Scott, E Davis, Cintha Scott, I. Perigo, E. Scott, and E. Goodwin. J K. Reiner and James Perigo were ordained elders. In 1843, the members strained their means to erect a rough house of worship in block thirty-nine of W. Jarvis' addition to Troy. Twenty dollars were paid for the lot on which the church was built. Dr. J. K. Reiner, Wesley Jarvis and Andrew Kimber- lin, the latter two having become members of the church, were prominent in securing the construction of the church edifice, which was a neat frame, twenty-four by thirty feet in dimensions. The studdings were hewed poles, covered in with split weather-boarding. The floor was made of one foot wide, unmatched plank. The old oak seats were the gift of the Collinsville Presbyterian church. Among the early pastors were the Rev. William Chamber- lin, the Rev. Thomas Lippincott, the Rev. J. R. Dunn, and the Rev. Calvin Butler. The old church gave place to a fine brick structure erected in 1871, at a cost of ten thousand dollars, during the pastorate of the Rev. Robert Stuart. Rev. J. D. Gehring is the present pastor.

In 1843 a Methodist church was also built. Its site was then in the woods. Dr. Dewey, in his Centennial address, remarks that by some of the members the church " was said to have been built by the devil, as most of the movers were irreligious, and were actuated by strife against the Presby- terians, and not by religious motives." The building was erected for no particular denomination, but when completed was given by vote to the Methodist Episcopal congregation. Afterward, in 1847, a bell, which had belonged to a sunken steamer, was bought of James B. Eads, of St. Lonis, who was then a diver and wrecker on the river, and placed on the church. This bell was afterward removed to the school- house. The old church was succeeded by the present brick structure on Main street, the erection of which was largely due to William J. Barnsback and William Donoho. The Rev. C. J. T. Tolle is now pastor of this church.

The Baptists built their first church on Main street in 1848. This building was supplanted by a larger and more handsome structure in 1876. Among the ministers who oc- enpied the pulpit at various times were the Rev. John M. Peck, the Rev. Mr. Harris, Elijah Dodson, Elihu J. Palmer, T. W. B. Dawson, John Padon, John H. Mize and W. D. Ross.

The Evangelical Lutheran church was built in Gonter- man's addition to the town in 1865. The church has a large membership among the German population. The Rev. Mr. Cleppesch is pastor. In connection with the church the Lutherans maintain a school, which is quite largely attended by the children of the congregation.

The church of the German Reformed congregation was built in 1876.

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

In 1856 a large and substantial brick school building was erected. It is two stories in height, and contains four reci- tation rooms. The principal of the school is Arthur G. Cavedy, with Jane Mills, Jennie Rawson and Alice Badgley as assistants.

In addition to the public school facilities there will soon be in operation a High School, which will afford to the young people of the town educational advantages of a superior order. By the will of the late Angeline MeCray Dewey, widow of Dr. John S. Dewey, her estate, estimated as worth in the neighborhood of thirty thousand dollars, is left to five trustees, citizens of Troy, with directions that the income shall be used in the ercetion of a suitable building for school purposes, and the maintenance of a high school. The bene- fits of this institution are extended gratuitously to any person under the age of twenty-six years residing in the town of Troy, or within the limits of the common school district or districts, in which the territory of the town of Troy may be included. The trustees have purchased the former residence of Dr. Dewey, in which suitable changes will be made, with the view of placing the school in active operation at an early date.

Dr. John S. Dewey was a native of Massachusetts and became a resident of Troy in 1846. He stood high as a physician, and secured an extensive practice. He was sur- geon of the 109th regiment Illinois Volunteers during the war of the rebellion. He was twice elected to the legisla- ture. His death occurred on the 17th of July, 1879. His wife was the daughter of Calvin McCray, one of the early settlers of Jarvis township.

The first number of the Commercial Bulletin, the first newspaper in Troy, was issued on Saturday, April 20, 1872. James N. Jarvis was the publisher. This was the foundation of the Troy Bulletin, which has been regularly published since May, 1872. Henry B. Morriss is the present editor aud proprietor.

In 1848 the members of Neilson Lodge, No. 25, Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, erected a hall on Main street. The upper part of it is used for lodge purposes, and here all the secret societies of Troy hold their meetings. School was held occasionally in the lower part of the building till the erection of the present school-house. The lower floor is now occupied as a public reading room, carried on under the auspices of the Royal Purple Temperance Association of Troy, of which William Donoho is president, and Jane Mills secretary.

The Troy Cemetery had its origin in the gift to the town of an acre of ground to be used for burial purposes by Wes- ley Jarvis, about the year 1843. The town afterward pur- chased additional ground. The cemetery now embraces three and one-half acres. It contains a number of handsome and tasteful monuments erected to the memory of the dead, the most costly of which is that which marks the graves of Dr. John S. Dewey and members of the McCray family.

The Troy Park Association was founded in February, 1882, with the purpose of procuring and preserving a public square or park. The Association has a capital stock of one thou- sand dollars. divided into shares of twenty-five dollars each.

A square of ground immediately south of the school-house has been purchased, which is to be laid out as a park. The officers of the Association are : President, Dr. F. A. Sabin ; Vice President, William Freudenan ; Secretary, Henry II. Padon ; Treasurer, Frederick Gerfew. The four persons above mentioned, with David Seligmann, comprise the board of directors.

INCORPORATION-BUSINESS INTERESTS.

Troy was incorporated by act of the legislature in 1857. No changes have since been made in the charter. The first president of the Board of Trustees was John Padon.

The population of the town is now about one thousand, and with Brookside, the settlement formed south of the town about the railroad depot, is considerably in excess of that figure. The plat of the town of Brookside was re- corded September 26, 1873: Susan Taylor, Sylvania E. Ground, James M. Taylor and Julius A. Barnsback, pro- prietors.

MILLS.

The milling business has been the most active and im- portant manufacturing industry.

The Troy City Mills, were built in 1856, by John R. Swain & Brother. Mr. Swain, who was a prominent citizen of Troy, and at one time sheriff of the county, had erected a mill on the same spot some years before which burned down. It is supposed to have been set on fire by an incendiary. The present mill is constructed of brick, and at the time it was built was considered one of the finest mills in Southern Illinois. It has an excellent situation, adjacent to a pond of water, fed by springs, which has never been known to be dry. The mill has a capacity of about three hundred barrels per day. The present proprietors are Gustav Vetter & Co.

The Brookside Mills, near the railroad depot, were built in 1877, and have a capacity of one hundred and twenty- five barrels of flour per day. William Donoho is the pro- prietor. This mill is provided with machinery of the most approved description, aud manufactures flour by the new patent process.

Brookside Coal Co .- In 1880 work was begun on a coal shaft near the railroad depot. A five and a half foot vein of coal was found at a depth of three hundred and thirteen feet. It was ready for operation in the early part of the year 1881, and the work of mining and raising coal has since been successfully prosecuted. This mine is the farthest east on the line of the Vandalia railroad in this State. Beside supplying the local demand and that of towns farther east on the line of the railroad considerable quanti - ties of coal are shipped to St. Louis. William Freudenau is president of the company.

The remaining business interests of the town are repre- seuted as follows :

General Merchants .- Samuel Rawson & Bro., F. M. Au- warter, David Seligmann, Stolte & Feldner, Louis Karges & Son ( Brookside).

Hardware, Groceries and Drugs .- Henry A. Risser. Hardware and Tin .- Jacob Gebauer.

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

Stores and Tin Ware .- William Hampe.

Furniture .- J. Stienhaus.

Drug Stores .- S. Kingston, J. P. Lytle & Co. Lumber .- Henry H. Padon.

Agricultural Implements .- James B. Thomas, Henry Mar- tin, Frederick Gerfeu.

Blacksmith and Wagon Maker .- Frederick Gerfeu.

Blacksmith and Plow Maker .- Elias Burke.

Blacksmith .- John Riebold.

Carpenters and Builders .- John Seybold, James Seybold, John and James Peterman, Stolte & Salter.

Shoe Shops .- Joseph Kiesel, Andreas Klein, Bennett Smith.

Watches and Jewelry -Fred. Simon.

Livery Stable .- S. W. Cowles.

Saddler and Harness Maker .- Frank L. Hampton.

Tailor. - Julius Nill.

Butchers .- John Diemling, Ernst Albrecht.

White Horse Hotel .- William Meiners.

Johnson House .- Mrs. Sarah Johnson.

Physicians .- Dr. F. A. Sabin, Dr. Fred. Zenders, Dr. Charles Schott, Dr. J. J. Brown, Dr. Fred. Zenk. Postmistress .- Mattie Johnson.

Justices of the Peace .- Frank L. Hampton, James N. Jarvis.

Police Magistrate .- Andrew Mills.

SECRET SOCIETIES.

NEILSON LODGE, NO. 25, INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS,

Was instituted on the 14th of July, 1847. The charter members were J. K. Reiner, John S. Dewey, John R. Swain, T. J. Brady, Thomas McDowell, and Andrew Kimberlin. The present officers of the lodge are, George B. Henderson, N. G .; Dr. J. J. Brown, V. G .; George Rawson, Secretary ; Henry A. Risser, Treasurer.

TROY LODGE, NO. 588, ANCIENT, FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS,

Was chartered October 6, 1868. The original members were Samuel Rawson, Dr. F. A. Sabin, Stephen G. Barnes, Dr. John S. Dewey, A Lindermann, Jesse Padon, William Donoho, George Rawson, John Carney, Julius A. Barnsbaek William Shaw. The officers now are: Elias Burke, W. M., Dr. F. W. Zenders, S. W .; M. W. Powell, J. W .; Julius A. Barnsback, Treasurer : George Rawson, Secretary.

PISGAH ENCAMPMENT, NO. 104, INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOW'S,

Was instituted October 11, 1870, with Samuel Rawson, Fred. W. Zenders, T. H. Bell, F. A. Sabin, J. P. Anderson, J. W. Staton, and G. W. C. Gates, as charter members. The present officers are : Andrew Rawson, C. P .; Henry H. Padon, S. W .; F. W. Zenders, H. P .; George Rawson, Scribe; Henry A. Risser, Treasurer ; Joseph Granger, Junior Warden.

MAYFLOWER LODGE, NO. 1586, KNIGHTS OF HONOR,

Was instituted May 1, 1879. The present officers are : James Bosomworth, Dictator ; Joseph Granger, Vice Dicra- tor; Henry H. Padon, Asst. Dictator; Frank L. Hampton, Reporter ; Andrew Rawson, Financial Reporter ; George Rawson, Treasurer.

MADISON COUNCIL, NO. 356, LEGION OF HONOR,

Was instituted in December, 1880. Elias Burke is now Commander ; William Freudenau, Post Commander ; Gus- tav Vetter, Vice Commander ; Philip Eckert, Treasurer ; Jacob Clipper, Secretary.

The present board of trustees of the town of Troy is composed as follows ; Julius A. Barnsback, John F. Jarvis, William J. Vetter, David Seligmann, William Schultz.

PIN OAK. e

OMPRISES the whole of town four, range seven. It is bounded on the north by Hamel, on the east by Marine, on the south by Jarvis, and ou the west by Edwardsville township. Silver creek flows in a southerly direction through the eastern part of the township, entering at section 1 and passing out section 36. Along this stream the land is considerably broken, and there is a heavy growth of young timber. When the township was first settled, it is said a deer might have been seen at a great dis- tance, from point to point, across this stream. Only here

and there a large tree, and no undergrowth, interrupted the view. Since settlement began the fires have been kept out and for the past sixty years the timber has grown rapidly. At present large trees thickly cover what once, within the memory of man, was a vast undulating plain, covered only by the grasses indigenous to the soil. On section 16, at the head of a small stream, there was a Pin Oak grove, from which the township took its name. Here, in the early times, was the militia training ground.

Joseph Bartlett, Lockhart and Taylor, were the first set- tlers. The latter two made small improvements near the Pin Oak grove. Uncle Joe Bartlett, as he was familiarly

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

called, located in section 21. They settled here in 1809. Bartlett became a permanent and prominent citizen. He was born in the state of Virginia, January 13, 1775, and emigrated to the vicinity of Knoxville, Tennessee, where he resided many years. From there he went to Kentucky and thence to the territory of Illinois in 1807. 1Ie first located near the old village of Milton, in the Wood river settlement, where he remained until 1800. He then settled as above stated. During the Indian troubles he served as a ranger, and took part in the building of Fort Russell. He also built a fort or block house on the west eighty of the northwest quarter, section 21. This block house stood about three hundred yards west of where his daughter now resides, on the north side of the road. He was one of the party that gave chase to the Indians that committed the Wood river massacre. He was also in the Black Hawk war, accompanied by three of his sons. He built a double log- house on the state road on the tract that is well known as the Bartlett place. His block house remained standing un- til about 1834, when he tore it down, moved it near his residence and converted it into stables. Mr. Bartlett was married to Patience McCoy, April 5, 1798. She was born February 22, 1778. He raised a family of seven children, and died January 1, 1864. Martin settled a place on the southern line of Hamel township. Nicholas located a short distance north of his brothers. William settled the place where C. B. Gunterman now lives. Jesse, the youngest son, lived in the old homestead. Sarah married George Day, who settled a place in the north-eastern part of section 9. Rachel, the youngest, became the wife of Daniel E. Adams. She is the only survivor of the family, and now a widow. Lydia married William Kirkpatrick, who settled in Montgomery county. She had two children, and died many years ago. Uncle Joe attended school only cight days. He often related this fact. In after life, by close application and intuition, he qualified himself quite creditably. He was the first assessor and treasurer of the county. A former writer has said of him, " He was a man of domestic habits, and did not even visit the neighboring city of St. Louis, though less than twenty-five miles distant, for forty-four years previous to his death, which occurred December 25, 1863. The horse ferry had just been estab- lished about the time of his last trip there, in 1819, and his surviving friends state, that having but little curiosity for things new or strange, he never went to see a steamboat or railroad, neither did he visit a county fair nor camp meet- ing during his life, a period of ninety-one years, preferring to devote his whole time to his domestic affairs and his books. He was a man of excellent mind, well stored with informa- tion, especially in politics. In his day he was considered a walking history of Tennessee, and for many years acted as justice of the peace. He was county treasurer, and held other offices of trust and responsibility. He had a large and well-selected library, and also a file of the papers then published in this state and Tennessee."

Paul Beck located on section 5, before the war of 1812. During that struggle he was a ranger. His cabin was built in the style of a block house, in which he lived many years.

September 6, 1814, he entered the northeast quarter of sec- tion 5. The same day George Hutton entered one hundred and sixty acres. These were the first land entries in 4-7.

George Coventry, a native Englishman, came to Madison county from Christian county, Kentucky, in 1813. He was married in Kentucky to Sarah Stanford, August 10, 1805. He had four children born to him in that state, two of whom died. John W. and Indiana he brought with him to this county. The latter has since died ; the former is one of the well-known citizens of the county. Two children were born in this county, William M. and Elciann ; the former lives in Davenport, Iowa, and the latter is now Mrs. George Bay- less, of Montgomery county, Ill. Mr. Coventry was a mill- wright by trade. Upon coming to the county he first stopped with Thomas Davidson. Subsequently he came to Edwards- ville and kept a public house. At an early day he bought the Paul Beck place, which consisted of a block house, several other small buildings, and a horse-mill. Ile opera- ted the horse-mill for some time. The place was afterward known as the Governor Cole place. Mr. Coventry afterward moved to Belleville, and subsequently returned to the coun- ty and located near Salem, in the bottom, where he died July 15, 1819. His wife survived him until May 24, 1874, when she died, at the advanced age of eighty-eight years.

September 10, 1814, John Robinson entered the northeast quarter of section thirty-two, and the southwest quarter of section thirty-three, where he started an improvement which he afterward sold to Jubilee Posey. April 14, 1815, John R. Jones entered the greater part of section fourteen. All other entries were of a later date.

Jubilee Posey, a native of Georgia, came to Madison county in 1811, being at that time about seventeen years of age. He came to the territory in company with an older brother, Chesley Posey, who settled in St. Clair county. Ju- bilee Posey was a ranger during the war of 1812, and ren- dered valuable services in guarding the settlers during that eventful period. Immediately after this he was united in marriage with Catharine Smith. He purchased an improve- ment, started by John Robinson, on section thirty-two, where he afterward improved a good farm and resided until his death, which occurred August 4, 1878, when he was eighty- five years of age. In the latter part of his life he drew a pension. He was twice married, and raised a large family of children. Of his children by his first wife, four still sur- vive. Bennet Posey was born in the county in 1823. He is a farmer and resides on part of his father's estate. Julia is now the widow of John McKee; Martha married James Thomas ; Chesley is a farmer, living in Clinton county, Illi- nois. Of the second marriage there were born to him three girls. He accumulated a considerable amount of property, and in every relation of life maintained the name of an honorable and honest citizen, and died regretted by a wide circle of friends.

Laban Smart came to the county in 1816, and settled in section one, town three, range seven. He was a native of North Carolina and came here from Kentucky. He con- tinued farming until about 1833, when he lost his wife. They had raised a large family of children wi hom the

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

old gentleman lived until his death, some three years later. He served as a soldier during the Revolutionary war, and drew a peusion. Wiley Smart, the oldest son that came to this county, (for some members of the family were left in Kentucky), was among the first settlers in the northern part of the county. About 1832, he exchanged farms with Peter Long and then located on the Long farm, where he continued to reside until his death in 1856. He raised quite a large family of children, some of whom settled in Shelby county, Illinois, and others went west. He was twice married, and served in the war of 1812. Peter Smart, the next son, im- proved the Gerhardt Struckoff place, in section 36, as early as 1820, where he resided until 1849, when he moved west He died in Putnam county, Missouri, some ten years later. His family was not large. Henry B., the next son, was born in the year 1800. He settled on section 35, where his son, H. A. Smart, now lives, as early as 1830. Here he improved a large farm. He died in 1882. His wife was a Miss Thompson, who came here with her uncle, Thomas Ray, in 1818. They raised a family of seven children. Alsey S. and Henry A. are farmers in the township. Maria, now Mrs. John Smith, and Martha E., now Mrs. Whiteside, also live in the township.

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History of Madison County, Illinois With biographical sketches, Part 106

Author: Brink, W.R. & Co Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Edwardsville, Ill. : W. R. Brink & co. Number of Pages: 698

Author: Brink, W.R. & Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Edwardsville, Ill. : W. R. Brink & co.
Number of Pages: 698