History of Madison County, Illinois With biographical sketches, Part 109

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 109

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).

SCHOOLS.

In 1804 or 1805, a school was taught in a log cabin on Peter Casterline's place, about a mile west of the present site of Collinsville. The teacher was one James Bradsbury, who continued at this point about one year. The school was

attended by children from all the neighboring settlements. It is related that many grown men and women sought Mr. Bradbury's instruction in learning their A, B, C's. This was undoubtedly the first public school in Madison county. In 1812 a school was taught in Samuel Judy's door yard, by Elisha Alexander. A Mr. Thompson taught there in 1813, and the year following was sueceeded by Mr. Yaney, and after him, in 1816, came Mr. Enlow, who taught a term of six mouths. Benaiah Robinson, a pupil of Enlow's, finished the unexpired term of the school.

There were several log cabin schools in this township, but little of their history can be gleaned. They were all sub- seription schools ; the teacher " boarded around." At this writing the several districts have large and well furnished school-houses, where school is taught the greater part of the year. * This township has been represented in the Board of Supervisors by B. R. Hite, ever since township organization in 1876.

PLEASANT RIDGE,

located in the centre of section 10, is entirely a German set- tlement. Henry and William Blum were the first settlers. It is surrounded by a beautiful rolling prairie, adorned with rich and finely improved farms, occupied principally by thrifty Germans. The little village contains a general store and saloon, kept by Charles Anacker ; blacksmith shop, by John C. Shoettle, and a shoemaker, Frederick Nordmaier. The Lutheran society have a fine brick church and school- house, in which is taught a parochial school.

THE TEN MILE HOUSE,

is a general store and saloon, located on the St. Louis road in section 6 of this township.

CONFIDENCE COAL AND MINING COMPANY.

This mine is situated two and one-half miles north-east of Collinsville, on the line of the Vandalia railroad. The shaft was sunk in the spring of 1870, by Seybt, Bandelier & Co. In the fall of 1870, the mine was leased to the Bartlett Coal and Mining Co., and it was extensively worked by them until the spring of 1873, when they forfeited their lease and Seybt, Bandelier & Co., began operating it and have continued to the present. The depth of the shaft is 219 feet to the surface of the coal, and the vein will average seven feet. The mine is operated by machinery, ruu by compressed air. They employ 50 men, and the average amount of coal raised is eighteen car loads per day. The company have in all eighteen buildings including the tipple house, office, boarding houses and dwellings. Most of the dwellings are situated on the bluffs a short distance east of the mine.

HEINTZVILLE

is a new town, surveyed and platted in the fall of 1880, by Walter Rutledge, for J. L. Heintz, the proprietor. The plat contains about ten aeres in the S. E. quarter of S. E. quarter of seetion 27. It was named in honor of the pro-

* See Chapter on Common Schools.

457

HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

prietor, an energetic and go-nhead gentleman. It contains at this writing twenty two houses, twenty-six families and about 150 population, quite a rapid growth for two years. The business interests are one store, a blacksmith shop, zine works. coal mine and stone quarry.

The Stone Quarry is located on bluff's on the south side of the Vandalia railroad which passes through the village. The rock is a hard grey limestone, which makes an excellent material for foundation and building purposes. There were ! about 500 perches quarried in 1881, and the proprietor in- tends working it more extensively the coming year. It is owned and operated by .J. L. Heintz.

Heintz Bluff Mine was sunk in 1876, by J. L. Heintz. It is 165 feet to the surface of the coal, and the vein will average from seven and one-half to eight feet in thickness. July 1st, 1881, Mr. Heintz sold the mine to J. H. Wickliffe, who is now operating it with Mr. Heintz as superintendent. The mine employs about 65 men and raises about 90,000 bushels of coal per month.

CITY OF COLLINSVILLE.

THIS is the largest and most important place on the line of the Vandalia Railroad, in Madison county. It is ten miles east of St. Louis, and about twelve miles south of the county seat, in the heart of a rich agricultural and coal re- gion. Coal mining and manufacturing are the chief inter- ests of the place.

The original town plat was laid out by the representatives

1 of Wm. B. Collins, deceased, Joseph L. Darrow and Ho- race Look. It constituted a part of the N. E. } of thirty- three, and a part of the N. W. } of section thirty-four, of three-eight or Collinsville township. The plat was recorded in the office of county clerk May 12, 1837. Since this date there have been seventeen additions made to the plat.

The first settler on the present site of Collinsville was John A. Cook, who entered land, erected a log cabin, and made some improvements in the eastern part of section thirty four, ahont 1816. " In 1817 three brothers, Augus- tus, Anson and Michael Collins, from Litchfield, Connecti- eut, purchased the premises of Mr. Cook, and immediately commenced improvements. They soon erected a distillery, of logs, with two s'ills-one of thirty gallons' and the other of sixty gallons' capacity-a frame store-house, a large, double-decked ox-grist and saw mill, cooper, blacksmith, wagon and carpenter shops, tan yard, and several dwellings. Thus was laid the foundation of the present city of Collins- ville. To this place these brothers first gave the name Unionville, which was subsequently changed to its present name." The following letter from the pen of the late Rev. Thomas Lippincott, gives a good description of the place at the time of his visit :

" I think it was in the winter of 1820-21, that I went in company with Major William H. Hopkins to the southern part of the county ; and visited a place of business enter. prise that even then had begun to attract attention. These were mills-saw mill and flour mill-driven by horses or oxen, a distillery, a store, a tan yard, and a shoemaking shop, all carried on by five brothers who had come from

Litchfield, Connecticut, and were united in the enterprise. I do not know if they had then laid out a village, which they called Unionville, but they did so then or afterwards. At the time of this visit 1 only saw one of the brothers, who was at work on a large frame house-large, even now- which they were ereeting preparatory to the coming of their venerable parents and sisters. The names of these brothers were Augustus, Anson, Michael, William B., and Frederick Collins. A noble band of brothers. While actively and energetically driving their business in the most economical and profitable way, and rapidly accumulating wealth. they were far from being unmindful of the higher interests, so- cial and spiritual, of themselves and those around them. One of their first cares was the ercetion of a commodious (for those days) and well arranged place of worship; which also served the purpose of a school-house. Only one of the brothers, Augustus, was then married. In due time three others became so. William B. Collins married a daughter of Mr. Hertzogg, of St. Louis, then running a mill in the American Bottom ; Michael, a daughter of Captain Blake- man, and Frederick, a daughter of Captain Allen, both of Marine settlement. I said they were growing wealthy. Each attended to a special department, and all worked in unison. It was their aim and boast to have the products of their labor of the best quality. Their whisky was consid- ered first rate, and their inclined wheel ox-mill flour com- manded an extra price in eastern markets. Not only had they a store at their own establishment on the Cantine creek, but opened a depot at St. Louis for their commodities. They obtained a post-office, but inasmuch as there was one place by the name of Unionville in the State, the Postmaster General changed the name of this, which, being accepted by

* them, thenceforth was known as Collinsville." * *

"They were convinced at length that the distilling business was wrong, was unchristian, and ceased operations; and, in- stead of selling the machinery, as they might have done for a round sum, they totally demolished the building, broke up the generators, took the huge tanks to their dwellings for cisterns, and sold the wash-tubs to farmers for granaries. I have seen these donble hogsheads or tubs at different farm houses, full of wheat or other small grain, while yet there were few or no barns in the county. The partners then separated ; Augustus soon died ; several went to the Illinois river and established mills, &c. at Naples ; and Wm. B. Collins remained alone at Collinsville, carrying on the busi- ness-minus the distillery-until his death. * All are now gone, including the oldest son, Amos M Collins of Hartford, the well-known philanthropist and Christian, but the youngest brother, Frederick, who resides in Quincy, and a sister, the widow of him who has been ever known among Presbyterians as the apostle to the great west, the venerated Solomon Giddings." * * All the members of this family are now deccased.

In 1820, a Mr. Wilcox, from New York, located in Col- linsville, and began the tanning business, which he after- ward increased to forty-nine vats, and carried on the business successfully for ten years, when he sold out to Hiram L. Ripley. Mr. Ripley continued the business several years,

458

HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

and is still living in the city. Another New Yorker, Horace Look, came west in 1818, and first stopped in St. Louis, where he married and went to Edwardsville, and in 1821 permanently settled in Collinsville. He was a harness maker, and formed a partnership in that business with Mr. Wilcox. Mr. Look was an early justice of the peace, and was postmaster in Collinsville for nearly thirty years. He reared a family of eight children, four of whom are now living. Oliver P. Look in Collinsville is the only one re- siding iu Illinois. Mr. Look died ou Christmas day, 1863. Among other early aud enterprising residents were Benjamin Johnson. Aaron Ford, Isaac and Ebenezer Lock wood, James Ilaffey, Jesse Glover, Aaron Small, Dr. Gunn, Dr. Samuel Hall, Dr. Gurnsey, Dr. Strong. Dr. Henry Wing. Dr. Wm. S. Edgar, Dr. J. L. Darrow, and Captain William N. Wick- litte. Dr. Gunn was the first physician. Richard Withers, a blacksmith, and enterprising man, had, at one time, quite an extensive plow factory. Peter and Paul Wonderly had a distillery. and operated the first coal mine.

Daniel Berkey, a native of Pennsylvania, came west in 1819, and settled in St Clair county, just south of Collins- ville. In 1830, he moved and made this place his perma- nent home. Jonathan J., the third son of Daniel Berkey, is now among the oldest settlers in this neighborhood. Joshua S. Peers came from New York with his father, who settled in St. Clair county in 1832. Mr. Peers was, for many years, a prominent citizen of Collinsville, and one to whom we are indebted for much of the history of this town- ship and city.

CHURCHIES. -

The first house of worship was a frame building erected in 1818. It was a union church, used by all denominations, and also for school purposes. The first sermon is said to have been preached by a Baptist divine. Rev. Salmon Gid- dings organized a Presbyterian society here in 1817. Revs. James and Joseph Lemen, Thomas Lippincott, and Isaac McMahan were among the early preachers. There are at present five churches in the city, viz. : Presbyterian, Metho- dist, Episcopal, Catholic and Lutheran. A complete history of these churches may be seen in the Ecclesiastical chapter.

SCHOOLS.

The earliest schools were taught in the union church above mentioned. Philander Braley, who had been teach- ing here for some time, erected a house with his own means, and established a private school. Mr. Braley was a good teacher, and his school at one time had quite a reputation, and was patronized by parties from St. Louis, and other places. He afterwards moved to Carlinsville, where he still resides. The Braley school house which can yet be seen, is a two story frame building. the property of Dr. H. L. Strong, situated on the southwest side of Center street, south of Main. Mr. Braley was followed by Rev. Charles E. Blood, pastor of the Presbyterian Church. Blood erected a two story frame building on the same lot as the present school- house, and established an academy. He introduced the higher branches and prepared students for college. This school existed about five years when the building was pur-

chased by the directors, and in it the first public schools were taught. It was used for that purpose until 1867, when it was moved and now forms a part of Wilson's bell factory, and a new three story brick school house was erected. It was built on the same lot, and in 1872 was destroyed by fire. Contracts were almost immediately let for the building of the present house, which was completed in 1873. It is a handsome three story brick structure, with dressed limestone and yellow fire-brick trimmings, surmounted with a cupola. It contains twelve rooms, four on each floor. It is a graded school, employing nine teachers.

Cemeteries .- There are three burying grounds, the Col - linsville Cemetery, and the Catholic and Lutheran.

Incorporation .- Collinsville was first incorporated under the general law as a village in 1850. We find on the records, that the following named gentlemen were elected trustees and met in first session, November 30, 1830 :- Presi- dent, D. D. Collins; A. Tufts, clerk ; J. J. Fisher, H. L. Ripley and Horace Look. September 30, 1872, there was an election held to vote ou city organization, which resulted in one hundred and one votes for, and seventy-eight votes against, n majority of twenty-three votes for city organization. On the 11th of November, 1872, an election was held and the following city officers elected : Mayor-John Becker. Al- dermen-A. W. Brown James Combs, J. J. Fisher, C. Kalb- fleisch, A. M Powell, J. M. Verneuil. City Clerk-J. G. Gerding. City Attorney-Edward Wilburn, (not inaugu- rated.) Appointed Officers. City Marshal-John G. Blake. City Superintendent of Streets-John G. Blake. The town from its beginning had only a gradual growth until the building of the Vandalia railroad through here in 1868, which gave it a new impetus, and it soon became more pros- perous. Her coal interests were soon developed and became an important factor in her business. Her beautiful heights were sought by citizens of St. Louis, as suburban homes ; houses in pleasing variety of architecture were here and there erected, and Collinsville became, not only a mining and manufacturing place but a city of residences. In 1880 it contained 2,893 inhabitants.

MINING AND MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.

There is a fine body of bituminous coal underlying the whole surface of this region of country, and in the vicinity of Collinsville the vein will average from seven and a half to eight feet in thickness. The coal found at a depth of 160 to 190 feet is of an excellent quality, and is exten- sively mined. The mines have a slate and lime- stone roof, and are comparatively dry. Some of them are mentioned above, as they are not within the corporate limits of the city.

COLLINSVILLE COAL AND MINING COMPANY.

This company is the owner of the first shaft that was sunk in Collinsville. It is the first mine east of the depot, and was sunk by Peter Wonderly, about 20 years ago. The mine was then worked by horse power.

The company consists of George Savitz, president ; and

459

HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

J. H. Wickliffe, who are owners and proprietors of the mines.

They operate two shafts, the second of which was sunk in 1873. The depth is 150 fect to the surface of the coal, and the vein will average seven and a half feet in thickness. They employ 100 men ; capacity ot the mines 11,000 bush- els per day. Office, 414 Olive street, St. Louis.

LUMAGIII MINE

Was opened in 1869, by Octavius Lumaghi, and is still owned and operated by him. The shaft is 165 feet deep ; the vein will average from 7 to 8 feet. The average amount of men employed, sixty.

CANTINE COAL AND MINING COMPANY.

The Cantine mine was sunk in 1873, by Morrison and Ambrosius, and is now owned by the above named company. The depth of the shaft is 182 feet to the coal, which aver- ages 73 to 8 feet in thickness. The company employ about 65 men. The average amount of coal mined in 1881 was 100,000 bushels per month. The officers of this company are: President, C. A. Ambrosins ; Treasurer and Secretary, J. G. Gerding.

ABBEY COAL AND MINING COMPANY.

This is the most extensive mining company on the line of the Vandalia Railroad. However, there is only one mine operated by them in Madison county, the others being in St. Clair. The shaft near the depot at Collinsville, desig- ated as " Abbey No. 3," was sunk by Reid and Strain, in 1875, and the following year leased it to the above company. It is 138 feet to the top of the coal. The vein will run from seven to 8 feet in thickness, and it is worked entirely by machinery, employing 60 men on top. The Lawrence Mine No. 4, is similar to that of No. 3, being a machine mine. The others are worked by the old system, employing in all from 400 to 500 men. In 1881 the Abbey company raised in all their mines 13,400 car loads, or about 5,000,000 bushels.

THE COLLINSVILLE MILL

Is an old building, having been in existence for twenty-five or thirty years. The older portion was built by James Mat- thews. There have been several additions made to it since, and it has been many times remodelled. It is now owned and operated by Baker & Co. It has four run of burrs, with a capacity of grinding 150 bls. per day. It is a mer- chant mill, and the brands Argentine and Sonora are an ex- cellent quality of flour.

CANTINE MILL.

This mill is owned by F. Lange, and leased and operated by J. Higley. It is four stories high, frame, and has a run of four burrs, with a capacity of manufacturing 150 bls. per day. Several good brands of flour are manufactured, and find a market in St. Louis and other cities.

COLLINSVILLE ZINC WORKS.

In 1875, Dr. Octavius Lumaghi erected works for the smelting of zinc ore, at his coal mine, and operated them

until the fall of 1881, when he leased them to Parks & Bros. After operating about three months Messrs. Parks & Bros. failed, and in January, 1882, the works were leased by Reichenbach & Co., who are operating them very suc. cessfully. They also leased the works at Heintzville, giving them altogether four furnaces. The works have three cal- cining kilns, to prepare the ore for the smelting furnaces, ore crushers, clay mill, and a regular pottery for manufac- turing the retorts. They are the Belgian pattern of furnace. There are two kinds of ore used, silicate and blende, which are brought from Joplin and Webb City, Mo., and manu- factured into spelter, and shipped mostly to the east. The works have a capacity of 6000 lbs. spelter per day, consum- ing four car loads of ore per week, and about 600 bushels of coal per day, and employ fifty men.

TIIE STOCK BELL FACTORY

Of O. B. Wilson was established several years ago. The present owner, Mr. Wilson, is the successor of I. C. Moore. He purchased the business and property of Moore in 1876, since which he has made several important improvements in the machinery and process of manufacturing, and added new furnaces, forges, etc. The machinery is run by steam power, and from 150 to 200 dozen bells are manufactured per day, It employs from ten to twenty men. Mr. Wilson has in- vented, and patented, a process for coating bells with brass which is a great time and labor saving item. His bells are sold directly to dealers in all the citics in the United States, and they give the best satisfaction.

BLUM & SCHOETTLE'S STOCK BELL FACTORY,

Was established in July, 1879. It is a one story building arranged and fitted up with all the necessary furnaces, forges and machinery for manufacturing a good article. They have a capacity of manufacturing 100 dozen bells per day, employing from twelve to fifteen men. The bells are sold in all parts of the country.

MACHINE SIIOP.

This is a new enterprise, established by Allen & Son, practical general machinists. It is a well fitted shop, with improved machinery, run by steam power, and all kinds of work are done in good style.

BRICK YARD.

This is located in the northeastern limits of the city. It contains two kilns, and about 700,000 brick are annually burned. They are made by hand. It is owned by Fred. Hoga, and was established in 1879.

THE COOPER SHOP

Owned and carried on by Charles Hartmann, employ six men and manufacture about 500 barrels per week.

NURSERY AND SEEDS.

John W. Kropf, at the west end of Main street, has about one acre of plants and nursery stock. He deals in all kinds

460

HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

of vegetable and flower seeds and green honse plants, which are always fresh and guaranteed.

BUSINESS OF 1882.

Physicians .- J. L. R. Wadsworth, H. L. Strong, Charles Oatmann, Frederick Brendemuehl, A. M. Powell, J. W. Davis.

General Stores .- J. L. Loyet, C. H. Pabst, F. C. Metz, Bertram & Snodgrass, Jobn H. Kuhlenbeck, C. A. Single- tary, Kalbfleisch & Son, Charles Anwater, M. Weisenben- berger, J. Wilbert & Son, Solomon Hartman, Roberts & Son.

Drugs -Wadsworth & Son, Hermau Graze, Charles P. Ochsner.

Hardware and Tin Stores .- John Sehoettle, Christiau Blum, Martin Brede, Albrecht & Werter.

Hardware and Machinery .- W. D. Gardiner.

Furniture and Undertaking .- Moritz Wilhelm, Charles F. Heinecke, Martin Schroepple.

Groceries .-. L. C. Winkler, Gus Roedger, J. N. Chilton, August Guy.

Confectioneries .- G. W. Scharpf, James Bullock, Lewis Hoffmann, David W. Jones, J. Dudley.

Restaurant and Bakery .- William MeKeag.

Bakeries .- Gus. Gang, Conrad Mueller, Henry Dewald.

Vegetable and Produce .- H. R. Johnson, William B. Whittaker.

Jewelry .- William Stevens, Fred. Bron.

Livery .- O. C. Look, George Blake.

Meut Markets .- Jonathan Turner, Valentine Loyet, Mat- thews & Knedler, Peter Sweitzer.

Harness Shops .- H. M. Sanders, J. H. B. Willoughby, Charles Korinek.

Hotels .- Berry House, Mrs. William Berry, proprietress ; Central House, William Terry, proprietor; Gaskill House, S. W. Gaskill, proprietor ; American House, Daniel Steele, proprietor.

News Depots and Stationery .- Max Zucker, Wadsworth & Son, Miss S. H. Nelson.

Shoe Shops .- M. Roedger, Adam Sehroeppel, J. Bandhaner, Luther Robinson, Henry Stumpf, John Breslyn.

Segar Stores and Manufactories .- J. H. Meier, Lorenz Klein, James O'Connell, Max Zucker.

Tailor Shops .- Frank Suchy, John Masek.

Wagon Shop .- John Gronau.

Carpenter Shops .- Joseph Judy, M. Eberhardt, Philip Listerman.

Dry Goods and Clothing .- Jacob Fisher.

Millinery .- John N. Davis, C. A. Singletary.

Broom Factory .- Kneedler & Schultz.

Feed Store .- William H. Brown.

Blacksmith Shop .- Peter Klina, John Kalina, Timothy Kane, Adam Wendler.

Architect .- G. A. Miller.

Dentist .- T. S. Wilson.

Newspapers .- Collinsville Weekly Herald, J. N. Peers, proprietor ; Collinsville Star, W. A. Wetmore, proprietor.

Buss Line-O. C. Look.

Justices of the Peace .- J. M. Lawrence, Daniel Weaver, L. Robinson ..

Lumber Yard .- J. W. Peers.

Saloons .- James Smith, Thomas & Hadfield, Philip Wil- bert, Henry Huffendieck, Daniel Steele, Mrs. Christian Wacker, George Baumgoertner, Casper Saunier, Albert Vujteh, Joseph Berka, Joseph Kalina. !

BIOGRAPHIES.

WAS born September 13, 1841, in Marion county, Illinois, the third in order of birth in a family of nine children born to Louis and Dorothea Hite (Ruffner). His mother was of the family of Ruffners, well known throughout the Kanawha Valley, West Virginia, as having established the salt works there. Louis Hite was a farmer, a contractor on railroads and a politician. At the age of twenty six years he served his fellow citizens as a member of the Ohio Legis- lature. In 1858, he was engrossing clerk in the Illinois Senate. He died in Potosi, Missouri, December 24, 1881.

Benjamin R. Hite, the subject of this sketch, obtained a common school education in the schools of Salem and Col. linsville. To the latter place, his present home, he came in 1866. His qualifications, eminently fit him for representative

positions and his fellow citizens appreciating this fact honored him with a seat in the 25th General Assembly of Illinois, and have kept him as supervisor in the county board ever since the inauguration of township organization. He was chairman the fourth and seventh years of his service. He was married to Sarah E. Griffith, daughter of Joseph W. Griffith, one of the pioneers of this county, Feb. 8, 1866. Four sons have gladdened this union.

Mr. Hlite is a pronounced Democrat politically, and a re- cognized party leader At a Democratic convention recently held he was nominated for County Treasurer by acclama- tion and elected to that office in November 1882. Possessed of eminently social qualities, he has hosts of friends. His business qualifications fit him well for positions of trust.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Madison County, Illinois With biographical sketches, Part 109

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