History of Morgan county, Illinois : its past and present, containing a history of the county; its cities, towns, etc.; a biographical directory of its volunteers in the late rebellion; portraits of its early settlers and prominent men [etc., etc.], Part 36

Author:
Publication date: c1878
Publisher: Chicago : Donnelley, Loyd & co.
Number of Pages: 792

USA > Illinois > Morgan County > History of Morgan county, Illinois : its past and present, containing a history of the county; its cities, towns, etc.; a biographical directory of its volunteers in the late rebellion; portraits of its early settlers and prominent men [etc., etc.] > Part 36

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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.

tor called daily, for ten days, during which time the disease was entirely checked, and I became able to travel to Galena, and obtain passage on a boat to Quincy. I paid the doctor a small bill for his services, but Plas- ters refused to receive pay.

" At Galena, I found an old Kentucky acquaintance by the name of Rountree, proposing to take deck passage with a mess on a steamboat for St. Louis. As cabin passage could not be procured, I joined the mess. The boat towed two lead boats, on which the deck passengers had to ride, furnishing their own supplies. We laid in our provisions, and with loose plank furnished by the boat, made ourselves comfortable quarters, much more so than had any cabin passengers. We fared sumptuously on the trip down. On this boat, Black Hawk and Keokuk, with some eight or ten other leading Indians, passed down to Flint Hill, now Burling- ton. I left the boat at Quincy, where I purchased a horse, saddle, and bridle for forty dollars. From Quincy I went down to Atlas - then there was no settlement between Quincy and Illinois River, nor any road on which I could travel. I rested one day at Atlas. The next day I came to Exeter, where I was taken sick again ; took a large dose of calo- inel, and had to remain two days before proceeding farther. I finally reached home, very much worsted in flesh and strength, but without disease. In a few days the fall terms of the courts commenced. I was able to ride and attend court in Greene, where I spent a week at a good hotel, kept by Mr. Reno. I was scarcely able to attend to business in court, but for assisting Gen. Turney, I made enough to pay my tavern bill ; but my health improved, I gained strength, and by the next week I was able to attend to business in Morgan. I next attended the court in Springfield, and then all the other courts in the circuit. On this circuit we found but little business in any of the counties - parties,

jurymen, and witnesses were reported in all the counties after Peoria, as being absent bear and deer hunting -a business that was then profitable, as well as necessary to the sustenance of families during the winter. In December, 1827, I attended the Supreme Court at Vandalia, where I had a case dismissed because the appellant had not filed a copy of the bond within the time required by law.

" Mr. Rockwell being agent for the owners of several hundred tracts of military land, employed me to pay the taxes, for which he paid my traveling expenses, and provided for my board at the house of W. H. Brown, Esq.

" During my absence at Vandalia on this trip, the court house on the public square was burned. It might have taken fire by accident, but I have always believed, and so did Mr. McConnell, that it was set on fire by Greene, the sheriff. By this fire I lost a small box of clothing and my Bible, the only book I brought from Kentucky. The office of circuit and county clerk was kept in a small up-stairs room. All the books and papers of the office were burned, except the deed book, which Mr. Rock- well had taken to his dwelling to record some deeds in the night time.

"The Circuit Court was held in Jacksonville, in November, 1826, John T. Sawyer, circuit judge, presiding. There was about forty cases on the docket, all told. The attorneys present were James Tracy, attor- ney general of the State, and Alfred W. Crawley, of Carrollton ; Thomas A. Neale, James M. Strode, and Jonathan H. Pugh, of Springfield ; John

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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.

Reynolds, of Kahokia ; William H. Brown, Benjamin Mills, and George Farqueir, of Vandalia ; Murray McConnell, John Turney, Benjamin Case, and myself, of Jacksonville-of whom Mr. Cavarly and myself are the only survivors, this 12th of October, 1874; he eighty-one years old, and I near seventy-two. Court was continued one week, and the next week was held in Springfield.

" I attended this court in company with all the attorneys in attend- ance in Morgan, except McConnell and Cox. Here 1 met with General James Andrews, probate judge, William S. Hamilton, and Thomas Mof- fitt, of Springfield ; David Prickett, of Edwardsville ; and John B. Bo- gardus, of Peoria ; of whom Mr. Moffitt is the only survivor. I was the guest of Mr. Wale during the week, with whom I was acquainted in Kentucky, and here I met with Mr. Carlton B. Gatton, a Kentucky ac- quaintance, by whoni I was introduced to the family of Mr. P. P. Enos, receiver of the public moneys at the land office in Springfield. During the week a Mr. Vannay was hung in Springfield, for the murder of his wife. This was the first and last case of execution that I have ever seen."

Another old resident of Jacksonville, remembers that the following named persons resided here in 1828 :

" Dennis Rockwell, circuit clerk and county clerk ; Mrs. Kellogg ; John Handy, carpenter ; Mr. Bunnell, carpenter ; Samuel Titus, teamster, first colored man ; Murray McConnell, lawyer ; Matthew Stacy, saddler and harnessmaker ; George Rearick, merchant ; Joseph Fairfield, mer- chant ; Abram Vance, merchant; Nathan Gest, merchant ; Thomas Car- son, hatter and tavern keeper; George Nicely, hatter; Mr. Robinson, school teacher; Verin Daniels, gunsmith; S. H. Henderson, grocer ; John P. Wilkinson, merchant ; Rice Dunbar, carpenter ; Thomas Church, farmer ; John Buckingham, brick mason and plasterer; Ero Chandler, physician ; Doctor Allen, old practice ; Bazzil Gillett, doctor and mer- chant ; Ranson Cordell, coonstable ; Mr. Shull, tavern keeper; Win. S. Jordan, farmer ; Mr. Robley, farmer and brickmaker ; Mr. McClurg, tanner and currier ; E. T. Miller, carpenter; George Graves, cabinet maker ; John Savage, carpenter; Edward Durant, carpenter ; James Martin Eads, blacksmith ; John Eads, jr., blacksmith ; John Eads, sr., blacksmith ; Simeon Mccullough, tailor; Levi Church, tailor; John' Laughery, laborer ; David Tefft, carpenter ; Joseph Coddington, mer- chant ; Enoch C. March, miller and merchant ; William L. May, repre- sentative in the legislature ; Josiah Gorham, jr., carpenter ; Samuel Rix- ford, no employment ; John Henry, cabinet maker; Doctor Taylor, mer- chant and post-master ; James Parkinson, wood-cording machine ; Wil- liam Thomas, lawyer ; Jacob Barton, farmer ; James Blair, dry goods clerk ; James Leeper dry goods clerk ; Joseph Robinson, dry goods clerk; James Buckingham, plasterer ; Daniel Busey, saddler and harness maker ; Thomas, jr., brick mason ; James Carson, cabinet workman ; John Carson, brickmaker ; Mr. Ellis, Presbyterian preacher ; Aquilla Hutchins, farmer ; George Richards, surveyor; Emanuel Metcalf, chair maker ; Garrison W. Berry, brickmaker; McHenry Johnson, blacksmith; Mr. Grimsly, blacksmith ; Nelson Johnson, dry goods clerk ; Enos Hobbs, mail carrier ; William Conn, Thomas Arnett, Phillip Haines, Darius In- galls, Mrs. Palmer, Mrs. Joiner, Mrs. Buckingham, Mrs. George Rearick,

No Grean.

LATE PESIDENT OF THE JCKSONYILLE NATIONAL BANK JACKSONVILLE

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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.

Mrs. George Richards, Mrs. John P. Wilkinson, Mrs. Simeon McCul- lough, Mrs. Martin Eads, Mrs. John Eads, Mrs. Verin Daniels, Mrs. Doctor Taylor, Mrs. George Nicely, Mrs. Matthew Stacy, Mrs. Handy, Mrs. Bunnell, Mrs. Emanuel Metcalf, Mrs. Robley, Mrs. Garrison W. Berry, Mrs. James Parkinson, Mrs. E. T. Miller, Mrs. Thomas Church, Mrs. Charles Chappell, Miss Ann Robinson, Miss Hester Kellogg, Mrs. Thomas Carson, Mrs. Nathan Gest, Mrs. Abram Vance, Mrs. William L. May, Mrs. Conn, Mrs. Nero Chandler, Mrs. Jacob Barton, Mr. John Savage, Mrs. John Henry, Mrs. Dennis Rockwell, Mr. McClurg, Mrs. Ranson Cordall, Mrs. Joseph Fairfield, Mrs. John Buckingham, Mrs. Doctor Allen, Mrs. John Laugherty, Mrs. Samuel Titus (colored ), Mrs. Grimsley, Mrs. McHenry Johnson, Mrs. Aquilla Hutchins, Mrs. Darius Ingals, Mrs. Phillip Haines, Mrs. Thomas Arnett."

The Judge's article gives an accurate description of the little town when he first saw it, and of its life during the fall and winter following. The opening of the season of 1827 brought fresh arrivals to the growing place, and new cabins were built, old ones improved, a store or two opened, a shop of the pioneer style erected, and the town of Jacksonville had become a reality, and had a name in the East, where it was known as a promising Western town. The Rev. John Ellis and his wife made this their home in 1828. He was a Presbyterian minister, and was labor- ing in this part of the West, in the interest of his church. Seeing the necessity of an educational institution in the Prairie State, and being a man of considerable zeal and energy, he determined to found a college in one of its growing towns, and selected Jacksonville as the place. He was aided in his efforts by Mr. William Posey, and other influential citi- zens of the town, and by Judge Samuel Lockwood, then residing at Edwardsville. A band of young men just entering the ministry in the East, had agreed, before their graduation, that they would make some portion of the Northwest territory their future field of labor, and that they would, as soon as possible, found an institution of learning therein. They were induced to co-operate with Mr. Ellis and others, in the found- ing of Illinois College. In a short time a location had been secured, some money had been raised, and by the Autumn of 1829, the buildings were so far completed that Dr. J. M. Sturtevant, one of the band of young men before mentioned, and who was selected as a teacher in the school, began his work there, and the foundation of the present Illinois College, the oldest and one of the largest educational institutions in the State, was firmly laid.

This college was established for the education of young men alone. Mrs. Ellis, who had ably seconded her husband in his labors, and who earnestly desired an institution for the equal education of young women, opened a school in her house for this purpose. In September, 1830, a meeting of several prominent gentlemen was held at the house of J. P. Wilkinson, Esq., for the purpose of discussing the propriety of founding a female academy. The meeting led to good results. Dr. Ero Chandler donated a lot of ground, a small brick dwelling was soon erected, and in 1833 the Jacksonville Female Academy was formally opened, with Miss Sarah Cracker as principal. The founding of these two institutions established the future prosperity of the new Western town. They brought to it an excellent class of citizens, who in coming years saw

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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.

unequalled provision for the education of their children. Provision for the free education of the youth had not yet been fully made by the State of Illinois. The people were generous in this regard, and were always ready to be taxed for the education of their children. What the public fund lacked was made up by private subscription, and every winter a school or schools were regularly maintained in Jacksonville. This plan of sustaining the public schools was continued until the adoption of the present school system.

The religious life of the village, always aided by education, had been carefully fostered all these years. In the little log school-house, regular religious services were held until larger and better accommodations could be secured. In 1822, in "Father " Jourdan's house, standing a little in the rear of the old Berean College building, a Methodist class was organ- ized, and for three years before the town of Jacksonville was contem- plated, religious services had been held regularly. The old log school- house was afterward used by these worshipers, alternating with the Pres- byterians. That little band of godly people grew, as time went on, until now there are several large congregations of this denomination in and abont Jacksonville. Four years after the organization of the class in "Father " Jourdan's house, the Rev. John Brich gathered together what few Presbyterians there were in the little town, and in the barn of Mr. John Leeper, organized a church, the outgrowth of which are the three large Presbyterian congregations in the city. Other denominations were not slow to occupy the field. The Baptists, Congre- gationalists, Portuguese, Presbyterians, German and African Churches, Catholics and Christians each established congregations, and each are well sustained.

The city, from its earliest commencement, has always been an edu- cational center. Many persons come here for no other purpose than to enjoy its educational facilities. It is largely owing to this fact that but few manufacturing industries are established, and that the trade of the city is chiefly confined to its own citizens, and to its own immediate vicinity. The first stores in the place were built of buckeye or sycamore logs, in which a motley assortment of goods were kept. These pioneer stores were small affairs, often without a window, chimney, or wooden floors. The interior of these stores was sometimes lined with gorgeously figured calico, intended by the proprietors to give the room a more taste- ful appearance. Buckeye logs, under the influence of warm spring rains, produce sprouts with remarkable ease; these latter were often an annoyance to the storekeepers, as it was not uncommon for them to find them growing through his calico lining, or winding about among the various articles on his shelves. Enterprising industry could not long brook such inconveniences, and frame buildings speedily took the places of their more primitive predecessors, which, if not converted into. sheds or barns, made good fire-wood.

At the time of the building of the Illinois College, all that tract of land lying between that institution and the public square, was in its primitive condition, or cultivated as a farm. Where now are the finest residences, the most beautiful yards, and the best shaded streets, was then open prairie, or used for farm purposes. What changes time produces ? Then all buildings in town were small, almost entirely built

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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.

of frame logs, the former being pointed out to the traveler as the home of elegance and wealth. The business of the time was proportionate to the residences. No large stores graced the public square, or stood as monu- ments of the industry of the owners, in other streets. The houses of that day are succeeded now by more elegant affairs, though no more homelike than their predecessors. Their owners have grown with the town, and can look over the scenes of their labors with feelings of pride at the results obtained, and know that the passing years have been those of care and toil, though sweetened by the thoughts of the rest and comfort sure to follow.

The early log stores speedily gave way to frame buildings, which in their time became too small and insecure, and were replaced by more sub- stantial brick structures. . The first of these was erected in 1828, by J. P. Wilkinson, Esq., and occupied the lot of ground where is now the store of Geo. W. Van Zant. Another was built on the south side of the square, and one on the north, by Cornelius Hook, Esq., and in 1831 or '32, the present bank building of M. P. Ayers & Co. Like its population, the business of Jacksonville was growing. New and more substantial stores were appear- ing about the public square, while in the residence portion, better dwellings were being erected. Streets were accurately defined ; pavements took the place of mud sidewalks ; fences were built before the door-yards, and a finer and more elegant life was becoming manifest. By the United States census of 1830, the town contained 446 inhabitants ; and the next year Jacksonville was incorporated as a town. . The system of govern- ment was so well managed that it continued in use until 1867, long after the population had grown to the proportions which fully warranted a city government. The growth of the city received a severe check by the rav- ages of cholera in 1833, which carried off a great many of the inhabitants. This was a serious blow to the prosperity of the city, from which it had scarcely rallied, when the financial crash of 1837 gave it another serious blow, from which it took years of time to recover. The census of 1840 showed a population of 1,900, which indicated that, despite the draw- backs mentioned, the growth of the city was gradually progressing. The building of the Morgan and Sangamon Railroad in 1838, at its com- pletion to Jacksonville, two years after, gave a fresh impulse to the growth and business of the city, and from that time its prosperity has been unabated. The old railroad, with its insufficient equipment, was the beginning of a grand system of railroads now traversing the State in every direction. At first the depot was in the public square, but soon after the road was extended to the capital of the State ; and though the stages could sometimes out-travel the small train of cars used to carry passengers and freight, yet its ingress and egress to and from the growing town, gave it an air of activity seldom seen at that day. In 1847, the old, worn-out road passed into the hands of a company of men who were determined to rebuild and equip it in a manner insuring success. Those who had so strenuously urged the building of the track through the prin- cipal streets of the city, and had succeeded in their efforts, sa'w, as others foretold, the impropriety of cars of railroads passing through the center of the city, and were with all citizens well satisfied when the company removed the track from State Street to its present location. In a short time this railroad, under the new management, was in running order, and the

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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.

business of the city received anew an impulse which it has never relaxed. Ten years after, part of the Jacksonville and St. Louis Railroad was con- structed, which in time was completed ; became part of the Chicago and Alton Railroad, and gives to Jacksonville direct communication with the principal cities in the West. Two other railroads have since been built, which, like their predecessors, give to the city abundant means for trans- portation to every part of the country. The operation of the Morgan and Sangamon Railroad during its continuance, and its reconstruction in 1847, brought a corresponding increase of business and population to the town. In 1850, the inhabitants numbered 2,745; in 1860, the number was 5,528, and in 1870, 9,365. Should the same ratio of increase prevail during the decade following the last enumeration, the population in 1880 will be nearly 20,000.

Until the building of the present system of water-works, the city was without an adequate supply of this most necessary article. Aside from the burning of the Illinois College, but few disastrous conflagrations occurred. The citizens were generally prompt in rendering aid wherever a fire happened, and thus saved their homes from destruction. It became. evident, however, that a better system of protection should be secured. The General Assembly, in 1835, passed an act entitled " An act for the incorporation of fire companies," which was approved February 12th of that year. Under the provisions of this act, the first fire company in the city was formed on the 23d of April, 1840. The names of its members show that its numbers were composed of some of the best citizens of the place. The buildings were generally of wood, mostly of a small size, and but few disastrous fires occurred. Their equipment consisted of a double-decked hand-engine. It was a very heavy "machine," " and required quite a number of hands to work it. The same engine, with some improvements, is still used when occasions require. In addition to the old " Union " engine, the company had several hundred feet of hose, buckets, ladders, axes, and other necessary equipments. As the list of members comprising this company will be of interest to the readers of these pages, it is here inserted :

James Berdan, A. V. Putman,* James H. Lurton,

Thomas Anderson,* William Branson, Orlando C. Cole, Nicholas Milburn,* Samuel Galbraith,* John W. Goltra, Timothy D. Eames, Morton Mallory, William S. Hurst,* Benjamin F. Ģass, A. C. Dickson, James Hurst,* S. H. Henderson,

Morris Collins,* Stafford Smith,

B. B. Chamberlain,*

Robert Hockenhull,

William French,

John Hurst .*

D. P. Palmer,

John Fisher,

J. A. McDougall,

Patrick Cresap,*

J. Johnson,

F. Campbell,

J. McAlister,

I. D. Rawlings,

J. Harris,

I. S. Hicks,

J. S. Anderson,

D. A. Bulkley,*

S. Hunt,* Geo. Henry,

Phillip Coffman,*

* Deceased.

C. B. Clarke, Henry Keener, F. Stevenson,* G. A. Dunlap,* B. F. Stevenson, B. R. Houhton, William G. Wilson, Moore C. Goltra,

J. D. Stone, Jos. O. King,

James Stark,

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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.

R. S. Anderson,

John Mathers, Michael Rapp,

J. W. Mc Alister,

R. Bibb,*

Geo. M. Chambers,

William H. Corcoran,*

I. A. Graves,

L. Berry,

John W. Chambers,

H. S. Carson,*

J. Harkness,*

David Smalley,

M. A. J. Hunter,

A. Smith,

William Smalley,

W. W. Happy,*

J. T. Jones,*

Cornelius Goltra,

Stephen Sutton,

W. Patterson,*

F. C. Sutton,

A. Lohr,*

J. Cosgrove,*

William C. Gwin,

W. Akins,*

E. T. Miller,

John Henry,

John Gregory,'

L. Filson,

Eli Harp,*

W. B. Warren,*

W. Braidwood,*

A. W. Tilford,*

J. M. Lucas,

J. J. Cassell,*

C. Ogle,

J. B. Mckinney,

W. C. Sweet,*

W. B. Lewis,

W. C. Scott,

A. B. Hathaway,

Joseph Gledhill, M. Dulany,

John Freeman .*

The earliest facilities of Jacksonville were quite meager compared with those of to-day. When the town was created, and a few families had established themselves therein, a post office was of necessity required, for people loved to write then as well as now, and were only deterred in the number of letters by the rates of postage and the facilities for trans- mission. The postage on a letter was twenty-five cents, and generally paid by the receiver. Money was a scarcer article then than now. The United States Government did not receive " coon skins " or " beeswax " in payment for postage, and it was not an uncommon affair for a letter to lie several months in the office before the person to whom it was addressed could raise the required twenty-five cents. When the express companies came into existence, they began to carry letters for a less rate than the United States Mails, which department lowered the price of postage gradually until it reached ten cents per letter. This was thought to be a great reduction by the people, and the number of letters began to increase very rapidly. Jacksonville received, at first, a mail from St. Louis, brought by stages once in two weeks. Another route was estab- lished from Springfield west through Jacksonville to Meredosia, and thence on to Quincy. By the alternation of these mails, a weekly budget of letters and papers was received in the town, and the people thought themselves well provided for in this way.

The post office in town was kept in various stores, shops, or offices, removed from time to time, as a change in administration and postmasters occurred. As time passed on, a semi-weekly mail was secured, then a tri-weekly, and, finally, by the time the first railroad was built, a daily mail had been firmly established. The number of daily mails increased as facilities for transportation were furnished, until now there are more than a dozen daily mails received and forwarded. During the twelve months, ending March 31, 1878, the number of mails received daily, was fifteen, the same number being dispatched. Number of letters mailed during same time, 510,000, and the number received was 540,000. The receipts from the sales of stamps and envelopes was $16,000; number of money orders issued being 4,940, amounting to $45,000 ; number of - money orders paid 7,890, amounting to $65,000. The number of letters registered was 875, and the number of registered letters received was

Deceased.

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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.

1,160 ; number of large packages in transit, 1,440. The present post- master is David M. Simmons, Esq., who has held the position for several years.

We have thus far traced the city through its successive stages of development. We will leave this portion of the narrative, and note the history of its business enterprises, its societies, churches, schools, improve- ments, city government, its newspapers, and other portions of its history that may come under various topics connected therewith.

BUSINESS INTERESTS.

Banks-The banking house of M. P. Ayers & Co. is the oldest in the city, and indeed the oldest in this part of the State. The firm is composed of M. P. Ayers, W. S. Hook, and A. E. Ayers. The first named of these established the bank in 1852, taking as its New York cor- respondent the American Exchange Bank of that city, and continues to correspond with the same bank.

The Central Illinois Banking and Savings Association was established in January, 1867, as a stock association, under the above name, with L. W. Brown as president, H. C. Wiswall vice-president, and L. L. Adams cashier. In 1874, Mr. Adams resigned, and Mr. W. E. Veitch, who had been associated with the bank many years, was elected to the vacancy. This banking house was originally established in 1856, by Elliott and Brown. After a time it was changed to Brown's bank, the late William Brown being sole proprietor. It was again changed to W. & E. W. Brown, and then to its present name and condition. Its capital is now $100,000. Mr. L. W. Brown is still president ; Mr. Wiswall having resigned, Mr. A. C. Wadsworth is now vice-president, and Mr. Veitch cashier. The savings department is separate from the regular banking department, both of which are exceedingly well managed.

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History of Morgan county, Illinois : its past and present, containing a history of the county; its cities, towns, etc.; a biographical directory of its volunteers in the late rebellion; portraits of its early settlers and prominent men [etc., etc.], Part 36

Author: Publication date: c1878 Publisher: Chicago : Donnelley, Loyd & co. Number of Pages: 792

Author:
Publication date: c1878
Publisher: Chicago : Donnelley, Loyd & co.
Number of Pages: 792