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 44
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Meredosia is a good field for the curiosity hunter, as there are in the town several mounds which were built by the Indians, ages ago. These mounds, some of which are fifty feet in height, are built of black soil, which has probably been brought from the bottom, on the west side of the river. A few of them have been opened, and numbers of arrow- heads, stone hatchets, copper vessels, and articles of pottery-ware found in them. Immediately north of the town is a level tract of land, con- tainining. fifteen acres. This plat is inclosed on three sides by the bluffs, and on the other side by D'Osia's Lake. This place was occupied by the Indians, who had quite a village here, just previous to the advent of the settlers in its neighborhood. In one of the mounds near this village a skeleton was unearthed a few years ago, which was supposed to be all that remained of Antoine D'Osia, the first settler. A few miles from Meredosia there are several of these mounds, and the remains of a large fort are also seen on the top of a high bluff, overhanging the mounds. This fort shows the remains of ditches, parapets, etc. No portion of the
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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
county is of more interest to one who cares for a ramble through the woods on a bright summer day, where they can see so many relics of olden time.
The present population of Meredosia is about seven hundred and fifty souls, and is composed chiefly of the German element. Farming in the vicinity of the town is carried on to a great extent. The land in this neighborhood is fertile and very productive, being composed of sandy loam and decayed vegetable matter. This soil varies in depth from eight inches to six feet. Underlying this soil is a strata of white sand, through which is continually percolating a current of clear, cold water, passing, apparently from east to west. In dry seasons this portion of the county always gives a fair yield, the power of the sun being such as to attract to the surface a sufficient quantity of moisture to prevent the crops from dryness. The farmers in this region are always sure of a good crop if the requisite amount of labor is applied at the proper time. The market for most of the grain raised here is St. Louis, one hundred and twenty miles below the town. Most of the grain is shipped by river, while a good por- tion is sent by rail to Toledo and the eastern cities. .
Municipal. Meredosia was incorporated first under the general law of the State. In 1850 it received a charter uuder which the first board of trustees were John Trabue, Wm. B. Newcomb, S. S. Winnegar, John W. Trover, and Wm. H. Long.
The records of the town from 1851 to, and including 1865, were lost and no record of the town for those years can now be found. The records beginning with the year 1866 show the following to be the mu- nicipal directory :
1866-O. D. Critzer, Wm. Morley, W. J. Wackerle, Peter Baujan, Daniel Waldo.
1867-O. D. Critzer, Peter Baujan, D. H. Lollis, Charles Launer, James Watson.
1868-J. L. Pike, Joel Turnham, D. H. Lollis, S. T. Black, John Winningham.
1869-L. C. Mitchell, R. B. Conn, O. D. Critzer, Peter Baujan, Charles Heinz.
1870-J. L. Pike, D. H. Lollis, Charles Heinz, Joel Turnham, Chas. Launer.
1871-Daniel Waldo, D. H. Lollis, Charles Heinz, J. L. Pike, Chas. Launer.
1872-J. L. Pike, H. W. Welcheimer, J. F. Yeck, Sibert Heiser, J. C. Herr.
1873-Geo. W. Graham, J. L. Pike, Peter Baujan, H. W. Reiman,
J. F. Yeck.
1874-Geo. W. Graham, J. L. Pike, H. W. Rieman, J. F. Yeck, Peter Baujan.
1875-J. F. Skinner, J. Youst, Charles Heinz, H. W. Rieman, D. H. Lollis.
1876-Charles Heinz, J. F. Skinner, John Youst, D. H. Lollis, H. W. Rieman.
1877-C. Heinz, J. L. Pike, H. W. Welchimer, David Schroll, J. F. Yeck.
1878-G. W. Graham, A. J. Leslie, Lyman Deitz, J. F. Skinner, Geo. James. J. F. Skinner, Treasurer ; C. R. Lyon, Town Clerk.
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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
The Churches. The Methodist Episcopal, is the oldest religious asso- ciation in Meredosia. For several years before there was a church organi- zation in that town services were frequently held in private residences. The first house erected for divine worship was near the railroad. This house was built by the citizens, without regard to denominational differ- ences, and was used by all. This house was known as the " Union Church," and was used until 1865, when it was moved to its present site and used alternately by the German Episcopal and Methodist Episcopal organizations. In 1877, the former having purchased the entire building, the Methodist Episcopal began the erection of a house of their own. This church is built on an elevation, in the north- eru part of the town and is an ornament to Meredosia. It is a large frame building, with a tower one hundred feet high. In the tower of the church it is the intention, at an early day, to place a thou- sand pound bell. The church has a very high ceiling, stained glass win- dows, and is a handsome structure. Its cost, when completed, will be $3,500. The church is in a flourishing condition having a membership of two hundred.
The German Methodist Episcopal had no services whatever until 1850. At that time they began holding occasional meetings at the houses of persons adhering to that denomination. They united with the Amer- ican Methodists in 1865, both bodies occupying one building. In 1877, on the withdrawal of the latter, the Germans retained the church building, which they still occupy. The church is doing well and the membership is gradually increasing.
The First Lutheran, German-St. John- was organized about 1872. At that time the congregation was small and was served by "second- ary " ministers. These were the Rev's. August Bramer, E. Behm, and Wm. Meyer. This association occupies a frame building in the northern part of the town. This house was formerly the Union Church-the first building for worship in the place-which has been remodeled and pre- sents a very neat appearance. The present membership numbers about twenty families. The pastor is the Rev. Edmund Hautel, to whose efforts the prosperity of the church is chiefly due, and who has been instrumental in bringing the church under the supervision of the General Synod of the Lutheran Church. Rev. Hautel also has charge of a coun- try church, a short distance from Meredosia, which is in a prosperous con- dition. The Union Baptist Association was organized in 1874, at which time a church was erected. They have since held regular services.
The Schools. We have already mentioned the first school opened in Meredosia. It was taught by Mr. Geo. Pickett, in one room of a double log cabin, occupied by Mr. Jonathan Cobb. It was a pay school, the teacher being paid in the common currency of the day, coon skins, wax, etc. The price charged was two dollars per quarter. After this, other schools were opened in various places, generally paid by subscriptions until the pass- age of the State law, organizing school districts. A better system of education was the result, the schools being supported by taxation. Build- ings erected for school purposes were used and an attempt at gradation begun. These efforts culminated in the present system of graded schools and the present commodious school building. It was erected in 1877, contains four rooms, and is capable of accommodating two hundred
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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
pupils. The attendance at present is one hundred and sixty-five. The superintendent is Mr. Joseph Harker, who is assisted by three teachers. The teaching of the German language is a specialty, one room being devoted to that branch. The Board of Education consists of Messrs. Geo. W. Graham, David Schroll, G. N. Beauchamp.
Lodges and Societies. A. F. & A. M. Benevolent Lodge No. 52, was organized in 1848. Its present membership numbers 62. Meetings, Saturday evening before full moon, in each month.
Meredosia Chapter No. 11, was organized in 1850. Membership at present, 64. Meets first Wednesday in each month.
A Council has recently been formed, but the organization has not yet been perfected.
I. O. O. F. Meredosia Lodge No. 138, was organized in 1855. Has now 30 members. The meetings are held every Thursday evening.
Dosia Encampment No. 166, was organized in 1875. Has present mem- bership of 14. Meets first and third Mondays of each month.
The Press. Through the instrumentality of Mr. Geo. W. Graham, Mr. J. R. Miller was induced to open a printing office in Meredosia in 1877. The press used at first was a " Washington," and the type was insufficient for the office. Since then the office has been furnished with a new job press and new type and is doing a good business. Mr. Miller is editor of The Meredosia Monitor, which is well sustained.
WAVERLY
Is the second town in size in the county. It is situated in the south- east corner of the county, on the Jacksonville, Northwestern and South- eastern Railroad, and is about twenty miles from the county-seat. Prior to the year 1836, the land on which the town is situated was an unbro- ken wilderness, with no habitues, save the native animals of the prairies. The country round about the place contained a few settlers, these gener- ally living in the edge of the timber. Their habitations were diminutive log structures of the day, and their trading places were generally Jack- sonville, Alton and Springfield. The first settler in this part of the county was Milton Shirtleff, who located on Section 11, about 1822. Among the other early settlers were John Hunt, James Loudon, Michael Miller, Jacob Black, Rev. Isaac Conlee, Joseph Thomas, Nicholas Russell, Flemming C. Maupin, John Turner, Joseph Wise, and Joseph Caruthers. The first marriage here was that of Mr. Christopher Ashbaugh to Miss Elizabeth Thomas. In 1827, the first death in this community occurred, being that of Henry, son of John Hunt.
Rev. William Rogers preached the first sermon here, at the house of Rev. Isaac Conlee. He was a Baptist clergyman, and was well known in this community. The first school in this neighborhood was taught by John Scott. It was, like all other schools of the day, paid by subscrip- tion; the compensation being peltry and bees-wax, the circulating cur- rency of the time. This part of the county grew slowly. The Illinois College was founded by men from New Haven, Conn., among them Dr. J. M. Sturtevant, so long its honored president.
It is well known by all that the founding of the college was largely the result of the labors of a band of young men, who had determined to make the Northwest the field of their life labors.
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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
Mr. Cleveland J. Salter, a native of New Haven, Conn., and then a merchant in that city, had become acquainted with this band of young men, and from them had learned their plans, and something of their suc- cess. He knew of the founding of Illinois College, and of the desire among its friends to establish a theological school.
While a merchant in New Haven he concluded to visit the Great West, and in 1834, he made a tour, mostly by stage, through a portion of Illinois, visiting Jacksonville, Quincy, and other places. In 1835, on the recommendation of a friend residing in Jacksonville, he made an invest- ment in land, where Waverly now stands, of about five thousand acres, Messrs. D. B. Salter, Alexander C. Twining, and Joseph A Tanner, hav- ing with him about one-half interest. On the 18th of May, 1836, these persons laid out the village of Waverly, donating a capacious public square, and also six hundred and forty acres of land near the village for educational purposes.
Mr. C. J. Salter had returned for his family in 1835, having deter- mined to emigrate to the new town. During his absence the proprietors of the village had erected a brick seminary and a frame boarding-house, at an aggregate expense of about $5,000. Mr. Salter's route, in common with all other emigrants, was by various modes of travel to Pittsburgh, thence down the Ohio River in a steamboat to its confluence with the Mississippi, and up that river by the same conveyance to St. Louis. At this place they took stages on the route to Springfield, and came to Auburn, where in wagons they proceeded to their new home. On their arrival at Waverly the only house which they could use was the board- ing-house, then just completed. Here they lived until Mr. Salter could erect a brick dwelling-the first in this part of the county. This became, with various improvements, the family residence, and here Mr. Salter resided until his death, which occurred on the 27th of January, 1878.
The only buildings on the site of the town at the time of Mr. Salter and his family's arrival, were the boarding-house and the brick seminary already mentioned. A little over a mile west of the new town, a village plat under the name of Appalona, had been surveyed, and some attempts at village life begun. Here was a blacksmith's shop, a postoffice, and one or two cabins; the latter at this time were occupied by a few families just locating in the country. The village of Appalona had received its name from Apple Creek, on which it was situated, and though vigorous efforts were made by its projectors to establish a prosperous town here, the attempt was a failure, and Appalona exists only in name. The post- office was. retained here, however, until about 1847, when the stage route was changed so as to pass through Waverly. The chief aim of the founders of Waverly was the establishing of a school. Hence the erec- tion of the seminary and boarding-house before the other structures were begun. The town grew but slowly at first; its founders could not in- duce settlers rapidly to locate in their midst, and for ten years the village scarcely contained two hundred inhabitants. Dr. I. H. Brown was among the first to settle here; he was a prominent physician, and was widely known throughout the entire community. Mr. Theodore Wat- son, now a resident of Waverly, located here in 1839. Concerning his recollections of the place at that date, he says :
" There were then but very few people in the place. The public
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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
square was overgrown with a mass of vines, underbrush, and small trees. It remained in this condition several years, when about 1848 it was cleared off, small trees planted, and the unsightly rail-fence gave way to the present one of plank. When I came here," continued Mr. Watson, " the boarding-house was occupied, and the school in operation. Dr. I. H. Brown was living in the northern part of the town, in a log cabin. George Knapp was living in the western part, in a similar house. Elisha Filley resided in the southeastern part of the town; he was a carpenter by trade, and built the first house in town. Elijah Wood, a farmer, was a neighbor of Mr. Filley's. David Dykes, also a farmer, lived in a log cabin in the village, and worked his farm near by. C. J. Salter had not yet completed his family residence, and was living in the boarding-house. The western part of what is now Waverly, was then the center of trade, and here Frank Starr, with George Carter, about 1840, opened the first store in the village."
About eight years after, Mr. J. A. Crane opened the second store in the place ; it, like its predecessor, and all stores of its time, contained a general stock of goods, comprising every article in the catalogue of fron- tier necessities.
The school was opened about 1838, in the spring; the first teacher here was Mr. John F. Brooks. The post-office was kept at George Deth- erage's, about three-fourths of a mile west of the town. Not far from this office was the place known as "Log Range ;" it was called at first " La Grange," by a daughter of one of the pioneers, who, being possessed of a romantic turn of mind, gave the latter name to her home. As it was then a log cabin, and the pioneer neighborhood filled more with the prac- tical than the ideal, and perceiving the import of the name, gave it its broadest sound when pronouncing it. As the houses then were all cabins, the "La " soon degenerated into " Log," and "Log Range " was the result. The name " Waverly " has an equally romantic origin : Mr. James D. B. Salter, a young man in school when the town was platted, wrote to his father requesting him, if the town had not been christened, to give it the name of Waverly, in honor of the Waverly novels, for which he had an intense admiration. His father complied with his request, and hence the name. Mr. Watson states further, that when he came, Mr. A. Pease was living on the east side of the public square ; he was a farmer, but has always resided in town. Dr. Brown's father lived in a log house on the lot now occupied by the graded school, and had a cooper and blacksmith shop near where he lived.
The families enumerated were the principal ones who were residents of Waverly until 1847. During the first decade of the town's existence, its growth was slow, being chiefly dependent on the prosperity of the school. This was a well-known institution, and had in its day a State reputa- tion. Among its pupils were some of the most prominent men of Illinois, who remember with pride the days spent at the Waverly Seminary. The chief desire of the founders of the village, to build up a large school, was destined to fail. Other towns had more and better advantages for schools, and only a high school was ever realized here. The grant of 640 acres reverted to the original proprietors, and in time the seminary gave way to the present town schools. In 1846, Mr. J. A. Crane came to Waverly; speaking of what he saw in the village, says : "There was
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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
one church edifice built when I came ; it was the Episcopal Church, and had been used but a short time ; the Congregational was organized, and was using the seminary for public service ; the Methodist Episcopal Church had not yet a house of worship; the Rev. C. G. Selleck was pastor of the Congregational Church, and was also teacher in the academy. There was but one store in town, owned by Andrew and Alexander Kinkead, who had a general stock of goods. I opened a grocery, but kept almost all goods wanted by the pioneers ; 'mine was the second store in the town. The post-office was at Appalona, at Mr. Detherage's. There were a few carpenters, a blacksmith or two, and probably one hundred and fifty inhabitants." Two years after Mr. Crane's arrival, Capt. J. W. Meacham located. During these two years, Waverly had more than doubled in inhabitants, and was doing a good business.
Captain Meacham remembers the following stores and business places in the town : A. Thayer was keeping a general store in a part of his dwelling, on the southeast part of the square ; William Rhoads had a drug-store on the south side of the square, in a frame story-and-a-half building ; R. H. Nelson and John A. Crane were selling dry goods, gro- ceries, etc., in a frame building on the west side of the square ; Andrew Kinkead and G. W. Garrett had a general store near Crane & Nelson ; J. W. Ross and John Beatty had a small grocery and provision store on the west side of the square ; Andrew Kinkead kept a small drug-store, adjoining the grocery store of Ross & Beatty ; one flouring mill, in the western part of the town was in operation, run by William H. Coe ; James Hutchinson was operating a carding factory, where the present flouring mill of Hutchinson Brothers & Co. is now situated ; Baker Ewing had a blacksmith and wagon shop in the western part of the town, near its old business center ; an old saw mill, that had been in operation several years, was still in use ; James W. Manson had a blacksmith shop on the east side of the public square. " There were two churches," says the Cap- tain, " the Congregational and the Methodist ; the former was yet using the seminary for public service ; the latter was then completing a house of worship ; it was a frame structure, and had not yet been plastered. The Rev. Dixon was the Congregational preacher, and Rev. Joseph Wil- son occupied the pulpit in the unfinished Methodist Church. The sem- inary was then in successful operation. Two private schools were also established ; one was taught by Margaret Miller, the other by Ellen Thayer. The post-office had just been removed, and we no longer went to Appalona for mail. Stages came from Vandalia to Jacksonville twice each week, bringing letters and papers. The houses in town were gen- erally built of frame, though in many cases the cabins were yet used. A brick store and dwelling was built about 1849, by S. C. Woods ; another soon after by J. A. Crane. These were the first brick business houses in town.
" As early as 1836 or 1838, a brick yard had been started by a Mr. Tainter, from whom the brick for the seminary and Mr. C. J. Salter's residence were obtained. About 1846, Alexander Edgmon started a second brick yard, these two supplying the town. The old saw-mill was one of the early adjuncts of Waverly; it was operated by Wm. Chambers, and was started by Cook & Eastman. It was run by steam, and in its day did a good business. The public square was surrounded by a rail
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fence, as late as 1846. About a year or two after, this was replaced by a plank fence ; the square was cleared off, and made more attractive."
The first bank was established in 1870, by J. A. Crane, Manson & Company; they were alone in the business until 1874, when the Waverly Bank was started by Brown & Company. Each bank is doing a good business.
The village was now in active existence. A good trade with the surrounding settlers had been established ; and notwithstanding the hard times, and scarcity of money, Waverly was in a fair way to become the second town in Morgan County. For the next ten years, and even until the opening of the great civil war, business increased. The patriotism of the people here, in the national conflict, was unexcelled by any town of its size. Two companies, composed entirely of men from Waverly and its vicinity, were raised, and marched to the war. In the war record. of the county, published elsewhere in this volume, a history of these companies is given; from it the reader can learn each man's name, when he enlisted, what became of him, and the officers under whom he served.
After the close of the war, times were exceptionally prosperous over the entire country. Waverly shared with other towns the reaction, and an increase in trade, population, and importance, was the result. All these years it had, however, lacked that important factor of any town - a railroad. A movement for the construction of a line from the county- seat to the Chicago and Alton Road on the south, with a further southern terminus, was vigorously agitated. It resulted in the construction of the Jacksonville, Northwestern and Southeastern Railroad. It was completed in the Summer of 1871, and opened from Jacksonville to Virden, on the main line of the Alton road. The day it reached Waverly was made a gala day by the inhabitants of the town, to whom the completion of this route was no small item of interest in their prosperity. Waverly gave in private subscriptions nearly $50,000, and as a corpora- tion, about $30,000 additional. Before the opening of the rail- road, no grain was purchased here save that used in the flouring mills. In 1872, an elevator was built, and the shipment of grain began. It now averages several car loads daily. Stock yards were also constructed, and stock which formerly went to Jacksonville or Alton markets, now is shipped from Waverly. Business of all kinds increased with the opening of the railroad, and at present rivals several towns of better commercial advantages.
The government of Waverly has always been under the control of a Board of Trustees, elected. annually. The town was incorporated under the general State law, and under that incorporation maintained its legal existence until April 16, 1878. The officers elected that day were : Mayor, Henry M. Miller ; Clerk, J. H. Goldsmith ; Treasurer, Wm. A. Hutchison ; Attorney, J. W. Arnett; Aldermen, A. L. Kimber, F. H. Wemple, W. E. Meacham, B. L. Carter, N. J. Stratton, and John Haisley. By this vote of the citizens it came under the form of a city government. By the census taken then to determine the legality of this step, there were found to be over two thousand persons in the town, hence it dropped its old name of town, and is hereafter to be known as a city.
The educational advantages of Waverly have always kept pace with,
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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
and in many seasons were much better than the commercial advantages. The seminary had an extensive reputation as a high school. The build- ing was used for all grades of pupils, and the town schools held therein several years. Being inconvenient to all parts of the village, after the passage of the State Common School law, and the sale of the seminary in 1863, two smaller buildings were erected in town. These were used for school purposes until the completion of the present school building, in 1867. It is a commodious brick structure, capable of accommodating about two hundred pupils. A superintendent and three teachers are employed, and school is regularly sustained from six to nine months, during the year.
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