History of Sangamon County, Illinois, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 104

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing company
Number of Pages: 1084

USA > Illinois > Sangamon County > History of Sangamon County, Illinois, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 104

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).

The State National Bank .- This bank owns and occupies the elegant building on the south- west corner of the public square, which is con-

73-

628

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

sidered the best located bank building in the city,-a banking business having been carried on at this corner for nearly twenty-five years. The State National commenced business on January 1, 1871. Its abundant capital of $200,000 was subscribed by a large number of the wealthiest and most prominent business men of the city and county. Notwithstanding it was the last bank organized in the city. it has steadily grown in public favor and gained in profitable business until now it is among the largest and strongest financial institutions in the State of Illinois, as will be seen by its last published statement made to the Comptroller of the Currency at Washing- ton, in compliance with the provisions of the National Banking law. The following is a copy of the statement:

RESOURCES.

Loans and Discounts. $713,378 31

Real Estate and Fixtures

16,899 68

Banking House. 20,000 00

Current Expenses. 3,823 03

Premiums. .

17,500 00

United States four per cent. Bonds 250,750 00

Cash on hand ..

376,237 74

$1,398,588 76

LIABILITIES.

Capital.

$200,000 00

Surplus and Profits.

71,758 99

Circulation.

135,000 00

Deposits.

991,829 77

$1,398,588 76

It transacts a general banking business, draws its own drafts on all the principal cities of the United States and Europe, receives deposits and loans money on approved security.

Its officers are: S. H. Jones, President, F. K. Whittemore, Cashier.

BOARD OF TRADE.

The Springfield Board of Trade was organ- ized in May, 1880, with one hundred members. Dudley Wickersham was elected President; O. H. Miner, Secretary; F. K. Whittemore, Treas- urer. R. D. Lawrence is the present President, and in January, 1881, John G. Ives was elected Secretary in place of Mr. Miner, deceased. The Board is operated under the general system gov- erning such bodies. Its headquarters are in the second story of the brick building, on the south- west corner of Seventh and Washington streets.

FIRES AND FIRE DEPARTMENT.

It has been many years since the old volun- teer "bucket brigade" gave way to the sys- tematic fire department, with its engines, hose carriages, and other appliances for extinguishing a

fire. For many years the fire department, as originally organized, was upon the volunteer plan, and it was not until 1869, that a paid de- partment was thought advisable by the "powers that be"-the City Council. The following named constitutes the department as it now exists: Thomas Dunn, Fire Marshal; John H. Freeman and Julius Cottett, Engineers; Merritt Whipple, James Davis, Firemen; Augustus Mil- ler, A. O. Sanders, Hosemen; Oscar Phillips, Samuel Hunt, Drivers; Henry Miller, Thomas Rourke, Hook and Ladder Men; Harry Hooker, George Hodge, William Donnelly, Philip Hoff- man, John Rourke, J. C. Decker, Extra Hose- men. The Fire Marshal receives a salary of $25.00 per month, and is only required to serve in case of fire; all other men, with the excep- tion of extra hosemen, receive $55.00 per month, devoting their entire time to the work. The extra hosemen receive $12.50 per month, and are required only to report for active duty in case of fire.

The department has two engines, with hose carriages, hook and ladder truck, and are sup- plied with such other things as they deem neces- sary for active service.

During the year 1880-81, there were sixty- seven alarms, some of which were false ones, and fires doing damage to the amount of about $12,000. This is certainly a good record, and speaks well for the "boys."

It is impossible to give anything like a record of the fires in this connection, therefore only a few are given as a specimen of how fire can de- stroy, and to serve as a reminder to the old settler.

On Saturday evening, February 13, 1858, a de- structive fire occurred, beginning on the east side of the square, in the crockery store of William MeCabe & Company, and from there extending to the drug store of Cornean & Dil- ler, adjoining on the north. The next building destroyed was that of Benjamine Piatt. Here, for a time, the fire was stopped, but the wooden rear of the book-store of Paine, Booraem & Co. having caught from the smouldering ruins of McCabe's store, that house was consumed in spite of all efforts to save it. With the destruc- tion of this building it was again supposed the fire was at an end, as the remaining store houses appeared to be entirely free from danger, but about two o'clock, a. m., the alarm was again sounded, and it was discovered that the dry goods store of C. W. Matheny was on fire under the roof. Every effort made to subdue it was in vain. The fire rapidly spread until three more

629

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

buildings were destroyed. The heaviest losers were MeCabe & Co., Corneau & Diller, Paine, Booraem & Co., C. W. Matheny, John Cook, and N. II. Ridgely. The loss by this fire was about $50,000.

On Wednesday night, October 6th, 1858, the freight house of the Chicago & Alton Railroad was destroyed by fire, together with the greater quantity of freight stored therein. The build- ing was a frame one 40x400 feet, and was of but little value, but a large amount of freight was then on hand. The loss was estimated at $10,000.

On Sunday morning, April 21, 1860, a fire broke out in a livery stable on Washington street, and spreading, burned several other buildings, including the wagon and carriage fac- tory of Withey Brothers, entailing a loss upon this firm of $15,000. The total loss by the fire was about $25,000.

A fire occurred Monday evening, March 13, 1865, commencing in the drug store of T. J. V. Owen, druggist, destroying the building occu- pied by Mr. Owen and the bookstore of A. B. Mackenzie. Adjoining buildings somewhat dam- aged. Total loss about $35,000.

On Tuesday night, February 21, 1870, a fire was discovered in the fourth story of a building occupied by H. W. Rokker, on the east side of Fifth near Monroe street. The building was owned by Black & Amos, and was occupied by II. W. Rokker as a book bindery; H. G. Rey- nolds, publisher of Masonic Trowel, and by the American Sewing Machine Company. It was entirely destroyed. The building next on the north, owned by Mrs. E. S. Johnson and Mr. Hickman was also destroyed, except the walls, which were left standing. The first story was occupied by Mr. Hammer for the sale of second- hand furniture, stoves and other articles. The building north of Mrs. Johnson's was damaged somewhat, but not destroyed.

The Masonic Hall building, on the corner of Fifth and Monroe streets, was next attacked by the fire and the roof and third story destroyed, the first and second stories, with their contents, being saved. The third story was occupied by four of the Masonic lodges of the city. In this room were the records of the lodges, together with the valuable regalias belonging to the or- der, which were destroyed. The estimated loss of all parties was $67,300.

THE CITY OF THE DEAD.

" 'Earth to earth, and dust to dust!' Here the evil and the just, Here the youthful and the old,

Here the fearful and the bold, Here the matron and the maid, In one silent bed are laid; Here the vassal and the king, Side by side lay withering; Here the sword and scepter rust- ' Earth to earth, and dust to dust.'"

"Man was born to die." Day by day, the number of the inhabitants of the "city of the dead " increases. Here they remain until the resurrection. Says James C. Conkling, in his address at the dedication of Oak Ridge Ceme- tery: "Standing upon the borders of the tomb, methinks I hear the mighty tread of unnum- bered millions, as they are traveling onward from the cradle to the grave. Firmly and stead- ily they are pressing forward, resistless as fate. No obstacle can impede their progress. Neither the threats of power, nor the blandishments of love, nor the influences of wealth, can check their inevitable career. Indolence cannot re- tard, pleasures cannot divert, riches cannot bribe them to halt in the midst of their onward course. Inexorable destiny presses them forward, with- out a moment's respite, to the tomb. The heavy tramp of their march resounds through all the earth. It may be heard amid the frozen regions of the North, as the bold adventurer forces his passage across their icy plains in search of glory or of gain. It echoes amid the desert sands, parched by the burning blaze of a southern sun. From the far distant islands of the sea, mingled with the eternal roar of the surf that dashes upon their rock-bound shores, it comes booming across the mighty waste of waters. It resounds with the noise of the caravan, whose bones are left to bleach upon the arid plain. It is wafted upon our western breezes, with the dying groans of thousands who rush in search of golden treasures. It follows in the wake of the gallant ship, as she plows her lonely course along the trackless deep. It rises above the din of com- merce upon the crowded mart. In the secluded valley, upon the fertile prairie, and on the moun- tain top, it is mingled with the wailing and lam- entations of the mourner. Amidst the wretched hovels of the poor, and the gorgeous palaces of the rich; in the dark lane, as well as upon the broad avenue, amid the whispers of affection by the dying couch, and above the raging tumult of the battle field, may still be heard that ponder- ous tread of humanity, as it marches onward to the grave, in obedience to the fiat ef the Al- mighty, ' Dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return.'"

The first place of deposit of the dead of Springfield and vicinity, was on a lot of ground

630

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

LINCOLN.

NATIONAL LINCOLN MONUMENT.

donated by Elijah Iles, and long known as the "City Grave Yard." The second is the well- known Hutchinson Cemetery, lying west of the City Grave Yard, and the third is Oak Ridge Cemetery.

Charles H. Lanphier, Esq., who was at that time, 1855, a member of the City Council, repre- senting the Second Ward, is entitled to the credit of inaugurating the enterprise which has re- sulted so successfully in what Oak Ridge is to- day.

From the small beginning, and the limited area of the first purchase, at a cost of $350, it has now come to rank among the most noted and best improved of American cemeteries.

The original plans and plats of the grounds were made by Mr. William Sides, City Engineer. Under his plans the lots were laid out in squares, regardless of natural slopes and ravines, or of the general character of the ground, wholly un-

adapted to the purpose of a rural cemetery, and they were therefore very soon abandoned.

The second survey and plat was made by Mr. William Saunders, of Washington, D. C. His plan, in its general features, was more practic- able, and in keeping with the natural features of the grounds.

As perfected and thus far carried out, it has been the work of successive Boards of Mana- gers, whose study and observation of older cem- eteries, to-wit, those of Boston, New York, Phil- adelphia and Cincinnati, have enabled them to profit by what has elsewhere been accomplished, in adapting a system of landscape gardening to the purposes of cemetery improvement.

The grounds of this Institution now comprise seventy-four acres. The first purchase of a tract of land outside of the city limits of Spring- field, for burial purposes, was made in June, 1855, and in May, 1856, a second purchase was

631

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

made, enlarging the area to twenty-eight and one-half acres. The site chosen was a most beautiful one. Situated about two miles north of the Capitol, with undulating surface and pleasing blending of hill and dale, interspersed with a natural growth of deciduous trees, the location was peculiarly fitted for the purpose of sculpture. Forest trees of various species being the prevailing shade, the name of Oak Ridge Cemetery was, at the suggestion of Hon. John Cook, Mayor of the city, given to what has now become one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the land. Previous to 1858 but little improve- ment was made of the grounds, except to enclose them with a common post and board fence. On the 18th of April, of that year, Mr. George Willis was appointed sexton, by the City Council.

Being under the exclusive control of the City Council, and its rules and regulations conse- quently liable to influences and changes not in accordance with the desires and feelings of lot owners, the cemetery did not at once gain the public favor which was desirable and neccessary to its proper maintainance and improvement. It was therefore deemed advisable by the council to obtain such charter amendments as would more specifically define the tenure of lot owners. Such amendments were obtained from the legis- lature in 1859.

In April, 1860, under the Amended Charter, the first Board of Managers was chosen, as fol- lows: Turner R. King, President; James L. Lamb, Gilbert S. Manning, Benjamin F. Fox; ' Presco Wright, Secretary. George Willis was appointed Sexton.

On Thursday, the 24th of May, 1860, accord- ing to a resolution of the Board of Managers above named, the cemetery grounds as originally laid out, were dedicated. The Mayor and mem- bers of the City Council, with a large concourse of citizens, participated in the imposing cere- monies of the occasion.

In this year, 1881, the grounds present a most beautiful appearance, and have a large number of handsome monuments, chief of which is the Lincoln Monument, a fine illustration of which is given in this work. Next after the Lincoln monument, as a conspicuous ornament to Oak Ridge, is that erected to the memory of Governor William HI. Bissell. Situated in the eastern part of the cemetery, this most elaborate monu- ment stands upon a limestone base, seven feet square, and is twenty-one feet in height. It is constructed of Italian marble, and is surmounted by an eagle holding a copper scroll in its beak.

The Soldiers' Monument is in the northwest part of the cemetery. Upon its four sides are the names of forty Union soldiers who died in the service or at home since the close of the war. The following are the names:

Alsop, E. Mendell, Noah E.

Ames, Fisher

McIntyre, Marshall

Allen, Henry W.

McManus, M.

Alexander, John W.

Moffett, T.

Bishop, George W.

Buck, William H.

Orr, S. P.

Busby, A.

Canfield, Daniel L.

Doenges, Kellinges

Green, William J.

Sherman, W Sell, Louis D.

Haynie, I. N.

Stoneberger, George W.

Henry, Thomas F.

Sweet, Andrew A.

Hill, Eaten

Tomlinson, Charles L.

Ingels, William V. Troxell, Aaron

Jones, Henry

Wallace, W. S.

Kavanagh, J. P.

Ward, William

Kern, John Weber, Andrew J.

Latham, William H.

Wilson, Hall

The Edwards monument is situated near the western boundary, and consists of a plain obe- lisk and plinth of Italian marble, supported by a limestone base, four feet square. The heighth of the structure is fourteen feet.

The Wohlgemuth monument is one of the most elaborate and beautiful yet erected within the cemetery grounds. It was executed by G. L. Jameison, of Aberdeen, Scotland, and the statue of Hope, in Carara marble, by which it is surmounted, was executed in Italy. The base is of red Missouri granite, the second base of gray Scotch, and the plinth and column of red Scotch granite. Its eost was $2,150.

Other monuments which attract the attention of all visitors are the McClernand, Ruth, Gib- son, Kurr, Washington Iles, Harrower, Colwell, Pasfield, Ridgely, Elijah Iles, Smith, Flagg, Haynie, Barrell, Matheny, and Bates.

SPRINGFIELD WATER WORKS.

For the purpose of establishing water works, the city authorities of Springfield, a few years ago, purchased thirty acres of land adjoining the city on the north. From the business part of the city to this land, the surface rises gently until an elevation of eleven feet above the old State House grounds is attained. For the purpose of commanding as great an elevation as possible, the surface was made the bottom of the reservoir, and an embankment of one hundred feet wide at the base, sloping equally inside and out, until it was raised to twenty-two feet in height and twenty feet across the top. To make it water tight, the bottom and sides were puddled with

Moore, E. V.

Burrows, James H.

Phillips, T. U.

Phillips, Freeman F.

Roman, J. R.

Rummel, R.

Harlan, E. B.

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

blue clay and concrete, and the entire inside, ex- cept the bottom, covered with slabs of Joliet stone, imbedded in cement. One tier of slabs, or flag-stones, are laid flat on the top at the inner border, and a picket fence mounted on the stone around the enclosure.

The reservoir is a square, rounded at the cor- ners. It is two hundred feet in diameter at the bottom, and about two hundred and seventy-five at the top, inside, and has a capacity of four million gallons. The embankment is nicely sodded on the outside, and presents a beautiful appearance. The earth for making this embank- ment was taken from the grounds adjoining on the east, west and north, so as to make a minia- ture chain of lakes, with islands interspersed. These islands have shrubbery planted on them, and in time will form some of the most pictur- esque scenery imaginable. There is what is called a stand pipe in the center of the reservoir. It stands on the bottom, and is seventy feet high. It is embedded in a pedestal of concrete masonry ten or twelve feet in diameter and octagonal in form. The pedestal rises four or five feet above the surface of the water. This stand pipe is made of iron, and is three feet or more in diam- eter. On the pedestal at each of the eight sides there is a sea horse rampant, and a huge dolphin, four of each alternating, the whole fronting out- ward. Just above this group there is a vase, twelve or fifteen feet in diameter, and about ten feet above the vase, four swans, life size, at- tached to the stand pipe. Sea horses, dolphins, swans and vase, are all made of iron. The crest of the stand pipe is a combination of iron work, highly ornamental, and extending outward on all sides.

Three and one quarter miles north of the res- ervoir, on the bank of the Sangamon river, there is a house with a steam engine and two large pumps in it. There is also a very large well, about one hundred feet from shore, and con- nected by a tunnel. A very strong set of iron pipes, fifteen inches in diameter, is connected with the well and laid under ground; the three and a quarter miles to the reservoir passes under the embankment, and connects with the stand- pipe at the bottom. These pumps at the river are so arranged that either one can be made to form the connecting link between the well and the pipe leading to the reservoir. When con- nected, one of them throws, ordinarilly, nine hundred and sixty gallons per minute, fifty- seven thousand six hundred per hour, or one million three hundred and eighty-two thousand

four hundred in twenty-four hours, and this quantity can be doubled in an emergency.

The top of the stand-pipe is one hundred and seventy feet higher than the pumps, and three and a quarter miles distant. Put the machine ry in motion, and we can soon have the water issu- ing on all sides, in the form of spray, from the ornamental work at the top of the stand-pipe, and falling over the swans into the vase; from there it is connected by pipes to the four dol- phins below, and from the mouth of each of these a stream of water spouts into the reservoir. In order to conduct the water to where it is wanted for use, there is a fifteen inch pipe laid from the reservoir, under ground, about one mile into the city; and where it is necessary to branch off, ten inch pipe is used, and again four inch, and so on down to the small pipes, leading into the different rooms of the houses.

I have said that the ground on which the reservoir stands is eleven feet above the city, and the water in the reservoir twenty-two feet higher, making thirty-three feet it will rise- when the pipes are properly placed in the houses -- on the principle that water will find a level. Some of the buildings are higher than this, and in order to supply them with water, the pump- ing machinery and pipes are so arranged that when the engine is running at the river, water may be forced more than eighty feet above the surface, five miles away from the propelling power at the river.

The works are constructed with the view of supplying a city of forty or fifty thousand inhabitants, and as Springfield contains only about twenty-five thousand, there is danger that too much water will be pumped up and overflow the reservoir. This, however, is guarded against by an opening in the stand pipe, a foot or more below the level of the embankments. This opening in the stand pipe is connected by a smaller pipe, passing down inside the stand pipe, and out under the embankments, to the artificial lake with the islands in it, around the reservoir, thus preventing an overflow and sup- plying the artificial lake by the same operation.

The whole work was designed by Henry Earnshaw, hydraulic engineer, of the Cincin- nati Water Works. The engine, pumps, statu- ary, and all the ornamental iron work, was made at the foundry of Miles Greenwood, in Cincin- nati. The construction of the work was super- intended by John C. Ragland, of Springfield, under orders from the commissioners-John Williams, C. W. Matheny, and Dr. H. Wohl- gemuth. It was commenced June 1; 1866, and

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

completed July 1, 1868, at a total cost of about $460,000.

John C. Ragland continued to superintend the works for some years, being succeeded by Smith W. Kimble, and he, in turn, by T. M. Averitt, and M. F. DeSouza.

In 1877, steps were taken for the formation of the grounds belonging to the works in which the reservoir is located. Drives and walks were laid out, and about nine hundred shade and ornamental trees were set out in conformity with the walks and drives and the platting of the grounds.

At the expiration of the fiscal year, ending February 28, 1881, there were in use nineteen and a half miles of pipe. During the year the pumping engine made three millions two hun- dred thousand and ninety-one strokes, pumping four hundred and eighty millions thirteen thou- sand six hundred and fifty gallons of water. There were received during the same time $23,- 864.91 for water rents and assessments. The Board of Water Commissioners for 1881 is com- posed of the following named : H. O. Bolles, President ; George Withey Treasurer ; and Obed Lewis, with H. R. Brown, Secretary ; M. F. De- Souza, Superintendent ; F. L. Wheatley, Engi- neer; William MeCabe, Reservoir Watchman ; John Daughton, Tapper.

ARTESIAN WELL.

Pure water is always desirable, and every effort put forth to obtain a never-failing supply will meet the approval of every intelligent per- son. In the year 1857 an arrangement was made by which the City Council and some of the pub- lic spirited citizens, agreed to contribute equally for the purpose of sinking an artesian well. On the 15th day of June, 1857, an ordinance was passed appropriating $3,000 to defray the ex- pense on the part of the city, and on the 20th of December, 1858, $2,000 more was appropriated, and again $2,000, March 7, 1859. This last sum was never used, and the work was abandoned.

AMUSEMENTS. By J. L. Phillips.

During the winter of 1841-42, Springfield had its regular theatre. In the early part of this season the dining room of W. W. Watson's restaurant on the south side of the square, in an old building that stood on the ground now occu- pied by the building used as a store room by the Smith Brothers was used as a theatre, and in this room a company of performers appeared who were managed by an actor named Jefferson,

the father of Joe Jefferson, the Comedian, whose name of late years has become famous by his excellent portrayal of Rip Van Winkle. In this dining hall, the comedian of to-day, Joe Jeffer- son, made his first appearance on any stage. He sang songs such as were sung at that time by "Daddy" Rice, the founder of minstrelsy, and among young Jefferson's vocal efforts we men- tion the following: "The Spider and the Fly," "The Steam Arm," and "The Cork Leg." After appearing at this place quite a while the old theatre on Sixth street, between Monroe and Adams, about where the Reiner building now stands, was opened as a theatre by a company under the management of Hastings & Jefferson.

At this house, young Joe Jefferson acted, and on the boards of this stage many young perform- ers appeared whose names afterwards became famous in the dramatic world. After awhile this building was taken for other uses and the young boys of that day met there many even- ings, before it was regularly occupied to "take gas" and see its effects on others, amusing them- selves in this way evening after evening During a performance given at this theatre Henry Ridgely, then a young boy, that had raised the anger of a young man, much larger than him- self (a son of Colonel May) and May had given young Henry a slap in the face. Young Ridgely watched for a chance when May was not looking and he ran down the slightly inclined floor and with his head down, struck May from behind be- tween his knees and came near pitching him out of a window which was open near by. This was his revenge for the slap given him by May. This old theatre was afterwards used by John DeCamp as a bowling alley, and has been torn down a number of years.

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History of Sangamon County, Illinois, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 104

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing company Number of Pages: 1084

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing company
Number of Pages: 1084