USA > Illinois > St Clair County > History of St. Clair County, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 33
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Soon afterwards a school-room was built for them on the lot, on which now St. Peter's church stands, from where it was removed 1863, to the lot where now the St. Elizabeth Hospital is erected. The number of scholars increasing from year to year, more teach- ers were required and consequently more room. In the year 1863, the sisters took charge also of the smaller boys, who after the com- pletion of the new church had their class-rooms in the old church building, which had been divided into three large and commodious school-rooms. There the boys' school was continued until September, 1879, when it was removed to the school-rooms of the St. Agnes Or- phan Asylum. The larger boys are in charge of Mr. Clemens Willenbrink, the successful teacher and organist of St. Peter's Cou- gregation for the last six years. As a preparatory class to the parochial schools a Kindergarten, numbering at an average sixty children has been in operation for the last four years under the charge of a sister. It is an interesting class, and has proved very beneficial to those in attendance.
Since April this year another school has been opened for the English children-boys and girls-exclusively, in which the English
1846 Rev. Erastus Wentworth, M. A., D.D.
Oran Faville, M.A., LLD .. 1853
121
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
branches only are being taught. Thus the parochial schools of St. Peter's Congregation are divided into four different classes for boys; four for girls; English school, and Kindergarten, in which al- together nine Sisters and one male teacher are engaged in teaching about 650 children. Besides all the branches taught in the public schools of the country, Bible History of the Old and New Testa- ment and Catechism alternately are being taught in all classes for half an hour every day. The girls are also instructed twice a week in needle work. Singing classes are given twice a week, half an hour in the afternoon, in which singing is taught systematically, so that for the last five years the children of the parochial school have been able to sing every first Sunday of the month at High inass and the psalms at Vespers in the afternoon in St. Peter's church, to the great pleasure of the juvenile singers, and the edification of the whole congregation.
Examinations take place in all schools twice a year-in the be- ginning of December, and at the end of April, after the latter part of which, in the month of May, a public exhibition, consisting of sing- ing, declamations, and tableaux, is given in the grand hall of the Sisters' Convent, at which all children of the parochial schools and their parents are present. It is the great gala day of the children, because they know their fathers and mothers are among the au- dience, listening to their songs and plays. Though the world ge- nerally ignores the labors of the good sisters, St. Peter's Congre- gation offers them a tribute of gratitude by declaring that the day of their coming to Belleville was one of great blessing. Thousands of its members thank them for their education, secular as well as re- ligious. In the records of Heaven alone will we find all they have done for the furtherance of the holy work, and there, too, in that abode of bliss, is their reward awaiting them.
A day or select school, divided into three departments, is also in charge of these Sisters, and open to the children of Belleville in ge- neral. All the branches required for a finished education are taught in these classes. Charges are: Primary department $6.00, Inter- mediate department $8.00 and Senior department $10.00 per session of five months. Vocal music in class, three times a week, no extra charge. Private vocal lessons $20.00 per session. Instrumental music, lessons given daily, also $20.00 per session.
Many ladies of Belleville and vicinity have received their musi- cal education from the Sisters de Notre Dame, and it is a source of gratification to these Sisters to know that many of their former pu- pils now conduct church choirs and play the organ during divine service in different parts of the country.
The boarding-school for young ladies, known as " Institute of the Immaculate Conception," offers every advantage of similar institu- tions. The Sisters, feeling bound to respond to the confidence placed in them by parents and guardians, give their pupils a Christian and thorough education. Pupils of all religious denominations are re- ceived. The course of study, pursued in this institution, embraces the English, German and French languages, with all useful and ornamental branches taught to young ladies.
Private examinations are held every two months and written re- ports sent to parents and guardians. Premiums are distributed to the most deserving, at the commencement, held annually in the Exhibition Hall, towards the end of June.
The building is very spacious, measuring one hundred and eighty feet front, and one hundred feet deep, thoroughly veutilated, heated by furnaces, lighted by gas, and furnished with all modern im- provements.
A beautiful chapel, built in the Byzantine style, occupies a part of the western wing. Over the main altar is a life-size figure of our "Lady " carved in wood. A silver lamp, in the shape of a dove,
gives forth its light, by night and day, before the sanctuary of the Holy of Holies. Young lady boarders have access to the chapel for general and private devotions.
The moderate prices, together with the healthy location and many advantages of this institution should be an indu cement to parents and guardians to place their children or wards in care of these excel- lent teachers.
Board and tuition per annum only $150.00; music, painting, etc., form extra charges.
Prospectuses will be furnished with pleasure, on application.
HOWE LITERARY INSTITUTE.
EAST ST. LOUIS, ILLINOIS. BY REV. S. F. HOLT.
This institution takes its name from the late Mr. Lyman Howe, by whose liberality it was founded. Mr. Howe was an intelligent merchant, who had been for several years engaged in business on what is known as Bloody Island, just opposite the city of St. Louis. Wishing to leave some memorial of himself that would, at the same time, be a substantial benefit to the community then just be- ginning to gather at that point, he embodied in his will a bequest of ten thousand dollars " for the building of a church, or school-house, or both, on Bloody Island."
The custody and expenditure of this bequest was especially com- mitted to the Hon. Jno. B. Lovingston, the executor of the will, without other instructions than those contained in the single sen- tence above quoted. But Mr. Lovingston had been a business part- ner of Mr. Howe, and was in hearty sympathy with his liberal im- pulses and enlightened public spirit, and believing that the wishes of the testator would be best attained by the establishment of an educational institution, he decided to appropriate the fund to that purpose.
It was desirable that such an institution should have the fostering care of some organized body, interested in education, that would be perpetual in its own existence, and would give the institute a con- stant and permanent support. With this object in view, Mr. Lov- ingston proffered the control of the enterprise to the South District Baptist Association, and this body, after due consideration, decided to accept the trust.
In October, 1871, an educational association was formed for this purpose, composed chiefly of prominent citizens of St. Clair and Madison counties. An incorporation under the general law of the State was effected, and a Board of Trustees chosen.
Of this association Hon. J. B. Lovingston was made President, Hon. Jas. P. Slade, Secretary, and Rev. J. M. Cochran, who had been most active in promoting the enterprise thus far, was chosen Corresponding Secretary and Financial Agent. The Board of Trustees then chosen has continued substantially to the present time. Including some changes caused chiefly by death, the list comprises, in addition to the officers above-named, the following gentlemen, who have also been the principal supporters of the in- stitute : Jno. T. Lemen, M. W. Weir, G. W. Darrow, David Ogle, L. M. St. John, W. R. Begole, Chas. Gooding, W. A. Darrow, Warren Beedle, M. T. Stookey, Fred. Merrill and W. M. Ander- son.
This association decided to establish at East St. Louis an educa- tional institution, bearing the name, Howe Literary Institute.
At the early date of Mr. Howe's death, he did not anticipate, nor did any one else then foresee, how completely Bloody Island would be occupied by the numerous railroads since built, which converge to a common focus upon it, rendering it a quite unsuitable
16
122
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
HOWE INSTITUT
C. B. Clarke,
Architect.
Chesnut at. St. Louis.
-
HOWE LITERARY INSTITUTE, EAST ST. LOUIS, ILLINOIS.
location for the building he had provided for. With the concur- rence of the executors and the heirs of the estate, a decree in Chan- cery was obtained, authorizing a change of location ; and the pre- sent site, donated in part by Mr. Lovingston, was fixed upon. The campus contains about one acre, healthily and pleasantly situated on the highest ground in East St. Louis, just outside the present limits of the city, and about one and a half miles directly east of the Great Bridge.
In the summer of 1873 the trustees began the erection of the institute building. At that time the whole country was in the full tide of commercial and business prosperity, and the work of build- ing was entered upon in the confidence which that prosperity in- spired, without apprehension of, or provision for, the disastrous changes which were soon to follow. Overtaken by the sudden finan- cial panic in the autumn, the trustees were obliged to suspend the work, and the walls were left standing unfinished several months. In the spring of 1874, as money could not be otherwise
raised, the needed funds were borrowed, the building completed, and the school opened in October, under the supervision of Rev. S. F. Holt, A. M., who had been elected President of the institute in the spring, and had been actively engaged during the summer in finishing and furnishing the edifice. The cost of the edifice, exclu- sive of the site, was about $20,000.
During the several years of " hard times " which followed the opening of the institute, its history was a continuous struggle, not so much for success as for existence. Returning commercial pros- perity brought a better patronage to the institute, and greatly brightened its prospects. It now promises to become a permanent and successful institution of great benefit to the city in which it is located, and to the people of the surrounding country.
The annual attendance has varied from sixty to one hundred and seventy. It has a carefully-arranged course of study, upon the completion of which a diploma is given. The number of graduates thus far is fourteen. Its first President still continues at its head.
123
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
CHAPTER XIV.
PATRIOTISM OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
T the time of the earliest settlements in this county to the conclusion of the treaty of Paris, Febru- ary 10th, 1763, the allegiance of her inhabitants was due to France. Catholic missionaries, deter- mined on the regeneration of the Indian tribes, armed with the gospel of peace, yet fearful of inability to conquer that peace, planted the French standard above their rudely constructed forts. Their devotion was first to the cause of God, and second to that of France. By that treaty their allegiance was transferred to the British crown in terms as follows :
" In order to establish peace on solid and durable foundations, and to remove forever all subjects of dispute with regard to the limits of the British and French territories on the continent of America, it is agreed that for the future the confines between the dominions of his Britannic Majesty and those of his most excellent Christian Majesty in that part of the world, shall be fixed irrevo- cably by a line drawn along the middle of the river Mississippi, from its source to the river Iberville, and from thence by a line drawn along the middle of this river and the lakes Maurepas and Pontchartrain, to the sea ; and for this purpose, the most Christian king cedes, in full right, and guarantees to his Britannic Majesty the river and port of the Mobile, and everything which he pos- sesses or ought to possess on the left side of the river Mississippi, with the exception of the town of New Orleans, and of the island on which it is situated, which shall remain to France; it being well understood that the navigation of the river Mississippi shall be equally free, as well to the subjects of Great Britain as to those of France, in its whole breadth and length from its source to the sea; and, expressly, that part which is between the said island of New Or- leans and the right bank of that river, as well as the passage both in and out of its mouth. It is further stipulated that the vessels belonging to the subjects of either nations shall not be stopped, visited or subjected to the payment of any duty whatsoever."
Such transfer was but in words. Those who had gathered around the missionary outposts were a law unto themselves. They cared little whether England or France maintained supremacy over them. France lost not her hold upon their affections, nor did England secure their confidence. English subjects who visited Kaskaskia and Cahokia only served the purpose of instilling into their minds a dread of the " Long Knives," as the Virginians were called, pro- nouncing them the most cruel, fierce and blood-thirsty savages that ever raised a tomahawk. Advantage was taken of this fact by Clark when he made his conquest. Inasmuch as this conquest was practically terminated at Cahokia, a brief review will not be amiss. Clark never betrayed fear in the presence of Indians; never bribed them into compliance with his wishes by loading them with pre- sents ; never made advances when seeking for relations of peace. At Cahokia, when Indian warriors bad thrown away the bloody wampum sent them by the British, he coldly told them he would answer them the next day, and cautioned them against shaking hands with the Long Knives, as peace was not yet concluded, saying it was time enough to extend hands when hearts went with them. The next day the Indians gathered to hear the answer of Big Knife, which was made by Col. Clark, as follows :
"Men and warriors : pay attention to my words. You informed
me yesterday that the Great Spirit had brought us together, and that you hoped that as He was good, it would be for good. I have also the same hope, and expect that each party will strictly adhere to whatever may be agreed upon, whether it shall be peace or war, and henceforth prove ourselves worthy the attention of the Great Spirit. I am a man and a warrior, not a counsellor. I carry war in my right-hand, and in my left peace. I am sent by the great council of the Big Knife and their friends, to take possession of all the towns possessed by the English in this country, and to watch the motions of the red people; to bloody the paths of those who attempt to stop the course of the river ; but to clear the roads for us to those that desire to be in peace; that the women and children may walk in them without meeting anything to strike their feet against. I am ordered to call upon the Great Fire for warriors enough to darken the land, and that the red people may hear no sound but of birds who live on blood. I know there is a mist before your eyes; I will dispel the clouds that you may clearly see the causes of the war between the Big Knife and the English ; then you may judge for yourselves which party is in the right ; and if you are warriors, as you profess yourselves to be, prove it by adhering faithfully to the party which you shall be- lieve to be entitled to your friendship, and not show yourselves to be squaws."
He then proceeded by vivid imagery to describe the cause of the war, and added: "The English were driven from one place to another until they got weak, and then they hired you red people to fight for them. The Great Spirit got angry at this, and caused your old Father, the French king, and other great nations, to join the Big Knife, and fight with them against all their enemies. So the English have become like a deer in the woods; and you may see that it is the Great Spirit that has caused your waters to be troubled, because you have fought for the people He was mad with. If your women and children should now cry, you must blame yourselves for it, and not the Big Knife. You can now judge who is in the right. I have already told you who I am; here is a bloody belt, and a white one; take which you please. Behave like men, and don't let your being surrounded by the Big Knife cause you to take up the one belt with your hands, while your hearts take up the other. If you take the bloody path, you shall leave the towu in safety, and may go and join your friends, the English ; we will then try who can longest keep our clothes stained with blood. If, on the other hand, you should take the path of peace, and be received as brothers to the Big Knife, with their friends the French, should you then listen to bad birds that may be flying through the land, you will no longer deserve to be counted as men, but as creatures with two tongues, that ought to be destroyed, without listening to anything you might say. As I am convinced you never heard the truth before, I do not wish you to answer before you have taken time to counsel. We will, therefore, part this evening, and when the Great Spirit shall bring us together again, let us speak and think like men with one heart and tongue."
The effect of this address was all that the patriotic Clark and his followers could have desired. The neatness with which he coupled the French and Big Knives was admirable, and had great weight with the Indians, who held the old missionaries in reve- rence. From this hour a patriotism iu behalf of the cause of American Independence was awakened that has ever been main- tained. To General George Rogers Clark, more than to any other one man, is the Mississippi valley indebted for its English speaking pioneers, many of whom were of Clark's immediate command. To this conquest, too, are the United States indebted for the
124
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
extension of their frontier boundaries and vast western porsus- sions .*
True, earlier than this, (in 1777) word had reached Cahokia of the progress of the Revolution. They had learned of colonial resis- tance to English tyranny, and right willingly did they volunteer a helping hand when Thomas Brady proposed raising a company. Sixteen of their number from Cahokia and Prairie du Pont en- listed, and under Brady's kadersbip, marched northward across the vast unoccupied prairies to St. Joseph's, a British post on the southern extremity of Lake Michigan. They left their homes October 1st and reached St. Joseph's nearly two months later ; captured the garrison, taking twenty-one prisoners, without the loss of a man. The enemy had but one death, that of a negro who had run away from bondage and had taken sides with the British and their allies, the Indians. The victorious party, with their trophies of success, staricd for Cahokia, but their expedition proved ill-starred. At Calumet, a few miles south-east of Chicago, they were overtaken by their foes. In the fight which ensued, two of their number were killed, two were wounded, and one only made his escape ; the rest were made prisoners. Brady and Boismenu, taken as prisoners, made their escape the following year, and returned by a circuitous route to Cahokia, to find General Clark in command.
Whilst at Cahokia Clark had negotiations to make with various tribes ; concessions he made to none; treachery was promptly re- buked. In one instance, some Indians were prevailed upon to rebel against his authority. They were promptly made prisoners, put in irons, and after they had been sufficiently impressed with the futility of their project, he ordered their irons to be stuck off, and in his quiet way, full of scorn, he said : "Every body thinks you ought to die for your treachery upon my life amidst the sacred deliberations of a council. I had determined to inflict death upon you for your base attempt, and you yourselves must be sensible that you have justly forfeited your lives; but on considering the meanness of watching a bcar and catching him asleep, I have found out that you are not warriors, only old women, aud too mean to be killed by the Big Knife. As you ought to be pun- ished for putting on breech-clothes, like men, they shall be taken away from you ; plenty of provisions shall be given you for your journey home, as women don't know how to hunt, and during your stay you shall be treated in every respect as squaws." The Indians had not looked for contempt, but for punishment ; to lose a war- rior's footing was to them the deepest possible disgrace. They tried every means to restore themselves in the favor of the:r captors, and when Clark found them truly penitent and reconstructed, he exhibited the same generosity towards them ever characteristic of him.
With Clark, at Cahokia, were several who had followed his leadership from Virginia, who determined on making Illinois their home. Among them were James B. Moore and George Lunceford, (many of whose descendants yet live in St. Clair,) Robert Kidd
* We subjoin a list of the names of the soldiers who served in the war of the Revolution, and ended their days in St. Clair county, and who, under an act of Congress passed March 18, 1818, were grauted a pension :-
Sergein !- Thomas Knighten, South Carolina Continentals ; pensioned March 4, 1831 ; aged 81. Privales-Martin Randleman, South Carolina Coutinen- tals; pensioned March 4, 1831; aged 84. Eleazer Allen, Parsou's Conti- nentals, received $96 per annum, April 13, 1825. Joseph Joues, Pulaski Legion (!); pensioned March 3, 1823 ; died August 6, 1826. Conrad Goodner, North Carolina Continentals; pensioned March 4, 1831 ; aged 76. John Prime, Virginia Continentals; pensioned March 4, 1831 ; aged 84. John Collinsworth, Virginia Continentals; pensioned March 4, 1831 ; aged 70. Hosea Rigg, Pennsylvania Continentals; pensioned March 4, 1831.
and Larken Rutherford. Among those added to his command at Cahokia were Major Bowman, Brady Boismenu and Paulette Maizo. Of these Paulette Maize distinguished himself, in the spring of 1778, by raising a company of volunteers, largely from Cahokia, Prairie du Pont, with some from St. Louis, making a hurried march to the scene of the disaster whereby twelve of their neighbors had been made prisoners of war a few months before, and re-taking the fort. They returned bringing with them the spoils of war. The expedition was a daring one ; its brilliancy was com. mensurate with its daring.
MILITIA SERVICE, 1790.
From 1783 to 1790 the spirit of patriotism ran high, and the following were enrolled within St. Clair County, in the militia :
('laud ft. Aubin, Pierre Godin,
Thomas Mars,
Jacques St. Aubin,
Louis Grandbois,
Julien Merrier,
Francois Amelin, Joseph Genereux,
Francois Arehambarlt,
William Goings,
Gabriel Marlieau,
William Arundel,
Louis Gonville,
Julien Nùol,
Joseph Belland,
John Godin,
Etienne Nicol,
Amable Bartenay,
Louis Germain, Benjamin Ogle,
l'hil. C. Bœuf,
Pierre Guitune,
Joseph Ogle, Sr.,
Louis Buxiere,
Joseph Grinier,
Joseph Ogle, Jr.,
Andr. Bequette,
Joseph Grondine,
Henry O'Hara, Jr.,
Louis Beaulier,
Charles Germain,
Paul Poisier,
Antoin Beleour,
Antoin Girardin,
Joseph l'arisien,
Alexis Brissom,
August Girardin,
Louis IIarman,
Joseph l'epin,
Pierre Panerasse,
Antoin Harman,
Joseph Poisier, Michel Pilet,
Louis Bibaud,
Pierre la Jennesse,
Jacob Judy, Jr.,
Samuel Judy,
William Jones,
John Porter,
Jean M. Bissonette,
Levi Juel,
William Piggott,
James Bryan,
Louis Jervais,
Levi Piggott, Gabriel Tetre,
Francois Courrier,
Antoin Labuxiere,
Michel Roche.
Pierre Clermont,
Baptiste Langlois,
J. R. Rapalais,
Toussaint Chartrand,
Joseph Longtemp, Louis Loremana, B. L. Lande,
Benjamin Rogers,
Antoine Chevier,
Michel Lorval,
L. Pierre Levy,
Robert Sybolt,
John Sullivan,
Louis La Coste,
Gabriel Langlois,
Louis Sequin,
John Cook,
Pascal Letang,
Ebenezer Sovereign,
J. B. Chartran,
Joseph Lepage.
Christopher Smith,
Pierre Chartier,
Francois Laper.se,
Isidor Lacroix,
Joseph Trotier,
Joseph Chenier,
Joseph Laplante,
Gabriel Tellier,
Charles Cadien,
Michel Chartrand,
Francois Demme,
Raphael Danbyon,
Jacques Mayotte,
Amant Tellier,
Joseph Desmont,
Joseplı Mendoza,
Denis Valentin,
Pierre Eeayer,
Gabriel Marlian,
Francois Villeraze,
Isaac Enox,
Pierre Martin,
Antoin Vaudre,
Laurent Le Fevre,
Joseph Marie,
Jean Vandette,
Pascal Le Fevre,
Jacques Mulot,
Joseph Voisin,
Barie L. Flamme,
Jolin Moore,
David Waddell,
J. B. Fleurant,
John Mordock,
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