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 52
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105
THE GERMAN FREE PROTESTANT ST. PAUL'S CON- GREGATION, OF BELLEVILLE.
BY FERDINAND FLEISCHER.
Proceeding from former organization, was established in 1859. The landed property, 100x150 feet, is situated on the corner of Richland and 2d North streets, bearing the church building, the old parsonage, and the new parsonage, with Sunday-school room.
Of the former preachers and their career of life, nothing is known to the undersigned, present incumbent of the parsonage, since May, 1871.
Their names are, 1. Jacob Balthasar Hoppe, left the parsonage in July, 1859; died 5th of December, 1861. 2. - Klingsohr, left January, 1862, and died about 1876. 3. Edward Graf, left January, 1866, and died about 1877. 4. J. C. Mosebach, left May, 1871.
Presidents of the board of the congregation have been the follow- ing citizens of Belleville: Philip Rodenmayer, John Rodenmayer, Andreas Kissel, and Wilhelm Friedrich, the present one since several years. The membership amounts to about 200 voters.
The new parsonage was erected in 1877, at the expense of $3,300, paid off, by instalments, out of the resources of the congregation.
182
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Also an organ for the church has been acquired at the cost of $1200, and paid for in full.
Connected with the congregation are:
1. A Sunday-school, superintended by the preacher, a number of young ladies assisting. Scholarship, about 100.
2. A ladies' association of about 100 members, indefatigable and very successful in supporting the congregation.
3. An association for mutual life insurance, about 200 members.
THE RE-ORGANIZED CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS.
BY JOSEPH E. BETTS.
William Anderson and Henry Curedon, appointed at a special council, by the officers of said church, held at Nauvoo, Hancock county, Illinois, September 12, 1863, arrived in St. Louis, January, 1864. They commenced setting forth the claims of the Re-organ- ized Church, and soon found some to receive them and endorse their teaching.
On the 7th of February, a Branch with eighteen members was organized ; they then came over the river and commenced preach- ing in St. Clair county at Illinoistown, and at Caseyville and Chester ; they reported their labors at the annual conference.
April 6th, 1864, a Branch was organized at Caseyville and Illinoistown. June 11th, the Caseyville Branch numbered thirteen members. In July a Branch was organized at Carbondale of ten members, and through the preaching of the representatives the Branches continued to increase in membership.
In December, 1866, a Branch was organized at Alma mine with nine members. At the above date the Carbondale Branch num- bered twenty-five; the Caseyville Branch numbered fifteen. On March 10th, 1867, a Branch was organized in East St. Louis with nine members. A Branch organized at Newpitsbourge reported, at the above date, thirteen members.
December 14th, 1873, the Alma mine Branch reported thirty-two members. A Branch organized at Beeb's Station reported twelve members. Also a Branch at West Belleville, at the above date, reported forty members.
April 4th, 1880, the Caseyville Branch reported forty members. The Alma Branch reported fifty-six members. The Belleville Branch reported sixty members. The total membership of the Church of St. Clair county in January 2d, 1881, was one hundred and fifty-eight.
This church does not believe in Brigham Young being a prophet, nor in the doctrines he taught, but believe that old Joseph Smith, the martyr, was a true prophet of God, and that his son Joseph is his legal successor, and have adopted the same code of discipline, both moral and spiritual.
The above is a brief sketch of the church in this county.
THE CHURCH OF CHRIST.
This organization numbers but few members in St. Clair county, there being but one congregation within her limits This is located
in the town of Mascoutah, and was organized chiefly through the instrumentality of Elder W. A. Manville. Mrs. Schwisser was for years the sole representative of the cause in Mascoutah. She was a faithful, zealous Christian, and when steps were taken to hold a series of protracted meetings by Elders Mulkey and Bryant, she hailed their advent gladly. The first meetings were held in the Methodist Church. These were followed up by meetings in a Grove, (" God's first temple"), near the town; considerable interest was awakened, and an organization was effected by choosing Elders Bridges and Manville, as elders, and Absalom P. Free, as clerk. In all there were twelve members. Believing it the most available point, they erected a house of worship at Reutchler's Station, which through financial embarrassments they subsequently lost. The organization was made May 3d, 1874, and in 1874-5 they built the house they now occupy in the south-eastern part of Mascoutah, at a cost of $1250. Elder Manville, in his earnest zeal, sacrificed a farm to secure the erection and proper fitting up of the house. The present membership is twenty-five. The congregation has been blessed by the efforts of Elder Isaac Mulkey, Elder R. L. McHatton, Elder Bryant, and others. The house was dedicated to the service of God, by Elder J. H. Garrison, editor of The Christian, October 24, 1875. At present J. H. Brinkerhoff, Principal of the Public Schools of Lebanon, and W. A. Manville, are elders. A Sunday-school, in connection with the church. is well kept up under the superintendence of Charles Lively. Few congregations of any order can point to nobler spirits than W. A. Manville; few men have the cause of Christianity more at heart than he ; fewer yet have sacrificed so much in behalf of the cause. A faithful pastor, a diligent worker, he is respected by all men.
ST. LUKE'S PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF BELLEVILLE .*
The Parish of St. Luke is under the spiritual authority of the Right Rev. George F. Seymour, Bishop of Springfield, and the application to him for its establishment bears the date of March 24, 1880, and is subscribed to by the following names :- A. B. Russell, Mrs. Mary E. Russell, Mrs. Jane C. Snyder, Thomas Ibbotson, Mrs. Lucy M. Ibbotson, Mrs. Isabella M: Codye, Miss Mary A. Park, Mrs. Sarah Henkemeyer, Mrs. Catharine Campbell, Mrs. Collie Mccullough, Mrs. Mary E. Gunn, Dr. A. B. Gunn, S. H. Ingham, Mrs. Caroline Ingham, Mrs. Charles A. Monk, Mrs. M. C. Mullen, Mrs. Fannie I. Schember, Miss Marie Challenor, Mrs. Thomas Challenor, Mrs. Elizabeth C. Niles, Miss Agnes A. Hallam, Dr. J. G. Hallam, Henry Davis, Mrs. Marie E. Davis.
This parish is yet young, but having been established with a goodly number of zealous Christian workers, it is sure to grow and prosper.
The parish is under the rectorship of the Rev. Frank Clendenin. Alexander B. Russell is senior warden, and Henry Davis, junior warden.
* Data furnished by Rev. Frank Clendenin.
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
183
THE CITY OF BELLEVILLE.
HE site of Belleville was selected as the county seat of St. Clair county in the year 1814. As the American settlers on the highlands east of the American Bottom began to outnumber the old French residents along the Mississippi, the idea was entertained of removing the county seat to a more eligible and central location than the village of Cahokia. This question was one of the issues which entered into the election of members of the legislature in 1813. In December, 1813, the legislature, in sessiou at Kaskaskia, appointed John Hay, James Lemen, Isaac Enochs, Wil- liam Scott, Jr., Nathan Chambers, Jacob Short and Caldwell Cains, commissioners to select a new seat of justice. The commissioners met at the dwelling-house of Col. William Whiteside on the twenty-fifth of January, 1814, but, " by reason of not being thoroughly informed as to their legal duties, and that no proper officer was present to administer the necessary oaths," they adjourned to meet at Cahokia on the following fourteenth of February. At the latter meeting no decision was reached. The commissioners desired further considera- tion of the subject, and a personal view of the proposed location. Their next meeting was at the house of Geo. Blair, on the site of the present city of Belleville. At this meeting considerable diver- sity of opinion was shown, and they adjourned without being able to come to any conclusion. At a subsequent meeting held at Blair's house on the tenth of March, 1814, all the commissioners being present, the majority fixed the county seat on Blair's land, and a site for the county buildings was marked in Blair's corn-field, about twenty-five rods north-east of his dwelling-house. Blair agreed to give one acre of land for a public square, on which to erect the public buildings, and to relinquish twenty-five acres adjoining, of which every fifth lot of land, exclusive of the streets, he gave as a donation for the use and benefit of the county of St. Clair. The report was signed by all the commissioners except William Scott, Jr., and Caldwell Cains. Blair agreed to have suitable arrange- ments made so that the June term of court, 1814, could be held at the new county seat.
Such was the beginning of Belleville. The locality was previ- ously known as Compton Hill. It is said that the name of Belle- ville, "beautiful city," was given to the place by George Blair. A survey was made in the summer of 1814, by John Messenger. This survey was completed some years afterward by Gov. Ninian Ed- wards, who placed it on record. An old plat is now on file made on a scale of four chains to the inch. The names of the streets were given by Mr. Blair. The most eastward street was called
Church street, and westward were Jackson, High, Illinois, Spring and Hill streets. North and south from the public square the streets were numbered First, Second and Third. The street ex- tending east and west through the public square was called St. Clair street, but by common usage, it has become known as Main street. This and Illinois streets were laid off sixty-six feet wide, and all the others forty-nine and a half feet. In the summer of 1814, Etienne Pensoneau was given the contract to build a court- house. This was an unpainted frame building, two stories high, and stood in the public square east of the site of the National Hc- tel, and north of the present court-house. The court room occupied the whole lower floor, and in the upper story were the clerk's of- fices and jury rooms. The records show that for hauling to Belle- ville the benches, seats and tables, from the old court-house, at Cahokia, Mr. Blair was paid six dollars. A new brick court-house was begun in the year 1829, and finished in 1831. It stood in the public square north-east of the old building. This in turn gave place to the present court-house, which was erected about 1859. The first jail, of which a man named Henry Sharp was the archi- tect, was built of logs, and stood in the public square, about one hundred feet south-east of the site of Hinckley's bank. The second jail was a two story brick building on Illinois street, east of the old log jail. The third jail was built on Illinois street, above First North street, and the building is still standing. It was used for the confinement of prisoners till the erection of the present jail.
George Blair, the original proprietor of the town, was the pioneer citizen of Belleville. His dwelling was the first erected in the town. For several years he kept a hotel. Gov. John Reynolds says of him, that he was a man of no extraordinary talents, and that his name was magnified into some fame and notoriety simply from the fact that he owned the land on which the city of Belleville was built. He says :
" The first time I saw Mr. Blair was in the fall of 1806, and I was well acquainted with him from that time until his death. He then resided in a log cabin, covered with split hoards and weight poles, and occupied a point just north of Hinckley's mill. This log cabin and this man were somewhat similar in their humble po- sition at this time, in 1806, and were the primitive specimens of the men and houses that then appeared in Belleville. Mr. Blair loca- ted at this place to enjoy the fine spring water that at this time is used in Mr. Hinckley's steam mill. In 1814 he was a man of mid- dle size and medium age, and possessed nothing attractive about him. He was not wealthy at the time; but he had purchased two
184
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
militia rights of one hundred acres each, and located them on the land whereon Belleville is built. He had a small farm, extending from his log cabin to 'about the north side of the public square, and it was not well cultivated. Mr. Blair, like many other persons, had a natural and inborn hatred to work, and scarcely ever per- mitted his peace of mind to be disturbed by any kind of labor whatever. He immigrated with his father to Illinois in 1796, and had not the means of any, or much, education. He was no scholar, but supposed he was, and he had the imprudence on all occasions, in and out of order, to use words of wondrous length and mostly inapplicable. I was always a guest of Mr. Blair's hotel when there was no other ; and I can testify that the landlord was blessed with a good nature and a benevolent spirit, but ' mine hostess ' was pretty much the reverse of her husband, as the truth of history will not permit me to call him ' her lord and master.'"'
West of Blair, his nearest neighbor was Henry Miller. In 1806, William Phillips settled in what is now South Belleville, about one hundred and fifty yards from Reuss' mill.
With the removal of the county seat John Hay came to Belle- ville, though his family still, for some years, continued to reside at Cahokia. He was the son of Major Hay, the English Governor of Upper Canada. He had received a liberal education, was indus- trious, and on his settlement at Cahokia, was chosen to all the offi- ces that required talents, writing and good penmanship. A will or con- tract never carried with it quite so undisputed an authority as when in his handwriting. He filled at different times the positions of circuit clerk, county clerk, recorder, probate judge, notary public and commissioner of deeds. He returned to his home at Cahokia every Saturday evening, hut was promptly at his post on Monday morning to begin the duties of the week. After some years he re- moved his family to Belleville, where he died in 1843. In 1810 the first mill was built at Belleville, by Elijah Chapman. This was a water mill, and stood on the western side of Richland creek, not far above the bridge, on the road leading to Centerville. It was subsequently purchased by Etienne Pensoneau, but ceased running for lack of water. In the year 1814, the first store was opened in Belleville, near Chapman's mill, by Joseph Kerr. He was a brother of Matthew Kerr, of St. Louis, from whom he obtained his stock of goods. Among the other early merchants of Belleville were Messrs. Lindell, Ringgold, Wilkinson and Pensoneau.
In the year 1815, Reuben Anderson moved from Cahokia and settled in Belleville. He lived in a small log cabin on Illinois street. He afterward opened a hotel, was soon elected constable, and likewise served as deputy sheriff. He was agreeable and so- cial in manner, but too fond of gay and mirthful company. Among the most noted of the early citizens of Bellville was James Tanne- hill. He was a wagon maker by trade. He became a resident of Belleville in 1817. He built a large house on the south side of Main street, adjoining the public square on the west, where now stands the National Hotel. This house, when built, was the largest in town. It was constructed of frame work and hewn logs, the logs placed above the frame work. The main building was two stories high, but additions and sub-additions were made to it, until the whole structure, as Gov. Reynolds remarks, looked like a French village. Here Tannehill kept a hotel, which, in those early days, was famous. It was probably the largest hotel in southern Illinois. The building was standing for about forty years, till at last the Na- tional Hotel was built on the site. Here, at different times, many prominent men were entertained, and many stirring scenes were witnessed. Tannehill was a kind aud attentive landlord, and was anxious to afford his guests any accommodation in his power. He was not a good business man, his guests paid their bills only when
it suited their convenience, and though he and his family labored ' hard, and he, at the same time, carried on his trade, he could ac- cumulate no money, but kept about even with the world. So he disposed of the hotel to Judge Latham, of Edwardsville, and pur- chased a half section of land on the High prairie, where he opened up a farm. Tannehill started the first distillery at Belleville. It stood near the mill, in the south part of the town, where he secured a twelve-acre tract of land, covered with heavy timber, in exchange for an old horse, valued at thirty-five dollars. Whiskey had been previously distilled in the county, but this was the first distillery in which steam was used.
Instead of the metal pipes now in use the steam was conveyed through hollow logs bored for the purpose. The entire product of the distillery was consumed at the hotel. It was no rare circum- stance on public occasions to empty three or four barrels of whis- key in a single day. The whiskey was used in its virgin purity, brought from the still one day and drank the next. A few dried apples roasted brown and put into a barrel of whiskey gave it a very rich color. By substituting peaches for apples, a very fair peach brandy was said to be made, for which a ready sale was had. At that early period there were no temperance societies, grain of all kinds was abundant, and in consequence whiskey was plentiful and cheap, and its use on all occasions was free and universal. Tannehill's distillery burned down in 1830 or 1831. Tannehill undertook to build a wind-mill for grinding grain on his farm in High prairie. He succeeded in getting the mill to run but was un- able to control it, for the want of a regulator, which, it seems, he did not know how to construct. The want of this regulator resulted in the complete failure of the experiment, and the destruction of the whole fabric, shortly after it had been started. The mill was so constructed that the wind acted upon a horizontal shaft, about thirty feet long, into which long arms were framed, having a spiral inclination around the shaft, the end to windward being small in diameter, and increasing as it approached the mill. On these arms were pinned, with wooden pins, half-inch boards, which boards formed the wings or sails of the mill; the whole when finished, re- presenting the twist of an auger more than anything else. Gearing attached to the end of the shaft, gave motion to the burrs. The wind had the greatest power when applied to the outer end of the shaft. When completed, the neigh- bors were all in ecstacies about the prospect of having such a mill in their vicinity. But sad disappointment soon supervened. A storm came on, which caused the sails to run with such velocity that the runner was projected some sixty or seventy feet, where it was embedded and buried in the soil, and there long afterwards it re- mained. When this occurred the shaft had gained such momentum that, though thrown out of his bearings, it continued to run with great speed, tearing down everything before it, until it and all the machinery attached was broken to pieces.
In 1828 he purchased from the heirs of Etienne Pensoneau for the sum of four hundred and thirty-three dollars the old mill and a tract of fifty acres of land lying west of Race street and adjoining West Belleville. Harrison's, Breese's, and Kennedy's additions to the city are embraced in this tract as well as much other valuable property. Tannehill erected new dams and made other additions and improvements, but the mill and distillery were scarcely more successful in bringing him in money than the hotel had been. In 1832 he sold the mill and a greater part of the land to Thomas Harrison for eight hundred dollars. Shortly afterward he exchanged the hotel and other property in Belleville for a farm in the Ameri- can Bottom, to which he moved and where he subsequently died. His farm in the High prairie he sold to John and Edward Tate for
185
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
a small sum. Among his other pursuits he filled the positions of justice of the peace and jailor. He possessed great skill in the use of the divining rod, in discovering springs and the general locality. of water-so it was said. He acquired a great reputation in this art, and most folks had unlimited faith in his skill. As commonly used, the divining rod is a forked, slender switch of hazel, or other elastic wood. One branch of the fork was taken in each hand, the two ends being held pointing downward. In this way the operator passed the rod over the surface of the ground and by the particu- lar inclination of the points of the rod, decided whether or not, and where water might be found, and, oracle-like, gave a vague hint as to the probable depth below the surface, the water would be found. It was a comparatively easy matter with our credulous and somewhat superstitious pioneers to establish and confirm the faith of many of them in the art of using the divining rod. At one time he engaged in the business of mining lead in Missouri, where he employed a brother of Robert Higgins, named Ichabod, to sink a shaft, but, like the windmill, his mining operations did not prove a success and therefore were abandoned. Mr. Tannehill was, in stature, very large. He stood about six feet four inches high, and was stoutly built. His acquired abilities were somewhat limited, but he was a kind-hearted, moral and good-natured man- He was a South Carolinian by birth and a zealous advocate for negro slavery.
He was inconstant and fickle in business matters, and accumu- lated but little of this world's goods. Though he had owned much valuable property in the neighborhood of Belleville he died poor.
After Mr. Tannehill left the hotel Judge Tatham had it kept by Mr. Garrison and wife. Mr. Tannehill afterward regained posses- sion and kept a hotel for several years. It then passed into the hands of William Orr, who died there of the cholera. After him Mr. Maus became proprietor who kept a hotel in the old building till he erected a new and more spacious edifice. Another hotel was built on Main street a short distance east of High street, in the year 1815, by Daniel Wise, which, when erected, was considered quite a large building. At one time Mr. Bottsford was the land- lord and gave general satisfaction to the public. From Mr. Wise the building passed into the hands of an Englishman named Robi- son. This gentleman had no family. He was a warm and zealous Roman Catholic, and gave his property to that church. Gov. Reynolds calls attention to the different passions and motives which governed Tatham and Robison. Hesays : "I knew them well, and can testify that they possessed rather better than ordinary talents. Each was well educated. Mr. Robison was a school teacher and discharged his duties to the satisfaction of his employers. Tatham possessed too much gallantry for his landlady ; that would lead any man to ruin and death if persisted in. The pure and holy passions of Mr. Robison chastened his heart, and elevated his existence into elysian fields of bliss in this life, with a well-founded hope of a seat at the right hand of God."
In 1815 Joseph Kerr built a log house at the corner of the pub- lic square and Illinois street, on the spot where Jacob Knoeble afterward built a brick hotel. The site is now occupied by the Belleville House. It was one of the conspicuous buildings of the place, and remained standing till 1844.
In the year 1817 Daniel Murray became a citizen of Belleville. He emigrated to this state from Baltimore. He had a large and respectable family, which made quite a valuable addition to the community. He built a house on the lot in the north-east corner of the block in which is Hickley's mill. He was a man of sound, solid mind and exemplary morals, and made an excellent member of society. With him came his son, John Murray, who for many
years was a useful and efficient citizen of the town, and who at dif- ferent times held various offices of honor and responsibility.
Etienne Pensoneau, who purchased Mr. Blair's interest in the town, was a Canadian Frenchman, and but little acquainted with the English language. He possessed some wealth, though he con- tributed only in a small degree to the growth and advancement of the town. He had a small store of dry goods, some negro slaves, the mill on Richland creek, and much other property, but seemed to have not the least notion that the improvement of the city would increase his wealth. It is related that about the year 1816 an eastern clergyman named Taylor preached in the court-house, and in the course of his sermon observed, referring to a familiar portion of Scripture, that there would be two servants in a mill, one would be taken and the other left. Pensoneau was ex- ceedingly irritable and hasty. This expression falling from the lips of an abolition preacher put him in a flame. As soon as the minister descended from the pulpit Pensoneau rushed at him with the double tree of a wagon to demolish him, believing that it was the intention of the preacher to take one of his slaves at the mill. The incident created much merriment.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.