USA > Illinois > White County > History of White County Illinois > Part 34
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THE OLDEST HOUSES IN CARMI
are the following: The Patrick house, a frame, on the north side of Main street, near the bridge; it was built by Mr. Grant; a frame below the Damron House; a frame owned by a daughter of Albert R. Shannon, a little south of the building occupied by Hay& Webb's bank; and a log house, covered with siding, where the City Bakery now is, a little above the Storms place. The bakery building was erected in 1816 by John and Young Funk- houser, and was the first residence of Hezekiah Hargrave after his marriage. The two-story frame on the south side of Main street, next the bridge, with a stone chimney on the outside at the west end, was the first hotel in Carini, kept by James S. Graham.
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
THE FIRST BIRTH IN CARMI
of a white child was probably that of Burnett Graham, brother of Richard S. Graham.
THE FIRST DEATH IN CARMI
was that of Elizabeth Graham, wife of James S., and mother of Richard S., now living; and she was likewise the first to be buried in Carmi Cemetery.
THE FIRST TAVERN
in Carini was kept by James S. Graham, referred to above, and subsequently by Richard, his brother. The building still stands, nearest the bridge. The first ferry was also owned and run by the Grahams.
CARMI IN ITS FOURTH DECADE.
For several years previous to 1845 Southern Illinois had suffered much from the effect caused by thousands of her hardiest and no- blest citizens becoming discouraged and emigrating. Some went North, some went West, and some took the Texas fever and went South. But after a time this drain upon Egypt ceased, and emi- gration commenced finding its way into the inviting fields of Southern Illinois. At that time Carmi was too dead to skin. Very little business was done; many of her business men were broken up and lit out for new fields. The entire population would not have numbered 300 souls all told. Grayville was recuperating and made some show of life, but her people were poor in purse. As a whole, the people in the county were showing signs of im- provement. The farmers were getting out of debt, and making additions to their fields by extending their fences and taking in more land. The demand was fully up to the supply of farm labor- ers, and, in fine, White County was not a bad place to live in, for all was peace and good will.
INCORPORATION.
Carmi was incorporated as a town Jan. 30, 1840, with the usual franchises, if the citizens should accept such charter from the Leg- islature; but this they neglected to do.
Feb. 9, 1857, an act of the General Assembly was approved in- corporating the town of Carmi, subject to a majority of all the
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votes cast on the first Monday following, and including within the corporate limits all the ground within 800 yards of the center of the court-house. This would make the corporation a "round body; " but for this or some other reason, this act was re- pealed Feb. 24, 1859, and the money in the treasury ordered to be paid over to Wm. A. St. John, to be expended in the improvement of the streets and alleys of the place. Feb. 13, 1867, the town was again incorporated, this time independently of any popular vote, and declaring the jurisdiction to be " all that district of coun- try known as the northeast quarter of section 13, the north half of the southeast quarter of section 13, the northeast fourth of the southwest quarter of section 13, and the east half of the north west quarter of section 13, all in township 5 south, of range 9 east, in the county of White."
A meeting was held May 1 to choose three judges and two clerks of election, as provided for in the act of the Legislature. George Patrick was elected Chairman of this meeting, and James B. Hinde, Clerk. Martin Vaught, James G. Stokes and John C. Slocumb were duly elected Judges, and William Phipps and Sam- uel Thompson were elected Clerks of said election, and all were duly sworn by James B. Hinde, Clerk of the Circuit Court of White County. The meeting then adjourned.
The election for town officers was held May 1, 1867, and resulted as follows : Trustees, John M. Crebs, William A. St. John, Michael Anderson, George S. Staley and Henry W. Cook ; Police Magistrate, George Patrick ; Treasurer, John G. Powell ; Town Constable, Thomas Poynton.
The council met at the office of Crebs & Conger, May 14, 1867, and proceeded to organize by electing John M. Crebs, President, and J. I. Mcclintock, Clerk. J. C. Slocumb was chosen Supervi_ sor of Streets, and his bond was fixed at $5.00. The first ordi- nance passed was one providing for licenses for shows, circuses. museums, etc. The next ordinance passed related to licenses for hawkers, peddlers, etc. Ordinances number 3 and 4 provided no liquor should be sold without a license, and the fee for such license was fixed at $25 per year for malt liquors, and $100 per year for all liquors. The other ordinances passed at the first meet - ing of the Common Council of Carmi related to the fees of the police magistrate and constable, of witnesses and jurors, road labor, protection of fruit and ornamental trees, etc., nuisances, disturb- ance of the peare, care of sidewalks, and the stated meeting of the
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council. The council was appointed to meet the second Wednes- day of each month, an arrangement which remained in force until the adoption of a city form of government, in 1873. These ordi- nances were published in the White County Advocate.
The governmental machinery of Carmi ran smoothly along, after being thus put in motion, without change of form until 1873. The officers each year were as follows :
1867 .- Trustees, John M. Crebs (President), William A. St. John, Michael Anderson, George S. Staley and Henry W. Cook ; Police Magistrate, George Patrick ; Treasurer, John G. Powell ; Constable, Thomas Poynton ; Street Supervisor, J. C. Slocumb ; Clerk, J. I. Mcclintock.
1868 .- Trustees, Charles E. McDowell (President), Charles J F Wilson, George S. St. John, Peter Gill and Michael Anderson ; Police Magistrate, George Patrick ; Treasurer, John G. Powell ; Constable, William Tucker ; Clerk, J. I. Mcclintock ; Street Supervisor, Valentine Hoone.
1869 -Trustees, George S. Staley (President), Chauncey S. Con- ger, Abner Boyer, James Fackney and Nathaniel P. Graham; Clerk, J. I. McClintock (resigned), North Storms (to succeed McClintock); Police Magistrate, William Thomas; Treasurer, George Williams; Constable, R. T. Ward; Street Supervisor, Dan- i. 1 Berry.
1870 .- Trustees, F. J. Foster (President), J. M. Damron, B. L. Patrick, Jasper Partridge and J. G. Powell; Clerk, North Storms; Police Magistrate, J. S. Boyd; Constable, Frederick Williams ; Street Commissioner, E. J. Conger (removed), G. S. St. John (to till vacancy).
1871 .- Trustees, G. S. Staley (President), James Fackney, James H. Shipley, William H. Cook and Frederick Becker; Clerk, North Storms; Treasurer, R. S. Graham; Constable, George S. St. John; Street Commissioner,
1872 .- Trustees, George S. Staley (President), F. Becker, J. Bruter, C. Cook, 111 G S. St. John; Clerk, North Storms; Treasurer, George Williams; Constable, John Flynn; Street Super- visor, John Flynn.
March 10, 1873, an election was held to determine whether Carmi should be organized as a city " under general law, " which resulted in 135 votes being cast for city organization, and 105 against city organization-a majority of twenty-nine in favor of the change. At the same special election, the question of minority
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CARMI TOWNSHIP.
representation in the city council was voted upon with the follow- ing result : For minority representation, 139; against minority representation, 34-a majority in favor of 105.
A census of Carmi, taken at this time by Messrs. P. A. Pearce und W. H. Phipps, in accordance with a resolution of the council, showed the population of the city to be 1,294.
The election for city officers took place April 15, 1873. The officers for that year and each year since are as follows:
1873 .- Mayor, E. L. Stewart; Aldermen, B. L. Patrick, C. Cook, Jacob Bruder, David Bowling, J. D. Martin, J. Partridge; Clerk, W. H. Phipps; Treasurer, Samuel Strong; City Attorney, P. A. Pearce; Police Magistrate, T. G. Parker; Marshal, George W. Clark, Conrad Miller to succeed Clark; Superintendent of Streets, William Beck, Conrad Miller to succeed Beck.
1874 .- Aldermen, Jacob Bruder, John D. Martin and Ira Reeves; Police Magistrate, Samuel H. Martin; Collector, John H. Brown.
1875 .- Mayor, Ross Graham; Aldermen, Samuel Strong, G. W. Wissinger and William Beck; Clerk, W. H. Phipps; Treas- urer, R. F. Stewart; Attorney, P. A. Pearce: Marshal, John W. Stricklin (resigned), J. W. Darling to till vacancy; Superintendent of Streets, Frank Mitchem.
1876 .- Aldermen, J. D. Martin, Daniel Berry and W. M. Barth; Marshal (to fill vacancy), Frank Mitchem (removed), Charles Houghtaling.
1877 .- Mayor, Leroy L. Staley; Aldermen, Byrd L. Patrick, Elam L. Stewart and Samuel Strong; Clerk, William H. Phipps; Treasurer, William R. Cochran; Attorney, Richard L. Organ; Police Magistrate, Everton J. Conger, Marshal, James B. Allen.
1878 .- Aldermen, Charles Houghtaling, W. Marx Barth and John C. Slocumb.
1879 .- Mayor, Christian Cook; Aldermen, Ross Graham, W. H. Johnson and G. H. Phar; Clerk, William H. Phipps; Treas- urer, Samuel Strong; Attorney, N. Holderby; Marshal, William F. Miller.
1880 .- Aldermen, Thomas Poynton, John Parvin and Abner Boyer; Police Magistrate, James B. Allen; Attorney, Charles P. Berry; Marshal, Simon Grant; Superintendent of Streets, Holmes L. Brockett; Treasure (to fill vacancy caused by the death of Sam- uel Strong), William R. Cochran.
1881 .- Mayor, Orlando Burrell; Aldermen, Simon Grant, John
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R. Jones and William Beck; Clerk, William R. Phipps; Treas- urer, William R. Cochran; Attorney, Charles P. Berry; Police Magistrate, James B. Allen; Marshal, George Gallman.
1882 .- Aldermen, James Wallace, Joseph A. Maier and B. L. Patrick; Marshal, Henderson Dale; Superintendent of Streets, Holmes L. Brockett; Aldern en (to fill \ acar. cies.Jacob Bruder and Joseph A. Maier; Attorney, Daniel H. Patrick.
CARMI'S DEBT.
The only bonded indebtedness : Carmi was incurred on the 21st of December, 1872, to the mount of $14,000. This was in aid of the construction of the airo & Vincennes Railroad. In 1878, 1879 and 1881 portions f this indebtedness were can celed-in all $5,600. This year (1 82) provision has been made for the payment of $2,000 more of the bonds. In a few years the debt will be entirely paid off. The city has no floating indebted- ness, or outstanding warrants, but has always had money in the treasury.
PRESENT LIMITS, STREETS, ETC.
Carmi is situated mainly on section 13, of township 5 south, range east. The streets of the older portion of the city run par- allel with, or perpendicular to, the river; Main street, the chief thoroughfare, being, for instance, 37 deg. 30 min. from east and west. West of the river, the streets are: south of Main-Robin- son, Kerney, Webb and Ratcliff; north of Main-Cherry, Shockaw, Pleasant, Rowling, Rock and Short. Commencing at the river, and crossing Main, the first, which is about one square from the river, is Locust, then Main Cross, Walnut, Church, Jessup, Rice, Partridge, Slocumb, Grant, Olive and Plum. The newer portion of the town, sometimes called West Carmi, which has been made principally by the railroads, lies west and northwest of the older, and the streets correspond with the cardinal points ot the compass, that is, they are " square with the world." The prin. cipal street here is named Stewart, and runs due east and west through the middle of section 13. South of it are Elm and Oak streets, and north are Smith, Fackney, Sycamore, Maple and Shipley. The head, or eastern extremity of Stewart street, is, at its junction with First street, in the center of town; and the streets lying parallel with, and west of, First, are numbered in order up to Seventh street.
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East of the river, in East Carmi, the only street south of Main is Hay (the eastern half of this being called Sandy street), and the only street north is named White. North of the railroad, however, is Leroy street, which is a continuation of Shipley street. The street nearest the river, on the east side, is named Water, and par- allel with it are First, Staley and St. Louis.
The two railroads run through Carmi on one track, which is al- most parallel with Main street. crossing the river on Pleasant street, and on the west side of the town, crossing Stewart street near its junction with Sixth.
ADDITIONS.
Stickney's, made by Wm. H. Stickney, of Chicago, July 10, 1844, comprises seven or eight blocks near the railroad, on the west side of the river. Stickney's second addition was made Aug. 11, 1856.
Harris's, made March 28, 1858, comprises a small tract on the west side of Whiting street.
Smith's, made by Simeon Smith, June 13, 1860, lies between First and Second streets, extending from Stewart street to the rail- road.
Robinson & Thompson's deeded Aug. 16, 1860, lies between Min and Robinson streets, and is the first block west of Church street.
Thomas de Smith's is bounded by Main, Kerney, Partridge and Grant streets, and was made June 24, 1861.
Fackney's First, made by James H. Fackney, Dec. 2, 1867, and Second, Aug. 26, 1871, and Third, Aug. 17, 1872, all lie in a body just west of the depot.
Hay's, bounded by Kearney, Ratcliff, Main Cross and Jessup streets, and containing eight full blocks and two half blocks, was deeded to the city of Carmi, Dec. 8, 1868.
Western, situated south of Main street, one to two squares west of Church street, was made April 13, 1871.
Stewart's First, bounded by Stewart, Main, Fourth, and on the east side by what would be Second street, if continued, made Aug. 16, 1872.
Stewart's Second, bounded by Stewart, Main, Fourth and Sixth streets, made July 10, 1880.
Staley's, east of the river and on both sides of the railroad, 35
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made Sept. 5, 1872. The " Mill Tract" lies between this addition and the river.
Harsha's, four squares, the southeastern portion of East Carmi, deeded Dec. 4, 1872.
Partridge's, bounded by Main, Robinson, Strong alley and Oliver street, platted Feb. 7, 1873.
Whiting's, between Robinson and Kerney streets, and Church street and Harris's addition, made Aug. 13, 1877.
Graham's, west of town, on each side of Seventh street, from Stewart street north to Shipley street, made by D. H. Graham, Apr. 3, 1879.
Kerney's First, between Main, Olive and the first alley west, and extending four blocks south of Main, about to Ratcliff street, made by Thomas M. Kerney, Oct. 7, 1879.
Kerney's Second, extreme southwest portion of town, and west of the preceding, made June 11, 1880.
Schumacher's, southeast corner of Webb and Olive streets, made May 4, 1880.
Bozeman's, southwest corner of Webb and Olive streets, was made Aug. 3, 1880.
West of town are blocks A to G, surveyed into small lots by Conger & Crebs, the fair-grounds being block F and the extreme west on the north side of Main street.
BRIDGES.
An act of the Legislature was approved March 2, 1819, which read as follows:
" Whereas, the President and Directors of the Wabash Navi- gation Company have, by their memorial to the General Assembly of the State of Illinois, prayed for leave to build a toll bridge across the Little Wabash River at Carmi, and for other alterations in their act of incorporation; and it appearing to the General Assembly that such bridge, when erected, will be of great public utility; therefore,
"SECTION 1. Be it enacted, etc., Thatit shall be lawful for the said company to use so much of their capital stock as will be necessary in erecting a bridge across the Little Wabash River opposite the town of Carmi, at such place as the president and directors, or a majority of them, may designate.
"SEC. 2. That the said bridge shall not be less than eight- een feet wide, built in a substantial and workmanlike manner,
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and be completed in two years from and after the passage of this act, so far as to permit passengers with carriages of every descrip- tion to pass with safety.
"SEO. 3. That so soon as the said bridge shall be completed as aforesaid, it shall and may be lawful for the said company to erect a gate at one or both ends of the said bridge, to enable them to effect the collection of the toll, which they are hereby authorized to ask and receive from the passengers crossing on the said bridge, as follows, to wit: For every four-wheeled carriage, thirty-seven and a half cents; for every two-wheeled carriage, twenty- five cents; for every person and horse, six and a fourth cents; for every loose horse, fifty cents; for every twenty head of cattle, sheep and hogs or [other] quadrupeds, twenty cents; for every foot passenger, three cents; for a sleigh or slide drawn by two horses, twenty five cents; for the like vehicle drawn by one horse, twelve and a half cents. And it shall and may be lawful for the toll-gatherer to stop any and all persons from passing said bridge until they shall have paid him at the aforesaid rates," etc.
" SEC. 5. That the president and directors, by and with the consent of a majority of the stockholders, shall have the power to increase the price of the shares to ten dollars, on account of the expense incurred by the erection of said bridge, payable as in the act to which this is amendatory.
"SEC. 6. That the said company be and they are hereby allowed the further time of five years to complete the navigation as far up as the town of Carmi, and ten years to the base line."
For the want of funds the company failed to execute the work, and May 1, 1829, the Legislature enacted "that Allen Rudolph, of White County, or his heirs, is hereby authorized to erect a toll bridge across the Little Wabash River, opposite the main street in the town of Carmi; and shall be authorized to place a toll gate at either end of said bridge, and receive the toll for passing the same, herein allowed, for the term of thirty years, upon his com- plying with the provision of this act. The said Allen Rudolph, or his heirs, shall commence the building of said bridge, within one year, and shall complete the same within two years, from the pass- age of this act, providing that it shall not be so constructed as to ob- struct the navigation of said river by flat-boats or keel-boats."
The other sections of the act prescribe the rates of toll and other routine duties. Mr. Rudolph was allowed five months' time in which to accept or refuse the contract offered by this law.
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Section sixth provided that any person who should comply with the provisions of the act would be authorized to erect a toll bridge across the Skillet Fork where the Carmi and Vandalia State road crosses it.
For some reason Mr. Rudolph also failed to erect the much- needed structure, and Feb. 16, 1831, the Legislature gave $1,000 of the Gallatin saline fund to White County, to aid in this work.
The "Carmi Bridge Company " was incorporated Feb. 6, 1835, consisting of "Josiah Mcknight, George R. Logan, Charles J. Wilman, Nathaniel Blackford, Samuel D. Ready, Thomas Ker- ney and John Phipps and their associates." Their capital stock was to consist of $5,000 to be divided into $10 shares. A president and six directors were to be elected as soon as 150 shares were taken, and the officers were to be elected annually. The permanent bridge was to be so erected as to permit the passage of boats and rafts of timber of the largest size and height, at the highest stage of water in the river, with a space between two of the abutments of at least thirty feet. The president and directors were authorized to fix the rates of toll and collect them. The county was authorized to take stock in this enterprise, and be subject to the same regulations as other stockholders -- the bridge to be so built as not to obstruct the ford.
During the many long years from about 1812 to 1838, many were the thoughts of a bridge at Carmi, and a movement toward building one occasionally almost inaugurated; but not until the last year mentioned was a bridge actually commenced. A stock company, under a special charter from the Legislature, began this structure with the aid only of private subscriptions, but made slow headway until appropriations were made by the Legislature, under the great internal improvement scheme, which left this county un- provided with railroads, canals, etc. White and other counties thus omitted in that scheme were denominated the "unfortunate" counties, and to them a sop was thrown from reliable funds, which eventually set such counties in a better plight than those that were promised railroads, canals, etc.
Under the appropriation referred to the company completed the bridge in 1840, Benj. M. St. John being the architect. It was a covered bridge. A toll-gate was established at the west end, but in a year or two it was removed and the bridge made free. This structure, with sundry repairs, remained until 1879, when the pres- ent iron bridge was put up by the Masillon (Ohio) Bridge Com-
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pany, at a cost of $5,317. One-half of this fund was raised by the county, one-fourth by Carmi Township, and one-fourth by Haw- thorne Township. Wm. A. St. John drew up the plan and speci- fications.
INDUSTRIES.
Carmi Water-Mills .- This is the most ancient living industry in Carmi, a mill having been started here before the village was platted, probably about 1812. During the seventy years that have since intervened the proprietorship has of course often changed. The first proprietors were Lowry Hay and Leonard White, who also had a saw-mill, tan-yard and distillery in connection with the grist-mill. The next were David Burrell and Allen Rudolph; then Williams & Weed, Samuel Slocumb, Ahart S. Staley, finally, George S. Staley, the present proprietor. At one time the property was owned by the State of Illinois, by virtue of a navigation act. It was anthorized to be sold by act approved Feb. 27, 1847. This act was amended Feb. 12, 1853, repealing the former act, " pro- vided the purchaser shall forever maintain, keep in and attach to the mill dam a good and sufficient slope, to be not less than fifty-two feet long, to be thirty feet wide in the clear," etc .; also, " that should the State, or any company of persons acting under authority of the Legislature, wish to improve the navigation of the Little Wabash River by the erection of a lock and dam at said Carmi mill property, then the State or company shall have full power and authority to make such improvements."
In Chapter X. we give the result of the legislation concerning the navigation of the Little Wabash.
All the present improvements on this property have been made by the Staleys.
This mill now has three water-wheels, two forty-four inch and one forty-inch wheel, with seven-foot head of water, has four sets of burrs, and the latest improved machinery throughont; has a smut machine, cockle separator and also brush machine; has two mid- dlings purifiers and seven reels; has a capacity of 100 barrels of flour and fifty barrels of meal every day. The mill is 36 x 50 feet and four stories and basement.
Carmi City Steam Mills are two separate mills, one for corn and the other for wheat. They have a very large eighty horse- power engine and it is one of the very largest in Southern Illinois. These mills are both fitted up in the most modern manner, and
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the best and most complete machinery throughout. The corn-mill has two run of four-foot burrs and is a building 30 x 50 feet two stories and a basement; the flonring mill has four run of four- foot burra, and one set of steel rollers. The capacity of these two mills is 125 barrels of flour and 250 barrels of meal a day. These three mills are owned and run by George S. Staley.
Iona Mills .- Wm. Malone and J. R. Bozeman, proprietors, built this mill last year (1881). at a cost of $4, 800. It is located on the west bank of the river, about twenty rods south of the bridge; is 30 x 40 feet in size, two stories high; has two run of stone, one for wheat and one for.corn, and the mills are run by a thirty-four horse-power engine. The mills are devoted exclusively to custom work, and run night and day. They make as good flour as can be made any where in the country.
Steel, Taylor & Allen are removing their mill-works from Parkhursttown to Carmi, and placing them in a new three-story structure at the west end of the bridge, north side of Main street. This mill is 32 x 40 feet, has two run of burrs, devoted to custom work, both wheat and corn. A third pair of burrs, for wheat, will eventually be added.
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