USA > Illinois > Madison County > Our 150 years, 1812-1962 : in commemoration of the Madison County Sesquicentennial > Part 3
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After five years of disappointment he learned from some of the French traders that his family was with the Kickapoos. With two Frenchmen as interpreters and guides he visited the Indian town on Salt Creek, and gradually found all members of his family alive and well.
It developed that the husband of the woman who took in Mrs. Gillham and Samuel after their escape from the Indians had heard earlier of the kidnaping. His first thought was ran- som. Ultimately, it is said James Gillham had to pay about $8000 for the return of his three children. Interest rates were 10 to 12 per cent at the time, and the payment left the family in financial straits for years.
After he was ransomed, the younger boy, Jacob, kept re- turning to the summer camps of the Indians for many years for two reasons: his love of Indian life, and to see the baby. James Gillham is said to have taken a month or so to return to Kentucky to raise the money for the ransom. His wife and Samuel were the first to be recovered, then Nancy, then Jacob. The baby apparently never was recovered.
James Gillham died in 1812 or 1813, possibly as a result of a wound in the war of 1812. His widow was given a tract of land in Chouteau township by the U. S. Government because of her trials and tribulations.
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THE WOOD RIVER MASSACRE
What was perhaps the largest mass killing by Indians within the borders of Madison County occurred July 10, 1814, when a woman and six children were slain as they walked on a road or trail a short distance northeast of Wood River. The victims, Mrs. Reason Reagan and her two children, two chil- dren of the Abel Moores and two children of the William Moores, are buried in what is now known as Vaughn Cemetery on Route 111 south of Civic Memorial Airport.
The cruel atrocity was committed on a Sunday afternoon when Mr. Reagan was in church, having left his family at the home of Abel Moore a mile away. For some unknown reason, Mrs. Reagan decided to return to her home briefly and was planning to come back to the Moore's before her husband ar- rived from church. The six children accompanied her on the walk from which they were never to return.
At dusk, uneasiness was felt for the failure of the party to return and soon a search was started.
William Moore was the first to come upon a body but in his haste in the darkness he was unable to identify it. Mean- while, Mrs. William Moore, traveling a different route on horse- back, saw a human figure lying near a log. She alighted and found the body of Mrs. Reagan, who had been s c alpe d. Near the body was Mrs. Reagan's fatally injured son who was able to tell Mrs. Moore that, "The black man raised his axe and cut them again." The boy died the next day.
Subsequently all seven victims were found and in the meantime the alarm had been rushed to Fort Russell. Quickly Gen. Whiteside organized a group to hunt down the Indians. Among those taking part in the search were James and Abra- ham Preuitt, James Stockden, William Montgomery, Peter Wag- oner and others, some of whose descendants now live in the Moro, Bethalto and Wood River areas.
On the evening of the second day part of the posse came upon the Indian trail at a point near the present city of Virden, south of Springfield. The Indians scattered into different direc- tions and so did the posse. James Preuitt, having the fastest horse, soon sighted one Indian. He rode to within 30 yards of him and shot him in the thigh. The Indian fell but managed to get to a tree top that was blown down. Abraham Preuitt soon came up and finished him off. In the Indian's pouch was the scalp of Mrs. Reagan. The Indian raised his gun but was too weak to fire.
The other Indians hid in the woods and in a drift in the creek. It was ascertained later that the only Indian who escaped was the chief.
LEGEND OF THE PIASA BIRD
Few white men believe the story of the Piasa bird but the saga has been preserved and deserves a place in the fascinating annals of Madison County. Thousands of persons cruising on the Mississippi River above Alton have seen the painting of the bird on the bluff. What they see is a reproduction of an earlier figure allegedly painted on the bluff by the Illini Indians. The original remained on the cliff until 1857 when it was quarried away to get rock for ballast for the Chicago and Alton (now Gulf, Mobile & Ohio) railroad. The figure of the bird-beast was 25 feet wide and 11 feet high.
It was this same tribe of Illini Indians that handed down the legend of the Piasa bird which they said existed perhaps 300 or 350 years ago. It is now described as having the wings of an airplane, a scaled body, the head of a moose, and talons of an eagle-only much larger.
The creature is said to have lived in a cave near Grafton. It would fly out of its home each morning and come screaming down the Mississippi River looking for prey. Frequently it would find an Indian man or woman, grasp it in its huge claws and take it back to the cave for a meal.
This sometimes happened several times a day and, quiet understandably, as the sudden death rate in the Illini tribe rose higher and higher, the morale of the tribe became lower.
The Illini tribe's Chief Ouatoga, being a man of action, decided to lose no time in halting these tragedies. He communi- cated with the Great Spirit who told him that the arrows of his braves would pierce the scaled body of the Piasa bird. Accord- ingly, he called in his braves and told them of his plan to de- coy the bird down close enough to kill it.
Chief Ouatoga volunteered to serve as the decoy while the braves stood by with bows and arrows that had killed buffalo.
On the chosen day Chief Ouatoga, carrying a red blanket,
29
FREDMAN BROS.
Furniture Co.
ORIGINAL BUILDING, BEFORE REMODELING
Colonial Agenry
REAL ESTATE & INSURANCE
PHONE 656-7381
1501 N. MAIN ST. EDWARDSVILLE, ILL.
OIL+
...... HAMS
JOHNSTON'S I.G.A FOOD LINER 228 West Main Edwardsville, Ill
EDWARDSVILLE'S NEWEST AND FINEST FOOD MARKET
Union, Flexsteel, Simmons Living Room Furniture
Bassett, Broyhill, Johnson-Carper Bedroom Furniture Philco, Hotpoint-Tappan Appliances
Bigelow, Alex. Smith, Downs Carpets 119 N.MAIN ST. ,EDWARDSVILLE 656-4400
YONAKA JEWELRY STORE 100 E. Vandalia Edwardsville, Illinois Diamonds-Watches-Jewelry
Bassman Jeweler
211 N.Main
Edwardsville
DIAMONDS - WATCHES . SERVICE
FOR COMPLETE ADVERTISING ART DESIGN AND GENERAL PRINTING CALL OR SEE EAST 10 PUBLISHING CO., INC.
[U)
Jeanno YAKUBIAN
386 EDWARDSVILLE ROAD WOOD RIVER, ILLINOIS CLINTON 4-5660
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APPLIANCES
ELECTRIC
GENERAL
MADISON COUNTY
TRACTOR & EQUIPMENT CO.
FORD FARM EQUIPMENT AND TRACTOR
130 HILLSBORO AVENUE
EDWARDSVILLE, ILLINOIS
Edwardsville Shoe Service
105 E. VANDALIA ST. EDWARDSVILLE, ILL. PHONE: 656-4562
MICHELS TIRE & BATTERY COMPANY, INC.
206 S. Buchanan St. Edwardsville, III. Phone: 656-1180
ESTABLISHED, 1945
U.S. Royal and Firestone Tires
1
Painters' Supplies?
BUHRMESTER Wallpaper + Paint Co.
DUPONT
BENJAMIN MOORE
SESDLITZ
FREE DELIVERY
WHOLESALE AND WEFAIL DECORATIVE CONSULTATION
201-201 North Second Surret
........
Bill's Hobby Shap
AIRPLANES. BOATS. CARS. TRAINS. AND ALL HANDICRAFTS
315 N MAIN ST EDWARDSVILLE
Compliments
o f
Willard G. Flagg
Structural & Civil Engineer
Aletrner Funeral Home
(Formerly Schneider Funeral Home) Oxygen Equipped Ambulance 6827 St. Louis St. Edwardsville, Il1. 24 Hour Service
BARTON & SONS CO.
General Contractors New Alton Road - - P. O. Box 171
Area Code 618 Phone 656-2785
HAROLD BARTON Prezident
EDWARDSVILLE, ILLINOIS
31
KRIEGE
- HARDWARE STORE.
· ELECTRICAL SUPPLIES
. GLASS
· ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES
· PLUMBING SUPPLIES
· HOUSEWARES
· PAINTS
· FENCING
· SEEDS
LAWN MOWERS
· SPORTING GOODS
· TOOLS
656-7588
112 E. VANDALIA, EDWARDSVILLE
Tillie's Cafe and Cocktail Lounge
218 N. MAIN, EDWARDSVILLE 656-9722 PROP. MRS. ERNEST PECK
SALLY ANN BAKERY
102 N. MAIN EDWARDSVILLE · 656-4509
Schumacher Mobil Servire
Johnson Outboard Motors - Sales & Service 1016 North Main Phone: 656-9717 EDWARDSVILLE, ILL.
MADISON COUNTY MUTUAL, AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
INCORPORATED 1920 · UNDER ILLINOIS INSURANCE LAWS
OFFICES : EDWARDSVILLE NATIONAL BANK & TRUST CO., BLDG.
PHONE 656-3410
Edwardsville, Illinois
Established August 16, 1919, with 253 signatures, the company qualified for a charter from the Illinois Insurance Department in January 1920. Membership fees were set at $20.00, and reduced to $10.00 in 1923. The growth of the company is reflected in the many services extended to policyholders-investors.
PAST PRESIDENTS
Jan. 2, 1920
Joseph H. Ladd
Feb.5. 1945 William L. Waters
Jan. 1, 1951 Joseph H. Ladd
Apr. 28, 1952
William Maack
PRESENT OFFICERS
President
V. President
Exec. V. President
Treasurer
B.E. Hohlt George Timmerman Theodore Z. Ladd E.F.Long
32
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY. ILLINOIS
LEGEND OF THE PIASA BIRD (CONTINUED)
THE PIASA BIRD
ascended to the top of a cliff to await the arrival of the bird- beast. Meanwhile, before dawn, the braves with their bows and arrows hid in grass and shrubbery near the chief to be ready for the kill
As dawn broke, the screams of the Piasa bird could be heard up the river. Chief Ouatoga stood out in plain sight as the bird flew in to look for its breakfast. With screams and roars the great bird circled around and. setting its great wings, made
ready to grasp the Indian in its talons. The chief stood un- moved, determined to demonstrate to his men how brave an II- lini could be in the face of danger.
The Piasa bird came closer and was just dropping its tal- ons to grasp the old chief when 100 poisoned arrows sped toward the bird. Most of them cut through the scaly armor. With a screech, the bird rolled down the bluff and fell into the waters of the Mississippi.
CAHOKIA MOUND
CAHOKIA OR " MONK'S MOUND." MADISON CO. ,ILL.
A phenomenon which might challenge some of the Seven Wonders of the World is scattered near Cahokia Creek along the Madison-St. Clair County line west of Collinsville. There, rising above the great American Bottom's horse radish, sweet corn and wheat fields are Cahokia or 'Monk's" Mound and 60 or 70 "satellites" or smaller mounds.
It has never been established who built the mounds. Some historians think the Indians did. Others point out that most Indians took a dim view of manual labor, which is something that construction of the mounds took a lot of. In 1807 the Monks of LaTrappe made their home on Cahokia Mound and remained there until about 1816 when they returned to France. To them
is attributed the discovery of coal in the neighboring bluffs. Cahokia Mound, 998 feet from north to south, 721 from east to west and 99 feet high, is said to cover more ground than any pyramid of Egypt and with the exception of Cholula is the largest in the world.
The scores of mounds surrounding Cahokia Mound have been embraced, for the most part, in a state park to preserve them. A state museum at the foot of the big mound houses hun- dreds of relies and trinkets unearthed over the years from In- dian burials, ancient homes and villages. Many of the smaller mounds have yielded to the plow and after years of cultiva- tion are hardly noticeable.
33
DAUGHTERS OF UNION VETERANS
OF THE CIVIL WAR
THE UNION
1861-1865
STANDARD.
Commemorating
The
Civil War
Centennial
HELEN LOUISE GILSON TENT NO. 96 OF EDWARDSVILLE, ILL.
154-156 N.MAIN
SCHWARTZ REXALL DRUG EDWARDSVILLE
RENKEN'S
Edwardsville's STORE for MEN ON
229 N. Main St. Phone 656-0887 In the Moose Building
BROOKS JEWELRY
ZENITH HEARING AIDS
Complete Line of Fine Jewelry
656-0784
213 N. MAIN STREET
EDWARDSVILLE, ILLINOIS
WEBERFF
WEBER FUNERAL HOME EDWARDSVILLE, ILLINOIS
FS
FS
TRADE-MARK
TRADE-MARK
THE MADISON SERVICE COMPANY was organized, in 1932, by Madison County farmers primarily as distributors of petroleum products.
Through the years, Madison Service Company expanded to include Feed and Seed, Fertilizer, L.P. Gas and in 1962 acquired grain elevators. The first president of the company was Herman W. Sievers , who served as president until 1952.
The total sales from 1932 through 1962 exceeded $20,000,000 and total dividends paid to its shareholders amounted to $1,756,000.
MADISON SERVICE COMPANY 900 HILLSBORO AVENUE, EDWARDSVILLE, ILLINOIS
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This was the way Main Street and Hillsboro Avenue looked about 1890. The corner is presently occupied by:
The Foehrkalbs
109-111 HILLSBORO AVENUE EDWARDSVILLE, ILLINOIS Phone 656-0219
PRINTERS COMMERCIAL
Edwardsville
Lumber
Co.
V
SECOND AND HIGH STREETS
Edwardsville, Illinois AAAA A
SMITH'S SEWING SHOP SALES AND SERVICE
NEW AND USED
AND VACUUM
SEWING MACHINES
CLEANERS
2DS NO. SECOND ST.
EDWARDSVILLE, ILL.
EDWARDSVILLE AUTO REPAIR
1901 N. MAIN - EDWARDSVILLE, ILLINOIS
Lawn Mowers and Garden Tractors,
Poulan Chain Saws and Wright
Super-Power Saws. - Snapper Power Mowers. HERMAN BAEHR, Prop.
BOEDY'S TAVERN
3
PACKAGE LIQUOR EDWARDSVILLE, ILL.
BRANDY
PHOTO BY FRANK J. STREJCEK
This house, now over 60 years old, was the first loan made by the Edwardsville Loan Association and this loan was paid off 15 months later.
0 rganized on September 12, 1921, under the Illinois Building and Loan Act as the Edwardsville Loan Association, it be- came the First Federal Savings and Loan Association on March 30, 1959, upon receiving a Federal Charter from the Fe- deral Home Loan Bank of Washington, D. C.
Since 1921, First Federal has grown in size until it is now one of Edwardsville's leading financial institutions with resources of approximately 7 3/4 million. Since its in- ception, its objectives have always been to encourage thrift habits and individual financial security and to provide pri- vate home ownership for thousands of Madison County families of all income.
FEDERAL Savings and Lean Association
ERAL NOM
LOAN . L
JANK
A SYSTEM
... ...
INSURED
..
140 NORTH MAIN STREET EDWARDSVILLE, ILLINOIS
35
Mottar Drug Company
ESTABLISHED January 2,1909
206 N. MAIN EDWARDSVILLE, ILL.
656-0067
EDWARDSVILLE
FROZEN FOODS
CARL BRUEGGEMAN. OWNER
Complete Locker Service Retailers of Quality Fresh Meats
Re Re
A
Same Location Since 1933
WILLIAM E. (BILL) MINDRUP
Valiant
MINDRUP'S AUTOMOTIVE 104 W VANDALIA ST., EDWARDSVILLE, ILL PHONE: 656-7000
PLYMOUTH
INTERNATIONAL TRUCKS
P
EOPLES SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION was organized In 1921 by men who belleved there was a future
ín Madison County. Their fore- sight has proven correct.
PEOPLES SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION is proud to have had an Important part in the development of this com- munity. We sincerely hope that the next 150 years will be as progressive as the past 150 years.
PEOPLES SAVINGS & LOAN ASSOCIATION
107 Purcell St.
Edwardsville, 111.
WORKING TOWARD AN EVEN GREATER MADISON COUNTY
2
ADISON COUNTY EMPLOYEES LOCAL 799
Buchanan Street MARKER
NORMAN W. WEHMEYER . KENNETH T. FISCHER 244 BUCHANAN STREET, EDWARDSVILLE, ILL.
BALLWEG'S DRUG STORE
WALGREEN AGENCIES
136 N. Main St. 1526 Troy Road Edwardsville Edwardsville
Ph. 656-0272 Ph. 656-3435
Allen Bakos, R. Ph.
E. J. Ballweg, R. Ph.
OWENS
SHELL SERVICE
SHELL?
Dunn and Main Street Phone 656-9752
36
PHILLIPS
66
JACKS' PHILLIPS 66 SERVICE 141 W. VANDALIA - PH. 656-5362 EDWARDSVILLE, ILLINOIS
Owners: Jack Minner & Jack Gerhardt
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS
THE LOVEJOY RIOT
THE MOB ATTACKING THE WAREHOUSE OF GODFREY GILMAN & CO. ALTON, ILL. ON THE NIGHT OF THE 7TH OF NOVEMBER 1837. AT THE TIME LOVEJOY WAS MURDERED AND HIS PRESS DESTROYED.
The killing of Elijah Parrish Lovejoy by a pro-slavery mob the night of Nov. 7, 1837, in Alton is one of the more tragic ep- isodes of Madison County history. Historians agree that it ad- vanced the anti-slavery movement by many years and that it also dealt a severe blow to the prestige of Alton.
W. T. Norton's "Centennial History of Madison County" states: "Not only did immigration to Alton cease as a sequence to the riot, but many men who had settled there who had anti- slavery views, or who foresaw a shadowed future for the city. sought new homes. Many, especially business and professional men, moved to Chicago or St. Louis. Not for nearly two genera- tions did the city rally from the blow."
Lovejoy, born in Maine in 1802, taught school in St. Louis several years and then became editor of the St. Louis Times. In a revival of religion in St. Louis in 1832 he became converted and entered Princeton Theological Seminary. He returned to St. Louis and became editor of the St. Louis Observer.
His extreme views regarding slavery and other topics of the time incited much enmity and before long a mob bad de- stroyed his office in St. Louis. Lovejoy thereupon decided to move to Alton. having acquired a second press to replace one destroyed on the St. Louis waterfront.
His editorials in the newly-created Alton Observer stirred up certain elements of the population to such an extent that the
second and third presses were destroyed before he acquired the press that was to be seized at the time of his murder.
The fourth press had just arrived by boat the night of Nov. 6, 1837, when events began to move rapidly. The press was guarded successfully the first night it arrived, and on the sec- ond night it was believed safe to the extent that most of the guard left the Observer building at 9 p.m. Soon thereafter a mob began gathering and the 20 or so men remaining in the building, including Lovejoy, were trapped.
Some time after the mob gathered. a ladder was raised to the roof. A man ascended the ladder with material to burn the building. When volunteers inside the building were called to shoot the man off the ladder, Lovejoy, Amos B. Roff and Royal Weller stepped out of the building. As they emerged, Lovejoy was struck by five shots, walked back into the building, and fell dead. The other two men were seriously wounded.
In 1896-7, a stately monument in memory of the martyr was erected in Alton by the state and the citizens of Alton.
Norton's history gives the names of the other men in the Lovejov building that night as: William Harned. James Morse Jr., John S. Noble. Edward Breath, George H. Walworth, J. C. Woods, George H. Whitney, Reuben Gerry, W. S. Gilman, Enoch Long, George T. Brown, Samuel J. Thompson. D. F. Randall, H. D. Davis, D. Burt Loomis, Thadeus B. Hurlburt, and Henry Tanner.
LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATE
One of the cherished events of Madison County history occurred on Oct. 15, 1858 when Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas staged their seventh and final debate at the site of the old city hall on Alton's riverfront. Observers at the time estimated the crowd at 10,000-in a city of 3000. From all direc- tions they came, by boat, wagon, horseback, buggy, and many on foot. The downtown area was crowded for hours prior to the historic debate.
The contest was for the United States Senate. Douglas,
Democrat, had been nominated for re-election and the Republi- cans had nominated Lincoln as his opponent. Douglas won, not by a vote of the people but by election by the senators and rep- resentatives of the state assembly some weeks after the debate.
In our jet age it is difficult to retain an audience's atten- tion for as long as half an hour. The Lincoln-Douglas debate at Alton consumed three hours. First, Douglas spoke an hour. then Lincoln for an hour and a half. and then Douglas was allowed 30 minutes for his rejoinder.
37
IN HONOUR OF THE Sesqui -Centennial
ANN'S Beauty Salon 212 St. Louis 656-4944
CHRIGGER'S Beauty Shop 220 S. Charles 656-2817
PERSONALITY Beauty Shop 305 N. Main 656-0704
Beauty Shoppes
of
JEWELL'S Beauty Shop 1472 Ladd 656-2843
Edwardsville
MONT - DE - CLAIRE Beauty Shop 1516 B Troy 656-4410
KAY'S Barber & Beauty Shop 106 S.Main 656-0286
EVELYN'S Beauty Salon 101 E. Vandalia 656-3091
COED Beauty Box New Alton Rd. 656-4149
LOUIS & MARCELLA'S 148a N. Main 656-3612
LAURA'S Beauty Shop Bunker Hill Rd. 656-2674
LEONA'S Beauty Shop 214 Hillsboro 656-0619
CECILIA'S Beauty Salon 202a N. Main 656-0391
IRMA'S Beauty Salon 405 St. Louis 656-4950
MILDRED'S Beauty Shop 525 Randle St. 656-2969
38
REPRODUCTION OF THE FIRST AD IN THE INTELLIGENCER ON SEPT. 17,1890
THOLLONFOOD BOTMA
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Clothing, Cloaks, Boots & Shoes, Overcoats, Jackets,
And in general the finest and most complete Fall Stock ever shown In this market.
NEW GOODS! MADISON MERCANTILE CO.
Diamond 75th Anniversary
OrIst
1887
1962
INSURANCE COMPANY EDWARDSVILLE, ILLINOIS
ENTERTAINMENT - AIRCONDITIONED
Blue Note Lounge
220 N. Main. Edwardsville YOUR FAVORITE COCKTAIL - NOON LUNCHEON Esther Rule - Prop.
EARL E. ZIMMERMAN
INSURANCE
107 Purcell . Edwardsville. Illinois . 656-5197 Originated in 1871
C
HE ILLINOIS LUMBER COMPANY has contributed much to the growth and de- velopment of Madison County, providing employment and service to a large percentage of the lumber trade in the area.
One of the oldest firms in the county, it was founded in 1867 under the name of Stolze Lumber Company at Bethalto. In 1874 Mr. John Stolze moved his business to it's present location, 225 E. Vandalia Street, Edwardsville. The facilities at this location now house a retail warehouse and hardware store supplying building ma- terials. hardware, plumbing and electrical supplies. The greatly expanded corpo- ration also includes operations in two other ares cities.
ILLINOIS LUMBER COMPANY
225 E. Vandalla St.
Edwardsville, Illinois
... ... .... ..
MADISON STORE,
N. W. Corner Court House Squar.
Light weight goods will soon be a thing of the past, and before many moons old Jack Frost will tell you to vislt the MADISON STORE, and inspect their Fall Line of
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39
OUR SPEEDY SPECIALTY
BROASTED
CHICKEN
ROHRKASTE DRIVE-INN
' 'Famous For Old Fashion Courtesy '' EDWARDSVILLE, ILLINOIS
ROHRKASTE DAIRY
1003 NORTH MAIN STREET EDWARDSVILLE, ILLINOIS TELEPHONE 656-4780
KLUETER BROS.
CONCRETE PRODUCTS SEPTIC TANKS, & MANHOLES EDWARDSVILLE, ILLINOIS, R.R. 2
WALT SCHLEMER REALTY
Real Estate - MFA Insurance
Phone 656-1459
431 East Vandalia - Edwardsville
DALE'S
ARTISTIC TONSORIAL SALOON HAIR CUT PHYSIOLOGICALLY. EDWARDSVILLE, ILLINOIS Leeching, Cupping, and Bleeding.
PAST
THIS IS THE OLDEST BRICK HOUSE IN 'LOWERTOWN', AS THE FIRST SETTLEMENT ALONG NORTH MAIN STREET WAS CALLED. IT IS NOW OCCUPIED BY RUSTY'S. IT WAS BUILT 1819 AS A STORE AND FOR A TRADING POST FOR THE POGUE BROTHERS, ROBERT AND GEORGE, WHO CAME FROM PHI- LADELPHIA VERY EARLY IN EDWARDSVILLE'S HISTORY TO TRADE WITH THE INDIANS.
LATER THE FIRST POST OFFICE AND THE EDWARDSVIL- LE LAND OFFICE WAS HOUSED IN TWO ROOMS OF THIS BUIL- OING.
FUTURE
ABOVE IS A SKETCH BY THE ARCHITECT, JACK A. GOCKEL OF FLIPPO AND GOCKEL ARCHITECTS, ALTON AND STAUNTON, ILL. OF THE REMODELING ANO ADDITION TO RUSTY ' S. THE EXTERIOR MATERIALS WILL BE REDWOOD PLYWOOD. BATTEN STRIPS, AND STUCCO ON PAINTED BLOCK.
THE NEW ADDITION WHICH CONTAINS A LARGE KITCHEN ANO DINING ROOM IS INTENDED TO BETTER HANDLE THEOROW- ING BUSINESS AT RUSTY .S.
CONTRACTORS ON THE JOB ARE : MEL SUHRE, GEORGE GENT, CENTRAL ELECTRIC AND CITY REFRIGERATION.
Rusty's
1201 NORTH MAIN
Specializing In Italian And American Foods Lewis Badalamenti, Proprietor
EDWARDSVILLE
40
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY. ILLINOIS
JIG TIME
All was not drudgery for the early settlers of Madison County. They managed to exist without creme de menthe and daiquiris and cha-chas, jitterbug music and even fox trots. But they did have whisky to drink and danced to jigs and reels played by passable violinists.
This condensed account of "shucking" from "Reynolds' Pioneer History of Illinois" gives an insight into the social cus- toms of the times:
"The crops of corn were never husked on the stalk but hauled home in the husk and thrown in a heap . . . The whole neighborhood was invited to the shucking, as it was called. The girls and many of the married ladies generally en- gaged in this amusing work. Two leading expert huskers were chosen as captains, and the heap of corn divided as nearly equally as possible . . . Each captain chose, alternately, his corps of huskers, male and female . . . Then each party com- menced a contest to beat the other, which was in many cases truly exciting.
"One rule was that whenever a male husked a red ear of corn, he was entitled to a kiss from the girls. This frequently ex- cited much fuss and scuffling, which was intended by both par- ties to end in a kiss. It was a universal practice that taffia or Monongahela whisky was used at these husking frolics. It was drunk out of a bottle, each couple drinking out of it and handing it to a neighbor, without using any glass or cup whatever.
"Almost always these shuckings ended in a dance. To prepare for this amusement, fiddles and fiddlers were in great demand, and it often required much fast riding to obtain them. One violin and a performer were all that was contemplated at these innocent rural games. Towards dark, and the supper half over, then it was that the bustle and confusion commenced. "When the fiddler began tuning his instrument, dishes, victuals, tables and all disappeared in a few minutes, the room was cleared and the floor swept off ready for action. The music at these country dances made the young folks almost frantic, and sometimes much excitement was displayed to get on the floor first . .. In those days they danced jigs and four-handed reels, as they were called. Sometimes three-handed reels were also danced. In these dances there was no standing still; all were moving at a rapid pace from beginning to end. In the jigs the bystanders cut one another out . . . Sometimes the parties in a jig tried to tire one another down in the dance, and it would last a long time before one or the other gave up. The cotillion or stand-still dances were not then known.
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