USA > Illinois > Greene County > Past and present of Greene County, Illinois > Part 19
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MERCANTILE.
Beverly Holliday was the first man to engage in the mercantile business in White Hall, his place of business being his resi- (lence, which stood on the lot now owned by David Hutchinson, south of the Catholic church. He was also the first postmaster, and of him it is truly said that when he re- ceived mail ( which was once every two weeks) he wouldl put letters in his hat, walk about the little village and when asked by any one for mail, would take down the port- able postoffice and after a careful perusal of its contents, hand over a letter, if there hap-
PAST AND PRESENT OF GREENE COUNTY
pened to be me for the questioner. This method was continued by Mr. Holliday for about three years.
POTTERY.
To give a correct detailed history of the clay industry in White Hall from its infancy to the present time would make an exceed- ingly large volume within itself. Therefore we will be obliged to refer only to some of the principal features, and in connection, give sketches of some of the manufacturers.
The first earthenware manufactured in White Hall was by Michael Baker in 1835, on the lot where Dr. H. W. Chapman's resi- (lence now stands. The unburned ware was then hauled to William Heath's kiln to burn. Mr. Heath owned the only kiln in Greene county at that time, it being located near the S. M. Henderson residence southeast of town. The second kiln was built just west of the house owned by Mrs. A. W. Fore- man, now occupied by W. (. Tankersley.
The ware made was earthenware, not what is now known as stoneware.
In the 30's, John N. Ebey, who was mak- ing earthenware (not stoneware) in Sanga- mon county, came to White Hall and turned the first stoneware ever turned in Greene county. This was burned in the William Heath red ware kiln, and there was little or nothing more done in this line here for thirty one years. Soon after the business was re- vived by Aug. Pierce, D. Culbertson and others. Mr. Ebey removed to White Hall and for several years, he, his sons, John V. and Charles, and his son-in-law, L. C. Mur- phy, carried on the manufacture of stone- ware on the ground subsequently occupied by the Hill & Prindle factory.
In subsequent years other potteries were
erected of ages ited las diferentes, mong them W. W. Habile. Moore & Brone, George 1till. 1 .. [. Prindle, M Pinly. Lion King. P. J. McGowan. T. O'roman. A. F Gal- huly. Murphy & Bates, I. ( _ Cmdoff Brown Cogdell & Sax. Vermillon Brother . B. Danforth and many others whom ge boull be pleased to mention if space wold permit
AUGUSTUS PIERCE.
Augustus Pierce, father of the pottery industry, as it now exists in White Hall, learned the potters' trade in Akron, Ohio, and while working as a farm hand near White Ilall in 1863. interested B. G. Culver, a dry goods merchant, in the manufacture of stoneware, and in 1864 they erected the first pottery plant in White Hall. It was located on the lot where N. R. Mason's residence stands, at the north end of Bates avenue. Mr. Pierce, it might be said, is the original manufacturer of stoneware in White Hall, although Michael Baker made the first ware. He at that time lived in a log house on the present site of his now neat and comfortable little home on East Lincoln street.
D.WID CULBERTSON.
Some years later David Culbertson be- came a partner in the firm with Pierce & Culver, but five years after, withdrew and erected a building where his present large. commodious plant stands. To Mr. Culbert- son, it is said, belongs the honor of making the first drain tile in this part of the state. The capacity of the machine, which was run by hand, was 500 tile per day. Some years later when Mr. Culbertson installed machin ery capable of making 4,000 tile per day. he was the subject of severe criticism, but he
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was then, as he is today, looking into the future growth of White Hall and the clay industry. The annual output of his plant is 110W 1,000,000 gallons.
Uncle Dave, as the is familiarly known, is the only pioneer potter who has been in business continuously to the present time and his plant, clay lands, residence and bank account are testimonials of his success.
A. D. RUCKEL & SON.
The senior member of this firm came from Akron, Ohio, to White Hall in Au- gust. 1870, and engaged in the pottery busi- ness with M. C. Purdy, the style of the firm being Purdy & Ruckel. The plant stood where the White Hall Electric Company's plant now stands. Five years later he sold his interest to Mr. Purdy, and bought in with A. F. Vedder, dealer in hardware, drugs, groceries, etc.
In January, 1883, Mr. Ruckel re-engaged in the manufacture of stoneware, buying the factory owned by D. C. Banta, and has been in this business continuously since that date. In 1898. the present large and con- venient structure was erected, new machin- ery added and modern methods for the man- ufacture of ware introduced. . About ten years ago. C. A. Ruckel, the junior member. was taken in by his father as a full partner in the business, the syle of the firm since being .\. 1). Ruckel & Son. The capacity of the plant is now about 1,000,000 gallons an- nually. Like other stoneware factories in White Hall. Ruckel & Son ship ware to vari- ous parts of the United States, Canada and Mexico.
WHITE HALL SEWER PIPE & STONEWARE CO.
The clay industry in the way of making
drain tile and building brick by this company began in 1866 by S. S. and W. W. Arnold in a little frame building located near Clay City, about two and one half miles east of White Hall. The institution grew until 1876, when a plant was built in this city on the site of the present mammoth structure for the purpose of manufacturing sewer pipe, roofing tile, etc.
In 1892, H. C. Morrow became manager of the company, and so continued until March 26, 1903, when fire completely de- stroyed the entire plant. For some time after the fire, things seemed rather gloomy for White Hall, but a new and much stronger company was organized by Mr. Morrow, the capitalization being $150,000, which was later increased to $200,000. Shortly there- after, Mr. Morrow organized the White Hall Railway Company with a capital of $40.000, for the purpose of transferring clay from the "diggings" to the big works.
Following are the officers of both cor- porations : H. C. Morrow, president : W. E. Killen, vice-president : H. O. Tunison, vice- president : C. B. Stahl, secretary and treas- urer. The directors are: E. S. Greenleaf, Jacksonville, Illinois, vice-president Ayers National Bank: Gust. Bischoff, St. Louis, Missouri, president Manchester Bank: A. P. Grout, Winchester, Illinois, president First National Bank. White Hall, Illinois ; Judge E. P. Kirby, Jacksonville, Illinois, attorney and capitalist : F. H. W. Krenning, St. Louis, Missouri, president Krenning Glass Co .: W. E. Killen, Jacksonville, Illi- nois, superintendent motive power, C. P. & St. I. Railway: Jett :\. Kirby, Jerseyville, Ilinois, vice-president Jersey State Bank ; John R. Davis, Jacksonville, Illinois, mayor of Jacksonville : Il. O. Tunison, White Hall, Illinois, vice-president First National Bank ;
PAST AND PRESENT OF GRPEAL POLSO
George W. Perry. St. Louis, Missouri, George W. Perry & Co .; I. C. Morrow, White Hall. Illinois.
This is, without doubt, the most modern and best equipped of any clay manufacturing plant in the United States, if not in the world. The buildings are heated and ware dried by waste heat drawn from the kilns by use of large fans, electrically operated. There are nine stoneware and six sewer pipe kilns, four of which are said to be the largest in the world, each holding fourteen cars of ware, and being forty two and one half feet in diameter, inside measurement. About 120 tons of clay are dug by an electrical shovel and hauled by trolley line daily to the plant. A small railway is also used to take stone- ware from the kilns to the yard, and from the yard to cars. One hundred tons of coal are consumed daily. The horse power in the boilers is 600. and in electricity. 266. The plant and yards cover twenty-five acres of ground, and the company owns 200 acres of clay and coal east of this city.
The annual output of the plant is 1500 cars of stoneware and 1200 cars sewer pipe and drain tile.
WHITE HALL CLAY.
[ Through the kindness of Prof Paul E. Cox a sketch on the nature of our clay deposits is herewith presented Mr Con is a chemist of marked ability. with a reputation at stake, and as his analysis was for the sole purpose of determining the quality of the clay in this section, the reader may rest assured that the report is impartial in every respect |
The clays of this vicinity are adapted to the manufacture of lime nodules and the like, but undoubtedly fine red brick conkl be made. Owing to the richness of variety of other clays, shades could be produced to please the modern architect who demands restful shading in his wall colors.
Stoneware is megle are sweet to so many facture of enamdel brick comele Tale tubs and all sorts a critical care- All stoneware may be made of the son noole to Iengland by the Doutons at the Lambelli potteries, or such as the Barko waren Luje an. No art stoneware is made in America The last Paris exposition used my sort of plastic formed ware except white with White ware can never be made front & broly containing above one per cent of iron oxide These stoneware clays vary from one to lon per cent, hence no white ware can be made from any local clays, as the buff color woold show strongly, no matter how worked Further there is not a single raw material for white ware manufacture short of ille wholesale dealers of St. Louis. So it would appear that White Hall resources shouldl he developed along the lines that local con tions point out.
Out of the common yellow clays good red brick could be made. Some may be unfit from much glazed stoneware in friezes and other decorative work. the glazes bells colored and applied with the brush to the hand modeled piece. Architects are ever on the lookout for tasty fireproofing that i- easily cleaned. This sort of stuff is possible from local materials. Any sort of art ware can be made from local clays except such :15 demand the white body. The Iris ware nt the Rockwood pottery is of this type. Vy other sort of ware made at Rockwood could be made from local clays.
The newest thing in art ware is the matt glazed stuff. Being entirely of agne, Aux clay is suited to them, and any claus, even the dust from the street, could be prepared by washing and lowning, and a matt glies piece made from it, hence any Dealleby con
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PAST AND PRESENT OF GREENE COUNTY.
be used for art ware, and in the transparent glazes many beautiful effects can be obtained from clays that would be condemned for utilitarian wares. It may be said in this connection that the Jap potter owes his su- periority to American ones entirely to his ability to appreciate an unexpected and un- desired beautiful thing in his pottery work- his ability to realize on accident.
There is fine red-burning clay here, which matures about cone five. This would be very good for garden pots for the formal garden becoming so common in centers of wealth and position. With this could be blended other clays and minerals, producing effects to suit the landscape gardener.
Chemical stoneware might well be made. None is made in America. The best of pot- tery skill is required to produce it, but one need but to think of the number of chemical works to realize that much of the imported stoneware must belong to this class.
Architectural faience, glazed tile for grates and mantels, bath room tilings, mo- saic tiles, encaustic tiles, all are possible in whole or in part from local clays.
These things and the wares already man- ufactured, plus a more extensive line of fire- proofing goods, should, if well worked out, make White Hall the important clay work- ing city it should be. But, after all, it de- pends on the spirit of the people as to what shall develop; for science somehow finds a way to work clays where the spirit of the people makes it most profitable, and every day the advantage of established working's grows less where progress lags behind.
AGRICULTURE.
From an agricultural point of view White Hall ranks with the best towns in Illi-
nois, and it is an indisputable fact that Illi- nois ranks with the leading states of the Union, not only in general production, but in that she has leading markets for her prod- ticts. It is no idle boast when we say White Hall is one of the leading towns in Western Illinois.
The famous Apple Creek Prairie on the west, southwest and south and practically the same on the north, makes farming a pleasant and profitable business instead of a life of drudgery and toil, as is the case in many instances. The productiveness of the soil is abundant and it is useless to give in detail the merits of it. The reader may judge for himself when we say that some of this land could not be bought for $175 per acre-in fact it is not for sale at any price. However, a few small farms have been of- fered at from $90 to $125 per acre.
THE BIG FIRE.
October 11, 1872, occurred the most de- structive conflagration in the history of White Hall. The fire originated about nine o'clock a. m., in a restaurant kept by L. A. Norviel and burned furiously until after noon. A defective flue was the cause, and when at last the flames were subdued, deso- lation remained, for all the buildings-fif- teen in number-west of Main street between Franklin street and the building now occu- pied by G. F. Todd, and from Main to Car- rollton street on Sherman, were a total loss.
Soon after the fire began to spread from one building to another. Rev. D. S. Starr. seeing the imminent peril of the town sent the following telegram to Jacksonville :
WHITE HALL., ILL., Oct. IT. 1872.
Mayor MeConnel :
White Hall is in flames. Come to our aid.
D. S. STARR.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF GREENE COUNTY
Mayor Mcconnel at once informed the in St Louis April 30 1984. W fort Die fire department and in a few minutes a spe writer wave of White HIM cial train with a fire engine, hose carts, etc .. and about 150 men started for White Hall, making the run in twenty-seven minutes, in- cluding the time they took the siding at where the states and the manor mine" tool Roodhouse for the regular train. Heroic work was done by both the local and Jack- sonville firemen, but the combination of frame buiklings, inadequate water supply and inefficient fire-fighting apparatus, was too much to be overcome without great loss. which was variously estimated at from $50 .- 000 to $75.000.
Among those who sustained loss, as nearly as we can learn, were:
Pierson, Gregory & Co., bankers: M. F. Dewitt, heirs: L. A. Norviel, restauranter : H. J. Moreland. furniture ; Aaron Reno, furniture : S. & J. E. Highee. wagon makers : Brantzel Bros., hardware: Odd Fel- lows Hall ; Marcus Worcester ; S. D. Chapin, grocer ies: T. P. Hackney, groceries ; L. T. Whiteside, har ness shop and building ; B. F. Baldwin & Son, dry goods : Bridges & Worcester, store buildings; D. C Banta, drugs, groceries, etc .: James Israel, store buildings, ete .; Sanford & Danforth, general mer- chandise ; Vinyard & Mason, store building : A. Davis, store and warerooms; L. Oswald, merchan- dise.
With a determination in which failure was ( and is yet ) unknown, the business men of White Hall began the erection of brick buildings on the lots thus laid waste. al- most before the last cloud of smoke had sel tled on the horizon, and with the exception of two, all these business buildings are good. substantial brick structures, containing stocks of goods that are far above the average for towns of the size of White Hall.
Just here we cannot refrain from quot ing a few expressions made by a representa- tive of the Western Trade Journal published
cy and clean - www . apren who work hand-in-om wab freuen mathe Ma must be awfully me lo -art" And I know ing are, for I saw a few et diem peeping trengt open ing- among the plants, Und I -waw their check ne lips are prettier than pinks, their eyes are kobiet than dew drops on a daisy daisy and all- arod there notes are nicer than the posies they smell of Il bo two bits the man they smile upon feels as if a conson had patted lum on the check, and a cherub chiesal him under the jaw.
The city is located on a pretty plain of the box best black soil and in the midst of as fine at gut- cultural section as even Ilinois can show up 30 where. There is not a house to rent in the town if there was it would soon be rented and the win dows full of flowers. * * The churches are all fine structure .. paupers are unknown, and I didn't see but one due in a two-hours' stroll and he was too lonesome to bark. The ladies carry bouquets instead of poodles. and the men read papers and magazines instead of picking fleas off the dogs."
Should the same writer visit White Hall today he would find existing some of the same conditions, practically, that he did twenty-one years ago, especially in speaking of vacant houses.
MISCELLANEOUS.
In the early days in White Hall corn u.s king. i. e., corn juice. Main street was the scene of many exciting episodes during the first thirty years of the town's existence, such as drunkenness, rioting, horse racing, etc .. the street being the race track, and many a
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PAST AND PRESENT OF GREENE COUNTY.
dollar has been won and lost on races ruin thereon. The lives of women and children were endangered and many times they were obliged to keep off the street until the race was over. But times have changed.
On February 26. 1870, a town election was held, and by an extraordinary effort on the part of the churches and anti-saloon ele- ment, a temperance board was elected with J. E. Higbee as president, by a majority of 19 out of a total vote of 227. From that day to this we have not had a licensed saloon in the town, and the good name of White Hall has been heralded throughout the land as one of the best towns in Illinois in which to live. May her good name never be tar- nished by another saloon.
James Allen kept the first public eating house in White Hall, the only one between Carrollton and Jacksonville. It stood on the corner now occupied by the Park Livery Stable, and was known as the White Hall House, later as the Amos Hotel.
In 1867 a stock company was organized and Union Hall was built at a cost of $20,- 000. The first board of directors consisted of L. E. Worcester, Simeon Ross, I. D. Vedder. E. M. Husted and Major E. A. Giller, and was built under the supervision of Judge Worcester. The organization was known as "Union Hall Association." M. B. Ross, the present owner, elevated the floor a few years ago and replaced the old stoof chairs with good opera chairs, recently puit in electric lights, and we now have a redl nice little opera house, capable of seat- ing about 600.
MORALLY.
As a moral town, White Hall has few equals. Religiously, she has the Methodist Episcopal. Christian, Presbyterian, Bap- tist and Catholic denominations, all having a good membership and in good working order. H. E. Greening is pastor of the M. E. church; O. C. Bolman, of the Christian ; J. A. Johnston, of the Presbyterian ; W. W. Lewis, of the Baptist; J. B. Wand, of the Catholic. All but the Catholic church hold regular weekly prayer meetings on Wednes- day evening, Sunday school at 9:30 a. m. and preaching services at 11 :00 a. m. and 7:30 p. m. The several churches have vari- ous branch organizations which are working in perfect harmony.
You are not only welcome, but are cor- dially invited to attend any or all of these services, when it is convenient to do so.
White Hall, as stated heretofore, has not had a licensed saloon for more than thirty years, and we repeat, that as a moral town, has few equals.
SOCIETIES.
The Masonic lodge meets on Thursday night on or before the full moon. C. W. Dossell, Worshipful Master.
Order Eastern Star meets first and third Tuesdays of each month. Mary Evans, Worthy Matron.
Odd Fellows meet every Monday night. J. D. Rowe, Noble Grand.
Rebekalis meet on the first and Third Tuesday night of each month. Etta Wig- ginton, Noble Grand.
Knights of Pythias meet every Thurs- day night. 1. W. Ballard, Chancellor Com- mander.
PAST AND PRESENT OF GREENE COUNTY.
Mutual Protective League meets Second and Fourth Thursday nights. E. A. Piper. president.
Modern Woodmen of America meets first and third Monday nights. Il. L. Me- Farland, Venerable Consul.
Royal Neighbors meet second and fourth Tuesday afternoons. Mrs. C. 11. Page, Oracle.
Court of Honor meets second and fourth Monday nights. J. F. Greer, Chancellor.
Grand Army of the Republic meets first Saturday night in each month. Capt. T. A. Smith, Commander.
Knights and Ladies of Security meet an nually. G. R. Adams, president.
SCHOOLS.
The first school taught in White Hall was by a man named Barton, in 1835. The building stood on Carrollton street, not far from Franklin. At that time there were less than 30 pupils in attendance. The present enrollment, as shown by the report March 4. 1905. is 548.
Rev. C. G. Snow, of Jacksonville is probably the oldest teacher in Illinois. Ile began teaching in 1837, and with the excep- tion of two years, taught continuously for fifty-nine years. While he never taught in White Hall, he will be remembered as a pioneer pedagogne with considerable influ- ence. lle was one of the teachers in the Gregory district. taking charge of that school in 1871. Ile resided in a little house where the fine residence of C. B. Roodhouse now stands, on south Main street. After teaching the Gregory school for a number of years, he sought new fields of labor.
Years rolled by, his pupils grew to man- hood and womanhood, and to some extent
the former day - were more den Ih Ia summer of 1901 Kes Siger mail a cui la White Hall, and it was proposed ley some of his early day pupils that in be treatest to a surprise. At an appointed hour m the afternoon of Thursday, June 6th, a few . i his old time pupils gathered on the space lawn of C. B. Roodhouse and awanted the arrival of their old teacher. According to pre-arranged plans, George C. Tumison, who was one of the most prominent in arranging the surprise, drove up with the reverend gen tleman who was doubly surprised. for Ins first impression was that he was to be called upon to officiate at a wedding. The facts in the case were soon made known to him. however, and the program was carried out in detail in a manner pleasing to all present.
The pupils present were : Ella Tunison. Mamie Corin, Mary Brantzel, Julia Weis, Nellie Dossel, Minnie Worcester, Mary Red- wine. Mary Woodington, Addie Ozbun, Ab- hie Roodhouse, Alice Tunison. Ella Rood- house, Samuel Silkwood, Jr., Bentley Ken dall, Ira Kendall, Lucius Tunison, George C. Tunison, Henry Hough and II. W. Rood- house.
Others present were : Mesdames Mary Rickart, Bridget MeAvoy, Lucy Tunison, Rosetta Tunison, Minerva Kendall: Misses Dora MeFarland, Mary Woods, Emma Thuett: Messis. R. S. Worcester. M. G. Brantzel, C. Weis. Dr. J. W. Redwine and C. B. Roodhouse.
The first decisive step toward erecting a new school building was taken in 1866, when by a vote of the district, the board, consist- ing of Simeon Ross, David Culbertson and S. D. Chapin, was instructed lo proceed with the work. A building committee was ap- pointed, composed of 1 .. E. Worcester. 1 D. Vedder and Il. Watson, and in April, 1868.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF GREENE COUNTY.
the main structure of the present school building was begun, and ready for occu- pancy by December of the same year. The cost of the building and the grounds amount- ed to about $22,000. At that time the teach- ers were: R. H. Frost, principal; Mrs. R. H. Frost, assistant principal; Ellen Mat- thews, A. E. McGuire, Fannie Adams; E. K. Shirley, janitor.
The increasing attendance was such that in February. 1889, $5,000 was authorized with which to build an addition, but this amount was not sufficient to meet the de- mand and on May 4th of the same year $4,000 was added to complete the work. Lucas Pfeiffenberg was the architect and the contract was let to W. F. Hoyle. The total cost, including repairs on the old build- ing, amounted to more than $10,000.
The board at that time consisted of A. W. Foreman, president ; E. J. Pearce, sec- retary; M. C. Purdy, H. W. Chapman, G. B. Danforth, W. C. Chapin and Louis Low- enstein.
A few years ago it became an evident fact that the building was still inadequate for the increasing attendance, and a special election was held April 27, 1901, and an ap- propriation of $7,000 was voted to build an- other addition, which was finished the fol- lowing spring. The total cost of the build- ing as it now stands, including the furniture, is about $42,000. This now gives us one of the best school buildings for a town of this size in this part of the state.
Our corps of instructors are fully up to the standard in their work. They are: C. E. Avis, superintendent : Isabella Anderson, principal : Myrtle 1. Roberts, assistant prin- cipal : R. V. Smith, assistant principal : Mat- tie E. Ryan, 7th grade: Anna M. Richert. 6th grade: Mabel E. Green, 5th grade :
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