USA > Illinois > Menard County > Past and present of Menard County, Illinois > Part 17
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CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF FANCY
PRAIRIE.
This church was organized by Rev, J. C. Van Patten in 1861. Soon after the organization they created a neat and substantial house of worship in the village of Fancy Prairie at a cost of about two thousand dollars. The church prospered for a time, but later, by deaths and
removals, the membership was so reduced that they did not have preaching but a part of the time. Some four years ago Bey. R. D. Miller was called a- a supply, preaching half the time. For several years prior to this time, through the earnest effort of Mis. Emma King and George Lake, a Sunday-school had been kept up, but the attendance was not large and the work was discouraging. After a time the Sunday-school began to grow and the congrega- tion grew also, so that the people became en- couraged, but they were discouraged by the fact that the church stood a half mile from the Peoria & Springfield Railroad. which had leen recently built, and to which the village bad been removed. At first they talked of moving the old house to the railroad, but this was not popular. Many thought that the money emld not be raised to build a new house, but Mrs. Emma King and Mrs. Rue started out to take the effort to raise the funds. Mrs, King itt no one pass and in a short time raised over five thousand two hundred dollars. Work was at once begun and on the first Sunday in May. 1901. the house was dedicated. the Rev. Dr. Bushnell, of Alton, Illinois, preaching the ar- mon. No money was asked for on that day. the entire bill being paid. It is a neat. modern Imilding. with basement. lecture-room. inclined floor, regular pews, Fully carpeted all over and lighted with acetylene gas. The congregation and the community owe a lasting debt of grati- tude to Mr -. King: John W. Shaver, the of- ficient treasmier: Dock Drake and Grant King. the faithful building committee: James King and Abram Fulkerson. the trustees, and to the whole community for their liberal gift of money. Thus Bev. Miller has had charge of the congregations when three of the neatest and best Cumberland Presbyterian churches in Menard county were built, namely: Peters- Ing. Lebanon and Fancy Prairie.
SECRET SOCIETIES.
Fre masonry and Odd Fellowship. those benevolent institutions that exert so wide an influence for good. usually follow closely in the wake of Christianity. We know that the
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incentives which prompt them are good. be- a large number of them are gone to the great lodge which never adjourns.
cause the results achieved are so grand and glorious. Freemasonry was introduced into Petersburg over sixty years ago. Clinton Lodge was organized under a dispensation, in October, 1812. In due time it was chartered as Clinton Lodge. No. 19. A. F. & A. M. The first of- livers were: John Bennett, Worshipful Mas- tor: Martin S. Morris, Senior Warden: John MeNeal, Junior Warden: Jacob West. Treas- urer: John Broadwell, Secretary: David Me- Murphy. Senior Deacon; and W. B. Kirk. Junior Deacon. This lodge has lived and prospered through all these years, performing its work quietly and faithfully. As a matter of interest to the members of this fraternity. ww make the following statement : Clinton Lodge was named in honor of ex-Governor De Witt Clinton, of New York. To per- potuate his memory and great virtues the Masonic brethren have caused to be built for the ornamentation of their lodge-room a shell monument, consisting of a collection of shells, arranged with genius and skill. As the mumber of Clinton Lodge indicates, it is one of the old lodges of the state.
De Witt Chapter, No. 119, Royal Arch Ma- son- was organized March 25. 1868, with the following as the first set of officers: Hobart Hamilton, M. E. High Priest : T. W. MeNeoly, E. King: J. T. Brooks. E. Scribe: John Ben- nett. Captain of the Host : 11. W. Montgomery, Treasurer; and J. G. Strodtmann, Secretary. This Chapter is strong and prosperous.
St. Aldemar Commandery, No. 47. Knights Templar, was organized October 21, 1845. by Right Eminent Sir Hiram W. Hubbard. Grand Commander of the State. The first officers were : Eminent Sir Hobart Hamilton. Com- mander: Sir T. W. MeNeely, Generalissimo: Sir Charles B. Thatcher, Captain General ; Sir Anson Thompson. Senior Warden: Sir Ed- ward Laning. Junior Warden : Sir F. P. Antle. Treasurer: Sir J. G. Strodtmann, Recorder ; Sir J. M. Sawyer, Standard Bearer: Sir J. T. Brooks, Sword Bearer: Sir T. C. Bennett. Warder: and Sir J. E. Dickinson. Captain of the Guard. These men, like those of the lodges spoken of above, are scattered to and fro, while
Bennett Chapter. No. 19, Order of the East- ern Star, was organized January 18. 1822. The first officers were: John Bennett. W. P .: Mrs. Isaac White, W. M .: Mrs. James W. Judy. A. M .: Mrs. A. D. Wright. Treasurer; and Mrs. John Bennett, Secretary. Every one of these have gone to their long home, but their influence is still felt, not only in the lodge, but in the community at large.
The Masonic fraternity. in connection with the Harris Guards, a military company that was formed here in the "tos, but disbanded sov- oral years ago, in 1829. began the erection of an opera house, with a lodge-room above. and on the 9th day of September of that year the cor- nerstone of the edifice was laid, with appro- priate ceremonies, under the auspices of the Grand Lodge of Masons by Most Worshipful William Lavely. Past Grand Master of the State. This is a splendid building of brick. with a large and well arranged hall. having a roomy stage and equipped with all the para- phernalia of a first-class theater. The hall above is said by those who have a right to know to be first-class in every respect.
THE INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS.
On the 13th of April, 1818. Salem Lodge. No. 123. 1. O. O. F., was organized under dis- pensation, with the following charter members : B. F. Stephenson. C. N. Goulding. J. 11. Col- for, Theodore Baker and Z. P. Cabanis. The first officers were: John Il. Collier. Noble Grand: B. F. Stephenson, Vice Grand : %. P. Cabanis. Secretary : and Theodore Baker, Treas- urer. The lodge continued undler the dis- pensation to the 14th of October, of the same year, when it was chartered. and for the first few years after its organization it prospered lo an almost unprecedented degree, but the Civil war coming on and other difficulties being in the way. its membership waned and its pros- prets became very dark. During its first year it added about tifty members. How discouraged they must have been when in 1862 their mem- bership had fallen far below that mark. The few remaining members became so discouraged that they even contemplated a forfeiture of
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their charter, and. as we are told, a vote was view, but for some cause it went down years ago.
actually taken to that effect. but failed by a very small margin. But this trial aroused the dormant energies of the lukewarm and they took on new zeal and the lodge revived to new life and power. The financial difficulties that bad for some time harassed them were over- come and they started again on the upward course. Since that time the lodge has known nothing but prosperity. To-day it is a strong and wealthy lodge. Rebekah Degree Lodge, No. 92. 1. O. O. F. was instituted May 5. 1526. and reinstituted March 3, 1829. with a membership of sixteen. This lodge has passed through a varied experience in the past years. but has survived all its troubles and is to-day in a very prosperous condition.
Other organizations of secret societies are 10 be found in Petersburg, but as they are mostly insurance institutions a detail of their history would be uninteresting to the public.
We have not been able to secure the history of all the lodges of Masons and Odd Fellows in the county, though we made as diligent an "fort as could be made by any one. If this his- tory in this respect is imperfect it is because those who alone could give the needed in- formation were too indifferent to do so. . \ Masonic lodge was organized in Greenview un- der a dispensation. May 12. 1820, and chartered at the following session of the Grand Lodge. This is Greenview Lodge, No. 653. A. F. & .1. M. The charter members were: F. E. Wilson. W. H. Crites. H. K. Rule. Charles Atterberry. W. S. Morse. J. A. Rule. Abner Engle, Jacob Propst. Jr .. Fred Wilkinson. M. S. Eby, Wil- liam Houston. D. A. Petrie. Robert Hornback. Jacob Killion. John Johnson. F. A. Craig, C. R. Pierce. R. B. Godby, A. H. Whitney and Hosea Dockum. The first set of officers of this lodge were: F. E. Wilson, Master : William Crites. Senior Warden: 11. K. Rule, Junior Warden : Charles Atterberry, Treasurer: W. S. Morse. Secretary : John A. Rule, Senior Deacon : F. ... Craig. Junior Deacon: and Jacob Propst. Tyler. They own no building and therefore hold their lodge in a rented hall. The lodge is -trong and prosperous.
At one time the Independent Order of Odd Follows had a tolerably strong lodge in Green-
On November 16, 1811. Floral Lodge. No. 61. 1. O. O. F .. was organized under dispensa- tion in the town of Athens. A charter was issued from the Grand Lodge bearing the sig- natures of John Lake. G. M .. and N. C. Wason. G. S .. in October. 1828. The charter members were: C. C. Scott. T. B. Turner. Jacob Boyd. Louis Salzenstein. Charles Bair. W. C. Fisk and Julius Kerst. The first officers were: 1. (. Scott. N. G .: T. B. Turner. V. G .: Jacob Boyd. Secretary; and Louis Salzenstein. Treas- urer. They meet each week and are a pro-per- ous lodge.
BANKS AND BANKING.
The first bank established in Menard county was opened by John A. Brahm. of Petersburg. and William G. Greene, of Tallula, in 1865. under the firm name of Brahm & Greene. No more popular bank was to be found in central Illinois and it did a very prosperou- business for a number of years. There being but one other bank in the county for a considerable time, this one received an immense patronage. After a number of years Mr. Greene withdrew and for some time Mr. Brahm ran it alone. Mr. Brahm built a fine stone building on the west side of the square-steel vault. burglar and fireproof, time-lock. a deposit vault and all the modern conveniences and improvements of the day. He did a successful business for some time, but his accommodating nature and sympathetic disposition. together with other in- fences, led to his failure in 1883. Ho gave up everything. left his luxurious home and in his old age went out into the world in poverty. The writer can not refrain from saying here that as sad a serve as he ever witnessed in his life was the burial of John A. Brahm. After his failure he and his aged wife went to Chi- cago, where some of their children resided. and lived there till his death, some five years ago. His remains were brought to Petersburg for burial. and one dull. gloomy morning. about nine o'clock. a little company of a dozen or so people stood around the open grave. under the
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trees in Oakland cemetery, to witness the inter- every branch and is prompt and in every way ment. No display, no concourse of people, no reliable. long line of carriages, but a few silent mourn- About 1883 Charles (. Scott opened a private bank in the town of Athens and rum a success- ful business till the close of 1885. On the 1st day of January. 1886. Lee Kincaid bought an interest in the bank and it was run under the name of Scott & Kincaid till the close of that voar, when Mr. Kincaid bought the interest of Mr. Scott. Since that time Mr. Kincaid has run the business alone, doing a general bank- ing business to the full satisfaction of the pub- lie who patronize him. The bank, being located in a wealthy community and where two large coal shafts are located, has a large and paying patronage. It is fully responsible in every re- spect. ers, a brief talk. and a word of prayer, and his body was lowered into the grave, the earth shoveled in and all was over. As we left the cemetery the thought came to the writer: What a commentary on human life and character! Here is a man who did more for Petersburg and Menard county than any other man ; a man who accommodated and assisted more mon just starting in life than any other man: a man who in prosperity-while he had money-was honored and looked up to ; now, when his money is gone, and he is brought back to his old home to be buried, a handful gather around his grave, and even those whom he had befriended had not time to attend the burial and no tears of sympathy to shed at the grave. Will not this ingratitude bring its return to them, or to their children ?
On the 19th of September, 1883, this bank was organized as the "First National Bank" of Petersburg, Illinois, with a capital of lifty thou- sand dollars. Seven years later, the business of the concern having greatly increased, on the 19th of September, 1900. the capital was in- creased to one hundred thousand dollars. This bank does all kinds of banking business and is now more prosperous than at any time in the past. The officers at present are: (. B. Lan- ing. president : John Tice (deceased), vice- president : Sammel Il. Rule, cashier. The di- rectors are: John Tive (deceased). Samuel 11. Blanc (deceased ). C. B. Laning. Charles Vushamn and Anson Thompson.
The next bank to open business in Menard county was opened in Petersburg the same year that the First National opened. 1865. This was opened by R. and D. Frackelton. This is a private bank and is regarded as one among the most reliable and responsible banks of the state. It has always commanded its full share of the business of the country around it. A number of years ago one of the firm-Robert Frackel- ton died and the business was carried on by the other member of the firm. The title is now D. S. Frackelton & Company. The members of the lirm are D. S., C. C. and D. W. Fracke]- ton. This bank is doing a splendid business in
In 1826 a bank was opened in Greenview un- der the firm name of Alkire & Company. The firm was composed of J. D. Alkire, Milom Alkire and F. V. Alkire. It ran till the fol- lowing year, 1832. when the firm was changed to Marhold. Alkire & Company. The members of this firm were II. HI. Marbold, J. D. Akire and M. M. Engle. This firm did business two years and in 1839 it again changed to Marbold & Company. This firm consisted of 11. 11. Marbold and M. M. Engle and did business fill 1883. when it was succeeded by II. II. Marbold. who has since continued the business. Thus for over twenty-one years Mr. Marbold has con- tinued this business alone. Perhaps there is but one bank in the county which does more business than this. Located in the midst of an agricultural country that is surpassed by no section in or out of the state in the production of stock and grain, it would indeed be strange if the business was not a success. Mr. Mar- bold is one of the most successful farmers and stock-raisers in central Illinois, and beside this he is equally successful in general business. having the unlimited confidence of the entire community, and as a result his banking bu-i- ness is a success.
On the 1st of June, 1901. Il. Il. Schirding & Son opened a private bank in Petersburg. making the third bank in the place. The stand- ing of the Messrs. Schirding, financially, so- cially and every other way, puts the success of this enterprise beyond a peradventure. Their
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business ability and financial standing are such as to insure univer-al confidence.
We have not been able to scenre the data necessary to give a full history of banking in Tallula. From the best that we can learn. the first bank opened in that place was that of Wil- son & Greene, which was opened some years ago. The firm consisted of Dr. Wilson, a wealthy and prominent citizen of that place. and the late William G Greene with whose life history all are familiar. Mr. Greene, when but a boy. was in business in New Salem with Abraham Lincoln. He died several years ago in Tallula. wh. re he had lived more than half a century. The present Talhuila Bank is owned by the son and grandson of William G. Greene, and the title is Greene & Greene. It is one of the strong and reliable banks of Menard county. Located in one of the most wealthy farming localities in central Illinois and the firm having a wide acquaintance in adjoining counties. it is bnt natural that they should receive a large and profitable patronage.
Thus it will be seen that there are no less than six banks doing business in the county. and each one is doing a large and lucrative business. This is, to some degree, an index to the commercial enterprise and activity of the people. A county that is not more than twenty miles square and one whose people are nearly exclusively an agricultural people who can support six large banks, is one certainly possessed of remarkable resources.
CEMETERIES.
INDIAN POINT CEMETERY.
Indian Point has one of the most beautiful and neatly kept cemeteries in central Illinois. Located in one of the wealthiest and most ad- vanced communities of the state and on a site that nature certainly designed as a resting place for the dead. it meets every requirement for the purpose to which it is devoted. Before the stream of immigration had set into this country and it was yet a wild. a company of government surveyors, passing through that vi- cinity. changed to camp over night on this very Sport of ground. The next morning, when they
wore about to break camp. the leader of the company, then in perfect health. said : "Boys. if I should die anywhere in this section of the country. I want you to bury me on this very spot of ground." They moved on toward the mouth of Salt creek, where some work was to he done. and in a week or two this leader was taken sick. It was not thought to be serious at the first, but he gradually grew worse and in a short time he died. His companion-, romem- bering his request, brought his body back and buried it on the spot of ground that he had thus selected. This was the first grave in this cemetery and it may be seen in the northwest corner of the grounds. This cemetery is duly incorporated : ha- all the necessary officers : an eve. Hent system of by-laws, and already has quite a large sinking fund laid by. They have a sexton. employed by the year, who lives in a neat cottage on the grounds belonging to the cemetery. In the cottage is a room, or parlor. which is arranged as a waiting-room for the accommodation of mourners and their friends at time of funerals. The grounds are leauti- fully kept and quite a number of beautiful and costly monuments adorn the place. Such a cemetery is an honor to any community. and the thought that our loved ones repose in a i lace so lovely softens the sting of bidding them good-bye. Many pioneers who aided in making this country what it is sleep undisturbed in these quiet grounds.
OAKLAND CEMETERY.
Oakland was organized and incorporated in 1818 under the enterprising and efficient lead of D. M. Bone. now of Kansas City, Mo. It is located one mile southwest of Petersburg, on a tract of land perfectly adapted to the pur- pose, a part of the ground being level and a part formed of romantic hills, covered with a growth of most beautiful forest tree. It is governed under a most perfect system of by- laws, regulating the most minute detail in ila management : it was laid off by one of the most noted artists in his line in the country. he having planned some of the finest parks and cometeries in the large cities of the rast. It already has a substantial sinking fond laid by : it is tastefully kept and is already adorned
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by a number of costly monuments. Many of our prominent citizens repose there. There. among the tenants of this "silent city." are the remains of Lincoln's fiancee. the "Beautiful Anna Rutledge." Several vejr- ago her re- mains were removed from the Concord conle- tery by Samuel Montgomery to Oakland and buried in a beautiful lot in the southwest part. of the grounds. She lies apart from all other graves: the only mark to tell the spot is a rough, gray granite, glacial boulder, with the simple words "Ann Rutledge" eut deep in the solid rock. Twenty miles from her grave. as the bird tlies, rises the ninety-thousand-dollar shaft above the ashes of President Lincoln, but if his words to William H. Herndon are true. while his bones repose under the proud man- soleum in Oak Ridge, his heart resis under the rough boulder in quiet Oakland.
Oakland is destined, in time, to be one of the most beautiful and popular cemeteries in the county.
ATHENS CEMETERIES.
Athens has two cemeteries : the Athens come- tery and the Hall cemetery. The latter was donated by Mr. Abram Hall, a public-spirited and benevolent citizen of that vicinity. Both of these are well kept and speak well for the community.
TALLULA CEMETERY.
Of the incorporated cemeteries of the county. none are more beautiful or better kept than that of Talhila. Being in a wealthy, refined and Christian community, we could expect nothing ele. In this sacred spot repose the remains of many of the men and women, who by their foresight. industry and economy wronght out the rich inheritance that we enjoy to-day. Beautiful monuments tell where they lie. but monuments more enduring than granite, brass or bronze in the living tablets of loving and grateful hearts tell of their works of love.
SWEETWATER CEMETERY.
Sweetwater cemetery was improved. enlarged and incorporated a number of years ago, but the writer was unable to get the data to give an extended or particular account of it. li is a beautiful locality. is well kept and is beanti- lied with many costly monuments.
OTHER CEMETERIES.
Irish Grove, Farmers Point. Rock Creek. Oakford. Lebanon and Murray are all large and nicely located cemeteries, but we have not the data to give an extended account of any of them. It is but just. however, to say. in pas- ing. that the Murray cemetery has some as costly monuments as any of the country come- teries of the county.
There are some of the old "burying-grounds" that are very much neglected. for example. the old Hornback graveyard, near Lebanon. and some others. The Shipley graveyard, at the Shipley schoolhouse, is one of the old places of interment. There are also a number of fam- ily burying-grounds in the county. as that at George Kerby's, at Hashes and other places. On the old Smedley farm, two or three miles northwest of Tallula, is a large number of graves in ground that is not cared for at all. Last October the writer visited this neglected home of the dead. Crawling under the tangle of brush and vines, which was almost impone- trable, he found an ancient marble slab with this inscription: "Christopher Smedley: born December 25. 1238; died June 28. 1850." Hle was the grandfather of John Smedley, of Cass county. He was born in England and when he reached manhood he entered the British navy and served the country for several years. In the battle fought between Commodore Rodney. of the British navy, and Commodore DeGras, of the French navy, he lost his left leg by a can- non shot, and, of course, was obliged to leave the navy. Later he came to America. and coming to Ilinois he entered the land whereon he died. He died at the great age of one hun- dred and eleven years, six months and three days.
The neglect of these burying places is a wrong that should in some way he remedied. In these lone and neglected graves lie the re- mains of some of our most worthy dead. Men and women who were loved and honored while they lived and who performed a most impor- tant part in the development of this country. -loop in these forgotten graves, wherein a few years the plowshare will crash through the soil above them and yellow harvests will be reaped
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over where they lie and be gathered in with shout and song. This shameful desperation can only be avoided by removing the remains to a cemetery where they will be protected and cared for. If the descendants and friends of these pioneers will not attend to this, it should be taken in hand by the authorities and done at the expense of the public.
STEAMBOATS.
The location of Menard county being so To- mote from the large rivers, the roads very poor. or in most places not opened at all, and rail- road transportation being then unknown. it is not to be wondered at if the carly settlers did -eriously and anxiously consider the navigation of the Sangamon river. It is necessary for the reader to take into consideration a number of facts: the forests being then undisturbed. the ground untrampled by thousands of stock. the flat prairies unplowed and undrained. it fol- lows. of course. that the average amount of water flowing in our erceks and rivers was at least one-third or one-half more than flows in them at the present time. for there being more vegetation then than now and the timber be- ing then undestroyed. there was a much great- or rainfall than there is in later years. Also the ground being then untrampled and loose. the water from all the rain and snow sank di- rectly into the earth. thus forming permanent -prings which flowed the year round. feeding the water courses everywhere with an abundant supply. But as it is now the case is very dif- ferent : the ground i- trampled hard beneath the hoofs of thousands of stock. so that the water that falls instead of sinking into the ground runs off at once. As a result of this we now have greater and more sudden freshets and then lower waters than we had in earlier days. The markets then were far away. located on the navigable rivers: the roads were all- opened, and owing to the natural condition of the country there were many places where it would have been impossible to construct passa- ble roads: and the slow ox-teams being almost the sole means of transportation. it is not to be wondered at that the people were intensely
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