USA > Illinois > Mercer County > Past and present of Mercer County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 37
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The first house was erected in 1856 and thereafter they went up rapidly until by October ist a fine little city was built upon the present site of Aledo. There was a brick hotel of three stories, a brick block owned by Willits & Moore, Judge Thompson was erect- ing a fine residence, and in all about one hundred buildings were being erected or had been projected. There were actually standing at the close of the year twenty completed houses and many in various stages of construction. During 1857 building went on rapidly. The grading of the Great Western Air Line occurred from 1855 to 1857 and the Galesburg & Muscatine Railroad was projected to extend through Aledo. The plans of the proprietors were wise, because in
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Photo by Carlson
VIEW OF SEVENTH STREET, ALEDO
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the end when submitted to a vote, as described elsewhere, the county seat was removed from Keithsburg to Aledo. Mr. Willits and Judge Thompson, proprietors of the town, paid into the county treasury $130 to defray the cost of this election. They bound themselves if the election resulted in favor of the change to deed to the county board for use of the county, Block 40 for a courthouse, and the fol- lowing amounts were subscribed for the use of the county: Levi Willits and John S. Thompson, $3,000; Nicholas Edwards, $300; John S. Moore, $600; John W. Miles, $500; George Braucht, $300; Kline & Jackman, $100; O. C. Allen, $300; Elisha Miles, $300; M. L. Marsh, $50; Thomas Moorehead, $50; David Calhoun, $50; James Y. Merritt, $50; Joseph B. Lair, $100; J. E. Harroun, $200; W. M. McCandless, $100; Thomas Candor, $50; Joseph S. Mat- thews, $25; George A. Smith, $25; W. J. McAlister, $25.
In July, 1857, the business of Aledo was about as follows: Dr. S. Macy, druggist; Thomas Maddux, general store and tinware; S. S. Bean & Co., groceries; J. S. Moore, livery ; McEwen & Irving, wagon shop; Charles J. Sellon, real estate; Cone & Clark, black- smiths; Paxton & Warwick, meat market; Moore & Allen, dry goods, groceries, millinery and a general store; N. & I. Edwards, dry goods, groceries, hardware and a general stock; Summerville & Huffman, blacksmiths; J. H. Snyder, blacksmith; J. S. & L. W. Thompson had a two-story brick office building nearly ready, and Thomas Candor a new frame store almost ready ; Dr. D. P. Bigger, residence nearly ready ; A. J. Hellings and Mr. Maining, residences almost finished; Doctor Boroff, a Gothic cottage almost finished; J. Ramsay, an English style cottage ready; C. F. Coningham, a residence nearly completed; Griswold & Smith, a two-story frame business house ; Rev. J. S. Poage, a story and a half cottage almost finished; Dr. J. A. Morey, physician and surgeon; Dr. S. Boroff, physician and surgeon; S. Macy, surgeon dentist; A. G. Spangler, attorney.
When the village was first started and when the sale of lots oc- curred there was already on hand materials for a hotel and at this time it was planned that a newspaper would be started here as soon as the question of the change of county seat was determined upon. Accordingly, on July 14, 1857, Volume 1, Number 1, of the Aledo Weekly Record was issued. It was published every Tuesday by Reed & Bigelow for $2 a year in advance, or $2.50 a year not in advance. The paper stated that it was not neutral in any respect and further said, "So far as questions of human well-being are con- cerned we are not neutral. This world is a great battlefield, and
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while falsehood and wrong are constantly aggressive, truth and right should be intensely so."
By July, 1857, there were standing on the site of Aledo over one hundred buildings completed or partly completed where just a year before was nothing but bare prairie, with only two log houses. Now there were substantial warehouses, tasteful and commodious dwell- ings and many more on the way. Two colleges, Presbyterian and Methodist, had been projected, and by 1858 were advancing toward completion. The preparatory department of one was under way in July, 1857. The big brick public schoolhouse was already com- menced. There were eight stores, two large hotels going up, and it was stated that there was "no room for idle loafers, whisky drinkers or whisky sellers."
In May, 1858, it was noted that there were three schools in progress in the village. As yet there had gone up no church build- ing. Services were held in the schoolhouses, but the Free Presby- terian Church was in process of construction and several others were contemplated. The new Barton House was pronounced one of the best on the military tract and was first kept by a man named Barton until the latter part of 1860, and the hotel was closed then for some two years or more, when it was opened by Amos Willits, and in a partition proceeding of the land owned by Levi Willits and John S. Thompson the house was sold to G. A. Luvin, and occupied by other persons for a while as lessees, when it was sold to Schuyler Button, and then the name was changed to the Button House. It was subsequently burned and Mr. Button then rebuilt it and he and his son, John Button, kept it for a number of years, when it was leased to other persons, and finally sold and passed into the hands of Archibald Mckinney, who reconstructed it and put it into its present form, and it is occupied as the postoffice and stores on the lower floor, and for offices on the second story, and a hall on the third story.
By the summer of 1858 the town had the following stores: Two dry goods, two druggists, two groceries, one furniture, one boot and shoe, one stove and tin, one butcher, and the following shops: Two wagon and carriage, one harness and several blacksmiths. In June a restaurant and confectionery store had been started. At this time a call was made for a steam flour mill, planing mill, machine shop, plow factory, agricultural warehouse, hardware store and clothing store. At this time lumber was obtained at New Boston, Keithsburg, Rock Island and Andalusia. Sand was found within a mile of the town; lime was obtained from the above cities, brick was obtained
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near here; excellent building material was found within three miles ; coal the same distance and the water was excellent. Mail coaches arrived here from Monmouth, Galesburg, Galva, Rock Island, Mus- catine and New Boston. A weekly mail was established here as early as the summer of 1857, the line extending from New Boston to Galva, passing through Aledo. At this time a tri-weekly mail was urged between Aledo and Monmouth. The Muscatine mail arrived every Tuesday and departed every Friday. The Galesburg mail arrived every Friday and departed every Tuesday. A. G. Ram- sey was architect and builder at Aledo in July, 1857. Later in that year Paxton & Warwick slaughtered hogs and cattle. Aledo Lodge, No. 252, A. F. & A. M., and Aledo Lodge, I. O. O. F., were estab- lished here in 1857. This year J. E. Harroun was appointed post- master. C. F. Coningham was house and ornamental painter.
When the Barton House was opened in the fall of 1857 it was made the occasion of a party and ball at which there was a large attendance for that day, though many did not attend owing to re- ligious scruples. In August, 1857, Willits & Thompson donated ten acres in the southeastern part of town for a cemetery. The services of Tyler McWhorter, a landscape gardener, were secured to lay out the grounds. During the fall of 1857 C. J. Sellon, C. S. Richey, G. Swindler, J. McCoy, J. W. Griswold and Harrison Scott erected new residences. Patterson & Wilson started a furniture store in September; L. Jordan opened a carriage shop about the same time. A residence was built for Rev. H. J. Humphrey, D. V. Reed opened a boot and shoe store and Ralph Grow occupied a new residence at this time. The Barton House was built by Willits & Thompson and had about fifty rooms. It came to be called Barton out of regard for the second landlord, whose name was Barton and who came from Moline. In September, H. C. Morey started a drug store, and in the same month D. Northway, Mr. Chevelier and William Doak built new residences here. The little village was wide-awake and up-to-date. In October a literary society was organized here and many questions scientific, political and otherwise were debated and discussed. One special question debated was that of hard money and the judges decided in favor of currency. About the same time J. E. Harroun lectured before the society on the subject of reputa- tion and character. He was then county school commissioner. In November, J. W. Miles lectured before the society on kindness and love as opposed to hatred and revenge. Other lecturers during the winter were Rev. A. Tucker, President Wallace, of Monmouth; President Blanchard and President Skinner, of Galesburg, all prom-
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inent speakers and educators. Rev. James Poage lectured in Novem- ber on the subject of true patriotism. Dr. D. P. Bigger also lec- tured before the society in November. In January, 1858, the society discussed the slavery question and that of capital punishment.
In November, 1857, D. Kline opened a store of sporting goods, including guns, ammunition, hunting suits, etc. In January, 1858, Dr. G. W. Rodecker gave a series of lectures on phrenology here. At the same time a series of union prayer meetings, probably the first held in Aledo, were conducted in the Mercer Collegiate Insti- tute, being held by the few religious organizations here. About this time President Skinner, of Galesburg, again lectured before the society and spoke on the subject of mental and physical labor. Rev. Mr. Tucker also again lectured on political integrity.
In January, 1858, an attempt was made here to put liquor on sale, but the attempt was promptly resented by the inhabitants. A large massmeeting was called and resolutions were passed to prevent the sale of liquor in Aledo at all hazards. All realized that in order to prevent the sale absolutely it would be necessary to incorporate. At this meeting Rev. H. J. Humphrey was made chairman and C. M. Kay, secretary. J. W. Miles stated the object of the meeting. On motion J. H. Reed, Rev. J. S. Poage and Rev. M. Bigger were appointed to prepare business for the meeting. The meeting was addressed by J. W. Miles, M. L. Marsh and I. Edwards. The reso- lutions adopted favored incorporation in order to check the liquor traffic which had been commenced the Saturday night next before. The resolutions were, "That while we are law-abiding citizens and lovers of good order, we shall feel ourselves at liberty to protect ourselves and our children against the traffic in intoxicating liquors as a beverage in this community at all hazards; that those engaged in the sale of ale and beer in our town be and they are hereby re- spectfully requested to abstain from the sale of those articles; that the druggists of Aledo be and hereby are respectfully requested not to sell liquor except by a regular prescription from a physician, and that the physicians be requested to prescribe it only when it is abso- lutely necessary. Miles, Harroun and Reed were appointed to notify the liquor sellers of this action and Reed and Poage were appointed to arrange for a meeting to take preliminary steps for incorporating the Town of Aledo.
In January and February, 1858, the following men were doing business in Aledo: D. Kline, guns, ammunition, etc .; Moore & Allen, same; Lewis & Brother, groceries and a general stock; L. J. Gordon, harness; G. A. Luvin, restaurant; D. V. Reed, boots and
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shoes; Ralph Grow, contractor and builder; Paxton & Warwick, meat market; Patterson & Wilson, furniture and undertaking; A. G. Fider, barber; Dr. H. C. Morey, druggist-he sold wines and liquors rather frequently for medical purposes, it was thought; J. M. Maus had recently opened a coal mine three miles northeast of Aledo. He charged 6 cents per bushel at the mines, but II cents if delivered in this village. His coal bank was opposite that of H. M. Robb.
The first session of court in Aledo was held in the upper story of the new schoolhouse. The teachers' association met here at the same time and they occupied the same room alternately in February. In fact, they occupied the same room at different times on the same day. In March, 1858, Levi Willits, one of the town proprietors, died. James H. Reed, editor of the Record, was an able and often a brilliant writer, but he enjoyed lampooning and scorching oppo- nents too well to make his editorials popular. Horace Bigelow, the publisher, conducted the news department and is yet living in Aledo, well advanced in years. Thousands of interesting items in these pages would never have been secured but for Mr. Bigelow's kind- ness in lending the writers of this volume the old files of the Record in his possession.
On February 5, 1858, the citizens assembled to decide whether to incorporate the town or not. O. C. Allen was chairman and MI. Bigger, secretary. J. H. Reed stated the object of the meeting. The General Act of Incorporation was read by J. W. Miles. A vote was then taken with the result that the plan of incorporation was de- feated by a majority of 152.
In March, 1858, Aledo claimed a population of 700. Very prob- ably the actual number fell a little short of that. The nearest rail- road was twenty-six miles distant. The Western Air Line was already graded, but the rails were not down and all work had for the time ceased.
In the spring of 1858 S. Scribner & Co. bought the stock of drugs owned by Dr. H. C. Morey and afterwards conducted the store. J. B. Martin ran a line of hacks to Monmouth three times a week-Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Lang's grocery kept whisky for sale in June, 1858, in spite of the temperance movement of the last winter and its continuance during the summer. It was said that there were fifty drinks in each barrel of whisky. The citizens in July offered such opposition to the continuance of the doggery that it was finally closed. They went en masse and requested the keeper to quit the business, the paper submitted being signed by nearly every citizen of the town. In June, 1858, it was planned to
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establish a wild-cat bank here, with a capital of $50,000. Doctor Edwards was one of the men connected with this movement, but it was not completed. In the spring of 1860 among the business men were the following: Isaac Edwards, M. D., a stock valued at $40,000; Willits & Bassett, land agency ; A. Corken, druggist; Elisha Miles, general store; J. H. Geick, tailor; S. Macy, druggist; Thomas Maddux, an interest in two or more stores; Seymour & Robinson, boots and shoes; D. Kline, sporting goods; Fred Volk, groceries; Miss R. Smith, millinery; D. V. Reed, boots, shoes, groceries, etc .; J. H. Abercrombie, harness; Tyler McWhorter, nursery stock.
The Evening Star Lodge, No. 252, I. O. G. T., was in operation in the summer of 1860, under N. P. Brown, W. C. T. In Septem- ber, 1860, W. L. Campbell delivered a speech on temperance under the auspices of this lodge, to a large audience at Aledo. The speech was one of the strongest and most elaborate ever delivered in Aledo up to this time. At this date Palo Alto Lodge of Good Templars was established here.
In 1859-60 W. H. Thompson was postmaster at Aledo. Upon the change of administration in 1861 William Townley was candi- date for the office. As it appeared that there would be shown much ill will over the postoffice question early in 1861, the following citizens recommended that the question of who should be postmaster should be submitted to the voters at a special election to be held February 23d; John J. Glenn, J. M. Mannon, W. W. Carothers, D. N. Barton, J. H. Abercrombie, John Carnahan, John Ramsey, H. Parkman, I. Berlizheimer, S. Whitham, A. G. Fider, C. M. Coe, E. L. Strattan, Oliver G. Jack, Horace Bigelow, J. G. Mc- Guffin, G. A. Luvin, Henry Malone, J. H. Reed, M. L. Marsh, William Townley, William P. Baker, A. Corken, S. H. Rodgers, N. P. Brown, J. S. Paxton, S. W. McCoy, J. H. Gillespie, George Boone and Andrew Mays. The election was duly held and resulted in the selection of J. M. Wilson. In the end J. M. Wilson received the appointment as postmaster, his papers dating from August, 1861.
It was at that time that Aledo took steps to become incorporated and at the same time planned a council house, on which work was actually commenced in August.
In the fall of 1861 J. H. Hilberry brought a daguerrean car to this city and began taking ambrotypes, daguerreotypes, etc. About the same time the Bank of Aledo was started by Isaac Edwards, although his efforts were somewhat informal and his bank was not one of issue. He received deposits, bought and sold exchange, handled notes and did a partial though somewhat informal banking business.
Photo by Carlson
SOUTH COLLEGE AVENUE. ALEDO
Photo by Carlson
NORTH COLLEGE AVENUE. ALEDO
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With the issue of September 9, 1862, J. H. Reed sold his interest in the Record to Horace Bigelow, who assumed at first sole manage- ment and editorship, but very soon employed John Porter to conduct the editorial department. This combination continued with success for many years.
On March 3, 1863, a public meeting at Aledo formed an organ- ization called the Aledo Cemetery Association, the following persons becoming members: John S. Thompson, Simeon Macy, Joseph Mc- Coy, William H. Biggs, Harrison Scott, Horace Bigelow, John W. Miles, George Irvin, Jefferson White, Joseph M. Abercrombie, Wil- liam Downs, J. S. Poage, George A. Smith, John Rainy, T. H. Day, W. W. Williams and J. R. Bassett. John S. Thompson was elected first president of the association. The association secured a large tract southeast of Aledo, had the same platted and offered lots for sale in June, 1863. On August 4, 1863, "many citizens of Aledo" issued a call for a meeting to be held at the courthouse on the 15th of the same month to vote for or against the question of incorporating the town under the general law of the state. The election was duly held and was carried unanimously, with the exception of five or six, who cast votes against it. The election was held on September 5th and E. Gilmore, S. Macy, J. R. Bassett, W. McK. Young and George Turner were elected the first trustees. Doctor Macy was chosen president and John R. Bassett, secretary of the board. The corporate limits of the town included the territory embraced in the limits of the original plat of the village, Willits & Thompson's Addition and Braucht's Addition thereto. The town constable was appointed by the president and trustees. The first levy of tax was 20 cents on $100 for corporate purposes.
In February, 1864, it was announced in the Record that a bank would be established in Aledo within a short time, with a capital of $50,000. At the same time stock was offered for sale, the payments to be made on or before May. This plan again seems to have failed. Isaac Edwards, who had begun a partial banking business in 1861, opened a broker's office in Aledo in February, 1864. He bought and sold exchange on all principal cities and bought and sold stocks, coin, money, bank notes, uncurrent money and promissory notes.
In December, 1864, Horace Bigelow became postmaster, suc- ceeding James M. Wilson. About this time, or a little before, the Aledo Brass Band was organized and at first had six pieces, but later was increased to twelve or fifteen. In July, 1865, the school census gave Aledo a population of 703 and Mercer County a population of 20,151.
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The Aledo Record in 1865 became so boastful of what the town would become as soon as the railroad should be built that the New Boston Herald made the following observation: "There are three institutions which you cannot get up in Aledo, viz .: a fishery, a steam ferry and a steamboat line." In June, 1866, C. W. Searles succeeded Horace Bigelow as postmaster.
In July, 1866, the following business establishments were here: George Irvin, physician and surgeon; Harris & Waters, attorneys; L. H. Thompson, attorney and real estate dealer ; S. Macy, druggist; M. D. Craig, physician; Isaac Edwards, attorney at law; J. R. and I. N. Bassett, attorneys and land agents; C. M. Kay, attorney and military claim agent; J. F. Woods, physician; S. Macy, surgeon den- tist; Samuel W. Cay, attorney; Hugh R. Morrison, cabinetmaker; L. L. Troy, merchant; Smith & Graham, merchants ; Poage & Senter, merchants; William Boney, druggist; L. F. Jobusch, grocer; Barton Hotel (for sale) ; J. J. Rainwater, physician; E. G. Stiles, licensed auctioneer; Fred Volk, groceries and general store; Boone & War- wick, boots and shoes ; Harroun & Willits, general store in Aledo and New Boston; Miss McBride, millinery.
On September 5, 1866, Horace Bigelow sold a half interest in the Record to John Porter, who during the previous four years had been employed as his editor. In February, 1867, the Mercer County Press, which had been established a short time before, passed to the owner- ship of George C. Wilson. It was a democratic sheet. He was succeeded in May by Capt. D. R. Waters, who took charge of the paper.
In the fall of 1867 steps to enclose the cemetery were taken. Previous to this date it was not surrounded with a fence and cattle, horses and other stock roamed at will over the graves, much to the indignation of many of the citizens. An ordinance fixing liquor licenses at $300 was passed in October, 1867. In November the Barton House was completely destroyed by fire. In May, 1868, the authorities finally decided to fence the cemetery and steps in that direction were at once taken. In the fall of 1868 a large grain elevator was being built here by Mack & Whiting. At the same time a flour inill was commenced and a planing mill was projected. Pepper & Young began merchandising here in 1867 and Abercrombie & Deborde opened a harness store in May, 1868. No sooner was the Barton House destroyed than a new structure on the same site was projected and commenced within a few days. It became the Button House and was the principal hotel of the town for many years.
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Pursuant to call, the citizens of Aledo met at the courthouse on January 20, 1869, to consider the proposition of securing a city charter for the town. Dr. W. D. Craig was made chairman and James H. Connell, secretary. Isaac N. Bassett, C. J. Bartleson and C. S. Richey were appointed a committee to draft a city charter and submit it to the Legislature for adoption. This was done. It was introduced in the Legislature on January 25 by Mr. McManus. The rules were suspended and the bills read a second time and referred to the committee on incorporations and insurance. On the 27th it came back without amendment and was read a third time. It passed the house March 8th, having previously passed the senate, but it was not signed by the governor. The governor vetoed the measure be- cause it embraced land that was not laid out into town lots. In preparing the bill I. N. Bassett, of the committee, insisted that there should be nothing included in the corporation but the land that had been made into town lots, but he was overruled by the majority of the committee.
The planing mill was commenced early in 1869 by Edwards, Pinkerton & Company, was soon completed and became one of the principal business establishments of the place. The elevator began operations on or about February Ist and proved a great convenience to the farming community and served to advertise the town. Early in 1869 Bailey & Byers, of Camp Point, bought property here and made arrangements to open a banking house. By the 24th of Feb- ruary they were prepared to buy and sell exchange to a limited extent and soon afterwards were ready to do a full banking business. Their office was in the Warwick Building. A. M. Byers took up his resi- dence here at this date. In the end they bought the Warwick Build- ing and immediately thereafter ended forever the sale of liquor in that structure. Thomas Bailey was associated with Mr. Byers in the ownership of the bank, but Mr. Byers was the principal manager.
In 1869 John Geiger bought the Mercer County Press, the demo- cratic paper, at Aledo, and conducted it until 1872, when he sold out to O. P. Arthur, his stepson. In 1877 he bought an interest in the Aledo Banner, and about a year and a half later sold out the same to P. F. Warner. Again in 1880 he founded the Aledo Democrat and soon after associated with himself George M. Eames, and so con- tinued until his death in 1883. Mr. Geiger was at all times a straight- out and consistent democrat. He refused to follow the Greeley move- ment in the early '70s.
The railroad reached Aledo in 1869. Samuel Marquis conveyed people to the end of the line for several months before its completion
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