USA > Illinois > Mercer County > Past and present of Mercer County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 45
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The Carnahan family also embraced several of that name; John Carnahan being the oldest, and there was a large family of influen- tial men of that family, several of whom are still living in the town- ship. There is also residing in the township a Doctor Miles, who has been there for a number of years.
VIOLA
The Village of Viola was surveyed and duly acknowledged by Benjamin C. Perkins, Milton M. Ford and Charles C. Sheppard on December 9, 1856. It was located on parts of sections 14 and 15,
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Greene Township. Since that date several additions have been made to the village, rendered necessary by the growth of the place and the demand for lots.
In September, 1857, Carbon postoffice was established in Greene Township in the home of James Carnahan, who was appointed post- master. As soon as the town of Viola was established this postoffice disappeared. This occurred about June, 1861. Viola of course sprang into existence with the construction of the railroad. Previous to that date it had been talked of, because the road was projected as early as 1855, but no town was started until the road was certain to be built, in 1869. During the summer Carnahan & Caldwell opened a large general store. At the same time other business estab- lishments appeared. In 1870 J. H. Maxwell opened the Viola Hotel and about this time the village had grown so rapidly that it was incorporated as a town. The village was one of the most promis- ing of the county in the early years of its growth. It had many good business establishments, reliable business men and was particularly famous for its schools, its religious organizations and its social and fraternal societies.
In 1872 a large convention was held here for the purpose of offering opposition to secret societies of all kinds. It was held in the United Presbyterian Church and was presided over by Rev. W. S. McClanahan. Fifty residents of the town and vicinity signed the constitution and by-laws. This association was a branch of the National Association which flourished at that time.
Early in 1873 Viola was an important shipping point. B. F. Morey on one occasion marketed thirty-one hogs which averaged 476 pounds in weight each. These animals were a cross between the Poland China and the Berkshire breeds. About the same time Levi B. Willits elsewhere in the county marketed ninety-five hogs which averaged 452 pounds each in weight. Many cattle were shipped from this point as the years passed. It was necessary to establish stock yards here where animals could be kept indefinitely if not in suitable condition to be shipped.
In 1875 the village had a population of several hundred and contained numerous stores and shops of all kinds and was a pros- perous, progressive village. In 1875 Samuel Park marketed here fifteen head of hogs which averaged over four hundred pounds each; forty of them averaged 4411/2 pounds each. At this time hogs were worth here $6.60 and in Chicago, $7.40 a hundred.
Even as late as 1880 the little station of Carbon was on the rail- road between Aledo and Viola. During one week ending January
Photo by Carlson
BUSINESS SECTION OF VIOLA
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19, 1878, Viola received 1,078 wagon loads of corn for shipment, aggregating over thirty thousand bushels.
In January, 1881, H. B. Frazier & Company, the large mer- cantile establishment of Viola, dissolved, J. A. Goding of the con- cern retiring. H. B. Frazier and W. C. Breckinridge continued the business alone. In February, 1881, it was noted that Viola had in crib over two hundred and fifty thousand bushels of corn. At that time the town had four religious organizations-Methodist, Pres- byterian, Congregational and United Presbyterian. The latter was the oldest.
In 1883 the Viola Library Association, which had recently been formed, was in active operation and had collected about one hundred books. It was at first promising and had a large membership. About the same time David Little, Jr., established here a creamery in the old Viola Mill, which he had purchased. He soon had 300 patrons and for a number of years it was a promising business institution. Mr. Little conducted creameries in other parts of the county. This was called the Rivoli Creamery.
During the '70s, 'Sos and 'gos large quantities of coal were mined in this county and much of it was marketed. The remainder was sold for home consumption. The Empire and Aledo companies were in active operation at this time. The pay roll of these two companies in the early 'gos amounted to about ten thousand dollars a month. The Gilchrist and Cable miners struck in May, 1894, and it required considerable time before they could be satisfied with the conditions and pay offered.
An early newspaper was the Viola Enterprise, conducted by Barrett Murray, but was sold out in the end to Boyd Cabeen, who managed it successfully for many years. In later years the Viola Building & Loan Association was established and did much for the development of the town. Henry Crosly was president; A. R. Moulton, secretary; and Fred L. Crosly, treasurer.
In the immediate vicinity are coal beds, valuable deposits of fire clay and an excellent article of white sand suitable for the manufacture of glass. The fire clay a little later was manufactured in large quantities into brick and tile. In the early 'gos the town did not have a suitable supply of pure water. Thus far they had depended upon wells which furnished surface water only. A project to bore a deep well at a cost of $1,500 was opposed by a majority of the voters at the polls. This was done in spite of the fact that the water was known to be contaminated and that probably the health of the inhabitants would suffer.
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By March 31, 1897, the receipts of the Viola Building & Loan Association amounted to $10,080.64. It had spent about the same amount. The profits were placed at $1, 155.87.
In November, 1898, Dr. J. V. Frazier, of Viola, one of the most prominent men of the county, a student, a scholar and a man of great natural ability, passed away after having lived here and been active as a citizen since 1847. He had spent a few years in California dur- ing the '50s, but otherwise had lived here since his first arrival.
Bankers began here in the '70s. A. R. Moulton conducted bank- ing operations here in the '8os and 'gos, but retired from the business in 1898 and was succeeded by the Commercial Bank of Terry Brothers. Mr. Moulton had started this establishment in 1893 and had been quite successful, as an institution of that kind was needed here by business men.
In 1900 the business establishments of Viola were as follows:
Bank, The Commercial; boots and shoes, B. J. Swanson; black- smith, L. S. Whitcombe & Son; barber, B. B. Patterson ; contractor and builder, J. G. Gilbert; dry goods and clothing, Frazier Brothers; druggists, Henry Crosby; furniture and undertaking, Charles J. Winn; hardware, Jenkinson & Russel, Sexton & Breckenridge; har- ness and merchandise, J. M. Poe; jeweler and optician, J. W. Mahaffey; lumber and grain, B. L. Christy; livery and feed, A. G. Frakes; mill (feed), C. E. Culver, R. W. Stewart; meat market, J. D. Peters, A. W. Smith ; general merchandise, Ashenhust Brothers, J. C. Bradford, J. J. Mitchell & Company, R. E. Terry & Company ; mason, brick and stone, James L. Dunn ; painter and paper hanger, W. N. Robinson; poultry, H. H. Clayton; physicians and surgeons, E. L. McKinnie, Ryan & Packer; restaurant and hotel, C. A. Warner; stock buyer and shipper, Greenwood & Company.
In 1902 Viola had an athletic field day, upon which occasion baseball games were played, races were run and other sports indulged in. In the forenoon the Gilchrist Club played the Keithsburg Club, and in the afternoon the Gilchrist Club played the Aledo Club. In both of the games the Gilchrist nine won the greatest number of scores.
The Mercer County Chautauqua was held in Viola in 1906. It occupied a tent at the park, where refreshments were served. This was called a prohibition Chautaqua, as the principal feature of the institution was the advocacy of strict prohibition measures. Among the leading speakers were Col. John Sobieski and E. W. Chapin.
In 1909 the Viola State Bank, which had been organized a short time before, was in excellent working order, with a large amount
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of deposits and with the confidence of the public. Frank Terry was cashier and B. L. Christy president. The deposits of this bank in 1913 amounted to $173,653.
In 1913 Viola was given the electric light service of the Tri County Light & Power Company which had previously been estab- lished at several other towns and cities in the county. At that time also a new opera house was constructed at Viola and the people were put to their wits end to furnish the same. The cost was between $1,500 and $2,000 to place it in suitable condition for use.
The Viola Enterprise was started by Dixon in 1892. A little later it passed to L. R. Witheral, who managed it about two years and it then passed to Guy Adams, who owned it for a short time. A little later a man named Michaelson secured it. Frazier Brothers also had possession of it for a short time. D. M. Harkrader & Son, of Alexis, secured it about that time and conducted it for four years, when it became the property of Andrew C. Peterson, the present proprietor. The sheet is in better condition now than ever before and is newsy, ably conducted and a credit to the editor and publisher and the town.
In 1914 Viola had a population of 760. S. C. Fugate was justice. D. W. Sedwick was president of the Farmers Bank, the capital and surplus of which amounted to $37,500. The business houses were as follows: Ashenhurst Brothers, shoes and general store; A. N. Bewe, rugs and carpets ; E. Chilson, hay and feed ; Walter Corsetius, restaurant; Fred Craig, restaurant ; Forsyth & Hunting, blacksmiths ; John Gilbert, contractor; E. L. Greenwell, drugs; W. H. Kent, furniture and undertaking; W. C. Millikar, coal; McCoy Hardware Company, hardware; C. B. Moore, lumber; P. F. Moore, harness ; A. G. Peterson, printer; D. F. Ralston, grain; D. F. Ralston & Son, harness ; Mrs. J. L. Robinson, hotel; K. M. Saunders, jewelry; Wil- liam Shapiro, junk; H. H. Sidwell, music; R. E. Terry, general store; V. P. Terry, hardware and implements; Thomas Sisters, mil- linery; Tri-County Light & Power Company; Adolph Weinstein, general store; N. D. Winn, meat; Wood & Smith, general store; Worley & Mclaughlin, automobiles and garage.
GILCHRIST
Gilchrist has a population in 1914 of 100. Its mail comes from Viola. The business establishments are: Empire Coal Company, general store; F. A. Essley, groceries ; J. H. Smith, restaurant.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY WANLOCK
Wanlock is a small station of recent origin on the Rock Island Southern Line in Greene Township, section 9. A few shops have been there.
CHAPTER XXIII
RIVOLI TOWNSHIP
Rivoli Township has an excellent soil and is well drained, with- out any abrupt valleys or high hills. The south central part is drained by North Pope Creek and the extreme southern part by Pope Creek itself. This township has valuable coal deposits which have been worked to a considerable extent from an early date. In the end this will be a source of great wealth to the owners of the soil. Owing to the fact that this township was located a considerable distance from the Mississippi its settlement was neither early nor rapid. In time, however, it became populated with an excellent class of people who came from the older states and established here Christian homes and excellent schools.
The first settler in the township was probably James Bridger, who arrived in the spring of 1836, having previously lived for a time in Schuyler County. He came here in company with another pioneer on a prospecting tour and liked the country so well that he selected a claim on section 31 and there afterwards made his permanent home. He became prominent in township affairs. The death of his wife in 1836 was the first in the township. She was the first person buried in Mann Cemetery in North Henderson Township. In January, 1837, he married Mrs. Eliza Longley and this was the first wedding ceremony in the township so far as known. His son, Ira G., who was born October 14, 1837, was the first child born in the township probably. In the log cabin of Mr. Bridger was held the first religious service in the township. Rev. Samuel P. Burr, who traveled on the Mercer circuit for the Methodist Episcopal Church, held services there during the winter of 1836-7. This cabin, which was 14 by 18 feet, sheltered at times a family of fourteen persons, still, when neces- sary, could accommodate a belated and weary traveler.
During the earlier years Indians encamped along the main streams of the county. A band in 1841 remained encamped on the stream near Mr. Bridger's residence for several months. While there a son of the chief was taken sick and died and was buried on the northeast quarter of section 6. This grave was surrounded later with a fence. which was pointed out for many years afterwards.
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Richard Cox was another of the first settlers, his claim being taken up in the eastern part of the township in 1837. He was a native of Ohio and was a man of upright character and pure morals. He was one of the first justices of the peace and was reelected several times. He was a Methodist and a whig. James Durston came to this county first in 1837 and settled on section 36, Greene Township. In 1838 he took up a claim on section 30, Rivoli Township, which he after- ward sold to Mr. Spicer and again took a claim on section 15. His family became prominent in local affairs. His son, Charles F., lived for many years in Aledo and was clerk of the County Court. On his farm was built the first schoolhouse in the township in 1848. It was a frame structure and was afterwards used as a granary. Nelson Chidester was among the early pioneers, arriving here in 1840 and taking up a claim on section 16. The second school in the township was taught on Mr. Chidester's premises. In 1844 he built a temporary school building in his yard. Stephen Smith was another pioneer of this township. He arrived about 1840 and first located in Richland Grove Township, but two years later came to Rivoli and secured land on section 4. He left several children and all the members of the family were prominent and useful citizens. Major McMullen came at an early date and located in the northeast part. In 1844 his house was blown from its foundation by a tornado that swept the Edwards River Valley. In 1837 John Heriford secured a claim on section 29, but a little later sold out and left the township. An early school was taught in his cabin it is said. It stood near where the Zion Methodist Episcopal Church stood in later years. In 1838 Abram Watson arrived in the township. He had served in the Revolutionary war and may have been the only resident of the county who served the colonies at that time. It is said that George Spies, who lived in this county, was also a Revolutionary soldier. Mr. Watson was a native of Virginia and enlisted in the Continental army at the age of fourteen years. He was present at the siege of Yorktown and at the surrender of Cornwallis. During the siege he was accidentally wounded by a bayonet thrust through the leg.
In 1837 Daniel Jones came to this county, having previously for a short time located at Knoxville. He secured land here and in time became prominent. He was a school trustee of the township and assisted in establishing permanently the early school commissioners. He was elected county supervisor in 1856 and reelected in 1858. His home was on Section 25. Orson Jones was another early settler. He arrived at an early date and became a useful and prominent citi-
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zen. He held nearly all the local offices within the gift of the people. He left this county at an early date and went to Henry County and there became equally prominent in township and county affairs. Later he came back. Rev. Hugh Breckenridge was a prominent settler at a little later date. He located on section 4 and was a member of the Hopewell Wesleyan Methodist Church. These were the earliest settlers in the township. Others came in, but their names have escaped the recollection of the present generation.
The Township of Rivoli was organized in 1854. The first super- visor was R. R. Cox; James Bridger, town clerk; L. Chidester, as- sessor; N. Chidester, collector; C. Harshberger, justice of the peace. In 1865 the township auditors levied a tax of $2.60 on each $100 valuation as a bounty for volunteers. The total amount expended by the township for fifteen volunteers to fill the last quota was $7,940.75. Of this sum $3,620 was raised by subscription.
NEW WINDSOR
The name of this town is Windsor, but the postoffice and the railroad station are New Windsor. This should be borne in mind in reading this chapter. It is located on the north half of the south- east quarter and forty acres out of the northeast corner of the southwest quarter of section 13, township 14 north, range I west. It was platted and laid out on August 20, 1857, by William F. Petrie, Olof Johnson, William T. Hammond and Samuel Remington. The principal addition to the Village of Windsor was laid out by Johnson & Wiley. Other additions have been laid out from time to time. The village was laid out because of the fact that the Western Air Line Railroad was graded a short time before that event. It was expected that the road would be ironed and put in operation at once, but this did not occur until 1869. In the meantime a small town started there, which did not amount to much until the railroad came. Galesburg parties built a large storeroom there as soon as the road was graded, but afterwards rented the building to other parties, and in the end sold the property to residents of the little village. There were usually at the village, after it was laid out and previous to the construction of the railroad, one store and a shop or two and in addition a school and a few religious organizations. In 1866, in anticipation of the early completion of the road additional lots were offered for sale and several purchasers appeared. In 1869 the post- office at New Windsor was changed from Rivoli, which had been
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its previous name, to New Windsor. The town continued with the old name of Windsor.
In September, 1868, the Town of Windsor had only two frame houses and one church. On July 1, 1869, it had, all told, seventy- three buildings, of which fifty-two had been built after March 1, 1869. The pioneer store was opened by Stevens & Gibson, who sold dry goods, groceries and a general stock. Peter Casler opened a clothing store soon afterwards and E. L. Larkin began selling drugs about the same time. The latter had a general store as well as sold paints, oils, wallpaper and various other articles. The fourth store- keeper was B. F. Brooks, who opened an exclusive grocery estab- lishment. About the same time A. J. Smith opened a hotel. The above were about the only business establishments here during the winter of 1868-9. In the spring of 1869 business was exceedingly brisk, and, as above stated, the town grew with great rapidity. On June 1, 1869, the following business houses were here: Dry goods, Stevens & Gibson, J. A. Maxwell, Buchanan & Epperson, and a little later, W. H. Sawyer; grocers, B. F. Brooks, Stevens & Gibson, Buchanan & Epperson, J. A. Maxwell, Moore & McNaughton, William Pitman, who also conducted a bakery; iron and hardware, Olof Frenell, an old resident; Shaw & Gregg, who sold stoves as well as hardware generally, and Moore & McNaughton; hotel-keeper, A. J. Smith; drug stores, E. L. Larkin and G. R. Knowles; agricul- tural implements, Loomis, Potter & Allen; A. J. Smith and Olof Frenell; lumber, Lynd & Mays, Le Barron & Reed, and W. I. Ed- wards; grain buyer, J. W. Kline, and Mack & Company.
As yet no elevator had been erected, although considerable grain was purchased and shipped. At that time the railroad company was putting in a switch 2,700 feet long. The new depot was almost finished, with H. E. Wadsworth as agent. Already a large stock yards was built and cattle and hogs were sent away on the trains. There were three blacksmiths in the town, also two shoe shops and a jeweler and a new hotel building was being erected; wagonmaker, W. H. Gladman; painter and decorator, John McLean. Excellent residences had been built by J. M. and W. J. Wiley, Capt. P. C. Riggen, William Fleharty and J. M. Christy. Several buildings were moved here from a little place called Oxford, two miles south- ward. It was said at the time that Oxford picked itself up and set itself down in Windsor. Two new churches were being erected at this time- Methodist and Swedish. The Presbyterians had been here many years before. A big schoolhouse was talked of at this
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time also. The Viola House was soon opened by E. B. Hoag, pro- prietor. A steam flour mill was being erected by A. R. Cannon & Company. Park & Mckinney opened a new drug store about the same time. New residences were soon built by H. Boon and R. Park. Shipments of live stock and grain were made by H. H. Ham- mond. This was the Village of Windsor in June, 1869.
On August 2d the citizens decided, by a vote of 34 to 7, to incor- porate as a town. On August 14th the first town election was held and A. J. Moore, E. L. Larkin, P. Casler, J. H. Epperson and G. W. Gregg were chosen for the first board of trustees. Joseph M. Christy was the first police justice.
On August 1, 1870, the people of the town voted to issue $10,000 in bonds to aid the Rock Island & St. Louis Railroad. The measure was carried by a vote of 43 to 14. The conditions were not com- plied with by the railroad company and, accordingly, the bonds were never issued. In 1870 the big schoolhouse at Windsor was completed. At the same time James Evert established a printing office and once a month issued a small sheet called the New Windsor Eagle.
The New Windsor Institute was founded in September, 1873. W. S. Coe, agent of the C. B. & Q., had charge of the same. It was planned to instruct students in the operations of railways. It was planned to give instruction in telegraphy, railroad construction and the express business. The scholarships per annum were fixed at $30. This institution seems to have died at a very early date.
In 1875 the New Windsor Press appeared, in charge of W. S. Coe & Company. It was a patent paper throughout, but contained a few columns of local news. In April, 1878, the town, by a vote of 30 to 22, decided to organize as a city under the general incorpora- tion law of the state. As told elsewhere herein, E. L. Larkin secured and put in operation here the only telescope ever owned in the county. In 1877 the Rivoli Farmers Mutual Insurance Company was estab- lished and authorized to transact business in the Townships of Rivoli, Richland Grove, North Henderson, Greene and Suez in this county and in other townships of the adjoining county. The company had at first thirty charter members, whose aggregate policies amounted to $60,000. A. P. Petrie was the first president; T. D. Merryman, treasurer; and N. P. Smith, secretary. The first board of directors were S. B. Shumway, H. H. Roberts, A. P. Petrie, W. S. Fleharty, N. P. Smith, T. D. Merryman, J. M. Merryman, T. S. Wilson and B. Kasenberg. Their report, made in January, 1882, showed 164 policies covering $178,468 worth of property.
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Oxford Lodge, A. F. & A. M., was moved from Henry County to Windsor in 1870. It afterwards became a prominent and fixed institution here and at one time had about one hundred and fifty members. A chapter of the Eastern Star was established with eighteen members at a little later date. New Windsor Lodge, No. 518, I. O. F., was organized in 1873 with the following officers : J. B. Armstrong, N. G .; W. H. Gladman, V. G .; Samuel Adams, secretary; A. A. Willett, treasurer. At one time it had more than one hundred members. In the township are four or five cemeteries, one on section 21, known as Woodham's; one on section 31, called Cooper's ; one on section 12, known as Windsor; and another on sec- tion 12, owned by the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran people.
In 1880 the Rivoli Creamery purchased 563,356 pounds of milk. They manufactured 54,049 pounds of cheese, also 2,728 pounds of butter. They found that 10.42 pounds of milk were required to make one pound of cheese. The cash they received amounted to $5,623.44. T. D. Merryman was treasurer of the creamery com- pany at this date. In 1880 the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Com- pany had ninety-seven members. There were out seventy-nine policies, valued at $100,328.
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