USA > Illinois > Christian County > Taylorville > Quasque centennial, 1839-1964, historical booklet, Taylorville, Illinois > Part 2
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The first court house was built in 1840, and the price of construction was $2,350.00. The original plans called for the building to be 32 feet long and 22 feet wide with sills 8 by 10 inches square; all frame to be of good sound white oak lumber, and weather- boarding to be of walnut timber. This old court house must have been well constructed because it still stands today. It is now lo- cated on the county fairgrounds and has been used in recent years for fair exhibits, and it is undoubtedly the oldest building now standing in the county. This old court house was used for the purpose originally intended until 1855 when a second court house of brick was constructed.
Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Doug-
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THE MODERN HOME OF SANGAMON CO. TAYLORVILLE, ILLINOIS
----
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where each of these outstanding lines is created and published for you ...
BIRTHDAY
VALENTINE
MOTHER'S DAY
GRADUATION
THANKSGIVING
NEW YEAR
STARBRIGHT
EVERYDAY
EASTER
FATHER'S DAY
HALLOWEEN
CHRISTMAS
AND
STATIONERY
Compliments Of
SANGAMON COMPANY
las practiced law and argued cases before Judge David Davis (later Justice of the Su- preme Court of the United States) in this small wooden court house when lawyers found it necessary and profitable to follow the Judge around the circuit from one coun- ty seat to another.
The town grew slowly at first because there were no railroads, and farm produce had to be hauled overland to St. Louis, and merchandise and supplies had to be brought in the same way. Flour was hauled from Springfield and sold at $3.50 per barrel. Farmers hauled their wheat to Springfield and received 35 to 40 cents per bushel. Pork was worth $1.50 per hundred pounds and beef, $2.00 per hundred pounds. Butter was worth 5 to 6 cents per pound, and potatoes 15 to 20 cents per bushel.
A stage line operating between Spring- field and Terre Haute passed through the town, thus giving it contact with the outside world. The line was known as The Great Eastern stage line.
With the coming of the Illinois Central Railroad to the east edge of the county in the 1850's, conditions improved though it was still slow work to haul produce and sup- plies to and from the Illinois Central towns of Assumption and Pana.
The first railroad came into Taylorville in 1869 but there had been efforts to secure a road as early as 1856. In that year, Dr. Goudy was sent to the legislature from this district and he obtained a liberal charter for the Pana and Springfield railroad and perfected the charter of the Decatur and East St. Louis railroad. These charters didn't accomplish much in themselves, but they did keep the issue of the railroads be- fore the people of the day so that finally in October 1869, the Pana and Springfield rail- road ran its first train into the city. This road is now known as the Baltimore and Ohio.
Within a year or two the Decatur and East St. Louis (now the Wabash) was com- pleted and Taylorville began to move for- ward at a more rapid pace.
The first man in Taylorville to engage in manufacturing was Abel Conner, a black- smith. Jesse Langley built a horse mill in 1837 on Flat Branch, a mile and a half east of Taylorville. Its power was obtained from an inclined wheel propelled by cows. Dr. Goudy erected the first steam saw and grist mill in 1850 at a cost of $2,000.00. It con-
tained but one pair of burrs which were used for grinding corn. Much of the lumber used in building the town was sawed there.
The first steam flour mill was built by William T. Sprouse and company in 1853 in the western part of town near the corner of Clay and Market streets. It was quite an industrial unit for that day and had facili- ties for grinding both wheat and corn. In 1860, it was converted into a woolen factory where 20,000 pounds or more of wool was bought and shipped annually. In 1872, it was again converted into a custom flouring mill. In 1859, V. T. Priest erected a mer- chant steam flouring mill near or in the west part of Manners Park. It was known as For- est Mills until it was destroyed by fire in 1872.
Taylorville became incorporated as a town on March 11, 1853, when John W. Young, president of the board of trustees of the town, presented to the county court a statement from the poll books showing the results of an election held on March 4, 1853, to determine whether or not Taylorville should incorporate as a town. The vote was 45 in favor and 6 against.
Taylorville continued under this incor- poration until 1882 when at an election held April 18, the people voted to incorporate as a city. An election was held May 31, 1882 and Thomas W. Long was named mayor.
Succeeding mayors have been B. V. Mar- tin, 1883-85; James Culver, 1885-6; A. P. Osborne, 1886-87; J. R. Smith, 1887-89; James Ricks, 1889-91; Henry Jayne, 1891- 93; R. B. Temple, 1893-97 and 1901-02; E. Bach, 1897-99; F. A. Zimmerman, 1902-03; W. R. Nickodemus, 1903-05; James W. Leigh, 1905-07; A. T. Kinney, 1907-11; T. J. Dow- ney, 1911-13 and 1919-20; Walter Provine, 1913-15; W. S. Scott, 1915-19; T. E. Hobson, 1920-25; Harry Hershey, 1925-29; E. E. Adams, 1929-31; C. W. Wilkinson, 1931-33; J. W. Spresser, 1933-49; Joe McAdam, 1949- 57. The present Mayor, Thomas Sweeney, was elected in 1957 and was re-elected in 1961.
One of Taylorville's important assets is its beautiful Oak Hill Cemetery. It was a long time ago when the first person was buried in what is now Oak Hill Cemetery. It was on July 18, 1842, when the body of James H. Morrison was buried in what is now the cemetery. Records reveal that be- tween that time and 1850, three other per- sons were buried in this location.
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GP
GEORGIA - PACIFIC
Georgia-Pacific Corporation, Hopper Paper Division,
Is Pleased To Note Taylorville's 125th Anniversary And To Extend Our Sincere Wishes For The Community's Growth In The Years To Come.
Georgia-Pacific, with over 21/2 million acres of forest land, is one of the nation's largest timber firms and produces a broad range of forest products, including plywood, pulp, paper, paperboard con- tainers, chemicals, lumber, flakeboard, hardboard and other pro- ducts.
In the United States, Georgia-Pacific has 82 plants and mills and 82 distribution centers located in key marketing areas, plus 51 sales offices hat help keep the Corporation's products on the move. Sales agents are located in 40 countries of the Free World.
If you would like to know more about Georgia-Pacific, write Box 311, Portland, Organ.
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The plot became a cemetery in 1850, be- ing known as the Taylorville cemetery for many years before it finally became Oak Hill Cemetery. It has always belonged to the City of Taylorville.
The original part, or old Taylorville cemetery, is located on the drive leading in from the gate farthest south. The graves range along the eastern slope of the hillside for some distance south and may be dis- tinguished by the slab markers which were universally used in the early days.
As time went on, more land was taken in until now there are approximately 90 acres in the cemetery property.
The cemetery is beautifully landscaped and contains approximately 18,000 graves. There are winding driveways and, contrary to its name, evergreens flourish in the west- ern part of the cemetery.
The history of newspapers in Taylorville depicts a long, arduous battle for the very existence of journalism. Taylorville had the advantage of being the county seat and the center of local news in which the early set- tlers were interested. In those days, the pa- tronage from the Court House in the form of legal notices, constituted more revenue for a newspaper than all the business advertising in its columns. It is probably for this reason that Taylorville has always had a newspaper since the first one was started. Residents of Taylorville were advocating the establish- ment of a newspaper throughout the year 1857, and on January 19, 1858, the first newspaper was published, namely, The Inde- pendent Press. After that time numerous newspapers were started in Taylorville which sooner or later died out. Today, the city has the only daily newspaper published in the County, namely, the Breeze-Courier, which has been in publication since 1894.
The first county jail was erected in 1846. It was a frame structure 20 feet long and 16 feet wide and two stories high. It was built of timbers 10 inches thick and had double walls about 8 inches apart and the space be- tween was filled with upright timbers. It was located at the southeast corner of the square. The only prisoner ever to escape from the jail was a Negro slave who had run away from his master in the South. It is thought that the public sentiment in the community against slavery may have led to his secret release. The jail served a quarter of a century and then in 1870 the first part of the present jail was erected. There have been additions since then.
The matter of education in Taylorville extends back to the early beginnings of the town. In fact, 1840 is the date established when John W. Wheat opened the first school in Taylorville. There was no regular public school building in that day and the classes had to be held in other buildings that hap- pened to be available at the time.
In 1850 a brick seminary was erected on the lot where now stands Menietti's Service Station across from the post office. It was built jointly by the school directors and the members of the organization known as "The Sons of Temperance." Today Taylorville has four public grade schools, a parochial grade school, and a Junior-Senior High School.
Agriculture has played a vital role in the economic development of Taylorville. The soil in the Taylorville-Christian County area is excellent and these fertile acres attracted many settlers and immigrants to this area in the early days. Today, agriculture is Christian County's biggest single industry, and agriculture supports a large share of the industry in the Taylorville area. Several firms now manufacture and process products used or produced by farmers. Dealers of ma- chinery, feeds, seeds, fertilizers and chem- icals provide employment and contribute to a good share to the volume of business in Taylorville.
Coal mining has played an important part in the development of Taylorville. On March 1, 1886, a meeting was held to organ- ize a coal mining company for mining and on May 11, 1886, a contract for boring was let to prospect for coal which was found in 1887.
On January 6, 1888 a contract was made for sinking a shaft which was completed be- fore the end of the year. The shaft was lo- cated between Main and Market streets just east of the Wabash railroad. The mine con- tinued to operate until 1915, when it was abandoned and the surface buildings dis- mantled.
The Christian County Coal company was formed in 1899, with L. D. Hewitt, D. W. Johnston, J. H. Downs, W. S. Ridgley, and Dr. A. F. Rockey as stockholders. The capi- tal stock was $60,000, which was later in- creased to $100,000. Roy A. Johnston, Cle- ona Johnston, and Morris and Troy Long later became stockholders in the enterprise.
A shaft was sunk at Hewittville and the mine operated under the original group of stockholders until 1915, when it was ac-
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BULPITT Furniture Co.
OF TAYLORVILLE
Christian County s Oldest Furniture Business -78 YEARS
NOW
THEN
The exterior of the building may have changed somewhat over the past 78 years, but BULPITT'S policy of fair prices, good furni- ture, and honest treatment remains the same. This is the reason why we are still in business these long years. We value your pa- tronage!
(FURNITURE, CARPETING, DRAPERY)
Bulpitt Furniture Co. Since 1886 Illinois
Taylorville
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quired by F. S. Peabody and was thereafter referred to as Peabody Mine No. 58. This mine was closed in 1951 and today there are no longer any coal mines in the immediate Taylorville area.
During the early 1930s labor trouble de- veloped between two fiercely competing la- bor unions and the coal mines. There was fighting and a number of people were killed and injured. The fighting went on sporadic- ally for more than two years and has been referred to as the "mine war". Taylorville received considerable bad publicity from the so-called "mine war" and it is a period in its history that best be forgotten.
At one time there were three coal mines in the Kincaid area, one in Taylorville and one in Pana. These mines employed thous- ands of people and contributed substantially to the economy of Taylorville. All these mines were closed in the early '50's and to- day there is only one mine in Christian County which is located near Sicily. The closing of these mines has caused much un- employment and economic distress, however, Taylorville has held its own and now looks forward to a bright future.
In 1902 our present county courthouse was built, costing in excess of $100,000.00. It stands in the middle of the Taylorville square and with its central tower as an im- posing structure, containing a clock with four dials in each direction, our court house is surely the symbol of Taylorville.
A movement for a hospital for Taylorville was started in 1905 by a group of interested citizens. After much discussion, the Sister Adorers of the Most Precious Blood agreed to assume the hospital if it were built. On June 28, 1905, a mass meeting was held in the court house at which $10,000.00 was pledged toward the erection of the hospital. The Sisters contributed $12,000.00 and a site was donated by W. T. Vandeveer on South Walnut Street. The St. Vincent Memorial Hospital was then built in 1906.
This hospital served the needs of Taylor- ville for many years until 1955 when through many contributions and Federal help, a new St. Vincent Memorial Hospital was built in the North side of town near Pleasant Street. The new hospital is one of the finest in Central Illinois for which the people of Taylorville are justly proud.
Taylorville is fortunate in having two fine parks. In October of 1909, Dr. Henry Jayne made a gift to the City of ten acres of
land located at the end of West Main Cross Street stipulating that the ground must be used as a park or the land would revert back to his heirs. Trees were set out and more recently, the park was equipped as a chil- dren's playground. Jayne's Park is a fine place for a family picnic.
The area now called Manners Park was purchased by the City from the estate of C. A. Manners in 1913 for the sum of $26,- 000.00 with the stipulation being made that a memorial gateway be erected at the main entrance, bearing the Manners' name. Man- ners Park has been gradually improved. The park is blessed with an abundance of trees and hilly terrain making for excellent possi- bilities in landscaping. In the early days of Manners Park, the Taylorville Chautauqua was in its heyday and at this time the large auditorium that still stands was erected to accommodate the crowds which came to hear the annual summer programs. Today visit- ors to Manners Park will find a new swim- ming pool completed in 1962, baseball fields, and numerous swings, slides, and trapezes for the young children. The Park is land- scaped with two small lakes, winding drives, attractive flowers, and large shade trees. Manners Park has been a wonderful recrea- tion area throughout the years.
The history of Taylorville cannot be writ- ten without recounting two sporting events for which Taylorville received national pub- licity.
During the early 1920's, Taylorville and other towns had professional football teams. At Taylorville in 1921 was played the famous Taylorville-Carlinville game which is now more tradition than history.
Carlinville had always been envious of Taylorville's football reputation. So, when the Hall brothers, then making football his- tory at Notre Dame, were approached one vacation time, they agreed to help take Tay- lorville down a notch or two. They made arrangements to get most of the Notre Dame team to wear the Carlinville colors-under assumed names, of course. But some Carlin- ville fan talked out of turn. "Dope" Simpson was going to the University of Illinois and playing on Bob Zuppke's Illini. So were "Gov" Yates and Verne Mullen.
Came the day of the big game. Playing in the first half for Taylorville were the reg- ulars, with Charlie Dressen, then of Decatur, and later player and manager of major league baseball teams, at quarterback. The
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PRESCRIPTION CUSTOMER WAITING ROOM
CARPETED FLOOR COVERING
REXALL AGENCY
WATCH FOR THE GRAND OPENING!
Northwest Corner Of Square
Taylorville, Illinois
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Carlinville-Notre Dame squad took it easy the first half - in fact, Dressen had pulled a "quarterback sneak" and crossed the goal line and Dick Simpson had converted making the score 7 to 0.
During the half, the Carlinville fans were waving their greenbacks under the noses of the Taylorville sponsors and were offering odds that Carlinville would still win. They found no lack of "takers."
Shortly before the half was to start, sev- eral cars rolled up to Hoover field and un- loaded a group of Smiths, Browns, and Greens, who later were identified as mem- bers of the U. of I. squad. Among them were the Sternamans, Fletcher, Dope Simpson and several others.
Then history was made.
Neither team gave quarter. It was foot- ball at its best and the only score made in that last half was a drop kick by Dutch Sternaman that boosted the score to 10 to 0. After that contest, the fans paraded joyously to the business district, collected their bets and shouted themselves hoarse.
Later, when college circles found out who really participated in the game, a number of the college players were considered ineligible for further college competition, and the en- suing scandal set back the progress of two famous college teams for several years.
In 1944-45, the Taylorville High School Basketball team did almost the impossible. They went undefeated for the season in win- ning 45 games and the Illinois State Basket- ball Championship. The team consisting of Ronald Bontempts, John Orr, Red Jenson, Dave Jones, Schulte Bishop, and others, coached by Dolph Stanley, was the first un- defeated basketball team in Illinois basket- ball history. Taylorville, that season, played every outstanding high school basketball team in the state. In fact, they beat Cham- paign, the leading contender, on four occa- sions.
In recent years, the City of Taylorville has been able to make numerous public im- provements. In 1944, the Taylorville Munici- cipal Airport, located approximately two miles west of town, was built and has been later improved.
In 1962, the dreams and desires of many of the people residing in the Taylorville area became reality when Lake Taylorville was completed. For many years, Taylorville had obtained its water supply from wells in and
east of the City. The water level in these wells was dropping steadily due to the addi- tional demand for water over the years and it was becoming imperative that a lake be built to satisfy the future demands for water. After a great effort by many responsible people, Lake Taylorville was constructed about three miles Southeast of the City. The lake covers 1300 acres, has 44 miles of shore- line, and has a 1500 foot dam which is built across the South Fork of the Sangamon River. When Lake Taylorville is fully de- veloped, it will be a wonderful recreation area for the people of this area.
Since 1952 Taylorville has had a radio station. WTIM broadcasts over all of Chris- tian County and many adjoining counties, and undoubtedly attracts shoppers and busi- ness to the City.
Taylorville is fortunate to now have a number of industries that have developed with the City over the years, such as the Hopper Paper Company, Sangamon Com- pany, Allied Mills, Baughman-Oster, Ware- ham's Dairy, and Gene Kennedy Supply Company, and efforts are now being made to induce other industries to come to the Taylorville area.
In compiling a brief history of Taylor- ville, much that might be said has to be de- leted. A comprehensive account of Taylor- ville would take a great deal more space than is allotted here. Throughout the years, it has been a good "trading" town, where local businessmen have carried stocks of merchandise which has attracted people from a wide area. Today, we have a group of progressive businessmen and women deal- ing in almost all lines of merchandise, and it can be safely said that they will compare favorable with those of any city our size, and perhaps a good deal larger.
At present, the future of Taylorville looks bright as we look forward to the huge generating plants and lake to be built by the Commonwealth Edison Company in the next few years. This plant and lake will be built a few miles west of Kincaid in Christian County and will create employment and should enhance our prospects for other new industries moving to our area.
To conclude, Taylorville is one of those places where everyone has a chance to be happy, each in his own way. It is a city which has those unique advantages which are desirable as a place to live, to work, to rear families and to enjoy one's recreation.
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Dorthy's Dance and Baton Studio
"FOR THE BEST IN DANCING" 319 WEST MAIN CROSS - TAYLORVILLE, ILLINOIS - REGISTER NOW FOR FALL TERM -
PHONE VA 4-2626
1964 RECITAL "ON STAGE"
JUNE 17, 1964 2 P.M .- Matinee
8 P.M .- Performance
Capitol Theatre Taylorville
Tickets Sold Only At The Door!
SPECIAL CLASSES
Kinder Dance - 3-6 Yrs. of Age
TAP
TOE
BATON
BALLET
ACROBATS
MODERN JAZZ Girls and Boys
JUDY and JANE PLUMMER
MRS. DORTHY BROOKS PERSONALLY INSTRUCTS ALL CLASSES.
MEMBER .. OF United States Twirling Association.
* Chicago National Association Of Dance Masters
* Springfield Municipal Band Commission.
* Taylorville Business And Professional Womans Club.
* Official Majorette Of The Springfield Municipal Band.
Director Of The Taylorville High School "TAYLORETTES". Originator Of "LITTLE MISS SOYA". 10 Years Of Teaching The Children Of Taylorville and Area.
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MCCLURE, INS.
HUMPHREY, INS.
DWYER - HALBERG, INS. BANGERT, INS.
SPURLING, TROST & GRANT, INS.
STEPHENS & HUGHES, INS.
MAGNER, INS.
GIVENS, INS.
VAUGHN, INS.
KINSELLA, INC.
Taylorville Assn. Of
Independent Insurance Agents
YOUR Insurance
ndependent AGENT
"SERVES
YOU
FIRST" ®
Compliments Of
Gene Kennedy Supply Company
1001 North Cheney Street Taylorville, Illinois
READY MIXED CONCRETE QUALITY CONCRETE AND HAYDITE BLOCKS PRATT & LAMBERT & U. S. GYPSUM PAINTS BUILDING SPECIALTIES
Phone 824-4933
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BEST WISHES FOR A SUCCESSFUL
CELEBRATION FROM
COHN FURNITURE STORE
SOUTH SIDE OF THE SQUARE
PHONE 824-3303
Compliments From Your Democratic Candidates
Governor-OTTO KERNER
Lt. Governor-SAMUEL SHAPIRO
Sec. Of State -- PAUL POWELL
Auditor -- MICHAEL HOWLETT
Atty. General-WILLIAM CLARK
Rep. For Congress -- GEORGE SHIPLEY
Delegates To The National Convention- JOHN ASHER, STANLEY TYLER
State Senator-EDWARD EBERSPACHER
Delegate To The State Rep. Nominating Convention-
CHARLES SCHAEFER, STUART TRAYNOR
States Attorney-ROLLAND TIPSORD
Circuit Clerk-MARY SEDLOCK
Coroner-THOMAS DOYLE
JOHN JONES-County Chairman C. F. BERTENETTI-County Vice Chairman DON KUHLE-Secretary GLEN GIBSON-Treasurer
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Compliments Of
THE
DENTISTS Of
TAYLORVILLE
L. W. HEIM
CHARLES MARAS
LYSLE TANKERSLEY
GEORGE F. FERRY
JOE MARTIN
J. W. SPRESSER
A. E. HELM
R. L. ZIMMER
MODEL LAUNDRY
AND
DRY CLEANERS
117 East Main Street
Congratulations On
Christian County's 125th
Anniversary And May The
Next 125 Years Be Better
MORTON'S DRUG STORE
PRESCRIPTIONS
(PICK-UP AND DELIVERY SERVICE)
ALL THE FINEST COSMETIC LINES
OFFICE SUPPLIES and EQUIPMENT
Phone 824-6543
Prescription Department 824-5453
FREE PARKING LOT IN REAR
West Side Square
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Best Wishes
for the care you
cannot provide in your home
MEADOW
MANOR
INC.
Route 48 North Taylorville, Illinois
Phone VA 4-2277
24 Hour Nursing Services Under The
Direction Of A Professional Staff.
Registered Nurse on call at all times.
IF YOU'VE BEEN THINKING ...
#
GRAIN STORAGE!
GRAIN DRYING!
·)
BULK FEED INSTALLATION !
Compliments Of
CIRCLE STEEL CORP.
S
A SUBSIDIARY OF GROVE MANUFACTURING CO.
BODENDIECK
CONGRATULATES
TAYLORVILLE
BIRTHPLACE OF
HOT LINE EQUIPMENT
USED BY THE
POWER INDUSTRY
TO PROVIDE CONTINUOUS
ELECTRIC SERVICE
BY REPAIR OF HIGH VOLTAGE
LINES HOT
BODENDIECK TOOL COMPANY
Route 48 North Taylorville, Illinois
ALL ROADS LEAD TO TAYLORVILLE- HOME OF MOODY
WHOSE
CULVERTS
MAKE THEM POSSIBLE
GRAIN BINS
CORN CRIBS
PRODUCTS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND AGRICULTURE
MOODY MANUFACTURING CO.
North Route 48
Taylorville, Illinois
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GOODYEAR
Headquarters For All Your Tire Needs
Passenger, Truck, and Farm
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Appliance Headquarters
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