USA > Illinois > Adams County > Quincy > Quincy and Adams County history and representative men, Vol. I > Part 63
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Lewis MeFarland established the first tannery in the '30s and he served as the first justiee of the peace in the township. Benjamin Booth opened the first blacksmith shop at an early day, and in 1846 James H. Langdon opened a second, at Garrett's Mill. Granderson M. Hess opened the first general store at that place in 1854.
CAMP POINT PLATTED
Camp Point, as a village, dated from 1855, when it was platted and made a station of the Northern Cross Railroad. Cars commenced running in February. At that time the owners of the town site were Thomas Bailey, Peter B. Garrett, Benjamin Booth and William Farlow.
The township had been created in 1850 and Thomas Bailey was elected as its first supervisor. Among his early successors were James E. Downing, Vixen P. Gay, Silas Bailey, Thomas J. Bates, Richard A. Wallace and George W. Cyrus. The last named, one of the advisory editors of this history, is still alert physically and mentally and is one of the best informed men in the county.
INFLUENCE OF THOMAS BAILEY
The influence of Thomas Bailey was felt longer and stronger than that of anyone who has been identified with the growth of Camp Point. He was of an old Maine family and the year following his departure, as a young man, reached Adams County and first en- gaged in teaching near Garrett's Mill. But he soon was investing his savings in farm lands, early improved a quarter section and ereeted a residence thereon. A portion of Camp Point was laid out on it, when it was platted in 1855, and he made several additions to the original traet. Finally he became one of the large and pros- perons land owners of that section of the county, and for a number of years also engaged in merchandizing and milling at Camp Point. In 1867 he founded the Bailey Bank, a private institution, which he conducted successfully for thirteen years. In 1873, with George W. Cyrus, he established the Camp Point Journal, and the association continned for three years, when Mr. Cyrus became the sole pro- prietor.
Mr. Bailey served as township supervisor during two terms in the '50s, and in 1875 was chairman of the board. He was a justice of the peace of Camp Point Township for more than forty years, and after the birth of the republican party served repeatedly as a
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delegate to its county, state and national conventions. He was also one of the old and prominent Masons and Odd Fellows of the county.
BMILEY PARK AND THE OPERA HOUSE
Perhaps more permanent and noteworthy monuments to his mem- ory are the gifts of the 20-acre traet of land known as Bailey Park and the Opera House Block, in 1903. The former, which adjoins the corporation limits on the north, at the time of his death, had been ocenpied for more than twenty years by the Adams County Agri- cultural Society as a fair ground. The grove of fine trees embraced in the traet formed the basis for the park improvement, which has de- veloped into an excusable village pride. It is famous as a resort and is utilized by the Chautauqua Association as a place of meeting.
Railroad Park is a strip of land through the center of the village owned by the C., B. & Q. Railroad Company and turned over to the village for park purposes. It is shaded by large trees which, with grass, forms a pleasant feature of the town.
The Opera House Block, on the main business street of the village. was deeded by Mr. Bailey to George W. Cyrus, E. E. B. Sawyer, William T. Kay, Frank W. Blood and James R. Guthrie, as trustees, the income from the property to be used for the relief of the worthy poor. After the death of Mrs. Bailey, his late residence and spacious grounds will pass into the hands of the trustees named to be used for the same purpose. Three of the original trustees have passed away, and their successors were chosen by the annual town meetings.
OTHER RESIDENCE ESSENTIALS
Camp Point has also a Free Public Library, which is rightly classed as an educational agency, working, as it does, in close co-operation with the village school. With electric light supplied by the Illinois Public Service Company, protection from fire afforded by a good gas engine and an alert volunteer department, and an abundance of pure water drawn from numerous deep cisterns, the village is pro- vided with the essentials for cheerful. safe and sanitary residence. When to these advantages are added churches, societies, a well con- ducted newspaper, two substantial banks, an elevator, feed mil and a sufficient number of business houses to fully supply the wants of citizens and their families-what more could be asked for comfort and happiness ?
THE MAPLEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL
Camp Point has been noted for more than half a century for the excellence of its schools. In the summer of 1866, a site was purchased for the erection of a graded school building, which was completed in the following year. It was built in a large block of ground which
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was planted to maple trees, and the school was therefore christened Maplewood. As such, it became prominent as an educational center throughout the county. The building was three stories in height and completed at a cost of $25,000. Its first principal, Prof. Samuel F. IIall, came from Princeton, Illinois, and during the eighteen years of his superintendency brought Maplewood Sehool into mueh prom- inence. Pupils came to the high school not only from the neighbor- hood of Camp Point, but from far distant parts of the county, and during the earlier period of its work it is said that fully one-half of the teaching force in Adams County comprised graduates of Maple- wood High School. Improvements in the building and pedagogical methods have been continuous, so that as an educational institution it is still up-to-date and a source of village pride. It has long been one of the leading accredited high schools of the county. The Maple-
THE MAPLEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL
wood School of today is in charge of Prof. J. D. Knight, who has some 350 pupils under his superintendence.
THE CAMP POINT JOURNAL
The newspaper history of Camp Point covers more than fifty years. W. R. Carr established the first local paper in April, 1866, under the name of the Camp Point Enterprise. It was printed in Augusta, where the proprietor also issued the Banner. In 1867 the Enterprise was sold to E. E. B. Sawyer, who moved the plant to Camp Point and in 1870 sold it to J. M. & J. E. Kirkpatrick. The Kirkpatricks eondueted it for two years when the Enterprise was suspended.
In January, 1873, the material of the defunct newspaper was purchased by George W. Cyrus and Thomas Bailey, who began the publication of the Camp Point Journal. In 1877 Mr. Bailey dis- posed of his interest to his partner, and Mr. Cyrus condueted the
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paper until 1910. In the year named Elmer T. Selby purchased the Journal of Mr. Cyrus and in March, 1918, Mr. Selby sold it to Frank Groves, the present proprietor.
THE BANKS AND HOMESTEAD ASSOCIATION
There are two prosperous banks in the village. The Camp Point Bank was established by Thomas Bailey in 1868. It was subsequently owned by Bailey and Seaton ( Richard Seaton) then the firm became Seaton & Wallace ( Richard A. Wallace), then R. A. Wallace & Brother (John S. Wallace). The bank was sold in 1892 to Charles V. and Albert P. Gay and the title became the Camp Point Bank. The People's Bank was organized in 1893 by M. W. Callahan, Hez. G. Henry, Samuel Farlow and Christopher S. Booth. Mr. Booth later disposed of his interest and Mr. Farlow gave his interest to his daughter, now Mrs. 1I. G. lleury.
The Camp Point Homestead Association, a building and loan association, was organized in 1889, with Frederick Boger as president and George W. Cyrus as secretary. It has assisted a great many people in seeuring homes. Mr. Cyrus remains secretary at the pres- ent time.
The live stock and grain trade have always been important fac- tors in the prosperity of the business men of the village and the farm- ors of the adjacent territory. In the poultry and egg trade an extensive business has been developed.
THE CHURCHES
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Camp Point was organized in 1855 by Rev. Curtis Powell. A brick building was erected a few years later. During 1892 under the pastorate of Rev. James R. Jvins the present handsome structure was erected. The following have served as pastors of the church: Reverends Atkinson, Montgomery, B. F. Newman, Lester Janes, M. Miller. Avery, Henry Wilson, C. Y. Hecox, A. M. Pilcher, John C. Sargent. Thomas J. Bryant, William A. Crawford. Reuben Gregg. Lewis F. Walden, I. HI. Dobbs, A. L. Morse. Thomas W. Greer, W. Malay Reed, James R. Ivins, 1. N. Simmons, Thomas M. Dillon, R. S. MeNabb. C. N. Cain. A. S. Chap- man, E. A. Hedges, E. H. Fuller, Leo Howard. R. W. Ennis, JJ. S. Smith, Charles E. Taylor, and A. R. Grummon. The present mem- bership of the church is 330.
The Presbyterian Church was organized September 1. 1855, with nine members. Rev. H. C. Abernathy was the active spirit of the little group served as acting pastor while regularly employed at Columbus. Rev. W. T. Bartle was the first stated pastor. The first meetings were held in a school house, then in a hall above E. B. Cur- tis' store, now owned by Edward C. Farlow. Thomas Bailey donated a lot and a small church building was erected in 1867. Afterward the building was reconstructed and increased in size.
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The society of the Christian Church was organized at the sehool house east of the town July 20, 1865, with thirty-four members, none of whom now survive. Robert H. Routh, John W. Miller and Dr. Smith G. Moore were selected as the first elders. A church build- ing was ereeted the next year on a lot where the Fraternal Temple now stands. This building served the needs of the society until 1893 when the building was reconstructed and an addition erected. This building was destroyed by fire in 1912. The present beautiful edifice was dedieated in February, 1913. The pastors were as fol- lows: Joseph Lowe, Jerome II. Smart, J. H. Garrison, A. J. John- son, Winters, W. T. West, W. T. Maupin, James R. Ross, Eugene J. Lampton, D. W. Wilson, Robert A. Omer, Orren Dilley, Charles Laycock, J. T. Webb, W. H. Applegate, H. J. Reynolds, Geo. W. Wise and C. C. Wisher. The church has (June, 1918) about 300 active members.
THE ODD FELLOWS
Camp Point Lodge, No. 215, was instituted October 17, 1856, with John Williamson, John Watson, John F. Alberti, John T. Hagerty and John Nowland as charter members. The lodge has grown and prospered having now about 150 members. It owns the stately three- story building which was erceted in 1897. The building was dedi- cated by George ('. Rankin, grand master of the state in the presenee of a large audience, November 9, 1897. The Odd Fellows also have a substantial encampment.
THE MASONS
Benjamin Lodge, No. 297, was instituted August 11, 1858, by Harrison Dills, grand master of the state, with John R. Warren, John A. Roth, Isaac Covert, William L. Oliver, Ormond Noble, Ansel Warren, Jesse L. Reed and Joseph Keenan as charter members. The lodge did not receive a eharter in 1858 and the dispensation under which it acted was continued until October, 1859, when a charter was issued. The lodge met in various halls until 1892, when the second story of a brick building on Jefferson Street was purchased and fitted for lodge purposes. This hall was oeeupied until October, 1915. when the building was destroyed by fire. In conjunction with the order of Knights of Pythias the present Fraternity Temple was erected and dedicated June 6, 1917, by Ralph II. Wheeler, grand master. This striking edifice was erected at a cost, including furniture, of $18,000. The lodge membership is 125 and includes Isaae Cutter, grand see- retary of the Grand Lodge of the state.
Fraternity Temple is handsomely finished and furnished. It is approached by broad stairways from the ground surface, while the first story contains kitehen, dining room, elub rooms, billiard hall and other modern accessories to complete lodge pleasures and com- forts.
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The following persons have served the lodge as worshipful masters: John R. Warren, W. T. Bartle, P. M. Herndon, John A. Roth, M. P. Stewart, Samuel Mitcham, Solomon Alspaugh, George W. Cyrus, Thomas Bailey, John H. Francis, Richard Seaton, Joseph P. Lasley. Ormond Noble, James K. P. Little, John W. Creekmur, Rankin W. Castle. Isaac Cutter, Fred A. Morley, George Gruny, Benjamin T. Earl. Charles W. Blood, Robert F. Humble, Daniel W. Crippen. Wil- liam W. MeHatton, Hezekiah G. Henry, Jonathan Ensminger, Hugh S. Nations, J. Harry Pittman, Edson B. O. Dean, Harry S. Blood,
FRATERNITY TEMPLE
Aubrey D. Spence. Charles N. Fletcher. James HI. Downing. Harry C. Gannon and Orves Hudson.
CAMI' POINT CHAPTER
Camp Point Chapter, No. 170. Royal Arch Masons, was instituted April 29, 1875, with George W. Cyrus, Martin L. Stewart, Richard Seaton. John II. Francis, Andrew Inghes, Thomas A. Lyon, James W. C'aklwell. Thomas Bailey and Samuel Curless as charter members. The several high priests of the chapter have been George W. Cyrus, Richard Seaton, John W. Creekmur. James K. P. Little, George W. Francis, Isaac Cutter, William E. Gilliland. Lonis Olberg, Benjamin T. Earl, Robert F. Humble, Joshua D. Rainier, George Gruny. Henry J. Lewis, James E. MeCarty, William H. C'allahan, Edson B. O. Dean, J. Harry Pittman, Edgar W. Greenhalgh, Harry S. Blood and Aubrey D. Spence.
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS
Excalibur Lodge No. 297. Knights of Pythias, was organized in July, 1891. It is in a flourishing condition.
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WOMEN'S ORGANIZATIONS
The women of Camp Point have been active in literary and reform- atory matters. They have taken an especially prominent lead in tem- perance matters, through the Adams County Woman's Christian Tem- perance Union. That body was organized at Camp Point on March 28, 1888, and the following officers were elected: President, Miss Irene Smith ; recording secretary, Mrs. S. Woods. Unions were organ- ized at Camp Point and Clayton and these, with Quincy, constituted the first county union. A young people's society was also organized at each place. In a few years organizations were formed at Loraine, Liberty, Coatsburg, Fowler, Payson, Plainville, Burton and Adams.
Mrs. Vincent Francis, Miss Nellie Scott, Mrs. Agnes Wagner, Mrs. Neff Wells, Mrs. A. E. Sigsbee, Mrs. Margaret Grubb, Mrs. M. L. Dines, Mrs. Rebecea Vickers, Mrs. Mary Edwards, and Mrs. Josie Lummis have served as presidents. Mrs. Mary Edwards is at present the county president. Others prominent in the work in Adams Coun- ty have been Mrs. Ella Honnold Collier, Miss Ida MeClure, Mrs. Geo. W. Cyrus and Mrs. Anna Smith of Camp Point; Mrs. Benson, Miss Mary Bray and Miss Mary Poling of Mendon ; Mrs. Emma Randles ( deceased) of Loraine; Mrs. F. Fred and Mrs. S. Lawless of Liberty ; Mrs. R. Stahl (deceased) of Fowler and many others. The work of the county organization is largely, as Frances Willard said, "to edu- cate, agitate and legislate."
Specifically, local organizations are also the Civie Improvement Society and the Woman's Literary Club, of Camp Point. The latter was organized in February, 1907, with Miss Bessie Allen as its presi- dent. The membership of the club is limited. Miss Harriet Hunsaker is now its president.
CHAPTER XVII
CLAYTON AND GOLDEN
EARLY SETTLERS OF CLAYTON TOWNSHIP-THE MCCOYS FOUND THE VILLAGE-MOVING THE OLD TOWN TO THE COUNTRY-THE VILLAGE OF TODAY-BANKS-CHURCHES AND SOCIETIES-NORTHEAST TOWN- SHIP-FOUNDING OF KEOKUK JUNCTION-THE JUNCTION PLATTED -THE GOLDEN OF TODAY - SCHOOL AND NEWSPAPER - THE CHURCHES OF GOLDEN.
Clayton Township, in the northeastern part of the county, is inter- sected almost diagonally from southwest to northeast by Little Mis- souri Creek, which drains and waters its area and makes of it one of the best agricultural regions of this section of the state. The soil is usually of a dark vegetable loam and there are few tracts which are not readily tillable, those being virtually confined to a narrow bluff along the Little Missouri. The first settlers of the township located in the valley of that stream.
EARLY SETTLERS OF CLAYTON TOWNSHIP'
Obediah Ilicks is eredited with being the pioneer of the township, and he settled with his family, in 1829, on the northwest corner of section 23. In April of the following year came David M. Campbell, who located on the southeast quarter of section 21, and there his son and other descendants continued to reside for many years. Mr. Campbell was the first teacher in the township, but it is said that he had but "one session a week, and that on Sunday at the houses of the pioneers."
In the fall of 1830 Rev. John E. Curl settled on section 31. where William Curry afterward lived, and there gave one of his daughters in marriage to Josiah Gantz. This was the first marriage to be celebrated in Clayton Township and Rev. David Wolf performed the ceremony. About this time Jacob Pile located on section 23, and soon afterward Daniel Pile settled on section 24. The latter was elected the first justice of the peace. The first death recorded in the township was Sarah J., the infant daughter of David M. Campbell and wife, in August, 1832.
THE MCCOYS FOUND THE VILLAGE
All of these events were happenings previous to the founding of the Village of Clayton, in the summer of 1834, by the three McCoy
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brothers, Charles, Rev. Reuben K. and John. The original town was located on the northeast quarter of section 34, and Charles McCoy, being an ardent admirer of Henry Clay, named it in honor of the great statesman. Rev. R. K. MeCoy, a Presbyterian minister, erected the first residence in the new town. Two years afterward a church of his denomination was organized at Clayton, and he presided over it there until his death in 1874.
MOVING THE OLD TOWN TO THE COUNTRY
Charles MeCoy built and opened the first store, but sold to Sidney Parker, of Quiney, a few months afterward. Jason Wallace opened a general store in 1836, and also served as postmaster, while David M. Campbell erected the first hotel of the place in the summer of 1835. After keeping the in for about five years he disposed of it to C. McMurry. In the meantime Mr. Campbell had built a larger two- story structure on the same lot, which he moved to his farm, a mile and a half northwest of town. At the time, a deep snow covered the country, and Mr. Campbell, fastening long timbers under the house to serve as runners, collected a battery of nineteen yoke of oxen and gave the word to start the building on its journey. It was an occa- sion of great excitement and the whole neighborhood turned out to witness the remarkable feat of engineering. It was accomplished without accident, to the accompaniment of the shonts of the chief and amid the excited acclaims of the spectators. The building stood for many years and was long the residence of Samuel Newhouse.
The transportation of the Campbell Building fell in that early period of Clayton's history when its future was not at all bright. and it was not the only strueture which was moved from the village to near-by farms, although it was probably the most "sizable." For several years the town site was almost abandoned, and there was really no revival of substantial life until the railroad came in 1856. Since then a number of additions have been made to the original town, so that the village covers portions of sections 27. 34 and 35.
THE VILLAGE OF TODAY
The present Village of Clayton is situated on the Keokuk branch of the Wabash system, and is the center of a large district rich in the prodnets of the farm. It has well paved or graded streets and pleas- ant residence thoroughfares and, aside from its retail business houses, a number of establishments of a more extensive nature. Its flour mill. of which H. J. Laurie is proprietor: the feed mill and coal vard of Smith Brothers; the stock yards and elevator, owned and operated by F. W. Burgesser : the fine nursery of the Missing Link Apple Company, of which the veteran Daniel Shank is proprietor : the green honse of Charles E. Shank : the cigar factory and two large egg and poultry houses, are among the local and neighborhood ilhs-
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trations of this high-grade class of activities. The southeast corner of Clayton is also the site of the Experiment Station of the Illinois I'niversity. It covers twenty aeres and is in charge of J. 11. Smith.
Clayton is an incorporated village and its attractive town hall was erected in 1887. The village has no regular system of water works, but has a publie well for fire emergencies. Its electric light- ing is furnished by the Central Illinois Public Service Company. The local publie school is well conducted and patronized and is under the management of Professor Brewster. The first building was erected as early as 1836, but many years passed before any structure was built which was worthy of the purposes to which it was dedicated. The first brick public school, two stories in height, was erected in 1877.
The Clayton Enterprise was founded in 1879 by Rev. P. L. Turner
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BUSINESS STREET IN CLAYTON
& Son. Within the following six years, F. K. & B. L. Strother, F .. ... Avers and others held the helm with more or less steadiness, and in 1885 J. L. Staker, who still edits and publishes it, assumed charge of the enterprise.
BANKS
As stated. Clayton and the rich surrounding country support two banks. The Bartlett & Wallace State Bank was founded in Iss7. with Henry Bartlett as president and JJohn R. Wallace as vice presi- dent. They served as such until 1916, and Mr. Wallace has been president since. James R. Moffett has been cashier since 1913. The bank has a capital of $50,000 ; surplus and undivided profits, $5.000; average deposits. $375,000.
The Clayton Exchange Bank was established in 1905, with G. W. Montgomery as president. W. T. Craig, vice president, and W. 11.
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Craig, cashier. Mr. Montgomery died in 1913 and was succeeded by W. T. Craig as head of the bank. There has been no ehange in the eashiership. Mrs. G. W. Montgomery has served as vice president since her husband's death. The present capital of the bank is $20,000; surplus and undivided profits, $1,500; average deposits, $200,000.
CHURCHES AND SOCIETIES
The active churches of Clayton are the Christian, Methodist and Baptist. The Church of God and the Christian Scientists have also soeieties. The pioneer church, of course, was the Presbyterian, a society of that denomination being formally organized by the Pres- bytery of Schuyler in April, 1836, at the residence of Rev. Reuben K. MeKoy, who, with his brothers, had founded Clayton two years before. He had been licensed to preach only three years previously, and continued to labor in its upbuilding for thirty-eight years, or the balance of his life. His longest absence from the Clayton church occurred in 1863, when, for six months, he was chaplain of the Third Regiment of Missouri Cavalry, the colonel of which was Dr. T. G. Blaek, also a eitizen of the place. John MeCoy and other members of the family were also pillars of the church in its early years.
The Methodists of Clayton also organized in 1836, their services being held in schoolhouses and residences until 1850, when their first house of worship was ereeted. The brick edifiee was built in 1875. Rev. H. R. Kasiske is now in charge.
The Disciples of Christ Church was organized in 1855, with a membership of fifteen. Its first elders were Dr. T. G. Black and George Racklin. A small frame meeting house was built in that year, which served its purpose until 1906, when it was moved to the rear of the ehureh lot and a large addition made. The structure was again remodeled in 1912. The society has a present membership of nearly 360 and is in charge of B. S. M. Edwards, who (fall of 1918) is also mayor of the village. He is in the ninth year of his pastorate over the Diseiples of Christ Churel at Clayton.
The seeret and benevolent societies of Clayton represent the Masons, lodge, chapter, commandery and Order of the Eastern Star ; the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Modern Woodmen of America and Modern Woodmen of the World.
The oldest of the local bodies is the lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, which was organized October 15, 1852, with Dr. L. G. Black, George Seaggan, William Parker, A. G. Short and F. J. Guthridge, trustees. Doctor Black was its first Noble Grand. For the period covering the succeeding twenty years the records have been partly destroyed or lost. E. O. Yeldell is the present Noble Grand, and the lodge has a membership of 105.
Mistletoe Lodge No. 391, Knights of Pythias, was organized in 1892, C. A. Wever being its first chancellor commander. J. H. Green now holds the chair. The lodge (fall of 1918) has a membership of about seventy.
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