USA > Illinois > Mason County > The History and Mason Counties, Illinois > Part 57
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* Ilavana was then in Tazewell County, as Mason was not created until 1841.
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
carried, that Point Isabel. a promising village that once stood on the opposite side of the river from Havana, was known far and near as " Bloody Point," and the melees that occurred within its limits were somewhat on the Donny- brook order. And then, too, the natives from Salt Creek timber and the San- gamon bottoms would pay an occasional visit to Havana, always making matters lively while they remained. There is still a prevailing tradition that Jesse Baker (peace to his ashes ! we intend no sacrilege) once raided the town, and conducted himself with such a high hand that Mr. Andrus was appointed a posse comitatus to arrest him, a duty he performed with perfect success. It is. however, due to the honor and credit of Havana to state that these " turbulent spirits " were usually from abroad, and that Havana's own citizens were of a most honorable and law-abiding character. traits that have come down and are deeply seated in the present generation.
The first brick house erected in the present city of Havana was a store- house, built by J. H. & D. P. Hole, in 1857. Prior to this, the buildings. with the exception, perhaps. of the Court House and Jail, were of wood. In the same year (1857) William Walker erected a brick residence. the first of that kind in the place. Since that date, many substantial, and even elegant residences have been built which would be no disgrace to a much larger city. The class of business houses are good, and indicate to the stranger an idea of energy and enterprise, as well as business prosperity. Although making no pretensions to a wholesale trade, nor claiming to be a manufacturing city, Havana commands a large and flourishing retail business, and but for its close proximity to Pekin and Peoria, might become an extensive manufacturing town.
MILLS, MANUFACTORIES, ETC.
The first mill in Havana was commenced by Thomas and Eliphaz Low. Before its completion, Pulaski Scoville bought an interest in it, and, after finishing it, they operated it for a time, when Scoville bought out the Lows. Francis Low had money invested in it. He tells the following story of his experience while interested in the business : Ile and Scoville were cutting saw-logs over in the bottom one spring, when the river was very high, and the bottom overflowed to the depth of several feet. They would row their boat to a tree, cable fast to it, and then cut the tree down, always cutting on the side of the tree first in the direction they supposed it would fall. They attacked a large oak one day, in their boat, as usual, and where the water was about six feet deep. Scoville thought the tree would fall one way, and Low thought it would fall the other : but Seoville, who was a somewhat determined man, would have his way. Finally, however, when the tree fell, it went down in the oppo- site direction to that which Seoville thought it would. Low looked up and saw it coming, and called to Scoville to get out of the way. One jumped from each side of the boat into the water, and it was cold as ice, while the tree came down on their boat, shivering it to splinters, leaving them in a worse fix than
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
Crusoe on his island. Fortunately for them, there were two other men cutting logs in the bottom within hearing of them, who came to their rescue.
This mill was used for sawing only, and was located at the foot of the " Island of Cuba," or rather opposite the foot of the island, and was run by steam. Upon it was sawed the timber used in building the first railroad in Illinois, as noted elsewhere in this history. There was machinery procured at one time for a grist-mill for this establishment, but, we believe, was never put into it. The mill was employed mostly in sawing heavy timbers, such as are used in large buildings, and was patronized to a considerable extent by Alton and St. Louis. It was finally burned down. There are hints that its destruc- tion by fire was due to the feud engendered between Havana and Bath in regard to the county seat question, but those who are informed on the subject and have a right to know, scout the idea, and maintain that it was accidental. which theory is doubtless the correct one.
About 1857-58, William C. Thompson put up a distillery on the corner of Plum and Jefferson streets, which he operated successfully for a number of years. To it was attached a corn-mill for the purpose of grinding material for the distillery. Before the erection of the distillery, Thompson had carried on a brewery for a time near the same place. In both ventures he made money, and finally built a large flouring-mill on the site of the present Havana Mills, north of town, which was burned about 1864-65. He then erected the Havana Mills, now owned by F. S. Coggeshall. About 1867-68, he sold these mills to James Hole and his son-in-law, Thomas Jones, and built another large mill over the river. After some changes in ownership, the Havana Mills passed into the hands of Mr. Coggeshall, as above noted. They comprise a frame building, excellent machinery and three run of buhrs, together with all other attachments of a first-class mill.
The Havana Brewery, located a little south of the city limits. and operated by Dehm & Hoffman, is quite an extensive establishment of the kind, and does a large business in the manufacture of the favorite beverage of the Fatherland. This and the mills mentioned, together with a large number of wagon, black- smith shops, etc., comprise the extent of Havana's manufacturing interests. It seems to us, however, that the city, with the benefit of its railroads and the Illinois River, presents an excellent opening for enterprising business men and mechanics, and that there are not at least agricultural implement manufac- tories, if no others, is to us a matter of some surprise. This would keep a large sum of money at home that is annually taken out of the county for these indispensable articles.
The grain trade of Havana is the most extensive business of the entire county, and dates back almost to the very first settlements. In looking up the history of the grain interests, we find that Pulaski Scoville bought 1,000 bushels of corn from a Mr. Reese, " who lived where Virginia now stands," and 1,200 bushels from James Walker, at Walker's Grove. This was away
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
back in the thirties, and then corn could be bought for 10 cents a bushel, paid in "store truck " at that. One of the first firms who made the handling of grain a regular business, was Il. W. McFadden & Co., who are still prom- inently engaged in it. They commenced in 1863, and are among the heaviest dealers in this section. Low & Foster are another able firm, and are extensive dealers. and handle more grain, perhaps, than any other firm in Mason or Menard County. C. G. Krebaum is another grain-dealer of Havana. These three firins are the principal dealers, and no town in Illinois, perhaps, of the size of Havana, ships as large amounts of grain annually. We endeavored to obtain some statistics of the grain handled and shipped at this point, but were unable to do so, and must let it pass with this brief notice.
The banking business was commenced in the city of Havana about 1854- 55. by Rupert Haines & Co .. O. H. Wright forming the company. Some time after this. a bank was started by an old gentleman whose name is now forgotten. . He had for his cashier a man named Littlefield, and it is told of him that when a customer would make a deposit, he ( Littlefield) would take the money and go and " fight the tiger " until it was gone, when he would return to his post and be ready for another deposit. As a natural consequence, the bank did not last long. George Walker also did a banking business for a few years, beginning about 1860. In 1862-63, Kemp & Cappel opened a bank, which, in 1866, became the firm of McFadden, Cappel & Kemp, and so con- tinued until the death of Kemp in 1867. Since that date, the firm has been McFadden & Cappel, and their establishment is known as the Mason County Bank.
The Havana National Bank was organized May 17. 1875, with Francis Low as President : A. Otto, Vice President; N. C. King, Cashier: Thomas F. Low. Teller. The officers are still the same, except the Vice President, which position is now held by E. B. Harpham.
RELIGIOUS. BENEVOLENT. EDUCATIONAL.
The religious history of Havana dates back almost to its first settlement. The itinerant preachers of the Methodist Church, those pioneer soldiers of the Cross, who are always to be found on the verge of civilization, were here at an early day. Rev. Michael Shunk, whose name appears so often in the early his- tory of Methodism in this section of the State, was, perhaps, the first regular preacher in Havana City or township. The following extract from the minutes of the Illinois Annual Conference. seems to us appropriate in this connection : " Brother Shunk was born at Berlin, Somerset Co., Penn., April 22, 1809; was converted at Masontown, Penn .. in 1829: received into the Illinois Con- ference in 1837. Brother Shunk was ordained Deacon in 1839. and Elder in 1841. by Bishop Morris. He was a pattern to all in his charac- teristic promptness to meet all his engagements. No condition of weather or roads kept him from his appointments. He was Scriptural and earnest in his
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
preaching, and a faithful Pastor, taking special painis to care for the children, both in the family and Sunday school. He was deeply interested in Methodist literature, circulating periodicals and books largely among his people, being himself a subscriber for the New York Advocate from its first issue."
Reliable data as to the original organization of the Methodist Church in the city of Havana, are somewhat meager. The minutes of the Conference from which we have quoted above, note the fact that Mr. Shunk had charge of the Crane Creek Circuit in 1838, which then embraced not only Havana Town- ship, but a larger scope of country than the present county of Mason. It also shows him in charge of Havana in 1846. The first church of the Methodist denomination, however, was built in the city about 1845-46, and was the first church edifice within its limits. The society was organized some time prior to the erection of the building, but particulars of its exact date appear unattainable. This building served as a temple of worship until 1865, when the present elegant building was erected at a cost of about $12,000. Upon the erection of the new church, the old one was sold to Dr. Paul, who used the lumber him- self, but sold the frame to a man living in the eastern part of the county for a barn. This man died before putting it to that use. Rev. George M. Fortune is the present Pastor of the Church, which has about one hundred members. The Sunday school was one of the first organized in Havana, and has an average . attendance of one hundred and fifty children under the superintendence of Charles L. Harpham.
The following sketch of the Reformed Church is by the Pastor. Rev. George Seibert, and is so well written that we deem no apology necessary for giving it in his own words : "The history of the Reformed Church carries us back to the early settlement of this country for, as early as 1630, adventurers emigrated to this country under the immediate patronage of the Dutch West India Com- pany, which had, in 1623, commenced operations, and, in 1626, set up the ensign of authority by erecting a fort at the confluence of the North and East Rivers. The Puritans were driven to seek a home in this country by persecution. The Hollanders came from a love of enterprise, and though there was every temp- tation to leave their religion behind in the pursuit of wealth, we find that they did not forget the intellectual and moral necessities of their nature, paying early attention to the culture of their children, and the public worship of God. by making ample provisions for both in the organization of churches and schools. modeled after those of the Netherlands.
" The subject of a church organization here in connection with the Reformed «lenomination was under consideration as early as 1859. The Rev. Van Derveer of the Reformed Church came to Havana under the auspices of the Board of Domestic Missions, in August, 1859, and preached in Andrus' Hall to good congregations for several months. He organized what is known as the . Okt Union Sabbath School.' After Mr. Van Derveer left, Rev. Mr. Joralmon came and preached for a short time. In 1865, the Rev. Mr. Williamson
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
came and organized what is known as the Reformed Church of Havana. At a meeting held Tuesday evening, October 31, 1865, in Andrus' Hall, for the pur- pose of forming a church, Rev. Uriah D. Gulick, by direction of the Classis of Illinois, presided, and proceeded to examine candidates for church fellowship. The following persons were received by certificate : Dr. Thomas M. Higgins and Clara Strong. his wife ; Harriet Russell, wife of William Caldwell ; Rob- ert L. Durdy and Angeline, his wife. and Rebecca L. Rahauser, wife of Joseph Cochrane. On confession of faith : Isabella Trent, wife of Robert S. Moore ; Benjamin H. Otis and Anna Mann, his wife, and Joseph Cochrane. In the summer of 1870. the corner-stone of the present edifice was laid under the direction of the Pastor, Rev. Mr. Decker. The church was dedicated in Janu- nary, 1871, with proper ceremonies. The building cost $5.575.25, of which $3,575.25 was raised East, and $2,000 in Havana. The church is an ornament to the city, anda credit to the architect and builder. The present Pastor, Rev. George Seibert, came in March. 1873. The Church has received since its organization in 1865, seventy-four members, of whom about thirty-nine remain in communion. The Sabbath school was organized in May, 1869, and has been actively engaged in its legitimate work without interruption up to the present time. It has an average attendance of 100 scholars. The Church has been the home of many who came from other parts of the country, having in its membership representatives from nearly all denominations, and is noted for its adherence to the teachings of the Divine Word, and zealous in every good word und work."
The Baptist Church was organized in Havana July 14, 1849, with the fol- lowing original members : Henry Humphrey, S. G. Baldwin, Elizabeth Bald- win. Joseph Brown. Lydia Brown Andrew Britton. Eunice Britton, Anna and Eliza Howell. The first preacher was that veteran and pioneer Baptist minis- ter of Central Illinois, Rev. J. L. Turner. The church. a frame edifice, was built in 1866, at a cost of 84,000. and is without a regular preacher at present. The Church membership is sixty-three. The Sunday school was organized December 2, 1866, and has at present an average attendance of about one hun- dred and twenty children, under the superintendence of John W. Jones. The different Pastors who have had charge of the Church since its organization are as follows : Revs. J. L. Turner, J. H. Daniels, F. W. Ingmire, M. P. Hartly, J. M. Wells. J. M. Winn. J. L. Irwin, Sr., C. E. Bristol, R. B. Coon, Sr., and Homer E. Morton.
The German Evangelical Lutheran Church* was organized on the 27th of January, 1850, by the Revs. Jacob Schaerer and William Bauermeister, according to the rules and regulations of the Evangelical Lutheran General Synod, of which they were members. Before the organization of this Church, the Germans in and around Havana were visited by an old minister named Bartels, who preached now and then at their residences. The original members of the Church were J. H.
. This sketch was prepared by the l'astor, Rev. J. Heiniger.
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
Dierker. Fr. Weber, John Peter Kingshaus, H. Beselbeke, Fr. Speckmann, John Kohrmann, J. W. Holzgraefc, G. Wueste, N. and D. Vortmann, Jacob Nies, John Dierker, G. Himmel, I. Himmel, Israel Drone, Simon Franken- field, Herman Tegedes and John Somenmeier. On the 2d of December, 1850, the congregation resolved to build a church edifice, and, accordingly, a petition was circulated by the first Board of Trustees, viz .: J. H. Dierker, I. Himmel, G. Himmel, Fred Speckmann and William Holzgraefe, stating that they had secured a lot from Lewis Ross for the sum of $60-whereupon he and Mr. Walker had presented them with $55, Ross having given $30 and Walker $25, and that the remaining $5 had been paid by the said Board. The build- ing was commenced April 14, 1851, and finished and formally dedicated June 1, 1851. The following are the Pastors since organization ; Revs. Kobmann, 1850-52; Hunderdose, 1852-53; P. S. Staiger, 1854-57. During a brief vacancy occurring at this time, the congregation was administered to by Revs. G. Grau, of Beardstown, and Reis, from Arenzville, when Rev. A. Tismer came, on the 1st of May, 1859, and remained until 1862; Peter Daniel, 1862-64 ; A. Recker, 1864-72 (during his administration, the church building was repaired and a vestibule and steeple added, also a little schoolhouse adjoined to the parsonage in 1867). A Sunday school was organized in 1868. Rev. G. Gerken, 1872-78, and Rev. Johannes Heiniger from 18th of August, 1878, to the present time. A change in the Synodical Convention took place in 1867. The Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Illinois was separated into two parts, one part accepting the name Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Illinois and other States, and the other the Evangelical Lutheran Central Illinois Synod. Rev. A. Recker and this Church joined the former. This change required a re-organization of this Church, which was accomplished by Rev. G. Gergen. A new constitution was adopted March 16, 1873, and signed by the following : J. H. Dierker, Henry Emme, Herman Uthmueller, Henry Hackmann, Louis Telle, Charles Telle, Robert Becker, Andrew Dehim, Leonard Dehm, George Dehm, J. C. Dehm, Fred Dehm, Louis Emme, Henry Hahn, Henry L. Hahn, Louis Hahn, Philip Rubenkonig, William Uthmueller, H. G. Lienisch, Ernst Behre, Leon - hardt Schwenk, Peter Meireis, William Wepener, Bernhard Wittwer, J. H. A. Laumeier, Henry Buhrmann and Herman Hackmann. Improvements have been made in the schoolhouse, as well as around the church edifice, and a new organ purchased. There are at present about one hundred and fifty communi- cants, sixty to one hundred Sunday-school and forty to fifty day school scholars.
St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church was built about the close of the war. Prior to this, the few scattering families in and around Havana were occasion- ally administered to by visiting priests from Pekin and Peoria. About the time of the building of the church, a mission society was formed, which was attended once a month by a regular pastor until the beginning of 1878, when, under the administration of Father Ruby, the present neat little parsonage was
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
erected adjacent to the chapel. Father Ruby was succeeded in the pastorate by Father Devine, whose sad and untimely death by drowning is still fresh in the memory of our readers. After the death of Father Devine, which occurred in the early part of the present summer, Father Henry Delbaere was called to the charge, and, at the present writing, is the Pastor. Every alternate Sunday. he administers to the society at Manito. This Church has a membership of about forty families, and a flourishing Sunday school.
Havana Lodge, No. 88, A., F. & A. M., was chartered October 8. 1850, and the following were the original members : George Wright, George R. Wil- son, Moses Baldwin, Robert McReynolds, Robly Patterson, Gustavus Vigrus and Mahlon G. Carter, of whom George Wright was Master, George R. Wilson, Senior Warden, and Moses Baldwin, Junior Warden. The charter was signed by Most Worshipful W. C. Hobbs, Grand Master, and W. B. Warren, Grand Secretary. Old Time Lodge. No. 629, was formed by M. W. G. Reynolds, Grand Master, and O. H. Miner, Grand Secretary, by members from Havana Lodge. No. 88, as follows: L. M. Hillyer, Elijah Snyder. G. A. Blanchard. J. F. Coppel, C W. Emmett. W. S. Dray, Anson Low, J. B. Jimerson. C. C. Fager. N. Gary, H1. Middlecamp, F. Pollitz, J. I. Tinkham, George Weiner, H. R. Cleaver, H. A. Fager. J. W. Lyke. J. L. Walker. W. II. Webb and O. H. Wright. The first eight names, in the order mentioned, comprised the first set of officers. On the 14th of February. 1877. Havana Lodge, No. 88, and Old Time Lodge. No. 629. were consolidated under a charter issued by Most Worshipful Joseph Robbins, Grand Master, and countersigned by Right Wor- shipful John F. Burrell, Grand Secretary, as Havana Lodge, No. 88, A., F. & A. M. It was formally organized and set to work by Right Worshipful Luther Dearborn, as proxy of the Grand Master. The following were the first officers under consolidation : HI. W. Lindley, Master ; E. A. Wallace, Senior Warden ; 1 .. R. Haack, Junior Warden ; Charles Schill, Treasurer ; L. W. Ross, Secre- tary ; S. F. Kyle, Senior Deacon; H. R. Nortrup, Junior Deacon, and William Davies, Tiler. The present officers are: H. W. Lindley, Master; Daniel Brown, Senior Warden ; George MeHose, Junior Warden ; Charles Schill, Treasurer : O. HI. Harpham, Secretary : L. R. Haack, Senior Deacon : B. P. Yates. Junior Deacon, and William Davies, Tiler. As a coincidence with the number (88) of the Lodge, its membership at present is also eighty- right.
Havana Chapter of Royal Arch Masons was organized un ler dispensation August 8, 1865, by Most Excellent W. M. Egan, Grand High Priest, and, in October following, it was chartered as Havana Chapter No. 86, with the follow- ing members: L. M. Hillyer, M ... E. .. High Priest; G. R. Wilson, E ... King ; A. Briggs, E ... Scribe: C. W. Emmett, Captain of the Host; J. F. Coppel, Principal Sojourner ; E. Snyder, Royal Arch Captain : G. A. Blanch- ard. Il. A. Fager and E. B. Laughton, Masters of the Veils ; S. Frankenfeld, Treasurer ; L. Zolman, Secretary ; Isaac L. Tinkham, Tiler, and N. Gary, W.
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MASON CITY
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
H. Webb, J. M. Shook and A. T. Beck. The present membership is fifty-one, with the following " companions" in office : O. H. Ilarpham. M ... E ... High Priest ; L. R. Haack, E ... King; George H. Sandford, E. . Scribe; A. T. Beck, Captain of the Host; E. A. Wallace, Principal Sojourner : Daniel Brown, Royal Arch Captain ; H. A. Fager, Treasurer ; H. W. Lindley. Secre- tary, and William Davies, Tiler.
Havana Council, No. 40, Royal and Select Masters, was organized under dispensation December 12, 1867, with the following members : J. F. Coppel, T ... I ... G ... M .; C. W. Emmett, Deputy; H. R. Cleaver. P .:. C ... W .: W. S Dray, Captain of the Guard; J. W. Lyke, Treasurer ; H. W. Lindley, Re- corder, and W. H. Webb, E. B. Laughton, J. W. Kelley and J. L. Irwin. It was chartered at the meeting of the Grand Council in October, 1868. Coun- cil and Chapter Masonry were consolidated by their respective Grand Bodies in October. 1877.
Damascus Commandery, No. 42, Knights Templar, stationed at Havana, was organized under dispensation February 10, 1872. The following were the original members: Eminent Sir Luther Dearborn, Commander; Sir Lewis Keyon, Generalissimo ; Sir J. F. Coppel, Captain General ; Sir L. M. Hillyer, Prelate : Sir C. W. Emmett, Senior Warden ; Sir H. G. Belke, Junior War- den ; Sir H. A. Fager, Treasurer ; Sir Charles Doering, Recorder: Sir I. J. Fasen, Standard Bearer ; Sir P. S. Anno, Sword Bearer, and Sir O. H. Harp- ham, Warder. The dispensation was issued by Right Eminent Sir W. M. Egan, Grand Commander of the State, and at the meeting of the Grand Com- mandery in the following October, it was chartered under the above number and title. At the last annual report the roster showed thirty-two members, with Eminent Sir O. H. Harpham, Commander ; Sir L. R. Haack, Generalis- simo : Sir E. A. Wallace, Captain General ; Rev. Sir G. M. Fortune, Prelate ; Sir N. Siebenaler, Senior Warden ; Sir Charles Schill, Junior Warden; Sir H. A Fager, Treasurer ; Sir Charles Doering, Recorder ; Sir William Davies, Standard Bearer; Sir O. H. Shearer, Sword Bearer: Sir W. H. Lindley, Warder, and Sir Isaac N. Mitchell, Captain of the Guards.
The Masonic Fraternity, in company with Anson Low, are at present engaged in the erection of a large and commodious brick building on Main street, the first story belonging to Low and the upper part to the fraternity. The building is 37x76 feet; the main hall of the Masons will be 30x60 feet, with all the necessary anterooms, offices, etc. The Masonic portion, when finished off ready for occupancy, will cost about $3,000, and will be used by the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery in common. The building will be an excellent one, and an ornament to the city, while at the same time it gives to the Masonic fraternity a beautiful home.
Mason Lodge, No. 143. I. O. O. F., was instituted April 4, 1854, by Thomas J. Burns, D. D. G. M. The charter members were as follows : Edwin Rut- ledge, David Corey, Hugh Lamaster, John Hair and D. J. Waggoner. The
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