USA > Illinois > Coles County > The History of Coles County, Illinois map of Coles County; history of Illinois history of Northwest Constitution of the United States, miscellaneous matters, &c., &c > Part 34
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It was also found correct by several tests. The fact was then developed that it was raised on the Sunday previous, and opened with a big dinner on the Fourth. The hotel opened with a good run of custom, and for many years did a good business. Old people well remember it, and in its day it did an important work in the growth of the town. It gave way, finally, to the demands of trade, and the erection of better buildings, and was removed to give place to the present brick houses occupying its site.
While on the subject of hotels we will notice some of the subsequent ones erected.
The same summer the Pennsylvania Honse was built, another hotel, known as the Union House, was constructed on the ground now occupied by the Opera- house. It was erected by a man named Bain, and was used for the stage office until the connection between each railroad was finished. This hotel was not completed till fall. It was known as the Kentucky House, and was kept by Mr. W. H. K. Pile, and after him by John Davis. Like the Pennsylvania Hlouse, it became a favorite stopping-place and enjoyed a good reputation, and it. too, like its predecessor, gave way before the march of improvement and is among the things of the past.
In the spring of 1857. Mr. Morgan Griffin came to Mattoon to superintend for a Mr. Radcliff, of New York, the building of the Essex House. Mr. Ebene- zer Noyes, owned the most of the original plat of the town lying west of the Illinois Central Railroad, and gave Mr. R. the lot on which to erect the house. He was also to build brick business houses on the remainder of the block to the west end of the street. Mr. Noyes had about this time purchased Section 14 from the Railroad Company, intending to lay it out in lots. He had purchased for his brother, Dr. Frank Noyes, Section 15, in 1852, and had platted that in large lots. Between him and the proprietors of Section 13, the original plat of the city, arose an estrangement, resulting in his pur- chasing Sections 14 and 15. and platting them. The residents have always noticed the "jog." or set-off in the streets running west from the end of Broad- way. This was done when Mr. Noyes had the plat made. In the extreme efforts made between the East and West Towns to secure the center of town. considerable " wire-pulling " was indulged. resulting in not the best of feeling. This, however, existed more between the proprietors, in their endeavors to further their own interests, than between the people, who cared more for a suit- able location than anything else, leaving the ascendency of either side to reg- ulate itself. In the erection of the Essex House, Mr. Radcliff failed to carry out the plan, and, after the walls were built, it came into the possession of Mr. Noyes, who completed it, built the rear addition, opened it to the public in 1859, and managed it several years. Mr. Daniel Messer, the present landlord, assumed charge in 1869. The house has always been a prominent stopping-place, situated as it is at the junction, and being occupied by the depot and ticket- office:
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The hotels of after years may be briefly noticed. When the Essex House was built. it was the third brick building in town, others, however, began to appear, when the war of the rebellion came, stopping almost all operations until after its close. The other hotels erected are the City Hotel, the Everett House. now unoccupied. and the present Dole House. This latter is situated on the south- east corner of Broadway and First street, and was begun in 1868, by a stock com- panv. Not long after, the Dole Brothers obtained control, and completed it in 1871. It was opened as the Mattoon House, under the management of John W. Hawley, now of the Everett House, St. Louis. As the Dole Brothers were the principal builders of the hotel, and, as it was opened by them, the name was changed in honor of them. On the 15th of March, 1877, Stubbins Brothers took charge of it, and, on the 18th of December, 1878, purchased the building. They have remodeled and improved it, and have secured a large part of the traveling public. A few other small hotels and boarding-houses complete the list. None, however, but the Dole, Essex and City Hotels are run upon the regular hotel plans, and these three may be said to transact the principal business in their line.
Going again to the early history of the time, we find the summer of 1855 one of great activity. Conley and Hitchcock opened a store among those that we have mentioned : the post office was established, and Mr. True made Post- master, with Mr. Thomas E. Woods as Deputy ; a small schoolhouse was erected on East Broadway. and the life of Mattoon, in its various phases, was fully begun. Mr. McFadden and others yet living in town, state that, before the building season had closed, upward of one hundred buildings were to be seen, all of which were occupied that winter.
Through the winter, school was maintained in the small frame house alluded to. Religious services were conducted, principally by the Baptists, in each other's houses, or in the schoolhouse, while a few ministers of other denominations came to see what could be done for their churches, and occasion- ally held meetings in some of the houses, or in the schoolhouse. The railroads were working to complete connections between the two incomplete ends, and the continued, active life of the town hardly abated any for the cold weather experienced. Before the holidays, the Terre Haute & Alton completed the remainder of their line, and, by January 1, 1856, trains were running from Chicago to Cairo, over the Illinois Central.
Some of the business houses were built in the northeast part of town, hot far from where Mr. John Cunningham had his warehouse, and where a stren- uous effort was made to secure the center of the business portion. Here Mr. Cartmell opened a small drug store, with Dr. Camp, the first disciple of Escu- lapius in the town, as partner. The inexorable law of business could not be broken here, and the center of town insisted on remaining near the railroad crossing. The holders of property in the eastern part of the village saw this. finally, and gave way to the stern demands of trade.
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The next spring, building began anew ; business houses, dwellings and shops began to appear. The first permanent brick store in town was erected for True and Cunningham, by Mr. Michael Toby, then a builder, and. before winter. it was ready for furnishing. It is yet standing on the southeast corner of Broadway and Second street, and is now occupied by the meat-shop of Mr. John Hunt. It was the only brick built that season. Several stores were, however, erected, and more dwellings commenced, all of which were not com- pleted before winter came: a few other shops were built, and Mattoon was coming to the front among Western towns. Another most important addition appeared in June, an adjunct that all Western towns demand, and that all get nearly as soon as they are started. We refer to the newspaper. In June, of that year, the Gazette appeared, setting forth the merits of the town and advertising its advantages. This was started by Mr. R. W. Houghton. on the 7th day of June, and, from its columns, considerable is gleaned respecting the young city, which is given in extracts from the paper published in the sketch of the press. further on in the narrative. The editor thinks the population of Mattoon can safely be put down at 500 persons, and is certain of that number in an issue a year after.
That summer, the Baptists erected a small frame house of worship, and, during the winter, held regular services therein. They allowed other denomi- nations to use the little church when they had no minister. The small frame schoolhouse had become entirely too small now for the increased juvenile popu- lation, and a larger and more comfortable brick structure took its place. It, however, was not erected till 1857 (some assert, one year later), and in the interim, the winter of 1856-57, school was taught in a room over Mr. True's store and in parts of some unfinished buildings.
In the spring of 1857, ground was broken for the Essex House, which, when completed, was the largest and finest house in town. It was not, how- ever, finished for two years. Its history has already been given. and need not be repeated here.
This summer, the Methodists and Cumberland Presbyterians organized con- gregations, and began to hold meetings in each other's houses, in empty store- rooms. or in a small hall that had been completed. A year or so after, they erected their houses of worship, and were joined by other denomina- tions. the history of whose operations is given in connection with that of their churches.
In May of this year. 65 votes were cast for the incorporation of the town and 25 votes against the measure, making a total of 90 voters in the town limits. Assuming the usual ratio of voters to the population, this would give Mattoon fully as many inhabitants as the editor of the Gazette predicted, a year before, in his first issue of his paper.
In June, of this year, the limits of the town were greatly extended by the addition made by Mr. Ebenezer Noyes. He, as has been noticed, purchased
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Section 15 for his brother, in 1852, at the land-sale when the original plat of Mattoon was purchased, and had this laid out in acre tracts. Some of these had now been sold, as "great expectations " were fully indulged in by the inhabitants of the embryo city. He purchased Section 14 from the Central Railroad, at a good price per acre, as the officers of that corporation were fully alive to the prospects of Mattoon and the nearness of their section of land. As has been intimated, Mr. Noyes and the proprietors of the east side of town could not agree ; and, when he platted Section 14, he made a "jog" in all the streets, and gave new names to those running west. Hence, when Broadway reaches the western limits of the old plat, it suddenly turns northward and goes on west under the name of Western avenue. All streets in this addition conform to this rule, and cause no little wonderment on the part of strangers who do not understand the cause of the difference.
The life of Mattoon from this date on down to the war bears with it but little history. Several churches were erected : a good schoolhouse built in each ward. an account of which appears in the history of education and religion further on in these pages ; a few brick stores were built ; one or two mills and an elevator or two appeared; a bank opened : dwellings were erected in all parts of town, and its life varied but little from the regular growth of all Western towns.
In looking over the files of newspapers of this period. the Gazette being joined by the Journal, several interesting items are gleaned.
We learn that a fire company was organized in March, 1861, and that the Council appropriated $100 for buying three dozen buckets and other appli- ances. The following were the officers of this company : Ebenezer Noyes, President ; H. F. Kelley, First Director ; P. J. Drake, Second Director ; Carson Knight, Secretary ; Edw. A. Thielens, Treasurer ; B. N. Skelton, G. F. Bateman and John Nabb. Standing Committee: Rufus Noyes, Mes- senger.
Whatever service this or any succeeding fire company performed is not recorded by the papers. It is a fair inference, however, that this, or whatever companies succeeded it, did their share in putting out fires. The city has never been well supplied in this respect, and to-day no organization exists, nor is there any pro- vision made to support one. A fire starts, and is simply allowed to burn out. An expensive fire department might not be advisable ; but an organization could be supported by volunteers, a hook. ladder and bucket brigade be easily kept up, and much valuable property saved. It is argued that it is cheaper to let the buildings burn, and get the insurance. That will be practically demon- strated, some time in a dry season, if a fire starts in the west end of town, and, fed by a strong west wind, burns out the entire business part of Mattoon. It has been done in other towns, and may occur here.
While on this subject, it might be interesting to note briefly some of the principal conflagrations that have occurred here.
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In the sketches following these pages, some account of the destruction by fire of mills, elevators and such structures is given. Here we will notice what pertained to the residence and business portion. The papers chronicle the destruction, on Sunday morning, January 1, 1866, of a house owned by Mr. E. Regan, whose loss was nearly $5,000 ; his insurance a little over $3,000. The same fire destroyed the stock of Mr. Fitzgerald, a baker and confectioner, whose loss was $2.300, but whose insurance was $4,300. Everharty & Co. lost $500, less the insurance of $300: while others lost, in the aggregate, $5.000.
The Journal of September 4, 1867, records the loss of Hart & Co.'s livery- stable, on August 26, with all its contents, including seventeen horses, eight carriages and buggies, and a mow full of hay. The loss was fully $6,000, on which only a small insurance was carried. Many of the horses belonged to citizens of the city. The fire spread from the stable to Col. H. L. Hart's residence, immediately south, which was also burned. Fortunately, the wind blew from the north, keeping the flames away from Broadway, else the loss might have been dreadful.
The same issue of the Journal records the destruction, on the Wednesday night before, of the residence of Mr. Ephraim Orr, in the northeast part of the city. The Journal states that the building was known as the " Cartmell House." built by Mr. Edward Cartmell in 1855 ; also, that in it Gen. True kept a stock of goods and the first post office in Mattoon. Gen. True was Postmaster, while the editor, Capt. T. E. Woods, was Clerk, and Deputy. The loss on this building was about $1,500.
Under date of November 9. 1867. the Journal chronicles another destruc- tive conflagration-this time, the large agricultural warehouse owned by Ebene- zer Noyes. It was probably set on fire by sparks from a locomotive passing at night, and it was some time before it was discovered. Two of Mr. Noyes' sons narrowly escaped burning. as they were asleep in the building at the time, and did not awaken until near too late to save themselves. One of them. Eben, was badly burned before he was rescued. The building was a huge three-story frame, and made a great light. The loss on the building was $6.000. and on the stock was $3,000. The insurance was about $5.000. leaving a large loss.
Other prominent fires were the destruction of John Cunningham's elevator, the elevator just north of the Essex House, a mill or two. nearly all of which are mentioned in a chapter devoted to that subject.
Last winter. during the excessive cold weather, five serious fires occurred. almost one after the other. As no organized effort toward the extinguishment of fires exists. they were allowed to burn out. The same occurred in the month of February. when Mr. Walsh lost his dwelling.
Aside from the calamity of fire suffered in Mattoon. the place has, once or twice, been visited by severe storms, one of which deserves mention. In Sep- tember. 1864. a great storm occurred, occasioning a very serious loss of prop -
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erty, and, in some instances, several persons injured. The Journal, of Sep- tember 28 gives the following account of the storm :
" This place was visited, on last Friday evening, by one of the most terrific storms ever known in this part of the State. Dense, reddish-black clouds made their appearance, a little north of west, about 3 o'clock, and in less than ten minutes the storm burst upon us in its wildest fury, tearing down awnings, blowing down and unroofing buildings, and scattering about everything mova- ble. The flying dust was so thick and the darkness so great, that one might well imagine that the very clouds had descended to the earth and lifted every particle of loose earth. The damage in town was great, yet we do not suppose it more than equals that in the country, where houses were unroofed and fences and corn leveled to the ground in great number. The following is the list of the principal injuries, as far as we have been able to learn. within the corpora- tion limits :
. M. E. Church, two-thirds unroofed and windows and plastering much broken. Damage, about $1,500.
. Smoke-stacks of Thomas Jennings woolen-factory and T. Alexander's flouring-mill blown down.
. Mr. Hutton's new two-story frame house. partly finished, leveled to the ground.
" Fence to Smith & Jones' lumber-yard blown down and thousands of feet of lumber and shingles blown away and broken up.
" Shed, formerly warehouse to Monroe's store-building, blown down.
.. The new brick of Dole Brothers was much damaged. the window-facings of the cast and south sides and several feet of the wall being blown down.
" The wooden awnings in front of Wilson, Bro. & Co., P. J. Drake and two or three other establishments on the east side of the Illinois Central Railroad, torn from their fastenings and hurled into the street.
" In the west part of town, Mr. Cullom's house was twisted off the founda- tion, nearly all the furniture broken, and William Waggoner's house was wrested from its foundation and badly smashed up.
" John Walkup's new two-story house, unfinished, moved from its founda- tion and badly injured, as was also the residence of J. Vallandigham.
" The smoke-stacks of Muchmore & Co.'s planing-mill and Jones' Hlouring- mill were blown down, and it was with great difficulty the planing-mill could be prevented from burning.
" Chapin & Pilkington's lumber-yards badly scattered, and much lumber broken.
" The houses of P. Hennessy and R. M. Bridges were both leveled to the ground.
" The Essex House was badly damaged, all the chimneys and two-thirds of the iron roof of the north side stripped off, and the whole upper story exposed to the furious rain which followed. Sheets of iron ten feet long were carried more
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than a hundred yards. one of which was hurled through the show-window in. Mr. Drake's store.
" The stairway leading to the second story of Francis & Drake's store. which was on the west side of the building, with a high board fence on the north and a two-story brick on the west, was lifted from its place and hurled back nearly twenty feet. the wind having sucked down and lifted it ont.
" Chimneys, ont-houses, stables and fences were blown down by the score all over town, and a number of windows broken by flying fragments. Thirty or forty feet square of the roof of the M. E. Church was carried, rafters and all. completely over the residence of Mr. Ellis, just cast of the church, and fell a little south of the church. mashing down over seventy-five feet of fencing. knocking off a chimney and breaking twenty-four panes of glass out of his windows. About twenty feet of the roof was taken nearly one hundred yards almost due south of the church.
" In the country nine miles west. the two-story residence of James Munson was moved from its foundation and badly racked, and that of Jesse Armentrout entirely demolished, as were several other buildings in the same neighborhood. Corn fields and fences were all leveled. and in many fields scarcely a blade is left. and even the corn is blown off the stalks.
" The residence of Thomas Meredith, three miles west, was also blown over and one of the corner-stones moved ten feet.
" The track of the storm seems to have been almost directly west to east. and about nine miles wide. having left its terrible marks all the way from Hills- boro to Paris. over one hundred miles. We understand that the M. E. Church and several other buildings were unroofed at the former place. and from the Paris Beacon and Blade we learn that a part of the steeple of the M. E. Church was blown off. falling through the roof and damaging the building about $1.500. The Presbyterian Church was also severely injured. many other houses blown down. and much other damage done at that place.
" We have not learned of much damage being done at Charleston and other towns along the line, but have no doubt it has seriously injured all towns lying in its pathway."
A few other storms have swept over the prairies of Coles County in the years since it was settled. but none so fierce as the one recorded are mentioned in its annals.
We must not omit a mention of the part the city took in the last war. Mat- toon and its surrounding populace were largely in favor of a subjugation of that part of the Union favoring its dismemberment, and many of her bravest citizens left home and dear ones to protect a nation's honor, and save the flag all loved so well. The war of the rebellion opened in 1861. The first company to respond to the call for troops from this part of Coles County left Mattoon on April 15, 1861. for Springfield, where they were to be mustered into service and to be attached to their regiment. Before their departure, they were served
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with a sumptuous dinner at the Pennsylvania House by Mr. MeKee, the pro- prietor, and were presented with a flag by the ladies of Mattoon, and each officer with a bible and each private with a testament by the Masonic orders in town. The committee of ladies who presented the flag was composed of the following persons : Misses Kate McMunn, Mollie Tobey, Helen Messer, Sarah Aldrich and Mrs. Maggie Duncan and Mrs. McKee. Mrs. L. Villie Malone made the presentation speech to the boys, who responded through Lieut. Edward True, as Capt. James Monroe was then in Springfield.
Capt. Monroe, while at Camp Yates, on April 25, was presented by his friends, through C. Knight, with a fine sword.
" On Tuesday, May 14," says the Journal of that year, "a regiment was organized and sworn in by Col. Grant, a camp established and named Camp Grant." No allusion to the famous man who afterward led the armies of the Union is made. His prowess had not yet developed.
The regiment remained here, drilling for some time, but as soon as it was fully ready it was sent to Springfield and from there to the service.
While the regiment was encamped near Mattoon, the town was generally rather lively. Soldiers, out on a short pass, not uncommonly got rather too much whisky in them, and, in that condition, were not always what they should be. Civilians known to be favorable to the Southern States were not unfre- quently compelled to subscribe to oaths or other declarations, not at all in con- formity with their sentiments. No riots occurred in Mattoon, as in Charleston. or, at least, none worthy of record, and. as the veil of peace is now drawn over all these scenes, we do not care to lift it, but think that they, as well as several tragedies occurring in Coles County, are better forgotten.
We will now retrace our steps somewhat, and, in a measure, note some- thing of the municipal life of Mattoon. The city was incorporated under the general law of the State, in June, 1857, when 65 votes were cast in its favor. and 25 against. It continued under that organization, states our authority- an advertising sheet issued by Jerry Toles, an insurance and real estate agent, May 1, 1866-until 1859, when a city charter was obtained from the Legis- lature. which, as amended, was in force when the aforesaid sheet was published.
From an examination of the newspapers of 1860 and 1861, we learn that an election was held in Mattoon on Monday, April 1, 1861, under the provis- ions granted in the new charter during the winter previous. From the provisions of the charter, we learn that the word " Town " shall be changed to " City," and " Trustees " to " Councilmen." Evidently the advertising sheet of Mr. Toles is a little premature in its statements. As he issued his sheet for advertising purposes, it is natural to suppose he desired to clothe Mattoon with the title of a city as early as possible. The town charter was liberally amended in 1859, but no city created, as is shown in the charter quoted. This charter, in its second article, provided that " members of the City Council shall have had six months' residence, be a bona-fide freeholder at the time of .
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his election, and shall have paid a corporation tax in said city during the pre- ceding year. Whenever he ceases to be a freeholder in said city, his office becomes vacant.
The election was ordered to be held annually thereafter, on the first Monday in April, when a President, six members of a City Council, City Clerk, Treas- urer and Street Supervisor should be elected.
All persons were entitled, by the charter, to vote for State officers who " have paid a corporation tax to the city during the year immediately pre- ceding the election, and have resided in the corporation ninety days previous to the election, were entitled to vote for city officers."
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