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 35
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The Police Justice and Constables were each to be elected for four years.
The tax and labor collected from persons on the west side of the Illinois Central Railroad was to be distributed there, while that on the east side was to be distributed there. The Gazette, in its first issue after the elec- tion, gives the following account of it : " Below we give the result of the municipal election on last Monday. We did have some conscientious seruples as to publishing the particulars of the bungling affair. but, since we heard of the double election which our Paris neighbors held on the same day, we have concluded that the Parisians can't . poke fun at us' over our blunders, and, consequently, we may as well publish."
The new city charter as amended-declaring who were and who were not legal voters, which clause did put a flea in somebody's ear-very mysteriously got lost while in the President's keeping, just at the time when the first election under it was to be held. and as it was the only legally attested copy of the charter in the possession of the Board, as a matter of course the opponents of the new fran- chise took the opportunity to annul the election. After sweating and quarrel- ing on the morning of the election till nearly 11 o'clock. the Board having declared the election postponed, the " sovereign " people concluded to have un election of their own. An election was therefore immediately called, clerks and judges of election duly appointed, and the voting began. The voting was, of course, done indiscriminately as far as having paid taxes was concerned. The following is the result :
For Police Justice, James T. Smith ; Police Constable, James L. Taylor ; President, James Monroe. City Council -- T. C. Patrick, Samuel Smith, D. M. Turney, L. Chapin, D. C. Higginson and C. A. Powell. Clerk, B. N. Skelton : Treasurer, A. Hasbrouck : Street Supervisor, B. F. Keely.
The vote for and against license was small. For license, 80; against license, 77.
Mattoon remained under this form of government, with various alterations made as the city grew. until the last week of February, 1879, when at an election the charter was so changed that the city passed under the general in- corporation law of the State, and under that law is now governed. The prin- cipal changes relate to the election of officers, many of which are now ap-
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HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY.
pointed, and to the redivision of the city into wards. This latter move is now agitated, but it is not likely to be adopted for some time. The governing power still rests in the Council, and in place of the people electing several subordinate officers. that body appoints them.
Thus far in this narrative, we have omitted any mention, save incidents, of mills, manufactories or the general business of the city, as well as its churches, schools, newspapers and societies, leaving them for separate articles. In this way more complete, and, at the same time, more condensed, descriptions can be given. and also in a better and more explicit manner. They show much of the history of the city, but are not given with that view being intended for the ob- jects they treat.
We shall, therefore, leave the narrative of the city and devote the remainder of this history to the subjects we have mentioned.
ELEVATORS, MILLS, MANUFACTORIES, ETC.
John Cunningham's elevator, built in the spring of 1855, before the sale of lots. was the pioneer of such enterprises in Mattoon. It was, as time event- ually proved, too far from the natural center of town, the railroad crossing, and was finally abandoned. Four or five years after, Mr. Cunningham built a sub- stantial brick warehouse north of the railroad crossing, on the west side of the Central track, and just south of where Moneypenny's mill now stands. This was quite a firm building, and was one of the best to follow in chronological order the Essex House. It stood till Sunday night, March 19, 1865, when it was destroyed by fire. It appears to have been the principal elevator in town until it was destroyed.
The elevator of Jennings & Co., still standing, comes next in the annals of the town. It was built about the close of the war by the present proprietors, who are the oldest grain merchants in Mattoon. One of them and Mr. H. M. Tremble, built a small warehouse where the express office now stands-the second enterprise of the kind in town. It was a small building, and was used as such for a few years and then removed. South of it stood the old pork- house of O'Connell & Co., brought from near Cincinnati, the pioneer enter- prise of that kind in the city. It was burned after a few years of service. Near it was the large well over which the city and Central Railroad had such a vexatious lawsuit. The controversy over the well was finally settled, and it is not at present regularly used.
Just before Mr. Cunningham built his brick elevator, Luther Miller moved an old porkhouse from Terre Haute, Ind., and set it up north of the proposed site of Mr. Cunningham's elevator. About 1861, the porkhouse came into the hands of Hudnot & Co., who remodeled it, and opened a hominy-mill in the building. This they operated with varying success until 1864, when the building came into the control of Cox & Miller, who again changed its interior and opened a plow-factory in it. This was conducted for two or three years,
I
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HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY.
when Capt. Hinkle obtained possession of the building, and opened a corn- meal mill in it. This enterprise he continued two years, when he retired, and the present parties obtained control. Mr. Moneypenny now operates the meal-mill and has a very fair trade.
The Pacific Mill. noted in the papers as the pioneer mill of Mattoon, is in the southwest part of town. on the St. Louis Railroad. It was built in 1862. by Charles Jones, who operated it four years. It remained idle then for more than a year. when it was purchased by Ira and D. D. James, who re-opened it and operated it until the sunimer of 1878, when, the business not proving profitable. they discontinued it. The mill is now idle, but yet in the hands of the Messrs. James.
Cox's Mill, a little west of Moneypenny's mill, is at present unoccupied. It was built by Steadman & Demuth, in 1869 or 1870, who operated it two or three years, when it came into the possession of Hiram Cox, the present owner.
James' Elevator was built in 1868, by Ira and D. D. James, who have been more or less connected in the grain trade in Mattoon many years. They have controlled their own elevator until their failure in 1874, when it and the Pacific Mill, operated by them since 1866, went into possession of Greer & Co., for whom they now operate the elevator.
The City Mill-sometimes called Union Mill-was built in 1862 and 1863. by T. C. Alexander & Co .. at an expense of $12,000. They operated it until 1864, when Col. J. Richmond purchased one-half interest in it, which he sold. in 1867, to Mr. Curtis. Under his control, it was run till February, 1875, when Col. Richmond and J. H. Clark bought the mill. In the fall, Col. Richmond purchased the entire concern and has been operating it since. It is the principal flouring-mill in the city. and does the majority of grinding for the country about Mattoon.
It might be well before leaving this subject to notice a few of the elevators and mills that have been destroyed by fire. Mr. Cunningham's elevator has already been noticed. A large elevator was built just north of the Essex House by Richards & Co .. about 1860. It stood only a few years, when it was entirely consumed by the relentless element. It was at ouce rebuilt by the same firm, who sold it to Day, Sprague & Co., who did business there till about 1873, when the same calamity befell it. No attempt was made to rebuild the third time.
About the same year it burned, the Watkins Mill was erected, just west of the foundry. by James Watkins. After running it about two years, the mill caught fire. and. in spite of its unusual facilities for extinguishing fires, it suf- * fered the fate of some of its fellows.
These mills are the principal ones erected in the city. A few others have been built, but, proving unprofitable, were in a few years converted to other uses.
The first machine-shop or foundry was built by James Wolfe, in 1863 or 1864. He kept it about three years, and sold to Charles Pomeroy, who con-
369
HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY.
tinued it till the Lenox Foundry was built. in 1872. when he moved it away. This latter foundry was built by William Lenox. the present proprietor, the year referred to. It is the only enterprise of the kind in town, and has a very fair custom.
The largest machine-shops in Mattoon are those operated by the Indianapolis & St. Lonis Railway. They were built here in 1870, and were brought to Mattoon on a guarantee of that city of a bonus of $60,000 in bonds. The vote on this question was held on April 4, 1870, and was decided by 517 votes in favor of the appropriation to 10 against it. The bonds are payable in three equal installments, one-third in ten years from the date of issue : one-third in fifteen years, and one-third in twenty years. The shops were removed from Litch- field soon after the bonds were guaranteed. and have since been operating. They are in the northeast part of the city. on ground donated them, occupying several acres.
From a statement of the Master Mechanic regarding their capacity and operations, the following items are taken :
The machine-shops are 110x204 feet, with eight repair-pits. The power- room, 40x50 feet, adjoins this building. The store-room is also adjoining, and is 40x60 feet in size. The car-shops are 85x204 feet in size. with six repair- tracks, and, with the machine-shop, get their power from an 80-horse power engine. The blacksmith-shop is 50x150 feet, has sixteen fires and is furnished with one 1.500-pound steam hammer. The boiler-shop is 50x80 feet, and has three repair-tracks. The paint-shop is 44x228 feet, and has two repair-tracks. There are twenty-one stalls in the roundhouse. It is furnished with one of Greenleaf's Machine Works turn-tables. The transfer-table is 27x180 feet. and connects with the tracks leading into the different shops. The tank and oil room is 40x40 feet, has four water-tubs. with a capacity of 60,000 gallons each, filled from a reservoir one-half mile south of the works. The buildings are all of brick, with slate roofs, save the paint-shop, which is of frame.
All are heated by steam save the paint and blacksmith shops. The shops in their arrangement are unsurpassed in the West, and turn out nothing but the best of work. Over two hundred men are employed here, in addition to nearly one-half that number employed in the repair-shops at Terre Haute and East St. Louis. The monthly pay-roll at Mattoon is about $23,000, the material used each month costing about one-half that sum. The money distributed at these shops is in a measure nearly all spent in the city. Could other factories be induced to come here, and by their work aid in affording employment and business. Mattoon would be greatly benefited by it.
A few other factories have been in existence here. We refer more particn- larly to the woolen-factory, operated from the close of the war until 1868 or 1869, and which, for awhile, had a good trade. The brick building is now idle. It certainly ought not to be so. If not wanted for the purpose for which it was built, other use might be made of it and the property made to pay some
370
HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY.
revenue. When people learn that small things, closely attended, are profitable, the large farms about Mattoon will disappear. more attention will be given to details, and the remedy for hard times will come of its own accord.
The other and remaining industries of Mattoon are various shops of all kinds found in all towns. To describe them is unnecessary here. They came with the first house in the place and will remain while it lasts.
THE BANKS.
The first bank in Mattoon was established in 1858 or 1859 by James T. Cun- ningham. John Cunningham and Thomas A. Marshall, and O. B. Ficklin, of Charleston. It was founded, under the existing laws of that day, as a private bank. did not issue notes, and confined its business mainly to loaning money. It occupied a room in a frame building, where Kahn's clothing store is now situated. It continued until the financial depression occasioned by the failure of so many State banks a year or two after it was started, and, owing to this suspension, was obliged to close its business. In the fall of 1862. Pilkington & Green opened a bank in the building vacated by the former bank, using their safe and fixtures. This they continued until January 1, 1864, when the firm was changed to Pilkington & Co., the members of the firm being Mr. Pilkington. C. G. Townsend and W. B. Dunlap. The bank was removed two or three doors west of its former location, and under the new management con- tinued till May 1, 1865. The national banking system had now been devised, and it was decided to organize a national bank. A number of wealthy gentle- men met, subscribed the necessary funds. purchased the business, fixtures, etc., of Pilkington & Co., and as soon as the arrangements were perfected, opened the First National Bank. It was opened on the above date-May 1- with a capital of $60,000, with the privilege of increasing to $200,000. That fall. their present building was completed, vaults were put in and a time-lock placed on the safe. The Directors were C. M. Dole, William Miller, Samuel Smith, J. C. Dole, I. R. Herkimer, Hiram Cox. Alonzo Eaton, L. Chapin and S. W. True. Mr. C. M. Dole was chosen President ; Mr. True, Cashier, and Mr. Dunlap, Teller. Mr. True resigned the cashiership early in January, 1879, and Mr. Dunlap was elected to the vacancy. Hle remained in this posi- tion until January 1, 1874. When the Mattoon National Bank was organized in July, he was elected President. He resigned the Cashier's place to engage in the real estate and loan business, as he desired a more active, outdoor busi- ness. He was only nominally President of the Mattoon National Bank, draw- ing no salary, and after a few years' work in the position, he sold his stoek in this bank, and went entirely out of the business. When he left the First National Bank, Mr. C. G. Weymouth was elected to the Cashier's office, hav- ing been promoted to that position from the Teller's place. No change was made in the bank's officials until the spring of 1878, when Mr. Dunlap was again elected to the Cashier's place. which he still holds. Mr. J. E. Steele is
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HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY.
Teller. Mr. Dunlap was elected President of the bank, but declined, and Mark Kahn was chosen. He held the place until January, 1879, when he resigned, and William B. Warren, of Terre Haute, was elected.
The capital stock was reduced to $50,000 not long since, that amount being abundant for all purposes : all doubtful paper was thrown out and properly charged, and now the bank is in an excellent condition, with a large surplus.
The next bank established in town was by Hinkle & Champion and Mr. M. B. Abell. It began business May 1, 1866. under the name of the Merchants' and Farmers' Bank, in a room now occupied by Craig & Craig as a law office. It continued business till a few years ago, when it failed, and closed. Mr. Dunlap, as Receiver, wound up its affairs.
The last bank, the Mattoon National, was organized July 1, 1874, with the following officers : W. B. Dunlap, President, and James H. Clark, Cashier. The Directors were E. B. McClure, J. Richmond, John Rapp, Moses Kahn, G. T. Kilner, M. Walsh, T. C. Patrick, Joseph H. Clark and W. B. Dunlap. Two of the Directors afterward sold their stock-W. B. Dunlap and M. Walsh, and two. Moses Kahn and John Rapp, died. The stockholders met and elected S. B. Gray, J. F. Drish, S. Isaac and A. J. Sanborn in their places. W. B. Dunlap sold his stock in November, 1877, and retired from the Presidency. The Directors elected Joseph H. Clark to the vacancy, elected E. B. McClure Vice President, and chose W. A. Steele as Cashier and George Robinson, Teller. These officers are yet in the bank. It has an abundant capital, a large surplus, and is doing a good business. When the Merchants' and Farmers' Bank suspended, this bank lost some money through the failure of some of its borrowers, who were obliged to suspend owing to the failure of that bank. These losses and all doubtful paper have been charged up, and now only the best of paper is held. This bank and the First National are the only two in town, and are all its trade will justify. Both are well backed, and are careful to conduct only a legitimate banking business.
An examination of the amount of business performed at the various railway offices in Mattoon shows a good average with all towns in Central Illinois. Up to the war, the business of the town was all the time on the increase. For the first years of that conflict it fell off, owing to many men being taken from various pursuits of life to enter the army. As the war progressed, business again . revived, and building. which had in a measure ceased, was renewed with great vigor. When the war closed, business of every kind experienced a forward move seldom equaled. It was in a measure unhealthy and too rapid for permanent benefit. For awhile after the war closed, buildings went up in Mattoon-this time of a substantial character-with something like the days of its carliest exist- ence. When the re-action came, Mattoon experienced it keenly. From the books of the two railways of Mattoon, the trade of the town, we take the following table of the shipments from October 1. 1866, to October 1, 1867, as compiled
372
HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY.
from reports published in the Journal of February 1, 1868. The agent of the Indianapolis & St. Louis Roads reported :
Number of horses
244
Number of munles.
1,520
Number of sheep
15,800
Number of hogs.
3,440
Number of cattle.
13,060
Bushels potatoes.
25,438
Bushels wheat
164,130
Bushels corn.
21,860
Bushels oats
5,778
Bushels barley
700
Bushels rye.
302
Tons of hay
4,589
Barrels of hominy
3,230
Barrels meal
421
Barrels Hour
76
Barrels tallow
210
Barrels vinegar
26
Bundles of pelts
433
Bundles green hides
218
Buudles dry hides
73,447
Pounds of wool.
17,166.453
Pounds miscellaneous.
The agent of the Illinois Central reported :
Number of horses
626
Number mules.
1,544
Number cattle
2,667
Number hogs
1,610
Number sheep
324,561
Bushels of corn.
6,950
Bushels wheat.
29,518
Bushels oats.
6,176
Bushels barley
1,344
Barrels of hominy
1,675
Barrels meal.
206
Barrels Hour.
474
Barrels vinegar
Car loads of hay
Car loads of poultry
12,532
Bushels of potatoes.
2,551,305
Pounds miscellaneous.
The same itumber of the Journal says that there are in number the follow- ing business houses :
5
Hotels
2
Banks.
1
Bookstores
4
Warehouses
1
Planing-mills
1
Woolen-mills
2
Flouring-mills.
..
1
Vinegar-works
479
251
373
HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY.
HIominy-mills
Dry goods stores.
10
Drug stores.
6
Clothing stores
4
Furnishing stores
3
Furniture stores
3
Leather store
1
Stove stores
1
Music store
14
Agricultural stores
5
Wagon-shops
3
Plow-shops
8
Blacksmith-shops.
4
Carpenter-shops
5
Harness-makers
3
Coal offices.
10
Saloons
5
Restaurants.
3
Bakeries
2
Lumber-yards
3
Art galleries.
1
Livery-stables
2
Express offices
3
Jewelry stores
1
Brewery
3
Tailors
Milliners.
24
Dentists
9
Physicians. 12
The editor states that much building is going on ; that the hotel-Dole House-is contemplated ; also, two churches, and that the prospects are favora- ble for a large city-something every hamlet in the West confidently expects, and cannot understand why outsiders do not see such a result is inevitable. The element of hope enters largely into American character, and is nowhere more strikingly exhibited than in the average editor's opinion of his own town.
The Journal, further on in this article, gives a valuable table of heights of towns in Central Illinois. It is worth reproducing, and we give it entire :
". Mattoon is 740 feet above the level of the sea, 158 feet above Chicago and the lake, and 458 feet above the rivers at Cairo. We are just one foot above Champaign, 66 feet above Pana, 176 above Decatur, 19 above Bloomington and 142 above Galena. There is only one point between Chicago and Cairo higher than Mattoon, viz., Monee, about thirty-five miles south of Chicago, which is 54 feet higher than our city, being 794 feet above tide water. There is
1
Hardware stores.
1
Groceries.
1
Shoe stores.
Marble-shops.
3
Drayme
Lawyers
·2
374
HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY.
not a point on the St. Louis, Alton & Terre Haute Road so high as our city by many feet."
From the foregoing statement, it will be observed that Mattoon is, in a measure. a " city set on a hill." If she follows the injunction of Holy Writ, she will doubtless let her light shine. This can be done in more ways than one, not only in a Scriptural sense, but in a material one, by showing an activity in business and solidity of purpose that will count in the future.
. THE POST OFFICE.
To show the life of the Mattoon post office, we subjoin the following state- ments :
The second Postmaster was H. L. Taylor, the next Joseph Brady, who was followed by R. W. Houghton. M. W. Wilcox and J. H. Clark, the present occupant. He was appointed May 5, 1869, and is now serving his third term. When Mr. True was Postmaster, there were four daily mails, now there are ten. There are about 700 letters daily received, in addition to the papers. periodicals and miscellaneous packages.
The sale of stamps for the year 1878 amounted to $5,726.91. The amount of money-orders issued for the week ending February 8, 1879, was $546.08. Those paid amounted to $2,034.28. As many more orders are paid than issued, Mr. Clark holds a balance of $2,000 in the New York office to draw against to make up the deficiencies. Some idea of the business of the office can be obtained by computing, from the amounts given, the business for a year. When we remember the few mistakes occurring, we can truly marvel at the excellency of the post office management. There are 1,100 open boxes and 211 lock-boxes. The income from the boxes is about $800 per year.
CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS.
It has been already noticed in these pages that a church was built in Mattoon the second summer of its existence. That pioneer church is yet standing, and is still used for the purpose for which it was erected.
It was built by the Baptists-" Old Line," as they are commonly termed here -in the summer of 1856. After their disbanding it was sold to the United Brethren, when they organized a congregation in town (having been in the country previously), and was used by them until their disorganization. Then it went into the hands of Michael Tobey and J. S. Mitchell, as Trustees, by whom it is yet held. The Calvary Baptists had made, during this time, several unsuc- cessful efforts to organize a congregation, but not until January, 1876, were they able to effect a permanent union. Early in that year, they met in Mr. U. T. S. Rice's office. and by him were organized as a congregation. There were but seven members. These were Mr. and Mrs. Rice, Jonathan A. Tuffts, wife and daughter. S. K. Sanders and George Clark and wife. Soon after, they were joined by Mrs. Joseph and Mrs. Sinsebangh.
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HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY.
For three years, they met for divine services in a hall over Hasbrouck's hard- ware store, Mr. Rice being leader a good part of the time. Not long since, they leased the old church built in 1856, which they now occupy. Their member- ship has nearly quadrupled since the organization. Their present Pastor is Rev. W. S. Dodge.
The First Missionary Baptist Church, the oldest congregation of this denomination in the city, was organized December 25, 1863, with twenty-eight members, prominent among whom were Mr. and Mrs. Roach, Mr. and Mrs. Baker, Mr. and Mrs. Hays, Mr. and Mrs. Davis, Mr. and Mrs. Newcomb, H. J. Streator and wife, and Mr. and Mrs. Frazer.
The organization was effected in .the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. where they continued to meet for nearly a year. They then leased the old church, and used it one year ; then Cartmell's Hall ; then to a hall over South's store; then to Union Hall, in which place the first steps were taken for the formation of the present Calvary Baptist Church by several of the members withdrawing for that purpose.
In 1870, the congregation built their present house of worship, and have been holding regular services therein since. From the date of the establishment of this church to the present time, more than three hundred members have been connected with it. It is the nucleus around which have grown the churches at Willow Creek, ÆEtna, Kickapoo, and one other congregation.
Rev. J. W. Riley. who was present at the Recognition Council, January 30, 1864, has been the Pastor, with the exception of six years, when he was at other places. During this interval, the pulpit was filled with supplies nearly every Sabbath, and services regularly sustained.
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