The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois, Part 58

Author:
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 848

USA > Illinois > Mason County > The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois > Part 58
USA > Illinois > Menard County > The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois > Part 58

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

David Dewach

MASON CITY

531

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. Harpham, 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 T

532

HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.

charter was signed by William Rounsaville, Grand Master, and S. A. Cornean, Grand Secretary. The first officers elected were Edwin Rutledge, Noble Grand ; David Corey, Vice Grand ; N. J. Rockwell, Treasurer, and M. Dear- born, Secretary. The membership at present is fifty, with the following offi- cers : Thomas B. Kettell, N. G .; William Rodecker, V. G .; L. R. Haack, Treasurer ; Thomas Covington, Secretary ; John S. Kirk, Con .; S. A. Mur- dock, Warden ; A. H. Jones, I. G .; P. B. Geary, O. G .; A. T. Beck, R. S. N. G .; F. S. Coggeshall, L. S. N. G .; Thomas Sea, R. S. V. G .; George Schemerhorn, L. S. V. G .; George Geary, R. S. S .; W. P. Sigerson, L. S. S .; L. R. Haack, Representative to Grand Lodge.

State Encampment, No. 34, I. O. O. F., was instituted .May 1, 1856, by John W. Shinn, D. D. G. P., with the following charter members : L. F. Ross, D. J. Waggoner, R. S. Moore, J. C. Kemp, James Boggs, C. W. Emmett, R. R. Simmons and John Covington. The charter was signed by Horace G. Anderson, M. W. G. P., and Samuel Willard, Gr. Scribe. The first officers were L. F. Ross, C. P. ; R. S. Moore, H. P. ; James Boggs, S. W .; C. W. Emmett, Treasurer ; John Covington, Scribe, and R. H. Simmons, J. W. The present officers are Thomas Covington, C. P .; A. T. Beck, H. P .; A. H. Jones, S. W. ; S. A. Murdock, Scribe ; T. B. Kettell, Treasurer ; L. R. Haack, J. W .; C. R. Emmett, G. ; D. C. Metzgar, S .; J. L. Rochester 1st W .; John S. Kirk, 2d W .; J. W. Boggs, 3d W .; P. B. Geary, 4th W .; S. D. Riggs, 1st G. of T. ; J. Dunbar, 2d G. of T. ; L. R. Haack, Representative to Grand Encampment.

Havana Lodge, No. 743, Knights of Honor, was instituted September 17, 1877. The following are the present officers : L. Aubere, Dictator; I. S. Kirk, Vice Dictator ; H. Herback, Assistant Dictator; Thomas Covington, Reporter; G. L. Holzgraefe, Financial Reporter; E. Snyder, Treasurer ; George Seibert, Chaplain ; H. W. Lindley, Guard, and H. Reynolds, Sentinel.

SCHOOLS.

The first school taught in Havana that is remembered by any of the old residents, was by a man named Price, in 1836-37, and was taught in a little building located near where the Taylor House now stands. One of the early teachers, probably the next after Price, had a taste of the experience of Eggle- ston's Hoosier schoolmaster. Some of the mischievous young men, or boys, one morning set a tub of water over the door, and so poised it

" That an infant s touch could urge Its headlong passage down the verge."

Thus, when the teacher came in, the opening of the door disturbed its equilib- rium, bringing down the foaming Niagara upon his devoted head. The finale of the matter we are unable to chronicle, but doubt not that it was in strict accordance with the prevailing custom practiced in the early schools, and a free use of the birch was brought into play upon the unregenerate perpetrators.

、

533

HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.

The first regular schoolhouse was built about 1837-38, on a part of the present public square. This house was used for a number of years, when a large brick was erected on the site of the present school .building. Previously, however, the basement of the old Methodist Church was used as a schoolroom for several years. The present magnificent school building was put up in 1875 and cost $30,000. It is well arranged for school purposes, and furnished with all the modern improvements in the way of school furniture. In addition to this building, there are primary schools taught both in the north and south ends of the city. The teachers for the year just commencing are as follows : Prof. T. W. Catlin, Principal, assisted by Miss E. M. Bean, Miss Margaret Hurst, Miss Theresa Bernell, Miss Nellie Wickizer, Miss Kate Paul, Miss Jen- nie Crane, Mrs. Sallie Heninger, Miss Effie Pierce and Miss Fannie Walker. The present is Prof. Catlin's fourth year as Principal. The schools of Havana have kept pace with the other institutions of this vicinity, and the citizens have good reason to feel proud of their excellence. Besides the graded system at the large brick schoolhouse, the city maintains primary schools in other portions of it, as stated above.

VILLAGE AND CITY INCORPORATION.

A local history of Mason County, published a few years ago, says that the town of Havana was incorporated in 1848, with E. B. Harpham, President of - the Board of Trustees, and Fred Krebaum, Clerk, and that the first ordinance was dated March 2, 1848, and signed by them. We, together with Mr. Ket- tell, the present City Clerk, took a look through the city records, and, as a result of our investigations, found an act of incorporation dated 1853, in which the following were named as Village Trustees : N. J. Rockwell, S. E. Rogers, William Higbee, James Boggs and Joseph F. Benner. Of this Board, Boggs was elected President, Benner, Secretary, and Higbee, Treasurer. A. T. Low was elected Constable, and J. H. West, Street Commissioner.

In 1873, it was incorporated under the general law as a city, and an elec- tion held April 15, for Mayor and Aldermen. The city was divided into three Wards and two Aldermen allowed to each Ward, who are elected for two years. That each Ward, however, may elect an Alderman each year, at the first elec- tion they were elected for one and two years. The Mayor, also, is elected for two years. The following is a statement of elections from the incorporation of the city to the present time :

1873-Hugh Fullerton, Mayor ; O. H. Wright, City Attorney ; Isaac P. Price, Clerk ; Alex. Stuart, Treasurer. Aldermen-R. R. Simmons, August Schill, First Ward ; Anson Low, O. C. Town, Second Ward; J. L. Randall, Jabez Dunbar, Third Ward.

1874-0. H. Wright, City Attorney ; Isaac P. Price, Clerk ; Alex. Stuart, Treasurer ; W. H. Caldwell, Marshal. Aldermen-J. F. Coppell, First Ward; W. G. Stone, Second Ward; W. H. Fenton, Third Ward.

534

HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.

1875-Isaac N. Mitchell, Mayor; O. H. Wright, City Attorney ; C. D. Lindley, Clerk ; J. H. Knobbe, Treasurer; John W. Patton, Marshal. Alder- men-L. R. Haack, First Ward; Peter Lindburg, Second Ward ; J. W. Boggs, Third Ward.

1876-0. H. Wright, City Attorney ; H. H. Hanrath, Clerk ; J. H. Knobbe, Treasurer; J. W. Patton, Marshal. Aldermen-Max Meyer, First Ward; W. S. Dray, Second Ward; Jabez Dunbar, Third Ward.

1877-J. F. Coppel, Mayor; E. A. Wallace, City Attorney ; H. R. Nortrup, Clerk ; N. Siebenaler, Treasurer ; J. M. Hillyer, Marshal. Alder- men-Fred. Fette, First Ward; Peter Lindburg, Second Ward ; J. L. Ran- dall, Third Ward.

1878-E. A. Wallace, City Attorney ; H. R. Nortrup, Clerk; N. Siebe- naler, Treasurer; J. M. Hillyer, Marshal; I. S. Kirk, Police Magistrate. Aldermen-J. H. Kessen, First Ward; W. S. Dray, Second Ward; G. H. Meyer, Third Ward.

1879-W. H. Campbell, Mayor; H. R. Nortrup, City Attorney .; T. B. Kettell, Clerk; Max Meyer, Treasurer; O. H. Shearer, Marshal ; I. S. Kirk, Police Magistrate; Philip F. Smith, Street Commissioner. Aldermen- Jesse Pipkin, First Ward; Anson Low, Second Ward; J. F. Kelsey, Third Ward.

Havana City and Township, taken together, are Democratic in politics. In city and county offices, the spoils are usually divided, thus promoting peace and harmony in the political family. While the Mayor, and, probably, all of the present city officers are Democrats, the Board of Aldermen are equally divided, there being three Democrats and three Republicans: In the county officers, the Circuit Clerk is a Republican, the County Clerk is a Democrat ; the County Treasurer is a Republican ; the County Judge is a Democrat ; the Superintendent of Schools is a Democrat; the County Surveyor is a Republi- can ; the Sheriff is a Democrat and the Coroner is a Republican.

By a provision of the act of the Legislature forming the county of Mason, a vote was taken at the first election, for the purpose of determining the loca- tion of the seat of justice. The two towns competing for the honor were Hav- ana and Bath, and, after a very exciting contest, Havana won the victory. It was also decreed by the Legislature, in the original act, that the friends of each place voted for should first place in the hands of the judges of the election a note drawn to the order of the County Commissioners for $1,000, and also a bond making a donation of one block of lots or twenty acres of land for the use of the county. The required note of $1,000 was drawn by N. J. Rockwell, Pulaski Scoville, Lewis W. Ross and H. L. Ross, and a bond was executed by L. W. and. H. L. Ross, donating a block of lots adjoining the public square. The inhabitants of Bath were very much dissatisfied with the result of the election, and finally got an act passed, in 1843, .

authorizing another election. This election took place in February, and

535

HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.

resulted in making Bath the county seat, an honor it retained till 1851, when Havana succeeded in obtaining the necessary legislation to bring the question again before the people, and again Havana won the day. This probably settled the question for all time. With the railroads centering at this place, it is not likely that the county seat question will ever be again agitated. But a more complete history of the county seat war will be found in a preceding chapter.

Although Havana as the capital of the county is a settled point, it is an established fact that its Court House is rather a dilapidated old rookery. The dingy building is bronzed with age and "tottering to decay," and, as seen from the street, its " gloomy and frowning walls" have more the resemblance of a prison than a Court House. But a redeeming feature of the place is the public square. It is well set in grass, and is filled with beautiful trees, which, when clothed in summer luxuriance, renders it not only a lovely but very attract- ive place.

The legal fraternity of Havana embraces a corps of gentlemen of marked ability. Among them are Dearborn, Fullerton, Lacey, Conwell, Campbell, Mallory, Wright, Wallace and others, all of whom stand high in the profession, and some of them have served with distinction in exalted positions. The med- ical profession is also ably represented, and a number of highly educated and experienced physicians zealously guard the health of the city and surrounding country. The merchants, too, are a class of enterprising, upright, energetic business men, and withal jolly good fellows. The city does not aspire to a wholesale trade, but enjoys an excellent retail business.

Company F, stationed at Havana, and attached to the Seventh Regiment Illinois National Guards, with regimental headquarters at Peoria, was organized August 17, 1877. The following are the present officers : W. H. Webb, Cap- tain ; J. C. Yates, First Lieutenant ; S. F. Kyle, Second Lieutenant and S. A. Murdock, Orderly Sergeant. The company is about sixty-five strong, and composed of the young men of the city. The Captain, First Lieutenant and Orderly Sergeant served in the late war, and are the only members who have seen service. The remainder of the company are " fresh fish."

The city press consists of two sprightly newspapers, viz .: The Democrat and Republican. The former is a four-page paper, conducted by Mounts & Murdock, and is all printed in Havana ; in other words, it has no patent side, as is the custom with so many country weeklies. The Republican is also a four- page paper, with "patent outside," and is owned and published by F. Ketcham & Son. Each paper is devoted to the political party, whose name it respectively bears. As the history of the county press has been fully written up by Gen. Ruggles, we will not repeat that portion pertaining to Havana. We would, however, drop a gentle hint, to the effect that the newspapers of towns and counties usually are not' treated with the importance they merit. The county newspaper is the county's history. Even the advertisements it contains, in after years become matters of historical interest, and are of themselves historical

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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.

facts. It is, in our opinion, an oversight that a copy of every newspaper pub- lished in a county is not filed away in the county offices for future reference.

The city of Havana is connected with the "State of Fulton " by a mag- nificent wagon bridge spanning the Illinois River at this point. It was built eight or ten years ago on substantial stone piers at intervals, and cost originally about $60,000. A few years ago, it was sold under mortgage, and bought by McHarry, who now owns it, with the exception of a few shares of stock owned by Capt. Bivens and others. This bridge is an important link between Mason and Fulton Counties, and brings to Havana thousands of dollars of trade that but for it would go elsewhere.

The city cemetery of Havana is an excellent and beautiful location for a burying-ground, but has the appearance to us of receiving less attention and beautifying than many similar places we have noticed in other cities. It con- tains the moldering remains of many of the pioneers of Havana City and Township, and also many fine stones and monuments, and a few hundred dollars spent upon it would considerably enhance its beauty and improve its appearance.

The little hamlet of Peterville, located in the southern part of Havana Township, was laid out in 1868 by Peter Thornburg, on Section 34, and con- tains a church, two or three shops, and perhaps a half dozen dwellings. A store was opened here about 1865-66 by Samuel Porter, and continued for sev- eral years, but at present the place boasts not of a single store. Thornburg & Decker carry on a blacksmith and wood shop. A similar establishment is operated by Benjamin Pulling. A church was built by the Baptist denomina- tion about 1862-63 under the pastoral charge of Rev. P. G. Clarke, and cost some $1,400. At present, it is not used as a temple of worship, nor has it been for a number of years past, the original members having united with other con- gregations. The house stands alone and deserted, a monument of departed glory.

Sedan Station is a shipping point on the Springfield & North-Western Rail- road, in the southern part of the township, and consists merely of a side track for shipping purposes. It has never been laid out as a town, nor even a house built on the spot.

MASON CITY TOWNSHIP.

BY J. C. WARNOCK, ESQ.

The history of this township, contained in the following pages, is gathered from those who lived cotemporaneous with the events recorded, and, by personal obser- vation, have become living witnesses to the present generation of the history of the past, and from these recesses of memory the traditional history of this town- ship may now be put upon perpetual record as the first link in the chain that 'shall be continued as ages and generations succeed each other. In attempting the task, we are met on the very threshold with the fact that the devastating

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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.

hand of time and the progress of art are remorseless and unsparing of primitive landmarks, however dear they may have been to a former generation and how- ever sacred the memories that cluster around them. With these facts before us, we have attempted to surmount the barrier by obtaining the facts and incidents from old residents who were personal witnesses of them, and whose recitals. cor- roborating each other sufficiently, establish the truth of the historical events herein recorded.

This township did not receive its present name until the county was organ- ized under the township organization law, in 1862, but up to that time was designated as by the surveyor's record, Township 20 north, Range 5 west of the Third Principal Meridian, and included within its boundary on the south side about seven and one-half miles of Salt Creek, that is, by following the course of the stream in its curvings and windings, and about three-quarters of a mile of Sugar Creek, and on the east about four miles of Prairie Creek. Toward the north, this stream takes a southwesterly course for about one-half mile, then a winding course south for about the same distance, when it turns east and leaves the township to return one mile farther south, now taking a south- westerly course until it reaches Salt Creek. The original survey, as appears from the "field notes," was made in the fall of 1823, and in conformity with an act of Congress, Section No. 16 was set apart for school purposes, and was and is yet known as the " school section," the proceeds of which became a town- ship school fund, from the interest of which the several districts now receive an annual income for the support of their public schools.

At the time of the original survey, there was not a resident or habitation in the territory of the township, nor for several years after. The primitive blue- stem prairie grass was a marvel of luxuriant growth to persons unfamiliar with such scenery, and to place a man on foot out in this unbroken and untrodden wilderness with no other outlook than the far-away heavens above, was to place him in a position from which it was almost as difficult to extricate himself as from mid-ocean without rudder or compass, though not so perilous. Late in the fall, when the frosts had killed the grass, the great prairie fires would occur, which would be started by hunters shooting into the tinder-like material, or with the flint, for matches were a commodity of civilization and inventive genius that had not yet reached these Western wilds. The grandeur of those prairie fires can only be fully appreciated by being seen. The flames, at times reach- ing high up toward the star-decked dome, and then, swooping down, gathering in their devouring grasp the grass fifty feet in advance of the main column, were to be admired and apotheosized from the rear, but to be feared and dreaded from the front as a fierce and powerful agent, dealing destruction to all that came within its reach. In the north half of the township, the surface of the land takes a gentle and regular decline toward the south, and from this to the south line, it is somewhat broken by bluffs and ravines, but only a small portion so much broken as to be untillable. Salt Creek bottom was once considered a

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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.

geological mistake of nature, and counted a perpetual and irredeemable waste because of its frequent inundation by the overflowing waters of Salt Creek ; but, by leveeing, the last few years have demonstrated their safe and profitable cultivation, and a few more years will find the most prolific farms in the town- ship on these once discarded lowlands. Corn, wheat and oats are the principal agricultural products, but nearly all the cereals, as well as the various fruits indigenous to the climate, are produced in great quantities.

Coal exists in great quantities at a depth of 200 feet, in the north part of the township, and, at one point on the bluffs in Swing's Grove, there is every evidence of coal near the surface.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The first settlement made in the township was by Isaac Engle, in 1830, at what is now the S. C. Donevan place, at the northeast side of Swing's Grove, and, during the same year, John Powell built a round-log house on the west. side of the place now owned and occupied by C. L. Stone, about one hundred yards southeast of W. S. Hardin's present residence. This rude hut was suc- ceeded by a hewed-log house built by Austin Melton in 1840, Powell having moved to Oregon. Here Melton lived until 1847, and kept a ferry on Salt Creek, and for him Melton's Ford was named. From here, he moved to Mack- inaw, and, after several years' residence there, went to Walker's Grove, in . Crane Creek Township, where he died in the spring of 1877. Mr. Melton was succeeded as a resident at Swing's Grove, in 1847, by John Alkire, who built a frame house, which has long since been removed, and the site being culti- vated, hardly a trace of this landmark of early habitation remains visible.

Isaac Engle, who, as before stated, settled on the Donevan place, sold out to Michael and Abram Swing, in 1838, when he moved to Fulton County, and died there some years ago. The Swing brothers were both unmarried at that time, and, by a trade between them, Michael became sole owner of the land which, up to 1840, they had held in partnership. The year 1846, Michael Swing was elected to the Legislature, and was the first member ever elected to that body from this county. He served one term of two years, and while at Springfield attending the session made the acquaintance of the lady who soon afterward became his wife. Their wedded life was but a few years, for Mr. Swing died of the measles, the latter part of December, 1852, at that place, although he had sold it to the Donevan brothers a couple of years before, still occupying it, however, by renting. Mr. Swing was a surveyor, and taught school occasionally in addition to his other somewhat diversified business. The winter of 1851-52, he taught the district school at Big Grove, going on horse- back and returning home each day, a distance of six miles, for the compen- sation of $1 per day. The present editor of the Mason City Independent was one of his pupils at that school. At his death, he left his widow with one child, a daughter, who, upon reaching womanhood, married T. M. Beach, Esq., a

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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.

prominent lawyer, of Lincoln, Logan County, but she died a month or two ago, after only a few years of wedded life. The widow married a gentlemen named Cass, near Mount Pulaski, Logan County, some years ago, and he died. She was living with her son-in-law, Mr. Beach, at Lincoln, at the time of her daughter's death, and is still keeping house for him and taking care of her little grandchildren.

The year 1840, Ephraim Brooner built a round-log house on what is now the Cease-Hubly place, about a quarter of a mile west of the old " Beebe place," now owned and occupied by John Appleman. Mr. Brooner died in 1841, and his widow married Rezin Virgin, one of the pioneers of Salt Creek Township, as will appear in the history of that subdivision of the county. Mr. Brooner was succeeded at that place by Robert Melton (brother of Austin, before men- tioned), and lived there until 1853, when his wife, himself and daughter died within the space of only a few months. From the death of his wife, Mr. Melton seemed to have lost all interest in this world, and gradually his life ebbed away in silent grief, and, in a few months, he, too, was no more. He held the office of Justice of the Peace several years during his residence there, and many amusing incidents of this early court are remembered by the proverbial "oldest inhabitant," some of which will appear in their proper order. This place of primitive habitation is now marked only by a few storm- wrecked and venerable apple-trees, which can be seen by the traveler as he passes along the public road to and from the Iron Bridge over Salt Creek.

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The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois, Part 58

Author: Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co. Number of Pages: 848

Author:
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 848