The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois, Part 61

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 61
USA > Illinois > Menard County > The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois > Part 61

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).

The next was the tragical death of Dr. W. J. Chamblin, in the spring of 1871, at the hands of Zophier Case. This grew out of a land title contest with reference to a beautiful quarter-section adjoining town, on the southeast. Case moved a house on to one forty-acre lot of the disputed land, claiming title from one Tunison, Chamblin's contestant. Case moved his house on the premises in the night, and moved his family into it, which brought about an ejectment suit. In plowing, in the spring of 1871, Dr. Chamblin ordered his men to plow across Case's front yard, in the forenoon of the day of this tragical event ; but Case would not allow them to do so. The matter was reported to Dr. Chamblin by his men at noon, and, when they went out to work in the afternoon, he took a shotgun and bade his plowmen follow him, which they did. He proceeded a short distance in advance of the teams toward Case's premises, and, when he reached the disputed line, Case, who was watching him from his door, took up his shotgun and fired upon the Doctor, killing him instantly. Case surrendered to the authorities, and, after a tedious drag and continuance from time to time of the case in the Circuit Court, was finally acquitted, and he, too, in July, 1876, met a violent death at the hands of the night-watchman, John B. Wilson, who was acquitted by the grand jury.

In the spring of 1873, Charles H. Linticum, who was then a farmer, out near the mouth of Prairie Creek, made a deadly assault upon Joseph Cowper- thwaite, another farmer of that neighborhood, they having met in town. This tragedy occurred in what is now J. D. Hawes & Co.'s harness-shop, on Tonica street. The assault was made with a revolver, Linticum shooting at Cowper- thwaite some three times, the last taking effect in the side, glancing off on a rib. This created intense excitement, and, for the first time, lynch law was freely talked ; but the injured party proved to be not dangerously wounded, and better counsel prevailed. Linticum was arrested, and sent for Col. R. G. Ingersoll, of Peoria, to conduct his defense in the preliminary examination. After dragging along several terms, the indictment was quaslied, and the mat- ter dropped out of court.

The next was in the spring of 1874, and was an attempt by one Alonzo Winn to murder his wife. The attack was made about 8 o'clock at night,

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April 21, at the residence of Samuel Wilson, on Main street, with a pistol, the shot taking effect in the eye, totally destroying it; but, after much suffering, the lady recovered. Winn made his escape, but was captured over near Deca- tur, and imprisoned. This tragedy created the most intense excitement, and, if Winn had been brought through this place on his way to the County Jail at Havana, he would surely have been hung. A great crowd gathered at the depots at the arrival of every train, and the undercurrent of suppressed feeling unmistakably indicated determined vengeance. He was tried at the term of court following, and sentenced to the Penitentiary for a term of seven years.

In 1873. early in the year, the I., B. & W. Extension Railway was com- pleted through this city and county. The new road had been estimated of incal- culable benefit to our town, but the reverse was the result, for, upon its line east and west, grain shipping and trading stations were built, which materially , diminished the trade in this place.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

In this region, perhaps, the Methodist Church can justly claim priority, for its ministers have ever been in the vanguard of civilization, and not unfre- quently in the advance "picket line," yet, in this vicinity, the Baptist and Christian (Campbellite) sects had their representatives in the new and wild vineyard, at about an equally early day. It is impossible to obtain reliable data of the first " class " organized in this township, but it was far back in the forties, though the entire county was included in one circuit until 1856. Up to this date, the "circuit-rider " resided in Havana, and made his indefinite rounds on horseback. The organization from which the Methodist Episcopal society in this town was formed, was at the Pollock Schoolhouse, about three miles east of Mason City.

This was made one of the "appointments" in the circuit as early as 1858, and religious service was held at such places as could be obtained until the frame schoolhouse, east of the railroad, was built, after which, meetings were held there until the erection of the present churchi building in 1863, during the pastoral charge of Rev. W. P. Paxton, who was succeeded, in the order named, by Revs. Barthelow and Rutledge. The Church in town was constituted a charge in 1868, and Rev. Simmons appointed Pastor, who was succeeded, in the order named, by Revs. Warfield, Parkhurst, Carroll, Armentrout, Sinnock and Moore, the latter now Pastor in charge. The Methodist congregation in this city has a goodly membership, both in number and quality, and sustains a good Sunday school.

Next, in order of age, is the Baptist society. The organization in town had its origin in the Church organized at the Pollock Schoolhouse, east of town, in 1856, which was bodily transferred to Mason City, in November, 1859. Elder L. R. Hastings was the first resident Baptist minister of this township, having settled on and improved a farm about two miles east of town in 1851, and it

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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.

was mainly through his efforts that the organization at the Pollock Schoolhouse was formed in 1856. He now resides in town, and is a veteran, faithful servant of the Master, and is universally honored and esteemed for his upright life. The meetings of this Church were principally held in the frame schoolhouse, which was the "meeting-house" of the day for all religious sects and opinions, until 1867, when the present Baptist Church was built. Since its organization, the following ministers have officiated as Pastors, in the order named : Elders Hastings, Hartley, Holtsclaw, Curry, Haughey, Blunt, Martin, Scott and Hobbs, the latter now in his tenth year. This society now numbers nearly two hun- dred members.

The Presbyterian society dates its organization from 1857, when a society was organized by Revs. Templeton and Andrews-the latter, Rev. John Andrews, presiding as Pastor until 1867, when the present Pastor, Rev. Stephen J. Bogle, assumed pastoral charge. Service was principally held in the schoolhouse until the building of the frame church (now the Catholic Church), in 1864. This church house cost about $2,000, and was quite an enterprise for the prairie town at that time. In 1871, owing to the increase of membership and large attendance at the Sunday service, this house was found to be too small to accommodate the congregation, and it was decided to sell the old church house and build a larger one. The present fine brick edifice was then projected and successfully carried through to completion, ready for dedica- tion in February, 1872 .. This society has a membership of about two hundred. The Pastor, Rev. Mr. Bogle, owns the residence and grounds he occupies, and, as an exception to the rule with which ministers are regarded, he is looked upon as a permanent citizen.

The Catholic society was organized here in 1872, when it purchased the wooden church building of the Presbyterian society. They added to it and re-arranged it so as to meet the wants of their service. They have only part of the time had a resident priest, but have been provided service at regular times.

The Union Chapel had its origin in a somewhat dilapidated dwelling in the southeast part of town, where, in the spring of 1876, E. M. Sharp, Dr. J. M. Taylor, and others, organized a Sunday school, as members of the Young Men's Christian Association, for the special benefit of the poor of the city. A. wonderful interest was soon aroused among those who, by their poverty, con- sidered themselves shut out from the means of grace dispensed at the regular churches, where, unfortunately, a great many attend service more to display crinoline and millinery styles than the "beauty of holiness." This building was soon found inadequate to the demand for room, and an old billiard-room, of abundant capacity, was purchased, moved to a suitable location near the scene of the first effort of " leaven," remodeled and made pleasant and comfortable, and now maintains a good Sunday school and affords a comfortable place of worship for all who wish to avail themselves of it.

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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.

The first benevolent society organized here was Mason City Lodge, No. 403, A., F. & A. M. This Lodge was organized in January, 1864, and now contains a membership of about one hundred. The year 1869, this Lodge built a third story on the brick building now occupied as a drug store by A. Bradley, which was then being erected, which furnishes a handsome, commodious and secure lodge-room. The elective officers now serving are : H. C. Burnham, W. M. ; S. M. Badger, S. W .; J. C. Warnock, J. W .; F. N. Smith, Treasurer ; J. F. Culp, Secretary.

Mason City Lodge, No. 337, I. O. of O. F., was also organized the year 1866, and now contains a membership of about one hundred. The present incumbent elective officers are : J. F. Culp, N. G .; G. W. Ellsberry, V. G .; J. J. Cox, Secretary ; H. M. Anderson, Recording Secretary ; John Cameron. Treasurer ; J. H. Faith, Deputy. This Lodge meets in a third-floor room, in La Forge Block.

Mason City Encampment, No. 175, I. O. O. F., was organized in 1876, and holds its meetings in the Odd Fellows' Hall. The present incumbent elective officers are : F. H. Cook, C. P .; H. M. Anderson, H. P .; C. W. Thomas, S. W .; S. Eulass, J. W .; A. E. Whitney, Scribe; G. W. Ellsberry, Treasurer ; G. W. Ellsberry, Deputy.

Unity Lodge, No. 792, Knights of Honor, was organized in the fall of 1877. and now contains fifty members ; holds its meetings in Masonic Hall. The present incumbent elective officers are : J. P. Canfield, Past Dictator ; F. M. Swing, Dictator ; H. C. Parker, Vice Dictator ; D. E. Le Sourd, Assistant Dictator ; Lafe Swing, Guide; J. F. Culp, Reporter; W. H. Tooker, Finan- cial Reporter ; B. D. Riner, Treasurer; I. A. Smith, Chaplain ; O. S. King, Guardian ; George Brooker, Sentinel; Dr. A. M. Bird, Medical Examiner ; Lafe Swing, Marcus Kahn and I. R. Brown, Trustees.

Modoc Tribe, No. 14, Improved Order of Red Men (I. O. of R. M.), was organized in November, 1878, and now contains a membership of sixty-two. It holds its councils in the room over H. T. Lewin's grocery store. H. T. Lewin, of this city, is Grand Deputy Sachem for the State of Illinois, and Representa- tive of the State in the Grand Council of the United States. The present incumbent elective officers of the Tribe are : S. M. Badger, Sachem ; F. N. Smith, Senior Sagamore ; W. A. Hoover, Junior Sagamore ; Thomas Entwistle, Prophet; F. M. Conehay, Assistant Chief of Records; James D. Hawes, Keeper of Wampum.

Pioneer Relief Association, Division No. 12, was organized in this city in April, 1879, and has its regular meetings the last Friday evening in every month. Its officers are J. C. Warnock, President, and J. J. Cox, Secretary.

In this connection and under this head it is proper to state that a library association has just been formed in this city in the name of the Mason City Library Association, with forty-two members, and the first invoice 'of books,

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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.

numbering 100 volumes. The regular meetings of this Association are the second Monday evenings of every month. The Association was permanently organized August 25, 1879, and the following officers elected : Rev. S. J. Bogle, President ; O. S. King, Vice President ; J. F. Culp, Secretary ; Miss Olive A. Hudson, Treasurer ; Ira A. Smith, Librarian, and Miss Belle May, Mrs. E. Craig, N. S. Forsyth, James Stebbings and Dr. J. M. Taylor, Execu- tive Committee.

BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS.

At first, as is usually and necessarily the case, the merchandising business was not classified, but each store kept a stock of general merchandise, not so extensive in quantity as in variety. Dry goods, clothing, boots and shoes, harness, saddles, plows, groceries, hardware, and all departments of the mer- chandise business, was conducted in the one house.

Mr. A. A. Cargill is the veteran merchant in town, and the only one of the pioneer merchants who has continued in business ever since and is now so engaged, as the senior member of the firm of Cargill & Swing, in an extensive dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, occupying three separate rooms on the corner of Main and Chestnut streets. C. Hume, another pioneer of the town, commenced business in 1858, but for several years of the intervening time since, was out on a farm, but is now engaged in the agricultural implement trade, east of the C. & A. Railroad, on the corner of Mason and Chestnut streets. S. D. Swing, now retired, still lives in town, but for a number of years has been out of active business. Dr. A. R. Cooper was the first resi- dent physician in town, and built and occupied the house now owned and occupied by R. Proctor, near the La Forge Elevator. Travis & Brown built the first steam grain elevator, of which mention has before been made. Propst. & Cottrell opened the first drug store in the brick building on the corner north of the St. Nicholas Hotel, who was succeeded by Drs. Patterson & Conover, they by Dr. J. S. Walker, and he by Kincaid & Bradley, who moved it from that place to the brick building now occupied in the business by Allen Bradley. Hume & Warnock built the drug-store room now occupied by Dr. W. A. Dunn, on Chestnut street, who bought it of Smith & Strome a few years ago. The drug store owned by John H. Hopkins, on the corner of Main and Chestnut streets, was built for that purpose in 1871, and has been so used ever since. N. Cottrell opened the first picture gallery in town, up-stairs over the Propst & Cottrell drug store, in 1860. Before that, he traveled about in a car from place to place, and made pictures of the old-style daguerreotype pattern. The next was by Eld. J. M. Haughey, in the upper story of the old Keefer store building. Mr. Haughey was then the Pastor of the Baptist congregations in this vicinity, and often supplemented the matrimonial knot by taking a picture of the happy pair. Next in the picture business was S. M. Miller, who now occupies rooms over the First National Bank.

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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.

The first newspaper was the Mason City News, the nucleus of which was a small job printing office, owned by Haughey & Eulass. The first issue of the paper was July 4, 1867, the day the laying of the track on the Jacksonville branch of the C. & A. Railroad reached the corporation line from the south. The paper was published by Eld. J. M. Haughey and W. S. Walker, the latter having bought an interest in the office about a month before. In 1871, W. S. Walker sold his interest to J. C. Warnock, and the name of the paper was changed to Mason City Independent. Mr. Haughey has retained his interest and position as senior proprietor ever since the paper was started, except awhile the year 1869, and from September 1, 1877, to September 1, 1878, when he was sole proprietor by buying out his partner. J. C. Warnock has edited the paper since February 9, 1871, with the exception of one year he was away as editor and proprietor of the Mason County Democrat, at Havana. The Independent is now in its thirteenth volume.

The Mason City Journal was established late in the fall of 1871 by I. E. Knapp, by whom the material of the Havana Reveille office was bought and here moved for that purpose, and was edited by Capt. A. P. Stover until January, 1872, when Mr. Knapp sold out to . W. S. Walker, who assumed editorial charge. In 1874, Mr. Walker sold out to Dr. J. A. Walker and Wells Corey, and soon after, the former sold his interest to the latter, by whom it has since been continued.

The first flouring-mill was built in 1868 by Hulshizer & Smith, which was destroyed by fire a few years afterward, and never rebuilt. The next was erected on the site of the present one by Warnock & Montgomery in 1870. This one was also destroyed by fire a few years afterward, and the present com- modious building erected in its stead, and is now owned and operated by Iron- monger & Tibbetts.

The first bank was that of Warnock & Co., which went into operation in 1866, and. failed in 1870.

The next was that of Campbell & Porter, in their store called the " Double Mammoth," now used as a restaurant and billiard hall. This bank went into operation in 1868, and was the nucleus from which the First National Bank was organized, in 1871, with a paid-up capital stock of $50,000, and has been in successful operation ever since. Otho S. King, formerly of Lewistown, Ful- ton County, was elected Cashier, and has retained the position ever since. G. H. Campbell was elected President, and held the position till 1877, when he was succeeded by R. W. Porter, and he by A. A. Blunt, the present incum- bent, in 1879. This bank is located on Main street, in a building erected for the purpose a few years ago. In 1871, J. B. Massey, of Mount Sterling, Brown County, commenced the banking business here, under the name of Mason City Exchange Bank, but closed business after a few years. In 1875, the bank of F. N. Smith & Co. commenced business, and is still in successful operation, in a suitable brick building on Chestnut street. F. N. Smith, a former

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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.

druggist, and David Powell, a former merchant of this place, are associated together in this bank.

The public improvements in this city are not extensive as yet, but are per- manent and substantial so far as they go. The schoolhouses have been treated of under the head of public schools. The Mason County Soldiers' Monument stands in the center of our park square, and was erected by voluntary contri- butions soon after the close of the war of the rebellion, at a cost of $5,000, and is a handsome and fitting tribute to the memory of those who gave their lives for their country's cause. It has been the unvarying custom of our peo- ple since the erection of this monument, to assemble there the 30th of May each year, and decorate it with flowers with appropriate ceremonies.

The public well and water-tank is a public improvement of great value and advantage. A large tank is built high above, into which the water is pumped by a wind-mill, from which an abundance of water is supplied for all the pub- lic wants of the town. The fire engine was purchased several years ago, and a fire company formed to operate it when needed. It is a Champion chemical engine. The streets are well graded and are beautiful and pleasant drives. The sidewalk improvements now in process of construction are being made of brick, and are good, substantial and permanent.

The first calaboose in town was made of sawed 2x6 oak timber, spiked together so as to make almost a solid wooden wall of six inches in thickness. At best, it was a decidedly dismal-looking place. It first stood on Pine street, but was moved to Tonica street, where, a few years ago, it caught fire one rainy night and was totally destroyed. A new brick calaboose was then erected and provided with cells, which is now the city prison.

The city cemetery is located about three-quarters of a mile east of town, and is inclosed by a neat fence, and considerable interest is manifested by the people who have purchased lots in beautifying them. It contains forty acres, about one-half of which is laid off in lots one rod in width and two rods in length, and two lots in each block.

A little more than two years ago, a company of militia was formed in this city and vicinity as Illinois National Guards, under the general militia law of the State, of which see roster in the general history of the county.

A vein of coal five feet and eleven inches in thickness was recently found by boring, a short distance north of town, at a depth of 217 feet, and it is probable that a shaft will be sunk there within a few years.

BATH TOWNSHIP.

This township has considerable river-front, and, excepting Lynchburg, is the southwest town of Mason County. It has an area nearly equal to two Congressional towns, embracing about seventy sections, and is some twelve miles long by six to eight miles wide. It is bounded on the north and northwest

NATRONA

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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.

by Havana Township and the Illinois River, on the west by Lynchburg Township, on the south by the Sangamon River, and on the east by Kilbourne Township. The soil, like that of most of Mason County, partakes of a sandy nature, but is exceedingly fertile, producing corn, oats and wheat in great abundance. At the time of its settlement, about one-third of the land included in Bath Township was timbered, the remainder rolling prairie ; well watered by the numerous little lakes here and there, among which may be mentioned Wolf, Wiggenton, Swan, Fish, Goose, Bell, and, perhaps, others, while it is drained by the Illinois and Sangamon Rivers, White Oak Creek and numerous sloughs. Artificial draining has also been added, by the opening of ditches at the public expense. One of these modern but valuable improvements extends through the eastern part of the town, and is known as the Ruggles' Ditch, car- rying off the superfluous water, through Jordan Slough, into the Sangamon River; and another in the northeast, Black Jack Ditch, conveys the water, through White Oak Creek, into the Illinois. The "Main Branch" of the Illinois River, as it is termed, and which is the deeper channel, but the nar- rower, diverges from the broader stream about two miles north of the village of Bath, thereby forming an island west of the village, some six sections in extent, called Grand Island, and containing several farms and residences, to which reference will again be made. The Peoria, Pekin & Jacksonville Railroad, more particularly noticed in the general county history, traverses the entire length of Bath Township, entering the north part through Section 26 and run- ning, in a southwest direction, to the village of Bath, when it takes a course due soutli, on the section line, crossing the Sangamon River between Sections 29 and 30. This road has been of great benefit to this section in transporting the large quantities of grain produced, and, with the competition afforded by the river, the farmers are enabled to secure reasonable rates of freight. The stations in this town are Bath and Saidora, the history of which will be given in another chapter.

SETTLEMENT OF THE TOWNSHIP.

The first dwellings reared by white men in the present town of Bath were built by John Stewart and John Gillespie in 1828. Gillespie erected his cabin on the old site of Moscow. and Stewart on Snicarte Island, a portion of which belongs to this township. They were from Tennessee, and though acknowl- „edged the first actual settlers, did not remain long in the town, but in a year or two removed to Schuyler County. Gillespie left his claim " for better or worse," but Stewart sold out to Amos Richardson, and he, in turn, sold it to John Knight, who had entered the land. This was the first land entered in what is now known as Bath Township. Knight was from the East, and was what was called in those early days, by the Southern people, who composed the majority of the settlers, a " flat-mouthed Yankee." Knight settled here in 1829-30, but in a few years removed to Fulton County, where he died soon after. He

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sold the place to James H. 'Allen, with whom he had an extensive law-suit. He sued Allen for the improvements made on the place, but, before the cause was decided, he died.

Henry Shepherd was the first settler in the north part of the township, locating on the spot where afterward rose the village of Matanzas. He was from Eastern Pennsylvania, and is acknowledged to have been the first settler in this immediate neighborhood, though no one now can tell the exact time of his settlement. He entered his land, however, in 1832, and probably came but a short time prior to that date. It is related of him that he would never allow a plow in his corn, but cultivated it exclusively with hoes, a mode of farming that would be looked on at the present day as decidedly peculiar. His death was a singular one, but as we are not sufficiently skilled in medical tech- nicalities to describe it in fitting terms, we will refer our readers for particulars to some of the old settlers (Charley Richardson, for instance), who still remem- ber the circumstances.

From Kentucky, the " dark and bloody ground " of aboriginal story and song, the township received the following additions to its population : Joseph A. Phelps, F. S. D. Marshall, Col. A. S. West, Dr. Harvey Oneal, Maj. B. H. Gatton and his brother, R. P. Gatton, John S. Wilburn, C. P. Richardson, Rev. J. A. Daniels, James Holland, Thomas F., Samuel, Laban and Richard Blunt, William H. Nelms, William, John G. and C. Conover, Samuel Pettitt, and perhaps others.

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The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois, Part 61

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