USA > Illinois > Peoria County > The History of Peoria County, Illinois. Containing a history of the Northwest-history of Illinois-history of the county, its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc., etc. > Part 92
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This, with the City Hospital, Work House and Water Works completes the list of
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buildings owned by the city, and a detailed description of these will be found in the ar- ticles respectively devoted to them.
PUBLIC HALLS.
Rouse Hall was built in 1858 by Dr. Rudolphus Rouse, one of the earliest settlers in Peoria, and it has been since then, almost the only place in the city, where public meetings and entertainments could comfortably be held. It is located on the corner of Jefferson and Main Streets, and has a frontage of sixty-five feet on the former street, and 140 ft. on the latter. The Hall proper is on the second floor ; is well lighted with gas, and warmed in the Winter time with stoves; has a reasonably large stage : a complete set of stock scenery ; and will seat about 1,200 people. The balcony alone will hold 250. The Hall exclusive of stage is 100x50 feet, and is twenty-two feet high in the clear. Dr. Rouse died in 1873, and the property is now owned by his widow.
Academy of Music. - This building was erected in 1873, for the special accommoda- tion of a Sængerfest which was then held in the city. It is of wood, is partly seated. and will hold about 1,500 people. It is situated on North Adams Street. between Fayette and Jackson.
Pfeiffer's Hall is named after its owner, and is situated at 532 South Adams Street. It was built in 1879, of brick, with stone trimmings. The dimensions of the Hall are 100x40 feet, and twenty-four feet high in the clear. Is not yet seated, but could com- fortably hold about 900 people. It is principally used for daneing and musical parties.
Miscellaneous Halls. - The other Halls in the city are as follows : Masonic Hall. 216 Main Street ; Masonic Hall, 124 North Adams Street ; Bergen's Hall. on South Washington Street ; Red Ribbon Hall, 215 South Adams Street ; Druid's Hall. corner Main and Adams Streets ; Odd Fellows' Hall, 110 South Adams Street : G. A. R. Hall, 107 South Adams Street : Armory Hall, corner Madison and Liberty Streets ; Working- men's Hall, corner Washington and Bridge Streets ; Fenian Hall, 209 Main Street ; Roth's Hall. North Adams, near Evans Street.
The City Hospital. - This building was erected by the city authorities about 1859. upon a block of land donated for that purpose by Hon. Geo. C. Bestor, (deceased. ) in Butler's Division, in South Peoria. It is a two story briek structure, and is valued with the block on which it stands at about 810,000. Under the existing Poor Laws, the poor of the city are under the charge of the county officers, but in this case the city maintains the building, and the county pays for the care and treatment of the patients. The hos- pital has for the past three years been under the charge of the Sisters of St. Francis. who are paid so much per capita for each patient, the cost to the county being about $1,500 per annum. It has accommodations for about twenty patients, but the number of beds occupied ranges from six to twelve. Four sisters of the Order are in constant at- tendance. Before the hospital was placed under the charge of the sisters, its manage- ment was far from good, but now through their self-sacrificing devotion the house is kept clean and sweet, and the patients are attended to with the utmost care.
The Bradley Hospital. - This fine building and excellently managed institution, ocenpies a commanding position on the East Bluff overlooking the city. It was origin- ally built as a residence by the late Isaac Underhill about the year 1847. and was at that time the handsomest one in Peoria. It subsequently passed into the hands of the late Tobias S. Bradley, and was bought after his decease by the Right Rev. Bishop Spaulding for use as an hospital. The purchase price of $8,000 was much below its real value, and Bishop Spaulding tendered Mrs. Bradley the compliment of naming it the . Bradley Hospital," in recognition of the easy terms upon which it was acquired. This sale took place about four years ago, and at that time the Sisters of St. Francis, who take charge of the hospital, had a small Infirmary on S. Adams Street, near Bridge Street, which they had managed for about a year and a half. Thereupon the scene of their devoted
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labors was transferred to their new building, which had been fitted up with every thing necessary for its purpose, and hundreds can testify from their own experience, to the un- remitting watchfulness and care with which the good Sisters have tended the beds of those who have been inmates. The hospital has accommodations for fifty-four patients, and the average number the year round is forty. Separate rooms may be had by those able to pay from $7.00 to $10.00 per week. The patients treated last year numbered about 150, and about 100 of them were charity patients. Dr. Studer attends to the medical department and Dr. Stewart to the surgical. The Sisters in attendance are nineteen in number, and are under the experienced charge of Mother Francis. The building is of brick, three stories in height, with large basement and a dwarfed mansard roof, and occupies an extremely healthy and airy site. The death rate of the hospital is very low.
Academy of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. - This institution is conducted by the Sisters of St. Joseph, and is under the special direction of the Right Rev. J. L. Spauld- ing, Bishop of Peoria. Its aim is to afford the people of Illinois all the educational ad- vantages which they might desire for their daughters, and the course of studies embraces all the branches, useful and ornamental, that are usually taught. The religious opinions of non-Catholic pupils are not interfered with ; but for the sake of good order, they are required to attend the public exercises of religion.
This academy was established in 1863, by some of the Sisters of St. Joseph, who came from the mother house in Toronto for that purpose. It at first occupied a frame building on Madison Street, and some eight years afterwards was moved to its present fine building, corner of Madison and Eaton Streets. The structure is of brick with stone trimmings ; is two stories in height, with large high basement and dormer roof, and is able easily to accommodate fifty resident pupils. Besides parlors, dormitories and kitchen offices, there are two class rooms, a large study hall, and play rooms. During the two last years the resident pupils have numbered about fifteen, but in previous years from twenty-five to thirty was the usual attendance. Besides these, about fifty select pupils receive the educational advantages of the academy as day scholars. No male pupils are taken. The Sisters are fifteen in number, and in addition to their labors at the academy, teach also in the Parochial school of St. Mary's Parish, and are under the charge of Mother Superior Matilda.
Springdale Cemetery. - The association was incorporated Feb'y 14, 1855. Incor- porators, Thomas Baldwin, Hervey Lightner, William A. Hall and Onslow Peters.
The cemetery is situated two miles north of the Court-house. The grounds contain 200 acres, and passes in a superior degree all the requirements of a splendid cemetery, and in their arrangements and diversity of hills, dales, shade and water, are said by men of experience and taste in cemetery matters, to be unexcelled. The grounds are enclosed by substantial fences and Osage orange hedge. There are two entrances, one on the Prospect Hill road, and on the north west. The main one on the south liue towards the city. A good shady road leads to this entrance, and the track of the Fort Clark horse railway is extended there also. The grounds are laid off in divisions, sections and lots, conforming to the uneven and varied character of the surface. There are over twelve miles of carriage ways all well graveled and in fine condition. It is improved to the cost of $200,000 or nearly that outside of monumental adornments. Between six and seven thousand people are buried in the grounds. The grounds contain many fine monuments. The Cole monument erected at a cost of $10,000, the Bradley monument equally as beau- tiful, and the Lightner, which cost $5,000 and others. The grounds are arranged with great care and skill. In the Spring and Summer wild flowers and ferns grow in great profusion. The cemetery in fair weather is visited by 2,000 to 5,000 people every Sun- day.
The price and size of lots vary, depending on location. Prices run from 30 cts. to
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50 cts. per square foot, which includes the perpetual care of the lots, and is provided for in the deed or the certificate of purchase. There are 1,050 lots sold up to this date.
The officers of the association are H. Lightner, president ; I. S. Wheeler, secretary ; J. F. Burekel, superintendent.
The office is at the residence of the president, and a sub-office at the south entrance of the cemetery.
Peoria Fair Association .- This association was organized as a joint stock association under the State law, in April, 1873, with a capital stock of $50.000. The land enclosed is nearly forty acres, and was fitted up and new buildings erected for the State fairs. which were held on the grounds in the years 1873 and 1874. The grounds were named Jefferson Park, and are so known and designated. The State fairs held here in 1873 and 1874 were among the largest and most successful ever held in the State. The build- ings are large and well adapted to the purposes of a large exhibition. The water works of the city furnish water to all parts of the grounds. An ample supply of water for all purposes - for man and beast -is therefore certain and can be depended upon. Sheds, stalls and pens are provided for horses. cattle, sheep and swine, and a large building de- voted to fine poultry. The grounds can be reached by two steam railroads and two horse railroads. The officers of the Peoria Fair Association are : R. H. Whiting, presi- dent ; Nelson Burnham, vice president ; Washington Cockle, treasurer : Roswell Bills, secretary. The Fair Association have expended over $75,000 for land, buildings, track and other improvements, and fairs have been held on the grounds each year since 1873. Previous to that time, the fairs of Peoria county were held on the old Fair Grounds, on the hill some two miles from the city. These grounds were owned by the county, and the fairs were managed by directors chosen from each township in the county. The grounds were too small and too far from the city, and not accessible by railroad.
CITY PARKS.
Peoria has no public, but several parks which are centers of attraction and resort for thousands by carriages and street cars in the pleasant seasons. Jefferson and Central parks are situated in the upper end of the city at the terminus of the Adams Street horse railway line, about two miles above Main Street. Jefferson Park embraces about forty acres, and is the property of the Peoria Fair Association, by whom it was pur- chased and fitted up for fair purposes in 1873. The grounds, considerably elevated above the river level, present an undulating surface, furnishing good natural drainage and pleasing appearance, and are amply shaded by native forest trees.
Central Park contains ten to twelve acres, adjoining Jefferson on the city side, and is owned by the Central City House Railway Company. Besides its well shaded acres, supplied at frequent intervals with rustic seats, this park contains the artesian well. whose mineral waters supply a neatly equipped bathing establishment and swimming pool which are much enjoyed by the populace during the warm months.
Spring Hill Park is also located in the north part of the city at the base of the bluff, near the Fort Clark horse railroad. Col. Charles H. Deane began improving the land, which consists of five acres, in 1875, and expended several thousand dollars in sinking an artesian well, building bath and swimming park, and supplying other pleasurable features to the place. It is now the property of J. Hogan.
Germania Park is situated in Birket's Hollow, on the Fort Clark horse railroad, is provided with a band tower, rustie seats and an abundance of native shade.
The State House Square is situated between Third and Fifth Streets and blocks 56 and 65, in Munson und Sanford's addition ; and was donated by them to the city. The city has improved it with walks and fountain and rockwork, and interspersed the well- set lawn with n limited number of seats and shade trees.
Morton Park is bounded by Monroe, Perry, Morgan and Evans Streets, and lies in
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Morton, Voris and Laveille's addition to Peoria. The land was originally conveyed by George Morton to Mrs. Mary M. Clark, for her life time, and at her death to go the title in fee to vest in George and Mary Helen Morton, or their survivor, or in case they died without issue to go to the city of Peoria for the benefit of orphan children. Mrs. Mary M. Clark conveyed her interest to the city, and it is understood that Jacob Durst has purchased the interest of one of the said children. The city controls it and has im- proved it with walks and fountain and the planting of numerous deciduous trees about the lawn.
ARTESIAN WELLS.
Within the past decade several artesian wells have been bored in the city of Peoria, with uniformly satisfactory results. An abundant flow of water has been reached at depths varying from 865 to 912 feet.
Spring Hill artesian well - the first - was sunk early in the year 1875, by Colonel Charles H. Deane, at a cost of $2,500. It is 875 feet deep, and throws 150 gallons of water per minute, by actual measurement.
The well at Central Park was sunk by the Central City Horse Railroad Company later in 1875, and is 865 feet in depth. A vein of strongly saline water was struck at the depth of 320 feet. The water flows from the five-inch pipe with great force, form- ing quite a large brook as it runs from the fountain to the bath house and swimming park, and thence away toward the Illinois river. The cost of this well was $2,750.
The Pulsifer well, as takes its name from Sidney Pulsifer, who had it bored in the Spring of 1876, at the foot of the bluff between Main and Hamilton Streets. It is the deepest well in the city, being 912 feet, and from a four-inch delivery pipe throws 105 gallons, or fifteen and a half cubic feet of water per minute. The well is now the prop- erty of Dr. J. P. Johnson, who purchased it from Mr. Pulsifer, in January, 1879, and has erected a public bathing house and invalids' hotel, with a fine swimming park at- tached. The place, when the projected improvements are completed, will be an attract- ive resort for both the sick and those who would ward off disease by that physical condi- tion nearest akin to godliness.
In 1877 Mr. Thomas Neill had an artesian well bored at the stock yards, in the lower end of the city, for the purpose of obtaining a supply of water for the yards. At a depth of 860 feet the water rose to the surface with tremendous force, sufficient, when a hose and nozzle is attached to the five and a half inch delivery pipe, to throw water above the tops of the highest buildings in the neighborhood. It furnishes much more water than is needed for the yards and cattle pens.
The water from all these wells is very similar in chemical composition, and it holds a large per cent. of mineral matter in solution, the principal of which are chloride of sodium, chlorate of potassa, carbonate of lime and carbonate magnesia. It is rather strongly charged with sulphuretted hydrogen gas, which, however, is gradually growing weaker year by year. The temperature of the water as it flows from the pipes is 65 de- grees Fahrenheit. That this water possesses properties which render it valuable as a sanitary and medicinal agent has been thoroughly demonstrated in the experience of nu- merous citizens of dyspeptic tendency, and those afflicted with derangements of the ex- cretory organs. Thousands of persons who have enjoyed the luxury of the baths - for which there are ample provisions at each of the first three named wells- pronounce the effect very refreshing and invigorating, leaving the skin peculiarly soft and velvety to the touch.
BRIDGES
The Peoria Bridge Association was organized in 1847, for the purpose of construct- ing a toll bridge across the Illinois river at Peoria, at the foot of Peoria Lake. The bridge was begun in May, 1848, and completed in November, 1849, at a cost of about
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$33,000. It is built upon five stone piers, and, including the trestle-work on the Tazewell county side, is 2,600 feet long, and has a draw, for vessels to pass, of 292 feet. The Spring before the bridge was finished the highest freshet ever known on the river oc- curred - the water being up to the sidewalk at the corner of Main and Water Streets - and the structure was damaged several thousand dollars. In 1856 $10,000 were ex- pended in repairs on the bridge. Previous to the erection of the bridge the only means of communication from the opposite side of the river was by ferry boat, the receipts of which amounted to 81,000 the month before the bridge was opened. For the first nine months after it was opened to travel, the tolls averaged 8550 per month. The tolls now run - per month. Peoria needs a first-class free bridge by which the people from the counties on the east. side of the Illinois can avail themselves of hier commercial advantages.
There are also two railroad bridges spanning the Illinois river at Peoria, the bridge of the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw, at the same place as the wagon bridge, and one owned by the Peoria and Springfield Company, at the crossing of that line below the stock yards. They are both substantial iron structures erected ten years ago ; the former replaced a wooden bridge, built when the road was being constructed.
CHAPTER XVIII .- TOWNSHIP HISTORIES. AKRON TOWNSHIP
is one of the northern tier of townships bordering on Marshall county, was originally all prairie ; is one of the prettiest and most fertile tracts of land, and contains some of the finest farm improvements in Peoria county. There is no incorporated town in the town- ship. The village of Princeville lies on its western border and the hamlet and post office of West Hallock on the eastern line, and Akron post office is near the center of the township. The soil is admirably adapted to grain-growing and grazing, especially to the production of Indian corn. Its inhabitants are intelligent and prosperous.
The first settler of Akron township was Hugh Montgomery, who located on section 7 in 1831. The same year D. Prince and James Morrow settled on section 31, and Thomas Morrow ou section 18. The first marriage took place in 1833, when William Morrow was united with Miss Martha White. The first birth was Jane, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Prince, in February, 1832. The first death in the township was that of Samuel Morrow, infant son of William Morrow, in 1835. The first sermon preached was by the Rev. Mr. Hill, a Methodist preacher, at the residence of James Morrow, in 1832. The first school house was built on section 19, in 1836. The school was taught by Miss Hester Stoddard in that year. The first church edifice was built by the Seventh-day Baptists in 1871, and was dedicated by the Rev. Nathan Wardner. The first justice of the peace was Benjamin Slane, who was also the first supervisor. The Rock Island and Peoria Railroad runs through the southwest corner.
West Halleck Cheese Factory was organized February, 1876, the company composed of G. W. Butts, William Spicer, and E. W. Burdeck. Make cheese five days in the week, and make about 11,000 pounds per month. One day of the week (Saturday ) make butter, and average 300 pounds per day. The cost of their present factory is about $3,500.
BRIMFIELD TOWNSHIP.
The town of Charleston, now Brimfield, Peoria county, Illinois, was surveyed and laid out in the year 1835, on the N. W. quarter of section 24, in township 10, north of range 5, E. 4th, p. m. The proprietors were Jacob Showalter and Almon Clark.
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Previous to the laying out of the town a number of pioneers had located in the vicinity. Among them Philip Atkinson, supposed to have been the first settler in the town- ship. On section 10 N. of range 6, were Asahel and Roswell Walker, James Adams, and Daniel and A. W. Harkness. The first house in Charleston was built of logs, on the northwest corner of Knoxville and Galena Avenues, by A. Woniger, in 1836, who opened a grocery store in the room below, and made his residence in the room above. The same year Jacob Vanhouton, who was the first postmaster, built a log house on the northwest corner of Knoxville Avenue and Washington Street, better known as the old Wolcott house. In the township and vicinity many new settlers arrived in that year, among them were John F. and N. H. Wiley, Levi Jennings, L. L. Booth, John Tucker, Isaac Cutter, T. N. Wells, Daniel Simmons, Isaac Harrison, and L. L. Guyor, who suc- ceeded Jacob Vanhouton as postmaster, and in the following year built a log house on lot 7 in block 17, in which he opened a general store for supplying the inhabitants of the surrounding country with dry goods, groceries, etc., keeping bachelor's hall in the upper room, which was freely thrown open for preaching the gospel to any pioneer minister who might travel on the circuit. Those who settled in the west half of town- ship 10, north of range 6, east (now Jubilee) in 1836, were the Powells, the Sniders, Shanes, James Berrian, the Martins, the Johnsons, and William Camphor, who was subsequently elected to represent Peoria county in the legislature, Daniel Stansburry, now living in Brimfield, at the age of 88 years; also Jacob Wells, who started the first blacksmith shop and opened the first coal bank in the vicinity, being on the northwest quarter of section 18.
The first settlers had to obtain their mail from Peoria. The first mail to Charleston was carried on horseback. The first line of mail coaches was started from Peoria to Oquawka, early in the year of 1838.
The first election in the precinct was held at the house of Isaac Cutter, when Clark D. Powellwas elected justice of the peace, and Samuel Johnson, constable.
The first preaching in the township was at the house of Isaac Cutter, by Rev. Zaccheus Hall, a Methodist minister. Rev. Geo. G. Sill, was the first Presbyterian min- ister, and preached occasionally at L. L. Guyer's store, in 1838. The late Bishop Chase, of Jubilee College, also preached there a few times.
The year 1838 marked quite an era to the new town in respects to improvements and increase of population. James Wollcott and family, comprising eight in number, came from the East purchased and occupied the Vanhouten House ; Daniel Belcher built the two story frame house for a tavern, on the northwest corner of Knoxville Ave. and Washington Street ; A. S. W. Goodwin and Daniel Caldwell, who built a log-house on lot 8 in block 16; Wm. Tobey, who was subsequently the manufacturer of the cele- brated Tobey & Anderson plow, at Peoria ; also came Dr. Prouty, John Towell, John Shores and E. Haywood, making an additional population for that year, of thirty-three persons in the town. Those who settled in the vicinity were Alpheus Willard, David Sanborn, James M. Wiley, Bradford Hall, George H. and Samuel W. Pulsifer, Luther and Gilbert Hathaway, Washington Cockle, Noah Alden, Sr., Noah Alden, Jr., and Hiram Alden ; Noah Alden, Sr., died a few years since at the advanced age of ninety- eight.
The first fourth of July celebration in the new town was in the same year, and parti- cipated in by most of the inhabitants of the town neighborhood. The Declaration of Inde- pendence was read by A. S. W. Goodwin, and an ode composed by Miss Lucretia Wolcott, for the Sixty-Second Anniversary of American Independence, and was sung by herself and others.
Polluted never be thy shrine, May love's bright halo round thee shine, And unity and peace divine, Forever dwell with thee.
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In 1839, the Hon. Wm. Thompson with his wife and two daughters removed from Northampton, Mass., to Peoria county. He was born in Brimfield Mass., on the 23d day of February, 1786. Through a long life Mr. Thompson enjoyed the esteem and con- fidence of all classes of the community. For four years he was a member of the Senate of Illinois, also a member of the convention to alter the constitution of the State in 1817. He died at Brimfield on the 24th day of February, 1850. aged 64. He married Miss Eliza S. White of Chesterfield, Mass., who survived her husband twenty-seven years.
The first school-house was built in 1839. The first teacher was Miss Ellen Bartlett, of Peoria. Among the arrivals this year was Chas. H. Freeman and Capt. Fisher.
The first marriage in town was Mr. L. L. Guyer and Miss Elvira M. Wiley, and Rev. George Wilkison performed the ceremony.
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