Illinois, historical

Preface

Why publish this book? There should be many and strong reasons to -warrant such an andertaking. Are there such reasons? What considerations are weighty enough to have induced the publishers to make this venture? and what special claims has Illinois to such a distinction? These are reasonable and inevitable inqi;iries, and it is fitting they should receive attention.

In the first place, good State Histories are of great importance and value, and there is abundant and cheering evidence of an increasing popular interest in them. This is true of all such works, whatever States may be their subjects ; and it is conspicuously true of Illinois, for the following, among many other reasons : Because of its great prominence in the early history of the West as the seat of the first settlements of Europeans northwest of the Ohio River — the unique character of its early civilization, due to or resulting fi'om its early French population brought in contact with the aborigines — its political, military, and educational prominence — its steadfast loyalty and patriotism — the marvelous development of its vast resources — the number of distinguished statesmen, generals, and jurists whom it has furnished to the Government, and its gi'and record in the exciting and perilous conflicts on the Slavery question.

This is the magnificent Commonwealth, the setting forth of whose history, in all of ita essential departments and features, seemed to warrant the bringing out of another volume devoted to that end. Its material has been gathered from every available source, and most carefully examined and sifted before acceptance. Esfjecial care has been taken in collecting material of a biographical character ; facts and incidents in the personal history of men identified with the life of the State in its Territorial and later periods. This material has been gathered from a great variety of sources widely scattered, and much of it quite inaccessible to the ordinary inquirer. The encyclopedic form of the work favors conciseness and compactness, and was adopted with a view to condensing the largest amount of information within the smallest practicable space.

And so the Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois was conceived and planned in the belief that it was needed; that no other book filled the place it was designed to occupy, or furnished the amount, variety and scope of information touching the infancy and later life of Illinois, that would be found in its pages. In that belief, and in furtherance of those ends, the book has been constructed and its topics selected and written. Simplicity, perspicuitj^, conciseness and accuracy have been the dominant aims and rules of its editors and writers. The supreme mission of the book is to record, fairly and truthfully, historical facts ; facts of the earlier and later history of the State, and drawn from tlie almost innumerable sources connected with that history ; facts of interest to the great body of our people, as well as to scholars, officials, and other special classes ; a book convenient for reference in the school, tiie office, and the home. Hence, no attempt at fine writing, no labored, irrelevant and

4 PREFACE.

long-drawn acconnte of matters, persons or things, which really need but a few plain words for their adequate elucidation, will be found in its pages. On the other hand, perspicuity and fitting development are never intentionally sacrificed to mere conciseness and brevity. Whenever a subject, from its nature, demands a more elaborate treatment — and there are many of this chiiracter — it is handled accordingly.

As a rule, the method pursued is the separate and topical, rather than the chronological, as being more satisfactory and convenient for reference. That is, each topic is considered separately and exhaustively, instead of being blended, chronologically, with others. To pass from subject to subject, in the mere arbitrary order of time, is to sacrifice simplicity and order to complexity and confusion.

Absolute freedom from error or defect in all cases, in handling so many thousands of items, is not claimed, and could not reasonably be expected of any finite intelligence ; since, in complicated cases, some element may possibly elude its sharpest scrutiny. But every statement of fact, made herein without qualification, is believed to be strictly correct, and the statistics of the volume, as a whole, are submitted to its readers with entire confidence.

Considerable space is also devoted to biographical sketches of persons deemed worthy of mention, for their close relations to the State in some of its varied interests, political, governmental, financial, social, religions, educational, industrial, commercial, economical, military, judicial or otherwise; or for their supposed personal deservings in other respects. It is believed that the extensive recognition of such individuals, by the publishers, will not be disapproved or regretted by the public ; that personal biography has an honored, useful and legitimate place in such a history of Illinois as this volume aims to be, and that the omission of such a department would seriously detract from the completeness and value of the book. Perhaps no more delicate and difficult task has confronted the editors and publishers than the selection of names for this part of the work.

While it is believed that no unworthy name has a place in the list, it is freely admitted that there may be many others, equally or possibly even more worthy, whose names do not appear, partly for lack of definite and adequate information, and partly because it was not deemed best to materially increase the space devoted to this class of topics.

And so, with cordial thanks to the publishers for the risks they have so cheerfully assumed in this enterprise, for their business energy, integrity, and determination, and their uniform kindness and courtesy ; to the many who have to generously and helpfully promoted the success of the work, by their contributions of valuable information, interesting reminiscences, and rare incidents; to Mr. Paul Selby, the very able associate editor, to whom especial honor and credit are due for his most efficient, intelligent and scholarly services ; to Hon. Harvey B. Hurd, Walter B. Wines, and to all others who have, by word or act, encouraged us in this enterprise — with grateful recognition of all these friends and helpers, the Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois, with its thousands of topics and many thousands of details, items and incidents, is now respectfully submitted to the good people of the State, for whom it has been prepared, in the earnest hope and confident belief that it will be found instructive, convenient and useful for the purposes for which it was designed.

MJ)Mi^

PREFATORY STATEMENT,

Since the bulk of the matter contained in this Tolnme was practically completed and ready for the press, Dr. Newton Bateman, who occupied the relation to it of editor-in-chief, has passed beyond the sphere of mortal existence. In placing the work before the public, it therefore devolves upon the undersigned to make this last prefatory statement.

As explained by Dr. Bateman in his preface, the object had in view in the preparation of a "Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois" has been to present, in compact and concise form, the leading facts of Territorial and State history, from the arrival of the earliest French explorers in Illinois to the present time. This has included an outline history of the State, under the title, "Illinois," supplemented by special articles relating to various crises and eras in State history; changes in form of government and administration; the history of Constitutional Conventions and Legislative Assemblies ; the various wars in which Illinoisans have taken part, with a summary of the principal events in the history of individual military organizations engaged in the Civil War of 1861-65, and the War of 1898 with Spain; lists of State officers. United States Senators and Members of Congress, with the terms of each; the organization and development of political divisions; the establishment of charitable and educational institutions ; the growth of public improvements and other enterprises which have marked the progress of the State; natural features and resources; the history of early newspapers, and the growth of religious denominations, together with general statistical information and unusual or extraordinary occurrences of a local or general State character — all arranged under topical heads, and convenient for ready reference by all seeking information on these subjects, whether in the family, in the oflBce of the professional or business man, in the teacher's study and the school-room, or in the public library.

While individual or collected biographies of the public men of Illinois have not been ■wholly lacking or few in number — and those already in existence have a present and constantly increasing value — they have been limited, for the most part, to special localities and particular periods or classes. Rich as the annals of Illinois are in the records and character of its distinguished citizens who, by their services in the public councils, upon the judicial bench and in the executive chair, in the forum and in the field, have reflected honor upon the State and the Nation, there has been hitherto no comprehensive attempt to gather together, in one volume, sketches of those who have been conspicuous in the creation and upbuilding of the State. The collection of material of this sort has been a task requiring patient and laborious research ; and, while all may not have been achieved in this direction that was desirable, owing to the insuflBciency or total absence of data relating to the lives of many men most prominent in public affairs during the period to which they belonged, it is still believed that what has been accomplished will be found of permanent value and be appreciated by those most deeply interested in this phase of State history.

The large number of topics treated has made brevity and conciseness an indispensable feature of the work ; consequently there has been no attempt to indulge in graces of style or

.5

6 P K E F A T R Y S T A T E 1\I E N T .

elaboration of narrative. The object has been to present, in simple language and concise form, facts of history of interest or value to those who may choose to consult its pages. Absolute inerrancy is not claimed for every detail of the work, but no pains has been spared, and every available autliority consulted, to arrive at complete accuracy of statement.

In view of the important bearing wliich railroad enterprises have had upon tlie extraordinary development of the State within the past fifty years, considerable space has been given to this department, especially with reference to the older lines of railroad whose history has been intimately interwoven with that of the State, and its progress in wealth and jjopulation.

In addition to the acknowledgments made by Dr. Bateman, it is but proper that I should express my personal obligations to the late Prof. Samuel M. Inglis, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and his assistant, Prof. J. H. Freeman; to ex-Senator John M. Palmer, of Springfield; to the late Hon. Joseph Medill, editor of "The Chicago Tribune"; to the Hon. James B. Bradwell, of "The Chicago Legal News"; to Gen. Green B. IJaum, Dr. Samuel Willard, and Dr. Garrett Newkirk, of Chicago (the latter as author of the principal portions of the article on the "Underground Railroad") ; to the Librarians of the State Historical Library, the Chicago Historical Library, and the Chicago Public Library, for special and valuable aid rendered, as well as to a large circle of correspondents in different parts of the State who have courteously responded to requests for information on special topics, and have thereby materially aided in securing whatever success may have been attained in the work.

In conclusion, I cannot omit to pay this final tribute to the memory of my friend and associate, Dr. Bateman, whose death, at his home in Galesburg, elsewhere recorded, was deplored, not only by his associates in the Faculty of Knox College, his former pupils and immediate neighbors, but by a large circle of friends in all parts of the State.

Although his labors as editor of this volume had been substantially finished at the time of his death (and they included the reading and revision of every line of copy at that time prepared, comprising the larger proportion of the volume as it now goes into the hands of the public), the enthusiasm, zeal and kindly appreciation of the labor of others which he brought to the discharge of his duties, have been sadly missed in the last stages of preparation of the work for the press. In the estimation of many who have held his scholarship and his splendid endowments of mind and character in the highest admu'ation, his connection with the work will be its strongest commendation and the surest evidence of its merit.

With myself, the most substantial satisfaction I have in dismissing the volume from my hands and submitting it to the judgment of the public, exists in the fact that, in its preparation, I have been associated with such a co-laborer— one whose abilities commanded universal respect, and whose genial, scholarly character and noble qualities of mind and heart won the love and confidence of all with whom he came in contact, and whom it had been my privilege to count as a friend from an early period in his long and useful career.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE

Abraham Lincoln [Frontispiece) 1

Annex Central Hospital for Insane, Jacksonville 84

Asylum for Feeble-Minded Children, Lincoln 237

Bateman, Newton (Portrait ) 3

Board of Trade Building, Chicago 277

"Chenu Mansion," Kaskaskia (1898), where La Fayette was entertained in 1825 .... 315

Chicago Academy of Sciences 394

Chicago Drainage Canal 94

Chicago Historical Society Building 394

Chicago Post Office (U. S. Gov. Building) 88

Chicago Public Buildings 395

Chicago Thoroughfares 89

Chicago Thoroughfares , 93

Chief Chicagou (Portrait) 246

Comparative Size of Great Canals 95

Day after Chicago Fire 92

Early Historic Scenes, Chicago 170

Early Historic Scenes, Chicago (No. i) 171

Engineering Hall, University of Illinois 280

Experiment Farm, University of Illinois 12

Experiment Farm, University of Illinois — The Vineyard 13

Experiment Farm, University of Illinois — Orchard Cultivation 13

First Illinois State House, Kaskaskia (1818) 314

Fort Dearborn from the West (1808) 246

Fort Dearborn from Southeast (1808) 247

Fort Dearborn (1853) 247

General John Edgar's House, Kaskasia 315

Henry de Tonty (Portrait) 246

House of Governor Bond, Old Kaskaskia (1891) 315

House of Chief Ducoign, the last of the Kaskaskias (1893) 314

Home for Juvenile Female Offenders, Geneva 236

Illinois Eastern Hospital for Insane, Kankakee 85

Illinois Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, Quincy 438

Illinois State Normal University, Normal 504

Illinois State Capitol (First), Kaskaskia 240

Illinois State Capitol (Second), Vandalia 240

lUinois State Capitol (Third), Springfield 240

Illinois State Capitol (Present), Springfield 241

Illinois State Building, World's Columbian Exposition, 1893 601

Illinois State Penitentiary, Joliet 306

Illinois State Penitentiary — Cell House and Women's Prison 307

Illinois State Eeformatory, Pontiac 493

8 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE

Institution for Deaf and Dumb, Jacksonville 300

Interior of Room, Kaskaskia Hotel (1893) where La Fayette Banquet was held in 1825 314

Institution for the Blind, Jacksonville 301

Kaskaskia Hotel, where La Payette was feted in 1825 (as it appeared, 1893) 314

La Salle (Portrait) 246

Library Building, University of Illinois 334

Library Building — Main Floor — University of Illinois 335

Lincoln Park Vistas, Chicago 120

Map of Burned District, Chicago Fire, 1871 276

Map of Grounds, World's Columbian Exposition, 1893 600

Map of Illinois Following Title Page

Map of Illinois River Valley " " "

McCormick Seminary, Chicago 362

Monuments in Lincoln Park, Chicago 90

Monuments in Lincoln Park, Chicago 206

Monuments in Lincoln Park, Chicago 207

Natural History Hall, University of Illinois 1'51

Newberry Library, Chicago 394

Northern Hospital for the Insane, Elgin 402

Old Kaskaskia, from Garrison Hill (as it appeared in 1893) 314

Old State House, Kaskaskia (1900) 315

Pierre Menard Mansion, Kaskaskia (1893) 314

Remnant of Old Kaskaskia (as it appeared in 1898) 315

Scenes in South Park, Chicago 604

Seiljy, Paul (Protrait) 5

Sheridan Road and on the Boulevards, Chicago 121

Soldiers' "Widows' Home, Wilmington 439

Southern Illinois Normal, Carbondale 505

Southern Illinois Penitentiary and Asylum for Incurable Insane, Chester 492

University Hall, University of Illinois 150

University of Chicago 363

University of Illinois, Urbana. (Group of Buildings) 540

University of Illinois, Urbana. (Group of Buildings) 541

View from Engineering Hall, University of Illinois 281

View on Principal Street, Old Kaskaskia (1891) 315

Views in Lincoln Park, Chicago 91

Views of Drainage Canal 96

Views of Drainage Canal 97

War Eagle (Portrait) 246

Western Hospital for the Insane, Watertown 403

World's Fair Buildings 605

PREFACE

As the title of this volume, "Illinois (Historical), Effingham County (Biographical)," implies, the Effingham County department thereof is quite largely devoted to a record of the lives and deeds of many whose efforts, in the past, have resulted in the splendid conditions now prevailing in the commonwealth. The history of Effingham County has also been given reasonable space in the publication, prepared from available sources of information and ably supplemented by special contributions from the pens of Hon. William B. Wright, Mr. W. H. Engbring, Frank W. Goodell, M. D., Mr. Joseph B. Jones, Prof. J. H. Probst, Mr. David L. Wright, Mr. George M. LeCrone, Mr. H. H. Bailey, Dr. Thomas J. Dunn, Mr. G. W. Tipswood, Mr. B. F. Kagay, Henry B. Kepley and A. F. Jansen, while valued facts have been furnished and co-operation has been extended by other friends of the work.

Occupying a situation in the central part of Southern Illinois, and adjacent to the second State Capital, the history of Effingham County is closely identified with that of the early settlements of that section of the State, and in the development of which its population have borne an important part. Its genial climate, varied surface and fertile soil have attracted to it an enterprising class of citizens, especially in agricultural lines, and its progress in the more than three-quarters of a century of its existence as an independent political organization, gives evidence of the industry and thrift of its people and the prosperity which has rewarded their efforts. It is fitting that a record of these conditions and events, and of the personal history of its citizens, through whose energy and enterprise these results have been achieved, should be preserved for the benefit of a future generation, and to this end it is believed this work will render a valuable service.

The Publishers.

Chapter I. Introductory

Spirit Which Animated Early Settlers in Illinois— Griffin Tipsword the First White Settler in Effingham County— Settled Among the Indians in 1814— Original Name and Personal History— Other Early Comers and Reminiscences of Frontier Life 617-618

Chapter II. County Organization

Date of Organization— Counties of Which Effingham Has Formed a Part at Different Periods— Area and Boundaries— Topography- Streams— Indian Relics— Mineral Resources— Coal, Building Rock and Mineral Waters— Ewington the First County Seat— Removal to Effingham-Some First Events-First Land Deed, First Marriage and First School

Chapter III. Early Settlements

Conditions and diodes of Life in Pioneer Days-Early Settlements- Meetings of Old Settlers' Association— Reminiscences of Some of Its Members— Wolf Creek, Green Creek, Limestone Creek, Freemanton and Elliottstown Settlements— Letters and Speeches— Incidents of Local and General County History 619-633

Chapter IV. Township History

History of Individual Townships in Effingham County— Early Settlers and When They Came— Primitive Conditions— Towns and Villages- Schools Churches ^nd Fraternal Organizations— Other Items of Local History 633-647

Chapter V. Effingham War Record

Evidence of Effingham County Patriotism — Part Taken by Its Citizens in Various Wars — List of Those Who Served in the Black Hawk and Mexican Wars — Breaking Out of the Civil War — First Company Organized in Effingham County Becomes a Part of the Eleventh Regiment — Later Regiments Organized in Part From Effingham County — Dr. J. N. Matthew's Reminiscences of War Days in Mason \'illage — Treasonable and Unpatriotic Organizations — Some of Effingham County's Patriotic Heroes Who Gave Their Lives for Their Country 647-652

CHAPTER \T.

RAILROADS.

Lines of Railroad in Effingham County — Dates of Organization and Periods of Construction — History of Illinois Central — Vandalia Line — Wabash — Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern — Mileage and Stations on \'arious Lines Witliin Effingham County 652-654

Chapter VII. Banking Interests

History of Banking Enterprise in Effingham County — Early Banks, With Names of Promoters and Dates of Organization — List of Present Banks, Location and Officers — Capitalization, Deposits, Etc 654-656

Chapter VIII. Effingham County Bench And Bar

Blackstone's Definition of Municipal Law — Importance of Duties Vested in Courts — Effingham County Organized — Early Courts and Presiding Justices — First Practicing Attorneys in the County — Distinguished Citizens Who Have Practiced at the Effingham County Bar — List of Later and Present Justices and Members of the Bar 656-658

Chapter IX. The Medical Profession

List of Physicians Who Have Practiced in Effingham County— Date of Entrance Into the Profession and Coming to the County— Some Prominent Characters and Notable Events 658-672

Chapter X. The Newspaper Press

The Newspaper Press of Effingham County— The Pioneer of Ewington, the First Paper in the County — Changes of Name and Location— It Finally Becomes the Democrat — Other Papers of a Later Period — The Unionist and the Loyalist of War Time— The Daily Democrat Established in 1899— The Effingham Register and Republican- Papers at Altamont — German Papers— The Effingham Volksblatt — Teutopolis Press- Later Papers Which Have Gone Out of Existence 672-674

CHAPTER XL

CHURCHES— SCHOOLS.

Early Churches of Effingham County — The Methodist Ewington Mission — First Local Churches — Date of Organization and First Members — -First Presbyterian Church of Effingham — Its History and Principal Pastors — Laying of Corner Stone of New Church Building in August, 1909 — St. Mary's Catholic Church — First German Catholic Church in Effingham County — Priests Who Have Presided Over St. Mary's Church and the Church at Teutopolis — German Catholic Schools— Bissell College 674-682

Chapter XII. Dairying Industries

Development of Dairying Industries in Effingham County — -Early Conditions — First Signs of Improvement — Coming of the Jersey Cow^ — First Attempt to Establish a Creamery in the County — Other Early Creamery Enterprises and Failures — The Oleomargarine Contest — Extracts from the "Creamery Patrons' Hand Book" — Later Experiments and the More Successful Enterprises of the Present Day... 682-685

Chapter XIII. County And Local Fairs

First Effingham County Agricultural Society Organized in 1856 — First Officers and Some Early Fairs — Suspension During the Civil War Period — Organization of the County Agricultural, Horticultural and Mechanical Society — New County Agricultural Society Organized in 1880 — Another Period of Suspension — Fairs at Watson — Altamont Agricultural Association Organized in 1905 — Subsequent Fairs.... 685-686

Chapter XIV. Old Settlers' Association

Organization of Effingham County Old Settlers' Association — Founders and First Officers — Subsequent Meetings and Later Officers — Popular Interest in Annual Reunions — Association in Prosperous Condition 686-688

Chapter XV. ' Masonic Fraternity— Auxiliaries

Masonic Organizations in Effingham County — First Lodge in the County Organized at Ewington in 1854 — Removed to Effingham in 1862 — Individual History of Later Lodges — Mason, Delia, Edgewood, Altamont, Prairie City, Watson, Mayo and Beecher City Lodges — Dates of Organization, First and Present Officers and Present Membership — Auxiliary Organizations — Effingham Chapter R. A. M. — Effingham and Golden Lake Chapters of the Eastern Star 688-693