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 Secretary Memorial ' ub '<cit>/ 
 
 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 
 Of the Decatur and Macon County Centennial Association 
 
CENTENNIAL 
 HISTORY of DECATUR 
 
 AND 
 
 MACON COUNTY 
 
 Compiled and Rewritten by 
 
 MABEL E. RICHMOND 
 
 Published by 
 
 THE DECATUR REVIEW 
 
 in Co-operation with 
 THE DECATUR AND MACON COUNTY CENTENNIAL ASSOCIATION 
 
 DECATUR, ILLINOIS 
 
 1930 
 
Copyright 1930 
 by 
 
 THE REVIEW PUBLISHING COMPANY 
 Decatur, Illinois 
 
 Printed and Bound 
 by 
 
 THE REVIEW PRINTING & STATIONERY COMPANY 
 Decatur, Illinois 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 
 
 Chapter Page 
 
 I— The Land of Promise 9 
 
 II — Pioneer Settlers 15 
 
 HI — County and Town Laid Out. 23 
 
 IV— First Court House 29 
 
 V— Court News 34 
 
 VI— The Pioneer at Home 39 
 
 VII— Some Early Residents 44 
 
 VIII— Abraham Lincoln 50 
 
 IX — Abraham Lincoln (cont.) 56 
 
 X — Abraham Lincoln (concluded). 63 
 
 XI— In the '30s and '40s 70 
 
 XII — Internal Improvements 77 
 
 XIII— David L. Allen 80 
 
 XIV— The First Churches 84 
 
 XV— First Physicians 89 
 
 XVI— Nomenclature 93 
 
 XVII — Transportation 98 
 
 XVIII— The 1839 Directory 103 
 
 XIX— Macon County Bar 106 
 
 XX— The Powers Family Ill 
 
 XXI— Richard J. Oglesby 116 
 
 XXII— Richard J. Oglesby (con- 
 cluded) 121 
 
 XXIII— Black Hawk and Mexican 
 
 Wars 125 
 
 XXIV— Early Settlements 130 
 
 XXV— Camp Meetings 133 
 
 XXVI— Early Builders 137 
 
 XXVII— Some Busy Citizens ....141 
 XXVIII— City and County Gov- 
 ernment 146 
 
 XXIX— Postal Department 154 
 
 XXX— Early Hotels 158 
 
 XXXI— Rural Schools 166 
 
 XXXII— Decatur Schools 170 
 
 XXXIII— Parochial Schools 177 
 
 XXXIV— Fraternal Organizations. 181 
 
 ^XXXV- Decatur in the '50s 188 
 
 XXXVI— Newspapers 197 
 
 XXXVII— The Medical Society .. .200 
 
 Chapter Page 
 
 XXXVIII— Gold Seekers 204 
 
 XXXIX— The Railroads Come ...208 
 
 XL — Music Organizations 216 
 
 XLI— Decatur Banks 221 
 
 XLII — Some Long-Time Business 
 
 Men 226 
 
 XLIII— Theaters-Clubs 235 
 
 XLIV— Civil War 241 
 
 XLV— Civil War (concluded) ....248 
 XLVI — Decatur Army Leaders. . .252 
 XLVII— Grand Army of the Re- 
 public 257 
 
 XLVIII— Decatur in the '60s ....263 
 
 XLIX— Parks 272 
 
 L— Decatur Public Library 280 
 
 LI— Decatur in the 70s 285 
 
 LII— Decatur Rolling Mill 292 
 
 LIII— Water Supply 295 
 
 LI V— Fire Department 302 
 
 LV— Franklin Priest 311 
 
 LVI— Mules to Motors 314 
 
 LVII — Lights and Telephones . . . .320 
 
 LVIII— Decatur in the '80s 326 
 
 LIX— The Colored People 331 
 
 LX — Gave Twice One Fortune ..336 
 
 LXI — Distinguished Visitors 338 
 
 LXII — Some Decatur Landmarks. 344 
 
 LXIII— Decatur in the '90s 351 
 
 LXIV — War with Spain — National 
 
 Guard 359 
 
 LXV — Mrs. Jane Martin Johns ...364 
 LX VI— Where Decatur Leads ...368 
 LXVII— Make Way for the Auto. .370 
 
 LXVIII— James Millikin 373 
 
 LXIX — James Millikin University .377 
 LXX— Decatur, 1900 to 1929 ....383 
 
 LXXI— The World War 393 
 
 LXX 1 1— Centennial Celebration. . .403 
 
 LXXIII— Decatur Today 415 
 
 Appendix — Township Histories ...425 
 
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 FOREWORD 
 
 Writing of this history began years ago when reporters of The 
 Review wrote down the words of men and women whose lives went 
 back to the beginning of the county. Thus we have the history of 
 Decatur as seen and made by people who were here when the cen- 
 tury was new. 
 
 Among those whose eyes saw and whose ears heard happenings 
 herein described as they saw and heard were Jerome R. Gorin, Willis 
 Johnson, Sr., Richard J. Oglesby, Jane M. Johns, and scores of others. 
 
 The first two told this writer themselves of meetings they at- 
 tended in the log court house when it was on Lincoln Square. They 
 looked back to the early thirties of the nineteenth century and de- 
 scribed the little village of a score of log cabins as they lived and 
 worked and played in it when both were in their early teens. It is from 
 such original sources that much of this history comes. 
 
 Among some of the Review writers who did most toward tran- 
 scribing the history as given by word of mouth by men here at or 
 near the beginning were Jerry Donahue and E. T. Coleman. As- 
 sembling it as a Connected history began in 1923 when E. B. Hitch- 
 cock, then a member of The Review staff, started in the paper a series 
 of articles under the heading, "The Story of Decatur." With imagin- 
 ation and taste he gave new color and picturesqueness to the begin- 
 nings of Macon county history. 
 
 Then E. T. Coleman took up the series and wrote for several 
 months. He delved into Macon county records. He traveled over the 
 county. He recreated as nearly as might be now the scenes in which 
 Macon county people lived in early days. With fine judgment and rare 
 style he improved and filled in with vividly worded chapters the' work 
 of other writers. He also found much not before recorded in the two 
 worth while histories published in book form before that time. First 
 of those two histories was John W. Smith's. It has always been the 
 source of much pertaining to the early history of the county. To it the 
 authors of tin's history owe much. 
 
 When Mr. Coleman's work was abruptly ended by his death in 
 1929, others kept up the scries in The Review. Eventually, Mabel E. 
 Richmond took hold. 
 
6 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 As the series in the paper neared ending, suggestion was made 
 that the history of the city and county set out therein was too valu- 
 able to leave buried in the files of a daily newspaper. There was often 
 expressed the desire that the history should be preserved and made 
 readily accessible in book form. 
 
 At that time Macon county was celebrating its hundredth an- 
 niversary. The Centennial Association, including some hundreds of 
 citizens, fittingly marked the event by a pageant that was an artistic 
 and, more unusual, a financial success. 
 
 Something more permanent than a pageant was desired to mark 
 the anniversary. It was decided that publication of this history would 
 be fitting. 
 
 The Centennial Association's history committee included Frank 
 E. Sawyer, William Harris and Mrs. Cora B. Ryman. They joined 
 with The Review in planning for a revision of the history for perman- 
 ent publication as the Centennial Association's memorial. It was soon 
 decided that rewriting the entire history was the only way to prepare 
 it for book form. 
 
 Mabel E. Richmond, a member of The Review staff, has per- 
 formed that work, giving her time wholly and exclusively to the task 
 for almost a year. 
 
 Taking the articles in "The Story of Decatur" series, going 
 through all previously published local histories, digging into files and 
 documents, interviewing and writing to scores who might have facts 
 of value or interest, searching for pictures, she has compiled, rewritten, 
 and not least important, condensed, until there is here complete in 
 outstanding events a history that The Review believes is not only 
 a fitting and worthy memorial, but a history in which it can rightly 
 take pride as showing vividly, accurately, and instructively the first 
 hundred years of the city and county. 
 
 The most appalling thing to anyone who undertakes compiling 
 a history of this kind is the many discrepancies in names of people, 
 dates and facts in previously printed stories or histories. Direct con- 
 tradictions are found in important stories. Wherever possible original 
 records have been consulted. 
 
 Not the least difficult feature of revising the history has been 
 that of selecting, condensing, and omitting. A great wealth of anec- 
 dote, detail, and incident, much of it important and worth while, had 
 to be left out. Included in this were the township and other special 
 histories written by different ones. These have been published in The 
 
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 7 
 
 Review. Assurance was given that they would appear in the book. 
 That has been found impossible. Space limits first set have been twice 
 enlarged to get in chapters bearing on events essential to the history. 
 
 Pictures are an important feature of this history. Many here 
 have not been previously published. No county history has as many 
 illustrations of such interest and value. 
 
 In securing pictures, as well as in collecting other details, Mr. 
 Sawyer, chairman of the Association's history committee, has been 
 indefatigable. With an unusual knowledge of persons and sources of 
 local historical interest, he has given time and work without stint. 
 His suggestions have been important and valuable. 
 
 A part of the Centennial Association's cooperation has been ar- 
 ranging to place a copy of the history in each school and library in 
 the county, and in state and other public libraries. 
 
 It is the hope of the executive committee, of which Judge James 
 S. Baldwin is chairman, and who has contributed valuable support to 
 the history, that the work may be used as a text in our schools. With 
 this use in mind, some details have been included that might otherwise 
 have been left out. H. C. S. 
 
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 ACKNOWLEDGMENT 
 
 For material in this history the writer is indebted to: 
 
 History of Macon county, Illinois, by John W. Smith. 
 
 History of Macon county, Illinois, by Brink, McDonough & Co. 
 
 Portrait and Biographical Record of Macon county, published by Lake City 
 Publishing Co. 
 
 Past and Present of the City of Decatur and Macon county, Illinois, pub- 
 lished by S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 
 
 City of Decatur and Macon county, Illinois, edited by W. E. Nelson, pub- 
 lished by Pioneer Publishing Co. 
 
 "Personal Recollections," by Jane M. Johns. 
 
 "Story of Decatur," by E. B. Hitchcock and E. T. Coleman, published in 
 The Review. 
 
 "History of Macon County," by E. T. Coleman, published in The Review. 
 
 "The Speer Family," by Dr. J. G. Speer. 
 
 Manuscript on the Powers family by Mrs. Sarah Powers Durfee. 
 
 Old files of the Daily Review and Daily Republican, and previous news- 
 papers. 
 
 Miscellaneous booklets on Decatur. 
 
 Adjutant-General's Reports. 
 
 Centennial History of Illinois. 
 
 Illinois Blue Book. 
 
 Township histories by the following: Friend's Creek, Dr. J. H. Dickey; 
 Illini, Joy Batchelder; Harristown, Mrs. Lela Rotz; Whitmore, Louise Gantz 
 Likins; Maroa, T. C. Grady; Niantic, M. E. Lockhart; Long Creek, Mrs. L. N. 
 Lindsay. 
 
 History of Colored People by Marie Gray Baker. 
 
 A number of individuals have given valued assistance, particularly Thomas 
 B. Shoaff of Shelbyville, who furnished material on Abraham Lincoln; and Edwin 
 R. Davis, Decatur, 111., R. R. Various persons have loaned photographs. Access 
 to the J. E. Bering collection of photos, now in possession of his daughter, 
 Mrs. Frank L. Evans, has been of much value. 
 
 Most of the pictures used in the book are from The Review's photograph 
 files, and engravings were made by The Review engraving plant. 
 
THE LAND OF PROMISE 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 THE LAND OF PROMISE 
 
 LOUIS JOLIET 
 
 IT'S a beautiful land and most suitable for settlement." It was 
 Louis Joliet who was speaking, as his birch canoe was paddled 
 up a winding stream in the "Illinois country," and his keen eyes 
 flashed with pleasure at the vista before him, one hot day in July, in 
 the year 1673. His companion, Father Jacques Marquette, agreed. 
 
 These two Frenchmen— explorer and mission- 
 ary — were the first white men known to have tra- 
 versed the valley of the Illinois river and the land 
 watered by the Sangamon. They were charmed 
 as they noted the summer beauty of the prairie, 
 gorgeous with flowers ; the woodlands with their 
 inviting shade ; the quiet but picturesque brooks 
 and creeks. 
 
 Through all the years that have passed since 
 they made their report back to their native France, 
 voicing their admiration of the rich country they 
 had seen, men and women have loved this same 
 fair land. It is the tale of their coming to this valley, the hard- 
 ships they endured ___ __ mmmmmmmmmmm ^ m __^____ . 
 to subdue the land 
 and make homes 
 for their families, . 
 their longings and 
 aspirations, their 
 joys, their sorrows, 
 their work, their 
 play, that makes 
 the real story of 
 Illinois, and of Ma- 
 con county. Yet 
 civil history, of nec- 
 essity, must also be 
 told to complete 
 the account. sangamon river scene 
 
10 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Louis Joliet and Father Marquette had been sent from Canada to 
 explore the mighty western river which the Indians called the Missis- 
 sippi. They had come up the Illinois river, and, lured on by the charm 
 of the scenery unfolding before them, had turned off the main river 
 and followed the Sangamon for a distance. 
 
 Later explorers in Illinois such as Robert de LaSalle and Father 
 Louis Hennepin, were just as enthusiastic as these first two. Father 
 Hennepin called the Illinois country the ''Delight of America." 
 
 ILLINOIS BEFORE 1818 
 
 Illinois was a part of the vast territory in this country first 
 claimed by the Spanish, and which they called Florida. Afterwards 
 it was explored and settled by the French, and then later was taken 
 by the British. At last it was conquered for Virginia by the success- 
 ful expedition of the courageous soldier, George Rogers Clark, when 
 he captured Kaskaskia and Vincennes, and became a part of the Coun- 
 ty of Illinois created by the legislature of Virginia 1 . 
 
 The County of Illinois included territory now known as the states 
 of Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan. 
 
 In 1784 the County of Illinois was ceded by Virginia to the United 
 States. In 1787 Congress passed an ordinance for the government of 
 the territory, which was then called the Northwest Territory. 
 
 In 1800 the Territory of Indiana was organized, including what 
 is now the state of Illinois, and in 1809 the Territory of Illinois came 
 into being. What is now Wisconsin was a part of that territory. 
 
 Ninian Edwards was appointed territorial governor, and the first 
 territorial legislature convened at Kaskaskia in 1812. 
 
 In 1818 the present boundary was fixed and Illinois became a 
 state. 
 
 MAKING MACON COUNTY 
 
 In the course of the various changes that have been made in 
 boundaries of counties the territory that is now Macon county has 
 been a part of the following counties : Knox, St. Clair, Madison, Ed- 
 wards, Crawford, Clark, Fayette and Shelby. 
 
 At the time that Illinois was admitted to the union as a state, it 
 had a population of about 35,000, the sections settled being on opposite 
 sides of the state, on the Mississippi on the west and the Ohio and 
 Wabash rivers on the east and south, thus providing connection by 
 water with the outside world. The river bottom of the Mississippi and 
 
12 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 the neighborhood of the U. S. saline in Gallatin county were the most 
 thickly populated places. 
 
 THE INDIANS 
 
 The interior of the state was uninhabited, except by Indians. The 
 Kickapoos were still in central Illinois and the Sacs and the Foxes 
 in the territory northwest of the Illinois river 2 . 
 
 Black Hawk, the great Sac chief, was the last of the Indian lead- 
 ers to question the domination of the white race in Illinois 3 . After his 
 final defeat in 1832, and his removal to Iowa, the north part of the 
 state was ready for settlement by the white race 4 . The last remaining 
 Indians in central Illinois, the Kickapoos, by this time had removed 
 to Kansas, and eventually went to Texas. 
 
 NOT ON IMPORTANT TRAILS 
 
 Macon county probably never was the site of an Indian village, 
 nor was it crossed by important Indian trails, yet the Indian wan- 
 dered over its hills and prairies to hunt game, and up and down the 
 banks of the Sangamon to fish in its waters. Often spots in this 
 county were chosen for camp grounds, at least one attraction, no 
 doubt, being the fine springs of water. 
 
 One of the Indian 
 camping grounds in the 
 county was on the 
 Hockaday farm south- 
 west of Emery. Many 
 arrow heads were found 
 there in later years. 
 
 According to tradi- 
 tions and judging from 
 evidences found, there 
 were also Indian camp 
 grounds at Sulphur 
 Springs near Mt. Zion, 
 at Boiling Springs in 
 1 1 ickory Point town- 
 ship, and at Dantown 
 in Friend's Creek town- 
 
 ILLINOIS INDIAN TRAILS ship. 
 
THE LAND OF PROMISE 13 
 
 An Indian trail once crossed the Sangamon in Friend's Creek 
 township. It finally became a public road, but in later years dis- 
 appeared. Traces of an Indian trail were found on the Samuel Powers 
 farm northeast of Decatur. 
 
 Even after the white man settled in the county, bands of Indians 
 were frequently seen, but usually they caused no trouble. It is re- 
 lated, however, that in the fall of 1828 a band of Kickapoos, which 
 had camped on Long Creek to hunt, trap and fish, began making 
 depredations on hogs and poultry in settlements in the vicinity. 
 
 One band was known to have made threats against the Ward 
 families living south of the river. John and William Ward, heading 
 a group of men from the neighborhood, among them James Edwards 
 and Joshua Perdue, went after the red men one day, and overtook them 
 on the prairie a short distance east of Mt. Zion. There were about 
 twelve Indians and their squaws in the party. 
 
 Smith Mounce of the Ward party took a gun from one of the In- 
 dians, but John Ward told him to return it. Then Ward gave the In- 
 dians orders to move on, and they moved. 
 
 That was the last time Indians were seen in any numbers around 
 Decatur. Sometimes an occasional stray one would be seen, and some 
 of the older residents say that one Indian lived for the rest of his life 
 out in the neighborhood of the Stevens settlement 5 . 
 
 PRAIRIES BEAUTIFUL 
 
 Picture, if you can, Macon county as it was a hundred years ago. 
 
 Writers of that day have left their descriptions of the marvelous 
 beauty of the prairies with us, and to these we must turn for a glimpse 
 of the scene. 
 
 The century-ago traveler saw vast stretches of prairie grass, 
 ablaze with blossoms of wild flowers of every hue. Moses writes : 
 
 "The prairies were marvels of beauty. The marvelous carpet of 
 verdure and flowers in rich profusion and infinite diversity made of 
 the prairies a garden of the Magi." 
 
 With the advance of the seasons the scene changed. After the 
 blue of the violet and the bluebell in the spring came the more vivid 
 blossoms of the summer time, and then came the brilliant fall flowers. 
 
 One writer tells that along the edges of sloughs were a species of 
 red phlox which were dazzling. The wild roses, the black-eyed Susans, 
 the golden-rod, the milkweed, the sunflowers, the asters, the ironweed, 
 and the multitude of other blossoms came and went, making a pano- 
 
14 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 rama at all times of flowers which never failed to impress the beholder. 
 A traveler then could be excused for thinking he was in the Garden 
 of Eden 6 . 
 
 And the prairie grass! Growing sometimes so tall that the little 
 children easily got lost in it! 
 
 It was the terrible prairie fires which kept the prairies from be- 
 coming forests, and the tall grass was the fuel for these fires. Rey- 
 nolds says : 
 
 "The fires were grand and terrible as they advanced with a mighty 
 roar, destroying everything above ground." 
 
 Yet it was not the beauty of the prairies that attracted the early 
 pioneers who came and settled in Macon county. They came because 
 they had heard of the agricultural wealth of the land. They were men 
 who wanted room, and naturally they came to a new country for it. 
 They were not satisfied with small parcels of ground. 
 
 The "rich country of the Sangamon," of which Macon county was 
 a part, was becoming known. Reports of the fertility of the soil were 
 spread. 
 
 It was not to be child's play to blaze the way in a new land. 
 This was not the place for the idler and the coward, but for the 
 staunch and the brave, for the man accustomed to hardships. 
 
 Here were acres upon acres of fertile soil, untouched by' the plow, 
 but full of promise for the future. So the pioneers came. 
 
 1 Three kinds of titles had to be dealt with in the state of Illinois, the old French claims, 
 military rights under the Virginia rule, and head rights under the Act of 1783. The oldest titles 
 in Macon county were from land grants under the Act of Congress. 
 
 2 In Reynolds History is told the story of a white woman, Mrs. James Gilham, Sr., and 
 her children who were stolen from their home in Kentucky and taken to the Kickapoo village in 
 Sangamon county, crossing the future site of Decatur in the journey. It was in the year 1790. 
 The Kickapoo town was located on Salt Creek, northeast of Elkhart Grove. 
 
 3 J. Anderson Draper said that when he was a small child in Whitmore township he saw 
 Black Hawk pass through that section, with several other Indians, on their way to northwest 
 Illinois. This was only a few months before the Black Hawk war. 
 
 4 Following his defeat, Black Hawk was taken on a trip through the east, the object being 
 to show him the power of the white man. On his return to Iowa after that trip he said : 
 
 "Rock River was a beautiful country. I loved my towns, my corn fields and the homes 
 of my people. I fought for it. It is now yours. Keep it as we did." 
 
 6 Ben Fra/.ee used to say that when he was a child, there was still fear of the Indians in the 
 county. If the dog began to bark at night Mother Frazee became so frightened that she and the 
 kiddies hid underneath the puncheons of the floor. Once they did see Indians on Stevens creek. 
 The Indians were then leaving the county. 
 
 G Mrs. Jane M. Johns says in her "Personal Recollections" that shortly after her arrival in 
 Decatur she met a peddler at the Macon house who said that he wanted to bring his old New 
 England father to this country just once, so that he would not be so much taken with surprise 
 when he went to heaven. 
 
PIONEER SETTLERS 15 
 
 CHAPTER II 
 
 PIONEER SETTLERS 
 
 OF what benefit was the rich, fertile soil if one could not get the 
 crops it would produce to a market? There were no railroads; 
 the Sangamon was not a navigable stream. 
 
 This lack of transportation facilities was the greatest handicap 
 to the early settlers of Macon county. Had this region not been so 
 remote and inaccessible, it doubtless would have been populated much 
 earlier. 
 
 Soon after Illinois was admitted to the Union, the general assem- 
 bly began establishing roads. The earliest to cross Macon county was 
 the Springfield-Paris road 1 . It was several miles south of the future 
 site of Decatur. In 1831 this road was changed, being routed through 
 Decatur 2 . In 1833 the Decatur-Springfield road, which corresponds 
 largely to West Main street and Route 10 of today, was laid out. 
 
 Sometimes the settlers established a road themselves, without 
 survey. The very first road to Shelbyville was made in that way 3 . It 
 intersected the Springfield-Paris road at Mt. Gilead. 
 
 While the number of roads soon increased, little work was done 
 on them, and often they were impassable in wet weather. Streams had 
 to be forded, as there were no bridges. 
 
 Often roads were changed to avoid swamps and quagmires. This 
 accounts for their crookedness. 
 
 The roads were of great benefit to the settlers, but still they 
 pinned their hopes on making the Sangamon river a navigable stream, 
 and it was the subject of much discussion. It will be remembered that 
 some of the earliest speeches made by Abraham Lincoln dealt with 
 the navigability of the Sangamon. 
 
 FIRST HOUSE 
 
 The first house built by white men within the present limits of 
 Macon county was erected about 1816 by the Lorton brothers of St. 
 Joe, Mich. They were Indian traders and built the house as a trading 
 post. It stood in Section 18, Township 17 north, Range 4 East. This 
 is about eleven miles northeast of Decatur, in Whitmore township. 
 The cabin was not very far from the junction of Friend's Creek and 
 the Sangamon river 4 . 
 
16 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 The cabin was stoutly built of logs, and it stood for many years. 
 In 1834 it came into use as a polling place for Draper's district, and 
 was used as such for many years. 
 
 For about ten years the Lortons did a thriving business there, 
 trading with the Indians, and getting furs in exchange for blankets, 
 ammunition, calico, rum, and other articles which the Indians wanted. 
 Often the ceiling of the log cabin was covered with pelts of mink, 
 raccoon, possum, wolf and other animals. When the Indians left 
 Macon county, there was no more business for the Lortons and they 
 returned to Michigan. 
 
 The first permanent home in the county was built in 1820 by Wil- 
 liam Downing, who came from Vandalia. His cabin stood on the 
 south side of the Sangamon river, near the present location of the 
 Mueller Lodge. Little is known about him except that he w r as a bee 
 hunter and trapper. He stayed in this neighborhood only a few years 
 and then sold his cabin to John Ward and left, going to Bond county. 
 His departure, it was said, was caused by his family's fear of Indians. 
 
 The Ward home there was the nucleus of the Ward settlement. 
 
 FIRST SETTLER 
 
 Leonard Stevens is called the first real settler of Macon county, 
 for he came to stay, bringing part of his family with him. He had 
 come to Illinois about 1818 from New York, settling first in Ran- 
 dolph county. The exact date of his arrival in Macon county is not 
 known, but it is thought to have been either in 1821 or 1822. The 
 Stevens family settled three miles northwest of Decatur on the stream 
 which was named for them, Stevens Creek 5 . The Stevens home was 
 the voting place for District No. 2 of Shelby county before Macon 
 county was laid out. 
 
 WHERE LEONARD STEVENS BUILT 
 The site was a hill (since cut down) near Stevens Creek on the West Crand avenue road. 
 
 The picture is of today. 
 
PIONEER SETTLERS 
 
 17 
 
 One of -the sons of Leonard Stevens who came to Macon county 
 with him was Buel Stevens. Bud Stevens' eldest son, called Leonard 
 Stevens, Jr., was the first white child born in the county, according to 
 Smith's History 6 . 
 
 Another son of Leonard Stevens, Sr., 
 was Joseph Stevens, who lived in the coun- 
 ty until his death. He was the last surviv- 
 ing member of the family in the county. 
 Joseph Stevens w^as county treasurer from 
 1835 to 1837. 
 
 Dorus, Luther and James Stevens were 
 other sons who came with their father to 
 Macon county. 
 
 After Leonard Stevens had settled on 
 Stevens creek, other pioneers came and 
 stopped in the same neighborhood, and the 
 cluster of cabins became known as the Stev- 
 of the early arrivals there was John Hanks, 
 known especially through his connection with the Lincoln?,. 
 
 The first coiners to the new country settled in clusters for the 
 sake of having neighbors and also as a more effective means of defense 
 against Indians. 
 
 w 
 
 JOSEPH STEVENS 
 
 ens settlement. One 
 
 (Photo by J. E. Bering) 
 STEVENS CREEK SCENE 
 Such a view as Stevens had from his home. 
 
18 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 THE WARDS 
 
 South of the Sangamon another settlement sprang up, with the 
 eoming of the Ward family, and it was known as the Ward settle- 
 ment. The Wards, including Mrs. John Ward, Sr., a widow, and her 
 children, had come to Illinois in 1819 from Logan county, Ky., set- 
 tling first near Vandalia. In 1824 they moved to Macon county. 
 Among the families that became part of the Ward settlement were the 
 Smiths, Warnicks and Austins. 
 
 Relations between the Stevens and the Ward settlements were 
 not always friendly. They were of different stock. Accessions to the 
 Ward colony were mostly from the southern states, and to the Stev- 
 ens group from northern states. In a way the two settlements were 
 rivals. Often blows were resorted to in settling disputes. But both 
 settlements grew. 
 
 John W. Smith, who wrote and published the first history of 
 Macon county, in 1876, descended from a family of the Ward settle- 
 ment. 
 
 It was Lewis B. Ward who entered from the government the first 
 piece of land in Macon county. It was the west half of the northeast 
 quarter of section 31 in Township 16 North, Range 2 East, of the 3rd 
 Principal Meridian, and it was entered Nov. 9, 1827. This land, which 
 lies about eight miles southwest of Decatur, was owned by Mr. Ward 
 until 1876, when he sold it to Bartley G. Henry. 
 
 Altogether about 800 acres of land were entered from the govern- 
 ment during the year 1827. 
 
 FIRST HOUSES 
 
 According to statement made by Lewis Ward, the first houses 
 erected in the vicinity of Decatur were as follows : 
 
 First, William Downing's, south of the river. 
 
 Second, Leonard Stevens's, on Stevens creek. 
 Third, Abraham Sprague's, south of fair grounds (now Fairview 
 park). 
 
 Fourth, Hubble Sprague's, inside of fair ground. 
 
 Fifth, William King's, south of fair ground. 
 
 Mr. Ward said the first mill in the county was on Stevens creek 
 and was built by William King, in 1826. It afterwards became Ren- 
 shaw's mill. 
 
 The first house in the limits of the original Decatur, according to 
 Mr. Ward, was built by Reuben Miller, who sold it to James Renshaw. 
 It was the house in which the first store was kept. 
 
PIONEER SETTLERS 
 
 19 
 
 WILLIAM WARD S GUN 
 
 While chasing the foxy Indians out of Macon county William 
 Ward used a rifle which had been brought from North Carolina by 
 
 his father, John Ward, Si\, when he emi- 
 grated to Tennessee and later to Ken- 
 tucky. John Ward, Sr., died in Kentucky, 
 and the family brought the gun with them 
 when they came to Illinois in 1819. Mem- 
 bers of the Ward family used this gun in 
 skirmishes with Indians in three states, 
 Kentucky, Tennessee and Illinois, and it 
 was also their trusty aid in bringing down 
 game for their food in the pioneer days. 
 
 The family called the gun "The Long 
 Bill," because of its long barrel. The 
 weapon is now in possession of F. N. 
 Ward, great grandson of John Ward, Sr. 
 He is holding the gun in the accompany- 
 ing picture. 
 
 WILLIAM WARD'S GUN 
 
 EARLY ARRIVALS 
 
 One of the busiest of the first settlers was Benjamin R. Austin, 
 born in Virginia in 1802, who came to Macon county in 1825. He was 
 a surveyor and laid out the original town plat of Decatur. He was 
 the first county treasurer, served as justice of the peace, and other- 
 wise was active in the early years of the county. His brother, William 
 A. Austin, helped him lay out Decatur. William Austin was a justice 
 of the peace for many years. 
 
 Captain David L. Allen, born in Loudoun county, Va., in 1806, 
 came to Macon county in 1828, and was a leading figure for many 
 years. 
 
 Philip D. Williams came in 1825 from Virginia. He served on the 
 county board of commissioners, was a justice of the peace and held 
 other offices. He built the second house in Decatur. It was at the 
 corner of East Main and Water streets. Mr. Williams kept a place 
 "for the entertainment of beasts". 
 
 Thomas Cowan came with the Leonard Stevens family in 1821 
 or 1822. Tn 1822 also came George W. Friend of Ohio, who settled 
 in Friend's Creek township. 
 
 Besides the Wards, several other settlers came in the year 1824. 
 Abraham and Hubble Sprague came from New York. Charles Nel- 
 
20 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 » 
 
 son and Nathan Burrill, Kentuckians, arrived that year and located 
 in Friend's Creek township 7 . 
 
 Among the arrivals in 1825 were John Draper, who came from 
 Virginia ; James Howell, native of Ohio, who settled in Oakley, and 
 was followed a little later by his son, William Howell ; David Florey, 
 native of Virginia ; William W. McDaniel ; William Warnick, first 
 sheriff, who came from Tennessee ; and Joseph Strickland, who set- 
 tled in Niantic township. The Widick brothers, John, Samuel, Jacob, 
 George and Joseph, from Virginia, came either in 1825 or 1826. 
 
 The year 1826 saw the arrival of a number of newcomers. Ed- 
 mund McDaniel came from Vandalia that year; John McMennamy 
 came from Tennessee ; Emanuel Widick came from Tennessee ; Wil- 
 liam King arrived that year; Elisha Freeman and Hiram Robinson 
 came and settled in South Wheatland township. 
 
 Quite a few additions were made the following year, in 1827. 
 Among them were James Edwards, born near Raleigh, N. C, who was 
 a member of the party that drove the Indians out of the county ; Jones 
 Edwards, native of North Carolina, but who came here from Tennes- 
 see; Eldridge H. McDaniel; Thomas Nelms, who came from Logan 
 county, Ky., and was killed by a falling tree, after coming here ; 
 Dempsey Pope of North Carolina, who came from Tennessee; Benja- 
 min Wilson of Tennessee, who assisted in the organization of the 
 county; James Finley, a Kentuckian ; Michael Myers came either in 
 1827 or 1828. 
 
 In 1828 the population was increased by the addition of William 
 A. Austin of Virginia ; William Hanks of Kentucky, who settled in 
 Harristown township : Samuel Braden, native of Ireland, who came to 
 Macon county from Tennessee ; William D. Baker, who settled in Long 
 Creek township ; David Davis, born in North Carolina, but who came 
 here from Tennessee and settled in Long Creek; Robert Smith, Sr., 
 native of North Carolina, who came from Sangamon county ; William 
 C. Smith from Sangamon county ; Andrew Smith, his brother, also from 
 Sangamon county ; William Wheeler, Sr., native of Virginia ; James 
 Myers, Kentuckian, who settled in Long Creek township ; William 
 Dickey, who settled in Friend's Creek township ; Valentine Claywell, 
 native of Kentucky, who came to Pleasant View township; Ephraim 
 Cox came either in 1828 or 1829. 
 
 A large number of homeseekers came during the year 1829, among 
 them being: Alfred Laymons, native of Kentucky; Rev. Alonzo Lap- 
 ham, born in New Hampshire, but a resident of Edgar county before 
 
PIONEER SETTLERS 21 
 
 coming here; Christopher Miller of Kentucky; James Miller of Ken- 
 tucky; David Miller; James Myers, Kentuckian, who settled in Long 
 Creek township; Edmund Turpin of Kentucky; Isaac C. Pugh of 
 Shelby county ; James Sanders, who came from Tennessee ; Henry 
 Traughber ; Allen, Thomas and Finis Travis, who came from Wayne 
 county; Josiah Abrams, native of Ohio, who came from Sangamon 
 county; Alexander W. Bell, native of Tennessee, who located in Mt. 
 Zion township; James D. Campbell; Andrew and John Davidson; 
 John Y. Braden ; David, Alexander C. and John Dickey, of Kentucky ; 
 John Scott, Sr., and son, Francis D., Parmenius Smallwood, and John 
 Smith of Tennessee. 
 
 It will be seen that many families were established in the county 
 by the end of 1829. Most of them were from Kentucky and Tennessee. 
 Somebody must have been doing some publicity work for Macon 
 county in those states! Before the end of 1829, said one writer, Deca- 
 tur had seven cabins, two stores and a court house. Most of the set- 
 tlers, however, lived outside of the tract laid off for the town. 
 
 The next few years brought many more homeseekers, too numer- 
 ous to mention here. More land was taken up. More homes were built. 
 
 The history of Macon county had begun. 
 
 1 When the act concerning this road was approved Dec. 29, 1824, by the legislature, 
 Thomas Constant, William Lowry and Amos Williams were named to "view, survey and locate 
 it". They were to take into consideration the "local situation of the country, points of timber, 
 public convenience, placing it on the most advantageous ground for a permanent road." It seems 
 as if the first two men named failed to show up for the work, and the task fell on Amos Williams. 
 His report to the general assembly was approved in April, 1826. The route of this road was 
 practically the same as the present day state road through Mt. Zion, Lovington and Areola. 
 
 - The act to change that road was approved by the general assembly Jan. 27, 1831. The 
 act as approved read : 
 
 "That Jesse A. Pickrell and John Churchill of Sangamon county and Buel Stephens and 
 David. Owens of Macon county be and are hereby appointed commissioners to view, mark, survey 
 and locate a road from the east fork of Clear creek, where the present road now crosses said 
 creek, by the way of Sowell Cox's and George Churchill's, from thence to the long point, and 
 from thence on the nearest and best ground to Decatur ; and from thence across the north fork 
 of the Sangamon river, at the most suitable place for a bridge or ferry, and from thence in the 
 most direct course toward Paris, until said road strikes the present location. All that part of 
 said road between the termination and place of beginning is hereby vacated." The "long point" 
 mentioned in the act is south of Niantic. 
 
 :; On Jan. 20, 1829, John Ward, Thomas Robinson and William A. Hodge were appointed 
 by the General Assembly to "mark, view and lay out a road from Shelbyville through Ward's 
 settlement, thence through Tazewell county to the mouth of the Big Vermilion on the Illinois 
 river". The Macon county commissioners paid Mr. Ward $7.50 for his part of this work. 
 
 4 When John Draper moved from Hickory Point to Whitmore township in 1828, he oc- 
 cupied the Lorton trading house for a time. Oliver Stuart said that when he cast his first presi- 
 dential vote in 1856 he voted in the old Lorton cabin, in Draper's district. 
 
 6 Among the newcomers to Illinois in the year 1822 were Abraham Henline, wife and four 
 sons, who settled at Fancy Prairie, near Springfield. 
 
 In the spring of 1824 the family moved to what is now Piatt county. On their trip from 
 Springfield to Monticello they saw only three houses. The first was at Mechanicsburg. The 
 second was the Stevens home on Stevens creek, and the third was the trading house in Friend's 
 
22 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 creek township. On reaching what is now Monticello they saw the Hayworth home, which was 
 the fourth house they had beheld since leaving Springfield. 
 
 6 Descendants of Philip D. Williams say that his son, Philip A. Williams, was the first 
 child born here. He was born Aug. 24, 1825. There is no record of the date of birth of the 
 Stevens child, but the family lived in the county several years before the Williams family came. 
 
 7 In the original Macon county there were also early settlements in the sections which 
 later became parts of other counties. 
 
 The first settler in what afterwards became Piatt county was George Hayworth, a Quaker 
 from Tennessee, who located in 1823 on land now in the city limits of Monticello. There he built 
 his cabin. The same year came a Mr. Daggett, and other settlers arrived the following year. In 
 1828 James A. Piatt bought Hay worth's claim and moved to it the following year. 
 
 The first settlers in what is now Dewitt county were Zion Shugart, Edom Shugart, their 
 mother, Mr. and Mrs. Elisha Butler and John Coppenbarger, who settled in Tunbridge township 
 in October, 1824. That winter Nathan Vestal came and settled nearby. Others came the next year. 
 One report of early history says a settler named J. Clion lived as early as 1820 one mile west of 
 what is now the city of Clinton. 
 
 Moultrie county's earliest settler was John Whitley, native of Maryland, who came in 
 1826 and settled at the point of timber which afterwards was known as Whitley's Point. With 
 him were his wife, six sons, John, Sharp, Mills, Randall, William and Josiah, his son-in-law, 
 Samuel Linley, and two or three daughters. Whitley afterwards moved to Coles county, and 
 his children scattered, some going to Texas and Missouri. 
 
COUNTY AND TOWN LAID OUT 23 
 
 CHAPTER III 
 
 COUNTY AND TOWN LAID OUT 
 
 IT was a long, long- way to Shelbyville in 1829. Swollen rivers must 
 be forded and miles of prairie crossed. But Shelbyville was the 
 county seat of Shelby county, to which the territory now known as 
 Macon county was then attached, and every legal transaction meant 
 a journey to the county seat. 
 
 Tf? hORC£ AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A HEW COUNTY TO BE CALLED TH£ 
 
 January 19, county of macon. 
 
 1829. 
 
 Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the people of the state of 
 Rkmis represented in the General Assembly, That all that 
 tract of country iymg wiihm the following boundaries, 
 to wit: beginning at the south-west corner of section 
 Boundaries numbered eighteen, in township numbered fourteen 
 north, of range numbered one east* of the (bird princi- 
 pal meridian- thence due north with the said third prin- 
 cipal meridian line to the north-west corner of township 
 numbered twenty north, of range numbered one cast; 
 thence due east with the line between townships num- 
 bered twenty and twenty-one north, to the north-east 
 corner of township numbered twenty north, of range 
 numbered six east; thence due south with the line be- 
 tween ranges numbered six and seven east, to the south- 
 east corner of section numbered thirteen, in township 
 numbered fourteen north, of range numbered six east; 
 and from thence due west, along through the middle of 
 townships numbered fourteen north, to the place of be- 
 came of the ginning, shall constitute a county, to be called the county 
 county seat f Macon; and the seat of justice therein, when located, 
 shall be called the town of Decatur. 
 
 ca°te the^ai r ^ 1' F °[ the ^^°^ ° f ,OCatin S tiie seat of ^ 
 
 of justice hce oi the sa,d county of Macon, the following named 
 
 persons are appointed commissioners, to wit: John 
 
 Fleming, Jesse Rhodes and Easton Wriitton, whose 
 
 duty it shall be to meet at the house of James Ward, in 
 
 ACT FORMING MACON COUNTY 
 The above is a reproduction from Page 28, section on "Counties", of The Revised Code of Laws 
 of Illinois, published in 1829. The act was approved Jan. 19, 1829. The book from 
 which this reproduction was made is the property of O. B. Gorin. 
 
24 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 It is not strange that with the increase in the number of new- 
 comers establishing homes here, the settlers began to talk over means 
 of remedying the situation. 
 
 Why not form a new county? Why not have a county seat nearer 
 their homes? 
 
 FORM NEW COUNTY 
 
 As a result, three men, Benjamin R. Austin, Andrew W. Smith 
 and John Ward, all from the Ward settlement, were sent to the state 
 capital, Vandalia, previous to the convening of the legislature in 1829, 
 to ask passage of an act dividing Shelby county and forming a new 
 county. They succeeded in their mission. The act establishing the 
 county of Macon was approved Jan. 19, 1829. 
 
 The county as formed by this act was much larger than the 
 county of today. It included territory which is now Dewitt county, 
 except for its northern tier of townships, all of what is now Piatt 
 county, except one township, and about half of Moultrie county. 
 
 Dewitt county was 
 formed on March 1, 
 1839. The following 
 day an act was passed 
 which added to the 
 county of Macon the 
 section now known as 
 Niantic township. In 
 January, 1841, Piatt 
 county was formed 
 from parts of Macon 
 and Dewitt counties, 
 and in February, 1843, 
 Moultrie was formed 
 from parts of Macon 
 plat of macon county an( j Shelby. 1 
 
 These changes gave us the present boundaries of Macon county. 
 
 The object in adding Niantic township was to prevent removal 
 of the county seat from Decatur to a new town in Whitmore 
 township, called Murfreesboro, which was nearer the center of the 
 county as it was then. At that time the land in Niantic township was 
 considered worthless, and it was annexed merely to add to the west- 
 ern territory of the county, which would bring Decatur near the cen- 
 ter. 
 
 LOGAN 
 
 SANGAMON | 
 
 i 
 
 / 
 
 \ CHRISTIAN 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 M c LEAN 
 
 /" 
 
 DE WITT / 
 
 Ha/ 
 6y 
 
 MAC0N <w^ ATT 
 
 i MOULTRIE 
 
 r 1 
 
 CHAMPAIGN 
 DOUGLAS 
 
 roLes 
 
 ! 
 
 i 
 
 i ! 
 
 J SHELBY L 
 
 1 -1 — 
 
COUNTY AND TOWN LAID OUT 25 
 
 Jt was after the defeat of the project to make Murfreesboro the 
 county seat that people of that locality, represented by James A. Piatt, 
 went before the legislature to ask for the detachment of what is now 
 Piatt county from Macon county. The new county then formed as- 
 sumed the name of its champion 2 . 
 
 Mr. Piatt for a number of years had been a member of the county 
 commissioners' court of Macon county, and was a valued and efficient 
 official. 
 
 Macon county as originally laid out was a rectangle, thirty-nine 
 miles long and thirty-six miles wide, containing 1,404 square miles. 
 The county as it is today contains 577 square miles, or 369,280 acres. 
 
 The new county was attached to the first judicial circuit. 
 
 LOCATE COUNTY SEAT 
 
 The act of the legislature creating Macon county also provided 
 for the seat of justice therein. John Fleming, Jesse Rhodes and Easton 
 Whitton 3 were named commissioners to locate the county seat. They 
 met April 10, 1829, at the home of James Ward, and ''carefully and 
 impartially viewed and examined the situation and convenience, like- 
 wise the advantages of the present and future population." 
 
 The new town was located on the "fifteenth section in township 
 sixteen north, in range 2 east, northeast quarter and east half of said 
 quarter, the southeast corner of said above-named half quarter". 4 
 
 The first election in the county took place at James Ward's black- 
 smith shop, the second Monday in April, 1829. William Warnick was 
 elected sheriff. County commissioners were named as follows: Ben- 
 jamin Wilson, Elisha Freeman and James G. Miller. 
 
 The first county commissioners' court was held at the home of 
 James Ward, May 19, 1829. Daniel McCall was appointed county 
 clerk and Benjamin R. Austin was named county treasurer. Austin's 
 bond was $200, with John Miller and William King as sureties. 
 
 LEVY TAX 
 
 One of the first acts of the county court was to provide for funds 
 to meet the expenses of the county, hence a tax was levied on the 
 personal property of the residents. 5 
 
 The following is the list of properties taxed : Slaves and inden- 
 tured or registered negro or mulatto servants, pleasure carriages, dis- 
 tilleries, stock in trade, horses, mares, mules, asses and neat cattle 
 over three years old, watches and all other personal property except 
 lawful firearms. 
 
26 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 8 m i 
 
 PRAIRIE- STREET '^ 
 
 MAIN 
 
 PUBLIC 
 
 SQUARE 
 
 STREET 
 
 TOWN LAID OUT 
 
 Now that the county had a court and a location for a county 
 
 seat, steps were taken for laying out the town. On June 1, 1829, the 
 
 county commissioners made order as follows : 
 
 "That Benjamin R. Austin, county surveyor for the county of 
 
 Macon, be required to lay off the town of Decatur after the form of 
 
 Shelbyville and make and return a complete plat of the same on or 
 
 before the first day of July next." 
 
 Under this order the 
 original town of Decatur 
 was platted. The boundaries 
 were : Prairie street on the 
 north, AA^ater street on the 
 east, Wood street on the 
 south, and Church street on 
 the west. In the center was 
 laid out the square, now 
 known as Lincoln square. 
 The town was divided by a 
 Main street east and west 
 and a Main street north and 
 south. 
 
 Austin's report was 
 acknowledged by the county 
 commissioners July 7, 1829. 
 Decatur was located at the edge of the timber, hence the name, 
 
 Wood street. The northern boundary line, being out on the prairie, 
 
 was called Prairie. 
 
 At the time the town was platted, the -land on which it was located 
 
 had not been entered from the government. It was afterwards entered 
 
 by Parmenius Smallwood, Easton Whitton and Charles Prentice, and 
 
 deed of gift was made by them to the county commissioners on Oct. 
 
 8, 1831. The deed was for twenty acres. The newly platted town, 
 
 however, did not cover the entire twenty acres. 
 
 The bond which the three men above named gave June 20, 1829, 
 
 for this deed for the land was one of the first legal documents recorded 
 
 in the county. 
 
 SALE OF LOTS 
 
 A sale of town lots was ordered for July 10, 1829. The clerk was 
 required to advertise the sale in the newspaper printed in A^andalia. 
 
 *j 
 
 * 
 
 5 
 
 J- A ■ 
 
 . LOG 
 COuQT HOUSE 
 
 5 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 " 
 
 
 3 
 
 6 
 
 \ 3 
 
 
 6 
 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 5: 
 u 
 
 > 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 5 
 s 
 
 
 "1 
 
 
 7 1 
 
 \ z 
 
 7 
 
 I 
 
 Z 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 t 
 
 
 8 
 
 1 
 
 
 8 
 
 
 1 
 
 WOOD ST RE FT 
 
 PLAT OF DECATUR 
 
COUNTY AND TOWN LAID OUT 27 
 
 Credit of twelve months was given for payment on lots, note with ap- 
 proved security being required. 
 
 There was no wild rush for town lots on the day of the sale. The 
 first lot disposed of was Lot 2, in block 3. This was the corner where 
 the Lincoln cafe now stands. It was bid in for $53.50 by John Manley. 
 The second lot sold also was a corner lot. It was lot 6, block 1, and 
 was purchased for $12. That is the lot at the southeast corner of the 
 square 7 . John McMennamy was auctioneer. 
 
 James (Uncle Jimmy) Renshaw was Decatur's first business man. 
 He also had the distinction of putting up the first building. He evi- 
 dently believed Decatur was going to become a good town, and he 
 decided to open a tavern. On Oct. 26, 1829, he secured a license, for 
 which he paid $4. Tavern rates were fixed by the court. Straight 
 prices prevailed. There was no pick and choice of rooms for the 
 traveler in this log cabin "hotel." 
 
 For breakfast and horse feed the cost was 2>7y 2 cents. For lodging 
 man and horse over night (the man to have supper) the price was 
 62y 2 cents. Dinner and horse feed were Z7y 2 cents. Brandy, rum, gin, 
 wine or cordial could be sold at 25 cents a half pint, and whisky or 
 cider brandy at \2y 2 cents a half pint. 
 
 A license was required of any one who wished to enter any kind 
 of merchandise business, license fees ranging from $3 to $5. The court 
 also established rates for ferries on the river. The first ferry license 
 was issued to John Ward, Dec. 7, 1829, for $1. 
 
 ILLINOIS STATUTES THEN AND NOW 
 
 Comparison of the Illinois Statutes of 1829 and the same volume 
 a hundred years later is an interesting study, both in contents and size 
 of volume. Laws in force in 1829 made up a book little more than 
 half an inch thick. A present day similar volume is five times as thick, 
 with pages twice the size. 
 
 The general assembly then was concerned with laying out coun- 
 ties, roads, canals, building bridges, establishing courts and otherwise 
 providing for legislation necessary in a new state. 
 
 Previous to every session of the assembly, it was the duty of the 
 secretary of state to provide sufficient stationery. One of the appro- 
 priations made in 1831 for this kind of supplies was to John D. Gorin 
 for §7 h2y 2 for blank books and other stationery furnished. John 1). 
 Gorin was the grandfather of O. B., J. P., and Miss Mattie Gorin of 
 Decatur. He was a receiver in the land office at Vandalia. 
 
28 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Mr. Gorin's name appears in another list of appropriations, when 
 he was voted $35 for the use of his room for the committee on the revi- 
 sion of the statutes. That appropriation was made in January, 1829. 
 
 Two early volumes of the Illinois statutes, the ones published in 
 1829 and in 1831, are now cherished possessions of O. B. Gorin. 
 
 1 Dr. Joseph King afterwards prominent in Decatur, took an active part in the organization 
 of Piatt county. He lived in what is now Monticello before coming to Decatur. He was the first 
 county clerk of Piatt county, member of the first board of school commissioners, and was the 
 first physician in Monticello. 
 
 2 Mr. Piatt became famous for his skill and courage in capturing horse thieves. It was 
 his horses which were stolen in the spring of 1832 by the two men, Redmon and Wyatt, who 
 were horsewhipped by Sheriff Warnick. Mr. Piatt captured the men in Indiana near the Ohio line, 
 and brought them to Decatur where they were tried and convicted, and sentenced to be whipped. 
 One was to receive 39 lashes and the other 49. Both these horse thieves came to a tragic end. 
 One became a murderer and was hanged. The other was drowned in the Mississippi. 
 
 3 Easton Whitton of Hillsboro, was the only one of the three men named to locate the 
 county seat of Macon county whose name appears in the history of the county afterward. All 
 three were from other counties. Whitton was one of the three men who entered the land on 
 which Decatur was laid out. He was elected to the legislature from Montgomery county, serving 
 in 1836-38 and also in 1842-44. 
 
 4 Pioneer citizens of Macon county were not at all agreed over the location of the county 
 seat. There was much argument over the site. One meeting broke up in a free for all fist fight, in 
 which one man was so badly beaten that he died afterwards as a result. Different votes were 
 taken. One favored a site south of the river. That was rescinded, however. 
 
 5 The tax, when collected for the year 1829, amounted to $109.32^. It is recorded that 
 Benjamin R. Austin, surveyor, was paid $24 for laying out the county seat, and that Easton 
 Whitton was allowed $10.50 and John Fleming and Jesse Rhodes $7.50 each, for locating the seat 
 of justice. John McMennamy was allowed $1 for crying the sale of lots in Decatur. 
 
 6 Shelbyville was laid out according to the plan of Vandalia. One of the three men who 
 entered the tract of land for the town site of Shelbyville was James T. B. Stapp, who afterwards 
 became one of Decatur's leading citizens. 
 
 7 There seemed to be many changes in ownership of the original lots of the town in the 
 first few years. Evidently the pioneers "swapped" iots to a considerable extent. Among the earliest 
 owners of lots were James Renshaw, Lydia Packard, Landy Harrell, Thomas Cowan, Daniel 
 McCall, John D. Wright, James Johnson, Samuel B. Dewees, and James Miller. As deeds could 
 not be made out at the time, it is impossible to tell from the records which lots were sold on 
 the first sale day. 
 
FIRST COURT HOUSE 
 
 29 
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 
 FIRST COURT HOUSE 
 
 THE first need that arose after Macon county and its seat of jus- 
 tice, Decatur, had been laid out, was the need for a court house. 
 The county had a perfectly good seat of justice, but no place for jus 
 tice to sit. 
 
 In fact, the court had to go clear outside the county seat, to the 
 home of James Ward, to sit. 
 
 No record has come down to us of the definite action taken to 
 build a court house. No mention is made in court records of the let- 
 ting of the contract, or the details of starting the work. We do know 
 that the first court house was erected, or at least started, in the latter 
 part of the year 1829 and that, like other buildings of the time, it was 
 made of logs. 
 
 The first official mention we have of the court house is in an 
 order of the commissioners court in June, 1830, allowing Thomas Tay- 
 lor $26.1834 for repairing the court house. On Dec. 6 John Hanks 
 was allowed $9.87^ for chinking and daubing, and Luther Hunting 
 $8 for the floor, which was laid by Isaac Miller. In September, 1831, 
 Isaac C. Pugh was allowed $2.37^ for glass. 
 
 At the session of the commissioners court at the April term in 
 1832 James Johnson was allowed until the first day of November to 
 finish the court house "agreeably to a former contract, except to build 
 a chimney on the outside." The order goes on to say that he is to wait 
 
 for his pay until 
 there is money 
 enough in the treas- 
 ury, that is not other- 
 wise appropriated, to 
 pay him. 
 
 That old court 
 house, built 100 years 
 ago, is today one oi 
 our most cherished 
 possessions. Stand- 
 ing on a grassy knoll 
 log court house, 1829 in Fairview park, it 
 
30 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 reminds the visitor of the old cabin days, the days when history was 
 being made in the county. It is the only building in Decatur today to 
 link us with the very beginnings of the county. 
 
 The log court house originally stood on the west half of lot 4, 
 block 4, of the newly platted town. That was the southwest corner 
 of Lincoln square. It was 18 by 24 feet in size, was a story and a half 
 high, one room below and one above. The building faced on West 
 Main street. It had two doorways, one on the north and one on the 
 south. An old fashioned fireplace furnished heat. The house had 
 clapboard roof and puncheon floor. 
 
 Evidently there was some argument over the price to be paid Mr. 
 Johnson, for it seemed necessary to appoint two men to determine the 
 amount due him. Those two men were Thomas Cowan and Amos Rob- 
 inson. Johnson was allowed $50.62 for lumber, $101.43 for work, 
 $11.3134 f° r nails, $4.50 for seasoning plank, 75 cents for error in lum- 
 ber bill, $27.50 for material for chimney, and $3.25 for arch bars. 
 
 Others who worked on the court house before its completion were 
 John Miller, who laid the hearth, for which he received $21 ; Joe 
 Querrey and Amos Robinson, who received $5 each for work. Henry 
 Wheeler furnished the window shutters for $6.75. Amos Robinson 
 and Thomas Cowan were allowed $1.50 each for valuing the work 
 done by Mr. Johnson. This brings the total cost of the court house 
 up to $286.60. 
 
 This court house was used by Macon county for nearly ten years. 
 It was also used for all public gatherings, church services, school, and 
 so on. 
 
 After the second court house had been built, the log cabin was 
 sold to Robert Allen, who moved it to his farm east of town, where 
 it was used first as a home and then as a barn for many years. The 
 farm passed through several hands, finally coming to Mr. and Mrs. J. 
 M. Clokey, who, on learning the history of the building, gave it to the 
 Old Settlers' association which placed it in Riverside park, in 1893. 
 
 Some years later it was turned over to the city park department 
 and was moved to Fairview park. First it stood on the south drive, 
 but in 1907 it was moved to its present location at the top of the hill. 
 Park Superintendent Frank D. Torrence made extensive repairs to it 
 at that time. 
 
 SECOND COURT HOUSE 
 
 Decatur soon outgrew its log court house and in 1837 it was de- 
 cided to erect a new building. On Jan. 16, that year, the county com- 
 
FIRST COURT HOUSE 
 
 31 
 
 missioners ordered Charles Emerson, Richard Oglesby and James 
 Renshaw to contract for a new court house. 
 
 In March they reported 
 that they had contracted 
 with Leonidas Munsell of 
 Edgar county to build Deca- 
 tur's second court house. 
 The contract p r i c e was 
 $10,625 and the building was 
 to be completed within 18 
 months. One thousand dol- 
 lars was to be paid the con- 
 tractor in advance, a n d 
 bonds of the county given 
 for the balance, payable in 
 twenty years, with 8 per- 
 cent interest. 
 
 Could it be that Macon 
 county w r as jealous of Mc- 
 Lean county in 1837? It ap- 
 pears very much like it. At 
 least, when the contract for 
 the new court house was made out, it specified that the new building 
 was to "be equal to or superior to the McLean county court house." 
 Mr. Munsell, who lived at Paris, doubtless had a reputation for build- 
 ing court houses, for he had erected such buildings at Shelbyville, 
 Rloomington and Paris. 
 
 The second court house was 40 feet square, 32 feet high, built of 
 brick, with dome cupola on top. The contract specified it was to have 
 a bell weighing 120 pounds and a lightning rod. The court room was 
 on the second floor. A hall divided the first floor, which had four 
 rooms. 
 
 After some discussion as to the location, it finally was decided 
 that the site of the first building was not suitable, and the court or- 
 dered Munsell to build the new court house on the southeast corner of 
 the public square, and within ten feet of the streets running through 
 the square. The order was signed by Abram Chapin, William Muir- 
 heid and James A. Piatt, court commissioners. 
 
 The new building was completed in 1838 and was accepted by the 
 court Tune 20, 1838. 
 
 SECOND COURT HOUSE, 1838 
 
32 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 H. M. Gorin was named agent to rent the rooms of the old court 
 house. Probably the renting project did not prove successful, for in 
 December the court decided to dispose of the property. The lot was 
 bought by Ninian W. Peddecord, and it was deeded to him March 9, 
 1839. As stated before Robert Allen purchased the log cabin. 
 
 The community was proud of its new court house. It had every 
 right to be, for it was the most pretentious building in the city. This 
 building was used until after the Civil war, when the county again 
 had outgrown its official home. 1 Then rooms were secured in the new 
 Powers building and occupied in 1870, and they served for county 
 purposes until the present court house was erected in 1891-92, at a 
 cost of $100,000. This building now is outgrown, and the matter of 
 providing more space is a present day problem. 
 
 THE JAIL 
 
 After the county was provided with a court house, the next 
 county building needed was a jail. The first jail was erected in the 
 fall of 1832. It also was a log structure and was about twelve feet 
 square. It stood on the northwest corner of Prairie and Water streets. 
 The building contained two rooms. 
 
 The commissioners' court, composed that year of Philip D. Wil- 
 liams, Hugh Bowles and Elisha Freeman, gave the contract to build 
 the jail to James Johnson, the man who had erected the log court 
 house, and, as in the previous project, he was asked to wait for his 
 pay until the county could pay without distressing itselfi 
 
 The first jail was moved about 1836 to the northwest corner of 
 Wood and Church streets, where it burned about four years later. 
 The county was without a jail then until about 1843 when a brick 
 building two stories high was erected on the site of the jail which had 
 burned. It contained two cells. This jail was used until 1867 when 
 a new jail was erected on the south side of Wood street, between 
 Water and Franklin. 2 It had stone walls and contained twenty-four 
 cells. This jail, enlarged and improved, is still in use. Adjoining it 
 the sheriff's residence was erected. 
 
 WHIPPING POST 
 
 Decatur had another means of punishment in the early days, but 
 it was used only once. That was the old whipping post which stood 
 in the public square. 3 It was used in 1832 when the two horse thieves, 
 William Redmon and Thomas Wyatt, received the punishment to 
 which they had been sentenced, one to receive thirty-nine, the other 
 forty-nine lashes. Sheriff William Warnick officiated at the whipping. 
 
FIRST COURT HOUSE 33 
 
 For performing this duty he was paid $7, and doubtless he felt he had 
 earned it. All the town turned out to witness the punishment. 
 
 It nearly "broke" Macon county to take care of the two horse 
 thieves in 1832. The two men, Thomas Wyatt and William Redmon, 
 were probably the first prisoners in the new jail, and they were con- 
 fined there for seventy-seven days. 
 
 P. D. Williams collected several bills. One was $57.50 for '"diet- 
 ing" the prisoners, another was $56 for personal service as guard, 
 another for $7.75 for "service rendered" Thomas Taylor, guard, and 
 $18.50 for "service rendered" James Querrey as guard. Evidently Mr. 
 Williams boarded the guards. 
 
 Joseph Stevens also collected $8 for guarding the jail eight days 
 and nights, and Robert Johnson was paid 60 cents for guarding one 
 night. Sheriff Warnick received $19 for keeping the horses. There 
 were other bills for "dieting" the prisoners, and altogether the bills 
 made quite a large expense total. 
 
 1 The right of anyone to use the court house was not questioned. That privilege extended 
 even to animals. It has been told that for years the cows would be allowed to wander through 
 the lower hall on the first floor and occupy the rooms which were not then being used. The court 
 house had four rooms on the first floor, and for a long time only two of them were being used. 
 
 2 Judge W. G. Cloyd of Bement, tells the following story regarding the building of this jail : 
 "The late I. D. Jennings was sheriff when the jail was supposed to be finished and turned over 
 to the county authorities. Three prisoners, two white men and one colored brother, were locked in. 
 For some reason dissatisfied with the accommodations afforded at the Hotel de Jennings, they 
 removed a stone from between two others, and crawled out. The colored gentleman declined to 
 leave, and the white fellows were soon returned. Then it was discovered that the men who 
 superintended the construction had laid the building stones in mortar, but had not fastened the 
 stones together with dowell pins, I believe they are called. The incident led to a newspaper 
 controversy, in which the purchase of railroad land and other business matters figured. 
 
 "The news of the escape of the prisoners spread rapidly, and quite a crowd assembled. The 
 late Sheridan Wait was there, and he quaintly remarked, 'Erected in 1867, I see.' Sheriff Jennings 
 consoled the prisoners by telling them that it was their business to escape if they could, but his 
 business was to watch them." 
 
 3 The early criminal codes of Illinois were influenced by the impossibility of providing for 
 punishment by imprisonment. Many counties had no jails, in spite of repeated statutes that 
 required that county commissioners provide them. There was no state penitentiary. Hence, whip- 
 ping was regarded as the most feasible method of punishment 
 
34 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 COURT NEWS 
 
 IT was a great day in Macon county when the first term of cir- 
 cuit court opened at the new log court house, on May 6, 1830. 
 
 So far the county had managed to struggle along without a court 
 house, and probably could have done so longer, but what is a county 
 without all its honors and privileges? Hereafter Macon county could 
 assume all the dignity befitting its place in history. 
 
 The new court house wasn't finished yet, when that first term 
 was held, but what did that matter? Real court life had begun. 
 
 Court days then were a sort of clearing house for the neighbor- 
 hood. One had to attend court to be up to date and know what was 
 going on. There were no newspapers then to spread the news, and 
 each person must be on hand to get the latest information himself. 
 
 The people couldn't all get into the court house, but why worry 
 about that? There was as much going on outside as inside. (Maybe 
 more, sometimes.) 
 
 Judge Samuel D. Lockwood, one of the circuit court judges of 
 the district, presided over that first term of court. William Warnick 
 was the sheriff, Daniel McCall clerk, and John H. Pugh of Springfield 
 was prosecuting attorney. Court opened at 11 o'clock. 
 
 The docket didn't promise much excitement. The county had not 
 been able to round up any murder cases. Nobody had been taken up 
 for burglary or larceny. No one had filed suit for divorce. There was 
 not even a liquor violation case. The only thing that indicated any- 
 thing interesting was two slander cases. 
 
 The four cases heard were : 
 
 Thomas Cowan versus William King, appeal. 
 John Hanks versus John Henderson, slander. 
 William Webb versus Hubble Sprague, slander. 
 William Webb versus Philip D. Williams, appeal. 
 
 Evidently William Webb realized the importance of having a 
 worthy docket on that first day of court, so he provided two of the 
 four cases. 
 
 The two appeal cases were dismissed at the cost of the defend- 
 ants. 
 
 The first slander case was dismissed at the cost of the plaintiff 
 
COURT NEWS 35 
 
 The second slander case was dismissed at the cost of the defend- 
 ant. 
 
 So the docket was wiped clean. 
 
 But no doubt everybody had a good time. 
 
 The grand jury was sworn in and retired to "consider present- 
 ments." However, the jurors had nothing to consider and they re- 
 turned and reported such to the court and were discharged. The pri- 
 vate session of the grand jury was held, according to report, in the 
 timber south of the town, which then ended at Wood street. 
 
 GRAND JURY 
 
 The grand jury on that occasion was composed of: 
 
 Benjamin R. Austin Francis G. Hill 
 
 Robert Foster William Freeman 
 
 Lambert G. Bearden James Ward 
 
 Jeremiah Ward William D. Baker 
 
 Michael Myers William Wheeler 
 
 Edmund McDaniel William Miller 
 
 John Miller, sr. James Hanks 
 
 Isaac Miller David Miller, 2d 
 
 Samuel Miller William King 
 
 Thomas Cowan Luther Stevens 
 
 John Miller, 2d John Hanks 
 Jonathan Miller 
 
 The following men composed the petit jury: 
 
 David Miller Peter Walker 
 
 Matthias Anderson Berry Rose 
 
 James Owens David Davis 
 
 Dorus Stevens John Widick 
 
 Parmenius Smallwood James W. D. Taylor 
 
 Winkfield Everett James Myers 
 
 William Ward Henry Ewing 
 
 Samuel Widick James McGinas 
 
 James A. Ward Landy Harrell 
 
 John Mowry William Cox 
 
 James Finley Randolph Rose 
 
 George Widick John Warnick 
 
 These jurors had been named by the county commissioners court 
 at the March term in 1830. Previous to that, the county commission- 
 ers had selected lists of grand jurors and petit jurors, at their August 
 meeting in 1829, to serve at a fall term of circuit court to be held at 
 the home of James Ward. However, there is no record of a term of 
 circuit court held in the fall of 1829. The juries which had been 
 selected for that term were almost the same as the lists given above. 
 
36 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 ROAD DISTRICTS 
 
 Road districts were laid out May 19, 1829, by the county commis- 
 sioners. William Hanks was named supervisor of District No. 1 north 
 of the river. John McMennamy was named supervisor of District 
 No. 2 south of the river. 1 
 
 The county commissioners that same day took action to the effect 
 that William Ward and Robert Smith be appointed viewers "of that 
 portion of the Paris-Springfield road between the house of Widow 
 Ward and the furrow leading in the direction from Paris to Spring- 
 field." 
 
 Old county records tell of the first local road project taken up 
 after the county was organized. 
 
 Some of the inhabitants of Road District No. 1 had made peti- 
 tion for the location of a new road to begin at the east line of the 
 county, "through near Sadorus grove," and extend west "to intersect 
 the old trace at Long Point." P. D. Williams, John Miller, Sr., and 
 Henry Florey were named commissioners to locate this road. 
 
 The report of the road viewers was approved Dec. 7, 1829. 
 
 The road viewers "found that the road applied for is a useful and 
 necessary road, and the same can be made on good ground according 
 to the best of our knowledge." The road was to extend from the east 
 line "west through the prairie to the Sangamon, three miles above 
 George Carter's, then west to Decatur, west through the south side 
 of John Miller, Sr.'s farm, then west through the north side of Wil- 
 liam Miller's farm in the direction of Long Point." (Long Point was 
 south of Niantic.) 
 
 ELECTION DISTRICTS 
 
 At the county commissioners court the first day of June, 1829, it 
 was ordered that the county be laid out in two election districts for 
 the election of magistrates and constables. 
 
 All territory north of the North Fork of the Sangamon was to be 
 called Decatur district Phillip D. Williams, Henry Florey and Isaac 
 Miller were appointed judges of election. They were required to hold 
 an election at the house of Parmenius Smallwood on the 20th day of 
 the month for three justices of the peace and two constables. 
 
 All territory south of the river composed the second district, to 
 be known as Ward's district. Robert Foster, Michael Myers and 
 James Ward were appointed judges. They were required to hold an 
 
COURT NEWS 37 
 
 election for two justices of the peace and two constables on the 20th 
 of the month, at the house of James Ward. 
 
 SOME FIRST RECORDS 
 
 The first deed recorded in Macon county was on Dec. 19, 1829. 
 John Ward and wife, Jane, conveyed to Benjamin Wilson, for $250, 
 a tract of land, the east half of northeast quarter, section 33, Town- 
 ship 16 north, range One east. 
 
 The first will on record was filed Aug. 1, 1830. It was the will of 
 Christopher Whitman. 
 
 The first murder trial in the county was the case of Samuel Huff- 
 man for the murder of Wesley Bohrer, tried May 29, 1846. The jury 
 found him guilty of man-slaughter and he was sentenced to the peni- 
 tentiary for five years. 
 
 The first divorce case was that of William Stuart versus Susan 
 Stuart, in which decree was awarded Oct. 3, 1837. 
 
 tecfrft, vtiu&Hftf* „ • * *?/" 
 
 M /.*/£? V ^ ~Mtr $/M^~ 
 
 
 
 
 *J& 
 
 Hfisfriyj ■ O. -Jt?ejit& £/4*j£ af'AtS- 
 
 FIRST MARRIAGE LICENSE 
 The bridal couple were Delilah Miller and John Whitmore. The return is signed by Join 
 Miller, acting justice of the peace, who performed the ceremony on the 20th. 
 
38 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 FIRST MARRIAGES 
 
 Below is a list of the marriage licenses issued the first two years 
 after the county was organized : 
 
 Names License issued Time of marriage 
 
 John Whitmore to Delila Miller June 18, 1829 June 20, 1829 
 
 George Coppenbarger to Nancy Hend- 
 erson Nov. 10, 1829 Nov. 12, 1829 
 
 Henry Traughber to Nancy Smith Nov. 17, 1829 Nov. 17, 1829 
 
 Jacob Caulk to Mary Walker Jan. 7, 1830 Jan. 7, 1830 
 
 Joseph Stevens to Mary D. Warnick ...June 17, 1830 June 17, 1830 
 
 John Howell to Elizabeth Jones July 14, 1830 July 14, 1830 
 
 Stewart Henderson to Nancy Vinson ...July 20, 1830 July 22, 1830 
 
 William Ward to Elizabeth Wheeler ...Dec. 7, 1830 Dec. 9, 1830 
 
 James Edwards to Nancy Hill Dec. 16, 1830 Dec. 16, 1830 
 
 Lewis B. Ward to Elizabeth Walker ....Dec. 23, 1830 Dec. 23, 1830 
 
 In the first ten years of Macon county 260 marriage licenses were 
 issued. During the first eight years there was not one divorce. 
 
 Daniel McCall, who came to Macon county from Fayette county 
 in 1829, was a sort of handy man at the time the county was getting 
 its start. He was the first county clerk, the first postmaster, the first 
 circuit clerk, the first judge of the probate court, holding most of these 
 offices at the same time. He was census taker in 1830, was a school 
 teacher, a notary public, served in the Black Hawk war, and was 
 otherwise useful. However, his usefulness came to an end because of 
 his habits, and after a few years residence here, he left the county. 2 
 
 David Manley was "the county's first coroner. 
 
 1 In 1830 there were eight road districts. Road supervisors were among' the most important 
 men of the day then. Among the men who were serving in that capacity in 1831 were John 
 Blankenship, John Ward, Andrew Wilson, J. A. Piatt, Charles Hanks, William Hanks, and 
 Elisha Butler. At the last meeting of the county commissioners in 1831 it was reported that John 
 Ward had died, and his widow asked to be released from the responsibility of keeping up the 
 ferry he had been running. Her request was granted. 
 
 2 One time it was necessary to draft H. M. Gorin to act as county clerk for two days while 
 McCall was incapacitated. At first McCall's excuses got by the commissioners. Patience came 
 to an end, however, for in 1834 he was discharged as circuit clerk and H. M. Gorin appointed, 
 and in 1837 H. M. Gorin was duly elected to the office. After that McCall's name appears no 
 more in the records. 
 
THE PIONEER AT HOME 
 
 39 
 
 CHAPTER VI 
 
 THE PIONEER AT HOME 
 
 THE humble log cabin of a century ago was a humble home in- 
 deed, yet it surpassed in one respect many a millionaire's man- 
 sion today. Though a single room housed a big family — sometimes 
 more than one — there was always room for the stranger, the new set- 
 tler or the traveler. The genuine hospitality of the early settler has 
 been the theme of many a story. 
 
 The pioneer had little, but that little he generously shared with 
 one who had less. If necessary, he was willing to give all he had. It 
 was nothing to travel mile after mile through bottomless mud and 
 swollen streams to see a sick neighbor. No distance was too far if 
 some one needed help. When the newcomer arrived everybody 
 droppd his own affairs and went to work to "raise" a cabin for him. 
 
 To have charged a fee for a night's lodging would have been the 
 height of impropriety and would not have been tolerated. To have re- 
 fused to lend a tool would have aroused the whole neighborhood to 
 resentment. 
 
 A man's word was as good as his bond. Implicit confidence in 
 one another prevailed. No matter what sacrifice was required a man 
 met any promise he had made. It was considered a reflection on one's 
 integrity if one were asked to give a note in promise of payment. 
 
 FIGHTING COMMON 
 
 A man's character was not to be assailed lightly in those days. 
 
 The pioneer was quick to resent a 
 real or imaginary wrong. Slander 
 cases were quite common. A man 
 was always ready for a fight. Life 
 on the frontier was not only a bat- 
 tle with nature, but often a battle 
 with fists with the other fellow. 
 
 The word "liar" always brought 
 on a fight. It was the signal to go. 
 Though fighting was a violation of 
 pioneer log cabin the law, the authorities winked at 
 
 it A justice of the peace once said: "Boys, if you must fight, fight 
 
40 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 where I can't see you. If I see you fighting I will have to arrest and 
 fine you." 
 
 But when a fight did occur, it settled the difficulty. The man who 
 was beaten acknowledged it. The combatants shook hands and were 
 friends again. No one lay in a dark alley with a blackjack waiting for 
 his enemy. He settled the matter in the broad, open light of day, with 
 plenty of witnesses. A good fight always enlivened any occasion. 
 
 A fight was not always the result of a quarrel. If a man had a 
 reputation for being the "best" man he had to defend that reputation. 
 Two good men would go out of their way to meet each other and 
 settle the question as to who was the better man. Did it matter that 
 a fellow was all bruised up and bleeding when he got through? No, 
 no ! His honor was at stake ! 
 
 The pioneer lived the simple life — simple in reality, not make- 
 believe. He had more leisure than the man of today. He raised enough 
 crops for his own use only. Why raise more when there was no place 
 to sell? His home was as good as his neighbor's; there was no need 
 for anything grander. 
 
 AMUSEMENTS 
 
 So when his corn and wheat and flax were harvested, he had little 
 to do but hunt and fish. To vary the entertainment, there were horse 
 races, shooting matches, deer hunts, fox and wolf chases, ax throwing 
 exhibitions, jumping and wrestling matches, dancing, and trials of 
 strength. 
 
 Ax throwing was somewhat dangerous, but it proved one's skill. 
 A small area would be marked on a tree, and the aim of each thrower 
 
 was to stick the ax blade inside 
 that area. 
 
 The horse racing became popu- 
 lar at the mills, while the men were 
 waiting their turn to have their 
 corn ground. The racing horses 
 were the common farm stock, and 
 cows and other animals were 
 wagered on the outcome of the 
 races. Often "roughhouses" re- 
 sulted, for whisky was drunk free- 
 an old mill ly. Some of the earliest mills in 
 
 This picture of the old John Morrison mill MaCOn COUntv Were King's mill Oil 
 on Salt Creek, in Dewitt county, is typical of 
 mills in early Macon County. Stevens Creek, Allen S mill Oil the 
 
THE PIONEER AT HOME 41 
 
 Sangamon, the Davis mill on Big Creek, and the Robert Smith and 
 Whitley mills southwest of Decatur. 
 
 In those days a popular fellow was the man who could play the 
 fiddle. The fiddle was the only kind of musical instrument to be had, 
 and the fiddler was always sure of an invitation to every party. Most 
 of the fiddlers of the early day were unable to play by note, but they 
 produced the music, and that was all that was necessary. 
 
 Being in a position to hear much gossip, the fiddler usually was 
 a veritable news gatherer — and dispenser also. 
 
 Singing schools, house raisings, corn shuckings — any of the oc- 
 casions that served to bring the people together — furnished the social 
 life. 
 
 Keeping the fireplace supplied with wood was practically the only 
 work to be done in the winter time. The fire was never allowed to 
 die out winter or summer. There were no matches then, and if the 
 fire died out it was necessary to go to neighbors for live coals to re- 
 kindle it. 
 
 The pioneer was skilled in the use of the ax. With it he could 
 build his house, without nails, screws or locks. 
 
 Cabins were usually built at the edge of the timber, sites where 
 water and wood were plentiful being chosen. No one then was so 
 wild as to dream that some day the prairie would be inhabited. The 
 most that was claimed was that farms would extend a short distance 
 out from the timber. Prairie land would be forever wild and used for 
 grazing purposes only. 
 
 The prairies were submerged with water a good part of the year. 
 Horses and cattle mired on ground that is now the best farming land 
 in the county. There were no plows suitable to break the tough 
 prairie sod. 
 
 At first there were no fences, and animals roamed at will. When 
 fences did come, they were built to keep the stock out, instead of keep- 
 ing it in. This was according to a decision of the Supreme court, and 
 it was a big drawback to the farmers. To build and keep in repair the 
 fences needed to protect his crop, cost the farmer more than the land 
 itself. 
 
 Money was so scarce that sometimes a letter lay unclaimed for 
 weeks because of lack of cash to pay the postage on it. A man could 
 haul wheat by wagon to Chicago, Springfield or St. Louis and get for 
 a bushel only half enough to buy a yard of calico. 
 
42 ' HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 PLENTY TO EAT 
 
 One thing the pioneer usually had in plenty, and that was some- 
 thing to eat. Deer, bear, turkeys, ducks, quail, squirrels, rabbits, 
 prairie chickens abounded. The river contained plenty of fish. Each 
 settler had his truck patch, where he grew corn and other vegetables. 
 Hogs and cattle were raised. Greens were to be had for the picking. 
 Johnny cake and corn pone, and mush and milk, added to the pioneer's 
 diet. Maple sugar and honey were plentiful, and in season there were 
 wild fruits. One can easily imagine the pioneer's appetite. 
 
 For kitchen ware the earliest comers had only vessels called 
 "noggens," hollowed out of wood. Some had tin and pewter ware. 
 The drinking cup usually was a gourd. The Dutch oven, kettle and 
 frying pan were necessities. 
 
 Furniture was home made. If an extra bed were needed, a few 
 poles were quickly secured, and an ax and an augur were all the im- 
 plements necessary to fashion them together properly. 
 
 Carding and spinning of flax and wool, weaving it into cloth and 
 then making it into clothes was one of the chief duties of the women. 
 Every cabin had its spinning wheel and loom. The women made their 
 own soap with lye made from wood ashes, and their own starch from 
 wheat bran. 
 
 the "shakes" 
 
 One of the worst hardships of the early settlers was the annual 
 recurrence of the malaria, a disease which could not be avoided in this 
 undrained swampy land. 1 It was called by various names, the ague, 
 chills and fever, and the "Illinois shakes." It spared no one and was 
 intensely severe. Often entire families would be ill at one time. 
 
 Many a prospective settler, after coming to Illinois — lured by 
 glowing accounts of the land — packed up his belongings and left after 
 one siege of "the shakes." 
 
 THE DEEP SNOW 
 
 There were two memorable events in the lives of the early citizens 
 of central Illinois, which became milestones in reckoning dates. The 
 first was the deep snow in the winter of 1830-31. For years after- 
 wards dates were mentioned as "before or after the deep snow." 
 
 Snow began falling in the early winter and continued for months, 
 each downfall being succeeded by heavy sleet which formed a crust 
 of ice. Finally the snow became so deep that tops of fences could not 
 be seen, and one could drive right over them. 2 
 
THE PIONEER AT HOME 43 
 
 People were housed up for weeks, and there was much suffering, 
 though no loss of life. Many wild animals and game perished, how- 
 ever. Deer, caught in the snow, could be killed without the aid of 
 guns. Game was scarce for years afterward. 
 
 SUDDEN FREEZE 
 
 Then in January, 1836, occurred the "sudden freeze," which also 
 caused intense suffering. The freeze came about 4 o'clock in the after- 
 noon of a rainy day. Animals out in the field, and chickens, geese, 
 ducks, were caught in ice, the water freezing about their feet. Streams 
 and ponds were stretches of ice. It was so cold that it was said that 
 boiling water thrown into the air came down as particles of ice. 
 
 In other parts of the state several lives were lost during the sud- 
 den freeze. People caught out on the prairie and unable to find shelter 
 froze to death. Dr. Thomas H. Read of Decatur, on his way to see a 
 patient, almost lost his life in that way. 
 
 Another event of interest was the heavy rainfall in 1835, which 
 resulted in raising the Sangamon higher than it had ever been known 
 before. The water drained off slowly. 
 
 But all these hardships were endured by the pioneers, and they 
 stayed. They were the ones who made the prairie a fit place to live, 
 and to them is due the honor and respect and admiration of the suc- 
 ceeding generations who have reaped the benefits. 
 
 1 Quinine was found in the saddlebags of every doctor of the early day. It was given for 
 "The Shakes". Many years the county had to suffer from this disease. It did not disappear 
 until a general system of farm drainage took the water off the prairies. Then the farmers weren't 
 thinking of waging war against the disease when they started the drainage systems, but were 
 undertaking it with the idea of increased production of their farms. It served both purposes, how- 
 ever. The mosquitoes disappeared, malaria was known no more, and the farm land was greatly 
 improved. 
 
 2 Nathaniel Brown, the first blacksmith in Friend's creek township, came to Illinois from 
 Tennessee in 1830, just after the snow fell. He moved into a house he bought, and the man 
 who sold it told him it was enclosed by a seven-rail fence. The purchaser was unable to get a 
 sight of that fence until the following spring, when the snow melted. 
 
44 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 CHAPTER VII 
 
 SOME EARLY RESIDENTS 
 
 WILLIAM Warnick, Macon county's first sheriff, appointed to 
 that office in 1829, was a fine physical specimen of the sturdy 
 pioneer. That he was recognized as a capable officer, as well, was 
 shown in the fact that he held the position of sheriff from the time of 
 the organization of the county in 1829 until 1834, and then was elected 
 again in 1840 and served two years. 
 
 Mr. Warnick was also the first tax collector, but neither the job 
 nor the salary connected with it was a burden to him. For collecting 
 the taxes for the year 1829 he was paid $6. No doubt that was as 
 much as it was worth, for there wasn't much to collect. 
 
 Mr. Warnick was born in 1784 in North Carolina, and later re- 
 moved to Rutherford county, Tenn. In the year 1825 he came to Illi- 
 nois, settling in Macon county in Blue Mound township. He lived 
 first in a log cabin across the road from the land he afterwards bought. 
 In that home Abraham Lincoln was laid up for a time with frozen 
 feet. 
 
 In 1830 Mr. Warnick bought the west half of the northwest quar- 
 ter of section 35 from his brother-in-law, Benjamin Wilson, and in 
 1833 bought the east half from Robert Peebles. On the latter ground 
 he erected the house which afterwards became known as the Thirty- 
 three mile house. This house, still standing today, has been known 
 for years as the Hudelson home. 
 
 In 1835 Mr. Warnick entered from the government the forty 
 
 acres on which he had first 
 lived, and the forty east of it, 
 but did not receive his patent 
 until 1838. 
 
 POPULAR TAVERN 
 
 The Thirty-three mile 
 house was a popular tavern for 
 many years. It was so named 
 because it was thirty-three 
 miles from Springfield. The 
 
 warnick home (thirty-three mile tavern also was called the 
 house) (As it appears today) Eight-mile house, because it 
 
SOME EARLY RESIDENTS 
 
 45 
 
 was eight miles from Decatur. It was located on the old Terre Haute- 
 Springfield road, over which the tide of emigration poured for years. 
 
 The tavern was conducted by John Eckel, into whose hands the 
 land passed in 1843 at a sheriff's sale, after Warnick had become 
 financially embarrassed by going security for neighbors. Eckel made 
 many improvements on the house. No doubt Lincoln often stopped 
 at this tavern during his travels. 
 
 Mr. Warnick was first lieutenant in Captain Johnson's company 
 of volunteers in the Black Hawk war, and also was captain of a com- 
 pany of Rangers during that war. He was wounded in the engage- 
 ment known as Stillman's defeat. He was always called Major War- 
 nick, though there is no record to show that he attained that rank, 
 the title being given him unofficially by friends, because of his prowess 
 in fighting Indians. 
 
 Mr. Warnick was the father of ten children, and many of his 
 descendants live in Macon county today. He died Feb. 12, 1855. 
 
 J. Y. BR ADEN 
 
 One of the early comers, who became one of the county's most 
 influential farmers, was J. Y. Braden, whose father, Samuel Braden, 
 settled here in 1829. J. Y. Braden was then eleven 
 years old. For nearly twenty years J. Y. Braden 
 lived in Decatur, then he moved to the farm he had 
 purchased in Hickory Point township, and lived 
 there the rest of his life. He bought 80 acres of land 
 in 1848, and added many more to his holdings later. 
 The Illinois Central railroad passed through his farm. 
 Mr. Braden helped organize the township and 
 lay out roads, and was the first supervisor from 
 Hickory Point township. He held the office of super- 
 visor for six years. He served in other public offices, 
 constable, school treasurer, justice of the peace, 
 member of the county board of agriculture and often 
 was called upon as manager of county fairs and 
 other projects furthered by the farmers. 
 
 INVEST IN LAND 
 
 Macon county, outside of Decatur, was adding substantial resi- 
 dents to its population constantly in the early years of the county 
 Farm land was being taken up, and homes were being established. 
 Some of the farm lands selected then and entered from the govern- 
 ment are part of Decatur today. 1 
 
 J. Y. BRADEN 
 
46 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 ♦. 
 
 •WtfSf: \ ^th^:- : :%^;' 
 
 r**' 
 
 Iii the spring of 1834 James Geddes and John Sawyer, cousins, 
 came to Macon county, with money sewed in their belts to invest in 
 land. Geddes had $1,600 and Sawyer $2,200. The two had been boys 
 together in Lebanon county, Pa. They had worked hard, had saved 
 
 their money and then decided to "go west." They 
 
 brought with them Ben Berkshire, the. first negro to 
 come to this county. 
 
 Decatur looked good to the young men. They 
 spent several days looking around and getting ac- 
 quainted. They believed the place had good pros- 
 pects and they decided to locate. Geddes entered a 
 tract of 160 acres of land, about where the Wabash 
 property now is located, and there he built a log 
 cabin. He constantly added to his land holdings 
 until he had as much as 1,300 acres. Occasionally he 
 would have to sell off a tract to pay taxes. 
 
 Sawyer selected 120 acres, which included what 
 
 JAMES GEDDES r , , , i ((T , r,- » tt < 
 
 afterwards became known as 1 he Fines on hast 
 William street. Then he went back to Indiana and brought his bride, 
 who had been Eliza Kettering, here. His first child, Mary, became the 
 wife of Silas Packard. Mrs. Sawyer died in 1848. Sawyer often made 
 trips to Chicago, driving an ox team. In 1850 he went to California to 
 hunt gold, and with a part of his diggings he bought 200 acres on 
 his return. This land he sold later for $10,000. 
 
 Mr. Sawyer, in 1853, married Mrs. Harriett Gulick, widow of Levi 
 Gulick. For forty years the Sawyers lived on Sawyer lane, later West 
 Harrison avenue, Decatur. Mr. Sawyer died in 1893. 
 
 Benjamin Sawyer, brother of John Sawyer, native of Lebanon 
 county, Pa., came to Macon county in 1836. He operated lumber 
 yards, oil mills and dealt in cattle and land in Illinois and other states. 
 During the gold rush he went to California. From 1869 to 1872 he 
 managed trail herds from Texas north to railroads through Indian 
 Territory. Benjamin Sawyer was unmarried. He died in Macon coun- 
 ty in 1879. 
 
 THE SPANGLERS 
 
 The Spanglers came to the county in the fall of 1835 from York 
 county, Pa. Joseph and Barbara Spangler, the parents, had a family 
 of nine children, eight of whom came to Macon county with them. 
 
 Jacob Spangler was the first of the family to come to Illinois, 
 making the trip to look over the country. His report was a favorable 
 one, and the rest of the family then made the journey west. 
 
SOME EARLY RESIDENTS 
 
 47 
 
 JACOB SPAXGLER 
 
 The Spanglers entered land east and northeast of Decatur, having 
 land in three townships. In 1838 they erected the Spangler mill, well 
 known in the early days. 
 
 . The present day William street bridge formerly 
 was known as the Spangler bridge. 
 
 SELLS AT FOURTEEN DOLLARS AN ACRE 
 
 William Foren, who came here in 1830 from 
 Huntsville, Ala., owned the farm which later be- 
 came known as the Johns property, now the site of 
 the Washington grade school and Johns Hill Junior 
 high school. Mrs. Foren was dissatisfied here and 
 wanted to return south, so Mr. Foren sold the land 
 to William Martin, father of Mrs. Jane M. Johns, 
 at $14 an acre. Mr. Foren formerly had a meat mar- 
 ket about where the Brunswick hotel now stands. 
 His daughter, Ann Foren, married Samuel McKin- 
 ley, who had located here in 1834. 
 
 McKinley, who was only 18 years old when he 
 first came here, was an apprentice of E. O. Smith and Benjamin 
 Dillehunt and later became a partner of Smith. McKinley sold his 
 town property in 1856 and bought a farm of 160 acres four and one- 
 half miles north of Decatur on the Bloomington road. For that land 
 he paid $25 an acre. Some of his neighbors the year before had en- 
 tered government land at $1.25 an acre. The increase in value of 
 land, which came with the advent of the railroads, was quickly be- 
 coming apparent. 
 
 WILLIAMS LAND 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Andrew S. Williams had extensive land holdings 
 in the north part of Decatur, north of what is now Grand avenue. 
 They came to Macon county in 1836. Mrs. Williams taught school in 
 the early days, first in her home and later in a building erected on the 
 Williams land. Mr. Williams also at one time owned the land known 
 as College hill. 
 
 ROB IX SOX FAMILY 
 
 One early settler, who entered, from the government, land which 
 is now a part of the city, was Amos Robinson, who came in 1830 from 
 Royalton, Vt. 2 Fie lived only about six years after coming here, but 
 was active during those early years in the history of the county. He 
 was one of the men who helped to build the old log court house. His 
 son, Hartwell, was identified with the business life of Decatur until 
 his death in 1856. 
 
48 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 The Robinson land was in the west section of the city. The 
 Springfield road (now West Main street and Route 10) passed 
 through their land. It was part of this land which later came into 
 possession of James Millikin, and became the site of his home and 
 the university. 
 
 The Robinsons lived first on the north side of what is now the 
 900 block West Main street. After Amos Robinson located here, he 
 procured 100 apple trees and he and his boys set them out. Within 
 two or three years the trees were bearing big crops of apples. Amos 
 Robinson died about 1836, and was buried in the family burial plot in 
 the midst of the orchard he had set out a few years before. 
 
 Before the elder man's death, father and son Tiad started a chair 
 factory, located where the Y. M. C. A. annex now stands. In that shop 
 a horse was used to turn the lathe. For years Hartwell Robinson made 
 tables, bureaus, chairs, window sash, etc. About 1850 he started a 
 lumber mill and shop in what is now the 900 block West Main street. 3 
 He also ran a grocery store on the present site of the Parlor meat mar- 
 ket. 
 
 Marilla Robinson, daughter of Amos Robinson, married Dayton 
 Dunham. Amos Dunham, for whom Dunham Post, G. A. R. was 
 named, was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Dayton Dunham. 
 
 About 1845 Hartwell Robinson erected a brick house on the south 
 side of the road passing his home. He was married that year to 
 Fairazina Morris, and all their married life they lived in that home. In 
 1856 Mr. Robinson sold the place to Peter Laux, and built a new resi- 
 dence in the 900 block West Prairie, but just as the last door was 
 being hung he died. His widow and children moved to the new home. 
 Both these Robinson homes stood for many years. 
 
 1 Land was cheap in the 30s. J. F. Montgomery, father of the late R. R. Montgomery, 
 bought a lot in the 100 block South Main street for a hat. Evidently some cne felt a hat was 
 more valuable than the real estate. Mr. Montgomery bought the east half of the block on the 
 north side of 100 block East Main street, cornering on Water, for $35. He first put up a little tailor 
 shop there, and later erected a better building, two stories high. Then the Sons of Temperance 
 added a third story to it. When that building was burned in the fire of 1859 Mr. Montgomery's 
 loss was $1,000. 
 
 Land was cheap until after the railroads came in 1854. The Packards once sold some land 
 around College square at $2.50 an acre, and patted themselves on the back for getting such a 
 good price. 
 
 Edmund Packard, when getting ready to go to California to hunt gold, traded 10 acres now 
 in the midst of Decatur to Rev. William S. Crissey for a gold watch and chain, and thought he had 
 the best end of the bargain ! 
 
SOME EARLY RESIDENTS 49 
 
 2 The Robinson, the Packard, and the Hunting families came together to Macon county. A 
 letter written by Mrs. Robinson to home folks, on Sept. 8, tells of their safe arrival after a 
 fatiguing journey. They had arrived July 26. On Sept. 8, the day the letter was written, Mr. 
 Packard died. Mrs. Robinson deplored the fact that they were all ill with the chills and ague and 
 unable to attend the funeral of their friend, Mr. Packard. That was Silas Packard, Sr., father of 
 the Silas Packard, whose name appears elsewhere in this history. Mrs. Robinson's letter is given 
 here: 
 
 "Decatur, Sept. 8, 1830. 
 
 "My dear children, with faint and faltering steps I tread to the table once more to attempt 
 to write you. We had a long and fatiguing journey, but not any sickness to detain us one day. 
 We arrived here July the 26 all in health, but very much fatigued with our journey, but it has 
 been uncommonly sickly here this season and we do not escape. 
 
 "God has seen fit to lay his afflicting hand upon us and leaving us all down at a time. 
 Yes, and so very sick for some days that there was not one able to carry a drink of water to the 
 other among the five, but thanks be to God our lives are saved, while others are taken. We are 
 now recovering in health slowly. We have got able to dress ourselves and walk about the room 
 very little. 
 
 "Now I take your attention to the doleful news. Mr. Packard is no more. He departed 
 this life this morning at about 1 o'clock, was sick but seven or eight days, and never has been 
 thought to be dangerous until last evening. He never has manifested any alarm about himself 
 in his sickness and died in a bewildered state. Furthermore, I must add that the family are all 
 sick like, save Mrs. Packard is only able to walk from one room to the other. I am told she 
 bears her trouble as yet with great composure. 
 
 "Mr. Hunting's family likewise are all sick save the oldest son. Not one of us will be able 
 to attend the funeral, which is appointed tomorrow at seven o'clock. This is a solemn time, in- 
 deed, with us, only two miles distant, and we must be deprived of beholding even the corpse 
 of our ever faithful and worthy friend. The disorder of which he died, is called fever and ague, 
 together with the nervous fever. The fever and ague and chill fever have been our disorder and 
 is very frequent in this vicinity, especially to new settlers. 
 
 "This our friend's death is greatly lamented by all who knew him, and as for your father, 
 his expectations are apparently all cut off. He has ever been willing to confide in his judgment 
 at all times, and finally in a word we were all of us making great dependence on Mr. Packard's 
 assisting us, but alas, is not this to show that we must not put our trust in mortal man. Yet I 
 know not where to leave speaking of him, for this is the theme of our lives. Our hearts are sad 
 in mourning, and hung on the weeping willows of grief. Of the bereft widow, her loss cannot 
 be estimated, and those dear little children deprived of a kind and affectionate parent at this 
 critical period of life, when so much needed with them. May the Lord take these little ones in 
 his arms and bless them and be a father to the fatherless and the widow's god and guide." 
 
 Here is part of a letter written by Hartwell Robinson, then about 18 years old, to his 
 brother back east, Jan. 31, 1833. 
 
 "It was a very cold spring and summer. Good corn fit for seed is so scarce that it is $1 
 per bushel. We sold our youngest horse for $60. We sold the harness for $25, took two cows 
 and one calf, seven hogs, and one day's work. Sold our wagon for $45, to be paid in breaking 
 fifteen acres of prairie and 1500 of rails. We went to live with the man that bought our 
 youngest horse. He asked us $25 for getting our wood three months, $12 for wintering our other 
 horse, the cow and calf died. He asked 37 l /2 cents per week for wintering our cow that lived. 
 
 "Marm made from the cow sixty weight of cheese and butter so that we have it plenty 
 through the summer and fall, and have some yet. Marm had no cheese press so she had to press 
 them by setting them under the bed post. 
 
 "Timber here is mostly oak and walnut, some black walnut and a little cherry. Father has 
 now sold his tools to pay some of his debts. There is two saw mills putting up within two 
 miles of us. Dunham talks of going back to York state. He has sold some of his things. We 
 received a letter from Amos last fall. He writ that you was married. Every newcomer that 
 comes in here very seldom escapes the ague one year. I believe that I have thought of about 
 everything worth mentioning except to tell you that we sold the other horse last fall for $80 to pay 
 the merchants." 
 
 3 From a spring on the land they stored enough water in a well to run this mill. Machinery 
 for this mill, including engine and boiler, were brought later from Springfield on wagons drawn 
 by oxen. Dayton Dunham and son, Henry, went to Springfield to get the machinery. Henry 
 Dunham, it is believed, is at the time of this writing (1930), the oldest native born resident of 
 Decatur. He was born in this city April 22, 1838. 
 
50 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 CHAPTER VIII 
 
 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 IT'S time to be on my way." The words may not have been uttered 
 aloud, but they were in the mind of Abraham Lincoln during the 
 brief period of time in which Macon county claimed him as a resi- 
 dent. 
 
 It was the turning point of 
 his life. He was just twenty-one, 
 just old enough to think it was 
 time for him to be setting out in 
 the world for himself. 
 
 That his "way" would even- 
 tually lead him to the heights he 
 attained probably did not enter 
 the thoughts of the ungainly 
 youth as he trudged along the 
 Sangamon and over the prairie 
 sod in Macon county, though he 
 did have visions of broader things 
 than his life up to this time had 
 brought him. 
 
 Macon county may be said to 
 be a "university" in which Lin- 
 coln received a year of his educa- 
 tional training. It was in this 
 county that he had his real start 
 in life. Here he studied his first 
 law books ; here he made his first political speeches. His career as law- 
 yer, politician and public speaker, which finally led him — though over 
 a road of disappointments — to the highest position his country could 
 offer him, had its humble beginning in Macon county. 
 
 THE MIGRATION 
 
 The Lincolns came to Macon county from Spencer county, Ind., 
 in 1830, arriving near the middle of the month of March. It had taken 
 two weeks or more for the journey. 
 
 Thomas Lincoln, father of Abraham, was always ready to move, 
 when he thought he could better himself, and when Cousin John 
 
 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 51 
 
 Hanks, who had already located in Macon county, sent back word 
 to Indiana advising the folks there to pull up stakes and come, too, 
 Lincoln was not averse to the idea. 
 
 Dennis Hanks, whose wife was the daughter of Mrs. Lincoln, 
 had resolved to get out of Indiana, after an epidemic of "milk sick," 
 which had nearly ruined him. In one week he had lost four cows and 
 eleven calves, besides being ill himself. 
 
 Dennis Hanks had been in Macon county before, having come 
 once on a visit, and he was well satisfied to locate here, too. 
 
 So the Lincolns made ready for the journey to a new location. 
 Thomas Lincoln sold for $125 the 80 acres of land he had entered in 
 Indiana, and also a lot in Elizabethtown, Ky., which belonged to his 
 wife, for which he received $123. An iron bound wagon, which was 
 the first and only one he ever owned, was purchased (or made) and 
 it was loaded with beds and bedding, table, bureau, set of chairs, 
 chest and cooking utensils. A cow, an extra horse, and a little dog- 
 were brought, too. 
 
 There were three wagons altogether in the caravan. One of them 
 was drawn by two teams of horses, and the other two by two yoke 
 of oxen each. Abraham Lincoln drove one of the wagons. 
 
 Thirteen persons were in the party in the Lincoln migration from 
 Indiana to Illinois. They were: 
 
 Thomas Lincoln, his wife, Sarah Bush Johnston Lincoln; Abra- 
 ham Lincoln, son of Thomas, and John D. Johnston, son of Mrs. 
 Lincoln, a family of four; 
 
 The Squire Hall family, which included Squire Hall, his wife, 
 Matilda Johnston Hall (daughter of Mrs. Thomas 
 Lincoln), and their son, John Johnston Hall, a fam- 
 ily of three ; 
 
 The Dennis Hanks family of six, including 
 Dennis Hanks, his wife, Elizabeth Johnston Hanks 
 (daughter of Mrs. Thomas Lincoln), and their four 
 children, Sarah Jane Hanks (later Mrs. Thomas 
 Dowling), Nancy Hanks (later Mrs. James Shoaff), 
 Harriet Hanks (later Mrs. Gus Chapman), and John 
 Talbot Hanks. 
 
 It was a hard journey — but the Lincolns were 
 used to hardships. Tt was still so cold that the 
 ground and water would freeze at night, and then, 
 mrs sarah during the day it would thaw. It made traveling 
 
 bush Lincoln hard for the oxen. 
 
 
52 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 At Vincennes the party ferried across the Wabash river. It was 
 at Vincennes where Abraham Lincoln saw a printing press for the 
 first time. 
 
 The Okaw river had to be forded, and in making the crossing the 
 party nearly lost one of its wagons. 
 
 The story has often been told of one incident of the trip, when 
 the little dog was rescued by Abraham Lincoln. It was left behind at 
 one stream, refusing to swim the water. Abraham, pitying the poor 
 little fellow as it ran up and down the bank, whining at being separ- 
 ated from the party, Avaded through the stream, picked up the dog 
 and carried it across in his arms. 
 
 The Lincolns, no doubt, came into Macon county over the old 
 Springfield-Paris road, turning north at Mt. Gilead, and coming in to 
 Decatur on the Shelbyville road. They probably crossed the Sanga- 
 mon on John Ward's ferry. 
 
 They stopped the afternoon of their arrival on the public square 
 (now Lincoln square), near the southeast corner. A tablet on the west 
 wall of the West drug store building marks the spot. Lincoln him- 
 self pointed out the place in 1856. He then told of driving into Deca- 
 tur, to camp later in the edge of the city. 
 
 BUILD CABIN 
 
 Next morning John Hanks escorted them to his home northwest 
 of Decatur. The Hanks' cabin was located in Tlickory Point township, 
 about a half mile east of Boiling Springs. When John Hanks first 
 came to Macon county he had intended building a cabin on the Sanga- 
 mon river south of Harristown, not far from his father's farm, and 
 had cut logs for it, but being unable to get the sod broken, he had 
 changed his mind, and located in Hickory Point instead. When the 
 Lincolns arrived, Hanks offered them the logs still lying at the Sanga- 
 mon river site, and the Lincolns accepted them. The location suited, 
 so there they stayed and erected their cabin out of the logs cut by 
 their kinsman. 
 
 The Lincoln cabin stood on a high bluff 300 feet above Whitley's 
 mill. It sat more than 100 feet back from the stream, and from the 
 home one could look down to the river. This location is shown on the 
 old map in the Lincoln room in the Decatur public library. The map 
 was published in 1865. As the cabin was still standing in the early 
 part of that year, it doubtless is correct. "The location is decribed as 
 the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 28, township 
 16, range 1 east of the 3rd principal meridian. 
 
ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 53 
 
 Abraham Lincoln, then a strong, able-bodied youth more than o 
 feet tall, helped put up the cabin, smoke house and barn. The cabin 
 was of hewed logs, and doors and floors were puncheon. The few nails 
 which were used in building the cabin had been brought from Indiana. 
 The size of the cabin was 16 by 16 feet. A common ax, a broad ax, 
 a handsaw and a "drawer knife" were the tools the Lincolns possessed. 
 As soon as the house was up, Abraham split rails to fence in about 
 ten acres of ground. Then he broke up the ground and planted corn. 
 
 The land on which the Lincolns lived is now owned by James T. 
 Whitley. It was entered from the government in 1836 by Perry 
 Strickland. Neither Thomas Lincoln nor his son Abraham ever 
 bought any land in Macon county. Both left the following year after 
 their arrival. The Lincoln cabin stood for many years and for a time 
 was used as a school house. Little thought was given to it, until after 
 the assassination of President Lincoln. Then, in 1865, it was taken 
 apart and shipped to Chicago for exhibition at the Northwestern Sani- 
 tary fair, and later was exhibited on Boston Common. After that it 
 was sold to an English syndicate to be shipped to England, and is sup- 
 posed to have been lost in transit. 
 
 FIRST ILLINOIS HOME OF A. LINCOLN 
 
 The two men are Dennis (left) and John Hanks. T. B. Shoaff (owner of original photograph) 
 
 says this was the only picture taken of the cabin before its removal 
 
 from near the Sangamon river. 
 
54 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Dr. William E. Barton, noted Lincoln historian, made a search of 
 the records to learn about the exhibition of the cabin on Boston Com- 
 mon, and also in Chicago. It was rather odd that after a long search 
 the first evidence he found of the exhibition in Chicago was an article 
 in the Boston Transcript on June 15, 1865, which told of the North- 
 western Sanitary fair then in progress in Chicago. The cabin was ex- 
 hibited at the corner of Randolph street and Wabash avenue, then on 
 the lake front. John and Dennis Hanks were in attendance, and gave 
 visitors interesting items of their experiences with Lincoln. They car- 
 ried a letter of identification from Governor Richard J. Oglesby. 
 
 The fair in Chicago closed June 24, 1865. The cabin had been 
 shipped to Chicago about June 1. Dennis Hanks had with him at that 
 time a razor which had been used by Thomas Lincoln, and later occa- 
 sionally by Abraham Lincoln. It was then about seventy years old. 
 Abraham Lincoln rarely shaved himself, and probably did not use the 
 razor often. 
 
 NOTED VISITORS 
 
 The cabin was given considerable prominence in the Sanitary 
 fair publication, "The Voice of the Fair," according to Dr. Barton. 
 Hundreds of people visited it daily during the fair. 
 
 On June 8 in connection with a statement regarding the cabin, 
 "The Voice of the Fair" said : 
 
 "Governor R. J. Oglesby paid his respects to the old cabin on 
 Monday, and when he entered within its enclosure, taking John Hanks 
 by the hand, he exclaimed : 
 
 " 'Well, John, this is certainly the identical Lincoln cabin. I have 
 been in it, many years ago. My feelings are sad. I realize where I 
 am'." 
 
 Sometime in the latter part of July, 1865, the cabin was set up on 
 Boston Common. There it again attracted hundreds of visitors, among 
 them many notable persons. One item in The Advertiser of July 29 
 tells of the visit of the Marquis of Drogheda and his lady. They spent 
 considerable time in examining the relic and her ladyship, after pur- 
 chasing some articles made from the wood of the cabin site, remarked : 
 
 "I wish very much to take home these to show our people ; for 
 my husband is one of those in our country who admired President 
 Lincoln's character." 
 
 The Marquis and lady expressed their pleasure at having met 
 Uncle John Hanks, who did not know until afterwards that he had 
 been entertaining English nobility. 
 
 General U. S. Grant and his staff also visited the cabin. 
 
ABRAHAM LfNCOLN 
 
 55 
 
 The handbill advertising the cabin, a copy of which Dr. Barton 
 secured, stated that half of the net proceeds from the exhibition would 
 be devoted to the erection of a monument to the memory of Thomas 
 Lincoln. An admission fee of 25 cents for adults and 10 cents for 
 children was charged. 
 
 Thomas B. Shoaff, of Shelbyville, 111., grandson of Dennis Hanks, 
 and great grandson of Sarah Bush Johnston Lincoln, remembers well 
 the circumstances concerning the dismantling of the cabin and send- 
 ing it away for exhibit. His father, James Shoaff, at that time was 
 publishing the Decatur Magnet at Decatur, 111. James Shoaff num- 
 bered the logs plainly before shipment was made. 
 
 "Grandfather Dennis Hanks has told me many times how people 
 wept on seeing the cabin," says Thomas B. Shoaff. 
 
 BLUFF AT LINCOLN CABIN SITE (as it 
 
 today) 
 
 Air. Shoaff sent some walnut rails, taken from the Lincoln cabin 
 site, by express to Boston, after the cabin was shipped there for ex- 
 hibition. The rails were fashioned into souvenirs and sold. Mr. Shoaff 
 remembers that the express charge on the rails was $14. 
 
 The story told at various times to the effect that the cabin was 
 exhibited at the centennial exhibition in Philadelphia in 1876 is incor- 
 rect. The cabin has never been heard of since the time it was sold 
 to the English syndicate for shipment to England in 1865, according 
 to Mr. Shoaff, and it is generally supposed that it was lost in passage 
 
56 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 CHAPTER IX 
 
 D 
 
 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 (Continued) 
 
 URING the year that Abraham Lincoln lived in Macon county 
 he did not particularly distinguish himself, except that he began 
 to gain a reputation for wrestling and for making speeches. Life to 
 him then was about the same as that of the average young man of the 
 period. He did, however, spend more time in study than the ordinary 
 youth. Always anxious to learn, he never let pass an opportunity to 
 gain knowledge. 
 
 He had what might have been called a fairly good education at 
 that time. He could read, write, spell, and cipher to the "rule of 
 three." He had read a number of books, among them the Bible, Life 
 of Washington by Weems, Life and Speeches of Henry Clay, Pil- 
 grim's Progress, Revised Laws of Indiana (1824), History of United 
 States, Life of Marion, Life of Franklin, Robinson Crusoe, Aesop's 
 Fables, Murray's Reader, Arabian Nights, the Kentucky Preceptor, 
 and Webster's Blue Backed Speller, and an etymological dictionary. 
 
 Lincoln's reading was more than mere reading. It was study. 
 He memorized a great deal of what he read, and he gave serious 
 thought to all of it. Such a list of books as that given, read in Lin- 
 coln's way, was enough to provide a fairly good education in itself. 
 
 After Abraham Lincoln had helped his father get settled in their 
 new home on the Sangamon river bluff, he went out to look for a job. 
 All summer he worked for others, splitting rails, chopping wood, 
 plowing, harvesting. He broke up fifty acres of prairie land, with four 
 yoke of oxen. 
 
 Some of his work went to pay for new clothes. He bargained 
 with Mrs. Nancy Miller to make him a pair of trousers. For every 
 yard of brown jeans cloth used, he agreed to split 400 rails. It took a 
 good deal of material to cover the long-legged Lincoln. No wonder 
 he didn't get new clothes often ! A fair price for splitting rails in those 
 days was Z7y 2 cents a hundred in trade or 25 cents in cash. 
 
 No doubt the young Abe soon got acquainted with the young 
 folks of the neighborhood, for he attended the ''spellings" and "sing- 
 ing bees" held at the log school house southwest of Decatur. The 
 story goes that he courted Mary (Polly) Warnick, but evidently not 
 for long, as she was married in June to another man, Joseph Stevens. 
 
ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 57 
 
 Tt gave Stevens something to brag about, anyhow, for all his life he 
 boasted of having cut Lincoln out! 
 
 Jemima Hill was another girl Lincoln escorted home from gather- 
 ings. That probably meant little, however, as in going from his own 
 home to the school house Lincoln scarcely had to go out of his way 
 to reach the Hill home. 
 
 In fact, even though it was spring and Lincoln was a young fel- 
 low of 21, he probably had no serious love affairs, after he came to 
 Macon county. 
 
 He was one of the guests at the wedding of his former sweet- 
 heart, Polly Warnick, and Joe Stevens, according to tradition. 
 
 Lincoln was a handy man to have around when there was rail 
 splitting to be done in the neighborhood. He was a master hand at 
 the business, according to Dennis Hanks, who said one day : 
 
 "He was a master hand at maulin' rails ; my, how he could chop ! 
 His ax would flash and bite into a tree and down it would come. If 
 you heard him fallin' trees in a clearing, you would say three men 
 were at work by the way the trees fell. He could sink an ax deeper 
 into wood than any man I ever saw." 
 
 Lincoln and John Hanks made rails for William Warnick. In 
 the Hudelson house is a walnut rail, which was kept by Robert 
 Hudelson, and which was said to be from a lot of 3,000 rails made 
 by Lincoln. 
 
 HIS SPEECHES 
 
 Wearing a broad brimmed straw hat, a "hickory" shirt, tight tow 
 linen trousers, and with feet bare, Lincoln made one of his first polit- 
 ical speeches in 
 front of the Har- 
 rell tavern which 
 then stood on the 
 present site of Cen- 
 tral block, on the 
 square which bears 
 his name. The tav- 
 ern was a two-story 
 building, with long 
 veranda on the 
 south. In front were 
 several trees, one of 
 which had broken 
 
 LINCOLN RAIL FENCE ON SCROGGIN FARM off. leaving a splint- 
 
58 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 ery stump. Lincoln, according to the story of that speech as told after- 
 ward by Mrs. Harrell, was working for a Mr. Shepherd who had land 
 west of what is now Church street and north of West Main. One day 
 while plowing with oxen in the field there, Lincoln heard the sound 
 of cheering on the square, and with a youth's curiosity, stopped his 
 team and went over to see what was going on. 
 
 He found a crowd of men listening to a Democrat making a poli- 
 tical speech and having considerable to say against the Old Line Whig 
 party, the party to which Lincoln adhered. It was more than Lincoln 
 could stand. The minute the speaker was through, up hopped Lin- 
 coln to the splintery stump. The crowd pressed forward, eager to see 
 what was going to happen. With all the fervor and tenseness of his 
 nature, the tall, lank young fellow refuted the attacks on his party. 
 
 The splinters must have been hard on those bare feet, for the 
 young man had to shift his position often. But the speech was made. 
 The party was defended. And the crowd cheered wildly ! Then and 
 there Lincoln demonstrated that he could make a speech. 
 
 Another time Lincoln made a speech after an address by General 
 Whiteside. It dealt with the navigability of the Sangamon. 
 
 "Who's that young fellow?" asked the general. 
 
 "His name's Abe Lincoln, but outside of that I don't know any- 
 thing about him," was I. C. Pugh's reply. 
 
 "He's nobody's d — d fool. Some of these days that fellow is going 
 to be heard from !" declared Whiteside. 
 
 Lincoln's talks on the navigability of the Sangamon must have 
 been effective. According to another story told, Lincoln one day 
 spoke on that subject just after a speech by a man named Posey. 
 John Hanks used to say that this was Lincoln's first political talk. 
 
 Posey took Lincoln to one side and asked him where he had 
 secured his information, and encouraged him to keep on reading and 
 studying. 
 
 In January, 1831, Mr. Posey introduced in the legislature a reso- 
 lution that the "committee on internal improvements be instructed to 
 inquire into the expediency of opening the navigation of the Sanga- 
 mon river as far as Decatur in Macon county." 
 
 Another speech made by Lincoln that was afterwards remem- 
 bered was given after a wrestling match in William Warnick's har- 
 vest field. 
 
 Lincoln was gaining considerable reputation as a wrestler, and 
 one day while the harvest hands were taking a brief rest, Jim Owens, 
 champion of that sport, challenged Lincoln to a match. Lincoln threw 
 
ABRAHAM LINCOLN 59 
 
 his opponent, and while still holding him down along came "Jim" 
 Llerrod with a bucket of cold water which he dashed on the wrestlers. 
 
 "I have always heard," said Herrod, "that the best way to part 
 two fighting dogs is to throw cold water on them." 
 
 "Uncle Jimmy" Sanders was Lincoln's pal in those days. 1 At any- 
 thing from a wedding to a fishing trip the two were seen together. 
 Sanders was a great wrestler himself, and he always told with pride 
 that once he threw Lincoln, who had in turn thrown the bully of the 
 county. 
 
 A HARD YEAR 
 
 The year which the Lincolns spent in Macon county was the 
 hardest year in the history of the county. During the summer malaria 
 was prevalent, and the winter was made memorable by the deep 
 snow. No wonder Thomas Lincoln decided to move again. It is quite 
 evident that he and his family suffered from the ague and fever, for 
 Thomas Lincoln bought a good deal of "barks" at the Renshaw store. 
 Barks was a mixture of Peruvian bark and whisky. 
 
 One incident is told of Lincoln and the deep snow that winter. 
 Lincoln and John Hanks managed to get over to the Robert Smith 
 mill with a grist of corn, to be ground. They found Smith in the field 
 gathering corn. He had one road cut through to the field and was 
 picking the corn left exposed above the top of the snow. 
 
 Mr. Smith asked if conditions were as bad on the other side of 
 the river, and Lincoln replied: 
 
 "Yes, we have to do worse than that, for we have used up all 
 our corn, and now have to go to the neighbors for assistance." 
 
 One day during that winter Lincoln started over to the Warnick 
 home, and got his feet wet in crossing the Sangamon. By the time 
 he reached the Warnick home his feet were frozen, and he was laid 
 up there for weeks. 
 
 While confined at the Warnick home, Lincoln passed the time by 
 studying Sheriff Warnick's law books. 
 
 Thomas Lincoln left Macon county the following spring, expect- 
 ing to go back to Indiana. He stopped in Coles county, however, and 
 then decided to remain there. He lived in that county the rest of his 
 life. 
 
 The same spring Abraham Lincoln left Macon county. Denton 
 ( )ffut, trader, who wanted to send flatboats, filled with produce, down 
 to New Orleans, offered John Hanks and Abraham Lincoln the job 
 of taking the boats down. John Johnston, stepson of Thomas Lincoln, 
 
60 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 also went along. They were to be paid 50 cents a day, and $60 to be 
 divided at the end of the trip. 
 
 From Decatur to Springfield, where they were to meet Offut, 
 they made the. trip in a canoe over the Sangamon. This was just 
 about a year after Lincoln had arrived in Macon county. Never again 
 did Abraham Lincoln come back to call Macon county his home. 
 On his return from the trip south Lincoln was offered a job in Offut's 
 store in New Salem. That ended his connection with Macon county, 
 as a home, and opened a new chapter in his life, his career at New 
 Salem. 
 
 JOHN HANKS 
 
 John Hanks, who was so intimately associated with his cousin, 
 Abraham Lincoln, and who induced Lincoln to 
 make his first public speech, was a picturesque 
 figure. He was one of the earliest settlers in the 
 county, and lived here until his death July 1, 1889. 2 
 His body lies in Boiling Springs cemetery. 
 
 Outside of his connection with Lincoln, he was 
 one of the county's busy citizens. 3 He served on the 
 first and second grand juries, was a ranger in Cap- 
 tain Johnson's company during the Black Hawk 
 war, made numerous trips to New Orleans by flat- 
 boat, and in the Civil war was a wagon master in 
 Grant's regiment. During the gold rush he made a 
 trip to California, remaining three years, and after 
 the Civil war made several trips west. He was ap- 
 pointed as Indian agent by President Lincoln. 
 
 It is thought that John Hanks was the only one of the Hanks 
 family invited to Abraham Lin- 
 coln's wedding. Once after Lincoln 
 was elected president Hanks visited 
 him at the White House. 
 
 When John Hanks first settled 
 in the county he built a log cabin 
 in Hickory Point township. That 
 cabin burned about 1866. Mr. 
 Hanks' second home was a brick 
 house. That house is still standing, 
 and is herewith reproduced. john hanks' home 
 
 JOHN HANKS 
 
ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 61 
 
 John Hanks came into the limelight by helping Abraham Lincoln 
 split the rails for the fence for the Lincoln homestead. The rails from 
 this fence — two of which carried the banner at the state Republican 
 convention at the Decatur Wigwam in 1860 — became known all over 
 the world. 
 
 LINCOLN CABIN SITE (as it appears today) 
 
 James Hanks, brother of John, built his cabin about a quarter 
 mile north of his brother. William Hanks, Jr., another brother, en- 
 tered eighty acres of land west of the quarter section on which Deca- 
 tur was located. His cabin stood on the lot which is now the site of 
 the H. I. Baldwin home, 452 West Main street. Some walnut logs 
 from that cabin were used in the Baldwin house. 
 
 It is said that Lincoln often sprawled in the shade of the trees 
 there when he made trips in to town. This land was sold by Mr. 
 Hanks to William T. Crissey. There is a story to the effect that his 
 wife would not sign the deed until she received a new dress. 
 
 William Hanks also was a ranger in Johnson's company in the 
 Black Hawk war. He was supervisor of Road District No. 1 for sev- 
 eral years after Macon county was formed. He died in January, 1836. 
 
 William Hanks, Sr., brother of the grandmother of Lincoln, Lucy 
 Hanks, entered land in Section 22 in Harristown township. He was 
 a member of the grand jury in 1832. He is thought to have died about 
 1851 or 1852. 
 
62 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 DENNIS HANKS 
 
 Dennis Hanks, who came to Macon county with the Lincolns, and 
 left in about a year, lived afterwards in Coles coun- 
 ty. He was born May 15, 1799. It was he who was 
 the boyhood chum of Lincoln when the families lived 
 in Kentucky, and it was he who taught Abraham 
 how to read and write. 
 
 Dennis Hanks once was sent to Washington, 
 when Lincoln was president, to intercede in behalf 
 of some men who had been imprisoned, without 
 trial, after riots at Charleston, in which nine men 
 had been killed. President Lincoln granted the re- 
 quest of his old-time friend, and the prisoners were 
 set free. 
 
 Dennis Hanks died at the home of his daugh- 
 ter, Mrs. James Shoaff, in Paris, Oct. 21, 1892. His 
 wife, Elizabeth, died in 1864. They are buried at Charleston, 111. 
 
 Various other members of the Hanks family located in Macon 
 county, and many of their descendants are present-day citizens. 
 
 Jl 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 n| 
 
 ▼ ' 
 
 W^m 
 
 f" ~- A 
 
 
 J$h 
 
 DENNIS HANKS 
 
 1 "Now, Abe, don't do any wrong", said Uncle Jimmy Sanders to Abraham Lincoln in his 
 last visit with him before Lincoln started to Washington. 
 
 "I will not, if I know it," replied Lincoln. 
 
 - At the time John Hanks came to Macon county in 1829 his family consisted of himself, 
 his wife, Sarah Shrader Hanks ("Aunt Sookey"), William and Jane Hanks (Mettlin). Later the 
 following children were born in the log cabin in which the family lived northwest of Decatur : 
 Emily (Loomis), Mary Ellen (Manon), John Felix Hanks, Grason Hanks and Levi (Toby) 
 Hanks. Mrs. Manon is the only one still living (1930). Her home is in Eureka, Cal. She is 
 eighty-six years old at this writing. John Felix Hanks was drowned at the age of 23 while fording 
 Stevens creek one night on his way home during a storm. The bridge had washed out, and 
 both the young man and the horse he was riding were drowned. That was in the year 1858. 
 
 3 One time when John Hanks was serving on the petit jury, Lincoln drove the horses home 
 for Mrs. Hanks and spent the night at the Hanks home. Mrs. Willis Johnson also was visiting 
 there at the time. While driving back to town the next morning, Lincoln nearly pitched headlong 
 out of the front end of the wagon when he forded Stevens creek. On his way to town he passed 
 the ruins of the old school house which had just burned down. 
 
 According to records John Hanks served on the petit jury in May, 1838. 
 
 Mrs. Johnson said that Lincoln wore a new suit of blue jeans at that time. It may have 
 been the suit woven for him by Mrs. Samuel Hornback. Lincoln bargained once with Mrs. Horn- 
 back, who was a skilled weaver, for a suit of clothes. 
 
ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 63 
 
 CHAPTER X 
 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 (Concluded) 
 
 THOUGH Abraham Lincoln left Macon county in the spring of 
 1831, and never afterwards made it his home, Decatur has other 
 claims on him. 
 
 After Lincoln was admitted to the bar in 1837, he was in Decatur 
 often on law cases, and it was in Decatur that his name first was sub- 
 mitted as a candidate for the presidency of the United States. 
 
 One case in which he appeared — of interest because it was heard 
 in the old log court house — was the ex-parte case of John Lowry, 
 administrator, at the May term of court in 1838. John Hanks was on 
 the jury at that time. 
 
 Lincoln's reply in the case, in his own handwriting, is among the 
 papers now on file at the Macon county court house. 
 
 .M0L-*~*€~ 
 
 v; 
 
 ' try* > 
 
 JV&J~4*~ jfarfU* &s£sn*r>%+ &>C 
 
 &^ZJ* 
 
 3 * </>X# 
 
 LINCOLN DOCUMENT ON FILE AT COURT HOUSE 
 
 The answer of Abraham Lincoln, guardian ad litem in case number A-156 (John Lowry), written 
 
 and signed by Lincoln and filed in the circuit court of Macon county, June 5, 1838. 
 
64 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 At the time this case was heard, in May, 1838, Macon county 
 was building its new brick court house. 
 
 LOG COURT HOUSE TODAY 
 
 The new building was not finished until in June, and was accepted 
 by the county June 20, so there is no doubt but that the old log court 
 house was still in use when the Lowry case came up. This statement 
 is made because some writers have tried to prove that Lincoln never 
 had any law practice here in the old log court house, the building 
 now standing in Fairview park. 
 
 COURT WEEK 
 
 While traveling the eighth judicial circuit, Lincoln was often in 
 Decatur, it being customary for lawyers to follow the court from 
 county to county. 
 
 The Macon house, at the corner of Prairie and Franklin streets, 
 was his stopping place. Because the Macon house was a better class 
 of hostelry than they found in many of the towns they visited, the 
 attorneys always enjoyed their stay in Decatur. In fact, it is said that 
 they prolonged the business of the court in order to remain here 
 longer. 
 
 Court week was always a big week. The town was filled to over- 
 flowing with visitors. Lawyers, their clients and witnesses naturally 
 would be here, but there was also the usual following of peddlers, 
 show men, gamblers and mere curiosity seekers. Gay social events 
 were arranged for that week. There was always something doing 
 when court week came. 
 
ABRAHAM LINCOLN 65 
 
 It was while traveling the circuit that Lincoln heard and told 
 so many of the stories which made him so entertaining and so popu- 
 lar. His kindness, honesty and courtesy to everyone did as much, 
 however, to win him friends. 
 
 Among many incidents about Lincoln told by Mrs. Jane Martin 
 Johns is the one about his helping with her piano. She was living at 
 the Macon hotel when her piano came, the first in Decatur. She asked 
 the landlord whom she could get to help carry it in. He said : 
 
 "Court will be out soon and the lawyers will come to dinner. We 
 can get them to help." 
 
 Soon they came, one a tall, slim, muscular man wearing a heavy 
 gray shawl as men wore then. That was Lincoln. 
 
 With others he took hold and helped carry in and set up the piano. 
 
 "Now," he said, "perhaps this lady will play for us." She did so. 
 
 Lincoln was honored by the Illinois newspaper editors when 
 they met in Decatur, Feb. 22, 1856, and took the first steps toward 
 the organization of the Republican party in Illinois. This meeting 
 had been called for the purpose of organizing the Anti-Nebraska bill 
 forces. It was held at the Cassell house (on the site of the St. Nicho- 
 las), and after the meeting a banquet was held, at which Lincoln made 
 the principal speech. 
 
 CAMPAIGN SPEECHES 
 
 Though none of the memorable series of Lincoln-Douglas debates 
 took place in Decatur, both Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Doug- 
 las made speeches in Decatur during the tense political campaigns 
 which preceded the Civil war. 
 
 In 1860 both appeared in Powers hall. That was after the famous 
 series of debates, and only a short time before the election. Douglas 
 was here first and Lincoln a few days afterwards. Lincoln appeared to 
 be utterly worn out by his hard work during the campaign, and his 
 voice was so weak that he could hardly be heard across the hall. 
 
 Previous to this, probably in the year 1858, Lincoln spoke in 
 Powers hall, and Douglas spoke at the furniture factory. On one oc- 
 casion that year the two men had a debate in Imboden's grove, ac- 
 cording to some of the old-time residents. 
 
 THE GREATEST OVATION 
 
 Lincoln received his greatest ovation in Macon county on May 
 10, 1860, when the state Republican convention was in session in the 
 Wigwam, on State street, and his name was put forth for the first 
 time as a candidate for the presidency. His nomination came at the 
 national convention held a short time afterwards in Chicago. 
 
66 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 'fc-.»te«i)?*r 
 
 THE WIGWAM 
 
 The Wigwam was a temporary structure, with canvas roof, built 
 especially for this convention, for Decatur had no building adequate 
 to accommodate the crowd the convention would bring. It fronted 
 on South Park street, and was about 100 feet by 70 feet in size. The 
 stand was at the south side and the roof was so low that the heads 
 of men as tall as Lincoln nearly touched it. The seats were made of 
 planks. D. C. Shockley was the contractor who erected the building. 
 It could accommodate 900 persons. 
 
 Republicans from all over the state assembled on that memorable 
 
 day to nominate a candidate 
 for governor, but spent most 
 of their time in talking pos- 
 sible presidential candidates. 
 Some days before the 
 meeting Richard J. Oglesby 
 had conceived the idea of 
 using some catchy expres- 
 sion in his plan to bring the 
 name of Lincoln before the 
 convention. In an effort to 
 find something suitable, he 
 asked John Hanks one day 
 what kind of work "Abe 
 interior of wigwam used to be good at." 
 
ABRAHAM LINCOLN 67 
 
 "Not much of anything - but dreaming," Hanks replied, "but he 
 did help me once to split a lot of rails." 
 
 So Oglesby's idea of the "railsplitter" candidate was born. To- 
 gether he and John Hanks went to the clearing south of Harristown 
 where Lincoln and Hanks had split rails years before. They brought 
 back with them two walnut rails, identified by Hanks as some of the 
 rails the two men had made. 
 
 Oglesby's next move was to have a banner fastened to these two 
 rails. On the banner were the words : 
 
 "Abraham Lincoln, the Railsplitter candidate for President in 
 1860. Two rails from a lot of 3,000 made in 1830 by John Hanks and 
 Abe Lincoln. Whose father was the first pioneer in Macon county." 
 (The last was untrue.) 
 
 After the convention had opened, Oglesby arose and announced 
 that an old Democrat wanted to make a contribution to the conven- 
 tion. 
 
 At once every one was interested. Just then John Hanks and 
 Isaac Jennings came in carrying the banner. The assembly went wild. 
 
 John M. Palmer jumped to his feet with a resolution declaring 
 that Lincoln was the first choice of the Republican party in Illinois 
 for the presidency and instructing the delegates to the Chicago con- 
 vention to use all honorable means to secure the nomination, and to 
 cast the vote of the state as a unit for him. 
 
 PANDEMONIUM 
 
 The resolution was adopted, and pandemonium reigned. Men 
 jumped up and down in their excitement. Yells and cheers filled the 
 air. Hats, canes, books, anything one could lay hands on, were tossed 
 to the roof. The cheering literally raised the roof — or rather lowered 
 it — for part of the awning fell. The Wigwam was almost a wreck. 
 
 "Lincoln," "Lincoln," the people shouted. A committee had to be 
 sent to find him. 
 
 He was located in the Peake jewelry store lying on a couch asleep. 
 I [e was rushed over to the Wigwam. Then there was another demon- 
 stration. When asked if he split those rails, Lincoln replied : 
 
 "Gentlemen, John and I did split some rails down there. I do not 
 know if these are the identical rails or not, but I do know I have made 
 a heap better ones and could do it again." 
 
 Thus Lincoln was started again from Macon county "on his way," 
 this time to a larger and never-to-be-forgotten career. From hence- 
 forth, he belonged, not to any city or any county or any state, but to 
 the nation. 
 
68 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 HIS LAST GOODBYE 
 
 After his election as president of the United States Abraham Lin- 
 coln came through Decatur twice. 
 
 One time was on Jan. 30, 1861, when he was on his way to 
 Charleston to visit his stepmother before he left for Washington to 
 assume his duties as the nation's head. As they passed the vicinity of 
 Harristown, Lincoln remarked to his companions, Judge David Davis 
 and Judge Edmund Bates, about having made enough rails in that 
 vicinity to fence about ten acres of ground. 
 
 "That was about thirty years ago," he said, "and it is hardly to 
 be expected that I could identify any of the rails now." 
 
 On his way to Washington Lincoln again passed through Deca- 
 tur. That was in February, 1861, and it proved to be his last visit to 
 this city. 
 
 John Quinlan, in an interview published in The Decatur Review, 
 Aug. 26, 1900, said, in speaking of the last time Lincoln was in Deca- 
 tur: 
 
 "It was about the last of February, 1861, and Lincoln was on his 
 way to Washington to be inaugurated. The train stopped here a few 
 minutes. The engine was elaborately decorated. Lincoln came out 
 and made a short speech from the platform. There were perhaps 300 
 or 400 people at the depot. Among them were J. R. Gorin, James Mil- 
 likin, and I think Lowber Burrows and John Ullrich. 
 
 "I stood within about 15 feet of Mr. Lincoln and heard distinctly. 
 He appeared sad and depressed and his speech had a melancholy tone. 
 He seemed to feel that he was telling his friends goodbye with the 
 chances against his ever returning. He even spoke of the possibilities 
 of his never seeing his Decatur friends again. He spoke of the possi- 
 ble danger of his long trip to Washington. He spoke of the most 
 eventful years of his life having been spent in Illinois and went away 
 with the aspect of a man who was very sorry he had to go. The next 
 time I saw him was when I attended his funeral." 
 
 LINCOLN MEMORIALS 
 
 Decatur and Macon county have marked in various ways the 
 points of interest connected with Lincoln's life here, and have honored 
 him in other ways. 
 
 On the West drug store building is a tablet noting the fact thai 
 Lincoln passed that way when he came to Decatur. 
 
 A boulder was placed to mark the spot near the Sangamon river 
 in Harristown township where the Lincoln cabin stood. It is not on 
 the exact site, however. 
 
ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 69 
 
 The map shows the roads by 
 which the Lincoln cabin site and the 
 boulder can be reached. The boulder 
 which was placed by Stephen Deca- 
 tur chapter, D. A. R., is about a 
 quarter of a mile from the spot now 
 accepted as the site. There is no 
 road connecting those two spots. 
 
 Figures on the map show the 
 following: 
 
 1 — Private road to site of bould- 
 er. 
 
 2 — Farm house on Dipper land. 
 The boulder is four feet north of 
 this house. 
 
 3 — Farm house on Whitley land 
 reached by private road from main 
 road. 
 
 4 — Old Whitley dam. Remains 
 of dam still to be seen when water 
 is low. 
 
 5 — Abandoned road (once a 
 public road). 
 
 6 — Site of old ford across river, 
 washed out years ago. 
 
 7 — Bridge over Sangamon. This 
 is the only bridge across the river in that neighborhood. 
 
 The roads marked with small squares are gravel roads. 
 A temporary marker now stands on the Lincoln cabin site. It is 
 a piece of tin fastened to a post. On the tin is inscribed "Lincoln 
 cabin site, 1830." 
 
 A marker stands on the Art Institute grounds on West Main 
 street to show the way Lincoln traveled on the eighth judicial circuit. 
 On the old court house, now standing in Fairview park, is a 
 tablet telling that Lincoln practiced law therein. 
 
 On the rear of the Millikin bank building is a tablet marking the 
 location of the Wigwam, where Lincoln was suggested as a candidate 
 for president. Lincoln square, Lincoln theater, Lincoln avenue, 
 
 Lincoln park, Lincoln school, are all named for him. 
 
 In the public library is the Jane Hamand collection of Lin- 
 colnania which includes the Kirkham grammar from which Abraham 
 Lincoln studied with Ann Rutledge. 
 
70 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 CHAPTER XI 
 IN THE '30S AND '40S 
 
 DECATUR is a prettier, neater little village than many others of 
 loftier pretensions through which I have passed." 
 
 This is what Edmund Flagg wrote to the Louisville, Ky., Journal 
 in 1836, after a trip through llinois. 
 
 He described the Sangamon as "little more than a respectable 
 creek, with waters as clear as crystal flowing over clear, white sand." 
 Mr. Flagg had forded the creek without trouble. He had come to De- 
 catur on horseback from Springfield, and from here continued his 
 journey by way of Shelby ville. 
 
 Decatur today can be proud of the fact that the city early in its 
 career began making a good impression on its visitors. 
 
 PRAISED CEMETERY 
 
 Coming to Decatur from the west, Mr. Flagg saw the town's 
 cemetery, and he praised communities that kept up their cities of the 
 dead as did Decatur. The cemetery referred to was known as King's 
 cemetery and was located on the Robinson farm land. Today its loca- 
 
 THE SANGAMON, A "RESPECTABLE CREEK" 
 
IN THE '30s AND '40s 71 
 
 tion would be described as West Wood street, between Oakland and 
 Haworth avenues. 
 
 Mr. Flagg was much impressed with the many big boulders he 
 saw on the prairies, and considered them a great mystery. Scientists 
 agree, however, that there is no mystery about them, but that they 
 were left by the last glacier which covered Illinois ages ago. 
 
 Even before the visit of Mr. Flagg, glowing accounts of the Illi- 
 nois land and of Macon county had been printed in eastern news- 
 papers, due particularly to the boosting propensities of one of the early 
 landholders, Philo Hale. Though they were gross exaggerations 
 sometimes, they doubtless had considerable influence in bringing ad- 
 venturous folk from the east to help settle the new country. Mr. Hale 
 had entered large tracts of land himself and had influenced others to 
 come here. 
 
 census of 1830 
 
 The Macon county census taken in 1830 showed that the total 
 population of the county was 1,122. This census also showed that the 
 county was provided with the following: 
 
 One cotton spinning machine. 
 
 Three horse mills. 
 
 One water mill. 
 
 Two distilleries. 
 
 The census that year was taken by Daniel McCall. 
 
 RENSHAW'S STORE 
 
 At the beginning of the 1830-1840 decade the most pretentious 
 building in town was Renshaw's tavern and store. It boasted two 
 stories. 
 
 This tavern was the first place in Decatur to provide accommo- 
 dations for the traveler. James Renshaw, proprietor, familiarly known 
 as "Uncle Jimmy," was a hospitable man, and his tavern was the cen- 
 ter of village life. 
 
 Renshaw's account book, still preserved by members of the fam- 
 ily, gives a good idea of the business activities of that day, when cash 
 was scarce and storekeepers took articles in trade. 
 
 One of the first entries in that book shows credit given to Wil- 
 liam Hanks for 104 pounds of fresh killed pork, for which he was 
 allowed one and one-half cents a pound. 
 
 One day Lewis W r ard brought in 55 pounds of deerskin, for whicli 
 he was given credit at 18 cents a pound. 
 
 Samuel McKay was credited $1.32 for seventeen pounds of beef 
 hides. 
 
72 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 William King brought in two bushels of mortar broken meal, and 
 was credited 50 cents for it. 
 
 Many citizens came in to buy whisky and rum, which they had 
 charged to their accounts. Thomas Lincoln, father of Abraham Lin- 
 coln, was a good customer for "barks" during the fall and winter of 
 1830. 
 
 When Renshaw first started his tavern his business amounted to 
 about $10 a day. But as the town grew, his business increased. Often 
 he would drive cattle down to St. Louis markets, and bring back 
 loads of merchandise for his store. He made money, and bought land. 
 He laid out an addition to Decatur, in the northeast section. 
 
 After he retired from the tavern business he lived in a log cabin 
 at the corner of Condit and Broadway streets until he built a brick 
 home there. Mr. Renshaw died in 1860. 
 
 There was another store in Decatur as early as 1831. It was run 
 by Isaac C. Pugh, who afterwards became one of Decatur's most 
 noted generals. 
 
 John Ward ran a store at Indian Bluff on the Sangamon, south 
 of Decatur, and there he carried a stock of groceries and some dry 
 goods. The store was particularly for the benefit of the Ward settle- 
 ment. 
 
 Tea, sugar and coffee were very high in that day and were little 
 used, as they were regarded as luxuries. There were substitutes, 
 however. The early citizens used maple sugar, wild honey and mo- 
 
 
 WATER STREET IN 1833 
 
IN THE '30s AND '40s 73 
 
 lasses for sweetening. Sassafras tea, sage tea, and mint tea were 
 popular beverages, and parched rye, barley and other grains did for 
 coffee. 
 
 QUIET AND PICTURESQUE 
 
 One has to rely on one's imagination to picture Decatur as it was 
 in the early 30s. One early writer has said that in the spring of 1834 
 Decatur had eleven buildings ; seven were dwellings, two store build- 
 ings, one a court house and one a jail. A cluster of .log cabins, mostly 
 in timber, it must have been a picturesque, quiet retreat. Streets, as 
 laid out in the town plat, were scarcely discernible as yet for the 
 cabins were few and scattered. 
 
 Among the pioneers who called Decatur their home then were 
 James Renshaw, the tavernkeeper mentioned before ; William Can- 
 trill, storekeeper; Landy Harrell, who became a tavern keeper; Daniel 
 McCall, county official; James Johnson, the village blacksmith; Philip 
 Williams, justice of the peace; Thomas Cowan, the village carpenter, 
 William Glasscock, storekeeper. Every man had his place in the vil 
 lage life. 
 
 Some of the settlers residing near town then were William and 
 John Hanks, Isaac C. Pugh, Amos Robinson, Elisha Freeman, Buel 
 .Stevens, John Lee, David Owen, Ben Frazee, David Miller, Par- 
 menius Smallwood, Joseph Davis, David Allen, William Warnick. 
 and James Ward. 
 
 Here the pioneers lived in their humble, yet comfortable log huts, 
 in the midst of trees and flowers and brooks. 
 
 Isaac Pugh's store, according to report, was on West Main street. 
 One writer, however, says that he had a store for a short time in a 
 log cabin which stood on the spot now occupied by the north end of 
 Central block. In the year 1832 William Glasscock sold goods in that 
 cabin, but afterwards moved his store. 
 
 CANTRILl/s STORE 
 
 In the summer of 1832 Bell and Tinsley of Springfield sent a 
 stock of goods which were put in the room formerly occupied by Mr. 
 Renshaw. A youth named Hawley was sent along as clerk, but he 
 soon became tired of living "in the sticks," and returned to Spring- 
 field. When William Cantrill first came to Decatur in 1833 he came 
 as a clerk for that same firm. 
 
 The store which Cantrill opened with his stock from Springfield 
 was Decatur's first real general merchandise store. 1 It was located 
 in a log structure at the southeast corner of East Main street and the 
 public square, the site now occupied by the West drug store. 
 
74 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 In this building Mr. Cantrill served as postmaster in 1835 and 
 1836, stowing the letters away in a small box in a corner. Sometimes 
 he carried them in his hat. Mail was a luxury then, and the postmas- 
 ter's job didn't call for any over-work on his part. The population of 
 the town then was little more than a hundred. Before coming to Deca- 
 tur Mr. Cantrill had served in the Black Hawk war, being a second 
 lieutenant in Captain Levi Goodan's company. Mr. Cantrill after- 
 wards became county treasurer and was a member of the state legis- 
 lature. 
 
 Another of Decatur's early stores was run by the Dewees broth- 
 ers. They occupied a brick building on South Main street which was 
 the first brick house in the town. John Miller made the brick for the 
 house. 
 
 The Dewees brothers were brick masons themselves and did 
 some brick work. The first brick yard was located south of Fairview 
 park. The old jail at Wood and Church streets was built of Decatur- 
 made brick but it was said that it "could be picked to pieces with a 
 darning needle." Evidently the brick made at that time was not very 
 satisfactory. 
 
 In 1835 Benjamin R. Austin took the census. The county's popu- 
 lation then was 3,022. In 1840, when S. G. Nesbitt took the census, 
 the population was 3,233. 
 
 SOCIAL LIFE 
 
 Young folks of the '30s and '40s had their gay times, as young 
 folks always have. One of the belles of that day, Jane Williams, later 
 Mrs. Watt Culver, saved invitations to parties she attended. Only 
 recently those relics which have been kept in her family were turned 
 over to the Art Institute. They tell of parties and balls at the Cen- 
 tral house, the Decatur house, and at homes. Parties in those days 
 began at 3 or 4 o'clock in the afternoon. 
 
 SOME EXCITEMENT 
 
 There were often wild times in those days, also. Whisky drink- 
 ing was common, and as a result fights were frequent. For some time 
 Tom Johnson ran a "barrel house" in a brick building south of the 
 square. When a man wanted a drink he went to the barrel and drew 
 what he wanted, in the tin cup. A drink then cost a picayune (about 
 6J4 cents). Much of the small change in use then was Spanish coins. 
 
 During the political campaigns of 1840 and 1844 times were excit- 
 ing. For a meeting hall the second floor of the old brick building, 
 which occupied the present site of the Bachrach store, was used in 
 1840 by the Harrison club. A barrel of cider was always on tap, and 
 
IN THE '30s AND '40s 75 
 
 in that room politicians held forth. Enthusiasm stirred up at the meet- 
 ings there added life and zest to the village. Both Lincoln and Doug- 
 las spoke in that hall, according to B. H. Cassell. 
 
 Other prominent politicians who spoke in Decatur in those early 
 day campaigns were W. F. Linder of Charleston, O. B. Ficklin and 
 Colonel Ed Baker of Springfield, David Davis of Bloomington, and 
 Kirby Benedict of Decatur. 
 
 EARLY DAY FUNERALS 
 
 Death often visited the homes in those days. Malaria, the 
 dreaded disease, took a big toll. There were more burial grounds 
 around Decatur then than now, though they were not such exten- 
 sive ones. B. H. Cassell used to say, in telling of the funerals of early 
 times : 
 
 "There was none of the ceremony that now marks a funeral. 
 When anyone died the men friends offered their services to dig a 
 grave. We would dig down about six feet and then at the bottom dig 
 out a receptacle just the shape and size of the coffin. 
 
 "The cabinet makers would make the coffins. They were shaped 
 so they were wide where the shoulders lay and tapered toward the 
 ends and were made of light walnut three-quarters of an inch thick, 
 and sometimes would be varnished or polished. The coffins cost $10 
 to $12 each. 
 
 "Sometimes there would be a minister to conduct services, but 
 there were no flowers or elaborate ceremonies. It was impossible to 
 have anything of the kind for the reason that the houses were too 
 small. If a preacher did not conduct services, perhaps some one would 
 make a few remarks, and sometimes nothing would be said. A horse 
 and wagon would be procured from the man who carried the mail and 
 the coffin would be put in this and conveyed to the burying ground 
 and the few attendants would follow on foot." 
 
 The earliest burial grounds long ago ceased to exist. Once there 
 was a burial ground at the corner of Eldorado and Franklin streets. 
 Another was near the intersection of the Wabash tracks and North 
 Main street. On West Main street, on East Wood street, and on 
 East Clay street there were graveyards. All of these, and others also, 
 were smoothed over when streets were laid out. 
 
 AN EARLY DAY WEDDING 
 
 Ben Frazee almost ran Old Louisiana to death when he went 
 about the country inviting guests to the wedding of his sister, Sarah, 
 to William H. Henson, along in the late '40s. But all the neighbors 
 had to be invited, and it was up to Ben to see that they got word of 
 
76 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 the big event that was coming off. So he mounted his trusty steed 
 and set forth. 
 
 A hundred folks were present for the wedding supper. Ben Fra- 
 zee knew, for he counted them. The wedding ceremony had proceeded 
 all O. K., Justice James Harrell officiating, the supper was a grand 
 spread, and everything was lovely until it began to rain. 
 
 The rain, it appeared, cared not for weddings and wedding 
 guests. It came to stay a while, and couldn't be persuaded to go 
 away. It just kept on raining. The next morning, after the wedding, 
 it was still raining. Sixty of the wedding guests were still there, for 
 they hadn't been able to get away to their homes. It was quite some 
 time before the party had all departed. 
 
 They had three kinds of bread at that wedding supper, under- 
 crust, overcrust, and crumb. The bread was baked by a neighbor, 
 Mrs. Rife. It took a lot of pumpkin pie to go around, but there was 
 plenty. 
 
 Mrs. Henson had been born in Claremont county, Ohio, Sept. 
 27, 1830, and had come to Illinois when just a year old, her parents 
 making the trip in a prairie schooner. They lived first at what after- 
 wards was numbered 1834 East William street, moving out to the 
 country later. 2 Her husband entered forty acres in Harristown town- 
 ship and built a home there. From 1849 until her death at the age of 
 93 she lived on that farm. Mr. Henson added to his land holdings 
 from time to time until at the time of his death he had several hun- 
 dred acres. 
 
 1 After selling out his store Uncle Billy Cantrill lived on a farm near town for a year, 
 then moved back to Decatur and made his home on North Main street, between Prairie and 
 William. He died in 1881. Cantrell street is named for him though it is spelled differently from 
 the way Mr. Cantrill spelled his name. 
 
 Uncle Billy was about the most popular man in the county for a long time. While an office 
 holder, Uncle Billy looked from his window in the court house down over the hitching yards — 
 that is, the old square where farmers always hitched their horses when they came to town. 
 
 As soon as Uncle Billy saw a farmer drive in and tie his team, out he darted to the 
 square to shake hands with the newcomer, ask him how he was getting along in the world, and 
 inquire about other members of the family. Then Uncle Billy proceeded to help unhitch the 
 horses. He did that .so much that he became an expert at unhitching. It was said that he could 
 unhitch horses faster than anybody in the country around. 
 
 Whenever he chose to run for office in those days nobody was able to beat him. He served 
 on the town board of trustees, and was the thirteenth county treasurer, serving four years. 
 
 Mr. Cantrill was a Democrat, politically. That was before the days that Macon county 
 became heavily Republican. 
 
 2 Ben Frazee, who was born in Decatur in 1834, used to say that when he wanted spending 
 money he used to gather up a couple dozen goose quills and sell them to Captain Allen for 
 ten cents. 
 
 Another way he made money was to trap quail and sell them to Kirby Benedict for 37J^ 
 cents a dozen. 
 
 He also used to catch and clean rabbits and sell them to George Gepford for 5 cents each. 
 Gepford would take them to Chicago with his poultry just before the holidays. 
 
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS 17 
 
 CHAPTER XII 
 
 INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS 
 
 MACON county had no conspicuous part in the scheme for internal 
 improvements authorized by the Illinois legislature in the year 
 1836, the story of which is a dark chapter in the history of the state. 
 The county was then too young to have any influence in state politics. 
 
 Macon county suffered, however, in a general way by the col- 
 lapse of the project just as the entire state did. It received one benefit 
 at least from the proposed improvement program, and that was a lot 
 of publicity. 
 
 Decatur, being the intersection of two railroads planned at that 
 time, came in for considerable favorable mention. That publicity was 
 all it did get, however, for the roads never materialized, and the only 
 short stretch of railroad that was built was eighty miles away from 
 Decatur. 
 
 The era of internal improvements, as it is called, began in 1835 
 at the beginning of Governor Joseph Duncan's administration. In 
 his first message to the legislature he pleaded for a general system 
 of internal improvements. 
 
 The people of Illinois were ready to welcome such a proposal. 
 The state had been growing in population. Farm production was in- 
 creasing and the need of transportation facilities was being realized 
 more and more all the time. The governor's scheme for railroads and 
 river improvements struck a responsive chord. Everybody wanted 
 something; some sections asked for railroads, some for canals, some 
 for improvement of rivers to make them navigable. 
 
 IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM 
 
 The legislature in extraordinary session Jan. 9, 1836, authorized 
 the building of the Illinois-Michigan canal. 
 
 The same year a $10,230,000 improvement program was passed. 
 Abraham Lincoln was one of the members of the legislature who sup- 
 ported that bill. It called for improvement of the Great Wabash, Illi- 
 nois, Rock, Kaskaskia and Little Wabash rivers, building of the Great 
 Western mail route, construction of the Central railroad from the 
 mouth of the Ohio to Galena, and of the Northern Cross and the 
 Southern Cross railroads. 
 
78 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 The passage of the bill started a fever of excitement and specu- 
 lation. New towns were laid out along the proposed railroads. For 
 a while, said one writer, the chief export of Illinois was town plats. 
 These plats were sent to Chicago and to the east in order to be within 
 reach of eager purchasers of lots who were unable personally to see 
 the town sites. The towns, however, never went any farther than the 
 paper on which they were laid out. 
 
 Work on railroads was started at different points over the state, 
 and money was spent recklessly. It was discovered that the estimates 
 for the work had not been large enough by half. The construction of 
 the Illinois-Michigan canal had already been a heavy draft on the 
 resources of the state. The credit of Illinois became strained. 
 Financial panic came on. Banks failed. 
 
 The legislature did not repeal the public improvement act, but 
 continued to borrow money. The state debt finally reached $13,- 
 643,601. 
 
 Governor Duncan had been succeeded by Thomas Carlin in 1838, 
 but there was no improvement in the situation during his regime. 
 Then in December, 1842, Thomas Ford became governor. Out of the 
 chaos he brought order. 
 
 When Ford came into office he faced a bankrupt treasury, a huge 
 debt hanging over the state, and the people themselves in debt and 
 unable to pay higher taxes. 
 
 ABANDON PROGRAM 
 
 Illinois had various detached beginnings of railroads, but none 
 completed. Only the short stretch of the Northern Cross road be- 
 tween Meredosia and Jacksonville had been finished. It was the only 
 thing to show for the few amazing years of money spending. At a 
 special session of the legislature called by the new governor the pub- 
 lic improvement program was practically abandoned. 
 
 The Northern Cross road was expected to be run from Quincy to 
 Danville and the state line. The appropriation which had been made 
 for this road was $1,850,000. Though Macon county did not get any 
 of the road at the time the project was started, it had the comfort of 
 being on the proposed route, and hopes of seeing the road built some 
 day. It had to wait nearly twenty years longer for that hope to be 
 realized. 
 
 SERVICE INAUGURATED 
 
 After the completion of the first section of the Northern Cross 
 road, a locomotive was brought from the east and service was inau- 
 gurated on the road Nov. 8, 1838. The first engine was called the 
 
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS 79 
 
 "Rogers." Following the collapse of the internal improvement pro- 
 gram, the line was extended by private capital to Springfield, in 1842, 
 the line being known as the Morgan and Sangamon. 
 
 At first three trips each week were made from Springfield to the 
 Illinois river, the speed of the cars being six miles an hour. This was 
 considered a wonderful achievement ! 
 
 The track was made by nailing flat pieces of iron on timbers. It 
 was not long until the road became so rough and uneven and the en- 
 gine so much out of repair that mules were substituted for the engine 
 to draw the cars. This service finally became too poor to be endured 
 longer, and the line was sold in 1847, at public auction. 
 
 The Great Western railroad, which came into possession of this 
 first feeble attempt at a railroad, had been incorporated on March 6, 
 1843. After taking over the Northern Cross, it completed the building 
 of the line. The first three locomotives used on the road were called 
 the Morgan, Sangamon and Frontier. 
 
 The Great Western afterwards became part of the Toledo, Wa- 
 bash and Western, which eventually became the Wabash. 
 
80 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 CHAPTER XIII 
 DAVID L. ALLEN 
 
 THERE should be a place in the city where mothers and their 
 children might rest out of the sun and where the children could 
 play," said Captain David L. Allen one day. He was thinking often of 
 the children just then, for his thoughts had been on his own little baby 
 boy — his only son — who had been snatched from him by death. 
 
 And so, because Captain Allen was a man who believed in doing 
 things rather than merely thinking them, Decatur has a place today 
 where "mothers may rest and children may play," the place we call 
 Central park, which was given to the city by Captain Allen. 
 
 GENEROUS GIVER 
 
 It was like Captain Allen to be doing something for Decatur. At 
 the time the Illinois Central and Northern Cross railroads first were 
 proposed, and preliminary surveys made, he offered the tract now 
 Central park as a site for a railroad station. The railroad project fail- 
 ing at that time, Captain Allen later donated the square to Decatur 
 for use as a park. 
 
 Again he made a gift to the city when he donated a lot at the 
 corner of North Water and North Park streets, the present site of the 
 Citizens bank, for school purposes. 
 
 Once more his generosity was shown when he donated a lot to 
 the Antioch Baptist church, on which to erect a church building. He 
 also offered a lot to St. Peter's A. M. E. church. 
 
 Had Captain Allen not been so generous, he might have died a 
 rich man. Yet when his time came to go, he was almost poor. But 
 his memory has remained, and as long as county 
 histories are written he will be honored as one who 
 did more than his share for the upbuilding of the 
 town and community. This is worth more than the 
 riches he might have left. 
 
 David L. Allen made a good impression when 
 he first arrived in Decatur, away back in 1828. He 
 drove the best looking carriage that had been seen 
 in this neighborhood. He had $1600 in cash in his 
 pockets. That was a lot of money then. 
 
 If he had come without carriage or monev, 
 
 CAPTAIN DAVID , , • ' 
 
 L. allen however, he would have made the same good lm- 
 
DAVID L. ALLEN 
 
 81 
 
 pression, for he was a man of charming personality. People soon real- 
 ized that when David L. Allen came he brought with him all the 
 charm and hospitality of old Virginia, his native state. 
 
 For years his home was the center of social, intellectual and re- 
 ligious life. The uplifting influence of that home, and also the home 
 of his brother-in-law, Dr. Thomas H. Read, was recognized by every 
 early resident of Decatur. 
 
 Captain Allen was born in Loudoun county, Va., March 14, 1806, 
 coming of Scotch-Irish descent. In 1828, after he had sold the family 
 plantation in Virginia, he purchased a team of horses and a carriage, 
 and started for Illinois. He came with the idea of investing his money 
 in land. He liked Decatur and he liked the surrounding country. From 
 the time he came until the time he died he was a booster, and his 
 boosting was in deeds, not words. 
 
 Captain Allen entered an eighty acre tract of land, which is now 
 the heart of Decatur. It was bounded on the west by Water street 
 and extended about a quarter of a mile east. The northern line was 
 about where the Wabash tracks are located, and the southern boun- 
 dary was East Wood street. 
 
 BUILT HOME 
 
 At the time he entered this tract of land an old log cabin stood 
 on it, on North Water street, in what is now the 400 block. To this 
 Mr. Allen made additions until he finally had one of the best homes 
 in the city. The building of the main part of the house was done in 
 1837 by E. O. Smith, and this was Mr. Smith's first building job in 
 Decatur. It was in this house that the First Baptist church, of which 
 Captain Allen was a charter and a life-long member, was organized 
 in 1843. 
 
 In 1830 Captain Allen brought his bride to Decatur. She was, 
 before her marriage, Miss Julia Read of Rutherford county, Tenn. 
 
 Their journey from Tennes- 
 see to Decatur was made 
 on horseback. As they were 
 saying good-bye to Mrs. 
 Allen's old home, her broth- 
 er broke of! a twig from a 
 weeping willow tree which 
 stood by their well and 
 handed it to her to use for 
 a riding whip. Mrs. Allen 
 ALLEN home ox xorth water street stuck the twig in the ground 
 
82 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 near the well at her new home in Decatur, and it flourished until it 
 became a big" tree. Under this tree Mrs. Allen often entertained her 
 friends. 
 
 Captain Allen built the second water mill in the county, in 1831-32, 
 and made a dam across the river. The mill was at the foot of what is 
 now Maffit street. It was sold later to Robert Mafht and for years 
 was known as Maffit's mill. On the south side of the river he had 
 a lime kiln, which he ran for a number of years. This lime kiln was 
 really Decatur's first industry. 
 
 FED DEER 
 
 Captain Allen's hospitality was not confined to human being's but 
 extended to animals, as was shown during the winter of the deep 
 snow. He had established a cattle feeding pen on East North street, 
 and during that hard winter the deer came from all directions to that 
 pen for food. Captain Allen saw to it that they were fed. 
 
 The Macon house, Decatur's first hotel, was built by Captain 
 Allen at the corner of East Prairie and Franklin streets, in 1839, the 
 construction work being done by E. O. Smith. At the time the build- 
 ing was erected it stood in the midst of heavy timber. 
 
 It was in 1856 that Captain Allen donated the lot at the corner 
 of North Park and North Water streets to the city to be used for 
 school purposes. This lot was later, sold to the Masons. 
 
 COUNTRY HOME 
 
 Captain Allen was a man of vision. He thought the time would 
 come when men of wealth would establish their country homes on 
 the south side of the river. He saw beautiful country estates such 
 as he had been accustomed to see back in Virginia. But they never 
 materialized. 
 
 To provide such an estate for himself Captain Allen purchased 
 over seventy acres of land south of the river, land which he admired 
 for its beauty. It was then, and has remained, probably the most beau- 
 tiful tract of land along the Sangamon. 
 
 Natural springs, called by the Indians "sweet water springs" ; 
 hills and ravines, carpeted with wild flowers in the springtime; tall 
 trees making' their dense shade in the summer and furnishing a riot 
 of color in the autumn; vines and shrubs and grassy open places — 
 these were the beauties which Captain Allen saw in the land which 
 he visioned as his own country home. 
 
 On the bluff at the bend of the river, known for years as Allen's 
 bend, Captain Allen erected an imposing structure which later be- 
 came his home. He had intended to build a more pretentious home 
 
DAVID L. ALLEN 83 
 
 later, using the first structure then as a barn, but that plan he was 
 never able to carry out. 
 
 This building stood for many years as one of the landmarks of 
 the country. Standing on the hilltop, with its eight-sided tower rear- 
 ing itself to a height of three stories, it never failed to attract atten- 
 tion. The building stood west of the present site of Mueller lodge. 
 In this house Captain Allen spent the later years of his life and there 
 he continued to lavish the hospitality for which he was known. In 
 this house he passed away in 1884. His body lies buried in Green- 
 wood cemetery. 
 
 The easy going ways of the Virginian did not fit in well with 
 pioneer times in Illinois in a business way. Carelessness in business 
 affairs caused him to lose much of his material goods. Yet one for- 
 gets such a fault in remembering his geniality, his generosity, his 
 friendliness, his bettering influence, his hospitality, and the large 
 part he played in the upbuilding of Decatur. 
 
84 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 CHAPTER XIV 
 THE FIRST CHURCHES 
 
 MACON county was more fortunate in one respect than many 
 others of the early day counties. The early settlers as a rule 
 were of a high class of people. Many of them were law-abiding cit- 
 izens of Scotch-Irish stock and brought with them to their new home 
 their strong religious convictions. The strongest churches in the 
 county today are monuments to the men and women who established 
 them nearly a hundred years ago. 
 
 The first religious services were held in homes, as a matter of 
 necessity. Occasionally a preacher would drop into the neighborhood 
 and then a sermon could be heard, but more often the worship con- 
 sisted of prayer, song and testimony. Services could not be held regu- 
 larly because of bad roads. In summer the big events were the camp 
 meetings. 
 
 METHODISTS ORGANIZE 
 
 In the Stevens creek settlement were a number of adherents to 
 the Methodist faith. That fact came to the attention of Rev. Peter 
 Cartwright, militant leader of Methodism in Illinois, who was the 
 presiding elder of the Sangamon district. In the fall of 1829 he 
 started the first Methodist "society" in Macon county. 
 
 The meeting for organization Avas held in the home of David 
 Owen, on the west side of Stevens creek. The following persons wer*~ 
 present : Buel Stevens and wife, Luther Stevens and wife, Dorus 
 Stevens, Joseph Stevens, Mr. Hollenbeck, David Owen and wife, and 
 John Frazee and wife. The new society became a part of the Salt 
 
 Creek circuit, of which Rev. W. 
 L. Deneen was named pastor. 
 
 The next year there were 
 several additions to the society 
 from the families of Jonathan and 
 Isaac Miller; also Rev. Alonzo 
 Lapham and wife, Margaret, and 
 Dr. William T. Crissey and wife 
 Margaret, who had come here 
 from Edgar county. In the fall 
 ™„„ „^ TT ~^ T ,. mTITlimr of 1831 the preaching service was 
 
 FIRST METHODIST CHURCH l & 
 
 building moved in to Decatur. 
 
THE FIRST CHURCHES 85 
 
 Rev. William S. Crissey of Paoli Circuit, Ind., had come to De- 
 catur in the spring of 1831 to visit his uncle, Dr. William T. Crissey, 
 and he preached for the Methodists in Decatur and also in the Stev- 
 ens Creek settlement while here. He came back in the fall of 1831 and 
 again preached for them, after the services had been established in 
 Decatur. Mr. Crissey moved to Decatur in 1839 to make his home 
 here, and for years was an active church leader. 
 
 By 1834 the Methodists had decided they needed a church build- 
 ing and one was started, but it was not finally completed until 1839. 
 The church stood in a dense hazel thicket on the east side of Church 
 street, between Main and Prairie streets. 
 
 James Renshaw donated the lot for the building. The structure 
 was of hewn oak logs, and was 38 by 40 feet in size. Slabs and 
 benches were used for seats. There were two rows of seats, the men 
 occupying those on one side of the building and the women those on 
 the other side. Candles furnished the light. 
 
 In May, 1839, in a town meeting trustees for the church were 
 elected. Following is an extract from a court record, Book H, Page 
 188: 
 
 "According to previous notice the inhabitants of Decatur were 
 convened on the 31st of May, 1839, to appoint trustees for the Metho- 
 dist Episcopal church in said town, when the following persons were 
 elected, to-wit: Buel Stevens, Luther Stevens, F. Montgomery, Wil- 
 liam Greenfield, J. M. Fordice, Daniel Stickle and A. Lapham, who 
 shall hold the office during life, unless they move away or resign, 
 according to the discipline of said church, which said trustees as- 
 sume the name of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Decatur. 
 
 "In testimony whereof we have hereunto subscribed and set our 
 hands and seals this 31st day of May, 1839. 
 
 "A. Lapham J. M. Fordice 
 
 F. Montgomery Daniel Stickle 
 Luther Stevens William Greenfield." 
 
 The log building was used by this congregation until a new 
 church was erected in 1854, at the corner of Water and Prairie 
 streets 1 . 
 
 BLUE MOUND SOCIETY 
 
 Another early Methodist society organized was the Blue Mound 
 society, started probably late in 1829 or early in 1830, and also in 
 
86 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 charge of Rev. W. L. Deneen. It was organized at the home of Ben- 
 jamin Wilson. Rev. H. A. Pasley moved from Kentucky here in 1834 
 and became the Sunday school superintendent. He was the third local 
 preacher in this locality. 
 
 The Long Creek Methodist society was started in the '30s. Of- 
 ficial records show the first minister was appointed in 1838. 
 
 The Mt. Gilead society was formed about 1836 or 1837, and held 
 services for many years in the log school house near John Wilson's. 
 
 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 
 
 The first sermon by a minister of the Presbyterian faith in Macon 
 county was preached by Rev. John Berry in a log school house three 
 and one-half miles southwest of Decatur, on a farm which for many 
 years was owned by P. M. WikofL 
 
 The first church organized was 
 the Mt. Zion Cumberland Presby- 
 terian church, which had its begin- 
 ning April 24, 1830. The meeting 
 was held at the home of the preacher, 
 Rev. David L. Foster, three miles 
 north of the present village. Rev. 
 David L. Foster organized the first 
 Sunday school in the county at this 
 church in 1831. James Scott was the 
 first superintendent. 
 
 The first house of worship 
 erected by this congregation was the first church building in the coun- 
 ty. It stood on the lot where the Mt. Zion church stands today. It 
 was of logs, and was about 30 feet square. The only floor was the 
 earth. Seats were of slabs. This building had one luxury — the win- 
 dows were of glass. 
 
 For a year the church was without a pastor, and made no pro- 
 gress. Then Rev. N. Johnson preached for the church for a time. 
 
 Rev. Daniel Traughber of the Kentucky presbytery settled in the 
 community in November, 1836, and preached for the congregation. 
 In June, 1837, he was appointed as the pastor, continuing in that ca- 
 pacity for twenty-five years. Other Presbyterian churches which are 
 the outgrowth of this organization are the Bethlehem, North Fork 
 and Madison churches. 
 
 HOME OF REV. DAVID L. FOSTER 
 
 Log cabin in which C. P. church at Mt. 
 
 Zion was organized. 
 
 
THE FIRST CHURCHES 
 
 87 
 
 CHRISTIAN CHURCH 
 
 The Christian church had its start in Macon county in 1833 with 
 a protracted meeting conducted by Rev. Joseph 
 llostetler, which resulted in the organization of a 
 church in 1834. The members used the log court 
 house for their service until they erected a build- 
 ing in 1835. The new church stood on the present 
 site of the Hotel Orlando. It was on a tract of two 
 acres of ground which was donated by Mr. Hostet- 
 ler. This building, also of logs, was about 20 feet 
 square. 2 It was used by the congregation for about 
 twenty years. Among the early members of this 
 church were "Aunt Judy" Oglesby and Dr. J. G. 
 Speer. In 1836 Rev. John W. Tyler and his wife 
 came. 3 They, with Mr. Hostetler, are credited with 
 the progress of the church in the early days. 
 
 REV. JOHN w 
 TYLER 
 
 BAPTIST CHURCH 
 
 The Baptist church had its beginnings in the county Sept. 14, 
 1843, when a meeting was held in the home of Captain David L. Al- 
 len, and a church was organized with twelve charter members. Elder 
 H. W. Dodge was in charge of the organization. Members conducted 
 the meetings the first year. In 1844 Elder Moses Lenion was named 
 pastor, but he stayed only six months. The first building erected by 
 this congregation was at the northeast corner of Water and William 
 streets and it was dedicated Dec. 27, 1857. 
 
 The Salem Separate Baptist 
 church, five miles southwest of De- 
 catur, was organized in 1846 with 
 nine charter members. It flourished 
 for a time but later disbanded. The 
 cemetery nearby this c h u re h is 
 probably the oldest in the county. 
 It was started about 1829 or 1830. 
 
 UNITED BRETHREN 
 
 The United Brethren church be- 
 gan its work in the county in 1848 
 with preaching services by Rev. 
 James Parks. They were held at 
 the home of Rev. M. T. Chew, five 
 miles southwest of Decatur, who 
 became the first pastor. There was first baptist church building 
 
88 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 no regular church organization at this time. The neighborhood con- 
 tained only three families and often only two or three persons could 
 attend the meetings. It was not until about eight years later that a 
 church of this denomination was organized in Decatur. 
 
 Most of the other denominations now represented in the county 
 started work in the '50s or later. 
 
 MEN OF ENDURANCE 
 
 The preachers of the early day were men of endurance. It must 
 be said that their hearers had to be persons of endurance also, for 
 the preacher of that day did not stop at a twenty-minute discourse. 
 He talked as long as he had anything to say, and he usually had a 
 good deal to say. Maybe the people needed a long sermon to last them 
 until the next chance to hear one. 
 
 Preachers were bold and fearless in what they said. They did not 
 mince words. 
 
 The circuit rider had to be a man of courage. Peter Cartwright 
 was a fighter as well as leader. He met men and nature without fear, 
 and if occasion demanded it he could fight with fists or weapons. For 
 forty-four years he rode a circuit of 300 miles, his salary being $80 a 
 year "when and if he could collect it." 
 
 It took men like Peter Cartwright and his contemporaries to 
 make the church what it was in those days, an influence that has lasted 
 down to the present day. 
 
 1 The old Methodist first church building was used for years as a carpenter and wagon 
 making shop after the new building was erected. In 1862 it was rented to the Hospital Aid 
 society and one time about forty refugees from the south were housed in it for several months. 
 
 2 The old Christian church building on Wood street was used afterwards by Samuel 
 Powers as a breeding stable for fine horses. 
 
 3 Mrs. Sue T. Odor, daughter of John W. Tyler, had the honor of having the record in 
 years of membership in the Christian church in Decatur. She united with the church in 1856 and 
 continued active until her death in 1930. 
 
FIRST PHYSICIANS 
 
 89 
 
 CHAPTER XV 
 FIRST PHYSICIANS 
 
 RIDING over prairies in the murky darkness, up hills and down 
 hollows, through mud in which his horse often became mired, 
 the howling of wolves the only sound to be heard, no signs of human 
 habitation for miles and miles — the physician of the early day was 
 a man not to be envied. Often his only reward was the knowledge 
 that he had brought relief to the suffering child, or eased the pain 
 of its elder. 
 
 Those first physicians in Macon county had wide territories to 
 cover, and many are the tales that could be related of their hardships. 
 It was nothing unusual to be called twenty or thirty miles to see a 
 patient. There was no automobile to whiz him there in a few mo- 
 ments. It meant a long, weary horseback ride before he could reach 
 his destination. When he left his home he never knew when he would 
 be back. He might be stopped often along the way, and it might be 
 days before he could return to his own fireside. 
 
 FIRST DOCTOR 
 
 According to records. Dr. William T. Crissey was the first doctor 
 to settle in Macon county. He came here from Edgar county, 111., in 
 1829 or 1830. Dr. Crissey was a member of the first board of trustees 
 of the town of Decatur, elected in 1836, and served again in that of- 
 fice in 1839. In the spring of 1831 Dr. Crissey was visited by his 
 nephew, Rev. William S. Crissey, of Indiana, who later settled here 
 
 also and became a leader in Methodist church 
 
 activities. 
 
 DR. JOHN G. SPEER 
 
 Dr. John Grove Speer, another of Decatur's 
 first physicians, was the first man to open a drug 
 store in the town. He had come to Illinois from 
 Kentucky in 1831. It was while he and his wife 
 were making the journey to Macon county that 
 their first child was born, in October, 1831, at 
 the home of Nathaniel Wayne, on the Little Am- 
 braw river. 
 
 Dr. Speer was born in Burke county, N. C, 
 Feb. 12, 1809, the same day Abraham Lincoln 
 dr. johx g. speer came into the world. His family moved to Old- 
 
90 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 ham county, Ky., in 1811. There Dr. Speer grew up and received his 
 schooling. He studied medicine with Dr. Hiram Barton Weathers of 
 Floydsburg, Ky., and attended medical college in Lexington. He mar- 
 ried Sarah Eddings Snyder Nov. 11, 1830. 1 
 
 His father-in-law, Harry Snyder, had decided to locate in Macon 
 county. Snyder's son, Albert G. Snyder, was here in the spring of 
 1831 as surveyor with a party of four Kentuckians. They all entered 
 land on the east side of the Little Okaw river, about twenty miles 
 southeast of Decatur. There they built homes. 
 
 When the Snyder families came, the Speers were persuaded to 
 come with them. They stopped for the winter of 1831 at the Okaw 
 settlement, then in the spring settled at Cross Roads, south of Deca- 
 tur. Dr. Speer moved in to Decatur in 1833, remaining about a year. 
 Then he moved back to the country, but later went to Manchester 
 in Morgan county, where he built up a good practice. In the fall of 
 1837 he returned to Decatur. 
 
 Dr. Speer's drug store, which was the first in Decatur, was lo- 
 
 - cated on the old square. Dr. Speer was appointed postmaster May 
 
 27, 1837, and served until Feb. 19, 1840. During the summer and fall 
 
 of 1837 there was a great deal of sickness and Drs. Crissey, Speer and 
 
 Read were kept extremely busy. 
 
 One year Dr. Speer was a candidate for the legislature, but was 
 defeated by a few votes, his defeat being due, it was said, to the fact 
 that he would not consent to cut up Macon county in order to form 
 a new county. In 1843 he was elected probate judge, but resigned 
 the third year as the work interfered with his medical practice. 
 
 Dr. Speer remained in Decatur until 1847, but his last years here 
 were full of trouble. He had been induced to build a two-story house 
 on his lot in the northeast corner of the public square to be used as 
 a hotel. In this enterprise he was joined by Landy Harrell, who was 
 to conduct the hotel. Harrell withdrew, however, selling out his in- 
 terest to Speer. It was a bad venture for Speer and almost ruined 
 him financially. Times were extremely hard, interest rates were high, 
 people couldn't pay their bills, many were bankrupt. Dr. Speer moved 
 his store into the main floor of the house he had built and lived there 
 several years. There was illness and death in his family, and finally 
 he decided to go back to Alton, Ky. He transferred the building he 
 had erected to his father-in-law who had endorsed him, and returned 
 in 1847 to Kentucky where he lived to be more than 100 years old. 
 
 Dr. Speer had a remarkable memory, and when he was ninety- 
 one years old he wrote and published a book giving details of the 
 
FIRST PHYSICIANS 91 
 
 Snyder and Speer families. The story told in the book gives the de- 
 tails of the time when the families resided in this county. 
 
 DR. THOMAS H. READ 
 
 Dr. Thomas H. Read was another early physician, who located 
 in Decatur in 1831. He was a brother-in-law of Captain David L. 
 Allen, Mrs. Allen being his sister, and he lived with the Aliens when 
 he first came here. Later, in 1836, he married Elizabeth Allen, sister 
 of Captain Allen. Dr. Read came from Virginia, as did the Aliens. 
 
 Dr. Read became known particularly for his success in treating 
 children, and was considered the best physician available in cases of 
 cholera infantum. He had a reputation for honesty and truth, and it 
 was said he was administrator of more estates than anyone else in the 
 county. 
 
 In politics Dr. Read was a strong Democrat. He was a man of 
 vigorous expression. He was active in civic affairs, and served on the 
 town board of trustees in 1839 and 1846. From 1846 to 1849 he filled 
 the office of probate judge. He was elected county treasurer in 1845, 
 but resigned the office early in 1846. Dr. Read built a handsome 
 brick residence at the corner of Franklin and North streets, where the 
 high school now stands. His home was a center for social and cul- 
 tural life. 
 
 Among other early physicians, some of whom did not stay long, 
 were Drs. Reddick, Banes and Rodgers. Dr. Speer mentions the death 
 of Dr. Reddick about 1837. Dr. Banes returned to Tennessee after a 
 year's stay in Decatur. 
 
 DR. JOSEPH KING 
 
 Dr. Joseph King, who became one of Decatur's most widely 
 known physicians, came in 1837. He had been born in West Virginia, 
 Dec. 30, 1808, and grew to manhood there and in Ohio. He was edu- 
 cated for the medical profession at Cincinnati. 
 
 Dr. King and Marietta Packard were married Dec. 8, 1842, Mrs. 
 King being the daughter of Silas and Lydia Packard. The house which 
 he built at the northeast corner of Edward and Marietta streets was 
 a landmark for years both because of its size and because of the apple 
 orchard nearby. This orchard was known as King's Orchard. In a day 
 when Decatur had few recreation spots, this orchard took the place 
 of a park for that section of the city. 
 
 Dr. King came to have an extensive practice, and won a reputa- 
 tion particularly as an obstetrician. His ability as a diagnostician 
 also was widely recognized. He was interested in fraternal orders, 
 
92 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY . 
 
 and was one of the founders of Macon lodge, No. 8, A. F. and A. M. 
 and Macon Chapter, No. 21. He also was a charter member of the 
 I. O. O. F. His love for dogs and sympathy for all animal life and 
 his fondness for fishing are remembered. 2 Dr. King died in 1893 and 
 Mrs. King in 1918. 
 
 Their names are perpetuated in the King, Marietta and Packard 
 streets we have today. 
 
 1 Susan McGovern, a little girl adopted by the Speers, afterwards became Mrs. Edmund 
 Packard, and still later became Mrs. J. P. Boyd. She lived to be more than ninety-six years old 
 and was one of Decatur's interesting old residents. 
 
 2 The story is told that Dr. King one cold stormy night could not bear to think of the 
 chickens freezing outside, and he went out and carried them into the house where they could be 
 thawed out by the fireplace. They really had to be thawed out, for their mouths and legs were 
 covered with ice. 
 
NOMENCLATURE 93 
 
 CHAPTER XVI 
 
 NOMENCLATURE 
 
 ORIGIN of names of rivers, states, counties, townships, cities and 
 villages in a new country makes a study of absorbing interest. 
 Incidentally, these names tell much about a country's history. 
 
 In the Mississippi Valley can be found traces of the influence of 
 all the people who once claimed the land, Indian, French, English, 
 American, even Spanish, though there is less of the latter than of any 
 other. In our own county there is practically no trace of the French. 
 
 Illinois, Mississippi, Chicago, Peoria, Wabash, are among names 
 that can be ascribed to the Indians. 
 
 Joliet, LaSalle, Marquette, Hennepin, Des Plaines took their 
 names from the French. 
 
 Macon and Decatur were named for Americans. 
 
 ILLINOIS 
 
 The name Illinois is generally ascribed to the Indian term, Illini, 
 or Innini, meaning "men." 1 Yet there is another rumor about the 
 naming of Illinois. It is believed by some students of history to have 
 come from "Isle au Noix," meaning "Island of Nuts." It is everywhere 
 known that when the French explored the country they were much 
 impressed by the fertility of the soil, the produce, the bountiful crops 
 of grapes, nuts, and the like. As the Illinois region was almost sur- 
 rounded by rivers, the Mississippi, the Ohio, the Wabash, the Illinois, 
 and by Lake Michigan, it is not unreasonable to think that they would 
 call the region the Isle.au Noix. The pronunciation of these words in 
 French is similar to our pronunciation of Illinois. 
 
 SANGAMON 
 
 Sangamon was thought by some writers to have been the name 
 of an Indian chief who lived along the river named for him. It is sup- 
 posed to have been a Kickapoo Indian word, meaning land of plenty. 
 Others think it is the English corruption of St. Gamoin, a name that 
 appears in land records at the court house in connection with locating 
 the boundaries of Whitmore township. St. Gamoin is the name used 
 by the first surveyors of this vicinity. The name is used often enough 
 to make one believe that it was written that way intentionally and was 
 not an error in transcribing. 
 
94 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 STEPHEN DECA- 
 TUR 
 
 STEPHEN DECATUR 
 
 Decatur was named for Stephen Decatur, the brilliant young 
 United States naval commander, who was distinguished particularly 
 for his success and bravery in this country's troubles 
 with Tripoli, in protection of American commerce 
 on the Mediterranean. His most brilliant exploit 
 was the capture of the Philadelphia, U. S. man-of- 
 war, in the harbor of Tripoli, after the Tripolitans 
 had manned it. Decatur drove the enemy off the 
 boat into the sea, set the ship on fire, and took hi- 
 own men off in safety. 
 
 Stephen Decatur rose to the highest commands 
 in the navy and was enthusiastically proclaimed the 
 naval champion of the country. He died in 1820. 
 
 NATHANIEL MACON 
 
 Macon county was named after Honorable Na- 
 thaniel Macon of North Carolina, who was a famous 
 man at the time the county was formed. 
 Nathaniel Macon had served in the Revolutionary war, and had 
 been elected to the senate of his state before he left the army. He 
 served in the senate until 1785. 
 
 In 1791 he was elected to the lower house of the United States 
 congress, and served until 1815. From the year 1801 to 1806 he was 
 speaker of the house. In 1816 he was elected to the United States sen- 
 ate and served until 1828. This made thirty-seven years in congress 
 altogether. 
 
 Macon was considered a wise, practical and economical man. In 
 politics he was a Democrat. Twice he declined the office of post- 
 master-general. 
 
 TOWNSHIPS 
 
 Townships in Macon county received their names from a variety 
 of sources. 
 
 Friend's Creek was so called from the creek which flows through 
 it. The creek was named for George Friend, of Ohio, who was the 
 first settler on its banks and who built the first home in the township. 
 
 Whitmorc township was named for John Whitmore, who came 
 there in the early days from Connecticut and built a log cabin and 
 began fanning, llis name was spelled "Whittemore," but his children 
 changed the spelling to "Whitmore." It was said the elder Whitte- 
 more did not like the change. 
 
NOMENCLATURE 95 
 
 Milam township was named after the Milam apple, which grew 
 abundantly in that locality. The name was suggested by J. B. Glea- 
 son. 
 
 Niantic township took its name from the town of Niantic which 
 had been named for a town in Connecticut, the former home of some 
 of the early settlers in the township. The name, Niantic, is an Indian 
 name. 
 
 Pleasant View was so named because of the view from the mound 
 near the east line of the township. 
 
 Long Creek township was named from the creek which flows 
 through it. One report is that the creek was named because of its 
 length, and another is to the effect that it was named for a family 
 named Long. 
 
 Blue Mound was so called because the mounds in that vicinity 
 had a blue appearance, due to the profusion of blue flowers. 
 
 In naming South Macon township, the name of the county was 
 chosen but the "South" was added to avoid confusion, and because the 
 township is in the south part of the county. 
 
 Austin township was named after Benjamin R. Austin, Macon 
 county's first surveyor, the man who surveyed and platted the town 
 of Decatur. 
 
 Harristown was named after Major Thomas Harris, who served 
 in the Mexican war. The Macon county men in that war were in his 
 regiment. The village of Harristown first had been called Summit, 
 but the name was changed because there already was a Summit in the 
 state, located in Cook county. 
 
 South Wheatland was named in honor of the Pennsylvania home 
 of James Buchanan. The name was suggested by Robert Carpenter. 
 
 Mt. Zion township took its name from the church there, organized 
 in early days. It is a scriptural name. 
 
 Why Oakley is so named is not definitely known, but it is 
 thought to have been named by one of the old residents, who chose 
 the name, Oakley, because the first postoffice in that vicinity, on an 
 old stage route, w r as in an oak grove. It is also said that an old settler 
 named it after a town in Ohio. The township took its name from the 
 town of Oakley. 
 
 Illini township was given the Indian name, Illini, meaning "Men." 
 
 Maroa was named in a unique manner, according to John 
 Crocker, whose grandfather was the first station agent at Maroa and 
 came there before the town was built. The name was made up out of 
 
96 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 a handful of letters taken out of a hat. Mr. Crocker says that several 
 towns on the Illinois Central were named in the same way. 
 
 Some writers of history have said that the town was named after 
 a tribe of Indians called the Maroas, supposed to be a sub-tribe of the 
 Illini. 2 The township received its name from the town. 
 
 Hickory Point was so named because of the hickory trees at the 
 point where Stevens Creek left the timber for the prairie. 
 
 TOWNS AND VILLAGES 
 
 Many of the towns and villages in Macon county were named by 
 the railroad companies which were responsible for their birth. Some 
 were called after early settlers, whose land furnished sites for them. 
 
 Oreana and Argenta, meaning gold and silver, were names given 
 by two Illinois Central officials, Messrs. Wood and Smith. They were 
 names of stations on the Union Pacific railway in the west, with which 
 road the men had been connected at one time. There is an Oreana in 
 Nevada and an Argenta in Montana, also one in Utah. 
 
 Bearsdale was named for Samuel Bear, an early settler, through 
 whose land the railroad was built. 3 
 
 Blacklands was located on land belonging to John Black that had 
 long been in possession of his family, and the station was named for 
 the family. 
 
 Boody was named after Colonel William Boody, first president 
 of the Decatur and East St. Louis railroad, now a part of the Wabash 
 system. 
 
 Green Switch was named for Joshua Green, an Englishman for 
 years a leading citizen of the county. His home was the brick house 
 just north of the elevator. 
 
 Hervey City was named for Robert G. Hervey, who was promi- 
 nent in the construction of, and was president of the Paris and Deca- 
 tur railroad, later the Pennsylvania. 
 
 Knights was named for Sam B. Knight, who was general freight 
 agent of the Wabash. 
 
 Warrensburg was named for John K. Warren, former mayor of 
 Decatur. He was director of the old Pekin, Lincoln and Decatur rail- 
 road at the time the road was built. The town of Warrensburg was 
 platted by Warren and Durfee. 
 
 Wyckles station was named after Joseph Wycle, early settler who 
 owned the land. He ran the stage stand called Four Mile House. 
 
 Suffern was named for James Suffern, who established a shipping 
 station there. 
 
NOMENCLATURE 97 
 
 Casner was named for Lewis B. Casner, wealthy farmer whose 
 farm was north of the village. 
 
 Antioch took its name from the nearby Antioch church, the 
 church being named for the Biblical city of Antioch. 
 
 Forsyth was named for Colonel Robert Forsyth, the first general 
 freight agent of the Illinois Central, who bought land and built a 
 home there. 
 
 The name of Elwin was made up from the names of its founders, 
 Elwood and Martin. 
 
 Heman was formerly called Bullardsville, after Warner Bullard, 
 who ran an elevator there. When the P. D. and E. railroad was taken 
 over by the Illinois Central, the Illinois Central changed the name 
 of the station to Heman, though the postoffice continued to be called 
 Bullardsville. 
 
 Emery was named for Major Charles F. Emery, former member 
 of the legislature and prominent resident of Maroa. 
 
 Turpin station was named for Jerry Turpin, prominent land 
 owner who lived near the station. 
 
 Walker station was named after J. W. Walker. It was first called 
 Willow Branch, but on June 6, 1882, the name was changed to Walker 
 to conform with the postoffice there. 
 
 1 More than one story is told as to why Illinoians were called Suckers. 
 
 The name was first bestowed, it is believed, during the days of the working of the lead 
 mines at Galena. In 1826 and 1827 thousands of Missouri and Illinois men went to Galena in the 
 spring, worked the mines during the summer, then returned home in the fall, establishing a simi- 
 larity in habits with the fishy tribe. The Missourians were the first to call the Illinois men suckers, 
 and in retaliation the "Suckers" called the Missourians "Pukes" because, it was claimed, Missouri 
 had vomited forth all its worst population to the Galena lead mines. 
 
 Another story is to the effect that the pioneers were so called because, like the sucker sprouts 
 of the tobacco plant, they had stripped themselves off from the parent stem, their native state, 
 and gone away. 
 
 2 "It is only within the last few years that I had heard this suggestion that the town was 
 named after an Indian tribe," said Mr. Crocker in 1929. "Not in any reading that I ever did 
 or otherwise have I ever heard of a tribe of Indians named Maroa. I was brought up with the 
 belief that the town was named by taking a handful of letters out of a hat and making a word 
 from them. While I have not anything in the way of records or evidence, it is my belief that the 
 town was named in that way." Others familiar with Illinois history agree with Mr. Crocker that 
 that is the way many Illinois Central names were made. 
 
 3 The story is told that when three railroad officials dropped off at Bearsdale and asked 
 the name of the place, somebody said "Lickskillet". They did not like that name, and, knowing 
 that Sam Bear owned the land through which the railroad passed, they dubbed the place Bearsdale. 
 Lickskillet was the name by which the school in the neighborhood was called. That school is now 
 the Prairie Center school. 
 
98 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 CHAPTER XVII 
 
 TRANSPORTATION 
 
 FROM its beginning until the year 1854 when the railroads came, 
 Macon county struggled with the transportation problem. 
 Life in those days meant going without things, unless they could 
 be raised on one's own ground. Money was scarce, and markets were 
 
 so far away as to make 
 V J it difficult to deliver 
 
 anything one might 
 produce to sell. For 
 years people fretted be- 
 cause of the barriers 
 with which they were 
 surrounded. 
 
 The only hope 
 seemed to be transpor- 
 tation by water. For 
 years the talk went on 
 about making the San- 
 gamon a navigable 
 river. The legislature 
 had once declared the 
 Sangamon a navigable 
 river but that didn't 
 make it one. One time 
 a steamboat did get up 
 the river as far as 
 Springfield, but it had 
 a great deal of difficulty 
 in turning around there. 
 When experiments 
 were made to send flat- 
 boats down the river 
 from here, people lined 
 the banks of the river 
 to watch the boats, and 
 to go to the rescue if 
 help seemed necessary. 
 
 "Rail *Roa& iiititimmf 
 
TRANSPORTATION 99 
 
 One time in 1845 a flatboat was built and went down the river in 
 charge of Captain William Rea. The next year the firm of Pedde- 
 cord, Armstrong and Prather undertook to send five boats with 
 hogs and corn to New Orleans. The boats made the trip as far as 
 Long Point, south of Niantic, without much trouble, but had to stop 
 there for the winter, awaiting high water in the spring to finish the 
 journey. 
 
 When spring came three of the boats were outfitted and started 
 on the trip south. One stopped at Natchez, and the other two went 
 on to New Orleans. John Hanks, J. Y. Braden and Hosea Armstrong 
 captained these boats at the start. At Beardstown, however, Arm- 
 strong turned his command over to Moses Spencer. 
 
 At the time these boats had left Henry Prather had gone up and 
 down the river making speeches, in which he urged the people to help 
 remove obstructions from the river, so boats could get through. The 
 people responded well. For days they worked. 
 
 While the trip made by these boats was successful in a way, the 
 difficulties had been too great to make the project a profitable one. 
 It was little consolation to spend so much effort and time and work, 
 and make no profit from them. It seemed as if the difficulties in the 
 way of navigating the Sangamon successfully were too much to be 
 overcome, and people gave up the idea. 
 
 All schemes for railroads had failed. Now it seemed that water 
 connection with the outside world had to be given up. Macon county 
 residents feared that they would always be isolated. 
 
 Naturally with no railroads or water routes, highway travel in- 
 creased. Everything brought from outside was hauled in. Emigrants 
 were passing through in large numbers to the west. But roads re- 
 mained just as bad as they were before. Though they increased in 
 number, they did not improve in quality. 1 There was no system of 
 maintaining or improving the highways. 
 
 Establishment of stage lines helped a little, but the stages did not 
 become popular because of the difficulty in plowing through mud. 2 
 Too often the passengers had to help pry the coach out of the mire. 
 
 MAIL SERVICE 
 
 Air mail wasn't known in the early days of Macon county, but it 
 should have been, for that was the time when only air routes could 
 have provided adequate mail service. Had the pioneer expected mail 
 every few hours in the day, as modern folks do, he would have been 
 sadly out of luck. However, lack of mail service did not worry him 
 
100 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 at all, for if he got a letter once a year from "back home" he was 
 happy. 
 
 Letters were not so numerous in those days. One good reason 
 was that it cost too much to send them. When postage was 25 cents, 
 and cash scarce, one could not expect to write or receive such luxuries 
 as letters very often. Postage was paid at destination rather than 
 sending point, and often a letter would lie unclaimed for weeks be- 
 cause the person to whom it was addressed was unable to round up 
 the necessary two bits to pay the postage. 
 
 Before Decatur had a postoffice, settlers had to go to Springfield 
 for their mail. Afterwards mail came once a week from Shelbyville. 
 Perhaps it would be better to say the mail pouch would come, for 
 often there was not a single piece of mail in it. 
 
 Gradually mail routes became more numerous, and after a time 
 Decatur was connected with Springfield, Covington, Ind., Blooming- 
 ton, Charleston, Ewington, Paris and Edwardsville. By 1851 Decatur 
 was receiving mail from these towns every week, and sometimes two 
 or three times a week. 
 
 The mail service could not have been called fast — except when 
 the wolves chased the carriers. Then sometimes it was ahead of time ! 
 
 Silas Packard, who carried mail between Decatur and Paris and 
 between Decatur and Bloomington in 1847 and 1848 often used to 
 tell of his experiences on those trips. He was considerably more of a 
 "rural" carrier in those days than the rural carrier of today. In the 
 lonesome journey between here and Paris, nearly seventy miles, there 
 were not a half dozen houses. On the route to Bloomington the first 
 house after leaving Decatur was at Salt Creek. Then came the tiny 
 village of Clinton. But between Clinton and Bloomington there was 
 not a house ! His horse and the wild deer were his only company. 
 
 Young Packard thought things were just coming his way when, 
 once in a while, in real good weather, his employer, Landy Harrell, 
 allowed him to use his open buggy for the trip. Most of his journey- 
 ing was done on horseback. Harrell had the mail contract from the 
 government, and employed Packard, then a youth of about 18, to 
 carry the mail. He was paid fifty cents a day. And he saved money 
 on the job ! 
 
 Two days were required to make the trip from Decatur to Paris. 
 Usually the carrier stayed two days in Paris, then made the return 
 trip, making six days for the round trip. Often he did not have one 
 piece of mail in the pouch when he left Decatur. After stages were 
 put in operation on mail routes, the mail was carried by stage, but 
 
TRANSPORTATION 101 
 
 often it was necessary to go back to the horseback route, for a horse 
 could get through many times when a stage would get stuck in the 
 mud. 
 
 On the trip to Paris it was necessary to cross the Okaw river 
 twice. When the routes were laid out, the government inspector 
 placed marks on trees on the river bank at the fords, as a guide to the 
 carrier as to whether or not he should attempt to cross the river. If 
 the water had risen to the mark on the tree the carrier was not ob- 
 ligated to go on. He could return home, and he would be given credit 
 for having made the entire trip. If the water was that high, the car- 
 rier would have been compelled to swim his horse to get across, and 
 a carrier was not expected to do that. 
 
 STAGE STANDS 
 
 Macon county had "filling stations" years ago, but they were 
 for man and beast, rather than the automobile. They were the stage 
 stands, where the stage made regular stops to change horses, to eat, 
 and, if stop were made at night, to secure lodging for passengers, 
 drivers and horses. 
 
 Weather conditions had some effect on the stops made at the 
 stage stands. If the weather were fair, roads good, and change of 
 horses made occasionally at stands along the way, one could make 
 the trip to Springfield in one day. If roads were bad, it took two 
 days or more to get through. Sometimes a "box on two wheels" was 
 substituted for the heavy stage, in bad weather. 
 
 The stage driver was a man of privileges. He was given the en- 
 tire road when he made his appearance. That was even required by 
 law. To the small boy the stage driver was a hero ; a man who could 
 tell wonderful tales of the things he had seen in his travels! Every 
 lad tried to imitate that peculiar swing and crack of the whip which 
 only the stage driver could muster. It was something worth while to 
 be on hand when the stage rolled in, pulled by its four perspiring 
 steeds, over which the driver flourished his long whip. 
 
 The stage usually had seats for six people. Passengers were not 
 always as enthusiastic about the stage as the small boys were. Often 
 they had to walk a good part of their way. Paying their fare and then 
 walking, or helping to pull the coach out of mud, wasn't anything 
 funny to them. No wonder they looked forward to the time when a 
 better means of transportation would be provided. Stage owners 
 didn't profit much and often lost money. Changes in ownership be- 
 came frequent. 3 
 
102 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Leonard Ashton, who ran a stage between Decatur and Spring- 
 field, used to brag that his stage was "never more than a week be- 
 hind schedule, even in the worst weather." He probably meant it as 
 a joke, but his statement was not far from the truth. In wet weather 
 stages were delayed for days. It was impossible to keep to schedules. 
 
 Among the stage stands near Decatur was one built by Christo- 
 pher Miller on the north side of what is now Route 10, about four 
 miles west of Decatur. The house, made of logs, was built broadside 
 to the road. There were two rooms on the ground floor, with double 
 chimney between, and a fireplace in each. Above was the loft. Guests 
 for the night in the loft often woke up in the morning in the winter 
 time to find themselves under a neat little snow drift. 
 
 Miller had come to Macon county from Grayson county, Ky., 
 in 1829. His grandson, Abraham C. Miller, in after years often used 
 to tell how it was one of the treats of his boyhood days to go to 
 Grandpap's when the stage was clue. 
 
 1 The story has been told before as to how the Bloomington road was located, but it is 
 worth repeating. The first road which had come into Decatur from the north had swung to the 
 west near Emery, passing the Indian camp ground on the west side of the Hockaday farm. The 
 home of the Hockadays was at the east side of the land. They wanted a road past their house. 
 The Hockadays heard that a circus was coming to Decatur from the north. So B. B. Hockaday 
 went to Maroa to meet it. 
 
 "Do you want the shortest and best way to Decatur?" he asked the circus leader. 
 
 "Of course," answered the show man. 
 
 "Then follow me," said Hockaday. 
 
 The circus followed Hockaday, who led the way directly south, following a straight line 
 into Decatur. By the time all the circus wagons had passed over the route a road had been made. 
 Thus was established the road now known as State Route No. 2. 
 
 2 John Kaylor tells of an incident he remembers, showing the difficulty of transporting things 
 over mud roads. One time on a trip to Springfield he met an outfit moving an immense boiler, 24 
 feet long and 6 feet in diameter. To draw the truck 100 steers had been yoked together in 
 pairs. The mud was so deep that at some places the wheels would sink until the axles were 
 almost out of sight. The crew in charge numbered seven. The leather whips carried by the bull- 
 whackers were ten feet long, attached to an ox-goad and finished off with a "cracker" of buckskin. 
 When this whip was swung by an expert, the sound equalled that of a rifle shot. 
 
 3 In 1853 Jesse H. Elliott, proprietor of the Macon house, was advertising that he was pre- 
 pared to run semi-weekly hacks between Paris and Decatur, one to leave each place every Tuesday 
 and Friday at 6 a. m. and arrive at the opposite point Wednesday and Saturday at 6 p. m. This 
 line connected with a daily line from Terre Haute to Paris and a tri-weekly line from Decatur to 
 Springfield. 
 
 "The best drivers will*be employed," says the ad, "the fare will be moderate, and the entire 
 distance will be run in daylight. Every necessity and appropriate accommodation for the comfort 
 of passengers will be provided." 
 
THE 1839 DIRECTORY 
 
 103 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 THE 1839 DIRECTORY 
 
 A list of the residents of Decatur in 1839 was given The Decatur 
 Review by David Hummell, of Lincoln, 111., who lived in Deca- 
 tur that year and for some years afterwards. It gives one a clear 
 glimpse of the citizenship of the town at that time. 
 It is the nearest we have to a directory of Decatur 
 in that early day. 
 
 This list was not made up by Mr. Hummell un- 
 til seventy years after the time it represented, and 
 for that reason it is remarkable for its complete- 
 ness. It might be expected that after such a lapse 
 of time, Mr. Hummell might have missed a few* 
 names, yet he probably did not miss many, for other 
 old settlers have verified the list. 
 
 Mr. Hummell came to Decatur in 1839 and be- 
 came well acquainted with the few hundred people 
 who were citizens of the town then. Those citizens 
 included men who were prominent in the upbuilding 
 of the city. Some of their descendants are just as prominent in the pro- 
 gress of Decatur today. 
 
 THE LIST 
 
 The list as compiled by Mr. Hummell follows: 
 (The first named were heads of families; the number preceding 
 the name shows the number of grown persons in the family.) 
 
 DAVm HUMMELL 
 
 6 Benjamin Austin. 
 
 2 Dr. James Read. 
 
 3 Mr. Shultz. 
 
 2 Henry Prather. 
 2 Hosea Armstrong. 
 2 William Cantrill. 
 2 N. Ashby. 
 5 Dr. J. G. Speer. 
 2 George Querrey. 
 2 Samuel Nesbit. 
 2 Preston Butler. 
 
 2 Dr. William T. Crissey. 
 
 3 Mrs. Duly and daughters. 
 
 2 Mr. Maddox. 
 
 3 William Webb. 
 
 4 M r. Cowan. 
 
 2 J. Y. Braden. 
 
 2 George Galbraith. 
 
 4 William Kibby. 
 
 2 Kirby Benedict. 
 2 David Rawles. 
 
 2 James Pierce. 
 
 3 Hartwell Robinson. 
 2 Thomas Johnson. 
 
 2 Rolla White. 
 2 Alex Mahood. - 
 2 Alfred Barnwell. 
 2 Robert Johnson. 
 2 Joe Stevens. 
 2 Capt. D. L. Allen. 
 5 Landy Harrell. 
 
 4 Ross Elliott. 
 
 2 J. J. Peddecord. 
 2 Mark Turner. 
 
 2 Col. E. D. Carter. 
 
 3 Henry Hummell 
 
 2 Samuel McKinley. 
 
 4 James Nesbit and mother. 
 
104 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 2 R. Wren. 2 James F. Montgomery. 
 
 2 Rev. William S. Crissey. 2 Ninian Peddecord. 
 
 2 Philo Hill. 2 Dayton Dunham. 
 
 4 Leonard Ashton. 3 Mr. Norris. 
 2 William Williams. 
 
 The single men and the women they afterward married : 
 
 Samuel Allen. Benjamin Oglesby. 
 
 Benjamin Dillehunt, Miss Nesbit. Willis Oglesby, Miss Glore. 
 
 J. J. Peddecord, Mrs. Adamson. Mat Bradshaw. 
 
 J. D. Tait, Susan Spangler. Samuel Dewees. 
 
 M. Elson, Miss Mary Sawyer. Amos Bodkin. 
 
 E. McClellan, Judith Snyder. Silas Packard, Mary Sawyer. 
 
 William Stamper, Ann M. Snyder. Daniel Robinson, Miss Daley. 
 
 John Post, Miss Kaufman. Dayton Dunham, Marilla Robinson. 
 
 Seth Post, Miss Bunn. Charles Emerson, Miss Harrell. 
 
 Robert Allen, Miss Maddox. Carl Bosworth. 
 
 James Draper. E. O. Smith, Harriet Krone. 
 
 William Mayers. Joseph Dewees. 
 
 William Condell, Elizabeth Packard. Hildrey Adamson. 
 
 Wash. Nesbit, Miss Prince. Enoch Gibbs, Miss Ashton. 
 
 Dr. Ira Curtis, Jane Butler. Benjamin Sawyer. 
 
 Champion Butler. - Watt Culver. 
 
 James Ashton. Frank Emerson. 
 
 Peter Palmer. William Dewees. 
 
 Mason Packard. Warner Oglesby. 
 
 Anson Packard, Miss Norris. John Lee. 
 
 Edmund Packard, Miss Speer. Miss Zilpha Butler. 
 
 Dr. Joseph King, Marietta Packard. Felix Butler. 
 
 Charles Pringle, Miss Harrell. Jerome R. Gorin. 
 
 William Bosworth, Minerva Daley. Jackson Sinclair. 
 
 The population of Macon county about that time was estimated 
 at 3,200. The census of 1840 enumerated 3,233 persons. 
 
 Edmiston McClellan, mentioned in the above list, became one of 
 Decatur's best known men. He lived in the city from 1835 until 1900. 
 For twenty-eight years in succession he served the county as circuit 
 clerk. Before that he had been a clerk in various stores, had done sur- 
 veying, had been a deputy sheriff, city marshal and deputy circuit 
 clerk. 
 
 One of the men who came to Decatur in 1839 and who was iden- 
 tified with the business life of the city for years was Berry H. Cassell, 
 who came from Pennsylvania. He started a tin shop, backed by David 
 L. Allen, and tin cups made by him and peddled over the country 
 were the basis of his fortune. He also ran a hardware and grocery 
 store and other enterprises. He bought up a great deal of land, and 
 at one time owned the land from Franklin to Jasper street, between 
 Wood street and the Wabash tracks, and 400 or 500 acres in the vicin- 
 ity of the Wabash properties. He gave the site of the Illinois Central 
 depot to that railroad. 
 
 Berry and Henry Cassell were in the hotel business for several 
 
THE 1839 DIRECTORY 105 
 
 years, operating the Cassell house, which they had bought from 
 Landy Harrell. It stood on the present site of the St. Nicholas hotel. 
 
 BUSINESS VENTURES 
 
 Decatur added several business enterprises in 1839. The old ox 
 mill, one of the most interesting of the early day institutions of the 
 county, was erected that year by J. J. Peddecord, Ninian Peddecord, 
 and E. O. Smith. 1 Its principal product was corn meal. The mill was 
 located on East Prairie street, near the Town branch (where Broad- 
 way is now). 
 
 West of the ox mill was built the Macon house, Decatur's first 
 hotel, which later became known as the Revere house and for many 
 years was Decatur's leading hostelry. The hotel was built by David 
 L. Allen and Thomas H. Read, and James Nesbit was proprietor for 
 a time. It was located at the southeast corner of Prairie and Franklin. 
 
 In 1839 the first manufacturing concern using steam power was 
 established by Wilson Allen. It was a combination saw mill, grist 
 mill and carding factory. Three years later it burned down, one Sun- 
 day afternoon. 
 
 William Kibby established a distillery in 1839 near what was 
 afterwards known as Imboden springs, in the south part of town (a 
 block west of Greenwood avenue near the cemetery). It was operated 
 by Kibby only a year. 
 
 James D. Tait came to Decatur in 1839 and opened the first sad- 
 dle and harness shop. . He walked all the way here from Naples, 111., 
 on the Illinois river, carrying his tools on his back. Frequently dur- 
 ing the trip he was obliged to wade water up to his chin. Every slough 
 and hollow was filled with water. He bought his goods in Springfield 
 and had them hauled here by team. 
 
 Leonard Ashton, who carried mail between Decatur and Paris, 
 had the first livery stable. It stood on ground now covered by the rear 
 of the Y. M. C. A. annex. 
 
 By 1840 Decatur was supplied with grocery, dry goods, drug, 
 cigar and general stores ; it had wagon shop and livery stable ; it had 
 saloons, two churches, distillery, harness shop and hotels. It was be- 
 ginning to take on the appearance of a town. 
 
 1 Motive power for the mill was obtained by placing three or four cows on an inclined wheel, 
 their heads secured to a cross beam. The cattle walked forward. All they had to do was to keep 
 walking, but they never advanced any. Smith's history tells how the machinery occasionally got 
 detached and a "runaway" resulted. The cattle became frightened and started to run. The faster 
 they went, the faster the wheels turned, and the harder it was to get the machinery stopped. 
 Things happened then. Sometimes the cattle fell, and were dragged by the neck. Excited citizens 
 rushed to aid by throwing logs or rails under the wheel. With cattle bellowing, machinery shriek- 
 ing, rails crashing, "Uncle Henry" giving shrill orders, noise and confusion everywhere, it made 
 an occasion to be remembered. 
 
106 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 CHAPTER XIX 
 
 MACON COUNTY BAR 
 
 FOR five years after the organization of Macon county and the plat- 
 ting of Decatur, the county had no lawyer it could call its own. 
 The village probably had little appeal to a hustling young attorney. 
 Yet, in a new county, with new problems arising, with the population 
 increasing, disputes to be settled, and not to be forgotten — a brand 
 new court house in which to practice — Decatur had need for a repre- 
 sentative of the legal profession. 
 
 Finally one came. He not only had the distinction of being the 
 county's first resident lawyer, but he proved to be the right sort for 
 the beginning of the history of the bar in Macon county. That first 
 lawyer was Charles Emerson, native of New Hampshire. 
 
 Charles Emerson came to Illinois in 1833, at- 
 tended Illinois college at Jacksonville one term, 
 studied law in Springfield, then chose Decatur for 
 a location to practice his. profession. He settled here 
 in 1834, and that was the beginning of a long and 
 honorable career. He lived in Decatur and Long 
 Creek township the rest of his life, except three 
 years, from 1847 to 1850, when he resided in Paris. 
 
 Mr. Emerson was elected to the legislature 
 twice ; served as circuit judge from 1853 to 1867, and 
 in 1869 was elected to the constitutional convention. 
 He attended part of the convention, but illness pre- 
 vented his remaining until the end. He passed away 
 in April, 1870. Mr. Emerson had many admirable qualities which 
 brought him the respect and love of every one who knew him. He was 
 a man of modest disposition, charitable, unaffected, broad-minded and 
 impartial. 
 
 Macon county's second resident attorney, who settled in Decatur 
 in 1836, was Kirby Benedict, who afterwards became associate justice 
 of the territory of New Mexico, an appointment he received from 
 President Franklin Pierce in 1853. He served three years in that of- 
 fice, and then was appointed chief justice of the same territory. 
 
 Mr. Benedict was probate judge in Macon county from 1838 to 
 1843. He continued law practice here until 1849, when he moved to 
 Paris. His death occurred Feb. 28, 1874. 
 
 CHARLES EMER 
 SON 
 
MACON COUNTY BAR 107 
 
 Joel S. Post was the first attorney admitted to the practice of law 
 from this county. He came to Decatur in 1839 and studied law with 
 Charles Emerson. He was admitted to the bar in 1841. Mr. Post 
 served in the War with Mexico, attaining the rank of captain. In 1856 
 he was elected to the state senate and served two terms. During his 
 service in the senate he was instrumental in securing the passage of 
 the law establishing the state normal school at Normal, 111. 
 
 Macon county's first state's attorney was Jonathan H. Pugh, a 
 Springfield lawyer, who came here for the first term of circuit court. 
 He was a brilliant lawyer, and was one of the first in the state to 
 advocate the building of railroads. He served in the state senate, and 
 in 1834 w r as in the race for governor of the state, but was defeated by 
 Joseph Duncan. 
 
 Samuel Drake Lockw r ood, who presided over the first term of 
 circuit court in Macon county, was elected associate justice of the 
 Illinois supreme court in 1825 and held that office until 1848. In 1825 
 Judge Lockwood revised the Illinois criminal code, and it remains 
 largely the law today. Judge Lockwood represented Morgan county 
 in the constitutional convention of 1847. 
 
 Decatur court rooms have seen a brilliant array of lawyers in the 
 hundred years of the county's history. 1 Some were men who reached 
 high places in the nation. The early custom of lawyers to "ride the 
 circuit" was responsible for bringing many of them to Decatur. Yet 
 Decatur can be justly proud also of its long line of resident lawyers, 
 the men who established practice here and who built up reputations 
 at home. 
 
 Stories have often been told of the days when Decatur was in the 
 eighth judicial circuit and such men as Abraham Lincoln, Stephen A. 
 Douglas, Leonard Swett, David Davis, John T. Stuart, E. D. Baker 
 and other notable figures came here when court was in session. 
 
 It was customary then for the lawyers to travel from one county 
 seat to another with the court. The county seats thus had the privilege 
 of entertaining some of the most able men of the profession. 
 
 CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES 
 
 During the first few years of Macon county's existence, it was the 
 requirement that judges of the supreme court do circuit court duty. 
 That is how it happened that Judge Samuel D. Lockwood presided 
 over circuit court in Macon county from 1830 to 1835. When a law 
 was passed in 1835, which brought about the separation of these two 
 offices, Stephen T. Logan was elected to the office of judge of this cir- 
 cuit. Macon county was then a part of the first judicial circuit. 
 
108 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Francis P. Wright, 1891-1897 (resigned), 
 William G. Cochran, 1897-1910. 
 Solon Philbrick, 1903-1910. 
 Franklyn H. Boggs, 1914 to date. 
 William C. Johns, 1903-1914 (died). 
 George A. Sentel, 1915 to 1927. 
 W. K. Whitfield, 1914-1921. 
 James S. Baldwin, 1921 to date. 
 
 As Illinois became more thickly settled and the population in- 
 creased, changes were made from time to time in the division of the 
 state into judicial circuits. During these changes Macon county was 
 a part of several different circuits. Under the apportionment of 1897, 
 when the number of circuits, outside of Cook county, was increased 
 to seventeen, Macon county became a part of the circuit it is in today, 
 the Sixth. Other counties in the Sixth circuit are Dewitt, Douglas, 
 Moultrie, Piatt, and Champaign. 
 
 PRESIDED IN DECATUR 
 
 Judges who have held court in Decatur since 1830 have been: 
 
 S. D. Lockwood, 1830-1835. Ferdinand Bookwalter, 1888-1897. 
 
 Stephen T. Logan, 1835-1837 (resigned). Edward P. Vail, 1888-1903 
 
 Jesse B. Thomas, Jr., 1837-1839. 
 
 Samuel H. Treat, 1839-1849. 
 
 David Davis, 1849-1853. 
 
 Charles Emerson, 1853-1867. 
 
 Arthur J. Gallagher, 1867-1872. 
 
 C. B. Smith, 1872-1885. 
 
 W. E. Nelson, 1877-1879. 
 
 Jacob W. Wilkin, 1879-1888 (resigned). 
 
 James F. Hughes, 1885-1891. 
 
 RESIDENT LAWYERS 
 
 A. Brower Bunn, native of Ohio, who came to Decatur in 1850, 
 and who was considered one of the city's best lawyers, was a man 
 of interesting personality. In pleading cases in court he made much 
 of the dramatic effects, swaying the emotions of his listeners with 
 marked success. Mr. Bunn held at different times the offices of city 
 clerk, city attorney, member of the legislature, and assessor of internal 
 revenue. 
 
 John W. Smith, native of Macon county, was not only an able 
 lawyer, but a writer of considerable ability, and it was he who gave 
 us the first history of Macon county. He also wrote 
 a number of law texts. Mr. Smith, a graduate of the 
 Albany law school in New York, began practice 
 here as the junior member of the firm of Emerson 
 and Smith. Later he was associated with J. M. 
 Clokey and Brice I. Sterrett. After he left Decatur 
 he practiced law in Chicago. Mr. Smith was deeply 
 interested in books and collected for his library 
 many rare volumes. 
 
 Sheridan Wait became a resident of Decatur 
 in 1852 and was a partner first of Charles Emerson 
 and later of R. J. Oglesby. During the war he was 
 
 also held the office of 
 
 JOHN W. SMITH 
 
 an adjutant-general, and he 
 canal commissioner. 
 
MACON COUNTY BAR 
 
 109 
 
 A. J. GALLAGHER 
 
 Colonel Nathan Tupper and Lieutenant-Colonel Ansel Tupper, 
 brothers, came in 1854. They are mentioned elsewhere, as is Richard 
 J. Oglesby. 
 
 D. L. Btinn, who became a citizen of Macon county in 1855, read 
 law in the office of Captain J. S. Post, and in 1862 was granted license 
 to practice law. From 1862 to 1868 he was state's attorney. 
 
 Judge Arthur J. Gallagher reached the highest 
 rank at the bar. He was a man of great intellect and 
 was known for his fairness. He succeeded Charles 
 Emerson as circuit judge, and he was well fitted for 
 that office. He was elected to the bench in 1867 and 
 served until 1873. He was a member of the law firm 
 of Gallagher, Wait and Oglesby. Also, at another 
 time he was in partnership with Jerome R. Gorin. 
 
 Judge Gallagher came to Decatur in 1856 from 
 
 Vandalia, where he had been practicing law. He 
 
 studied law with Lyman Trumbull, at Belleville. In 
 
 1852 he was elected to the legislature, and he also 
 
 served as register of the U. S. land office in Vandalia. 
 
 Judge Gallagher married Rachel Smith, the 
 
 daughter of E. O. Smith, in 1865. 
 
 Coming in 1857, William E. Nelson all his life was a leading 
 
 lawyer and civic worker. He was on a state commission in 1869, a 
 
 member of the legislature in 1871, circuit judge in 1877, county judge 
 
 from 1886 to 1894. 
 
 Judge Anthony Thornton was one of the most able lawyers that 
 ever practiced in Macon county. He came here from Shelbyville, and 
 after a few years residence in Decatur returned to Shelbyville. 
 
 Among other distinguished lawyers who prac- 
 ticed in Decatur were C. C. McComas, state's attor- 
 ney; Hugh Crea, known particularly for his atten- 
 tion to railroad law; K. H. Roby, partner of Wil- 
 liam E. Nelson; S. F. Greer, county judge, member 
 of board of education and member of city council ; 
 John R. Eden, member of congress ; Isaac A. Buck- 
 ingham, city attorney, state's attorney, and in gen- 
 eral practice for many years; C. A. Ewing of the 
 firm of Crea and Ewing; Isaac R. Mills, city attor- 
 ney, state's attorney, and district revenue collector, 
 who was killed in a railroad wreck at Litchfield in 
 1904; E. P. Vail and W. C. Johns, both of whom 
 
 WM. E. NELSON 
 
110 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 served as circuit judge. Mr. Vail, who was on the bench from 1888 
 to 1903, left Decatur for Chicago where he established a law practice. 
 YV. C. Johns was judge from 1903 until his death in 1914. 
 
 BAR ASSOCIATION 
 
 In the year 1902 the members of the Decatur Bar organized the 
 Macon County Bar association, its object being to maintain a law 
 library and to promote fraternal spirit among the members. Judge 
 W. C. Johns was the first president and James S. Baldwin its secre- 
 tary. The library established has been added to from time to time, 
 and is now an extremely valuable collection of books valued at about 
 $20,000. In 1923 the association presented the library to Macon coun- 
 ty, upon condition that the county assume care and control of it and 
 keep up the continuations. The library is now housed in the court 
 house and is open to the public. The Macon County Bar association 
 was dissolved and the Decatur Bar association was then organized 
 and is still functioning. 
 
 1 In early days the court had an important officer that is not known in present day life. He 
 was the court crier. It was his business to call the witnesses and litigants into court when their 
 cases were called. John Moreland, court crier for years, had a voice well adapted for the part. 
 It was like a trumpet and could be heard for blocks away. When some one was wanted, Moreland 
 went to the second story of the court house, leaned out of a window, and in stentorian voice called 
 out the name of the person wanted. This was his method: "W — J — Con-dell, W. J. Condell, 
 W. J. CONDELL, COME TO COURT." The custom of court crier was discontinued after 
 Arthur J. Gallagher became judge. He ruled that it was the business of litigants and witnesses to 
 be at the court house when their cases were called. Moreland ran a bus between the Cloudas 
 house and the depot. As an announcer of schedules he could have given pointers on clearness 
 to present day radio announcers. 
 
THE POWERS FAMILY 
 
 111 
 
 CHAPTER XX 
 
 THE POWERS FAMILY 
 
 TWO horses bearing two brothers rode into the little village of 
 Decatur one summer day in 1839. The two men had heard that 
 a railroad to pass through the village had been surveyed, and that the 
 town was likely to become a place of importance. They decided to 
 come and see, and, if they thought advisable, to invest some money 
 in government land hereabouts. 
 
 The two brothers were George Westcott Powers and Samuel St. 
 John Powers. They had ridden here all the way on horseback from 
 Mobile, Ala., although their native state was New York. Coming from 
 Alabama, they journeyed through Kentucky and Tennessee, and 
 crossed the Ohio river at Shawneetown. 
 
 The elder brother, George W. Powers, invested in land, and made 
 all arrangements for building a home upon it. Then he returned to 
 Alabama. He had a double reason for returning to that state. One 
 was to look after his business affairs there, since he had decided to 
 locate in Decatur, and the other was to get married and bring his 
 bride back with him. 
 
 He left in charge of his brother Samuel the task of seeing that 
 the house was built. The main part was of brick, and this was the first 
 brick house in the county outside of Decatur. It was Mr. Powers' 
 intention to build entirely of brick, but it had been impossible to 
 secure enough brick, and it was necessary to use lumber for a part 
 of the structure. In that day brick had to be hauled from a distance. 
 
 The wood used in the house was 
 oak, hickory and black walnut. 
 The construction work was done 
 by Benjamin Dillehunt. 
 
 An Indian trail had run 
 through the Powers land. Various 
 articles of pottery, vessels, arrow- 
 heads, and the like had been found 
 on the place. 
 
 Mr. Powers and Miss Almira 
 
 Avery Giles were married on April 
 
 27, 1840, Mrs. Powers having been 
 
 POWERS' farm home a teacher for several vears in Tus- 
 
112 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 caloosa, Ala. She was a graduate of the Emma Willard seminary in 
 Troy, N. Y. Their wedding trip was the journey to their new home in 
 Illinois and their method of traveling a double carriage drawn by a 
 pair of dapple gray horses. They were accompanied here by Mr. 
 Powers's mother, Mrs. Abigail H. Powers, and his younger sister, 
 Sarah Ann Powers. It took thirty-nine days for the trip, the party 
 arriving in Decatur, June 4, 1840. 1 
 
 Some interesting incidents of the childhood days of Mrs. Powers 
 have been told by her daughter, Mrs. Sarah Powers Durfee. One of 
 them she describes as follows : 
 
 "Almira Avery Giles was born at East Charlemont, Mass., March 
 3, 1818. Her birth, with two teeth, and a veil over her face, caused the 
 superstitious to attach more importance to her than to many others. 
 Almira was the second child, first daughter of Almira Avery and 
 Dr. John Giles. When Almira was five years old a relative, who had 
 quite a large family of boys, came to visit this family, and the mother 
 was so pleased with Almira that she besought the child's mother to 
 let her take her home for a visit. 
 
 "With the same pride and care of the mothers of the present 
 day, and with much more difficulty, the mother, Almira, made her 
 ready, and the child returned with the guests to their home. In a few 
 months, letters were written for the child's return, but receiving no 
 reply, a member of the family took the journey and found the family 
 had moved 'west' leaving no trace. The parents were in great distress 
 and for three years lived in uncertainty. 
 
 "At that time, Jonathan Avery, the grandfather, a wounded Revo- 
 lutionary war soldier, had to attend to some business and started on 
 horseback for east New York, 'West', as it was called. After traveling 
 a number of days he saw some children by the roadside and recog- 
 nized Almira, although tanned very brown and in an untidy condition. 
 He called her by name and she answered. Without further delay, he 
 lifted her up onto his horse, turned back, and in due time delivered her 
 to her parents. 
 
 "There was great rejoicing in his daughter's household when 
 Jonathan returned with the lost Almira. The mother gave her face, 
 hands and feet a thorough soaking in buttermilk, as she was .so tanned 
 one would scarcely know her to be a white child. She had been gone 
 three years, and was eight years old. As she had not been sent to 
 school, she did not even know her alphabet." 
 
 Almira started to school at once. At the age of fourteen she 
 entered an academy at Bennington, Vt., later going to Troy to enter 
 the Emma Willard seminary. One of her studies there was French, 
 
THE POWERS FAMILY 113 
 
 and as it happened that her roommate was a French girl, she became 
 proficient in that language. 
 
 It was through another seminary friend that she met her future 
 husband. Sarah Ann Powers, sister of George W. Powers, lived 
 near the seminary and was a student there, and the two girls became 
 fast friends. When George came home from college on a visit, he was 
 introduced to Miss Giles. The friendship resulted in their marriage 
 several years later at Tuscaloosa, Ala., after which they came to De- 
 catur to make their home. 
 
 Mr. Powers contracted for a mail route for four years, and em- 
 ployed four young men to carry the mail. One was his brother, Sam- 
 uel, another was John Harrell, another Baxter Hunting. 
 
 The second year after the Powerses came, the corn crop was enor- 
 mous. But there was no market for it, outside of St. Louis and Chi- 
 cago, and the market was too low to make it profitable to haul the 
 grain that distance. Only three cents a bushel was offered. So a lot 
 of splendid Macon county corn that year, instead of being sold, was 
 used as fuel in the fireplace. 
 
 Macon county's good soil was producing other things besides 
 corn. The pumpkins grew so large that only three could be put in a 
 wagon bed. With two more resting on top, one had a big load of 
 pumpkins. Wild strawberries were so plentiful on the Powers land 
 that after the horses had been walking through them, it looked as 
 though their feet were bleeding. 
 
 Mr. Powers became well acquainted with the land in this part of 
 the state and located all the land which his brother, William, pur- 
 chased, as well as the tracts he himself bought. William Powers was 
 then in Havana, Cuba, and sent money to his brother in Decatur to in- 
 vest in land. 
 
 In later years, William Powers, who was unmarried, located in 
 Bloomington, but he spent much time in Decatur and erected a num- 
 ber of buildings here, one of them a business structure of three stories, 
 in the 100 block East Main street, south side. At the time it was 
 erected it was the most pretentious business building Decatur had. 
 It is still in use. 
 
 Chauncey M. Powers, another brother, settled northwest of De- 
 catur, near Boiling Springs, on a farm. After his death, his family 
 moved to Tennessee. 
 
 George W. Powers was elected to the legislature in 1844 and 
 served in that capacity until his death, Sept. 16, 1849. Before his death 
 he had been urged to run for the United States senate. Mr. Powers 
 was the second attorney admitted to the bar in Macon county. 
 
114 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 J I is business interests demanded his presence in Decatur to such 
 an extent that the family left the farm home and moved in to Deca- 
 tur in the fall of 1847. Mr. Powers bought property on North Main 
 street, the present site of the Decatur public library and five acres to 
 the north. It was necessary to remodel the house on the property, and 
 the family lived for two years on Wood street, moving to the re- 
 modeled home on North Main in March, 1849. 2 Mr. Powers had his 
 office in the brick court house on Lincoln square. 
 
 After the removal of the G. W. Powers family to Decatur, the 
 farm home continued to be occupied by Samuel Powers, who had mar- 
 ried Caroline Giles, sister of Mrs. Powers. Sarah Ann Powers, 
 young sister of Mr. Powers, had married Rev. Fielding N. Ewing, 
 prominent Presbyterian minister. Both these weddings had taken 
 place at the G. W. Powers country home. Rev. and Mrs. F. N. Ewing 
 in later years came to Decatur to live. They erected their home on 
 Ewing avenue in 1867. Mr. Ewing died in 1880 and Mrs. Ewing in 
 1902. 
 
 G. W. Powers's death occurred in the North Main street home 
 just six months after the family had become settled there. Mrs. Pow- 
 ers, left with three youngsters to support, began to teach, opening a 
 school in her own home. Later she taught in the Masonic building, 
 and still later in a brick house on West North street. 
 
 She was the first president of the Ladies' Library association, the 
 forerunner of the Decatur public library, the story 
 of which is told in another chapter. Mrs. Powers 
 passed away April 2, 1900. 
 
 Samuel Powers was a great lover of the out- 
 doors and of horses, and as a breeder of fine horses 
 he became known over the country. For some years 
 he made his home on the farm. Decatur has long 
 since built up to, and away beyond, that farm home. 
 Its location now would be described as the 1500 
 block East Locust street. 
 
 When Samuel Powers moved in to Decatur, he 
 built a home at the south end of Powers lane, choos- 
 ing the location because of the seven fine hickory 
 trees on the hill. The house is still standing at 595 
 Powers lane. Mr. Powers was in California during the gold rush, and 
 brought back thousands of dollars in gold. He passed away in 1885. 
 and his wife in 1909. 
 
 SAMUEL POWERS 
 
THE POWERS FAMILY 115 
 
 Orlando Powers, another brother, visited here several times be- 
 fore he loeated in Decatur. In 1849 he brought his bride, who had 
 
 been Charlotte Given, for a visit at, 
 the G. W. Powers home. They ar- 
 rived three weeks after the death of 
 G. \Y. Powers, not knowing until 
 their arrival in Decatur that the 
 brother had died. The next summer 
 they moved to a house at Franklin 
 and Wood streets, the present site 
 of the Moose club. Later Mr. Pow- 
 ers built a mill on South Franklin 
 Orlando powers home street He was in the m iH} ng busi- 
 
 ness for some years, ran an abstract office, conducted a general mer- 
 chandise store and later a shoe business. For ten years he lived in 
 Jacksonville, then returned to Decatur and made his home at 317 
 West Decatur street. It is now the home of W. M. Wood. 
 
 As a business man he was extremely successful. He was given 
 credit one time for helping to save the day during a run on a bank, 
 by offering to give his personal note for whatever amount any de- 
 positor wished to withdraw. 
 
 Mr. Powers in 1889 built the Powers grand opera house, which 
 for years was Decatur's popular theater. After it burned in 1914, the 
 1 lotel Orlando, named for him, was erected by his children on the site 
 of the opera house. 
 
 1 When Mrs. Almira Avery Powers first came to Decatur with a pretty peaches and cream 
 complexion, she was suspected (Horrors, must we tell it!) of painting her cheeks. The women 
 of the community just had to know ! 
 
 So one day they invited Mrs. Powers and her sister-in-law, Sarah Ann, to a quilting bee, 
 probably their first social event in their new home. Before the noon meal was served, one of the 
 ladies asked the two newcomers if they did not want to wash, and conducted them to a place where 
 a wash basin and towel had been provided. Having been warned beforehand that they should adapt 
 themselves to the customs of their new home, the two women obligingly "washed up" before sitting 
 down to the meal. 
 
 Later on, a neighbor confidentially told Mrs. Powers that the women wanted to find out 
 if she painted her cheeks, and after she had washed her face that day of the quilting bee they had 
 examined the towel ! 
 
 2 The homes of George W. Powers introduced several innovations in the way of house- 
 hold equipment to Macon county. Mr. Powers brought home the first cook stove. The first lard 
 lamp, bought in Springfield, was another innovation. It was a glass bowl on a metal base, 
 standing on a slab of marble. The globe was of ground glass, with a grape design. My, how 
 everybody admired the beautiful light made by this new-fangled lamp! This was something dif- 
 ferent from tallow candles. 
 
 Still more modern became the Powers home when Mr. Powers brought home the first wall 
 paper ! The design for that paper is still in possession of the family. It is a delicate scroll, with a 
 bird perched on top, on a background of white ivory satin. Mr. Powers hung the paper himself, 
 and naturally it made the house very attractive. 
 
 The home also boasted the first "bought" carpet. Other new things were the window 
 shades painted by Mrs. Powers. The material used was muslin. 
 
116 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 CHAPTER XXI 
 
 RICHARD J. OGLESBY 
 
 DICK, keep close to the people; they are always right, and will 
 never mislead you," said Abraham Lincoln to Richard J. 
 Oglesby. 
 
 Oglesby followed the advice of 
 the man who in early life was his in- 
 spiration, in later life his friend, his 
 confidante, his chief. 
 
 He believed in the people and 
 the people believed in him. Thrice 
 they named him their governor, at 
 times when the state needed a real 
 leader. 
 
 "From the breaking out of the 
 Mexican war up to the last presi- 
 dential campaign the people of Illi- 
 nois have never decided a great pub- 
 lic question without taking 'Uncle 
 Dick' Oglesby into their confi- 
 dence," said a writer in 1899. 
 
 "Oglesby is a big man, with a 
 big heart and a big brain, who has 
 always believed in the people/' said 
 his old friend, Colonel A. C. Bab- 
 cock. "The Republican party in Illinois never had a leader who 
 could influence as many votes as Oglesby, and it never had a leader 
 who knew as little about machine politics. Oglesby, in fact, has 
 worked in the blissful belief that such things as party machines do 
 not exist. He has always believed that the people nominate and elect 
 their favorites." 
 
 Through all his life Oglesby loved Decatur, the home of his boy- 
 hood days and the home of much of his later life. Outside of Lin- 
 coln, he has been classed as Macon county's most distinguished citi- 
 zen. As major-general in the United States army, three times gover- 
 nor of Illinois, a state senator, and United States senator, he had a 
 record such as was made by no other local citizen. 
 
 RICHARD J. OGLESBY 
 
RICHARD J. OGLESBY 117 
 
 Richard J. Oglesby's life was not one of ease before he finally 
 reached the top. He traveled a stony path, a path of failures, heart- 
 aches and disappointments. Yet his discouragements did not daunt 
 him. He believed that some day he would be a success. He had to 
 believe in himself. Left an orphan when a little lad, he lacked the 
 preparation for life which is the right of any boy. He learned early 
 that he must make his own way. 
 
 Dick Oglesby's father was Colonel Jacob Oglesby, a prosperous 
 farmer of Oldham county, Ky. The father had been a member of the 
 Kentucky legislature and a colonel of a militia regiment. Dick was 
 born July 25, 1824. Everything had gone well with the family, until 
 in June, 1833, when father, mother, a son and a daughter fell victims 
 to a scourge of cholera which ravished their community. The home 
 was broken up ; the family scattered. Six grief stricken children, one 
 of them a boy of eight years, were left. Richard and three sisters 
 were taken to the home of an uncle. 
 
 It had been hard to part with father, mother, sister and brother, 
 but there were more bitter tears when the boy had to part with 
 "Uncle Tim," the negro slave, who had been one of the family back 
 to the time of the grandfather. For "Uncle Tim" had to be sold, 
 when the father's property was settled up. Then and there Dick 
 Oglesby became an abolitionist. 
 
 "I shall never forget how he looked as he stood on the box ready 
 for sale," said Dick Oglesby in later years in describing the scene. 
 "He was a powerful man, with a manly bearing, a fine face, and a 
 skin as black as ebony. He had always been fond of us children, and 
 I thought almost as much of him as of my father. The tears 
 streamed down his face and he begged my father's brother to buy 
 him, but this could not be done." 
 
 Little Dick just couldn't stand it. He rushed up to Uncle Tim. 
 
 "Uncle Tim," he cried, "I'm going to work to earn money and 
 when I get enough I'm going to buy you and set you free." 
 
 Uncle Tim's face lit up, for a moment, but in a second despair 
 again settled on it. 
 
 "Thank you, Marse Dick, but you're a poor orphan and won't 
 nebber be rich 'nuff to buy Uncle Tim," he said hopelessly. 
 
 But the little boy didn't forget. The day came when he had the 
 money to buy Uncle Tim and set him free. When he came back from 
 California with plenty of gold Oglesby fulfilled his boyhood promise. 
 
 Telling of his meeting then with Uncle Tim, Oglesby said: 
 
118 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 "When he caught sight of me he threw back his head, raised his 
 arms and exclaimed : 
 
 " 'My God, has the li'l orphan boy lived to buy and set me free!' 
 
 "Then he put his arms around me and tried to lift me, as in the 
 old days, but I had grown too large and he had grown too weak." 
 
 In 1836 a number of the Oglesbys left Kentucky and located in 
 Decatur, bringing the orphan children of Jacob Oglesby with them. 
 Dick was the particular charge of his "Aunt Judy," wife of Richard 
 Oglesby. This Richard Oglesby became the president of the first 
 board of trustees of the town of Decatur, named in 1836. He also was 
 one of the three men named to let the contract for Decatur's second 
 court house, the brick building erected in 1838. Another uncle of the 
 boy Dick, who came to Decatur, Avas Willis Oglesby, who had married 
 Mildred Snyder. He did not remain in Decatur many years, but 
 moved to Salem, Ind., taking the boy Dick with him. Dick evidently 
 didn't like it there, and though only fourteen years of age he made 
 the return trip to Decatur by himself, that being his first journey into 
 the world alone. 
 
 Of the three sisters who came to Decatur, one died shortly after 
 arrival here. Amanda afterwards became Mrs. Henry Prather and 
 Ophelia became Mrs. J. J. Peddecord. 
 
 Dick Oglesby always gratefully remembered his Aunt Judy, who 
 looked after his welfare when he was a lad growing up. He was a 
 harum-scarum, fun-loving boy, full of pranks and mischief, but his 
 beloved foster-mother lived to see the day when he was filling the 
 highest position his state could offer him. 
 
 Aunt Judy, left a widow at the death of her husband, Richard 
 Oglesby, went to live with the family of Dr. J. G. Speer. Afterwards 
 she lived for years with the Edmiston McClellan family. 
 
 As a boy Dick Oglesby became a leader among his associates, 
 usually in some mischief. "Nat" Krone, one of those boyhood friends, 
 once came in for a good scolding from his mother for "running with 
 that bad Oglesby boy." One of Nat's secret ambitions was to be able 
 to swear like Dick Oglesby, and he was properly punished once for 
 undertaking it. 
 
 While growing into manhood Dick Oglesby tried various 
 methods of making a living, but seemed to succeed in none. 1 He 
 learned the carpenter trade, he farmed, he made rope. None proved 
 profitable. His only consolation out of a summer's work in raising 
 hemp, from which he manufactured rope, was the fact that his rope 
 
RICHARD J. OGLESBY 119 
 
 was used in launching the first flat boat which was sent out from De- 
 catur on the Sangamon. 2 
 
 He decided to try the law, and went to Springfield where lie 
 studied in the office of Judge Silas Robbins. 
 
 The first thing he tackled in the beginning of his law study was 
 Blackstone, but he had not had the necessary educational background 
 and the big words floored him. Up to that time Oglesby had never 
 read a book through in his life. 
 
 Judge Robbins tried to help him, by suggesting that he read his- 
 tory along with his study and asked him what he remembered of his 
 history. 
 
 "I never read any, Judge," said young Oglesby. 
 
 "What, no English history?" queried the judge. 
 
 "No," was the reply. 
 
 "No American history?" continued the judge. 
 
 "No," said Oglesby. 
 
 "Well, what have you read?" asked the judge, severely. 
 
 "Nothing, Judge, I never read a book through in my life," Ogles- 
 by admitted, with a crestfallen air. 
 
 "Why, Dick, how in the devil do you ever expect to become a 
 lawyer?" the judge exclaimed. 
 
 "Well," said Oglesby, "I know several lawyers who never read 
 anything, who never had read anything, and hadn't any sense either, 
 and I guess I can be a lawyer if they can." 
 
 Dick buckled down with his study, however, and some time later 
 presented himself before Judge Breeze for examination. 
 
 "We had a jug of cider and a bushel of apples to treat the 
 judges and we all went through," he told afterwards. 
 
 After he was admitted to the bar, in 1845, he went to Sullivan to 
 hang out his shingle. 
 
 He had a few cases in court, but business wasn't rushing. Soon 
 afterwards he returned to Decatur. 
 
 One time Attorney Seth Post offered to take him in on a case in 
 probate court. The fee was to be $30 and Oglesby was to get half. 
 
 When the case was called, Oglesby opened the argument. In 
 that speech he covered about everything he knew, except the case 
 before him. The fact was that he didn't know anything about it. 
 When he finished, Judge Emerson, counsel for the opposing side, told 
 him he had made a fool of himself, and tore his arguments to pieces. 
 
 Attorney Post then arose to address the court. 
 
120 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 "My distinguished colleague has recited the facts so completely 
 that it is unnecessary for me to say anything," he remarked. 
 
 The case went to the jury. The verdict was returned. Oglesby 
 and Post had won the case. Oglesby's part of the fee was more money 
 than he had ever owned before ! 
 
 Oglesby once said : 
 
 "The gift of gab seems to be the only gift I have." 
 
 For that reason he thought he ought to make a successful law- 
 yer. He soon found out, however, that "gab was only one of the 
 smallest requisites of a lawyer." 
 
 1 Not even Oglesby's youthful love affairs were successful. According to a story told, 
 Oglesby one time back in the '40s was courting a handsome young miss, when a Springfield fellow 
 happened along and decided he wanted the same girl. The Springfield man wore a boiled shirt, 
 and was all "dressed up". Oglesby had only his homespun garments. Evidently looks counted 
 with the girl, for she took the Springfield man. Oglesby bemoaned the fact that it "was always 
 his luck to get a girl sparked up to the marrying point and then some other fellow came along 
 and got her". 
 
 2 Dick Oglesby told Mrs. George W. Powers one day, when speaking of his summer's work, 
 that he "had raised enough hemp to make a good rope and had a mind to hang himself with it". 
 
 Photo by J. E. Bering. 
 DECATUR HOUSE BUILT BY R. J. OGLESBY 
 
 The original Oglesby home can be seen at the right, adjoining the main house. 
 
 \KV\ 
 
 
RICHARD J. OGLESBY 121 
 
 CHAPTER XXII 
 
 RICHARD J. OGLESBY 
 
 (Concluded) 
 
 WHEN war was declared with Mexico, Richard J. Oglesby en- 
 listed as a private in Company C of the 4th Illinois Infantry, in 
 charge of Colonel E. D. Baker. He was elected second lieutenant, and 
 made a good record in the army. 
 
 At the close of the war he attended law school in Louisiana, Ky., 
 for three months, and received his diploma. Then he came back to 
 Decatur and became a member of the Macon county bar. 
 
 Soon came the exciting days of the gold rush to California. The 
 lure of the west couldn't be resisted. He joined a party of men and 
 soon was off to seek adventure and fortune. For ninety-five days the 
 party traveled over plains and mountains to reach the fields of gold. 
 Oglesby drove a six mule team all the way from St. Joseph, Mo., to 
 Sacramento on that trip. 
 
 Forty-five hundred dollars was the sum which Oglesby brought 
 back to Decatur with him on his return in two or three years from 
 the west. Part of this money he invested in land, adding to the hold- 
 ings he had secured from the land warrant he received as a soldier in 
 the war with Mexico. He purchased land to the northwest of the 
 town, and laid it out in town lots. 
 
 In naming the streets of Oglesby addition he remembered the 
 source from which his money had come. Hence we have Eldorado 
 street. Cerro Gordo street was named for the battle of Cerro Gordo 
 in the War with Mexico, a battle in which he had participated. 
 
 Oglesby's first venture into politics was when he became a can- 
 didate and was elected as a presidential elector on the Whig ticket. 
 In 1853 he became a law partner of Sheridan Wait. 
 
 Still he was not satisfied. Now that he was well situated financial- 
 ly, Oglesby decided to travel for a time, fulfilling a desire to tour 
 Europe. He left in April, 1856, for that continent. Before he returned 
 to Decatur twenty months later, he had extended his travels through 
 Asia and down into Egypt. His tour of the Holy Land aroused his 
 interest in the Bible, and on the peak of Mt. Sinai he committed to 
 memory the Ten Commandments. 
 
 On his return to Decatur in December, 1857, his tales of his 
 travels added to his popularity. He came into great demand as a 
 
122 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 speaker. The trip had been of great value to him. He had much to 
 tell and he knew how to tell it. A tour of foreign lands in those days 
 was something very much out of the ordinary. Every one wanted to 
 hear of the countries he had visited and the experiences he had had. 
 Through the many talks which Oglesby gave on his travels was de- 
 veloped the eloquence which served him so well in later years. 
 
 In 1860 Oglesby was elected to the state senate, receiving a ma- 
 jority of 240 votes. He served one session in the senate. Then came 
 the outbreak of the Civil War, and Oglesby resigned the senatorship 
 to become colonel of the Eighth Illinois Regiment, the appointment 
 coming from Governor Yates. 
 
 Two companies to join this regiment were organized in Decatur 
 within twenty-four hours. 
 
 The regiment was stationed in or near Cairo for most of the 
 term for which it was enlisted, but after it was mustered out in July, 
 
 1861, most of the soldiers reenlisted at once to serve for "three years 
 or for the war." Colonel Oglesby was in command until April 1, 
 
 1862, when he was promoted to Brigadier-General. The promotion 
 was in recognition of his valor at the battle of Fort Donelson. 
 
 While participating in the battle of Corinth General Oglesby was 
 shot through the lung, and for weeks no hopes were given for his 
 recovery. Under the skillful care of Dr. S. T. Trowbridge, surgeon of 
 the Eighth Regiment, he pulled through, but his return to health was 
 a long and slow process. 
 
 In November, 1862, Oglesby was commissioned Major General, 
 and in the spring of 1863 he was assigned to the Sixteenth Army 
 corps. He was still suffering, however, from the bullet he still car- 
 ried and he feared he would be unable to perform the duties of the 
 position. Accordingly he handed in his resignation in July, 1863, but 
 General Grant refused to accept the resignation. Grant then detailed 
 Oglesby to court martial duty in Washington, and Oglesby remained 
 in that city until May, 1864, when he resigned to become candidate for 
 governor of Illinois. 
 
 Oglesby was considered the logical man to head Illinois at that 
 time. It was felt that it was important that the state have a gover- 
 nor who would support Lincoln. The campaign was a lively and a bit- 
 ter one, but Oglesby was elected. It is remembered that in his cam- 
 paign speeches, Oglesby upheld Lincoln and predicted that the time 
 would come when Lincoln would be worshipped by the entire world. 
 Oglesby was quietly sworn into office on Jan. 17, 1865. A day had 
 previously been set for inaugural ceremonies, but Oglesby had been 
 
RICHARD J. OGLESBY 123 
 
 crushed by the loss of his little five year old son, Dickie, who had 
 died from diphtheria the day before the time set for the inauguration 
 and it had been postponed. 
 
 The vital topic of interest at the time Oglesby became governor 
 was the thirteenth amendment to the constitution, prohibiting slavery 
 in the United States and its territories. 
 
 "Let Illinois be the first to ratify," said Oglesby when Congress 
 passed the amendment. 
 
 Illinois heeded the governor's wishes, and was the first state to 
 approve the action prohibiting slavery. 
 
 Governor Oglesby, who had stood by Lincoln during the strenu- 
 ous days of the Civil war, stood by his bedside when the great leader 
 gave up his life, the victim of the assassin's bullet. 
 
 Oglesby had just arrived in Washington and had been invited 
 by President and Mrs. Lincoln to attend the theater with them that 
 evening. Oglesby, tired from his journey, asked to be excused, but 
 made an appointment to see the president the next morning. 
 
 Later in the evening came the startling news. The President 
 had been shot. Oglesby rushed to the bedside of the stricken man. 
 There he remained until the end. Words could not describe his 
 grief. 
 
 Later Oglesby was made the president of a National Memorial 
 association to erect a monument to Lincoln, for which $200,000 was 
 raised. When that monument, now a world shrine, was dedicated in 
 Springfield, Oct. 15, 1874, Oglesby delivered the oration. 
 
 Among those present on that occasion was President Ulysses S. 
 Grant. 
 
 During Oglesby's term as governor many important laws were 
 passed. One was the location of the Illinois Agricultural and Indus- 
 trial college at Urbana. It was during his administration that $450,- 
 000 was appropriated to begin the work of erecting the $3,000,000 
 state house at Springfield. 
 
 After he retired from office Oglesby returned to Decatur, remain- 
 ing the four years until he was again called to service. He was elected 
 governor for the second time, and was inaugurated Jan. 13, 1873, but a 
 few days afterward was elected as United States senator, and re- 
 signed as governor to accept the senatorship. During the six years 
 he was in the senate he spent most of his time in Washington, but he 
 always kept his home in Decatur open. 
 
 When his service in the senate ended, he again retired, this time 
 for a period of fourteen years. Then once more his state called him, 
 
124 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 and in 1884 he was again nominated and elected as governor. He was 
 inaugurated on Jan. 30, 1885. When he left the governor's mansion in 
 Springfield, Jan. 1, 1889, after the close of his third term as governor, 
 he took up his residence at Elkhart, in Logan county. His home was 
 called Oglehurst, and there he lived until his death on April 24, 1899. 
 His death was caused by concussion of the brain, brought on by a fall 
 in which his head was struck. He is buried at Oglehurst. Just two 
 weeks before he died he visited in Decatur. 
 
 Governor Oglesby was twice married. His first wife, to whom 
 he was married in 1859, was Miss Anna E. White. She died in the 
 governor's mansion at Springfield, June 16, 1868, during the last year 
 of her husband's first term as governor. She was brought to Decatur 
 for burial. Beside her in Greenwood cemetery lie two of their chil- 
 dren, who died in childhood. Two others grew to womanhood and 
 manhood. 
 
 In 1873 Governor Oglesby married Mrs. Emma Gillett Keyes of 
 Logan county. They became the parents of four children. 
 
 The Oglesby home in Decatur was in the 400 block West William 
 street. For some years they occupied the original house which stood 
 on the place. This was the home to which General Oglesby was 
 brought after he had been wounded at the battle of Corinth. 
 
 Afterwards, Governor Oglesby erected a beautiful and spacious 
 new residence, now numbered 421 West William street, and the old 
 house, which adjoined it, was used for kitchen and servants' quarters. 
 Governor Oglesby sold the property to J. E. Bering. The original 
 Oglesby home was torn down after Wilson Bering bought the prop- 
 erty from his father in 1905. 
 
 Today, the house is the home of Mr. and Mrs. Frank L. Evans. 
 
 In Decatur Oglesby's name is perpetuated in the Oglesby school 
 and Oglesby street. In 1924, the one-hundredth anniversary year of 
 Oglesby's birth, a tulip tree was planted at the Oglesby school as a 
 memorial to him. 
 
BLACK HAWK AND MEXICAN WARS 125 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII 
 
 BLACK HAWK AND MEXICAN WARS 
 
 IN patriotism Macon county ever has stood at the front. When our 
 country has needed soldiers, our men have been quick to volun- 
 teer, ready to give up their lives if necessary. In every war Macon 
 
 county has a record of which it may be 
 proud. It has given to the service of the 
 state and country men of all ranks, from 
 private to general. 
 
 When Black Hawk, the Sac chief, re- 
 turned, in 1832, with his followers to Illi- 
 nois, thus violating the treaty signed the 
 previous year, wherein he agreed to relin- 
 quish all claim to lands on the east side of 
 the Mississippi, Governor John Reynolds called for volunteers to repel 
 the invasion. 
 
 Eighteen hundred men were mustered into service. Among them 
 was a company from Macon county under Captain James Johnson. 
 
 The company was in the battalion led by Major Stillman, and 
 participated in the deplorable action known as Stillman's defeat, but 
 the blame for that defeat rested upon Major Stillman, who refused 
 to acknowledge the authority of General Whiteside and to cooperate 
 in the plan of campaign. One Macon county soldier, James Milton, 
 lost his life in that battle. 
 
 Isaac C. Pugh, who entered this war as first lieutenant, came 
 home as the captain of the company. James Johnson, who went in as 
 captain, became colonel of the Fifth regiment. 
 
 Here is a copy of the muster roll of the company from Macon 
 county engaged in the war (names taken from Adjutant-General's re- 
 port) : 
 
 "Muster roll of Captain Johnson's company of mounted volun- 
 teers, belonging to the Fifth regiment, commanded by James Johnson, 
 of the brigade of mounted volunteers of Illinois militia, commanded 
 by Brigadier-General Samuel Whiteside. Mustered out of service of 
 United States at mouth of Fox river, the state of Illinois, on the 27th 
 day of May, 1832; distance, miles, 150, from place of enrollment. 
 
 "(The date of enlistment of all was April 24, 1832; and the term 
 was 35 days). 
 
126 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 James Johnson captain, promoted to colonel 16 May, 1832. 
 
 William Warnick, first lieutenant, absent with leave 
 
 I. C. Pugh, second lieutenant, promoted to captain 16 May, 1832. 
 
 J. D. Wright, first sergeant, absent on extra duty. 
 
 James A. Ward, second sergeant, promoted to second lieutenant. 
 
 Walter Bowles, third sergeant, absent with leave. 
 
 Joseph Hanks, fourth sergeant. 
 
 Henry M. Gorin, first corporal. 
 
 S. R. Shepard, second corporal. 
 
 George Coppenbarger, third corporal, absent with leave. 
 
 James Milton, fourth corporal, killed in battle. 
 
 Asher Simpson, private. 
 
 A. W. Bell, private. 
 
 Abraham Black, private. 
 
 Daniel McCall, private 
 
 D. H. Stewart, private, absent on extra duty. 
 
 Elisha Butler, private, absent with leave. 
 
 G. D. Smallwood, private. 
 
 John Hanks, private. 
 
 Jacob Lane, private, absent on extra duty. 
 
 John Henderson, private, absent with leave. 
 
 James Querry, private. 
 
 James Miller, private. 
 
 John Manley, private. 
 
 James Ennis, private, absent with leave. 
 
 John Clifton, private, absent with leave. 
 
 Jesse Dickey, private, wounded in battle. 
 
 John Williams, private, absent with leave. 
 
 John Murphy, private. 
 
 Jacob Black, absent with leave. 
 
 James Herrod, private, absent with leave. 
 
 Kinian Ingram, private, absent with leave. 
 
 Obediah Hooper, private, absent with leave. 
 
 Robert Smith, private. 
 
 S. B. Dewees, private. 
 
 Sam Miller, private. 
 
 Lam Troxel, private. 
 
 Thomas Davenport, private, absent with leave. 
 
 William Hanks, private, absent with leave. 
 
 William Adams, private, absent with leave. 
 
 William Miller, private. 
 
 William Hooper, private, absent with leave. 
 
 William Cox, private, absent with leave. 
 
 Josiah Clifton, private, absent with leave. 
 
 "I certify, on honor, that the muster roll exhibits the true state 
 of the company of mounted volunteers under my command, of the 
 Illinois militia, of the brigade of mounted volunteers under the com- 
 mand of Brigadier General Samuel Whiteside on this day, and that 
 the remarks set opposite the names of the men, are accurate and just. 
 "Signed Fox River, 111., this the 27th day of May, 1832. 
 
 "I. C. Pugh, captain, 
 "Commanding the company." 
 
 RANGERS 
 
 Macon county also sent out a company of Rangers, commanded 
 by Captain William Warnick. Isaac Pugh was first lieutenant and 
 
BLACK HAWK AND MEXICAN WARS 127 
 
 Elisha Freeman second lieutenant. They were organized for the pur- 
 pose of protecting the frontier counties. 1 
 
 The fifty men who made up the company of Rangers enlisted for 
 a period of sixty days, and furnished their own ammunition, arms, 
 horses and provisions. They left Decatur on June 4, 1832, going first 
 to the present site of Monticello, 111., where they went into camp. 
 Hearing that the Kickapoo braves had left their village near the head 
 of the Big Vermilion to go to the aid of Black Hawk, leaving their 
 squaws, children and old men behind, the Rangers started for the vil- 
 lage, finding, however, that it had been deserted entirely three days 
 before. 
 
 Members of Captain Warnick's company of Rangers were as fol- 
 lows: 
 
 Captain — William Warnick. 
 
 First Lieutenant — Isaac C. Pugh. 
 
 Second Lieutenant — E. Freeman. 
 
 Sergeants — F. G. Paine, J. H. Johnson, A. M. Wilson, R. Law. 
 
 Corporals — J. Smith, A. Travis, J. Brown, J. Miller. 
 
 Privates — 
 
 A. Arnold. W. Hooper J. A. Piatt. 
 
 Thomas Alsup. A. Hendline. A. W. Smith. 
 
 N. Burrell D. Hall. S. Sinnett. 
 
 M. Brown. L. Ingram. J. Stevens. 
 
 E. Butler. R. Johnson. Benjamin Slatten. 
 
 T. G. D. Church. L. Jackson. F. Travis. 
 
 H. Cunningham. J. Lowrv. S. Widick. 
 
 J. Cunningham. S. Mounce. William Ward. 
 
 J. Davis. J. H. McMennamy. T. F. Wilson. 
 
 J. Edwards. D. Newcomb. James Warnick. 
 
 J. Farris. T. Owen. J. Warnick. 
 
 A. Hall. M. Paine. J. Walker. 
 
 D. Howell Mason Paine. R. Wheeler. 
 
 When the period of their enlistment was up, the company re- 
 turned home, but was asked to be in readiness for call to frontier 
 service. No further trouble arising, the men received their discharge, 
 113 days after their enlistment, and each man was given $52 and a 
 land warrant for 160 acres of land. 
 
 WAR WITH MEXICO 
 
 Again came the call to Macon county for volunteers, when war 
 was declared with Mexico in May, 1846. Company C consisting of 
 seventy-eight men was organized. 2 
 
 When the company reached Springfield, it was found that the 
 three regiments, to which Illinois was entitled, were already full. 
 Through the influence of Congressman O. B. Ficklin of Illinois, E. D. 
 Baker was given permission by President Polk to raise a Fourth 
 regiment from Illinois. The Macon county men became a part of this 
 regiment. Mr. Baker was made colonel, John Moore lieutenant col- 
 onel, and Thomas L. Harris major of the regiment. 
 
128 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Isaac C. Pugh was made captain of Company C, Richard J. 
 Oglesby was first lieutenant, and A. Froman and John P. Post second 
 lieutenants. Other officers and the privates enlisted in the company 
 were as follows (names taken from Adjutant General report) : 
 
 Sergeants — 
 
 Stephen Osborn. 
 
 Benjamin F. Oglesby. 
 Corporals- 
 John B. Case. 
 
 Samuel K. Herrell. 
 James Rea. 
 
 John B. Travis. 
 
 Privates — 
 John Atwood. 
 R. B. Barnwell. 
 David Bailor. 
 George M. Braden. 
 William W. Chapman. 
 George Carver. 
 Dial Davis. 
 Ambrose Greenfield. 
 Israel Horner. 
 William D. B. Henry. 
 Henry Lord. 
 Alsa B. Lee. 
 Josiah Martin. 
 
 Christian Mair. 
 Abram Shepperd. 
 William E. See. 
 James R. Turner. 
 Finis E. Travis. 
 Charles Ause. 
 Jesse Butler. 
 Madison Bradshaw. 
 George W. Church. 
 Laban Chambers. 
 William Dean. 
 James Freeman. 
 David Huffman 
 
 William J. Usrey. 
 
 Moses M. Henry. 
 James A. Lourie. 
 Thomas Lord. 
 Benjamin Martin. 
 William McDaniel. 
 Etherage Rice. 
 Jason Sprague. 
 Daniel Spangler. 
 James Turner. 
 Lewis Ward. 
 Robert Warnick. 
 John W. White. 
 
 Transferred. 
 
 Joel Seth Post (transferred to Field and Staff) 
 Discharged. 
 Sergeants — 
 
 George W. Galbreath (disability). 
 
 John B. Brown (disability). 
 Privates — 
 
 Miles Bosworth (disability). 
 
 Amos Botkin (disability). 
 
 James Greenfield (disability). 
 
 J. H. Hollingsworth (disability). 
 
 William Hanks. 
 
 James Ledbetter (disability) 
 
 George I. Malson (disability). 
 
 Died. 
 
 Lawrence S. Helm (disability). 
 
 Harvey Martin (disability). 
 William Nesbitt (disability). 
 Dorus Stevens (disability). 
 Robert Stewart (disability). 
 John D. Travis (disability). 
 William R. Wheeler (disability). 
 Bazel E. Wells (disability). 
 
 Corporals — 
 L. Martin Bennett. 
 
 Privates — 
 Pomeroy T. Bebee. 
 John M. Dickey. 
 David Howell. 
 Samuel Reece. 
 
 George E. Nelson. 
 
 James A. Shepperd. 
 Temple Souther. 
 Bazel B. White. 
 Charles W. Dillow. 
 
 William P. Davidson 
 James C. Malson. 
 William P. Robinson. 
 John Saunders. 
 William Wheeler. 
 SERVICE 
 
 Company C left Decatur for Springfield about the middle of June, 
 1846. The regiment was formed there and then went into training at 
 Jefferson Barracks, Mo. After being mustered into service the regi- 
 ment left the latter part of July for New Orleans, and thence to 
 Brazos, Santiago Bay, four miles north of the mouth of the Rio 
 Grande. Eight miles up the river occurred the first death in the com- 
 pany, that of Sergeant George Galbreath. 
 
BLACK HAWK AND MEXICAN WARS 129 
 
 The members of the burial squad on their return to camp after 
 burying the body of Sergeant Galbreath, went on board a steamer 
 nearby to quiet a disturbance, but they were overpowered, and one 
 man, Charles Dillow, was killed and several were injured in the en- 
 counter. Colonel Baker suffered a rapier thrust through the mouth 
 and neck, Lieutenant Post sustained a breast wound, and R. H. Stew- 
 art was bayoneted in the thigh. 
 
 The last words of Private Dillow were : 
 
 "If I have got to go, the road to heaven is just as near from here 
 as from Macon county." 
 
 The company later assisted in bombarding Vera Cruz, which 
 surrendered on March 29, 1847, and took part in the battle with Santa 
 Anna at the mountain pass of Cerro Gordo on April 18. Two of the 
 men of Company C, J. C. Malson and George Nelson, were killed in 
 this battle. 
 
 Company C was at the head of the brigade and captured the 
 $25,000 in silver and the cork leg, which Santa Anna had left in his 
 carriage, when he attempted to escape. This leg, by the way, is one of 
 the valued war relics now kept in the Centennial memorial building 
 in Springfield. 
 
 The company returned home, after the time of enlistment had ex- 
 pired, coming via New Orleans and St. Louis, and reaching Decatur 
 about June 1, 1847. With the returning soldiers was the banner they 
 had received from the citizens on their departure a year before. 
 
 It was a day of rejoicing in Decatur when the boys came home. 
 Enthusiasm ran high, and a grand barbecue was held to honor the 
 heroes. 3 
 
 1 At the time of the Black Hawk war all sorts of rumors floated about to the effect that 
 the Indians were coming. 
 
 Sheriff Warnick, two of his sons and his hired man were away serving in the war. Mrs. 
 Warnick was frightened at the stories of possible Indian massacres, and, taking her eight year 
 old boy Robert, she hurried across the fields to the home of Joseph Austin. 
 
 Joseph Austin at that time was old and feeble, but when Mrs. Warnick confided her fears 
 to him, he cracked his big blacksnake whip and emphatically and loudly declared : 
 
 "I'll whip every Indian that comes down the Sangamon river." 
 
 With such protection assured, the frightened woman and her son felt entirely safe. 
 
 2 An interesting relic is the silk flag which was carried by Company C in the Mexican war. 
 It is the property of Frank Curtis, whose mother, Mrs. I. B. Curtis, helped to make it. The 
 flag is 8 by 12 feet in size. The flag was made by a group of women, and was presented on June 7, 
 1846, to Company C, in front of the old brick court house on Lincoln square. Mrs. Curtis, then 
 Jane Butler, made the presentation, and the flag was received on behalf of the company by Lt. R. 
 J. Oglesby. The flag was unfurled first at Vera Cruz. After the war it was given to Anderson 
 Froman, who kept it as long as he lived. Afterwards his widow preserved it. It finally was given 
 to Mrs. Curtis because she had helped to make it. Colonel Anderson Froman lost his life while 
 leading the 116th regiment in the Civil War. 
 
 3 Old Black Ben, the first negro in Macon county, is believed to have been the one who 
 superintended the roasting of the ox for the barbecue. A pit was dug in the ground, and fire 
 kindled therein, over which the ox was roasted. 
 
130 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV 
 
 EARLY SETTLEMENTS 
 
 LITTLE towns and villages dot Macon county today. So it was 
 within a few years after the organization of the county, but with 
 the exception of Decatur the villages of today are not the ones of yes- 
 terday. It is the second crop of towns we now have. The first have 
 vanished. Some of them, we must admit, never existed except on 
 paper. 
 
 It was the coming of the railroads, of course, that changed the 
 map of the county. Towns that were missed by the roads were 
 doomed. New towns along the lines of the railroads sprang up. What 
 would have been the fate of the little village of Decatur if the first sur- 
 vey for the Illinois Central railroad, six miles west of Decatur, had 
 been ultimately chosen? 
 
 Outside of Decatur Mt. Zion is the only very early settlement 
 which has had a continued existence. Though the church there was 
 organized in 1830 and became the center of the community interest, 
 the village was not laid out until 1860. 
 
 TOWNS LAID OUT 
 
 Within seven years after Decatur came into existence, two other 
 towns were laid out in the county. They were Murfreesboro and 
 Madison, the former in the southeast corner of Whitmore township 
 and the latter in the north part of Blue Mound township. Both were 
 surveyed and platted in 1836 by Benjamin R. Austin, who had sur- 
 veyed and platted Decatur. 
 
 Murfreesboro was laid out by William Dickey, and at the time 
 was on a main line of travel. It had a bright outlook and expecta- 
 tions were that it would excel Decatur. Efforts were made to make it 
 the county seat. The town was near the old Lorton trading house 
 and was a natural trade center as there were many settlers in that 
 vicinity. The town, beautifully located, was near a ford of the river. 
 Saw mill, grist mill, and store were started, homes were built. Later 
 a brick yard was established. 
 
 To mark the public square of the town stones were set at each 
 of the out corners and a rock was placed at the northwest corner. 
 Streets in the new town were called Pleasant, Springfield, College, 
 Jefferson and Chicago. Murfreesboro was located in the Southeast 
 
EARLY SETTLEMENTS 
 
 131 
 
 quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 7, Township 17 North, 
 Range 4 East. 
 
 Today Murfreesboro, the town that was expected to become the 
 most thriving city of the county, is only a memory. 
 
 Ma^ison_laid out by Thomas MofTett, arose to the distinction of 
 having four or five houses and a store. Only the Madison church and 
 schoolhouse stand today to perpetuate the name. 
 
 'Though on much traveled roads at first, the two towns were left 
 by the wayside when new roads were established and selected for 
 stage routes, and they met their final defeat when the railroads 
 passed them by. 
 
 Marion- and Franklin were two other towns laid out in 1836 
 which never materialized into villages, though Franklin boasted sev- 
 eral houses, and no doubt a tavern, as it was on the direct line from 
 Decatur to Pekin. 
 
 Newburg, once a prosperous little village of 150 people, was 
 platted in 1854 by William Dickey. For some time it was the only 
 village between Decatur and Monticello, and was a place of some im- 
 portance. With the establishment of Argenta one mile west, on the 
 line of the railroad, Newburg was abandoned eventually. Only a clus- 
 ter of old wrecks of houses now remains of what was once a pic- 
 turesque and interesting settlement. 
 
 William Martin, who bought the Draper land in Whitmore 
 township about 1850, laid out the town of Martinsburg in the section 
 south of Murfreesboro, but it also came to nothing. A saw mill, a, 
 trading house, a tile works, and a few residences were all the town 
 could ever boast. Mr. Martin built the tile works, which he after- 
 wards sold to his son-in-law, Dr. H. C. Johns. 
 
 "Hell's Half Acre" was the name applied to the notorious vil- 
 lage of West Danville, better 
 known as Dantown, which was 
 laid out in 1855 by County Sur- 
 veyor I. B. R. Sherrick for 
 Daniel Conkling. Conkling es- 
 tablished a distillery, store and 
 saloon there, and the place was 
 frequented by the wilder ele- 
 ment of the community. Drink- 
 ing, fighting, horse racing, 
 gambling, gave the town a 
 dantown distillery reputation of recklessness and 
 
132 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 lawlessness. Conkling was the dominating figure of the village and his 
 physical bigness, as well as his place as a leader in the community, 
 commanded the respect of his patrons. 
 
 The revenue tax placed on whisky during the Civil war, lack of 
 railroad service, the final coming of local option, the passing away of 
 Dan Conkling, all had their part in bringing about the demise of Dan- 
 town. The distillery was last owned and operated by V. D. Ross. 
 It still stands, with some of its equipment, as a reminder of the old 
 days, but the town is gone. A modern farm dwelling across the road 
 from the staunch old building, where whisky was made, now is the 
 only home on the site of the once riotous village. 
 
 A settlement that almost became a village in the early days was 
 that known as Cross Roads, at the point where the Shelbyville road 
 crossed the Springfield-Paris state road several miles south of Deca- 
 tur. At one time it was expected that this settlement would surpass 
 Decatur, having an advantageous location at the point of intersection 
 of two important highways. The place was not laid out for a town, 
 however. 
 
 For some years after the first pioneer came to Macon county, set- 
 tlers established their homes mostly at the edge of the timber. Build- 
 ing homes out on the prairie would have been considered very foolish, 
 indeed. But in 1834 two men did venture out on the prairie. They 
 were Robert Smith and William Cox. Others speculated as to their 
 probable fate. 
 
 But contrary to all expectations the two men, who had been so 
 hazardous, met with success. Their example inspired others, and one 
 by one homes began to appear here and there out in the big open 
 spaces on land once scorned. Much of the prairie was too swampy to 
 be cultivated, but the high spots were chosen. This spreading out on 
 the prairies was really the commencement of the development of the 
 land. 
 
 At the end of ten years, land could still be had at $1.25 an acre, 
 and was being taken up fast. Homes began to improve. Log cabins 
 were replaced by better ones, and eventually by frame houses after 
 saw mills had been established, and building material was being cut. 
 Some of the early better class houses were weatherboarded and fin- 
 ished with walnut. 
 
 After a time it was discovered that Illinois mud would make 
 brick, and then numerous houses with brick foundations and brick 
 walls began to appear Truly, Macon county was showing progress. 
 
CAMP MEETINGS 133 
 
 CHAPTER XXV 
 CAMP MEETINGS 
 
 THE groves were God's first temples." The words of the poet 
 were true in Macon county. Many of the first religious services 
 were held in groves, with nothing but grass for carpet and only the 
 broad canopy of heaven for a roof. It was the camp meeting of the 
 early days which served not only the religious need of the people 
 but the social need as well. 
 
 The camp meetings held in the summer time were the big events 
 of the year in the lives of the pioneer residents. To a large extent the 
 camp meeting grounds were the sites of future churches. There are 
 in the country near Decatur today a number of churches at points 
 where camp meetings were held in early times. Among them are 
 Boiling Springs, northwest of town, and North Fork, six miles east. 
 Ml. Gilead, south of the city, later was moved to Elwin. 
 
 One of the earliest camp meetings was held on Stevens creek, and 
 afterward developed into the first church organization, though it was 
 moved to Decatur and became the First Methodist church. The 
 Sharon church, northwest of Decatur, might also be called an out- 
 growth of this camp meeting. Settlers in the neighborhood continued 
 to worship in the Bagdad school house, after the church organization 
 moved its services to Decatur. The school was later moved to 
 Sunnyside, and the present Sharon church building was erected in 
 1872. 
 
 The Cumberland Presbyterians established several permanent 
 camp grounds in the county. They were at Mt. Zion, Bethlehem, 
 North Fork and Friend's Creek. A camp ground was established by 
 the Methodists at Mt. Gilead. 
 
 To these permanent camp grounds people came from miles around 
 year after year. They were fed and lodged, and their horses were pro- 
 vided with grain and pasturage. Hospitality was not imposed on in 
 those days. There were no "Weary Willies." 
 
 The camp meeting often was the only occasion which gave friends 
 opportunity to meet in the course of a year. Old acquaintances were 
 renewed, and new friendships were formed. Men talked about their 
 crops, the chances for development of the country, political news, if 
 they had any. W r omen brought their fancy work, taught each other 
 new stitches, new designs, made up quilt patches, exchanged flower 
 
134 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 and garden seeds. One must hear all about John and Mary and Will 
 and Nancy. It was the place to hear the news, often news that had 
 been accumulating for a year. 
 
 So everybody came. If they did not come to worship they came 
 anyhow, for every one else was there. Some, of course, came from 
 mere curiosity. But they came. 
 
 The North Fork camp ground was one of the favorites. A more 
 permanent shelter was provided there than was found at some of the 
 other grounds. 
 
 Sites for camp grounds were chosen which were easy of access, 
 and where there was plenty of shade, ample water supply, and good 
 drainage. After a site had been chosen, the ground was cleared of 
 brush. Then a speaker's stand was erected, seats were made, shacks 
 and tents put up, and lights provided. 
 
 When everything was in readiness the camp was dedicated. 
 Usually services were held before breakfast, again from 10 to 12, also 
 in the afternoon and at night. The night meeting was the big gather- 
 ing. Those who could not possibly be there for the day services were 
 sure to come for the night meetings. 
 
 For fifty years camp meetings were entirely of a religious nature. 
 In the early days particularly the services were extremely emotional. 
 Worshippers experienced their periods of repentance, of sorrow and of 
 joy, and they expressed their feelings with prayers and tears and 
 shouts and songs. Preachers denounced wickedness in no uncertain 
 terms and listeners were swayed by the vivid pictures of eternal 
 damnation and everlasting happiness. 
 
 With the years, the attendance increased, and the time came when 
 auditoriums seating thousands of people were erected. Around such 
 auditoriums stood streets of tents for lodging the campers. 
 
 OAKLAND PARK CAMP 
 
 The last big camp in Macon county was the Oakland park camp, 
 on the present site of the James Millikin university. However, this 
 was more on the order of a chautauqua than a camp meeting of religi- 
 ous nature. The camp ground was used for years for big gatherings of 
 various kinds. 
 
 For some time this land was rented out as a hog pasture. Finally 
 in 1884 the Citizens Railway company leased the land for a term of 
 years, and gave it the name of Oakland park. That name in the nexl 
 few years became famous as the site of the first chautauqua ever held 
 in this part of the country, and as the place for holding the largest 
 camp meetings ever known here. 
 
CAMP MEETINGS 
 
 135 
 
 A pavilion was erected with seats for 8,000 or more people. It 
 was made of canvas. A huge dining hall, in which 500 persons could 
 be accommodated at one time, was built. People came for miles and 
 miles to attend camp there. Decatur people could reach the park via 
 the horse car line which was extended to the Wabash tracks, and for 
 hours at a time it would be overloaded with passengers. 
 
 Sundays always were the biggest days. It was estimated that 
 30,000 people were present on the day the camp had its largest at- 
 tendance. 
 
 Camp meetings usually lasted for ten days at this camp, and 
 music, addresses and other features of entertainment made up the pro- 
 grams. 
 
 Albert F. Smith, manager of the Oakland park camp, was the 
 leading Prohibitionist of the clay in this section, and for ten years he 
 conducted the national prohibition encampments at Oakland park. 
 Such widely known temperance speakers as John B. Finch of Nebras- 
 ka, George W. Bain of Kentucky, John B. Gough of Maine, John P. 
 St. John of Kansas, Mrs. Helen Gaugher, and John Sobieski, the Polish 
 patriot, thrilled the thousands of visitors who gathered to hear them. 
 
 Mr. Smith was a remarkable man in many ways, yet withal so 
 quiet and unobtrusive that the people of his generation did not realize 
 his great influence. He was an indefatigable worker, a lawyer of abil- 
 ity, a successful newspaper editor, resourceful in a business way. 
 The latter is indicated by his successful management of the encamp- 
 ment year after year without any financial backing but what his own 
 efforts brought. For a number of years he published a temperance 
 
 ENTRANCE TO OAKLAND PARK 
 
136 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 newspaper, called the Illinois State Sentinel. Belittling of his work 
 by anti-prohibitionists failed to daunt him. 
 
 Besides the camp meetings, other big gatherings were held at the 
 camp occasionally. Once, in 1894, the annual national meeting of' the 
 Dunkard church was held at Oakland park. It brought thousands 
 to the park. 
 
 It was only a step from the camp meetings held by Albert F. 
 Smith to the chautauqua, which became popular a few years later. 
 Those meetings served the same place in the lives of the people as do 
 the chautauquas of today. 
 
EARLY BUILDERS 
 
 137 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI 
 
 EARLY BUILDERS 
 
 EDWARD O. 
 SMITH 
 
 EDWARD O. Smith came west to "grow up with the country." 
 He not only did so, but he helped the country to grow up. He 
 has been called the "builder of Decatur." 
 
 He was a builder in a material way, but he was 
 more than that — he was a molder of the destiny of 
 the city. As a contractor, he erected many of De- 
 catur's business and residence structures. As a 
 civic leader, he gave the city keen, constructive 
 service. He was resourceful and courageous. He 
 foresaw the future of Decatur and he did a big 
 part in making that future. As member of the state 
 constitutional convention, as state senator, as 
 mayor of Decatur, he served his state, his district, 
 his city. 
 
 The span of his life covered much more than 
 that of the ordinary man. Life in city and village, 
 in legislative halls, in deserts, from east to west 
 in this country, in foreign lands, was his. 
 
 Edward O. Smith was born in Montgomery 
 county, Md., April 15, 1817. When still a young lad, he went to Wash- 
 ington, D. C, where he was employed for two years, and where he 
 gained much practical political knowledge. 
 
 With $19 — all the capital he had — in his pockets, and with all his 
 worldly effects in a bundle across his shoulders, he started out on foot, 
 at the age of seventeen, for the great west. 
 
 When he reached Springfield, O., in the course of his journey, he 
 stopped for a time and learned the carpenter's trade. After a time, 
 however, because of throat trouble he decided to come farther west, 
 to the prairies. He stopped for a while in Montezuma, Ind., and also 
 in Terre Haute, Ind., then again he resumed his westward way. He 
 finally reached Decatur. That was in May, 1837. By that time the 
 young man was twenty years old. Here he stayed. 
 
 Decatur was not long in recognizing his integrity and his ability 
 as a contractor. For the next twenty years he was a busy man. Build- 
 ing after building he erected. He succeeded in making money, and he 
 invested it in land, which he improved with more buildings. 
 
138 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Mr. Smith boarded at the Macon hotel, and there he met Miss 
 Harriet Krone, daughter of the hotel keeper. He and Miss Krone were 
 married in 1843. Mr. and Mrs. Smith became the parents of four sons 
 and six daughters, all of whom grew to manhood and womanhood. 
 Mrs. Smith was a splendid helpmeet, and was a woman of good busi- 
 ness sense. When her husband was absent in California, she carried 
 on his business here. Mrs. Smith died Jan. 16, 1867. Mr. Smith mar- 
 ried a second time, on April 15, 1869, the second wife having been 
 Mrs. Catherine Hillman of Elmwood, 111. 
 
 In 1847 Mr. Smith was elected to the Illinois constitutional con- 
 vention, and took an active part in drafting the new constitution. In 
 1848 he was elected state senator, being the candidate of the Whig 
 party. 
 
 One of his first acts as senator was to make effort to secure fed- 
 eral donations of public lands for the construction of the Illinois Cen- 
 tral and Northern Cross railroads. He succeeded as far as the Illinois 
 Central was concerned, and land was donated to that road. He was 
 instrumental in securing other railroads, including the Decatur and 
 East St. Louis (now St. Louis branch of the Wabash) and served as 
 a director of that road. 
 
 If it had not been for E. O. Smith, the Illinois Central would have 
 missed Decatur. The route as first surveyed was six miles west of 
 the city. That route had been considered the shorter and better route. 
 Mr. Smith got busy, and through his efforts the route was changed to 
 come through Decatur. 
 
 Mr. Smith built Decatur's first opera house. Many theatrical 
 stars appeared in Decatur during the regime of the Smith Opera 
 House. 
 
 Mr. Smith made several overland trips to California in the days 
 when a trip to the west meant thrills and adventures. The first was 
 in 1852. The second trip was in 1858 at the time of the business de- 
 pression in Decatur. This journey was made by way of New Mexico 
 and Arizona, and was a most hazardous undertaking. The party was 
 attacked by Indians a number of times and had other narrow escapes 
 from death. One time they traveled 86 miles without water. Mr. 
 Smith was away from Decatur three years on this trip. When he re- 
 turned in 1861 he was elected mayor of the city, and held that office 
 during part of the critical Civil war period. 
 
 In 1870 Mr. Smith moved to California and located in San Jose. 
 He was soon recognized in the western state as a man who accom- 
 plished things, and he had the honor of being elected to the constitu- 
 
EARLY BUILDERS 
 
 139 
 
 tional convention of that state. In 1889 he was able to realize a de- 
 sire he had long held, that of taking a trip to Europe. Mr. Smith 
 visited Decatur a number of times after he located in the west, but 
 never came back to make his home. He died suddenly of heart dis- 
 ease on March 8, 1892. 
 
 DR. J. T. B. STAPP 
 
 Dr. James Thomas Burbridge Stapp was another of Decatur's 
 builders, though of a later date than Mr. Smith. He has been referred 
 to as Decatur's first real capitalist. When he came 
 here in 1855 he brought with him $20,000 in cash. 
 
 Bringing such a sum of money to a country 
 that was almost dollarless, Dr. Stapp was received 
 as a man of importance. That amount of money 
 looked bigger then to Decatur than a million dollars 
 would look today. 
 
 Dr. Stapp was an aristocrat. He was born in 
 Woodford county, Ky., in the heart of the 'blue 
 grass country. The family moved to Kaskaskia 
 when Dr. Stapp was only twelve years old. While 
 still in his teens the young man received an appoint- 
 ment as clerk in the state auditor's office at Vandalia, and he held 
 that position for several years. 
 
 During the Black Hawk war Dr. Stapp was aide-de-camp to Gen- 
 eral Reynolds. It was through the acquaintance made then that he 
 was given the appointment as state auditor. He was afterwards 
 elected twice to that same position. 
 
 He resigned as state auditor to become cashier of the State bank 
 of Illinois. When the time came that the affairs of that institution 
 had to be wound up, it was necessary for Dr. Stapp to transfer a 
 wagon load of silver to St. Louis. Nothing daunted by the task, he 
 loaded the silver on a wagon and made the trip with only a pistol 
 for defense. 
 
 In the Mexican war Dr. Stapp was adjutant of the Third Illinois 
 infantry. He received an appointment as receiver of the United States 
 land office at Vandalia from President Taylor and served in that office 
 under Presidents Taylor, Fillmore and Pierce, resigning in 1855 to 
 
 DR. J. T. B. STAPP 
 
 come to Decatur. 
 
 When Dr. Stapp first saw Decatur he did not like it, 
 
 so. 
 
 and he said 
 
 "If you don't like it, why don't you go somewhere else?" asked 
 some one. 
 
140 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 "I can do better than that," replied Dr. Stapp. "I can stay here 
 and help make Decatur better." 
 
 That is just what he did. 
 
 Dr. Stapp bought the Henry Prather residence at Franklin and 
 William streets, which was about the handsomest house in Decatur 
 at that time. Two sculptured lions, bought at the Crystal palace in 
 New York in 1866, guarded the entrance to the home for many years. 
 
 Those lions served more purposes than one. They were often 
 used in giving directions. They even aided the postman. One time 
 a letter came to Decatur addressed to a certain person at "Mrs. Mc- 
 Ginnis' boarding house, two blocks east of where the lions are." The 
 letter reached its destination. 
 
 The lions have remained with us until this day, although now 
 they are reposing in front of the Harkrader place on Route 2, west 
 
 side, about seven miles north of Decatur. 
 
 
 ,•-,/- ■ . "« .,- 
 
 
 
 piiiiiiin 
 
 STAPP'S ROW 
 
 Dr. Stapp and E. O. 
 Smith built Stapp's Row, 
 a block of five store build- 
 ings on South Park street. 
 They were three stories 
 high, and were the best 
 and handsomest business 
 buildings in Decatur up 
 to that time. 
 
 One night Dr. Stapp 
 and J. R. Gorin left a bil- 
 liard game to go to a revival meeting held by Rev. Levi C. Pitner, pas- 
 tor of the First Methodist church. Dr. Stapp, who was converted at 
 that revival meeting, afterwards gave $5,000 toward the erection of a 
 new building for the Franklin street Methodist church, then using a 
 frame building on Franklin street. The gift was made on condition 
 that J. J. Peddecord give half as much. 
 
 The new chapel was built at Eldorado and Franklin streets, 
 northeast corner, and in honor of the generous donor was called 
 Stapp's chapel for many years. After the congregation, now called 
 the Grace Methodist church, erected a new building on North Main 
 street, the old chapel was sold to the Masons. 
 
 Dr. Stapp was a delightful man to meet. He was always the 
 gentleman, and he had a keen and ready mind. He had once studied 
 medicine, but he never practiced the profession. When Dr. Stapp 
 passed away in 1882, Decatur felt that it had lost a real citizen. 
 
SOME BUSY CITIZENS 
 
 141 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII 
 
 SOME BUSY CITIZENS 
 
 ONE of Decatur's well known women had the distinction of being 
 one of the very earliest residents of the city of Chicago, and her 
 picture has been displayed in that city for years for that reason. The 
 name of the Decatur man she married was inscribed 
 in the cornerstone of the water tower erected in Chi- 
 cago in the '60s. The two Decatur people so honored 
 in the city by the lake were Mr. and Mrs. Jerome R. 
 Gorin, for years leading citizens of Decatur. 
 
 Mrs. Gorin lived in Chicago from 1832 to 1838, 
 
 when it was but a small huddle of houses. Her name 
 
 ^ :<jV^ was Eleanor Fawcett, and she was the stepdaughter 
 
 of the pioneer missionary, Rev. Jesse Walker, 
 
 m fc^j ^JH| known among the Indians as Father Walker. She 
 
 jerome r. gorin married Mr. Gorin in 1843. 
 
 It was at Father Walker's home in Chicago 
 where the rights of the Potawattomie, Ottawa and Chippewa Indians 
 were finally ceded to the United States. That territory included the 
 site of the city of Chicago and northern Illinois. 
 
 The appearance of Mr. Gorin's name on the water tower was due 
 to his position as Grand Master of the Illinois Masonic lodge, a posi- 
 tion he held in 1867 and 1868. The Masons had charge of the cere- 
 mony of laying the cornerstone for the tower, and inscription to that 
 effect, naming Mr. Gorin as grand master, appears on the stone, com- 
 memorating that occasion. 
 
 Jerome R. Gorin, born in Hopkinsville, Ky., Oct. 12, 1817, and 
 later a resident of Vandalia, came to Decatur in 1833 and lived here 
 for a period of sixty-three years. He was admitted to the bar in 1842, 
 but his career was not confined to the law. He served the city in vari- 
 ous capacities, city clerk, city attorney and justice of the peace, in 1856 
 was elected to the legislature, serving one term, and was well known 
 as banker and church worker. When practicing law, Mr. Gorin was 
 for a time a partner of Charles Emerson, later was with Kirby Bene- 
 dict, and still later with Arthur Gallagher. 
 
 In 1861 Mr. Gorin was invited to join in the banking business of 
 James Millikin. He became the cashier of the bank and later became 
 
142 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 a partner in the business. He was connected with this bank until 
 1881, when he started a new bank, known as Gorin and Bills. This 
 firm was succeeded by Gorin and Dawson. The business was sold 
 to L. B. Casner, and merged with the new Citizens National bank, of 
 which Mr. Gorin was an incorporator and first president. 
 
 While Mr. Gorin was Grand Master of the Masons, the command- 
 ery organized at Olney, 111., was named Gorin Commandery in his 
 honor. Mr. Gorin, at the time of his death in 1897, had the distinction 
 of being the oldest member of Macon lodge No. 8. His portrait hangs 
 in the new Masonic temple. 
 
 For many years Mr. Gorin was active in the First Methodist 
 church. He was particularly interested in Sunday school work, and 
 also was one of the leaders in the Y. M. C. A. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Gorin were the parents of six children. Mrs. Gorin 
 passed away in 1894 and Mr. Gorin in 1897. Two of their sons are in 
 business in Decatur today. They are O. B. Gorin and J. P. Gorin, 
 president and vice president respectively, of the Millikin National 
 Bank. 
 
 ISAAC C. PUGH 
 
 "Always where duty called him" is the tribute paid to Isaac 
 C. Pugh, veteran of three wars, who came to Decatur in 1829 and 
 lived here until his death in 1874. 
 
 Colonel Pugh had a genius for war, and as long as there was 
 fighting to be done, he fought. When war was over, he was one of 
 the most peaceful of citizens. 
 
 In the service of his country he was patriotic, brave, keen, and 
 a natural leader of men. As a private citizen he was honest and up- 
 right. He was successful in many lines of activity. As a politician, 
 a merchant, a farmer, an office holder, he stood in the front rank. A 
 man of forceful character, he was recognized as a man capable of fill- 
 ing high positions. 
 
 He went into the Black Hawk war as a second lieutenant of the 
 Macon county company and came home as its captain. 
 
 In the war with Mexico he served as captain of Company C of 
 the Fourth Regiment, which was in the thick of the battle of Cerro 
 Gordo pass. 
 
 In the Civil war he served first as captain of Company A of the 
 8th Illinois Infantry, then as colonel of the 41st Illinois infantry, 
 which he organized. He participated in many of the hardest fought 
 
SOME BUSY CITIZENS 143 
 
 battles of the rebellion, and well deserved the rank of brigadier-gen- 
 eral which was bestowed upon him. 
 
 In the early days of Macon county he was county commissioner, 
 serving from 1830 to 1834. During his life in Decatur he held at dif- 
 ferent times the offices of master-in-chancery, county treasurer, coun- 
 ty clerk, county assessor, collector, mayor, postmaster, and member 
 of the state legislature. Probably no other Decatur man was elected 
 so often to public office as was Isaac C. Pugh, and he always served 
 faithfully and well. 
 
 In honor of this distinguished man, Pugh school was given his 
 name. The street now known as Grand avenue also had been named 
 for him and was so called for many years, though later the name was 
 changed. The street was the southern boundary of a tract of land 
 owned by General Pugh in the northwest part of the city. 
 
 Isaac C. Pugh married Elvira E. Gorin. They had eleven chil- 
 dren. One son, John Pugh, who spent his early life in Decatur, after- 
 wards moved to Seattle, Wash. When he was eighty-six years old, 
 John Pugh came back on a visit, in the year 1924, and found the old 
 Pugh farm built up with homes and a part of the city. 
 
 HENRY PRATHER 
 
 Henry Prather, who had been born in Montgomery county, Md., 
 Nov. 26, 1802, came to Macon county in 1837 in the capacity of sur- 
 veyor and was engaged for some time in selecting and surveying 
 lands for Philo Hale. 
 
 During the early days of Decatur he was interested in various 
 business enterprises. He was one of the company that built the 
 Macon house in 1839. He was one of the men who went with Richard 
 J. Oglesby to California for gold in 1849. He was in the meat pack- 
 ing business with J. J. Peddecord, and later with B. H. Cassell in 
 the hardware line. 
 
 He served a number of years as president of the Greenwood 
 cemetery association and due him is the credit for the beautiful ar- 
 rangement of the grounds, on which he spent much time and work. 
 
 Mr. Prather married Amanda Oglesby, sister of R. J. Oglesby. 
 Their home on North Franklin street was for years a center of social 
 life. 
 
 Air. Prather came to his death through an accident in the fall 
 of 1869, when the buggy in which he was seated was upset, he was 
 thrown out, and his skull fractured. The buggy had been struck by a 
 runaway team on East Cerro Gordo street. The team was taking 
 
144 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Billy Barnwell, Dan Brenneman and Captain A. Toland to a fire at 
 the agricultural works, and it became frightened when a wheel came 
 off the rig. In the buggy which Mr. Prather occupied were also John 
 Imboden and Richard Newell, Jr. 
 
 His funeral was said to have been the largest that had ever been 
 held in Decatur up to that time. 
 
 J. J. PEDDECORD 
 
 Meat and lard were just as good as cold cash in the days when 
 J. J. Peddecord was running a business in Decatur. In fact, they were 
 of more value as a circulating medium than much of the bank script 
 of the time. With them offered in payment, one could buy anything. 
 
 For about twenty years Mr. Peddecord had a store on the present 
 site of the Morehouse and Wells company building, and most of that 
 time he was paid in meat. For dressed hogs, he gave credit of 2 to 
 2y 2 cents a pound. He kept this meat at the Roundtop, his meat- 
 house on South Water street, about where the Brunswick hotel now 
 stands. 
 
 Customers paid their bills in meat in the winter, and Mr. Pedde- 
 cord shipped the meat out in the spring, when the ice was out of the 
 river. It was hauled by wagon to Beardstown or Naples, then shipped 
 by water to New Orleans, much of it going on to New York. Some- 
 times the supply of meat in the Roundtop was of sufficient quantity 
 to be worth $20,000 to $25,000. The meat was cut up and cured, and 
 made into mess pork and lard. In its best days Mr. Peddecord's 
 store did a business of as much as $32,000 a year. 
 
 Most of the business was done on credit, and people made their 
 payments only once a year. They could always be depended upon 
 to pay, and extending credit for a year did not worry the merchant. 
 
 Mr. Peddecord, who was born in Rockville, Md., Nov. 8, 1815, 
 came to Decatur in 1838, and from that time until his death was a 
 resident of the city and a factor in its upbuilding. When he came 
 here he entered 160 acres of prairie land northwest of Decatur. He 
 and Henry Prather first started a store in a log cabin on the north- 
 west corner of Lincoln square, moving later to the site further east, 
 on East Main street. In 1849 Mr. Peddecord bought Mr. Prather's 
 interest and ran the business alone for a time, then he took in Tlosea 
 Armstrong as a partner. Armstrong left, however, to go to California 
 in the gold rush. In 1852 Lowber L. Burrows came to Decatur to 
 take a position in Mr. Peddecord's store, and it was not long until 
 he became a member of the firm. 
 
SOME BUSY CITIZENS 145 
 
 Mr. Peddecord had other interests in Decatur outside of his 
 store. He served as mayor, was banker and manufacturer. He was 
 one of the founders of the Decatur Furniture company. His home 
 was one of the social centers of the city. 
 
 . Mr. Peddecord and Mrs. Ophelia Adamson, sister of Governor 
 Richard J. Oglesby, were married July 30, 1842. Five children were 
 born to them. Mr. Peddecord built a substantial and handsome brick 
 home at 226 North Franklin street. In this hospitable home Governor 
 Oglesby and other noted men often were entertained. Mrs. Pedde- 
 cord passed away in 1897, and her husband on July 27, 1899. 
 
146 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI LI 
 
 CITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT 
 
 FROM the time Decatur was laid out in 1829 until the year 1836 
 it had no municipal government, the county commissioners' court 
 being the only governing body. By 1836, however, Decatur had be- 
 come a real village, its population being estimated at about 300, and 
 that year the town municipality was effected with the election of a 
 town board of trustees. 
 
 The first officers named were: 
 
 President — Richard Oglesby (uncle of R. J. Oglesby who became 
 governor). 
 
 Trustees — William T. Crissey, G. R. White, William Webb, 
 Thomas Cowan, H. M. Gorin, Henry Butler, Landy Harrell. 
 
 Clerk — Andrew Love. 
 
 Constables — James Carter, William Webb. 
 
 The first meeting of the board was held Nov. 5, 1836. There are 
 some breaks in the records during the early years of the town. Elec- 
 tions were held in 1838, 1839, 1840 and 1841, and then there is a gap 
 until 1846. Earlier histories say there was no meeting of the town 
 trustees for five years. 
 
 In 1839 two elections were held, the second being under a spe- 
 cial act incorporating the town of Decatur. There were also two 
 elections in the year 1854. 
 
 CITY CHARTER 
 
 By 1855 Decatur was taking on the proportions of a city, the com- 
 ing of the railroads having added new life. Accordingly in the winter 
 of that year a special city charter was obtained from the legislature, 
 and on Jan. 7, 1856, election of city officers was held. 
 
 The city was divided into four wards. Judges of election were : 
 
 First — Jesse H. Elliott, John Humphrey, Isaac Shellabarger. 
 Second— E. O. Smith, J. Q. A. Odor. John Stickel, Sr. 
 Third — John Kaufman, P. B. Shepherd, Jonathan Stamper. 
 Fourth — Michael Elson, John Rea, John Cassell. 
 
 The polling places were: First, James Simpson's carpenter shop: second, 
 Wood and McNabb's carpenter shop; third, Cassell house; fourth, court house. 
 The first city officers elected were : 
 
 Mayor — John P. Post. 
 
 Aldermen — Frank Priest, first ward; E. O. Smith, second ward; J. R. Gorin, 
 S. P. Ohr, third ward; J. J. Ballentine, H. Taylor, fourth ward. 
 Clerk and Attorney — C. C. Post. 
 Treasurer and Assessor — Samuel C. Allen. 
 
CITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT 
 
 147 
 
 The first meeting of the new council was held in the office of 
 Post and Post Jan. 25, 1856. Business must have been heavy, for the 
 
 , council members met again the next evening. Then 
 
 they decided to meet the second Monday of each 
 month. 
 
 Decatur's first city marshal was Captain John 
 W. Hartley, who served in 1856 and 1857. He also 
 was constable two terms later on, and was on the 
 police force under Mayor W. B. Chambers. Mr. 
 Plartley was a veteran of the Mexican and Civil 
 wars. 
 
 In 1867 the city obtained a new charter, with 
 enlarged powers. 
 
 After the city grew, the number of wards was 
 increased to seven ; with two aldermen being 
 elected from each ward, it made a membership of 
 fourteen on the council. 
 
 The aldermanic form of government prevailed 
 until Jan. 18, 1911, when Decatur adopted the com- 
 mission form of government. 
 
 The first city officers under commission form, 
 as elected in April, 1911, were Daniel F. Dinneen, 
 mayor; Charles Becker, W. P. Shade, Harry Ruth- 
 rauff, H. F. Robbins, commissioners. 
 
 City council members of 1929 did not need to bother with some 
 of the problems that took the attention of the first city council elected 
 in 1856. The city dads in that year were busy looking after watering 
 troughs, hitching racks, street crossings, drains, a public well, and so 
 on. However, they were just as busy men as the council seventy 
 years later with its improvements on larger scales to be projected. 
 The years have brought much to do in changing Decatur from a 
 muddy little hamlet to a city of paved streets and modern conveni- 
 ences. 
 
 BOARD OF TRUSTEES 
 
 The board of trustees for the town of Decatur from 1836 until it 
 secured a city charter in 1856 was composed of the following: 
 
 1836 —Richard Oglesby, president; trustees, William T. Crissey, G. R. White, William 
 Webb, Thomas Cowan, H. M. Gorin (resigned), Henry Butler, Landy Harrell. Andrew Love was 
 clerk lmt resigned; James Carter and William Webb were constables. 
 
 1838 — Joseph Williams (resigned), Henry Snyder, presidents. Trustees, James Renshaw, 
 James F. Montgomery, George R. White, Henry Prather. E. McClellan was clerk ; Richard 
 Oglesby and J. P. Hickcok, treasurer ; John S. Adamson, assessor ; William Radciiff and Thomas 
 Cowan, supervisors : J. H. Elliott, constable. 
 
 1839 — Trustees, William T. Crissey, S. B. Dewees, J. M. Fordice, James F. Montgomery. ' J 
 
 1839 — Kirby Benedict, president. Trustees, John S. Adamson, Thomas Cowan, Samuel B. 
 Dewees, Jesse H. Elliott, William T. Crissey, Thomas H. Read. H. M. Gorin was clerk ; 
 
 JOHN P. POST 
 
148 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Ge J 0r ^M?' White, treasurer; H. Prather, assessor and collector; G. W. Gilbrath, Zebulon Cantrall 
 and William Webb, constables. 
 
 ^ .1840— Joseph King, president. Trustees, Henry Goodman, William Cantrill, B. F. Oglesby, 
 David Wright, John G. Speer, David E. Ralls. H. M. Gorin was clerk ; G. R. White, treasurer ; 
 I. C. Pugh, collector; William Webb, constable. 
 
 1841— Thomas P. Rodgers, president. Trustees, J. H. Elliott, D. E. Ralls, G. R. White, 
 Henry Goodman, Benjamin R. Austin, J. D. Tait. J. S. Post was clerk; J. H. Read, treasurer- 
 Joseph Stevens, assessor and collector; Wiliam Webb, constable. 
 
 (The 1841 meeting was the last held for five years.) 
 
 1846 — David Krone, president. Trustees, Elijah Krone, Joseph Kauffman, Michael Elson, 
 Thomas H. Read. E. B. Hale was clerk; G. A. Smith, constable. 
 
 1847 — D. Krone, president. Trustees, T. H. Read, M. Elson, Joseph Kauffman. Nathan P. 
 West was clerk; E. McClellan, constable; B. H. Cassell, assessor. 
 
 1848 — J. H. Elliott, president. Trustees, H. Prather, H. Armstrong, E. O. Smith, Joseph 
 King. N. P. West was clerk; E. McClellan, constable; B. H. Cassell, assessor and treasurer. 
 
 1849 — Joseph Kauffman, president. Trustees, H. J. Armstrong, J. H. Ellott, Joseph King, 
 W. S. Crissey. N. P. West was clerk; B. H. Cassell, assessor and treasurer; H. Goodman, con- 
 stable. 
 
 1850 — Joseph King, president. Trustees, W. J. Stamper, William Prather, C. H. Pringle, 
 William Wheeler. B. H. Cassell was clerk; William Wheeler, constable; B. H. Cassell, assessor 
 and treasurer. 
 
 1851 — William S. Crissey, president. Trustees, William Prather, C. H. Pringle, Joseph 
 King, W. J. Stamper. B. H. Cassell was clerk, treasurer and assessor. 
 
 1852— W. J. Stamper, president. Trustees, W. S. Crissey, William Prather, C. H. Pringle, 
 Joseph King. B. H. Cassell was clerk, treasurer and assessor. 
 
 1853 — William Prather, president. Trustees, W. S. Crissey, W. J. Stamper, Joseph King, 
 John Ricketts. B. H. Cassell was clerk, treasurer and assessor. 
 
 1854 — William Prather, president. Trustees, William J. Stamper, William S. Crissey, 
 Joseph King, Thomas H. Wingate. B. H. Cassell was clerk. 
 
 1854 — Thomas H. Wingate, president. Trustees, William S. Crissey, William Martin, Elias 
 Tanner, John Ricketts. B. H. Cassell was clerk; H. Churchman,, constable. 
 
 1855— Thomas H. Wingate, president. Trustees, A. L. Kellar, J. R. Gorin, William S. 
 Crissey, William Martin. B. H. Cassell was clerk. 
 
 MAYORS 
 
 Following is the list of mayors of Decatur since 1856: 
 
 1856— John P. Post. 1875— R. H. Meriweather. 
 
 1857— William A. Barnes. 1876-1877— W. B. Chambers. 
 
 1858— James B. Shoaff. 1878— Franklin Priest. 
 
 1859— A. T. Hill. 1879— L. L. Haworth. 
 
 1860— Sheridan Wait. 1880-1881-1882— H. W. Waggoner. 
 
 1861— E. O. Smith. 1883-1884— W. B. Chambers. 
 
 1862— Thomas O. Smith. 1885-1890— M. F. Kanan. 
 
 1863-1864— J. J. Peddecord. 1891-1892— W. B. Chambers. 
 
 1865-1866— Franklin Priest. 1893-1894— David C. Moffitt. 
 
 1867— John K. Warren. 1895-1896— D. H. Conklin. 
 
 1868— Isaac C. Pugh. 1897-1898— B. Z. Taylor. 
 
 1869— William L. Hammer. 1899-1900— George A. Stadler. 
 
 1870— Franklin Priest. 1901-1904— C. F. Shilling. 
 
 1871— E. M. Misner. 1905-1906— G. W. Lehman. 
 
 1872— D. S. Shellabarger. 1907-1908— E. S. McDonald. 
 
 1873— Martin Forstmeyer. 1909-1910— C. M. Borchers. 
 1874 — Franklin Priest. 
 
 COMMISSION FORM 
 
 1911-1919— Dan Dinneen. 1923-1927— Elmer R. Elder. 
 
 1919-1923— C. M. Borchers.' 1927- — O. W. Smith. 
 
 COUNTY GOVERNMENT 
 
 County governing boards, at the time Macon county was laid 
 out, consisted of three members. Such boards were abolished, how- 
 ever, by act of the legislature approved Feb. 12, 1849, and the county 
 court was established. This provided for the election of a county 
 judge, and two additional justices of the peace. The county court plan 
 lasted in Macon county from 1850 to 1860. On Feb. 17, 1851, the pres- 
 ent system of township organization was established by law, in this 
 state, but Macon county did not put it into effect until in 1859. 
 
 Solomon Garver, representing citizens of the county, presented a 
 petition to the county court Sept. 8, 1859, asking for an election to 
 
CITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT 
 
 149 
 
 decide on township organization. Vote was ordered for the Novem- 
 ber election. In November the proposition carried. At the December 
 
 WM. CANTRILL 
 
 DAVID GARNER 
 
 JAMES DINGMAN 
 
 term of the county court three commissioners, William Cantrill, David 
 Garver, and James Dingman, were named to divide the county into 
 townships. They made their report to the court on Jan. 14, 1860. The 
 report provided for fourteen townships in the county, as follows : 
 
 Friend's Creek. 
 
 Maroa. 
 
 Montgomery (afterwards changed 
 
 to Austin). 
 Bull Point (afterward changed to 
 
 Hickory, and then to Hickory 
 
 Point). 
 Decatur. 
 Long Creek. 
 Whitmore. 
 
 Oakley. 
 
 Harris (afterward changed to 
 
 Harristown). 
 Wilson (afterward changed to Mt. 
 
 Zion). 
 South Wheatland. 
 South Macon. 
 Madison (afterward changed to 
 
 Blue Mound). 
 Niantic. 
 
 The board of supervisors, elected from these townships, met and 
 organized on April 30, 1860. Henry B. Durfee of Decatur was selected 
 as chairman. 
 
 The first board of supervisors was composed of: 
 
 Austin — James S. Parker. 
 
 Blue Mound — J. L. Armstrong. 
 
 Decatur — Henry B. Durfee; John W. 
 
 Koehler, assistant. 
 Friend's Creek— D. K. Wilson. 
 Harristown — Abraham Eyman. 
 Hickory Point— J. Y. Braden. 
 Long Creek— John Rucker. 
 
 Maroa — William Crawford. 
 
 Mt. Zion— W. C. Mayers. 
 
 Niantic — J. H. Hughes. 
 
 Oakley — G. W. Forest. 
 
 South Macon — W. D. Hamilton. 
 
 South Wheatland — I. S. Boardman. 
 
 Whitmore — James Lichtenberger. 
 
 Three more townships were formed later, lllini was established 
 in April, 1865, Pleasant View in June, 1868, and Milam in September, 
 1869. 
 
150 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Chairmen of the board of supervisors since its beginning have 
 been as follows : 
 
 1860-63, 1866-68— Henry B. Durfee. 
 1864— J. H. Pickrell, Illini. 
 1865— John W. Tyler, Long Creek. 
 1869— W. T. Mofrett, Blue Mound. 
 1870-71-72— A. McBride, Decatur. 
 1873 — Norman Failing, South Macon. 
 1874-75-76— L. R. Morse, Illini. 
 1877-78— R. H. Woodcock, South Macon. 
 1879-80— E. J. Roberts, Illini. 
 1881-82-84-85— A. T. Hill, Decatur. 
 1883-86-87— R. H. Woodcock, South 
 
 Macon. 
 1888 — T. N. Leavitt, Maroa. 
 1889-90— W. S. Smith, Mt. Zion. 
 1891— C. H. Garver, Whitmore. 
 1892-94— H. F. May, Decatur. 
 1893 — O. H. Draper, South Macon. 
 1895-97— W. H. Bean, Pleasant View. 
 1896 — Ross Hockaday, Whitmore. 
 1898— J. N. Orr, Friend's Creek. 
 1899 — John Allen, Decatur. 
 1900-01 — H. R. Woodcock, South Macon. 
 1901 — F. R. Querry, Friend's Creek. 
 1902 — J. H. Record, Decatur. 
 
 1903— E. R. Hurlburt, Mt. Zion. 
 1904— W. T. J. Cooper, Friend's Creek. 
 1905-06— E. G. Allen, Decatur. 
 1907 — D. E. Brett, Hickory Point. 
 1908— J. I. Lebo, South Macon. 
 1909-11— W. A. Holman, Decatur. 
 1910— E. W. Jokisch, Blue Mound. 
 1912 — C. H. Moomey, Pleasant View. 
 1913— S. M. Bartlett, Decatur. 
 1914 — S. B. Stewart, Whitmore. 
 1915 — O. Schmachtenberger, Decatur. 
 1916— C. P. Elder, Elwin. 
 1917-19— J. N. Orr, Friend's Creek. 
 1918— C. L. Taylor, Blue Mound. 
 1920 — M. C. Stookey, Harristown. 
 1921 — W. R. Hopkins, Decatur. 
 1922— O. M. Scott, Mt. Zion. 
 1923— W. L. Kline, Decatur. 
 1924 — A. C. Ammann, Maroa. 
 1925 — Charles Braden, Decatur. 
 1926 — Robert J. Moore, Niantic. 
 1927 — G. I. Covalt, Decatur. 
 1928— C. B. Knight, Harristown. 
 1929 — Forrest Pollard, Decatur. 
 
 In 1924 the board of supervisors had its first women members. 
 That year Miss Maria Buckingham, Mrs. Flora F. Baldwin and Mrs. 
 Hazel Williford, all of Decatur, were elected as assistant supervisors. 
 
 COMMISSIONERS' COURT 
 
 The county commissioners court, which handled the affairs of 
 the county from its beginning until 1850, when the county commis- 
 sioners' court was abolished and the county court established, was 
 composed of the following members : 
 
 1829-1830 — Beniamin Wilson, Elisha Freeman, James G. Miller. 
 
 1830-1831— Elisha Freeman, James G. Miller, I. C. Pugh. 
 
 1831-1832— James G. Miller, I. C. Pugh, David Davis. 
 
 1832-1833— James G. Miller, I. C. Pugh, David Davis. 
 
 1833-1834— Elisha Freeman, Hugh Bolls, Philip D. Williams. 
 
 1834-1835 — James A. Piatt, William Muirhead, Benjamin Wilson. 
 
 1835-1836 — James A. Piatt, William Muirhead, Benjamin Wilson. 
 
 1836-1837 — James A. Piatt, William Muirhead, Benjamin Wilson. 
 
 1837-1838 — James A. Piatt, William Muirhead, Josiah Clifton. 
 
 1838-1839 — William Muirhead, James A. Piatt, Abram Chapin. 
 
 1839-1840 — Elisha Freeman, 3 years; Benjamin Wilson, 2 years; Hiram Chapin, 1 year. 
 
 (Under act of March 1, 1837, terms of service were fixed at three years, one 
 
 to be elected each year.) 
 1840-1841 — Elisha Freeman, Benjamin Wilson, John Rucker. 
 1841-1842 — Elisha Freeman, John Rucker, Abraham H. Keller. 
 1842-1843 — John Rucker, Abraham H. Keller, Leonard Ash ton. 
 1843-1844 — John Rucker, Leonard Ashton, Andrew W. Smith. 
 1844-1845 — John Rucker, Andrew W. Smith, James D. Tait. 
 1845-1846 — Andrew W. Smith, James D. Tait, Elisha Freeman. 
 1846-1847 — Elisha Freeman, Samuel Rea, James D. Campbell. 
 1847-1848 — Elisha Freeman, Samuel Rea, James D. Campbell. 
 1848-1849 — Elisha Freeman, Samuel Rea, James D. Campbell. 
 
 COUNTY COURT 
 
 The county court, which was in existence from 1850 to 1860, was 
 as follows : 
 
 1850-1856 — William Prather, county judge; Jacob Hostetler, associate justice; John Pucker, 
 associate justice. . . 
 
 1856-1857 — John Rickets, county judge; Jacob Hostetler, associate justice; Joiin Rucker, 
 associate justice. . . 
 
 1857-1860— John Rickets, county judge; Jacob Spangler, associate justice; M. G. Camron, 
 associate justice. 
 
CITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT 
 
 151 
 
 COUNTY OFFICERS 
 
 Probate judges from 1830 to 1849 were: 
 
 1830-1835— Daniel McCall. 
 1835-1837 — Charles Emerson. 
 1837-1843— Kirby Benedict. 
 
 County judges since 1860: 
 
 1861-1866— Samuel F. Greer. 
 1886-1894 — William E. Nelson. 
 1894-1902 — William L. Hammer. 
 
 County clerks since 1829 : 
 
 1832-1837— Daniel McCall. 
 1837-1841— H. M. Gorin. 
 1841-1847— N. W. Peddecord. 
 1847-1851— E. B. Hale. 
 1851-1857— W. W. Oglesby. 
 1857-1865— Samuel Rea. 
 1865-1869—1. C. Pugh. 
 
 Masters in chancery since 1830: 
 
 1830-1860—1. C. Pugh. 
 1860-1864— William A. Barnes. 
 1864-1873— R. H. Meriweather. 
 1873-1888 — John A. Brown. 
 1888-1903— J. J. Finn. 
 
 Sheriffs since 1829 have been : 
 
 1829-1835— William Warnick. 
 1835-1838 — John McMennamy. 
 1838-1840 — James Stevens. 
 1840-1842— William Warnick. 
 1842-1850— William Wheeler. 
 1850-1852— Samuel Rea. 
 1852-1854 — William Wheeler. 
 1854-1856— S. M. Whitehouse. 
 1856-1858— E. McClellan. 
 1858-1860— William Wheeler. 
 1860-1862 — George Goodman. 
 1862-1864— John W. Bear. 
 1864-1866— A. A. Murray. 
 1866-1868— John E. Jones. 
 1868-1870 — James Travis. 
 
 1843-1846— John G Speer. 
 1846-1849— Thomas H. Read. 
 
 1902-1914— O. W. Smith. 
 1914- —John H. McCoy. 
 
 1869-1882— H. W. Waggoner. 
 1882-1894— George P. Hardy. 
 1894-1906— J. M. Dodd. 
 1906-1914— M. E. Peniwell. 
 1914-1928— C. H. Patterson. 
 1928- — E. A. Patterson. 
 
 1903-1916— W. H. Black. 
 1916-1921— Carl N. Weilepp. 
 1921-1928— John W. Evans. 
 1928- — L. C. Wheat. 
 
 1870-1872— George M. Wood. 
 1872-1876—1. D. Jennings. 
 1876-1880 — Martin Forstmeyer. 
 1880-1886— William W. Foster. 
 1886-1890— John H. Mauzy. 
 1890-1894— Peter Perl. 
 1894-1898— Jerry Nicholson. 
 1898-1902— G. W. Lehman. 
 1902-1906— C. A. Thrift. 
 1906-1910— B. A. McGorray. 
 1910-1914 — J. P. Nicholson. 
 1914-1918— C. E. Tandy. 
 1918-1922— M. E. Peniwell. 
 1922-1926— W. A. Underwood. 
 1926- — C. A. Thrift. 
 
 Coroners since 1830 and the year of their election 
 
 1830— David Manley. 
 1831— Samuel B. Dewees. 
 1834 — Jacob Hornback. 
 1836— John Miller. 
 1840 — Parmenius Smallwood. 
 1862— M. Y. Givler. 
 1866 — Isaac D. Jennings. 
 1870— M. Y. Givler. 
 1874 — Daniel Aungst. 
 1876— Cassidy Chenoweth. 
 
 State's Attorneys since 1830: 
 
 1830-1836— John H. Pugh. 
 1836-1840— D. H. Campbell. 
 1840-1844— Josiah Lamborn. 
 1844-1848— John A. McDougal. 
 1848-1851— David Campbell. 
 1851-1855— Elam Rust. 
 1855-1860— J. R. Eden. 
 1860-1864 — James P. Boyd. 
 1864-1868— D. L. Bunn 
 1868-1872— M. B. Thompson. 
 
 Circuit clerks since 1829: 
 
 1829-1834— Daniel McCall. 
 1834-1841— H. M. Gorin. 
 1841-1848— N. W. Peddecord. 
 1848-1856— William Prather. 
 1856-1860— J. Q. A. Odor. 
 1860-1869— W. L. Hammer. 
 1869-1896— E. McClellan. 
 
 1878 — John Dinneen. 
 1882 — Jesse E. Bendure. 
 1884— Peter Perl. 
 1888 — Jesse E. Bendure. 
 1900 — Charles E. Dawson. 
 1904 — T. C. Buxton. 
 1912 — Elmer Brintlinger. 
 1916 — L. A. Monson. 
 1920 — Roy M. Dawson. 
 
 1872-1876— C. C. McComas. 
 1876-1880—1. A. Buckingham. 
 1880-1884— W. C. Johns. 
 1884-1888— E. P. Vail. 
 1888-1900—1. R. Mills. 
 1900-1912— W. E. Redmon. 
 1912-1920— J. L. Deck. 
 1920-1928— Charles F. Evans. 
 1928- —John W. Evans. 
 
 1896-1900— D. L. Foster. 
 
 1900-1920— John Allen. 
 
 1920-1922— C. L. Taylor (Died). (C. 1). 
 
 Nowlin appointed; resigned.) 
 1922- — Harry R. Butt (appointed 
 
 1922; elected 1924.) 
 
152 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Recorders : 
 
 1920- — Lelah Foster. 
 
 Treasurers since 1829 : 
 
 1829-1830— B. R. Austin. 1869-1873— William M. Boyd. 
 
 1830-1831— John Miller. 1873-1875— R. H. Park. 
 
 1831-1832— B. R. Austin. 1875-1886— George M. Wood. 
 
 1832-1834— James Johnson. 1886-1890— George R. Steele. 
 
 1834-1835— Joseph Hostetler. 1890-1894— H. Clay Montgomery. 
 
 1835-1837— Joseph Stevens. 1894-1898— Charles H. Patterson. 
 
 1837 — J. Renshaw, resigned; G. R.White 1898-1902 — Joseph Miller. 
 
 appointed. 1902-1906 — Edward R. Moffett. 
 
 1837-1839— David Davis. 1906— W. T. J. Cooper (died). 
 
 1839-1845— Henry Snyder. 1906-1910— C. E. Tandy. 
 
 1845-1846— Thomas H. Read, resigned. 1910-1914 — J. I. Lebo. 
 
 1846-1848— George W. Powers. 1914-1918— John Schroll. 
 
 1848-1853— S. C. Allen. 1918-1922— R. Moomey. 
 
 1853-1858—1. C. Pugh. 1922-1926— B. F. Coffman. 
 
 1858-1863— William Cantrill. 1926— E. C. Cofrman. 
 1863-1869— Ira B. Curtis. 
 
 VOTING PRECINCTS 
 
 In its earliest days, the county had two voting precincts. North 
 of the Sangamon was Decatur district, and south of the Sangamon 
 was Ward's district. Soon a third district was established, called Salt 
 Creek district, comprising the north part of the county. Next came 
 Okaw district in the southern part. Then Draper's district in the 
 northeast section was established. It must be remembered that Macon 
 county at that time included much more territory than it does now. 
 
 Homes of settlers were used as voting places at first, the precinct 
 often being called after the person whose home was used. After the 
 log court house was built, it became the voting place for Decatur dis- 
 trict. 
 
 In 1860, the voting precincts were: Ward's, Decatur, Maroa, Mil- 
 ler's, Prairie City, Big Creek, Draper's, Badger, Madison, Macon and 
 Garver's. 
 
 In 1929 Macon county had sixty-three voting precincts, forty-six 
 of them being in Decatur township. Maroa is the only township out- 
 side of Decatur which has more than one precinct. It has two. 
 
 The total number of votes cast in Macon county in the presi- 
 dential election of 1928 was 35,307. 
 
 Some of the important offices which have been filled by Macon 
 county citizens have been : 
 
 Governor of Illinois— Richard J. Oglesby, 1865-1869; 1873 (resigned); 1885-1889. 
 United States Senator — Richard J. Oglesby, 1873-1879. 
 
 Congressmen — Jesse H. Moore, 1869-1871, 1871-1873 ; C. M. Borchers, 1913-1915; Charles 
 Adkins, 1925-1927, 1927-1929, 1929-. 
 
 STATE SENATORS 1904-1912— James A. Henson. 
 
 1832-1836— William Williamson. 1912-1916— Willis R. Shaw. 
 
 1836-1838— James Allen. 1916-1920— W. G. McCullough. 
 
 1848-1850— Edward O. Smith. 1920-1924— Orpheus W. Smith. 
 
 1856-1860— Joel S. Post. 1925-1928— Jesse L. Deck. 
 
 1860-1862— Richard J. Oglesby. 1929— Charles E. Lee. 
 1878-1882— William T. Moffett. 
 
 1882-1886— Jason Rogers. REPRESENTATIVES 
 
 1886-1890— William C. Johns. 1834-1836— Thomas B. Trower. 
 
 1890-1894— Harmon Manecke. 1836-1838— William G. Reddick (died). 
 
 1894-1898— M. F. Kanan. 1838-1840— Jesse W. Gouge. 
 
CITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT 
 
 153 
 
 1840-1842— Robert F. Baniett. 
 1842-1844— Samuel G. Nesbitt. 
 1844-1846— Kirby Benedict. 
 1846-1848— William Cantrill. 
 1850-1852— Charles Emerson. 
 1852-1854— Henry Prather. 
 1854-1856— Henry C. Johns. 
 1856-1858— Jerome R. Gorin. 
 1862-1864 — James Elder. 
 1864-1866— Isaac C. Pugh. 
 1866-1868— Abraham B. Bunn. 
 1870-1872— William E. Nelson, William 
 
 T. Moffett. 
 1872-1874— Joab A. Race, William T. 
 
 Moffett. 
 1874-1876 — Shaw Pease, Samuel S. Jack. 
 1876-1878— Samuel S. Jack, Thomas J. 
 
 Abel. 
 1878-1880— Bradford K. Durfee. . 
 1880-1882— Jason Rogers, Bradford K. 
 
 Durfee. 
 1882-1884 — John H. Crocker. 
 1884-1886— James M. Graham, Robert A. 
 
 Gray. 
 
 1886-1888— Robert A. Gray. 
 1888-1890— David P. Keller, Robert H. 
 
 Hill. 
 1890-1892— W. S. Smith, David P. 
 
 Keller. 
 1892-1894— Thomas N. Leavitt, W. S. 
 
 Smith. 
 1898-1902— James M. Gray. 
 1902-1904 — Arthur J. Gallagher, James 
 
 M. Gray. 
 1904-1906— James M. Gray. 
 1910-1912— Thomas N. Leavitt, Cyrus J. 
 
 Tucker. 
 1912-1914— William McGinley, Cyrus J. 
 
 Tucker. 
 1914-1916— T. C. Buxton. 
 1916-1918— Horace W. McDavid. 
 1918-1920— Orpheus W. Smith, Horace 
 
 W. McDavid. 
 1920-1924— John Clark, Albert A. Hill. 
 1925- — W. C. Chynoweth, Grover C. 
 
 Hoff, John Clark. 
 
 Macon county is in 
 
 Congressional district No. 19 (Champaign, Coles, Dewitt, Doug- 
 las, Macon, Moultrie, Shelby, Piatt counties) 
 
 Senatorial district No. 28 (Macon, Logan, Dewitt counties) 
 
 Supreme court district No. 3 
 
 Appellate district No. 3 
 
 Circuit court district No. 6 
 
 Circuit court judges of the district at this writing are James S. 
 Baldwin, Decatur; D. H. Wamsley, Tuscola; Franklyn H. Boggs, 
 Champaign. 
 
 1 John P. Post was serving as postmaster at the time of his election as mayor. When he 
 took the oath of office, the man who administered the oath was County Judge William Prather, 
 who had been Post's opponent in the race for mayor. After serving a year as mayor, Post was 
 elected alderman from the third ward and served two years. During the Civil War he became 
 colonel. In 1871 he moved to Colorado where he held public offices. 
 
 2 So far as can be told from the records, this board of trustees never met, but an election was 
 held May 6, 1839, under the special act incorporating the town of Decatur, and a new board was 
 chosen at that time. 
 
154 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX 
 POSTAL DEPARTMENT 
 
 A hundred years of history of the Decatur postoffice is another 
 story of a century of progress of the city. 
 
 If Daniel McCall, Decatur's first postmaster, in 1830, and J. H. 
 Hill, Decatur's postmaster" in 1930, could get together and compare 
 notes, it no doubt would be an interesting session. Suffice to say, that 
 the job of postmaster in the year 1930 is a far cry from the same job 
 in 1830. If the first postmaster could take a peek into the Decatur 
 postoffice some time just before Christmas now, and could see the 
 stacks of mail piled high, he would probably suffer a collapse. 
 
 From the occasional letter which came a hundred years ago, the 
 postal business in Decatur has grown to an enormous figure. Post- 
 office receipts for the year 1929 were $409,874.25. 
 
 A hundred years ago one man could handle the postmaster's work 
 and four or five other official positions, and still not be a busy man. 
 Today it takes the full time of scores of government employes to do 
 the work. 
 
 Decatur's first postmaster received his appointment March 6, 
 1830. The postal business was not heavy enough then to require a 
 
 POSTOFFICE SITE AS IT APPEARED BEFORE PRESENT BUILDING 
 
 WAS STARTED 
 
POSTAL DEPARTMENT 155 
 
 special office, and the postoffice was wherever the postmaster hap- 
 pened to be in business. 
 
 Several of the early day postmasters were storekeepers and natur- 
 ally took care of the mail in their stores, usually having a small box 
 somewhere in which the letters were kept. 
 
 Mention has often been made in stories of the old days to the 
 effect that the postmasters carried the mail in their hats. It was true. 
 Often the amount of mail was so small that a postmaster had no trou- 
 ble in finding room in his hat for it, and would use that method of 
 carrying it, in case he went to deliver a letter. 
 
 One didn't have to "lick the stamp" then when a letter was sent, 
 for there were no postage stamps. Goose quills provided the pens. 
 Ink was home made. People who felt the need of having blotters used 
 a sand blotter. It was a metal or tin container, filled with sand, and 
 the sand was sprinkled over the written sheet, as one uses a salt or 
 pepper shaker. The last page of the letter always was blank, as that 
 formed the page for the address when the letter was folded and 
 sealed with sealing wax. Envelopes such as are used today were then 
 unknown. Ye correspondent in those days wrote his letter, folded it 
 with the blank side out, sealed it, addressed it, and it was ready to go. 
 
 All the town turned out when it was time for the mail to arrive. 
 Not that every one was expecting a letter — ah, no — but yet one never 
 knew what might happen. It wasn't a bad idea to be around when 
 the mail was distributed, in case — ! 
 
 Anyway, the postoffice was a favorite meeting place for the peo- 
 ple. There they would see their friends. Even if Mrs. Blank didn't 
 get a letter herself she was interested in knowing who was fortunate 
 enough to receive one. One by one the postmaster read the names of 
 the persons to whom his painfully few letters were addressed. Then 
 the persons so honored stepped up and claimed their mail. That is, 
 they did if they happened to have 25 cents in their pockets to pay 
 the postage. If they didn't the letter had to wait. 
 
 After postal business grew to the extent that an office was needed, 
 a room for that purpose was secured. Since then it has been moved 
 from pillar to post, occupying various buildings about the city. Not 
 until the year 1909 when the government building in use today was 
 occupied has the postoffice had a home it could call its own. 
 
 At the time of the Civil war the postoffice was located in the room 
 on the site later occupied for years by the B. Stine clothing store, in 
 Central block. 
 
156 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Its next location was at the corner of North Water and East Main 
 street, the drug store corner. 
 
 From there it was moved to North Water street, 200 block, just 
 north of the entrance to the Smith Opera house. 
 
 Its next move was to South Water street, in the Powers building. 
 
 Then the office was moved to the 100 block East Prairie street, 
 northwest corner of the alley, where it remained a number of years. 
 
 Next time a change was made in location, the office was moved to 
 the Columbia block on North Main street. 
 
 In 1903 the office was changed to the Manitou building in the 300 
 block on North Water street, where it remained until the new gov- 
 ernment building was occupied, early in the year 1909. 
 
 Carrier service was given the city in 1884 during the administra- 
 tion of Postmaster R. P. Lytle. Since that time Decatur has had free 
 delivery. 
 
 In 1902 free rural delivery service was established. W. F. Cal- 
 houn was then postmaster. 
 
 NEW BUILDING 
 
 It was during Mr. Calhoun's service as postmaster that the move- 
 ment was started to secure a government building for Decatur. After 
 several years of effort on the part of postmaster and citizens, it was 
 announced that Decatur would get such a building. The site at the 
 southeast corner of North Main and Eldorado streets was purchased 
 
 POSTOFFICE BUILDING, 1929 
 
POSTAL DEPARTMENT 
 
 157 
 
 in 1904. The corner lot, which was 87 by 152 feet, was bought from 
 C. P. Housum, and 48 feet of the W. T. Wells property adjoining on 
 the south also was purchased. This gave the government a tract 135 
 by 152 feet for its new building. Cost of the site was $12,000. 
 
 Work on the new structure was started in 1907, and the new 
 building was occupied in January, 1909. Congress had first appro- 
 priated $80,000 for the building, but later an additional sum of $30,000 
 was secured, making a total of $110,000. 
 
 Business of the postoffice has continued to grow so rapidly that 
 efforts have been made a number of times within recent years to se- 
 cure an addition to the building. More room soon will be an absolute 
 necessity. 
 
 POSTMASTERS SINCE 1830 
 
 The list of postmasters in Decatur and the dates of their appoint- 
 ment since the beginning is as follows: 
 
 Daniel McCall, March 6, 1830. 
 Isaac C. Pugh, Oct. 1, 1831. 
 Daniel McCall, March 15, 1834. 
 William Cantrill, Feb. 26, 1835. 
 John G. Speer, May 27, 1837. 
 Wilson Allen, Feb. 19, 1840. 
 Thomas P. Rogers, Jan. 20, 1841. 
 Samuel C. Allen, June 24, 1841. 
 Alex Mahood, Feb. 25, 1845. 
 Preston Butler, March 21, 1849. 
 William J. Usrey, Sept. 5, 1851. 
 John P. Post, July 7, 1853. 
 Philip B. Shepherd, Aug. 27, 1858. 
 
 John Ryan, Sept. 13, 1859. 
 Hiram Buck, Sept. 28, 1866. 
 George B. Peake, March 1, 1867. 
 William J. Usrey, April 5, 1869. 
 Isaac C. Pugh, Sept. 5, 1871. 
 Robert P. Lytle, Dec. 16, 1874. 
 Samuel S. Jack, Jan. 13, 1887. 
 John T. Hubbard, Jan. 31, 1891. 
 Jerry Donahue, June 5, 1894. 
 William F. Calhoun, Oct. 26, 1897. 
 Wilson M. Bering, June 27, 1913. 
 Jacob H. Hill, Jan. 1, 1922 (present 
 cumbent). 
 
158 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 CHAPTER XXX 
 
 EARLY HOTELS 
 
 NO matter how small or how large a town, its citizens and visitors 
 must eat and sleep, and boarding houses and hotels become 
 necessary establishments. 
 
 From the days of "Uncle Jimmy" Renshaw's log cabin tavern to 
 the modern hotels of Decatur today, the city has been provided with 
 a good class of hostelries. In the beginning they were crude, just as 
 the town was crude, but they kept pace with the city, and today are 
 on a par with the hotels of the largest cities. 
 
 Renshaw's tavern, as stated elsewhere, was Decatur's first place 
 of business, started in 1829. The tavern was a log cabin, standing 
 on the present site of the Lincoln theater entrance. In connection 
 with the tavern was conducted a store. Mr. Renshaw was in busi- 
 ness there a number of years and was quite successful. 
 
 THE HARRELLS 
 
 For many years during the early history of Decatur the name of 
 Harrell was associated with the boarding house and hotel business. 
 "Landlady" Harrell had a wide reputation and was popular with 
 the traveling public. She had come to Decatur in 1829. For a long 
 time she had a tavern on the north side of the old square. Later she 
 and her sons ran what was known as Social hall south of the square. 
 Her sons. John and Landy Harrell, purchased that hall in 1853 and 
 refurnished it. In 1854 they built the hotel which later was replaced 
 by the St. Nicholas. Mrs. Harrell remained there in charge for some 
 
 time, and later conducted a boarding 
 house on Wood street, which she 
 continued up until the time of her 
 death in September, 1868. 
 
 The hotel built by the Harrell^ 
 was a three story building. That 
 hotel had many different names and 
 different proprietors before it finally 
 came into possession of the Laux 
 Brothers and was named the St. 
 Nicholas, the name it has since kept 
 It was known as the Harrell House, 
 the Cassell House, the Shoaff house, 
 
EARLY HOTELS 
 
 159 
 
 the Tremont house, the Oglesby house, Varuey's hotel, and the 
 Cloudas House. 
 
 When it was the Oglesby house it was run by Willis Oglesby, 
 son of the Willis Oglesby who brought the orphan lad, Richard J. 
 Oglesby, to Decatur. This Willis Oglesby came here in 1855. His 
 little daughter was killed by falling through the banisters in the 
 hotel, and the father then gave up the business. Mr. Oglesby was 
 killed later in the battle of Shiloh during the Civil war. 
 
 The Laux brothers, Nicholas, Peter and Charles, in 1861 bought 
 the hotel from L. B. Wing of Urbana, who had come into posses- 
 sion of it through having loaned money on it. It had been known 
 then as the Cloudas. The Laux brothers changed the name to the 
 St. Nicholas. The original building was torn down in 1865, and re- 
 placed by a three story brick structure. In 1892 that building was 
 demolished to make room for a new five story building, which is a 
 part of the building in use today. The ten story addition to the hotel 
 was erected in 1914. 
 
 The Laux brothers introduced some innovations. Three kero- 
 sene lamps were bought, the first of the kind in Decatur. One was 
 placed at the head of each stairway. What a wonderful effect! 
 Patrons were delighted. The landlords arranged also for the porter to 
 fill pitchers with hot water, in the mornings, if the guests would 
 leave the pitchers outside their room doors. How up to date this 
 hotel was. 
 
 OLD ST. XTCHOLAS HOTEL, 1865-1892 
 
160 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 To serve as a guide for the bus drivers a lantern was hung in 
 the window of the hotel at night. It coultl be seen almost all the way 
 
 to the railroad station. The 
 candles which were used in 
 the rooms were made at the 
 hotel. 
 
 Judging from the num- 
 ber of landlords at the hotel 
 before the Laux brothers 
 took charge, one would be 
 likely to think that it was 
 hard sledding for the hotel. 
 This was probably true 
 After the railroads came, a 
 depot was built which in- 
 cluded a hotel, known as 
 ^m® Central house. 
 Practically all the transient business went to the Central hotel 
 because of its convenience to the station. It was some years before 
 hotel business in the downtown district became profitable. A hotel 
 on East Eldorado street, known as the Thorpe hotel, was practically 
 put out of business by the opening of the Central hotel. This build- 
 ing was sold, and later became St. Teresa's academy. It had been built 
 by John Humphrey at the time the Great Western railroad had its 
 first station at Broadway street. 
 
 ^.. 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 A ftlf 3fc: 
 
 -. ' 
 
 
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 1: 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 K « s sKSss'**' 1 * 
 
 
 
 THE ST. NICHOLAS TODAY 
 
 THE REVERE 
 
 Decatur's first real hotel, and the leading establishment of the 
 sort for many years, was the Macon house, later known as The 
 Revere. From the time of its erection in 1839 until the day it was de- 
 stroyed by fire in 1871, it was the best known and most important 
 hotel in Decatur. Just how far that importance went was really not 
 realized until after the hotel was burned. 
 
 The original building of the Macon house consisted of two stories 
 and basement, containing twelve bedrooms and a large attic. The 
 building had 50 foot frontage on Franklin street and 30 feet on Prairie. 
 
 The hotel was erected for Captain David L. Allen and Dr. 
 Thomas H. Read by Edward O. Smith. It was run first by Mrs. 
 Elizabeth Nesbitt and two sons, James and Washington. They had 
 charge of the place until 1841, when it was taken over by John Eckel. 
 
EARLY HOTELS 
 
 161 
 
 He continued it for about a year. In 1842 David Krone became the 
 proprietor and he conducted the hotel until 1850. 1 
 
 Many stories have been told of the regime of the hotel under the 
 Krone management. Those were the days when it was visited by 
 Abraham Lincoln, Judge David Davis, Leonard Swett and other 
 notable members of the bar. It was said that often the lawyers, who 
 were riding the circuit in those days, prolonged court sessions in De- 
 catur because of the splendid hotel service. It was something they 
 didn't get in many of the cities of that time. Mother Krone's cooking 
 became famous. 
 
 The lease which was signed May 3, 1842, between David L. Al- 
 len and Thomas H. Read of the first part and David Krone of the sec- 
 ond part read partly as follows : 
 
 "Have rented the tavern stand together with the stable and ap- 
 purtenances thereunto belonging, commonly known as the Macon 
 house in Decatur." 
 
 The lessors agreed to furnish the necessary bedding, beds and fur- 
 niture, also all necessary feed for stable, and the said Krone "has the 
 privilege of feeding two cows from the same without charge." 
 They agreed also to furnish Krone with firewood he might need in 
 the tavern. The wood was to come from any timber belonging to 
 Allen and Read, but Krone was to cut and haul the wood at his own 
 expense. 
 
 The rent for the hotel was to be half the total receipts. It did not 
 matter whether it was paid in produce, money or trade. 
 
 REVERE HOUSE, 1856-1871 
 
162 • HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 The hotel was prosperous during the Krone regime. The next 
 proprietor was Jesse H. Elliott, and he stayed only about a year. 
 George W. Baker was another of the proprietors in the interval of 
 time from the Krones to Hugh Taylor, who bought the hotel in 
 1856. Mr. Taylor made extensive additions to the hotel. He built both 
 on the east and on the south, and also added another story. These 
 improvements made it a sixty room hotel. It was then called the Tay- 
 lor house. Taylor sold out in two years to Colonel Samuel Clark of 
 Springfield. Clark's son-in-law, W. L. Barnum, became the proprietor 
 and the hotel then was known as the Barnum house. 
 
 Darlington Turnbolt took charge of the place about 1859 and re- 
 mained until 1865. From 1861 to 1865 L. R. Cain was associated with 
 him, and part of the time they ran the St. Nicholas hotel also. Turn- 
 Bolt sold out to E. G. Egbert who came from Keokuk in 1865. Eg- 
 bert died in about a year, but his family continued the hotel for a 
 time. 
 
 The next landlord, Dr. Ross, didn't last very long, but while he 
 was at the hotel, it is said, he taught people what real food was. He 
 engaged a chef at a handsome salary, and his meals became famous 
 over the state. A banquet menu in those days puts a modern day one 
 to shame. At one such event for newspaper editors in 1866 more 
 than ninety varieties of food were served. Newspaper editors can eat 
 when they have the chance! 
 
 DESTROYED BY FIRE 
 
 Other landlords that followed were A. F. Cochran, Willis Broth- 
 ers and M. C. Hicks. Mr. Hicks bought the property from Colonel 
 Clark in 1871. He had been conducting the hotel only about two 
 months, when fire broke out and laid it in ruins. That fire occurred 
 April 7, 1871. It was thought that a guest left a gas jet burning, and 
 that curtains or wallpaper caught fire from the flame. 
 
 Some of the traveling public in those days were not accustomed 
 to gas lights. 2 
 
 If Decatur had had a fire department of the kind it has today, 
 the Revere house would never have burned, but all it had was a 
 volunteer bucket brigade. The fire burned slowly for hours. 
 
 The blaze had started early in the morning, and as fast and as 
 long as possible guests and hotel employes cast out or carried out 
 household effects, personal belongings and anything they could lay 
 
EARLY HOTELS 
 
 163 
 
 hands on. Some of the guests, it was told, had to pick their clothes 
 out from a heap thrown into Central park before they could dress. 
 
 B. O. McReynolds nearly lost his life in that fire. He was on 
 the second floor helping to get things out when the floor gave way. 
 He fell in such a way that portions of the fallen floor nearly covered 
 him, and it was with great difficulty that he finally was extricated by 
 George W. Kraft and Mr. Archer. He was in agony before released, 
 being crushed and burned. He carried marks of the injuries until his 
 death. Mr. McReynolds at that time was in the dry goods business 
 with J. F. Roach, their store being on South Park and State streets. 
 He was one of the first at the Revere house after the fire was dis- 
 covered. 
 
 Up to that time, The Revere house had been the hub of the city. 
 All travel from the railroad stations up to the center of the town 
 passed that way. Buses made their stops there, before going farther. 
 The hotel had an excellent reputation and was known all over the 
 state. 
 
 CHANGES SITUATION 
 
 When the Revere house burned and was not rebuilt, it meant that 
 the section of the business part of the city bordering on the New 
 Square, now Central park, had lost its main attraction. No longer was 
 the new square in the lead in the business rivalry between the old and 
 the new squares. Gradually business fell off in the neighborhood of 
 
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 THE REVERE HOUSE FIRE, 1871 
 
164 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Franklin and North and South Park streets. Water street became 
 heir to a number of enterprises. Only the most undesirable, mostly 
 saloons and gambling dens, remained on Franklin, and soon that street 
 gained a rather notorious reputation. The old square came into its 
 own and Water and Main streets flourished as the business section. 
 
 It has been only in comparatively recent years that the streets 
 to the north, south and east of Central park have regained their busi- 
 ness standing, due to the necessary expansion of the business district. 
 The automobile trade largely has brought it about. Yet it never has 
 returned and probably never will return to the place it once occupied 
 as Decatur's business center. The burning of the Revere house was 
 the event that brought on the loss of its prestige. 
 
 PRIEST HOTEL 
 
 Hotels grew in number and in size with the passing of the years. 
 For a long time the Priest hotel on the northwest corner of the Old 
 Square was one of the leading establishments. That building was 
 started by W. S. Crissey about 1860. When the north and south walls 
 were up, work stopped for lack of funds. The property later was 
 bought and the building finished by Franklin Priest, who ran a hotel 
 there for many years. 
 
 In 1880 Riley Deming became proprietor and the name was 
 changed to the New Deming. Oscar Spalding followed him as man- 
 ager. 
 
 In 1892 the prop- 
 erty came into the 
 hands of A. Wait 
 and it was opened 
 as the Arcade hotel. 
 In 1900, after being 
 rebuilt and enlarged 
 by Mr. Wait, it be- 
 came the Decatur 
 hotel, with F. B. 
 Stearns as manager. 
 1 ii 1904 the hotel 
 burned, but it was 
 rebuilt. It passed 
 through various 
 priest hotel, 1869 changes in manage- 
 
EARLY HOTELS 
 
 165 
 
 ment until 1915 when the hotel again was destroyed by fire. This time 
 it was not rebuilt as a hotel, though the structure which now stands 
 
 on the site still houses an eating 
 place, the Lincoln cafe. 
 
 The Arcade store building ad- 
 joining the hotel, a seven story brick 
 structure, also built by Mr. Wait, 
 was destroyed in the fire in 1915. 
 
 OLD HOTELS 
 
 The Brunswick hotel building 
 is probably the oldest hotel now 
 Brunswick hotel standing in the city. It was erected 
 
 about 1860. Its first — or one of the 
 
 first — proprietor was Thomas B. Albert. Until sometime in the 
 
 '70s the place was known as the Pennsylvania house, and later it was 
 
 called the American for a time. Since about 1885 it has been known 
 
 as the Brunswick. Another old hotel in the downtown district is the 
 
 St. James, which was built 
 
 about 1875. 
 
 Hotels became rather 
 
 numerous in the vicinity of 
 
 the railroad stations. One 
 
 that stood for many years 
 
 was the National at Front 
 
 and Cerro Gordo streets, 
 
 where the Kraft hotel now 
 
 stands. It was run by John 
 
 McEvoy. A picture shows 
 
 the hotel and the saloon in 
 
 connection with it, a sight 
 
 familiar to the old time 
 
 residents but not to the 
 
 present day generation. It was replaced by 
 
 NATIONAL HOTEL, 1894 
 
 the Kraft hotel 
 
 1907. 
 
 1 The proprietor of the Macon house before Landlord Krone had a bar in the basement. 
 Krone did not have one. When people asked him if he had anything to drink he would reply: 
 "Nothing stronger than coffee." 
 
 The Daily Republican of Decatur had the following item in its issue Sept. 9, 1869: 
 "A couple of Springfield youths came to the Revere house Tuesday evening and when they 
 retired for the night, not being accustomed to the luxury of gas in the quiet village where they 
 were born and reared, they treated the jet as they were accustomed to serve the tallow dip, and 
 went to sleep. Their mistake was fortunately discovered by the clerk before any serious effects 
 had resulted and the chaps escaped with nothing more than headache and sick stomachs." 
 
166 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI 
 RURAL SCHOOLS 
 
 MACON county pioneers recognized the importance of having 
 schools. Many of them had come from educational environ- 
 ments, others had not, but all of them wanted advantages for their 
 children. There was then no public school system in Illinois, and they 
 were not going to wait until one was perfected. 
 
 As a result there have been schools in the county ever since its 
 beginning, in fact, before the county was laid out. Naturally, the first 
 ones were crude and poor, but so was everything else at the time. 
 Buildings were made of logs. Furniture was cut from the timber. 
 Seats were slabs supported by sticks. Desks were puncheon shelves, 
 fastened on wooden pins driven into the walls. Sections of logs at the 
 sides of the building were cut out to make windows, and the holes 
 covered with greased paper. 
 
 Some of the earliest teachers were as poor in proportion as their 
 surroundings. A teacher had to be picked up anywhere he could be 
 found, and often he knew little more than the pupils. One did not 
 have to know much. The instructor of that day did not worry about 
 a teacher's certificate. Yet there were some good teachers, too. 1 
 Most of the early teachers were men. It required brawn as well as 
 brain then, and handling a school was considered too hard for a 
 woman. 
 
 After 1872, when the law was amended to require teachers to 
 pass an examination, the standard of the teaching profession was 
 raised. 
 
 The earliest schools were all of the subscription type. A subscrip- 
 tion paper was passed, and patrons subscribed what they could give 
 to the support of a school. When enough money was in sight, a 
 teacher was employed. Patrons were expected to subscribe according 
 to the number of children they had in school, though that wasn't al- 
 ways possible. 
 
 FIRST SCHOOLS 
 
 Records available today on the early schools of the county do 
 not agree as to the date of erection of the first school building. 
 Lewis B. Ward, one of the pioneers, said that the first school build- 
 ing was erected in 1825 on the old Widick place, later -known as the 
 
RURAL SCHOOLS 167 
 
 P. M. Wikoff land, three and one-half miles southwest of Decatur, 
 and that the first teacher was named Taylor, generally called "Frozen" 
 Taylor. The land was first known as the Lewis B. Ward land, and 
 the school was called the Ward school. According to old residents, 
 this was the school afterwards known as the Cross Roads school, so 
 it has had continuous existence since 1825. The first building was 
 abandoned in 1845. Since then the school has had four different build- 
 ings. 
 
 The second school building in Macon county, according to Lewis 
 B. Ward, was built in 1828 on land southwest of Decatur owned later 
 by W. C. Smith. In this building Abraham Lincoln attended "spell- 
 ings" and other gatherings. A man named Nelson, called "A Little 
 Yankee," taught there. 
 
 Other records say that the first house erected for school pur- 
 poses was put up in 1826 on Stevens creek, in the neighborhood of the 
 Stevens settlement. 
 
 In Blue Mound township, according to report, there was a school 
 as early as 1828, with Daniel McCall as teacher. 
 
 In the year 1829 or 1830 a school was erected in Harristown town- 
 ship on James Miller's land. 
 
 Friend's Creek township had a school as early as 1835 and 1836, 
 the first building for the purpose being erected in 1838. 
 
 In Mt. Zion township a schoolhouse was erected about 1840 about 
 three-quarters of a mile west of the present village of Mt. Zion. 
 
 Long Creek township had a school building as early as 1834, 
 located in Section 16. Daniel Stickel was the first teacher. 
 
 What was known as the Orthodox school house was built in 
 Whitmore township in 1841 by free contributions of such materials 
 as the settlers could provide. This building was designed for common 
 school, singing school, spelling school, debating societies, lecture 
 room, political meetings, and other public uses. It was constructed 
 entirely of oak. It occupied the site of what became the Union ceme- 
 tery. 
 
 Oakley township had a school as early as 1830, with Alexander 
 Patton as the first teacher. 
 
 Alt. Gilead was one of the earliest of the country schools. At 
 first its area covered about all of what is now South Wheatland town- 
 ship. This school is now known as Elm Grove, and the present build- 
 ing is a short distance north of the site of the first school house. 
 
 One of the well known early schools was the Bagdad school. The 
 building was erected for both church and school purposes. It was on 
 
168 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 a lot donated by Samuel Cox, and stood on the present site of the 
 Sharon Methodist church. Previous to the erection of this building 
 church services had been held in the homes of Glenn Church, John 
 Gulick and others. After this building was outgrown, separate build- 
 .ngs were erected. The church remained on the same site, but the 
 school was located at a different point, a mile east and south, and it 
 became known as the Sunnyside school. 
 
 Another early school was the Bull Point school north of Deca- 
 tur on the Bloomington road, in Hickory Point township. It was 
 erected on land belonging to William F. Montgomery. 
 
 County school commissioner was the title given to the director 
 of schools in the county in the beginning. In 1865 the title was 
 changed to county superintendent of schools. So far as records show, 
 James Johnson was the first school commissioner of Macon county, 
 serving from 1832 to 1834. After him came the following: 
 
 SUPERINTENDENTS 
 
 1834-1835- 
 1835-1838- 
 1838-1840- 
 1840-1847- 
 1847-1860- 
 
 -James Bradshaw. 
 -Charles Emerson. 
 -H. M. Gorin. 
 -P. D. Williams. 
 -W. S. Crissey, 
 
 1860-1864- 
 
 -C. 
 
 c. 
 
 Burroughs 
 
 1864-1869- 
 
 -Edwin 
 
 Parks. 
 
 1869-1873- 
 
 -O. 
 
 F. 
 
 McKim. 
 
 1873-1877- 
 
 -s. 
 
 P. 
 
 Nickey. 
 
 JOHN TRAINER 
 
 By this time schools had made great advance in Illinois and were 
 on higher levels, but the year 1877 saw the beginning of the regime 
 of a county superintendent, who not only put Macon county "on the 
 map," so far as rural school work was concerned, but who started 
 a system that was adopted by the state of Illinois and many other 
 states as well. 
 
 The man who made Macon county famous in school circles was 
 John Trainer, who served as the county superin- 
 tendent from 1877 to 1885. 
 
 He is called the father of the system of grad- 
 ing in country schools, the course of study and the 
 standardizing of rural schools. He is credited with 
 having done more for the rural schools than any 
 other educator in Illinois. 
 
 "Trainer's Manual and Guide" developed into 
 a booklet known as the "Macon County Guide" 
 and was used as a basis for manuals printed by 
 other county superintendents, and finally grew 
 into a state course of study for country schools. It 
 has been adopted by a number of states. Trainer 
 jottn trainer published various books and helps. One of his books 
 
RURAL SCHOOLS 
 
 169 
 
 OLD FORSYTH SCHOOL BUILDING 
 
 was "How to Study United States History." Mr. Trainer had marked 
 ability as a teacher and was a man who inspired pupils, as well as 
 teachers and parents. 
 
 Since Mr. Trainer the position 
 of county superintendent of schools 
 has been filled by the following: 
 
 1886-90— Thomas L. Evans. 
 1890-94 — John N. Donahey. 
 1894-1902— John G. Keller. 
 1902-06— A. A. Jones. 
 1906-10 — Leona F. Bowman. 
 1910-18— Mary Moore Eyman. 
 1918-22— Everett L. Dickey. 
 1922 to date — Cora B. Ryman. 
 
 In 1877 the plan to hold annual 
 teachers' institutes was inaugurated. 
 Before that, such institutes had been 
 held occasionally. 
 
 What is believed to be the oldest rural school building now 
 standing in the county is the old building at Forsyth now used as a 
 machine shop. It was erected in 1864 and was used as a school until 
 1927 when the present day building was constructed. 
 
 One of the best of the modern day rural school buildings is the 
 Brick school west of Warrensburg. There are many other splendid 
 structures, with modern equipment. 
 
 Today Macon county has 5,000 pupils in the rural schools, ac- 
 cording to the 1929 report of the county superintendent. Two hun- 
 dred and sixteen teachers direct thern. There are 129 schools with one 
 teacher, and five with two. This does not include Brush college dis- 
 trict, in a class by itself with two 
 buildings having nine rooms and 
 nine teachers. 
 
 As the old log school houses 
 gave way years ago to improved 
 type of buildings, so have the old 
 ways of teaching given way to up 
 to date methods of instruction and 
 supervision. Macon county can be 
 proud of the high standard 
 reached by its rural schools. a modern day rural school 
 
 (The Brick School) 
 
 ; 1 
 
 nif^r 
 
 EU'siB 
 
 3$m - 
 I 
 
 i ■ - 
 
 1 One story, told by the late E. O. Smith, as to the qualifications of early school teachers 
 says that one day neighbors were discussing the attainments of a certain young woman who had 
 just completed a term as teacher. One old man admitted that the teacher was well educated, but 
 said that "she did not know everything, for every time she talked about a 'cheer' she called it a 
 'chair'." 
 
170 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 CHAPTER XXXII 
 DECATUR SCHOOLS 
 
 WHAT was the town of Decatur doing about schools a hundred 
 years ago? In 1829, when the town was laid out, there probably 
 were not enough people around the site of the town to make a school 
 necessary, but by the following year the situation had changed. 
 
 The earliest school inside the new town, of which mention has 
 ever been made, was in 1830. Mrs. Marietta Packard King used to 
 tell that when she came in that year school was being held in a small 
 room on South Main street. After the log court house was put into 
 use school was held there in 1831 and 1832, with Daniel McCall as 
 teacher. Probably that continued to be the location for school ses- 
 sions for several years for we have no mention of other schools until 
 1839, when the Christian church was rented as a school room. 
 
 Nathan L. Krone often mentioned a school held in a house on 
 East William between Franklin and Jackson streets, near the Town 
 branch, which he attended in 1843. He thought the teacher was 
 Thomas H. Rogers. Others have mentioned Lemuel Allen and Miss 
 Fordyce as having taught in that building. When that school house 
 burned down a house on Jackson street was secured. 1 
 
 In 1842 citizens were discussing the matter of a school building 
 and a plan was made whereby the Masons would join them in the 
 undertaking. As a result a two story building was erected at the 
 corner of W T ater and North Park streets, the lower room being used 
 for a school and the upper room for a lodge room. This was really 
 Decatur's first school building. In 1856 the school trustees sold their 
 share in the property to the Masons. 
 
 PRIVATE SCHOOLS 
 
 For twenty-five years Decatur had only subscription and private 
 schools. One of the best known and most influential private schools 
 was conducted by Mrs. Almira Avery Powers. She began teaching 
 in 1849. Mrs. Powers had been a teacher before her marriage. Her 
 sister, Miss Maria Giles, had been teaching a class of young women 
 in a room on Franklin street. Mrs. Powers taught for seven years, 
 first in her home, later in the Masonic temple and in a brick building 
 on West North street. Many have been the tributes paid to the in- 
 fluence of Mrs. Powers as a teacher in those days. 
 
DECATUR SCHOOLS 171 
 
 After Mrs. Powers gave up her school, Miss Tempy Short of 
 Quincy became principal of a school here. 
 
 Another school which stands out prominently in early history 
 was the school conducted by Rev. John W. Coleman, in the basement 
 of the First Methodist church, which stood at Prairie and Watet; 
 streets. The school was started in 1855 and continued until just be- 
 fore Christmas, 1857. 
 
 Subjects of high school grade were offered in the Coleman school. 
 It became a flourishing institution, and Mr. Coleman had a number 
 of assistant teachers. They were his wife, Mrs. Nancy Ela Coleman, 
 her sister, Miss Maria Ela; Miss Lyda Powell and W. Bramwell 
 Powell. The latter became the father of the famous violinist, Maud 
 Powell. 
 
 Mr. Coleman was considered one of the most remarkable teach- 
 ers Decatur has ever had, though his school lasted for a compara- 
 tively short time. He was obliged to discontinue it because of ill 
 health. When he closed his school he held a school exhibition in the 
 Powers hall, that was such a successful event that it was talked 
 about for years afterwards. 
 
 In later years, after Mr. Coleman's health had improved, he was 
 employed as a bookkeeper for Stamper & Condell, merchants, and 
 also served as township collector. He died the day after signing his 
 final report, Feb. 17, 1869. 
 
 In the '60s a private school for boys was conducted by Mrs. 
 Ichabod Baldwin on West Main street. This probably was the first 
 exclusive boys' school. 
 
 Decatur was one of the first school districts in Illinois to take 
 advantage of the Act of 1849, which gave a district authority to vote 
 a local tax for school support. In 1851 a tax of ten cents on the $100 
 assessed valuation was voted for the repair of the "brick school 
 house." This is supposed to have been the building occupied jointly 
 with the Masons. The vote was 30 to 12. 
 
 PUBLIC SCHOOLS 
 
 Public school history of Decatur begins with the passage of the 
 school law Feb. 15, 1855, which provides for the taxing of all the 
 people of the state for the education of all children in the state, and 
 requiring that all the districts maintain schools free to the children 
 for at least six months of each year. That year tax was levied in 
 Decatur district for the purpose of building a school house. As a re- 
 sult, Decatur had its first building erected exclusively as a public 
 school. It was located at the northwest corner of Church and North 
 
172 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 THE "BIG BRICK" 
 
 streets and was known as the Big Brick. Today the site is occupied 
 by the E. A. Gastman school. 
 
 The site at that corner 
 was purchased June 19, 1855, 
 for $800 from Elisha D. Car- 
 ter and Christiana, his wife. 
 It is described as lots 1, 2, 3, 
 4, 5, Block 8, Bandy's addi- 
 tion. 
 
 The new school build- 
 ing was started the next year 
 by the directors, J. J. Pedde- 
 cord, E. O. Smith and P. B. 
 Shepherd. On the first floor were two good sized rooms, with recita- 
 tion room adjoining each, and on the second floor were one large room 
 and two small recitation rooms. The new building was opened in the 
 fall of 1857, with J. H. Remsburg as principal and David L. Bunn and 
 Helen E. Parsons as assistants upstairs. Remsburg had previously 
 conducted a private school. In 1879 an addition was made to the Big 
 Brick. 
 
 The Decatur school district received a gift of a lot for school 
 purposes, but never used the lot as a school site. The gift came from 
 David L. Allen, who conveyed to the district April 14, 1856, Lot 1, 
 Block 3, Allen, McReynolds & Co.'s addition, and 10 feet of the west 
 side of Lot 4 of the same block. This was the site now occupied by 
 the Citizens bank. 
 
 When Decatur was laid out, a lot was reserved for school pur- 
 poses, but there is no record to show that it was ever so used. 
 
 The lot, which was the gift of Captain Allen, was sold Dec. 2, 
 1856, to Macon lodge, No. 8, A. F. and A. M., for $1,000. 
 
 The first meeting of the school board of directors, of which 
 record has been preserved, was held Nov. 30, 1858, membejs present 
 being A. T. Hill and J. P. Boyd. It was determined at that meeting 
 to open a school in the lower room of the Masonic building. Evidently 
 school enrollment was growing. Miss Mary C. Bassett of Maroa was 
 engaged as teacher of the new room and her salary was to be $35 a 
 month. Besides teaching, she was expected to build the fires and keep 
 the room in order. 
 
 The first report now available on school enrollment was made 
 Dec. 2, 1858. It showed the following figures: 
 First ward — D. L. Bunn, 140 scholars. 
 First ward — Miss M. C. Bassett, 27 scholars. 
 
DECATUR SCHOOLS 173 
 
 Second ward — J. A. Johnson, 150 scholars. 
 
 Second ward — Assistant, Miss Sarah Wilder, 80 scholars. 
 
 Second ward — Assistant, Miss Ela, 105 scholars. 
 
 Fourth Ward — Miss Juliet M. Bradley, 30 scholars. 
 
 Second ward — Miss Roe, sick and unable to be in school. 
 
 In 1859 the directors, Messrs. Hill, Swingley and Boyd, published 
 the wage scale of Decatur schools. At that time the principal, D. L. 
 Bunn, was receiving $330 salary for six months, and J. A. Johnson 
 $500 for six months. Two women teachers were being paid $40 a 
 month and the others $30 a month. 
 
 That year school was being held in the following buildings : the 
 Big Brick, the marble shop (gun store), the Masonic hall, the Houck 
 house (P. D. and E freight house), and the Risdon house in the west- 
 ern part of the city. The school in the gunshop was discontinued 
 when a two story frame building at the corner of Franklin and North 
 Park was rented from Captain Allen in 1859. 
 
 Text books in use were : 
 
 Webster's Elementary Spelling Book. 
 
 McGuffey's New Series of Readers. 
 
 Wells' English Grammar. 
 
 Mitchell's First Lessons. 
 
 Primary and Common School Geographies. 
 
 Lossing's Primary and Pictorial History of the United States. 
 
 Payson, Dunton and Scribner's System of Penmanship. 
 
 School enrollment continued to increase and it was difficult to 
 find rooms for school purposes. Basements of the Methodist, Presby- 
 terian and Baptist churches were rented. 
 
 E. A. GASTMAN 
 
 One day in 1860 a man came down from Hudson, 111., and asked 
 for a job as school teacher. He was hired as the principal of the pri- 
 mary department at the Big Brick. The board then was composed 
 of A. T. Hill, S. K. Swingley and Dr. E. W. Moore. 
 
 That was the beginning of a life sentence for Enoch A. Gast- 
 man in the Decatur schools. The following year he 
 was made head of the high school, and superintend- 
 ent of schools, a position he held the rest of his life. 
 His term of service as superintendent was the long- 
 est in the history of American schools, 46 years. 
 With Mr. Gastman's constructive leadership, the 
 Decatur schools were brought to a high degree of 
 efficiency. He was a wise and conservative director 
 of education, keen minded — the type needed in a 
 fast growing city. 
 
 The need for something different in school gov- 
 ernment was recognized and Decatur asked the e. a. gastman 
 
174 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 legislature for a special charter, designed after the charter previously 
 granted Rock Island. The school law then in effect was designed espe- 
 cially for rural schools and was not adequate for a growing city. The bill 
 for the special charter was introduced by Isaac C. Pugh of Decatur, 
 then serving as representative. It passed both houses and was ap- 
 proved by Governor Oglesby Feb. 16, 1865. This charter provides for 
 a school board of three members, elected from the district at large. 
 The Decatur schools have been operated under this charter until the 
 present day. The first board, under the new charter, was composed 
 of William L. Hammer, David P. Bunn and Caleb C. Burroughs. 
 
 Decatur's next school building, after the Big Brick, was the Third 
 ward school, afterwards known as the Wood street school, and later 
 replaced by the Mary W. French school. The first two rooms of this 
 building were erected in 1863. The Jones school on North Water 
 street was constructed in 1864. In 1866 the Fourth ward (Jackson 
 street) school was built, and in 1867 the First ward (Sangamon street) 
 building was erected. 
 
 Contract for the first unit of the high school building, which stood 
 for many years at North and Broadway streets, was let in 1868, and 
 the building was occupied in September, 1869. Since 1862 high school 
 sessions had been conducted first in the Big Brick, then in the base- 
 ment of the Baptist church. 
 
 The first session of high school was held Sept. 22, 1862, in the 
 east room of the Big Brick. 2 E. A. Gastman was principal, and thirty- 
 nine pupils were enrolled. The first high school commencement exer- 
 cises were held June 20, 1867, at Powers hall. There were four gradu- 
 ates, all girls. They were Emma Hummell, Rachel Hummell, Alice 
 Roberts and Emmaretta Williams. 
 
 In 1869 Miss Mary W. French be- 
 gan her long and successful career as 
 a teacher, retiring in 1912. 
 
 In 1870 S. S. Jack was named high 
 school principal, and Mr. Gastman 
 gave all his time to the superintend- 
 ency of schools. Since the days of Mr. 
 Jack, the following have served as high 
 school principal: Oscar F. McKim, I. 
 E. Brown, J N. Wilkinson, John W. 
 Gibson, Walter A. Edwards, C. M. Mc- 
 Mahon, Louis B. Lee, James J. Shep- 
 first high school pard, Frank Hamsher, Sheridan W. 
 
DECATUR SCHOOLS 
 
 175 
 
 Ehrman, Jesse II. Newlon, Thomas M. Deam, Otto Weedman, and 
 R. C. Sayre. 
 
 Decatur school officials have always found difficulty in keeping 
 up with the fast growing school population. One building after an- 
 other has followed in quick successsion. Other school structures 
 erected before 1900 were the Jasper street, 1882, Marietta street, 1884, 
 Warren, 1890, H. B. Durfee, 1892, Pugh, 1895, and Oakland, 1896 
 Some of the earlier buildings have given way to newer and more 
 modern structures. The E. A. Gastman school now occupies the site 
 of the Big Brick. Sangamon, Jackson and Jasper schools and the old 
 high school building are no more, their places being taken by new 
 buildings in more advantageous locations. Marietta school was re- 
 placed by the new Lincoln school. Additions have been made to many 
 of the original buildings still in use. 
 
 New school buildings erected since 1900 are E. A. Gastman, 
 Roach, Dennis, Ullrich, Roosevelt junior high, Washington, Johns 
 Hill junior high, Centennial junior high, Riverside, Garfield, Oglesby, 
 U. S. Grant, Mary VV. French, Lincoln and Decatur high school. All 
 are in keeping with the advance of Decatur as a city. 
 
 Some of the former prominent school board members have been 
 remembered in naming schools. They were H. B. Durfee, John K. 
 Warren, James G. Roach, and John Ullrich. Pugh school was named 
 after General Isaac C. Pugh, and E. A. Gastman after the man who 
 served so long and so successfully as superintendent of schools. Og- 
 lesby school was named for Richard J. Oglesby, war general, gov- 
 ernor and senator. 
 
 The first woman member of the Decatur board 
 of education was Mrs. Isabella T. Stafford, who 
 served from 1892 to 1895. Since then there has al- 
 ways been a woman on the board. 
 
 Decatur school pupils today number 10,600, 
 and teachers 354. An important feature of school 
 life today is the work of the Parent-Teachers asso- 
 ciations. Each school has its own organization, and 
 together they make up the city association. 
 
 Superintendent E. A. Gastman passed away 
 in 1907, shortly after he retired from the position of 
 head of the Decatur school system. Superintendents 
 which have followed him, H. B. Wilson, J. O. En- MRg ISABELLA 
 gleman, J. J. Richeson and William Harris, have t. Stafford 
 
176 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 continued the wise supervision begun in his time. Decatur's school 
 system today, unexcelled in leadership, teaching force and buildings, 
 is the product of a century of progress. 
 
 BUSINESS COLLEGE 
 
 In 1884 H. S. DeSoller started a business college in Decatur. In 
 two or three years he sold it to Horatio Nelson, who in August, 1889, 
 sold to G. W. Brown of Jacksonville. Ever since then it has been 
 known as Brown's Business college. Mr. Brown installed E. P. Irving 
 as principal. 
 
 About 1913 Mr. Brown sold the college to Peck and Read of St. 
 Louis, and in 1914 they sold to H. M. Owen, present owner. 
 
 Mr. Owen, whose home was in Stonington, came to Decatur in 
 1891 from Davenport, la., and he and Henry D. Goshert of Warsaw, 
 Ind., opened the Decatur Business university in the Syndicate block. 
 In 1894 Mr. Owen succeeded Mr. Irving as principal at Brown's and 
 merged his own school with the college. It is estimated that more 
 than 19,000 young people have attended the business college since its 
 beginning. 
 
 1 This school building came to its disastrous end, due to the zeal of one of its pupils. It was 
 customary for the boys to take turns at making the fire at the schoolhouse in the mornings. One 
 boy didn't do a very good job at it and was censured for it. He agreed to do better. When his 
 turn came again he remembered that he must make a good fire. He started the blaze and laid 
 on the wood. As the flames leaped up he piled on more wood. But alas, his fire turned out to 
 be too good, for it was more than the chimney could stand, and by the time the other pupils 
 arrived the building was in ashes. 
 
 2 When the high school was opened, it had no library, the only reference books being those 
 that belonged to the principal. This state of affairs existed for several years, while school instructors 
 were wondering how they could secure a library. Finally three teachers, Emily Moeller, Carrie 
 Jamison and Jane Hamand, decided to start the movement by soliciting subscriptions for the 
 purchase of books. A few days of patient canvassing resulted in a total of $1.50 with which to 
 start a library ! The principal invested the money in a volume of Cleveland's Compendium of 
 English Literature. That was the beginning of the Decatur high school library. 
 
PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS 
 
 177 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII 
 
 PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS 
 
 DECATUR'S first parochial school was a private school for 
 Catholic children, conducted by Miss Shepherd in the late '50s 
 in a house in the 600 block West Prairie avenue. She left in 1858, 
 and the school was conducted the next year by Miss Barry. Sessions 
 then were held in a house on West Main street. The school was con- 
 tinued there by different teachers until after the Civil war. 
 
 After St. Patrick's congregation erected a church building at the 
 corner of East North and Jackson streets, the old frame church 
 building, which had stood in the 700 block West Prairie, was moved 
 to the lot just east of the new church and was turned into a school 
 room. At that time Mr. and Mrs. St. Leger were conducting the 
 school. They left in 1866. That fall Sisters of the Holy Names of 
 Jesus and Mary opened the school under the name of St. Teresa's 
 school, with Sister Ignatius as superior. Their stay was short. Then 
 some sisters from New York, of the Ursuline order, came and taught 
 several years, but finally returned to New York. 
 
 Meantime the school enrollment had been growing, and a larger 
 building became necessary. In 1868 the congregation purchased a 
 
 hotel building in the 400 
 block on East Eldorado 
 street. At first this build- 
 ing was used as a convent 
 and boarding school for 
 girls, while the boys re- 
 mained in the former school 
 building. In 1873 the pres- 
 ent order of Ursuline sis- 
 ters came from Alton, led 
 by Mother Teresa Gilles- 
 nie, and established St. 
 Teresa's academy. The 
 school was incorporated in 
 1884. 
 
 In 1885 a school build - 
 teresa-s academy in - was erected next door 
 
 Erected iti 1914. to the COUVCIlt. Roth the 
 
178 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 boys and girls attended school in the new building, but later the in- 
 crease in attendance made it necessary again to use the convent build- 
 ing for school purposes. 
 
 OLD ST. TERESA'S SCHOOL 
 
 CONVENT AND SCHOOL 
 
 In later years these buildings became inadequate. Then St. Pat- 
 rick's congregation erected a new parochial school building at the 
 corner of North and Jackson streets, and it was occupied in 1913. 
 That same year the Ursuline sisters started the erection of a new 
 academy building on North Water street at the north edge of the 
 city. School was opened in the new building in 1914, and has con- 
 tinued there since. 
 
 In 1930 a new St. Teresa's Catholic high school was erected near 
 the academy. With the opening of school in September, 1930, all 
 high school sessions were moved to the new building. 
 
 LUTHERANS 
 
 St. Paul's Lutheran school had its beginning in 1870, when Rev. 
 F. W. Kanning came here to the pastorate of the congregation of 
 Lutherans. Immediately on his arrival he started a school in the 
 frame church building on West Wood street then in use. Thirty 
 pupils made up the first school. The pastor did the teaching, and 
 was assisted by several of his pupils. The next pastor, Rev. George 
 Landgraf, continued as teacher, but by 1875 the school had grown 
 so that it was necessary to employ a regular teacher. 
 
 The first teacher called was Mr. Ange, who served also as or- 
 ganist and chorister of the church. 
 
PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS 
 
 179 
 
 In 1880 the congregation erected a new church building and the 
 old frame building was moved to East Prairie street, where it was 
 used for school purposes. 
 
 In 1888 a school building was erected on East Orchard street 
 for the Lutheran children of that section of the city. In 1891 there 
 was a division of the church, and the members of the congregation 
 living in the northeast section organized a church of their own, and 
 erected a house of worship on East Orchard street. Within a few 
 years both the old and the new church organizations had erected new 
 school buildings to meet the growing needs of the congregations. 
 
 FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH 
 AND SCHOOL 
 
 ST. 
 
 PAUL'S LUTHERAN PARISH 
 HOUSE TODAY 
 
 St. Johannes' church, in the northeast part of the city, erected a 
 handsome brick building on East Orchard street in 1898, and St. 
 Paul's church built at the corner of East Prairie and Jackson streets, 
 in 1905. Both schools have continued to grow and large numbers of 
 students have gone out from them. St. Paul's school moved in 
 1929 to the new parish house erected by the congregation on West 
 Wood street. 
 
 ST. JAMES CATHOLIC 
 
 St. James Catholic school had its beginnings when Father Joseph 
 Spaeth came to Decatur in 1877 to shepherd the small group of German 
 people who were adherents of the Catholic faith. He at once set about 
 raising money for a building in which the congregation could wor- 
 ship. A room at the rear of the building was turned into a school 
 room. Having no means to pay a teacher at first, Father Spaeth per- 
 suaded his brother, Anton, to become the instructor, his pay to be 
 his board, an occasional cigar being thrown in for good measure. 
 
180 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 ST. JAMES OLD CHURCH AND SCHOOL 
 
 The school continued in the rear room of the church for three 
 years. Then, in the '80s, during the pastorate of Father L. W. Lam- 
 mert, a rectory and a two story school house were erected on East 
 
 Clay street by the 
 congregation. That 
 school building was 
 used for many years. 
 St. James' church 
 erected a new house 
 of worship in 1912 
 and as soon as the 
 debt on that build- 
 ing was erased, plans 
 began making for a 
 new school. These 
 culminated in 1925 in the erection and dedication of the handsome 
 $150,000 school and community center on South Webster street, in 
 use today. 
 
 ST. THOMAS CATHOLIC 
 
 Decatur's newest parochial school is the school connected with 
 the new St. Thomas Catholic church on North Edward street. This 
 school was opened in September, 1926. 
 
 ADVENTIST 
 
 The Seventh Day Adventist church for some years has main- 
 tained a school for the children of its members. It occupies a frame 
 building in the 700 block West Marietta street. 
 
 ST. .TAMES SCHOOL TODAY 
 
FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS 
 
 181 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV 
 
 FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS 
 
 THE first fraternal order in Decatur was the Masonic, which be- 
 gan with the institution of Macon lodge, No. 8, A. F. and A. M., 
 July 17, 1841. It was the first lodge to be started under the jurisdic- 
 tion of the present Grand Lodge of Illinois, though it was the eighth 
 to receive its charter. 
 
 The charter members were : 
 
 George A. Patterson, Worshipful Master 1 ; Joseph King, Senior 
 Warden; William Lefforge, Junior Warden; Henry Prather, Secre- 
 tary and treasurer; Elijah League, Senior Deacon; Leonard Ashton, 
 Junior Deacon ; James Ashton, Steward and Tyler. 
 
 Master Masons — Warner W. Oglesby, Henry Hummell, and Joel 
 Seth Post. 
 
 Entered apprentices — John P. Tinbrook and Andrew S. Williams. 
 The lodge met at first in a two story frame house on the north 
 side of the 100 block East Wood street. This house had been built 
 by Jacob Spangler as a home for himself and his bride, but just before 
 the time set for the wedding the young woman died. Mr. Spangler 
 then rented the house. 
 
 In 1842 the Masons were discussing the matter of a meeting 
 place. At the same time Decatur citizens were proposing to build a 
 school house. The Masons were asked to join in the move, building 
 an upper story to the school house to use as a lodge room. This plan 
 was carried out. The cornerstone for the new building was laid June 
 24, 1842. The building stood at Water and North Park streets, facing 
 south. 
 
 Masonic bodies increased in number in the fifties. Macon chap- 
 ter, No. 21, Royal Arch Masons, was char- 
 tered Sept. 29, 1854, with nine charter 
 members. They were: D. P. Bunn, W. H. 
 Ennis, J. R. Gorin, Josiah Hunt, Warner 
 W. Oglesby, Henry Prather, J. J. Pedde- 
 cord, J. C. Weaver, Joseph King. 
 
 Beaumanior Commandery No. 9, first 
 
 called Centre Encampment, U. D. (under 
 
 dispensation), and then called Central En- 
 
 first masonic home campiiient, had its beginning July 22, 1856. 
 
182 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 The name was changed to Beaumanior Commandery in 1860. This 
 commandery attended the burial of Abraham Lincoln in Springfield 
 in May, 1865. It also assisted at the laying of the cornerstone of the 
 state house in Springfield. 
 
 Ionic lodge, No. 312, A. F. and A. M., came into being Nov. 10, 
 1859. The charter members were A. B. Bunn, D. W. C. Hardy, Jo- 
 seph Lowenstein, George Goodman, G. R. Moffett, S. S. Good, and 
 J. M. Lowry. 
 
 Decatur Council No. 16, Royal and Select Masters, was char- 
 tered Oct. 7, 1864. 
 
 The Masons found they were needing more room, and accord- 
 ingly early in 1863 they arranged for the use of rooms on the third 
 floor of a building owned by Dr. J. B. T. Stapp, and the adjacent 
 building owned by Elisha D. Carter. These buildings were in the 100 
 block North Water street. 
 
 Again more room was needed, and a new building was discussed. 
 Macon lodge sold its property at Water and Park streets to James 
 W. and George D. Haworth on Nov. 6, 1881, for $14,000. Soon after- 
 wards a lot at the southeast corner of Water and William streets was 
 purchased from James S. Carter for $4,500. Contract for a new four- 
 story building was let to M. G. Patterson for $16,233. Laying of the 
 cornerstone for this building on Aug. 10, 1882, was one of the big- 
 gest events in Masonic history. In the building was placed the corner- 
 stone from the former building at Water and North Park streets. 
 
 Life memberships were voted June 1, 1883, to Jerome R. Gorin, 
 John Hatfield, William L. Hammer, M. G. Patterson, William H. 
 Gipson, David L. Hughes, James L. Peake, Dewitt C. Shockley and 
 George Dempsey, in appreciation of time and services given in the 
 erection of the new building. Bestowing of such honor has never oc- 
 curred again, since the grand lodge 
 soon after that adopted by-laws 
 prohibiting life memberships. 
 
 In 1896 the Masons found it 
 advisable to make another change 
 in headquarters and moved to the 
 Loeb building in the 300 block 
 North Water street. Ten years 
 later, in 1906, they purchased the 
 Methodist church building at Eldo- 
 rado and Franklin streets, formerly 
 known as Stapp's chapel. The first masonic temple 
 
FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS 
 
 183 
 
 Masons remodeled the structure, and named it Eldorado temple. This 
 was their home until 1929. 
 
 SECOND MASONIC TEMPLE 
 
 ELDORADO TEMPLE 
 
 Meantime the Masons were growing stronger, and new lodges 
 were organized. Stephen Decatur lodge, A. F. and A. M., was or- 
 ganized in 1914, and had its first meeting on Aug. 12. Another new 
 lodge came in 1921 with the organization of Great Light lodge on 
 May 4. 
 
 NEW TEMPLE 
 
 For years the Masonic bodies discussed the idea of erecting a 
 temple to house all their activities. This discussion crystallized in the 
 organization in 1923 of the Decatur Masonic Temple association. All 
 the lodges conveyed their property to the new association, and drives 
 for funds were made among the members. As a result the new tem- 
 ple, located at William and Church streets, was erected at a cost of 
 
 $850,000. The temple was 
 dedicated Feb. 8, 1929, by 
 Grand Master Louis L. 
 Fmmerson. 
 
 Decatur chapter, 111 
 (). E. S. was instituted 
 Sept. 9, 1887, in the Ma- 
 sonic temple at Water and 
 William streets. Thirteen 
 new masonic temple wives of Masons became 
 
184 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 members. First worthy matron was Mrs. Lavonne Y. Hildreth. A 
 new Eastern Star chapter was organized in 1929, and was named 
 Owen Scott chapter. 
 
 A record made by no other man in Decatur was that of Owen 
 Scott, who attended the annual meeting of the Illinois Grand Lodge 
 of Masons for fifty-one consecutive times, the last being in 1928, sev- 
 eral months before his death. Since .1921 he had held the office of 
 grand secretary. 
 
 Mr. Scott was one of the most widely known Masons of the 
 state. He had held every office in the grand lodge from warden to 
 grand master. He was a member of the board of directors of the 
 George Washington Masonic National Memorial association, organ- 
 ized to erect a memorial to Washington at Alexandria, Va. Besides 
 reaching high positions in the Masonic lodge, Mr. Scott was honored 
 in the same way in other lodges of which he was a member, the 
 Knights of Pythias, Odd Fellows, Order of the Eastern Star, and Or- 
 der of Red Men. 
 
 ODD FELLOWS 
 
 The Odd Fellows were the second fraternal body to organize in 
 Decatur. They had their initial meeting Feb. 26, 1850. S. W. Wood- 
 ward, grand master, had charge of organizing the lodge which be- 
 came known as Decatur lodge, No 65. The charter members were 
 Samuel K. Thompson, Henry Hummell, J. R. Turner, Benjamin F. 
 Oglesby and John W. Koehler. The meetings were held in Mont- 
 gomery hall, Water and East Main streets. 
 
 At the first lodge meeting Henry B. Durfee was admitted by 
 
 card. Warner W. Oglesby, E. O. Smith, G. A. Smith, S. W. Carter, 
 
 Austin McClurg and Charles Mayers were initiated. Officers were 
 
 elected as follows : 
 
 Noble Grand — S. K. Thompson. 
 Vice Grand— H. B. Durfee. 
 Recording Secretary — W. W. Oglesby. 
 Treasurer — E. O. Smith. 
 
 Celestial lodge, No. 186, I. O. O. F. was organized Oct. 12, 1855, 
 with the following charter members: W. W. Oglesby, P. D. Kline, 
 S. K. Thompson, Henry P. Elliott, R. F. Jones, Joseph King, James 
 Shoafr, J. L. Peake, A. J. Wolf, C. H. Fuller, George W. Baker, 
 B. H. Cassell, John J. Ballentine. 
 
 Decatur Encampment No. 37, I. O. O. F. was organized Dec. 
 10, 1856, with a charter membership of eight. The charter members 
 were G. A. Smith, Henry Kain, B. F. McCoy, W. T. Peake, Stephen 
 Grimes, Peter Terrell, Alonzo Pierce and Hamilton McCoy. 
 
FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS 
 
 185 
 
 PYTHIAN ORPHANS HOM 
 
 The Daughters of Rebekah were organized in Decatur Oct. 14, 
 
 1873, with nineteen charter members. 
 
 Isaac W. Ehr- 
 man, who came to 
 Decatur in 1853 
 and started a cloth- 
 ing store, and in 
 later years was in 
 the laundry busi- 
 ness, was a mem- 
 ber of the Odd Fel- 
 lows lodge for 66 
 
 years. Before his death in 1921 he had the distinction of being the 
 
 oldest Odd Fellow in the country, in point of years of membership. 
 
 He was then eighty-six years old and had been a member since he 
 
 was twenty. 
 
 KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS 
 
 Coeur de Leon lodge, Knights of Pythias, was instituted Feb. 
 22, 1871, only seven years after the foundation of the order. Charter 
 members were B. F. Dodson, B. K. Durfee, M. F. Kanan, W. W. 
 Peddecord, W. W. Mason, E. M. Misner, J. C. Carder, J. F. McChain 
 and A. P. Griswold. 
 
 Chevalier Bayard lodge, No. 189, was organized Aug. 10, 1889, 
 as the result of the efforts of Walter Hutchin. 
 
 En Ami lodge No. 593 was organized April 4 and 5, 1900, in the 
 office of Dr. C. Taylor Ball, Water and Bradford streets. 
 
 The Myrtle Temple No. 2, Pythian Sisters, was started in 1890, 
 through the efforts of Mrs. Mary AVinegardner. It was the second 
 such organization 
 in the state. 
 
 T he G r a n d 
 Temple of Illinois 
 of Pythian Sisters, 
 which is composed 
 of the highest of- 
 ficials of the vari- 
 ous temples in the 
 state, was organ- 
 ized in Decatur in 
 1892 and Mrs. Hall 
 of Myrtle temple pythian old folks home 
 
186 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 was chosen first grand chief. Two other temples of Pythian sisters 
 have been organized in Decatur. They are Decatur temple and Fern 
 Leaf temple. 
 
 Decatur was chosen as the location for the state home for aged 
 Pythians, their wives, widows and orphans, which the Grand Lodge 
 of Knights of Pythias voted to establish during its session Oct. 17-19, 
 1905, held in this city. The cornerstone for the new home in Decatur 
 was laid June 9, 1908, and dedication took place June 9, 1910. The 
 cost of the home was about $160,000. 
 
 In 1916 another home was erected four miles north of Decatur. 
 This second building is the home for the aged people, while the first 
 building erected is the home for the children only. The home for the 
 aged cost $50,000. In 1927 an addition costing approximately the 
 same amount was erected. 
 
 OTHER LODGES 
 
 The Modern Woodmen of America, Decatur camp, No. 144, was 
 organized Dec. 8, 1885, at a meeting at the St. Nicholas hotel. W. C. 
 Rowe camp was organized in 1908, but later merged with Decatur 
 camp. Other camps organized since are Easterly No. 1626 and Com- 
 modore No. 3469. 
 
 The Red Men were organized in Decatur Sept. 30, 1901, the tribe 
 being known as Sangamon tribe No. 145. This tribe and others or- 
 ganized later went out of existence, but remaining members reorgan- 
 ized. The present tribe is known as Iona tribe. 
 
 Triumph Court, Tribe of Ben Hur, was organized June 2, 1896, 
 and Voris court was started in 1921. In 1928 the two were merged, 
 making the largest court in the state at that time. 
 
 Decatur lodge, No. 401, B. P. O. E., was organized Dec. 15, 
 1897. Dr. B. L. Maienthal was first Exalted Ruler. This lodge erected 
 a building of its own at the corner of William and Church streets 
 in 1915, at a cost of about $55,000, and in 1924-5 the lodge erected 
 a country club on the shores of Lake Decatur at a cost of about 
 $40,000. 
 
 The Decatur Aerie of Eagles was instituted Oct. 4, 1903. Mont 
 Peniwell was past worthy president, and M. C. Griffin worthy presi- 
 dent. On Jan. 23, 1913, the lodge bought the brick building at the 
 northwest corner of Washington and Water streets. It was sold to 
 the city of Decatur in 1925 and remodeled into the present city hall. 
 
 The Decatur branch of the Loyal Order of Moose was organized 
 Aug. 3, 1911, with 500 members. T. A. McGarry was first dictator. 
 
FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS 187 
 
 In 1916 the Moose erected a club house at Wood and Franklin streets, 
 costing $35,000, and in 1922 built a country club house on the shores 
 of Lake Decatur. 
 
 Decatur has many other prosperous fraternal bodies, which are 
 filling well their place in the life of the city. 
 
 1 George A. Patterson was the man who prepared the petition asking the legislature to 
 form a new county (Piatt county) in 1838. Mr. Patterson lived near what is now Monticello. He 
 surveyed the town of Monticello, was foreman of the first grand jury in Piatt, was county assessor 
 there in 1843 and was a member of the first board of school commissioners. 
 
 Mr. Patterson also surveyed many of the additions to Decatur, among them the Allen, Mc- 
 Reynolds addition, of which Central park is a part. He was very faithful in attending the lodge 
 meetings in Decatur, though he had to ride horseback through mud for twenty-five miles to get 
 here. Often the grass was so high he would lose the trail. 
 
188 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 CHAPTER XXXV 
 
 DECATUR IN THE '50s 
 
 DECATUR presented two different pictures in the fifties. The 
 scene at the beginning of the ten year period was that of a crude, 
 raw village, in which life went on serenely, with nothing to disturb 
 the even tenor of its way. The picture at the end of the period was 
 that of a hustling, busy city, with better homes, with factories, news- 
 papers, railroads, and with wide-awake and enterprising citizens. 
 
 That ten year period brought Decatur first of all its railroads. 
 Of almost as much importance, however, were the aggressive citi- 
 zens, who had come here to make their homes. They started factories, 
 mills, stores, which helped to build up the city. 
 
 CITY CHARTER 
 
 It was during this period that Decatur realized that it was no 
 more a town, but a city. It had become possessed with ambition and 
 pride. Better times had come and better buildings were being erected. 
 The name of town became too insignificant. Hence, steps were taken 
 to have it incorporated as a city, and when it received its charter 
 in 1855, Decatur became a city in reality. 
 
 Imagine, if you can, the appearance of Decatur in the early '50s. 
 Streets were unpaved and undrained, deep in mud in rainy seasons. 
 The only sidewalks were of wood. 1 Loose boards flopped up and down 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ! . ' 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ■ W' 
 
 SSL 
 
 . V, 
 
 - , 
 
 *e5\ 
 
 
 
 will] 
 
 — «.|HHBWBB 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 t '■,■"■'' i. : 
 
 
 
 sflfjB 
 
 
 Wm 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 EAST MAIN STREET IN 1856 
 
 Looking east from Lincoln Square. Made from painting by Robert Whitfield of New York state, 
 
 apprentice under R. F. Jones, painter. 
 
DECATUR IN THE '50s 189 
 
 as pedestrians passed along. Hogs were the street scavengers, and 
 the family cow on her way to pasture was a familiar sight. Homes 
 and stores were mostly low one-story structures, a two-story build- 
 ing appearing only occasionally. The business part of town was still 
 confined largely to the original territory platted, bounded by Wood, 
 Church, Prairie and Water streets. The population was in the neigh- 
 borhood of 600. Mail came only a few times a week. The stage coach 
 was the means of transportation into or out of the town. 2 
 
 Early in the decade came the excitement of the gold rush to 
 California. Dozens of Macon county men left to seek their fortunes 
 in the west. Some returned with money which they invested in land 
 and laid out new additions to the city. 
 
 After William Martin began the manufacture of brick in Deca- 
 tur, brick buildings became more numerous. Some of them are still 
 standing today. They were substantial, large dwellings, or business 
 houses, well constructed. Up to that time brick had been hauled in, 
 mostly from Edgar county. 
 
 Mr. Martin came to Decatur in 1852. 3 He thought Decatur clay 
 would make brick, and he took some to St. Louis to have it tested. 
 The brick, which was made from that clay, was brought back to 
 Decatur by Mr. Martin and put on exhibition, labeled "Brick Made 
 from Decatur Clay." The brick was tested in every way and found 
 to be good. 
 
 There were no brick makers here. Mr. Martin made another trip 
 to St. Louis, this time returning with wagons loaded with men, 
 household goods, and equipment for making brick. The men were 
 Ben Metz, John Brant, Frank Meyer and Henry Meyer. They were 
 soon busy making brick. 
 
 After a time Mr. Martin sold his interest in the new business to 
 Ben Metz. The ground between Broadway and Webster, from De- 
 catur to Lawrence streets, was the site of the brick yard. 
 
 The first brick made there were used as a foundation for the 
 barn at the Johns home on Johns Hill, and the Johns house was the 
 first house built out of this Decatur-made brick. 
 
 BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIES 
 
 Decatur began making progress in a business and industrial 
 way. Kramer and McClelland were making wagons, carriages and 
 buggies, the business having been started by S. B. McClelland in 1854. 
 He later sold his interest to Joseph E. McClelland. 
 
 Joseph Mills, long identified with the lumber business in Deca- 
 tur, came in 1853, and established a lumber yard. He had visited sev- 
 
190 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 eral towns in Illinois, and hearing that Decatur was to have two rail- 
 roads — more than any other town could boast — he thought it would 
 be a good place to locate. On his way here he had come over the old 
 Northern Cross railroad from Naples to Jacksonville. 
 
 Mr. Mills' first building job was the Humphrey house on East 
 Eldorado street, later St. Teresa's academy. During his business 
 career here, he had at different times as partners D. C. Shockley and 
 W. B. Harry. 
 
 Mr. Mills sold his lumber business in 1911 to the Lyon Lumber 
 company. He died in 1913. 
 
 Theodore Hildebrandt came to Decatur in 1853 and began work 
 for Dr. W. A. Barnes in his drug store. For fifty-six years afterwards 
 he was identified with the drug business here, having a store of his 
 own for many years. 
 
 The Henkle and Condell mill, known as the Illinois Central mill, 
 was built in 1855 at Main and Broadway. In 1859 it burned, but was 
 rebuilt by Henkle, Shellabarger and Priest, who had purchased it. 
 Priest and Company afterwards ran this mill. 
 
 Gus A. Smith was conducting a buggy factory, and employed 
 fifty men, probably more than any other factory here then. He 
 shipped buggies to the far west and south. 
 
 Among stores which were established were I. W. Ehrman's 
 clothing and tailor shop, W. F. Busher's shoe store, Peake's jewelry 
 store, the Imboden market, and City Book store. 
 
 J. G. Starr, in 1856. started a harness shop which in later years 
 sold goods all over the United States. Mr. Starr died in 1878, the busi- 
 ness being carried on by his three sons, W. H., J. S. and Harry Starr. 
 They were succeeded by C. A. and W. C. Starr, grandsons of J. G. 
 Starr. Now it is an automobile business, the automobile having 
 crowded out the harness and buggy. 
 
 T. Richard and A. Keck started the manufacture of beer in 1856, 
 selling out in 1862 to Edward Harpstrite and Henry Shlaudeman. 
 The plant was located at Broadway and Cantrell, and became known 
 as the Decatur Steam brewery. 
 
 The Morehouse & Wells store was opened in 1859, by S. P. 
 Morehouse and W. T. Wells. Later Mr. Morehouse was succeeded 
 by his son, George E. Morehouse. In 1882 C. M. Hurst and H. H. 
 Bishop entered the linn. 
 
 Hieronymus Mueller opened a gunsmith and repair shop in 1858. 
 
 The Decatur Woolen Mills, which became one of Decatur's lead- 
 ing industries, were started in 1859. by Boyd, Haskell and Company. 
 
DECATUR IN THE '50s 191 
 
 The members of the firm were William II. Boyd of Maryland, L. C. 
 Haskell of New York, and \V. J. Myers of Pennsylvania. The firm 
 made blankets, jeans, yarns, flannels and other articles of wool, and 
 did carding and spinning. For a time the annual output was $75,000. 
 In 1868 the mills were destroyed by fire, but were rebuilt. The build- 
 ing is now part of the Walrus Manufacturing company plant. 
 
 In 1856 Swingley and Amos started a lumber business which was 
 sold later to C. P. Thatcher, who in turn sold to Gaddis and Huff. 
 
 The Messrs. Swingley, Kaufman and Amos erected a mill in 1857 
 at the corner of Water street and the Great Western railroad. It was 
 known as the Great Western mill. Later it became the nucleus of the 
 Shellabarger mill. 
 
 What is now the Curtis jewelry store was started in 1858 by S. D. 
 Lilliston, who continued business until 1869. Otto E. Curtis was the 
 next owner. In 1885 the firm became Otto E. Curtis and Brother, 
 and in 1899 it became the Frank Curtis company. Now it is owned 
 by Walter Flora. 
 
 John R. Race, whose name was connected with the clothing busi- 
 ness for fifty years, came in 1855. He started a store in 1857. Later 
 his brother, James W. Race, and Casper Elwood became partners and 
 the firm name was J. R. Race & Co. In 1889 the Race Clothing Manu- 
 facturing company was organized, and it continued in business until 
 1904. 
 
 David Martin started a lime and brick yard in Decatur in 1858, 
 later selling cement also, and the business has continued until the 
 present, now being owned by Macknet and Waggoner. As far back 
 as 1842 Mr. Martin had a lime kiln in Christian county, about 28 miles 
 from Decatur, and sold a great deal of lime in Macon county. In 
 1853 he moved to Alton, and then in 1858 came to Decatur. He put 
 down a block of cement street paving in Morgan street, north from 
 Cerro Gordo, the first concrete street paving in Decatur. That wp.s 
 about 1885 or 1886. 
 
 Mr. Martin also erected the first house made of concrete blocks. 
 It was in the 500 block East Cerro Gordo street, south side. 
 
 John McGinnes, Decatur's first stenographer and one of eight in 
 the country at that time, came to Decatur in the early '50s to become 
 bookkeeper for Stamper & Condell, and for years afterwards was 
 identified with the business life of Decatur as bank cashier and mer- 
 chant. He said he once made a shorthand report of a speech by Abra- 
 ham Lincoln in a famous murder case tried in Powers hall. Mr. 
 McGinnes built an elevator at what is now Elwin, called the place 
 
192 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Wheatland, and shipped from there the first shelled corn sent out of 
 the county. The name of the place was changed to Elwin when it 
 was found there already was a Wheatland in Illinois. 
 
 Decatur men were fond of their cigars and Joseph Michl began 
 making them in 1858 to supply their needs. His name is still repre- 
 sented in Joseph Michl's Sons. 
 
 James B. ShoafT started the newspaper business in Decatur in 
 1851 when he established the Shoaff's Weekly Gazette. In 1855 Usrey 
 and Wingate began publishing the Chronicle. The Democrat, Herald 
 and Magnet were other newspapers started a little later. 
 
 The fair grounds, which later became Fairview park, were laid 
 out in 1857. State and county fairs were held there. 
 
 Substantial brick business buildings began to appear during this 
 period in Decatur. One of the first was the block on East Main street, 
 south side of the 100 block, which was erected by William Powers 
 in 1856. They were three stories in height, and Decatur was quite 
 proud of them. Mr. Powers also erected a building at the southeast 
 corner of East Main and Water streets in 1856, and James Millikin 
 put up one across the street in 1858. 
 
 Among other prominent citizens who came to Decatur during this 
 decade and who afterwards were identified with the business life and 
 history of the city were Franklin Priest, Charles Laux, John K. War- 
 ren, D. S. Shellabarger, John Ullrich, George S. Durfee, E. A. Jones, 
 E. McNabb, Martin P. Murphey, John Imboden, William L. Ham- 
 mer, L. L. Burrows, Dr. J. B. T. Stapp and G. W. Bright. 
 
 Frederick Mattes 
 arrived and was soon 
 in the business of 
 making brick. His 
 family is still in that 
 business. 
 
 Among the phy- 
 sicians who came 
 were Dr. W. A. 
 Barnes, father of the 
 late Dr. William 
 Barnes; Dr. E. W. 
 Moore, Dr. Samuel 
 McBride, and Dr. W. 
 J. Chenoweth. 
 
 One m an w h o 
 
 I 
 
 
 OTFS* 
 
 
 ii! J 
 
 
 SCENE ON EAST MAIN IN THE 50s' 
 Site now occupied by the Millikin bank. 
 
DECATUR IN THE '50s 193 
 
 afterwards became famous as an inventor came. That was VV. H. 
 Bramble, inventor of a cultivator, grain scale, Yale lock, postoffice lock 
 box, and other articles. Mr. Bramble invented many different kinds 
 of locks. 
 
 SOCIETY 
 
 We begin reading of Decatur "society" in the '50s. The influx of 
 well-to-do and cultured people from the east added much to the social 
 atmosphere of the city Balls, parties, entertainments, made the town 
 gay. Amateur performances of histrionic and musical nature were 
 popular, according to Mrs. Jane M. Johns. 
 
 The anxious young suitor of the day serenaded his lady love 
 beneath her window in true romantic fashion. It usually took an en- 
 tire group to do the serenading, however, and one bunch in particular 
 took along a melodeon to add to the harmony. This "glee club" was 
 composed of George Wessels, Bob McCabe, Theodore Hildebrandt, 
 Frank Hays and Will Martin. Wessels, noted as a singer, was the 
 leader of the crowd. Other prominent young men of the period were 
 Charles Tuttle, Sheridan Wait, Richard J. Oglesby, J. Y. Braden, W. 
 H. Ennis, William T. Wells and Charles P. Thatcher. Dick Oglesby 
 was becoming popular as a speaker, especially after his tour abroad. 
 William Ennis became one of the county's most extensive land own- 
 ers, acquiring thousands of acres. He married Miss Louie Harrison, 
 one of the popular young women of the time. 
 
 A big social event of the '50s was a masked ball in 1855 for the 
 benefit of the poor. It was held in The Revere house. The profits 
 went to the destitute widow of one of the railroad w r orkmen. 
 
 TURNVEREIN 
 
 The Decatur Turnverein, organized Feb. 28, 1858, was an active 
 athletic and social organization, which flourished for many years. 
 John Ruhl was the first president. In 1887 the organization bought 
 Turner park on South Broadway, and about 1889 erected a building 
 there. By 1894 the society had 200 members and property worth from 
 $16,000 to $20,000. It promoted athletics, principally fencing, boxing, 
 wrestling, etc., and won honors in tournaments, including the national 
 meet at Milwaukee in 1893. The Turnverein went out of existence 
 soon after 1910. 
 
 The property of this society is now the Girls' Welfare home. 
 
 CEMETERY ASSOCIATION 
 
 The Greenwood cemetery association was organized March 27, 
 1857, by electing William Martin, Sr., president, Nathan W. Tupper, 
 treasurer, John Ricketts, David L. Allen and Daniel C. Lockwood 
 
194 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 directors. Henry Prather was the man credited with the beautiful 
 arrangement of the cemetery grounds and the improvements made on 
 them. For several years prior to his death in 1869 he was president 
 of the association. Bodies had been buried in that location as early 
 as 1839 or 1840. Many were removed there from King's cemetery, 
 when that land was laid off in town lots. 
 
 Decatur had its first big fire in 1859, when a block of frame 
 buildings on East Main and Water streets burned. 4 Three-story brick 
 buildings arose in their places. 
 
 CHURCH AND SCHOOL 
 
 The period during the '50s was active in school and church lines. 
 It was during that time that public schools had their start, as told in 
 another chapter, and Decatur had its first real public school building, 
 the Big Brick. 
 
 A number of churches were organized. The First Presbyterian 
 church had its beginning at a meeting May 1, 1852, at the home of 
 Samuel Powers. In 1855 a frame building was erected on East Main 
 street, and in 1856 the church began the construction of a brick build- 
 ing on West Prairie, the site now occupied by the Y. M. C. A. It 
 was not completed until 1859. That building was used until the pres- 
 ent building was erected in 1890- 
 91, during the pastorate of Rev. W. 
 H. Penhallegon. 
 
 The Antioch Baptist church 
 was organized in 1858, with four- 
 teen members. 
 
 The United Brethren church 
 was started in 1856 by Rev. M. 
 Ambrose, with seven members. 
 
 The Universalist church, now 
 extinct, was organized in 1854 by 
 Rev. D. P. Bunn with nine charter 
 members. A house of worship was 
 erected in the 100 block East 
 Prairie street, and it was enlarged 
 in 1876. 
 
 The Church of God was organ- 
 ized in May, 1857, by Elder A. J. 
 Fenton, with eleven charter mem- 
 
 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 
 Built in 1856. 
 
 hers. 
 
DECATUR IN THE '50s 
 
 195 
 
 St. Patrick's Catholic church was organized in 1854. Its first 
 church house was a frame building in the 700 block West Prairie. 
 It was erected in 1857 by Father Prendergast. 
 
 St. John's Episcopal church 
 was organized in 1855, with fifteen 
 members. 
 
 In 1852 the Methodist church 
 purchased for $150 a lot at the 
 northwest corner of Prairie and 
 Water streets, formerly the site of 
 the jail, and work began on a new 
 brick building. It was completed 
 and dedicated in 1854. 5 An innova- 
 tion was an organ, despite vigorous 
 protestations of Rev. Peter Cart- 
 wright, who called it a "work of 
 the devil." 
 
 The Baptist church erected a 
 brick house of worship at the cor- 
 ner of Water and William streets. It was dedicated Dec. 27, 1857. 
 
 The Christian church also erected a new brick house of worship 
 at the corner of North Main and North streets. 
 
 Back in the '50s the subject of temperance was being agitated. 
 In 1855 Macon county voted by a majority of 83 for a tax on whisky, 
 in the state-wide referendum, although the proposition failed to carry 
 in the state. The Illinois State Chronicle, Decatur newspaper, at that 
 time reported that "Glorious old Macon county has done her work." 
 
 In 1856 took place the meeting at the Cassell house, where steps 
 were first taken toward the organization of the Republican party in 
 Illinois. It was a meeting of editors opposed to the Nebraska bill, 
 the topic of interest of the day. 
 
 Decatur's population according to the census of 1860 was 3,849. 
 Decatur by that time had a good start toward becoming a real city. 
 
 SECOND METHODIST CHURCH 
 BUILDING 
 
 MThe first brick sidewalk, according to X. L. Krone, was laid in 1856. It wac around 
 what is now the Bachrach corner on Lincoln Square. 
 
 2 Frank L. Hays, who first came to Decatur in 18S5, said that when the stage drew up in 
 front of the 1 1 .11 1 ell house with a great flourish, nearly all the male inhabitants of the town were 
 out to meet it. Most of the men in the crowd wen barefoot. It was a new sight to Mr. Hays to 
 see a crowd of grown-up men in their bare feet. 
 
 The Stamper and Condell store, which was started in Decatur in 1843, was then at the north- 
 east corner of Lincoln square, in a two story brick building twenty feet wide. That building can 
 be seen in the illustration, "East Main Street in 1856". It was one of two brick buildings here at 
 the time, and was known as the Brick store. The firm later secured twenty feet more of ground 
 
196 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 to the north and erected a new building. For many years this was the leading store in Decatur. 
 The firm dissolved about 1870. 
 
 The picture on Page 188 also shows other stores of the '50s. Immediately east of the court 
 house (the building at the extreme right of the picture) was the Roberts drug store in the little 
 frame building which stood on the present site of the West drug store building. In the first three- 
 story building beyond was the Gazette office. This building (still standing) is believed to be the 
 oldest three-story building in Decatur. Immediately beyond that building is the Powers block. In 
 one of the small buildings east of that block was the Barnes drug store. The brick building at the 
 corner (still standing) housed the Griswold hardware store. Across the street, east, was Tom 
 Albert's restaurant. 
 
 3 William Martin had a packing house in Decatur and introduced sugar cured hams and 
 bacon. Martin's sugar cured hams gained a reputation all over the country. 
 
 4 The fire of Dec. 30, 1859, started in Lowenstein & Bros. Young America clothing store on 
 East Main street, then spread to Wingate's New York store, John Holsworth's bakery on East 
 Main, and to James Faust's hat and cap store on Water street. On the west it reached William 
 Scanlan's clothing store, Fuller and Benton's Auction store and George Goodman's grocery. The 
 total loss was around $30,000. Four of the buildings belonged to J. F. Montgomery, and he had 
 no insurance on them. C. H. Fuller and Goodman & Baker were other losers. 
 
 After the fire the Weekly Gazette said : "Let us wake up. Let the city council appoint 
 fire wardens, prepare ladders, and buckets and build cisterns, and be ready to protect our people 
 against another such calamity." 
 
 5 When the second Methodist church was built, a furnace was installed It was the first 
 furnace in Decatur. 
 
NEWSPAPERS 
 
 197 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVI 
 NEWSPAPERS 
 
 ONE spring day in the year 1851 a man boarded the stage in Bloom- 
 ington and rode to Decatur to give the place the "once-over". 
 He had heard about Decatur and decided to look it over before deter- 
 mining on a location to establish his business. He liked the town. He 
 was encouraged by Decatur citizens to locate here. In fact, he was 
 told that Decatur needed a business of his kind, and he was urged 
 to come. 
 
 In a short time the man, whose name was James B. Shoaff, was 
 back again with his "plant" loaded on a wagon. 1 It was soon set up. 
 It turned out its first product June 26, 1851. 
 
 Decatur had made another stride. The first product of that plant 
 was Decatur's first newspaper issue, and nearly all Decatur turned 
 out to get a copy as it came from the press. Since that day to this, 
 Decatur has never been without a newspaper. 
 
 ShoafFs Family Gazette was the name of the first newspaper pub- 
 lished in this city. James B. Shoaff was the owner, managing editor, 
 reporter, circulation manager, advertising force, printer, all in one. 
 A newspaper outfit in that day was not as extensive as one today. A 
 hand press, a case of type and a few odds and ends of equipment were 
 all that was necessary. 
 
 The first copies of that paper, still damp from the press, were liter- 
 ally grabbed by the citizens of Decatur. It was a big day for Decatur 
 when it became a city with a newspaper of its own. It had struggled 
 along more than twenty years without one, but the need for a medium 
 
 r - of disseminating news had been keenly felt. 
 
 It was a good paper, too, which Mr. Shoaff is- 
 sued. A perusal of a few copies which are still ex- 
 tant will prove this statement. The paper was 
 newsy and interesting. Mr. Shoaff announced that 
 his advertising rates would be $18 a year for a half 
 column, and $28 for a full column. The subscrip- 
 tion price of the paper was $1.50 a year if paid in 
 advance ; otherwise $2 a year. Mr. Shoaff arranged for 
 agents in other cities, Urbana, Taylorville, Bloom- 
 JAMES B. SHOAFF ington, Clinton, Shelbyville, Jacksonville, Pekin, Mt. 
 Pulaski, Charleston, Sullivan and other places, and soon had a good 
 subscription list. The press was set up in what was called "Sons Hall."- 
 
198 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Mr. Shoaff had worked as a journeyman printer in most of the 
 towns in this section of Illinois, and then had acquired a newspaper 
 outfit of his own. 
 
 Mr. Shoaff was born in Williamsport, Md. When living in 
 Charleston he had met and married Nancy Hanks, daughter of Dennis 
 Hanks and niece of the mother of Abraham Lincoln. 
 
 There was one man in town who wasn't pleased when James 
 Shoaff started his newspaper here. He was William J. Usrey. His 
 reason for not liking the newcomer was that he had intended to start 
 a newspaper himself, but Mr. Shoaff beat him to it. Feeling that there 
 was not room in Decatur for two papers at that time, Usrey waited. 
 Finally in 1855 he and Charles H. Wingate started the Illinois State 
 Chronicle. 
 
 After Mr. Shoaff had published his paper for three, years under 
 the name of Shoaff's Family Gazette he changed the name of it to 
 Decatur Weekly Gazette. Under that head it was continued until 
 1856, and then Mr. Shoaff sold the paper. It passed through several 
 different hands during the next nine years, and finally the good will 
 and subscription list were sold to the Chronicle. That was in 1865. 
 The paper issued then was called the Gazette-Chronicle. 
 
 Mr. Shoaff entered the drygoods business, but later returned to 
 the newspaper business, issuing the Magnet. He also published news- 
 papers in other towns, and was in the Civil war, returning to Decatur 
 again to run the Magnet. He remained here several years and then 
 moved to Paris where he published the Gazette. He died there in 1874. 
 A son, Thomas B. Shoaff, is now publishing the Leader at Shelby ville. 
 
 MANY OTHERS STARTED 
 
 Since 1851 more than forty newspapers have been started in 
 Macon county, most of them in Decatur. Some were in existence only 
 a few months, some a few years, some were started for campaign 
 seasons only. In those days a newspaper outfit did not cost much, and 
 it was not a big undertaking to start a paper. It was a bigger propo- 
 sition to keep one going. They didn't make much money. Some did 
 not make any, and went to the wall. 
 
 William Stanley and J. R. Mosser started on Aug. 1, 1867, the 
 Daily Republican which had a long and honorable career. Stanley 
 sold his interest to B. K. Hanisher and the paper was conducted a long 
 time by Mosser and Hamsher. When Mr. Mosser died W. F. Calhoun 
 went into the firm. 
 
 Alfred F. Wuench leased a printing office in 1871. On the first 
 Thursday in April, 1872, the first issue of the Weekly Decatur Review 
 
NEWSPAPERS 199 
 
 appeared. It was the beginning of the present day Review. The paper 
 was started by Alfred Wuench, who conducted it for two years. Then 
 it was published for a year by John Lindsay and D. J. Block. After 
 Block left, Alfred F. Wuench, son of the founder, came into the busi- 
 ness and the paper was headed by Lindsay and Wuench until June 1, 
 1876, when it was sold to W . H. Bayne. In November, 1876, he began 
 to issue a daily paper, but the daily continued only two months. About 
 two years later, on Oct. 1, 1878, publication of a daily was resumed, 
 and has continued up to the present time. 
 
 The Review was sold to S. S. Jack, July 23, 1880. He sold a half 
 interest to W. J. Mize and company. They sold out to a stock com- 
 pany, called The Review Publishing company, which was composed 
 of W. J. Mize, G. W. Mize, Robert Mize, A Sterns and Charles Sterns. 
 In 1887 they sold to R. E. Pratt and W. F. Thompson, who, in turn, 
 sold it in August, 1888, to J. P. Drennan and Jerry Donahue. In 1891 
 H. C. Schaub became a member of the company. The paper has con- 
 tinued under that management until the present time. 
 
 The Saturday Herald was started Oct. 11, 1879, by C. N. Walls, 
 formerly of the Tuscola Journal. The next publishers were H. W. 
 Rowell and W. H. Addis. After them came E. S. Ela and Virgil N. 
 Hostetler. Mr. Ela was soon succeeded by Frank H. Hall. Hall and 
 Hostetler published the paper for several years. It was consolidated 
 about 1890 with the Decatur Despatch, which had been started the 
 year previous by W. F. Calhoun. The paper then was called the 
 Herald-Despatch. Mr. Calhoun soon afterwards Avent to the Repub- 
 lican with B. K. Hamsher. 
 
 A plan was worked out in 1899 by the newspapers wdiereby the 
 Republican circulation would go to The Review and that paper would 
 change from a morning to afternoon and Sunday publication, and the 
 Herald-Despatch would occupy the morning newspaper field alone. 
 After a time the Plerald-Despatch bought out the News, which had 
 succeeded the Daily Bulletin, long owned by John Lindsay. The paper 
 then became known as The Herald and has continued under that 
 name, though the personnel of the company has changed. Frank M. 
 Lindsay, son of John Lindsay, mentioned above, is now president, and 
 W. F. Hardy is editor. 
 
 The last attempt to start a new daily newspaper in Decatur w r as 
 in 1909. It was the Decatur World, which lasted for twenty-nine days. 
 
 1 Mr. Shoaff, by the way, got stuck in the mud on his way to Decatur with his newspaper 
 "plant". Fortunately Berry H. Cassell and Henry Hummell came driving along and helped him 
 out of his predicament, with the aid of their horse. 
 
200 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVII 
 
 THE MEDICAL SOCIETY 
 
 FAILING to pay the doctor's bill when medical attention was re- 
 quired and then going to a different physician the next time, and 
 treating him the same way, seemed to have been a habit with folks 
 back in the sixties, and as a result the Macon County Medical society 
 decided to do something about it. 
 
 Resolutions passed by the doctors at a meeting held in the office 
 of Dr. Crain, March 16, 1863, with Dr. G. W. McMillin presiding, 
 stated that henceforth "we will not longer tolerate that old established 
 rule that doctor's bills are never considered due until one year after 
 service is rendered and are not to be paid until then." 
 
 The resolutions went on to say that they would adopt the same 
 financial rules observed by other professions and they "would not 
 render service to those who live at ease surrounded by comfort but 
 who make it a practice to obtain medical service free by employing a 
 new doctor each time, and fees shall be due when service is rendered." 
 The fees adopted at that meeting were : 
 
 One visit per day in city $1.50 
 
 Two visits 2.00 
 
 Night visits 2.00 
 
 Prescription at office 50 
 
 Medicines to be charged extra. 
 
 One hopes the good doctors enforced the resolution and that they 
 no longer had to give their services free to the folks "surrounded with 
 ease and comfort", but were able to collect all their just dues. 
 
 The first county medical society was formed in the fall of 1853, 
 
 according to Dr. 
 
 DR. JOSEPH KING 
 
 W. J. Chenoweth, who attended the organization 
 meeting, though not a resident of Decatur at the 
 time. Dr. Joseph King was named president, and 
 Dr. S. T. Trowbridge secretary. Dr. Chenoweth 
 came here to reside in 1854, from Hillsboro, Ky., 
 and from that time until 1859 he held office in the 
 medical association. Meetings took place in Dr. 
 Trowbridge's office. 
 
 At that time Dr. Trowbridge was considered 
 the leading physician. He did all the work of a sur- 
 gical nature. Dr. King also had a wide reputation. 
 
 Other physicians in Decatur at that time were 
 
THE MEDICAL SOCIETY 201 
 
 Drs. A. Keller, S. Y. Baldwin, Thomas Read, J. F. Roberts and A. 
 Dillon. Dr. Roberts confined his work largely to his drug store, at the 
 southeast corner of the square. There he was kept busy running his 
 business and ministering to people, for whenever an accident hap- 
 pened anywhere near, the victim was rushed to Roberts drug store 
 for first aid. 
 
 One day Dr. Roberts and Dr. Trowbridge attended the case of 
 a prisoner in jail suffering from delirium tremens. The man had not 
 only swallowed a stove lifter, but had tried to drive a pair of scissors 
 into his head. The stove lifter didn't seem to have any bad effects, 
 but the scissors did to the extent that he died from the wound. The 
 broken scissors blade was taken from his skull. 
 
 The two doctors had been loath to believe the nurse when she 
 had told them the man had swallowed the stove lifter. Following the 
 patient's death, they examined the contents of his stomach. Snugly 
 ensconced therein was the stove lifter! 
 
 Dr. Trowbridge was the first physician in Illinois to enlist when 
 the Civil War began. He was surgeon of the 8th Illinois infantry, 
 and to him was credited saving of the lives of General John A. Logan 
 and General R. J. Oglesby, both of whom were wounded in battle. 
 
 Dr. Trowbridge enjoyed sports, horse racing, driving fast horses, 
 games such as chess, checkers, and cards, and he spent money freely. 1 
 He was widely known for his success in surgical cases, and for some 
 years had practically all that sort of practice in this section of Illinois. 
 He was a man of vigor, and rode hundreds of miles every week to visit 
 his patients. Dr. Trowbridge was the man who was responsible for 
 the organization of the Medical society. 
 
 The Medical society had somewhat of a struggle to keep going 
 the first few years of its existence. About 1857 it ceased activity, but 
 was revived the next year by Dr. Trowbridge, and continued until 
 the Civil war. When Dr. Trowbridge returned at the end of the war 
 he found the society again dead. Once more he revived it. After its 
 reorganization in 1865 it held meetings regularly for a time. By 1872 
 the society again had ceased to function. 
 
 In 1874 it was reorganized as the Decatur Medical society, with 
 five members, Robert Tobey, president; Allison McBride, E. W. 
 Moore, W. A. Barnes and W. H. Walters. By 1889 the society again 
 was inactive and remained so for ten years. Then on Dec. 19, 1899, 
 reorganization took place, with Dr. W. J. Chenoweth as president ; J. 
 N. Randall vice president, Will C. Wood secretary, and W. B. Hos- 
 tetler and E. J. Brown censors. Since that time the society has had 
 
202 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 uninterrupted existence. In 1910 the society opened headquarters in 
 the Citizens Building, where a medical library is maintained. Dr. 
 Chenoweth presented 500 volumes to this library. In 1929 officers 
 were Dr. O. O. Stanley, president; Dr. Lee Freeh, vice president; Dr. 
 W. D. Murfin, secretary-treasurer. 
 
 EARLY MEMBERS 
 
 Lack of space prevents giving a complete history of all the mem- 
 bers of the society, but mention will be made of some of the earlier 
 physicians. 
 
 Dr. William A. Barnes, who was a native of New Hampshire, 
 came to Decatur in 1853 to practice medicine. In 1855 he purchased 
 a drug store and ran the store in connection with his practice until 
 1859. He served as master-in-chancery during the Civil war period, 
 and was also interested in the manufacturing business of Barnes and 
 Lintner. Dr. Barnes was father of Dr. Will Barnes. 
 
 Dr. Samuel McBride began the practice of medicine in Pike 
 county in 1849, and located in Decatur in 1855. He was a graduate of 
 Starling Medical College in Columbus, Ohio. 
 
 Dr. Enoch W. Moore, who was a leading physician here for many 
 years, came to Decatur in 1856. During the Civil war he was surgeon 
 of the 105th Illinois Regiment for seven months. Dr. Moore was a 
 partner of Dr. Ira Barnes for about thirty-five years. 
 
 Dr. Ira B. Curtis, native of Delaware, came to Decatur in 1840 
 when only 17 years of age. He read medicine with Dr. Joseph King, 
 and formed partnership with him, but in 1849 went to Taylorville 
 where he practiced for seven years. In 1856 he returned to Decatur 
 and for a year was a partner of Dr. Chenoweth. He was a surgeon 
 in the Civil war, and had charge of hospitals at Mound city. In 1862 
 he suffered a stroke of paralysis, losing the use of his legs. Though this 
 practically ended his career as a physician, he served in other useful 
 capacities, one of which was the office of county treasurer which he 
 held for six years. He was for a long time a justice of the peace. Dr. 
 Curtis was the father of O. E. and Frank Curtis. 
 
 Dr. Josiah Brown began practicing medicine here in 1862, coming 
 here from Maroa where he had been for four years. He also studied 
 law and was admitted to the bar, but gave practically his whole time 
 to the practice of medicine. He was succeeded by his son, Dr. Everett 
 J. Brown. 
 
 Dr. Ira N. Barnes located in Decatur in 1862 and for many years 
 was one of Decatur's best known physicians. He had spent a year in 
 Decatur in the drug business with his brother, W. A. Barnes, in 
 
THE MEDICAL SOCIETY 203 
 
 1855-56. Most of the years of Dr. Barnes' medical practice in Decatur 
 were in partnership with Dr. E. W. Moore. Dr. Lynn Barnes is a son 
 of Dr. Ira N. Barnes. 
 
 Dr. J. Stebbins King was another of Decatur's leading surgeons. 
 He served during the Civil war in the capacity of surgeon, and in 
 1870 located in Decatur, where he practiced his profession for many 
 years. 
 
 The Chenoweth family has furnished Decatur with three gener- 
 ations of physicians. Dr. W. J. Chenoweth, mentioned before, was 
 the first. His son, Dr. Cass Chenoweth, began practicing medicine 
 here in 1869 after graduating from Rush Medical school. His son, Dr. 
 Will Chenoweth, took up the same profession. Dr. W. J. Chenoweth 
 and his friend, J. E. Bering, were both instantly killed in August, 1915, 
 when the car in which they were riding was struck by an I. T. S. car. 
 
 Decatur's first woman doctor was Dr. Miranda M. Sargent, known 
 particularly for her temperance activities. Sargent chapel on South 
 Broadway, the predecessor of the Cleveland Avenue Methodist church 
 was named for her. 
 
 Mention should be made also of the late Dr. Ellen F. Grimes, 
 whose long years of quiet, efficient, unassuming service in Decatur, 
 particularly among the women, endeared her to everyone who knew 
 her, and were an inspiration to others. Dr. Grimes came to Decatur 
 about 1879 and practiced her profession here until 1923. She died in 
 New York City in 1925. 
 
 1 Dr. Silas T. Trowbridge made a jump in 1852 which was a record for that day. He 
 jumped at one leap 22 feet and 8 inches. A record of the feat was made on the Macon county 
 hooks of record by the county recorder, Samuel Rea. 
 
 2 Once the medics started a museum and had some interesting pathological specimens. These 
 specimens, however, were not well preserved and in the warm weather became so offensive that 
 people complained about them. So the medics decided to do away with them. A colored man was 
 engaged to take them out in a sack and quietly bury them in the potter's field. He left with the 
 sack, but before he could get to the burying he was seen by several friends who were curious to 
 know what was in the sack. The negro refused to tell, and got rid of the sack by throwing it in 
 the river below the dam. The friends couldn't rest until they knew the contents of that sack, so 
 they secured poles and fished it out. Suspicions of foul murder arose when they found the bones, 
 and the coroner was summoned. However, Coroner Civler didn't find it necessary to hold an 
 inquest. 
 
204 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIII 
 GOLD SEEKERS 
 
 GOLD in California ! ! To be had for the digging! 
 The news swept like wild fire over the country back in the days 
 of 1848 and 1849. Excitement ran high. Marvelous tales were coming 
 of the rich dirt with its generous yield of the precious dust. Nuggets 
 growing in size each time the tale was repeated — to be picked up any- 
 where ! From all parts of the country, men, fired by the spirit of dar- 
 ing and adventure, were turning their faces and footsteps toward the 
 west. The gold rush was on! 
 
 Desire to join the trail of the Forty-Niners swept over the young 
 men of Macon county. Rich in ambition to see something of the world, 
 as well as to claim a fortune, they prepared to go. They wanted their 
 share of the big diggings. 
 
 CARAVAN LEAVES 
 
 At daybreak on the morning of March 25, 1850, a caravan of men 
 and loaded wagons pulled out from the Old Square. Laughter and 
 tears were mingled, as the caravan took its departure. Men were 
 leaving their wives and families, their sweethearts, their friends. They 
 did not know all that was before them. Yet any feeling of sadness 
 was overcome with the thoughts of the fortune they would bring 
 back. With cheers and farewells, cracking of whips over the mule 
 teams, waving of arms in a last good-bye, they were off! 
 
 Fifteen or twenty wagons and a goodly number of men were in 
 the party which left that morning. Ammunition, guns, rifles, pro- 
 visions, camping outfits, and other needed equipment for the journey 
 filled the wagons, all of which were drawn by mules. 
 
 By the end of the first day they had reached Illiopolis. The second 
 night they camped at Springfield. Progress was slow on account of 
 the mud. It took three weeks to reach Ouincy. There they were fer- 
 ried across the Mississippi. 
 
 At St. Joseph, Mo., they joined a larger caravan headed for the 
 west. They did not leave at once, however. It was necessary to wait 
 a few weeks until the grass along the trail grew sufficiently to supply 
 the mules and cattle with feed. It was not until May 10 that the 
 caravan made its start westward. By that time the party had grown 
 to about sixty. 1 
 
 Isaac Miller had gone from Decatur to Oskaloosa, la., to join 
 his four sons, who were to go on the trip, but the sons persuaded 
 
GOLD SEEKERS 
 
 205 
 
 A Group of 
 
 Gold 
 
 Seekers 
 
 "Berxjc^rwi r\ 
 
 lierv F. Fr^jee 
 
 Jokt^ 
 
 D. H. G^rver 
 
 ^ 
 
 C H. Ga^rver 
 
 -p <^e_ 
 
 Miller not to go, as they thought the journey would be too hard for 
 the older man. Miller had been accompanied to Iowa by his stepson, 
 Ben Frazee. The Miller boys and Frazee went on to St. Joseph and 
 joined the caravan, while the elder Miller returned home. 
 
 Many tales have been told of the journey to the west, for the 
 gold seekers had many interesting experiences and encountered many 
 hardships. 
 
 After leaving St. Joseph, the party headed for Fort Kearney, Neb. 
 On their way they often met bands of Indians, but were not molested. 
 From Kearney on to Fort Laramie, Wyo., they made better progress 
 as the ground was dry. In another ten days they reached Fort Hall. 
 Farther and farther they continued their way until finally the desert 
 was reached. 
 
 Up to this time the Decatur wagons had kept pretty well to- 
 gether but now real troubles began and they became separated. The 
 mules began to get sick. Men and animals were nearly crazed with 
 thirst before they reached water. The men kept small bullets in their 
 
206 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 mouths to keep them damp and cool, and they wrapped lead around 
 the bits of the mules for the same purpose. Silas Packard and Samuel 
 Powers had to part company with the rest when Mr. Powers's fine 
 team of mules became sick shortly after the desert was reached.. Soon 
 all the wagons were scattered and not more than two were together at 
 any time for the rest of the journey. Sometimes one wagon traveled 
 alone. Finally the wagons were abandoned and supplies were packed 
 on the backs of the mules. Ben and John Sawyer and D. H. Garver 
 were on one of the two wagons which were the first to cross the Sierra 
 Nevada mountains into California. Anderson Draper, who had been 
 with Packard, rode on ahead and reached the Carson river. After he 
 and his mule had quenched their thirst, Draper filled a vessel with 
 water and went back five miles to find Packard. "An angel from 
 heaven would not have been more welcome than Draper with that 
 water," Packard said afterwards. They were among the first to cross 
 the mountains and start mining. 
 
 In one stretch of desert beyond Carson the only water was from 
 a rock from which boiling water gushed forth at intervals. The weary 
 travelers used the hot water to make tea, or filled their kegs and let 
 the water cool. 
 
 One group of the Macon county men reached Nevada City, Cal., 
 Oct. 2, 1850. They had been more than six months on the way. 
 
 The success of the men who hunted for gold was in varying de- 
 grees. Some found but little, others a good deal. However, they all 
 felt the trip was worth while for the experience, if not for the gold. 
 Some stayed a year or two, others longer. Some never came back. 
 Dr. Edmund Packard of Decatur, was one who died in the west. 
 
 It was no easy life in those days in California, especially in the 
 winter time. Often the trails were blocked with snow and provisions 
 became scarce. Donerville, one of the richest mining camps on the 
 North Yuba, was blocked in the winter of 1850-51. Men had to go 
 down the river to Foster's Bar, where they had to pay 50 cents a 
 pound for floor, and had to carry it on their backs up to their camp. 
 There they sold it at $1 a pound. 
 
 Stories of big finds were always abroad. One Decatur man said 
 the largest nugget he picked up was worth $16.25. The largest one 
 he saw was worth $1,000. Incidentally it came from Poor Man's 
 Creek. It was necessary to keep an eye on one's gold and other belong- 
 ings for robberies were frequent. Rough characters crowded the min- 
 ing camps and there was a great deal of fighting and drinking and 
 gambling. In a letter written by John Sawyer, he said : 
 
OOLD SEEKERS 207 
 
 "Benjamin left Foi sonic two months ago. John Hanks 
 
 had throe mules stolen or lost off the ranch. I had two went the same 
 way. Hanks had $200 stolen, Morris about $100 — their trunk broken 
 open in daylight. My trunk was cut open at the same time, but the 
 creature was not there, as 1 had taken my money, watch and pistols 
 out and had them with me, by which I saved them. 
 
 "There have been some ten or twelve tents robbed this winter. 
 Within two miles around there is a band of robbers connected from 
 the north to the south. They steal mules and cattle and run them from 
 one to the other. The mines are full of blackleg's. More gambling 
 done than a little." 
 
 Mr. Sawyer was sick with the fever for a long time, and was 
 not expected to live. His sickness cost him, he said, upwards of $400. 
 
 Even murder attracted little attention during the days of the 
 gold rush as illustrated by one story. At a Christmas ball at the Grass 
 \ r alley hotel in the winter of 1850 after an entire night of dancing 
 Mr. Ross was fired upon by two different men, and as he ran across 
 the street, a third took a shot at him. Ross fell dead. Each of the 
 three claimed to be the one who fired the fatal shot. The constable 
 took the three contenders for the honor ( ?) of killing the man before 
 the justice of the peace at Rough and Ready, a rich mining camp 
 nearby, and told the justice how matters stood. Not having any wit- 
 ness against any of them all three were discharged and away they 
 went. 
 
 Not all the men who went to California for gold left in the cara- 
 van of 1850. Richard Oglesby, Henry Prather and a half dozen others 
 made the trip in 1849. A caravan, headed by E. O. Smith, went in 
 1852. Israel Horner, a farm hand of Chauncey Powers, was in this 
 party. At Death Valley he was reported missing. A searching party 
 found him delirious, scooping out the sand in search of water. 
 
 Among the Macon county men who at one time or another made 
 the long trek to California in search of gold were: 
 
 Samuel Powers. John Sawyer. Felix Spangler. Samuel Hudson. John Gepford. 
 
 Silas Packard. Anderson Draper. Ben Frazee. James K. Giles. Judd Mettlin. 
 
 Hosea Armstrong. John Hanks. Edmund Packard. Mason Packard. James Mettlin. 
 
 Richard J. Oglesby. George Hiser. William T. Moffett. William Stewart. Louis Hanks. 
 
 D. H. Garver. Jonathan Florey. James Taylor. Henry Prather. Cal Smith. 
 
 Pen Sawyer. C. H. Garver. Robert Boyd. William Hanks. 
 
 1 Two of the men in the caravan had excellent reputations as wrestlers. They were Ander- 
 son Draper and C. H. Garver. They were about evenly matched as to size and weight. Other 
 men in the crowd kept urging the two wrestlers to put on a match to see which was the better 
 man. Neither Draper nor Garver had any desire to fight. When the caravan stopped at the Mis- 
 souri river, however, the crowd declared that it would not move a step farther until the wrestling 
 match was pulled off. So Draper and Garver met, on the grassy banks of the stream. For a time 
 it was an even battle, but finally Draper threw his opponent. The crowd was satisfied, and the 
 caravan proceeded. 
 
208 . HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIX 
 
 THE RAILROADS COME 
 
 OH, LOOK, there it comes !" 
 Excited children danced up and down. Faces of little folks and 
 big folks were turned in eager anticipation toward the west. Over 
 the wrinkled countenances of the old spread looks of amazement. The 
 puffing of a locomotive had been heard. With a rumble and a roar 
 an engine pulled in. 
 
 Decatur was out to welcome its first railroad train. With that 
 first train came the beginning of the era of Decatur's prosperity, and 
 the county's development. Nothing now could stand in the way. 
 Decatur and Macon county had arrived ! 
 
 That was a momentous day in April, 1854, when the Great West- 
 ern Railroad company inaugurated train service into Decatur. It was 
 something that for years had been longed for and worked for. 1 It was 
 the culmination of hopes started back in the '30s. 
 
 The coming of the railroads brought more to Macon county than 
 the wildest dreams ever fancied. Agricultural development was now 
 assured. Industries started could find markets for their products. 
 Material advancement could be made in any direction. The railroads 
 brought more people. More people meant more business. The United 
 States census figures tell the history of the county's increase in popu- 
 lation. In 1850 there were only 3,998 people in the entire country. By 
 1870 that figure had risen to 26,481. In Decatur alone there were prob- 
 ably 1500 people before 1854. In 1860 there were 3,839. By 1870 the 
 population was 7,161. 
 
 That first locomotive which made the trip into Decatur was 
 called "The Frontier". It was well named, for the county might have 
 
 been classed as frontier be- 
 fore that time. 
 
 When Decatur turned 
 out enmasse that April day 
 to greet its first train, it 
 really had to go to the 
 country. 2 Decatur then did 
 not extend as far north as 
 the Wabash track. It did- 
 an early wabash locomotive n't take the city long to ex- 
 
THE RAILROADS COM?: 
 
 209 
 
 panel that far, however, after the railroads came. Before the road was 
 built, three surveys were made for the right of way. One came in 
 through the old fair grounds and east over what is now Eldorado 
 
 street. Another was almost the same as the one selected. 
 
 Sullivan Burgess, who afterwards was Decatur's city engineer 
 at various times, was a busy man in the days of building railroads. 
 He located the line from Springfield to Decatur, and from Decatur to 
 Tolono, also, later on, the road from Decatur to East St. Louis, and 
 was in charge of the construction work of. the latter line from De- 
 catur to Taylorville. He located railroads in various other sections 
 of the country, also. Afterwards he was a partner in business with 
 Charles A. Tuttle, who had been division engineer with the Illinois 
 Central when its line was under construction. 
 
 The railroad track was finished between Springfield and Wyckles 
 quite a while before it came on in to Decatur. The delay was caused 
 by the long fill at Stevens creek. Work on the fill had to be done by 
 man power, as there were no steam shovels. The men used picks to 
 loosen the ground in cuts further west. Then the dirt was shoveled 
 by hand into cars, and wheeled in to where the fill was being made. 
 
 It took large gangs of men and much time to make this fill. It 
 was difficult to secure labor, and men employed were rather a rough 
 class. Many were the tales told of troubles in the labor camps. 
 
 Two gangs were at work most of the time, one composed of Irish 
 and the other of Germans, fresh from the old country. Disputes were 
 inevitable. 3 
 
 THE WABASH 
 
 The railroad company known as the Great Western, which 
 brought Decatur its first road, later became a part of the Toledo, 
 Wabash and Western, afterwards called the Wabash and Western, 
 and reorganized in 1877 as the Wabash railway company. In 1879 it 
 was consolidated with the St. 'Louis, Kansas City 
 and Northern Railway company and became known 
 as the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific. In 1889 it 
 was reorganized as the Wabash Railroad company. 
 In 1915 the road was sold under foreclosure, and 
 the reorganized company was incorporated as the 
 Wabash Railway company. Two important addi- 
 
 Itions which came into control of the road were the 
 A. A Missouri, Kansas and Texas line from Moberly t<> 
 
 5^ — =H! Hannibal, Mo., and the Ann Arbor Railroad com- 
 john dinneen pany lines. 
 
210 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 The Decatur and East St. Louis railroad was chartered in 1867, 
 but the line from Decatur to St. Louis was built in 1869 under the 
 management of the Toledo, Wabash and Western. The. first Wabash 
 roundhouse in Decatur was built in 1869. It was an eight-stall house. 
 In the earliest days of the road oxen were used for switching- 
 cars. The first yardmaster in Decatur was John Dinneen, who began 
 work in the early '60s, and remained with the Wabash until 1875. At 
 first Dinneen drove the oxen and switched the cars for both the Wa- 
 bash and Illinois Central. The first switch engine was not brought in 
 until after the line to St. Louis had been constructed. 
 
 In 1884 the Wabash shops were moved from Peoria to Decatur. 
 From that time on, Wabash interests in Decatur increased in size and 
 importance. Millions of dollars have been spent on grounds, buildings, 
 bridges and equipment. Some of the big projects have been the con- 
 struction of the locomotive shops in 1913-14, and additions made later, 
 miles of trackage in the yards, reclamation plant, concrete bridge east 
 of Decatur, bridge over Sangamon on line to St. Louis, and innumera- 
 ble buildings. Inside of Decatur alone the Wabash has thirty-seven 
 miles of tracks. One year, in 1926, the Wabash spent more than $7,- 
 500,000 in Decatur. 
 
 Decatur was the headquarters of the old Middle division, when 
 the system had three divisions, eastern, middle and western. After 
 the system was re-divided and more divisions were created, it re- 
 mained headquarters for the Decatur division. It not only is the loca- 
 tion of the division offices, but has some of the general offices, namely, 
 the mechanical, telegraph and signal departments. 
 
 Thirty-three hundred persons in Decatur are employed by the 
 
 Wabash, and the annual 
 payroll is estimated at $5,- 
 000,000. Scores of trains 
 pass through the city each 
 day. 
 
 Today the Wabash 
 system covers nearly 3,000 
 miles, serving eight states 
 of the United States and a 
 province of Canada. Ac- 
 cording to its report for 
 1929, the earnings for that 
 wabash station year were $76,632,974. 
 
 Rightly Decatur is called the "Hub" of the Wabash. 
 
THE RAILROADS COME 
 
 211 
 
 Durxlertk 
 (E.Dubuque) 
 
 
 ILLINOIS CENTRAL 
 
 The Illinois Central was the second railroad to inaugurate serv- 
 ice into Decatur, though its tracks had been laid in the city before 
 those of the Great Western. Its line from Clinton to Decatur, on 
 which the first service was given, was completed Oct. 18, 1854. 
 
 In 1850 Congress passed what is known as the Illinois land-grant 
 act, sponsored by Judge Sidney A. Breeze, and later, in a modified 
 form, by Senator Stephen A. Douglas. This act gave to the state of 
 Illinois 2,595,000 acres of land to aid in the construction of a railroad 
 705/2 miles long, from Cairo to East Dubuque, with branch line from 
 Centralia to Chicago. In February, 1851, the Illinois Central railroad 
 was incorporated, and the legislature conveyed this land to the rail- 
 road company. The charter of the road provided that 7 per cent of 
 the gross earnings of the company should be paid into the state treas- 
 ury. The land given to the railroad consisted of alternate sections on 
 either side of the proposed route. The proceeds from the sale of these 
 lands were to help defray cost of construction of the road. 4 
 
 'The route was surveyed in 1851 
 and by spring the following year 
 construction work was in progress. 5 
 The first section of the line com- 
 pleted was between La Salle and 
 Bloomington. Through service be- 
 tween Chicago and Cairo was estab- 
 lished Jan. 8, 1855. 
 
 When surveys were first made 
 through Macon county the line was 
 six miles west of Decatur. That 
 would never do, thought the enter- 
 prising citizens of the town. Imme- 
 diately a movement was started to 
 have the route changed. Through 
 the efforts of E. O. Smith, the 
 change was made and the road 
 routed through Decatur. 6 
 
 After the road was finished, De- 
 catur people could reach Chicago by 
 using the Central to Mendota, and 
 connecting there with the Chicago 
 and Aurora railroad, now the Burl- 
 
 FIRST ILLINOIS CENTRAL MAP illgtoll. 
 
 Amboy" 
 Mervdot 
 
 La Salter v G»urbonr\ai 
 Wenona Q (Kankakee) 
 
 CHICAGO i 
 Hyde Park* 
 Ker\sir\qtor\C 
 
 Mattesorx 
 
 ILLINOIS CENTRAL 
 RA1LPOAD 
 m JaMiary,1855 
 
 Lines Comp/eted 
 .,.., L/nza Under* 
 Construction 
 
 „ nNormal I (Paxtorx) 
 DloominqTOtvj Opro: 
 
 Rantoul^ ' 
 >Clitvtoi\ 
 
 p*Neoqa 
 £5Effir\qf\an\ 
 oTdaevood 
 PKirxmu 
 P*Alrr\a 
 Centralia 
 
 Ashley 
 Tamaroa 
 Du Qooirx 
 
 Carbondale_ 
 Makandar' 
 SoutkPa'ss 
 Ann<a. V 
 
212 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 At the intersection of the Illinois Central and Wabash lines a 
 station was erected in 1855 by the Illinois Central. Five acres of land 
 
 were donated to 
 the Illinois Central 
 as a site for the sta- 
 tion by B. H. Cas- 
 sell. The deed was 
 given July 4, 1853, 
 and specified that 
 the land was to be 
 used only for a de- 
 pot site. Mr. Cas- 
 sell sold other land 
 in the vicinity to 
 P r a t h e r , M a r t i n 
 old union depot ■ and Catling, who 
 
 laid out the addition of that name west of the tracks. East of the 
 tracks is the Catling addition. Mr. Catling, by the way, was the man 
 who invented the Catling gun. 
 
 The depot, which stood across the tracks east of the present sta- 
 tion, was used as a Union depot from 1855 to 1901, when the present 
 day separate stations were put into use. It was a substantial brick 
 building two stories high, and with an eight-sided tower. Included in 
 the building was a hotel. Its name was The Central House. The hotel 
 office was on the first floor, while on the second floor were twenty 
 sleeping rooms. It was a convenience for the traveling public and 
 the hotel was well patronized. It was opened in the summer of 1855. 
 Among the landlords at that hotel were John Slaughter, O. McKenzie, 
 Newell A. White, Colonel A. C. Waterhouse and Robert R. Taggart. 
 The latter was proprietor at the time the building was dismantled. 
 The old Central hotel had 
 some busy days during the 
 years of the Civil war, 
 when soldiers were being 
 sent to the army and again 
 on their return. 
 
 Tn the tower of the 
 depot was a smoking room 
 for men. On the first floor 
 of the Illinois Central wing Illinois central station 
 
THE RAILROADS COME 
 
 213 
 
 of the depot, were the hotel dining room, telegraph office and baggage 
 rooms. On the Great Western side were men's and women's waiting 
 rooms. Ticket offices were between the two sections of the building. 
 The Great Western baggage room and express office were to the east 
 of the depot. 
 
 OTHER RAILROADS 
 
 Other railroads came to Decatur in the next twenty years. The 
 line between Decatur and Pekin, built by the Pekin, Lincoln and De- 
 catur railroad company, was opened in November, 1871. It was leased 
 by the Toledo, Wabash and Western for a time. After consolidation 
 with the Decatur, Sullivan and Mattoon company, it became the 
 Peoria, Decatur and EvausYille, and still later, in 1900, it went into 
 the hands of the Illinois Central. The line between Hervey City and 
 Mattoon had been built by the Decatur, Sullivan and Mattoon rail- 
 road company and opened for operation in 1872, the track of the 
 Illinois Midland being used between Decatur and Hervey City. 
 
 The track between Decatur and Champaign was built in 1873 by 
 the Decatur, Monticello and Champaign Railroad company, later 
 becoming the Indianapolis, Bloomington and Western. It afterward 
 became part of the Wabash system, and then was leased to the Illi- 
 nois Central. 
 
 The Illinois Midland w r as a consolidation of the Peoria, Atlanta 
 and Decatur railroad and the Paris and Decatur railroad. The line 
 was built in 1872. It extended from Peoria to Terre Haute. The Illi- 
 nois Midland station, erected about 1872 at Broadway and East Main, 
 housed the general offices of the company. When this road went into 
 receivership, it was put in charge of D. H. Conklin, who afterwards 
 became mayor of Decatur. Mr. Conklin was interested in other rail- 
 roads. He had the distinction, by the way, of being the first teleg- 
 rapher engaged by a railroad company. That was back in 1849. 
 
 The Illinois Midland 
 was reorganized as the 
 Terre I Piute and Peoria, 
 later became the Vandalia 
 line, and eventually part of 
 the Pennsylvania system. 
 The Vandalia used the old 
 station as a freight house 
 until the erection of a new 
 freight house and office 
 building in the 800 block ELLINOIS MIDLAND STATION 
 
214 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 North Broadway. Since then the old building has been used mostly 
 by coal dealers. 
 
 The Indianapolis, Decatur and Springfield was chartered in 1850 
 as the Indiana and Illinois Central, but the line was not built until 
 1872, and then only as far as Montezuma, Ind. Later it was extended 
 to Indianapolis. It passed through several hands, eventually becom- 
 ing a part of the C. H. and D., afterwards the C. I. and W., and finally 
 the B. and O. The line between Decatur and Springfield was not built 
 until 1902. 
 
 Decatur had the beginnings of another line, but it disappeared 
 suddenly. The Decatur and State Line company, whose purpose was 
 to build a road connecting Decatur and Chicago, was incorporated 
 in 1869. About $600,000 was raised to build the road, $85,000 being 
 voted by Macon county. Work started near Kankakee. In April, 1871, 
 ground was broken on the Samuel Powers place northeast of town, 
 for the first work to be done in this county on the road. One clay 
 work ceased. All efforts to learn what had happened failed. It was 
 generally believed that some other railroad had bought off the pro- 
 moters of this line. 
 
 1 The news soon spread when the Great Western surveyors reached Decatur on Christmas 
 day, in 1852. The men stopped at the Harrell house. It was unusual to have a group of surveyors 
 for a railroad here, and due honor must be done the occasion. A reception was arranged for the 
 evening. It was held in the old court house on the old square, and James Shoaff, newspaper 
 editor, was said to have been the spirit of the occasion. Matt Johnson, a peculiar character, fur- 
 nished the music with his fiddle. At the side of his chair sat the little brown jug, from which he 
 had to take a bracer at the close of each cotillion. Johnson just couldn't get a tune right if he 
 didn't have the little brown jug to brace him up ! 
 
 2 Although people in general wanted to see the railroad come to the county there were some 
 who made objections, thinking it would be the ruination of the country. The objections sound 
 very foolish today. Some complained that the whistling of engines and the noise of cars would 
 drive away all the game. Others said the ranges would be destroyed and poor people would have 
 to keep their hogs and cattle enclosed. It would be impossible to cultivate land, because the trains 
 would frighten the horses. Men who made their living by hauling naturally felt their business 
 would be ruined. Jesse Lockhart of Niantic said he had just left a country that was all fenced 
 in (Kentucky), and he had come here to find plenty of room. The railroad would ruin the country, 
 he said. Lockhart was so provoked at the idea that he threatened to pull up the stakes if sur- 
 veyors set stakes on his land. He did do that once, but the surveyors expostulated with him, and 
 finally he was convinced that the roads would do no harm. So well was he persuaded, that he even 
 helped put the stakes back. Ever afterwards he was a friend of the road. 
 
 3 One Saturday pay day, according to story told by R. R. Montgomery, the Irish workmen, 
 after going to town and getting filled up with bad whisky, started a raid on the Germans. Armed 
 with shovels, picks and clubs they entered upon a battle royal. It was reported (erroneously, how- 
 ever) in town early Sunday morning that several had been killed and others badly wounded. The 
 sheriff called a mass meeting of citizens and asked for volunteers to help seize the trouble makers. 
 A company of thirty men was formed. Armed with old flintlock muskets, which had seen service 
 in the Mexican and Black Hawk wars, they made their way, some horseback and others afoot, 
 to the scene of the riot. They brought in quite a number of the disturbers. 
 
 4 A pamphlet issued by the Illinois Central in 1857 to advertise its land for sale contained 
 among other things figures on the cost of "opening a farm". It was stated that a one-story frame 
 house, 14 by 26 feet, plainly and comfortably finished, divided into two rooms, plastered and 
 painted, could be had for $225 to $250. For a larger house, one and one-half stories, 16 by 28 
 
THE RAILROADS COME 215 
 
 feet, three rooms above and two In-low, with pantry, the cost would be $400 to $425. Contractors 
 agreed to furnish such houses in four to six weeks. Letters telling of the success of people who 
 had located on such farms were printed. Isaac Funk of near Blooming ton was mentioned as having 
 acquired 27,000 acres, and his sales of cattle the previous year had been $65,000. Jesse Funk, who 
 formerly made rails for his neighbors at 25 cents a hundred, had purchased land and raised cattle 
 and hogs. His sale of stock the previous year amounted to $44,000. 
 
 5 Colonel Roswell B. Mason, chief engineer of construction of the Illinois Central when it 
 was started in 1851, often told of the difficulties encountered in the work. It was necessary to 
 get labor from big cities as far away as New York and Montreal. So many railroads were being 
 built at that time that rival agents would entice men away from one road to another. Another 
 handicap was the prevalence of cholera and milk sickness. Epidemics broke out in the summers 
 of 1853 and 1854 and men died by the scores. Many laborers, at work one day, were dead the 
 next. In Peru, 111., 130 men died within ten days. Those not stricken with illness scattered 
 quickly. Whisky was another factor contributing to the difficulties. Drunkenness was common, 
 and often riots occurred. One such occasion at LaSalle resulted in the murder of a contractor, 
 and it was necessary to call out state troops to restore quiet. Trouble also was caused by cattle 
 getting on the railroad track. Once a construction train was thrown from the track by running 
 over a cow, and three men were killed and one other seriously injured. 
 
 The first stake for the Illinois Central survey in Decatur was driven June 6, 1851, near 
 where the passenger station now stands. Headquarters for the workmen were established at the 
 Macon house. Several lines were run south. The first move of the party was to Willow Creek 
 (Elwin), and the next to Flat branch (near Moweaqua). From there south the men had to 
 work through real wilderness. Rattlesnakes, deer, wolves abounded. To add to their discomforts it 
 rained every day.. 
 
216 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 MUSIC ORGANIZATIONS 
 
 DECATUR has never lacked in musical talent, and it has been 
 the home of several musical organizations which have brought 
 fame to the city. 
 
 The first one organized, and which in later years put Decatur "on 
 the map" musically, was The Goodman band, thought by some to be 
 the oldest band in the United States, and one with a record which 
 few, if any, bands can equal. During the years of its existence this 
 band has furnished musicians in four wars, the Civil War, Spanish- 
 American war, Mexican border war, and the World war. 
 
 Nine men were charter members of the organization when it met 
 on the night of Sept. 19, 1857, for its first meeting. They were D. S. 
 Shellabarger, James Haworth, J. G. Starr, Jake Kauffman, George 
 Patterson, John Roswell, W. W. Lapham, Henry Dunham and Will 
 L. Smith. One of these, Henry Dunham, who was the first snare 
 drummer in the band, is still living at this writing (1930). 
 
 The first director was Mr. Kingfield from outside Decatur, but 
 later Will L. Smith, who was a leader in the movement to organize 
 the band, directed the organization for a number of years, until he 
 started out on the road with his Swiss Bell Ringers. 1 The band had 
 several different names during its early years. It was first known as 
 the Decatur Brass band, was also called the Decatur Silver band, and 
 the Decatur Cornet band. It became known as The Goodman band 
 when Professor A. Goodman became its leader in 1873, and has re- 
 tained that name ever since. 
 
 In 1862 the band bought new instruments from the proceeds of 
 a concert given at the town hall. 
 
 During the period of the Civil war the band languished to some 
 extent, a number of the members serving in the army, but the organi- 
 zation was kept up, and in 1867 it was reorganized with the following- 
 members : 
 
 Chris Kramer. Joe Ricketts. 
 
 W. N. Zimmerman. John E. King. 
 
 Jack Ricketts. George Patterson. 
 
 Silas Packard. Berry Kavlor. 
 
 W. L. Smith. Will Dennis. 
 
 W. H. Starr § D. S. Shellabarger. 
 
 Charles Hopping. Joe Ehrhart. 
 
 Joe Berry. Richard Harkness. 
 
MUSIC ORGANIZATIONS 
 
 217 
 
 D. S. Shellabarger and Silas Packard dropped out shortly after- 
 wards, and Ed Seifert came in. From time to time there were other 
 changes in membership, but usually the number was kept up to four- 
 teen. 2 
 
 From 1862 to 1865 George Howe was director of the band, and 
 after him came Joe Ricketts. In 1871-72 Professor C. A. Foster was 
 director. Then in 1873 came Professor A. Goodman, and under his 
 leadership began a brilliant era for the band. The organization took 
 on new life and became known far and wide over the country. 
 
 Professor Goodman was director until 1882. Other directors fol- 
 lowing him were Charles Maxwell, F. W. Haines and C. A. Foster. 
 In 1887 Professor Robert Walter became director, a position he filled 
 for about forty years. In 1928 Roy Jones was named director. 
 
 One of the early members of the band, F. W. Haines, played in 
 the band for nearly eighteen years. For some time he served as busi- 
 ness manager. 
 
 On May 4, 1901, the band was mustered into the Fourth Infantry, 
 I. N. G., and became the regimental band. 
 
 The band has been a popular organization. It has been the at- 
 traction at local events, at county, state and national gatherings. 
 
 THE GOODMAN BAND IN 1867 
 Left to right — Standing: Joe Berry, Charlie Ricketts, Joe Ehrhart, Chris Kramer, W. H. 
 Starr, John E. King, Ed Seifert. 
 
 Seated : W. N. Zimmerman, Will Smith, Joe Ricketts, George Patterson, "Bill" Dennis, 
 Charles Hopping, Berry Kaylor. 
 
218 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 OTHER ORGANIZATIONS 
 
 Will L. Smith had an active part in the musical development of 
 the city. He organized the Decatur Ladies' hand in the fall of 1866. 
 Its members were as follows: Mrs. Will L. Smith, Miss Rosaline Kin- 
 kead (Mrs. H. B. Ives), Mrs. S. T. Trowbridge, Miss Ada Trow- 
 bridge, Miss Louisa Bear, and Miss Ella Bloom (Mrs. Richard Ogles- 
 by). 3 Two men also were in the band, Charley Trowbridge playing 
 the bass drum and cymbals and Mr. Smith playing the cornet. 
 
 This was something new not only in Decatur but in the United 
 States — a band composed of women. It simply wasn't being done in 
 those days. Such a novel attraction soon became popular and invita- 
 tions began to pour in. 
 
 The lady musicians first had brass instruments, but they wanted 
 something better, and soon they were provided with silver horns. The 
 band then became known as the Ladies' Silver band. The members 
 earned part of the $445 needed to purchase the instruments by play- 
 ing at the state fair. 
 
 This band was later merged with the Smith's Swiss Bell Ring- 
 ers, the organization directed by Mr. Smith for so many years. This 
 group of musicians was heard in every section of the country. It was 
 in existence until 1900. 
 
 Mr. Smith and Miss Lizzie Kinkead Coleman were married Feb. 
 11, 1862, by the bride's foster father, Rev. John W. Coleman. They 
 bought the old James Renshaw log house, moved it to Morgan and 
 Division streets, and built a house from the lumber. There were no 
 other houses then in the neighborhood. 
 
 In the late '50s the Decatur Choral society was active. D. L. 
 Bunn was largely instrumental in organizing it. There were about 
 twenty members, and for a time Dr. W. A. Barnes was leader. 
 
 Many a soldier's child went hungry during the dark days of the 
 Civil war when father was away at the front. It would seem that 
 such a statement would have little to do with music, yet it was that 
 very thing which brought about the organization of Decatur's most 
 talented people of that day, the Decatur Musical Union. 
 
 Formed to meet a war period need, it did not end its career with 
 the war, but flourished for twenty years, and during that time was the 
 principal source of revenue for the charity work done in the city. 
 
 Some decorating was being done for a Thanksgiving festival in 
 1861, when the women, chatting away at their work, launched on to 
 the subject of some of the destitute people, sympathizing as always 
 with the children particularly. 
 
MUSIC ORGANIZATIONS 219 
 
 "Let's give a Christmas dinner for them," said one. 
 
 It would be a fine thing, they all agreed, but — where would 
 the money come from? Money wasn't plentiful then. 
 
 "I'll see George," said Amanda Montgomery. 
 
 Well, George was seen and he was equal to the occasion. A 
 concert was suggested to raise money. Lowber Burrows, D. L. Bunn 
 and others were drafted. 
 
 All were willing to assist. As a result a meeting of singers was 
 called, and at that meeting, in December, 1861, was organized the 
 Decatur Musical Union. 
 
 "George," who was George F. Wessels, became the musical direc- 
 tor of the union. He was its inspiration, its leader, and not until 
 after he left Decatur did the Union cease to exist. 
 
 Officers elected at the organization meeting were: 
 
 President — Lowber Burrows. 
 
 Vice President — Dr. William A. Barnes. 
 
 Secretary — J. R. Mosser. 
 
 Treasurer — W. T. Edmundson. 
 
 Musical director — George F. Wessels. 
 
 Pianist — Miss Mattie Cass. 
 
 Two concerts were given in about ten days after organization. 
 One was "for the benefit of the poor" and the other for the rent of 
 a hall and piano and the purchase of music for the Union. 
 
 The object of the society was to "bring together the musical 
 talent of Decatur for educational and charitable purposes." 
 
 The members were able to sing and to act, and they used their 
 talents generously. About six entertainments usually were put on 
 during a year. A variety of programs was furnished. Oratorios, can- 
 tatas, tableaux, plays, quartets were among the performances offered. 
 Brilliant stage effects and rich costuming featured the plays. At one 
 of the state fairs held in Decatur the Union gave four performances 
 to crowded houses, making enough money to pay expenses, give 10 
 per cent to the Relief society, and to buy a Chickering piano, and 
 still the treasury wasn't exhausted. 
 
 Among the singers in the Union were J. R. Mosser, baritone, 
 Joseph Ehrhart, George Patterson and M. A. Myer, basses, L. L. 
 Ferris, D. L. Bunn and A. P. Griswold, tenors, Mary Elizabeth Bunn, 
 Sallie Moore and Alida Suits, sopranos. 
 
 Mrs. Wessels, who had been Amanda Montgomery, was one of 
 the leading contraltos. Lowber Burrows was stage director and Dr. 
 A\ illiam A. Barnes his assistant. Annie Livingston and Star Mans- 
 
220 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 field were particularly good at costuming, and that phase of the 
 work usually fell to their lot. 
 
 The Union had an orchestra composed pf Molly Masterson, 
 pianist; Henry Ebert, first violin; Dr. E. S. Jones, flute; Mr. Jordan, 
 harp; Ben Davis, 'cello, and Albert Condell, double bass viol. 
 
 Some years after the Musical Union ceased to exist, a new musi- 
 cal club was organized, known as the Decatur Musical club. It was 
 started about 1885. Members were Frank and Edward Powers, C. 
 W. Montgomery, Miss Hattie E. Hitchcock, Stella B. Hadden, Pro- 
 fessor Olaf Bull, J. B. Burrows, Maude Burrows, Will and James 
 Roberts, Belle Ewing, Rose E. Judson, Clara Irwin, A. B. Alexan- 
 der, Frank Shull, Anna Willis Berry. During the years of this club's 
 activities, much outside musical talent was brought to Decatur. 
 Finally the club ceased activity. 
 
 Later, in 1895, another club, called the Musical Culture club, 
 afterwards the Decatur Musical club, was organized and flourished 
 for some time. After it went out of existence Decatur had no music 
 club until 1924 when the present day Decatur Music club was or- 
 ganized. 
 
 For ten years or more the Handel society, directed by S. M. Lutz, 
 appeared in public concerts. Its first big achievement was a concert 
 in Bloomington in 1897. 
 
 An outstanding music organization in more recent years was the 
 Decatur Oratorio choir, directed by Donald M. Swarthout, which had 
 its largest membership and greatest success from 1919 to 1923, and 
 which appeared annually in presentation of some well known oratorio. 
 
 Establishment of music schools, organization of various bands, 
 orchestras, choirs, teaching of music in the public schools, bringing 
 of outside artists for concerts here, all have had their part in recent 
 years in furthering music interests in Decatur. 
 
 1 Mrs. Smith has told the following story : When the band gave its first public concert in 
 Powers hall, Joe Starr was on the program for a cornet solo. It happened that he had had 
 all his teeth removed that day, and when he undertook to play his solo he failed to make the 
 grade. The band leader couldn't stand for the results which Starr was producing from his cornet 
 and he took the instrument away from him and played the solo himself. Starr had nothing to do 
 but stand there and look on in amazement. 
 
 2 One time in 1869, shortly after being reorganized, the band was called upon to play at 
 the Henry Prather funeral. It had no music ready and the death march was learned during the 
 few hours preceding the funeral time. 
 
 3 This Richard Oglesby was a cousin of Governor Richard J. Oglesby. 
 
DECATUR BANKS 
 
 221 
 
 CHAPTER XLI 
 
 DECATUR BANKS 
 
 PEDDECORDS 
 SAFE 
 
 A small private safe, installed in an unpretentious East Main street 
 store in the year 1852, was the beginning of the first perma- 
 nent banking business in Decatur. 
 
 For the first twenty-three years of the history 
 of the city, Decatur managed to get along without 
 a bank, and probably, especially in the first few 
 years, the lack of such an institution was scarcely 
 felt. But eventually there came a time when people 
 began accumulating some money, and began to 
 weigh the question as to where to place it for safe 
 keeping. 
 
 The fact that they began bringing their money 
 to J. J. Peddecord to hold for them was a tribute to 
 the man. Evidently he was the one in whom they 
 had the most confidence. He had started in business in Decatur as a 
 storekeeper but he became a banker just as a matter of accommodation 
 to his friends. The new bank, filling a need in the city, was so suc- 
 cessful that finally in 1855, Mr. Peddecord gave up the store to devote 
 his entire time to 
 banking. 
 
 When Mr. Ped- 
 decord first began 
 keeping money for 
 his customers, he 
 placed it in an en- 
 velope or other 
 wrapping and laid 
 it in a drawer with 
 the owner's name 
 on it. When it be- 
 gan accumulating, 
 he bought a safe. 
 One day Mr. Ped- 
 decord decided to 
 count tlie money peddecord & burrows bank 
 
 
 m jgj 
 
 
 ^#fii"iH 
 
 
 
 
 
 II 
 
222 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 which had been entrusted to him and he was astonished to find he 
 had $20,000. A checking system was established then, and Mr. Pedde- 
 cord and his partner, L. L. Burrows, became the banking firm of 
 Peddecord and Burrows, which continued in business for sixty years. 
 The first place of business of Peddecord & Burrows, as bankers 
 exclusively, was in a second story room on Water street. In 1858 
 they moved to a ground floor room on South Park street. In 1878 
 they began occupying the room at the corner of South Park and 
 Water streets, where they remained for years. On that corner the 
 business still exists, though under different name and in a different 
 building, the bank having been merged with the National Bank of 
 Decatur which erected a new building on the site. 
 
 Few changes were made in the firm during its long stay in the 
 Decatur business world. In 1857 William Martin became a member, 
 and the name became Peddecord, Burrows and Martin. Mr. Martin 
 retired in 1859, and the firm again was Peddecord and Burrows. In 
 1878 William Boyd entered the company and the firm became Pedde- 
 cord, Burrows and Company. Mr. Boyd 
 passed away in 1889. No change was made, 
 however, in the name until after the death of 
 Mr. Peddecord in 1899. From that time on 
 the bank was known as the L. Burrows & 
 Co. bank. Mr. Burrows died in 1910 and two 
 years later the bank was merged with the 
 National Bank of Decatur. 
 
 MILLIKIN BANK 
 
 James Millkin, founder of the Millikin 
 bank, began business in Decatur as a banker 
 in 1860. He had the courage to make the 
 start at rather a discouraging time and in a 
 rather discouraging place, and though in 
 the first twenty years the bank went through 
 trying times it gradually grew until it has 
 become one of the strongest institutions of 
 the kind in the state. 
 
 It was just a week after the failure of 
 the Railroad bank that Mr. Millikin started 
 his banking business. Not only that, but he 
 occupied the same room on Merchant street 
 that had been occupied by the Railroad 
 
 FIRST HOME OF MILLIKIN x J 
 
 bank bank. 
 
DECATUR BANKS 
 
 223 
 
 Through the failure of that hank many people had lost money, 
 and their confidence in banks in general was considerably shaken. 
 
 ,. . ., Mr. Millikin in 1863 took in as partner 
 
 J. Q. A. Odor, and the firm name was Mil- 
 likin & Odor. Mr. Odor remained only a 
 short time, however. In 1865 Jerome R. 
 Gorin went into partnership with Mr. Mil- 
 likin and the firm was known as James Mil- 
 likin and Co. Though others entered the 
 firm later, the business was conducted under 
 that name until 1897 when it became the 
 Millikin National bank. 
 
 Jerome R. Gorin remained with the Mil- 
 likin bank until 1881, when he withdrew to 
 start a new bank, and his son, O. B. Gorin, 
 then became a partner. Milton Johnson, 
 Parke Hammer and J. M. Brownback were 
 others who acquired interests in the bank 
 before 1897. 
 
 The bank has been placed in a semi- 
 public position in the community through 
 
 SECOND HOME OF MIL- 
 LIKIN BANK 
 
 the will of Mr. Millikin, who passed 
 away in 1909. Income from his 
 estate, which owns more than one- 
 half of the stock of the bank, is to 
 be used ''for charitable and edu- 
 cational purposes in Decatur". 
 
 After three years in the Mer- 
 chant street location the bank moved 
 
 THIRD HOME OF MILLIKIN BANK 
 
 MILLIKIN BANK TODAY 
 
224 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 NATIONAL BANK OF DECATUR 
 
 to the north side of East Main street, east of the Morehouse & Wells 
 store, where it carried on business until 1880. Its third home was on 
 
 the corner of East Main and Water. 
 
 There it has remained till now. 
 
 Temporary quarters were twice 
 
 used while building was going on. 
 
 The present building was erected 
 
 in 1895. 
 
 OTHER BANKS 
 
 The National Bank of Decatur 
 was started in 1873 as the Decatur 
 National bank with a capital stock 
 of $100,000. In 1893 it was reorgan- 
 ized as the National Bank of De- 
 catur. Robert G. Hervey was the bank's first president. 
 
 For years this bank was located at the northwest corner of 
 Prairie and Water streets, but in 1914 the bank moved into its beauti- 
 ful new building which it had erected at the corner of South Park 
 and Water streets. 
 
 As stated before the L. Burrows & Co. bank was merged with the 
 National Bank of Decatur in 1912. 
 
 In 1881 a private banking business was established by Gorin & 
 Bills and in 1883 it was reorganized as the Gorin, Dawson & Com- 
 pany, the firm consisting of J. R. Gorin, J. A. Dawson and Lewis B. 
 Casner. They secured a room in Central block, where they were 
 located for a time, and then moved to the new building they had 
 erected at the corner of East Prairie and Merchant streets. The busi- 
 ness was sold to L. B. Casner and in 1891 merged with the new Cit- 
 izens National bank, of which Mr. Gorin was incorporator and first 
 president. This bank has been lo- 
 cated since 1910 at the corner of 
 North Park and Water streets, oc- 
 cupying part of the five story build- 
 ing erected by the bank. 
 
 In 1929 the Citizens bank bought 
 out the business of the Decatur 
 State bank, which had been organ- 
 ized in 1920 by J. L. Burtschi. Dur- 
 ing the period of its existence the 
 Decatur State bank was located on 
 South Park street. citizens national bank 
 
DECATUR BANKS 225 
 
 OTHERS NOW GONE 
 
 Decatur has had other banks with careers of varying lengths, 
 but which failed to survive. 
 
 Back in the early '50s there was a bank on North Franklin street, 
 David Kline being president and Charles Fuller cashier. It later be- 
 came Fuller & Hatch and moved to the 100 block East Main street. 
 
 The Railroad bank, located on Merchant street, was incorporated 
 April 20, 1854, with capital stock of $500,000. It flourished for several 
 years, but failed in 1860. Incorporators were Peter D. Kline of Mid- 
 dlesex, N. J., and M. K. H. Reed of Sangamon county. Its president 
 was Thomas Lewis and cashier S. D. Ayers. 
 
 Merchant street became known as Bank avenue, because of the 
 location of this bank on that street at the time it was laid out. 
 
 Another early bank was the First National, started in 1866, at 
 Water street and the New Square. T. O. Smith was president, John 
 R. Race vice president, and Theo. W. Freese cashier. 
 
 Mention of this bank explains why there is no First National 
 bank in Decatur today. The early bank which used that name became 
 insolvent in 1870, and it was inexpedient for later banks to use the 
 name of the defunct bank. 
 
 In 1870 William L. Hammer organized the banking company of 
 Smiths, Hammer and Company. T. O. and E. O. Smith were the 
 other members of the firm. They succeeded to the business which 
 had been done by the First National bank, which failed about the time 
 the new bank was organized. The bank was located in the room oc- 
 cupied afterwards by the Burrows bank. When the Smiths withdrew, 
 their interest was taken by James C. Rucker and J. Q. A. Odor, and 
 the firm became Rucker, Hammer & Co. The business continued until 
 1877. 
 
 The Farmers Bank was organized in July, 1893, by L. B. Casner, 
 L. E. Eyman and B. K. Durfee. It remained in business about five 
 years. 
 
 Decatur's most recent and most sensational bank failure was that 
 of the Farmers State Bank and Trust company, in 1925. This bank 
 had been organized in 1913 as the Farmers and Merchants State bank. 
 The business flourished for a time, but was brought to an abrupt end 
 when the suicide of the cashier revealed a shortage of thousands of 
 dollars in securities. 
 
226 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 CHAPTER XLII 
 
 SOME LONG-TIME BUSINESS MEN 
 
 D. S SHELLA- 
 BARGER 
 
 BACK in the days when it was popular to "go west and grow up 
 with the country", a nineteen year old youth in Cumberland 
 county, Pa., was struck with the fever. Having no money, he bor- 
 rowed $65 from his father. With that $65 — most of 
 which was spent in making the trip to his destin- 
 ation, Decatur, 111. — the young man entered upon 
 a career which brought him a fortune, as well as the 
 high regard of a city in whose progress he played 
 an important part. 
 
 The young man was David S. Shellabarger, 
 who arrived in Decatur May 28, 1856. He had been 
 born in Pennsylvania July 11, 1837. 
 
 Though he first went into the lumber business, 
 most of his life here was devoted to his milling 
 interests. For forty years he directed activities of 
 the Shellabarger mill at North Water and Cerro 
 Gordo streets. 
 
 In 1863 the Great Western mill at Water street 
 and the Great Western railroad was purchased by D. S. Shellabarger, 
 Isaac Shellabarger and Ben Dillehunt, D. S. Shellabarger later buying 
 the interests of the other two. For a number of years William Bowers 
 was associated with Mr. Shellabarger in the firm. In 1888 Mr. Shella- 
 barger became sole owner of the mill, and his three sons, W. L., F. D. 
 and L. C. Shellabarger, came into the business. Extensive improve- 
 ments, building additions and in- 
 stallation of new types of machin- 
 ery put the mill into the front rank 
 of such enterprises. 
 
 Before going into the milling 
 business on North Water street 
 Mr. Shellabarger had been con- 
 nected with another flour mill. He 
 and George Priest had bought out 
 the Condell interest in the ITenkle 
 & Condell mill. That mill burned 
 
 SHELLABARGER MILL 
 
SOME LONG-TIME BUSINESS MEN 227 
 
 in 1859, but it was rebuilt. Mr. Shellabarger sold out his interest in 
 that mill. 
 
 Mr. Shellabarger's business interests were not confined to De- 
 catur. Recognizing the importance of location in the heart of the 
 wheat growing country he established mills in Kansas. In both Illi- 
 nois and Kansas he owned long strings of elevators. In 1903 Mr. 
 Shellabarger disposed of his milling interests in Decatur to the 
 American Hominy company. 
 
 Other activities also claimed his attention. For twenty years Mr. 
 Shellabarger was head of a street car line. For fifteen years he was 
 a member of the board of education, and most of that time was the 
 president of the board. One term, in 1872, he was mayor of Decatur, 
 and at various times served as a member of the city council. Once 
 he was a candidate for congress, but was defeated for the office by 
 William B. McKinley. He was identified with bank, coal and other 
 business enterprises, among them the bagging factory. For seven 
 years he was president of the National Bank of Decatur. He also was 
 president of the Manufacturers and Consumers Coal company. 
 
 As a church leader he was known for years, and was chairman 
 of the building committee of the Grace Methodist church when its 
 present building was erected. 
 
 Mr. Shellabarger and Miss Anna Krone were married in 1862. 
 She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Krone, proprietors of 
 the Macon House. The Shellabargers' first home was on Jackson 
 street, then at the southeast corner of Franklin and Eldorado, the 
 house which for some years past has been used as an annex to the 
 high school building. 
 
 Mr. Shellabarger was the first to respond when citizens of De- 
 catur were asked to raise $100,000 to meet the offer of James Millikin 
 in establishing the James Millikin University. His gift to that fund 
 was $5,000. 
 
 John and Isaac Shellabarger, brothers, were the first of the Shel- 
 labarger family to come to Decatur. They had been through here on 
 a horseback trip in 1836 and entered land. Later they came here to 
 locate. 
 
 Isaac Shellabarger arrived in Decatur to make his home in 1852. 
 He brought his family with him, making the trip in a carriage. Mr. 
 Shellabarger built a frame house at the northwest corner of Frank- 
 lin and William streets, and later bought the house at the corner of 
 Eldorado and Franklin erected by G. D. Haworth. 
 
228 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 For many years Isaac Shellabarger was connected with the busi- 
 ness life of Decatur, being interested in the lumber business, in mill- 
 ing, agricultural works, banking and other enterprises. He assisted in 
 establishing the gas company and the waterworks plant. He was of 
 an inventive turn of mind, and invented a number of devices used in 
 mills. 
 
 After his nephews, D. S. Shellabarger and William Bowers, be- 
 came established here, Isaac Shellabarger sold his interests in the 
 Shellabarger mill on North Water street to them. Later he became 
 interested in the lumber and milling business in Wichita, Kan. 
 
 When John Shellabarger located in Decatur he established a 
 lumber yard. He gave a position in that yard to David S. Shella- 
 barger, when the latter came in 1856. John Shellabarger died soon 
 after his young nephew came, and the young man took his place in 
 the business. 
 
 H. MUELLER 
 
 Hieronymus Mueller came to Decatur in the year 1857 and 
 opened a gun repair shop on the south side of the 100 block on West 
 Main street. That was the beginning of the business career in De- 
 catur of the man who later started the H. Mueller Manufacturing- 
 Company plant, which has developed into one of the city's biggest 
 industries. 
 
 In 1870 Mr. Mueller was appointed city water tapper by Mayor 
 M. Forstmeyer. The crude method of making service connections 
 with city water mains was not to his liking, and it was not long until 
 he had invented a water tapping machine and begun its manufacture. 
 
 The machine was such an advantage that the demand for it con- 
 tinually increased. Other inven- 
 tions in the way of waterworks 
 goods were brought out by Mr. 
 Mueller. The frame building he 
 was then occupying at 222 East 
 
 II. MUELLER'S FIRST SHOP AND 
 RESIDENCE, 1857 
 
 MUELLER FACTORY, 1872-1895 
 
SOME LONG-TIME BUSINESS MEN 
 
 229 
 
 Main street becarrie too small to accommodate the enlarging business 
 and necessitated putting up a new building. By 1885 Mr. Mueller was 
 employing twenty or twenty-five men in his factory. That year he 
 separated the gun repair shop from the factory, establishing the gun 
 shop on Merchant street. 
 
 In 1886 Mr. Mueller took five of his sons into partnership with 
 him. They were Henry, Robert, Fred, Philip and Adolph. His other 
 son, Oscar, became' a member of the firm in 1896. 
 
 In 1891 Mr. Mueller organized the Mueller Plumbing and Heat- 
 ing company. He disposed of his interest in this business, however, 
 in 1896, and then sold his gun store in 1897, leaving him free to devote 
 his attention to the increasing business of the H. Mueller Manufactur- 
 ing company, which was incorporated in 1893. 
 
 The first unit of the Mueller plant on Cerro Gordo street was 
 erected in 1895. Since that time, many new buildings have been added 
 at -that site, factories have been established in Sarnia, Can., and Port 
 Huron, Mich., an iron foundry has been put into operation on East 
 
 
 E*4 
 
 lit i 
 
 & "*W M mm 
 
 • - W. wn - gmWX% 
 
 jR <# ... v 
 
 I 
 
 
 \ • 
 
 
 MUELLER FAMILY IN 1888 
 I.hi to righl Standing: Oscar, Adolph, Robert, Fred, Philip, Henry (three last now de- 
 ceased). Seated: Mrs. Hieronymus Mueller (deceased), Leda Mueller (Cruikshank), Hieronymus 
 Mueller ( deceased I . 
 
230 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Eldorado street, and the vitreous ware factory has been erected south 
 of Decatur. Another business developed is the Mueller Fountain and 
 Fixture company. 
 
 Mr. Mueller died from the effect of burns March 1, 1900. His 
 wife, whose maiden name was Fredericka Bernhardt, died Jan. 26, 
 1911. 
 
 LOWBER BURROWS 
 
 His love for the beautiful in flowers and in music, and his social 
 leadership gave Lowber Burrows a place all his own in the life of 
 Decatur. He was the first person in Decatur and in 
 this part of the state to have a private conservatory, 
 where he grew varieties of rare and beautiful plants. 
 Though Decatur was rather a rough town when 
 Mr. Burrows first came, lacking culture and polish 
 to which he had been accustomed in the east, he 
 never lost any of the courtesy and dignity to which 
 he had been bred. 
 
 The only public office Mr. Burrows ever con- 
 sented to hold was that of member of the park 
 board, from 1892 to 1899. He was president of the 
 Decatur Musical Union which was organized in 
 Decatur in 1861 and was interested in every means 
 to advance the art of music. His home was a center for social life. In 
 the St. John's church, in the Decatur club, in Macon lodge No. 8, A. 
 F. & A. M., he was one of the leading members. 
 
 Yet he is as well remembered for his business life in Decatur as 
 for the finer arts. 
 
 He came to Decatur through the influence of J. J. Peddecord, 
 who gave him a position in his store. 1 From that time until the death 
 of Mr. Peddecord, the two men never severed business relations. 
 
 When Mr. Burrows was twenty-one years old he went back to 
 Philadelphia on a buying trip for the store, and on his return he 
 brought something else besides the goods he had bought. He was 
 married March 14, 1854, to Mary Lavinia Bering, a sister of J. E. 
 Bering, and he brought his bride back with him. They came by train 
 as far as Wyckles station, since that was as far as the railroad track 
 had been laid at that time. 'The rest of the trip was made by stage. 
 From that time on Mr. and Mrs. Burrows lived at 271 West 
 North street, first in a small frame house, and later in the brick resi- 
 dence which Mr. Burrows built in 1868. It was torn down in 1929. 
 The banking career of Mr. Burrows is told in another chapter. Mr. 
 
 U. L. BURROWS 
 
SOME LONG-TIME BUSINESS MEN 
 
 231 
 
 SILAS PACKARD 
 
 Burrows remained in business until his death Oct. 16, 1910. Mrs. 
 Burrows passed away Jan. 8, 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Burrows were the 
 parents of five children. 
 
 SILAS PACKARD 
 
 Seventy-eight years Silas Packard lived in Decatur. 
 
 When he was only a year old, his parents, traveling in a covered 
 
 wagon, loaded with household effects and seven children, left their 
 
 home in Royalton, Vt., and headed for Macon 
 
 county, 111. They arrived in July of the year 1830. 
 
 jr ^ That was the hard year in Macon county. Soon 
 
 after the family's arrival, Mr. Packard, the husband 
 
 and father, fell a victim to malaria. He died on 
 
 Sept. 8. 
 
 As a boy, Silas worked as a farm hand and 
 earned as much as 25 cents a day. When a little 
 ^*irM| older he carried mail and received 50 cents a day. 
 Sfcjk. ^ When lie was twenty years old he went to Cali- 
 fornia, remaining in the west for several years. 
 When he returned he had enough money to set him- 
 self up in business. 
 
 His business career in Decatur included a 
 variety of enterprises. He ran a lumber yard, a dry goods store, a 
 hardware store, conducted a farm, was interested in the banking busi- 
 ness. His greatest success, however, was in real estate. For sixty- 
 two years Mr. Packard owned the 80 acre tract once known as River- 
 side park, on the river east of Maffit and south of Cantrell streets. 
 
 Mr. Packard was married May 27, 1856, to Miss Mary Sawyer, 
 daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Sawyer. Mr. and Mrs. Packard had 
 no children, but reared Mrs. Packard's niece, who later became Mrs. 
 Robert I. Hunt. For seventeen years the Packards lived in their hand- 
 some residence on College hill. Mr. Packard passed away Jan. 27, 
 1908, and Mrs. Packard in 1914. 
 
 NATHAN L. KRONE 
 
 "Ask Nathan L. Krone. He'll remember." 
 
 This was the suggestion always made when some newspaper 
 writer wanted to settle some point regarding early history of Deca- 
 tur. For N. L. Krone was a sort of encyclopedia of information 
 about Decatur's early days, and its succeeding years. He had come 
 here in the year 1839, when he was seven years old, and he lived 
 here, with the exception of a few years absence, until his death in 
 1916. He was a quiet, observant man with a mind that retained 
 
232 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 N. L. KRONE 
 
 much, and he was always able to tell of events of early days which 
 others had forgotten. 
 
 Mr. Krone used to like to recall the first meal 
 he ever ate in Decatur. He never forgot that meal, 
 though it wasn't as much of a meal as many that 
 he ate afterwards, but it meant the family had ar- 
 rived at the end of their journey. That first meal 
 was eaten at the camping ground on the Town 
 Branch, near the present site of the Prairie street 
 subway. 2 
 
 The Krone family, the head of the family being 
 David Krone , had come to Decatur from Penn- 
 sylvania. In that day it was a big undertaking to 
 transplant a large family from Pennsylvania to Illi- 
 nois. The trip was by water from Harrisburg, Pa., to Beardstown, 111., 
 then overland to Decatur. From Harrisburg to Pittsburgh the family 
 journeyed via canals, then came by steamboat over the Allegheny, 
 Ohio, Mississippi and Illinois rivers. More than two months time was 
 required for making the journey. 
 
 The camp ground on the Town Branch was an attractive and con- 
 venient spot for newcomers to the city to use for camping until they 
 could get settled in homes. There was a fine spring of water, plenty 
 of fuel and a grassy little plateau where tents could be pitched. At 
 the time the Krones arrived there was no empty house in the tiny vil- 
 lage of Decatur, but they found a cabin near Casner where they lived 
 for a few months. In November they moved in to Decatur to a house 
 on William street, between Jackson and Franklin, which Watson Cul- 
 ver had built for them. The next spring David Krone became the pro- 
 prietor of the Macon house, Decatur's first hotel, and that was the 
 home of the Krone family then for many years. Later the Krones built 
 a home on West William street. 
 
 Nathan Krone's first taste of business life was had when he 
 started to work for the S. K. Thompson dry goods store in 1848. From 
 there he went to the W. J. Condell store, and then, in 1852, he began 
 working for King & Read, druggists. From that time on he was in the 
 drug business. He worked for J. F. Roberts, W. C. Armstrong, and 
 E. A. West, and then went into business for himself in 1893. He re- 
 tired in 1915. 
 
 Mr. Krone often saw and talked with Abraham Lincoln, for Lin- 
 coln was a frequent visitor at the Macon house when Mr. and Mrs. 
 David Krone were proprietors. He was at the Republican convention 
 
SOME LONG-TIME BUSINESS MEN 233 
 
 when Lincoln's name was suggested for the presidency and the Lin- 
 coln rails were carried in. 
 
 1 "Decatur's the place for an ambitious youth," said Mr. Peddecord to young Burrows 
 when he met the young man in Philadelphia, where he had gone to buy goods for his store. Bur- 
 rows at that time was looking for a place to go into business and settle down, the reason being 
 that he was expecting to be married. Peddecord persuaded Burrows that no place offered more 
 opportunity than Decatur, and to help matters along offered him a job in his store. 
 
 "Can I keep the books?" Burrows asked. Peddecord probably smiled to himself for his 
 "bookkeeping" up to that time had amounted only to making notes on slips of paper and sticking 
 them away in a drawer until the customers settled. 
 
 "Sure, you can keep books to your heart's content," answered Peddecord. 
 
 So Mr. Burrows became the bookkeeper and it wasn't long until he made considerable im- 
 provement in Mr. Peddecord's methods of keeping accounts. 
 
 2 Being a curious little lad, the first thing Nathan Krone did on his arrival in Decatur was 
 to take an exploration jaunt, to see what this new town had to offer in the way of sights. 
 
 The next morning after the family had reached Decatur Nathan sauntered over to a stable 
 across the way. There he found a boy, and it doesn't take long for two boys to get acquainted. 
 Nathan found out the other boy was Dick and Dick learned the little lad was called Nat. Dick 
 was considerably older than Nat, but that didn't matter. ! 
 
 Dick was starting on a trip out to the Allen place east of Decatur and said Nat could go 
 along. Nat went. Dick was after a load of corn and Nat helped him get it out of the field. They 
 brought the corn in to the mill on East Prairie street. It was a bit of diplomacy on Dick's part 
 to take Nat along, thereby having some help in getting that corn out, but Nat didn't care.' He 
 was hungry for companionship and he had found it. Dick was good company. That was the be- 
 ginning of a long friendship between Nathan L. Krone and Richard J. Oglesby, afterwards war 
 general, senator and governor of Illinois. 
 
 The two boys attended a school taught by Miss Fordyce in a little house on William 
 street between Franklin and Jackson. The house had been built by Mr. Fordyce who owned a 
 good deal of land and who used the house for a shepherd's home. Captain David L. Allen bought 
 the land from Fordyce, and his brother, Lemuel Allen, established a private school there, which 
 lasted two years. 
 
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TH EATERS— CLUBS 235 
 
 CHAPTER XLIII 
 
 THEATERS— CLUBS 
 
 POWERS Hall, Decatur's first theater, filled a long felt want in 
 the city when it was provided in the year 1856 by William L. Pow- 
 ers. Up to that time Decatur citizens had to make use of hotels or 
 other buildings for public programs or entertainments. 
 
 Mr. Powers built a block of store buildings in the 100 block East 
 Main street, south side, and arranged the third floor for use as a 
 theater, providing it with stage and seats. It was the first stage built 
 in Decatur. 
 
 In that hall appeared some of the good theatrical companies of 
 the day. 
 
 There the Decatur Musical Union, an important organization in 
 Decatur for many years, presented concerts of various types. The hall 
 was used for public gatherings and other events for which a large 
 room was necessary. 1 It was told that one time when Abraham Lin- 
 coln was defending a case in court here the trial was moved from the 
 court house to Powers hall as there was not room for the crowd in 
 the court room. It was a murder case. Oglesby and Wait were the 
 prosecuting attorneys and Mr. Lincoln represented the defendant. 
 
 MACON HALL 
 
 Macon hall was Decatur's next big public hall. It occupied the 
 third floor of two buildings erected by Franklin Priest and Ben Dod- 
 son on Merchant street, at the corner of Lincoln Square. This hall 
 boasted a sloping floor, and an unusually fine stage. It was the popu- 
 lar amusement house during the '60s. 
 
 FIRST OPERA HOUSE 
 
 The first opera house in Decatur was built by E. O. Smith in the 
 200 block on North Water street, west side, (the entrance is now No. 
 225) and for years it provided Decatur's entertainment. It was built 
 in 1870, and Avas in operation until the Powers Grand Opera house 
 was erected in 1889. A modern stage, private boxes, a balcony, were 
 features of the new theater. 
 
 Nationally famous stars of the theatrical world appeared at 
 Smith's Opera house, among them, Joseph Jefferson, Minnie Mad- 
 dern Fiske, Edwin Booth, Madame Modjeska, Thomas Keene, and 
 Lillian Russell. 
 
236 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 F W. HAINES 
 
 Frank W. Haines, who had started his career as bill poster for 
 
 Macon hall, became manager of Smith's Opera house in 1873, and 
 continued in that position until it was discontinued 
 when the new Powers Opera house was opened. 
 Then he became manager for the Powers. 
 
 Hiram Brown was the first manager of Smith's 
 Opera house. He was succeeded by Dan W. Bren- 
 neman and next came J. Q. A. Odor. Mr. Haines 
 followed Mr. Odor. When it became known that 
 Orlando Powers was willing to build a new theater 
 in Decatur, but had taken no steps to do so because 
 he did not want to go into competition with the 
 Smith Opera house, Mr. Smith sent word to Mr. 
 Powers that he would discontinue the old opera 
 
 house if Mr. Powers would build a new one. 
 
 Mr. Powers then went ahead with his plans. After Smith's Opera 
 
 house was discontinued as a theater, it was turned into business 
 
 houses. 
 
 The Powers Opera house had its opening July 9, 1889. Richard 
 
 J. Oglesby made a dedicatory address. That theater was as beautiful 
 
 and modern as any to be found at the time. 2 It occupied the present 
 
 site of the Hotel Orlando. The 
 
 theater had a seating capacity of 
 
 1,500. It was used for all big public 
 
 gatherings, as well as legitimate 
 
 plays. In 1895 Fred Given became 
 
 manager, and he was succeeded by 
 
 Thomas Ronan. 
 
 The Powers Opera house was 
 
 burned twice. After the first fire 
 
 in 1895, the house was rebuilt. The 
 
 second fire occurred in 1914, and 
 
 this time the theater was replaced 
 
 by a hotel, named Orlando, in 
 
 honor of the head of the Powers 
 
 family, which included two sons, 
 
 Charles G. and Howard W. Powers, 
 
 and a daughter, Mrs. Anabel Tilley. 
 
 OTHER THEATERS 
 
 By this time the amusement 
 situation had changed. Moving pic- powers grand opera house 
 
THEATERS— CLUBS 
 
 237 
 
 THE FIRST "MOVIE" 
 
 ture shows had entered the field and were becoming more and more 
 popular. Decatur's first "movie" was the Nickelodeon, at the north- 
 east corner of William and Water streets, 
 started in 1906 and run by H. W. Ellis. It 
 was later known as the Colonial. 
 
 The city's largest and most beautiful 
 theater, the Lincoln, was erected by Clar- 
 ence A. Wait in 1915-1916, and first named 
 the Lincoln Square. 
 
 Within the last twenty-five years De- 
 catur has had a half dozen new theaters. 
 Legitimate plays have given way almost 
 entirely to vaudeville and talking pictures. 
 Theaters in operation today are the Lincoln, 
 Empress, Avon, Bijou, Alhambra, Crescent and Morrow's. 
 
 woman's club 
 
 The Decatur Woman's club was organized May 31, 1887, in a 
 meeting held in the chapel of the First Baptist church. That meeting 
 was attended by about 150 women who became charter members of 
 the club. 
 
 The club was an outgrowth of the Sorosis club, which in turn 
 had grown from the Hillside club, a group of women living on East 
 Eldorado street in the vicinity of Jackson, who had been brought to- 
 gether by Mrs. George D. Haworth. It was Mrs. Haworth who was 
 instrumental in organizing the Woman's club. 
 
 Mrs. Haworth was elected the first president of the club, Mrs. 
 M. M. T. Randall vice president, Mrs. Jane M. Johns secretary and 
 Mrs. Carrie Gastman treasurer. 
 
 The Decatur organization became a charter 
 member of both the General Federation of 
 Woman's clubs, which was organized in 1891, and 
 the State Federation, started in 1895. 
 
 For the first two years the club met in various 
 buildings of the city. 
 
 In 1889 the club women formed a stock com- 
 pany, under the leadership of Laura Wikofr (Pah- 
 meyer), and erected a club house at North Park 
 and Franklin streets. It was one of the first build- 
 ings erected by women for the use of women's ™ A t>v TT * 
 
 , M I\ S. A I A K i 11 A- 
 
 clubs in the United States, worth 
 
238 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 FIRST WOMAN'S CLUB BUILDING 
 
 From 1890 until 1909 the club used quarters in that building. The 
 building project proved unprofitable, however, and the building was 
 
 sold in 1904. The club continued 
 to meet there, however, renting the 
 first floor room. In 1909 the club 
 moved to the Y. W. C. A. building 
 where it remained some years, then 
 moved to the Powers building, and 
 then to the Congregational church, 
 where it remained until its present 
 quarters were secured. 
 
 One of the early pieces of work 
 done by the Woman's club was to 
 bring about the election of a woman 
 to the board of education. Mrs. 
 Isabella T. Stafford was the first 
 woman to serve in that capacity. Among the active Woman's club 
 members who have served on the board have been, Mrs. Minnie P. 
 ITostetler, Mrs. Haworth and Mrs. Inez J. Bender. Mrs. Stafford was 
 one of the organizers of the W. C. T. U., and served as president. 
 
 During the years that have passed since its beginning, the 
 Woman's club has accomplished many things. It has sponsored edu- 
 cational courses and lectures, sewing classes for girls and regular 
 study meetings. It has taken part in civic enterprises and charity 
 work. It was active in war work. It took over the first sale of Red 
 Cross seals. It urged the teaching of sewing and cooking in the pub- 
 lic schools in a day when the idea 
 was ridiculed. 
 
 Two of the local club members 
 served in state federation offices. 
 Mrs. George R. Bacon was state 
 federation president in. 1902-1904, 
 and Mrs. Flaworth served a term 
 as state treasurer. Mrs. Bacon also 
 was state chairman of correspond- 
 ence for the General Federation 
 from June, 1898, to October, 1902. 
 
 For years the club had looked 
 forward to the time when it could 
 
 have a home of its own, and that PRESENT woman's club 
 
 was finally accomplished in 1928 building 
 
THEATERS— CLUBS 239 
 
 with the purchase of the house at 308 West Main street from Dawson 
 and Wikoff. The purchase price was $21,000. 
 
 \\ . II. Linn, one of the founders of Linn & Scruggs, built that 
 house in 1888 and lived in it some years. After his death it was the 
 home of his son, \Y. \V. Linn, and daughter, Mrs. M. A. DeForest. 
 \V. \Y. Linn died in 1904. Mrs. DeForest sold the house in 1922 to 
 Dawson and Wikoff. 
 
 DECATUR CLUB 
 
 At a meeting held May 22, 1883, in the grand jury room of the 
 court house, the Decatur club was organized. The call to organize 
 was issued by J. E. Bering, L. L. Haworth, L. L. Burrows, B. K. 
 Durfee, W. H. Linn, S. J. Bumstead and E. P. Vail. First officers 
 were: President, C. A. Ewing; vice president, L. L. Burrows; secre- 
 tary, S. J. Bumstead ; treasurer, W. H. Linn ; directors, J. E. Bering, 
 I. A. Buckingham, B. K. Durfee, L. L. Haworth, W. C. Johns, R. P. 
 Lytle. The club had 100 charter members. 
 
 The Decatur club has had a prosperous life, and has been influ- 
 ential in the social and business life of the city. It has always occu- 
 pied quarters at Water and North Park streets, first on the third floor 
 of the Haworth building, and then on the fifth floor of the Citizens 
 bank building when that building was erected. 
 
 From the beginning the Decatur club was more than a social club. 
 Before the organization of the Association of Commerce, or the Busi- 
 ness Men's association before that, it was the representative business 
 men's organization of the city. It took the lead in promoting various 
 civic and industrial enterprises. Organization of the Association of 
 Commerce was brought about by leaders in the activities of the De- 
 catur club. Many big public and social projects were launched in 
 gatherings in the Decatur club rooms. 
 
 For some years the club considered having a home of its own, 
 resulting in decision to erect a club house at Prairie avenue and North 
 Church street. Contract was let in May, 1930, and work is under way 
 at this writing. The site was purchased for $50,000, and the building 
 is expected to cost $150,000. 
 
 DECATUR COUNTRY CLUB 
 
 The Decatur Country club has been in existence since 1899. The 
 idea of forming such a club was originated by W. W. Linn. One Sun- 
 day afternoon in 1899 he and Lucien Shellabarger and a few others 
 interested met in the Shellabarger home, and the organization of the 
 club followed. It was incorporated Sept. 8, 1899. Dr. William Barnes 
 was the first president, serving for a number of years. 
 
240 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Soon after organization the club leased about 65 acres of land at 
 the south end of Jasper street, fronting on the river, from D. A. Mamt 
 and a club house was erected, which was dedicated July 4, 1900. In 
 1911 the club purchased the land. Years later, after the land had been 
 taken into the city and taxes and other costs became heavy, the club 
 decided to move. A new site across the lake was purchased in 1928, 
 and a beautiful new club house, costing $50,000, was erected. It was 
 formally opened July 4, 1929. The former club grounds were sold to 
 a syndicate and developed for residence property. 
 
 OTHER CLUBS 
 
 For some years the Calumet club flourished in Decatur. It was 
 organized in the '80s, and handsome quarters were fitted up for it in 
 the Powers Opera house building, erected in 1889. The club did not 
 long survive the destruction of its headquarters by the fire of 1895, 
 when the opera house burned. 
 
 In the days when bicycling was popular the Decatur Wheelmen's 
 club was a well known body. It was organized Aug. 15, 1895. J. H. 
 Krebs was the first president. When the bicycling fad waned, the 
 club (in 1901) was turned into a social organization, known as the 
 Iroquois club with headquarters on the third floor of the Stine build- 
 ing in Central Block. The World war took away so many of its mem- 
 bers that it finally disbanded. 
 
 The Decatur Fishing club was organized Aug. 24, 1904, and de- 
 veloped attractive club grounds southwest of Decatur. It is now 
 called the South Side Country club. 
 
 A more recent addition to the clubs of the city is the Sunnyside 
 Golf club, incorporated Oct. 28, 1921. Its beautiful golf course and 
 club house are located west of Decatur on Route 10. 
 
 1 From Christmas, 1863, to Jan. 1, 1864, Tom Thumb, Lavina and Minnie, and Commodore 
 Nutt played an engagement in Powers hall. They had been billed for a one night stand, but they 
 were snowbound here. At the conclusion of one performance a collection was taken up, carried 
 to the stage and spread on the table. With the exception of one silver quarter the entire collection 
 was shin plasters. Commodore Nutt held the silver coin aloft, and yelled "a silver quarter! and 
 I would like to know who the donor is!" 
 
 Following a lecture March 25, 1869, by Colonel Robert G. Ingersoll on "Progress, Religious, 
 Social and Political", newspapers of the city were busy printing protests from different preachers. 
 
 2 Once, when Joseph Jefferson appeared at the Powers opera house, he came before the 
 curtain and told a little story concerning Decatur. 
 
 Years before, when he was a boy, he had been traveling with his father, who was with a 
 show company. The company was in Springfield, and expected to appear in Decatur next. Spring- 
 field had just adopted a law taxing traveling actors. The company had no money to pay a license, 
 being very much financially embarrassed, and was unable to engage a lawyer. 
 
 "A slender young man came up to my father and said he was a lawyer, and would take 
 my father's part," said Mr. Jefferson. "Father said he had no money to pay a lawyer. 'That 
 doesn't matter,' the young man said, 'you are a stranger and are being persecuted. I'll not stand 
 to see anyone persecuted.' He took the case and won it, thereby making it possible for them to 
 appear in Springfield. They made enough money there to pay their bills and come on to Decatur. 
 The young lawyer, we learned afterwards, was Abraham Lincoln." 
 
CIVIL WAR 241 
 
 CHAPTER XLIV 
 
 CIVIL WAR 
 
 DECATUR was stunned Sunday morning, April 14, 1861, when 
 the news came that Fort Sumpter had fallen. It was almost un- 
 believable. Though war had been threatening, few believed that an 
 open break between the north and the south would come. 
 
 The news was read from the pulpits of 
 the churches, and it was received in awe 
 and silence. Though people recognized its 
 significance, they had not the faintest idea 
 that it was the beginning of a long four year 
 bloody struggle. 
 
 But the American flag had been fired 
 
 upon. The fort had surrendered. That was 
 
 enough. That day patriotism burst forth 
 
 as it had never been seen before. 
 
 Every family in Decatur hunted up its flag. Within a short time 
 
 the banner was waving in the breeze from public buildings and from 
 
 homes. 
 
 When the news was confirmed the following day and the presi- 
 dent's proclamation asking for 75,000 volunteers came, Decatur was 
 aroused. The spirit of war had entered. Patriotic zeal spread as the 
 hours passed by. Printing presses were put into service to make 
 flags. Every man and woman was supplied with an individual flag 
 to wear. It was almost unsafe to be without one. Every bit of red, 
 white and blue material to be found was brought forth. Patriotic 
 speeches filled the air. 1 
 
 Within an hour after Governor Richard Yates had issued his call 
 for Illinois volunteers John P. Post had opened a recruiting office in 
 Powers hall. Enlistments poured in as fast as the names could be 
 written. The next day I. N. Martin opened a recruiting office in the 
 court house. 
 
 By Tuesday night two full companies of 100 men each had been 
 sworn into service. They hurried to Springfield and became Com- 
 panies A and B of the Eighth Regiment, of which Richard J. Oglesby 
 was made colonel. 2 
 
 Isaac C. Pugh was captain of Company A. 
 
242 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 MADE FLAG 
 
 The women folks couldn't enlist but there was something they 
 could do and they lost no time in doing it. That was the making of 
 the flag for the ''boys'' to carry into the war. F. L. Hays was rushed 
 to St. Louis to buy the silk needed for the emblem, and as soon as he 
 was back work began. Every woman wanted to have a hand in the 
 making of that flag. So determined were they to have a share, that 
 it was found necessary to let each do only a few stitches. No one was 
 allowed to complete even one star. In many of the stars each point 
 was made by a different one. The women met at the Revere house* 
 to make the flag, and more than 100 put stitches into it. 
 
 When the Eighth Regiment was sent to Cairo a stop was made 
 in Decatur for the presentation of the flag. The two Decatur com- 
 panies were given an hour's leave from the train for the exercises. 
 The presentation of the flag took place in Central park in the presence 
 of a huge crowd. 
 
 Following the singing of "America" by the crowd and prayer by 
 Father Stamper, the presentation speech was made by Mrs. Cal Allen, 
 while Hattie White (Mrs. Hays) held the flag staff. The eloquent 
 response made by Richard J. Oglesby swayed the emotions of the 
 crowd to a high pitch. Tears and prayers and shouts were mingled. 
 Gifts were showered on the departing soldiers. Finally the hour was 
 up, the order to march came, and Decatur's first contingent of soldiers 
 was off to war! 
 
 It would take volumes to tell the complete story of Macon county 
 in the war. Only brief mention can be made here of the part this 
 county played in the great conflict. The lists of men who participated 
 are to be found in all the histories of Macon county heretofore pub- 
 lished in book form and are easily available, so space will not be 
 taken for them here. Before the war was over, Macon county had 
 furnished about 2,500 men for the army. 
 
 EIGHTH REGIMENT 
 
 The Eighth Regiment was put on guard duty at Cairo. Besides 
 the two Decatur companies in this regiment were the following: Com- 
 pany C, recruited at Charleston ; Company D, at Olney and Spring- 
 field ; Company E, at Peoria ; Company F, at Pekin ; Company G, at 
 Pittsfield and Griggsville ; Company H, at Vandalia ; Company I, at 
 Lawrenceville, and Company K, at Bloomington. 
 
 The enlistment period was for three months, and at its expira- 
 tion the regiment was mustered out. Most of the men reenlisted for 
 three years. 
 
CIVIL WAR 243 
 
 The regiment had four different commanders during its war 
 service. R. J. Oglesby, the first colonel, was promoted to brigadier- 
 general, later to major-general. Succeeding him came Colonel Frank 
 L. Rhodes, Colonel John P. Post, and Colonel Josiah A. Sheetz. 
 
 Isaac C. Pugh left the regiment to organize the Forty-first Regi- 
 ment and his place was taken by Herman Lieb, who later became 
 brigadier-general. 
 
 The Eighth Regiment remained at Cairo until October, then was 
 sent to Bird's Point, Mo. During the year of its service the regiment 
 saw some of the heaviest fighting of the conflict. 
 
 Among the engagements in which the regiment participated were 
 Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Shiloh, and Corinth. 
 
 The regiment was mustered out on May 4, 1866, at Baton Rouge. 
 
 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT 
 
 The Twenty-first Regiment, usually called Grant's Regiment, 
 was the second regiment recruited in Decatur. 
 
 It was composed of Company A, from Macon county ; Company 
 B, from Cumberland county; Company C, from Piatt county; Com- 
 pany D, from Douglas county ; Company E, from Moultrie county ; 
 Company F, from Edgar county ; Company G, from Clay county ; 
 Company H, from Clark county; Company I, from Crawford county, 
 and Company K, from Jasper county. 
 
 The regiment was assembled at Mattoon. It was mustered into 
 state service for thirty days, May 15, 1861, by Captain U. S. Grant, 
 who had been assigned to duty as a muster officer. 3 During this period 
 of service it was known as the Seventh Congressional District Regi- 
 ment. 
 
 The regiment was mustered into United States service on June 
 28, with Colonel U. S. Grant in command. He was with the regiment 
 two months, until he was made a brigadier-general. Then J. W. S. 
 Alexander became colonel. 
 
 The first few months of service of the Twenty-first Regiment 
 were in Missouri and Arkansas. It then became a part of Buell's 
 Army of the Ohio. Among the well known frays in which it partici- 
 pated were the siege of Corinth, and the battles of Perryville, Ky., 
 Murfreesboro, Term., and Chickamauga. 
 
 The Twenty-first had a brilliant career. It was mustered out at 
 San Antonio, Tex., Dec. 16, 1865. 
 
244 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 THIRTY— FIFTH INFANTRY 
 
 The Thirty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which was organized 
 at Decatur July 3, 1861, was known as Colonel G. A. Smith's Inde- 
 pendent Regiment of Illinois Volunteers. As such it was accepted in 
 the army on July 23, 1861, and six months afterward it became the 
 Thirty-fifth. 
 
 The regiment served several months in Missouri, trying to drive 
 the confederate general, Price, out of that state. It was in the battle 
 of Pea Ridge, March 6, 7, 8. There Smith's horse was shot out from 
 under him and he was badly wounded. The Thirty-fifth regiment par- 
 ticipated in the siege of Corinth, the engagements of Perryville, Stone 
 River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, and others, under Major Mcll- 
 wain. Mcllwain was killed at Kenesaw Mountain, June 22, 1864. The 
 regiment was mustered out at Springfield, Sept. 27, 1864. 
 
 FORTY-FIRST ILLINOIS 
 
 The Forty-first Illinois Infantry led by Colonel Isaac C. Pugh, 
 later brigadier-general, won its title, "The Fighting Forty-first", de- 
 servedly. It participated in a score of bloody battles and made such 
 an outstanding record as to make itself famous in war annals. Two 
 of the companies in this regiment, A and B, were recruited from 
 Macon county. 
 
 It was organized by Colonel Pugh in August, 1861. 
 
 Decatur and vicinity furnished many officers. Besides Colonel 
 Pugh, there were Lieutenant Colonel Ansel Tupper, Lieutenant Willis 
 S. Oglesby, Adjutant Bartley J. Pugh, Quartermaster Henry C. 
 Bradsby, Surgeon William Gray, Captain John H. Nale, First Lieu- 
 tenant M. F. Kanan, Lieutenant George R. Steele, all of Decatur; 
 Major John Warner of Clinton, and Captain John Armstrong of Blue 
 Mound. 
 
 Among the battles in which they participated were Fort Henry, 
 Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Pearl River, the siege of Corinth and the siege 
 of Vicksburg. 
 
 Seventy or more men of the Decatur companies lost their lives. 
 Lieutenant Colonel Ansel Tupper and Lieutenant Willis Oglesby were 
 killed at Shiloh, April 6, 1862. Both were buried on the field of battle, 
 the bodies later being brought to Decatur, and now they rest in 
 Greenwood cemetery. 
 
 The Forty-first returned to Vicksburg, Dec. 16, 1863, and went 
 into camp on Big Black river. Two hundred of the men reenlisted and 
 took part in the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, and were with Sherman 
 in his famous march from Atlanta to the sea. 
 
CIVIL WAR 245 
 
 CAVALRY COMPANY 
 
 Company I of the Seventh Illinois Cavalry was recruited in De- 
 catur by Arthur J. Gallagher, who was elected its captain. This was 
 the only company for the cavalry service which was recruited in De- 
 catur. It was mustered into service, Oct. 13, 1861, at Camp Butler, 
 and became a part of Colonel William Pitt Kellogg's regiment. 
 
 Captain Gallagher resigned his post on June 20, 1862. 
 
 The Seventh Illinois cavalry was in service in Mississippi, Mis- 
 souri, Tennessee, and other states, making a fine record. It was mus- 
 tered out Nov. 17, 1865. 
 
 IN SIXTY-THIRD REGIMENT 
 
 Company H, which was attached to the Sixty-third Regiment, 
 was made up mostly of Macon county men. This regiment was organ- 
 ized at Anna, 111., in December, 1861, with Francis Moro commanding. 
 It was mustered into service April 10, 1862, and was sent first to Cairo. 
 
 Later the regiment was sent into Kentucky and was assigned 
 to the Fourth Brigade, Seventh Division, Seventeenth Army Corps, 
 Brigadier-General John A. Logan commanding the division. 
 
 Moro resigned as colonel of the regiment Sept. 29, 1862, and was 
 succeeded by Lieutenant Colonel J. B. McCown. The regiment made 
 a fine record of service during the war. It traveled a total of 6,453 
 miles, marching for 2,250 miles, the rest being covered by water or 
 railroad. The regiment was mustered out July 13, 1865. 
 
 ONE HUNDRED FIFTEENTH REGIMENT 
 
 Decatur had a "fighting parson" as well as fighting laymen. He 
 was Rev. Jesse H. Moore, able Methodist preacher, who felt that he 
 could do his country more good at the front than at home in a pulpit. 
 He was popular as a patriotic speaker, and his patriotism went far 
 enough to take him into the thick of the fight. 
 
 Assisted by Captain Frank L. Hays and several other men, Rev. 
 Mr. Moore organized Companies E and F in Decatur and they became 
 a part of the One Hundred Fifteenth Regiment. 
 
 The regiment was mustered into service Sept. 13, 1862, and or- 
 dered to the field ( )ct. 4. Its first few months of service were in Ken- 
 tucky. The men underwent such hardships during the first six months 
 that 200 were lost by death or disablement, yet there was not one 
 casualty in fighting. The regiment took part in the Chickamauga 
 campaign, being part of what became known as "The Iron Brigade of 
 Chickamauga". The adjutant-general's report says of this campaign: 
 
246 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 "The One Hundred Fifteenth was in the most exposed position 
 of any regiment in that bloody battle and held its place against great 
 odds". It received special recognition for its gallantry. 
 
 This regiment remained in Tennessee, when Sherman's army 
 marched to the sea. It was mustered out at Nashville, Tenn., June 
 11, 1865. 
 
 THE ONE HUNDRED SIXTEENTH 
 
 Macon county furnished nearly the entire personnel of the One 
 Hundred Sixteenth Regiment. Of the 980 men and officers, 730 were 
 from this county. The rest came from Piatt, Moultrie, Shelby, Chris- 
 tian, Sangamon and Dewitt counties. Nineteen men from Macon 
 county served as captains. Two were killed and three died of wounds. 
 
 The One Hundred Sixteenth mobilized at the Macon county fair 
 grounds, known as Camp Macon, (now Fairview park) and was mus- 
 tered into service Sept. 30, 1862. The regiment became a part of 
 General W. T. Sherman's army and saw its first fighting at Chickasaw 
 Bayou. Other engagements in which it made a brilliant record, were 
 Vicksburg, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Chattanooga, Lookout 
 Mountain, Kenesaw Mountain and Stone Mountain. 4 The regiment 
 took part in the grand review before the president in Washington in 
 May, 1865. 
 
 When General Giles A. Smith was wounded in the fighting at 
 Mission Ridge, the command of the brigade fell to Colonel N. W. 
 Tupper. The ability he showed in that command would no doubt have 
 led to his promotion to brigadier-general, but he became ill and was 
 obliged to return home to die. 
 
 The last fighting done by the regiment was at Bentonville. It was 
 mustered out June 7, 1865. 
 
 1 As an illustration of the excitement that prevailed at the beginning of the war, the story 
 is told that one day V. H. Parke was conducting an auction sale of a consignment of bankrupt 
 goods from Indianapolis. A big crowd had collected for the sale, and everything was going merrily 
 when suddenly the sound of a fife and drum coming down the street was heard. The crowd rushed 
 out to see, leaving the auctioneer with a piece of goods half sold. That was the last he saw of 
 his crowd. It was following the fife and drum and never came back. The auction sale had to 
 be abandoned. 
 
 2 The Eighth regiment was really the first regiment offered Governor Yates, but it did not 
 receive that rank owing to the delay caused by the formalities of the resignation of Richard J. 
 Oglesby as state senator in order to accept the colonelship of the regiment. 
 
 3 One day early in the war, before General Grant had become known, according to a story 
 told, he tried to purchase a uniform in Decatur at the J. R. Race clothing store, and was refused 
 credit for it, not being a promising looking candidate for credit. He had been brought into the 
 store by George W. Baker, but he was a stranger here. Mr. Race afterward said that the reason 
 Grant didn't get a uniform was that the store did not have one to fit him. Mr. Race got ac- 
 quainted with Grant later, one time walking from Camp Yates to Springfield with him. Grant was 
 in Decatur another time early in the war, when he spent some time here between trains on his 
 way to Springfield. During the wait here he took the opportunity to drill his company of men 
 
CIVIL WAR 247 
 
 recruited in Galena, using a plot of ground north of the Wabash. Staves borrowed from a cooper 
 slxi). took the place of guns during the drill. Grant purchased his first war horse in Decatur, 
 buying the animal from John Slaughter. 
 
 4 The original flag carried hy the One. Hundred Sixteenth was destroyed by a shell at Vicks- 
 burg. Remnants of it, stained with the blood of Samuel Baty, are now in the state museum at 
 Springfield. Baty was carrying the flag and was killed when the shell exploded. When the women 
 of Decatur learned of the fate of the flag, they immediately made a new one for the regiment, 
 meeting in Powers hall for the work. Many women put stitches in that flag. The emblem went 
 through the rest of the war with the regiment, and the remains of it, torn with bullet holes, has 
 been ever since a cherished possession of survivors of the regiment. 
 
 AT GETTYSBURG DEDICATION 
 
 Like a voice from the past is an account of that memorable day, Nov. 19, 1863, when 
 Abraham Lincoln delivered the dedication address at Gettysburg cemetery, the address now familiar 
 to every school child. The account was written by a Decatur woman, Mrs. Clarissa Sterrett, 
 who was there to see and to hear for herself. At that time she was Miss Clarissa Cline, and her 
 home was at Petersberry, York county, Pa., about thirty-five miles from Gettysburg. 
 
 The trip to Gettysburg was a big one for that day. It took three days to make the journey 
 there and back. The party traveled in a rockaway (buggy), and the roads were poor. The young 
 woman was so impressed with the events at Gettysburg that she wrote down her impressions at 
 once. 
 
 It was not only the speech, but the setting for it that one could not forget. The blood- 
 covered ground plowed up by cannon balls, the broken tombstones, the graves with loose dirt 
 still upon them, trees and buildings bullet-marked — no wonder it was impressive when Lincoln 
 said: "We cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground." 
 
 The account written of the trip was as follows : 
 
 "Three miles from Gettysburg, Wednesday, Nov. 18, 1863. 
 
 "Have taken lodging at a farm house for the night. Several persons stopped since we did 
 and inquired for lodging but could not be accommodated. The sky is overshadowed with clouds 
 and it is pretty cold. Our host's name is Brinkerhoff. 
 
 "Thursday evening, 5 :20. Left our teams at Mr. BrinkerhofFs this morning and walked 
 to Gettysburg and beyond to the battlefield. Took a look at rifle-pits on Cemetery hill and then 
 passed on half a mile to where some of the hardest fighting was done. There on the top of a hill 
 in the woods fortifications were thrown up and the trees were completely riddled with bullets. 
 We spent some time on this hill and while there the artillery on Cemetery hill fired a salute of 
 twenty-five guns, giving the different military companies encamped around the town the signal 
 to march into town. After some time we crossed over to the cemetery and examined that ground, 
 and thinking the procession would soon arrive we entered the ring which was guarded and got a 
 position near the stand. The crowd was immense and by the time the procession came it had 
 become difficult to stand. After the president, governors, heads of department, reporters, etc., 
 had been seated a space of a few feet which had been kept clear for the procession to pass around 
 was allowed to be filled up and a rush was immediately made for the platform. Fortunately we 
 were near it when the rush was made and gained a position on the platform. We then had a 
 fine opportunity not only of seeing the people and position but also of hearing the oration. 
 
 "The band played an air after which a prayer was offered, followed by 'Old Hundred' by 
 the band. The oration was then delivered by Hon. Edward Everett, after which a dirge composed 
 by Professor Longfellow for the occasion, was chanted by the choir. Mr. Lincoln was then intro- 
 duced to the assembled thousands when three deafening cheers rent the air, and as he com- 
 menced speaking the crowd again burst into loud huzzas. 
 
 "The president made a few very impressive dedicatory remarks and on taking his seat was 
 again enthusiastically cheered. The choir then chanted another dirge, after which three cheers 
 were given for each of the different governors present, when the benediction was pronounced and 
 the company was dismissed. 
 
 "The procession again formed headed by a band of music, followed by the distinguished 
 men present. The military came into town by another road and marched through the town. A 
 representative was present from each state. Each branch of the military service was repre- 
 sented, infantry, cavalry and artillery. The marine band of Washington was present. Gettysburg 
 was completely jammed up. 
 
 "A delegation from the army of the Potomac was present with a flag bearing the in- 
 scription, 'Army of the Potomac, July 1st and 2d,' on the one side and on the other, "In Memory 
 of Our Fallen Comrades.' 
 
 "The cemetery is considerably damaged, tombstones broken, large holes in the iron fence 
 broken by cannon balls and the ground ploughed up in places. Tin's is a beautiful place. It 
 overlooks the town and the battlefield ; Roundtop off in the distance with a large flag floating 
 from its summit, Culp's hill, which we had been on before, in full view. At the foot of Culp's 
 hill a farm house stands which is entirely deserted. Every board has been torn off the barn 
 and a dead horse is still lying in the stable. Everything torn up about the house, window panes 
 all gone and all the fences. 
 
 "Almost every house in Gettysburg had a flag flung to the breeze. In the center of the 
 diamond a long pole was erected with a large flag, 20 by 30 feet on the top." "C. C." 
 
248 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 CHAPTER XLV 
 
 CIVIL WAR 
 
 (Concluded) 
 
 TH E four years of war were times of stress and anxiety in De- 
 catur. Time after time the call for more troops was answered 
 by Macon county men until there were large numbers of them at the 
 front, many of whom never returned. To the families and friends of 
 
 these men, the daily war bulletins were of 
 absorbing interest. These bulletins were 
 read from the balcony of the building now 
 occupied by the West drug store. There 
 were scenes of grief and joy, grief when 
 word came of some life being taken and joy 
 for the victories of the Union army. 
 
 The bulletin which stirred Decatur the 
 most, which brought the most intense feel- 
 ing and sorrow, was the report after the battle of Pittsburg Landing, 
 April 6-7, 1862, when the names of Colonel Ansel Tupper and Lieuten- 
 ant Willis S. Oglesby and about^eighteen other Decatur men appeared 
 in the list of dead in the Forty-first Regiment. All Decatur mourned 
 that day. 
 
 women's work 
 The war brought work, as well as anxiety, to the women at home. 
 Nobly they took up their task for the cause of the Union. It would 
 take an entire book to tell of their activities in relief work for the 
 soldiers. 
 
 Their first work was in aiding the sick soldiers at Cairo, to whom 
 they sent supplies. But after they learned that many of the supplies 
 sent never reached the men, they realized the importance of organized 
 effort. So, in November, 1861, they organized the Sick and Wounded 
 Soldiers' Aid Society of Decatur, (the name later shortened to the 
 Hospital Aid Society) to work in cooperation with the National Sani- 
 tary Commission. 
 
 The women had their first taste of what war meant after the bat- 
 tle of Fort Donelson, Feb. 15, 1862, when the information came that 
 2,108 wounded soldiers were waiting for help on the battlefield. Many 
 of those wounded men were from Macon county. 
 
CIVIL WAR 249 
 
 From the court house window John Moreland gave the call, 
 through a trumpet, for workers. Before noon Judge S. F. Greer's 
 home was filled from top to bottom with women rolling bandages, 
 sorting rags, scraping lint, and arranging supplies. Drs. W. A. Barnes 
 and E. W. Moore directed the work. In a few hours several boxes 
 and a barrel were ready to go. 
 
 Day after day the women's hands were busy. When more room 
 was needed the workshop was transferred to the Masonic hall, and 
 later other rooms were put to use. Trains filled with wounded soldiers 
 passed through Decatur constantly, and all were met at the station by 
 the women. With baskets of delicacies on their arms they made their 
 way among the sufferers, to whom the words of comfort and encour- 
 agement and sympathy meant as much as the food and drink. 
 
 Caring for the destitute families of soldiers was another phase of 
 the work of the women during the war. With the breadwinner away 
 at the front, or perhaps killed in battle, many a family found itself 
 without means of support, and there was much to do to aid such as 
 these. 
 
 A dark picture in the story of relief work at home was the caring 
 for the war refugees sent up from the south. Filthy, ungrateful, illit- 
 erate, vermin-infested wretches were dumped at various stations along 
 the railroads, and the first dose which Decatur was given in August, 
 1862, was enough to make the women rebel at having anything to do 
 with them. 1 
 
 After one attempt to feed and clean up the unwelcome visitors, 
 the Aid society insisted on turning the job over to the county and 
 city authorities, and buildings at the county fair grounds were put to 
 use to provide shelter for the next bunch, which came in October. 
 
 Vivid accounts of the task of trying to do something for these 
 refugees are given in Mrs. Jane M. Johns' "Personal Recollections". 
 Mrs. Johns was one of the active members of the Aid society and had 
 a part in the refugee work. 
 
 The money needed to carry on the work of the Hospital Aid 
 society was raised in various and sundry ways by the women. Enter- 
 tainments of all kinds and descriptions, suppers, balls, anything to 
 make money, were tried. It was for this purpose that the Decatur 
 Musical Union came into being, and many a dollar was brought in 
 through the activities of this organization. 
 
 Mrs. H. C. Johns was the first president of the Hospital Aid 
 society. Other officers that year (1861-62) were Mrs. Lockwood, vice 
 president, and Mrs. Close, treasurer. The next year the officers were 
 
250 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Mrs. S. F. Greer, president; Mrs. Ryan, vice president; Mrs. Elliott, 
 secretary, and L. L. Burrows, treasurer. 
 
 The third year (1863-64) was the society's busiest year. Officers 
 that year were Mrs. E. J. Evans, president, Mrs. Ira Barnes, vice 
 president, Mrs. H. C. Johns, secretary, and L. L. Burrows, treasurer. 
 Directresses were Mrs. J. Ryan, Mrs. Locke, Mrs. J. Mansfield, Mrs. 
 T. Hays, Mrs. S. Smith. 
 
 Officers the last year (1864-65) were Mrs. James Millikin, presi- 
 dent, Mrs. S. F. Greer, vice president, Mrs. Jack Jones, secretary, and 
 Mrs. J. R. Gorin, treasurer. Directresses named were Mrs. Win- 
 holtz, Mrs. S. Smith, Mrs. Bright, Miss M. Carter and Mrs. S. Pack- 
 ard. Mrs. Greer and Mrs. Jones resigned their offices. Mrs. R. H. 
 Murphey was named secretary in Mrs. Jones' place. The society dis- 
 banded May 19, 1865. 
 
 STATE SANITARY FAIR 
 
 The Decatur Hospital Aid Society was the organization which 
 conceived the idea of the state sanitary fair, which was held at the 
 fair grounds in Decatur on Sept. 12-17, 1864, and which netted 
 $29,736.92 for the Sanitary Commission's work. The fair was approved 
 by the State Agricultural society and was held under the auspices of 
 the Sanitary commission. Every county in the state was enlisted in 
 the undertaking and help was freely given. The fair was formally 
 opened by Governor Richard Yates on Sept. 13, and for the next few 
 days people poured into Decatur from all over the state to attend. The 
 Decatur women had a big part in this undertaking, which turned out 
 to be a huge success in every particular. 
 
 Two other big fairs were held for the benefit of the state sanitary 
 commission. The Northwestern fair held in Chicago in October, 1863, 
 netted $60,000. Another fair was held in Chicago in 1865. 
 
 PHYSICIANS IN SERVICE 
 
 Nearly as important as the fighting itself was the work done dur- 
 ing the war by Decatur physicians in caring for the sick and the 
 wounded soldiers. Those who did not go to the battle fields aided in 
 the relief work done at home. 
 
 One of the surgeons whose war service was widely recognized 
 was Dr. S. T. Trowbridge. It was he who was credited with saving 
 the life of General R. J. Oglesby, after Oglesby had been wounded at 
 Corinth. General Grant detailed Dr. Trowbridge to take care of the 
 Oglesby case, and when Dr. Trowbridge arrived at the wounded man's 
 bedside he found all hope for his life abandoned. For weeks Oglesby's 
 
CIVIL WAR 251 
 
 life hung in the balance, but at length under the skillful care of Dr. 
 Trowbridge he began to improve. 
 
 Dr. Trowbridge and Dr. Charles Dennison went into the service 
 with the 8th regiment and served during the war. 
 
 Dr. Ira Curtis and Dr. H. C. Johns volunteered their services after 
 the battle of Fort Donelson and went to Cairo to care for the wounded 
 men that had been sent north from the battlefields. Dr. Curtis suf- 
 fered a stroke of paralysis while in charge of a hospital at Mound City, 
 and was crippled for the rest of his life. Dr. Johns was sent to the 
 battlefields, remaining in the vicinity of Donelson and Iuka for three 
 months. He was afterwards commissioned as surgeon of the 129th 
 Illinois and served in that capacity two years. 
 
 Dr. W. J. Chenoweth went into service as the surgeon for Colonel 
 Gus Smith's regiment, the Thirty-fifth Illinois, and he took care of 
 Colonel Smith when he was wounded at Perryville. Dr. Chenoweth 
 resigned his post Dec. 14, 1862. 
 
 Dr. William M. Gray, chief surgeon of the Forty-first regiment, 
 was in service eight months, then was obliged to resign because of ill 
 health. Later he served a few months as surgeon for the Sixty-third 
 infantry. 
 
 Dr. E. W. Moore was surgeon of the One Hundred Fifteenth, 
 with Dr. Nelson Blalock of Mt. Zion as his assistant. He resigned 
 April 17, 1863, and Dr. Blalock resigned July 27, 1863. 
 
 Dr. Ira N. Barnes was surgeon of the One Hundred Sixteenth 
 Illinois, with Dr. John Heckleman as first assistant, and Dr. J. A. W. 
 Hostetler as second assistant. 
 
 Dr. Addison C. Douglas of Blue Mound also was in service. He 
 enlisted in the One Hundred Fifteenth regiment as hospital steward. 
 According to the record, he was discharged May 1, 1863, to become 
 contract surgeon. 
 
 2 After word came that Decatur was getting a quota of war refugees, and arrangements 
 were being made to take care of them, some of the people went to the train to meet them with the 
 idea of entertaining the visitors in their homes. But when they saw the "guests", they changed 
 their minds. One look was enough ! 
 
252 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 CHAPTER XLVI 
 
 DECATUR ARMY LEADERS 
 
 DECATUR had the distinction of furnishing five generals to the 
 nation in the Civil war. Besides these, it gave many lesser 
 officers who performed noble service and whose valor will always be 
 remembered. Some of them made the supreme sacrifice, giving up 
 their lives to the cause. 
 
 The story of General Richard J. Oglesby, who became major- 
 general in the army is told in another chapter. 
 
 When Oglesby was named colonel of the Eighth regiment he 
 found himself in command of his old time friends, companions, neigh- 
 bors, men who were used to calling him "Dick". He recognized the 
 importance of making them realize that they were soldiers and under 
 his command. One day he said to them : 
 
 "I've no doubt that most of you think you know as much about 
 how this thing should be run as I do, and I expect you do, but you 
 have chosen me and I have been commissioned by the governor to 
 run it and I am going to do it to the best of my ability, so help me 
 God. You are no longer mere men. You are soldiers. Your uniform 
 marks you as part of the United States government. Your captain's 
 uniform marks him as your superior, even though he once may have 
 been your bootblack. Your duty is to obey orders, whether you think 
 they are right or not. Your officers will do the thinking." 
 
 Oglesby proved himself a capable and wise leader of men, and 
 his promotion to higher posts of service was not surprising. 
 
 ISAAC c. pugh 
 
 General Isaac C. Pugh had already made a record in war service 
 during two wars, the Black Hawk struggle and the 
 war with Mexico, before the country found itself in 
 the throes of the Civil war. He was ready at the 
 first instant to take up arms, for the third time, for 
 his country. 
 
 He was among the first to enlist when recruit- 
 ing began, and he was made captain of Company A 
 of the Eighth regiment. As soon as the three months 
 enlistment was ended Captain Pugh came home and 
 organized the Forty-first regiment, over which he 
 was appointed colonel. He was conspicuous for his isaac c. pugh 
 
DECATUR ARMY LEADERS 
 
 253 
 
 GUS A. SMITH 
 
 bravery, and eventually was advanced to the rank of brigadier- 
 general. 
 
 GUSTAVUS A. SMITH 
 
 Gustavus A. Smith was operating a buggy factory in Decatur 
 when he was called into his country's service. 1 He at once began to 
 
 train men, and so successful was he that he was 
 
 called to Mattoon and Springfield to drill soldiers. 
 On May 6, 1861, he was asked to take command of 
 a regiment, and this regiment for six months was 
 known as Colonel Smith's Independent Regiment. 
 Later it became the Thirty-fifth Illinois Infantry. 
 
 At the battle of Pea Ridge Colonel Smith's 
 horse was shot from under him and he was badly 
 wounded. In September, 1862, President Lincoln 
 commissioned him brigadier-general for his meritor- 
 ious service. After he recovered somewhat from his 
 wounds he asked to be assigned again to active duty 
 but was refused on account of his condition, and he 
 was given the appointment of provost general mar- 
 shal for Illinois. These orders later were countermanded by the war 
 department and General Smith was asked to organize a convalescent 
 camp near Murfreesboro. Fifty thousand men were being cared for 
 at this camp at the time it disbanded. In December General Smith 
 was mustered out, but he continued in various military activities until 
 1866. After the war was over General Smith moved to Tennessee and 
 later to Alabama. He was ofTered the Republican nomination for 
 congress but declined. However, he served as a member of the state 
 board of education and board of regents, and in 1870 was named 
 United States collection and distribution agent for New Mexico. 
 
 JESSE II. MOORE 
 
 General Jesse Hines Moore came of a line of 
 fighters, his lather, uncles and grandfather having 
 been soldiers in other wars. He entered the Metho- 
 dist church ministry and became widely known and 
 popular as a preacher and patriotic speaker. 
 
 As colonel of the One Hundred Fifteenth regi- 
 ment, Mr. Moore showed tact and courage. At 
 Chickamauga his regiment, after exhausting its am- 
 munition, drove the enemy back by a bayonet 
 charge led by Colonel Moore. To recognize that 
 act of bravery the government placed a monument on Snodgrass hill. 
 
 TESSE H. MOORE 
 
254 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Colonel Moore was given the rank of brigadier-general by Presi- 
 dent Lincoln in April, 1865. 
 
 The men and officers of his regiment presented him a beautiful 
 engraved sword at Resaca, Ga., as a token of their regard. This sword 
 was given, after General Moore's death, to his son, Rear Admiral C. 
 B. T. Moore of the United States navy. 
 
 General Moore's service for the country did not end with the war. 
 He served in Congress two terms. In 1873 he was appointed United 
 States pension agent at Springfield and held that office four years. In 
 1881 he was named United States consul to Callao, Peru. There he 
 fell a victim to yellow fever, and he passed away on July 11, 1883. He 
 was temporarily buried at Callao, but in 1885 the body was brought 
 back to Decatur and buried in Greenwood. 
 
 HERMAN LIEB 
 
 General Herman Lieb was a resident of Decatur only a few years 
 but during that time made a favorable impression on the community. 
 He was a man of culture and literary tastes, as well as a patriot. 
 
 When he came to Decatur in 1856 he took up the study of law. 
 When war broke out he enlisted in the Eighth Illinois regiment. In 
 three months he became a captain, later was appointed major, then a 
 colonel, and in March, 1865, he was made brigadier-general. 
 
 His war career was distinguished by his leadership of the colored 
 troops. It took the utmost courage at that time to accept such a 
 charge. Not only was he in great danger from the Confederates, but 
 he was scorned by his fellow soldiers and officials of the Union Army. 
 Yet his colored troops under his leadership performed so valiantly in 
 the war that he won the respect and admiration of all. 
 
 When President Lincoln asked for organization of colored troops, 
 there was much prejudice against the idea, but Major Lieb believed 
 the negroes could be made into good soldiers and he resigned his place 
 as major and accepted the colonelcy of a colored regiment. After an 
 attack by 2,500 Texas Rangers and 200 cavalry under the confederate 
 general McCulloch, in which the negroes resisted the charge, there 
 was no question as to whether or not the negroes could fight. 
 
 In reporting that battle the confederate general said : 
 
 "This charge was resisted with obstinacy by the negro portion of 
 the enemy's forces, while the white portion ran like whipped curs 
 almost as soon as the charge was ordered." 
 
 General Lieb was wounded in that battle. 
 
DECATUR ARMY LEADERS 255 
 
 Soon afterwards he reorganized his regiment to go to the de- 
 fense of Vicksbnrg, recruiting new men and adding the remnant of the 
 Ninth Louisiana infantry. The new organization was known as the 
 Fifth U. S. Heavy artillery, eolored. 
 
 After the war was over General Lieb went to Springfield and 
 started a German newspaper. Later he moved to Chicago, and there 
 he died in 1908. 
 
 JAMES P. BOYD 
 
 Colonel James P. Boyd was one of seven Decatur lawyers who 
 left law practice to go to the front, and he was one of three to give 
 up his life. He enlisted in the One Hundred Sixteenth regiment, and 
 was made lieutenant colonel. 
 
 At the battle of Champion Hills he was shot through the lungs. 
 That was in May, 1863. He never recovered from those wounds. In 
 1864 he went to New Orleans, hoping to improve his health, but he 
 grew w r orse and returned to Decatur, where he died in October, 1869. 
 He is buried in Greenwood. 
 
 THE TUPPERS 
 
 Two of Decatur's most honored heroes of the war were the two 
 Tupper brothers, Ansel and Nathan W., both of whom lost their lives, 
 Ansel at the battle of Shiloh, and Nathan at home from disease 
 brought on by exposure. To show their love and esteem for these 
 courageous men, the citizens of Decatur erected a shaft of granite at 
 their graves in Greenwood cemetery. 
 
 The Tuppers came to Decatur in 1854 and began the practice of 
 law. Ansel was the first to enlist when war came, and he became 
 lieutenant colonel of the Forty-first regiment. 
 
 After Ansel's death on April 6, 1862, his brother Nathan under- 
 took the care of Ansel Tupper's children. But the country was needing 
 more men and Nathan, too, enlisted, and he was made colonel of the 
 One Hundred Sixteenth regiment. He became ill soon after the battle 
 of Lookout mountain, and came home to die, passing away on March 
 10, 1864. 
 
 The two women made widows by the war lived to old age, but 
 they and their children have all passed away, and there is none left 
 to bear the name. 
 
 JOHN P. POST 
 
 John P. Post, who had recruited the first Decatur company for 
 the war, was a veteran of the Mexican war. On entering the Civil war 
 
256 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 he was made captain of Company B, but was later advanced to the 
 rank of major, then to lieutenant colonel and to colonel. 
 
 At Fort Donelson he was captured, and was confined for some 
 time in Libby prison, getting his release through an exchange of 
 prisoners. He rejoined his regiment, but resigned from the service 
 in December, 1863. 
 
 1 Decatur soldiers in the war while in the south came across many carriages and buggies 
 marked "Gustavus A. Smith, Decatur, Illinois", which had been made in the Decatur factory. 
 Mr. Smith had sold many of the vehicles in the south. In fact he was practically ruined finan- 
 cially by the failure of the southerners to pay for the goods they bought from him. 
 
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC 
 
 257 
 
 CHAPTER XLVII 
 
 GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC 
 
 DR. B. F. 
 STEPHENSON 
 
 AN honor of which all Macon County is proud is that Decatur is 
 the birthplace of the Grand Army of the Republic. That organ- 
 ization, started with twelve members in Decatur, April 6, 1866, and 
 
 , composed of men who had fought for the Union 
 
 during the War of the Rebellion, spread all over 
 the country. In its banner year, 1890, it had a mem- 
 bership of 409,459, but every year its ranks grow 
 smaller and soon the last member will be gone. It 
 is one organization which cannot recruit new mem- 
 bers. 
 
 The idea of the Grand Army of the Republic 
 was conceived in the mind of Dr. Benjamin F. 
 Stephenson, surgeon of the Fourteenth Illinois In- 
 fantry volunteers, later appointed brigade surgeon 
 and finally made major. He was mustered out of 
 service June 24, 1864, and located in Springfield where he began the 
 practice of medicine. 
 
 Dr. Stephenson noticed the neglect of widows and orphans of 
 men who had given up their lives during the war. That neglect 
 brought to his mind the idea of a soldiers mutual benefit society, 
 whose motto should be, "Loyalty, Fraternity and Charity". The name 
 was suggested to him by reading of Napoleon's Grand Army of 
 France. 
 
 Robert Mann Woods and Captain John S. Phelps assisted in get- 
 ting the organization under way. Captain Phelps knew of a printing 
 office in Decatur run by two soldiers, I. N. Coltrin and Joseph Prior, 
 and he came to them to get the ritual printed. So much interest was 
 shown among the soldiers in Decatur that Dr. Stephenson decided to 
 organize the first post here. In a dingy room on the second floor of 
 a building then standing at 253 South Park street twelve men met 
 Friday night, April 6, 1866, and instituted Post No. 1, Grand Army of 
 the Republic, founded on the principles of charity, fraternity and 
 loyalty. 
 
 It meant something to become a member of this brotherhood of 
 soldiers of the Union army for the roll of membership was made a 
 
258 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 roll of honor. Only soldiers who had been honorably discharged from 
 
 the army were permitted to join. 
 
 The twelve members of the 
 
 original post were : 
 
 J. T. Bishop 
 J. W. Routh 
 John H. Nale 
 C. Riebsame 
 A. Toland 
 George H. Dunning 
 Col. Isaac C. Pugh 
 Joseph M. Prior 
 I. N. Coltrin 
 George R. Steele 
 Dr. B. F. Sibley 
 M. F. Kanan 
 
 The first officers were: 
 
 Commander — M. F. Kanan 
 Adjutant — George R. Steele 
 Quartermaster — G. H. Dunning 
 Officer of the day — C. Riebsame 
 Officer of the Guard — J. T. Bishop 
 Surgeon — J. W. Routh 
 
 Within two years the mem- 
 bership of the post had reached 
 eighty. Meantime posts had been 
 organized in other cities. Spring- 
 field was the next to organize 
 after Decatur. Soon G. A. R. posts were to be found all over the 
 country. Major Stephenson was the first commander-in-chief. 
 
 In 1868, however, troubles arose, owing to political dissensions, 
 and every post in Illinois, with the exception of Rockford, disbanded. 
 For ten years no meetings were held, except by the Rockford post. 
 Then reorganization began on a non-partisan basis. Rockford post, 
 having remained in existence, became Post No. 1, and the Decatur 
 post, which was not reorganized until in 1882, became Post 141. It 
 was named Dunham post after Amos Dunham, who at that time was 
 thought to have been the first soldier from this county to give up his 
 life in the war. He was killed at Fort Donelson, Feb. 15, 1862. 1 
 
 In 1891 Old Post No. 1 Society was organized by members of the 
 old post to perpetuate the history of the organization. Captain M. F. 
 Kanan was the last of the Decatur members of that Society. He died 
 in 1909. His death left only one of the charter members of the original 
 post, C. Riebsame, of Bloomington. He, too, now is gone. 
 
 The Grand Army gave six presidents to the United States. They 
 were Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Flayes, James A. Garfield, 
 Chester A. Arthur, Benjamin Ffarrison and William McKinley. 
 
 WHERE G. A. R. WAS ORGANIZED 
 
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC 
 
 259 
 
 The Decatur post has enrolled more than 800 members during the 
 years of its existence. The majority of them have been men who 
 went into the war from other states than Illinois. They were men 
 who came to this state, after the war was over, to make their homes. 
 
 ^"mr""**. 
 
 §cpartineut 
 
 of Illinois. 
 
 SttiDlU %$ f Jta*' //e tyommanaei 0/ Me We/taUtnent o/ J^fc**, 
 tefejena edeaa/ />#<)( ana cen/fJmce on fne Aatttofont ana* Aat/ttu o/ 
 
 e^^€< 
 
 
 aoet, v/£ /ne aa/noutu vn /um i/erfea, ewifowet ana eo-njfa/a/e t/u 
 CHMTCR MEMBERS, c/ a* &nca?n/ime*t/ c/ l/ie lliana J&lmu y 
 Me '3%Ua//x to £ Vernon as 'IXca* S^Lm^i . & W ^ >/ ' &X-Q<^£c4/ ^ 
 ZZ/ifitttc/ of (— -**v& a^C^>y.*S ~ '</)dia'Jtnen/ o/ •JWtnvee, ana Mom ale 
 /teievfi conjMa&a aa aaea I /oaf, ana aat/toiizea Jo mane <^j-m- Jzawd J»l 
 Me aovetnateK/ o/ eaea J'oa/, ana to ao ana /tei/omi ait aefo nece/aaiu fo 
 ccmaacf ana eattu on *ata ota/}*uja6&n on aecoiaa'/ioe wct/i J/ie vpcntftcJuteen 
 of lAo IsAand S&tmu op tnt <Jk<Jiuoac 
 
 'O/Jone a/ SynmaAe^ ffl, Mm <£&&#£/ Mzy <f 
 
 t &jrf #£& 5^ e? ?<■ /j 
 
 tt&e§ ^A3 ^ * Aye g - ^^jj 
 
 G. A. R. CHARIER 
 
260 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Then they were young and strong. Now they are old. Their ranks 
 are fast dwindling. Less than fifty remain. 
 
 One of the honored members of Old Post 1, and afterwards of 
 Dunham post, was Comrade William F. Martin, who for years was 
 the color bearer. In every parade in which the soldiers took part 
 Comrade Martin always was at the head, carrying the flag. He par- 
 ticipated in state and national meetings, as well as local processions. 
 He served for some time as the official color bearer for the Illinois 
 Department, G. A. R. Comrade Martin presented the flag pole, with 
 its concrete base, in Central park, to the city. 
 
 The story of Dunham post would not be complete without men- 
 tion of Dr. W. F. Calhoun, for years the mainstay of the post, its 
 spokesman, adviser, and for fourteen years its commander. Elected 
 to that position in 1915 he remained in it until his death in 1929. He 
 was always looking out for the interests of the post. He was honored 
 not only locally, but also by the state G. A. R., in being elected de- 
 partment commander. Dr. Calhoun's service in the war was in the 
 One Hundred Twenty-third Pennsylvania regiment and Thirtieth 
 Pennsylvania cavalry. 
 
 DEDICATION OF G. A. R. TABLET 
 
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC 261 
 
 In Central park stands a monument to the Macon county soldiers 
 of the Civil war. It was erected through the efforts of the Dorcas 
 society, which gave $2,000 toward the fund necessary. The balance, 
 $8,000, came from Macon county, which gave $6,000, and citizens, who 
 subscribed $2,000. The monument was unveiled and dedicated April 6, 
 1905, the thirty-ninth anniversary of the founding of the G. A. R. 
 
 Another monument in honor of the Union veterans stands on a 
 grassy knoll in Fairview park, the gift, in 1927, of the Daughters of 
 Union Veterans. Nearby is the bronze tablet erected in 1926-27 by 
 the county in memory of the Civil war soldiers. It contains the names 
 of 2,085 men from Macon county who fought in the war. 
 
 In Greenwood cemetery stands a monument, "To the Unknown 
 Dead", erected by the Woman's Relief Corps. 
 
 Various trees in the county have been dedicated to the G. A. R. 
 by schools and other organizations. 
 
 To mark the birthplace of the G. A. R. the Illinois department, 
 Woman's Relief Corps, placed a bronze tablet on the building in 
 which the first post was formed. That tablet was unveiled and dedi- 
 cated April 6, 1915. Several members of Old Post 1 were guests of 
 honor on that occasion. Robert Mann Woods, who had aided in the 
 organization of the Grand Army, gave an address, in which he told of 
 the early days of the Grand army. The dedicatory address was given 
 by Rt. Rev. Samuel Fallows, department commander of the G. A. R. 
 
 The tablet was presented by Mrs. Inez J. Bender, department W. 
 R. C. president, and it was unveiled by Ruth Donahue, granddaughter 
 of the first adjutant of the post, George R. Steele. 
 
 The building in which the G. A. R. was organized has been re- 
 placed with a new structure, the Linxweiler building, on which the 
 memorial tablet is now fixed. 
 
 woman's relief corps 
 
 Dunham Woman's Relief Corps No. 4, auxiliary to Dunham Post 
 141, of the Grand Army of the Republic, was instituted Dec. 10, 1883. 
 Its first regular meeting, early in 1884, took place at the home of Mrs. 
 S. T. Trowbridge, whose husband had served as a surgeon through 
 the war. 
 
 The Decatur corps was one of the first organized. The corps had 
 been founded in Denver, Colo., July 26, 1883. The first five corps or- 
 ganized in Illinois formed a state body Jan. 31, 1884, at a meeting 
 held in Decatur. The other four, besides Decatur, in the state body 
 were Rockford, Henry, Elgin and Palestine. 
 
262 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 The Relief corps has been, from its beginning, a real auxiliary 
 to the comrades. Patriotic work among the schools and churches, 
 charity work, ministering to the comfort of the old soldiers, and vari- 
 ous other activities have kept the women busy. Scores of flags un- 
 furled to the breeze by Macon county schools and other institutions 
 were the gifts of the Woman's Relief corps. 
 
 One of the Decatur members, Mrs. Inez J. Bender, was chosen 
 in 1920 by the National Woman's Relief Corps as its president. 
 
 1 Official war records show that at least two other Macon county men died in war service, 
 previous to the time Dunham was killed. Three members of the Dunham family were in the army. 
 Henry enlisted first, and served three months, then returned, and then the father, Dayton Dun- 
 ham, and brother, Amos, enlisted. Amos was short of stature and was not accepted at first. To 
 make himself taller he inserted heels from a pair of shoes in his boots. He was rejected again, but 
 finally was taken into Captain Lieb's company. At the same time Amos Dunham was being 
 brought home dead, his father was being brought back wounded, the father not knowing of his 
 son's fate until after he reached home. 
 
DECATUR IN THE '60s 263 
 
 CHAPTER XLVIII 
 
 DECATUR IN THE '60s 
 
 THE story of Decatur in the '60s is largely the story of its part in 
 the Civil war and the after effects of that war. It was a trying 
 time for the country in general, yet in spite of the depressing after 
 results of the great conflict the city made some progress. 
 
 Decatur had been aroused in 1860 with the big Republican con- 
 vention held in the Wigwam, where, on May 10, Abraham Lincoln 
 had been proposed and endorsed as a candidate for president of the 
 United States. His nomination at the national convention, his election, 
 and his career as president during the war Avere followed with the 
 utmost interest. 
 
 The news of his assassination stirred Decatur as it had never 
 been stirred before. Decatur had personal memories of its own. It 
 was the saddest of all mornings when the news came that Lincoln 
 was dead. 
 
 Decatur did not get that news until the war reports arrived about 
 10 o'clock the morning after the assassination. John Moreland, court 
 crier, walked the streets proclaiming that sad news had come. Lowber 
 Burrows took the message to the court house in "the Old Square". 
 Judge Emerson adjourned court at once. Mr. Burrows read the mes- 
 sage, speaking from the court house window to the crowd assembled 
 below. All Decatur mourned. 
 
 After the war was over, Decatur settled down to readjust itself 
 to new conditions and to look ahead to the future. 
 
 New citizens came to Decatur at this time. Young men who had 
 fought in the war were now ready to seek a location and settle down. 
 Many chose Decatur. Cupid was a busy fellow, and romances, both 
 new ones and those postponed by the war, culminated in marriages. 
 
 Politics were playing a big part in the city then. 1 The G. A. R. 
 had a big influence, and its members could have just about what they 
 wanted in political offices. 
 
 R. J. Oglesby was inaugurated governor of Illinois in 1865, and 
 General Jesse H. Moore was sent to congress in 1868. With two citi- 
 zens in such positions of honor, Decatur was beginning to think it was 
 a place of some consequence. 
 
264 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 GAS SERVICE 
 
 A public improvement which came in this decade was the instal- 
 lation of gas service. The Gas, Light and Coke company erected a 
 plant at Jackson and Wood streets. Henry Prather became president 
 
 and J. K. Warren secretary-treas- 
 urer of the company. The instal- 
 lation of gas brought forth the fol- 
 lowing report in a newspaper in 
 1868: ''At last the era of gas has 
 burst upon Decatur with more or 
 less brilliancy. Last night (Nov. 
 18) stores were lit up by this essen- 
 tial, and light thus diffused held by 
 all as a most important improve- 
 ment. " In a year or two gas lamps 
 and posts were installed in all dis- 
 tricts of the city and Decatur was 
 then in reality "lit up". 
 
 Churches were making prog- 
 ress. The Methodists held a re- 
 vival meeting which so greatly in- 
 creased their numbers that it was 
 necessary to build a new church. 2 
 The revival was held during the 
 winter of 1866-67 by Rev. Levi Pit- 
 ner, pastor, and in 1868 the church 
 began the erection of a new build- 
 ing at the northwest corner of 
 Water and William streets, which 
 cost $65,000. The building was 
 dedicated Jan. 14, 1872. In December, 1866, the Franklin street church 
 (now Grace Methodist) was organized. Its house of worship, at 
 Eldorado and Franklin, was afterwards called Stapp's chapel. 3 
 
 A second Presbyterian church of the "New School General As- 
 sembly" was organized in 1868. It met in Powers hall. Rev. A. L. 
 Brooks became pastor. In 1870, when the old and new branches of the 
 Presbyterian church united, the First and Second churches here com- 
 bined forces. 
 
 St. Patrick's Catholic church erected a building in 1863-64 at the 
 northeast corner of East North and Jackson streets. It was used until 
 the present building was erected in 1910. 
 
 THIRD METHODIST CHURCH 
 BUILDING 
 
DECATUR IN THE '60s 
 
 265 
 
 The German Lutherans organized a church in 1866, and bought 
 property at Wood .and Edward streets, where they soon erected a 
 frame building. Later, in 1880, they built a brick house of worship. 
 
 Four new school buildings 
 came during the '60s, the Wood, 
 Sangamon, and Jackson street 
 buildings, and the Decatur high 
 school. 
 
 BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIES 
 
 James Millikin opened his new 
 bank on Merchant street in 1860. 
 
 The Stare Brothers planing 
 mill at Franklin and Cerro Gordo 
 streets was erected in 1860. 
 
 An industry which came in 
 1861 was the Haworth factory, 
 which developed later into one of 
 Decatur's leading establishments. 
 
 In 1863 Barnes and Lintner 
 began the manufacture of wood 
 pumps. In 1866 the firm became 
 William Lintner & Co., and began 
 making furniture. Mr. Lintner sold 
 his interest in 1875 to the other partners, Peddecord and Burrows. 
 For years the furniture factory was a prosperous plant, as many as 
 150 or more persons being employed. The plant suffered a disastrous 
 fire Nov. 19, 1891, and though the factory was rebuilt, the furniture 
 business was continued only a few years afterwards. Later the build- 
 ing was occupied by the Decatur Chair factory, which also suffered 
 a fire (in 1905) and soon went into bankruptcy. 
 
 In 1863 Barber and Hawley erected a plant to manufacture gang 
 plows, riding cultivators, headers and other agricultural implements. 
 Many men were employed. It failed, but was reorganized under the 
 name of Decatur Agricultural works, with J. R. Race as president 
 and H. B. Durfee, plant superintendent. 
 
 The Union Iron works, at first known as the Central Iron works, 
 had its beginning in 1864, started by Burroughs & Co. James Millikin 
 was a member of the firm from its beginning. It started as a repair 
 shop for machinery and then for manufacturing steam engines and 
 mill machinery. Then John Beall, millwright, invented a machine, the 
 manufacture of which by the Union Iron works has been a leading 
 
 ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH 
 
 Erected in 1863-64. 
 
266 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Decatur industry ever since. He built a corn sheller, one which would 
 work. It is now used wherever corn is grown. The plant has always 
 been located at Morgan and William streets. A. R. Montgomery 
 entered the employ of the Union Iron works about 1875 as bookkeeper. 
 By 1884 he had risen to the position of secretary-treasurer and general 
 manager, a position he occupied until his death in 1908. 
 
 Conrad Ammann began making brick in 1864. So did H. M. Whit- 
 mer. William T. Traver that same year began manufacturing tile. 
 
 Several marble works were established in 1865. W. H. Grindol 
 began business that year, as did also Peniwell, Brown & Co. In 1867 
 John Strohm began the same line of business. 
 
 Elwood & Co. started making doors, sash, blinds, etc., in 1865. 
 The same year Fred Pahmeyer started a cigar factory. Andrew Kep- 
 ler began making cigars in 1867. 
 
 The Decatur Bottling works was established in 1866 with Fred 
 Kuny as proprietor. D. W. Brenneman started in the liquor business 
 in 1866. That same year H. E. Foster established a lumber business. 
 
 In 1867 the linseed oil mill was established at the foot of East 
 Main street by William and Benjamin Sawyer. Later it was run by 
 Hatfield, Taylor & Co. The mill developed rapidly and in a few 
 years was consuming 50,000 bushels of flax seed, doing $75,000 worth 
 of business annually. This business was finally closed about 1900 
 due to changes in the industry. 
 
 R. R. Montgomery established a real estate, insurance and loan 
 business in 1867, and continued in the same office until his death in 
 1930. For many years the firm was Montgomery & Shull (F. R. 
 Shull), and later Montgomery & Sons, as it is known today. For years 
 that firm was busy platting and selling real estate additions. In later 
 years Mr. Montgomery developed Montgomery Place, one of Deca- 
 tur's most beautiful residence districts. Mr. Montgomery served as 
 member of the city council, was a member of the library board, and 
 otherwise was active publicly. 
 
 In 1868 Young and Norman established a steam laundry and 
 barber shop. Afterwards it became Norman's laundry. 
 
 Taylor and Bradley began making carriages, wagons and buggies 
 in 1869. Their factory was at Water and Cerro Gordo streets. This 
 business came in control of the Wayne brothers, John B. and William 
 J., in 1872, and was a well known establishment for a generation. 
 
 Some stores which were in existence for many years had their 
 beginnings in the '60s, among them B. Stine's clothing store, started 
 in 1866, and Dr. A. J. Stoner's drug store on South Park, opened in 
 
DECATUR IN THE '60s 
 
 267 
 
 1869. John Washburn, grocer on North Water street, moved to South 
 Park street in 1869, and remained in business there until his death in 
 1916, his business life here altogether covering sixty-one years. 
 
 W. H. Linn and W. R. Scruggs, two Virginians, came to Deca- 
 tur, and on Oct. 11, 1869, started a dry goods store, which still bears 
 their names. Their first place of business was at 24 Merchant street 
 (Stamper & Condell corner). After ten years there they moved to 
 Main and Water, southeast corner, where the store remained until 
 1924, when it moved to its present location, Main and Prairie streets. 
 
 In 1863 was formed a partnership between John K. Warren and 
 Henry B. Durfee. For years the names of Warren and Durfee were 
 connected with real estate development in Decatur. In 1865 B. K. 
 Durfee became a partner. In 1868 H. B. Durfee retired. In 1893 B. 
 K. Durfee retired, and Mr. Warren continued the business alone until 
 his death in 1914. 
 
 Henry B. Durfee first came to Decatur in 1849. During his busi- 
 ness career here he served as alderman, was first chairman of the board 
 of supervisors, member of school board for fifteen years, and member 
 of state board of equalization. 
 
 STAMPER & CONDELL'S STORE IN THE '60s 
 Picture taken about 1862. Present site of Baclirach store on Lincoln Square. 
 
268 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 TOHN K. WARREN 
 
 John K. Warren located here in 1856, living the first two years 
 on a farm and then moving to Decatur, where he started a real estate 
 and insurance orifice. He also was interested in 
 manufacturing wheat drills. Later, from 1867 to 
 1872, he was prominently connected with railroad 
 building, being identified with the Pekin, Lincoln & 
 Decatur, and the Indiana & Illinois roads. He served 
 as president of the latter road from 1868 to 1871. 
 
 Mr. Warren was president of the Decatur Gas 
 Light and Coke company, was mayor of Decatur in 
 1867, served for years on the board of education, 
 established the first home savings institution in this 
 section, and was interested in the manufacture of 
 wooden dishes, automatic grain scales and other 
 products. Warren street and Warren school were 
 named for him. 
 Bradford K. Durfee, who entered the office of Durfee and Warren 
 in 1863, prepared the first set of abstracts for the firm, the first such 
 set to be used in Macon county. Mr. Durfee was instrumental in 
 securing the enactment of the law permitting the establishment of 
 building and loan associations in Illinois. For some time he served as 
 state insurance superintendent. For two years, 1884-86, he was a 
 member of the city council. 
 
 George S. Durfee became a clerk for Warren and Durfee, and 
 later he and Charles M. Durfee organized the real estate firm of 
 Durfee Brothers. George S. Durfee also was interested in the manu- 
 facture of agricultural implements with W. B. Chambers. Mr. Durfee 
 was a captain in the army during the Civil war. He participated in 
 fourteen battles, and was wounded at Shiloh. He served as parole 
 officer and provost marshal. In 1901 Captain Durfee was appointed 
 by Governor Yates to ascertain and mark the positions occupied by 
 the Illinois troops at the battle of Vicksburg. 
 
 SPORTS 
 
 Croquet was a great sport in the '60s. Another popular game was 
 cricket. These two pastimes received more attention than baseball. 
 It was reported one time in a newspaper that baseball wasn't half the 
 sensation it once was, and the suggestion was made that a livelier 
 game was needed ! 
 
 Decatur had its circuses in those days, and they were just as 
 fascinating to the small boy as they are today. The lads who sat on 
 the fence to watch the elephants and camels are old and wrinkled 
 
DECATUR IN THE '60s 
 
 269 
 
 today, but they haven't forgotten the thrills of circus days in their 
 boyhood. College hill was the circus grounds in those days. Circuses 
 traveled altogether by wagon and teams, moving from one stand to 
 another in the night. 
 
 mBhm^ww 
 
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 CIRCUS SCENE IN 1866 
 This picture was taken June 27, 1866, by Barnwell and Pitner, photographers. 
 
 The first state religious meeting in Decatur was in June, 1867, 
 when the Illinois Sunday School association convention was held on 
 College hill, as College square was then known. 
 
 Decatur had no hall big enough to accommodate such a gather- 
 ing, so a tabernacle — the first of its kind in Decatur — was erected. It 
 was made out of rough lumber, and seats were constructed by placing 
 boards on wood blocks. The ground was covered with straw. The 
 tabernacle was not enclosed at the sides. 
 
 This convention meant a great deal to the city. It was largely 
 
 attended, people 
 coming from all 
 over the state. Wil- 
 liam Reynolds, the 
 president of the as- 
 sociation, was pres- 
 ent, as was also B. 
 
 TABERNACLE ON COLLEGE HILL F. Jacobs, widely 
 
270 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 known Sunday school worker. Philip Phillips, noted singer, was song 
 director. This was at the time when Dwight L. Moody, founder of 
 the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, was coming into fame as a 
 preacher, and much was heard of him at the convention. 
 
 Probably the biggest crowds in Decatur during the '60s were 
 brought by the state fair, which was held at the fair grounds (now 
 Fairview park) in 1863, 1864, 1869 and 1870. A 
 
 A number of things happened during the '60s to give folks some- 
 thing to talk about. In August, 1863, Macon county's corn crop was 
 ruined by a killing frost, and farmers lost considerably. Previous to 
 that time, the price of corn was 12^2 to 15 cents a bushel. By the 
 first of the year the price had gone to $1 and $1.05. 
 
 An event of interest in 1869 was the total eclipse of the sun on 
 Aug. 9. For a time Decatur was left in darkness, and the chickens 
 thought it was bedtime and went to roost. Smoked glass was at a 
 premium. 
 
 In the spring of 1865 came the excitement of the chase after J. W. 
 Crawford, desperado, ending only when he was shot down. He had 
 tried to sell his horse, and on being suspected of being a horse thief 
 had dropped from the horse and fled. The cry of "horse thief" was 
 raised and everybody joined in the chase. He was brought to bay in 
 a hedge in Union street, north of Green, and as he was about to shoot 
 the marshal, he himself was brought down by a shot fired by John 
 Marsh. He was buried just as he was, his pistol being put in the grave 
 with him, in King's cemetery. 
 
 During the '60s, when there was talk of moving the state capital 
 Decatur made strenuous efforts to land the prize. 5 Site for the build- 
 ing and various sums of money were offered, but the effort to bring 
 the capital to the city failed. The site that was offered at that time 
 was Johns hill. 
 
 It will be noted that Decatur, as the center of a rich farming com- 
 munity, was becoming the center of industries demanded by any farm- 
 ing community. Implements for cultivating the soil must be had, and 
 enterprising men saw their opportunity to furnish those necessities. 
 Corn growing was given such an impetus by the invention of the check 
 rower that Macon county was even then deserving its title of Corn 
 Belt. While the farmers were making money with their corn and 
 other products, the manufacturers were making money in providing" 
 the implements necessary to the farmer. Several factories, important 
 then, but small by today's standards, were at work. Among the arti- 
 cles made were plows, cultivators, corn planters and check rower wire. 
 
DECATUR IN THE '60s 271 
 
 The "rich country of the Sangamon" was fulfilling its mission as 
 the land of promise. 
 
 1 Newspaper editors spoke their feelings freely along political lines and otherwise in those 
 days. Here is the way 'one editor welcomed a newcomer in the newspaper ranks, according to the 
 Decatur Republican, July 30, 1868: 
 
 "The first number of the Decatur Democrat was issued last week. As was to be expected, 
 it was filled with such matters as are calculated to suit the Democratic tastes. J. H. Walin, the 
 editor and manager, was formerly with the Chicago Times and is a good newspaper man. His 
 politics, however, are of the 'pizen' variety. We editorially wish his business all manners of suc- 
 cess — may his principles go to Lucifer's domain." 
 
 -The story is told that one prominent citizen, during the revival of 1866-67, thanked the 
 Lord that "ball rooms are not so well attended as they were." The same good man went on to 
 say : "We adore Thee, O Lord, that a Bible brings a better price than a novel." 
 
 :1 The pipe organ installed in this church served three organizations. First was the church, 
 then the Masons, to whom the building was later sold, and last the St. Paul's Lutheran church, 
 to which it was presented by William Frede, who bought the building from the Masons and 
 wrecked it to make room for his new garage in 1930. 
 
 4 Efforts were made to secure the state fair here afterwards but were unsuccessful. In 1883 
 the supervisors appropriated $5,000 for improving the grounds if the state board of agriculture 
 would locate the fair here for the next two years. However, Decatur's efforts proved unavailing. 
 
 5 A favorite story told on A. Brower Bunn was in connection with this movement. Mr. 
 Bunn, in company with Henry B. Durfee and William E. Nelson, was in Springfield setting forth 
 the claims of Decatur for the capital. Bunn, the spokesman, became more and more enthusiastic 
 and eloquent as he extolled the advantages of this city. Before he was through he had offered not 
 only the site for the new buildings, but a million dollars in cash. The opposing interests asked 
 him who would guarantee that million. With impressive grandeur, Mr. Bunn arose. "Gentlemen," 
 he said, "I will now give you my personal check for it." 
 
 At the time his check for $10 might not have been of value. 
 
272 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 CHAPTER XLIX 
 
 PARKS 
 
 GREEN fields and woodland tracts were too plentiful and too near 
 in the days when Decatur was given its first park for it to be 
 fully appreciated, but seventy-five years later Decatur citizens are 
 glad that it Once had a resident so far-sighted and so generous as to 
 make that park possible. 
 
 Central park — Decatur's first park — was given to the city July 10, 
 1855, by Captain David L. Allen and Dr. Thomas H. Read, the donors 
 specifying that it was to be used for no other purpose than a public 
 ground and common park. For twenty years it was nothing more than 
 a public square, surrounded by hitching racks. Once it was rough and 
 hilly, covered with brush and weeds, the "worst place for snakes I 
 ever saw", said one early resident. 
 
 Gradually the hollows were filled, as dirt was hauled in from 
 excavations for new buildings in the neighborhood. In 1859 a number 
 of trees were set out. 
 
 Now it is a lovely spot of green, with grassy level ground and 
 plenty of shade, a place where people may rest, the kind of a place 
 the donors had in mind many years ago. 
 
 The square is a part of what was platted as the "North addition 
 to Decatur" in April, 1837, but it became known as the Allen, McRey- 
 nolds & Co.'s addition, and that name appears in all realty transac- 
 
 CENTRAL PARK IN EARLY DAYS, ABOUT 1865 
 
PARKS 
 
 273 
 
 FOUNTAIN TN CENTRAL PARK 
 
 (1877-1930) 
 
 tions. The addition is bounded by North, Broadway, Wood, and 
 Water streets. Other members of the company which platted it be- 
 sides David L. Allen, were Dr. Thomas li. Read, brother-in-law to 
 Captain Allen, and James Me Reynolds. 
 
 When the square was laid out, 
 it was in the mind of Captain Allen 
 to give it to the railroad companies, 
 then being proposed, to be used as 
 a site for a depot. The railroads 
 failed to materialize then, and later 
 the offer to donate it for a park was 
 made. After it came into posses- 
 sion of the city, the city council had 
 the hitching racks built around it 
 for the benefit of the farmers. In 
 those days it was called "the new 
 square." 
 Real improvement of the park did not begin until June, 1876, when 
 the hitching racks were removed, and gravel walks were laid. Then 
 it was decided to install a fountain. The fountain was purchased that 
 year by Lowber Burrows at the centennial exposition in Philadelphia. 
 On July 2, 1877, after the fountain had been placed and work about the 
 park completed, the council adopted a resolution to name the square 
 Central park, and it was opened "for the enjoyment of the public" 
 July 3, 1877. The fountain stood in the park until 1930 when it was 
 moved to the waterworks grounds to make room for the M. L. Harry 
 memorial. 
 
 The first custodian for the park was appointed in 1892. The park 
 commissioners were appointed by the mayor then as follows: J. E. 
 Bering, Peter Loeb, Lowber Burrows. 
 
 The so called "pagoda" was built in 1900 for a tool house. It 
 didn't meet with popular favor, being considered a waste of money by 
 many. The soldiers' monument was erected in 1904 at a cost of 
 $10,000. 
 
 OTHER PARK SPACES 
 
 Decatur had other places which served the purpose of parks in 
 the early days. 
 
 Greenwood cemetery, with its pretty natural surroundings, used 
 to draw many visitors in the first few years after it was opened. It 
 was within easy walking distance of the town, was well laid out with 
 walks and drives, and well provided with shade. As an objective point 
 
274 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 for a Sunday afternoon stroll or drive it grew into popularity, and it 
 was not until other parks had been opened that it began to lose that 
 popularity. 
 
 Another place that took the place of a park for a good many years 
 for the north end of town was King's Orchard, in the vicinity of King 
 and Marietta streets. 
 
 Nick Webber's beer garden was popular for a number of years — 
 that is, with a certain class of people. During the days of the rolling 
 mill in the '70s, it was frequented by the men from that mill. It was 
 located between Franklin street and the Illinois Central railroad about 
 where Cantrell street would be, if extended west. Being remote from 
 the built up section of the city, there was no one to complain about 
 wild parties, rights and noisy carousals. Those were taken more as a 
 matter of course than they would be now. There was always some- 
 thing doing when excursions were run from Terre Haute, and that 
 city sent over a bunch of pleasure seekers. The beer garden was a side 
 issue of the Webber brewery. It existed for a number of years, but 
 finally was sold. 
 
 The tree covered Johns land south of the hill was not a public 
 park, but was used by many as a picnic ground, and many Fourth of 
 July and other gatherings were held there. Because it was so much 
 used by the public so many years, Mrs. Jane M. Johns decided to 
 donate it to the city for a park. Eighteen acres are in the tract 
 donated. It is now known as Johns Hill park. 
 
 Bramble's pleasure garden, adjoining the Imboden land, immedi- 
 ately north of Greenwood cemetery, consisted of six and one-half 
 acres, with natural attractions. It was well advertised and patronized 
 during the '70s as a place for outings. Ice cream parlor, bath house, 
 mineral springs, and skating rink were available for the patrons. 
 
 Oakland park, now the James Millikin University grounds, was 
 sponsored by the Citizens Street Railway company, which built a 
 horse car line out West Main street to the Wabash tracks. This park 
 was the scene of many temperance and other big meetings in the '80s 
 and '90s. 
 
 For twenty years the Decatur Trotting association, organized in 
 1890, maintained a park for annual race meets on the Brenneman land 
 at the present intersection of Broadway and Garfield avenue. These 
 meets brought huge crowds of racing enthusiasts and noted horsemen. 
 George A. Keller was one of the secretaries that did much to make the 
 meets successful. 
 
PARKS 
 
 275 
 
 In 1890 fifty acres of the Marrit and Starr & Mills land along the 
 Sangamon was set aside as a park, known as Riverside park, which 
 was leased by the Decatur Electric Railway company. A car line was 
 run to the entrance, where the corner of Silas street and Riverside 
 avenue is now. It was extremely popular for a number of years, 
 having much natural attractiveness, as well as entertainment facilities. 
 Boating, bathing, picnics, water carnivals, chautauquas, skating, 
 natatorium, were among the attractions. The Riverside Boat company 
 had fifty boats on the river, and there were other privately owned 
 boats, including three steamboats. Often excursions were run to this 
 Decatur park from other cities. 
 
 fairview 
 The original forty acres of what is now Fairview park were laid 
 out in 1857 as a fairground for the Macon County Agricultural society. 
 Deeds transferring the land were not made out until 1863. The deed 
 for the east twenty acres was dated March 26, 1863, and was given 
 by the executors of the estate of William L. Powers. The considera- 
 tion was $600. The deed for the west twenty acres was given May 2, 
 1863, by Christian J. Barrackman, consideration being $150. 
 
 A tight board fence was erected around the entire forty acres. 
 The land then was all in timber, and enough ground was cleared to 
 make room for buildings. The buildings erected included an ampi- 
 theater with 5,000 seating capacity, farm products hall, 40 by 100 feet, 
 mechanical and industrial hall 40 by 60 feet, fine arts hall in octagonal 
 shape, 40 feet in diameter, stalls for 500 cattle and pens for 500 hogs. 
 Good water supply was furnished by six springs on the grounds. 
 The Macon County Agricultural society was organized June 28, 
 1856, with E. A. Jones as president; William Rea, vice president; Wil- 
 liam Martin, treasurer; James P. Boyd, secretary; and Samuel Pow- 
 ers. Jacob Hostetler, J. G. Taylor and D. K. Wilson as directors. 
 
 The first fair 
 was held Oct. 9-10, 
 1856, and from that 
 time until 1884, 
 county fairs were 
 held each year, with 
 the e x c e p t i o n of 
 1863, 1864, 1869 and 
 1870, when Illinois 
 state fairs were he>d 
 
 AMPHITHEATER IN OLD FAIR GROUNDS Oil the grounds. 1 
 
276 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 In 1869 the society sold the grounds to Macon county for $6,500. 
 The deed was signed by James H. Pickrell, president, and James C. 
 Lake, secretary. 
 
 Mayor M. F. Kanan suggested in 1890 that the county lease the 
 grounds to the city of Decatur for a park. He aroused sentiment in 
 favor of the idea, and the matter also was agitated by The Review. 
 On March 27, that year, a lease was signed. The city took possession 
 April 1. Terms agreed on were $100 a year for the first ten years, $200 
 a year for the second ten, and $250 a year for the third ten. 
 
 A voting contest to name the park was inaugurated by The Re- 
 view, and 135 names were submitted. Fairview, with 3,224 votes, and 
 Columbia, with 3,084, were the two most popular names. 2 
 
 Within the next few years after the city took possession of the 
 park, considerable improvement was made. The pavilion and cus- 
 todian's home were erected. Drainage, water, drives, were provided. 
 In 1900 W. C. Hood, landscape gardener, was employed to lay out and 
 beautify the grounds. From $2,000 to $3,000 a year was being spent 
 on improvements. This was the first work of Frank D. Torrence, who 
 became superintendent July 12, 1901, serving until his death, Jan. 13, 
 1928. His career was remarkable for the generous and whole hearted 
 way he gave his whole life to the city's service. 
 
 In 1903 the city purchased the land from the county, paying $8,000 
 for the forty acres. In 1905 the ten acres to the east, known as the 
 Catto tract, were added, the purchase price being $7,000. The addition 
 to the west, formerly the Dreamland amusement park, a tract of ten 
 acres, was bought in 1919. Another tract to the west was bought from 
 
 ENTRANCE TO FAIRVIEW PARK, 1908 
 
PARKS 
 
 277 
 
 the I. P. and L., and thirty-eight acres along Stevens creek were 
 
 added in 1928, being bought from the Taggert heirs, at $250 an acre. 
 These various additions brought the acreage of Fairview park up 
 
 to a total of 121.25. 
 
 The Dreamland 
 amusement park 
 was established in 
 1905 by the Deca- 
 t u r A m u s e m ent 
 company, and Fred 
 Given was named 
 manager. A score 
 of citizens sub- 
 scribed the $40,000 
 invested. Ten acres 
 were bought from 
 F. S. Baker. A 
 theater, dance pa- 
 vilion, roller coast- 
 er, etc., were built 
 For seven years the park was operated, but it was not a success 
 
 financially. In 1919 the city bought the land and added it to Fairview. 
 
 SCENE IN FAIRVIEW 
 In the days when signs read "Hitch Here' 
 of "Park Here". 
 
 itead 
 
 DREAMLAND PARK SCENE 
 
278 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 OTHER PARKS 
 
 Lincoln park was purchased by the city in 1905. The gift of two 
 additional small tracts, one by B. B. Tuttle and the other by Mrs. 
 Caroline Powers, gave the park a total acreage of twenty-two. 
 
 In February, 1911, the city purchased fourteen acres in the north- 
 east section of the city for a park, and it was named Torrence park in 
 honor of Park Superintendent Frank Torrence. The name was chosen 
 by popular vote. Five acres were added in 1924. 
 
 Garfield park, two acres, in East Main street, was donated to the 
 city by J. M. Clokey in 1892, when he laid out East Park Boulevards 
 addition, but was not developed until in 1912. 
 
 Nelson park came into possession of the city in 1912. The original 
 tract, 83 acres, was not bought outright at first. J. S. Baldwin, then 
 city attorney, submitted a proposition that the land be leased from its 
 owner, E. Wayne Ponting, at $2,000 a year for ten years, with option 
 of buying at any time within the ten years for $20,000, the rental 
 previously paid to be applied on the purchase price. The proposition 
 was accepted by the council. After five years the land was bought. 
 This park, like others, was named by a voting contest in The Review, 
 the public choosing in that way to honor Judge William E. Nelson. 
 
 Creation of the Decatur park district was brought about by the 
 offer April 27, 1924, of Mrs. L. P. Walbridge and Mrs. E. P. Irving to 
 donate Faries park to the city, in accordance with the wishes of their 
 father, Robert Faries. The condition was made that a park district be 
 
 n$* 
 
 4 
 
 aha ; titM*, . .,. ... .*.. .- 
 
 ai" ■ n mm 
 
 % ■■■<■■" *im- '■->■=: :^- :. ■;, 
 
 ... .,.. . 
 '" " 
 
 r-f 
 
 ' 
 
 mmm 
 
 he%. W& HhhISk?*4 jI9 
 
 
 NELSON PARK BEACH 
 
PARKS 279 
 
 organized to take over management of that property as well as all 
 city parks. 
 
 An election was held on Aug. 5, 1924, to vote on establishing a 
 park district, boundaries of which would coincide with the boundaries 
 of Decatur township. The proposition carried by a vote of 4,061 to 
 321. The park commisioners named at that election were: George A. 
 Caldwell, James H. Galloway, George F. Hess, Howard C. Schaub and 
 W. Elmer White. When Mr. White left the city, John McEvoy was 
 selected to succeed him. The board elected Mr. Schaub as president. 
 At the time the park district was created the city owmed 210 acres 
 of park land. At the present time (1930) the park board controls more 
 than 800 acres. A summary of the acreage, cost, and estimated value 
 of the parks is given here : 
 
 Cost or 
 Park — Acreage Estimated Value 
 
 Nelson 187.49 $197,813.23 
 
 Lake shore land 72.11 6,107.61 
 
 Big Creek land 152.59 18,617.81 
 
 Fairview 122.39 60,120.00 
 
 Faries 158.60 88,780.00 
 
 Torrence 18.91 22,600.00 
 
 Johns hill 18.00 63,000.00 
 
 North side 20.26 24,319.08 
 
 South side 39.11 56,702.64 
 
 Lincoln 25.21 79,500.00 
 
 Garfield 2.80 11,200.00 
 
 Jasper playground 1.00 3,650.00 
 
 Totals 818.47 $632,410.37 
 
 The 72.11 acres of land designated as lake shore land were bought 
 from the Decatur Water Supply company. 
 
 1 One of the features of the 1858 fair, as reported by the secretary, James Shoaff, was the 
 horseback riding by thirteen members of the fair sex, "all of whom rode gracefully, with much 
 ease, and creditably to themselves." 
 
 2 The name, Fairview, was suggested by Mrs. Helen W. Martin, wife of E. J. Martin, then 
 manager of the "Short Line railway", as the Decatur electric was known. The name was a com- 
 bination, as one may see. 
 
280 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 CHAPTER L 
 
 DECATUR PUBLIC LIBRARY 
 
 ONE bleak November day, in the year 1867, a little group of women 
 sat talking in the home of Mrs. A. T. Hill. They were women 
 who realized the worth of books and they wanted to devise a plan 
 whereby a library, open to everyone in Decatur, could be provided. 
 They felt that Decatur needed such an institution. That was the real 
 beginning of the splendid public library which Decatur has today. 
 
 In that group of women were : Mrs. J. J. Jones, Mrs. R. Gallagher, 
 Mrs. M. E. Jones, Mrs. E. J. Evans, Mrs. G. E. Morehouse, Mrs. H. 
 C. Johns and Mrs. W. T. Wells. They decided to call a meeting of 
 citizens at the Baptist church on Tuesday, Dec. 3, to establish a Ladies 
 Library association. It is interesting to note that the women at this 
 first meeting pledged themselves "to work faithfully and not relax 
 their efforts until a public library was founded in the city". 
 
 At the Dec. 3 meeting membership fees were set and committees 
 appointed. The women met again Dec. 9 and adopted a constitution. 
 At their Dec. 13 meeting they adopted by-laws, and elected officers 
 as follows : 
 
 President — Mrs. A. A. Powers 
 
 Vice President — Miss Mary Baker 
 
 Secretary — Mrs. M. E. Jones 
 
 Treasurer — Mrs. A. T. Hill 
 
 Board of directors — Mrs. Lamira Wilkinson, Mrs. M. K. Hatch, Mrs. S. F. 
 Greer, Mrs. J. J. Jones, Mrs. H. C Johns, Mrs. A. J. Gallagher, Miss Alice 
 Shellabarger. 
 
 Rooms for the library were secured on the 
 
 second floor of the building at Main and Water 
 streets. E. O. Smith donated five settees, two of 
 which were cushioned at the expense of Mrs. Wilk- 
 inson. Several friends gave books. With books that 
 were purchased, the shelves began filling up. 
 
 The library was open at first on Mondays, Wed- 
 nesdays and Saturdays. On Jan. 22, 1868, Miss 
 Sallie Taylor was appointed librarian. At her re- 
 quest Miss Mollie Thatcher was named assistant. 
 
 The women began to get busy at once to raise 
 
 money for the library. A series of four presentations 
 
 of a musical and dramatic entertainment brought 
 
 powers in $237.35. A Thanksgiving festival netted $114.85. 
 
DECATUR PUBLIC LIBRARY 281 
 
 When the first annual meeting was held Dec. 14, 1868, at Powers 
 hall, it was reported the association had about 1,000 volumes in the 
 library, and during the ten months previous the book circulation had 
 been 4,386. There were 239 life members, and 278 annual members. 
 The treasurer reported receipts of $2,084.35 and expenditures of 
 $2,012.69. 
 
 In 1869 Miss Josephine Stamper was appointed librarian, Miss 
 Taylor having resigned. Miss Ada Powers was named assistant. 
 
 By 1873 the women began to urge that the city council take over 
 the library under the new library law which had been passed in 1872 
 permitting levy of tax for library purposes. 
 
 On July 21, 1874, it was decided to move the library to the new 
 Schroeder building on East Prairie street. 
 
 About this time there was considerable agitation in Decatur 
 against the saloons and some of the citizens were urging the estab- 
 lishment of a reading room as a counter attraction. This was finally 
 accomplished in October, 1874, when the Reading Room association 
 was organized with officers as follows: 
 
 President — E. A. Gastman 
 
 Vice President — Rev. Robert McKenzie 
 
 Secretary — R. P. Lytle 
 Treasurer — B. K. Durfee 
 
 Directors — Mary Ennis, W. J. Quinlan, W. A. Barnes, Mrs. A. T. Hill, Mrs. 
 A. J. Gallagher, Mrs. R. L. Walston, and Mrs. H. C. Johns. 
 
 This association made arrangements to rent the room back of the 
 library room and Miss Caroline Allen was appointed custodian of the 
 reading room at a salary of $1 a day. H. C. Lintner donated some 
 furniture, and Mrs. H. C. Johns and Mrs. R. L. Walston raised a fund 
 of $720 for reading matter, and other expenses. 
 
 It was being felt more and more that the city council should take 
 over both the library and reading room, and finally a petition to that 
 effect from the Ladies Library association, the Reading Room associa- 
 tion and various other citizens as well was presented to the council. 
 That was in June. The petition was presented by W. J. Quinlan. 
 
 At the council meeting Aug. 3, 1875, vote was taken on the pro- 
 position, and it resulted in a tie. Mayor R. H. Meriweather cast the 
 deciding vote in favor of the library, and a week later, on Aug. 10, 
 1875, the Decatur public library was organized. 1 
 
 During all the years of the existence of the Ladies Library associ- 
 ation Mrs. A. A. Powers was its president, except in the last six 
 months when she was in San Jose, Cal., with her daughter, Mrs. J. 
 K. Warren. Mrs. W. W. Dewolf was the president the last six 
 months. 
 
282 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 RICHARD L. 
 
 EVANS 
 
 The first library board, after the city council took over the library, 
 was composed of Joseph Mills, president; J. L. Peake, William A. 
 Barnes, Mrs. C. A. Ewing, Mrs. S. F. Greer, Mrs. B. F. Sibley, W. H. 
 Ennis, W. \Y. Foster, W. L. Hammer. 
 
 Richard L. Evans, first librarian, named in 1875, 
 held that position until the time of his death, in No- 
 vember, 1881, when he was succeeded by his widow, 
 Mrs. Alice G. Evans. 
 
 When the first annual report was submitted. 
 May 1, 1876, it showed that the library contained 
 1,619 books. In the year there had been 40,138 
 visitors. 
 
 When the library first came into possession of 
 the city it occupied two rooms on the second floor 
 in the Schroeder building on East Prairie street. 
 These rooms were occupied until Oct. 5, 1881, when 
 the library was moved to the second floor of the old 
 Powers building on South Water street. In 1889 
 another move was made, this time to the Roberts and Greene building 
 at Main and William streets. There it remained until the building 
 was destroyed by fire, Feb. 2, 1892. Furniture, fixtures and 4,300 
 books of the library were lost in that fire. 
 
 Temporary quarters for the library were secured in the old Pres- 
 byterian church building on West Prairie, which had just been vacated, 
 and there it stayed until the Roberts and Greene building was rebuilt. 
 The move back to that building was made in the fall of that year, and 
 there the library remained until 1897 when it was moved to the fifth 
 floor of the Powers building. That was the last move made by the 
 library until it entered its own building in 1903. 
 
 One item of early library history which should be remembered 
 is the public fund which was raised to purchase books shortly after 
 the city had taken over the library. Two women, Mrs. H. C. Johns 
 and Mrs. R. L. Walston, solicited subscriptions until they had raised 
 $3,000. L. L. Haworth was the first subscriber, giving $100, and other 
 business men gave like amounts. 
 
 NEW BUILDING 
 
 Andrew Carnegie was giving away funds for library buildings in 
 1900. C. M. Hurst, who knew his private secretary, suggested an 
 application for Decatur. Mayor George A. Stadler, Charles M. Hurst 
 and Mrs. Alice G. Evans, librarian, left Decatur Jan. 26, 1901, for New 
 York to interview Mr. Carnegie. They did not see him, but were told 
 
DECATUR PUBLIC LIBRARY 
 
 283 
 
 to submit their request in writing. Mayor Stadler, within five days 
 after returning - home, received a letter from Mr. Carnegie's secretary 
 saying that Mr. Carnegie would give $60,000. The letter follows : 
 "Andrew Carnegie, New York, 
 
 "5 West 51st street. 6th February, 1901. 
 
 "Mayor G. A. Stadler, 
 
 "Decatur, 111. 
 "Dear Sir — Mr. Carnegie desires me to say that if the city of 
 Decatur will provide a suitable site and agree to spend not less than 
 $6,000 per year upon the maintenance of the library he will give 
 $60,000 for the building. 
 "Respectfully yours, 
 
 "JAMES BUTRAM, 
 "Private Secretary." 
 The lot at the southwest corner of Main and Eldorado streets was 
 selected as a site for the building. It was bought from the heirs of 
 Mrs. A. A. Powers for $15,000. While it was felt that this was a 
 suitable location for a library, citizens did not lose sight of the signifi- 
 cant fact that this corner was for many years the home of Mrs. Pow- 
 ers, who had been president for six years of the Ladies' Library 
 association. 
 
 The lot was bought in May, 1901. Mauran, Russell and Garden, 
 architects of St. Louis, were engaged to draw plans for the building, 
 and contract was let on Jan. 30, 1902, for the construction work, to 
 V. Jobst and Sons of Peoria. July 1, 1903, saw the library established 
 in its new home. 
 
 At the time the building project was first started the library board 
 consisted of W. J. Quinlan, E. P. Vail, O. B. Gorin, W. J. Wayne, R. 
 
 R. Montgomery, H. C. 
 Schaub, Mrs. I. N. Barnes, 
 Mrs. B. O. McReynolds, 
 Miss Nettie Lindsay. 
 
 Mr. Quinlan, who had 
 been one of the most active 
 promoters of a library in De- 
 catur since its inception. 
 served on the library board 
 for twenty-one years, from 
 1884 to 1905. From 1897 to 
 1905 he was president of the 
 public TjHRARY board. 
 
284 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 In 1908 the library began its extension work by establishing a 
 branch library at H. B. Durfee school. This eventually resulted in 
 the erection of the Branch library building on North Jasper street, 
 named the Alice G. Evans branch. It was dedicated in July, 1922. 
 Since then various branches in schools and fac- 
 tories have been established. 
 
 One valuable possession of the library is the 
 collection of Lincolnia, donated in 1921 by Miss 
 Jane Hamand. This includes the Kirkham grammar 
 from which Abraham Lincoln and Ann Rutledge 
 studied. 
 
 Few people in Decatur have given to any in- 
 stitution the service which Mrs. Alice G. Evans 
 gave to the public library. From its very beginning, 
 when her husband was librarian, until her death, 
 on Feb. 9, 1926, she had been connected with it, first 
 as assistant to her husband, then as librarian her- 
 self. Her progressive spirit kept the library in ad- 
 vance in making improvements and taking up new 
 methods that increased the service to the public. 
 
 At the time she celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of her connec- 
 tion with the library, on Aug. 10, 1925, she was presented a year's 
 leave of absence by the board. It was also the golden jubilee of the 
 library. Mrs. Evans was the central figure in that celebration, and 
 was presented with a purse of gold. 
 
 Following the death of Mrs. Evans, which occurred Feb. 9, 1926, 
 Miss Minnie Dill was appointed librarian and has since held that 
 position. 
 
 The annual report of the year 1929 showed that the total circula- 
 tion of books was 314,926. The total number of borrowers was 17,925, 
 and the number of books in the library was 62,139. 
 
 MRS. ALICE G. 
 EVANS 
 
 1 The mayor was absent when that meeting convened. His vote was necessary to break 
 the tie on the board. It was a rainy night, but Mrs. Jane M. Johns, undaunted, got into her 
 buggy, drove through the rain and mud to the mayor's home, and persuaded him to come back 
 with her to the council meeting. So the deciding vote was cast which gave Decatur its library. 
 
DECATUR IN THE 70s 285 
 
 CHAPTER LI 
 DECATUR IN THE 70s 
 
 DECATUR saw the beginning of its public improvement era in the 
 '70s. There was not as much increase in population as might 
 have been expected although the city had a steady growth, yet this 
 decade saw the addition of many business enterprises, as well as the 
 improvements of a public nature. 
 
 Waterworks and fire department, street car service, new railroads, 
 public library, hospital, coal mining, and telephone service were among 
 the necessities and conveniences which had their start. 
 
 The first train to cross the Wabash bridge over the Sangamon 
 south of town was a work train which made the crossing on Jan. 13, 
 1870. The first passenger service on the Decatur-East St. Louis rail- 
 road (now the St. Louis branch of the Wabash) was given June 7, 
 1870. The train left at 7:25 a. m. with sixteen people aboard. Most 
 of them made the trip merely for the ride. It was announced that 
 passenger service would be given on alternate days, the train leaving 
 at 7:25 a. m. 
 
 The last rail on the Pekin, Lincoln & Decatur road was laid Oct. 
 10, 1871, but it caused no comment. There was too much excitement 
 just then over the big fire in Chicago. Mrs. O'Leary's cow had started 
 something, and the Chicago catastrophe was more interesting than 
 new railroads. The president and directors of the T. W. & W. road, 
 which had leased the new P. L. & D. railroad, made the trip over the 
 line from Pekin to Decatur. They found it rough in spots but prom- 
 ised good service in a few weeks. 
 
 Decatur did its part, by the way, in aiding the sufferers from the 
 great disaster in Chicago. Our citizens contributed 1,436 loaves of 
 bread and $185.50 worth of bacon. 
 
 The Illinois Midland, the railroad from Peoria to Terre Haute, 
 was another road completed in the '70s. Also the Indianapolis, Deca- 
 tur & Springfield line was completed as far as Montezuma, Ind., and 
 the Decatur, Monticello & Champaign line was constructed. 
 
 The summer of 1871 will be remembered by older residents of the 
 city as the summer of the great drouth. 1 Temperature, during the 
 month of August especially, rarely fell below 90 and much of the time 
 was around 100. Springs and wells failed. The Sangamon became a 
 series of water holes. Many cattle died. It was necessary to drive 
 
286 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 cattle long distances to find water. Pastures dried up. Great losses 
 were suffered by the farmers. 
 
 The drouth was felt all over the state. 
 
 That was the year of the Revere hotel lire, which had such an 
 effect on the business section of Decatur. 
 
 The Daily Republican, a leading newspaper in Decatur for years, 
 was started April 1, 1872, with B. K. Hamsher and J. R. Mosser as 
 publishers. 2 The Decatur Local Review, a new weekly paper pub- 
 lished by A. Wuench, made its first appearance March 4, 1873. It was 
 the beginning of the present day Review. 
 
 In November, 1870, Macon county's new court room in the Pow- 
 ers building was formally opened. The old brick court house was sold 
 to Martin Forstmeyer for $385. It was torn down during the winter 
 of 1870. 
 
 In 1870 came the Rolling mill. In that year the waterworks plant 
 was built. The fire department was organized in 1872. The county 
 farm was established and the main building erected in 1873. This 
 building burned in 1882, several inmates losing their lives. 
 In 1876 the first street car service was started. 
 Smith's Opera house was formally opened to the public in 
 September, 1870. People were delighted with it. The motto of the 
 stage was, "Dedicated to Free Speech". Katie Putnam was the leading 
 lady in the play, "Frou Frou", which was the attraction on the open- 
 ing night. 
 
 The Decatur public library was organized in 1875. St. Mary's 
 hospital was started in 1878 in a frame house, and the next year a 
 
 brick building was erected. 
 In 1877 the Y. M. C A. was 
 organized. 
 
 This was the period 
 when the Haworth check 
 rower factory was build- 
 ing up fortunes for its 
 owners. The check rower 
 was the invention of George 
 D. Haworth in 1869, and 
 that fall he formed a part- 
 nership with his father, 
 Mahlon, and brothers, L. 
 L. and J. W. Haworth for 
 st. mary's hospital— first building its manufacture. 
 
DECATUR IN THE 70s 
 
 287 
 
 Mr. Haworth had previously invented corn planters and had 
 manufactured them in Mechanicsburg. He moved his business to 
 Decatur in 1861. 
 
 Demand for the check rower increased every year until it became 
 so great it was impossible to keep the orders filled. When the business 
 was at its height more than 16,000 were made in a year. 
 
 For a number of years the Haworth factory was the leading 
 manufacturing business of Decatur and the Haworth homes were the 
 centers for social and literary groups. G. D. Haworth lived on East 
 Eldorado street, the house now St. Patrick's rectory. J. W. Haworth's 
 home was on North Jackson at Eldorado and L. L. Haworth's home 
 was at Edward and William streets. 
 
 The factory continued making money until the patents expired 
 and corn planter manufacturers began making their own check 
 rowers. 
 
 Several churches were erected in the '70s. The United Brethren 
 church built a house of worship at the corner of Broadway and Eldo- 
 rado. 
 
 The Christian church tore down its building at Main and North 
 streets and erected a new one on the site under the leadership of Rev. 
 N. S. Haynes. This building was moved in 1893 to Edward and Wil- 
 liam streets. The accompanying picture was taken after it was 
 removed to the new site. 
 
 The Baptist church bought the lot at the southeast corner of 
 Water and North streets and put up a building costing about $12,000. 
 It was dedicated April 23, 1876. 
 
 German Catholics in 1877 or- 
 ganized a church, which was named 
 St. James' church. Later a house of 
 worship and school were erected on 
 East Clay street. 
 
 Ursuline Sisters came from Al- 
 ton and in 1873 opened St. Teresa's 
 academy. 
 
 Boring for coal started in 1874 
 by the Western Coal company on a 
 plot of ground north of the Wabash 
 round house. 3 The effort was 
 abandoned when a depth of 50 feet 
 
 edward ST. christiau church had been reached without results. 
 —Photo by j. E. Bering. Decatur citizens however, believed 
 
288 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 there was coal here, and they subscribed $5,000 for the purpose of 
 making a thorough test. J. E. Bering bored the second hole, but it 
 had to be abandoned on account of quicksand. Another attempt was 
 made by Mr. Bering and at a depth of 290 feet a stratum of the black 
 diamonds was discovered. Specimens were placed on exhibit at the 
 Peddecord and Burrows bank on Jan. 14, 1876. Two or three years 
 afterwards a coal shaft was sunk, and later two other shafts were 
 sunk in Decatur. 
 
 In 1879 the waterworks dam was completed. That same year 
 Decatur had its first telephone service. 
 
 In 1878 the Decatur Tank Line company was organized, and it 
 served a large territory. It was a branch of the Standard Oil company 
 of Cleveland. 
 
 In 1871 Adam Blenz and G. J. Danzeizen started a meat market. 
 
 It led to the establishment later of the Danzeizen Packing house. 
 
 S. M. Irwin came to Decatur in January, 1877, and purchased a 
 
 stock of drugs that occupied the building at 100 East Prairie. His 
 
 drug store is across the street now. 
 
 Among the industries established in the '70s was the plant 
 of Lyon, Gipson & Co., which is still in business today as the Lyon 
 Lumber company. 
 
 The Chambers, Bering and Quinlan company was formed in 1875 
 by W. B. Chambers, W. J. Quinlan and J. E. Bering, to manufacture 
 the Champion and Brown hog ringers, Barnes wire check rowers, 
 and other articles. The company bought the Decatur Agricultural 
 works plant. 
 
 Charles M. Cald- 
 well started a livery 
 business in 1871 
 which he continued 
 until 1919. Most of 
 that time it was lo- 
 cated in the 100 block 
 West Main street. 
 In the halcyon days 
 of the livery business 
 Mr. Caldwell always 
 kept as many as 50 
 rigs busy. Caldwell's 
 barn was known for 
 Caldwell's livery stable many miles around. 
 
Many of the buildings in the picture were marked in the original drawing by numbers. 
 Some of them are not now discernible ; others may be seen with the aid of a magnifying glass. 
 The numbers showed the following places : 
 
 1 — First M. E. church. 
 
 2 — Stapp's Chapel. 
 
 3 — St. Patrick's Catholic church. 
 
 4 — High school. 
 
 5 — United Brethren church. 
 
 6 — First Baptist church. 
 
 7 — Presbyterian church. 
 
 8 — Janes Chapel. 
 
 9 — Christian church. 
 10 — German Methodist church. 
 11 — Episcopal church. 
 12— Rolling Mill Chapel. 
 13 — Bethel church. 
 14 — German Catholic church. 
 15 — -African M. E. church. 
 16 — African Baptist church. 
 17 — First Ward school house. 
 18 — Second Ward school house. 
 19 — Third Ward school house. 
 20 — Fourth ward school house. 
 21 — Lutheran church. 
 22 — Priest house. 
 23— St. Nicholas hotel. 
 24 — Hose House No. 1. 
 25 — Hose House No. 2. 
 26 — Hose House No. 3. 
 27 — Wayne Bros. Carriage Works. 
 28 — Shellabarger's Mills. 
 29 — Bagging Factory, Conklin Bros. 
 30— Coal Oil Works. 
 
 31 — Haworth & Sons Check Row Manufactory. 
 32 — P. Loeb's Gray Iron Foundry. 
 33 — Woolen mills. 
 34 — Furniture factory. 
 35 — Union Iron Works. 
 36 — Coffin factory. 
 37 — Elwood Bros. Planing Mill. 
 38 — Decatur Linseed Oil mills. 
 39— Priest & Co. Illinois Central mills. 
 40 — Midland depot. 
 41 — Union depot. 
 42 — Wabash shops. 
 43 — Decatur Agricultural works. 
 44 — College square. 
 45 — Old Square. 
 46— City Park. 
 
 47 — Whitmer's Brick and Tile yard. 
 48 — Harpstrite & Shlaudeman, brewery. 
 49 — Wabash junction. 
 50 — Fair Grounds. 
 
 51 — Greenwood cemetery. 
 
 52 — Slaughter house. 
 
 53— Postoffice. 
 
 54 — Court House block. 
 
 55 — Hill & Co. Hog Ringing Manufactory. 
 
 56 — Kramer's Carriage works. 
 
 57 — St. Claire mills. 
 
 58 — James A. Millry Illinois Central paper 
 
 warehouse. 
 59 — Fr. Kuny's Steam Bottling works. 
 60 — Gas works. 
 61 — E. B. Pratt's grocery. 
 62 — Globe saloon. 
 63 — Washington Garden. 
 64 — Grabs and Gury Concert hall. 
 65 — St. Nick Livery and Bus line. 
 66 — Starr & Sons^ Harness and Saddle shop. 
 67 — Dennis and Rea, hardware. 
 68 — Challes Bros. Boot and Shoe store. 
 69 — Rufus & Crocker Hardware store. 
 70 — John Thomas Boarding house. 
 71 — Cheap Charley's Clothing house. 
 72 — D. W. Brenneman wholesale liquor house. 
 73 — J. T. Shea grocer. 
 74 — J. A. Barney Cigar Store. 
 75 — Hubbard & Swerenger Drugs and Books. 
 76 — Jacob Danzeizen Butcher shop. 
 77 — Julius Wickmann Gun shop. 
 78 — John Franks Boot and Shoe shop. 
 79— J. F. Read's Wagon shop. 
 80 — M. Schneider's Beer hall. 
 81 — N. Weber's Summer garden. 
 82 — Roach and McReynolds dry goods. 
 83 — Charles Grosh Furniture store. 
 84 — Samuel McRoberts grocer. 
 85 — C. W. Aikins wagon shop. 
 86 — W. W. Swerenger drug store. 
 87 — Th. Bauer tailor shop. 
 88 — Theodore Steinen's florist and gardener. 
 89 — Jacob Kessler's farm. 
 
 90 — H. B. Montgomery boot and shoe store. 
 91 — O. E. Curtis jewelry store. 
 92 — W. H. Reeme grocer. 
 93 — Charles Adderley grocer. 
 94 — C. Kepler's cigar store. 
 95 — C. J. Mascott boarding house. 
 95— H. Mueller & Co. gun shop. 
 96— Decatur Turn hall. 
 97 — Morning Sun office. 
 
DECATUR IN 1878 (See 
 
DECATUR IN THE 70s 
 
 289 
 
 CELEBRATION 
 
 OF TKE 
 
 in if ii 
 
 1876. 
 
 H. Mueller started business in April, 1874, manufacturing water 
 main tappers. 
 
 Roberts, Lytle and company in 1873 began the manufacture of 
 burial caskets, at the corner of Morgan and North streets. In the firm 
 were T. T. Roberts, R. P. Lytle and O. Z. Greene. This was the only 
 casket manufacturing establishment in this section and business 
 
 extended over a number of states. 
 H. W. Hill and company (H. 
 W. Hill and C. P. Housum) in 1872 
 began the manufacture of the hog 
 rings, ringer and tongs, invented by 
 Mr. Hill. Business eventually was 
 done from coast to coast and in 
 Europe. The plant was located at 
 Main and Church streets. 
 
 The Decatur Novelty works, 
 Farris and Oakes, proprietors, was 
 established in 1875 by Mr. Farris, 
 for machine work and repairing. 
 
 The Decatur Bagging company 
 factory, started in 1875, was a big 
 industry for a number of years. It 
 was located on Cerro Gordo, near 
 Franklin. The firm was composed 
 of Moses Jerome, A. W. Conklin and 
 D. S. Shellabarger. At one time it 
 employed 160 men and women. 
 
 Herman Post started in the 
 jewelry business in 1872. 
 
 Kaufman and Bachrach, cloth- 
 iers, started business about 1877. In 
 1884 Mr. Bachrach assumed entire 
 control. 
 
 The Decatur Tent and Awning 
 company began business in 1879. 
 
 TEMPERANCE TABERNACLE 
 
 Decatur has been the scene of 
 
 many temperance movements, the 
 
 biggest being during the 70s and 
 
 celebration program '80s, when the entire country was 
 
 PROGRAMME OF EXERCISES 
 
 1 At d.i\ light a revolutionary -ilute.f thirteen 
 tjun- by the artillery. 
 
 2. After the salute all the bells of the city and 
 throughout the county shall be rung. 
 
 3. At sunrise a national salute of thirty eight guns 
 by the artillery. 
 
 1 The dehgations, as they arrive by railroad, shall 
 form on the platform on the east side of the I. C. R'y, 
 at the Central depot, and move thence south to E.do- 
 rado street, 'theuce wot to Kra'ikhn street, thence 
 south to Park street, thence w.-i to North Water streei 
 thence south io East Main »'tr-er. thence west to the old 
 -ipjure, where the pioeessiou will he reformed its per 
 instructions hereinafter giveu 
 
 '"> At 11 o clock the procession will move forward, 
 north on North Main street to Kidorado, theme west 
 lo the fair grounds. 
 
 • i After entrance at the fair grounds the Orator of 
 the Day, Reader of the Derivation of I (dependence 
 the Honorable Mavor and City < mined Chaplain md 
 other dignitaries will he escorted l>v (he military to ihe 
 platform in Ironi of the amphitheatre, while the remain- 
 der of the procession as the) enter the gate will otili<|ue 
 lo the right and left, and ascend the amphitheatre -un- 
 iillaueousiy at (lie north and south entrance- Ihei 
 
 7 
 
 Music by the Decatur Hand 
 
 8 
 
 Mum. 
 
 n 
 
 I'rayer by the Chaplain 
 
 i). 
 
 Music. 
 
 1 
 
 Heading of the Declaration 
 l.oi. C Alien 
 
 !:..!. |...i.l. 
 
 \Z. Martial MllMC 
 
 1 ! Centennial .•salute ..i ion __.u U ^ i,y ih^ anillcrt 
 
 1 I Recreation and Dinner 
 
 I'l Music by the Decatur Hand 
 
 lo Heading of II iso. real sketch of Ma. .m county 
 
 17 Music. 
 
 I* Oration by the Hon Richard J Oglesbv, orator 
 of ihe day 
 
 In the evening a grand displa) of fireworks will take 
 place at the foot of South H ater street 
 
290 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 being swept by the temperance wave. The Good Templars order, 
 which flourished for many years, had its start at that time. 
 
 The big temperance tabernacle, which occupied the present site 
 of the Linn and Scruggs store, was built in 1878 and was ready for 
 the meeting of the National Christian Temperance Union which 
 was held in October. 4 The dedication of the tabernacle .took place 
 Oct. 23, 1878, in connection with that meeting. Francis Murphy, 
 Colonel H. W. Rowell and Jake Hoofstitler were among the speakers. 
 
 Franklin Priest was one of the Decatur men active in the con- 
 struction of that building. Among other things he furnished bricks. 
 The bricks came from the walls of the old Priest distillery. It was 
 a curious coincidence that the material from the old distillery should 
 go into the walls of the temple of temperance. Mr. Priest later bought 
 the lot on which the tabernacle stood. 
 
 The tabernacle had a seating capacity of 3,500 and was the big- 
 gest auditorium Decatur had had up to that time. It was the scene 
 of all the city's big gatherings for years. Jake Hoofstitler and other 
 temperance agitators often spoke there in the cause of temperance, 
 and temperance plays were given. 
 
 Musical concerts often were heard in the tabernacle. Once S. M. 
 Lutz directed a choir of 500 voices in a concert there. The choir was 
 made up of voices from Bloomington, Springfield, Pana, Shelbyville, 
 Paris, Mattoon, Decatur and other cities. The tabernacle was the 
 scene of several of the gatherings during the reunion here of General 
 U. S. Grant's regiment in October, 1880. 
 
 In 1883 T. T. Van Allen took control of the tabernacle, and made 
 it into a skating rink. Later it was used as an armory, for a medicine 
 show, and for business purposes, the Peter Perl undertaking estab- 
 lishment and a livery barn being conducted in it. After the Bachmans 
 bought the lot the old tabernacle was torn down in 1912, and the 
 present Bachman building on the site was started. 
 
 Professor Charles Leonard came to Decatur in 1874 and started 
 a dancing school. He was assisted by his daughter, Kate (Cassell), 
 who continued it after his death, teaching the art altogether for more 
 than fifty years. 
 
 On July 4, 1876, Decatur properly celebrated the nation's cen- 
 tennial. The illustration, on another page, giving the program for 
 that day, tells the story. 
 
 Decatur's population in 1870 was 7,161. In 1880 the census report 
 showed 9,547 inhabitants. Though not making a large gam in num- 
 
DECATUR IN THE 70s 291 
 
 hers, the city had made progress in other ways and was on a steady 
 march upward. 
 
 *A Peoria newspaper wag, referring to the drouth that summer of 1871, wrote as follows: 
 "The city dads should station the police along the river, for if they don't some drunk is going 
 to wander down there some night and drink up what is left of the stream." 
 
 2 Joe Cannon was in Decatur in April, 1872, looking after his prospects as a Republican 
 candidate for the nomination of congressman. He got the nomination and won the place. That 
 was his first term in congress, the beginning of his long record of service in that body. 
 
 3 The first boring for coal in Decatur was made in December, 1869. George W. Darling 
 made the boring in the Race pasture at the junction of the T. W. & W. and D. and E. St. L. 
 The city council appropriated $1,000 to assist in the work. Many difficulties were met and finally 
 the work was stopped, and the boring was transferred to the Johns pasture. Later Darling left 
 town, and then the excitement was over. A year previous to this a shaft had been sunk at Macon, 
 but it was put out of business by water. 
 
 4 The Decatur W. C. T. U. was started in 1874. It was first known as the Temperance 
 league. Mrs. Hiram Buck was the president and Mrs. H. C. Johns secretary. Within a few years 
 the name was changed to Woman's Christian Temperance Union and the organization affiliated 
 with the state W. C. T. U. The W. C. T. U. fountain between the Wabash and Illinois Central 
 railroad stations, erected in 1906, was donated by Thomas Davis of Macon. 
 
292 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 CHAPTER LII 
 
 DECATUR ROLLING MILL 
 
 THRILLS aplenty broke in upon the peacefulness of life in De- 
 catur in the '70s when for a few years it was the location of 
 the Decatur Rolling Mill. 
 
 The mill did not stay long, but while it was here Decatur en- 
 joyed a boom. When it left, it was the biggest blow in an industrial 
 way that Decatur had ever suffered. 
 
 There was no lack of excitement during the rolling mill day. The 
 hard work at such a plant necessitated having employes that were 
 men of great physical strength. They were men of brawn, but while 
 they were hard workers they were also hard drinkers and hard 
 fighters. Rough and tumble fights were frequent, especially on Sun- 
 days and holidays. The men drew good pay and they spent much 
 for drink. They were proud of their ability to fight and were not 
 only ready but anxious to have it out with the other fellow. 
 
 Those were the days when the "levee", the district in the neigh- 
 borhood of East Eldorado, Front and Cerro Gordo streets, was born, 
 and when it saw its most hilarious moments. Front street then was 
 lined with saloons. Folks who lived in Decatur in the time of the 
 rolling mill never forgot the impression it made upon them. 
 
 Yet it left its impress upon Decatur in other ways. Before the 
 coming of the mill, the city ended at Jasper street. During the period 
 it was here, several additions to the city were laid out, known as first, 
 second, third, and fourth Rolling Mill additions. In these additions 
 we still have reminders of the rolling mill promoters in the names of 
 several streets. Stone and Witt, and others. East avenue was form- 
 erly Chisholm street, named for a member of the rolling mill company. 
 
 Many new houses were built during this period, and the chapel 
 known as the Rolling Mill chapel, which later became an Episcopal 
 mission, was erected on East Eldorado street. 
 
 Probably the greatest influence the mill had was in bringing about 
 the beginning of the Decatur waterworks system. In order to pro- 
 vide water for this mill, the first waterworks plant was built. 
 
 The rolling mill came to Decatur in 1870. Messrs. Chisholm, 
 Stone and Walters of the Cleveland Rolling mill company had been 
 
DECATUR ROLLING MILL 293 
 
 here the fall previous to select location and make other arrangements. 
 The site was donated by the city. Franklin Priest was then mayor, 
 and it is thought that it was through his influence that the mill was 
 brought here. 
 
 The company had similar mills in operation in Harmony, Ind., 
 and Chicago. Erection of the Decatur plant took place in 1870, and in 
 the spring of 1871 operations began. The company was incorporated 
 May 16, 1870, with capitalization of $300,000. The purpose was to 
 manufacture railroad iron. 
 
 A. B. Stone was president of the company and Colonel W. H. 
 Harris was secretary and general manager. Directors were A. Stone, 
 Jr., S. Witt, Henry Chisholm, H. B. Stone and William Chisholm. 
 The mill was located east of the railroad depot, about where the De- 
 catur coal shaft was later. 
 
 In the neighborhood of 400 men were employed at the mill dur- 
 ing the height of its prosperity. It was the busiest place in Decatur, 
 and was a favorite stop for sightseers. The operation of the mill at 
 night was a thrilling spectacle, the handling of the hot metal, the 
 roaring furnaces and grinding machinery making a scene not to be 
 forgotten. Often small particles of white hot metal would be thrown 
 all over the mill, setting fire to workmen's clothing and to the building. 
 
 Sometimes there were accidents, and one day a tragedy occurred. 
 One of the workmen was drawn into the machinery, his clothing hav- 
 ing caught in the cogs, and he was crushed to death. 
 
 While the mill was located in Decatur it made the rails for the 
 Illinois Midland railroad, one of Decatur's early railroads. Most of 
 its output went to the Toledo, Wabash and Western railroad. 
 
 Officials of the rolling mill did not share the same reputation as 
 their laborers. The Harris family especially made a place for itself 
 immediately in Decatur's social and church circles. The Harrises were 
 responsible for the building of the Rolling Mill chapel on East Eldo- 
 rado street and Ira Harris was the Sunday school superintendent 
 there. The Harrises were active workers in the Baptist church and 
 helped build the First Baptist church building on Water street. 
 Colonel W. H. Harris lived at the northwest corner of Eldorado and 
 Broadway and Captain Ira Harris lived in the house across the street 
 south. 
 
 The mill moved from Decatur to Rosedale, a suburb of Kansas 
 City, in 1875, presumably to be nearer a market for its products. Steel 
 
294 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 rails were then coming into use in the east, but in the west iron rails 
 were still being used. The Decatur mill did not make steel rails. A 
 great deal of railroad construction was then going on in Kansas, and 
 prospects were naturally much brighter. The establishment of a roll- 
 ing mill in Springfield also was given as one of the reasons for the 
 change. 
 
 The rolling mill brought hundreds to Decatur and it took 'most 
 of them away again. It left a big gap when it moved away. 
 
WATER SUPPLY 295 
 
 CHAPTER LIII 
 
 WATER SUPPLY 
 
 THERE'S a great difference between the old well in Howell's 
 Hollow and beautiful Lake Decatur, yet both served the same 
 need of Decatur — the need of a water supply — and the transition from 
 <>nc to the other is just another story of the development of the city. 
 
 For many years Decatur depended upon wells, public and private, 
 for its water. The city had a public well on the "old square." 1 In the 
 new square were two cisterns. Close to town were a number of good 
 springs. 
 
 In the early years Decatur suffered a number of disastrous fires 
 which would have been avoided if the city had had an adequate water 
 supply, and fire fighting apparatus for using it. Chief of these was the 
 Revere hotel fire, the story of which is told in another chapter. 
 
 WATERWORKS 
 
 First mention in city council records of a waterworks system is 
 made in the report of the council meeting on Jan. 11, 1869, when an 
 ordinance was passed to establish such a system. It provided for bor- 
 rowing $50,000. However, Decatur did not get any waterworks then. 
 Mayor Isaac C. Pugh thought it was a bad move. He complained that 
 some of the rich citizens were not paying their taxes, and he did not 
 want to burden the city with debt. The ordinance was vetoed and the 
 matter dropped. 
 
 After Franklin Priest had been elected mayor in the spring of 
 1870 the matter of a waterworks system came up again, due to the 
 fact that Decatur had been selected as the location of a rolling mill, 
 and ample water supply for the mill had been promised. 
 
 At a meeting Dec. 1, 1870, the council voted to lay pipe from the 
 well on East Wood street to the Illinois Central tank at the depot, 
 thence east to the rolling mill. The well was located in what was 
 known as Howell's Hollow, in the neighborhood of East Wood street 
 and Broadway, on land belonging to Gilbert Howell. This well had 
 been dug during the summer of 1870. It was 10 feet square and 30 
 to 40 feet deep. On Feb. 6, 1871, the council again took action to lay 
 pipe to the rolling mill. 
 
 At that same meeting, the council, realizing that the well would 
 not furnish an adequate supply of water to the mill, decided to build 
 a waterworks plant at the river, and bonds to the amount of $30,000 
 
296 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 were issued. Work was stopped then on some additional wells which 
 had been started. 
 
 Considerable sentiment in favor of a waterworks plant had been 
 worked up by this time, due mostly to the meeting of citizens held 
 Jan. 16, which had been addressed by Honorable T. T. Flagler, presi- 
 dent of the Holly Manufacturing company of Lockport, N. Y. 2 Pro- 
 moters and opposers of the project had gathered at that meeting in 
 such numbers that the council rooms would not hold them all and 
 it was necessary to adjourn to the court room. Mr. Flagler was a 
 persuasive talker, and the citizens were so filled with enthusiasm 
 over the prospect of a water system that they passed a resolution 
 to the effect that the city council be asked to contract for machinery 
 for a waterworks plant, and that the work be completed at a cost not 
 to exceed $100,000. The resolution was presented by E. O. Smith. 
 
 The city had already purchased a Cameron pump, which had been 
 installed at the well on Wood street, on Dec. 1, 1870. This pump 
 had a capacity of 500,000 gallons of water daily, but it was soon found 
 that it was not sufficient. That pump had cost the city $1,460. 
 
 Ground for the pumping station on the river was purchased May 
 29, 1871, from Peddecord & Burrows. It was known as the Priest dis- 
 tillery property. It was voted to lay a twelve inch main from the 
 station to Lincoln square, a distance of one mile. Dodson & Holmes 
 were given a contract to furnish a No. 1 Holly pump, two No. 6 Holly 
 patent rotary fire pumps, and 5,280 feet of twelve inch main. All of 
 this was to be installed for $34,937. This equipment was guaranteed 
 to furnish 1,000,000 gallons of water a day. 
 
 THE SANGAMON VALLEY ABOVE WATERWORKS (ABOUT 1900) 
 
 Nearly all this land now is covered by the lake. The old covered bridge was replaced by the county 
 
 bridge. The houses in the picture were all removed when the lake was formed. 
 
WATER SUPPLY 
 
 297 
 
 When the plant was completed Benson N. Henkle was installed 
 as chief engineer. H. Mueller was made city plumber at the same time. 
 
 When the first test of the plant was made, the entire town turned 
 out to see it. The test took place at the corner of Broadway and East 
 Main, where a temporary fireplug had been installed. The test con- 
 sisted of throwing water over the old oil mill. 
 
 The next necessity was a reservoir, as it had been found that 
 whenever the river was high, the water was too muddy for use. In 
 1874 a reservoir 100 feet long, ten feet wide and six feet deep was 
 made. Then in 1877 it was enlarged, making its length 500 feet. This 
 furnished an excellent supply of filtered water, the water seeping 
 through gravel from the river. For emergencies, a direct connection 
 was made from the reservoir to the river. 
 
 The building of a dam across the river, to provide a larger supply 
 of water when the river was low, was the next step taken. This was 
 done in October, 1878. 
 
 Decatur was continually growing and was constantly using more 
 water, making additions to the plant necessary. On March 9, 1882, a 
 Clapp & Jones pump was purchased, and installed to take the place 
 of the Holly pump. It had pumping capacity of 3,000,000 gallons of 
 water a day. Its cost was $7,550. 
 
 On Jan. 14, 1884, two pumps were bought from E. P. Allis and 
 Company of Milwaukee, costing $14,500. These two had capacity of 
 
 
 
 ^•iAte 
 
 
 
 
 Jft* 
 
 
 LvfHlL 
 
 it? -<- 1 in H'MItt 
 
 1 
 
 fS^SrA 
 
 IW^4«B 
 
 
 THE FIRST DAM 
 
 -Photo by J. E. Bering. 
 
298 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 WATERWORKS PLANT IN 1896 
 
 2,000,000 gallons each. They are still in use. These pumps raised the 
 
 daily capacity to 7,000,000 gallons. 
 
 It was not long 
 until the need of a 
 more adequate filter 
 plant was felt, and 
 in the year 1894 
 contract was made 
 for a Warren filter 
 made by the Cum- 
 berland Manufac- 
 turing company of 
 Boston. This and 
 other additions cost* 
 $50,000. 
 
 In 1908-1909 a 
 
 new pumping station was erected at a cost of $225,000 and a 6,000,000 
 
 gallon pump put into operation. 
 
 In 1910 a new light plant was erected at a cost of $110,000, the 
 
 city having installed a light plant about 25 years before. A new dam 
 
 also was built that year. 
 
 The city voted March 28, 1913, for a $135,000 bond issue to erect 
 
 a new filter plant, and the contract was given later to the New York 
 
 Continental Jewel Filtration company. The contract price was 
 
 $129,899. 
 
 CREATE LAKE 
 
 The next few years saw the biggest development in the story of 
 the water supply for De- 
 catur — the water im- 
 pounding project which 
 included the building of a 
 dam and creation of a 
 lake. This lake, called 
 Lake Decatur, fourteen 
 miles long and from one- 
 half to a mile wide, con- 
 tains enough water to 
 keep Decatur supplied for 
 two years without a drop 
 of rain. Eight billion gal- 
 lons of water are im- 
 
 ONE VIEW OF LAKE 
 
WATER SUPPLY 
 
 299 
 
 pounded. Decatur need never fear a shortage of water. The total 
 cost of the improvements was more than $2,000,000. 
 
 The dam was erected at a cost of $725,000. The length of the spill- 
 way is 480 feet, and the total length of the dam is 1900 feet. It is built 
 to hold water at a 610 foot level above sea, and the addition of flash 
 boards will raise the level to 612 feet. The water level before the 
 creation of the lake was 595 feet. 
 
 It was necessary to purchase 4,000 acres of land at a 615 foot level 
 for the lake. The land cost $599,000. Other expenses in connection 
 with the project were $109,558 for clearing the land, $450,000 for 
 roads and bridges, and $128,000 for riprapping. At the time of this 
 development the county bridge was raised 14 feet, giving it a height 
 of 15 feet above the lake level. 
 
 The dam itself was financed by the city, but the rest of the project 
 was taken care of by the Decatur Water Supply company, a corp- 
 oration of Decatur citizens formed to provide $1,000,000. Stock in 
 the company in five days was oversubscribed to $1,200,000. 
 
 COUNTY BRIDGES 
 Upper — Before being raised. Lower — After being raised. 
 
— — 
 
 - 
 
 
 ' v , ■ < 
 
 ~\i ' 1. 
 
 A 
 
 . 
 
 Ill 
 
WATER SUPPLY 301 
 
 According to the agreement made, the income from city water 
 rents is used to pay for the operation of the waterworks plant, to pay 
 dividends on preferred stock of the company, and to retire stock. 
 Within sixteen years from the date of organization all the stock will 
 have been retired, and the land deeded to the city. 
 
 This project, under way for three years, was completed in 1923. 
 A five-day celebration marked its completion. 
 
 Improvements and additions have continued at the waterworks 
 plant. In 1926 additions costing $143,689.02 were made to the. filter 
 house. This increased the capacity of the plant to 18,000,000 gallons 
 of water. daily. Other recent improvements are a water softener, 
 chlorinator, and new carbonator plant. 
 
 Water mains cover the entire city, and the number of water 
 meters in use in 1929 was 13,625. That year the average daily con- 
 sumption of water was 7,000,000 gallons. 
 
 The name of Harry Ruthrauff was linked with the waterworks 
 history for many years. He was employed first in June, 1888, as a 
 helper or calker of water pipe, then served as foreman and later as 
 water inspector and plumbing inspector. In 1911 he was elected one 
 of the city commissioners and was made head of the department of 
 public property, which gave him oversight of the waterworks. He 
 served in that capacity until 1927. 
 
 1 The first public well was authorized June 6, 1831, when the county commissioners gave 
 James Johnson authority to dig a well in the town of Decatur on Block 2, west half of lot 8, for 
 a public well. Years later a well was dug in the middle of the old square and for many years an 
 old wooden pump stood there, with a tin cup chained to it. This old well was filled up at the 
 time the transfer house was built. 
 
 2 At the time of the mass meeting of citizens in 1871 there was some opposition to the 
 building of a waterworks plant. Franklin Priest, mayor, who was a far-sighted man, but whose 
 advice was not always followed, made the remark at that time : "This is going to be a city. We 
 should now begin to buy land for parks and sites for firehouses. Some day we will have to pay 
 a high price for them, but now we can get land at the price of vacant property." The land he 
 was talking about was included in the section bounded on the north by the Wabash, on the east 
 by Hilton street, on the south by Wood street, and on the west by Monroe Street. Some 
 objectors said: "We've got a park now, Central park, but it is not used by anything but the 
 rabbits." 
 
302 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 CHAPTER LIV 
 FIRE DEPARTMENT 
 
 FIRE fighting in the early days of Decatur was a volunteer service. 
 For many years there was no kind of organized effort, but after 
 the big fire in the business district in 1859, Decatur recognized the 
 fact that it should have some protection against fire. During the '60s 
 bucket brigades were started, and in 1868 a hook and ladder company 
 was organized. Rescue Hose team had its beginning in 1871, with 
 Franklin Priest as chief and Joseph Hewes as first assistant. It num- 
 bered about thirty-four men. 
 
 At the time of the Revere hotel fire in April, 1871, it was stated 
 that there were two volunteer companies, and the only apparatus was 
 a small hook and ladder wagon and a number of rubber buckets. Ben 
 Dodson was captain of one company and Franklin Priest of the other. 
 
 In the days before the waterworks started it was necessary to 
 have a bucket brigade. Men were lined up in a row from the nearest 
 well to the scene of the fire. As fast as the buckets were filled with 
 water at the pump, they were passed down the line from one to an- 
 other until they reached the fire. In spite of what was spilled on the 
 way, considerable water could be thrown on a fire in this way. The 
 buckets came back to the well by way of a second line of men. 
 
 After the waterworks had been established at the river, and water 
 mains laid, hose carts were purchased. The volunteer fire depart- 
 ment was regularly organized in July, 1872, with Franklin Priest as 
 chief engineer, Joseph S. Hewes first assistant and H. P. Christie 
 second assistant. 1 From that time on until the city organized a paid 
 fire department, the volunteer companies had a brilliant record in 
 Decatur and brought fame by honors won in state and national fire- 
 men's tournaments. 
 
 Flose Co. No. 1 of the Volunteer Fire department was organized 
 at a meeting held June 20, 1872. H. P. Christie was chairman, and 
 C. P. Housum secretary of that meeting. 
 
 J. S. Hewes, first assistant engineer of the department, stated 
 the object of the meeting and called for volunteers. The following 
 men handed in their names : 
 
 W. At ho ns, J. A. Brock way, F. Jones, P. Livergood, W. W. Mason, 
 George Corwine, F. Calvert, A. Diehl, H. McClellan, William Montgomery, 
 W. W. Foster. John Gray, John Hud- J. H. Miller, E. H. Mills, John Me- 
 son, C. P. Housum, A. F. Imboden, R. Whinney, George R. Priest, P. B. Pro- 
 
FIRE DEPARTMENT 
 
 303 
 
 William Trowbridge, S. Weitzel, P. J. 
 Williams. 
 
 First pipeman — J. A. Brockway 
 Second pipeman — P. B. Provost 
 First plugman — A. Diehl 
 Second plugman — J. McWhinney 
 
 vost, W. A. Ragan, J. Strausbaugh, J. 
 S. Stoy, Peter Schuh, Caleb Smith, 
 
 Officers were chosen as follows 
 
 Foreman — W. W. Mason 
 Assistant foreman — W. W. Foster 
 Secretary — C. P. Housum 
 Treasurer — H. McClellan 
 
 At a meeting June 26, 1872, called to organize Hose Company 
 
 No. 2 J. S. Hewes, first assistant engineer, was appointed chairman 
 
 and W. F. McEwen secretary. The following enrolled as members 
 
 of the company: 
 
 S. H. Dwight D. P. Elwood D. N. Syford 
 
 William Gibson T. F. Adams W. O. Betzer 
 
 E. M. Misner Theo. Severns W. F. McEwen 
 K. Harwood E. N. Flasig William Zinn 
 C. C. Fuller Emil Henry J. A. Roberts 
 Charles Morey B. B. Babcock A. Shoemaker 
 C. D. Camp " W. Cruikshank W. E. Winholtz 
 
 F. A. Dunn Thomas Antrim D. Bigelow 
 W. H. Spencer C. H. Brown John Gaul 
 William Hand William Dodson J. K. Bohrer 
 
 The following officers were elected : 
 
 Foreman — William H. Spencer First pipeman — T. Severns 
 
 Assistant — Thomas Antrim Second pipeman — John Gaul 
 
 Secretary — W F. McEwen First plugman — B. B. Babcock 
 
 Treasurer — William Dodson Second plugman — William Hand 
 
 At the organization meeting of Young America Hook and Ladder 
 
 Company, July 10, 1872, with J. S. Hewes in the chair and I. W. Ehr- 
 
 man as secretary, the following members reported : 
 
 John Ullrich 
 P. M. Wykoff 
 John Merriwether 
 William McClellan 
 W. H. Close 
 Samuel Newell 
 John Haworth 
 John Mauzy 
 Charles Laux 
 Al Ormsby 
 A. Howenstein 
 Enos Kepler 
 J. T. J. Gates 
 D. Churchman 
 George B. Peake 
 A. Zekind 
 
 Thomas Barrell 
 
 A. Bradley 
 J. F. Roach 
 Walter Taylor 
 William Harry 
 Charles Dempsey 
 George Martin 
 Richard Smith 
 
 I. W. Ehrman 
 
 B. F. Dodson 
 I. N. Martin 
 Darwin Greer 
 A. Nebinger 
 F. Priest, Jr. 
 J. G. Cloyd 
 Henry Holmes 
 
 L. M. Gill 
 J. G. Starr 
 F. Caldwell 
 William Young 
 John Schoenle 
 Godey Shoaff 
 George E. Ruth 
 William F. Ballard 
 William Stevens 
 A. Misenhelter 
 F. Pahmeyer 
 Lon Humphrey 
 H. Mueller 
 Robert Patterson 
 Edward Carter 
 
 Officers were elected as follows : 
 
 Foreman — B. F. Dodson 
 Assistant — F. Caldwell 
 Secretary — I. W. Ehrman 
 Treasurer — J H. Merriwether 
 Hook director — Enos Kepler 
 
 Young America had its constitution and by-laws printed. Among 
 
 the rules of the company was one to the effect that a member was sub- 
 
 Ladder Director — Charles Demp- 
 sey 
 Bucket Director — Darwin Greer 
 Ax Director — H. Mueller 
 
304 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 ject to fine of not more than $5 for using profane or indecent language 
 at any meeting of the company, and any member acting in a disorderly 
 manner could be expelled. 
 
 At the time the volunteer department was being organized in 
 1872 a test of the waterworks and fire hose was held and proved very 
 satisfactory. It was found the waterworks could throw six to eight 
 streams of water over the highest houses very easily. The large crowd 
 which assembled to see this demonstration was so enthusiastic that 
 it gave three cheers for the waterworks. 
 
 The firebell signals adopted were : 
 
 Hook and Ladder Co. 1 — 2 — 3 
 
 Hose Co. No. 1 2—1—3 
 
 Hose Co. No. 2 
 All companies 
 
 3—2—1 
 3—3—3 
 
 Hose Co. No. 1 was called Rescue Hose Company, and Company 
 No. 2 was called Eldorado Company. A third company, called Harris 
 Company, was organized later. 
 
 The No. 1 firehouse on West Main street was erected in 1872. 2 
 In 1873 J. S. Hewes was named fire chief. He was succeeded in 
 that office by H. P. Christie, H. B. Durfee, William Dodson, W. W. 
 
 
 
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 p^vtfiinflltwJl&JII 
 
 FIREMEN'S PARADE, JULY 23, 1895 
 Photo taken at corner of West William and Edward Streets during firemen's tournament. 
 
 —Photo by J. E. Bering. 
 
FIRE DEPARTMENT 
 
 305 
 
 Foster and VV. J. Wayne. Mr. I [ewes served a second time, between 
 the terms of Dodson and Foster. 
 
 In 1875 Neptune Hose company No. 3 was organized, taking 
 the place of Harris Hose Co. 
 
 It was a great honor in those days to belong to one of the fire 
 companies, for only swift runners were admitted. The hose com- 
 panies were really the athletic clubs of the day, for they encouraged 
 physical fitness. Fast work was needed in fighting fires, and only 
 fast workers were wanted. There was much rivalry among the teams, 
 each trying to outdo the other. 
 
 Firemen's tournaments were the big events of the times for many 
 years in almost all the states and were great drawing cards. Each 
 city sent its best team to the tournament to compete with the teams 
 from other cities. A number of times tournaments were held in De- 
 catur, the last one being in 1895. 
 
 Rescue Hose running team of Decatur was developed to a high 
 point of efficiency and brought all kinds of honor to the Decatur fire 
 department. 3 George Brett and Fred Litterer, hose couplers for this 
 company, were considered the world champions. In 1881 they won 
 the United States championship at the national tournament held in 
 Council Bluffs, la. From that meeting the Decatur firemen came 
 
 j^S***^** 
 
 <»4 b1 i*\ Li 
 
 
 ^^^^ftjgf^ 
 
 HOSE COMPANY IN 1378 
 
 Top Row — Ed Leech, Marion Houck, Sullivan Burgess, Ned Weddle, Ed L. Martin, Charlie 
 Matheney, Jake Weigand. 
 
 Second Row — Louis Bickes, Henry Cullen, C. W. Devore, Charlie Waughop, Bill Dodson, 
 Andy Shoemaker, Brook Deardorff, Jesse Kepple, Charlie Hershey. 
 
 Bottom Row — Mike Canaday, Jim Cherry, Fred Litterer, Frank Montague, T. L. Antrim. 
 
306 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 back with $1,000 prize money, $1,100 gate receipts, $600 grand sweep- 
 stakes prizes, billiard table, pool table and various other small prizes 
 for records they had made. Brett and Litterer were able to make a 
 coupling in 3^2 seconds. 
 
 It was a gala day in Decatur when the firemen came home from 
 this tournament. Decatur had one of its biggest celebrations to honor 
 them. Speeches were made from a platform in Lincoln square. Judge 
 William E. Nelson gave an address, and Governor Shelby M. Cullom 
 presented congratulations on behalf of the state. Flowers were 
 showered upon the fire heroes ; music, banquet and ball featured the 
 occasion. One hundred and eighty firemen marched to the banquet 
 hall in Guard's armory. 
 
 George W. Kraft, who was captain of Rescue Hose company 
 team for thirteen years, was physical director as well. He trained the 
 men vigorously. Rescue's prize team in 1881 was composed of Captain 
 Kraft; First Assistant Frank Winebrenner, Second Assistant C. W. 
 Devore ; Couplers Fred Litterer and George Brett ; Plugmen Emil 
 Young and William Young; and the following ropemen : William 
 Rawley, Herman Martin, Tony Walser, Elmer Troutman, Fred Muel- 
 ler, William Hardin, Mark Gates, Louie Bickes, Harvey W. Down- 
 ing, Ed Leech, Charles Bennett, William Stewart, and Henry Cullen. 
 Troutman and Devore, leaders, were exceptionally fast runners. 
 
 Rescue Company had for its motto "Spectemur Agendo" (Let us 
 be tried by our actions). Constitution and by-laws of the company 
 were adopted March 15, 1877, and copies printed. Members had to "toe 
 the mark". They were subject to expulsion for disobedience, intoxi- 
 cation, failure to pay dues, absence from meetings and other causes. 
 If a member failed to attend the funeral of a deceased member he was 
 subject to fine. 
 
 When a fire occurred, 
 the first man at the hose 
 house rang the bell. That 
 was the signal for all the 
 firemen to gather as soon 
 as possible. They dropped 
 their work and rushed to 
 the hose house, and as soon 
 as enough had gathered 
 they started off with the 
 hose cart to the scene of 
 
 FIRST HOOK AND LADDER TRUCK ,j ^ 
 
 Left to right — Dick Devore, Ed Gates and Bill Young. 
 
FIRE DEPARTMENT 
 
 307 
 
 CHIEF DEVORE, 1900 
 
 These volunteer companies served faithfully and well, with honor 
 to themselves as well as to the city. 
 
 The city estab- 
 lished a paid fire 
 department in Oc- 
 tober, 1884, and this 
 brought the career 
 of the volunteers to 
 an end, although 
 their organizations 
 were kept up for 
 years afterwards 
 for exhibition pur- 
 poses. 
 When the paid lire department was started Will J. W T ayne was 
 made chief. He was at that time a member of the city council. There 
 were only three men on the force, C. W. Devore, AVilliam Lciby and 
 Edward Gates. Devore, who afterwards became chief, served first 
 as pipeman on the chemical at No. 1 house. Later when No. 2 fire- 
 house was built, he was appointed captain and served there until 
 June 16, 1890, when he was made chief. 4 
 
 On March 1, 1885, the city purchased the first team of fire horses 
 and a hose wagon, and James Park was made driver. The first horses 
 were "Frank" and "Rowdy". 
 
 For many years the fire wagons were drawn by horses. After 
 automobiles came into general use, the fire department was outfitted 
 with motor equipment. By 1916 the last of the horses was gone. 
 
 There was genuine regret at the passing of the fire horses. No 
 auto fire wagon can produce the thrill which a run of the fire depart- 
 ment gave, when 
 the sleek horses 
 dashed through the 
 streets. The chief's 
 horse was the first 
 to give way to the 
 automobile. Others 
 followed quickly. 
 To the firemen il 
 was like parting 
 with old friends 
 when the splendid off t6 the fire; (no. i house) 
 
308 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 horses, which had been their comrades, were led away. The annual 
 run of the fire department in the days when horses drew the wagons, 
 always brought out thousands of spectators. It was a sight worth 
 seeing. 
 
 The next first chief after W. 
 J. Wayne was Frank Winebrenner, 
 and he was succeeded by W. W. 
 Foster. Foster was followed by C. 
 W. Devore, who was chief from 
 1890 until his death in 1920. He 
 was succeeded by Edward Piatt, 
 who served until 1928, when S. T. 
 Lowry was- made chief. 
 
 Decatur's first fire house was 
 No. 1 on West Main street, erected 
 in 1872. Neptune Hose house on 
 East Eldorado street, was the next, 
 but it was afterwards sold. The 
 Morgan street house was built in 
 1888. In the early history of the 
 department, the tabernacle at 
 Prairie and Main streets, and a building at Cerro Gordo and Frank- 
 lin also were used as headquarters for hose companies. 
 
 The No. 3 house on North Main street was built in 1902. Since 
 then, three more houses have been added, No. 4 at Locust and Jasper 
 streets, No. 5 on South 22nd street, and No. 6 at Fairview and 
 Eldorado. 
 
 No. 1. station was 
 moved in 1920 to a new 
 building at Franklin and 
 Wood streets. 
 
 Approximately sixty 
 men make up the fire de- 
 partment of today. In 1929 
 they answered 536 alarms. 
 Since the beginning of the 
 department thousands of 
 fires have been fought, and 
 millions of dollars worth of 
 property saved. 5 decatur-arcade hotel fire 
 
 NEPTUNE HOSE HOUSE 
 
 The man in picture is Chief Dodson. 
 
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FIRE DEPARTMENT 309 
 
 Some of the biggest fires in the history of Decatur were : 
 
 Union elevator, Nov. 21, 1890, $100,000 
 
 Library block, Feb. 21, 1892, $100,000 
 
 Powers opera house, Linn & Scruggs, Nov. 5, 1895, $250,000 
 
 Mueller, Piatt & Wheeland, Feb. 11, 1901, $116,000 
 
 Decatur Cereal Mill, June 8, 1909, $265,000 
 
 Morehouse & Wells, and others, Aug. 22, 1909, $508,000 
 
 Mantel factory, Jan. 8, 1911, $200,000 
 
 Powers theater, Linn & Scruggs, April 7, 1914, $565,117 
 
 Decatur and Arcade hotels, April 21, 1915, $180,000 
 
 Scovill Furniture store, Oct. 1, 1917, $140,000 
 
 Leader Iron Works, Nov. 6, 1920, $125,000 
 
 Shellabarger Elevator Co., Feb. 3, 1923, $125,000 
 
 Wabash shops and cars, Feb. 26, 1924, $750,000 
 
 Irwin, Neisler Co., Decatur Tent and Awning Co., Dec. 25, 1925, $100,000 
 
 W. C. Starr garage, and others, May 23, 1928, $165,000 
 
 VOLUNTEER FIREMEN^ ASSOCIATION 
 
 The Volunteer Firemen's association was organized in 1895. Its 
 object was to perpetuate the good fellowship and traditions of the 
 years the volunteer firemen had spent together fighting fires, and to be 
 of any assistance, if needed, to the regular city fire department. 
 
 Of the 180 original members of the association only five were able 
 
 to attend the meeting early in the year 1930. At that time only twelve 
 
 members were still living, and only eight of them in Decatur. Officers 
 
 elected at that meeting were: 
 
 President — George W. Kraft 
 First Vice — William Danzeisen 
 Second Vice — Homer Jimison 
 Third Vice— W. H. Barnett 
 Secretary-treasurer — W. H. Barnett 
 
 1 It was due to leading business men of the city, among them James Millikin, that the fire 
 department was organized. They called attention to the fact that the city did not have money to 
 have a paid department and must depend on volunteers. The business men agreed to purchase 
 hose and hose reel, and otherwise assist, if the young men would form volunteer organizations 
 for fighting fires. 
 
 2 When the hose house on West Main street was buiit in 1872 the idea was conceived that a 
 tower would be a good thing as a lookout, so the firemen could look out for fires over the city. 
 In the tower was hung the bell to call the firemen together. The tower may have done good 
 service as a lookout for some years, but eventually such service was considerably restricted by the 
 tall buildings. The tower was taken down in 1910. 
 
 '■'■ Charles Winebrenner was said to have been the fastest runner on the team. His record 
 was 150 yards in fifteen seconds. Winebrenner afterwards went to Spokane, Wash., where he 
 became fire chief. 
 
 4 C. W. Devore started his career as a farm hand. He was working on a farm east of De- 
 catur at $17 a month in 1878, when two of Decatur's firemen, Tom Antrim and Andy Shoemaker, 
 happened to see a fast run Devore made one Saturday at a game of rounder. 
 
 "We must have that fellow on our team," they said. "We'll get him if we have to draft 
 him." 
 
 When the matter was presented to Devore he objected, saying he had to work and he had a 
 good job on the farm. Tom and Andy then got busy. Before night they had found a job for 
 Devore at the furniture factory at $1.50 a day. Board and room could be had for 50 cents a day. 
 Devore accepted the job and became a member of the hose company. From that time until his 
 death he was connected with Decatur's fire department. 
 
310 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 5 One of the most spectacular fires ever seen in Decatur was the Decatur Gun store fire on 
 July 4, 1901. It started at midnight and in fifteen minutes the building and contents were de- 
 stroyed. 
 
 There were thousands of explosions. People within hearing distance thought some one was 
 shooting off fireworks. The fireworks which exploded shot in all directions. A newspaper writer 
 who was one of the first on hand wrote the following description of the conflagration : 
 
 "Added to the awful grandeur of flames leaping to the sky was the wierdness and fearsome- 
 ness of countless and tremendous explosions. It was a young volcano with a peak of rapid fire 
 artillery booming from its midst. Payne's most spectacular production would look tame beside it. 
 
 "There was no slow creeping of the flames hidden behind clouds of smoke, but in a flash 
 the building was aflame from end to end and from top to bottom. In a few seconds after the 
 report of the first explosion was heard, the flames were leaping frcm the front and top of the 
 building, and the air was filled with the crash of the burning explosives. 
 
 "Prairie avenue in front and for the rest of the block on either side was swept by a rain of 
 sky rockets and other fiery missiles, making it apparently certain death to venture into range. 
 Buildings across the street were bombarded with every kind of fireworks. It looked as if every 
 building in the neighborhood would be burned. 
 
 "The noise was like a regiment of musketry in action, and the flutter of the small arms 
 was punctuated from time to time by a louder detonation, suggesting the support of a battery of 
 light artillery. Early arrivals on the scene peered fearfully around the corners but kept carefully 
 out of range. 
 
 "As the rockets shot up through the network of wires on Prairie Avenue the lines were 
 crossed and spat zig-zag lightning, adding to the picturesqueness of the scene and to the danger 
 as well." 
 
J-KANKLIN PRIEST 
 
 311 
 
 CHAPTER LV 
 
 FRANKLIN PRIEST 
 
 FRANKLI N 
 PRIEST 
 
 FRANKLIN PRIEST often has been called a captain of industry 
 and he deserved that title. For years he had more business inter- 
 ests in Decatur than any other man has ever been known to have. A 
 catalog of his enterprises would sound like a busi- 
 ness directory. He was a man of courage and vision, 
 and in fact was twenty-five years ahead of his time. 
 
 When he saw that Decatur needed a business of 
 a certain sort he started such a business. He had 
 come here in 1853 from Springfield and within a few 
 years was Decatur's most active resident. During 
 his business career in Decatur there were few lines 
 of business in which he was not interested. 
 
 He had a grist mill, a saw mill, a distillery, a 
 cooper shop, a blacksmith shop, a brick yard, a tan- 
 nery, a general store. He ran an omnibus line, a 
 street car line, a hotel. He was interested in the 
 woolen mills and in real estate. He served in the 
 council and five different times was elected mayor. 
 
 He once offered the city a public market place, the ground now 
 occupied by Merchant street and Central block, and a block farther 
 north if needed. He was the man who opened up Merchant street. 
 
 Shortly after Mr. Priest came to Decatur he and Asa Eastman 
 of Springfield bought the saw and grist mill of Orlando Powers. That 
 was the time the railroads were being built, and the two men entered 
 into contract to furnish the bridge timbers and ties for the railroads. 
 It started Decatur on a period of activity heretofore unparalleled. 
 Forces of men were kept busy in the woods along the Sangamon 
 cutting timber and hauling it to the mill. 
 
 When Mr. Priest first made his offer to the city of ground for a 
 public market, the offer was accepted by the council. Had that action 
 not been vetoed by the mayor, the map of the Lincoln square section 
 would be different from what it is today, for it was after the rejection 
 of the offer that Mr. Priest conceived the idea of laying out Merchant 
 street. His idea was to get rid of the inside northeast corner of the 
 square, which was considered poor for business uses. 
 
312 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 The plat of Mr. Priest's resurvey of lots 5, 6, 7, Block 2, of the 
 town of Decatur, was filed June 15, 1857. The plat provided for 
 Merchant street 54 feet wide, and for the division of that stretch 
 between Merchant and Main streets into twelve lots, each 20 feet by 
 22 feet, the latter being the distance east and west. 
 
 The veto of the plan for the public market was due to the protests 
 made against it by a number of Decatur citizens, led by E. O. Smith. 
 These protests came from persons interested in the section known as 
 the New square, now Central park. They naturally feared that busi- 
 ness would be taken away from them. The objectors included some 
 influential men, such as Mr. Smith, and the mayor was persuaded to 
 put his veto on the project. 
 
 One of the conditions which Mr. Priest had attached to the offer 
 of the market place was that the ground was to be planked. For some 
 time Mr. Priest had been urging that the down town streets of the 
 city be planked. At that time that seemed to be the only paving ma- 
 terial available. Mr. Priest recognized the handicap of muddy streets 
 and he was continually trying to find a solution of that problem. Evi- 
 dently, however, he had little cooperation from the other merchants 
 of Decatur. 
 
 Most of Mr. Priest's earliest enterprises were centered about the 
 vicinity of Franklin and Priest streets, both named for him. Priest 
 street afterward was changed to Decatur street. They were located 
 on the Town Branch, which was then a respectable-sized creek, 
 and helped to furnish water. There was also a fine spring there. It 
 was because of the water supply that this location was chosen. 
 
 In many of Mr. Priest's enterprises his brother, Valentine, was 
 associated with him. 
 
 The citizen of today will have to use his imagination to picture 
 the scene in the valley of the Town Branch in that day. Farmers 
 came from miles around with their grain to the grist mill. Since it 
 was necessary for each to wait his turn, often a goodly crowd gath- 
 ered. Old timers have been known to say that they remembered when 
 as high as 200 teams would be waiting in the vicinity, while the 
 owners would be taking their turns at the mill. 
 
 The scene was particularly interesting and cheery at night, for 
 many would have to remain over night. Campfires would be started 
 and the hills would be dotted with the bright lights. Mr. Priest's 
 mill there was destroyed by fire in the late '60s. 
 
 In his later years Mr. Priest's interests were centered in the 
 uptown district. He took over an unfinished hotel building, which 
 
FRANKLIN PRIEST 313 
 
 had been started by W. S. Crissey, finished the building and leased 
 it as a hotel, later taking over the business himself. This was the 
 hotel which afterwards became known as the New Deming hotel and 
 still later the Decatur hotel. It was located at the northwest corner 
 of the Old square. This building was destroyed by fire. At the north- 
 east corner of the square Mr. Priest conducted his store. His home 
 was in the 200 block on North Main street, and there he had his 
 offices when he conducted the omnibus line and later the street railway 
 line. 
 
 His part in civic life in Decatur was an important one. He was 
 honored to the extent of being elected five different times as the 
 mayor of Decatur. Besides, he was elected three different times as a 
 member of the city council. He was a member of the first council 
 after Decatur was granted its special city charter. The confidence thus 
 reposed in him by his fellow citizens was a glowing tribute to the man. 
 
 Mr. Priest did not have all smooth sailing, however. He suffered 
 many losses and misfortunes. His mills and other industries centered 
 at Franklin and Priest streets were swept away by fire. 
 
 At the time of the Civil war Mr. Priest got into difficulty with 
 the government over whisky tax, and he was obliged to stand punish- 
 ment for violation of the revenue law. Two carloads of whisky shipped 
 to St. Louis were seized by the government agents and the legal pro- 
 cedure which followed nearly ruined Mr. Priest. By many it was 
 believed that Mr. Priest knew nothing about the shipment of this 
 whisky without paying the tax; that it was a partner of Mr. Priest 
 who had been responsible. Mr. Priest, however, took the blame, and 
 was the one who paid. 
 
 When his case went to trial he pleaded his own case, and it was 
 said to have been a most brilliant plea. Among other things he told 
 the court that when the soldiers of the One Hundred Fifteenth and 
 One Hundred Sixteenth Regiments went out from Decatur to the war 
 they owed him $18,000 for equipment furnished, and so that money 
 was, in a sense, loaned to the government. Though the judge admitted 
 the justice of the statement, it could hold no weight in the trial and 
 Mr. Priest was obliged to take his punishment. 
 
 The general disturbance of business conditions at the time of 
 the Civil war had its effect on Mr. Priest as well as on thousands of 
 others. Mr. Priest had done his business largely on credit. He had 
 always been able to get all the credit he wanted. What resources he 
 had were so affected by the sudden change in values that he was 
 badly crippled during the rest of his business life in Decatur. 
 
314 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 CHAPTER LVI 
 
 MULES TO MOTORS 
 
 A funny-looking vehicle wended its way along North Main street 
 one day in the 70s. People lined the street to look at it. It 
 attracted as much attention as a circus parade. 
 
 If the same vehicle went along North Main street today, it would 
 bring many a laugh. But it didn't in the '70s, for it meant something — 
 a whole lot — to the people of Decatur. It was their first street car. 
 
 Franklin Priest was the man who made the first attempt to pull 
 Decatur out of the mud by inaugurating street car service between 
 the "Old square" and the railroad station. 
 
 Naturally the promoter of the enterprise was elated the day his 
 railway was put into operation. Ever since he had come to Decatur 
 he had been battling mud. The streets were sloughs of despair. There 
 was no drainage. In wet weather the mud was bottomless. Often it 
 was impossible for the omnibuses, though pulled by four horses or 
 mules, to make the trip from the depot, and trunks had to be brought 
 to the hotels on wheelbarrows. 
 
 Mr. Priest built the car line largely to bridge the chasm between 
 the railroad station and his hotel on the square. 
 
 "The Decatur Horse Railway and Carrying company" was the 
 title given by Mr. Priest to his line. The franchise was granted by the 
 city of Decatur Nov. 14, 1876. It gave Mr. Priest permission to lay 
 a street car track from the depot to the Old square by way of North 
 Main and East Cerro Gordo streets, and also from the square to the 
 P. D. & E. depot on East Main, and a line south on Main street and 
 Cemetery street to 
 Greenwood ceme- 
 tery. The franchise 
 was for fifty years. 
 Mr. Priest never 
 dreamed that inside 
 of ten years his car 
 line, which started 
 off with such bright 
 hopes, would be 
 dug up and cast first street car 
 
MULES TO MOTORS 
 
 315 
 
 aside by Decatur citizens. The line to the railroad station was the 
 only one built by him. Decatur had not yet reached a place where 
 such a service would be profitable. The time never came when Mr. 
 Priest was able to extend the service as provided for in the franchise. 
 
 Horse or mule power was used in drawing those first street cars 
 in Decatur. The use of a locomotive was prohibited, and electric cars 
 had not yet been heard of. The cars followed a narrow gauge track 
 beginning at the Old square and running on North Main street to 
 Cerro Gordo, then east to the station, a mile in all. Passengers doubt- 
 less bounced up and down as the cars were pulled along their bumpy 
 way. 
 
 Those first cars were one-man and one-horse cars, not much more 
 than dumpy little boxes. Philip Miller and Frank Taylor were the 
 first car drivers. They had been driving omnibuses for Mr. Priest, 
 who had been running a bus line from his hotel on the square to the 
 railroad depot. The fare, 5 cents, was dropped in a box as now. When 
 the street cars were put into operation these two men were "pro- 
 moted" to the new line. Two cars were in service, there being a 
 passing track midway on the line. The cars started simultaneously 
 from each end of the line. 
 
 The driver was not only driver and conductor both, but he had 
 another duty, a unique task. It was his business to stop any place 
 along the way and wake up the patron who wanted to catch an early 
 train out of town. If John Doe left word to be called at 6:30 to make 
 a train, Air. Miller or Mr. Taylor would halt his car, go to Doe's home 
 and see that he was awakened, then return to his car and proceed on 
 his way. That was service! But that was characteristic of Franklin 
 Priest. The story of his life in Decatur shows that one enterprise 
 
 after another he inaugurated 
 to fill some need of the 
 people. 
 
 Mr. Priest was the presi- 
 dent and the manager of the 
 company, and later his son, 
 J. Frank Priest, became his 
 assistant manager. The car 
 barns were at the rear of the 
 Priest home at 224 North 
 Main street. A spur track 
 was laid from the main track 
 in the street in the alley to 
 
 
 FRANKLIN PRIEST'S HOME 
 224 North Main 
 
316 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 the barn. Mr. Priest maintained his offices in his home. Though 
 the car line was well patronized at first it never made enough money 
 to warrant any improvements, and instead of getting better the line 
 deteriorated. The town was growing. The car line was getting poorer. 
 It seemed doomed to failure. The final straw that broke the camel's 
 back was the organization of the Citizens Street Railway company 
 which started a new and a better car service in 1883. 
 
 The new company was composed of David S. Shellabarger, Wil- 
 liam L. Ferguson and Arthur E. Kinney. They constructed a line on 
 the present route of the depot line of the Illinois Power and Light 
 corporation. Better cars were secured, the line was better built, and 
 better service was given. Naturally the new line got the business. 
 That spelled the final defeat of Mr. Priest's enterprise. 
 
 The Priest line stayed in operation until 1886, but by that time 
 it had become a laughing stock. Considering it a discredit to the city, 
 the council ordered the tracks removed. The order was not heeded 
 at once, and one night the tracks were torn up and piled at the curb 
 by irate citizens. 
 
 That meant the end of Mr. Priest's connection with Decatur. He 
 moved to Chicago where he spent the rest of his life. He died there 
 Jan. 17, 1890. 
 
 The equipment of the Citizens Street Railway company on its 
 first line included three small cars, each pulled by a mule. Within the 
 next few years other lines were built and soon the company was 
 operating nine or ten cars with horses and mules. 
 
 Even a street car runaway was known then. One day a frightened 
 mule started to run, from in front of the St. Nicholas, and dragged 
 his street car behind him across the square and up North Main before 
 he was stopped. 
 
 The Water and West Main street lines were the first extensions. 
 The line on West Main was extended to the Wabash track to provide 
 service to the baseball park, south of West Main and east of the 
 Wabash, sponsored by the street railway company ; also to Oakland 
 park, which the street railway company leased in 1884. 
 
 Competition in the street car business brought about the electri- 
 fication of the line in 1889, and gave Decatur the distinction of being 
 the third city in the country to have electric cars. Cincinnati and 
 Detroit were the only other two cities so equipped. The lines there 
 were largely experimental, so Decatur was about the very first to have 
 electric street cars. 
 
MULES TO MOTORS 
 
 317 
 
 In the latter part of the year 1888 E. J. Martin came to Decatur 
 from Detroit and announced that he had come to build an electric 
 street car line. He was backed by Frank E. Snow and other capitalists 
 of Detroit. They selected Decatur because they believed it was the 
 most promising- city in the west. Mr. Snow and his associates were 
 then developing motors and other electric equipment. 
 
 The new company naturally met opposition, even in the city 
 council, but finally it secured a franchise and began building its line. 
 The company, which was organized as the Decatur Electric Street 
 Railway company, asked for franchise for a line from Lincoln square 
 to the railroad station, by way of North Main and Cerro Gordo 
 streets, and later for a line to Riverside and out North Edward street 
 to the P. D. & E. (now Illinois Central, Peoria division). 
 
 A branch line was constructed out Pugh street (now West Grand 
 avenue) to Walnut Grove avenue. 
 
 F. E. Snow was president and treasurer, E. J. Martin vice presi- 
 dent, and A. Heurtley secretary the first year of the new company. 
 Mr. Martin called his line "the Short Line" and that name was 
 generally used. Guy J. Parke was manager. 
 
 In 1891 the officers of the company were I. R. Mills president, 
 F. E. Snow vice president, and W. H. Starr, secretary and treasurer. 
 J. W. Alexander was general manager that year. The names are of 
 local men but it was well understood that Detroit men interested in 
 the electric industry were backers of the company. / 
 
 After the new company entered the field, the Citizens Street 
 Railway company decided it would electrify its line, and then began 
 a merry race to see which company would be first with its new electric 
 cars. The Citizens company managed to finish first, by a few weeks. 
 The company inserted the word "electric" in its name. 
 
 For more than two years Decatur had two street car companies, 
 
 but neither made any 
 money, and finally in 1892, 
 the two lines were consoli- 
 dated. E. J. Martin left De- 
 catur at that time. The new 
 company, after the consoli- 
 dation, was known as the 
 City Electric Railway com- 
 pany. It erected Decatur's 
 first transfer house on Lin- 
 first transfer nousE coin square as a center for 
 
318 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 transferring passengers. That building did duty until 1895, when the 
 present transfer house was erected. 
 
 The street car business did not prove very profitable, and in 
 September, 1899, the property was sold at auction to close out a 
 receivership, the line going to D. S. Shellabarger, acting for the bond- 
 holders, himself and others. A new company was organized, taking 
 the name of the Decatur Traction and Electric company. It extended 
 the lines and made other improvements. 
 
 W. B. MC KINLEY BUYS 
 
 The stock of the Decatur Traction and Electric company was 
 sold to the W. B. McKinley syndicate in July, 1903. Mr. Mckinley 
 had tried to get the property at the foreclosure sale in 1899. That 
 year he bought out the Decatur Gas and Electric company of which 
 G. C. Danforth was president. This company had been formed in 
 1898 by consolidation of the Decatur Gas Light and Coke company, 
 the Decatur Electric company and the Culver Electric company. 
 
 W. A. Bixby, who had been managing this property since Jan. 
 1. 1900, for Air. McKinley, took the management of the street car 
 line in 1903 when Mr. McKinley bought it. 
 
 The Decatur Railway and Light company was incorporated Nov. 
 25, 1903. This was the company organized to manage all the McKin- 
 ley properties here, including the new heating plant, which had been 
 installed by the Decatur Gas and Electric company to sell heat from 
 the plant on Edward and Cerro Gordo streets. 
 
 Following the purchase of street car lines in Danville in 1900 by 
 the McKinley interests came the news that interurban lines connect- 
 ing Central Illinois cities would be built. 
 
 The first line built out of Decatur by the Illinois Traction System, 
 as the system was called, was the line to Springfield, on which service 
 was started in September, 1904. The line to the north came next, the 
 
 first service to Clin- 
 ton being given in 
 January, 1906. The 
 line to Champaign 
 was completed in 
 June, 1907. 
 
 Within nine 
 
 years from the time 
 
 the building of 
 
 interurban lines 
 
 jllixois traction svstem shops started, the Illinois 
 
MULES TO MOTORS 319 
 
 Traction System was operating 500 miles of track connecting Decatur, 
 Bloomington, Danville, Peoria, Champaign-Urbana, and St. Louis, 
 Mo. Besides these there were lines connecting LaSalle, Ottawa and 
 other cities in the northern part of the state. The general manager of 
 the Illinois Traction System was L. E. Fischer, now vice president and 
 general manager of the Illinois Power and Light corporation. Mr. 
 Fischer was in general charge while much of the development of the 
 system was going on. 
 
 The Illinois Traction System located its car shops at Decatur, 
 building a large plant at the northeast edge of the city in 1909 at a 
 cost of more than $100,000. 
 
 On the first day of January, 1904, Merrill L. Harry began his 
 duties as manager of the McKinley properties in Decatur. During the 
 building of the interurban lines he had charge of much of the work 
 in connection with their construction. In 1923 the McKinley proper- 
 ties were purchased by an organization now known as the Illinois 
 Power and Light corporation. Under the new management Mr. Harry 
 became Decatur division superintendent. In 1926 he was named gen- 
 eral manager of the Central Illinois group of the I. P. L., which 
 included Decatur, Clinton, Bloomington, Peoria, Jacksonville, Monti- 
 cello, Champaign, Urbana and Danville. That position he held until 
 his death Oct. 11, 1929. 
 
 Mr. Harry was succeeded in 1926 as Decatur division superin- 
 tendent by Ira R. Abbott. E. W. Fowler of Ottawa, 111., succeeded 
 Mr. Harry as general manager of the Central Illinois group. 
 
 As the city grew, the street car system in Decatur underwent 
 expansions. Its car and bus lines now cover all parts of the city. 
 Twenty-four street cars and twenty-one motor buses are in use, buses 
 having taken the place of cars on some streets. From the few thou- 
 sands of passengers carried in 1883 the number of passengers 
 increased to 6,500,000 in 1929. The electrical department of the I. 
 P. L. has 19,000 customers, and the gas department 13,000. 
 
320 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 CHAPTER LVII 
 
 LIGHTS AND TELEPHONES 
 
 DECATUR, like other cities, had its first sight of an electric light 
 when the Barnum & Bailey circus visited the city, about 1880. 
 It was one of the big hits of the circus. 
 
 This city was one of the pioneers in the introduction of electricity. 
 It not only was the first in having electric street cars, but was among 
 the first to have electric lights. In the early '80s the use of electricity 
 was largely experimental for several years, but it was such a novelty 
 that folks were willing to experiment. 
 
 "At last the electric light has made its appearance in Decatur," 
 said a newspaper item Jan. 14, 1883. "Credit for its introduction 
 belongs to Orendorff and Doyle and Sullivan of the Commercial block. 
 For several days an expert has been in the city setting up the gener- 
 ator and making the necessary connections with the lamp which was 
 placed in the Sullivan saloon. Trial was made last night and every- 
 thing worked splendidly. The light was very brilliant, making the 
 gas jets appear as sickly as a tallow candle in comparison. Each lamp 
 costs $60. The generator costs $600." 
 
 A Fuller generator, operated by a Chicago expert, was used. A 
 three horse power machine was manipulated by Fred Litterer. The 
 newspapers stressed the fact that the light could be seen for a distance 
 of six blocks, and a great crowd of people was there all evening to 
 view the novel illumination. Mr. Doyle stated that it was his inten- 
 tion to make the electric light in the Commercial block a permanent 
 thing. 
 
 The Commercial block is still standing, the block east of Short, 
 on the north side of Eldorado. 
 
 In 1883 the Decatur Electric Light Co. got a franchise, and 
 a plant was installed by the Fort Wayne Jenney Electric company 
 in a one-story building on Wabash avenue. Only arc lights were used 
 then. A few were installed in stores, but they were noisy, difficult to 
 regulate, and uncertain. 
 
 S. T. Trowbridge was president and J. R. Mosser secretary of 
 the Decatur Electric Light company. Its franchise was granted Oct. 
 1, 1883. The office was at the Trowbridge home, 207 West William. 
 Dr. Trowbridge leased the building on Wabash avenue for the plant 
 
LIGHTS AND TELEPHONES 321 
 
 A fifty horse power engine was installed. Wires were run along the 
 railroad east, and on North Franklin street south to the city park. 
 
 In October Kaufman and Bachrach arranged for a demonstration 
 of Brush electric light, other business men joining them. "The time is 
 near at hand when our people Avill demand the electric light", they 
 said. 
 
 In reporting the demonstration a newspaper said : 
 "Establishments of Kaufman & Bachrach, O. E. Curtis & Com- 
 pany, L. L. Ferriss & Co., Louis Fleury, were brightly lighted by the 
 new process. The generative machine was installed in H. W. Hill's 
 place, Main and Church streets. The lamp at Fleury's lit up the old 
 square for a considerable distance. Inside, the two arc lights made 
 the room light as day." 
 
 At Cheap Charley's (Kaufman & Bachrach) there was one light 
 inside and another outside. 
 
 This demonstration continued until after a fair in the tabernacle, 
 and the light was used in the tabernacle. It gave promoters of the fair 
 an added attraction. 
 
 "More music and more electric light tonight," they advertised. 
 
 Merchants also advertised the novelty. "The Newest Thing in 
 Light" was the way Otto Curtis headed his jewelry store ad. 
 
 For a time it appeared as if Dr. Trowbridge's company were going 
 to have opposition, for another company w r as formed and was granted 
 a right of way through the streets. Incorporation papers were issued 
 in October to the Citizens Electric Light and Power company, capital 
 stock $25,000. Incorporators were John Ullrich, James Millikin, H. 
 Shlaudeman, W. C. Johns, C. P. Housum, W. F. Busher, and W. L. 
 Oakes. This company, however, later gave up the field to Dr. Trow- 
 bridge, who was getting his plant ready for operation. 
 
 J. M. Clokey took over the Wabash avenue plant in 1884 and ran 
 it for two years. 1 If name had had anything to do with it, the business 
 should have been a success, for it was conducted under the imposing 
 title of the Decatur Jenney Electric Light and Power company. 
 However, Mr. Clokey was kept busy answering protests from cus- 
 tomers whose lights wouldn't function properly, and he breathed a 
 sigh of relief when in about two years he had the opportunity to sell 
 out the plant to the Decatur Gas Light and Coke company, which 
 afterwards became the Decatur Gas and Electric company. 
 
 By 1885 electricity was being experimented with for street light- 
 ing, and again Decatur was ready to get in the front row in installing 
 
322 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 it. Not to be outdone by Danville, which, according to report, was 
 preparing to erect light towers, Decatur prepared to do likewise. 
 
 Contract was made Oct. 17, 1885, with the Fort Wayne Jenney 
 Electric company to install eight steel electric light towers, 125 feet 
 high, and the equipment to run them. These towers were placed at 
 various points about the city, and at the time lighted up the entire 
 city. On each tower were five lamps. The lights in these towers were 
 turned on for the first time Feb. 21, 1886. Decatur was one of very 
 few cities to have such lights, and visitors to the city, as well as 
 local citizens, considered them a wonder. 2 The equipment for run- 
 ning the lights was installed at the waterworks. For the installation 
 of these towers and equipment the city paid $19,034.76. 
 
 As the city grew there was demand from outlying streets for 
 lights. To meet the demand, one light was taken off each tower, and 
 these single lights were installed at outlying street intersections. 
 Later another light was taken from each tower for the same purpose, 
 leaving only three lamps on the towers. As time went on these became 
 unsatisfactory, and the drop lights at street corners were more and 
 more in demand. By 1895 the city had more than 100 arc lights on 
 the streets. Finally, in 1910, the towers were removed, arc lights 
 having been installed all over the city. 
 
 In later years the city substituted incandescent lamps for the arc 
 lights, completing the change in 1924. 
 
 Naturally with the introduction of electricity for lighting the city, 
 the old gas lamps, which had done duty since 1868, were removed. 
 There still remain in Decatur today several of the old iron posts which 
 supported the lamps in the days when gas was used and a lamplighter 
 lighted the lamps each night. One is at South Main and Macon, 
 another at North and Union, and a third at William and Mercer 
 streets. 
 
 By 1887 incandescent lights were coming into use. Frank 
 Shlaudeman had set up a small experimental plant at the brewery. 
 That year W. B. Burke was sent to Decatur by the Edison Engineer- 
 ing company of Chicago to install an incandescent light machine at 
 the plant of the Decatur Gas Light and Coke company. He remained 
 in Decatur as superintendent of the plant. It was a "300 light (each 
 16 candle power) plant", and was put into operation Feb. 2, 1888. 
 Just by way of comparison, a conservative estimate of incandescents 
 in use in Decatur today is 350,000, many of them much more than 
 16 candle power. 
 
LIGHTS AND TELEPHONES 323 
 
 After the street car system in Decatur had been electrified, R. F. 
 Piatt started in the light business, installing a generator in the 
 car line's power house on East North street. He was bought out 
 later by the Municipal Electric company, incorporated in 1892. J. H. 
 Culver was president of the Municipal Electric company, and associ- 
 ated with him were E. E. Gibson and J. M. Willard. This company 
 located a power house at Edward street and the Wabash railroad, and 
 it was in use in 1893. Additions soon were necessary, due to increase 
 in the demand for electric current. 
 
 This company later became the Culver Electric company, and in 
 1898 it was consolidated with the Decatur Gas Light and Coke com- 
 pany and the Decatur Electric company. The following year its 
 property was purchased by the McKinley interests, which eventually 
 sold to the Illinois Power and Light corporation. 
 
 THE TELEPHONE 
 
 Decatur had its first telephone service in 1879. 
 
 It was another novelty, and as usual citizens were experimenting 
 with this new convenience. 
 
 Ever since Alexander G. Bell had exhibited his new contraption, 
 called a telephone, in 1876 at the Centennial exposition in Philadelphia, 
 where it had proved to be one of the big attractions (at 5 cents per), 
 people all over the country had been experimenting with this "talkie" 
 business. The small boy with his tin can, covered with tightly 
 stretched skin, and his piece of string, was as busy as his elders. 
 Students at Yale university constructed telephone lines from one dor- 
 mitory to another. 
 
 Lowber Burrows, on his return from a visit to Yale, brought 
 home a telephone instrument and set up a line from his home to the 
 J. E. Bering house a half block away. 
 
 The first real telephone line in Decatur was put up by James W. 
 Haworth connecting the downtown office of the Haworth company, 
 at South Park and Water streets, with the factory on Cerro Gordo 
 street. It was a nine days wonder, but as usual there were skeptics. 
 
 "What will that fool do next?" scoffed many a bystander as 
 
 the line was put up. 
 
 Newspaper announcement was made by J. H. Hutchins of the 
 Western Union Telegraph company Aug. 20, 1879, that a telephone ex- 
 change would be established in the near future. It was expected the 
 line would be in operation in thirty days, and subscribers were being 
 secured. In October the installation of the line was completed. 
 
324 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 It was a while before folks understood just how to make a tele- 
 phone call. In announcing the completion of the line, the following 
 statement was made in the newspaper: 
 
 "Many have the impression that in communicating through this 
 telephone exchange the message has first to be given to Mr. Getty 
 (Western Union telegraph agent), who then repeats it to the party 
 with whom you wish to communicate, but this is not so. For instance, 
 if the editor of The Review wishes to communicate with the Repub- 
 lican office, he would notify Mr. Getty of his desire. Mr. Getty notifies 
 the Republican office of The Review's wish, and then connects the two 
 offices with each other on his 'universal switch', and Ave proceed to 
 talk to each other to our hearts' content, and Mr. Getty has no knowl- 
 edge whatever of what we are talking about". 
 
 No. 1 on the first Bell telephone exchange was the grocery and 
 bakery of Heilman, Imboden & Co., 211 North Water street. E. D. 
 Bartholemew was No. 2. No. 3 was Sheriff W. W. Foster; No. 4, 
 David Martin, and No. 5, C. P. Housum's residence. Subscribers' 
 names and numbers were printed on a card, to be hung on the wall. 
 By 1883 Decatur had 200 telephone subscribers. 
 
 From the time of the first telephone until 1893 the Bell Tele- 
 phone company had the field to itself. Then a rival company appeared. 
 In 1893 the Citizens Mutual Telephone company was incorporated 
 and put up telephone lines. Its first officers were: 
 
 President — G. W. Scovill. 
 Vice-President — Orlando T. Kirk. 
 Secretary-Treasurer — John G. Harvey. 
 
 J. N. Donahey was the manager at first. Later C. S. Flankins be- 
 came manager. The office was Room 33, Arcade office building. 
 
 The company was reorganized in 1899 as the Macon County Tele- 
 phone company, with H. M. Whitmer as president, John Van Gundy 
 as vice-president, W. P. Shade as treasurer and A. L. McNabb as 
 secretary. 
 
 In 1907 reorganization again took place, and the company became 
 the Decatur Home Telephone company, with J. W. Collins as presi- 
 dent, Allen G. Hawley vice-president, Philip E. Kuhl treasurer, and 
 Charles B. Cheadle secretary. The company in 1908 erected a building 
 in the 200 Block North Main street. 
 
 This company installed the first automatic dial telephone system 
 in Decatur, in 1909. 
 
 In 1917 the Decatur Home Telephone company was merged with 
 the Central Union Telephone company, now known as the Illinois 
 
LIGHTS AND TELEPHONES 325 
 
 Bell Telephone company. That company now has 13,000 local tele- 
 phones and talking with either coast is easier than talking to one 
 another in Decatur was forty-five years ago. 
 
 1 The first home in Decatur to be lighted with electricity was the home of J. M. Clokey, 247 
 East Wood street. At that time incandescent bulbs were known, but had not yet come into use 
 generally. The bulbs were very expensive, costing $9 a dozen. 
 
 Mr. Clokey decided to give a surprise to Mrs. Clokey's guests, one night when she enter- 
 tained her Cooking club. He had an electrician rig up temporary wiring on the first floor of 
 the home, installing 40 or 50 light bulbs. When the lights were turned on, the first floor was 
 a blaze of glory such as the guests had never seen before. They were astonished and delighted. 
 
 Among the guests on that occasion were J. K. Warren and B. K. Durfee of the Decatur 
 Gas Light company. They agreed that the lighting was wonderful, but impractical. Mr. Clokey 
 later sold the light plant to the Gas Light company, of which the two gentlemen named were 
 officers. 
 
 2 Erection of the towers brought a fresh cause for worry on the part of mothers of small 
 boys. The youngsters considered it a great sport to climb the towers. Sometimes they got up 
 too high, and couldn't get down without help. 
 
326 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 CHAPTER LVIII 
 DECATUR IN THE '80s 
 
 DECATUR stepped out of the mud in the decade from 1880 to 
 1890. From that time on, she trod paved streets. 
 
 This was the period when the public square and down town 
 business section changed from the country village to the modern city 
 type. The old square, which had been a mudhole since the beginning 
 of the city, and which had been a bone of contention for many years 
 because of its filthiness, finally was paved. 
 
 Up to that time, the only thing in Decatur that might have been 
 called a pavement was the cobblestone block on Merchant street and 
 on East Prairie, from Main to Water, which had been put down in 
 1883, mostly at the expense of private citizens. 
 
 The paving of Lincoln square, which was of brick, was laid in 
 1884 as an experiment. Its cost was $7,296. 
 
 The city council did not get this work done without opposition. 
 Business men and others protested. "Kicks" were being made right 
 and left. But after it was down, people began to realize the benefit. 
 Little opposition was expressed for future paving programs. The 
 experiment was considered a success. Two years afterwards the city 
 began a paving program, and since then hardly has a year gone by 
 without seeing stretches of new paving laid. 
 
 In 1886 the council passed ordinance for the paving of nearly 
 two miles of streets at a cost of $70,000. These streets included down 
 town sections of North Main, Cerro Gordo, Franklin, Water, William, 
 Morgan, and Eldorado. 
 
 In the year 1888 2.4 miles of pavement was laid at a cost of 
 $78,000. The following year paving for 2.3 miles was laid at a cost of 
 $80,000. 
 
 By 1890 Decatur had spent $300,000 on paving. This was all 
 done during the regime of M. F. Kanan as mayor. All the first pave- 
 ments laid here were of brick. 
 
 Official action was taken by the city council June 8, 1887, to name 
 the old square "Lincoln Square." 
 
 Decatur had its first concrete sidewalks also in the early '80s. 1 
 
 It also had its first passenger elevator. The elevator was installed 
 in the Haworth building erected in 1883 at Water and North Park 
 streets, the present site of the Citizens bank. 
 
DECATUR IN THE '80s 327 
 
 It was during the latter part of the decade from 1880 to 1890 that 
 Decatur began to grow in earnest. During that period the population 
 increased from 9,547 to 16,841, and most of that gain came during the 
 last few years of the ten year period. 
 
 It was a period of civic activity, when extensive work in paving 
 and sewer construction was done, when bigger and better buildings 
 were erected, when much real estate development was brought about. 
 New additions were laid out to the city, and were being built up. 
 
 Decatur was being widely advertised in those days. It was becom- 
 ing known as a wide-awake, growing city. People were being 
 attracted to it. 
 
 Another improvement which was fought vigorously at first was 
 the sewer construction. In 1888 the ordinance was passed for the 
 building of the Union street sewer. So great was the opposition that 
 a mass meeting of citizens was called for Sept. 16 to make protest. 
 In spite of that, however, the improvement went through. By 1890 
 the main sewers in the $250,000 sewer project outlined were installed. 
 The Union street sewer ended just below Decatur street and from 
 there followed a natural ditch to the river. The Broadway sewer, 
 likewise, ended at Wood street. 
 
 A paid city fire department was organized in 1884. In 1888 the 
 Morgan street firehouse was erected. 
 
 Other improvements which came were enlarging of the water- 
 works, and establishment of a city lighting system. Their stories are 
 told in other chapters. 
 
 The Citizens Street Railway company was organized in 1883 and 
 Decatur began getting real street car service. The old Priest line was 
 discontinued. Free delivery of mail started in 1884. 
 
 Telephone service was being increased. In 1880 there had been 
 just fifty-five telephones in use in the city. Lines were now being 
 extended, however. In 1882 the line between Decatur and Spring- 
 field was installed. 
 
 Decatur had its first real city directory in 1883, and that brought 
 about the beginning of the system of house numbering now in use. 
 Decatur had had several city directories before this, but from the 
 time C. O. Ebel came and compiled a directory in 1883, Decatur has 
 had this record almost annually, a dependable volume which is a 
 history of Decatur in itself. 
 
 In 1884 the Wabash railroad shops were moved to Decatur from 
 Peoria. That was the beginning of the vast Wabash interests in 
 Decatur today. That is our biggest industry. 
 
328 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 The Decatur Coal company, which had been organized in 1881, 
 sunk two coal shafts. It also had a mine at Niantic. 
 
 The Powers Opera house was started in 1888, and was opened 
 in 1889. 
 
 Advance was being made in religious, social and school circles. 
 Among the new churches erected were the English Lutheran on North 
 Main street, the First Baptist on North Water street, German Meth- 
 odist at Jackson and North streets, and St. Paul's German Lutheran 
 on West Wood street. 
 
 In 1882 took place the great Harrison revival, which lasted 
 twenty-one weeks and resulted in 2,000 professions of conversion. 
 
 In December, 1888, the Congregational church was organized. 
 Rev. W. C. Miller was the first pastor. 
 
 The Decatur club was organized in 1883. 
 
 Oakland park was enjoying the height of its popularity, immense 
 crowds gathering there for temperance and other big meetings. 
 
 Jasper and Marietta schools were erected in this period. 
 
 The State Grange held its annual meeting in Decatur in January, 
 1883. 2 
 
 BUSINESS 
 
 New business enterprises were 
 being started all over the city. 
 Many of them are still in Decatur 
 today. Among them are the Bach- 
 man Brothers furniture store, 
 started in 1881 ; Bommersbach florist 
 
 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 
 
 ENGLISH LUTHERAN CHURCH 
 
DECATUR IN THE '80s 
 
 329 
 
 business, begun in 1881; Decatur Lumber company, started in 1888; 
 R. S. Bohon store, opened about 1883 ; and the V. H. Parke and Son 
 plant, established in 1887. V. H. Parke had come to Decatur in 1852 
 and first engaged in the livery business, then in the implement 
 business, being the first exclusive implement dealer in Decatur. 
 
 Young Brothers and Maris in 1882 began a wholesale grocery 
 business that for years supplied all Central Illinois. 
 
 In 1887 Spencer, Lehman & Co. began manufacturing and dealing 
 in implements and vehicles. Reed Spencer of that firm lived to the 
 age of ninety-four, passing away in August, 1930. The Spencer, Leh- 
 man & Co. was succeeded by the Tenney & Sikking company. 
 
 Other business enterprises started were Alexander, Westbay & 
 Co., manufacturers of double knee hose; Prescott music house; John 
 A. Keck company, box manufacturer; Bradley Brothers store; Scovill 
 furniture store ; George R. Bacon & Co., paper dealers ; J. H. Bevans, 
 book store; Decatur Iron Felloe Wagon company; Quinn and See- 
 forth, cigar manufacturers; Tait Brothers & Co., manufacturers of 
 corn planters, check rowers, harrows and other machinery; and vari- 
 ous others, like many named, leaders then, but now out of existence. 
 
 The Field and Wilson Plumbing company, which later became 
 the Field, Shorb & Co., was started in 1885 by W. C. Field and Fred 
 Wilson. 
 
 The Decatur Leader Manufacturing company plant, predecessor 
 to the Leader Iron works, was established in 1888 by Davis Brown. 
 It was incorporated as the Leader Iron works in 1903, the plant 
 having been purchased by W. C. Field, W. A. Shorb and others. In 
 1904 the company bought land in the northeast section of Decatur 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 GARFIELD MEMORIAL 
 
330 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 and erected a new plant. The old plant was located south of Fairview 
 park, in what is now Park Place. 
 
 It was during the '80s that the check rower industry in Decatur 
 was at its height. Other factories were flourishing. Much of the 
 advertising which Decatur was receiving in those days was due to 
 its successful manufacturing establishments, which were sending 
 their products all over the country. 
 
 On Sept. 27, 1881, Decatur did homage to President James A. 
 Garfield, whose death had resulted from an assassin's bullet. Memo- 
 rial services were held in Central park at the same time the funeral 
 was taking place in Cleveland, O. Buildings were draped in mourning; 
 flags were at half mast. From 12:30 to 1:30 bells were tolled. To 
 duplicate the scene at the funeral a catafalque was constructed, bear- 
 ing a draped casket, and drawn by four black horses belonging to J. B. 
 Bullard, undertaker. A picture of the catafalque was taken on Lincoln 
 square, at that time covered with grass. 
 
 1 Some of that first sidewalk, in front of the old J. W. Haworth home, at Jackson and 
 Eldorado, did duty for fifty years. About that first walk hangs an interesting tale. 
 
 The Haworths hired men from Chicago to lay that walk, which was put down in checker- 
 board style. The man in charge called himself "engineer of construction" and assumed an air of 
 great importance. Being the first work of the kind in the city, it attracted much attention. Spec- 
 tators were numerous. To the onlooker the greatest wonder was — how did they harden the con- 
 crete, after it was laid? 
 
 That gave the "engineer of construction" his chance to look wise and mysterious. When 
 asked as to the hardening process, he refused information. Not for all the world would he give up 
 his secret — it was worth millions to him. So the onlookers kept on wondering. 
 
 David Martin and Sullivan Burgess wanted to find out, but saw no chance to learn any- 
 thing from the high-hat "engineer". One day they mentioned the subject to John Grass. And 
 John Grass laughed. 
 
 "That concrete can't help but harden when it is made wet," he said. "If there's any secret, 
 it would be how to keep it from hardening." 
 
 Martin was skeptical, and asked Grass to try an experiment. If Grass would do the work, 
 Martin would furnish the material for a walk. Burgess contributed his share to the bargain by 
 agreeing to allow them the privilege (?) of putting their experimental walk in front of his home 
 on Morgan street. 
 
 So Martin provided the cement, gravel and sand, and Mr. Grass went to work. Martin 
 and Burgess insisted on the same checkerboard style of the Haworths. When Mr. Grass was 
 through, there was a walk, just as good as the Haworths. And the Haworths had paid 30 cents 
 a square foot for theirs ! 
 
 Mr. Grass was the hero of the day. The "secret" had been discovered, and there was no 
 secret to it. Cement walks had been introduced, and Decatur has been laying them ever since. 
 Naturally Grass had all the business he could handle. In fact, he kept on laying cement walks 
 until his death. 
 
 The first cement walk laid inside of a yard was at the George S. Durfee home at Main 
 and Cerro Gordo streets. This was the first walk laid off in squares. 
 
 2 The State Grange had met in Decatur before, in 1877, and one of the babies born in 
 Decatur while the meeting was in progress was "Jimmy" Laux. It was suggested that he be 
 named after James Golder, who was grand master of the Grange at that time. That name was 
 given him, and the old gentleman was so pleased that he gave the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles 
 Laux, a valuable gift for the child. 
 
 Mention of this fact was made at the meeting in 1883, and Master Jimmy Laux was 
 placed on a table and presented with a handsome silver cup, also a pocketbook filled with coins. 
 
THE COLORED PEOPLE 331 
 
 CHAPTER LIX 
 
 THE COLORED PEOPLE 
 
 BEN BERKSHIRE, who came to Macon county in 1834 with 
 James Geddes and John Sawyer, was the first colored resident 
 of the county. He had no surname, the name, Berkshire, being used 
 after he came here. Black Ben, as he was called, had a disfigured 
 hand, caused by having been burned by his master, when he was a 
 slave, either as a punishment or mark of identification. He may have 
 been running away from his master at the time he was picked up by 
 the two men, Geddes and Sawyer, who brought him along to Macon 
 county. 
 
 Ben remained with Geddes until Geddes married; then he lived 
 alone in a cabin that stood on a bluff near the river. It is the hill 
 which stands on the west side of the lake, south of the hard road 
 near the William street bridge. 
 
 That was his home until the time came when he was unable to 
 care for himself and he was then taken to the county farm, where he 
 died. He made his living by selling berries, fruits, game, and fish, 
 raising hogs, making and selling medicine. He gained a good reputa- 
 tion as a hunter and as a cook and he was taken along on many 
 hunting parties. 
 
 Dalton Stewart was the second man in the county called colored. 
 He was not a negro, being the son of a Choctaw Indian and a German 
 girl, but he married a colored woman, and chose to be considered a 
 member of that race. When Stewart was one day old, he and his 
 mother were stolen away by Germans who raided the Indian camp, 
 and the mother died. He lived in the German settlement until he was 
 seven years old, then was taken by his father to an Indian settlement, 
 at Wood River, 111. At the time of the Mexican war he was taken 
 along with Colonel John J. Hardin's regiment and was with the army 
 during that war. 
 
 After that Stewart spent five years in the west and northwest 
 among the Indians, as interpreter for the Choteau Fur Trading com- 
 pany. On his return he went to Springfield and there he was janitor 
 of the law office of Lincoln and Herndon and was employed at a barber 
 shop, where he often shaved Abraham Lincoln. 
 
 He bought a barber shop and went into business in Decatur Feb. 
 
332 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 ANTIOCH BAPTIST CHURCH 
 
 21, 1853, bringing with him Steve Stewart, who was the first colored 
 man in the city of Decatur and the second in the county. 
 
 Dalton Stewart's wife, who 
 had been Mary Dixon of Spring- 
 field, was the first colored woman 
 to come to Decatur to live. 
 
 Dalton Stewart had no edu- 
 cation in his youth but he was 
 anxious to learn and he borrowed 
 books and studied. He was a char- 
 ter member of the Decatur lodge of 
 colored Masons, and was some- 
 times called the father of the lodge. 
 He was a charter member also of 
 the colored Odd Fellows lodge in Decatur. He was energetic, educated 
 his children, and was a dependable citizen. 1 Finally old age overtook 
 him, he was unable to work, he lost his little home, and, despondent 
 over his lack of support and inability to make a living, he took his own 
 life Sept. 19, 1913. 
 
 A few other colored people came to Decatur before the Civil war. 
 They were free persons. After the war colored people began coming 
 in larger numbers. 
 
 In 1857 the Antioch Baptist church was organized with fourteen 
 members. Rev. Mr. Reasoner was the first pastor. The ground for a 
 church building was donated by Captain David L. Allen. The first 
 building erected stood a little east of the present one. In this building 
 the colored children first went to school. The church structure now 
 in use was built in 1907 when Rev. A. J. Crockett was pastor. 
 
 St. Peter's African Methodist church was organized in 1863 by 
 Elder F. Meyer. The organization 
 took place in the Masonic temple 
 building which stood on the pres- 
 ent site of the Citizens National 
 bank. Charles S. Jacobs was the 
 leader in the movement to organize. 
 For about two years services 
 were held at different places. Cap- 
 tain Allen offered to give two lots 
 for a building, with the restriction 
 that no debt ever be placed upon 
 the land and that if used for any st. peter'S a. m. e. church 
 
THE COLORED PEOPLE 333 
 
 other purpose it would revert to the Allen estate. In order to get a 
 clear title, the church purchased the ground, and a church building 
 was erected in 1865. That building burned down. Three other build- 
 ings have been erected since. The present church on the west side of 
 Greenwood avenue was erected in 1927. Rev. J. H. Sydes started the 
 building fund, Rev. I. M. D. Washington added to it, and Rev. R. H. 
 Hackley completed the building project. 
 
 On the first board of trustees, elected in 1864, were George Wins- 
 ton, Larkin Kindred and Charles S. Jacobs. When the first church 
 was built the basement was fitted up for school purposes, and school 
 was moved there from the Antioch Baptist church. It was continued 
 at that place until 1874 when colored children were admitted to the 
 public schools. 
 
 In recent years several churches of other denominations have 
 been organized among the colored people. 
 
 Colored Masons organized a lodge here July 15, 1874, officers of 
 the Springfield lodge being in charge. The organization took place 
 in the old Masonic building. The first officers were: Isaac Rogan, W. 
 M.; Gilbert Vernon, S. W. ; and Peter White, J. W. The lodge used 
 rented rooms until it purchased the house at 251 East Macon street 
 in September, 1928. 
 
 The Odd Fellows lodge was organized Sept. 29, 1882, by officers 
 of the Lincoln lodge. The first officers were : J. W. Woodford, H. Sin- 
 gleton, Dalton Stewart, Louis Stewart, W. H. Price, Henry Wells, 
 Stanton Fields and M. S. Randolph. 
 
 The colored people also have a strong Knights of Pythias order. 
 It was reorganized in 1906, M. F. Mumphus being named chancellor 
 commander. 
 
 St. Francis Court, Heroines of Jericho, was organized in 1878. 
 Mrs. Cornelia Hollinger was the first most ancient matron. 
 
 The Household of Ruth was organized in 1882. Mrs. Barbara 
 Rhodes was the first most noble governor. 
 
 Several other lodges have been organized by the colored people. 
 
 Decatur has a branch of the National Association for the 
 Advancement of Colored People. Included in its membership are both 
 white and colored people. Rev. E. M. Antrim, then pastor of the First 
 Methodist church, was the first local president and Mrs. Lillian 
 Buster, secretary. It has taken part in untangling differences and 
 promoting good fellowship between the races. 
 
 The Big Sisters club has done much charity work since it was 
 started in 1908 by Mrs. Lillian Jameson. 
 
334 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Isaac Rogan was the first colored man to be a member of the 
 board of supervisors of Macon county. He was an influential man, 
 and was active in St. Peter's church. 
 
 James Hollinger, who came to Decatur in 1862, served on the 
 board of supervisors for fourteen years. He was a barber by trade, 
 and was active in local politics. 
 
 Houston Singleton for forty years ran a restaurant on Lincoln 
 square, served on the board of supervisors twelve years, was a 
 prominent Mason, and was active in politics. He purchased the build- 
 ing in which he had his restaurant and when it burned he erected a 
 new one to take its place. He also built a handsome home at the 
 north edge of the city. 
 
 Cook Long was elected to the board of supervisors in 1920 but 
 his death occurred the same year. Mr. Singleton took his place. Fol- 
 lowing Mr. Singleton's death Dr. J. C. Ellis became supervisor. 
 
 Seven colored men have served on the police force. They were : 
 John Williamson, Avho served twenty-one years; Thomas Miller, John 
 Moore, W. C. King, Shadrick Kemp, who served fourteen years ; Mon- 
 roe Denny and Charles C. Johnson. 
 
 Wayman Wilkerson, who lived in Decatur a number of years and 
 who was a deputy sheriff for four years, later became a banker and 
 undertaker at Memphis, Tenn. 
 
 Louis Stewart, son of Dalton Stewart, was the first colored man 
 to be employed in federal service. He was a postman for thirty-two 
 years. Baker Nickens was the second in federal service. He served 
 as mail carrier for ten years or more. Carl Watkins, W. H. Hammons 
 and J. Harry Johnson were other colored men who became mail 
 carriers. 
 
 SOLDIERS 
 
 Decatur has furnished a number of soldiers from the ranks of 
 colored people. Many men who fought in the Civil war have lived 
 in Decatur, but there is record of only two having enlisted from here. 
 They were John Bird and Richard (Dock) Steward. 
 
 In the Spanish-American war and in the World war colored men 
 went from here to serve in the army. 
 
 During the World war ten or twelve colored men were in the 
 Eighth Illinois, later the Three Hundred Seventieth U. S. infantry, 
 which. saw service in France and which was one of four negro regi- 
 ments to receive the Croix de Guerre award from the French military 
 authorities for heroism. 
 
THE COLORED PEOPLE 335 
 
 Harry Pearson of the Three Hundred Seventieth and Joel Motley 
 of the Three Hundred Sixty-seventh, both of Decatur, were among 
 those receiving individual citations for bravery. 
 
 Harry Warfield was the first colored Decatur youth to die in 
 France in the World war and the American Legion post made up of 
 colored men was named for him. 
 
 Decatur has had several colored physicians, Dr. Majors being 
 the first. Later came Dr. H. C. Ganaway, who was killed in an I. T. S. 
 wreck at Staunton in 1910; Dr. Harry Buster, Dr. Luke Parker and 
 Dr. J. C. Ellis. 
 
 Dr. Stephen Duncan, dentist, located here about 1921, but left 
 owing to ill health. Dr. Clarence Allen was the next colored dentist, 
 but he remained only two years. The third colored dentist here was 
 Dr. Francis C. Rogan, who has been practicing here since 1925. 
 
 Dr. George E. Lee, chiropodist, has had an office here for a 
 number of years, first in the Rodgers shoe store and now in the 
 Standard Life building. 
 
 Robert R. Rogan was first colored boy graduate from Decatur high 
 school. That was in 1882. Laura White was first colored girl graduate. 
 
 Since then many colored students have graduated, and many of 
 them have won high places in their chosen lines of work. Some who 
 have attended James Millikin university have won honors there. 
 Edwin Sheen, '25, was an honor student each year of his course there 
 and won the University of Illinois scholarship, receiving his A. M. 
 degree from that school in 1926. 
 
 Gradually the number of business concerns run by colored people 
 has increased. In factories and other industries they are attaining 
 better positions. As a race they are putting the hardships of the past 
 behind them and reaching upward to a higher goal. 
 
 So far in this chapter most space has been given to men — their 
 achievements in politics, business and other ways. Some reference 
 should be made to women, but space does not permit specific reference. 
 Many colored women have long been known for their faithful, helpful, 
 kindly service, much of it inspired by loving hearts and given for 
 small reward. Some of these women, as well as many more men, are 
 spoken of somewhat in detail in a history of the colored people of 
 Decatur written by Mrs. Marie Gray Baker in 1929, the history from 
 which the material for this chapter is taken. 
 
 1 Dalton Stewart had the distinction of being the first colored man in Decatur to cast 
 
 a vote after the 15th Amendment went into effect. The occasion was more or less notable. Stewart 
 
 and Dr. George W. McMillan, an Old Hickory Democrat, locked arms and went to the polls in 
 the old court house, and cast their ballots. 
 
336 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 CHAPTER LX 
 
 GAVE TWICE ONE FORTUNE 
 
 REV. HIRAM 
 BUCK 
 
 TO receive the same fortune twice is an experience that rarely 
 happens, but that was the good luck of Illinois Wesleyan uni- 
 versity at Bloomington, 111., due to the philanthropy of two of Deca- 
 tur's most interesting citizens, Rev. and Mrs. Hiram 
 Buck. Their name is perpetuated in the Buck 
 Memorial library of that institution. 
 
 Hiram Buck, presiding elder of the Methodist 
 Episcopal church, was a resident of Decatur thirty- 
 two years. Mr. Buck joined the Illinois Methodist 
 Conference in 1843, and served in the ministry for 
 fifty years, most of the time as a presiding elder. A 
 man of wide influence, a church leader, an able or- 
 ganizer, he was honored both in the Methodist 
 church and outside. 
 
 Elder Buck was one of the founders and in- 
 corporators of Illinois Wesleyan university at 
 Bloomington in 1853, and was a member of its board 
 for the rest of his life. When he passed away, his 
 wife took his place on the board. The university was always near to 
 his heart, and some time before his death he gave the institution a 
 half section of land to be used as endowment. Some time later the 
 school was badly in need of money, and asked the consent of. Mrs. 
 Buck to sell the land. She advised against it, realizing that the land 
 was increasing in value, but so badly was money needed by the school 
 that she gave her approval. When the land was put up for sale, she 
 was not satisfied with the price offered, so she bought back the land 
 herself. By this deal the university came into possession of $60,000. 
 
 About three years before her death Mrs. Buck made an offer to 
 Wesleyan to give the school all her property at her death, on condi- 
 tion that $325,000 be raised to pay off existing debts on the school. 
 Mrs. Buck at that time owned nearly 1,000 acres of land in Douglas 
 county, valued at $200,000 to $250,000. She stipulated that $200,000 
 was to go for a library building at Wesleyan. 
 
 The requirement as to raising the $325,000 was met by the citizens 
 of Bloomington and Normal, and the Methodist church, and as a 
 
GAVE TWICE ONl FORTUNE 337 
 
 result Wesleyan within a few years had its beautiful new Buck 
 Memorial library. Tt was dedicated in 1923. 
 
 Mr. Buck had acquired his extensive land holdings about the time 
 of the Civil war or before, when land could still be had at $1.25 an 
 acre. Its rise in value made him a rich man, and his wife, knowing 
 his life-long interest in Wesleyan, realized that it would be his wish 
 that the university profit by it after her death. 
 
 A PIONEER 
 
 Mrs. Buck was one of the pioneers of Douglas county. Her 
 maiden name was Martha Hammet, and she came to Douglas county 
 with her parents when she was three years old. For seven weeks the 
 family lived in a tent, then in a squatter's cabin, without floor or 
 chimney, and with not even the cracks between the logs chinked. In 
 later years Mrs. Buck spoke of the days of her childhood, when there 
 were no mills, no schools, no roads, no churches, when Indians fre- 
 quently visited them and were so curious about the white "papoose" 
 of the family that her mother feared they might carry the baby off. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Buck were married in 1846. She was a strong, cap- 
 able woman. Mr. Buck, who was a man of striking personality, was 
 fond of horses, and delighted in a good horse race. It was a familiar 
 sight to see him going about the city mounted on horseback. 
 
 Mr. Buck passed away in 1892 and Mrs. Buck in 1918. 
 
338 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 CHAPTER LXI 
 DISTINGUISHED VISITORS 
 
 MACON county always welcomes its distinguished visitors. Bryan 
 day, Oct. 23, 1896, became a sort of gauge by which to measure 
 crowds in Decatur. It probably drew more people from out of the 
 city than any occasion before or since that time. 
 
 It was estimated that 30,000 people came from outside Decatur. 
 Special trains were run into the city from various points and all 
 regular trains carried special coaches. One special train, from Van- 
 dalia, carrying 1,500 people, was delayed and arrived too late to par- 
 ticipate in the parade. To save further delay, passengers left the 
 train at the Wood street crossing. 
 
 About a dozen bands were here from other cities and took part 
 in the parade. The procession, which took place in the morning, was 
 the first event of the day. Floats, bands, wagons, carriages, people 
 carrying flags and wild with enthusiasm over the visit of William J. 
 Bryan, candidate for president of the United States, made the parade 
 a gay and colorful event. 
 
 WILLIAM J. BRYAN IN DECATUR 
 Left to right — Mrs. Bryan, Mr. Bryan's secretary, M. C. Irish, Oscar Mueller (below), 
 
 H. Mueller, Mr. Bryan. 
 
DISTINGUISHED VISITORS 339 
 
 The special train which brought Mr. Bryan came over the P. D. 
 and E. It made a stop at Eldorado street, where a committee of 150 
 met the distinguished guest. Hieronymus Mueller's motor wagon was 
 there to transport Mr. Bryan to Central park. In the motor wagon 
 with him rode Mr. Mueller and his son, Oscar, M. C. Irish, Mrs. 
 Bryan, and Mr. Bryan's secretary. 
 
 When the car reached Central park, the crowd was so dense that 
 it was impossible for Mr. Bryan to get from the car to the stand 
 which had been built for the occasion. Hence, he stood up and gave 
 his speech from the motor wagon. The car went on to Lincoln square, 
 where Mr. Bryan spoke again. Another surging mass of humanity 
 filled the streets there. 
 
 That motor wagon, by the way, attracted no small amount of 
 attention in itself. Remember, it was Decatur's first and Decatur 
 thought it was showing no small honor to the presidential candidate 
 to provide the new type of vehicle to convey him from the station. 
 Mr. Bryan also was duly impressed. It was his first ride in an 
 automobile. 
 
 From Lincoln square Mr. Bryan was taken north to the Wabash 
 crossing where his train was waiting. He made a few remarks as he 
 boarded the train, saying he was sorry it was impossible to shake 
 hands with every one. 
 
 Mr. Bryan spoke in Decatur a number of times, but never did he 
 have the reception which was given him during the campaign of 1896. 
 Twice he appeared at chautauquas, on Aug. 25, 1909, at Wilson park 
 (now Faries park) and in 1921 at Woodbine park (now Camp Sey- 
 mour). He was here on other occasions, also. 
 
 GRANT REUNION 
 
 One of Decatur's big days was the occasion of the visit of General 
 U. S. Grant, when he was the guest of honor at the reunion of the 
 Macon County Veterans association and the Twenty-first Illinois 
 Regiment, commonly known as Grant's Regiment. It was held on 
 Oct. 6-7, 1880. 
 
 A salute of forty-six guns awakened the people the first day of 
 the reunion. Grant and his party were met at the station by a big 
 crowd, including military organizations, bands, committees and citi- 
 zens. During his stay here General Grant was entertained at the home 
 of Richard J. Oglesby. 
 
 That night a big meeting was held at the tabernacle, at which the 
 speakers were General Grant, General John A. Logan, General R. J. 
 
340 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Oglesby and General J. H. Moore. Business of the organizations in 
 charge of the reunion was transacted at this session. 
 
 The next day the reunion proper was held at the fair grounds 
 (now Fairview park) and thousands of people gathered there. It was 
 called Camp Sheridan for the day. Various bands were present and 
 furnished concerts. Drills were given by veterans and by National 
 Guards, and there were speeches and various other entertainment 
 features. Among the speakers that day was General Gus A. Smith. 
 
 At night a public reception was held in the tabernacle and again 
 crowds swarmed to the place to get the opportunity to see and to 
 hear and to meet General Grant. 
 
 Among the things said by General Grant on the occasion of this 
 reunion was that he hoped all sectional strife would soon be wiped 
 out in the country and that the people would vie with each other in 
 upholding the flag. He was confident that it would be done and the 
 day would come when one would hear nothing about sections. 
 
 Grant was accompanied to Decatur by General and Mrs. Logan, 
 and by his son, Jesse Grant. 
 
 WILLIAM II . TAFT 
 
 Crowds jammed Lincoln square and the James Millikin university 
 in 1911, when President William Howard Taft honored the city with 
 his presence and gave two eloquent addresses. 
 
 He was here on Feb. 11, and the theme of his address was "Reci- 
 procity", the prevailing topic of discussion at the time. At the transfer 
 house a speaker's stand had been erected, and from it President Taft 
 
 addressed the en- 
 thusiastic thou- 
 sands who packed 
 the square. Lion. 
 W. B. McKinley 
 was with the presi- 
 
 dent, 
 
 who in 
 
 his 
 
 ROOSEVELT AT J. M. U. DEDICATION 
 
 At the right can be seen Robert I. Hunt. Next is Wilson M. 
 
 Bering. Beyond him in rear is George W. Mueller. 
 
 speech commended 
 the work of Con- 
 gressman M c K i n - 
 ley. 
 
 THEODORE ROOSEVELT 
 
 Hon. Theodore 
 Roosevelt was a 
 Decatur visitor sev- 
 eral times, one time 
 
342 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 while president of the United States. At that time he gave the 
 dedicatory address at the dedication of the James Millikin university 
 June 4, 1903. On that day he spoke also at the Wabash station before 
 his train left. 
 
 WILLIAM MCKINLEY 
 
 President William McKinley stopped in Decatur in the fall of 
 1898 while touring the country following the close of the Spanish- 
 American war. He was greeted at the railroad station by a crowd of 
 people, and spoke to them for about five minutes from a flat car. 
 Among those in his party on that occasion were Secretary of the 
 Treasury Lyman J. Gage, Senator Shelby M. Cullom and Governor 
 John R. Tanner. 
 
 RUTHERFORD B. HAYES 
 
 Decatur entertained a distinguished visitor on Oct. 31, 1880, 
 when President Rutherford B. Hayes and party passed through the 
 city. A stop was made at the station for a few moments, and many 
 folks had the opportunity to see the president. 
 
 POLITICAL GATHERINGS 
 
 Political campaigns have brought together many big crowds in 
 this city. One of the largest gatherings in the '80s was in 1884 when 
 Carter Harrison was here in the interests of his candidacy for 
 governor. 
 
 DEBATE 
 
 In 1866 20,000 people was a big crowd for Decatur, but that 
 many enthusiastic folks got together in the fall of that year in the 
 grove south of town 'to hear General John A. Logan and Colonel T. 
 Lyle Dickey, candidates for congressman-at-large, debate. Wagons, 
 loaded with men, women and children, and with the national colors 
 flying, poured into Decatur that October day to hear the two men 
 argue politics. Women adorned themselves with sashes of red, white 
 and blue. Horses and vehicles carried the national colors. It was a 
 gala day. 
 
 General Logan denied emphatically the rumor that he had raised 
 a regiment in southern Illinois for rebel service in the war, which he 
 had been accused of doing. Dickey didn't let the opportunity pass to 
 accuse his opponent of disloyalty. So the battle of words went on. 
 Each candidate had his friends and his foes on that occasion. 
 
DISTINGUISHED VISITORS 343 
 
 ONE FALSE 
 
 One visitor, to whom Decatur accorded honors, was sailing 
 under false pretenses, it was afterwards learned. For other fraudulent 
 acts he spent many years in prison. 
 
 That man was Dr. Frederick A. Cook, who claimed the honor 
 of discovering the North Pole. He passed through Decatur on Oct. 8, 
 1909, enroute from St. Louis to Chicago. The train stopped at the 
 West Main crossing to take President A. R. Taylor of the university 
 on board. Dr. Cook stood on the rear platform and smiled and 
 bowed to the crowd gathered there. When he reached the Wabash 
 station thousands were there to greet him and he made a brief talk, 
 saying that "it was well worth while going to the pole and suffering 
 hardships to do so, to get such a greeting". 
 
 It was only a few days after this, that Robert E. Peary submitted 
 his proofs that Dr. Cook had never reached the North Pole. 
 
344 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 CHAPTER LXII 
 
 SOME DECATUR LANDMARKS 
 
 DECATUR has left few reminders of the early days, but some 
 remained until comparatively recent years and are still remem- 
 bered by many citizens. 
 
 The old covered bridge, the type that now has almost entirely 
 disappeared, crossed the Sangamon where the county bridge now 
 crosses the lake near the impounding dam. It was probably the first 
 bridge built in the county, for it was on an important road, the road 
 to Shelbyville, which intersected the old Springfield-Paris road south 
 of Decatur. All travel from the south, the east or the west, came by 
 these roads. No doubt Abraham Lincoln crossed the Sangamon, at 
 the point where the old covered bridge afterwards was built, when 
 he came to Macon county in 1830. 
 
 The exact year of its erection is not known, but it stood for nearly 
 sixty years. It was a good bridge in its day, and though built of 
 wood, outlasted many iron bridges. 
 
 The old bridge was replaced by a new bridge in 1913. The new 
 bridge was raised 14 feet and new approaches built, in 1921, when 
 Lake Decatur was formed. 
 
 One time in 1880, when the old county bridge was closed to 
 teams, for repairs, the farmers had no way to cross the river, and 
 Captain David L. Allen made repairs on his old ferry boat to put 
 into use for the benefit of the farmers until the bridge was reopened. 
 
 OLD COVERED BRIDGE 
 
SOME DECATUR LANDMARKS 
 
 345 
 
 
 
 
 111 
 
 |S 
 
 
 
 *&£**. 
 
 
 ALLEN'S HOME AT ALLEN'S BEND 
 
 CAPTAIN ALLEN HOME 
 
 The last home of Captain David L. Allen on the bluff at Allen's 
 bend of the Sangamon stood for years after the death of Captain 
 
 Allen to remind one of 
 the genial old gentle- 
 man who did so much 
 for Decatur. With its 
 eight sided tower lift- 
 ing its head above it, 
 the building never 
 failed to attract atten- 
 tion. It was near where 
 the Mueller lodge now 
 is. Capt. Allen bought 
 the original 40 acres of 
 his land along the river, 
 in 1865, and later he 
 erected the house in 
 which he spent his de- 
 clining years, having disposed of his house on the east side of Water 
 street, north of North. 
 
 The Muellers bought the last of the Allen estate (then about 70 
 acres) after Laura, daughter of Captain Allen, died. That was the 
 beginning of the Mueller holdings south of the river. 
 
 Captain Allen built the octagonal tower, it was said, for an 
 apiary. 
 
 Allen's bend in the river is no 
 more, since the creation of the lake, 
 but mention of it brings to many 
 the memory of moonlight boat 
 rides on the quiet waters of the 
 Sangamon. 
 
 DRUG STORE CORNER 
 
 One of Decatur's landmarks is 
 the store building now occupied by 
 West's drug store. That corner 
 has been the location of a drug 
 store since away back in the '40s. 
 
 In the building which first oc- 
 cupied that corner William Cantrill 
 established a general store in 1833. west drug store corner 
 
346 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 He was there until 1844, and during several years of that time served 
 as postmaster. In 1844 Crissey & Deffenbach established a drug store 
 there. Mr. Crissey later became the sole owner, and moved his stock 
 to another location. Then a tailor shop occupied the room. Herbert & 
 Potter, physicians, had their office there next, and they were followed 
 by Dr. Baldwin. 
 
 In 1852 Dr. James F. Roberts established a drug store on the 
 corner, and a drug store has been there ever since. He bought the 
 site from William Prather May 19, 1857, and in 1861 erected the brick 
 building which still stands. Dr. Roberts ran the store many years, 
 then sold to W. C. Armstrong, who, in turn, sold to E. A. West, the 
 present proprietor, in 1892. Three proprietors in a period of seventy- 
 eight years is remarkable. 
 
 The Roberts store became a general meeting place. Mr. Roberts 
 was jolly and affable and made many friends. The store for many 
 years had an outside stairway with balcony at the second floor, and 
 from this balcony war bulletins, proclamations and announcements 
 of any public nature were made. Lowber Burrows read most of the 
 Civil war dispatches. Sometimes John Moreland, court crier, took his 
 place. It was literally true that Moreland could be heard all over 
 town, for he had a big voice and the town wasn't very large. 
 
 For many years all levels in the city were taken from the door 
 sill of the West drug store. Engineers set their instruments on the 
 iron door sill at the front of the building, when they wanted to take 
 levels for street grading and paving. 
 
 The old iron stairway and balcony were removed in 1912. 
 
 Mr. West has in his possession an old prescription book used in 
 the store in years gone by. Prescriptions for some of the leading 
 business men of the city appear in that book. Among them are the 
 following: 
 
 Ayers LeForgee's Hair Tonic. O. B. Gorin's Pills. 
 
 Dinges Blood Purifier. Cologne for Mueller. 
 
 Dingman's Diarrhea Medicine. Dr. Parker's Cholera Remedy. 
 
 Powers Liniment. Packard's Eye Wash. 
 
 Warnick's Liniment. Brown Dye for Mr. Millikin. 
 
 cassell's CASTLE 
 
 Cassell's Castle on Cassell's hill, long a landmark in Decatur, was 
 erected in 1886 by Berry H. Cassell. It contained twenty-two rooms, 
 finished in hardwood, and was one of the finest homes in the neigh- 
 borhood. It stood on the hill between the Illinois Central railroad 
 and Hilton street, near Prairie, which now contains a huge I. P. L. 
 gas tank. 
 
SOME DECATUR LANDMARKS 
 
 347 
 
 CASSELL'S CASTLE 
 
 It was on the site of this residence that Richard J. Oglesby made 
 his first political speech in 1842. The occasion was a Fourth of July 
 
 celebration and Oglesby was one of 
 the orators of the day. Henry Elliott 
 read the Declaration of Independ- 
 ence. The hill at that time was cov- 
 ered with trees. 
 
 The Cassell house was de- 
 stroyed by fire in 1915, and was not 
 rebuilt. 
 
 COTTONWOOD TREE 
 
 Most everyone remembers the 
 old cottonwood tree which stood in 
 the middle of the Bloomington road, 
 in front of the William Downing 
 homestead north of Decatur. Several times it came near getting the 
 ax, but each time Mr. Downing and other residents made such protests 
 that the tree was saved. However, finally in 1916, when the road be- 
 came a state aid road, and state authorities ordered its removal, the 
 tree had to go. It was then nearly 100 years old. 
 
 The tree was valued not only because of early day recollections, 
 but because it was used to reckon 
 distances. It was just exactly two 
 miles north of the court house. It 
 stood on the north and south section 
 line, and only a few feet off the east 
 and west section line. 
 
 The earliest residents of the 
 county said the tree was there when 
 they came, but it was then only a 
 sapling. Parmenius Smallwood, who 
 came in 1829, settled on the land on 
 which the tree stood. There was no 
 road there then, and one day a team- 
 ster drove astraddle the tree and 
 bent it. Mr. Smallwood then de- 
 cided to build a little fence around 
 the tree and save it from further 
 damage. The fence stood for many 
 years, until the tree was big enough 
 to need no such protection. THE big tree 
 
348 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 T. J. Braden said that his father had brought the rails from the 
 timber to build the fence around the tree. 
 
 When the Bloomington road was laid out, the tree was in the 
 center of the road, but the people of that vicinity wanted the tree 
 saved and it was allowed to stand. They considered it a benefit 
 instead of an obstruction to traffic. Dozens of times on a hot day, 
 travelers on the road stopped to rest their teams and themselves in 
 its cooling shade. 
 
 Sentiment had to give way when the road was graded for the 
 state aid improvement in 1916, and' Bloomington road travelers 
 finally lost their old friend. 
 
 coulter's mill 
 
 Coulter's Mill, about ten miles northeast of Decatur on the 
 Sangamon river, has been a favorite spot for many years for the 
 fisherman. The ground around the mill is admirably situated for 
 camping purposes, and the fish in the river right there are just waiting 
 to bite, it seems. At least that is the place where everybody has gone 
 for years to catch the finny tribe. 
 
 The mill was owned by the Coulter family for more than forty 
 years. The land was bought by William Coulter from a man named 
 Garrett in 1874, and Mr. Coulter proceeded to erect a mill. It was a 
 three story building, run at first by water power. Years afterwards 
 the mill was moved to higher ground, as its timbers were rotting 
 away. After the change, gasoline power was used. Mr. Coulter ran 
 the mill for thirty-three years, then moved to Oklahoma, and his 
 son-in-law, Simon Mayberry, continued to run it until 1913. The mill 
 was designed for wheat grinding, but afterwards ground mostly 
 corn and buckwheat. T. A. Gooch bought the place in 1914. Mr. 
 
 Coulter died in Guymon, Okla., 
 in 1912. 
 
 COLLEGE HILL 
 
 If you went to see the circus 
 in the early days of Decatur, you 
 usually went to the Mound, callec? 
 College, hill, the present site of the 
 A. E. Staley and C. E. England 
 homes. Before any homes were 
 built on that hill, the summit of it 
 was much higher than it is today. 
 coulter's mill Considerable ground was taken off 
 
 Showing old dam, also old water wheel 111 
 
 which furnished power for grinding. when the houses were erected. 
 
SOME DECATUR LANDMARKS 349 
 
 For many years the hill was used as public property. There the 
 Civil war companies met to organize. Children used it for a play- 
 ground. Once a big tabernacle was erected for the state Sunday 
 school convention. 
 
 At one time Rev. William S. Crissey had made an attempt to 
 secure a college in Decatur, and he offered the Mound as the site 
 for it. The effort to secure the institution failed. Provision was made 
 in the offer of Rev. Mr. Crissey that buildings be erected within ten 
 years. No one was particularly interested in the idea and the ground 
 was not considered a very desirable site, so the offer went unheeded. 
 Rev. Mr. Crissey had laid out the square about 1840. 
 
 After the effort to get a school established had failed, Rev. Mr. 
 Crissey bequeathed the property to the Missionary society of the 
 Methodist Episcopal church of Illinois. There was no such society, 
 and the property reverted to the heirs. 
 
 It was this effort to start a college which gave the hill the name 
 of College hill. 
 
 The houses on the hill were erected in the early '80s by William 
 B. Chambers and William J. Quinlan, both members of the firm of 
 Chambers, Bering & Quinlan. The finest of wood was used in the 
 houses and they were well built. The Quinlan house cost $28,000. 
 These two houses were among the best and handsomest in the city 
 at the time they were erected. Today, after being remodeled and 
 improved, the same can be said of them. 
 
 The Quinlan home was sold in 1891 to William H. Ennis who 
 lived there some years. In 1913 it was bought by A. E. Staley, the 
 present occupant. The Chambers home was sold about 1886 to Silas 
 Packard, who lived there until his death. Afterwards, in 1915, the 
 property was bought by J. T. Whitley, who in turn sold it to the 
 present owner, C. E. England. 
 
 IMBODEN SPRINGS 
 
 In the early '60s John Imboden bought a tract of twelve acres 
 south and west of the old square, and built a slaughter house thereon. 
 It was necessary to have water and so he hired a well digger to dig 
 him a well. 
 
 The digging for the well had progressed to a depth of 30 feet 
 without striking anything out of the ordinary. One evening the well 
 diggers knocked off work as usual. The next morning when they 
 went to work they were surprised to find that the well was not only 
 full of water but was furnishing a small river which was pouring 
 down over the hill. 
 
350 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 The odor reminded people of a match factory and one bystander 
 suggested that probably by some means the diggers had tapped the 
 claim of his Satanic majesty. 
 
 Mr. Imboden did some thinking right then and there. As a result 
 he built a reservoir at the lower end of the place, walled it with rock 
 and then laid a pipe line from the well to the place, and the work of 
 "healing the sick and the afflicted" began. There was mineral in the 
 water, and many people thought they were benefited by it. Mr. Im- 
 boden did not commercialize the place, however. It was open to every- 
 one and free. 
 
 Another idea was presented to Mr. Imboden's mind, that of 
 having a skating rink in the winter. He built a dam across a ravine 
 in the hollow and soon had a lake. It became very popular as a skating 
 rink among the young folks of the city. A bath house also was erected 
 and mineral baths were advertised, but, boo-oo — the water was too 
 cold to make that popular. 
 
 The spring remained many years, though its popularity waned. 
 After Mr. Imboden's death the land was platted and sold, and when 
 streets were graded the spring was covered up. It burst out again 
 when a sewer was being laid, making trouble for the workmen, but 
 concrete work put a final stop to the flow of water. 
 
 The spring was in use as late as 1900. It was south of the west 
 end of Spring street, off of Greenwood avenue. 
 
DFXATUR IN THE '90s 
 
 351 
 
 CHAPTER LXIII 
 
 DECATUR IN THE '90s 
 
 DECATUR was having its fun back in the "Gay Nineties", but it 
 also was having one of the most interesting periods of its devel- 
 opment as a city. Replacing of old frame or brick buildings, relics of 
 other days, with modern three to seven story business structures 
 featured that development. They are buildings which are in use 
 today. Decatur had awakened to the fact that it had become a city, 
 and it went about the task of making itself look like one, particularly 
 in its business district. 
 
 This period saw the beginning and expansion of many of the 
 big interests here today, including the Mueller and Faries factories. 
 It saw the continuation of public improvements, such as paving, 
 sewers and waterworks. In 1891 the sum of $66,288 was spent on 
 sewers. The following year the system was expanded to the extent 
 of $39,065. Those were great sums in those days. 
 
 The first part of the decade was a flourishing one. In the year 
 1891 the total cost of buildings erected in Decatur was $1,166,088. 
 The next year the amount passed $2,000,000. Then came the hard 
 times of 1893 and 1894 and the effect was felt in the building line. In 
 1893, only $900,000 was spent on buildings; in 1894, only $600,000. 
 
 But Decatur didn't stand still 
 long. By 1895 the city had recov- 
 ered its former stride, and was go- 
 ing strong. That year the sum of 
 $1,300,000 was invested in building. 
 By the end of the decade Deca- 
 tur had among its new buildings 
 The Review four story brick at 
 North and North Main streets, an 
 addition to the high school, a new 
 transfer house, Syndicate block, 1 
 the Millikin building", Morehouse & 
 Wells building, Pasfield building, 
 addition to Loeb building on North 
 Water, Young Brothers and Maris 
 building on East Cerro Gordo, 
 court house, 1892 Mattes brick company plant, De- 
 
352 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 catur Cereal company mill, Mueller plant on Cerro Gordo, Shella- 
 barger mill additions, Pugh, H. B. Durfee, Oakland and Warren 
 schools, the beginning of the Wabash and Illinois Central stations, 
 
 Faries factory, Library 
 block (first and second), 
 Bohon block, Guards Arm- 
 ory, Temple block, Win- 
 gate block, Mueller Plumb- 
 ing and Heating company 
 building, new St. Nicholas 
 hotel, Parke and Sons ware- 
 house and court house. 
 New churches included the 
 Congregational, St. Johan- 
 nes' Lutheran, Cumberland 
 Presbyterian, Christian 
 tabernacle, East Park Bap- 
 tist, First Presbyterian and 
 St. John's Episcopal. 
 
 In 1895 occurred the 
 fire which destroyed the 
 Powers block on South 
 Water street, and the re- 
 building of that block and 
 the Powers Opera house. 
 
 STORES AND INDUSTRIES 
 
 Some of the big stores 
 
 ST. JOHANNES' LUTHERAN CHURCH, 1892 
 
 in Decatur today had their start during this period, 
 among them the Gushard, Stewart and H. S. Geb- 
 hart dry goods companies. Other stores started then 
 and still in business are the Bell drug store, the 
 Folrath shoe store and the Decatur drug company 
 store. Wholesale firms beginning business were D. 
 F. Riddell company, Stadler and McClelland com- 
 pany, and Mueller, Piatt and Wheeland company. 
 
 The Faries Manufacturing company was organ- 
 ized in 1894. Robert Faries had started years before 
 as a workman, then opened a small shop on Herki- 
 mer street, as East Grand avenue was then called. 
 Additions were made from time to time. When the 
 Faries Manufacturing Company was organized, he 
 
 ROBERT FARIES 
 
DECATUR IN THE '90s 
 
 353 
 
 PRATT CEREAL MILL 
 (Later site of Staley plant.) 
 
 became the president, \Y. K. Surface vice-president and superinten- 
 dent, and E. P. Irving secretary-treasurer. Many of the articles manu- 
 factured by this company were inventions of Mr. Faries. 
 
 Fixtures of various kinds, lamp holders, boiler tube cleaners, 
 gun cleaning rods, check rower wire, and various other articles were 
 made by the firm. 
 
 The Decatur 
 Cereal mill, which 
 in later years be- 
 came the nucleus of 
 the Staley Manu- 
 facturing com- 
 pany's plant, was 
 erected in 1895. It 
 had a capacity of 
 grinding ten car 
 loads of corn a day. 
 The mill was built 
 by the Pratts. F. M. Pratt and R. E. Pratt had been in the grain 
 business in Decatur since 1880. In 1891 they organized the Decatur 
 Union Elevator company, the name being changed later to the Decatur 
 Cereal Mill company. The Pratts had branch offices in a number of 
 cities in the middle west. 
 
 W. H. Sufrern moved his grain business from Pierson to Decatur 
 in 1891, and was joined in 1892 by Robert I. Hunt. The company, 
 incorporated as Surlern, Hunt & Co., erected a mill later at Union 
 street and the AVabash. The same men in 1907 built a cereal mill at 
 Eldorado and Van Dyke. It burned in 1909. 
 
 The U. S. Wire Mat company was incorporated in 1892. Frank 
 P. Wells was general manager and treasurer, and C. M. Hurst secre- 
 tary. It developed a business which has extended all over the world. 
 It now is the U. S. Manufacturing corporation, with J. L. Bennett 
 as president. 
 
 The Decatur Trunk factory was started in 1890. 
 The Home Manufacturing company, garment makers, was organ- 
 ized about 1896 by C. M. Allison and Fred H. Benham. The latter 
 did not remain in the business long. It is now run by Allison's son- 
 in-law, John H. McEvoy. 
 
 The Macon County Farmers' institute was started in 1895. 
 The present transfer house was built in 1895, costing $2,700. It 
 was paid for by subscriptions from merchants and property owners 
 
354 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 adjacent to the square. The Street Railway company donated $500 
 and agreed to furnish and maintain the building. 
 
 More and more Decatur was taking on the conveniences and 
 dignity of a city. New buildings required elevators. Pianos were 
 replacing reed organs in the homes. Brick sidewalks were being laid. 
 The period was marked by the popularity of scroll work in decorating 
 houses. Many a house with this fancywork pattern of architecture 
 still stands. 
 
 Decatur had its first automobile in the '90s and it attracted 
 about as much attention as anything that had struck the city up to 
 that time. It was the Benz motor wagon belonging to Hieronymus 
 Mueller. It came from Germany, arriving April 25, 1895. Everybody 
 in town was out to see the new rubber-tired road wagon that ran 
 without horses. Horses, by the way, ran from it — they were frightened 
 at the new-fangled vehicle, which went down the street in a burst of 
 noise and glory — and also dust. 
 
 Life was gay in the '90s. There was no suffering from lack of 
 entertainment. 
 
 Outdoor recreation spots were popular. Oakland and Riverside 
 parks were at the heydey of their careers. Fairview was being 
 
 — Photo by J. E. Jeering. 
 DECATUR GROUP AT MACKINAW, SEPT. 9, 1891 
 Left to right— Mrs. Worsham, Mrs. B. F. Sibley, Mrs. I. W. Ehrman, John R. Miller, Mrs. 
 J. J. Peddecord, Mrs. J. G. Cloyd, Mrs. J. L. Peake, Mrs. John R. Miller, Mrs. M. A. Cloyd, 
 J. G. Cloyd. 
 
DECATUR IN THE '90s 
 
 355 
 
 developed as a city park. Excursions to other places attracted many. 
 A favorite spot for many of Decatur's leading citizens was Mackinaw, 
 near Peoria. A delightful camping ground along the P. D. & E. rail- 
 road, with plenty of fish in the Mackinaw river waiting for the hook, 
 was too much of a temptation to be missed. A picture shows a 
 Decatur group at Mackinaw on a camping excursion arranged by 
 John R. Miller. In the background can be seen the railroad trestle. 
 Mr. Miller had a cottage there, as did eight or ten others. 
 
 At home electric street cars were still so novel that everyone 
 must go trolley riding. Trolley parties were the rage. Gay young 
 folks chartered a car for an evening, and had a big thrill in going 
 over the street car lines. 
 
 Bicycles had the same place in the hearts of the travel-loving 
 public as the automobiles of a generation later. The first bicycles, 
 with a high front wheel and small wheel behind, were called "ordi- 
 naries". The "Star", with big wheel in back, was another popular 
 make. The Star cyclists formed a club, which was the predecessor of 
 the Decatur Wheelmen's club, which came into being after the 
 "safety" wheel, with its pneumatic tires, had come into general use. 
 It is the form of the bicycle today. 
 
 IX THE DAYS OF BICYCLES 
 Photo taken in 1890 at race track, where race- meet was held by Star Cycling club. Percj 
 Ewing, owner of photo, at extreme right. Others in the picture, so far as can be identified, are L. 
 
 W. Hatch, T'.cll Telephone company manager; W. Ermcntrout, Silas Long and Mrs. Long, Roberl 
 
 Spaulding, Leo Heilbrun, Miss McDermott, Freeman, Edwin Ewing and Mrs. Ewing, 
 
 Harry Shlaudeman, Troy Alexander, G. R. Bohon, Arthur Alexander, Frank Dodd, Fred Meech 
 of Assumption, Charles Saxton, Mr. Mathews, Ben Shockley, Charles Young and Mrs. Young, 
 Fred ("Bits") Mueller, Dr. O. F. Corman. 
 
356 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Bicycle fans promoted bicycle races and century rides, a century 
 ride being 100 miles made in twenty-four hours. A few made a 
 "double" century, 200 miles in twenty-four hours. This was usually a 
 trip from or to Chicago. For a number of years the Wheelmen's club 
 flourished, and had a big influence in promoting clean streets in 
 Decatur. 
 
 There were in town two "bicycles built for two", which were in 
 demand by the young swains who wanted to take their best girls for 
 a ride. 
 
 The bicycle, by the way, cut into the livery stable business in 
 those days. Instead of renting a horse and buggy the young man 
 rented bicycles. Paul Hiekisch, Orville Ewing and others had bicycles 
 for rent. 
 
 Women bicyclers, wearing bloomer outfits, at first shocked the 
 dignity of their elders, as their daughters in a later day caused con- 
 sternation by their scantiness of dress. 
 
 The Fourth of July was always an occasion to be duly celebrated. 
 There was no lack of patriotism, if one may judge by the hilarity 
 and gorgeousness of the celebrations. Parades, speeches, shows, fire- 
 works, all had their place in the program. Members of various organ- 
 izations donned their very gladdest of raiment and appeared in all 
 their glory in the processions. 
 
 In the cool of the summer evenings, Mr. Business Man and his 
 
 family were out in 
 their rubber-tired 
 
 WOODMEN PARADE. JULY 4, 1892 
 
 surrey enjoying a 
 drive about town, 
 and perhaps stop- 
 ping for a chat with 
 friends along the 
 way. Social life was 
 marked by hospital- 
 ity and informality. 
 Walking was a favo- 
 rite pastime with 
 many, and a hike to 
 Fairview or River- 
 side park was a de- 
 light. Boating on the 
 Sangamon , u s u a 1 1 y 
 starting from the 
 
DECATUR IN THE '90s 357 
 
 landing at Riverside park, was a sport not yet forgotten. From about 
 1895 to 1905, the annual corn festivals were the big events of the year. 
 Corn was king in reality, even to the extent of constructing a king 
 out of grains of corn. Arthur McBride so combined the red, white 
 and yellow grains as to make a figure royal enough for any people. 
 This figure, with frame and throne of corn stalks, held the place of 
 honor at the festival. 
 
 Side shows set up in Central park and the streets around it, 
 lacked nothing in attractions. The ferris wheel, the merry-go-round, 
 the animals, the trapeze performances, the snake show, all and 
 sundry, amused the crowds while the pink lemonade, popcorn and 
 sandwich vendors refreshed them. Even the moving picture, then 
 in its infancy, was to be seen, and as the picture moved its flickering 
 way across the screen, people marveled at the sight. 
 
 An interesting social event, which brought to mind the early 
 days of the county, was the golden wedding anniversary of Mr. and 
 Mrs. J. Y. Braden, which took place Jan. 23, 1890, at their home 
 north of Decatur. 2 Mr. Braden and Miss Laura A. Hunting were 
 married Jan. 23, 1840, in the old Central house on the west side of the 
 200 block North Main street, Justice Isaac C. Pugh officiating. One 
 of the wedding guests was Richard J. Oglesby. Naturally Mr. 
 Oglesby received an invitation to the golden wedding anniversary 
 in 1890. Being unable to attend, he sent a letter of congratulation, in 
 which he said that it was the first time he had ever received an 
 invitation to the fiftieth wedding anniversary of a couple whose mar- 
 riage he had attended fifty years before. 
 
 Much more could be said of the good old days of the '90s, but a 
 big share of Decatur's population can remember them for themselves. 
 There were periods of depression, also, such as the railroad strike 
 of 1894. 
 
 A LYNCHING 
 
 One of the exciting events of the period was the lynching of a 
 negro, known as Samuel J. Bush, in 1893. 
 
 On May 29 a woman living south of Decatur, had been assaulted 
 by a negro, and on the following day another woman, living between 
 Decatur and Mt. Zion, had suffered the same experience. Posses were 
 soon hunting for the negro. Bush, who answered the description, was 
 captured in Moultrie county June 2, and brought to the Macon 
 county jail. 
 
 At 2:45 o'clock Saturday morning an armed mob appeared at the 
 jail. Chief of Police Mason was thrown out of the way, the office 
 
358 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 door and jail door were demolished with sledge hammers and iron 
 bars, the guards were overpowered. Bush, stark naked, was dragged 
 out, protesting his innocence. Halters from their horses were fash- 
 ioned into a noose by the mob leaders, and it was fastened to an 
 electric light pole at the northeast corner of Water and Wood streets. 
 A cab driver was forced to drive his cab close to the pole so the 
 doomed man could climb up, and when the cab was driven out from 
 under him, his body was left dangling in the air. The mob gave 
 three cheers for Mt. Zion and Decatur and hurriedly dispersed. 
 
 Governor Altgeld offered a reward of $200 for each of the 
 lynchers, but authorities were unsuccessful in learning the identity 
 of any of them. 
 
 Decatur had its first patrol wagon in the '90s, and from that 
 
 time on many a Decatur 
 boy and girl was scared 
 into submissive obedience 
 by threats of sending for 
 the "kelly wagon". First 
 drivers of the wagon were 
 Henry Kossieck and Clay- 
 ton Clements, the former 
 being on day duty, and the 
 later on night duty. The 
 two horses that pulled the 
 wagon were dubbed 
 "Clayt" and "Henry" in honor of their drivers. The accompanying 
 picture of the first patrol wagon, with Mr. Kossieck in the driver's 
 seat, was taken about 1896. It was called "Kelly" wagon because a 
 man named Kelly was the first hauled in it. 
 
 FIRST "KELLY" WAGON 
 
 1 Syndicate block was built in 1890 by a syndicate composed of Drs. W. J. and Cassidy 
 Chenoweth, Roberts and Greene, F. H. Converse, W. O. McNabb, Julius Randall, John Mattes, 
 and Elmer Troutman. 
 
 2 An interesting feature of the celebration was the reading of an invitation to a party held 
 on Christmas in the year 1839 at the Decatur house, at which Mr. Braden was one of the hosts. 
 This invitation had been issued to Jane Williams, later Mrs. Watt Culver, and she had pre- 
 served it all those years. Other hosts, or "managers" as they were called, at that party were 
 H. M. Gorin, Joseph King, J. H. Elliott, William Bosworth, N. Kibbee, Joseph Williams, John 
 Ricketts, J. P. Hickcok, E. O. Smith, W. W. Oglesby, S. Prather and J. S. Adamson. 
 
 Illinois Central trains were stopped near the Braden home to accommodate the 210 guests 
 who attended the golden wedding- celebration. 
 
WAR WITH SPAIN— NATIONAL GUARD 
 
 359 
 
 CHAPTER LXIV 
 
 WAR WITH SPAIN— NATIONAL GUARD 
 
 WHEN the fury of an entire nation was aroused over the sinking 
 of the United States battleship Maine in the harbor of Havana, 
 Cuba, Feb. 15, 1898, and the cry for vengeance was heard, Illinois 
 was the first state in the union to assure the head of the nation its 
 support in whatever action was taken to maintain the honor of the 
 country. 
 
 It did not take long to mete out punishment for the indignity. 
 For quick action and early successful conclusion, the war with Spain 
 is unparalleled in history. Uncle Sam gave a spanking which hurt. 
 
 The call from the secretary of war for the National Guard or 
 State Militia brought Company H, I. N. G., of Decatur into the fray. 
 The call for troops came to Governor John R. Tanner April 25. By 
 April 27 seven regiments of infantry and one of cavalry were mobil- 
 ized at Springfield. 
 
 Decatur men who were on the staff of the Fifth Regiment, of 
 which Company H was a part, were as follows: 
 
 Lieutenant Colonel — Frank P. Wells. 
 
 Major — Walter F. Colladay. 
 
 Assistant Surgeon — James L. Bevans. 
 
 Battalion Adjutant — Arthur J. Gallagher. 
 
 Musicians — Henry L. Roberts, Joseph W. 
 
 Hospital Stewards- 
 
 Franke. 
 ■Bruce Chenoweth, William Housum. 
 Band— Louis B. Cassell, Alfred D. Shawl, Hubert C. Wilkin. 
 
 GENERAL FRANK 
 
 P. WELLS 
 
 IN CAMP 
 
 The regiment was mustered in at Camp Tanner, 
 Springfield, May 7, 1898. From there it went by 
 rail to Chickamauga, Ga., arriving May 16. It re- 
 mained there until July 27, when it marched to 
 Rossville, six miles, returning the same day to 
 camp. Camp was broken on Aug. 3, and the regi- 
 ment marched to Ringgold, where it boarded cars 
 for Newport News, Va. There it went into camp 
 and remained until Aug. 10 when it boarded the 
 transport Obdam for Porto Rico. 
 
 On Aug. 11, however, it was ordered to disem- 
 bark and go into camp again at Newport News. It 
 remained at Newport News until Aug. 18, when it 
 left for Lexington, Ky., where it went into camp 
 
360 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 and remained until Sept. 5 when it left for Springfield where it went 
 into camp at Camp Lincoln. The regiment was mustered out at 
 Springfield Oct. 16, 1898. 
 
 Company H was composed of (names taken from Adjutant Gen- 
 eral's Report) : 
 
 COMPANY H 
 
 Captain — John F. Cassell. 
 
 First Lieutenant — Louis G. Chandler. 
 
 Second Lieutenant— James E. Reavis. 
 
 First Sergeant — William H. Heiner. 
 
 Sergeants — Arthur B. Davis, William 
 Layton, Leo J. Heiner, George T. Bar- 
 ney. 
 
 Corporals — Charles Davis, Samuel May, 
 George L. Young, Harry Aldridge. 
 
 Musician — -Louis B. Cassell. 
 
 Wagoner — Mark A. McDonald. 
 
 Privates — 
 
 John W. Allen. 
 
 Charles Appley. 
 
 William Bachstein. 
 
 James E. Beardsley. 
 
 William M. Bair. 
 
 Charles E. Bliss. 
 
 Samuel Earl Buehler. 
 
 Harry Chiles. 
 
 Bruce Chenoweth. 
 
 Sanford S. Clapper. 
 
 George E. Cope. 
 
 Charles B. Colerick. 
 
 Colonel E. Davis. 
 
 Ralph A. Dimmick. 
 
 Bert E. DeHart. 
 
 Henry Durbon. 
 
 George W. Duncan. 
 
 Ed H. Eckels. 
 
 Robert Eckels. 
 
 Percy S. Ewing. 
 
 Isaac E. Eiler. 
 
 John H. Fleming. 
 
 William C. Frew. 
 
 David A. Fribourg. 
 
 Lewis B. Fullmer. 
 
 Frank G. Gardner. 
 
 Grayson Garrison. 
 
 Louis A. Gring. 
 
 Howard P. Hanthorn. 
 
 William A. Hamilton. 
 
 Rollin W. Hatfield. 
 
 Harl E. Hedrick. 
 
 William H. Housum. 
 
 Charles C. Hopping. 
 
 Granville M. Huffman. 
 
 Oscar Johnson. 
 
 George Mackordes. 
 
 Charles A. Martin. 
 
 Alphonso Murphy. 
 
 Abraham L. Mickerson. 
 
 Berte Myrick. 
 
 James L. McQueen. 
 
 Francis M. Newell. 
 
 Jerry W. Nicholson. 
 
 Samuel M. Pegram. 
 H. L. Rundell. 
 Josiah E. Reeme. 
 Charles M. Richardson. 
 Charles R. Rowdybush. 
 Leverett H. Rude. 
 George Steichen. 
 John Smith. 
 Richard R. Scruggs. 
 John F. Shutter. 
 Joseph H. Shaffer. 
 Earl F. Seiberling. 
 Clarence E. Siewers. 
 Elmer J. Smick. 
 Albert M. Stogsdill. 
 Edward Travis. 
 Ralph Towne. 
 John A. Wagy. 
 Israel J. Weakley. 
 Eugene K. Webster. 
 W. Scott Wilson. 
 Arthur D. Wilson. 
 Frank A. Wise. 
 Gilbert J. Woodruff. 
 William J. Zeiss. 
 Transferred from Co. K- 
 Frank Boone. 
 Transferred from Co. D— 
 Louis Baker. 
 Solomon Hawkins. 
 Recruits — 
 Arthur T. Bell. 
 Charlie S. Betz. 
 Jesse Birchfield. 
 James F. Brown. 
 William O. Clinger. 
 Pete Cunniff. 
 Clarence Drake. 
 Arthur L. Fullmer. 
 Stanley T. Grimes. 
 Curtis H. Hoffhein. 
 Oscar B. Harrauff. 
 M. C. Lanahan. 
 Charles H. Monroe. 
 John E. Magee. 
 Emery F. Marshall. 
 Benson A. Myers. 
 William Myer. 
 John Reguer. 
 Fred Stickle. 
 Thomas Seip. 
 Alonzo Sheneman. 
 Alfred D. Shawl. 
 Charles Virgils. 
 Charles E. Vance. 
 John Wekaman. 
 
 Men from Macon county who were members of other companies 
 
 were : 
 
 George C. Carvard, Company B, transferred from Company K. 
 Louis Lester, Company C, transferred from Company D. 
 John M. Bayly, Company D, transferred to Company B. 
 Clinton D. Maddox, Company D, transferred to Company B. 
 Abner Orr, Company D, transferred to Company B. 
 William W. Soule, Company D, transferred to Company C. 
 Fred J. McDonald, Company F, transferred from Company K. 
 Amos H. Burton, Company F. 
 
WAR WITH SPAIN— NATIONAL GUARD 361 
 
 Hubert C. Wilkin, Company F, appointed musician, transferred to band. 
 
 Joseph Franke, Company G, transferred to band, R. O. No. 53. 
 
 John B. Reynolds, Company I, transferred to Company K. 
 
 Charles F. Bair, Company K, transferred to Company B. 
 
 Frank Boone, Company K, transferred to Company H. 
 
 Charles Cole, Company K, transferred to Company B. 
 
 George Francis, Company K. 
 
 John C. Stoy, Company K, transferred to Company B. 
 
 Men from this county who were in other regiments were: 
 
 Second Regiment, Company B — William Bogle, Maroa. 
 
 Third Regiment, Company I — James E. Goodwin, Macon. 
 
 Fourth Regiment, Company K — William I. Robinson, Decatur. 
 
 Sixth Regiment, Company I — David A. Donovan, Alonzo L. Kirk, Chester N. May, Decatur. 
 
 Eighth Regiment, Company A — William Landis (enlisted at York, Pa.). 
 
 Eighth Regiment, Company G — Noble D. Lamb, Albert Butler, John H. H. Hawkin, Cas- 
 
 sidy Jacobs, Joe Stipes. 
 Eighth Regiment, Company K — William Wyatt, Decatur ; George McWilliams, Macon. 
 Ninth Regiment, Company E — Alonzo Gibson, Frank E. Lefever; Company F — Richard S. 
 
 Brown, Warrensburg. 
 First Cavalry — Dr. Alfred E. Mowry, Forsyth, hospital steward, promoted to assistant 
 
 surgeon. 
 First Cavalry, Troop D — W. J. Armstrong. 
 
 Men of the Fifth Regiment were greatly disappointed over the 
 change in order which kept them in the states. The reason offered 
 by the adjutant-general was to give justice to the state of Indiana. 
 Three Illinois regiments had already been ordered into active service, 
 when it was noted that Indiana had none, hence orders were given 
 to substitute an Indiana regiment for the Fifth Illinois, which had 
 previously been ordered to Porto Rico. 
 
 TO PHILIPPINES 
 
 Following the war there was need for more troops, when insur- 
 rection arose in the Philippines, which had been ceded to the United 
 States through the treaty with Spain. 
 
 Company H did not have the opportunity to go to the Philip- 
 pines as a body, so many of the boys, having had a taste of army life 
 and wanting more, enlisted singly or in pairs in various regiments, 
 as they had the opportunity. 
 
 Among the Decatur and Macon county men in the volunteer or 
 regular army who were in service either in the islands or stationed 
 in Cuba or at points in this country were Dr. James L. Bevans, 
 surgeon; Robert Eckles, Ed Eckles, Arthur Fullmer, Lewis Fullmer, 
 Frank Wise, William Bair, Charles Hopping, Sam Pegram, John 
 Reguer, George Mackordes, Oscar Johnson, Charles Virgils, all former 
 members of Company H. 
 
 Others recruited were Henry McCauley, Charles C. Cole, Claude 
 Day, Charles B. McClure, Charles W. Nichols, Bert W. Smith, 
 Stephen H. Cory, S. Busby, Press Waggoner, Calvin S. Clark, Charles 
 B. Houston, William S. Swegle, James Davis, Andrew F. Worley, 
 Curtis H. Hoffhein, Arthur M. Duggan, Oscar L. Bunker, Robert L. 
 Ferris, James C. Barnes, Claude G. Young, Henry E. Kitch, William 
 I. Fagan, Bert Damon, all of Decatur; Charles A. Thrift of Emery, 
 
362 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Berry E. Turner, Orlando Pierce and William O. Clinger of Warrens- 
 burg, William O. McWilliams, Carl M. Shatzer, William Ryan and 
 L. A. Crawford of Harristown. 
 
 VETERANS ORGANIZE 
 
 The veterans of the Spanish-American war living in Decatur 
 organized a local body of the United Spanish War Veterans in 1911, 
 naming the camp after Scott Wilson, a member of Company H, who 
 died June 17, 1905. It was successful in securing one of the bronze 
 tablets made out of metal from the battleship Maine. The tablet is 
 13 by 18 inches in size, and contains a figure of Liberty extending a 
 wreath over a harbor. 
 
 The camp has been active in the work of the state organization, 
 and in 1925 entertained the state encampment. In 1912 an auxiliary 
 was formed by the wives of veterans. 
 
 NATIONAL GUARD 
 
 Company H, Illinois National Guard, was organized in July, 1877, 
 at the time of a big railroad strike, I. D. Walker leading in the move 
 to organize. Previous to that time Decatur had a Company G and a 
 Company K, of the Fifth Regiment. 1 Andrew Goodman was first 
 captain of Company H. Other officers at the time of .the organization 
 were : Frank H. Hall, first lieutenant ; Henry W. Elwood, second 
 lieutenant; and Ben F. Dillehunt, orderly sergeant. The company 
 was reorganized in 1880 with W. W. Foster as captain, W. H. 
 Elwood as first lieutenant, and Fred W. Wismer as second lieutenant. 
 Up to the time of the Spanish-American war the company was 
 called out a number of times on strike duty, in 1878 at East St. Louis, 
 in 1886 at East St. Louis, in 1894 at Pana and Danville and in 1898 
 at Pana. In 1889 Company H won highest honors in the Fifth Regi- 
 ment, and the Regiment won state honors. In 1899 the company fur- 
 nished the guard of honor at the funeral of Former 
 Governor Richard J. Oglesby. 
 
 This company came into prominence in 1903 
 when Frank P. Wells was. elected colonel of the 
 regiment, and J. Frank Cassell was promoted to 
 major. Decatur then became the regimental and 
 battalion headquarters. In 1907 Colonel Wells was 
 made brigadier-general of the Second Brigade. In 
 1918 he became brigadier-general of the Illinois Re- 
 serve Militia. That same year Charles P. Summers, 
 also of Decatur, was made colonel of the Fifth 
 
 v^ J\ l J. . i\ IN J -J iv *z* W 
 
 goodman Regiment, Illinois Reserve Militia. 
 
WAR WITH SPAIN— NATIONAL GUARD 363 
 
 Company H was mustered out in 1913, and a new company, 
 known as Company L, was organized. This company became the 
 nucleus for Company A, 124th Machine Gun battalion, when the 
 United States entered the World war in 1917. 
 
 After this country became involved in the World war, and it 
 appeared as if all the military forces would be called, leaving no 
 protection at home, three new regiments were organized in Illinois 
 for service in the state. 2 Decatur organized a company which became 
 Company H of the Tenth Regiment. 3 The Tenth Regiment was 
 mustered into service July 21, 1917. Company H served several times 
 on riot duty, at Springfield in 1917, in Chicago and Peoria in 1919, 
 and at West Frankfort in 1920. 
 
 After the war was over, the military forces of the country were 
 re-created under the new Army Reorganization act, and have since 
 been under federal control. Military organizations now in Decatur 
 include Headquarters company, band and Service company, One 
 Hundred Thirtieth infantry, and Non-Divisional units of Organized 
 Reserves. A chapter of Reserve Officers was organized in 1924. Both 
 U. S. army and navy recruiting stations are maintained in Decatur. 
 
 Plans have been drawn for a new armory to be erected in Deca- 
 tur, at the corner of Jackson and Eldorado streets. Appropriations of 
 $212,000 have been made for this building. 
 
 1 Company K (Decatur Grenadiers) started out with the idea of having good sized men 
 only as members. Five feet, ten inches, was set as the minimum height. First officers of the 
 company were George Zeiss, captain ; Charles Durfee, first lieutenant ; Ben McReynolds, second 
 lieutenant. Durfee later became captain, and when he was promoted to major, O. B. Gorin became 
 captain. This company was mustered out Jan. 1, 1884. 
 
 -The three new regiments were the 9th, 10th and 11th. The man named to assume com- 
 mand of the 11th regiment was a former Decatur man, Brigadier-General Frank S. Dickson. 
 Dickson, who is a graduate of the Decatur high school, was named adjutant-general in 1910, 
 and held that office until 1922. 
 
 :! Decatur also had a company in the Illinois Reserve Militia. Company G, 5th Regiment, 
 was sworn into service in November, 1917, and was mustered out in October, 1920. Howard 
 Krigbaum was captain. The Reserve Militia was composed mostly of men who could not go to 
 war. but were available for service within the state. Company G was never called upon for duty, 
 but it met regularly for drill. 
 
364 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 CHAPTER LXV 
 
 MRS. JANE MARTIN JOHNS 
 
 MRS. JANE MARTIN JOHNS saw Decatur grow for seventy 
 years, and in whatever work came to the hands of the women 
 in that period she was one of the leaders. She first came to Decatur 
 in 1849, and in 1854 returned to make it her home. Here she lived 
 until her death in 1919. 
 
 Mrs. Johns was a woman of unusual intelli- 
 gence, and her volume of "Personal Recollections" 
 of Civil war times in Decatur is one of the most 
 valued of local historical books. Little escaped 
 her keen observation, and her own activity in 
 women's work during the war together with her 
 knowledge of the horrors of war gained through 
 the service of her husband as a surgeon in the 
 army, gave her an insight of the war such as few 
 women had. 
 
 In her later years her wonderful memory 
 
 served her well in recounting those days. It was 
 
 considered a remarkable feat that at the age of 
 
 eighty-five she was able to tell so realistically of 
 
 events of the stirring days of the war fifty-five 
 
 years before. 
 
 Miss Jane Martin and Dr. H. C. Johns were married in Circle- 
 
 ville, O., Oct. 29, 1845, and came to Illinois in 1849, settling first in 
 
 Piatt county. 1 In 1854 they moved to Decatur. 
 
 Dr. Johns had practiced medicine in Ohio, but gave up that 
 profession on coming to Macon county, in order to devote his time 
 to farming and stock raising. He was extremely successful, and 
 became recognized as an authority on stock. In 1852 he helped 
 organize the Illinois State Board of Agriculture, and served as vice 
 president and as president of that body. In 1856 he made a trip to 
 England to represent the Illinois State Breeders association, returning 
 with the first shorthorn cattle, Irish terriers and Berkshire pigs ever 
 brought here. 
 
 The Johns home on Johns hill, now the site of the Washington 
 grade school and the Johns hill Junior high school, was for many 
 years one of Decatur's interesting homes. 
 
 MRS. JANE M. 
 JOHNS 
 
MRS. JANE MARTIN JOHNS 365 
 
 When that house was built, in the '50s, it was a country home. 
 Decatur did not then extend that far. Located on the top of the hill, 
 which is one of the highest elevations in Decatur, the house com- 
 manded a view which could not be had elsewhere. 
 
 The house stood in the northwest forty of a tract of 160 acres. 
 The land was bought by William Martin, father of Mrs. Johns, in 
 1852. Soon afterward he began the erection of the house, completing 
 it in 1857. 2 This property was to be Mrs. Johns' chief inheritance 
 from her father. 
 
 When Mrs. Johns had her first sight of that hill, she said she 
 would be content to live at Decatur only if she could live on that hill. 
 She had her wish, and all the years of her life afterwards it was her 
 home. 
 
 Her gift to Decatur of about eighteen acres of the home farm 
 is described in the chapter on parks. She often said: 
 
 "This land has been the playground for Decatur children for 
 sixty years. I want it saved for them." 
 
 She also hoped that the summit of the hill, the site of the home, 
 could be used as the site for some sort of monumental structure. She 
 did not think of two great school buildings like the Washington 
 grade school and the Johns hill Junior high, but they admirably carry 
 out the plan she had vaguely in her mind. 
 
 The school ground and park together include about thirty-one 
 acres. It is a combination that educators say is hardly equalled in the 
 country. 
 
 Mrs. Johns was one of the founders of the Ladies' Library 
 association, the forerunner of the Decatur public library, and raised 
 money for books and otherwise helped to keep that society going 
 during its first early years of struggle. She also was one of the 
 charter members of the Decatur Woman's club. 
 
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 THE JOHNS HOME 
 
366 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Mrs. Johns' life was filled with interesting experiences. She was 
 a personal friend of Abraham Lincoln, Judge David Davis and other 
 notable men of her time. Once in 1843, when only sixteen, while on 
 a boat trip to New Orleans she had the pleasure of meeting Henry 
 Clay. 
 
 She also happened to be in New Orleans on Jan. 21, 1861, the 
 day Louisiana seceded from the union, and in telling of that time 
 said it was almost impossible to describe the tense feeling and excite- 
 ment that prevailed in the south then. 
 
 Mrs. Johns first met Abraham Lincoln in 1849, on the day he 
 helped to unload her piano at the Macon house in Decatur, where 
 she was living temporarily. That evening she gave a piano program 
 for Lincoln and the other lawyers who were here, it being court week 
 in Decatur. More than once in after years Mrs. Johns entertained 
 Lincoln in her home, both while she lived in Piatt county and when 
 a resident of Decatur. 
 
 That piano, as has often been told, was the first in Decatur, and 
 it attracted no little attention. It was quite a curiosity, and people 
 from a distance when in Decatur always went to take a look at the 
 instrument. Often Mrs. Johns played and sang for Mr. Lincoln. 
 
 In her book Mrs. Johns tells the story of overhearing a plot to 
 defeat Lincoln when he was a candidate for the United States senate 
 in 1855, and of how Lincoln, on hearing of the plot, sacrificed his 
 own interests and brought about the election of Lyman Trumbull. 
 Mrs. Johns was in Springfield at the time, her husband being a mem- 
 ber of the general assembly. She was in her hotel room when she 
 heard the plot being discussed by men in the room next to her. 
 
 Mrs. Johns saw her country engaged in four wars, the Mexican, 
 Civil, Spanish-American and World wars. She was one of the most 
 active workers in the Hospital Aid society of Decatur during the 
 Civil war. She was then a young woman. When the World war 
 came on she was again ready, though then ninety-one years of age, 
 to do her bit. Day after day she met with the other women at the 
 Red Cross headquarters, as busy almost as she had been during the 
 troublous days of the '60s. Making trench candles was her part of 
 the activities this time. 
 
 Mrs. Johns once made a visit to the American Samoa Islands, 
 when her son-in-law, Rear Admiral C. B. T. Moore, was governor of 
 the islands. She was then seventy-eight years old, but she enjoyed 
 that trip as much as a woman of younger years. It was a character- 
 istic of her — to remain young in spite of her advancing years. It 
 
MRS. JANE MARTIN JOHNS 367 
 
 might be said that she never grew old, though at the time she 
 passed away, June 26, 1919, she was nearly ninety-two years of age. 
 She had been a widow since 1900, her husband having passed away 
 in that year. 
 
 1 Mrs. Johns tells in her book how Dr. Johns happened to locate in Illinois. 
 
 He had first chosen Lafayette, Ind., as his home, but he changed his mind after a visit in 
 Illinois. With a friend he had come to Piatt county to hunt deer. When near Decatur their fine 
 blooded horses frightened at a peddler's wagon and ran away. Dr. Johns was thrown out of the 
 buggy and his collarbone was broken. Dr. Joseph King was summoned, and took the injured man 
 to the Macon house where he was cared for by Mrs. Krone for three weeks. Then he went on 
 to the home of his friend, Dr. Peter Hull, near Monticello. 
 
 While at Monticello he was so pleased with the land thereabouts that he purchased 1600 
 acres near that city. It later became the Robert Allerton farm. Dr. Johns then went back to 
 Ohio to persuade his wife to come to Illinois. They made the trip by water to Lafayette and then 
 by wagon here. 
 
 2 The first spiral stairway in Macon county was put in the Johns home. It was built by 
 Andrew Martin and was hewed out of wood by hand. 
 
368 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 CHAPTER LXVI 
 WHERE DECATUR LEADS 
 
 NECESSITY is the mother of invention," and the necessity of 
 finding a solution for a problem has in more than one case put 
 Decatur's name before the world. Many inventions have been worked 
 out by Macon county citizens. Each of them would make a romantic 
 story in itself, for the tale of how they came about is full of absorbing 
 interest. 
 
 Robert Faries was obliged to work in a dark corner many years 
 ago. It was too dark to do justice to his work, and something had to 
 be done about it. So he rigged up a fixture by which a light could 
 be placed over his work bench. Light fixtures of various kinds be- 
 came in later years one of the chief outputs of the Faries Manufactur- 
 ing company. 
 
 H. W. Hill was so disgusted with the rooting done by one of his 
 hogs one day that he picked up a piece of wire and jabbed it through 
 the nose of the big porker. It worked. With that wire in his nose the 
 hog had to retire from the rooting business. Mr. Hill put the idea to 
 work. He made the hog ringer and rings which bore his name, and 
 the manufacture of which was a leading industry in Decatur for years 
 and built him a fortune 
 
 When John Beall, millwright, back in the '60s was installing 
 corn shellers — shellers which wouldn't work properly when they were 
 installed — he was sort of disgusted too. He had his own ideas as to 
 how those corn shellers should be made. He made one according to 
 his idea. It worked and has been working ever since. It is the 
 corn sheller which has brought business from all over the world to 
 the Union Iron works. 
 
 A pesky fly was continually bothering R. R. Montgomery one 
 day when he was trying to take a nap. The rascally "critter" laughed 
 in glee, no doubt, when Mr. Montgomery tried to lay it low with a 
 folded newspaper. A fan, a magazine, were tried, but the fly always 
 made his getaway. Next Mr. Montgomery tried a piece of wire screen. 
 Then it was his turn to laugh at his tormentor. The screen caught the 
 fly, and Mr. Montgomery realized why — it had not made the gust 
 of air which warned the fly of its approach. 
 
 Mr. Montgomery patented the fly swatter in 1900, and manu- 
 factured it for a number of years. He called it the King fly swatter, 
 
WHERE DECATUR LEADS 369 
 
 naming it after his father-in-law, Dr. Joseph King, one of Macon 
 county's first physicians. Eventually Mr. Montgomery sold the busi- 
 ness to the U. S. Manufacturing company, which today ships fly swat- 
 ters all over the world. 
 
 Many other interesting stories might be told, if space permitted. 
 Inventions of Decatur men may be found everywhere. Soda foun- 
 tains, invented by Caleb Smith, went all over the country. W. H. 
 Bramble, C. C. Burroughs, H. Mueller, G. D. Haworth, and other 
 Decatur inventors, as told elsewhere in this volume, have brought out 
 widely known products. A. W. Cash valves are found everywhere. 
 
 Decatur has a record of being first in many manufacturing lines. 
 The Decatur Coffin company, which was the first industry of that kind 
 west of Indiana, was the first to make burial clothes which set a stan- 
 dard for the world. Others, taking up the new fashion, said, "As good 
 as Decatur's". 
 
 Bixby, Pitner and Company began the manufacture of burial 
 shoes here. 
 
 Decatur occupies a place as a leader in the making of women's 
 garments. First in the field was the Home Manufacturing company. 
 Then came the Osgood & Heiner company, now Osgood & Sons ; the 
 Decatur Garment company, and more recently, the Gragg Garment 
 company. 
 
 Wire mats, made in Decatur, have traveled to all corners of the 
 globe, being used on the vessels of the United States navy. They are 
 made by the U. S. Manufacturing company. 
 
 At home and abroad can be found products of the Staley, Mueller, 
 Walrus and Williams Sealing company factories. Many other things 
 manufactured in Decatur are widely circulated over the country, and 
 one can scarcely travel anywhere without coming upon some reminder 
 of the home town. 
 
370 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 CHAPTER LXVII 
 
 MAKE WAY FOR THE AUTO 
 
 DECATUR narrowly missed being a center for the automobile in- 
 dustry. Hieronymus Mueller, who brought the first car to De- 
 catur in 1895, had in his mind the idea of starting the manufacture of 
 automobiles, an idea which no doubt he would have carried out if he 
 had lived. He did much successful experimenting along that line be- 
 fore his death, which occurred in 1900, five years after he had brought 
 that first car to the city. 
 
 It was a great wonder — that first automobile in Decatur. It hap- 
 pened also to be the first one in this section of the country outside of 
 Chicago. At that time there were scarcely a dozen in the entire 
 country. 
 
 Mr. Mueller's car, a Benz motor wagon, was imported from Mann- 
 heim, Germany. It arrived in Decatur Friday, April 25, 1895. It was 
 announced in the newspapers that day that "Mr. Mueller will take a 
 ride in the motor wagon on Sunday". When the car appeared Sunday, 
 streets were lined with spectators to see the sight of a horseless car- 
 riage. 
 
 Mr. Mueller exhibited the car at the state fair in Springfield that 
 fall, and made the trip to that city in "only five hours". The speed 
 was considered amazing. It was stated that if necessary the motor 
 wagon could make the astonishing record of fifteen miles an hour! 
 On that trip to Springfield men went ahead to warn drivers of horses 
 as to what was coming, and to help hold the frightened animals. 
 
 In November Mr. 
 Mueller entered his motor 
 wagon in the automobile 
 contest held in Chicago by 
 the Times-Herald. In that 
 contest the line-up of en- 
 tries was as follows : 
 
 Duryea Motor Wagon 
 company, Springfield, 
 Mass., gasoline machine, 
 representing ' ' A m eric a 11 
 type." 
 
 De La Vergne Refrig- mueller'S benz motor wagon 
 
MAKE WAY FOR THE AUTO 
 
 371 
 
 erating Machine Company, New York, gasoline machine with Ger- 
 man motor. 
 
 Morris and Salmon, Philadelphia, electric machine. 
 
 H. Mueller & Company, Decatur, 111., gasoline machine imported 
 from Mannheim, Germany. 
 
 R. H. Macy Company, New York, gasoline machine of German 
 make, with American improvements. 
 
 Sturgis Electric Motorcycle Company, Chicago, electric machine. 
 
 The run was from Chicago to Evanston and back. First to finish 
 was the Duryea car. Its average speed for the trip was 7j/> miles an 
 hour. The first prize was $2,000 and a gold medal. 
 
 The Mueller car, Oscar Mueller driving, was second, and the 
 Macy car third. * 
 
 Mr. Mueller finished only 1 hour and thirty-five minutes behind 
 the w r inner. These three cars were the only ones which finished the 
 course. 
 
 The next car to come to Decatur was a Locomobile steamer be- 
 longing to Frank Shlaudeman. Other early owners of cars were Frank 
 Faries, Robert Faries and W. O. McNabb. All had Olds runabouts. 
 E. P. Irving had a White steamer. John Van Gundy and D. B. Fol- 
 rath were the first purchasers of Rambler cars. 
 
 Johnson & Landis took the agency in the year 1903 for the 
 Rambler car. That was the first regularly established automobile 
 agency here, though a number of cars had been sold in Decatur before 
 that time. The first car load shipment from Kenosha, Wis., for John- 
 son and Landis, containing three cars, was made in May, 1904. 
 
 Though H. Mueller did not live to carry out his plan to manu- 
 facture cars, Decatur did not lack _______ 
 
 in individuals who made their own 
 cars. Paul Fliekisch, who made the 
 first bicycle that was made in Deca- 
 tur, also made the first steam auto- 
 mobile, according to report. George 
 A. Henderson and others also made 
 their own cars. In the Wayne car- 
 riage factory, W. J. Wayne worked 
 for months on a design for a body 
 f<»r an automobile. 
 
 "Do you bovs expect that there ,} - B - folrath'S rambler 
 
 J i WiU Landis and D. B. Folrath in front 
 
 Will ever be enough automobiles in George E. Johnson and a friend in back. 
 
372 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Decatur to fill that place?" said a prominent business man one day 
 to George E. Johnson of the Johnson and Landis firm, as they watched 
 the construction work on the first garage erected in Decatur. It was 
 at the northeast corner of State and Wood streets. 
 
 After the business man had received an affirmative reply, he went 
 on to say: 
 
 ''You're crazy. You've got wheels in your head. You boys have 
 made a little money, and now you are fixing to waste it. Don't do it." 
 
 That was in 1904. That first garage isn't lonesome now. It has 
 plenty of company. And they all seem to be having their share of 
 business. 
 
 In the. early days of the automobile a trip to Springfield was a 
 big undertaking. Preparations for the momentous event were made 
 days in advance. Bright and early on the day of departure, the would- 
 be travelers arose, and the start was made "with our hearts in our 
 boots", as one man described it. "If the trip was a success, we were 
 proudly conscious of it, and came back with our faces wreathed in 
 smiles. If it wasn't a success, we made excuses." 
 
 No one then would venture such a trip alone. He must have 
 plenty of help along. It took all of one man's attention to run the car. 
 Another was needed every time a horse and driver were met on the 
 way. At such times the auto was stopped, while the man led the 
 frightened animal (and driver, too) past the danger. 
 
 It did not take long for that day to pass, however. Now the 1930 
 model car gets not even a look from the 1930 model horse. 
 
 WHEN AUTOS WERE YOUNG AND ROADS UNPAVED 
 
JAMES MILLIKIN 
 
 373 
 
 CHAPTER LXVIII 
 
 JAMES MILLIKIN 
 
 A name that for fifty years has been among the most prominent 
 in Decatur has been that of Millikin. In the financial records of 
 our college, churches, hospitals, Y. M. C. A. and Y. W. C. A., in- 
 stitutional homes, Art institute, as well as leading commercial and 
 industrial enterprises, it is most conspicuous. 
 
 James Millikin, who brought that name to Decatur three-quarters 
 of a century ago, at once became a leader in business and industry, 
 
 and was that all his life. Few men have 
 such even and steady growth in success 
 and prosperity as he had. His intimates 
 were always impressed by his sound com- 
 mon sense and remarkable judgment of 
 men. His foresight and ideas as to values 
 seemed infallible. Reviewing his life one 
 sees these traits in all that he did. Some 
 men have ups and downs. His progress 
 was invariably up, not with spurts or 
 jumps, but with singular evenness and 
 steadiness. 
 
 His is no story of struggle with pov- 
 erty. There is no record of privation and 
 sacrifice. On the other hand, it is one of 
 strength, confidence, enterprise. While still 
 a student he drove sheep west and "sold 
 them to good advantage." So it is all along 
 the sixty years of active business. He was never a driver. He had 
 time for vacation trips and rest. He liked to visit and did visit with 
 friends. Mis tastes were simple. He made little display. These are 
 only a few characteristics of the man who left his mark in so many 
 places in our history. 
 
 James Millikin was born Aug. 2, 1827, at Ten-Mile, Washington 
 county, Pa. 1 In his boyhood days he helped with the farm work in 
 summer and attended district school in winter, later attending Wash- 
 ington college. He became a member of the Pleasant Hill Cumberland 
 Presbyterian church near his home May 27, 1843. 
 
 JAMES MILLIKIN 
 
374 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Millikin was a strong, active youth, and showed early that he was 
 capable of taking care of himself. It was while he was in Washington 
 college that he heard stories of the opportunities of the middle west, 
 and in the summer of 1849 he and his father drove a flock of sheep to 
 Indiana where they sold them to good advantage. The next year Mr. 
 Millikin drove a flock to Danville. That winter he attended Wabash 
 college. He made a number of trips back to Pennsylvania in the next 
 few years to bring sheep back to this state, always making money out 
 of the venture. He also bought and traded cattle, renting land on 
 which to graze them. 
 
 He soon became known as a breeder of fine stock, and has been 
 called the "first cattle king of the prairie state." He won six silver 
 medal spoons, with the stamp "Illinois State Fair 1857." 
 
 Mr. Millikin made his first visit to Decatur in 1856. He saw a 
 future in the place and invested in land. One of his first purchases was 
 the tract of land west of Pine street, north of Main and extending 
 west as far as Oakland, the tract on which he built his home later. 
 
 On coming to Decatur to make his home he disposed of his stock, 
 and some land he had acquired, including land at Bement which the 
 Wabash railroad wanted. By these sales he netted something in the 
 neighborhood of $75,000. 
 
 After the failure of the Railroad bank in 1860, Mr. Millikin took 
 possession of the room the bank had occupied on Merchant street, put 
 up a sign "James Millikin, Banker", and started in the banking busi- 
 ness. From then on until his death the bank was one of his chief in- 
 terests. 
 
 Once, in his early years of banking, he wanted to sell out to his 
 partner, but the partner insisted on selling to him, so he was obliged 
 not only to keep his own interest, but to take that of his partner. 
 
 He had various other interests, though, besides his bank. He in- 
 vested heavily in real estate, seeing the advance in values which was 
 sure to come. He not only invested in Illinois land, but bought thou- 
 sands of acres in Iowa. He was a member of the firm which ran the 
 Union Iron works. In later years he was interested in Louisiana canal 
 and rice companies. 
 
 His achievements and his benefactions were a key to his character. 
 He had high ideals and he was devoted to them. He was always ready 
 to respond to appeals. He not only founded and helped to maintain 
 the James Millikin University, but he gave generously to the Decatur 
 and Macon county hospital, the Girls' Welfare home, the Anna B. 
 
JAMES MILLIKIN 
 
 375 
 
 Millikin home, the Art Institute, the Day Nursery, the Y. W. C. A. 
 and other institutions. 
 
 I [e had also a share in the civic life of the city and county, serving 
 as a city alderman and as a member of the board of supervisors. 
 
 Many a man owes his business success to Mr. Millikin, who fur- 
 nished the money to tide him over at critical times in business. He 
 encouraged people to invest in Decatur property. In building the first 
 steel frame building, seven stories high, he set the pace for construc- 
 tion of splendid business buildings. 
 
 MRS. MILLIKIN 
 
 Mr. Millikin and Miss Anna B. Aston were married Jan. 1, 1857 
 by Rev. E. W. Thayer, pastor of the First Presbyterian church. She 
 was the daughter of Rev. Samuel M. Aston, who was formerly pastor 
 of the Mt. Zion Cumberland Presbyterian church. 
 Mr. Aston bought a farm near Mt. Zion and that 
 was the family home. Mr. Aston died Nov. 17, 1856. 
 Anna Aston had been educated in the Washington 
 Female seminary in Pennsylvania, and after coming 
 to Mt. Zion taught school in that neighborhood. 
 
 Mr. Millikin and his bride first lived at the 
 Revere house, then set up housekeeping in a house 
 at the corner of William and Edward streets, where 
 they lived until 1876 when they moved into their 
 new residence in Millikin place, the house which is 
 now the Art Institute. 
 
 When they moved there it was bare land with 
 only two or three buildings of small value. Every 
 tree and shrub was set out under the direction of 
 Mr. Millikin and among them are some of the rarest and tallest now 
 in the city. One rare tree that he placed immediately in front of 
 the residence is the cucumber tree. Another rare tree here, but com- 
 mon in Indiana and east of there, is the tulip tree. 
 
 Mrs. Millikin was one of the promoters of the Macon county In- 
 dustrial school for girls, which was incorporated Feb. 26, 1890. She 
 also was one of the founders of the Anna B. Millikin home, incorporated 
 in 1892, a home for aged women and dependent children. That year 
 Mr. Millikin bought the old Lake hotel at Sangamon and Lowber 
 streets and gave it for a home for elderly women. It was occupied 
 for nearly ten years as the old ladies home. On Feb. 7, 1893, the di- 
 rectors of the girls' school and the old ladies' home had a joint meet- 
 ing and decided to combine the two institutions. A charter was 
 
 MRS. AXXA I?. 
 MILLIKIN 
 
376 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 secured under the name of the Anna B. Millikin home and Macon 
 County Industrial School for Girls. 
 
 In 1900 Mr. Millikin agreed to give $10,000 for the erection of a 
 new building, and three acres of land across from Oakland park, if the 
 citizens of Decatur would raise the same amount of money. They 
 responded to the appeal. Mr. Millikin added $5,000 more, and the 
 Anna B. Millikin home, on Oakland avenue, was erected. Since its 
 opening in 1901 it has given a home to many a homeless aged woman 
 and helpless dependent child. 
 
 Mr. Millikin passed away at Orlando, Fla., March 2, 1909. Mrs. 
 Millikin lived until July 29, 1913. Mr. Millikin's estate was left in 
 trust, the income to be used for charitable and educational purposes 
 in Decatur. Much, naturally, has gone to the support of the James 
 Millikin university. Mrs. Millikin specified in her will that the old 
 homestead should be used for the development of art, a subject in 
 which she had always been deeply interested. To carry out her wishes, 
 the Decatur Art Institute was established there. Mrs. Millikin was a 
 leading member of the Decatur Art class, an organization of more 
 than fifty years standing in Decatur. 
 
 As public benefactors Mr. and Mrs. James Millikin have had no 
 equals in Decatur. The city owes them a big debt of gratitude. 
 
 1 Van Dyke street was named in honor of James Millikin's mother, whose maiden name 
 was Van Dyke. 
 
JAMES MILLIKIN UNIVERSITY 377 
 
 CHAPTER LXIX 
 
 JAMES MILLIKIN UNIVERSITY 
 
 FOR years it was understood in Decatur that James Millikin had 
 in mind the establishment of a school to be located in Oakland 
 park. He had mentioned to friends the giving of the park for a school. 
 On May 6, 1900, he made an offer definitely to Decatur. 
 
 That offer came out of a casual remark repeated to A. G. Webber, 
 a man of action. He acted by calling on a friend who also was a Re- 
 view reporter, and saying: 
 
 "I understand that James Millikin said he would give $200,000 
 and Oakland park for a school if the people of Decatur would give 
 $100,000. Why don't you ask him if he said it? We want that school." 
 
 Mr. Millikin was asked, and his reply in his own words, were: 
 
 "I said it. I have thought of it a great deal, but I don't know that 
 it is wise to make a newspaper statement about it. I do not care to 
 say a great deal about it now. But it is a fact that I said it and that I 
 mean it. 
 
 "I said I would give $200,000 if the citizens would give $100,000. 
 I will give the $200,000 and give Oakland park as a site. I am ready 
 to give my part within thirty days if necessary. The citizens could 
 raise their part easily. I could pick out twenty-five or thirty men who 
 could raise the money, or who could give notes, and the matter would 
 be ended." 
 
 In the conversation Mr. Millikin said it was estimated that 
 $150,000 would erect the buildings and lay out the grounds. That 
 would leave $150,000 to start with. The institution would naturally 
 grow, and more money would come in different ways. The endow- 
 ment probably would reach $500,000 more. 
 
 In outlining his ideas as to the work of the school, Mr. Millikin 
 said he wanted it to teach girls to sew and cook, and to train boys 
 for useful trades and also accounting and other such accomplishments. 
 
 The first to respond to Mr. Millikin's offer was D. S. Shellabarger, 
 who told G. N. Wagenseller, reporter on the Decatur Herald, that he 
 would give $5,000, announcement to that effect being made in The 
 Herald, May 7. In making the offer, Mr. Shellabarger said : 
 
 "That was a generous offer — a handsome offer. The people of 
 Decatur should take advantage of it. I will be one of twenty men to 
 give $5,000 each." 
 
378 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Meantime Dr. W. J. Darby, general educational secretary of 
 the Cumberland Presbyterian church, suggested that Lincoln univer- 
 sity at Lincoln, 111., under the auspices of that church, might be moved 
 to Decatur and combined with the proposed school. Mr. Millikin said 
 in regard to that suggestion : 
 
 "That might be possible, though I do not care to set up a school 
 to teach creeds and dogmas. I do not want any sectarianism but 1 
 want the young people to have good educations in character as well 
 as in brains. With the distinct understanding that I do not want to 
 import anything, that is, to teach creeds and dogmas, I am in favor 
 of it. Character is the main thing, and if we can bring people here to 
 help make good character, why shouldn't we do it?" 
 
 It was his expectation that the church would give $100,000 toward 
 the project, making a total of $400,000 for the school. 
 
 Citizens of Lincoln protested against the removal of their univer- 
 sity. The outcome was that a plan was worked out, by which the 
 Lincoln school should remain in Lincoln, under the name of Lincoln 
 college, the new school should be established in Decatur under the 
 official title of Decatur College and Industrial school, and the two col- 
 leges together should constitute the James Millikin university, oper- 
 ating under the charter of the Lincoln university, amended as neces- 
 sary. 
 
 Mr. Millikin on May 15 made a formal proposal, offering to give 
 Oakland park as the site for the Decatur college, and $200,000 in 
 money, if the citizens of Decatur would give $100,000 and the Cumber- 
 land Presbyterian church (synods of Illinois, Indiana and Iowa) 
 $100,000. | ^ 
 
 The advantage of putting the Decatur school under the Lincoln 
 university charter was that thereby property held by it would be 
 exempt from taxation. That college had a special charter that could 
 not now be obtained. 
 
 A meeting of Decatur citizens was called by Mayor G. A. Stadler 
 for May 22, to take steps to raise the city's share of $100,000. W. C. 
 
 iilSlr 
 
 ^yilrt^ 
 
 
 
 EH 
 
 ||-I 
 
 M 
 
 
 't < ' ";$£ 
 
 
 
 GENERAL VIEW, JAMES MILLIKIN UNIVERSITY 
 
JAMES MILLIKIN UNIVERSITY 
 
 379 
 
 Outten was chairman of the meeting. He was asked to name a com- 
 mittee to direct the campaign, and on May 27 he announced that he 
 had selected the following: D. S. Shellabarger, Harry Shlaudeman, 
 G. A. Stadler, Theron Powers, Bernard Bradley, A. P. Cobb, and 
 T. T. Roberts. 
 
 Included on the committee were Mr. Outten, chairman, and E. A. 
 Gastman, secretary. Later Isaac R. Mills became chairman. Many 
 others assisted in the work, among them A. H. Mills and C. S. Need- 
 ham. On Dec. 24 I. R. Mills announced that the fund had been com- 
 pleted. 
 
 Altogether there were about 850 contributors to the fund. The 
 larger contributors were : 
 
 Orlando Powers $10,000 
 
 D. S. Shellabarger 5,000 
 
 Thomas T. Roberts 5,000 
 
 William H. Ennis 5,000 
 
 Caroline M. Powers 5,000 
 
 There were about fifteen gifts of $1,000 or more. 
 Within a few days the announcement was made that the Cumber- 
 land Presbyterian church had raised its $100,000. The largest con- 
 tribution to the fund raised by the church was $20,000, given by Mrs. 
 E. Thornton of Petersburg, Ind. Rev. A. W. Hawkins was financial 
 agent of the commission which raised the $100,000 for the church. 
 
 WlK : "^ ne Elizabethan style of archi- 
 
 iV'lSji tecture was chosen for the univer- 
 
 i\ ,*! sity buildings. Plans were drawn by 
 
 Patton & Miller, Chicago. Contract 
 
 ^ ; jSJK ,<>r ^ ne mani g rou P °f buildings was 
 
 let Feb. 10, 1902, to H. B. Walter 
 
 of Danville, for $107,160. Ground 
 
 'EEV *» was broken March 1. The corner- 
 
 fJL-JF? K^ilE?r^ stone was laid June 12. 1902, and on 
 
 KMJLl J une 4, 1903, the building was dedi- 
 cated. President of the United 
 States Theodore Roosevelt made 
 the dedicatory address. 
 
 The original buildings included 
 the Liberal Arts Hall, the Engineer- 
 ing hall, the Domestic Economy hall, and Machinery hall. Their 
 total cost was $216,000. 
 
380 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 The amended charter for the university was adopted April 30, 
 1901. 
 
 The members of the first board of trustees for the university were 
 W. J. Darby, Indiana, president; W. C. Outten, Illinois, vice president; 
 H. E. Starkey, Illinois, secretary; S. E. Walker, Illinois, treasurer; A. 
 C. Boyd, J. T. Foster, E. G. King, A. H. Mills, A. W. Hawkins, W. T. 
 Moffett, F. E. Bell, R. M. Tinnon, and W. S. Phillips, all of Illinois; 
 J. E. Williamson of Indiana, and R. L. Vannice of Iowa. The board 
 organized on June 11, 1901. 
 
 The board of managers for the Decatur college organized June 
 14, 1901. The members were I. R. Mills, president; A. R. Scott, 
 vice president; S. E. Walker, secretary; O. B. Gorin, treasurer; T. T. 
 Roberts, W. J. Wayne, A. R. Montgomery, Peter Loeb, T. A. Powers, 
 J. K. McDavid, C. S. Needham. 
 
 According to agreement, the board of trustees for the university 
 is appointed by the three synods, and each college is governed by a 
 local board of managers appointed by the trustees. Since the union 
 of the Cumberland Presbyterian church and the Presbyterian church, 
 U. S. A., in 1906, both colleges have been under the supervision of the 
 Presbyterian synods of Illinois, Indiana and Iowa, so far as naming of 
 trustees is concerned. The local board of managers is non-sectarian. 
 
 Dr. Albert R. Taylor, former president 
 of the State Normal school of Kansas, and 
 at one time a member of the faculty of Lin- 
 coln university, was the first president of 
 the new university. He assumed his duties 
 on July 1, 1901. 
 
 School opened on Sept. 15, 1903, with 
 562 students. Before the end of the year the 
 enrollment had reached 712. The next year 
 it was even larger, 764 students being reg- 
 istered. 
 
 In 1907 a dormitory for women was 
 erected, at a cost of $45,000. It was named 
 Aston hall, Aston being Mrs. Millikin's 
 maiden name. 
 
 In 1912 a gymnasium was erected at a cost of $47,000, and the 
 
 same year the Conservatory of Music was built. Its cost was $117,000. 
 
 Herman H. Kaeuper, director of the music school of the university 
 
 from the beginning until 1913, devoted much time and effort to the 
 
 planning of the new Conservatory building. When the building was 
 
 DR. ALBERT R. TAYLOR 
 
JAMES MILL1KIN UNIVERSITY 
 
 381 
 
 completed, the recital hall was named Kaeuper hall in his honor. Mr. 
 Kaeuper brought the school up to a high standard, a standard it has 
 never lost. 
 
 Presidents of the university who have succeeded Dr. A. R. Taylor 
 have been : 
 
 Dr. George E. Fellows 
 
 Dr. A. R. Taylor (second term) 
 
 Dr. Louis E. Holden 
 
 Dr. Mark E. Penney 
 
 Dr. Jesse H. White (elected in 1930). 
 
 Each year at commencement time, a noted speaker from outside 
 Decatur gives the graduating class its parting message. One of the 
 most noted commencement speakers the school has had was Dr. Frank 
 W. Gunsaulus, who was here in June, 1912. 
 
 COMMENCEMENT PROCESSION, 1912 
 Top Picture — left to right — front row: President A. R. 
 
 Taylor, Dr. F. W. Gunsaulus, Dr. W. J. Darby ; second row, 
 
 Rev. W. H. Penhallegon, A. H. Mills, Dr. S. E. McClelland; 
 
 third row, George B. Spitler, T. T. Roberts, W. C. Outten ; 
 
 fourth row, H. E. Starkey, Lincoln; W. H. Evans, Lincoln. 
 Lower Picture — Graduating class members. 
 
 James Millikin 
 did not stop with 
 the $200,000 gift 
 which he made in 
 1900 with which 
 to found the uni- 
 versity. He kept on 
 giving. For equip- 
 ment for the build- 
 ings he gave $30,- 
 000, and for current 
 expenses he fur- 
 nished thousands of 
 dollars every year 
 until his death. 
 Even then his giv- 
 ing was not ended. 
 The income from 
 his estate, left in 
 trust for charitable 
 and educational 
 purposes in Deca- 
 tur, has continued 
 to provide for the 
 
 institution he founded. It paid the cost of all the buildings added 
 later, and lias given $725,000 additional on endowment. Only recently 
 
382 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 announcement was made that a new library will be erected soon by 
 the estate. 
 
 In 1919 the trustees of the estate offered $600,000 if the citizens 
 of Decatur would raise $400,000, to give the university an "additional 
 million" in endowment. The citizens fell short by $125,000 to meet 
 the condition, and, in order not to lose the money which had been 
 raised, the trustees themselves assumed this shortage, thereby secur- 
 ing a million dollars in endowment. 
 
 The report, as of March 1, 1930, on assets of the college shows 
 the financial standing of the school today : 
 Endowment: 
 
 Productive $1,350,743.19 
 
 Non-productive 74,234.21 
 
 Total $1,424,977.40 
 
 Trust funds, restricted 372,202.43 
 
 Buildings and equipment 889,691.66 
 
 Ground 220,000.00 
 
 Grand total $2,906,871.49 
 
 Establishment of the James Millikin university has had a far- 
 reaching influence on the city of Decatur. It has helped in a material 
 way, bringing about development of the west end of the city. It has 
 had a big part in the growth of population of the city, having brought 
 probably as many as 500 new families to educate their children. But 
 best of all, it has been highly influential in raising the standard of the 
 city intellectually, musically and spiritually. Its professors and 
 teachers have been leaders in the fields of education and music, and 
 in the religious world. Its graduates have gone forth equipped for 
 their life work and have made good in all corners of the earth. 
 
 Some institutions work in the direction of producing goods and 
 increasing material wealth. Some promote physical and mental health. 
 Some provide recreation and social advantages. Some strive to im- 
 prove the moral and religious life. Our university broadens, enriches 
 and develops the spiritual life of our people. It gives them a fuller 
 understanding and assists them in making a fuller application in their 
 own lives of the things of the soul. That is a service that is of in- 
 estimable value to the community. 
 
 No other single institution in the city can equal in value the one 
 which James Millikin's foresight and generosity thirty years ago 
 brought about. 
 
DFXATUR— 1900 TO 1929 
 
 383 
 
 CHAPTER J,\.\ 
 
 DECATUR— 1900 TO 1929 
 
 DECATUR entered the twentieth century with a vision of larger 
 things for the future than it had yet experienced, but even that 
 vision was not big enough to see all that has actually been ac- 
 complished. 
 
 . Since 1900 have 
 
 come things which 
 are some of the big- 
 gest assets of the 
 city today. With 
 them has come an 
 unusual growth in 
 population. In fact, 
 the population has 
 practically tripled. 
 
 The story of De- 
 catur since 1900 is 
 the story of just one 
 big improvement 
 after another. Some 
 of these have already 
 been described in 
 other chapters — the 
 creation of Lake De- 
 catur, the coming of 
 the James Millikin 
 university, the build- 
 ing of the interurban 
 lines by the Illinois 
 Traction System, ex- 
 tension and improvement of the street car and bus system, and other 
 achievements. 
 
 One of the biggest improvements to this city, as well as other 
 cities of the state, is the system of paved roads, brought about by the 
 rapid increase in automobile traffic. Decatur is now out of the mud', 
 so far as road connection with other cities is concerned. The first 
 stretch laid out of Decatur was the section of Route 10 from Decatur 
 
 SOME CITY OFFICERS IX 1900 
 
 Left to Right — Right top corner — B. C. Applegate, chief of 
 police ; C. W. Devore, fire chief. 
 
 Rack row — Leon Sullivan, city electrician; Martin C. Her- 
 man, waterworks engineer ; Adam Seeforth, city treasurer ; Richard 
 O. Rosen, superintendent of streets ; James C. Brand, alderman ; 
 Isaac W. Ehrman, oil inspector; M. Fahay, alderman. 
 
 Second row — William T. Peake, alderman ; George V. Loring, 
 city engineer ; F. M. Young, alderman ; E. R. Culver, alderman ; 
 Will Peters, alderman; Joe Bixby, alderman. 
 
 Lower row — J. B. Siewers, alderman; C. F. Shilling, alder 
 man; Frank M. Meredith, alderman; H. Frank Robbins, city 
 comptroller; George A. Stadler, mayor; Mont Peniwell, city 
 clerk ; Alois Young, alderman ; C. C. Walters, city attorney. 
 
 Some of the city officers that year were not present when this 
 picture was taken in 1900. 
 
384 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 to Harristown. It was not long until the county was crossed from 
 east to west and north to south by hard roads. 
 
 Big projects put through inside the city for the benefit of traffic 
 were the Van Dyke street viaduct, the Staley viaduct, and subways on 
 North Jasper, East Prairie, South Franklin, West Decatur and West 
 Forest streets. Subways added in the last few years are the Becker 
 subway under the B. and O. near Nelson park bridge, and the Brush 
 college subway, east of Decatur. 
 
 Miles and miles of paved streets, sewer and water main exten- 
 sions have been added since 1900. 
 
 The building of the I. T. S. shops, the vast extensions made by 
 the Wabash railroad, and extensions now under way by the Baltimore 
 and Ohio railroad have been making Decatur of more and more im- 
 portance as a railroad center. Erection of the Staley viaduct over the 
 forty-five Wabash tracks on 22nd street was an improvement of 
 great value in the east section of the city. 
 
 Much of Decatur's development industrially has been in the 
 northeast section, and a big feature of that development in the last 
 year has been the building of a joint belt line track to add to the trans- 
 portation facilities of that area. This line was built by the Illinois 
 Central, Pennsylvania and Ilinois Terminal raillroads. It has been 
 named the Lake Decatur and Eastern. 
 
 BUILDING 
 
 The period since 1900 has been featured by the number of new 
 buildings, both business and public structures and residences, as well 
 as schools, theaters and factories. 
 
 Every year has seen hundreds of new homes erected. The best 
 year, so far as number of houses built is concerned, was 1925, when 806 
 residences were constructed. 
 
 Decatur's biggest year in the total amount of money spent on 
 new buildings, including buildings of all kinds, was the year 1927, 
 when the total reached the sum of $5,786,465. 
 
 Before that, one of the biggest building years was 1919, when a 
 total of $2,975,840 was spent. About seventy-five business and fac- 
 tory buildings, as well as several hundred residences, were erected that 
 year. It was the year in which a number of the Staley plant buildings 
 were put up. 
 
 The year 1909 was also a remarkable year for building, not only 
 for work completed but for projects started which meant considerable 
 development later. 
 
 That year occurred the disastrous fire in the business section 
 which destroyed the Morehouse & Wells company building and struc- 
 
DECATUR— 1900 TO 1929 
 
 385 
 
 turcs adjoining it on the west and cast, the lire extending to buildings 
 on Merchant street and on Water street. It was one of the worst fires 
 Decatur had suffered, yet it meant the rebuilding of the business 
 houses of those streets, resulting in larger and better structures. 
 
 In that year a number of other big building enterprises were car- 
 ried out. The Knights of Pythias orphans' home was completed, the 
 Y. \Y. C. A. building was finished, and the Citizens bank building was 
 erected at the corner of North Park and Water streets. 
 
 That year the Decatur Railway and Light company spent $100,000 
 in improvements on gas plant, gas mains, electric power station and 
 other properties. That year saw the beginning of the new high school 
 project which was completed the following year. It was the time 
 work was starting on the I. T. S. belt line, built at a cost of $300,000, 
 the I. T. S. shops were being erected at a cost of $100,000, and the 
 waterworks and light plant was being rebuilt at a cost of $300,000. 
 
 An important real estate transaction in 1909 was the sale of the 
 Hill property at Pine and William streets, which resulted eventually 
 in one of Decatur's most attractive residence sections, that of Millikin 
 place and the 800 block West William. 
 
 In 1912 Decatur lost its old tabernacle at North Main and Prairie 
 streets, which was torn down to make way for the Bachman build- 
 ing. Not long afterwards the building across the street on the Shaffer 
 property, one of the oldest structures in the city, gave way to the 
 new store and office building erected by XV. H. Suffern, who had pur- 
 chased the ground several years before. 
 
 XORTTT MATX AXD PRATRTE TX 1912 
 
386 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 A number of buildings of a public nature have been added. The 
 Young Men's Christian Association building, 151 West Prairie, repre- 
 senting an investment of $75,000, was formally opened to the public 
 Oct. 15, 1906. The Young Women's Christian Association was organ- 
 ized Jan. 22, 1906, and in January 1910, moved into its new building, 
 436 North Main street, erected at a cost of $50,000. New homes for 
 the Boys' Opportunity home and the Salvation Army have been 
 erected in the last five years. The Knights of Pythias homes, the 
 Masonic temple, and various lodge and club buildings have been con- 
 structed in the period under review: 
 
 In 1924 J. J. Moran erected the first funeral home, at the corner 
 of Water and Eldorado streets. Two others have been erected since, 
 the L. A. Monson funeral home, 239 W r est Prairie, and the Dawson & 
 Wikoff establishment at West Wood and College streets. 
 
 A big addition to the facilities of Decatur was the Decatur and 
 Macon county hospital, the main building of which was opened Jan. 1, 
 1916. It had been erected at a cost of $246,849.30. The Millikin wing, 
 financed by trustees of the James Millikin estate, was opened in 1918. 
 The tuberculosis sanatorium, operated financially by special taxation, 
 but managed in connection with the hospital, was opened in July, 1923. 
 Other buildings added have been the preventorium and nurses' home. 
 The latter, erected at a cost of $138,529, was financed by private sub- 
 scriptions, the largest of which was given by W. C. Johns, and the 
 home was named in his honor the "W. C. Johns home for nurses". At 
 
 the present writing 
 (1930) a city hos- 
 pital is being erected 
 on the grounds. 
 
 An interesting- 
 tablet placed in the 
 hospital gives honor 
 to the twenty-one 
 women of the Hos- 
 pital Aid society who 
 worked for years to 
 raise a fund to build 
 a hospital for Deca- 
 tur. On the tablet 
 their names are in- 
 scribed. The earn- 
 orlando hotel ings of these women 
 
DECATUR— 1900 TO 1929 387 
 
 formed the nucleus of the fund raised by popular subscription to 
 build the hospital. Its planning and construction was the work of 
 Dr. William Barnes. 
 
 The Wabash hospital was erected in 1902-03 at East Grand 
 avenue and Warren street, by the company and Wabash employes for 
 employes of that road. 
 
 Additions from time to time to St. Mary's hospital have brought 
 it to a high standard of equipment and accommodations. 
 
 Decatur suffered another big fire in 1914 when the Powers build- 
 ing, including the opera house and Linn & Scruggs store, burned. 
 When it was rebuilt, the opera house was replaced by the Hotel Or- 
 lando. 
 
 INDUSTRIES 
 
 The beginning and marvelous growth of the A. E. Staley Manu- 
 facturing company plant would be a story in itself. 
 
 Augustus E. Staley, who started in the starch making business 
 in Baltimore in 1898, bought the Wellington Starch works, formerly 
 the Pratt cereal mill, in Decatur in 1909, and from it has developed a 
 $20,000,000 starch works. Mr. Staley is a member of the board of di- 
 rectors of the Wabash railway system. 
 
 Both industries established in previous years and new ones 
 which have come have made big development in the last twenty-five 
 years. Among them are the Staley and Mueller Manufacturing com- 
 panies, heretofore mentioned ; Decatur Malleable Iron company, 
 Leader Iron works, Mississippi Valley Structural Steel company, 
 Wagner Malleable Iron company, Biflex Products company, Union 
 Iron works, Osgood & Sons company, Home Manufacturing company, 
 Chambers, Bering and Quinlan company, Faries Manufacturing com- 
 pany, Polar company, G. S. Lyon & Sons Lumber and Manufacturing 
 company, Decatur Lumber and Manufacturing company, Decatur 
 Brick Manufacturing company, Williams Sealing corporation, Decatur 
 Coal company, Decatur Coffin company, Walrus Manufacturing com- 
 pany, U. S. Manufacturing company, Decatur Pump company, Deca- 
 tur Garment company, Review Printing and Stationery company, 
 Herald Printing and Stationery company and many others. 
 
 The Association of Commerce (first called the Chamber of Com- 
 merce) was organized in the summer of 1903 for the purpose of secur- 
 ing new industries for Decatur. One of the first it was instrumental 
 in bringing was the Decatur Bridge company, now the Mississippi 
 Valley Structural Steel company. 
 
388 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Previous to the organization of the Chamber of Commerce De- 
 catur had a Business Men's Association, which worked along the 
 same line for two or three years. Its officers in the year 1901 were: 
 
 Directors — J. M. Brownback, Ber- 
 nard Bradley, Walter Hutchin, Wilson 
 M. Bering, W. L. Shellabarger, Frank 
 Curtis, Will Bachman, Frank Shlaude- 
 man and B. O. McReynolds. 
 
 When the Chamber of Commerce was organized in 1903, first 
 officers were : 
 
 President — A. R. Montgomery. 
 Vice President — C. A. Wait. 
 Secretary — J. S. McClelland. 
 Treasurer — W. H. Elwood. 
 
 President — Felix B. Tait. 
 
 First vice president — Theron A. 
 Powers. 
 
 Second vice president — Charles 
 M. Hurst. 
 
 Treasurer — Harry Shlaudeman. 
 
 Secretary — John H. Culver. 
 
 Directors — Robert Mueller, C. A. 
 Burks, Bernard Bradley, W. L. Shella- 
 barger, Theron A. Powers, Harry 
 Shlaudeman, F. B. Tait, C. M. Hurst 
 and George W. Mueller. 
 
 The Association has been active in every line of community de- 
 velopment, the promotion of good will, securing of hard roads and 
 the like, as well as in bringing new industries. Two real estate develop- 
 ments handled by the association were the Chamber of Commerce ad- 
 dition in the northeast section, promoted in 1903, and the Terrace 
 Gardens addition in the southeast section, during and after the World 
 war. The first was helpful in financing donations of land to the 
 Wabash for shops and in locating industries in the Chamber of Com- 
 merce addition. 
 
 The Association of Commerce has brought new industries to the 
 city, and the new industries have brought new citizens. It was in- 
 strumental in 1906 in keeping the Wabash terminals in Decatur, when 
 the railroad was planning to move because of lack of room here. At 
 that time $60,000 was raised to buy land needed by the road, and the 
 Wabash interests, which then employed 600 men, remained in Decatur. 
 
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 SUNDAY TABERNACLE CROWD, 1908 
 
DECATUR— 1900 TO 1929 
 
 389 
 
 In more recent years, when there was prospect of the Staley 
 Manufacturing company moving to Peoria, because of lack of water 
 supply in Decatur, the association helped to bring about the creation 
 of Lake Decatur, and the industry remained here. 
 
 During the years since 1900 there has been a great change in 
 the type of church buildings in the city. Old buildings have been re- 
 placed by new, modern structures. New churches have been organ- 
 ized and have erected buildings. More than thirty new church build- 
 ings have been erected since 1900. Nearly all of Decatur's churches 
 now are housed in attractive places of worship. 
 
 In 1908 came the Rev. William A. Sunday revival meeting, held 
 in a big tabernacle at the corner of Union and Eldorado streets. It 
 resulted in many thousands of conversions and quickened the religious 
 life of the city. 
 
 In the township election held in the spring following the Sunday 
 revival, Decatur township voted "dry'*' by a majority of 1,047, the vote 
 being 4,668 in favor of local option, to 3,621 opposed. 
 
 Two years later the proposition came up again, and was lost. The 
 vote in that election was 4,478 in favor of saloons, to 3,940 opposed. 
 Decatur again had its saloons. 
 
 A third time, in 1914, the proposition was put to vote of the people. 
 This time the women had the vote, and the township again voted 
 "dry", and since then Decatur has had no open saloons. The vote 
 polled in that election was the largest in the history of the township 
 up to that time. The vote stood 9,068 against saloons to 7,329 for them. 
 
 The campaigns for and against saloons were hotly contested ones. 
 In the campaign of 1910 a local option parade was a feature. In this 
 parade little folks and grown-ups participated, the little ones carrying 
 banners with such signs as "Save Our Homes" and "Please Protect 
 Us". 
 
 An event of im- 
 portance in the re- 
 ligious world oc- 
 curred May 24, 
 1906, w li e n the 
 union of the Pres- 
 byterian Church in 
 the United States 
 and the Cumber- 
 land Presbyterian 
 
 LOCAL OPTION PARADE, 1910 Clllircll was ef- 
 
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390 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 SLEET DAMAGE AT BROADWAY AND WILLIAM 
 
 fected following action of the Cumberland Presbyterian general as- 
 sembly in session in Decatur. As soon as this action had been taken 
 the union was declared in effect by the Presbyterian general assembly 
 in session at Des Moines. 
 
 The year 1912 in Decatur was made memorable by two occur- 
 rences, one the big 
 sleet storm which 
 came on March 20 
 and paralyzed the 
 city and Central Illi- 
 nois, and the other 
 the big home coming 
 celebration which 
 took place in Aug- 
 ust. 
 
 Sheets of ice 
 more than an inch 
 thick covered trees 
 and buildings during 
 the sleet storm. 
 Thousands of trees 
 were crushed by the 
 weight of the ice. 
 Light poles were 
 snapped off, wires 
 were torn down, 
 streets were block- 
 aded, electric cur- 
 rent cut off, leaving 
 streets in inky dark- 
 ness at night. The 
 cracking and crash- 
 
 WEST MACON AT UNION, AFTER SLEET STORM [ n g of the ice-ladeil 
 
 branches were terrifying to the passerby. Decatur had once before 
 had a serious sleet storm, back in 1883, but the storm of 1912 exceeded 
 it greatly in spectacular effects and in damage. 
 
 Homecoming week was Aug. 6-10, 1912. Hundreds of former 
 Decatur residents came back at that time to greet old friends and see 
 the old home town. Races, parade, baby shows, fraternal pageant, 
 band concerts were some of the special events. One parade feature 
 was a living flag made up of 456 girls in the national colors. 
 
DECATUR— 1900 TO 1929 
 
 391 
 
 
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 HOMECOMING PARADE, 1912 
 
 OLD SETTLERS REUNION, 1911 
 
392 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Memories of the early days of the county are not allowed to die 
 out. Every year the Macon County Old Settlers association, which 
 has been in existence since about 1883, holds its reunion at Fairview 
 park, and talks over the old days. That reunion used to bring the 
 biggest crowd of the year to Fairview, but it does no longer. The 
 picture shows the reunion crowd of 1911. 
 
 The splendid growth in population of Decatur is not the result of 
 a boom, but is a steady, substantial kind of growth. In the first ten 
 years of the twentieth century the population increased from 20,754 
 to 31,140. The next ten years it increased to 43,818. The 1930 census 
 showed a population of 57,511. With such a start on its second century 
 of history, Decatur can look forward to becoming one of the big cities 
 of the Central West. 
 
THE WORLD WAR 393 
 
 CHAPTER LXXI 
 
 THE WORLD WAR 
 
 IT would take volumes to tell of Macon county's part in the 
 great World War in 1917-1918. At the front and at home it went 
 "over the top". While hundreds of the boys fought valiantly on battle- 
 fields in France, workers at home carried on in the dozens of places 
 where work was to be done to help win the war. In raising war funds, 
 in Liberty loan drives, in Red Cross work, and in dozens of other 
 ways, Macon county not only did its part, but did more than the quota 
 assigned. 
 
 Long before the United States entered the fray, Macon county 
 boys began enlisting for service in the army and navy. It was esti- 
 mated that at least 400, if not more, entered service before there was 
 any certainty that the United States would get into the struggle. 
 When war was declared, hundreds more enlisted, and then came the 
 draft. 
 
 Before the war was over, Macon county had sent close to 2,500 
 men into the army or navy. Nearly 100 of these men made the 
 supreme sacrfice, giving up their lives, either in service at home, or on 
 the battlefield abroad. The first Macon county soldier to die in 
 France was George Orville Moyer, who was killed Nov. 3, 1917. 
 
 The Macon county men were scattered all over the country and 
 abroad, and among all branches of the government service. The only 
 group of local men together in one company was old Company L, 
 which became the nucleus of Company A, One Hundred Twenty- 
 Fourth Machine Gun battalion. 
 
 One of the first groups of men named for government service, after 
 war was declared, was the exemption board for the draft. The exemp- 
 tion board for Decatur consisted of C. A. Ewing, chairman; John 
 Allen, clerk, and Dr. E. J. Brown, physician. The county exemption 
 board consisted of Cassius Holcomb, Oakley, chairman; Henry Shafer, 
 Niantic, secretary, and Dr. W. A. Melton, Warrensburg, physician. 
 
 Some idea of the work of the exemption boards may be gathered 
 from the fact that in Macon county there was a total of 13,262 registra- 
 tions for the selective draft. A total of 1,558 men was inducted into 
 service. Of that number ninety-four were rejected. 
 
 While men were in training at the various training camps over the 
 country, citizens at home were occupied with sundry war duties. 
 
394 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Patriotism was stirred as it had never been stirred since the days 
 of the Civil war. 
 
 When the first Liberty Loan call was made, Macon county's quota 
 was $1,056,000. It subscribed for $1,211,800 in bonds, the number of 
 subscribers being around 4,000. 
 
 The quota in the second call was $2,512,125, and the amount sub- 
 scribed was $2,620,600. 
 
 In the third call the quota was $1,465,200, and amount subscribed 
 was $1,930,000. 
 
 The fourth call was for $3,218,000 and the amount subscribed was 
 nearly $500,000 above that figure. 
 
 The fifth call was for $2,480,900, and amount subscribed was 
 $2,757,700. The number of subscribers in the fifth campaign was 6,566. 
 
 Porter J. Millikin was chairman of the last three Liberty Loan 
 drives. 
 
 In the first Red Cross drive for funds, Macon county was asked 
 for $60,000. It gave $69,524. In the second drive the quota was $60,000, 
 and the sum raised was $86,897.33. In the second drive the number of 
 givers was, 14,344. 
 
 For Y. M. C. A. war work Macon county was asked to give 
 $21,750. It responded with $27,261.80. 
 
 For Knights of Columbus work the amount asked was $7,000. 
 The sum of $12,000 was given. 
 
 The Y. W. C. A. war fund quota for the county was $7,000. The 
 sum of $7,275 was raised. 
 
 FIRST DRAFTED MEN 
 Macon county's first contingent of drafted men left Sept. 6, 1917, tor Des Moines, la. (Camp 
 Dodge). Nine city men and eleven from outside Decatur made up the group. The picture in- 
 cludes two extra men. Top row, left to right — L. N. Myers, G. E. Jacobsen, W. F. Conner, 
 R. S. Smith, W. McCarty, R. J. Hoots, F. G. Wise; second row— J. L. Connaghan, C. Y. Miller, 
 A. E. Trainer; third row — R. H. Lewellen, H. A. Holland, J. E. Tuteweiler (extra), L. Cooper 
 (extra) ; lower row— W. E. Knodle, Guy Bundy, W. T. Mills, C. S. Bowers, B. S. Guynn, S. 
 Morthland Jr., G. L. Dickerson. One man, William Cook, was absent when this picture was taken. 
 
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396 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Activities of the Red Cross during the war were conspicuous. 
 The Macon County chapter of the Red Cross was organized Jan. 26, 
 1917, with the following officers: 
 
 Chairman — Robert Mueller. 
 
 Vice Chairman — Max Hurd. 
 
 Treasurer — A. M. Kenney. 
 
 Secretary — Mrs. Inez J. Bender. 
 
 Later C. H. Leon became the vice chairman. 
 
 By July 1, 1918, membership of the chapter had reached 12,591. A year 
 later the membership was 15,950. 
 
 From the day the United States entered the war, in April, 1917, until June 
 30, 1922, the Macon county chapter handled the sum of $151,659.44, expending 
 all but $569.15. 
 
 The chapter's first real work in the war was furnishing comfort kits to the 
 members of Company A. 
 
 To give an idea of the work accomplished by the Red Cross, the following 
 figures are listed, these figures representing the activities of one year: 
 
 200,416 surgical dressings 
 
 17,860 hospital garments 
 
 13,207 knitted garments 
 
 8,868 garments for refugees 
 
 9,749 pounds of used garments sent to Belgium and France. 
 
 The Red Cross workers also that year inspected, packed and wrapped 892 
 Christmas boxes for the boys in the army and navy, spent $5,518.90 in canteen 
 service, $5,751.82 in home service, and $4,891.74 in the fight against influenza at 
 the emergency hospital. 
 
 The Red Cross workshop was the busiest place in town during the 
 war. There dozens of women met day after day, giving their time and 
 work to the cause. 
 
 Not the least of the Red Cross work was the canteen hut main- 
 tained at the railroad stations, where train after train containing 
 soldiers was met with women bearing supplies of sandwiches, goodies 
 and drinks. J. H. Culver was general chairman of the canteen hut. 
 
 One of the record days at the hut was in June, 1919, when the 
 Three Hundred Fifty-Sixth Infantry of the Eighty-Ninth Division, 
 including 1,500 men from Missouri and Kansas, went through Decatur 
 
 RED CROSS WORKSHOP 
 
 INTERIOR CANTEEN HUT 
 
THE WORLD WAR 397 
 
 on their way home from France. Thirty-one canteen women were on 
 duty that day. More than 3,000 sandwiches, 5,000 cookies, a similar 
 number of doughnuts, ice cream cones, bananas and other tasty "eats" 
 disappeared in a hurry down the throats of the hungry soldiers. 
 
 "We were here a year ago," said those men that day. "We passed 
 through Decatur May 25, and we remember the town for the way we 
 were treated on the way over." 
 
 But not all the men who had gone through on that first trip were 
 there the second time. They had been left behind in France, in the 
 fields "where poppies grow". 
 
 A busy sub-organization of the Red Cross was the Red Cross 
 Motor corps, of which Mrs. John L. Bennett was chairman. It was 
 composed of sixteen women. 
 
 Another was the Civilian Relief Home Service committee, com- 
 posed of W. L. Shellabarger, Mrs. A. M. Kenney, Mrs. M. E. Loben- 
 stein, Mrs. Carleton Mattes, Miss Patricia Hunt, W. H. Duerr and 
 George A. Williams. 
 
 In still another way did the Red Cross give service during the 
 war, a service not for the soldiers, but for the folks at home. It was 
 during the influenza epidemic of 1918, when the spread of the disease 
 brought death to many homes. Hospitals were so overtaxed that it 
 was necessary to arrange an emergency hospital. This was opened up 
 in the former James Millikin residence. One hundred seventy-five 
 patients were cared for at that place. Not until the epidemic began 
 to die out, did the women relinquish their efforts to stay the spread of 
 the disease and minister to the comfort of those who were suffering. 
 
 One of the busiest bodies during the war was the Macon County 
 Auxiliary, State Council of National Defense, which functioned in 
 various phases of war work. 
 
 The County auxiliary committee was composed of James M. Allen, chair- 
 man; E. P. Irving, vice chairman; R. C. McMillen, secretary-treasurer; T. F. 
 Drew, and Mrs. J. D. Moore. L. C. Shellabarger was manager of the auxiliary 
 headquarters. 
 
 Among others who had a prominent part in the work were: 
 
 Finance— W. M. Wood, J. S. McClelland, Charles R. Murphy, Frank Beall, 
 Niantic, A. A. Hill, Cerro Gordo. 
 
 Neighborhood committee — J. L. Deck. 
 
 Food production and conservation committee — John G. Imboden, Mrs. M. 
 M. Eyman, Mrs. Tom Pitner, Mrs. E. W. Allen, John Hufford, Oakley, L. F. 
 Martin, Judd Traughber, Mt. Zion. 
 
 U. S. Boys' Working Reserve — J. R. Holt. 
 
 Federal fuel administration — Wilson M. Bering, W. W. Smith, W. K. 
 Whitfield. 
 
 Four minute men — Admiral C. B. T. Moore. 
 
 Women's county organization — Mrs. J. D. Moore. 
 
 Non-war construction — W. C. Field. 
 
398 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Conservation of Food — C. J. Tucker, county administrator; Frank L. Evans, 
 city administrator. 
 
 Fuel oil administrator — M. L. Harry. 
 The Federal labor bureau was in charge of Thomas Davis and P. D. 
 Aird. 
 
 Dr. Will Barnes was president and Dr. C. M. Jack secretary of 
 the Medical Advisory board of District No. 14, of which Macon 
 county was a part. 
 
 M. C. Hoagland directed the work of the American Protective 
 League. 
 
 To try to list all the various bodies which functioned during the 
 World war is impossible because of lack of space, but many others, 
 besides those mentioned, gave splendid service, and had just as import- 
 ant a part in helping to win the war. 
 
 Young men students at the James Millikin university prepared 
 themselves for war service, to be ready if called into the army. The 
 Students Army Training corps was organized with 404 members. 
 Barracks were erected on the back of the university campus for their 
 use, and the boys were instructed and drilled in army tactics. 
 
 COMPANY A 
 
 The war service of Company A really began on March 26, 1917, 
 before war had been declared, when Captain W. Lutz Krigbaum of 
 the old Company L received orders to recruit the 
 company to war strength and be in readiness for 
 orders. In a short time enough recruits had been 
 secured to bring the number in the company up to 
 eighty. On April 2, the company was ordered to 
 Henderson, Ky., to guard a bridge over the Ohio 
 river. They left the next morning. Second Lieuten- 
 ant Tunis Wilson was left in Decatur to continue 
 recruiting. As a result of sleeping in the unheated 
 armory he suffered an attack of pneumonia, and in 
 two weeks passed away, his death being the first 
 after the company was called into service. 
 
 The members of the company were on guard 
 duty at Henderson and Maunie, 111., for five months, 
 then on Aug. 1 were ordered to Cairo. From 
 Cairo the company was ordered to Camp Logan, Houston, Tex. 
 On Oct. 12, 1917, the Fifth Regiment was broken up, and the various 
 companies were assigned to machine gun and transportation organiza- 
 tions. In the assignments made then Company L became the nucleus 
 of Company A, One Hundred Twenty-Fourth Machine Gun Battalion. 
 
 major w. LUTZ 
 
 KRIGBAUM 
 
THE WORLD WAR 
 
 399 
 
 Its roster was brought up to the required 172 by transfer of men from 
 other units. The One Hundred Twenty-Fourth Machine Gun Bat- 
 talion was a part of the Sixty-Sixth Brigade, Thirty-Third Division. 
 Company A remained at Camp Logan eight months under train- 
 ing. In May, 1918, the Thirty-Third Division began moving to the 
 embarkation point. Company A left May 6 for Camp Upton, L. I., 
 where it remained a few days, and then, on May 16, embarked on the 
 transport Mt. Vernon at Hoboken, N. J., for France. Five thousand 
 troops were aboard that boat. The transport landed at Brest May 24, 
 but the soldiers could not disembark for two days, owing to the large 
 numbers of troops arriving. 
 
 Officers of Company A at this time were : 
 Captain — W. Lutz Krigbaum. 
 First Lieutenant — John P. Nolan. 
 
 Second Lieutenants — Lewis P. Rogers, Edward J. Price, Gene E. 
 Hopkins. 
 
 Battle training of the battalion was completed in camps at Cerisy, 
 Grandcourt and Pont Remy on the Somme. Early in July the battalion 
 was sent to Molliens-aux-Bois, in the British sector, where it was 
 under fire for the first time. 
 
 From that time on, until the Armistice was signed, the battalion 
 was in active service. During the time Company A was at the front 
 it was located at Albert, Hamel, Chippily, Mort Home, Bois de Forges, 
 Brabrant, Dun Sur Meuse, Consenvoye, Bois de Chaume, Dannevous, 
 Cote la Monte, Bois de Harville and Bois de Warrville. The two latter 
 places are near Metz, the movements of the company having gradually 
 brought it south. 
 
 It was while the company was getting into 
 position for the battle of Consenvoye, which took 
 place Oct. 8, that Sergeant Castle Williams was 
 killed. In his honor the Decatur post of the Amer- 
 ican Legion afterwards was named. 
 
 The French Croix de Guerre was bestowed 
 upon Captain Krigbaum, Sergeant Harold Burleigh, 
 Sergeant L. L. Brosam and Private Henry Blasek 
 for gallantry in action. Captain Krigbaum also re- 
 ceived the promotion to major because of his war 
 I record, and was decorated with the American dis- 
 
 , &, tinguished service cross for bravery shown at Bois 
 
 de Chaume. 
 
 SERGT. CASTLE L. 
 
 WILLIAMS During the five months of active fighting, the 
 
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THE WORLD WAR 401 
 
 company lost twg officers and five men, twenty-five men were 
 wounded and eighteen were taken prisoners. All the wounded men 
 and prisoners were recovered. 
 
 Company A, after the war ended, took quarters for the winter in 
 the neighborhood of Luxembourg. On May 1, 1919, they left for the 
 embarkation camp at Brest, sailed a week later, and on May 17 landed 
 in New York. 
 
 Decatur's welcome to the returning soldiers, when they reached 
 home May 31, was a joyous one. As the men marched from the station 
 to the Hotel Orlando, Avhere a reception had been planned for them, 
 they were given rousing cheers. Once more Macon comity's heroes 
 were home. 4^ J 
 
 The other Macon county men in the service returned at different 
 times. Many of them also won awards for distinguished service on 
 the battlefield. 
 
 In the Macon county court house stands the Honor Roll of the 
 World war. It contains the names of all the Macon county men who 
 enlisted in the service during the war, so far as was possible to com- 
 pile such a list. The Honor Roll contains 3,586 names. A star marks 
 the name of each one who died. This Honor Roll first was erected in 
 Central park, where it stood for a few years. It was felt wise, how- 
 ever, to protect it from the elements, by moving it indoors, and in 
 1925 it was moved to the court house. 
 
 THE ARMISTICE 
 
 Never in all its history, before or since, did Decatur see such a 
 wild demonstration of joy as it did Nov. 11, 1918, the day the Armis- 
 tice, ending the World war, was signed. 
 
 It was spoken of as a "Gigantic Jag of Joy" and it was that in 
 reality. People gave way to emotions in a way indescribable. There 
 was no suppression of feelings. 
 
 The official news of the signing of the Armistice came about 2 
 o'clock in the morning. The blowing of whistles soon spread the news. 
 Men, women, children, grabbed clothes without regard to what they 
 were, threw them on in a second, and rushed to the streets. In only a 
 few minutes a crowd had collected in the down town section and an 
 impromptu parade was staged. The shouting, singing, yelling, blowing 
 of horns, shrieking of whistles, rattling and banging of pans and tin 
 cans — anything to make a noise — turned the peacefulness of the night 
 into bedlam. Even the most sedate could not escape the effects of the 
 frenzied uproar and became as wild with enthusiasm and excitement 
 as the rest. Tears of joy mingled with laughter, for everyone knew 
 
402 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 that the boys would be coming home. In the hearts of some, joy 
 was mingled with grief for the one who would never return. 
 
 One parade was not enough to celebrate. In fact, there were 
 parades all day long. Later in the morning another big procession 
 took place when the Wabash men paraded down the streets. Nobody 
 could work that day. In fact, shops and offices and factories closed, 
 and employes were out to help swell the crowd and add to the noise 
 and hilarity. 
 
 The biggest parade of the day took place in the afternoon. 
 Hastily arranged floats, spilling over with happy-hearted boys and 
 girls, automobiles rilled to the brim with over-joyed men and women, 
 gaily bedecked groups carrying flags and banners, burlesque features 
 carrying out the idea of victory over the enemy — anything and every- 
 thing could be seen in that parade. In noise and gaiety it surpassed 
 anything ever known here before. Those who did not parade stood 
 on the walks to watch those who did, and to cheer as the flag went by. 
 
 The crowd in the town was growing larger and larger all the 
 time, as people came in from the country and surrounding towns to 
 see what was going on. Newspapers issued extras telling the news 
 that the Huns had quit. 
 
 It was twenty hours before people were calm enough to settle 
 down to routine life. The ending of the World War had resulted in 
 Decatur's longest and loudest celebration. 
 
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 
 
 403 
 
 CHAPTER LXXII 
 
 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 
 
 DECATUR and Macon county lived over again their first 100 
 years of history in the mammoth celebration held in July, 1929, 
 to observe their centennial anniversary as city and county. 
 
 Depicting the significant historical events of the century, the cele- 
 bration itself was outstanding in its wide appeal, its realism, its gorge- 
 ousness. Only the culmination of a century of progress could bring 
 about such a successful undertaking. 
 
 One day was not sufficient to celebrate the occasion fittingly, and 
 it was made a three-day observance. July 7, 8 and 9 were the dates on 
 which the celebration took place. 
 
 Preparations for observing the centennial were started by a com- 
 mittee of twenty-five men and women, appointed by Mayor O. W. 
 Smith, Dec. 11, 1928, to represent three bodies, the Macon County 
 Historical society, the Association of Commerce, and the city officials. 
 
 It was decided by this committee to organize the Decatur and 
 Macon County Centennial association and to incorporate "for the pur- 
 pose of celebrating the 100th anniversary of the organization of the 
 city of Decatur and the county of Macon, to perpetuate the history of 
 said city and county, and to finance the same." 
 
 One hundred residents of the city and county were asked to be- 
 come directors of the association. 
 
 They were as follows : 
 
 J. M. Allen 
 
 Mrs. R. C. Augustine 
 
 Mrs. Inez J. Bender 
 
 Mrs. Eugenie M. Bacon 
 
 H. I. Baldwin 
 
 Judge James S. Baldwin 
 
 Grant Barnett 
 
 \V. M. Bering 
 
 T. W. Boruff 
 
 Trving Bright 
 
 Mrs. G. H. Broughton 
 
 Tohn Budde 
 
 Henry H. Bolz 
 
 Dr. W. F. Calhoun 
 
 Miss Lillie S. Chadsey 
 
 Laurens Cook 
 
 John H. Culver 
 
 Archer T. Davis 
 
 Raymond E. Denz 
 
 Pari Dick 
 
 Miss Minnie A. Dill 
 
 Mrs. W. E. Drennan 
 
 Dr. J. C. Ellis 
 
 T. A. Eyman 
 
 Mrs. Forrest File 
 
 Clyde Foster 
 
 Mrs. E. A. Gastman 
 
 H. S. Gebhart 
 
 O. B. Gorin 
 
 H. R. Gregory 
 
 Mrs. Delia P. Gu shard 
 
 W. A. Hammer 
 
 W. F. Hardy 
 
 William Harris 
 
 Guy Harrison 
 
 M. L. Harry 
 
 G. L. Heinle 
 
 A. A. Hill 
 
 T. H. Hill 
 
 C. J. Hirsch 
 
 T. R. Holt 
 
 E. V. Huston 
 Reecher Hughey 
 G. F. Hess 
 Allen Jamison 
 
 T. D. Tohnson 
 C. B. Knight 
 Carl Liebau 
 
 F. M. Lindsey 
 
 Dr. L. N. Lindsey 
 Clyde Lyon 
 Dr. S. E. McClelland 
 Judge J. H. McCoy 
 Horace W. McDavid 
 
 T. H. McEvoy 
 
 W. R. McGaughey 
 
 T. J. Maloney 
 
 John Mattes 
 
 A. M. Metzler 
 
 Toseph Michl 
 
 Hubert Mills 
 
 W. D. Moffett 
 
 Mrs. J. D. Moore 
 
 Mrs. Ora L. Moore 
 
 Mrs. H. C. Mowry 
 
 Adolph Mueller 
 
 Mrs. George Neustadt 
 
 C. C. Nicholson 
 
 T. X. Orr 
 
 G. C. Outten 
 
 H. M. Owen 
 
 Mrs. E. L. Pegrani 
 
 Dr. M. E. Penney 
 
 Edward Powers 
 
 H. L. Preston 
 
 Carl Pritchett 
 
 Miss Ella Race 
 
 Mrs. T. T. Roberts 
 
 Dr. M. E. Rose 
 
 Mrs. Cora B. Ryman 
 
 Frank E. Sawyer 
 
404 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 H. C. Schaub Mrs. J. K. Stafford Arthur Wait 
 
 Mrs. John Schudel Marshall Stookey Carl N. Weilepp 
 
 Dr. R. Zink Sanders Dan W. Tait Harrison Williams 
 
 H. A. Shettel Dr. A. R. Taylor W. M. Wood 
 
 O. W- Smith Mrs. Jennie A. Thrift Forest Wikoff 
 
 Anton Spaeth Mrs. Alice Trierweiler 
 
 P. H. Sproat Alex Van Praag 
 
 Five classes of membership were arranged for. They were honor- 
 ary memberships, $25 fee; active, $10; sustaining, $5; high school, $1 ; 
 grade school, 50 cents. 
 
 The Centennial Association organized F'eb. 25, 1929, by electing 
 officers. Later vice presidents were chosen. The full board composed 
 the executive committee, as follows : 
 
 President — J. S. Baldwin 
 
 First Vice President — Mrs. Cora B. Ryman 
 
 Secretary — Mrs. Inez J. Bender 
 
 Treasurer — O. B. Gorin 
 
 Vice Presidents — T. W. Boruff, membership; Mrs. Delia P. Gushard, 
 memorial; William Harris, program; G. L. Heinle, finance; Frank E. Sawyer, 
 history and relics. 
 
 Numerous sub-committees were appointed and were soon busy 
 at work. Dates chosen for the celebration were July 7 , 8 and 9, and 
 Nelson park was selected as the place. 
 
 The program, as decided upon, included union religious services, 
 band concert, parade and pageant, the last depicting highlights of 
 Macon county's history. The pageant was written by W. F. Hardy. 
 Contract was made with the J. B. Rogers Producing company to stage 
 the pageant and F. P. Gorman w r as sent here by that company to direct 
 it. His assistant was Lyle Davis, and pianist was Miss Eloise Wismer. 
 
 Prizes were offered for a celebration slogan. Dr. Wilbur P. Buck 
 of Moweaqua won the first prize, $5, for the slogan selected. The 
 slogan was "A Century Young but Only Begun". Second prize, $2, 
 went to Clara Strong, Decatur, who submitted "Old and Gray but 
 Young and Gay" ; third prizes, $1 each, to Clara M. Mechtoldt of 
 Maroa, Mrs. R. C. Sleeter, Decatur, and Donald Terneus, Decatur. 
 The slogans submitted by these three respectively were "Macon, 
 Make On", "Old in Experience, Young in Opportunity", "Remember 
 Our Beginning". 
 
 A prize of $25 was awarded Ben Aiken for the best Centennial 
 poster. 
 
 For weeks before the celebration itself Decatur moved in an 
 atmosphere of "centennialism". Rehearsals for the pageant, prepa- 
 rations for the parade, addresses at various points over the county 
 about the celebration, letters of invitation, newspaper stories, slides 
 in theaters, display of old relics, search for stage properties to repre- 
 sent the days of a century ago, all these and more kept the celebration 
 before the eyes of the people. Cooperation prevailed everywhere. 
 
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 405 
 
 J. H. Hill, chairman of the properties committee, scoured several 
 counties for things needed for the pageant. 
 
 Not the least in interest was the exhibit of relics seen in various 
 store windows about the city. Antiques in farm implements, guns, 
 swords, household effects, dresses, furniture, and other interesting 
 relics drew wide attention. 
 
 Streets and business houses were elaborately decorated for the 
 celebration. Over one store, Block & Kurd's, Avas hung what was be- 
 lieved to be the largest flag in the state. It contained more than 4,000 
 square feet, 
 
 FIRST EVENT 
 
 Beneath a brilliant sky, where clouds occasionally obscured the 
 sun, fourteen thousand people gathered on a hillside just west of the 
 bathing beach in Nelson park for the first event of the centennial ob- 
 servance Sunday afternoon, July 7, 1929. Six thousand more, it was 
 estimated, were there before the evening's program was completed. 
 
 For the perfect setting, the appropriateness of the program, the 
 size of the crowd, the amazing interest that permeated the assemblage, 
 the event was the most impressive that Decatur had seen in many 
 years. 
 
 The Goodman band, Decatur's oldest musical organization, 
 opened the program at 4:15 with a concert. 
 
 Community singing, led by Harry E. Barber and Eldon Geiger, 
 followed the band concert. 
 
 Judge J. S. Baldwin, before introducing the speakers of the eve- 
 ning, briefly reviewed the formation and work of the Decatur and 
 Macon County Centennial association, and commended the loyalty and 
 efforts of the 100 directors, and particularly the members of the 
 executive committee. 
 
 Speakers for the union religious services represented three re- 
 ligious branches. Father Claude J. Pernin, F.J., head of the English 
 department of Loyola university, Chicago, 111., represented the 
 Catholic faith; Dr. F. W. Burnham, of Indianapolis, president of the 
 United Christian Missionary society of the Disciples of Christ, spoke 
 for the Protestant bodies, and Dr. Louis L. Mann, rabbi of Sinai 
 congregation, Chicago, was the speaker representing the Jewish 
 church. 
 
 Interspersing the addresses given by these men were musical 
 numbers by the Y. M. C. A. Glee club, and the evening's program 
 closed with a group of spirituals sung by a choir of seventy-five voices 
 from the colored churches of Decatur. 
 
406 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 A microphone on the stage and two sets of amplifiers made it 
 possible for the big crowd to hear the program plainly, and the flood 
 lights, footlights and spotlights made visible the movements of those 
 on the stage. 
 
 THE PARADE 
 
 From the stately beautiful to the laugh-provoking burlesque 
 ranged the sixty floats which made up the gorgeous parade, the big 
 feature of the celebration on Tuesday evening, July 9. Colorful in 
 the extreme, it was watched with intense interest by the thousands 
 who lined the streets in the business section. Not only was it unusual 
 in its wealth of beauty, but in the multitude of ideas carried out, 
 ideas which depicted the 100 years of history. 
 
 More than 1200 persons took part in the parade. With the ex- 
 plosion of a volley of rockets in Central park, the parade, headed by 
 Major W. Lutz Krigbaum and Dr. John Hayes, started to move. The 
 parade passed north on Water street from Wood to Cerro Gordo, east 
 to North Main, south on Main to Wood, disbanding there. 
 
 The largest float in the parade, that of the Staley Company, was 
 29 feet long. It showed the wings of progress drawing the chariot of 
 Decatur. 
 
 The Centennial association's float, known as the Queen's float, 
 carried Miss Decatur and Macon county seated on her throne, with 
 her eight attendants about her. Green, pink and white were the colors 
 of the float. 
 
 One of the most unique floats was that entered by the Illinois 
 Power and Light corporation. It showed a six passenger old time 
 mule car, driven by the oldest I. P. L. employe, William Ryan ; fol- 
 lowed by a modern bus. 
 
 Four modes, of transportation were depicted in the section of 
 floats entered by W. C. Starr, Inc. First was the tepee-pole drag of 
 100 years ago, second the covered wagon of seventy-five years ago, 
 third a model 38 overland car of twenty-five years ago, and fourth 
 a modern day automobile. 
 
 The only float from outside Decatur was that of the Forsyth 
 Sunday school, which carried one of the long time residents of the 
 county, Mrs. Henrietta Mowry. She has lived in the county since 
 1856. About twenty girls were with her on the float. 
 
 Ten silver cups were awarded. The winners were as follows : 
 
 Best contribution to parade — W. C. Starr, Inc. 
 Best fraternal organization turnout — I. O. O. F. 
 Best float by manufacturing company — A. E. Staley Mfg. Co. 
 Best float by retail store — First, William Gushard company; second. Linn 
 and Scruggs store. 
 
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 407 
 
 Best float by automobile or gasoline company — Standard Oil Co. 
 
 Best float by railroad or utilities company — Wabash Railway Co. 
 
 Best service club float — Rotary club. 
 
 Best unclassified float — Macon county. 
 
 Honorable mention — Mueller Mfg. Co., Decatur Music shop, Decatur Dry 
 Goods company, Kane Engraving Co., H. S. Gebhart Co., Shell Oil Co., Illinois 
 Power and Light Corporation, Decatur and Macon county hospital. 
 
 THE PAGEANT 
 
 As a stage for the pageant a platform 50 by 100 feet was built out 
 over the lake. This was at the foot of the hillside which formed a 
 natural amphitheater. Reserved seats to the number of 2,000 were pro- 
 vided, and the rest of the hill was available to those who brought their 
 own camp chairs or cushions, or who stood. Stage scenery and prop- 
 erties were appropriate. Green and yellow predominated in the color- 
 ing. 
 
 At the back of the stage was a rectangular opening through which 
 the waters of the lake could be seen. From the tops of the wings 
 shown colored lights and a red ball topped the entire stage. 
 
 The historical pageant was given twice, on Monday and Tuesday 
 nights. It was estimated that 25,000 people saw it the first night, and 
 20,000 the second night. 
 
 The pageant was historically realistic. Stage properties and cos- 
 tumes were critically exact in their portrayal of the period they repre- 
 sented. 
 
 First to enter was Miss Macon county (Miss Mary Bishop), 
 preceded by her guard of honor and followed by her attendants. Her 
 address of welcome was followed by the arrival of Miss Columbia 
 (Miss Emily Johnson), in gleaming white, with silver diadem, ac- 
 companied by her forty-eight states. 
 
 Father Time (Charles J. Doyle) in flowing robes, delivered his 
 prophecy. 
 
 Then came the Dawn of Creation, the birth of Sky, Land and 
 Flowers, depicted by dancers. They were followed by an Indian camp 
 life scene, in which the Indians and white men met. Then came the 
 pioneers, who erected the first log cabin. The next episode showed the 
 first school, the primitive backwoods hut of 1830. 
 
 "The Prairie Settlement" was the next episode, portraying dis- 
 agreements of settlers over the location of court house. Other scenes 
 in this episode showed the arrival of the contractor with a load of 
 logs, the whipping of two horse thieves, and "Jimmy" Renshaw's tav- 
 ern. An early day wedding and the arrival of the Lincolns were por- 
 trayed. 
 
408 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Spectators At Centennial Pageant 
 
 Centenn/a/ .Parade 7/lacon County f/oat 
 
 SCENES AT MACON COUNTY CENTENNIAL 
 
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 
 
 409 
 
 Presentation of a flag, made by Decatur women, to Richard J. 
 Oglesby's company on its start to the Civil war, the rejoicing at the 
 close of the war, organization of the G. A. R., the "vision of James 
 Millikin" when Decatur meets his conditions for the founding of a 
 college, a street scene the day the Armistice was signed at the close 
 of the World war, return of the troops from France, were other points 
 of history set forth. 
 
 A special scene of the time the Decatur Musical Union flourished 
 followed. 
 
 The second part of the pageant was the Masque of Nations, a 
 mammoth spectacle which symbolized the spirit and growth of Amer- 
 ica. Character dancers from all nations appeared, and the pageant 
 concluded with all 1500 participants in a wheel of progress revolving 
 about Miss Columbia, and at a signal from the director, bursting into 
 the patriotic hymn, "America". 
 
 Thus closed Macon county's greatest celebration. 
 
 The names of all taking part in the pageant are as follows : 
 
 Abrams, Cecil 
 Abrams, Mrs. Lucy 
 Abrams, Thomas 
 Adams, J. A. 
 Adams, Katherine 
 Akin, Edna 
 Alexander, Bertie 
 Alexander, Mildred 
 Allen, Alice Jean 
 Allen, Mrs. Amelia 
 Allen, J. M. 
 Ames, Nellie 
 
 Amman, Mary Katherine 
 Asman, Marie 
 Asman, R. J. 
 Atkins, Jack 
 Auer, Emma 
 Augustine, Mrs. R. C. 
 
 Babcock, Lorraine 
 Badorek, F. O. 
 Bacon, Mrs. Eugenie M. 
 Baggett, Phyllis 
 Baker, Marie Gray 
 Baldwin, H. I. 
 Baldwin, Judge J. S. 
 Ballinger, Mrs. James H. 
 Ballenger, Mrs. R. R. 
 Barber, Harry C. 
 Barber, Harry E. 
 Barclay, Mrs. Pyrle 
 Harnett, Grant 
 Barnhart, Mrs. L. E. 
 Barrett, George W. 
 Barrett, Mrs. George W. 
 Bashore, Alvin D. 
 Bashore, A. H. 
 Bashore, Elbert C. 
 Bashore, E. G. 
 Bass, Mabel 
 Batchelder, Joy 
 Batson, Cecile 
 Baum, Prof. George 
 Baum, Mrs. G. C. 
 Baum, T # ,ois 
 Baumgardner, F. M. 
 Baughman, Dorothy 
 
 Beall, Jean 
 Beal, Justin B. 
 Bean, Haldane 
 Beasan, Viola 
 Beck, Mildred 
 Beem, William E. 
 Belden, J. F. 
 Bender, Troy N. 
 Bennett, Marian 
 Benton, Marion 
 Bergbower, Carl 
 Bering, W. M. 
 Bishop, Mary 
 Bissey, Mary Louise 
 Bissey, Morgan A. 
 Bissonett, Lelia 
 Black, D. B. 
 Black, Mrs. H. 
 Blankenburg, Wilma 
 Blauer, Chance 
 Blauer, Mrs. Chance 
 Blickenstaff, D. 
 Bloom, William J. 
 Blowers, Wayne K. 
 Boland, Alice Virginia 
 Boland, Ina 
 Boles, Robert 
 Bolz, H. H. 
 Booker, E. M. 
 Boone, Helen 
 Boone, Mary 
 Borders, James W. 
 Boruff, T. W*. 
 Botts, Eula 
 Botts, Marian 
 Botts, Robert 
 Bowden, Rachel 
 Bowman, Lucy 
 Bowman, Vernal 
 Boyer, Sergeant 
 Braden, Montizelle 
 Bradley, Fanny 
 Bradley, Hildred H. 
 Bradley, W. E. 
 Brecount, Mrs. G. S. 
 Brennan, Bernadine 
 Brennan, Edward 
 
 Brennan, Margaret 
 Brennan, Mary Agnes 
 Brennan, Wilamine 
 Brett, Mrs. D. E. 
 Brewster, O. P. 
 Briggs, Don S. 
 Bright, Irving 
 Brinkoetter, Betty 
 Brinkoetter, Constance 
 Brinkoetter, Florence 
 Britton, Ivy 
 Bromley, Lois 
 Black, Lois 
 Brooke, Fred 
 Broughton, Mrs. G. H. 
 Brown, Everett 
 Brown, Floyd H. 
 Brown, Frances 
 Brown, Gerald 
 Brown, John 
 Brown, John 
 Brown, Phyllis 
 Bryan, Warren E. 
 Buchanan, Roy 
 Buckley, Edith 
 Buckner, Edward 
 Budde, John 
 Buhr, Lulu 
 Bunker, Miss Fronie 
 Bupp, Marjorie 
 Bupp, Marjorie 
 Burkart, Margaret 
 Burt, Toseph 
 Bush, Emil B. 
 Butler, Iva 
 Byers, W. P. 
 
 Taldwell. Alice 
 Call, Doris 
 Campbell, Helen 
 Campbell, Mary 
 Camron, Grace 
 Cameron, Junior 
 Cameron, Russell 
 Cameron, Mrs. 
 Cantrall, Mrs. A. L. 
 Carder, George D. 
 
410 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Carey, Zoe 
 
 Carmack, Mrs. Fred 
 
 Carpenter, C. E. 
 
 Carson, Marvin G. 
 
 Carter, Mary Belle 
 
 Cassell, Leonard K. 
 
 Catlin, Eleanor 
 
 Catlin, E. R. 
 
 Cecil, Mary 
 
 Chadsey, Lillie S. 
 
 Chamberlain, Dorothy 
 
 Chamberlain, Mrs. Elizabeth G. 
 
 Chamberlain, Helen 
 
 Chambers, Zula 
 
 Chaney, James 
 
 Chaney, Sally 
 
 Check, Earl 
 
 Childers, Geraldine 
 
 Childs, George 
 
 Clark, Iva 
 
 Capron, J. 
 
 Clark, Martha 
 
 Clausen, Orval 
 
 Click, Glenn 
 
 Click, Glenn L. 
 
 Clifton, Audrey 
 
 Cloney, Flo 
 
 Coay, R. L. 
 
 Cole, Estella 
 
 Collett, Herbert 
 
 Collins, Beulah 
 
 Collins, C. H. 
 
 Collins, Edmund R. 
 
 Collins, Myrtle 
 
 Collins, Russel 
 
 Collins, William 
 
 Combs, Catherine 
 
 Conklin, Mrs. Vaden W. 
 
 Cook, Frank 
 
 Cook, George 
 
 Cook, Iva 
 
 Cook, Laurens 
 
 Cook, Lee 
 
 Cooper, Gerald 
 
 Cope, Elizabeth 
 
 Cornthwaite, Matilda 
 
 Cousins, Bert 
 
 Covalt, Jo 
 
 Cox, Rosemary 
 
 Crain, John S. 
 
 Cratsen, Lena 
 
 Crickman, Mrs. Caroline 
 
 Crossman, Margaret 
 
 Crum, Lucille 
 
 Culver, E. R. 
 
 Culver, Tohn H. 
 
 Culver, j. H., Mrs 
 
 Cummings, Lillian 
 
 Cummings, Nelson 
 
 Curtis, Sallie 
 
 Daggett, Martha L. 
 Danaby, Luella 
 Daut, Elizabeth 
 Daut, Henry 
 Davenport, Ed. 
 Davenport, Capt. O. E. 
 Davenport, W. A. 
 Davidson, L. A. 
 Davidson, L. A., Mrs. 
 Davidson, Dale 
 Davidson, Virginia 
 Davidson, Dr. W. P. 
 Davis, Archer T. 
 Davis, Hugh M. 
 Davis. Mrs. J. W. 
 Day, Toycelene 
 Day. Marcella 
 Deakins. Clarence 
 Deal, Virginia 
 Deck, J. L. 
 
 Deely, Mary Frances 
 Deister, Mrs. John 
 Denhart, L. H. 
 Dennis, Helen 
 Dennis, Lucy 
 Denz, Raymond E. 
 Desprea, Geraldine 
 Devvhirst, Mrs. Oscarine 
 Deyton, Berniece 
 Dick, Carl 
 Dickey, Dr. J. H. 
 Dickins, Oliver 
 Dickinson, Fayette 
 Dickinson, Virginia 
 Dickson, J. B. 
 Dickson, James B. 
 Diefenthaler, Elizabeth 
 Dietrich, Lucy 
 Dilatush, Lida 
 Dill, Minnie A. 
 Dillow, Robert 
 Disney, Vivian 
 Do_ddek, Marie 
 Doolen, Margaret 
 Doran, Margaret 
 Doran, Mary 
 Doran, Mrs. P. J. 
 Downing, Mrs. David 
 Doyle, Charles J. 
 Drennan, Mrs. W. E. 
 Dudley, Mrs. F. J. 
 Duggan, Mrs. Clara 
 Duguid, John G. 
 Dumke, F. W. 
 Dumke, Mrs. F. W. 
 Duncan, Creta Jane 
 Duncan, S. R. 
 Duncan, W. E. 
 Duncan, Wilbur 
 Dunham, Henry 
 Dunn, Mrs. E. F. 
 Dunn, Thelma 
 Dunn, Wilma 
 Durbin, Maldean 
 Dyer, C. W. 
 
 Eckert, Matthias 
 Eddy, Rev. A. L. 
 Edgecombe, Dora Maye 
 Edwards, Sylvester 
 Ehrman, S. W. 
 Eiserman, Edna 
 Ellegood. Virgil J. 
 Elliott, Don 
 Ellis, Dr. J. C. 
 Elslager, Hazel 
 Emerick. Charles 
 England. Mrs. C. E. 
 Evans, Everett 
 Evans, Mrs. Gene 
 Eyman, Mrs. A. H. 
 Eyman, J. A. 
 
 Fahnstock, Charles 
 Fairbanks, Myrtle 
 Faith, Margaret 
 Fesler, Manna 
 Fichtner, Max 
 File, Mrs. Forrest 
 File. Howard 
 Finley, Jacqueline 
 Finley, Betty 
 Finley, Marjory 
 Finson, Ruth 
 Flannigan, R. L. 
 Fletcher, A. D. 
 Flewelling. Rev. C. W. 
 Folrath, D. B. 
 Foran, E. F. 
 Foran, Mrs. Eugene 
 Foran, Loretta 
 
 Foster, Clyde 
 Foster Dorothy 
 Foster, Herbert 
 Foster, Dr. O. F. 
 Foster, Mrs. O. F. 
 Foster, Roscoe 
 Foster, R. W. 
 Foster, William W. 
 France, Wellman L. 
 Frazier, Joe 
 Frede & Son 
 Freeman, Benjamin R. 
 Freman, Lola 
 Fulk, W. R. 
 
 Gadsey, Elizabeth 
 Gaeur, Mildred 
 Gardner, Helen 
 Garrett, Raleigh A. 
 Gastman, Mrs. E. A. 
 Gebhart, H. S. 
 Geidell, Mrs. A. 
 Geiger, Eldon 
 Gharrett. Edward J. 
 Gibson, L. H. 
 Gibson, Mary Alice 
 Giddell. Mrs. Alta 
 Gony, Mrs. J. 
 Good, D. A. 
 Gorin, J. P. 
 Gorin, O. B. 
 Gouker, George 
 Gradv, T. C. 
 Grass, Albert 
 Grass, Marie 
 Graves, Mrs. N. M. 
 Greiser, Mrs. Rickie 
 Greer, Margaret 
 Griffin, Dr. J. J. 
 Grimmett, C. C. 
 Grubb, Mrs. John 
 Grubb, Lewis 
 Grubbs, William T. 
 Grunden. Edna 
 Gulick, Mrs. Julia 
 Gunter, John H. 
 Gushard, Mrs. Delia P. 
 
 Hackley, Rev. R. H. 
 Hagen, Marjorie 
 Hale, George W. 
 Haley, Viola 
 Hall. Oliver 
 Hambrick, Sadie 
 Hamm, Joshua 
 Hammer, Mrs. Erma 
 Hammer, Harry 
 Hammer, W. A. 
 Hamilton, Ed. 
 Hamilton, Roy M. 
 Hampton, Allies 
 Hanks, S. H. 
 Harbauoh, T. E. 
 Harbaugh. Mrs. J. E. 
 Hardy, W. F. 
 Darkness, Earnest V. 
 Darkness, E. V. 
 Harkness, Leslie G. 
 Harmon. Trene 
 Harris, Mrs. Roger B. 
 Harris, William 
 Harrison, Guy 
 Harry. Mrs. M. L. 
 Hart, Elsie 
 Hart, Harrv E. 
 Hart, Mrs.' J. E. 
 Hartman, Mrs. W. E. 
 Hartwig, Evelyn 
 Hastings, Betty Jane 
 Hastings. D. B. 
 Hanpt, George 
 
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 
 
 411 
 
 Hausbach, Ed. 
 Hawkins, Mrs. Lillie 
 Hays, Gladys 
 Hazelrigg, O. 
 Heckel, Mary Louise 
 Hegarty, Mary Virginia 
 Heinle, G. L. 
 Heitz, Al. 
 lleitz, Mrs. Al. 
 Henry, E. A. 
 Herald, The 
 Herbrig, John C). 
 Hess, G. K. 
 Hickeson, Frank H. 
 Hickman, Furman R. 
 Higgins, Louis 
 High, I.. I). 
 High, Viola 
 Hilbrant, Helen 
 Hill. A. A. 
 Hill, Elda G. 
 Hill, J. H.. P. M. 
 Hill, Minnie 
 Hill, Ruth 
 Hill, Vernie V. 
 Hinton, Florence 
 Hinton, Ines 
 Hinton, Lina 
 Hirsch. C. J. 
 Hitt, Esther 
 II offer, Frances 
 Hoffer, Mrs. Gertrude 
 Holler, F. F. 
 Holston, Minnie 
 Holt. J. R. 
 Hoots, A. 
 
 Hornhack, Mrs. Tane 
 Howard, Ethel 
 Hubbart, Paul 
 Hubbart, R. P. 
 Hudelson, Marjorie 
 Huddleston, Dorothea 
 Hudson, Albert 
 Huffman, Lucille 
 Hughey, Beecher 
 Humphrey, John C. 
 Humiston, Oliver P. 
 Hunt. Ambrosia 
 Hunt, Miss Patricia 
 Hunt, Mrs. Robert 1. 
 Hursh, Betty 
 Hurtt, Helen 
 Huston, Effie 
 Huston, E. V. 
 Huston, Lawrence 
 
 Imboden. Mrs. I'.. A. 
 Imboden, E. P. 
 Ingram, Jennie 
 Ingram, C. W. 
 Ireland. Edith 
 Fshmael, Ethel 
 
 Jack, Mrs. T. P. 
 Jackson, Ethel 
 Jackson, Mattie 
 Jackson, Opal 
 Jamison, Allen R. 
 Janvrin, Vivian 
 Jenkins, Grover 
 Johnson, Douglas 
 
 Johnson, Emily 
 
 lohnson, Eva 
 
 lohnson, Mrs. J. (). 
 
 Johnson, J. D. 
 
 Johnson, J. S. 
 Johnson, Leo T. 
 
 iohnson, Ruth 
 
 Johnson, Ruth 
 
 Johnston, Jolm 
 
 Tones, Burtnn 
 
 Jones, Mrs. Lester 
 
 Jones, Marie 
 
 Jones, Mary 
 
 Jones, Pauline 
 
 Jones, Roy B. 
 
 Jones, W. 
 
 Jostes, Fred 
 
 Jourden, August 
 
 Jourdeen, Bert 
 
 Joynt, Everett E. 
 
 James Millikin University 
 
 Kater, June 
 Kaylor, Mrs. Mary 
 Kazmark, Mrs. Leah A. 
 Keck, Dorolos 
 Keck, Elizabeth Jane 
 Keifer, Carl E. 
 Kellington, Georgia 
 Kemp, F. B. 
 Kennedy, Ruth 
 Keplar, Betty 
 Kilman, J. N. 
 Kimble, Jesse A. 
 Kincaid, Robert D. 
 Kipner, Pearl 
 Kirby, Mrs. L. I. 
 Klinker, Mrs. J. J. 
 Klose, Irene 
 Knight, C. B. 
 Knight, S. 
 Knight, Sidney T. 
 Knorr, Fred 
 Knotts, Anna 
 Knotts, James 
 Kohlbecker, Janett 
 Koslofski, Pauline 
 Krigbaum Electric Co. 
 Krigbaum, Dan D. 
 Krigbaum, Lutz 
 Krigbaum, Mildred 
 Kruzan, A. J. 
 Kujawa, Dorothy 
 Kundiff, Melva 
 Kuy, Margaret 
 Kwasny, Elfreda 
 
 Lake, Mary Frances 
 Larrick, Russell 
 Larrick, W. 
 Lavery, G. A. 
 Leake, J. F. 
 Leake, J. F. 
 Leber, Miss Edna 
 Lebo, Alta 
 Lee, Attorney Chas. 
 Lee, Jessie 
 Lee, Mildred 
 Lehn, J. C. 
 Leupolt, George L. 
 Leonard, Dorothy 
 Leonard, L. H. 
 LeVeeh. Margaret 
 Lewis, Charles 
 Lewis, Kenneth 
 Lewis, Robert D. 
 Liebau, Carl 
 Lienhart. Mary Louise 
 Likens, Mrs. Louise G. 
 Likins, Mrs. Merle 
 Lindamood, E. H. 
 Lindamood, Mrs. E. II. 
 Lindsey, Mrs. Bessie 
 Lindsay, F. M. 
 Lindsey, Kalhryn 
 Lindsey, Dr. L. X. 
 Linnen, Mildred 
 Litts, Anna 
 Litts, Mrs. Martha 
 Livergood, Helen 
 Livingston, C. L. 
 
 Lloyd, Eddie A. 
 Locke, Harry 
 Lockhart, M. E. 
 Loftus, Dorothy 
 Loftus, Earnest J. 
 Lombard, Lewis 
 Long, Dorthea 
 Long, L. W. 
 Long, Mabel 
 Luckenbill, A. H. 
 Lycan, C. R. 
 Lyon, Clyde 
 Lyons, Ruth 
 
 McArty, Mrs. E. 
 McCartney, Mary 
 McClelland, J. S. 
 McClelland, Dr. S. E. 
 McClure, Qaude 
 McCollom, Roy 
 McConnell, Florence 
 McCord, Mary Jane 
 McCoy, Estella 
 McCoy, John H. 
 McCoy, Mrs. Sarah 
 McCullough, Mary 
 McDavid, Horace W. 
 McEvoy, Annabelle 
 McEvoy, John H. 
 McEvoy, Lucile 
 McGaughey, D. D. 
 McGaughey, Dorothy 
 McGaughey, W. R. 
 McGinnis, Maxine 
 McGrew, Anna 
 McGuire, Marie 
 McKaig, S. W. 
 McKeown, Isabel 
 McKittrick, George 
 McLean, Dr. W. T. 
 McPherson, Mavella 
 McShane, Anna 
 
 Major, Mrs. Frank H. 
 Maloney, J. J. 
 Manning, Oliver 
 Manon, Mrs. M. E. 
 Mappin, J. F. 
 Margis, Paul 
 Marquis, Mrs. Ralph 
 Martin, Dorothy 
 Martin, Ethel 
 Martin, H. M. 
 Mason, William 
 Massey, Pauline 
 Mattes, Mrs. Carleton 
 Mattes, John 
 Matthews, Dr. O. W. 
 Mattson, Kathryn 
 May, Virginia 
 Mayberry, Merval 
 Maxwell, L. J. 
 Meis, Gertrude 
 Meis, William 
 Melrose, Prof. J. A. 
 Melrose, Mrs. J. A. 
 Mercker, Edith 
 Meredith, John P. 
 Meriweather, J. A. 
 Merritt, Zeph B. 
 Metzler, A. M. 
 Meyer, Dr. J. W. 
 Meyer, Mrs. J. W. 
 Michael, Harry R. 
 Michl, Joseph 
 Miller, Alex. 
 Miller, C. A. 
 Miller, Miss Emma F. 
 Miller, H. C. 
 Miller, Mrs. J. T. 
 Miller, Lavina 
 
412 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Miller, Martha 
 Miller, W. C. 
 Milligan, Esther 
 Mills, Hubert 
 Mitchell, E. C. 
 Mitchell, Edward C. 
 Mitchell, G. R. 
 Mitts, Dorothy 
 Moffett, Earnest I. 
 Moffett, W. D. 
 Montgomery, Mildred H. 
 Moody, Ben. 
 Moore, Dorothy 
 Moore, Mrs. J. D. 
 Moore, Lawrence E. 
 Moore, Lutitia 
 Moore, Mildred 
 Moore, Mrs. Ora L. 
 Moore, Ralph H. 
 Moore, Wilma 
 Moran, Bessie 
 Morgan, William Arthur 
 Morse, Harry E. 
 Moss, Helen 
 Moss, Joyce 
 Moss, Marie 
 Mowry, Mrs. H. C. 
 Mueller, Adolph 
 Mueller, Mrs. Irene L. 
 Muffley, Mrs. E. J. 
 Murphy, Rev. Jeremiah 
 Muscovalley, Sam 
 
 Nalefski, Irene 
 Nalefski, Mildred 
 Nalefski, Ruth 
 Nanna, Elva 
 Nearing, Turner 
 Neely, W. G. 
 Nell, F. W. 
 Nemeyer, Bernadine 
 Nemeyer, Helen 
 Neustadt, Mrs. George 
 Newberry, S. J. 
 Nicholson, C. C. 
 Nicholson, Miss Julia 
 Nicholson, Miss Mina 
 Nickey, Anna B. 
 Nixon, William 
 Norris, Mrs. Pearl 
 Norton, Mrs. A. C. 
 Nowlin, Mary 
 Nowlin, Ruby 
 
 Oakes, Mr. 
 Oates, Mabel 
 O'Bannon, Mrs. R. W. 
 O'Heren, Eileen 
 Oliphant, Winnifred 
 Orr, J. N. 
 Osterloh, Ethel 
 Outten, G. C. 
 Overton, Merle B. 
 Owens, Andrew 
 Owens, Ethel 
 Owen, H. M. 
 
 Parham, Mrs. Grace 
 Park, Mrs. Daniel 
 Parr, Ethelda 
 Pease, Rollin B. 
 Peck, Ruth 
 Peck, W. H. 
 Pegram, Mrs. E. L. 
 Peniwell. Robert O. 
 Penny, Mary Lois 
 Penney, Dr. M. E. 
 Petcel, Beata 
 Pfile, Clara 
 Pfile, Gladys 
 Pfile, Katherine 
 
 Phillips, June 
 Pierce, Evelyn 
 Plopper, John D. 
 Pobst, Miss Faye 
 Poehler, Mildred 
 Pollock, Miss Ruth 
 Porter, Hazel 
 Potter, Veree 
 Powell, Georgia 
 Powell, Mrs. Mamie 
 Powell, Mrs. Thomas 
 Powers, Edward 
 Powers, F. S. 
 Preston, H. L. 
 Price, Claud 
 Pritchett, Carl 
 Puckett, Iva 
 Pygman, Madolyn 
 
 Quentin, H. P. 
 Querry, Erie 
 
 Race, Miss Ella 
 Rainey, Franklin 
 Rainey, Mrs. John C. 
 Ramsey, Dorothy 
 Rauschck, August 
 Ray, Julian 
 Ray, Margaret 
 Ray, Milton 
 Ray, W. H. 
 Redman, Anna 
 Redmon, Matt C. 
 Reed, Estella 
 Reed, Vest 
 Review, The 
 Reynolds, Henry 
 Reinhardt, Louise 
 Richardson, Jean 
 Richter, J. Fred 
 Riewski, Marie 
 Riley, Clara 
 Riley, Frances 
 Riley, John 
 Robb, Earl T. 
 Roberts, Austin J. 
 Roberts, Marjorie 
 Roberts, Mrs. T. T. 
 Robinson, F. A. 
 Robinson, Jett 
 Rodgers, Eileen 
 Rodgers, Juanita 
 Rogan, Minerva 
 Rogers, Robbie 
 Rogers, Virgil 
 Ronan, Tom 
 Roney, Alice 
 Rose, Dr. M. E. 
 Ross, Mrs. Jennie 
 Ross, Leota 
 Ross, Virginia 
 Rosteck, Esther 
 Rotz, Lawrence 
 Rotz, Mrs. Lawrence 
 Roussey, Gladys 
 Rowe, Walter 
 Rucker, Louise 
 Ruth, Mrs. Edith 
 Rutherford, M. O. 
 Ryder, Clifford 
 Ryman, Mrs. Cora B. 
 
 Sablotna, Mildred 
 Salefski. Clara 
 Sallee, Betty 
 Salmon, Cora 
 Salogga, Mrs. Henry 
 Sanders, Betty Jane 
 Sanders, Dr. R. Zink 
 Sanford, Molly 
 Sawyer, Frank E. 
 
 Schaub, H. C. 
 Schlachter, Erna 
 Schlachter, Kate 
 Schlachter, Ruth 
 Schlick, Mrs. J. A., Jr. 
 Schmitt, Eileen 
 Schmidt, Ethel 
 Schroeder, Anna Jane 
 Schroeder, Dorothy Jean 
 Schroeder, Leone 
 Schroeder, Lois 
 Schroth, Flossie 
 Schudel, Mrs. John 
 Schulte, Joseph C. 
 Schultz, Dorothy 
 Schultz, Paul H. 
 Schuppan, Myrtle 
 Scott, Grace 
 Scott, O. M. 
 Scroggins, Leland R. 
 Seitz, Mrs. Angeline 
 Settle, H. A. 
 Shafer, Henry 
 Sheppard, Lucile 
 Shrever, H. M. 
 Shields, J. L. Mrs. 
 Shirk, Abner 
 Shivley, Norma 
 Shroeder, Fred 
 Shroeder, Mildred 
 Shyer, A. G. 
 Shyer, Allen E. 
 Shyer, Allen G. 
 Slachter, Ruth 
 Slaughter, Ethel 
 Sly, Thomas 
 Smith, Arline 
 Smith, Dorothy 
 Smith, Esther 
 Smith, Julia 
 Smith, Mayor O. W. 
 Smith, Roberta 
 Smith, Stanley 
 Smith, Zedda N. 
 Spaeth, Anton 
 Spangler, Mrs. Mabel 
 Spitler, Mrs. Ida 
 Sprague, Nellie 
 Sproat, P. H. 
 Squires, A. L. 
 Stadler, Katherine 
 Stafford, J. K. 
 Stafford. Mrs. J. K. 
 Staley, Paul S. 
 Staley, Mrs. Paul S. 
 Stalkes, Mrs. Edna 
 Starr, Charles A. 
 Steele, Mrs. George D. 
 Steffen, Harriet 
 Stevens, Mrs. C. R. 
 Stickle, Lloyd 
 Stienback, Jennie 
 Stiles, Frank 
 Stivers, Maxine 
 Stoddard, Sam 
 Stoddard, S. G. 
 Stookey, Mary Elizabeth 
 Stookey, Margaret 
 Stookey, Marshall 
 Stovall, Anna 
 Stovall. Andrew 
 Stoy, Bob 
 
 Strausbaugh, Evelyn 
 Strohl, Bessie 
 Stuart, Everett W. 
 Stumpf, J. E. 
 Suleeba, Mrs. Ada 
 Sullivan. Lester 
 Suqua, Mr. and Mrs. 
 Swartz, Harry E. 
 Sweeney, Juanita 
 
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 
 
 413 
 
 Sweeney, Ralph J. 
 Sweet, Ruth 
 Swift. Edward 
 Swift, Gordon 
 
 Tailor, Eva 
 Tait, Dan W. 
 Tangyers, William 
 Tapscott, Howard D. 
 Tapscott, John S. 
 Taylor, Mrs. A. R. 
 Teika, Wilma 
 Teschner, Charlotte 
 Tessman, Ernest 
 Theobold, Charles 
 Theobold, C. F. 
 Thomas, Helen 
 Thomas, Lillian 
 Thompson, Emma 
 Thompson, Leone 
 Thompson, Lucille 
 Thompson, Rosetta 
 Thornton, Augusta 
 Thrift. Mrs. Jennie A. 
 Tickell, R. P. 
 Tobski, Florence 
 Travig, Roberta 
 Trierweiler, Mrs. Alice 
 Troesch, Evelyn 
 TulliSj Betty 
 Turner, Carrie 
 Tyler, G. C. 
 Tyler, Grover C. 
 
 TThler, Miss Mary 
 Uphaus, Hazel 
 
 Vahe, Harold 
 Valentine, Beatrice 
 VanDyke, William 
 VanOrman, Mrs. Charlotte 
 VanPraag, Alex. 
 
 Varvel, Edna 
 Vaughn, Jessie 
 
 Waggoner, Mrs. Marie 
 Waggoner, Tom 
 Wait, Arthur 
 Wakely, Robert M. 
 Waldrop, William F. 
 Walker, Margaret 
 Walker, Stella 
 Walker, Verna 
 Wallace, Mrs. J. Frank 
 Wallender, Mrs. W. A. 
 Wallins, I. A. 
 Walser, Chris 
 Walter, Mrs. Josephine 
 Walter, Robert 
 Woltz, W. M. 
 Ward, Dorothy 
 Washington, Guy 
 Washington, Nellie 
 Watkins, James F. 
 Watson, Ruth 
 Waymire. R. E. 
 Wayne, W. J. 
 Weatherford, G. E. 
 Webber, Joseph 
 Weigel, D. S. 
 Weilepp. Carl N. 
 Weis, Gail 
 Welge, Eileen 
 Welge, Ruby 
 Wells, D. H. 
 Wells, Emil 
 Wells, Hazel 
 Wernecke, Mrs. Anna 
 West, Earnest C. 
 Wheeler, Helen 
 Wheeler, H. M. 
 Wheeler, Mable 
 Wheelock, Mrs. Charlotte 
 White, Helen 
 
 White, Nettie 
 
 Whiting, Mr. Red 
 
 Whitley, Mrs. Edna Kraft 
 
 Widick, Ray C. 
 
 Wikle, Mr. and Mrs. 
 
 Wikle, Charles 
 
 Wikle, Florence 
 
 Wikle. Vanita 
 
 Wikoff, Mr. and Mrs. F. O. 
 
 Wild, Mrs. Alice 
 
 Wilder, Mrs. Paul 
 
 Wiles, Hazel 
 
 Wiley, W. H. 
 
 WiTking, Dorothy Mae 
 
 Wilking, Helen Jeanne 
 
 Williams, Blanche 
 
 Williams, Harrison 
 
 Williams, Margaret Alice 
 
 Williams, Marion 
 
 Williams, Mary 
 
 Williams, Minola 
 
 Williams, Rex 
 
 Williams, Mrs. R. G. 
 
 Williams, S. W. 
 
 Williamson, Miss Eva 
 
 Williamson, Melissa 
 
 Willis, Marie 
 
 Wills, E. F. 
 
 Wilson, Lucile 
 
 Winings, Mabel 
 
 Winters, Billie 
 
 Winter. Donald 
 
 Wise, Charles 
 
 Wismer, William B. 
 
 Wood, Stephen L. 
 
 Wood, W. M. 
 
 Woolens, Mildred 
 
 Zeller, Bernard 
 Zetterlind, Frank H. 
 Zimmerli. Mary Agnes 
 Zink, Robert 
 
414 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 5t Johrvs Episcopal ChurcK Temple D'nai Abr&Kam 
 
 SCENES IX DECATUR TODAY 
 
DECATUR TODAY 
 
 415 
 
 CHAPTER LXXIII 
 
 DECATUR TODAY 
 
 COULD the pioneers who came to Macon county a hundred years 
 ago see the city of Decatur today they would be astounded. 
 From the twenty acres in the original plat of the town, containing a 
 log cabin or two, Decatur has turned into a beautiful city spreading 
 out over 6,100 acres. A hundred years ago Decatur had just a few 
 blocks of streets. In 1929 Decatur had a total of 139.7 miles of streets. 
 In 1830 Macon county had a population of 1,122, less than two 
 persons to the square mile. In 1930 the county's population was 81,674. 
 Instead of the rude log shack the pioneer built in 1829, the De- 
 catur business man today erects a modern building towering toward 
 
 the sky. An example is the new 
 Citizens Building at the southeast 
 corner of North Water and East 
 William streets, erected in 1930. 
 
 Decatur, now a city of 57,511 
 inhabitants, in the midst of a rich 
 farming community,- has every ad- 
 vantage a city could desire. Within 
 a radius of 250 miles of the city 
 live 16,150,000 people. Decatur is a 
 trading center for these millions. 
 
 Of the residents of Decatur 
 91.4 per cent, is native born white 
 people, and 5.9 per cent, is foreign 
 born white. The percentage of 
 negro population is 2.7 per cent. 
 
 A hundred years ago Macon 
 county's big drawback was a lack 
 of transportation facilities, having 
 neither railroad or water communi- 
 cation with markets. Today five 
 railway systems provide all trans- 
 portation facilities needed. The 
 total mileage of the roads serving 
 citizens building Decatur is 19,970. 
 
 
 
 | 
 
 • n 
 
 
 II .. J3 is 
 
 I 11 IS li » 
 
 
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 mW 
 
 kbJ i £&■■■ I 
 
DECATUR TODAY 417 
 
 Decatur is on the lines of five state paved road routes. Two are 
 federal routes, No. 2 being part of U. S. 51 from Lake Superior to the 
 Gulf, and No. 10 and 121 being parts of U. S. 36 from Colorado to 
 the Atlantic. 
 
 The number of industrial plants in Decatur now is placed at 
 135, with an annual payroll of about $15,000,000. Many thousands of 
 men and women are employed in these plants. 
 
 Among the principal products are : 
 
 Corn oil 
 
 Brass 
 
 Sealing caps 
 
 Starches 
 
 Auto bumpers 
 
 Women's Dresses 
 
 Syrup 
 
 Pumps 
 
 Wire goods 
 
 Hominy 
 
 Valves 
 
 Candy 
 
 Feeds 
 
 Specialties 
 
 Ice 
 
 Soy bean oil and meal 
 
 Millwork 
 
 Vitreous ware 
 
 Brass plumbing goods 
 
 Soda fountains 
 
 Building materials 
 
 Steel 
 
 Fixtures 
 
 Many others 
 
 Iron 
 
 Caskets 
 
 
 Decatur is the location of the I. T. S. car shops, and of the 
 Wabash car shops. It is the headquarters of the Decatur division of 
 the Wabash railway. The total number of Wabash employes in De- 
 catur is about 3200 and the annual payroll is approximately $5,000,000. 
 
 The value of agricultural products of Macon county is estimated 
 at $11,000,000 annually. 
 
 The value of manufactured products is estimated at $51,000,000. 
 
 Decatur today has a corn milling capacity of 50,000 bushels daily. 
 
 Decatur's people are prosperous. Deposits in the three banks 
 of the city are considerably above $15,000,000. The total amount of 
 money invested in the banks of the city is $2,363,000. Three building 
 and loan associations aid in the erection of homes. 
 
 The Illinois Bell Telephone company, housed in a splendid new 
 building at West North and North Church streets, operates the tele- 
 phone system of Decatur, with about 13,000 telephone customers. The 
 dial automatic system was put into use in 1929. 
 
 Decatur has 97.99 miles of paved streets. It has 108 miles of 
 sewers. It has the commission form of government. It has six fire 
 department stations, with well equipped forces. It has a well-regu- 
 lated police department. 
 
 The city has an active Association of Commerce. 
 
 Decatur has a water supply sufficient for a city four times its 
 size. The source of that water supply is a lake fourteen miles long 
 and from a half mile to a mile wide. This lake, created in 1922-23 by 
 the erection of a huge dam across the river, furnishes also unexcelled 
 recreational facilities. 
 
 Total acres of parks is 810. There are thirteen supervised play- 
 grounds. There are four 18-hole golf courses, three owned by clubs, 
 
418 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 l?oo5<z.v<£lt Jurxior Hi^gk V/evski r^ton Grade Sckool 
 
 SCENES IN DECATUR TODAY 
 
DECATUR TODAY 419 
 
 the South Side Country club, the Sunnyside Golf club, and the De- 
 catur Country club. The fourth is a municipal course, in Nelson park. 
 
 Fans field, in the northeast part of the city, provides the location 
 for games of the Decatur baseball team and visiting teams of the 
 Three I league. Decatur was the second city in the state and the third 
 in the United States to put on night baseball. 
 
 Five cemeteries furnish burial grounds for the dead. Greenwood 
 cemetery at the foot of Greenwood avenue is the oldest. Calvary 
 cemetery on West Eldorado street is for the members of the Catholic 
 church. Fairlawn cemetery occupies attractive grounds at the west 
 end of King street. On North Oakland avenue is Graceland cemetery, 
 and northeast of the city is the Lutheran cemetery. 
 
 The public school system in Decatur includes sixteen grade 
 schools, four junior high schools, one high school, all housed in mod- 
 ern, attractive buildings. Parochial schools include four Catholic, two 
 Lutheran, and a Seventh Day Adventist school. A new Catholic 
 high school has just been finished. Decatur also has the James Millikin 
 university, a Brown's Business college, two large music schools, the 
 Millikin Conservatory of Music and Decatur Music college; several 
 smaller music schools, and an Art Institute. 
 
 Several of the social clubs of Decatur maintain club houses on 
 the lake shore. The Decatur Country club erected a handsome new 
 club house in 1929. The Elks and Moose clubs have attractive build- 
 ings, both on the lake shore and in the business district of the city. 
 The South Side Country club maintains grounds southwest of the 
 city, with club house and individual cottages, and the Homewood 
 Fishing club has grounds with cottages on the lake shore east of De- 
 catur. Many Decatur people own cottages located in Faries park, 
 four miles northeast of Decatur, on the lake shore. 
 
 The Decatur club, a strong social organization, is erecting a new 
 building on West Prairie avenue. 
 
 Decatur has three hospitals, a tuberculosis sanatorium and a pre- 
 ventorium. A contagion hospital is under contruction at this writing. 
 
 Decatur is well supplied with theaters. They are the Lincoln, 
 Empress, Bijou, Axon, Alhambra, Crescent and Morrow's. 
 
 The city has fifty-eight church and religious organization build- 
 ings. 
 
 Decatur's service clubs are active in the life of the city. These 
 clubs include the Rotary, ECiwanis, Exchange, A. B. C, Optimists and 
 Lions clubs. 
 
420 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
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DECATUR TODAY 
 
 421 
 
 Mississippi Volley Structural fanes Monufac^urmq Co. 
 
 S€eeJ Co. 
 
 SCENES IN DECATUR TODAY 
 
422 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Women's organizations of large membership, active in social and 
 civic life, are the Decatur Woman's club, the Business and Profes- 
 sional Women's club, the Woman's Council, the Macon County Home 
 Bureau, and the Young Woman's Christian association. There are 
 many smaller clubs. 
 
 Good work is done by the Macon county Tuberculosis and Visit- 
 ing Nurses association, the Macon county chapter of the Red Cross, 
 the Decatur Day Nursery, the Girls' Welfare home, the Boys' Oppor- 
 tunity home, the Y. M. C. A., the Boy Scouts, the Salvation Army and 
 other welfare agencies. Charity work is effectively taken care of by 
 the Social Service bureau. The Community Chest plan is used for 
 financing these agencies. 
 
 The creation of Lake Decatur made possible the establishment 
 of recreational camps on the lake shore. Camp Kiwanis is the Y. W. 
 C. A. girls' camp, located across from the lake from Nelson park. 
 The boy scouts' camp on Big Creek is enjoyed every year by scores ot 
 boys. Not far from Decatur is the state Y. M. C. A. camp, Camp 
 Seymour, with attractive surroundings. It is nine miles southeast ot 
 the city. 
 
 Macon county farmers are organized- in the Farm Bureau, which 
 for more than ten years has been operated most successfully with 
 headquarters in Decatur. 
 
 Decatur has an efficient Motor club, which is of great aid to motor 
 travelers. 
 
 An airport is provided for the air travelers. Decatur had its first 
 sight of an airplane back in 1910, on July 17, when a Curtiss biplane 
 was flown at the race track by Charles Willarcl, under the manage- 
 ment of the Dreamland Park Association. Now airplanes are owned 
 in Decatur. 
 
 Seventy-five years ago a big share of the business of the city 
 centered about the manufacture of buggies, wagons, carriages, and 
 harness. Today an even bigger share concerns the automobile. 
 Garages, filling stations, battery stations, have taken the place of the 
 wagon repair and the horseshoeing shop. 
 
 Another business of fast increasing importance is the radio, a 
 business undreamed of a hundred years ago. Decatur is now "on the 
 air", having its own broadcasting station, WJBL. 
 
 Many other things might be mentioned, but they are unnecessary, 
 for Decatur speaks for itself. 
 
)ECATUR TODAY 
 
 423 
 
 Decatur brick Co 
 
 S( ENES l\ DECATUR TODAY 
 
424 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 OUR PLACE IN THE SUN 
 
 Macon county has no reason to be ashamed of the place it has 
 made for itself in the world. It has sent out men and women who 
 have made the name of Decatur known far and wide. In army and 
 navy it has furnished leaders. In government positions, in banking 
 circles, in the fields of art, music, literature, Macon county citizens 
 have reached high places. 
 
 As examples might be named Generals R. J. Oglesby, I. C. Pugh, 
 G. A. Smith, J. H. Moore and Herman Lieb of the U. S. army; Rear- 
 Admiral C. B. T. Moore of the U. S. navy; Ethelbert Stewart, U. S. 
 commissioner of Labor Statistics; Bert Eldridge, former New York 
 banker; Roy Brown, artist; Leonard Crunelle, sculptor; Myrna Shar- 
 low, opera singer ; Charles H. Dennis, editor Chicago Daily News. 
 
 Scores of others might be named, men and women who have won 
 laurels in their chosen lines of work. 
 
 In inventive genius our citizens have made an unusual record. 
 Industries and manufactories have been revolutionized by inventions 
 produced by Macon county residents. Their stories have already been 
 told. 
 
 In the world of sports Decatur men have become national figures. 
 One of the best known was Joe McGinnity, the "Iron Man" of base- 
 ball. 
 
 In the friezes in the Centennial Memorial building in Springfield, 
 111., honoring famous men of Illinois appear the names of two men 
 once Macon county residents, Abraham Lincoln and Richard J. Ogles- 
 by. Oglesby's name appears in the frieze honoring Civil war gen- 
 erals, also. 
 
 In fact, Macon county during its first hundred years has made a 
 name for itself, one of which it may be proud. As its citizens have 
 made good, the land also has fulfilled its promise. Today, a hundred 
 years after the establishment of the county, no one can doubt that the 
 faith of the pioneer in the "rich country of the Sangamon" as a 
 desirable place to establish his home has been more than justified. 
 
TOWNSHIP HISTORIES 
 
 425 
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 TOWNSHIP HISTORIES 
 
 AUSTIN 
 
 AUSTIN township was not settled as early as some of the other townships 
 in Macon county. The first to come was Amos Wright, who arrived from 
 Pennsylvania in 1845. He erected his home in Section 1, this being the 
 first house built in the township. 
 
 Five years later John Story settled in the same section. From that time on, 
 new arrivals appeared occasionally. Among those who came in the '50s were 
 Samuel Lowe, who came from Ohio in 1854; James S. Parker, who arrived in 
 1855, coming also from Ohio; and Andrew Hawkyard, who came in 1858. 
 
 James S. Parker gradually increased his land holdings 
 until he had in the neighborhood of 2,000 acres in Austin 
 and Maroa townships. He moved to Maroa in 1877 and 
 died in 1880. He held a number of public positions, includ- 
 ing township treasurer, supervisor and assessor. His sons, 
 W. H. Parker, J. H. Parker and J. P. Parker, all were well 
 known farmers of the community in later years. 
 
 Mr. Hawkyard also held public office in the township, 
 serving as school treasurer, township collector, and super- 
 visor. 
 
 The first land entries were made by Charles G. Draper, 
 who entered 40 acres in Section 1, 40 acres in Section 5, and 
 80 acres in Section 6, and Jacob Miller, who entered 155.43 
 acres in Section 1. These entries were made March 4, 1850. 
 Austin was the only township in Macon county which 
 did not sell its school section of land, thus providing for 
 school revenue in future years by renting the land, and giv- 
 ing the township the lowest school taxes in the county. 
 At the time Illinois became a state, Section 16 of every 
 township was set aside for school purposes. Not realizing 
 what that grant would mean in future years, other townships disposed of their 
 land at an early day. The wisdom of Austin township, in holding on to its section 
 was recognized in later years. It was largely through the influence of James S. 
 Parker that the school land was not sold. 
 
 The first school in the township was started at the home of Samuel Braden 
 in 1856, and the next year a school house was erected in Section 11. Another 
 school, built in 1868, later became the first church in the township. 
 
 The first school teacher was Mr. Burns. The first preachers were Rev. John 
 Moore and Rev. C. R. Robinson. The first physician was Dr. John Demsey and 
 the first justice of the peace was Richard Ross. James S. Parker was the first 
 supervisor. 
 
 One of the extensive land holders of the county was Aquilla Toland, who 
 came in 1865 and who died in 1878. He became owner of more than 1,300 acres. 
 Other prominent early residents of the township were David Patterson and 
 Joseph W. Emery. 
 
 One of the long-time residents of Austin township was George Johnston, 
 who made his home in the township for fifty-nine years. He died in 1927. Mr. 
 
 JAMES S. PARKER 
 
426 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
TOWNSHIP HISTOR1KS 
 
 427 
 
 Johnston was active in politics, and served as chairman of this county for the 
 Woodrow Wilson foundation. He was a great admirer of Robert Burns, Scotch 
 
 poet, and was the founder of the Robert 
 Burns cabinet in the Elizabethan study 
 at the James Millikin university. 
 
 Austin township has no railroads, 
 and no villages or towns. A center of 
 community life is the Harmony United 
 Brethren church. Within recent years 
 this church has been improved extensive- 
 ly, and the basement has been fitted up 
 for community events. Not only church 
 gatherings, but rural school graduation 
 exercises and other public events take 
 place at this church. The church was 
 organized about fifty years ago, and first 
 met in Mud Chapel school house, about 
 a mile south of the present location of 
 the church. The present building used 
 by the congregation was erected about 
 the year 1902. 
 
 HARMONY U. B. CHURCH 
 
 BLUE MOUND 
 
 WILLIAM WARNICK, who later became the first sheriff of Macon county, 
 and his family were the first arrivals in Blue Mound township, coming in 
 the year 1824. An account of Mr. Warnick is given in an early chapter in 
 this history. 
 
 Benjamin Wilson, native of North Carolina, another man prominently identi- 
 fied with the early history of the county, came from Tennessee in the year 1827. 
 He was one of the first county commissioners. Mr. Wilson 
 was a brother-in-law of William Warnick. 
 
 Dempsey Pope came from Tennessee, also in 1827. He 
 located on Mosquito creek. Mr. Pope also was a native of 
 North Carolina. 
 
 In 1830 came Garland Hall from Kentucky. He settled 
 about two miles north of the village of Blue Mound. 
 
 Others who came at an early date were Wyett Cherry. 
 William Pope, James Y. Taylor, Joseph Austin, Benjamin 
 R. Austin, William A. Austin, W. F. Muirhead, John B. 
 Moffett, and Vinson Morris. 
 
 William T. Moffett, son of John 
 B. Moffett, settled in the township in 
 1841 and afterwards became prominent 
 in affairs of the county and state. He 
 held the office of supervisor a number 
 of times, was elected to the state legis- 
 lature, was named a member of the 
 state board of equalization, and became 
 state senator. 
 
 Many additions were made to the 
 township's list of citizens in the '50s. 
 Among them were John 11. Sleeter, George F. Cottle, 
 Henry T. Brown, Frederick Bailey, John Pistorius, E. W. 
 Crow, Henry Josser, \\ II. Weatherford and E. F. Del 
 l.i id ge. 
 
 Frederick Bailey and John Pistorius, natives 
 
 WILLIAM T. 
 MOFFETT 
 
 of Ger- 
 many, came to this country together in 1853 and settled in 
 the same township. They began farming together. By and 
 by each bought land. Gradually they added to their land 
 
 JO MX PISTORIUS 
 
428 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 holdings until both were owners of hundreds and hundreds of acres. Both lived to 
 old age, and they died within about a year of each other, Mr. Bailey passing 
 away in 1909, and Mr. Pistorius in 1910. 
 
 The first land entered in Blue Mound township was on March 16, 1833. when 
 James Edwards entered 40 acres in Section 20. Others who entered land early 
 were Garland Hall, Dempsey Pope, Benjamin Wilson and Francis G. Hill. 
 
 The first child born in the township was Willis Z. Pope, son of Dempsey 
 Pope. The first death was that of Nancy Wilson, daughter of Benjamin Wilson. 
 She died in 1828. The first couple married were Benjamin Austin and Margaret 
 Warnick, who became man and wife probably in 1825. 
 
 Benjamin R. Austin was the first justice of the peace. Mr. Austin, who was 
 a surveyor, was honored in later years by having Austin township named for him. 
 
 The first church organization in the township was the Blue Mound Meth- 
 odist society, started in 1829 or 1830. A chapel was erected in 1863. The first 
 preacher to locate in the township was Rev. H. A. Pasley, who came in 1834 
 from Kentucky. He was a Methodist minister, and church services were held in 
 his home many years. 
 
 The first church building erected in the township was known as the Mos- 
 quito church. It was near Mosquito creek, in Section 20. 
 
 In 1855 German Methodists organized a church at the home of William 
 Sleeter. Rev. Philip Kuhl led in the organization. In 1865 a building was 
 erected. 
 
 The Madison Presbyterian church was organized in 1854 by Rev. John C. 
 Smith. Some of its members had formerly belonged to the Bethlehem church, 
 which Mr. Smith had organized in 1850. 
 
 According to report, the first school in the township was taught as early as 
 1828 by Daniel McCall. William Austin taught the school in 1832. One of the 
 early schools was the Peru school. A big oak tree, near this school, under which 
 Abraham Lincoln often rested in the shade, was dedicated May 5, 1910, to the 
 Grand Army of the Republic. The Peru school often had unruly pupils, and 
 stories still are told of the days when Frank H. Coleman, six feet tall and of 
 strong build, took charge and tamed them. 
 
 J. C. Armstrong was the first supervisor from the township. Other early super- 
 visors were William T. Moffett, F. A. Brown, R. H. Hill, D. F. Barber, Frank 
 H. Coleman and H. H. Rosengrants. 
 
 The town of Boody was laid out in Sections 11 and 12 in 1870 by Messrs. 
 Nientker and Smith. A postoffice was established, and Fred Nientker became 
 postmaster. In after years his son, W. G. Nientker, held the same position. 
 
 The first house in the town was erected in 1870 by Frank Reafly. Mr. 
 Nientker erected and opened the first store in 1870. In 1871 the Binkley elevator 
 was built. The first schoolhouse was erected in 1874 and Byron Lewis was the 
 first teacher. Another early teacher was T. D. Weems. The first physician was 
 Dr. A. C. Douglas. 
 
 Boody did not grow much in size, but it became an important shipping 
 point for grain, being in the midst of a good farming community. It is on the 
 Wabash railroad, and on State Route No. 48 hard road. 
 
 DECATUR 
 
 THE history of Decatur township is largely the history of Decatur, so only 
 brief mention will be made here of this township. The first land entries 
 were made before Decatur had been laid out. James Miller was the first to 
 enter land. On Nov. 13, 1827, he entered 80 acres in Section 10. Jonathan Miller 
 entered 80 acres in Section 14, July 7, 1828. Dorus Stevens entered 80 acres in 
 Section 3 July 16, 1828, and the same day David Miller entered 80 acres in the 
 same section. Oft Nov. 1, 1828, David L. Allen entered 80 acres in Section 14. 
 Nearly all of this land is now inside the city limits of Decatur. 
 
 Early settlers in this township, who were prominently connected with the 
 early history of the county, are listed in early chapters in this volume. Much of 
 the land they purchased afterwards was absorbed into the city of Decatur, 
 
TOWNSHIP HISTORIES 
 
 429 
 
 When Macon county was divided into townships in 1860, Henry B. Durfee 
 was named as the first supervisor from Decatur township. He also was chosen 
 
 as chairman of the Board. Decatur 
 township at first had one supervisor 
 and one assistant supervisor. As the 
 population increased, the number of as- 
 sistant supervisors increased until now 
 the township has eighteen assistant 
 representatives on the board. 
 
 Decatur township has an area of 
 18,560 acres, or 29 square miles. 
 
 One of the old homes of the town- 
 ship, now in the city, is the John Sawyer 
 home on West Harrison avenue. This 
 house, which is still standing, was built 
 about 1848 by Levi Gulick. Afterwards 
 it came into possesion of Mr. Sawyer, 
 JOHN SAWYER HOME and j t was his home for f orty years . 
 
 FRIEND'S CREEK 
 
 FRIEND'S CREEK took its name from the first settler on its banks, George 
 W. Friend, native of Ohio, who came in 1822 and built the first log house 
 in what afterwards became Friend's Creek township. His cabin was about 
 two miles north and a mile east of Argenta. It was the third home in the 
 county, the other two being those of William Downing and Leonard Stevens. 
 Mr. Friend stayed in the community only a few years, but his name has remained, 
 in the name of the creek and the township. 
 
 Next to come was Charles Nelson, who settled in Section 12, about a mile 
 north of Friend's cabin, in 1824. He came from Kentucky. Nelson became a 
 permanent resident, and many of his descendants still live in the vicinity. 
 
 Nathan Burril also came in 1824, moving from Ohio. He settled near the 
 Friend cabin. Other early comers were Josiah Abrams and William Dickey, who 
 settled in 1828 in Section 24. William Dickey had been a Revolutionary soldier. 
 He died in 1832 and was buried in Friend's Creek cemetery. In 1912 a bronze 
 marker was placed on his grave by Stephen Decatur chapter, Daughters of the 
 American Revolution. 
 
 Mr. Dickey had a large family, and several of his sons took up land. One 
 son, John Dickey, became the first justice of the peace, in 1836, and held the 
 office until he died ten years later. His brother, Andrew Dickey, succeeded him 
 as justice of the peace. 
 
 The Pettyjohns, the Wilsons, Nathaniel Brown, John and Joseph Long, 
 Jacob Snyder, John Lowrie, David Chapman, Israel Fout, George Carver, the 
 Jimison brothers, Andrew Corn, the Beebees and the Robinsons were among 
 the arrivals in the '30s. Later came Alexander Greenfield, George S. Young, 
 James Querrey, Joseph G. Kile, Hugh O'Neil, John A. Scott, David Troxell, the 
 Brennans and numerous others. 
 
 John and Joseph Long, who were cousins, invested all their money in land. 
 They continued to add to their holdings until they had as much as 2,000 acres 
 each. 
 
 The Pettyjohn family furnished the first bride in the township, Susan Petty- 
 john marrying Levi Abrams. They not only had the distinction of being the 
 first couple married in the township, but their son, Eli Abrams, born in 1829, 
 was the first child born in the township. 
 
 One of the influential early residents was David K. Wilson, who came from 
 Tennessee in 1844. He was a leader in the Cumberland Presbyterian church, 
 and was a man of interesting personality. In 1858 Mr. Wilson and Andrew 
 Dickey made brick, from which they built their own houses. These houses stood 
 as landmarks for many years. 
 
430 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Josiah Abrams made the first land entry in the township. He entered 80 
 acres in Section 24 Aug. 28, 1830. Elizabeth Stephenson entered land in the 
 same section March 25, 1831. The land taken up by William Dickey May 2, 
 1831, also was in Section 24. 
 
 The first school house in the township was built in 1835. It was in the 
 northeast corner of Section 25. John Heath was the first, teacher. 
 
 Rev. William Owens delivered the first sermon in the township. For many 
 years religious services were held at the camp meeting ground, and then a log 
 school house wk,s used for church purposes. Among the preachers at the camp 
 meetings were William Magee Taylor, Abner Lansden, Robert Taylor, Neily 
 Johnson and John Berry. 
 
 About 1851 a Cumberland Presby- 
 terian church was organized, and a 
 building was erected near the cemetery. 
 This building was destroyed by fire, and 
 in 1873 another building was put up. It 
 still stands, though used now only for 
 funeral services. One of the leaders for 
 years in this church was Jackson Wil- 
 kinson, a man of fine character and the 
 head of a large and interesting family. 
 
 In 1849 a Methodist society was or- 
 ganized by Rev. C. W. Lewis and a 
 building was erected near Friend's Creek 
 in 1859. 
 
 About 1858 or 1859 the United 
 Brethren church erected a building in 
 Newburg. It was moved to Argenta 
 about 1885. 
 
 Before the days of the railroad, the village of Newburg, laid out in 1854, 
 was the center of the community. William Dowling had the first store in that 
 village, and Philip Carver the first blacksmith shop. Early physicians were Dr. 
 Millison, Dr. Gueren, Dr. H. O. Hetzel, and Dr. W. B. Hostetler. Dr. R. F. 
 Carr came in 1856. Dr. Charles Dennison practiced medicine there for some 
 years. He was a surgeon in the army during the Civil war. A schoolhouse was 
 erected in 1854. One of the early teachers there was Jasper Wilkinson, who 
 afterwards became principal of the Decatur high school. 
 
 Both Newburg and West Danville, commonly known as Dan town, once 
 flourishing villages, are now practically gone, due to the fact that the railroad 
 passed them by. After the railroad was built through the township in the 70s 
 the village of Argenta was laid out by B. R. Rodgers. Located on a railroad 
 line, it naturally drew all the business away from the other towns. Only a few 
 wrecks of houses remain at Newburg, and the old distillery is the only reminder 
 left of Dantown. 
 
 The first store in Argenta was erected by Garver & Co. B. S Schall was 
 the first blacksmith, and F. F. McMullin had the first wagon shop. In 1874 a 
 school house was built. Argenta was incorporated as a village Jan. 29, 1891. 
 
 David K. Wilson was the first supervisor from Friend's Creek township. 
 Other early supervisors were C. Lukens, Andrew Dickey, William Daves. S. 
 Payne, F. Swantes, John Marsh, R. H. Park, J. Ruddock, J. W. Brown and W. 
 A. VanLeer. 
 
 OLD C. P. CHURCH NEAR ARGENTA 
 
 HARRISTOWN 
 
 WILLIAM HANKS, relative of Abraham Lincoln, was the first man to 
 locate in Harristown township. He came in 1828, and built his cabin and 
 made other improvements in Section 23. 
 The same year Christopher Miller came from Kentucky, and located in Sec- 
 tion 14. His sons, Samuel, William and John, came with him and located homes 
 nearby. James Miller came from Kentucky in 1829. James Harrell, another 
 
TOWNSHIP HISTORIES 
 
 431 
 
 On Dec. 2, 1828, 
 
 Kentuckian, arrived in 1834. In the year 1835 Jacob Hostetler Located in Section 
 14. J. W. Gouge came in 1836 from New York. 
 
 John Miller was the firsl to enter land in the township 
 
 he entered 80 acres in Section 13. 
 
 As early as 1830 a school was taught in the eastern part of the township by 
 William Miller. About 1841 a school building was erected in Section 13. It 
 served both school and church purposes for a good many years. 
 
 The township's most distinguished resident was Abraham Lincoln, who 
 came to Macon county in 1830. The Lincoln cabin home, which Abraham 
 helped to build, was located on a bluff along the Sangamon, in Section 28. 
 
 The land on which the Lincoln cabin stood was afterwards owned by the 
 Whitley family. Shelton Whitley came to Macon county in 1831 with the Dr. 
 Speer and Snyder families. He was a carpenter. Mr. Whitley erected a mill on 
 tlie Sangamon in Harristown township, this being one of the earliest mills in the 
 county. Often the millwheel was clogged with fish. Shelton Whitley bought this 
 land in Section 28 in 1843 from Perry Strickland, who had entered it from the 
 government on May 31, 1836. It afterward passed to his brother, James Whitley, 
 and is still in possession of the latter's descendants. 
 
 In 1837 Samuel and James Miller built a mill on the Sangamon in Section 
 24. They also had a blacksmith shop there. 
 
 After the Wabash railroad was built through the township, the village of 
 Harristown was laid out. It was platted in 1856 by Jerden Burkey in Sections 
 9 and 10. The first house in the village was built by Jacob I. Hobbs in 1856. 
 The first postmaster was David Masters. The first store was opened by Samuel 
 Cox in 1859. The first blacksmith was H. C. Masters. Summit lodge, No. 431, 
 A. F, and A. M., was chartered Oct. 4, 1865. 
 
 A schoolhouse was erected in Harristown in 1863, and school was taught by 
 John S. Randle, who had been teaching in the neighborhood since 1861. 
 
 The Christian church was organized March 15, 1861. Services were held in 
 an old church building, which had been moved the year previous from a few 
 miles southeast of the town. Rev. W. A. Mallory led in the organization of the 
 church, and was the first preacher. In 1917 the congregation erected the hand- 
 some brick edifice in use today. It was dedicated Dec. 23, 1917. 
 
 The Methodist church was organized in 1863, and erected a building the 
 following year. W. C. Lapham was the first pastor. 
 In 1865 an elevator was built by O. Z. Greene. 
 In 1876 a tile works was erected in Section 21 by J. Traver. 
 The first justice of the peace in Harristown township was Nathan Averitt. 
 The first physician was Dr. Greeley. The first supervisor from the township 
 was Abraham Eyman. Other earlv supervisors were J. H. Pickrell, T. B. Hanks, 
 M. G. Camron, W. E. Gouge and J. N. Hoyt* J. H. Pick- 
 rell became widely known as a breeder of fine stock. 
 
 Among the prominent early settlers who came in the 
 '50s were J. G. Willard, C. E. Hunsley, A. B. Camp, and 
 J. 1). McGuire. Jeremiah Freeman, a native born Macon 
 county resident, was another. Daniel Stookev came about 
 1860. " 
 
 One of Harristown township's most widely known long- 
 time residents was T. J. Scroggin, who settled in the town- 
 ship about 1864, and lived there until his death in 1911.; 
 Mr. Scroggin was an extensive land holder, owning more 
 than 1,600 acres. He was known particularly as a most 
 successful breeder of fine cattle. Mr. Scroggin's fondness 
 for animals resulted in his maintenance for a long time of 
 a deer park, where he kept a big herd of dec'. 
 
 The village of Harristown is known for. its beautiful 
 cemetery and attractive homes. The Illinois Traction 
 System line passes through the village and the State Route 
 10 hard road gives it connection with other points for auto- 
 T. J. SCROGGIN mobile traffic. 
 
432 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 HICKORY POINT 
 
 DAVID FLOREY, of Virginia, was the first settler in Hickory Point town- 
 ship. He came in 1825 and settled in the timber on the west branch of 
 Stevens creek. Philip D. Williams arrived in 1826 and John Draper came 
 about a year later. Both Florey and Draper moved in 1828 to Whitmore town- 
 ship. Williams moved to Decatur after the town was laid out in 1829. He was 
 a justice of the peace. 
 
 John and James Hanks, Stephen Shepherd, David and John Manley, all of 
 Kentucky, were other early comers. They all made land entries and became 
 long time residents of the community. 
 
 The first to enter land in the township was Randolph Rose, who entered 80 
 acres in Section 32, on Feb. 5, 1830. The same day James Johnson entered 80 
 acres in Section 34. William Lemon entered 80 acres in Section 32 June 5, 1830. 
 In the early '30s came William F. Montgomery and his brother, George 
 Montgomery, of Virginia, Samuel Hornback and Robert Johnson and James 
 Johnson of Kentucky. Richard Brett of Virginia, John and Hezekiah Hays, 
 brothers, of Ohio, Joseph Rife, sr., and John Good of Pennsylvania arrived a 
 few years later. Between 1840 and 1855 many settlers came from Pennsylvania 
 and became permanent residents. Among them were Jacob Schroll, Solomon 
 Weigel, John Weigel, Daniel Weigel, David Houser, Jacob Gepford, Jacob Kel- 
 ler, Peter Keister, Samuel Weaver, William Lourash, Alexander Mettlin, Henry 
 Lehman, Jacob Rife and Joseph Rife, jr. 
 
 Others who came during the early years of the county were George W. 
 Schroll, Henry Schroll, Ephriam Bear, Jacob Bear, W. H. Gepford, W. T. 
 Grubbs, Mrs. Nancy Weaver, David Brett, N. S. Batchelder and Hilleary Major. 
 After the building of the railroad, the township became attractive to some 
 Decatur citizens for we find Samuel McKinley, A. L. Stewart, John Renshaw, 
 Samuel Smallwood, J. Y. Braden, Ulysses Huston, John Sawyer, jr., H. B. Dur- 
 fee and A. C. Gher all left the town for the country. 
 
 The first couple married in Hickory Point township were Zebedee Sergeant 
 and Nancy Manley. The first child born was Sarah J. Smallwood, July 27, 1827. 
 
 The first blacksmith shop was 
 opened in 1828 by James Johnson, who 
 afterwards went to the Black Hawk 
 war and became a colonel. 
 
 Church services were held first in 
 the cabins and barns of settlers. After 
 camp meetings became popular, ground 
 near Boiling Springs was used as a camp 
 ground. 
 
 Many of the settlers from Penn- 
 sj'lvania were members of the Church 
 of God and wished to have a church of 
 that persuasion in their new home. On 
 Jan. 3, 1852, a protracted meeting was 
 commenced in Joseph Rife's brick resi- 
 dence near Boiling Springs, conducted 
 by Thomas Hickernell of Ohio and 
 George Sandoe of Pennsylvania, mis- 
 sionaries. It resulted in the organization 
 of a church Jan. 17, 1852, in the home of 
 Mr. and Mrs. Rife, there being nineteen 
 charter members. Joseph Rife, Sr., and 
 Jacob Schroll were the elders and Joseph 
 Rife, Jr., and David Houser, deacons. 
 
 In the same house, the ministers of 
 the church in Illinois met on Aug. 23, 
 1853, and organized the Illinois Elder- 
 MR. AND MRS. JOSEPH RIFE, SR. ship of the Churches of God. 
 
TOWNSHIP HISTORIES 
 
 433 
 
 JOSEPH RIFE HOME 
 
 As the population increased and membership in the church grew, the homes 
 would not hold the worshippers, and accordingly a house of worship was erected 
 on the Boiling Springs camp meeting ground in 1857. That building had the 
 
 distinction of being the first house of 
 worship erected by a church of that de- 
 nomination in the state of Illinois. The 
 building was destroyed by fire in Octo- 
 ber, 1887, but a new structure was 
 erected, and was dedicated Dec. 25, 1888. 
 One of the early preachers was Rev. 
 Robert Henson, formerly a member of 
 the Baptist church, who settled in Hick- 
 ory Point township in 1832 Another 
 early settler of the community, who was 
 both a farmer and preacher, was D. S. 
 Weigel. He was one of the original 
 members and also was a pastor of the 
 Fairview church, organized in February, 
 1871. Its chapel was located in the 
 southwest corner of Section 9, and the 
 organization continued there for many years. 
 
 Other denominations were represented among the settlers. There were 
 Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, Christians and a few Millerites. The Meth- 
 odists held services in the school house in Forsyth until 1868, when the church 
 building in the village was erected. The first pastor in charge was Rev. A. 
 Semple. 
 
 The first person to teach school in the township was Walter Robbins. School 
 sessions first were held in homes. The first school house was built in Section 
 34 on the hill south of Stevens creek, just west of the Bloomington road, on land 
 belonging to William F. Montgomery. It was a log structure, put up in 1841. 
 It was used until about 1853, when a school site was selected three-quarters 
 of a mile farther north. This school was named Bull Point, but later was changed 
 to Mound. Another early school house stood a short distance west of Boiling 
 Springs and was first called Possum Fork, later changed to Boiling Springs 
 when the site was changed to a point nearer the Boiling Springs church. In the 
 early '50s a schoolhouse was built in the southwest quarter of Section 15. It was 
 named Dutch Point. Many years later it was moved north, and became the 
 Model school in Section 10. The township now has ten school districts. 
 
 The earliest school trustee record available is for 1858, and shows Robert 
 Johnson, Peter Betzer and George W. Schroll, trustees, and Jacob Minch, clerk. 
 At that time there were three school districts. 
 
 The first work on the Illinois Central railroad in the township was begun 
 in February, 1853. Rail laying was finished Oct. 11, 1854, and the first train 
 came through from the north. Hezekiah Hays and his brother, Vent, who were 
 husking corn in a field near the track, were busy men indeed, trying to get a 
 look at the train and holding their frightened horses at the same time. 
 
 The railroad put down a sidetrack and built a section house in Section 14, 
 naming the stop later as Forsyth, after Robert Forsyth, owner of the land and 
 general freight agent for the road. The village of Forsyth was laid out in 1864 
 by Edward O. Smith. First houses were erected by N. J. Fitch, George Shaffer, 
 Dr. Baxter, Gordon Songer and James Fenner. N. J. Fitch became postmaster, 
 dealt in grain and also had a grocery store. George Shaffer also was a grocer. 
 Dr. Baxter practiced medicine. Charles Ruehl was the first railroad agent and 
 was a grain buyer, also. He built the first elevator. His son, Ernest, was the 
 first telegraph operator in the depot. 
 
 The first school house in the village was erected in 1864. It still stands, 
 though no longer used for a school. Rufus Crossman was the first teacher. 
 
 Dr. Hibbs, Dr. J. C. Hall, Dr. G. W. Drury, Dr. J. Frank Allen, Dr. J. L. 
 Kenton, Dr. Donovan and Dr. L. N. Lindsey have served the community as 
 physicians. Another early doctor was Dr. A. McBride, who moved to Oreana in 
 the '80s. 
 
434 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Early storekeepers were the Erwin Bros., Joseph Rue, E. Petch, Samuel 
 Cher, A. G. Benton, V. W. Benton, McMillan & Mason, J. C. Hall, Segrist & 
 Bartlett, Joseph Cooper, Melhorn & Koehler, and E. B. Collins. 
 
 The railroad company also put in a switch and erected a station at Bears- 
 dale. About 1890 an elevator was erected by Samuel Troutman. In later years 
 after a new elevator had been built by William Ritchie on the west side of the 
 track, this first elevator was used for storage purposes. An active present day 
 organization of Bearsdale is the Anti-Horse Thief association, which a few years 
 ago provided a building of its own, which is used for various community events 
 
 In the period between 1870 and 1880 three other railroads were surveyed 
 through the township. The I. B. & W., now Champaign branch of the Illinois 
 Central, diagonally crosses Section 36; the P. D. & E., now Peoria division of the 
 Illinois Central, crosses Sections 19, 29, 32 and 33. The other road was the Illi- 
 nois Midland, now the Pennsylvania line. It planned to parallel the main track 
 of the Illinois Central, and work was begun in the Stevens creek bottom, but 
 the panic of 1872-73 halted the work and it never was resumed. Trains were 
 routed over the tracks of the Illinois Central through the township. 
 
 The first public road was the stage line and mail route from Decatur to 
 Bloomington. The township enjoyed the distinction of having a station on the 
 horse and cattle thieves road from the Illinois river to the Ohio river. These 
 stations were located about a night's ride apart, the local station, according to 
 tradition, being in Section 14. Another station was four or five miles west of 
 Maroa, and the next in the Salt creek timber west of Clinton. 
 
 Near the junction of the Stevens creek branches Sole & Bartlett operated a 
 saw mill and also a grist mill. 
 
 J. Y. Braden was the first supervisor from Hickory Point township. Other 
 early supervisors were William F. Montgomery, H. S. Manon, Henry Lehman, 
 A. McBride, Volney Barber and J. R. Hays. The first road commissioner was 
 A. T. Mettlin. 
 
 Robert Johnson was the first justice of the peace after the township was 
 organized. 
 
 Some of the homes erected in early days which are still standing are the 
 James D. Tait, John Good, William F. Montgomery, Jacob Schroll, Joseph Rife, 
 sr., and John Hanks residences. The Tait home stood on land entered from the 
 government by Mrs. Tait's father, Joseph Spangler. 
 
 ILLINI 
 
 OWING to the swampy land and lack of timber, Illini township did not 
 attract settlers as early as other townships. The first land entry was made 
 July 18, 1849, by Walter Turner, who entered 80 acres in Section 33, and 
 two 80 acre tracts in Section 34. The following year Mr. Turner established his 
 home and began farming. William Peed of Morgan county and Humphrey 
 Scroggin of Logan county came soon afterwards. Other early settlers were 
 David Skillman Allen, James Henry Pickrell, Peter Wise, H. M. Taggart, John 
 Lehn, John S. Childs, the Ritchie family, Jacob and Eber Major, and John J. 
 Batchelder. 
 
 The first child born in the township was Carter, son of Humphrey Scroggin, 
 who was born in 1851. The first death was that of Sarah Eyman, in 1853. The 
 first marriage was that of John Peed and Jemima Henson. 
 
 Mr. Pickrell, breeder of fine stock, brought the first Berkshire hogs to the 
 township in 1857. He became the township's first supervisor, and was prominent 
 for years in the affairs of Illini and Harristown townships. 
 
 Mr. Pickrell was president for years of the American Shorthorn Breeders' 
 Association. In 1885 he became secretary and treasurer and assumed general 
 charge of its business. He moved that year to Chicago. 
 
 David S. Allen brought the first Shorthorn cattle and Cotswald sheep from 
 Kentucky, in 1855. 
 
TOWNSHIP HISTORIES 
 
 435 
 
 J. J. BATCH ELDER 
 
 John J. Batchelder first bought land in Harristown township. Section 10, 
 but sold that land in the early '60s to Mr. Pickrell, and bought other land farther 
 north, in Illini township. He located his home in Section 
 21, though he had purchased land in other sections, also. 
 Mr. Batchelder had come from Pittsfield, N. H., and 
 through his influence others from that place came to Illini. 
 Among them were James T. Winslow, Joseph C. Tucker, 
 Samuel E. Batchelder, J. T. Clough, M. E. Batchelder and 
 David Batchelder. These families were the nucleus of what 
 became known as the Yankee settlement or "Illini" neigh- 
 borhood. Others soon joined them. Stephen Brown, Brad- 
 bury Clark, George S. Roberts and son, Edwin J., Dear- 
 born Bunker, Josiah Oilman and son, Cieorge, L. R. Morse, 
 Thomas Eaton, David Hall and Emery Janvrin were among 
 them. 
 
 After the Pekin, Lincoln & Decatur railroad, now the 
 Peoria branch of the Illinois Central, was built through the 
 township, the town of Warrensburg was located in the 
 northwest quarter of Section 14. The town was platted by 
 Warren & Durfee, and named for John K. Warren. Mr. 
 Warren and Z. Boughn owned the land on which the town 
 was located. 
 
 The first house in the new town was built by John 
 Ritchie. Max R. Schroeder had the first harness and shoemaking shop, and the 
 first freight train which passed over the new railroad brought freight to Mr. 
 Schroeder. He also was the first postmaster, named in 1871. Years afterwards 
 that position was held by his son, Fred Schroeder. 
 
 Samuel Ritchie had the first mercantile store, and Z. Boughn erected the 
 first grain elevator. The first tile works were built by Boughn & Kepler. The 
 first hotel was kept by Jonas Hawood. Husman Brothers built a mill for 
 grinding grain. Later it was operated by Tucker & Dunlap. This mill came to 
 an end in a windstorm. W r orkman & Binkley conducted the first wagon shop. 
 Dr. Holbrook was the first physician in the town, and opened a drug store. The 
 first church and the first school were built in 1874. 
 
 An important industry of Warrensburg of recent years is the canning fac- 
 tory, where sweet corn is canned. During the canning season a big force of 
 workers is employed. 
 
 In 1885 Samuel Ritchie and his wife started a newspaper, the Warrensburg 
 Times. They continued publication until their deaths in recent years. Since then 
 the paper has been published by A. R. Finkenbinder. 
 
 Warrensburg was incorporated as a village July 8, 1880, but charter was not 
 obtained until Nov. 10, 1901. 
 
 The first school in the township was started in 1857. Sessions were held in 
 homes, and Miss Emma Dudley was the teacher. In 1859 a building was erected 
 in Section 34. In 1874 a school 
 edifice was erected in Warrens- 
 burg. It was remodeled in 1890. 
 In 1917 a new brick building was 
 put up, and in 1921 a new Com- 
 munity high school was erected. 
 The Concordia club, organized 
 in 1899, is one of Warrensburg's 
 active organizations. The town 
 also has several flourishing lodges. 
 Methodists of the vicinity. 
 who had been holding services 
 first in the Mt. Pleasaul school 
 house and later in the Rolling 
 school house, moved in 1873 to 
 Warrensburg and occupied a 
 
 WARRENSBURG CANNERY 
 
436 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 building known as the "Old Saloon." In 1874 a house of worship was erected. 
 It was enlarged and remodeled in 1905. 
 
 The Church of God in Warrensburg was organized April 28, 1875. Services 
 were held in a building owned by Samuel Ritchie. In 1883 a church edifice was 
 erected. 
 
 Families in the Yankee settlement were adherents of the Congregational 
 church. For a time religious services had been conducted in that neighborhood 
 by J. A. Hood, a Presbyterian minister. Sentiment for a Congregational church 
 increased, however, and on Feb. 13, 1868, a church was organized in the Batch- 
 elder school house, with twenty charter members. Only one of them, Mrs. 
 Mary Hall Thatcher, is still living, at this writing. The first pastor was Rev. 
 John Jones. At first services were held in the Batchelder and Brick school 
 
 houses, but in 1874 steps were taken to 
 erect a building. The new church, lo- 
 cated on the J. J. Batchelder land, just 
 north of Illini cemetery, was dedicated 
 May 2, 1875. This building served the 
 congregation until 1910, when it was 
 destroyed by fire. It was replaced by a 
 new brick edifice, dedicated Oct. 29, 
 1911. A parsonage was built in 1884-85 
 on land donated by Mr. and Mrs. John 
 M. Clary. 
 
 The Illini church has been the 
 center of activities of the neighborhood. 
 Holiday and other gatherings have held 
 together the traditions of the families 
 of the New England forefathers. The 
 Fourth of July picnic always has been a big event of the year. 
 
 An honored resident of the township who gave up his life in the Civil war 
 was Captain Lewis J. Eyman, the first of the Eyman family to come to Macon 
 county. 
 
 Captain Eyman, who came here from St. Clair county, was a veteran of two 
 wars, having fought also in the War with Mexico. On coming to Macon county 
 in 1856, he made a claim of 160 acres of land with the land warrant he had 
 received for his services in the Mexican war. For a number of years he culti- 
 vated this land. During the Civil war he raised a company of volunteers, which 
 became Company E, One Hundred Sixteenth Illinois Infantry. He was chosen 
 captain of the company, but was killed in one of the first battles in which it 
 participated, the battle at Arkansas Post, Jan. 11, 1863. Women of the com- 
 munity made a flag for Company E when it went to war. It was preserved 
 afterwards by the family of Captain R. M. Hamilton, to whom it was entrusted. 
 
 FIRST ILLINI CHURCH 
 
 LONG CREEK 
 
 TWO men who had married two sisters were the first to select land in Long 
 Creek township for their future homes. They were W T illiam D. Baker and 
 David Davis, natives of North Carolina, and later residents of Rutherford 
 county, Tenn. They came to Macon county in the fall of 1828 and spent that 
 winter in the Ward settlement. In the spring of 1829 they established their 
 homes in Section 20, in Long Creek township. 
 
 That was the year Decatur was laid out, and when the commissioners, who 
 had been named to locate the town, visited the Baker-Davis neighborhood, these 
 two early settlers were very much worried. They had not yet entered the land 
 on which they had made their improvements, and they feared they would lose 
 them if a site there was selected for the town. 
 
 David Davis was one of the judges of the first election held in Macon 
 county, and William D. Baker was a member of the first grand jury. Davis 
 served afterwards as county treasurer and as county commissioner. 
 
TOWNSHIP HISTORIES 
 
 437 
 
 WILLIAM D. 
 BAKER 
 
 DAVID DAVIS 
 
 Jacob Myers was the first man to enter any land in the township. On Sept. 
 26, 1828, he entered 80 acres in Section 36. David Davis entered 80 acres in 
 Section 20 on Oct. 20, 1829. 
 
 Within a year or two after the first homes were estab- 
 lished in the township, settlers began to come in rapidly. 
 John Florey located in Section 26 in 1830. Newton N. Baker 
 settled in Section 29 the same year. John Rucker, who ar- 
 rived in 1830, located in Section 15. 
 Air. Rucker served as county commis- 
 sioner for a period of fourteen years, 
 and his wise counsel had a large in- 
 fluence in directing the affairs of the 
 county. 
 
 Other early settlers were Allen 
 Travis. Andrew Had dick, James 
 Wheeler and Joe Davis. 
 
 The first marriage in Long Creek 
 township was that of Bailey Myers 
 and Jane Black. The first child born 
 w r as William M. Davis, son of Mr. 
 and Mrs. David Davis. He was born 
 Jan. 14, 1831. 
 
 The first mill was built by Joseph 
 McGuinas. John Bell started the first 
 blacksmith shop in 1830 in Section 28. 
 Joseph Davis was the first justice of the peace. Dr. Cooper was the first physi- 
 cian but was not a resident. 
 
 Peter Casner, native of Pennsylvania, came in 1845 from Mercer county, 111. 
 He entered land in Section 31 and established his home in the southwest quarter. 
 There a postoffice was established. 
 
 The village of Casner was named for Lewis B. Casner, son of Peter Casner. 
 The elder Mr. Casner gave 80 acres of land to each of his five children when they 
 came of age. Lewis B. Casner remained on the farm until 1891 when he moved 
 to Decatur, where for some years he was interested in the banking business and 
 other activities. 
 
 Traces can still be found of the old Decatur-Paris road, which was the earli- 
 est in the township. It followed the general direction of the present day Route 
 121. On this old road were located several taverns. One was at the Joseph 
 Davis home, which was a stage stand and also for a time a postoffice 
 
 In 1852 a postoffice was established in the home of Allen Travis, and was 
 called Hopewell. About a mile east of Hopewell was the John Stickel, sr., 
 tavern. That house is still standing. It is a place of his- 
 toric interest, for in that home Abraham Lincoln stopped 
 occasionally when he was traveling the eighth judicial 
 circuit. 
 
 Another tavern was the Jacob Myers home, a mile east 
 of the Stickel house. It is believed that Stephen A. Douglas 
 was a guest at this tavern, for he made speeches in that 
 community. 
 
 One of the successful farmers of Long Creek township 
 was Michael Eichinger, who came in 1858. He acquired 
 considerable land and became prominent in the community. 
 The first school house in the township was built 
 in 1834 in Section 16. Daniel Stickel was the first teacher. 
 It was called the Ehrhart school in honor of Henry Ehr- 
 hart. Another early school was the Black school on the 
 John Jones farm. 
 
 The first supervisor from Long Creek township was 
 John Rucker. 
 
 The first church organized was the Long Creek Metho- 
 dist church, which had its start in the early '30s, and erected 
 
 LEWIS B. CASNER 
 
438 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 its first building in 1848. The first regular pastor, D. Coulson, was appointed in 
 1838. The first building was burned to the ground during the Civil war, and it 
 was believed the fire was incendiary. 
 
 In 1855 the North Fork Cumberland Presbyterian church was organized at 
 the Emerson school house, with fifty-four charter members. Many of them had 
 been members of the Mt. Zion church. Rev. John C. Smith organized the church 
 and Rev. Daniel Traughber was the first pastor. 
 
 Charles Emerson, lawyer, whose home was in Long Creek township, gave 
 the land for the North Fork church. 
 
 The Antioch Christian church was organized in October, 1859. The last 
 charter member of this organization, Mrs. Sue Tyler Odor, died only recently 
 (1930). In 1864 a church building was erected on land given by her father, Rev. 
 J. W. Tyler, who was instrumental in organizing the church and was its first 
 pastor. 
 
 The Old Order Brethren church in Long Creek township was organized in 
 the '80s. Its church building, erected in 1898, is about four miles southwest of 
 Cerro Gordo. This organization, though small in numbers, in 1901 entertained 
 the national assembly of the church. 
 
 Long Creek township has two railroad stops. Long Creek is in Section 27. 
 A postoffice was established there in 1875, called Long Creek, and a store was 
 started the same year by Kizer & Myers. Benson Myers was the first post- 
 master. The town was laid out in 1882. 
 
 The village of Casner was started in 1877 by Lewis B. Casner and Rev. J. 
 H. Crowder. Mr. Casner built the first house, and he was the first postmaster. 
 J. H. Lord was the first blacksmith, and Dr. M. V. Lonergan the first physician. 
 The United Brethren church erected a building in 1876. The village was platted 
 in 1882. 
 
 Antioch was a flag stop on the railroad for years, but afterwards was dis- 
 continued. 
 
 One of the early residents of Long Creek township, who in later years was 
 called upon often to tell of the early days of the county, w r as Rev. Nathan M. 
 Baker, who was born in 1837 in Long Creek township and spent nearly his 
 entire life there. Rev. Mr. Baker was a son of William D. Baker. Land entered 
 by the elder Mr. Baker from the government passed into the hands of Rev. N. M. 
 Baker, and today is in possession of his children. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Baker was a minister for more than fifty years. He entered the 
 ministry in 1858, joining the Springfield presbytery. In 1862 he enlisted as a 
 private in Company C, One Hundred Sixteenth Regiment, and was made chap- 
 lain of the regiment. His service in the army was not confined to ministering 
 as a chaplain, however, as he frequently was found in the front ranks in the 
 fighting. 
 
 After the war he spent many years in pastoral work, serving different country 
 charges. In 1895 he moved to Lincoln to educate his children at Lincoln uni- 
 versity, and while there he taught astronomy in the university. He was deeply 
 interested in that subject, and built his own telescope. Rev. Mr. Baker at one 
 time, for the benefit of his grandchildren, wrote a book in which he told inter- 
 esting experiences of the pioneer times. He often gave addresses before public 
 gatherings and wrote papers for historical societies, and his contributions to the 
 historical data of the county were extremely valuable. In 1899 Air. Baker 
 moved to Decatur, where he lived a retired life until his deatli in 1922. 
 
 MAROA 
 
 MAROA township had its first settler in 1839, but it was not until in the 
 '50s that settlers began to arrive in numbers. James Pettyjohn was the 
 first to come. He arrived from Kentucky in 1839 and located in Section 5. 
 The first land entered in the township was a tract of 30 acres in Section 7, 
 entered by Alfred Downen Sept. 6, 1836. Thomas M. Geddis was the next to 
 enter land, selecting tracts in Section 6. 
 
TOWNSHIP HISTORIES 
 
 439 
 
 TOIIX ('IU)CKKK 
 
 Among the early settlers were Garretl J. Schenck and Joseph Hilt of Ohio, 
 Joseph S. Clough of Morgan county, the three Gray brothers, Robert, John and 
 George; Milton P. Funk, John M. Foulkes, Edward 
 Foulkes, John S. Parker, William Cooper, Dr. J. \Y. Thayer. 
 Samuel and William 1 'otter. M. Friedman and William F. 
 ( rawford, most of whom came in the '50s. Andrew J. 
 Thrifl came in 1864. John Longstreet came in 1862. George 
 B. Short and Frederick W. Miller arrived in 1863. W. J. 
 Compton came in 1866. Bazel Cooper, son of William 
 Cooper, lived to see the day when he was the only person 
 left in the township who had been there in 1855. Bazel 
 Cooper drove one of the teams on the family journey to 
 Macon county from Indiana. 
 
 After the Illinois Central railroad was built through 
 the township, the town of Maroa was laid out by the As- 
 sociated Land company, and the railroad company platted 
 an addition known as the Railroad addition to Maroa. In 
 1854 a passenger depot was erected and John Crocker be- 
 came the first agent, continuing in the position until 1866. 
 Maroa was incorporated as a village March 7, 1867, Job A. 
 Rice being the first president of the board of trustees. On 
 April 8, 1889. Maroa was incorporated as a city. 
 
 John Crocker, native of New Hampshire, came to 
 Maroa from Jacksonville. He was not only first station agent, but was first 
 postmaster, first banker and first lumber and grain merchant. He also was one 
 of the founders of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Crocker died in 1879. His son' 
 and grandson have followed him in Maroa business circles. 
 
 Garrett J. Schenck in 1855 erected the first house in Maroa. It was used 
 also as a store, and then was enlarged and became the Schenck House, which 
 for many years was a popular hotel. The house stood on the site now occupied 
 by the Presbyterian church. 
 
 M. Friedman built a house and store in 1857. He was in business there 
 many years, and was succeeded by his son-in-law. William Moser. 
 
 William F. Crawford erected the first house on what was afterwards known 
 as the Bloomington road. 
 
 The Prairie Hotel was erected in 1858 by William Greer. 
 
 The first grain elevator was built about 1860 by Mr. Ives, and later sold to 
 John Walker. In 1865 a steam flour mill was built by Tylee and George E. Con- 
 over. Later an addition, used as an elevator, was erected. The flour mill after- 
 wards was discontinued. 
 
 The first justice of the peace in the township was Milton hunk, named in 
 1855. Other early jus- 
 tices were John Crock- 
 er, 'Squire Ross, Jos- 
 eph Jones, John B. 
 Carey, C. C. Crandall 
 and Henry E. Kent. 
 I )r. Smith was the first 
 physician, coming in 
 1850. Other early 
 physicians were Dr. J. 
 W. Thayer, Dr. Josiah 
 Brown, Dr. L. Tozer 
 Dr. C. A. McLean and 
 Dr. J. H. Axton. Dr. 
 M c Lean's son, Dr. W\ 
 T. McLean, followed 
 him in the profession, 
 and has continued his 
 practice for about fiftv 
 years. schenck house 
 
440 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 The first birth in Maroa township was that of Charlotte Pettyjohn, who was 
 born Feb. 10, 1852. The first death was that of John H. Pettyjohn, Aug. 15, 
 1852. The first marriage was that of Joseph Garrett and Mary A. Pettyjohn, 
 who were married in 1856 by Rev. George Clifton. 
 
 Two fraternal orders organized lodges in Maroa in 1865. The lodges were 
 Maroa lodge, 454, A. F. and A. M., and Maroa lodge 314, I. O. O. F. Other 
 fraternal organizations came in later years. 
 
 The first bank in Maroa was established in 1867 by John Crocker. It is still 
 in business, now known as the Crocker & Co. bank. 
 
 The first newspaper in Maroa was The Times, started in 1867 by John 
 Sharp. The Tablet and The Tribune also made their appearance in early days. 
 Then came The News, started by Henry B. Funk. The Budget was founded in 
 1876. It later became The Messenger. Another paper called The Times was 
 founded in 1886 by T. C. Grady. The two papers which survived, The Times 
 and The News, were consolidated in 1903. 
 
 Thomas Shaw taught the first school in the township in 1852. The first 
 building erected for school purposes was put up in 1856 on "The Ridge", two 
 and a quarter miles west of Maroa. Alvin Woodward was the first teacher 
 there. Several years later a building was erected in Maroa, and the first teacher 
 there was Robert Collins. In 1866 a brick schoolhouse was constructed, and 
 later a high school building was erected. This high school was torn down in 
 1915, when the present day structure was erected. 
 
 On Jan. 30, 1859, Presbyterians met in the railroad station and organized a 
 church. Services were held at the station for several months. In 1868 a frame 
 house of worship was erected on the site now occupied by the Christian church. 
 This building was sold in 1911, when the present brick church building was 
 erected. 
 
 Members of the Christian church began holding services in 1862 in Dr. 
 Thayer's home. Rev. J. W. Tyler was the first preacher. A church was organ- 
 ized May 4, 1862. Services were held in the public school house for some years. 
 In 1869 a building was erected. It was used until the present day church house 
 was put up in 1911. 
 
 A Methodist Episcopal church was organized at Belle Prairie in 1857, and 
 
 moved to Maroa in 1860. A house of worship was erected in 1867 on the site of 
 
 the present parsonage. In 1892 the congregation built a 
 
 new church which was used until it was destroyed by fire 
 
 in 1912. Then the present church house was constructed. 
 
 The Center Ridge Christian church in Section 32 is 
 one of the oldest of the country churches. It was organ- 
 ized in 1867 by L. A. Engie and J. B. Millison. 
 
 There have been several other rural churches, where 
 
 services afterwards were discontinued. One old church 
 
 building, not now in use, still stands in the Ridge cemetery. 
 
 William F. Crawford was the first supervisor from 
 
 Maroa township, holding that position for five years. 
 
 One pioneer settler, active for many years, was Major 
 Charles F. Emery. He served in the Civil war, and later 
 engaged in the real estate and loan business. In 1872 he 
 founded the C. F. Emery & Co. bank. He also started a 
 bank and was in the loan business in South Dakota, but 
 failure of crops and other reverses brought loss, and his 
 bank was taken over by Crocker & Co. Major Emery 
 never recovered from his losses, and the latter part of his 
 life he spent as a rural mail carrier, being the first carrier 
 on Route 2 out of Maroa. He died in 1911. 
 1888 Major Emery served as a member of the state board 
 
 MAJOR C. 
 EMERY 
 
 From 1880 to 
 of equalization. 
 
 Maroa township has had many progressive citizens. Among the early 
 families have been the Stoutenboroughs, Bennetts, Wendlings, Bairds, Rays, 
 
TOWNSHIP HISTORIES 
 
 441 
 
 Marshs, McCanns and many others who have contributed to the progress of 
 the township. Three citizens, Jason Rogers, John H. Crocker and Thomas N. 
 Leavitt, have been honored by election to the state legislature. Maroa has 
 grown to be the largest town in Macon county, outside of Decatur. Its popula- 
 tion in 1930 was 1,154. 
 
 MILAM 
 
 MILAM township was the last township formed in Macon county, having 
 been detached from Mt. Zion township in September, 1869. It had very 
 few settlers until after the Civil war. The first land entries were made by 
 Benjamin Durgin, who entered 160.24 acres in the NEJ4, Section 1; Sarah Nash, 
 who entered 164.18 acres in the same section; and Andrew Libby, who entered 
 160 acres in the same section. These entries were all made Aug. 23, 1852. 
 
 Before this, however, James Greenfield and son, Jesse, had located in the 
 north part of the township, where they erected a house. They came early in the 
 year 1851. 
 
 Joel Cloud settled in Section 12 in 1857, and David J. Freeland located in 
 the same section in 1858. A man named Hale also was an early comer. 
 
 Practically all the other early settlers came after the Civil war Among them 
 were J. B. Gleason, David Shelton, James Kerr, William Rutledge, Richard 
 Cribbett, William Meyers, John W. Dudley, Archibald Dickson, Frederick Wehr- 
 man, Henry Wehrman, John C. McReynolds, William Dudley, J. W. Smith. 
 One by one others came, until the township was well populated. 
 
 J. B. Gleason, the man who gave the township its name, 
 was the first justice of the peace, and the first supervisor 
 from the township. Mr. Gleason, who was a native of 
 Connecticut, had lived in Iowa before coming to Macon 
 county, and had served in various public offices in that state. 
 George A. Bartlett was the first collector, W. E. Kyer 
 the first assessor, and James M. Kerr the first town clerk. 
 Mr. Bartlett also served as a supervisor, and as commis- 
 sioner of highways. Mr. Kyer was another who served as 
 supervisor. 
 
 The first school district was laid off in 1866, and the 
 name of Harmony was given to the first school started. The 
 winter term of that school was taught by Samuel Gregory. 
 The first child born in the township was Franklin 
 Cloud, son of Joseph and Nancy Cloud, and the first death 
 was that of Philo Hale. 
 
 Milam is one of two townships in Macon county that 
 have no railroads, and no villages or towns. It also has the 
 distinction of being the smallest township in the county. 
 It has been the home, however, of many prosperous farmers 
 and its representatives on the board of supervisors have 
 filled their places most acceptably and have done their part in handling the 
 affiairs of the county. 
 
 J. B. GLEASON 
 
 MT. ZION 
 
 MUCH of historic interest lies within the boundaries of Mt. Zion township. 
 Some of the earliest settlers in the county located in that township. As the 
 seat of Mt. Zion academy, the village became widely known. In a day 
 when institutions of learning were extremely scarce, the academy was the chief 
 educational center of this section of Illinois. 
 
 The school was established by a stock company, and a two story frame 
 building, accommodating 100 students, was erected in 1856. John Kaufman was 
 the contractor. School opened that fall, with Rev. Prestly H. Cnder as prin- 
 cipal and W. P. Baker as assistant. The school was known then as the Mt. 
 Zion Male and Female academy. The first trustees were Rev. Daniel Traughber, 
 
442 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 MT. ZION ACADEMY 
 
 George A. Smith, Charles Emerson, J. D. Campbell and John Smith. One of 
 the men instrumental in founding the school was W. C. Mayers. The first 
 building was destroyed by fire April 12, 1857, and it was replaced by a two 
 story brick structure. The brick used was made from clay taken directly from 
 the school grounds. Mr. McBey was contractor. 
 
 G. W. Kinsolving was the second principal, and he was succeeded by A. J. 
 McGlumphey. Under the latter's direction the academy enjoyed its greatest 
 prosperity. McGlumphey later became president of Lincoln college at Lin- 
 coln, 111. 
 
 Other principals who succeeded McGlumphey were William Mariner, Dr. 
 A. J. Wallace, and Professor Hughes. W. C. Outten was assistant to Dr. Wal- 
 lace. Principal Mariner's assistant was Miss Lucy Holingsworth, later Mrs. 
 William E. Nelson. 
 
 When the Cumberland Presbyterian 
 church decided to establish a college at 
 Lincoln, 111., it was feared that such a 
 move would sound the death knell of 
 Mt. Zion academy. Hence, it was pro- 
 posed to put the institution under the 
 wing of the church. It was re-chartered 
 in 1865 and attached to the Decatur 
 presbytery. Professor McGlumphey 
 went to Lincoln College, when it was 
 opened in 1866, and a good many of his 
 pupils went with him. From that time 
 the Mt. Zion school began to decline, 
 but it remained open until 1871. With 
 the establishment of public schools, in- 
 cluding high schools, the need for the 
 academy no longer existed. 
 
 After the building went out of use as an academy, it was rented by school 
 directors and used as a public school. Later the building was bought by the 
 school directors. It was in use until 1904 when it was torn down, and a new 
 school building erected on the site. In 1926 Mt. Zion's new high school building 
 was opened. 
 
 Many of the men and women who once were students at Mt. Zion academy 
 became leaders in their chosen lines of work in later years, both in Macon 
 county and in other places. In after years they loved to recall the good old 
 days when the school flourished. A delightful event in their lives was the reun- 
 ion of academy students which was held Aug. 14, 1913, at Mt. Zion, when 
 nearly 100 of the former students met to live over again their school days. Six 
 states were represented on that occasion. A quartet sang the same songs that 
 had been sung at a reunion in 1867. That quartet included three of the members 
 of the original quartet, S. S. Hopkins, J. B. Martin, and Mrs. Lida Hopkins 
 Wells, and the fourth member, Mrs. Mollie Kaufman Champion, was the sister 
 of the fourth member of the original quartet, Love Kaufman 
 
 There were many stories that day of the pranks of the students, of the 
 barracks where many of the boys "batched", the McMullen boarding house, and 
 reminiscences of the teachers. 
 
 In Mt. Zion was erected the first church building in Macon county. It was 
 a log structure put up by the Cumberland Presbyterian church, which was 
 organized in 1830. The present church building stands on the site of that first 
 one. 
 
 The first land entered from the government in Mt. Zion township was by 
 Henry Traughber, who, on June 4, 1829, entered the east half of the N. E. Y\ 
 of Section 8. That farm is still in the family, now owned and occupied by Judd 
 Traughber, grandson of Henry Traughber. It still contains the log house and 
 log barn built ninety years ago by Henry Traughber. The barn was enclosed 
 
TOWNSHIP HISTORIES 
 
 443 
 
 ORIGINAL TRAUGHBER HOUSE 
 
 with a cattle barn in 1899. This barn has the distinction of being the oldest 
 threshing outfit in the county, for in the early days the wheat, stored in this 
 barn, was threshed out by the tramping of horses over it. 
 
 Others who entered land in this 
 township in early days were Elisha 
 Moore, Robert (Uncle Robin) Wilson, 
 and William Lacy. 
 
 James Finley was regarded as the 
 first settler, for he located in 1827 on 
 Section 10. Finley came from Kentucky. 
 Benjamin Wilson came in 1827. He 
 was one of the first county commis- 
 sioners. 
 
 Rev. David Foster came here to 
 preach in 1828. The same year came 
 William Wheeler, Sr. His son, William 
 Wheeler, Jr., was prominently con- 
 nected with the history of the county as 
 sheriff, assessor and collector. 
 
 Rev. David Foster returned in 1829 
 to locate. In his home the organization of the Cumberland Presbyterian church 
 took place in 1830. 
 
 John Smith of Tennessee came in 1829 and settled in Section 9. The same 
 year came Harvey, Finis and Thomas Travis, Edmund Turpin, James D. Camp- 
 bell. Andrew and John Davidson, and Alexander W. Bell. James D. Campbell 
 was a member of the county commissioners' court and for many years was a 
 justice of the peace. He died in 1864. 
 
 Henry Hodge arrived in 1830. William and Madison Turpin came in 1831 
 and settled on Big Creek. 
 
 The first persons married in the township were John C. Foster and Emily 
 Montgomerv in 1831. The first child born was Robert S. Traughber, born Sept. 
 2, 1830. The first death was that of Thomas Nelms in 1830. 
 
 The first school house was built in Section 4 in 1832, James Scott being the 
 first teacher. 
 
 Some of the early ministers were Rev. David Foster, Rev. Neill Johnson, 
 Rev. Daniel Traughber, of the Cumberland Presbyterian church; and Rev. J. M. 
 Peck of the Baptist church, noted in the early history of the state and known as 
 author of books and pamphlets on early Illinois history. 
 
 The first mill in the township was built by Robert Law in 1835 at White- 
 house's in Section 6. It was a band mill, run by horse power. 
 
 Among the early justices of the peace were J. D. Campbell, Alonzo Pierce, 
 and Mr. Schuffield. First physicians were Dr. Buckworth and Dr. Blalock. The 
 first supervisor was W. C. Myers. 
 
 The village of Mt. Zion was laid out in 1860 by S. K. Smith. It was incorpo- 
 rated as a village April 13, 1882. The first house was erected by Andrew Wilson, 
 and the first store was run by Skillman and Mays. Dr. Blalock erected the 
 first hotel, and it was conducted by John McMullen. As early as 1851 G. W. 
 Riber had a blacksmith shop. 
 
 Mt. Zion postoffice was first called Wilson postoffice. after Andrew Wilson. 
 Wlu'ii the village was laid out, it was named after the church there. Mt. Zion. 
 The Methodist church was called at first the Sulphur Springs society. It 
 became an appointment in 1857. the membership previously having been at 
 Mt. Gilead. In 1865 a church was erected. The Sulphur Springs church moved 
 to Mt. Zion in 1874. 
 
 One of the well known residents of Mt. Zion township, Washington S. 
 Smith, grain dealer and supervisor, was member for two terms (1890-1894) of 
 tin- general assembly. 
 
 Another village in Mt. Zion township is Hervey City, at the junction of the 
 
 Illinois Central and Pennsylvania lines. It was named after Robert G Hervey. 
 
 Along the banks of Big Creek in Mt. Zion township lay the quaint and 
 
 picturesque settlement known as Whistleville. Settled years ago by Kentucky 
 
444 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 timber men, who built rude cabins, it maintained all its old time primitiveness 
 while the outside world forged ahead to better things. The settlers there had 
 taken small tracts of land, where a few chickens, hogs, and cow or two, and per- 
 haps a day's work occasionally, supplied their needs. They mingled little with 
 the outside. Only in recent years have changes come to the place. Slowly the 
 little tracts of land are being absorbed by the larger farms nearby. Much of the 
 timber has been cleared. No doubt the time will come when there will be nothing 
 left of the original cluster of cabin homes and Whistleville will be no different 
 from other farm land. 
 
 Woodbine park, formerly owned by Eli Ulery, but now the state Y. M. C. A. 
 camp, and called Camp Seymour, also is in Mt. Zion township. For about six 
 years chautauquas were held at this park annually, and hundreds of campers 
 lived on the grounds. In 1922 the park, consisting of 55 acres, was sold to settle 
 the Eli Ulery estate. It was bought for $15,025 by H. M. Seymour of Payson, 
 111., and presented to the state Y. M. C. A. for an older boys' camp, as a mem- 
 orial to Mr. and Mrs. Seymour's son, Charles W. Seymour. 
 
 NIANTIC 
 
 THE first settler in Niantic township was Joseph Strickland, who came in 
 1825, from either Ohio or Kentucky, and settled in Section 23. He erected 
 his log cabin near what is now Long Point cemetery. Strickland became 
 known as "Devil Joe" because of his rough nature and lack of cleanliness. He had 
 a large family . 
 
 The next to come was William Turner, who arrived in 1826 and located in 
 Section 15. Other early settlers were Joseph Blankenship, George W. Gepford, 
 J. S. Kizer, George Hawk, A. C. Edgar, Thomas Acorn, James Hogan, James 
 Dingman, Nathan W. Brock, Jesse Lockhart, Thomas A. Pritchett, Seth Brock, 
 the Farnam family, Dr. H. N. Clark, Dr. E. S. Faris and George Wree. 
 
 James Dingman, who settled about two miles south of the present town of 
 Niantic, in 1843, was active for many years in the township, and became a sort 
 of patriarch in the community. When people wanted advice they went to "Uncle 
 Jimmy" Dingman. Mr. Dingman was a man of strong religious tendencies, and 
 was one of the founders of the Long Point church, in what is known as Ding- 
 man's grove The church building, 
 erected in 1856, is still in use. An inter- 
 esting feature concerning this church is 
 that no musical instruments are allowed. 
 Above the entrance to the building is 
 this inscription: 
 
 This house was built 
 by the Church of Christ 
 
 A. D. 1856 
 in which no instrumental 
 music shall be used to 
 worship God. 
 The Long Point church was or- 
 ganized in 1850 and for four years held 
 services in Mr. Dingman's log cabin 
 home. Nathan G. Averitt was instru- 
 mental in organizing the church. From 
 Christian churches of Illiopolis, Harris- 
 
 LONG POINT CHURCH 
 
 this congregation have developed the 
 town, Niantic and Berea. 
 
 James Dingman was one of the three men who divided Macon county into 
 townships. He accumulated much land, owning as much as 1300 acres. He was 
 a leader in the community for many years. 
 
 Long Point was known from the very earliest days of the county. In laying 
 out roads and in giving directions, Long Point often was mentioned in early 
 records. 
 
TOWNSHIP HISTORIES 
 
 445 
 
 THOMAS ACOM 
 
 JESSE LOCKHART 
 
 Thomas Acorn was another of the prominent men of the early days. He 
 came to Macon county in 1850, and became an extensive land holder. For 
 
 twenty years he served as a school 
 
 director, and he also held the offices of 
 
 school trustee, supervisor and road 
 
 commissioner. He became an extensive 
 
 land holder. Mr. Acorn always was 
 
 interested in the betterment of the 
 
 community. 
 
 He was strongly opposed to the 
 
 liquor business, and one time, to rid 
 
 the community of a saloon, he bought 
 
 the saloon with all its contents, and 
 
 emptied out the liquor to the last drop. 
 Wyatt Strickland, son of Joseph 
 
 Strickland, was the first man to enter 
 
 land in Niantic township, entering 80 
 
 acres in Section 23 on Nov. 30, 1829. 
 
 The first child born in the town- 
 ship was a child of Wyatt Strickland, 
 
 and the first death was that of another 
 
 child of the same man. 
 
 After the Great Western railroad 
 was built through Niantic township, Thomas Lewis, George 
 B. Richardson and Calvin J. Lockhart laid out the town 
 of Prairie City, after purchasing twenty-one acres of land 
 from Jesse Lockhart as a site. That was in 1853. The 
 railroad station was given the name of Long Point. 
 When the postoffice was established, Calvin Lockhart became postmaster, 
 and the postoffice was called Lockhart. The three names caused so much con- 
 fusion, that it was decided to select one name by vote of the people. The citizens 
 chose the name, Niantic, which was the name of a tribe of Indians in Connecticut, 
 that name being suggested by a former resident of that state. 
 
 The first house in Niantic was not built there, but was moved in from 
 the timber near Long Point cemetery. William Sponsler had partially built the 
 house, but disposed of it for $12.50 (the amount it had cost him) to Jesse Lock- 
 hart, who moved it to the new town site. From this beginning Niantic grew to 
 be a good sized village. Its present population is 591. It was incorporated as 
 a village Aug. 23, 1894. 
 
 The first store in Niantic was conducted by William Gansen. This store 
 was located on the site of the residence of Mrs. Margaret Griffin. George Wree, 
 an enterprising German who had come from his native country a few years 
 before, wanted that site for a store, and within five minutes he had closed a 
 deal for it. For over sixty years Mr. Wree lived in Niantic township. He kept 
 a store in town for -a time, then moved to a farm, but later returned to town. He 
 served as postmaster and school treasurer, and was founder of the Bank of 
 Niantic. 
 
 The first physician in Niantic was Dr. Stewart. He came in 1856. The fol- 
 lowing year Dr. E. S. Faris came, and in 1859 Dr. H. N. Clark arrived. Dr. J. H. 
 Hughes, both physician and preacher, came the same year. The latter was 
 named as the first supervisor from Niantic township. Dr. Faris's son, John P. 
 Faris, was identified with the business life of Niantic for many years. He was 
 killed in an automobile accident in 1910. 
 
 Niantic's coal mine was sunk in 1882 by Hugh Mooney. It was the town's 
 leading industry for many years. 
 
 Joab Wilkinson was Niantic's first justice of the peace. 
 
 The first school house in the township was built in 1847 in the timber near 
 the Strickland home. School sessions had been held before that in the home 
 of James Dingman, with James Harper as teacher. The second school house 
 erected to replace the first, is still standing, about 200 feet from the original 
 
446 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 site, but is now used as a residence. The school was called the Dingman school. 
 The present Dingman school is located a mile east of the first building. 
 
 In the town of Niantic the first school was taught by Miss Elizabeth Ryan. 
 Sessions were held in a ware room of the railroad company. In the fall of 1858 
 a storm was seen approaching. Dr. Hughes went to the school room and advised 
 the teacher to send the children home. She did so. When the storm struck, 
 the school building was demolished. School was held in various places until 1861 
 when a new school house was erected. That building was turned into a township 
 hall in later years. Another school house was erected in 1875. It was afterwards 
 used as a residence, after a brick school building was put up in 1899. In 1925 
 a new community high school building was erected in Niantic. at a cost of over 
 $50,000. 
 
 The old log school house erected in 1847 was used for the first religious 
 services conducted in the township. Rev. A. D. Northcutt did the preaching. 
 The school building was used until the Long Point church was erected. The 
 Long Point church has been moved three times, but is not far from the original 
 location. 
 
 In 1867, after a successful revival conducted by Rev. John Wilson, a new 
 Christian church was formed in Niantic. Construction of a building followed, 
 and it was dedicated in March, 1868. Thomas A. Pritchett was the first elder, 
 and the first deacons were George Wree and Griffin Chamberlain. Rev. B. J. 
 Radford was the first resident pastor. The church building continued in use until 
 the present day house of worship was erected. It was dedicated April 22, 1923. 
 
 The Methodist church held services in the town hall until the erection of 
 a church building in 1894. This building was remodeled in 1904, and is still in 
 use. 
 
 Catholics of the community first held services in the home of Michael Walsh, 
 and later in the John Henebry home. A new church building was erected in 
 1892, but it was struck by lightning and burned in 1923. It was replaced with 
 a handsome brick structure, dedicated in 1926. 
 
 OAKLEY 
 
 FIRST settlers in Oakley township were James Howell and his son, William. 
 James Howell, who was a native of Ohio, located in Section 30 in the spring 
 of 1825. A little later the son, William, came with his family. Other early 
 arrivals in the township were John Rea, Isaac Veech, Guy Helm, William, David 
 and Achilles Morris, Arch Walton and Garland Wheeler. Caleb Hess came in 
 1850. James Chambers was another early resident. He located in Section 26. 
 Jacob Seitz also settled in the same section, when he came in 1857. John Hizer 
 came to Macon county in 1849, walking ali the way from Pennsylvania. The 
 next year he went to work at Spangler's mill. Later he bought land and began 
 farming. 
 
 William Howell was the first to enter land. On March 19, 1830, he entered 
 80 acres in Section 25. 
 
 William Howell, D. B. Landis and Andrew Froman were early justices of 
 the peace in the township. The first supervisor was G. W. Forest. Other early 
 supervisors were L. Chambers, H. McCoy, O. J. Doyle, E. Rhodes, R. Spencer, 
 Dr. S. Cooper, William Grason and H. J. Manecke. 
 
 First physicians in the township were G. H. Young and J. G. H. Smith. 
 
 The first marriage was that of Caleb Warfield and Nancy Rea, in 1835. 
 
 The first postofnce was in the home of John Rickett in Section 35, and Mr. 
 Rickett was postmaster. 
 
 The first saw mill was erected in 1840 by Rhodes and Wheeler, and the 
 first grist mill was built by Guy Helm in 1844. John Hawkins established the 
 first blacksmith shop. 
 
 The first school house was erected in the fall of 1830 in Section 26, and there 
 Alexander Patton taught the first school. 
 
TOWNSHIP HISTORIES 
 
 447 
 
 Rev. Alonzo Lapham, Methodist minister, was the first preacher to deliver 
 a sermon in the township. That was in 1835. A Methodist church was organized 
 in 1858 by Rev. J. F. Everly. 
 
 Captain William Grason, who came to the township in 1854, bought land in 
 Section 9. He enlisted in the army during the Civil war, and became Captain 
 of Company A, 116th Illinois Regiment. Captain Grason served as supervisor a 
 number of times. 
 
 W. F. Coulter in 1874 bought land along the Sangamon, on which a mili 
 was located. That mill, known as Coulter's mill, has stood for many years. 
 
 One of the life-long residents of the township was Andrew J Veech, who 
 was born in this county April 13, 1836, the son of Isaac Veech. A. J. Veech be- 
 came an extensive farmer and stock 
 raiser. His home was in Section 3, 
 but lie owned land in other sections 
 and also in Decatur township. 
 
 The village of Oakley was laid out 
 in 1856 by William Rea. A postoffice 
 was established, and D. B. Landis be- 
 came the first postmaster. He was also 
 the first justice of the peace. John 
 Nickey opened the first hotel, and G. 
 M. Everline the first store. Dr. Sam- 
 uel Cooper was the first physician, and 
 E. Rhodes the first blacksmith. The 
 first house in the village was erected 
 by William Rea. 
 
 Simon P. Nickey, who started in 
 the mercantile business in 1858 in 
 Oakley, was appointed station agent 
 for the Great Western railroad in 1859. 
 Mr. Nickey who was a native of Penn- 
 sylvania, having been born in Cum- 
 berland county, Nov. 16, 1832, came to Macon county in May, 1855. He was at 
 different times assessor, collector, school director, school teacher, postmaster 
 and county superintendent of schools, serving in the latter office from 1873 
 to 1877. 
 
 The first school in the village was built in 1860. 
 
 On June 1, 1879, T. O. Holcomb opened a general store, and grain business, 
 which he continued many years. In recent years the business was conducted by 
 his son, Cassius Holcomb, who died in 1929. 
 
 Sangamon is another station on the Wabash in Oakley township A general 
 store was opened there in 1857 by William Harmon and Benjamin Wheeler. 
 Silas Chappell was the first postmaster. Mr. Chappell also ran a cooper shop. 
 In 1867 a blacksmith shop was started by J. B. Spangler. 
 
 Oakley is in the center of a good grain district, and has always been a place 
 of some importance among grain dealers, as a shipping point. It is connected 
 by hard road with State Route No. 10, and is a station on the Illinois Traction 
 System line. 
 
 A. J. VEECH 
 
 SIMON P. NICKEY 
 
 PLEASANT VIEW 
 
 THE first settlements in Pleasant View township were in the northern part 
 of the township. Valentine Claywell was the first to come, arriving in 
 1828. Other early settlers were John Reed and John G. Fletcher 
 The first land entered was by David Simons, who entered 40 acres in Section 
 13 on March 15, 1836. Samuel Widick entered 160 acres in the same section. 
 
 Among the prominent residents of the township who came a little later 
 were William M. Moss, E. F. Delbridge, William F. Brookshire, O. T. Crow, 
 Abel S. Ferre, Eleazer House, George W. Carr and son, Nathan A. Carr. 
 Another long time resident was James D. Smith, who was born in this county. 
 Rev. A. D. Northcutt, early prominent minister, located in the township in 1867. 
 
448 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 The first school building was erected in 1862 in Section 7. William Sterrett 
 was teacher. School had been taught, however, according to one report, as early 
 as 1857. 
 
 The first mill was a wind mill erected by James Irwin for grinding corn. 
 
 William Brookshire opened a blacksmith shop in Section 8 in 18oo. 
 
 D. D. Rowles was the first supervisor from Pleasant View township. Other 
 early supervisors were John Hatfield and E. House. 
 
 The village of Blue Mound was laid out in 1870, and was incorporated Feb. 
 17, 1876. The land on which the village was platted was owned by Dr. Goltra. 
 The first house in the village was built by William Cummings, but it was erected 
 in 1861, before there was any village. In 1870 O. Ullrich & Bros, moved a store, 
 which had stQod about a mile to the north, down to the new town. The same 
 year the postoffice was established and William Clements became postmaster. 
 In 1871 a school house was erected. Isaac Black was the first teacher. A. H. 
 Eicholtz opened the first hotel in 1870. Albert Nicholls had the first blacksmith 
 shop in town. 
 
 A mill and elevator were erected in 1870 by Henry Kain and Edward 
 Eicholtz. In 1878 Scott and Lemen started a tile factory. Willard and Bosworth 
 started a tile factory in 1877. 
 
 The Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1871 and erected a build- 
 ing in 1877. Bethel society, two miles north of Blue Mound, was organized in 
 1870 by Rev. J. W. Warfield, and erected a church that year. 
 
 The Christian church had its start Jan. 4, 1874, being organized by Elder A. 
 D. Northcutt. The church purchased a building that stood a mile and a half 
 south of the village, and moved it to Blue Mound. In 1874 a United Brethren 
 church was organized in Blue Mound by Rev. J. Corley. The following year 
 a house of worship was erected. 
 
 E. J. Clements, brother of the first postmaster of Blue Mound, was named 
 postmaster in 1871 and served for fourteen years. Four years later he again was 
 given the office, and held it for four years. 
 
 One of Blue Mound's interesting citizens was Robert 
 
 Warnick, who was a boyhood friend of Abraham Lincoln, 
 though Lincoln was fifteen years older than he. Mr. War- 
 nick was a son of William Warnick, and was a young boy 
 at the home of his father in Blue Mound township at the 
 time Lincoln lived in the county. Robert Warnick was a 
 veteran of both the war with Mexico and the Civil war, 
 and could tell interesting tales of the big conflicts. Robert 
 Warnick was born in 1824, and lived until 1915, spending 
 the latter part of his life in Blue Mound. He was a brother 
 of Ira Warnick, who also lived to a good old age. Ira War- 
 nick, who made his home in Blue Mound township, was 
 a great hunter. He also was a friend of Lincoln and could 
 tell many stories of Lincoln's life in Macon county. 
 
 Pleasant View township has been the home of many 
 progressive farmers. The village of Blue Mound has be- 
 come an interesting point in the county, with good schools, 
 churches and homes, keeping pace with the progress of the 
 dav. In 1930 Blue Mound had a population of 817. It is on the 
 ROBERT WAR- Wabash railroad and also on State Route No. 48 hard road. 
 
 SOUTH MACON 
 
 SO far as known, South Macon township had no settlers before 1835, 
 when William Morris came from Indiana and located just north of what 
 afterwards was known as Long Grove. He died the following year. Isaac 
 Vise came in 1837 or 1838 and located farther south than Mr. Morris. In 1840 
 came Thomas Atterberry, called "Black Tom", who built a house in Section 8. 
 His family came in 1845. James and Hargus Stewart and Richard Atterberry 
 
TOWNSHIP HISTORIES 
 
 449 
 
 DAVID P. KELLER 
 
 ROBERT W. 
 HIGHT 
 
 came up from Kentucky and settled in the township. William Portwood also 
 was an early arrival. Thomas Davis, who had settled in Mt. Zion township in 
 1848, decided to move over to South Macon. Isaac Davis came in 1853, and 
 James Hobson in 1855. 
 
 Robert Bivans, for many years connected with the history of the township, 
 first came in 1859. He served as township collector, clerk, postmaster at Macon, 
 alderman, and was well known as farmer, merchant and insurance agent. 
 South Macon township was the 
 home of David P. Keller, who was 
 elected a member of the legislature in 
 1888 and again in 1890. Mr. Keller, 
 who was a native of Ohio, moved to 
 Shelby county in 1864, and to Macon 
 county in 1869. He lived in South 
 Macon township until 1895 when he 
 moved to Moweaqua, where he was 
 engaged in the banking business until 
 his death Dec. 12, 1901. 
 
 As an auctioneer for farm sales 
 for a number of years, Mr. Keller made 
 a wide acquaintance. He had once said 
 that he could at one time go between 
 Decatur and Shelbyville over three dif- 
 ferent roads and tell who lived in every 
 house and who ow T ned every piece of 
 land. 
 
 In 1884 Mr. Keller began raising 
 Aberdeen Angus cattle, continuing 
 with that breed as long as he was on the farm. Mr. Keller was one of the 
 founders of the Macon County Mutual Fire Insurance company. 
 
 Henry L. Highly came to Macon county in 1861, and for many years was a 
 successful farmer in South Macon township. In 1899 he retired and moved to 
 Macon. He held the positions, of school director and road commissioner. 
 
 Robert W. Hight was the eldest of the Hight brothers who came to the 
 township in 1855 from Greene county. For many years he devoted his attention 
 to farming interests, but in 1895 he retired and moved to Macon, where he 
 erected one of the finest homes in the town. While on the farm Mr. Hight 
 served as a school director. 
 
 One of the extensive land holders of the township was Sard Giles, who 
 made his home in Macon. When he first came he was in the employ of other 
 farmers, but gradually accumulated land of his own until he had hundreds of 
 acres. 
 
 The first land in the township was entered by James Stewart, Nov. 5, 1835. 
 He entered 40 acres in Section 13. The same day William Morris entered 80 
 acres in the same section, then a 40 acre tract and another 80 acres. 
 
 The first school house in the township was built in 1854 in Section 12, and 
 the first teacher was Bradford Stuart. 
 
 The first supervisor from the township was W. D. Hamilton. 
 The village of Macon was platted in 1856 by the Illinois Central railroad. It 
 was incorporated as a village April 15, 1868, and as a city April 7, 1879. 
 
 The first building erected was put up by the railroad company. C. H. Rub}% 
 the first resident of the town, lived there from 1854 to 1860. J. S. Ruby was 
 appointed railroad agent in 1857. For a number of years the Illinois Central 
 maintained a land office in Macon for the sale of lands belonging to the road. 
 
 The first residence was built by A. G. Harris in 1858. The same year a 
 school house w r as erected. James Wells was the first teacher. The building after- 
 wards became a dwelling house. 
 
 Religious services were started in 1860, the depot being used until 1865 
 when a church was erected by the Methodist congregation. Rev. S. S. Russell 
 was pastor then. Rev. Mr. Wallace was the first preacher who located in the 
 town. 
 
450 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 St. Stanislaus Catholic church was started in 1866 by Rev. Anthony Voght. 
 A house of worship was erected in 1868. 
 
 The Presbyterian church was organized June 12, 1865, in the school house. 
 Rev. S. W. Mitchell was the first pastor. In 1867 the congregation erected a 
 house of worship. It was wrecked by a storm the following year, and later 
 another building was erected. It was occupied in 1876. 
 
 In 1871 the Lutheran church erected a house of worship. 
 
 The first blacksmith shop was established in 1857 by Charles Crow. 
 
 Dr. George S. Gray was the first physician to locate in Macon. He came 
 in 1860, and practiced his profession there many years. 
 
 C. H. Ruby opened a hotel in 1860 and continued it many years. 
 
 In 1857 a postoffice was established, J. S. Ruby being the first postmaster. 
 
 The first death in the town was that of James Gegretty, who fell from the 
 roof while helping to build the Illinois Central station in 1855 and was fatally 
 injured. 
 
 From these beginnings Macon has grown into a good sized town, having 
 now a population of 799. It has good churches, schools, including new com- 
 munity high school; an Eastern Star sanitarium, and fraternal orders. Among the 
 long time business men of the place was Anton Beschle, who before his death 
 in 1927 had the distinction of being the oldest charter member of the Masonic 
 lodge at Macon, the oldest business man and the oldest church member. Among 
 other business men with long careers were John Schudel and W. M. Towson. 
 
 State Route No. 2 hard road passes through Macon, giving it connection 
 with points from one end of the state to another. 
 
 Another railroad stop in South Macon township is Walker, named for John 
 W. Walker, stock and grain dealer, who, in 1880, persuaded the Illinois Central 
 to put in a switch and side track and build a station in Section 8. An elevator 
 was erected there in 1882. 
 
 SOUTH WHEATLAND 
 
 THE first settler in South Wheatland township was William Downing, 
 the man who was the first to build a home in Macon county. He sold his 
 cabin in 1824 to John Ward, and moved to Bond county. The Ward 
 brothers, as told in earlier chapters in this volume, settled in the same neighbor- 
 hood south of Decatur, which became known as the Ward settlement. Besides 
 John Ward, the family included Thomas, Lewis, James, Jeremiah and William. 
 
 John Ward ran a ferry across the Sangamon, and kept a store at "Indian 
 Bluff". He died in 1831, and was buried near the spot where he had made his 
 home. 
 
 Other early arrivals in the township were Elisha Freeman, Hiram Robin- 
 son, Andrew W. Smith, Robert Smith, Joshua G. Perdue, Lambert Bearden, 
 Ephraim Cox, Winkfield Everet, Dr. J. G. Speer, John Connard and William 
 Wheeler. 
 
 Robert Smith and William Cox were the first to build homes out on the 
 prairie, away from the timber. Others followed, and soon the prairie was dotted 
 with cabins and other improvements. 
 
 Robert Smith built the first mill in the township, as early as 1829. It was 
 a horse mill, and did considerable business. 
 
 Lewis B. Ward entered 80 acres of land in Section 31, Township 16, Range 
 2 east, Nov. 9, 1827, this being the first land entered from the government in 
 Macon county. The same day John Ward entered 80 acres in Section 33. David 
 Foster entered 131.04 acres in Section 1 on March 17, 1831 Jeremiah Ward 
 entered 80 acres in Section 2 May 27, 1831, and William H. Brown entered 80 
 acres in Section 1 on July 1, 1831. 
 
 The first church was built in 1848 at Mt. Gilead. Afterwards, in 1874, it 
 was moved to Elwin. Rev. T. D. Weems was then the pastor. The church was 
 organized in 1836 or 1837. It was a Methodist church. 
 
 Rev. John M. Berry was the first preacher in the township, speaking at 
 various homes before any churches were erected. He was a Cumberland 
 
TOWNSHIP HISTORIES 
 
 451 
 
 Presbyterian minister. Bethlehem Presbyterian church was organized in 1850 
 
 by Rev. John C. Smith. 
 
 Salem Separate Baptist church was organized in 1846. A United Brethren 
 
 church was organized at Elwin in 1866. 
 
 Drs. Thomas H. Read, W. T. Crissey and J. G. Speer of Decatur furnished 
 
 the medical attention needed in the early days of the township. 
 
 The first supervisor from the township was I. S. Boardman. Other early 
 
 supervisors were John Montgomery and Hiram Ward. 
 
 Hiram Ward was one of the life-long residents of 
 South Wheatland township. He was the son of William 
 Ward, and was born Jan. 28, 1837. All his life he lived on 
 the farm on which he was born. Being so closely identified 
 with the early history of the county, Mr. Ward naturally 
 was interested in the formation about 1883 and subsequent 
 activities of the Macon County Old Settlers association. He 
 served as its first president and held the same office in 
 after years, being president at the time of his death in 1911. 
 His brother. Frank N. Ward, of Blue Mound township, 
 succeeded him as president. 
 
 One resident of South Wheatland township, John G. 
 Tmboden, became nationally, and internationally known as 
 a cattle man. For years he engaged in buying, feeding and 
 selling fine cattle, and his cattle won many prizes at inter- 
 national stock shows. Mr. Imboden was widely recog- 
 nized as a judge of cattle, and was called upon on many oc- 
 casions to serve in that capacity. He was for some time y 
 president of the Illinois Livestock Breeders association and 
 he served on national committees. Mr. Imboden's home was 
 known as Wayside Place. He passed away in 1925. 
 The town of Elwin was laid out after the completion of the Illinois Central 
 
 railroad. It was first called Wheatland. C. E. Connard erected an elevator there. 
 
 One of his sons, George S. Connard, was identified for many years with banks 
 
 in Decatur, first with the National bank and later as cashier for the Citizens 
 
 National bank. 
 
 HIRAM WARD 
 
 WHITMORE 
 
 IX Whitmore township was located the first house built by white men in the 
 county, the Lorton Brothers trading post. The Lortons erected this house 
 in 1816, and spent certain parts of the year there trading with the Indians. 
 The cabin stood on the bank of the Sangamon, in Section 18. For about ten 
 years trading with the Indians was carried on there, but finally operations ceased 
 when the Indians left the county. The log house stood for many years after- 
 wards, and was used as a voting place. 
 
 John Draper is believed to have been the first settler in the township. He 
 came to the county about 1827, locating first in Hickory Point township. In 
 1828 he moved to Whitmore township. John Draper and Amy Florey were 
 the first couple married in the township. John Anderson Draper, son of John 
 Draper by a previous marriage, was the first child born in the township. He 
 was born in 1828. 
 
 Other early settlers were John White, David Florey. D. H. Stuart, Jacob 
 Spangler, and John Huston. John White was the first to enter land. On May 8. 
 1830, he entered 80 acres in Section 13. John Draper entered 80 acres in Section 
 18 on April 15, 1831. David Florey settled in Section 21. Mr. Florey came to 
 Macon county in 1825, from Virginia, and located first in Hickory Point, 
 moving later to Whitmore. D. H. Stuart entered 80 acres of land in Section 13 
 Dec. 12, 1833. John Huston, who was a native of Virginia, entered 240 acres oi 
 land Nov. 30, 1834. in Sections 8 and 9. 
 
 John Whitmore. after whom the township was named was the first bride- 
 groom of the county, after Macon county was organized. His bride was Delilah 
 
452 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 GARVER HOME 
 
 (As it is today) 
 
 Miller. They secured their marriage license June 18, 1829, and were married 
 
 two days later. 
 
 _ When the county commissioners formed a new election district in 1833, 
 
 taking in the northeast section of the county, it was called Draper's district, and 
 
 the old Lorton trading house was the voting place. 
 
 Two towns, which later disappeared, were laid out in early days in Whit- 
 more township. They were Murfreesboro and Martinsburg More extended 
 
 mention is made of these towns in the chapter on "Early Settlements". 
 
 William Martin, who laid out Martinsburg, erected a tile works there w r hich 
 
 he sold later to his son-in-law, Dr. H. C. Johns of Decatur. 
 
 Whitmore township was the home of what became known as the Garver 
 
 settlement, though that settlement extended over into Hickory Point township. 
 Three Garver brothers, John, Jacob and David, and three Garve*- sisters 
 
 and their husbands, Joseph Rife, Sr., 
 Henry Hummell and John Epler, came 
 from Dauphin and Lancaster counties, 
 Pa., in the late '30s, and brought their 
 families. Others joined them. John 
 Good of York county. Pa., came in 1838. 
 Later he married Nancy Garver, the 
 daughter of Jacob Garver, and moved to 
 Hickory Point township. Mr. Good built 
 the first house on the David Garver 
 land. A part of that house still stands. It 
 was incorporated into the brick house 
 erected in 1849. The brick house now 
 presents a modern day appearance, hav- 
 ing been stuccoed in 1912. Yet it has a 
 quaint and old reminder of the past. In 
 
 the front is a white marble tablet which says: 
 
 "Built by David and Anna Mary Garver, 1849." 
 
 A unique feature of this home was the bake house, a one-story brick part 
 
 which contained an old fashioned brick oven. The Garver home was on the 
 
 main road to Monticello in the early days, and it was used as a stopping place 
 
 by many travelers. At such times the big oven came into good use. 
 
 In late years this farm has been in possession of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Huston. 
 The Zorgers were another pioneer family. John Zorger, who came with 
 
 his family in 1839, lived first in Oakley township, then came to Whitmore. 
 
 His brother, Benjamin, and his half brothers and half sisters also came 
 
 Among others who arrived later and became well known figures in the 
 
 township were John Magee, Jacob Barnett, Daniel Good, G. W. Betzer, Perry 
 
 Strope, John R. Bower, Samuel Gerber, James S. Shastid and Joshua Green. 
 
 O. L. Stuart, who was born in Decatur 
 
 in 1833, for many years was a prominent 
 
 resident of Whitmore township. 
 
 The first justice of the peace in the 
 
 township was Henry Rhodes. The first 
 
 doctors were Dr. Walters and Dr. De- 
 
 Watnejr The first ministers who 
 
 preached in the township were Rev. A. 
 
 Bradshaw and C. W. Lewis. They 
 
 preached in the Orthodox school house. 
 
 Whitmore's first supervisor was James 
 
 Lichtenberger. Other early supervisors 
 
 were Henry Rhodes, John Gill, Charles 
 
 Wooster, Joshua Green, J. G. Harns- 
 
 berger, J. C. Ruddock, C. H. Garver and 
 
 Richard Kirby. 
 
 In 1841 the first school house was 
 
 erected. It became known as the Orthodox school house. It was built in Section 
 
 22, and it was used for many years for all public gatherings. 
 
 BRICK CHURCH 
 
TOWNSHIP HISTORIES 453 
 
 The first religious services in the Garver neighborhood were held in the 
 David Garver home, then in the Garver school house. In 1864 a church build- 
 ing was erected, made from brick burned in the Garver timber, the Garver men 
 doing the work. The church was called the Brick church, but often it was re- 
 ferred to as the Garver church. It still stands. The building was used in early 
 days by the United Brethren church, and at times since then by other denomin- 
 ations. At present the Church of God holds services there. For many years after 
 the original church organization was gone, the building was used only for 
 funerals. 
 
 The Friendship Baptist church was organized March 20, 1858, the first 
 pastor being Rev. Jacob Bower. A church house was erected in 1874. The name 
 of this church afterward was changed to the Oreana Baptist church. 
 
 The Christian church was organized at the old Zion school house in 1860 by 
 Dr. J. W. Thayer and J. S. Clough, elders. They had previously been members 
 of the Newburg church, which disbanded. In 1874 a building was erected at 
 Oreana. 
 
 The Pleasant Hill United Brethren society was organized in 1850 by the 
 Rev. James Parks and held services in the Garver school house. In 1866 a United 
 Brethren society was organized by J. Blake, and held meetings in a Union church 
 house. 
 
 The Pleasant Grove Church of God, organized by Rev. A. Gregory, also held 
 services for some years in the Union church house. Rev. D. S. Weigel was 
 pastor. 
 
 After the Decatur and Monticello railroad was built through the township, 
 the town of Oreana was laid out on the Bower land. That was in 1873. The 
 first house was built by Henry Morrison. First business men in the town were 
 S. G. Coale, Frank M. Pratt, and Ruddock and Kirby. S. G. Crocker was the 
 first postmaster. 
 
454 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 INDEX 
 
 Abbott, Ira R., 319. 
 ABC Club, 419. 
 Abel, Thomas J., 153. 
 Abrams, Eli, 429; Levi, 429; 
 
 Josiah, 21, 429, 430. 
 Acom, Thomas, 444, 445. 
 Adams, T. F., 303. 
 Adams, William, 126. 
 Adamson, Hildrey, 104; J. S., 
 
 147, 358; Mrs.. 104, 145. 
 Addis, W. H., 199. 
 Adkins, Charles. 152. 
 Aiken, Ben, 404. 
 
 Aird, P. D., 398. 
 Albert, Thomas B., 165, 196. 
 Aldridge, Harry, 360. 
 Alexander, A. B., 220; Arthur. 
 
 355; J. W., 317; J. W. S.. 
 
 243; Troy, 355. 
 Alexander, Westbay & Co. 
 
 329 
 Alhambra, 237, 419. 
 Allen, Mrs. Cal., 242; Caroline. 
 
 281 ; Dr. Clarence, 335 : 
 
 David L., 19, 40, 73, 76. 
 
 80-83, 87, 91, 103, 104, 105. 
 
 160, 161, 172, 173, 193, 233. 
 
 272, 273, 332, 344, 345, 428; 
 
 Mrs. David L., 81, 82, 91 ; 
 
 David S., 434; E. G., 150; 
 
 Elizabeth, 91 ; Mrs. E. W.. 
 
 397; Dr. J. Frank, 433: 
 
 James, 152; James M., 397. 
 
 403; John, 150, 151, 393; 
 
 John W., 360 ; Laura, 345 : 
 
 Lemuel, 170, 233; Robert, 
 
 30, 32, 104; Samuel C, 104. 
 
 146, 152, 157; Wilson, 105. 
 
 157. 
 Allerton, Robert, 367. 
 Allis, E. P. & Co., 297. 
 Allison, C. M., 353. 
 Alsup, Thomas, 127. 
 Altgeld, Governor, 358. 
 Ambrose, Rev. M., 194. 
 American Hominy Co., 227. 
 American Hotel, 165. 
 American Legion, 335, 399. 
 Ammann, A. C, 150; Conrad. 
 
 266. 
 Anderson, Josephine, 234. 
 Anderson, Matthias, 35. 
 Ange, Mr., 178. 
 Ann Arbor R R Co.. 209. 
 Antioch, 97, 438. 
 Antrim, Rev. E. M., 333 ; T. 
 
 L.. 303, 305, 309. 
 Applegate, B. C, 383. 
 Appley, Charles, 360. 
 Arcade Hotel, 164; Bld;^., 165. 
 Archer, Mr., 163. 
 Argenta, 96, 131. 430. 
 Armistice, 401, 409. 
 Armstrong, H., 99, 103, 144. 
 
 148, 207; H. J., 148. 
 Armstrong, John, 244; J. C, 
 
 428; J. L., 149; W. C, 232. 
 
 346; W. J., 361. 
 Army leaders, 252-256. 
 Arnold, A., 127. 
 Art Institute, 69, 74, 373, 375, 
 
 376, 419. 
 
 Arthur, Chester A., 258. 
 
 Ashby N., 103. 
 
 Ashton, James, 104, 181; Leon- 
 ard, 102, 104, 105, 150, 181 ; 
 Miss, 104. 
 
 Association of Commerce, 239, 
 387, 388, 403, 417. 
 
 Associated Land Co, 439. 
 
 Aston, Anna B., 375 ; Hall, 
 380; Rev. S. M., 375. 
 
 Athons, W., 302. 
 
 Atterberry, Richard, 448; 
 Thomas, 448. 
 
 Atwood, John, 128. 
 
 Augustine, Mrs. R. C, 403. 
 
 Aungst, Daniel, 151. 
 
 Ause, Charles, 128. 
 
 Austin, 18: Benjamin R., 19, 
 24, 25, 26, 28, 35, 74, 95, 103, 
 130, 148, 152, 427, 428; Jos- 
 eph, 129, 427; William, 19, 
 20, 427, 428. 
 
 Austin tvvp., 95, 149, 425, 428. 
 
 Auto, 370-372. 
 
 Averitt, Nathan, 431, 444. 
 
 Avery, Tonathan, 112. 
 
 Avon, 237, 419. 
 
 Axton, Dr. J. H., 439. 
 
 Ayers. S. D., 225. 
 
 B 
 
 Babcock, Col. A. C, 116; B. 
 B., 303. 
 
 Bachman, 290, 328, 385; Wil, 
 388 
 
 Bachrach, 74, 195, 267, 289. 
 
 Bachstein, William, 360. 
 
 Bacon, Mrs. Eugenie M., 234, 
 238, 403. 
 
 Bacon, G. R. & Co., 329. 
 
 Bagdad school house, 133, 167. 
 
 Bailor, David, 128. 
 
 Bailey, Frederick. 427, 428. 
 
 Bain, George W., 135. 
 
 Bair. Chas. F., 361 : Wm. M., 
 360, 361. 
 
 Bairds, 440. 
 
 Baker. Col. E. D., 75, 107, 
 121, 127, 129; E. S., 277; 
 George W.. 162. 18!, 246: 
 Louis, 360; Mary. 280 
 Marie Gray, 335 ; Nathan 
 M.. 438: Newton N.. 437; 
 William D., 20, 35, 436, 437, 
 438: W. P., 441. 
 
 BaMwin. Mrs. Flora F., 150; 
 H. L. 61. 403: Mrs. Icl-a- 
 bod, 171; Tames S.. 108. 110, 
 153, 278, "403, 404, 405 ; S. 
 Y., 201. 346. 
 
 Ball. C. Tavlor, 185. 
 
 Ballard. William F.. 303. 
 
 Rallentine, T. T-. 146, 184. 
 
 Baltimore and Ohio, 214, 384. 
 
 Banes, Dr., 91. 
 
 Banks, 221-225. 
 
 Baptist Church, 81, 87, 195, 
 237, 287, 293, 328. 414, 4 33; 
 Oreana, 453 ; Salem Separate 
 Baptist, 87, 451 ; Antioch, 
 80. 194, 332, 333; East Park, 
 352. 
 
 Bar, Macon Co., 106-110. 
 Barber, D. F., 428. 
 Barber, Harry E., 405. 
 Barber & Hawley, 265. 
 Barber, Volney, 434. 
 Barnes, Dr. Ira N., 202, 203, 
 
 251; Mrs. I. N., 250, 28... 
 Barnes, James C, 361. 
 Barnes, Dr. Lynn, 203. 
 Barnes, Dr. W. A., 148, 151, 
 
 190, 192, 196, 201, 202, 218, 
 
 219, 249, 281, 282. 
 Barnes, Dr. Will, 192, 202, 
 
 239, 387, 398. 
 Barnes & Lintner, 202, 265. 
 Barnett, Grant, 403. 
 Barnett, Jacob, 452. 
 Barnett, Robert F, 153. 
 Barnett, W. H., 309. 
 Barney, George T., 360. 
 Barnum & Bailey Circus, 320. 
 Barnum, W. L., 162. 
 Barnwell, Alfred, 103. 
 Barnwell, Billy, 144 
 Barnwell, R. B., 128. 
 Barnwell & Pitner, 269. 
 Barrackman, Christian J., 275. 
 Barrell, Thomas, 303. 
 Barry, Miss, 177. 
 Bartlett, Geo. A.,- 441. 
 Bartlett, S. M., 150. 
 Bartholemew, E. D., 324. 
 Barton, Dr. William E., 54, 55. 
 Bassett, Mary C, 172. 
 Batchelder, David, 435; J. J., 
 
 434, 435, 436; M. E., 435; 
 
 N. S., 432; S. E., 435. 
 Bates, Judge Edmund, 68. 
 Baty, Samuel, 247. 
 Baxter, Dr., 433. 
 Bayly, Tohn M., 360. 
 Bayne, W. H., 199. 
 Beall, Frank, 397; John, 265, 
 
 368. 
 Bean, W. H., 150. 
 Bear, Ephriam, 432 ; Jacob, 
 
 432; Tohn W., 151 ; Louisa, 
 
 218; Samuel, 96, 97. 
 Bearden, Lambert G., 35, 450. 
 Beardsley, James E., 360. 
 Bearsdale, 96, 97, 434. 
 Bebee, Pomeroy T., 128. 
 Becker, Charles, 147. 
 Beebees, 429. 
 Bell, Alexander G, 323; A. 
 
 W., 21, 126, 443; Arthur T., 
 
 360: Bell drug store, 352; 
 
 F. E.. 380; John, 437. 
 Bell Telephone Co., 324. 
 Bell and Tinsley, 73. 
 Bender, Mrs. Inez J., 238, 261, 
 
 262, 396, 403, 404. 
 Benedict. Kirby, 75, 76. 103, 
 
 106, 141, 147, 151, 153. 
 Benham, Fred H., 353. 
 Ben Hur, Tribe of, 186. 
 Bendure, Jesse E., 151. 
 Bennetts, 440. 
 Bennett, Charles, 306; T. L., 
 
 353; Mrs. J. L., 397; L. 
 
 Martin, 128. 
 Benton, A. G., 434. 
 Benton, V. W., 434. 
 
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 455 
 
 Benz motor wagon, 339, 354, 
 
 370. 
 Bering, J. E., 120, 124, 203, 
 
 230, 239, 273, 287, 297, 304, 
 
 323, 354 ; Mary Lavinia, 
 
 230; Wilson M., 124, 157, 
 
 340, 388, 397, 403. 
 Berkshire, Ben, 46, 129, 331. 
 Bernhardt, Fredericka, 230. 
 Berry, Anna W., 220. 
 Berry, Joe, 216, 217. 
 Berry, John M. Rev., 86, 430, 
 
 450. 
 Beschle, Anton, 450. 
 Bethlehem campground, 133. 
 
 See also Presbyterian church. 
 Betz, Charles S., 360. 
 Betzer, G. W., 452; Peter, 
 
 433; W. O., 303. 
 Bevans, J. H., 329; James L., 
 
 359, 361. 
 Bickes, Louis, 305, 306. 
 Bicycles, 355. 
 Biflex Products Co., 387. 
 Big Brick, 172. 
 Big Sisters Club, 333. 
 Bigelow, D., 303 
 Bijou, 237, 419. 
 Binkley elevator, 428. 
 Birchfield, Jesse, 360. 
 Bird, John, 334. 
 Bishop, H. H., 190; J. T., 
 
 258, 259; Mary, 407. 
 Bivans, Robert, 449. 
 Bixby, W. A., 318; Joe, 383. 
 Bixby, Pitner & Co., 369. 
 Black, Abraham, 126; Isaac, 
 
 448; Jacob, 126; Jane, 437; 
 
 John, 96; W. H., 151. 
 Black Hawk, 12, 14, 125, 127. 
 Black Hawk war, 38, 45, 60, 
 
 61, 74, 125-127, 129, 139, 
 
 142, 214, 252, 432. 
 Blacklands, 96. 
 Blake, J., 453. 
 
 Blalock, Dr. Nelson, 251, 443. 
 Blankenship, John, 38 ; Joseph, 
 
 444. 
 Blasek, Henry, 399, 400. 
 Blenz, Adam, 288. 
 Bliss, Charles E., 360. 
 Block, D. J., 199. • 
 Block & Kuhl, 405. 
 Bloom, Ella, 218. 
 Bloomington, 31, 100, 113, 197, 
 
 211, 215. 220; Bloomington 
 
 road, 102. 
 Blue Mound, 95, 448. 
 Blue Mound township, 130, 
 
 149, 167, 427. 
 Boardman, I. S., 149, 451. 
 Bodkin, Amos, 104. 
 Boggs, Franklyn H., 108, 153. 
 Bogle, William, 361. 
 Bohon, G. R., 355. 
 Bohon, R. S., 329; Block, 352. 
 Bohrer, J. K., 303. 
 Bohrer, Wesley, 37. 
 Boiling Springs, 12, 52, 60, 
 
 133, 432, 433. 
 Bolls, Hugh, 150. 
 Bolz, Henry H., 403. 
 Bommersbach florist, 328. 
 Boody, 96, 428. 
 Boody, Col. Wm, 96. 
 Booker, Calvin, 400. 
 Bookwalter, Ferdinand. 108. 
 Boone, Frank, 360, 361. 
 Booth, Edwin, 235. 
 Borchers, C. M., 148, 152. 
 
 Boruff, T. W., 403, 404. 
 
 Boston, 53, -54, 55. 
 
 Bosworth, Carl, 104; Miles, 
 
 128; William, 104, 358. 
 Botkin, Amos, 128. 
 Boughn, Z., 435 ; Boughn & 
 
 Kepler, 435. 
 Bower, Rev. Jacob, 453 ; John, 
 
 400; John K., 452. 
 Bowers, C. S., 394; William, 
 
 226, 228. 
 Bowles, Hugh, 32; Walter, 
 
 126. 
 Bowman, Leona F., 169. 
 Boyd, A. C, 380. 
 Boy Scouts, 422. 
 Boyd, Byron, 400 ; James P., 
 
 151, 172, 173, 255, 275; Mrs. 
 
 J. P., 92; Robert, 207; Wil- 
 liam, 222; William H., 191; 
 
 William M., 152. 
 Boyd, Haskell & Co., 190. 
 Boys' Opportunity Home, 386, 
 
 422. 
 Braden, Charles, 150; George 
 
 M„ 128; John Y., 21, 4 5, 
 
 99, 103, 149, 193, 357, 358, 
 
 432, 434; Mrs. John Y., 
 
 357; Samuel, 20, 45, 425; 
 
 T. j., 348. 
 Bradley, A., 303; Bernard, 379, 
 
 388; Bros., 329; Juliet M., 
 
 173. 
 Bradsby, Hy C, 244. 
 Bradshaw, Rev. A., 452; 
 
 James, 168; M., 104, 128. 
 Bramble, W. H., 193, 369; 
 
 Pleasure garden, 274. 
 Brand, James C, 383. 
 Brant, John, 189. 
 Brecount, Mrs. S. G., 395. 
 Breeze, Judge, 119, 211. 
 Brennans, 429. 
 Brenneman, D., 144, 236, 206, 
 
 274. 
 Bresie, Mrs. W. R., 234. 
 Brett, D. E., 150, 432; Geo. T e, 
 
 305, 306; Richard, 432. 
 Brick church, 453, 452. 
 Brick school, 169. 
 Brick store, 195. 
 Bright, G. W., 192; Irving, 
 
 403 ; Mrs., 250. 
 Brintlinger, Elmer, 151. 
 Brock, Nathan W., 444; Seth, 
 
 444. 
 Brockway, J. A., 302, 303. 
 Brooks, Rev. A. L., 264. 
 Brookshire, Wm., 447, 448. 
 Brosam, L. L., 399, 400. 
 Broughton, Mrs. G. H., 403. 
 Brown, C. H., 303. 
 Brown, Davis, 329. 
 Brown, E. J., 201, 202, 393. 
 Brown, F. A., 428; G. W., 
 
 176; Henry T.. 427; Hiram, 
 
 236; T. E., 174; J., 127; 
 
 James F., 360 ; John A., 
 
 151; John B., 128; Dr. Jos- 
 
 iah, 202, 439; J. W., 430; 
 
 M., 127; Nathaniel, 43, 429; 
 
 Richard S., 361 : Roy, 424; 
 
 Stephen, 435 ; Wm. H.. 450. 
 Brown's Business College, 176. 
 
 419. 
 Brownback, J. M., 223, 388. 
 Brunswick hotel, 47, 144, 165. 
 Brush College school dist., 169. 
 Bryan, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. J. 
 
 and secretary, 338, 339. 
 
 Buchanan, James, 95. 
 
 Buck, Hiram, 157, 336, 337; 
 Mrs., 234, 291, 336, 337; 
 Dr. Wilbur P., 404. 
 
 Buckingham, I. A., 109, 151, 
 239; Maria, 150, 234. 
 
 Buckworth, Dr., 443. 
 
 Budde, John, 403. 
 
 Buehler, Samuel E., 360. 
 
 Buell's Army, 243. 
 
 Bull, Prof. Olaf, 220. 
 
 Bull Point school, 168, 433 ; 
 Twp., 149. 
 
 Bullard, J. B., 330; Warner, 
 97. 
 
 Bullardsville, 97. 
 
 Bulletin Daily, 199. 
 
 Bumstead, S. J., 239; Mrs., 
 234. 
 
 Bundy, Guy, 394. 
 
 Bunker, Dearborn, 435 ; Oscar 
 L., 361. 
 
 Bunn, A. Brower, 108, 153, 
 182, 271; David P., 174, 
 181, 194; D. L., 109, 151, 
 172, 173, 218, 219; Mary 
 Elizabeth, 219; Miss, 104. 
 
 Burgess, Sullivan, 209, 305, 
 330. 
 
 Burke, W. B., 322. 
 
 Burkey, Jerden, 431. 
 
 Burks, C. A., 388. 
 
 Burleigh, Harold, 399, 400. 
 
 Burlington R. R., 211. 
 
 Burnham, Dr. F. W., 405. 
 
 Burns, Robert, 427; Mr., 425. 
 
 Burrill, Nathan, 20, 127, 429. 
 
 Burroughs, C. C, 168, 174, 
 369; Burroughs & Co., 265. 
 
 Burrows, J. B., 220 ; Lowber 
 L., 68, 144, 192, 219, 222, 
 230, 231, 233, 239, 250, 263, 
 273, 323, 346; Mrs., 230, 
 231 ; Burrows L. & Co., 222, 
 224 ; See also Peddecord & 
 Burrows ; Maude, 220. 
 
 Burton, Amos H., 360. 
 
 Burtschi, J. L., 224. 
 
 Busby, S., 361. 
 
 Bush, Samuel J., 357. 
 
 Busher, W. F., 190, 321. 
 
 Business and Professional 
 Women's Club, 422. 
 
 Business Men's Assoc, 239, 
 388. 
 
 Buster, Dr. Harry, 335 ; Mrs. 
 Lillian, 333. 
 
 Butler, Albert, 361 ; Champion, 
 104; Elisha, 22, 38, 126, 
 127; Felix, 104; Jane, 104, 
 129; Jesse, 128; Henry, 146, 
 147; Preston, 103, 157; Miss 
 Zilpha, 104. 
 
 Butram, James, 283. 
 
 Butt, Harry R., 151. 
 
 Buxton, T. C, 151, 153. 
 
 c 
 
 Cain, L. R., 162. 
 
 Caldwell, C. M., 288; F., 303; 
 George A., 279. 
 
 Calhoun, W. F., 156, 157, 198. 
 199, 260, 403. 
 
 Calumet Club, 240. 
 
 Calvary cemetery, 419. 
 
 Calvert, F., 302. 
 
 Camp, A. B., 431 ; C. D., 303 
 
 Camp — Kiwanis, 422 ; Logan 
 398, 399; Meetings, 133-136 
 Seymour, 339, 422, 444 
 Sheridan, 340; Upton, 399. 
 
456 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Campbell, David, 151 ; D. II., 
 151; J. D., 21, 150, 442, 443. 
 Camron, M. G., 150, 431. 
 Canaday, Mike, 305. 
 Cannon, Joe, 291. 
 Cantrall, Mrs. A. L., 395; Z., 
 
 148. 
 Cantrell street, 76. 
 Cantrill, William, 73, 74, 76, 
 
 103, 148, 149, 152, 153, 157, 
 
 345. 
 Carder, J. C, 185. 
 Carey, John B., 439; Zoe, 395. 
 Carlin, Thomas, 78. 
 Carnegie, Andrew, 282, 283. 
 Carpenter, Robert, 95. 
 Carr, George W., 447 ; Nathan 
 
 A., 447; R. F., 430. 
 Carter, E. D., 103, 172, 182; 
 
 Mrs., 172; Edward, 303; 
 
 George, 36; James, 146, 147, 
 
 182; Miss M., 250; S. W., 
 
 184. 
 Cartwright, Peter, 84, 88, 195. 
 Carvard, George C, 360. 
 Carver, George, 128, 429; 
 
 Philip, 430. 
 Case, John B., 128. 
 Cash, A. W., 369. 
 Casner, 97, 437, 438. 
 Casner, Lewis B., 97, 142, 224, 
 
 225, 437, 438; Peter, 437. 
 Cass, Mattie, 219. 
 Cassell, B. H., 75, 104, 143, 
 
 148, 184, 199, 212, 346; Cas- 
 
 sell's Castle, 346, 347; 
 
 Henry, 104; Cassell House, 
 
 65, 105, 146, 158, 195; John, 
 
 146; J. F„ 360, 362; Louis 
 
 B., 359, 360; Kate, 290. 
 Catholic Church, St. Patrick's, 
 
 195, 264, 265, 414; St. 
 
 James, 179, 180, 287; St. 
 
 Thomas, 180 ; Macon, 450 ; 
 
 Niantic, 446. 
 Catholic schools, 160, 177-180, 
 
 287, 419. 
 Catto, 276. 
 Caulk, Jacob, 38. 
 Census of 1830, 71. 
 Centennial Association, 403- 
 
 406 ; Building at Springfield, 
 
 129, 424; Celebration, 403- 
 
 413; Participants in pageant. 
 
 409-413. 
 Central Block, 57, 73, 155. 
 Central house, 74, 160, 212, 
 
 357. 
 Central Iron Wks., 265. 
 Central Union Telephone Co., 
 
 324. 
 Cerro Gordo street named, 121. 
 Chadsey, Lillie S., 403. 
 Chamber of Commerce, 387, 
 
 388. 
 Chamberlain, Griffin, 446 ; Mrs. 
 
 G. E., 395. 
 Chambers, James, 446 ; L., 
 
 128, 446; W. B., 147, 148, 
 
 268, 288, 349. 
 Chambers, Bering & Quinlan 
 
 Co., 288, 349, 387, 423. 
 Champion, Mollie Kaufman, 
 
 442. 
 Chandler, Louis G., 360. 
 Chapin, Abram, 31, 150; Hi- 
 ram, 150. 
 Chapman, David, 429 ; Mrs. 
 
 Gus., 51; Herman, 400; W. 
 
 W„ 128. 
 
 Chappell, Silas, 447. 
 Jharleston, 62, 68, 100, 197, 
 
 198. 
 Cheadle, Charles B., 324. 
 
 Chenoweth, Bruce, 359, 360; 
 Cassidy, 151, 203, 358; Dr. 
 W. J., 192, 200, 201, 202, 
 203, 251, 358; Dr. Will, 203. 
 
 C. H. & D., 214. 
 
 Cherry, Jim, 305; Wyett, 427. 
 
 Chew, Rev. M. T., 87. 
 
 Chicago, 141 ; Chicago and 
 Aurora R. R., 211; Times, 
 271; Times Herald, 37U. 
 
 Childs, John S., 434. 
 
 Chiles, Harry, 360. 
 
 Chisholm, Henry and William, 
 292, 293. 
 
 Choteau Fur Trading Co., 331. 
 
 Christian Church, 8/, 88, 170, 
 195, 287, 352, 431, 433; 
 Berea, 444 ; Center Ridge, 
 440 ; Blue Mound, 448 ; Har- 
 ristown, 444 ; Long Point, 
 444, 446; Hiopolis, 444; Ni- 
 antic, 444, 446 ; Maroa, 440 ; 
 Whitmore twp., 453; An- 
 tioch, 438. 
 
 Christie, H. P., 302, 304. 
 
 Chronicle, 192, 195. 
 
 Church of God, 194, 432; Fair- 
 view, 433 ; Warrensburg, 
 436; Whitmore twp., 453; 
 Eldership organized, 432. 
 
 Church, George W., 128; 
 Glenn, 168; T. G. D., 127. 
 
 Churches, first, 84-88. 
 
 Churchill, George and John, 21. 
 
 Churchman, D., 303; H., 148. 
 
 Chynoweth, W. C, 153. 
 
 Circus Scene, 269. 
 
 Citizens Building, 415. 
 
 Citizens Electric Light & Pow- 
 er Co., 321. 
 
 Citizens Mutual Tel. Co., 324. 
 
 Citizens Nat'l Bank, 80, 142, 
 224, 451; Building, 202, 239, 
 385. 
 
 Citizens Street Railway Co., 
 134, 274, 316, 317, 327. 
 
 City Book Store, 190. 
 
 City Electric Ry. Co., 317, 354. 
 
 City Officers in 1900, 383. 
 
 Civil War, 241-251. 
 
 C. I. and W., 214. 
 
 Clapper Sanford S., 360. 
 
 Clark, Bradbury, 435 ; Calvin 
 S,. 361 ; County, 10 ; George 
 Rogers, 10; Dr. H. N., 444, 
 445; John, 153; Col. Samuel, 
 162. 
 
 Clary, Mr. and Mrs. J. M., 
 436. 
 
 Clay, Henry, 366. 
 
 Claywell, Valentine, 20, 447. 
 
 Clements, Clayton, 358; E. J., 
 448; Win., 448. 
 
 Cleveland Rolling Mill Co., 
 292. 
 
 Clifton, Rev. George, 440; 
 John, 126; Josiah, 126, 150. 
 
 Clinger, William O., 360, 362. 
 
 Clion, J., 22. 
 
 Clokey, J. M., 30, 108. 278, 
 321, 325; Mrs., 30, 325. 
 
 Close, Mrs., 249; W. H., 303. 
 
 Cloud, Franklin, 441 ; Joel, 
 441; Joseph and Nancy, 441. 
 
 Cloudas House, 110, 159. 
 
 Clough, J. S., 453, 439; J. T.. 
 
 435. 
 Cloyd, J. G., 303, 354; Mrs., 
 
 354; Mrs. M. A., 354; Judge 
 
 W. G.. 33. 
 Clubs, 237-240. 
 Coale, S. G., 453. 
 Cobb, A. P., 379. 
 Cochran, A. F., 162; Wm. G., 
 
 108. 
 Coffman, B. F. and E. C, 152. 
 Cole, Charles, 361. 
 Coleman, Frank H., 428; John 
 
 W., 171, 218; Lizzie Kin- 
 
 kead, 218; Mrs. Nancy Ela, 
 
 171. 
 Colerick, Charles B., 360. 
 Colladay, Walter F., 359. 
 College Hill or Square, 47, 48, 
 
 269, 348, 349. 
 Collins, E. B., 434; J. W., 
 
 324; Robert, 440. 
 Colonial theater, 237. 
 Colored People, 331-335. 
 Coltrin, I. N., 257, 258, 259. 
 Columbia Block, 156. 
 Community Chest, 422. 
 Company A, 124th M. G. B., 
 
 363, 393, 396, 398-401 ; G. 
 
 5th Reg. I. R. M., 363; H. 
 
 I. N. G., 359-363; H, 10th 
 
 Reg., 363; K, I. N. G., 363; 
 
 L, I. N. G., 363, 393, 398. 
 Compton, W. J., 439. 
 Concordia club, 435. 
 Condell, Albert, 220; Wm., 
 
 104, 110, 232. 
 Cones, Charles, 400. 
 Congregational Church, 238, 
 
 328, 352, 436. 
 Conklin, A. W., 289; D. H., 
 
 148, 213; Mrs. V. W., 395. 
 Conkling, Daniel, 131, 132. 
 Connaghan, J. L., 394. 
 Connard, C. E., 451 ; George 
 
 S., 451; John, 450. 
 Conner, W. F., 394. 
 Conover, Tyler and Geo. E., 
 
 439. 
 Constant, Thomas, 21. 
 Converse, F. H„ 358. 
 Cook, Dr. Frederick A, 343; 
 
 Laurens, 403; Wm., 394. 
 Cooper, Bazel, 439; Dr. S., 
 
 437, 446, 447; Joseph, 434; 
 
 L., 394; Wm., 439; W. T. 
 
 J., 150, 152. 
 Cope, George E., 360. 
 Coppenbarger, George, 38, 126; 
 
 John, 22. 
 Corley, J., 448; Mrs. D. C, 
 
 234. 
 Corman, Dr. O. F., 355. 
 Corn, Andrew, 429. 
 Corwine, George, 302. 
 Cory, Stephen H., 361. 
 Cottle, George F., 427. 
 Cottrell, Harry, 400. 
 Coulson, D., 438. 
 Coulter, William, 348, 447; 
 
 Mill, 348, 447. 
 County bridge, 299. 
 Court House, First, 29, 30, 64, 
 
 69; Second, 30-32, 196; To- 
 day, 352. 
 Court, first term, 34, 35. 
 Covalt, G. I., 150. 
 Covered bridge, 344. 
 Covington, Ind., 100. 
 
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 457 
 
 Cowan, Thomas, 19, 28. 30, 34, 
 35, 73, 146, 147; Mr., 103. 
 
 Cox, Ephraim, 20, 450 ; Sam- 
 uel, 168, 431 ; Sowell, 21 ; 
 Wm., 35, 126, 132, 450. 
 
 Crain, Dr., 200. 
 
 Crandall, C. C, 439. 
 
 Crawford, County, 10; J. W., 
 270; L. A., 362; Wm., 149; 
 W. F., 439, 440. 
 
 Crea, Mrs. H., 234; Hugh, 
 109; Crea and Ewing, 109. 
 
 Crescent theater, 237, 419. 
 
 Cribbett, Richard, 441. 
 
 Crider, Prestly H„ 441. 
 
 Crissey, Wm. S., 48, 85, 89, 
 104, 148, 164, 168, 313, 349; 
 Dr. William T., 61, 84, 85, 
 89, 90, 103, 146, 147, 451. 
 
 Crissey & Deffenbaugh, 346. 
 
 Crocker, John, 95, 96, 97, 439, 
 440; John H., 153, 441 ; S. 
 G., 453; Crocker & Co. bank 
 440. 
 
 Crockett, Rev. A. J., 332. 
 
 Croix de Guerre Awards, 334, 
 399. 
 
 Cross Roads, 90, 132; School, 
 167. 
 
 Crossman, Rufus, 433. 
 
 Crow, Charles, 450; E. W., 
 427; O. T., 447. 
 
 Crowder, J. H., 438. 
 
 Cruikshank, Leda M., 229 ; W., 
 303. 
 
 Crunelle, Leonard, 424. 
 
 Cullen, Henry, 305, 306. 
 
 Cullom, Shelby M., 306, 342. 
 
 Culver Electric Co., 318, 323; 
 E. R., 383; J. H., 323, 388, 
 395, 396, 403; Watt, 104, 
 232; Mrs. Watt, 74, 358. 
 
 Cumberland Mfg. Co., 298. 
 
 Cummings, Wm., 448. 
 
 Cunniff, Pete, 360. 
 
 Cunningham, H., 127; J., 127. 
 
 Curtis, Frank, 129, 191, 202, 
 388; Ira B., 104, 152, 202, 
 251; Mrs. I. B., 129; 
 Louise, 395; Otto E., 191, 
 202, 321. 
 
 Daggett, Mr., 22. 
 
 Daley, Minerva, 104. 
 
 Dam, first, 297. 
 
 Damon, Bert, 361. 
 
 Danforth, G. C, 318. 
 
 Dantown, 12, 131, 132, 430; 
 distillery, 131. 
 
 Danzeisen, G. J., 288; Wm., 
 309. 
 
 Darby, Dr. W. J., 378, 380, 
 381. 
 
 Darling, George W., 291; Mrs. 
 S. K. Harwood, 234. 
 
 Daughters of Union Veterans, 
 261. 
 
 Daughters of the American 
 Revolution, 69, 429. 
 
 Davenport, Thomas, 126. 
 
 Daves, William, 430. 
 
 Davidson, Andrew, 21, 443; 
 John, 21, 443; Wm. P., 128. 
 
 Davis, Archer T., 403 ; Arthur 
 B., 360; Ben, 220; Charles, 
 360; Colonel E., 360; Judge 
 David 68. 75, 107, 108, 161, 
 366; David. 20. 35, 150, 152, 
 436, 437; Dial, 128; Isaac, 
 
 449; J., 127.; James, 361, 
 400; Joseph, 73, 437; Lyle, 
 404, Mill, 41; O. L. 400; 
 Thomas, 291, 398, 449; Wm. 
 M., 437 
 Dawson, Charles E., 151; J. 
 A., 224; Roy M., 151; Daw- 
 son & Wikoff, 239, 386. 
 Day, Claude, 361. 
 Day Nursery, 375, 422. 
 Deam, Thomas M., 175. 
 Dean, William, 128. 
 Deardorff, Brook, 305 
 Decatur — District, 36, 152; 
 Decatur laid out, 26 ; Nam- 
 ing of, 93, 94 ; Paris road, 
 437; Plat of, 26; Decatur in 
 '50s, 188-196; in the '60s, 
 263-271; in the '70s, 285- 
 291; in the '80s, 326-330; in 
 the '90s, 351-358; 1900-29, 
 383-392; in 1878, 290; today, 
 415-424; Decatur-Springfield 
 road, 15; Stephen, 94; town- 
 ship, 428. 
 Decatur Agricultural Works, 
 
 265. 
 Decatur Amusement Co., 277. 
 Decatur and East St. Louis R. 
 
 R., 96, 138, 210, 285, 291. 
 Decatur and Macon County 
 hospital, 374, 386, 407, 418. 
 Decatur-Arcade hotel fire, 309. 
 Decatur Art Class, 376. 
 Decatur Bagging Co., 289. 
 Decatur Bar Association, 110. 
 Decatur Bottling Wks., 266. 
 Decatur Brass band, 216. 
 Decatur Brick Mfg. Co., 387, 
 
 423. 
 Decatur Bridge Co., 387. 
 Decatur Business University, 
 
 176. 
 Decatur Cereal Co. (Pratts), 
 352, 353; Decatur Cereal 
 Mill (Suffern-Hunt) fire, 
 309. 
 Decatur Chair factory, 265. 
 Decatur Choral Society, 218. 
 Decatur Club, 230, 239, 328, 
 
 419. 
 Decatur Coal Co., 328, 387. 
 Decatur Coffin Co., 369, 387, 
 
 423. 
 Decatur Cornet band, 216. 
 Decatur Countrv club, 239, 
 
 419. 
 Decatur Democrat, 271. 
 Decatur Despatch, 199. 
 Decatur Drug Co., 352. 
 Decatur Dry Goods Co., 407. 
 Decatur Electric Co., 318, 323. 
 Decatur Electric Light Co., 
 
 320. 
 Decatur Electric Railway Co., 
 
 275. 
 Decatur Electric Street Rail- 
 way Co., 317. 
 Decatur Fishing club, 240. 
 Decatur Furniture Co., 145. 
 Decatur Garment Co., 369, 387. 
 Decatur Gas & Electric Co., 
 
 318, 321. 
 Decatur Gas, Light & Coke 
 Co., 264, 268, 318, 321, 322, 
 323, 325. 
 Decatur Gun store fire, 310. 
 Decatur Home Telephone Co., 
 324. 
 
 Decatur Horse Railway & 
 
 Carrying Co., 314. 
 Decatur hotel, 164, 313. 
 Decatur house, 74, 358. 
 Decatur Iron Felloe Wagon 
 
 Co., 329. 
 Decatur Jenney Electric Light 
 
 & Power Co., 321. 
 Decatur Ladies band, 218. 
 Decatur Leader Mfg. Co., 329 
 Decatur Lumber Co., 329, 387 
 Decatur Magnet, 55. 
 Decatur Malleable Iron Co. 
 
 387. 
 Decatur Medical Society, 200 
 
 201. 
 Decatur, Monticello and Cham 
 paign R. R., 213, 285, 453. 
 Decatur Music Club, 220. 
 Decatur Music Shop, 407. 
 Decatur Musical Club, 220. 
 Decatur Music College, 419. 
 Decatur Musical Union, 218, 
 219, 220, 230, 235, 249, 409. 
 Decatur National bank, 224. 
 Decatur Novelty Works, 289. 
 Decatur Oratorio Choir, 220. 
 Decatur Pump Co., 387. 
 Decatur Railway & Light Co., 
 
 318, 385. 
 Decatur Silver band, 216. 
 Decatur State bank, 224. 
 Decatur, Sullivan and Mattoon 
 
 Co., 213. 
 Decatur and State Line Co., 
 
 214. 
 Decatur Tank Line Co., 288. 
 Decatur Tent and Awning Co., 
 
 289; fire, 309. 
 Decatur Traction & Electric 
 
 Co., 318. 
 Decatur Trotting Assn., 274. 
 Decatur Trunk factory, 353. 
 Decatur Union Elevator Co., 
 
 353. 
 Decatur Water Supply Co., 
 
 279, 299. 
 Decatur Weekly Gazette, 196, 
 
 198. 
 Decatur Wheelmen's club, 240, 
 
 355, 356. 
 Decatur Woolen Mills, 190. 
 Decatur World, 199. 
 Deck, J. L., 151, 152, 397. 
 Deetz, Mrs. S. F., 395. 
 Deep Snow, 42. 
 DeForest, Mrs. M. A., 239. 
 DeHart, Bert E„ 360. 
 Delaughter, William D., 400. 
 De LaVergne Refrigerating 
 
 Machine Co., 371. 
 Delbridge, E. F., 427, 447. 
 Deming, Riley, 164. 
 Democrat, 192. 
 Dempsey, Charles, 303 ; George 
 
 182. 
 Demsey, Dr. John, 425. 
 Deneen, Rev. W. L., 84, 86. 
 Dennis, Chas. H., 424; Will, 
 
 216, 217. 
 Dennison, Dr. Chas., 251, 430. 
 Denny, Monroe, 334. 
 Denz, Raymond E., 403. 
 DeSoller, H. S., 176. 
 Des Plaines, 93. 
 Devore C. W., 305, 306, 307, 
 
 308, 309, 383. 
 DeWatney, Dr., 452. 
 Dewees Bros., 74; Joseph, 104; 
 
458 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Samuel B., 28, 104, 126, 147, 
 
 151 ; William, 104. 
 Dewitt County, forming, 24 ; 
 
 early settlers, 22. 
 Dewolf, Mrs. W. W., 281. 
 Dick, Carl, 403; Mrs. C. R., 
 
 395. 
 Dickerson, G. L., 394. 
 Dickey, Alexander C, 21 ; An- 
 drew, 429, 430 ; David, 21 ; 
 Everett L., 169; Jesse, 126; 
 
 John, 21, 429; John M., 128; 
 
 T. Lyle, 342; William, 20, 
 130, 131, 429, 430. 
 Dickson, Archibald, 441 ; F. 
 
 S., 363. 
 Diehl, A., 302, 303. 
 Dilatush, Lida, 395. 
 Dill, Minnie, 284, 403. 
 Dillehunt, Benjamin, 47, 104, 
 
 111, 226, 362. 
 Dillon, A., 201. 
 Oillow, Charles W., 128, 129. 
 Dimmick, Ralph A, 360. 
 Dingman, James, 149, 444, 
 
 445; School, 446. 
 Dinneen, D. F.. 147, 148; John, 
 
 151, 209, 210. 
 Dipper land, 69. 
 Directory in 1839, 103-104. 
 Directory, City, 327. 
 Dixon, Mary, 332. 
 Dodd, Frank, 355; J. M., 151. 
 Dodge, Elder H. W., 87. 
 Dodson, B. F., 185, 235, 302, 
 
 303; Wm., 303, 304, 305. 
 Dodson & Holmes, 296. 
 Donahey, J. N., 169, 324. 
 Donahue, Jerry, 157, 199; 
 
 Ruth, 261. 
 Donaldson, Edward J., 400. 
 Donovan, David A., 361 ; Dr., 
 
 433. 
 Dorcas Society, 261. 
 Douglas, Dr. A. C, 251, 428; 
 
 Stephen A., 65, 75, 107, 211, 
 
 437. 
 Dowling, Mrs. Thomas, 51; 
 
 Wm., 430. 
 Downen, Alfred, 438. 
 Downing, Harvey W., 306 ; 
 
 William, 16, 18, 347, 429, 
 
 450. 
 Doyle, Charles J., 407; Mr., 
 
 320- O. J., 446. 
 Drafted Men, first to leave, 
 
 394. 
 Drake, Clarence, 360. 
 Draper, J. Anderson, 14, 205, 
 
 206, 207, 451; Charles C, 
 
 425; James, 104; John, 20, 
 
 21, 432, 451; O. H., 150. 
 Draper's district, 16, 21, 152, 
 
 452. 
 Dreamland Park Assn.. 422. 
 Drennan, J. P., 199; Mrs. W. 
 
 E., 403. 
 Drew, T. F., 397. 
 Drury, Dr. G. W., 433. 
 Dudley, Emma, 435 ; Mrs. F. 
 
 J., 395 ; John W., 441 ; Wm., 
 
 441. 
 Duerr, W. H., 397. 
 Duggan, Arthur M., 361. 
 Duly, Mrs., 103. 
 Duncan George, 400 ; George 
 
 W., 360; Gov. Joseph, 77, 
 
 78, 107; Dr. Stephen, 335; 
 
 Wilbur, 400. 
 
 Dunham, Amos, 48, 258, 262 ; 
 
 Dayton, 48, 49, 104, 262; 
 
 Frank J., 400; Henry, 49, 
 
 216, 262. 
 Dunham Post G. A. R., 48, 
 
 260. 
 Dunkard church, 136. 
 Dunn, Mrs. E. F., 395; F. A., 
 
 303. 
 Dunning, George H., 258, 259. 
 Durbon, Henry, 360. 
 Durfee, B. K., 153, 185, 225, 
 
 239, 267, 268, 281, 325; 
 
 Charles, 268, 363 ; George S., 
 
 192, 268, 330; Henry B., 
 
 149, 150, 175, 184, 265, 267, 
 
 271, 304, 429, 432; Mrs. 
 
 Sarah Powers, 112; Durfee 
 
 & Warren, 268. 
 Durgin, Benjamin, 441. 
 Duryea Motor Wagon Co., 
 
 370. 
 Dutch Point, 433. 
 Dwight, S. H., 303. 
 
 Eagles, Decatur Aerie, 186. 
 Early Settlements, 130-132. 
 East Main Street in 1856, 188; 
 
 East Main Street in '50s. 
 
 192, 
 Eastern Star Sanatarium, 450. 
 Eastman, Asa, 311. 
 Eaton, Thomas, 435. 
 Ebel, C. O., 327. 
 Ebert, Henry, 220. 
 Eckel, John, 45, 160. 
 Eckels, Ed H., 360, 361 ; Rob- 
 ert, 360, 361. 
 Eclipse of Sun in 1869, 270. 
 Eden, John R., 109, 151. 
 Edgar, A. C, 444. 
 Edison Engineering Co., 322. 
 Edmundson, W. T., 219. 
 Edwards County, 10; J., 127; 
 
 Jones, 20; James, 13, 20, 38, 
 
 428; Lee, 400; Ninian, 10; 
 
 Walter A., 174. 
 Egbert, E. G., 162. 
 Ehrhart, Henry, 437 ; Joseph, 
 
 216, 217, 219; School, 437. 
 Ehrman, Isaac W., 185, 190, 
 
 303, 383; Mrs. I. W., 354; 
 
 S. W., 175. 
 Eichinger, Michael, 437. 
 Eicholtz, A. H., 448; Edward, 
 
 448. 
 Eight Mile house, 44. 
 Eiler, Isaac E., 360. 
 Ela, E. S., 199; Maria, 171 ; 
 
 Miss, 173. 
 Elder, C. P., 150; Elmer R., 
 
 148; James, 153. 
 Eldorado Hose Co., 304. 
 Eldorado street named, 121. 
 Eldridge Bert, 424. 
 Election districts, 36. 
 Electric lights, 320. 
 Elks, Decatur lodge No. 401, 
 
 186, 419. 
 Elliott, Jesse H, 102, 146, 147, 
 
 148, 162, 358; Henry P., 
 
 184, 347; Mrs., 250; Ross, 
 
 103. 
 Ellis, H. W., 237; Dr. T. C, 
 
 334, 335, 403. 
 Elm Grove, 167. 
 Elson, Michael, 104, 146, 148. 
 Elston, Walter, 400. 
 Elwin, 97, 133, 215, 450, 451. 
 
 Elwood, 97; Casper, 191; D. 
 
 P., 303; Henry W., 362; 
 
 W. H., 362, 388; Elwood & 
 
 Co., 266. 
 England, C. E., 348, 349; 
 
 Mrs. C. E., 395. 
 Engle, L. A., 440. 
 Engleman, J. O., 175. 
 Ennis, James, 126; Mary, 281; 
 
 W. H., 181, 193, 282, 349, 
 
 379. 
 Episcopal Church — St. John's, 
 
 195, 230, 352, 414; Mission, 
 
 292. 
 Emerson, Charles, 31, 104, 106, 
 
 107, 108, 109, 119, 141, 151, 
 
 153, 168, 263, 438, 442; 
 
 Frank, 104. 
 Emerson & Smith, 108. 
 Emery, 12, 97, 102; Major 
 
 C. F., 97, 440; Joseph W., 
 
 425 ; Emery & Co. bank, 
 
 440. 
 Emmerson, L. L., 183. 
 Empress, 237, 419. 
 Epler, John, 452. 
 Ermentrout, W., 355. 
 Ei-win Bros., 434. 
 Evans, Mrs. Alice G., 282, 
 
 284; Chas. F., 151; Mrs. E. 
 
 J., 250, 280; Mr. and Mrs. 
 
 Frank L., 124; Frank L., 
 
 398; John W., 151; Richard 
 
 L., 282; Mrs. T. L., 234; 
 
 T. L., 169; W. H., 381. 
 Everett Winkfield, 35, 450. 
 Everline, G. M., 447. 
 Everly, J. F., 447. 
 Ewing, Belle, 220; C. A., 109, 
 
 239, 393; Mrs. C. A., 282 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Edwin, 355 
 
 Rev. Fielding N .. 114 
 
 Henry, 35; Orville, 356 
 
 Percy, 355, 360. 
 Ewington, 100. 
 Exchange club, 419. 
 Eyman, Abraham, 149, 431 ; 
 
 L. E., 225; Capt. Lewis J., 
 
 436; J. A., 403; Mary 
 
 Moore, 169, 397; Sarah, 434. 
 
 Fagan, William I., 361. 
 
 Fahay, M., 383. 
 
 Failing, Norman, 150. 
 
 Fairground Amphitheater, 275. 
 
 Fairlawn Cemetery, 419. 
 
 Fairlee, Mrs., 395. 
 
 Fallows, Rt. Rev. Samuel, 261. 
 
 Fans Field, 419. 
 
 Faries, Frank, 371 ; Faries 
 
 Mfg. Co., 351, 352, 368, 387, 
 
 421 ; Robert, 278, 352, 368, 
 
 371. 
 Faris, Dr. E. S., 444, 445; 
 
 John P., 446. 
 Farm Bureau, 422. 
 Farmers Bank, 225. 
 Farmers State Bank and Trust 
 
 Co., 225. 
 Farnam family, 444. 
 Farris, J., 127. 
 Farris & Oakes, 289. 
 Faust, James, 196. 
 Fawcett, Eleanor, 141. 
 Fayette county, 10. 
 Fellows, Dr. G. E., 381. 
 Fenner, James, - 433. 
 Fenton, Rev. A. J., 194. 
 Ferguson, William L., 316. 
 
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 459 
 
 Ferre, Abel S., 447. 
 
 Ferris, L. L., 219, 321; Robert 
 
 L., 361. 
 Ficklin, O. B., 75, 127. 
 Field, W. C, 329, 397. 
 Field, Shorb & Co., 329. 
 Field & Wilson Plumbing Co., 
 
 329. 
 Fields, Stanton, 333. 
 File, Mrs. Forrest, 403. 
 Fillmore, President, 139. 
 Finch, John B., 135. 
 Finkenbinder, A. R., 435. 
 Finley, James, 20, 35, 443. 
 Finn, J. J., 151. 
 Fire Department, 302-310; 
 
 Horses, 307. 
 Firemen's Assoc'n, Volunteer, 
 
 309 ; parade, 304. 
 Fires, Big, 309. 
 First National bank, 225. 
 Fischer, L. E„ 319. 
 Fiske, Minnie Maddern, 235. 
 Fitch, N. J., 433. 
 Flagg, Edmund, 70. 
 Flagler, T. T., 296. 
 Flasig, E. N., 303. 
 Fleming, John, 23, 25, 28; 
 
 John H., 360. 
 Fletcher, John G., 447. 
 Fleury, Louis, 321. 
 Flora, Walter, 191. 
 Florey, Amy, 451; David, 20, 
 
 432, 451; Henry, 36; John, 
 
 437; Jonathan, 207. 
 Folrath, D. B., 371; Shoe 
 
 Store, 352. 
 Ford, Thomas, 78. 
 Fordice, J. M., 85, 147. 
 Fordyce, Mr., 233; Miss, 170. 
 Foren, Ann, 47 ; William, 47 ; 
 
 Mrs. Wm„ 47. 
 Forest, G. W., 149, 446. 
 Forstmeyer, Martin, 148. 151, 
 
 228, 286. 
 Forsyth, 97, 169, 433; Col. 
 
 Robert, 97, 433. 
 Fort Wayne Jenney Electric 
 
 Co., 320, 322. 
 Forty- Niners, 204. 
 Foster, C. A., 217; Clyde, 403; 
 
 David, 86, 151, 443, 450; 
 
 H. E., 266; John C, 443; J. 
 
 T., 380; Lelah, 152; Robert, 
 
 35, 36; W. W., 151, 282, 
 
 302, 303, 305, 306, 308, 324, 
 
 362. 
 Foulkes, Edward, 439 ; John 
 
 M., 439. 
 Fountain in Central Park. 273. 
 Four-Mile House, 96. 
 Fourth of July program, 289. 
 Fout, Israel, 429. 
 Foxes, 12. 
 Fowler, E. W., 319. 
 Francis, George, 361. 
 Franke, J. W., 359, 361. 
 Franklin, 131. 
 Fraternal Organizations, 181 
 
 187. 
 Frazee, Ben, 14, 73, 75. 76, 
 
 205, 207; Mr. and Mrs. 
 
 John, 84; Sarah, 75. 
 Freeh, Dr. Lee, 202. 
 Frede, William, 271. 
 Freeland, David J., 441. 
 Freeman, Elisha, 20, 25, 32, 
 
 73, 127, 150, 450; James, 
 
 128: Jeremiah, 431; Mr., 
 
 355; William, 35. 
 
 Freese, Theo W., 225. 
 
 French, Mary W., 174. 
 
 Frew, William C, 360. 
 
 Fribourg, David A., 360. 
 
 Friedman, M., 439. 
 
 Friend, George W., 19, 94, 429. 
 
 Friend's Creek, 15, 133; town- 
 ship, 12, 13, 19, 20, 21, 43, 
 94, 149, 167, 429-430. 
 
 Froman A., 128, 129, 446. 
 
 Frost, in 1863, 270. 
 
 Fuller, C. C, 303; Charles, 
 225; C. H., 184, 196. 
 
 Fuller & Benton's Auction 
 store, 196. 
 
 Fuller & Hatch, 225. 
 
 Fullmer, Arthur L., 360, 361 ; 
 Lewis B., 360, 361. 
 
 Funerals, Early, 75. 
 
 Funk, Hy B., 440; Isaac, 215; 
 Jesse, 215; Milton, 439. 
 
 Gaddis & Huff, 191. 
 Gage, Lyman J., 342. 
 Galbraith, George, 103. 
 Galbreath, George W., 128, 
 
 129. 
 Galena, 77, 97. 
 Gallagher, A. J., 108, 109, 110, 
 
 141, 153, 245, 359; Mrs. A. 
 
 J., 280, 281 ; Mrs. R., 280; 
 
 Gallagher, Wait & Oglesby, 
 
 109. 
 Galloway, James H., 279. 
 Ganaway, Dr. H. C, 335. 
 Gansen, William, 445. 
 Card, Frank, 400. 
 Gardner, Frank G., 360. 
 Garfield, James A., 258, 330; 
 
 Memorial, 329. 
 Garrett, Joseph, 440 ; Garrett, 
 
 Mr., 348. 
 Garrison, Grayson, 360. 
 Garver, Anna Mary, 452; C. 
 
 H., 150, 205, 207, 452; 
 
 Church, 452, 453; David, 
 
 149, 452, 453; D. H., 205, 
 
 206, 207; Jacob, 452; John 
 
 452; Nancy, 452; Solomon, 
 
 148; Garver & Co., 430. 
 Gastman, Mrs. Carrie, 237 ; E. 
 
 A., 173, 174, 175, 281, 379; 
 
 Mrs. E. A., 403 ; School, 
 
 172. 
 Gates, Ed., 306, 307; J. T. J.. 
 
 303; Mark, 306. 
 Catling, Mr., 212. 
 Gaul, John, 303. 
 Gazette-Chronicle, 198. 
 Gazette, Paris, 198. 
 Gaugber, Mrs. Helen. 135. 
 Gebhart, H. S. Co., 352, 403. 
 
 407. 
 Geddes, Tames, 46, 331 ; 
 
 Thomas M., 438. 
 Gegretty, James, 450. 
 Geiger, Eldon, 405. 
 Gepford, George. 76; George 
 
 W., 444; Jacob. 432; John. 
 
 207; W. H., 432. 
 Gerber, Samuel, 452. 
 Getty, Mr., 324. 
 Gettysburg dedication, _M7. 
 Gher, A. C, 432; Samuel, 434. 
 Gibbs, Enoch, 104. 
 Gibson, Alonzo, 361 ; E. E., 
 
 323; form W.. 174; William. 
 
 303. 
 
 Gilbrath, G. W., 148. 
 
 Giles, Almira Avery, 111, 112, 
 
 113; Caroline, 114; James 
 
 K., 207; Dr. John, 112; 
 
 Maria, 170; Sard, 449. 
 Gilham, Mrs. James, Sr., 14. 
 Gill, John, 452; L. M., 303. 
 Gilman, George, 435; Josiah, 
 
 435. 
 Gipson, William H, 182. 
 Girls' Welfare home, 374, 422. 
 Given, Charlotte, 115; Fred 
 
 236, 277. 
 Givler, M. Y., 151, 203. 
 Glasscock, William, 73. 
 Gleason, J. B., 95, 441. 
 Glore, Miss, 104. 
 Gneckow, Emory, 400. 
 Golamback, Edward W., 400 
 Gold Seekers, 204-207. 
 Colder, James, 330. 
 Goltra, Dr., 448. 
 Gooch, T. A., 348. 
 Good, Daniel, 452; John, 432, 
 
 434, 452; S. S., 182. 
 Good Templars, 290. 
 Goodan, Capt. Levi, 74. 
 Goodman, A., 216, 217, 362; 
 
 Goodman band, 216, 217, 
 
 405; George, 151, 182, 196; 
 
 Henry 148; Roscoe, 400; 
 
 Goodman & Baker, 196. 
 Goodwin, James E., 361. 
 Gorin, Elvira E., 143 : Henry 
 
 M., 32, 38, 126, 146, 147, 
 
 148, 151, 168, 358; John D., 
 
 27, 28; J. P., 27, 142; J. R., 
 68, 104, 109, 140, 141, 142, 
 146, 148, 153, 181, 182, 223, 
 224; Mrs. J. R., 141, 250; 
 Mattie, 27; O. B., 23, 27, 
 
 28, 142, 223, 283, 363, 380, 
 403, 404; Gorin & Bills, 142, 
 224; Gorin & Dawson, 142, 
 224. 
 
 Gorman, F. P., 404. 
 
 Goshert, Hy D., 176. 
 
 Gouge, Jesse W., 152, 431; W. 
 E., 431. 
 
 Gough John B., 135. 
 
 Government, 146-153. 
 
 Graceland Cemetery, 419. 
 
 Grady, T. C, 440. 
 
 Gragg Garment Co., 369. 
 
 Graham, James M., 153. 
 
 Grand Army of the Republic, 
 257-261, 263, 409, 428. 
 
 Grand Avenue, 143. 
 
 Grant, Jesse, 340; Gen. U. S., 
 54, 60, 122, 123, 243, 246, 
 250, 258, 290, 339, 340. 
 
 Grason, Wm., 446, 447. 
 
 Grass, John, 330. 
 
 Gray Bros., John, Robert, 
 George, 439 ; Dr. George S., 
 450; James M., 153; John, 
 302; Robert A., 153; Dr. 
 William, 244, 251. 
 
 Great Western mail route, 77. 
 
 Great Western R. R., 79, 160, 
 191, 208, 209, 211, 213, 214, 
 44^, 447; Mill. 191, 226. 
 
 Greeley, Dr., 431. 
 
 Green, Earl, 400; Green 
 Switch, 96; Joshua, 96, 452. 
 
 Greene, O. Z., 289, 431. 
 
 Greenfield. Alexander, 429 ; 
 Ambrose, 128: Tames, 128, 
 441 ; Jesse, 441 ; Wm., 85. 
 
460 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Greenwood Cemetery, 83, 124 
 
 143, 273, 274. 314, 419. 
 Greenwood Cemetery Assoc'n 
 
 193. 
 Greer, Darwin, 303; S. F. 
 
 109, 151, 249; Mrs. S. F. 
 
 250, 280, 282; William, 439 
 Gregory, A., 453; H. R., 403 
 
 Samuel, 441. 
 Griffin, Mrs. Margaret, 445 
 
 M. C, 186. 
 Grimes, Dr. Ellen F., 203 
 
 Stanley T., 360; Stephen, 
 
 184. 
 Grindol, W. H., 266. 
 Gring, Louis A., 360. 
 Griswold, A. P., 185, 219; 
 
 Hardware store, 196. 
 Grubbs, W. T., 432. 
 Guard's Armory, 352. 
 Gueren, Dr., 430. 
 Gulick, Mrs. Harriett, 46; 
 
 John, 168; Levi, 46, 429. 
 Gunsaulus, Frank W., 381. 
 Gushard, Mrs. Delia P., 403, 
 
 404; William Gushard Co., 
 
 352, 406. 
 Guynn, B. S., 394. 
 
 H 
 
 Hackley, Rev. R. H„ 333. 
 Hadden, Stella B., 220. 
 Haddick, Andrew, 437. 
 Haines, F. W., 217, 236. 
 Hale, E. B., 148, 151; Mr., 
 
 441; Philo, 71, 143, 441. 
 Hall, A., 127; D., 127; David, 
 
 435; Frank H., 199, 362; 
 
 Garland, 427, 428; John 
 
 Johnston, 51; J. C, 434; 
 
 Dr. J. C, 433; Mrs., 185; 
 
 Squire, 51; Mrs., 51. 
 Hamand, Jane, 69, 176, 284. 
 Hamilton, William A., 360; 
 
 Capt. R. M., 436; W. D., 
 
 149, 449. 
 Hammer, Parke, 223; W. A., 
 
 403; William L., 148, 151, 
 
 174, 182, 192, 225, 282. 
 Hammet, Martha, 337. 
 Hammons, W. H., 334. 
 Hamsher, B. K., 198, 199, 286; 
 
 Frank, 174. 
 Hand, William, 303. 
 Handel society, 220. 
 Hankins, C. S., 324. 
 Hanks, Charles, 38; Dennis, 
 
 51, 53, 54, 55, 57, 62, 198; 
 Mrs., 51, 62; Grason, 62; 
 James, 35, 61, 432; Jane, 
 62; John, 17, 29, 34, 35, 51, 
 
 52, 53, 54, 57, 58, 59, 60, 
 61, 62, 63, 66, 67, 73, 99, 
 126, 207, 432, 434; Mrs. 
 John, 62; John Felix, 62; 
 John Talbot, 51 ; Joseph, 126 ; 
 J. B., 431; Levi (Toby), 62; 
 Louis, 207; Lucy, 61; 
 Nancy, 198; William, 20, 
 36, 38, 61, 62, 71, 73, 126, 
 128, 207, 430. 
 
 Hanthorn, Howard P., 360. 
 Hardin, Col. John J., 331; 
 
 William, 306. 
 Hardy, D. W. C, 182; George 
 
 P., 151; W. F., 199, 403, 
 
 404. 
 Harkness, Richard, 216. 
 Harkrader place, 140. 
 Harmon, Wm., 447. 
 
 Harnsberger, J. G., 452. 
 Harper, James, 445. 
 Harpstrite, Edward, 190. 
 Harrauff, Oscar B., 360. 
 Harrell House, 57, 158, 195. 
 214; James, 76, 430; John, 
 113, 158; Landlady, 158; 
 Landy, 28, 35, 73, 90, 100, 
 103, 105, 146, 147, 158; 
 Miss, 104; Mrs., 58. 
 Harris, A. G., 449; David, 
 400; Ira, 293; Major Thos. 
 L., 95, 127; Harris twp., 
 149; William, 175, 403, 404; 
 Col. W. H., 293. 
 Harris Hose Co., 304, 305. 
 Harrison, Benjamin, 258; Car- 
 ter, 342; Club, 74; Guy, 
 403; Miss Louie, 193; Re- 
 vival, 328. 
 Harristown, 52, 67, 68, 95, 384, 
 431 ; township, 20, 61, 68, 
 76, 149, 167, 430. 
 Harry, M. L., 273, 319, 398, 
 403; W. B., 190; William, 
 303. 
 Hartley, Capt. John W., 147. 
 Harvey, John G., 324. 
 Harwood, K., 303; Mrs. S. K., 
 
 234. 
 Haskell, L. C, 191. 
 Hatch, Mrs. M. K., 280; L. 
 
 W., 355. 
 Hatfield, John, 182, 448; Rol- 
 
 lin W., 360. 
 Hatfield, Taylor & Co., 266. 
 Hawk, George, 444. 
 Hawkin, John H. H., 361. 
 Hawkins, Rev. A. W., 379, 
 380 ; John, 446 ; Solomon, 
 360. 
 Hawkyard, Andrew, 425. 
 Hawley, Mr., 73; Allen G., 
 
 324. 
 Hawood, Jonas, 435. 
 Haworth — Building, 326 ; Fac- 
 tory, 265, 286, 287; G. D., 
 182, 227, 286, 287, 369; 
 James W., 182, 216, 286, 
 287, 323, 330; Mrs. J. W., 
 234; John, 303; L. L., 148, 
 239, 282, 286, 287; Mahlon, 
 286; Mrs. Mary, 234, 237, 
 238. 
 Hayes, Dr. John, 406; Ruther- 
 ford B., 258, 342. 
 Haynes, Rev. N. S., 287. 
 Hays, Frank L., 193, 195, 242, 
 245; Hezekiah, 432, 433; 
 John, 432; J. R., 434; Mrs., 
 242; Mrs. T., 250; Vent, 
 433. 
 Hayworth home, 22 ; George 
 
 22. 
 Heath, John. 430. 
 Heckleman, Dr. Tohn. 251. 
 Hedrick, Harl E., 360. 
 Heilbrun, Leo, 355. 
 Heilman, Imboden & Co., 324. 
 Heiner, Leo J., 360 ; William 
 
 H., 360. 
 Heinle, G. L., 403, 404. 
 Helm, Guy, 446. 
 Heman, 97. 
 
 Henderson, George A., 371 ; 
 Tohn, 34, 126; Nancy, 38; 
 Stewart, 38. 
 Hendline, A., 127. 
 Henebry, John, 446. 
 Henkle, Benson N., 297. 
 
 Henkle & Condell Mill, 190, 
 
 226. 
 Henkle, Shellabarger & Priest, 
 
 190. 
 Henline, Abraham, 21. 
 Hennepin, 93; Father Louis, 
 
 10. 
 Henry, Bartley G., 18; Emil, 
 303; Moses M., 128; Wm. 
 D. B., 128. 
 Henson, James A., 152; Jem- 
 ima, 434; Rev. Robert, 433; 
 Wm. H„ 75, 76; Mrs., 76. 
 Herald, 192, 199, 377; Herald 
 
 P. & S. Co., 387. 
 Herbert & Potter, 346. 
 Herman, Martin C, 383. 
 Herrell, Samuel K., 128. 
 Herrod, James, 59, 126. 
 Hershey, Charlie, 305. 
 Hervey City, 96, 213, 443. 
 Hervey, Robert G., 96, 224, 
 
 443. 
 Hess, Caleb, 446 ; George F., 
 
 279, 403. 
 Hetzel, Dr. H. O., 430. 
 Heurtley, A., 317. 
 Hewes, J. S., 302, 303, 304. 
 Hibbs, Dr., 433. 
 Hickcok, J. P., 147, 358. 
 Hickernell, Thomas, 432. 
 Hickory Point twp., 12, 21, 
 45, 52, 60, 96, 149, 168, 432. 
 Hicks, M. C, 162; Herman, 
 
 400. 
 Hiekisch, Paul, 356, 371. 
 Highly, Hy L., 449. 
 Hight, Robert W., 449. 
 Hildebrandt, T., 190, 193. 
 Hildreth, Lavonne Y., 184. 
 Hill, A. A., 153, 397, 403; A. 
 T., 148, 150, 172, 173; Mrs. 
 A. T., 280, 281 ; Francis G., 
 35, 428; H. W., 289, 321, 
 368; Jemima, 57; J. H., 154, 
 157, 403, 405; Nancy, 38; 
 Philo, 104; R. H., 428; 
 Robert H., 153. 
 Hillman, Mrs. Catherine, 138. 
 Hillside club, 237. 
 Hilt, Jesse, 400; Joseph, 439. 
 Hirsch, C. J., 403. 
 Hiser, George, 207. 
 Hitchcock, Hattie E., 220. 
 Hitt, Rolla, 400. 
 Hizer, John, 446. 
 Hoagland, M. C, 398. 
 Hobbs, Jacob I., 431. 
 Hobson, James, 449. 
 Hockaday, B. B., 102; farm, 
 
 12, 102; Ross, 150. 
 Hodge, Henry, 443 ; Wm. A., 
 
 21. 
 Hoff, Grover C, 153. 
 Hoffhein, Curtis H., 360, 361. 
 Hogan, James, 444. 
 Holabird, Mrs. A. B., 395. 
 Holbrook, Dr., 435. 
 Holcomb, Cassius, 393, 447; 
 
 T. O., 447. 
 Holden, Dr. L. E., 381. 
 Holingsworth, Lucy, 442. 
 Holland, H. A., 394. 
 Hollenbeck, Mr., 84. 
 Holliday, Mrs. James F., 234. 
 Hollinger, Mrs. Cornelia, 333; 
 
 James, 334. 
 Hollingsworth, J. H., 128. 
 Holly Mfg. Co., 296. 
 
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 461 
 
 Holman, W. A., ISO; William, 
 
 400. 
 Holmes, Henry, 303. 
 Holsworth, John, 196. 
 Holt, J. R., 397, 403. 
 Home Mfg. Co., 353, 369, 387. 
 Homecoming Week, 390; 
 
 parade, 391. 
 Homewood Fishing club, 419. 
 Honor Roll, 401. 
 Hood, T. A., 436; W. C, 276. 
 Hoofstitler, Jacob, 290. 
 Hook & Ladder truck, 306. 
 Hooper, Obediah, 126; William, 
 
 126, 127. 
 Hoots, R. J., 394. 
 Hopewell, 437. 
 Hopkins, Gene E., 399; S. S., 
 
 442; W. R., 150. 
 Hopping, Charles, 216, 217, 
 
 360, 361. 
 Hornback, Jacob, 151; Samuel, 
 
 432. Mrs. Samuel, 62. 
 Horner, Israel, 128, 207. 
 Hose Co. No. 2, 303; Hose Co. 
 
 in 1878, 305; Hose Co. No. 
 
 1, 302. 
 Hospital Aid Society (Civil 
 
 War), 88, 248, 249, 250, 
 
 366; (D. and M. C. hos- 
 pital) 386. 
 Hostetler, Jacob, 150, 275, 431; 
 
 Dr. J. A. W., 251; Joseph, 
 
 87, 152; Mrs. Minnie P., 
 
 238; Virgil N., 199; W. B. 
 
 201, 430. 
 Hotels, Early, 158-165; Or- 
 lando, 87, 115, 236, 386, 387, 
 
 401. 
 Houck, Marion, 305. 
 House, Eleazer, 447, 448. 
 Household of Ruth, 333. 
 Houser, David, 432. 
 Houston, Charles B., 361; Mrs. 
 
 Louise Curtis, 395. 
 Housum, C. P., 157. 289, 302, 
 
 303, 321, 324; William, 359, 
 
 360. 
 Howe, George, 217. 
 Howell, D., 127, 128; Gilbert, 
 
 295; Howell's Hollow, 295; 
 
 James 20, 446; John, 38; 
 
 William, 20, 446. 
 Howenstein A., 303. 
 Hoy, Mrs. Ira, 395. 
 Hoyt, J. N., 431. 
 Hubbard, John T., 157. 
 Hudelson home, 44, 57; Robert, 
 
 57. 
 Hudson, John, 302; Samuel, 
 
 207. 
 Huffman, David, 128; Granville 
 
 M., 360; Samuel, 37. 
 Hufford, John, 397. 
 Hughes, David L., 182; Har- 
 old, 400; James F., 108; 
 
 J. H., 149, 445, 446; Prof., 
 
 442. 
 Hughey. Beecher, 403. 
 Hull. Dr. Peter, 367. 
 Hummell. David, 103; Emma, 
 
 174; Henry, 103, 181, 184, 
 
 199, 452; Rachel, 174. 
 Humphrey, John, 146, 160; 
 
 Lon. 303. 
 Hunsley, C. E., 431. 
 Hunt, Josiah, 181; Patricia, 
 
 395, 397; Robert L, 340, 
 
 353; Mrs. Robert I., 231, 
 
 395. 
 
 Hunting, Baxter, 113; Family, 
 
 49; Laura A., 357; Luther, 
 
 29. 
 Hurd, Max, 396. 
 Hurlburt, E. R., 150. 
 Hurst, C. M., 190, 282, 353, 
 
 388. 
 Husman Bros., 435. 
 Huston, Mr. and Mrs. Ed, 452; 
 
 E. V., 403; John, 451; 
 
 Ulysses, 432. 
 Hutchin, Walter, 185, 388. 
 Hutchins, J. H., 323. 
 
 Illini, 93, 96; Church, 436; 
 township, 95, 149, 434-436. 
 
 Illinois Before 1829, 9-14; 
 Land grant act, 211; Nam- 
 ing of, 93. 
 
 Illinois Agricultural Society, 
 250. 
 
 Illinois Agricultural & Indus- 
 trial College, 123. 
 
 Illinois Bell Telephone Co., 
 325, 417. 
 
 Illinois Central Mill, 190. 
 
 Illinois Central R. R., 45, 77, 
 80, 96, 97, 104, 130, 13"!, 
 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 
 215, 346, 358, 384, 433, 434, 
 435, 439, 443, 449, 450, 451; 
 I. C. R. R. Map, 211; I. C. 
 station, 352. 
 
 Illinois College, 106. 
 
 Illinois Live Stock Breeder's 
 Assoc'n, 451. 
 
 Illinois Michigan Canal, 77, 78. 
 
 Illinois Midland, 213, 285, 293, 
 434. 
 
 Illinois National Guard. See 
 Co. H, K, L. 
 
 I. P. & L., 277, 316, 319, 323, 
 406, 407. 
 
 Illinois Reserve Militia, 362. 
 
 Illinois State Board of Agri- 
 culture, 364. 
 
 Illinois State Breeders Assoc'n, 
 364. 
 
 Illinois State Chronicle, 198. 
 
 Illinois State S. S. Assoc'n, 
 269. 
 
 Illinois State Sentinel, 136. 
 
 Illinois Statutes, 27. 
 
 Illinois Terminal R. R., 384. 
 
 Illinois Traction System, 203, 
 318, 319, 383, 384, 385, 417, 
 431, 447. 
 
 Illinois Wesleyan University, 
 336, 337. 
 
 Illiopolis, 204. 
 
 Imboden, A. F., 302; John, 
 144, 192, 349, 350; John G., 
 397, 451; Market, 190; 
 Springs, 105, 349. 
 
 Indiana, 10. 
 
 Indiana and Illinois Central, 
 214. 
 
 Indiana & Illinois R. R., 268. 
 
 Indianapolis, Bloomington and 
 Western, 213, 434. 
 
 Indianapolis, Decatur and 
 Springfield, 214, 285. 
 
 Indians, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 
 19, 20, 45, 82, 93, 95, 96 
 97, 102, 111, 129, 141. 205 
 445, 451; Indian Bluff, 72 
 450; Chippewas, 141; Choc 
 taw, 331; Illini, 93, 96 
 
 Kickapoos, 12, 13, 14, 93, 
 127; Ottawas, 141; Map of 
 Indian trails, 12; Indian Ter- 
 ritory, 46 ; Maroas, 96 ; Pot- 
 awattomie, 141. 
 
 Ingersoll, Col. Rob. G., 240. 
 
 Ingram, Kinian, 126; L., 127. 
 
 Internal Improvements, 77-79. 
 
 I. O. O. F., 92, 184-185, 406; 
 Colored lodge, 332, 333; 
 Maroa lodge, 440. 
 
 Irish, M. C, 338. 
 
 Troquois club, 240. 
 
 Irving. E. P., 176, 353, 371, 
 397; Mrs. E. P., 278. 
 
 Irwin, Clara, 220; James, 448; 
 S. M., 288. 
 
 Irwin, Neisler & Co. fire, 309. 
 
 Island of Nuts, 93. 
 
 Tves, Mrs. H. B., 218; Mr., 
 439. 
 
 Jack, Dr. C. M., 398; Mrs 
 Grace S., 395; Samuel S. 
 153, 157, 174, 199. 
 
 Jackson, L., 127. 
 
 Jacksonville, 78, 106, 115, 197 
 
 Jacobs, B. F., 269; Cassidy 
 361; Charles S., 332, 333. 
 
 Jacobsen, G. E., 394. 
 
 Jail, 32. 
 
 Jameson, Mrs. Lillian, 333. 
 
 Jamison, Allen, 403; Carrie 
 176 
 
 Janvrin, Emery, 435. 
 
 Jefferson, Joseph, 235, 240. 
 
 Jennings, I. D., 33, 67, 151. 
 
 Jerome, Moses, 289. 
 
 Jimison, Bros., 429 ; Homer 
 309. 
 
 Jobst V. & Sons, 283. 
 
 Johns, Dr. H. C, 131, 153 
 251, 364, 367, 452; Mrs 
 Jane M. (H. C), 14, 47, 65 
 234, 237, 249, 250, 274, 280 
 281, 282, 284, 291, 364, 365 
 366, 367; Johns Home, 189 
 Wm. C, 108, 109, 110, 151 
 152, 239, 321, 386. 
 
 Johnson, Benjamin, 400 
 Charles C, 334; Emily, 407 
 G. E., 371, 372; James, 28 
 29, 30, 32, 45, 60, 61, 73 
 125, 126, 152, 168, 301, 432 
 Mrs. James, 395; J. A., 173 
 J. D., 403; J. H., 127; J 
 Harry, 334; Matt, 214; Mil 
 ton, 223; N., 86, 430, 443 
 Oscar, 360, 361; R., 127 
 Robert, 33, 103, 432, 433 
 434; Thomas, 74, 103; Mrs 
 Willis, 62. 
 
 Tohnson & Landis, 371, 372. 
 
 Johnston, George, 425, 427. 
 
 Johnston, John D., 51, 59. 
 
 Tokisch, E. W., 150. 
 
 toliet, 93; Louis, 9, 10. 
 
 Jones, A. A., 169; E. A., 192 
 275; Elizabeth, 38; Dr. E 
 S., 220; Harry, 400; Mrs 
 Tack, 250; Mrs. J. J., 280 
 John, 437; Rev. John, 436 
 John E., 151 ; Joseph, 439 
 Mrs. M. E., 280; Roy, 217 
 R. F., 184, 188, 302. 
 
 Jordan, Mr., 220. 
 
 josser, Henry, 427. 
 
 judson, Rose E., 220. 
 
462 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 K 
 
 Kaeuper, H. H., 380, 381. 
 Kain, Henry, 184, 448. 
 Kanan, M. F., 148, 152, 185, 
 
 244, 258, 259, 276, 326. 
 Kane Engraving Co., 407. 
 Kanning, Rev. F. W., 178. 
 Kansas State Normal, 380. 
 Kaufman & Bachrach, 289, 
 
 321. 
 Kauffman, Jake, 216; John, 
 
 146, 441; Joseph, 148; Love, 
 
 442; Miss, 104. 
 Kaylor, Berry, 216, 217; John, 
 
 102. 
 Keck, A., 190; John A., 329. 
 Keene, Thomas, 235. 
 Keister, Peter, 432. 
 Keller, Dr. A., 201; A. H., 
 
 150; A. L., 148; David P., 
 
 153. 449; George A., 274; 
 
 Jacob, 432; John G., 169. 
 Kellogg, William Pitt, 245. 
 "Kelly" wagon, 358. 
 Kemp, Shadrick, 334. 
 Kenney, A. M., 396; Mrs. A. 
 
 M., 397. 
 Kent, Henry E., 439. 
 Kenton, Dr. J. L., 433. 
 Kepler, Andrew, 266 ; Enos, 
 
 303. 
 Kepple, Jesse, 305. 
 Kerr, James, 441. 
 Kettering, Eliza, 46. 
 Keyes, Mrs. Emma Gillett, 124 
 Kibbee, N., 358. 
 Kibby, Wm., 103, 105. 
 Kile, Joseph G., 429. 
 Kindred, Larkin, 333. 
 King, E. G., 380; John E.. 
 
 216, 217; Joseph. 28. 91, 92, 
 
 104, 148, 181, 184, 200, 202, 
 
 358, 367, 369; Mrs., 92; Dr. 
 
 J. Stebbins, 203; Mrs. M.. 
 
 395; Marietta Packard. 170; 
 
 W. C, 334; William, 18, 20. 
 
 25. 34, 35, 72; Mill, 40. 
 King & Read, 232. 
 King's Cemetery, 70. 
 King's Orchard, 91, 274. 
 Kingfield, Mr., 216. 
 Kinkead, Rosaline. 218. 
 Kinney, Arthur E., 316. 
 Kinsolving, G. W., 442. 
 Kirby, Richard, 452. 
 Kirk, Alonzo L., 361: Orlando 
 
 T., 324. 
 Kitch, Henry E., 361. 
 Kiwanis club, 419. 
 Kizer, J. S., 444. 
 Kizer & Myers, 438. 
 Klett, Mrs., 395. 
 Kline, David, 225: P. D., 184, 
 
 225; W. L., 150. 
 Knickerbocker. Mrs. G. C, 395. 
 Knight, C. B., 150. 403; Sam 
 
 B., 96. 
 Knights, 96. 
 
 Knights of Columbus, 394. 
 Knights of Pythias, 185; 
 
 Pythian homes, 185, 385, 
 
 386; Pythian Sisters, 185- 
 
 186; Colored lodge, 333. 
 Knodle, W. E., 394. 
 Knox county, 10. 
 Koehler, John W., 149, 184. 
 Kossieck, Henrv, 358. 
 Kraft, G. W., 163, 306, 309; 
 
 hotel, 165. 
 Kramer, Chris, 216, 217. 
 
 Kramer & McClelland, 189. 
 
 Krebs, J. H., 240. 
 
 Krigbaum, Capt. W. Lutz., 
 398, 399, 400, 406. 
 
 Krigbaum, Howard, 363. 
 
 Krone, Anna, 227; David, 148, 
 161, 162, 165, 227, 232; Mrs. 
 D., 367; Elijah, 148; Har- 
 riet, 104, 138; N. L., 118, 
 170, 195, 231, 232, 233. 
 
 Kuhl, Philip E., 324; Rev. 
 Philip, 428. 
 
 Kuntz, Rolland, 400. 
 
 Kuny, Fred, 266. 
 
 Kushmer, John, 400. 
 
 Kyer, W. E., 441. 
 
 Lacy, Wm., 443. 
 
 Ladies Library Assoc'n, 114, 
 
 280, 281, 283, 365. 
 Ladies Silver band, 218. 
 Lake Decatur, 298, 383, 389, 
 
 416, 422. 
 Lake Decatur & Eastern, 384. 
 Lake hotel, 375. 
 Lake, James C, 276. 
 Lamb, Noble D., 361. 
 Lamborn, Josiah, 151. 
 Lammert, F. W., 180. 
 Lanahan, M. C, 360. 
 Landgraf, Rev. George, 178. 
 Landis, D. B., 446, 447; Wil- 
 liam, 361, 371. 
 Landmarks, 344-350. 
 Lane, Jacob, 126. 
 Lansden, Abner, 430. 
 Lapham, Alonzo, 20, 84, 85, 
 
 447; Mrs., 84; W. C, 431 ; 
 
 W. W., 216. 
 LaSalle, 93, 211, 215; Robert 
 
 de, 10. 
 Laux Bros., 158, 159, 160 
 
 Charles, 159, 192, 303, 330 
 
 Mrs., 330 ; Timmv. 330 
 
 Nicholas, 159. Peter, 48, 159. 
 Law, R., 127, 443. 
 Laymons, Alfred. 20. 
 Layton, William. 360. 
 Leader, ShelbwiUe, 198. 
 Leader Iron Works, 309, 329, 
 
 387, 423. 
 League, Elijah, 181. 
 Leavitt, T. N., 150, 153, 441. 
 Lebo, J. I., 150, 152. 
 Ledbetter, James. 128. 
 Lee. Alsa B., 128; Charles E., 
 
 152; Dr. George E., 335: 
 
 John, 73, 104; Louis B., 174. 
 Leech, Ed., 305, 306; Lefever, 
 
 Frank E., 361. 
 Lefforge, William, 181. 
 Lehman, G. W., 148. 151; 
 
 Henry, 432, 434. 
 Lehn, John, 434. 
 Leiby, William, 307. 
 Lemon, William, 432. 
 Lenion, Elder Moses. 87. 
 Leon, C. H., 396. 
 Leonard, Prof. Charles, 290 ; 
 
 Kate, 290. 
 Lester, Louis, 360. 
 Lewellen, R. II., 394. 
 Lewis, Byron. 428; C. W., 
 
 430, 452; Thomas, 225, 445. 
 Libby, Andrew, 441. 
 Liberty Loan drives, 393, 394. 
 Library Block. 352, 309, 352. 
 Lichtenberger. Tames, 149, 452. 
 Lickskillet, 97. 
 
 Lieb, Herman, 243, 254, 255, 
 
 262, 424. 
 Liebau, Carl, 403. 
 Lights, 320-323. 
 Lilliston, S. D., 191. 
 Lincoln, A., 15, 44, 45, 50-69, 
 
 72, 75, 77, 89, 107, 116, 122, 
 123, 161, 167, 182, 191, 198, 
 232 233, 235, 240, 253, 254, 
 
 263, 284, 331, 344, 366, 424, 
 428, 431, 448; Mrs., 123; 
 cafe, 27, 165; Square, 26, 30, 
 
 52, 90, 114, 129, 144, 195, 
 235, 267; Naming of, 326; 
 Paving, 326; Theater, 158, 
 237, 419; Thomas, 50, 51, 
 
 53, 54, 55, 59, 72; Mrs. 
 Thomas. 51, 55; University, 
 378, 438, 442. 
 
 Lincoln at Gettysburg, 247. 
 
 Lincoln & Herndon, 331. 
 
 Lincolnia, 284. 
 
 Lincolns, 17, 407. 
 
 Linder, W. F., 75. 
 
 Lindsay, Frank M., 199, 403; 
 
 John, 199; Dr. L. N., 403, 
 
 433; Nettie, 283. 
 Linley, Samuel, 22. 
 Linn, W. H., 239, 267; W. 
 
 W., 239. 
 Linn & Scruggs, 239, 290, 309, 
 
 387, 406. 
 Lintner, H. C, 281 ; Wm. & 
 
 Co., 265. 
 Linxweiler Bldg., 261. 
 Lions club, 419. 
 Lions, Dr. Stapp's, 140. 
 Litterer, Fred, 305, 306, 320. 
 Livergood, P., 302. 
 Livingston, Annie, 219. 
 Lobenstein, Mrs. M. E., 397. 
 Local option parade, 389. 
 Locke, Mrs., 250. 
 Lockett, Jessie, 395. 
 Lockhart, 445 ; Calvin J., 445 ; 
 
 Jesse, 214, 444, 445. 
 Lockwood, Daniel C. 193; 
 
 Mrs., 249; Judge S. D., 34, 
 
 107, 108. 
 Locomotives, first, 79. 
 Loeb, building, 351; Peter, 
 
 273, 380. 
 Log cabin, Pioneer, 39. 
 Logan, John A., 201, 245, 339, 
 
 340, 342; Mrs., 340; Stephen 
 
 T., 107, 108. 
 Lonergan, Dr. M. V., 438. 
 Long, Cook, 334. 
 Long Creek, 13; township, 20, 
 
 21, 95, 149, 167, 436-438. 
 Long family, 95. 
 Long Grove, 448. 
 Long, John and Joseph, 429. 
 Long Point, 36, 99, 445; cem- 
 etery, 444. 
 Long, Silas, Mr. and Mrs., 
 
 355. 
 Longstreet, John, 439. 
 Loomis, Emily, 62. 
 Lord, Henry, 128; J. H., 438; 
 Thomas, 128. 
 Loring, Geo. V., 383. 
 Lorton Bros., 15, 16, 21, 130, 
 
 451, 452. 
 Louisville, Ky., Journal, 70. 
 Lourash, Wm., 432. 
 Lourie, James A., 128. 
 Love, Andrew, 146, 147. 
 Lowe, Samuel, 425. 
 
HISTORY OK MACON COUNTY 
 
 463 
 
 Lowenstein & Bros., 196; 
 
 Joseph, 182. 
 Lowrie, John, 429. 
 Lowry, J., 127; 1. M.. 182; 
 
 John, 63, 64; S. T., 308; 
 
 William, 21. 
 Loyola university, 405. 
 Lukens, C, 430. 
 Lutheran church, 265; St. 
 
 Johannes, 179, 352; St. 
 
 Paul's, 271, 328; English, 
 
 328 ; Macon, 450 ; Cemetery, 
 
 419; Schools, 178, 179, 419. 
 Lutz, S. M„ 220, 290. 
 Lynching, 357. 
 Lyon, Clyde, 403. 
 Lyon, Gipson & Co., 288. 
 Lyon Lumber Co., 190, 288, 
 
 187 
 Lytle," R. P., 156, 157, 239, 
 
 281, 289. 
 
 M 
 
 Mackinaw, group, 354, 355. 
 
 Macknet & Waggoner, 191. 
 
 Mackordes, George, 360, 361,. 
 
 Macon, 93, 449, 450; hall, 235, 
 236; Macon house, 14, 64, 
 65, 82, 102, 105, 138, 143, 
 160, 161, 165, 215, 227, 232, 
 366, 367 ; Macon, Nathaniel. 
 94. 
 
 Macon County — Early history, 
 9-38 ; Map of original coun- 
 ty, 24 ; Map of present 
 county, 426; Name, 94; Of- 
 ficers, 146-152. 
 
 Macon Co. Agricultural soci- 
 ety, 275. 
 
 Macon Co. Bar Association, 
 110. 
 
 Macon Co. Farmers Institute, 
 353. 
 
 Macon Co. Historical society, 
 403. 
 
 Macon Co. Home Bureau, 422. 
 
 Macon Co. Industrial School 
 for girls, 375. 
 
 Macon Co. Medical society, 
 200, 201. 
 
 Macon Co. Mutual Fire Ins. 
 Co., 449. 
 
 Macon Co. Old Settlers As- 
 soc'n, 30, 392, 451; reunion. 
 391. 
 
 Macon Co. T. B. & V. N. 
 Assoc'n, 422. 
 
 Macon Co. Telephone Co., 324. 
 
 Macon Co. Veterans Assoc'n, 
 339. 
 
 Macy, R. H. Co., 371. 
 
 Maddox, Clinton D., 360; 
 Miss, 105; Mr., 103. 
 
 Madison, 10, 130, 131; town- 
 ship, 149. 
 
 Maffit, D. A., 240; land, 275; 
 mill, 82; Robert, 82. 
 
 Magee, John, 452; John E, 
 360. 
 
 Magnet, 192, 198. 
 
 Mahood, Alex, 103, 157. 
 
 Maienthal, Dr. B. L., 186. 
 
 Mail service, 99. 
 
 Mair, Christian, 128. 
 
 Major, Eber, 434 ; Hilleary, 
 432; Jacob, 434. 
 
 Majors, Dr., 335. 
 
 Mallorv, Rev. W. A., 431. 
 
 Maloney, J. J., 403. 
 
 Malson, George I., 128; James 
 C, 128, 129. 
 
 Manecke, H., 152, 446. 
 
 Manitou Block, 156. 
 
 Manley. David. 38, 151, 132; 
 John. 27, 126, 4.^2; Nancy, 
 432. 
 
 Mann, Dr. Louis L., 405. 
 
 Manon, II. S., 434; Mary 
 Ellen, 62. 
 
 Mansfield, Mrs. J., 250; Star, 
 219. 
 
 Mantel factory fire, 309. 
 
 Manufacturers & Consumers 
 Coal Co., 227. 
 
 Marion, 131. 
 
 Mariner, Wm, 442. 
 
 Maroa, 95, 97, 439, 440 ; town- 
 ship, 149, 438. 
 
 Marquette, 93 ; Father Jacques, 
 9, 10. 
 
 Marquis of Drogheda, 54. 
 
 Marriage License, first, 37, 38. 
 
 Marsh, John, 270, 430 ; Marshs, 
 441. 
 
 Marshall, Emery F., 360. 
 
 Martin, 97 ; Andrew, 367 ; Ben- 
 jamin, 128; Charles A., 360; 
 David, 191, 324, 330; E. J., 
 279, 317; Ed L., 305; 
 George, 303; Harvey, 128; 
 Mrs. Helen W., 279; Her- 
 man, 306; I. N., 241, 303; 
 J. B., 442; Jane, 364; Jos- 
 iah, 128; L. F., 397; Wil- 
 liam, 47, 131, 148, 189, 193, 
 196, 222, 275, 365, 452; Wil- 
 liam, Sr., 193; William F., 
 260. 
 
 Martinsburg, 131, 452. 
 
 Mason, Col. R. B., 215; W. 
 W., 185, 302, 303, 357; 
 Mrs. W. W., 234. 
 
 Masonic Organizations— Beau- 
 manior Commandery No. 9, 
 181, 182; Decatur Masonic 
 Temple Assoc'n, 183; Deca- 
 tur chapter 111 O. E. S., 
 183; Decatur Council 16, R. 
 & S. M., 182; Gorin Com- 
 mandery, 142 ; Great Light 
 lodge, 183; Illinois Masonic 
 Lodge, 141; Ionic lodge 312, 
 A. F. & A. M., 182; Macon 
 Chapter 21, R. A. M., 92, 
 181 ; Macon lodge 8 A. F. & 
 A. M., 92, 142, 172, 181, 
 230 ; Stephen Decatur lodge, 
 183; Macon lodge, 450; Ma- 
 roa lodge, 440 ; Colored 
 lodge, 332, 333 ; Summit 
 lodge, 431. 
 
 Masonic Temple, 142, 183, 386; 
 first home, 181 ; first temple, 
 182; second temple, 183; El- 
 dorado temple, 183. 
 
 Masters, David, 431; H. C. 
 431. 
 
 Masterson, Molly, 220. 
 
 Matheney, Charlie, 305. 
 
 Matthews, Earl, 400; Mr., 355. 
 
 Mattes, brick plant, 351; Mrs. 
 C. F., 395, 397; John, 358, 
 403; Frederick, 192. 
 
 Mauran, Russell & Garden, 
 283. 
 
 Mauzy, John, 303; John H.. 
 151. 
 
 Maxwell, Charles, 217. 
 
 May, Chester N., 361 ; 1L F., 
 150; Samuel, 360. 
 
 Mayberry, Simon, 348. 
 
 Mayers, Charles, 184; W. C, 
 149, 442; William, 104. 
 
 Mayors of Decatur, 148. 
 
 McBey, Mr., 442. 
 
 Mc Bride, A., 150, 434; Arthur, 
 357; Dr. A., 201, 433; Dr. 
 Samuel, 192, 202. 
 
 McCabe, Bob, 193. 
 
 McCall, Daniel, 25, 28, 34, 38, 
 71, 73, 126, 151, 154, 157, 
 167, 170, 428. 
 
 McCanns, 441. 
 
 McCarty, W., 394. 
 
 McCauley, Henry, 361. 
 
 McChain, J. F„ 185. 
 
 McClellan, Edmiston, 104, 118, 
 147, 148, 151. 
 
 McClellan, H., 302, 303; Wil- 
 liam, 303. 
 
 McClelland, Mrs. Anna, 234; 
 J. S., 388, 397; Joseph E., 
 189; S. B., 189; S. E., 381, 
 403. 
 
 McClure, Chas. B., 361. 
 
 McClurg, Austin, 184. 
 
 McComas, C. C, 109, 151. 
 
 McCown, Lt. Col. J. B., 245. 
 
 McCoy, B. F., 184; John H., 
 151, 403; H., 184, 446. 
 
 McCullough, W. G., 152. 
 
 McDaniel, Edmund, 20, 35 ; 
 Eldridge H., 20; William, 
 20 128 
 
 McDavid.'H. W., 153, 403; J. 
 K., 380. 
 
 McDermott, Miss, 355. 
 
 McDonald, E. S., 148; Fred 
 J., 360; Mark A., 360. 
 
 McDougal, John A., 151. 
 
 McEvoy, John, 165; John H., 
 279, 353, 403. 
 
 McEwen, W. F., 303. 
 
 McGarry, T. A., 186. 
 
 McGaughey, W. R., 403. 
 
 McGinas, James, 35. 
 
 McGinley, William, 153. 
 
 McGinnes, John, 191. 
 
 McGinnis, Mrs., 140. 
 
 McGinnity, Joe, 424. 
 
 McGlumphey, A. J., 442. 
 
 McGorray, B. A., 151; Cath- 
 erine, 395. 
 
 McGovern, Susan, 92. 
 
 McGuinas, Joseph, 437. 
 
 McGuire, J. D., 431. 
 
 Mcllwain, Major, 244. 
 
 McKay, Samuel, 71. 
 
 McKenzie, O., 212; Rev. Rob- 
 ert, 281. 
 
 McKim, O. F., 168, 174. 
 
 McKinley, Samuel, 47, 103, 
 432; William B., 227, 318, 
 319, 323, 340; President 
 Wm., 258, 342. 
 
 McLean, Dr. C. A., 439 ; coun- 
 ty, 31 ; Dr. W. T., 439. 
 
 McMahon, C. M., 174. 
 
 McMennamy, John, 20, 27, 28, 
 36, 127, 151. 
 
 McMillin, Dr. G. W., 200, 
 335. 
 
 McMillan & Mason, 434. 
 
 McMillen, R. C, 397. 
 
 McMullen, John, 443. 
 
 McMullin, F. F., 430. 
 
 McNabb, A. L.. 324; E., 192; 
 W. O., 358; 371. 
 
464 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 McNutt, Edwin B., 400. 
 McQueen, James L., 360. 
 McReynolds, B. O., 163, 363, 
 388; Mrs. B. O., 283; 
 James, 273; John C, 441. 
 McWhinney, John, 302, 303. 
 McWilliams, George, 361; Wil- 
 liam O., 362. 
 
 Mechtoldt, Clara M., 404. 
 
 Meech, Fred, 355. 
 
 Melhorn & Koehler, 434. 
 
 Melton, Dr. W. A., 393. 
 
 Merchant street, 311, 312. 
 
 Meredith, F. M., 383. 
 
 Meriweather, R. H., 148, 151, 
 281. 
 
 Merriwether, John, 303. 
 
 Methodist Church, 84-86, 88, 
 195, 196, 264, 414; Bethel, 
 448; Belle Prairie, 440; Blue 
 Mound, 85, 428, 448; Cleve- 
 land Ave., 203 ; Forsyth, 
 433; Long Creek, 86, 437; 
 German, 328, 428; Grace, 
 140, 227, 264; Harristown, 
 431; Franklin St., 140, 264; 
 Macon, 449; Mt. Gilead, 86, 
 450; Mt. Zion, 443; Niantic, 
 446 ; Oakley, 447 ; Sargent, 
 203; Sharon, 133, 168; 
 Stapp's Chapel, 140, 264; 
 Sulphur Springs, 443 ; St. 
 Peter's, 80, 332, 334; War- 
 rensburg, 435. 
 
 Mettlin, Alexander, 432, 434; 
 Jane Hanks, 62 ; James, 207 ; 
 Judd, 207. 
 
 Metz, Ben, 189. 
 
 Metz, Mrs. M. F., 234. 
 
 Metzler, A. M., 403. 
 
 Mexican War, 127-129. 
 
 Meyer, Elder F., 332; Frank, 
 189; Henry, 189. 
 
 Meyers, Wm., 441. 
 
 Michl, Joseph, 192, 403. 
 
 Mickerson, A. L., 360. 
 
 Milam twp., 95, 149, 441. 
 
 Miller, A. C, 102; C. Y., 394; 
 Christopher, 21, 102, 430; 
 David, 21, 35, 73, 428; 
 David 2nd, 35; Delilah, 37, 
 38, 452; Emma, 395; Fred- 
 erick W., 439; Isaac, 29, 35, 
 36, 84, 204, 205; J., 127; 
 Jacob, 425; James, 21, 28, 
 126, 167, 428, 430, 431; 
 James G., 25, 150; John, 25, 
 30, 37, 74, 151, 152, 430, 
 431; John, 2nd, 35; J. H., 
 302; John R., 354, 355; 
 Mrs. John R., 354; John, 
 Sr., 35, 36; Jonathan, 35, 84, 
 428; Joseph, 152; Mrs. 
 Nancy, 56; Philip, 315; Reu- 
 ben, 18; Samuel, 35, 126; 
 430, 431; Thomas, 334; Wil- 
 liam, 35, 36, 126, 430, 431; 
 Rev. W. C, 328. 
 
 Millerites, 433. 
 
 Milligan, Homer, 400. 
 
 Millikin, Anna B. home, 375, 
 376. 
 
 Millikin bank building, 69, 351. 
 
 Millikin, James, 48, 68, 192, 
 222, 265, 309, 321, 373-376, 
 377, 381, 382, 386, 397, 409; 
 Mrs. James, 250, 375, 376, 
 380; National bank, 142, 
 192, 222, 223; place, 385; 
 Porter J., 394; University, 
 
 274, 335, 340, 342, 374, 377- 
 382, 383, 398, 419, 427. 
 Millikin & Odor, 141. 
 Millison, Dr., 430; J. B., 440. 
 Mills, A. H., 379, 380, 381; 
 E. H., 302; Hubert, 403; 
 Isaac R., 109, 151, 317, 379, 
 380; Joseph, 189-190, 282; 
 W. T., 394. 
 Milton, James, 125, 126. 
 Minch, Jacob, 433. 
 Misenhelter, A., 303. 
 Misner, E. M., 148, 185, 303. 
 Mississippi Valley Structural 
 
 Steel Co., 387, 421. 
 Missouri, 97. 
 
 Missouri, Kansas & Texas, 209. 
 Mitchell, Rev. S. W., 450. 
 Mize, G. W., 199; Robert, 
 
 199; W. J., 199. 
 Model school, 433. 
 Modern Woodmen of America, 
 
 186. 
 Modjeska, Madame, 235. 
 Moeller, Emily, 176. 
 Moffett, Edward R., 152; G. 
 R., 182; John B., 427; 
 Thomas, 131; W. D., 403; 
 W. T., 150, 152, 153, 207, 
 380, 427, 428. 
 Moffitt, David C, 148. 
 Monroe, Chas. H., 360. 
 Monson, L. A., 151, 386. 
 Montague, Frank, 305. 
 Montgomery, Amanda, 219; A. 
 R., 266, 380, 388; C. W., 
 220; Emily, 443; F., 85; 
 George, 432; H. Clay., 152; 
 John 451; J. F., 48, 104, 
 147, 196; R. R., 48, 214, 
 266, 283, 368, 369; twp., 
 149; William, 302; W. F., 
 168, 432, 433, 434. 
 Montgomery & Shull, 266. 
 Moody Bible Institute, 270; 
 
 Dwight L., 270. 
 Moomey, C. H., 150; R., 152. 
 Mooney, Hugh, 445. 
 Moore, C. B. T., 254, 366, 397, 
 424; Elisha, 443; E. W., 
 173, 192, 201, 202, 203, 249, 
 251; Jesse H., 152, 245, 253, 
 254, 263, 340, 424; John, 
 334; Col. John, 127; Rev. 
 John, 425; Mrs. J. D., 397, 
 403; Mrs. Ora L., 403; 
 Robert J., 150; Sallie, 219. 
 Moose, Loyal Order of, 115, 
 
 186, 187, 419. 
 Moran, J. J., 386. 
 Morehouse, George E., 190; 
 Mrs. George E., 280; S. P., 
 190. 
 Morehouse & Wells Co., 190, 
 
 309, 351, 384. 
 Moreland, John, 110, 249, 263, 
 
 346. 
 Morey, Charles, 303. 
 Morgan & Sangamon, 79. 
 Moro, Francis, 245. 
 Morris, Achilles, 446 ; David, 
 446 ; Fairazina, 48 ; Vinson, 
 427 ; William, 446, 448, 449. 
 Morris & Salmon, 371. 
 Morrison, Henry, 453. 
 Morrison, Mill, 40. 
 Morrow's, 237, 419. 
 Morse, L. R., 150, 435. 
 Morthland, S. J., 394. 
 Moser, William, 439. 
 
 Moses, 13. 
 
 Mosquito church, 428. 
 
 Moss, William M., 447. 
 
 Mosser, J. R., 198, 219, 286, 
 320. 
 
 Mosser & Hamsher, 198. 
 
 Mother Teresa Gillespie, 177. 
 
 Motor club, 422. 
 
 Moultrie county, 22, 24. 
 
 Mounce, Smith, 13, 127. 
 
 Mound school, 433. 
 
 Mowry, Dr. Alfred E,. 361; 
 Mrs. H. C, 403, 406; John, 
 35. 
 
 Moyer, George O., 393. 
 
 Mt. Gilead, 15, 52, 133, 167, 
 443. 
 
 Mt. Zion, 130, 133, 443; Acad- 
 emy, 441, 442; township, 95, 
 149, 167, 441-444. 
 
 Mud Chapel school, 427. 
 
 Mueller, Adolph, 229, 403; 
 Mrs. Adolph, 395 ; Mueller 
 Company, 228, 369, 371, 387, 
 407, 420; factory, 351, 352; 
 family in 1888, 229; Fred, 
 229, 306, 355; George W., 
 340, 388; Mrs. George W., 
 395; H., 190, 228, 229, 289, 
 297, 303, 338, 339, 354, 369, 
 370, 371; Mrs. H., 229, 230; 
 Henry, 229; Mueller lodge, 
 16, 83, 345; Oscar, 229, 338; 
 Philip, 229; Robert, 229, 
 388, 396; Mrs. Robert, 395. 
 
 Mueller, Piatt & Wheeland Co., 
 309, 352. 
 
 Mueller Plumbing & Heating 
 Co., 352. 
 
 Muirheid, William, 31, 150, 
 427. 
 
 Mumphus, M. F., 333. 
 
 Municipal Electric Co., 323. 
 
 Munsell, Leonides, 31. 
 
 Murfin, Dr. W. D.. 202. 
 
 Murfreesboro, 24, 25, 130, 131, 
 452. 
 
 Murphy, Alphonso, 360 ; Chas. 
 R., 397; Miss Chloe, 234; 
 Francis, 290; John, 126. 
 
 Murphey, Martin P., 192; Mrs. 
 R. H., 250. 
 
 Murray, A. A., 151. 
 
 Music Organizations, 216-220. 
 
 Musical Culture club, 220. 
 
 Myer, M. A., 219; William, 
 360. 
 
 Myers, Bailey, 437; Benson A., 
 
 360, 438; Jacob, 437; James, 
 
 20, 21, 35; Michael, 20, 35, 
 
 36; W. C, 443; W. J., 191. 
 
 Myers, L. N., 394. 
 
 Myrick, Berte, 360. 
 
 N 
 
 Nale, John H., 244, 258. 
 
 Names of towns, villages, etc., 
 93-97. 
 
 Napoleon, 257. 
 
 Nash, Sarah, 441. 
 
 National Assoc'n for the Ad- 
 vancement of Colored Peo- 
 ple, 333. 
 
 National Bank of Decatur, 222, 
 224, 227, 451. 
 
 National Christian Temperance 
 Union, 290. 
 
 National hotel, 165. 
 
 Nebinger, A., 303. 
 
HISTORY OK MACON COUNTY 
 
 465 
 
 Needham, C. S., 379, 380. 
 
 Xelms, Thomas, 20, 443. 
 
 Nelson, Charles, 20, 429; 
 George E., 128, 129; Hor- 
 atio, 176; "Little Yankee", 
 167; William E., 108, 109, 
 151, 153, 271, 278, 306; 
 Mrs. W. E., 442. 
 
 Neptune Hose Co., 305 ; hose 
 house, 308. 
 
 Nesbitt, Elizabeth, 160; James, 
 
 103, 105, 160; Miss, 104; 
 S. G., 74, 103, 153; Wash., 
 
 104, 160; William, 128. 
 Neustadt, Mrs. George, 403. 
 New Deming, 164, 313. 
 
 New York Continental Jewel 
 Filtration Co., 298. 
 
 "New Square", 273, 312. 
 
 New Salem, 60. 
 
 Newburg, 131, 430, 453. 
 
 Newcomb, D., 127. 
 
 Newell, Francis M., 360; Rich- 
 ard, Jr., 144; Samuel, 303. 
 
 Newlon, Jesse H., 175. 
 
 Newspapers, 197-199. 
 
 Niantic, 214, 445, 446; town- 
 ship, 24, 95, 149, 444-446. 
 
 Nicholls, Albert, 448. 
 
 Nichols, Charles W., 361. 
 
 Nicholson, C. C, 403; J. P., 
 151; Jerry W., 360; Julia, 
 395; Mina, 395. 
 
 Nickelodeon, 237. 
 
 Nickens, Baker, 334. 
 
 Nickey, John, 447; S. P., 168, 
 447. 
 
 Nientker, Fred, 428; W. G., 
 428. 
 
 Nientker & Smith, 428. 
 
 Nolan, John P., 399. 
 
 Norman's Laundry, 266. 
 
 Norris, Mr., 104; Miss, 104. 
 
 North Fork Campground, 133, 
 134; Church, see Presbyter- 
 ian. 
 
 North Main & Prairie in 1912, 
 385. 
 
 North Pole, 343. 
 
 Northcutt, Rev. A. D., 446, 
 447, 448. 
 
 Northern Cross, 77, 78, 79, 80, 
 138, 190. 
 
 Northwestern Sanitary fair, 53, 
 54. 
 
 Nowlin, C. D., 151. 
 
 Nutt, Commodore, 240. 
 
 Oakes, W. L., 321. 
 
 Oakland park, 134, 135, 274, 
 316, 328, 354, 377, 378. 
 
 Oakley, 20, 95, 447 ; township, 
 149, 167, 446-447. 
 
 O'Bannon, Mrs. R. W., 395. 
 
 Odor, J. Q. A., 146, 151, 223, 
 225, 236; Mrs. Sue T., 88. 
 438. 
 
 Offut, Denton, 59, 60. 
 
 Oglehurst, 124. 
 
 Oglesby, Amanda, 143; "Aunt 
 Judy", 87, 118; Benjamin 
 F., 104, 128, 148, 184; 
 Dickie, 123; Col. Jacob, 117. 
 118; Richard (uncle of R. 
 J.), 31, 118, 146, 147; Rich- 
 ard (cousin of R. J.), 218, 
 220; Mrs. Richard, 218; 
 Richard J., 54, 66, 67, 108, 
 109, 116-124, 128, 129, 143, 
 
 145, 152, 159, 174, 175, 193 
 201, 207, 233, 236, 241, 242 
 243, 246, 250, 252, 263, 339 
 340, 347, 357, 362, 409, 424 
 Warner, 104, 181, 184; Wil 
 lis, 104, 118, 159, 244, 248 
 W. W., 151, 184, 358. 
 
 Oglesby house, 158, 159 
 school, 124; street, 124. 
 
 Oglesby & Wait, 235. 
 
 Ohr, S. P., 146. 
 
 Okaw, district, 152; settlement, 
 90. 
 
 Old Order Brethren church, 
 438. 
 
 Old Post No. 1 Society, 258. 
 
 Oliver, Elmer, 400. 
 
 O'Leary, Mrs., 285. 
 
 O'Neil, Hugh, 429. 
 
 Optimists, 419. 
 
 Oreana, 96, 453. 
 
 Orendorff & Doyle, 320. 
 
 Ormsby, Al, 303. 
 
 Orr, Abner, 360; J. N., 150, 
 403. 
 
 Orthodox school house, 167, 
 452. 
 
 Osborn, Stephen, 128. 
 
 Osgood & Heiner Co., 369. 
 
 Osgood & Sons, 369, 387. 
 
 Outten, G. C, 403; W. C, 
 379, 380, 381, 442. 
 
 Owen, David, 21, 73, 84; H. 
 M., 176, 403; T., 127. 
 
 Owens, Daniel H., 400; James, 
 35, 58; Rev. Wm, 430. 
 
 Packard, Anson, 104; Edmund, 
 
 48, 104, 206, 207; Mrs., 92; 
 
 Elizabeth, 104; Family, 49; 
 
 Lydia, 28, 91; Mason, 104, 
 
 207; Marietta, 91, 104; Silas 
 
 Sr., 49, 91 ; Silas, 46, 49, 
 
 100, 104, 206, 207, 216, 217, 
 
 231, 349; Mrs., 231, 250. 
 Pahmeyer, F., 266, 303; Mrs. 
 
 Laura, 234, 237. 
 Paine, F. G., 127; M„ 127. 
 Palmer, John M., 67 ; Peter, 
 
 104. 
 Paris, 31, 100, 101, 102, 105, 
 
 198. 
 Paris and Decatur R. R., 96, 
 
 213. 
 Park, James, 307; R. H., 152, 
 
 430. 
 Parke, Guy J., 317; V. H., 
 
 246; Parke & Son, 329, 352. 
 Parker, J. H., 425 ; J. P., 425 ; 
 
 James S., 149, 425, 439; Dr. 
 
 Luke, 335; W. H., 425. 
 Parks, 272-279; Central, 80, 
 
 163, 242, 260, 261, 272, 273, 
 
 339, 357; Dreamland, 276, 
 277; Fairview, 29, 30, 64, 
 69, 74, 246, 275, 276, 277, 
 
 340, 354, 356, 392; Fanes, 
 278, 339, 419; Garfield, 278; 
 Johns Hill, 274; Lincoln, 69, 
 278; Nelson, 278, 404, 419, 
 422; Riverside, 30, 231, 275, 
 354, 356, 357; Torrence, 
 278; Wilson, 339; Wood- 
 bine, 339, 444. 
 
 Parks, Edwin, 168; Rev. James 
 
 87, 453. 
 Parlor Meat Market, 48. 
 Parsons, Helen E., 172. 
 
 Pasfield Bldg., 351. 
 
 Pasley, Rev. H. A., 86, 428. 
 
 Patterson, Chas. H., 151, 152 
 
 David, 425; E. A., 151 
 
 George, 216, 217, 219 
 
 George A., 181, 187; M. G., 
 
 182; Robert, 303. 
 Patton, Alexander, 167, 446. 
 Patton & Miller, 379. 
 Paving started, 326. 
 Payne, S., 430 ; Mrs. S. L., 
 
 395. 
 Peake, George B., 157, 303; 
 
 J. L„ 182, 184, 282; jewel- 
 ry store, 67, 190; Mrs. J. 
 
 L., 354; W. T., 184, 383. 
 Pearson, Harry, 335. 
 Peary, Robert E., 343. 
 Pease, Shaw, 153. 
 Peck, Rev. J. M., 443. 
 Peck & Read, 176. 
 Peddecord, J. J., 103, 104, 105, 
 
 140, 143, 144, 145, 148, 172, 
 
 181, 221, 230, 233; Mrs. J. 
 
 J., 118, 354; Ninian, 32, 104, 
 
 105, 151; W. W., 185. 
 Peddecord, Armstrong and 
 
 Prather, 99. 
 Peddecord & Burrows, 221, 
 
 222, 288, 296. 
 Peebles, Robert, 44. 
 Peed, John, 434; Wm., 434. 
 Pegram, Mrs. E. L., 403 ; Sam, 
 
 360, 361. 
 Pekin, Lincoln & Decatur R. 
 
 R., 96, 213, 268, 285,, 435. 
 Penhallegon, W. H., 194, 381. 
 Peniwell, M. E., 151, 186, 383. 
 Peniwell, Brown & Co., 266. 
 Pennsylvania house, 165. 
 Pennsylvania R. R., 96, 213, 
 
 384, 434, 443. 
 Penney M. E., 381, 403. 
 Peoria, 93. 
 Peoria, Atlanta and Decatur 
 
 R. R., 213. 
 Peoria, Decatur and Evans- 
 ville, 97, 213, 339, 355, 434. 
 Perdue, Joshua, 13, 450. 
 Perl, Peter, 151, 290. 
 Pernin, Father Claude J., 405. 
 Peru, school, 428. 
 Petch, E., 434. 
 Peters, Will, 383. 
 Pettyjohn, Charlotte, 440 ; 
 
 Tames, 438; John H., 440; 
 
 Mary A., 440; Susan, 429. 
 Phares, Mrs. W. A., 395. 
 Phelps, Capt. John S., 257. 
 Philbrick, Solon, 108. 
 Philippines, 361. 
 Phillips, Philip, 270; W. S., 
 
 380. 
 Physicians, first, 89-92. 
 Piatt, County, 22, 24, 25, 28, 
 
 108; James A., 22, 25, 28, 
 
 31, 38, 127, 150; R. F., 323; 
 Pickrell, Jesse A., 21 ; J. H., 
 
 150, 276, 431, 434. 
 Pierce, Alonzo, 184, 443; 
 
 Franklin, 106, 139; James, 
 
 103; Orlando, 362. 
 Pines, The, 46. 
 Pistorius, John, 427, 428. 
 Pitner, Levi C, 140, 264; 
 
 Mrs. Tom, 397. 
 Flatt, Edward, 308. 
 Pleasant View township, 20, 
 
 95, 149, 447, 448. . 
 Pogue, Mrs. J. R., 395. 
 
466 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Polar Co., 387. 
 
 Polk, President, 127. 
 
 Pollard, Forrest, 150. 
 
 Ponting, E. Wayne, 278. 
 
 Pope, Dempsey, 20, 427, 428; 
 William, 427 ; Willis Z„ 428. 
 
 Portwood, Wm, 449. 
 
 Posey, Mr., 58. 
 
 Possum Fork, 433. 
 
 Post, C. C, 146; Herman, 
 289; John P., 104, 128, 129, 
 146, 147, 148, 153, 157, 241, 
 243, 255; Joel Seth, 104, 
 107, 109, 119, 120, 128, 148, 
 152, 181. 
 
 Post and Post, 147. 
 
 Postmasters, 157. 
 
 Postoffice site, 154. 
 
 Potter, Samuel, 439; William, 
 439. 
 
 Powell, Lyda, 171; Maud, 171; 
 W. Bramwell, 171. 
 
 Powers, Mrs. Abigail H., 112; 
 Ada, 281 ; Almira Avery 
 (Mrs. G. W.), 111-115, 120, 
 170, 280, 281, 283; Powers 
 building (East Main,), 192, 
 196; South Water, 32, 156, 
 238, 282, 286, 352, 387; Mrs. 
 Caroline, 278, 379; Charles 
 G., 236; Chauncey M., 113, 
 207; Edward, 220, 403; 
 Frank, 220; George W., Ill, 
 113, 114, 115, 152; Grand 
 Opera House, 115, 235, 236, 
 240, 309, 328, 352; Powers 
 Hall, 65, 171, 174, 191, 220, 
 235, 240, 241, 247, 264, 281, 
 Howard W., 236; Margery, 
 395; Orlando, 115, 236, 311, 
 379; Samuel, 13, 88, 111, 
 
 113, 114, 194, 206, 207, 214, 
 275; Sarah Ann, 112, 113, 
 
 114, 115; Theron, 379, 380, 
 388; William L., 113, 192, 
 235, 275. 
 
 Prairie Center, 97. 
 
 Prairie City, 445. 
 
 Prairie street, 26. 
 
 Prather, Henry , 99, 103, 140, 
 143, 144, 147, 148, 153, 181, 
 194, 207, 220, 264; Mrs. 
 Henry, 118; S., 358; Wil- 
 liam, 148, 150, 151, 153, 346. 
 
 Prather, Martin & Gatling, 
 212. 
 
 Pratt Cereal Mill, 353, 387. 
 
 Pratt, F. M., 353, 453; R. E., 
 199, 353. 
 
 Prendergast, Father, 195. 
 
 Prentice, Charles, 26. 
 
 Presbyterian Church, 86, 194, 
 352, 375, 378, 379, 389, 390, 
 414, 429, 430, 433, 442; 
 Bethlehem, 86, 428, 451; 
 Macon, 450 ; Madison, 86, 
 428; Mt. Zion, 86, 375, 433; 
 Maroa, 439, 440 ; North 
 Fork, 86, 438; Near Ar- 
 genta, 430 ; Second Church, 
 264 ; Church Union, 389, 390. 
 
 Prescott Music house, 329. 
 
 Preston, H. L., 403. 
 
 Price, Confederate General, 
 244; Edward J., 399; W. 
 H., 333. 
 
 Priest, car line, 327 ; Franklin, 
 146, 148, 164, 192, 235, 290, 
 293, 295, 301, 302, 311-313, 
 314, 315, 316; Frank Jr., 
 
 303; George, 226; George 
 R., 302; Hotel, 164; J. 
 Frank, 315; Valentine, 312. 
 
 Priest & Co., 190. 
 
 Prince, Miss, 104. 
 
 Pringle, Charles, 104, 148. 
 
 Prior, Joseph, 257, 258, 259. 
 
 Pritchett, Carl, 403 ; Thomas 
 A., 444, 446. 
 
 Provost, P. B., 303. 
 
 Public Library, 52, 114, 280- 
 284, 286, 365. 
 
 Pugh, B. J., 244; Isaac C, 21, 
 29, 58, 72, 73, 125, 126, 127, 
 128, 142, 143, 148, 150, 151, 
 152, 153, 157, 174, 175, 241, 
 243, 244, 252, 258, 259, 295, 
 357, 424; John, 143; Jona- 
 than H., 34, 107, 151; 
 school, 143. 
 
 "Pukes", 97. 
 
 Putnam, Katie, 286. 
 
 Querry, F. R., 150; George, 
 103; James, 33, 126, 429; 
 Joe, 30. 
 
 Quinlan, John, 68; W. J., 281, 
 283, 288, 349. 
 
 Quinn & Seeforth, 329. 
 
 Race, Ella, 403; James W., 
 
 191; Joab A., 153; John R., 
 
 191, 225, 246, 265. 
 Race Clothing Mfg. Co.. 191. 
 Radcliff, William, 147. 
 Radford, Rev. B. J., 446. 
 Ragan, W. A., 303. 
 Railroads, 208-215. 
 Railroad bank, 222, 225, 374. 
 Ralls, David E., 148. 
 Randall, J. N., 201; Mrs. J. 
 
 N., 234, 237; Julius, 358. 
 Randle, John S., 431. 
 Randolph, M. S., 333. 
 Rangers, 45, 126, 127. 
 Rawles, David, 103. 
 Rawley, William, 306. 
 Rays, 440. 
 Rea, James, 128; John, 146, 
 
 446 ; Nancy, 446 : Samuel, 
 
 150, 151, 203; William, 99, 
 
 275, 447. 
 Read, Julia, 81; J. H., 148; 
 
 Dr. James, 103; Dr. Thomas 
 
 H., 43, 81, 90, 91, 105, 147, 
 
 148, 151, 152, 160, 161, 201, 
 
 272, 451. 
 Reading Room Assoc'n, 281. 
 Ready, Frank, 428. 
 Reasoner, Rev. Mr., 332. 
 Reavis, Tames E., 360. 
 Record, J. H., 150. 
 Red Cross, 366, 393, 394, 395, 
 
 396. 397, 422. 
 Red Men, 186. 
 Reddick. Dr., 91 ; William G., 
 
 152. 
 Redmon, William, 28, 32, 33; 
 
 W. E.. 151. 
 Reece, Samuel, 128. 
 Reed, John, 447; M. K. H., 
 
 225. 
 Reeme, Josiah E., 360. 
 Reguer, John, 360, 361. 
 Relief Society, 219. 
 Remsburg, J. H., 172. 
 
 Renshaw, John, 432 ; James, 
 
 18, 27, 28, 31, 59, 71, 72, 
 
 73, 85, 147, 152, 158, 218, 
 
 407. 
 Representatives, 152-153. 
 Republican, Daily, 165, 198, 
 
 199, 271, 286. 
 Republican, Convention, 61, 65- 
 
 67; party, 195. 
 Rescue Hose Co., 302, 304, 
 
 306. 
 Revere, 105, 160, 161, 162, 
 
 163, 165, 193, 242, 286, 295, 
 
 302, 375. 
 Review, The, 68, 103, 198, 199, 
 
 276, 278, 286, 351. 
 Review P. & S. Co., 387. 
 Reynolds, Gov. John, 125, 139; 
 
 John B., 361; William, 269. 
 Rhodes, Mrs. Barbara, 333 ; 
 
 E., 446, 447; Col. Frank L., 
 
 243; Jesse, 23, 25, 28; 
 
 Henry, 452. 
 Rhodes & Wheeler, 446. 
 Riber, G. W., 443. 
 Rice, Etherage, 128; Job A., 
 
 439; Richard T., 190. 
 Richardson, Charles M., 360 ; 
 
 George B., 445. 
 Richeson, J. J., 175. 
 Rickett, John, 446. 
 Ricketts, Charlie, 217; Jack, 
 
 216; Joe, 216; John, 148, 
 
 150, 193, 358. 
 Riddell, D. F. Co., 352. 
 Riebsame, C, 258, 259. 
 Rife, Jacob, 432 ; Joseph, Jr., 
 
 432; Joseph, Sr., 432, 434, 
 
 452; Mrs., 76. 
 Ritchie, John, 435 ; family, 
 
 434; Samuel, 435, 436; Wil- 
 liam, 434. 
 Riverside Boat Co., 275. 
 Roach, J. F., 163, 303; J. G., 
 
 175. 
 Roads — Districts, 36; No. 1., 
 
 61 ; establishing, 15. 
 Robbins, H. F., 147, 383; 
 
 Judge Silas, 119; Walter, 
 
 433. 
 Roberts, Alice, 174; E. J., 150, 
 
 435; Dr. James F., 196, 346; 
 
 George S., 435 ; Henry L., 
 
 359; James, 220; J. A., 303; 
 
 J. F., 201, 232; T. T., 289; 
 
 379, 380, 381 ; Mrs. T. T., 
 
 403; Will, 220. 
 Roberts & Greene, 282, 358. 
 Roberts, Lytle & Co, 289. 
 Robinson, Amos, 30, 47, 48, 
 
 49, 70, 73; Mrs., 49; Rev. 
 
 C. R., 425; Daniel, 104; 
 
 Hartwell, 47, 48, 49, 103; 
 
 Hiram, 20, 450; Marilla, 48, 
 
 104; Thomas, 21; Wm. I., 
 
 361; William P., 128; Rob- 
 insons, 429. 
 Roby, K. H., 109; Mrs. K. 
 
 H., 234. 
 Rock Island, 174. 
 Rockford Post G. A. R., 258. 
 Rodgers, B. R., 430 ; Dr., 91 ; 
 
 Thomas P., 148. 
 Roe, Miss, 173. 
 Rogan, Dr. F. C, 335 ; Isaac, 
 
 333, 334; Robert R., 335. 
 Rogers, Jason, 152. 441; J. 
 
 B. Producing Co., 404; 
 
 Lewis P., 399; Thomas H., 
 
 170; Thomas P.. 157. 
 
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 467 
 
 Rolling Mill, 286, 292-294. 
 
 Ronan, Thomas, 236. 
 
 Roosevelt, Theodore. 340, 379. 
 
 Rose, Berry, 35; Dr. M. E., 
 403; Randolph, 35, 432. 
 
 Rosen, Richard O., 383. 
 
 Rosengrants, R. R., 428. 
 
 Ross, Dr., 162; Mr., 207; 
 Richard, 425 ; Squire, 439 ; 
 V. D., 132. 
 
 Roswell, John, 216. 
 
 Rotary club, 407, 419. 
 
 Rothermal, Earl, 400. 
 
 Roundtop, 144. 
 
 Rough and Ready, 207. 
 
 Routes, No. 2, 102, 140, 417, 
 450; No. 10, 15, 48, 102, 
 417, 431, 447; No. 48, 428, 
 448; No. 121, 417, 437. 
 
 Routh, J. W., 258, 259. 
 
 Rowdybush, Chas. R., 360. 
 
 Rowell, H. W., 199, 290. 
 
 Rowles, D. D., 448. 
 
 Ruby, C. H., 449, 450; J. S., 
 449, 450. 
 
 Rucker, James C, 225 ; John, 
 149, 150, 437. 
 
 Rucker, Hammer & Co., 225. 
 
 Ruddock, J., 430; J. C, 452. 
 
 Ruddock & Kirby, 453. 
 
 Rude, Leverett H., 360. 
 
 Rue, Joseph, 434. 
 
 Ruehl, Charles, 433 ; Ernest, 
 433. 
 
 Ruhl, John, 193. 
 
 Rundell, H. L., 360. 
 
 Russell, Lillian, 235 ; Rev. S. 
 S., 449. 
 
 Rust, Elam, 151. 
 
 Ruth, George E., 303. 
 
 Ruthrauff, Harry, 147, 301. 
 
 Rutledge, Ann, 69, 284; Wil- 
 liam, 441. 
 
 Ryan, Elizabeth, 446; John. 
 157; Mrs. J., 250, 251 ; Wil- 
 liam, 362, 406. 
 
 Ryman, Cora B., 169, 403, 404. 
 
 St. 
 
 St. Francis Court, Heroines of 
 Jericho, 333. 
 
 St. Gamoin, 93. 
 
 St. James Church. See Catho- 
 lic Church. 
 
 St. James hotel, 165. 
 
 St. James School. See Par- 
 ochial Schools. 
 
 St. John, John P., 135. 
 
 St. Leger, Mr. and Mrs., 177. 
 
 St. Louis, Kansas City & 
 Northern Ry. Co., 209. 
 
 St. Mary's hospital, 286, 387, 
 418. 
 
 St. Nicholas, 65, 105, 158. 159, 
 160. 162, 186, 352. 
 
 St. Patrick's Church. See 
 Catholic Church. 
 
 St. Patrick's .School. See Par- 
 ochial schools. 
 
 St. Teresa's Academy. See Par- 
 ochial schools. 
 
 St. Thomas' school. See Par- 
 ochial schools. 
 
 Sac. 12, 125. 
 Sadler, Charles, 400. 
 Sadorus Grove, 36. 
 
 Salt Creek, 14, 40, 100; Dis- 
 trict, 152; M. E. circuit, 84. 
 
 Salvation Army, 386, 422. 
 
 Sanders, James, 21, 59, 62; R. 
 Zink, 404. 
 
 Sandoe, George, 432. 
 
 Sanford, Harold, 400. 
 
 Sangamon, 93, 98; M. E. 
 church district, 84; 'scenes, 
 9, 70; Station, 447; Valley, 
 296. 
 
 Santa Anna, 129. 
 
 Sargent, Dr. Miranda M., 203. 
 
 S. A. T. C, 398. 
 
 Sauer, Mrs., 395. 
 
 Saunders, John, 128. 
 
 Sawyer, Benjamin, 46, 104, 
 
 205, 206, 207, 266; Frank 
 E., 403, 404; John, 46, 205, 
 
 206, 207, 231, 331, 429; 
 Mrs. John, 46 ; John Jr., 
 432; Mary, 46, 104, 231; 
 William, 266. 
 
 Sayre, R. C, 175. 
 Saxton, Charles, 355. 
 Scanlan, Alfred, 400; William. 
 
 196. 
 Schall, B. S., 430. 
 Schaub, H. C, 199, 279, 283, 
 
 404. 
 Schenck, Garrett J., 439; 
 
 House, 439. 
 Schikowski, Paul, 400. 
 Schmachtenberger, O., 150. 
 Schoenle, John, 303. 
 Schools— Rural, 166-169; De- 
 catur, 170-176; Parochial. 
 
 177-180; High School. 418: 
 
 Roosevelt, 418; Washington, 
 
 418. 
 Schroeder, Fred, 435 ; Max R.. 
 
 435. 
 Schroll G. W., 432, 433; 
 
 Henry, 432; Jacob, 432,434; 
 
 John, 152. 
 Schudel, John, 450 ; Mrs. John, 
 
 404. 
 Schuffield, Mr., 443. 
 Schuh, Peter, 303. 
 Scott, A. R., 380: Francis, 
 
 21 ; James, 86, 443 ; John A.. 
 
 429; John Sr., 21; Owen, 
 
 184; O. M., 150. 
 Scott & Lemen, 448. 
 Scovill, G. W\, 324; Store, 309, 
 
 329. 
 Scroggin, Carter, 434; Hum- 
 phrey, 434; T. J.. 431. 
 Scruggs, R. R., 360; W. R.. 
 
 267. 
 See, William E., 128. 
 Seeforth. Adam, 383. 
 Segrist & Bartlett, 434. 
 Seiberling. Earl F., 360. 
 Seifert, Ed., 217. 
 Seip, Thomas, 360. 
 Seitz, Jacob, 446. 
 Semple, A., 433. 
 Senators, 152. 
 Sentel, George A., 108. 
 Sergeant, Zebedee. 432. 
 Seventh Day Advent ist, 180 
 
 419. 
 Severns, Theo, 303. 
 Seymour, Chas. W., 444; II. 
 
 M., 444. 
 Shade, W. P., 147. 324. 
 Shafer, Henry, 393 
 Shaffer. George, 433 ; Joseph 
 
 11.. 360; property. 385. 
 
 "Shakes", 42, 43. 
 
 Sharlow, Myrna, 424. 
 
 Sharp, John, 440. 
 
 Shastid, James S., 452. 
 
 Shatzer, Carl M., 362. 
 
 Shaw, Thomas, 440; Willis R., 
 
 152. 
 Shawl, Alfred D., 359, 360. 
 Sheen, Edwin, 335. 
 Sheetz, Col. Josiah A., 243. 
 Shelah, Mrs. E., 395. 
 Shelby, county, 10, 16, 23, 24. 
 Shelbyville, 15, 21, 23, 26, 28, 
 
 31, 55, 70, 100, 109, 132, 
 
 197, 198. 
 Shell Oil Co., 407. 
 Shellabarger, Alice, 280; D. S., 
 
 148, 192, 216, 217, 226, 227, 
 
 228, 289, 316, 318, 377, 379; 
 
 Elevator Co. fire, 309; F. 
 
 D., 226; Isaac, 146, 226, 
 
 227, 228; John, 227, 228; 
 
 Lucien, 226, 239, 397; mill, 
 
 191, 226, 227, 352; W. L., 
 
 226, 388, 397; Mrs. W. L., 
 
 395. 
 Shelton, David, 441. 
 Sheneman, Alonzo, 360. 
 Shepherd, Miss, 177; Mr., 58; 
 
 P. B., 146, 157, 172; 
 
 Stephen, 432. 
 Shepard, S. R., 126. 
 Sheppard, James J., 174. 
 Shepperd, Abram, 128. 
 Shepperd, James A., 128. 
 Sherman, Gen., 244, 246. 
 Sherrick, I. B. R., 131. 
 Shettel, H. A., 404. 
 Shilling, C. F., 148, 383. 
 Shlaudeman, Frank, 322, 371, 
 
 388; H., 190, 321; Harry, 
 
 355, 379, 388. 
 Shoaff, Godey, 303 ; house, 
 
 158; James 55, 148, 184, 192, 
 
 197, 198, 199, 214, 279; Mrs. 
 
 51, 62; T. B., 53, 55, 198. 
 Shoaff's Gazette, 192, 197, 198. 
 Shockley, Ben, 355; D. C, 
 
 66, 182, 190. 
 Shoemaker, A., 303, 305, 309. 
 Shorb, W. A., 329; Mrs. Will, 
 
 395. 
 Short, George B., 439; Rol- 
 
 land, 400; Tempy, 171. 
 Short Line Ry., 279, 317. 
 Shugart, Zion, 22; Edom, 22. 
 Shull, Frank, 220, 266. 
 Shultz, Mr., 103. 
 Shutter, Tohn F.. 360. 
 Sibley, Dr. B. F., 258, 259; 
 
 Mrs. B. F., 282, 354. 
 Siewers, Clarence E., 360 ; T. 
 
 B., 383. 
 Silver, Paul, 400. 
 Simons, David, 447. 
 Simpson, Asher. 126; James. 
 
 146. 
 Sinclair, Jackson, 104. 
 Singleton, H., 333, 334. 
 Sinnett, S., 127. 
 Sister Ignatius, 177. 
 Sisters of Holy Names of Jesus 
 
 and Mary, 177. 
 Skillman & Mays, 443. 
 Slatten, Benjamin, 127. 
 Slaughter, John. 212, 24 7. 
 Sleet storm, 390. 
 Sleeter, John H., 427: Mrs. R. 
 
 C, 404; William, 428. 
 
468 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Smallwood, G. D., 126; Par- 
 menius, 21, 26, 35, 36, 73, 
 151, 347; Samuel, 432; 
 Sarah J., 432. 
 
 Smick, Elmer J., 360. 
 
 Smith, Albert F., 135, 136; 
 A. W., 127; Andrew W., 
 20, 24, 150, 450; Bert W., 
 361; Cal., 207; Caleb, 303; 
 369; C. B., 108; Dr., 439; 
 E. O., 47, 81, 82, 104, 105, 
 109, 137-139, 146, 148, 152, 
 160, 169, 172, 184, 207, 211, 
 225, 235, 236, 280, 296, 312, 
 358, 433; G. A., 148, 184; 
 George A., 442 ; Gen. Giles 
 A., 246; Gen. Gus A., 190, 
 244, 251, 253, 256, 340, 424; 
 J., 127; J. G. H., 446; J. 
 W., 441 ; James D., 447 ; 
 John, 21, 360, 442, 443; Rev. 
 John C., 428, 438, 451; John 
 W., 18, 108; Leslie E., 400; 
 Mr., 96; Nancy, 38; O. W., 
 148, 151, 152, 153, 403, 404; 
 Rachel, 109; Richard, 303; 
 Robert, 36, 41, 59, 126, 132, 
 450; Robert, Sr., 20; S. K., 
 443; Mrs. S., 250; T. O., 
 
 148, 225; W. C., 167; Wil- 
 liam C., 20; Will L., 216, 
 217, 218; Mrs. Will L., 218, 
 220; W. S., 150, 153, 443; 
 W. W., 397. 
 
 Smith, R. S., 394. 
 Smith's History, 17, 105. 
 Smith's Opera House, 138, 156, 
 
 235, 236, 286. 
 Smiths, Hammer & Co., 225. 
 Snow, Frank E., 317. 
 Snyder, Albert. G.. 90; Ann 
 
 M., 104; Snyder familv. 91, 
 
 431; Harry, 90; Henry, 147, 
 
 152; Jacob, 429; Mildred, 
 
 118; Sarah E., 90. 
 Sobieski, John, 135. 
 Social hall, # 158. 
 Social Service bureau, 422. 
 Sole & Bartlett, 434. 
 Songer, Gordon, 433. 
 Sons' Hall, 197. 
 Sons of Temperance, 48. 
 Sorosis club, 237. 
 Soule, William W., 360. 
 South Macon twp., 95, 149, 
 
 448, 449, 450. 
 South Side Country Club, 240, 
 
 419. 
 South Wheatland twp., 20, 95, 
 
 149, 167, 450. 
 Souther Temple, 128. 
 Southern Cross, 77. 
 
 Spaeth Anton. 404 ; Father 
 
 Joseph, 179. 
 Spalding, Oscar, 164. 
 Spangler, Barbara, 46 ; Daniel, 
 
 128; Felix, 207; Jacob, 46, 
 
 47, 150, 181; 451; J. B., 
 
 447 ; Joseph, 46, 434 ; Susan, 
 
 104. 
 Spaulding, Robert, 355. 
 Speer, Dr. J. G., 87, 89, 90, 
 
 91, 92, 103, 118, 148, 151. 
 
 157, 431, 450. 451; Miss, 
 
 104. 
 Spencer, Moses, 99 ; R., 446 ; 
 
 Reed, 329; W. H., 303. 
 Spencer, Lehman & Co., 329. 
 Spitler, George B., 381. 
 Sponsler, William, 445. 
 
 Sprague, Abraham, 18, 19; 
 Hubble, 18, 19, 34; Jason, 
 128. 
 
 Springfield-Paris road, 15, 36, 
 52, 132, 344; Springfield 
 road, 48 ; Springfield-Terre 
 Haute road, 45. 
 
 Sproat, P. H., 404. 
 
 Stadlery G. A., 148, 282, 283, 
 378, 379, 383. 
 
 Stadler & McClelland Co., 352. 
 
 Stafford, Mrs. Isabella T., 175, 
 238; Mrs. J. K., 404. 
 
 Stage routes, 98; stands, 101. 
 
 Staley, A. E., 348, 349, 387, 
 421; Mfg. Co., 353, 369, 384, 
 387, 389, 406. 421; Wm. F., 
 400. 
 
 Stamper, Father, 242 ; Jona- 
 than, 146; Josephine, 281; 
 Wm., 104, 148. 
 
 Stamper & Condell, 171, 191, 
 195, 267. 
 
 Standard Oil Co., 288, 407. 
 
 Stanley, Dr. O. O.. 202; Wil- 
 liam, 198. 
 
 Stapp, James T. B., 28, 139, 
 182, 192; Stapp's Row, 140. 
 
 Star Cycling club, 355. 
 
 Stare Bros., 265. 
 
 Starkey, H. E., 380, 381. 
 
 Starr, C. A., 190; Harry, 190; 
 J. G., 190, 216, 220, 303; 
 J. S., 190; W. C, 190, 309, 
 406; W. H., 190, 216, 217, 
 317. 
 
 Starr & Mills, 275. 
 
 State Bank of Illinois, 139. 
 
 State Council of National De- 
 fense, 397. 
 
 State fair, 270. 
 
 State Grange, 328, 330. 
 
 State Sanitary fair, 250. 
 
 St. Clair County, 10. 
 
 Stearns, F. B., 164. 
 
 Steele, Mrs. G. D., 395 ; 
 George R., 152, 244, 258, 
 259, 261. 
 
 Steichen, George, 360. 
 
 Stephenson, Dr. B. F., 257, 
 258, 259; Elizabeth, 430. 
 
 Sterns, A., 199; Charles, 199. 
 
 Sterrett, Brice I., 108; Wm., 
 448 ; Mrs. Clarissa, 247. 
 
 Stevens, Buel. 17, 21, 73, 84, 
 85 ; Mrs. Buel, 84 ; Creek, 
 
 16, 17, 18, 21, 62, 84, 133, 
 167, 209; Dorus, 17, 35, 84, 
 128, 428; Grace, 395; J., 
 127; James, 17, 151; Joseph, 
 
 17, 33, 38, 56, 57, 84, 103, 
 148, 152; Leonard, 16, 17, 
 18 19, 21 429; Leonard, Jr., 
 17, 22; Luther, 17, 35, 84, 
 85; Mrs.. 84; Settlement. 13, 
 17. 18, 84, 85, 167; Wm., 
 303. 
 
 Steward, Richard, 334. 
 
 Stewart, A. L., 432 ; Company, 
 352; Dalton, 331, 332. 333, 
 334, 335; Dr., 445; D. H., 
 126; Ethelbert, 424; Hargus, 
 448 ; Tames, 448, 449 ; Louis, 
 333, 334; Robert, 128, 129; 
 Steve, 332; S. B., 150; Wil- 
 liam, 207, 306. 
 
 Stickel, Daniel, 85, 167, 437; 
 Fred, 360; John, Sr., 146, 
 437. 
 
 Stipes, Joe, 361. 
 
 Stillman's Defeat, 45, 125. 
 
 Stine, B., 155, 266. 
 
 Stogsdill, A. M., 360. 
 
 Stone, A. B., 292, 293; A. Jr., 
 293. 
 
 Stone,' H. B., 293. 
 
 Stoner, Dr. A. J., 266; Mrs. 
 Elmira, 234. 
 
 Stookey, Daniel, 431; M. C, 
 150, 404. 
 
 Story, John, 425. 
 
 Stoutenboroughs, 440. 
 
 Stoy, John C, 361 ; J. S., 303. 
 
 Strausbaugh, J., 303. 
 
 Street car service, 314-319. 
 
 Strickland, Joseph, 20, 444, 
 445; Perry, 53, 431; Wyatt, 
 445. 
 
 Strohm, John, 266. 
 
 Strong, Clara, 404. 
 
 Strope, Perry, 452. 
 
 Stuart, Bradford, 449; D. H., 
 451; John T., 107; Oliver 
 L.. 21, 452; William and 
 Susan, 37. 
 
 Stumpf, Mrs. J. E., 395. 
 
 Sturgis Electric Motorcycle 
 Co., 371. 
 
 Suckers, 97. 
 
 Sudden Freeze, 43. 
 
 Suddith, Lawrence, 400. 
 
 Suffern, 96; James, 96; W. 
 H., 353, 385; Suffern-Hunt 
 & Co., 353. 
 
 Suits, Alida, 219. 
 
 Sullivan, Leon, 383 ; saloon, 
 320. 
 
 Sulphur Springs, 12. 
 
 Summers, Charles P., 362. 
 
 Summit, 95. 
 
 Sunday School, first, 86. 
 
 Sunday, Wm. A., 389: Taber- 
 nacle crowd, 388. 
 
 Sunnyside, 133, 168. 
 
 Sunnyside Golf Club, 240, 419. 
 
 Supervisors, first, 149; chair- 
 men, 150. 
 
 Surface, W. E., 353. 
 
 Sutter, Lawrence, 400. 
 
 Swantes, F., 430. 
 
 Swarthout, D. M., 220. 
 
 Swegle, Wm. S., 361. 
 
 Swett, Leonard, 107, 161. 
 
 Swingley, S. K., 173; Swing- 
 ley & Amos, 191 ; Swingley, 
 Kaufman & Amos. 191. 
 
 Swiss Bell Ringers, 216, 218. 
 
 Sydes, Rev. J. H., 333. 
 
 Syford, D. N., 303. 
 
 Syndicate Block, 176, 351, 358. 
 
 Tabernacle, 289, 290, 385; On 
 
 College hill. 269. 
 Taft, Wm. H., 340. 
 Taggart, H. M., 434: Heirs, 
 
 277; Robert R., 212. 
 Tait, Dan W., 404; Felix B., 
 
 388; J. D., 104, 105, 148, 
 
 150, 434. 
 Tait Bros. & Co., 329. 
 Tandy C. E., 151, 152. 
 Tangney, Lawrence, 400. 
 Tanner, Elias, 148; John R., 
 
 342, 359. 
 Taylor, A. R., 343, 380, 381, 
 
 404; B. Z., 148; C. L., 150, 
 
 151; Clayton, 400; Frank, 
 
 315; "Frozen" 167; H., 146; 
 
 Hugh, 162; James, 207; 
 
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 469 
 
 James Y., 427 ; James W. 
 D., 35; J. G., 275; Otis, 
 400; President, 139; Robert, 
 430; Sallie, 280; Thomas, 
 29, 33; Walter, 303; Wm. 
 Magee, 430. 
 Taylor & Bradley, 266. 
 Telephones, 323-325. 
 Temperance league, 291. 
 Temple B'nai Abraham, 414. 
 Temple Block, 352. 
 Tenney & Sikking Co., 329. 
 Terneus, Donald, 404. 
 Terrace Gardens, 388. 
 Terre Haute and Peoria R. R., 
 
 213. 
 Terrell, Peter, 184. 
 Thatcher, C. P., 191, 193; 
 
 Chester, 400; Mary Hall, 
 
 436; Mollie, 280. 
 Thayer, Rev. E. W., 375 ; Dr. 
 
 J. W., 439, 440, 453. 
 Theaters, 235-237. 
 Thirty-Three Mile house, 44. 
 Thomas, Jesse B. Jr., 108. 
 Thompson, M. B., 151; S. K., 
 
 184, 232; W. F., 199. 
 Thornton, Anthony, 109; Mrs. 
 
 E., 379. 
 Thorpe hotel, 160. 
 Three I League, 419. 
 Thrift, Andrew J., 439; C. A., 
 
 151, 361; Mrs. Jennie A., 
 
 404. 
 Tilley, Mrs. Anabel, 236. 
 Tim, Uncle, 117. 
 Tinbrook, John P., 181. 
 Tinnon, R. M., 380. 
 Tobey, Robert, 201. 
 Toland, A., 144, 258, 259; 
 
 Aquilla, 425. 
 Toledo, Wabash and Western, 
 
 79, 209, 210, 213, 285, 291, 
 
 293. 
 Tom Thumb, 240. 
 Torrence, Frank D., 30, 276, 
 
 278. 
 Town Branch, 105, 170, 232, 
 
 312. 
 Towne, Ralph, 360. 
 Towson, W. M., 450. 
 Tozer, Dr. L., 439. 
 Trainer, A. E., 394; John, 168, 
 
 169. 
 Transfer house, 317, 351, 353. 
 Transportation, 98-102. 
 Traughber, Daniel, 86, 438, 
 
 441, 443; Henry, 21, 38, 442, 
 
 443; Judd, 397, 442; Rob- 
 ert S., 443. 
 Traver, J., 431; Wm. T., 266. 
 Travis, Allen, 21, 127, 437; 
 
 Edward, 360; Finis, 21, 127, 
 
 128, 443; Harvey, 443; 
 
 James, 151; John B., 128; 
 
 John D., 128; Thomas, 21, 
 
 443. 
 Treat, Samuel H., 108. 
 Tree, Big, 347. 
 Tremont House, 159. 
 Trierweiler, Mrs. Alice, 404. 
 Trimby, Ben, 400; Rav, 400. 
 Troutman, Elmer, 306, 358; 
 
 Samuel, 434. 
 Trowbridge, Ada, 218; Char- 
 ley, 218; S. T., 122, 200, 
 
 201, 203, 250, 251, 320, 321 ; 
 
 Mrs. S. T., 218, 261 ; Wm., 
 
 303. 
 
 Trower, Thomas B., 152. 
 Troxell, David, 429; Lam, 126. 
 Trumbull. Lyman, 109, 366. 
 Tucker, C. J., 153, 398; Joseph 
 
 C, 435. 
 Tucker & Dunlap, 435. 
 Tunbridge township, 22. 
 Tupper, Ansel, 109, 244, 248, 
 
 255; Nathan, 109, 193, 246, 
 
 255. 
 Turnbolt Darlington, 162. 
 Turner, Berry E., 362; James, 
 
 128; James R., 128; J. K., 
 
 184; Mark, 103; Walter, 
 
 434; Wm., 444. 
 Turnverein, 193. 
 Turpin, 97; Edmund, 2J, 443; 
 
 Jerry, 97 ; Madison, 443 ; 
 
 Wm., 443. 
 Tuscola Journal, 199. 
 Tuteweiler, J. E., 394. 
 Tuttle, B. B., 278; Byron J., 
 
 400; Charles, 193, 209 ; John, 
 
 400. 
 Tyler, Rev. John W.. 87, 88, 
 
 150, 438, 440; Mrs., 87. 
 
 u 
 
 Ulery, Eli, 444. 
 
 Ullrich, John, 68, 175, 192. 
 
 303, 321. 
 Ullrich and Bros., 448. 
 Underwood, W. A., 151. 
 Union Depot, 212. 
 Union Elevator fire, 309. 
 Union Iron Works, 265, 374, 
 
 387, 421. 
 Union Pacific, 96. 
 United Brethren church, 87, 
 
 194, 287, 430; Blue Mound, 
 
 448; Casner, 438; Elwin, 
 
 451; Pleasant Hill, 453; 
 
 Harmony, 427 ; Whitmore 
 
 twp., 453. 
 United Christian Missionary 
 
 society, 405. 
 United Spanish War Veterans, 
 
 362. 
 U. S. Mfg. Corp., 353, 369, 
 
 387 
 U. S.' Wire Mat Co., 353. 
 Universalist Church, 194. 
 Ursuline order, 177, 178, 287. 
 Usrey, William J., 128, 157, 
 
 198; Usrey & Wingate, 192. 
 
 Vail, E. P., 108, 109, 110, 151, 
 
 239, 283. 
 Van Allen, T. T., 290. 
 Vance, Charles E., 360. 
 Vandalia, 16, 18, 24, 26, 27, 
 
 28, 109, 139, 141 ; R. P., 
 
 213. 
 Van Dyke street, 376 
 Van Gundy, John, 324, 371. 
 Van Leer, W. A., 430. 
 Vannice, R. L., 380. 
 Van Praag, Alex, 404. 
 Varney's hotel, 159. 
 Veech, A. J., 447; Isaac, 446, 
 
 447. 
 Vernon, Gilbert, 333. 
 Vestal, Nathan, 22. 
 Vinson, Nancy, 38. 
 Virgils. Charles, 360, 361. 
 Vise, Isaac, 448. 
 Voght, Anthony, 450. 
 
 w 
 
 Wabash, 46, 75, 79, 93, 96 
 104, 208, 209, 210, 212, 213' 
 285, 327, 352, 374, 384, 387! 
 388, 407, 417; hospital, 387, 
 418; shops, 420; shops fire, 
 
 Wabash college, 374. 
 Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific, 
 
 209. 
 Wabash & Western, 209. 
 Wagenseller, G. N., 377. 
 Waggoner, H. W., 148, 151; 
 
 Press, 361. 
 Wagner Malleable Iron Co., 
 
 387. 
 Wagy, John A., 360. 
 Wait, A., 164, 165; Arthur, 
 
 404; Clarence A., 237, 388; 
 
 Sheridan, 33, 193, 108, 121, 
 
 148. 
 Walbridge, Mrs. L. P., 278. 
 Walin. J. H., 271. 
 Walker, 97, 450; A. J., 400; 
 
 Elizabeth, 38; J., 127; John, 
 
 439; I. D., 362; Mary, 38; 
 
 Peter, 35 ; Rev. Jesse, 141, 
 
 J. W., 97, 450; S. E., 380. 
 Wallace, Dr. A. J., 442; Mrs. 
 
 Frank, 395 ; Rev. Mr., 449. 
 Wallender, Mrs. W. A., 395. 
 Walls, C. N., 199. 
 Walrus Manufacturing Co., 
 
 191, 369, 387. 
 Walser, Tony, 306. 
 Walsh, Michael, 446 ; Stuart, 
 
 400. 
 Walston, Mrs. R. L., 281, 282. 
 Walter, H. B., 379; Robert, 
 
 217. 
 Walters, C. C, 383; Dr., 452; 
 
 Mr., 292; W. H., 201. 
 Walton, Arch, 446. 
 W T amsley, D. H., 153. 
 War with Spain, 216, 334, 359- 
 
 362, 366. 
 Ward family, 18, 19; F. N., 
 
 19, 451; Hiram, 451; James, 
 
 23, 25, 29, 35, 36, 37, 73, 
 
 126, 450; Jane, 37; Jere- 
 miah, 35, 450; John, 13, 16, 
 21, 24, 27, 37, 38. 52, 72, 
 450; John, Sr., 19; Mrs., 
 18, 36; Lewis B., 18, 38, 
 71, 128, 166, 167, 450; 
 School, 167; Settlement, 16, 
 18, 21, 24, 72, 436. 450; 
 William, 13, 19, 35, 36, 38, 
 
 127, 450, 451. 
 Ward's district, 36, 152. 
 Warfield, Caleb, 446; Harry, 
 
 335; J. W., 448. 
 Warner, Major John, 244. 
 Warnick, Ira, 448; James, 
 
 127; John, 35; Mary D., 38, 
 
 56, 57; Margaret, 428; Rob- 
 ert, 128, 129, 448; Wm., 20, 
 25, 28, 32, 33, 34, 44, 45, 
 
 57, 58, 59, 73, 126, 127, 129, 
 151, 427, 448; Mrs., 129; 
 
 Warnicks, 18. 
 
 Warren, Mrs. H. F., 395 ; John 
 K., 96, 148, 175, 192, 264, 
 267, 268, 325, 435; Mrs. J. 
 K., 281. 
 
 Warren and Durfee, 96. 435. 
 
 Warrensburg, 96, 435 ; can- 
 nery, 435; Times, 435. 
 
 Washburn, John, 267. 
 
470 
 
 HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY 
 
 Washington Female Seminary, 
 
 375. 
 Washington, George, 184; Rev. 
 
 I. M. D., 333. 
 Water Street in 1833, 72. 
 Water Supply, 295-301. 
 Waterhouse, Col. A. C, 212. 
 Watkins, Carl, 334. 
 Waughop, Charlie, 305. 
 Wayne Bros., 266; county, 21 ; 
 
 Nathaniel, 89; W. ]., 28.. 
 
 305, 307, 308, 371, 380. 
 W. C. T. U., 238, 291. 
 Weakley, Israel J., 360. 
 Weatherford, W. H., 427. 
 Weathers, Dr. Hiram B., 90. 
 Weaver, J. C, 181; Mrs. 
 
 Nancy, 432; Samuel, 432. 
 Webb, William, 34, 103, 146, 
 
 147, 148. 
 
 Webber, A. G., 377; Nick, 
 274. 
 
 Webster, Eugene K., 360. 
 
 Wedding, Early, 75. 
 
 Weddle, Ned, 305. 
 
 Weedman, Otto, 175. 
 
 Weems, T. D., 428, 450. 
 
 Wehrman, Frederick, 441 ; 
 Henry, 441. 
 
 Weigand, Jake, 305. 
 
 Weigel, Daniel S., 432, 433, 
 453; John, 432; Solomon, 
 432. 
 
 Weilepp, Carl N., 151, 404. 
 
 Weitkemper, Mrs. H., 395. 
 
 Weitzel, S., 303. 
 
 Wekaman, John, 360. 
 
 Wellington Starch Works, -387. 
 
 Wells, Bazel E., 128: Frank 
 P., 353, 359, 362; Henry, 
 333 ; James. 449 ; Lida Hop- 
 kins, 442; Mrs. R. G., 234; 
 W. T., 157, 190, 193; Mrs. 
 W. T., 280. 
 
 Wendlings, 440. 
 
 Wessels, George, 193, 219; 
 Mrs., 219. 
 
 West Danville, 131, 430. 
 
 West, Mrs. C. E., 395; West 
 drug store, 52, 68, 73, 196, 
 248, 345; E. A., 232, 346: 
 Nathan P., 148. 
 
 Western Coal Co., 287. 
 
 Western Union Tel. Co., 323. 
 
 Wheat, L. C, 151. 
 
 Wheatland, 451. 
 
 Wheeler, Benjamin, 447 ; Eliz- 
 abeth, 38; Garland, 446; 
 Henry, 30; James, 437; R., 
 127; Wm., 35, 148, 151, 
 450; Wm. Jr., 443; Wm. 
 Sr., 20, 443; Wm. R., 128. 
 
 Whipping post, 32 
 
 Whistleville, 443, 444. 
 
 White, Anna E., 124; Bazel 
 B., 128; G. R., 146. 147 
 
 148, 152; John, 451 ; Dr. J 
 H., 381; John W., 128 
 Hattie, 242; Laura, 335 
 Newell A., 212; Peter, 333 
 Rolla, 103; W. Elmer, 279. 
 
 White House, 60. 
 
 Whiteside, Gen. Samuel, 58, 
 
 125, 126. 
 Whitehouse, S. M., 151. 
 
 Whitfield, Robert, 188: W. K., 
 108, 397. 
 
 Whitley, Mrs. Edna, 395 ; 
 James, 431 ; James T., 53, 
 69, 349; Mill, 41, 52; John, 
 22; Shelton, 431. 
 
 Whitman, Christopher, 37. 
 
 Whitmer, H. M., 266, 324. 
 
 Whitmore, John, 37. 38, 94. 
 451; township, 14. 15, 21, 
 24, 93, 94, 130, 131. 149, 
 167, 451, 452. 
 
 Whitton, Easton, 23. 25, 26, 
 28. 
 
 Widick, Emanuel, 20 ; George, 
 20, 35; Jacob, 20; John, 20, 
 35; Joseph, 20; Place, 166 1 , 
 S,. 20, 35, 127, 447.5A»if?> 
 
 Wigwam, 61, 65, 66, 67, 69, 
 263. 
 
 Wikoff. Forest, 404; P. M., 
 86, 167. 303. 
 
 Wilder, Sarah, 173. 
 
 Wilkerson, Wayman, 334. 
 
 Wilkin, Hubert C. 359, 361 ; 
 Jacob W., 108; Mrs. M. C. 
 234. 
 
 Wilkinson, Jackson, 430; J. N., 
 174, 430'; Joab, 445; Mrs. 
 Lamira, 280. 
 
 Willard, Charles, 422; J. G.. 
 431 : J. M., 323. 
 
 Willard, Emma, seminary, 112. 
 
 Willard & Bosworth, 448. 
 
 Williams, Amos, 21 ; A. S., 
 47, 181; Castle, 399; Em- 
 maretta, 174; Geo. A., 397; 
 Harrison, 404 ; Jane, 74, 
 358; John, 126; Joseph, 147, 
 358; P. J., 303; Philip 1)., 
 19, 22, 32, 33, 34, 36, 73, 
 150, 168, 432; Philip A., 
 22; Wm., 104. 
 
 Williams Sealing Co., 369, 387, 
 423. 
 
 Williamson, T- E., 380 ; John, 
 334; Wm., 152. 
 
 Williford, Mrs. Hazel, 150. 
 
 Willis Bros., 162. 
 
 Willoughby, Dewey, 400. 
 
 Willow Branch, 97 
 
 Wilson Andrew, 38, 443 ; Ar- 
 thur D., 360; A. M., 127: 
 Benjamin, 20, 25, 37, 44, 
 86, 150, 427, 428, 443; D. 
 K., 149, 275, 429, 430; 
 Fred, 329; H. B., 175; John, 
 86, 446; Nancy, 428; Post- 
 office, 443 ; Robert, 443 : 
 Scott, 362; T. F., 127; 
 Tunis, 398; twp., 149; 
 Woodrow foundation. 427 ; 
 W. Scott, 360 ; Wilsons, 
 429. 
 
 W T inebrenner, Charles, 309 ; 
 Frank, 306, 308. 
 
 Winegardner, Mrs. Mary, 185. 
 
 Wing, L. B., 159. 
 
 Wingate, Block, 352; C H., 
 198; T. H.. 148: store. 196. 
 
 Winholtz, Mrs., 250: W. E., 
 303. 
 
 Winslow, James T.. 435. 
 
 Wise, Peter, 434. 
 
 Wismer, Eloise, 404; Fred W., 
 362. 
 
 Winston, George, 333. 
 
 Wise, Frank, 360, 361. 
 
 Wise, F G., 394. 
 
 Witt, S., 293. 
 
 W J B L, 422. 
 
 Wolf, A. J., 184. 
 
 Woman's Club, 237, 238, 365, 
 
 422. 
 Woman's Council, 422. 
 Woman's Relief Corps, 261. 
 Wood, George M., 151, 152; 
 
 street, 26; Mr., 96; Will C, 
 
 201; W. M., 115, 397, 404. 
 Wood & McNabb, 146. 
 Woodcock, H. R., 150; R. H., 
 
 150. 
 Woodford, J. W., 333. 
 Woodmen parade, 356. 
 Woodruff, Gilbert J., 360. 
 Woods, Robert Mann, 257, 
 
 259, 261. 
 Woodward, Alvin, 440; S. W., 
 
 184. 
 Wooster, Charles, 452. 
 Workman, Rollie, 400. 
 Workman & Binkley, 435. 
 World war, 216, 334, 363, 366, 
 
 393-402, 409. 
 Worley, Andrew F., 361. 
 Worsham, Mrs., 354. 
 Wree, George, 444, 44 5, 446. 
 Wren, R., 104. 
 Wright, Amos, 425 : David, 
 
 148; Francis P., 108; J. D., 
 
 28, 126. 
 Wuench, Alfred F., 198, 199, 
 
 286. 
 Wyatt, Thomas, 28, 32, 33; 
 
 William, 361. 
 Wycle, Joseph, 96. 
 Wyckles, 96, 209. 
 Wynegar, Russel, 400. 
 
 Yale, 323. 
 
 Yates, Gov. Richard, 122, 241, 
 246, 250, 268. 
 
 Young, Alois, 383 ; Mr. and 
 Mrs. Charles, 355 ; Claude 
 G., 361 ; Emil, 306; F. M., 
 383; G. H., 446: George 
 L., 360; George S., 429; 
 William, 303, 306. 
 
 Young America Hook & Lad- 
 der Co., 303. 
 
 Young Bros. & Maris Co., 329. 
 351. 
 
 Young & Norman. 266. 
 
 Y. M. C. A., 286, 373, 386, 
 394, 418, 422; Annex. 48. 
 105; Glee Club, 405; State, 
 422. 444. 
 
 Y. W. C A.. 238. 373. 375, 
 385, 386, 394. 418. 422. 
 
 Zeiss, George, 363 : Wm. J., 
 
 360. 
 Zekind, A., 303. 
 Zimmerman, W. N., 216, 217. 
 7inn, William, 303. 
 Zorger, Benjamin, 452; fohn, 
 
 452.